First weekend of Spending Fast

I had every intention to take a bunch of pictures this weekend to illustrate this post, but guess what - I didn't.  And I didn't even think of it until afterward!  Gosh, I've been slacking on that lately, haven't I?  I promise - new pics will come soon. :) 

ANYhew - I thought I'd fill you all in on how my first weekend without spending any money went!  It went GREAT!  I didn't spend a dime, and I still had a wonderful weekend.  

Friday night I met up with my mom & sister for a movie.  My mom insisted on paying, and although I hate having her pay for things, she wouldn't take "no" for an answer (god BLESS her!) - haha!  We saw "The Artist", which I thought was absolutely wonderful.  I'd never seen the lead actors in an American film before, but I guess they've been very popular in their perspective countries!  It's a silent film, but the acting and story were wonderful - and the music helped illustrate the story perfectly too.  I would highly recommend it! 

 Did I mention both leading actors are absolutely ADORABLE??  I didn't?  Well, they totally are.  Just gorgeous. :) 

Saturday morning I went with Cat to audition to sing the National Anthem at the Denver Roller Dolls bouts.  I figure one of my New Year's Resolutions is to sing more, so why the heck not?  I was the first to perform, so that was a little nerve racking (on top of the fact that I'm still getting over a cold), but I guess I did pretty well!  I heard back yesterday, and I'm going to be singing at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield in July!!  HOLY CRAP!!  I almost peed myself.  Here are the details: 

Saturday, July 21, 2012, home team double header
Denver Roller Dolls Green Barrettes vs. Rocky Mountain Roller Girls Sugar Kill Gang
& the Denver Roller Dolls Shotgun Betties vs. Denver Roller Dolls Bad Apples

I'm so totally stoked.  I was so excited thinking about it that I could barely get to sleep last night!  Then I remembered it's not until JULY, so I calmed down a bit. :)  You can get tickets through Ticketmaster (just search "Denver Roller Dolls"), and remember parking is $10 per car.

After that I hung out with Megan and her pup, Grace - we walked to the dog park, chatted, and let Grace romp with the other dogs.  It was great to catch up, and play with the doggies!  

I came home & cleaned like a mad woman (living room & half of the kitchen - CHECK!)

Saturday night I met up with the gang at Wynkoop for beer & pool.  I didn't have anything to drink except water, and the 1 beer that my pool-playing teammate Sean bought for me as a reward for losing the game with dignity!  Haha!  I could easily have gone without the beer, but I didn't want to turn him down.  It felt good knowing that I would have been fine just having water though! 

Sunday John and I hit Whole Foods and got stocked up on all kinds of healthy foods for the week.  We spent most of our time in produce, and our cart was pretty much full by the time we hit the other sections!  I was totally thrilled.  I love when most of what we buy comes from the produce section! 

Afterward I met up with my mom for lunch (again, she insisted on treating me since we don't get to do it very often which was very sweet).  It was delicious, and sticking to my healthy-eating I only had 1 cup of coffee, and I didn't clean my plate.  Woohoo!

When I got home I started cleaning again.  Finished the kitchen, cleaned the hallway, my half of the office (went through drawers & got rid of stuff too!), did 4 loads of laundry, and cleaned my bathroom from top to bottom!  I don't know how I got so motivated, but it was pretty awesome when I was all done!  I guess it's true - when you're not spending money, you do have a lot of extra time on your hands.  

After this weekend I felt a lot more confident about how I'm going to do this Spending Fast.  I know it's going to be really difficult at times (especially with saying "no" to things - I struggle with that all the time!), but I feel like if I can make it a whole weekend without spending money, I can totally do this.  Weekends are always the hardest for me because I tend to find "errands" to run (usually meaning shopping in one way or another), like going to Target or Ross for something I don't really need.  So I probably will be finding much more time to tackle other things on my New Year's Resolution list during those times!! YEAH!! 

At the end of the day, I enjoyed a juice (made from fresh fruits & veggies that John and I bought earlier in the day), and a nice warm cup of Peach Detox tea.  

    

All-in-all, it was a wonderful weekend, and the first one in a very long time that I haven't spent a dime (and was much happier for it). :)  Let's see how I do this next weekend without my mom buying me movie & lunch!  Haha!

 All photos either from Google Image search, or www.weheartit.com

 

Yay! Life is good!

