InstaLately

I haven't been posting much lately, but I promise I have some posts in the pipeline!  I've been getting ready for some fun fun plans that include:

• Dinner with a friend visiting from RENO
• The Color Me Rad 5k run
• A trip to Vegas to see our friends and family!
• A trip to Utah to play in the red dirt (and see something called "sunlight" - I'm not sure what that is anymore)

And friends... I can't wait!

So I leave you with my latest Instagram pictures.  I was recently informed my Instagram link wasn't working so I've updated it.  I'm always looking for new bloggers to stalk follow!!

Follow me here.

Top Row

• Polly getting her cuddle on after a Forest Park hike
• Fiance setting up a tent to prepare for our trip to UTAH (although after I posted this, we realized it looks like he's taking a potty break)

Bottom Row

• Fiance's super cool bowling socks.  My man has mad style, yo ;-)
• Again, another Polly plug.  She's just so cute.  Plus I got bangs :-)

Forest Park Frolick

Sunday was my "run day."

I've got this crazy idea that I want to run 7 miles a week.  That could be 1-mile a day, two 3.5-mile days, anything.

My idea is that eventually running may get easier.

But let's be honest.  Running never gets easier.

ANYWHO.  Since it was really warm outside, boyfriend recommended we go to Forest Park.  You know, because it's shaded and "flat."

As long as it's flat, I'll go.  I don't want any stinkin' hills.

Lo and behold our run was not a running path, it was a hiking trail.  

Hiking as in "not flat."  

Hiking as in "switchbacks."  

Hiking as in, "straight uphill death."

I made it the entire 5 miles.  No I did not run the entire 5 miles - because I would have died.

But we had fun and enjoyed a beautiful part of Portland.

I thought I'd share some of our photos :-)

The hikerun was so green - it's crazy to think this is right in the middle of Portland

Our hikerun led up to the Pittock Mansion.  I always wondered what the big whoop was until we saw the view.  If only I could show in a picture how long Aaron just stood there mesmerized staring at Hood.

Where's Waldo Boyfriend?

We ended the entire hikerun with some Lardo.  Nothing like a massive sandwich to gain back all of the calories you just burned :-)

Nightmares

I'm posting this secretly hoping someone will come forward and let me know I'm not the only one 

OR 

They have a miraculous cure for this but...

I have nightmares.

Like... a lot of them.  

Constantly.

Don't only kids get nightmares??  

Last night was a bad one.  Like one of those, "I can't tell if this is real or fake" kind of nightmares.  The rest have been easy for me to wake up and justify, "That could never happen" or "This is just a dream."

But last night's woke me up at 2:30am.  And kept me up, even after bravely searching the entire house.  

I'm on of those people that when I hear a noise, I'll pull the covers over my head.  Like that would really help prevent an intruder from finding me. So I made a point last night to put my big girl pants on and search the house.  The entire house.  Every closet, room, floor, garage, etc.  

Everything.  

Had someone actually been there who knows what I would have done, but I felt like this would put my thoughts at ease and allow me to go back to sleep.

Negative, ghostrider.

Via

I stayed up the rest of the night terrified of what I had just dreamed about and how something like that could even enter my subconscious.

Realizing this is nightmare #4 in the past 7 days made me realize I have a problem.  How do you fix your dreams?  If I had it my way I'd dream about shopping sprees and being a mermaid (because who doesn't want to be a mermaid).

But instead my dreams are causing me to wake up in a puddle of sweat with crusty eyes (where I could tell I had been crying at one point).

So here's my next dilemma:

How do you go to work looking exhausted only to explain, "I'm really tired because I have nightmares."

Ridiculous, right?!

Let's talk BODY

I saw this fun little linkup on Babbling Brookelyn's bloggy.  At first I was a little unsure until I started reading her answers. 

It was one of those posts where you think, "Hey I want to play too!"

So here is me playing.

