"I'd Like To Quit The Gym" and Ten Things Tuesday

How's your Tuesday going? 

After a three day weekend, I was glad to go back to work  be back to my normal routine. Three day weekends throw me off schedule. 

Just wanted to share this before I get into Ten Things Tuesday. 

Remember the homemade ravioli and how I posted about how pathetically quick and easy it was to have on a busy week night?

Well, last night, I broke out the frozen bag of ravioli and had dinner taken care of in under two minutes. 

Start time: 6:28

I started at 6:28. Turned the oven on, took out the bag of ravioli and dumped it in a casserole dish. I took out a jar of sauce, struggled to get it open, finally managed to open it, and poured it on top of the ravioli. Then I put the ravioli in the oven that was still heating up. End time: 6:30. 

End time: 6:30

While I waited for the ravioli to cook, I did some other things around the kitchen and house. Dinner out of the oven and on a plate by 6:57. 

27 minutes later....

Total prep time: 2 minutes
Total cook time: 27 minutes. 

Homemade cheese ravioli

Moving on to Tuesday's usual routine....


So last week, I set out to take care of the following things by today and here is how I did: 

1. Cancel gym membership

• Done. Phew. I hate "quitting the gym" (anyone else know that reference to the episode in Friends where Chandler wants to quit the gym but they keep sucking him back in with guilt trips. Well, that's exactly what I got when I went there. I have to finish paying out my subscription to the end of the year but after December, I won't be automatically charged anymore and that $33.00 will stay happily in my bank account. 

See ya later gym membership that I never use

2. Post a new recipe

• Mmmmm....cinnamon swirl banana bread. WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS

3. Make a trip to consignment store to bring items and pick my check

4. Post three items on to eBay

• And a gazillion more to go! 

5. Start to finish, complete one new file folder game for work

It's called "Pencil Pals"

Cut, colored, and glued all the pencils.
Half went onto the file folder and the corresponding pencils were glued onto stock paper

After laminating and more cutting...

Added the velco and here is the final product

6. Finish and publish post about lake-house

• One of these days, I will sit down and write about it! 

7. Work on (bonus points for publishing) after-post for bedroom

• Haven't even started but how about a sneak peek:

8. Work out/be active at least 3 times this week

• Only twice. I did some pole work in my dance room on Wednesday and then went to an open pole class on Friday. 

9. Figure out what to do with giant bag of teenager's out-grown clothes (anybody looking for boys clothes, size 10-14)

• I called a few children's consignment stores and now just waiting to hear back. I'm going to try a few more places/other options such as eBay and craigslist but if not, they will be donated. 

10. Go to post office to mail eBay packages

• Done-but now I have more. Once things start selling, it never ends. 

So for next week:
1.Get at least three more items up on eBay. You should see the boxes I have filled with stuff that needs to get posted on there!
2. Figure out Thanksgiving plans 
3. Do the before/after post of the bedroom
4. Clean out my freaking car. 
5. Post a new recipe on the blog
6. Be active/pole at least three times 
7. Deep clean the master bathroom/bedroom
8. Make another file folder game, from start to finish
9. Work on/finish super-top-secret blog post
10. Deal with my Comcast issue

That's all I've got for now. 

Question for you:

• What's on your list of things to do for the week?
• Have you ever had a hard time "quitting the gym" or something similar?

Friends Making Monday: All About The Blog

I have today "off" and while I am not at school, I am working today. 

How was your weekend? Do you have today off?

Friday afternoon, I went to an open pole class and worked on some tricks. I really like the open atmosphere of the open pole classes. They're very laid back. 

 On Saturday, Ryan and the teenager went to his cousins' for the day so I spent some time at my parents' house before heading up to my best friend's house (an hour and a half away) to spend the night. One of my camp friends was in town and I haven't seen her in nearly three years so it was so much fun to be able to see each other. 

camp friends are best friends

Yesterday, we went out for breakfast and then the girls did a little shopping before I headed back home where Ryan and I enjoyed a night with a few beers (mmmm Smoked Porter and Mean Old Tom) and Chinese food delivery in front of the fire. 

We watched the first episode of American Horror Story (did anyone else see it? Yikes!!!!) and attempted to watch a movie called 42 about Jackie Robinson but we both fell asleep pretty quickly. It was good so I'm looking forward to watching the rest of it. Unfortunately, i ALWAYS fall asleep during movies.

I am going to get back to my work but before I do, this post is brought to you, as always, with Friends Making Monday's. 

