Simplifying Your Bills

I don't know about you, but when I first got married and all our bills doubled, I suddenly felt quite overwhelmed. My husband and I were always flipping through the stack of bills making sure we weren't going to be late on any payments. It was tiring trying to remember what we needed to pay, what we already paid, what was due when, and how this all laid out as a monthly schedule.

Well at work one day I decided that some simplifying of my bill payment process was needed STAT! I had a few problems when it came to bills. I'm sure others can relate. Basically I lacked, like I think most people in their crazy lives lack, a tad bit of simplification. So my solution was to create a calendar. And it has worked wonderfully. Below you will find my process in organizing my bills.

Step One: I gathered my bills and I organized them by date.

Step Two: Canceled everything that was on automatic payment through all the different companies.

• I found that I had everything set as an automatic payment through all the different companies, my car company, my insurance company, my student loan company, my telephone company etc. This made it hard to regulate what was going to come out, when, and how much etc.

Step Three: I set up my online banking.

• Through my bank (Chase) I have online banking. It allows me to store all my bills and then it lets me pay them right out of my bank account. I simply enter my payee's name, payment address and account number and then when the time comes to make a payment I can pay right out of my account and it is delivered in 1 business day.

Step Four: Made a Calendar

• My computer comes with a Microsoft Works Calendar. If your computer doesn't come with one, then you can print free month to month calendars off line.
• I then entered all of my bill's due dates onto this calendar 2 days before they were due. My bank pays in one day, but I wanted to give myself one extra day for delivery of that bill. I also added all my pay days and extra income days.
• I then printed a copy of my calendar and highlighted everything. Bills that need paid, income and bills/credit cards that are up to payment. This calendar is hung on a white board in my kitchen.

Step Five: Check my calendar daily.

• I check my calendar once daily and pay what ever bill is due. If there is nothing due then great. But if there is then I log into my bank account and pay my bill. It takes me less than 3 minutes a day to keep on top of my bills. The best part is that I don't have to remember 40 different log on's to different companies, just one.

The beautiful thing about my bill calendar is that I now know when everything is due. I know how much is due, and I can better save to pay off what debt I have. It also really helps me when we aquire a new bill, and they ask me when I want my due date to be, I can space it out because I know when everything is due. I hope you put this or a similar system to work in your life. It has been such a time saver for me.

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Summer Reading List

Are you looking for a good way to relax this summer but don't want to spend a ton of money? Does the thought of the sitting in the sun, soaking up the rays, with a glass of lemonaid and a good book sound like a good place to start? Well I have compiled a list of books that are sure to keep your attention and make your summer just a little more exciting.

My Fav's

The Goddess Summoning Series by P.C. Cast

• In this series P.C. Cast retells the ancient greek myths of Persophone and Hades, The twins Apollo and Artemes, The Water Goddess and Mermaid Udine, The Goddess Hecate and her Realm of the Rose, The goddess of Love, Venus, and the ever handsome Achilles. While retelling these well known myths, Cast puts her own spin on them by bringing mortals from the modern day world into the greek realm. Filled with the empowerment of women, love, and a little sultry fire, this book series is sure to set your summer a blaze.

The House of Night Series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

• Mother and Daughter take on the adventure of putting their very own, VERY unique spin on the ever popular and in some opinions overdone culture of vampires. In this 8 book series, Zoey, a normal highschool student, has been marked by the goddess Nyx. Chosen by the goddess to become a vampire, Zoey moves into the Tulsa House of Night to take on the change from mortal to immortal. Little does Zoey know of the ancient danger that is lurking right around the corner, threatening all she loves. Filled with rich native indian history, love, hate, good and evil and spell binding mystery, this series will keep you entranced.

A Painted House by John Grisham

•  This well written tale set in the 1950's, is a tale of a boy's transistion from ignorance to understanding. 7 year old Luke Chandar lives with is family in his grandparents house. A house that has never been painted. As generation cotton growers his family rents 80 acres of land for cotton growing. Each summer they hire a few mexicans and hill people to help them harvest their cotton, but in the year of 1952 along with the mexicans and hill people they hired a little traveling family from the Ozarks. Intrigued by the family and by the beautiful daughter, Luke discovers his first feeling of love and understanding. A mystery ensues when one day, Luke finds that someone has started painting their house. This novel is as sweet and heart felt as can be, make sure to pick this up so you too can follow Luke on his journey of innocence to experience.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

• Kostova tells the all too familiar tale of Vlad Tempes, nicknamed Vlad the Impaler, or as we in modern historical pop culture like to call him, Dracula. In this thrilling and some what terrifying novel, the Narrator, her father Paul, and the father's Professor Bartholemeu Rossi each carry a narrative of their own through letters and stories. Each, driven by different motives,  find themselves on a path that will ultimately lead them to an unexpected and stomach turning reality. In this heart racing story, follow the Narrator, Father, and Professor on their quest to discover the real answer behind the lore of Dracula. Does he really exist? By the end of this novel, it will even have you second guessing.

