Health: My Pumped-up Workout Playlist

So I've been on a bit of a hiatus.  Much of my time has been spent learning my new job and focusing on myself (my dreams, my health, and my self-esteem).

I've been on a health kick lately (that I'm hoping will become a healthy lifestyle change over time) and exercising at least 3 days a week.  Sometimes I do classes or bring a friend, but working out with my iPod and headphones is a sure way for me to get an intense workout.  Here's a collection of my favorite motivating pump-up songs on my workout playlist:

1. Aaliyah - "More than a Woman"
2. Afrojack ft. Eva Simons - "Take Over Control"
3. Afrojack & Shermanology - "Can't Stop Me Now"
4. Asteroids Galaxy Tour - "Push the Envelope"
5. Beyonce - "End of Time"
6. Beyonce - "Run the World"
7. Blink 182 - "All the Small Things"
8. Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding - "I Need Your Love"
9. Cassie - "Long Way to Go"
10. Chiddy Bang - "Opposite of Adults"
11. Damone - "Now is the Time"
12. Drake - "Show Me a Good Time"
13. Flo-Rida - "Jump"
14. Four Year Strong - "Heroes Get Remembered - Legends Never Die"
15. Goldfrapp - "Ooh La La"
16. Jay-Z - "Hate"
17. Justin Timberlake - "SexyBack"
18. Kanye - "Power"
19. Ke$ha - "Frenzy"
20. Kid Sister - "Get Fresh"
21. Lupe Fiasco - "I Don't Wanna Care Right Now"
22. M.I.A. - "Bad Girls, NARS Remix"
23. NERD - "Rock Star"
24. Pussycat Dolls - "Wait a Minute"
25. The Pretty Reckless - "Make Me Wanna Die"
26. Rihanna - "Raining Men"
27. Rihanna - "Hard"
28. Rihanna - "Jump"
29. Skrillex - "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites"
30. TLC - "Silly Ho"

If you have any hype-up workout songs you would like to add to my list, feel free to comment below! :)


Love and pump-up songs,
Katie

Treats: Reduced-Sugar Oatmeal Cookies

You would never know that these cookies have lots of nutritional value!  My healthy cooking companion, Joshua, and I doctored up a recipe for Oatmeal Cookies so that we would feel a little less guilty about eating them by the handful.  These are the ORIGINAL ingredients:

• 2 sticks of butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup cashews
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup butterscotch chips

Sounds delicious, right?  They probably are.  But if you, like me, are trying to avoid sugar as much as possible, you probably become very, very sad as you look at that recipe.  This is why Joshua and I have swapped some ingredients to significantly reduce the amount of sugar in these cookies, yet still make them sweet & enjoyable!  

Here are some of our ingredient swaps:

1. Swap butter for Smart Balance Light with Flax.  It's hard to cut down the fat in a recipe that calls of 1/2 lb. of butter.  However, Smart Balance Light with Flax was the healthiest and most natural product we could find in the grocery store to substitute the butter in this recipe.  Smart Balance Light with Flax is non-dairy, gluten-free, natural, contains no hydrogenated oils, and contains 0g trans fats.  Also, the Flax helps battle heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.  These are all good things, people!

2. Swap 1 cup Brown Sugar for 1/2 cup Brown Sugar.  Simply cutting down the amount of brown sugar added in your cookie recipe won't hurt your cookies.  

3. Joshua's and my favorite swap: eliminate the 2/3 cup sugar and add 2/3 cup Splenda infused with Fiber! This product contains 1g of fiber per TEASPOON. There are three teaspoons in a tablespoon and 16 tablespoons in a cup.  Do the math: that's 32g of fiber you just put in your cookies! And that is on top of another 8g of fiber you add when you mix in 1 cup of quick oats. Your intestines will thank you! (Aside: Men need about 35g of fiber per day and Women need about 30g of fiber per day, or about 14g of fiber per 1,000 calories consumed.)

4. Swap 2 whole eggs for 4 egg whites.  Joshua and I used whole eggs to increase the protein value in our cookies, but if you are trying to cut down on your cholesterol or fat intake, use 4 egg whites in place of 2 whole eggs.

