Why Don't I Feel Full?

Today, I'm writing about two topics that have brought me some concern over the past month. One of them I found to be challenging, yet rewarding and doable. The other is still a concern.

On nutrition:
Over the past month or two, I've experienced a day or two per week during which I could not get full. It seems like no matter how much or what type of food I eat, my blood sugar is still low. It's not just hunger pangs; it's more like I can't regulate my blood sugar or fill my stomach sufficiently. Finally, I decided it was bothering me enough to see my PCP about it.
I'm not a big fan of going to the doctor, particularly when needles are involved. I don't have a fear of needles, per se, but they give me the willies. So you can imagine I am not stoked for an appointment before which I cannot eat (yikes!), and at which I know beforehand they will be drawing blood. Double yikes!
I'm a little worried about what my doctor will say, but I'm armed with lots of possible causes (e.g. returning to omnivorism, frequent cardio exercise, "lady business" troubles and comorbid recurring BC problems [which could contribute to anemia], insufficient protein and/or iron consumption... the list goes on). Truth be told, I'm kind of terrified that my doctor will tell me that all of my hard work, meticulous planning, and expensive health-conscious purchases aren't doing my body good. That, or that I have actually been harming my body...
Both Ian and my mom, in their infinite wisdom, have offered tons of helpful suggestions and assured me that I'm doing the right thing. My appointment is Friday at 9:00. Fingers crossed for good news!

On planks:

Remember when I challenged myself to complete a plank a day for the month of September? Well, my blends, I did one plank every single day for 27 days, and I forgot on the 28th day. Consequently, I completed two one-minute planks on Sept. 29th, and I rounded out the month nicely. Obviously, I can't report that I've sprouted a six-pack, but I can say that planks get easier the more you do them. The first few days, I thought I was going to collapse. I've done planks sporadically before, but doing one a day seemed like it would be the death of me when I first began. Now, I'm thinking that making a plank-a-day part of my daily routine isn't a half-bad idea! It's an easy way to throw some ab work as well as some controlled breathing into my day without really having to plan.

I'll be back tomorrow with updates. As my dad says, happy teeny-Friday!
P.S. Countdown to the Vinton 5k: 9 days!!

(Somewhat) Full-Disclosure Sunday

Whew! The past few days have been a whirlwind! Life is definitely different this semester with three classes right in a row -- bam, bam, bam. Having Thursday through Sunday available has made life... interesting. Well, let's see...

 

Thursday, I headed to RIC around lunchtime to spend some QT with Mom. Dad was at a series of meetings at my alma mater, Longwood University. Mom and I got to pal around, make a healthy dinner together, sit outside and enjoy the wannabe-fall temps, and watch too much television -- starting with a new episode of The Office and ending with a few old Twilight Zone episodes, maybe including Parks and Rec in between. My mom isn't much of a TV-watcher; she often says that if there wasn't a TV in the house, she wouldn't notice. Still, it was great to bum around the house just us girls. She even let me test out her new Sleep Number!

 

Friday was Ian's M1-D1 semi-formal (i.e. the first-year med school nerds and the first-year dental students mixin' it up at the beautiful, newly renovated historic Hotel John Marshall). He picked me up after lunch at the Casa de Lew, and we hung around his apartment for a few hours before trying out a new recipe: whole-wheat thin spaghetti with fresh minced garlic and Prego Light Smart plus sauteed squash and zucchini with a splash of soy. Then it was time to play dress-up! Hey, I like an occasional excuse to put on something fancy and attend a swanky event on my man's arm ;) However... between the "pre-game" Ian's good friend hosted and the three drinks included with the cost of each ticket, I was feeling, shall we say, not myself when we finally hopped in a cab. A great time was had by all! ...until Saturday morning.

Give me a cold any day. Throw me allergies or a sinus infection. You know what, I'll even take bronchitis again. But don't expect me to function when I'm hungover. Every time this happens, I tell Ian, "I'm almost 24 years old! Shouldn't I know my limit by now?!"

His response?

"You like to have a good time!"

That I do. But I still wanted to enjoy the University of Richmond tailgate and football game we were planning to attend yesterday afternoon. My dad is an alum and a brother of Phi Kappa Sigma, and he and his frat bros all have season tickets. My sister has been to several tailgates before, but I hadn't seen my dad's brothers in ages. I needed to make a good impression, but I also desperately wanted to feel better. Luckily for me (and my poor sense of good judgment), Ian is a fantastic boyfriend who really looks out for me. He bought Chobani for me, cooked me some incredible scrambled eggs, sliced up fresh fruit, and even packed up my stuff for me as I moaned and groaned about feeling sick. Somehow, we got out the door on time.

 

I guess the boy has magical powers--or magical fruit--because somewhere between Miseryville and some pear slices, I felt almost like myself again.

The tailgate food was to die for, and the game was really exciting! Bear in mind, this is coming from a girl who doesn't have a clue what "first and ten" means, and who frankly doesn't care a bit about football. I guess live football is okay, and the rivalry between ODU and UR inspired a ton of enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the Monarchs defeated the Spiders 45-37.

 

Afterward, the fam and Ian and I headed to The Tavern for a late dinner. Since I began eating meat in January, I think I've had steak twice. Three times now, as The Tavern's steak fajitas were ahh-may-zingg. Of course, there was an obligatory Sweet Frog trip to follow, and the night concluded with the hilarity of Mel Brooks's Blazing Saddles. A first for me...

 

My weekend wrapped up with church this morning, a lazy lunch, and good-byes all around as Ian and Caroline headed back to their respective schools. Not having class until 4:30 on Mondays means one more night at home :) I'm off to enjoy the late afternoon sun in the swing with Mom. Ta ta!

 

P.S. What did you get into this weekend? Anything super exciting??

P.P.S. I swear I think about taking pictures for the blog -- I'm just bad about actually doing it!

Dinner with Sister(s)

For the most part, I'm perfectly content living alone. I don't have to mark whose milk is whose, whose leftovers are whose, or whose bananas are whose (my undergrad roommates and I used to actually mark our initials on the banana peels). I don't have to ask permission before Ian visits, or inform anyone that I need a little peace and quiet for a nap or some "me time." I can watch Breaking Amish or Jersey Shore: Season 6 (guilty pleasure) without worrying that someone somewhere is huffing about not getting to watch her show that's on at the same time. I have all the personal space and the freedom in the world! But, I digress.