The Splinter Cell Series by Tom Clancy

• Sam Fisher (whom I think is sooo sexy) a highly trained agent on a secret black-ops team within the NSA, is called to action by the director of Opperations Irving Lambert. With the help of Anna Grimmsdotter or "Grim" the NSA's Technical Director, Sam is sent in to remote places of the world undercover and unseen, to discover the truth, gain intel and collect documentation against enemies around the world. Even if it means breaking and entering, blowing things up and causing all sorts of disguised trouble. This series will keep you on the edge of your chair. You simply can't turn the page fast enough.

The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris

• Sookie Stackhouse, a Louisianna Bartender who can read peoples mind, is waiting tables one summer night when a sexy stranger walks in the bar. She soon finds out that Bill is a vampire and from that moment on her life is changed. Soon she will find that not only are vampires real but everything that she presumed folk lore really isn't just ancient stories. Charlaine Harris is a brilliant writer, and really puts you in the world she has created. What will happen when Sookie comes face to face with vampires, werewolves, shape shifters, and a beautiful group of people known as the Fae? Pick it up this weekend to find out.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

• Many have probaby read the abridged version of this classic tale, but have you thought to pick up the unabridged? Well I strongly suggest you do.  Edmond Dantes is unrightfully imprisoned on the isle Chateau D'lf by three  friends, one jealous of his love, one jealous of his promotion, and one in fear of his career. Dantes loses everything he had worked so hard for including the love of his life, and because so, becomes bitter and angry. When Dantes discovers a new but very old friend and an opportunity arises to escape, Dantes plans his revenge. Through this twisting novel of aliases, revenge and a quest to gain back what was taken from him, Dantes discovers a hard truth. One that will forever change his life. Pick up this novel for an exciting and mind altering read.

These are just a few of the books that I am recommending everyone put on their reading list. Not only will they keep you entertained, but they are a relatively inexpensive activity to occupy your time with. Especially if you have a library card.

I hope you enjoy, and like always comment and subscribe to my feed if you like what you see!

Greek Yogurt Cheese Cake Mini's

I have created a new recipe for all you dessert lovers.

As always I like my desserts to have some redeeming quality about them, and this one takes the cake! literally!

Made with Greek Yogurt you can eat this little treat and not feel guilty in the slightest.

Nutritional Information

75 calories Per serving
9 Carbs
2 Fats
4 Protein

INGREDIENTS:

12 oz Plain Greek yogurt (I used Chobani Brand)
1 package Sugar Free Fat Free Cheese Cake Pudding Mix
1 Cup Milk (I used 2% It was all I had)
3 Tbs Butter (I use smart balance Light)
5 Chocolate Graham Crackers ( I used off brand)
12 Cupcake liners


DIRECTIONS:

In Zip Lock Baggie, finely crush Graham Crackers. Melt butter and Mix into Graham Crackers until well blended. In a lined cupcake tin, evenly distribute Cracker Mixture and pack it down (I used my finger lol). In a mixing bowl, add Greek yogurt, Cheese cake pudding mix, and milk and mix well. once well mixed Evenly distribute into the cupcake tin. Refridgerate or Freeze for about 30 minutes. Enjoy!

I think next time I will modify it and add a little vanilla I am not used to the sour creamish flavor of plain greek yogurt yet. The individuals are nice because I dont' have to measure, but if I were making this for a party I would definately make it in a pan.

I hope you all enjoy! and like always if you like the blog subscribe and follow me!

6 Tips To Improve Your Running

About the last year I have taken up running. I started running because its good for your body, improves how your cardio vascular system runs, keeps you strong, is a great tool in losing a few pounds, and lastly, running improves your survival chances should one be chased by someone or something. <---- the last parts a joke. But in all seriousness, running is GREAT!

With that being said, running is extremely hard and very few come by it naturally. Like me for example. It has taken me a full year to be able to improve drastically. When I first started out at the begining of last summer, I was able to run non stop for about 1-2 minutes, Now I can run 50 minutes comfortably without stopping.

I have put together a list of tips that, if put to use along with practice, determination, and a few buckets of sweat, should produce the results you are looking for in the quickest time possible.

