I'm BACK y'all!!!!

I stumbled on my own blog the other day and realized two things.  1. I didn't like it any more and ... 2. I haven't written anything since BEFORE THE WEDDING.  I've been married for one year and four months.  It's been that long since I've written anything.  Not cool.

SO!  I spent tonight giving it a new look!  But the thought of updating it on everything that has happened over the last year or so sounds exhausting.  I'm going to sum things up with a few bullet points and move forward from there!

• Our wedding was perfect.  Absolutely perfect.  
• I've been working at Home Instead Senior Care since October 2012 as a Community Service Advisor, which means I spend the day speaking with our partners in the community to build relationships and gain referrals.  To sum it up: marketing/sales.  Plus a little community education.
• We spend most of our days working, coming home, cooking dinner, watching TV, and going to bed.  It sounds boring when I read it... but I like it.
• We spend the weekends at Margarita House on Friday nights followed by Jonathan's for some two-for-ones.  Sounds routine, but I wouldn't trade this time for anything.  We are all grown, with no kids, and enjoying our last couple of years that way.  I have some awesome friends.
• Ummmm... so .... yeah?  I guess that's it.  There are some BIG changes coming up in the next few months, but we will cross that bridge when it gets here... and I don't mean big changes like my belly getting bigger and me having weird cravings big changes, so please don't think that!! haha 

Anyhoooo... So glad to be back to something I enjoy.  Hope to keep it up!

-Tash

Take two helpings of salmon and call me in the morning...

Alrighty,  had an appointment for a check-up yesterday.  I hadn't been to the doctor  in a while and had a few things that needed addressing.

At this check-up they took blood to check my glucose levels, liver, kidneys, and cholesterol.

Today I got a phone call with the results of said testing and apparently my cholesterol is a smidge high.  Now, when I think of people with high cholesterol, I think of big fat fatties eating fried foods and dipping them in butter.  If you know me you know that I am a size two and I eat relatively healthy foods. I do not fit your typical profile of someone with high cholesterol.

I've made it a point to watch carbs to avoid blood sugar problems and a fat belly.

I like to eat fresh fruits and vegetables all the time.

But, I have always had a love of butter.  And a weakness for fried goodies. And I've grown up with gravy and biscuts being a staple.  I thought I did a good job of eating those things in moderation, but it's time to pay a little more attention.

My curiosity was sparked and I've been doing some internet research.  Here's what I know about cholesterol:

• Bad carries fatty stuff from your liver to your blood.
• Good cholesterol carries fatty stuff from your blood to your liver to get rid of it

What's the difference?

• Bad cholesterol comes from saturated fats
• Good cholesterol comes from foods rich in Omega 3s like salmon, tuna, nuts, olive oil, etc.

Somehow fiber plays into getting rid of the bad stuff too. And if you get too much of the bad stuff it can clog up arteries leading to heart problems.

While mine wasn't bad, it was only borderline high, I want to catch it before it has a chance to get bad.

Here's my plan of attack:

• Fried foods - Once a month.
•  Read packaging on labels to check for saturated fats.  Apparently the box of off-brand cheezits in front of me has 2 grams per serving.  See ya!  No more of those apparently...
• Butter.... what to do about butter....?? I don't know.  I love the stuff.
• Red meats.... taking this portion from 2 times a week to maybe twice a month

That's just the beginning.  I want to learn more.

Here's my call to action to you though, go get a check-up!  If I can have this problem, so can any of you!  Don't wait until you are old and need a quadruple bypass.  Take care of it now.  Adults over 20 should have this checked once every five years, according to the websites I've visited.

Here are some resources:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9152.php

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/slideshow_pictures_cholesterol_levels/article_em.htm

Educate yourselves :)

-Miss Land

Another yummy treat!

Again with the "hangry" issue that I have...

If I don't eat breakfast, I don't function.  Plain and simple.

