LBR Turns One & Little Girl Party Ideas

One Year Ago...
You probably know by now that the hubbie and I met some of our closest and best friends at Georgia Southern. Even though we live five hours apart, we still see each often and talk at least once a week. Last year around this time, we were able to travel to Atlanta and meet our best friends baby girl for the very first time. 

Little miss Lily Blake was born on January 22, 2013

Rookes, Lacy and Lily Blake leaving the hospital 

Chris may have been just a little excited about meeting Lily Blake. I'm sure one day he will tell her, over and over, the reason she is named Lily Blake is because he called her LBR or "Little Baby Rookes" before she was born AND...it just stuck! 

January 2014...

Look at this cutie pie! Her Uncle Chris and Aunt Kelly mayyyy have gotten her that bow....

And this 1 Year outfit. What?! She needed it!!

Very FIRST B-Day Bash...

Lacy made the cutest stinkin decorations for LBR's party. Let me show you the pics so we can steal some ideas together. 

LOVE the big monogram and the ribbon garland!

She used scrapbook paper to make those. I never would have thought of that! 

Not sure where she got the bird but it's precious!! 

If LBR could sum up the past year for you, I think she would say something like this...
It's been alotta hair bows, homemade food, and cuddle time folks. Yep, I'm pretty much livin it up here with my sidekick Lexi (doggie). Now, if my Mommy and Daddy can ever figure out how to strap me in their new body carrier thing, I will have it made in the shade. But, until then...

Bottom's Up...
Cause go shawty, it's my birthday! 

You're NOT Good Enough #WIW

Every once in a while, say a couple times a year, I get in this...
I'm tired, don't care, can't shake it, everybody is driving me insane, don't talk to me, I'm angry but don't know why, I want to cry, I'm so confused, just let me stay in bed, it wouldn't bother me if I was all alone, sad mood!!

It usually will last for a couple weeks and then I'm good. While it's happening though, I feel like I can't control it and nothing I do will shake it. I literally have to make myself be nice, get up out of bed, dress, and "fake it till I make it"!! I have no clue when it's going to happen or the reason why. Stupid? Random depression? Hormones? I really can't decide. All I know, is that I either want to curl up in a ball and cry, or just disappear.

Go ahead and ask. I know what you're thinking. Is it "that time" or getting close to "that time," because that's a little nuts!? I wish I had an excuse like that, but NOPE I just get like that sometimes.

Have you ever heard someone say that we "take it out" on those we love most? Ummm...yeah about that. It's so true!! During my "mood" my poor hubbie gets to deal with everything I've held in all day, week, month, whatever. I save my niceness for everyone else. Now don't get me wrong, he's not perfect, and he can really tick me off sometimes, but I know he doesn't deserve that. And, I'm sure he wishes I would snap out of whatever is wrong with me.

Let me just be real for a minute and tell you where in the world all of this is coming from...
My "mood" hit a couple weeks ago. I even typed up a blog post all about it. I recapped an entire weekend worth of the hubbie and I fighting caused by the grouchiness of yours truly. Thing is, I decided not to publish it, and ever since then it's been on my mind.
Why didn't I publish it?
Because after reading what I wrote, I was ashamed, really ashamed.

For days after reading my post I kept thinking to myself...
"And you're the one telling everybody to be kind, love one another, and trust in God!! Really?!?! You've been treating your husband like crap and thinking mean thoughts about everyone. YOU, my dear, have no room to try and encourage or uplift anyone. You're not even a nice person! Girl, you're FARRRR from being someone worth looking up to! Why even try?"

Y'all I couldn't pull myself back up. As each day rolled by I began to doubt myself, my relationship with God, my decision to start a blog, my ability to be friends with others, and the chance of ever being able to reach my weight loss goal.

It wasn't until I finally opened my devotional one morning at the end of last week, that I understood what was happening to me. I kid you not, the first sentence said...
One of the enemy's tactics is to isolate people, to cut them off from fellowship with one another, to convenience them that they are alone and no one really cares about them.

After reading that, I didn't cry. I didn't move. I just sat there. I sat there at 6:15 in the morning overwhelmed by the words I had just read. I mean, was it or is it possible that could be what was happening to me? Surely not.