5. Swap cashews with walnuts.  Walnuts have more nutritional value, including Omega-3 Fatty Acids which help boost your imune system and develop the nervous system in children.  Here is a list of other healthy nuts you can use in place of cashews.

6. Swap your sugary chocolate chips with anything yummy! Raisins, nuts, sugar-free chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or nothing at all are good substitutes for the chocolate and butterscotch.  You can also simply reduce the amount of chips.  Rather than adding the 1 2/3 cup chips like the recipe calls for, only add 2/3 cup. 

So, here is our final recipe for these delicious and semi-nutritious oatmeal cookies with all of the swapped ingredients! After you make these, try swapping other recipes to make them more nutritious! :)

Joshua and Katie's Healthier-than-the-Original-Recipe Oatmeal Cookies:

8 oz. Smart Balance spread, Original with Flax

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2/3 cup Splenda with Fiber

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 whole eggs (OR 4 egg whites)

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 1/4 cup sifted flour

2 cups old fashioned or quick oats

1 cup chopped walnuts

2/3 cup white chocolate chip

1. Combine first 4 ingredients. Add eggs and vanilla. 
2. Slowly stir in sifted flour.
3. Fold in oats, nuts, and chocolate chips
4. Use teaspoon to scoop cookies on to a nonstick baking sheet.  
5. Bake at 375 F for 8-10 minutes until golden brown.  Yields 5 dozen cookies.

YUM!

Peace, Love, and many grams of Fiber,

Katie

Valentine's Day: How to Even-out the Score

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays (Hallmark holiday or not). It is an opportunity to express to what extent we care about one another, which is why many feel pressured to have extravagant plans for their partners on February 14th. I'm here to tell you why it's OK not to stress over your plans yet still have a meaningful way to say "I Love You."

Don't go overboard for your lady.
Here's the secret: If you really want to impress your lady on Valentine's Day, give her something small every day for the entire week of Valentine's Day.

Here's why: Women and men "keep score" in relationships in very different ways from one another. Women will give one point for everything they consider a good deed, no matter how big or small.  Bringing home a $15 Chinese dinner has the same point value (1 point) as bringing home a $100 steak dinner (1 point).  One accumulates points by doing something small more often to express his or her care. For example, one flower per day for seven days = 7 points. Seven flowers at one time = 1 point.

Go big or go home for your man.
Here's the secret: Make your man feel special when you need to make him feel special: Valentine's Day, his birthday, and Christmas. Take it easy the rest of the year.

Here's why: Men's internal scorekeepers are a little different from women's.  Men are able to give more than one point for what they consider a good deed. Points can then be stored in their internal point vaults to be accessed whenever necessary.  One accumulates points by doing something bigger but less often to express his or her care. This Valentine's Day, making him a steak dinner (50 points), giving him the latest technology (100 points), and planning an intimate evening (or whatever else is very special to him worth 500 points) will probably rack up enough points to last for quite some time.

I'm no marriage counselor, but I've read some books.  Relationship Expert Mark Gungor knows what I'm talking about... Watch his lecture here.

Wishing many love points upon you,

Katie :)

P.S. Related post: Single Ladies' Guide to Enjoying Valentine's Day.  Photo at the top of this post courtesy of Jenn Aycox, Photographer.

Life: My Sugar-Free Diet

Here's my interview with myself about my sugar-free diet.  It's just an introduction, for my own records, if nothing else. Enjoy!

Why would you take sugar out of your diet?
For as long as I can remember, I've had a daily struggle with sinus congestion, chest congestion, and headaches.  After a number of useless doctor appointments, ineffective medications, and even a painful nasal surgery (that may have made things worse), I decided to take matters into my own hands.  I learned in a college Nutrition class that almost all ailments can either be cured or lessened in severity with diet alone.  Thus begun my determination to cure my mild symptoms with my diet.

