My Candle Light Belly Dancing Performance 10/28/2011

I am to the right in the light blue skirt, light pink top, and flower in the hair. Front Row... This is such a beautiful dance.

Coconut Banana Bread...Yummy!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups self rising flour (use all purpose and increase baking soda to 1 tsp)
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3 medium overripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
• 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut (or shredded coconut)
• 1 cup light coconut milk (my store did not have light, they only had original so I used that)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350. Grease your bread pans. I cover my pans in Crisco and then put flour to coat it. Set aside

In the one bowl using a wooden spoon mix the oil and sugar. And the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in the vanilla and almond extract.

Whisk together in another bowl the flour baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, stir together the mashed bananas and the coconut milk.

Gradually mix in the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Mix until combined. Stir in the coconut. ( I sprinkled in a little extra, I love coconut)

Pour batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 1 hours and 15 minutes. ( I checked about an hour and mine was done) Do to toothpick test to see if it comes out clean. I doubled this recipe and it took 3 large pans. But they have here you can use 4 small loaf pans and cook for about 45 min. (and that's not doubling it)

Let bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before slicing.

Enjoy!

William Jr.'s First Homecoming Dance 2011

William Jr. got to go to his first homecoming dance this year. He went on a triple date with his friends. They thought it would be cool to wear white sunglasses. :)

Alex Lux, William Jr., and Cayden Taylor. Handsome Boys

The boys and their dates. They all looked so cute! I was probably just as excited as they were. I even bought them each a pack of gum. Told them they could not have smelly boy breath dancing with these cute girls.

William and his date/girlfriend Brittany. I have to say they are dang cute!!! And I love her dress.

Yes I was crying a little. My boy is growing up. Not much longer he will be 18 and a senior. Where does time go?

Look who got their Drivers License....

William took Drivers Ed. Look who passed!!!

William Jr and his Drivers License. Its Official, so stay off the roads.

His poompa gave him his old car. It will be a good first car.

William Mackintosh Jr with his first car

Wow! Where does time go. William has his first car and a drivers license. So far only one car accident and no tickets. I highly recommend you wait until they are 18 and get them a license. The good thing is now he can get a job and get himself there. And it has been nice if I have needed something at the store or a kid picked up.

This is what Vaulting is and what Marian is doing...

Hope there are Horses in Heaven

My friend Peyton has gotten me back into riding horses. I have forgotten how much I love it! Riding horses is my drug.

Peyton has also introduced us to vaulting. So of course Marian just had to join. She wants to be on the competing team so bad. I will get some better pictures.

The vaulting team Marian is part of is doing a rescue horse program. You can keep track of the horses we rescue and their progress on Facebook under "Technique Horse Rescue". Wish was the first horse we rescued. He had sores all over him and bones sticking out. So the families of the group would help feed him and take care of whatever was needed. Once he started getting healthy his personality was coming out. When we were taking this picture of Wish and Marian, he was trying to put his hooves on the gate also. I guess he thought he could stand on it too. Marian wanted to adopt him so bad. But we would not have a place for him. He has now been adopted out to a family. We will miss him!

Before: All of the sores

After: All gone

Before: Look how skinny he was. You can see his bones. :(

After: Look how healthy, shiny, and happy he looks!

We love Wish! Gonna miss him so much.

Rock Climbing with the Family 2011

Will has now started rock climbing this year. He has been going with friends and the family. I think he has now found his new passion. I on the other hand am so chicken to climb.

Me + heights =very scared

So I get to enjoy the beautiful hikes to the spots the climb. And the views are so amazing!

Yes, I had my kids lay on the ground so it looked like I was higher. Even though it was only like 6 feet. lol I felt like a champion getting that far.

William Jr. long legs help him cruise up the sides of the mountains. Not to mention he is so strong.

Antonio is very fast and my dare devil. He is loving this rock climbing. He now has his own gear.

Marian likes rock climbing some. I think she will stick to horses. She might take after her mommi. ;)
Jose is my Spider Monkey! He just gets up on there and goes. Takes after his daddy.

I wonder what new thing we will try out next?!?!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Buttercream Frosting

I made these the other day and they turned out divine. So many people requested the recipe, so I put it on here thinking it would be the easiest way to get it out.

