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!

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!

The Time I Went Speed Dating

Mundane Monday. The weekend flew by way too fast as usual but I had a really great weekend complete with spoiled movie watching and speed dating...

So I'm sure you want to know all about speed dating but you'll have to wait (or cheat and scroll down...I can't really stop you I guess! haha!)

Friday night I had the best movie and dining experience ever! We went to CineBistro. Its one of those swanky movie theatres where they serve you real food in these huge comfy chairs that recline. TO DIE FOR!!! I never want to watch a movie the regular way again! #princessproblems

We saw the movie "This Mean War" with Reese Witherspoon. I won't give it away because its definitely worth seeing. Its got action for the guys and love, eye candy, and awesome fashion for the ladies. It's also very funny! I was pleasantly surprised! Reese looked AWESOME! All of her outfits were killer and the SHOES...OH THE SHOES! I counted at least 2 pair of Louboutins and one pair of Manolo Blahniks (yes I'm shoe obsessed...designer shoe obsessed to be more specific)

I couldn't find any good photos with the shoes but kudos to the costume designer on this movie. She looked awesome and it all translated really well.

So Saturday I was planning on hanging out at home and catching up on laundry and Lifetime movies with my Tagalong Girl Scout Cookies (I support ALL of our "troops") But one of my friends from my networking group called and asked if I wanted to go speed dating. I've always joked about doing it but never really took it seriously until I heard another friend talk about how she had met her current boyfriend (of 5 months!) speed dating. Why the heck not?

It started at 3 which made choosing an outfit tricky. After ravaging my closet much like I'd imagine the Tasmanian devil would, I finally came up with an outfit. I wanted to look put together, fun, while still feeling comfortable.

I met my friend at the bar where we had a drink before heading to the event. It was exactly what you would expect. The ladies sit at numbered tables and are given a name tag and the men move from table to table every five minutes to the sound of a bell. (Kind of like in Hitch)

The first "round" I didn't have anyone sitting at my table so I used the time to plan my questions. The weather was nice so that was a great go-to. I also stuck to the typical "what do you do/where are you from"

So let's face it. Dating in Atlanta is NO easy task. After about the third guy, they all started to look alike because NONE of them were my type. They were mostly socially awkward and a little dorky. Which is fine...for some...I'm pretty sure one guy (who had hands the size of an 8 year old) was the son of Norman Bates (you know from that scary movie...). I tried to be nice. I smiled, laughed, asked questions...but most of these guys were SO awkward. And the thing is, the majority of the women there seemed absolutely normal. Needless to say I didn't check yes to any of them.

Where are the men?

My friend and I came to the conclusion that women speed date because we have a hard time meeting quality men, however men speed date because they aren't comfortable approaching women in other settings...hence the normal girl/socially awkward guy scenario that we ran across.

So I think that men are in one of three places: Sports Bars, The Gym, or The Grocery Store. I haven't really been to any sports bars to find out (which is why I think that's where they are hiding). I do have a gym crush so there is at least ONE there, and I haven't proven or disproven my grocery store  theory.

All in all, I will not be speed dating again. I'm going to back to the drawing board for ideas to meet my future hubs.

11 Heaven

I guess I'm super blogging this week to make up for the fact that I was totally M.I.A. last week. Anyway, I'm extremely stressed out from work and while I was perusing my favorite blogs today I ran across this cool little diddy at my buddy Ashley's blog. (Check it out its darn good!)

Anyway the premise of this game is first to list 11 fun facts, answer 11 questions, and ask 11 questions.

11 Fun Facts:

11. I love all dogs and while I would love to own a rottweiler one day, I've only owned shih-tzus my entire life...4 to be exact



My babes, London and Kingsley

10. When I find something I like (fashion-wise) I usually buy it in multiple colors...I have 5 Longchamp Handbags [black, brown, purple, yellow, orange]
9. My eyes are really sensitive to light so I always wear sunglasses, even when its mostly cloudy.

8. I can currently count about 16 bottles of perfume on my dresser

7. Cheeseburgers are my absolute favorite food and I am not one of those people that only eats gourmet burgers...I also love turkey burgers

6. Most of my coworkers wear sweatpants to work, our office is pretty casual, but I absolutely can not bring myself to do it, even on Fridays.

Typical Workday Oufit

5. When I'm really stressed out I can't sleep, which stresses me out even more

4. I never wear contacts, makeup, or brush my hair on Sundays that I don't have real plans (running errands does not count as real plans)

3. I have to sleep with a fan. When I don't, I wake up with a stuffy nose. I even passed up a really awesome apartment after college because it didn't have a hook up for a ceiling fan in the bedroom.

