"What Are You Going to do With an English Degree?"

It is the dreadful question I've been asked all of my adult life.

As I went through my schooling I always had an answer. Write a book. Write for a magazine. Write for Disney. Write a book. Write a book. Write a book.

Yet, in the three years since I graduated from St. Ambrose University, I've been the one asking myself, "What the heck am I going to do with this English degree?" along with, "What the heck am I going to do with this journalism degree?"

This morning, on my 45-minute commute on snow-covered roads to my data entry job, I heard the perfect response to this monotonous question.

"What are you going to do with an English degree?" asked everyone in the world.
   
"I will carry it with me as I do everything that matters." -Cheryl Strayed

Heck yes.

I've been listening to Cheryl Strayed's audiobook, Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar, in which she publishes letters people have written to her and the advice she gave back to them. Many of them are sad, some are dark, all are heartfelt and emotional. I am enjoying most her advice on writing. (Cheryl Strayed earned an English degree and eventually became a published author. I highly recommend her autobiography, Wild.)



I know several people who struggle to find what the purpose is of the degree they worked so hard for or of the career path they once were so passionate about. Will we really get the dream jobs we sought out for when we were 18 and decided on that major? Do we even still want those jobs now? Do we know exactly what those jobs even are?

I've found myself wondering a lot lately about where my career, or lack thereof is going. I get frustrated with myself, my lack of finding a good job in my field, and my slow progress.

But luckily, I have my Kyle here who points out to me that it has only been three years since I graduated. That I am only in my twenties, and that I am not going to have it all figured out yet. He kindly pointed out to me the other day that I have done everything I can up to this point, which was so nice to hear when I've always felt like I should be doing more.

It seems for those of us who chose the path of arts, we have to use our passion and efforts to create job opportunities out there. We have to pitch ourselves, our skills and our creations to editors or publishers who don't know they need our story. If you read the advice of other well-known writers, you'll know that rejection is a common thing of your twenties. Perhaps if we make it through all of the rejection and all of the waiting without giving up, that's when we can really find our success.

I know, however, in these three years of impatiently waiting for success, I have absolutely carried my degrees with me in all things that matter. I've held a job as a newspaper reporter, in which I had several bylines. I've been published in two small magazines, one of which I am now the monthly cover story writer. I've blogged about one thing or another for more than two years. I've submitted work to contests and other magazines.

These things seemed small to me as I did them, but looking at them now, I know they are helping me get further. I gained incredible experience as a reporter. Sharing my blog has landed me interviews and a magazine slot. Every magazine article is another publication on my resume. I may have started and given up on my book more times than I can count, but I am always thinking about it.

Fellow English friends, it might not be everything you hoped and dreamed. It won't be, but if you put your work in, and carry your degree with you, the chances are better that some day it might be everything.

As you go through everything that matters--a full time data entry job to pay the bills, waiting tables on the side to pay for your questionable English degree, trying to find yourself and what you set out to do--never forget that English degree that you worked hard for and wanted so much. Use it. You probably won't get paid for the things you do right away, but use it anyway. Write. Teach. Read. Blog. Write some more. In every way you can, use the knowledge you went to class at 8am with a hangover to learn. Then, someday it might just prove to be worth something.

I know mine will be.

Healthy Banana Pancakes

At 10:30 a.m. this morning, there was only one treadmill left for me at the gym. I ran, and ran, and ran some more. One by one, my Sunday morning treadmill-goers trickled away. Almost two hours later, I finally looked up from my kindle and wondered where everyone went. My treadmill was the only one still moving, my legs were still going, even my kindle had some power left.

Eleven miles on a treadmill is not ideal, but it seemed safer (and potentially less embarrassing) than dodging ice patches on the slick sidewalks.



What gets you through 11 miles on a treadmill?

It starts with a big ol' breakfast.

Since Kyle and I got our Belgian waffle maker for Christmas, I've been indulging in big ol' waffles before my long runs on Sundays. But Kyle has decided he wants less of the unhealthy flour we use, and more wholesome, "clean" waffles. He had a good point.

