On a New Kick

Most people who know me know I LOVE to bake. Brownies, cake, cupcakes...soon I will be trying my hand at apple turnovers. And yes, I know I just blogged about losing weight last week. I actually enjoy baking more for the creations I come up with for other people than for myself.

This time I decided to try to make rainbow cupcakes. Just a box of white cake mix and food coloring,

                                                         and VIOLA!

Rainbow cupcakes! 

They are sooo flippin' good! I also made vanilla buttercream frosting from scratch and dyed it purple, and tried to be all fancy with a pastry bag and tips. I think I need to perfect both the frosting and the decorating, however. But they still taste good. Here's to hoping the person they were made for thinks the same...

I also started to take some steps towards a healthier lifestyle within the last week. Carrie and I began taking some decently long walks last weekend. 6 miles at the penninsula last Sunday and yesterday, with some shorter 3 mile walks around our neighborhood during the week. I also bought a beginner yoga DVD and started that tonight. I'd love to take classes at a studio but, alas, I am still broke so a one time $12 fee for an at home session will have to do for now. I hope I keep up with it because I can feel the effects after only one time through, and I love how I feel after stretching. I'll post one yoga pose each week that you can try yourself if you'd like. Hopefully my form will improve with time!

Downward Facing Dog

Hold for 5 breaths in and out
Benefits:
Stronger hands, wrists, low-back, hamstrings, calves and Achilles tendon
Decrease in back pain
Decrease in tension and headaches
Deepened respiration
Decreased anxiety
Increased full-body circulation