Working Out and Couponing

As I started my Saturday, I sat around feeling a little down, groggy, blah.... I made coffee, let Chester out, and turned the computer on. I sat in front of the computer checking Facebook's latest updates and photos, and a couple of things kept popping up on my screen: Turbo Jam and Couponing.

For those of you who don't know what Turbo Jam is, it's an at home workout program, which is a mix of kickboxing and body sculpting to fast-paced, dance music. Chalene Johnson, the creator of Turbo Jam/Turbo Kick/Turbo Fire/Chalene Extreme, is a fitness guru and grew up going with her mom (who was an aerobics instructor) to the gym. Chalene is amazing. She is such an inspiration to me and to others.

I recently purchased Turbo Jam a few months ago from the main site www.beachbody.com. When I first purchased it, I used it only for a few weeks then stopped. I don't know why I stopped but did. Since summer began, I've been wanting to start it up again and continue on with it through the entire summer. If I'm able to do this, it will be interesting to see what my results will be!

Couponing....... Ever since the show Extreme Couponing came out on the channel TLC, I've been wanting to try my hand at using coupons successfully. Plus, with the way gas prices and food prices are going, it's cheaper to stay at home! Because of the rising cost of living with my salary not going anywhere these days, I have to think creatively on how we can change our situation. The creative idea is COUPONS! I've always loved getting things for free and/or discounted. One of my favorite sites is the Krazy Coupon Lady. There's tutorials on how to save money through couponing. Love love love it! You need to check it out!

Have a fun and safe weekend! Oh, and remember the sunscreen!

The Summer of Baking

I love to bake. I love to cook. There's this warm fuzzy feeling I get inside when I get all my ingredients out, start the baking process, and get to enjoy the end product. There's nothing else like it. 


Baking was on my mind yesterday, and I was longing for the fall to be here because that's when I tend to bake more. First off, shame shame on me for wishing my summer away!!!! Secondly, I'm at home all summer. Why can't I bake in the summer?!?! So, that got me to thinking about my summer baking adventures, and I got really excited!


One of my favorite recipe websites is allrecipes.com. I've used that site for a long time now for anything and everything. Recently, I've discovered a new site, www.joyofbaking.com.  It's amazing. You need to check it out! Also, one of my favorite cookbooks is Better Homes and Garden Cookbook. Again, lots of great ideas to bake and cook!


All this baking buzz in my mind got me to creating a "list" in my mind about the foods that I wanted to bake, and here it is:

Cookies

Chocolate Chip

Peanut Butter

Snickerdoodles

Oatmeal

Breads

Banana

Zuchinni

Chocolate Zuchini

Lemon Blueberry

Lemon Poppy

Cakes

Chocolate

Cheesecake

Tiramisu

Red Velvet

Neopolitan 

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Vanilla Cupcakes

Chocolate Cupcakes

Apple Streusel Cake

Lemon Frosted Lemon Cake

Pies

Apple

Boston Cream

Fruit Tart

Okay, it's not enough that I created this list. Anyone can bake. All you have to do is go buy the box/container stuff and throw the items together. From my entire list, I am going to bake everything from scratch. You got it! FROM SCRATCH! 


As I go throughout this adventure, I'm taking you along as well (that's if you read this). You will find my creations under the label Baking. One more thing before I go, if you have any suggestions on more baking ideas, send them my way! 

Two Roads... Both Will Change Your Life

Tonight, I'm writing outside. It's very peaceful. I'm alone. No television. No radio. No dog. No husband. Just the constant humming of the air conditioner and birds chirping. 


It seems as if a lot has happened lately, and yet, nothing of real merit has happened at all. So much is on my mind tonight. Finances. Job. House. Town. SIGH.................................


