#45MilesInJanuary

I have been getting more involved in social media as of late.  It seems that's how we communicate anymore. I still prefer the handwritten letter.  That is why I am considering starting a Campus Cursive Chapter at my school through MoreLoveLetters, but first, I have to make sure I have the time to do it, before I take on such a big responsibility.  I already have a lot on my plate this semester.

Through Instagram one of the lovely ladies I follow @hannahlarson42 issued a challenge for the New Year. It's called #45MilesInJanuary and you can walk or run the miles, but the goal for the month is 45 miles - using that hash tag to stay motivated and accountable.  I have not tackled anything like this, ever.  Ever since I joined the Army and injured my ankle, then knee, then through another stroke of bad luck gained a serious amount of weight it has been a struggle to run consistently at all.  My soccer coach from high school would be so disappointed.  He had us running 5 miles every practice.  Needless to say, after my time in the Army I have had a serious lack of exercise routine in my life.  I started yoga about 19 months or so ago, but again no real routine.  I plan to stick with yoga though.  I really do enjoy it.  I wish studio classes did not cost so much.  To stay motivated, with yoga at least, I signed up for a level 2 yoga class at school for the spring semester. The class is twice a week, so at the very least I will have that.

The challenge

Now for the #45MilesInJanuary it's a different story.  The plan is to hit the gym at my apartment as often as I can to tally up my miles.  I will be snapping pictures along the way to stay accountable and posting them to my Instagram @lavendermud.  This morning I walked 3 miles.  The familiar aches and pains reminded me how out of shape I really am.  Yes, it's embarrassing.  But it's a challenge, it's not supposed to be easy!  As I write this I am still in my workout clothes and my left arch is killing me, but I'm not going to let it stop me. Not this early in the game.

1st mile of the challenge

2 more miles, bringing my total to 3 so far.

xoxo Gwen

Happy New Year!

Lilly Pulitzer Happy New Year 5X5

Using this one as my desktop wallpaper

xoxo Gwen

New Year's Eve 2013

It is hard for me to reflect upon the past year.  It all seems like such a blur really.  I started the year with spring semester with school, then continued in the summer and fall.  Between school and work, and the other things I managed to squeeze in between, it sort of all ran together.  I will definitely say the 2nd half of the year was better than the first.

I have a lot of things to look forward to in the new year and I have set some personal goals.  I will be starting school again in just a couple weeks and I am sure my schedule will fill up just as fast as it did last year.  I added more responsibilities to my plate for the coming school year so organization will remain very important.  I also had the privilege of meeting the fantastic ladies of Alpha Sigma Alpha Tidewater Alumnae and hope to join them this spring.  I will be submitting paperwork for a bid sometime soon.

This evening I am going to a party at a friend's house.  I hope whatever your plans are you have fun and stay safe.  2014 could be our best year yet!

Ready for your midnight kiss?

xoxo Gwen

Ribbon Recycling

I got this ribbon off a set of holiday bowls I bought over the holidays.

It's very long and can be reused, but have some wrinkles.

I have decided to use it around a few books I gifted during Christmas.

Time to get the wrinkles out.

Heated up my hair straightener.

Slid the ribbon through on a medium setting.

Perfectly straight ribbon.

I forgot to take a picture of the finished ribbon around the books but it was fabulous - promise.

xoxo Gwen

Product Review: Breakfast Sandwich Maker by Hamilton Beach

Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker

For the first round we decided to use some leftover Christmas ham and make a classic egg, ham and cheese breakfast sandwich.  After removing the compact sandwich maker from the box the only set up is cleaning the removable part and the top and bottom plate of the sandwich maker.  In addition, we rubbed some olive oil over the whole inside.

How to use:
Plug in the cord and wait for the ready light to light up, indicating the unit is preheated.

**Always use an oven mitt to protect hands when opening the covers.  The entire unit gets hot and the steam can burn**

Once the ready light is lit up you can start assembling your sandwich.  It really is easy.

The bottom layer is your bread (we used an English muffin) your meat, cheese and veggies (we used ham & cheese.  He used sliced American and I used a shredded blend).  In the 2nd compartment we cracked a whole egg (breaking the yolk) and topped with the other half of our English muffin.  Close the lid, set the timer for 5 minutes and patiently wait.

Add your base layer ingredients

Put on bottom plate

Add a fresh egg, yolk broken

Top with English muffin

After the 5 minutes **REMEMBER TO USE YOUR OVEN MITTS** slide the middle cooking plate out and lift the lid revealing your hot and toasty breakfast sandwich.

USE OVEN MITTS

5 minute breakfast sandwich complete

The sandwich came out crispy and everything was hot and melted.  The egg was entirely cooked to perfection.

Nice and toasty

Enjoy!

The down sides are having to use a timer that you already have on hand, which is not a huge deal because most people have one, and the entire unit getting hot instead of just the inside.  But for a 5 minute breakfast sandwich it’s great.

4 out of 5 stars

Potluck Perfection

It’s not often I have to come up with a dish for a potluck, but when I do I try to think of something a little bit different or at least something ordinary with a twist.  Enter the Mac & Cheese Muffin.  Around the holidays especially, we can lose sight of portion control and eat more than we planned.  That’s why this recipe is perfect.  They are individual portions that can be enjoyed alone, as an entrée or as the perfect side dish.  In my case, I made them for my fiancé to take to his work potluck this holiday season.  I heard they were a hit and disappeared quickly.  I am glad I made a few extras to keep at home.

I used whole wheat pasta and skim milk to add a healthy kick to them.  You could never tell with the great cheese I used.  * I choose sharp white cheddar and Gruyere but you can choose 2 of your favorites and experiment *

Mac & Cheese Muffins

Ingredients:
4 cups cooked whole wheat macaroni
1TBSP butter
1TBSP flour
1 cup skim milk
1 garlic clove, minced
3 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 oz. shredded Gruyere cheese
1 egg
1 egg white
1 (10oz.) package of frozen spinach {defrosted, drained and patted dry}

Prep:
Cook macaroni, measure and set aside.
Defrost, drain and pat dry your frozen spinach.
Shred the cheese.
Mince the garlic.
Separate one yolk from one of the eggs (you need one whole egg and an additional 1 egg white).

Directions:
Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.  Lightly mist 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Melt the butter over medium heat, adding the flour to thicken.  
Stir in the milk and garlic and raise the temperature to just under a boil.
Whisk in the shredded cheeses to form a cheese sauce.
Remove the cheese sauce from heat and mix in the egg and the egg white until combined.
Then in a large bowl combine the pasta, spinach, cheese sauce and mix together.
Spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin cups of the prepared muffin tin.
Bake for 10-15 minutes until the tops are slightly brown. 
Let cool for 5 minutes before removing the muffins.

Just out of the oven

Since I was making them as part of a brunch potluck I made the mixture the night before.  I added the mixture to the muffin tins and refrigerated them.  In the morning I woke up, popped them in the oven to finish them off.

xoxo Gwen

Real Simple | Life Made Easier

Last Christmas I received a subscription to the magazine, Real Simple.  I had an entire glorious year of organizing tips, recipes, fashion advice,  lists by the numbers, quotes/thoughts and life lessons.  My subscription continues this year and I couldn't be more excited than with their January 2014 issue.  This issue titled, How to Live the Balanced Life is a great eye opener on how to create a sense of balance in your life from diet, to wardrobe, to spending time with family and friends.

Real Simple magazine - January 2014 issue

Kristin Van Ogtrop begins her editor's note, "Do you ever have one of those mornings when you feel like you're going to tip over before you ever get out of bed?  That was my day yesterday. (No, this is not a drinking story.)  I woke up and immediately felt as if I were balancing precariously on a tightrope between two shark tanks, one containing work pressures and the other filled with home-life demands.  One wrong move and I would be sunk".  (January 2014 | Real Simple pg 17)

I can definitely relate to this feeling.  In fact, I get so worked up over everything going on sometimes that I often miss the real fun of the occasion.  I am making a personal promise to myself (rather than a declared New Year's Resolution) to stop and smell the roses more, to speak more kindly to people when I am stressed, to enjoy the moment and create some balance in my life.  This issue definitely got me thinking and provided me with some great ideas to start creating that balance.

xoxo Gwen