The Little Things

Last night I went to see a movie. It's the first movie that I've seen by myself since the divorce - maybe ever. I've wanted to see several this year, and I love going to the movies, but I've put it off because I didn't want to go alone. Isn't that just silly? There is a little vintage theater near my house, and it's $3 to see a movie. It reminds me of the small theater where I'm from, so I've been eager to check it out. I got there, and as I waited in line to get a ticket, I caught myself playing with my hair. I do that often when I'm nervous or uncomfortable. The conversation in my head went something like this: "DUDE. You're 31. WHY are you nervous?! Stop being ridiculous."

I bought my ticket and went inside and sat down, and remained uncomfortable until the lights dimmed. About fifteen minutes into the movie I relaxed, and I really enjoyed it. And then I hated that I'd waited so long to go see a movie, when it's something I've always loved.

As much as I've grown-up and evolved this year into someone completely new (and boy, have I!) I also have to accept that I'm still growing-up and evolving. Aren't we all? A couple of weeks ago someone I know told someone else that I was "in the process of finding myself". My initial reaction was a big wall of defensiveness, and a prompt correction that I spent the last year doing that, and was all done now. He didn't mean it in a bad way at all, but it felt like he minimized the last year of my life. The movie experience was a gentle reminder that he was correct. And that's okay. Changing and evolving is something we should always be doing, because that's what makes us better. Better lovers, better friends, better coworkers, better people. The more I've thought about it today, the more I've realized that I don't want to stop changing and growing. Because that's what I'd done for most of my adult life. Ironically, when I thought I knew exactly who I was and what I wanted out of life was when my world changed and I realized that I hadn't seen the authentic me in a long while. Sure, the core of me was the same. But all the details? Those I hadn't worried about in a long time, and those were what I should have been paying attention to and nurturing all along. We need to be pushed out of our comfort zones and test our limits a bit. Once we discover what we're capable of, we discover an entirely new world that we didn't know existed.

Sometimes, it takes the little things to put me back in my place, and remind me that it's okay to not have everything figured out. I can let go of my planning, just for a moment, and enjoy what is the now. And I think it's okay to be afraid of something, as long as I don't ever let that stop me from doing it - even something as simple as going to a movie by myself.

Next up, parallel parking.

My Favorite Things

It's been a hectic November for me. I don't even have a TV and I still feel like I don't have time to do anything. Seriously, what am I doing? Where does the time go? I have a million things to write about (outside of writing here, I dear-diary it in an actual journal) and I don't ever get a chance to actually sit down and write. I have more "notes" on my phone than I can count! Primarily about my above-average level of awkward. In my head, I'm the perfect combination of smooth, sexy, and adorable. In real life, I stumble over words, blush fiercely, and manage to get myself into the most unbelievable situations that you can imagine. No, really. Just in November, there have been three events (that may or may not be related to boys) that are so unbelievable that I promise you Lifetime and/or Hallmark has probably made a movie about them. Not kidding. I called my bestie to tell her about situation #2 and she was speechless for a few minutes, and then laughed so hard that she cried. She agreed, it is, in fact, unbelievable (in the literal sense of the word). Then we talked about how many cats I should adopt. Because cat fur is lonely people glitter.

Moving on. Here are some of my favorite things at the moment.

At the end of October I went to Chicago with my girlfriend, Alie. She and I have worked together for several years now, but she lives quite a ways away, so we generally only get to see each other at annual work events. We decided to take a long weekend for a girl's trip back in the summer, but then I started the interview process for this job and as soon as I got it everything else in life went on hold. As it turns out, moving cross country takes a little time and organization. Once I got more settled, we picked it up again, and decided to go my birthday weekend. We had an absolute blast, and my only complaint was that it ended way too soon!

 

 

I'm LOVING the snow. I literally don't have words to express my level of excitement. Y'all, it's magical. I get that it's inconvenient, and slippery, but OMGITSSNOW. And what better excuse for snuggling and hot chocolate than a blizzard?

P.S. If you find yourself with an imaginary boyfriend, I would recommend enjoying a cookie with that hot chocolate.

