The end of February already? I'll take it. Bring on the sunshine and warmer weather!
Today marked the beginning of midterms week here at university. It's only Monday and I'm already two down and two to go. I did pretty well on my Physiology exam and I'm feeling pretty confident after my Sociocultural Aspects of Food exam. My next one is on Wednesday and then the last is sort of whenever I feel like taking it because it's online. Unfortunately, this does not mean that my Spring Break starts any earlier because I still have to go to work and class every day. If only there were no lectures during midterms *le sigh*. Not that I'm going anywhere fun, anyways. It'll just be nice to lounge around reading (I recently started Becoming Vegan and am impressed so far), working out, and hopefully getting a tiny bit of work done as well. And, it'll help break the semester up in my mind. Know what I mean?
I'm really excited because a new cookbook came for me in the mail today! A few of you may have heard about The Happy Herbivore and, after reading her blog and looking at several of the recipes posted on her website, fellow bloggers' websites, and the previews available on Amazon, I decided to spend some of the gift card I have left over from Christmas on the official cookbook. Weee! I can't wait to try some of these out. If only I had a more adequate kitchen and pantry!
I visited a doctor as I was advised by the counselor I talked to and had some more blood tests run just to make sure that, although I am underweight right now, my body is still operating as it should. And, indeed, my levels are all fine, which takes a bit of the load off my mind. I'm not really sure what the next steps are in regards to all of that, but I have an appointment to see the campus travel clinic to prepare myself for Tanzania. Malaria medications, anyone?
I wish I had something more to say or post. Some deep thought I had that will provoke you to think yourself. I wish I had some great photo or recipe to post. Some big exciting piece of news in my life. But, I don't. I live an average life with average happenings and not much changes from day-to-day. My life bores even me, especially nowadays it seems. I can't seem to find anything that catches my interest and zeal for life and living. Put simply, I am bored. I hope that this is just a phase and that soon enough I will be burgeoning with life and enthusiasm for something, however short-lived it may be. I feel limited. We can't do everything that we want to do any time that we want to do it. I can't jet off to Paris for a month or two. Heck, I can't even go to the grocery store whenever I want. I hate that I find myself wanting to live vicariously through other people. I feel like my life is never more interesting or fun that anyone else's.
Well, I guess this was a pretty random post when you come down to it. Hopefully I didn't lose a few of you along the way.
Feb 28, 2011
Feb 21, 2011
Holy Temperature Change Batman!
50 degrees and sunny one day, and blizzarding the next. Oh, Michigan, when will you stop deciding to be a PMSing woman? The roads are absolutely horrid right now and with exams occurring this week and next this storm could not have come at a worse time.
I felt pretty under the weather this past weekend, which put a damper on my plans to see people and hang out with them, but I just did not have the energy to get myself out of bed or even to open my eyes. However, I still had several meetings which I could not cancel and had to drag myself to.
I'm getting more and more excited for my Tanzania trip. Four weeks in another country and climbing to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Doesn't that just sound like absolute bliss?
With the "heat wave" that struck and a general craving for fruits and vegetables, I've been craving and eating several Epic Green Monster SIAB (smoothies in a bowl) lately. Also, more pasta. Maybe it's just the fact that I've been hitting the gym more, or that the weather keeps oscillating between warm and freezing cold, but a warm bowl of penne with a little mushroom pasta sauce and nutritional yeast (eaten with lightsaber chopsticks) is just so comforting sometimes at the end of a long day. In fact, I plan on another EGM when I get home from classes today. I made THE most scrumptious mix last night and can't wait to recreate it. If only making them didn't make my kitchen so dirty!
All in all, I've just been keeping myself very busy with appointments, volunteering, working out, and studying. I really need to hit the books in the next two weeks for midterms and then spend spring break slowly working on an honors paper I have due this summer for my study abroad. It's going to be about the use of medicinal herbs to treat malaria (or something like that, I forget the wording of the actual topic).
I hope that all is well elsewhere in the blogosphere. In honor of NEDA (National Eating Disorder Awareness) Week, or maybe I felt pressured because of it (in a good way), I have an appointment to see a counselor at the university health clinic to talk about the aspects of my disorder that I'm still struggling with. I spoke with someone last week for a good hour or so that I chose based on her philosophy being more in tune with what I want to achieve rather than what's been thrown in my face all this time that all I need to do is gain weight and then I'll be "cured". She is more of the Operational Beautiful sort of woman which is what I so desperately want to focus on and become more like.
I hope that last paragraph made sense since it sounded a little funny in my head. Anyway, I'll be filling you all in with another post next week and, in the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter @ ucrunnereats.
I felt pretty under the weather this past weekend, which put a damper on my plans to see people and hang out with them, but I just did not have the energy to get myself out of bed or even to open my eyes. However, I still had several meetings which I could not cancel and had to drag myself to.
