Happy Halloween!

It's Halloween!  It's not really a big deal to me, but for others, it may be!  Saturday night I went to a Halloween party as Sailor Moon again!  It was actually a pretty big hit though!  Haha everyone who knew who Sailor Moon was loved it.  I don't remember seeing any outfits that were super crazy or creative though.  Today, I'm not really celebrating either.  I'm going to run errands with Lauren, maybe work on a group project for school, and possible go to a friends house this evening. 

This past Saturday was Homecoming for a few colleges.  ECU did win the football game!  Also, my friend Travis won homecoming King!  He definitely deserves it-he's a great guy.  My friend from high school that I mentioned in an earlier post, did get the title of Miss UNC 2011!  I'm glad that her 'Troop Store' will be opening on UNC's campus.  So this weekend, all of my teams won except for one.  ECU football got a win, Penn State pulled out a W, and the Steelers beat the Patriots!  Sadly, the Penguins fell to Toronto. 

Okie doke, I don't have much to discuss today for several reasons, but I did want to post a recipe that I'm sure all of you will enjoy!!  It's for Pink Champagne Cupcakes!  DE-LISH!  I made them for a get-together that I had for Lauren's bridal party!  ok so here it is:

Pink Champagne Cupcakes

24 cupcakes   PREP TIME: 15 minutes
START TO FINISH: 1 Hour 15 minutes
Cupcakes
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 shortening or butter
1 2/3 cups sugar
5 egg whites
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/4 cupschampagne
4-5 drops red food color

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Place a paper baking cup in each of 24 regular size muffin cups.
2.  In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside
3.  In large bowl, beat shortening with electric mixer on medium speed 30 seconds.  Gradually add sugar, about 1/3 cup at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping bowl occasionally.  Beat 2 minutes longer.  Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in vanilla and red food coloring drops.  On low speed, alternately add flour mixture, about 1/3 of mixture at a time, and champagne, about 1/2 at a time, beating until just blended.
4.  Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.
5.  Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in pans 5 minutes.  Remove from pans; place on cooling racks to cool.  Frost!

Champagne Frosting
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup champagne
1 teaspoon vanilla
4-5 drops red food coloring

In medium bowl, beat frosting ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.  Frost cupcakes and sprinkle with desired sprinkles/decorations!

 Alrighty, so here is one time where you can use a less expensive champagne!  There is a little left over so be sure to enjoy that as well :)  With the frosting here, I had to play around with it a bit to get the right consistency, so you may need to add more powdered sugar.  They were so delicious though!  I hope yall enjoy!!

Old Friends, Good Nights, & Great Memories

Well last night was another win for Havelock football!! 12-0 right now I believe?!  They won 76-13 I think it was.  We left in the beginning of the 4th quarter.  I met up with some old high school friends-Lucas, Rob, Richard, Beaner, and Rob's girlfriend Whitney.  We then took a trip to Wal-Mart to try to find them some last minute Halloween costumes!  I don't even remember what they got.  I ended up passing out at Bean's house.  Annnnd this morning was a good leg workout:

Walking lunges with weights
Lying Leg Curls
Hip Abductor/Adductor Machine
Single Leg Dumbbell Deadlifts
Wide stance squats on Smith machine
Standing Calf Raises (in 3 different positions)

Here, I did 3 sets of up to 16 reps.  Since I have been increasing my weight though, I sometimes failed before I got to that point and could not go anymore.  I then did a few ab exercises.  I meant to do my glutes but forgot because I was kind of rushed...I'll squeeze them in another time. 

Currently I'm in Swansboro visiting my mom.  We are having blackened Salmon for dinner!  I'm kind of excited :)  We aren't doing too much today though.  It's super windy and cold outside though and I do NOT like it!!!  Well, since I don't have too much to talk about today, I will leave y'all with some funny pictures =)

 

HAHAHA Looks just like Antoine Dodson!!

 

 This is just wrong!!!

 Aww poor thang !!!

This isn't funny, but it is really neat!!

What we did last night/today

Alright, have a blessed day!

Ohh Sad Day...

Well not as sad as it could be, but I have to take my dad back to the airport today. He's off to Colorado again. Don't know when I will see him next-maybe Thanksgiving?? Hope so. I might as well get this out of the way...my parents are getting divorced after 21, almost 22, years of marriage. It's very difficult for me as a 21 year old. I never thought this would happen to our family. We were the 'perfect family'. One boy, one girl. Daddy's a Marine who dedicated his life to his country, Corps, and family. Who didn't want to be us?! But after several deployments, duty shifts, late nights, secret service missions, and memorial services it's all ending. It was the post-retirement that made things hard. My dads job took him to CO, my moms job is here.

