Ok, so not me physically.
That hasn't happened yet.
But I'll keep you posted when it does.
I'm now a .com!!!!
You can find me and all of my random baking, fitness, and diy at emjayscourse.com
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Friday, March 6, 2015
Vegetable Polenta Bake
Hi, friends. I hope all of you are having a great week.
Life of voluntary unemployment is fun so far. I've been spending the week in a Substitute Teacher training class (because it could be useful someday) and doing all sorts of things I never got around to doing, like visiting the gardens again, painting pottery, and spending afternoons taking pictures. Here's to bigger and better adventures!
A few weeks ago, I signed up for the "Casserole Club" at my local Whole Foods. I've been in a dinner rut lately and desperately needed some new ideas, so when I saw that I would be coming home with three meals I just had to sign up. The woman who led the class, Leilani, is the Demo Specialist at Whole Foods Wilmington. Along with the other ladies in the group, she was so welcoming and fun to work with. It was nice to spend the evening sipping on a glass of wine and playing with food!
The meal I'm sharing (with Leilani's permission) today is a super easy Vegetable Polenta Bake. I totally admit that I didn't know what the heck polenta was before this class. FYI: It's basically grits made from cornmeal.
If you're looking for something new to try for dinner, look no further. This dish is full of veggie goodness and hello, it's topped with cheese... my favorite food group :)
Vegetable Polenta Bake
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced, divided
26 ounces diced tomatoes in their juices
1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus more for garnish if desired
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 bunch kale, center stems removed and roughly chopped
1 (18-ounce) roll precooked polenta
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms and saute until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and saute another minute. Add the tomatoes, spices, and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper, Simmer over low heat until thickened, about 20 minutes longer.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil and garlic in a large frying pan over medium-low heat. Add the chopped kale and a pinch of salt and saute until wilted and softened, about 5 minutes.
Cut the polenta into 10 rounds. Arrange 9 slices on the bottom of an 8" baking dish, cutting the remaining round to fill in gaps. Top with the kale mixture, then top with the tomato sauce mixture. Sprinkle the cheese on top and bake until the cheese has melted, about 20-30 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
What are your plans for this weekend?
Do you like polenta?
Life of voluntary unemployment is fun so far. I've been spending the week in a Substitute Teacher training class (because it could be useful someday) and doing all sorts of things I never got around to doing, like visiting the gardens again, painting pottery, and spending afternoons taking pictures. Here's to bigger and better adventures!
A few weeks ago, I signed up for the "Casserole Club" at my local Whole Foods. I've been in a dinner rut lately and desperately needed some new ideas, so when I saw that I would be coming home with three meals I just had to sign up. The woman who led the class, Leilani, is the Demo Specialist at Whole Foods Wilmington. Along with the other ladies in the group, she was so welcoming and fun to work with. It was nice to spend the evening sipping on a glass of wine and playing with food!
The meal I'm sharing (with Leilani's permission) today is a super easy Vegetable Polenta Bake. I totally admit that I didn't know what the heck polenta was before this class. FYI: It's basically grits made from cornmeal.
If you're looking for something new to try for dinner, look no further. This dish is full of veggie goodness and hello, it's topped with cheese... my favorite food group :)
Vegetable Polenta Bake
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced, divided
26 ounces diced tomatoes in their juices
1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus more for garnish if desired
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 bunch kale, center stems removed and roughly chopped
1 (18-ounce) roll precooked polenta
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms and saute until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and saute another minute. Add the tomatoes, spices, and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper, Simmer over low heat until thickened, about 20 minutes longer.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil and garlic in a large frying pan over medium-low heat. Add the chopped kale and a pinch of salt and saute until wilted and softened, about 5 minutes.
Cut the polenta into 10 rounds. Arrange 9 slices on the bottom of an 8" baking dish, cutting the remaining round to fill in gaps. Top with the kale mixture, then top with the tomato sauce mixture. Sprinkle the cheese on top and bake until the cheese has melted, about 20-30 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
What are your plans for this weekend?
Do you like polenta?
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Homemade Bath Bombs
Good Morning, friends! I hope all of you are well ;)
The past few days have been pretty great! Lots of relaxing, a little learning, and a little crafting. There's no better way to spend time!
In the spirit of trying to eat cleaner and to be more conscious of what's in my foods, I thought that I should be more aware of what's in my beauty products as well. What I put on my body should be just as important as what I put in my body, right??
These Homemade Bath Bombs are a much better alternative to many store-bought bath fizzies. No crazy chemicals or funky dyes here! They're so easy to make and can be so easily customized for any occasion or taste. Use any shape of silicone mold and use any scent or essential oil. The possibilities are truly endless.
Homemade Bath Bombs
Recipe from Dixie Crystals
What you need:
1/2 cup citric acid
1 cup baking soda
1/ 4 cup extra fine granulated sugar
Witch hazel (in a squirt bottle)
Fragrance/essential oil
Silicone mold
How to make them:
Mix the first 3 ingredients in a bowl. Break apart any clumps with a spoon. Add the essential oil/fragrance, just a few drops at a time. FYI: a few drops go a long way. Mix up the mixture evenly. Squirt in the witch hazel, a little at a time, stirring to combine. Only add a few drops at a time so that the mixture to start the fizzing process. Once the mixture seems moist enough to pack together like damp sand, distribute the mixture evenly between your molds, but only fill the molds about 1/2 full. Press the mixture firmly into the mold. The more compacted the mixture is, the better the bath bomb will hold up. Let the bath bombs set up and dry for at least 2 hours to overnight, depending on how wet your mixture is.
