New Threads {Review} + {Goals Update}

Hello Friends!

How is your week going?

And more importantly..how are your New Years Resolutions coming?

Mine are going pretty well...

• I'm keeping up on running for my goal towards my first half-marathon.  My miles are a little less than what I was planning on but I still feel pretty confident in my capabilities.  (I still need to sign up for a 10K in preparation...there is a Leprechaun Chase in March...we will see!)
• I've read one book this month: Julie and Julia
• I've developed some healthified sweets:
• Semi-Healthy M&M Cookies
• Crazy Brownies
• I am filling out the application for my associate's degree (due Feb 1st!)
• I did not know this was due February 1st until today.  It turns out if a student has completed their required classes in the winter quarter (as opposed to the Spring quarter), their application is due sooner.  Who knew?
• I am also working on a having a guest post for late February.  So. Excited.  An amazing blogger has agreed to do a post for a series I will be hosting involving body image.   Which brings me to my next goal I'm working towards...
• Having a blog series (In the works!  Stay tuned!)

In other news...

I got some new workout clothes!!

 

I won a $100 visa giftcard from my wings-and-beer job (God knew I was in need of some new clothes) so I headed to Target.

Crazy Brownies

 Hello Friends!

A couple of weeks ago I posted on my Friday Five Foodie Finds I posted some brownies that I was super excited to try..and others were as well.

These brownies had a very unusual ingredient.  An ingredient that would make the brownies a little healthier, but an ingredient that I would never EVER think to add myself.  And even if I thought of it, I would have never tried it.

They were Black Bean Brownies.  Crazy right?  I asked the BF to guess what the secret ingredient would be and he came up with a myriad of ideas from whole wheat to coffee to broccoli.  But he did not guess black beans.   

 (I mean who would?)

We were going to be having dinner with some friends in their lovely home and I have the tendency to make new treats and test them on other people...before even trying them myself.  I am told this is not the proper way to do things, one should be sure the dish they are bringing to a party is perfection, nevertheless, I made these crazy brownies for my friends and I was NERVOUS about them.  (I really am not trying to be rude when I do this, I just want others' opinions..)

Friday Five Foodie Finds #13

 Happy Friday Friends!

How is your week going?  Mine has been pretty busy school-wise.  Chemistry test yesterday and nutrition test today (my first one!).  I'm actually listening to the lecture again as I type..I know, talent right?

I have to get to class out of town pretty soon here so I'm just stopping by quickly to give you my weekly foodie finds this week.  Being a blogger, one of the things I do regularly is check out other blogs and I usually find amazing looking recipes that I must try.  This is a way for me to remember, "I must make this," show my readers my favorite finds, as well as give props to the talented foodies out there.

Here you are:

Friday Five Foodie Finds by Semi-Health Nut

Chicken Enchilada Soup by Some the Wiser

I worked at Chili's for three years and I enjoyed many a chicken enchilada soup before/after work.  I hope this is just as good if not better!

Red Velvet Cake Cookies by Peas and Crayons

Well Valentine's Day is coming up and these will be perfect for the holiday!  Jenn made the top 9 recently on Food Buzz so this girl is a talented photographer and recipe maker.  I like the idea of a cake cookie because it's super quick and easy...and who doesn't love that?
I already have these delightful cookies on my "Lovey-Dovey Day" pinboard on pinterest.

{WIAW #15} A Chocolate Day

Happy Wednesday Friends!

I hope you are all having a wonderful day!  

I am on a super weird sleeping schedule..I haven't been working at my coffee catering job since it has been slow there and I have progressed to a 1am bedtime and 9am rise time.  It's weird.  I feel a little lazy and a little like my morning is almost over by the time I have my breakfast and am ready to do things.  I suppose I should enjoy my sleeping in time, yes?  I am on the schedule for this coming Monday at 645am so this won't be the case for long!

It is Wednesday and if you've been following me the past few months I've been participating in WIAW!  What. I. Ate. Wednesday.

Never heard of WIAW? 
I got the idea from Jenn at Peas and Crayons and link up to her posts each week.  This uber-creative gal also inspired me to be more fun with my photos on my blog, thus the photo collages. 

What I do
I (try to) take photographs of each item of food I eat and each item I drink for an entire day (doesn't have to be Wednesday, Wednesday is just the day we share).  (Taking photos of all of the food I consume is no easy task...I applaud those who do this on a regular basis.)  Then I try to evaluate how well I ate or what areas could use some improvements. 

