Photo-Heavy Updates

It's been a while since I've had time to do a regular old update post so get ready for lots of pictures of food and friends that will make your mouth water (the food...not my friends...hopefully?)

You haven't been a true resident of Maryland until you've savagely torn apart fresh caught crab for consumption....

So much Old Bay! 

Pretty view of the sun setting over the harbor while nomming on those crabbies.

DC day trip with friends! The temperature was in the 100s that day and we walked a ton, but it was a really fun day filled with sightseeing, shopping, and of course...

Georgetown cupcakes were a must!

From top left going clockwise: chocolate peanut butter, vanilla birthday cake, lemon cream, mocha, mint chocolate, and red velvet. 

Note: this was SIX cupcakes shared between THREE girls....not even sorry about it.

 Back tracking a little (sorry these pics are a little out of order)...I decided to take a very last minute trip down to Myrtle Beach, SC over 4th of July weekend to visit with my family and surprise my G-Daddy (aka-grandpa) for his 75th birthday! 

I flew into Charlotte where my mom picked me up and we drove 3.5 hours to the beach. It was dinner time when my plane landed and I was starving. Thank goodness my mom, being her usual thoughtful self, packed a dinner for me because she knew I wouldn't want any fast food :) 

Dinner included quinoa, broccoli, apples with almond butter, and fresh cut cantaloup. Does she know me well or what?! 

Dinner to celebrate my Gdaddy's birthday was an ever-popular pot of low country boil. I love this dinner so much. The best part are the little steamed shrimpies and corn! Mmmm. 

Both my G-Daddy and Gandy (grandma) have birthdays within a couple weeks of each other, and both turned big numbers this year (75 and 70 respectively). We had coconut cake and homemade butter-finger ice cream for dessert. Happy birthday you two!! 

After all the delicious food over 4th of July weekend, it was time to get back to my own home-cooked meals. This particular night it was quinoa mix with spinach and edamame. Scrambled egg whites on the side. 

Dessert: 4 squares of dark choco (90 cals total) and a cup of hot tea in my favorite smiley face mug (remember when Joey painted it for me?...check out this post)

Another random dinner: corn cakes with roasted red pepper spread, and sautéed spicy shrimp

Next day's lunch: spinach salad with quinoa, goat cheese, and leftover spicy shrimp

Lunch at work: apple with almond butter packet, corn cakes, carrots and celery with hummus, and mixed nuts and raisins. 

Whole Foods grocery shopping...no joke one of my favorite things to do is grocery shop. I'm going to do a whole post about it next week so look forward to that one!

Dirty chai made with almond milk from Whole Foods. I love that they have soy milk, almond milk, and even rice milk there for you to ask for in your coffee.

Breakfast to go: plain non-fat greek yogurt with fiber O's (whole foods brand), flax, a little agave nectar, and berries on the side. 

Lunch from Whole Foods: fruit salad with cheese and a cup of vegetable soup.

Homemade pizza! The crust was bought fresh from Whole Foods and on top we put pesto, mozzarella, spinach, goat cheese, tomatoes, and garlic. It was absolutely amazing.  

Hot breakfast: apple oatmeal with strawberries and a sprinkling of cinnamon 

Lunch one day this week: grapes, corn cakes, apple, and a cup of Siggi's vanilla yogurt. 

And just for fun because this little guy is leaving me soon :( 

Alright I'll leave you with my favorite song to workout to this week...don't judge...it's a really embarrassing one...

"We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus....

I can't believe I'm actually putting this out there for the public to see. 

Enjoy!! xoxo

FitSugar Favorites

So you guys know I like to share whatever things I find that help keep me motivated at the gym. I have found that one of the easiest motivators is simply changing things up. Yes I like to run and do so almost every day, but when time permits, I like to add in something else in there for after the run that changes things up and works a different part of my body.

Enter FIT SUGAR!

Most of you have probably heard of the website POP Sugar, but if not, then you have got to check it out. It's basically just a heap of information about everything from fashion and beauty, to entertainment, to nutrition. They have a whole section devoted to fitness and on it you will find tons of useful tips for clean eating, great recipes, and also a great selection of workouts. The workouts they post can range from a cardio circuit on the treadmill, to a killer elliptical speed set. My favorite thing that they post though are the 10 minute video workouts. They always feature a well-established trainer (ie-they train a celebrity) lead a 10 minute, high intensity, workout designed to torch calories and tone your whole body (although some of the videos are geared towards specific trouble spots like the tummy or buttox).

Here is a list of some of my favorite 10-minute vids that I have recently been using on a regular basis to add a little something extra to the end of my workout and change things up.

Cardio Burst

Flat Belly

Tush Toning

Booty Burning

^I know some of the names are silly^

Oh, ps- most of the time the only equipment you need is a matt or towel, and sometimes maybe some light weights, but you can always use something you have laying around the house that weighs 3-5 lbs. Or you can invest in a small set of hand weights (they sell them almost anywhere, but mine were purchased from Target).

