New Hair!

So i was supposed to get my hair cut a couple weekends ago - it got rescheduled so I got it cut this past weekend by my favorite hair lady ever, Shannon!

What do you think?

Recipes ~ Cookie Cake! {For When You Are OK With Being Bad}

So, I know that this blog is for weight loss and all, but on the occasion that you want to indulge....this is the best cookie cake you'll ever shove in your face (trust me, that's how you'll want to eat these)

Here's the recipe!

Cookies/Cookie Cake

Ingredients

• 2 Cup - All Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon - Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon - Baking Soda
• 3/4 teaspoon - Cinnamon, Ground
• 1/2 teaspoon - Salt
• 1 Cup (2 Sticks) - Butter, softened
• 1 Cup - Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
• 1 Cup - Sugar, Granulated
• 2 Eggs
• 2 teaspoon - Vanilla Extract
• 1.5 Cups - Chocolate Chips
• 1/2 Cup - Chopped Walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat Oven to 350' F
2. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, & salt; mix well. 
3. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars, with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs & vanilla; mix well. Add flour mixture & mix well. 
4. Stir in chocolate chips (& walnuts if desired). 
5. Either drop by teaspoons onto cookie pans, or spread evenly onto large 17.25"x11.5"x1" pan to make into cookie cake. 
6. Bake for 9-10 mins (for cookies) ~OR~  10-15 mins (for cookie cake) {For both: cook until the tops 'pop' sorta like a souffle. You'll know what I'm talking about when they are cooking and almost done. It'll be a rich dark brown color}
7. Take out & let sit for about 10 mins to cool. 

Cookies Yield: About 35 ~ Cookie Cake Yield: 1 Sheet

~ENJOY!~

Recipe - I Want To Try This!

CHEESY ZUCCHINI BITES

Original Recipe Yield 35 servings

Ingredients

5 medium zucchini
4 ounces shredded mozzarella
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 15 fresh basil leaves, torn in half if huge
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
3 roma tomatoes, very thinly sliced

~Preheat oven to 400 degree F
~Cut zucchini into 3/4-ind. slices. Using a melon baller or small spoon, scoop out the insides and discard, leaving the bottom intact.
~Place zucchini on an ungreased baking sheet; spoon 1/2 teaspoon mozzarella cheese into each.
~Combine Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper; sprinkle half over mozzarella cheese.
~Top each with a tomato slice; sprinkle with remaining Parmesan mixture.
~Bake at 400 degrees F for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve warm.

One appetizer equals: 19 calories, 1 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 3 mg cholesterol, 58 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrate, 0.55 g fiber, 1 g protein.

I AM SO TRYING THIS! lol

*drool*

Random Ranting's Vol. 1 ~ Relationships

I am not going to mention any names here, but I have had the "pleasure" of listening to a lot of relationship drama lately - and it really just made me realize how many people out there have absolutely NO common sense.

I have not been in many relationships, in fact - only 1 serious relationship EVER, but I think that speaks for itself. Cody and I are, of course, compatible - I think that something every relationship has to have to even exist - but more importantly, we COMMUNICATE everything with each other.

There has to be open communication between you and your partner for any relationship to work - if you have a problem with something SAY IT! Now, I am not saying there are times here and there that you might need to keep your mouth shut - that's when 'picking your battles' comes into play lol. What I guess I am really mean is they are doing something that makes you uncomfortable or if they've done something to upset you - find a good time when you can both talk about it in a calm manner, and tell them what bothers you and the way it makes you feel, etc. Tell them EVERYTHING weighing on your mind; otherwise, you will just sit and think about it...its starts to bother you more...then you become visibly upset or irritated...etc. Then the significant other sees that you are upset, doesn't understand why, then it usually always blows up from there...and nobody is happy...or you've just broken up...

People, just tell them whats wrong - work on fixing the things that brought you to that problem, and move on! It's only hard if you make it hard & it'll make you feel soooo much better - and it possibly just saved your relationship. If the other person freaks out when you try to voice your issues or if they walk away and don't want to talk about it - chances are you probably shouldn't be with them anyways.

Idk - maybe I am wrong, but I feel like if everyone did this there would be a lot less drama!
...and I hate drama! lol

What are your thoughts on this?

I am Super Stoked!

Cause I'm getting my hair cut Saturday by one of my favorite people ever, Shannon!

We have a long history & she is seriously the only person I let touch my hair - she has magic hands!

I was really contemplating cutting it super short yesterday cause I am starting to realize more and more how hard it is to deal with really long hair. When I am getting ready to go somewhere, I put my purse on my shoulder and it gets stuck under the strap; when I try to lay with Cody on the couch, it gets up underneath my/his arm and it like pins my head down....I can go on and on, but at the same time - I don't think I'm quite ready to part with my long hair (no 'pun' intended! lol).

