hi! so, a little mishap happened monday morning. i left for work from marshall’s house which is about 25 minutes from my office.. i have a 7 AM monday morning meeting every week and it is very important that i don’t miss it. i was about halfway to my office when i got a call from marshall asking me if i had his keys in my car. i look around and sure enough, there were his keys on my passenger seat! he left them in there on sunday. ughhh. so the choice was to either turn around and miss the meeting (not okay) or to figure something else out. well as most of you know, marshall and i work together. i was hoping his job was up near his house so his partner could just take his keys to him and i wouldn’t have to make the 35 mile journey to deliver his keys after the meeting. as luck would have it, his job was just a bit past his house so i gave his partner the keys and all is well that ends well.. right? wrong. when i was gathering up all my bags to leave marshall’s house for work i realized i couldn’t carry it all. i had FOUR bags, plus my purse.. oy vey! i guess that is what happens when you need work clothes, gym clothes, hang out clothes, wedding clothes, sleeping clothes.. you get the picture. anyway, the reason for my bag rambling is to tell you that i couldn’t carry my laptop bag. i asked marshall to grab it and bring it to work with him. well.. after the whole key debacle i realized that there was no way i would be getting my laptop since marshall was not coming into the office! drat. no blogging on monday night para mi.
to make a long story even longer.. i am typing up this special post monday afternoon at work and will just have it post at midnight on tuesday! crisis averted.. meals & moves will live on, despite the lack of a laptop :)
so! as of today, tuesday, october 20.. i have been writing meals & moves for six whole months! it honestly does not seem like that long at all. the older i get, the faster time flies. not cool, time.. not cool. i thought i would take a time out from my usual blog steeze and have a bit of a reminiscent post followed by a giveaway!
be prepared for a lot of words.. and no photos.. but they are good words, promise!
first up: how i stumbled upon the food blogging world.
one day i was looking online to find a photo of an omelet pan i had purchased at bed, bath & beyond. in march of 2009 i wanted to show the pan to my mom because it was really hard to describe over the phone. i eventually found a photo of the pan on this blog. and then i got to reading that blog.. and then i looked at the side bar titled “food blogs”… hmmm, food blogs? i read recipe blogs and cooking blogs but had never heard of a food blog! i started clicking the links. some of the blogs listed were GC’s, jenn’s and kristie’s. holler! i started perusing the food blog scene, totally unaware that my life was going to be changed for the better real, real soon. and that all of those ladies i listed would in fact become blog/facebook friends! random.
for the month of march i checked out the huge web of interlinking food blogs whenever i had some spare time. i had a trip to mexico coming up on april 1st and i had already decided to start a new body for life challenge when i returned home and i was into this whole food blogging thing.. i liked what i saw. i already had a blog about my day to day life.. exciting events.. all that (right here) and a blog about body for life.. which is now retired (get at me if you want to see it) but it was not as in depth as these food blogs i was reading. i decided this was totally for me. i was going to start a food blog!
next up: the name.
i had no idea what to call my blog. while in mexico i pondered several different names but i kept coming back to two: “meals & moves” because this was the name of our accountability posts that my online BFL team used.. and “vanilla bean & everything in between” because well.. vanilla bean is my fave! since i did want to incorporate my workouts into the blog, i decided “meals & moves” was more appropriate, but i tacked on the “and everything in between” to my header because this blog is not JUST about food and exercise.. obv.. i am a rambler! not a rambler like the style of house, mind you. sooo.. i signed up for wordpress and created the domain and was ready to post!
my first post: ridiculously lame
you can check out the incredibly whack post i did on april 20th HERE. i didn’t have photos to post right away but i wanted to get a post out there.. claim my space in internet land! so i typed up a post about the importance of drinking water. and raved about my contigo water bottles. which i am drinking out of right this very second *pauses to take a drink* so i guess not much has changed in the past 6 months regarding my views on water. i know i don’t mention it daily but i do drink one gallon of water each and every day! i think this is really important and i feel lethargic if i don’t get my water in every day.
my second post: equally as lame, but with food photos!
my first post that actually included food photos can be found HERE. please don’t laugh at the poor quality of photos.. it is a tad disgraceful! i remember that we went out as a family to celebrate my sister in law’s birthday and i told everyone about my new blog.. and they all thought i was a tad absurd (and maybe i am).. and i had a really crappy quality camera and no clue regarding food photography. but my witty commentary was in full force from day one ;) you will notice that my first day of food blogging eats were similar to what i eat to this day: protein oats, greek yogurt, protein shakes, cottage cheese, eggs, veggies, hummus. typical. see, i was a food blog food lover before i even knew about food blogs! it was meant to be blogged about! ha.
