Neck/Back Pain

Does anyone else feel like everyone in their life seems to have their shit together? I feel like I am floating in a sea of confusion about everything. Everyone seems to know what they want to do with their life. They are either pursuing it, or already set in what they want to do. What is wrong with me? I keep telling myself to get my act together. Other's say to "Not compare myself to others"...yeah, right. Who can prevent that? 

On top of floating in my own little lost world, a few days ago my neck and back started hurting. It is steadily getting worse. I have had back/neck issues for years after a car accident injury went untreated for a year or so. I used to be a frequent visitor of the chiropractor. Muscle relaxers and the chiropractor were the only things that helped the muscle spasms and intense pain. The spasms slowly tapered off, until I visited the chiropractor every so often for an adjustment when I felt "off" or was in pain. Now that I moved to Florida, I do not have that option. 

My health insurance got messed up(very long story)!!! <But avoid CIGNA at ALL costs, worst company I have ever dealt with in my life>. So for now, I have been icing/heating the tight painful muscles. I wish it would all just go away!!! I am pretty sure I need an adjustment, and muscle relaxers.

The only saving grace really, is that my boyfriend made me lunch, and is taking care of dinner. I have been sitting in my pajamas all day watching movies, scrolling Facebook, looking at blogs I follow, and icing my neck. Currently Wheel of Fortune is on. I feel like I am eighty years old. 

Everyone always says, "It will get better". Will it really? I hope so. I feel depressed and in pain. Thank god for take out and ice cream.

Night all.
-Kels

Easy One Skillet Beef Burritos

Easy One Skillet Burritos

Sometimes you want an easy dinner that doesn't take a lot of pots and pans. More pots and pans=more dishes! :( So here is a one skillet, easy customizable dinner that I threw together in 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

-one small onion

-one pepper any color

-can of corn

-can of beans( i used black beans, but refried beans,

 kidney or any other you prefer is fine

-1.5 pounds of lean ground beef

-1/2 cup of salsa

-taco seasoning( or any seasoning you prefer)

-burrito sized tortillas

-cheese

I also used sour cream in mine. You can also add toppings like chopped tomatoes, raw onion, lettuce, rotel, guacamole, rice, etc. Use whatever you have laying around that you enjoy.

First, Take your pepper and onion. Admire them.

Then rough chop the onion and pepper into little pieces. This little onion was pretty powerful, and I was crying and cursing in an ugly manner.

Brown your ground beef and add taco seasoning. 

While your meat is browning, Open your cans of corn and beans(any style you want).

Add your peppers, onions, beans, and corn to the skillet. Add 1/2 cup salsa to taste. I think the salsa sort of brings everything together, and makes it goopey so it all sticks together. 

Heat everything through, stirring occasionally. Warm up your tortillas in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add mixture and any add ins you want( cheese, sour cream, jalepenos, hot sauce, lettuce, guacamole...etc)

Roll up and enjoy! 

There you have it, Easy Breezy! The best part? One pan to clean! :)

Enjoy!

-Kels

10 Things I learned Today....

10 Things I learned Today.... 

1. Zumba is hard.
2. I look totally stupid doing it.
3. I am never doing it in public, home activity ONLY.
4. If you work out, then drink a Slurpee, it sorta cancels the work out.
5. If you freeze a huge roast, it doesn't defrost in one day...then you have no dinner
6. I had a sandwich for dinner...two days in a row.
7. If you make healthy banana muffins and then eat four of them, they are not that great for you...
8. Two fans are better than one.
9. Pinterest for hours on end IS productive....for planning the future... 
and
10. Making breakfast sandwiches in bulk to freeze is the most productive thing I did all day....(Pinterest bitches!!)

This was me today... seriously....

Feel free to laugh, ;) 
-Kels

Healthier Banana-licious Muffins

Healthier Banana-licious Muffins

3 Large Bananas
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup of flour, white all purpose, wheat or a combination
1/2 cup applesauce

Optional:
1/2 cup chocolate chips ( I used mini)
You could also use blueberries, oatmeal, or nuts as other add ins. 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375.
Mash the bananas. Add the sugar and egg. Add the applesauce. Mix together. Add the dry ingredients. Mix in the chocolate chips or other add ins. Bake 16-20 minutes. Yields 12-16 muffins. I had 14, but I like them to have fluffy tops. I used regular muffin tins, greased them with PAM spray, and I did not use liners. I also did a little less sugar and a little more applesauce to taste ( less calories). I am trying to watch my calories, and this is a healthier option for me. I also think they taste delicious and are a wonderful quick breakfast.

Enjoy!
-Kels

New diet, and foods I need to limit

Okay, to start this post here are some foods that I really enjoy eating that are so so bad for you. In moderation, some of these are okay...But who wants just one slice of bread?

5 Things that I love to eat

1. Bread- French bread baguette style, rolls, biscuits, texas toast... you get the gist.

2. Cheese- Specifically Cheddar, American, Colby-jack, Parmesan or Mozzarella... The gentle cheeses if you will. To put on salad, potatoes, casseroles, Italian food like spaghetti.

3. Sauces/Add-ons- Barbecue sauce, ranch, salad dressing, mustard, mayonnaise, butter, peanut butter, croutons, bacon bits, see #2 CHEESE 

4. Potatoes- fried, baked, twice baked, fries, potato salad, mashed potatoes, etc....

5. Crunchy things- Chips, crackers, or nuts


I am currently trying to become healthier and lose a significant amount of weight. I have lost 9 lbs so far by counting calories and doing a few workouts here and there. I need to make a work out schedule and stick to it, but the most important part of my new lifestyle change so far is in diet. I am counting my calories everyday, and until I started doing so, I was unaware that I was consuming so many excess calories per day. So here are the 5 foods and my examples of healthier options that I should be doing, but I still am struggling with.