(I obviously wouldn't know what that's like. I had to add a dead bolt to my door because there were so many boys pushing on it. #populargirlproblems)

This red belt.

My scale. I am 15 pounds away from my original goal. I'm down a grand total of 65 pounds (12ish of those lost since I've been in Minnesota). I have been taking undie pics to document my progress, and while those will never be posted here (because, hello boobs) I am extraordinarily happy with shrinking me.

PUMPKIN! Pumpkin everything is making me so intensely happy at the moment. So I'll leave you with this recipe for pumpkin bread that I whipped up today, and am enjoying as I type. It's perfectly moist, dense, and not too terribly sweet.

 

Ingredients
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup spelt flour
1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
3/4 T pumpkin pie spice
1/2 t cinnamon
1/8 cup coconut oil, melted
1 t vanilla
1/4 c almond milk
1 t baking soda
1 T apple cider vinegar
5 T honey (although molasses or maple syrup would be lovely here)
2 T pumpkin seeds

Preheat your oven to 350 and line a loaf pan with parchment paper, then spritz it with a non-stick spray. This isn't a must, but it's so much easier to remove the bread from the loaf pan! It won't fit, so you'll have to do a bit of folding to mold it. Mix together your dry ingredients in one bowl, and then mix together your wet ingredients minus the apple cider vinegar in another. Fold the two together. Lastly, add in your apple cider vinegar and smile a little as it bubbles your mixture. Pour the batter into your loaf pan, sprinkle with the pumpkin seeds, and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before you serve.

I'm Officially Old

A big thing happened - my 31st birthday! Holy cow! I'm pretty sure I officially qualify as an adult, yet, I often find myself searching for someone who is adult-ier than me. Am I grown up enough to be in a city by myself? To decide how to spend my time? To be trusted not to eat the entire jar of Nutella in one sitting? Well...apparently.

On my 30th birthday, I would have never in a million years imagined that my life would look the way that my life looks right now. A year ago, I was searching for house plans, and trying actively to get pregnant. Now, I've gone through a divorce, moved across the country for a job, and am figuring out life all on my own. And I'm okay. But I was worried that my birthday would be hard - that I would spend the day grieving the dreams that were lost. Fortunately that wasn't the case, and it was a very special day. Instead of being sad, I celebrated the awesome things I've accomplished over the past twelve months. I put in the hard work to rediscover myself. I asked the hard questions, even when I didn't like the answers. I didn't like who I saw in the mirror, so I changed it. I packed up and moved to a place where I literally knew one person (and not even very well), which was absolutely terrifying for me. But I did it. And while those things don't seem like big things on the outside, they are big, big things for me. Moving away has made it obvious that I was more than just a little sheltered in Smalltown USA; I am most definitely not the most interesting person around. But you know what? I'm proud of where I'm at, because it's so far from where I was. And that, my friends, is worth celebrating.

This year I decided to participate in The Birthday Project. If you haven't heard of them, look them up. It's a challenge to do random acts of kindness for the day - most people aim for the number to match how old they are. I was aiming for 31 things, but I made it to 25. I've continued to look for opportunities though - don't wait for a special occasion to be kind! I can honestly say it was one of the most, if not the most, rewarding birthdays that I have celebrated. Some of my favorite things were free ones! I left notes on mirrors in bathrooms, notes on car windshields, put anonymous goodie bags on the doorsteps of my neighbors at midnight, brought in my boss's favorite drink, bought a coffee for someone, sent letters to friends, taped money and notes to vending machines at work, gave food to a homeless man, offered to take a picture for a family that wanted one with everyone in it, but didn't speak English to ask, and a few other things as well. I also asked my Facebook friends to do a random act of kindness as well, and several commented with things they had done: pulling up the car so a coworker wouldn't get wet from the rain, buying an extra shirt at school for a child who didn't have money, calling someone who had been really down and offering some encouragement, going on a walk with someone who wasn't feeling well. My heart was full.

 

 

In addition to that fun, I walked into the office to a sweet card, had flowers delivered from some girlfriends, received multiple cards in the mail, and a couple of gifts as well. After work I went out with a friend who insisted on making the day extra special, and had such a good time hanging out with him. It was a happy, happy birthday indeed.

