Running Buddy Pouch. No Belt! No Tilt!

When I workout I use a fanny pack kinda pouch thingy for my phone.  After a while, however, the belt starts irking me something serious.  I go through different motions of trying to put it on over my shorts/tights and t-shirt so as not to get that horrid rub-rub.

And the armbands irk me too.  I have issues.  Seriously.

So I looked for something else.  I found it in the Running Buddy Pouch and used their chat feature to ask if it would work with my new phone, the Note 5 since it's pretty large.  I was told yes if I took into consideration the size of the case I'd use on the phone so I bought one thinking I'd buy the slimmest case possible.  

The case is pretty cool because you stick the flap inside of your waistband and it has strong magnets that keep it in place.  It won't move, tilt, etc.

When I got it I was bummed because it was such a TIGHT fit and, since the earbud connection is at the BOTTOM of the phone, I wouldn't be able to use it.  I was disappointed and used the chat feature thingy on their site again to let someone know that it didn't work.

Imagine my surprise when the phone rang and it was Greg from the company.  He told me to check out the insert card and then go to http://tinyurl.com/n7v4qml for information about how the mesh part is a ripstop material and I could put the hole in wherever the port is located on my phone.  I told him that it wasn't just that but the size of my phone too.  I was so impressed however, I decided I'd just give this one to Robby and I'll wait until November when the slightly bigger one comes out.  Like...who takes time out to call a customer anymore?????  For that alone, every runner on my Christmas list is getting one of these for Christmas.  Seriously.  That impressed me beyond reason.  I totally predict this small, family owned company is going to go far because of their word of mouth traffic.  There is just no way that you can keep something this amazing to yourself.

I just read some of the customer reviews who took it to Disneyland and other parks and I can't WAIT to use it on a roller coaster!!!!!  LOL!  Wheeeeeeeee!  Look ma no hands!

Greg...if you're reading this...yall rock.  I'm going to get a couple of those H2O pouches and the new pouch when it is released too.  Thank you for offering up AMAZING customer service.  Dude...yall rock.  

#Marriage

"Compound" Updates and Cast List?

Smooches all!!!!!!!!

I'm so sorry but I found out that I can't post the story in it's entirety somewhere else.  I actually might have to delete what I've already posted here.  If you want to continue reading it (there are now 23 chapters), you're going to have to use Wattpad.  Sorry.  Once I actually read and paid attention to what I was reading in the rules, I realized I was messing up.

If you are reading on Wattpad, thank you so much.  It's because of you that it is so high up in the rankings.  Like...I'm amazed at how well it's doing seeing as though there are millions of works on the site and my book stays in the two and three hundred rankings.  

If you aren't reading there, I sure wish you would.  

Please remember that the rankings are determined by reader engagement so, if you like it, please vote, comment, and add to your reading list so you get updates immediately.

Special thanks to onefromphilly!  She knows why!  LOL!

Oh...and here is the "cast list."  That's a pretty cool feature on Wattpad that I am truly enjoying so far.

Mini Cheesecakes

I love cheesecake even though I have to prepare myself to eat it.  Dairy and I started beefing a while ago but I pick my battles meaning I'll choose to go a round with it for certain things.  

Cheesecake is one of those things.

I wanted to make mini cheesecakes for a dinner party so I could make them pretty and not have to worry about cutting it at the table.  Yall know I like my presentation to be purty so yeah...there's that too.

The cheesecake is a basic recipe but when I make it to do individual portions, I don't do it in an actual cheesecake pan.  I use glass baking dishes.  Truth be told, the only reason I do it this way is once I couldn't find the bottom to my cheesecake pan but wanted cheesecake so I made it in glass and it was just fine so um...I kept making it in glass.  LOL!

Crust:

1/3 cup melted butter

1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs (I use gluten-free ones.)

Mix together in a bowl and them dump into 8 x 8 pan.  Using a piece of parchment paper on top, press smooth and even.  Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  Remove and let cool completely.  

Cheesecake filling:

2 packages of cream cheese at room temperature

3/4 cup of sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup sour cream

1/4 cup milk

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons flour (heaping spoons if using a pre-mixed gluten-free flour)

Whip together cream cheese and sugar until blended.  Don't overwhip.  Remember...cheesecake doesn't like bubbles.  Add eggs, sour cream, milk, and vanilla extract.  Blend.  Add flour and blend until you don't see flour.

Pour over crust shaking well.  Take a big bath towel and fold it larger than the dish and drop the pan on it a few times to try and force out all air bubbles.  (I do this because I use glass dishes.  Be careful if you do too!)  Put dish inside of large 9 x 13 pan.  Pour boiling water inside larger pan until it reaches the mid-point of the pan the cheesecake is in.  This is a water bath.  You do this so the cheesecake won't crack.  It helps it cook slower and evener.  (Is that a word?  Hmmmmmmm...) Anyway...every.single.time I've made a cheesecake without a water bath it cracked.  I mean...you could still eat it, of course, but it wasn't cute to look at.  LOL!

Bake for 50 minutes and remove from oven. (Pay attention to it.  If it doesn't look done it's probably not done.  Usually it looks "sinky" in the middle.  If it's done...won't be any "sinky" spots.  Yall know what I mean right?  LOL!

Once it reaches room temp...put in fridge.  Let it COMPLETELY COOL!

When it is COMPLETELY COLD...using a biscuit cutter, cut out 3-inch circles as individual servings.  GO YOU!  You'll get four good ones outta this.  Save the pieces for your husband to devour later.  Don't eat it yourself so you don't get farty.  I mean...you know...if dairy gets you farty.

For a sauce, be creative with it.  I do two different ones.  Sometimes I do 1.5 cups of raspberries and sometimes I use a cup of raspberries and a half cup of blueberries.  Bring to boil in a saucepan with 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons lemon juice.  The raspberries will melt but the blueberries will remain solid.  You can use fresh or frozen.  Put in a jar and put in fridge to cool with cheesecake.  Be funky with it when you drizzle.  Watch your elbow too.  Why do I say this you ask?  Cuz someone might tip your elbow making you PLOP sauce on top of them instead of delicately drizzling.  You know...cuz people like sauce and believe the more sauce the mo'betta-er.  LOL!

This is a basic cheesecake recipe.  If you don't want to use the biscuit cutter to make mini cheesecakes, you can get a solid 9 squares outta this and folks will be fighting for the corner squares same as they do with brownies.  LOL!

Do YOU ever make cheesecake?

Quick. Juicy. Pork Chops.

Of the things we should never be forced to do...eating dry pork chops should be one of them.  There is simply no reason for it as making them quick, tasty and juicy is super easy to do.

Turn the oven on 400 degrees and put a cast iron skillet in.  If you don't have a cast iron skillet...side eye the mess outta yourself, order one from Amazon and try this in two days after your Prime shipment shows up.  Cast Iron 15" skillet:  http://amzn.to/1PaT76C 

Rinse and pat dry pork chops.  Rub olive oil on both sides and season with salt and fresh cracked pepper.  Once the oven has pre-heated, remove skillet and put on stovetop at medium-high.  Place pork chops in and sear.  (Will get smoky so yeah...use the vent thingy.)

Sear for three minutes and then, USING TONGS, turn over.  Put skillet in oven for ten minutes.

VIOLA.  INSTA-DELISH!  

GO YOU!  You rock so solid...it would take lava to melt you.