1.Instead of bread, have extra veggies. This is very, very hard for me. BREAD!!!! But, I am trying to have less, or pick a lower calorie one. 

2. Cheese in moderation! You are only supposed to have the size of half of a thumb to a whole thumbs worth piece of cheese per day. I have much more than that. Enchiladas anyone?

3. For example, add-ons end up being a lot more calories than you bargain for. I love a nice salad. For example, having a salad is generally health for you, UNTIL you put tons of ranch on the lettuce with bacon, cheese, and croutons. Or putting whipped cream on top of dessert, or butter on bread. Everything has a calorie count to it. I could easily lose a few hundred calories per day just on the add ons. 

4. No matter how much you love potatoes, it would be a better option to choose something else. For example, sweet potatoes have less calories and are better for you. 

5. Crunch things are so good, but I am trying to limit them or pick a crunchy healthier option. For example, baked chips, rice cakes, nuts, or a crunchy fruit like apples.

While the things on this list aren't all bad, there are healthier options that I need to train myself to like and to choose over the things I am used to and I love. This is a battle everyday, and I sometimes go over my calorie allotment for the day. I use the free app MyFitnessPal on my phone. I love it, and it is very convenient. I input personal information like height, weight, activity level, how much weight you want to lose, etc. It takes your information and then does a calculation and tells you how many calories per day you are allowed per day. Mine is 1350 calories per day, unless I work out and then it changes that number. Everyone's will be different. I think this is hard to limit myself to sometimes, but it seems to be working. I have lost 9 lbs in the last month. I hope to increase my work outs and increase the speed of my weight loss. Someday I might share the actual beginning weight and so forth...We'll see.
I encourage everyone who needs to lose some weight to start eating healthier, and counting calories. Be aware of the portions, and know that eating 3 slices of bread with dinner is too many... :/ Also, know it is a slow process. I am here to support y'all. 

-Kels

Memorable Moments-Round 1

My last post really got me thinking about some of the epic pictures I have from the past... I am pleased to present: Memorable Moments Round #1
There will be several of these Memorable Moments picture posts over time, so keep your eyes peeled for wonderfulness. :)

Blakelee- I am attacking her?

Hubby-Friend dinner

Ari-Hat party....hehe

Casey-Our apartment :)

Stacy-Partner in Crime giggles

Mariana-Pasty white love

Rye wrap-so much love

Jen-Our last night as Oregonians

Panda-Spring break road trip!!!

Whit-Going to the club

Have a great day. Hope you enjoyed these happy memories of mine.
-Kels

The Best Days of Your Life

Everyone always told me that college is the best time of your life... Is that really true? Am I headed downhill from here on out?
I have been thinking about this for awhile, and I have come to the conclusion that stages of life are all different and hard to compare the "greatness" of. In college, I had little to no responsibility other than to feed myself, do my homework, and attend classes(which was hit or miss depending on the class---I mean really, who wants to go to Jazz History? Not me!). I truly did not realize how great life was until I look back on it. I spent almost every single waking moment of my college career with friends, with frequent sleepovers at night too! I thrive on being with my friends, even if it just to hang out and do nothing of important but sit around and watch re-runs of Gilmore Girls, eat cookie dough, or play Scattergories. 

Part of moving to Florida that has been so hard on me, is my lack of friend group here. I miss having several people to hang out with everyday. After college, we all still hung out just before or after our shifts at work. 
I remember with fondness all the memories I have from high school, college, and the year after. From graduating high school, moving into the dorms Freshman year of college, to moving off campus Sophomore year with friends. Friendships changing and evolving, saying good bye to the close friendships of some, and welcoming the new friendships of individuals met in the crazy ride called college. Even now, some friends I still talk to often. Others I talk to seldom, but I think of often. I want to try to be better at communicating with them. I think I need to make new friends, but that doesn't mean I need to leave the old ones in the dust. Some friendships I believe are destined to end. Some through fighting, and some just through the seasons of change. I sometimes wish I could rewind my life and go back to a  moment I remember with fondness just to experience it again. Sometimes I want to pause during something wonderful happening, and other times I want to fast forward my life to a place in the future. Then I realized something of monumental proportions. You cannot change you life by rewinding, pausing, or hitting the fast forward button. We don't have that kind of control, and even if we did, why would we want to do that? I believe we learn from every experience good and bad. No one said building character was easy.

Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes you have to learn that you can't fix what happened. You learn from it. I do not regret anything I have done in my life. If I did, I wouldn't be where I am today. That sounds so cliche and annoying, sorry but it is true. 
I wouldn't be me without the fights about the washing machine, the tears from Math 111, the laughter from embarrassing moments ( doors really need to be locked!!!), the break-ups and heartbreak, the all-nighters of theme parties, and the cuddle puddle sessions in the butt...(don't ask)
I have so many fond memories even of the hard times. I think that is what makes life great. The memories. You can make memories at any time of your life. I still have so much life ahead of me. Hopefully a husband and a house full of kids. Finally getting settled into a career I love. and more....
My life will dip and rise and plateau.....and that is okay with me. It isn't about a time of life that is the best. There are lots of "bests". All are different. The different new awesome times are yet to come. No regrets baby! Live life! 
-Kels