I have moved!

I still have the same URL (lovejessicarae.com), but I have changed hosts. So if you bookmarked the blogspot address, please update it! And thank you for hanging in during the rough transistion. My site makeover is almost complete!

http://www.lovejessicarae.com

Blog Transfer And FOOD!

So I am currently in the process of transferring my blog over. I can already tell you it will be a painful  and hopefully not long process. As soon as I figure out what to do. I am hoping that all my stuff will make it over to the new site as well. The URL is not changing, but the host is. Hopefully there won't be any issues, but it is on my priority list for this week.

And I have 1 month until I go to Las Vegas!!! I seriously can't wait to get out there and relax. That also means I need to get my life together by eating clean and working out. One of my staple foods is fish. I usually buy frozen fish and I typically rotate because cod, tilapia and swai for some variety. I usually boil my fish with lots of seasoning, but this past week I have been baking my fish instead. Less cleanup!

I like to keep it really simple, so I coat the pan with coconut oil (its in a spray can), and season with lemon pepper seasoning, chipotle seasoning, red pepper flakes and a small amount of salt. After its done cooking I like to add some kind of salsa. Last weeks salsa was an avocado salsa from Trader Joe's.

New Plants And A Vacation - Finally!

So last week I decided to try the plant thing again. Yes, this is like my second or third (maybe a fourth?) time, but I am trying a new tactic. Succulents. Those are hard to kill right??? So, last week I started off with a mini rose bush and I thought I was doing good until I looked inside and saw all the mold in the dirt. I definitely wasn't over watering it and I hadn't even had it a week. I ended up throwing it out because I don't think can be good and I don't want that stuff floating around the air I breathe.

So I went back to Trader Joe's and I bought two succulents instead. I figured those would be harder to kill, and as of today, I don't see any mold growing. Plus, we're in a severe drought so its easy on the environment. And so far, so good. No wilting and it actually looks like they are growing. I should have taken a before shot!

I have to admit it kind of bothers me that I am excited about my new plants. I feel like this has to be some kind of initiation step before you become a full on cat lady. And I don't even have any cats. But I want one and I have never wanted one before. Ugh….

Sometime this week I will eventually go to Home Depot and see about finding them a bigger pot and another family member so that they can all be together (#futurecatladyintraining). I was supposed to do that a few days ago, but I got a little sidetracked.

And guess what!? I took a leap and I am going on a solo trip to Las Vegas!!! My first solo trip actually. I am pretty excited to go and I don't regret booking the trip one bit. My sister is supposed to meet up with me there, but we shall see. Even if she doesn't go, I plan on enjoying myself. I definitely want to have a spa day, lay out by the pool, check out a walking tour and participate in the happy hour festivities. And the price of the trip was extremely affordable. Now, I just need to work on that Vegas body and pray on that room upgrade when I get there!

I am thinking I need to start doing these solo vacations more often because we only have one life to live and you might as well have fun and create memorable experiences. :) A lot of people I know don't have money to travel and while I do not have an endless supply of it myself, I still want to get out there and explore. And I am more than willing to do what I have to do so I can get there.

Anyways, here are my new plants…I am thinking they need a name? And don't judge me on the last photo. I need to work on the lighting. I would have tried to edit it to help brighten it up, but my computer started acting up and wouldn't let me. Figures.

My new babies

Future Blog Posting Schedule

I have decided to do a blog posting schedule of Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I am currently cleaning out my place in order to declutter my life and mind, so you should expect a post from me this friday! I definitely cannot work or be productive when its so busy around me.

Talk soon loves!

Be on the look out for a new post from me this Friday! 

Day 7 | All Over The Place

***This post is a bit all over the place.***

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. I know I did. I did nothing, but relax! :)

So it is the last day of my 7 day writing challenge for myself. And I think that is what I needed to jump start myself. I will admit that I am in a bit of a transition with my blog. Nevertheless, I will work through it and make the changes as I go.

Lets see, what else? School starts next month and it will be my LAST semester!!! I am happy, excited and nervous all at the same time. The goals for this upcoming semester is to finish the semester on the Dean's List again and apply and get accepted into the grad school of my choice.

Here are some pics of a somewhat healthy snack I made for myself recently. I say somewhat because I added a little more whipped topping than what I actually needed. At any rate, its good! So I won't complain.

I am also working on my picture taking techniques. I already know I need to work on better lighting and editing. These photos are not edited in any way. With practice those skills will come in time. I think so far I am off to a pretty good start.

What are your favorite clean eating snacks?

Day 6 | Get In My Belly

First off, HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!! Stay safe out there!

Today I really want to share some food I had yesterday from this food truck fiesta of sorts. It was heaven in my mouth…

After walking up and down both sides of the street I finally settled on a chili macaroni grilled cheese with garlic fries. It was great and since they have this even every friday I think I will go back and try something different next time. Lobster grilled cheese anyone???

The food from yesterday was so rich that today, I am taking it easy. Definitely going to load up on the fruits and vegetables today. As soon as I can finish this cold pressed juice. Which by the way, kind of tastes like grass.

