That’s a Wrap!

16 Thursday May 2013

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I am officially done with my undergrad education. The time has gone by so quickly and I can’t believe I’m already about to enter post-grad life. Here’s a list of some of the things I have learned over the years…

  • Learn when to say no. I always said yes throughout college. I definitely had amazing experiences that I would never trade, but it came at the cost of always being busy. I started to figure out how to say no toward the end of college and it made a world of difference in my outlook on the little things.
  • Life isn’t a race. You can’t compare yourself to anyone else because you will constantly be disappointed. It robs you of recognizing your own accomplishments and unique path through life. Each person travels down a different road and you have to realize that your own is the best for you and that things will work out in due time. There were times when I wanted to rush things along to get to a certain point, and I still do sometimes, so I need to learn when to let go.
  • Sleep is important. It seems like I tried to get by with as little sleep as possible throughout college. I still don’t like to sleep very much, but I have made a point to start getting my 8 hours in every night if I can. All in all, I don’t regret skimping on sleep these past years because I got to squeeze a lot of fun experiences in those extra hours! :) But, I do realize how much better it makes me feel and I will keep this in mind for my career life.
  • It’s incredibly important to solidify your values and morals so that you can always follow your own sense of direction. I learned how to do this in college and I will carry that knowledge with me throughout the rest of my life. There were so many times that I could have stayed on a certain track, but decided to veer off of it because it wasn’t right for me. I have realized that this will constantly happen throughout life and I need to learn to embrace the journey.

All in all, it has been an amazing college experience. I’m so thankful for both the good and the hard times because they made me who I am today. Here’s to graduating this weekend! :)

Monday Goals

13 Monday May 2013

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Goals are important. We’ve all heard it many times before, but it’s so true. Without goals, life chooses for you. If you don’t make conscious choices, life will put you in the passenger seat. Take charge of your life by evaluating your past and making a future plan. I have goals, but I don’t write them down. That’s a problem! I am going to start detailing a few weekly goals and check back on my progress each week.

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This isn’t something new for me. I have tried to do this many times before, but I ended up getting lost among 10-20 goals. The trick for me, and probably most people, is to pare down the list to 2-3 goals. If I go over that amount, I feel like I can’t give each one the attention that it needs.

1. Drink more water! I’m going to keep my Nalgene water bottle with me all day so that I don’t have an excuse.

2. Finish the book I’m reading called, “Be Your Own Best Publicist” by Jessica Kleiman and Meryl Weinsaft Cooper. I might even write a review on it because it’s full of awesome tips that anyone can use. I’ll read at least a half hour a day to get this done! It shouldn’t be hard because I really like it.

3. Read the top news headlines daily. This is more of a long-term goal. I have always enjoyed reading about what’s going on, but I fell out of the habit when school/internship stuff got busy.

I have everything checked off the list for today except reading the news. What publications do you read daily? Maybe I’ll add it to my news roundup!

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Stuffed Bell Pepper Love

10 Friday May 2013

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So, I had the best stuffed bell pepper yesterday. I have to share! I got the recipe from Athlete.io and it’s freakin’ delicious. I have always loved stuffed peppers for meals because there are so many ways to be creative with the recipe (and it’s super easy). You can mix and match the ingredients to your mood. You can make it protein-heavy, filled with veggies, cheesy, or a mix of all three. This recipe goes for the cheese/beef route, but it can easily be created into a vegan/vegetarian dish with the substitution of tofu or another faux meat/cheese combo.

IMG_3048Both halves makes a meal, but I was full after one half so it’s great leftover food too! This recipe called for ricotta cheese, grass-fed beef, parmesan cheese, and tomato sauce. It was nothing short of delicious!

In other news, I graduate in a week!

IMG_3046 2I’m so excited for the next chapter of life. It’s going to be quite the adventure!

Here’s to enjoying life without homework! :)

P.S. I found this post by The Lean Green Bean on how to blog smarter. Awesome tips. :)

 

Happiness is…

08 Wednesday May 2013

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Happiness is…

  • taking a bubble bath after a long day with lots of lavender soap.
  • burning a brand new candle.
  • devouring a giant piece of fresh carrot cake.
  • long walks on the trail with my mom on a beautiful day.
  • having dinner on a summer night on the patio with my entire family.
  • a clean desk.
  • meeting new people and learning about different life perspectives.
  • publishing a blog post.
  • going out with my friends (even more points for dancing).
  • my new body lotion (lemon oil, chamomile).
  • catching up with old friends.
  • knowing exactly what I love in life.
  • a glass (or more) of white wine.
  • completing a hard workout, especially when I wasn’t motivated at first.
  • watching pointless reality TV with my friends.
  • baking a new recipe from Pinterest.
  • sipping coffee and reading health blogs.
  • a stack of new magazines.
  • every single day that I get to spend with my friends and family.
  • giving a client a great workout session while personal training.
  • the quiet moments after a long run.
  • looking at old pictures (hello awkward middle school photos).
  • my health and the ability to explore many possibilities in life.
  • sitting by the pool with a good book.
  • new and spontaneous experiences.
  • meeting cute guys. ;)
  • the smell of brownies in the oven.
  • new running shoes (Nike Frees, please).
  • taking risks to create the life I want, even if it’s scary.
  • following my passions.

