Weekend...where did you go?

Why does the weekend go so fast?! It seems like it's over before it even starts.  I had a great weekend spent with Nick and friends.  I went to a yummy restaurant with my friend Nicole Friday night.  I ate all of my food before I could take a pic (I'm a hungry gal).  It was so yummy and I could have brown rice!! They even have brown rice sushi (Nick's fave).  My Shakeology came on Saturday.  I had it plain with water after my workout.  (Not something I plan to do often!!) But on Sunday I had it in a smoothie with frozen banana, peanut butter and unsweetened almond milk with 1/2 of a packet of Truvia and WOW!! Delicious!!! Now I love Shakeology!! I feel great after drinking it. (Even Nick kept sneaking sips!!) 

That evening we went to a local brewery and a baseball game.  They had AMAZING fireworks and played Beatles music.  Pretty cool! Sunday was just a lazy day spent with Chloe and doing laundry and of course, food prepping.  

Have a great week!!

The "Hulk" Green Monster Smoothie

I love smoothies, but don't make them often due to always being on the go for work and such.  One of my favorite smoothies to make is my version of a "Green Monster Smoothie."  I also like to call it "The Hulk." I've seen other versions of this on Pinterest, but I decided to create my own!

Place all ingredients in a blender or Magic Bullet

Ingredients

1 frozen banana (peeled and cut ahead of time.....trust me!)

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

3-4 TBS Peanut butter (or 5.....)

1 heaping TBS plain nonfat Greek yogurt

1 handful of spinach (stay with me now...)

Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk (about 1/2 a cup maybe a bit more....I just add until the other ingredients are pretty much covered but not full to the top... I put this in last!!)

Blend until smooth.  Add more Almond Milk if needed.

I promise that you can't even taste the spinach! It's great as a meal replacement or post workout.  I hope you like it!

I'm Back!

Yes, I am trying my hand at blogging again.  Apparently things get busier when you are done with grad school!  I'm sure my 10 readers missed me so much!! :-) haha. Lots has happened since September!!

I got Engaged!!

Yes sir, after 5 years, Nick popped the question!!It was on my birthday :-) He had me open 3 presents (in clothes boxes) and the third box was the ring.  So sweet! I love that it was just he and I and not in front of a huge audience.  He picked out a beautiful ring. We went out to dinner that evening and ate in a private room which used to be a vault because the turned a bank into a restaurant.  Best birthday ever!

I went on a cruise!
I got to go on vacation with Nick and his family.  It was a blast! It was the first time I ever spent the holidays away from my family, but it was the first time in 5 years I got to kiss Nick at midnight on New Years.  We went to amazing beaches, went ziplining and snorkeling.  It was a lot of fun!!

I'm no longer a vegetarian (*ducks from PETA*)

No, I'm not a carnivore now!!! But I did start to eat meat again.  I was a vegetarian for 2 years.  I think it really helped me get healthier and change my eating habits for the better, but I also became more into eating clean and fitness and I found that it was too hard for me to eat clean as a vegetarian.  I don't eat red meat or pork.  I still cook lots of protein packed vegetarian meals, but I have found that it works for me and that's what matters.  I love making clean meals for me and Nick (he is picky too, so it's awesome when I make something he can eat!!)

Side note:  I did not get sick when I started eating it again, which I was warned about.  I must have a stomach of steel!!!!

I got a new job and moved!

After 3 years of living apart, Nick and I were finally able to move in together in our own apartment.  I had to move about 2 hours away from where I was living so that means, yet again, another new job.  I applied to an agency that has an awesome reputation so I interviewed with them on President's Day and they must have liked me enough to offer me the job the next day!  I was really excited and didn't even want to do the 2 other interviews I had lined up, so I canceled them (they were for the following week).  Leaving my old job, work friends and my clients was really hard, but I am happy to finally be in the same city as my fiance!  I really like my job and my manager is awesome. I still work with the Early Childhood population. It's community based work which has its ups and downs, but I don't mind so far (that will change in winter I'm sure).

2nd job!

The last new thing that has happened is after 2 years of contemplating it, I decided to become a Beachbody coach.  I am a gym rat and have a supplement stack that works for me, so I was hesitant and almost backed out again.  I thought, how can I promote something if I don't have a "success story."  But I know that the products work if people commit to it.  I tried Insanity (mentioned in a previous post) and I couldn't even sit down the next day!! I have several friends who have lost weight and inches and toned up from using the programs and Shakeology.  I hope that I can help people reach their fitness goals! I may be a gym rat, but I know that many people are not or simply can't find time to go.  I plan to try a workout program soon like RevAbs or Brazilian Butt lift, and possibly P90X in the winter.  I'm excited! 

