So I suck at blogging...

I really, really suck at blogging. [Okay, I suck at blogging regularly]

Lately I'm in the happiest rut of my life. [Contradiction? -naaaah]
I consider myself a pretty healthy person for the most part.
I eat pretty good, and I actually enjoy working out regularly.
I am an over all pretty happy-go-lucky girl.
[Yet I will admit: I definitely drink too much..]
Having said that, there is always room for improvement.

It's true what they say about "love chub." I have fallen head over heels in love, and let me tell you..
I am the chubbiest I have been in years. [Does that mean I'm the most in love I've been too? -jk ;]
He is amazing motivation to be a better me, but better yet:
I want to be the best me I can be, for me.

With my new found drive, the help of My Fitness Pal, and a little push in the right way from Crystal skin care..
2014 is going to be MY year, and bring the best Jessi yet.

Both physically and mentally.

♥♥ Not only am I eating cleaner, greener, and working out meaner..
I want to focus on the little things that make me simply look and feel good.

Some little things like:
♥ flossing daily.
♥ keeping my face clean and clear.
♥ cutting back on caffeine, beer & HAM nights.
♥ regular hair cuts.
♥ smiling more.
♥ complaining less.
♥ waking up, and actually getting out of bed.
♥ ^ + giving myself enough time to get ready [& actually GET ready for the day.]
♥ more yoga, running, and lifting.
♥ no more breakfast taquitos or spicy noodles [well maybe just now and then ;].
♥ paying off my car. [and keeping it clean and lubed up!]
♥ actually studying and applying myself.
♥ practicing guitar diligently and regularly.
♥ being more aware of my posture.
♥ getting enough [but not too much] sleep.
♥ being a better listener and better friend.
♥ more meditating.
♥ more bubble baths.
♥ more quality time with my family.
♥ more reading.
♥ more Jessi time.
♥ less shyness.
♥ more confidence.
♥ putting money in savings rather than blowing it all.
2014: BRING IT!

Cheers to 2013

2013 is one for the books, er.. a memory box I guess.
There are 525,949 precious minutes in only 365 days.
So much can happen in that time, and last year was proof that so much did happen in that time.
Just some of my favorite moments last year were: snowboarding a lot, guitar lessons, helping brew beer, lots of camping, Idaho for the coolest [and biggest] brew fest yet, bees games, real games, tailgating, 6am body pump, some incredible weddings, not to mention some killer bachelorette parties, trail running and especially running two half marathons, Mary Poppins at Tuacahn with my Grandma, lots of Sunday Fundays, & Oktoberfest to name a few.
I saw some pretty sweet concerts: Muse in Vegas, Alice Cooper & Marilyn Manson, 311, A Lily Gray.
I've had friends finish nursing school, their bachelor program, and even a PhD.
I took TWO WEEKS OFF!I spent a week in New Port Beach with the wonderful family, and then heading straight to Lake Powell with my best friends!

Some things I didn't like so much: one crazy eye infection, completely bombing a semester, ending a relationship, working at 0700 almost every day of the week..

Baby $teps

Yesterday not only did I get my back window (and side mirror) fixed..

I also closed my Victoria's Secret credit card, my Nordstrom Retail, and my Discover card! 

Here is to paying off stupid debt, and to having money to spend again! 

Yayyyy! 

Have to have your downs to appreciate your ups..

Today was an emotional roller-coaster for me... Ready for the ride?

In the wee hours around 5 am I went to brush the snow off my car, THIS HAPPENS: [Very low.]

I figured a little duct-tape will hold it together until after Christmas right? [Coasting]
I meet up with my bro around 10 to take advantage of all that powder.. [High hopes]

While loading our stuff in my trunk.. THIS HAPPENS: [all-time low] 

I literately cried the whole way up the mountain.. [Can I feel any lower?]

We get to Snowbird and this sweetheart asks if I will use his tarp so it doesn't snow in my car.. #blesshisheart. [On the up?]

The snow was GREAT. [Rising..]

It was 8°, and we couldn't feel our toes, fingers, or noses.. [Plateaued.]