I found this recipe from a blog called Sweet Treats and More for banana protein pancakes, but I tweaked it a little. I used oats, cottage cheese, almond milk, a banana, chia seeds, egg whites and honey for the major parts. I figured that most pancake recipes could be used to make a waffle, but my first attempt made me think otherwise.

So I made the rest of the batter into pancakes, and they still did not hold together well. This sent me on a mission to find out what it is that glues all the ingredients into a perfectly fluffy pancake.

Any guesses anyone?

Baking powder! Which I ran out of yesterday making us some healthy muffins. Lesson learned.

However, our mushy, funny-looking pancakes tasted delicious. Even Kyle really liked them. I've never liked cottage cheese, but they are well disguised in this recipe and add healthy protein. I topped mine with more banana slices, peanut butter and honey for a good pre-run mix of carbs, protein and healthy fats. Yum!

I'm regretting now that I didn't take a picture of these, because honestly they were not pretty. But I assure you that if you use baking powder, not only will you have pretty pancakes, but they will also be tasty, very filling, and an extremely good and healthy start to your day.

You might even feel like going for a leisure 11-mile run after.

Banana Pancakes (Princess version)

• 1 1/2c. oats
• 2 egg whites
• 1/4c. almond milk
• 1/2c. cottage cheese
• 1T. honey
• 1t. vanilla
• 1t. cinnamon
• 1t. salt
• 1t. BAKING POWDER
• 1T. chia seeds (optional)
• 1 banana (or 1/2c. blueberries or other fruit, mix it up!)

Mix all of these ingredients together. Cook pancakes about 2-4 minutes on each side. 

Nutrition: 

2 pancakes, 1/3 of recipe (with the Chia seeds) = 

Calories: 266

Fat: 5.8g

Carbs: 45g

Fiber: 7g

Protein: 10g

(2 days later, got baking powder and tried the waffle version again. Sweet success!)

Red Velvet Cookies: a Princess Original

So, I'm a week late on my Valentine's Day dessert blogging, but the good thing is that Valentine's Day desserts can and should be eaten any time of year! So although it may be a week late, you are getting a delicious red velvet cookie recipe that you can choose to make heart shaped or not.

I, personally, would always choose the heart-shaped option.

Every year I get big ideas for Valentine's baking. There are so many cute things to do! But this year, I was falling off my baking wagon and did the unimaginable...I ordered cupcakes from someone else. I didn't think I'd have the time to put into my always sought after Valentine baking therapeutic session. Luckily, I was forced to.




A girl from the restaurant I work at asked me to make a cookie cake for her boyfriend. Since I don't turn down orders and I really needed the kick in the butt to bake, I said heck yes.

Thus I made a Princess Michelle original recipe for Red Velvet Cookie Cake, and Red Velvet Cookies, with cream cheese frosting.

(Of course there are thousands of recipes for red velvet cookies, and I might not be the only one to make them the way I did. But I made them without looking anything up, so I'm calling them a Princess Original.)

I used the same recipe my mom and I have always used for regular chocolate chip cookies, but added 1/4c. cocoa and a ton of red food coloring. It took several drops to make this thick dough turn a nice red-velvety color. I also used chocolate and white chocolate chips, mostly to give the cookie even more of the Valentine spirit.

Since I couldn't eat my friend's cookie cake, I had to make an extra batch to taste it. These cookies went with the Valentines I handed out at work, and most of them went in the tummy of my Valentine, Kyle.


These cookies turned out to be insane. Insane in the way the white chocolate and regular chocolate give them a sweet crunch. Insane in the way your favorite cake is now a cookie melting in your mouth. Insane with the way cream cheese compliments red velvet, the best couple in the land of baked goods.

And the cupcakes I had ordered for myself, also red velvet and cream cheese. What is it about this couple that is so irresistible?

Try these out for yourselves. It is a very simple recipe with an incredible outcome.

Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

• 2 eggs
• 1/2c. butter
• 1/2c. shortening
• 1t. vanilla
• 3/4c. sugar
• 3/4c. brown sugar
• 1/4c. cocoa powder
• 1t. salt
• 1t. baking soda
• 2 1/4c. flour

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix together eggs, butter, shortening, vanilla, both sugars and cocoa until well blended. At least two minutes.
3. Add salt and baking soda.
4. Add flour 1/2c. at a time. If dough is too runny, try adding another 1/4 to 1/2c. flour.
5. Bake cookies for about 12 minutes. Cookie cake will take about 14-15 minutes. Cookies will expand. 

