I'm Back!

I'm back! Did you miss me? I missed this. But a break from the blog was definitely needed. Between New York and Florida, I have been totally crammed for time to get everything done. In the process, blogging fell by the wayside. But I'm back, and I'm here to stay! I'm going to make a few changes over the next couple weeks to make it easier for me to keep up with everything.  This means only one recipe a week, and only 1-2 posts per week.  Originally, I wanted to do more. I wanted to post like a professional blogger--multiple times a week. But guess what?? I'm not a professional blogger (shocker.).  Those people are awesome and I admire them, but blogging is also their job. School is my job right now, and I need to focus...especially if I want to get a decent grade in Linear Algebra (don't ask).

So get excited, because awesomeness is going to be coming your way! In the meantime, I think a sneak peek is in order...

And just because he is so gosh darn cute...

New York: Food Adventures

I'm sure there are a thousand things I could tell you about my trip this weekend, but I'll try and break it down into multiple posts so you don't want to murder me after reading the longest post in the history of blogging.

So lets start with the best part--food!

I wasn't terribly stressed out about eating on the trip. I knew there would be "cheat" times, and I knew that it would be difficult to eat clean on vacation. But I was okay with that. The great thing is, New York is full of diverse restaurants, bakeries, and cafes, which provides plenty of options to find something that I was comfortable eating. Here's a recap of some of my favorite things:

1. In New York, there are delis everywhere! And the funny thing is, the sandwiches, pizza, and paninis are already made. Once you order, they grab the sandwich and throw it on the grill to heat it back up. I had a delicious eggplant parmesan panini the first night, and it didn't taste reheated at all. The pita bread was still chewy and soft, and not soggy. The eggplant with fresh basil and tomato sauce were really fantastic as well. I have not had too much success making eggplant parmesan, but I think I'm going to have to try again!

 2. We found this fantastic little place called Au Bon Pain by accident, and it was fantastic! Their pastries and cookies are really what drew us in, but they also had a great soup and sandwich bar. The best part? Everything was labeled with the amount of calories. Love it! I tried their pumpkin soup and pumpkin muffin (yes, I'm addicted) but by far the best treat there was the cranberry almond macaroons. Nice and "coconutty"--and once, we even got them while the chocolate was still hot and melty. Yum!

 3. One night we went to a gorgeous place called Eataly. It was established by the great Mario Batalli as a place where Americans can go and experience Italy. There were fish, pasta, and pizza restaurants, as well as multiple Italian food markets. There was a vegetable section, which had the most fantastic veggies (I'm pretty sure I was in heaven!), many of which I had never seen before! There were white eggplants, purple baby artichokes, pink beans, and gorgeous herbs. I wanted to buy everything and take it home with me, but I have a feeling they wouldn't have survived the plane.

4. I love Greek food. There is nothing I don't love, from hummus to falafels to lamb gyros. All of it is delicious and makes my tummy very happy! Besides picking up some awesome gyros from a street cart, we also went to a nicer Greek restaurant called Daphni.  I shared the Greek salad and lamb kabobs with Mom, and both were delicious. 

5. My favorite restaurant was probably Yum Yum Thai food. Which of course, I was too busy inhaling my food to get a decent picture. But believe me when I say that it was awesome. I had veggie and tofu in a ginger sauce with brown rice, with a spicy shrimp soup as a starter. I loved the ginger sauce, and I finally fulfilled my week long craving for tofu! Yes, I crave tofu. I know I'm weird. Anyways, Thai is definitely one of my favorite cuisines, and Yum Yum's didn't disappoint.


Coming up next...the Broadway Experience!

Freakin' Out

Hey y'all! So I'm leaving for New York in less than 24 hours. And I'm about to pee my pants. Part of me is really excited about this adventure. I'm going to one of the most fascinating cities in the United States--I'll see all the sights, travel like a New Yorker in the subway, eat way too many calories, and see some fantastic plays.

But I am also running a 9.5 mile obstacle course, and I can't think of anything more terrifying right now. I keep telling myself I'm prepared. I mean, I have run 7, 8, 9, and 10-milers to prepare. I have lifted, sprinted, and squatted to get into my peak physical condition. But what if I can't do it? What if I die on the side of the road? What if I give up (gasp!)? I'm doubting myself mentally right now.

Anyways, thanks for listening me be a baby. I can do this, because I can do hard things. nbd. ;)

See you in the Big Apple!

Rockin' It

Holy cow this has been a big week for me! Meeting goals is the best feeling ever...especially because it means you get to set new ones! I hope you don't mind, but since this is my blog I'm going to brag a little about what I have done the last few days... :P

First off, eight miles. Nailed it. New York is so close I can almost taste it. Its truly amazing what your body can do. Actually, its truly amazing how your body can adapt and become stronger. I'm loving that I can push my body hard and it responds.

P.S.--JCPenney is totally having a fantastic sale on workout clothing! Inexpensive, good quality stuff. I went a little crazy and bought three shirts and two pairs of running tights (for only $70!). I always need most stuff right?...right??

In other news, I also hit another goal this week: 30 pounds lost! Its been really difficult to reach this point because I'm mostly just working off extra fat (ew). I'm still pushing to get another 5-8 pounds before the race, but its definitely going to slower than this summer. And that's ok. I realize that I'm almost done--its scary and exciting. I'm terrified that I'll gain it all back. I don't trust myself that much. But I also am so excited to prove myself wrong--that I can be healthy and fit the rest of my life. I cannot thing of anything more wonderful than being healthy forever. 

P.S (again).--I'm too pathetic to hold this up which is why its sitting happily on the weight rack. Need to work on that arm strength...