As the day went on something hit me though...
God uses nobody's. King David was a shepherd boy. Mary was a young teenage girl. So maybe, just maybe he was using me to help someone and satan knew it.

Ya'll I may be right or I may be way off base, but my conclusion to the past couple weeks is this...
I am 100% human and I make tons of mistakes. At times, I can think mean thoughts and treat people badly. And, if you're friends with me, I can promise you one thing. At some point I will let you down. BUT, I know someone who never will AND He uses the most unlikely of people to accomplish his will. So, when I start feeling sad, lonely, or ashamed, talking to him is the only answer I can think of that will actually work.

Even though today is weigh in Wednesday, when I woke up I did not go jump on the scale. When I woke up I started my new habit of saying...

"God let me be of good courage, strengthen my heart, and let me be strong enough to make a difference." 

It's been 2 weeks and I'm down 2.6 pounds for a total of 57.8 gone. Hope this encourages someone out there, because if I can do it you can too!

SKINNY Tropical Fruit Smoothie Recipe

This morning I got up and made a smoothie, and toast with apple butter, before heading to work. Now hold on a minute. Don't go thinking, she's "one of those". One of those people who gets up super early, saves baby pandas, cooks breakfast and works out before the rest of the world is awake. 

I'm NOT!! 

I'll even be honest enough to tell you that during the month of January I haven't worked out once. Not ONCE!! When my gym membership ran out at the first of the year I didn't renew it. Sad? Ummmm...yeah. BUT ya know what? It's true. 

I am farrrrrrrr from being perfect. AND...I'm okay with that. I plan on getting back in my workout routine SOON. I am NOT beating myself up about it or giving up. I'll just start taking baby steps. 

Step 1-

Start getting up 10 minutes earlier to sit and eat breakfast. 

Step 1...Accomplished!! 

SKINNY TROPICAL FRUIT SMOOTHIE

Ingredients:

-1 cup frozen tropical fruit 

-3/4 to 1 cup non sweetened original 30 calorie almond milk 

-Splenda or Truvia to taste 

Instructions:

Blend all above ingredients until smooth. That's it!! 

I'm not even kidding. It's literally that easy and you can substitute the tropical fruit for any fruit of your choosing. I am in LOVE! 

Sorry it's so dark. I was tired boss and the lights hurt my grouchy eyes. 

Ninja=best thing I ever bought!!

Tropical Fruit Smoothie-120 Calories
It's not the prettiest color but it was delicious!!  And it took me all of a couple minutes to make. 

I made this smoothie last week but used peaches and fat free milk...yummmmmmy!!

Last but not least, my new FAVS...
Apple butter and PB2 with Chocolate 
I put a tiny bit of extra water in the PB2 with chocolate so it's thinner. Then, I use it as a dip for fruit or spread it on toast. I was skeptical at first, but the chocolate kind is just as good, if not better, than the original. AND...only 45 calories for 2 tbsp. 

Guess It's Time for Step 2...

Start walking on the FREE treadmill, in my back bedroom my Mom gave me, for 30 minutes 3-4 times a week! 

It stinks starting over when a month ago I could workout hard for an hour straight. BUT...I keep telling myself
--baby steps, baby steps!!

Baby Maverick's Mustache Bash

Y'alI. I suwannee!! The last couple of weeks have been BIZ-E!! I mean like not even enough time to take a selfie busy. Every single...Night. Day. Hour. Second. I have had somewhere to go, or something to do. Today, all I've wanted is just to come home, sit on the couch, turn my phone off, get all cozy, and not move for at least an hour. (Jamie stop reading and skip to paragraph 2!!) How do all of you with kids do it?? I'm terrified!! Excited, but terrified!! Holy crap!! 

Anyway, enough of all my whining, let me show you pics of the precious "co-ed" baby shower I helped throw for my really good friend, Jamie, last Sunday night. She's going to have a little boy in February and is naming him Maverick. Ummmm...that is one stinkin cute and cool name!! LOVE it!! 

First the Mommy and Daddy-
Michael and Jamie...sickening right?!?! Maverick has no choice but to be precious. 

