Avocados and running?

Hello there, everyone...

Really pumped about the work out today. It was definitely not as calm and not as "easy" as it was yesterday. The one yesterday I felt really energized and pumped.  This workout left me tired and exhausted.  I definitely pushed myself, so that is really positive.  I guess that is an ok deal though.  Means I worked really hard.  I am looking forward to these workouts, and that is still positive. Today I worked out with a good bud which was incredibly helpful. West Wing, Coach, and Pitch Perfect definitely didn't hurt. Walked/Ran (yes, you read that right) for 2 miles and burned about 180 calories.  I actually gained a pound, but after talking to a fitness guru, it seems that it can sometimes happen when you add a new part of your lifestyle, so I'm just going with it.

After the workout today, I wanted to be sure that I stayed on the same track. My parents wanted to have   burgers tonight. I really didn't want to kill what I had done, so I decided that I would spice up my burger.

I had just a basic burger. No bun. Added a little cheese (major weakness) added butter lettuce (grown hydroponically-dad was excited) then added tomatoes and finally my new favorite food-avocado.  It was absolutely awesome.  Making a few more choices to have more vegetables, I'm hoping to really make sure this healthier choices thing sticks.  

Also got some great advice from a dear friend who is an inspiration for weight loss said that if I worked out during the five days of the week that taking the weekend off to rest the body would be alright.  I am going to take this advice and run with it. I don't want to let myself or anyone else down. I want to do my best to keep up with all of this this time...

Until next time...

BBackpack

I worked out today, guys!!! I did!!! And, I absolutely loved it!!! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you heard me right, I worked out directly after school, and it was awesome. Sure, my workouts of 30 minutes going up a small incline at like 4mph isn't exactly what I would call craziness, but I really enjoyed it. Apparently it takes about 21 days to make it a habit. It looks like I will have luck with the workouts during the week.  So, the thought is to take 30 minutes, every day after school and then we will see how the weekend goes.  I will feel less bad if the only take weekends off, and do five days during the week.  I'm hoping that this will work out.  If I get to watch West Wing and just walk for 30 minutes, I'm ok with that! Here's to motivation...

So, yesterday was a quite a fun day. It was a very different, but quite fun.  The boy and I looked at apartments downtown. Quite crazy, but we had time, and it started a great dialogue between us, and it is so nice that we are on the same page.  Now the hard part is waiting for all of this to happen.  We then went to the Art Institute. I haven't been there in a while, but it always amazes me how much I take for granted when it comes to how much Chicago has to offer. Seeing the Monet and Surat painting is still awe inspiring, but I forget how close it is to me. I could go and see it whenever I wanted to.  J had never seen any of these awesome paintings, and it was great to walk around with him there.

After a water soaked trip, we headed out to "home," the UC. This was my first game back, and it was insane. I forget how much I get into these games.  From being nervous, to being so excited, to yelling my head off.  If you have never been to a professional hockey game, you must go.  Find a way and go. I owe my love of this game to a dear friend, and I although I will love here for more than this, it was always be one of the reasons she is my dear friend.

I guess this wasn't the most inspirational post, but I am excited to be finding a happy medium. I think the blog is helping, and it is very therapeutic. I hope you all are still with me, and thank you for sticking around.  Maybe a fun cooking experiment should be coming up soon.  And the first chapter in the glasses saga should be coming tomorrow!!!

Until next time...

BBackpack

Hangin Tough

Sometimes I forget about how amazing the people in my life are. I mean, sure, we all do it. Life gets busy. Extra stuff gets in the way, and sometimes you just decide that the DVR and Hulu is really just how you want to spend the day. I get that. Heck, I do that. However, when you get to spend a couple hours catching up with friends you haven't seen in a while, it really makes you appreciate them in your life. I really feel that true friends are ones you don't see all the time, but when you spend time together, you pick up as if no time was lost. Now, if you asked me what a true friend was in high school, I'd tell you someone with a pool...I mean, someone who you saw day in and day out. I am lucky enough to still have a few friends from high school, but they now are more the ones where we pick up where we left off. Think about it. What do you consider to constitute a true friend?

I know, when I started this blog, I said I would do most of the talking, and all you had to do was listen. So, sorry about that. But, yesterday after having coffee with two amazing friends in my life, I felt so fulfilled and ridiculously happy, and I want you all to feel that too.

Now, with all this being said, I have to say I do have this feeling everyday when I go to work because I am super spoiled due to the fact that I work the best people on the planet. They will never be mentioned unless in witty nicknames that I give them or nicknames they give themselves (because I see them doing that). They are just that amazing, and I have learned so much about my job and life through them, that what they have given me is so much more than I could hope to give them.

So, after the short love letter to my friends and the people I work with. I'd like to turn my love letter to food. Hence, why I started the blog. I love it. I love good food. I love trying new places and different types of food. Probably why I'll never be a size two, and I think I'm starting to believe I'm ok with this. That being said after a fabulous visit with friends, and a great dinner out with the family, I didn't work out yesterday. I know what you're thinking. Come on now, you started this and didn't even work out on day 2. Pull your life together! Not what you were thinking? At least one of us didn't think that... I'll get back on the workout horse today, and will hopefully have a better news for you all on the workout front tomorrow. I'll find a rhythm. I'm a musician...how hard can it be? *Du dun cha*

As many of you may be able to tell, I'm reading Bossypants by Tina Fey. It's such a great book. Really giving a voice to modern women and inspiring me to stand up and just be me. Hopefully, that is coming across to you...


Until next time...
BBackpack

The start of it all...

Hello everyone out there...

I have a few hopes for this blog, but first, I'd like to start with a story about how the Blog got it's title.  There are many things that provide inspiration for me, and a big one for me is (believe it or not) this blue backpack. 

This backpack represents so much to me. It was the first big purchase I made on my own when I got to school.  I saved the money and bought it. Since then, it has traveled with me through the best and worst days of school. Happy vacations, sad trips to say goodbye to friends and family, and many upon many marching band competitions. The bag is worn,  but works hard, and is very reliable. When I started my "big girl" job, I put it away, and it seems that I put a lot of myself with it to. I seem to have lost a lot of my inspiration, my fire, and finding the joy in the littlest things throughout my day. Yesterday, I made a decision.    

A decision to allow a very simple thing to inspire and push me once more.  

I am starting this blog to share random thoughts and this inspiration journey with you. One, to keep me honest. On this journey, I would like to work on my fitness, and keeping you all updated with this keeps me very accountable. The goal: to work out 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week.  Nothing too crazy.  I'm 155 pounds, and the goal would be 135/140.  I am not in a huge hurry to reach this goal, but I am hoping to chip away at it. So, you all have a big job! ;) 

I'd also like to share with you some great outfits, good recipes, and some fun stories.  I want this to be a blog where you get to laugh and hopefully get a little inspiration from my stories, outfits, and recipes. Something fun to read for a little entertainment, and hopefully I can inspire you as much as your sheer presence of reading this inspires me. 

I am happy to report that the outfit worn today (inspired by Pinterest) was a huge hit today, and I loved it.  I'll have to get more pictures at a later date, and that I had a great day finished off by a great workout  for 30 minutes and 1.82 miles.  Also, keep coming back for the fun glasses saga that will be coming up quite soon.  

I hope you all stick with me, and I promise to bring a little laughter and a little levity.  

Until next time...

BBackpack