A new life in KSA

Hi everyone and welcome to my blog! I've never blogged before so please be kind! One of my goals for 2015 was to start a blog for this website to give you all a peak at what goes on in this pretty little head of mine. Also, I wanted to provide you all with my thoughts on these recipes, what I use them for, and any other information that comes to mind when cooking. 

I thought I would start by telling you a little about myself. Some of you know me and some of you may not. I am 27 years young and am married to the most wonderful man in the world. I seriously don't know why or how he puts up with me. I really am the luckiest girl! We recently married in my favorite place in the world. Las Vegas! I just love it there. The picturesque mountain views surrounding you, the heat, and of course the casinos and the srtip. Not just the parties, but the most unique and entertaining surprises that appear randomly. In Love with it all. My wonderful husband would be the reason we now live in Saudi Arabia. While engaged, we joked about the opportunity to move to this country and how amazing it would be to experience and for our future. Three months before we got married, the opportunity presented itself again with all seriousness this time. We talked long and hard about what we wanted to do. Two months before our wedding, my fiance was living in Saudi and I was still in Massachusetts. These were the two hardest months separated. I was still working as a full time Social Worker, there was a 7 hour time difference, and we were still making final arrangements for our big day. Although they were tough, these months really tested our relationship and made us so much stronger. After we were married, the paperwork was submitted for my visa and by September, there I was packing to move to an entirely different part of the world. Two 6 hour flights later (I hate flying) there I was. We brought out beloved cockapoo with us, Agent 1. If you know me at all, you know that I absolutely adore and am obsessed with her. I couldn't imagine being here without her. 

So 4 months later, here I am. Living in Saudi Arabia. To give you a little information, we live on an American compound with fellow Americans. Women are not allowed to show their bodies here, cannot work or drive. (which I don't mind because the driving here is INSAAANE!) The compound is Westernized and I can wear what I want when I am home. Once I walk outside this compound, I must wear an abaya. When we go out, my husband and I are not allowed to hold hands, there are separate entrances for places for "singles" and for "families." There are no movie theatre's, no music allowed, no dancing, no pork (NO BACON) and NO ALCOHOL. Their "work weeks" are Sunday-Thurdsday. In Saudi Arabia, there are 5 prayer times where everything shuts down and you cannot do anything. Restaurants are the only businesses that provide service during prayer but, it's rare that you can make it into a restaurant before they close their doors. There is a prayer at sunrise, noon, one in the afternoon one around dinner time and one at sunset. These times change daily. I'm sorry if I offend you but the Saudi people are not particularly hardworking and always take the easy way. The women here are crazy rude and feel entitled. (I don't know why. They are not allowed to do much, so I guess this is all they have) This place is seriously one big party fart. 

My husband works 12 hour days 6 days a week. Sometimes 7. People ask what I do to fill my days and keep busy. Here is one! I love updating this website, researching nutrition, finding recipes, and looking for ways to adjust them to fit my liking. When I arrived in Saudi with all of this free time, I decided to pursue the two things I really love. Fitness and Nutrition. I purchased the study guides and began to study to become an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. Once I become certified, I can then pursue Nutrition. In October, I started to follow Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Training Guide. I followed her workout plan which consists of resistance workouts, LISS cardio and HIIT workouts. I didn't exactly take the HELP guide seriously until the last 6 months and had cheat meals often, so when I finished the 12 week program with some results, I decided to start over on January 4th with full intentions of following her HELP guide this time for even better results. My day is basically filled with working out, Yoga, studying, prepping meals, skyping my twin sister, playing with Agent and taking her for walks. The days go by faster than you might think.  

Welp this is me! I know it's a lot but hey! I'm a lot to handle. I hope everyone enjoys this website and will try some of these on their own. Please comment and let me know how it comes out. 

This blog will be full of things I love, cooking, fitness, nutrition and occasionally, my life here. Please comment below if there is anything you want me to blog about and I will do my best. Insha'Allah