Tips & Tricks:
To be on the safe side, I let mine sit for well over 24 hours to dry. They just seemed too damp after a few hours! And they turned out pretty great! I also halved the recipe because I didn't have enough baking soda. I ended up with four bath bombs, so if you follow the recipe as-is, you will get at least 8. I used Now Foods Lemongrass Essential Oil that I picked up at Whole Foods, but it's available on Amazon too.
So go make these, take a bath, and relax :)
Does anyone else wish they enjoyed baths more than they actually do?? Ha!
The past few days have been pretty great! Lots of relaxing, a little learning, and a little crafting. There's no better way to spend time!
In the spirit of trying to eat cleaner and to be more conscious of what's in my foods, I thought that I should be more aware of what's in my beauty products as well. What I put on my body should be just as important as what I put in my body, right??
These Homemade Bath Bombs are a much better alternative to many store-bought bath fizzies. No crazy chemicals or funky dyes here! They're so easy to make and can be so easily customized for any occasion or taste. Use any shape of silicone mold and use any scent or essential oil. The possibilities are truly endless.
Homemade Bath Bombs
Recipe from Dixie Crystals
What you need:
1/2 cup citric acid
1 cup baking soda
1/ 4 cup extra fine granulated sugar
Witch hazel (in a squirt bottle)
Fragrance/essential oil
Silicone mold
How to make them:
Mix the first 3 ingredients in a bowl. Break apart any clumps with a spoon. Add the essential oil/fragrance, just a few drops at a time. FYI: a few drops go a long way. Mix up the mixture evenly. Squirt in the witch hazel, a little at a time, stirring to combine. Only add a few drops at a time so that the mixture to start the fizzing process. Once the mixture seems moist enough to pack together like damp sand, distribute the mixture evenly between your molds, but only fill the molds about 1/2 full. Press the mixture firmly into the mold. The more compacted the mixture is, the better the bath bomb will hold up. Let the bath bombs set up and dry for at least 2 hours to overnight, depending on how wet your mixture is.
Tips & Tricks:
To be on the safe side, I let mine sit for well over 24 hours to dry. They just seemed too damp after a few hours! And they turned out pretty great! I also halved the recipe because I didn't have enough baking soda. I ended up with four bath bombs, so if you follow the recipe as-is, you will get at least 8. I used Now Foods Lemongrass Essential Oil that I picked up at Whole Foods, but it's available on Amazon too.
So go make these, take a bath, and relax :)
Does anyone else wish they enjoyed baths more than they actually do?? Ha!
Monday, March 2, 2015
Body-Weight Blast Workout
Hello, hello! I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend are well on your way to a great week. I've had my coffee fix, so I know it's going to be a good day :)
I spent the weekend on Hatteras Island with my parents and celebrated my dad's birthday (which is actually tomorrow) and made him a Boston Creme Pie (cake?) for dessert. Happy Birthday Daddy!!! Though I never look forward to the driving part, it was nice to be spoiled by my parents and to spend time with my friend, Mary Beth. I miss them all so much! The weather this weekend was less than glorious (as was most of February), but I'm so excited that spring will soon be here.
And speaking of spring... it's already March!! Time to get my butt in gear and get ready for summer! Time to get back to a more plant-based diet and more consistent workouts. I'm ready and I'm excited.
With that in mind, here's a super fun workout inspired by the Insanity classes that I've been taking at 02 Fitness. Jana is the instructor and she rocks! She is so motivational and inspiring. Even though I feel like I'm going to die in the middle of her class, I leave feeling so refreshed and alive.
As always, please listen to your body and take breaks when you need them. Modify the intensity as needed and be sure to hydrate! If you have questions about any of the exercises I've listed, please do not hesitate to leave a comment below :)
Cheers to a healthy and happy week!
I'll be back on Wednesday with a fun diy beauty project.
I spent the weekend on Hatteras Island with my parents and celebrated my dad's birthday (which is actually tomorrow) and made him a Boston Creme Pie (cake?) for dessert. Happy Birthday Daddy!!! Though I never look forward to the driving part, it was nice to be spoiled by my parents and to spend time with my friend, Mary Beth. I miss them all so much! The weather this weekend was less than glorious (as was most of February), but I'm so excited that spring will soon be here.
And speaking of spring... it's already March!! Time to get my butt in gear and get ready for summer! Time to get back to a more plant-based diet and more consistent workouts. I'm ready and I'm excited.
With that in mind, here's a super fun workout inspired by the Insanity classes that I've been taking at 02 Fitness. Jana is the instructor and she rocks! She is so motivational and inspiring. Even though I feel like I'm going to die in the middle of her class, I leave feeling so refreshed and alive.
As always, please listen to your body and take breaks when you need them. Modify the intensity as needed and be sure to hydrate! If you have questions about any of the exercises I've listed, please do not hesitate to leave a comment below :)
Cheers to a healthy and happy week!
