Let Me Explain..

Ok so here's what's on my mind! 

•Body Image. 

•Diet (which is defined as the food you eat, not the food you don't eat!). 

•Self Acceptance. 

As many know, about 9 months ago I made a lifestyle change. Not in one day or in one month or in two months, but as a process (which is still in process). Through this journey I've found out so much about how I feel about myself, and why women are so hard on themselves. We are feed it by the media and each other, and I think most people understand that so I won't harp on about that---but what I will harp on about is the struggle for women to support each other in our body images. We have such a tendency to not tell each other good things about their goals and lifestyles. We find ourselves picking others apart because we don't understand/agree/like what they're doing. I wish this was a switch we could turn off, but we can't, we just have to strive to not do it. No one should feel bad about that they eat, what they wear, what they do. You gotta find what makes you happy, and when you do find it- do it! And when you have a girlfriend who is happy in what she's doing, congratulate her, be happy for her! Happiness in the key to health. We all have different wants and goals for our bodies and that's awesome! Like some of us want to be mothers, like I want it soooo much, and I pray someday I will be. And I'm sure I'll go through rough patches excepting my body changing, but I hope I can remember that every mother is a tiger who earns her stripes and gosh darn I hope I remember to sing that to the sky! Some want to compete athletically, that won't be me, I'm not a star athlete. Some don't have any specific plans for their bodies and that's wonderful, it's not even close to the most important thing to obsesses over and we all need to believe and remember that! It's makes us unique, and it makes us beautiful in our own ways. For instance I've gotten criticism for wanting to "tone" my body (which I also don't believe is a good word, it confuses people). When I first started I didn't like my body, I thought I was fat, needed to have a thigh gap, and weight under 130. Through the process I've gained not the physical progress but the mental, and it's so much more important. I don't wanna have a thigh gap, it's not gonna happen and it's not important. I haven't stepped on a scale in months and I've let go of reaching a goal in weight. I love my body right now, and i still want to improve it. 

That's a big point I want to make: you can love your body at the same time as you are trying to improve it. 

My goals are different than others, and that's good because it means I'm not like everyone else. I wish I could instill this mind set in all those girls who have bad thoughts about their body. And I'm not seated up on a mountain saying I never have bad thoughts come to mind about myself. I'm human, and it's gonna happen, the fun part about it is finding something positive to change my outlook. 

Some women look like Victoria Secret   models and some have big beautiful curves for days. They each are a beautiful representation of the female body! We just have to keep reminding each other of that! 

Wooah I feel like I'm on a happy steroid pill. I'll go chill out now. And maybe have some peanut butter. Love you all, who ever you may be. I hope this brings you good some how.

Just for laughs 

Is it Fall yet?!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder? Oh how I hope that is true. I am once again falling behind on keeping up with this blog. I know I don't need to rant on about why, I'm just disappointed that this always happens. But I guess it means I'm loving life outside in the real world. And hey I'm okiely smokley with all of that. 

So oh my goodness it's almost fall! I was complaining and complaining about how it was the end of summer, and than all of a sudden. Thoughts of scarves, boots, and pumpkins starting dancing around in my head. Eek so I'm gonna have to say (and Chase still is shocked every time I say this) I'm soooooo ready for fall. 

I think I'm made for fall honestly. My hair looks like a pumpkin. I own more boots than a Texan. I love soup...and pie. And well I just look better in boots, jeans, flannel, and a scarf while carrying a stack of wood than I'll ever look in a bikini and big sunglasses. (Not making a negative body image comment, just to be clear)

Ok so cut to the chase; I'm sharing all my favorite fall fashion, because other than bow season, cutting wood, and pumpkin everything...fall clothes get me most excited about the season. 

Ok what's important up there??!

1.scarves!! The chunkier the better in my book. And I can't seem to ever have enough!

2.boots. Do I need to explain my love for boots? It's in the title of my blog for goodness sake, I think it's obvious I'm obsessed. 

3.layers. I love how you can throw something over a summer favorite and make it a fall favorite. Like a dress or tank top.

4.denim. It's my favorite thing. I may or may not own like 4 denim button ups, and those are just the long sleeve ones.

5.pattern. I love falls patterns so much! Deer, Aztec, Flannel, Stripes..well maybe stripes are year round but they look great in fall! 

6.sweaters. Big, oversized, chunky, cozy, warm and well there is nothing better.(except maybe denim)

Ok, so there some of the things getting me excited about fall. Also all my images are from my Pinterest page. I love Pinterest for all the wonderfulness it brings, but it does take away from people's unique ideas, I mean I do it myself "Oh girl that's so neat/cute/smart!! Did you get it off Pinterest?!" And she half the time wants to hit me and say "Noooooo I just came up with it!" Haha oh well. What ya gonna do!?

Happy soon to be fall y'all!!

  

Someday I'll know how to be a girl.

I'm awful at girly things, ok I'm not gosh awful, but I'm not the best. My mom wasn't a girly girl so it's been a trial and error for me though out the years with make up and hair things.

