I had this whole post typed out with all the delicious food I made this weekend, and then my browser froze and of course I hadn't saved it yet, so I lost it. Phooey. So I'm just going to bullet point what I made then add in the pictures. Sorry no exciting re-creation of my post. It's late and I'm just not feeling it right now.
* Traditional italian orecchiette pasta made from semolina flour and semi-homemade sauce (sorry no picture, but it was soooo good!) made with my cousin Jordan
* Balsamic steak with sweet potato fries for dinner with Dustin
* Whole wheat/fruit pancakes, bacon, and eggs for brunch with Dustin

Dinner for two!

Close-up without the balsamic sauce on-top

I got the recipe from Clean Eating magazine. I'm excited to try more of the recipes in it!

Brunch for two! The recipe for the pancakes came from Shape magazine I believe. I'll get the recipe for it at a later date also. I thought they turned out really good and with the fruit didn't need too much syrup because they were sweet enough.

Hope everyone had a great weekend also :) I'm excited to be cooking more and decrease the amount of eating out. My wallet and my waistline is thanking me for it.

Peace and Love,
Britt

First things first, I have been working out pretty consistently, wahoooo! Some of my workouts could be more intense/meaningful, but I'm starting with consistency then working my way to intensity.  

I think part of my lack of motivation and overall feeling of wanting to workout is the overall sluggish feeling I have been getting.  Today it was bad, I ran, but it didn't feel good, and I know it always won't, but still a day off should help that out, and it didn't so much. There are highs and lows with running or really any physical activity you do, but I'm starting to think that my lack of motivation is partly due to my lack of healthy eating. Sure I love fruits and veggies and lean meats and all that stuff, but for the past year or so I've been letting the not so good stuff win out; and it definitely shows in my training and how I feel.  I do not believe in completely taking a food or food group out of your diet (unless for allergic reasons or personal issues with them), but instead I believe in moderation and understanding that one piece of chocolate/cake/steak/pasta/etc will not throw off your day, but 10 (or even 5) will.  

So I'm getting my room/life organized by way of cleaning, rearranging, and throwing away and the next step is to concentrate on my food choices.  I plan to try and make a chart of some type with different food groups and food choices in them ranging from Good to Not so good/only a nibble.  I'll rank them and then can use it as a tool for grocery shopping, picking a snack, and a visual reminder of what I need to/should do to maintain a health body.  

I should do this sooner rather than later, but when it comes to these matters especially when cleaning my room is involved I can't do too much at once. I get over-whelmed because I'm doing too many projects at once and then stuff if literally everywhere in my room.  So one at a time for now :) I'll keep you posted on how it's going {once I start}.  

Happy Leap Day!

p.s. only 58 Days till my race!!! eeeeeeeee!!!! Excited and nervous at the same time

I'm finally starting to get back in to a groove with working out.  I know this seems extremely late seeing as I have a race in almost 2 months, but I just haven't had the drive that should even with an expensive and big race coming up.  I've been dallying in working out this year so far; a yoga class here, going for a short (semi-crappy) run there, but nothing motivated or regular.  

I am determined though.  

This week is it. 

This is my starting point.

It doesn't get any easier waiting, and I'm sure as heck not getting any more fit/healthier/faster/etc. by doing the mainly nonexistent workouts that I have been doing.  So..

Here's to today. To taking that first step. The first step on the track, in the pool, or on the bike. Here it comes. Get ready for me, cause I'm back.

Peace and Love,
Britt

I decided about two weeks ago that I am going to be doing another competitive race this school year. I signed up to participate in the Collegiate Nationals Triathlon Open Race in April.  This will consist of an Olympic distance triathlon and I'm really excited/nervous for it! I ran my first Olympic distance tri this past August and while it went pretty well I know that I didn't train as much as I wanted to and the course was super simple (suuuper flat and no crazy turns/obstacles).  The simple course made it a good starter race for bumping up from a sprint distance tri to an olympic distance tri, but it also allowed me to slack on how prepared I was. I don't think I'll have the luxury of a simple course for nationals, and I'm glad. I want to step up my training and knock my time out of the water.  

The distance for an Olympic Tri is:
Swim: 1500m Swim
Bike: 40 K
Run: 10 K

My previous time was an overall: 03:05:20. My goal for Nationals is sub 02:55:00. I know that's quite a bit of time to knock off, but like I said, I didn't train as much as I should have and even though it was an easier course, I think my increased training this time around can off-set the harder course. So, I'm aiming for a bigger time decrease!

Tomorrow {today} marks the start of my actual training. I don't have a set plan yet, but I do plan to get my booty in gear! So for me and for you, a few motivational sayings I found via Pinterest and Nutrition Nut

And on that note, it's time for bed. Tomorrow{today} starts a brand new day and new adventure. In the words of Nike: Just Do It.

<3 - Britt

Hello! I've been away for quite a while, it's been a busy/crazy past several months with a lot of small things going on and a few big events. Here's a {very} short run down of what's been going on during my absence:

1. I got my first nephews in November (Yes, that was plural. My sister had twins!)
2. I completed my internship at COSI Exercise Science Lab
3. I finished my undergraduate coursework and graduated with a Bachelors of Science majoring in Exercise Science Education!


I've also been at somewhat of a writer's block. So from here I'm going to go with some of my New Years goals. I'm not big on resolutions, but I do think the new year is a good time to re-evaluate your habits and tendencies and come up with ways to improve. So that is what my list is, ways to improve myself.