The Rules:

1. Be a dear and follow the host and co-host via GFC or Bloglovin' 

(or both if you're feeling extra kind.)

2. Remember to post the link up button on your blog or in your link up post for everyone to see.

3. Link up to a specific post (not just your main blog url).

4. Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. :)

1. My toes cross.  I think it started out as me doing it when I was younger, for whatever reason,  But they're stuck that way now.  I had surgery on my right foot to correct the crossing (and remove my bunion) but little good that did.  My picture I'm trying really hard to hide my bunions.  AND bunionettes.  Basically I try to hide my hobbit feet whenever possible.

2. Itty Bitty Teefers.  I have tiny lateral incisors (those are the two teeth that are next to your two front teefers).  I've been meaning to get these bad boys veneered for quite some time so it doesn't look like I have holes in my mouth, buuuuuuut veneers are around $1,000 a pop and I'm just not made of that kind of spending money.

3. I have freckles on my lips.  They've always been there.  If you're a freckly person, you know that freckles come and go.  So occasionally I'll have some really super dark freckles for about a week until they start to fade away.  When they're that dark they look like food.  Numerous times I've had people tell me I have food on my lips.  No sweet poopsie - those are my freckles.

4. I have cankles.  And I swear if I hear anyone say one more time, "You're skinny, you don't have cankles" I'm going to punch a puppy.  If you take one look at my calves/cankles, you'll see that there's no beginning to my foot and no ending to my calf.  They blend and mesh.  

5.  I have a freakishly long torso and small legs.  I can sit next to a friend who is 5'11 and be as tall (if not taller).  It's like an optical illusion.  "Hey why is this 5'3 girl as tall as me when we're sitting down?"   To compensate for my long torso, my legs decided to not grow and my torso was having plenty of fun on its own.  I've had plenty of people ask me, "Are you sitting on a higher chair than me?"  No.  No that's just my torso playing tricks on you.

A much needed weekend

Alright Bloggy McBloggerson - it's time for a heart-to-heart.

The weekend before last was an amazing weekend.  It's exactly what I needed physically, mentally, emotionally, everything.

I've been in Portland for a little over a year.  If you asked me before I moved if I was excited or not I'd say, "How am I going to make friends?"

I'm not in school anymore.  I don't go clubbing.  How do you make friends outside of college?  Troll the local grocery store and approach every 22-30 year old female I see?

Get my point?

As expected, it really is hard to make friends when you live in a new city!  Boyfriend works nights and sleeps days with Tuesday-Thursday off work.  Basically we have 100% opposite schedules.  So I typically spend my weekends blog-stalking, errand-running, and gym-going.  And the few couple-friends we've made here have similar schedules.  It's like working M-F 8-5 is uncommon around these parts.

ANYHOW - I digress.

So the weekend before last I went home. 
Originally I booked my flight to meet my new niece and nephew baby twinnies.

But then boyfriend popped the question.  And this "quick trip home" turned into a hunt for a wedding venue (more to come on this later).

So between seeing my family, playing with babies, and hunting for venues, I wanted more than anything to see my friends. 

As you can tell Lou was a little more than excited to see me too.

It was a wonderful weekend. 

I laughed. 

DIDN'T CRY. 

We drank. 

We danced. 

We stayed out till 3:30am. 

We wine-walked. 

Our diet consisted of junk food (see: blue Symphony bars and Doritos above)

We just had a typical Reno weekend with some amazing people.

I really just needed this kind of a weekend filled with those "instant connection" type of friends.  It's not forced.  It's easy.  And it's even more easy to pick up where you left off.  When I left Monday morning to fly home I felt like I was leaving a boyfriend.  I felt like I was going through a breakup.  I felt like I couldn't believe it was ending - and I didn't want it to!

It was a wonderful weekend and I can't wait for my next trip back home.

Papa Mark doing his DJ thing.

I also can't forget the pictures of Tahoe from the Fire Lookout :-)

Planners vs. Do-ers - $$$$

This post could go in a few directions, but I'm taking it in the financial direction.

