More Baking

So, I think I really like cooking...baking in particular. I've always been a good cook, but I wouldn't have ever said I was thinking about working in the industry. I am far from opening a bakery, but I really do enjoy it. It's so good for my belly and so bad at the same time. I took a little break from my Insanity workout regimen, but looking past a mirror yesterday made me get back on the wagon.

Anyway here are a few things I've baked over the past couple of weeks. My family members have been popping up at the house hoping that clear and blue contains on the table are filled with happy treats. I can't disappoint them, so I just keep baking. My aunt called me today and said, "hey, just wanted to tell you that I have about 6 cookie bins to fill cookies with." I told her that she better get to baking then and we both laughed. She's not a cook or a "cooker" at all.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies



Chocolate Chip cookies

 Breakfast Quiche

My first Ever Poached Egg

I will post recipes later, but for now...I'm off to the store for some ingredients. Happy Cooking!

The last of the... Pumpkin

I was sitting in my room this afternoon basking in the how great time was with the family for Thanksgiving...and I don't know why, but pumpkin popped in my head. I'm not even a huge pumpkin fan, but I went with it. That led me to the kitchen to the final 2 cans (no, not fresh) of pumpkin. I mentioned before that I have been baking a lot lately, so I decided on a pumpkin muffin.

I started pulling ingredients from cabinets high and low and this is what I created. Woohoo!!

 Ingredients are below...

 

This is what mixing looking likes...
Dry ingredients in one bowl, wet in another (adding one after the other) and then combine.

Now, it's time to bake...

 And, now it's time to cool... (except, I forgot to take the cooling picture, so this is after they've cooled)

Clean up always sucks...

Now to stack...

My first batch sunk in the middle because I overfilled them and decided to use a spatula to get the gook from the bottom of the stove before it started burning. Those went in the trash. I tried to save them (maybe mash together and create some type of crust for something else, but it was hopeless. 

Overall, it was a great 1st try at these. Now, someone else should come eat them. Shawn T and Insanity are going to shaking fingers at me. 

I don't Know About Another 8 Weeks

Oh My Pound Cake!!!! I made it through week 1 of Insanity. I really can't believe I'm still living after how much breath I lost this week. It was hard y'all. I mentioned in the last post that I wasn't a newbie to working out, but for the past 5 months, I have maybe worked out for a total of 2 weeks (about an hour or so a day). That was not enough to just dive into Insanity.

Day 2 and Day 6 have the same workout and I can tell it's working. On Day 2, I split plyometrics into 2 separate workouts. I rested on Day 6 because of the election (Day 7 is supposed to be rest) and I just finished the whole plyometrics workout.  Now don't get me wrong, I stop every now and then to catch my breath, but I'm definitely digging dipper. I'm not being funny about this next statement. I have legitimately never seen an African American turn bright red and certainly not me...even when I was working our 5 days a week for 2 hours each day. I went to shower after my workout and I though I was bleeding I was so red...maybe not bleeding, but it was so apparent it freaked me out a little. I worked my tail off tonight and I'm proud for getting all the way through it.

There are a few workouts that I can't completely do like getting in the plank position and jump up to a squat (repeat, repeat, repeat), so I have to edit so that I'm still do heavy cardio without hurting myself. I hope to one day be able to complete them all exactly like Shawn T, but if not it's cool. My plan is to lose some lbs and I've done that with a lot less so I have high hopes.

I joined www.teambeachbody.com tonight because I am getting a little discouraged because I dread doing these workouts. I believe they work, but unlike working out at the gym, I don't like this. Hopefully, I'll keep myself more accountable by being a member. We;ll see.

Well, I guess that's it for tonight.

Happy Health!

Day Four

It's day 4 for me and I'm struggling. I have been doing my workouts super late at night...Mainly because I dread it all day. I'm going to have to change up the time because it's now midnight and I had to force myself to put on workout clothes 5 minutes ago and am now doing everything I can think of to not start working out.

It's awful. I'm not in the best of shape by any means (no health problems though), but I'm no newbie to working out. Even still, I'm not just exhausted when I finish, I feel like...IO don't even know what I feel like, but it's not good. I had to split plyometric (day 1) into 2 parts because I was so tired halfway through. Last night, I just knew I would vomit (sorry if TMI), but luckily I didn't. I can however tell I'm getting in a groove because I'm stopping less often and don't feel like total garbage at the end.

