Bollocks, Blokes & Biscuits

I have a confession. I know its not confessional friday or monday confessions or any sort of link up, but I confess.... I am addicted to Downton Abbey.

It began simply enough. I heard various friends talk about it, and how in love they were with it. I just had no interest. I have my shows and I like my shows and that is that. But, alas, its summer and I watched OITNB quickly and needed something to fill my TV void. So, I hopped on Amazon Prime and watched the first episode.

And then I watched the second, and third, and then season 1, blew throw season 2 and 3 (in one day). I am now on season 4 and I just cannot go back. I love the hair, the clothes, the aristocracy and Oh how I love the accents!

I lived in London during my senior year in college. It was a blast. I had an internship at the American Church in London. I did work with the children's ministry and fundraising for them. Oh to be 22 again and living abroad.

I loved it. I rode the tube and the bus everyday and walked so much. When I returned stateside I hated to drive and have ever since. I enjoyed the food, the people, the gardens, the markets. I was away from everyone I knew and loved for 5 months.

I travelled so much there. I went to Ireland, Belgium, Amsterdam, Italy, and a small island off the coast of italy that name escapes me now... opps. So as I watch Downton Abbey I miss those days. I miss the wonderful shops and the tea oh the tea and biscuits! I yearn for the days of words that mean different things, with the world at my fingertips. I don't have many photos, but here are a few from my time. Mind you I was 22 and looked a tad different.

in the tube

Tower of London

church staff

Tower Bridge

Parliament 

Everyone should travel abroad. You need to explore new places, new foods and new cultures. And stay in hostels, small B&Bs, you get my point. And now watching Downton Abbey I want to go back! I know it was cold and wet and dreary, but it was also exciting with the theatre, museums, markets and the world at your fingertips!

So,  why don't you all grab your bloke, pack up the boot of your car and head out for an adventure. Enjoy tea and biscuits, bangers and mash and the best indian food ever at the local In Style (british 7-11). You will have a jolly ole time!

CONFESSIONAL FRIDAY: A DAY IN THE LIFE

Oye vey people its Friday!!! Don't you hate the full week back from a short week? makes it feel like 2 weeks, huh? Well, I am linking up with the ever lovely Leslie and sharing a day in my life!

5:00 am - Alarm goes off and I roll out of bed and into my gym clothes.

5:15 am - Arrive at gym. Workout until about 6:40 and then head into the locker room to get ready for the day.

6:55 am - Have awkward view of boobs and butts, yet talk to no one while you stand there and get ready with these people everyday.

7:30 am - Arrive at work. Unlock door, because there are only 2 people here this early and they come in the other door. I then make myself some coffee, read some blogs, check emails and anything that was left in my box after I left last night.

my desk

we do have a good coffee/tea bar and fridge stocked with water & soda and sbaxks

8:00 am - Start working on anything and everything that needs to be done. Depo prep, trial prep, motions, briefs, research, depo summaries.... ya not so exciting.

my other desk

don't mind the purple christmas tree

10:00 am - Grab a snack. Its normally an apple or a protein bar of some kind.

11:45 am - Heat up my lunch of chicken and rice or turkey and rice and head back into my office to eat while working. I do venture out to lunch with friends sometimes, but 99% of the time, its lunch in my office.

I work away the afternoon stopping for snack somewhere between 2:30 and 3:30.

5:30-6:15 pm - leave work and head home to the babies!

I take the dogs out for a quick walk since its a billion degrees here and then head in to start dinner. When I don't cook, like last night, le guy brings Chipotle after his workout. (He is a pm workout guy.... I cannot stand the crowded gym).

Watch some TV or my new obsession: Downton Abbey (I have binged watched seasons 1 & 2).

Head to bed around 9:45 pm and then do it all again! Not very interesting, but sometimes my week  includes Wednesday City Group, my monthly Happy Hours with my girlfriends, or the occasional lunch with Aunt K or KW and baby Jordan.

Workout Wednesday

Happy Hump Day ya'll! And this week I have been busting my hump after a relaxing, food induced weekend.

I used to be a person who would not allow myself to indulge, not even on holidays. I would still eat fruit and only the meat of a hotdog or hamburger. I just would not let go and let myself enjoy. I had this irrational fear that one day was going to put me on a downhill slide to fatness. Let me tell you how boring and stressful that was! One I was miserable and two I made others feel awkward around me. So, these days I allow myself the occasional cheats and holiday delights! I don't over do it, but I do allow myself to munch on snacks, have a glass or two of wine and eat one or 5 desserts.

But then it was Monday and back at it! This week I am focusing on those oh so lovely love handles! I mean no one actually wants a man to grab on those and we all hate a muffin-top. So its been cardio delight and legs! Lots of squats and in all variations have been popping into my workouts. Plie squats, reverse curtsy lunges, second position plie squats, box jumps.... you get the picture!

I also will reveal a before and after of my work. Yup, I took the plunge and took a shot of me in my bikini at the beginning of summer and will post a follow up next week! Brave doesn't even begin to describe this one.