my third post: just the moves.
this post, found HERE, was just about my workouts. the HIIT and lower body workout look similar to the workouts i do today.. not a lot has changed there. come to think of it, maybe i SHOULD change things in that department?
wow.. people actually are reading this? and commenting??
i started writing my blog for ME. i didn’t actually think other people would honestly read what i had to say. but eventually i did gain some readership. the first comment i ever got on my blog that was NOT from my mom ;) was on this post and i actually had TWO unique comments! wooohoooo.. one was from a friend from the body for life forums and the other was the oh-so-fabulous hayley!! she had a different blog back then but i was so happy to “meet” her as we both were interested in body for life. i was so happy about the comments.. i didn’t expect them and so it was a real surprise. i posted a few more times and then received a comment from danica! she and i have been super good friends since and it all started with a mutual love for ice cream ;) eventually more and more people started to read my blog. to this day i am overwhelmed with joy that sooo many people take the time out of their day to read my ramblings. this community is the best. ever.
some events worth mentioning.
- i got my tonsils out
- i taught you how to pronounce my name
- i turned 26
- i went to my first cooking class
- i showed you my office
- i ran my first 10k
- foodbuzz sent me to share our strength’s taste of the nation culinary event
- i got real, real frustrated about my weight gain
- flashback friday was born
- i started BFL again
- penelope turned 1
- i posted photos of all of blog world’s dogs!
- i bought a car
- i did a fun “this girl” linking post! i need to do another one soon..
- i had another frustrated moment about my weight. ugh.
- then i reflected on all the great advice you guys gave me! love.
- i went to seattle
- i went to my first spin class
- i went to lake powell
things that i have learned from the blogs.
- parfait a la k
- green monsters
- overnight oats
- chocolate chip banana vegan muffins
- the term “hangry”
- breakfast cookie
- spicy oats
- pb&j oats
- cheeeetahs
- best vegan chocolate cupcakes ever
things that haven’t changed in the past six months
- i have always been obsessed with national food holidays
- my workouts are basically the same, alternating cardio and weight days as well as alternating upper and lower body workouts
- i am obsessed with eating wraps
- vanilla bean ice cream is my favorite thing to eat. ever.
- acronym and palindrome obsessssed!
- i am still not a morning person.. will i ever be?
- i still balance my proteins/carbs and eat mainly body for life style
things that have changed in the past six months
- i use dishes that are reusable instead of paper plates/bowls/cups/etc.. i am way more eco-friendly!
- my photos are waaaay better. way better. they still have room for improvement but compared to the first week? night and day!
- i cook my protein oats TOTALLY different now. i used to think they were tasty.. but looking back, they looked disgusting. hooray for the stovetop method!
- i no longer post my meals and moves as separate posts. instead, i combine them.
- i have more of a set schedule.. i try to post once a day, at night, recapping the day’s meals & moves. having order is nice!
- i am not as strict with myself.. and i am happier
blogging is fun. it is rad. i love it. i love being able to look back at the past 6 months of my life in great detail.. sure, i may not care about what i ate on august 5, 2009 in about 6 years from now.. but i may wonder what i was doing.. and now i have it documented. hmmm sidenote: i bet it would be a good idea to back up all these posts somehow.. what if one day wordpress just decides to up and delete everyone’s blogs? it could happen, you know. and the best thing i have gained in these past six months? the most spectacular friends ever. last april i would have never thought i would have about a hundred new long distance friendships come october. seriously. but i do. and i am stoked! i love you guys!
i love you guys so much that i decided a giveaway is in order!