Mustache, Checked and Aqua Material-Wal Mart
Chevron Material-Corner Market in Blackshear, GA 
I turned my dining room into a workshop for about a week. I was so nervous all of my color choices were NOT going to "mesh". I tortured the hubbie for days by asking him every five minutes, "Do you like this, what do you think? Really, what do you think?" BUT it turned out to be precious and seeing a smile on Jamie's face made it all well worth it.  

Food Tables:

In a small town you have to LOOK, and LOOK HARD, for cute finds...
Napkins, utensils, mustaches and raffia-Wal Mart 
Navy Table Cloths-borrowed
Basket-from home
The mustaches are actually "table scatter" decorations. I just hot glued them. 

Frames-Dollar Tree
Burlap-Hobby Lobby...no we don't have one :o(
Small mason jars-filled halfway with epsom salt and tea light candle on topMustache Toothpicks-Wal Mart
I stalked Jamie on Facebook and printed maternity pics of she and Michael. I then framed them and placed them throughout the runner/burlap/grass on the food tables. Decorating a social hall is difficult because it's such a large space. We had 3 tables just for food. 

Centerpiece 
Grass-Dollar Tree
Candles/Jars-from home
Red tin-from home
Stand-actually goes to a bowl and is just sitting underneath 

Just to add some color throughout, Twizzlers in mason jars...
my FAV. OR. ITE candy   

Cake and Punch Tables: 

Straws/Cups-Wal Mart 

Gift Tables: 

Name-
I printed Maverick's name, then cut the center of paper plates out, before connecting each letter with raffia.
Runners-
The mustache burlap runners were so easy to make. Just cut to desired length/width and fray.
Board-
I covered a piece of wood with fabric, cut/backed pictures and used clothes pins I hot glued as clips.
Red Backdrop-
I hot glued 3 plastic table cloths to a shower curtain rod, tied fishing line to the ends, and secured it to the ceiling with "Drop Ceiling" clips from Lowes. Every teacher NEEDS to invest in these clips!!! They are in the ceiling tile section. 

I made the Mommy/Daddy signs with burlap glued to poster board, hand cut letters and raffia.  

Other Decorations: 

These pears are normally in my dining room, on the buffet, with straw and birds inside. I just decorated them up by cutting out polka dots from paper plates. 

I wrapped 45 silverware sets and only had 5 or 6 left. Jamie and Michael got lots of precious/useful gifts AND even the men folk seemed to have a great time. Only one thing left now...

Baby Maverick get here SOON!!

Tasty Tuesday-SKINNY Lasagna Recipe

I ain't even gonna lie. Stouffer's makes the BEST dang lasagna around. Homemade... ughhhh, ummmm, well, I mean, it's alright. The good stuff comes in a red box and is frozen son!! And don't even act all like, "That's so bad for you. Do you know how many preservatives and calories are packed in one serving?!" Yes, yes I do!! That's why it's so good!! Duh!! 

BUT, and I never thought I'd say this, there may be one small problem with the love of my life...
With every bite of goodness I might (MIGHT) just be able to feel my hips getting wider and my bootie sagging to the backs of my legs. Is it worth it?? Ummmmmm...Sorry, Sorry!! Of course it's not! But if it's okay, I would just like to say...
The day I find out that I have limited time on this Earth I am going to eat Stouffer's lasagna, Chick-fil-a milkshakes and Sonic cheeseburgers until I BARF. 

For now? For now, I've found an alternative that is REALLY good, not as amazingly delicious as my droopy bootie Stouffer's, but not too far from it...I PROMISE!! Even my man child loves it...

Ya know what's better than Stouffer's lasagna?? NOT MUCH!! JK...
Getting to wear a blazer, slacks and undershirt today that I haven't been able to wear in  YEARS!! Oh, and my Michael Jackson shoes...that I LOVE!!!
Blazer-TJ Maxx
Mint Green Undershirt-Old Navy
Initial Necklace-Etsy
Bracelet-Charming Charlie
Earrings-Forever 21
MJ Shoes-Target

Skinny Lasagna

Ingredients:
*1 cup shredded mozzarella (plus 1 cup set aside for topping)

*1/3 cup shredded parmesan

*15 oz. container low fat ricotta cheese

*1 pack oven ready lasagna noodles

*24 oz. jar Prego Italian sauce flavored with meat

*1 egg

*10 oz. pack frozen chopped spinach

*2 teaspoons dry minced garlic

*2 teaspoons onion powder

*1 teaspoon salt

*1/2 teaspoon pepper (or more if desired)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Place frozen spinach in colander under running water until thawed. SQUEEZE ALL the water out with your hands!!

