The Whole 30 effect

September 19, 2014April 11, 2017 ~ Sarah ~ Leave a comment

So the husband and I have been on the Whole 30. Except our Whole 30 was more like the Whole 5 out of 15…Whole third? Anyways.

For those that don’t know, the Whole 30 is a cleanse diet/lifestyle of sorts that’s all about getting back to the basics of what we put inside our bodies – essentially paleo clean-eating. Friends (both autoimmune and not) have raved about how great it makes them feel; how it purges cravings, heals your gut and generally makes you an all-around better, tap-dancing, dream-achieving person.

She looks like the kind of person who does the Whole 30 successfully, no? Photo: Pinterest

While you can’t exactly (definitely) call it a successful go, I did learn a few things. For example, I thought I’d have an easier time of it than the husband, seeing as I’ve already had to cut so many of the offending foods out of my diet. What I hadn’t counted on though was how much I relied on all the replacements for my restricted ones, which were just as hard to go without. The endeavor started so promisingly, but it quickly culminated in a sticky, half dozen donut binge surrounded by a haze of chocolate icing and hangry marital tension.

The whole thing got me to examine my cravings. I’ve often felt like I’m ruled by food, but maybe it’s actually my perspective. Reading about bloggers who “haven’t had a single craving in years!!!” fills me with a hope that I too might one day be freed from food if I just tried, planned, micro-managed harder. One day when I was miserable because all I wanted was the Mediterranean Quinoa at the Whole Foods hot bar and I was hungry damnit, I thought – maybe there’s a better way. Maybe it’s not about fighting every single gram of good-tasting thing because it will make me a healthier and therefore better and therefore happier person, but it’s just not punishing myself with a completely unrealistic standard that works for someone else. And that thought filled me with a new kind of hope. All that said, food nirvana is much easier said than done, though.

Have you tried the Whole 30? I would love to hear what you think!

Aquathon

September 6, 2014April 11, 2017 ~ Lydia ~ Leave a comment

A couple of years ago I did a half marathon and it was like..ya know..meh. I dreaded the training for it (“No sorry, I can’t do ANYTHING tonight.. I have to run 10 miles tomorrow..”) and then when the actual day arrived it took forever to finish and after I did, I spent the day laying on the couch unable to, well, move (shoutout to the parents for the care taking and brunch!). It was definitely one of those checklist items. I did it, so now I can move on.

But I liked the atmosphere. I liked pushing myself and racing against other people and trying to do my absolute best. When I started dating my boyfriend a year ish ago, he was just starting to get into sprint triathlons. This seemed mildly appealing due to the change of pace (not just running) and how quickly it was over. But, the bike investments and other gear kept me away. (how people train for biking while living in a city is beyond me, I’m far too afraid of cars).

This year he got into aquathons (swimming + running) due to our shared dislike of cycling (i.e. we weren’t very good, we like to be good at things). After months of talking me into it, I finally signed up and ran my first race. It was a 500m swim followed by a 5K. I signed up a week before, and swam and ran a few times before the big day (super prepared, clearly).

I ran with Five55 Series in Grapevine, TX. They have a really neat group of friendly faces that compete in these monthly races. A lot of people know each other from doing them and I look forward to joining the clan. It’s sponsored partly by FirstWave, a gym located in Southlake, TX dedicated to triathletes.

The race went surprisingly really well. They are still working on final stats (technical errors), but I believe I got 7th overall in the swim (men + women) and 2nd in women for just the swim portion. Hopefully the run times and final stats will be up sometime! I’m pretty addicted already. It was a rush to sprint at the end and try to catch the guy in front of me and so satisfying to take a cold sip of beer after all the hard work.

I can’t make the September race.. but you betchya I’ll be back for October. The added bonus of it NOT being 105 degrees outside is too sweet to pass up. Please enjoy my pre-race awkward thumbs up below. How else are you supposed to pose in the most unflattering of attire (one piece swimsuit)?

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Ring in the new season

September 4, 2014April 11, 2017 ~ Sarah ~ Leave a comment

nordstrom august fall 2014 catalog — photo: Nordstrom

September in Texas is hardly sweater weather, but I can’t help noticing the increasingly not-so-subtle shift on Pinterest from sundresses and bright-colored patterns to a rich fall palette of cozy sweaters and boots.