Kindness Is Free

This week I faced a couple of situations that left me angry, and both of them are completely out of my control. In both situations, I would do things completely differently than the people involved, but those decisions aren't mine to make. It's a struggle for me to step back and acknowledge that though. Every part of me wants to yell that I know better, and that people are missing the forest for the trees. It's so easy to make judgments on others. I'm guilty of it, and so are you. We do it every single day - both intentionally and unintentionally. And I am sure I'm not the only one who struggles with wanting to grab people by the shoulders and give them a detailed synopsis of all the ways in which they are messing up. Bad decisions by people doesn't equal bad people. But I have a tendency to go there anyway.

Yesterday morning as I was getting ready to start the day, I was reflecting on both of these specific situations and found myself getting angry again. Situation one received some hurtful words, but it didn't result in me feeling better. I heard one time that if you're doing or saying the right thing, you'll feel better afterwards. Noted, Kris.

In the midst of feeling angry at myself for hurting someone's feelings, I took a step back and thought, what if, instead of immediately casting judgment on the people involved, I chose to encourage them instead? What if we, including myself, realized that we can't possibly know every single detail about someone else's story, and we recognized that those details are not ours to know? What if we didn't decide whether or not someone was worthy to love or respect, but instead we just loved or respected them? What if we tried to understand that people are broken? That they are walking around under the heavy weight of their own self-inflicted judgment and condemnation. And instead of heaping more of that on top. what if we tried to carry some of that load for them? What if, instead of pointing out someone else's flaws, we recognized that we, too, are inherently flawed. and we defended people. Not their actions, but them. Bad decisions do NOT equal bad people.

Saturday morning lesson learned. Well, maybe not learned, but a lesson I'm always learning. We've all been hurt by people, and judging seems a natural reaction based on past experiences. I've been cut so deeply by others that the scars remain, and that I construct wall after impenetrable wall to keep anyone from accessing those forbidden areas of myself. I've lived in the deep caverns of all-consuming hatred. And I've fought with all the tenacity I could muster to unpack and live there. I've clawed my way deeper and deeper, insisting that I know best - justifying the path of destruction as I proudly march down further. But when it's dark, and still, and nothing remains but to examine my heart in all of its ugliness - it's at those moments I know my search for freedom has brought me deep into captivity. And I don't belong there. Though the darkness has come, and will come, I can never willingly make the decision to stay. So I hang my head in shame, and I struggle to make my way out, picking up the pieces as I go. What I know for certain is this: in each situation that comes and results in cruel words, or a poor attitude, or a quick judgment, what I have broken is never the same, and I am never the same.

Though the lesson is always hard, be it personal or professional, and though I always resolve to never go there again, I'm only human. And I will.

But in this new season of life I'm facing - a new city, a new job, new people in my life - I'm making an effort to stop cannonballing into harsh criticism. I'm working on letting go of those things that I cannot control, and focusing on what I can control instead. I can control my attitude, and I can choose to be kind and compassionate, even when it's a challenge. And maybe, just maybe, when it's the most challenging is when it's the most necessary.

Eating Healthy In A Hotel

At the request of my readers...

(let's be real, my mom and bestie are my readers)

((hi mom, hi jenn))

I thought I'd walk through what my attempts to eat healthy in a hotel look like. People tend to be curious about my diet. Friends and family that have watched me shed close to 60 pounds are constantly asking questions about how I'm doing it. Do you want to know the secret?

Eat healthy. And exercise.

The book Eat To Live really transformed my way of thinking about food, so I tend to favor a low-fat, plant based diet. That's how I've lost the majority of my weight. And that's when I feel the best. But I'm not perfect, and I've eaten my fair share of not-so-ideal food while I've been in Minnesota. I'm absolutely trying, and despite the mess-ups, I'm certain I've lost some weight since arriving. I'm not sure how much since my scale is packed up with the rest of my belongings, but the pants I bought about a month ago are now too big, and this weekend I had to go down a size (YAY for single digits now!). I move into my apartment this week, and I'm anxious to weigh and see just how much.

