Bath Tub Tunes

When I was little, I LOATHED taking a shower! However, it was the quickest & most convenient way for either my mom, nanny, or grandmama to hose down my head of hair...YES people...even In those days I had a lot of hair. I rarely took showers until I got older...there was just something about having the bathtub filled up with bubbles & having every toy/object you could think of in there with me. Of course there were my Barbies, the set of measuring cups, plastic animals, blocks, heck I even think I threw my Polly Pocket in there. Ha!

To this day, I love soaking in a hot...and I do mean HOT bathtub. These days, its a time for me to just RELAX...So nice...it's "me time." Normally, I put either two cups of Epsom salt OR two tablespoons of Aloe Vera Bath Bubbles. Sometimes I mix the two...just depends on how long my workout was and how sore I am that day. Lately, I've been taking a bath every day...I know I know...LOTS of Water...but I figure it's okay...especially when I see a brand new water park open.

I created a playlist for while I am soaking away in the tub. Here are some of my FAV "Bathtub Tunes:"

-Dream by Priscilla Ahn

-La Ciegena Just Smiled by Ryan Adams

-His Glory Appears by Hillsong

-Make You Feel My Love by Adele

-Someone Like You by Adele

-Be Be Your Love by Rachael Yamagata

...and the list goes on & on--those are just a few.

Also, if I get bored of my playlist I normally put on a Pandora Station--my favs include:

-Rachael Yamagata
-Adele
-Coldplay
-U2

I just wish I could keep the water HOT, but then again, I would end up being in there for hours...and my hands would be pruney!

If you have a suggestion for my "Bathtub Playlist," feel free to message me...LOVE new tunes!

Goodnight!

L

My Blog is Fall

Well, I thought it was time for a change...a blog "change" that is...

These new colors remind me of my favorite season--Fall. I Love Love Love Fall!!! Everything about it: the cooler weather, the orangey colors, the fact that I can wear boots & coats everyday, Cuddling with my Hubby, & I know this may sound a bit weird, but I really do think that my coffee tastes better during this time. Ohhh If it could be Fall everyday of the year--I wouldn't mind. In fact, if I wanted warmer weather, I would just hop on a plane & fly somewhere tropical.

I know that I haven't been writing on here that much...to be honest I just haven't felt like it. I'm in week 9 of training for the Marathon I am running in December--this could be the reason Why I haven't written lately...I'm just worn out by the end of the day!

As quite a few of you know, I go to a Wholistic Doctor & have really taken up the Wholistic approach to my health & well-being for almost two years now. It is something that I had to do for myself....

Anyway, I've been going into see my doc more frequently lately due to all of the running & she had told me that I needed to up my weight training and lower the mileage for this week. I was relieved to here this, because my body needed a break...I am still getting the 200 minutes of cardio in for this week, just needed to do different things. Furthermore, she put me on a 10 day cleanse/detox. Which means BESIDES all of the vitamins I take daily, I am taking 10 extra ones for detoxification...AND trust me...they sure do Detox...if you know what I mean.

I really do promise to update more & more...heck I might even try to post something everyday this week!

Thanks for reading Bloggies!!

XO,

L

Monday Shhmunday!

I know most people Loathe Mondays. It means--another work week, 5 more days until the weekend, responsibility, 8 hours of either doing something that you LOVE or that your just doing to get by. For most-- Mondays are a drag really.

Honestly, I don't mind Mondays. In my eyes, I see: newness, a fresh start, clean slate...I dunno maybe it's just me that thinks this way:-)

Kyle & I both try to really make our weekends a time for rejuvenation! It's hard when there is a multitude of things going on and you need to use your weekends to: get things done, play catchup, plan events and/or go to events, in our case- RUN, the list goes on & on. This weekend was Just that--busy!

For almost eight months now, My heart has been hurting from SO much & although I can't go into detail about every single thing, I will tell you this: Only God could be the one to heal my hurts!

When you are hurt/betrayed by not just ONE person, BUT a multitude of people, including people/leaders from your own church AND also by those whom are suppose to LOVE you...it's hard to go anywhere without thinking about it! Finally, after spending much time praying about what I should do, because moving churches wouldn't be the real solution, Kyle suggested that I talk with a freedom pastor from our church. This person is booked 24/7, but she really wanted to meet with me AND I will just tell you all--it was the BEST decision I could've made for myself. For the first time, I could BREATHE at church on Saturday, I could worship, I was able to concentrate during the message, & even though there were people up on that stage that seriously had wounded my heart in the past--it was like "Oh well...over it!" God is Awesome!!!!

