CrossFit or Cross Don't?

I think I've posted about it before, but I find most of my cardio workouts for the treadmill and elliptical on Pinterest. (Thank God for that site. I feel like I would lose my head without it these days!) Anyways, as I was doing my usual Pinterest perusing earlier this week I stumbled upon a 30 Day CrossFit Challenge. Now, I don't know about y'all, but I've always been intrigued by the discipline of CrossFit, but I'm also extremely intimidated by it at the same dang time. I've seen and heard all of these amazing fitness transformations achieved with the help of CrossFit, but it just seems super over-the-top intense. I've even heard people refer to it as a cult (Yikes!). So you could imagine why I am slightly terrified to give it a try. Plus, I'm guilty of being one of those people who thinks that endless cardio on the elliptical and treadmill is what is going to get me in the best shape. I'm trying to ease into more weight lifting and strength training because my goal is not to be "skinny," I wanna be fit!

So I gave the 30 Day CrossFit Challenge a once over and I thought, "Hey, this doesn't look so terrifying." Also, what really peaked my interest was the fact that the workouts aren't long. 'Cause lets face it, after almost 10 hours at work, the last thing you want to do is spend another 2 hours at the gym. So I've decided I'm going to give it a shot starting on Monday, March 31. If you're just like me and have been too intimidated, but have wanted to try CrossFit, take this 30 Day Challenge with me! It's always nice to have a support system and people to keep you accountable. That way when one of us gets discouraged or really doesn't have the motivation to work out one day, the other will be right there with inspiring

**Those of you who do/ have done CrossFit don't be shy, please, chime in!

What do you think? Is this a good place to start for us newbs?

WEEK ONE

• Day 1: 20 walking lunges, 10 push-ups, 25 jumping jacks (4 rounds)
• Day 2: 10 burpees, 1 minute plank, 1 minute side plank (both sides) (3 rounds)
• Day 3: 25 air squats, 10 sit-ups, (4 rounds)
• Day 4: Run, bike, swim, etc. for at least 30 minutes
• Day 5: REST DAY
• Day 6: Ten vertical jumps, 10 push-ups (5 rounds)
• Day 7:  Run 1 mile, for time, followed by 100 jumping jacks

WEEK TWO

• Day 8: 10 burpees (you can modify these by going down onto your knees and putting your legs out slower if needed), 1 minute plank, 1 minute side plank on each side (3 rounds)
• Day 9: 10 minutes AMRAP (short breaks between sets if needed): 5 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, 15 air squats
• Day 10: 20 walking lunges, 50 jumping jacks (4 rounds)
• Day 11: Run, bike, swim, etc. for at least 30 minutes
• Day 12: REST DAY
• Day 13: 15 vertical jumps, 10 push-ups (5 rounds)
• Day 14: Run 1 mile, for time, followed by 100 jumping jacks.

WEEK THREE

• Day 15: 15 burpees (you can modify these by going down onto your knees and putting your legs out slower if needed), 1 minute plank, 1 minute side plank on each side (3 rounds)
• Day 16: 10 minutes AMRAP  (short breaks between sets if needed): 5 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, 15 air squats
• Day 17: 30 walking lunges, 50 jumping jacks (4 rounds)
• Day 18: Run, bike, swim, etc. for at least 30 minutes
• Day 19: REST DAY
• Day 20: 15 vertical jumps, 10 push-ups (5 rounds)
• Day 21: Day 21: Run 1 mile, for time, followed by 100 jumping jacks and 20 sit-ups.

 WEEK FOUR

• Day 22: 15-20 burpees, 90 second plank, 90 second side plank on each side (3 rounds)
• Day 23: 20 vertical jumps, 10 push-ups (5 rounds)
• Day 24: 100 air squats, 100 jumping jacks, for time
• Day 25: Run, bike, swim, etc. for at least 30 minutes
• Day 26: REST DAY
• Day 27: Run 1 mile, for time, followed by 30 sit-ups.
• Day 28: Leap forward (jump as far as you can with both feet) 20 times (3 rounds).
• Day 29: 10 minutes AMRAP (short breaks between sets if needed) 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, 15 air squats.
• Day 30: Today’s workout will take a bit longer than other days, so set aside a little bit more time than normal!

      - 20 lunges, 15 push-ups (5 rounds)–decrease push-up reps if needed 

      - 15 sit-ups, 15 air squats (5 rounds) — or up the reps to 20 each

      - 150 jumping jacks

      - jump rope for one minute

      - 20 vertical jumps

      - 10 burpees

So who's with me?!