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the folks at csn stores recently contacted me to let me know about their fabulous products and also asked me to host a giveaway for them.. how generous!! i spent hours checking out their fantastic websites.. especially cookware.com, what can i say, i am a sucker for kitchen gadgets! all of their items are reasonably priced and they have a HUGE selection.. if you are in the market for anything kitchen.. cookware.com is the place to be!
i had a hard time deciding what to give away. i was really into the cheese gadgets and the egg gadgets, but then i realized that those were not really gadgets for the masses (hello vegan friends!).. so for my 6 month giveaway i decided to give away something that everyone can use.. a mini food processor!!
this is a cuisinart mini food processor and the information on this handy kitchen gadget can be found here. and you might say, “well i already HAVE a food processor!” sure.. maybe you do, but do you have a mini food processor? you all know how much i LOVE little things. plus, if you are like me, you hate the big production that comes with getting the food processor out (if it is not already on your counter.. i am not that lucky).. putting it together.. using it.. taking it apart.. cleaning it.. blah blah blah. unfortunately my food processor gets neglected for this very reason.. i am lazy! but this mini guy is not only super cute.. but also super convenient! plus, the parts are dishwasher safe. big thumbs up!
to enter:
- leave a comment stating what the first thing you would make with your new kitchen gadget would be if you won!
- for one extra entry link back to this post in your blog saying, “meals & moves is 6 months old and is hosting a giveaway! check out cookware.com for your favorite brands like cuisineart, emile henry, rachael ray cookware and more! giveaway ends 10/23!”
this giveaway will end friday, october 23rd at midnight.. good luck!
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well.. needless to say since i don’t have a computer my google reader will be up past 300 again in the morning. such is life! hope you are all doing well and had a fabulous monday and an even better tuesday.. just think, tomorrow we are already halfway to the weekend.. hooray!
Qs
1. i will make this easy.. number 1 answer can be your giveaway entry ;) let’s hear it! i would probably make hummus if i was the winner!
2. how did you first discover food blogs? my story is so random and i would love to hear yours!!
xo. janetha b.
Next Comments →
I have always wanted to make my very own peanut butter blend! I just have a regular blender at home and well…it doesn’t quite do the trick!
Happy Blogaversary Janetha! This is truly a remarkable day. I’m going to celebrate with you….whoot whoot! :)
How kind of you to offer a giveaway on your special day. You are so sweet I can’t stand it.
I love FP’s! I adore making hummus in mine and of course, the infamous banana soft serve.
Happy happy happy anniversary to you my dear!
So much love always. X0X0
Happy 6 months, Janetha!!!!!!
Your blog is awesome and you have done so much!! It’s fun to revisit your past 6 months – I remember when you got your tonsils out!
Anyway, happy happy and keep on making meals and moves :)
I would love a mini processor and the first thing I would make is PESTO!!!
YAY for blogging!! It has totally changed my life for the better now. It’s nice to have a creative outlet for all the food and fitness thoughts I have swimming in my head, and to find other people who are just as obsessed about it as I am :)
1. I want this giveaway!!!!!! A food processor is the ONE kitchen gadget I don’t own and neeeeeed. The first thing I’d make would probably be a small batch of nut butter. I’m thinking a chocolate hazelnut, or macadamia cranberry :)
2. I used to be active in the Daily Plate forums and someone posted about their favourite food blogs. See Bride Run was actually the first one I clicked on, and it just went from there!
Happy 6-month blogiversary!!
1.) I’d make homemade Larabars or pesto :)
2.) Reading SELF magazine – there was an article promoting that “Eat Like Me” blog on SELF.com
probably would make smoothie or banana soft serve;)
ooo ! i would make banana soft serve too as Mary just commented……….. orrrrrrrrr a nut buttah…….orrrrrrrrrr some veggie patties. or something.
Happy Anniversary!!!! Wow, I think my answers are the exact same as VeggieGirl’s above! I would love to try homemade lara bars, but after that I’d probably wipe out the food processor and make some hummus. And while I had it out, I’d probably whip out some cottage cheese. oh the possibilities! xoxo
Congrats on 6 months of posting!
What an adorable mini food processor. I would use it to make baby food. :-)
I don’t remember how exactly I stumbled upon Runner’s Kitchen, but that was the first food blog I found which then introduced me to this whole world of food blogging!
I can’t believe how many readers you’ve gained and all you’ve done in six months–that’s amazing! Let’s see…I am just as lazy as you state above about the gadget thing, so a mini would be great! I would make either banana soft serve with nut butter mixed in (double duty there) or some type of spicy chickpea sandwich spread.
1. Tomato/Almond/Basil/Garlic Pesto
2. I was reading some “Mommy blogs” once in a while and from there stumbled to some healthy living blogs
Congrats on your bloggerversary! :-)
Mine is almost to the 1 yr 6month mark! You’re SO right, time flies the older you get… it seems very unfair!
As for your giveaway, you may know that I make the world’s BEST salsa! (no lie!)
