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I recently read an article on MSN Health which discussed the best time of day to eat, sleep, exercise, and even have surgery.

It can be found here: The Best Time of Day to Exercise, Take Vitamins,and More Health Moves

The article discusses our natural body rhythms and how we can use them to our advantage. I found it very interesting because I certainly notice ups and downs throughout my day. I am not generally a morning coffee drinker because I am pretty wide awake at the beginning of the day. However, 3 o’clock rolls around and I am ready for some caffeine or a nice little siesta pronto. Getting up and moving around usually helps because a nap is usually out of the question.

While the article suggests eating 2 small mid-day meals, instead of 1 large lunch, exercise between 5 and 6 o’clock, and always scheduling a doctor’s appointment in the morning, how realistic are these goals in our daily lives? I would love to be able to bask in the sunlight every morning to boost my energy and always have dinner two hours before I think about bedtime.

I’m also interested to know how many of you tend to exercise in the morning rather than the evening as the article suggests. I often find that I have more motivation to get myself moving in the morning.

What methods do you personally use to follow your body’s natural rhythms in the hustle and bustle of daily life?

Has anyone ever made a long distance or cross-country move?

We are currently attempting to move our lives from California to the DC area and it is proving rather difficult. The cost for a U-haul truck or trailer is astronomical. On the move to CA we were able to rent a trailer because we didn’t have any furniture yet and all of our items were new in boxes or in storage here.

Many people suggested we just ship everything as freight but we soon learned that wasn’t going to work either. All of your goods have to be boxed, put in crates, and shrink-wrapped which is not very realistic.

The other option is to hire a moving company and we have received about 11 quotes so far. They want to know how many boxes we will have. How exactly do you know how many boxes you will have when you haven’t even started packing?

A co-worker suggested getting a Pod because they can be sent on a truck anywhere you want at your convenience. Of course, for a one bedroom apartment with only a few pieces of legitimate furniture the price was unreasonable as well.

Are we missing something? It seems like people move all the time so it shouldn’t be as difficult as it is proving to be.

Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated!

Sometimes I think maybe the Beverly Hillbillies took the best approach.

Recently, I had my mother-in-law and aunt visiting and wanted to give them some fresh flowers for their beach rental. With just a few nice bunches of flowers, I was able to put together several beautiful bouquets for under $20. The vases were already part of my floral collection and the ribbon was from my existing stash.

• 2 bunches mixed sweet peas from Farmer’s Market - $6
• 2 bunches blush white flowers from Farmer’s Market - $5
• 1 bunch pink tulips from Trader Joe’s - $5
• Mixed coral roses from our yard - FREE

Does anyone know what the long-stemmed blush white ones are? I am usually pretty good with flowers but have never seen these before.

{Photos from the author’s collection}

We have lived in our current apartment for a little over a year now and it has been a work in progress the entire time. According to my husband, I move the furniture on a weekly basis. Now that nearly everything has finally found a place in our cramped quarters, we are moving. I thought I would give you a mini tour before everything begins to be taken down, boxed up, and sent across the country. The decor isn’t anything too special but it has many personal touches which have really turned our little place into a home.

Welcome! Come on in.

The living room is filled with many little garage sale and thrift store finds collected during my bargain hunting.  The corner cabinet is by far our favorite piece of furniture with its Danish look and hidden, rolling doors. The brown leather chair was picked up on the side of the road for free. It was in pretty bad shape but we repainted and upholstered it so it looks brand new. The large green rug is from Crate & Barrel. I have had houseplants since I was in high school and they have travelled with me and continued to multiply in each new place I call home.

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Have you ever roasted veggies?

My previous blog post mentioned oven-roasted potatoes and broccoli so I thought I would share my method for making both.

Roasting is currently my favorite method of cooking both potatoes and broccoli. The steps are quite simple.

The potato recipe I invented to go along with my adaptations of two broccoli recipes.

Roasted Potatoes & Broccoli
Any type of potato (I have been buying red and yellow new potatoes at the farmer’s market)
Large head of broccoli chopped into small florets
Small onion
Whole garlic cloves
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Dried herbs such as tarragon or oregano (if desired)
Whole lemons
Parmesan cheese

Chop the potatoes into uniform cubes of about ½ inch. Make sure they are dry, not freshly washed. Place them in a thin layer onto a foil lined baking sheet along with some chopped onion and garlic. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and any herbs you enjoy. Bake in a 425° oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and drizzle with freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 small lemons) and then toss with Parmesan cheese. Serve hot.

