Hair Fail

So, if you follow me on Instagram you get bombarded with a nauseating number of beauty-related pictures. As I've discussed approximately a million times, I love trying new things with my hair, nails, makeup, etc, and IG is my outlet for that.

Well, recently I saw a tutorial on one of my favorite blogs, The Beauty Department, and it got me all excited.

Let me back up.

I have naturally thick, coarse, curly, big hair. Some of you think that sounds awesome. Sometimes it is. Usually, it isn't. I prefer to wear my hair straightened because I can get more "wear" between shampooings. And when you have coarse, naturally curly hair, the less you wash it, the better condition your hair is in.

Back to the point. This tutorial was all about extending the life of your blow out. I generally can't wear my hair only blown out without using my Chi to smooth and seal the frizz, but I decided to give it a whirl.

I spend about twice as much time as usual blowing out my hair until it was basically as smooth as I could possibly manage without my trusty Chi. Then I twisted each side into rope braids, as directed, and went to bed.

Proof it was before bed - no makeup, tired eyes.

The next morning, I was eager to see what the result was. I was convinced it was going to be gorgeous. I unraveled the rope braid and ran my fingers through my hair.

Um, no. The Beauty Department lied. Or they cheated. Maybe both. Because the result, was NOT pretty.

Still no makeup, but looking slight more rested? Maybe?

It didn't look so awful from the front, you can judge for yourself above, except it was pretty frizzy. But the back...it was a freaking Roman tragedy.

I kind of can't believe I am even putting this on the internet for the world to see...ew. It basically looked like I slept with my hair in a ponytail and had the WORST pony tail indentations ever. I immediately plugged in my Chi and went to town fixing this mess.

So, here is my thought. This would probably work on someone with longer, naturally straighter and smoother hair. (coughKIMcough) But, it was a giant hair FAIL for me.

Baby Gentry

Two weeks ago today, my dear friend Heather brought a beautiful baby girl, Gentry Grace, into the world! Kim & I went to see Mama, Baby and the rest of their beautiful little family the day after she was born and I was immediately swept up by baby fever. Well today, Heather and baby Gentry stopped by our office for a little visit and I was in baby heaven all over again! Babies are so special. They bring a certain type of happiness into any situation. Before they headed back home, we snapped a quick picture. I hope that someday this beautiful little girl will see this picture and realize that she is loved beyond her realm of understanding.

L-R - Back: Kim, Me
Front: Hydhee, Heather & Gentry, Allison

Your Lakeland family loves you VERY much baby girl (and Mama)!!

Adventures with the Kitchenaid - Brownie Cookies

Yesterday, I took another random vacation day to spend the day with Ryan. We didn't have any plans but to spend time together. We were pretty lazy in the morning, which was so awesome, but after lunch we were both struck by a sweet tooth.

We decided we wanted cookies but didn't have any chocolate chips, so we assessed what we did have and went from there. I based this off of a double chocolate chip cookie recipe, but we used less baking soda and no chips.

That resulted in a most wonderful creation.

The Brownie Cookie.

It's exactly what it sounds like. A chewy cookie that tastes like a brownie. Amazing!

We whipped up the batter together. I love cooking and baking together. :)

 

 The dough will be sticky, but using two spoons I got the dough dropped onto the tray pretty easily.

  Here's the first batch, out of the oven!

 Cookies and milk for the Husband & I to share!

Also, Ryan's foot photo bombed me...

 They were absolutely divine! So soft and chewy.

*EDIT - I made this again but added the peanut butter chips. 

HOLY DELICIOUSNESS BATMAN. 

It did add to the bake time, though.

WITH peanut butter chips

Brownie Cookies
1 1/4 c butter, softened
2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
3/4 c cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 c chocolate or peanut butter chips (optional - but totally recommended)


In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt and slowly incorporate into the creamed mixture. Stir in chips of your choice. Drop spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Bake 8-9 minutes without chips, 10-11 with chips (depending on your oven) at 350*. The cookies will fluff up while baking and flatten out while cooling.

Enjoy! 

Adventures with the Kitchenaid - Lionhouse Rolls

So, its no secret that I got spoiled rotten with my Kitchenaid birthday present. And it would probably be no surprise to most that I immediately starting making a list of things I wanted to make in it. After making a batch of cookies, (you know, just to break it in) I decided to get ambitious and do something I've never done before. 

Make rolls. From scratch.

I'm southern born and raised, so I've made biscuits from scratch several times...but rolls are a different ballgame. I found a stellar recipe for Lion House rolls on Pinterest. Ryan LOVES rolls so I was really excited to make them.

Let me start by saying two things: One, I am not going to go through the entire recipe. The Girl Who Ate Everything already did that beautifully. Two, I have a new found respect for my Grandmom who basically made everything from scratch. I fully understand why she would disappear into the kitchen for HOURS before a meal. This is no joke. It took me pretty much all day. 

