What happens when your friends get engaged.

In a span of 2 months my best friend and Alex's best friend both got engaged. Yay for attending weddings, boo for planning them.

He always pushes his head sotight against mine. It hurts.

And as much as I'm so so happy for both couples, it gets annoying for many reasons.

#1) I like weddings, a lot. I love pinning ideas for my non existent wedding and going on How He Asked.com to tear up at the really cute and romantic proposals but wedding's are not all I want to talk about. 

I was glad that when grabbed lunch with karen for her birthday yesterday, the wedding didn't come up at all. That was nice. 

#2) I also think that "the engaged" think just because they have popped the question or have the ring that all other couples will follow suit quickly after. So we're asked when it'll be my turn and what's happening with you guys. All.the.time.

and here's the thing, I'm not ready to be engaged. I don't want to right now. And there is nothing wrong with that. I'm happy dating. I'm sure that'll change, but hey, that's another post for another time. 

So what happens....you start over analyzing your relationship, having serious talks that you've already had and maybe feeling like you're less of a couple then those already engaged. That they're more serious (kinda) but it gets in your head. And it sucks. 

So those engaged, go easy on your friends who aren't. Don't pressure them to get that ring. 

-What happened when you're friends got engaged. Same things happen?

New Year resolution so far.

We're 4 weeks into the New Year, that's all? Feels longer. 

Anyways, 4 weeks into 2014 and hows your New Years resolutions going? Mine for 2014 wasn't anything specific but along the lines of keep eating paleo 80% of the time and working out 4-5x a week. 

Oh, hi muscles. 

Aside from a little back injury (was doing a HIIT workout earlier this week and pulled a muscle doing a front squat) and not able to go to the gym, I'm doing well. Upping my weight during bodypump and loving bootcamp, so much

Eating paleo is amazingly yummy and makes me feel awesome! My Gramma even texted me this weekend asking about Paleo and if I could share some info about it. I love her and she and my Grandpa need to change their diet. Your only veggie for the day can't be iceberg lettuce.

 This. Flavour country. This filled me up for a good 3ish hours. Avocado, egg and bacon. Bake at 185 till egg is at your liking.

Can't contain my excitement for my new heart rate monitor. I neeed something to track my calorie burn at the gym.

As much as I love paleo, I do eat cake and pizza (just not at the same time). Remember, I do have a boyfriend who is not paleo (does enjoy it) and loves his carbs. Everything in moderation and treating myself on the weekend seems to be keeping me on track. No harm. 

Inked.

Yes, yes it's true. I put on my big girl panties and got some ink done this past weekend. 

For while I'v been kicking around pinning some ideas for a tattoo. I find tats so beautiful (well some) and really really wanted to do a pink breast cancer ribbon for my mom. Something classy, sweet and small. Decided on my side of my wrist, something different. 

Truthfully, I'm surprised I didn't cancel the appointment because I felt sick to my stomach all day thinking about the pain. And the pain? Felt like a cat scratch that lasted a bit longer than a millisecond. Nothing to to bad. 

She's healing up nicely and I can't wait to see it all healed! 

And yes, momma Hannon cried. 

Skinny Orange Chicken

Instead of spending moola on eating out all the time (like we used to) mine and Alex's new thing is cooking dinner together.  A Paleo dinner together---he's so good to me.

I don't like the recipes that take hours to make or use thousands of ingredients that I usually can't fine in the grocery stores so when I came across this (simple) Orange Chicken dinner, I knew it would become a favourite. 

Ingredients

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ½ cup chicken stock
• ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• ½ cup fresh orange juice
• ¼ cup coconut aminos
• 1½ teaspoons Sriracha sauce
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds for garnish, optional
• Broccoli recipe

Instructions

1. Melt coconut oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add in chicken pieces and cook until cooked through and browned, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
2. While chicken is cooking, stir together chicken stock, honey or maple syrup, garlic, orange zest, orange juice, coconut aminos, Sriracha sauce and red pepper flakes. Pour into heated skillet once chicken has been removed and reduce to low heat. Cook, stirring often, until sauce has been reduced and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from heat and pour over chicken.
3. To serve, spoon chicken over a bed of broccoli and then spoon on additional sauce. Top with sesame seeds, if desired.

Thanks to Add a Pinch. 

Officially a MOH

Ah! Let the stress of wedding planning begin. 

