I Finally Tried...

Overnight Oats.

I've been seeing this lady eat them all the time.  

I am now addicted.

Can I eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

I don't have a photo, yet, but here's how I make them:

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 Chobani champions Honey-Nana

1 tbsp chia seeds

Sit overnight.

Maaaybe put a dash more almond milk and stir it up in the morning.

Slice banana onto it, sweeten with stevia if necessary.

DEVOUR.  

I might, if I remember, add photos tomorrow.  

In other news, here's my workout from today, because you might find it interesting:

2.5 mile run (total this week = 10)

Leg Destroyers aka training my legs:

Leg extension:  105 x 10 x 3 (weight, reps, sets)

Glute machine: 70 x 10; 70 x 10; 80 x 10

Leg press & calf press:  235 x 10; 255 x 10 x 2

Rotating calf:  90 x 10 x 2; 95 x 10

Squats:  60 x 10 x 3

Deadlift:  60 x 10 x 3

Reverse lunges:  30 x 10 x 3 (per leg)

15 min elliptical:

ramp 15 forward resistance 5

ramp 15 backward resistance 7

ramp 20 forward resistance 5

ramp 20 backward resistance 7

My legs will be dead tomorrow.  

Happy Wednesday!!!

Things I'm Really in the Mood For... And Don't Have

Top # of Things I am in the Mood for (to eat) and Don't Have:

1. Eggs

2. Big, gigantic full of veggies salads

3. Grapes

4. Cottage cheese

5. Pizza

I know that is so random, and I'm really not a food person, okay, that's a lie. I am a food person, but I don't normally blog about food. I don't cook, Chris does all the cooking. I'm thinking my next grocery trip will have to include some of these things. I'm not one to normally get cravings either, I get binges, but not cravings.

P.S. I don't even really like cottage cheese.

The Only One

I think I am the only one that didn't partake in seeing Breaking Dawn Pt 1, even my mom went out with my cousins, my sister, and their friends. I wish I had been with them to go. Chris said he'd go with me, if I really wanted him to, but I won't put him through that. Even though, maybe I should make him, be a good boyfriend and all.

We used to have this restaurant here, Spicy Pickle, and they had the best pickles, ever. They were so yummy, spicy, and delicious. They closed awhile back. I bought some sour garlic pickles at the grocery store, they don't really compare, but are really good as well. And no, I'm not pregnant, I have always LOVED pickles. My mom and I used to eat "chips and cheese" (tortilla chips with melted cheese) and pickles as snacks and/or dinner. Like mother like daughter.

I am so thankful that Thanksgiving is almost here. My family is moving our dinner to Saturday, since I won't be going to visit until Friday. But, my best friend aka my sister, will be working all weekend. Super lame, but I'll spend time with Momma Benz and Poppa Benz. I can't wait.

Have a great weekend.

Top Reasons Why I Love Fall

Fall is always my favorite season.

Its usually not super cold, but you can cuddle up and get comfy without overheating.

And these reasons always make it better:

I get to see these people more often:

Thanksgiving AND Christmas

I like wearing sweaters.

I like wearing cardigans.

They are so comfy.

They're my favorite.

via

Football.

Chargers football to be exact.

Now if only they could get their act together.

Apples.

Any kind.

They always taste better in fall.

I also like apple cider and apple pie.

I like the scent of apple as an air freshener.

It smells warm and fall-like.

via

And last, but not least.

Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Yum.

I've only had one this fall, but I am already planning for one when I go visit my family after Thanksgiving.

via

My reasons for loving fall.

I am sure that I have more, but these are my tops for now.

Happy Tuesday.

Sunshine Saturday

via

I'm excited that my hair is finally growing and will soon (okay maybe by my birthday or shortly thereafter) look like hers. Oh, and I'm hoping to win myself some tickets to her concert.

via

Recipe available from link as well.

Fall = pumpkin everything.

I bought a new pumpkin candle.