Cookie Dough:

• 2 sticks softened butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 4 Tbsp milk
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

• 3 sticks softened butter
• 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
• 4 large eggs
• 2 2/3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Cookie Dough Buttercream Frosting

• 3 sticks softened butter
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla Extract

Directions:

• To make the cookie dough, combine the butter and sugars in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in milk and vanilla until incorporated and smooth. Beat in the flour and salt until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Using 1.5 Tbsp scoop, shape the dough into ball or tubes. Freeze on parchment lined baking sheet over night. (It only took mine 45 minutes to freeze)
• To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners. (24 total) In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment( I just used hand mixer), combine the butter and brown sugar. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the side of bowl as needed. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir together to blend. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl on low speed, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing each addition just until incorporated. Blend in the vanilla. Using a 3 Tbsp scoop, fill the prepared cupcake liners 2/3 full with the cupcake batter. Place a frozen cookie dough ball on the top center of each cupcake. Bake at 350 for 16-18 minutes.
• To make the frosting, combine the butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in the salt, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined. Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips! Makes 24 cupcakes.

Enjoy!

*They are so much better if you wait for them to cool!

* I was able to freeze the cookie dough in 45 minutes. I made those first and put in freezer. While they were freezing I made the cupcakes and icing.

Note to self... My kids think I should put on more icing next time.

I made these for the neighbor boo treats.

Meet your new Best Friend :)

Meet your new best friend when you are sore. Its a foam roller. It hurts so bad when you are doing it. But then when you stand up to walk, you can feel a difference. They say you should also always use one of these after a workout. We ended up buying one to keep at home. If you don't have one, get one. Trust me! lol

Versus Momentum Promo

Enough said.....

Crossfit And How It Has Changed My Life

"Crossfit" Who would have ever thought that this would be such a strong word in my life. I am sure my friends are sick of hearing the word "Crossfit" come out of my mouth. But that is okay....I am hoping that one day I will be able to share what I am going through with others and they will want the same feelings. Crossfit is life changing, I am doing things now I would never have imagined myself doing.

It all started with this guy. My amazing husband. Who is now a Crossfit trainer for Viking Crossfit. Also after this weekend he will be an Endurance Trainer. Plus he is the hottest Firefighter out there. ;) Since we have been married(16 1/2 years now) he has been trying to get me to do some sort of fitness. I tried walking tracks, weight lifting, swimming, running, etc. It was just not for me. One day he came across this Crossfit stuff. He was doing it here at home. He would even sometimes have the kids and I doing it with him down stairs. A few months later he came across Viking Crossfit and we joined. The first year was a little off and on for me. I would get so sore I would only show up once a week. I just was not giving it 100%. Finally after quitting a job that made me unhappy, I started going during the day everyday. I learned that no matter how sore you were, you had to show up the next day and do a workout. I was so sore I would hold onto the walls to sit on the toilet, I would go down stairs on my butt, and I would have to ask for help to get out of my seat. But I kept showing up and they were right it helped! Why you ask, would I go through soooo much pain to be in shape? Well here is why......

Mount Timpanogos 2nd largest mountain in Utah

In Utah there is a Mountain called Mount Timpanogos. The 2nd tallest mountain in Utah. I never in a million years thought I would hike to the top of it. One day at the gym I said "hey lets all climb to the top." So a group of us did. It was so hard! I got to the saddle part of it and gave up. I just hid behind a rock waiting for my husband to come down. Finally he did and asked me what I was doing. I said, "I can not go anymore." He said, "Yes you are" and pulled me up that mountain. See that is what Crossfit is all about. You will always have someone there pushing you when you say "I can't". Go to Golds Gym and see if anyone is there yelling at you to keep going or to not give up. You will give up before anyone at the CrossFit gym will let you. It's all in your head. Pain is mental, you just have to get past that.

This is Will and I at the top of Mount Timpanogos in the tower. We signed the book together and everything. Woohoo! I did it!! I did it!!

Me on top of the world. See one of the benefits of being in shape is you get to see the most amazing things. That day I got to see a huge glacier, chipmunks that came right up to me, beautiful wild flowers, and the most breath taking view ever. I couldn't have asked for more.

Over the past several years we have gone on tons of hikes as a family. We have hiked to several waterfalls. This one is called Stewart Falls. With me getting myself in shape I am able to take my kids to some amazing places and experience it with them. Once again, you can't beat that!

In Nevada by where Will grew up there are these huge rocks called "Devils Kitchen". I was able to hike it with everyone in 104 degree temp. But who cares about 104 degrees. Without Crossfit I would not have been able mentally to get through the hike on the hot rocks. It's all mental and you will find those walls that you have to break down. Also that next day I hiked a mountain by the ranch that his family calls Alfred's nose. Never in a million years did I think I would ever hike that with Will. But guess what, I did!!