My husband came in this evening from his 7:30-4:00 job + 2 hour (total) commute and told me his boss basically ragged on him today. Brandon is working part-time as a computer technician assistant at a local school and going to college full-time. Brandon already has his Bachelor's Degree, but all that education and money got him was a piece of paper. No experience. No applicable knowledge. No nothing. So, he's taking courses at a community college where he's getting hands-on experience and training. Anyways, his boss ragged on him about his absences because he apparently took off too many days for school. Also, ever since Brandon started working there, he hasn't had a pay raise. With the price of gas and food going up, I have to wonder, is it really worth him driving down there? 


I love my husband, and I try to be as supportive as possible. I try to stay positive. However, I'm so ready for a change. Ever since we got married, I've had the financial role of our marriage. I know it's important for him to finish his education so that one day he will be able to have a career that he loves and is able to complete with full confidence and knowledge. I'm just ready for a break financially, emotionally, mentally, etc. 


Maybe I'm being too materialistic. Maybe I'm not appreciating all that I have. I know that most people in this world would do anything to have what I have, and yet, I'm complaining. 


I feel trapped, and I don't like it one bit. 


Times like this, my favorite poem comes to mind:

The Road Less Traveled—by Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Edit

"I Smell of Sweat, Grass, & Moth Balls"

Usually, when I get home, I pick up the house and start making dinner. Last night was not a usual night. When I got home, I took Chester, our 1 1/2 year old yorkie, on a walk. Walks  get both of us out of the house and off our butts, and we absolutely love them! We got home, and Brandon had just pulled in the driveway. Even though Brandon was exhausted, he decided to mow the grass. He wasn't happy about it, and in order to make it less of a task, I told him I would help out. From 6-8 pm last night, both of us were outside working on the yard. We hadn't eaten dinner yet, but we knew this needed to get done. While Brandon mowed, I weed-eated and cleaned out flower beds. Also, we've had a recent snake incident. I'm deathly afraid of snakes and won't go near them. So, after I weed-eated and cleaned the beds, I spread moth balls all over the perimeter of our house. After all that work, I smelled of sweat, grass, and moth balls. Sexy, I know. My next step in snake prevention is getting some marigolds and planting around the house. I'm going to make our yard a "NO SNAKE ZONE!"

I will be the first to admit that I have failed at keeping the flower beds "clean" and weed free, which is most likely why we've had the snake issue. Also, I'm far from being done! I feel awful for letting all of the flower beds go for this long. Okay, brace yourself because here comes the excuses...... I feel like I have absolutely no time. I leave for work at 7 am... drive 1 hour... stay at work until 4-5 pm... drive 1 hour... house work... cook dinner... AND THEN if I'm not tired, I have time to do anything else before going to bed and starting all over again. 

I'm glad that school is coming to a close so that I will have time, or at least feel like I have time, to work on the house and the yard. Any suggestions on gardening and snake prevention will gladly be accepted! 

GOD BLESS! 

Ramblings of Summer

It's officially almost summer!!!! :) :) I cannot even begin to describe how ecstatic I am that school is almost out and summer is almost here. So, that gets me to thinking: What am I going to do this summer? I work in a school setting, and I am not going to work during the summer months. Also, for the first time in 4 fours, I will NOT be moving. Every summer since 2007, I have moved, and finally, this year, we will not be moving! So... what is going to take up my time this summer??? Maybe I actually have a chance to focus on myself this summer! 


So, I'm sitting here thinking (and de-stressing and relaxing) about my up-coming summer. 


Hmmmmm.........


Summer Dream Wish-List
1. Go on a tropical vacation for 2 weeks.
2. Get a tan without the damaging effects of the sun.
3. Complete the re-model/make-over of the entire house.
4. Have an un-ending supply of books at my disposal! 
5. Blog everyday! 
6. Lose 20 lbs.


So, obviously, we won't be able to do these things. Vacation to a tropical destination is out. Gots to have monies put back for that, and heck no, we don't! I am a fair-complexion gal with a family history of skin cancer. Yeah, a real tan is out! Finishing the entire house could be done, but is a long shot. But, a girl can dream; can't she??? 


