Weekend Roundup

Happy Monday Evening!

Today is super rainy, and I thought I'd pop in since I haven't posted since Wednesday.

We had a weekend full of errands. Starting with getting my hair done!!

 

Bangs? Check. Red? Double check. My hair stylist did a fantastic job. She's a trooper (my sister and mom also got their hair done)!

 

Afterwards we took a quick trip to Tarjay to pick up some activities for the kids I was babysitting that night, and Rue 21 so I could get my first "springy" shirt in honor of the gorgeous weather. :)

 

 

Mandatory Starbucks run.

 

 

The awesome weather + time change were amaazzziingg (and helpful for babysitting)!

 

The bro and I took advantage of it and hung outside for a little bit before I had to leave.

 

 

 

Scenic.

 

Twister + 65 degrees + bouncy balls = happy kiddos and happy babysitter!

 

Sunday consisted of sleeping in til noon (say what?!) and notesnotesnotes. Test this Thursday....

 

 

Afternoon chocolate euphoria.

 

 

And that night, more watching kiddos. That's why they pay me the big bucks, yo.

 

Kidding.

 

Lilly says adios!

 

 

 

 

WIAW

These past couple of weeks have been nonstop.

 

I am so ready to driiiiiiiiiivvee (on my own). Must. Practice.

 

I did get a few snapshots of some yummy eats this week!

 

 

Thanks Jenn!

 

 

 

Picked up this little fellow at the grocery store: red Bartlett pear. He was stirred into some (watery) overnight oats.

 

 

No pics of lunches, because all were eaten at school. :) I eat lots of wraps/salads.

 

Snack while doing school work:

 

 

 

I originally thought the Larabar I picked up was Cappuccino, therefore super excited, but this lil guy was super yummy! Like a Reese's.

 

I've discussed not needing caffeine at 4 pm, but researching the history of US Standard of Living requires some java, dangit.

 

Dinners:

 

 

Stir-fry and delizioso spaghetti my mama made. Plus water: so much water. I need 10-12 cups of water to actually feel quenched and refreshed during the day.

 

Lastly, the usual evening snack of:

 

 Oh! Before I forget, my new obsession:

 

 

Must retrieve more!

 



March Flurries

I can't believe this weather!

 

For Georgia, snow in March is a bit unusual. We normally start feeling some spring weather around this time!

 

Saturdays are not always my favorite, considering I wake up before everyone else. Me and the kitties are normally the only ones up for an hour or so. Boredom sets in quickly.

 

 Coffee helps.

 

 

I finally got some Sunbutter (!!). It's made from roasted sunflower seeds, and sooo delicious. Plus rich in minerals and the antioxidant vitamin E.

 

 

Chunky.

 

 

Breakfast was literally one of the best combos I've ever had!!!

 

 Plain Greek yogurt, Wheaties, mango, banana, and sunbutter.

 

The stars:

 

 

Mmmm. Mangos. Eaten while doing weekend homework (cough cough that may or may not have included a SpongeBob marathon).

 

After weekend chores, I bundled up for a flurry-filled walk.

 

Top bun hair = dire need of hair trim.

 

 

It makes me so sad when people say, "Ugh, I hate the cold" or "I wish summer was here, winter sucks." I actually prefer my walks in the cold - it makes me feel more awake and energized. Although I admit, I normally return home Jessica the red-nosed-chapped-lips reindeer chica.

 

The rest of my afternoon looked like this:

 

 

Gotta love interpreting poems and writing essays.

 

And some necessary relax time. I'm serious, people - if I don't have some alone time during the day....yeah, then you'd want to leave me alone. ;)  

 

 

 

My idea of relaxation always, always involves reading and nailpolish. FTW. I had hoped to bake some homemade granola bars, but that'll have to wait for another time!!

 

The good news: homework completed, to bed at a decent time! Nighty night, loves.

 

 

 



NEDA Week: Physical Freedom

*Caution: This has some Ed/exercise related discussions. Read at your own discretion.*

 

Hello loves! I am indeed still here.

 

 

And making crazy faces, apparently. One of many.

 

Just to let ya'll know, it doesn't really matter if I go three hours or three months without posting - I'm not going to stop blogging. It's on my mind often, life just happens.

 

I love you all too much. ;)

 

So as some of you may know, this week was National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. It's been a mix of emotions for me, and many others too.

 

 

 

NEDA Week means donning the purple! <3

 

It rolled around and hit me all of a sudden - this month has been go go go. (Birthdays! Projects! Babysitting!) NEDA Week has reminded me to take a step back and reflect on all that I've been working for the past two years.

 

I know that I tend to frequently gush and rant about recovery and freedom from Ed, but I feel that there is seriously no way I can express how worth it it is. Think about it: has your life ever spun a 180? It's pretty freakin awesome!

 

In honor of NEDA Week, I thought I'd give you a few updates considering I've posted recipes and WIAW the past couple of times.

 

Friends, I am flying higher than I ever have.

 

First: I pretty much have free reign over any physical activity of my choosing. Yuh huh, you read correctly! *Happy dance.*

 

Can I just say? Long. Time. Comin'. Months and months of being sedentary followed by months and months of monitored light exercise followed by months and months of short, light exercise on my time, and now I have finally achieved this goal.

 

Whoop whoop.