 

I have several very close friends in my graduate program, but it's not the same as having the constant companionship or physical closeness as a roommate. One of my closest friends, Kristin, lives with her boyfriend, Travis, just a mile or so down the road. Another close friend, Jennifer, has a roommate of her own. It's super convenient being able to visit with my girls who live so close.

Now, I have even more exciting visits to plan. One of my sorority sisters, Rachel, is now in the same program as I at the same college!

We set up a date earlier in the week to go out to dinner Friday night or to have a few beers on someone's porch to soak up this gorgeous weather. We left things pretty loose, so I was thrilled when she texted Friday morning, asking whether I'd be interested in having dinner in at her place with another of our ADPi sisters, Ashley. I was like, duhh! Mini ADPi reunion! As it turned out, Ashley got off work later than she planned and wasn't able to make it, but I rejoiced that she'll be living with Rachel come February.

 

I was also overly excited because I volunteered to bring the salad, which gave me an opportunity to use the wooden salad bowl set my mom got me last Christmas!

Home decor and kitchenware really shouldn't be as thrilling as they are to me, but hey, I own it. [Secretly, I think Ian also owns my love for "cute" kitchen and home furnishing items because it's less he'll need to worry about when we someday share a home.]

Being the scatterbrain that I am, I forgot the salad dressings I had promised to bring, and Rachel didn't have any. Sooo, we were saladless. No matter; she prepared a delicious on-the-spot sauteed garlic chicken dish and stir-fried garden veggies for us! I even told her how pleasantly surprised I was that we had agreed on a health-conscious dinner choice.

One of my favorite things about the seasons changing is the extended time I can spend on the porch or meandering outside, admiring the leaves changing and absorbing the cooler temps. So that's exactly what we did... for five hours. It's so funny to me how no matter where the conversation takes us, we always end up back at sorority stuff or Longwood. Hey, home is home.

P.S. What were you up to this weekend? I spent Saturday cheering on the Hampden-Sydney Tigers, who unfortunately lost in the last 4 minutes, 21-24, to the Huntingdon Hawks of Alabama. We'll get 'em next time!

UG Dining Hall Challenge

I swear, I will turn anything into a challenge. My latest? Eat well while eating like an undergrad for the weekend.

This weekend, I spent time with my sister and her friends at their college. Thus, it was back to dining hall meals. The dining hall isn't the worst thing ever... but I still shudder when I think of how many of my undergraduate meals consisted of bagels slathered with cream cheese, Reese's Puffs, the worst pizza that ever existed, and "salads" I barely touched that were disguised under hearty helpings of bleu cheese. Last year, when Ian was still at Hampden-Sydney, I used to enjoy challenging myself to experiment with wholesome, healthy food options in his dining hall. Granted, we usually counteracted such meals with trips to BWW or a Farmville favorite, Macado's, but I was still proud of myself for electing to eat egg white omelettes, fresh blueberries and strawberries, and raisin-sprinkled granola with skim. It's all about balance ;)

For breakfast on Saturday morning, I sampled scrambled eggs, a slice of real bacon (yum!), low-fat blueberry yogurt with granola, a cup (or two) of whipped coffee, a smattering of 'tater tots, and a much-needed bowl of Kashi Go Lean! Crunch. The breakfast of champions. Well... the breakfast of people trying to avoid a trip to Starbuck's and/or the beautifully displayed doughnuts and desserts.

Sunday morning looked much the same: a scoop of scrambled eggs, a bowl of low-fat vanilla yogurt with pineapple chunks and granola, a couple small seasoned potato cakes, a cup of whipped coffee and a cup of premade coffee with milk, and a bowl of Go Lean! Crunch mixed with Honey Nut Cheerios. I must say, I've been pretty impressed with the school's dining hall options. I left around 2:00 yesterday, but steaks and hot fudge sundaes were on the dinner menu!

Normally, I'm perfectly happy being that girl who snaps photos of her meals in public. I thought I'd avoid embarrassing Caroline and her sorority sisters, particularly as a 23-year-old trying to blend in with UGs... Overall, I felt pretty good about my dining hall choices. My weekend diet definitely could have contained more vegetables. I also simultaneously celebrated and lamented the fact that not once did we order pizza. My mouth waters just thinking about thin-crust cheesy pizza with pineapple and onions... But, my sister and I snacked on Vitamin Water and 100-calorie packets of almonds instead.

As I know from my lack of personal experience, eating well while relying on the dining hall can be done, it just requires effort, creativity, and openness. It's all about that balance.

I hope your weekend was excellent! I'm counting down the days until Friday!

The Girl Who Felt Good About Skipping

Today was just one of those days. When my alarm went off at 8:15, I knew I had zero desire to go to the gym. My to-do list was a mile long, and I just couldn't muster the enthusiasm to run on the treadmill or lift weights. I decided, with pep in my step, I might add, to buckle down on that supremely long list:

- Swiffer floors

- scrub tub

- vacuum entire apartment

- pack up cabinet food items

- wash linens

- remake bed, replace towels and washcloths

- wash laundry

- pack everything (I own)

- clean toilet

- scrub countertops

Whew! It's before noon and my to-do list is 99% complete, but I am pooped!

See, my second summer class ends tonight, so I'm heading back to Richmond tomorrow for two months. I still consider Richmond home, even though I'm living in my apartment 9 months out of the year. I'm not married, I don't have a roommate, I don't have any real attachment to this city that would give me reason to stay for the summer, and I have a job waiting for me in RIC. Ergo, I'm taking advantage of "free room and board" with my incredible family for as long as I can. Plus, Ian's still in Richmond finishing up his prematriculation program. Please believe, I'm not a closet bachelorette for life, nor am I an extreme homebody. Anyway...

I obviously had a shit-ton to do before I could consider my apartment "summer-ized." And honestly, I know myself well enough to know that if I'm truly not feeling the gym, the gym won't be feelin' me. Sometimes it's really nice to say to myself, I'm not going to the gym this morning, and needing to do X, Y, and Z has nothing to do with it! My to-do list still would have gotten accomplished before class tonight. If you saw my circa 1862 vacuum cleaner, or if you watched me grimace as I contorted my body in order to scrub the far side of the garden tub, you'd applaud me for getting a workout in unintentionally. Either that or you'd laugh until you cried.

