A Feast for the Eyes

Oh. My. Word. I think I have gotten more accomplished in the past week and a half than I have in my whole life. Not kidding! I won't bore you with too many details, but I feel rather accomplished!

A couple of things that I am particularly proud of is getting the living room, kitchen, and my bedroom clean. All that is left is my bathroom and I have plans to tackle that soon! I took my beloved record player out of my room and replaced it with a craft table. Yep, I can CRAFT now! :D And I'm going to too....I already have a bajillion projects buzzing around in my head (just look @ my DIY/Crafty Inspirations folder on Pinterest!) :) Aaaaaand I went through, organized and got rid of several boxes in storage....a project I hope to have all the way done by the time I graduate!

Also, I am helping my Mom give our living room a little makeover, so we covered the couch in a cream blanket (for now), took down all of the pictures on our "big" wall, and bought some blue-greenish crinkly sheers, 2 pillows (one a ruffly brown and the other a blue with a wavy cream & brown design), and a gorgeous mirror. Mom cleaned off the top of the entertainment center. Lastly, she put an awesome rustic wood bowl out with 3 REAL sea glass floats and 2 "natural" looking twig/raffia balls. It's hard to picture, maybe, but when we're done or as close to done as we're gonna get, I might post some pictures. It is sooo exciting for me! :) I went to school (the first time) for Interior Design, so I love to be surrounded by pretty things.

I plan on having more fun posts, like pictures of my crafts and things, but for now, I'll leave you with an amazing recipe I made tonight. Then I really, really, REALLY need to study and finish my homework! ;)

                                                                       Source

Beach Cookies
Adapted from Chef Chloe Coscarelli's Beach Cookies

Ingredients

• ½ cup vegan margarine, melted
• 2 cups gluten free graham cracker crumbs
• 1 ¼ cup canned coconut milk, mixed well before measuring
• ¼ cup pure cane sugar in the raw
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot
• 1 ½ cups shredded coconut
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (dairy-free)
• ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)
• Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Pour margarine into a 9- x13-inch baking pan. Coat the bottom of the pan by swirling the margarine. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs evenly into the pan until the bottom of the pan is completely coated in crumbs. Pat down lightly.

In a small bowl, whisk together coconut milk, sugar, vanilla, salt, and cornstarch. Drizzle this mixture evenly over the graham cracker layer. Sprinkle the shredded coconut into the pan, then layer chocolate chips and walnuts. With the palm of your hand, gently pat the top of the cookie pan so that the chocolate chips cement into the rest of the cookie.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until center looks thick and slightly bubbly with lightly browned edges. Let cool, and then refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. Using a sharp knife, cut into bar cookies. The textures and flavors of this cookie really work best after refrigeration (but I definitely couldn't wait that long before trying one....neither could my mom! UH. MAZE. ING. Nom nom nom nom nom...) Enjoy! :D


Perfect for enjoying after ninja kicking your to-do list! :)


P.S. I've been inspired by these two ladies: Amy Tan and Kelly Purkey to get back into scrapbooking/ cardmaking again. (Yep, I have craft ADD!) ;) Anyways, now I have some of these beautiful stamps to play with and I can't wait!!!

Getting Back on the Wagon

 It is so easy to get off track! A little bit here, a little bit there, and before I know it, I'm really far away from where I had been! The first time it happened to me, it took months to get back on track. The next several times, it was weeks. Then it was days. This time, I began anew the very next day! Even though I gained a ridiculous amount of weight last week (because of going on a 2 day trip and some emotional stuff), I am down to within 3 pounds of the lightest I've been so far. This just proves to me that I'm "getting" it and that I really can do this. Something that I thought about (but didn't phrase so eloquently) was a little gem I read this week on one of the blogs I subscribe to:

I know I'm always one decision away from being back on track. Just one decision away from starting over and feeling better.