However, I have a war with myself every morning.  Sleep 10 more minutes.. or have time to fix something to eat?  Sleep? Eat? Sleep? Eat?..... Sleep wins 9 times out of 10.

So I've been looking for a solution.  What can I prepare ahead of time that I can grab and run out the door, but is still "clean" and nutritious?

I found  a baked oatmeal recipe on Pinterest and it was okay, but lacking some yumminess.

I've been baking one of these on Sunday and heating it up through the rest of the week.  I've tweaked it each time and have finally perfected my recipe!

Tasha's clean, yummy, awesome baked oatmeal

1 c. Old fashioned oats (not  the instant or 1 minute kind... although they would work too)
1 c. Whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
dash of salt
4 packets of Truvia
1/3 c. brown sugar
2 T melted butter
1 egg
2/3 c. milk

ANY fruits and nuts you want to add.  My favorite batch used fresh blueberries, banana, and a granny smith apple.  I also use chopped walnuts each time.

Step 1:  Pour oats into a bowl and add just enough water to almost cover.  Microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.

Step 2:  Mix all of the ingredients together with that oatmeal, (not sure how accurate my milk measurement was... so just know you want it to be the consistency of banana bread or muffins... add more or less milk if you need to) then pour into a greased, 9x13 dish.

Step 3: Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

It's that easy!  After it has cooled, I cut it into squares and place in ziplocks in the fridge.

So easy, and oh so yummy....

Now, go eat some!  No more fatty fast food breakfasts or sugary cereals!  

Approximately 2.8 billion people suffer from this condition on a daily basis. Are you one of them?

hangry adj. (hay-n-gree) The condition that turns a sweet, lovable little lady into a monstrous eating machine who has no regards for those around her until satiated. A combination of the words hungry and angry.

This is a condition that I suffer from between the hours of 3:00 P.M. and 7 P.M. on a daily basis.

HOWEVER, I have found a cure!!

It all began when I acquired my newest obsession: The Magic Bullet.  This blender is THE BOMB Y'ALL!

I now have a smoothie every day of my life.  Not some sugar-loaded, turn you into a fat @$$ smoothie.  I mean a genuinely good-for-me, yummy-in-my-tummy, feed the beast smoothie.

What's that? You're dying to know what is in this magical concoction - Well, ok.  Here it is.  Now, hear me out - some of these things might make you throw up in your mouth a little.  GIVE THEM A CHANCE.  YOU CANNOT TASTE THEM. Don't be a baby.

Take your handy-dandy magic bullet and add the following:

• 1/3 cup strawberries
• 1/2 a banana
• 1/3 cup greek yogurt (Protein! Yum!)
• 1/3 cup orange juice (I would like to replace this with something less sugary, let me know if you have any awesome ideas)
• 2 Tbs Flax Seed (You can leave this out if you want to save 70 calories and not poot all night, but it makes it more filling)
• One small handful of ... this is the part you have to trust me on... spinach.
• 2 packets of Stevia
• Add ice to fill

Put the blender attachment on and blend it to smithereens.

The whole thing is about 250 calories.  More like 175 without the flax seed.

If you have any sort of blending apparatus, go make one immediately and save your friends the agony of dealing with your hangriness.

-Miss Land

MJ Life

I am overdue for an update and cannot think of anything to write about!  Here's to hoping this post doesn't turn into a rambling mess.

Work update:

Getting the hang of writing about shoes and LOVING the perks.  A few weeks ago there was a humongous shoe sale for employees and there were Frye boots.... I repeat, FRYE FREAKING BOOTS for an insanely cheap price that I am not even going to share with you because you will cry.  I bought more pairs than I can count.  I am currently down to one spare pair left in a size 7 1/2 (maybe 8... can't remember) that is for sale.  Let me know if you're interested or those puppies are going on ebay.

Um... I also  bought myself some Hunter Wellies and I am PRAYING for a chilly, rainy day soon.  However, I don't know if that is going to happen SO if you see me out in the 90 degree sunshine wearing wellies, you know why.