I'll be back on Wednesday with a fun diy beauty project.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Homemade Graham Crackers
Hi, friends. I apologize for the long silence. I've had a lot going on... a rough break-up, a job change, and a I've got lot of packing ahead of me. I had so many fun Valentine things planned for this little space on the Internet, but plans change and they will have to wait until next year.
On a happier note, this little blog will soon have a new look and a new domain name thanks to Jenny. Stay tuned :)
Call me crazy, but I'm making my best effort to make my own food. I've already gone without buying bread since December and I'm trying to make all of my snacks from scratch, too. I love knowing exactly what is in my food and I love that it's preservative free.
No high-fructose corn syrup and other crap here. Just real food for this real girl. Simplicity is what I'm striving for and these graham crackers do the trick! They are delicious and make the perfect pairing for your afternoon coffee :)
Homemade Graham Crackers
Recipe from Kitchen Simplicity
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup brown sugar, packed
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
¼ cup honey
¼ cup water
Directions:
In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the first six ingredients and combine. Add the butter and mix until the mixture has turned to coarse crumbs. Next, add the honey and water. Mix until incorporated and the dough is easily gathered into a ball.
Shape the dough into a ball and roll it out until it is about 1/4" thick. Cut the dough into desired shapes and sizes. Place crackers on a baking sheet with a on-stick baking mat (or use parchment paper) on a baking sheet. Re-roll the remaining dough until all of dough is used.
Bake at 350ºF for 15 minutes,or until slightly darkened around edges. The graham crackers should be slightly soft, as they will harden as they cool off. Remove the graham crackers and place on a wire wrack to cool. Store in an airtight container for 1 week, or freeze for longer storage.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Please stop by on Monday for a sweaty workout :)
On a happier note, this little blog will soon have a new look and a new domain name thanks to Jenny. Stay tuned :)
Call me crazy, but I'm making my best effort to make my own food. I've already gone without buying bread since December and I'm trying to make all of my snacks from scratch, too. I love knowing exactly what is in my food and I love that it's preservative free.
No high-fructose corn syrup and other crap here. Just real food for this real girl. Simplicity is what I'm striving for and these graham crackers do the trick! They are delicious and make the perfect pairing for your afternoon coffee :)
Homemade Graham Crackers
Recipe from Kitchen Simplicity
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup brown sugar, packed
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
¼ cup honey
¼ cup water
Directions:
In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the first six ingredients and combine. Add the butter and mix until the mixture has turned to coarse crumbs. Next, add the honey and water. Mix until incorporated and the dough is easily gathered into a ball.
Shape the dough into a ball and roll it out until it is about 1/4" thick. Cut the dough into desired shapes and sizes. Place crackers on a baking sheet with a on-stick baking mat (or use parchment paper) on a baking sheet. Re-roll the remaining dough until all of dough is used.
Bake at 350ºF for 15 minutes,or until slightly darkened around edges. The graham crackers should be slightly soft, as they will harden as they cool off. Remove the graham crackers and place on a wire wrack to cool. Store in an airtight container for 1 week, or freeze for longer storage.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Please stop by on Monday for a sweaty workout :)
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Technology and a Healthy Lifestyle
Hi, friends! How are you?
A few weeks ago, I discovered Oscar Insurance. This technology-centered health insurance company inspired me to share how technology helps me stay on track with my fitness journey. Oscar provides health insurance in New Jersey and New York and uses technology in all aspects of their company. They have an app to provide their members a more concise process for their healthcare and even give each member a Misfit band to earn back cash rewards every month they meet their goals. Just like Oscar, this little blog space of mine, where I share my workouts and recipes with you, wouldn’t be possible without technology.
A few weeks ago, I discovered Oscar Insurance. This technology-centered health insurance company inspired me to share how technology helps me stay on track with my fitness journey. Oscar provides health insurance in New Jersey and New York and uses technology in all aspects of their company. They have an app to provide their members a more concise process for their healthcare and even give each member a Misfit band to earn back cash rewards every month they meet their goals. Just like Oscar, this little blog space of mine, where I share my workouts and recipes with you, wouldn’t be possible without technology.
You can imagine that as a 24-year old, my life is greatly
affected by technology. Technology affects practically every facet of my life, but
it has especially impacted my personal fitness journey and my desire to live a
healthy lifestyle.
From useful apps and
tools to the healthy lifestyle blogs I personally follow, technology has been
very helpful in my journey to live a healthy life.
A few apps I love:
I’ll be the first to admit that I prefer tracking food
and activities the old fashioned way, with a pen and paper. However, there are
so many really neat apps out there with huge databases and a lot of knowledge.
These apps save a lot of time, whether you are trying to figure out your macros
for the day or if you just want to know the nutrition information for what you
just ate at a chain restaurant. MyFItnessPal,
Runkeeper, and Misfit are some popular ones. Be sure to check them out!
