Motivation Monday (…it’s back!)

…yeah, yeah, yeah I know it’s Tuesday. Ohhh well.

Since getting back into a work schedule, I noticed how I am often exhausted after clocking out for the day. My type of job involves being on your feet for sometimes up to 9 straight hours with only a half hour break to sit down. Needless to say, working out is the LAST thing from my mind. Can I get an amen?

However, I always still find some way to get motivated enough to work up a sweat. Ya know what? I never ever regret it.

 

source

I thought today would be a good time to talk about ways to motivate yourself to work out after a long day at the office. 

Here are things I do:

1. Bring my workout clothes with me to work.  I have noticed that when I make a conscious effort in the morning to bring my workout clothes with me, I think about them all day. Not kidding. They seem to jump out at me as well when I get into my car at the end of the day, like they’re screaming, “HIIIIII, WE’RE HEEEERE. LET’S GO PLAY!”  Silly clothes.
2. Prepare a work out plan in my head while at work. Sometimes I allow my mind to wonder a little while I work. I like to think of exercises that I’m actually in the mood to do and I let myself get excited for it! Usually this pumps me up and gets me looking forward to doing the workout. 
3. Workout at home. I do this a lot. My particular gym isn’t my most favorite gym I have ever joined, so recently, I have been doing a lot more bodyweight high intensity exercises at home. Usually these last no longer than 25 min and require a pair of dumbbells at most. If they require any other gym equipment, I get creative and use things around the house. Chairs work wonders! Knowing that I don’t have to spend the extra time driving somewhere (which can easily add a half hour or more to any workout time) and I can get a really good workout in a small amount of time, often excites me more than a mundane weight workout at the gym. 
4. Schedule your workouts. Make them priority, people! Early on in the week, I will usually schedule my two days off on days when I can already predict the days in which i knowwww I will absolutely not want to work out. (Yes, you’re allowed to have 2-3 days off a week). That way, when those days roll around, the pressure to workout isn’t there.
5. Any workout is better than no workout. ‘Nuff said. 
   

 

Today I completed THIS WORKOUT. Let me tell you, it was not easy, but it is definitely a good one! 

 

What is your favorite way to stay motivated to workout when it is the LAST thing you want to do??

 

 

xoxo

-C

 

Something to read: 10 Reasons Why You Fail

Oops…I did it again.

 

I’ve noticed a trend. A seasonal trend.

I LOVE baking 100x more in the Fall/Winter.

When the weather starts to get cooler, my mind immediately switches into yummy fall/holiday flavors. Summer flavors don’t excite me as much, but it’s all I can do to not get excited about pumpkin, apple cinnamon, red velvet, and every other nutty flavor you can think of.

Football, flannels, and oven mitts (?)  😉

This time, per request of my mom, for her birthday I baked her German Chocolate Cupcakes. I was pleased with the results considering this was my very first ever homemade chocolate cupcake. I think I truly enjoyed it more than the box chocolate cakes I’ve had.

I adapted the recipe from this lovely lady . I seriously cannot wait to try more of her delicious treats! They all look SO delish.

What’s your favorite cupcake flavor??/ If you could put together any two flavors to make your own cupcake, what would they be??

xoxo

-C

PS- I went to go visit my very best friend in DC, whom I have known since elementary school, and we FINALLY went HERE!  Day. Made.

Dream vacation

Hey guys and gals!

Whew. What a crazy past few days. I’ve worked literally all day every day since I returned home from one of the best vacations I’ve been on. Why is it always so hard to come back to reality after a week of fun? Ohhh well.  Oh! I also had a birthday! Yay!

Soooo whhhere did I go?

Boston & Newwww Yorrrrk City! WOOT WOOT

 

 

 

BIRTHDAY CUPCAKES from Sweet Cupcakes, Boston.  🙂 Helllooooo mid-twenties. 

 

 

 

 

I had never been to either of these places before. It was so nice to visit my brother and his wife in Boston. NYC was a blast. I only wish we were able to stay longer. Oh well, there is always next time, right? 😉  Overall, definitely an amazing time with great company. Who could ask for more??

 

Have you ever been to NYC or Boston?/ What do you recommend visiting at either of those places??

 

xoxo

-C

 

 

P.S-  I FINALLY tried CROSSFIT! I LOVED it. It helped having a friend who knew was he was doing to help me get more comfortable, but I’m definitely hooked. I only wish it weren’t so darn expensive.  

 

Life IS Good

Hey ya’ll!