One look that is getting big for fall and has been growing on me in a big way is rings. I’ve never been one much for rings even before my nickel allergy diagnosis, but my wedding & engagement rings were a catalyst to reconsider. Like the effect of fresh nail polish, they make everything my hands do that much more fun, pretty and I’m pretty sure, poised (one can only hope). And bonus, they last much longer.

I’d like to reserve my left hand for wedding rings only, but my right hand deserves some fun, too….right? So an hour at Forever21 and a few bruised knuckles later, I am the proud owner of a few cuff and upper finger rings. If you have any questions about ring styles and sizes, my experience trying on every single ring Forever21 carries can probably help you out.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? My super crafty sister had a great idea. She bought two sizes of the same ring and wore them at different parts of the same finger. It was a perfect replica of the stacked ring / finger cuff look!

Some ring stacking inspiration:

And my all-time favorite:

Feeling squared away

August 18, 2014April 11, 2017 ~ Lydia ~ 1 Comment

I had been listening to Kidd Kraddick in the morning since I was in 3rd grade and never fathomed the possibility of other radio stations fulfilling my need for idle morning chatter.

But then (by force, not by choice, ahem boyfriend), I was subjected to The Morning Musers on The Ticket. Although it’s a sports radio station and my knowledge and care for sports is minimal unless I’m the one playing, I’m completely obsessed with these three guys. Even when they are talking about football player’s names that go in one ear and out the other, their radio demeanor makes me love them and keeps me coming back morning after morning. (Don’t worry, I still get my daily dose of celeb gossip from the Kidd Nation app and podcast. Score one for technology!)

One day in particular, Craig did a segment on things you do that make you feel squared away and I couldn’t agree more with basically everything he said (although I can’t remember what he said specifically…and can’t find it online. You’ll have to take my word for it). Ever since, I’ve been thinking about what (as a 20-something girl) makes me feel put together. Like, if I do even one of these I feel I am succeeding in life overall. Here it goes:

Fresh mani/pedi
New or cleaned make up
Clean car (interior AND exterior)
Drinking a green juice
Meal planning
Good hair day
Creating a to do list
Hair cut
Waking up to a clean room and bathroom and kitchen (okay, a clean apartment)
Working out on on a weekend before noon (okay…maybe just getting out of bed before noon, let’s aim low)
Watering my plants (my green thumb is lacking)
Making appointments (and then keeping them)

That’s my list. What’d I miss?!

Oh,and by the way. I, picking at my nail polish as we speak, currently have none of these things going on. But there’s a green juice in my fridge, I like to think that counts for something.

Time to think

August 15, 2014April 11, 2017 ~ Sarah ~ Leave a comment

Treating myself to a celebratory almond milk iced latte and grain-free muffin the other day, I stumbled across a thought-provoking article in Darling Magazine. Bre Scullark writes,

“Masking the motive behind our actions subconsciously gives us permission to live an inauthentic life.”

Leading an inauthentic life is the last thing I want, but I’ve found lately that it’s an easy place to get to. I’ve had a ton to process in the past half year: engagement, a new job and leaving a company that felt like home, ongoing health flare-ups, my grandmother’s passing, marriage, moving into a place with a guy (my husband, but still), my first and hopefully only lay off, another new job… That’s some hard work, ya’ll. That I haven’t been doing.

The article goes on to say that “when we numb our emotions we deny ourselves the opportunity to find acceptance and peace uninterrupted.” Compulsive behavior like eating, shopping and entertainment are all ways we continue this pattern of avoidance. Interestingly or perhaps fittingly enough, these are also all ways to consume rather than create. Producing creative work requires things like processing and feeling.

Since I got married a little over 2 months ago I’ve become fast friends with the consumption and distraction part of this equation. I’ve read 6 books and started 3 others, watched all 5 seasons of Brothers & Sisters, caught up on the full seasons of 4 other shows, spent two weekends out of town, added several blogs to my regular reading roster, pinned countless pins and obsessed about apartment decor with the receipts and return slips (and then receipts again) to prove it.

But when all these fun things aren’t balanced with any time to reflect or engage in creative outlets of my own, they become stifling. I have been learning firsthand that laziness and self-indulgence are not the same as rest.

This quote from Louis C.K. also hit me hard, talking about people’s need to constantly preoccupy themselves:

“And that’s why we text and drive. People are willing to risk taking a life and ruining their own because they don’t want to be alone for a second because it’s so hard.”

