Kicking the Cupcake

For the last month or so I've been getting serious about losing weight and working hard to do so. I've picked up a real workout routine and began cooking healthier and really paying attention to everything I put in my mouth. I didn't feel comfortable sharing anything about my weight loss journey until I knew I was committed and making progress. This week I hit my 5% goal of losing 10 pounds so I figured that meant maybe it would be ok to give others a peek into what I'm doing. About a year ago I started a blog dedicated to my weight loss, but that never really ended up happening, but now it has! With that I've began chronicaling my thoughts on losing weight and my personal journey again.

If you want to follow along with me and see what I'm up to on that front, head over to Kicking the Cupcake. I plan on sharing recipes, workout tips, my own struggles, and a lot of other things. So if you feel so inclined you can head over there and take a peek!

Food Love

I've really been playing around with cooking lately. For as long as I can remember I've always loved baking and being in the kitchen and I really did love making meals, but I didnt really play around much with recipes and ideas. However, recently the cooking bug really came and bit me so I've been cooking up a storm!

(please forgive the photographing of these meals, I wasn't going for food photog quality just showing what I made for later uses)

Seared tuna with lemon juice over: spinach, shredded carrots, shredded broccoli, feta, tomato wedges, and mushroom. quinoa with spinach and onion. homemade creamy lemon salad dressing.

Pork lo mein with rice noodles and veggies. chicken egg drop soup. (idk why but this photo refuses to rotate)

These are just a couple of things I've been whipping up! I've been blowing through recipes like it's my job. Some of my favorite food blogs are How Sweet It Is, Emily Bites, and Smitten Kitchen.

On a very side and unrelated note I really want a puppy. Everyone is outside walking them now that it's spring!

Foodie Love

Living on my own has made me into a serious cooker/baker. I'm always looking for new recipes and sources of inspiration so I don't get stuck making myself the same things all the time and have some variety. One of my most recent finds has been How Sweet It Is, an awesome blog focusing on the adventures in cooking of Jessica. All of the recipes she posts look so yummy and are seriously easy to make. I made these peanut butter granola bars last week and they turned out even better than I thought they would.

If you're looking for a bit of a push to make something new or just want to drool over all the delicious food pictures and recipes check it out!

Do What You Love

Ryan over at Pacing the Panic Room has been doing an awesome series for Gap 1969 Jeans, titled Do What You Love. In this series he showcases real women who are doing what they love and living life on their own terms

The women he features are so extraordinary and interesting. It is really neat to get a little insight ino their lives and how they have gone about reaching their own personal goals and dreams. Plus, Ryan is jus a really great photograper/blogger/story teller! I really enjoy catching the series every Monday!

Do Fun Stuff!

Ryan over at Pacing the Panic Room just released this AMAZING compilation album benefiting PRISMS, a foundation dedicated to helping those with Smiths Magenis Syndrome!

Seriously, check it out. The music is incredibly catchy, and really not just for kids if i do say so myself! You can buy the album on itunes (it's currently sparring Yo Gabba Gabba for the #1 Children's spot. so cool!)

Banana Bites

Anyone who knows me knows of my deep disdain for anything the remotely involves a banana, however these Banana Bites from over at the lovely food blog Framed, look absolutely delicious!

Looking at them you wouldn't even know they had mushy bananas inside. I just may have to suck it up and give them a try!

(via A Cup of Joe)

Wedding Bells

While doing my morning perusal of the crazy number of blogs I read, I stumbled upon the website of husband and wife photography duo Bobbi & Mike. They do everything from families, to engagement pictures, to weddings, and beyond. I am absolutely in love with these wedding pictures they took of gorgeous couple Sarah and Sam in Indianapolis!

I want them to photograph my wedding someday.

Sam Made

Samantha's wonderful blog Post Grad Haircut is giving away this pretty summertime bag! For extra awesomeness Sam herself designed it via her little business Sam Made!

I really like how big it is, as I'm a fan of large and in charge bags. It would be perfect for a daytrip or even going to the lake or beach!

Ming Makes Cupcakes

Ming Makes Cupcakes may be the single greatest website I have feasted my eyes upon. Not only is it entirely devoted to creative cupcakes, cookies, and other mouth watering savorie treats, but the recipes also include unusual and fun ingredients. Think sour cream, Bailey's, and figs. Not to mention everything looks delicious!

Seriously, how yummy does everything look?! A huge thanks to Amy Marie for linking me to this, I only with she was here to bake with me!

Happy Weekend!

Do you have big plans for this weekend?  I have a fun filled weekend for once, as compared to the last few weekends where it was a lot of "get down to business important" things. Tonight is girls night. Tomorrow will include my brother's track meet, a pedicure, and the Derby Girls. Sunday is all about me and my wonderful boy.

I'm in love with this lovely blog by San Fran jack of all design trades Victoria Smith (aka Sfgirlbybay).

How cute is this calligraphy tattoo??

Lilu's blog cracks me up.

I love these wall decals by Shanna Murray.

Love bookshelves as much as me? Check out this blog devoted to sharing the way people put theirs to use.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Monday!