Oh and the bad trials. Oh my they were bad. Like the year I straiten my hair every morning on the hottest setting, mind you my hair is thin, and made it stick straight down..to my head..parted right down the middle. Oh it was bad. 

Well finally in the first year of college my roommate made me pick up a curling iron and learn to use it. And I got good at it too, but they fell, and never looked like pictures of pretty waves I wanted. 

So two days ago thanks to Pinterest I came across this technique from this beautiful lady, Cara Loren (who has tons of awesome how to videos on her site) and was so happy with the turn out I just had to share! Hope some of the others who aren't as "hair fixing" gifted as most girls find it useful. (You have to go to her site to watch it, I couldn't get the video to copy into a link) 

And my finished project. Please excuse the five finger forehead, as Tyra Banks would say. I'm super happy with it. 

Peach Turnovers

So all I seem to be doing is baking and cooking this past week. Chase isn't complaining so suppose I'm doing something right. 

This recipe is my spin on an apple turnover recipe from another one of my favorite blogs, run by two amazing sisters, called The Super Sisters. They have sooooo many amazing recipes, and their transformation stories of their lives and the struggles they've over come are so inspiring. 

These yummy peach turnovers turned out really good this Saturday. It's Monday...and there all gone. ;) and the best part is I don't feel so guilty because they're not to bad for you. 

Peach Turnovers

• 4 peaches
• 12 wonton wrappers
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup baking stevia
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Peel and cut peaches, then place in a large bowl and set aside. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, mix cornstarch, water, stevia, cinnamon and vanilla. Heat until mixture starts to boil and thicken, stirring throughout. Remove from heat and pour this over your peaches, and mix well until all peaches are covered.

One at a time, lay out a wonton wrapper and spoon about a 1/3 – 1/2 cup of peach slices in the middle at one end. Fold the edges of the wrapper in, and then tuck and roll the wrapper over the filling. Repeat until all wonton wrappers are used.

Place on baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, then turn oven for 425 and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until turnovers are golden brown and crispy on the outside.

Servings: 12

Calories: 45

Fat: 0.1 g

Carbs: 10 g

Fiber: 1.2 g

Protein: 1 g

Not Ready To Say Goodbye

So if your from around here, your enjoying in on these cool temps the last few days, and by cool I mean 60-70, not 100. It's been nice....yet scary. I'm not ready to part with summer. I feel like it's flown by yet again. I've only been swimmin' once! Haven't been to one lawn party. Haven't had a single Popsicle. Still have yet to catch a lighting bug. No late night star gazing. I have yet to see a baseball game, and I'm not close to my share of sweet corn. 

Fresh veggies are one of my absolutely favorite things about summer. This year is our first year doing a garden of our very own, and it's been fun seeing the work we've put in pay off. Luckly friends and family are sharing their bounties with us too so were getting lots of things fresh we didn't plant. 

Last night I made my first ever batch of green beans. Crazy it's my first, but normally chases momma makes so many (which she still is) that I never thought about making any, but she gave me my own bag of fresh picked beans to clean snap and cook. It felt like like a true test of southern woman hood cooking my first batch. Such a rewarding feeling when you have to put work and time into a dish that's been made for years by your grandmas and elders. 

It's not a hard process. Just takes a little while. The way Sharon (chases momma) taught me goes like this:

Snap off ends of beans, wash them up good, put them in a BIG pot with country ham chips & two spoonfuls of sugar. Let them come to a boil and than cut them back to a simmer for 3 hours or so. And than well eat um up.

See not the hardest southern dish out there to master. I still have many to take on :)

Some folks let them simmer much longer, but three hours was all it took for mine to be done up right how we like them. 

I love these kinda traditions and dishes. There what keeps the south stitched together. They help make memories happen, stories be told, and loved ones love on each other...all because folks are gathered around some comfort food. I know we'll be feasting with family and friends this weekend over some good ol' green beans, and plenty more garden fresh dishes. (Oh green fried tomatoes have been happening too..droooll)

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Cherish these summer days and nights, they'll be gone before we know it. 

Zucchini Pesto and Garlic Pasta

So today I have another wonderful recipe to share! I've been wanting to make zucchini noodles for ever now, but every recipe calls for using fancy tools to make the zucchini into noodle slices. And I don't have money for all that! Finally I found a method off one of my favorite blogs, top it with cinnamon, for a easy peezy method. She calls it the the lazy girls zucchini spaghetti which is just to perfect ;). We're all a little lazy when it comes to cooking dinner after work all day, admit it. We are.

Granted I did take longer than normal to make this than normal dinners but I also was trying it out for the first time so it was a slow moving process. But now and again I enjoy spending some quality time just me, the kitchen and some food (although I will say chase usually helps and keeps me company).

We had massive zucchini fresh from chases moms garden and brussel sprouts from there to use too. I mixed up get recipe a little and replaced her peas with my brussel sprouts. Next time I'll drain some of the water from the zucchini before adding the pesto since so much was wasted. And it should be a illegal  to waste pesto and fresh garlic. I kept my ingredients simple; zucchini, pesto, garlic, and topped with mozzarella. We also mixed in chicken sausage as a protein, but really you can go anywhere with it. Here is here recipe to use as a base line and some pictures of my process last night. Enjoy!!  