The blogs I love:
I can certainly say that several ladies out in blog land
have inspired my personal fitness journey. I find so many great-tasting healthy
recipes, challenging workouts, and motivation from the blogs I follow. I have a
long list of bloggers that I follow, but I’ll shout out my favorite two: Gina
at The Fitnessista and Tina at Carrots 'N' Cake. They have both been so inspiring to
me and they’re so real! They encourage rest days, mindful eating, and they’re
not ashamed of eating cake every now and then! These ladies rock :)
Activity trackers:
Though I don’t have a FitBit or any other personal activity
tracker of sorts, they can be incredibly useful. I know several people who wear
them and aim to walk 10,000 steps a day. I’m a competitive person, so I would
be constantly looking at my wrist, trying to surpass that goal each day. When
it comes to running, my Garmin Forerunner GPS watch saves the say. I have a
hard time pacing myself when I’m running outdoors, and this watch takes away
any guesswork. I know my pace, how many calories I’m burning, and I can even
wear a heart rate strap to monitor my heart rate. It’s also great to be able to
look back at past runs and see my improvement.
Hoping to inspire readers:
Blogging about my personal fitness and health journey has
almost held me accountable for making the right choices and working to be my
best. I want to share my progress with all of you and I really enjoy sharing
tasty recipes and fun workouts. Knowing that someone out there might be
inspired by me is a real confidence booster and only encourages me to try more
healthy recipes and to create challenging and effective workouts to share with
all of you :)
*I was not compensated in any form for writing this post. I'm simply thrilled that I was asked to share more of my fitness journey with all of you :)
Friday, January 23, 2015
Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Hi, friends. I hope all of you are having an awesome Friday. One more day of work until my "weekend"!
It's sort of sad, but I've been waiting for the weekend all week long. I'm still catching up from being away last weekend. When I spend the weekend traveling, I spend more time in the car than anything and I don't get my chores done, let alone get in much rest. #timemanagementproblems
I've been doing my best at making exercise a big priority. At the end of a long day, the last thing I want to do is put on spandex and sweat, but I never regret it and I always feel much better afterwards.
It's sort of sad, but I've been waiting for the weekend all week long. I'm still catching up from being away last weekend. When I spend the weekend traveling, I spend more time in the car than anything and I don't get my chores done, let alone get in much rest. #timemanagementproblems
I've been doing my best at making exercise a big priority. At the end of a long day, the last thing I want to do is put on spandex and sweat, but I never regret it and I always feel much better afterwards.
Other than some exercise, I've been a hard-core homebody lately, especially after I get home from work. If it's dark and cold, I'm not going anywhere :)
I'm hanging out with these guys...
I'm hanging out with these guys...
And nothing is more appropriate for cold weather than soup. I. Love. Soup. And you will love this soup recipe that I'm sharing with you today. I just started throwing together ingredients and the result was awesome!
This Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup is sure to warm you up and it's actually pretty healthy for you. It's not a cream base soup, so it's a lot lower in fat and it's full of protein and fiber. Yum!
This Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup is sure to warm you up and it's actually pretty healthy for you. It's not a cream base soup, so it's a lot lower in fat and it's full of protein and fiber. Yum!
Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Ingredients:
Rotisserie chicken, shredded (or 2 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded)
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained (around 14-15 ounces)
1 can of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (around 14-15 ounces)
1 can of diced tomatoes with peppers (around 14-15 ounces)
1 can of corn (around 10 ounces)
1 can of tomato paste (around 6 ounces)
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
4 cups of chicken broth
5 small corn tortillas, cut into strips
salt, pepper, chili powder, onion powder, to taste
Shredded cheese (monterey jack, cheddar, or mexican blend), optional
Directions:
In a dutch oven or large pot, sautee the carrots and onions in olive oil until tender. Add the remaining ingredients (except for chicken and tortilla strips). Cook on high heat until the soup is boiling. Lower the heat to medium and cook for another ten minutes. Add the chicken and tortilla strips and cook for a few more minutes. Add shredded cheese to individual bowls, if desired.
Are you a soup lover? If so, what are your favorite homemade soups?
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Stretch It Out Playlist + This Week's Workouts
Hello, hello. How are we? I'm having a great week so far. Today is day two back at work after a long weekend and I'm trying to get back into the work groove. It's rough, but I'll get there :)
I've been making more of an effort at meal planning lately. My typical pattern has been eggs/whole grains at breakfast, a salad at lunch, a few snacks through the day, then winging it for dinner. It's usually quite sad. It's hard to work a full day, go the gym, and then cook a real dinner.
It sort of comical to think that I can't seem to manage my time well enough to cook dinner, but so many other women out there do all of it plus have children to raise #firstworldproblems
When you already have chopped veggies, cooked protein, cooked whole grains, etc. it's much easier to throw together a quick and healthy meal.
Friends who food prep: What are your go-to recipes/meal ideas?
I've also been making an effort to stretch more. The research is definitely confusing when it comes to whether or not stretching is necessary, but if it feels good, so it!
Here's a fun playlist for stretching...
This week's workouts:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Spin class
Wednesday: Body Pump
Thursday: Spin class + hiit
Friday: 4-mile run
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Zumba
Here's to a healthy week :)
Monday, January 19, 2015
Paint Chip Valentine Bookmarks
Hi, friends. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.
Right now, I'm on I-95 making my way back to Wilmington. I had a great time visiting my grandma and family in Maryland. It was also great to spend so much time with my mom. I miss that lady :) And it was also nice to spend time in the wonderlands that are Ikea and REI.
I have a fun Valentine craft for you all today... Paint Chip Valentine Bookmarks!
It costs practically nothing. I sort of stole the paint chips from a hardware store (and it shall remained unnamed), the ribbon was 50 cents, and the heart hole punch was $2.13 from Michael's (with a mobile coupon). I can only imagine how much fun I will have with that hole punch for future Valentine days-- totally worth the $2.13.