I am holding out for a Pumpkin Spice Latte, but I'm looking for pumpkin flavored coffee.

Mmm, that pumpkin and cream cheese pie looks divine.

via

I love the look of all those mirrors together.

I want to do this in my apartment.

Chris doesn't understand mirrors that you don't use to look at yourself in.

via

Flare jeans.

My absolute fave!

Much more flattering than skinny jeans, on me at least.

I have the pair on the left in dark denim and black.

I'm excited to bust them out.

This song.

I'm just like my mom.

We hold our purses the same.

We look the same.

We walk the same.

We like the same things.

Soon, and Very Soon

I will be spending a glorious week with these guys:

Mom, Dad, and Dani.

I am pretty excited because: 1) I miss them and 2) I could use a vacation.

Even though my grandma's memorial service is also going to be part of this trip, I am still so excited.

In other news, I injured my elbow somehow and have only been able to do leg work at the gym. Good, bad, I don't know, all I know is my legs are killing me.

And my last bit of info for this Saturday until I go finish my laundry and take a shower, I tried my first protein shake. It's not super oh-mi-god I want to drink this everyday, but it doesn't taste bad either.

My First Ever Protein Shake:

1 packet Spirutein Chocolate Protein Powder

1 cup skim milk

6 strawberries

15 blueberries

5 ice cubes

Blend and enjoy.

Happy Saturday

Five Things on a Saturday

1.

I got a great workout in today. I love running more than anything else; but I should probably start branching out on my cardiovascular endeavors and cross train a little.

2.

Taking Chris shopping, even for household stuff, is not as fun as just going by myself. I love having him with me, but after about 5 mins, he's done. Love the guy, but I'll run errands by myself. (Although we did buy a few ingredients for our end of summer/Labor Day surprise!)

3.

San Diego has the best weather. It was fabulous today. Be jealous, I know you want to.

4.

Mmm... my favorite comfort foods: pasta, and lots of it. I could really go for some mac and cheese, but the lasagna I had for dinner will definitely suffice.

And drumroll please.....

5.

We made these:

Graham Cracker + marshmallow + chocolate = HEAVEN

It was the perfect way to end our night and hope that summer never ends, well, I guess here it doesn't end until January, then there's winter until March, and we're back at summer again. Hope you had a great Saturday. Go make s'mores.

Not to brag, because I know there are plenty who find this an easy run, but I ran 5 miles again today. Over 5 in 50 mins. I'm slowly quickening my pace. I waver between 9:40 and 10:00 min miles. I could have ran forever. I know its because I had lots of carbs for breakfast. Both times I've been able to run that far I had eaten only carbs. My body had plenty of fuel.

I'm trying to really focus on clean eating. I eat a lot of fruits and veggies as it is, so I just want to up it. I'm thinking that this would be what I would eat, or something similar:

Breakfast:

oatmeal

berries

water

coffee (can't give it up)

Snack:

hardboiled eggs

carrots

Lunch:

salad with lots of veggies

chicken

Snack:

turkey slices

string cheese

baby tomatoes

Dinner:

beef/chicken/fish

two veggies

Snack:

yogurt

berries/apple

That's really a lot of food, but I have to fuel myself and not be tempted by the CRAP that my coworkers always have. Chips, cookies, cake, candy, etc. The snack before dinner will change whether I'm going to the gym or not, if I am, it will be less protein, more carbs, like an apple or something. Let's hope I can manage this.

My Favorite Healthy Things

These are some of my favorite healthy things and why I love them.

ONE:

running

via

I love running. It is my favorite workout. Its so hard on my joints, but it is my absolute favorite. I love running on the treadmill and outside, but my allergies have made outside running more and more difficult. So, indoors it is. Anyone can run. And you don't have to run fast. Just run.

TWO:

water

via

I'd be lying if I told you I only drink water BUT I mostly drink water. Especially during the week. During the week it is coffee in the morning and water. That's it. I don't need any other beverages. I've given up my diet soda habit, and I only treat myself to soda on the weekends. I like my water super cold, and I ALWAYS have some with me.