So true! And this time, I didn't freak out and get frustrated and whine and moan and complain...I just simply made better choices at the very next meal. As soon as I got home from the trip, I immediately started eating cleaner and healthier. It was simple as that! I didn't wait until Monday, I didn't wait until a certain day, I just did it. It's not revolutionary to most people, but it is to me. The thing that is amazing to me is that is how I began my journey last June too. I didn't know what I could eat, or even if we had anything at home that I could eat, but I took the leap of faith. My very first meal was butternut squash soup and a wrap....for breakfast! It was the best that I could do and it actually was a great meal! Another thing that Sheryl said on her blog was:

Remember how I said that no matter how dark the tunnel is now, that I would always find the light, no matter how long it took - Because I knew it was there and I wasn't giving up until I found it?

Well one very important thing I left out and should have said was that I know I will always find that light because I now know that the light I'm searching for isn't out there somewhere, it's *IN* me. I have the light. I had it the whole time, but it took me years to realize it. And I have access to it any time I want it or need it. And as I try to point out often, I am not special - this is not unique to me - we ALL have that light within us. We just have to *believe* it's there and *want* to find it.  

Wow! She made me realize that I have this light too and I need to just keep cultivating it. I tend to get bogged down by various things, but if I keep my eyes on the goal, I WILL reach it someday. One thing that frustrated me this last week was shopping at Ross. I'm inbetween the plus-size section and the regular section and I couldn't find anything that fit. It really made me emotional because I have been working so hard for 10 months now and that made me feel like I haven't gotten anywhere....but I have! I need to celebrate what I have accomplished instead of what I haven't. It's a good lesson to learn and I can't say I'll never do it again, but I'll keep trying. In the end, that's all that any of us can do, right?

Soooo...

Most of today was not so awesome. For some reason, people have been making more and more comments that have been hurting my feelings. When I first started the program, most things just rolled off my back, but the more I hear things, the more they have been sticking to me and weighing me down. This is pretty much the story of my life. People like to pick other people apart. I really don't understand, especially since I am the type of person that loves to help other people and take care of other people. But you know what? I've decided I've just gotta love me and be myself. . So I laugh. Sue me. So I care too much. Again, sue me. So I eat a healthier diet than most people? Sorry, I'm NOT gonna change that so that you can feel better about yourself! So I make mistakes because I'm a student and I don't know everything? You know, you were in my spot once too. I can't please everyone all the time, but I can strive to be the person that I am proud of. Angela @ Oh She Glows blogged about self-love today too. You can read about it HERE. I find her blog very helpful about that sort of thing, and it definitely reaffirms what I know I have to do for myself. :)

Anyways, that was just part of the day. Tonight I went to Pilates and I was pleasantly surprised. I thought that I would just drop the class and go to Zumba on Mondays instead, but it ended up being really challenging and really relaxing at the same time. I definitely think it is going to be great for toning and strengthening! The best part, though, with all the deep breaths I was taking, I totally forgot about the first part of the day! I didn't realize it until later, but it definitely improved my mood! Bonus! :)

I also have to share a couple of victories that happened on Saturday. The first is that instead of regular Zumba, we had a 2-hour Zumbathon. I was a little worried about whether I would be able to make it all the way through, but I decided to go, and if I needed to, I would let myself sit out a song or 2. Well, I ended up not needing that out! I danced the whole time! Actually, during a couple of songs, I almost burst into tears because I couldn't believe how good I am doing! Remembering where I was at last June, and seeing where I am now, I have to pinch myself sometimes. I definitely have made some good changes and am seeing good results. Plus, it raised about $1000 for the American Heart Association, so it definitely made me feel like I was doing something for the greater good as well as my own. The other thing that happened was that I went shopping with some of my friends at PacSun in the mall and....drumroll please....I actually fit into a couple of shirts that I tried on! Crazyness! I got goosebumps when I tried them on! :) I may not look like I'm changing much week by week, but overall, there is a big difference. And from now on, I am going to focus on myself and what I can be doing to be the person that I want to be and not worry about all the garbage around me. Cuz I can't change all that....I can only change me. :) 

Also, no one commented on my giveaway post, so I guess no one was interested. Bummer. :(

Shoes, Stuff, and Such

Woohoo! I got my shoes for Zumba today! Drumroll please...