I hope to update this more regularly again so stop back and leave comments :-)

New (old) stuff!

Today was a successful shopping day!

I would say I have champagne taste on a beer budget.  I prefer the more quality clothing, but I typically don't like to spend that much money on something.  So, I end up gettting clothes from the less expensive stores but then they unravel or fray or shrink.  I went to TJMaxx and some other similar stores.  Here is all the stuff I got today (minus the cat *lol*)

I was looking for more fall/winter work shirts but ended up with this:

1. Workout shirt

2.  Banana Republic top

3. Puma socks

4. Phillip's earbuds

5.  Ralph Lauren Polo

6. NY&Co Cardigan

7.  Workout shorts

8. WH/BM top

9. Black Pumps

10. & 11 Camis

All under $100!! Wooot!

Have a nice weekend!

Phone pics from the zoo!

Last Friday, Nick and I went to the zoo!  It was so hot (about 100 degrees) but I had a great time with my man! I was only able to take pics from my phone because I didn't have a camera yet. (I do now... wooo!)  Here are a few of my faves.



I could seriously watch jellyfish all day.  They are so neat!



Sloth bear! Too cute!

I love seahorses! Reminds me of the little mermaid!

The baby elephant!! A few minutes later he face planted into the ground.  He didn't quite have his balance! His mama helped him up :-)



Hippo butts!!
These are my favorite animal!! I hate that they are always sleeping!



RIP CAMERA...

I haven't posted in a longggg time. Life has not been too exciting for this girl.  I have been spending more time with my boyfriend which I love.  We were planning on going on a trip...but we decided to nix that for now and save our money (he needs to save his money for other things anyways!! Hehehe ;o)
Anywho, My boyfriend and I went out couple of weekends ago for my friend Nicole's birthday.  We were trying to get a new picture. I don't know that happened...but my camera is no longer working.  It turns on, but it doesn't go into focus.  I am sure I can get it fixed or have a warranty...but I think it's a good excuse to get a new one.  I don't really know what to look for though. My only requirement is that it has a rechargeble battery with charger.  I hate alkaline batteries!  If anyone has recommendation's for a good camera let me know! (on the less expensive side!)
I really need a camera though...I do not take a lot of pictures, but I like to have it with me in case I have any moments I want to capture.  My phone takes good pictures, but it needs to be in a well lit room.

SAD! I loved that camera. I need to also invest in a case for it too...strange things obviously happen in my purse!

Nightmare neighbors!!

I have lived at my apartment for a little over 2 year now.  I have not yet had a pleasant experience with my neighbors.  I think my first one was the worst.  She was that crotchety old lady who constantly would complain about everything.  Once I was putting together a dresser when I first moved in.  It was about 4:00 or 5:00 in the afternoon....I had to bang some nails to put the panel on the back.  She started to bang on the ceiling!!  Uhh... okay, I guess I will put my dresser together later....

Another time we got a complaint that we left our garbage out and she swore it was "leaking on her statue." Well sorry its raining so we didn't walk it to the dumpster today! She would also glare at us and look through her blinds when we would go out to our cars.  It was really bizarre.  Also, her daughter would sometimes park in our reserved parking spot. I guess my roommate had multiple issues with her too before I even moved in.  I was so happy when she moved out!

Until...

This new family moved in. They seemed nice and they had a cute little kid.  Boy, were they annoying!

One evening I was sitting on the couch (probably creeping on facebook or some blogs) and the guy started yelling some obscenities.  I heard the woman arguing too.  Umm...do I call the police? He screamed something like "DON'T! EVER! SAY! THAT! AGAIIIIINNN!!! *stomp stomp stomp* *door slams* *tires squeal*

They also has this cat that was usually outside meowing.  I almost dropped it off at the humane society once, no joke...but I couldn't catch it. 

And that cute little kid?  Running around and yelling at all hours of the night.  She left random pieces of candy and cat food outside which attracted ants.  I went through a huge bottle of ant killer because I have issues with ants. I may save that for another blog.

 They moved out after about a month which was sort of weird. Oh well.... SEE YA!!!

We recently got new neighbors again.  Its a couple.  No arguments yet, so far...

However...they have a dog. All it does is bark. Constantly. 

 I feel kind of sorry for it :o(

It's barking right now as I type.  It disrupted my Bachelorette finale watching and I was not pleased.

So that has been my neighbor experience.  I think I'm stuck with crappy neighbors until I get a house.  The problem is, Nick and I want to live in a condo when we get our first house.  Hopefully the annoying neighbors stay away!  Anyone else have nightmare neighbors?





Have a great weekend!