*tip: Since these expanded so much, I made a sheet full of the dough and used the cookie cutter after they were done baking rather than before. Then you will have a lot of left over cookie pieces. Pick a good movie, plop down on the couch with your cookie pieces and a bowl of the cream cheese frosting if you're having a bad day.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8oz. cream cheese at room temperature
• 3c. powdered sugar
• 1t. vanillla

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar 1/2c. at a time. Enjoy!

Half Marathons to Sign Up for in 2014

Since so many people expressed interest in my last blog post on running half marathons, I thought I'd share a few of the races I'm signing up for this year. One of my best friends told me yesterday that she wants to train for and run a half marathon this summer, but she seemed scared that she might not follow through.

My advice to make sure you train for that race is to sign up and PAY for it now! It's much harder to not go through with something if you've already paid to do it.

So here are the races I'm sure I am doing this year. If any of them sound good to you, sign up and run with me!


1. The Christie Clinic Illinois Half Marathon on Saturday, April 26 in Champaign, IL.
I'm already signed up and ready to go! This should be a fun one through the University of Illinois.


2. The Starved Rock Half Marathon in Ottawa, IL on Saturday, May 10.
I've got a newbie runner with me on this one and we could use more newbie company!

3.The Quad Cities Marathon in Moline, IL on Sunday, September 28. I ran this half marathon last year, and am planning for it to be my first full marathon this year. This course was great, as it goes through four cities and two states. This was my favorite race last year because it was in my college town. I ran into one of my professors along the race, and we caught up and ran together for about a half mile. It's nice because it draws a lot of runners, but it's not nearly as crowded as a race in Chicago.

4. The Des Moines (Half or Full) Marathon in Iowa on Sunday, October 20.
I also ran this one last year, and enjoyed an awesome burger and milkshake afterwords from Zombie Burger. There's plenty of training time for this one!

There are a lot of other fun races I'd like to get into, but some of these fun ones aren't as fun if you're by yourself:

• The Soldier Field 10 Mile on Saturday, May 24 (Memorial Day Weekend!). Finish on the 50-yard line on Soldier Field and see yourself on the big jumbo-tron thing. How fun is that?! Kyle and I are probably doing this one.
• The Color Run in Des Moines on Saturday, July 12. Color runs, also known as the happiest 5k on the planet, are really popular. It's not about your time as much as it is about having fun. You get sprayed with different colors at each kilometer. Fun!
• The Biggest Loser RunWalk Half Marathon in Chicago on Sunday, August 3. I've always wanted to do one of these because I'm a sucker for the TV show. 
• Last but not least, the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Orlando.      

Need I really say more? Well yes, because I need to convince somebody to run this with me. As much as I'd love to go run with the princesses, I would feel silly going alone. This year's race in February sold out LAST JUNE, which means I need a good friend to sign up with me for next year by THIS June. Who is going to be the fairest of them all and sign up with me?!?! Pretty please :) 

These are just a few good ones. There are plenty of races to be found on www.halfmarathons.net or www.runningintheusa.com. If anyone wants to know more about these races, leave a comment :)

Who's in with me??

What races are you doing this year??

I'm a Nerdy Runner

As I mentioned in the summary of this blog, 4-Layer Cake is taking on four layers of awesomeness: baking, reading, writing, and today's post topic, RUNNING!

I know, I know. Just reading that word is making people throw their phones at the wall and shout vulgar words. I was one of those people about this time last year when I signed up for my first half marathon. The thought of running 13.1 miles, equivalent to over two hours of nonstop running, sent my body into high anxiety mode for the seven months leading up to the race.

I finished the Rock n' Roll Half Marathon in July, and loved it so much that I ran two more last fall.

Kyle and I running our first 5k, two months before the Rock n' Roll Half Marathon. During that training, a 5k feels like a walk in the park! Look how psyched we are!

