Let's Get Down to Business to Defeat the Buns

So lately since I've been on this big, life changing health kick I also decided to attempt another half marathon. Now I did the Disney half back in 2012 and although I completed it, I also didn't train at all until the day before we left for Orlando. Not smart I know, so I didn't run a whole lot, and I had a terrible time (3 hours and 19 minutes...yikes) and basically felt like I was going to die the entire race. Next January I've decided to go back to Disney World and do it all again. I plan on running the entire race, having a much better finish time, and overall having fun! Disney races are the most fun thing ever (when your legs don't feel like falling off) and I'm really excited about training! I've downloaded a running app and have been waking up before work three days a week to run from 30 minutes to an hour each time. Every day I run I feel myself getting stronger, faster, and being able to run further without stopping. It's also been fun training with friends and discovering new trails all over Georgia to run on. Having a new place sometimes during the week gives you something to look forward to and keeps you motivated.

Now running hurts. A lot. And it kind of sucks, but the best part is how I feel after the run. That time when you've completed it for the day, your body burns, and you have all of this energy still to move on and get stuff done, almost like "Ok, I'm ready life!" Gah! It's just the best! Another thing I really enjoy about it is the music. I love adding new songs to my playlist that keep me motivated when I'm struggling up a hill, or hurting extra that day. Here are 10 of my favorite songs to run to. Where are some places you like to run the most, and what songs keep you motivated?

10. Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars

9. New Direction by The Black Lips

                                         

8. Fell in Love With a Girl by The White Stripes

                                         

7. Touch the Sky by Kanye West ft Lupe Fiasco

                                          

6. Dancing on My Own by Robyn

                                         

5. Little Secrets by Passion Pit

                                         

4. Deceptacon by La Tigre

3. Countdown by Beyonce

                                          

2. Berzerk by Eminem

                                          

1. Back It Up by Caro Emerald (This is a great cool down song)

                                          

Awesome shirt from Look Human!!!

P.S. Jaeson Winter is making me do this. Love you!

Record Store Day 2015

The third Saturday in April Indie Record Stores receive shipments of limited release vinyls specifically for that day to help generate sales and keep these charming places alive. It's a pretty neat concept actually. Over the past few years it's turned into such a huge thing, mainly so collectors of rare items can get their hands on priceless (yet what will become very expensive) records. I use to think it was just a go in and buy a record to help keep them in business, which essentially yes it is. And quite a few of those who happen to pop into their favorite shop on the day that's all they're doing, but as of lately people put out a TON of limited print items to draw even larger crowds in. And it works. Folks wait in line for hours before the store opens in hopes to get something no one will ever be able to buy again, except a few weeks later on eBay for 10 times what it actually cost to first buy it.

This year I got to go to my very first Record Store Day. Working in retail before I usually had to work almost every Saturday and always had to miss it. But this year my boyfriend Peter (an avid collector of vinyl himself) and I were able to go together! We checked out the list of RSD15 releases online and chose a few we were going to try and go after. So we woke up at 6:00am on a Saturday, yuck, and stood in the short line that had already formed by 7:00am at Fantasyland Records in Buckhead. I left the line to grab us some coffee and croissants while Peter made friends with the other music lovers waiting outside on the overcast day. By the time the store opened at 10:00am to a rather large line by now as well as a round of applause for the adorable old man owner everyone piled in like kids on Christmas hoping to get their hands on what they wanted most. I mistakenly broke off from Peter thinking the collectable records would be scattered across the store in their rightful categories. WRONG! They keep all of the special releases in one part of the store. Peter was one of the first to make it up there and therefore got us both everything we wanted. I got stuck in a cluster of people but ended up helping pass around what others were trying to get but couldn't reach. The entire staff as well as all the shoppers were so sweet and kind to each other. There was no fighting or rudeness, just a ton of swell music lovers trying to help everyone else out. It was quite a beautiful sight really. Someone let me slide in close to the front of the line to pay which was about the only thing I was good for since I didn't actually acquire any of the records we wanted. Thank God Peter knew what he was doing or else we might not have gotten anything at all. But 100% success rate for us this year!! All in all it was a fun and successful trip!

The awesome vinyl we got:

                                             Get Behind Me Satan by the White Stripes

This limited edition two-disc came with one white and one red record along with a cover that changes depending how you look at it. It was also the first time this album was released on vinyl.

Earliest recording of Elvis Presley

Also released by Jack White who won the actual record for $300,000 in an online auction had 1500 of these exact replicas printed on 10'' vinyls. It's Elvis back when he was very young singing covers of 1930's songs "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin". Mr. White didn't even clean up the sound and it is amazing to have this awesome piece of history!

