pancakes.

apple cinnamon paleo pancakes recipe.

this morning i woke up and realized that all my bananas were starting to get really brown so i knew that i had to eat them today or tomorrow so they didn't end up in the trash this weekend. i have been looking to make paleo pancakes for a while and haven't found a recipe that didn't require me to go to the store for more ingredients so i made up my own recipe :) this recipe will make about six pancakes. 

ingredients.

one. 2 mashed bananas

two. 2 eggs

three. 1 large grated apple

four.  2 1/2 tbsp of coconut flour

five. dash of cinnamon

six. 1 tbsp of vanilla extract

directions.

one. place bananas and eggs in a mixer and combine until bananas are mashed

two. grate the apple and put into mixer

three. put the coconut flour, cinnamon, and extract into mixer until well combined

four. heat a skillet with coconut oil over medium heat

five. pour a 1/4 cup of batter onto the skillet and brown both sides

i served my pancakes with berries-strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries-this acted as my syrup and it tasted to wonderful!

**this recipe will not give you a consistency like normal pancakes and they will be very hard to flip, but it's okay :) as you can see in the picture they are fluffy, but not keeping their shape! grrr...i'll figure out how to make them better.

moving.

moving is not a very fun thing to do, but everyone has to do it at some point in their life, and if they don't then my hats off to them. right now, my husband and i are in the middle of packing our things up in boxes,  wrapping all the glassware in the kitchen so they do not break in transit and taking everything off the walls.  we have only been here since february and we are already moving.  it is crazy to think how much we have accumulated since then. we find some things, like our photo albums and take a break to look at those or find dog toys under the bed and play with zeke for a minute.  i think those moments make moving a little bit easier to handle.  

since we have been here we have met some great people that are definitely not going to be forgotten and have also made some wonderful memories.  it is hard to think that moving on is a way of life and that we are heading towards bigger and better things.  we have so much to look forward to in our new home like making new memories and also reconnecting with lifelong friends and family.  we have grown up so much here and feel like we are ready for anything that the world throws at us.  

i wanted to share with you this one song that reminds me of moving and moving on. i hope you all are familiar with it...

college.

good news!

kyle just got accepted into college. i am so proud of him. we were starting to worry that he would not get in because it was taking forever to get a response back from the admissions department.  he will be starting his first class in january at north georgia college and state university to get his degree in physical education and athletic training.  he is going to do great. 

kyle called me into his "man cave" earlier this morning. thinking that he found another deal on groupon or living social i didn't really rush in. when i got into his room he pointed to the computer screen and said "i did it, babe!" my heart dropped when i heard him. i am really so proud of him and his decision to start his journey with a higher education.  ever since that moment this morning he has been full of joy. we are so happy. there is nothing better than starting your day with great news like that. 

i hope everyone else is having a wonderful day.  

goals

tomorrow: be healthy- i can do it.
this week: i need to drink more water-i can do it.
this month: focus on my diet and workouts- i can do it.

i'm going to be a debbie downer for a minute. lately, i have been neglecting myself from water and proper food and i am just eating whatever i want, whenever i want. i know that its because i'm lazy and i cant commit to anything. that really frustrates me. i need to stop that habit before it gets way out of hand. can't i just tell myself that i can do it and it will be enough!? i guess not. i feel like i always try really hard and never get anywhere. personal training, working out, eating right, workout programs, etc. i know that it takes a while to see results, but  it is hard to stay with this kind of routine. it's not like i'm super busy or anything. ugh. it is frustrating. i need a personal motivator.

on the bright side, tomorrow is a new day and i will eat small meals regularly, work out twice a day (am/pm) and consume 70+ ounces of water. i would like to do that for seven days straight and see what my body thinks.

that will do for now.

drive.

i have been that girl that has joined gyms and started exercise programs and gimmicky diets, but they don't work. the only way they work is if i set goals. i am the only person holding myself back. i have to set goals that are realistic to my life and goals that are attainable. i have to believe that making one change in my diet every week and keeping my heart rate up during an exercise for thirty minutes a day will make a change. 

i am starting a new journey in my life. my new journey is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. to me, that means not snacking throughout my day, working out four to five times a week, and eating clean. when i say eating clean i mean not eating processed, fried, and 'bad' fat foods. i am driven to succeed in this journey because i know when i get to my destination i will feel so much better than i do now. it can be tough to stay driven, so here are some ways that keep me and you going.

