Exercising

This is a topic that most people don't like to talk about. It's something that everyone knows they should do, but very few actually take the time to do it regularly. I used to be like the majority of the population in that going for a 20 minute run or lifting weights three times a week sounded less desirable than sticking my head into the mouth of a hungry bear.

However, I have overcome the hump and have been working out regularly for exactly one month now! Don't get me wrong, I'm nowhere near the realm of a fitness junkie, but I can easily say that it has become less terrible. I have more energy now and I'm not cold all the time (like is usual for me this time of year).

How on earth did I find the motivation to continue doing such a dreadful thing five to six days of the week? Well I'm glad you asked because I have some superb advice to share with you!

1. Start small. If you expect to go from zero to ripped in a week, you'll likely give up before you even give yourself a chance. There are plenty of websites dedicated to building up muscle slowly or endurance when you run, so those might be useful resources to check out.
2. Set reasonable goals for yourself each week and push yourself to accomplish them. It will feel great when you get to the end of the week and you've stuck to the goals you set out to accomplish. I have found this to be quite encouraging.
3. Don't be too hard on yourself. We're all human, not superhuman, so don't expect to get the body of a Greek god or goddess. Everyone has a healthy weight and body fat range. Aim for yours.
4. Switch it up once in a while. I found that if I was doing the same workout routine or running the exact same route, I got bored and started making excuses to skip it or to push it off just one more day. If you're planning on targeting your abs one week, try different moves each day.
5. Find motivation that is personal. There's a saying that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels, but maybe looking good in a bathing suit doesn't sound nearly as enticing as chocolate pie or deep dish pizza. If this is the case, your motivation for exercising should probably be something else. It could be inspired by entertainment such as The Walking Dead or the newest Hunger Games movie. Being physically fit enough to survive in either of worlds portrayed there might just be the thing you need to get off the couch. Or maybe your motivation could be as personal as wanting to be healthy enough to be around as your future grand-children grow up. It really is up to you!

If you need an idea of how to get started or were curious about how to switch up your workout, check out my board on Pinterest called Recipe for Bikini Body. I've pinned plenty of good ideas there for targeting different muscle zones, a variety of aerobic exercises, a few stretching routines, and some other fitness-related things. Good luck my fellow to-be fit individuals!

 

Catching Fire

The newest Hunger Games movie, Catching Fire came out this last weekend and I was crazy enough to go to the midnight premier on Thursday. I thought they did a great job of following the book as closely as they could. I also thought that they did a great job casting the new characters. I mean, Finnick Odair was quite the cutie don't you think?

However, I was disappointed that they didn't include the scene where Peeta and Katniss were watching the video of Haymitch's hunger games win. That was something I was definitely looking forward to seeing in the movie, and they totally left it out!

I am already looking forward to the movie (or movies?) of the last book. What did y'all think of Catching Fire? Leave a comment and let me know!

Deluxe Pecan Pie

Deluxe Pecan Pie

Ingredients:
1 pie crust for 9" pie
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. melted butter
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup brandy
1 cup pecan halves (I like to throw a handful or so into the filling, and then use the rest to make a pretty design on top)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In small mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar, salt, butter, syrup, and cream together. Once well combined, stir in vanilla extract and brandy. This is also the time to stir in the pecans, whether it be a handful or the full cup. (See pictures for the design.)
3. Pour mixture into pie crust and bake 40-50 minutes, or until filling is set. Let cool.

My dad loves pecan pie, so my mom always makes it around the holidays. Let me know what you think and share the recipe for your favorite pie in the comment box below!

I guess it was a hit! It started disappearing before I could even get a picture of the whole thing finished.

Peachy Yams

Peachy Yams

Ingredients:
3 yams (1 lb. peeled and chopped) or 18 oz. can of yams, drained
3 Tbs. brown sugar
1/8 tsp. ginger (mixed into brown sugar)
1 Tbs. butter or margarine
1 8.75 oz. can of peaches, drained
Cashews or Marshmellows (I like to use both!)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In 1-quart casserole dish, layer half the yams, half the brown sugar, half the peaches, and half the butter. Repeat the layer and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until yams are glazed.
3. Spoon the liquid from the pan over the yams one or two times. Sprinkle the cashews and marshmallows on top and cook for 5 more minutes.

This was always one of my favorite recipes at Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy it too!

Fruit Salad

Fruit Salad

Ingredients:
1 can crushed pineapple
1 can fruit cocktail
1 pkg. frozen strawberries
1 6 oz. box of red jello
1 8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese (cut into chucks)
1 8 oz. tub of cool whip
1 cup of nuts (I prefer pecans)

Directions:

1. Prepare jello as directed, but don't use the cold water that is called for, as the moisture in the other cans will make up for it.
2. Add the pineapple, fruit cocktail, strawberries, and cream cheese to the jello. Let jello set.
3. After the jello is set, stir in the cool whip and nuts.

Here it is, all finished and delicious!

Welcome

Hello wonderful world of web surfers and blog readers, my name is Claira. I have always loved the idea of starting a blog, but I have never taken the time to learn how to do it successfully. So here I am. Just a relatively normal college student trying my hand at creating a blog that might just be worth reading one of these days.

 I suppose the best way to start would be to tell you that I interested in an array of different things, and chances are I'll be posting about a good majority of them over the next several weeks, as I'm learning how to do this. I love cooking, camping, crafting, children, and most of all, Christ. I also have other interests that do not start with the letter "C" that you will just have to stay tuned for.


I would be delighted to have you come along with me on this journey as I share my passions and every-day experiences with you. Please don't hesitate to comment on anything I post. I would truly love to hear from you!

(And if you have any suggestions or tips that might be helpful as I dive into this blogging experience, I would be eternally grateful for those as well!)

Well, don't let me keep you here any longer. Have a look around and tell me what you think!