Strut the Line

Ready for Phase II

2011-06-23T12:11:00.000-04:00

Things are still going well with the no-grain fast. We've been slowly eating through all the food we made on Sunday, and now that the week is coming to a close, I am once again beginning to think about the next week and what we might do to plan meals. Although, this time around I'm not nearly as stressed. It definitely helps (more than I had imagined) to have Derek on board with the same diet! Next week will be our last week doing no grains at all, and then I think we are going to add grains back in, but we will still be gluten-free. (We haven't yet discussed how long we intend to go gluten-free.)

Photo Source

I used to think being gluten-free was an inconvenience, but I'll tell you what, being grain-free is way worse! And it's not because I am craving a bunch of stuff - thankfully, I haven't struggled too much with that. The main issue is that it takes SO. MUCH. PLANNING. I don't usually have a problem with plans. In fact, I love them. Plans help me keep my head together. But when I have to give up an entire Sunday afternoon to planning and making food just to kind of get by through the week (I still had to buy a few meals out in order to make it through), it's pretty annoying. So, needless to say, I am looking forward to adding a few grains back in. Things like corn and rice really can make a huge difference in what kinds of dishes we can prepare. Being gluten-free isn't "easy" but with all the GF products available these days, it certainly helps with having a life outside of the kitchen! I miss my rice cakes. :-(

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Turning the corner

2011-06-20T15:20:00.000-04:00

This week is turning out to be so much better than I thought it would be. Basically, my doubts and frustrations about meal planning from last week went right out the window and I've actually felt excited about this week's meals. Everything got a little better after I worked a few things out, but it all really changed when I talked to Derek because I found out he's going to do the no-grain fast with me!! And, we're doing it for 2 weeks together (3 weeks total for me)! Before we talked, I was worried he would want to eat things for dinner that I couldn't have and that I'd just be a big downer on his meals for the week, but now it's not an issue.

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Yesterday, we sat down and came up with our meal plans for the whole week (every meal - not just dinners, like we normally do). Then, we went grocery shopping and stayed under budget! After shopping, (and here's where it gets really good) . . . Derek chopped all the vegetables! I hate chopping vegetables. He helped me cook up a storm all afternoon so we could be prepared for the start of the week. We made my Greekified Oven Omelet and the Chicken Vegetable Soup. It all turned out pretty well, and we're almost entirely ready for the week. We're also making another soup for dinner later this week that will provide some leftovers for lunches by the time the Chicken Vegetable Soup runs out.

While I'm certainly glad to be able to have good food all planned out for the week, there's one thing that is really exciting for me. I found a chocolate chip cookie recipe that Derek approves of! (I shared the same recipe last week, in case you already looked at it.) I thought they tasted really good, but since Derek is something of a cookie connoisseur, I was worried they wouldn't be good enough. Well, he tasted one of my already-6-days-old cookies and thought they were great (success!). Of course, that led to him deciding we needed to add the ingredients for vanilla ice cream to make ice cream cookie sandwiches. (I would normally link to the vanilla ice cream recipe here, but for some reason it's not connecting.)

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By the way, that's not my photo (because I haven't made anything yet). It's just meant to give you a visual. Anyway, the ice cream recipe is a great David Lebovitz recipe, so you should check it out sometime. I replace the white sugar with coconut sugar for a low-glycemic, refined sugar-free version. The coconut sugar darkens the color of the ice cream and gives it a warmer flavor (like a hint of caramel). We will be making the cookies and ice cream soon, and I am very excited because I've been wanting to make cookie sandwiches for a year!

So tell me, have you used coconut sugar before? What have you made? Please leave me links or recipes in the comments section so I can try yummy things too! If you haven't used it before, would you be willing to try it?

It's a little weird sometimes

2011-06-17T12:16:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I blogged about feeling a little stressed about next week's meal plans, but wouldn't you know that all it took was a little time, communication and planning to wash all that stress away? In other words, I feel much more prepared for next week.

However, this post is not about how I feel better now. This post is actually about how tired I felt yesterday! Up until yesterday, I had been feeling really good having no grains. I wasn't struggling with cravings and I was feeling light and happy. But yesterday (and this may have contributed to my momentary panic), I felt . . . off. I mentioned during my second no-grain post that my tummy feels different when I eat food that does not cause inflammation (bloating). What I mean by that is, over the last 4 days, I haven't really feel "full" in the general sense of the word. I'm not talking about a starvation feeling though. I'm certainly eating enough food to feel satisfied, but the "satisfied" feeling is just different than it usually feels.

