Biggest Loser

As I am approaching the end of my college days, i've realized more and more how important it is for me to change my lifestyle and get off this "college weight" as soon as possible. Ive "tried" several times before and would 10 or so pounds and quit. This time I'm determined to get it right and get in shape while i'm still "young" as the doctors say and for once not have to worry about how clothes will look on my body or be self conscious about every little thing. I want to be able to be carefree before "real" life starts and i'm really holding myself back at this point. I will be posting all progress here including weigh ins, recipes and MAYBE pictures. If you have any secrets that work for you id love to hear and if your on the same journey, keep me updated and we can all be each others support system. In the words of the great Erk Russell, lets do this, ONE MORE TIME!

Good Eatin'!

So after Drew got off work the other night, he told me he was going to take me to a "special" place. Of course i didn't know what to expect being his favorites include stereotypical Chinese buffets or something weird I've never heard of. But this time, boy was i pleasantly surprised. It was called The Real Chow Baby and I seriously could not get enough of this place. It is basically a stir-fry "buffet". You go along a line and pick out your veggies, rice, the sauce you want, your meats and whatever seasoning you would like and hand it off to the cooks to be stirfryed and brought to your table. I dont know about yall, but ive never even heard of something like this where im from. So i was like a kid in a candy store mixing sauces and seasonings, trying literally EVERYTHING! If you are in Atlanta this is a must go, with 3 locations all over the city there is no reason not to stop by and try it out! What are some of your favorite restaurants in Atlanta? - Renee

Fitness

I have been on a bit of a health kick lately, exploring my options for changing my lifestyle in a way that suits both Me and Drew. I have downloaded a few apps, tried my hand at running, counting calories and menu planning but they all really turned into dead ends that i never stuck with. But NOW... i have found a few apps that i use daily and honestly i use them without really thinking about it because its so easy!

App Number 1:
My Fitness Pal. This is the app i use most. You enter your weight, heigh and fitness goal and it automatically calculates the calorie intake you need to reach your goal. It also links to cool little gadgets like the fitbit aria scale (details below) and the fitbit zip. The COOLEST feature on this app is the barcode scanner. You ate a bag of chips today? Notice that little barcode on the bottom corner? Yea, scan that baby with this app and it automatically enters all the nutrition information for you! How cool is that? Especially for lazy people like me!

Fit Bit Aria Wi-Fi Scale

This scale is probably the most awesome scale I've ever seen. Not that I've seen many scales because i usually run and hide from them unless I'm forced to step on one in the doctors office! Some cool things about this scale: It is a wi-fi "smart" scale. What does that mean? Every-time you step on this thing it gathers all your numbers (weight, body fat %) and syncs it to your phone and your myfitnesspal app! So all your progress stays in one place and it creates cool little graphs to show you your progress.

App Number 2

GymPact. Ever said to yourself, I would workout if someone would pay me? Welllllll now they will! With this company you enter a "pledge" of 2 days or more that you will workout per week, and you can not fake this! It tracks your movement and you have to perform above the threshold for 30 min or more to complete a workout! You also pledge an amount you will give up if you miss your days. Mine is currently set at $5 per day, which is the lowest you can go i think. Pretty good motivation knowing if you dont get your behind moving its going to cost you money!

Thats all for today! What apps do you use to stay in shape? - Renee

Just Catching Up!

Well a LOT has gone on since i last posted on this blog. Many changes have taken place over the past few months and i am excited to tell you guys a little about what has been going on in my life! The most obvious change, as I'm sure you've already seen is my new blog design!! I absolutely love it and i recommend that you check out kreated by kelsey on Etsy for all of your blog needs! She is wonderful and super FAST! Also i have started an Etsy business, which explains my lack of time and the space between this post and the last. I have some pretty cute stuff, go check it out HERE! I have FINALLY decided on a major, MARKETING, (after 3 years of college) and i think its suits me and what i would like to do in the future without limiting me to one skill set! Also, my lovey dovey boyfriend Drew and his smart self accepted an internship in Hot-Lanta (Atlanta for all you non southern folks) this summer and I have been spending LOADS of time up there learning the city and exploring all the cool things that we definitely dont get to do in my little town. Well thats whats been going on lately in my life, what have you guys been up to this summer? -Renee

November Birch Box is HERE!!

My November birch-box just arrived and i got some pretty awesome things this month! (If you don't know about birch-box check out my previous post about it).  Check out these pics of what was included...

Ribbon Wreath Tutorial

Okay, so i know all of y'all have seen these super cute ribbon wreaths people are making these days. And when i started researching to make my own, i couldn't find directions that didn't leave out the little parts that i was really unsure about. So, i decided to make my own tutorial for everyone out there trying to make one of these and hopefully mine will be more helpful than most i saw.

To begin here is what you will need:

Straight Pins without the colorful little tops (you don't want these showing on your wreath)

Ribbon and LOTS of it (at least 8 different designs)

Tulle that in a color that matches with your ribbon

A 14" round foam wreath form

Optional: 

Wooden Letters

Fishing Line

Elmer's Glue

Hot Glue

Glitter

Step 1:

Gather all your supplies neatly, you don't wanna have to look for things as your making your wreath.

Step 2: Wrap the wreath in tulle so the areas you may not cover with ribbon don't show through.

Step 3: Cut 3 inch pieces of all of your ribbon designs. Do more than you think you will need its better to save some for later than to have to stop and cut as your making the wreath!