I cried and cried when they gave my brother and I the news. I still cry. Has my whole life been a lie? How long have they been unhappy? I hope it wasn't my fault. I tear up writing this but it's real...it's still fresh. It's made me think about my life though. I broke up with my boyfriend of two years because I realized one day he wasn't the one. It seriously just hit me. God opened my eyes and my heart and although it was hard for the both of us, I'm at peace with it. I know I made the right decision and some things since then have shown me that. I thank God for leading me and helping me through this life. I need it. I cannot do this on my own.

Onto other things...tonight is a home football game for Havelock who is undefeated!!  GO RAMS! I'm going to the game with an old high school friend, Richard. I haven't seen him (along with many others) since graduation. I hate that. But it's life and I guess they are fine without me!! Haha Also, I worked out today. It was back and biceps so here ya go:

Wide grip lat pulldowns
Seated cable pulls
Incline dumbbell rows (5 sets simply bc I need more back work)
Dumbbell curls
Alternating dumbbell hammer curls
* I was going to do back extensions and narrow grip lat pulldowns but I needed to get back to the house*

As always, 3 sets of 12-15. You should be failing by the end of each set. I have slowly been trying to increase my weights, except or bicep exercises. I have always had naturally toned biceps and I don't want them getting too big. I love working out though. I feel at peace when im straining my muscles. I really wish I could do cardio though. I like cardio! But my knees are getting worse everyday. Just walking around campus kills me!

Alright folks, I will holla atcha tomorrow! Be safe! Mmmwah

Hahahahha!!!!!  Enjoy a good laugh =)

It's So Beautiful...

outside. Oh my gosh the weather outside right now is...perfect. Simply perfect. Eastern NC is definitely known for its crazy weather (hence the saying, "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute!"). Earlier in the week, it was pretty chilly, but today is actually quite warm! But enough of the weather... Am I lame for not doing anything on Halloween?? I mean I just have so many other things to focus on (plus I'm broke). I have two tests back to back tomorrow, then once again, I'm going back to Havelock. My dad needs to go back to the airport *tear* and I'm going to see my mom in Swansboro to order my graduation announcements! I'm not wanting to do the fancy kind. I want simple ones with some pictures on them. Btw, I'm desperately wanting to know if I got into Grad School....seriously it's killing me. If I don't get in...I'm screwed.

So, I want to talk about something that I have seen a fellow blogger go through. What do you do when your loved one is a military member and dies in combat? Being a Marine Corps EOD daughter, my family and I have experienced a great deal of loss. EOD is, dangerous, simply put. When your significant other dies in combat, your loss is so significant. You know that this person died doing what they signed up to do-fight for our country. They died with honor, dignity, and respect. It will probably take a long time to 'get over' what happened, and that's okay. But you don't want to spend the rest of your life alone because you feel guilty for being with anybody else.

Back in July, I went with my father to a friend and fellow EOD buddy's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery (the picture in my header and on the right of my page are from this trip and ceremony). As I watched Gunny Pate's wife receive the flag the covered his coffin, I felt for her. I could not imagine the severity of the pain she was feeling at that very moment. I whispered to my dad, "Gosh that would be so hard to deal with and live with." He replied, "Yes, but she knows that he died for his country and the Marine Corps. She will move on because it's what Pate would have wanted." And this is true. If you have lost your loved one in combat (or any other way I guess), you can't live your life unfulfilled because you feel bad or guilty. The person you lost wants you to be happy! Moving on may actually be a great way to push the grief aside.

Don't let anyone try to keep you from dating and moving on with your life. You'll end up living with regret and loneliness. To anyone reading this who has lost someone for our country, I pray that you stay strong. I pray that you find/have found happiness again. Thank you for loving and supporting our armed forces.

Thank you to all the men and women who serve this great nation. God bless!!

R.I.P. Gunnery Sgt Ralph E. Pate

1981-2011

In. Love!

I just need to let everyone in on some things that I am in love with right now!  The other day I created quite the buzz on my Facebook (and my moms) about this first item.....the Salted Caramel Mocha from Starbucks!  I was so weary at first to try this because of the whole 'salt' thing, but now, I think I'm addicted!  I'm definitely going to modify a recipe of mine to make this deliciousness into a wonderful CUPCAKE!!  Who's tried this drink?  Did you love it?!

photo credit

Next is a song by Alexandra Stan called "Mr. Saxobeat".  Have you heard it?!  I freaking love the song for some reason.  I love having the windows down, turnin' up the volume, and kind of shouting to the song!  Haha hopefully no one else has heard me :P

 

 

One of my new favorite shows?  Revenge!!  Oh my gosh I love it!  It's so juicy, suspenseful, witty, and unique.  If you haven't began watching it, I suggest starting from the beginning :)

 

photo credit

 OK right now, I am also in love with a high school classmates' service project she is trying to put into motion.  If she is voted as Miss UNC, she plans to open a store on her campus where students, faculty, and staff will be able to purchase items, donate money, etc. for troops who are overseas.  How awesome is that?!  For more information on this you can view the Facebook page here.  I have always wanted to do something similar to what she is hoping to do, but I don't have the necessary means!  I'm not part of a sorority or any large club on my campus...I'm in the SCUBA club (which IS awesome by the way).  Since ECU has both the Army and Air Force ROTC programs, I think an idea similar to my classmates' would be a hit.  I should do some research and get into contact with some people here on campus!  I wish I had a larger 'fan base' so that I could encourage others who attend UNC to go vote for her!