I know...I am just rambling, but I had to share this, because I know that many of you probably have been hurt from someone who is of authority in the church OR even a friend of yours in the church. My advice is this: GO TALK TO SOMEONE!!!! If it's Gateway, Go to a freedom counselor--DO IT!!

Anyway, on to the rest-of-our-weekend...Din Din with the hubs on Saturday night. I think we have found our favorite salsa...have you ever been to La Hacienda? Kyle LOVES this place, I just really like the salsa. Ha! Oh and the root beer barrel candy that you can grab on the way out...my fav!!

We finished our weekend out with Kyle running 5 miles outside with me--it was brutal! The wind made it about 10 times harder, BUT we still were faster this week AND I thought WOW perfect training weather! Then, while he was out at Cabela's with his dad, I went for another 5 Miles on the treadmill...and then I came home and pretty much sat on my toosh for the rest of the day:-) Kyle got me a foam roller--thank goodness--helps massage your muscles and alleviates some of the pain. We watched a few movies too...and Sundays are the best to just BE LAZY & do nothing!! Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!

Well, happy Monday to you all! And before I get off of here...i am thinking about starting another blog in conjuncture with this one...we'll see:-) and so will you if I decide too!!

XOXO,

L

Beauty in a Knob

It's amazing how a fresh coat of paint, some sanding and a beautiful little knob can make a piece of furniture look SO beautiful.  Yesterday, I gave my desk a little makeover! I didn't want to give it away, because it is such a great piece & I have had it since college, so I thought "why not give it some TLC and make it pretty!" Kyle didn't help me with this one...well he helped me move it outside so that I could paint it, BUT all of the sanding, priming & painting was all on me--heck I even went to Home Depot all by myself to pick out the knob for it. 

I'm starting another restoration project later this week...more than likely Friday...It's fun!! I know you are probably sitting there thinking to yourself, "she does this for fun?" Yes, I do...it's more therapeutic & relaxing for me than anything. Yesterday, a question was brought up to me: "what do you do to relieve stress & relax?" I thought to myself, well...working out is more of a MUST, reading gets boring to me, massages are painful, journaling is a NO because I end up trying to write all pretty, shopping is definitely a NO...ask Kyle if you want to know why & laying out in this heat is really just more of a reason to harm your skin. So, I have come to the conclusion that restoring furniture & antiquing probably describes WHAT relaxes me BEST:-)
 
On another note, Central Market was out of Organic Spaghetti Squash Yesterday and I ended up buying Acorn Squash instead. I LOVE Acorn, but I knew Kyle might hide it somewhere on his plate....LOL....in fact I knew he would!!  I made it and served it with the rest of his food AND yep...he was like..."these are interesting yellow potatoes." Bahhahaha!!! Needless to say, he wasn't having it...oh well...I tried!

I promise to update tomorrow...HELLOooooo...it's my rant:-)

XOXO,

L

Mole is My Friend

This last weekend, Kyle & I didn't do a darn thing and it was so nice. We have been go-go-go for the past three to four weekends and so having a couple of days to just not have to run errands OR see anyone ( I know...sometimes...we just need a break) is the Best!!!!!!

Friday was our 6th month Anniversary & it dawned on me that it flew by...literally!  It has been an incredible year so far with Kyle and also a time of facing new things and a few challenges as well. 

I am still getting used to someone leading me and I know that will "adjust" over time.  Furthermore, I am "trying" to understand the things changing/have changed aside from our marriage--including some of our family relationships, holidays not being the same, friendships growing apart, & it's ALL in the midst of things rapidly changing in our country as well.
Some days, I think to myself--I don't want things to be different & then at other times, I feel like it may just be inevitable--maybe things MUST change when you get married! All I know is: Our Marriage is blessed and I am truly thankful for our God's Love & Provision.

Well, I don't really have a lot of "funny stories" to tell ya'll regarding our weekend, although we did go to a yummy Mexican Restaurant on Saturday Night. I will tell you this, you can ALWAYS tell if a place is truly authentic, when: you MUST talk some type of "spanglish" to your waiter AND if the service is pronto--if you know what I mean?!? The place we went to serves the freshest Mexican food around & their Guacamole is what makes my mouth water; it is Amazing!! We ordered a full-order of the "table side guacamole" & what that means is: Someone wheels out this Large cart & makes it right in front of you. Although, of course, me being the one who took 3 years of Spanish in high school & 2 years in college, I of course was trying to tell the Guacamole Man how spicy I wanted it...in spanish. And for some reason, I kept repeating how I wanted it....in Spanish...Kyle was like, "Lauren, you don't need to impress me with you knowledge of the language & he KNOWS that you want it spicy." 

