Buffalo Chicken Mini Pizzas

So.. today I wanted pizza. I actually had a taste for those $1 something Tostino's pizzas (weird, I know). But then I thought buffalo chicken pizza sounded good too. However, I really didn't want to go to the store so I thought I'd just check out my Pinterest cooking board to see what I had. I came across the veggie pizza pin and had an amazing idea. The veggie ones were just mini pizzas on english muffins. I thought, I have all the things for a buffalo chicken mini pizza! So that's what I did. Here's what you need:

Ingredients:

english muffins

shredded chicken

buffalo sauce

mozzarella cheese

ranch

First I preheated the oven to 400 degrees. While that was warming up, I split and laid out the muffins.

 Next I put about a tablespoon and a half of Frank's Red Hot (thick) sauce.

For the chicken, I used chunked premium canned chicken. Canned chicken kind of grosses me out, but I use it anyway. I took pieces from the can (after I drained it) and shredded the chicken and put enough on to cover the hot sauce.

Next I put a small handful of cheese over the chicken.. I like a lot of cheese, so I made sure it covered the entire muffin.

 Put it in the oven for about 10-12 minutes and there you have it. Mini Buffalo Chicken pizzas.

 Serve with some ranch and enjoy! They were DELISH.

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2 of 30: 3 fears

Refer back to The List
Number 2: List three legitimate fears and why/how they became that way.

-1-

 I'm afraid of someone breaking into my house. When I was in 7th or 8th grade, someone broke into my dad's house and I was the first one home. I can close my eyes and still see it all. It was a Thursday night, my mom was dropping me off after youth group, had Burger King with me.. opened the door and the porch door was already opened and my dog was at the front door to greet me. After I walked into the house, I set my food down, turned around and noticed the tv gone and wires coming out, turned again and saw the computer gone.. and I ran back outside to my mom who was luckily still out there. It was also the first time in my life I saw my dad cry. It terrified me and took me a long time to be by myself at the house (especially at night) again. Still have that fear that I will come home and something like that would happen again.

-2-

I'm afraid something will happen to my dad. I know everyone has that fear of losing someone they love.. but it's not the same with my mom. It's not that I'm not afraid of something happening to her, but to my dad, it's more of a conscious fear. And I think that's because I know my mom's heart and her faith, so I'm consciously, not as worried about her. I know she would be with her Creator. For my dad, it's a bit harder. I feel like he always has something going on with his health or heart and I don't talk to him a whole lot... I'm just afraid that something will happen to him, that it would be a long time since I've seen or have talked to him, and that I'll never see him again. Just hearts my heart thinking about it.

-3-

I'm afraid of never having a family. I just see so many amazing single women and it just baffles me that they don't have that. Especially the ones that I know are longing for it. I just don't understand it and pray that later in life, no one will have that same thought of me.

up next: Your relationship with your parents

1 of 30: Random Things

Well, if you read the last blog, you'd know I stumbled across the 30 Things challenge.

1 of 30 = 20 Random facts about yourself.

here goes.

1. i get to hang out with a bunch of rowdy, loud, genuinely sincere, crazy, loving three, four and five year olds 8hrs a day, 5 days a week. Most days, I truly do love my job.

2. sometimes I feel like I can talk to preschoolers better than adults.

3. starting this summer, I'm going back to school to get another MA.. this time around, in school counseling.

4. this is the first year I've ever stuck with a "new years goal"

5. i want two more tattoos.

6. i can't wait to live on my own and decorate my own place, my way

7. i honestly love to travel. love the plane rides. love the road trips. love the pictures. love love love it all (minus the packing and unpacking)

8. i hate confrontation but i'm getting more confident with it

9. spirited art has made me 10x more confident in painting. i feel like i can paint the world.

10. i dont ever plan on moving back to indiana (sorry fam)

11. Crossings is the first church I've ever truly felt a part of something much bigger than me

12. i randomly bust into song if you say a word or phrase that reminds me of one. it's a skill.

13. people's love for books = my love for movies. i love getting so engrossed in a different reality for two hours to hear a story.

14. the love for reading comes and goes.. however, i love buying books for my bookshelf.

15. the whole miracle of life/birth puts me in awe no matter how many people i know go through it. 

16. i strive to love like my creator... it's a rather difficult process sometimes.

17. i hope to one day make my house decor all DIY

18. i love organizing.. doesn't matter what it is.

19. i wish it were fall year round.