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

All about the Blog

1.  How long have you been blogging?  About five months or so.....so not very long at all. 

2.  What is the overwhelming theme of your blog? I first started as a way to document the changes we made as we renovated and redecorated our house but it seems as if it is becoming more of a daily life/my on going to-do list sort of theme. Whatever. it works for me. 

3.  Have you connected with people in person after meeting them through blogging?  No....not yet at least.  

4.  What do you enjoy most about blogging?  I really enjoy documenting and putting my every day happenings into words and then seeing them come intro fruition.  I like that I started my ten-things-Tuesday series and my 101 in 1001 list (It once again solidifies that I thrive on lists and having set goals to accomplish). And I cannot neglect the satisfaction that comes when someone comments on the blog. It was such a highlight of my "blogging career" (ha!) when another blogger 

5.  How often do you blog? Over the summer, I had more time and was able to blog a few times per week. Lately, it feels like I can get out a post on Monday (For FMM) and Tuesday's for Ten Things Tuesday. I have a bunch of draft posts that are constantly in the works but since I am so NOT technologically savvy, it sometimes takes me a long time to deal with pictures and formatting, etc. I just bought a keyboard for the iPad so since I won't be forced to stay in the computer room to work on a computer, I will be able to sit on the couch at night and type from the iPad. 

6.  Share one thing that you don’t like about blogging. Nothing major comes to mind. I once got stressed that I wasn't able to post as frequently as some other bloggers but then I put it into perspective that those bloggers do this for a full time job, and my blogging is strictly hobby. I also don't like the spam comments!

7. Do you talk about your blog in everyday life?  Not at all. Very few people know that I do this and of those few people, not very many know the name of the blog or how to find it. I don't even really talk about it with Ryan. 

8.  What is the coolest and most unexpected thing that has happened to you as a result of blogging?  Another blogger has referenced a recipe of mine on her blog! (FYI-it was the homemade applesauce)

9.  Are there topics that are off-limits on your blog?  If so, name a few…I won't go into detail about the Teenager or anything related him. I won't talk too much about my family or the situations that happened. 

10.  If you could accomplish one thing through your blog before the end of this year, what would you want to accomplish? I just want to be able to continue having this online scrapbooking for myself. 

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions!  Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments, and say hello to someone new!  

YES! Friday! I have been looking forward to this weekend for a while which got me thinking, there is a lot in October that I have been looking forward to.

• October 5: Mark and Kristen wedding in Plymouth. Weddings with the group of friends are always fun, especially when we all spend the night at the hotel
• October 8th: Elections = no school! (Teachers get excited too about random days off and snow days)
• October 12th: My friend from NYC will be in town. Although we speak very regularly, I haven't seen her since my best friends wedding, nearly three years ago. And I FINALLY get to meet her finance! 
• October 14th: Columbus day = three day weekend. Yep, another day off from work
• October 19th: Housewarming party for my friend Susan and her husband
• October 31st: Dentist appointment. My teeth have been hurting and it is getting uncomfortable to chew on my right side so I am actually looking forward to getting this taken care of. I opted to pay the extra money and get sedated for the ordeal (I LOATHE being in the dentist chair-I'd rather deal with a broken bone). Being sedated for the whole thing, means I take a pill in the morning before the appointment, I am all loopy by the time I get there (don't worry, Ryan will drive me), and then I get sedated to the point where I take a nap and wake up hours later at home. As far as I'm concerned, it is the only way to get dental work done. 

I am very very excited for this weekend. I conveniently made a hair appointment for Saturday morning and once I get home, I will finish getting ready before we head down to Plymouth for the night. 

Tonight, though, I decided to go to a pole class but I am wondering if that is going to be a good idea. I was sick most of last week so I couldn't go and although I wanted to go on Tuesday, things came up and I couldn't make it. I don't want to go to the wedding this weekend covered in bruises (the pole causes lots of bruises, especially when you are learning new tricks) but I also don't want to sacrifice working out and dancing because of it.Decisions, decisions.

Not related to anything at all, but I took this picture yesterday morning. We don't allow Mulder on the new couch, but someone has been making himself quite comfortable while we are gone. I stepped out of the house and quickly turned back around because I forgot my coffee and look what I found:

tough life

 And I can't neglect this guy: I stopped by my parents' house last night and was greeted by my favorite bulldog. I knit that blanket thingy for Bauer when I first got him 8 years ago, and it usually stays in his crate. When I got to the house last night, he dragged it out for me. He's such a sweetheart! I miss seeing him every day.

