One of my dearest friends just got engaged. Although her wedding date is still to be determined, a couple of my friends & I have decided to take this opportunity to do different fitness challenges until the wedding. We're rotating monthly challenges between working out & eating healthy.
These are our challenges - join us!
August (in addition to our regular workouts):
1 - 10 sec plank, 5 pushups, 50 squats
2 - 10 sec plank, 5 pushups, 55 squats
3 - 15 sec plank, 5 pushups, 60 squats
4 - 20 sec plank, 7 pushups, 20 squats
5 - 25 sec plank, 10 pushups, 70 squats
6 - 25 sec plank, 10 pushups, 75 squats
7 - 30 sec plank, 10 pushups, 80 squats
8 - 30 sec plank, 12 pushups, 20 squats
9 - 30 sec plank, 15 pushups, 100 squats
10 - 35 sec plank, 15 pushups, 105 squats
11 - 40 sec plank, 15 pushups, 110 squats
12 - 40 sec plank, 17 pushups, 20 squats
13 - 40 sec plank, 20 pushups, 130 squats
14 - 45 sec plank, 20 pushups, 135 squats
15 - 45 sec plank, 20 pushups, 140 squats
16 - 50 sec plank, 22 pushups, 20 squats
17 - 55 sec plank, 25 pushups, 150 squats
18 - 60 sec plank, 25 pushups, 155 squats
19 - 60 sec plank, 25 pushups, 160 squats
20 - 60 sec plank, 27 pushups, 20 squats
21 - 60 sec plank, 30 pushups, 180 squats
22 - 65 sec plank, 30 pushups, 185 squats
23 - 65 sec plank, 30 pushups, 190 squats
24 - 70 sec plank, 32 pushups, 20 squats
25 - 75 sec plank, 35 pushups, 220 squats
26 - 75 sec plank, 35 pushups, 225 squats
27 - 75 sec plank, 35 pushups, 230 squats
28 - 80 sec plank, 37 pushups, 20 squats
29 - 85 sec plank, 40 pushups, 240 squats
30 - 90 sec plank, 40 pushups, 250 squats
31 - 90 sec plank, 45 pushups, 260 squats
September
Drink 1 gallon of water everyday
Go meatless every Monday
October (in addition to our regular workouts):
1 - 5 burpees, 20 situps
2 - 10 burpees, 25 situps
3 - 15 burpees, 30 situps
4 - 20 burpees, 35 situps
5 - 2 burpees, 15 situps
6 - 20 burpees, 40 situps
7 - 25 burpees, 45 situps
8 - 30 burpees, 50 situps
9 - 35 burpees, 55 situps
10 - 2 burpees, 15 situps
11 - 35 burpees, 60 situps
12 - 40 burpees, 65 situps
13 - 45 burpees, 70 situps
14 - 50 burpees, 75 situps
15 - 2 burpees, 10 situps
16 - 50 burpees, 80 situps
17 - 55 burpees, 85 situps
18 - 60 burpees, 90 situps
19 - 65 burpees, 95 situps
20 - 2 burpees, 15 situps
21 - 65 burpees, 100 situps
22 - 70 burpees, 105 situps
23 - 75 burpees, 100 situps
24 - 80 burpees, 115 situps
25 - 2 burpees, 15 situps
26 - 80 burpees, 120 situps
27 - 85 burpees, 125 situps
28 - 90 burpees, 130 situps
29 - 95 burpees, 135 situps
30 - 10 burpees, 15 situps
31 - 100 burpees, 140 situps
November
Drink 1 green juice (or smoothie) everyday
December (in addition to our regular workouts):
1 - 50 crunches, 2x60 sec plank
2 - 100 bicycle crunches, 2x30 sec plank
3 - 50 burpees, 50 kick down crunches
4 - 200 crunches, 100 skater slides
5 - 100 high knees, 75 russian twists
6 - 50 supermans, 50 squats
7 - 3x60 sec plank, 200 jumping jacks
8 - 50 donkey kicks, 100 bicycle kicks
9 - 25 squats, 100 skater slides
10 - 50 squat jumps, 200 crunches
11 - 25 pushups, 75 tricep dips
12 - 200 punches, 200 butt kicks
13 - 50 plank walks, 50 lunges
14 - 50 woodchops, 50 squatjumps
15 - 4x60 sec plank, 100 russian twists
16 - 50 lunges, 50 donkey kicks
17 - 35 pushups, 100 mountain climbers
18 - 100 tricep dips, 50 squat jumps
19 - 200 high knees, 100 supermans
20 - 75 burpees, 4x60 sec plank
21 - 200 bicycle crunches, 200 punches
22 - 35 burpees, 200 standing side crunches
23 - 50 lunges, 100 skater slides
24 - 50 woodchops, 200 mountain climbers
25 - 100 supermans, 200 plank jacks
26 - 200 bicycle crunches, 200 butt kicks
27 - 100 russian twists, 4x60 sec plank
28 - 25 pushups, 200 seal jacks
29 - 50 lunges, 100 frog jumps
30 - 200 squat jumps, 100 v ups
31 - 3x60 sec plank, 200 high knees
January
Go Paleo!!
It's a challenge. It's not supposed to be easy. It's ok if you can't complete one of the day's challenges - no big deal, just move on the next day :)
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Monday, July 6, 2015
Mo Goes to London
It has taken me forever to write this blog post because I am still adjusting to life in the States. I went to London for my birthday & had the best week ever! :)
My friend, Caroline, & I went to visit my other friend/her brother who is living there for a year, getting his Masters, playing volleyball, & living the dream.
Sunday - travel to London
We had a 2-hour layover in Dublin, Ireland. Caroline & I were so excited to go to Dublin, even if it was 2 hours in the airport. We were really looking forward to having an Irish breakfast & a Guinness. We weren't even thinking about London yet, because we were excited for our Guinness. Then, our flight was delayed. There was no end in sight - every 30 minutes there would be an announcement that mechanical crew needed another 30 minutes to fix the electrical issues on the plane. I fly all the time - but hearing that there are electrical issues on a plane, that I'm about to take over the ocean, was a little anxiety inducing.
One of the fellow passengers took the extra time to check out the airport bar. Homeboy got drunk. He started fighting with gate agents, picked up the gate phone & started yelling at whoever was on the other end. As entertaining as it was, it is questionable that United allowed him on the flight.
Anyways, after waiting 4 hours to board, knowing that we missed our connecting flight, we went down to United customer service to get on the next Dublin to London flight we can make. After waiting in line for 30 minutes, the customer service rep tells us, "Oh, your flight is boarding right now, they're about to close the gate, you've got to run." After assuring us that he would get us on the next flight & we would get our new boarding passes in Dublin, we RAN to our gate. We just made it in time & luckily the only empty seat on the plane was the middle seat, in between Caroline & I.
Monday - arrive in London
Despite the mechanical issues, there were no issues with the flight, or if there were I had no idea about it because I slept the whole time. We arrived in Dublin, Caroline had received her boarding pass for the next flight to London, which was in half an hour. I did not have that much luck - the customer service rep canceled my reservation instead of getting me on another flight. The only resolution was to go through Customs & down to ticketing to get another ticket. While getting my ticket, the lady told me that Caroline & I were showing up as 'traveling without luggage'…uh, what? No time to fix this now, gotta catch our flight to London!
Finally, we arrived in London. Both of our suitcases were lost - they'll deliver it to where we're staying the next day. Dan met us at the airport & we got dinner at a pub, and went to H&M to buy some clothes to hold us over until our luggage arrived.
Tuesday - Tower of London
Before our trip, I bought tickets for us to see all of the touristy things in London. We had tickets to the Tower of London for Tuesday, so we checked that out while waiting for our luggage. We saw the Crown Jewels, fell in love with Big Ben, & couldn't get enough of the Tower Bridge. Once our suitcases arrived, we were able to change, & get ready for the night. We went to a Comedy Fest in Hyde Park to see Jim Jefferies & some other comedians I haven't heard of. Then, we went to a retro disco bar for my last drink as a 27-year old.
Wednesday - My birthday!
We saw the Churchill Warrooms, which was super cool. Then, we went on the London Eye, & saw my man, Big Ben, up close, along with Westminister Abbey & Buckingham Palace. Dan surprised me with dinner at Oblix, on top of the Shard, with great views of the City. Then, we went for drinks at Sky Bar on the Sky Pod, with even more great views of the City - we literally saw London from every angle that day.
Thursday - Shopping
We went to Camden Market to do some shopping from the vendors & then checked out Harrods. We had some time to kill, so we hung out in Hyde Park (I think?). We ended the night by seeing Book of Mormon.
Friday - Stonehenge
This was an all day excursion, that involved 2 trains & a bus. Remember when I said I bought tickets before the trip? Well, I forgot the Stonehenge tickets at Dan's apartment, & the email specifically said, "This attraction does not accept tickets on a mobile device to gain entry." But, that was a lie, they totally let us in after I filled out some paperwork. I loved Stonehenge. I got nervous that it would just be some boring rocks, but it was pretty cool.
That night we went out with some of Dan's teammates to a bar in Camden called Proud - the inside seemed like a brothel, but there was a nice outdoor area. The strange thing was, on the deck, they had a hot tub…with the help of a few tequila shots, I talked Caroline & a professional cricket player into getting into the hot tub. Dan got really pissed at me - it might have been the shots, or the hot tub, or the professional cricket players, or the attractive Canadian men we were chatting up after the hot tub fun. Apparently, I am a bad influence. I don't know what the big deal was, we had fun, we ended up at home, we didn't miss our flight, we're alive. I may have ended up trying to sleep on my luggage, but the night was perfect :)
Saturday - fly home :(
Not a day has passed since we've been back where Caroline or I haven't told each other that we want to be back in London, sleeping in Dan's living room, on his broken couch, with sun that shines through the window at 4am & doesn't set until 10pm.
Now to try to get back to my healthy lifestyle…here's to 2 workouts/day, eating Paleo, & sleeping 8 hours/night.
Cheers!
My friend, Caroline, & I went to visit my other friend/her brother who is living there for a year, getting his Masters, playing volleyball, & living the dream.