I'm staying in an extended stay type hotel, so there is a full refrigerator and microwave here. Since I've been here three weeks this week, I've been to the grocery store several times. The first trip I didn't take a picture of, but I got similar items to the ones below. I also grabbed some almond butter, and frozen Amy's burritos.

 

Trip two included bananas, pumpkin seeds, romaine, apples, pitas, hummus, Larabars, prepped veggies and sauerkraut. Normally I would buy veggies and chop them up myself, but without good knives and a veggie peeler, I let them do it for me.



 

 

Trip three included grapes, a variety of mostly green juices (Suja and Evolution are my favorite brands for these), more veggies, herbed sweet potatoes, more hummus, salsa, and a spring roll.

I've been doing LOTS of wraps and/or salads with romaine, salsa, hummus, and red onion.

 

I've also been doing almond butter, banana, and dark chocolate chip wraps, because they are amazing. And also, my countertops are the color of my food. That's not weird at all.

 

 #yesitisweird #wheredidmytortillago

 

 

Easy foods are helping me stay on track! And I've still been celebrating my love of pumpkin everything - tis the season y'all!

I've eaten at Jimmy Johns a handful of times (it's close to work AND my hotel), and I love their veggie sandwich! I usually get it on wheat bread, hold the mayo, and add sprouts. It's absolutely delish! And a life-saver for lunch since I've not been faithfully bringing mine in! I'm excited to unpack my Tupperware and transition back to my usual salad and fruit.

I may try and write a "what I ate" post weekly - that'll give you a glimpse into what my typical day of food looks like. The above selections are yummy, but not really typical. I usually cook much more than I am right now. And with cold weather creeping in, I know I'll be living off of soups and stews. If that happens, I may post some of my favorite recipe links, too. That'll get you guys up and running with some Kris-approved yummies!

Exploring

The last couple of weeks have been eventful. Though I'm still enjoying Minnesota from my crappy hotel, it's amazing. The energy here is awesome. There is so much going on, and I want to do it all. The good news is that I'll be moving into my apartment in less than a week, and I'm STOKED. Let the decorating commence! I cannot WAIT to be in my own bed, with my own stuff. Also, my neighbors have sex really, REALLY frequently. And often after a big fight. Unfortunately, it's not polite; it's loud. The first night I was really embarrassed, but now I am used to it. It's still awkward, but I just turn the TV on. I hate to call the front desk - let 'em have fun. I'd rather them have fun when I'm not next door though.

Though I've unpacked a little here, it's not the same. I've also been dying to cook! I'm missing my green smoothies for breakfast, but I'm itching to make a good hearty stew and some crusty bread to soak it all up. It's chilly here, and I've already busted out the boots, so soups and stews are a no-brainer.

Last weekend I got to explore Minnehaha Park, which I've been anxious to do since I arrived. There is a waterfall in the middle of the city, so regardless of the size, it's bound to be pretty amazing. Though the waterfall is lovely, the trails are really fun. They go all around the park, and it's fall. So everything is just gorgeous. Fall is my absolute favorite. Something about the trees turning and the air getting crisp makes me feel invincible. There were wild turkey in the park, too! That made me super happy. Obviously.

Sunday I tried a new church, and I loved it. They were very welcoming and warm, and though I'd considered trying several churches, I've been looking forward to going back to this one all week. What I need are friends, and I saw many women that looked to be around my age there. It's a good place to start.

This weekend is looking to be a fun one, too. I went for a jog this morning, then got a manicure. I'm happy to report I no longer look like Edward Scissorhands. This afternoon I visited a friend and got a little lesson in home brewed beer.

 

Let's talk about how I'm thirty years old and have never been introduced to all of the amazing kinds of craft beer out there. The cook in me appreciates the complexity of brewing unique creations. When I learned that the recipes can be custom-created, I immediately started dreaming of combinations in my head to try. My goal is to manipulate my friend into brewing them for me. He's easily bribed by baked goods, and I am one heck of a good baker, so I think I can convince him. We're gonna call it Operation Kris-B (see what I did there? like krispy? except kris-"b" for brews) I admit, that sounded much better in my head, but I'm far too lazy to brainstorm, so that's the official name. I tried to name a program this week at work, and it didn't go much better than that. Clearly, my marketing class isn't working for me. Or I just do better thinking in the morning. Yes, let's go with that one.

