Back from Houston

My trip to the Olympic Training Center was amazing. It was great weather (70 and sunny), a little cold at night though, especially when you are given only one sheet and one blanket to sleep with on bunk beds.

My gymnast did great and I got to meet Bela and Marta Karolyi (I dream of mine since I was little). I also got to work side by side with National Team coaches like Tom Forster, Tammy Biggs, Niel Resnick and Valeri Liukin. It was an amazing experience and I am so blessed to have been offered such a fantastic opportunity.

My roommates were so much fun to hang out with which made the experience even better and I am finally taking steps forward in my career of Elite training.

I couldn't have asked for a better trip. Pictures to come soon.

On another note, I am going to begin a new blog today called "The Bitter Bridesmaid" a diet and exercise blog to better track my progress and post recipes to. That way it's not all mixed up in my personal blog and I am not blog savvy enough to learn how to separate it. Perhaps one day. I'll add it to my list of things to do.

Amazing Day...

My perfect day...wake up early to a hot cup of green tea...go to my TGM hot leverage class...come home and clean while listening to the sultry voice of Adam Levine...write and drink a cinnamon coffee...and then go to "work" which isn't work when you love what you do! I have such a blessed life!

I made the most amazing Chocolate Banana whole wheat flax seed pancakes after my workout today...can you say unbelievable!!! They are just as much a mouthful to eat as say, super healthy and so delicious!

Now I am just packing and gearing up for Houston. I am so excited! Not only have I not taken a trip in forever, but I have dreamed for so long about going to the Olympic Training Center and it is finally happening. Six months ago when I was contemplating applying for this job (actually a year ago was when I first saw it listed and just couldn't leave my then job mid-season), I never in a million years believed I would get the opportunities I have been offered so soon. Visits to the OTC, trips to the fiesta bowl and an Olympic Hopeful for 2016!!! Sometimes when I sit back an acknowledge all of the opportunities I have been given I am so blessed. It makes all of those missed chances and what ifs slip away. I truly feel that at this very moment, this is where I am supposed to be. Will this be so forever? Perhaps not. But for right now I am confident that I am finally doing something right.

We all fall off the wagon sometimes...

I went shopping...and at half a chocolate cake that I baked at 10 o'clock last night. Think I'll at least go for a run after work tonight to try and compensate. Ah tomorrow is another day...and I get to go home tomorrow!!! I'm so excited! Going out with friends tomorrow night for our annual thanksgiving eve get together and then spending all day Thursday with family and my mom doing our "projects" and then shopping on Friday before I head back to Columbus...Cannot wait!!!

What I have been up to as of late

It seems that I live at my place of employment with moments of life in between. Because of this I have been spending a lot of sleepless nights on the Internet buying things for the home and thinking of new things to try. Like... Seaweed chips. Yes look at all that green. I'm obsessed with edamame as it is, and try to drink green tea more than coffee. I meant to go to whole foods just to pick up coconut sugar and instead mistakingly came home with organic coconut. No worries though, I made a delicious breakfast with it...

Honey Oat energy balls

1 c dry oats
1 c coconut
1/4 c of flaxseed, honey and natural peanut butter

Mix and roll into balls...soooo good!

Last night, exhausted and opting to stay in I glitterfied fake fruit...and recycled some canvas from my old apartment and painted my favorite Shakespeare quote

Tonight I am trying to use up my groceries in preparation for my thanksgiving trip home and then to Houston. So excited to visit home I made an old fashioned American meal that reminded me of dinners at home...good ole BBQ chicken with garlic red skin potatoes and organic green beans. No recipe, just good home cooking, aren't you proud mom?

Bills are paid, apartment is livable. Tomorrow I am off to try a new workout. A mix of dance, yoga and Pilates done in a steam room (120 degrees) with concrete floors, in the dark, just some string lights and candles and loud club music! I'm so excited!!!

Then it's off to order my bridesmaid dress! Can't believe this wedding is approaching so fast!

Guess its been a pretty full week! I also discovered a new, old bookstore this week. An old church filled of new and used books. We're talking first edition classics with beautiful transcriptions! I literally spent over two hours in there the other day and was almost late for work. I cannot wait to have a library!

Well off to do some Zumba. I might be a little late catching on to the craze but I am addicted!

I'll let you know how the workout goes tomorrow!

Mmmm delicious casserole

I must admit, I use recipes as guidelines and typically don't follow them to a tee. This dish included. How to make it...

1/2 box rigatoni (I prefer whole wheat but couldn't find it so I actually used white, ugh)
1/2 white onion
1 can Italian style diced tomatoes
1/2 bag frozen spinach thawed
1 chicken breast cubed and pre cooked
Salt/pepper/olive oil to taste

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, pour into casserole dish, cover with 1 c mozzarella cheese and bake for 30 mins at 375 degrees!

The original recipe called for cream cheese (8oz garlic and herb). I'm sure it would taste extra yummy but I am watching my dairy intake so I only sprinkle about 1/2 c of cheese on top and opted not to use the cream cheese. I also halved the recipe because it's just me and as you can see I'll have left overs for a few days!

Some days I am wonder woman

Maybe it was the rain and the recent chilly weather, but yesterday I found myself a little under the weather and didn't do much of anything. I even ate carbs! A bowl of popcorn (I know crazy)! But a cup of green tea and a bowl of popcorn always make me feel better. But today, today I feel amazing and accomplished.

Today I...

-Cleaned my entire apartment

-Did my arm workout

-Laid in bed for an hour and answered emails, blogged, etc.

-Painted the $1 store picture frames I picked up for my shelf wall in the living room. Might take more time but I picked up four frames (2, 11x8, and 2, 8x10), and used white paint I had to redo them. How can you beat four frames for approximately $8 (with cost of paint), I saved well over $50!

-I made a delicious spinach, chicken pasta bake and have lunch cooked for tomorrow

-And now I am going to go get ready and go to work, paint my nails and later go for a run!

What a productive day! And way too "adult like" for me! Tomorrow, to the gym and something fun before work!

Excited for the weekend even though it's crazy busy. But the best part about it is that in 2 weeks I will be enjoying Thanksgiving with friends and family! Cannot wait to go home!

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Official Music Video)

I cannot wait for this movie to come out. I watched all three movies within two days, vowing I would probably never like them nor be a fan and yet, I was hooked. And this song is beautiful...