Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! It's 2014!

I don't actually have any resolutions. I've already started trying to change for a better life and a better me. This is simply a continuation.

For example, today, at 4am, I began Insanity. The sweat was dripping down my body and I loved having such a great workout. Didn't love only getting about 4 hours of sleep, but I can catch up when I'm dead, right?

Let me just explain where this post is going. The word "random" is in the title of this blog for a reason.

So, 2013 was a good year, overall. I've been reading some of my friends' posts on Facebook and such. Not all of them had great years. Many are glad for a new beginning. But stay positive, guys. You're alive and that's the first step to changing your life. I think…

Yeah, so 2013. Summed up?

I moved halfway across the country for a job I didn't end up taking.

I got what has become one of the best jobs I've ever had, if not the best.

I strengthened my friendships and became closer with my sister.

I also made some new friends, some of whom, sadly, are leaving today and tomorrow.

I tried several new things and found not all of them to be great, but I still tried them.

I think that about does it. The last 48 hours of 2013 were pretty good. I got some major compliments from guests and managers at work. I also worked 13 hours on the very last day and followed that up with fireworks at Walt Disney World's Epcot. Epcot has the best fireworks for every occasion. Trust me. If you're every not sure which park to go to for New Year's or Independence Day or whatever, just go to Epcot. You cannot go wrong.

Right, so there's 2013.

2014 is going to be my year, though. I know I sound like every other schmuck, but it is. I know it is.

As I said, I started Insanity this morning. I'm also back on Weight Watchers. My cousin is getting married in May and by then I'm going to look better than I did in high school. Take that, 2013!

I also plan on finally finishing Book 2. Yes, that sounds like a resolution, but I've been trying to do that for… 13 years. So, you know. Maybe I can finally do it!

But instead of resolutions, I have a mantra this year. New year, new possibilities, new me.

Until next time…

Happy New Year and Stay Random!

Thankful

I didn't write a post on Thanksgiving. I was rather busy. I had a friend and his roommates visiting from out of town. That whole week was just mad! I WAS SO BUSY! But I loved it.

However, I have had a lot on my mind lately. A lot. Like… a lot, a lot. There's so much I have to think about. It's part of being an adult. Which sucks sometimes. I know this blog was originally for my books, but I feel like posting this post here. Because I can. I have the power…

Yeah, I went there.

So, moving on. The meaning of this post is this. Be thankful. I am one of the luckiest people in the world. Not because I'm rich or famous. Because I'm not. And it's not because I'm dating the perfect guy. Because I'm single.

I'm the luckiest girl in the world because I have the best friends and family anyone could ever hope for. They keep me grounded, but they support me. They tell me when I'm being stupid, but insist that I'm still clever and funny. Which, I don't see, but hey! Who cares? My friends do and that's what matters.

I had amazing Thanksgiving weekend, but there were a few moments where there was so much on my mind, I found it hard to function. Lots of things to do with work and all that. So when I broke down to my friends, they didn't all give me a pat on the back and say things like "Grow up, idiot" or "Oh, it's OK. Just cry it out."

No, some friends were the voice of absolute reason, but with kindness. Others were the ones who said "You'll make it. I know it. I just know it." It didn't matter who said those things, but having all of those friends made me realize that, while none of them had the exact same opinion about all of those things, they all had valid points. Yeah, I know that's confusing. Sorry.

Basically, I have the most amazing friends on the planet. But even better than my friends (no offense, ladies and gents) is my sister. My beautiful, amazing, wonderful, supportive, sassy, funny, kind, smart sister. That's not even half of it, but those are some of the best ways to describe her. For example, I don't completely remember the context of the conversation, but my sixteen-year-old sister gave me this advice:

"Sometimes… sometimes you've gotta sass. You've gotta sass with class… But don't be an ass."

Words to live by, my friends. Words to live by.

So I know that post may not have completely cleared up why I have the best friends and sister in the world. But it is true. They win. You lose. That's it. Go home. Stop trying.

Until next time…

Stay random!

Not So Content

I want to quit my humdrum life and travel the world. Is that so much to ask? I mean, seriously.

OK, so obviously I'm working on Book 2, when I'm not blogging. But I'd give anything to write a travel blog instead. Or at the same time. I love to write and I love to travel. Merging those two just seems natural to me.

So in terms of work, long story short, I'm part time at the biggest employer in the state. I didn't look at statistics, but I think it's safe to say that's accurate. I'm trying to get full time because the hours aren't cutting it. But I also think one of my managers already thinks I'm management material. Duh. I'm awesome-sauce. I'll keep y'all posted on that.

SECOND... Pinterest is so totally my friend. I tried a recipe for Honey Lime Cilantro Chicken. This stuff is the bomb dot com. You don't even know. Better grilled, but you can make it in a skillet too. THIS ONE I actually tried a couple times to be certain, unlike the egg mcmuffin thing from the last post. Follow the link. Do it. You know you want to.