So, after 4 days of a new routine, I think my body finally said, "ok, this fast is for real." You know how sometimes you try to "cut down" on something but then it really just acts as a slippery slope that brings you right back to eating and/or drinking the same amount you usually do? Well, those "cut downs" do pretty much nothing for resetting your cravings/body chemistry. Since you're still having the thing you've cut back on, your body is still processing it. Basically, you're still on alert for that thing. It takes a little while of doing something new for your body to shift its gears to focus on the new thing. I believe yesterday to be the day my body shifted.

I didn't realize it until I got home from the gym, but I was exhausted! I fell asleep at 7:30pm and didn't wake up until 9:45pm when I got a phone call. Of course, then I had trouble getting back to sleep. But my point is that my body needed extra rest. This is very common when undergoing any type of dietary cleansing. I was also ambivalent about food. It was really weird. I felt like a picky toddler. I was hungry, but nothing sounded good and all I wanted was to go to sleep. So I did. And it felt great!

Today, I feel much better though. Well-rested and ready to eat again. Although, I'm a little anxious because I'm singing today. Ack! Wish me luck! Also, thanks to everyone who has been following along and commenting!

Day 4 = Stressed!!

2011-06-16T14:54:00.003-04:00

Photo Source

For some reason, I've been really feeling the pressure of next week's menu bearing down on me today. I enjoyed the things I have eaten this week, but I started thinking about next week and how I will be cooking for two (because Derek comes back to town this weekend - yay!). (I should also mention that I decided to carry on my no-grain fast into next week because one week really is barely enough time to let the body reset anything.)

Coming up with another week's worth of food ideas (especially when there's special requirements) is tough enough when it's just you, but taking another person into consideration is much more complicated! Not just because we'd both like to enjoy what we're eating, but because Derek eats A LOT (and stays thin as a pin)!

Between budget concerns and trying to find recipes that accommodate our preferences (no carrots for me, no onions for him), as well as trying to make things healthy, I felt overwhelmed. I know, I know, this is definitely a first world problem.

After getting flustered enough to close all my recipe-searching windows, I gathered myself and calmly thought about what would make for affordable/tasty breakfasts and lunches. Derek and I only eat dinner together, so I figured we could decide those together later. Doing this definitely made me feel a lot better! I even got creative and came up with some recipe ideas! (I will share those momentarily.)

I am one of those people who would much rather cook for a few hours on a Sunday to prepare for the rest of the week instead of making something each day. Here's what I came up with: Breakfasts will be an adapted version (recipe below) of the oven omelet I made this week and lunches will be chicken vegetable soup (recipe below). I do like the greek yogurt I have eaten all this week for breakfast, but I really miss chewing stuff. For me, greek yogurt is much better enjoyed as a snack instead of the main event. Also, after eating about half a cup of yogurt, I feel dairy-ed out! Ok, enough babbling and onto my ~~perfectly designed~~ estimated recipes! Keep in mind that I just came up with these today, so I don't have any pictures. Sorry!

Breakfast: Greekified Oven Omelet (adapted from The Spunky Coconut's recipe)

**Makes 1 pie

Ingredients

6-7 whisked eggs

1 clove minced sauteed garlic

1.5 cups sauteed, thinly sliced broccoli
1/2 cup sauteed, chopped mushrooms

1 cup sliced Applegate Farms, Chicken & Apple Sausage

1/4 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 cup fresh spinach, slightly wilted
2 tbsp feta pesto spread (this is basically pesto with feta cheese blended in, or you can just use regular pesto)
Salt/Pepper to taste*

*Could also be good with a little red pepper or cayenne pepper for a slight kick.

Directions

Mix all ingredients.
Pour into lightly greased pie plate.
Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes.