Don't Forget Your Vegetables

I'm so proud of myself for finally adopting healthy eating habits. I was so incredibly nervous to make the switch because I was one of those people who assimilated healthy with bland. After almost a year of eating clean, I can confidently report that I couldn't have been more wrong. Eating clean by no means you have to sacrifice taste of or flavor and last night's dinner was the perfect example to prove my point. 

Lately I've been trying to cut out even more carbohydrates so I've been trying more veggie substitutes for pasta and breads. Last night I tried out a new recipe for Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower instead of Macaroni shells and it was UH-MAZING! As for the Sweet Potatoes, I found the recipe a couple months back and I've used it a handful of times. I never really gave Sweet Potatoes a fair chance because I was such a picky eater as a kid, but eating healthier has definitely helped me broaden my food horizon. After using this recipe, I don't see why anyone could not like eating Sweet Potatoes. Not to mention they're crazy good for you.

Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:
2 lbs Sweet Potato, rinsed and cut into 1 inch cubes
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Tbsp Honey
Juice of half a Lemon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour the cubes into a baking dish, or I like to use a 9x9 baking pan. Then, in a small bowl mix together the Olive Oil, Honey, and Lemon Juice. Pour the sweet citrus mixture over the potato cubes and lightly toss them to coat. Bake for an hour, but every 20 minutes, take the pan out to to stir. Lightly sprinkle Sea Salt over top after the potatoes are done baking.

*I find it easier to just set my timer in 20 minute intervals so that I don't forget to come back and stir them. When you don't stir them, some of the potato cubes come out dry.


Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese

Ingredients:
1 kosher salt, as needed, plus 1/2 teaspoon
1 large head cauliflower, rinsed and cut into small florets
1 vegetable oil cooking spray
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/8 tsp garlic powder 
1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1 cup heavy cream ( I didn't have cream so I just substituted whole milk)
2 oz cream cheese, cut into small pieces (I use Neufchâtel Cheese)
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, plus 1/2 cup for top of casserole

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season the water with sea salt. Spray the baking dish with cooking spray. Cook the cauliflower in the boiling water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well and pat between several layers of paper towels to dry. I didn't want the casserole to be soggy so I took extra care in making sure the florets were dry. Transfer the cauliflower to the baking dish and set aside. Bring the cream (or milk) to a simmer in a small saucepan, and whisk in the cream cheese (or Neufchâtel) and mustard until smooth. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese, salt, pepper and garlic and whisk just until the cheese melts, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat, pour over the cauliflower, and stir to combine. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake for about 15 minutes or until browned and bubbly. 

*I didn't add the extra cup of cheese on top because I thought the cheese sauce mixture would be rich enough. But for all you cheese lovers out there, sprinkle away!

The rest of our dinner consisted lean pork chops seasoned with salt and pepper, pan seared on each side for 2 minutes then baked for 20 at 350 and of steamed asparagus; my favorite! I try to fill at leas half of my plate, dish, bowl etc. with vegetables and then divide the remaining half between a protein and the other reaming portion with grains/carbs so this meal was perfect! I also make sure to east my vegetables first, that way I am more likely to get full after eating the real healthy stuff. So don't be shy; give it a try!

Get Fit Friday

I have decided to make Friday's around here "Get Fit Friday" because everyone and their mom follows a "Friday's Favorites" blog post outline. Since fitness has become such a big part of my life I figure that it would only be right for me to share some of my favorite and challenging work outs that have not only helped me lose 25lbs, but have increased my speed and stamina.

Today was one of those days that seemed to drag on for like ever. By the time 4:30 rolled around I was on the fence about going to the gym before I headed home. I played mental ping ping with myself for those last 30 minutes of my shift. Literally going back and forth and back and forth with whether or not I should go, do I even want to go, and the good ol' "I'll just go tomorrow" excuse. Awhile back I saw probably the best advice ever for when you have those second thoughts about going to the gym: 

Put your gym clothes on and then you decide whether or not you still want to go to the gym after you're fully dressed.

Genius! I bring my gym bag with me to work so that I can just change at the office and then head straight across the street to the base gym. So I decided to grab my bag and change before making my final decision. I'm so glad I did because once my shoes were laced up I was suddenly ready to work out. I've been using this little technique for a couple months now and it hasn't failed me yet!

"You're never going to regret working out, but you will almost always regret skipping one."

