Cooking With Jessica Rae: Busted Cookie Edition!!! | Ruby: Modified German Poodle Cut

So I wasn't even going to post this after how the cookies turned out, but you know what!? Screw it. You live and you learn and one thing I learned is not to listen to Walmart when they give you a recipe for coconut macaroons. I mean seriously, they came out not pretty. Like, not at all. They still tasted good, but its all in the presentation. And I promise I followed the directions. It was kind of like making sugar cookies except instead of adding flour you added coconut. I think that is what was missing anyways because a lot of recipes that I looked at after my busted cookies had flour in it and it makes sense. Anyways, here you go!!!

PS--Dont try this at home, and whatever you do, do NOT use the recipe on the back of the bag of coconut you get from Walmart! I did not include the instruction because as you will see below they didn't come out so good. I ended up throwing them out. :(

Vanilla extract

 

I used this to grease the pan I was using to cook the cookies on

All done and ready to go in the oven

WTH!?!? Um no ma'am!! 

On a lighter note I realized I haven't shared any photos of Ruby in a while. Right now she is currently rocking a modified German Poodle Cut. Its too hot and she is so miserable with all the hair so I decided to spare her and cut most of it off. I will probably cut it short again one more time towards August and then let it grow out again. I still have some hope she will lose her puppy coat, but we shall see. If you are interested to know, I used a #4 on the body, #10 on the ears, face and at the base of her tail, and scissored the top knot short. Very simple!

Before

After! Mama's baby!

Favorite Photos Of The Week

Earthquake Hello! & Monday Motivation

So if you live in California or keep up with the news you probably heard about the earthquake LA had this morning. Let me just say--it was interesting/scary. Aside from three years, I have been in California since late 2003 and I never really experienced this before. Guess thats a good thing! Well anyways, like so many people I was still in the bed---sleeping. Its actually kind of interesting because a Ruby started acting weird around 1 AM, so I let her get in the bed with me. Ruby NEVER barks and I have never heard her growl before, but she started growing around 2:30 AM, she even barked. That woke me up and I was a little scared at first because I was thinking someone was in my house, but that wasn't the case. So after I fell back asleep a little bit before 6:30 AM she started doing it again, and when I woke up a few seconds later everything around me started shaking. Needless to say I was very confused, but then I realized what was going on, I just held Ruby until everything stopped shaking. Craziest thing ever.
 I know that animals are sensitive to things like this, but I have some first hand experience now. To give her a treat for being such a good helper in trying to warn me, I took her to the dog park, gave her a hair cut and took her for a bath. She was due anyways, but she just made me so proud :) Kind of weird---guess this is what people who have human babies feel like!?  LOL

She is tired after the coming home from the dog park today :)

Before the haircut

Here is some Monday Motivation!!! Sometimes I get in a rut--and no more excuses!!! Positive thoughts!!!!

Finally Its Over--Well Sorta!!!

Well, my statistics class is over (thank GOD!) and my midterms are done and I couldn't be happier! I am now halfway through the semester and I am looking forward to a more relaxing way to end it. Aside from my the math class that just ended, my main classes are not that difficult so I there is no stressing out about that. And one thing I realized is that I should NEVER ever stress about homework and tests because I deployed to Afghanistan and that is stressful. When I put things into perspective like that it is like a weight off my shoulders :)

Anyways, I need/will get back into the swing of things for my blog--its been neglected! The reason why is legit so try not to be too hard on me okay ;)

On another note, I didn't get voluntold to go on this two week mission with my reserve unit so I am pretty happy about that…looks like I will have a spring break after all! (Well sort of--I happen to have drill during that time)

Coming up in the next couple of weeks you can expect to see some reviews on some workout gear that I got and also some recipes to try and also some different hiking points/trails in the Los Angeles area.
I know I am jumping all over the place and its because I haven't updated here in so long :P

So here are some pics that I have taken over the month of February/March!

TTYL!!!!

Ruby and I on our way to Camp Pendleton so I could take a final

Yummy tri-tip salad from Stonefire Grill

Study study study!!!

Army issued towels are way too small!!!

Ruby hates long car rides!

Ruby being patient while I get in some last minute math homework

Ruby staring at herself in the mirror LOL She didn't know it was her haha

Lunch and studying….

and more studying!

Tried African food, it was good, but very expensive!!!

Cheers, everyone!!!!

Working On My Fitness: Runyon Canyon

I haven't been to Runyon Canyon since I left for the Army. That was all the way in early 2010. The last few weeks have been so crazy and unexpected for me, but now its winding down into and I am trying to get my fitness in order. Especially if I am going to be considering doing ROTC...that is another story! If you have never been to Los Angeles before, let me tell you, there is more than just Hollywood.  There are so many trails to hike and some have pretty cool stuff like waterfalls and ruins to explore. Runyon Canyon doesn't have either of those, but its pretty well known and it is a WORKOUT. Coming from the Studio City side its all downhill and pretty easy, but coming back up takes effort. If you are out of shape it will be tough on you, trust me! Even if you walk it. When you are done, its the best feeling ever though! That last quarter of a mile I practically had to drag my dog because she just didn't want to go any further, she was so tired! Even as I am typing this now she is passed out right now! LOL

This hill right here is death LOL. You will get such a good burn coming uphill!

Ruby trying attempting to lay in a hole haha

She is trying to make the hole bigger for herself!

Still digging

Downtown LA in the horizon

Yep, you can see the hollywood sign from here--I will have to get a better picture after a good rain or during the holidays when the smog is low

She gave up! 

Knocked the hell out! LOL

 Anyways, I have also been getting back to my Army eating habits and the goal this month is to lose 10 lbs. Well, maybe I shouldn't say that. I want to lose inches and build muscle. My diet (now) mostly consists of some kind of seafood, mainly fish. I love my tuna mixed with avocado and pico de gallo. I will have to show you the recipe for that when my avocados are ready to be eaten...its super yum! :)  I also eat a lot of vegetables. I don't really drink enough water so I am making it my mission to increase that. I do not eat fried foods and I hardly ever eat out. I don't really eat fruit too often either...bad, I know! I try to stay away from starches because I just don't know when to stop eating them LOL. However I know they are important for energy, so I bought some sweet potatoes. During my vacation I was eating horribly and my body paid for it! I gained a couple pounds so now its time to lose it!

Super sweaty after that hike!