Yummy, HEALTHY, Breakfast!?!

Yes, its true.... I've come up with my very own healthy breakfast! Well.... errr sort of. Healthier than some other breakfast items! I have been on this killer diet over the last month and I have lost over 10 pounds! GO ME! But... being on this diet makes it harder to come up with meal ideas, especially breakfast. Lately, its been yogurt, EVERY morning. Today, I decided to come up with something yummier! The result.... this amazing delicious EASY breakfast snack.

Ta Da!! Now... now... let me tell you how to make it....

To Start: Preheat oven to 375 degrees


1-You need a potato, I used ONE big baker potato, you can use 2 smaller ones if you dont have a large one. Peel potato and then shred using a cheese grater.
2- 1 Tomato, I used about half and diced it into small pieces
3- The picture shows 2 eggs but I ended up putting another one in for a total of 3 eggs. (If you like eggs I highly recommend adding more than 3. I dont necessarily like eggs that much so mine was more about the potato)
4- Green onions, one stalk, diced
5- Bacon, I ended up putting 4 pieces in (cut into small pieces) and would have added more, but because of my diet I couldnt do very many. 6 pieces would probably be great for a non crazy dieter. ;) Also... I REALLY wanted to use sausage on this recipe but we didnt have any! Next time I'll use sausage for sure!
6- Add salt and Pepper, I cant really tell you how much, because I forgot to add this myself. Uh oh!! I recommend adding a pinch and then you can always add more later if you think it needs more.

 Put everything into a large bowl...

 Mix everything together....

 Now here is the great part! Spray a muffin tin with pam spray and taking a spoon, dish the mixture into the pan. 

Cook for about 25-30 minutes.. and ta da!! Yummy goodness! 

Here is the result! Mine was a little dryer (because I'm NOT an egg person) but it was SOOO good! I ate about 3 of them. Perfect!

2 Songs SOO worth listening to...

Soooooo like most people, I LOVE music! I listen to music like crazy and I'm always looking for new music. Here are 2 songs that I have been listening to recently and I just think they have such good meanings to them. I REALLY like Demi's new music and her song "Fix A Heart" is how I feel sometimes when I'm feeling a wee bit lonely ;)The other song.... by Mat Kearney... is SUCH a happy song! Its how I feel like.... every day! It is such a happy feel good song that I think everyone should listen to AT LEAST once :) It makes me want to dance around everywhere (and secretly, between me and you, I DO!)
FIX A HEART- Demi LovatoIt's probably what's best for youI only want the best for youand if I'm not the bestthen you're stuck

I tried to sever tiesand I ended up with wounds to bindlike you're pouring salt in my cuts

And I just ran out of band aidsI don't even know where to startcause you can bandage the damageyou never really can fix a heart

Even now I know what's wronghow could I be so sureif you never say what you feel, feel

I must have held you hand so tightyou didn't have the will to fightI guess you needed more time to heal

Baby I just ran out of band aidsI don't even know where to startcause you can bandage the damageyou never really can fix a heart

You must be a miracle workerswearing up and down you can fixwhat's been broken yeahplease don't get my hopes up no nobaby tell me how could you be so cruel

It's like you're pouring salt on my cuts

Baby I just ran out of band aidsI don't even know where to startcause you can bandage the damageyou never really can fix a heart

Baby I just ran out of band aidsI don't even know where to startcause you can bandage the damageyou never really can fix a heartoh no no noyou never really can fix a heartoh no no noyou never really can fix a heart
You never really can fix my heart
HEY MAMA- Mat Kearney She don't know what she wants to be
With all the pictures in the magazines
Holding hands when she's mad at me
'cause she don't wanna go, don't wanna go

I met her at anthropology
Purple boots and her golden dreams
Standing there like a Tennessee queen
Singing don't look at me, don't look at me

Singing oh oh
won't you help me sing this song
Singing ee ee ee
She don't ever want to go to sleep

Singing hey mama, don't want no drama
Just a kiss before I leave
Hey lady, don't say maybe
You're the one that I can believe

Hey lover, don't want no other
finger for my ring

Hey mama, hey hey mama
Hey mama, hey hey mama
Hey mama, hey hey mama
Hey mama, hey hey mama

I can see it in her Cherokee eyes
Those baby browns and the golden thighs
What you doing for the rest of your life?
Cause you don't want, don't wanna go

Singing oh oh
won't you help me sing this song
Singing ee ee ee
She playing like a mystery

Singing hey mama, don't want no drama
Just a kiss before I leave
Hey lady, don't say maybe
You're the one that I can believe

Hey lover, don't want no other
finger for my ring

Hey mama, hey hey mama
Hey mama, hey hey mama
Hey mama, hey hey mama
Hey mama, hey hey mama

Couldn't be more opposite
I'm hard to please and you're hard to get
You're Mississippi and I'm Oregon
You're sun tanned and I'm porcelain skinned.