Hahaha...I try:-)

Well, it ended up that the "guacamole man" made it taste SO good that I wanted to make our own at home. This meant, that I had to get the special "marble-clay-bowl" to crush & mix all of the ingredients together and I found one for such a bargain price. (Look at the Pic above) Although, this time, I put WAY more chopped jalepeno in my recipe & I added lime juice as well. It was finger-licking good!!!!!!
Kyle even ate it...surprising since I put bigger chucks of onion it. 

I really can't eat a bunch of Guac at one time, it really bothers my tum tum...but a little here and there is just fine. For awhile, I was eating two tablespoons of hummus per day...got tired of that really quickly...so now I am onto two tablespoons of Guac per day...wondering what's next? If you've got a healthy "spread" recipe, please share it with me:-)

XoXo,

L

Pain is Beauty?

Last week, I went a got a massage. December was the last time I had gotten one and it was in my mind going to be the "Perfect" treat. As some of you know, I am training for a marathon in December, thus if my hubby gives the OKAY for me to have someone else massage me for an hour-I am all for it!

I went to a place in Southlake that was referred to me by my mother-in-law AND she had given me a coupon, which basically knocked off about 25 bucks! When I arrived, they have you fill out all of these forms and they wanted to know which body parts NOT to touch(in my mind I was thinking-"thanks for asking?")

Anyway, my massage therapist was a male and he did a consultation with me before the massage. Asking me basics: What areas are giving you trouble? Deep-Tissue Okay? Etc. I wanted Deep-Tissue, mainly because my muscles have been extremely sore for the past 4 weeks and I knew it was going to hurt.

Alright, so once he started massaging me, I was thinking, "oh this isn't bad...there is NO pain...awesome." It wasn't until he got to my hips, legs and ankles, that the pain was Excruciating!!! I mean at times I wanted to scream...the therapist kept saying," okay Lauren, deep breaths...Just breath through it...accept the pain." I was thinking, is this guy joking? I'm getting a flipping massage...not having a baby! Thank you, Male Nurse!

Anyway, needless to say, the whole hour was pretty painful, BUT the great thing is that I felt Unbelievable afterwards! He had told me that I needed to be coming weekly for about two months, which of course Kyle commented and said,"of course he wants you to come weekly...you're hott! I would want you to come weekly too!" Apparently, massages are better for you than stretching. Hmm.

Ladies & Gents, I would most certainly advise you to get a massage; it is really great for your Lymphatic System as well as your joints & circulation. I would LOVE to start getting one monthly:-)

That's all for this week's Rant!

XoXo,

L

Gulit-Free Chicken Tenders? Oh yeah!

Last night I made a yummy batch of 'Almond-Crusted Chicken Tenders' for dinner. The great thing about these scrumptious tenders is that they are 135 calories per piece, hardly any fat, AND there is zero flour, corn, soy, wheat, etc. I served them with a side of Boiled Russet Potatoes, which were drizzled with olive oil & a small amount of raw butter! 

Alright, onto the ingredients for your tenders:

-4 Medium-sized Hormone Free & defrosted Chicken Tenders.(you can also use two large chicken breasts & then slice them when they are done baking.
-1/4cup Egg whites
-1/2Cup Organic Steel Cut Oats
-1/4Cup Crushed Almonds
-1TBSP of a mixture of Rosemary, Basil, etc(you can also use any type of Italian seasoning too)
-Himalayan Salt & Black Pepper to taste
-A Large Ziplock Bag
-Olive Oil or Olive Oil Spray
-small baking sheet

Directions:

-Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. 

-Combine your oats, seasonings, & crushed almonds into a bowl and mix them all together.  

-Take your Chicken and place them into the Ziplock bag with the egg whites-shake them up! 

-Then, slowly add your mixture of almonds, oats & seasonings to the bag with the chicken. Shake it up real good until all the tenders are coated with the mixture. 

-Once coated, spray the small baking sheet with the olive oil spray & place the tenders an inch apart from each other. 

Bake for approximately 15-20mins.

-Serve with your favorite sauce!! I LOVE Amy's Organic Barbecue sauce--Maple flavor of course:-)

My Husband LOVED these!!! I love the fact that they were really crunchy, but totally guilt-free. Try them out and drop me a note.

XoXo,

L