one. plan your meals. this is one major element that i am changing in my life. maintaining a proper diet and eating several meals a day is easy. i love to eat. who doesn't? but the problem is eating the right food and the right time. i am focusing on including more protein in my diet and consuming the majority of my carbohydrates two to three hours after my workout. eating carbohydrates after my workout will help my insulin levels to spike up for muscle recovery. some 'good' carbohydrates can include brown rice, oatmeal, banana, etc.

two. drink water. water is essential for you to stay hydrated and help cravings. i recommend just having a big water bottle rather than a small one because it makes it easier to drink...well, at least in my opinion.

three. challenge your way of thinking. don't workout to change your appearance, exercise to make it a part of your lifestyle. this will make things more enjoyable. do this for you and not for others. dig deep and move forward.

four. write down everything you consume. i don't know why this helps me, but it does. i think it is because i don't want to write down bad foods on my food diary. i also don't want to ruin my day and feel guilty. i don't punish myself if i eat bad food, but it just motivates me more to change my lifestyle and well-being for the better.

i hope these four little tips have helped you because all the hard work you put into it will pay off.

from my home to yours,

jilly

105.

with summer in full swing, i am excited to get outside and do the things i love to do; relax under a shady tree, go swimming, ride on boats, go camping, have picnics, watch the sunset, and drink yummy cocktails. i would also like to try new activities this summer, but because i am taking summer graduate school courses and working full time, i doubt i will be able to try crazy new adventures. 

my number one goal this summer is to.....

run or workout six days a week-in the morning-so i can feel extra confident in my bathing suit.

in order for me to do that i have to make sure i am prepared to handle the heat. this weekend there will be a high of 105! 105!! i don't think i have ever dealt with this much heat in my life. here is a list of guidelines that i find helpful to stay cool and feel great.

one. drink water like you will never see it again

two. don't drink much caffeine or alcohol. when you drink these fluids it will dehydrate you, which goes against rule number one.

three. stay indoors or find a shady spot where ever your activities are to relieve yourself from the heat.

four. wear sunscreen so i don't look like a snake when i'm older.  

five. wear cute outfits like these so i don't absorb the light:

here is one of my favorite recipes to make the perfect summer cocktail.

blueberry mojito

ingredients 

one. 10 fresh blueberries

two. 10 fresh mint leaves 

three. 1 lime wedge

four. 3 tbsp simple syrup

five. 4 oz. club soda

six. 1 1/2 shots of rum

directions

one. place mint leaves in a cocktail shaker

two. add blueberries

three. add 1 oz. club soda

four. crush everything together 

five. add your favorite rum to the cocktail shaker

six. add 3 tbsp of simple syrup 

seven. add 3 oz. of club soda

eight. shake it, sh sh sh shake it like a polaroid picture

nine. add ice to your big mason jar

ten. pour mixture over your ice 

eleven. add a lime wedge to your drink

twelve. optional. add mint leaves for garnish

and now the perfect cocktail is in your hands! 

from my home to yours,

jilly

overhaul.

take a good look at your life right now and ask yourself if you have the ability to make changes for the better? a lot of people these days think of their body image first when this question is asked--i know i did. i thought about how i can make little tweaks to my diet and about how working out has many benefits to my health. living a healthy lifestyle is not that hard and can be achieved by anyone--even on a low budget.

check out these pins from pinterest- i told you that being healthy can be done for cheap. don't let others fool you. do your research and plan ahead. don't just walk into the grocery store with no list because that is when you spend lots of hard earn cash--spend that cash with your friends and family on awesome adventures.

so put down that cupcake, those chips, and that soda. 

your body craves whole grain, fruits, veggies, lean protein, nuts, healthy fats, legumes, and dairy. 
enjoy your food and it won't become your enemy.

diet:
breakfast. strawberries and cream oatmeal:
add 1/4 cup nonfat greek yogurt, 1 tbsp honey, and 1/4 cup sliced strawberries to oatmeal and stir well.
300 cal per serving, 3.5 grams of fat, 61 grams carbs, 25 mg sodium, 6 grams fiber, 12g protein
[ditch those packaged brands of oatmeal so you can see your waistline]
snack. 
1 oz walnuts and 1 large apple or a handful of blueberries.
lunch. turkey sandwich:
2 slices of whole grain bread, 3 oz sliced turkey, mixed greens, tomato, and cucumber with a side of mixed green salad topped 1 tbsp of o&v dressing.
snack. protein shake:
1 scoop protein mixed with 6 oz low fat milk
dinner. steak and greens:
4 oz steak, 6 pieces of asparagus, and a mixed green salad topped with avocado and tomato.

