Currently... 01/13

Hello, hello! Happy Thursday! 

So, despite my WIAW absence this week, I totally feel like blogging today! It was convenient that I just so happen to see this survey-type-thing on Heather's blog, and felt like it was a current must-do! 

Current book: we're reading The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom in English IV, and I love it so far. I'm not much of a reader (unless it's a blog... or about food...), but this book is genuinely interesting and thought-inducing! Totally a recommended must-read.

Current Music: Ho Hey by The Lumineers.

... and maybe some Beauty and A Beat by Justin Bieber.

(Sorry, I love me some Biebs! Not so much Nicki Minaj, though...)

Current Guilty Pleasure: Arizona Heat spicy mustard! Holy guacamole is it good!

Also, the combination of cinnamon sugar anything with cream cheese... Which calls for one of my newest creations... (Inspired by these babies!)

Cream Cheese Stuffed Cinnamon Sugar Protein Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 scoop (28g) cinnamon roll (or vanilla) protein powder

1/4 c (26g) ground flax

2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon

1-2 tbsp sweetener

1/2c (113g) plain Greek yogurt
1/2c liquid egg whites

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 large ripened banana (or just microwave it without the peel for about :30 to soften if it doesn't seem ripe enough)

Cream Cheese Filling:
1/4 cup cream cheese
1 tbsp powdered (confectioner) sugar

1-2 tbsp milk of choice (I used almond)

Directions:

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a loaf pan with non-stick baking spray.

In a bowl, mix all dry ingredients aside from your sweetener.

Now blend yogurt, sweetener, egg whites, vanilla extract, and banana until smooth or desired consistency.

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Combine ingredients for filling.

Pour about 3/4 of the batter into your loaf pan, then spread your filling through the middle. Use a spoon or spatula to evenly distribute, then pour the rest of the batter on top. Distribute the rest of the batter the best you can, then sprinkle extra cinnamon and sugar on top.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

(Inspiration and adapted recipe/directions from here.)

Current Nail Color: Simple glitter nails!

Strobe Light by Sally Hansen

Current Drink: Sugar Cookie Tea

Saying I'm obsessed is putting it lightly! I've gone through over 5 packs of these since October... 

Current Food: smoothie bowls, inspired by Heather herself...

Oh, and Cascadian Farms' organic Cinnamon Toast Crunch!

Holy WOW is this stuff so delicious! CTC is my favorite, and this tastes almost identical! It's so nice to have the flavor and deliciousness minus the sugar and continuous processing.

Current Favorite Show: Full House or Zoey 101!

Current Wish List: Zuzana Light's new DVD, and maybe some new nail art "stickers"...

I LOVE these things!

They work and stay on AWESOME! And the best part is, you don't have to wait for them to dry!

Current Needs: more time... and to do better in pre-calculus... a 40% is not a good way to end math in high school! 

Current Triumphs: I... I don't know! I've been quite confident lately, and I've been feeling so much stronger... Do those qualify as "triumphs"?? 

Current Bane of My Existence: math!!!!! Math, math, MATH!! Ahhhh!

Current Celebrity Crush: ironically enough, me and my friend were talking about this in class today!

I guess I can say Louis Tomlinson...

*Drools* 

Current Indulgence: does cereal count?!

This stuff is the equivalent to crack.

I mentioned how Cinnamon Toast Crunch was a love of mine, but this stuff tops that by a long-run! I used to eat Blueberry Muffin Top cereal, but then they stopped existing out of the blue and I have been craving them ever since! This 'Blueberry Crunch' from Target is just as amazing.

If not, then definitely PB2. Not much of an 'indulgence', but I add it to nearly EVERYTHING!

I just got two new jars, less than a month after purchasing the first two!

Current Blessing: Heather said it perfectly! My health, life, family, friends...

Current Slang: "is this real life?" "Did that really just happen??"

(Hahahaha... It's okay to laugh at me. I can't help but laugh at myself!)

Current Outfit: I started off wearing this while typing the beginning of this post...

(+ shorts and neon sneakz)

and am ending it wearing THIS:

Current Excitement: to finally hangout with a close friend this Saturday! We're going to Applebees' "half-price apps" to get some half-priced appetizers for some ultimate snackage on Saturday night with her friend that she wants me to meet so we can all be the three best friends that ANYONEEEEEE can have! (High fives and kudos to you if you know where that's from! ) I also get to conquer some "fear foods" that night and I am READY!

Current Mood: happy, but quite hungry... Putting a whole new meaning to HANGRY!

 Current Link: uhhhhm... hmm... What about my current favorite boy & girl YouTubers!?

Rachel & Byron Talbott and Nikki & Dan Phillippi!

Fitness Survey

Taken from Kaila! I loved these questions, therefore I felt the need to answer them myself 

1.  Run/workout in the heat and humidity or freezing temps and snow?

Heat, for sure! The more sweat, the better!

2. Have washboard abs or flat abs?

I guess a mixture of both? I don't want too manly-looking of abs, but I also don't want just a flat stomach of skin and bones.

Basically like this!

...Or this!

3. Dr. Oz or The Doctors?

I've never seen 'The Doctors', but I guess Dr. Oz is alright. He believes in too many fad diets, in my opinion. Not my thing!

4. Cardio or strength?

Cardio!! I'm a cardio ADDICT! I do definitely need to incorporate more strength training into my normal exercise, but it's quite hard without a gym membership.

5. Cravings: Protein or carbs?

Actually, I crave both equally! Haha. I crave (and eat) grilled chicken A LOT, which is probably weird...

6. Jillian Michaels or Bob Harper?

I guess Jillian Michaels. But, Shaun T. over everyone! 

7. Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream?

I haven't had much frozen yogurt, so I'm biased towards ice cream until I finally go out to get fro-yo!

8. To train: Upper body or Lower body?

Upper body. I love training my arms, and I despise lunges and squats... Even though they do my body good!

9. Protein powder or food with protein?

Food with protein all. the. way. I like my protein powder, but I like my natural protein more!

10. Lunges or squats?

AHHHH! I despise them equally as much! Hahahaha. I guess squats, though!

11. Sweet or salty?

I crave sweet more, but I love 'em both equally. Not too salty, though... Or too sweet. Just enough.

12. Workout attire: cute or comfy?

Well, I'd definitely choose comfy over cute and uncomfortable... But if I could pick cute AND comfortable, then I definitely would. I like looking nice, even in my workout gear.

13. Body Pump or Heavy lifting?

I haven't tried either! I MUST!

14. Yoga or Pilates?

Yoga for the mind, muscles, and strength. Pilates for the abz.

15. Nike or Adidas?

Nike!
16. Running on the treadmill or outdoors?

I'm not much of a runner period, but I don't really like treadmills. They bore me, like most gym machines. I'd personally prefer to run outside... even though I rarely do because I have a fear of running alone (haha... I'm paranoid).

17. Whole Foods or Trader Joes?

I've never been to either because neither are located near me. 

18. Summer or Winter Olympics?

I don't watch either, haha.

19. Exercises classes or Exercise videos?

I'm more of a video person... Mostly because I've never really taken a class. Haha. I love my Insanity, though! 

20. Steamed veggies or roasted veggies?

STEAMED! I have steamed broccoli and carrots nearly every single day. I. Am. Obsessed.