So, the bottom line today is that everything got done, and I didn't feel one bit guilty for saying "no" to the gym. Hooray for guilt-free Thursday!

Ian's Next Chapter

A New Chapter

It's pretty safe to say that I'm absolutely thrilled about today! Ian leaves home this afternoon to begin a month-long prematriculation program at VCU as a prep measure slash foot-in-the-door before medical school begins in August. While he'll be living the dorm life again (last time ever!), he'll have access to a full kitchen, which means he'll be stocking up on groceries to cook his own meals. I mentioned before that Ian's kitchen experience ranks in the "very little or none" range, so we're both very excited and anxious to see how this independent experience goes. Please note: just because Ian hasn't spent his life in the kitchen memorizing cookbooks or scrutinizing labels doesn't mean I am implying that he's helpless or idiotic. He's just new to it, that's all. My only real concern thus far has been a conversation that occurred last week:

A.K.: "So what kinds of meals are you thinking about making?"

Ian: "You know, spaghetti, pasta, salad, that kind of stuff."

A.K.: "Will you be able to cook spaghetti in a dorm?"

Ian: "Well, I'm bringing a skillet..."

I think my heart stopped for a few seconds. Scout's Honor, I tried my best not to laugh.

Help from On High

One of Ian's uncles bought him a great getting-started book for kitchen newbies as a graduation gift. The cookbook estimates that the chef will spend five dollars per meal (assuming the chef already has basic herbs, spices, oils, etc.) and it includes nutritional info, which I can attest is perfect for someone who has floundered in the kitchen. The book even includes a section on quick, simple meals to prepare on Date Night ;) Hey, I wouldn't scoff at homemade chocolate-covered strawberries!

My mom has been quite excited about Ian's transition from undergraduate to prematriculation student to med school student this summer, so she has been pulling together (read: hoarding) an impressive array of kitchenware for him to use in his dorm and in his new apartment. She even gifted him with the coveted banana hook he'd been eyeing and a matching paper towel holder for graduation. Even I didn't anticipate that he would feel compelled to run out and buy bananas specifically to put the banana hook to use immediately...

Ian's mom is a wonderfully caring woman who bends over backward for her two boys. Last night, after unloading a full trailer of beach supplies and doing myriad loads of laundry, she and Ian hauled themselves to the store to pick up non-perishable necessities. She even helped him look for low-sodium, low-sugar, low-fat alternatives he and I have been discussing.

Ready... Set... Go!

Ian is such a smarty-pants, I have no doubt that he'll be successful both as a prematriculation student and as a new cook. After all, between his family and mine, he's got everything he needs, plus healthy "suggestions" from me ;)

P.S. Thanks for keeping Ian in your thoughts and prayers as he makes this scary and exhilarating change in his life :)

I'm Officially a Runner!

It's finally here!!

Race day dawned sunny and cool -- and early. When I was a little girl, I was all about early. These days, before 10:00, you might as well not bother. Regardless, the race began at 9:00. That meant I was up at 7, out the door with Dad and Caroline at 7:45. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. Dad reminded me last night that my body has been conditioned to run; my greatest challenge would be in my mind. Quickly as I ate my cereal and my Chobani, I created a playlist on my iPod of hip-hop songs and good beats (Mann, Cobra StarShip, Sam Tsui, DNC, Jay Sean, New Boyz, Nicki Minaj, etc.). I have to say, I don't think I could have run the entire 5k without my music.

The three of us began the race abreast. After a few minutes, Dad and I broke away from the pack. He ran with me for 2.5 miles. He touched my shoulder shortly after we passed the two-mile mark and said, "I'm going to finish the race with Caroline. You have less than half a mile left. You're gonna do it!" I gave him a thumbs up and I was on my own. His support was all I needed to finish strong. That last half-mile flew by, particularly the huge downhill slope, and the last segment that I sprinted. Just when I thought my legs couldn't handle much more, I found my second wind and I crossed the finish line with the biggest, goofiest grin:

I finished in 37:39.4 (the time on the right began when the competition runners crossed the start line; I timed myself from start line to finish line). Photo thanks goes to my wonderful man, Ian.

Dad and Caroline finished about 8 minutes after I did. I was so thrilled to be able to see them cross the finish line!

Being handed that medal was, without a doubt, the highlight of my day. I knew that I would finish the race, but I felt as if that pink and gold medal signified specifically for me that I had run the entire race without stopping once!

We ate brunch at 3rd Street Diner afterward. My short stack of blueberry pancakes and apple juice hit the spot ;) On the agenda for the rest of the day is (1) basking in the glory of my run and (2) watching Bridalplasty with Caroline. I could not be more proud of the three of us :)

I really cannot say enough good things about wearing compression shorts underneath my running shorts. Not once did I have to tug my shorts down or worry about chafing or sweat. Unfortunately, I felt my headband slipping about a mile into the race. I didn't want to lose it, so I just finished wearing it around my forearm. I ate hair for the second half of the race, but it wasn't the end of the world. Happy race day!

P.S. Thank you to everyone who sent encouraging texts, tweets, emails, and blog comments my way!

Endless Summer

This weekend has been pretty different from my usual exploits at Hampden-Sydney. Oh, well, with the exception of my token hangover.

I arrived Friday at 3:45 and hung out with Ian and a steady stream of visitors until Caroline arrived. After running a few errands and grabbing T-Bell for dinner, it was time for the slip-and-slide. Of course, no frattivity such as this is complete without a trip to the hospital for stitches, so that put a bit of a damper on things... for about 5 minutes. Unfortunately, the slip-and-slide lubed with dish soap was a wrap, but the camaraderie of Pledge Party was just beginning.

Tom's themed attire was less "endless summer" and more "female volleyball player"

Obviously, my attire wasn't theme-oriented, as I had planned...

This is the infamous professor, Dr. Herbert J. Sipe, Jr.

I don't know about you, but I much prefer bottled beer to canned beer, even though it's twice as expensive. I tried the new Bud Light Platinum, but I was a bit disappointed with how watered down it tasted. Luckily, I had Miller Lite to balance out the flavor.

The entire night was fantastic. Tom and I went 2-0 in beer pong, some of my ADPi sisters wandered in for a bit, I caught up with old friends and new friends, I mixed and mingled all night, and it was an incredible last frat "party" for Ian and me.

