Cupcake Experiments 1

Recently, I have found myself REALLY enjoying baking!  If anyone is following me on Pinterest, you will see that I have mostly food and it is probably split halfway between desserts and other types of food.  Ok, yes, you caught me… I have a MAJOR sweet tooth!

So, I have basically been finding excuses to bake and NOT keep it all at the house!  Several weeks ago one of my co-workers had a birthday and I decided that I would bring something in to celebrate.  This is when I had to decide what to make.  I had previously experimented making a couple of cakes for Noah's birthdays.  I think I did pretty well! :-)

(Noah's first birthday cake, made with love by Mommy.)

(Noah's second birthday cake, made with love by Mommy.)

These were very complicated and time consuming.  I wanted to do something smaller and perhaps easier.  I chose cupcakes.  They are so much easier to serve to a bunch of people.  So, I went to the store and got some yellow cake mix, some marshmallow crème and some chocolate buttercream frosting. 

After they cupcakes had cooled, I cut out a whole from the center and filled them with the marshmallow.  Then, I used a decorating bag and tip to frost them.  This was the end result!

I think they turned out really well, what do you think?  The people at work loved them and thought they looked great too.  :-)

So, I am trying to take some polls, what is you favorite cupcake flavor/type ?  And what is your LEAST favorite thing about cupcakes?

Slowly… Getting Started

As promised, this is my first update about my training.  I have to admit, it has not gone as well as I had hoped.  The first week, I actually exercised for at least 30 minutes 3 days.  It started out well! 

Week two got a little busier and it got a little harder to stay motivated.  I still exercised, but only twice. 

And then... week three… yeah, I completely skipped this week altogether.  This past Sunday (the end of week three) my pastor had a sermon in which he spoke about how you have to plan out your decisions ahead of time.  In the heat of the moment, (after dinner when you are finished putting the kids to bed and sitting on the couch for a few minutes sound WONDERFUL), you will not often make the right decision.  You have decide what you are going to do ahead of time.  It is so odd how God uses different things at different times to whisper directly to your soul! 

That Sunday at the end of the day, Matt and I talked about what our exercise schedule was going to be.  We decided instead of him trying to workout in the morning before the kids wake up and me at night after they go to bed (so one of us was always available just in case) that we were going to work out together right after the kids went down for the night. 

So far, it has worked REALLY well.  We have worked out three days this week and are actually motivated to keep going!  We decided to do a circuit training program called Insanity.  It has definitely been difficult, but we have both remained motivated.  I think there are two big reasons for this.  First, we are working out together, motivating each other.  Second, we decided what was going to happen ahead of time. 

The hardest thing for me has been to overcome my depression over my body image as I have begun to workout.  Doing exercise gets things that you don't want to move, moving.  My biggest issue what I lovingly call my second tongue.  Many of you mother's out there know exactly what I am talking about.  Yes, I am obviously being over dramatic (a lovely characteristic of mine), but you get the gist. 

This has been a hindrance AND a motivation.  A motivation because I want to GET RID OF IT!!!  A hindrance because my belly LITERALLY gets in my way as I try to exercise.  I cannot even do some of the yoga/stretching portions correctly. 

I WILL continue to exercise, and not JUST to meet my goal of running a marathon.  I need to get healthy for my kids and husband.  I want to be able to continue to do things with them and grow as old as I can. 

I decided to use this blog as a way to help keep me accountable, therefore, I am going to post my current weight and measurements and then update them as I continue to exercise. 

I am excited about this adventure, share your adventures: frustrations and stories of encouragement with me!  We can help keep each other motivated!

Day 3 of Insanity Workout

• Weight: 206.2 lbs

• Body Fat: 42%

• Natural Waist: 39 inches

• Waist at Belly Button: 44.5 inches

• Hips: 46 inches

Feel free to share your stats and updates with me too!