Lunch: Chunky Chicken Vegetable Soup (keep in mind, this is all estimation because soup is flexible)
Ingredients
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 tbsp oil
3-4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (my favorite is from Pacific Natural Foods)
1 lb boneless raw chicken, diced
1 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano - undrained
1 small can plain tomato sauce
1 small can tomato paste
1 small-medium zucchini, cubed
1 small-medium yellow squash, cubed
1 small-medium bunch of broccoli, chopped small
1 14.5 oz can navy beans, drained and rinsed
Any other veggies you like (carrots, spinach, corn, peas, potatoes, etc.)
Seasonings to taste: salt, pepper, Italian seasoning

Directions

In a large pot, sautee garlic in oil over medium high heat for about 1 minute
Pour in chicken broth, diced chicken and seasonings, bring to a rolling boil and then turn down to medium heat, simmer for 10 minutes
Add in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste. Mix thoroughly and bring back to a simmer.
Depending on what veggies you are putting in, first add the ones that take the longest to cook (e.g., potatoes, carrots, etc.). Check your amount of liquid. I like my soup to be chunky and thick, so I try not to make it very liquidy. If you like a thinner soup, just add more chicken broth (but make sure your pot will be big enough to accommodate the rest of the veggies you'll be adding later!).
When you are about 10-15 minutes away from serving the soup, mix in the rest of the veggies and the beans and any more seasonings you want. Simmer until the veggies are slightly soft.
This is a great dish to make ahead of time and freeze in individual servings or to keep in the refrigerator if it will be finished within 3-5 days. Make sure to let it cool for a little while before putting in the refrigerator / freezer!

No Grains - Day 3, But Really Day 2

2011-06-15T13:14:00.000-04:00

I have a confession to make. I had some oats the other day...but it wasn't intentional!! I was going through the fridge getting rid of stuff that was old and I came across some "no-bake chocolate oaties." I just ate one without even thinking about the fact that oaties = oats = grains = what I'm not supposed to eat this week! Oops.

The good news is that it didn't derail my progress. I can definitely tell that my body is liking me not eating grains. Normally, my abdominal region looks a little more puffy at the end of the day than it does in the morning, but lately it's been even throughout the day.

The food I normally eat does not include things like soda, fast food and refined sugar. In fact, most people consider me "extra healthy." And yes, while I do make healthier choices and try to pick whole food items over processed foods, I would not yet consider myself "extra healthy." The reason for this is because I still have frequent troubles with acne, hormonal stability (i.e., random mood swings), digestive discomfort, bad breath and anxiety. Hence, why I am fasting from grains this week. Ultimately, I'd like to get myself to a place where I don't feel sentimental about certain foods so much where it won't feel like a punishment to give them up. I've actually managed to do this with refined sugar (miraculously), but something like committing to a gluten-free or even paleolithic diet still seems scary. It's mostly because of social reasons though.

In the past, I have been the "weirdo" who doesn't eat with friends because I couldn't eat what they were eating due to random cleanses or elimination diets. It's always someone's birthday or wedding, and since so many events revolve around food and socializing while eating, I stuck out like a sore thumb. While I felt great physically, I did not feel great socially which took a toll on me emotionally. It became more of a burden than a benefit, so I went back to a lot more "normal" diet.

Sure, I'm still "weird" because I don't eat and/or crave sugar like so many people, but it doesn't bother me because I don't miss the things they're eating. This is where I want to get to with grains. I already love a lot of things that don't involve grains, but I want my cravings to focus on the foods that don't create chronic inflammation. Creating new habits takes time and effort, which is why it is so important to keep your eye on the prize until all the changes become natural.

Things are still going well right now, so I'm really excited to see how I continue to feel. I will say that I am starting to feel more hungry more often, which means I probably did not buy enough food for this week! I'm used to taking a long time to get hungry after each meal, but now my body is processing things quicker. And without the inflammation, I don't have that bloated, overfull feeling anymore. Satiety feels different when your digestive system is not inflamed. I have felt this in the past, but it's been awhile, so I'm readjusting to it. It's exciting though!

Photo source

No-Grain Week!

2011-06-14T14:22:00.000-04:00

This is an exciting week for me because I'm going to spend at least one week with absolutely no grains in my diet! No wheat, rice, corn, oats, etc. That might not sound exciting to you, but I've never gone completely grain-free and after a lifetime of digestive troubles, it's about time I try to eliminate them for a little while. It's been about 24 hours so far and I haven't had any trouble with feeling deprived or bored, and I don't suspect that will happen later on either because I found a couple great recipes that will help me with lunches and sweet treats.

The first thing I made is this Oven Omelet by The Spunky Coconut.

I used real cheese instead of dairy-free though. It tastes really good, but it would be even better if the sweet potato slices were fully cooked. When I make it again I will probably pre-bake them a little before adding the egg mixture. I'm going to eat this for my lunches this week, along with some apple slices and sharp cheddar cheese as an afternoon snack.