I've been working hard the last 10 days to really get on eating right, and making good choices with food.  Eating a little less, choosing tea over coffee, etc - just making those little changes that make big differences.  I did get sick just after the new year, and I'm only now starting to feel better so I haven't been doing any workouts in order to recover.  However it looks as though my body has been responding to the little changes!! 

My tummy pooch is starting to shrink, and I'm already feeling lighter.  I had to weigh myself this morning, and even though I really don't want base it on a number, I had to at least check.  I'm down 6 POUNDS!!  WOOHOO!!  That felt great, and gave me an extra boost of motivation to keep me going!

On top of that, the past 2 days of my Spending Fast have been fantastic.  I went to dinner at a friend's place last night, and so far not a dime has been spent for anything at all.  It's a little victory since I still have 364 days to go, but it's a start!  This weekend will be harder (weekends are ALWAYS harder to avoid spending), but I'm ready for it!

YAY! LIFE! :D

And then she saved (RE-DO!)

Everyone gets a re-do in life, right?  At least once or twice?  Shoot, if I'm talking about losing weight, I've gotten about 10 re-do's! ;)  

Anyway, life has hit me in the face again with reality, and it's time to have a look at things all over again.  Remember that time when I decided to do a Spending Diet?  I think that lasted about 2 or 3 months tops.  It was very hard, and I struggled with it - and eventually lost all motivation.  

And guess where I am now.  $600 farther in debt than I was last year.  Where the hell did that money go?  I dunno - shopping in NYC with my sister?  Countless dinners & lunches in restaurants?  Christmas gifts?  Yep, all of the above (and then some).  So much for that idea. 

Luckily, I get a do-over. 

This time, however, I won't be dieting with my money.  I'll be FASTING.


Holy shit - this is going to SUCK! 

I'm ready to take it on though.  Yes, I'm sure I'll whine and feel like I'm missing out on life.  I'm sure I'll be grumpy from time to time.  It'll be scary and challenging and may even put strain on some of my relationships.  But if this is what it takes to be debt-free, then 1-year doesn't seem like that much. 

Starting NOW I will not spend any money on things that aren't essential.  I've revised my list from the last time, and here goes: 


WHAT I HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON:
RENT

UTILITIES

CELL PHONE

FOOD - grocery store or farmer's market bought only, in-season fruits and veggies and only when I run out of stuff in cupboards.  It's very important to me to still stay healthy though, so if I need to buy less to get better quality (ie - organic), then I will do so.

HEALTH INSURANCE / doctor co-pays / medicine (when needed)

CAR PAYMENT

GAS (as little as possible – bike / scoot / carpool / walk whenever you can)

TOILETRIES (minimal) – toilet paper, paper towels, boxed hair dye (super cheap), shampoo / conditioner,  cotton balls, q-tips, razors, body lotion, makeup base.  Only the bare minimum, generic brands, and what I absolutely need. 

WHAT I WILL NOT SPEND MONEY ON:
Gifts (sorry friends and family... homemade crafts or re-gifting will be happening)

Coffee at coffee shops (oh man, this will be a hard one.  I don't do it much, but every now & then a soy latte really hits the spot.  I'm going to have to learn how to make my own!)

Clothes, shoes, jewelery (I hope a lot of people are up for clothing exchanges this year!)

Thrift shopping (yes it’s cheap, but it’s still spending - and I'll miss it!) 

New make-up (not including base – sorry, that’s an essential. I have a ton of eyeliner, eye shadows, blush & lipstick to last me a lifetime though. Time to use up what I've got!)

Eating out (this is a big one!!) – breakfasts / lunches / dinners

Happy hours (another big one) – I can attend, but soda water will be my drink of choice!

Movies

Furniture / Decorative house stuff

Haircuts (I can probably keep up on these myself with trims)

Books & music (God BLESS the library)

Wine / Beer / Liquor Stores (this is a luxury, not a necessity!!) 

---------------------
Why am I doing this to myself, do you ask?  I think this link pretty much describes my feelings perfectly.  I have ALWAYS considered myself an independent person, but I have never in my life been debt-free.  Okay, I was debt-free before I hit college, but I digress. 

I want to be able to take care of myself.  I want to be able to spend MY heard-earned money, and never have to work hard just to pay things off.  I want to feel secure financially, and not burst into tears when something costs $20 more than I expected it to, or every time my damn car tags come in once a year costing me $85 (yes, I forget about it every single year). 

