Today's new goal? The 300 Workout as inspired by the box office hit "300". Check back later tonight to see if I handled it...in the mean time, try it yourself or give me some suggestions for new things to try in the comments!

--UPDATE-- The 300 workout is no joke. I feel obliterated. For those of you too lazy to watch the video, this is how it works:
Pullups - 25 reps
Deadlifts with 135 lbs - 50 reps
Pushups - 50 reps
24-inch box jumps - 50 reps
Floor wipers - 50 reps
Single-arm Clean-and-Press with 36 lbs Kettlebell - 50 reps
Pullups - 25 reps

In this order, you have to try to complete the workout as fast as you can (one actor from the movie completed the routine in 19 minutes, without practicing beforehand. Absurd!). This workout got Gerard Butler and crew ripped for their gore-fest movie, how many times a week and for how long I have no idea. Definitely a good addition to a workout schedule, I'm feeling muscles starting to ache that I never knew I had! All in all, I think I'll keep it in my regimen. For now though, protein and sleep...lots and lots of sleep.

After a long and stressful week of studying for my riverdance and rhythm class, I decided to try an array of new recipes to satisfy my taste-buds. In my best Bobby Flay rendition, I bring to you home made mac-n-cheese, crash hot potatoes, and frozen banana bites for dessert. Needless to say, you NEED to try some if not all of these.

I should first note that these recipes were all gathered online through various blogs and foodie sites that also share the passion for making delicious food on the cheap (props to (Never Home)maker, For the Love of Cooking, and evil shenanigans for the recipes). Being a college student, funds are limited...but who said we couldn't make tasty morsels for a small party for under $15? Lets get started...

-note: these recipes are copied verbatim, for convenience / accuracy purposes. All credit to the respective sites above- 

Ultra-creamy stove-top mac-n-cheese
(serves 6):

16oz macaroni, or any smallish tube shaped pasta
2 tablespoons butter
12 oz evaporated milk
12 oz freshly grated cheddar cheese
2 egg, beaten
2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1 teaspoon red pepper
Hot sauce, to taste
Salt and pepper

1. Boil the pasta according to package directions, but reduce the cooking time by one minute.  Drain and pour back into the cooking pot.
2. Over medium-low heat, add the butter and stir until melted.
3. Mix the egg, milk, and spices and pour over the pasta.  Stir until it begins to thicken, about three to five minutes.
4. Remove the pan from the heat then add the cheese in four installments, making sure the first is melted completely before adding the next.
   

If you're opting for some side taters, you should start boiling them before starting the pasta ^^ so everything is timed nicely =)

Crash Hot Potatoes (serves 6):

• 12-15 baby red potatoes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper
• Red pepper flakes (to taste)
  

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees 
2. Boil the potatoes for 10-15 minutes or until fork tender.
   
3. Place the potatoes on a cooking sheet coated w/ drizzled with olive oil. Place the potatoes on the baking sheet and with a potato masher, gently smash each potato. Drizzle with olive oil, sea salt and peppers (add a bit of your favorite dry herbs if you like).
4. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Eat plain or top with a little sour cream and green onions, whatever you do - Enjoy!
   

Got room for dessert? Don't fret, this last bit won't destroy the waistline, but they won't last long once you've made them. Fair warning given, here it is:

Frozen Banana Bites (Serves....a few):

• 2 large bananas
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
• Unsweetened coconut flakes (or nuts, in my case)

1. Set out a large plate or bowl with a piece of parchment or wax paper on it.
2. Cut up the bananas into good-sized chunks. Each banana should give you around 8 to 10 pieces.
3. Heat the peanut butter and chocolate chips in the microwave on high for about a minute. Then stir until smooth.
4. Dip the banana pieces in the chocolate-peanut butter mixture. Lay them out leaving some space between them on the parchment/wax paper. Then when you've "covered" them all, use the remaining mixture to spoon over the tops (for even more chocolate-y goodness).
5. Then sprinkle the unsweetened coconut flakes  (or nuts) on top. Transfer to the freezer for about an hour until hardened.
6. You can enjoy them like this (but they really aren't frozen yet -- and when they're frozen, the banana tastes like vanilla ice cream)

There you have it folks, bite size dessert that will surely keep your munchies at bay in delicious fashion. The toughest part about making these was keeping my paws (and everyone else's) off of these until they were frozen! If you've got 5 minutes and some basic ingredients, you've got money in the bank...

Now that you've got dinner in your belly and dessert in the freezer (if it's lasted that long anyway), I called it a night with a new movie starring Jesse Eisenberg (also star of "The Social Network"). Eisenberg plays the role of Sam Gold, a Rabbi in training in a heavily Jewish community.

Regardless of his religious studies, making money was always on Sam's mind. A solution to his financial woes arrives when his cousin Yosef (Justin Bartha) shows up with a proposition to import European "medicine" to the US. Little does Sam know that he's actually transporting millions of dollars worth of precious narcotics across international boundaries. Experiencing a new side of life, Sam sees the highs and lows to dealing ecstasy in NYC. Based on a true story, take 90 minutes out of your day and enjoy this gripping drama.