For breakfasts, I will be eating either greek yogurt (sweetened with stevia) or, if I have enough time to cook, eggs with veggies and chicken sausage. And for dinners, I bought some chicken and asparagus to last for a couple nights. Although, I also might get lazy and have eggs for dinner a few times.

Now, here's where things get really exciting. I get to eat COOKIES during this grain fast!! Elana's Pantry is another go-to blog I frequently use for gluten-free, refined-sugar-free recipes. And luckily, her chocolate chip cookie recipe will work perfectly into my grain-free week.

I followed the recipe as-is, but it ended up being too liquidy for cookies. I just added more almond flour as well as some coconut palm sugar. I didn't measure, so I don't know how much I added, but it was probably somewhere around a half cup of each. Just add until you have a firmer dough that will hold it's shape on the cookie sheet. Also, I highly recommend sticking with the dark chocolate chips. The slightly bitter taste is a nice complement to the almond and the sweetness.

Side note: These cookies will end up being chewy. I wanted them to be slightly crunchy, but they're not. Maybe if I'd left them in longer they would've gotten a little crunchy...but I'm not so sure because my second batch was darker than the first and they still ended up being chewy the day after baking. If you figure out how to perfect the crunchy-outside, soft-inside effect in a gluten- and sugar-free cookie, please let me know!

I will share more about how I feel as the week progresses!

Blogtastic "Open Mic"!!

2011-02-25T19:04:00.000-05:00

Ashley, over at (never home)maker, decided to hold a blog-world "open mic" for any bloggers who would like to share whatever talent they care to bless the internet with. Well, anyone coming to my blog will probably notice that this is the first post I've made since July 2010 . . . which doesn't really classify me as a true blogger, but I do have a blog and I do have a talent I'd love to share. So, without further ado, here I am singing one of my favorite Sara Bareilles songs, "Gravity." Thanks for stopping by!

M + O is closing!

2010-07-16T12:25:00.005-04:00

I have 2 things to tell you about here:

1. Here's the practical part...click here to go to the M+O website. Everything is an additional 50% off the marked price! In the Atlanta area, the Perimeter location is closing 7/25/10, and you can get 50% off everything in the store. These are the most comfortable jeans I've ever bought and it's truly heartbreaking for me to say good bye!

2. Here's the sappy part...the closing of this store is also heartbreaking for me because it is where I met the love of my life! I worked part-time at M+O for around 3 months over the winter of '08-'09. One day this mysterious and very well-dressed, sexy guy walked into my store and never left my heart. Luckily, he was a student at the school I work for and we began the dance of getting to know each other (10 months before we ever had our first date!).

What are you interested in?

2010-07-15T14:52:00.005-04:00

I have been planning to get myself more invested in the social networking game for awhile, but for various reasons I have not made it a priority. Well, I have finally decided that enough is enough and I am ready! I will be regularly adding to my blog, tweeting more frequently on Twitter (melodious82) and continuing my already-overboard Facebook addiction. If you are interested in what I have to say or if you have a friend who might be interested, I'd love to network with you! Also, if you have anything you'd like to suggest to me, please do so. Here are my general interests and what I plan to discuss here: health, entertainment, things I'm learning, personality types, self-care, love, food laws, recipes, sugar-free, creativity, wellness coaching, travel, lolcats, funny stuff, etc. That's what I have so far and will probably expand that list as I get going!

"I love a warm pig belly for my aching feet."

2010-03-22T12:01:00.004-04:00

I loved it!! I have seen the movie twice so far! I think everyone should go see it in 3-D IMAX - except if you're going at 9:30pm and bringing children under the age of 10! I was appalled that parents had their young children (like, 4-year-olds) out that late, and for a movie with such scare potential. Seriously, I was terrified of the Jabberwocky as a child, and I only saw part of it walk by. Not to mention that this was an old live version. I would have died in the theater if I saw today's version as a child!

Anyway, I'm off my soapbox now. I thought it was amazing, and I would now like to have my own Bandersnatch.

Ack!

2010-03-22T11:37:00.005-04:00

So much has changed since my last post, and I'm sorry it has taken me this long to post anything!!

Here's a brief update of what has happened since November:

-I began dating the love of my life, Derek, on November 15, 2009, and it has been the most exciting four months!

-I took my first life coaching class in the winter quarter of 2010.

-I moved across Atlanta.

-It snowed enough this winter on three different occasions for work to be canceled!

