January Vibes | Weekend Inspo

       

Hope you’re having a good weekend! We’re heading to Vancouver in the morning for a little day-tripping. What are you doing this weekend?

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Speak to you soon!

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2015 | Fit Friday

Monday morning–4:45A.M.  The twinkle-toned iPhone alarm I had chosen to “calmly wake myself up” seemed unbearably shrill, especially when I remembered why it was going off: my first 5:30A.M. appointment with my personal trainer. After trying to feign a hamstring injury brought on by an impending Charlie horse… I reluctantly rolled off of my half deflated air mattress and into my fleece lined running tights.

But, wow…am I glad I did.

Several weeks ago I decided that just going to the gym a few times a week really wasn’t getting me the results I was hoping for. (I wanted to see “Beyonce” but instead I was getting “Young mom who’s stopped drinking diet coke.”) After talking with several of my friends, who I consider to be professional gym rats, it was clear that a personal training program would be my best bet.

I was nervous. “Personal trainer?” I thought, “He’ll kill me. I’ll die. I’ll lay right out on the weight floor after leg day and take my last living breath.” Within the next few days I grew some balls and then nervously approached my soon-to-be torturer/trainer at the front desk. After about 20 minutes of discussion and signing papers it was official: for 3 times a week for the next three months I’d be seeing Andrew for lifting days and going an additional 2 more visits for cardio sessions. I walked out of the gym and promptly grabbed a snack to ease my stresses.

Fast forward to now–8A.M. on Friday, January 2, 2015. Sitting at my kitchen table recovering from this morning’s shoulder + core + cardio session, sipping on an almond butter + berry protein shake concoction (that I call The PBJ) and feeling 100% sure that I have made one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

After 1 week of personal training I feel awesome; I’m sleeping better, I feel stronger (even if just a little), I’m driven to eat well, I’m drinking so much water, I’m happier, My brain is clearer and I have so many more opportunities to brag to my co-workers about how much I lifted at my early morning PT sesh. Andrew has really encouraged me to not just seek fitness, but also nutrition (full wellness). I’ve been dipping my fork into the key Paleo diet principles but with a few tweaks of my own.

With the arrival of a new year, I’ve also adapted a new mindset: investing in myself is just as important as investing in other things.

My fitness goals (not resolutions because those are for the weak) for 2015:

• Know what it means to actually feel healthy and reap the benefits of that lifestyle.
• Learn from my trainer how/why/what I need to do to work my muscles correctly and continue to do that even after training is over.
• Feel strong, capable and empowered.
• Become professional at feigning minor injuries so my break between ab sets can be longer.
• Blog about fitness/lifestyle changes so other people can learn something/feel my pain.
• Really try to contain biscuits to once a week (do the vegan ones count? Leaning towards no RN).
• Oh right…and those Beyonce/Nicki/Azalea booty curves.*

*Andrew asked me what my fitness goals were and maybe that was my answer, but who really knows?

Speak to you guys soon! Happy new year!

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Some Like it Hot | Saturday Morning

The weather in Seattle this weekend is forecasted to be rainy with an 85% chance of everyone forgetting what being warm feels like. That being said, I have been craving hot drinks: eggnog (a festive favorite), pour-overs (sue me), mulled wine (for those of us who like to get warm in more ways than one) and, of course, hot chocolate.

Here’s some hot chocolate recipes that I’m dying to try this season:

• This Lavender hot chocolate
• Eggnog hot chocolate found here
• And perhaps one of these two mint hot chocolates; they both looked too good for me to choose just one.

Am I forgetting anything? What are you craving?

Speak to you soon!

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photo credit for title image here

Lift List | Monday Playlist (and BEY)

Being a gym rat is tough. I joined last week so, you can imagine how impactful my 3 visits since then have been. Maybe gym rat isn’t the right word…not even close. But hey, fake it ’til you make it. Right guys? Right?

That being said, this week’s playlist is a gym playlist. It’s a change from what I normally lean towards, but trust me when I say that it will give you a little extra umph during that last rep of squats. Pro tip: if you’re using a barbell that’s under 50 pounds try to keep composure (because I use a 30 pound weight and often look like I’m trying to lift the hand of God).

There is only one song I wanted to add to this but couldnt and I think we all already know what that is: Beyonce’s new jam 7/11. There’s some mixed feelings buzzing around about the new song/the video but my feelings are as follows:

Bey can have fun if Bey wants to. Her video was obvi her + her crew playin’ in a hotel room. No need to get butthurt about Bey releasing a personal video that was just a fun way to put out her song–not to win awards. Let’s be real–who does the queen need to impress after all of those TOP NOTCH videos on the visual album. If anything, this video makes her further one of my favorite people on this planet. Look at her not giving a single care about what you think about her. ALSO LOOK AT THAT BOOOOTY. Don’t make me throw MY HANDS UP. (Video below)

 

 

Here’s your Monday Lift List! Enjoy
 
 

 
 
Speak to you soon!
 
