Cowgirl Legs? Yes, please

As y'all know, this week I have been attempting to begin whipping myself back in to shape with the help of all these fresh fruits and veggies of summer and little bit of exercise. Well, Well, Well. On Wednesday, I actually got in my car to head to the gym (who even knew I still had a membership?) only to realize I forgot my headphones and there's no way I am running on the treadmill without my music. That would be horrific. 

So, I headed back home and thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out a little workout I found on Pinterest called the "Cowgirl Leg Circuit." (I'll do just about anything to get some Carrie Underwood look alikes) I thought I would do a couple rounds of that and maybe pop in a Zumba or P90X video to follow.

Joke was on me. While I made it just fine through the circuit, it was not easy. And there was no way in hell a video of any kind was going to follow. Seriously, I thought this would be no big deal. No mam. No freakin' mam. It definitely works the ole legs and makes you sweat. And to whoever designed this circuit and put tuck jumps at the very end... I hate you. There, I said it. And I hate you for the squat jumps too.

And here's me...
Dying..
But smiling..
Because it was over..
Just look at that hair..
Hot mess express..

P.S. I have been trying not to drink cokes not drink as many cokes and trying to make myself drink lots of water.. like you're supposed to and all.. I am seriously scared I might wet the bed (HA!) How do you people do it? I think I got up like 5 times during the night. TMI? Isn't that what blogs are for?

P.S. I really need a heart rate monitor/actual calories burned counter. What are your best suggestions? I know tons have the Polar FT4. Is it still the best option?

Summertime Sammies

There is nothing better than a good ole' sandwich with fresh tomatoes from the garden to welcome me to summer. It is the main thing I look forward to, and I had my first one last week. While the tomatoes came from the farmer's market instead of my Daddy's garden, they did not disappoint.

Ever since then, I have been craving nothing but fresh fruits and veggies, which is never a bad thing. Monday night we had some squash and zucchini spaghetti (yea, I just made that name up) and last night we had some grilled zucchini and squash along with some roasted sweet potatoes. While I was buying up all these veggies, I couldn't pass up the watermelon and cucumber's that were calling my name.

I quickly cut up that watermelon (and dug in) and got the cucumbers sliced and soaking for my favorite little summer snack, the cucumber sandwich. While I usually make them in little individual "sammies" for a shower or party, I decided that I would be making full on sandwiches at work for the rest of the week. If you are a cucumber fan, do yourself a favor and make these for your next get together. Guests will love them and request them time and again. You won't regret. The recipe comes strait from my grandmother. You know I couldn't steer you wrong with my grandmother's recipe.

Via Pinterest

Cucumber Party Sandwiches

Ingredients:

Cucumber

Bread

Mayo

Season Salt (Tony's)

Vinegar

Circle Cookie Cutter

How To:

Peel Cucumber

Slice Cucumber

Place in a bowl

Cover with half vinegar/half water

Let soak over night

Cut bread into circles with a cookie cutter 

(slightly bigger than you cucumber slice) 

Put a little dab of mayo
(Pat cucumber with a paper towel so it's not dripping)

Place your cucumber on top

Top with a "sprinkle" of season salt

(I use Tony's)

Devour

And if you are feeling funky, you can do the same with tomato slices. Just mix some bacon bits with your mayo, add tomato and top with some salt and pepper.

And just a little (redneck) FYI: Since circle cookie cutters seem to be impossible to find around these parts, I have found that a small tomato paste can makes the perfect size circle. You can get two, sometimes three circles out of a piece of bread. See for yourself :) "The Redneck Cookie Cutter." I should patent.

Snapped

This morning when I woke up, I could barely move. Why? Because I worked out yesterday for the first time in well over a month. Between life, work, holidays, trips and family events, my health has been on the back burner. But that all changed yesterday. 

It's so funny how you can you *snap* back into something. I snapped yesterday. Thank goodness. A healthy dinner, a mile Run, a Kettle Bell workout, a few planks, some squats and and an entry into My Fitness Pal later and we are back in business. It all came back like no time had passed at all. I had my fun, but now it's time to get serious. 

My house in clean. I spent some time with friends. I have gotten some rest. Maybe all I've needed this whole time was a long weekend and some normalcy. It's time for a little routine in my life. 

Goals:

Learn to workout in the morning

Run more (10 miles a week?)

Keep up with My Fitness Pal daily

Do not snack while working at Mudbugs

Workout 4-5 days a week

Include squats and planks in all workouts

Take lunch more often

Cook healthy dinners

The first (and hardest) day is already done.

Ready. Set. Go.

New Orleans, Holiday Fun and Surprises, O My!!

Every weekend should be a four day weekend. Am I right? Especially when one of the vacation days was a surprise! Do you have any idea how awesome it is to have an unexpected Friday off work? You cannot beat it. But... I could have seriously used one day of recovery. I still cannot keep my eyes open, but every single second was worth it. Five day weekends? Yes, please!

We kicked off the holiday weekend with a trip to New Orleans with our friends, Colby and Tiffany. We arrived around 11 am and headed strait to the French Quarter to find somewhere fun with a balcony to eat lunch. It was New Orleans style red beans and rice for this girl. Afterwards, we strolled around a little while before making our way to Bourbon. We spent the afternoon at Razoo people watching and getting in a little dancing. We also encountered Will Smith's twin and had a little fun with a bachelor parties "Fathead." This is my new bach party necessity. It was hilarious. For dinner, we made our way to the Original Pierre Masperro's. Talk about delicious. We followed dinner with a little more time on Bourbon and ended the night with some pizza, obviously. As always, New Orleans defeated us all. You win again, my friend.