Sunday - travel to London
We had a 2-hour layover in Dublin, Ireland. Caroline & I were so excited to go to Dublin, even if it was 2 hours in the airport. We were really looking forward to having an Irish breakfast & a Guinness. We weren't even thinking about London yet, because we were excited for our Guinness. Then, our flight was delayed. There was no end in sight - every 30 minutes there would be an announcement that mechanical crew needed another 30 minutes to fix the electrical issues on the plane. I fly all the time - but hearing that there are electrical issues on a plane, that I'm about to take over the ocean, was a little anxiety inducing.
One of the fellow passengers took the extra time to check out the airport bar. Homeboy got drunk. He started fighting with gate agents, picked up the gate phone & started yelling at whoever was on the other end. As entertaining as it was, it is questionable that United allowed him on the flight.
Anyways, after waiting 4 hours to board, knowing that we missed our connecting flight, we went down to United customer service to get on the next Dublin to London flight we can make. After waiting in line for 30 minutes, the customer service rep tells us, "Oh, your flight is boarding right now, they're about to close the gate, you've got to run." After assuring us that he would get us on the next flight & we would get our new boarding passes in Dublin, we RAN to our gate. We just made it in time & luckily the only empty seat on the plane was the middle seat, in between Caroline & I.
Monday - arrive in London
Despite the mechanical issues, there were no issues with the flight, or if there were I had no idea about it because I slept the whole time. We arrived in Dublin, Caroline had received her boarding pass for the next flight to London, which was in half an hour. I did not have that much luck - the customer service rep canceled my reservation instead of getting me on another flight. The only resolution was to go through Customs & down to ticketing to get another ticket. While getting my ticket, the lady told me that Caroline & I were showing up as 'traveling without luggage'…uh, what? No time to fix this now, gotta catch our flight to London!
Finally, we arrived in London. Both of our suitcases were lost - they'll deliver it to where we're staying the next day. Dan met us at the airport & we got dinner at a pub, and went to H&M to buy some clothes to hold us over until our luggage arrived.
Tuesday - Tower of London
Before our trip, I bought tickets for us to see all of the touristy things in London. We had tickets to the Tower of London for Tuesday, so we checked that out while waiting for our luggage. We saw the Crown Jewels, fell in love with Big Ben, & couldn't get enough of the Tower Bridge. Once our suitcases arrived, we were able to change, & get ready for the night. We went to a Comedy Fest in Hyde Park to see Jim Jefferies & some other comedians I haven't heard of. Then, we went to a retro disco bar for my last drink as a 27-year old.
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| Big Ben |
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| Tower Bridge |
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| Comedy Fest in Hyde Park |
Wednesday - My birthday!
We saw the Churchill Warrooms, which was super cool. Then, we went on the London Eye, & saw my man, Big Ben, up close, along with Westminister Abbey & Buckingham Palace. Dan surprised me with dinner at Oblix, on top of the Shard, with great views of the City. Then, we went for drinks at Sky Bar on the Sky Pod, with even more great views of the City - we literally saw London from every angle that day.
 |
| On the Eye |
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| At the Sky Pod |
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| At the Sky Pod |
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| Sky Pod |
We went to Camden Market to do some shopping from the vendors & then checked out Harrods. We had some time to kill, so we hung out in Hyde Park (I think?). We ended the night by seeing Book of Mormon.
 |
| Book of Mormon |
Friday - Stonehenge
This was an all day excursion, that involved 2 trains & a bus. Remember when I said I bought tickets before the trip? Well, I forgot the Stonehenge tickets at Dan's apartment, & the email specifically said, "This attraction does not accept tickets on a mobile device to gain entry." But, that was a lie, they totally let us in after I filled out some paperwork. I loved Stonehenge. I got nervous that it would just be some boring rocks, but it was pretty cool.
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| Stonehenge |
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| Stonehenge Rocks |
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| Stonehenge |
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| Dan & Caroline in Salsbury |
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| Stonehenge |
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| Stonehenge |
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| Stonehenge |
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| Proud |
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| Proud |
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| Proud |
Saturday - fly home :(
Not a day has passed since we've been back where Caroline or I haven't told each other that we want to be back in London, sleeping in Dan's living room, on his broken couch, with sun that shines through the window at 4am & doesn't set until 10pm.
Now to try to get back to my healthy lifestyle…here's to 2 workouts/day, eating Paleo, & sleeping 8 hours/night.
Cheers!
Friday, June 19, 2015
Mo Goes…
I have wanderlust that goes so deep into my soul, my heart aches. I love traveling, exploring new places, trying new things, meeting locals, & collecting money from all over the world. If I had my way, I would never visit the same city twice - the world is too big, & life is too short.
I even have a job that requires me to travel most of the time…turns out that travel is not nearly as fun as personal travel, & it gets draining, quick. But it also allows for cool experiences. Getting sent to Bemidji, MN in the middle of December was not something I was looking forward to, it was the coldest, harshest, iciest weather I have ever experienced - & children were playing outside during recess! Without that trip, I would have never channeled my inner Elsa, realized the importance of chapstick & good boots, walked on a frozen lake, hiked the Mississippi River headwaters, or stood between the legs of Paul Bunyan.
Recently, I've been letting work take over my life. When I say "recently" I mean for the past couple of years. I got so busy making a living that I felt that I wasn't actually living. I didn't even realize it until one of my friends told me, "I'm going to look back on my 20s & not worry about work. I'll remember the random nights out, the fun nights in, traveling, moving, & making new friends." That's when I realized that I spent the better half of my 20s working my ass off. I've experienced so many awesome things, but all of those experiences are shadowed by work.
So my vow to myself, as I'm about to enter my 28th year of life, is to LIVE! I'm going to take days off so I can experience summer in Chicago - I will no longer have Use or Lose time at the end of the year. I am saying yes to every outing my body can handle. I am going to try new things, all the time. I will stay healthy, but not be so hard on myself when I miss the gym to have fun. I will chase the Stanley Cup all summer long. I will travel…for fun, for work, for me. I will meet new people, fall in love, make memories, & cherish every minute of it. I'll still be a kick ass employee, but I won't give my agency anymore free time - no more staying late at work, no more coming in on my days off, no more responding to non-emergency emergencies.
June isn't even over yet, but it is already the best birthday month! One of my favorite people moved to Chicago, a child I care deeply about turned 10, I "played" softball in front of the Washington Monument, I zoodled, acupuncture changed my life, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup which led to an epic amount of celebrating, I met the Blackhawks Coaching Staff, I hugged the Stanley Cup, I celebrated, I loved, I lived. I even had fun when it rained on my (Blackhawks) parade.
The best part is, the most exciting part of my month is yet to come. In just 2 short days, I'll be in London with some of my favorite people!
Here's to living!
I even have a job that requires me to travel most of the time…turns out that travel is not nearly as fun as personal travel, & it gets draining, quick. But it also allows for cool experiences. Getting sent to Bemidji, MN in the middle of December was not something I was looking forward to, it was the coldest, harshest, iciest weather I have ever experienced - & children were playing outside during recess! Without that trip, I would have never channeled my inner Elsa, realized the importance of chapstick & good boots, walked on a frozen lake, hiked the Mississippi River headwaters, or stood between the legs of Paul Bunyan.Recently, I've been letting work take over my life. When I say "recently" I mean for the past couple of years. I got so busy making a living that I felt that I wasn't actually living. I didn't even realize it until one of my friends told me, "I'm going to look back on my 20s & not worry about work. I'll remember the random nights out, the fun nights in, traveling, moving, & making new friends." That's when I realized that I spent the better half of my 20s working my ass off. I've experienced so many awesome things, but all of those experiences are shadowed by work.
So my vow to myself, as I'm about to enter my 28th year of life, is to LIVE! I'm going to take days off so I can experience summer in Chicago - I will no longer have Use or Lose time at the end of the year. I am saying yes to every outing my body can handle. I am going to try new things, all the time. I will stay healthy, but not be so hard on myself when I miss the gym to have fun. I will chase the Stanley Cup all summer long. I will travel…for fun, for work, for me. I will meet new people, fall in love, make memories, & cherish every minute of it. I'll still be a kick ass employee, but I won't give my agency anymore free time - no more staying late at work, no more coming in on my days off, no more responding to non-emergency emergencies.June isn't even over yet, but it is already the best birthday month! One of my favorite people moved to Chicago, a child I care deeply about turned 10, I "played" softball in front of the Washington Monument, I zoodled, acupuncture changed my life, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup which led to an epic amount of celebrating, I met the Blackhawks Coaching Staff, I hugged the Stanley Cup, I celebrated, I loved, I lived. I even had fun when it rained on my (Blackhawks) parade.
The best part is, the most exciting part of my month is yet to come. In just 2 short days, I'll be in London with some of my favorite people!Here's to living!
Sunday, May 31, 2015
4th Week of Paleo
This is it, I've completed my 30-day Paleo Challenge! At first, Mo Goes Paleo seemed like the worst idea ever…week 1 was tough, but the month got progressively better as I completed week 2 & week 3. I've never felt this good in my life - healthy from the inside out.
To be completely honest, this past week wasn't 100% Paleo. I had a beer at Mai Fest. I have a million excuses as to why I drank that beer - it was the 1st festival of summer, I like beer, a new friend was buying a round for everyone, I knew I was strong enough to be Paleo in tough circumstances, one beer wash't going to kill me. At the end of the day, I realized, it doesn't matter what my excuses for drinking that beer were. I don't owe excuses to anyone. If I wanted to drink a beer, every now and then, I'll drink that damn beer. It won't be a regular thing, this I know because I don't feel as good when I deviate from Paleo. My tummy was a little upset (I did not get sick), & I felt bloated & sluggish the next day. Since I'm constantly striving to be my best self, I know straying from Paleo won't be a regular thing - I LOVE the way I feel when I am Paleo & strict about it.
The social aspect was hard, I'll admit it. People like going out to eat & drink. It's the number 1 social activity. But, it is possible to socialize & be Paleo - order the boring salad, go on the creative/non-traditional dates, drink water, always have almonds in your bag & hard-boiled eggs in your refrigerator. Figure out what works for you - I realized I needed to add more carbs to my diet. Eating a sweet potato (or 2) everyday is when I started to feel so much better & love this Paleo lifestyle. I'm not weak - I workout 6 days/week, & I have been increasing my weightlifting workouts.
I feel like everyone I've encountered this week has commented on how good I'm looking - how I'm slimming down, my lower belly (that troublesome spot every female has) is flatter, my thighs (which have been beautifully thick my whole life) are toning up, & my shoulders have more definition.