2. My grandmother did my laundry my entire freshman year of college. I never even knew where the laundry room was in our dorm. She would come pick it up and bring it back clean, folded, and ironed. She even ironed my t-shirts. I knew there was a reason I picked a school close to her and far away from my parents.

1. No matter what, the first thing I do when I walk in the house is take my shoes off. I kind of hate wearing shoes but I love looking at them. It's a strange relationship

11 Questions:

1.       Which Website do you visit the most?

It's a tie between Facebook and Spark...oh and Google because I need to know a lot of random facts and google knows everything.

2.       If you couldn't shave your legs or wax your eyebrows for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

Legs...my leg hair is very thin and soft so I usually go about 10 days between shaves but I inherited a terrible unibrow from my mother

 

3.       Name a talent you have

Uhhh...I can find really good deals at the mall?

 

4.       If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be?

It's hard to pick just one but I would want to learn more about all of my grandparents. From the stories that I've heard, especially about my grandfathers who both died when I was younger, they are fascinating people. (I guess this counts, because I've met them before, I just want to talk to them more)

 

5.       If you had to go on a reality TV or game show, which one would you choose?

I've always wanted to go on the Price Is Right, but I wouldn't mind gaining the lifestyle that Lauren Conrad earned from her years on "The Hills"...but I think I'd still pick Price Is Right, only if Bob Barker came back and hosted for that one show

 

 

 

6.       If you were president, what's one law you would make?

I would mandate a minimum amount of vacation days offered to full time employees (I only picked this because having some extra vacations days would SO benefit me right now!)

 

7.       What's your favorite smell? 

Curve, the green one...mostly because it reminds me of someone but it smells good too

 

8.       You have a spicy piece of gossip,  who's the first person you tell? 

Twitter. KIDDING. Probably my best friend

 

9.       What's your favorite thing about yourself?

I can usually find something positive in most situations. It's a good outlook to have.

 

10.  what's your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving for sure. My grandma cooks a delish meal and our entire family goofs off, laughs, and spends a day being loud.

 

11. What did you want to be when you grew up?

My mom convinced me that I wanted to be lawyer but judging by the pictures of my perfectly matched outfits, fashion has always been in my veins.

 

 

Questions for you:

1. What's your signature dance move?

2. What dish do you cook exceptionally well?

3. What's your bad hair day hairstyle...you know the "go-to" when you can't get your hair to do anything you want it to

4. Would you give up your cell phone for a week in order to earn more money?

5. What's the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?

6. Name one thing on your bucket list.

7. What is your favorite song?

8. Would you rather elope and have a fabulous honeymoon or a big wedding with no honeymoon?

9. Have you ever faked sick to get out of work?

10. How old were you when you had your first kiss?

11. Name one thing that if you forget in the morning you feel naked without all day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obsessed

As usual, I've found a few things that I'm obsessing over right now and I thought I would share because there is no need to be selfish!

My new bedspread from IKEA. LOVE! First of all it was only $40 and suddenly I've been sleeping a lot better. I usually don't decorate so girly but I'm loving this!

If you get nothing else out of this blog, go buy this dip. One of my coworkers introduced me to it and I've been addicted ever since. It's spicy and delicious. I'm trying to encourage everyone to buy it since it's a limited edition. I figure if tons of people buy it then they'll keep it around. SO GOOD. You can buy it at Publix. Find one near you NOW! (Apparently Publix is only in the southeast so if there isn't one near you I'll mail you some!)

I love Sharpie pens and will only use them at work when taking notes. Last week when hanging out at my local wally-world I discovered that Sharpie is now making these suckers in purple, also known as my new favorite color. Let's just say all of my notes since last Thursday look alike.

I noticed the left side of my face is constantly breaking out (which is abnormal for me because I'm blessed with really good skin) and I realized that I always hold my phone on that side. With the way work has been lately I'm ALWAYS on the phone (thank the Lord for unlimited minutes!) I started using my earbuds for talking and LOVE them. The sound is so clear, I can use my hands for other stuff, and my face can breathe! Yay!

I used to think it was crap that bottled water tastes better than tap water. I'm all about some good 'ol faucet water (I mean my mom works for the water department so it's gotta be okay!) but I decided to get Smartwater out of the blue one day and it is DELICIOUS. I mean it has this great crisp, clean, refreshing taste and I'm obsessed...even if it is a cool 1.79 a bottle...ouch. But it's worth every penny.

Finally, I'm totally obsessed with instagram (if you can't tell from my multiple instagrammed photos) It's probably the coolest app I have.

What are you obsessed right now? Share!