THREE:

carrots

via

I love carrots. Baby carrots are so portable and easy to snack on. The crunch replaces chips and crackers. I like them plain, personally, but they are good with hummus or ranch dressing (in moderation).

FOUR:

spinach

via

I love spinach. It is excellent in salads, I kind of even like eating it plain. I'm very strange.

FIVE:

apples

via

There's nothing better than a crunchy, crispy apple. Red Delicious and Pink Lady apples are my favorite, but I will eat any.

SIX:

blueberries

via

These are my favorite berries. I love all berries, but I could eat that whole container. I try to hold back, but I love eating them. Delicious!

SEVEN:

heirloom tomatoes

via

I love tomatoes, and if I had to pick a favorite, it would be heirloom. I know that the odd colors make them look strange, but they are DELICIOUS. And since they come in so many colors they really make salads and things look so lovely.

These are my favorite healthy things, I usually eat, drink, or do these things everyday.

Five Things

Five Things I Love and Had Forgotten I Enjoyed So Much:

1. Ben Folds, Bright Eyes, and Modest Mouse. Sometimes you just need to switch it up.

2. Melty ice cream on the bottom of the bowl swirled with the still frozen stuff. Delicious. It might be the best part (falls into the same category as the fact that I like soggy cereal).

3. Chips & Salsa. Do I really have to say more?

4. Classic Books: Little Women, The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Catcher in the Rye. I actually love all J.D. Salinger and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Honors English my junior year of high school worked well for me.

5. Football. Not really forgotten, but the Chargers have their first preseason game tomorrow. It is definitely meaningful game, they are playing the Seahawks. Chris's BFF Damian who died in February was a huge 'hawks fan. I might just have to be a 'hawks fan tomorrow. Shh... don't tell Chris.

Happy Wednesday!

:)

Running

I love running.

I don't look like I love running and when you see me stop in the middle of my run, I'm not stopping because I can't run, I'm stopping because my allergies/asthma/legs/feet etc. are like, "hey, crazy lady, what's wrong with you?"

I'm over the 4 mile mark, which I think makes me a legit runner.

Insert MC Hammer's "Too Legit to Quit":

I'm really working on this being healthy, better fitness, eating cleaner, I'm not sure if I can really consider it clean eating completely, but here's a run down of what I ate today.

Greek yogurt w/ a bit of cereal

Watermelon

Turkey w/ cheese, carrots, and a plum

A few tortilla chips

2 Lara Bars

Spaghetti squash w/ tomato sauce

Some fro yo

That really is not a lot of food, but it packs a lot of calories (maybe)

However, the only unreal foods I ate today was the cereal, tortilla chips, and pasta sauce.

The rest qualifies as real food, right?

I think so.

I also, only drink water during the week (oh and coffee in the AM).

I really have a terribly boring and sedentary job.

So I think I eat a lot of crap that I normally wouldn't.

And my weird eating habits/lack of always eating well give me terrible stomach pains, aches, rumbles, whatever you want to call it.

To make up for my potentially poor eating, here's the exercise my bod got today:

40 mins brisk/power walk at lunch

40 mins run/jog (4.1 miles)

30 mins weight lifting (shoulders and biceps)

15 mins stretching

That's good, right?

If I could shove a few more veggies into my tummy and a few less tortilla chips, I might be okay.

By the way, I'm too lazy to post a photo, but Gilles Marini might be the HOTTEST man on the planet. No kidding.

Things I Really Like and Think I Could Not Live Without (But Probably Could)

I really love this photo of my cousin and her dad, my uncle. I wish there were more days for him to have been with us, but moments like this one are cherished by everyone. I love this photo, definitely a fave.

This was a picture of the sunset at Mission Beach last weekend. I love sunsets on the beach in San Diego. Maybe more to come this weekend. Beautiful.

