Okay...we might need one minute- thirty seconds, but really, a cake to curb your cravings can be yours in no time flat. 

Have you heard of mug cakes? or maybe I mean cake in a mug? Well, if you're like me, you might have dismissed the validity of this treat. I tend not to discriminate between my sweets so I still can't explain why I wasn't a believer in the cake from your microwave trend. BUT I'm a bandwagonner now! BECAUSE CAKE FROM YOUR MICROWAVE IS AWESOME! 

Apparently, there are all kind of variations of this magic dessert. Like these, or these, or whoa, these.

Let's chat about the recipe that's led me to the dark side. It's simple. It's chocolate-y. Well, maybe, extra chocolatey is more accurate. After a little whisking and waiting, you have a rich and warm and utterly delectable cake. Even if you're not a true cake person like me (gasp! I know...), this is a winner. 

Chocolate Mug Cake
Recipe from our favorite Trisha Yearwood 
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 ounce chocolate chips, dark, semi-sweet, or milk- your choice!

1. Whisk all ingredients except chocolate chips together in small bowl until well combined. Batter will be thick.
2. Pour batter into a favorite mug and sprinkle those chocolate chips on top.
3. Pop the mug in the microwave and set for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. I ended up at about 1 minute, 8 seconds. (I wanted a little gooey cake to remain.)
4. Let cool for a minute. For a little more indulgence, top with whipped cream. 

Yep, that is it. Enjoy this cute little single-serving cake when ever your sweet tooth strikes, especially when there's not much time to bake.

​It's winter in Kansas. And, I love me some snow, but at resolution time I always am thinking of warmer weather. 

I consider myself pretty #blessed in life. However, the blessings truck must have passed me by when lean body types were being doled out. (And, yes, I know if I eat clean, I'll get lean... but I'm only willing to go so far...because tacos. oh, and brownies. and potatoes. the struggle is real, people!)

So, in 2016, I'm going to give it my best. (Mind you we're only 11 days in...) You see, if there's one part I covet on other ladies, it's toned arms. Think arms a la Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston, Michelle Obama, my sisters-in-law ...

To be able to wear a sleeveless shirt, a tank, a strapless and totally rock it...gah. I mean, can I get an amen? That surely is fashion heaven. No, seriously, have you ever had to not buy a shirt because the arms felt tight...if so, we're basically soul sisters.

​Then it dawned on me, if I want to have better arms, I probably need to work for them.

Naturally, I did what every twenty-something girl would do. I consulted Pinterest on this matter. I have a pretty robust workout board of things I should do, wish I did, and sometimes do, but I still sought out some new pins. And, I think I hit the jackpot! This pin takes you to a mini-motherload of quick beginner's arm workouts. You can find them HERE. My plan is to start light and build up. I am pretty sure the latest health and fitness gurus say you have to lift some heft consistently to see real gains and good benefits, but we all have to start somewhere. And repetition, it's good for the spirit. Er,  that's a saying somewhere, right? 

I'm working my way through the videos the link provides and trying to add them on the regular, like in a real rotation! YES! I may or may not have been walking around with arms that are a bit like jello these past few days (yep, the tough reality hit me, I guess my upper body is really that much out of shape...), but I think that means there's hope for a bit of definition yet! I think I can, I think I can...

Keep me accountable, readers. Ask me about my curls, extensions, and presses. And better yet, join me for 2016: the year we got arms. (Or if you already have killer arms, pick another focus area and give it some love.) Let's make it happen!

Until next time,
xoxo

We've reached it, folks. Friday is upon us. The first full working week of 2016 is in the books. Accordingly, we should expect a full moon, a meteor shower, champagne, fireworks...or something for this milestone. We should celebrate. Properly. You know?
Since we can't control the universe, it's too early for bubbly, and I'm pretty sure we've passed the window for shooting off fireworks in a legal fashion, this post is practically the next best thing. 
If you're new to the blog, this series is where I spill it about all the things. Things I love. Things I like. And things I think you should like or love too. This is the fifth time this series has appeared on zeeeee blog. If you have about 7.2 more minutes to spare today, you can check out the other past faves here,
​
Without further ado, I give you my newest obsessions, in no particular order:

1. Hella Cravings, Adele's Hello Parody: my sister-in-law, A, shared this with me. I pretty much lost it with laughter. This song could be one of my life's theme songs. The two singers rock the creative rendition with conviction. Plus, it's a pretty accurate portrayal of the struggle between fitness and food. (and, really, who isn't still enjoying Adele's song?). It's win-win. 