Alright enough with a handful of my favorites right now, let's get to the workout!!  First, let me just say that my chest is still incredibly sore after Monday's workout that I posted!  Today was shoulders though.  After weight training, I did a few Ab exercises (I usually just do random things that come to mind) and then I did some cardio on the Arc machine-thing.  My knees are so awful though.  That machine provides a very low impact form of cardio with little knee movements, but my knees still hurt.  I seriously need to go see my orthopedist.  Here is my shoulder workout for today-

Seated Dumbbell Press

Standing Dumbbell Straight Arm Raise

Side Lateral Raise
Seated Bent-over Rear Delt Raise

Yes, only 4 exercises, but your shoulders will be killing you by the end! (or they should be!)  Again, I did 3 sets of 12-15 of each.  If y'all want, I will try to post pictures of the beginning and end of each move.  Just lemme know!

 photo credit

Much love,

The Weather's Changing...

Ooohhhhh sadly, the weather here in Eastern North Carolina has begun to get cooler!  In the mornings and nights I'm freezing, BUT there are a few hours in the afternoon that are actually quite nice!  I hate the cold though.  I hate having to bundle up just to still be cold!!  I also hate that my hands shrink in the cold and my rings are too big!  Oh yeah, and I'm short.  Therefore, all of my jeans are too long and they look awful with any shoe that isn't a heel.  It's easy to be fashionable in the winter with boots, fall colors, jackets, scarves, hats, etc., but I mean really?!  I don't want to do that EVERYday!  I do love the warmer part of fall though :)  perfection.......

Today my dad came up to Greenville to speak with one of my awesome professors-Dr. Beracha.  He is very knowledgeable and does research in real estate.  I love his class!!  Overall, school is getting a bit monotonous and, simply put, I can't wait to graduate!  Although I am hoping to find out soon if I got into Graduate school which would start in the Spring.  It's not much time off, but I would feel some sort of accomplishment. 

So I didn't get the chance to workout today because of my dad coming into town, but I think that is a blessing!  I took this day to rest.  My chest is so sore from yesterday and my legs are still sore!  Tomorrow though, is shoulders!  Of course, I will post my workout tomorrow for those interested :)  Oh by the way, I made the most amazing protein snack!!  I probably wouldn't recommend it for those of you not working out, but here's the recipe-

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 scoop Chocolate Whey protein powder
• 3 tbsp ground flax
• 3 tbsp dark chocolate chips

Instructions:
Mix together all the ingredients. Should be the consistency of play dough. Roll into small balls. Refrigerate to firm them up; overnight for best results. Enjoy!

Nutrients per serving (1 ball):
Calories: 84, Total Fats: 4.5 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Trans Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 3 mg, Sodium: 28 mg, Total Carbohydrates: 8 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 6 g, Protein: 4 g, Iron: 0 mg

Mmmm they are so good!  I'm going to double the recipe next time because I have a feeling I'm going to go through them pretty quickly!

Much love,

So. Sore!

Gooood afternoon!

OK I just got back from school and the gym.  Oh. My. Gosh am I sore!!  Yesterday I did legs/glutes and I tried something new (well just revised an old exercise) for my calves and they hurt!  But, today was chest/triceps!  Here is what I did for those wondering:

Wide pushups
Dumbbell Bench Press
Flat Bench Flyes
Narrow Pushups
Tricep Dumbbell Kickback

I did 3 sets of about 12-15 for each.  I used a heavier weight than usual because I really need to work on my chest muscles!  I then moved on to abs and I tried to get on the bike, but my knees are awful (that's a whole other post!).

Oh and guess what I just ate for lunch?!  One of my faves... a whole wheat pita with hummus, spinach, and feta!  I usually add tomato and cucumber, but I didn't have those things handy :)  Here's a pic-

Mmmm =)

You know, I always see things for 'Motivation Monday' but aren't Mondays great in regards to workouts?!  I mean for most people, they're coming off of a day or two of rest, so Monday workout should feel great!  Well every workout feels great to me but I would guess that the end of the week is actually harder for most people to find the time and will power to get moving!

Well said.  So, get to work!  My saying, as you'll learn, is NO EXCUSES!!

Stay wonderful-

Well Hello!

Hey whoever's reading this! This is the start of what will hopefully be a pretty interesting blog. I plan on writing about my workouts, baking, cooking, things in the news, and...well everything! When I was working out for my figure competition and after it was over, I had several people ask what I had done...now you will know! I think I've got a lot of good things to talk about so I hope you enjoy my ramblings =)