Yes, training for a half marathon sounds daunting and insurmountable. Here are the three things that got me through:

1. Training plan. 
2. Carb loading.
3. The Superwoman feeling.

Training Plan

I highly recommend using a training plan. Kyle and Axel, who I ran the first half marathon with, did not follow a plan. Sure, they both finished significantly faster than I did, but I felt like I could have kept going at the end of the 13.1 miles. The two of them were rather angry and tired at the finish line, and Kyle never wants to run that far again. That's just one example of course, but still, I think a training plan is a great tool to ease you into long distance running. If you follow it the best you can week-by-week, you get better and more comfortable with more mileage. Eventually, you kick butt at running.

Me, Kyle and Axel after the Chicago Rock n' Roll Half Marathon

For my first half marathon, I gradually became comfortable with running about 15 miles a week for two months, then started following the 12-week plan I found here from Fitness Magazine. This is a beginner's plan. Now I'm training for my fourth half marathon coming up in April, and following this plan which is more advanced, and will hopefully help me reach my goal of finishing in under two hours!

Carb Loading

Nuf said, right? Okay, we all know that it's exciting to eat a lot of food. It's so much more exciting to eat a lot of food for a good purpose--to fuel up. You really only "load up" on carbs a few days before the race, but any time before your weekly long run you'll want to eat extra carbs for energy. For more scientific information on this, read this great article from Runner's World. 

My favorite breakfast before a long run is two slices of Oat Nut bread topped with peanut butter and banana slices. Yummy and filling. Now that we have a waffle maker, I have been substituting my bread for a giant waffle before my run. And after running 10 miles or so, you can feel pretty good about eating a few extra carbs.

The Superwoman (or man) Feeling

This is undoubtedly the best thing about running long distance. When I was working at the newspaper, I'd have a few days a month when I could go in at noon and work til 8. Sometimes I did crazy things like run my 10 or 11 miles that morning, then go into work. No matter how hard that run is or how crappy you might feel during it, there is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment after you've finished and your watch tells you that yes, you ran 10 miles. If you've never done that before, you will feel like now you can do anything. You are Superwoman. And now you're going to go to work and kick today's butt, but you will also be very sore.

Superwoman deserves a beer!
One of the best things about these races--they usually give you a beer for all your hard work.

Moral of the story, I know a lot of people think running a half marathon or a full marathon is something they could never do. I was one of those people, and now I'm about as nerdy with these races as I am about my books and my cupcakes. If I can do it, you can do it, and I'd be right there with you.

Books Before Movies

I recently came across this awesome pin:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/books-to-read-before-they-hit-the-big-screen


I am a huge fan of reading the book before seeing the movie. In some cases, like Catching Fire and The Great Gatsby, this has been a good thing where the movie really captures the settings and characters in the books. In others, ahem, Twilight, the movie adaptation proved to be a huge disappointment to the book, in my opinion. But other people (like my chick-flick loving father) who hadn't read the books still loved the movie.

This list here is great if you're looking for a book to read. I highly recommend Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn for a sweet suspenseful novel, and I can't wait to see the movie with Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. There are huge twists in this book that will leave you mystified.

The Fault in Our Stars was a really good, emotional and sweet book about two young teenagers battling cancer. John Green is a great young adult author and his characters are really lovable.

I just finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and haven't seen the movie yet. This was another young adult read, based on a girl's desire to steal books in World War II Germany. I haven't heard much about the movie, but this is another book with great characters who I can't wait to see portrayed on screen.

The first book on this list is Divergent by Veronica Roth. This is another one of those young adult series, but I didn't think this book came close to The Hunger Games or some of those other ones. It is an interesting idea, the division of society by personality types, but I just didn't think the whole plot or premise was powerful enough. In this case, I think the movie might be more enjoyable. (Mainly because Theo James, who plays the character Four, looks smokin' hot.) There were a few good scenes in this book, and it's a quick read, but it wasn't one of my favorites.

And I'm currently reading The Wolf of Wall Street, the true story of Jordan Belfort that is out in theaters now. I'm about 200 pages in, and I can't believe how honest this man is about the terrible things he has done. Nonetheless, it's a riveting story that I don't want to put down, and it's a great role for Leonardo DiCaprio. I can't wait to see it.

I haven't read all of them, but I'd like to (except for that Horns book with Daniel Radcliffe. That doesn't look right). Have you read any of these?

