Living Happily Ever After: June 2012

Thursday, June 28, 2012

By the way...

I just realized that I had two posts back to back- one about eating healthy and one about making cake in a cup:) Awesome.

But hey, even as I work to eat healthier, I still will need my occasional homemade desserts and cookies-life is just too short to eat cardboard all the time:)

Lets do this!!!

This summer, aside from teaching summer school, planning a baby shower (for a beautiful baby girl-YEAH), and trying to stay cool (which is tricky now, it's freaking hot), I have had some extra time to myself. I have enjoyed using this time to be with friends, read (I actually went to the library the other day-I haven't been to the library in 10 years!!) and get in some good work-out time.

So, working out has been fantastic. I know that its of course easy now due to the fact I only work half a day, but as I do it each day, I am reminded of how essential it is to me (and really to everyone). My day, heck, my life looks different if I exercise.

Let me hit you up with the first visual of this post:

Although at times I remember very little from my undergrad study, I do remember good ole' Maslow's Hierchy of Needs. Anyone in the field of education, psychology, or really anyone who works with people should know this. I especially find this helpful when working with kids.

Anyways, as the pyramids demonstrates, physiological needs are the base for everything you do. I cannot be a suitable woman, wife, teacher or friend without adequate rest, nutrition and exercise. I know its simple, but this is really something that I am finding myself always coming back to as I add more "roles" in my life.

So the exercise and rest part are pretty well established in my life. Nutrition-not so much. I recently attended a health presentation put on by a friend at work who sells Juice Plus, which is an interesting product that I may consider in the future. Anyways, at this meeting I was presented with another visual.

Does everyone know there is no longer a good pyramid?! Maybe I am the last to know, but it is now a plate.

And here is Visual 2...

Looking at this really let me know what changes I need to make to become healthier. I also have been doing some research on eating healthy on a budget, and while I used to think this was a huge issue, I have come across some methods that no longer lend themselves to excuses.

I also think it will be important for me to change my eating one step at a time. I am a person who gets overwhelemed quickly, so I think that setting a goal one week at time would be best.

So what's the goal this week?

Dear Pop,

Its been a great 26-year old friendship between you and I. However, I have come to find that you...
a) have no nutrtional value
b) strip my bones of my much needed calicum
c) are currently dehydrating me
d) cost extra money that I don't need to spend
So, even though I love your fizz and the sound of opening a fresh can of you, I need to leave you behind. I am sorry to say I am leaving you for water, and occasional tea and coffee. I am sure this will lead to headaches and grief, but the extra money and over-all well-being will be well worth it.I will perhaps seeing you at restuarants or at Christmas time when you come in the special Santa bottles I love.

Regrets,
Carly Showman

I hope everyone is staying cool and safe, and doing something for your health today:) I love you all!

Cake in a Cup

The second I saw the title of this dessert "Cake in a Cup" in People magazine, and after I read the time it takes to make(10 minutes), I instantly had to try it.

And it was delcious, yet SUPER RICH-so this is not for the weak at heart with desserts or chocolate.

To make:

Ingredients:
8 oz butter
8 oz chopped dark chocolate
3/4 c sugar
3/4 c flour
4 eggs
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp lemon zest
whipped cream or ice cream

1. Put butter and chocolate in glass bowl. Microwave 1 minute or until melted. Stir
2. In another bowl wisk sugar, flour, eggs, sea salt and lemon zest
Wisk in chocolate mixture and divide amongst 4 mugs.
3. Microwave 3 min and let cool.

Top with ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy:)

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Charles M. Schulz

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Mmmm cookies!

I made Shawn's favorite cookies the other night (just cause I loooove him:) They are actually called delicious cookies. They really are a great, light summer cookie.

Man, food photography is not my bag.

But these are good-I swear:)

Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 c butter

1 c veggie oil

1 c brown sugar

1 c white sugar

1 egg

2 tsps vanilla

3 1/2 c flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp soda

1 tsp cream of tarter

1 c oatmeal

1 c Rice Krispies cereal

6 oz chocolate chips

Steps:

Blend butter and oil. Cream in sugars. Add egg and vanilla. Beat well. Sift together flour, salt, soda and cream of tarter. Mix in creamed mixture. Then stir in oatmeal, cereal and chocolate. Drop on lightly creased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-12 min. Makes 6 dozen (freeze extra:))

Chicken Salad

I know it's hard to mess up a chicken salad, but I did make one that was pretty tasty. I made it according to a recipe, and then ate lunch off of it practically all week! I ate it as a wrap with a tortilla, or on spinach leaves as a salad.
Also, it says you can add cranberries or almonds as well:)

I don't have an exact recipe, but here are the indegredients:
cooked chicken, celery, cream cheese, mayo, celery, green apples

Joy in June

Summer is here! Shawn and I have already been busy this summer since we got back from vacation. Shawn went back to work, and I have started summer school. I have also been going to meetings at Pinckney in the afternoon- again, those who say teachers get the summer off really don't have a clue:) There is always next year to plan for!

But I will say things have been a bit more easy going now that summer is here. We have had some extra time to relax, read, and do some cooking:) I am hoping this continues this summer.

But first, here are a few pictures from Mrs. Leah's wedding! I was kind of disappointed in my phone's picture taking ability that night-but here are a few. Leah looked AMAZING (a classic beauty:) and the wedding was great fun. I hope Leah and Jake are enjoying their first week of married life:) I can't wait to see the pictures!

The beautiful bride getting ready

Cutting the cake (which was delicious red velvet-YUM)

Erin giving her speech-it was great:)

The first dance

Shawn and I with the amazing scenery

Shawn in the spotlight:) There was a random spotlight set up by him-guess he was the entertainment for the night!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

California Vacation

We are back from vacation! We had a wonderful time in California with my Dad's family. We spent a few days in Monterey, and then headed to San Fransisco. It was great to get away for a bit, to see my brother and wife and spend time with my parents and sister, and to see an area of the country we had not seen before.

Here are some pics...