One more thing I want to make sure that I mention. FitSugar also has a great set of articles/videos called "What 100 Calories Looks Like". The name says it all. These videos show you exactly how big of a portion constitutes 100 calories for different foods. I know that portion control is something I struggle with, so I found it really interesting and helpful to physically see exactly how much of a certain food makes up 100 calories.

Veggies
Fruits
Calorie Dense Foods-Portion Control

So get to exploring!! I'll be back later this week with my regular updates!

Reading While Running Part 2

You've probably noticed by now that whenever I post a picture of the treadmill, you can see my kindle in the corner of the photo. As I've explained before, I love to read while running. Whether I'm reading my kindle or listening to an audio book, it's the best distraction from my fatigued legs and heavy breathing. It's a really great way to just let my mind relax and enjoy a good story. So since it's been nearly a year since my last post of this kind, I thought I'd share some good reads with you guys so you can check them out too! Feel free to comment here if you have your own suggestions..I'm almost in need of a new book to start so comment away!! Also let me know if you read one of these books and like it :)

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival by Laura Hillenbrand

The title of the book pretty much sums it up. This true story follows Louis Zamperini, a young man on his way to winning the Olympic gold medal for track when he was called into the service at the start of World War II. He ends up part of a bomber crew, but the plane crashes in the Pacific Ocean during a mission and Zamperini and two other survivors float on a life boat for 40 days with no food or water. They miraculously survive, but that is not even close to the end of the horrors they face. This book is really great because it's completely true, but also because it's just crazy to imagine how much these men, and Zamperini in particular, lived through. Truly an inspring story to sink into.


Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus

If you like freaky mysteries, this one is for you. The story centers around a small town where years earlier, two teenage girl were murdered and the town's golden boy, Tobias, was found guilty of the murders based completely on circumstantial evidence, and sent to jail. In present day, two detectives, Pia and Oliver, find themselves in the middle of a strange investigation that leads them right back to the town. They start to think that perhaps Tobias was wrongly prosecuted and the murderer is still on the loose. I promise that if you enjoy a good thriller, you won't be able to put it down!



The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

So if you've made the mistake of reading the first book in this series (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and then forgot about the second two books in the series...then read them now. This one starts off right where the last one left off. Lisbeth Salender is in hiding as she has been accused of murdering a young couple who have been investigating a dangerous man and his gang. Along the way you are taken on a ride through lots of plot twists and turns, not to mention that you learn a lot about Lisbeth's past and the horrible things she grew up dealing with. And of course Michael Blumkvist is right there with Lisbeth to have her back and save her...or is it the other way around. Read to find out!


Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

I loved this one. It's super freaky though so just be prepared. It starts with a young real estate agent, Annie, who gets abducted while hosting an open house. She is taken by her captor into the middle of the mountains and forced to stay in the locked down cabin with him. She endures some pretty horrible things and that's all I'm going to say before I give anything away. Also, there is a big plot twist at the end so you'll have that to look forward to! It's super suspenseful and had a lot of psychology in it. For a psych major, this was a fun one. Definitely recommended as a good beach read.



Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Hmm this one is weird. It's also a psychological thriller, but it got a little too weird for me, which is hard to do since I usually enjoy the slightly scary mystery novels. It was Gillian Flynn's first novel, and since then she has written two fantastic books, Dark Places and Gone Girl (I talk about Gone Girl in this post). This one, however, follows a reporter, Camille, who's job forces her to go back to her hometown and investigate the murders of two little girls. The townspeople are convinced it couldn't be one of their own, but Camille isn't so sure. While dealing with her strange mother and half sister, Camille tries to investigate the murders without losing her own mental stability...which has certainly never been easy for her to attain. If you give this book a try, just know that I warned you about the cutting parts. Ugh yuck.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn 

So after Sharp Objects, I wasn't sure if I would like this one, but I was proven wrong. It's actually really really good. Libby Day is only a little girl when she witnesses the satanic massacre of her mother and two sisters. She is convinced at the time that the killer of her family is her slightly off-center teenaged brother Ben; he is sent away to prison for life. 25 years later, Libby is not in the most stable of mental places when she meets a group of amateur investigators who are sure that Ben was wrongly accused. They convince Libby to contact Ben and other suspects from her past in order to do a little digging into what really happened to the rest of her family on that horrible night. The perspective switches back and forth between modern day (told by Libby) and flashbacks to the day of the murder (told by Ben and their mother Patty). I promise this is one that you will be staying up into the middle of the night to finish.

Daddy's Gone A Hunting by Mary Higgins Clark

So this one is about the Connelly family who owns an antique firm, famous for its fine antique reproductions. Within the first few pages of the book, the firm blows up in the middle of the night with Kate Connelly (the daughter of the owner) inside of it along with one of the firms past employees, Gus. Why was the bomb set and who did it? Why were Kate and Gus meeting at the factory in the middle of the night? And why does this have anything to do with a girl who went missing years earlier? All of these questions are struggling to be answered by the plots main characters while Kate lies in a coma. This one also has a big plot twist at the end!