It is hard. I’m slowly trying to take stock of my reactionary habits, to be more mindful about how I’m spending my time and why. After all,

Curing the “should” and “wants to want”

July 21, 2014April 11, 2017 ~ Lydia ~ Leave a comment

I went to a nice public school in a nice suburb and then went to a Big 12 school and got a job after college. I’m grateful for every bit of it, every opportunity presented to me and every part of it that lead to where I am now.

But…as of late I find myself getting confused by what I actually one versus what it feels like I should want as a result of my familiar, cookie cutter surroundings. I’ve noticed that I’ve made decisions in the past that were not something that I wanted. But instead what I wanted to want (my best example of this is when I’m taking those silly little Buzzfeed quizzes. I often find myself not always choosing the things that actually best describe Me, but instead what I wish I was perceived as).

I want to want to drop everything, move to Europe and be an artist’s muse. I want to want to go to a third world country and volunteer. I want to want to sit inside and write poetry all day. I want to want to tend a garden. I want to want to love cooking. I want to want to run another half marathon. I should be a clean freak. I should have it all together and be perfectly polished each day. (because don’t we all want it to look exactly like it does through the lens of a fashion/lifestyle blogger instagram account?) I should want to live in New York City. I should eat clean and work out 24/7.

But, well..I don’t. I love working and being in a routine and being close to friends and family that I’m familiar with. Although I have been thinking I feel a need to start giving back more, I don’t have the urge to drop everything and volunteer away from the people and life I love. I don’t really like writing poetry or sitting all day. I like to clean, but I’m simply messy. When I get dressed I am my own little tornado and I leave coffee mugs all over my room. I can think of a million things I’d rather do than sit in a garden pulling weeds. I get no satisfaction from cooking. Crossing the finish line of my first (and last) half marathon was great, but I literally hated the training for it and my knees have yet to forgive me. I love nature, I love driving, I love feeling safe, I love a slower life, I love having a dog…none of those things fit into the NYC fast paced lifestyle.

I’m not sure where these should’s and wants to want come from, although it’s easy to blame my addiction to Instagram and other forms of media. Perhaps it’s even a confidence issue. Either way, as of late I’ve been checking in with myself. Making sure that the decisions I make aren’t influenced by outside expectations and perceptions. Ensuring that I’m not doing something just because I want others to see me doing it, but instead checking in that whatever I am doing is bringing me true happiness.

As a result, I don’t cook. I make meals for the week as simple and healthy as humanly possible. I have a few small potted plants – the act of watering them soothes me in a way and I like watching them blossom (except for the two flowers I killed, but I digress). I work out a lot. Not because I want to get fit (okay, that’s a lie. I want abs.), but also because I love to sweat and push myself – it feels good. I also try to eat healthy because I like it. I don’t like writing poetry, but I like to read it and books and I had forgotten how much I truly enjoyed blogging. I quit reading one book because I kept falling asleep every few pages (but Colbert had told me to read it so I was forcing myself to get through it) and instead opted for a memoir by Mary Karr who I am now head over heels for her magnificent ability to wield words.

Sometimes it’s a trial by error process in which I need to try a few things on until I can see what fits best. And I think that’s okay.

Simply put, I want to make sure that the activities, people, things and decisions that I spend my time or resources on are the things that are bringing me the most happiness and not just encouraging an image I want to uphold, are a result of comparing myself to others and are not attempts at making myself a person that I’m simply not nor actually wish to be.

Bloggin erryday erryday

July 10, 2014November 7, 2015 ~ Lydia ~ Leave a comment

Hola! As Sarah noted in her previous post, we basically suck. Working on our blog kept getting pushed further and further down the priority list until well, last night. So, true to our nature we are making a pledge to keep on keeping on. Plus, I’m digging this blog everyday in July thing from The Other Juliette (I’m also loving her blog, she has wit I can only dream of). So I’m just going to dive into it.

Today’s topic, Favorite Things to do in the Summer.

My top favorite thing to do in the Summer is complain about it being summer. There’s just so much to complain about that I love taking some time for myself each year to whine.

I’m only a few years out of college and still pretty bitter that Summer is the same to me as all the other seasons from 9-5 M-F. Summer used to mean free time and livin’ the easy life. But these days, I find that summer happens to be just as busy as Fall, except I don’t get to cozy up in boots and sweaters.