Basically, Paleo has been one of the best decisions I made. I'm kicking ass at it & I'm kicking ass at life while being Paleo. I get that it's not for everyone. I get that it's hard to cut certain foods. I get that it makes me an asspain. I get it! But, as someone who struggles with autoimmune diseases & is constantly sick & feeling crappy, this is the first thing I've tried (& I've tried a lot) that has worked for me. I'm trying not to be preachy about it - I don't want to be that person. But, sometimes I get really excited about every Paleo thing that I am learning, that I come off as preachy…it's not intended, I'm working on it.
I had originally thought that I would stay Paleo when I'm grocery shopping; but whenever I socialize, I wouldn't be a Paleo asspain - I would just eat the grains, drink the beer, & enjoy the cheese. That may still be the case, but probably a little less than I was originally thinking. I am perfectly ok with ordering boring salads, bringing my own food (in situations where it's socially acceptable), & drinking lots of water. Every now & then, I will indulge, but I prefer feeling good - not feeling gross & bloated the following day.
I highly suggest trying the Paleo lifestyle. It sucks at first. It really sucks. But, the way I feel right now was worth that first week of hell. I'm actually excited about doing this for the unforeseeable future!
Happy healthy eating :)
To be completely honest, this past week wasn't 100% Paleo. I had a beer at Mai Fest. I have a million excuses as to why I drank that beer - it was the 1st festival of summer, I like beer, a new friend was buying a round for everyone, I knew I was strong enough to be Paleo in tough circumstances, one beer wash't going to kill me. At the end of the day, I realized, it doesn't matter what my excuses for drinking that beer were. I don't owe excuses to anyone. If I wanted to drink a beer, every now and then, I'll drink that damn beer. It won't be a regular thing, this I know because I don't feel as good when I deviate from Paleo. My tummy was a little upset (I did not get sick), & I felt bloated & sluggish the next day. Since I'm constantly striving to be my best self, I know straying from Paleo won't be a regular thing - I LOVE the way I feel when I am Paleo & strict about it.
The social aspect was hard, I'll admit it. People like going out to eat & drink. It's the number 1 social activity. But, it is possible to socialize & be Paleo - order the boring salad, go on the creative/non-traditional dates, drink water, always have almonds in your bag & hard-boiled eggs in your refrigerator. Figure out what works for you - I realized I needed to add more carbs to my diet. Eating a sweet potato (or 2) everyday is when I started to feel so much better & love this Paleo lifestyle. I'm not weak - I workout 6 days/week, & I have been increasing my weightlifting workouts.
I feel like everyone I've encountered this week has commented on how good I'm looking - how I'm slimming down, my lower belly (that troublesome spot every female has) is flatter, my thighs (which have been beautifully thick my whole life) are toning up, & my shoulders have more definition.
Basically, Paleo has been one of the best decisions I made. I'm kicking ass at it & I'm kicking ass at life while being Paleo. I get that it's not for everyone. I get that it's hard to cut certain foods. I get that it makes me an asspain. I get it! But, as someone who struggles with autoimmune diseases & is constantly sick & feeling crappy, this is the first thing I've tried (& I've tried a lot) that has worked for me. I'm trying not to be preachy about it - I don't want to be that person. But, sometimes I get really excited about every Paleo thing that I am learning, that I come off as preachy…it's not intended, I'm working on it.
I had originally thought that I would stay Paleo when I'm grocery shopping; but whenever I socialize, I wouldn't be a Paleo asspain - I would just eat the grains, drink the beer, & enjoy the cheese. That may still be the case, but probably a little less than I was originally thinking. I am perfectly ok with ordering boring salads, bringing my own food (in situations where it's socially acceptable), & drinking lots of water. Every now & then, I will indulge, but I prefer feeling good - not feeling gross & bloated the following day.
I highly suggest trying the Paleo lifestyle. It sucks at first. It really sucks. But, the way I feel right now was worth that first week of hell. I'm actually excited about doing this for the unforeseeable future!
Happy healthy eating :)
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
MoGoes...to Chipotle while Paleo
Chipotle might be my kryptonite. I love that place. I've eaten 3 meals in a row from Chipotle...not something I'm proud of, but also not necessarily something I'm ashamed of either. I thought that the worse thing about going Paleo would be missing Chipotle.
But, I've done great...aside from getting popcorn during my first week of Paleo, I haven't cheated. It took 4 weeks, but I've even stopped thinking about Chipotle on a daily basis.
Until today.
One of my dear friends & coworkers has a birthday this week. We always celebrate with lunch & dessert. She told me she wanted to meet at Chipotle (I'm blessed to have friends who share my love for that restaurant). All day yesterday, I was debating - do I get a burrito bowl or do I just bring a Paleo meal to lunch? I know, it's rude to bring outside food to a restaurant, but it's Chipotle we're talking about here. Everyone I talked to about my dilemma said "it's still healthy" or "just adding a little bit of rice won't hurt" or "you've completed enough of this challenge it's time to go back to eating normal now."
I was on the fence of what I should do...be a Paleo asspain or stick to my challenge. The fact that I was even on the fence was telling, because 2 weeks ago I would have looked for any excuse to cheat AND eat Chipotle. I kept thinking about what my trainer told me when I was struggling through my first week, "you committed to something, you need to follow through." I was finally feeling good & strong on Paleo, was I really going to throw that all away for a burrito bowl full of rice & cheese & chicken that is obviously marinated in cocaine?
As I was baking her favorite dessert last night, lemon cupcakes with raspberry cream cheese frosting (recipe coming soon), I licked the batter off the spatula, just to make sure the batter was delicious before putting it in the oven. BIG MISTAKE! Within 5 minutes my stomach was upset, I had terrible gas, I was bloated, & I felt gross. I still felt bad this morning, I woke up unrested & sluggish, I had a canker sore in my mouth, dark circles under my eyes, & I was going to be late for work.
That's all it took, this was going to be my downfall...the smallest bit of flour and sugar in my cupcake batter.
I knew I couldn't eat a non-Paleo meal of Chipotle...my body wouldn't accept it. So, that was it, I was bringing my own lunch. Luckily I had some chicken & veggies in my fridge, ready to go. Then about 10 minutes before lunch, I thought, 'what an asspain bringing my lunch to a restaurant when they have my favorite meal, maybe I'll just eat Chipotle.' Then a dear friend said to me, "When have you ever cared about being an asspain? Just bring your lunch, it's not that hard." Well, no truer statement has been said - I don't care if people think I'm an asspain, I'll continue to do what's best for me. & it really wasn't hard.
I thought I might change my mind once I got to Chipotle, saw their beautiful burritos, & smelled their cocaine chicken. But, I didn't! I ate the lunch that I brought...the real kicker was the birthday girl didn't even come to lunch! She bailed on us last minute because she was caught in a meeting.
Oh well, at least now I know how strong I am :)
Monday, May 25, 2015
Don't Be A Jackass
There are a few words that I despise hearing - mainly any variation of "retard" or "gay" being used incorrectly. Really, there is no correct way to say "retard," so I don't know why it is still common in the average person's vocabulary. Given all of the improvement for civil rights for homosexuals, you would think people would stop using "gay" in a derogatory way. But, the world will constantly disappoint you.
What many people don't understand is the term "special needs" isn't always appropriate for people with disabilities, & in fact, can be offensive.
The term "special needs" or "special" trivializes the person's achievements or the person themselves. Even the Special Olympics is very prescriptive in their language guidance to avoid labeling the person or athlete as "special," but an athlete who participates in the event called "Special Olympics."I have a friend who has a brother with Down Syndrome, he participated int he Special Olympics and could out swim most of his high-school swim team. Anytime someone heard "special," they assumed that he couldn't really swim and didn't want him to be on the "normal" swim team because he might "hold up" the others - they would even act incredibly surprised when he could swim well. Jackasses. Swimming isn't his disability, so why does it shock people that he can swim well?
There is a lot more to that than the terminology (but the terminology plays a big role). It's also not a denial of the person's disability, but only talking about the disability where it is appropriate. My friend's brother for instance (the great swimmer), may have difficulty understanding how to apply for a State ID or how credit cards work, due to his disability, but it doesn't affect his ability to swim. Therefore, instead of describing the entire person in a certain way, only mentioning it when it is relevant and needed. This would also give you a better idea of how to interact with him. Saying someone has "special needs" doesn't really tell you anything about that person - I've seen this all the time at work. Staff on a disaster will send our Disabilities Coordinator information about someone who is applying for assistance, and when the Disabilities Coordinator asks what the need is, the staff responds, "he has special needs." Well, no shit, that means next to nothing to the Disabilities Coordinator, and she can do nothing with that information. Does the person need accommodations in order to communicate? Do they simply need to take medication that were lost because of the disaster? Does the person need accessible transportation? Do they need a lift equipped vehicle for their wheelchair?
It's all about not trivializing or promoting negative stereotypes - or not giving someone an opportunity because you have negative assumptions about their abilities. Similar to the point about not using terminology like "wheelchair bound" - it creates all types of negative assumptions, like the assumption that anyone using a wheelchair cannot stand up or walk at all. There was this terrible meme (that I refuse to repost) that went around on social media a few years ago that had a picture of a woman in a wheelchair standing up to reach a bottle of alcohol on a store shelf. The meme read something along the lines of "there has been a miracle in the alcohol aisle." This was so upsetting & offensive, there was this assumption that she must be faking her disability if she can stand up (not taking into account that the woman may have difficulty walking for long periods or balance in general) & that people with disabilities should not drink alcohol for whatever reason (which is offensive on another level - but that's for a different rant). Would it have been as "funny" if she was standing up to reach for apples or water? & who is this jackass who is taking pictures of people to shame them, instead of offering them assistance?
There are so many people with hidden disabilities who, understanding the barriers that negative attitudes really do put in front of people, are hesitant to tell bosses, friends, or family about their disabilities for fear it will limit their opportunities or the way people think about them. People with visible disabilities don't have that option.
The best term to use is "a person with disabilities," or to be more specific: a person who is blind, a girl who is deaf, someone who needs oxygen, a man who is autistic. Make sure you list them as a person first, instead of saying "disabled person." We are always a person before anything else, disability or not.