I'm getting more and more excited for my Tanzania trip. Four weeks in another country and climbing to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Doesn't that just sound like absolute bliss?
With the "heat wave" that struck and a general craving for fruits and vegetables, I've been craving and eating several Epic Green Monster SIAB (smoothies in a bowl) lately. Also, more pasta. Maybe it's just the fact that I've been hitting the gym more, or that the weather keeps oscillating between warm and freezing cold, but a warm bowl of penne with a little mushroom pasta sauce and nutritional yeast (eaten with lightsaber chopsticks) is just so comforting sometimes at the end of a long day. In fact, I plan on another EGM when I get home from classes today. I made THE most scrumptious mix last night and can't wait to recreate it. If only making them didn't make my kitchen so dirty!
All in all, I've just been keeping myself very busy with appointments, volunteering, working out, and studying. I really need to hit the books in the next two weeks for midterms and then spend spring break slowly working on an honors paper I have due this summer for my study abroad. It's going to be about the use of medicinal herbs to treat malaria (or something like that, I forget the wording of the actual topic).
I hope that all is well elsewhere in the blogosphere. In honor of NEDA (National Eating Disorder Awareness) Week, or maybe I felt pressured because of it (in a good way), I have an appointment to see a counselor at the university health clinic to talk about the aspects of my disorder that I'm still struggling with. I spoke with someone last week for a good hour or so that I chose based on her philosophy being more in tune with what I want to achieve rather than what's been thrown in my face all this time that all I need to do is gain weight and then I'll be "cured". She is more of the Operational Beautiful sort of woman which is what I so desperately want to focus on and become more like.
I hope that last paragraph made sense since it sounded a little funny in my head. Anyway, I'll be filling you all in with another post next week and, in the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter @ ucrunnereats.
Feb 15, 2011
I Don't Usually Ask For Help, But...
Today, I'd like to share with you something that is very near and dear to my heart. Last year, I participated in my campus' Relay for Life campaign. Relay for Life is a fundraising event done through the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life is an overnight event designed to Celebrate those who are fighting cancer, Remember those who have lost their battles, and Fight Back against a disease that takes too much from too many people.
I am participating again this year, but taking on a much bigger role in leadership as second-in-command on my team: Never Lose Hope.
I ask that anybody who is able donate whatever they can to the cause as I stick it out for 16 hours outside on the campus track.
This event means so much to me because some of the strongest and greatest people that I know had their lives taken from them by breast cancer in early 2009. Both my grandmother and my youth group leader (and mentor) passed away within a month of each other from this horrendous disease. I pay homage to them and to the many more men and women who are diagnosed every year and the families who support them.
So, please consider giving what you can.
Relay for Life is happening April 15-16, 2011. Please help us reach our goals.
Click here to make a donation.
I am participating again this year, but taking on a much bigger role in leadership as second-in-command on my team: Never Lose Hope.
I ask that anybody who is able donate whatever they can to the cause as I stick it out for 16 hours outside on the campus track.
This event means so much to me because some of the strongest and greatest people that I know had their lives taken from them by breast cancer in early 2009. Both my grandmother and my youth group leader (and mentor) passed away within a month of each other from this horrendous disease. I pay homage to them and to the many more men and women who are diagnosed every year and the families who support them.
Relay for Life is happening April 15-16, 2011. Please help us reach our goals.
Click here to make a donation.
Feb 14, 2011
L is for...
Happy Valentine's Day!
Spend time with those that you love and tell them how you feel.
This applies to your best friend, your mother, your grandfather, your dog, and everyone in between.
Eat a piece of chocolate, buy yourself some flowers, watch a romantic comedy, or simply rejoice over the fact that February is halfway over.
Whatever you do, enjoy today!
Spend time with those that you love and tell them how you feel.
This applies to your best friend, your mother, your grandfather, your dog, and everyone in between.
Eat a piece of chocolate, buy yourself some flowers, watch a romantic comedy, or simply rejoice over the fact that February is halfway over.
Whatever you do, enjoy today!
Feb 7, 2011
At Ease
How are we already 1/4 of the way through February?
School is... school. I go to class, I take notes, I do the readings. That is not to say that I don't enjoy my classes, because I do. I have completely fallen into a routine in the past week (despite the fact that we had a snow day; the third in the history of the school and the first in about 35 years). While this makes life seem easier, I'm bored at the same time. Routine can be good, and I'm not so structured that I don't allow myself some spontaneity, but it also means that you fall into ruts.
Well, right now I'm in a rut. I'm happy that I have found plenty of time to get myself to the gym 4-5 times a week and I'm even more pleased to notice changes happening in my body already. I am no longer afraid of free weights heavier than 3 lbs and I am no longer intimidated by weight machines. I'm utilizing the resources that I have at hand. I'm still doing cardio on the elliptical and stationary bike but avoiding the treadmill (my lungs still won't allow me to run for some reason).
I'm trying to cook more and rely less on frozen dinners and cereal or bars for meals (I only have one entree and a burrito in my freezer right now). I've been finding this a little hard, however, since I have such a strict budget when it comes to food each week. Where does all the $$ go!? This weekend, for a Super Bowl party, I made Chewy Chocolate Raspberry Cookies from Veganomicon. They were delicious! I was especially happy that I was able to make them sugar-free for my Papa Bear (note: this is what I call my best friend's dad). This is the second recipe that I've tried out of this cookbook and I am really impressed with both results. I hope that another occasion will pop up in the near future for me to try another!
What I'm trying to say is this: I think that I'm "too comfortable" with life right now. Everything is too easy, too laid-back, too free. I have so many plans and I keep thinking about the future and I'll that I will do once I get there, but in the here and now I'm bored and looking for something to do.
Can anybody help me out? I don't feel like I'm explaining myself very well.
School is... school. I go to class, I take notes, I do the readings. That is not to say that I don't enjoy my classes, because I do. I have completely fallen into a routine in the past week (despite the fact that we had a snow day; the third in the history of the school and the first in about 35 years). While this makes life seem easier, I'm bored at the same time. Routine can be good, and I'm not so structured that I don't allow myself some spontaneity, but it also means that you fall into ruts.
Well, right now I'm in a rut. I'm happy that I have found plenty of time to get myself to the gym 4-5 times a week and I'm even more pleased to notice changes happening in my body already. I am no longer afraid of free weights heavier than 3 lbs and I am no longer intimidated by weight machines. I'm utilizing the resources that I have at hand. I'm still doing cardio on the elliptical and stationary bike but avoiding the treadmill (my lungs still won't allow me to run for some reason).
I'm trying to cook more and rely less on frozen dinners and cereal or bars for meals (I only have one entree and a burrito in my freezer right now). I've been finding this a little hard, however, since I have such a strict budget when it comes to food each week. Where does all the $$ go!? This weekend, for a Super Bowl party, I made Chewy Chocolate Raspberry Cookies from Veganomicon. They were delicious! I was especially happy that I was able to make them sugar-free for my Papa Bear (note: this is what I call my best friend's dad). This is the second recipe that I've tried out of this cookbook and I am really impressed with both results. I hope that another occasion will pop up in the near future for me to try another!
What I'm trying to say is this: I think that I'm "too comfortable" with life right now. Everything is too easy, too laid-back, too free. I have so many plans and I keep thinking about the future and I'll that I will do once I get there, but in the here and now I'm bored and looking for something to do.
Can anybody help me out? I don't feel like I'm explaining myself very well.
Stumbling Upon A Thing Or Two
10 Fascinating Food Facts: www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/01/10-fascinating-food-facts/
Learn why Rice Krispies “snap, crackle, and pop”, what the color of your twist tie means, and why asparagus makes your pee smell.
Front Page News: www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/
See the front page of hundreds of newspapers across the globe.
Food Timeline: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_timeline
See when some of your favorite products came into existence. Fig Newtons were invented in 1891!
Fast Food Infographic: www.theluxuryspot.com/2010/03/03/fast-food-infographic-holy-crap/
Focuses on McDonalds. Look at the regional burgers!
The Biggest Shift Since the Industrial Revolution: farm2.static.flickr.com/1078/4594866469_7c07b33dbc_b.jpg
Most shocking fact: 96% of 18-35 year olds are on a social network.
How to Properly Eat Sushi: tv.gawker.com/5682904/how-to-properly-eat-sushi-youve-been-doing-it-wrong
I’ve been doing it wrong all this time!
Food Environment Atlas: http://maps.ers.usda.gov/FoodAtlas/
View a variety of indicators across the US, such as number of farmers markets, adults meeting activity guidelines, and fast-food expenditures per capita.
Have you ever used StumpleUpon? I get to thank SU for bringing me to my first food blog, Iowa Girl Eats. I was never the same again. After that day, I started my own blog with food, nutrition, and fitness in mind and discovered so many other great blogs, like Kath Eats Real Food, The Fitnessista, and Oh She Glows.
Feb 2, 2011
My Accent (Or Lack Thereof) Vlog
If you wanted to follow along, here is the list of words/questions for The Accent Vlog: Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught
- What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
- What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
- What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
- What do you call gym shoes?
- What do you say to address a group of people?
- What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped
- body and extremely long legs?
- What do you call your grandparents?
- What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry
- groceries at the supermarket?
- What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
- What is the thing you change the TV channel with?
I just wanted to add that, for the last question, my mother calls it a channel-changer, and so if I’m with her that’s what I call it, too, rather than a remote.
Feb 1, 2011
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