Absence makes the heart grow fonder

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and I hope that's true because lord knows I've been MIA for a few weeks now .

Here's the quick and dirty version of what's been going on . I am still having fevers and erratic temp drops along with weight loss and lymph node swelling . I have seen two more specialists ; a hematologist and an infectious disease specialist. Good news is I have no bleeding or clotting disorders which makes my risk of having a second stroke a little bit lower. The infectious disease doctor ran just about every test under the sun for very uncommon specific  diseases caused by toxins, animals ect. The two he was really concerned about were both diseases that are caused by farm animals and their shit basically....thanks Mom and Dad for moving me to the country lol. More good news, no cow shit diseases here!

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Since all of these tests came back negative I have two more upcoming procedures/tests that are more in depth. Hopefully one of the two will comeback with a totally fixable, puny little problem with an easy fix  ( A girl can wish right?) As soon as this lab rat chaos starts to die down I will be able to dedicate more time to catching up on my emails, blog comments, writing, and reading all about my fav bloggers :) Thanks for sticking around and being patient during my hiatus!  

           

Take Over Tuesday : Aspen @ Makeover with Aspen

Its Tuesday! You know what that means...time to meet yet another amazing blogger! Meet Aspen , the gorgeous mom of two and fireman wifey who can pull off a variety of styles and hair colors...jealous? Me too! Read all about her here :)

Name: Aspen

Blog name: Makeover With Aspen

Where are you from? New Mexico and no, I don't speak spanish ;) 

Favorite Quote: 
                                  

How did you pick your blog title? I picked it very quick! I have thought about changing it but it seems like a lot more trouble than it's worth. Because my blog is so random and has a little bit of everything, the whole "making over my life one post at a time" just seemed to fit.

Why did you start a blog? Oh goodness...I have been blogging for YEARS but have never stuck to a blog until this one. I started Makeover With Aspen in April 2013

Where do you finding inspiration for blogging? Life! There is so much inspiration in the world and I definitely take it all in :) 

Do you have any special weekly posts? No. I have thought about doing a weekly post but I get worried that I won't be able to keep it up or I'll get bored with it and I'll feel pressured to keep it up. I do try to keep a healthy mix of lifestyle, fashion, humor, recipes and truth posts throughout the month though. 

What is your current favorite post? My favorite post right now is Cake Pop Basics {Never Trust a Cake Pop} 

Why do you read Fabulously Faint? I read Brittany's blog for the same reason I read all blogs...bloggers are amazing! There are such interesting and beautiful people in this world (like Brittany) and I just want to get to know them all! 

Three blogs you love to read? Besides Fabulously Faint I really enjoy The Honeybee by Andee Layne, Little Baby Garvin by Jessica Garvin and Cara Loren by Cara VanBrocklin

5 random facts about you:

• I am a premed student with two crazy kiddos and a firefighter hubby
• I want to become a mermaid...or just live on the beach
• I am not a pinterest mom
• I like weird smells - the airport, hospitals, gardening centers, new books and new babies
• I love organization but sometimes I cannot seem to get organzed :) 

Thanks so much for letting me be apart of your Takeover Tuesdays! 

XOXO

aspen

BLOG: www.makeoverwithaspen.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MakeoverWithAspen

INSTAGRAM: aspenballard

Sunday Social & Last Minute Swap!

Happy Sunday Ya'll! Yesterday I celebrated my birthday with family and it couldn't have been anymore perfect. A BBQ lunch, delicious cupcakes, and good company :)

What is your ideal way to relax? 

Reading a good book while getting my toes toasty by the fire. In the summer time laying by the pool or at the beach is always a given !

What is your favorite place to be?

I love being outside trying new things and visiting new places. I'm a city girl through and through so San Francisco is one of my favorites. I just love the carefree vibe and the fact that no matter how many times you visit a big city there is always something new to see.

Who do you consider your biggest role model?

My great-grandparents are huge inspirations to me. They have shown me what true love is and how to encourage and support those you love to the very fullest.

What does your life look like in 3 years?

My wish is that I will be back on my feet ( pun intended) and able to get back to work,  in a relationship, and living my old exciting life.

If you could go back and change one decision what would it be?

Knowing what I know now, I think I would have traveled and been more adventurous and less focused on all work and no play.

What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus so far?

Becoming a nurse was always my number one accomplishment but these days I would say a close second is the way I have dealt with the curve balls I've been thrown in the last two years.