What makes YOU happy? 

Letting Go of the Fear of the Unknown

05 Sunday May 2013

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Yikes! I decided to tackle a big topic today, but it’s definitely something that is relevant to my current life phase. I’m coming up on graduation, which means lots of talk about jobs (that fulfill you), the future in general, engagements, and success. There is also a lot of talk about the fear of NOT checking off one or more of these items. To be honest, it gets exhausting! Whenever I feel like I’m getting caught up in this, I take a step back for some perspective to really cherish the core things that matter in life. I have a loving family, I’m happy, and I’m healthy. It’s great to have goals, but letting the fear of NOT becoming something is not the way to go.

Whether it’s getting married by a certain date, getting the dream job by a set time, or feeling like you are the most successful among your peers, take a step back and think about the true value of life. It’s about the journey to your goals and genuine happiness and that usually means that there will be many times when you will experience the unknown. From my experience, with the unknown comes adventure, and with adventure comes a fulfilling life. It’s not about checking things off on a timeline for comfort’s sake.

It’s about experiencing relationships, learning, discovering the world around you, and creating your own happiness each and every day. I know that I wouldn’t go after half of my goals if I let the fear of the unknown hold me back. It’s truly crippling if you let it run your life. It makes you settle for less than your potential and everyone deserves to reach their potential.

Coming back to life right now, as a soon-to-be college graduate, there are a lot of scary (and exciting) things on the horizon. I get to call the shots in this next chapter in life. I’m done with the traditional school path and now it’s up to me to figure out the rest. I want to promise myself to never settle for anything less than what I truly love in this next chapter of my life. That goes for careers, relationships, risks, and other major life events. I will let go of something if it’s not right for me, even if it means I won’t have it “checked off” the list mentioned above.

I want to promise myself to never let fear of the unknown hold me back from the experiences and choices that will enrich my life. I want to promise myself that I will never take the unknown for granted, because I know that it’s the very thing that keeps me running after my dreams and the core of what I love about life.

5 Foods I’m Lovin’ Lately

04 Saturday May 2013

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1. Bacon. I cook a few pieces in the microwave for breakfast… or lunch… and possibly dinner. :) So good! It’s the ultimate satisfaction.

2. Sprouts. They remind me of Jimmy Johns! I love to put sprouts on my sammy. It gives the meal another dimension (nerd alert). My favorite snack lately is to rolled turkey, cheddar cheese, and sprouts together with some mustard. Freakin’ good!

3. Cheddar Cheese. Ha. This list is pretty basic, huh? Cheddar cheese can pump up the flavor in a sandwich, eggs, with veggies for a snack, or just by itself. I don’t know what I avoided it for so long!

4. Fried Eggs. Frying eggs in coconut oil is the best! If you wake up starving, I highly recommend this b-fast. At first I was a little wary about the coconut taste with the eggs, but it turned out reeeeeal good. Give it a try!

5. Oregano. Well, this is technically a spice, but I’ll include it. I sprinkle oregano on most of my foods (especially the fried eggs) and it adds a nice kick.

I have a side note about caffeine. So, yesterday I ordered a LARGE coffee from Starbucks. I sipped the entire cup over the course of a few hours and later I had the shakes/jittery-ness (yeah, not a word). It was actually quite scary. Lesson learned. Starbucks is powerful stuff! I’m going to stick with the small or decaf from now on. Yikes! Just thought I would share my scary encounter. :)

I love spring, so I have lots of pics to share. Here are my favorites:

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Have a good saturday! :)

Spring Shopping – Francesca’s Jewelry Edition

26 Friday Apr 2013

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Hey, hey! It’s time for another shopping edition. I have recently purchased some fun jewelry from Francesca’s, so I thought I would share my finds!

1. Vienna Jeweled Bracelet – $18 This is the best purchase I have made in a long time. The gorgeous gems can dress an outfit up for any occasion. It picks up light and color from whatever you are wearing, so it’s a good staple piece.

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2. South Beach Geometric Cuff – $24 I haven’t bought this one, but I’ve definitely tried it on in the store quite a few times. I love the spring colors mixed with rhinestones.