I find myself looking in mirrors hoping by the mercy of God and Shawn T that I look different somewhere because it sure as heck makes me feel like I should feel different.

Well, Here goes nothing...Pure Cardio, I plan to bring it and I know you do too.

BTDub...Tomorrow is Election Day 2012! Go out and Vote, Eat Well, and Party like it 19...I mean 2012!

Ready For A Little Insanity?

Well I was not at all ready.

 

Lately, i've been doing a heck of a lot of baking. I've always been pretty good in the kitchen, but baking from scratch only happens every once in a while. Prior to about 2 months ago, I hadn't truly COOKED anything in about a year and a half. So, it was time. I may post later about what I cooked, but that's not the point of this post.

The point is that I've been baking, spending a ton of time on the computer, and watching TV more often than not. Sitting + baking/eating = more lbs and that's the last thing I want to do. I've been riding a stationary bike 2 maybe 3 times a week, but it's not doing anything for the lbs. Good for staying healthy though. Today, i get the genius idea to start the Insanity workout by Shawn T. Stupid, stupid idea.

The 60 day transformation workout starts with Shawn telling you he's going to ask you to dig deeper than you usually do with your workouts. Easy peasy. I am persistent, so no biggie. First things first...how fit are you...or am i in this case. I knew I was starting at a pretty low point, because I haven't been working out regularly. The Fit test is designed to see how many reps you can do of various exercises (1 min each) without dying. I did better than I thought I would, but by the time I got to the last exercise I was spent. The exercises are below.

I looked at this before starting and wasn't too intimidated, but seriously, how many times have you ever done 8 exercises repeatedly for 1 minute each. Me...Never.

Anyway, my numbers in order of the pictures above were 70, 20, 70, 15, 6, 3, 14, and 1.

I think I pulled something in my left shoulder during the 1st exercise which really had me straining for the remaining 7, but I didn't give up until the low plank oblique. I can barely lay on my back and lift each leg to my each hip. I am going to really have to pray in order to this one. 

I have never felt like I felt today after the workout and I'm no novice to working out. I can gym it up 5 days a week for 2.5 hours and be just fine. This is new to me...taking me back to my college days when I stepped in the gym for the 1st time and couldn't do 3 minutes on the elliptical. 

All in all, it was okay. I plan to do it tomorrow and every day after that until I reach 60. My Insanity cycle should end on January 1st. I'll see if i can last that long. 

I won't post before pics until I have after pics.

Join in on the fun. Insanity for everyone!

Happy Health!

Now, thoughts and ideas, that interests me.

It's 3:21 in the morning and I'm up because I decided to go to sleep at midnight when I wasn't really sleepy. For the last hour and a half, I have been watching youtube videos. I would not consider myself a youtube fan, but I know how to use it, upload videos, watch trending videos, write comments, etc. I don't know what made click on a facebook status with a video tonight, but I'm glad I did.

I ended up watching about 15 or so videos from 4 different people/groups of people. They are all embedded below.

I will not go into any political standpoint here. I will vote and that is all you need to know. I clicked on the video because watching someone lose can be...intriguing. I didn't know anything about Key and Peele, so I didn't know if was a spoof. Anyway, the video is a testament to what goes on in my head sometimes and how different it sound when what i'm thinking comes out of my mouth. I have a great filter...when I want to.  There are definitely times when things need to be said and i cut the filter off. I'm not as extreme with the actual saying in the video (calling people out of their name), but you should still get the point.



I browsed video titles that were shown after watching this (random comedy spoofs, presidential elections, etc.) and settled on Jenna Marbles. Again, had no idea who she was. Turns out, she just a girl who rants and now has millions of viewers, a mostly work from home job, 2 annoying dogs (that squeak at the beginning of all her videos and lick her mouth at the end), and lives in Los Angeles. Regardless of all this, I watched like 8 or 9 (maybe more) of her videos. Jenna Marbles Youtube Channel. I have tons of opinions about dating and relationships and Jenna hits it somewhere on the head. I'm not saying go on a date looking like a bomb, but be as genuine as possible. Yes, all people who go on dates want them to not be train wrecks, so i understand putting your best foot forward, but seriously, use your foot not the made up version of yourself or replica of someone else.



The last video I watched of hers (above) guided me to a video from Talia. She's a 12 year old girl that has cancer and has a remarkable story. Read about it here. I saw her on the Ellen Show (which I love) a while back and wanted to see what she was talking about. Make-up of course. She's very good at applying it and is now receiving free products from tons of companies, doing ad campaigns (i think), and has been deemed an honorary Covergirl by Ellen...not sure if Covergirl is on board, but i imagine they are. She beautiful and talented. The video was long and she's 12, but it's enduring to see how much she loves what she's doing. It's not because she has cancer either, although, I'm sure there are plenty of 12 year girls that aren't getting half as much attention because they don't. Sad, but it's reality. I'm glad Talia is getting to live what she describes as her fairy tale.



The moral of this story is that I've really decided to put my thinking cap on and pursue some type of writing career...be it in book form, blog form, vlog form, etc. Writing that I can do anyway I want to with good grammar and bad grammar. I've been working on a book for a while, but it's not going in a direction that I'm pleased with, so I've put that 1st try on a shelf for later. Let's hope it has good shelf-life. There are so many good ideas out that are enjoyable for the writer, but also very profitable. So an up-and-coming writer has to be extremely creative to be seen and seen well. Maybe these late nights will give me some inspiration.

It feels good to sit here and type out some thoughts. Sad I left for so long. I remember way back when i used movie quotes to end each blog. Here's one for old time sake.

~Reel Quotes~

The Iron Lady (2012)

Young Margaret Thatcher: No. One's life must matter, Dennis. Beyond all the cooking and the cleaning and the children. One's life must mean more than that. I cannot die washing up a teacup! I mean it, Dennis. Say you understand.

Margaret Thatcher: "How do you feel?" / "Oh, I don't feel comfortable." / "Oh, I'm so sorry, we the group, we're feeling..." Do you know, one of the greatest problems of our age is that we are governed by people who care more about feelings than they do about thoughts and ideas? Now, thoughts and ideas, that interests me. 

Is It Really Feb 2012?

Umm...Where has the last 6 months gone? That's how long it has been since I posted and since I had any time to myself. Workaholic with a gambling addction is a nice way to describe what's been happening in my world. my daily routine on a typcal day was to work between 13 and 17 hours then go to bingo for 1 to 3 hours. I worked most weekends and played bingo from dawn to dusk if I was off. My other free time was spent sleeping, eating, or watching moves.

It wasn't a bad 6 months, but it was exhausting and unmemorable...That's the part that bothers me. Life experiences shouldn't be forgettable. They should be life changing and exciting. I feel like I've fallen into a life that doesn't belong to me. The Regina I know is far rom boring and routine. She's spontaneous. I should clear this up a little...I don't hate my life and I'm not depressed. I just realize that I'm forgetting about some of the things that make me extremely happy. I feel a little like a hypocrite knowing that everyday I tell a lease 1 student that life is what you make and regret is inevitable if you don't make decisions with self in mind.

I made a New Year's resolution to go on a trip every every season. It's a way for me to probe my spontaneous side again.

First trip was home... It was my mom's birthday and she called me around 1 or so because I hadn't called her. That wasn't like me or maybe it was... So far I have missed 6 or 7 family birthdays inluding, but not limited to (lol) my brother and grandma. I felt so guilty that work had taken over ev everything that I booked a flight home for that afternoon while I was sitting in my division retreat. I was home to MS by 7pm. Of course, mom thought I was joking and I ended up spending some time at the lovely airport while she ended her applebees dinner and drove to get me.

It was well worth the $65 flight (I know right). I hadn't been home since I moved to Texas (very typical of me to move away and not go home) and it was much needed. I didn't realize how much I missed them. The trip was way to short, but I was glad to spend those hours with them.

I haven't figured out where trip #2 will be, but I'm excited for it. I have a co-worker that is great at taking vacation time. I have definitely den better with the occasional day of here and there, but vacations I have not mastered. He is currently in some snowy mountain area skiing.

Other than that, my past few months have been average. I've missed blogging and plan (we'll see how that goes) to do more in the near futre4. I have taken a ton of pictures over the last few months and will upload soon.

Until then...live life to the fullest!