{well hello 2013}

Well Hello 2013!

 

Hey there little blog…miss me? Bad Katie…**slap on the wrist**.

 

I know it has been ages since I’ve updated this sweet little blog of mine. My only excuse is that I’ve been busier these past few months than I was at the same time last year (minus the wedding and moving). Going back to work will do that to you ; )

 

One of my resolutions for this year is to keep up with this blog and not let everyday distractions keep me away.

 

Speaking of resolutions…I do have a few….

 

This year I hope to:

 

Eat healthier—that means more veggies!

 

Exercise my whole being more—isn’t that on everyone’s list?

 

Spend more time outdoors—and become one with nature…or something like that.

 

Blog, blog, blog away—at least once a week.

 

Take more pictures—especially now that I have a fancy new camera.

 

Craft more—and hopefully learn to sew.

 

Read more—I watch too much TV as it is.

 

Cook a whole lot more—goodbye GoWaiter!

 

Pursue Plan A!!

 

Volunteer my time at least once a month.

 

Find new ways to feed my organizing addiction.

 

Take more opportunities to show the ones I love that I appreciate them.

 

Tackle new challenges and discover new experiences to enrich my life.

 

Let go.

 

That about sums it up. For now.

 

What’s on your resolution list? Or are you forgoing this tradition this year? Either way…as long as you’re happy : )

 

Until…soon I hope!

 

(like the new signature?)

{26 before 26: #1, #20, & #26 check!}

{yay! progress!}

Whaattt? Did I just cross off three more goals from my list? Yes. Yes I think I just did. Woo!

#1: Run a 5k.

I (with the awesome support of my hubs) completed my first 5k, The 2012 Warrior Dash in Huntersville, NC. It was a tough and dirty race, but I had fun the whole way through. Read more about our experience here.

{before}

{after}

#20: Pick-up a new active hobby.

This has been a tough one to tackle as I wanted a unique hobby that is fun to maintain. After my hubs laughed at my ideas for Speed Cupcake Baking & Drunk Running---long story---and told me that they are not really hobbies (or ones that I should consider healthy), I had to look at other options. I then realized that over the past couple of months I have actually picked up a healthy active hobby and didn’t even know it. It all started when my friend Isaiah asked me if I wanted to join him in some friendly exercise competition. Enter Nexercise. It’s an iPhone App in which you compete with friends for exercise points. They have an array of activities you can do for points and tons of ways to earn medals and bonus points. This app truly speaks to the competitor inside of me and since starting it has been hard to stop. I love earning new medals and bonuses for different activities, but mostly beating Isaiah. It fits right along with my healthy living plan and encourages me to stay active and look for new ways to get in my exercise points. Woo Nexercise! I’ll have to dedicate a future post just for this app.

#26: Go to a baseball game.

For Memorial Day some friends and family came down for a weekend full of fun adventures. One of those adventures included a trip to Turner Field for Jesse’s and my first Braves game. It was so much fun (even though the Braves lost); we even won a free homerun burrito! Keep your eyes peeled for a future Memorial Day weekend recap post.

Well that’s all folks! How’s your list coming along??

{26 before 26: #11 check! and some updates!}

{yay! progress!}

I’m on a roll!...ok not an insane roll...just a California roll...ha!

#11: Complete guestbook project.

I finished it! Finally this handsome little peacock has his feathers and can grace our mantle. Read more about how to make your own here.

Progress Updates:

#1: Run a 5k.

I have picked my 5k friends! Ready for it...The Warrior Dash! It’s not only a 5k but an obstacle course as well. Ack! Am I ready? I sure hope so...it’s in two weeks! I have been training---to eat the delicious turkey legs they will offer...siiike! No, I really have been training pretty hard, running every other day and incorporating strength training into my workout. I am so excited and will let you all know how it goes!

{yes i am!}

{i hope my moves are as awesome as peewee’s on the left...}

#2: Create 5 new recipes.

I’ve been working diligently on this goal, playing around with different flavors in the kitchen. So far I have created this herb roasted baby potatoes recipe, and this creamy bacon carbonara recipe. This week I have also worked on a few new recipes that I will be sharing sometime in the near future!

#4: Read 26 new books cover to cover.

This goal is one of those that I should have started yesterday. Never fear, I will be on track soon. I have been known to finish whole books in one day after all; especially when they are super interesting, like The Hunger Games (favorite series of all time by the way, thanks Maureen for introducing me to it). I am starting with these two books: Choke by Chuck Palahniuk, and The World of Normal Boys by K.M. Soehnlein.

#7: Achieve goal body image through regular exercise and healthy eating.