20. i think i'm more scared to be 26 than 30.

next up:  Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

The List

Well... I'm still going to post about the "healthy living" aspects.. however, I'd like to add this one in here too for a while. It's not going to be an every day thing.. it's going to be a "here and there" type of thing :) I know.. in the past I've done a "30 Pictures" thing like this, and it didn't last long.. but I think this will be different. I want to blog more with different ideas and projects I'm doing as well as continuing the Healthy Living too.

Anyway.. I  was searching blogs tonight and came across Hopes and Dreams via Pinterest (I swear Pinterest is changing lives!) Anyway. She did a "::hopes::and::dreams::: 30 Things:" blog and here's the idea: the list is set out to record different parts of your personality. Not only do your readers learn more about you, but you tend to learn more about yourself as well since some of these questions aren't easy. Here it is...

The List:

 1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrasing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misundertand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

The One Where She Strives to Live Healthier

I'm watching Friends. I thought it was appropriate to have a title with, "The One Where.."

I know, I know.. I missed a week. I almost missed this week too, but alas, here I am.

Last week wouldn't have been too exciting. No changes really. Only got one run in and weight stayed the same.

This week I got four run's in and lost only 1.5lbs this week.. Kind of sucked since I pushed so hard, but at least it's something. I'm up to 13.5lbs since January! Slowly going... My goal was hopefully 10 a month since I lost 10 in January.. but we'll see for February; still two weeks left.

I'm up to 1.25 miles running straight! Pretty sure I won't hit the two mile mark in these next two weeks, but maybe; we'll see. Just gotta make sure I keep getting those runs in!

This week also started my budget!! I don't think I've ever been excited to start one. I made my one for March (just have to break it down to two-week sets), and made one for the last two weeks! Took out all my cash that I needed and started using my sweet wallet my mom bought me for Christmas in 2010. You can see a similar design here. I'm only on day 5, but it's been alright! We'll see how it is next weekend though when my wallet is empty :) haha... but hopefully it won't be. No cash = no more money to spend. Not going to use my debit card at all because the rest of that money is for my Emergency Fund!

I also went a little crazy and started planning on my upcoming trips! I'm going to visit my dear cousin in VA in April for a few days, so I estimated how much I'd need for that and how many checks I'd get before then. From there, I figured out how much from each check I'd need in order to have that money by the appropriate time. I did the same thing for all three weddings I have to attend this summer too since I will be traveling a lot. Figured out how much I'd need, how many checks til each wedding date, and then how much from each check I'd need to take out in order to have it by each wedding. I love figuring out things like this! Now I just HAVE to stick with it. After I this summer, my Christmas savings will begin! I just bought something today to start either a Christmas or birthday present (either September or December gift). I just saw it and thought of an amazing idea for my sister! I'd LOVE to share it.. however... she reads this :)

ALSO this week was my Interview for Grad School numero dos. I'll write more about that when I hear if I was accepted onto the program. It was something...

That's all I have for today. There's supposedly a winter snow coming.. Lots of talk about The Blizzard of 93 are going on.. how it was in the 60s one day and 24hrs later there was a huge snowstorm and people were snowed in for a week. Last year was the most snow I've seen in Knoxville in the (then) six years I've been here. This is the first year I haven't seen even a little snow stick. I feel like it's coming and when it does, it'll be good. I just hope for one good snow day before spring comes! And definitely before April when I'll be driving to VA.

Stay safe if you already have snow. Have a great week!

Life.Is.Good

Life is good.

Sometimes I just kind of sit back and think about my life… I just don’t have words to explain how I’m feeling. (Side note.. I have a feeling this may be a lengthy one today. So if you’re tracking the 30 Day Challenge, see last few paragraphs). Anywho… I am just thankful for where I am today and with what’s going on in my life. When the New Year hit, I kind of got irritated because of all the “resolutions” that people make and don’t keep (pot calling the kettle black.. I admit it). But this year it just irritated me because I thought, “Why does the ‘new year’ need to be where people start fresh? You can start fresh ANY TIME THAT YOU’D LIKE.” I just kept having this thought in my head…. as I made resolutions or goals for 2012. Just to off track a minute.. I have been running this past week and when I run, lots of things go through my head. Usually it’s, PUSH YOURSELF KATRINA! But during my last run, I thought, why is it called, “resolutions?” People make goals, not resolutions.. and then the more I thought about it, the more I “resolutions” was actually good.. because a resolution is usually a cure for a problem, right? That’s what people do at the new year… find a “problem” in their life and try to stick with a resolution for it.