With that being said, you still see the term "special needs" being used, although not as frequently as it has been used in the past. It's important to be aware of how some people, and many people who have disabilities themselves, see the terminology and something to think about in the future.
Go forth & make friends with someone who has a disability; don't be afraid to use the term "disability" or even talk to them about their disabilities; don't pet service dogs, but feel free to (kindly) ask the person what service the dog provides; & above all else, don't be a jackass.
What many people don't understand is the term "special needs" isn't always appropriate for people with disabilities, & in fact, can be offensive.
The term "special needs" or "special" trivializes the person's achievements or the person themselves. Even the Special Olympics is very prescriptive in their language guidance to avoid labeling the person or athlete as "special," but an athlete who participates in the event called "Special Olympics."I have a friend who has a brother with Down Syndrome, he participated int he Special Olympics and could out swim most of his high-school swim team. Anytime someone heard "special," they assumed that he couldn't really swim and didn't want him to be on the "normal" swim team because he might "hold up" the others - they would even act incredibly surprised when he could swim well. Jackasses. Swimming isn't his disability, so why does it shock people that he can swim well?
There is a lot more to that than the terminology (but the terminology plays a big role). It's also not a denial of the person's disability, but only talking about the disability where it is appropriate. My friend's brother for instance (the great swimmer), may have difficulty understanding how to apply for a State ID or how credit cards work, due to his disability, but it doesn't affect his ability to swim. Therefore, instead of describing the entire person in a certain way, only mentioning it when it is relevant and needed. This would also give you a better idea of how to interact with him. Saying someone has "special needs" doesn't really tell you anything about that person - I've seen this all the time at work. Staff on a disaster will send our Disabilities Coordinator information about someone who is applying for assistance, and when the Disabilities Coordinator asks what the need is, the staff responds, "he has special needs." Well, no shit, that means next to nothing to the Disabilities Coordinator, and she can do nothing with that information. Does the person need accommodations in order to communicate? Do they simply need to take medication that were lost because of the disaster? Does the person need accessible transportation? Do they need a lift equipped vehicle for their wheelchair?
It's all about not trivializing or promoting negative stereotypes - or not giving someone an opportunity because you have negative assumptions about their abilities. Similar to the point about not using terminology like "wheelchair bound" - it creates all types of negative assumptions, like the assumption that anyone using a wheelchair cannot stand up or walk at all. There was this terrible meme (that I refuse to repost) that went around on social media a few years ago that had a picture of a woman in a wheelchair standing up to reach a bottle of alcohol on a store shelf. The meme read something along the lines of "there has been a miracle in the alcohol aisle." This was so upsetting & offensive, there was this assumption that she must be faking her disability if she can stand up (not taking into account that the woman may have difficulty walking for long periods or balance in general) & that people with disabilities should not drink alcohol for whatever reason (which is offensive on another level - but that's for a different rant). Would it have been as "funny" if she was standing up to reach for apples or water? & who is this jackass who is taking pictures of people to shame them, instead of offering them assistance?
There are so many people with hidden disabilities who, understanding the barriers that negative attitudes really do put in front of people, are hesitant to tell bosses, friends, or family about their disabilities for fear it will limit their opportunities or the way people think about them. People with visible disabilities don't have that option.
The best term to use is "a person with disabilities," or to be more specific: a person who is blind, a girl who is deaf, someone who needs oxygen, a man who is autistic. Make sure you list them as a person first, instead of saying "disabled person." We are always a person before anything else, disability or not.
With that being said, you still see the term "special needs" being used, although not as frequently as it has been used in the past. It's important to be aware of how some people, and many people who have disabilities themselves, see the terminology and something to think about in the future.
Go forth & make friends with someone who has a disability; don't be afraid to use the term "disability" or even talk to them about their disabilities; don't pet service dogs, but feel free to (kindly) ask the person what service the dog provides; & above all else, don't be a jackass.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
3rd Week of Paleo
I can't believe just a few weeks ago I was contemplating giving up on Paleo. I thought for sure I would never complete the full 30-days of this crazy Paleo lifestyle. Now, I love it, I love the way I feel, I love the way I look, & I am loving the food I'm eating. I have no cravings anymore…I even stopped dreaming about eating non-Paleo things like cheese, Chipotle, or truffle fries.
I look good, I mean I always look good, but now I look better. I don't know what it is, but my skin is clear & glowing - I rarely wore makeup this past week & was still confident in public. People keep commenting on how skinny I look - I don't think I've actually lost any weight, but I will gladly take the compliment.
After last week, I decided that I needed to add more carbs to my food intake. I began eating a sweet potato (sometimes 2!) every day & I have noticed a huge improvement. I finally feel satisfied with my meals, I'm not as weak, & I'm not hungry all of the time. I'm a huge fan of sweet potatoes & experimenting with them. My trainer made me wonderful Sweet Potato Sandwiches, that I keep on hand all the time now. I would have never thought to add almond butter to my sweet potatoes, but it's delicious!
I bought a Zoodler to make noodles out of vegetables. I liked the dishes I made, but I did not like the actual contraption that I purchased - it was cheap, flimsy, wasted a good portion of the vegetables, difficult to clean, & cut up my fingers. After a long night of research (& a good deal on Amazon), I purchased a Spirilizer; I haven't used it yet, so I can't give an honest review, but I am looking forward to it.
Granted, I worked from home most of this week, so eating was very easy, since I could cook most of my meals. I even baked a cake & my amazing frosting without licking the bowl or eating any of the cake. Of course, I had to immediately give it away, but that was more because I felt like it would have gone to waste in my house, than because I was tempted to eat it.
At one point, I thought I would try Paleo-approved chocolate - Super Dark 80% Cacao - it was so bitter, I have no desire to ever eat chocolate again. I don't recommend trying it. Next time I crave chocolate, I will just have some green tea & almonds.
People keep asking me if I will continue with the Paleo lifestyle after this month is over. My plan is to continue to grocery shop Paleo, but I won't be the Paleo asspain I currently am - when I go to friend's houses, or out to eat, I won't dictate the meal based on my Paleo lifestyle…I'll have a beer & cheese, if the night calls for it. But, I'll remain mostly Paleo. The benefits of feeling this good outweigh the taste of sugar.
I look good, I mean I always look good, but now I look better. I don't know what it is, but my skin is clear & glowing - I rarely wore makeup this past week & was still confident in public. People keep commenting on how skinny I look - I don't think I've actually lost any weight, but I will gladly take the compliment.
After last week, I decided that I needed to add more carbs to my food intake. I began eating a sweet potato (sometimes 2!) every day & I have noticed a huge improvement. I finally feel satisfied with my meals, I'm not as weak, & I'm not hungry all of the time. I'm a huge fan of sweet potatoes & experimenting with them. My trainer made me wonderful Sweet Potato Sandwiches, that I keep on hand all the time now. I would have never thought to add almond butter to my sweet potatoes, but it's delicious!
I bought a Zoodler to make noodles out of vegetables. I liked the dishes I made, but I did not like the actual contraption that I purchased - it was cheap, flimsy, wasted a good portion of the vegetables, difficult to clean, & cut up my fingers. After a long night of research (& a good deal on Amazon), I purchased a Spirilizer; I haven't used it yet, so I can't give an honest review, but I am looking forward to it.
Granted, I worked from home most of this week, so eating was very easy, since I could cook most of my meals. I even baked a cake & my amazing frosting without licking the bowl or eating any of the cake. Of course, I had to immediately give it away, but that was more because I felt like it would have gone to waste in my house, than because I was tempted to eat it.
At one point, I thought I would try Paleo-approved chocolate - Super Dark 80% Cacao - it was so bitter, I have no desire to ever eat chocolate again. I don't recommend trying it. Next time I crave chocolate, I will just have some green tea & almonds.
People keep asking me if I will continue with the Paleo lifestyle after this month is over. My plan is to continue to grocery shop Paleo, but I won't be the Paleo asspain I currently am - when I go to friend's houses, or out to eat, I won't dictate the meal based on my Paleo lifestyle…I'll have a beer & cheese, if the night calls for it. But, I'll remain mostly Paleo. The benefits of feeling this good outweigh the taste of sugar.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Sweet Potato Sandwiches
My trainer/food coach made these Sweet Potato Sandwiches for me yesterday & I immediately had to make more! They are delicious, Paleo-friendly, & the perfect pre-workout fuel.
They're simple to make & you don't even need exact measurements!
Ingredients
Coconut oil
Sweet potatoes, thinly sliced
Cinnamon
Almond butter
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F
Grease a baking sheet with a thin layer of coconut oil.
Evenly spread out the sweet potato slices on the baking sheet.
Sprinkle sweet potato slices with cinnamon.
Bake for 30-40 min, until cooked through.
While still warm, put ~1 tablespoon almond butter on half of the sweet potato slices.
Make sandwiches using the remaining sweet potato slices.
Eat the whole batch, like I just did, or have a couple & save the rest for tomorrow. They even taste good cold.
Your house will smell great & your tastebuds will enjoy the party in your mouth!
They're simple to make & you don't even need exact measurements!
Ingredients
Coconut oil
Sweet potatoes, thinly sliced
Cinnamon
Almond butter
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F
Grease a baking sheet with a thin layer of coconut oil.
Evenly spread out the sweet potato slices on the baking sheet.
Sprinkle sweet potato slices with cinnamon.
Bake for 30-40 min, until cooked through.
While still warm, put ~1 tablespoon almond butter on half of the sweet potato slices.
Make sandwiches using the remaining sweet potato slices.
Eat the whole batch, like I just did, or have a couple & save the rest for tomorrow. They even taste good cold.
Your house will smell great & your tastebuds will enjoy the party in your mouth!
 |
| Sliced sweet potatoes, sprinkled with cinnamon, before going in the oven |
 |
| Making sandwiched with almond butter |
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| Finished product…get in my belly! |
Sunday, May 17, 2015
2nd Week of Paleo
My first week of Paleo was rough. But now that I am half way through my 30-day Paleo challenge, I am feeling MUCH better! I even thought to myself, 'I'm feeling really good & have noticed some positive changes...maybe I'll continue to do this forever!'