I'm frugal.

Not super crazy frugal, but I'm always crunching numbers and thinking about how much we need to save each month for trips/gifts/wedding etc. 

I was chatting with the fiance a while back and he said

"There are planners and there are do-ers."  

And it's really so true.  Together, he and I make a decent income.  

According to one of my professors in school, we are DINKs (Dual Income No Kids).  

We have some friends who are not DINKs but still manage to constantly be spending and buying and traveling.  

Living the life, really.

That's when this conversation happened.  I asked, "how can we NOT afford to do all of that also?"

It's not that we can't afford it, it's that we choose not to in order to save an extra buck.  For what?  For retirement?  Yep - I'm that anal 26-year old who is saving for retirement.  I'm clearly a planner.

This is how I budget - envelope system

PLANNER

• We plan and live for the future.  
• We scout out hotels far in advance for the absolute best deal
• We miss out on opportunities because we are concerned with not wanting to spend that much money.  Why buy a brand new car when you can buy a perfectly good used car?
• If we can't pay cash, we aren't buying (aside from homes, cars, etc).  Things like mattresses, furniture, computers, etc.  If you have to take out credit, how badly do you really need it?
• We avoid credit like white socks and flips flops
• Appetizers just mean more $$
• We max out our 401k
• We coupon (ok, not all, but it helps stretch the dollar!)

DOERS

• You live in the now
• You live spontaneously and plan last minute trips, just for the heck of it.  You don't think twice about having fun when us Planners are concerned with, "What can I cut out of my budget this month to afford this?"
• Happy Hours are your thang, $7 here and $7 there - it's no big deal
• You don't stress about whether or not you can afford something - if you want/need it you get it
• You pamper yourselves and others - why buy a used car when you can spend a little more to get something brand new?
• You do all of the things the planners are planning for

I'm not saying either is right or wrong.  In fact sometimes I'm jealous I'm not a do-er.  I like to believe I'll be set when it comes to retirement, but sometimes I think it's ludicrous that I'm planning for my life that's over 30 years away.

So, dear bloggy friends, are you planners or do-ers?

I'm not praying for Boston

This post could go over really poorly.  

But this is the real me.

Hear me out.

If you don't like it, don't read it.

If you don't agree, I don't mind.

I followed the Boston marathon tragedy when it was first happening.

My co-worker received a text from her friend who was at the event before anything even hit the news.

So we followed the news throughout the day.

My heart goes out to the three people who were killed.  

And my heart goes out to their families.

And to those who were injured.

But I'm not sure my heart goes out to Boston. 

I've been scouring the internet and news trying to see if part of Boston blew up and is destroyed.  

If people are now homeless and the streets of Boston are filled with mayhem.

I'm not finding any of that.

There is undoubtedly more hype about the Boston Marathon tragedy than when 26 people were murdered at an elementary school this past December.  Why are we not praying for Sandy Hook?

 I just feel like it's being a little sensationalized.  And for the families/people who were actually affected, I feel like they're being overlooked.  Why pray for them when you could pray for BOSTON. 

But just so people don't think I'm a total ice queen I thought I'd add this lovely picture a friend sent me. 

 

Bulb Urge

I'm not sure what has gotten into me, but I have this urge to plant flowers.

Not just any flowers.

Dahlias
and Ranunculus

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!

My mom was in town and we went to home depot where I found bulbs.  Dahlia bulbs. 

I'MBUYING!
IWANT!

So I bought.  

And planted.  

Then two weeks later Polly ate them.  All of them.  That whore bad dog.

Moving on. 
So we were driving home from the Tulip Festival and passed something called, "Swan Island Dahlias."

Well, that's a no-brainer. 
We went. 
We conquered.

Tempest from Swan Island.  You bet your booty this will be in my garden this summer!

So homeward bound with even more Dahlia bulbs.