Anyway… just a random thought that was in my head… back to making those resolutions… I think people make them at the new year because, well, it’s the new year. It’s almost like it’s a blank sheet of paper and you get to start completely fresh. I still think you can do that at any point in your life, but maybe it just gives people an excuse to live the way they do… or for me, as I look back, I look at the year as a whole.. and wow. What a year 2011 was. SO much was gone through. I finished my first year teaching… I started my second year teaching… I had friends move across the country… I had very close friends get married or engaged… my best friend and cousin moved and is away from me for the first time in over 10years… I moved yet again… and of course, the joke of the year was always “Katrina and her boys… which boy is it this time?” Which is HILARIOUS to me, because, well, if you know me, that has never been me. I went through dating one, not sure what you’d call the next, and then a pretty serious relationship after that, then ending the year single (which I’m okay with). For each of those, hard decisions were made, friendships were formed, heartache happened… 2011 was just a whirlwind of emotions for me, lots of changes, and “grown up” decisions.

As I looked back at 2011, I knew my perspective was going to change for 2012. I had a “clean page” to look at. I wanted to go in it not knowing what was to come, but knowing that whatever God had in store, it was going to be good. And I can’t even explain that feeling to you.. but I KNEW that it was going to be a great year (not saying 2011 was.. I learned A LOT about myself). So.. it’s only February 5, and these past 5 weeks have been SO good. Maybe it’s just because my perspective has changed. Maybe it’s because I’m looking at things in a new light. I don’t know. But I honestly don’t know that I’ve ever been this happy. Let’s take a look at different areas of my life so I can explain more.

Friends: I have the greatest friends. I feel like friendships are growing deeper. I am trying to be more intentional in those friendships and new friendships that have been made.

Crossings: I can’t say how much this community means to me.. and I don’t know that I ever could. But I feel a part of something big and life changing. Through every Sunday.. through

Small Group.. through Kid City.. through Hospitality.. through FPU…

Health: I don’t think I’ve ever “stuck” to working out.. but I have the last five weeks and I FEEL good. AND I’m doing a 5K! Who would have thought. Not me, that’s for sure.

Expenses: I am SO looking forward to budgeting and not living and worrying about expenses as much as I do.

Work: I love my kids. This new year has been awesome and encouraging.

Future: I’m going to Grad School… AGAIN. What in the world am I thinking!? I have no idea… but I am so excited for “what’s next.”

Maybe I covered it all.. maybe I didn’t… but I just love my life and where I am right now. You know when you are in a new relationship and you’re just head over heels for that person and you just can’t stop smiling? That’s how I feel. Maybe I’m falling in love with my life..

Okay.. that’s my rant and what’s on my heart. Are you still with me? If you are.. well, thanks.

To the Healthy Aspects of it all…

FPU is great. I’m loving it and can’t wait for each week to learn something new. Budgeting is going to be hard, but I’m excited.

I lost 4lbs this week, so I’m at 12lbs gone! WooHoo!

30 Day Challenge.. well… I didn’t finish it. LET ME EXPLAIN. I just got sick of doing the same exercise over again. I think I’ll incorporate some of it every once in awhile, but for now, it’s not for me. I feel like a quitter sometimes because I only had three stinking days left.. but I don’t feel like I quit because it was too hard. Does that make sense? Instead, I started running. I’ve been doing that on Mondays anyway, well, part walking.. but I’ve started running this past week. I did it three times last week and RAN MY FIRST MILE! NO BREAKS! It was quite a big thing for me. I want to try to start adding a little on at a time and hopefully be able to run the whole 5k in April, but we’ll see. My legs felt like spaghetti last week.

Well. That’s all I have for today. Ha.. all I have.. it was quite a bit. Thanks for reading though. Thanks for continuing to read and your encouragement as well. It means a lot.

Hope you all get to go to a fun Superbowl party tonight! I don’t really care about who wins… I’m excited for the party aspect of it all and for the new previews shown during the commercials!

Til next week…

"healthy" living? psh.