Why would you care what I ate?
I'm not vain enough to think that everyone will care, however this can give you some ideas for food for yourself as well as a way to space meals out.  There is a thought process out there that those who are "skinny" eat very little food or restrict calories or fat or sweets.  I would like for people to see that this does not have to be the case!  I believe a large part of the reason I am the small size that I am is that I allow myself indulgences AND I make sure to listen to my body when I am hungry.  Skipping meals is not for me.  (For more on my eating philosophy, see my Semi-Healthy page.)

Basically, I am at a healthy weight and this is how I eat!

Here's the Eats from Friday, January 20th, 2012: 

{Book Love} Julie and Julia + Self-Reflection

Hello Everyone!

If you are a blogger like me or even a professional writer, you no doubt get that fantasy of getting your big break.  That one post, that one article, that one manuscript so carefully written and sent to the publisher with hopes of becoming the next big one.

The book Julie and Julia feeds into that dream of becoming a successful (and famous) author.

{Disclaimer: I saw the movie first, and probably read the book picturing Amy Adams and Meryl Streep narrating.  This may or may not have skewed my view of the book.  Who knows.}

Julie Powell was an average gal about to turn 30 and wasn't sure she had done anything meaningful with her life.  She had dreams of becoming a successful writer, however she had yet to be published.  So she went on with life, at her dead-end-dreadful job in her tiny, crappy apartment, feeling like a total failure.  She had also recently found out that she had a syndrome that would make it difficult for her to have children and would also cause her to gain weight and grow hairy (ek).  In the midst of all of this chaos, depression, and bitterness, she decided that she would take on a huge project: cooking through the book Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child.

Some folks got upset that there was a sort of "advertisement" for the movie/book Julie and Julia on the beloved book.  But it's a sleeve so you can just take it off.. (Source)

How to Boil an Egg {or Egg Salad Delight}

Hello Friends!

The last time I made hard-boiled eggs...there was a bit of a disaster.  You would think that making a hard-boiled egg would be pretty basic, right?  Isn't this one of the first things one learns how to make?  After mac n cheese and pb&j?

I was in the mood for eggs today and I decided it was time to revisit the boiling of the eggs.  Egg salad sounded delightful and I was going to have it if I destroyed my kitchen five times over.  (Well, hopefully the same thing wouldn't happen because if I've learned anything...it's what not to do when hard-boiled egg.)

Egg Salad Delight {Print Recipe}

Ingredients:

• 2 hard-boiled eggs (see below for how to boil and peel em)
• 1 TBS Sweet Baby Rays Sandwich Sauce (or spicy mustard or mayo)
• handful of spinach
• Piece of cheese for on the sandwich (or on the side)
• Sandwich thins

Tangy with a little spice

Granookie Bars + Sweet Talk

Hello Friends!

I hope you are all having a lovely Friday and that you have weekend plans that are making you excited.  Or that the lack of plans you have are also making you excited to have a relaxing weekend.

I am currently mowing down on a piece of my delicious Granookie Bars (Granola + Cookie = Granookie) and I thought I would share with you the method behind the deliciosity.

Gah chipping nail polish.  The reason I paint my nails but once a year...

I also wanted to give you a little background on how I view sweets.  This topic has been on my mind for some time and I haven't quite discussed it quite to the extent I've wanted to.

I currently have an hour long car ride on Fridays to the university I am attending and decided I needed something interesting to listen to on the way.  Don't get me wrong, I adore listening to the radio and taking time to sing my heart out to a variety of KLove tunes, but for an hour straight...my lungs get tired.

I got a CD set for Christmas that's based off of the book Intuitive Eating.  (I've yet to read the book, although I got that for Christmas as well, so for all I know it's a word-for-word rendition of the book.)

The beginning of the first CD discusses why dieting is bad.  I agree whole-heartedly that going on a diet is never the way to lose weight.  But look at the society we live in!  So many many programs and diets and philosophies to follow that promise to change our lives if we just jump on that bandwagon.  It's so difficult for us to not fall privy to the lies and the immediate gratification that dieting brings.

{#WIAW #14} Never too Late for Gingerbread Houses

Hello Friends!

How is your week going?
Mine's pretty alright.  Filled with Chemistry homework, a nice red run, working on my Recipage Page and some much-needed Gilmore Girls time after saying good-bye to the BF yet again as he travels around with the railroad (if we were married, the railroad would be his mistress...sometimes I hate her!).

Since it is Wednesday (WIAW day) and I have not yet shared with you the gingerbread extravaganza with Sis R from last week...I've decided to change it up a little.

 Because, let's face it, sometimes I get bored with doing the same thing every week.

I've decided to simply share with you some of the random eats I've had over the past week.  I got the best Christmas present everrr, a fancy shmancy camera so I take pictures of, well, everything.