1. Get Propperly Fitted For Shoes
• The majority of beginners do not realize how important a good pair of shoes are. They can improve your form, support your feet, and make the chore of running much easier on your body.
• Find a running store near you and go get fitted for a proper pair of shoes, this is one thing you NEED to invest in.  Mizuno Get Fit Guide is a great little online running assessment that will tell you what Mizuno brand shoe best fits you. If you cant afford to go get fitted by professionals I suggest or something like it as a second option.
2. Work on your Breathing
• When you breathe make sure your stomach is expanding not your chest. This will send the optimal amount of oxygen through your veins.
• Breathing also calms your inner self, much time, runners develop the "I can't go any longer" attitude, you feel a side stitch coming along and you shortly thereafter give up. Breathing will cause your body to stay calm and let your mind continue to push through the pain
• TIP: When exhaling, make sure to land on your LEFT foot. An old wives tale suggests that the reason runners get side stitches is that they exhale on their right foot causing your liver and other organs to tense up, this causes the side stitch. So by exhaling and landing simultaneously on your LEFT foot relieves this. ( I have tried it and it works; I live by this tip)
3. Nutrition
• Before going out for a run, it is important to have a well balanced snack consisting of mostly complex carbs, (I.E. a piece of toast, piece of fruit, hand ful of nuts etc) paired with a lean protein (think cheese stick, glass of milk, couple slices of meat etc.)
• After your run it is important to eat protein immediately. This is because while running your body gets fatigued, when your body is tired it will search for the easiest form of energy to refuel itself, Proteins are easiest to convert to sugar to be used for fuel. If you do not provide your body with protein post workout, then it will look to your muscles for fuel. Many people suggest a protein shake, or one 8oz glass of chocolate milk, it contains the perfect balance of protein to carbs for recovery. Don't know about you but any excuse to drink chocolate milk I refuse to question!
4. Speed vs. Distance
• Speed- to improve your speed, do interval training, run fast for 2 minutes, jog for 3 minutes, walk for 1 minute, and repeat, you can create your own interval training sequence that fits you best but it is important to add in sprints, as this will improve your speed.
• Distance- to improve your distance, don't worry about speed. Instead map out a course with your car or the internet, and then run, run for as long as you can. I suggest finding your "all day running pace" meaning a pace that neither exhausts you but isn't a walk either. Once you find this pace, run for as long as possible, walk as minimal as possible. Over time your distance will improve but it is important to push through.
5. Form
• When running your toes should never extend out in front of you past your knees.
• Your arms should stay as close to 90 degree angles at your side. Resist from bringing them up closer to your face as you get tired.
• The foot that is behind you should be the one propelling you forward.
• When Running up hill your eyes should remain elevated towards the top of the hill. This keeps your wind pipe and lungs open to receive as much oxygen as possible.
• Your toes should point directly forward or the slightest bit out, but never in.
6. Streaching
• It is a common myth that streaching before exercise will decrease your chances of injury. Studies have shown that speed runners should not streach before as it relaxes the muscles, taking away some of the power behind the tightness of the muscles, HOWEVER if you are a long distance runner, studies have shown that it is important to streach before as it elongates your muscles making them more streachy, thus allowing them more running time before they become tight.
• It is important to streach after all physical exercise. When you streach your body releases a chemical that tells the body to start healing itself. It also keeps your muscles from being as sore the day after.

I hope these tips are helpful. I know they have been for me.

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Stuffed Pasta Shells

Here is a tasty recipe I tried out and it was delicous!

Ingredients:

20 Large Pasta Shells

1/2 Onion Choped Finely

1 Tomato Chopped Finely

1 Handful of Spinach

1/2 C. Cottage Cheese

1/2 Package of Sausage; cooked

1 Tsp. Italian Seasoning

1 Tbs. Diced Garlic

1/2 C. Tomato Sauce (I used left over spaghetti sauce)

2 Tbs. Parmeasan or Mozerella Cheese

1 Jar of Ragu or Safeway brand Light Parmeasan Alfredo Sauce (60-70 calories per serving)

Directions:

Pre Heat oven to 400

In a sauce pan, boil shells about 10 minutes. While shells are being boiled, Combine onion, tomato, spinach,cottage cheese, sausage, italian seasoning, garlic, tomato sauce (or in my case spaghetti sauce) and parmeasan cheese in a bowl and mix together set aside.

Once shells are finished boiling, drain and rinse with cold water immediately, this will cause them to cool and not stick together, you want the shells completely cooled or you will burn your hands.

In a baking dish (big enough to hold all 20 shells) pour 1/3 of the jar of alfredo sauce and spread evenly across the bottom of the dish.

