Food stuffs

I love to cook and I also love to eat. (Obvi) so lately I've been trying out new recipes and I want to share some

I meal plan, which means I make a menu for the week or two and I make all my food in 1 day & freeze it. So basically I have healthy "TV dinners" everyday.  Some tips I have for this is buy the same size Tupperware (shallowish squared) so you can stack several in the freezer so it doesn't take up so much space. Buy stuff on sale and use coupons. Last week I got 5 packages of ground turkey, normally $6/each for $3.99 so I stocked up and bought as many as they allowed. 

First up is my new favorite snack dip

Jalapeño Ranch

http://domesticfemme.blogspot.com/2013/09/jalapeno-cilantro-ranch-dip.html?m=1

I liked her recipe but I changed mine up a bit. I doubled the sour cream and ranch packets but kept the cilantro and jalapeños the same. I LOVE this dip. I use the light sour cream. 

That stuff is so damn good. It's hard to stop eating it. 

Next up is carrot fries!

http://voraciousvander.com/2011/12/05/the-best-way-to-cook-zucchini-and-carrots/

I use Greek Seasoning because it's the best

 

Don't skip this step of placing the "fries" on a paper towel. Maybe I just use too much olive oil but yeah just don't skip that step. 

Next is spaghetti squash!

No link because the sticker tells you how to cook it

Cut in half, scoop out seeds and stuff, bake at 375 with squash face down on foil covered cookie sheet for 30-35 minutes, remove, let cool, take a fork and scrape the squash out. 

I like to put tzatziki sauce on the spaghetti squash. It tastes good and is pretty healthy. 

Another favorite of mine is turkey burgers. I just take ground turkey, season with Greek seasoning, dill, and cayenne pepper and then shape into patties and cook in a pan. So good. 

This was a new recipe for me. Cilantro honey-lime scallops

for the sauce I mixed lime juice, honey, cilantro, and paprika. Honestly I just mixed by eyeing it and tasting it. I have no clue how much of each I used. That's the fun part of cooking!!

For the scallops I seasoned with Greek seasoning and then cooked them on the stove in a cast iron skillet with olive oil and butter

 

Once cooked, place on a plate and drizzle with sauce. Pretty dang tasty. 

February Workout Plan

So I have written this out to do for Feb. I did the same for Jan but I only was focused for 2 weeks, so I'm trying again. Woo for determination. 

All of these can be done at home with just a few things. Some weights, a mat or pillow for the knees if you have bad knees like myself and I guess a DVD player or internet connection.

First thing I have is the 30 Day Shred. It's a great workout. I think I got the DVD for $8 at target. This workout kicks my ass. Some of the exercises I can't do with the weights so I don't at this time, but I'm working up to it. I'm not sure if you can find this on YouTube but you may be able to!

Here are the links I've found for the other exercises:

"Thin Thighs"
http://www.skinnymom.com/2012/06/27/thigh-thinning-circuit

"Top 10 Arms"
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/arms/exercises/best-arm-moves/?page=1

"Bye Bye Jiggly Arms"
http://slapdashmom.com/bye-bye-jiggly-arms-workout/

"Zumba YouTube" you can use any Zumba video on there, this is just the one I found on Pinterest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC6K3TSK_RY&sns=tw

"That Ass"
http://raisingthebarbydp.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/how-to-get-that-booty/

"Eliminate Cellulite"
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/lose-weight/burn-fat/the-30-minute-stop-cellulite-workout/?page=1

I'm hoping that this calendar method helps me stick to the workouts. You can ignore the numbers at the bottom of the dates, that's just for me to track days. If you have an event you're working towards you can write the number of days until the event on there like I have. It is kind of a scare tactic, but it works. 

If you have any workouts that you love, leave in the comments below! I'd love to try them out.  :)

That's my dog Alfie being all cute and stuff  

The Laser Diaries Part 5

It has been quite some time since I did an update on the laser hair removal process I had. So I will be extremely honest in what I am going to say about my results. 

I will start this by saying, my hair grows extremely fast. I have PCOS and that is a symptom/side effect (whatever you want to call it) of it. So I have a lot of hair and it grows fast. Previously I had to shave daily if I wanted smooth, hair-free legs. 