I severely underestimated this HIIT workout for the treadmill. The incline may not seem very high, but man it was killer. I'm definitely going to be feeling it in my quads and booty tomorrow. Oh, and prepare to sweat. Happy Get Fit Friday!

 

-Showcy

Pucker that Pout!

I feel most beautiful when I feel confident. My recent weight loss has given me the courage to step up my wardrobe to embrace my body instead of hiding it. With that I'm learning to be more playful with my make-up and accessories. I've become quite fond of my lips over the years. I have a subtle top lip and a fairly voluptuous bottom lip, which I think somewhat resembles a heart, and in turn, compliments my heart shaped face. So why not play up my favorite facial feature? My secret weapon for everyday glam has to be my lip stains and lipsticks. I don't know about you ladies, but as soon as I swipe my color of choice on and blot my lips, I instantly feel powerful, sultry, playful, and glamorous, all at once! 

I usually wear lighter pinks or a nude color to the office, but all bets are off when my husband and I go out or have any reason to get even slightly dressed up. I've found that hot pinks, vibrant corals, and burgundy shades compliment my fair skin and dark hair beautifully.

If you want to transform your everyday look play around with different shades and different products when you have some spare time so you can weed out which colors fit you best and which ones you should probably stay clear of. I'm a huge fan of Color Stay Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, I have six or seven different shades and I use them ALL. They're great because the don't smudge and they don't make your lips flaky and dry like some lipsticks do. I usually only have to re-apply once half way through the day, which is super nice and convenient. 

So after you find your perfect shade, pucker up, and show off that pout Girlfriend! 

*I'm wearing "Sweetheart" from Color Stay Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in the photo. And in case anyone was wondering, my earrings and necklace are both from my favorite store; Express.

Lean Green Muffins

Don't let the color fool you; these muffins are quite scrumptious!

I love baking and I love spinach so when I stumbled upon this recipe I knew it was a match made in heaven. Although the recipe as it stands already is pretty healthy I made a few substitutions. I left the original recipe below, but if you want to try it my way: 

• Substitute the all purpose flour for almond flour 
• Use one heaping handful of spinach and a bundle of kale (stems removed) in place of the 6 oz bag of spinach.
• Instead of sugar, use 1/4 cup and 2 Tbsp of Truvia
• Replace the canola oil with unsweetened applesauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup canola oil
• ¾ cup milk
• 1 6 oz. bag of fresh baby spinach
• 2 overly ripe bananas
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
2. Whisk together dry ingredients in a large bowl: flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a blender, place oil, milk, and spinach. Blend on high for about 30 seconds or until completely puréed. Add banana (I squeezed the bananas with my hands before I added them to the blender) and vanilla; blend on low just to mix. 
4. Pour puréed mixture into dry mixture and fold together with a rubber spatula until completely combined.
5. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full  and bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 

*NOTE: I highly suggest letting the muffins cool out of the muffin pan for about an hour before eating. I had a tough time peeling my muffin from the wrapper when it was still warm.

Decorating: Easy as 1-2-3

We're closing in on a year since my husband and I have moved in to our current house. Which, by the way, went by in the blink of an eye! But anyways, because we live in base housing and we are pretty limited on decorating options. I can't wait until we are in the position of purchasing our own home because base housing is definitely not the business. After all is said and done, it would have been less than two years that we've lived here and when the time comes to move out we have to leave everything just the way we found it. So in other words, we can't do any remodeling or additions, and painting the walls would be a bigger headache than it's worth because we would just have to paint back over it anyways. With that being said, our decorating options were pretty limited, but I didn't let that stop me from creating a friendly and cozy living space. You can do the same by using these three key items:

Flowers

Flowers are so friendly and can add a pop of color to any room. I try to have a vase of fresh flowers on the dining room table as often as I can (or whenever my husband decides to surprises me with flowers). Spring and summer time are great in this area because the local farms we are surrounded by have some of the most beautiful arrangements and for such a great price! I prefer fresh flowers, but you can't underestimate the power of a faux flower arrangement put together with flowers from the Dollar Store ;) I prefer to use artificial flowers to decorate our home for fall and winter because you can hand pick your arrangements from a surprisingly pleasant variety without spending a pretty penny.

Candles

I've said it before and I'll say it again; I LOVE CANDLES! Whether they're lit or not, candles instantly make any space cozy and smell wonderful (well, depending on the scent). I have about 20 Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles tucked away, but I am constantly swapping them out to compliment the season and our current decor. Have several, or display them solo, candles are a great 2-for-1 decorative smell good. 