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3. Surrey Floral Necklace – $24 This necklace just screams spring! It would be fun to throw on with a simple white top and jean shorts with flats, sandals, or wedges.

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4. Teardrop Necklace – $28 I have this necklace and I love using it to dress up a simple outfit. It can go with fun attire or something more elegant.

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5. Rose Garden Pastel Stud Set - $14 I love a simple stud, but these are really pretty. You could pin your hair back in a low bun and wear these for a different look.

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It’s a gloomy day, so I was definitely attracted to the bright colors and floral patterns more than usual. :)

Have a great Friday night!

runwithbalance.com

17 Wednesday Apr 2013

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Hey, hey! Check out the new URL. I purchased a domain so it would be more official! Unfortunately, runningwithbalance.com was already taken, so I opted for runwithbalance.com. I’m really excited about it! Graduation is coming up, which means I will have SO much more time to work on the blog. I have a lot of ideas for the future, so get ready! I’m also looking into some redesign options. Lots of good things goin’ on!

I’m planning on doing another shopping post later this week, so check back for that! Today I wanted to list a few things I’m loving lately.

1. La Croix Sparkling Water. It’s the best alternative to soda. It has no calories, but more importantly it has no artificial sweeteners or sodium. You can get the fizzy fix without all of the sketchy additives. I love the lime flavor!

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2. Ben Macklemore. I love his new songs “Can’t Hold Us” and “And We Danced“… so weird, but so good.

3. Ready for Love. It’s a new reality TV series about three guys looking for love. Basically, they get matchmakers who pick out women for them in hopes of finding the most compatible matches. Pretty entertaining! I used to hate these kind of shows, but things have been busy, and I have found that a mindless TV show is good for a mental break.

4. Spinning. I am a certified spinning instructor, but I took a break from teaching. I’m getting back into it and I have to say, it’s still one of the best cardio workouts if you do it right.

5. My new phone background. I have always loved this saying!

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Have a good day! :)

Spring Shopping – Francesca’s Dress Edition

13 Saturday Apr 2013

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I don’t usually talk about fashion on this blog, but I decided I wanted to give it a try! I definitely have a certain style. If you look in my closet, you’ll see florals, pastels, sheer, and lace items. I love light, flowy clothes. Of course, my wardrobe isn’t limited to this type of thing, but I gravitate towards it.

I’m going to shop online at different stores for my favorite spring/summer items and pose below. I’ll do it with a different store or clothing item category each time. If you have any suggests, please let me know! This will be fun. :)

Today the category is… Dresses from Francesca’s!

1. Hampton Court Floral Dress for $44. I love the spring colors and the floral designs. This dress is a good go-to item for nice events. I would wear it with loose curls and either flats or wedges!

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2. Melbourne Maxi Dress for $44. I love the sheer flowy bottom. It looks super comfy and it would be easy to pair with fun jewelry.

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3. Chattanooga Chambray Dress for $44 This would be a classic staple in my closet. I would throw it on for nearly any occasion with flats or sandals. Love the unique look.

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4. Nashville Swiss Dot Dress for $44 Yup, I had to include a complete sheer look. This dress is light, pretty and fresh.

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5. Peterborough Lace Dress for $44 This dress is different and I love the combination of a blush lace top with a flowing skirt. I could definitely see myself wearing my hair scrunched in loose waves with this dress. It’s fun!

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6. Calgary Chiffon Dress for $44 This dress is perfect for a night out. The sheer cut out is a little sexy. Love it!

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I hope that you enjoyed this as much as I did! Happy shopping!

Spring is HERE :) + Power Smoothie Bowl Recipe

04 Thursday Apr 2013

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Today is absolutely beautiful. The sun is shining with no clouds in sight. I just can’t get enough of this weather. When the weather is like this I just can’t stay inside. I get that from my momma.

Anyway, today I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. No stomach pains! I guess my step-by-step remedy worked. ;) I always check the weather when I wake up and when I saw the big sun and 60s, I knew what was in order. A grabbed my running gear and hit up the track for a spontaneous tempo run. It started with 10 minutes of warm up pace and then transitioned into race pace (around 7:30) for 20 minutes. After that, I jogged for the last 20 minutes for simple enjoyment. It felt good! Lately, I have been into running sans music. It’s nice to just zone out without any distractions. I think it’s beneficial to give your mind that break.

Breakfast was a Power Smoothie Bowl.

In the blender went:

  • 1 frozen banana
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 2 scoops vegan vanilla protein powder
  • 1 handful frozen kale
  • 2 TBS cocoa powder

It turned out well! I sprinkled cereal flakes on top for some crunch power.

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Not too shabby!

I finished a lot of work earlier this week, so I have a pretty free afternoon to enjoy this lovely weather.

Have a great day!

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