How to support yourself, be better and change the world.

*Sigh* I apologize if I have mislead you, you see, there is no 5 step list here, no guidelines that have been miraculously given to me in a dream that you should listen to. There is just honesty, fear, and a girl who is overwhelmed.

I often get this strong feeling that I'm not doing "enough," that there is "more." These mystical words lead to a place of discontent in my life. I feel stuck, lost and unguided. It's hard to feeling like you need to do something but to have no direction as to what that something must be.

These days it feels like wanting to change the world is a required state of mind. I do desperately want to make a difference, even just in one person, but I always feel like I'm somehow missing the boat.

In some of the darker moments (like when my car dies for the third time in a month) I feel as though I just need to leave, to just move overseas and start living a missional life. Lucky for me, God and I have a pretty solid communication stream in which he blatantly says NO to these crazy ideas. While someday I would LOVE to live overseas, that day is not now. For now there is still much that needs to happen. For now I need to fix my car, pay off debt, build relationships and improve on ME.

The thing is that there is now and there is then and all that I can do is deal with the now. For now my car is dead, and that might set back my paying off debt plan, which will in turn set back my "I would love to move overseas so I should start saving" plan. If I try to do it all at once I will fail, it will not work because I would burn out. 

Here's to the now, to living outside of the pressure of the world and focusing on the steps that you need to take.

Love, 

Keely

Cupcake Tuesday-Eggnog Cupcakes

I know, even the title of this just blew your mind! And I apologize because these are about as unhealthy as it can get (eggnog, butter, sour cream...). But bear with me, because these are SO GOOD. I don't often boast about my own baking creations, because I always think they could be better. But these, these delicious little cups of goodness are about as good as it gets. The eggnog changes the texture and makes the cupcake so...smooth (is that a strange way to describe a cupcake?)

(For now let's pretend that there's a final product picture here...I may have forgotten about that part due to the excitement of the flavor proceedings!)

These cupcakes make me sad that my birthday is in May, because there is no eggnog in May. They make me contemplate the sustainability of celebrating my birthday in November, a time of eggnog.

So I know eggnog is more Christmas-ey, and that this post may seem a little premature, but I just want you to get the full experience of eggnog before it is lost and gone forever!

Eggnog Cupcakes

makes 24

2 sticks butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup eggnog

1/2 cup sour cream

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two cupcake pans.

In a large bowl whip together the room temperature butter with the sugar until they get nice and fluffy.  Add the 2 eggs, one at a time and beat for about another minute. The mixture should be a light yellow color. While the eggs are mixing in, add the vanilla, nutmeg and the salt.

Next, measure out your baking soda, baking powder and flour in a medium bowl.  Add about 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until just combined.  Add the eggnog.  Follow that with another 1/3 of the flour, the sour cream and the last of the flour, beating well after each addition.

Scrape the bowl, give the batter one last power mix to get everything well incorporated (about 10 seconds on medium-high).

Scoop into the cupcake pans using a 2 oz ice cream scoop, or filling about 2/3 of the way full.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool.

Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting

2 8 oz blocks cream cheese

1 stick butter, room temperature

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 cup eggnog

3-4 cups powdered sugar 

In a medium bowl combine the cream cheese and the butter with a mixer until it gets a little fluffy, this will take about 2-3 minutes.

While the cream cheese and butter are mixing add in the nutmeg and eggnog (make sure to turn your mixer onto low!).

Now slowly add the powdered sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, keeping the mixer on low to let it mix in.  Once you have the right sweetness, scrape the sides and mix on medium for about 20 seconds to make sure everything is smooth.  Don't be afraid of over-beating this.

Once the cupcakes are cooled, pipe or frost the frosting onto the cupcakes.

Enjoy the delicious goodness that you are about to put into your mouth, and when you end up eating all of the cupcakes, just make more tomorrow, no judgement here.

Love, 

Keely

No Spend November-Mid-Way Link Up!

What an interesting couple of weeks this has been! I've learned a lot about myself as I've powered through a month of (attempting) to not eat out.

Here's what I've figured out.

What my challenge really should have been was to not eat out for lunch, or maybe even to not eat out alone. The thing that I always forget is how much time I spend with my friends/family/community around a table at a restaurant. I've cheated a couple of times (and tried to make up for it...)

This past Monday I had a free session with a personal trainer a.k.a. the most insane workout I've had in a LONG time. As I was leaving the gym, barely able to lift my arms, I knew just what I needed, a beer and a burger, and my friends. So sent out a text to my two most reliable friends and we got just that. It was needed, it was an hour that I got to spend with two of my favorite people. To make up for it, I brought my lunch to work on Tuesday (and passed up on the food truck, which was my pre-determined cheat).

There have been a couple other moments. I'm still on the fence about pastries, but considering that I never bought them all that often I've let myself have a few. It's been a fun experience.