THEN while googling Dahlias and how to be the best Dahlia-bulb-planter and thrive in my new obsession, I found RANUNCULUS.

And these are to die for. 
They're beautiful. 
Light. 
Fluffy.
Girly. 
Colorful. 
Lovely. 
Really just lovely.

... so then I bought some. 
Because naturally my Dahlia bulbs had to have some Ranunculus bulb friends as well.

The bad part is Dahlias can't be planted until the end of April.  So the more I wait, the more inpatient I get, and the more I google new flowers, and the more I want to buy!!

I already have no idea where I'm planting all of these sun-dwelling flowers.  So I'm not sure what I'm going to do if I keep buying bulbs I can't plant.

Again - moving on.

So Aaron and I made a quick run to Winco to get some dinner (I like my groceries like I like my wine - cheap).  While walking into the store LO AND BEHOLD I find some RANUNCULUS!

... so I bought them.  Because my Ranculus bulbs would need some more mature Ranunculus mentors to look up to.  

Obviously.

Just thought I'd fill you in on my latest obsession.  GOODNIGHT!

The time I got hit by a semi...

I'M OK I'M OK I'M OK

This morning on my way to work was a prime example of why we all loathe semi drivers.

You know when you're in the far right lane on the freeway (with no shoulder, of course) and a car starts coming into your lane?

Naturally you honk, and the car stops.

But what happens when that "car" is a semi? 

.... he doesn't stop.

Let's throw in an added "scare factor" here:

On the other side of the median was a drop off. 

I was on a bridge over a massive body of water.

Luckily I slammed my breaks fast enough to get by with just a missing rearview mirror.  Thank goodness I reacted quickly and slammed on my breaks before he could slam me into the median.  I scraped by with a missing rearview mirror.

SO, PORTLAND DRIVERS.  If you see a semi with the license plate of 85895, steer clear.  Because he's a grade A asshole (sorry for the language, but it's well deserved in this case).

Shaving Challenged

I have a problem.

A hairy problem.

via - Not a dorm room, but same idea!

When we moved into our new home, we inherited a beautiful bathroom.  BEAUTIFUL.

Complete with a shower

A soaker tub

His-and-her sinks

A walk-in-closet

And private toilet area

It was perfect.  Absolutely perfect.

UNTIL I took my first shower.  

All my life I've always had a shower/tub.  In THIS bathroom they're separate.

So here's my hairy problem.  

I can't shave.

Not in this shower.

I end up bending down, eyes closed (with water pouring down my face) throwing my razor around hoping it'll manage to sweep across my legs.

I've attempted propping myself between the walls and feel absolutely ridiculous.

I've tried holding my leg in the air.  Yoga shaving?  Exactly.

I've tried balancing shampoo bottle on top of each other as a "step" to use.  It's a no brainer that wouldn't work.  Ever.

I'm done.  DUNZO.  

I think I have to settle with hairy legs or battered legs.  I've never cut myself so many times in my entire shaving career as I have these past 6ish months.

Wouldn't it be lovely if this worked?

via

Just thought I would share my #firstworldproblems hygienic annoyances with everyone!

I broke 100!!

WOOHOOOOOO

LOOKIT LOOKIT LOOKIT!

101 Followers!!

You all rock.  I feel like this means GIVEAWAY time.  But I don't even know where to begin.

Stay tuned.



This time, last year

What

A

Year

This time last year I had just moved to Portland (February).

Shortly after, I got appendicitis.

... and stayed in the hospital for almost a week

Then I celebrated my first birthday in Portland

I started my job March 12th

... and went to Chicago for training. For two weeks.

It's crazy to think this was just a year ago because it seems like just yesterday I was living off percocet with my four new battle wounds. I remember thinking I was never ever going to get better. I remember thinking I wasn't going to be able to start my job in March because I'd never get better. I remember I could barely make it through the day without feeling exhausted. All while trying to be excited about living in a new city with my amazing boyfriend.

