30 Day Squat Challenge

"Wow, I really regret that workout."

- No one. Ever.

Although I love to be active, I had been slacking off in the exercise department in recent months. I kept coming up with lame excuses but once my favorite jeans were a little too tight, I decided it was finally time to get back on the grind. And what better way to do it than a challenge?

I had heard of the 30 day squat challenge via Facebook and decided to give it a try. I created a spreadsheet so I could check off my progress (I think being able to cross out a day on the calendar held me more accountable). Even though it was only 30 days, I saw some results!

Doing the challenge made me want to work out more. I started using the treadmill at the gym, going to Zumba with a friend, and doing light hikes on the weekends. There are now at least 10 people in my office taking the challenge!

I started an ab challenge earlier this week...stay tuned for results!

- A

Whiskey Barrel Coffee Table

"Whiskey is by far the most popular of all remedies that won't cure a cold."

- Jerry Vale



This whiskey barrel (yes, its an actual whiskey barrel!) coffee table was super easy and inexpensive to make. For less than $150 you can have a rustic-chic custom piece of furniture.

I snagged the barrel for just $30 at Home Depot! They can be found in the garden section, as they are usually used as planters. I also grabbed a pack of stick on bumpers to prevent the glass from sliding.

The glass is the most expensive part - the 36" round glass was $112 at Pier 1. But everything is more expensive in Hawaii (I think I saw it for $89 online).

You can leave the barrel empty so you can see the charred siding, or fill it with something decorative. I'm saving up my wine and whiskey bottles to place inside to see if I like it better than it's current filling - straw like material and wine corks. Get creative and make it your own!

Have fun DIYers!

- A

The Ultimate Perfect Cupcakes

“Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.”

- Julia Child

The month of March was no sweets or desserts, and yet I did the most baking during that month. My workplace was holding a St. Patricks Day bake sale to raise money for the Hawaii Foodbank 24th Annual Food Drive. I decided to bake cupcakes which took a lot of self control not to taste test on my own. My family was more than willing to be my guinea pigs though!

Before the bake sale I did some online 'shopping' for inspiration. I came across some really good ideas and decided to combine a few together to create one product. I got the recipe for the vanilla cupcakes from Glorious Treats and could not have received better compliments from my 'guinea pigs' about the result. Hoosier Homemade had a great idea of layering different colored batters into a gradient effect cupcake. Last but most definitely not least, Just Call Me Maria inspired me on making Lucky Charm Cupcakes! I found an online recipe for buttercream frosting but the recipe absolutely failed so I will not be posting that link. My St. Patrick's Day cupcakes didn't turn out quite as I had planned, mainly due to the consistency of the frosting.



The idea of the layered colors did not work out so well with this recipe. The cupcake batter was too runny for the layering effect to come out right. I made a second batch of just plain vanilla cupcakes with no food coloring. 

All this followed with green frosting, a marshmallow out of the lucky charms cereal, and a holiday appropriate flag. I printed the template from How Does She. Last but not least I got the packaging idea from Pinterest. Using a 9oz cup fits the cupcake perfectly for a no mess packaging. 

The cupcakes were a huge hit that I made them again for Easter. This time around, I used purple frosting, pink sugar sprinkles, and Cadbury mini chocolate eggs. I used a different recipe for the buttercream frosting, from Cooking Classy. The result of the frosting turned out so much better, as you can see in the picture. 

- R