This morning, I was up and at 'em at the horrendous hour of 9:00. I needed to shower, get ready, and grab a small breakfast before heading back to school for Kristin's 31 party at 1:00. I wish I'd snapped photos of the delicious libations she prepared -- mini BBQ sandwiches, fresh fruit salad, a fresh veggie tray, cupcakes, sangria, pretzel snacks, tomato and bacon pastries, homemade cookies, and more -- but I was ravenous! I had never been to a 31 party before, but I definitely enjoyed myself. I especially loved her party favors:

A well-deserved nap was on the agenda, and for two glorious hours, I did nothing else. I made myself a late dinner when I finally arose, and I'm currently enjoying a cup of decaf and a movie. Normally, I'd be lonely and bored at my apartment on a Saturday night, but I'm zapped. I decided to call it an early night, watch a little TV, and lounge around here for the evening. I'm perfectly happy with the idea of a quiet evening, sleeping in tomorrow (with no alarm), and grocery shopping and working at my leisure.

I hope your weekend has been wonderful thus far :) What have you been up to? Do you generally prefer quieter or rowdier weekend activities, or a combo?

I Pledge to Party

Pledge Party.

To me, that's a weird phrase. It sounds as though one is pledging to party.

Well, if that's the case, then I'm on board. Tonight is AXE's (Ian's fraternity) Pledge Party event for the newly initiated brothers. Typically, Pledge Party occurs the night before the initiation ceremony, but the fraternity's social circumstances were different this semester. Thus, Pledge Party is occurring post-initiation; the pledges are no longer pledges. That doesn't mean the party will be any less grand! There is usually a band or a DJ. Tonight there will also be cookout food, which means fast-food or some red meat alternative for me. The theme this semester is Endless Summer, and this tankini top and sundress are what I plan to wear:

Plus my LMFAO shades, as I call them, with my HSC "bro-kies"
I'm not ballsy or showy enough (read: idiotic enough) to wear just a bikini top and some skimpy bottoms. I prefer a more modest adherence to the theme, nevermind the fact that it'll be 50 degrees and windy tonight. Tonight's more realistic theme is debauchery.
I'm just looking forward to socializing and spending QT with Ian, Caroline, Lauren & Co., and Ian's bros. I hope to have lots of great pics for you tomorrow, as I rejoin my grad school girls for a 31 merchandise party at Kristin's!

Man, I'm going to miss these opportunities to act as an undergrad again... Before you know it, I'll have taken up knitting and cat-collecting...

P.S. Do you still enjoy "fratting" when you get the chance? Do you ever visit your alma mater (HSC is my pseudo alma mater) to shake things up with old friends?

Worried Worry Wart

One thing you've probably gathered (from many of my posts) is that I'm a worrier. I worry about the future, the past, the present... hell, I worry about worrying. I'm just a person who is concerned about everything.

One of my concerns right now is how I will exercise when I'm in OBX next month (T-minus 44 days!). As Colleen so graciously reminded me when I blogged about this dilemma pre-Mexico, vacation is about taking a vacation from your norm and your routine. If exercise fits into your schedule, congrats to you; if not, enjoy your vacation without feeling pressured to exercise. Since I have really dived into working out, eating right, and taking care of my body, exercising on vacation is a priority to me.

Ian doesn't exactly share my concern, but he understands it. In February, he called the neighborhood association of the house we'll be staying in, and they told him that for $50 per week, we could have an all-access pass to their clubhouse and fitness facilities. Well, our house has its own pool, hot tub, and billiards room, so that hefty $50 would be spent on a treadmill. Plus, as I pointed out to Ian, if we bought the all-access pass, we'd feel obligated to work out (or waste our money), as opposed to fitting exercise into our schedule naturally.

We considered the possibility of running, which is free and which can be done any time, but neither of us was keen to run several miles in the blazing NC heat. Even in the a.m. when the sun isn't so beastly hot, we'd have to set an alarm in order to beat the sun. That isn't ideal, as we both love to sleep in. We'll definitely consider running at dusk, though.

I also know, after having been to OBX twice before with Ian's family, that I hardly ever don't always make the healthiest food selections, particularly on restaurant nights. If you've ever been to Jimmy's Seafood Buffet or Captain George's, you know that you cannot pass up the hundreds of fresh seafood delicacies. I tend to snack a lot, drink too much carbonation and not enough water, and eat too few veggies and fruits. My eating habits are vastly different this year, so I'm relying on my self-control to assist me in making better choices.

I don't think swimming will be much of an option; the ocean is always frigid down there, and the pool at our house is of a nice size but too small for doing laps.

(You can see that I've given this a great deal of ill-consumed time and thought...)

Which brings me to my point -- I'm working on devising an at-home workout I can complete if I so feel the need to sweat it out while on vacay. I don't own any free weights or exercise equipment (e.g. jump rope, stretch bands), so I'm looking for free and simple exercises.

For a cardio boost, I'm thinking jumping jacks. In terms of strength-building, I can rely on Ian to be my sit-ups partner, and I can do push-ups. Even if he isn't in the mood for exercise, I know he won't mind helping me out. We also love to walk on the beach to collect shells and at night, which is great exercise because of the resistance the sand offers. And, of course, there's always planks to challenge myself.

I am well aware that this post makes me sound like a huge hulking meathead, but I'm okay with that. I also realize that this isn't a very sophisticated workout plan, so I'm all for suggestions, tips, comments, etc. Thanks!

Have a fantastic Thursday, blends :)

Feaster Weekend Recap

What a magnificent Easter weekend it has been!

Saturday, I slept in until the grand hour of 9:30... I had set an alarm for 10, but after a certain time, my parents don't believe in any standard of being "quiet" in the a.m. So, outside we went. For as long as I can remember, Caroline and I have loved swinging with Mom in the porch swing. Dad had a prior engagement (a.k.a. golf), so we lazed around for a few hours before Ian arrived at 2:30. Momma sent this with him since I wasn't there to open my second-family Easter basket:

He insisted right away that we watch some movie called Space Cowboys... It was okay, but between allergies, my wake-up call, and a mid-afternoon Woodchuck, I semi-napped my way through the adventures of Tommy Lee Jones.

Dinner was truly a feast -- grilled chicken, shrimp, and smoked sausage; fresh corn on the cob; salad with all the fixings; mashed potatoes; fresh squash; and homemade lemonade.

