Wowzers...

Well, I guess I failed my New Year's resolution, because I have not posted on here at least once a month! Time has not been on my side and this little blog went to wayside. I still have been cooking, but not so much DIY'ing as I'd like. I did have a friend teach me one knitting stitch and I am knitting me a scarf. But I couldn't even begin how to explain it, so that will probably not have a tutorial.

I've also been super busy getting my work out on at the gym. I signed up for a membership at a local gym last November and then canceled it in Feb or March because I wasn't getting my money's worth. I finally got the nerve to ask a guy if he does personal training. I was a bit hesitant to have a one on one trainer because why pay someone to train when you can get free workouts from Pinterest? Well the answer my friend, is it worth it. The past month I have been seeing him twice a week and doing cardio 3-4 times a week and changing what I've been eating. (Kind of...) A month later I'm down 6 pounds and 10% of my body fat. So if you can work it in your budget, get a trainer. They'll push you more than you push yourself and you get results a lot faster than if you do it yourself. I know some of you can't budget a trainer, so here is something that might get you going: Commitment Day. It's a 5K that you can run, walk, skip, hop, jog, bring the kids out, etc. It is kind of cliche because it is on New Year's Day, but that's when 95% of the world decides this is the year I'm going to get fit and by March (much like my resolution of my blog) goes to the wayside and the gyms clear out. Here's the link: http://www.commitmentday.com/#top
Go on and join the movement and make a small commitment to yourself that you will get out and be active twice a week for 30 minutes and you'll give up beloved cokes or chips. Then after a month make it three times a week, etc. Trust you'll feel better about yourself. My journey has been difficult, but I can see the end goal in sight and will keep working on it once that goal is met.

Also-one other thing, don't be discouraged if the numbers on the scale aren't falling, it's your body fat that is important! In a round about way muscle does out weigh fat, so the scale won't reflect that. Start today thinking about getting fit for 2013!

Strawberry Cream Cake

Happy Friday the 13th!! I wanted to make a yummy dessert for our first Easter dinner and thanks again to Pinterest I found a recipe for a Strawberry Cream Cake. (I hate baking so Pinterest has kind of inspired me) Mine didn't have a fluffy cake like Serving Up Love's. (http://www.servinguplove.blogspot.com/2011/04/serving-up-cake-strawberry-cream-cake.html) But nonetheless was still tasty. I also did my topping a little different. Here's how to make it this yummy dessert:

Ingredients:
1/2 package white cake mix
1 egg
3/4 cup water
2 Tbs flour
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups powered sugar
1/2 pint heavy whipping cream
1 container of strawberry glaze
1 package of strawberries, hulled and cut in half

Mix together the cake mix, egg, water and flour and blend on high for 2 minutes. Pour into a greased 13" x 9" pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until done. (Mine was almost burnt, so make sure you check on it) Cool completely.

Beat the whipping cream on high until soft peaks form. Set aside. Beat the cream cheese until smooth and add the powdered sugar in. (I combined these at the same time because I didn't read the directions all the way and it still turned out fine) Pour in the whipped cream until all mixed together. Spread over cool cake and refrigerate. (I refrigerated mine for about 2 hours)

Put the strawberries in a bowl and pour glaze on top. Mix until glaze covers strawberries. Put the strawberry glaze on top of the cream cheese layer. **If you have refrigerated the cake and topping this should spread on without messing up the cream cheese layer.

Because we are only two people, I brought what we didn't eat to work, and it was gone in less than 30 minutes. It was tasty and I got lots of compliments on it. Enjoy your weekend! :)

Knockoff Washington DC Bistro Recipe

A few weeks when we went to DC, we went to this cute little bistro called Zest Bistro on the southeast end of town. (http://www.zestbistro.com/) If you're in DC, make reservations and go!!! I ordered the Southwest Chicken Risotto and it was TASTY!! I was a little nervous when the waitress asked for the both of you? And I responded no, just for me. It WAS a lot! We could have shared it and probably had a little leftover. As I was eating it, I thought I bet I could make this, so I did! It was more yummy as leftovers, but still good none-the-less. Also after you eat there, save room for dessert. Walk up the street a little ways and go to 32 below. Yummy red velvet yogurt. I actually did a little red velvet with cheesecake yogurt and it was divine! Anyways on to the recipe:

Ingredients:
3 chicken breasts
Risotto (cooked according to package directions)
1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 can Rotel (if you can find the spicy kind, buy that--drain half the juice out)
8 oz Salsa (I bought 16 oz and used the rest for chips:) )
Queso Fresco

Boil the chicken breasts until cooked thoroughly. While they are cooking, you can start making the risotto. In a bowl, put the beans, Rotel and salsa and mix together. After the chicken is done cooking, shred it finely. (I use the Kitchen Aid to save myself burnt fingers) After the chicken is shredded and the risotto is done, mix all together in the bowl. Scoop some out in a bowl and YUMMY!
**I completely forgot to crumble up some queso fresco to add to the top, so make sure you do that!**

Sunday Funday: DIY #3

I hope everyone had a great Easter. We had two days off in a row and it was great!! I finally convinced the hubby to take me to REI on Saturday and buy a bike. So--now when the weather is nice, I can go on a nice long ride with him! It will be great to do that together, although I'm still a little on slow side and a little wobbly.
Anyways-I wasn't going to post this because I don't like how it turned out, but I said I would post my fails--this includes crafting. Thanks to Pinterest I came across this: http://www.sewdangcutecrafts.com/2011/06/styrofoam-wall-art.html and thought that would look great above our bed, especially the yellows & greys! I printed out directions to Joann Fabrics in Staten Island, and off I went. (Yes, the hubby stayed home) I bought Styrofoam and fabrics. I don't know if it's because I was doing 3 crafts in one day or I just hate Styrofoam and can't measure, but my didn't turn out like hers. Mine is crooked and has less than anticipated. So--I'm not going to write a tutorial, just sharing her link. It is still hanging until I figure out something else to do! Also sorry for the blurry picture, it was taken from my phone!

Close to it Chick-fil-A Nugget Recipe & Changes

First I'll start with changes. Just when I get used to this blogging thing, Google decides to change it! First I get used to using Picnik and that is going away and now a new blogger software!! UGH! I'm not tech savvy, so I'm not even going to try and figure out WordPress...plus I think I like blogger better. How do I know if I've never tried WordPress? Well by reading other blogs. I don't like the format of them. Anyways onto anther Pinterest recipe...Close enough to Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets. Original recipe: http://www.mynameissnickerdoodle.com/2011/03/fabulous-food-friday-79.html

Ingredients:
2 skinless chicken breast (You could use chicken tenderloins also)
1 C Milk
1 Egg
1 1/4 C Flour
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Canola oil
& are you ready for the last ingredient??? 2 Tbsp of powder sugar (Yes you read that right!!)

In a bowl you'll whisk together the egg and milk. *Make sure you read the recipe thoroughly BEFORE you make a recipe.* ;) You'll put cubed chicken breast in the egg wash, cover and let marinate 2-4 hours. (I only did mine for an hour, hence the disclaimer) In at least a gallon size baggie (think Shake-N-Bake & I helped) combine the flour, salt, pepper, and powder sugar. Zip up and mix all those together real well. We have a Fry Daddy (although not much frying goes on in this household) so I poured a 48 oz bottle in it and it got up to the minimum line. If you don't have a handy dandy kitchen gadget, then pour about 2 inches of oil into a pot. You'll want the oil to get up to 375 degrees. (Add some water and then water should pop, your oil is hot enough)

Then throw your cubed chicken in your ziplock baggie and SHAKE it up until all chicken is covered. Then carefully put your chicken in the pot/fryer. You don't want them to touch. Roll them about 3 minutes in to get all sides of the chicken browned. Once they are floating and are a golden brown take them out and place on a paper towel.