I thought New Orleans was the major part of my weekend, but boy was I in for a treat. My first cousin, Kaylis, was in town for the last time before moving to Cincinnati. We had a Memorial Day bash complete with smoked ribs, chicken quarters and every casserole and dessert you would find fitting for such a holiday bar bq. But we also had one last big surprise!

I had my very first blate, as y'all call it, with little miss Shayna and her sweet husband Matt! They were in Memphis for the weekend and I freaked out that they were so close. Then she informed me that they could drive back home through Mississippi.. on Monday.. which just so happened to be when we were having a little Memorial Day shin dig! PERFECT!!!!  I insisted they come... and they did!!! It was fantastic. She was just as precious as I thought she would be and Matt was just the little cowboy I knew he would be! I am so, so glad they got to come and I hope we can all do it again one day when there isn't a seven hour drive home to follow. It was so wonderful to finally meet someone who I feel like I've known my whole life through this crazy little blog world.

1. Fun with the FatHead
2. SHAYNA in real life
3. Kendol and I at lunch in New Orleans
4. Kendol and I on Bourbon
5. Fav girls on Memorial Day
6. Will Smith look alike at Razoo
7. New friend from California
8. My favorite new summertime concoction:
Malibu and Pine, Orange, Banana Juice
9. View from lunch in New Orleans

You Won't Learn This At School

Day 23: Things you've learned learned that school won't teach you

Wow, the things I could go on about with this topic. Let's get serious, most of life's lessons did not happen for me in a classroom. They happened in college and not while I was in class. (Seriously, you can not learn finance from a foreign professor who speaks zero English. Just sayin') They just so happened to take place between the ages of 18 and 22. The years where you experience freedom and a little independence for the first time. The years where emotions run high and life starts to get real. 

Don't get me wrong, my four years spent in Starkville, MS were some of the absolute best years of my life, no doubt. But some days were hard. I struggled with being myself. I struggled with being insecure. I spent four years trying to please others, even if it meant not being myself. I spent four years trying to figure out what was wrong with me. As you know they say down here in the south, "girls are not in college for an education, they are in college to find a husband" and mine was no where to be found. It was so hard to watch every one of your best friends and sister have serious relationships through out college and no one  give you the time of day. It was a real knock to the confidence. I went out. I had the time of my life. I had a ton of friends. But that doesn't mean I didn't go home and cry myself to sleep sometimes. I was not myself and I knew it.

But you know what those 4+ years did for me? They taught me to be a stronger person. They taught me to be a stronger christian. I prayed. I prayed a lot. Sometimes I prayed angrily, but God knew what he was doing. They taught me to be independent, perhaps too much so. You can ask Kendol, unless I physically cannot pick something up I do not need your help. They taught me to be a good listener. They taught me patience, which I clearly had very little of at the time. They made me realize just what I did and did not want in a significant other or friend. They prepared me. They toughened me up for the real world. They allowed me to live life up to the fullest and I did just that. And most importantly, they taught me to be the best version of myself I could be. 

And just when God thought I was good and ready, Kendol and I met two weeks before graduation.

And I was one the first of my friends to get married. 

I just needed to figure my life out first.

I needed to learn about myself.

And you can't learn that in school.

Thanks God.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord.

Plans to prosper you. Not to harm you.

Plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Saturday in the South

On Saturday, in between reunion festivities, Kendol and I spent the afternoon at my parents celebrating Mother's Day and a few birthdays with my Daddy's side of the family. We stayed outside and enjoyed the sunshine and the opportunity to get a little tan. There were water gun wars, a lot of fishing, home-made chocolate pie and bbq.

We watched Hayes and Farrell become not just cousins, but friends. They dug in the rocks together. They held hands and ran through the sprinkler. Farrell was such the little southern gentlemen, waiting on Hayes each time before he'd run back through the sprinkler. 

He fills my life with good things.

Psalm 103:5

Here's to the Next Ten!!

This past weekend, my fellow classmates and I celebrated our ten year reunion. It was a weekend long affair that started with a delta style cocktail party. We enjoyed finger foods, sipped on cocktails and reminisced about all sorts of stuff. It was so great to see all of those faces. Some I see on a regular basis and others I literally haven't seen in years. Others I was meeting for the first time, Spouses and significant others.We followed this up with a little shindig at our local bar.

On Saturday morning, we all met up at our high school for a little tour to see just what all has changed over these last 10 years. We enjoyed a luncheon in our old cafeteria (not cafeteria food thankfully...) followed by a grand tour. I, having a little sister who just graduated, was familiar with many of the changes but I had most definitely not walked those halls since that last day of high school. My favorite part about this was watching everyone with their children, some with brand new babies and others with two or three little munchkins running wild. The sweetest was all of those boys showing off their little ones. Melt my heart.

Later that night, after everyone rested up for round two (keep in mind we are old), we had a "high school house party" at one of the houses we partied at most in high school. There was a country band (our wedding band), a pool, some local bar b q, beer and a massive amount of mosquitoes. All of the ingredients of a perfect night in the Mississippi delta. We all sat in lawn chairs around the pool and enjoyed the music while catching up with some folks that we didn't get to catch up with the night before. It was hilarious. It was perfect.

Here's to the next ten!!!
Whoa.

He fills my life with good things.

Psalm 103:5