Cranberry Macadamia Nut Monkey Bread

I made this for Mothers' Day and it was a HUGE hit.  It is actually pretty easy to make, too.  At the request of dear Cristi, I'm sharing the recipe.

It is pretty simple to make...so here goes!

This was our Mothers' Day plate: egg and ham muffins, fruit salad, and this glorious monkey bread.

Cranberry Macadamia Nut Monkey Bread
 -1 large can and 1 small can of Texas buttermilk biscuits (cut each biscuit into quarters)
-1 stick melted butter
-1/2 cup sugar
-1/3 cup brown sugar
-2 tbsp cinnamon
-1 cup dried cranberries (or Craisins)
-1 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Mix the cinnamon and sugars.

Take the biscuit pieces and dip them in butter and then in the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Layer them into a greased bundt pan.  As you get layers, sprinkle the cranberries and macadamia nuts around the pieces.

When you get all the pieces put in, take about a tablespoon of the leftover butter and pour it over the top.

Bake as directed on the biscuit package.

Plop the bundt pan onto a plate, turning the whole thing out onto the plate.  Enjoy!

 

The Weight Loss Roller Coaster

I have some jumbled thoughts in my head that I need to get out.  So read along if you want.  Sorry I’m not sorry if I ramble.  Come inside my head….

This weight loss thing is a roller coaster. Up, down, up, down, upside down, screeching halt. I just crossed over the screeching halt part.  Last weekend, I was OVER IT.  I was seriously having these thoughts: “You know, I’ve lost 50 pounds.  I’m healthier than I’ve ever been.  My body fat percentage is normal.  I think I’ll just stop losing weight.  It is all for vanity now, anyway.”  

I seriously had those thoughts.  Are you kidding me?

While yes, the “goal” for the scale is a vanity number I’m not sure I can even reach…why would I quit?  Why would I “give up” because it’s hard and a long process?

That’s not who I am.

I want to be the best me I can.  While that involves a lot more than working out and eating right (that also includes spiritually, at work, in my marriage), I also want to be as healthy as I can.  And I know I’m not there yet.

I’m not giving up, but I am burnt out.  I get on this roller coaster and ride it.  I need to quit looking at the ups and downs, and just start hiking.  Just slowly tread forward.  The ups and downs are what get me.  I go on vacation, gain a few pounds…come home, work it of…take a weekend trip, gain a couple pounds…hit it hard for a week or so. You know how it is.

I think my main issue is looking at the big picture.  I have my 26^th birthday in a month and I wanted to be at goal by then.  Zumba convention in August and I would love to go healthier and looking good.  But instead of looking far ahead (which also includes giving myself excuses to have the roller coaster “I’m going to enjoy this weekend and get back on it Monday” mentality), I’m going to focus on one day at a time.  I just need enough light for the step I’m on. 

I am also not going to weigh myself until my birthday weekend. I’m just going to give it my best effort and see what I can do. No obsessing.  No beating myself up.  No letting myself go, either.   

Just slow and steady.  Just hiking forward.  I’m getting off this dadgum roller coaster.  It’s making me sick. 

Two Terrible Nights

While I was home for Mother's Day, mom and I had some pampering. Mani/pedi, and a bath and massage at the bath house.

Well, the bath house was overbooked for Mother's Day...and they forgot me.  I was in the hot whirlpool bath for an hour! (instead of the 15-20 minutes you are supposed to be in there!).

Then, they wrap you in hot and cold towels.  Again, I was ignored.  I was there for at least 30 minutes (normally 10-15).

Needless to say, not a great experience.

Then, I went out to wait for my massage.  There were 3 ladies ahead of me, and 2 of them had upgraded from a 20 minute massage to a 40 minute massage....so I was going to be waiting a while!

While I was waiting, out comes Mom!  She was finished with everything! So, I decided to just get a refund for my massage and go so Mom didn't have to wait on me.

They did refund my money...but apparently, being left for too long gave me some back trouble.