Sometimes

Sometimes...

• I cry at the gym
• get jealous of people who seem to " have it all"
• feel annoyed when people do not ask to borrow things
• I loathe getting up and going to work
• dance in the living room with my dogs for no reason and pretend they love it
• have entire conversations with my dogs, where they talk in different voices and say what I think they would
• I miss M
• wonder how I got here, where I'm going next and how I will get there
• pray to God in the car because its one of the few moments of quiet time
• color. Yup, crayons, coloring books and all
• wonder why I still care about what people do on Facebook
• plan my dream wedding in my head
• bake to relieve stress
• walk around Target for no other reason than to people watch

Fireworks!

[Insert fabulous photo of said fireworks here]

Yes, this was an epic picture fail weekend. I promise I did something fun. I mean I went to a party that included a giant slip & slide. Yes, you heard me, giant, inflatable slip & slide + adults = crazy fun. However, no pictures. Nope. This is all I snapped.

Yup, this is it. And a photobomber in the back...

And Saturday, when I saw my BFF from childhood, who I see about once a year at her parent's 4th of July party. Nope, not a picture in sight. Nor a picture of the patriotic cookie cake I made from scratch and decorated. I was a blogger fail.

Sunday, well Sunday was not worth nothing as I was splayed out on the couch with an epic migraine and body aches. I am feeling a tad better today, but nonetheless, not a photo, not even of the cute puppy nurses who would not leave my side.

But, now its Monday and its July and the summer is half way over and I have nothing to show for it other than this one photo. On another note, I started to watch Downton Abbey and  I am hooked. Season 1 in the books.

Happy July all, hope you had a fun and safe 4th!

Are We Entitled?

Entitlement. Such a strong word with a harsh connotation. After a week of hearing people bitch, whine, and complain about various "First World Problems" I feel compelled to tell the world, that American have a horrible sense of entitlement.

Yup, I said it. I know this post may garner harsh criticism, but its the truth. Take the recent SCOTUS opinion which allows closely-held companies to deny coverage for certain types of birth control. Yeah, I get it people, you think its a large step backwards for women. Its not. Its simply saying that companies like Hobby Lobby can as a company decide what types of birth control methods it will provide insurance coverage for. Its not saying they can deny all, its not saying the hate women and think we should not be able to control our reproductive decisions, the opinion simply gives those companies the right to choose. Funny too  because Hobby Lobby does provide its female employees several types of covered birth control.

Second, the young lady who attends Texas Tech and chooses to trophy hunt. It is her right, her choice and yes what she does provides money and food in a third world country. And who are you to judge? Let it go people. You raise hell over her pictures with animal, yet you do not raise hell over young women posting pictures of themselves pretty much naked in their Facebook? I call hypocrite.

And lastly, to the people in California who protested and refused to allow women and children to arrive at a facility to hold them, shame on you. What happened to land of the free and home of the brave? And I ask you, where did you come from? Unless you are of Native American decent, you were an immigrant at some point as well. These women and children are fleeing harsh conditions, warfare and hunger. Yes, they arrived here illegally, but to protest and deny them a safe facility to be processed at? I see your side of things, they are criminals who entered our county illegally, but what you did was an embarrassment. Protest for harsher laws, more security at the border, but to scare the buses enough for them to turn back? Shame on you.

As we celebrate the Independence of our nation tomorrow I ask you to remember a few things:

If you don't vote, you don't get to complain. Until you have walked a mile in someone else's shoes, you do not get to judge. And until you have read and researched a SCOTUS opinion, don't make yourself a lawyer.

O-R-E-O

So, some of you have lusted over the birthday cake I made. Want the secret? Oreos, pudding mix and some love!

I had every intention of making my chocolate cake from scratch, and then it was suddenly 5pm on Friday and the thought of that faded. So... I improvised and did my semi-homemade version of the best chocolate cake ever.

What You Need:

1 box of milk chocolate cake mix (plus other called for ingredients)
1 box chocolate fudge pudding mix
Coconut Oil ( I sub this for the vegetable oil called for in the box recipe)
1 8oz. package cream cheese ( I used 1/3 fat)
1.2 cup sugar ( I used baking truvia)
1 tub Coolwhip Lite
20 Oreo cookies

What You Do:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Prepare cake batter in 2 (9-inch) round pans as directed on package. Add box pudding mix directly into batter. Bake as directed. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes. Invert onto wire racks; gently remove pans. Cool cakes completely.

3.  Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with mixer until smooth. Gently fold in whipped topping 

4.  Crush 10 cookies in food processor until small dust like consistency

5.  Fold cookie crumbs into cream cheese mixture

6. Stack cake layers on plate, filling with  1/2 the cream cheese mixture.

7. I used the rest of the cream cheese mixture as my frosting. I put on a base layer then let the cake set in fridge for hour, then spread rest on top and put back in fridge. You can also use all mixture as filling and make your own frosting, but I like mine this way.

8.  Coarsely chop other 10 Oreos and sprinkle on top.

9. Enjoy. Keep refrigerated.