And if I won, I would make you some! :-)
GREAT post for your 6 month blogiversary! I love reading about how blogs came to be. I’m so happy you decided to write Meals and Moves! Love it:D
Awesome giveaway. I love Cuisinart things, and would make Almond Butter as my first thing to make in a food processor. Maybe even cookie dough almond butter.
I’ll make sure and link back on my evening post:)
HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!!! I’m so happy and thankful to know you through the blogworld- you know I got mad love for ya, boo!
I’ve never had my own food processor and would die if I got one: hummus, nut butters, tapenade, baking concoctions…I’d be all ova that.
I found food blogs like Veggie Girl–through “Eat Like Me” when I was a sophomore looking for help on how to eat healthy!
XXXOXOXOXO
Happy 6 months my dear!!! :)
We’ll need to celebrate in style in just about 2 weeks :)
I would definitely make hummus too!! You just can’t do that in the ghettocheap blender that comes w/ your apartment…
I discovered food blogs VERY RANDOMLY through searching online for recipes…and was blown away that this whole subculture exists! I don’t have a “food”blog myself since I don’t want to feel pressured to make all my food look “camera ready” (ha) BUT I still love reading them for fitness/eating inspiration!
Also, I love things mini. I even have a mini crock-pot. (Never been used, but it was TOO CUTE to pass up.)
awww your blog story made me reminisce on how I started blogging :) so happy I found your blog or you found mine? haha who knows but I’m super glad we’re blog friends or friends? haha one day we can meet halfway in like arkansas or something and you can teach me how to snowboard and I’ll teach you..uh who knows haha
does that count as an entry?
Happy Blogiversary! I actually have that mini processor and love it!
I discovered blogs in March 2008 when I was googline a Kashi GoLean Crunch Bar, and then – bam – led me to Kath’s blog, which led me to Tina’s which opened up a huge gateway to this wonderful world we’re a part of!
Happy 6 Months! :)
I would definitely be making my own almond butter first if I won!HOLYYUM.
I’ve been dying to get one of these cuisinart processors but they’re so expensive, I can’t afford one right now!
I’m going to copy your answer and say hummus. But there is another reason, I need this. My beloved full-size food processor broke about a month ago! I am food processorless!
I used to post a lot on this fitness related message board and once someone posted a thread about food blogs. I found Kath Eats that way and the rest was history.
I also blogged about your anniversary giveaway here –> http://freckledfoodie.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/happy-6-months-meals-moves/
happy 6 months!! thsi is an amazing post!!! I love how you wrote the things you learned and things you have changed, and things that have stayed the same…great job with all the linking back to your posts. I was just lookin at some of my first posts and I just started my blog about amonth ago and I still can’t believe some of the stuff I wrote haha!!
WHAT AN AMAZING GIVEAWAY!!!!
I would totally use this to make the banana soft serve or homemade peanut butter!! YUMMMM
LInked back!!
http://www.onefitfoodie.com/2009/10/new-products-pizza-and-great-workout.html
Happy blogaversary!! What an awesome giveaway..your so sweet!
If I won I’d make homemade larabars.. the store bought ones are so darn expensive!
I found food blogs first through Self’s Eat Like Me. I used to read hers all the time and then one day someone left a comment talking about Kath’s and Jennas.. so I started looking around and fell in love with them!
Happy 6 month anniversary! :D
I would make BBBs [black bean burgers] ASAP were I to win this baby. I have serious hankering for those suckers and an open can of black beans.
I discovered food blogs through OSG and now I’m hooked. ’tis an addiction, it is.
1. I would make nut butter!
2.Blog reading started while planning my wedding and seeing blogs on thenest.com. Then it went to cooking blogs, then health related. I am an addict.
6 months and you’ve formed a foodie cult following. How the heck did you pull that off so fast? HAHAHA! I love your blog! You’re my bloggie hero.
Hmm. Maybe I would attempt to make sweet Hummus again. First try was a complete FAIL! I would be willing to “experiment” again though. NEVER GIVE UP!
It was my health and fitness obsessed sister that introduced me to food blogs. She came across a link on a female figure athletes forum, and well, here I am. :)
Happy Blogiversary! I want to try making peanut butter :)
ok first of all ? That food processor is BIGGER than the one i have. i could only afford the 12$ twist one from shopko and it is about a cup big. WAHHHH it is awful to use! Nothing fits!