Bauer is getting so old..but still a puppy to me

Questions for you:

What are you doing this weekend?

What are you looking forward to this month?

Feeling Happy

There is something so refreshing about September. I am a  life long school-goer (as either a student for a teacher) so I always find September as reason for a fresh start and clean slate. It's something to do with getting fresh school supplies!

This September has been the best fresh start since the last few years have been hectic and stressful.


In early 2011, we had a fire in our rental home and that whole time was so confusing and overwhelming, not knowing where we were going to live and the mess that comes along with losing nearly everything.

Ryan and I were fighting a lot.

Last December, I left a job that I was comfortable at for one in a different type of setting. I went from an elementary school in an urban district to a preschool in a suburban district and immediately didn't like the new position. I just never felt like I fit in.

Last March, we bought a house and had all the stressful shenanigans that go along with paperwork, house hunting, and dealing with the mortgage stuff. Oh yeah, there was also the packing and unpacking, moving, house repairs, and the cost of all of it. Yep. It added a touch of stress to our daily lives.

home sweet home

And  for the past fours years, since living with us, the teenager (who I prefer to keep his life private from here) was sapping a lot of our energy  because of school stuff, behavior stuff, his other half of his family stuff, etc.


But now....


Well, now, I feel like my life is all coming together. Everything is working out so perfectly. I am happy.

We are making this house our home.  The house is in a great location and is perfect for my life. Doing all the house projects and decorating has been fun and now that we can take our time with them, it's much more enjoyable.  I am looking forward to sitting on our new couch, sipping our coffees, and being in front of the crackling fireplace come winter time. I probably need to start searching for a hearth now! Any suggestions?

Love this mesh hearth! 

Since starting middle school, the teenager is doing much better in school and becoming more responsible and mature. Which means, the yelling is reduced-thanks to the orange rhino challenge! Things have really calmed down and the whole dynamic in our household is so much better.

I am no longer at the job I didn't like. I was stressed all summer about finding a new job but it all worked out. I am back in an elementary school in a different urban district. The commute is amazing-fifteen minutes door to door (shortest commute I have ever had!)

But the best thing is that I loooooooooooooooove my new job. I feel so good at it there and coming from my last job, it is such a difference. I may have taken a pay cut, but my happiness is much more important. It makes a huge difference waking up in the morning and not dreading going to work. 

On top of all of that, I am exercising regularly and in a way that i love. I am a dancer at heart and that has always been my favorite way to spend my time. Since the pole room has been completed, I get to dance or play on the pole whenever I want and that feels physically and mentally rewarding. 

With all the good things, our relationship has been positively impacted, and of course that feels good.

I am really happy right now.

Question for you:
What are you happy about right now?

An Unproductive Ten Things Tuesday

I was not very productive in terms of my list of last week’s Ten Things Tuesday. The weekend happened to be filled lots of unplanned activities that took precedence and I find that way more important. It was really fun to hang out with Ryan and be a couple together instead of being parents so anything that I had thought I was going to do over the weekend, didn't get accomplished. 

1. At least two times, wake up early and go for a walk/run.

Every night as I set my alarm, I was so gung-ho and motivated to get up early but then I would wake up a hundred times in the middle of the night and when the alarm finally did go off, I just wanted to stay in bed. So I did. This one is going to be tough for me, especially as the weather is getting cooler in the mornings. 

2. Start posting items on eBay (I have a giant box of stuff that I want to get rid of). Post at least 7 of my items.

 I got up a few items and since then, one has sold. I made a whopping $2.00 on a cookbook plus $4.00 for shipping.

3. Set up my one year/three year calendar (it's a work thing that's not worth explaining here) 
            Done. 

4. Pick up dry cleaning (I am the worst at remembering to go).
Last minute, but I got it done. 

5.  Find a dress for a wedding. 

Most of the bruises have gone down significantly and I am making it a point not to practice any mores that will aggravate the bruising until the wedding is over next Sunday.  I'm going to stick with a dress that I already have. 

6. Register for next year's pole competition. 
I have officially decided to enter in the competition, but I haven't done it yet. I am going to a pole class tonight, so once I speak with the instructor and get her advice,  I will fill out the entry form

7. Clean my car (ha!). 
I have slowly been making an effort to take things out of the car each time I get out, but I usually have my hands full that I can't manage one extra thing. My car is still a mess though. 

8. Renew books/audio-books at library.
The library is going to hate me!

9. Meal plan for two-three weeks. 
Nope. Didn't do that.

10.  Grocery shop for those two-three weeks. 

See above.  Ryan ended up coming with me to go grocery shopping so our cart was filled with more of a hodge-podge of items instead of ingredients that I know I will use for something specifically. 

