June Fitness

So I was (past tense for sure) doing really well with working out and eating fairly well for a few months early this year, but then somehow I just got lazy and fell out of doing it. So today I am recommitting. The 'type-A' in me likes to have a schedule and a clear idea of what to do, so today I am sharing the two things I am working on.

The first is the June Strong Arms Challenge from Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. Now that its summer, and with the wedding coming up (less than 150 days!) I want to get my arms, shoulders and upper back toned for that wedding dress! It is only the 6th so I am just jumping right in. For sure have to work on my push ups though I can't even do one correctly I am sad to say!

The second thing I am going to do is this PopSugar Crunch Challenge. I am feeling really good with the weight I have lost, but I for sure need to tone up in the tummy area. This one I just started on Day 1, since it is a 2 week challenge.

Another thing I am working on is getting back into running. Running is such a struggle for me! The biggest setbacks I deal with are shin splints and blisters. I have never, in my entire adult life, had a pair of running shoes that has not given me blisters. It is so discouraging! If anyone has any tips, or a shoe they really love I would love to know! I have a really narrow foot, which is probably part (most?) of the problem. 

I also wish running was just easier! I know that seems like a silly thing to say because, duh, it's running, but I wish I could just be one of those people who running comes easier to! Listen, I know running is a lot of hard work, and that everyone that runs has put in the time. But uhhhgggg, so frustrating! I want running to feel therapeutic like it does for some people, where for me it is just hard! I wish I had the mental strength that those people have but I just don't, wahhhh!

Seriously I am so jealous of this girl! But I still love her :)
She's amazing!

Bookworm

Soooooo... Hello again loves! I sincerely apologize for my absence but you know how life is! In the past however long, I have been busy busy busy! Mostly wedding planning, we moved, and I have lost almost 15 pounds!

So anyway, the reason for my return is this: I signed up for a service today that is basically like Netflix for books and I really wanted to tell you about it! At first I was thinking it would just be a facebook post but it just kept getting longer and longer!

I have always been a reader. In high school I took a class called Great Books, and actually passed it with OVER 100. I love reading. Lately though, life has gotten in the way. I have read some books here and there that I was really interested in, but not nearly as much reading as I've wanted to. But with summer coming up and not as much good TV in the summer, I went out and bought Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

I have wanted to read it for a while, and heard it was good, it being all over the internet and everything. I am not done with it yet but mannnnn it is getting good!!! I definitely recommend it. (By the way I hear there is a big twist, and if you ruin it for me, so help me!!!) Please don't. No spoilers here!

So since I am planning on getting back into reading full throttle, I have been thinking about how to go about this without A) buying every book I want to read and going broke, and B) having to leave my house (GASP!) and scour the library for a book I want to read, and have to worry about when it needs to be returned.

Please note: I do not have an e-reader. I just like to hold a real-life book in my hands, and turn a real-life page, and mark it with a real-life bookmark. It's a nostalgia thing I think. The only thing Carrie Bradshaw and I have in common. Ha.

I did some google-ing and found Booksfree.com. It is Netflix for books. They have actual books, as well as audiobooks. You can choose a plan depending on how many books you want at a time, and create a queue of all the books you want to read.

I can tell this is going to be dangerous because just in the last few hours I have accumulated a queue of 48 books!! I seriously can't wait to get started. Warm weather, sitting on the new screen porch with a cold drink and a good book.... perfection! 

Here is a screen shot of my queue, with the first two books I will receive up at the top. 

My first 2 books should arrive just in time for me to finish up Gone Girl. I can't wait for these two either.

The Shack by William P. Young I have heard crazy good things about.

And seriously who doesn't love Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery? I was given the first 4 in a set when I was like 10 or 12 maybe. I remember loving them and have been wanting to reread the series. I loved these stories about the quirky red headed girl with the big imagination. Summer is the perfect time to start them again!

I am so excited! I for sure know what I will be doing when I get home today, sorry chores!

Sunday Social

I forgot I did Sunday Social and never posted it! I should really start scheduling these things. I really don't know why I don't...

1. Name 4 jobs you've had in your life. My first job ever was an a "teacher" at an after-school program at a local preschool. I have also cooked at a restaurant (favorite job ever ever ever), taken school pictures and worked in a call center (least fave!)

2. Name 4 movies you would watch over and over. Cruel Intentions. Forrest Gump. Con-Air. Backdraft. Four movies I must watch if I am channel surfing and find them on TV.

gotta go watch this right now, bye

3. Name 4 places you have lived. I don't even have 4! My parents house, college, our apartment. That's it! <3

4. Name 4 of your favorite foods. Anything breakfast, pizza, a good steak, and nachos

5. Name 4 things you always carry with you. iPhone, chapstick, keys, wallet

Right now I have 1 in my pocket, 2 in my purse, 2 in my desk, 2 in my car, 1 on our coffee table and one next to my bed. and that's not counting the ones waiting to be opened. The first step is admitting you have a problem, right?

