Motivation!

I did some good stuff today.

I ate Salad for lunch. Drank lots and lots of water. Fruit for snack, healthy dinner and a 20 minute workout.

I feel wonderful.

The only question I have is, how do I make today's good habits carry on to tomorrow? And the day after that?

I've wavered off of every "diet" I've been on after three days. I go hard, lose 5-8 pounds and stop.

I want to keep going! I want to lose the weight. Feel better. Live better. Make my husband do a double take when he sees me in March. ;-)

It's hard to keep up the motivation. That's my main problem.

It's difficult to make healthy eating choices when it's so easy and delicious to reach for a crisp burrito or snack on some chips. It's even more difficult not to drink soda when it's so readily available.

It's difficult to work out everyday. I've never liked working out. Gym class was always a pain!

I can distract myself with good music. Florence and the Machine, MGMT, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, etc. Music inspires me. I love it.

I'm going to keep going and getting more inspired each day. I can feel it!

That was my short blog for today. Over and out. :)

How Will I make 2014 Amazing?

                       2014 Bucket List! January 1st, 2014

                     I've always had a hard time making goals and achieving them. Every time I've set a "New Years Resolution", I haven't put forth the effort to achieve it. Since I always fail; that is, I always fail to try, I've just resigned to not set any goals or resolutions. This year however, I'm compelled to create some goals and achieve them. Ideas began flowing for goals that I could set. As soon as I got home from work, I began writing the list. As I began writing it however, I decided that I didn't want them to be resolutions. So I changed the title of my Word Pad document from 'New Years Resolutions" to, "2014 Bucket List". A list of things that I want to do before January 1st, 2015 at Midnight.

                    One of the items on my bucket list is to post regularly on this blog. I love writing. I love getting all of my feelings and thoughts out in words. I'm excited to get started! 

It's time to get to bed! So here is my 2014 bucket list: 

1. Get my Driver's License
2. Lose 30 pounds
3. Blog regularly
4. See a mental health specialist to determine whether or not I have Bipolar disorder
5. Host at least 3 parties
6. Read the entire Bible
7. Go to Yakima to get peaches with Dad
8. Read 20 Books
9. Learn to Sew
10. Buy a Kitchen-aid Mixer
11. Buy a nice camera
12. Write Joel a letter once a week
13. Join the YMCA
14. Get out of debt
15. Find 5 Green Salad Recipes that I like
16. Take a writing or photography class
17. Finish a Painting
18. Cover a different song each week on YouTube
19. Get my hair dyed blond and grow it out

20. Go to a Mariners game

There we go! Those are some of the major things that I want to do this year. I'm excited to get started! So Happy New Year! Post in the comments some of your 2014 goals or resolutions! :D

Over and Out, 

Laura Mae

P.S. I also need to figure out how to make this blog fancy! :D

From the recipe book: Corn Chowder with Quinoa

Right now I'm sitting at my computer eating some delicious chowder.

I'm super happy with the way this recipe turned out.

If you don't know what quinoa(keen-waa) is, it's a grain(though technically its a seed. What?) that cooks similar to rice. Which means it gets softer as it cooks.

My favorite part of it though is that even though it's super healthy(and gluten free), it's taste doesn't overpower what you're eating.

I learned about quinoa from the Shaytards(a youtube family) in a video they posted. In the video, they showed viewers how to make a tasty quinoa salad with black beans, corn, cilantro and other good stuff.

I made that recipe and was very impressed with quinoa. I did a bit of quinoa research and it turns out it's really very healthy.

It's high quality protein, which is awesome if you're vegetarian.

Quinoa has a low glycemic index.

There's only 172 calories per 1/4 cup(when its dry).

But enough about quinoa itself, let's get to the chowder!

I made this tonight for dinner and it was soooo delicious! Here goes the recipe.

Ingredients:
Potatoes(or cauliflower): Depending on how many you're feeding. I used three smallish potatoes for two people.
1 onion(unless you like more)
Quinoa: Also dependent on how many you're feeding. I would use a half cup for two people.
Carrots, if you're feeling them.
vegetable broth
1 and a half cups Corn
Milk and cream, amounts are to your tastes
Butter
Seasonings to taste

First step: Cube potatoes, or cut up cauliflower into small pieces. Cut up onion and carrots. Measure out quinoa.

Step 2: Bring broth to a simmer in a pot and then add potatoes, cauliflower, onions and carrot. Simmer for about 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender and quinoa is cooked.

Step 3: Add corn and simmer for about 2 minutes.

Step 4: Add cream and milk. Then season to taste. I added salt, pepper, cayenne and garlic powder.

Step 5: Simmer for 2 minutes and then dig in!

Optional: Garnish with fresh parsley and a pat of butter.

Bonus step: NOMNOMNOMNOMNOM

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the recipe!

-Laura Anfinson

Taco Time :D

Taco Time is an amazing place. They, of course, sell tacos there. But they also have amazing people. The best thing to eat at Taco Time would be a Crisp Chicken Burrito with a healthy side of Santa Fe. Delicious white meat chicken, mixed with spices and cream cheese and wrapped in a flour tortilla. And if that wasn't enough, they deep fry it. Now let's get to the Santa Fe. Real sour cream mixed with Jalapenos and Cilantro. So delicious!!!!!! Just posting about this has made this blogger hungry. Off to Olympia Taco Time! :)