How do you think eliminating sugar will help the problem?
You are what you eat!  I cannot stress that enough.  Nearly everything you ingest becomes a part of the make-up of your body.  It sounds trivial, but we seem to forget this concept when sitting in the McDonald's drive-thru with growling tummies. Keeping this in mind, I considered the substances in my diet that could be potentially harmful: processed food and fast food. These foods usually offer little nutritional value (fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, etc.). If they do have nutritional value, they usually also include tremendous amounts of potentially harmful ingredients (hydrogenated oils, saturated fats, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, etc.).  Eliminating sugar from my diet will help me avoid these types of foods and, hopefully, provide me with relief from my sinus congestion.

How do you plan on going about this new diet?
I decided to use a step-system (making a series of smaller goals to achieve a larger long-term goal).  I'm starting by eliminating sugar from my diet.  Or, so I thought. Turns out, EVERYTHING has sugar in it.  Even at work, I had to start packing my lunch because few quick-service restaurants close by that offered healthy/sugar-free options.  Alas, I have decided to begin by eliminating white sugar only and choosing more whole-grain products (whole-grain bagels from Panera Bread are my favorite now).  Fructose and Lactose are acceptable forms of sugar for me.  Visit ChooseMyPlate.gov for information about healthy eating and customizing a diet for your needs.

Isn't it difficult to follow a sugar-free diet? Have you ever "relapsed?" 
I found it particularly difficult to follow the diet over the holidays, while on vacation, and when I'm with friends who aren't following the same diet. Even though I've had a few slip-ups, I feel healthier than ever. By significantly reducing my sugar intake, I have unintentionally tricked myself into drinking more water and eating a variety of vegetables, fruit, and meats.  The longer I go without consuming processed sugar, the less I desire to consume it because I don't want to sacrifice how healthy I feel for a few minutes of indulgence. Here's a great basic guacamole recipe for a delicious sugar-free snack.

How do you cope with cravings?
If you have sugar/chocolate cravings, you probably aren't getting enough to eat during the day and your body has used up all the carbohydrates you gave it for breakfast.  Because you aren't eating enough, your body craves the most basic forms of carbohydrates (aka, sugar) for energy.  This is the reason why many people have night-time sugar cravings.  If you are able to maintain a variety of carbs throughout the day, you can significantly reduce your cravings.  Things like vegetables, whole grain breads and noodles, and fruits will provide variety.  I notice myself getting hungry about every two or three hours, but if I have a healthy snack or meal at that time, I eliminate the desire to eat everything in sight at the end of the day.  Check out WebMD's tips for controlling sugar cravings.

Lots of love and healthy choices,
Katie

P.S. I forgot to mention: I've also lost weight (which wasn't the intention, but it doesn't hurt).  In just a couple weeks, friends have noticed a difference and have been complimenting my appearance. Compliments never hurt! :)

Treats: Guacamole

Here's a basic recipe for homemade guacamole.

• 2 ripe avocados (They should be slightly squishy before you cut them.  Here's a YouTube video on how to cut your avocado.)
• 1/2 cup minced red onion (We use red onion because it's a little less sharp than white onion when raw.  If you use white onion, it's all you will taste in your Guac.)
• 1-2 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced (If you don't want it spicy, eliminate this ingredient)
• 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, finely chopped 
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• a dash of grated black pepper
• 1/2 ripe tomato, seeds and pulp removed, chopped

Combine ingredients in a bowl and mash to a dip-like consistency; however chunky or paste-like you prefer.  Serve with all-natural tortilla chips (check the ingredients!).

Yum! :)

Love,

Katie

Treats: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough... Cupcakes!

Here they are, finally! Enjoy.

Cookie Dough:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips (or chunks, or mini chocolate chips)
Cupcakes:
One 9"x13" box cake mix & necessary ingredients as listed on the box.  Just follow the directions on the box up until it's time for baking. Or, if you have your own cake recipe, use it!

1. Combine the dry cookie dough ingredients and set aside.  Combine wet ingredients then slowly mix in dry ingredients.  
2. Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and freeze for about two hours to harden.  
3. Meanwhile, mix the ingredients to make the cake portion of your cookie dough cupcakes. 
4. Line pan with 24 muffin cups and fill each about 2/3 of the way.  
5. Drop a frozen cookie dough ball into the center of each cup (see below). There's no need to push it down into the cake mix because the cake will bake around the dough.
6. Bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes, decorate, and enjoy!