Anyway, I love this craft because it doesn't require any artistic or creative ability whatsoever. A child could make these!
You will need some paint chips, a regular circular hole punch, a heart hole punch, ribbon, and scissors or a paper cutter.
Cut or trim the paint chips to the desired size. Use the hole punches to make fun patters or designs. Finally, add ribbon through the circular hole. Ta-da! And now you have a fun Valentine's book mark. If you have kiddos or co-workers, these would be so fun to pass out on Valentine's Day.
Right now, I'm on I-95 making my way back to Wilmington. I had a great time visiting my grandma and family in Maryland. It was also great to spend so much time with my mom. I miss that lady :) And it was also nice to spend time in the wonderlands that are Ikea and REI.
I have a fun Valentine craft for you all today... Paint Chip Valentine Bookmarks!
It costs practically nothing. I sort of stole the paint chips from a hardware store (and it shall remained unnamed), the ribbon was 50 cents, and the heart hole punch was $2.13 from Michael's (with a mobile coupon). I can only imagine how much fun I will have with that hole punch for future Valentine days-- totally worth the $2.13.
Anyway, I love this craft because it doesn't require any artistic or creative ability whatsoever. A child could make these!
You will need some paint chips, a regular circular hole punch, a heart hole punch, ribbon, and scissors or a paper cutter.
Cut or trim the paint chips to the desired size. Use the hole punches to make fun patters or designs. Finally, add ribbon through the circular hole. Ta-da! And now you have a fun Valentine's book mark. If you have kiddos or co-workers, these would be so fun to pass out on Valentine's Day.
Happy Valentine crafting & have a wonderful week :)
If you're looking for more DIY Valentine ideas, check out this post.
Friday, January 16, 2015
DIY Valentine Round-up
Hi, friends. Happy Friday!!! I hope all of you had a great week and that you have an even better weekend. I'm heading out to Maryland to see my grandma tomorrow morning and I couldn't be more excited. I'm also pretty happy about spending some quality time with my mom. We're meeting up in a central locating and making the drive together. Road trip!!
I've been spending some of my free crafting up some Valentine-themed goodies over the last few weeks. It's no surprise that I adore Valentine's Day. I'm a Valentine baby after all. Yes, my parents were deprived of a Valentine's day until I reached dating age.
Valentine's Day is all about the good stuff: hearts, candy, and love. It's perfectly acceptable (and preferred) to get a little creative and have some fun with diy gifts and tokens of love. Here are just a few ideas of mine from years past. I'm sure your Valentine will adore anything you gift them, as long as it comes from the heart <3
Strawberry Bread with Glaze
Valentine Burlap Votive Holders
Candy-Filled Valentine Flower Pots
Fabric Button Earrings
Valentine Pennant Wreath
Polymer Clay Heart Charms
DIY Heart Banner
I'll be back next with more fitness, recipes, and new diy Valentine ideas.
I've been spending some of my free crafting up some Valentine-themed goodies over the last few weeks. It's no surprise that I adore Valentine's Day. I'm a Valentine baby after all. Yes, my parents were deprived of a Valentine's day until I reached dating age.
Valentine's Day is all about the good stuff: hearts, candy, and love. It's perfectly acceptable (and preferred) to get a little creative and have some fun with diy gifts and tokens of love. Here are just a few ideas of mine from years past. I'm sure your Valentine will adore anything you gift them, as long as it comes from the heart <3
Strawberry Bread with Glaze
Valentine Burlap Votive Holders
Candy-Filled Valentine Flower Pots
Fabric Button Earrings
Valentine Pennant Wreath
Polymer Clay Heart Charms
DIY Heart Banner
I'll be back next with more fitness, recipes, and new diy Valentine ideas.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Get (Financially) Organized
Hi, friends. I hope you're off to a wonderful week.
The weather is quite gloomy here in in Wilmington, but it's a wonderful morning nonetheless. The weekend is finally in view! I'm so excited to me making a trip to Maryland to see my grandmother. It's been way too long. I'm also hoping for snow. It's not looking very likely, but fingers and toes are crossed :)
I wanted to talk a little bit about finances today. A new year is refreshing in so many ways. We can make resolutions, we can reinvent ourselves, we can start the year off with organization in mind, and we can finally get our finances in order.
It's been my goal for practically forever to own my own home by the time I'm 25. And at 23, that goal is right around the corner. I have a down-payment saved up and I feel ready. I still need to find that perfect home, and I'm not exactly sure that Wilmington is where I want to call home for the next dozen or so chapters of my life. At least not with a mortgage.
Thinking about home-buying makes me a little nervous when it comes to finances. I know better than to tackle a mortgage that I can't pay and I know that any renovations will probably come later than sooner, but the unknown is sort of terrifying. What if I become unemployed? What if I get sick? The unknown is scary. Especially when it comes to sustaining the life that you've become accustomed to.
With the end of 2014, I finally downloaded an app (Mint) that can help me get my finances in order and at my fingertip. I first learned about Mint on Cupcakes and Cashmere and I am hooked! I vowed that as 2015 drew near, every purchase I made would be documented and categorized.
