this IS my real hair: October 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

my boring life...

I have been up to exactly nothing.

getting back into the gym and eating healthy has taken all of my time.

[you can follow me on myfitnesspal if you are interested]

way back on September 13th - our wedding day!! - I was awarded a Liebster Award

clearly I am... behind with answering these questions, but I am thankful nevertheless.

so, shout out to the lovely Megan from You Just Do for nominating me.

you all know the award and the rules, so I'm not going to post or follow any of them.

if you are all whatthefuckisthiscrazytalkingabout you can read the detail's over at Megan's.

1. If you could relive any period in your life, when would it be?

I would have to say when Aaron proposed to me.
it was amazing and I wish I had been dressed better...

2. Favorite restaurant?

hands down, no questions asked, Kona Grill is my absolute favorite restaurant.

I always go for the sushi, but the best part of this place is that they have all types of food:

sushi, seafood, steaks, pasta, flat breads and pizza. anything you want, they've got it.

3. What's your favorite dish to cook? Maybe even give the recipe?!

I don't think I have a favorite..
I really enjoy cooking and trying new things though.

4. Favorite reality show?

Extreme Weight Loss - it is like my crack

5. If you could have any puppy what kind would you get?

I would kill someone for an Oreo Great Dane, and not even just a puppy.
they are so beautiful, smart and lazy. I just want to cuddle one all day long. but incase you didn't know, I already have a pretty lazy, smart and beautiful pup, Kalie

6. What's one life goal that you have? One you've already reached or one you're working on.

it would be great if I could finally finish with school,
and get a job that I love and am good at.

7. How did you meet your best friend?

oh my gosh... what an interesting story. and by interesting I mean totally crazy.

Breanna and I met back in High School and we actually hated one another.

it was a really weird back and forth "hey, lets hangout" "hey, I'm gonna kick your ass" situation.

we became close friends probably in.. 2005 and have been pretty much inseparable since.

8. How do you relieve stress?

I love to do CrossFit when I am pissed off or stressed.
there is just something about beating the crap out of something that just cures anything.

9. How many siblings do you have? Where are you in the birth order?

I have two brothers: Ryan [above] and Riley [below]

I also have two sisters: Samantha [front] and Catherine [behind]

I am [for better or for worse] the oldest of all of them.

Me [26], Ryan [21], Riley [11], Catherine [7] and Samantha [4]

10. Can you speak another language?

I can speak a bunch of random Spanish.

when we were in Mexico for our honeymoon a lot of it started coming back to me.

I definitely wouldn't say that I can carry on a conversation or anything though.

11. What is your go to shopping store?

hello, it is obviously Target

if you wanted to know me even better, I answered Megan's assigned questions too.

1. Say you had to name a baby girl and boy right now, what would you name them?

well, if I got to choose the names all by myself then this wouldn't be so difficult.
girl: Elizabeth
boy: Henry
I know Henry is like a nerd name but I just love it. it is so cute.
I also realized yesterday that my baby names are all royal and shit...
I probably need to think of new ones.

2. What fast food restaurant is your weakness?

Jimmy Johns - freaky fast and freaky fucking delicious.

3. What is your favorite thing to bake?

I am probably the worst baker on the face of the planet.
nothing ever comes out like it is supposed to.
and more often than not, it ends up on fire.

4. Name 2 blogs you love to read on a daily basis?

My CrossFit gym's blog: http://www.switchcrossfit.com/blog/
and a bunch of other blogs that I follow on blogger dashboard

5. Favorite app on your phone?

this is a questions that I am not sure I can answer.
CrossFit app, Instagram, Twitter, Messaging, Email.
all. of. it.
the. entire. damn. phone.

6. Middle name?

Amanda Leigh - I used to hate it when I was a kid.
I couldn't understand why my parents didn't cut me a break and spell it the easy way.

7. What is the greatest vacation you have ever been on?

I was laid off from my full-time job in November 2012.
during December 2012 and January 2013, Aaron and I took the greatest trip EVER.
we drove down south to Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston and other amazing places.
then we drove back home for Christmas and left again to drive to NYC for New Years.
it was absolutely amazing and I cannot wait to take a trip this long again.