Yum! :)

Love life.

Katie

Travel: What Happens in Las Vegas...

To quote a comedian I saw while on vacation (whose name I can't remember. Oops!), "Everyone knows the commercial. 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."  Little did I know, they were talking about my money."

To celebrate the New Year and Winter Vacation from school, some friends and I decided to take a five-day excursion to Sin City.  Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip!

The Strip from the top of Paris!

On The Strip in front of Bally's and Paris.

The B.B. King Lounge inside The Mirage. We had some pretty amazing live entertainment with our dinner! :) 

The Luxor from the top of our Open Top Bus Tour.

Las Vegas is definitely a city that everyone should visit at least once during their adult lifetime. Personally, I think I've had my fill! Some of my favorite adventures were seeing the strip at night from the top of the Eiffel Tower replica at Paris, taking pictures in front of the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, and venturing out to Old Vegas (a.k.a. Fremont Street) to see the oldest casino in Las Vagas. If I go back in the near future, I would really like to see a Cirque du Soleil show and gather the courage to jump off of the Stratosphere! Hmm, maybe I should start making an agenda for my next visit... :)

Love.
Katie

DIY: Ten Last-Minute Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas

Everyone has been there.  Your neighbor's best friend's wife's second cousin's dog groomer got you a nice scarf and gloves, and you definitely left them off your gifting list for the holidays.  No need to fret, here's some simple and quick homemade gift ideas for gifts you can whip up in no-time.  For next year, make one of each of these before the holidays so you have them ready to go for backup gifts!

1. Snowball Soap: Grate a bar of white soap (I used Dove White) with a cheese grater.  Wet your hands and make the grated  soap into a "snowball." Add decorative label and cellophane packaging (see left).

2. Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Layer the following in a 32 oz. mason jar.  For every 1/3 cup mix, add 1 cup boiling water.  Serves 12.

• 1 cup powdered milk
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy

3. Jar Cookies: Similar to the hot chocolate above.  Layer the following in a large mason jar. Make tags for baking instructions (add 1/2 cup slightly melted butter, 1 tsp. vanilla, and one egg).  Make it look pretty with decorative labels and festive tags.

• 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cooking oats
• 3/4 cup MMs candies
• 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans

4. Peppermint Bark

• 1 bag white chocolate chips
• 1 bag milk chocolate chips
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
• crushed peppermint candy

In a bowl, microwave milk chocolate chips in 30-second increments until completely melted.  In another bowl, melt white chocolate chips.  Mix crushed peppermint and peppermint extract into melted white chocolate. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and pour both milk and white chocolate in a striped pattern over the paper.  Use a spoon to create marble designs.  Sprinkle the top with crushed peppermint candy and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Break into medium-sized pieces and serve or package for gifting.

5. Custom Mug:  Customize any ceramic mug by painting it with ceramic paint!  Most paints (such as the one I got from JoAnn Fabrics) will require you to bake it in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees or so in order to set the paint.  I painted a mustache along the brim of my mug, so when you drink out of it, you have a mustache! Pair this with the above Peppermint Hot Chocolate mix for a great gift set!

6. Crochet a Scarf:  It might take a little practice, but it's a great way to put a lot of thought (and manual labor) into a relatively cheap gift. There are lots and lots of videos on YouTube (including this one) that can teach you how, if you don't know already.  Or just ask me, and I'll be happy to show you!  Check out this one that I made for my beautiful mom this holiday season.

7. Task Coupons: Great for mom, dad, boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, brother, sister, or anyone else near and dear.  Make up a booklet of "coupons" that won't cost you anything except manual labor and/or time.  Examples: One date night to your favorite restaurant.  One free laundry pass.  One afternoon at the park.  One free foot (hand, back, shoulder, etc.) massage.  One free trip to the grocery store.  Have fun with it, and be creative.  Put thought into these and customize each coupon to the individual(s) receiving them.