For next week, here is what I am hoping to get accomplished:

1. Begin my evaluation binder.

2. Post three more items on eBay and relist the items not sold

3. Post office to ship the item I sold

4. Post applesauce recipe

5. Make double batch of apple bread

6. Write post with apple bread recipe

7. Vacuum carpets (master bedroom, office, teenagers room, stairs/landing) 

8. Go to rite-aid or other store to get wedding card and birthday card

9. Tjmaxx to get gift for friends b-day party and wrap it up all pretty

10. Bring up the puzzle from downstairs and work on it again. 

Well that's all I have for today.

What are some of your to-do items that you've got going on?

Ten Things Tuesday

I did pretty well on list of things to take care of from last week:

1. Get up early at least two times to workout

I am not a morning person, nor am I anything close to being a runner but I took Mulder with me two mornings before work for a run/walk on the trails behind our house. There are two ponds along the trails-one directly in our backyard and the other a little further down the trail. I love the morning fog creeping over the ponds! It is starting to get easier to get up and out of bed that extra early time in the morning. My run-walks are only 15-20 minutes (hey, it's a start!) and my commute at the new job is the shortest one I have ever had, so it really isn't taking that much more time for me to get ready in the morning.

 

2. Find the perfect housewarming gift for a party
This one was really fun and I wish I snapped a picture of it. Our friends recently bought a house in the same town as Ryan and me. While they were doing some renovating and moving in, they tried to gift upon us a switch plate that had a mountain scene and an eagle soaring. While interesting and definitely a one-of-a-kind piece, I continued to veto the idea as Ryan tried to put it up everywhere in our house. Furthermore, I kept thinking that our friends needed to keep this for their home-after all, it was original to their home and it should remain there. So, to make it more of a statement piece, I put it inside of a shadow box and gave it back to them as a housewarming gift. Now, it can pay homage to the home it belongs in. 

3. Go to two pole classes

 Proud to say that I have been going to classes regularly and even "graduated" to level 2. I did this move-the extended butterfly-at the studio: 

My shoulders have been sore ever since!

4. Clean my car, inside and out
One of these days, I will get around to it. 

5. Read through ALL 55+ of my student files
6.  Organize my student files the way I like for all student files
7. Post about the dance room (yay, it's almost done and looks amazing!!!)  Read all about it! 
8. Renew Gone With The Wind and the other book I checked out from the library

I received an email from the library that they are over due and I still didn't renew them. Worst part is, the library is right down the street from me-there is no excuse. 

9. Start new book-Yeah, I was just lazy about this and came up with better things to do 

10. Mail my transcript request form and check. -

So, here's the scoop on this one. I was asked to get this for my new job from HR. It is been a few weeks and they haven't asked me for it since. I have already received my first paycheck (so I know that it won't be holding me up from getting paid) but since I am so freaking broke right now, I am trying to not spend any additional money and cut corners where I can. I am going to try pushing this one off as long as possible and keep the $50.00 fee for processing the transcript request in my wallet until it is absolutely necessary. I'm really hoping this doesn't backfire on me. What do you think, bad idea? 

So for the upcoming week, here is what I am thinking:
1. At least two times, wake up early and go for a walk/run. (If I keep this up, I may be able to cross of #66 on my 101 in 1001 list)
2. Start posting items on eBay (I have a giant box of stuff that I want to get rid of). Post at least 7 of my items
3. Set up my one year/three year calendar (it's a work thing that's not worth explaining here) but I've been super busy so I just gotta do this one
4. Pick up dry cleaning (I am the worst at remembering to go)
5.  Find a dress for a wedding 
6. Register for next year's pole competition. (I went to pole class yesterday and the instructor highly encouraged me to enter next year's competition!)
7. Clean my car (ha!)
8. Renew books/audio-books at library
9. Meal plan for two-three weeks
10.  Grocery shop for those two-three weeks

Okay, I need your advice here. I am not a stylish person. I used to think I had some style, but turns out-I don't.

 In any case, I have a wedding to go to in a few weeks. It is on a Sunday afternoon/evening (4:30) at a hotel in Boston. Typically, I would wear a little black dress or any other short dress but......since I have been working my butt off on the pole, my legs are pretty beat up. I mean it when I say they are bruised all over. Not like one or two small bruises, I'm talking covered from top to bottom in giant bruises. As proud as I am of these bruises (it means I did a hard trick!), I don't think it would be appropriate to wear a short dress. I don't know if the wedding is "long dress" appropriate though-and my only long dresses that I own are either my really fancy black dress I wore for my brothers black tie wedding when I was in the wedding party or a long but almost too casual maxi-dress.