 

Peeps, this is not saying I'm going to be training for a marathon or joining a swim team or taking up judo. I love my walks and Just Dance and hiking but this girl's gotta have some variety.

 

 

 So what do I think finally helped me achieve this goal?

 

Well, many (many many many....many) things/epiphanies/enlightenments/whatever you'd like to call them. One obviously important factor is the fact of my relationship with food.

 

I know how to listen to my hunger and fullness cues, satisfy cravings, replenish myself accurately, treat myself, yada yada.

 

Another is my relationship with exercise (thanks, Captain Obvious!).

 

Friends, I've stressed a hundredandtwentyfivegazillion times that I love. to. move. And talk, but mostly move. In full-fledged Ed days, this was not a factor of my well-being or enjoyment.

 

Something that naturally releases endorphins and energizes left me feeling worse and lethargic.

 

*Note: I was never categorized an "over-exerciser" (as in, 3 hours a day on the treadmill), but for my weight range? Yeeeaaahhh too much.*

 

 

These two problematic situations have kind of instilled this fear in myself and family members of anything strenuous. I stick to walks (whoop whoop), stationary bike, yoga, and weights.

 

Truth be told, running is my first exercise love. I loved it before Ed, I've loved, ahem, the concept of it ever since leaving outpatient, and I love it now.

 

CONFESSION: I actually got permission to jog months ago, but have been too afraid to post about it, discuss it with family, or attempt it. I have frequent discussions with God about why I feel I'm in such a dilemma. Just eat adequately, take a run, eat adequately, and that's it!

 

Easier said than done, my friends. Easier said than done. This to me shows the scary side of recovery: Ed and Satan are shown who's boss. It's more anxiety-producing, fearful, and stressful than you'd expect - letting go of Ed in another way.

 

However, I refuse to let my anxieties and fears overshadow my successes and triumphs. What does the Lord say? "Be anxious about nothing, instead pray about everything." "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." "For I know the plans I have for you."

 

I think that NEDA Week is a perfect opportunity to reflect on these verses. What are you not putting into God's hands? How much do you lean on Him, and only Him, for strength? What do you feel HE has in store for you?

 

 

~XOXOXO~



WIAW: Variety

I'm back for the partay! Holla.

 

I love WIAW, but considering school and icky lighting in the mornings and whatnot, I haven't been much in the groove. 

 

 

 

I am by no means a picky eater - I'm willing to try pretty much anything - but when it comes to my meals, I generally eat the same types of things.

 

Breakfast: oatmeal. Lunch: salad. Dinner: stir fry. Snacks: Bars, fruit, yogurt, granola. All that jazz.

 

These are all my favorite foods, but this week I attempted to branch out from the usual (rolled) oats, salads, and Luna Bars.

 

 

New breakfasts:

Crock-pot steel-cut oats with Chai spices, almond milk, pear, and almond butter

 

French toast w/ banana, blueberries, sunflower seeds, and yogurt

 

Yogurt and Cascadian Farms Cinnamon Crunch w/ applesauce and banana

 

Just looking at these pics are making my mouth water.

 

Lunches:

 

Babba ganoush and veggie sandwich

Kashi Mediterranean Style Pizza.

 Tortilla w/ boiled egg, cherry tomatoes, and spinach. Avocado would have made this wrap!

 

 

Dinners: epic blog fail. I got no pictures of dinner. Zilch. I guess I was too concerned with getting food in mah belly to care about photography. But I can tell you what I did have:
 

 

*Spicy Peanut-Veggie Stir-fry* (Hey! Stir fry!)

 

*Grilled pork chops, sweet potatoes, and asparagus*

 

*Chicken fajitas with peppers and onions - gah so good*

 

Snacks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time, loves. :)

 

 

 

Confessions

  1. I always have polish on my toes. No exceptions; even winter. There's just something about my toes being bear that makes me feel....bleh. Nailpolish has the power to brighten the day.

 

2. If for some reason I end up being a crazy cat lady, I'm pretty sure I'd be okay with it. No judging; cats are nicer than people. Sometimes.

 

 

3. I have random unfinished art projects and half-learned piano songs all in my room. Combining ADD, lack of time and patience, and procrastination allows this to be possible.

 

 

4. I get obsessive about books, movies, and television shows. I develop this overwhelming attachment to the plot lines and characters, and I totally feel like it's real life. No shame in weeping when the Flight 815 people reunite, sympathy for Frodo, being in love with Mr. Darcy, and wishing I could actually attend Hogwarts.....

  5. Mmmmm. Chocolate.

 

 

6. I love writing. Obviously. But I also love handwriting; no idea why. In school, I prefer old-fashioned handwritten notes to printouts, and I also like handwriting essays and such.

 

 

7. I have watched more SpongeBob and Adventure Time in the past month than I had in my entire life up to that point.
 

 

8. Reibs and I (okay, mostly me) take hundreds of thousands of millions of selfies. Some cute, some....notsomuch.

 

9. I hoard bars. Bars everywhere. This is a well known fact in my house, evidenced through my random findings of them. Sometimes I put them in my purse in case I need a snack randomly or put them in the fridge (yum!) and forget about them.

 

 

 

10. I know I say how much I love the fall and winter (which I still do), but at the moment, I am really missing summer. Sun, swimming, color...ahh. The life.