-I saw my first snowman! And then I saw 8 more the same day...

-One of my best friends got married!! (Congrats Olivia and Ty!)

It has been a cold, but very good, winter and I will have great memories from this time! However, I am completely ecstatic for spring to be just around the corner!!!

Bad Romance

2009-11-18T14:42:00.004-05:00

I was definitely a little skeptical when I first heard a clip of the song, but seeing the video has only further solidified my belief that she is amazing and will always be amazing!

Lady GaGa Pony

2009-11-10T11:10:00.001-05:00

Don't MESS with a Girl Scout!

2009-10-09T11:03:00.004-04:00

(Click to see fullsize image)

Kanye Interrupts Atlanta's Flooding!

2009-09-22T13:22:00.005-04:00

(Click to see fullsize picture)

Say NO to antibiotic-laced meat!

2009-09-16T11:56:00.003-04:00

Just Say No to Antibacterial Burgers

By Ezra Klein

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

"This column is based on a single and quite extraordinary statistic: Food animal production accounts for 70 percent -- 70 percent! -- of the antibiotics used in the United States. That doesn't even include the antibiotics used for animals that actually get sick. That figure is for "non-therapeutic use" such as growth promotion and disease prevention."

"The heavy reliance on routine antibiotic use is a byproduct of the way we raise animals for food: packed into dim and dirty enclosures where they live amid their own filth, eat food that they haven't evolved to digest, and are pretty much stacked atop one another. Most human beings I know can hardly spend three hours on a plane without contracting a case of the sniffles. "

These quotes are excerpted from an article on our country's overuse of antibiotics in animal products. It's pretty horrific to see how these animals are treated. You can find more information here. (Note: Not for the squeamish!) I'm not vegetarian or vegan, but I do believe in humane treatment of animals. Even from a non-emotional standpoint, do you really want to be eating meat from an animal that's been confined, bulked up too early so it can't stand up under it's own weight, or injured by other nearby animals because they're so crammed together? I don't! But that is the state of our country's food supply.

Finding low-priced food is spectacular, but when the trade off is your future health, it's pretty clear that you paid too much for that cheaper food.

How chiropractors benefit from employing wellness coaches!!

2009-08-30T21:53:00.002-04:00

My friend Alicia interviewed me for a Suite 101 article on the usefulness of wellness coaches to chiropractors!! You can find the article here.

Mel sings!

2009-08-03T21:36:00.003-04:00

I got to sing "Can't Hurry Love" at Life University's Summer quarter First Tuesday event, and they posted a video on YouTube with a clip of my performance. Click here to see it. I come in around minute 5:10.

Take Me on the Floor...

2009-07-22T16:12:00.004-04:00

...da na na na na na na na!

Have you heard of a little Aussie twin duo called The Veronicas?? You should go check 'em out! I resisted for awhile, but then I heard the song "Take Me on the Floor" a few times and I was hooked.

Sometimes I wish I had an accent and was in a band... *Sigh*

Remember Captain EO?!?

2009-06-26T15:05:00.005-04:00

The recent passing of Michael Jackson has caused me to dive headfirst into the nostalgia of my childhood, as he was my very first music/entertainment influence (and first big crush!). I know that he has been a great entertainment inspiration to many many people, but he was my first inspiration, and that's what makes his passing so inconceivably sad to me. I would also like to say that, despite the undeniable controversies in his personal life, he has positively impacted the entertainment world forever. This is how I choose to remember him.

That being said, I wanted to share with you all a piece of my childhood. For those of you that don't know, I grew up in Orlando, FL and had the requirement (er, privilege?) of going to Disney World on a frequent basis with my family. I regularly begged to go to Epcot just so we could see Michael's 3-D 'Captain EO' video short. (Before the luxury of the internet, I had to go through elaborate methods to watch the videos I loved.) However, now that Captain EO is long gone from Epcot, and I don't have to resort to manipulation, long lines, and profuse sweating, I can enjoy this beloved video from the comfort of my own home. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I do!! Love you, Michael!

Through the Looking Glass...

2009-06-23T14:32:00.004-04:00

Tim Burton is remaking Alice in Wonderland!!! My elation bubbles over because it's going to be so fantastical. He's got the usual suspects (Helena Bonham Carter, playing the Red Queen-"Off with their heads!" and Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter) and he's added Anne Hathaway (White Queen) and Mia Wasikowska (Alice). March 5, 2010!

