{I like green things}

I apparently like things in the color green.

Yesterday I made this green smoothie...

I just have a regular blender and not one of the fancy, smancy awesome-sauce ones so it's not as liquidy as it could be.  I got the recipe from Mind Over Munch Instagram account. 

 INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup almond milk 1 cup spinach 1/4 avocado 1/4 granny smith apple, peeled 1 tsp lime juice 1 tsp stevia (optional) 4 ice cubes PROCEDURE Combine all ingredients in a blender. Devour! NUTRITION per serving (1 smoothie, yields 1): 103 calories, 10g carbs, 7g fat, 2g protein

I I I don't have almond milk right now so used my 1%.

I also added 1/2 a scoop of my chocolate protein powder.

I thought it was quite yummy!

I've also recently bought new bedding for the new bed my mom and dad got me for Christmas.

The bed is super cute and I can't wait until I can put it together and actually use it.

We got it at Ikea for super cheap at $90!

The unfortunately aspect of Ikea is they apparently sell the beds in pieces.

The headboard/footboard $60

Mid-beam $20

Side boards $10

Luck would have it that they had everything but the side-boards!!

We bought the rest anyway since the Ikea worker told is they would be in the following week.

Were they?

Of course not.

Ikea responded to my email inquiry and said they may be in at the end of the month.

Great.

So, I'd also bought new bedding for the new bed and I absolutely love it.

It's so warm and cozy that I just don't want to get out of bed in the mornings!

My old bedding was a green quilt and it still matches really well with the new bedding.

Here are the product pictures of the new bed from Ikea...

One last thing...

Today I have a coffee date!

{New Title}

I've been wanting to use a new title for the longest time but could not come up with anything I liked.

Finally.

My brain decided to work and I came up with this...

I'm positive it's obvious I made it myself.

I'm okay with that.

I am not a professional and it's all 100% me.

The photo is from my tattoo.

It's not the best crop job, but I like it.

{Word vomit}

Have you ever started a conversations with good intentions only to get partly through it all and realize you were just word vomiting all over the other person?

No? It's just me?

Seriously, I can't seem to help myself with certain people.

During the word vomit you realize they don't care and then you feel stupid so you just keep on talking.

Ah well.

Nothing I can really do about it.

Damage is already done.

Hopefully, it does not get taken out on other people.

{Still Recovering}

My word.

I've forgotten how terrible getting sick is.

Mostly I've felt better.

Last night my throat began hurting again and the cough just is not getting better.

I decided at 5:30 this morning to take some Delsyum P.M. cough medicine.

Yuck. Now I just feel groggy and tired.

With all that, I have not been back to the gym.

I am still eating better though.

Woot! 

Last night was my transition night to working nights.

I decided to meet the guys I work with at a local pub to watch the BCS game.

What a great game!

Talk about nail biting on both sides.

I was definitely rooting for Auburn since they are SEC.

Just to be clear though, I'll never root for Alabama.

I'm an LSU girl through and through. :)

*sigh*

Until next season, y'all!

{Food Prep}

For work today I made Dirty Shrimp and Beer last night.

This was posted by Shredding_Meals on Instagram.

My word. This was good.

I did change it up though just a tad.

Here's the original recipe:

DIRTY SHRIMP AND BEER. . - 2 lbs. shelled & deveined shrimp - 4 Tbsp. coconut oil - 2 Tsp. minced garlic - 1 Tsp. dried oregano - 1 Tsp. dried basil - 1 Tsp. dried thyme - 1 Tsp. cayenne pepper - 1/2 Tsp. crushed red pepper - 1/2 Tsp. sea salt - 1/2 Tsp. ground black pepper - 1/2 c. Beer DIRECTIONS - Sauté garlic and herbs in coconut oil until garlic is slightly browned. Add shrimp stirring constantly until shrimp are pink and done. Pour in beer, simmer 1-2 minutes. Serve and Enjoy !!

The only thing I changed was using Grapeseed Oil instead of coconut oil.

I don't have coconut oil and Grapeseed Oil has a good flavor to it also.

That's the only change I made.

I should've had enough shrimp for 2 work meals but my mom thought I was cooking dinner and not my lunch.  Who says no to Mom when she's been sick and took good care of me when I was sick?

I also made this amaze-balls Guacamole Quinoa with Mango side dish.

Talk about heaven in your mouth.

It's bursting with flavor and I loved it.

Another dish I made I got from online too but didn't save the link!!

Agh!! I hate doing this buuuuuuuuuuuuut, (and if it's yours please know I'd totally give you credit) it's a cup of yogurt and the original recipe calls for Nutella.  I don't remember how much exactly. Two tablespoons? 1/2 a cup? F*ck. I don't know because I didn't save the link.

Anyway, I hate hazelnut so did NOT buy Nutella.  Instead I bought a chocolate spread by Hershey's (in the same section as Nutella).  There is less sugar content in the chocolate spread than in Nutella. I checked.  I didn't check the rest but... Meh.

So, I used a cup of plain greek yogurt and whisked in a 1/2 cup of the chocolate spread.

It looks and tastes like a light and fluffy mousse. 

I plan on eating that with apple slices for a snack today.

I plan on going to the gym tomorrow after work for a light workout as well.

I've been feeling better, tired but better.

I still have a stupid cough.

Yuck.

Here's what I'm eating today:

                                  

{20 Things To Let Go Of Before The New Year}

So, I read this article a friend sent me earlier this week and I positively loved it.  The article itself is called 20 Things To Let Go Of Before The New Year.  I wanted to talk about it before the new year but getting sick got in the way.  So, here's my  thoughts on each item on the list and what I need to do to let go and get this year going on a good note.  