My sister and I went to concert this week in a super cute part of Denver called The Highlands. I don't make it up there very often, so we stopped at a place across the street and grabbed a quick dinner. How could you say no to this decor!

I learned that bringing my lunch to work is SO much less stressful than eating out on my 30 minute lunch break. I was never able to relax because I was also so concerned about making it back on time, it was ridiculous. Now all I have to do is walk down the hall and I can take full advantage of all of my 30 minutes, so much better!

I hope to be a little better in the next two weeks about eating out with friends, we can really have just as much fun at one of our houses, however if it happens I'm not going to feel guilty. Community is incredibly important to me and if community is happening around a table full of pizza/burgers/beer/etc. I will be there with a smile on my face.

I hope you join our link up! If you missed the one at the beginning of the month, it's not too late to start now! 

Are there any changes you might make to your "fasts" in the rest of the month?

Welcome back everyone!  

Painting the Sunflowers Yellow

This post has been brewing in my head for a little while now. It all starts with the question:

Why is it more socially acceptable for us to hate ourselves than for us to love ourselves?

I was at an event a little while ago with my sister and mom, and 220 other women. We were learning how to paint. (It was at my mom's church, they called it Canvas and Mocktails, a quite silly spin on the trend in Denver that started with a company called Canvas and Cocktails, check 'em out!)

So here we are, 220 women strong, and then we start painting, and then it happens.

Out goes the happy go lucky charm, and in comes the self-criticism.

All of the women at my table start talking about how bad their painting skills are, about how they need to find the nearest trash can so that they can throw it away on their way out. The fun is gone, and it has been replaced in a hurry with hate.

Here's the deal. We were painting, this was nothing of any consequence! Who cares if you suck! This isn't brain surgery, we're not repainting the Sistine Chapel! We're painting, just for fun, just let it be fun.

And then I realized that this is FAR more common than just this particular setting. This happens in groups of women, even between just two women, daily. Let's think about this. How does it make more sense for us to outwardly hate ourselves than to outwardly love ourselves? What has gone so wrong that has led to this!?!

It makes my heart break. I was so saddened by this mask, this shield that women were using. Here I was enjoying myself, sipping on my grape juice (let's just be honest people, "virgin" sangria is pretty much just grape juice) focused on my painting, proud of the fact that I was creating, grateful for having the ability to create!

I've fought over the past several years to remove the voices telling me that I was weird, that I needed to change, that I wasn't good enough. I have learned that I am funny, creative, awesome and most importantly fun to be around, and I'm not ashamed to say it! The night was more about community than painting, and when you shield yourself behind your own negative comments there's no way that community can be fed. Dissing yourself is hurtful to those around you. Talking down compliments is hurtful to the givers.

I hope that you take the time to "paint the sunflowers yellow." Enjoy your abilities, and enjoy yourself! And don't be afraid to remind your friends of how great you are!

Love, 

Keely

Cupcake Tuesday-Honey Berry Cupcakes

I was inspired to make these cupcakes recently after suffering from a terrible sore throat. I drank SO much tea with honey, lemon water with honey, etc that it was just really on my mind, and I figured, why NOT make a cupcake?

Thus was born the honey cupcake. I frosted them with a berry cream cheese frosting, but you could do lemon, orange, chocolate, pretty much whatever you would like.

Honey Cupcakes

makes 24

2 sticks butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup honey

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two cupcake pans.

In a large bowl whip together the room temperature butter with the sugar until they get nice and light.  Add the 2 eggs, one at a time and beat for about another minute. The mixture should be a light yellow color and not the dark color of egg yolks. While the eggs are mixing in, add the vanilla and the salt.

Next, measure out your baking soda, baking powder and flour in a medium bowl.  Add about 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until just combined.  Add the honey.  Follow that with another 1/3 of the flour, the sour cream and the last of the flour, beating well after each addition.

Scrape the sides of the bowls and mix one last time to make sure it is all combined.

Scoop into the cupcake pans using a 2 oz ice cream scoop, or filling about 2/3 of the way full.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool.

Berry Cream Cheese Frosting

2 8 oz blocks cream cheese

1 stick butter, room temperature

2 Tablespoons mixed berry jam/preserves

3-4 cups powdered sugar 

In a medium bowl combine the cream cheese and the butter with a mixer until it gets a little fluffy, this will take about 2-3 minutes.

While the cream cheese and butter are mixing add in your jam.

Now slowly add the powdered sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, keeping the mixer on low to let it mix in.  Once you have the right sweetness, scrape the sides and mix on medium for about 20 seconds to make sure everything is smooth.  Don't be afraid of over-beating this, you're going for a pretty light frosting here. 

Once the cupcakes are cooled, pipe or frost the frosting onto the cupcakes.

To make them extra special and sticky, drizzle some honey on top!

Enjoy!

Love, 

Keely

Going back

Going to the gym in and of itself is really nothing to be all that proud of, although some would argue that every step you take should be celebrated, no matter how small.

