BACK!

AND I AM BACK

mimm: {back to blogging}

Hi friends!

I took a major blogging hiatus for a few weeks to be home for Christmas and spend as much time with my family and P as possible!!

I am excited to be back at it with Marvelous in My Monday!

Oh my goodness… Where do I even begin?

I worked a lot over the break which was really great and I had a blast doing it!

Went to Charleston for a best friend’s deb ball…

Had an amazing Christmas Eve and day…

Spent New Years in New Orleans…

I did a lot of eating yummy home cooked meals… and barely a little exercising…

Snuggled like crazy with this girl…

I am ready for 2013! 2012 was a great year and I am excited to see what this year has in store.

I will leave you with a few of my goals for the New Year.

Question: Do you have any New Years resolutions?

happy birthday baxter!

I usually do not blog on Saturdays… BUT I had to give a shout out to one of my very very very very best friends…

Bax…

We have come a LONG way since freshman year… we are even still here today which is a huge accomplishment ;).

Even though we fight like sisters… you are the only one who can tell it to me like it is and vice versa.

Thank you for always being the best friend in the world!

I am blessed with our friendship and excited to enter this next phase of life with you.

I love you more than you know!!

happy thanksgiving: {pumpkin muffin recipe}

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Today I am thankful for so many things.

My family, friends, pets, health, etc. etc. etc. … the list could go on forever! I am literally SO blessed.

Post Turkey Trot!!!

I am SUPER thankful for…. ALL of you guys!!! To show you how thankful I am… I have a delicious, healthy, protein packed recipe for you!!!!!

Pumpkin Oat Flax Muffins

1 can pumpkin
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup oats
1/4 cup ground flax seed
2 tbsp chia seeds
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tbsp cinnamon
2 eggs
2 tbsp almond milk
6 oz 0% plain greek yogurt

*To make this into more of a dessert, add dark chocolate chips.

**Serve warm with a spread of almond butter, yum!!

Preheat over to 375 degrees. Then, mix all wet ingredients and add in dry ones. Next, bake for 15 to 20 minutes. This recipe makes 12 muffins. Serve warm.

wiaw: {chicken florentine bowtie pasta}

Hey ya’ll!

Wow…. this week at home is already completely flying by!! Before I jump into yesterday’s eats for WIAW… I have to tell ya… I ate a LOT more than what is pictured in this post. I kinda forgot throughout the day to take pictures but I ate plenty of handfuls of wheat thins, chocolate chips, etc. It was just one of those days, ya know?! My stomach was way off and I barely ate anything on Monday so yesterday I was like a ravenous little pig HAHA.

I DID manage to take picture of my 3 main meals, so here ya go! As always, thanks Jenn for hosting!

***

Breakfast:

Almond butter french toast + side of fruit!

Lunch:

My grandmother took my sisters and I to a new restraunt! I ordered a grilled shrimp po-boy with a side of cole slaw. I ended up taking the bread off because it ruined the sandwich.

Dinner:

Before my mom left for work yesterday, she asked me to make chicken florentine bowtie pasta for dinner. It was delicious. Head on over to Picky Palate for the full recipe!

The only changes I made were less mozarella cheese and only 1 cup of the cooking creme. An easy peasy weeknight dinner!

***

Have a great, yummy, healthy, happy Wednesday!!!!!

tuesday thoughts: {my relationship with running}

Hi friends!

Happy Tuesday!! I really want this week to FLY by so it can be time for Thanksgiving. Anyone else?!

Today I wanted to talk about my relationship with running.

I am super jealous of all of you crazy people who can run a gazillion miles 6 days a week… but I just can’t. My body does not do well when I overdo it with running. I often find myself going through huge phases with it as well.

Sometimes I can run everyday for weeks straight. Sometimes I crave running…. and other times I absolutely despise it and would rather do anything but run. I go through phases where my main form of exercise is yoga, walking, HIIT intervals, strength training or running.

I have no idea why this is either? During those times when I am not into running, I obviously do other kinds of workouts because I don’t want to push myself and be miserable.

Right now, I think I am getting back into my running groove. I have found myself craving long, slower jogs. I am not complaining one bit because let’s be real.. there is no other feeling like the “I just ran 7 miles” endorphin high.

Thanks for listening to me ramble… Just thought I would share 🙂

Question: Do any of you go through ups and downs with running or other kinds of workouts?!

mimm: {pictures from our weekend}

Hi friends!

How are you?! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! Mine was so much fun. I will give you a little recap:

{As always, thanks Katie!!}

Dinner at Saint Ann’s with best friends… breakfast at Whole Foods… run on the Katy trail… lunch at Company Cafe and East Hampton… Kite and Key formal… driving back home… cuddling with my bestest furry friend.

***

I hope everyone had an amazing weekend! Check back with you guys soon.

wiaw: {two new favorite desserts}

Hi friends!

Happy What I ate Wednesday!! Do you ever have those just greaaattt eating days where you love everything you eat? That was me yesterday.

Let’s jump right into all of my yumminess. Thanks Jenn for hosting WIAW!

Breakfast (7:00 am)-

Egg whites + two slices of turkey bacon

Morning snack (9:30 am)-

Banana

Lunch (Noon):

Tortilla soup (X2)

Smores cookie bars (X2)… I love smores… and I love cookies. What more could you ask for?

I PROMISE I am getting a manicure. Tomorrow. I know… gross!

Snack (3:30 pm)-

Bowl of Strawberries

Workout (4:30 pm)-

Bikram Yoga. Do I even need to go into how much I love it?

Dinner (6:15 pm)- 

Balsamic chicken + the last bite of green beans left + spinach.

3 layer cookie brownie. This was warm. Oooey and goooeeey. Need I say more? I think it was this recipe.

After Dinner Snack (8:00 pm)-

Hot chocolate (almond milk + sugar free hot chocolate packet).

This is a perfect before bedtime treat!

***

Happy Wednesday!!

Questions: What kind of yumminess are you eating today?

tuesday thoughts: {the future}

Hey friends!

So what has been on my mind lately? The future. UGH. Graduation. JOBS. Trying to decide what I want to do with my life.

This is a really anxious time for me because I am such a planner and neeeeed to have everything planned out perfectly, the uncertainty of what I will be doing and where I will be living in May is stressing me out to the max. Can’t I just live in the Kappa house with all of my besties for forEVER??

Stress for Anne = overeating, grumpy mood, not sleeping, no motivation to work out or do anything productive for school, etc. AKA not cute.

Last night two of my best friends and I had a forever long life chat. It made me feel so much better to talk about it and know I am not the only one freaking out. Here are a few thoughts I need to continue reminding myself:

I know God has a perfect plan… I just need to be patient (which is not exactly my strong suit ;).

Have a happy stress-free Tuesday!!

Question: Do you find yourself worrying about your future?