Singing hey mama, don't want no drama
Just a kiss before I leave
Hey lady, don't say maybe
You're the one that I can believe

Hey lover, don't want no other
finger for my ring

Hey mama, hey hey mama
Hey mama, hey hey mama
Hey mama, hey hey mama
Hey mama, hey hey mama

OHHH Life............

With my life starting to come down from a boil to a simmer I found time to blog! (Its kind of long today) The last few weeks have been a complete 100% MESS!

My little guy broke his foot, my mom had emergency surgery, and I let my personal life get in the way of school. All of these together were not a good mix at all. After a few weeks though things have gotten MUCH better and I'm back on track!
I RARELY let my personal life get in the way of school. It never ends up good, after a few mistakes here and there I'm back on track and I'm reassured that the most important thing is to get my college education so I can provide for me and my little man. 
The other night I had one of those mommy moments. I came home from class to find that my little guy was already asleep in bed. Class days are hard because I only get to see him about 10 minutes before I leave for class in the morning and only for a few hours before he has to go to bed at night. So to find him asleep was a little hard for me. I snuck into his room and sat next to his bed. Thinking about how much I have given up in my life for this little boy and how much he means to me. 
          Not all moms can have the experiences that I have had being a single mom. This is a GOOD thing, since I wish and pray that NO mom or person has to go what I've had to go through being a mom, but I also have an entire different understanding of various things then I think most moms have. I have literally given up everything for him. I can't even begin to describe what I have done to make his life the best life possible. I could say cars, clothes, fancy things, but those are all materialistic. I work, go to school, and be a mom. Some of you are thinking, "Well DUH, what did you think was going to happen when you decided to be a single mom?" Yes these things are all true, but I have such a deep understanding of so many thing now that not everyone gets to understand. The atonement being a huge role in my life. 
          Another mommy moment: I love to sing when I put my little guy to bed, our favorite songs being "I am a Child of God" and "I love to see the Temple." Sometimes he just wants me to leave the room, other times he likes me to sit and sing to him and talk to him. This night was one of those nights where he was just complaining and crying, I was thinking, "well... I'll just go put him in bed and he will calm down and go to sleep" (he RARELY likes me to stay in his room when he is upset). I went in his room, tucked him into bed (screaming of course) and instead of leaving, I decided to sit there and stay with him. I started singing "I Love to See the Temple" and he calmed right down and just listened to me sing. When I got to the part about being sealed as an eternal family, I was hit with a rush of overwhelming feeling. Knowing that I need to do everything possible in my life so that me and him can be sealed one day to a worthy priesthood holder that will love both of us. School is important, my personal life is important, but not as important as being sealed to him forever. He is always number 1 on my list and he will never budge from that spot. Knowing the love I have for him, I can only begin to imagine the love Heavenly Father has for each of us. 
          School is a close second because I know that I need to finish school in order to provide for us. Which makes me a little upset that I let personal things in life start affecting that. The good thing is! I have addressed that problem and I'm working on fixing it :)

Valentines Day... I have a few things to say about you Valentines Day! :) I know most people hate Valentines Day, I myself dont necessarily enjoy it. But here is something enlightening for all you single people. I've had boyfriends on valentines day.... I've dated people around Valentines day.... never... have I ever received flowers from one of them. Its just another day to most guys. This year, I received an AMAZING bouquet of flowers from one of my dearest friends. The same person I had to opportunity to go to the temple with a few days before. Ladies.... we dont need boyfriends in our lives to make us feel important. We need friends!!!!! He is just one of those people that you know will always hold a special place in your heart and we all need people like that in our lives. My encouragement to you, is to go find someone who makes you feel important, and that person doesnt have to be a boyfriend (or girlfriend). 

Here is one of my hardest classes this semester! Technically, when I graduate, I will be considered an Epidemiologist. Pretty Fancy huh! 

Anddddd here is my AMAZING bouquet!!! Still sitting on my Table :)

YumMY GOOdNess!!

Strawberry's sitting on my counter= Yummy delicious goodness! 

