Peanut Butter Cheese Ball

Peanut Butter Cheese Ball

Ever since I discovered Peanut Butter when I was a child, we have been inseparable. For Christmas this year I decided I would make this Peanut Butter Cheese Ball to go along with my Mimi's cheese ball (the best I have ever had!). I found this recipe on The Girl Who Ate Everything Blog. It is real simple and easy to make and I suggest making it one day in advance.  I also could not find the Graham Cracker Sticks so I just used regular gram crackers and teddy grahams for dippers!

Ingredients:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar 
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (not all-natural) 
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar 
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
3/4 cup peanut butter chips
Graham cracker sticks, teddy grahams, and/or apple slices for dipping


Directions:Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until blended.

Spoon onto a large piece of plastic wrap; bring up all four corners and twist tightly forming into a ball shape.

Freeze for 1 hour 30 minutes or until firm enough to keep its shape. Place peanut butter and chocolate chips in flat dish. Remove plastic wrap from ball and roll ball into morsels to completely cover, pressing morsels into the ball if necessary.

Place ball on serving dish; cover and freeze for 2 hours or until almost firm. (Can be made ahead. If frozen overnight, thaw at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.) Serve with graham cracker sticks, teddy grahams, or apple slices for dipping or spreading.

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Thursday's Workout

Thursday's Workout

THURSDAY: ABS AND CARDIO BLAST

For details on this workout, keep reading:
Warm up: Any form of cardio that gets your heart rate up to around 80% of your maximum heart rate.

Exercises: These exercises will target your upper and lower abs, obliques, and transverse abdominis. Remember to keep your core locked on tight throughout for maximum BURN. Do 15 reps of each (unless otherwise stated) and complete 2 sets (or 3 if you’re super keen!).

Medicine ball crunches
Hold a medicine ball (or dumbbell) and lie flat on your back with knees bent, legs hip-width apart, abs engaged, and arms extended straight up toward the ceiling. Use your abs to “crunch” up by lifting your head, neck and shoulder blades off the mat. Slowly return to the mat to complete one rep.

Pulse Ups
Lie on your back with your hands underneath your tailbone and have your legs straight upward. Pull your navel inward and flex your glutes as you lift your hips just a few inches off the floor. Then lower your hips.

Side Plank hip raises
Lie on side on mat. Place forearm on mat under shoulder perpendicular to body. Place upper leg directly on top of lower leg and straighten knees and hips. Raise hips upward by lateral flexion of spine. Lower to original position. Thats one rep. Repeat with opposite side.

Plank

Lie face down on mat resting on the forearms, palms flat on the floor. Push off the floor, raising up onto toes and resting on the elbows. Keep your back flat, in a straight line from head to heels. Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air or sagging in the middle.

Superman

Lie face down on the floor, legs together and straight, arms straight and extended above your head. Keep your head/neck in a neutral position. Keeping limbs straight (but not locked) and torso stationary, simultaneously lift your arms and legs up toward the ceiling to form a gentle curve with your body. Pause, and return to start position. Thats one rep. 

Cardio: 45 minutes of cardio that will keep your heart rate up and work your whole body!

15 minutes elliptical

10 minutes rower

20 minutes stationary bike

Cool down and stretch: IMPORTANT! Don’t leave this bit out. Take 5-10 minutes to do some light cardio, decreasing the workload gradually. Then take as much time as you need to stretch out all of your muscles. Don’t know where to start? You could try here, here or here :)

Enjoy!!

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Wednesday's Workout

I have been super busy with the Holiday's and working lately, but now that its back to "normal" I wanted to share my Wednesday Workout!

WEDNESDAY: TOTAL BODY SCULPT

For details on this workout, keep reading:

Warm up: Any form of cardio that gets your heart rate up to around 80% of your maximum heart rate. 

Exercises: Choose appropriate weights for each exercise - you want to challenge yourself, but not injure yourself. Do 15 reps of each (unless otherwise stated) and complete 2 sets (or 3 if you’re super keen!)

Dumbbell Squats

Grasp a dumbbell in each hand. Place your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart with your knees and toes pointed slightly outward. Drawing your abs in descend slowly by bending at the knees and hips as if you are sitting down (squatting). Lower yourself as far as you can control without letting your body shift towards your toes (this will cause you to loose balance). Pause in the downward position and slowly return upright to the starting position.