That's all for now.

Kate Brown signing off...

Stay random!

Bake-Ahead Breakfast

Right, so. First on the list is my make-ahead breakfast Egg McMuffin copy cat recipe. Yeah, that's a lot of words. Sorry. I just wanted you to understand. Now, I did this with cheddar cheese and ham as opposed to the same cheese and turkey sausage. I also used Thomas' Lite Multi-Grain English muffins. So that may make the Weight Watchers points number listed on the site a little different. However, it should be around 8 points.

You can find the link here. I won't bore you directly with the details here, but they turned out to be really freaking good! I do have one change. While I listened to the note about scrambling the yolk before baking (which is difficult with Publix eggs for some reason), I also only had to bake them for about 17-18 minutes. They did not take the 25-30 listed on the site. I would just be careful. You don't want to overcook them or they'll be rubbery and no good. But undercooking might be problematic since you're freezing them. Then again, if you're only making one, no need to be that careful. Runny or not you'll be eating it right away.

So there you have it. Add an apple or an orange and a glass of ice water or milk and you've got yourself a balanced breakfast full of protein!

Kate Brown signing off...

Stay random!

*****UPDATE:

These things are not that tasty. Sorry to have given you incorrect information. I tried reheating several times in the oven and microwave and I'm just glad I didn't make more than 6. Don't try it. Don't do it. Just don't.

Just Don't Ask

Where have I been? Yeah, seriously. Don't ask.

I've not been working out as I said I would. I know. Shocker, huh? But I will get back on track soon.

I've also not been working for the last week and a half. Why? Well, I did this little thing called MOVING HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. Yes. I moved. Back to sunny Orlando. Well... Clermont, which is southwest of Orlando. Same thing... sorta.

Anyway, I moved. I transferred locations with my job. Problem is that I signed the papers for a background check Monday... and still haven't heard back. Guys, I'm not a convicted felon or anything! I promise! But they said when I did this the last time that it could take up to 5 business days. Monday will be day 5. So I guess I'm still OK.

I DO have another interview with a different employer on Monday, though. A very special employer down in this part of the state. Pretty sure I don't need to go any further in explaining that. We'll see how it goes. I really do need to start my career in hospitality or become a famous author so I can quit my day job. One of the two. Want to help me with the second choice? Because I'd love that. Really. I would. No, seriously. Go buy my book... Right here. Also available in Nook or Kindle. Yeah. I just added links. So you have no excuse.

Right, so Weight Watchers. Much as it helped the first time 'round. I'm about to quit. I just can't do that tracking thing anymore. Instead, I'm going to try just eating healthy and exercising. I know setting my goals on this blog has clearly not helped me, but maybe it will this time. Who knows? I'd like to work out once a day and get up to doing so twice a day. Even on the days I work. My problem is that if I sit too long after work, my knees get stiff. The drive home is all I can do because after that, if I stay sitting, I'm probably not getting back up.

Plus side, though. I know how to eat right. It was just giving myself a threshold I couldn't cross. That's what Weight Watchers was. And it helped tremendously for those first 50 lbs. Now I have another 35, give or take, and I need to do that on my own. Healthier habits means a healthier life style and that's what I'm really going for.

So what am I trying to say here? I will be making recipes (mostly healthy) from Pinterest and I will review them. Other recipes, I'll relay because I like them or came up with them myself. Let's face it, I'm a genius. But you knew that.

For example, one thing I like to do is get a bag of frozen chicken tenders, a jar of salsa, and some taco seasoning (I make my own secret recipe) and toss it in a crock pot for 4-6 hours. Pull it apart when it's done and pop it in a container in the fridge. You can heat it up and toss it on a salad or into a quesadilla or on bread for a sandwich. Whatever you want to do with it. It's versatile. And it's a lean protein to help keep you full! Add a veggie to make it a full meal, of course.

So there you have it. Tip #1. Now, as I said, I add my own taco seasoning it's no-salt-added, but I won't give out the recipe. However... for a price, I will send you a jar of it with instructions for how to make my famous tacos. E-mail me at mariekbrown89@gmail.com for prices.

Next tip soon!

Until then... Stay Random!

More Beauty

OK, so a bit of an update...

Still doing the workout, eat right thing. Also the lemony scrub I mentioned in the last post. But this post isn't about either of those. It's about mascara. A specific type of mascara...

Cover Girl Lash Blast 24 Hour Mascara. I bought Very Black, but that doesn't matter for our purposes. Ready for the review? Here goes.

Pros:
It definitely lasts 24 hours and then some... Yeah, that's it.