River Rafting has now become a family/fire station tradition. Those of you that have gone river rafting know that it is harder then it looks. That your arms kill. The first year I thought my arms were gonna fall off. But now that I am Crossfiting yeah they get tired, but they do not feel like they are gonna fall off. Several years ago I watched my husband do the "Tackle the Tower". I was actually quite jealous. I thought to myself "why can't I do the things he does?" I wanted to experience those accomplishments like he was. I wanted to do something so cool. I sat there and was feeling bad for myself. I thought, "yeah right this will never happen. "Well..... because of Crossfit I did it!! It was so cool. As I got to the top I wanted to cry I was so happy. I thought to myself, I FREAKING did it!!

Crossfit has built my confidence up in so many ways. I have now taken on belly dancing. Yeah I might not have a tight belly(yet!) or body. But that is okay, because I know I will and I am having fun. And now I am gonna try out for a belly dancing team in November. Woot! Woot!

UGH! Those that know me, know I HATE running with a passion. Well, since I have been Crossfitting I have now ran five, 5k's. Hated every minute of it, but I did it! I have to say that finishing one of those races is the most amazing feeling. Now I do it for that feeling.

That is a 44# Kettle Bell I'm swinging over my head. I am doing over 200# dead lifts and I started out with a PVC pipe. I am doing over 100# bench presses. Me! I am doing that! It just does not seem real when I think back on my life before Crossfit. Weight stuff is my strength, cardio is not(yet!).
Never thought I would be so happy about tearing my hands because I did so many pullups. And to even take pics of it... you know I am addicted. lol

It only took almost 2 years but I am now doing kipping pullups!! Booya! Me! I am doing kipping pull ups!! I am now working on butterfly pullups and chest to bar pullups. And you know what, I am gonna do them!
This girl Miranda, is pretty much my Crossfit idol. My goal is to look like her. Even after 4 kids I think I can do it. I am already seeing the muscles form in my shoulders, arms, and thighs. Now to get my belly like that. I will!

January of this year I watched girls and guys from my gym compete in a challenge. I thought to myself as I watched them that there was no way I would ever compete in it.

But this year I made a deal with my husband that I was gonna try the Utah Affliate Winter Challenge in January 2011. So let the training begin....

The Dirty Dash, yup I am gonna do it. Its a 10k run through mud and obstacles up ski slopes. eeeeeekkkkkk Check it out at http://www.thedirtydash.com/. I'm doing that in September. My team is called "Viking Crossfit Warrior Princesses". We are gonna have some fun!

I have this picture hanging everywhere for my motivation to get me ready for the dirty dash. Our picture is gonna be just as cool. Wait until you see our costumes. hee hee

Well its time to get my butt in gear. I am gonna hit this hard to prepare for my two goals. Giving up coffee and soda. I am trying to do "The Zone" as much as I can, watch what I eat and get healthy. Still trying to stomach the protein drinks. Gag!

I am making my yearly appointment this week to make sure I am healthy. If not healthy, then I want to see what I need to do to get there. I am taking my vitamins, fish oil, calcium chews, and iron pills. It's a start!

I do have a challenge with my work outs and that is asthma. Cardio and me are not a good combination. So this little guy is what gets me through them. Several weeks ago I had a huge asthma attack that had me in urgent care. But thats okay, nothing is gonna stop me. I am now in the best shape of my life and I am only gonna get better. I am gonna finish that Dirty Dash and the Utah Affiliate Winter Challenge. I am not looking for first place. I am looking for it to be an accomplishment for ME!

So for those of you that say "there is no way I can do that," yes you can! If I can then so can you! I guarantee that Crossfit will change your life. You will do things you never imagined. If you don't believe me ask some of my friends that I now have doing it. Ask the people at my gym that I workout with. Asks the thousands and thousands of people that are now doing it. I am not trying to sell you anything I just want you to be able to feel and do the things I do. Crossfit has changed my life!!

http://www.crossfit.com/ if you wanna see what Crossfit is all about, check this out.

http://www.vikingcrossfit.com/ my gym.

http://www.thedirtydash.com/ the mud race I am gonna do! Woot! Woot!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_diet to learn more about the Zone diet, check this out.

http://www.fishoil.com/ Info on fish oil. I get mine from Costco. The Kirkland brand. Omega 3 Fish oil.

Also I take Calcium chews. When working out you are always putting strain on your bones. To me it is important to keep your bones strong.

Check out my video I posted below. It sums it all up. :)