*sidenote: I created the floral arrangement in the photo on the left with materials from the Dollar Store, including the vase and ribbon.

Photos

 

I have a ton of photos displayed throughout the house! Because we live so far from both of our families, I love being surrounded by photos capturing great memories with all of our family and friends. I'm not a big fan of uniformity when it comes to frames. Using different sizes, colors, and patterns adds interest and appeal, especially when I decided to make a photo collage on our wall. I noticed that it also makes it a little harder to detect if pictures aren't hanging 100% straight. If you're in a similar situation as us and are unable to paint your walls, creating photo collages or using larger shelves to display photos, livens up a boring blank white space.

Simple Saturday

Before I hit the gym and the hustle and bustle of my Saturday chores and errands start, I like to carve out a couple hours of uninterrupted "me time." After several long days of work, going to the gym, maintaining the house, and cooking I think I'm entitled to a couple worry free hours on Saturday mornings.

On Friday nights before I go to bed I make sure my alarm is turned off and my phone is on vibrate because I want to take full advantage of getting some thorough beauty sleep and soak up those extra couple hours of sleep. Unfortunately for me, my husband works graveyard shift so he usually wakes me up when he comes home from work in the morning anyways, in which case we pillow talk for a couple minutes and then we both doze off.

After a little more sleep I wake up ready to greet the day, after I check my phone, of course. I update myself on the latest and greatest of the social media world, emails, and texts. After I feel reconnected to the world I immediately proceed downstairs to fire up the coffee pot. I only sip coffee on the weekends and stick to green tea during the week so by the time Saturday rolls around I REALLY look forward to those 2 cups of coffee.

When the coffee is just about done brewing I toast a whole wheat bagel or some whole grain bread to accompany my coffee. For me, there is a strange, but wonderful, relationship between coffee and toast; it's almost impossible for me to have one without the other. When the bread is toasted to my liking (just before it starts to burn around the edges) I spread a thin layer of almond butter on the perfectly toasted bread and then slice up either a banana or apple to also have for breakfast.

I make my way to the couch with my plate and cup of coffee where I cozy up with my favorite plush blanket and light a candle before I catch up on the TV shows I missed from the week while I enjoy my breakfast and cup(s) of coffee.

Following this routine every Saturday morning gets me centered and relaxed before the stress of meal planning, grocery shopping, meal prepping, laundry, household chores, and close to 2 hours at the gym begins. I think it's important to carve out a little bit of our day to do something that makes us happy because we having something to look forward to every day makes it less mundane and keeps the day from dragging. So make sure you are making time to enjoy things that make your life less monotonous and give yourself a moment, an hour, or a morning (like me) to decompress and rest up before you're back at your busy schedule.

Happy Saturday!

Overnight Oatmeal

This is my favorite thing to make for an easy healthy on-the-go breakfast! Not to mention the fact that I can make it at night means I get those few much needed extra minutes of sleep in the morning!

Overnight Oats:

• 1 Cup Rolled or Quick Oats 
• 1/3 Cup of Frozen Berries
• 1 Tbsp Natural Peanut Butter
• 1 Tbsp Chia Seeds
• Unsweetened Almond Milk
• Honey

In a container/tupperware with a tight fitting lid, alternate between layering a 1/2 cup of oats on the bottom of the container with the 1/3 cup of  berries (I use frozen blueberries) and the remaining 1/2 cup of oats. Top with the the Tbsp of peanut butter and Chia Seeds. Pour Almond Milk until it reaches the top of the oats layer. Drizzle honey over top. Secure the lid on the container and place in the fridge. Grab in the morning before you head out the door and enjoy cold at your desk! Oh, and don't forget a spoon like I do some days.

The Inevitable Work Out Slump

We've all been there; that day when you've lost all motivation and you just really don't want to go to the gym or work out. I use to experience this phenomenon quite frequently so I would just go with it and skip the gym for the day. I had lost my excitement for and got bored while I was working out. So I decided to make a couple changes with my preparation and routine and boy did it make a difference.