Cons:
DOES NOT COME OFF! No matter what makeup remover or face wash I used, the damn stuff would not come off! Not without a fight, at least.
Clumps. Like crazy. Not even kidding. I can't even get the freaking brush out of the tube without it clumping on the brush! Normally, I can give it a few tries and then the brush comes out pretty smooth. Smooth enough to work. Not this stuff. Nope. This stuff decided to clump on the brush. Just to save me the trouble.
Smells funny. I know mascara doesn't necessarily smell great, but this stuff actually kinda reeks. And I'm putting it around my eyes.
It flakes. Not bad, so it's not the worst on this list. But it flakes. Still won't come off with makeup remover though. How does that work?

To be honest, I guess it made my lashes look blasted... in a good way. But I got that with the other mascara I had been using before. Lash Blast Fusion. The reason I switched was because I'm trying to find the perfect mascara for me. Lash Blast Fusion was pretty good, but this Lash Blast 24 Hour is crap. Beyond crap. It's the fungus beneath the crap. DO NOT BUY. Unless you really don't want your funny-smelling, clumping, flaky mascara to never ever ever ever ever come off. Then buy it. Go for it.

That is all.

Stay random!

Health? And Beauty? Naaaaah....

Oh right... People care about those things...

Well, as y'all saw in my last post, I drink a little. Honestly, there was drinking done for that one, but not an excessive amount. A) Because I'm a bit of a lightweight and 2) Because I don't really like getting hammered. I mean hammered. Not the tipsy "Oh, haha, I feel funny". I mean the oh-lord-I-can't-stand-and-I-really-have-to-pee-but-I'm-dead-weight-and-you-can't-carry-me kind of hammered. Not fun. Also, I'm 23. It's legal for me to drink alcohol. Let me be clear...

I DO NOT CONDONE UNDERAGE DRINKING!

Ok... Now that we have that covered...

Health and beauty. I'm back on it. Back on track with Weight Watchers. We won't say where I am weight-wise because, well... I haven't weighed myself in far too long. I'm waiting until next week. Gives me 5 days to work out, work (which involves lots of stairs and running around), and eat healthy. 5 days. I think that'll help shock my body enough to get back on track. I'll try to post weekly if I can. Especially pertaining to weight loss if there is any.

Goals for the week:

1. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. (I have one large cup that's closer to 2, but if I can drink at least 6 of those, I should be good).
2. Work out every day.
1. Side note here: Because of my gym's weekend hours, I may not always be able to work out on Saturdays and Sundays. I physically cannot do so after work, so it has to be before. I shall do my best, though.
3. Track everything I eat and drink. If I have a beer with a friend, I have to track it on Weight Watchers. Have to. No buts about it.

On to beauty!

Y'all have heard of Pinterest, right? Of course you have. You don't live on Mars! ("I can't go to Pigfarts, Potter. It's on Mars." 10 points if you can name that show). Pinterest is a special place filled with very special... interesting... people. People who can sing and dance... Wait. No. That's wrong.

Pinterest is where I find little tidbits that can help (or hinder) everyday life. One such tip is a sort of facial mask and yours truly is going to try it out.

What you need:

Ground cinnamon

Ground nutmeg

Honey

Lemon juice

You don't really need a lot of any of it, but I didn't really measure and this pin didn't have measurements either. I made a bit too much though. Don't know if it'll save. SO, add a dash of nutmeg and probably about a tablespoon or so of cinnamon. A little honey... maybe a teaspoon? And a few drops of lemon juice. You want a paste, not a full-on liquid. Don't add too much lemon juice though. Acidic! I left the paste on my face for only 5 minutes. I haven't seen any warnings about time limits or how many times a week so we'll see. But at five minutes it wasn't stinging but I could definitely feel the effects.

I wiped mine off with a warm wash cloth. Make sure to get it all. The cinnamon is tough to get off! My skin, which is normally quite dry right after a shower or after I wash it but then gets really oily throughout the day in some areas, felt really smooth and soft. So nice! Not saying I know it worked, but I'll have pictures next week for you. Day 1 to Day 7.

Beauty tip #2! Yes! Two for the price of one! Simple trick. I have severe dark circles underneath my eyes and some acne scars on my left cheek. The scars aren't all that visible, but they bother me. I saw something on Pinterest that said aloe vera gel would help. So when I was finished with that paste, I rubbed in some of my aloe vera gel. I only did my under-eyes and my cheeks and a little of my chin since I'm worried about getting the scars there.

Aloe also moisturizes and I'm taking an antibiotic for acne which dries out my skin like crazy, along with this new face wash. So the moisturizing aloe vera is WAY cheaper than the lotion my doctor recommended.

Also, I have sensitive skin. Certain makeups and washes make me break out. Not necessarily with acne, sometimes it's just a rash. So for those of you with the same problem, I hope this helps.

That's all for now. No pics until next time.

Stay random!