DONT FORGET ABOUT THE BEAUTY BAG GOODIE SWAP! 2 DAYS LEFT  TO SIGN UP ! DON'T MISS OUT! THE MORE THE MERRIER!CHECK IT OUT HERE :)

                                        

Foodie Fridays : Chili Colorado Burritos , Frozen Banana Bites

Is it just me or is stew a hearty fall meal ? I had stew meat in the freezer the other day and was totally not into stew so instead I figured I'd try making Chili Colorado . Mmmm mmm good! I basically threw it together so bear with me on the measurements .

Ingredients : 

2 pounds if stew meat

19 oz can of enchilada sauce 

1 tablespoon of cumin

1 teaspoon oregano

1 - 2 teaspoons of chili powder depending on how spicy you want it 

2 beef bullion cubes

2 tablespoons of flour 

Shredded cheese 

Directions : 

1. Combine all ingredients except cheese and flour in a crock pot and cook on low for 6 hours 

2. When meat is fully cooked thicken the sauce by sprinkling flour into sauce and stir well . Make sure you sprinkle it on top instead of dumping the flour in by the spoonful to avoid lumps of flour .

3. Full tortillas with meat mixture and shredded cheese . I also put beans in mine as well but it's totally up to you . 

4. Top burrito with sauce and cheese and melt cheese on top .

These chocolate covered banana bites hit the spot when I'm craving a sweet treat. Although they are covered in chocolate for some reason I feel slightly less guilty eating these since fruit is included lol

Ingredients :

2 bananas

1 cup dark chocolate meltables 

Cookie sheet lines w wax paper 

Directions : 

1. Slice bananas into about 1/2 inch thick rounds 

2. Melt chocolate in the microwave according to package . A good rule of thumb is about 30 seconds, stir , and repeat until chocolate is fully melted 

3. Dip bananas into chocolate and place of wax paper lined cookie sheet.

4 . Place cookie sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes or more until chocolate and bananas are semi frozen 

Hope you enjoy the recipes! Let me know what you think :) While you are here check out the awesome BEAUTY BAG GOODIE SWAP Boy oh Mamas Boys! and I  are hosting ! This is round two of our beauty bag swap and we are looking forward to meeting some new ladies and reuniting with our first beauty bag goodie swap friends !Hurry sign ups end on Sunday!

   

As always, its Friday and time to Back That Azz Up with Whit. This week in honor of my birthday tomorrow I've gotta go with a club classic!Although this bday will be low key and spent at home, I will always be in da club at heart hahaha

Truth Is...

Truth is I have been posting a lot of "fun" posts and less and less serious posts. I initially started this blog to share my journey with chronic illness, fill in family and friends, have an outlet for myself , and to help raise awareness for P.O.T.S and other types of dysautonomia. I decided that I would be completely honest and share my good days and the bad but I've been having a hard time being honest. It's not that I'm lying but I do tend to omit some most of the "bad days".

 Yesterday I realized that I was a big fat liar when a friend txted me and asked how I was feeling. I automatically went with the standard " feeling pretty good" answer and it wasn't until after the convo ended that I realized that I'm so conditioned to give that answer that I didn't even allow myself the opportunity to tell her what was really going on. Truth is , yesterday was a rough one full of seizures and fevers.I wasn't feeling pretty good , I was feeling pretty awful actually .

Truth is this whole being open thing is harder than I thought it would be.

Truth is I need your help.  What would you like to know about dysautonomia , chronic illness , POTS ect.? Ask away ladies! After all, I started this blog to raise awareness . So from here on out I'm gonna try my best to suck it up and do it :)

On a less serious/more fun note : The 2nd Beauty Bag Goodie Swap signups are only going on for 4 more days! Sign Up Here to join in on the Lipstick madness :)

Muggin' It

In February I signed up to participate in Kailyn Marie's March Mug Swap. I love signing up for these swaps because its so much fun receiving a little treat in the mail and picking out the perfect gift for your swap partner. I got matched up with the adorable Jessica at Wifesticated. I absolutely love the mug she chose for me. I have a nurse Christmas ornament and a necklace with the nurses prayer on it that I got as graduation gifts but this is my first nursing item that I can use on a daily basis . I love the verse and colors as well. I enjoyed stalking Jess's blog to get to know her a little bit better and hopefully I chose the perfect mug for her as well! Check out her blog to see her reveal in the next few days.

 

Speaking of Blog Swaps, ( cue shameless plug) Kayla and I are hosting our second Beauty Bag  Goodie Swap. This months swap is all about pretty pouts: lip color, care , and tutorials.CLICK HERE to sign up We are looking forward to seeing old faces and getting to know some new ladies as well! 

Foodie Friday: Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs, Twice Baked Potatoes

This is a two part chicken dish but don't worry it's still super simple! The lemony rub with herbs and seasonings is so good and would probably work really well on the bbq as well. This recipe starts with a quick pan roast just to get the chicken nice and crispy before you finish cooking it in the oven for about 20 minutes.