So Far, So Good!

Ever since I arrived last week, I've been dying to update you all. Things are constantly busy though, and I haven't had the chance.

I left Tennessee last Tuesday, and spent the night in Iowa. Since the drive was 14+ hours, I wanted to break it up. I took Millie, and she did fairly well. She cried for the first hour or so, but slept the majority of the way up. The drive was super easy, and mostly through rural areas that felt like home. I saw the St.Louis arch, which was beautiful, and took pictures of all of the state signs as I drove through. I finished up the drive on Wednesday, and arrived at the hotel that I'll call home until mid-October. It's definitely not ideal, but my apartment won't be ready until then, so I'm making it work. My hotel is cheap, but as a result, isn't the most fantastic place I've ever stayed in. There is no gym, which I absolutely hate. I'd been working out daily at home pretty intensely, and working out in my room, or strolling the streets just isn't the same. I found a yoga studio that offers a Vinyasa class on Mondays so I'm going to visit there this coming Monday to try it out. I'm definitely missing it, and itching to get a good workout in. I've been trying to compensate with my food, so there have been lots of salads and juices. A little planning has made eating well easier, but I've definitely enjoyed some of the local food, too. In fact, today for lunch I hit a burger joint that'll be close to my new apartment and had a pretty big burger stuffed with goat cheese and slathered in some sort of blackberry sauce. I also tried cheese curds since I've never had them. Now I'm drinking green juice for supper, ha! I'm anxious to visit some of the breweries around here. There are so many really unique places and beers, that it's hard to not go out often! I keep reminding myself that I'll be here for at least a year, so there will be plenty of time to do it all. Minnesota is amazing, and I love everything about this area.

My favorite season is fall, and it's much more fall here than at home. The trees are already beginning to turn, and they are lovely! I'm hoping to explore the waterfalls this weekend that I couldn't find last time I was here. I know where they are now since they are so close to where I'll be living. I'm glad it's cooled off a bit. People here aren't excited, and I know they aren't anticipating the winter, but coming from 100 degrees and high humidity is making me appreciate the chilly days. And though I may change my mind at some point, I'm pretty excited to see some real snow. Like, over the top, cannot wait.

I started work officially last Thursday, and things are going wonderfully! My job is awesome. It's definitely busy as I am learning, but everyone is nice and I already feel right at home. Not having an hour commute to and from work makes me feel like my day is so much longer! A 10-minute drive is nice. My boss is patient, and an awesome teacher. Watching him work reaffirms my decision to be here; the experience is valuable.

So, onto complaints. I really don't have many. I miss everyone, though. It's different knowing that people aren't right around the corner. And truthfully? I could use a really good hug. I'm sure it'll get easier once I establish a social circle. But that's it. I'm enjoying this new phase of life, and I'm so excited that I said yes to taking a chance and stepping out of my comfort zone. Turns out, it's not quite so scary after all.

Saying "See Ya Later"

Leaving Tennessee happened quickly. With so much to do, the time flew by, and before I knew it, it was time to drive north. I was overwhelmed with the amount of support that I received though! I had dinners, going away parties, received sweet gifts, went to a concert, and got to love on all the people dear to me. I'm already looking forward to my Christmas visit home!

 

 

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard" - Winnie The Pooh

Introduction to Minnesota

I spent last weekend in MN apartment hunting. I was really, really nervous to arrive since I accepted the job prior to ever visiting the state. My biggest fear was getting there, hating it, and feeling consumed with regret about my decision.

My first impression breaking through the clouds on the plane was "holy cow - water!" Everywhere. It was beautifully green, and whatever I had imagined the Twin Cities looking like, they weren't quite as intimidating or concrete as I had envisioned.

I drove through downtown Minneapolis before dinner, and got a feel for the city. It's absolutely lovely. The newer buildings are surrounded by much older, worn architecture via churches, and apartments, and the intricate detailing is breathtaking. I have the urge to photograph everything, but I know that even the most skilled photographer couldn't appropriately capture the details that make the things I love exquisite. The landscaping is old, and up from the middle of the concrete tower big trees that command attention. The side streets remind me of the street my grandparents lived on while I was growing up - older homes, all unique, with tree lined streets and sidewalks, and alleys in the back. I could have spent hours strolling them and admiring the ivy covered homes, and I'm sure that I will before long.