3. Mix spinach with all ingredients above EXCEPT the noodles and mozzarella set aside for topping.

4. Pour a very thin layer of Prego sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish to prevent sticking.

5. Begin layering ingredients...
-noodles
-filling
-sauce
*repeat until filling is gone

6. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese set aside over top. Cover with tin foil and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and finish baking for 5 minutes or until top is hot and bubbly. Enjoy! 

Make sure to SQUEEZE all the water out so your lasagna isn't runny!!

Here's the magic...
The garlic and onion powder make it!!

These make it EASY because you don't have to boil them. Worth every. lazy. penny!! 

Offset noodles as you stack each layer so there aren't gaps.

I had this in the oven in less than 10 minutes...Not kidding!! Baking is the only thing that takes a little time. 

Yummy...AND full of flavor!!
1 cup of Stouffer's=675 calories
1 cup of Mine=around 280 calories

#throwback #weighinwednesdays

Savannah after GSU Spring Scrimmage 2013

I remember seeing this picture of myself and literally being in shock! I knew I had gained some weight but it really didn't sink in until I had evidence. Thing is, this picture was taken around April of 2013 and I didn't decide enough was enough until JULY 2013!! Why? I would try for a couple days and give up. Restart on Monday and give up. Have a stressful day and give up. Look at myself in the mirror and give up. Everything in me wanted to be thin but I just...couldn't! 

This Wednesday I weighed in to find that I had only lost a mere 1.8 pounds. I wanted to lose soooo much more than that dang it!!! So, after stepping off the scale my wheels starting turning. I thought, "I'm sooooo tired of dieting and losing sooooo little. I might just take a break from ALL OF IT for a while." THEN...
I scrolled through the progress entries in my MyFitnessPal app. Guess what I realized?!?! The reason I am down 53.8 pounds is NOT because I took a break, was perfect all the time, or lost the exact amount I wanted to each week. No, the reason I am down 53 pounds is because I kept going!!!

When someone loses weight everyone wants to know their secrets. From an outsider looking in, it may seem like the weight just fell off of the person. Guess what?!?! Weight loss takes TIME!! Lots and lots of time, and lots and lots of perseverance. NO ONE is perfect and, I don't care how dedicated you are, there are going to be times when you just mess up!! Keep going...

 I PROMISE...it WILL be worth it!!!

Can't Believe It...I'm TRUE BLUE (troo bloo) Material

Several months ago, a Communications and Marketing Specialist from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA called and interviewed me about my blog. I was walking around in TJ Maxx when I got the call and, at first, I figured the lady had the wrong number. I thought to myself, "Why in the heck would she want to interview me? This must be a mistake!" Nope, she really wanted to know about ME!! 

I stopped in the middle of TJ Maxx, made a bee line for my car and gave her my undivided attention. She asked me questions like...

"What made you decide to start blogging?"

"Have you been able to connect with other GSU Alumni that you wouldn't have otherwise?"

"What inspired you to name your blog Eagle with an Appetite?"

"How do you incorporate GSU in your posts?"

"What was your major while attending Southern?"

"I've read that you met your husband while attending GSU. Can you tell me a little about his experience here?"

"How do you stay involved with the University?"

"How would you describe your experience at Georgia Southern?"

"What's your overall goal for Eagle with an Appetite?"

"In a couple sentences, what does Georgia Southern University mean to you?"

I was so nervous talking to this lady, that in the middle of our conversation, I accidentally hit the mute button. She asked me a question, I went on about it for quite a while, and then I politely heard this sweet voice saying, "Kelly are you still there? Kelly? Hello?...Mrs. Jacobs?" Oh yeah, I did that, not even kidding!! And, of course, I couldn't figure out how to unmute my phone because I was using the bluetooth in my car. 

Here's the kicker though, I didn't just do it once, oh no mam. I did it TWICE...how embarrassing!! After the second time I literally couldn't tell you what I said. I know she had to be thinking, "What a spaz!!!" Nevertheless, I guess I didn't scare her off because she did a great job writing a TRUE BLUE profile on me and sent me the link last week. If you get a chance go check it out by clicking HERE. 