Dumbbell lunges

Stand with dumbbells grasped to sides. Lunge forward with first leg. Land on heel then forefoot. Lower body by flexing knee and hip of front leg until knee of rear leg is almost in contact with floor. Return to original standing position by forcibly extending hip and knee of forward leg. Repeat by alternating lunge with opposite leg.

Dumbbell deadlifts
Stand with shoulder width or narrower stance. Grasp dumbbells to each side. With knees straight, lower dumbbells by bending hips until hamstrings are tight, or just before lower back bends. Lift dumbbells by extending hips until straight. Pull shoulders back slightly at top of lift if rounded.

Push Ups
Lie face down on the floor, or a mat, with your feet together curled slightly so you rise on the ball of your feet. Draw your abs in. Inhale as you raise your body up till your arms are straight. Keep your head and neck level with your body (don’t look up or down) and dont allow your back to rise or fall. Exhale out as you lower your body back to the ground.

Wide grip assisted pull ups
Step up and grasp bar with wide overhand grip. Step down onto assistance lever or platform. Pull body up until neck reaches height of hands. Lower body until arms and shoulders are fully extended.

Seated dumbbell shoulder press
Sit on a bench or a Swiss ball. Position dumbbells to each side of shoulders with elbows below wrists. Press dumbbells upward until arms are extended overhead. Lower to sides of shoulders and repeat.


Lying triceps extension
Lay on a flat bench with your head at one end and your feet panted firmly on the floor. Grasp a dumbbell with both hands (palms facing up) and raise it over your body. Your arms will be pointed towards the ceiling. While keeping your upper arms and elbows still, lower the dumbbell in an arc behind your head. Slowly raise the dumbbell back to the starting position.

Dumbbell bicep curls
Stand with our feet shoulder width apart, your knees slightly bent and your abs drawn in. Grasp a dumbbell in each hand so your palms are facing up. Extend your arms so they are at the sides of your body. Keeping your elbows locked lift your arms to your chest so that your forearms touches your biceps. In a slow controlled manner lower your arms to the starting position.

Plank
Lie face down on mat resting on the forearms, palms flat on the floor. Push off the floor, raising up onto toes and resting on the elbows. Keep your back flat, in a straight line from head to heels. Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air or sagging in the middle.

Swiss ball jack knife
Start in pushup position, but with your shins on a Swiss ball. Your body should form a straight line from ankles to head. Without rounding your lower back, contract your abs and use your feet to pull the ball toward your chest by bending your knees. Pause, and return to the starting position.

Cool down and stretch: IMPORTANT! Don’t leave this bit out. Take 5-10 minutes to do some light cardio, decreasing the workload gradually. Then take as much time as you need to stretch out all of your muscles. Don’t know where to start? You could try here, here or here :)
Enjoy!!

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Spring Forward

Here are some of my favorite things that I have found for Spring '12

For this look:
The Aisby Chiffon Skirt-Jack Wills

Ralph Lauren Ukiah Demin Western Shirt

Jessica Simpson Belt

Here are some other items I want for Spring:

Paul & Joe Sister Astro Nude T-Shirt

MoovBoot Dark Angels Savannah Boots

The Edburton Umbrella

The Ily Dress

TFNC Lace Dress Sleeveless with High Neck

Free People Flare Jeans with Pintuck

ASOS Sequin Bandeau Dress with Chiffon Skirt

Reverse Shirt Sheer with Cross Embellishment

Ombre Asymmetric Ruffle Top- Bebe

Sequin Stripe Cold Shoulder Top

ASOS Bright Zig Zag Print Top

ASOS Top With Drape Cowl Detail

Aldo Bolus peep-toe pumps

ASOS Cornflower Blue Candy Skinny Jeans

River Island RI Plate Sandals

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Pot Roast

Pot Roast


There is nothing easier than crockpot meals... especially ones that taste soooo good! I made this for Monday Night and it is already gone!! The sad thing is that it was just Josh and I that ate it. I didn't have time to get my camera and take a picture before it was all gone.

