Movin? on Up

A lot has happened since my last post!  Let me fill you in.

News

I moved out of my apartment.

My stuff is sitting in my parents? garage until the end of July, at which point, I will be moving in to a NEW apartment in a NEW city!

Farewell, apartment 346.

And farewell Spartanburg!  It?s been real, but your lack of gym selection just won?t do.  My new location boasts FIVE Gold’s Gyms.  Yes, FIVE. 

I?m going to be in Les Mills heaven.  I can finally say goodbye to the lame Body Training Systems knockoff programs.

For now, I?m living with my parents and/or Stephen until I move into my new apartment.  Let?s just say Stephen et. al. are NOT thrilled about moving me into another 3rd floor apartment!

Here?s my beau cuddling on the couch with Beatrice after a grueling moving day.  Beatrice goes crazy over Stephen.  I?m pretty sure she thinks he?s her boyfriend.

Fort Dorchester State Park

Last post, I blogged about Stephen and I?s trip to Francis Beidler Forest.  We?ve been on a outdoorsy kick lately, visiting lots of Charleston?s local attractions.  The other day, we went to Fort Dorchester State Park.  I had no idea what to expect, but this place was really neat!

The site of this state park was once a trading town on the Ashley River that existed from 1697 through the Revolutionary War. 

Here?s a model of what the town used to look like.  Most of the village has been destroyed, but remains of a fort and a church are still intact.

Here I am next to the fort wall.  I was amazed at how well the fort withstood the hands of time.  Especially since, up-close, the wall looked as if it had been constructed with sea shells.

Across the way and through the trees still stands the old Anglican church.

During the walk through the trees and to the church, I encountered this mushroom.  Who knew fungi could be beautiful?

As I was walking along and enjoying the lovely scenery?

I was immediately caught off guard by the sharpest, most debilitating pain in the back of my ankle.  I literally fell to my knees, and I couldn?t get up and walk for a few minutes.  It took me awhile to realize that I?d been stung by something.

This was NOT your average bee sting, folks.  I?ve been stung before, and it had never hurt like this!  I don?t know what it was that got a hold of me (a wasp? a yellow jacket?) but this insect sting was NO JOKE! 

I did live through the sting, and eventually I did make it to the church for some obligatory photos.

Food

As far as what I?ve been eating these days?  This week, I?ve been meal planning.  Sunday night I made this buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese.

I found the recipe in a Food Network magazine, and I knew I had to try it.  I healthified it a tad by using whole wheat flour instead of enriched flour, whole wheat macaroni instead of white pasta, Kashi whole wheat crackers instead of panko bread crumbs, and skim milk instead of heavy cream. 

But in general, this recipe is not particularly healthy as it calls for LOTS of cheese.  I?ve never been one to shy away from eating cheese though! 

In general, Stephen and I enjoyed this interesting take on mac n? cheese, but we both agreed we prefer the more traditional version.  We?ve eaten this for dinner the past 2 nights, then cut it up into individual serving sizes and froze the rest for another week.

Tonight I whipped up a new dish, but you?ll have to tune in tomorrow to see what it is.

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I hope you all are doing well! 

P.S. Who watched the Make it or Break It premier last night??  I think it?s gonna be a gooooooood season!

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