I always used to think that life is too short not to live spontaneously.  I feel like I can still live that way to an extent without digging myself deeper into a hole.  And just giving up that careless attitude for only ONE YEAR will get me closer to living truly free than I ever have been before.   


And that's pretty awesome. 


So please wish me luck!!  I'll keep up posts on this blog about my progress and tag it with "she saved" so that they're easy to find. 

I'm puttin' on my big-girl pants right now! 

Well hello, 2012!

Hope you all had an amazing New Year's!  Mine was spent with some good friends, lots of homemade tacos, and too much champagne.  But we had a really fun time. :)

Unfortunately I'm starting off the new year SICK, which is a total bummer as I have been gearing up to start this year off right!  However I'm still managing to keep on eating healthfully (including plenty of soup and teas), but the workouts have come to a brief halt though until my body can fight off the sludge that's nestled in my chest.  Uck.

John has already purchased a pull-up bar / workout bench system thingy (it has a name, I just can't remember it), that apparently worked really well for him in the past when his roommate had one before.  He also downloaded the INSANITY workouts, so he's getting on top of things too!  I'm so proud.

I'm also starting up roller derby again next week which will definitely be a shock to my system.  I prepared by getting a huge bag of Epsom salts for post-practice sore-muscle soaks (that I'm sure will be much needed)!  It'll be great to get back into shape again though, and I can't wait to see all of my girls.  It's been a little over 4 MONTHS since I've played the game - holy crap!!  I hope I still remember everything!

All-in-all, I'm really looking forward to everything that this year will bring.  I have a very positive outlook right now, and I'm really excited to start making things happen.  I'm looking forward to tackling my list of "things to accomplish", and it's going to be really fun to see where those things will take me.

Wishing you all the best in 2012!  Happy New Year! :)


photo from www.weheartit.com

New Year's Resolutions for 2012!!

After totally kicking some ASS with last year's resolutions, I decided to start with a brand-spankin' new list to ring in 2012.  I feel totally ready & pumped to take it on, and I am really excited to see where this year will take me.  This list is a bit shorter than last year, but I also have some bigger goals to accomplish.  So on that note, here we goooooo!

Things I want to accomplish in 2012: 

-    Lose 40 pounds (and keep it off!)

-    Exercise at least 5x a week

-    Not purchase any cheese or dairy from the grocery store all year (no butter, cream cheese, or anything like that either – unless it’s vegan, and I absolutely require it like for a recipe or something. Yes, this means that every once in a while I can have it when I go out to dinner, but I'm going to avoid it at all costs!)

-    Visit my grandma in Erie

-    Find a new job that I love

-    Find a way to SING more!  On stage, with a choir, karaoke, open mic – I don’t care, but I want to do it a lot more!

-    Pay off ANOTHER credit card

-    Start a garden / growing my own herbs & food

-    Rally the troops (my friends & family) and make a crazy huge donation to a charity (whether with food, money, supplies, or with our time).  Preferably do this with at least 2 charities.

-    Make more of an effort to dress more fashionably.  (I sometimes fall into a pattern of being a bit too relaxed with my day-to-day wear since I can wear whatever I want to work.  I want to look GOOD, which in turn will make me feel good!)

-    Remind myself daily that what I choose to eat directly corresponds to how I feel, how I look, and the world around me.

-    Run a 10k (without stopping)

-    Take a vacation

Wishing you all a very happy & safe New Year's!!  I hope it's EPIC!! 

All images found by Google Image searches (except the ones that are my own!).

Post-Holiday (cookie) Blues

As usual, I let myself get kinda outta control over the holiday season.  I ate when I wasn't hungry, I ate more than I needed, I had 3 cookies when 1 would've been enough.... it goes on & on.

It almost didn't even feel like celebratory eating anymore... it just felt like gluttony!  It got to the point where I don't think I was even enjoying what I was eating - I was just eating for the sake of eating.  When it gets to that point, it's not a good thing.

As I've mentioned in the past, I've always yo-yo'd in my weight.  For a woman of my height (5'6"), my age (30), and my body-type (larger-boned / hourglass shape), my weight should be right around 140-145, and stay right in that range.  At this point I'm right around 182.

Sure, it's not like I passed the 200 pound mark.  I'm thankful that I've never actually gone out and purchased clothing in larger sizes just so that I can keep getting larger.  I'm even more grateful that with my body type I gain weight pretty evenly, so it isn't as noticeable as it is with some people.

