Thumbtack app

Every time i come home from school my dad always mentions a new, cool app that he found and is trying. (My dad has so many apps on his phone its crazy) While speaking to him earlier this week he told me about this app he found called "Thumbtack". 

This app is awesome. The Thumbtack app connects you with local professionals to help you with anything on your to-do list. what you do is type in your list of things that need done like: music lessons, construction work, repairs, photographer, cleaning services, and so much more. Then, the app finds professionals that have the best ratings and exchange your info. The professionals contact you and gives you an estimate for your requested service. Now you choose your preferred business and book the appointment right through the app! 

This app is awesome if you're busy-bees like my family. My brother has been working on foreclosed houses so finding plumbers, and electricians through this app would be very helpful. Heres the full list of what they offer on their website:

*Home Improvement: Cleaning Crews to Builders to Plumbing Professionals

• Wedding: Officiants to Photographers

• Events: Caterers to Makeup Artists

• Photography: Commercial to Wedding Photographers

• Business: Data Entry to Logo Design Specialists

• Design & Web: Engineering to Animation

• Pets: Dog Walkers to Pet Care

• Lessons: Yoga Instructors to Math Tutors

• Crafts: Custom Jewelry Artists to Songwriters

• Legal: Mediation to Estate Planning

• Personal: Life Coaches to Wardrobe Consultants

• Repair & Tech Support: Equipment Repair to Data Recovery Specialists

• Writing, Translation & Transcription: Editors to Content Copywriters

Shear da Beard & Heyward House

We've all heard of the "good-luck" beard during playoffs but Brett Keisel takes it to another level.

If you've never heard of Brett Kiesel, he's worth the google search. He's a 6 foot 5, 285lb former defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Keisel decided to retire in 2015, but he's still very active in the Pittsburgh community. 

It all started in 2010 when Keisel started growing out his "good-luck" beard to help out his teams superstitions. He also encouraged his teammates to do the same. After the playoffs in 2011, Keisel held a fundraiser event called "Shear Da Beard" where he'd have his teammates, friends, and family each cut off a piece of his beard then have a barber clean it up. This fundraiser raised over $40,000 for the Children's hospital cancer program in Pittsburgh. Keisel has held this event every year following 2011 raising millions, and even visits the children at the hospital frequently to help lift their spirits.

On Saturday, February 16th, Keisel held his 9th annual Shear Da Beard at a local Pittsburgh venue, but this year had a little twist. He invited his former teammate Cameron Heyward, a current defensive end for the Steelers, to grow out his beard and participate with him. It meant a lot to Keisel that Heyward grew out his beard, “This year having Cam, who I have just been so proud of, offer to grow his beard and do this weird thing we have going here, it’s something that means a lot not only to me but kids that are fighting cancer and families that have children going through the things they are going through. It gives them hope and that is what this is all about.” (Varley, 2019) 

Its amazing that Heyward and Keisel decided to join forces because they both have so much in common. Cam Heyward has started a foundation with his mother and wife called The Heyward House. This foundation is based on helping children in need whether it's taking them winter clothes shopping, or helping kids with illnesses. Recently, The Heyward House started a program called Craigs Closet where they take donated mens dress clothes and help the local high schools in need. Whether its for a job interview, college interview, or an internship, Craigs Closet has you covered. 

These are wonderful causes that really help the Pittsburgh community. It's comforting to see that these athletes are using their platform to make a change. Hopefully others will see this as their goal as well. 

“Saying Goodbye to the Beards.” Steelers Home, www.steelers.com/news/saying-goodbye-to-the-beards.

Should you track your Macros?

Counting Macros has been a very popular trend nowadays in the health and fitness world. The question is, is it really the right decision for your health? I put together a small pros and cons list of why i think it could/couldn't be helpful.

Pros:

• You have complete control 
• You know whats going into your body and you can track how your body feels on different levels of macronutrients 
• You know what your body will need in its next meal. More protein? More carbs?
• You can use this to help you stay motivated in eating well in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle

Cons:

• Its hard to make counting nutrients a lifestyle. Your body changes and the amount of calories needed can change. 
• You become obsessed with the numbers. 
• Food and eating becomes stressful. What if you eat a meal that you don't know what's exactly in it?
• Food is always on your mind. Whats the next meal?, Can I afford a cheat meal?, etc 
• You eat what you're eating because you have to and dieting becomes a numbers game. 

Back in high school when i was a gym rat I decided one day to start counting calories. At the time, this was an easy diet to maintain because i was either at school or at work so i made my meals ahead of time. I'd weigh out EVERYTHING on a little food scale before preparing and distributing into containers. It eventually became exhausting just simply using the scale and entering all of the numbers into my food tracking app. Even when I'd go out to eat i'd make sure my app had the restaurants menu's nutrient facts, otherwise i wouldn't go. I ended this ridiculous diet because my stomach was constantly rumbling and i never felt fully energized. 

I don't regret this phase though. I ended up learning a lot about health and how my body worked on certain amount of nutrients. This diet didn't work for me but i do know others that loved it! Everyones preferences are different. When i cook a meal i typically think to myself "how can i add this healthy fat into this meal?" I personally think it's important to find a way to add a healthy amount of every macro nutrient into your meals. 

Everyone thrives off of different eating styles so at the end of the day, its really up to you. If you think tracking your macros will help you achieve a goal then do so. But don't push your body to limits it can't go to or feel guilty about eating. Healthy eating should be enjoyable and delicious not something that brings you anxiety. 

The BEST (but spicy) Buffalo sauce

One day my boyfriend and I wanted to make buffalo wings but didn't want to use just your average Franklins RedHot. So, we decided to take a trip the grocery store and make our own and it turned out amazing. We made them for the first time on football Sunday earlier this year for a room full of hungry boys and they were an absolute hit. With that being said, I'm sharing our wonderful concoction to try and I highly encourage you do so...it's so easy!

Here is our twist on a homemade buffalo sauce:

Yield- 10-12 wings

Ingredients:

• Half a bottle of Cholula hot sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon of Tropical Pepper Co. Exxtra hot habanero sauce (you can add a little more for an extra kick)
• 1/4 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons of Olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
• 1/2 egg yolk
• dash of crushed red pepper
• dash of cayenne powder 

Instructions: 

• On a medium-large sauce pan on medium heat, heat up everything EXCEPT THE EGG YOLK. 
• Once the sauce comes to a simmer, remove from heat and let it cool for about 90 seconds
• Take half of an egg yolk and whisk it in a bowl 
• Slowly pour the yolk into the sauce while stirring the whole time
• Stir until the egg is mixed fully into the sauce 
• Add to wings!

The egg yolk adds such a nice texture to the sauce, that and the Tropical Pepper Co. Exxtra hot habanero sauce is what makes it so tasty. 

This is the sauce in case you've never heard of the brand. (I got mine at food lion)

Enjoy!