3. Clif Kid ZBars: I once lived with two amazing people who've made food, nutrition, and hospitality their life. During a grad school internship I had the privilege to call their home my home. These two have significantly impacted my life in countless ways, but for the purposes of this post, you should know Doc B (the lady of the house) introduced me to Clif Kid ZBars. She kept the mini version in a basket near the fridge where all the possible snacks lived (and for the record, I'm pretty sure she still does.)
You've likely heard of Clif Bars...these are from the same family but they're better. You can find them in two sizes and in a variety pack (36 count!) at a local big box wholesale retailer  (i.e Sam's) or online or potentially wherever Clif Bars are sold. In my opinion, ZBars seem less nutrition bar-y and don't have as many calories. Plus the flavors are easy to support, like iced oatmeal or chocolate brownie. 
We keep ours in a cookie jar on the counter so we can grab one as we dash out the door most mornings. I also keep one in purse for hunger emergencies (the world doesn't want me hangry).

​4. BevCooks.com: If you've never read Bev Weidner's blog at BevCooks.com you must stop what you're doing and read now. Why? Well, first, off, she's scary witty. Second, her Instagram captions are off-the-charts original. Third, she seems to completely have a handle on life and food and music. Finally, she went to the University of Arkansas.  This means were kindred spirits, I just know it. 
Don't expect a buttoned up, run of the mill blog; plan to be entertained and informed. 

5. This Faceted Square Necklace from Express. It's become one of my go-to accessories. It's gold tone (winner in my book!). It's simple. It's not obnoxiously long or oddly mid-chest length. It is easy to toss on to dress up a more basic outfit or pretty enough to wear with something dressier. Oh, and it is actually reasonably priced. If you're looking to add a little something to your accessory stash this might just be the one. 

Ok, I think that's a wrap.
Happy weekending!

Until next time--
xoxo

Did you survive? It's the first working Monday of 2016...(insert the expletive or exclamation here based on your day). Mine, well it was fairly decent. After all, I had two full weeks, uh huh 14 glorious days, away from the office. The time off was awesome. We basically celebrated the holidays and then hibernated. After being routine-less for an extended time, we can only expect so much from a single day. 

But that's neither here nor there. I'd like to include an new segment on the ol' blog. It may be more spontaneous than weekly but we're going to give it a go. 

So on this very first Make It Happen Monday, I'd like to revisit the challenge I issued myself nearly a year ago: cutting the cable cord. I love TV. Like really, I do. I have a TV above my fridge so I can watch and cook, for goodness sakes. Plus, I was a lucky kid, for multiple various reasons, but for one, I had cable! Like probably since birth...I don't remember a time when we didn't have more than the Big 3 channels. Seriously! I didn't realize it was a rarity but my husband assures me that not all kids grew up with variety. For the record, I didn't squander that blessing, I watched all the shows any kid would have loved like Dragnet, I Love Lucy, and Bewitched on Nick at Nite, Get Smart, Charlie's Angels, Designing Women, and the A-Team. Oh, and, plenty of Food Network. Ahem, isn't that what every precocious child watched? No, well, I've never claimed to be normal. 

When I moved out on my own I budgeted for cable, albeit basic, but this meant I'd have more than the primetime networks. But sheesh, that privilege gets expensive even without a lot of options. 

As Nick and I prepared to buy our house we spent a good amount of time crunching numbers. One moderate but unnecessary expense kept leaping out -- the satellite subscription with DVR and HD channels of nearly $80/month (for TV alone with a heck of a 2-year frozen price deal). When we took the plunge and bought our home, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to not transfer service or get a new contract at a higher price. 

Yep, this cable kid cut the cord.

There were some upfront expenses as we purchased an AppleTV and a Roku Streaming Stick (Nick already had a PS3 that could stream too so that took care of all our TVs). We now just have two payments for Netflix ($8.99/month) and Hulu ($7.99/month). ​We also considered Amazon Prime but just haven't swallowed the $99/year fee though it carries lots of benefits and is only about $8.25/month. (There are other options aside from Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, but I don't have any firsthand knowledge of them so you'll have to investigate those on your own.)

While it took some adjustment to not just turn on the tube and flip to a fave channel, it's been a pretty easy transition. I really only miss NCIS marathons and a few other exclusive shows that run on USA Network and CBS prime time tv shows. To my surprise, I'd actually recommend joining the 43.2 million other Netflix subscribers and break up with your cable provider. It's been an easy way to save some cash and break my addiction to tv. I actually watch less now because it's not such a mindless activity. 

I've compiled a few pros and cons for Cutting the Cord. There are plenty, and of course, these are a matter of opinion. 

In summary, if you're looking for a way to trim your budget in the New Year or just sick of shelling out money for channels you don't really take advantage of, weigh your television needs and pick the best alternative for you. And, if you can't break away quite yet you're in good company because there are about 100 million cable subscribers. But if I can do it, anyone can...

Alright, gotta run. I've got some Scandal binge watching to do. ;)

Until next time--
xoxo ​