8. Handy Coasters: This one is a fun and cute project for the kiddies to help with! Check them out here.

9. Fleece Blanket: JoAnn Fabrics sells an assortment of fleece that is perfect for making blankets.  You will need about two yards per layer to make a full-size blanket (four yards total).  You can color coordinate, or pick two totally opposite fabric patterns.  Lay the fabrics evenly on a clean floor, one on top of the other with the nicer-looking sides facing outwards.  Cut the exterior into strips about one inch wide and eight inches deep.  Tie the two fabrics together using these strips.  I find overhand knots work a lot better for these blankets, as opposed to square knots.

10. The Gift Basket:  Pick a theme and run with it.  I made a "Movie" theme basket that had a movie, bag of popcorn, a theater gift card, and glass Coca Cola bottles all inside a popcorn bucket and wrapped with cellophane.  You could also create other themes like wine, baking, travel, scrapbooking, makeup, or sports.

DIY: Fabric Curls

Transform your stubbornly straight hair to fun curls overnight! Here's a unique way to curl your hair without abusing your luscious strands or your pocket book.  Here's what you'll need:

Water

Styling product

Fabric strips about 8-inches long

The night before, dampen your hair with water and apply styling product.  

(Pictured here: Paul Mitchell's Fast Form)

Starting with your bottom layers, separate your hair into small sections. Curl each section up around each strip of fabric, as shown below.

When you reach the scalp, tie the ends of the fabric in a knot to hold the hair in place.  Repeat throughout your hair.  I used about 30 strips of fabric, but I have thick hair.  You can use less if your hair is thinner.

Once you have tied all your knots, it's time to sleep!  

When you wake up in the morning, spray your knots with a light-hold hair spray and remove the fabric strips.  Wear your curls down or pin them up with accessories.

Enjoy!

Katie

Life: Things I Would Tell Younger Katie

I'm still very young, but I've learned quite a bit in my 22+ years on this earth. Here's some advice I'd give my younger self based on what I know now. I imagine that 20 years from now, I'll look back on being 22 and have different advice. But, for now, maybe I can inspire some of the young females in my life (and maybe, too, those that aren't) with things I've learned so far.

1. Surround yourself with people that encourage you. Negative/Toxic personalities are common, discouraging, and will rub off on you if you spend too much time around them. Don't ever think you can change a toxic person; you can't change people who don't want to change themselves.
2. Being intelligent does not mean getting straight A's in school. 
3. When meeting someone new and he or she seems to be acting like a goon, show compassion first.
4. Make other people happy, but not at your own expense. Life is like a pitcher of lemonade and a lot of empty glasses. You have to keep your pitcher full if you're going to fill everyone else's empty glass.
5. Nothing positive is accomplished by being jealous.  Encourage the women in your life, be compassionate and understanding, and tell them how pretty you think they are as often as possible.
6. You already have confidence, class, intelligence, and more friends than you can count.  Realize it already.  You are better than you think you are.
7. Spending money on things that make you or someone happy is never, ever a waste. You can't take your money with you when you die.
8. Stick with something long enough to become good at it. I know you're a big fan of changes, but it's OK to be familiar with something too.
9. Whether it takes you 10 minutes or 10 years to get over something tragic, life does, in fact, go on. So, you might as well get over it sooner rather than later.
10. I think Drake said it best, "everybody dies, but not everybody lives." Try new things, expand your comfort zone as often as possible, and Carpe Diem, no matter what your parents say (No offense, parents). It is important that you do things that make you feel free, fulfilled, without regret, and truly happy.  Don't waste your time wondering "what if."

 Katie

Life: The Single Ladies' Guide to Enjoying Valentine's Day.

All my single ladies!  Valentine's Day is one of the single person's most hated holidays, but I think there's one thing these singles need to remember on February 14th. Valentine's Day is about love, not lovers. Whether your love is for yourself or for others (family, for example), you should take this opportunity to express it!  Here are some ways to embrace being single on Valentine's Day:

Love thyself:

1. Read a book, such as a self-help book that provides advice to help single women embrace the single life and also gives helpful dating tips and advice. Help yourself figure out what you want, how to get it, and why you shouldn't settle for anything less. 

2. Have an at-home spa evening. Go to your local cosmetics store, get some mid- to upper-price range products (facial mask, sugar scrub, hair moisture treatment, mani/pedi kit, etc.), and get to pampering!  

