Hunger Games

I read the books.
I saw the movie.
I am in love with both.

Call me nerdy: I hosted a little Hunger Games party with some lovely coworkers who are also big fans of the book. We all made something delish that was inspired by the food in the books! I meant to take pictures of it all, but with all the girly talk and excitement to eat and go see the movie, I totally forgot. I snapped one picture of my cupcakes though:

I attempted putting little flames on the cupcakes, but my artistic skills are not up to par at all. So they ended up like this! Girl on fire! The cupcakes are actually "on fire" looking. I dyed some of the cupcake mix red, some orange, and some yellow. I layered it red-orange-yellow in the cupcake pan, and when you took the wrapping off, they looked like flames! Very crafty, I might add ;)

I also made these following dishes, click on the link for the recipes:

Goat Cheese and Apple Tarts

Blackberry Cobbler

Shortbread

Lastly, I laid out some pita chips (for Peeta of course!), and someone brought over Sushi (for District 4 in the 2nd book that mostly is fishermen).

Like I said, call me nerdy. I'm okay with it. The night was so much fun, and I'm definitely loving trying new recipes for themed parties! I'm seeing a new tradition starting here...

xoxo

Somebody call the WAHHHmbulance!

I am not afraid to admit that when I am sick, I am the BIGGEST baby ever. I don't know how to just suck it up sometimes. I just want to lay on the couch, in flannel pj's and my cozy Illinois sweatshirt, wrapped up in a big blanket (or two), big glass of water and saltine crackers on the side table, and a tv series in the DVD player. (Yes, it has to be a tv series. If I watch a movie, when it ends, I need to get up and change the disc. But a TV series, I'm changing the disc less often because there could be six hours worth of episodes plus special features...can you tell I've thought this all the way through?!).

Yes, when I am sick, I am utterly pathetic. Today is day 2 of staying home sick from work. I will spare you all the details, but let's just say: yesterday wasn't pretty. Today is a little better, but I have no voice. And what good is a teacher without a voice? Or a teacher that can't breathe. Ugh. See? Pathetic.

And while I'm out here in AZ, with no mom to sit and watch tv with all day, and no dad or brother to bring my my soup or refill of water (my family is the best - seriously), when I'm sick and all alone, I get grumpy. How am I supposed to get better if there's no one here to wait on me hand and foot?! Maybe I should start really looking for a boyfriend now... ...nah.

Along with trying to live a healthier lifestyle, I'm also trying to be a better Christian. I kind of forgot about God for a little while, and my faith, and being patient, and praying both in times of need and thankfulness. Maybe that's why I'm all out of whack lately.

I found this little gem on pinterest:

Okay, I'm still going to need my flannel pjs, big comfy blanket, saltine crackers and tv series. But maybe if I'm patient, this awful headache will go away (despite all the meds I took), and maybe if I pray - even just a little bit - my prayers will be answered, and I'll be set to go back to work.

Romans 12:12 ... one of my favorites. I think that's going up on the chalkboard in my kitchen now. :)

Hope everyone is healthy today!

xoxo

Healthy Lifestyle: Challenge 2

Yesterday, I made myself a nice little healthy breakfast. Super easy, super healthy, and something I never really thought of before!

Whole Wheat bagel

Organic peanut butter

Bananas

Strawberries

Glass of Orange Juice

Very yummy and very filling!

xoxo

For the love of wreaths

Thank you, Pinterest for giving me TOO MANY ideas of things to do in my home. A blog will soon be coming on all of the little projects I've completed around my place, but for now, I'll start with my most recent and my most favorite! 

I forgot to take pictures during the making of the wreath, but it was SUPER easy.

Here's what you'll need:

-foam wreath hoop

-burlap ribbon

-fake flowers

-cardboard initial cut out (found at JoAnn Fabrics for $1.99)

-moss covering

-hot glue gun

-scissors

So simple! Just wrap the foam hoops with the burlap ribbon. Secure it with some hot glue, using your trusty hot glue gun. The fake flowers, I chopped down so that some wire was still sticking out enough that I could poke into the foam wreath (secured it again with some hot glue on the under side). The cardboard "J" was a little more difficult and really messy, but I basically just wrapped it with moss lining, little by little, hot-gluing it along the way, cutting off spare pieces. Tied a ribbon around the top to hang it, and....DONE!

I love walking up to my front door and seeing this hanging there!

xoxo

Healthy Lifestyle, Challenge Numero 1

I have been debating writing this blog for a while now, always kind of embarrassed of my situation. However, recently I was talking to some other fellow 20-something females - ladies that I consider strong, independent, and I very much look up to and admire, even though they are my age - and I realized that I am not alone in this situation. So, here it goes. I'm swallowing my embarrassment and I'm going to start being open and honest about this struggle I've been dealing with:

my weight.

*GASP* How could I? No self-respecting woman would ever talk openly about her weight in public! Let alone the world-wide web!

Too. Effing. Bad.

Now, let me just preface this by saying, I'm little. I already know this. I'm 5'2", and much smaller than other people I know. But for my height and age, I am not in the "healthy" category.

SO...here it goes. Me vowing to live a healthier lifestyle.

First: I'm going to make it a point to cook healthy meals at least 4-5 nights a week.

Second: No beer. Yikes. This will be a hard one to accomplish. But it needs to be done.

Third: I'm going to complete the couch-to-5k plan, and I'm going to RUN my first 5k. That's right. No walking, no breaks. Just running. Find the plan here.

Fourth: I will lose 15 lbs by my the time of my dear friends wedding that I'm standing up in on September 22. That's a little over 6 months. 

Today was challenge #1.

I cooked this great meal:

Lemon Rosemary Salmon (recipe found here)

Doesn't it look simply yummy?? Challenge #1 complete!

Cheers to healthiness!

xoxo