Pinteresting...

So I've been doing a lot of the whole Pinterest thing lately, have you found this site yet? It's sooo addicting but so awesome. I find anything from recipes to workouts to how I'd like to style my house...eventually. I decided I needed a little uplift from my last post. Zac and I will be moving into a new apartment soon and we are so excited to get out of our current place. We're also hoping to purchase a home w in the next two years. :) Hopefully by next year! We're working super hard on getting everything straightened out and saving money. I'm currently working two jobs to save some money. Wish us luck! We need a place we can finally call our own and have a family. So, I've really fallen into the whole country chic, vintage, rustic style. I have a dream kitchen in mind and I know it's probably way out of reach but I can at least come close to achieving some of it I'm sure. So I'd like to add a few pins to show you what I've been looking at these days.

Source: Hammers and High Heels 

I found this picture on Pinterest and I love ladders! There's so many ideas you can use these for...it's time I get to the flea market and buy me one! I found this post on this lady's blog and she has other sources that are really cute! Check it out..

Another cute ladder idea, so rustic! 

Source: Colour Me Vintage 

She also has some cute ideas in her post as well! 

This is also cute, I would love to do this in a kitchen and hang pots and pans!

Source: Little Lucy Lu

Okay, I absolutely love this and so want to do it. I think it would be cool to use our wedding colors (brown and green) for the bows. The only thing is canvas photos are expensive. I think I just need to splurge and purchase because I love them every time I look at them. 

Source: Photo Barn

Or I could always DIY!

 I wonder if this works...

Source: Sarah's Projects

These window photo frames are so adorable, and popping up everywhere. I finally found a decent window for $10 at Nada Farm, I can't remember the vendor. They have several windows at the flea market but were never in good enough condition to purchase. I'm excited for this project and will blog once it's up on my new walls. 

Source: Cottage Instincts

I loooove this! I'm not sure if it's just the photo or the frame, but it's super cute!

Source: Indulgy

Cute frame..

Source: J and A Design, she also has a cute frame w/ a big burlap bow, love! 

I want this! It's on Etsy for far too much money..

Mom do you recognize this? I love blue mason jars, and I especially love mason jars w/ baby's breath :) and the barn wood underneath ties it all together. 

Source: Town and Country Living

So I totally love this and totally want to do this but I'm not sure how I'd keep the lemons fresh..any suggestions? I'm also not sure where the source comes from..click the link it's just a picture. 

I want my table to look like this. Super easy to do also. 

Source: Wedding Chicks

Cute and simple

Source: Coastel Nest

I so love this! Gotta have Zac make it. 

Source: Lockerz

I love these!!!

Source: Hey Gorg

I love this bedding, Zac hates it..I love everything about it. Except the price

Source: Etsy

I like these tables I guess you'd call them and the pillow..

Source: Style Me Pretty

Loving all the pillows..why are pillows so expensive? 

Source: City Cottage

Bedding

Source: West Elm

I like this but I'm not a huge fan of scrabble, just like the pillows..

Source: Wanelo

My all time fave, we actually made this headboard but we need to make the banner.

Source: Aka Design

Awesome table

Source: Recyclart

Love the farmhosue sink

Source: little emma english home

 I so love these burlap curtains from Funky Junk Interiors

That's all for now! :)

Linking up to: Funky Junk Interiors
Lamb Around
Nifty Thrifty Things
Twigg Studios

So many thoughts

Okay so I've totally flaked out on everyone lately and I'm sure I've lost some followers :(. I really need to get better at this blog thing. It's just been hard and time consuming lately. I've been working my butt off at work and the gym. I'm officially a vegan on a diet..how is that even possible? Well I've slashed my calories and gotten more serious about what I eat and counting calories. Boring! So hard. I'm sorry but I like cookies and brownies and breads and chocolate and pizza and fries..literally everything that's bad for you I want to consume. It's so frustrating, but I need to stay focused because I strongly dislike my body. Im not confident and I'm embarrassed. Embarrased about how I look and feel. I constantly think about it. Not good, that's when I know I need to change for me. So I will start this journey and hope it ends well and eventually be able to enjoy the things I love in life in small doses and in moderation. :) that's probably why I haven't been posting so much..I'm not going to show you pictures of the red peppers I had for snacks or the 10 almonds..yess I said 10. I can do this! I will have a bikini body! If I don't shame on me. Okay, I thought I was done talking about that. Anyhoo, I've decided maybe I need to start crafting more and blog about that! Another reason for lack of posts is because I just got a second job working at whole foods..yeah discount! Zac and I are trying to save up for a house, which hopefully we will own one by next year. I'm excited to say we're moving to a super nice apartment soon and well be getting a dog! Yay! I can't wait to decorate w all the cute new things I've bought. I'll be sure to post pics for you all! I promise to get back to baking soon! I have a few projects in mind I need to get started so I can share w everyone. So thanks to all of you who have stuck around!