The headaches have pretty much gone. With the help of oil pulling & rinsing with Apple Cider Vinegar, my canker sores quickly went away. I didn't cheat at all this week…well, not that I know of - I'm skeptical of eating in restaurants & what their hidden ingredients are. I still had awesome dates - Wormhole Coffee, Emporium Arcade, & seeing Mad Max. I'm back to my regular intake of a gallon of water…some days I did drink 1 1/2 gallons of water, but I'm not as concerned about getting water intoxication any more.
I did feel pretty weak all week, and my sleep was unrestful. Due to this, I did not work out as much as I wanted to. I know I know - any workout is better than no workout. I still feel guilty for missing those workouts. I came up with a pretty good 5 week workout plan that I've decided I will stick to…of course, that's easy to say when I'm feeling well.
I'm getting enough protein, I know this for sure, but I'm wondering if I need to increase my carbs. Paleo friendly carbs are: butternut squash, spaghetti squash, sweet potato, yams, banana, mango, apple, pear, carrots, beets, kohlrabi, jicama, dates, pineapple, & peach. It should be easy to incorporate more of those into my diet.
I'm still slightly unsatisfied with my meals - meaning nothing hits the spot. No matter how much I eat, I'm still hungry. I think adding more carbs will help with this, too. I did buy a zoodler, to make noodles out of veggies. After a few more experiments, I'll post some recipes. So far, I liked the zoodles (zucchini noodles) that I made. Next, I'm going to try beet noodles, broccoli noodles, and sweet potato noodles. I have noticed, now that I am more comfortable with Paleo friendly foods, I am experimenting more with my meals…which is good, I love cooking & I love a cooking challenge.
Knock on wood - my eyes are completely healthy. No flare ups, no pain, no blindness (aside from my already damaged eyesight), no issues. That alone will make me stay Paleo for the rest of my life. Granted, it could just be a fluke, & I'm not willing to base my eye's health off of two weeks of being Paleo, but so far, it's good enough for me.
So, yes, week two went far better than week one. I'm feeling good, I'm getting used to this lifestyle, and I'm figuring out what works for me & how my body is responding. I'm liking the challenge & I'm glad I'm doing it. I even realized, it's not as hard as I thought it was…the word "hard" is relative - on weak days, everything seems hard; but on these strong days, going Paleo is easy & one of the best things I decided to do. I'm hoping this strength isn't short-lived.
I think I would even recommend Paleo to others :)
The headaches have pretty much gone. With the help of oil pulling & rinsing with Apple Cider Vinegar, my canker sores quickly went away. I didn't cheat at all this week…well, not that I know of - I'm skeptical of eating in restaurants & what their hidden ingredients are. I still had awesome dates - Wormhole Coffee, Emporium Arcade, & seeing Mad Max. I'm back to my regular intake of a gallon of water…some days I did drink 1 1/2 gallons of water, but I'm not as concerned about getting water intoxication any more.
I did feel pretty weak all week, and my sleep was unrestful. Due to this, I did not work out as much as I wanted to. I know I know - any workout is better than no workout. I still feel guilty for missing those workouts. I came up with a pretty good 5 week workout plan that I've decided I will stick to…of course, that's easy to say when I'm feeling well.
I'm getting enough protein, I know this for sure, but I'm wondering if I need to increase my carbs. Paleo friendly carbs are: butternut squash, spaghetti squash, sweet potato, yams, banana, mango, apple, pear, carrots, beets, kohlrabi, jicama, dates, pineapple, & peach. It should be easy to incorporate more of those into my diet.
I'm still slightly unsatisfied with my meals - meaning nothing hits the spot. No matter how much I eat, I'm still hungry. I think adding more carbs will help with this, too. I did buy a zoodler, to make noodles out of veggies. After a few more experiments, I'll post some recipes. So far, I liked the zoodles (zucchini noodles) that I made. Next, I'm going to try beet noodles, broccoli noodles, and sweet potato noodles. I have noticed, now that I am more comfortable with Paleo friendly foods, I am experimenting more with my meals…which is good, I love cooking & I love a cooking challenge.
Knock on wood - my eyes are completely healthy. No flare ups, no pain, no blindness (aside from my already damaged eyesight), no issues. That alone will make me stay Paleo for the rest of my life. Granted, it could just be a fluke, & I'm not willing to base my eye's health off of two weeks of being Paleo, but so far, it's good enough for me.
So, yes, week two went far better than week one. I'm feeling good, I'm getting used to this lifestyle, and I'm figuring out what works for me & how my body is responding. I'm liking the challenge & I'm glad I'm doing it. I even realized, it's not as hard as I thought it was…the word "hard" is relative - on weak days, everything seems hard; but on these strong days, going Paleo is easy & one of the best things I decided to do. I'm hoping this strength isn't short-lived.
I think I would even recommend Paleo to others :)
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Life is Better With You
Unfortunately, we live in a time where relationships are constantly in flux - divorces are common, friends break-up, childhood friends get demoted to Facebook friend, dating is casual, ghosting is common, & even family members struggle to stay in contact. That's why it is so important to celebrate the relationships that do survive through thick & thin.
Today, I celebrate my Best Friend-iversary with this beautiful soul & our friendship is something to celebrate.
In my opinion, friend-iversaries are the most important anniversaries in your life. Yes, marriage is great, working somewhere for a long time is commendable, births are wonderful, & getting someone to date you for any significant amount of time deserves a celebration. But, friends are the unsung heroes of our lives.
Your friends are always there for you, providing you with brutal honesty or a supportive shoulder, based on what you need - & trust me, they know which one you need. They hear you complain about your crazy parents, your untrained dog, your bratty children, your psycho boss, your forgetful boyfriend, and that rude bitch on the elevator.
Let's face it, we put ourselves through a lot of crap with relationships…crushes, ex-boyfriends, friends with benefits, dating, falling in love, breaking up…the least we could do is hold a higher standard to the true loves of our lives who stand by us through it all.
Your loyal sidekick has been by your side through new jobs, breakups, family drama, deaths, dates, injuries, moving, embarrassing moments, friend breakups, illnesses, births, etc. Their family is your family. Their kids/pets think your their cool aunt…and, to be honest, you are. They support your weird interests. They support your work accomplishments, even if they don't understand the industry you work in. They have seen you at your worst - both physically & emotionally. They know all of your dark secrets & they still love you.
Cheers to you & your friend - honor your relationship - take the time to celebrate the best thing that ever happened to you, your bestie.
Her & I…we've gone through everything together - from going blind to battling cancer, from divorces to friend breakups, from new family members to family dinners. She's the one that makes my family question my sexuality. We even have a song (Michael Franti - Life is Better With You), it's a love song, but it also adequately describes our feelings for each other. I know, no matter how often we disagree, the friendship won't end. & that is something I'll cheers to, year after year.
Today, I celebrate my Best Friend-iversary with this beautiful soul & our friendship is something to celebrate.In my opinion, friend-iversaries are the most important anniversaries in your life. Yes, marriage is great, working somewhere for a long time is commendable, births are wonderful, & getting someone to date you for any significant amount of time deserves a celebration. But, friends are the unsung heroes of our lives.
Your friends are always there for you, providing you with brutal honesty or a supportive shoulder, based on what you need - & trust me, they know which one you need. They hear you complain about your crazy parents, your untrained dog, your bratty children, your psycho boss, your forgetful boyfriend, and that rude bitch on the elevator.
Let's face it, we put ourselves through a lot of crap with relationships…crushes, ex-boyfriends, friends with benefits, dating, falling in love, breaking up…the least we could do is hold a higher standard to the true loves of our lives who stand by us through it all.
Your loyal sidekick has been by your side through new jobs, breakups, family drama, deaths, dates, injuries, moving, embarrassing moments, friend breakups, illnesses, births, etc. Their family is your family. Their kids/pets think your their cool aunt…and, to be honest, you are. They support your weird interests. They support your work accomplishments, even if they don't understand the industry you work in. They have seen you at your worst - both physically & emotionally. They know all of your dark secrets & they still love you.
Cheers to you & your friend - honor your relationship - take the time to celebrate the best thing that ever happened to you, your bestie.
Her & I…we've gone through everything together - from going blind to battling cancer, from divorces to friend breakups, from new family members to family dinners. She's the one that makes my family question my sexuality. We even have a song (Michael Franti - Life is Better With You), it's a love song, but it also adequately describes our feelings for each other. I know, no matter how often we disagree, the friendship won't end. & that is something I'll cheers to, year after year.Chicken Salad Recipe
I'll be the first to admit that the Paleo lifestyle is a struggle. The food seems less than satisfying to me…until I created this little concoction! Even if you aren't Paleo, I highly suggest trying this Chicken Salad Recipe, it's healthy (obviously), delicious, & very easy to make.
Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts
2 hard boiled eggs
1 avocado
2 tablespoons of sliced almonds
15 grapes, cut into fourths
3 slices of bacon, finely chopped
Directions:
Cook & shred the chicken - I marinated mine in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic salt, & pepper; grilled; & shredded in my stand mixer (shred chicken in a stand mixer or hand mixer on medium speed)
Add the hardboiled eggs, avocado, sliced almonds, cut up grapes, & bacon to the mixer & mix on medium speed until blended together
That's it! You can eat it straight, dip celery in it, add it to salad, make a lettuce wrap, or however else you enjoy chicken salad.
Happy eating :)
Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts
2 hard boiled eggs
1 avocado
2 tablespoons of sliced almonds
15 grapes, cut into fourths
3 slices of bacon, finely chopped
Directions:
Cook & shred the chicken - I marinated mine in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic salt, & pepper; grilled; & shredded in my stand mixer (shred chicken in a stand mixer or hand mixer on medium speed)
Add the hardboiled eggs, avocado, sliced almonds, cut up grapes, & bacon to the mixer & mix on medium speed until blended together
That's it! You can eat it straight, dip celery in it, add it to salad, make a lettuce wrap, or however else you enjoy chicken salad.
Happy eating :)
Monday, May 11, 2015
First Week of Paleo
Mo Goes Paleo currently sounds like the stupidest thing I have ever done.
I've completed my first week & it was a rough one. I decided to do this 30-day challenge because I wasn't feeling my best; I thought I needed a little extra something to support my already weak immune system, jumpstart my metabolism, & get me back into my healthy eating routines after a few weeks of travel.
Here's what I went through, socially, physically & emotionally...