Once that is done, take each shell and stuff with your mixture. There will be enough mixture to stuff the shells quite full. You still want them to close around the ingredients. I used a cereal spoon to measure amount, it ended up being a pretty big scoop. As you fill them lay them in the baking dis with the seam of the shell down, this will help hold in the stuffing.

Once all shells are stuffed and placed in the baking dish, cover with the remaining 2/3 Jar of alfredo sauce. Sprinkle with cheese (optional) and some more italian seasoning. Cover baking dish with tin foil and bake for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Enjoy this makes four servings.

Calorie Information:

Pasta shells -aprox 120 calories

Alfredo Sauce -60-70 calories per 1/4 c

Sausage -50 calories

Veggies-20 calories

Tomato sauce (spaghetti sauce) -20 calories

Cottage Cheese-25 calories

Cheese-30 calories

Total Calories per Serving - five pasta shells with sauce 325 Calories.

Pair this with a salad or fresh steamed veggies and you are good to go!

I hope you enjoy! please let me know what you think!

Jello Punctured Angel Food Cake

My family makes this cake every once in a while, usually around the holidays!  But I figured that I would share it with you because, number one, its low calorie and two, its delicious.  So here it is!

Jello Punctured Angel Food Cake

Ingredients:

One Box of Angel food cake (or favorite kind of cake, I chose angel because it is lower in calorie.)

One box of Sugar Free Jello (I like strawberry)
One Tub of light Whip Cream
One Small Carton of Strawberries
2 Tsp. of sugar

Directions:
Cook Angel Food Cake as directed on back of box. You can also make them in muffin tins if you so desire.

Once Cake has cooled completely, stab it all over with a fork, and by stab all over, I mean ALL OVER. Mix the Jello packet with 2 1/2 cups water instead of 4 like the box calls for. While it is still in liquid form pour over the angel food cake letting the liquid jello soak down through the cake. You wont use all of the jello but use quite a bit of it. Immediately put cake into the fridge for 2-3 hours.

While it is cooling wash and slice strawberries. In a blender, blend about 5 strawberries until they are the consistancy of a smoothie. Pour blended strawberries into a mixing bowl, add sugar to the blended strawberries and mix. Add the rest of the sliced strawberries to the blended ones and stir until mixed. Sit in fridge.

After 2-3 hours pull cake out of the fridge. Cut into 12 pieces top with strawberries and light whip cream. ENJOY!

Nutrition Information:

Good-

200 calories a slice
a whole serving of fruits

Bad-

23 grams of sugar.

But hey if you need a fix this is a good way to go!

The Five Minute Face

If you are anything like me and hate mornings, then you are sure to love this tip.

I absolutely hate getting up in the mornings to get ready for work. Number one, because I don't find that much joy or satisfaction in my current job, its stressful, I get to deal with grumpy mean individuals all day long, and I spend 8 hours staring at my office walls that are a horrible shade of yellow. Second reason for not being a morning person is the hour in which I have to be up for said job, 5:45a.m. Talk about early!

So getting all dolled up is not my first priority in the mornings (I don't see any of my customers anyways, I just talk to them over the phone).

Well, while watching TLC's What Not To Wear, Carmindy, their resident make up artist, showed the participant of that episode how to do a Five Minute Face. Since seeing this for the first time years ago, I have since impleminted it in my life every time I am in a rush. Look below for the guidelines, and a quick video where Carmindy demonstrates these helpful tips!

Carmindy's Five Minute Face

1. Apply Face Primer
2. Apply loose translucent powder
3. Add concealer under your eyes to remove some of the puffiness and circles
4. Foundation
5. A light/neutral colored eyeshadow, highlight under your brows, and across the eye lid.
6. liquid eyeliner, when not doing full on eyeshadow, the liquid eyeliner makes a cleaner line making your look more natural.
7. Mascara
8. Blush
9. lipgloss

If your like me and some of these products aren't in your makeup bag, you can definately drop a step or two. My five minute face consists of this

Kayla's Five Minute Face

1. Moisturizer
2. Foundation
3. Setting powder
4. eyeliner
5. Mascara
6. blush
7. Lipgloss

I cut out the translucent powder and consealer.. since I don't normally have a problem with under eye circles.

Its all up to you. But this way you end up looking nice, without pumping 20 minutes into your make up routine. Do a simple uptwist with your hair and you are ready to go!

Here is the video of Carmindy demonstrating her Five Minute Face. She is promoting Sally Hansens Beauty products, but you can find the similar products in most makeup lines!

I hope you have fun doing the five minute face!