Why I Run & A Warm Glow

This is why I run, do Insanity workouts, and go to the gym:

This doesn't really do justice to the cookies we made last night.  This is just a fraction.  The table you can kind of see in the top left corner...yea...that too was covered in cookies being decorated.  We had a great time last night!  After next week, I will be banned from sweets for a couple months.  Until our snowboard trip I've decided.  I can't handle all the sugar anymore!!  But, Christmas to me isn't quite complete without decorating some sugar cookies :)

The Warm Glow:

So...

I'm tired of my white, white winter legs.  Most of the year, I carry a decent tan, but when it gets cold the jeans come out and bye bye tan.  I want to look into getting some type of self tanner that adds a nice glow of color to my skin.  Especially since it will just be warming up when the wedding gets here.  I'm just nervous about the orange look I've heard about and the streaks.  Any advice on a good brand to buy or how to avoid the orange skin and streaks??  Any advice would be appreciated!!

Oh, yea, and...

100 days until the wedding!!!  

Tomorrow we will be in DOUBLE DIGITS! What?! 

Happy Thursday Bloggy Friends!  We're almost to FRIDAY!!

Mixing Up Mondays

So, I've decided to write about recipes I have or am planning on trying on Mondays.  This week is Slow Cooker Jambalaya with Corn Muffins.  The food smelled so good as it was being prepared yesterday!  John helped me chop and cook up some sausage for it.  Then, last night, I was reminded I had dinner plans for Monday evening, so this meal will be enjoyed Tuesday instead.  Right now it's sitting in the crockpot in the fridge waiting for me.  It took about 20 minutes by the time everything was chopped, although I'm sure you could buy pre-sliced/chopped food from your grocery store to make it go a little faster. 

The Corn Muffins took about 5 minutes to prepare and they were yummy!  We split one yesterday just to taste test. 

*Pictures to come*

Jambalaya

What you need:

1 large onion, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
4 celery ribs, chopped (I use outer stalks of celery hearts)
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups smoked sausage, chopped (fully cooked)
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper sauce
1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined (uncooked)
4 cups cooked rice

Directions:Put everything in the slow cooker, except the shrimp and rice.
Turn on low for 7-8 hours
Add shrimp in for 30 minutes or until pink
Serve over rice
Makes 8 servings

Corn Muffins
What you need:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3/4 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degree Fahrenheit 

In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, honey, eggs and salt. Mix in flour, cornmeal and baking powder; blend thoroughly. Stir in milk and corn. Pour or spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Makes 12 muffins.

This dinner is also a good way to get your veggies in!

I will let you know how it turns out, after I actually get to eat it!