PERFECT little Valentines Day treat! So easy..... even men can do it... ;)

There was a package of strawberries sitting on my counter and I thought, "what can I do with these?" Well.... besides eat them plain.... right. Then it came to me, chocolate covered strawberries! The problem is, every time I try and make them, they dont taste quite right.

So here is what I did instead!

• Washed the strawberries and sat them on a towel to dry
• Took some regular chocolate chips
• A small plastic sandwich bag
• Put the chocolate chips in ONE corner of the bag
• Melted it in the microwave 30 seconds- 1 minute
• Cut a VERY SMALL hole in the corner with the melted chocolate
• Got my strawberries and just like an icing bag, I used it to decorate my strawberries
• EAT THEM FRESH! (I personally don't like my strawberries cold and I think the chocolate does something funny when they sit in the fridge)

OHHHHH did they turn out amazing!! It was just the right amount of chocolate and strawberry all mixed into one.... mmmm... 

Now if you will excuse me.... I'm off to get more strawberries! ;)

Top Worst Texts To Get From A Guy

I have a lot of random thoughts that run through my head. Today's was, wow.... I really hate when a guy texts me that.

So here is a list of the TOP WORST texts a guy can send you and what they generally mean....

- > Cool--- I didn't really read your text, I just responded to be nice

-> Nice--- Um... same thing as when I text you cool, I just decided to mix it up a little

-> Right On--- You said something semi-interesting to me, So I'm going to respond semi-interestingly

-> HAHA--- Please stop texting me

-> Sweet--- This is Cool and Nice all over again... Its part of my "I dont want to talk to you" terminology. (I feel a pattern going on here)

-> *He doesn't respond to your texts at all*- NOT INTERESTED 

-> :) --- I'm smiling at you because I know that the words cool, nice, right on, haha, and sweet are too overplayed. Oh.... andddddd I'm not interested in what you have to say.

Generally.... if a guy is sending you 1 word message texts to answer your questions or to respond to your texts, he is NOT really interested in talking to you! Sometimes I get it..... your busy right? So SOMETIMES its okay to send a one word text, totally makes sense. But 5 times in a row? Or how about 3 days in a row? Eh... face it ladies, He is just NOT into you! Plus, ladies, if he was interested in you, he would call right? :)

Another thing that bothers me, "I'm not like every other guy!" Holy RED FLAG right there! I hate to say this, but every guy is just like the other guy. Because generally all the guys us ladies like to date are..... well....similar.... its our taste! So just be warned, when you are into a guy thats everything you want, he will probably be just like the last guy.... that was everything you wanted. But when the guy needs to point  out to you that he is not "just like the last guy"..... you know you are just waiting for that moment when you can say, "you are JUST like every other guy!!!"

23???? Whaaaaat!?! Dating??? Errrrr.......?

Its true! I just turned 23! Thank you everyone for all the birthday wishes! I feel like 23 is getting old, yet, when I write it down it looks so young!! Which.... its true! 23 is young, but I feel like now I have some age under my belt :) some good experiences.... and ooohhh do I have experiences!


      Yesterday was a mmmmmppphhh day. Yes, an mmmmmpppphhhh day. What's that? Its a day where you feel like mmmmmmppphhh. I was sitting around thinking about why I felt this way and just had a gazzilion thoughts running through my head and had to write them down.


