My body reacts in a few different ways to stress.

1. My hair falls out in clumps (yuck)

2. My face breaks out

3. I crave junk food

 
4. I don't sleep well

It always sneaks up on me and I don't realize how stressed I am until I'm munching on french fries at 11: 30 pm and I feel like I've gained 18 lbs. With the exception of tomorrow, I'm still keeping up with my scheduled workouts with my trainer. Its times like these that help me realize that I can't do it on my own. If it were up to me I would never hit the gym during stressful times. I know that seems counter-productive since working out relieves stress but I swear all I want to do is sleep, eat, repeat.

How do you guys deal with stress?

This video made me laugh...and laughing relieves stress!

Shopaholics Anonymous

Sometimes I like to shop. Hahaha.

Over the weekend I spent a little QT with my debit card (Suze Orman would be proud...no credit cards were used!) and I picked up some awesome things.

As I was browsing the watch case, I said to my friend "I almost bought this awesome Michael Kors watch with a clear band and I'm really regretting the fact that I didn't" and then BEHOLD! A beauty appeared in the case....

It definitely was glowing. Then I looked at the price...I can't even tell you how much of a steal it was because the cops will come get me for the deal that I got. Needless to say it took all of my energy not to wear it right out of the store.

I also made a very educated purchase. Recently, as you may have noticed, I've been spending a lot of extra time reading. I really enjoy it and usually just stick to blogs, magazines, and online articles. Lately, I've had a list of books that I want to read. So I decided that I wanted to get an ereader. I did my research and decided that the Kindle Touch suited my needs the best.

I can't wait to take this thing to the pool, the beach (because I go to the beach that much), in the car...everywhere!

I've decided to try and spend at least one hour a night without the tv or computer just devoted to reading. I'm currently reading "Straight Talk, No Chaser"...A dating self-help book by Steve Harvey and the sequel to "Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Man" (aka the most useful book I have ever read). I also want to read that book "Shades of Grey" that everyone keeps talking about. I'm just going to be a little reading fool. I'm open to all book suggestions!

Hope you guys have a great week!

Skinny

My weekday morning routine is always the same...

Step 1: Hit Snooze
Step 2: Sleep for 8 more minutes (I'm always paranoid that I accidently turned the alarm off so I never make it the entire time)
Step 3: Check emails
Step 4: Respond to any emails from my boss's boss who likes to send emails at 5 AM (so basically I pretend that I've been up working since 5 AM too)
Step 5: Forward good shopping related emails to my mom
Step 6: Get out of bed (15 minutes later...good thing I set my alarm to go off early...I have an additional alarm set to remind me to get in the shower)

Yes. This my actual alarm...and no it still never seems to get me out the house on time!

Usually I don't pay attention to models much further than what they have on and how I can make it work on my not-so modelesque body. But then I opened up an email (from one of my favorite retailers...one I actually used to work for) and I saw this...

 Is it me or is she WAY skinny? I understand that she is on the runway but she does NOT represent the majority of real life women. I don't knock skinny girls ever, but what about the strong, healthy girl? What about the girl that hits the gym up and has the muscles to prove it? What about the girl that has thunder thighs because she can leg press 325 lbs?

No worries model girl...I'll do some extra squats for you when I hit the gym at 6 AM.

You're Stuck on an Island

Everyone has played that game...you're stuck on an island and you can bring 3 things. What do you bring? My version of the game is a little different, its the three condiments I can't live without. I put one of these sauces on food 99% of the time.

1. A1...I put this tangy goodness on everything. Burgers, chicken, pork chops, steak, fish...A1 is my favorite. I always have it in the fridge.

I should start buying it in this size. It's probably cheaper.


2. Ranch. I think this one speaks for itself. Ranch and french fries...yes. Chicken nuggets and french fries...yes. Veggies and ranch...yes. Fried pickles and ranch...yes! Seriously...if it doesn't go with A1 it probably goes with french fries...or both! Have you ever had a baked potato with ranch? soooo good!

3. I guess you're wondering what I would put on sweet stuff...this was a tough one because there are a lot of good sweet sauces out there. The winner is definitely Nutella. Nutella and fruit, toast, cookies, graham crackers. Nutella is delicious!!

As I was searching for a Nutella photo...I found this...

hahaha!!!!

So what sauces or comdiments can you not live without?

Death by Peanut Butter

I love birthdays, even if they are not my own. I just enjoy celebrating someones life and the more you have the better! My daddy (aka Father of the Year) has a birthday coming up this Saturday. One of my awesome co-workers also had a birthday this week. So naturally, I decided to make them something that I've been craving for months now...chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing.