My weekend was all over the place. Friday night plans I had fell through so I got dinner with boyfriend before he went out with some friends. Then I spent the night over at his place by myself so I could take advantage of his FiOs and snuggle with his kitty and drink a little harmless wine spritz. Saturday was long. I drove to Decatur super early to go to my great-grandpa's funeral first which was interesting. My dad's side of the family is one of the most eclectic mixes of every walk of life you'll see. I left there earlier than I wanted so I could drive to Muncie to meet up with my mom and grandparents to apartment hunt. I fell in love with the first two apartment places we visited. We drove around a little bit so they could get more acquainted with Muncie and we picked Meredith up so we could go grab lunch. Once I got home (apparently at lightning speed since my family left a good 20 minutes before me and after I'd been home for about 20 minutes I called my mom and they were just getting up by her house) I took a much needed nap. I spent the night with boyfriend and Adam. We went and got Clara's Pizza King which is the best pizza ever and went out for ice cream at Atz's before just relaxing at Adam's the rest of the night. Yesterday was a lazy day. I just did homework and layed around before going to get boyfriend to go to a Komet's game. Then we went back to his place for weekly Sunday dinner with his family.

Now it's Monday and back to work and school. At least there are only 3 weeks left of classes, then summer will finally be here.

Here are some good postings from the blogosphere from over the weekend...

A cute Sunday brunch outfit.
Lovely bits of Alice B. photography.
I love these glass jar photographs!
How cool are these mini collages?!

Sorry for the short list. I have a bad habit of blogging at work so I'm limited.

hope everyone else had a lovely weekend and has a wonderful week!

A little motivation

Late last week I stumbled upon this gem of a website In It To Gym It. In my ever continuing quest to lead a healthier life, as well as shed some pounds, In It To Gym It has already given me much more hope and motivation than I could have ever thought I'd find. It's nice ot know that somewhere out there in the blogosphere/interwebs there are people who struggle with not eating that last cupcake, or lack the motivation to do the 25 minutes of pilates they know they should do, or who just feel plain disgusting with the way they look and feel at the moment. I love checking out all of the trials and tribulations made by the 80 + contributors that let me know that I'm not alone in my thoughts and goals. It's a really awesome website you should really check out if you're looking for some fitness motivation and/or support.

Sharon Montrose is a photographer specializing in animal photography. Recently she began a series focusing on baby animals and has produced some adorable photographs!

Check out more of Sharon's work here.

also

watch this video of Sharon talking about her inspiration as well as getting to see more sweet moments from the baby giraffe shoot.

(found via A Cup of Joe)

Scarf love

(sorry for all these giveaway posts. but if I like something i really like it :) )

The newest addition to my ever growing collection of blogs I read daily is passport in my pocket a wonderful little blog dedicated to inspiring readers to travel and showing interesting places along the way. This week Jodi is giving away this gorgeous Anthropologie scarf!

If you know me you know how much I love scarves, and of course Anthro. This would be the perfect spring time accessory!

A bit of a favor please

My bestie Amy Marie wants to start a new photo series on daydreaming. As a little bit of field research before she starts the project she has come up with a few questions she would like people to answer. If you could take a minute or so to help her out that would be great!

{daydreams}

Where do you daydream?
What do you daydream about?
When I say "daydream" what do you think about?
Do you know of any songs/books/poems/websites that are daydreamy that I could use for inspiration?
Any other thoughts of daydreams?

Also, check out her photo blog, she is an amazing photographer!

Like it, love it, gotta have it

Lately a lot of the blogs I follow have been having amazing giveaways! So much so that I can't resist from posting the awesome things they are graciously giving away right here. This week Bringing Lady Back is giving away this ridiculously cute dress from Anthropologie, one of my favorite stores. How cute is this?!

I can just picture wearing this on relaxing sunny summer days and on little date nights.

I want this!

Even though I love semi flashy jewelry, I have been looking everywhere for a simple little knot ring like this one. One of the awesome blogs I follow, Post Grad Hair Cut, is actually giving one away. I would absolutely love to win it, but if not I may just have to snatch one up on India Y La Luna.

Shameless wanting

The adorable Swede Records is giving away this neat decoupage tray containing E.E Cummings poem "I carry your heart with me"

I would absolutely love to win this as E.E Cummings is one of my favorites! Oh, and not to mention Jenny and her Swede are ridiculously fun and cute.

Get Crafty!

Lately I've really been bitten by the craft bug for some reason, probably because Amy and I decided to do crafts while she's home more so than go out and spend ridiculous amounts of money like we did last winter. The only problem is that I've never really been a crafty person and have no real talent in making things and thinking of ideas. However, over the weekend Amy sent me a couple of links to some crafts sites so we could get inspiration and I fell in love with How About Orange... a super cute blog devoted to design and crafting. The majority of the projects and ideas on there are fairly easy to make so even novices like myself can at least feel like we have a chance at making something half way decent.

Some of my favorites so far include...

paper heart garland

fabric wall decals.

felt flowers.

magazine page coasters.

fabric covered thumbtacks

and

magazine bows.

Now I'm super excited to start making things!!!!!! (I'm so glad we're finding ideas now Amy! Now we don't have to wander around Hobby Lobby with no idea what we're doing ever again hahaha.)

Just a Few of My Favorite Blogs

Rockstar Diaries

A Cup of Joe

Daydream Lily

Pacing the Panic Room

Honest Fare

What I Wore