Runner Runner

2009-06-02T15:50:00.004-04:00

You should go check these guys out! The guy in the front (Ryan) is very near and dear to my heart because his old band (Don't Look Down) was my gateway band into the pop-punk scene, where I formed the majority of my best college memories. The guy to his left and right (James and Peter, respectively) were apart of a band called Over It, and they were also a favorite from college. Anyway, I found their MySpace page and I think you should go check it out. They've got some great music posted, and their pics are pretty hot too. Love them!

**Update to this post: Apparently the guy on the far left (Nick) was also in Over It...maybe he came along after I met them? I don't know. Either way, I didn't want to not give him the proper credit.

2009-06-01T23:35:00.001-04:00

Look, I'm posting from my phone!

Look what I got!!

2009-06-01T16:57:00.003-04:00

A white ink tat on my forearm!! Text says, "Defined by love" in French. Don't be gelous... ;-)

Back to Blond!

2009-05-26T14:02:00.003-04:00

Ok everyone, you can calm down. I'm blond again.

Poker Face

2009-03-20T18:02:00.004-04:00

I can't help or explain my fascination with her, but she amazes me. Check this out. And if you liked that, you should go here as well...

NEW MUSIC!!!!

2009-02-25T17:27:00.010-05:00

My two new favorites are total polar opposites...but I guess both equally represent my ever-changing moods.

Joshua Radin (isn't he so hot??): Sky, Friend Like You, Brand New Day, They Bring Me to You, Vegetable Car (I mean, how can you not like a song with this title??).

Lady GaGa favorites: Just Dance (of course), Poker Face (album and acoustic versions), Starstruck, Love Game, and Paper Gangsta.

The Daily Plate

2009-02-24T15:52:00.004-05:00

One of my new interests these days is using the website www.thedailyplate.com. It's a section of the livestrong website, and it's super helpful when it comes to keeping track of your food intake and exercise. You can join support groups and accept/give dares for a variety of topics. I love it because I think I had been in denial about how many calories I was consuming each day. They even give you a breakdown of the protein, fats, and carbs you've eaten throughout the day! You can input your height, weight, age, and weekly weightloss goals and it will tell you how many calories per day you need to consume in order to accomplish your goals. It's splactacular!

Things about me...

2008-12-30T22:20:00.002-05:00

It's been waaay too long since I've posted anything here, so I've come back to ask for forgiveness! I've also decided to make a post about all of the things that bring me joy. I'm not feeling particularly in need of organization today, so I'm not ranking or categorizing anything...and here it is:

text messages, email, real mail, looking at the ocean just before it rains, coconut oil popcorn, natural light, TV on DVD, pizza from Mellow Mushroom, pulling my blanket up to my neck and sinking into my pillows, smelling the rain as it hits the hot concrete in the summer, Wicked, Edward Cullen, trees with white lights, shiny objects, swirlys, singing acapella, lean bodies, making collages for presents, piano ballads, clever song lyrics, the Tao, when people can get me to laugh at my idiosyncrasies, being able spell idosyncracies correctly on the first try!...but apparently not on the second try, crown molding, snuggly kitties, room temperature water, "the chair," men's cologne, following men wearing good-smelling cologne, inside jokes, prunes, watching people push the wrong side of a glass door, sheets from Ikea, popping a painful zit, bohemian dresses with slouchy boots, child-size t-shirts, sleepy puppies, fudgy brownies with walnuts, Australian/New Zealand and English accents, vacation pay, non-humid weather, chocolate chip cookies made with dark chocolate, saying "Shazam!," sharp cheddar cheese, sitting down in the aisle of a bookstore to read, hairless arms, live music, sitting in the park on a pretty spring day, stevia, Lexus IS 250's, reading a good novel until you're bleary-eyed, quick-wit, well-developed intuition, paradigm shifts, taking the subway, leisurely European mindsets, Christmas music, Love, not conforming, acoustic guitar, finished basements, grilling out with friends, someecards, old southern towns, laughing till it hurts, traveling, not wearing makeup, over-sized sweatpants paired with a fitted tee, not having a schedule to follow

Ok, that's enough for now. Hope you enjoyed learning about some of the things I love!

