Screw the Skinny, I Just Want to Live Forever and Be Healthy!

So I've been "bigger" for as long as I can remember. I was usually the tallest in all my elementary classes and my belly was protruding with (what I was at one point convinced) a watermelon, that was growing in there be cause I swallowed a seed. Since then I began noticing that I was gaining 10lbs every year.


  I, definitely, was not that kid who was afraid of veggies, I LOVED THEM!  But, I loved most food. I would give everything a chance.  Salad bars, were among my favorite places for food when we went out, and if I could I would get one every time we went some where.

My mother and I, when I was really little and before her surgery

            Growing up, it was mainly my mother and I.  When I was in third grade, I was terrified because my mom got the surgery where they go in and make your actual stomach smaller. (the gastric band or something like that)  I thought she wouldn't be my same mom who made the best pillow in the world!

My Litter sister and my mom, 11 years after her surgery.

           

              I've never seen my mother more happy though, be cause even now she has managed to lose over a hundred pounds and keep it off. Even just over a decade later, my mom looks amazing, and is such a giant inspiration.  Although, I'm too scared to get surgery, I know there are ways for me to achieve a healthier way of living.

My Before (247 lbs. 5'7")

My Before (247 lbs. 5'7")

    Regardless of what happens when a person passes, I don't like the idea of not being able to do everything I do now, I want to ride around with my grandma all day, I want to cook dinner and watch married with children with my fiance.  I want a life, I want to succeed and be able to comfortably take care of my family. I want to see my great great grandchildren. My life goals.


 My plan is to eat real food, no buying junk. There are ways to make the junk better for you or alternatives. I will eat as many natural and low processed foods possible.  I will avoid fast food that is terrible,(i have a working brain that says salads and grilled chicken are oooookkkkkkk).  I already don't drink dark pops at all, and rarely drink the clear ones so giving that up will be easy.  I will drink half my weight in ounces of water a day. and I will work out at LEAST 5 days a week. My weekly grocery bill will be under $100, and I will have enough food to feed my fiance and I, with leftovers.

       I'm only 20, trying to get back to finish school, but get a job first. Wait...... How am I supposed to afford this $200 diet plan to get healthy so I can live to do it all? I am going on a life long journey to be not only healthier but happier that I can do it all whilst living frugally and dealing my love of DIY.

Winterfest

For as long as I remember, my family goes to the Winterfest in downtown Cleveland the saturday after Thanksgiving.  Although every year is lacking something else, I was surprised this year, because there was more to do than usual. They had this awesome area where crafters from Cleveland were all set up with their displays of the different things they did.
 

driving down town

my mom and Kevin joking around on the rapids

My little brother and sister playing on the giant free stamp

Waiting to cross the street, my little brother is so adorable

My mom, her boyfriend, and Kevin walking through the arcade

I loved this little artsy thing on the side walk

My brother, sister and I with Santa

My mother and I at tower city

The awesome fireworks

Some of the light display in the square

Tower City all lit up

The toy soldier show

My siblings getting ready to leave

DIY: Impromptu Treetopper

I used several ornaments that I didnt mind giving up like these small red ones...

And these larger randoms

 

and using four snowflakes I had

I hot glued the ornament in a circle them put the snowflakes in a triangular shape.  

This is my finished tree topper =)

A little view of my set up , I really want to get a second smaller colored tree to off set my more traditional one.

I love the old ornaments my mom made when I was 3

The Aboslute Best Pulled Pork Recipe

So my crock pot bit the dust a while ago, and I felt it was about time for a new one.  I went to target and got the cutest damask print crock pot for around $15.  Completely stoked, and the conversation of pulled pork in the office. I decided to christen my crock pot with one of my fiance's favorite meals.

Isn't that the cutest Slow Cooker ever!

 Never before making pulled pork, actually I never even tried it before I met him, I wanted to try my hand at it.   It was one of those moments where he turned to me and said, "this is one of the main reasons I'm marrying you." But he says that every time I cook something AWESOME.



Ingredients:

• 1 jug of apple juice
• cinnamon
• brown sugar
• 5 lbs. center cut pork roast
• 2 bottles of BBQ sauce

Directions:

1. Add apple juice, cinnamon, and brown sugar in a crock pot.  stir
2. Add the pork roast and cook on low for 10 hrs (or high for 6)
3. Once pork falls apart with just a fork, drain liquid.
4. Using two forks, pull the pork apart until completely shredded.
5. Once shredded, add one bottle of BBQ sauce with a bit of brown sugar, mix.
6. Cook on low for 2 hours
7. Finally, add BBQ sauce to taste place on a sandwich and enjoy!

This year's and Past years' Halloween Looks.

This year's Sugar Skull

this was two halloweens ago, I wanted to be kinda like bruce campbell.. Some zombie slaying heroine, who is turning into a zombie.

Last year, I went for a vampy dark look with a sweet mask.

Pumpkin Chili

It's Fall and I'm excited to share with you my favorite pumpkin chili recipe!

"Pumpkin Chili?  Like WTF are you thinking megan!?"

.... That was the basic reaction I got from a lot of family and friends, when I told them about this recipe.  No, I'm totally serious, and it is scary how amazing it is!

The Recipe:

• 1 1/2 lb. of ground turkey
• 2 cans of stewed tomatoes with oregano
• 2 cans of chili beans
• 1 can of pinto beans
• 1 15oz. can of solid pack pumpkin
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 hot red pepper
• 2 stalks of celery
• 1 yellow onion
• chili powder to taste
• chopped onion
• garlic pepper
• crushed red pepper
• salt & pepper
• cinnamon

Brown the meat first, then open all the cans and cut up the fresh vegetables while waiting for the meat.  Once browned add the fresh vegetables to the meat so they can cook a bit.

Next add all the cans (except the pumpkin), stir, and add your seasonings to taste.  Let this cook for a bit, and then add the canned pumpkin a little at a time, making sure to mix it in thoroughly.Allow it to simmer for a bit, then ass your favorite chili mix-ins like sour cream, cheese, more hot sauce, ect. and ENJOY!

FALLLLLL

SO, it's fall and I'm incredibly excited! Not just because it's my birthday next week, but also for Halloween. This year, I am throwing a birthday/Halloween party at my place.  I can't wait to upload some recipe videos that I'm doing for the party, and other little things for the fall season. Right now I'm doing searches for fun things I can do. Just loving the inspirations I am getting.

Gotta love the floating eyeball in your punch.

LOVE these owl cupcakes, Check out the recipe from Duncan Hines

Here's A picture of my fiance and I last year on Halloween.

We didn't really have any costumes.  So I winged it.