Giggle Worthy:
Every now and again, I have a terrible, no good, very bad day; they are simply the worst. In hopes of trying to remedy their path, I usually like to go on walks, listen to music, clean, or find silly animal pictures online; how do you like to cope with the occasional set back?
What's currently inspiring me:
Last summer, I procured this bulletin board - among other things, including a marvelous bookshelf for all my school materials - from a nearby apartment, after its previous owners had parted ways. While it had been used to display the couple's artwork, I decided to make it into my very own inspiration board; some place that I could display seasonal recipes, ideas, and general musings that I found interesting at the time. Today those include my desire for a dog, love of indoor plants, and a coconut-chicken-sweet potato soup that I have yet to try. Additionally, these pictures represent forward movement - which is always important, especially in the depths of winter. That being said, what is currently inspiring you?
2013 Posts:
The Bonnaroo that wasn't:
This upcoming weekend, in a little town nestled in the TN Cumberland Valley, lies one of my favorite celebrations. No, not Christmas, as I will actually get the presents I ask for (ummmmm...no not an XL Old Navy fleece. I am not planning on eating that much lefse Mom, but nice try.). Instead its a weekend of coming together to experience great music, a lack of bathing, and one too many cups of Ramen (or dirty dogs, which ever you prefer (Rik)). This year's line up looks amazing, so have fun my fellow hippies (HAHAHAHA, I almost pulled that off. J Crew hide yourself.), I will be listening to the podcasts like its my life (which it will be, since I have none).
Charlottesville in May
I literally cannot express fully the wonderful time I had in VA. Everyday I not only got to wake up next to one of my favorite people, but was also surrounded by trees, sun, and warm rays of sunshine. Although the trip was short & sweet, the days were packed with lacrosse parties, nights in, lots of cooking, graduation, and invaluable conversations. My calendar is already counting down the days until my next trip.
Congratulations! (and I love this. and you.)
UVA knows how to do graduations The day was filled with bow ties, lawn parties, and dolled up girls. And of course, balloons. ;)
Shoes made for running:
Spring has made my workouts primarily an outside chore, as seen in both the tear of my Adidas & the emerging sock tan line. (I'm going to be SO sexy in wedges next weekend. Not.) And while I have yet to bore myself of the many trails around the area, my YouTube playlist of last lasted less then two workouts. (drum roll please....)
So here it is...my new playlist, sure to scare my boyfriend while inducing sisterly love. Enjoy!
So here it is...my new playlist, sure to scare my boyfriend while inducing sisterly love. Enjoy!
- I like that, Weebie
- Red Lipstick, Rihanna
- What's your number, 2 Pac
- Like That, Remix, Pimp C
- Gas Pedal, Sage the Gemini
- Trap Shit, V-6
- She Wants Me, Living Legends
- Sweet Talk, Spank Rock
- Lights Down Low
- Booty Me Back
- Holding You Down, Jasmine Sullivan
New Workout Material:
I just LOVE Pandora some days. I mean it can take practical any frown & turn it upside down. Lately I have been trying to mix up my routine with more outside running & less spinning, but every once in awhile, you just need a good sweat. Here is a list of my favorite new jams & the corresponding strokes. Enjoy!
Dum Dum, Baauer: warm-up, medium cadence & weight
Dance for You, Beyonce: Seated, med-high weight, same cadence
I Like It, Too Short: Alt between second & third position, same weight & cadence
Suga Suga, Frankie J: A quarter turn increase in weight, same cadence, third position
Sure Thing, Miguel: High weight, slow cadence, third position
Contemplate, Wale: Seated, little resistance, increasing cadence (mid cool down)
Harlem Shake, Baauer: Second position, running cadence, mid resistance
New York Fuckin' City, Dank: Alt second & third, heavier resistance, same cadence
Booty Bounce, GTA: Third position, same cadence & resistance
Mad Sax: Cool down
**Remember: be kind to yourself, I don't like workout war stories. :)**
Dum Dum, Baauer: warm-up, medium cadence & weight
Dance for You, Beyonce: Seated, med-high weight, same cadence
I Like It, Too Short: Alt between second & third position, same weight & cadence
Suga Suga, Frankie J: A quarter turn increase in weight, same cadence, third position
Sure Thing, Miguel: High weight, slow cadence, third position
Contemplate, Wale: Seated, little resistance, increasing cadence (mid cool down)
Harlem Shake, Baauer: Second position, running cadence, mid resistance
New York Fuckin' City, Dank: Alt second & third, heavier resistance, same cadence
Booty Bounce, GTA: Third position, same cadence & resistance
Mad Sax: Cool down
**Remember: be kind to yourself, I don't like workout war stories. :)**
Friday nights lately:
Somewhere my twenty-one year old self is damning the day I turned old, and well, lame. I have come to accept that I no longer have the recovery time (or real desire) to party the weekend away. I have traded my three am mornings with 7:30 am spin classes, and countless drinks with bowls of oatmeal with berries. Friday nights rarely extend past eleven & usually include a date with Netflix. What's next, boco parties & sugary cocktails? Jesus f'ing Christ, lets not call a babysitter yet.
Completion Week
Perfection. Completion week can only be described as a perfect balance of emotions, sun, and even sunnier moments of life. It is hard to believe that seven days can fly by with such speed. It was the break that I needed to reconnect to those that I love, and myself, before returning to a culture that I am still unsure that I fit into. The immersion back into a metropolitan environment was like a dream, of the best kind, only out done by the company I kept. The aisles of Trader Joe's & Whole Foods were better then remembered & all my favorite treats were devoured accordingly (edamame hummus--Mt. Tam brie, to name a few). The warmer weather was beyond splendid with daily ventures into the sun & many miles marked on the pavement (can we talk about my new Wale addiction--it's surpassed Big Boi in comparison). But most importantly, I enjoyed endless hugs, conversations, and simply being. I already cannot wait to return.