Everything worked out in the end. My stomach is a total spaz now, but I'll take what I can get :-)

Wedding $$$

Now that boyfriend has proposed, I don't feel like I can call him "Boyfriend" on my bloggy anymore.

But calling him "Fiance"? I'll try - if it sounds too tacky I'll start using his name.

ANYWHO.

Do any of you have ANY idea how expensive weddings are?! I'm sure you married folk probably understand, but it's news to me!

Fiance and I recently realized we'll probably be paying for the majority of the wedding ourselves. With that being said, we I battled with the idea of not even having a wedding. I don't have $10,000 laying around for a rainy day. See: Polly's Surgery - that brat.

And it's looking like a wedding, with the number of guests we want, is a minimum of $10,000.  We don't want to take out a line of credit (which we are finding is more popular than we thought!) and we still have a honeymoon to pay for!

I thought if I can't have the wedding I'd always imagined (pretty dress, pretty hair, beautiful outdoor location) then I'd rather do the elope shindig. People keep telling me, "Don't forget what the day is really about. It's about your marriage. Nothing and no one else." so I thought WELL HELL. If it's just about the marriage then let's hop in the car, head to the courthouse and call it a day.

Keep in mind the people telling me this are always re-married. People who got their big day. Their big dress and big hair. Ended that marriage then had a smaller, more intimate ceremony the second time around. They got their big day - can't I have mine?

This is everything that has been flowing through my head.

Keep in mind I do NOT want a $30,000+ ordeal. I don't care if my guests have filet mignon and salmon. I don't care if my dress is Vera Wang and I don't need a $1,000 cake.

But a girl has basic wants!

So with that being said, here's how we've decided to cut costs without cutting guests:

• Friday or Sunday - A lot of venues give discounts if you have your event on a Friday or Sunday.  Aaron wants Friday, but I think Sunday is more ideal.  So we will see :-)
• Fall or Winter - When I thought about my dream wedding, Fall and Winter never entered my mind.  Ever.  It would be summer CLEARLY.  But venues will take off a good $1,000 if your event isn't during peak wedding season (June-September)!  While the weather in Reno/Tahoe can be finicky during October (2 years ago we got Snow on October 5th!) we're considering an October date instead.
• Food - this has been the hardest because I've said from the beginning I could care less for fancy food. The best wedding I attended actually had appetizers which I think is an AMAZING idea. But I've been convinced a full meal is ideal (since we're not having it in town). Most venues don't offer "cheaper" food. It's all or nothing. It's the filet mignon and salmon or nothing. I think a pasta bar would be PERFECT, so now I need to find a venue that agrees with me
• Booze - We want our guests to have a great time. And this typically coincides with an open bar. However venues charge up the wazoo for alcohol, so we've decided to limit the openness of the bar. It'll be more like a cracked bar.
• Dress - Seriously, I've made my budget $250. And that INCLUDES the veil and shoes and jewelry. It's possible - it has to be. There are dresses online that start at $250 (of course that doesn't include alterations). Don't laugh at me. Dresses typically start at $750 for a CHEAP dress. But I have the time to look, and I'll only be wearing it for 1 day.  Although I think I paid more than this for my prom dresses (thanks mom!)
• Flowers - I plan on minimizing the amount of flowers I use to the bouquets and possibly altar decorations. I'm trying to get creative with centerpieces using candles and other decorations. Flowers are pricy. And they die. So I figure I can cut costs by limiting flowers.
• CONTESTS - At one point in my life I had a contest winning streak.  I won concert tickets, a trip to the bahamas, CDs, Port of Subs, you name it.  I'm entering as many contests as humanly possible.  Stationary, dresses, jewelry.  Everything.  Maybe my luck will strike again and I'll win something.  Anything. 

Our last resort is an event in my parents backyard.  Aaron's ONE request was to not have a backyard wedding (and my friends have been shocked when I tell them this is what I'm thinking), so I'm trying my hardest to crunch the numbers and make our event happen with a venue.