I ate dinner outside on a patio in the most perfect weather, with really good company. And I ended day one absolutely in love with my new home.

Over the weekend I went to a food and music festival with some new friends, and enjoyed awesome food, beer, and really good music. People here are expressive - tattoos, piercings, crazy hair and hippie style everywhere. My braids and do-what-they-want curls will fit right in. I also had a bit of fun with my overly worried daddy, which I'm sure I enjoyed more than he did!

Sunday I explored some more. I tried to find Minnehaha Falls, but wasn't successful. My GPS wasn't taking me there, but I ended up at Lake Nokomis instead, which was fantastic. Parking is tricky here. I'm not used to being in a place where there is ample street parking, so I'm not sure where I'm allowed to park. I drove around for a bit and finally found a parking lot, and a trail right by the water. I walked for quite awhile and stumbled upon a little restaurant right around lunch time, which was perfect. Not a bad view at all!

On the way back to my car I passed a pier and saw several men fishing so I decided to go talk to them. I chatted it up for about twenty minutes, and they showed me the fish they had caught, and even let me cast the line. Everyone here is ridiculously nice - very much like home. These accents though! I must sound as foreign to them as they do to me.

Being there helped me narrow down the area I wanted to be in, so as I was driving around I added several places to my list that hadn't originally been on there. Two of the places didn't have openings until the November/December timeframe, and that just didn't work, but one place had an opening in early October, so I made an appointment Tuesday. I had already looked at five places, but this was the one I wanted to love. The location was absolutely ideal, and just south of the city, which is exactly what I wanted. I walked in, and breathed a sigh of relief as I realized that it was absolutely perfect. Bay window, lots of kitchen storage, stainless appliances, washer and dryer in unit, underground parking, and a great big closet. I put a deposit on it within 15 minutes of walking in. It should be ready by October 10th, so I will be camped out in a hotel for a couple of weeks since I'm moving sooner, but that's totally okay.

I'm feeling so very excited about this move. I can't believe I'm even going to say this, but I already miss it. I have so much exploring to do when I get back, and I.Cannot.Wait.

Big BIG Changes

One of the things I’ve learned about myself this year is that I tend to operate out of fear of the unknown, to a certain degree. I guess we all do a little. We create safety nets full of self-imposed rules and regulations that give us a false sense of security and comfort, and we fight with everything we have to stay there.

A few weeks ago a potential job opportunity unexpectedly landed in my lap. It’s working under someone that I adore personally, and someone who I think I’d be able to learn from. It’s doing something in an area in which I have no experience, but know I need the experience. But that’s just the tip of it. There are so many other positives, and things I would have hand-picked about the situation, that it feels like it might as well have a bow on top. The only downside is the location.

I’ve been planning to move for awhile, and I’d mentally prepared for that. But I was only prepared to move into what I deemed the safe area – driving distance to home, Southeast region, and warm.

This job is none of those things. I spent days over-analyzing the situation in my head…

It’s too far from home.

I’ve never lived anywhere cold.

What if I hate it?

What if I can’t drive in the snow well?

I’ll be alone on my birthday.

How often can I come home?

Will people come visit?

And perhaps the most scary question of all, what if I fail?

All of those questions and concerns though, they aren’t really valid. I can call it whatever I want, but what it really is, is my desire to stay in my comfort zone of familiarity.

“I’m totally brave!! I can do anything…. as long as it falls into the approved list of things I have thoroughly planned on doing.”

I have a friend who has moved all over the country, and I asked him this week how he does it - how he just picks up and moves, and leaves everything he has known. He asked how I would ever know what was out there if I never went. And he’s exactly right. I vowed earlier this year that I would never again make a decision based solely on my fear of the unknown. But it IS scary! Moving to a place far away, where I don’t know anyone, in weather I’m not familiar with, is absolutely the most terrifying thing I’ve ever even thought of doing!