Well.. I don't have much to post about this past week as far as the 30 Day Challenge goes.. I got sick and I was able to do one day, and that's it... putting me behind almost a stinkin week. I think I was most mad about this then anything. My friend Rachel and I walk/ran 3 miles on Monday, and I worked out Tuesday. Wednesday, whatever it was, hit me.. so I was down Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I was getting my energy back. Today I thought about doing one or two of them, but my uterus decided to try to rip itself out of me, causing me to be in bed until 2:00 today (sorry if you're male reading this.. but let's me honest, you know what goes on once a month). But that's another story. I should probably go to the doctor since this is two months in a row. Too bad my insurance sucks. The whole getting sick thing would benefit a doctor's visit as well.. I'm pretty sure that was more a GI thing than a sickness thing, but I don't know... I'm no doctor, but I know how weird my stomach is.
anyway.
Since it's Saturday, I weighed myself after telling myself not to expect anything after this week of nothingness... and I was right. 2lbs were back on... but again, well... I'll just say bloating. Nothing like getting personal, right?

Financial Peace University (FPU) officially started this week. I'm really excited about it! I can't wait to see the difference after 91 days. I feel like I'm off to a good start, mindset at least. The first step is to save $1000. That makes me nervous a bit because I don't know where that is going to come from.. but I'm gonna do it! Also, I mapped out the distance from 4MS (where we meet) to my house, and it's a little over 5 miles. I think I'm going to start including that in my workout since the challenge will be over. However, Lisa-Marie (the AWESOME and motivating host of BodyRock.Tv) said what they have planned next is awesome. I'm pretty sure I'm going to continue with whatever they have.

Well.. that's what I got today. have a great week. wish me luck on my last week of the 30 Day Challenge! Really going to try to push myself this week.
peace out friends.

ps. sorry i didnt put a picture up.

Sweat and Glory

Sweat. I hate it and love it. I love it because of what it does.. just that release of fluid and chemicals escaping your body. I hate it, because that would be a side of my dad I got.. I sweat like him. Couldn't be like my mom and barely sweat. It doesn't take me much. Such an unattractive quality.. anyway. I'm covered in it now. Yet again, I had to do two workouts today because I didn't do mine yesterday. "Yesterday's" consisted of a tuck jump, tuck under, press up one leg in, next one out, side plank leg lifts right, side plank leg lifts left. Each are done as many as you can in 5o seconds with 10 second rest between. You do the whole set through twice, making it 12 minutes. If you so desire, check out the video here.

The actual today's was an 800 rep challenge:
25 Push ups
100 High knees
25 Straight Abs (feet on chair)
100 High knees
25 Squats with weights
100 High knees
25 Tricep dips (hand on the seat of a chair and squat, push yourself up)
repeat

Well.. good news is, to do the first 400 only took me 8:41. If you've been following me through, the first 400 rep challenge took me 12:39, but I had to break it up in 2 sets of 200. These 800 I did straight through in 18:49, which again, looking back last week at my 600 rep challenge, it took me 18:25. Meaning I did 200 more in 24 seconds. SCORE. I also took a lot more breaks with this challenge too. I felt pretty good about it.

This week I'm excited to say hit 10lbs GONE! I only lost 2lbs this week, but it was still exciting to hit that first 10lbs mark. I was really, really surprised at it too because my diet has SLACKED this week. I mean, for goodness sake, I had PIZZA on Thursday! WITH a dessert pizza! It was my friend's birthday but I felt guilty the entire time. This week was just hard. And I've been losing motivation too. I mean, I have enough motivation to lose it, but I guess I'm just lacking the energy to do so. I've felt a lot weaker too. bleh. One week to go of the 30 day challenge though.. it's crazy for me to think I've stuck through it for thirty-freaking-days. The results are nice though.

During this workout, I turned on an old workout playlist I made for my cousin and I during our college years. It just makes me laugh so much. When certain songs come on, I can just see us in the gym on campus dancing while we do our cardio in between machines. Songs like, That's Not My Name, and artists like Mims... I miss my other half! Mini me, you complete me :)

Alright... LOTS to do tonight :) And SO excited for it!!

Oh yeah.. and another blog I was doing posted pictures of every 10 she lost. It was AMAZING to see the changes. Check that out at Runs for Cookies. So I think I may post pictures of every 10. Maybe that'll also hold me accountable? I bought a sweet dress to wear tonight.. so maybe I'll post a picture later or tomorrow of my first ten.

Until then...

Two Weeks Strong!

