Is it really work if you’re having fun?

Hello from an icy, snow-covered Boston!

It’s been storming outside all day and unfortunately classes were not cancelled. However, my first training for work happened via Skype, allowing me to stay comfortably at home instead of trekking back out in the snow tonight. I am equal parts excited and nervous about this new position since we’re definitely diving right into teaching on Monday, which is so new to me! I keep having to remind myself that I have been working with people and acting as a leader in many circumstances for a lot of my school years and throughout my previous jobs, so I can and will rock this position! They can’t have picked me for nothing! 🙂

I am also bringing back one of my loves today- avocado. We were in a very serious relationship a year ago but we just enjoyed each other too much and I needed to take a break. Luckily, a chipotle burrito topped with guacamole 2 weeks ago reignited my love for the green stuff. Mmm, it’s just the best when it’s ripe and topped with a little salt, pepper and lemon juice! Along the same kitchen lines, my afternoon at home enticed me to bake up some berry chocolate chip banana bread with some blackening bananas sitting in my pantry. Holy yum. I adapted my recipe from Hummusapien’s Dark Chocolate Chunk Strawberry Bread and it was awesome! I ditched the stevia, and subbed the strawberries for Trader Joe’s frozen berry medley- because how else can I get my cherry fix in February?- and with the oats, almond meal and flax seed meal, it’s a rocking dessert or snack.

I’m totally going to curl up with a slice slathered in almond butter, and an episode (or three) of True Blood. Alcide, I’m coming for you.

Love,
Happiness Starts Here

My personal therapy

Today I am so thankful for my therapist. And running and sweating. And talking with one of my girlfriends at school and bonding over our mutual desire for a “person”.

Neither of us is needy, but we both have been feeling like we don’t have that one person in Boston who we tell everything too and who we can vent to and count on unconditionally and so we mutually yelled “yes!!” to being that for each other. Living in a brand new city without family nearby and feeling uncertain about our careers in scary but knowing that someone else understands what you are going through because they’re dealing with the same thing is awesome.

In the midst of my recent freak out about my future, I’ve felt like I’m struggling with some issues I thought I had left behind. Understandably, stress brings out some of the worst feelings, and I have to be okay with that. That is the only way I can learn to deal with them in a healthy way. Overall today I felt better than I have the previous days, and I know talking about what I’m dealing with always helps me cope more effectively.

Who do you turn to when you need your support system?

Love,
Happiness Starts Here

Thursday Thoughts

Hi there!

Today I’m taking a cue from one of the hilarious and fabulous bloggers I follow, Snack Therapy, with Thursday Thoughts.

I like the idea of just sharing a bunch of random thoughts and ideas that are bouncing around in my brain and possibly a couple links that caught my eye recently. So, here goes!

1. Snow. It’s like walking home through sand. Kind of charming and fun when you think about it from the warmth of your bed, snuggled under the covers, and then you take your first step into a full foot of snow and your pants leg is all of a sudden freezing and wet. Yeah, super fun.

2. Speaking of pants leg, pants are so over-rated, amiright? It’s all about the leggings these days. They keep you warm, and they go with everything. Right? Right.

3. Found this online the other day and just…Yes. I mean, who really wants to beat themselves up for NOT performing a 3 hour workout, that might result in injury. Yes to pushing out of my own comfort zone but no to letting working out become my life. Fitspiration gets a makeover

4. The Vampire Diaries. So guilty of watching this one, and yet it is so fun to watch the drama unfold. The most recent plot-twist with Katherine NOT actually dying, what?! I knew she wasn’t going down without a fight.

5. I am totally digging spaghetti squash recently. I kind of avoided it for a while because it seemed kind of bland and not worth the effort, but now having roasted it and eaten half of one with a fork straight from the oven…. Definitely adding that to my shopping cart on the regular.

6. Another blogger moment, but I so NEED to make this, these, and THESE. YUM.

7. This amazing link my mom shared with me, that I literally could not stop laughing at. Bunny Manifesto

8. I was going to have an interview at 8am tomorrow morning but it got rescheduled for Monday afternoon. Mission sleep-in Friday is fully underway.

9. I totally fell on my a$$ in yoga yesterday, trying a new transition between poses when my hand slipped, and now I have the most glorious bruise on my outer thigh that is about the size of a baseball. That’s what I get for trying to get out of Full Wheel too quickly! But the important thing is I kept right on going, and didn’t let falling take me out of my zen yoga me-time.

10. You might recall I watched Vegucated earlier this week. It’s a documentary about 3 people who decide to go vegan for 6 weeks and learn about the food, culture, environmental and health reasons behind why going vegetarian or vegan can do so many wonderful things for the the environment and our bodies. As someone who’s experimented with being vegetarian, pescatarian, carnivore, omnivore and the great oatmeal diet, I’ve found that eating a mostly plant-based diet agrees with me most and it’s the most affordable and easiest when I’m in school. I will definitely not turn up my nose at a beautiful piece of grilled salmon or a sizzling steak, but I don’t feel like I need to eat those things regularly to feel happy. I avoid dairy because I’m lactose-intolerant, but I find tons of tasty ways to make up for it by eating other things I love. Like bread, and cereal, and pizza (with vegan cheese!) and obviously soy ice cream. A girls gotta have her ice cream every once in a while. This is one of my FAVORITES.