Wedding update:

We have less than three months, people! Holy cow.  Plowing through the to-do list.

Also, we booked a honeymoon to the Dominican and will be leaving the day after the nuptials. That means we will spend Thanksgiving on the beach and you'd better believe I will be sending some extra thank yous to the big guy upstairs for that one!

Life update:

I miss being all comfortable in Cookeville still, but I am adjusting.  I've met some really nice workout buddies in my kickboxing class at the Y, and I'm getting used to my schedule and commute here.

Umm.... I'm obsessed with my Magic Bullet blender and I have a smoothie every day of my life.

When I don't get to go to Life Church in Cookeville, I listen to the live stream online, which is amazing, instead of branching out and looking for a church here like I should. Whatever, I can only handle so many new things at once.

That sums things up!  Keep praying for some peace of mind as the wedding approaches.  If you know me, you know I'm a freaker outter when big things are happening.  Thank you!

-Miss Land

Whew!

Ya'll, it has been an EXHAUSTING couple of weeks!

I finally got settled in at the house of some of my good friends, and I am finally going to be settled down (somewhat) until November.  I am so grateful for my friends, Ben and Channing who have opened up their home to me and let me haul all of my stuff into their spare room until wedding time.

I have started getting the hang of the shoe copy writing business and I still really enjoy it!  Today was super slow, but apparently next week we will be SLAMMED with tons of shoes.  I guess that's the calm before the storm.

I have really been missing my old, comfortable routine of going to work, working out, eating, then going to bed.  It really was super easy and I knew what I was doing.

The new routine is more like:

• Get up
• 30 minute commute
• Work
• Spend lunch doing a wedding task
• 30 minute commute back
• Scarf down a smoothie (courtesy of my new magic bullet... I am obsessed. Got anything that needs pulverizing? I can help you with that!)
• Unpack something, or pack something, or do laundry, or whatever wacko random task is awaiting me.
• Assemble some sort of dinner at Jordan's and leave it on the counter with directions
• Run to the Y in the biggest hurry of my life because I hate to be late for classes
• Sprint back into the house because I forgot a water... or my keys... or shoes
• Work my booty off (I wish... that thing won't get any smaller)
• Head back to Jordan's for dinner 
• By now, somehow, it is like NINE
• Leave to go back to my new bed
• SLEEEEEEP
• Repeat

I'm sure I will eventually settle into a routine that doesn't leave me frazzled.  Until then, I will keep functioning on coffee and smoothies.

Also, just a side note.  I really miss my Cookeville family and friends.

So many big changes are happening and I am learning to abandon my own plans and rely solely on the Lord. He's got this!

-Miss Land

First week as a shoe copywriter...

Ok, so maybe my favorite thing about the new job is that I have to type the material in, somewhat like a blog, and I have learned how to skip lines and add bullets. Like this:

• OK.. so this line should be a new bullet.
• And so should this one

And now I should have skipped a line if I have done it correctly. Seems like this would be super easy, but it is so easy to get mixed up.Other than learning this cool new trick (apparently called HTML...), I have learned all kinds of shoe vocabulary that I had no idea existed. Like:

• vamp - upper front
• instep - kind of right in front of your ankle
• perforated - Breathable holes
• hook-and-loop closure - The way most Velcro(r) straps work
• Elastic goring panel - Stretchy band
• and the list goes on...

And another fun fact about this job - It is way less stressful than teaching. I come in, get situated at my cubicle, and then start writing descriptions about racks and racks of shoes. That's right, I am surrounded by shoes all day! However, most of them are kids shoes... or these hideous skater shoes. But occassionally, I get the opportunity to write about one of these beauties! Here are a few more of the descriptions I have written in the past week: Puma, Stride Rite girls, Mens' Kenneth Cole, and my very least favorite of all: Etnies.

I have learned so much in the past week, thanks to my awesome friend, Karla!  And I am loving it :)

-Miss Land ... shoe describer extraordinaire