I am super pumped about this one as it has been working! Granted it is a slow process as there is no magic plan that can make this happen overnight (no healthy one at least). I have been active practically every day of the week doing some sort of exercise for more than 30 minutes a day. On occasion I will take a recovery day (which is highly recommended) and jump back in the next day. I love how this makes me feel! To be honest, I hated getting back into an exercise regimen as baking new goodies or crafting seemed more fun. Now that I have been at this for the last few months (starting slowly with the Couch25K program) I am always looking for new opportunities to work myself out. Lifting weights during commercial breaks, jogging to and from the mailbox, and engaging my core while doing the dishes; there are tons of moments in the day to take advantage of. I have also created a workout calendar on my phone with reminders so I’m not scrambling to figure out what workout to do for the day and I no excuse to forget. Currently, my regimen looks something like this: run 3 days a week, ab workout on my run days, bootcamp, wii zumba, or pilates on my non-run days, butt workout (or buttercises...haha) every other day, and weight lifting every 2 days or so. The best part of this regimen is that I can do it all at home or in our neighborhood so I don’t have to pay for a gym membership! There is no excuse not to workout, especially when you can do so much in your home. And if you get bored, it’s easy to change it up! Now this regimen is for me and I am in no way recommending it to anyone. You should find what works for you. The point is to get off your butt and move!

As far as healthy eating, my diet has improved so much. I have been reading tons of healthy eating tips to make sure that I’m picking the right foods and I also have been taking daily vitamins to supplement where I lack. A favorite tip I’ve read is to eat dessert for breakfast as you have all day to work it off! Ice cream with my cereal---yes please! Because I have been more active I have also included more protein and tons of water into my diet to help fuel my workouts. Again, this plan is what works for me. You should contact a nutritionist to find the best diet for you. There is no magic plan as everyone’s bodies are different.

Maybe I will post some progress pictures of this...maybe.

#8: Start Etsy shop.

This is a work in progress. It has technically been started but we’re still working out the kinks. More on this later.

#13: Publish 100 blog posts.

I am getting very close! This post makes 62! I’m glad that I have stayed consistent with this little blog. I can’t wait to see how it continues to develop.

#15: Keep plants alive until @ least 26.

My plants are still alive friends! My indoor cactus is hanging on, and our inside fern is still kicking! My herb garden is also doing wonderfully. I have even harvested my little herbs a few times and they continue to thrive! We are almost there!

These are all the updates I have for now! Check back in for more in the future. How is your list coming along?

Peace!

The Mrs.

{recipe: creamy bacon carbonara}

{all the yummiest ingredients}

I’m changing up the format of my recipe posts. I was spending so much time taking pictures along the process that my cooking time was almost doubled every time (Jesse was not happy with our 9 p.m. dinnertimes). It also took a bit of joy out of the process for me and by the time I was done, I would forget to compose a nice shot of my finished product. Editing was also a big hassle as I would have a million pictures to sort through. No more. Now I will spend more time on a few well composed photos of my final product and more time enjoying what I love to do—cook! Now onto what you really came here for---bacon and pasta!

I was really hungry the other day and in the mood for bacon so I hopped onto the World Wide Web for some ideas. That’s when I came across several recipes for bacon carbonara. It certainly peaked my interests and inspired me to experiment a little. Most of the recipes I found called for an oily sauce, but personally I’m a cream sauce kind of girl. I decided to look up a few cream sauce recipes and combined some methods to get the perfect sauce. What I ended up with was…well you tell me ;)

{bacon!}

creamy bacon carbonara:

Servings: 5 - 6

Source: jkrabbits inc. kitchen

Ingredients:

·         3 cups of rigatoni pasta (you can also use cavatappi)

·         8 strips of thick cut bacon (or more if you really love it)

·         1 1/4 cup of heavy cream

·         2 eggs

·         1/2 cup of parmesan cheese

·         3 tablespoons of dry white wine

·         2 tablespoons of butter

·         3 cloves of garlic (minced)

·         2 roma tomatoes (chopped---roma tomatoes are best for this recipe as they are firm and will retain their shape during cooking)

·         salt & pepper to taste

How To:

Step 1: Whisk together the eggs and parmesan; set aside.

Step 2: Cut bacon into 1 inch pieces then fry in a large sauté pan over medium heat until cooked---not super crispy or burnt.  

Step 3: While your bacon is frying, toss pasta into a large pot of salted boiling water and cook until al dente.

Step 4: Once the bacon is finished cooking, add the salt, pepper, garlic, butter, cream, and white wine to the pan and simmer until you get a thick and creamy sauce.

Step 5: Add in roma tomatoes.

Step 6: Once the pasta is cooked, drain it completely then add it to your cream sauce and stir until the pasta is covered.

Step 7: Add the egg and parmesan mixture to the pan and stir it into the pasta and sauce.

Step 8: Serve immediately.

And that’s really all there is to it! I was surprised at how easy it was to make and how delicious it came out. This recipe will definitely be a repeat here in Casa de Ellis. Yum!

So long for now!

Mrs. E.

{february @ j.krabbits inc.}

{my cute little Pier 1 s&p shakers}

This month I will start a few features and most posts will follow this month’s theme which is of course…love! We will finally share our wedding photos as well as some romantic dinners and lovely crafts. It should be a fun month!

Features to look out for:

- diy gourmet: meal ideas for all occasions

- 26 before 26: i will tackle some ambitious goals before my 26^th birthday

- giveaways: each month i will try to host some sort of giveaway for all my wonderful readers

- diy dinner party: fun dinner party ideas; from menus to playlists

- nifty housewife: household solutions, home improvement, etc.

- sweet surprises: it’s a surprise!

Muah!

The Mrs.

P.S. Here’s a little wedding photo teaser just for you…

{my favorite}

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