Book I recommend: "The Storyteller" by Jodi Picoult

I have always been skeptical to read a Jodi Picoult book. I’m not quite sure why; my roommates all read her in college, my mom highly recommended her books, and I loved the movie My Sister’s Keeper. What was it that made me hesitant to read her?

I have no answer, but I’m glad my first experience with her writing was “The Storyteller.” Kyle got me the book for Christmas, based on the fact that the main character is a baker. He pushed “Click to Buy” before going on to read that the book was also about the Holocaust. At that point, he wasn’t sure if Princess Michelle could handle such an emotional story, but it turned out to be the best book I read in 2013.

Sage Singer is a baker who distances herself from people as much as possible due to a notable scar on her face, which is a result from other dark memories. She attends a grief support group to overcome the loss of both her parents. At a support group meeting, Sage meets 90+ year-old Josef Weber, who later confides a deep, shameful secret to Sage, which takes us into another story altogether.

Midway through, Sage's grandmother becomes the narrator as she retells her story as a Holocaust survivor. This is where the book really took off for me and got very emotional. Once the grandmother started her story, it was very hard to put the book down. From there on, the book is full of shocking moments and surprising twists that had my mind blown.

From beginning to end, I was very impressed with the writing style of Jodi Picoult and her ability to tackle such powerful themes. The biggest theme in this book, I'd say, is forgiveness, and she depicts it beautifully.

“Forgiving isn't something you do for someone else. It's something you do for yourself. It's saying, 'You're not important enough to have a stranglehold on me.' It's saying, 'You don't get to trap me in the past. I am worthy of a future.”

I really like this message from the book. It's not like it's something I haven't heard before, but it's such a powerful thought. It's so hard for the majority of us to actually do something for ourselves that it's no wonder we hold on to grudges, that we don't relieve ourselves from hard feelings. It's easier for us to be angry, hurt or bitter, although perhaps the best thing for us is just to let go of that hold someone has on us. We don't take the time to mentally reflect and internally forgive the ghosts that haunt us. Like setting aside time for a massage or splurging on that nice coat you've had your eye on, forgiving someone else might just be something we have to do for ourselves once in a while. It hurts to cave and give in, but it's something we know we wanted.

And on a fun note, the incorporation of breads, croissants and rolls in this book is mouthwatering.

Easy Peanut Butter Frosting

I know, I know... why make homemade frosting when it comes so perfectly in a can?

Three reasons:

1. Homemade is fresh, so on some level it MUST be healthier.
2. You can make three times the amount in the can for the nearly the same price.
3. Doing things homemade is way more princess-like.

I cheated this week and made brownies from the box, (the roads were covered in snow and it was all I had in the cupboard, cut me some slack). They were Duncan Hines peanut butter brownies, with oversized peanut butter chips blended right in the mix. The brownies on their own would have been great, but it was New Year's Eve. Brownies like to dress up too.

Hence, Easy Peanut Butter Frosting. 

Make sure you let a stick of butter soften for a few hours. You do not want to melt it in the microwave; that gives the frosting a weird bumpy texture. The butter has to soften naturally to maintain a thick and creamy frosting.

Whip the butter in a mixer, and add about 3/4c. smooth peanut butter. Add two cups of powdered sugar, more as needed to thicken it. Add a tablespoon or two of milk, as needed. You can throw a teaspoon of vanilla in, but I didn't have any (due to my abundance of Christmas baking), and it tasted just as great.

This frosting on top of a peanut butter chocolate brownie was the ultimate combination. If you're embarrassed about using a box mix, top it off with some homemade frosting. People are so entranced by it that they don't even ask about the mediocre brownie underneath. 

Peanut butter is a good flavor frosting for just about anything, and it's so simple to whip together. But be warned: it is irresistible :)

Happy New Year indeed!

Easy Peanut Butter Frosting
makes about 2 cups

• 1/2c. butter (1 stick), softened
• 1/2c. peanut butter
• 2c. powdered sugar
• 1t. vanilla

Whip the butter until creamy. Add peanut butter and whip until blended. Add powdered sugar, enough to get it to a thick consistency. Add vanilla. Try not to eat it all before you put it on the brownies.