8. Favorite childhood toy?

my brother, Ryan.
when we were little I used to dress him up like a girl and call him Ry-ita.
I love you brother lol

10. Have you ever been to Michigan?

does living here count?

11. Can you play an instrument?

I used to be able to play the recorder?

XXO Amanda

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Thursday, October 17, 2013

it's just a muffin top

hola and good morning.

unless you are reading this and it's not morning...

then you can insert whatever greeting makes most sense.

now I just sound ridiculous. moving on...

I have been preoccupied with a death in the family this week so I don't have too much to say.

what I do have is fantastic recipe for Paleo Blueberry Muffins.

don't let them being Paleo discourage you from making them.

these muffins are seriously so good. everyone in my family loved them.

if you can go gluten/dairy free on something tasty, why not do it?

Paleo Blueberry Muffins

what you need:

2 cups almond flour

1/2 cup tapioca flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/3 cup coconut palm sugar [I totally cheated and used real sugar. sorry not sorry!]

1/4 cup pastured butter [room temperature]

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract

3 large eggs [room temperature]

1/2 cup plain, unsweetened almond milk

1 1/2 cup fresh blueberries [1 cup frozen]

how you make it:

**PREP: eggs and butter should be at room temperature.
               leave eggs and butter on counter and bring to room temperature before starting the recipe.
               your eggs should not feel cold and your butter should be completely soft.
               for me this took 2 hours.

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin pan with 12 muffin liners.

2. combine all of your dry ingredients in one large mixing bowl.

3. combine palm sugar and butter in a smaller bowl.

using a hand mixer, beat palm sugar and butter together until well creamed [about 4-5 minutes on medium]

4. add vanilla and almond extracts as well as your eggs.
beat an additional 2-3 minutes on medium.

5. combine wet and dry ingredients into one bowl.

6. slowly add almond milk while continuing to blend with your mixer.

7. gently fold blueberries into the batter.

8. evenly divide batter into each muffin liner.
bang the bottom of the pan to ensure that there are no air bubbles.

9. bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are brown.

now eat those bitches because they are taste and "healthy"

XXO Amanda

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Wednesday, October 16, 2013

packing on the pounds

I said it wouldn't happen... but I think it is happening.

everybody told me that I would gain weight after the wedding.

I told everybody that I already had my fat phase and I was done with it.

it may be a small increase [3-4 lbs] I have experienced my weight going up.

I have also had a long time injury experiencing a flare up.

for as long as I can remember I have had an issue with my wrist.

it always comes and goes and has never been as painful as this time around.

this was not a Crossfit injury, but the workouts certainly didn't help.

today marks two weeks out of the gym and I am feeling the effects.

I'm tired, I'm lazy, I'm bloated, I have headaches.

I have been wearing this crazy brace and on pain killers for the last two weeks.
but yesterday was the first day I didn't wear the brace, and it seems okay.
I need to make an appointment with an Orthopedic Specialist,
but until then I am heading back into the gym.
I am returning to modified Crossfit workouts on Saturday.
I couldn't be more excited about it.

if you have read yesterday's post you will also notice a new diet in my life.
I am trying out a Paleo-ish diet, with a main focus on just treating my body better.
the majority of my meals will be Paleo, but every now and then a girl needs a potato!

I will keep you posted with my failures and successes, and of course recipes!

XXO Amanda

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Tuesday, October 15, 2013

ticked off #paleo

my Paleo grocery store haul. so much good stuff. I can't wait to get cooking!

when I first started this post I had absolutely nothing to be ticked off about.

however, after making my very first Paleo recipe, I am now thoroughly pissed.

Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies

what you need:

   1 cup almond flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

   3 tablespoons melted coconut oil

   2 tablespoons honey

   1 teaspoon vanilla extract

   1 tablespoon almond milk

how you make it:

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees
line your baking sheet with parchment paper [I didn't.. I should have]

2. combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl

3. whisk wet ingredients until blended in a small bowl

4. combine wet and dry ingredients
mix until completely blended

5. tap batter out onto your baking sheet in 8-10 small portions
press batter down in the center of each "cookie"

6. bake for 11-12 minutes, or until the bottoms just begin to brown

7. remove from oven and let cool 2-3 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack

**the cookies will be soft when removed from the oven
they will firm up while cooling [unless you are me and they never do because you added too much honey]