I started the process around 10:30am. (That is not a typo.) I got out all my ingredients and excitedly got to work.

First, the yeast had to activate in warm water.

Then I mixed together the other ingredients, in the exact order specified.

From there, I oiled the inside of the bowl, just like the directions said, and flipped the dough several times to get it all coated.

Then, I tightly covered the bowl with plastic wrap (and an elastic headband cause the plastic wrap wouldn't stick). The dough needed to proof until it doubled in size. I did some research (and consulted my Kitchen Master Husband) and determined that a temperature of 98* was necessary for proper proofing. Seeing as I live in Texas, it's 98* in the shade by 11am, so I stuck the bowl on my patio table.

I killed time for a couple of hours, eating lunch, doing some cleaning and emptying my DVR. Somewhere around the 1pm hour, the dough looked pretty good, so I brought it inside and started the next step. I couldn't find my rolling pin anywhere, so I just used my hands to knead the dough to the proper thickness.

Then I used a pizza cutter to cut them into the size suggested.

After cutting them, I rolled them into the signature Lion House shape and filled two pans. At this point, they have to proof one more time. The recipe said they would double in size again. So, same song, second verse. I covered them with plastic wrap and stuck both pans back out on my patio table. (I realize how simple it looks, but be warned. It took me a good hour and a half to get from bowl to pan. I'm sure a bulk of that was because I couldn't find my rolling pin, so I was forced to hand knead.)

Now, here is where things started to get a little...questionable. I checked on them every 30 minutes for two hours. These little puppies did not rise. In fact, they didn't change shape in the least. Since Ryan would be home from work soon, I brought them inside and started preheating the oven. I cooked each pan separately until golden brown. They didn't rise much while cooking either but they smelled amazing. 

So, here's the deal. They tasted wonderful. But they were NOT light and fluffy. Quite the opposite. They were very, very dense. This is obviously a case of 'user error' and because they were so tasty, I will absolutely make these again. It was one of those moments when I wished my Grandmom was still alive so I could call her and ask "what did I do wrong". I've reached out asking for tips, but if any of you have tips of your own, please share! And until I take this recipe on again, let me know how they turn out if YOU try it!

Goals

Yesterday, my friend Mandy posted this questionnaire on her blog, and it really hit home and got me thinking. Mandy is my constant cheerleader and seeing these questions on her blog...I just had to answer them. I’ve been keeping a private blog about my struggle with weight, and even though it’s journaling my thoughts, it is still me keeping my feelings private. And sometimes that just isn’t helpful. I challenged myself to answer these questions publicly. This post is incredibly personal, probably a bit heavy (no pun intended) and it is basically one truth-bomb after another. So, there is the disclaimer.

1. Brag about some of your daily, healthy habits. I basically only drink water and try not to any drink sodas. I usually have one a week. Other than water, I drink one cup of coffee a day, sometimes a Cranergy, and sometimes Crystal Light. But mostly, just good ol’ water.

2. Do you track your daily food intake? If so, how? Yes. Well, I do now. I fell off the Weight Watchers wagon quite a while ago and slowly let all I’d lost, plus some, pile back on. The worst part is that I don’t think anyone was surprised. And that HURT. So, I’ve been back on WW for almost a month, and I’ve lost almost 10 lbs. So, I use Weight Watchers online and the iPhone app to track my food consumption.

3. What do you want to change most about your daily routine? I want my new habits to finally replace my old ones, once and for all. It’s SO hard for me. But I wake up every day trying to make the best choices I can. I hope that eventually, the right choices will become second nature.  

4. How often do you exercise? Well...I kind of don't. I’m just trying to keep it real. I’ve swam laps a couple of times, but that is only very recent. I have never enjoyed exercise, but lately it’s become painfully obvious that I NEED it. Today, I am starting the DVD series, Walk Away the Pounds. I will do it today, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Starting next week (Monday) I will do it 6 days a week. Wednesday will be my “rest” day. Keep me accountable, internet!!

5. How do you stay on track when you’re on the go? I'm....not very good at this.  But I'm trying.  <- What Mandy said. I am best at staying on track at work, where I only have the foods I should be eating. I struggle at night sometimes, because I’m so used to snacking in front of the TV. But the absolute worst time for me is the weekends. When I am on the go. This is something I am working very, very hard on.

6. What’s one excuse you use that prevents you from reaching your goals? FEAR. Typing that word brought me to tears. For about 4 years now, my weight has been kind of a shield. It’s the excuse I use in my own head for why I don’t do things. Every time I say “I’m going to lose weight”, I think I self-sabotage. I give in when I know I should be strong, and I feel guilty yet relieved at the same time. But change is about being brave. Facing fears.

7. What scares your most about your journey? Haha, see #6? Fear has kind of always controlled me. Sometimes I worry I don’t have it in me to be as brave as I need to be. I also worry so much that people around me are so over it. Seeing me commit and fail over and over must be so ridiculous to witness. I’m someone who needs support and encouragement, unfortunately, so I’m always worried that people will judge me for my failure or give up on me.