If all else fails, we're eloping.

Guess who has a shiny new ring?

If you follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, you've probably heard my latest and greatest exciting news.

BOYFRIEND POPPED THE QUESTION!!!

That's right babes - he got down on one knee, fed me a cheeseball (but really sweet) line, and blinded me with a shiny new rock.

"Boyfriend" and I decided to plan a little trip to Bend, OR to go skiing at Bachelor and play with my new backcountry ski set up (which I'm OBSESSED with).  We invited another couple along with us because traveling is always more fun with friends.

Friday we had a day at Bachelor planned for groomed skiing.

And Saturday we had a day backcountry skiing planned.

After trekking up the mountain we wanted to ski, we stopped at the top to take in the views.  Maile had Aaron's camera and I kept waiting for her to finish taking pictures because I wanted to take pictures with it.

So then she says, "Get together let's take a picture of you two!"

... and as I'm making my way over to boyfriend I notice he's facing straight toward me.  Not the camera.

... then it started.

"So babe..."

I looked over at Maile and Kent and they have smiles from ear to ear snapping pictures like crazy.  I look back and see the ring and boyfriend on one knee.

Here's what was going through my head.

"!!!!??!?!?!?!$$##!!!!!$?!?#?!@!!"

Gibberish.  All gibberish.

Please keep in mind we're both still in our skis, so I did my best to throw myself over him and wrap my arms around his head helmet.

Boyfriend:  "Is that a yes?"

Me:  "YES IT'S A YES IT'S A YES!"

Maile and Kent knew the entire time. 

Fiance, you done good.  You're a keeper ;-)

That's my quick and dirty story in a nutshell!  Here are some pictures to blow your mind.

What my "Paleo" diet has consisted of + Polly Pics!

After my Pancake Meltdown a while back, I was determined to have a good, positive experience with this Paleo shin-digger.

I quickly started googling things like, "Paleo Pancakes." Which typically come up with some random ingredients I never knew existed:

• Macadamia Nut Oil (SERIOUSLY?!  What is this... like $30 for 4oz?  Nope, no thanks.)
• Tapioca Flour (actually, I know you can get this from Winco)
• Ground Pumpkin Seeds (I want to know who had enough time on their hands to think to do this)
• A splash of water from the fountain of youth (might as well)

Cooking is fun, but not when my cupboard is full of exotic ingredients that you have to special order online because the local grocery store doesn't carry it.

So I found some easy pancakes that are only made with 2 eggs and 1 banana!!  No joke - I was skepticle but they're actually pretty decent!  They need something else and I haven't refined it yet, but I at least got my pancake-fix in.

So with that out of the way, here are some things I've been eating:

• Paleo Pancakes
• Paleo Chili
• Crustless-Quiche
• Almond Milk Protein Shakes
• Almond Butter mixed with Honey (MY NEW FAVORITE SNACK!)
• Salad Salad Salad
• Turkey Jerky
• Sweet Potatoes
• Mom's Brisket with Green Beans
• Paleo meatballs
• Carne Asada

This week was a little easier than when I first started and I'm finding I just have to plan more in order to make sure I have options.

Also - I'm not 100% crazy Paleo.  Here are the things boyfriend and I don't abide by:

• Grass Fed Beef - I can't justify spending 2x what I usually spend on meat just because it ate grass and was massaged in a cow-spa.
• Corn - Tortillas, Chips, Corn, I'm keeping it - I eat eggs with a corn tortilla.  I refuse to give these up.
• Beans - but really only Black Beans, because bf is a black bean fanatic.  Although when I made my chili I also threw in Kidney Beans.  Shhhh
• Quinoa - GASP!  It's a grain - I KNOW.  But boyfriend and I love quinoa and have decided to keep this superfood in our diet

Overall, our deciding factor is "If it's gluten free, it's negotiable."  Beans, Corn, Quinoa, etc - it's all gluten free.  So we are doing more of a "modified" Paleo plan.  It works for us and it keep me from whining.