1. Let go of all thoughts that don't make you feel empowered and strong.

       - Ugh. It's true though.  There are too many thoughts going on in my head that do not make me feel empowered and strong.  I will definitely have to work on this but I'd like to say those days are gone.  I've been through and done too much to not feel empowered and strong.

2. Let go of feeling guilty for doing what you truly want to do.

      - I was feeling guilty for wanting to leave my current job.  My lead is a great guy and really worked to get me the job I'm in now.  However, I do want a job in my career field and that means leaving where I'm at and applying for a job at an art museum.  That's a scary change but once I know I can afford the pay cut, I'm absolutely going to try.

3. Let go of the fear of the unknown; take one small step and watch the path reveal itself.

      - As I mentioned above, the change to a new career field that I've never worked in before AND is a huge pay cut is scary as hell.  I won't let that stop me though and I'm working now on being able to afford it.

4. Let go of regrets; at one point in your life, that “whatever” was exactly what you wanted.

      - Last year is 365 days of regret.  I try not to regret anything but I thought a lot about everything that happened last year and what I "should have" done.  The point is taken though... at those moments, it was exactly what I wanted.  

5. Let go of worrying; worrying is like praying for what you don’t want.

      - The only thing I'm too worried about right now is passing a test I need to finish my Bachelor's degree and getting accepted into my Graduate school of choice. One of them I can control by studying my ass off for it and the other... Well, if I don't get accepted there are more schools out there.

6. Let go of blaming anyone for anything; be accountable for your own life. If you don’t like something, you have two choices, accept it or change it.

      - This is not something I really do.  If anything, it may be the complete opposite in that I take all the blame for everything.

7. Let go of thinking you are damaged; you matter, and the world needs you just as you are.

      - This may be a hard one for me also.  I do feel like I am damaged but the rational side of me says it's not true.  I will try my best to let this one go. I am not damaged. My experiences have made me who I am today.

8. Let go of thinking your dreams are not important; always follow your heart.

     -  Finding a career that suits me in an art museum is important to me and I will follow that.

9. Let go of being the “go-to person” for everyone, all the time; stop blowing yourself off and take care of yourself first … because you matter.

      - This mostly happens with one person in my life.  I do not know why I feel obligated to be there for him whenever he needs me.  That's the only time he makes an attempt to have me in his life.  I will stop this.  My feelings on the matter are important and I will no longer let myself feel used by him.

10. Let go of thinking everyone else is happier, more successful or better off than you. You are right where you need to be. Your journey is unfolding perfectly for you.

      - I really try not to live my life through other people.  

11. Let go of thinking there's a right and wrong way to do things or to see the world. Enjoy the contrast and celebrate the diversity and richness of life.

12. Let go of cheating on your future with your past. It’s time to move on and tell a new story.

      - Okay.  :-)

13. Let go of thinking you are not where you should be. You are right where you need to be to get to where you want to go, so start asking yourself where you want to go.

      - I'm working on it!  :)

14. Let go of anger toward ex lovers and family. We all deserve happiness and love; just because it is over doesn't mean the love was wrong.

      - This.  There is peace in letting go.

15. Let go of the need to do more and be more; for today, you've done the best you can, and that's enough.

16. Let go of thinking you have to know how to make it happen; we learn the way on the way.

17. Let go of your money woes — make a plan to pay off debt and focus on your abundance.

      - My plan is in place.  If it falls apart, I will make a new plan.

18. Let go of trying to save or change people. Everyone has her own path, and the best thing you can do is work on yourself and stop focusing on others.

      - There is no one I want to change.  Well, okay.  I would like to see my sister more independent but she's living hew own life right now and I can only be there for her when she needs me.

19. Let go of trying to fit in and be accepted by everyone. Your uniqueness is what makes you outstanding.

20. Let go of self-hate. You are not the shape of your body or the number on the scale. Who you are matters, and the world needs you as you are. Celebrate you!

      - This is a work in progress.  I don't necessarily have self-hate but sometimes there is self-dislike.

{So much to catch up on}

I'll try to keep it short and sweet.

Last Saturday was the day I was to begin eating better and working out more.

I did great with making and eating my food for the four days of work.

I even brought my workout clothes with me Saturday to work so as soon as I left work I could head over to the gym.

It was cold after work so I parked my car as close as I can get to our gym but it's still a short hike to it.  On the way to the gym, I felt something funny in my lungs as I was breathing. It just didn't feel right or normal but I attributed it to the cold air and the little hike.  I took my "before" pictures here. Yikes. Talk about scary.

Man, have I let myself go again.

That's okay though because I'm working on it.

Anyway, so these were taken December 28 and I weigh 153.6 pounds.

Today, I'm at 152 even. 1.6 pounds lost so far.

I did have to wear my HRM watch attached to my tank top that day and it worked the entire time.  I've found that if I wear it on my wrist then the watch will lose my HR and the results won't be accurate.  Until I change the battery in the watch, this method worked the entire time and I burned 620 calories during this workout!!  I know 307 of those calories were from the full body workout I did.

Even as I was working out, I could tell my breathing was off. Again, it just didn't feel right.  I'd decided to do 20 minutes on the elliptical and when I had 5 minutes left I was going to quit. I wanted to so very badly. I didn't though and just pushed through. I mean, 5 minutes. I could suffer through that.  Then I had a 10 minute cool down walk on the treadmill.  

The following day I woke-up with a terrible cough and sore throat.

I was sick all day at work.

I had to work nights Monday and Tuesday (NYE) but called out for Monday.

Fever, chills, headaches, cough, sore throat.

I was miserable!

Suffice it to say, eating well and workout out went out the window for the last few days.

Yesterday was the first day I ate semi-well.

I'm feeling much better but still have the cough.

I want to start back to the Boxing gym I joined.

I just haven't decided if I'm going to try to go back Saturday or Monday after work to make sure I'm well enough.