Socially:
I kept all of my social events - I had lunch with friends, I went to an amazing Bull's playoff game (D Rose scored a game winning buzzer beater) with my parents, I watched the Blackhawks playoff games, I went on dates, I celebrated Mother's Day with a lovely brunch out, I went out with friends - basically I kept my life as normal as possible.
Lunch with friends, meant going to Freshii (my favorite healthy fast-food restaurant) & ordering a salad with olive oil dressing & a green juice - each ingredient was Paleo!
Watching sporting events without beer was a challenge, but I did it. I thought the Bull's game would suck with all of the concession food temptations, but the United Center has great healthy food options (section 117), so I was able to get sweet potato fries & a few bottles of water. The date was more of a challenge - I'm far more cute when I have a few drinks in me, but I was still charming. He respected my Paleo challenge & it was a good conversational topic. I ordered water & a salad. The thing about ordering salads at a bar is you have to remove a lot of items to make it Paleo - no croutons, no cheese, no dressing, & a little olive oil on the side, please!
The whole point of Mother's Day is to not be an asspain to your mom, right? So I decided that I would not be a Paleo asspain for my mom - when she told me she wanted to go to Chipotle for lunch I wasn't going to object. My step-dad insisted we celebrate Mother's Day at a little bit nicer place than Chipotle, so we went to The Dawson (great restaurant!). We got a flight of bacon as an appetizer & I had a Waldorf Salad, with a vinaigrette dressing - it was delicious!
Now, here's where I failed on Mother's Day. After brunch, we went to see The Avengers: Age of Ultron (yes, my mom wanted to go to Chipotle & see the Avengers on Mother's Day - she's that cool). I did end up eating some popcorn at the movie theater. Not a lot, but I was instantly sick to my stomach.
Physically:
I had migraines or headaches all week long. I get chronic ocular migraines regularly, so I'm not sure if it was a normal migraine, or sugar detox, or Paleo was killing me, or it was allergies; but, it was painful, & I never had migraines/headaches last that long. When it was just a headache, I didn't take any painkillers; but, the migraines were too unbearable, so I did pop some Advil - that's totally Paleo, right?
I was weak all week long. My gym performance felt off, somehow I passed my Krav Maga test, but during my workouts I felt like I had to lower my weights/reps; cardio caused me to gasp for air instantly; adding resistance to my cardio intervals seemed impossible.
There were a few times a day, everyday where my resting heart rate seemed to double. I never measured my heart rate, so I'm not sure what it actually was - but it felt terrible. Perhaps this is a mixture of being weak & my fast heart rate, but I was faint & lightheaded about once a day.
I'm a huge fan of drinking water - I drink a gallon of water every day. This week, I had at least 2 gallons of water each day. That's a lot of water, I thought I might drown.
I got canker sores galore! Usually I get a canker sore once every few months - I currently have seven in my mouth. Seven!
Finally, I never got a good night's sleep & I'm a girl who needs her sleep. Mornings are hard for me, mornings without much sleep seemed impossible to deal with. I even took medicine to help me sleep at night & still…bad nights.
Finally, I never got a good night's sleep & I'm a girl who needs her sleep. Mornings are hard for me, mornings without much sleep seemed impossible to deal with. I even took medicine to help me sleep at night & still…bad nights.
Emotionally:
With almost every person you come into contact with questioning why you are doing something that is important to you, doubting you can do it for a month, thinking your crazy for doing it, telling you the health detriments of doing Paleo, of not understanding what it is like to take any measure to feel (& be) healthy - it gets to your head. Instead of self-doubt, I got extremely frustrated & agitated with people. I also felt like my connections with people were off.
Constantly having a headache turned me into a huge bitch. I wasn't pleasant to be around. I mainly just wanted to be a in a dark, quiet room.
I never thought about food more than I did this week - I was thinking about my next 3 meals, or what food I needed to buy at the grocery store, or how much I was craving a non-Paleo food, or what I would make next, or I would be reading a Paleo cookbook. I became obsessed with food, in what I believe to be an unhealthy way. I was constantly hungry & never satisfied. I ate enough food each day, I ate enough protein, I ate well balanced meals, Lord knows I drank enough water, but I was always hungry. The whole time. It seemed like my tastebuds and belly were never satisfied with whatever I ate.
This week totally tested myself, in ways I wasn't expecting. I normally don't eat processed foods, so all Paleo was doing was cutting out grains & dairy. I didn't think it would be that hard, but it was. It was also very expensive, I'm not sure my bank account can support these eating habits.
I failed once by eating popcorn. I supposed you could count the Advil & unknown secret additives of restaurant food as failing, too. But it was one time, I haven't fallen off the wagon completely.
I don't feel better, in fact I feel worse. I'm not ready to blame feeling terrible on Paleo - it could be anything, maybe Mercury was in retrograde, maybe my immune system is getting worse, maybe it was normal migraines, maybe I have allergies, maybe I have the Plague, who knows; I'll give it another week & reassess how I'm feeling.
Check out my Paleo Meal Plan, One Pan Paleo Recipes, & Smoothie Recipes
Check out my Paleo Meal Plan, One Pan Paleo Recipes, & Smoothie Recipes
Paleo Meal Plans
A lot of people asked me what a typical day of eating Paleo looked like. Here you go! I will have more recipes coming soon, but this is a good starter
-2 hard boiled eggs, 1 apple, 10 almonds
-egg & spinach omelet*, 1/2 avocado, 1 pear
-4 egg whites scrambled with 1 tbsp coconut oil, 4 pieces of bacon, 1/4 cup berries
-2 egg whites + 1 full egg scrambled, kale sautéed with coconut oil, grilled steak
-1 cup of mixed berries, 10 almonds, 1 apple
-green smoothie**
Snack: choose one of the following
-1 apple (add 1 tbsp of almond butter, if really hungry)
-1 pear
-2 celery stalks (add 1 tbsp of almond butter, if really hungry)
-1/4 cup of berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries)
-1 pomegranate
Lunch: choose one of the following, or mix & match
-1 grilled chicken, 7 grilled asparagus stalks, 1/4 cup mixed berries
-spinach salad with sliced almonds, blueberries, avocado, hard boiled egg, lemon juice, olive oil (add grilled chicken, if really hungry)
-1 baked sweet potato flavored with coconut oil, 1/4 cup mixed berries
-1 grilled chicken, 1 avocado, 10 grapes, 15 almonds (chop everything up & mix it together for a healthy chicken salad)
-fruit smoothie**
Snack: choose one of the following
-2 carrots, or 10 baby carrots
-10 almonds
-2 pieces of bacon (add a little avocado, if really hungry)
-1 hardboiled egg
-1 mango
Dinner: choose one of the following, or mix & match
-sweet chicken & brussel sprouts*
-spaghetti squash, chicken, & veggies*
-grilled kabobs (your choice of meat & veggies)
-kale salad with sliced almonds, hard boiled egg, pomegranate seeds, strawberries, olive oil (add chicken if really hungry)
-1 grilled steak, roasted butternut squash, grilled zucchini
Smoothie Recipes
I am a huge smoothie lover. I would have a smoothie for every single meal if I could. Places like Freshii, Whole Foods, & Mariano's have made it easy to just stop in & get a fresh juice or smoothie, but that can cost you a pretty penny. Below are some of my favorite recipes to make at home!
It's fun to throw fruits in a blender & see what comes out. If you're into experimenting, just remember to choose a base (coconut water, almond milk, coconut milk, real apple juice, real orange juice); add your fruits & veggies, even the ones you don't like - mixed together the tastes may be more palpable; add pineapple, if you can - this seems to make each smoothie taste better; & if you're feeling really experimental, add a little extra boost with chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, wheatgrass, almond butter, turmeric, ginger, etc.
Green Smoothie
1 cup almond milk
1 cup kale
1 cup spinach
1 banana
1/2 apple
3-5 pineapple chunks
2 tbsp chia seeds
ginger
Banana Berry Smoothie
1 cup coconut water
1 banana
1/2 cup strawberries
1/4 cup raspberries
1/4 cup blueberries
Tropical Smoothie
1 cup coconut water
1/2 cup spinach
1 banana
1 mango
1 kiwi
7-10 pineapple chunks
Beet Smoothie
1 cup almond milk
1 beet
1 banana
1 apple
1 carrot
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup spinach
Apple Ginger Smoothie
1 cup real apple juice
1 apple
1/4 cup grapes
1/4 cup strawberries
3-5 pineapple chunks
1/2 lemon
ginger
Happy blending! :)
It's fun to throw fruits in a blender & see what comes out. If you're into experimenting, just remember to choose a base (coconut water, almond milk, coconut milk, real apple juice, real orange juice); add your fruits & veggies, even the ones you don't like - mixed together the tastes may be more palpable; add pineapple, if you can - this seems to make each smoothie taste better; & if you're feeling really experimental, add a little extra boost with chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, wheatgrass, almond butter, turmeric, ginger, etc.
Green Smoothie
1 cup almond milk
1 cup kale
1 cup spinach
1 banana
1/2 apple
3-5 pineapple chunks
2 tbsp chia seeds
ginger
Banana Berry Smoothie
1 cup coconut water
1 banana
1/2 cup strawberries
1/4 cup raspberries
1/4 cup blueberries
Tropical Smoothie
1 cup coconut water
1/2 cup spinach
1 banana
1 mango
1 kiwi
7-10 pineapple chunks
Beet Smoothie
1 cup almond milk
1 beet
1 banana
1 apple
1 carrot
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup spinach
Apple Ginger Smoothie
1 cup real apple juice
1 apple
1/4 cup grapes
1/4 cup strawberries
3-5 pineapple chunks
1/2 lemon
ginger
Happy blending! :)
Sunday, May 10, 2015
One Pan Paleo Recipes
Spinach Omelet
Ingredients:
3 eggs (2 egg whites + 1 full egg)
1 tbsp coconut oil*
1 cup spinach
1/2 avocado
Salt & Pepper to taste
Directions:
Sautee the spinach in the coconut oil for about a minute
Scramble the egg & egg whites
Add eggs to pan with spinach & coconut oil
Make omelet…or if your egg folding skills aren't that good, just scramble them :)
When ready to eat, top with avocado
*Side note: if you're making bacon (real bacon, not turkey bacon), make the bacon in the pan first. Use the left over bacon grease as a substitute for the coconut oil. Tastes delicious!
Sweet Chicken & Brussel Sprouts
Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, cut into cubes
2 cups brussel sprouts, chopped
1 cup spinach
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp raw honey
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
Heat the coconut oil in a pan, until melted
Add the chicken cubes
After the chicken has been cooking for a few minutes, add the brussel sprouts, spinach, & honey
Cover the pan, stirring occasionally, until completely cooked
Spaghetti Squash, Chicken, & Veggies
Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash
1 chicken breast, cut into cubes
1 cup asparagus, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup spinach
1 egg white
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp olive oil, separated
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
Cook the spaghetti squash - heat oven to 350F; drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil in a pyrex/oven safe dish; cut spaghetti squash in half, the long way; stab the outer shell with a fork; place in a pyrex/oven safe dish; cook in oven 45-60 min, until thoroughly cooked
After the spaghetti squash has cooked for 30 min, start cooking the chicken & veggies.
In a pan, cook the chicken in the coconut oil
Add the asparagus, zucchini, garlic, & egg white, stirring occasionally
For the last minute of cooking, add the spinach & cover the pan
Once the spaghetti squash is cooked, scrape the guts out with a fork, turning it into "spaghetti"
Add the chicken, veggies, 1 tbsp olive oil, & salt/pepper
Ingredients:
3 eggs (2 egg whites + 1 full egg)
1 tbsp coconut oil*
1 cup spinach
1/2 avocado
Salt & Pepper to taste
Directions:
Sautee the spinach in the coconut oil for about a minute
Scramble the egg & egg whites
Add eggs to pan with spinach & coconut oil
Make omelet…or if your egg folding skills aren't that good, just scramble them :)
When ready to eat, top with avocado
*Side note: if you're making bacon (real bacon, not turkey bacon), make the bacon in the pan first. Use the left over bacon grease as a substitute for the coconut oil. Tastes delicious!
Sweet Chicken & Brussel Sprouts
Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, cut into cubes
2 cups brussel sprouts, chopped
1 cup spinach
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp raw honey
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
Heat the coconut oil in a pan, until melted
Add the chicken cubes
After the chicken has been cooking for a few minutes, add the brussel sprouts, spinach, & honey
Cover the pan, stirring occasionally, until completely cooked
Spaghetti Squash, Chicken, & Veggies
Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash
1 chicken breast, cut into cubes
1 cup asparagus, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup spinach
1 egg white
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp olive oil, separated
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
Cook the spaghetti squash - heat oven to 350F; drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil in a pyrex/oven safe dish; cut spaghetti squash in half, the long way; stab the outer shell with a fork; place in a pyrex/oven safe dish; cook in oven 45-60 min, until thoroughly cooked
After the spaghetti squash has cooked for 30 min, start cooking the chicken & veggies.
In a pan, cook the chicken in the coconut oil
Add the asparagus, zucchini, garlic, & egg white, stirring occasionally
For the last minute of cooking, add the spinach & cover the pan
Once the spaghetti squash is cooked, scrape the guts out with a fork, turning it into "spaghetti"
Add the chicken, veggies, 1 tbsp olive oil, & salt/pepper
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Mo Goes…Paleo
Between my trips to Miami & DC, the convenience of eating out, working long hours, dating, & skipping the gym because I'm busy, my body has changed, both inside & out. I've decided I need to do something drastic so I could get back on track. I have some autoimmune diseases & my body heals faster when I am healthy & eating clean. Also, I like eating healthy - I like how it tastes, I like how I feel, I like how I look, I like that people come to me for healthy tips.Now that I am not traveling for a month-ish, I've decided to kick-start my healthy eating habits by going Paleo for 30 days, the month of May. I'm not one to try fad diets for the hell of it, but my friend talked me into it - it's purely for health reasons & it's only 30 days.
Paleo is also known as the "Caveman Diet"…basically, if a caveman would have eaten it, it's Paleo. Things that you can eat while on a Paleo diet are: lean meats, seafood, fruits, vegetables, some nuts, seeds, & healthy fats. Things that you cannot eat while on a Paleo diet are: dairy, legumes, grains, processed foods & sugars, starches, & alcohol.
This will make socializing hard.
Bye bye truffle fries, diet cokes, Chipotle burrito bowls, booze, cheese, & chocolate. Hello unique dates, well planned meals, feeling my best & being an asspain when friends want to go out to eat!
Stay tuned to see how my Paleo journey goes - I'll be writing a blog post each week sharing what I ate, how I felt, & how it went. This will keep me accountable :)
Side note: there are a lot of differing opinions & good arguments on if you should or should not take vitamins/supplements while on a Paleo diet. After some research, I've decided, I will continue to take my vitamins/supplements. These include: 2 Women's Multivitamins, 1 Biotin pill, 1 Iron pill, 1 Fish Oil pill, 2 CLA pills before each meal, & 1 Melatonin pill before bed.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Mo Goes…to Miami
I was accepted into a Leadership Development Program through work. The application process was harder than applying to college. As a part of this program, I've had to travel for a few weeklong sessions to focus on various leadership skills; I have to do a 3 month rotational assignment with a different Federal Agency, leading a major project; & I have to do a ton of additional trainings & reading.
Session 1 was in Washington DC, this was mainly an introduction to the program. We spent a week getting to know our cohort (about 25 people), we were told what to expect, what is expected of us, the main things we would learn through the program, & how to manage our workload with the program workload.
Session 2 was in Washington DC, Steven Gaffney came to talk to us about honest communication. We also took a couple different personality tests; we learned how to identify other people's personality types & how to manage & work with the different personalities.
Session 3 was in Washington DC & was a complete bust. For some reason, DC can't handle getting a small amount of snow. Literally, all of DC shuts down for an inch of snow. It's amazing because they seem to go through this every year, & they still struggle. Anyways, a few flurries caused this trip to be canceled while I was in DC. But, we did meet for one day & a speaker came to talk to us about dynamic email writing.
Session 4 was in Miami, FL. It went a little something like this:
Monday - travel to Miami, eat dinner on an oceanfront restaurant with the cohort.
Tuesday - in the morning, meet with NOAA at the National Hurricane Center to tour the facility & had a leadership discussion with senior staff. In the afternoon, meet with Florida International University's Leadership Program where we identified personal core leadership values & assessed the role those values play in leadership & decision making.
Wednesday - in the morning, we met with the hunks at US Customs & Boarder Patrol at their House of Pain (dubbed that due to all of their hard labor) to see tactical operations at the Seaport. It was amazing to hear the different stories of how people try to smuggle illegal things (mostly cocaine, but sometimes people, other drugs, cash, etc.) into our country. In the afternoon, we went to Miami International Airport to see baggage control, passport operations, and K9 demonstration.
Thursday - in the morning, we met with more hunks at US Coast Guard, discussing their role in hurricane season & toured marine operations. In the afternoon, we met with the Miami-Dade Police Department & saw their Emergency Operations Center - which gets stood up in a disaster.
Friday - we were supposed to meet to discuss a case study about Walmart's success in Hurricane Katrina, but some people (myself included) had to skip this day so we could fly home.
Miami was nice. There are far worse places that I could have traveled to for work. I got some awesome experiences, & saw some behind-the-scenes action that I wouldn't normally get to see. I work my ass off to be a part of this program, & I'm grateful for the experiences I had.
There are 2 more sessions, that will take place in Washington DC & Boston. Then, I graduate in Washington DC, where I present my rotational assignment project in front of 300+ Senior Executive Service government employees. No pressure.
Session 1 was in Washington DC, this was mainly an introduction to the program. We spent a week getting to know our cohort (about 25 people), we were told what to expect, what is expected of us, the main things we would learn through the program, & how to manage our workload with the program workload.
Session 2 was in Washington DC, Steven Gaffney came to talk to us about honest communication. We also took a couple different personality tests; we learned how to identify other people's personality types & how to manage & work with the different personalities.
Session 3 was in Washington DC & was a complete bust. For some reason, DC can't handle getting a small amount of snow. Literally, all of DC shuts down for an inch of snow. It's amazing because they seem to go through this every year, & they still struggle. Anyways, a few flurries caused this trip to be canceled while I was in DC. But, we did meet for one day & a speaker came to talk to us about dynamic email writing.
Session 4 was in Miami, FL. It went a little something like this:Monday - travel to Miami, eat dinner on an oceanfront restaurant with the cohort.
Tuesday - in the morning, meet with NOAA at the National Hurricane Center to tour the facility & had a leadership discussion with senior staff. In the afternoon, meet with Florida International University's Leadership Program where we identified personal core leadership values & assessed the role those values play in leadership & decision making.
Wednesday - in the morning, we met with the hunks at US Customs & Boarder Patrol at their House of Pain (dubbed that due to all of their hard labor) to see tactical operations at the Seaport. It was amazing to hear the different stories of how people try to smuggle illegal things (mostly cocaine, but sometimes people, other drugs, cash, etc.) into our country. In the afternoon, we went to Miami International Airport to see baggage control, passport operations, and K9 demonstration.
Thursday - in the morning, we met with more hunks at US Coast Guard, discussing their role in hurricane season & toured marine operations. In the afternoon, we met with the Miami-Dade Police Department & saw their Emergency Operations Center - which gets stood up in a disaster.
Friday - we were supposed to meet to discuss a case study about Walmart's success in Hurricane Katrina, but some people (myself included) had to skip this day so we could fly home.
Miami was nice. There are far worse places that I could have traveled to for work. I got some awesome experiences, & saw some behind-the-scenes action that I wouldn't normally get to see. I work my ass off to be a part of this program, & I'm grateful for the experiences I had.
There are 2 more sessions, that will take place in Washington DC & Boston. Then, I graduate in Washington DC, where I present my rotational assignment project in front of 300+ Senior Executive Service government employees. No pressure.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Mo Goes…on many trips
My post about staying healthy while traveling had me thinking about all of my other travel tips. Obviously, this depends on how long your flight is, but for longer flights here are my traveling tips & carry-on must haves. Of course, my mother, who traveled every week for work for 25 years, claims she would cut 90% of this list, so you can adjust accordingly.
The best tip I have is: dress to impress. Yes, it sucks that you have to sit on a plane all day & it would be awesome to wear sweat pants, but avoid this if at all possible. Airport staff, gate agents, TSA are all going to treat you better if you are dressed nicely. Lose your luggage? Miss your flight? Canceled flight? Need to jump to the head of the security line? Want to upgrade your seats? Chances are you will get your way if you aren't dressed like a bum & you are nice to whoever is helping you.