Lazy Girl’s Zucchini Spaghetti with Peas, Crème Fraîche and Pesto

1 medium zucchini, washed

1 tsp olive oil

1 clove of garlic, peeled + finely minced

2 tsp basil pesto

1 tbsp crème fraîche, cream cheese, ricotta or mascarpone (half-fat, full fat, whatever you want!)

1 handful of fresh or frozen peas

salt and pepper

lemon zest and Parmesan cheese, to finish

Take a box grater and place it on its side with the side with the largest grating holes on it face up.

Cut the ends off the zucchini, then push along the top of grater, in long strokes in order to create long, thin ribbons of zucchini (see the animated .gif in the post).

Heat a skillet with the olive oil, then gently fry the zucchini with the garlic until slightly tender. Stir in the pesto, crème fraîche (or whatever creamy ingredient you're using) and the peas (even if they are frozen. They'll defrost quickly in the frying pan). Stir until coated, season with salt and pepper, then take off the heat.

Pile it into a dish (I served mine on a bed of raw spinach leaves), and grate over some lemon zest and Parmesan.

Finally Friday

My gosh am I a slacking on posting! I blame it on 3 things:

1. I have no Internet at home.

2. I stretch myself extremely thin, too much--to little time. 

3. I am constantly discouraged by my lack of editing..fun programs and having a impressive blog is too important to me.

Solution: I need an iPad & high speed wifi. :)

Either way I have lots I want to share. Like the fact it's finally Friday! I got a new job starting in September! & our garden is producing yummy veggies! We had a super big BBQ at the house & it was a success! Ok I'll just show you what's been going on...'cue slideshow'

 

Ok next week my goal is to share my house number pots with you all! (Who ever you all are) everyone have a wonderful weekend. I'm gonna find me some lawn party fun and take a float down the river in the kayaks! Summer time is my favvvvvvvorite time. 

Nanner Bread

I miss baking.

I used to do it oh so very much and I don't anymore. 

Yesterday I got myself motivated and did.

& it turned out super yummy so I wanted to share the twist on a old fashioned banana bread recipe. 

I got the recipe off of a blog I absolute love called "He and She Eat Clean". A husband and wife who post all kinds of yummy recipes and tips for getting to a healthier you, together.

So here the link...excuse the messy ness, I can't hide links from my only blogging device..my phone :(

http://www.heandsheeatclean.com/2013/05/clean-eat-recipe-eat-clean-banana-bread.ht

Eat Clean Banana Bread

Ingredients:
Olive Oil

1 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour

1 1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 slightly beaten egg whites

1 c. mashed ripe bananas (3 medium or 2 large)

1/2 c. sucanat sugar (could also substitute Xylitol or Stevia - this would change the mets; however)

1/4 c. coconut oil, softened

A pinch of sea salt (1/16 tsp.)

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Coat an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan with olive oil spray and set aside. 
3. Unpeel and mash bananas in a separate bowl, setting aside. 
4. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and sea salt and set aside.
5. Using a large bowl, combine egg whites, banana, sucanat, and coconut oil. Once mixed well, add flour mixture to banana mixture stir until moist. The batter should be lumpy, so do not over stir. Spoon mixture into loaf pan. 
6. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. 
7. Let bread cool for about 10-15 minutes prior to cutting.

Makes approximately 8 slices. Serving size is one slice.
Mets (If using sucanat):
Calories: 226
Protein: 3g
Fat: 7g
Carbs: 37g

Unconditional Love

Yesterday evening I was making up the guest room bed and Ellie Mae just wanted to keep me company.

Look at those eyes.

She was undoubtedly bored. She kept trying to play tug a war with pillows. She played her favorite game with me which consist of her laying on the bed and acting like shark guarding her waters. She'll playfully bite at me if I get to close. She looks like a little shark wiggling around showing her teeth. It's too much. 

I don't believe you can understand love until you see how a dog will love you. There isn't another creature in the world that will love you more than they love themselves. 

Unless your a dog person I guess you wouldn't understand, but I love this little puppy dog more than most anything. Some days I wish I could always be as loving and sweet as her. Some days I wish we as humans would take a few lessons from puppy dogs. 

I Love My Job.

So many of you know that on top of my day job, I direct weddings for folks. Most of those that I've done have been for close friends but some have started being for acquaintances and folks who attended a wedding I directed. I absolutely love doing weddings. It's a rush, a long day, an exhausting (mental and physical) day, and sometimes quite stressful...but it's what I love to do. Over the past two weeks I've got to direct two weddings for two absolutely amazing couples. Both turned out very well and both brides left happy, which is all that matters..well not all that matters, but its an important part for sure.

I thought I'd share some photos from the weddings and some of the decorations we put together. I mean who doesn't love looking at some wedding photos?! 

Robbie + Meghan 

Paul + Serena 

I love helping people with these special days. The stress level never overpowers the level of love and happiness that surrounds the day.