1. Continue my physical activity, but increase to more regularly throughout the week.

2. Compete in 4-6 races this year 
       *Triathlon
       *Biking
       *Running
  Just fun ways to keep myself motivated and be active!

3. Plan and stick to a budget
   *With getting a job and big-girl responsibilities this is a must!

4. Plan a menu for my meals for the week
    *Along with that add in one to two non-meat meals
    *Eat as fresh, organic, and locally-grown as possible

5. Be more spontaneous
     *I'm a planner, a big, big planner. Sometimes its okay to live by the seat of your pants, and I think I need to a little more

6. Blog more regularly!

I"m sure there's more, but no need to overwhelm myself.  One thing I also want to write down/list out is my life list. I got the idea from the Nutrition Nut (awesome blog which gives me a lot of inspiration!) and I've been meaning to make one, so that is my project for my next post. So write to you soon!

Much Love
<3 - Britt

I am lucky enough to live in a city that has an amazing abundance of food choices. Not only are there hundreds of unique and delicious sit-down restaurants, but there is also a growing number of faster service/semi-sit-down all-natural/organic restaurants also. One of my all time favorites is called Northstar Cafe. The food is a little more expensive then most faster-ish food restaurants, but I will pay for it (most) any day when I know I’m getting a great quality and deliciously cooked food.

The menu has the main categories of soup/salad, sandwhiches, pizza, dessert, and a few misc. But there is hardly anything on it that I wouldn't order. So much is so so so so delicious, but one of my all time favorite meals to order is their Square Meal

It has brown rice at the bottom with sautéed red onions and red peppers mixed in, topped with spicy black beans, an avocado, and tortilla strips. It is so tasty and so filling. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Another one of my favorites from there is their chocolate truffle cookie. It’s huge, chocolately, with a melt-in-your mouth/almost gooey middle texture with chocolate chips mixed throughout. I didn’t get it this time, but you can bet I’ll get it next time!

I can’t wait to eat my leftovers.. I think I’ll go have a bite now.

Cheers!

BK

Another school year has begun. With just a little over a week and half under way I can’t believe I’m finally in my final quarter of undergraduate school work. The start of a new school year is always exciting to me. Between new classes, seeing old classmates, and a new place to live there’s a lot happening with a new school year. I am starting my 5th year of school and I have been (un?) lucky enough to have moved every year I’ve been in college. My parents would probably lean more on my unlucky side of it, they certainly do not have a fondness of moving.

I’m really good at packing a lot in small spaces, and even though I hate clutter and too much stuff, I always seem to jam pack my rooms. (I cannot wait to have a house/apartment mostly to myself to actually be able to spread out and not live out of one room).  With a room FULL of stuff moving is always fun. This year it went pretty smoothly with only one item not being able to found in between moves, so I’d say it was a success! I’m happily settled in to my new residence for the year and am very excited for all that this year holds for me. I live in a house with 10 other girls (I know it’s a lot, but it really is awesome), and have loved getting to know them better and having atleast one other person around at all times is also a perk. I lived with just one other person the past two years, and I liked it, but the increase in number of people this year is a nice change also.

So here are some pictures of the move from one place to another. (*Note: there was a two week period between places, leases not meeting up is uber annoying, but what can you do about it..)


*Note: Sorry for the poor picture quality. Most of these were taken with my phone

My old room. I was in the process of packing/moving if you can't tell.

Putting together my [huge] closet!

Really bad picture, but you get the idea. It's big!

My dog chole hiding from all the loud noises of assembling my closet/wardrobe

My (mostly) finished room!

On the day of move-in (with the parents help) I also celebrated my birthday with my family in Columbus. The day of my actual birthday my parents were out of town visiting my middle sister in D.C. so we celebrated a week early. We went out to eat at an amazing Italian restaurant called Marcella’s and the food was delicious. Since it was my birthday I got a free dessert and my choice was a no-brainer. I decided on The Profiteroles dessert. It’s 3 cream puff pastries, but instead of being filled with cream they’re filled with chocolate, vanilla, and pistachio honey ice cream made from a local (completely amazing) ice cream shoppe Jeni's.

It was absolutely delicious :)

I received a tshirt quilt made by my mom (Love it!), which is actually on my bed in the picture above, a cute homemade apron and mug rug from my brother and sister-in law, and payment towards a bike rack from my brother, sister&husband, and brother&wife. I unfortunately do not have the pictures of me with my gifts or with my parents from that night, but when I get them from my dad I’ll have to add them. I also received, in the mail, the game/ice breaker Table Topics from my sister who lives out of town. I first saw the game when I was visiting her in San Fransisco two and a half years ago and am very excited to get to use them in the  near future!

That’s all for today folks.
Toodles,
BK

So my birthday day didn’t go exactly as planned as you may have read here. But I still ended up having a good day in the end thanks to my amazing family and friends. I was able to get a ride from one of my roommates to the Pharmacy and to pick up my football tickets (Go Bucks!) and then mainly hung out at home the rest of the night. My brother paid me a visit a little later in the afternoon and showed up at the door with these:

My mom called him and filled him in on my fun morning and then he stopped over with flowers from him and my parents! They are absolutely gorgeous and have been a beautiful centerpiece on our dining room table.  They make me smile everytime I see them.

A couple of my roommates and I decided to get pizza from a delicious local pizza parlor and we also watched Bridesmaid. Which was hil-ar-ious. Loved it. I was also surprised with a birthday cake and candles. Have I mentioned how awesome my friends are already? Yes? Well I’m going to tell you again anyways, they are the best.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Toodles,
BK