Step 4: Shape your piece of ribbon into a circle. This is how you will pin it on the wreath.

 Step 5: Using one design at a time and starting with your widest piece, pin the ribbon pieces evenly around the circle like i have pictured below. (if your using more ribbon designs than me, you may want to spread these out a little more) On the wider pieces i used 2-3 pins.

Step 6: Continue around the circle with your second design (next widest) and fill in spaces between the first ribbon pieces. You can follow the next few images if you are wondering how to place  pieces as you keep moving around the wreath.

TIP: If you don't like the way a piece of ribbon is falling, pin it the way you want it to go. Don't be afraid to touch up with pins especially after you have it hanging, that's when i noticed most of my wreaths flaws.

Optional Part: Wooden Letters

 Step 1: Glitter your letters in a color that matches your wreath but also stands out a little. For mine i chose silver.

Step 2: Once the glitter dries, hot glue pieces of fishing line to the back of your letters and tie them to the wreath. Tip: hold the wreath up after you put on each one so you can see how they will fall.

BirchBox

For those of you who don't know what a birchbox is, let me introduce you. Its a $10 dollar a month subscription in which you get to sample the latest and greatest beauty and health products on the market! What girl wouldn't want to take part in that??? I just recently joined and received my first birch box a few days ago and oh man, do i love the stuff they sent! 

(Items in box in clockwise order)

1. Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum. This stuff is lightweight and can be worn directly under your makeup. 2. Mary Lou Manizer by the balm cosmetics highlighter and eye shadow. This  is seriously my new favorite for everyday wear 3. Luna protein bar in chocolate peanut butter.... was soo good! 4. Mox Botanicals Lip Butter. Unlike the heavy chapstick like balms, this one is mousturizing with out feeling like you have a ton of grease on your lips 5. Harvey Prince Eau Flirt in Lavender Pumpkin. They had me at pumpkin! Im pretty much obsessed with anything pumpkin now that fall is in the air!

If your not already intrigued by the photos check out all the latest products and sign up for yourself at birchbox.com!

DIY Football Door Hanger

Football season is right around the corner. Here's a cute way to display your love for your favorite team on your door for around 20 bucks (or less if you have a lot of these materials on hand.)

What you will need:

5 different patterns of ribbon in your team colors

Puff Paint in two colors (one dark, one light)

Paint in your favorite team colors

Bags or Newspaper for stuffing

Round foam paint brush

1/2 yard of burlap

Stapler

Sharpie

1. To begin trace out your football shape onto the burlap to use as a guide for cutting.

2. Fold burlap in half and cut the two sides completely out. You may want to line up your sides before painting to make sure they match correctly.

3. Trace out the design you are going to use directly onto the burlap.

4. Lay down the base coat of paint and don't worry it will take a good amount to completely cover the burlap. (make sure you have something underneath as it does seep through. Go green and re-use a shopping bag!)

5. After the first coat has completely dried, use your round foam brush to make the different color circles on the white trim. And outline your team name/logo in your lighter puff paint color.

6. Once the circle have completely dried, outline your white trim and top laces in your darker puff paint color. Wait for it to dry and then line up your two pieces and staple together until you have just enough room to stuff the football. Then, using your recycled newspaper or bags, evenly stuff the football until it is nice and puffy and without wrinkles.

7. Cut one long piece of ribbon (use your thickest one) to use as the hanger for the football. Staple this piece to the back of the football. Then cut 6 inch pieces of your remaining ribbon and tie them to the middle of the large ribbon.

8. Hang on your door and let your team spirit show!

Barberitos at Home!

For those of you who love the southwestern food chain barberitos as much as i do, you know it is not practical to go to the restaurant and get some every time a craving hits you. So after much researching on the internet and a little testing in the kitchen i have come up with a recipe to make one of my favorites at home with a few shortcuts!

Skinny+ Taco

Ingredients

1 can of dole diced tomatoes with onions

1 small container sour cream

Chicken cut into small cubes 

1 can of diced jalapenos

Small flour tortillas

1 can black olives

1 can black beans

garlic powder

Lime juice

cilantro

salt

Directions

1. Get a small bowl. Place chicken cubes, enough lime to almost cover the cubes, garlic powder, and salt to taste and allow chicken to marinade while preparing everything else.

2. Put black beans in a small microwavable container and microwave for about 2 min if your using the whole can.

3. Open tomato can, drain extremely well, then add in chopped cilantro and jalapenos to taste.

4. Cook the chicken with the juice in a skillet until the lime begins to caramelize and you get a nice brown color.

5. Place one flour tortilla on a microwavable plate and sprinkle just a little water on top ( too much will make it soggy) and microwave for 30 sec.

6. Assemble ingredients. I like to start by spreading the sour cream on the tortilla first, followed by the beans and chicken and then all the toppings.

Beer Pong Cake

This is the LARGEST cake by far that i have ever made! It was so big the pan would not fit in our teenie oven so i had to walk back and forth between my house and my grandmas to get the thing baked! Thank gosh she lives next door! So to begin you will need the following:

13x19 inch sheet cake pan ( Wilton pans have never let me down!)

1 small box (1.5lb) wilton ready to use fondant

Bake Easy Non- Stick Spray by Wilton

Three big boxes of rice krispy treats

LOTS of Buttercream

4 boxes of cake mix

Gold cake gel