Remember, most people don't work customer service jobs because they think they're fun - it's a hard job, their doing their best, their providing for their family…treat them with respect, no matter how stressful your travel day is.
Now, for my carry-on essentials. Before you have a heart attack at the length of this list, it all fits in a carry-on :)
Anthropologie Timurid Weekender - this is my favorite carry-on, even if I am checking luggage, I still like to use this bag for my on plane essentials. I just saw that Toms makes this Ikat Traveler Duffel - through the Toms One For One Campaign, proceeds from this bag will help provide a safe birth for a mother & child in need. I've also seen similar weekender bags at Target for far cheeper…just search around for what works for your price-point, but don't underestimate the benefit investing in a good quality bag.
Longchamp Le Pliage Large Tote - I love this bag, it's the working girl's dream! It folds up nicely & is very lightweight…which is important when your lugging a bunch of stuff around. If I'm not using this as my purse, I always bring it in my checked luggage.
Travel pillow - yes, you feel like an idiot, but don't knock it til you rock it! They are comfortable, they keep your neck stable, & you can easily fall asleep. You can clip it on your bag so it doesn't take up any space.
Eye mask - trust me, if you're trying to catch some Z's on your long flight, an eye mask will go a long way & it takes up minimal space in your bag.
Ear plugs - I prefer to keep my sanity when I travel, which means not being interrupted while I sleep. I like these Helios Xtreme ear plugs. This is another thing that takes up minimal space in your bag. Side note: these are super cheap & come with 14 in a package, so I also like to bring an extra, unused pair or two for my whoever is sitting next to me - we're all in this together, if that crying baby or snoring dude is bothering me, chances are they're bothering whoever is sitting next to me…might as well spread the wealth.
Compression socks - no one wants kankles. Travel related Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a real thing & I am not looking to get blood clots in my legs following a long travel day in cramped conditions. I've read enough to convince me that wearing compression socks on flights of 4+ hours significantly reduces the risk of leg swelling & DVT. I either keep a pair in my bag or I wear them to the airport.
Scarf - I love my pashmina! It's large enough to wear like a blanket, or you can just wrap it around your neck. Temperatures on flights fluctuate a lot, so it's nice to have something to snuggle up with. Don't worry, you can find them all over with varying prices, from expensive to more reasonably priced.
Snacks - granola bars, almonds, fruit, tea bags, & frozen lemon wedges for my water once I get past security.
Airborne - there's nothing worse than being sick while traveling. I'm not looking to pick up any cooties while I am on my flight. I take a few chewable tablets throughout the day to mitigate any illness.
Water bottle - I am all about chugging water, especially on travel days! This Vapur water bottle fits nicely into your bag when it isn't full. It also clips on to the outside of your bag, if you're into that sort of thing.
Travel mug - I love my tea, so if I can fit it in my bag, I like to bring along my travel mug. It can also double as a water bottle, if needed.
Eye drops - my eyes are sick, I even went blind in my left eye for a period of time. I don't have time to mess around with my eyes when I am out of town, so I mitigate most eye illness by keeping them hydrated. Even if your eyes aren't sick, eyedrops are a great way to feel refreshed during a flight.
Glasses/Contacts - I always travel with my glasses on (due to my eye issues), but I keep a pair of contacts in my bag.
Lip balm - I'm a big fan of EOS…it's like butter on your lips! But, I think Burts Bees tinted lip balm is the most practical for traveling ladies.
Eye creme - I get major puffiness under these big brown eyes. Considering I might be meeting the man of my dreams on this trip…or more realistically, that I'll be taking selfies, I've got to look good. I like Benefit's puff off!
Mints/Toothbrush - do yourself & everyone around you a favor by freshening up! Either bring along some mints, a mini toothbrush & toothpaste, or these single-use Colgate Wisps.
Headphones - obviously, I like to borrow my parent's noise-canceling headphones (since I am too frugal to buy myself a pair), but I always keep a cheap pair of earbuds in my bag, just in case.
iPad/Kindle - perfect time to catch up on House of Cards & Game of Thrones!
Phone - duhh
Chargers - don't worry, I've been there. If you forget your charger, the hotel's lost & found will typically have an abandoned charger that will work for your electronic devices. If not, it seems like every Walgreens or CVS sells them for about $10.
Camera - if you're traveling for fun, you'll want to capture your memories & document your trip. Phone cameras are wonderful & convenient, but sometimes your travels require a little bit more. I love my Canon Rebel DSLR, but it is not something I would put in a checked bag.
Booze - I'm not a boozehound, but I understand the desire for a beverage. Airlines charge a hefty price for an onboard cocktail. There is nothing wrong with BYOB - pack a mini bottle in your 3-1-1 for a mile high DIY cocktail. As long as it fits in your liquids bag, you're good to go!
Don't forget the important things - cash, passport, medications, itinerary, travel insurance, valuables, etc.
TSA actually has a user friendly website, if you have any travel questions.
Happy traveling!
The best tip I have is: dress to impress. Yes, it sucks that you have to sit on a plane all day & it would be awesome to wear sweat pants, but avoid this if at all possible. Airport staff, gate agents, TSA are all going to treat you better if you are dressed nicely. Lose your luggage? Miss your flight? Canceled flight? Need to jump to the head of the security line? Want to upgrade your seats? Chances are you will get your way if you aren't dressed like a bum & you are nice to whoever is helping you.
Remember, most people don't work customer service jobs because they think they're fun - it's a hard job, their doing their best, their providing for their family…treat them with respect, no matter how stressful your travel day is.
Now, for my carry-on essentials. Before you have a heart attack at the length of this list, it all fits in a carry-on :)
Anthropologie Timurid Weekender - this is my favorite carry-on, even if I am checking luggage, I still like to use this bag for my on plane essentials. I just saw that Toms makes this Ikat Traveler Duffel - through the Toms One For One Campaign, proceeds from this bag will help provide a safe birth for a mother & child in need. I've also seen similar weekender bags at Target for far cheeper…just search around for what works for your price-point, but don't underestimate the benefit investing in a good quality bag.
Longchamp Le Pliage Large Tote - I love this bag, it's the working girl's dream! It folds up nicely & is very lightweight…which is important when your lugging a bunch of stuff around. If I'm not using this as my purse, I always bring it in my checked luggage.
Travel pillow - yes, you feel like an idiot, but don't knock it til you rock it! They are comfortable, they keep your neck stable, & you can easily fall asleep. You can clip it on your bag so it doesn't take up any space.
Eye mask - trust me, if you're trying to catch some Z's on your long flight, an eye mask will go a long way & it takes up minimal space in your bag.
Ear plugs - I prefer to keep my sanity when I travel, which means not being interrupted while I sleep. I like these Helios Xtreme ear plugs. This is another thing that takes up minimal space in your bag. Side note: these are super cheap & come with 14 in a package, so I also like to bring an extra, unused pair or two for my whoever is sitting next to me - we're all in this together, if that crying baby or snoring dude is bothering me, chances are they're bothering whoever is sitting next to me…might as well spread the wealth.
Compression socks - no one wants kankles. Travel related Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a real thing & I am not looking to get blood clots in my legs following a long travel day in cramped conditions. I've read enough to convince me that wearing compression socks on flights of 4+ hours significantly reduces the risk of leg swelling & DVT. I either keep a pair in my bag or I wear them to the airport.
Scarf - I love my pashmina! It's large enough to wear like a blanket, or you can just wrap it around your neck. Temperatures on flights fluctuate a lot, so it's nice to have something to snuggle up with. Don't worry, you can find them all over with varying prices, from expensive to more reasonably priced.
Snacks - granola bars, almonds, fruit, tea bags, & frozen lemon wedges for my water once I get past security.
Airborne - there's nothing worse than being sick while traveling. I'm not looking to pick up any cooties while I am on my flight. I take a few chewable tablets throughout the day to mitigate any illness.
Water bottle - I am all about chugging water, especially on travel days! This Vapur water bottle fits nicely into your bag when it isn't full. It also clips on to the outside of your bag, if you're into that sort of thing.
Travel mug - I love my tea, so if I can fit it in my bag, I like to bring along my travel mug. It can also double as a water bottle, if needed.
Eye drops - my eyes are sick, I even went blind in my left eye for a period of time. I don't have time to mess around with my eyes when I am out of town, so I mitigate most eye illness by keeping them hydrated. Even if your eyes aren't sick, eyedrops are a great way to feel refreshed during a flight.
Glasses/Contacts - I always travel with my glasses on (due to my eye issues), but I keep a pair of contacts in my bag.
Lip balm - I'm a big fan of EOS…it's like butter on your lips! But, I think Burts Bees tinted lip balm is the most practical for traveling ladies.
Eye creme - I get major puffiness under these big brown eyes. Considering I might be meeting the man of my dreams on this trip…or more realistically, that I'll be taking selfies, I've got to look good. I like Benefit's puff off!
Mints/Toothbrush - do yourself & everyone around you a favor by freshening up! Either bring along some mints, a mini toothbrush & toothpaste, or these single-use Colgate Wisps.
Headphones - obviously, I like to borrow my parent's noise-canceling headphones (since I am too frugal to buy myself a pair), but I always keep a cheap pair of earbuds in my bag, just in case.
iPad/Kindle - perfect time to catch up on House of Cards & Game of Thrones!
Phone - duhh
Chargers - don't worry, I've been there. If you forget your charger, the hotel's lost & found will typically have an abandoned charger that will work for your electronic devices. If not, it seems like every Walgreens or CVS sells them for about $10.
Camera - if you're traveling for fun, you'll want to capture your memories & document your trip. Phone cameras are wonderful & convenient, but sometimes your travels require a little bit more. I love my Canon Rebel DSLR, but it is not something I would put in a checked bag.
Booze - I'm not a boozehound, but I understand the desire for a beverage. Airlines charge a hefty price for an onboard cocktail. There is nothing wrong with BYOB - pack a mini bottle in your 3-1-1 for a mile high DIY cocktail. As long as it fits in your liquids bag, you're good to go!
Don't forget the important things - cash, passport, medications, itinerary, travel insurance, valuables, etc.
TSA actually has a user friendly website, if you have any travel questions.
Happy traveling!
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