My old boss used to make them for important meetings and birthdays and they were TO DIE FOR. Ever since I left, I've been craving them so bad. Its not one of those things you can have often, just once every 5 or 6 months but they are so good.

First things first. I do not cook and I definitely don't bake. I was definetely worried that these would end up tasting like a peanut butter and poop sandwich. Tasty...NOT


Don't worry...this isn't mine!

I asked around the office to find out how difficult making homemade peanut butter icing would be. I'm not a fan of icing from the jar (unless I have to), but I can make a mean box cake so I wasn't worried about that part. I found out that its not that difficult and any googled recipe should be fairly easy. I also learned a trade secret. If you add a box of pudding mix to the boxed cake mix, it ensures that the cake will turn out extra moist.

I started off making the basic Betty Crocker chocolate box cake. Easy enough. I throw the pudding mix in too. It changed the consistency of the mix a little bit, but other than that it was fine. (in hindsight, I really wish I had taken some pictures)

While the cupcakes were baking, I worked on the peanut butter icing. Here is the recipe I used:

Peanut Butter Frosting
Ingredients
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter
3 tbsp milk, or as needed
2 cups confectioners' or icing sugar

Beat butter and peanut butter in an electric mixer. Slowly mix in the sugar, and when it thickens and gets dry, add the milk a little at a time until all of the sugar is mixed in and the frosting is thick and spreadable. Beat for at least 3 minutes for it to get good and fluffy

I had to double the recipe because I was making double the amount of cupcakes. It was nearly impossible to sit there and mix that icing without wanting to stick my entire face in it.



That reminds me of the summer we watched Mrs. Doubtfire every rainy day because my younger cousing was OBSESSED!

Once the cupcakes were ready I let them cool, while simultaneously licking the spatula (and dancing to immediately burn those calories ofcourse) and then worked on icing them. It didn't look professional but it was good enough for me. I made and iced 42 cupcakes...and only ate 1 (not counting the cake batter and icing that I ate out the bowl...)

This is the finished product!

They didn't all turn out that pretty, but those ones can go in my dad's batch because he could care less about how they look! Ofcourse I had to try one of my creations (before handing them out and embarassing myself). It was DELICIOIUS. It was very rich and moist and I'm glad that I had some milk handy to wash it down...I don't even like milk!

I'm very proud of myself...maybe I'll quit my job and become a full time baker...NOT!



The Job

I'm baccckkkkk!!! I'm so sorry for my extended absence. Work has been kicking me in the butt repeatedly but its paid off. Literally. I ended last week with a raise!! Praise the Lord. I'm so happy because I was honestly feeling underpaid and that does work on a girls motivation.

Speaking of motivation, I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine last week. She is incredibly smart, she just finished her Ph.D and is someone that I've looked up to my entire life. She also does marathons, half-marathons, 5ks, 10ks, half ironmans, etc. Needless to say we could totally nickname her superwoman.

(note to self, never google images "superwoman" unprepared to see some things that can never be unseen)

Anyway we were talking about all the things that we've been disciplined enough to accomplish in life. We can make sure the bills are paid, go to work everyday, keep tabs on our friends and families, study hard enough to get good educations, yet somehow we have issues disciplining ourselves enough to eat right and work out.

Doesn't make sense. I can turn in every work assignment in on time, make all the necessary phone calls, and return every email in my inbox inbetween 8 million distractions in 8 hours or less but I can't make healthly eating decisions or workout consistently? It shouldn't be THAT hard?

It kind of got me thinking. What do I need to help keep me going? What motivates me at work...a paycheck. What motivated me to finish school...graduating so I could get a paycheck. Clearly I'm motivated by money. So why am I not paying myself?

I always say that I'm going to pay myself as I lose pounds, but that isn't promoting healthy weightloss. At work, I get paid as long as I show up and put effort towards my projects and then get extra when my projects succeed.

I'm applying this same principle to weight loss. Everytime I spend an entire day withing my calorie range...cha-ching. When I complete workouts...cha-ching. When I actually lose weight double cha-ching. The thing is, I have to figure a way to pay myself extra...its kind of silly if I'm just going to spend the money on stuff I want whether I pay myself or not. Since I'm in desperate need of a tight budget, any money that is not paid to me as a result of healthy eating and working out goes to neccessities and gas. Thats it.

So there...two problems are solved in one. Here we go!

WTFHIB?

Where the F have I been? Working. That's where. I haven't had a normal day in ages. So I apologize for the blog slow down. I have my yearly performance review on Thursday so after I secure a raise I'll slack off at work at start blogging more! haha! Hope you guys are doing well!!