Hang on, no no...it's not me (far from it) 

My best friend, Karen got engaged a few months back and Monday (finally!) asked me to be her Maid of Honour. Really simply with a poem from Pinterest. 

I say finally because we've promised each other at the young age of 11 to be each other's MOH so I kinda expected it. 

It's so exciting to picture standing beside her in May 2015...but first we have to plan the wedding. Yuck. 

Not giving up on my dreams

Well, that 31 days off from school flew by. I sure enjoyed it, who wouldn't! Went to the gym lots, built muscle and spent much needed quality time with Alex. 

But today school starts back up and I'm scared. And nervous. Nervous about handling the courses, bringing my best to my placement in the elementary classroom and leaving enough time to workout and be a girlfriend. Scared that I won't pass all my courses and have a repeat of the fall semester. 

Thinking like this and worrying won't help. It's not getting my anywhere but allowing that negativity to win.

So, instead of thinking poorly, I'm thinking happy and positive thoughts. I can get through university. I can still have time to workout, even if I have to wake up early to do so. I can be an awesome girlfriend.

Being a teacher is my dream. Has been since I was 8. When I daydream about having those 25 eight years olds in my care everyday, helping then learn...it makes me tear up. When I remember that feeling-I can't give up on my dream.  

I have tons of people in my corner who are supporting and rooting for me. With that awesome and warm feeling of family and friends behind me, I will be successful at this semester and kick it's butt!

I know it. 

Separating...with my phone...again.

I came across this post about divorcing our phones a few days a go. Go read it before I continue.

I'm with Jarrid on this-I'm divorcing my phone for a while. It's pathetic how much I use my phone and on it. Do you know I check facebook at least 5 times a day? The first thing I do in the morning is check instragram and same with facebook and the last thing I do before bed. Many nights-I'll fall asleep while on my phone, not reading a book or journaling, on the phone.---that was hard to write. 

Its horrible how my phone can suck me in. How I feel I'm missing out on something if I don't check social media. 

And now its affecting my relationship with Alex. I'm always on his case about him voxing his guy friends about their dumb fantasy sports. Wishing he would put it down and spend time with me. Well, he called me out on it Monday night when we were watching the bachelor together and I was on twitter following #thebachelor, to see what people thought. 

"I'm watching babe, just checking my phone"

" yes I'm still on it, and yes I'm paying attention"

" please don't, I like playing on my phone when I'm watching tv" 

That was out convo during out time together. It's not fair that I have my phone up my nose while we're supposed to be spending quality time together. And really, who cares what other people think about that girl and this girl. 

I don't need to check facebook multiple times a day. Because whose who have important news in their life will call or text me, not leave it to facebook. That's why I deleted twitter from my phone and go on maybe 2x a week. 

I don't want to be that girl who is seen with her phone out all the time. I especially don't want my loved ones to feel less important and have to compete with my phone for attention. 

So yes, phone-we're separating for a while. You will stay on my dresser-away from my night table at night and in my room/purse when on date nights. Maybe we can re-evulate things about a few weeks but I have to many important and good things going on in my life for you to ruin. 

Tell me-do you have the same issue with your phones?

What's your plan?   

Insta-lately.

The whole paleo thing is going amazing. I've even got Alex on it. A few weeks a go we made a big batch of hamburger soup and eat it for like 5 days straight. That good.

Sunday I went for a 6km run...first one in close to a month. I'm not going to lie, it's hard waking up at 7am when the bed is so warm and cozy. 

Monday evenings feel complete now that The Bachelor is on. So good but so bad. 

Alex and I wore out Bears outfits that my Gramma made for us. To bad they lost to the Packers and are done. 

I kinda like him. 

I've been obsessed with having game nights. So much! Right?

2014 preview.

Happy New Year!

Hello to you, 2014! Be good to all of us, please. 

In 2014...this year...

A habit I'm going to break is...getting angry at little things. 

A new skill I'd like to learn...is to play 18 holes of golf. 

A person I hope to be more like...is Karen and my Mom. Both have such sweet hearts and think of others way more than themselves. 

A deed I'm going to do...is smile at homeless people more. Not ignore them. 

A place I'd like to visit...is Chicago...with Alex...biggest Bears fan. 

A book I'd like to read is...more mystery books and less chick-flick-ish ones. 

A letter I'm going to write...will be to my future niece or nephew when I find out about him/her.

A new food I'd like to try is...is more healthy paleo foods. 

I'm going to do better at...blogging and taking time for myself.