As I was driving home from Snowbird thinking of all the negative captions I could use to share this picture: [Falling again.]
"Well there goes my Christmas."
"Poor me."
or the chosen: "FML" & yadda yadda..

 

  Driving home, we came around the curve where you get your first peek of the entire valley, and my breath was captured...
[Like when you are at the top of the roller-coaster, slowly coasting & you can't help but feel the butterflies..]
(& not just from the fridgid breeze from my non-existent back window.)

It was definitely an eye opener.

I realized in this moment:
Yeah, this totally and completely sucks..
Yeah, it couldn't have happened at a worst time..
Yeah, it is freezing and EVERYONE is looking..
BUT:
I am so blessed to live in such a beautiful valley.
I am so blessed to even have a car. (Let alone with a working heater.)
I am so blessed with the opportunity to snowboard.
I am so blessed with an incredible family.
I am so blessed with a warm place to call home.
I am so very blessed to be alive..
& everything is going to be OK..

and the tears start to flow again..[☯]

The best spicy pickles everrr.

If you know anything about me, you probably know I love pickles.
They are definitely one of my favorite foods. My amazing mother helped me can some this year, and let me tell you:
THEY ARE THE BEST PICKLES EVERRR!!!
Here is our recipe:
BRINE:
2 Quarts water
2 Cup vinegar
1/2 Cup pickling salt
1/2 to 1 T alum
- Boil until salt dissolves

Stuff one quart jars with:
Pickling cucumbers [we get ours from Okubo's]
dill weed
1 jalapeno sliced
3 cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp black peppercorn
5 to 10 mustard seeds
pinch of red pepper flakes
(We added 1/2 habanero for extra spice)

Before you start scrubbing, make sure you have some clean mason jars, and brand new sealing lid disks. We load our dishwasher with our clean mason jars and run it on a HOT wash, with a HOT dry. You want your jars pretty warm when you are stuffing them.

Make sure to scrub all your cukes and peppers really well.

We sliced our cukes in quarters, but you can honestly do whatever you prefer. We also sliced our jalapeno in half, but left our hot pepper whole.

Before you start stuffing, put your new lid disks into water on the stove. You want them to be pretty hot, but not necessarily boiling. Stuff your jars with dry ingredients first, and then full of your cukes. You want a little room at the top. Pour your hot brine over your pickles, and wipe the rim of the jar with a dry towel. Place a hot disk on top and screw it tightly with your screwband. Your pickles are ready to be sealed.

To seal your jars, it is best if you have canner pan, but a large, deep pan with a thicker bottom should do. These jars below were done with a thinner bottom pan and they broke due to too much heat. You want the water boiling, and allow them to be fully submerged in the water for about 10 minutes.
This is a great reference website for canning pickles.

Check your jars to make sure the lid does not move when you push on it, if it does move, try boiling them again. Once you have them all sealed, allow them to cool for up to 24 hours and then place them somewhere dark and cool.
Pickles will be ready to eat in three weeks, and should last for at least a year (if you don't eat them all by then ;). Refrigerate after opening.

If you need any help, please comment below.

Juicy :)

My Mom and I have been on a green juice kick as of late. I highly recommend it! All of our juices have turned out surprisingly tasty [Not to mention, extremely good for you].

We fill our mason jars and drink half [of a quart sized jar**] daily.
One daily serving size is the juice from this: 

four carrots,

four stalks of celery,

half of a beet,

one lemon,

half a cucumber,

a thumb nail of ginger root,

one and a half granny smith apples,

and four to five handfuls of spinach.

**UPDATE: We've researched into it losing it nutritional value if you do it for a few days at a time. The best way to do it, is in a jar, but you need to fill it all the way to the top, and screw it tight. When you open it, you need to drink the whole thing at a time so it doesn't have a lot of time to oxidize and lose it's nutrients. We have not changed our recipe just the size of our jars. We now use pint size jars as one whole serving. :) Freeze to last longer.

(Shake before you drink!)

#blessings.

Today I am extra thankful for:
1. Good health.
2. The internet. I believe it is more a blessing than a curse.
3. My youth. I wish I could be forever young, but in reality aging is one thing everyone goes through. So I'm going to live it up while I still can. :):)