Fitness time!

People make excuses all the time why they can't work-out.  Biggest one: I just don't have time to work out.  Well guess what I go to school full time, work 3 jobs, and volunteer at an elementary school.  I work out 6 days a week and some of those days I work out twice. So sorry, but i'm not going to take you seriously when you tell me that you "Just don't have time". I will however post quick and easy exercises for the busy folk that we all are :) 

My two favorite are from the great Jillian Michaels herself: 

Each of those videos are 30 minutes long.  there are 4 different intensity levels. Oh each DVD is roughly $10 to buy. Do each video for a month.  The results are unreal ( I lost 10 pounds and 13 inches total just doing the 30-Day shred once and it was my only source of exercise... )  They aren't terribly hard workouts and like Jillian says, "I have 300/400 pound people that do these workouts, so can you."  

If 30 minutes is too long for you, then try this 10 minute workout:

Very easy, only 10 short minutes.  You'll burn 100 calories and it doesn't cost anything nor do you need any weights. 

You say 10 minutes is too long for your busy life?! Oh dear, okay well how about this:

4 minute workout

This workout is only 4 minutes long not to mention you don't need any weights or any money.

NO EXCUSES.

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

These cookies are one of the greatest things I have ever tasted. I found the original recipe on This Blog I've decided to share it here because if you love oreos then this is a recipe you HAVE to try :)

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

Recipe from Brown Eyed Baker, adapted from Tasty Kitchen, originally from Multiply Delicious

Yield: About 1 dozen cookies (mine made about 1 1/2 dozen, as I used around 1 inch balls of dough)

½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup mini chocolate chips (I didn't have minis so I left these out)
1 cup Oreo cookie crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (this is important! I was out of parchment and my cookies got a little overcooked on the bottom, I think the Oreo crumbs cooked quickly on the hot baking sheet and caused this) and set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and well-combined.

3. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and mix until the ingredients are well-combined. Add the flour and mix on low until the flour is incorporated. Stir in the mini chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.

4. Place the Oreo cookie crumbs in a small bowl. Scoop the cookies into about 1½ to 2″ balls (the dough will be soft, don' t worry if it doesn't scoop into a well-formed ball, the crumbs will help hold it together)and then roll in the cookie crumbs. Place the cookie balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the tops are slightly puffed.

5. Cool on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Enjoy!

So I've decided to take up running (:O crazy because running and I don't really get along...) Anyways I've found this really awesome program called Couch to 5K and its designed to get a couch potato and turn them into a running machine! Well I figured what better place to share this program than Eats,Sweets & Sweats! Here is the program

Tomorrow will be Week 3 Day 2 for myself :) I'm actually pretty amazed that I have made it so far without giving up yet, like I said earlier, running and I are not friends. One more thing I should mention is I use an iPod app to help track for how long I should run and when to switch from jogging to walking. I'm lazy! I don't want to keep track of all that nonsense. I use this C25K Free iPod App. Its great because it lets me listen to my music while I run, but it also has noise and voice commands that tell me when to switch. Oh, and its free! :)

Grilled Mac & Cheese Sandwich

This sandwich is one of the most delicious things I have ever made! It looks kind of gross in the picture or the though of it but it is actually quite delicious!
Ingredients:
-2 slices of bread
-2 pads real salted butter
-2 velveeta cheese singles (or shredded cheese if you don't like cheese singles like me)
-1/2 cup left over cold mac n cheese (I used kraft mac & cheese)

Grilled Mac & Cheese Sandwich Recipe

I love this salsa!

Chili's Copycat Salsa Recipe:
(Recipe from Deals to Meals)

2 cans (14.5 oz each) whole tomatoes, drained
1 small (4 oz) can diced or whole jalapenos (not pickled)--about 4-5 jalapenos (or less if you don't like a lot of spice)
1/4 c. yellow onion, cut into quarters (you can also use dried minced onion)
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 to 1 tsp. salt (depending on how much you prefer)
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. lime juice

Place all of the ingredients together into a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Serve with tortilla chips.

Ever wonder how many calories you burn while doing a certain workout? Well this little handy-dandy chart will figure it out for you. It crazy to think how much you could be burning!

Sour Glitter Grapes!

So I'm not sure about the rest of you but I have a little bit of a sweet tooth :) Anyways, I found an awesome recipe to make your very own Sour Patch Kids! But heres the best part, they are healthy for you! (well... sorta.) These little gems are make with grapes and jello. They are just delicious! :) Since they're grapes and not little gummies I don't feel as bad when I eat 50 of them in a row :P 

SOUR GLITTER GRAPES

Sour Glitter Grapes
1 pound of green seedless grapes, pulled from the stems and rinsed
1 3-oz. package of Melon Fusion Jell-O (NOT prepared) [OR ANY TYPE OF JELL-O]
Water

DIRECTIONS: Rinse the grapes under water until all are clean and wet. Spread the gelatin mix on a plate, about 1/3 at a time. Place a handful of grapes on the plate and gently roll each grape in the gelatin powder until it is covered. Place the coated grapes into a bowl and repeat the process with the remaining ingredients until all of the grapes are covered. Place the bowl and let set in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, until the gelatin is set. The colder these are, the better they taste!