Healthy Cookie Fix

What's your favorite kind of cookie? Mine, chocolate chip, yep that's right chocolate chip. My absolute favorite go to cookie. Mmm, that smell, that taste, even the cookie dough is good---probably why I grew muffin tops. Well, guess what muffin tops? Healthy cookie is gonna move you out! (I hope) So I used to make chocolate chip cookies at least once a month. I was so addicted to the dough that by the time said cookies were done baking I didn't want any because I had had too much dough. When I think of this now I'm like of course I'm not a Victoria's Secret model, they don't eat cookie dough do they? If they do I hate them. No, not hate that's a bad word...I despise them. Anyhoo, I was totally craving some chocolate after dinner and I've been doing a lot better w/ not gorging out on chocolate every day so I decided you know what I deserve a healthier version of a chocolate chip cookie! I stumbled upon these beauties on Pinterest and noticed I had all the ingredients. Even better. They are also quick to make. While making them I thought to myself, now I will totally be making these when I have crazy pregnancy cravings. No I'm not pregnant. :) Sorry Mom. How did I start talking about babies, I thought this post was about cookies?! Okay, so cookies...this recipe came from Lux Hippie, vegan blog..great! Check her out. I love her header..or title or whatever you want to call it. Hmm, speaking of header I need to get on that. Or should I say have my Mom get on that? ;) She's amazing, she makes my life easier. Oh, man these cookies are good. I keep side tracking! Okay, so these cookies are amaze! You need to go make them now if you love chocolate chip cookies as much as I do. Life is better with cookies. Yes, I've been focusing on weight loss lately and hitting the gym hard. I am also human and a girl needs her cookies. Whatever! :) So I'll give you the recipe now and you choose to do what you want with it. I only hope you go make them..now! Or I'll send  you some, if I don't eat them all first.

Healthy...(healthier) Chocolate Chip Cookies
3 ripe bananas mashed
1 tblsp vanilla
1/2c to 1c peanut butter (depending on taste) I used a little less than a 1/2 cup
4 tblsp honey or agave nectar to make vegan
2 c rolled oats
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c vegan chocolate chips ( I used about 3/4c ;) )

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix bananas, vanilla, peanut butter and syrup until consistent. Lux Hippie says to use a mixer, I just used my fork that I used to mash my nanners, yeah I was a little lazy! She also says to mix the dry ingredients in a separate bowl as well, what do you think I did? Yeah, I just used one bowl it worked out fine. Like I said I was lazy! :) and hungry for a darn cookie. Okay, so bake for about 15 minutes.I baked mine for 14. I always like my cookies a little under baked. I ate these pretty much right out of the oven and loooved them! Please go make them, they are super easy and way healthier than other cookies. I would advise you to not eat the dough as the oats are not yet cooked. Don't worry I didn't eat any! I do hope you enjoy this. My heart is happy!

P.S..is it still healthy if I ate four?..why I don't make cookies anymore!

 Before I baked these little puppies...

 You know you want to get your fingers on that....

Linking up to: Its a Blog Party
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday 

The Best Vegan Granola

I love granola, don't you? My boss made some granola and it was amazing and I decided I needed to make some as well and make it vegan! It's seriously so delicious, so much better than store bought..and you know what's going into it. You can do so much with granola. I like mine pretty plain, I don't mess around with adding a bunch of dried fruits or coconut or stuff like that, but that's what's great about granola you can make it according to your taste! It's also super easy to make and it's good for when I'm craving some chocolate or something sweet.

Vegan Granola
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup almonds (I cut mine up a bit)
1/2 cup walnuts (I cut these up too)
4 tblsp earth balance
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbslp agave nectar (if it's too dry add a little more)
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all dry ingredients. Melt butter, add both sugars to butter mix and pour over granola. Mix up and spread evenly on a baking sheet. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on pan and crisp up. Enjoy! Wasn't that easy? ;) You can add really anything to this granola, dried fruit, more nuts..chocolate chips!

 Yummy!

Linking up to: Its a blog party
Tempt my Tummy Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Things 

Snow White

A couple weeks ago a lady from my Mom's work asked me to make her granddaughters cake and cupcakes. Well, I shouldn't say just a lady..she's very sweet and friendly! She is the receptionist where my Mom works and my best friend also worked with her at a golf course. I was honored when she asked me to do the cake. At first when she told me she needed a snow white cake I was thinking Disney Princess, pink..but she sent me a few pics and I was so excited because it looked really creative and fun! No pink! :) I also had to make apple cupcakes. I delivered the cake and the party looked adorable, I wish I would've taken more pictures of the party, and I apologize but my pictures aren't the greatest.