Ingredients :

8 skin on chicken thighs

Lemon Rub

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons lemon zest

2 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 1/4 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 tsp lemon zest

Instructions:

1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2.Mix all of the lemon rub ingredients together in a bowl

3.Rub the mixture onto each chicken thigh

4. Heat about a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet and place chicken skin side down cook for about 2-3 minutes or until skin is crispy. Flip chicken and cook for another 2-3 minutes

5.In another bowl whisk together chicken broth, lemon juice, and lemon zest and set aside

6. Add broth mixture to the pan and place in oven to continue cooking until the chicken is cooked through  about 20-30 minutes

 These twice baked potatoes are an adaptation of the loaded mashed potatoes that I make. I try to bake the potatoes ahead of time so that I don't have to wait for them to cool before I can prepare them. Throw them in the oven during the day, take 'em out and let 'em cool so they are ready to go when you want to start scooping and stuffing them in prep for the second bake .

Ingredients:

8 Russett potatoes

1 cup sour cream

1/4 cup cream cheese

1/4 cup chopped chives

1/2 cup shredded  cheddar cheese

2 tsp salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions:

1. wash potatoes thoroughly and wrap in foil. puncture a few times to allow steam to leave the potatoes

2. cook in 375 degree oven for about an hour or until soft when squeezed

3. Allow potatoes to cook then cut in half length wise

4. scoop out the middle of the potatoes leaving about a 1/4 inch border of potato all the way around 

5. scoop the middles into a large bowl and add all other ingredients to the potatoes and whip together

6. refill the potatoes with your loaded mash mixture and bake for 25 min at 375

Hope you enjoy the recipes! Let me know what you think :) While you are here check out the awesome BEAUTY BAG GOODIE SWAP Boy oh Mamas Boys! and I  are hosting ! This is round two of our beauty bag swap and we are looking forward to meeting some new ladies and reuniting with our first beauty bag goodie swap friends !

 Now , Back That Azz on outta here with a little Jhene Aiko ft. Kendrick Lamar

Beauty Bag Swap : Lips & Tricks

Can you believe it's already been two months since the sign ups for our very first goodie bag swap?! We had a great turn out of amazing ladies who got to exchange  beauty bags filled with awesome nail products. From the reveal posts it looks like everyone loved their items and having the opportunity to connect and befriend another blog lady :) This months Beauty Bag Goodie Swap with my co-host Kayla @ Boy Oh {Mamas} Boys! is all about Lips! We are both girls that love to pamper our lips and make a statement with bold colors  and hope you ladies are as excited as we are ! Fill your bag with lip products and your favorite tricks to getting the perfect pout ! Do you have a trick to achieving a perfect bright red lip without smudging the red? Send your partner your tutorial along with the red lipstick and liner you use . Ideas for lip tutorials are endless! The tutorial and item will allow all of us girls to swap goodies, tricks, and stories all in one shot !

The Rules: 

• Follow Brittany & Kayla on Bloglovin'
• Follow Brittany and Kayla on Goggle Friend Connect 
• You must be an active blogger and post at least once a week 
• This Beauty Bag Swap is all about Luscious Lips! Bags must include items that go with your tutorial or trick . ( at least 2 items)
• Sign up by filling out THE FORM BELOW by April 1st include colors you like and dislike or any tips or tricks you've been searching for
• On April 2nd I will contact you with your swap buddy
• Once you have your partner we encourage you to check out their blog and get to know each other so you can fix up the perfect beauty bags for each other
• All beauty bags should be mailed out by April 15th
• When you receive your bag post a photo of your goodies and link up on The Beauty Bag Swap.Help us spread the word and have a successful swap by sharing this link on your blog !

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Foodie Friday: Leprechaun bark , Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Hey guys..........Yes, I know I've been MIA and I totally wouldn't blame you if you fired me, although that would mean you will miss you on all the upcoming goodies. So.....  don't fire me just accept my "it's been a crazy few weeks but I've missed you guys" apology so you can continue to keep up with the Kardashians  this crazy broad name Brittany!

So St. Patricks Day is coming up and lets face it I would really love a shot of Jameson and some green beer but since my heart condition is a major buzz kill I will have to replace the beer with mint chocolate goodness to embrace my Irish roots. Who am I kidding ? I think we all know I would have eaten the cupcake ( or two or three ) anyway, I'll just have to settle for a glass of milk for the wash down as opposed to ultimate hangover known as Irish Whiskey.