But this week when I went back to the gym, it was worth celebrating.  You see, I hadn't gone for the past couple of weeks, which sucks.  I felt different, I was losing confidence, didn't really care as much.  I missed the soreness that I had become so accustomed to.  I let life get in the way, and that's allowed.  (There was also some mild illness involved, I allowed my body to recover.)

The important part of this story, however, is not the excuse that I found day after day or the illness that sidelined me, no the important part of the story is what happened this week.

I WENT BACK.

This is just barely short of a miracle.  You see I'm oh-so-good at going to gym, until I'm not.  I'll go months and hardly miss a day and then all of a sudden I get sick, or I have to work late, or my friend needs help moving, so I miss one day.  And I'm bad about allowing flexibility, so one day turns into two and then it's been months since I've made it to the gym.

But now, after a short, understandable two weeks, I made it back.  And I made it back because I found a workout that I LOVE.  And, on my first day back, I squatted my max weight THREE TIMES (which really just means that now I have to increase my squat weight which I have a love hate relationship with because I HATE SQUATS but that's really neither here nor there.)

So here's to finding something that you love.  Here's to being motivated and having a desire to be healthy.  Here's to exercise providing joy and confidence.  I hope that you can find something healthy for you that you love too.

If you're a woman and have tireless pounded on the treadmill with no desire behind it, I would highly encourage you to branch out and try lifting.

If you've never stepped foot inside a gym but would love to do something that energizes you and boost your confidence, I would suggest weight lifting.

Seriously people, it's awesome.

That is all.

Love,
Keely

Cupcake Tuesday-Double Chocolate

Happy Tuesday everyone!  I made you something special, some DOUBLE chocolate cupcakes! Most of you should be excited, however I have a little secret to share.

I don't really like chocolate cake.  I mean I'll eat it, but the issue is that I'm SUPER picky about it.  It has to be perfectly moist, just the right level of bitter, and yeah it usually just isn't worth it in my book.

But for you, these are going to be worth it!  Because the chocolate frosting is going to keep them moist, and the yogurt/sour cream in the batter is going to make the texture to die to for.  It's going to be exciting.

Look at these little cupcakes, standing at attention looking all proud.

Chocolate Cupcake

makes 24
2 sticks butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
vanilla
salt
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two cupcake pans.

In a large bowl whip together the room temperature butter with the sugar until they get nice and light and fluffy.  Add the 2 eggs, one at a time and beat for about another minute.

When the eggs are fully incorporated add in the vanilla, salt and cocoa powder.  Mix well.

Next, measure out your baking soda, baking powder and flour in a medium bowl.  Add about 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until just combined.  Add the sour cream.  Follow that with another 1/3 of the flour, the yogurt and the last of the flour, beating well after each addition.

Scrape the sides of the bowls and mix one last time to make sure it is all combined.

Scoop into the cupcake pans using a 2 oz ice cream scoop, or filling about 2/3 of the way full.  My rule with chocolate cake is that it should look like chocolate ice cream before it bakes

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

2 8 oz blocks cream cheese

1 stick butter, room temperature

1/4 cup cocoa powder

3-4 cups powdered sugar 

In a medium bowl combine the cream cheese and the butter with a mixer until it gets a little fluffy, this will take about 2 minutes.

Add in the cocoa powder and briefly mix until combined.

Now slowly add the powdered sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, keeping the mixer on low to let it mix in.  Once you have the right sweetness, scrape the sides and mix on medium for about 20 seconds to make sure everything is smooth.  The secret to this frosting is to beat it like there's no tomorrow, don't be afraid of over-beating.  People are always surprised that a cream cheese frosting can be so light.  That's one of the main reasons to add the powdered sugar so slowly while letting the mixer run.

Once the cupcakes are cooled, pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.

Enjoy!

Love, 

Keely

No Spend November Link Up!

A Dose of Paige |  The Life Unexpected  |  The Lovely Sisters  | My Pending Life 

Today marks the first day of No Spend November, so I certainly hope that you have your done your grocery shopping, grabbed that adorable shirt that you had been contemplating buying and just generally prepared your self for this grand adventure we are about to take.

One quick little caveat, I'm adding a cheat day for myself.  There is a food truck that comes to my office every Tuesday, and in the name of supporting local business, I will continue eating there on Tuesdays for lunch, but that's it.  Outside of that there will no more eating out (there will however be lots of stops at the grocery store...)

I'm excited for this!  It's always fun to challenge your self, and for me I find that it's easier to give something up cold turkey than to try to moderate myself against it.  Once I say "no more eating out except for the food truck on Tuesdays" then that's that, no more eating out except for that food truck on Tuesdays.

(If you're local to Denver, you should try to hunt down Mike's 2 Kitchen, it's pretty stinking delicious, definitely worth the cheat day.)

So let's get going!  Link up to tell us what you're giving up November! We're so happy you're here!