Also, because no blog post is complete without a picture - here's a shot of Ibo trying to give kisses to Polly after we got her home on Tuesday!

 

And here's a picture of how I found Polly the next morning:

The little stinker.  It took me a good 5-10 minutes to get it off of her, and she puked twice during the entire process.  Poor baby.

Why I've spent my weekend crying

I have been a royal hot mess all weekend.

Boyfriend has been amazing as I've spent my entire weekend crying.  And crying.  And pouting.  And crying.

I keep trying to tell myself things could be a lot worse, but let me tell you why I still think it's the end of the world.

Polly

My pride and joy

My baby girl

My sweetheart

Polly is in the hospital, and has been since Saturday morning

 

Polly was a little turd and ate a cord

Yup, a cord

She chewed right through it

 

Because this was three weeks ago, I thought nothing of it.

 

Except on Tuesday she started acting sick. 

Wouldn't eat. 

And if she did eat it came right back up.

 

After taking her to the vet, it was obvious she had something foreign in her tummy that looked like little strings.

 

Lo and behold, they're wires (we think).

 

The vet I went to couldn't do the operation she needed since it was so risky. 

 

So he called a specialist

...who denied Polly and the procedure.  "Too risky"

 

So he called another specialist

Which is where Polly is right now

 

She's eating again which is SO OVERWHELMINGLY EXCITING.  But the wire's haven't moved and are staying kaput.

 

Tomorrow, one specialist will use a scope to see if they can pull the wire out without surgery.  Then right after another specialist is prepared to operate on her in several different locations to pull out these wire pieces that are stuck in my Polly.

 

My heart is breaking for my little Polly.

 

So friends, if there's anything I'd hope you'd learn from this is to watch what types of things your pup likes to chew on.  Otherwise you'll be slammed with a bill like mine:

 

I don't know about you, but I don't have $4K just hanging around. 

Just saying :-(:-(



Factoids!

As if I don't reveal enough about myself on my little bloggy, here's some more information so that I can link up with Whitney.

1.  Balloons freak me out - I'm terrified they'll pop and shards of balloon will fly in my eye and make me blind. 

2.  I was once sick for two years straight - practically.  In college I had no immune system.  I was convinced something greater was wrong with me.  Like lupus.  Or something.  Turns out I was just stressed constantly and had the diet of a frat boy (dino nuggets, fast food, potstickers, etc).  I never gained weight so I used that as an excuse to eat whatever, and while it wasn't affecting my weight it sure-as-heck affected my health.

3.  My going-out name is Olivia - yup, I'm that girl who gives a fake name to the creepers trolling for a little lovin.  If you're not a creeper, you get my real name.  But when I get the "I've got a van out back and I'm ready to throw you in it" vibe, you get the "Hi I'm Olivia and I was just leaving" line. 

Story behind this: I got this from my best friend Lina.  We were out minding our own business, dancing with each other when we are approached (keep in mind, we're in a frat house).  After these gentlemen wouldn't leave and insisted on getting our names/information Lina says without missing a beat, "My name is Samantha but my friends call me Sam."  Straight face.  Dead serious.  So I later chose Olivia, and our names stuck.  Every now and then she comes up with a new name, but it's our understanding that we go out as Olivia and Sam.  Not Ashley and Lina. 

4. Same ring, different grandma - When my Grammy passed away my Aunt let me pick out any jewelry of hers that I wanted.  I chose her ring from Greece.  I decided I've always wanted to visit Greece after my Grammy visited and told me stories and shared pictures.  I still want to go.  And if you ask me why I want to visit my answer will be, "I just do."  But the real answer is, "Because my Grammy went and fell in love with it."



It's hard to tell in the picture

Fast forward, and when my Granny passed away my mom did the same thing: Showed me her jewelry and let me pick out anything that fancied my interest. 