Saturday night, I woke up in the night and thought my back was broken. It hurt SO bad.  I stretched, walked around, took a hot bath, and then finally was able to sleep on the couch for a little while.

It was pretty fine during the day Sunday, but I had the same issues Sunday night.  Y'all.  I sleep like a baby most nights.  I was NOT used to pain, restlessness, and not sleeping.

Thankfully, my chiropractor was able to work on my back and it feels great now.  But he was NOT happy that I was left in the hot tub for that long.  He said its a good thing I'm young and healthy...he said it I had blood pressure issues I could have passed out (and drown!). EEK!

I'm just thankful to be feeling better.  

But it was a terrible couple of nights in the meantime.  I'm really thankful for sleep. :)

WILW and OHP: Hanson Edition

I've got to be honest with y'all.  Hanson Day was such a tease.  They played their new music and filled us with this fire for it...but then we don't get the new album until June...and the tour until September!  UGH!

So me, Taylor and Kristin have been sharing Hanson things via email, text, and Pinterest.  And I want to share some of my faves.

I'm linking up with The Vintage Apple and This Kind of Love for Oh, How Pinteresting and What I'm Loving Wednesday.

I'm loving...this Hanson Otterbox I ordered. :)  Taylor paid me for our hotel in Tulsa on Paypal...and it was just easier to spend it than have it transfered (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

I''m loving... This new song from the new album Anthem.  They recently played it at a festival in DE...and some smart girl filmed it! :)

And for some fun pins!

The truth. 

Pinned

Pinned

 

 

Zac Hanson.  Who would have thought?

Pinned

So yeah, to my regular folks, sorry that all I'm going to be talking about is Hanson. I just can't wait for June 18 and the new album!

You Wouldn't Believe Me If I Told You...

Last week, a few REALLY random things went down.

1. I was paid to do pageant coaching. Now, I did do pageants as a young girl.  I still go to Miss Arkansas every year.  But somehow I opened my big mouth to a friend at church whose daughter is competing in glitz-type pageants...and I met them for a pageant coaching session.  I coached her and a friend in "modeling" and talent.  It was actually pretty fun.  I'm meeting her again this week for a voice lesson.  I get myself into the craziest situations!

2. We went on an impromptu date Thursday night.  Originally, Tyler and his mom were going to stay here for the weekend, so I told Tyler I wanted to spend some time together Thursday evening (since we would be separated all weekend).  He wanted to go see Silver Linings Playbook, which was playing at the cheap theater.  It was a really great night!  We might make weeknight dates a regular occurance!

3. I may have gone a little crazy adding to my Hanson collection.  I decided to go through my cds and buy them cheap on Amazon if I was missing the disc or the case (gotta have a complete collection!), and I may have decided to purchase all the Hanson DVDs as well.  :)  Let's just say that the UPS man will frequent my house soon.

4. Speaking of Hanson, they are playing in St. Louis at a food and wine festival the weekend of my birthday.  I told Tyler he had a choice.  He could take me to St. Louis or plan a party.  If I were him, I'd take the easy way out and get me to St. Louie! :)

5. I made a DELISH chocolate cake at work.  A coworker said it was "the best chocolate cake I've ever eaten."  I didn't snap a pic of it whole, but I did get one of the little bit that was left after lunch.

  Here is the recipe:

Swiss Chocolate Cake with German Chocolate Buttercream

·         1 box swiss chocolate cake mix (prepared as directed)

·         ½ cup sour cream

·         1 jar coconut pecan frosting

·         1 jar chocolate buttercream frosting

·         1 8 oz block cream cheese

·        1 tablespoon cocoa

Mix the cake mix as directed, adding sour cream and ½ cup of the coconut pecan frosting.

Bake as directed in two 8 or 9 inch rounds (mine took an extra 5 minutes or so because it was so moist).

Let cool.

Mix the rest of the coconut pecan frosting, chocolate buttercream, cocoa, and cream cheese well.

Frost cooled cake and top with optional mini chocolate chips. J

Happy random Tuesday!