The broccoli recipe is nearly the same except omit the onion and herbs. Also, be sure the broccoli is dry when you place it on the tray. Do include the garlic cloves. Bake in a 425° oven for 15-20 minutes or until the florets start to crisp.

I usually put the potatoes on one tray and the broccoli on another. Then put the potatoes in the oven first and add the tray of broccoli after about 15 minutes so they are both done at the same time.

The oven-roasted method is delicious and completely up to the chef’s whim. Every time I make both veggies they turn out differently. Sometimes I use herbs with the potatoes while other times I omit. I used some Mexican garlic along with regular garlic last time. Occasionally, the broccoli will be very crisp while other times it will be a little softer.

We have been known to have this recipe as a meal in itself with a nice chilled glass of dry Riesling and some slivers of a soft, mild cheese on the side.

The following is a tale of an eventful evening and a few valuable lessons learned.

When I started making dinner, I thought to myself, “Should I change out of my dress first?” I pretty much always wear an apron and it seemed pretty silly to change into a whole new outfit just to cook, especially considering the mountain of laundry that always seems to be building in the corner of our bedroom. So I left my brand new J. Crew sundress on, threw on an apron, and proceeded with dinner.

I wasn’t making anything too fancy. Just oven roasted potatoes and broccoli, a fairly simple meal really. The potatoes and onions were chopped and then the fun began as I brought out the olive oil, an absolute essential in any meal made at our house. I started generously drizzling it across the pan of potatoes when all of a sudden the jar gave a burp, and a splash flew through the air landing in no spot other than the two inches of sundress hanging out from the bottom of my apron. At this point, I hastily threw the potatoes into the oven, ignoring the remaining ingredients and abandoning the broccoli all together, and raced to the computer.

I really didn’t think you could ever remove olive oil stains from clothing but was willing to give anything a shot. I thought about calling my mother but realized she wouldn’t really appreciate such an interruption in her sleep at 11 pm.

A quick Google search and I was well on my way to dress recovery. The two most commonly mentioned stain removers were dish soap and shampoo. With not a moment to lose, I grabbed them both and got to work. Miracle of all miracles, the stain was gone in a matter of seconds. I really couldn’t believe it. A quick rinse with cool water and the dress was as good as new.

Side note: I also had to look up if hot or cold water sets a stain. I’m pretty sure that is one of those little things that your mother teaches you from about the age of three, yet you always seem to forget when it counts.

Lessons learned: You can remove olive oil stains. And change out of your new sundress before doing any cooking!

Here are a few helpful links for removing all sorts of stains.

Real Simple’s Stain Removal 101 covers everything from cranberry to tree sap.

Martha Stewart mentions the basics. Also, take a look at the printable Stain First Aid chart.

Do you know any other stain removal tips or tricks? It would be great to add some to my arsenal.

Hello! My name is Camerin. Currently, I reside with my husband in the picturesque Central Coast of California but I grew up in Indiana. During college, I had the opportunity to live in the Netherlands and travel extensively throughout much of Europe. To paint a move vivid picture of who I am, here are some things I enjoy:

•    cut flowers, spider plants, sweet peas, snapdragons, abundant roses
•    thrift store bargains, garage sale treasures, and ‘rescuing’ junk
•    coasters, candlesticks, napkins, tablecloths, and pitchers
•    culinary delights, cooking, baking, and anything homemade
•    iced tea, heirloom tomatoes, dark chocolate, central coast wines
•    shopping, shoes, skirts and dresses
•    fun patterns, vintage signs, great design, research
•    hiking, jogging, photography, mountains, beaches, a great adventure
•    sewing, decorating, and crafts
•    a good book, everyday discoveries and sharing what I’ve learned

A recent hiking trip in Joshua Tree National Park. This photo is amusing because I never really wear hats (especially backward) but I had just gotten my hair highlighted so I didn’t want the hot desert sun fading it. And I couldn’t wear it forward because it kept getting in the way of my camera!

As a new contributor, I look forward to the opportunity to share recipes, ideas, bargains, tips, and projects with all of you through EAD Living.

Please leave a comment to let me know what YOU enjoy.

{Photos from the author’s collection}

Ed Note: Camerin re-capped her fantastic wedding on EAD last year - check out her recaps here!