6. Name 4 places you have been on vacation. Only 4?! Well here are my favorites: Jekyll Island, GA, anywhere in Maine, Gettysburg, PA & Savannah, GA

Gettysburg, PA

Somewhere in Maine. Rockland I think. Taken from a Lobster boat!

This took place in Savannah. I saw the Forrest Gump bench in person! And saw where they filmed some of the Vietnam and shrimping scenes, which was actually on St. Simons Island, GA

Jekyll Island, GA

Really, Dude?!

Yesterday I stumbled upon this Buzzfeed on facebook, 27 Painfully Awkward Things That Never Stop Being Awkward. It's pretty funny you should check it out. And then, today at the gym, #21 happened to me.

Except with treadmills. 

Really, dude?!?

Isn't it just some kind of common courtesy, when there are 30 other empty treadmills! It was 2:30pm on a Monday afternoon, not like it was 5:30 and the place was packed. He was weird too. He ran the whole time holding onto the top of the treadmill, and he was short so it put him in a weird reclined position. 

I purposely picked a treadmill next to one that was out of order on one side of me. Maybe I will start bringing my own out of order signs. Ha. That's actually a great idea I think...

Sunday Social

1. Favorite Thanksgiving Memory Some of my favorite Thanksgivings were ones that we spent at the firehouse. My dad was a firefighter, and there are still emergencies on holidays, so the guys that were on shift, all the families would come to the firehouse and we would all have Thanksgiving together. We would have 3 or 4 turkeys, 6-8 pies, and all the side dishes you could image.

I die over this sweatshirt

2. Favorite Thanksgiving Food Believe it or not I am not a huge fan of turkey. I would have to say my favorite Thanksgiving food is probably my dads stuffing. I like my stuffing nice and crispy, not soggy.

3. What is a Thanksgiving Tradition you and your family have? The Dallas Cowboys of course! We are diehards and watching the game is one of my favorite parts about the day.

4. Show us a favorite Thanksgiving picture(or 5) from years past I just happened to find this on good but honestly, I die. Could you just imagine Spencer and Ruby!?!

5. What are you most looking forward to about this Thanksgiving? I can tell you one thing I am not looking forward to is being on call for work. But at least it's the only major holiday I will have to work for. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year, so I am looking forward to spending the day with my family, eating yummy food and hopefully a Cowboys win!

Photo Worthy Mascara

Thanks to Influenster, I had the opportunity to try Rimmel London's new Scandaleyes Retro Glam mascara. 

hits stores this month!

I don't usually use black because I am so fair, but because we had our engagement session scheduled, and I've heard that it's good to go a little heavier on your makeup for photos, I decided to give it a try. 

This is a picture without any other eye makeup on at all. You can see the awesome definition! I did curl my lashes beforehand like I always do.

Here's a sneak peek of the mascara in action! A sample from our session! I couldn't be happier with how the pics came out, and I can't wait to see the rest of them!

A Nickal Family Recipe

If you were to ask me to think about a recipe that has been passed down in our family, I would have to think pretty hard because there aren't many, but our family's favorite is probably this one. My family came to America from Germany, through Ellis Island. Out of that heritage, and the need to feed a large family during the depression era, this recipe was born. 

Can you tell this thing has been around a while?
I transferred the recipe to a recipe card last weekend.

We all love this recipe but it can be labor intensive, so we only have it once or twice a year. It's so yummy though that I had to share.

Cabbage Bread
Ingredients
1 lg. head cabbage
2 lbs. ground beef
2 lg. onions, chopped
1 lb. carrots

2 boxes hot roll mix -or- 3 loaves of frozen bread dough

First saute the ground beef. Then add the onion and cabbage. Saute until soft, stirring often.

Add the carrots, saute another 10 minutes or so, until soft.

The original recipe did not call for carrots, but they add more flavor and nutrients to the dish.

Here is another place that we deviate with the recipe. I'm sure the original original called for a homemade bread dough. In the recipe that was handed down from my Aunt, she uses 2 boxes of Pillsbury hot roll mix, that still has to be mixed up, left to rise, punched down and then left to rise a few more times until it is ready. 

My mom used a ready made frozen bread dough this time around to see how it would come out. It was so much easier and just as delicious! She used 3 loaves. She took it out of the freezer the night before, and let it thaw in the fridge overnight. The next morning she took them out of the fridge and set them in the sun, covered in plastic wrap, so they could rise. You will want to make sure the plastic wrap is pressed right down on the dough or else it will get a crust on it, which we don't want because we are going to split up the dough. The dough will about double in size.

Once we were ready to make the rolls, my mom took each risen loaf and rolled it out to about 3/4" thick. Then cut the dough into 6 equal squares.

In each square she placed about 2 big spoons on filling,

Then bring opposite corners together, and make sure to pinch the seams tight!

The cabbage breads were then placed seam side down on greased cookie sheets. Make sure you leave a bit of room here because they have to rise again.

I sprayed the top of the loaves with cooking spray, then covered with plastic wrap and a towel to allow to rise. Once they were about double in size they were ready for the oven. 

These go into a preheated oven @ 375. Bake for about 20-30 minutes until golden.

Then eat! We like them with ketchup, I don't know if that's weird or not? :)