 

source

 

…isn’t that the darn truth?

I saw this tee shirt at my work the other day and just knew I HAD to buy it, only to find out  that they only had a Men’s small left. Poo.  Thank goodness for online shopping!

 

source

I want it SO bad. My brother and his wife live in bean town and when tragedy struck there, it really hit close to home. I just love that 10% of just ONE tee shirt purchase is donated to help kids in need.

 

Speaking of life being good, I came across this little blurb this morning and thought I’d share it with you guys. This comes from the Online Counseling College tumblr, which is one of my favorite spots to check out for inspiration. They always have the greatest quotes and pieces of advice for just about anything one could be experiencing. Because ya’ll, we are all in this together.

How to Increase your Happiness

1. Experiment to find out what makes you happy.  The answer will be different for different people.

2. Develop a network of supportive friends who love you as you are, who will be there when you need them.

3. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude, and don’t forget to notice when little things go well!

4. Be the type of persons who’s focused on solutions and isn’t always bogged by problems, or complaints.

5.  Accept that nothing’s perfect – and problems will occur. It doesn’t mean it’s hopeless or things will never change.

6. Treat yourself, and others, with kindness and respect. Remember we’re all struggling to find our way in life.

 

 

 

Hope you guys have a wonderful day!

Much love.

xoxo

-C

 

 

Ready, set…Go.

This morning started out with a nice run through my local park right next to my old high school. It’s crazy how things or places that have not changed one bit, can seem so new and beautiful, when seen years later.

It reminds me of a quote I once read (I can’t seem to find it), that goes something like,

“Maybe the places you have returned to haven’t really changed. Maybe it’s just the fact that you aren’t the same person as you were when you left.”

 

 

This morning run was a nice chance to clear my head. I have missed running so much. After injuring my knee in a soccer game over a year ago, I finally finished physical therapy and was given the go-ahead to start running again. LOVE IT. I was in the middle of training for a half marathon at the time and literally had to just STOP. Hardest thing ever. Running is like my drug, it gives me a high that is unlike any other. With that being said… 

You guys, I’m struggling. 

I am in the process of applying to grad schools and frankly, it’s SO overwhelming. I guess if it were easy, then everyone would be going to grad school… right? I feel like I’m being pulled in multiple directions between multiple dreams and goals.

Who knew turning 25 (on Monday!) would face me with so many huge life changes. Actually, I vaguely remember thinking that around this time, every year of my twenties thus far.

Anyone else get that same feeling?

 

“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours. It is an amazing journey, and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.”

Bob Moawad

 

 

Have you ever felt like you’ve been pulled in multiple life changing directions? What did you do to calm yourself down!? haha

 

xoxo

-C

Long time, no see!

Hello. 

I am alive. I’ve missed you!

The past couple of weeks have been so gosh darn busy, time just seemed to slip out of my hands. Good things have happened, however! I got a job! Yay! I’m working part-time at an outdoor store. Pretty excited about it 

With that, I’ve also picked up something I never thought of picking up before…

Golf!

 

My uncle came into town last weekend and took me to a driving range. Literally my first time, ever. He told me what to do, like, where to stand, and then had me take a swing. He just laughed and said, “oh my gosh! You’re a natural!” Being a competitive person, I don’t get it…but from what people are telling me, I’m pretty good!  Yay!

You guys. I love it.

My family and I took a little mini overnight trip to a local resort around here that happened to have a golf course attached to it. My grandparents are avid golfers, as well as my uncle, so they were more than willing to let me play with them. Probably the biggest surprise I have had in a looooong time happened when we got to the golf course. As my uncle was unloading our golf bags, looking around, I didn’t notice the hand-me-down set that I borrowed from my grandfather. But what I diiiiiiid see, was this beautiful white and teal bag! Puzzled, I asked who they belonged to….

My uncle smiled and goes, “Happy Early Birthday, from your grandparents!” 

So. Shocked.

THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU again!!

I have played a couple of times since that Sunday and am slloooooooowly starting to  get the hang of it. Soooo excited for this new hobby! Still can’t believe my luck. Ya never know until you try, right? 😉

xoxo,

-C

 

Have you randomly tried something out and surprised yourself? Any golf tips??

Dear Cookie Butter…

I miss you. I really do. 

 

 source

You had me hooked from day 1. It was my first time in Trader Joe’s when I saw your cute, vintage inspired font, looking face jar, and knew it was love. I thought I’d give you a try and take you home. You know what? I was right.

