I know... I know...

Again I've been MIA. Oops.
So here's what I've been up to!

I went to my first ever Kentucky Derby Party. It was so much fun! It's always fun to dress up and have some delicious cocktails with your friends. Though it was a wonderful event, I'm not a fan of horse racing. I don't really think animals should be forced to race. {that's just my two cents}

What Ryan and I were obsessed with:

These cookies are AMAZING. Go order them online. You will not regret it. I promise.
Here's the article from the Wall Street Journal
Here's the company's web site.

CSA Update!

We picked up our first produce box last weekend. It was full of delicious stuff. My favorite thing was the spinach. It. Was. Delicious.
Everything tasted so fresh. I highly recommend buying your produce from a local farm. You really won't regret it!

Thanks for reading,

100 Days Out!

Like I said in a previous post, the Olympics at my work ARE A BIG DEAL. Because we're so involved sometimes we get to attend really cool events. Like last night's 100 Days until Rio Celebration. Many athletes from Team USA attended as well as The Band Perry. Super cool.
There was delicious food and one of the Olympic torches!!

The event really got me excited for the 2016 Olympics and for all of the athletes competing. They spend every waking hour preparing for this. It truly is so amazing!

Thanks for reading,

Heading Home

I'm heading home to Oregon tomorrow night and I couldn't happier. I haven't been home since Ryan and my wedding! It feels like ages ago.
Though this trip is a short one, Wednesday to Sunday, we've jammed packed it with fun stuff. Mostly eating and drinking... and of course getting my hair cut.
That's a little fun fact - I only get my hair cut and colored in Oregon. From the same person that has been doing it for about eight years!

Old photo from 2010 at the Oregon Zoo!

My bags are all packed and I cannot wait for the plane to land in the beautiful state of Oregon! I get to see my parents, friends and one of my best friend's little baby! I just know it's going to be the best trip :)


Thanks for reading,

MIA

Sometimes when life is super busy you don't get a lot of time to do the things you enjoy. Like writing posts for your blog... Or working out... Or meal prepping... Or anything except surviving the work week. Yikes.
A large part of my job revolves around the summer Olympic Games. We're now gearing up and it seems we'll be busy until September. I get exhausted thinking about it! It's a great experience, but you don't really enjoy it until a couple of months later when you talk to people about it who weren't working with us.

So, sorry for being MIA. I'll try harder to carve out more time for the fun stuff.

Thanks for reading,

Bucket List

The other day I was asked what the top item on 'Bucket List' was. I had about a minute to think about it and I had no idea. The first thing that came to my head and what I said was - move back to Oregon.
Other people around the table mentioned places they'd like to travel, things they'd like to buy... I guess I've never really thought about my Life Bucket List. Is that a thing?
 

It got me thinking and I've come up with three things. 
1. Move to Oregon some day
Sooner rather than later

2. Buy a home
Ryan and I cannot wait for this day!!

3. Have a kid 
I only want one, they're expensive!





Those are my three. I know, I know... totally mushy and what many people call the American Dream. But that's what I want.

I've traveled, I have a loving husband and family... soooo what else would be on my bucket list? Maybe be an extra on a TV show? Have a job where I just read books? I love the three things on my bucket list. And I know they are attainable and that one day I'll be able to cross them off my list.

What's on your bucket list?

Thanks for reading,

Where Did That Come From!?

This weekend was super busy, but a total blast. Saturday I ran my first race since the New York City Marathon! The race was 6.2 miles in Central Park and I was a little nervous since I'd only run four miles a couple times beforehand. It did rain, but didn't downpour. Thank goodness!
I far exceeded my expectations and I'm so proud! I really think the personal training sessions are helping make me stronger overall. My finish time was 47:17. That's 7:37 per mile! Where did that come from?!?

Here's a super unflattering photo of me during the race...

After the race (don't worry, I showered!) I met up with my friend Chloe at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Rainy days are the very best museum days. :)

Once I got back to New Jersey, Ryan and I met up with his Mom for dinner to celebrate his birthday. We like to keep the birthday celebrations going all keep long!

Since Saturday was jammed back Sunday was full of errands, grocery shopping and laundry... And of course couch and TV time!

I have another race coming up at the end of this month so I need to keep on training!


Thanks for reading,

Birthday Boy

Today is Ryan's birthday! Hooray!!!
I just love celebrating birthdays. It's so fun to celebrate the people you love on their very special day. Even though it's a "school night" Ryan and I are going out to dinner tonight and we can't wait. We found this amazing Italian restaurant that has an entire gluten free menu! We love everything about the place. We're still winning with the gluten free lifestyle! And I'm still going strong with not eating meat. We're a whole new family! haha!

Sooo HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU RYAN! I love you very, very much and I hope you have a fabulous day!!! To another wonderful year together!! :)

xo

It's Official!

So I've become a vegetarian. Maybe on the way to becoming vegan. It's happening… AGAIN. I was vegan once before from about 2009 to 2011 but it just got too difficult.
Well, I've learned more from reading Omnivore's Dilemma and watching Cowspiracy and I just can't unlearn the things I've read and seen. I won't tell you about it. If you want to know, google it! So. I'm now a full-blown vegetarian!
And you know what, it hasn't been that difficult! I've even made two recipes from scratch this week! Go Catie! I did some Pinterest-ing and found a great sweet potato and black bean burger recipe as well as a delicious mushroom soup recipe. Tuesday night I got busy and cooked my little heart out.

All in all it took about two hours, but now I have all these awesome vegan leftovers I can eat whenever I want. I made so many veggie burgers that we have about six in the freezer. Meal prep at its finest. :)

I was exhausted after all the cooking, but felt so accomplished. I fell asleep feeling great and knowing I can do this whole vegetarian thing.

Anyone else out there a vegetarian? Have any great recipes???


Thanks for reading,

We're Getting the Hang of it!

I feel like lately Ryan and I have gotten into the groove of his whole gluten allergy thing. Though at times it can be a hassle, we've been creative with what we buy and what he orders if we go out to dinner. We're getting the hang of it!
It's also made us much more healthy and aware of what we are eating. We can't order any appetizers that are breaded and most fried things involve wheat. So that's a big win in the healthy column!
We've had our ups and downs trying new gluten free products too...
Pancake mix - not so great. Brownie mix - awesome.

It's trial and error - One day at a time :)

Thanks for reading,

Noodle Arms

I wanted to give an update on my personal training. I've had four sessions and I'm feeling good. I've learned so many new exercises- most of them insanely hard. After my third session I could hardly move my arms. They were literally sore for an entire week! I always knew I had no arm strength, but I had no idea to what degree. My arms are little noodles. No muscle! My trainer and I working on building some... :)

Over the weekend I hit the gym in our apartment and after my four mile run I did some of my favorite exercises from my training sessions. I wanted to share with you one of the full body exercises that I learned from my trainer. It's amazing.

Start back on your toes - kind of like child's pose in yoga.

Then, start moving into a push-up position.

Once in a push up position, meet your knee to your elbow. Do this on both sides and go back to beginning pose.
Repeat ten times, three sets total!

And of course, after a great workout - I always want a delicious smoothie! I've begun adding spinach which is a great source of iron and folic acid. You can't even taste it in the smoothie. It's a win - win!

Thanks for reading,

Eating and Buying Local

As I continue to read Omnivores Dilemma I'm pulling more and more away from mass produced food. (I think it's my Oregonian side coming out in full force! hah!) I can't help but wonder what is in the food we buy from the grocery store. We eat whatever the animal was fed or however the produce was grown. Can can't wash off the chemicals or antibiotics the animal ingested... It makes me nervous not having any control over it.
Since Ryan and I live in an apartment and we have no land to grow a garden, I've signed us up for a local Community Supported Agriculture program.
What is a CSA? I had no idea before reading the Omnivores Dilemma either!
A CSA allows city residents to have direct access to high quality, fresh  produce locally grown by regional farmers. When you become a member of a CSA, you purchase a "share" of vegetables from the regional farmer.