Red in the Face

No I'm not embaressed, nor do I have a sunburn.

There is also no rouge or make up of any kind on my face.

I'm red in the face because I ran 3 miles and apparently my face is allergic to sweat...or something.

I did take some time off of running last week, like I talked about on Facebook, after my little run last Monday due to a silly cold.  Maybe I'm not over the cold...could that make my face fire engine red?

I was suuuper excited to go for my run today.  Not so excited about the treadmill part (30 degree weather running is so not my thing so I had to take it indoors) but excited to start back up on my half mary training!!

Plus I got some brand new workout clothes!  Love the feel of a fresh new outfit.  Felt like a fitness expert with my matching shirt and pants.  (Pretty sure none of my gym outfits are color-coordinated.)

So I was all geared up and ready to kick some running butt!  On the schedule for today was 2 . 5 miles.  Easy peasy.

{Friday Five Foodie Finds} #12

Happy Friday Friends!

It's actually Thursday as I type this..details, right? 

I am trying to get ahead of the game because, guess what?  Tomorrow is my first day of school!

Yes, I realize that I've gone through elementary school, the awfully awkward junior high days, highschool and even community college, but tomorrow is my first day at a university.

And very much like the first day of junior high, I am nervous, unprepared and have two new (giant) friends on my chin.  Great.  At least I get to drive myself (an hour) to school and not get dropped off by my mom.  (Actually that wouldn't be too bad because then I could finish reading Julie and Julia on the way!)

Getting my fun post done tonight will make one less thing to worry about tomorrow!  Let's begin shall we?

Friday Five Foodie Finds is pretty self-explanitory.  I adore reading the posts of my fellow food-bloggers and often I think to myself, "I must make this."  I narrow it down to five for the sake of my sanity...because really can I make more than five new recipes a week?

Here are my finds for the week (in no particular order):

Jalepeno Popper Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese by Lauren's Latest

Lauren recommends that I make this for the one I love so that he will marry me.  Hmmm...

Peas and Cuties

Hello Friends!

How is your Thursday going?  It's pretty chilly in this neck of the woods...finally!  I thought winter would never come!!  I just got back from Chem class and instead of working on my online homework or the insane amount of Chem homework I have to do (don't forget about the test I have in Chem next week...where is that hole I dug??), I decided I'd share a couple of little meal ideas.

The BF was outa town and when that happens I feel generally unmotivated to make amazing meals since it's just, well, moi at the dinner table (er.. t.v. tray).  I made a couple of quick fixes that BOTH used PEAS.  *gasp*

Grilled Chicken Scampi with a Kick

Mac n Peas with Spicy Chicken

Did you ever have a food as a kid that you refused to eat?

I did.  Many foods.  And ones that everyone is supposed to like such as grapes (I adore them now...my mouth is actually watering thinking about their sweet juicy goodness), or oranges, or the worst of all worst foods that actually made me gag when I was at my babysitter's house was PEAS. 

Maybe it's the texture of the little guys that grossed me out...I mean it's not that bad but the mushy weirdness is still a little bleh to me.

Well I accidentally (believe me it was a huge accident) got frozen peas that for some reason I thought were snap peas or something other than what they actually were..which was the gag-inducing, little green monsters known as PEAS.

Quick Tai Food at Home

{Dear Diary} 1-12-12

Dear Diary,

Unglueing my eyes from the glow of my laptop screen, I gaze outdoors and see light, soft flurries.  The wind whips them into a furry and reminds me that winter does still exist.

The grey sky makes me feel gloomy and lonely.  I want to stay holed up in my house in my workout pants and over-sized sweatshirt, stolen from the BF.  Everytime he sees me wearing it, his eyes get squinty and he says, "Nice sweatshirt...looks very familiar."  To which I coyly reply that I have no idea what he's talking about.

I should be working on Chemistry.  Ugh.  Chemistry.  The thought of working on my lab makes me want to run to my basement and start digging a hole to hide in.

I picture myself with an enormous shovel and of course a hard hat.  And maybe a tool belt..and overalls.  All the essentials needed for digging a very large hole in order to escape the threatening and terrifying Chemistry lab.  Yet it continues to haunt me like a terrible dream, reminding me that if I don't face it, I will be forced to take the entire ugly class all over again.  This thought alone will cause me to jump out of my cozy spot on the couch in about six seconds.

Until next time, and if my Chem lab doesn't rip me to shreds,

*~Amanda aka Semi-Health Nut~*

{#WIAW #13} Calorie Counts and Fitday.com Review

Happy Wednesday Friends!

Well it seems as though my running goals may come to a hault this week. 