When life gives you lemons, eat (daily servings of) lemon cheesecake
Some days (or in my case weeks) deserve a little extra understanding. Thankfully Hunger Mountain's delicious lemon cheesecake, Lana Del Ray's Pandora station, and exceptionally exceptional people have made my days a little bit more sunny. And I love each of them for that.
P.S. I'm serious about the cheesecake, it's magical, and I may (definitely) want to have an affair with it. But, alas, I'm single so no Maury special would be necessary.
P.S. I'm serious about the cheesecake, it's magical, and I may (definitely) want to have an affair with it. But, alas, I'm single so no Maury special would be necessary.
Just working on my fitness.
News flash: culinary students are CONSTANTLY surrounded by food. I mean between the yummy bechamel sauce with sirloin, sinful chocolate mouses, and endless samples, I had no problem putting on my "freshman five". (hahahaha, freshman. Girl, no amount of anti-aging lotion is going to make me look eighteen again; Olay Regenerist isn't that great.)
To help motivate me into action, I created a little playlist that takes roughly 30 minutes & keeps you bumpin' and grinding all the way through. (I personally like to do my own mini-spin class, so I have those instructions are well. Get'er done.) I have seperated TWO different playlists for whatever mood you are in. The bottom links are for some Barre Method and bar weight instructional sites that I SWEAR by on the daily.
Ghetto Booty:
Move Around:
Barre Method & Bar Weights:
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/body-bar-workouts
***Please note that I am in NO way, shape, or form a personal trainer or doctor. Remember to be kind to yourself & listen to your body, it will love you back. :) ***
To help motivate me into action, I created a little playlist that takes roughly 30 minutes & keeps you bumpin' and grinding all the way through. (I personally like to do my own mini-spin class, so I have those instructions are well. Get'er done.) I have seperated TWO different playlists for whatever mood you are in. The bottom links are for some Barre Method and bar weight instructional sites that I SWEAR by on the daily.
Ghetto Booty:
- The Way You Move, Outcast: a steady cadence, warm up
- French Inhale, Wiz Khalifa: climbing at a steady cadence, should end at a 6 out of ten
- Single, Lil Wayne: 8 out of ten resistance, slow but steady cadence
- Shoes for Runnin', Big Boi: standing (second position), break with a 4 out of 10 resistance
- Tangerine, Big Boi: alternating between second & third position (booty back & arms up front), I do between choruses. Resistance of 5 out of ten & medium cadence
- Slow Wind, R Kelly: DEEP third position at a level 8 out of ten resistance, slow cadence.
- React, Eric Sermon: Resistance at a 4-5 out of ten, 30 second rotations between 1, 2, & 3 positions
- I Want You, Common: cool down
Move Around:
- One, Swedish House Mafia: warm up, resistance between a 3-4
- Rollup, Flosstradamus: seated, steady cadence, climbing resistance by a quarter turn every 30 seconds. End at a 6 out of ten.
- Promises, Nero: seated, resistance at a 5, sprints at chorus
- Move Around, Diplo: resistance at a level 5 out of ten, quick cadence, alternating between 2 & 3 position
- Blue Milk, Big Chocolate: keeping cadence, increase resistance to a 6 & stay in third position.
- Breakin' a Sweat, Skrillex: keep cadence, and decrease to a 4 resistance. Alternate between 1, 2, & third position every 30 seconds
- The Island Part 2, Pendulum: cool down
Barre Method & Bar Weights:
- Representing, Kelly Rowland
- Bad, Wale
- Sweet Nothing, Calvin Harris
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/body-bar-workouts
***Please note that I am in NO way, shape, or form a personal trainer or doctor. Remember to be kind to yourself & listen to your body, it will love you back. :) ***
My survival kit:
You are too sweet.
even when you distort my face into "I smelled something bad" expression. It's not you (well, it's nothing personal), I love your perky pep talks. xx
Happy fourth Birthday, Charles!! Enjoy your day, love & miss you lots! xx
Hugs
Who wouldn't be tickled pink to hug this man a MILLION times? I know I can't stop.
Have a great weekend folks, I am going to be enjoying the state (and lots of cuddling) with the chef. xx
Have a great weekend folks, I am going to be enjoying the state (and lots of cuddling) with the chef. xx
I miss Starbucks, and all their audacity:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/starbucks-verismo/n31802/
Maybe someone please can send me a latte, for ShaSha, of course.
Maybe someone please can send me a latte, for ShaSha, of course.
Home Improvements at -12 below
One would assume that when preparing for a final, going to class over forty hours a week, and still adjusting to this whole thing I like to call "never ending high school reunion, with people you didn't go to high school with", that one would either be: eating, sleeping, studying, or giving evil stares at classmates who should not be nammmed. (wow, was that just me, or did that sound pretty Lord Voldemort'esqe?) Nope. I like to live on the edge people, and therefore decided that I should do all of the above plus a (little) project called: painting. I would like to point out that this painting would include my kitchen cabinets, trim, walls, as well as my bedroom & bathroom. All in separate, possibly wall fatal, non mixable paints. Gosh, someone is going to be pretty lucky to have me someday..
In any case, the project resulted in three days of little sleep, a continuous high from being unable to open the windows, and THREE gorgeous rooms. Oh, I pretty much love them. Someday when I have a camera, I will show them to you. Until then, I will just enjoy them in peace & gaze at all my (hard) work.
In any case, the project resulted in three days of little sleep, a continuous high from being unable to open the windows, and THREE gorgeous rooms. Oh, I pretty much love them. Someday when I have a camera, I will show them to you. Until then, I will just enjoy them in peace & gaze at all my (hard) work.