*I am by no means a certified trainer or fitness professional. I am just sharing some tips that have helped with my motivation and actual progress in the gym.*

1.) Turn Up the Intensity:
     If you find yourself doing the same routines every time you frequent the gym, you're going to get bored. If you're a cardio junky make sure you're rotating sessions between the treadmill, bike, elliptical, etc. Doing the same workout everyday becomes monotonous and will eventually lead to a loss in interest and desire to do it. It's also a good idea to venture out of your comfort zone and try a spin class or a step class. I used to dread doing the cardio parts of my workouts because I felt like I had to run or bike for what felt like forever to see results. But recently I've become obsessed with HIIT cardio to finish up my workout and burn the same amount of calories, if not more, in half the time! Below is one of my favorite HIIT workouts that I rotate throughout my routine:

 

2.) Switch Up Your Music:
     I don't know about you guys, but music plays a HUGE role in the success of my work outs. Part of the reason I had grown tired of working out was because I was listening to the same playlist over and over again. Music gives me that extra pep in my step when working out so now when I start to skip through a lot of the songs on my playlist I know it's time to make a new one.
     Pandora has great stations for upbeat music that is great for cardio:

• Dance Cardio Radio
• Pop Fitness Radio
• Electronic Cardio Radio

     There are also certain artists and songs that always seem to get me pumped up:

• Avicii - "Levels"
• Britney Spears - "Work Bitch"
• Pitbull & Kesha - "Timber"
• Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina - "Stereo Love"

     These songs get me so worked up sometimes that I have to physically stop myself from throwing weird air punches and jazz hands because I finally open my eyes and realize I'm on the treadmill and not the dance floor -_-

3.) Focus:
     Are you one of those people that brings a book or magazine to read while on your preferred cardio machine or who is glued to your cell phone for the duration of your workout and wonder why you're not breaking a sweat or getting results from working out? If so, listen up. Put the phone down and the book away! You're at the gym to work, not for leisure. You're never going to get the results you want if you're not putting in the hard effort. The gym is a place where you are meant to challenge yourself so get ready to sweat.
     Also, take the time you spend at the gym to work on yourself and your fitness goals, don't pay attention to Cindy Lou Who next to you. Besides, it really bothers me when people next to me creep on my stats from my workout while I'm on the elliptical and treadmill. Like, hello, MYOB!

4.) Be Prepared:

• Pack your bag ahead of time and bring it with you. For example, I pack my gym bag the night before and bring it to work with me so that I can head over right after I get off work. You could also keep a spare bag of necessities in your car that way you're always prepared. Days when I have to go home after work because I forgot to pack my gym bag I am less likely to go because I talk myself out of it after a long day at work.
• Plan your work outs ahead of time. This way you will be less likely to wander and waste time. Also, come up with modifications or back up plans in case the gym is crowded and that way you want have to wait to use equipment. It's also important to be mindful of your gym's peak hours to avoid crowds and waiting as well.
•  Set goals for yourself. Chances are you are going to be more successful when you hold yourself accountable for reaching specific goals and it will ultimately lead to more positive fitness results as well. So challenge yourself to add 5 more pounds to your reps or take 10 seconds off your run time, hold that plank for an extra 30 seconds, etc.

Like I said previously, I'm no professional. This list of tips is something that has helped me personally, so I figured I should share it, but I understand that they may not work for everybody. But hey, what's the harm in trying??

Good luck!

A Good Habit

I'm always so proud to see my colorful and healthy haul sprawled out across my kitchen counter after I get back from my weekly trip to the grocery store!

It's been about eight months since my husband and I started taking our eating habits more seriously. If there is one thing I've learned in these last eight months, it's that our diet affects a whole lot more than just our weight. I no longer feel sluggish, bloated, or fatigued, and I've noticed a huge difference in my mental spirit. There used to be days where I was completely unmotivated, in bad moods, or super sad, but for no apparent reason. I am pleased to report that since we have started eating cleaner and smarter, I've had very, very few days like that. 

Weight loss was the motivating factor behind all this. I've been fairly consistent with working out and staying active for about the last five years. Who knows where I would be if I had started eating better then! Like a ton of other people I fell into the trap of "diet foods" and fad dieting. Don't get me wrong, they work, but the results aren't permanent. My weight has yo-yoed because I wasn't making the right choices when it came to my nutrition. I've learned that abs really are made in the kitchen because I'm close to having lost a solid 25 pounds just from changing my nutrition habits. The key was to eat better, not less.

We cut out processed food and introduced more fresh produce and whole foods into our diet. Basically we eat how humans were meant to be eating; natural. So we don't buy anything that contains an ingredient we can't pronounce or know what it is and we pay attention to exactly how many ingredients are included on the labels of the food we're eating. On a weekly basis we'll eat small portions of pasta and bread only if it's 100% whole wheat and made with whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins like chicken and turkey, and slew of leafy greens like kale, spinach, and romaine lettuce. 