After dinner, it was decidedly a Sweet Frog kind of night. Actually, my parents had planned on a froyo trip specifically because Ian was visiting.

Our family is really big on reading, so a trip to Sweet Frog is usually tied in to visiting Barnes & Noble, or as my parents refer to it, "bee and en."

Go the F**k to Sleep, anyone?

I was super stoked to find that Ellen Hopkins had released a new book, Perfect. Her other books, Crank, Glass, Burned, Identical, Tricks, Fallout, and Impulse are some of my favorite psychology-inspired reads, particularly Identical. I'll definitely be saving Perfect for OBX '12 with my second family next month!

Then it was time for Woodchuck and a date with Justin Timberlake. Ian wanted to Redbox In Time, which I would rate a 9 for creativity, but a 5 for plot and emotion factor. Maybe I just didn't quite get it. Whatever. Justin Timberlake is easy on the eyes, whether or not I get what he's doing to save the world.

Easter Sunday always means early risin', but I don't mind. I love an excuse for new shoes and a new dress.

Please pardon the awkward position of Ian's hands... Contrary to whatever pose he was trying to strike, I am not expecting.

After having experienced it for the first time, I highly recommend the brunch buffet the Strawberry Street Cafe in Richmond offers. The sausage gravy--which I have discovered is a meat food I like--was out of this world!

We rode down to Shockoe Bottom after lunch to see Ian's new apartment.

Around 4:15, he had to depart for school to be at work by 6:00. I decided to stay another night, so I'll be heading back in the morning, well-rested and well-fed ;)

Happy Easter, one and all! I hope the Easter Bunny was good to you (he still visits our house, though my sister and I are 19 and 23), and that your day was filled with food, fun, and family!

P.S. What is one of your Easter traditions? We always take lots of pictures in our new Easter dresses, and eat brunch somewhere new or different.

Fratting Hard: Greek Week 2012

I could tell you that this weekend was peaceful and serene and full of melt-your-heart moments, but I'd be lying. This weekend is better encapsulated in the word insane.

Friday, my little sister and best friend in the world, Caroline, and Ian and I enjoyed the frattivities taking place around the clock. Hampden-Sydney does Greek Week in big proportions. There was cornhole, burgers and dogs on the grill (I elected for Taco Bell--I still don't do "real" hamburgers or hot dogs), bands all the way around Frat Circle, a makeshift hot tub (a tarp inside a pickup full of water), streaking, glow-in-the-dark Frisbee, an abundance of alcohol, couches on lawns, way too many above-the-knee khakis and pastel button-downs, and more than enough mingling with both old and new people. I managed not to fall this weekend, though I did trip over that same treacherous sidewalk, resulting in a few ugly but harmless blood blisters. I drank way too much Miller Light, and I ate two pieces too many of cheesy, onion-laden Papa John's goodness.

Saturday Caroline had to leave before lunch to get back to school to prep for a sorority ball, so Ian and I grabbed a light lunch (some very dry Philadelphia rolls, a Vitamin Water, and a Kit Kat for me) before meeting up with my parents. I was excited to take them down to Ian's fraternity house to see some of the frat bros they know, such as these clowns:

 Don't worry, Zsa-Zsa, you're not a clown!

I was also a little apprehensive that the inevitably shirtless guys sunning themselves on the lawn and playing cornhole with their cigars and their red Solo cups full of unspeakable cocktails would make them think differently, but they absolutely loved seeing everybody and getting a taste of our frattier weekends.

Afterward, we grabbed an early and delicious dinner at Ruby Tuesday before my family needed to head home and Ian and I needed to head out for more provisions. Saturday night was much less crowded but equally as hilarious and entertaining. This morning, I paid for it dearly. Luckily for me, Ian graciously plays doctor quite well. We had brunch in the dining hall, and then sadly, it was time for us to part company. I had a nap and several bottles of water on my agenda!

And just like that, Greek Week 2012 was over as suddenly as it had begun.

I love still having the best of both worlds for a few more months. Once Ian's in medical school and I'm in the second year of my M.Ed. program, things won't be so frattastic. I'm sure people judge me for my weekend decisions and my lifestyle, but frankly, my dears, I don't give a damn. I'm sure my liver feels differently, but my grades are high and my concerns are low.

I hope your weekend was excellent, and far more hydrated than mine!

P.S. Sorry I've been a little light on the pics recently. One of Ian's close friends asked if a photo of the airplane bottles I downed last night would grace "The Blog," and though they won't, consider this your shout-out, Raj!

Just What I Needed

This weekend was exactly what the doctor ordered. Not literally.

Prepare for a full synopsis!

Friday, Ian and I dined at Buffalo Wild Wings. I tried the Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich, and I subbed a side salad for fries (pats self on back). I was still craving a little something sweet afterward, so I ordered a scoop of vanilla ice cream from the kids menu. Mmm, mmm, mmm! Later on, we ventured down to one of Ian's best friend's dorm complex for some adult beverages, card games, and camaraderie. We even indulged in 2:00 a.m. Sheetz sandwiches. Oops!

Saturday, I relished the luxury of sleeping in, though Ian had to be up and at 'em before the sun awoke for an open house event for prospective students and their families. He rejoined me around 12:30, and we hit the gym. Hampden-Sydney has one of the most beautiful college gyms I've ever seen, though all I needed was a treadmill. Thankfully, there was hardly anyone else working out to see me huffing and puffing my way through my longest run yet -- 45 minutes! That ended up being almost 3.5 miles, which felt like a heart attack and light-headedness afterward, but which felt like pride and accomplishment later :) We grabbed lunch at T-Bell, and I tried the Soft Taco Supreme, which I haven't eaten since I was in middle school. Beef still isn't my thing in this whole meat experimentation process, but those tacos sure were tasty after such a difficult workout.

After a short nap, some March Madness, and a bit of Bo Burnham's stand-up routine, we showered and dressed for the evening. I tried the Tiger Inn's (HSC's student center and cafe) finest -- the tuna melt sandwich, onion petals, a Vitamin Water, and a Kit Kat bar. We spent Saturday night with our Friday night crowd. I may be 23, but Kings and $%#@ the Dealer have yet to get old, especially when paired with hilarious people. What a weekend!