Hope ya like it! 

Sincerely 

The Spaz

I'm 13 pounds away from fitting in my favorite game day dress I wore back in 2011!!

Gel Nails @ Home

I have to give my hubbie props. This year he nailed my Christmas gift. He got me an at home gel nail kit. I LOVE it!!! I’m not sure if he thought it was a great gift, or he realized that it would save him a butt ton of money. Either way, gel nails are indeed my favorite because they stay on for so long. As much as I wash my hands at work normal nail polish comes off within a day, so it seems pointless to even get a regular manicure.

Here’s the thing…

Even though gel nails are my FAVORITE they are pretty pricy and, truth be told, this is what runs through my mind every time I go get my nails done…

“So you’re telling me that I have to pay for a manicure and then pay for gel nails on top of that?? Really!?!? That’s $40 and then I have to leave a tip too. I could buy a pair of new shoes that I actually get to keep for that much. I really want it done though, so I guess you win and I’ll pay it, but it’s going to come off in a week!! That "14 days" stuff you’re telling me is BS. The only way for that to happen is if I skip washing my hands after I pee!!”

Maybe I over think things a little too much, but hey, you know it’s true!! I’m sorry, I wasn’t like this before I married a finance major, so I’ll stop ranting now and show you my MONEY SAVING, HUSBAND PLEASING, NO DRYING gel nail kit…

This kit is by Sally Hansen and will run you about $55-$60. It comes with gel nail soak off, file/cuticle stick, alcohol wipes, base coat (step 1), gel color (step 2), top coat (step 3) and the UV light that has a 30 second timer.

The inside cover shows you step by step what to do. I was skeptical at first, but 30 seconds for each step is really all it takes. When you finish with steps 1-3 you wipe your nails with the alcohol towels and you're done!! No wet nails or waiting for them to dry. 

I found the exact kit Chris got me for Christmas on Amazon. Even he said that out of all the different brands he looked at this one had the best reviews. Who knew a 6'4" bearded man could be such a gel nail expert...oh the things we do for love!! 

You can go to Sally's, Ulta or Wal Mart for different gel colors and top/base coats. In Sally's it runs $10.99 a bottle and in Wal Mart it runs about 9 something a bottle. 

I took my kit with me on our New Year's trip and the girls really liked it. I think I convinced them that they need one too!! 

This was my first time using the kit on Christmas Eve. It came with a neutral color called "Shell We Dance". I will probably wear this color most of the time just because polish isn't really allowed in a Culinary Kitchen. P.S. My hands are a little crusty and big...don't judge me!! I would look weird with tiny hands and a 5'9" body. I may work on the crustiness though.  

This is what my nails look like today. I did them on January 30th, so it has been about a week and a half. So far they are still holding up. Next week we will be in the Culinary Lab at school, so we will see how long they hold up when I start washing my hands over 10 times in one day.  

Hopefully I've convinced you...
so get you a gel nail kit gurlllll!!!

Tips/Advice/Suggestions: 

-Buy a UV light that is big enough to put at least 4 fingers under at a time. Otherwise it's going to take you forever!!

-Buy a bottle of alcohol and use cotton balls to wipe your nails at the end instead of having to get wipes.

-To soak your gel nails off I saw a lady at the nail salon in Atlanta do this...

*dampen a piece of a cotton ball, the size of your nail, with acetone 

*place it on the polish you want to remove

*wrap a small piece of tin foil around your finger and twist at your finger tip to keep the acetone cotton in place 

*leave on for about 10 minutes and the polish should come right off when scrubbed 

-Watch out for how much gel polish you put on. It doesn't take as much as regular nail polish. I had it running everywhere my first time. 

-Your nails will have a greasy film on them at the end. That's normal and the reason you wipe them with alcohol. I did NOT know that before hand and thought I had done something wrong. 

-Glitter gel polish is almost double the price of the regular gel colors. Haven't tried it yet but really want some. 

-Some OPI colors are just as cheap as the Sally's and Wal Mart brands on Amazon. 

This may possibly save your marriage if you're as addicted to gel nails as I am...just sayin!!