It was love. 

Sadly, I moved from that beautiful city of Cincinnati, and even further from the 10 min drive convenience of your store. I bought 2 jars to hold me over and quickly realized it was not enough.

I live in the country now and terribly, terribly miss you. The closest store to me is 50 MILES away. Heartbreaking.

Don’t worry, I will find you again. Our reunion will be magical, delicious, and my taste buds will forever be happy again.

 

Love,

Cari

Whaaat the…?

If you have to ask this question upon reading the ingredients in an item you are about to buy or eat, you should prrrrrobably just put it back down. 

Now, I am not saying that the occasional dontknowexactlywhatsinit treat is off limits, because lets be real… they made for quite the perfect late night snack in my college days (you know the nights I’m talking about). Did anyone else eat dino nuggets? No? Just my roommates and I? Ohhh…

A treat here or there is OKAY. But just be fair warned that what you’re about to salivate over is not doing anything good for your body. You don’t care? You should.  At least be mindful that you might want to eat something real the next day. Trust me. It’ll ultimately help your hangover more. 

Did you know bananas are the superfood go-to when it comes to milking a hangover? 

There are so many foods, condiments, drinks out there that literally aren’t real. As in, nothing about it even comes close to being real. Not. one. single. ingredient.  Gross. 

I recently ran across this article from the Huffington Post that I thought I’d share with ya’ll. 

19 Foods That Aren’t Food

Check it out! You might be surprised. 😉

 

 

Summer Health Tips

The summer season is slowly inching its way upon us and we all know what that means. BBQs, ice-cream runs, vacations, not to mention the plethora of social events containing endless assortments of delicious appetizers and alcoholic beverages. Soon the gym routine, you may be so religiously following, may have to bump up a notch in order to satisfy those extra calories you find yourself consuming. However, it does not have to be that way! Want to have your cake and eat it too? It is certainly possible. Besides sneaking in those extra calorie burning activities, knowing how to portion your food choices and choosing the best options, is the secret ingredient.

BBQs: If you aren’t making your own, the best way to have the most nutritious burger is by loading it up with those vegetables! Vegetables contain insoluble fiber, which keep you full longer because your body can not break it down as fast. That’s good! However, be wary of condiments; some of these sneaky extras can easily add calories. Your best bet is to head towards the mustard or ketchup bottles. Better yet, load that whopper up with vegetables and you may find yourself surprised that you do not even need that extra flavor of a condiment. 

If you are making your own burger, check out Eating Well.com or Click Here for healthy and delicious burger recipes.

Ice-Cream/Vacations: Yes, it’s okay to splurge a little throughout the summer. If you are craving these sweet cold treats, many places have healthy options to choose from. Yogurt or sherbet is always a sure bet. If you want a topping, go for dark chocolate, nuts, or even dried fruit!

Social Events: Appetizers can be easily addicting. They’re so small and innocent looking, no way could one of those be 100+ calories! They can and they are! There are a couple of ways you can avoid those extra calories:

1. Eat prior to your event. Choose something low in calories and high in fiber. Lean meat (like chicken or fish) and a small side salad can do the trick.

2. Make these appetizers your entrée and eat well throughout the day. 

3. Portion yourself! Take a plate and right away add the items you would like to try onto your plate. This way, you will see how many munchies you have chosen, and don’t go back for more!

4. Avoid foods with a cream base, made with cheese, or require a dipping sauce. These usually have the most calories.

Alcoholic beverages: Did you know alcohol has 7 calories/gram, almost as much as fat (9 cals/gram)?! Your body does not like alcohol in its system, therefore you metabolize out the alcohol calories before anything. A good word of advice: Never drink on an empty stomach!

Beer: Varies with the type of beer, most contain the nutrition facts on the can or bottle

Red Wine: 3.5 oz- 85 calories

White Wine: 3.5 oz- 70 calories

Vodka: 1.5 oz 104 calorie

Whiskey: 1.5 oz- 133 calories

Gin: 1.5 oz 104 calories

Tequila: 1oz- 70 calories

Frozen Daiquiri: 12 oz- approx. 1200 calories!!

 

 

 

Remember, it’s okay to treat yourself once in a while, but make sure you are aware of what else you’re sipping through a straw or poppin’ into your mouth. 😉

Have a great summer!

 

xoxo

-C

 

 

Something to think about: 

I LOVE this. Schools are finally getting recognition for improving school lunches.

Motivation Monday!

Motivation Monday!.