The Original Soundtrack for The Darjeeling Limited

Printed on colored green vinyl this Wes Anderson classic is so much fun to listen to on a record player!

Music From the Adventures of Pete and Pete by Polaris

Do you remember this show on Nickelodeon?! For the first and only time ever they released the soundtrack on vinyl and it's every 90's kid turned vinyl collectors dream come true!

When I Reach That Heavenly Shore Unearthly Black Gospel 1926-1936

This powerful 3LP compilation was the record I was most after. Peter found the ONLY copy Fantasyland got for the day and I am so happy he did! These raw and electrifying songs sound amazing and it's my pride and joy from the day. 

Did you partake in Record Store Day this year? What were some of the collectables you sought after?

MIA-Not the city or rapper

Hello friends! Once again I apologize for being gone for such a long time. I've been working a lot more lately, and I have to admit I've also been dedicating most of my free time to cooking and working out. I've been taking a lot of advice from Janine over at the LiftMeUpFitness blog and basically just changed everything about the way I eat and exercise. So good news, that's TWO of my New Year's Resolutions I've been maintaining well. (Flossing daily is still an issue. Ugh) Being more active and cooking all of my meals at home now has not only started transforming my body, but also how I feel everyday. I'm not tired all the time, I feel stronger and healthier, I have more energy, clearer skin, and just an overall better attitude. Basically I haven't just changed to loose some weight, I've made an entire lifestyle change, and I'm never looking back.

Weeeelll, since I've been MIA for a bit I thought I'd let my first post back just be a catch up with photos of just a few things I've been up to. Next time you see me it'll be with a new recipe! Take care and I promise to see you soon!

Hanging in the ATL with my friends

Being a giant nerd

Making French macarons for a living

Making cute cakes on the side

Cross Stitching as a new hobby

And falling more in love with this goober everyday.

                                                           

What Are Ya Doin' New Years?

                               

Because a New Year's post is totally acceptable in February, right?

Another year has come and gone, and a new one is about to start. That's what's so wonderful about this Holiday, looking back on the year we've had, and looking forward to the possibilities of the new one. Personally, 2014 was an amazing year for me. I discovered who my true life friends really are, I met and fell in love with the most amazing man on the planet, I found a new job after being miserable for the past 7 years, and moved to an area I've always wanted to be in. I honestly don't know how the next one could possibly get any better. However I am certainly looking forward to it!

We started the year off right with a Mid-Century Modern/Mad Men themed New Years party. It was an amazing night filled friends, cocktails, kisses, and class. Who could ask for a better beginning to 2015?!

We served champagne, classic mixed drinks, and yummy finger foods.

Dessert Menu:
Mini Champagne Cupcakes
Bourbon Balls
Midnight Kisses
Macarons

Appetizers:
Cheese Ball
Sausage Balls
Olives, Nuts, and Cheese
Shrimp Shooters
Pigs In A Blanket
Chicken Pot Pie Bites
Chicken Salad Croissants

For my outfit I put together an old dress I bought at Francescas last year and paired it with a short white cardigan to give it a more Mid-Century vibe. For an authentic and festive look I beehived my hair and made this cute and easy Star Garland from an idea I saw on Pinterest. Of course super glamours cat-eye makeup and bold red lip really helped pull this look together. I felt like a Mod Princess and loved every ounce of it!

Naturally because this is a New Year's post I have to bring up resolutions. Now everyone knows a lot of people make them, keep up the goals for a few months (or weeks, or days even...) and then go back to normal. I'm also usually very guilty of this (sometimes I'm lucky if I even get them started at all) but this year I'm pretty hell-bent on making me the best me ever. My resolutions are as follows:

*Help the business I work for grow and succeed like never before.
*Dress up more-including experimenting with make-up and my hair, and my overall personal style.
*Spend more time working out with my boyfriend! It's something he really likes to do, and since he spends so much time watching classic films with me it's the least I could do. :D
*Craft more! Now that I finally have some extra time I can spend it productively doing things I truly love.
*Create some awesome and healthy meals. It's what I love doing anyway, so why not more often?
*Films and Foodies needs a comeback!
*Floss daily. This might be the toughest thing on this list.
*Enjoy every minute of everyday of my life. Probably my most favorite resolution of all.

I think everything on this list is extremely realistic and pretty close to how I try to live life now, but a little more thought and effort can't hurt. What are some of your new year's resolutions or goals?

Gangstabread Cookies

Ain't nuthin' but a Gangsta Christmas party...