Aren't they beautiful?! They were more than half off! :D I love them! And I can't wait to use them! And I want to use them as much as possible, which is kind of the point! :)

In other news, I kind of attacked my room today. In a good way. :) I moved my bed to clear out some floor space, cleaned out one entire closet, moved some other stuff from my room into the closet, took some stuff to Salvation Army, my aunt, and storage. (With some help from my mom. ;) Anyways, it feels really good! It is far from done, but for now, I am proud of myself and what I accomplished today. Happy Sunday! :) 

Tomorrow I plan on getting my mom's bike tires aired up so that I might be able to go for a bike ride while the weather is still nice. And if the weather turns bad sooner than that, well, I still haven't gone snowshoeing yet this season. :)

Today I heard a couple of things that really resonated with me. The first was, in order to have the things we want, we have to feed them. And the second was you get out of something what you put into it. This applies to all areas of our lives, whether it be spiritual, relationships, school, jobs, and yes, our health and fitness. I want to do a better job of really cultivating the things that I want to grow in all of these areas. This is why I finally quit Facebook this year. It wasn't meaningful or fulfilling to me. I got nothing out of it and it kind of became a time suck. I am using the time to do more meaningful, energy-reviving, and fun things to me like my crafts or reading or writing this blog. And I really feel like this was the right thing for me to do. I know that some people love Facebook and I am not bashing it. It can be a great tool if used wisely. However, it is just not for me at this point in my life, I am at peace with my decision and am loving life without it.

Also yesterday, I read on a blog that "It's actually by doing the things a lean, strong, and healthy person does that you BECOME lean, strong, and healthy."  Wow! So true! I feel like I am taking steps in the right direction and am looking forward to all that these steps bring me. Sometimes it is hard to see any progress, but when I take a step back and look at all that I have accomplished since June, I see a lot of change in my life! And whether it takes me 1 year or 10 years, I am going to get to where I want to be eventually. And I am definitely going to enjoy the journey, because otherwise, it isn't worth it. :)

Today Was a Good Day...

...not because it was perfect, by any means! In fact, some things made me feel downright awful! I was kind of upset this afternoon. But then I came home and decided to have a good time and get a little more organized for this week. I cooked a delicious, nourishing soup for tonight and the rest of this week's lunches. Then I made portion sizes of my snacks for the rest of the week while dancing in the kitchen to Storyhill. Which, by the way, is my new music crush. :) My sister and brother-in-law played their songs over and over during Christmas because their babies like it. And I loved it! I couldn't get enough. Their songs are the perfect chill out and relax songs. So, even though part of my day was not so good, I decided today was a great day because of this relaxing, productive evening. :)

P.S. I signed up to take a Zumba class today! It was free through my college, since I am a full-time student. It's one day a week for a couple of months. I was a little worried about it, since grace is NOT my middle name, but I think I am just going to have fun with it. Tomorrow I think I am going to sign up for Pilates too. I'm pretty stoked!

P.P.S. I drank almost all of my daily requirements of water today! That hardly happens, so it was quite an accomplishment! :D

Randomness

1. School and clinicals started today. Goodbye, free time...and hello, stress! ;)

2. My mom made the most amazing Italian pasta salad for me yesterday. Recipe to come...stay posted! She also made pumpkin cookies just for me! How awesome is that?!

3. I managed to drink a whole bottle of plain water today, thanks to this:

I got a pink Bobble at Whole Foods in WA, because I've been wanting one ever since I heard about them when they came out. THEN, come to find out, they're on sale @ Target for HALF what I paid for it in WA! Oh well. It's beautiful, and makes water delicious, and it's BPA-free. Also, it's great for the planet if you're one of those people that still buys water in bottles and throws them away. 