I was terrified at first because I thought eating clean meant that I was going to be miserable and starving. However, I have been pleasantly surprised how good healthy foods can be without the help of preservatives and artificial ingredients. I get excited when I find new clean recipes and it makes me feel amazing to know that the food I'm using and the recipes I'm following are good for me! Besides marrying my husband and going to college, changing my eating habits has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Down Day

I have to admit that I've been having a hard time these last couple of days. Late last week my husband was assigned to deploy later on this year. This is something I have been dwelling the back of my mind ever since we were reunited last year, but never actually thought would happen. We've already endured about 18 months apart since we've been together, and let me tell you it is hard. Very hard. The fact that we are still together is a testament of how strong our relationship really is. I know that we can survive more time apart, I just don't want to and I don't think we should have to.

I fantasize about the days when my husband and I can actually enjoy a "normal" life. Not having to worry about military protocol, exercises and being on completely opposite daily and weekly schedules from my husband. Not to mention things like being able to go on spur of the moment weekend getaways, date nights, our own actual home, holidays and family functions, and course, starting a family of our own.

I just feel like we are living in limbo, we're stuck. I am so ready to get off of this train and actually start a life with my husband. I've been harboring these feelings for quite awhile now, but I guess it all just came to ahead when we received word about this most recent deployment.

However, it is times like this when my appreciation for my husband is strongest. Sometimes you just need someone to hold you and tell you everything is going to be okay while your emotions pour out of you. Being showered with kisses and "I love you's" helps too.

Thanks for listening.

Writing Challenge

Since I'm still very new to this entire process I thought it would be a good idea to pick a different topic to write about every day for the rest of the month. Or until I run out of things to write about. And if that's the case I have no business writing a blog anyways. So here we go!

Ten Things I Wish People Knew About Me:

1.) I assure you all that I am much nicer than I look. Well, most of the time. I am one of those unfortunate ladies who suffer from "chronic bitch face." One of my biggest pet peeves is when people tell me I need to smile more or look happy. Look Dude, I'm obviously not smiling for a reason so who the heck are you to tell me what to do? Ugh. Seriously so annoying. I just consider myself to be more stoic than the average person. Not saying that I don't ever smile or look happy, it just takes a little more for me to reflect that than other people.

2.) I would rather spend a Friday night in cuddled up on the couch with my husband and our 2 fat cats watching movies or COPS (because that's just what we do) than going out to a crowded, overpriced bar or club that smells like puke or sweat and is filled with people on a mission to find someone to go home with for the night. Thanks, but no thanks. I already got my man. I'm good over here on the couch.

3.) I have a new found passion and confidence in the kitchen. I didn't have the need or the desire to cook anything until after my husband and I were actually living together. Which wasn't until almost a year AFTER we were married #militaryspouseproblems. Pinterest literally became my best friend. I spent my evenings and weekends with her trying to find the easiest, but yummiest option that mostly involved the ease of a crock pot. As I became more familiar around the kitchen, and noticed that my husband actually enjoyed my cooking, I gained some faith in my abilities and decided to venture on to more difficult dishes. Now I look forward to my days off when I can spend extended periods of time in kitchen cooking dinner while listening to some Lana and enjoying a glass of wine.

4.) I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Is that bad? I went to college, I got married I'm almost twenty-five years old and I still have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life. Not to mention that it's hard enough to find a job these days, let alone a career, so it's not like I'm afforded the option to by choosey. But, yet I want to be choosey because I don't want to go to work every day to do something that I absolutely loathe or even worse, a place where I feel I'm not reaching my full potential. The whole thing is actually pretty scary.

5.) I have four guilty pleasures in life; wine, candles, "trash" TV, and fresh flowers. When it comes to wine, I don't discriminate; red, white, bottle, box, doesn't matter, I'll drink it all. Secondly, Bath and Body Works makes a pretty penny off of me due to the amount of candles I purchase from them. I can't help it; they just smell so amazing! When I want to dive into relax mode the first thing I do is dim the lights and spark up a 3-wick candle. Third, I don't know what I would do without my trashy TV programs to get me through my mundane weeks. I practically live at the BRAVO Network because I love me some Real Housewives, but VHI isn't far behind with my other loves Basketball Wives and Mob Wives. And who can forget Bad Girls Club on Oxygen and Teen Mom 2 on MTV?  Oh, and Dance Moms on Lifetime is always a treat too. No matter what network, I relish in watching a good train wreck on TV. Lastly, flowers. Whether it's Tulips, Sunflowers, Snapdragons, or a bouquet of Roses, fresh flowers have the power to instantly make any room cheerful and more welcoming. A vase of fresh flowers can be friendly and beautiful and even sexy all at the same time and I have a true appreciation for them. 