But that doesn't mean it's okay.  I'm carrying around 40 extra pounds that have no reason being there, and it doesn't feel good.  Sure I'm not 150 pounds overweight or anything, but that doesn't make it any less acceptable to me.  I want to open up my closet and feel good about anything I put on.  I want to feel happy and sexy in my skin - not trying to hide it under a billowy top and stretchy pants.  I want to feel confident and happy and not overweight.

I've been through this many times, as I'm sure a lot of you have!  It never seems to stick.  Quitting smoking seemed like the hardest thing on the planet to do - it took me at least 3-4 attempts, but I eventually kicked it.  But my continuous struggle with overeating, unhealthy food cravings, sweets, etc. has made that look like a piece of cake (no pun intended). The fact that I could even stop eating meat and never look back - there's something to be said for that!  It's obvious that I CAN do it, now it's just actually DOING it!

Anyway, I'm rambling.  My point is, there's no better time to start than now.  Sure, New Year's Eve is coming up.  Sure I'll want to party.  But why wait until the new year to get going?  Gosh, I feel like a broken record.  But I want to do this.  I NEED to do this.  I need to change my life forever and never gain the weight back again.  I told myself that I would never hit the 180 mark again, but I did.  And that's just not acceptable!

So I'm gettin' back on that good ol' saddle again.  I have the ability, I have the resources, I have the know-how to do what I need to do.  All I need now is a good dose of willpower, and the support of my family & friends.

And it never hurts to find outside motivation.  Last night I watched Killer at Large - a documentary film that was released in 2008.  I'd never heard of it before, but it was in the Netflix instant queue, so I thought I'd check it out.  It was really REALLY good, and very eye-opening.  It made me not want to support the junk food industry ever again, and also made me want to work twice as hard at avoiding them all together.  It also made me not want to be grouped into being a typical "overweight American".

I want to change the world, and make it healthier.  So I may as well start with ME! :)

Here's the trailer for Killer at Large too.  I would highly recommend it!  I hope that you all will work towards getting healthier and happier in the new year too. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, & all that jazz!!

Hey gang! 

The lack of post has been because of the bustling holiday season, so I'll leave you with some lovely photographs to wish you well.  

I feel so lucky to have everything that I have and to be who I am.  I think people get so wrapped up in their day-to-day lives that they start letting the little things get to them - and don't take a moment to step back and realize that they have SO MUCH that so many other people in the world aren't as fortunate to have.  I know I'm guilty of it from time to time. 

So what I wish for this holiday season is that you stop and take a moment to reflect.  Think of everything you have - not things you do not have.  Think of your family and friends.  Think of love.  And remember that you are lucky, and that you are blessed.

all photos from www.weheartit.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Amazing Pine Nut Brittle with Rosemary

My friend Alyson and I had a holiday-cooking-and-jam-making session this past weekend!  It was super fun, and we got to try out some new recipes, and use them as homemade Christmas gifts. :)  

One of our FAVORITES was this brittle recipe that Alyson found online.  It sounded so savory & decadent, and we jumped at the chance to make it (especially since I had an abnormally large back stock of pine nuts for some reason). It turned out SO amazing and SO ridiculously delicious (a wonderful blend of salty & sweet - so decadent), that I had to share the recipe! 

Pine Nut Brittle with Rosemary

Makes enough for one big tin or about 6 little bags of treats
We actually doubled this recipe so that we could split it in half & share it!  If you double the recipe you could probably fill about 6 large glass jars with brittle (it took up 1 large cookie sheet when we got it all flattened out). 


INGREDIENTS
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups pine nuts (I thought this was WAY too much.  We used what it called for, but you may want to just add about 1/2 of this and see how it looks in the mixture when you have everything going.)
8 tablespoons (one stick) unsalted butter (I thought this was way too much too!  I'd half it next time, and see how it goes.)
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary (definitely use FRESH rosemary, not dried.  I think this made a huge difference in ours!)
1 tablespoon finely ground sea salt or grey sea salt (same with this one - finely ground is essential, and the fact that it's sea salt makes the flavor so much better)

DIRECTIONS
Place the sugar in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat and stir with a wooden spoon until sugar begins to melt. (The directions said to start it on high heat then lower it, but we burned the sugar the first time around BIG time!  Definitely keep your eye on it, 'cause if it burns, it's over!  The 2nd time around we kept the heat at medium - it took a little longer, but it didn't burn.)  Keep the heat on medium to medium-high and keep stirring just until the sugar is melted. Stop stirring (but keep a close eye on it!) and watch for it to turn a medium caramel color. About 10 minutes total.