I used to hand-write my income and expenses back in the day, when I rebelled against getting a smartphone. But now that I'm permanently glued to the darn thing, downloading an app made more sense for me.
However, if you prefer the ol' pen and paper method, I made a weekly spending hand-out for ya! Just right-click to save it or print it. At the end of the week, take a look at what you are actually spending. Can you make reductions for unnecessary purchases? Are you spending more than you are making? Make a budget and allow for a savings category. It's a good idea to save 10-20% of your income each month. It's good to be prepared when a rainy day arrives.From there, allow for rent, food expenses, clothing, transportation, utilities, entertainment, etc.
Okay, now back to Mint...
So what is Mint and what does it do? It's a free app that lets you have complete control over your income and expenses. You can sync your various financial accounts to it and you can see a complete overview with your income, expenses, and net worth at any moment.
You can set budgets for yourself and easily monitor how close you are to approaching the max of a specific budget category. Mint reminds you when bills are due and you can even set up bill payment with Mint. I'm sure that Mint can be used for a hundred other things, but with just two bank accounts and a single credit card, my finances are pretty simple.
This is a sample from Mint.com of what the app looks like on your smartphone. This screenshot is a little dated, but the basics are still the same. All of your accounts are right at your fingertips. For a control freak that craves organization, this app is amazing.
Why do I love mint? Mint helps me save money. When you can easily look at your phone and see exactly how much you've spent at restaurants this month, you might think again about going out for dinner and might cook at home instead. It has certainly helped me cut back on spending. Especially the unnecessary spending. Do I really need to buy another iced coffee when I can make it at home?
If you need a little help with getting your finances organized, I highly recommend Mint. And no, this was not any sort of paid endorsement. I just adore Mint.
Friends, how do you stay financially organized?
Any financial goals for 2015?
The weather is quite gloomy here in in Wilmington, but it's a wonderful morning nonetheless. The weekend is finally in view! I'm so excited to me making a trip to Maryland to see my grandmother. It's been way too long. I'm also hoping for snow. It's not looking very likely, but fingers and toes are crossed :)
I wanted to talk a little bit about finances today. A new year is refreshing in so many ways. We can make resolutions, we can reinvent ourselves, we can start the year off with organization in mind, and we can finally get our finances in order.
It's been my goal for practically forever to own my own home by the time I'm 25. And at 23, that goal is right around the corner. I have a down-payment saved up and I feel ready. I still need to find that perfect home, and I'm not exactly sure that Wilmington is where I want to call home for the next dozen or so chapters of my life. At least not with a mortgage.
Thinking about home-buying makes me a little nervous when it comes to finances. I know better than to tackle a mortgage that I can't pay and I know that any renovations will probably come later than sooner, but the unknown is sort of terrifying. What if I become unemployed? What if I get sick? The unknown is scary. Especially when it comes to sustaining the life that you've become accustomed to.
With the end of 2014, I finally downloaded an app (Mint) that can help me get my finances in order and at my fingertip. I first learned about Mint on Cupcakes and Cashmere and I am hooked! I vowed that as 2015 drew near, every purchase I made would be documented and categorized.
I used to hand-write my income and expenses back in the day, when I rebelled against getting a smartphone. But now that I'm permanently glued to the darn thing, downloading an app made more sense for me.
However, if you prefer the ol' pen and paper method, I made a weekly spending hand-out for ya! Just right-click to save it or print it. At the end of the week, take a look at what you are actually spending. Can you make reductions for unnecessary purchases? Are you spending more than you are making? Make a budget and allow for a savings category. It's a good idea to save 10-20% of your income each month. It's good to be prepared when a rainy day arrives.From there, allow for rent, food expenses, clothing, transportation, utilities, entertainment, etc.
Okay, now back to Mint...
So what is Mint and what does it do? It's a free app that lets you have complete control over your income and expenses. You can sync your various financial accounts to it and you can see a complete overview with your income, expenses, and net worth at any moment.
You can set budgets for yourself and easily monitor how close you are to approaching the max of a specific budget category. Mint reminds you when bills are due and you can even set up bill payment with Mint. I'm sure that Mint can be used for a hundred other things, but with just two bank accounts and a single credit card, my finances are pretty simple.
This is a sample from Mint.com of what the app looks like on your smartphone. This screenshot is a little dated, but the basics are still the same. All of your accounts are right at your fingertips. For a control freak that craves organization, this app is amazing.
Why do I love mint? Mint helps me save money. When you can easily look at your phone and see exactly how much you've spent at restaurants this month, you might think again about going out for dinner and might cook at home instead. It has certainly helped me cut back on spending. Especially the unnecessary spending. Do I really need to buy another iced coffee when I can make it at home?
If you need a little help with getting your finances organized, I highly recommend Mint. And no, this was not any sort of paid endorsement. I just adore Mint.
Friends, how do you stay financially organized?
Any financial goals for 2015?
Monday, January 12, 2015
Honey Dijon Chicken
Hi, friends. How are you? I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend.
I took a Zumba class with a new-to-me instructor and it was wonderful. I had a ton of fun shakin' it and I have now found my new favorite Sunday activity.
I've also been crafting up some fun Valentine crafts and recipes. I might be biased (hello, Valentine's birthday), but there's something so fun about hearts, candy, chocolate, and love! I'll be sharing them over the next few weeks.