I finally decided I'm going to cut it about 3 inches and have her style it a little bit differently than she usually does - just to give myself a bit of a change. I'll try to remember to post pictures of it after I go on Saturday!

Anyone else have any awesome/horrid hair-cutting stories? Any suggestions for me as far as styling my hair? Also, any cute and easy ways you know of to put-up long hair?

I'd love to hear from you!

I feel like.....

a zombie right now.........seriously, I am struggling today!

AF decided to show her ugly face on Saturday & I have been feeling like this ever since! I told myself I'd be starting over JM-30DS this week, but I have been so uncomfortable tho because of AF I know that's not going to happen, so I need to keep up motivation for next week.

On a happier note though, the past few days Cody and I have been working on the yard and getting a lot of stuff done. He's been the one doing most of the work, but at least I did do some moderately vigorous cleaning on Sunday (for almost 2 hours straight) & helping with the yard work I know I have at least burnt a few calories this week. I have been not perfect, but still aware of what I am eating as well so hopefully I will not gain back the 2 pounds I have lost so far...if I haven't already lol

I will post some pictures of the yard work later on as my mom is supposed to visit with us on Saturday & help me figure out the landscaping for the front yard - I'm pretty excited about it!

Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Please comment!

Sorry

If you have been by here this week - sorry I haven't posted anything new. I have been sorta out of it lately, and I've been a weird mood all this week. I've had a lot on my mind I guess...

Also, I got completely off track with my working out and haven't done anything since last week. SOOOO that just means I am going to start over with Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, and who knows - maybe I'll see better results after I am done with the Jillian Michael's Cleanse I am currently doing. I am only on day two so I'll let ya'll know what I think of it when it's all over.

The only thing that may stop me from being better next week is if AF comes, which may be likely, but as of right now...its been 31 days since my last period and it isnt clear right now whats going on...I guess I'll find out sooner or later lol

Thanks!

Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred - Days 4 & 5

I forgot to post about Day 4 on Monday - oops!

I should be saying "oops" (honestly - I should be saying "BAD!") about taking off Tuesday & Wednesday - but its over with so I can't change that now...oh well - I am still in the beginning stages & so I still have to get over my workout anxiety...

ANYWAYS

I did Day 5 yesterday - and boy did it feel so much harder than the previous days. I am sure it's largely due to the fact that I took off two days - but I can still notice my endurance getting better and better. I have to stick to this and make it something I crave doing as opposed to fighting myself each time to just not think about it and do it...its just so easy to be lazy lol...but after I do the workout I'm tired and all but it's not that bad, I just have to keep reminding myself

One little mini-motivator I got yesterday is - after my workout mind you - I was putting the dishes away from the dish washer & I was leaned over it sorta awkwardly trying to put the cups in the cabinet directly above the open dishwasher, and Cody comes up to me and says "Damn baby, that workout is already starting to do something! It's like everything is 'waking up' & getting tighter" {OK first off - "WAKING UP"?! thanks for that hun lol - backhanded compliment, much?! ..but something I needed to hear him say - he always tells me what I want to hear so I don't get upset so I don't ever really know how he thinks about what I look like right now...and that tells me he thought I was flabby before..true but I was in denial lol}

One thing as a side note - I've had a few people tell me to go get the Jillian Michael's Cleanse, I just wondered if any of you have tried it and if so, what you think about it.

Thanks & Happy Friday!

(PS) Did you see? I lost two pounds so far! (lets hope its not all water weight, right?! lol)

Exercise Anxiety

I have been struggling the past couple of days...

I am seeing a pattern in myself that I really need to get past - and that is EXERCISE ANXIETY

I will do really good for about a week or so, but all of a sudden I get this overwhelming feeling of anxiety about working out - like I am almost scared to...WTF {self}?!?

I don't know what my issue is or why I have this anxiety - and hell, doesn't working out make you have LESS anxiety?!?

...I gotta figure something out! I will get NOWHERE unless I can overcome this!

Have you ever felt like this in the beginning stages of your life-style change? Is it a normal thing or am I a freak?

Any input is appreciated!

Exercise Question: Using a Fan

I was doing my workout yesterday, Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred - Day 4 (I skipped Sat & Sun), and holy crap did I sweat (NOTE TO SELF: Don't skip anymore days lol).

I thought about going and getting my oh so lovely stand up fan to put on me as I was doing my workout, but I got to thinking about something: "Do fans HURT your efforts when working out, or does it not really matter?"

After I thought about it for a second, wouldn't a fan be counter-productive because it makes you not sweat/keeps you cool enough to where you aren't really sweating. And when you don't sweat, you aren't losing the water weight that comes along with the fat...am I right?

I wanted to get your thoughts on this, so let's discuss!