This afternoon, we enjoyed the dining hall's brunch spread, which I always enjoy. I'm very much a creature of habit, so I always snag fresh-squeezed OJ, French roast coffee, low-fat granola with skim, an egg white omelette with veggies and cheese, fruit cocktail and cottage cheese, and a donut hole or three. Ian had a busy afternoon ahead, and I needed to get back to work on a project, so unfortunately we parted company around 3:00.

This weekend was just what I needed to clear my head, relax, spend time with close friends, try a new workout in a new place, and laugh until I couldn't breathe. I hope your weekend was equally as excellent :)

P.S. Tomorrow night, Make It or Break It returns full-force, and I could not be more excited! I've never been busier or more stressed with all that's due in the next few weeks, but I absolutely love this show!

Fiesta Weekend

What a wonderful relaxing, productive, exciting, smile-filled weekend it was :) I was so blessed to be able to spend it in the company of family and good friends.

Friday held so many new things (i.e. my accidental 5K), I couldn't help but celebrate!

I demolished this little gem at TGI Friday's before Kristin and I made our way to AA. This go-round, I selected more wisely: the Classic Wedge Salad, the Chicken Piccata Pasta, and this, Oreo Madness. Again, I didn't finish the pasta, and the delicious left-overs are still waiting for me.

Saturday, after my new favorite healthy Subway find (a 6" Veggie on wheat bread = provolone, lettuce, tomato, pickles, banana peppers, cucumber, Chipotle Southwest sauce, and oil and vinegar), I treated myself to a phenomenal Starbuck's cake pop.

Saturday evening, Caroline, Ian and I rang in St. Patrick's Day with two friends, Phil and Bekah, and a lot of some very green beer at Macado's!

After so much indulgence, I declared today that I'm in official Detox Mode. Lauren asked me about my "plan of attack," but the truth is, I don't have one. I just have a crying need to OD on fruits and veggies. Somewhere between the pasta salad and St. Patty's Day coconut cake I swallowed whole last night and the 2 cinnamon rolls I wolfed down this morning, I lost sight of my body's needs.

Ergo... I've been excited to make and to blog about vegetarian Burrito Bowls for literally days!

I got the idea from one of my favorite blogs, A Healthy Slice of Life.

What I Used:

- Refried pinto beans

- Hard taco shell bowls (a.k.a. Tostada Bowls)

- Baby spinach leaves

- Tomato

- Avocado

- Sprinkly nacho/taco cheese

- Light sour cream

- Wholly Salsa

(I wasn't able to find fresh cilantro at my local Kroger last week)

(I ended up skipping the brown rice; I'm thinking I'll use it for a meal later this week)

(I didn't add sauteed onion as I had planned because I was super hungry... and eager!)

What I Did:

- Coated the inside of the bowl with hot refried beans

- Diced a handful (each) of tomato, avocado, and spinach

- Layered all veggie ingredients

- Added sour cream, salsa, and cheese

- Added dollops of beans

And there it is -- my very first homemade burrito bowl!

I munched on a handful of almonds and a Chobani instead of giving in to the idea of fixing another Burrito Bowl. I'll be enjoying one again soon; one of the great things about this meal idea is that the ingredients suffice for several meals.

Well, my blends, it's time for me to get back into my school routine. T-minus 44 days until the semester is over, but it sure doesn't feel like it! I've got a lot of work--hence, a lot of stress--ahead of me, so a detox goal of ODing on fruits and veggies ought to help me cope. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!



Tricky Lady

Karma is a bitch. And she will eff with you. Make no mistake.

I had a slight run-in with karma twice yesterday.

Along with that cliche phrase, I'd also like to say, too much of a good thing isn't necessarily a great thing, or however it goes.

Story #1:

Yesterday, my training plan called for a 30-minute run. I thought, easy peezy, and I was excited to run out my soreness from Tuesday's weights session. When I walked into the gym, there was an older gentleman beginning to walk on the middle treadmill. There was a girl climbing onto the first elliptical. I started to move toward the far treadmill, but the man told me it wasn't plugged in and didn't seem to be working. I thanked him and moved around him to the first treadmill, but Elliptical Girl informed me it was stuck at its steep incline. I tried to fiddle with it, but sure enough, it was. Thinking I could at least get in some form of cardio, I walked back over to the far elliptical, only to notice that the stuff on it and beside it belonged to my personal elliptical-frequenting, chain-smoking, sickly-coughing, phlegm-hacking annoyance of a gym buddy (obviously, we're tight). I was starting to get aggravated when I decided to plug in the closest treadmill to see if it was at least operational. Miracle of all miracles, it lit right up! It began its lowly crawl when I pressed Quick Start, so I was in business. It was flashing a message I've sometimes seen on the treadmills, "Waxer Needs Refill -- Notify Maintenance." Hey, the thing was working, so I blew it off, found CSI: Miami on the tube, and started my workout.

Twenty-five minutes into my run, with five measly minutes to go, the treadmill suddenly stopped, jerked, and threw me forward. I banged into the display screen, and then I almost fell backward. Luckily, nothing happened to me, but I wasn't able to finish my run, tabulate my data, or cool down as I normally like to do. To top that off, I noticed that the maintenance man had begun to work on the other two treadmills, and he probably had mine in mind next.

Karma, karma. You tricky lady.

Story #2:

Ian and I dined at TGI Friday's yesterday for lunch. There was a promotion going on, three courses (from a limited selection) for $16.99. Ian wisely selected a two-course option: a house salad accompanied by shrimp and fries. I was hungry after my run, and this was serving as breakfast and lunch. I chose crispy green beans with wasabi Ranch as my appetizer, creamy Cajun chicken and shrimp pasta as my entree, and vanilla bean cheesecake as my dessert. I thought, so here I have a green vegetable, carbs, seafood, and dairy. Not too shabby. Ha! The joke was on me, folks. I haven't eaten that quantity of food in quite some time. In fact, I only ate three-quarters of the appetizer, half of the entree, and half of the dessert. Three hours after lunch, I was still miserably full, even after a Tums binge and a bottle of water. I wasn't ready for dinner until 7:30... Nearly seven hours after we finished lunch. I should have heeded my body when it told me it was craving fresh veggies and fruit, that it didn't want fried food or heavy pasta or a rich dessert, and that a creamy Cajun sauce would inevitably be too spicy for me. I had planned to eat rice and soup for dinner, but instead my two meals consisted of Friday's and a wisely chosen spinach salad with fresh veggies and seeds. I decided to leave the leftovers for another day.