When life seems a little crazy, it is so much easier to have a simple dinner to make. Meal planning also helps, too. In case you're stuck in a quick dinner rut, here's a delicious and easy dinner idea for you: Honey Dijon Chicken.
I've totally made a different version of this recipe before. The original is here. I didn't have lemon juice and I didn't want to add bacon or as much cheese, but it still turned out excellent. Served alongside some fresh steamed green beans, it was a 15 minute dinner success.
Honey Dijon Chicken
adapted from Six Sisters Stuff
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into smaller pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups sliced fresh button mushrooms
1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the first two ingredients and set aside.
Evenly coat the chicken in the olive oil. In a hot skillet over medium heat, cook the chicken (with the lid on) until cooked through. Turn the chicken every few minutes for even browning. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and set aside.
In the same skillet, saute the mushrooms until they are tender. Return the chicken to the skillet and top with cheese and the sauce mixture. Place the lid over the skillet and keep covered until the cheese has melted.
Here's to a wonderful week!
I took a Zumba class with a new-to-me instructor and it was wonderful. I had a ton of fun shakin' it and I have now found my new favorite Sunday activity.
I've also been crafting up some fun Valentine crafts and recipes. I might be biased (hello, Valentine's birthday), but there's something so fun about hearts, candy, chocolate, and love! I'll be sharing them over the next few weeks.
When life seems a little crazy, it is so much easier to have a simple dinner to make. Meal planning also helps, too. In case you're stuck in a quick dinner rut, here's a delicious and easy dinner idea for you: Honey Dijon Chicken.
I've totally made a different version of this recipe before. The original is here. I didn't have lemon juice and I didn't want to add bacon or as much cheese, but it still turned out excellent. Served alongside some fresh steamed green beans, it was a 15 minute dinner success.
Honey Dijon Chicken
adapted from Six Sisters Stuff
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into smaller pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups sliced fresh button mushrooms
1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the first two ingredients and set aside.
Evenly coat the chicken in the olive oil. In a hot skillet over medium heat, cook the chicken (with the lid on) until cooked through. Turn the chicken every few minutes for even browning. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and set aside.
In the same skillet, saute the mushrooms until they are tender. Return the chicken to the skillet and top with cheese and the sauce mixture. Place the lid over the skillet and keep covered until the cheese has melted.
Here's to a wonderful week!
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Hi, friends. I know that most of you are probably steering clear of junk food after the holidays, but in the event that you're looking for a fun treat for the family, I've got you covered. And if you're behaving yourself, pin it or print it, because you will want to make these at some point.
I have some sort of a terrible weakness for junk food and donuts are no exception. Nothing beats the two bakeries in my hometown, but I will occasionally settle for Dunkin or Krispy Kreme.
I love trying to recreate store-bought favorites at home, so on Christmas morning I made Cinnamon Sugar donuts. So good! Just mix up the batter, pour it into the pan, bake, let cool slightly, dip in butter, and roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. So easy and if you have kiddos, they will love to participate.
You can find the recipe here, at Bakerbettie.com.
Hope you all have an amazing weekend!
I have some sort of a terrible weakness for junk food and donuts are no exception. Nothing beats the two bakeries in my hometown, but I will occasionally settle for Dunkin or Krispy Kreme.
I love trying to recreate store-bought favorites at home, so on Christmas morning I made Cinnamon Sugar donuts. So good! Just mix up the batter, pour it into the pan, bake, let cool slightly, dip in butter, and roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. So easy and if you have kiddos, they will love to participate.
You can find the recipe here, at Bakerbettie.com.
Hope you all have an amazing weekend!
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Back to the Grind + This Week's Workouts
Hi, friends. It's Thursday! I hope all of you are having a great week.
I'm in recovery mode from all holiday festivities. We had Christmas with my parents last weekend and we have just now rid the house of all junk food. I'm pretty sure that there's some homemade cookie dough in the freezer, but I'm going to let that stay hidden. And I'm going to convince myself that it's not in there...
I thought I'd share this week's workouts with all of you. My gym offers so many fitness classes, but I had never taken advantage of them until last week. Group fitness used to by myfavoritething, hello I taught group fitness for a living, but I had not seen the inside of a group fitness studio since moving to Wilmington in August. Like I said, last week everything changed.
I took my first Spin Class! It was actually a Les Mills class, RPM. It was also my first Les Mills class, as these classes were not offered in my small town. I had a blast! My legs were burning and the climbs felt oh so good.
I also took my first Zumba class at my gym. Oh how I have missed it! It was with a new instructor (she has been teaching for three years, but it was her first class at my gym) and she rocked it! Great instructors really do make all the difference, but I had almost forgotten how much I love Zumba and how great of a workout it is. I had all sorts of muscle soreness from using muscles I forgot I even had.
And on to this week's workouts...
Monday- Rest day
Tuesday- Spin Class
Wednesday- Body Pump
Thursday- Spin Class
Friday- 30 minutes easy cycle + circuit workout
Saturday- Rest day
Sunday- Zumba
How are you getting your sweat on this week?
I'm in recovery mode from all holiday festivities. We had Christmas with my parents last weekend and we have just now rid the house of all junk food. I'm pretty sure that there's some homemade cookie dough in the freezer, but I'm going to let that stay hidden. And I'm going to convince myself that it's not in there...