Weekend Recap: Mothers' Day

Last week had some fun highlights, but I'll get to those tomorrow.  I want to recap the weekend while it is fresh on my mind.

The weekend started early because on Friday I got to attend the Chick-fil-a Leadercast with some coworkers.  It was refreshing to hear some great speakers and get fired up to lead.

After work, we all traveled to Hot Springs.  I was up early Saturday morning to make breakfast for my favorite moms. :)  My MIL Nancy, my momma, Nene, and Gram.  I made them cranberry macadamia monkey bread (recipe coming this week!), smoked gruyere ham egg cups, and cheesecake fruit salad.  It was so yummy!

After breakfast, Tyler and his mom did some running around of their own (pawn shops, RC track) so mom and I split and got pampered.  We got mani/pedi's.  I LOVE the nail salon at home.  It was so good to see all the workers, and they really took care of momma!

We attempted a bath/massage at the bath house downtown, but it wasn't awesome.  They were overbooked for the weekend...and mine took so long I never got my massage before we had to elave!  We got a refund for me though.  Fortunately, momma got the full service. So she was happy!

We went by and picked up dinner from my (half) brother's BBQ food truck.  It was good!

We attempted going to see The Great Gatsby after dinner, but it was sold out.  So we got some froyo and came home and watched Les Mis.

I cleaned out my bedroom and found this AWESOME Hanson book. ha!

For Mothers' Day, we had a big BBQ.  The crazy cousins wanted to swim.  So I sunned and supervised while Tyler attacked them with a water gun!

We also celebrated my mom's birthday! (Is that 47 candles + 1 to grow on?)

I was SO thankful to spend the afternoon with my family.

These are all the special moms in my life.  My Aunt Sandy, Nancy, Gram, Mom, and Nene.  Love them all so much.

When we got home, we went for a walk at the park, made a frozen pizza, and unpacked.  A good weekend with wonderful family.  I'm so blessed.

Hope all my momma friends (with kids or doggies) had a GREAT Mothers' Day!

PS. I'm having some very odd nighttime back pain.  Like Saturday evening, I woke up and thought my back was broken.  I'm going to try the chiropractor today. I would appreciate any prayer or advice for it.  I want to sleep through the night again! Last night, I slept for a couple hours, woke up in terrible pain, and spent an hour icing it, stretching, and then had to sleep in the recliner.  :( Hoping to get some relief today.

Finish the Sentence Linkup!

 

I'm linking up with Jake and Holly for Finish the sentence....

 

My best friend says... that I'm a bad influence.  I'm not a party girl or anything, but I took her gambling and drinking for the first time.
 

People call me...lots of things. But my favorite is Bizzle (Tyler's endearing nickname for me)

 

The best part of my day... is Zumba time on Zumba days.  Or the few moments of quiet in the morning.  Dog snuggled in my lap and coffee in hand.

I really don't understand... how I leave my husband at home all day and come home with it being DIRTIER than when I left.  Does he know where the trash can is?
 

I get really annoyed... when people assume that because I'm young I'm stupid.  Sure, I'm not the wisest person on the planet, but on some things, I may know more than you.  I also get annoyed when folks misuse sale/sell.

 

There's nothing like a... new pair of shoes.
 

Lately, I can't get enough... Hanson.  I can't wait for the new album June 18.  Having doubts?  Check out one of their new songs featured in an OKC Thunder promo.
 

 

One thing I am NOT is... sympathetic.  If you are my friend, I'm capable of feeling sad with you.  But most of the time, I want tio tell people to suck it up, buttercup.
 

I spent too much money on...  my kitchen.  Our cabinets in particular.  But they are so pretty.

 

I want to learn.... Spanish.  I took German in school and don't remember most of it.

 

If I ever met Jake in real life , I would... probably go on a drive around blaring music.  He seems like the friend for that.
 

I can't stop... biting my nails.
 

Never have I ever... seen Lord of the Rings or the Matrix,

Reese Witherspoon... messed up, but I love her anyway.  I mean, girl showed me how to rock a fully pink ensemble like a boss.