Yeast Free Chocolate Cake

Left is before, Right is after

These were so simple to make.  I think total time (prep and cook) was 5 minutes.  Steph from A BEAUtiful Mess introduced me to this "Microwave Chocolate Cake" and I finally was able to try it last night.  I will be having this again tonight for dessert.

Microwaveable Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup almond flour
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 Cup Truvia
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons butter or coconut/olive oil
1 Tablespoon hot water
1 egg

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together in small mixing bowl.
Spoon mixture into ramekins.
Cover with wax paper and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Enjoy! (Makes 2 small ramekins.)

I took Steph's advice and added 1 Tablespoon of natural peanut butter on top and let it melt.  I highly recommend doing that!

DIY -- Bow Holder

So quick and easy to make! I picked up my roommate's and my initial ($2/each) and pretty ribbon at JoAnn's.

Paint the letters (I used acrylic) with a color that matches the ribbon. Let it dry and then put modge podge or some sort or sealer on the letters.

Staple the ribbon (abt 1.5') to the back, bottom of the letter.

Nail a hook into the wall where you want the bow holder and hang the letter on it.

Tada!

Hanging with frands

My friends are so funny and so much fun. Dying laughing at the acting and montages in "Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus." Deborah Gibson, you aren't fooling anyone!!

Things I found on the Internetz

 

link

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30 Minute Buffalo Chicken Soup
serves 2 as a meal, 4 as a starter
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 8-10 oz), cooked and shredded
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 sweet onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon oat flour
32 ounces low-sodium chicken stock
1/3-1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
sliced green onions and cilantro for topping

Heat a large pot over medium heat and add olive oil. Add onions with a sprinkle of salt to the pot, stirring to coat, then cook for about 5 minutes until soft. Add in garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Sprinkle in flour and stir for another 1-2 minutes. Add in stock, buffalo sauce and chicken, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil, then reduce and let simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring every so often.

Serve soup with cilantro and green onions on top.  (I amended this a bit for my yeast free diet.  Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Sauce has vinegar and canola oil in it...but I love buffalo chicken so I'm letting that slide...)

The Cook's Thesaurus

 Besides finding all of this stuff on the Internetz I've been working like crazy and doing my best to follow my Mantra of 2012: SKINNY AND SINGLE!!  I'm focusing on me this year.  All of the energy I've given to men my entire life will be for me.  I will look my best and feel my best this year.  I will find happiness within myself. 

In the month of January I've already gone from a tight size 10 to a very loose size 8.  My skin has cleared up.  My mood is better.  All in all, I'm much happier so far in 2012 than I was all of 2011.  It's going to be a very good year. 

If you'd like to learn more about the Yeast Free diet I've been doing since January 16th, check it out here.  Steph from A BEAUtiful Mess blogged about it last year and I was intrigued. but this year I tried it and so far I'm loving it!

Terra Chips are da debil!

I'm trying this Yeast Free with me thing Steph the blogger at A BEAUtiful Mess told me about and through my research of this diet, I came upon a post about how she made it work for her. And Terra Chips. Homegurl mentions Terra Chips so I'm thinking to myself, 'Yea Nicole, go get yoself some chips cuz you ain't eatin no carbs.' (I make up weird accents in my head when I talk to myself-- true story.)

Long story, short: I've eaten half a bag of these damn Terra Chips in 48 hours. #fatass #ihatewhenpeopledothisnotontwitter

And the race begins

Yesterday was Day 1 of training for the White Rock half-marathon, or as I like to call it, The Half-thon.  It sounds kind of like a dinosaur.  (Velociraptors are my fave in case you were wondering.)

Yesterday was also Day 1 of running injuries... or was it Day 6?

My big toe started hurting last week when I went for a run with a friend.  I didn't exercise for a couple of days and it went away, but about 20 minutes into my run it started hurting again.  (Yes, I stretched.)  It hurts the most when I'm done running and it's just throbbing.  I'm guessing I should go see a doctor, but I don't want to stop running.  I need to train man!!

So I'm going to keep running until my foot falls off and then I'll go see a doctor.  After the Half-thon.  But really, I'm going to keep running and see if it goes away on it's own with stretching before and after and ice after. 

Tomorrow is my last day of living with Joe and Max.  I leave Thursday morning to get all my crap out of storage and by Saturday I'll be in my new home!!  YAYYYYYY!!!  I'm looking forward to being settled in my new place and having my dog around.  And having a full length mirror.  Standing on the tub hunched over trying to get a look at yourself in the mirror can be dangerous, especially in 4-inch heels.  AND YET I'M STILL ALIVE!!  It's a miracle, I tell ya!  My momma done raised me right.

Ok, back to work.  I have a million things to do before I have my 6 day weekend.  Yes, you read right.  Six days.  Pretty SA-WEET!!!  If you need me I'll be busy doing nothing.

It was a great weekend

Friday night I had friends over for some homemade chicken margharita pizza.  'Twas delicious if I do say so myself.

Saturday I woke up at Noon-thirty, hung out by the pool with friends and then went on a really fun date.  We had sushi at some fancy place with an automatic door.  Then we went to a bar to have fancy artisan beers.  I got Live Oak Hefeweisen...yum.  And then (yes there's more) we went to the Charlie Robison concert at the Granada Theater.  It was a great show and he was such a gentleman, opening my car door and everything!  Love that!  He hasn't called or texted so we'll see where this goes.  I'm not sure I'm over guy-I-was-hanging-out-with-frequently-in-Austin-but-there-were-no-labels and we have plans to hang out when I'm back in Austin this week sooooo I don't know.  He's in Austin.  I've lived and learned and don't do long distance.  It probably won't work out and I should just get over it.  Here's a picture of the concert!

Moving on.  Sunday I went to lunch with a friend of my dad's.  They went to high school in Michigan together and she now lives in Dallas.  It was really nice to catch up with her and I think we'll make it a normal thing.  She's a really smart woman and we have great conversation.  After lunch I hung out at my friend's dad's awesome pool.  She's house sitting his fancy house and we get the perks of the place!

My stepdad has a really dry sense of humor.  He regularly sends me pictures of my dog, updating me on his adventures.  I get these texts about once a day, sometimes more.  I think it's his way of reminding me that he still has my dog so I don't forget to bring him back to Dallas with me when I finally get a place of my own.  Yesterday he sent me this picture:

It was accompanied with the text "Photo of dog, he ran away"

I start flipping out wondering where the hell my dog is and respond asking him that.

He sends me this picture:

"He just ran to the next room out of the picture"

So my dad was trying to take a picture of the dog and he ran off, yet he still took the picture?!?  Hahaha ridic!!

I can't wait to have my baby here in Dallas with me!  We move into the new place on Saturday.