Healthy Changes

Hello, all. I have recently decided to get back into the whole blogging about my health and fitness stuff. (I'll also be posting random journal entries, book reviews, and so on as seen in previous posts) I've missed it. I've also really gotten into taking care of myself, more so than I was before. I don't claim to be a personal trainer, nutritionist, or anything of the sort. Some of you may think I should be working out for an hour or two at a time or something else. This is just what works for me. I'm not trying to lose weight, really. I just want to have more energy and be a bit more in shape. Go at your own pace and do whatever feels right to you :)
 So, I plan on posting recipes, workouts that I do, and even some holistic health things! Stay tuned! For now, I'll show you the work out I just did and my post work-out snack.

First I did:
5 minute butt lift

Then:
Waist Whittlers-100 Challenge
This one was especially hard. It works your arms, back, shoulders, as well as your entire core. It burned, made me sweat, and it was surprisingly fun!





Finally:
Get Happy Routine
This I did as a sort of cool-down.

My post-work out snack I kind of oops on. I was making myself a smoothie: Vanilla protein powder, about a half a cup of almond milk, a handful of frozen peaches, and (it was supposed to be) a half a frozen banana. Instead, the banana was really a nub of frozen ginger I had mistaken for a banana. Oops. It still tasted good, though! Ginger is also very good for your immune system!

Just something...

I had a roller coaster of a day. I just needed to write out the things in life I will and won't be to remind myself that even with so much negative energy around me, I'm not budging on my goals. I don't even care if anyone reads this, but I just needed to write it out.

I will (do/be/have)

do yoga every single day

kind

try meditation

loving

a social worker who truly loves their job

generous

visit my aunt in California

forgive

do small deeds rather than no deeds at all

compassionate

stay positive even when all the odds are against me

happy

graduate and reach my academic goals, including SAC and CADC

embrace change

volunteer/charity work

healthy

people around me who support me and I do the same for them

joy

be comfortable with who I am and in my own skin

just enough

the friends I have now because they kick ass

strong

live in a world where equality actually means equality

peace

a place I feel is truly home and not just a place I sleep

love

my own family who will not have to guess if I love them or not; they'll simply know it

clarity

learn to cook really well

gratitude 

accept things I can't change

travel

I won't (do/be/have)

stop

negative, volatile, or uncaring people around me

give up

second guess myself as much

  insecure

afraid to try new things

lazy

anything hold me back from what I truly want in my life

sad

apologize for who I am or the choices in my life I believe are right

angry

judge others on their surface

greedy

isolated in my own home

negative

apologize for good things that happen in my life

narcissistic 

feel bad because I am not a size zero

hate

waste my time or energy

ignorance

hold grudges for those who have wronged me

depressed

More Sunshine Characters.

Here Nikki!

Gaspard as Myles:

 This one's eyes are a lil' funky, sorry lol

This one I like better :)

























Annnnnnnd 'cos it was so cute :)

Sunshine Characters.

Here, Nikki :)

Choices for Sophie:
 Emily Browning-Before and After

Thora Birch

(I did one with her hair pink, but my lap top didn't save it : ( )







Choices for Alex:
Jessica Stam-Before and After

Christmas shizz

So...a lot of people have been asking me what to get me for Christmas and I don't expect much from anyone because I know it's been a hard year for a lot of people for a lot of reasons. Still, I think it is just easier to post this than to keep not remembering things. So here.

First off, I made an amazon.com wish list, but a lot of things I need aren't on there. Here's the link, anyways:
CLICK HERE
I mainly need clothes....because I don't have any nice clothes for job interviews/internships and all.
I also need face wash, because I am almost out:
CLICK HERE

Gift cards are also always welcome.

Any practical gift is awesome, too. Like advil, make up wipes, coffee, and chap stick...yadda yadda.

I hate making Christmas lists. It feels like I'm telling everyone to get me things, when I really don't care if they do or not lol. Basically, these are things I need but don't feel like buying. The one thing I really want, and don't really need...and don't really expect anyone to get for me is:
CLICK HERE

Anyway, that's all I can think of for now. I'm sure I'll add things to the amazon wish list but eh. Christmas has just been beaten out of me this year lol.

Apple Nachossss! :O

These things....are.....holy good god.
Never did I think apples, which I already love, could be any better.
The original recipe, I found HERE.

I did an alternative version of these, just going off of what I like and what I had in my house. Meaning, I don't really like coconut or pecans and I didn't want to go to the store to waste money on those.
Anyway....

For my version, you'll need:

• One apple (red, green, any you like)
• A tablespoon or so of natural or organic peanut butter (just make sure it's not packed with preservatives)
• About a small handful of chocolate chips
• A few sprinkles of cinnamon
• About a tablespoon or so of walnuts
• Lemon juice (optional. It's just to keep the apples from turning brown and I left it out)

So all I did was slice my apple and arrange it on a plate. I then melted my peanut butter in the microwave, keeping it to about 5 seconds at a time so I didn't burn it. Burned peanut butter is revolting, trust me. Next, I drizzled the melted peanut butter on the nachos, sprinkled it with cinnamon, added the chocolate chips and walnuts....BAM. Party in my mouth hole. 

Healthy burrito!

So I know tacos/burritos (unless from tacobell) aren't usually SUPER unhealthy, but the ones I made tonight are bangin'....and healthier.

So you'll need:

• Whole wheat or regular tortillas (I used flour ones because no way I was going to pay 5 bucks for whole wheat)
• Hummus (I made my own)
• Shredded chicken breast
• Lettuce or spinach (any green you like, really)
• Brown rice (I added broccoli to mine)
• Salsa and or hot sauce
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• Cheese-optional (I didn't use any)

So all you so is:
First, microwave the tortillas with a damp paper towel over top to soften 'em (I think two is a serving for a really hungry person). Then, lay down the hummus so that everything else has something to stick to. Think of it as the re-fried beans on a burrito. You can add as little or as much as you'd like. Next, add your lettuce, chicken and other things. You can add cheese, hot sauce, anything you want...but I only added about half a tablespoon of salsa to each of mine. All that's left is to roll 'em up and you're done :D.

Tips:

• You can add beans to this if you'd like, instead of chicken, as your protein.
• You could use huge lettuce leaves as your burrito's shell instead of the tortillas.
• You can add anything at all to these, but make sure it's healthy! Things like bean sprouts, tomatoes, etc!
• If you prepare all of your ingredients before hand, like I did, it's super quick and easy and it makes you want to eat the healthy version more. Just because it's as simple as going to the drive through.