Ingredients:
3.5lbs of Boneless Chuck Roast
1 Large Yellow Onion
Small Red Potatoes (as many as you want that fit in the crockpot)
1 bag baby carrots
1 package brown gravy

Directions: 
1. Place meat in the crockpot and stab with fork all over
2. Cut the onion in half  and place in the crockpot
3. Add potatoes and carrots
4. Mix the package of brown gravy with 1 cup of water and pour over all the ingredients.
5. Cook on low for 9-12 hrs (the more you cook the better it gets!) The meat should fall apart when you stick a fork in it.

You can change up the flavoring by adding a package of French Onion Soup instead of the brown gravy.

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Workout Schedule - Tuesday's Workout

In between baking all these sweet treats and eating them, I have decided to start a workout program that combines cardio and weight lifting. Just thought I would share it. I got this from www.IAmNotASupermodel.tumblr.com

Here is Tuesday's Workout

TUESDAY: ABS AND INTERVAL TRAINING

For details on this workout, keep reading:

Warm up: Any form of cardio that gets your heart rate up to around 80% of your maximum heart rate. 

Exercises: These exercises will target your upper and lower abs, obliques, and transverse abdominis. Remember to keep your core locked on tight throughout for maximum BURN. Do 15 reps of each (unless otherwise stated) and complete 2 sets (or 3 if you’re super keen!).

Bicycle crunches

Lie face up and place your hands behind your head. Bring the knees in to the chest and lift the shoulder blades off the floor without pulling on the neck. Rotate to the left, bringing the right elbow towards the left knee as you straighten the other leg. Switch sides, bringing the left elbow towards the right knee. Thats one rep. 

Pulse Ups

Lie on your back with your hands underneath your tailbone and have your legs straight upward. Pull your navel inward and flex your glutes as you lift your hips just a few inches off the floor. Then lower your hips.

Side Plank hip raises

Lie on side on mat. Place forearm on mat under shoulder perpendicular to body. Place upper leg directly on top of lower leg and straighten knees and hips. Raise hips upward by lateral flexion of spine. Lower to original position. Thats one rep. Repeat with opposite side.

Plank

Lie face down on mat resting on the forearms, palms flat on the floor. Push off the floor, raising up onto toes and resting on the elbows. Keep your back flat, in a straight line from head to heels. Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air or sagging in the middle.

Superman

Lie face down on the floor, legs together and straight, arms straight and extended above your head. Keep your head/neck in a neutral position. Keeping limbs straight (but not locked) and torso stationary, simultaneously lift your arms and legs up toward the ceiling to form a gentle curve with your body. Pause, and return to start position. Thats one rep. 

Cardio: Interval Training

This one is for a stationary bike, taken from here. If you prefer, here are some elliptical and running intervals to try :)

Minutes 0 to 3: Warm up. Pedal comfortably with little or no resistance.

Minutes 3 to 7: Add resistance. Make pedaling harder and rise out of the saddle.

Minutes 7 to 11: Add more resistance. Slow your pace to 55 to 60 rpm. Alternate standing and sitting for 30 seconds each.

Minutes 11 to 15: Active recovery. Reduce the resistance and maintain a brisk, high pace (cadence) at 88 rpm.

Minutes 15 to 19: Flat ride. Add a bit more resistance and pedal at 90 to 95 rpm.

Minutes 19 to 23: Hill surges. Up the resistance and pedal at 65 rpm. Every 30 seconds, increase your leg speed and surge as fast as you can for 15 seconds.

Minutes 23 to 27: Fast and flat. Ease up on resistance and pedal at a fast pace (110+ rpm).

Minutes 27 to 31: Steep climb. Increase resistance and slow to 70 rpm, alternating between sitting and standing for 30 seconds each.

Minutes 31 to 35: Steady cruising. Reduce resistance and pedal at your preferred cadence.

Minutes 35 to 43: Speed play. Mix short and long sprints (95 to 110 rpm during sprints, 65 to 70 rpm during recovery). Start with 10 seconds and work up to 60 seconds (equal recovery time).

Minutes 43 to 45: Cool down. Pedal comfortably (85 rpm) with little or no resistance.

Cool down and stretch: IMPORTANT! Don’t leave this bit out. Take 5-10 minutes to do some light cardio, decreasing the workload gradually. Then take as much time as you need to stretch out all of your muscles. Don’t know where to start? You could try here, here or here :)

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Holiday Gift Guide: For the Baker

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