The first thing I would make is natural nut butters! Mine just can’t handle nuts or frozen fruit … or anything hard really. twss.
i discovered food blogs through ohsheglows website but i can’t remember for the life of me how i found it! one day i will though.
-muffy
ps love you!
Linked you in your own post with a pic of my mini mini http://wp.me/pygm9-rJ
ahhhh a mini food processor – i need, i need! i have a small kitchen built for one, so a mini food processor would fit perfectly! i will make cilantro pesto. yes, i have been dying to make it forever!
i started reading blogs when my friend directed me to hyper homemaker, over to her food site good things catered, which linked to kath eats and the rest is history!!!!
LOVE YOU
happy blogiversary!! i love your blog :) penelope is so darn cute.
i would make FROZEN BANANA SOFT SERVE if i won, because that stuff’s everywhere (except at my house, where we don’t have a food processor!!) and looks amazing.
Happy birthday Meals and Moves!!!! Congrats on being a wealth of knowledge and for being such an influential bloggette Ms. Janetha.
If I had a food processer, there is no doubt I would grind up the frozen 45-calorie wheat bread loaf i have in the freezer (I can’t eat that stuff anymore…it’s like eating air) and use the crumbs to make salmon sprout burger patties to bring to work!! yayyy!!!
I first started reading blogs when i stumbled across kath eats (i know i know, how original) but then it went from there! discovered some new blogs, discovered i love looking at food pictures and that there are people just like me!!
of course, i just linked back!! Gotta win this processor…. i’m drooling just thinking about my salmon patties…hahah
Hey thanks for the comment on my BFL start post! It means a lot to me to have your BFL wisdom.
I would make nut butter of some kind. Prob Cashew Butter.
I discovered food blogs from my sister. She showed me a bunch and then I just started looking around. Thats when I found Chandra’s Shenanigans. LOVED it.
Now I have like 15 i check religiously…but I am always finding more…
Happy bloggyversary :) I know someone beat me to saying this but the first thing i would make would be soft serve banana ice cream. I don’t have any food processor so i haven’t had a chance to try it!
Mini food processor entry #1 Would make bite size raw vegan brownie bites :)
Mini food processor entry #2 I will link back on my post going out tonite you better believe it mama!
I love this recap of the past 6 mos post. My blog isr 3mos old and just keeps growing and I feel so similar to you about all the friends and how great it has been! And yes…backing this all up would be good too. I also feel the same way about my iphotos file with nearly 7000 photos on my computer and growing by 25+ per day. You know as a food blogger we take 10 shots to get 1 or 2 we like (well I do) and my step by step recipe things generate 50 quickly and they are all on my computer-not backed up!
Anyway food for thought Meals & Moves and yeah, vanilla bean woulda been kinda long :)
I’ve been wanting to make banana soft serve forever and with this I could! How awesome and congrats on 6 months of blogging, I love reading yours!
I’m so glad you startedd blogging. Same thing happened with me. I just psoted recipes at first and then I read other blogs and saw the life behind them! So I stopped being such a robot and let my personality shine through :D I hope you don’t stop blogging anytime soon!!!
1.Hey! I have that food processor (if my name pops up just disregard it lol. I just want to comment on this post :D
2. I have no idea how I first discovered them, but I remember reading Liz aka VeggieGirl’s blog :)
http://www.ohonemorething.wordpress.com
great giveaway! i’d probably try my hand at a homemade nut butter!!
1. Homemade pesto is the best, but it is hard to make a small amount in the big processor, this one would be perfect!!!
2. I was looking for a review of the 30 day shread and I came across Healthy Tipping Point! At that point I didn’t even know what a blog was let alone a food blog!!!
Happy Anniversary!!! Isn’t it cool to see what you’ve captured in your posts? :)
Ah…I NEED A food processor! Ours broke a month ago, and we still haven’t bought another one.
I would make hummus or some homemade nut butter :)
ah! what a great giveaway! my mom was going to give me her food processor for my new apartment but it broke! so this would be great!!
the first thing I would make would be a green monster as I have heard such amazing things about them and have always wanted to try!
PS happy anniversary!!!!!!
1. I would make pesto!
2. I started reading Eat Like Me after reading about it SELF.
(3) Happy blogiversary!
I would make the fabulous raw vegan donut holes that I always hear about!
Ohhh, awesome giveaway, and congrats on your 6 months chick!
The first thing I would make with my mini food processor would be raw banana and berry “ice cream”. Nomnomnomnom!
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