Cupcakes:

Ingredients 

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp mint extract ( not peppermint )

1 cup boiling water

1/4 chopped dark choc or mini dark choc chips

Instructions

1. preheat oven to 350 and line with muffin tins with liners

2. stir flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt,in a bowl

3. add in eggs, oil,vanilla extract, mint extract, and milk and beat on medium high for 2 minutes

4. add boiling water and stir in choc chips (FYI your batter should be pretty liquidy so dont freak out ;)

5.fill cupcake tins about 2/3 full and make for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted

6. cool completely before frosting

   Frosting

   Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons mint extract

melted chocolate for drizzle (optional)

Mint Oreo cut in half for garnish

Instructions

1.Beat butter with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy

2. Add in powdered sugar gradually (about 1/2 cup at a time) with the mixer on low speed, slowly increasing the speed until it's combined. 

3.Add in vanilla extract and mint extract, then beat on medium-high speed

 until thick and fluffy ( about 5 min) 

4. Frost cupcakes and finish with half of a mint Oreo and chocolate drizzle

Ingredients :

2 cups dark chocolate 

2 tsp mint extract

5-8 mint oreos

mint m&ms

Instructions:

1.Cut each Oreo into about 6 pieces

2.melt chocolate in microwave safe bowl 

I use the Meltables by Wilton but reg chocolate chips would work too

3. Pour melted chocolate onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet and spread evenly

4.While the chocolate is still hot place Oreos and M&Ms

 onto the melted chocolate and press down slightly

5. Place cookie sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes

6. Break the chocolate into "bark" pieces. There is no science to this

             

Hope you enjoy these sweet St. Patricks Day treats! 

Stayed tuned for the next Beauty Bag Goodie Swap ! Signups will begin tomorrow so be sure to come back and check out the details! You wont be disappointed I promise! 

Happy Friday Ya'll

Takeover Thursday : Eat Drink & Be Mary

We're switching  it up a bit this week  and moving the Take-Over to Thursday

so I can introduce the cooking, crafting, camera slingin' Mary.

Be sure to check out her blog and her Delicious Dish Tuesday Link-Up 

Name: Mary

Blog name: Eat Drink & Be Mary

Where are you from? I'm from Cali, just like Brittany, but I now live in the good ole Tar Heel State (aka: North Carolina).  And no I'm not a tar heel fan, I could care less about Carolina basketball.

Favorite Quote: I don't have a favorite, but I'm currently loving these...

How'd You Pick Your Blog Title? "Eat Drink & Be Mary" actually wasn't the first name of my blog.  I disliked the first name I came up with, but was just excited to start blogging.  Now that I've changed it I LOVE IT!  I feel like it captures what I post about on my blog, eating, drinking & being me.

Why Did You Start a Blog? I love taking pictures and baking, and this here blog gave me a place to document it all.  I read blogs for a while before starting one, and just loved the community they seemed to be apart of.

Gorilla Bread Recipe

Favorite Part of Blogging: Having all my thoughts, recipes, and adventures documented.  Plus the connections I have made with other bloggers is amazing and was unexpected.  I absolutely love the friendships I have made through blogging.

Where Do You Find Inspiration for Blogging: I look for inspiration everywhere.  Pinterest, mainly.  Man I love that thing.

Do You Have Any Special Weekly Posts: I tend to keep a general "schedule" for my blog {recipes, fashion, five on friday}.  But as far as special goes, I post recipes on Tuesdays, and just began co-hosting Delicious Dish Tuesdays {a recipe link up}.  Join us next Tuesday :)

What is Your Favorite Post: Currently my favorite post is The Look.

Why Do You Read Fabulously Faint:  Brittany posts the most delicious looking recipes weekly that always have me excited to try them in my own kitchen.  The post where she shared her recipe for Turkey Meatballs & Churro Cupcakes was a double whammy, and my personal favorite so far.  I can't wait to try both of these recipes!

3 Blogs You Love to Read:
 + The Grits Blog -- Ashley is a down to earth girl that has a great sense of style, amazing hair & I love reading her posts about her wedding.  I can be found reading her blog daily.  #noshame

+ Little Baby Garvin -- Jessica has a tell it like it is attitude that is absolutely captivating and has a great sense of humor.  That combined with her beyond adorable toddler & bumpdates have me hooked.

+ Hope in a Blog -- Hope is girl who truly loves life, and you can tell after reading just one post.  I absolutely love reading her blog, and find myself going back daily to read more.  Her personality and charisma is contagious, and she is a true girly girl.

5 Random Facts About You:
one | not a fan of chocolate, but I bake with it all the time.
two | in a long distance relationship with my college sweetheart.
three | a clogger.
four | could live off of bagels & cream cheese.
five | currently obsessed with all things gold.

Mary Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest