weekend snapshot

Saturday:

smoothies before 2 hour zumba party

right before zumba party.

at zumba. they had the lights off with disco lights going and a stage for all of the instructors. it was intense!

please excuse all levels of nastiness in this photo and please remember we were working out.

Sunday:

went to best friends house and gabbed our hearts away, and ate cupcakes and candy.

Then of course we watched Tangled.

and Mamma Mia.

and has anyone seen this? My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. it's absolutely ridiculously, yet when I watch it I can't look away.  i'm so intrigued by their culture.

Monday was a nice little senior send-off party at work with lots of yummy food and fabulous gifts!

Hope you had a fantastic weekend :)

facts #2

Alright, I know you've all been dying for my second round in the "100 facts about me" series.

catch my sarcasm?

Well here it is.

Don't forget to let me know if you're participating so I can read about you too! And link up!

By the way, can someone let me know how to do an actual link up? I have no idea!

AAANYWAYY.

Back to business.

11. I love to read.  Anything and everything.  From romance, to comedy, to thriller, to history, to magazines.  If it's a book, there's a good chance I'll read it.

12. I struggle every time I go to buy any kind of toiletry.  There are just SO. MANY. OPTIONS.

I always want to buy multiple of everything.

Shampoo and lotion are the worst.

which is probably why I currently have 3 shampoos in my shower.

13.  I'm not a huge chocolate fan. I know, I know. BLASPHEMY right?  I'd much rather have something vanilla or fruity.

I make exceptions for white chocolate- mmm!

14. If I were given the choice to go skydiving or bungee jumping...

skydiving hands down!

15.  Even though I don't know who he is, I pray for my future husband everyday.  That he will be growing closer to the Lord and that our future together will be blessed. 

I believe in the power of prayer.

16.  I have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar or the piano.  I think musical instruments are awesome.

17. I love pillows and I love blankets.  And I have a ton of both on my bed :)

18. I barely ever wake up to an alarm clock.  I always set one just in case, but I usually wake up before it goes off.
I guess that's what happens when you live the life of an 84 year old and go to bed before 10 every night and wake up at 8 the next morning.


19.  I'm a sucker for puppies.  who isn't right?  And as soon as I have steady income, I will be getting one of these little guys.

20.  I love smoothies.  It's probably abnormal how much I like them.

the beauty of pictures

I don't usually do posts like this, but I just had to today.

If this doesn't make you open your mouth once or twice to gasp...then look again!

These are pictures from around the world.

Beautiful right?!

let's remember the south

I'm feeling a little void of inspiration today guys. I have a 16 hour work day ahead of me, so I'm slightly 

preoccupied.  But so thankful :)

As we enter our weekend, I hope that we can take time to remember the devastation happening in the South.

I just can't imagine what it has to be like.

Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you!

xoxo

workin' the workout

{outfit: nike}

I love getting new workout clothes. 

And wearing sweats whenever it's appropriate.

[*cough* all the time]

I think I'm going to run another 5k!  Anyone else want to join?
I think I've got my mom convinced.
{sorry random tangent, I'm back}


I've been asked a lot and I thought I'd share with ya'll my workout routine.

I usually workout 5-6 days a week.
{whoa. yeah, I'm a freak}


It really depends whether or not I am exercising indoors, outdoors, at a gym or at home.
Either way there is always cardio involved.
If I workout indoors or at home, I usually run on the treadmill for 30ish minutes.
{real specific, I know...sorry!}
If I workout outdoors, then I usually go for distance and try to run at least 3 miles.
Sometimes at the gym I do the elliptical or stair stepper to keep it interesting.

After that I do abs for about 20 minutes and if I have any motivation left in me {not usually} then I lift some weights.

It is a good idea to mix up your workout because after a while your body begins to adapt and you don't really see as much of the result that you are probably looking for.

Wanna know my workout music?
Sorry, I think I'll save that for a different post ;)

I had a freak out

I was attempting to reorganize some things on the blog and it got a little out of control.

Sorry if anyone witnessed that mess.

But do ya like the new look? 

Feedback people.

.facts.

I'm going to start a new series. 

100 facts about me.

[whoa..that's a LOT]

I'll post 10 new ones every week- kapeesh?

You try it too! Just link back here and let me know so I can read all about you! :)

Alrighty, here we go.

1. I secretly want to be in the witness protection program. I mean how cool would it be to live a life where it was constantly intense? pretty cool.

{haha}

2.  I carry my water bottle EVERYWHERE. I'm just incomplete without it.

3.  I'm so so sad that Oprah is ending! Like I can't believe it.  That woman has been on TV since before I was born and I used to come home after school and watch her everyday. *tear*

4.  I have been to 22 states and have road-tripped from Ohio to Oregon 3 times all before I was 13.

5. I am a sushi believer. I love that stuff!

{too bad I don't know how to eat with chopsticks}

6. One time I gave my brother the Heimlich Maneuver and saved his life from choking. I was little and so was he..I think I saw it on a cartoon once?  Either way, I'm glad it worked!

7.  I still love playing dress up.  Always have. Always will.

8. I swear I'm in love with ice cream. 

will you marry me?

9. I love to garden and can't wait to can this summer with my mom!  We have jam, peaches, green beans, salsa, and dehydrating fruit planned up our sleeves right now.

10.  I'm good with numbers.  A math freak. Whatever. I've always been able to remember them.

I hope you'll join me! 

xoxo

springtime on campus

I love campus this time of year! This made me so happy today :)

Golden Jubilee

First off, I want to apologize- I didn't realize how grim my post the other day must've sounded to you.

I'm still processing everything, but honestly I know that it will all be worth it one day.

Someday I will share my story with you, but for now I hope that this will do... :)

The other night I was working an event for a bunch of elderly folks who had graduated from OSU all the way back in the 60s, 50s and even in the 40s (so crazy!).  All of the people were so cute and old and just so happy.

The men were all complete gentlemen to their ladies and you could just tell how much they adored one another.

Towards the end of the night there was a band that played a bunch of old music- like Frank Sinatra style- and there was a chance for couples to dance if they'd like to. 

It. was. ADORABLE.

I was so enthralled just watching how happy these couples were and found myself envying how 

much that they had grown to love each other over the years.

This is an honest moment here: At times I really wonder if I will ever catch someone's eye and if I will have the opportunity to share my life and grow old loving someone.  Ever wonder that? or am I crazy?

Either way, watching those couples that night just made me so excited for the future fairy tale that I will get to experience.  Until then, I'll just be a happy single gal. :)

xoxo

a basically nothing post

Something about this picture speaks "peaceful" to me :)

I am trying to still process the events in my life that have taken place in the last 24 hours. 

This is not the time for me to talk about it. Maybe someday. But for now here's this quote that I just love.

"Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can." ~ unknown

Today I'm loving...

Some things I'm loving today:

{sunshine and blue skies}

{all the bright colors this spring}

 

{taking a nap in fresh cut grass}

 {this perfect nail polish for spring}

{the way my silver glitter toms were dancing in the sunlight this morning. made me so happy}

{and this video. i'm obsessed with this song. there's a party on the rooftop top of the world tonight tonight...}

Happy Thursday!

this. is. SO GOOD!

Oh you guys will not want to pass this up!

Remember how I told you I was making something yummy for din-din? 

I think the word yummy is a GIANT understatement!

This chicken is to die for.

oh yeah, and did I mention that I learned how to bbq for this? :)

[don't fret, if you don't have access to a bbq you don't really need one!]

Cilantro-Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa

INGREDIENTS

2 Tbs minced fresh cilantro

2 1/2 Tbs fresh lime juice

1 1/2 Tbs olive oil

4 (6 oz) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/4 tsp salt

cooking spray (unless you use a bbq)

1 cup chopped plum tomato (about 2)

2 Tbs finely chopped red onion

2 tsp fresh lime juice

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 avocado, peeled and finely chopped

DIRECTIONS

1.  To prepare chicken, combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; toss and let stand 3 minutes.  (I let mine stand for about 10 while I chopped other stuff so that way the chicken could absorb the marinade more.)  Remove the chicken from the marinade; discard marinade.  Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/4 tsp

of salt.  

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat (I used a bbq) and coat pan with cooking spray.  Add chicken to pan and cook about 6 minutes on each side or until done.

2.  To prepare salsa, combine tomato, red onion, lime juice, salt & pepper in a medium bowl.  Add avocado; stir gently to combine.  Serve salsa over chicken.

So, there you have it!  So easy and super delicious.  AAAND for those of you who care, it's a heart-healthy recipe too (I actually got this from a wellness magazine!) with benefits of being low in sodium and containing healthy fats.

Enjoy :)

the weird kid

Besides the fact that I am posting this picture of myself...
I admit, I'm that one-in-a-million person who actually looks forward to really likes the dentist.

mhmm.

It's all I could think about the last few weeks. (just kidding...I'm not that pathetic.) I just love getting my pearly whites all pampered.

Not to mention taking a nap in the chair with a real excuse to have my mouth open.

Tonight I'm cooking a meal that you WON'T want to miss the recipe for! 

Check back later :)