 
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Milan, Italy | Photo Diary

The moment when I realized I’d left my cell phone on the table was a moment that was full of emotion–first silently and then loud. Profanities bounced off the walls of our tiny AirBNB apartment as I paced and retraced my steps of the afternoon in my brain.

Finally after going through my mental rolodex of curses, I determined that the only place it could possibly be was at the tavern with the slightly-too-sweet tiramisu. We were all the way back across town in our apartment and for a moment I thought “I can do this trip without my phone.” Then reality swung a punch and I realized “no, you absolutely cannot you fool.”

With a pit in my stomach and eyes to the ground I saw the pavement blur by as began to run (with little to no dignity or faith and a shortage of breath) to where I hoped my phone still remained.  Back down into the metro I’d go, barreling onto the train and then back off again; speed walking under the shade of the duomo, across the piazza, down the narrow alleys and finally stumbling into the kitchen of the tavern.

I probably could’ve come across less panicked (it probably seemed like I’d left my child there) but the servers understood, even through my broken Italian, what was going on. After the longest two minutes of my life, the owner finished his phone call, reached behind the counter and handed it to me with a smile. I have never been so happy in my life. Bless you sweet, sweet Italian man. May you be forever blessed with lots of happy customers to your restaurant of checkered tablecloths and delicious lasagna. Please take care of your bee problem on the patio. Sincerely, Lauren.

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There will never come a day when Italy does not hold a special place in my heart. Since my first visit there in 2011 I’ve known that the Italian lifestyle is one I can get behind. Schedules are more relaxed, there’s always pizza (or calzones), sentences sound like songs rather than statements, being surrounded by centuries old architectures with one million stories to imagine, dinners that run late into the night, wine continually flowing and.. the men. The Italian men, ya’ll. My kryp-to-nite.

 

And next time I’m in Italy? The south. I’m aching to see the Amalfi coast, Sardinia, and the secret panini places hidden in alleys in the smallest towns. They’re always the best.

Speak to you soon!

 

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Whole 30 & Flirty | Lifestyle Post

I’ve found that, generally, people in Seattle tend feel guilty about two things:

1. not being able to find the recycling bin (I’ve been the receiver of these confessions more times than I can count) and 2. their diet. The words “whole 30”, “paleo”, and “gluten free” have been sung into my ears so many times, in fact, that I’ve actually decided to give them a shot.

Why?

It all started a few weeks ago when I noticed that, if I was reclined a certain way, I could use my stomach as a table to hold my microwaved burrito while I watched Game of Thrones.

Now, it would be unfair to neglect to mention that ever since the Beyonce concert in Paris I have been on a mission to reshape my body to the proportions of the queen…but we all know that booty doesn’t come from half-ass squats done on a yoga mat in a studio apartment on Capitol Hill. So as I was half-sitting up on the couch, audibly pleading for Jon Snow to love me I then thought, “what if I change up my diet and add in some lunges to the apartment workout circuit? THEN I’ll be on the yellow brick road to booty-ville.”

So now here we are–knee deep in protein, leafy greens, and a vicious craving for those pillsbury halloween sugar cookies with the little ghosts on ’em. My favorite paleo-friendly recipe I’ve made so far is very “fall” apprope: Pumpkin+Beef stew (via meatified).  It’s super hearty and flavorful and it makes a lot (which is great because this meal prep thing is a strenuous activity for us modern microwave-burrito-eating women).

Super excited to see how I start to feel with the introduction of a healthier food pyramid into my life. I’ll keep ya’ll updated on how it’s going with the recipes and use you as a support group for when I start to miss bread so much that I’m writing it sonnets.

Hopefully the combination of the lack of pizza and additional, vigorous lunging means that my transformation into the queen will happen sooner rather than later. This once basic booty is about to get bey-utiful.

 

Speak to you soon!

 

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Findlay Market | Cincinnati OH City Guide

Top 10 Reasons you should visit the Findlay Market in Cincinnati:

10. Buckeyes. If you’ve been to Ohio before, then it’s probably been recommended to you to try these sweet, ohio-specific, treats. Buckeyes start out with a creamy, peanut butter center that is dipped into chocolate which then hardens into the perfect shell. (It’s better than Reese’s, guys.)  Not only are there buckeyes available, but other sugary surprises like macaroons, homemade fruit tarts, and SO many cookies.
9. Fresh Flowers. One of my favorite parts of any farmer’s market are the buckets of fresh flowers set out for people to admire and purchase. The bright colors are so hard to resist and the temptation to buy some for the table is always too much to fight. The cool thing about the Findlay market was the selection of air plants and unique, decorative plants. I was really taken with this little fellow who had purple chiles growing off of it’s vines and I hope to find another one like it some day.
8. Butchers. You’ll never have more desire to throw a backyard end-of-summer BBQ than you will when you see what these guys have got for you. So many brats and steaks that looked like prime cuts.
7. Produce. There was such a wide variety of fruits and vegetables available at Findlay! I was truly impressed by how many different things each of the venders was offering.
6. Local artisans. On Saturdays at the market the fun spills out the doors of the main building and into an outdoor area that houses artists from all over the city! You’ll be able to find cool mementos, decor and vintage items that you otherwise might be rare to run across.
5. Belgian Waffles. I was specifically told to find “the waffle place” in the market, so you better believe that (after finishing a slice of to-die-for bacon+spinach quiche) that I did. The menu was written on a chalkboard hanging on the wall above the waffle irons: nutella waffles, waffles with fresh fruit on top, crepes…all of it sounded like the best decision. I settled on one with fresh fruit and a dollop of whipped cream. The verdict: delicious. The texture was a marriage of crispy, sugary cinnamon roll and hot, crunchy waffle.
4. You’ll feel like you’ve somehow escaped to Europe. Surrounding Findlay Market are streets lined with houses that are painted in the brightest of hues. Flowers cascade out of window boxes making the buildings, that were once run down, come to life.
3. Cheese. One of the first food counters I saw inside the market was selling fresh cheese. This wasn’t your ordinary cheese display case, though; it was filled with cheeses from all OVER. Through the glass I saw manchegos, bries, mozzerellas, goudas, parmeseans…all sourced locally or from around the world. The selection offered was diverse, the man behind the counter was well-versed and the overall prices were super affordable, just in queso you were wondering.
2. The History. Findlay Market was built in 1852 and has been a running market since 1855. Throughout the market bits of history are inlaid within the mosiaics, the table tops and the walls themselves.
1. People watching. Get yourself out there on a Saturday, grab a coffee and watch the floodgates of Cincy burst wide open with people from all over: parents and kids, out-of-towners, farmers,  old, young, artsy, business, everyone from everywhere. Local musicians performing their sultry saxophone solos on corners and the hum of friendly conversation make up the perfect background noise for such a diverse and bustling place. Sit there all day if you want, not a second of it would be wasted.

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One more Cincy recommendation and a full city guide coming to you later this week!

Speak to you soon!

 

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Countdown (On moving to Seattle) | Monday Playlist

I can’t believe it’s already been a year since I moved into my house in Nashville.  I can’t believe it’s already been five years since I moved away from my home state of Arkansas to start a completely new chapter of life that has shaped me more than I can explain. College, friends, people who introduced me to hot chicken.. it’s been a doozy. Although this won’t be my sappy “I’m going to miss you Nashville,” post  you can rest assured that one will be coming at some point in the next few weeks. Why? I’ll tell you.

For those of you who don’t know, in a few weeks I’ll be uprooting from this amazing town I’ve been calling home and relocating to the pacific northwest. Seattle! There are a lot of things on the horizon for me and it’s just a move I know I need and want to make. It’s certainly not that I’m hot happy in Nashville, I love it here; Everything just fell into place so quickly and seamlessly and there has never been better time for relocating. I’m so excited for a new wind of creativity and inspiration; a regular diet of coffee and poutine (thanks canada); and new people and experiences that await me.

Before I get there, though, I’ve got a trip to the beach in two weeks and a trip to europe in a month. This playlist is called countdown for more reasons that I can even explain. So here it is! Monday playlist: Countdown.
 

 
Speak to you soon!

 

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Krohn Conservatory | Cincinnati, Ohio City Guide

Cincinnati may boast beautiful architecture and an up and coming restaurant scene, but it also boasts some of the most beautiful parks I’ve been to. After spending the morning snaking through the city’s allies, Rachael and I were longing for something a little more alive than a concrete jungle, so we opted for a real one instead.

  
Krohn conservatory is a greenhouse, about five minutes from downtown, that houses over 3,500 plant species from around the world. The building, another example of the recognizable art deco style that so boldly ornaments many other buildings in the area, is fully glass and surrounded by an army of flowers dressed in every color of the rainbow. The conservatory is a site in itself, but it sits right in the middle of several other parks worth spending time in, as well.

 

I think my favorite part  was either the room full of succulents or the room with tropical vegetation. If you know me at all, then you know how I feel about desert plants–I have five and they are my nearest and dearest friends plants; so you can imagine the amount of time I spent oggling the many species of cacti and aloe. The tropical room housed so many bright colored, interestingly shaped flowers that I was simply entranced by it all. I know this post has a lot of photos, but really…this wasn’t even the half of it.

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Highly reccomend checking out the Krohn conservatory if you’re in Cincy! Beautiful way to spend a day (especially a rainy or hot one). More tips on visiting the city/photos come in the next week!

 

Speak to you soon!

 

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For a Good Day | Monday Playlist

Monday again and I know we’re all ready for a new week + new tunes. Here’s your Monday Playlist!

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Had an incredible weekend in Cincinnati! Looking forward to sharing all of that with you all this week!

 

Speak to you all soon!

 

 

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