Much like Amy ( My Name is Snickerdoodle) I eat my chicken nuggets with honey, the hubby eats his with BBQ sauce. I also served mine with corn to have some balance to the meal. Also apologize for the horrible picture. The camera was in another room and I was to eager to try this and grabbed my phone and snapped a photo still on the paper towels!! These will most definitely be made again until Chick-fil-A is just a drive away...oh and I have thought about putting them on bread and having my own Chicken-minis for breakfast! LOL

Exactly...

I was doing so good with posts and almost a week goes by and nothing!! I apologize for that...but I have been busy!! I made some yummy chicken nuggets that almost tasted like my favorite fast food restaurant in Texas...you don't know?! (Hint: Chic-fil-a) Thanks again Pinterest!

I've also been finishing up some schooling. I signed up last year to take a 2-course PR certification class online. I am a pro at procrastinating, so I turned in my final assignment on the last possible day I could. Hoping I passed to get that little piece of paper in the mail. That kept me busy most nights last week.

Also--I got sick of all my shirts in my closet and went to my favorite store, Kohl's...seriously have an addiction. Every time I go in there I have to buy something. So needless to say the AMEX got used quite a bit on Saturday and then went to an outlet mall with a friend yesterday and spent some money at the Gap. It's refreshing to see new clothes in the closet. (I didn't leave the hubby out, he got 5 new shirts) I cleaned out my closet...and next is drawers. I went on a tank top spree last summer, so I need to take out some stuff I've been holding on to to make room from last year's obsession. I don't do this very often, most of the time I buy one or two new shirts and wear them at least once a week to the point I'm sick of them!!! So--in about 2 years, I'll probably do this again. A lot of people told me I can't get rid of stuff because I may wear it again. Well folks some of these shirts I haven't worn in 6 months others almost a year. IT IS TIME TO GET RID OF THEM!! I got tired of standing in the closet every morning saying, "I guess I'll wear that shirt AGAIN."

I see it as Spring cleaning for my closet and drawers. So hopefully tomorrow you'll have that yummy chicken nugget recipe. Have a great Monday!!

DIY Sunday Funday--Starburst Mirror

Remember when I said I had a DIY Sunday Funday? Well here is project #2 of 3 complete. Thanks to the hubby for helping with this one! He drilled the holes for me. I got the inspiration from: http://amotherandadaughter.blogspot.com/2012/01/diy-starburst-tutorial.html She has a much better tutorial than I will. (ie. lots more pictures)

I started out with:

Not sure why it's turned sideways, but there's:

8 in wood circle

Large mirror

small mirrors

dowels

small wooden circles

I didn't sand any of the wood but it will make for a smoother work surface if you sanded the large circle. I printed out a paper ruler and measured 1 inch apart on the large the circle for the hubby to drill holes in. (He said the beveled edge made it hard to drill the holes and some are closer together than others, but it turned out in the end) I ended up with 26 holes.

Then I took 7 dowels and cut them in half with a Dremel. (I did this while the hubby drilled holes) Then I sprayed painted everything black. (If you live in apartment, I suggest NOT to do this on your balcony as spray paint will blow onto the ground & you'll have black marks. You can take the time to hand paint everything or go somewhere else to do the spray painting.) After everything was dry I used Gorilla Glue (I suggest regular wood glue at this stage as Gorilla Glue expands) to stick the dowels into the holes. {Hubby to the rescue again...he cut the 'extra' glue off with an Exacto knife so I didn't cut myself...I'm a klutz and it would have happened.} Then I spray painted again to cover some of the imperfections. Then the hubby put on a picture hanger on the back of the large circle.

WHEN all that was done I used the Gorilla Glue to glue all the small mirrors and large mirrors on. I'm sorry I didn't take more pictures of this process. I really bit off more than I could handle on a Sunday and wanted to get all the projects done, but realized it would take a few days to complete everything! So here is my our finished product. It does add some dimension and color (even though it's black) to the living room.

THANKS to A Mother and A Daughter for their tutorial and inspiration!! {I'm not taking any credit on this, except that I made my own!}

PS Yes one of the small mirrors is not centered...and yes my OCD sees it every time and once I slow down, this will get fixed! =)