I purchased a living social deal to have 6 laser sessions completed on my lower legs. I guess it has been almost a year since my last leg session and I do have hair left on my legs. I have to shave maybe once or twice a week. So I am PLEASED with my results. What I need to do is go back and have more sessions if I want complete hair removal. I was aware of that when I started the laser and I'm aware of it now. Laser hair removal doesn't remove hair forever. Some hair will grow back and you will have to have maintenance sessions but it is worth it. 

I was so pleased with my laser results I now am having my underarms done as well as a Brazilian. I've had 2 Brazilian sessions and 1 underarm session so far. The underarm made me feel like a baby. It hurt so bad! The Brazilian isn't bad until they go in the inner labia and the ass crack. 

You've never been in an awkward position until you have had your ass crack lasered. 

I am not using the same place for the Brazilian and underarms as I did for my legs. I go where the discount is. I like both places but I prefer the place I'm having the Brazilian and underarms. I like their laser better. It blows puffs of cold air as the laser hits your skin so 1) you don't smell burning hair and 2) it gives immediate cooling to the skin. 

I haven't really noticed a difference with the areas yet. Well I have noticed slower growth with the Brazilian but the hair isn't falling out like it did with my legs. I still have several sessions left so I hope it works out perfectly! 

No pictures because I'm not posting almost porn on here.  :p

Love, 

Jess

resolutions are tough

My number one resolution this year was to lose the excess weight I've put on since college. I've put on about 50 pounds since I was a freshman in college. That freshman 15 was not a myth. For some reason, I didn't really realize my size kept growing because it was gradual and I guess slow but I just feel like it blew up one day. 

So far I've been watching what I eat and exercising daily. I know it's only the 4th but that's a big deal. I am so tired today, all I want to do is relax but I know I need to do the 30 day shred twice today. 

I've been trying to escape my money issues but it's time I address them. I need to buckle down and either get a second job or figure something out because this isn't working.

That's about all I have for now. 

New year, new beginnings.

A few days ago, I received a box in the mail from my best friend from college. It was a bottle of champagne and a lovely note asking if I would be one of her bridesmaids. 

I of course said yes. 

I am so happy to be able to celebrate with them on their big day and be a part of it. It was then I decided I needed to get serious about my health and size. Last year I blogged a bit about the Advocare challenge and what not but I didn't stay faithful with the losses I experienced and I gained back 15 pounds!  2013 was a very rough year for me and I don't expect 2014 to be a repeat. I'm actively making changes. 

I realized I haven't been happy in a while and for some reason I got on the Deutsche Welle app on my phone yesterday and a show about happiness was on. It was discussing how people dwell on the bad/negative and don't realize that there are happy moments all throughout the day. So it suggested keeping a happiness journal to jot down all the good things throughout the day. I plan on doing something similar just so I can hone in on the good and not the bad. 

It really struck home with me because lately I've just been focusing on what aggravates me or what annoys me and not what makes me happy during the day. Everything has been a drag lately so I'm working on fixing it up. I spend at least 8 hours a day with my gears all knotted up because I'm agitated with stuff--may it be work, coworkers, traffic, etc. I spend a lot of time mad and irritated. I need to let go and get over it and that's what I'm working on. 

I am also working on ways to earn more money, so I am less stressed this year. All this past year I've been wondering how on earth am I going to move forward with my life when I just keep piling on debt. So I am working on a solution for that as well. I need 2014 to be about new beginnings. 

My ultimate goal is to lose 50 pounds by September. I will be back near my  freshman college weight. It's so hard to believe that I've gained that much weight during college and post college. I want to be able to go up 4 flights of stairs without getting winded. I want to beat my previous 5k times. I want to be able to carry my groceries up 3 flights of stairs without huffing and puffing. (It's a struggle.)  

So far today I have completed Day 1, Week 1 of the 30 Day Shred. I also have completed day 1 of a 30 day ab and squat challenge. I'm already sore and I don't know if I will be able to take this sports bra off on my own without having to cut it. This sucker has my boobs locked in and fully loaded. It's so right it hurts but it's one of the few I have so I'm dealing with it. 

I also want to fall in love sometime. I've been alone so long, I don't remember what it's like. 

So many things I want I happen and so little time. Just kidding there is plent of time. 

I will try to keep this updated. I may upload progress pictures if I can figure it out from my phone. Good luck to everyone starting a new healthy lifestyle. And also congrats to all who are continuing on their journeys. 

This was the note and champagne I received. How cute! Best way to ask ever! 

This would be my face after completing day 1 of the 30 Day Shred and all the other exercises I did today. I am TIRED!