 Cake and cupcakes..love this cake stand!

 How cute is the birthday girl?

 Apple cupcakes

 She is just too cute, I love this photo opp she had too!

Naptime Creations
Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays
Lil Luna 

More Changes and More Motivation

I have to apologize again for the lack of blogging around here lately. I've really fallen behind. I've been so busy with my new lifestyle that I don't find a lot of down time for blogging, picture taking, and even my photography class I signed up for I don't know how many weeks ago. It's a good thing I can do it whenever I want, but I've forgotten about it. I can say I am really enjoying everything I have been doing lately. I haven't lost any weight yet..although I'm not even sure how much I want to lose because I also want to gain muscle..which equals weight. So I guess I should say I haven't lost any fat yet. Many people say are you crazy? You are tiny! Yes, I'm skinny, but I do have excess fat that I am not wanting on my body anymore. If I continue down the road I'm on I know I will finally be confident in my body and how I look. I'll post some motivational pics..speaking of motivation. There are days where I really crave bad foods, and by bad foods I mean peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, ice cream, chocolate, and processed foods. Some people might say those aren't that bad..but to me they are. I am trying to eat a whole foods plant based diet, which equals none of the things previously listed. A lot of the times I give in, but I have been trying to stop those cravings lately. So sometimes when this happens I look up new workouts or check out my health and fitness board via Pinterest. Then I start looking at all these amazing bodies and people working out and tell myself, no you don't need that, you don't want that, and that will do nothing for you. Now I'm not saying I totally deprive myself, yes I still eat a few bad things here and there but it does and should not happen every day. :) Ice cream will not make me skinny lets face it. I'm getting better and as I've said before it's a work in progress and I can only get better. The other day when I was running I thought to myself, how nice it would be to run my half marathon in shorts and a sports bra..it would be nice and I will try but I don't want to set an unrealistic goal at the same time, and I know for women the hardest place to lose fat is in the belly area. After changing my diet and working out more I feel amazing. I can really tell a difference. I eat 5-6 times a day, drink a ton of water, and for the most part eat pretty healthy. I would love to hire a personal trainer, but they are sooo expensive. I do know it would help me to reach my goal a little faster and push me harder. A trainer at the gym noticed my knees buckle in when I bend which is not good but something I can fix. Another thing that would be nice to have a trainer for! I think I've finally reached the point where I want to be physically fit and have an awesome body and be able to tell people, yes I do work really hard for this! I'm so happy to be running again, I had to take off almost three weeks due to an injury. Hip flexor/IT band..I thought it would never go away! I want to run this half marathon so bad, and I will! :) Fitness has really become part of my life and I'm hoping to start going to the gym even more..talking 5-6 days a week instead of 3-4. Anyways I'll stop boring you with my fitness rant..which seems to be most of my posts these days! I will have a Snow White cake post later this week! I haven't been having many food posts only because I usually throw some rice together with veggies or have a salad or it just doesn't look pretty! My bad. Here are some of my motivators/what I want to look like one day..

 Cassey-Blogilates

Ever heard of her or seen her? She's got a killer body, she's my motivation and she has some great videos out there. Like her on facebook visit her blog, she's all things amazing! She's a Pilates instructor and has plenty of videos online you can do! She makes it look so easy! 

 I'm looking for that flat stomach!

 Great muscle tone!

These are all my motivators when I'm craving bad foods, I want what a lot of girls call that "bikini body" I also want to tone and build muscle! It's my new goal and I will make it happen! All these sources came from my Pinterest Board where you can find many workouts and many good recipes!

Another change I'd like to add, I was thinking of cutting my hair. I just can't decide though. I go back and forth a lot, I change my hair a lot, I get bored..I love short hair because it's super easy to take care of but I love long hair because it's pretty. I just don't like mine long unless it's curled which takes time. When it's straight it's so flat and boring. What to do what to do..here are some hairstyles I have pinned lately..

 Okay, I really love this cut and color on her, I love funky hair!

 Here's a short pixie, now this is really short but how  cute..just not sure how I'd look in it.

 Love this cut too, might have it a little longer though

 This one I love as well, I love curly hair!

 I'm not sure how she styled her hair but very cute!

 This is one of my favorites, almost like a pixie but longer..possibly could get this cut and work my way into a pixie? I don't want to look like a boy though. :/

 I love this color and this is usually what my hair looks like curled but it's not that long yet..

 Love this cut!

This cut is cute too but very very short! But super manageable...what do you guys think? Do I chop it off?