Today ended two weeks of the 30 Day Challenge. And let me tell you.. today was enough sweat for the entire week! I did both yesterday's workout AND the 600 Rep Challenge today. Yesterday I set my alarm early to workout in the morning since it was Friday.. and when it went off, I prayed for a snow day so I could do it in the afternoon. Needless to say, God wasn't in agreement with me. I was gone until almost 1 so I did it this morning. Rested about 30 minutes in between then did the 600 Rep Challenge. AHH. 600. My time was 18:25 which I thought was just okay, but looking at everyone else's scores/times, it was about average! YES! I'm sure tonight will be rough at work just standing around. Last week after the 400 reps, my muscles got really tight.
Here's what I did:
100 High Knees
100 Lunge Kicks
100 High Knees
100 Squats, with two 3lb weights
100 High Knees
25 Straight Abs
25 V Abs Left
25 V Abs Right
25 Bicycle Abs

I checked the timer as I went through and not only can I now do 100 High Knees without stopping, but I can do it in ONE MINUTE!

I can definitely feel the difference in endurance and strength with these workouts. My push ups are rockin too and I just feel better knowing I'm doing something 5 days a week! Two weeks left of the challenge to go. I'm half way!

I've also been doing GREAT eating better. I've gone out 3 times within the last two weeks. Minus Barley's last week, I've eaten healthy at both places. Last night was just okay... went to PF Changs with friends but my chicken was grilled and I had brown rice!

I've only lost 3lbs this week, but 3lbs is still good in my book! That makes it for a total of 8lbs! Woohoo!

It's short and sweet this week, but I have to be at work in an hour and I haven't showered. Thanks for reading and for all of you that have been keeping me accountable!

Oh yes.. and I AM doing the 5K! I have a group of friends doing (running) it (straight through), but a friend of mine decided to do it with me too. I'm going to get my "5K shoes" at the outlets tomorrow!

New Look at a New Year

Well... I haven't blogged in almost a year and yes, it's been brought to my attention. I've been more ... "inspired" I guess you could say, to blog. Maybe because that's another way to hold myself accountable; who knows, but I'm gonna do it!

It's a new year which means new resolutions. I'm not one (like 99% of the world) to hold onto my resolutions, so I don't usually ever make them. This year is gonna be different. I feel like 2012 is gonna be a great year. I've changed the title to my blog to "Healthy Living.. In All Aspects." When you think of "healthy living," what do you think of? I bet it's eating right, exercising, and skinny people. And if I'm honest, it's usually, "skinny bitches." (Pardon the language, but am I right?)

Now, I am meaning healthy living in ALL aspects. Yes, eating better and exercising are included, but also how I spend my time, money, and live my life. This past week I have started a 30 Day Challenge from BodyRockTv. Monday-Friday includes quite a workout. I'm not sure if it will change at all, but it's been 12 reps of a group of exercises for a 50/10 interval. Do as many reps as you can in 50 seconds and rest for 10. Let me tell you.. I am out of shape! Haha. It's been challenging but I've stuck through it.. Calloused hands (from burpees and push ups) and tired knees/abs and all! Today was a 400 rep challenge. Two different exercises of a 75/25 rep, four times. You just write record your time. I had to stop after 200.. I got really shaky so I thought it may be smart to stop, drink some water, eat a banana, and continue in a bit. I did the first half in 7:25 and the second in 5:14! Now I get to rest two days and continue on Tuesday. Oh, and I lost 5lbs in the last month.. I've only been working out a week, so I expect this to be more a month later..

I've been trying to eat better as well. I haven't had any soda at all since Monday, haven't ate out (well.. I had a beer and fries ONCE, but that was a birthday celebration!), and I've been cooking healthier as well. I had Chicken Tortilla Soup for my lunches/dinner last week. And today I made a Banana Oatmeal Smoothie for my breakfast for today and tomorrow and I pre made DIY Smoothie Packs for my breakfast next week. I'm also going to make this other chicken thing for lunches this week.

Now that's the exercising and eating healthy aspect of it all. I've also decided to do Financial Peace University for the healthy living financial/smart living of it all. I am ready to pay off my debt and live freely (but smart!). My church (Crossings) is holding it, like they do every year, twice a year, and the "preview" session is Tuesday. I've done the whole budget sheets before, but I've never actually started it. I figured if I pay $50 to do this, you better believe I'm not going to let that $50 go to waste!

I also just want to make sure I'm spending my time wisely. I waste so much of it and my time and my life is precious and I don't want to take it for granted.

Oh yeah.. and I think I'm going to set a goal to do the Knoxville 5K with my friends on April 1st! I know I won't be able to run the whole thing, but as long as this work out is building up that endurance, I think I have a good shot!

So yeah.. that's my healthy living look on 2012. My goal is to post every Saturday.. maybe different ideas, how the week went, my loss for the week.. Keep me accountable!