Martin and Osa

2008-11-26T16:57:00.003-05:00

You need to go check out this store! It's the upscale brand within American Eagle Co. So, if you liked American Eagle as a high schooler but don't want to pay the steep prices of Banana Republic or J. Crew, then you need to check out Martin and Osa! It's a relatively new store, so I am trying to help promote it because I know people will absolutely fall in love with the clothes and the style. The website is awesome too because the models on the "shop by outfit" page move around, so you can see how the clothes move! And if you happen to have the chance to visit an actual store, the dressing rooms have buttons you push that will buzz the pagers of the store associates. That means you don't have to peek your head out of your dressing room while you're half naked to yell for an associate's attention to get you another size! Ingenious! Anyway, check them out at www.martinandosa.com

And here it is...

2008-11-21T10:53:00.003-05:00

My new hair!! I love it. She even had to use clippers on the back to edge it up properly...I've never had it that short before!

New Hair?

2008-11-13T15:58:00.004-05:00

I'm thinking of moving in a more messy, "bohemian" direction with my hair. This style struck my fancy. What do you think?

It has begun...

2008-11-06T09:46:00.003-05:00

NaNo is now underway, and I am already behind! It's amazing how people just come out of the woodwork and suddenly your social life explodes with no warning! I'm totally not complaining about having friends though. I love my life, and I am just trying to take everything in. There's a lot going on right now, and my life is hinged upon several big things. I don't want to say much just yet, but you should know that It's time for a change!

Needles and Yarn??

2008-10-17T23:30:00.004-04:00

Yep, I've decided to give knitting a shot. I don't think I know what to do past the first row though. I successfully "cast on" the yarn on the needle and did one row of the "knit stitch," but beyond that I messed it up. I'm not really sure what I'm doing wrong, but once I get myself going I'll be knitting up a storm! In the meantime, does anyone know how to start the next row??

The Artist's Way

2008-10-13T13:03:00.004-04:00

I just finished reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. It took me about 6 months to make it through, but it was totally worth every second. When I first heard about this book, I think it was because the book actually sought me out. You know how you get that tingly feeling coursing through your veins when something eerie seems to be following you? That's totally what the book was doing to me! It kept telling my friends to say something to me about reading it! Ok, it wasn't quite that dramatic. Only two people told me about it, but since I had never heard about it in 25 years and then heard about it twice in the same week I felt like it was a sign I needed to read this book. Shortly after I started to read, pages started falling out and my quote book became littered with revolutionary new ideas for my soul. I was delighted beyond belief to have found such an encouraging path to freedom. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to open their creative spirit (because we all have one!) and move towards endless possibilities!

Overheard in Marietta

2008-10-10T14:29:00.004-04:00

Regarding this girl's sandwich preferences:

"There's just something about the pepperoni and the ketchup getting hot together..."

NaNoWriMo 2008

2008-10-09T11:16:00.001-04:00

So, I've decided to embark upon a creative exploration this fall, and one of the primary things I will be doing to accomplish this is participating in National Novel Writing Month. I've never classified myself as a writer in the past, but I decided that I was going to stop painting myself into corners with the possibilities for my life. Hence why I'm willing to do "crazy" things like electing to write 50,000 words in one month! I know, that's like 163 pages. I would've had to go through 2 bachelor's degrees in Florida to write that many pages...for those of you not from FL, the whole state has this "Gordon Rule" requirement that says you have to satisfy 24,000 written words during your undergraduate degree. I was always particularly peeved when teachers included term papers in a class that didn't qualify for Gordon Rule.

Anyway, back to NaNoWriMo...I think I'm going to write a memoir. That idea came on good recommendation from a wonderful friend. I know it's not exactly a novel, but I'm sure I can fictionalize my life...it was boring enough the first time around, no need to relive it the same exact way! Go check out NaNoWriMo if you think you'd be interested in joining!

The only thing constant...

2008-10-08T14:45:00.000-04:00

I used to think that life wouldn't be quite as chaotic once I was out of school and working full time. Ok, you don't have to laugh quite so hard. I now know better! It is what it is, and I'm learning a little bit more everyday about how to enjoy the journey instead of just waiting for the outcome. I've learned a lot in the last 3 years, and I love my life now more than I ever have before. Writing this blog is something I've wanted to do for awhile now so hopefully it will be as fun as I'd hoped it would be!

I just wanted to put a little "Welcome to My Blog" post here to say that I hope you enjoy what I have to share. Feel free to take your shoes off, prop your feet up, and smoke a join...oh, wait that's for my other blog. My bad. Right. I...um, hope you can make yourself at home here. Yes, that's what I meant to say. Enjoy!