Reality Summer List
1. Vacation is possible, but limited to where. We are going on vacation somewhere, but we don't know where, yet. Somewhere within 5 hours of where we live. Suggestions????
2. Fake tanning lotion here I come!
3. Finish at least 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom this summer.
4. Read at least 10 books. The public library will be my friend! :) 
5. Blogging everyday is a possibility! :)
6. Losing 15 lbs is a possibility! :) 

I've Been Thinking....

I've really been doing some deep, life-reflecting thinking lately, and I'm one of these people that I have to get these thoughts out of my head. Otherwise, I'll go CrAzY!!!! There are 4 things in my life that I am absolutely passionate about, and they are my Faith, Family, Cooking/Baking, and Movies. It seems as if every week, if not everyday, all topics are brought into my life in some fashion. So, I've decided to make a commitment to myself to blog about those 4 topics and have appropriately designated them as such: 

Spiritual Sunday

Movie Monday

Recipe Thursday

Family Friday

So..... Here we go ................. 

Spiritual Sunday

I recently purchased Beth Moore's book called Breaking Free. It's about discovering who you truly are spiritually and who you want to become. I've only read a few pages in it, and yesterday, I forgot it in my mother-in-law's car. :( So... I'm going to have to either wait until I see her again, or ask her to mail it to me. 

Going to Church: This topic has been heavy on my heart and mind lately. It seems that every week, Brandon and I have the same discussion: "You want to go to church this Sunday?" Our responses to one another are always the same, "Yes." However, we seem to struggle with the actual action of going. The desire to attend church to strengthen our spirit is there, but we lack on following through. For myself, it's comparable to working out. I want to work out, but actually following through with it is something completely different. How do we break out of this bad habit????? I hope and pray we figure it out soon enough. 

I hope everyone has a great week! GOD BLESS!

2011 Resolutions

I'm welcoming 2011 with open arms! I'm so ready for a new year, new decade, and new beginnings! Why am I so happy? Let's just say 2010 was not a fun year for me. There were more downs than ups, more tears than laughter, & more funerals than babies/weddings. 

UPS: Celebrated 1 year wedding anniversary; Got a puppy; Bought a Trailblazer; Lost 10 lbs; Bought our 1st home; Reconnected with old friends.

DOWNS: My Gpa died; Brandon's Gpa and Step-Gpa died; Gained back the 10 lbs; Had to sell our Trailblazer to get the house; Was under a freaakkish amount of stress because of process of buying a home.

I really want to change this and want to enjoy life more. I realize life is filled with sadness and departure just as much as it is filled with happiness, cheer, and birth. I also realize that I am, really, the only person who can create my happiness. Therefore, RESOLUTIONS are in order! 

2011 Resolutions

1. Get Healthy

Ever since Brandon and I got married, I've gained 25 lbs, and I'm determined NOW more than ever to get healthy! Being healthy, to me, means working out, lots of H20, lots of veggies, and lots of fruit. 

2. Run in 2 5ks

I used to run and was active all the time. Running was a release for me, and I can't for the life of me remember why I stopped running! So, I want to run regularly.

3. Join a Local Church

Brandon and I have lived in our new town for almost 6 months now, and we haven't found a home church yet. SO, this is going to change. Both of us grew up going to church and miss it dearly. Welcome the church hunt! 

4. Finish Decorating the House

We've lived in our home now for almost 6 months, and there are still rooms that I haven't finished yet. So, this year, I'm determined to finish the house! 

5. Take More Pictures

I realize I don't take enough pictures. I always seem to forget to take my camera along with me to any family gathering, event, or function we attend. Therefore, I want to take more pictures, and I WILL! 

6. Enjoy Life
Since last year was not a kind year, I want this year to be different. I want to get out and enjoy life more. We really didn't go anywhere and get away. I want to change that. So, in May, we are going to get out and get away to Carolina Beach, North Carolina! I soooo can't wait! 

I can't wait to read others' resolutions! ENJOY and GOOD LUCK!