Stir in pine nuts, and then butter. Allow pine nuts to cook for about two minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in half of the rosemary and half of the sea salt.

Turn the mixture out onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper (not wax paper - there is a big difference), and spread it evenly to the desired thickness with a wooden spoon or stiff rubber spatula. Sprinkle remaining rosemary and salt on top, while brittle is still warm.

Allow to cool completely--at least one hour--then break the brittle into pieces and store in an airtight container at room temperature. If your brittle isn't brittle enough to break into pieces, pop it in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes, until it hardens enough to snap easily.  (we put it in the fridge for about 30 minutes, and it broke apart perfectly!)

It really was much easier than I thought it would be (except for the sugar-burning, of course), and it turned out to be something super gourmet-tasting.  Really REALLY yummy. :) 

On another random yet cute note - this is how I found Fudge sleeping the next day.  Apparently he stretched out and decided to stay that way!  He's so freakin' cute. 
 

Hope you're all enjoying the holiday season, and Happy Hanukkah to all of my Jewish friends! :) 
XO

Helpful Cooking Tips!

I was just thinking of all of the little things I've learned along the way since I fell in love with cooking & baking.  I was watching a friend of mine cook in the kitchen, and kept cringing at everything he was doing wrong!  It was a lot of simple little things, all of which would've made his life a little easier - and made his food taste a little better. 

So for my friend, and for you, here is some of what I've learned! 

Beth's Cooking Tips

Proper food storage enhances the taste of your food. 
Tomatoes should NEVER be stored in the refrigerator.  The cold actually damages their cells, causing them to taste mealy.

On the other side, apples should ALWAYS be stored in the fridge.  Sure, they'll be fine on the counter, but after a while they will taste mealy - if you store them in the fridge, they'll stay nice & crispy & juicy.  However, be sure to not store apples in the same drawer as other veggies - they contain an enzyme that will actually cause certain fruits & veggies to wilt and wither faster.

I also store onions in the fridge, as it helps prevent my eyes from stinging when I chop them.

Storing leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, etc) in the crisper actually does help them stay healthy longer!  Just be sure they are kept dry.  Some people say to wash lettuce as soon as you get it and wrap it in paper towels for storing.  I've tried this, and it doesn't seem to work for me.  I find that keeping lettuce in it's original bag with the mouth of the bag left open and stored in the crisper helps it stay the freshest the longest.

Use vinegar instead of oil when cooking pasta. 
I know your momma has always taught you to add olive oil to your boiling water to prevent noodles from sticking together, right?  Your momma is WRONG, baby!  I did this for the longest time, and it turns out it's a complete myth. 

Personally, I like to add a splash of good ol' Apple Cider Vinegar to my cooking liquid instead.  It has certainly been more helpful to prevent sticking than oil ever has!  And on that note...

Soak your rice overnight before cooking. 
I know this takes a bit of planning, but it has become a wonderful practice for me!  Just add the proper amount of water in a pot to the amount of rice you want to cook (ALWAYS brown rice, people.  C'mon now.) - so 2 cups of water to every 1 cup of rice.

Add a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar (this is seriously one of my most favorite kitchen staples), then cover the pot with a lid, and leave it alone for the night.  The vinegar will actually help the rice to germinate.

In the morning, turn the heat on medium-high until it boils (you don't even have to dump out the water)!  Lower the heat to simmer and it should only take about 30-ish minutes to cook (instead of the usual 45 mins to an hour without soaking).  Allowing time for the soaking process really helps your body absorb the nutrients in the rice better, and it helps you to digest it.  For more information on the health benefits, click here. On the same note...

Get raw, uncooked beans in bulk - and cook them yourself!
Again, this takes some planning, but after I did a little research on my own I realized this isn't as hard as it seems.  This is a great website for instructions on how to cook all kinds of beans, and you can easily find a cooking chart (for using a regular pot instead of a pressure cooker) with soak time / cook times.

Cooking your own beans takes out the processing ingredients that are put into canned beans, including sodium (there is SO much sodium in canned beans - unless you buy salt-free), and cooking your own can aid with digestion and make them easier for your body to process - therefore making them even more nutritious.  Also, when you buy beans in bulk you're buying hardly ANY packaging, therefore saving the world one little step at a time.