4. I got a letter in the mail saying I made the dean's list this semester. :) Plus, the program director told me my grades were quite an accomplishment. :) Nice to have some praise once in a while. ;)

5. I get to see mah babies this weekend! (My nieces...for those of you that don't know...2 month old twins) :D Yay! AND it's a 3 day weekend! Thanks for having a birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr! :D

Anyways, that's all on my mind for now. I hope everyone is having a fantabulous week! :)

The Whole Thing

I ran a whole mile from start to finish without stopping this morning! Woohoo! And I took 20 seconds off my last time, for a grand total of 15 minutes and 6 seconds. :) I didn't even want to get out of bed this morning! I've been so sluggish lately, not wanting to do anything! Anyways, I decided I was just going to go down to the track and do the best I could. At first I was going to run a lap, walk a lap, etc. but I got the feeling I was holding back so I kept going for another lap then another then I ran the whole thing! I love accomplishing something...it's a great way to start my day! My main problem isn't my body, it's my mind. I have a fear of doing more I think. I definitely like my comfort zone! :P When I am mentally tough, I can accomplish anything, and I've proved that over and over again. But when I'm not...hoooooboyyyy! I can't do anything! That is one thing I'm trying to eradicate from my vocabulary: CAN'T. Instead of saying "can't" which focuses on the negative, I spin it around into an "I can" statement. Like this morning, as I was running, I started saying "I can't give up." Immediately I started thinking about giving up. But when I said, "I can run this whole thing," I started thinking about running the whole thing! I know the power of positive thinking, I just have to put it in practice in my life. Easier said than done, but I'm focused on living the best life I can. :) Well, I am off to make a green smoothie now for breakfast. I blend up a handful or two of kale, protein powder, flaxseed oil, frozen mango chunks, and almond or rice milk. Easy and nutritious! :)

Just a quick note....

to say that I am now at the weight I was at when I graduated high school!!! This makes me laugh because it seems like everyone talks about getting back down to their high school weight and I want to get back down to my 6th grade weight! lol Baby steps....but it's happening! :D And even though I'm at the same weight I was at when I graduated, my body is definitely different. My hips and arms are smaller and my face isn't *quite* as round. I think overall, everything is smaller except for my stomach. :)

60 DAYS!!!

I was so busy yesterday, I didn't get a chance to post that it was my 60 day mark of eating a plant-based diet! Woohoo! :) I have never stuck to a "diet" that long, so I really feel this is a lifelong lifestyle change for me. :) I spent the day at the fair. It was kind of weird tho. Usually, I want to eat everything because it's the fair and it only comes once a year. This year, however, I researched my options ahead of time and picked the healthiest, out of the ordinary thing I could find, which was fried plantain chips. Yes, they were fried, BUT I made the healthiest choice under the circumstances. I also had 3 bottles of water, 1 lemonade, and a couple of sips of a smoothie. (It was made out of sugar water and raspberry pie filling. YUCKY!) I figured the best way to celebrate the day was to get one more day closer to being healthy and my goal weight. :)

Woohoo!

I feel accomplished! I've been trying to get back at running for a couple of weeks now. (Contrary to popular belief, you CAN run when you're heavy.) Anyways, I get really bored with doing the same things over and over. I had been running 1 min, walking 1 min, for 20 min. but then I got bored and quit for a week. THEN, on Friday, I decided to time myself running a mile. At first I could barely run half of it and I clocked in at 17:55. :P Saturday, I knocked off ONE MINUTE AND 22 SECONDS for a total of 16:33. Sunday, I walked 3 miles with a younger fitter friend. :) Today, I did it in 15:26! So, I've knocked off a total of 2:29! In 3 times of running it! This totally makes me want to keep going! Plus, I ran almost all of it except for 2 curved ends. :D