Reliving my childhood... Spice Girls. :]

From Here

Emily Giffin might replace, well, not replace, but join in line of the author who I will eventually end up reading all of their books. I loved Something Borrowed, I'm waiting for Something Blue to be ready for pick up so I've begun reading Baby Proof.

Nicholas Sparks

Jodi Picoult

Stephenie Meyer

J. K. Rowling

Emily Giffin

Soon I will be able to cross her off that list.

From Here

I need a big floppy hat, ASAP. I can not find one that I really, really like. I like the ones that I saw at H&M (not pictured above - which I should have but I don't want to edit this post) but I could not find the right color. Ugh. I want one SO BAD.

From Here

Why hello there, what could be better than the Backstreet Boys? Or what could be better than New Kids on the Block? Oh, that's right, THEM JOINING FORCES FOR NOT ONLY A TOUR BUT A CD! Okay, I'm sorry for yelling, but you should see the huge cheesy grin on my face. I love it. Love, love, love it. I had my Danny doll as a kid, which if I hadn't gotten him at like 4 years old I would have kept for a collector's item. Oh well. Swoon, NKOTB and BSB together. Big smile.

Found Here

Fruits and vegetables. Yum, I've been getting all my servings, and it feels and tastes good. All we have left are pears. I need more than pears!!

Found Here

Bruno Mars' Grenade. I love this song. Chris and I both love it. At first the song is all about being heartbroken, but then he gets angry. It is phenomenal. I love it. He's kinda cute too, but I have more of an affinity for the above mentioned NKOTB and BSB.

Found Here

This movie, Titanic, is on TV. I used to have the biggest crush on Leo. My friend from elementary school and I were obsessed. I had this framed photo and my mom stepped on it and broke the glass and my friend and I about went into shock. Anyway, it is on and it definitely makes me think of my childhood; oh and my mom covering my eyes during the sex scene.

Finally, a post with photos. I hope to take a solo adventure tomorrow and maybe have some photos, although I will be busy.

Gym

Make stick/post for Relay

Find rings for Flamingo toss at Relay

Pick up some candy for Relay

Clean the house

wash your mouth out with soap, try and keep it clean

If you know me well, you know that curse words don't just roll off my tongue like they do for most people. In fact, I really have to think about cursing and therefore normally I don't. It takes more effort. However, this post is not about the mouth of a trucker or a sailor, or of a 24-year-old lady. It is about my eating. I have been trying so hard to eat well. I've been writing down what I eat, not for the purpose of counting calories (okay, maybe a little bit, because I really want to know), but I want to know what's going in. What makes me feel full, what doesn't. What do I enjoy, what is ho hum.

With all that being said, I'm really trying to eat more real food. By real, I mean, it doesn't come in a box. I've done okay. Clearly it isn't a cold turkey situation. I've been eating lots of fruit and veggies, and trying my best to make sure dinners are healthy and feature less preservatives. I hate milk, I only use it for cereal, so I bought some almond milk and I'll see how that goes. I'm thinking some kind of smoothie tomorrow for breakfast, if it happens I'll tell you about it. Although it would have to include strawberries, bananas, almond milk, and spinach. I don't have anything else for it. Oh well, we shall see.

I'm also thinking the almond milk will taste great in my coffee. We shall see. Soymilk is only okay, but I'm really hoping this almond milk will suffice. No photos, I know, which makes for a boring post. Sorry. Well, here is an adorable photo of my cousin Hannah to end with:

Oh and by the way, check out my sister's blog. She's not going to be able to update all the time, but while she works at Shoshone Base Camp, part of Lutherhaven, in Idaho, you'll see tons of neat stuff.

carrots + cinnamon = yum

A second post for today from tadoo, well of course

We had yogurt express and our leftover Chipotle for dinner

And my new favorite fro-yo flavor of all time is....

drum roll please...

CARROT CAKE!

Absolutely, positively, DELICIOUS.

The end.