3. Send flowers to yourself. Flowers are Mother Nature's love letter, and on her behalf, "you're welcome." 

4. Make a "Happy" playlist. Include songs that make you feel good, make you want to dance, or bring back good memories. Rock out to it all day! 

Love thy neighbor: 

1. To play off of the previous suggestions, have a single ladies spa night. Get all your single friends together, have everyone bring a different pampering product, and have a peaceful ladies night. 

2. Take your friends out for ice cream or stay home and bake heart-shaped cupcakes! Here is a heart-shaped mold you could buy to do so. :) 

3. Consider the people who do services for you.  Give a valentine to your favorite waitress at your favorite restaurant, your hair stylist, your house cleaner, your mailman, etc. These people spend more than enough time to make your life easier, so honoring them is important to your relationship. Take this opportunity to remind them that you don't take them for granted. 

4. Send cards to all the important people in your life. Not only will those people feel cherished and remembered, but it will help you to remember all the wonderful people you have in your life. Since Valentine's Day is about your expression of love, make each person feel special. Send a personalized e-card or even a phone call! 

5. Surprise someone anonymously. Maybe your co-worker, your best friend, or your sibling. This is especially appreciated by people who are upset about not having a Valentine.

Still bitter?

1. Have a singles support night with your other single friends. If this day is truly difficult for you, or for other single girls you know, don't act like it's not. Take the evening to grieve, eat a tub of ice cream, and move on. Start something new and fun! 

2. Buy yourself some Bittersweets(TM); "Valentine's Day candy for the rest of us." 

"We can only learn to love by loving." 

- Iris Murdoch

Katie

P.S. If you have a Valentine to dress up for, check out Kandee Johnson's Valentine's Day date Make-up!

Life: Following your Dream

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." -Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin's dream was a society where everyone is treated equally.  He dedicated his life to promoting his dream and, as a result, created positive changes throughout world.  He had the courage and determination to share his dream with the world.

Maybe you have a dream that you've been suppressing because it's unrealistic, embarrassing, or "not the right time."  Boy, do I have news for you: you're wrong. 

Here's 12 LIES People Tell you About Pursuing your Dreams:

1. You’re screwed if it doesn’t work out. Probably not.  Worst case scenario, you find something else to do or go back to what you would have done had you not followed your dream.
2. You weren’t cut out for that. Says who?  Ok, so maybe you don't fit the stereotype, but when did you start caring about stereotypes?  If anything, you'll stand out.  Which brings me to my next point...
3. You’re going to be the next ____.  No, you’re the next YOU. Don’t follow the mold, just be yourself. 

4. You can follow your dream someday. No, thanks.  Make it happen now.  "Someday" may never come.  I never wanted to be that person who spent 15 years doing a job I hate before pursuing my dreams.  Why wait?
5. Only a few people “make it” or it's impossible. You have a one in a million chance. Actually, it's probably less.  Yes, it's impossible...for them.  They lack the drive, determination, and will that you have to make it happen.
6. Your dream is unrealistic. What’s unrealistic is trying to live your life working at a job you don’t love doing something you hate for the rest of your life while regretting trying to live your dream.
7. Just be safe and get a normal job. Actually, this is probably the most UNSAFE route.  Not only will you be miserable and unsuccessful doing what yo do, but what happens if you get fired? When you’re pursuing your dream, you’re the only one that can stop you.
8. You would have to do so much work/be under so much pressure to do that. If you know what you want, you'll be willing to do what it takes to get there. To you it’s not work, it’s what you want to do with your life.
9. You won’t need a backup plan. Well, um, yeah, you probably do.  Doing what you love doesn't necessarily mean you'll make millions right away.  However, you can use your talent or perfect your dream by doing something that's not quite what you wanted, but very similar.  Become good at more than one thing. 
10. You can't make a living doing that. If you can find an avenue that will allow you to be paid for what you do, you can absolutely make a living off of it.  Think of all the people who are being paid to do something uncommon or, at first glance, unprofitable.
11. You'll probably fail. We learn from experience, and experience usually brings about failures. Any successful entrepreneur will tell you that failures are just steps towards success. If you can’t handle failure, then success is going to be very difficult to achieve.
12. You have to do this, this, and this to do that. Wrong. "Follow what you believe and find your own way to achieve your dream. Studying those who have succeeded in the same field helps, but copying won’t get you anywhere." - R. Vora

In summary, don't accept discouragement.  Don't let other people tell you what your dream is, because only you can really know.  The only person that can get in the way of your success is you. Dare to dream and put that dream into action.