 So what your suggestions? Find a new long dress? Can I even wear a long dress? Wear what something that I have (borrowing from friends is not an option-I am waaaay too short to wear any of my friends' clothes)? Deal with the bruises and wear a short dress? Eeek (I know, first world problems)


Join in on the fun. Well, it's probably not fun-but join anyway! It is at the very least productive! 

Happy Tuesday Folks! 

My Dance Room

I'm so happy to finally be able to post about my dance room! 

Growing up, I was a dancer. I took dance classes since I was 3 and barely out of diapers and began competing a few years later. 

I will be the first one to tell you-I am not good according to dance standards. My body is NOT made for dancing. My feet turn in, my knees are always bent. My legs, hips, and feet won't do what they are supposed to-I was practically born with deformed hips and had to have my right hip completely reconstructed. Trust me when I say, I wasn't born to be a dancer. 

But that didn't matter to me. I love dancing. It is my absolute favorite thing to do. I cant help it but feel the need to move, especially when a song comes on that makes me see the music. 

When I was growing up, I used to blast the radio and dance like a maniac in my room and that carried over to when I had my own apartments in my 20's where I would dance like a fool in the bathroom. (I have never admitted that to anyone until now!) Yes, slightly pathetic, but I couldn't help but find a way to dance. I have always thought how cool it would be to have my own "dance room" and figured when I grew up, I would find a way to make a "real" dance room. 

In addition to my love of dance, I started taking pole dance classes sporadically while I was living in Florida for grad school. When I moved back home, I took classes in this area as well, but again, would go sporadically. I would go for a few weeks and then stop again. And then, a few years ago, Ryan got and installed a pole for me in the basement at our last house. For my birthday this year, he gave me the ultimate dream present: my own dance room, complete with the pole. 

Since our basement has pretty low ceilings, we mad the decision to build the room in the garage where the ceilings are much higher and there is generally more room. 

We started with this: 

Ryan began by clearing out the back section of the garage on my side. I am forgoing my ability to park in the garage for the dance space. He then installed recess lights. After that, he cleaned the walls, ceiling, and piping and then painted the area with some left over paint from the bedroom and living room. We did get some white paint specifically for the ceiling area though. Then, he laid down some floors and installed the pole. 

Right now, I have the mirrors just propped up against the wall for the time until I can get the proper brackets to go into the concrete wall. 

It is pretty freaking awesome. since I found a new studio that is close to both home and my new job, I started taking classes regularly. (Wahoo-a 101 in 1001 goal!) Also, I have been using my dance room regularly and have now officially mastered a trick that I have been working towards since I started! (Yep, another 101 in 1001 goal!) I believe it is called the Gemini, but not totally sure. Although it is far from the most flattering photograph (I am holding my breath while upside down!), I was really proud of myself for finally figuring out how to do this with only one leg. 

Gemini

That's all I got for now, but if you are following along with my 101 in 1001 list, I can now cross off three more items on my list (build the dance room, go to pole classes regularly, and master a new trick) and add another $15.00 to my savings account. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Questions for you:

What has been the best birthday gift you have ever received?

Typical Me and Friend Making Monday But Really It Is Tuesday

Typical me...day late and a dollar short. But, it's been a great start of the week. I recently started a position at a new school district and I am super excited about it. It is in an urban environment and I am really looking forward to joining a district in this type of environment. I tried working in a suburban environment for a little while and although there are perks to working in that type of environment, my heart really belongs to the urban environment. Needless to say, I am really looking forward to the upcoming school year and I sincerely hope I have found my "forever school" where I will be until I retire. Now I just need to know what school I will be working in-seeing that school starts tomorrow! 

We had a district-wide orientation and welcoming this morning followed by a few hour break. This afternoon, I will be heading to the administration office with my other fellow SLP's (who I got to meet yesterday) and will find out my school assignment. 

With that being said, it's time for another edition of Friends Making Monday! (uhh, Tuesday. See-day late and a dollar short.)

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Questions and Answers

1.  What is a typical weekday like for you?  Loaded question. I am new to the school district so I am not quite sure what it will exactly look like but I am assuming it is something like this: Hour and a half -two hours before school starts: Wake up, press snooze, whine about it being early, finally get out of bed, get dressed, try on three different outfits before selecting something that I have worn a gazillion times, do hair-decide I don't like how it looks and throw it up in a ponytail, do makeup, eat breakfast, make coffee, pack lunch, drive to work, work until school gets out, drive home, and spend the rest of the evening doing stuff around the house and cooking dinner. 