     It has honestly been a few interesting weeks. A lot of ups and downs, but the one thing I have really been thinking about is dating... there! I said it! Now everyone gets to know a little about my dating life.... or lack of.... anyway.... I had one of those awkward moments where a guy is totally into you and then, he finds out you have a bouncing toddler. That is one of the HARDEST things about being a single mom, if not THE hardest thing. The problem I have, and I HAVE come to realize this, I actually enjoy being single. Well, not really, everyone wants to have someone there to do fun things with, I just realize that I'm a pretty independent woman.
    I have had to learn how to provide for my family by myself and I think I do a pretty darn good job! I'm almost done with school, the ONLY debt I have is student loans and its small, I have no credit cards, no car payment, I do pretty well! My little guy has even had a college/mission fund since the month he was born.
    Here is where I think the problem with dating occurs..... since I have become so independent I don't get attached. I get over guys REALLY fast! Not that I go out with them and then never go out with them again because I'm a user (hehe). But its when a guy doesn't call, or stops texting, or doesn't follow through with date plans you made..... it bothers me for 1 night, then I'm over it! What is wrong with me!?!?! HAHA! No really.... what IS wrong with me? I have come to the conclusion I will die an old hag... with lots and lots of cats, and I dont even like cats! haha Ok... I'm kidding.
       I believe.... not getting attached or not feeling bad when a guy completely ignores you, is both a blessing and a curse. Last night when I was sitting around thinking about this I realized something very important sitting next to my bed.
5 things
1- The book, "The Miracle of Forgiveness"
on top of that book was
2- My patriarchal blessing... on top of that
3- My temple recommend
and  on top of that
4- My tithing
sitting next to that pile
5- My scriptures- which I read EVERY night! I havent misses a SINGLE day in 2 years!
These 5 items were a Testament to me that Heavenly Father has a plan for me. Even if that plan involves a guy finding out you have a son and then completely ignoring you. There is a reason for it!
I have an interesting story I would like to share hoping and praying that we can all learn a valuable lesson from it.
      Years ago, before I had my son, I was writing a FRIEND on his mission. It was someone I met right before they went into the MTC and we wrote all the time.... until..... I got caught up in the college life. After that it was just an occasional letter. I believed however, that we were good friends and could talk about ANYTHING! When I found out I was expecting, I didnt tell him because I didnt think that was something he should worry about. Instead I waited until he got home. After he found out I had a son, I never heard from him again. A brand new returned missionary friend, judged me more harshly than anyone I can think of. A servant of the lord who taught repentance and forgiveness everyday of their lives for 2 years, comes home, and judges me for something I had already reconciled.
Here is my plea with that story... please please, those of you who are returned missionaries, AND EVERYONE..... remember what you taught/teach and stood and should still stand for. That doesnt mean you should date and marry a girl with a child, that just simply means, don't look the other way. Love her as a friend for her mistakes. That should be the simplest thing a person can do and yet, for some reason it seems to be the hardest. Because of my deep experiences I am closer to my Heavenly Father than I ever thought possible and if I could wrap my arms around every girl who has crappy times like me I would!!!!!!!!! I have a special love in my heart for those girls who struggle with similar challenges to mine. Whether they are as extreme as mine or not! I hope and pray deeply that as Members of the church we can learn to love everyone, mistakes and all!

One of the Hardest things about being a Single Mommy...

For the past 2 years I've been thinking the same things but now that I have a blog I can finally talk about it! 

Lately I've been REALLY struggling with trying to get out more. I know DOZENS of people that have mommy play dates with their kids, but it NEVER fits into my schedule.
         Here is a little bit of my schedule for the week....
-----Mondays, I read my homework assignments, do homework, etc. along with making breakfast for my little guy, bathe him, play with him, you know! All the mommy stuff :) depending on the homework this isnt too bad of a day.
Then around 1:30 I go to work. I'm there until 6ish. Not too bad right! But people dont want play dates after 6 and I dont have time before then.
-----Here is a Tuesday in the life of Shayla...... I get up around 7:45 and get ready for class while the little man bounces around. I make breakfast, feed us, do some more reading for my classes. Around 9:30 I leave for class. My WONDERFUL AMAZING sister watches him until she has to go to work and then my most AMAZING grandparents EVER come over to watch him until my mom gets home. In the meantime... my class starts around 10:30. It is the hardest business class offered at the U and has an 70-80% drop out rate, how do I know this? My counselor.... and she told me to be prepared! After this class (which I actually REALLY enjoy) I go to my research methods class/ survey methodology. Sounds hard? It is! We learn about how to do research properly... all the steps.... blah blah blah...... its my least favorite class for sure! So boring!
Then its Institute, nice little break in my day! :D
Then around 4:30 I head over to my Degree Capstone. This is what it is.... its a capstone for my degree aka the last class you take before you graduate! Its a lecture series with Professionals in the Pharmaceutical company. Yesterday we had the guy that created Pharmaceutical companies. Before him, pharmacists used to create their medicine in their own labs. Amazing guy!!
About 6:00 I head home!
Therefore, I'm in class from 10:30- 6  but away from home from 9:30- 7
LONG DAY!
----Wednesdays are long days at work.
----Thursdays follow in the same fashion as Tuesday. Except I'm referring Young Womens basketball for the Stake from 7:30- 8:30, SUPER LONG day!
----Fridays are like Mondays.