I won't be doing that again.

Karma, karma. You tricky lady.

P.S. Do you ever have run-ins with karma? She and I frequently run into one another.

A Date is a Date is a Date

Y'all... It doesn't matter how long you've been together -- a day, a month, a year, a decade. It's still entirely lovely when your man asks you out on a date. Ian and I have been together for precisely 2 years, 3 months, and 2 days. Barfy sappy much? Yesterday, he asked me out on an impromptu date as he was passin' through my neck of the woods on his way home today. He's had a craving for Chinese food, which isn't my cup of tea today (pun intended), but I definitely owe him a restaurant choice or five. He always lets me choose where we eat, and it usually ends up being Olive Garden, Red Lobster, or P.F. Chang's (surprise, surprise). If I had it my way, I'd have all my meals catered by these restaurants, and I'd eat out at The Melting Pot at least once a week... Oops, I'm drooling again, and my cholesterol is skyrocketing just by writing about it...

My point is, if your man asks you out on a date, it's a date. I don't know about you, but I love to get all snazzy for a date. Sure, we've seen each other a million times, and no one else will notice my slightly chipped toenail polish or that I have another new black dress. But he will.

Please pardon what appear to be, but I can attest are not, cankles.

We have a couple of date guidelines we implemented a long time ago. They're not rules; they're flexible, and we created them to benefit our relationship as a whole:

(1) I don't expect him to pay for everything just because he's the guy. Going halfsies or dutch has become our style, and we like it. We both like to treat the other every once in awhile, but we're perfectly okay with costs being equal or separate.

(2) The use of coupons and gift certificates on dates is more than acceptable. Ian's parents graciously send him gift cards to restaurants at least once a month, and he almost always saves them for our dates. Once, between a gift certificate, a promotion, and a coupon, we each ate a three-course dinner at Olive Garden for $2.39 total! What's the cents in paying full price? ;)

(3) Because we have a somewhat long-distance relationship, we try to make costs balance out. For instance, whomever drives to visit the other one does not need to use his own car during the stay. That part balances itself anyway -- Ian's Explorer is a gas demon but it's spacious, while he can barely fold his football player frame into my little sporty baby, which gets excellent gas mileage.

(4) We try to consider the other when it comes to making restaurant choices. When I visit him in Farmville, our choices are pretty much limited to B-Dubs, Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday, and for special pay-out-the-ass occasions, Charley's Waterfront Cafe. When he visits me here, the sky is the limit... except for my previous vegetarianism. Guilty as charged when it comes down to actually being the chooser of the location, though.

(5) We determine before we go out whether we'll be drinking so the same person doesn't always end up chauffeuring or paying a high liquor tab. Those babies can really add up!

Today, because neither of us could make a decision, we ended up choosing something middle-of-the-road (literally) and dining at a really nice Friday's. I accidentally gorged myself on crispy green beans, Cajun chicken and shrimp pasta, and vanilla bean cheesecake. You can't beat three delicious courses for $16.99, though my body is vehemently protesting fried food, spicy creamy sauce, and so much richness. It's been 3 hours since lunch, and I'm still bursting. I even have a ready-made dinner! But what a wonderful date it was :) And to top it off, Ian brought me this nerdy gift from the chemistry conference he just returned from attending in Orlando:

Simultaneously the coolest and dorkiest coffee mug I've ever seen!

P.S. Do you have any dating guidelines you and yours use? Do you have any date traditions unique to the two of you?

Baggage

See... When the airline tells me I need to keep the weight of my baggage under 50 pounds, I'm like, No problem! Oh, wait...

One person totally needs all this for one week...

Obviously, I'll need to do a bit of lot of streamlining, but I am planning to take the majority of this crap with me to Mexico. When I was laying everything out on my bed at my apartment, I was thinking, I will absolutely wear 2 different pairs of high heels. How can I not bring every cami I've ever owned? I will not be able to travel without 6 pairs of jeans. Completely rational, of course. It's been a running joke in our family for as long as I can remember that my suitcase is always the largest, the heaviest, the most awkward, and full of the least useful items.

When we flew to Key West in May of 2011, the weight limit for each suitcase was 50 pounds. Mine -- 52.5 pounds. I had to unzip my suitcase, expose my undergarments to the world, and take out one pair of shoes at a time -- and transfer them to my father's golf bag -- until my suitcase was an acceptable weight. Needless to say, my sister Caroline has given me endless grief about it.

Our family has one of the largest duffel bags I've ever seen, which is what got me into trouble flying to Key West, and which is what I plan to travel with on this trip. It fits anything I could possibly imagine, and it allows me to pack comfortably (with options) for a week or more. That's the burden and the blessing. Trying to cram two weeks' worth of clothes and shoes (that I don't need) into a duffel bag got me to thinking about a conversation Ian and I had Thursday night.

We had been experiencing a communication disconnect for a bit, which is frustrating in that it feels like neither party is able to send or receive an understandable message. After we had a very fulfilling conversation, I felt physically relieved. I felt as though all of the weight I had been carrying around needlessly was suddenly lifted. I think I could probably achieve that same feeling if I lightened the load I'm traveling around with all the time, both physically and emotionally.

However... It looks as though I'm still carrying the max amount of weight to Mexico! Some things never change, huh?

It also helps me to relieve stress by running it out.

My 5K training program has been a source of stability and routine in my life.

I never knew I could experience the thrill of a runner's high until today -- every time I run a PDR, I get overly excited. Today's was my longest run yet, at 2.66 miles in 35 minutes. I ran at a slower pace than I normally do, because I'm not used to the fancy-shmancy treadmills at the Y. I felt like I was walking on a cloud as I left the gym :)

P.S. Enjoy your weekend! My blog will probably be a little sparse for the next week, but I feel sure I'll have plenty to write about post-Mexico!

Improvising!

I was feeling pretty bummed this morning, because the thought of hauling myself to the gym for a run, or even a jaunt on the elliptical, or even weight training, made me want to cough/sneeze/laugh. It wasn't happening. I got virtually no sleep because I couldn't breathe, I woke up with a toothache that couldn't be relieved by flossing and kept me awake for over an hour, and I feel sure that someone coated the inside of my throat with sandpaper when I wasn't looking. I know I'm being a huge baby about whatever this is, but it has flat-out knocked me for a loop.