Now go own the world.

Katie

Life: My Bucket List

During my lifetime, I would like to...

• Set foot on all continents.
• Obtain a culinary arts degree.
• Help someone find love/happiness.
• Speak another language fluently.
• Interview someone who is famous for respectable reasons.
• Create something that will outlive me.
  

"Many a false step was made by standing still" - my fortune cookie.

Katie

Treats: Peanut Butter Fudge

Mama Marshall is not my mother (she is a friend's mother).  However, she taught me how to make some really delicious deserts, including her famous Peanut Butter Fudge.  She told me I was going to ruin it the first time I made it, and I did!  But I think I'm pretty good at it now, so I'm going to share this top-secret recipe with you!

Ingredients:

2 sticks of butter
12 oz. evaporated milk
5 cups sugar
3 cups peanut butter
2 cups marshmallow cream

• First, mix the butter, evaporated milk, and sugar in a large pot.  Separately, in a giant mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter and marshmallow cream.  It is important to measure everything out beforehand because you won't be able to once you start.

• On the stove, melt the butter, evaporated milk, and sugar together over MEDIUM heat.  Stir continuously.  If you mess up, here is where it will happen!  DO NOT RAISE THE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 'MEDIUM.'  It will take 30-45 minutes for the mixture to boil. Yes, you need to stand there stirring the entire time! :)  When it boils it looks something like this:

• Boil the mixture for exactly 8 minutes and then pour it over the peanut butter/marshmallow in the mixing bowl.  Stir until all ingredients are combined.

• You can pour your fudge into a greased 9x13" baking dish.  Cover, and place in the refrigerator until it becomes solid.  I distribute the fudge into three 8x8" cake pans because it takes less time to solidify and is easier to remove from the pan once it has done so! :)

For gifts, cut these bad boys into bricks, or squares, wrap in red or green cling wrap, slap a holiday bow on it, and voila! Hope you enjoy! :)

Love always!

Katie

Life: Elite Education

I just read this article on the disadvantages of elite education written by William Deresiewicz. I think this was my favorite paragraph...


"If one of the disadvantages of an elite education is the temptation it offers to mediocrity, another is the temptation it offers to security. When parents explain why they work so hard to give their children the best possible education, they invariably say it is because of the opportunities it opens up. But what of the opportunities it shuts down? An elite education gives you the chance to be rich—which is, after all, what we’re talking about—but it takes away the chance not to be. Yet the opportunity not to be rich is one of the greatest opportunities with which young Americans have been blessed. We live in a society that is itself so wealthy that it can afford to provide a decent living to whole classes of people who in other countries exist (or in earlier times existed) on the brink of poverty or, at least, of indignity. You can live comfortably in the United States as a schoolteacher, or a community organizer, or a civil rights lawyer, or an artist—that is, by any reasonable definition of comfort. You have to live in an ordinary house instead of an apartment in Manhattan or a mansion in L.A.; you have to drive a Honda instead of a BMW or a Hummer; you have to vacation in Florida instead of Barbados or Paris, but what are such losses when set against the opportunity to do work you believe in, work you’re suited for, work you love, every day of your life?"

You can read the rest of this article HERE


Katie

Life: Becoming and Staying Motivated

Motivation is a major part of having a successful and fulfilling life.  Below I have listed some ways to help you become, or stay, motivated.

It is important to understand that there are two categories of motivation: positive and negative.   Negative motivation occurs when we are driven by losing something including our jobs, money, friends, etc, and a sense of fear is triggered in our brain.  Positive motivation comes from our curiosity and desire to serve.  If you are not curious about something, you are less likely to do it.  It is important to keep yourself in a positive mindset to continue to be motivated. Having a negative mindset could lead to a self-destructive pattern.