The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

This is another really intense thriller. It's a really interesting story line that follows a serial killer from the 1929 who finds a mysterious house that allows him to travel forward in time to any year. He goes to different years and kills specific "shining girls"that he believes the house is picking out for him. After each kill he disappears back into the past before he can be caught in the future. That may sounds confusing but I promise it's really good. Definitely not realistic, obviously, but still suspenseful when one of his "shining girls" gets away alive and threatens to uncover his secret. This one is definitely a must read.



A Case of Redemption by Adam Mitzner

So finally we take a little break from the creepy psychological thrillers for this great one. It's about a high profile attorney who suffers a tragic family loss and leaves his practice indefinitely. Just when he thinks he's hit rock bottom with his life, hardly leaving the house and drinking every night, he is called back into his old job in order to represent a famous rapper-Legally Dead-who has been accused of killing his famous singer girlfriend. There's a love story, a little suspense, and definitely a surprise ending that I had actually called way early on, but then dismissed it as too crazy...I was wrong. It was pretty good though and gave a lot of interesting info about how the legal process works...at least in a fictional novel. 


And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

This one is a little bit of a tear-jerker, but it's probably my favorite on the list so far. If you've read The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns then this is a must read...and if you haven't read those two books then DO IT NOW. They are hands down some of the best books I've ever read. Hosseini writes such beautiful and heart-wrenching stories. As soon as I heard this new one had come out, I new I needed to get my hands on it...or buy it on my Kindle. I'm not quite done with it yet, but so far, it's been really amazing. There really isn't one specific story line, but instead it follows several different main characters. I feel like if I even begin to explain the story then I'm going to give too much away so I'm going to cop out and give you guys the summary from the book cover: 

"Khaled Hosseini, the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written a new novel about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations. In this tale revolving around not just parents and children but brothers and sisters, cousins and caretakers, Hosseini explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most. Following its characters and the ramifications of their lives and choices and loves around the globe—from Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek island of Tinos—the story expands gradually outward, becoming more emotionally complex and powerful with each turning page."

Food, Lake Trip, and a Baby (not mine!)

I have to apologize that I haven't been able to post for the past 12 days. Things have been crazy to say the least, but what's new...

There has been a whole lot of this going on...studying with tea and Moe to keep me company. 

So much other stuff to update about! Be prepared for a post full of pictures of food (of course), and a few other fun updates at the end.

Lunches as of late, fruits, veggies + hummus, and my mom's homemade veggie burgers. My absolute favorite one that she makes is a sweet potato quinoa burger, followed in a close second by her lentil goat cheese burger, and finally her garden veggie! They are all delicious and are going to be sold to the public soon! I'm always happy to be her taste tester :) 

Ummm...cantaloup...yeah...

There was another chickpea salad to be had last week for lunch. Kale, chickpeas, goat cheese, and pomegranate dressing. Such a refreshing and easy summer lunch!

Muesli with almond milk and berries for a few breakfasts last week!

Out to dinner with my mom and friends at one of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore--Gertrude's. I've definitely talked about it before. But they have the best fish that you can have prepared any way you like with two sides of your choice. I went for the grilled tuna with roasted veggies and wild rice!  

Here we go again with yet another lunch that looks the same as all the others. I usually aslo have a few corn cakes or a handful or two (...or three..) of trail mix to keep me full until dinner!

Dinna!...pretty much the same as always although there was also a fruit salad + cheese slices on the side  (unpictured)

I've been running a lot outside lately and although I love getting a chance to catch up on my serious lack of vitamin D, I also find myself feeling dehydrated more and more often due to the heat. Sometimes chugging water just isn't enough to keep me well-hydrated and void of the dizziness and headaches that come from a depletion of electrolytes. I prefer to supplement my beverage choices with a small cup of vitamin water whenever I'm feeling weak from a lack of H2O. 

Other fun things....

On Father's Day I ran a 5K in memory of my nephew Skylar James Wenger who passed away last October. Part of the proceeds from the race benefit Skylar's Memorial Fund. I was accompanied on the run by my older brother and his wife. Of course my sister Melissa (Sky's Mom) was also there for this great day. 

Surprise! I won my age group (19-29)...actually this is pretty comical considering I was actually one of maybe three people in that age group. Oh well! I got a cool medal from it, and nobody has to know I only had to beat a couple people to get it ;)

 The best news of all?!....my sister had a baby last Monday!!! Yay I'm an aunt to this little adorable thing. Welcome to the world baby Jaxon. Happy 1 week birthday!!

Precious little guy <3

And then after studying my butt off for my orgo final on Friday, I was finally able to go visit Joey for a quick weekend trip to Maine (where he's working this summer). 

As you can see...the setting is on a lake and absolutely gorgeous! I wish I hadn't had to leave so soon! Luckily I get to go back in August after all this summer school stuff is over and done for good!

Sunset 

Oh heyyy

Alright it's late and I have class bright and early so I gotta go! But I promise it won't be another long wait for the next post! 

Tootle-ooo!