It’s also freakishly hot (although “they” say we are having a “mild summer”), my boot camp instructor is out of town on something called a vacation (and I have a bikini to get into dammit), I can’t drink enough coconut water to keep up with how much I’m sweating (I dread hair dryers this time of year), jean shorts look terrible on me, iced coffee is gross, all my favorite TV shows are on hiatus, my electricity bill skyrockets and someone left me a nasty hateful letter on my windshield for leaving my dog in the car.. at night..with the windows down.. while I ran into a store for 5 minutes..when it was just 80 degrees outside.

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But, then again there is also day drinking on a boat, sandals, sales, cookouts, patios, friends visiting from out of town, longer days, baseball games, excuses to stay inside and watch Netflix marathons, abundance of fresh fruit, and margaritas to make everything a little easier. Plus, the Osheaga festival is RIGHT around the corner (!!!).

In the end, probably my absolute favorite thing to do in the summer is waking up early on a weekday and going for a long walk with Westley before the heat kicks in.

This week I stumbled upon the Facebook page, Humans of New York. It’s one of those things that you get really excited to tell all of your friends, only to learn that most people have already heard of it but never told you. Anticlimactic. But I digress.

Humans of New York (for those like me who it’s all new to) started as a book. A photographer went around NYC, taking photos of the random people he sees and talks to them. Here’s how Brandon, the man behind hit all, describes the journey:

My name is Brandon and I began Humans of New York in the summer of 2010. I thought it would be really cool to create an exhaustive catalogue of New York City’s inhabitants, so I set out to photograph 10,000 New Yorkers and plot their photos on a map. I worked for several months with this goal in mind, but somewhere along the way, HONY began to take on a much different character. I started collecting quotes and short stories from the people I met, and began including these snippets alongside the photographs. Taken together, these portraits and captions became the subject of a vibrant blog. With nearly four million followers on social media, HONY now provides a worldwide audience with daily glimpses into the lives of strangers in New York City. It has also become a #1 NYT bestselling book.. It’s been quite a ride so far. Feel free to follow along.

One of the HONY posts really struck me. She said,

I worked at the same cafe for 28 years, but it just went out of business, so I had to find new work. Before it was like I had a family. I saw the same people every day. But now I just have a job. One day you lose something, and you say: ‘Oh my God. I was happy. And I didn’t even know it.’

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Happiness is such a weird thing, and I feel like it quite the hot topic these days. When you’re young it’s easy. You are happy when you do good on a test and when your crush asks you on a date. You are sad when you stub your toe or your parents are “ruining your life.” But then life gets a little harder. There are bills, wars, accidents, heart breaks and plenty of toe stubbings. In fact if you’re not careful, you can be living a completely happy life and be absolutely miserable in it.

The other day I was driving listening to a great song on my way to Dallas. And I just had this moment where kind of realized how happy I am, just like the woman above. There’s the messy stuff, but generally speaking I am happy. The thought that I could have that happiness taken away, kind of scares me. The woman above didn’t even realize how happy she was until she wasn’t happy anymore. How terrifying is that? Sometimes we don’t the things in our life until we don’t have them. It’s a terrible habit.

But there is a way to always be happy. To always find the good, even when things suck.

In yoga we talk a lot about being a tree. A tree lets the wind push and shove, and it just gracefully dances, taking the gusts in stride. We also talk about finding the happiness. Always looking for the good, even if it’s just noticing the first flower blooming on an average, run of the mill day.

I’ve also been reading a lot lately about keeping a grateful journal. It’s where you write something you are grateful for every day. It keeps you centered, focused and happy.

To the woman above who says she was happy and she isn’t. I say don’t accept that. And to anyone who finds that things are kind of rough, I say look on the bright side. I don’t mean that metaphorically. I mean purposeful optimism. Taking the time each and everyday to be thankful. Finding something each day that you focus your happy energy on.

So I’m practicing. I’m practicing gratefulness. Because you never know when the things in your life will change. You just don’t. Things aren’t always going to be great. I think it’s important to feel true happiness, at peace with the universe, no matter your life circumstances.

It’s easy to be happy when everything is going your way. When you get a promotion, when you’re in love, when you get your tax return. But what happens when things get a little harder. I think we should always be striving to keep a smile on our face.