What are you thinking about this Thursday?

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

Love,
Happiness Starts Here

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!!

I an not typically a fan of football (or really watching any organized sports on tv…) but my girl Renee Fleming is singing the National Anthem so you know I’ll be tuning in for that!

As for the rest of my day, I have felt like super-domestic-woman. I had a great yoga class to start out my day, followed by doing laundry (finally I have clean workout clothes!….just me??) and I baked up some healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread from one of one of my favorite bloggers, The Real Life RD. I love reading her posts because she is always so real and down to earth, and her approach to eating and life is balanced and realistic. She is definitely one of my healthy role models, because she absolutely loves food and spending time with friends and family, but instead of depriving herself of delicious foods, eats what she wants and just returns back to her mostly plant-based, natural foods afterwards. Just reading through her blog I have stumbled upon so many delicious meals and snacks that I want to make for myself, I’ve got a running list going on my phone so I always have some inspiration to get in the kitchen.

As I’m writing this, I am sitting down to enjoy some of this amaze-balls banana bread and I can’t wait to try out some more of her recipes. 🙂

Since I know the Super Bowl is always a great excuse to have a party and partying always includes yummy food, what are you cooking up today?

Love,
Happiness Starts Here

A new week and new finds!

Happy Monday all!

Today totally reminded me why we need to have crappy days (like yesterday) sometimes… So that the next day can be awesome! I woke up early to get in a sweaty yoga class with my man Dave Farmar, and I was SO glad that I did. There’s nothing like completely filling my lungs and sweating in the morning to know my day is going to be fabulous.

I talked with several friends on the way to school and managed to run into another one while I waited for my class to start. Chatting with friends is such a pick-me-up, even if it’s just texting each other silly things. I love the interaction 🙂

I had a really great first voice lesson back from the holiday break, and I feel so good about my progress and how I’m feeling when I sing right now. Yoga is absolutely helping me get more in touch with my breath and my body, so there is no way I’m giving up on my 40 days anytime soon!

I had a sweet lunch at my all-time favorite Cambridge eatery, Life Alive, then had an appointment and did my grocery shopping at the Co-Op over there for the second time. They have such an awesome selection of organic and local products, and the prices are super reasonable! Not to mention their bulk bins are to die for- 7 different kinds of lentils and way too many granolas to choose just one?? I might have found foodie heaven.

With my freshly re-stocked fridge, I made some bomb.com beef and bean (and veggie) chili to warm me up after being out in the cold. Now I have the pleasure of getting to Skype with my mom before diving into some reading and homework.

How did you start off your Monday?

Love,
Happiness Starts Here

Cook all the things

Today I’m happy about: having a wonderful dinner party with family and close friends at our house! It took a lot of planning and preparation on my Mom’s side, but I am happy I was able to help out in the end with some of the cooking. I was mostly caught up in studying for my exam all day, but I’m happy that I took a break tonight to help out and make this night a priority.

I also made a point of journaling earlier today when I was feeling conflicted about myself and my body, and it absolutely helped me see things a bit more clearly. I went to the gym afterwards and had a great plyometric-based workout that was exactly what I felt like doing, and I felt so accomplished and proud of myself for getting through a super tough circuit. 🙂

Now I’m going to sit down to a small bedtime snack and do a bit more studying before bed!

Happy Saturday!

Love,
Happiness Starts Here

The Alchemist

Today I’m happy about: being done with my long day and audition, finally! I started this day early and was gone from home the entire day, traveling between school and Cambridge and back, but it’s all done and everything went well! I was even lucky enough to enjoy one of my favorite cafés for lunch, Life Alive in Cambridge is so fantastic, with their fresh and healthy meals that keep me satisfied and happy for hours.

Happy hump day!

Love,
Happiness Starts Here

The Hot and Healthy Bachelor… Grilled Wrap!

Today I’m happy about: trying a new-to-me cafe in Cambridge I’ve been wanting to visit for a while, Life Alive. I tried one of their hot grilled wraps with vegan cheese (since I’m lactose intolerant) and it was delicious! I can’t wait to return and try out many more of their grain-based bowls. This vegetarian eatery just made me feel healthier and happier the second I walked in. And with their incredible selection of fresh pressed juices, I KNOW I’ll be back.

I love eating meat, but am happy to eat vegetarian and vegan meals regularly as well. Any favorite vegetarian restaurants suggestions in the Boston area?

Love,
Happiness Starts Here

Listen to yourself

Today I’m happy about: enjoying some delicious chocolate along with loads of bread and hummus and veggies. Sometimes you just have to listen to your body and cravings and ignore what the societal “right” thing to eat is. This is something I still struggle with after recovering from some seriously disordered eating, and being able to cast aside “should’s” and just listening to my body and my soul is the most liberating, freeing and actually healthy thing to do. As a very active person who works out at a high intensity almost every day, it is essential for me to fuel my body the right way so that I’m able to recover and perform again the way I want to, not only in weightlifting but in my musical career.

Even though it’s going to continue to be a challenge, the only way for me to keep moving in the right direction is to keep listening to myself. So I encourage all of you to be true to what you know is right for you and ignore what anyone or anything else may try to dictate to you.

With that said, I hope you’re all kicking off your weekend with some fun!

Love,
Happiness Starts Here