ALWAYS use a sharp knife. 
I once saw a friend of mine attempting to saw through a head of lettuce with a butter knife.  *facepalm.

Before you start chopping, slicing & dicing, be sure your knife is good & sharp.  A dull knife will squash fruits & tomatoes, and you'll be more likely to have a slip and accidentally cut yourself.  I like to run mine through a basic sharpener right before I get started - just be sure to wipe the blade with a clean dishtowel before you start a'choppin'!

WASH YOUR HANDS!
I guess I should have listed this one first, but ALWAYS wash your hands before you begin cooking.  There are so many icky-sicky germs everywhere, and although this seems like common sense, you'd be surprised at how many "helpers" I get in the kitchen that say NO when I ask "have you washed your hands?"

Always check the yield of your recipe first thing!
I have made this mistake a LOT of times.  I'm in the middle of cooking up a delicious casserole, and halfway through the recipe I realize, "Hmmm.... this doesn't look like it's going to make enough to feed the group of 8 that I'm cooking for..."  I check the recipe yield, and it only makes enough to serve 4.

Dammit!!

Or in another scope (such as when making cookies or jam), you realize that the recipe yields 80 servings, and you're making WAY too much!  No wonder those cookies used an entire package of butter... whoa.

Adjust the recipe according to your party size - either doubling or halving the recipe ingredients when necessary.  Just don't forget halfway through cooking what you're doing though!  I've totally done that too!

Cooking and baking both come down to science.  But baking is REALLY a science (that I don't understand).
I am definitely more of a cooking-type person than a baking-type of person, but I'm definitely trying to change that.  I've learned through trial & error in cooking what flavors work well together, and I can flub my way through things even when they seem like a disaster.  However with baking?  I just don't get the science of how it all works.  Therefore my advice here is: when it comes to baking, follow the instructions exactly!  That seems to prevent most of the screw-ups I've created in the baking world!

Go easy on the salt. 
It's much easier to add a little more, rather than take out a little less. 

When it comes to spices, go ahead & substitute. 
I have never owned saffron.  Nor will I probably EVER own it, since it costs more than its weight in gold.  So needless to say, when a recipe calls for a spice like this or any other ridiculously specific "gourmet" seasoning that you have to go to a special store to buy - I substitute.  Or just omit it, depending on what it is!  Usually a quick Google search can give you some good ideas on spice substitution.

Wear an apron. 
Now, I know this might sound silly.  But after you have flour all down your shirt or gravy on your pants, you'll think twice!  Also I love aprons because you can just wipe your hands right there on 'em.  So convenient.  You can find some really super cute ones here.  Maybe not for the boys of the kitchen, but I kinda like this one for them. :)

Presentation is totally important. 
I didn't used to think this was true, but now I'm a believer.  It doesn't take much effort to make your plate pretty, and that extra dash of color can add some healthy vitamins to your meal.  After all, they say the more colorful the meal on your plate - the more nutritious it is!  Add some arugula or spinach under that fried egg, and a couple of sliced strawberries on the side.  Garnish your soups with some sprigs of parsley or cilantro for a spicy soup.  It's true that we first eat with our eyes, and if you make your food LOOK appealing, your mind will find it even more delicious. 

HAVE FUN. 
If you put love and joy into your cooking, then it will spread to those who you share it with.  That is kind of my new motto!  I love cooking and I enjoy doing it, I find it so relaxing, and it makes me happy.  Nothing is more wonderful than sharing a dish with friends, and having them go back for seconds (best compliment to the chef ever).  :)  Remember, it doesn't matter if something doesn't turn out exactly the way you wanted it to.  But the fact that you tried, and that you know how to fix it in the future - that's what matters!  Practice makes perfect!  And chances are, someone will still find it delicious.  There have been many times where I make a recipe that I totally flubbed, and I have a handful of friends that end up going crazy for it. 

That's all I got! :)  I hope these tips come in helpful for you, and I'll probably do another installment of cooking tips as I think of them.  It's always good to share what you know in case it helps someone else along down the line!  Especially when it comes to learning to love cooking & baking - I think a big problem with our country is that people don't take pride in food anymore.  We can buy just about anything pre-made, and we don't take the time in the kitchen to make food our own.  I truly believe that solving the obesity crisis will start in the kitchen. 

So grab up your spatula, and start cooking!


All photos from www.weheartit.com

A round of Cute-Cute Boys!

Nothing much to report today, so for the occasion it's time for a round of Cutie-Cute Boys!  

