boot camp, yes!

I am so excited! 

I opened up my google reader to catch up some blogs and the first post I see is from the uber talented Maegan from Madeline Bea Photography. 

She's offering Creativity Boot Camp again this May. 

 

Woot!!

I joined in last year, and it was amazing. 

Details haven't been released just yet, but I urge you to keep on the lookout. It was truly a fantastic experience. 

Her creative photo prompts really helped me to think outside the box and I got some really great layouts out of the photos I took.

I do hope you'll join the fun! 

putting together my MMEL journal

I am so serious about reclaiming my good health this year. This chick is moving more and eating less. 

But in order to do that, I needed to do a couple of things- one of them being that I needed to get honest with myself about the state of my health. 

It's kinda a mess. 

I eat very well most of the time, its the moving more that's getting in the way. 

Whatever the reason, I need to do something about it now.

After purchasing and downloading the pages for the move more, eat less journal that Cathy Zielske designed, it took some time to figure out what I think is going to work for me- but I think I have found something that is going to be effective.

After writing my intention page, I printed out one month’s worth of pages and put them into the album.

Then I printed my "before" picture for the month of January. (eek) I used picnik to make the collage and add the text. 

I filled in my resources page as well as my numbers (double eek) 

After getting the journal together and doing a bit more thinking about how I can really make this work, I decided there were a couple more things I wanted to add.

First, I decided to set small goals for myself for each week. After I decided on 4 goals for the month of January I wrote them on post it notes and stuck them to each Monday page-that way I can tackle one goal per week. I am keeping a small stack of post it notes at the front of my journal for future months and for other notes I might want to add.

I also decided to print an extra journal page so that I can do a month end summary. I will probably end up scrapping one as well, but I wanted this in there to keep track of my thoughts in case I can’t get to scrapping when I want to. 

Of course, this journal is only going to work if I do- and if I stick with it. Both of which I intend on doing. It's only day 3, but so far I have done a good job of tracking everything I eat. I've even noticed that I eat far more after noon time and need to balance that out a bit. So far, so good.

Lastly, I have decided to set up a separate blog to keep track of this reclaiming-my-health journey that I am on. I grappled with the idea a bit, but then decided that having something strictly dedicated to this plan is going to help me stay organized. I will still be posting about MMEL here, but if you should wish to keep up with me on this healthy trek, you can find me here.  

So, who's with me? Are you doing MMEL this year? 

What’s working for you so far?

i can't believe it

"One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter."

James Earl Jones 

To say "thank you " just doesn't seem enough. For you see, my heart is dancing with joy right now. Just as I was wrapping up for the evening, getting everything ready to return to work tomorrow after a great week at home, I checked my email and found a message there that I in no way expected to get. 

It read:

Congrats! You won a spot in Ali's class!

 What?????!?!? Are you kidding me? 

Just the other day I entered a generous giveaway on Ordinary Courage to win a spot in Ali Edward's yesterday + today class. 

If you read my blog regularly, you will probably understand why this is so incredible to me right now. If you don't and would like to know, you can check it out here.  

 Long story short, I wanted to sign up, but it just didn't fit in our budget right now. With a heavy heart I passed on the opportunity. 

But now. Here I am, in the class. 

Just more proof that God knows our hearts so well. 

And I am sure my mom had something to do with it too ;-) 

 I can't thank you enough, Brene!  Words can't express how much this means to me. 

I can't wait to get started! 

+

chocolate-covered strawberry champagne cupcakes

I know, I know. 

With all of the resolutions floating out there I probably shouldn't be posting a recipe for such a delicious confection. 

But I am. 

All in moderation, no? 

Here is the little treat we enjoyed last night as the clock struck midnight. 

Hope you have a great celebration as well. 

Chocolate-covered Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes

[cupcakes]
2 3/4 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

2 sticks of butter

2 cups sugar

3 egg

1 tsp vanilla1 cup champagne

[frosting]
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 box powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup Champagne

strawberries
semi-sweet chocolate morsels
 

*directions 

Preheat oven to 350.  In a small bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.  In mixer cream butter and sugar until well mixed and airy.  Add eggs one at a time making sure each one is fully incorporated before adding the next.  

 

Slowly add in flour mixture.  Stir in vanilla and champagne.

Fill cupcake liners 1/2 full.

Bake for 25 minutes.

For frosting

Cream butter until smooth.  Slowly add sifted powdered sugar.  Mixture will be very thick, keeping adding champagne to get to the consistency you want. 

Let cupcakes cool completely.

Frost cupcakes and top with half strawberry.

Melt chocolate and spoon into a ziploc bag, snip a small hole and drizzle chocolate over strawberry

Enjoy!