Source

I was reading one of my favorite blogs this morning, Healthy Tipping Point, well past the time I've usually left for the gym, and today's post from Caitlin was all about making walking a habit. I remembered that I had just downloaded the MapMyFitness+ app on my phone, so I thought I'd slide on my sneakers, throw on my North Face, and go for a little stroll to try it out. I also donned this little cutie, to add that "I have a hat on, so you can assume I'm exercising outdoors" cool-factor (ha!):

Ian got this for me for Christmas, at my insistence that I needed it...

At the very least, I knew I'd be outside in the cold air (which always helps clear my head), I could sneeze and cough as need be without having gym-goers staring daggers at me, and I could always turn around if I just wasn't feeling it.

Basically... The app is the coolest thing ever!!

I ended up walking about 1.1 miles in 21 minutes around almost the enirety of my apartment complex, once I figured out how to get the app working properly -- I'm not a tech-savvy chick. It logged my exact route, down to obscure street names and complex building numbers using my phone's GPS, as well as the elevation of my route; my average pace; my average speed; the calories I burned; and the number of laps I completed on the route I devised. It also allows me to store all of this data, or share it to "challenge" others via Facebook and Twitter. How cool is all of that?!

The cold outside helped clear my head for a bit, though it also made my nose run like a faucet. I also got some strange looks from passersby. If I had to guess, they were wondering if I had a weapon or a small child stashed in my pockets, between my iPod, my cell phone, my bulky keys, and sometimes my hands stuffed in there. Hey, I got out there, and I did the darn thing. Now, I don't feel as if I wasted an opportunity for exercise, nor do I feel like I overexerted myself. I can allow my body to heal, while also giving it a little push to keep moving.

I hope you enjoy your Monday, blends!

P.S. The under-a-week Mexico countdown has officially begun! T-minus 6!

Lesson Learned

Here's the thing about immune systems: You can guzzle vitamin C, but your body will only store what it can use before excreting the rest. You can wash your hands incessantly, but germs stick around. You can eat well decently and exercise regularly and still fall victim to feeling crappy. You can do everything right and still get sick.

It's like I've had a sign on my back for the past week -- GERMS WELCOME HERE! 

I'm not totally convinced that it's not just my body rebelling against snow one day and sundresses the next.

Nevermind that. My Chloraseptic, my Hall's, my Kleenex box, and my bed will get me through this none the worse for wear. Today, I learned my lesson about pushing myself when I wasn't feeling up to a challenge. I slept pretty restlessly for almost 11 hours before Ian declared the morning begun. We lounged around for a couple of hours; I don't have much of an appetite today, but he was stoked to heat up his Red Lobster leftovers. Mine will serve well for dinner tonight:

I made what I thought would be a delicious, protein-packed, vitamin-laden brunch -- a toasted whole wheat bagel topped with an egg sunny-side up, garlic and chive hummus, baby spinach leaves, a slice of tomato, a slice of Swiss, some chunks of creamy avocado, and a sprinkle of black pepper, accompanied, of course, by a Greek yogurt:

About an hour later, Ian suggested we head to the gym "to get the blood flowing." I thought, Yeah! I'll probably feel great after I run!

Not so much. Why did I think I could run if I can't breathe?

My 5K training plan called for a 30-minute run yesterday, which I didn't complete due to the VACES conference. Today was considered an "off" day, which I used to make up that run.

Nevermind common sense! I ran a PDR of 2.4 miles in 30 minutes, for a total of 2.63 miles in 35 minutes including warm-up and cool-down. I wasn't expecting my blood sugar to drop with 10 minutes left in my run, nor was I expecting to get light-headed as soon as I began my cool-down. Lesson learned. Note to self: Don't push it. Allow your body time time to recover from illness. No need for PDRs or heroes.

On the upside, Jaws was on TV, so I enjoyed some of Dad's and my favorite quotes while I ran:

"I think you're gonna need a bigger boat..."

"It's a tiger shark." "A whaaat?"

"Are you going to close the beaches?"

"That's some bad hat, Harry."

"I'll drink to your leg." "Okay, so we drink to our legs!"

"I'll find him for three, but I'll catch him, and kill him, for ten."

"Smile, you sonofabitch!"  ;)

Well, it's about that time for an afternoon nap. Enjoy your Sunday, blends!

P.S. Do you work out when you're feeling under the weather? What foods do you recommend for a stuffy nose, a sore throat, and a wicked cough?

Rain on my Parade

This pretty well captures how I'm feeling this morning about attending an all-day graduate student conference, and missing a party I was really excited about attending last night with Caroline and Ian and Lauren, and forfeiting an entire Saturday:

These were taken around 1:45 yesterday right before a massive t-storm hit; there was a tornado warning in effect until 4 p.m. EST, which brought back memories of the tornadoes that swept across VA last spring.

On that note, this video was taken by several of my sorority sisters just a few apartments down from mine, during said tornado:

I love storms, but this was a little close for comfort...

Back to reality. I can't complain too much -- I'm earning extra credit in all 3 of my classes for attending, I'm only giving up 7 hours of my day, Ian is traveling here to spend tonight and tomorrow with me (and to celebrate his Phi Beta Kappa induction, at Red Lobster!), and I'm learning a lot about various aspects of counseling, as well as gaining plenty of exposure. Plus, this conference is one during which participants have the luxury of choosing which seminars and poster sessions they wish to attend. And, a delicious lunch (including vegetarian options) is included in the registration cost. Lastly, Jennifer and Kristin are going, and those two never fail to keep me interested and entertained.

Speaking of these two mugs, we enjoyed dinner last night with Kristin's man Travis and his friend at a new (read: new to us) local restaurant, Big Lick's. I tried the Blackened Chicken and Mango Quesadillas (which had my mouth on fire, but definitely cleared my sinuses--I'm a baby when it comes to spiciness),

the Ocean Breeze and the Key West Lemonade (pictured),

and the Strawberry Shortcake:

Jennifer and I shared an order of fried pickles, and I sampled a few cheese fries as appetizers. A calorie-fest, indeed, but I had no complaints.

All in all, I should really suck it up, shouldn't I? A little rain on my parade doesn't hurt ;)

P.S. What's on your agenda today? Are you a busy bee or slowing things down? I'm counting down the days (T-minus 6) until Spring Break! I'm also going to stuff several servings of veggies into the rest of my weekend to make up for last night!