        Here is where the dilemma falls into play. By fridays I am tuckered out, class all week, work, and being a mom. Doesnt sound hard yet? For every 1 hour of class I'm in, I should study anywhere from 3-4 hours. Especially since I'm in my last 2 semesters of school. If you add all of that up, that is 30-40 hours study time a week (which includes some time for my online class). 30-40 hours! That is a full-time job! Oh yes.... it is! Plus, I have my part-time job... and my full-time job as a mommy! Which if you have kids it is definitely a full-time job!!!!!!!!
       So... dilemma? I dont really have the time to get out like most mommies. The weekends are the only time I have free and by the weekend their hubby is usually home so who wants to spend time with anyone else? Also, all of my really good college friends live anywhere from 1 hour to 1 and a half hours away from me. Getting together is a VERY rare opportunity. Its not just visiting with friends that have kids either, its finding any time for ANY friends that fits into our busy schedules. I will probably just have to wait until I'm done with school!
       This is also where Dilemma #2 comes.... Dating. I have always enjoyed being single and being able to just go out and have fun whenever I wanted and getting married was something I never wanted. Now that I have a son, its obviously become a priority on my list. I want to be sealed to him as an eternal family and, well... that can't happen unless I get married! So those of you who want to know why I'm not married or Dating anyone. These reasons up above are all why. So when I say.." I dont have time, I really mean, I dont have time!" :D hahaha Plus, by the weekend I just want to spend time with the little guy, since I'm away from him so much during the week. That doesnt help either!


Now, everyone that thinks that I hate them for not getting together... this is why! I really am a VERY busy busy person. So dont think I hate you and try not to hate me too much! ;)

We had a Birthday!

It was my Sons 2nd Birthday.... and it was WONDERFUL! Presents, Cake, Ice cream... Family! What more could anyone want!
Here was my big event of the year....... I made the cake! It was a mess!! I made it out of Fondant, homemade Fondant. Which is what took most the time. I didnt have the right equipment or coloring so I had to shop for all of that, which trust me, made a difference! When it came down to making the fondant it really wasnt too bad, but it did take a few hours to make all the colors and kneed the fondant. The messy part was when I went to roll out the fondant to place it on the cake. Ohhhh boy!!!! But I realized after trying to roll out the blue fondant for a good 30 minutes that it wasnt thick enough, so I added more powdered sugar and...... it worked!!!! After that it was pretty much a breeze but it took about an hour to get all the fondant rolled and onto the cake. Which, when looking at the cake didnt seem to be that much effort, but oh it was! Here is a picture of the finished cake. Not too bad for my first time...   ;)


I also made the invitation for his Birthday party. He's 2 so he doesn't really have friends to invite over at this point, but I sent the invitations to family for fun! I LOVED how they turned out! They ended up looking like little event tickets :) and oh so much fun! (If you want to know, yes I made them all by myself and I used photoshop)


It was a great birthday and I cant believe I officially have a 2 year old. I cant wait to see what this next year holds!

The Cake!

The Birthday Invitation! (edited to remove personal info)

I'm addicted.... To Glitter Toes!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!
I have known what glitter toes are for some time now..... but $30-$35 to get them done was just something I couldn't do. Even $25 I think is too much! So after playing around on the internet one day.... I found that some people just use plain nail polish to do glitter toes! So I went out and tried it.... and.... it works!!
Nail polish- You can buy pretty much anywhere. Some people use Red when they want red glitter, pink when they want pink glitter, I just use clear nail polish! Its easier that way! (P.S. I have tried 4 different clear coats and the best ones I found happened to be at the dollar store... who knew!)
Glitter- I bought the glitter at Michael's arts and crafts. You want to use EXTRA fine glitter or you don't get the same effect.
For the clear nail polish and glitter, it cost around $15! (that included 30 glitters!)
--You start by cleaning your nails off with nail polish remover to get rid of anything thats already on there then, I file the top of my nail lightly (I've found that this helps keep the glitter on better). Fold a piece of paper in half, this is what you will do your glitter on so you can pour the excess back into the container.
--After that, apply the clear coat and then the glitter. POUR the glitter onto your nails. (Don't worry about pouring too much because you can dump it back into the container!) After pouring the glitter on your nails, press it down so it stays, make sure you press along the edges of your nail as well.
Using a fine paint brush I brush away all the excess glitter onto the paper. Let it dry for a few seconds, apply the top coat, and your done!
*Helpful hint------- I usually do about 2-3 nails at a time to make sure the nail polish doesn't dry before you can get all the glitter on them. I do my big toe completely separate from the others.

I LOVE painting my toe nails and these glitter toes are so much fun!
These are my most recent glitter toes
And my favorite!