Katie's Methods for Becoming and Staying Motivated:

1. Clean up
Your house. Your e-mail inbox. Your work space. Get rid of the unimportant things.

2. Exercise
For most people, getting started is the hardest part. This really is the easiest way to get motivated. You don't need to do an hour of cardio, just get up and go for a brisk walk. Bonus points if you spend time outside! De-clutter your physical being and get those endorphins moving. Endorphins = happy = positive motivation.

3. Affirmations
Write clear goals and talk about them with friends and family. Say them out loud. Talking about your projects with other people will give you accountability to have things done when you said you'd have things done.

4. Keep yourself inspired
Put on some good music and surround yourself with positive people. Make your workspace yours by arranging it the way you want to, incorporating things that represent you, and customizing it to look the way that helps you be more productive. Switch tasks if you find yourself losing interest or becoming frustrated. Keep track of success and breakthroughs and read other success stories. For the love of god, get away from whiny people who like to complain.

5. Learn how to say "No."
To anything that will disrupt your focus. Limit your promises and don't make daily life a chore.

6. Accept failure
If you aim too high, you're setting yourself up for failure. Similarly, if you take on too much at once it can become overwhelming. It is important to balance your workload, and when you have done that and still fail, learn. Failure is just one of two possible outcomes. Pick up, learn, and move on.

7. Most importantly... LAUGH
Watch funny movies, read jokes, or keep a stash of funny pictures at your work station. Try not to keep a serious look on your face. Play some games. Relax your mind. JUST LAUGH!

The harsh truths:
1. You have the ability to fail.
Unless you're in a superhero movie, you won't succeed at everything you do. Things won't always o your way. However, if you never try, how can you succeed? Being afraid of failure is one reason negative motivation exists. Don't let it eat you alive.

2. Only you can transform your life.
If you want to make big changes, you can't let anyone hold you back. There is only so much you can do if you rely on others.

Thanks for reading! I hope you're all tremendously motivated!

Katie

Treats: Apple Caramel Twist

I found this recipe in Taste of Home magazine and thought I'd give it a whirl.  It's a great fall treat It is definitely not as easy as it looks, but it was a lot of fun and tastes delicious! :)  I doubled the recipe so I could leave one at my parents' and take one back to Purdue with me, but the following recipe will only make one twist.



16 RHODES(tm) dinner rolls, thawed and risen
2 large tart apples (I used grannysmith)
12 caramels, cut into fourths
3/4 cup sliced almonds, divided
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 to 3/4 cup vanilla frosting

• Spray work surface lightly with cooking spray.  Combine eight dinner rolls into a ball adn roll into a 16" x 6" rectangle.  Repeat with remaining rolls.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rest.  In a large bowl, combine apples, caramels, 1/2 cup almonds, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon.  Remove wrap from dough.

• Spread half of the apple mixture down the center of each.  Fold both edges of each rectangle over the filling, overlapping slightly; pinch tightly to seal.

• Place rectangles side by side, seamside down, on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.  Carefully twist them together.  Pinch two ends to seal.  Cover with plastic wrap coated with cooking spray; let dough rise for 15-20 minutes.

• Remove plastic wrap.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until light golden brown.  Remove from pan to wire rack; cool for 10 minutes.  Microwave icing for 10 seconds.  Spread or drizzle over top; sprinkle remaining almonds.  Serve warm 

• ENJOY!  Yeilds 16 servings.

(This is the magazine picture)

 I encourage everyone to give this one a shot--especially with the family.  Yum yum yum!

Katie

New Reader?

Hello and welcome!  I'm Katie and I'm discovering my dreams and blogging about it as I go since 2009.

Topics I post about are anything from tasty recipes to life-hacking discoveries.  I hope to share tips, tricks, and fun ideas that inspire and entertain you.

Whatever the subject of the entry, I strongly encourage you to express your thoughts, ideas, interests, and personality through your responses.  If there's anything in particular that you would like me to post, don't hesitate to e-mail me or leave me a comment and I will do my best to make it happen. My updates are not as consistent as I would like, but are updates, nonetheless!  Browse the archive on the right of this page to begin reading my entries.

Enjoy, and feel free to subscribe!

Thanks,
Katie