6.) I have a severe weakness for animals. If my husband would let me, I would bring every stray animal home that I laid my eyes on, but that's never going to happen. I cannot watch a second of those ASPCA commercials without crying and watching movies like Homeward Bound and Fox and the Hound, and even Air Bud, are completely out of the questions because I will lose it. It makes me so incredibly sad how people can be so cruel to helpless animals. I hope there is a special place in Hell for those cowards.

7.) Body image is something I have struggled with for the majority of my life. Sixth grade is when I first started comparing myself to my friends and other girls. I knew I was different and it hurt. I was transported to some pretty dark places because I felt so incredibly bad about myself already, but with the added negativity and judgements of peers I spent a great portion of my life very unhappy and very depressed. It wasn't until I escaped the pressures of high school I slowly began the process of finding happiness by taking control of my health. I'm still not 100% confident, but I'm sure if I stay on the path I'm traveling now and with the incredible encouragement and assurance I get from my husband, I know I will get there one day.

8.) I absolutely adore the relationship I have with my husband. I know it's cliché to say that my husband is my best friend, but he really is. He understands me, he respects me, he accepts me, he encourages me, but he also pushes me, and keeps me in check. Just like any genuine friendship, we have had our fair share of arguments, disagreements, and rough patches, but in spite of these bumps, we are still standing and that only solidifies how strong our bond is. There is no person I would rather come home to, cozy up with, open up to, and share my struggles with than my husband. We are complete goofballs who talk to our cats and make fun of one another in silly voices and call each other absolutely ridiculous names. We get each other. We know what we need from one another. Not to mention we do everything together. I love that he goes grocery shopping with me and I go with him to get his hair cut. We have our routines; I cook dinner and he does the dishes, I do the laundry and he cleans the bathroom, I clean up after him and he cleans up after the cats etc. and it works so well for us. My husband is not only my best friend, but he's my partner. There isn't a single person out there that I would rather be on this roller coaster of a life with.

9.) I tend to hold on to things longer than I should. I will be the first person to admit that I hold grudges. But, I'm human and I'm allowed my faults. I realize that holding grudges makes me bitter and can hinder myself from enjoying life and experiencing happiness but it's also much easier said than done to let go of particular things.

10.) My parent's are not only my heroes. I am forever grateful and indebted to my parents. By the time they were my age they already had two kids and to say it was easy would be an understatement. They struggled, worked hard, and made their way up the ladder to provide such a loving, memorable, and comfortable life for me and my sister. When I was growing up there were times when I felt like they were my sworn enemies and just thought they were the absolute worst, but isn't that typical of teens? Now, when I reflect on those times I understand that they weren't my enemies at all, but my biggest supporters. They pushed me when I needed it, not when I wanted it. They set me up to be responsible and work hard and now because of  that I've been awarded some great opportunities like purchasing my own car at such a young age, graduating from college without any student loans to pay off, becoming accustomed to paying my own bills and not relying on mommy and daddy to take care of me. There are too many young people these days that are lazy, unmotivated, spoiled, and unaware of how the world works that I am so appreciative and proud of how my parents raised my sister and me to be independent, responsible, and hard working.

Unconventional Chocolate Chip Cookies

Last Friday I volunteered to make some sort of baked good for our co-worker's secret birthday celebration today. Silly Me, forgot to get supplies while I did my weekly grocery shopping over the weekend. So last night I panicked for a second, then collected myself when I realized I could just make cookies because I already had all of the ingredients. Wrong. I had everything but the full amount of butter. Panicked again. Quickly ran for my computer as I started to scramble for butter replacements in cookie recipes. Seriously, I don't know what I would do without Google these days. I found a couple different options, but I decided to sort of combine two of them because I was concerned about how the texture of the cookies would come out if I solely used one of them and then worried about the sweetness if I just relied on substituting the other. I figured I was already off course with the recipe I had originally planned to use so why not just go for using both of them. In case you were wondering, or if you ever find yourself in a similar pickle you can use coconut oil and and half the amount of Greek yogurt to substitute for butter. You're welcome. You'll also notice below that I used whole wheat flour instead of regular flour because I just like whole wheat anything and it actually makes my cookies a little fluffier without being dry, which I love!