Enter: Greek ring. 

Now this one has a different meaning because my Granny was also a Theta, so we share that "Greek" bond with each other.
The significance?  These rings have the same pattern.  And I love them both.

5.  I love fishing.  Lovelovelovelove!  I'm girly so most people think I would complain about fishing, but I'll be the first to throw my hands over the fish  and pull the hook out.  Gutting it is a different story, but I can do that if I have to.  Once my cousin and I went fishing with my dad, brother, and brother's friends.  I'll give you one guess at who caught all of the fish: the little girls.  While the boys were busy being roudy and obnoxious, Sam and I quietly sat in our chairs.  Chatting the entire time.  And every so often reeling in a new bite.  One after the other after the other.  BOOM.  Girls rule boys drool.

6.  I have kidney stones and pass them roughly every 6 months.  Which means I'm due in March for an ER visit.

Pinspiration - Paleo Food

I could talk till I'm blue in the face about this Paleo diet boyfriend and I are doing.  This is the first time in my life I've ever "dieted" and what a lifestyle change.

 

What do you mean I can't eat blue doritos and Annie's Mac and Cheese?

 

After my epic Pancake Meltdown, I've made it a mission to find food I like and enjoy so I don't feel like I'm depriving myself of what I love: Food.  I'm realizing that I can do this and still be healthy, I just have to get creative.

 

Enter: Pinterest

 

Half of the Paleo recipes I've tried (and LOVED) so far have come from Pinterest.  It's my motivation and inspiration to eat yummy things and be creative.

 

Below are some of the new ideas I've found and plan on trying!

 

 

Pumpkin Pucks

Source

Almond Butter Pumpkin Brownies

Source

These are very similar to a recipe that my aunt gave me!

Almond Chicken Bake

Source

Portobello Mushroom Pizzas

Source

 

 

Paleo Meatballs

Source

 

 

These are all gluten free options too if anyone has Celiac's disease or a gluten allergy. 

 

If anyone has any recipes they've tried or found, please share! 

Friday Letters #6

1. Dear Car - I don't appreciate the check engine light, and I sure hope cousin Steven is right that all I needed was an oil change!  And not a head gasket (which is $2,600 by the way!!).  I think the mechanic saw me coming like a deer in the head lights.

2.  Dear WAHing (Working at Home) - It's harder than it sounds!  HELLO DISTRACTIONS!  Fridge full of food.  Puppies that way to be played with.  Laundry that needs to be done.  Focus Ashley, Focus.  Good thing it was only for two days.  I'm happy to be back in the office today.

3.  Dear Broccoli From Last Night - my stomach STILL hurts and it's the day after.  What gives?!

4.  Dear Leftovers for Lunch Today (Broccoli) - I'm screwed

5.  Dear Pollyanna - You're the worlds cutest dog.

Sorry it's kind of blurry!

 

 

Hurts so...good?

So because boyfriend and I are doing the Paleo diet, I've been trying to incorporate new recipes to keep the same ol' same ol' food interesting.

Enter:  Broccoli

I've never been a broc fan.  I love all other veggies: brussel sprouts, salad, carrots, spinach. 

But broccoli has never been my favorite (other than my amazing broccoli salad I make!!).

So I saw this post on Pinterest and decided I'd give broccoli a try (minus the cheese).

Now this recipe is YUMMY!  It agreed with me! 

...until 15 minutes into it and my stomach made a noise.
A grumbly noise.
And another grumbly noise.

And here I am, sitting with a grumbly stomach wondering what went wrong.  Boyfriend tells me too much broccoli can be hard on the stomach.  Good to know now.  My stomach feels like it's turning in a million different directions.

Because of broccoli?!  I'll stick to brussel sprouts :-)

And on that note - since I've been working out with my trainer and doing this darned Paleo diet, I've GAINED two pounds.

GAINED.

What gives?!