Pretty awesome, right?! So, every Saturday morning, beginning in May, we will drive about 20 minutes to Dreyer Farms and pick up our weekly produce box. All local, all fresh from the farm.

CSA's are all over the country and very easy to find. You'll be able to find your local CSA by a quick Google search.

I'll let you know how it works out! I can't wait for May!

Thanks for reading,

Friday Favorites: Workout Wardrobe

I love working out and I love work out clothes.
I'm pretty obsessed with the Nordstrom brand Zella. Most of my leggings are Zella. Great quality - great styles. And the Zella running socks are my all time fave!
Here are some items that I would love to add to my workout collection!

Links! Zella socks, Zella tee, Nike capris, Zella black leggings, Zella blue and pink capris

The Little Things

My quest for an organized household is still in full force. This past weekend I focused on my jewelry.
This jewelry organizer did the trick!

I've never really had a designated place to keep my necklaces, lately I've been hanging them in our bathroom. Not the best place for them. So when I came across this jewelry organizer on clearance at Target, I knew I had to buy it.
I also picked up that candle you see... I'm just a little obsessed with candles... I can't leave Target or Pier 1 Imports without one in my basket! Anyways - moving on!
A little part of my life has been organized for only $6! I love how my necklaces are displayed now and I can SEE everything. Which in turn makes getting dressed in the morning just a little bit easier. Total win-win.

It really is the little things that make you happy. I keep realizing this time and again when I make little organizational changes and updates.

Thanks for reading,

Eating Organic

I've been reading Omnivore's Dilemma and it has literally changed my life. I know, I know... that's a HUGE statement. And I haven't even finished the book yet! But it really has!! It changed the way I look at the food I put in to my body.
We do not have control of what the farmers, ranchers and the mass production food industry feeds the animals and what they spray on the produce we eat. So how do we fix this?!
Eat local and eat organic. And research the companies you are buying from. I've also been slowly moving towards a vegetarian lifestyle. And you know what, I feel better. My insides feel lighter. It's kind of amazing.

Why go organic and local? Because I don't want to eat pesticides and chemicals. I want my produce fresh because it was grown nearby, not because of the fertilizer it was grown in. Yes, it costs more - but the end result - healthier me and a healthier Ryan. :)

Has anyone else read Omnivore's Dilemma?


Thanks for reading,

Cooking Class at William Sonoma

Last night I took a cooking class with two of my friends from work at William Sonoma.

William Sonoma hosts monthly cooking classes and this month the class highlighted recipes from Chrissy Teigen's new cookbook, Cravings. 

The class was great and we learned how to make a German pancake!! I really can't believe how easy it is! I'm going home to Oregon in April and plan to impress my parents with the recipe ;)

As I've said before, I'm not the best cook, so taking classes and learning new cooking skills has been a goal of mine. I really want to be more confident in the kitchen. And I think I'm slowly getting there!

Thanks for reading,

Six Months!

This weekend Ryan and I celebrated our six month anniversary of being married. Though in the grand scheme of things it's a short time, or us, it's fun to think back to six months ago and how happy and excited we were to finally get married. We were engaged for about a year and a half, which gave us plenty of time to plan and enjoy being engaged. Here are some of my favorite photos from our wedding weekend. It was just so perfect.

 

 

Friday Favorites: Pucker Up!

No, this is not an ad for Laura Mercier... I just love the brand so much!

I've been using her powder foundation for a while now and before our wedding I visited the Laura Mercier counter and had them help me pick out a full arsenal of things for my lips. Depending on what I am doing and where I am going, I either do the minimal - just the gloss - or the maximum - lip pencil, lip stick and then add the gloss on top.

They have so many colors. I can't wait to add more to my collection and pick up the lip balm!! 

Links! lipstick, lip pencil, lip gloss (center image), lip gloss (top right), lip balm

Thanks for reading,