My nose is so stuffed I'm talking funny which I think is a bit of a cold coming on, not to mention the sudden change of weather here.  The area I live in, known as the great Midwest, is famous for outrageous weather patterns.  It is not at all uncommon for it to be 70 and sunny one week and snowing the next.  Take this week for example: beautiful, sunny weather in the 50s on Monday and Tuesday (yesterday) and today it is frigid and so windy my house sounds like it's whistling.

Since the weather is not agreeing with me and my nose isn't any better, I've decided to postpone today's run.

I haven't been working very much since Christmas, which is getting to be a little unnerving as my funds run low, but I have been able to work on blog stuff which is way better than work or money anyhow.  I've worked on is my Foodie Finds page, Recipage page and also WIAW page and it turns out that this will be my THIRTEENTH WIAW. 

Lucky Number 13

Never heard of WIAW? 
I got the idea from Jenn at Peas and Crayons and link up to her posts each week.  This uber-creative gal also inspired me to be more fun with my photos on my blog, thus the photo collage. 

 

What I do
I (try to) take photographs of each item of food I eat and each item I drink for an entire day (doesn't have to be Wednesday, Wednesday is just the day we share).  (Taking photos of all of the food I consume is no easy task...I applaud those who do this on a regular basis.)  Then I try to evaluate how well I ate or what areas could use some improvements. 

Why would you care what I ate?
I'm not vain enough to think that everyone will care, however this can give you some ideas for food for yourself as well as a way to space meals out.  There is a thought process out there that those who are "skinny" eat very little food or restrict calories or fat or sweets.  I would like for people to see that this does not have to be the case!  I believe a large part of the reason I am the small size that I am is that I allow myself indulgences AND I make sure to listen to my body when I am hungry.  Skipping meals is not for me.  (For more on my eating philosophy, see About Me - Semi-Healthy Life.)

Basically, I am at a healthy weight and this is how I eat!

Semi-Healthy M&M Cookies

Hello Friends!

Well it's Monday and it's January 2012 so it feels like a day of renewed committment to goals.  I put up the 2012 calendars around the house (yep, 9 days after the first of the year...don't judge).  And seriously, we have a lot of calendars around the house so this was a decent feat.  Especially putting up the ginormous shoe calendar I got for Christmas (my mom, whom I love and adore, has it in her head I am a shoe diva...maybe I will be one day, but I haven't bought a shoe in months...and it was probably a pair of flip-flops from Target).

Over the weekend I started on one of my 2012 goals: creating healthy desserts.  I'm not sure what really qualifies as a healthy dessert, but basically I am working on making them healthier.  The BF is a big part in this decision because the poor guy is trying to lose weight, meanwhile I am baking delicious goodies left and right.  I figure I can still bake for him as long as I try to healthify the recipe, right?

Semi-Healthy M&M Cookies {Print Recipe}

The Daddio gave me a giftcard over the Christmas holiday to help with all of the goodies I was baking.  He wrote a little note saying it was to "help spread the joy of my baking."  Isn't he awesome?

Well it turns out I didn't go back to the store until a few days ago (when I made the delicious Tai at home meal) and I used the giftcard to get some new foodie items to try.  Two of these items were Chia seeds  and Flaxseed flour.

Oh how I adore shopping in the Health Foods section at the grocery store.

Quick Tai Food at Home

Happy Friday Everyone!

I knew the BF was coming over for a quick dinner before we headed out last night and it just so happened I was all stocked up from my grocery extravaganza that day. 

The Daddio gave me a giftcard for the grocery store and I took that as an opportunity to buy a cart-full of food...many new items I've been wanting to buy.  Thanks Daddio!

Due to the grocery extravaganza, I had to move some things around in my cupboards to fit all of my foodie finds.  I discovered some Asian Sesame noodles (one of those side dishes in a bag) and it got my creative juices flowing.
Thus was born my  
Quick Tai Food at Home Meal

Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2


Ingredients:

• Asian Sides Thai Sesame Noodles
• Grilled chicken
• 1/2 cup peas
• 1 pepper (we used orange)
• handful of peanuts, chopped

{WIAW #12} Easy Dinner and Dessert

Hello Again Friends!

I just got done with an amazing run!  Just a little 2-miler but it felt just right.  It was in the 40s so I did have to bring a little tissue because my nose gets a little runny on cold runs, and my throat got a little sore....but an hour later I feel like a million bucks!

Now it's that time of the week.  Time for WIAW!  What. I. Ate. Wednesday.

Never heard of WIAW? 
I got the idea from Jenn at Peas and Crayons and link up to her posts each week.  This uber-creative gal also inspired me to be more fun with my photos on my blog, thus the photo collage. 