2.  Name one song that never fails to make you happy and one song that you always listen to when you’re sad. Any song that is a "camp" song will automatically make me nostalgic and think of camp

3.  Did you watch the VMA’s last night? No, and after hearing all the Miley crap, I'm glad I didn't.

4.  Share at least two that you possess.Two skills I am assuming. I am pretty good at fine-motor things-like untangling necklaces and untying knots. And I can fold laundry well. Pathetic, but true. 

5.  Share one thing that you wish you had the confidence to do.  Enter a pole competition. I recently heard about these competitions and while I am no where near ready, I think it would be really fun to get into competing. After all, I was a competitive dancer while growing up and loved it. 

6. Tell us about one insecurity that people might be surprised that you have.  I am petrified about driving in Boston. All the one way streets and crazy drivers-it's so overwhelming! 

7.  If you could be the CEO of any company, which one would you choose to lead?  I wouldn't. want to be a CEO- I know nothing of business, let alone running a business. I wouldn't want all that responsibility. 

8. List at least three hobbies that make you happy. Puzzles, dancing, and baking. 

Latest update in the 2000 piece puzzle. This one is taking me forever!

9.  Is there someone in your life that you wish you could say “I love you” to?  Ummm, not really. Well yes, but I am choosing to keep that private. 

10.  Share one cool thing that happened over the weekend.  I signed up for a ten class commitment at a new pole studio and Ryan is almost done building out my dance room! We bought floors yesterday and ordered a new piece to secure the pole into the ceiling. Check back soon for pictures of the final product! 

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions.  Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments!  Happy Monday Tuesday, friends!

Pole Fitness and S'mores Truffles

Sunday mornings are usually one of my favorite times of the week.

Yesterday morning, I went to pole class at the same studio I went to with my friends last week. I ended up purchasing a punch card package (10 classes for $100 plus yesterdays class for free) as opposed to paying $25 for a drop-in. The studio is so much closer to my house (and new job!) than the last studio I went to. I'm hoping with the purchase of the punch card, I will start to go regularly again. And since Ryan has been working feverishly on the garage-turned-pol-dance-room, I will have

 

a place to practice and workout at home.

Seriously, pole dancing is one tough workout but I absolutely love it.  Growing up as a dancer, I find any type of exercise that involves movement and music to be fun.

Side note: There is a pole competition in a few weeks that a bunch of the instructors from the pole studio are competing at and I am so excited to go and watch! I know I just restarted pole dancing but there is a big part of me that would love to get into competing (someday, not anytime soon)



Okay, without any further ado, I present to you the easiest (although slightly messy to make) dessert that I briefly teased you with at yesterday's post:

SMORES TRUFFLES

They are to die for. And, since I don't do anything complicated in the kitchen, they can be filed under the category of pathetically easy to make (just like my homemade ravioli). I made these as an upgrade to the Oreo truffles that have been floating all over the pinterest land.

Can you count to four? Because that is the total number of ingredients you need:


-Cream filled chocolate sandwich cookies (AKA: Oreo's but for this, I used the $1.00 per package store brand)
-Package of cream cheese
-Melting chocolate
-S'mores Sprinkles (I bought the package at my local Michael's)


Ready for how easy this is:

1. Crush cookies.




2. Combine crushed cookies with block of cream cheese. I found that it was easiest to put on rubber gloves and mix it all together.  Make silly comment about how the mixture of the cookies and cream cheese looks like a pile of poop.




3. Form into meatball size balls by rolling around a small amount of the mixture in your hands. Continue until all the mixture has been formed into balls.



4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or so. This makes it easier for the next few steps.



5.  Melt chocolate according to package directions.

6. Dip chilled balls into melted chocolate and immediately sprinkle with S'mores sprinkles. Place gently onto wax paper until hardened

These are best stored in the fridge until ready to consume

Tips:
1. Find a method that works for you in terms of dipping the balls into the chocolate. Items that may be helpful include, but are not limited to, toothpicks, forks, skewers, spoons. Make it work for you!
2. They are REALLY good if they are stored in the freezer and then eaten as a frozen treat.


Question for you:
1. Do you like S'mores?
2. Would you or have you ever tried pole dancing? What are your thoughts?

Enjoy your Sunday!