I thought I'd share this week's workouts with all of you. My gym offers so many fitness classes, but I had never taken advantage of them until last week. Group fitness used to by myfavoritething, hello I taught group fitness for a living, but I had not seen the inside of a group fitness studio since moving to Wilmington in August. Like I said, last week everything changed.
I took my first Spin Class! It was actually a Les Mills class, RPM. It was also my first Les Mills class, as these classes were not offered in my small town. I had a blast! My legs were burning and the climbs felt oh so good.
I also took my first Zumba class at my gym. Oh how I have missed it! It was with a new instructor (she has been teaching for three years, but it was her first class at my gym) and she rocked it! Great instructors really do make all the difference, but I had almost forgotten how much I love Zumba and how great of a workout it is. I had all sorts of muscle soreness from using muscles I forgot I even had.
And on to this week's workouts...
Monday- Rest day
Tuesday- Spin Class
Wednesday- Body Pump
Thursday- Spin Class
Friday- 30 minutes easy cycle + circuit workout
Saturday- Rest day
Sunday- Zumba
How are you getting your sweat on this week?
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Honey Butter Spread
Well, friends, the weekend is over and I'm back at work. The past few days were such a whirlwind. We had a great time with my parents and visiting our friend, MB. We exchanged gifts, I got to see their Christmas decorations, and I ate my weight in all sorts of good things. It was hard to leave!
On Sunday, I posted a recipe for super easy dinner rolls. If you didn't see it, you can check it out here.
Today, I 'm sharing a delicious honey butter spread that compliments those rolls so beautifully. This honey butter spread is also a great addition to oatmeal and a wonderful spread for muffins and pancakes.
Honey Butter Spread
Recipe by Ina Garten
Makes 3/4 cup
Combine the butter, honey, cinnamon, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Serve at room temperature.
Cheers to a fabulous week :)
Recipe by Ina Garten
Makes 3/4 cup
Ingredients:
1/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
3 tablespoons good honey
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions:
Combine the butter, honey, cinnamon, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Serve at room temperature.
Cheers to a fabulous week :)
Sunday, January 4, 2015
The World's Easiest Dinner Rolls
Hi, friends. I hope you are all having an amazing weekend. I finally got to have Christmas with my parents. It's a super short trip for such a drive... we got here late last night and we're leaving tomorrow afternoon, but it's worth it. I definitely miss not seeing my parents more often!
Recently, I've really started to be more conscious of the types of food I'm eating. I'm not avoiding gluten or going paleo, I'm just trying to avoid foods with a page long ingredient list. And if I can easily make it at home, I don't want to buy the store-bought version if I don't have to. Better for my health and my wallet. Score!
Dinner rolls have an incredibly long ingredient list. Like scary long. Lucky for you, I have a simple recipe for super easy dinner rolls. There are only 4 ingredients (plus water), and if you have a stand mixer, they are even more effortless.
Serve these alongside a hot soup and fresh salad or at your next family dinner. You will love them, I promise!
Recently, I've really started to be more conscious of the types of food I'm eating. I'm not avoiding gluten or going paleo, I'm just trying to avoid foods with a page long ingredient list. And if I can easily make it at home, I don't want to buy the store-bought version if I don't have to. Better for my health and my wallet. Score!
Dinner rolls have an incredibly long ingredient list. Like scary long. Lucky for you, I have a simple recipe for super easy dinner rolls. There are only 4 ingredients (plus water), and if you have a stand mixer, they are even more effortless.
Serve these alongside a hot soup and fresh salad or at your next family dinner. You will love them, I promise!
Ingredients:
3 cups flour (white, wheat, white-wheat, etc.)
2 tsp. Rapid Rise Yeast (you can find a jar of this in
the baking aisle)
1 tsp. salt
1 cup warm water
¼ cup olive oil
Directions:
In a stand mixer*, combine half of the flour and the dry
ingredients. Mix in the water and oil. Mix in the remaining flour and knead for 10-15 minutes
with the dough hook. *No stand mixer? No problem! Just mix it by hand and
knead it by hand. You will get the same results, but it will take a bit longer.
Take the dough out of the mixing bowl and place it down on
your lightly dusted with flour, kitchen counter. Use your hands to spread out
the dough and form your desired shape. Is it really sticky? Wet your hands to
work with the dough.
Shape the dough as desired and place it onto an ungreased baking sheet. Let the dough sit and rest while the oven preheats to 425*F. Bake for 15 minutes, then adjust the temperature to 350*
F and cook for about 10 more minutes.
Stay tuned for a delicious honey butter spread. It's amazing :)
Friday, January 2, 2015
New Year, Stronger You {Workout}
Hi friends and Happy New Year! I can hardly believe that another year has already come and gone. It seems like we were just ringing in 2014. So crazy!
If your goal is to become healthier or more fit for 2015, I'm right there with you. I'm committing to exercising 4-5 times each week and I'm really going to be more conscious of what I'm eating. I hope I can get more of a handle of the whole intuitive eating thing instead of the dreaded 'd' word, dieting.
There's no better way to start the new year off right than with a great sweat session. Hopefully today won't be your first, but if it is, I won't tell :)
May this new year bring a stronger and healthier you!
Happy sweating, friends :)
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