I was pretty darn skeptical about these cookies were going to turn out as soon as I saw how dark the dough was. My husband likes to lick the beaters after I'm done so I had him give me his opinion about the dough. He said it was good, but I didn't believe him so I tried it for myself and I was pleasantly surprised; it WAS good! The timer goes off and grab the cookie sheet out of the oven, the cookies still look a little darker than I am used to so my skepticism returns. 10 minutes later I scrape one off of the sheet for my husband and one for me. I always wait for his reaction because I can tell instantly if he likes something or doesn't. His eyes lit up and with his mouth still full he told me these were the best cookies I've ever made and asked for another cookie, I kid you not. I'm stoked! I enjoyed the cookie very much too and by this time I'm pretty proud of myself for being resourceful and whipping these chocolate chip creations up.

All in all, the cookies were a hit at work and a hit with my husband so I would feel really guilty keeping this recipe all to myself.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup 2% Greek Yogurt
• 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 3/4 sugar (I used the equivalent for Truvia)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Melt the butter and coconut oil in the microwave so it will mix well. Then, beat butter, Greek yogurt, sugar (or sugar substitute), brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after you add each one. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. 

To make the scooping process easier I like to freeze or refrigerate the dough for a little bit. It makes the distributing process from the bowl to the cookie sheet way less messy! After about 20 mins scoop the hardened dough with a Tbsp scoop (the perfect size!) and place on your cookie sheet with about an inch in between the scoops of dough so the cookies do not form together. Bake for about 13 minutes. Make sure you let them cool for about 10 minutes before you try to remove them from the cookie sheet. After the 10 minutes are up enjoy with a glass of cold milk! 

-Showcy

Easy Peasy Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti Squash has become a weekly staple in our house and I ain't complainin' because it's super easy and makes a ton of food! If you're like me and you don't have the time or the desire to cook dinner every single night, dishes like spaghetti squash are a Godsend. It's cheap, easy, AND healthy!

 

I made my own sauce, but if you're short on time or already have a jar of spaghetti sauce handy feel free to just use that.

  

Sauce Instructions:

- Olive Oil

- Minced Garlic

- 28oz. Can Crushed Tomatoes

- 1 Package Fresh Mushrooms (diced)

- 1 Medium Onion (diced)

- 1 Package Lean Ground Turkey

- Crushed Red Pepper

- Cayenne Pepper

- Oregano

- Basil

- Salt 

- Pepper

Pour about a Tbsp of Olive Oil in a skillet and heat over medium high. Once the oil has warmed up add about a tsp of minced garlic and heat until fragrant, then add the onions. I cook the onions until translucent and then I add the lean ground turkey and cook as described on the package of crumbles. When there is only a little bit of pink left in the turkey meat I added the diced mushrooms. When the meat is cooked fully add the can of diced tomatoes along with a tsp of basil and oregano and salt and pepper to taste. Also, I like to add a couple of dashes of cayenne and crush red pepper for a little kick. Simmer sauce for about 15-20mins.

Squash Instructions:

-Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and while the oven is warming up cut the spaghetti squash in half. (This part is always a struggle for me). Discard the seeds, just like you would with a pumpkin. Coat the insides of the squash with some olive oil and then season with salt and pepper. 

 

Lay the halves of the squash on a baking sheet open side down and bake for 35-45 minutes, depending on the size of the squash. 

 

To check the "doneness" of the squash you should easily be able to poke the skin of the squash with a fork. When the squash is done, flip the squash halves over and let cool for at least 10 minutes. I can't tell you how many times I have dropped the squash because it was still too hot so be cautious. When the squash has cooled to a tolerable level, use a fork to scoop the stringy pulp of the squash for your "noodles." Then just simply top the desired amount of squash with the desired amount of sauce and voila!

And you guys I wasn't joking when I said one squash makes for a ton of food; 5 heaping servings means I don't have to make dinner tomorrow and my husband has lunch for work. SCORE!

Welcome

First, I am new to this whole blogging process so please bear with me as I navigate my way through these new waters. My intention for this blog was to generate a space for sharing some of things I enjoy most out of this silly little thing we call life. I've made a lot of changes in my life within the last couple of years which have directly contributed to a happier, healthier, and more comfortable me. I feel strongly that success is something that should be shared and because of this I hope that my little tiny blog can inspire others to achieve the best versions of themselves. Overall, I want this to be a happy space so I will include details, photos, articles and other "things" that bring me pleasure. I want to encourage conversation and feedback here. So if there are specifics you want to see or have questions to ask, please feel free! 

Thanks,
Jodie