Hollywoody.

Hello blog! We forgot about you. Oops.

Since our last post, a lot has happened. Steph & Ryan spent a few days passed out drunk in Vegas, and I headed to LA. Of course, I'm a loser, so I went with my mother.

We went in celebration of her 49th birthday. Do not tell her that I told you her age. She would kill me. Literally. When I travel, I plan every second of the trip. I plan time to take naps. I go a little overboard to say the least. But, because of this we always get to do a lot of fun activities! I'm 60. 

We were lucky enough to get into a taping of The Tonight Show. The guests were a tall guy and a skinny chick. They were nice and funny enough. I loved every second of it. 

Universal Studios Hollywood may be the greatest theme park on the planet. The studio tour and the Transformers ride were a few of our favorite things. Also, if you ever get a chance to go, get the front of the line pass. There are mobs of people, and it saves a great deal of time. Sure it costs an arm and a leg, but it's worth it.

            

The second picture was on the set of War of the Worlds. Very Cool!

Santa Monica pier was also a highlight of the trip. I could have done without the hour it took to find a parking space, and once again an absurd amount of people, but it was beautiful.

LA is gorgeous. There are a lot of fun things to do, places to eat, and hot people everywhere. I loved it, but I found myself wanting to be in Oklahoma frequently. The traffic alone nearly ruined the trip. I could never live there, but I would love to go back again.

I'll try and talk Steph into writing about her trip. Although, I can't imagine it will be much more than "I ate until I felt like puking, then drank till I passed out by the pool."

Marriage

Marriage has gotten a bad reputation. At least it seems that way. Married people annoy me. Like a lot. (I am married….). Anywho, this is why. Whenever people my age get married (mid 20s) I feel like they try so so so hard to be grown-ups and to do what they think they’re supposed to do when they get married. Which is get super lame and annoying. Not true, kids. Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you have to change a single thing about yourself. Except maybe stop whoring yourself around, if you’re into that. It’s sad to me to see so many people I knew from college get married and then just become different people. And guess what, females? You don’t have to become a stepford wife when you get married! Great news, right? Right, so stop doing it! If you’re a stay at home wife at the age of 24, I hate you and I’m judging you so hard. So hard. This is 2012. Be a strong woman. Go out and make a career for yourself. Pay your own bills. Save your own money for your own retirement. Don’t give up on your dreams just because you got married. Your husband is not your guardian. He’s your partner. I’m not against marriage whatsoever. I’m actually a huge believer in marriage. I love it. I love the concept of it and I think it’s amazing. It just creeps me out how some people react to it. And I’m not saying you don’t have to compromise anything for your marriage. Of course you do. It’s a huge part of the commitment. I’m just saying don’t lose who you are when you do get married.

I’m clearly a pro at marriage, with my whole 3 years of experience with it. Not really, I just have very strong beliefs and opinions about it.

Rant over.

Google keywords

People have found this blog by typing in "Channing Tatum beard," and "tanning chatum."

This makes my day and I don't know why.

Olympic fever.

Things have been quiet on the blog front lately. I don't know what Steph's excuse is (taking care of her two toddlers Ryan & Charlie is a tough job). But, I have been extremely busy...watching every second of the Olympics!!!!!!!!

No, seriously I have every second of coverage taped. I don't know what is more compelling, seeing amazing athletes compete for their country and have glorious moments, or watching amazing athletes compete and have their dreams shattered.

Call me cruel, but that shit is entertaining.

I also happen to love watching all the swimmers. And by that I mean staring at their bodies. Australians glorious James Magnussen, and our home grown boys Nathan Adrian, Ryan Lochte, and the GREATEST OLYMPIAN OF ALL TIME Michael Phelps are just a few who light my fire.

Speaking of Ryan Lochte...what a beautiful douche bag. I don't know what's the worst part about him, his need to compare himself to Phelps (pssh HA), his catch phrase "jeah", or that he tried to wear a "grill" or whatever the heck that was on the medal stand. Thankfully as soon as the Olympics are over we will stop having to listen to him talk.