Day 5 | Life Is About...

Moving forward. And always doing what you have to do to take care of yourself and the ones you love. Life is about…being happy. If your not happy with where you are now, you have to start taking the steps to get happy. It doesn't happen overnight. Life is an uphill battle.

Life is harsh, but it can also be really fulfilling.

Day 4 | 100 Mile Running Challenge

So yesterday a friend tagged me in a 100 mile running challenge for the month of July. Now keep in mind….I hate running. I am trying to learn to like it, but I am not there yet. However, because of fitness reasons I do it. After I mentally prepare for a few hours beforehand that is. Anyways, I think it will be a good challenge for myself. I won't make any promises, but I will say that I will try. I will throw it out into the universe and say I want to run at least 50 miles this month. I figure thats a good place to start considering I don't run anywhere close to 100 miles/month and I don't want to hurt myself. Lets see what I can accomplish with this new challenge.

And who knows? I may end up liking to run…or at least not dislike it so much. And maybe I will consider another half marathon???

What are your goals for the month of July?

#100milechallenge

Day 3 | Giving Thanks

I'm sure some of you are wondering what I am up to with all these posts, but it's nothing really. Just me sharing. Learning to be thankful for the things that I have in my life. Lets see where this little 7 day challenge for myself will go.

I know I mentioned Ruby in my Day 1 post, but her she is again :) Honestly, I have never had a pet for as long as I have had her…Its coming on 2 years on July 10th. She almost didn't make it to me, the airline lost her and it took some time for them to figure out where she was.

She is my running buddy, my very silly girl. She falls asleep in the living room and when I wake up in the morning, she is next to my bedside.

Day 2 | Good Food With A Twist

Hmm….should I start blogging about food? Not to toot my own horn, but I have been known to cook some pretty awesome foods. I think I am going to start sharing some of my creations here. Sometimes I follow a recipe, sometimes I don't. I have been doing this whole 'eat at home' thing, and its mostly successful. I just have to work on eating more healthy. Which I do for the most part, but…I know can do better.

The first dish is pretty simple. Cucumber and tomato salad. With a bit of red wine vinegar. Simple. Easy. Good. You really can't get any better than that.

The second dish is a concoction I made with what I had in the house. Its a bison chili with red and black beans, corn, among other things. First time ever having bison and I must say, it is delicious!!! I am just over eating chicken and beef. Especially after my trip to El Salvador where I got to taste the real thing without all the extra fillers that are added to our meats here in the states.

Cucumber and tomato salad

Homemade bison chili--super yum!

Day 1 | My sunshine

My dog Ruby loves me unconditionally. She always knows when I am down, when I am happy. She is my very special girl. Her silliness and intelligence is definitely one of a kind.

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” 
― Milan Kundera

A Few Updates!!!

I made the Dean's List again.

I recently came back from a work trip to El Salvador and it was an amazing trip, but I came back sick as a dog. More pics on that later when I start feeling better :)

I am going to Texas for 2 months starting next month and then start my final semester of school for my BA in psychology.

I won 3rd place in the research competition at my college. I was pretty happy about that win because the 1st and 2nd place winners were groups, while I was solo. So technically I won first place…right???

Okay, more later when I am feeling better, but here are some photos from a trip into the San Salvador area of El Salvador!

Photo Roundup!!!

I know I have been MIA, these 16 units are kicking my butt this semester. After next week I will have 3 more weeks left of school! I am so ready for it to be over already. One thing that I have done is gotten better at not at not procrastinating. Every semester I get a little better at it, but as a result, my time is a bit short and when I have downtime its probably being spent lounging around the house, being lazy.

At any rate, here are a couple of photos that I have taken over the last several weeks. I have lost a few pounds (hope to loose more and build some serious muscle), went to Las Vegas (so much fun!) and recently conducted my first experiment :) Anyways, really not too much to tell. Post more photos later.

Camera Play!

Its been forever since I pulled out my dslr, so I had to dust it off and take some photos! I need to get back into the swing of things. Seriously. I have been slacking these last few months and I don't like it at all. So cheers to the new year, fresh starts and moving on up.

And cheers to some very random photos!

Always faithful no matter what

Try to teach her to shake my hand

2015 Goals

2014 has been a year of ups and downs, but I made some serious progress. So here we are, 2015, a brand new year and a fresh start. This is the year that will be the turning point for me. I am just going to keep 2015 simple and make it a year of working on better ME.

Here are my 2015 goals:

1. End my spring and fall semester with nothing less that a 3.5 GPA  3.81!!!!
2. Stay organized and use a planner
3. Volunteer at the VA Hospital
4. Save money Work. In. Progress
5. Be more outgoing and go to more meet up events I need to get out more!!!
6. Work out consistently Still working on this, but I do work out more now than what I did last year!
7. Laugh more
8. Travel I have travelled this year, but I need some leisure time

What about you guys? What are your goals?