I called my mom pretty early on to talk it over with her. I value her opinion, and I wanted her to see the opportunity in it. I wanted her to grab my ankles and pull me down from the clouds if it was absolute craziness and she didn’t see what I was seeing. She told me that while it is scary, what is scarier is living with the regret of not doing it, and getting stuck in a professional rut. Packing up and moving away isn’t an opportunity that often presents itself at an opportune time. So with my heart beating fast, and my hand shaking a little, I sent a message to the hiring manager, and told him I was interested. 

Things moved very quickly, and I had an interview before I knew it. It was detailed, and lengthy. But I felt really good about it. Then a second interview, which I felt good about. Then an offer, which I accepted.

I spent the past week telling my family and friends, and though everyone was supportive, there were many tears, both theirs and mine.

I have four weeks to move. Four weeks to downsize from 2750 square feet into a tiny apartment. Four weeks to pack 8+ years of stuff. Four weeks to secure movers. Four weeks to familiarize myself with an entirely new state. Four weeks to find somewhere to live that I love enough to sign a lease. Four weeks to prepare myself to go into a new job that I’ve never done before. Four weeks to calm my nerves, and convince myself that I’m not nearly as freaked out and panicked as every single cell in my body feels. And the most difficult… four weeks to prepare to say goodbye to my family and my friends, my comfort zone, my home. Not goodbye, I suppose, but just see ya later.

Let the countdown begin – I’m moving to Minnesota.

Sunday Meal Prep

In October, when I turned 30, I vowed that by my next birthday, I'd be at my goal weight. I'm thirty pounds out now, and I have about three months to go, which means I have to really get on top of it. Ten pounds a month is completely doable though.

One of the consistent challenges that I have is around meal planning. If I don't have something ready, more often than not I'll choose convenience and that means a choice that isn't as healthy. I saw an account on Instagram this week, and the guy meal preps 10 meals every weekend for the upcoming week. He preps lunch and dinner, but I decided to start out with breakfast and lunch.

I stopped by the grocery store yesterday to pick up my groceries, and spent today cooking. It didn't take long at all, and I'm so glad that it's done! I think it's a good system, and I'm going to try and keep up with it.

This week's menu is as follows:

Breakfast - green smoothie
Lunch - roasted carrots, swiss chard, brown rice, and black beans with mushrooms, onion, and garlic

I'll also be eating an afternoon snack of fruit. Since strawberries were on sale, that's this week's choice.

The recipes were uncomplicated. I make a lot of green smoothies, so I have a base recipe, and then modify it from there. This week I used half a banana, half a cup of berries (I used cherries and raspberries), a big handful of spinach, a combination of flax meal and flax oil, an ounce of walnuts and protein powder. I added water to blend it. Almond milk is my favorite for smoothies, but I forgot to buy it this week. I put individual servings in mason jars and stuck them in the freezer. I'll just pull one out the night before to stick in the fridge to thaw. A little shake in the morning and it's good to go. In the past when I was making smoothies for more than just myself, I'd put all of the ingredients in a freezer bag. Then in the morning I would only have to dump the bag in the blender and add water or almond milk.

For lunch, I bought a bag of black beans (way cheaper than canned), and that made 12 servings total. I soaked them overnight, so I put them in water before I went to bed last night. This morning when I got up I threw them on the stove for about an hour and a half, and made the brown rice as well.

What took the longest was the chopping, and that really wasn't bad at all. I chopped up the carrots, swiss chard, and onion/mushroom/garlic mixture.

 

The carrots were tossed with olive oil, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes and then roasted in the oven until they were tender. The chard I steamed and then tossed with apple cider vinegar (which I'm convinced is the only way to eat greens of any kind), and once the beans were finished cooking, I added hot sauce and liquid smoke. Then I added the sautéed onion, mushroom, and garlic mixture right on top. I didn't do anything special with the brown rice - I had a lot of flavor going on already, so I figured it would just pick it up. I froze the meals in freezer/microwave safe Tupperware, so I'll be able to pull it out the night before and nuke it at work.

 

 

After all of that cooking, this is where Millie and I ended up, and where I intend to stay. I'm starting PiYo tomorrow, so I'm using that as an excuse to be lazy tonight! Ha!