 WHAT is life right now?! It’s a Monday morning and I’m typing this blog post while listening to my super awesome custom Christmas station by our beautiful tree, drinking coffee and eating gingerbread cookies. I’m waiting to go into work later this afternoon (only for TWO HOURS!) just to decorate some macarons for Christmas. It probably hasn’t been since high school that I’ve been able to enjoy the holiday season this much.  I have SO much time for Christmas movie watching and best of all baking!

The other day I was walking around the mall when I came across these pretty amazing cookie cutters at Forever 21. As a huge hip-hop fan and a professional baker I just had to buy them for myself. I knew instantly these fine fellas would be my gingerbread cookies this year and they worked out so well! I found an amazing, super soft and chewy recipe dough online and made my own yummy cream cheese icing which is perfect for dying and decorating these tasty cookies. (That sentence had a ridiculous amount of adjectives, and this is why I am not a writer.) These were a HUGE hit when Peter took them to his office, and I think I might bake some and prep some bags of red, green, and white icing with sprinkles and set up a “Have A Hip-Hop Christmas’ cookie decorating station at our Christmas party this year. Or these could make a great gift for the Biggie, Tupac, and NWA fans in your life. Because thugs like the holidays too.

Ginger Bread Cookies:

·       3 cups all purpose flour

·       ¾ cup light brown sugar

·       ¾ teaspoon baking soda

·       1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

·       1 tablespoon ground ginger

·       ½ teaspoon ground cloves

·       ½ teaspoon all spice

·       ½ teaspoon salt

·       12 tablespoons butter (room temp and cut into pieces)

·       ¾ cup dark molasses

·       2 tablespoons milk

In a mixing bowl add dry ingredients and stir together with a fork until combined. Then with mixer on low speed add the butter pieces. Mix at medium-low speed until the mixture is sandy and resembles fine meal, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and with the mixer running, gradually add the molasses and milk; mix until the dough is evenly moistened about 20 seconds. Scrape sides of bowl and increase the speed to medium and mix until thoroughly combined.

Place dough onto a  lightly floured work surface and divide it in half. Working with one portion at a time, roll the dough ¼ inch thick between 2 large sheets of parchment or wax paper. Leaving the dough sandwiched between the parchment or wax paper, stack the dough on a baking sheet and refrigerate overnight for best results. (This keeps the cookies from spreading when you bake them and they hold their shape so well.) If wanting to bake same day you can freeze the dough for 20 minutes and then cut your shapes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with silpat or parchment paper. Remove one dough sheet from the freezer or fridge and place on the counter. Peel off the top parchment or wax paper sheet. Gently cut the dough with cookie cutters in desired shapes. (If using these specific cutters they’re designed in the most awesome way! First use the imprint of the cutter with a slight bit of pressure to get the detail of faces. Once the dough is all filled go back with each cutter on the other side of it to cut out the actual cookie from the dough. It’s a two sided cutter to make this super easy! Transfer the shapes to the prepared baking sheet very gently and spacing them ¾ inch apart. Re roll the scrapes and place between parchment again and pop in the freezer for 10 minutes to be able to get more cookies from them! Continue this process until dough is fully used. Remove one dough sheet from the freezer or fridge and place on the counter. Peel off the top parchment or wax paper sheet. Gently cut the dough with cookie cutters in desired shapes. (If using these specific cutters they’re designed in the most awesome way! First use the imprint of the cutter with a slight bit of pressure to get the detail of faces. Once the dough is all filled go back with each cutter on the other side of it to cut out the actual cookie from the dough. It’s a two sided cutter to make this super easy! Transfer the shapes to the prepared baking sheet very gently and spacing them ¾ inch apart. Re roll the scrapes and place between parchment again and pop in the freezer for 10 minutes to be able to get more cookies from them! Continue this process until dough is fully used.    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with silpat or parchment paper. Bake the cookies until set in the centers and the dough barely retains and imprint when touched very gently with fingertip, 8 to 9 minutes. Do not over bake. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then remove the cookies with a wide metal spatula to a wire rack; cool to room temperature. Once cooled, decorate with cream cheese and enjoy!

Cream Cheese Icing:

1- 8 ounce package cream cheese (room temperature)

1 stick butter (room temperature)

1 ½ Cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract.

In a mixer cream together cream cheese and butter on medium-low speed for a minute. Then on low speed add sugar. Put on medium and mix for another minute. Scrape bowl and add vanilla. Mix on medium-low speed for a few minutes until combined and slightly fluffy. Divide among bowls to dye any colors you choose and have fun decorating!!!

                           

I used a regular gingerbread cutter to make some with Wu Tang chains because YES. 

Santa said you's a ho ho ho.

    

*Gingerbread recipe modified from Mel's Kitchen Cafe