working out:
the first step is always the hardest-what program do i want to follow? do i want to do cardio? or mix cardio and weight lifting?
i have been working out 6 days a week with tapout xt a new ninety day program designed around mma techniques that combines cardio and resistance band training. i have to say that my body is getting stronger everyday and that i am seeing some great results--stay tuned for some before and after pictures from my day one to day sixty.

some things i learned from this program:

• results are not made in the comfort zone.
• motivation comes from within you. figure out what gets you going and take charge of your routine.
• praise yourself when you make progress.
• make working out a social affair so you can be held accountable for your workouts. there are forums all over the place of people just like you who want to succeed. find one and connect with others. 
• don't give up.
• work out in the morning-so your brain doesn't get caught up on the little details of the day to day grind---don't hit that snooze button!
• ease into it and go at your own pace...and again...
• don't give up

 you can do this.

get started on your overhaul and think about how good you will feel. think about how good you feel after working out and how good you feel when you make a good decision on what you put in your mouth. you only have one life to live, so why not make it the best one ever?

stay healthy my friends,

jilly

pinterest project: photo canvas

i have always wanted pictures of me and kyle on a canvas, but when i looked at online stores that provided that service it was always super expensive-my wallet cant afford that kind of spending. so when i saw these pins on pinterest i was beyond excited. i was even more excited when i realized how easy it was and how i can have my own personalized canvas hanging on my own wall in less than an hour! i didn't do anything fancy, like add scrapbook paper to the sides or make it look distressed, but i will in the future.

after me and kyle took professional pictures with the wonderful heidi phillips of hp photography we decided to spice up our walls with some of the pictures that were taken. we got photos printed and shipped right to our door through mpix.com for a great price and the pictures were of a great quality. 

so let the fun begin, here are the supplies you need:

one. 12  x 12 canvas

two. 12 x 12 photo

three. matte modge podge

four. sponge brush

apply one layer of modge podge to your blank canvas,

add the photo to the top of your canvas while the modge podge is still wet and sticky,

once you have the photo on the sticky modge podge,
you will apply another layer of modge podge on top of your photo

when the milky color is all gone that means its dry. so hang it  up and enjoy!

just lovely.

see, that was so easy.

now go home and try it.

from my home to yours,

jilly

pinterest project: chevron painting

chevrons are quite trendy right now. they are all over my pinterest feed so i decided yesterday that making a chevron painting will be my next crafty adventure.

here are some of the pins that gave me inspiration:

supplies:

one. canvas 

two. acrylic paint 

three. painters tape

four. scissors

five. pencil

six. paint brush or sponge brush

 the steps i took:

make marks with a pencil once you decide on what size you want your chevrons to be.

 i would recommend finding a stencil online if you are geometrically challenged like i am...

don't forget to tape it on the sides.

i don't add a lot of paint so it basically dries in thirty minutes.

when the paint dries, pull the tape off and hang it on the wall! 

this is by no means perfect-my lines are off and it is very crooked- it looks way easier when i see someone explain the directions on their blog, but there is a lot of geometry involved in this. marking lines in the right spot is hard. try doing this and challenging yourself. i would recommend getting two canvases because this was not my first attempt...

my first attempt turned out like this:

i basically gave up because i kept messing up. my main problem was that i made my marks in pen and not in pencil and they are seen all over the painting! it is still a good painting, but my second attempt was definitely better.

from my home to yours,

jilly

pinterest project: the established sign

i have been on pinterest for quite a while and wanted to get started on the many pins that i thought were totally rad. i wanted to start on something pretty easy because my crafting skills are not up to par. i think the last time i painted was in high school in ceramics class-and let me tell you, that class was a joke to me.

anyways, my first project was to make my own established sign like these:

pretty, right?
i love it-especially since kyle and i are newlyweds, it fits perfect in our little one bedroom apartment. i don't have a before picture, but my after picture looks awesome.

supplies needed:
one. any sign or canvas piece
two. small brush
three. acrylic paint- i have martha stewart crafts multi-surface pearl acrylic craft paint (what a mouthful). the two colors i used were aquarium and tiger lily.
four. a stencil for the letters. i used this blog for directions on how to do this. very, very simple.

steps:
one. paint the sign or canvas in any color-i used the aquarium paint and let dry.
two. print the stencil and start your indents.
three. paint inside the lines of the stencil with your small brush.
four. let dry and hang it up for your family and friends to enjoy.

i know that the letters aren't perfect, but who cares-have fun.

from my home to yours,

jilly

mushy.

has anyone ever heard of the baby food diet? well, if you haven't it's pretty simple to understand, let me start by telling you that all you eat is soft food-with a little baby spoon of course-and you are not allowed to chew anything. i'm on that diet right now and have been for the past five days. why? because i had to have all four of my wisdom teeth removed. i'm not a crazy woman who likes to try all these gimmicky diets-like the "eat cereal for 2 weeks and lose 2 inches off my waist" or the "only eat protein and don't eat any carbs for the rest of your life diet"-please, those don't work. we all know that. what does work is eating a balanced meal and if you splurge, you have to do it in moderation.

back to what i really wanted to talk about...

it was a seamless procedure. i have no recollection of the doctor informing me of when he was going to inject me with the anesthesia-i think i know why-why?-because i was scared of dying. i was scared of not being able to wake up. i have quite an imagination. all i remember were the nurses sticking the needle in my wonderful vein and injecting me with medicine to give me a very dry mouth.

i woke up. crying. panicking. when i started hearing voices around me i opened my eyes. i was incredibly dizzy. i saw my nurse hoovering over me-so dizzy i saw her 4 times. closed my eyes. opened them again. much better. i remembering wanting to leave the dentist and go home. my sweet husband drove me home and took care of me like a champ.

i don't remember eating anything that day. i was a complete zombie. when the next morning rolled around i was all rested and ate nothing but jello. i loved it. it was so refreshing. so sweet. i love sweets. so i ate jello, applesauce, sweet potatoes, and greek yogurt for the next couple of days. let me tell ya something, i am so over sweets (what a great way to get rid of that bad habit). i started adding in some mashed potatoes with gravy and  soups to help break it up a little bit, but it's not really working for me. i hate to whine, but i just really want some grains and chewy protein!

that is all....for now.

dog days.

kyle and zeke at the dog park.

this is a photo of my husband and my dog. my dog, zeke, is a reverse brindle boxer-a black boxer when i don't want to be so formal about it-he is about five months old, and is a ball of energy, running at 150% at all times.

zeke is quite a character. i like to think of him as me in dog form. he is foolish, he has a problem focusing on one thing at a time, and he gets turned on by anything. he will do anything to keep him occupied.

i like to  make sure he gets his daily exercise. some days he will get it by running around the apartment and chasing his ball and other times it will be by searching outside for sticks.


i am starting to notice that he is getting way to big for exercise to be fulfilled inside the house. which leads us to taking him to the dog park today. we were there today for two hours. he absolutely loved it. there were so many dogs running around, chasing balls, and sopping water up at the doggy fountain. of course, there were also owners furiously chasing after their dogs when they got rowdy-zeke, on the other hand, was never part of that, he gets scared and runs the other direction.

this experience today has definitely made me more into a dog person-i would never be able to do this with a cat. zeke loves to please me and kyle. he loves to fetch for us, he loves to love us, he loves to be polite, sit when we tell him to sit and come when he is told to come. without him we would never be able to know any kind of responsibility. zeke has helped me and kyle grow up into a more mature couple that is able to love deeper and never let any moment get us down. because no matter how many times we are told we can't do anything, we find a way to fight back, and find a way to make things work. now kyle and i understand how to be more resilient and move on from things that might bring us down.

here are some pictures of zeke at the park.

he had his own special water bowl.

full speed.

with his friend jack.

until next time...

crisp.

starting a blog is something very new to me. i am inspired by people who can just write mindless entries and spark a light bulb in my head-what is it about those certain entries that entice me?-there is no telling. anyways, i know that these entries will be very unpredictable. i will go around in circles and probably go nowhere. i'm sure after a while i will find something great to write about. i am making a promise to myself to keep up with this blog and let people into my life.

i keep notes all over the place-in my office, on post it notes, in little books by the bed, in my purse-everywhere. i like to have things written down. everything in my life just seems to work better when i see it in writing. my mind is always running and is always moving from one topic to another. i am a definite air head. so this blog will be another place for my thoughts to rest.

i wanted to start writing this blog to talk about exploring new outlets in life. there are so many things going on around me that i have no idea about. this town is full of new things i have never done, so with that said i need to start exploring. i want to see what is out there. i need to suck it up and go.

well, here we go, time to start my adventure.

please, leave comments and share my thoughts with the world if that's what you want. my thoughts are no longer private.

and, if you would like to give input on new adventures for me to explore, go for it. i'm down for anything now.