 

What I do
I (try to) take photographs of each item of food I eat and each item I drink for an entire day (doesn't have to be Wednesday, Wednesday is just the day we share).  (Taking photos of all of the food I consume is no easy task...I applaud those who do this on a regular basis.)  Then I try to evaluate how well I ate or what areas could use some improvements. 

Why would you care what I ate?
I'm not vain enough to think that everyone will care, however this can give you some ideas for food for yourself as well as a way to space meals out.  There is a thought process out there that those who are "skinny" eat very little food or restrict calories or fat or sweets.  I would like for people to see that this does not have to be the case!  I believe a large part of the reason I am the small size that I am is that I allow myself indulgences AND I make sure to listen to my body when I am hungry.  Skipping meals is not for me.  (For more on my eating philosophy, see About Me - Semi-Healthy Life.)

Basically, I am at a healthy weight and this is how I eat!

WIAW Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

Hey DailyMile! First Run of 2012

Hello Friends!

I am still high on New Year Resolutions!  (P.S.  Check out the post and link-up or share your own resolutions!  I want to hear what your goals are for 2012!)

One of my goals for 2012 is to run a half-marathon.  I am already signed up for one on May 20th and since I am a college student and did pay a bit-o-cash to run in it, I figure I should commit!

I just finished transferring my miles for January through April of 2011 from Runnersworld.com to my Dailymile.com account.  I added 80 more miles to my 2011 count to bring last year's miles to a grand total of 218.  And that was with a back injury where I couldn't run for a few months.  I figure I could run at least 300 miles this year eh?  Another goal to add to my resolutions!

If you don't have a way to log your running miles, give DailyMile a try!  

It is an excellent resource and motivator.  You can see how you are doing by week, month or the whole year.  It even tells you your top stats such as pace and number of miles. 

The lifetime stats are pretty humorous as well...do you know how many doughnuts you burned off running last year?  I do! 

Happy New Year: 2012 Goals and Link-Up

 **Happy New Year!!** (again...can you say it too many times??)

I am so thrilled for 2012 and for the possibilities it brings.
I feel it in my bones that this year will be a life-changing year.  Yes, my bones are that perceptive.

I have been working all day long on my New Year resolution list (after I created my "Best of 2011" link-up post).  I also created an inspiration board which I am quite proud of and I will blissfully stare at the index cards with goals on them surrounded by colorful paper and believe I can change myself and in turn the world.  My enthusiasm will of course waver as the year goes on, however I will try to hold to it for as long as possible.

This was no easy task for sure...but it was amazingly messy and creative.  It brought me back to the days when I'd spend hours scrapbooking.  Cutting with funky scissors and gluing photographs and writing captions in fancy lettering was a favorite pastime of mine for many years.  Therefore I giddily dug out my scrapbook paper and a bunch of magazines and spend about four hours creating my masterpiece.

Here are some of my Goals 2012:
I tried to be very specific with my goals because I've learned that general goals are a little harder to attain.  Such as "create 10 new recipes" as opposed to "some recipes."  I even have uber-organized categories for my goals.  Hey they're my goals and I can be organized if I wanna!

Best of 2011

Hello Friends!

**Happy New Year!!**

Holy wow can you believe it is 2012??
This year was gone quicker than a batch of cookies in my house!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Awesome Cookie

This year I got a little more serious about my blog.
I started posting at least twice a week, got a Facebook page and finally got on Twitter.  I adore writing in this make-shift diary/ recipe book/ fitness journal.  I also can't express how much I enjoy the support from my readers and my friends who read my blog on a regular basis.  I know it's not the most profound source of information and I don't write, nor do I intend to write, every single day, but I do hope that I am making my little impact on the world in a positive manner.  If anything, you can always cackle at me and say to yourself, "Oh I could do waaay better than this."  But of course you would feel bad and write me a nice comment...wouldn't you? ;-)

I've done a bit of a recap of this past year in the life of the Semi-Health Nut.
Check out some of my posts from this year and feel free to comment on any of them.  I read and respond to comments on almost a daily basis! :-)

Happy Birthday to Me!

I got really into running this year and had planned on doing a half-marathon so I requested a running watch for my 24th Birthday.  I received it and adore using it to log my miles.  I was unable to run the half-marathon due to a back injury at work, but watch out 2012!  I've signed up for one in May and am also planning on one in September!
Cookie ina Cookie

Got this idea from Lee at Fit Foodie Finds.  I started reading many new blogs this year and they keep me inspired and at the same time totally in awe at the pure talent out there.