Another thing I love about the Olympics? Visa commercials. Yeah. I want to cry usually when I hear Morgan Freeman's voice (it's so beautiful!!) now add a backstory about the little Russian girl who wanted to be a gymnast but had to be a legendary pole vaulter instead?! I'm sobbing!

The great moments, the heroes that are made, the cocky sob's that fall on their faces, and Morgan Freeman are just a few of the many things I love about the games. What do you love most??

Least favorite thing about them: when male divers land in the pool and their speedos come off. It happens and it is not good.

Andes Mint Cookies

You know those super annoying people who post pictures on Facebook of crap that they baked and/or cooked all the time and the caption is "Thanks, Pinterest!" Hate them. Well that's what I'm doing right now. Whatever. This is worth it.

Anywho, these are Andes Mint Cookies. Recipe found on Pinterest.

There really are only 4 ingredients:

1 box of Devil's Food cake mix
1/2 cup of oil
2 eggs
1 package of Andes Mints


And if you need a visual -

So first you're going to set your oven to 350 degrees. Then you're going to mix the cake mix, oil, and eggs together. Do not use a mixer, just a spoon. The batter is really thick and if you use a mixer it will get all caught in it and it will be really hard to get it out. Learned that the hard way.

Next, you're going to drop spoonfuls of the batter on cookie sheets. Bake them for 6-9 minutes, that's it. You don't want them to be overdone. I just did 6 minutes because I was getting really nervous.

They should look something like that. Then you're going to pop a little Andes mint on each one of them. Like this.

That was so hard. Then you're going to let them sit like that for about 5 minutes until the Andes mints are melted. Then, take a spoon and spread out each of the mints like they're frosting.

Goodness gracious. Then let them cool and EAT THEM. They are freaking delicious. Really rich, but really freaking amazing. Enjoy!!!

-Steph

Sunday Night Blues

It's Sunday night. That means everyone is depressed about how it's almost Monday and the start of a new work week. Sooo here's a little pick me up.

Magic Mike is still the best movie ever. Jenna Dewan, you are one lucky bitch and I hate you.

-Steph

Weight loss ish.

Let's put the snark on hold for a second -

If you know me at all, you know that I've spent the past year and a half dedicated to getting healthy. Yesterday I took my measurements again and wasn't too happy with the results as i compared my measurements and weight with ones I had taken in the past. After 6 months, 1 half marathon, and countless training miles, I have lost 1 inch and not a single pound.

My first thought was "ugh, that's nothing. And I've worked so hard!" I was frustrated, but when I really thought about it I was unsure why that upset me. I'm shrinking. I'm stronger. This is a victory.

I originally began losing weight in January of 2011. The initial weight loss was rapid - I lost 25 pounds in the first month and a half. By the end of 2011 I was down 50 pounds total. But, after I hit the 50 pound mark I hit the dreaded wall and have yet to clear it.

I'm a very firm believer that we make our own happiness. We can control what we can, and everything else shouldn't be our concern. You don't like your job but you can't find a new one? MAKE yourself LOVE what you do. Desperate to get married but can't find a man to save your life? Be too concerned with living live and having adventures to think about what you don't have.

I guess that's why I've been so successful with losing weight. I felt fat, and ugly so I decided to stop being those things. I could control what food I put in my mouth and how often I sat on the couch.

Despite my success, I still battle with numbers and vicious thoughts. "You can't be beautiful unless you weigh 140 pounds," the voice in the back of my head whispers.

I feel like the scale has become that thing that tells me no day after day. You won't be thin. It's not in your DNA. But day after day I hit the gym, leave feeling great and the number that I see every morning doesn't matter.

I reached my goal of losing 50 pounds and getting healthy. Now, I need to focus on what else I can control. I can control how I feel about my weight. I'm putting up the scale and I'm not going to weigh myself for one month. This is a huge deal for me because I typically weigh myself every morning. I'm a little terrified honestly because that number has controlled me for so long. But I'm tired of letting something so insignificant have a hold of me.


-Sarah