Dinner + Dessert + Movie. Good Thursday. Stay posted  for my new experiences on Friday!

It's time for exams again and that only means one thing, study study study. That's 3 things, but you get it. Between shoveling down the Panda Express and popping Adderall to maintain a studious mindset, students like myself are neck deep in their iTunes library while studying for their upcoming pottery history quizzes but not quite satisfied with what their eardrums are registering with their craniums. This lead me to do some exploration in the music discovery department, and to my surprise I found some awesome stuff.

New music + new music service = killing two birds with one stone (seriously though, any bird that can fly should never be stoned to death...just doesn't make sense, couldn't they just...you know...fly away?). Anyway getting back on topic, this site acts as an enlightening alternative to Pandora or Last.fm. Instead of picking an artist and probably hearing the same stuff you heard the last time you signed on, you get new sounds direct from the constantly growing music community - a very active one at that. Don't freak out though, the radio-like feature is still there - just like Pandora - and it's fully customizable to your liking.

Where The Hype Machine really stands out for me is it's focus on scouring multiple blogs and music sites for the best reviews, while providing an easy to navigate format for you to view/listen to new creations (see photo). Of course, only the freshest music is being spewed from this site, so do yourself and your sanity a favor and check it out. God only knows how many more times I can listen to "Sexy Bitch" before I lose my sh*t...

First question - I like to read? First answer - YES, especially when it pertains to my future career! Of course not every piece of literature I read revolves around marketing, but regardless of your profession I highly recommend this book. It's quick, painless, and quite informative. Besides, who doesn't enjoy cracking open a good page turner?

Down to the nitty-gritty...Dr. Rapaille hails from France, originally a psychiatrist by trade but has since transitioned into one of the greatest marketing consultants in the world today (he's actually on retainer for half of the Fortune 100 companies in the world). Diving into this piece, Rapaille examines the deepest thought processes we as consumers go through when making a decision to buy or use a product.

Citing multiple examples from his work with Chrysler, Procter & Gamble, and Jeep (among others), the author guides us through his archetype process of discovering what cultures look for in a product and why they value those characteristics. Encompassing all facets of life - from understanding how to sell love to how we perceive hospitals - this read was not only intriguing but also insightful.

That being said, I'm glad I picked up this novel...it was kind of refreshing actually. In an effort to try new things, pick up this title off Amazon for $10-12 and spend a day opening your mind.

Every now and again I tend to get busy (as was the case today...thank you approaching exams). So in a last ditch effort to do something new as promised, I saw a new movie on the scroll bar of my borrowed Netflix account (thanks Sean). Not as exciting as I'd like to be, but it is what it is (use this line to cease talking about anything, it works!).

Anyway, Ryan Reynolds on my left here plays the roll of a ridiculously obsessive compulsive organizer, encircling his life with note cards to seemingly guide his life. Seriously, from ferry schedules to daily activities. One day his wife decides to throw a hitch in his daily routine, and all hell breaks loose - ultimately changing his outlook on life. Personally, I was expecting a bit more of a comedy as opposed to a romantic film....but it mixed em both a bit...guess that would make it a romantic comedy? All in all, I'd say leave it alone until date night rolls around when you want something mildly entertaining, but don't watch it in you free time. On to the next day, new things await.

One of the perks of my job at the Marriott includes enjoying the finest dining the Gaslamp District has to offer. That being said, today's achievement involved eating - and lots of it! Cafe 21 is located on 5th Avenue between "F" and "G" Streets, though it is easy to miss if you aren't on the lookout. Personally, I prefer these places some times. Anyway, Cafe 21 is a Russian owned breakfast and lunch spot that can fill you up on the cheap. That's my supervisor Priscilla on the left. That plate in front of her - $9. The food on that plate - absolutely delicious. In case you're wondering, that's french toast with sweet cream, topped with strawberries and bananas with a side of the freshest tea you can get in downtown. Seriously, the guy had to give us instructions on how to drink it! And according to the tea guru (Priscilla), no sweetener needed with this.

What did I eat? A meal fit for a king I'd say. Or at least someone looking to eat well, though not quite as cheap ($15). Judging by the looks of it (see below), I think I hit pretty much every level of the food pyramid with this Filet Mignon omelet with a side of fresh fruit. And as you judge the looks of it, you know damn well it was tasty and DELICIOUS.

Overall, the atmosphere of this place is mellow and relaxed. The service is up there, with a waiter checking in every few minutes to ensure the quality of your experience, though not too over the top. I don't usually give stars or points or anything like that, but I'll take a line out of Arnold Schwarzenegger's book and say "I'll be back". Check it out next time your in the Gaslamp!

Pardon the mess, I'm almost done with the setup! Check back soon to watch me embark on my quest of trying new things...