I've already done a couple of installments of cute girlies here & here, so it's time to bring on the boys.  I couldn't find many images of boys I actually found attractive (or over the age of 16) on the We Heart It site (one of my favorite image-search sites), so I thought I'd go with some of my favorite celebrity crushes, and the reasons why I find them so adorable.  :) 

The Funny Guys. 
This goes for both the above pic (Flight of the Conchords - Jermaine & Bret!), and the below pic (Andy Samberg from SNL).  How can you NOT love guys that are not only super cute, but that aren't afraid to make fun of themselves?  These boys are fearless with making themselves look ridiculous in order to make you (and me) laugh like crazy.  BIG time cuties, and added points for sense of humor!

The Nerdy Guy. 
I'm kind of obsessed with the show "Criminal Minds".  Matthew Gray-Gubler plays Dr. Reid on the show, and I gotta say - I've always had a big ol' crush on him!  Probably partly because his character is so obliviously innocent, and also pretty much a genius savant at the same time.  His hair is always messily adorable, and he's always coming up with the final piece to the puzzle.  He's also a model in his spare time, so I guess other people haven't exactly glazed over his good-looks.

The Rockstar. 
Sigh - Davey Havok - my first big time rockstar love!!  I fell in love with the band AFI waaaayyyy late.  I caught the video for "Miss Murder" while I was jogging on a treadmill in the workout room of a hotel in Oklahoma about 6 years ago.  His face was just so lovely, and he was rocking my socks off all at the same time.  I immediately went out & bought their album Decemberunderground, and realized that they had plenty more albums that were all equally amazing.  Not only is his voice crazy-awesome, but he's vegan, straight edge, and cute to boot.  Even crazier story?  I saw him at my favorite vegetarian restaurant in Denver a few years ago.  I don't usually get star struck, but that day I totally did.

The Pretty Face. 
Cillian Murphy is an amazing actor (28 Days Later, Sunshine, Batman Begins, etc), and definitely NOT just a pretty face.  He really is damn good at what he does.  But he also has a damn pretty face!  Maybe a bit feminine in a way, but oh-so-pretty.  The first time I saw him in a film it was "28 Days Later".  My friend Jen had seen it and said "I'm in love with the main character - he's so gorgeous".  At the beginning of the movie half his hair was shaved off, he had a terrible scruffy beard, and I could not figure out what my friend was talking about!  Then halfway through the movie, he shaves off his beard.  Once I could actually see his face, I got it. :)

The Bad Boy. 
OK I don't really know if Justin Theroux is actually a bad boy.  But he's certainly been getting that rep since he left his wife for Jennifer Aniston.  Now, I don't know the whole situation, but of course the media is having a field day with it!  But what I do know is that I find this guy smokin' hot.  A loooong time ago he was in Sex in the City (he actually played a cocky author that Carrie met super early in the first season, then the uhm...always-comes-too-early author guy in a later season), but I really went nuts for him when I saw him in "Charlies Angels: Full Throttle" as a gorgeous (totally ripped) Irish ex-boyfriend of Drew Barrymore's character.  It's worth it just for the shirtless fight scene close to the end!

The Nice Guy. 
I've never met Jason Schwartzman of course, but he seems like he'd be quite a nice guy.  He always plays such quirky characters, and can be funny and heartbreaking all at the same time.  I hear he's kind of short too, which only makes him even more cute.

The Super Cute Funny & Scottish Guy. 
Yep, couldn't narrow down this one! ;)  Ewan McGregor has been on my list for a while now, ever since back in high school when I watched "Trainspotting".  He is another one of those actors that has a wide range of talent when it comes to playing different characters, with one difference.  He can SING.  I hated the move "Moulin Rouge", but I loved getting to hear him belt out some tunes - and I can't wait to see him play a flamboyantly gay man in "I Love You, Phillip Morris" which has been in my Netflix cue for ages.  If you want to see him as probably one of the cutest (and worst) kidnappers ever, you should watch "A Life Less Ordinary".  He sings in that one too!

So there ya go!  I'm sure I could list more, but I like this list.  I apparently have quite a varied taste when it comes to men!  Luckily I have a super wonderful boy of my own as well.  I'd say he's kind of my Ewan McGregor in a way.  Well, he claims to not be able to sing, and he's not Scottish, but he does have Irish heritage, and he's damn funny and damn cute!! ;)  Yeah, I think I'll keep him.

All photos from Google Image search.