Foodie Penpal Month 1

Goooood day everyone!!!

 

Today is reveal day for Foodie Penpals!  If you don't know about this awesome program, you should.

 

Join, join!!! Maybe we will be penpals!

Well, last month I was lucky enough to get the lovely Melanie.
I was super excited to know she lives on the east coast because I grew up there!
I loved all of the food she sent.
I loved the PB Granola...I had it in my yogurt that night.

The tortilla chips were gone like the next day.
Even Penny loved it all!

 

XO Lauren

PS. If you want to see what I sent, go see Ann's page here.

She hasn't posted anything about it yet, but hopefully she will soon!

 

The Two that Keep Me Sane

(Sexy deep voice) This one goes out to.....the two that keep me sane ya'll.

 

Tee hee.

 

I am in the middle of a huge house clean, packing my apartment, going crazy at work, moving, and trying to find time to relax.

 

These two down here keep me sane.

 

I <3 my boyfriend and my cat.

 

 

 

Without them, I wouldn't have anyone to hang out with on the weekend.

That sounds totally sad, I have friends, really..

 

Without them, I think my head would explode.

 

To Penny and Boyfriend!!! CHEERS.

 

Happy Friday!!!

XO Lauren

Pick Yourself Back Up

Hi everyone,

 

I have been super busy and debating what I should write for like a few days now.

I debated posting a workout, a recipe, continuing to update you on my boring life....

 

But I have decided that you need to know that my life isn't all eating healthy and working out.

 

I haven't worked out in about a month.  I am slightly terrified to speak those words, but I feel as though everyone goes through this.

 

After my birthday week of not working out, I completely fell off the bandwagon.  Then the boyfriend and I went on a roadtrip, and didn't have access to a gym, and now I am working on cleaning our house top to bottom so I can move my furniture, etc from my apartment in.

 

I don't really have time to even think, let alone workout.  I feel as thought that is a slight cop-out though.  I do have time....but that hour or two I have, I have been using to wind down and relax before bed.  I have learned to value sleep over everything.  Sleep, to me, is more important than working out...although, they are both at the top of my 'important things' list.

 

Instead of mentally bashing myself about not working out, I have tried to stay positive about other things that are going on. 

 

Examples:

Wow, my hair is getting long and looks super sexy.

I vacuumed every room AND did all of the dishes. Way to get shit done!

I have made a list of needs and wants in order to save money, and I'm doing GREAT.

I have also been very aware of the support my boyfriend needs starting his new job.

My boyfriend loves me for who I am.

I have a great job.

ETC

 

I also keep in mind that it is more important to love yourself in order for other people to love you.  The boyfriend encourages me to workout if I want, will understand if I don't, but cares enough about me to know when it has gone too far.  If I stop loving my body, it would get difficult for him as well.  It is a fact.

 

Without stressing myself out about it, I need to start pushing myself to go, continuing to be happy with myself, and ease myself into it...once again.

 

The hardest thing I am dealing with right now is that my meniscus is still torn in my knee and I cannot do cardio.

I was trying to work into a heavier cardio workout when I found this out, bummer. Seriously.

 

I hope you are all doing well. I could use some encouragement.

XO Lauren 

Spicy Mexican Chicken and Cupcakes

So the other night I was exhausted. 

I don't think I have caught up on sleep since the road trip.

 

We hadn't gone grocery shopping and didn't have much except some frozen chicken.

My solution?

Spicy Mexican Chicken

Three Chicken Breasts

1can Diced Tomatos w/ Green Chilies

1/4 cup Taco Seasoning

 

Throw it all in a crock pot.

Leave on high for 2.5 hours or until cooked through.

Serve with whatever side you have laying around.

 

 

So easy, so delicious, and it got rave reviews from the boyfriend.
Sorry I don't have pictures...I haven't been very good with that lately.

I can't seem to get myself to post this without a pic so here are the delish cupcakes at my SIL's baby shower :).
My mom's best friend's daughter in law made them.
 

Amazing.

Just to make your mouth water a little more the cupcakes were
Chocolate with peanut butter frosting and a peanut butter truffle in the middle
Chocolate with chocolate frosting and a chocolate truffle in the middle
Vanilla with vanilla and vanilla.
I also believe there was a strawberry shortcake one or something like that.
So good.


YAY FOR FRIDAY
XO Lauren








 

MIA and Road Trip to CT

I am so sorry I have been MIA.

I decided to road trip it halfway across the US, back to my hometown this past weekend.

It was a long trip but well worth it.

Boyfriend likes bananas.

 

The boyfriend came with me to meet my family and it went so well!  It was his first time in Connecticut.

 

I was really excited to show him around my hometown. 

I used to hang out on that hill all the time with friends.

Super surreal.

 

I decided to go because it was my sister-in-law's babyshower.

She is the nicest person, and I know she would be at mine (NOTE: I am NOT pregnant).

I surprised her! Wahoooo!  No one spilled the beans :P

 

My immediate fam. SIL in the pink.  She is a tiny tiny pregnant woman.

 

 I also got to see my beautiful niece...who loves attention, but shys away from pictures.

 

 

The drive took 16 hours.  The boyfriend and I did it in one day.

On our way back we broke it up into two days, and it felt like the longest drive of my life. 

 

I also found out that my meniscus is actually NOT repaired.

Awesome. :(

 

Back to recipe's, excercise, and normal life tomorrow.

XO Lauren

Fast Forward

So a month or so ago my pole teacher brought in her aerial hoop.  I played around a little, got a lot of bruises, and fell in love.

http://thin-fit.tumblr.com/

One day I dream to look like this lovely lady. I wish I could fast forward and just be balls-to-the-wallz amazing.

Pshhhhhh. You probably thought that was me huh?...I'm blushing ;)

 

If you haven't noticed I decided to take a short break from pole.  It is super far away from my house and gas is disgustingly expensive.

I am saving to buy my own so I can practice ALL the time and get AWESOME pics for ya'll.

Get excited. 

I almost have enough to buy one. AHHH.

 

XO The future aerial hoopist, Lauren