8. What do you think will change most when you reach your goal? (If you have reached it, what’s different?) I absolutely despise looking at myself in the mirror. I hate shopping. I don’t like to be in pictures. And more than any of those vain reasons of not looking good…I don’t FEEL good. I feel weak, tired and unmotivated a lot. I eagerly look forward to the day Ryan has to keep up with me. I want to enjoy two of my favorite things again – swimming and shopping. And I really, REALLY want to feel good in my own skin.

9. What motivates you to reach your goals? The answer to this question changes all the time. Mostly, I am motivated by my own reflection, or the way I feel when I’ve done an activity that wears me out, but doesn’t seem to affect those around me. I want to be in MUCH better health before we start a family…and I am so ready to start a family, so that motivates me. I’m also motivated by results. And, as terrible as it sounds, sometimes I feel jealous of those around me…and my goodness is that one heck of a motivator.

10. Share a few of your goals.

• There is an expensive, beautiful turquoise dress that I’ve worn ONCE that is still hanging in my closet. I want to wear it again.
• I want to wear a swimsuit in public without it being a traumatic event. (Yes, I sound incredibly dramatic. Don’t cast judgments when you haven’t lived in my skin.)
• I want to lose enough weight/gain enough strength to be able to enjoy Yoga.
• I want to be in better shape so I can have healthy pregnancies.

If you stuck with me, and don’t dislike me a bit, after reading all of this…then thank you for the love and support you just sent out into the universe. 

What A Birthday!

Since the last time I posted was to discuss my upcoming birthday, it seems appropriate to to do a little birthday breakdown. It was an absolute PERFECT birthday! I was so spoiled by my family and friends and the week left me feeling so, so loved. 

My "birthday week" started with dinner with my best girls at Chuy's! 

Nice photobomb, waiter dude!

I opened a gift from one of my best friends, Brittany. She cross-stitched my favorite words from my favorite movie, The Princess Bride.  It was so thoughtful and beautiful.

When I got home, I decided to open my gift from Ryan, even though it was still 2 days before my actual birthday. He is not a patient gift giver, haha. He gets so excited to see people open their gifts that he will wear you down until you agree to open it. And I must say... the moment I saw what was inside the box, I did not regret opening it early.

My sweet, thoughtful, over-achieving husband got me a CUSTOMIZED KITCHENAID STAND MIXER!!!! It is so beautiful and absolutely perfect. I think I'm still in shock...

On my actual birthday, I stumbled out of the bedroom at 6am and flipped on the kitchen light to find that Ryan had stayed up late decorating our kitchen and living room. I so wish he'd been up with me when I saw this for this first time. I am willing to bet the smile on my face was a big as they come. He really went above and beyond to make my feel special on my birthday.

 

My friends and family went above and beyond this year, too.

A card made by a dear friend's son. It's Chloe and Cooper!

When I got home from work, Ryan, my brother and I headed to Red Lobster for dinner. It was so yummy! Then, we scooped up a movie I'd been dying to see and headed home to settle in for the night. Ryan also made me THE most delicious Skinny Peanut Butter Pie EVER. (Ryan used regular peanut butter, FYI.) It is easily one of my (new) favorite desserts - even compared to NOT skinny ones!

I took a vacation day on Friday and got to spend the entire day with my Mom. We met for an early lunch at BJ's, did a little shopping and then decided to watch The Dark Knight in preparation for The Dark Knight Rises, which we saw Saturday morning. It was SO good!! Ryan's parents also happened to be in town so we met them for dinner Saturday night to celebrate my birthday one last time.

If my 29th birthday is any indication of what 29 will bring, then I'm entering a really amazing year of my life!

Turning 29...

In 10 days, I will celebrate my 29th birthday.

My last year in my 20's. 

Many friends and family members have told me that their 30's are/were the best years of their lives. I don't fear growing older, but this birthday feels a bit strange. I can remember my feelings on my 19th birthday. I was eager to get through 19 and turn 20. The thought of being in my 20's was so exciting and I vividly remember knowing I had year to get myself together before turning 20. As it turned out, my 19th year was one of the worst of my life and 20 was a new start of sorts. Once again I am filled with those same feelings. One year to get "ready" for 30.

I'm quite happy with most of my life today. I am married to an amazing man who is the great love of my life and my very best friend. I have an amazing group of friends. I have a family who loves me. I have a job that I don't hate going to every day. I am involved in some amazing organizations. I know what I want out of life.

But at the same time, there is so much I still want for my life. I want to help Ryan find a job that HE doesn't hate going to every day. I want to finish school. I want to start a family. I want to be done with "apartment living".

And for some reason, 30 seems like a natural deadline.

Obviously, all of those things cannot be achieved for me in one year. But, I feel like 29 will be a year of change and preparation for the future.

I am so ready.