Summer Workout Playlist

IG Photo By: @KaliClugson

Hello bikini season! Fourth of July is just days away and I cannot wait to be up north soaking up the sun with my best friends. Until then, I'll be putting some time in at the gym! It is with all my pleasure to share the ultimate summer workout playlist with you. Lot's of motivational beats, inspiring lyrics and hype mixes in this one. From Haim to Danity Kane.. yes DK is back, to Rita Ora, this playlist is everything you need and more to get you through a three mile run, legs, arms and abs- stay tuned for my summer workout! 

Click here to listen to the playlist for free on Spotify.

"Waves"- Robin Schulz 
"Hideaway"-Kiesza
"Forever"-Haim
"C O O L"- LE YOUTH
"Maps"- Maroon 5
"TKO"- Black Friday Remix
"First Things First"- Neon Trees
"Don't Kill The Magic"- Magic!
"Lemonade"- Danity Kane
"I Will Never Let You Down"- Rita Ora
"Tell Me When You Ready (feat. Future)" - Flo Rida
"Things We Lost In The Fire"- Bastille
"Sleepless"- CAZZETTE
"Girls Chase Boys"- Ingrid Michaelson
"Bad (feat. Vassy)"-  David Guetta
"I Choose You"- Sara Bareilles
"Believe Me"- Lil Wayne
"Rude"- Magic!
"Wild Wild Love"- Pitbull
"Do It Again"- Royksopp & Robyn

Woof

Earlier this week I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. I sat at the kitchen table, covered with papers, projects and popcorn, and felt a cold, wet nose on my leg. At this point Bella (my adorable four-legged sidekick) was not even cute to me. She was annoying. I thought; I just fed you AND let you out. What more could you want!? It was then when I realized one thing: she just wanted to be held. Strangely enough I felt that I needed the same thing.

I picked Bella up, twirled her around a few times, and chased her around the house. Before I knew it I was laughing, smiling, and oh so importantly breathing again. It was like she could sense my fragile demeanor. Yes-I know she's just a dog, but she's a dog with more personality than Kristen Stewart. She's perfect.

In those moments of stress and anxiety, it's important to take a deep breath and find a reason to smile.

Don't over estimate the power of human (puppy) touch. We often need them more then they need us.

Xo

OREO Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

A great friend of mine once said, "It always seems impossible until it's done." 

This may be a little deep for what's entailed to come and maybe Nelson Mandela and I were not the greatest of friends. Nevertheless, stuffing an OREO into a chocolate chip cookie was a brilliant yet terrifying venture. I contemplated whether the cookie was going to be too big. Is there such a thing? I was nervous that the OREO's frosting would melt and ruin the cookie's shape. I was completely ready to give up when the cookie dough wasn't sticking to the OREO.

But this is of course has a happy and delicious ending.  I have figured out all the tricky logistics. You're welcome. The cookies were a success and I'm ready to share! Are you up for the challenge? 

Ingredients:
Butter- 1/2 cup (1 stick)
Light brown sugar- 1/3 cup packed
Granulated white sugar- 1/3 cup
Egg- 1
Pure vanilla extract-1 1/2 tsp
All Purpose flour- 1 3/4 cup
Salt- 1/4 tsp
Baking Soda- 1/2 tsp
Chocolate chips- 5oz.
Oreo Cookies- 12

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven at 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugars until well combined.
3. Add in the egg and vanilla extract and mix well.
4. In another mixing bowl whisk together the flour, salt and baking soda.
5. Gradually add this dry mixture into the wet mixture, along with chocolate chips, until combined.
6. Flour your hands lightly so the dough doesn't stick to your hands and so it is easy to work with. Take a scoop of the dough and place on top of the oreo cookie. Take another scoop and place on the bottom of the oreo cookie.
7. Press lightly between your palms and seal the edges together by pressing and cupping the cookie on your palm.The oreo cookie should be completely inside the dough with all the edges sealed.
8. Place the cookies on the prepared baking pan, an inch apart.
9. Cool in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes if you don't want the cookie to get spread a lot. 
10. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the sides start turning brown.
11. Cool in the baking pan for at least 5 minutes.

12. Transfer them to a wire rack and cool completely before you store them in an air tight container. Enjoy! 

Spring Workout Mix

It's spring, the sun is out and flowers are in bloom! It might snow tomorrow but WHO CARES. The sun alone makes me smile ear to ear. Soon enough I'll be roller blading with my dog, becoming the next Mickey Wright and sporting a spectacular summer glow. Until then, I'll be at the gym. I have created the ultimate "Spring Jamming" playlist. It's eclectically awesome and something I think any 20 something girl like myself would enjoy. Relax, sing along and get moving. Before you know it you'll be in that cheeky bikini and you're going to want to look like you didn't spend the last four months snowed in and eating these.

Here it is; Click here to listen to the playlist for free on spotify. 

"Reflections"- Misterwives

"Problem"- Ariana Grande

"Rather Be"- Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne

"Am I Wrong-" Nico & Vinz

"Jealous (I Ain't With It)"- Chromeo

"Turn Down For What"- DJ Snake

"Doses & Mimosas"- Cherub

"Rescue"- Yuna

"Say You'll Be There"- MQ

"Bridges"- Broods

"I won"- Future

"Partition"- Beyonce

"Get Me Some of That"- Thomas Rhett

"Lay Me Down"- Sam Smith

"Girls Chase Boys"- Ingrid Michaelson

"Sing"- Ed Sheerhan

"Somebody Who Loves You"- Betty Who

"I wanna Get Better"- Bleachers

"Smoke"- 50 Cent

"Be My Forever"- Christina Perri feat. Ed Sheerhan

"Why Haven't You Taken Your Shirt Off Yet?"

It is astounding the amount of personal information some people are willing to disclose. Yesterday as I sat and waited for my final connection home, this guy approached me and asked, "Why haven't you taken your shirt off yet?"  

This may seem like an extremely blunt pick-up line had you not known I was sporting a Michigan State sweatshirt. And if you are entirely out of the loop, the Spartan team was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament last night, ruining a majority of brackets- even the Presidents'. Within minutes of my conversation with Josh, a 28-year-old guitarist from San Antonio, with a communication degree from Texas, living in Grand Blanc, I wanted to scream. Josh had no filter. He was telling me what Netflix documentaries to watch, why I should buy American and even tried convincing me that my Starbucks had a small amount of (insert a long name for a drug I cannot pronounce nor spell) which kept drinkers coming back for more.

Earlier that day I was having lunch with some friends in Wichita when our waiter told us his plans for the months to come: He was moving to San Francisco in 57 days with his daughter-a first grader is going to an elite public school, one of the best in the nation, and his future rent would be five times the amount it is now. He also made it extremely obvious he was no longer with his daughter's mother-she won't be traveling with them to San Francisco. 

Why is it that some people are willing to share so much and the other half, so little?

I wish the world was comprised of people who met in the middle- friendly, openly talkative, the ones that greet you with a smile but know when to shut up. They leave you wondering for a while and that mystery keeps you intrigued. They aren't rude but sarcastically witty. They are kind and polite and don't cross the line until both parties are ready. 

I guess this is why we are all so interesting. All of our lines end at different places. 

Where is yours?