ciao, baby!

I am soooo excited for March 2015!

I will be going on a trip to Italy (Florence, Milan & Rome!) with the Nutrition program at my school for a food tasting trip;)

It will be my first time leaving the good old US of A and I can't wait!

Think that I will meet an Italian popstar like in the Lizzie Mcguire movie?!

dear anatomy professor...

Dear Anatomy professor-
Remember yesterday when made an announcement to the class that "Kristen seriously needs to improve her test taking skills!"?! It was kind of rude. I am embarrassed to say that I cried on the way home. It isn't a pretty quality, lady.While I was polite and just muttered "thanks" to you, here's something that you should know.
This is undoubtedly the hardest summer of my life. My two sisters just moved across the country and my parents are in the process of doing the same.They are selling the house that I grew up in. The kitchen where I learned how to cook. The bedroom that I cried myself to sleep when my heart was broken. The driveway that I learned how to drive in.
All of these changes have caused my health to go haywire. I'm dealing with it. Your comment yesterday was a trigger for me. Another reminder that I am not the best at everything (or anything!) and it hurt me. Before you criticize someone in public, know their story. You have no idea what is going on in someone's life.
I have not missed a single class, assignment or even left a second early. I have not given up when it would be the easy thing to do considering your teaching is less than stellar. And I am not planning on it.
So here's a hint-if you have a comment for a student, say it in private. Don't embarrass them to make yourself seem funny.
:)

baby, i'm back

Ahhhh!!!! How has it been 2 months since I have been here?!

Things have been a little crazy in  my life lately-family is moving across the country and I am taking a killer summer course that is kicking my butt. 

I really want to get back into the habit of blogging, because it is fun!

It will also hold me accountable to do some cooking instead of letting my mom have all the fun ;)

caramel chocolate turtle cookies

Be back soon!

being real

Almost two months since I have been here?! Craziness. I feel the need to recap and write about why I wasn't posting (not that anyone cares, but for my journey).

Honestly, this semester has been incredibly hard on me.

Between school work, a new part-time job, family moving, etc., I saw my old unhealthy habits come back with a vengeance. 

There were times that I thought about coming here and writing about it-being real, but it is scary. I am a nutrition major because I LOVE FOOD! and admitting that sometimes I let my anxiety get the best of me is hard. 

This week has been good for my soul. The sun is finally out and shining, and I think that winter really is over-finally! I am motivated to be healthy and happy and not to dwell on the times that I mess up. This winter was looooong and cold. 

Yesterday, my friend Kayla and I went on a long run. She is running a half with me at the end of the month and it will be her first one. We started talking about things that we have been struggling with and it was such a blessing to me. I never knew that we shared some of the same issues, and I don't feel so alone about it.

How fitting that it is April 1, not meaning April Fool's Day, but the first day of a new month.

I am committing April to be a month of HEALTH & HAPPINESS! 

Anyone want to join?!

baker's guilt

Every single stinkin' time I go home for the weekend, I feel it.

It's baker's guilt and I've got it bad.

Every time I sit down to relax at my parent's house I hear "get off your lazy butt and bake"

You see, who has time to bake at college when there is organic chemistry to be studied?! If I would have known how much I would HATE o-chem I might have changed my major;) 

I have gotten into a habit of only baking this one healthy cookie recipe at school and then baking more when I visit home.  It works but I miss it.

And so I will return to school tomorrow with my nose in my chemistry book, dreaming of the days of homemade brownies.

Every so often I need this reminder: COLLEGE IS WORTH IT! I WILL FEEL BETTER WHEN I GRADUATE IN A MILLION YEARS! 

loving OURSELVES on Valentine's Day

While reading through some blogs about Valentine's Day, it hit me.

This is the first year in three years that I am not sad on February 14.

I am not reminiscing about the three special days that I spent with him, I am not wishing that I was on a fancy date. I am loving my life today and learning to love myself again.

I was so inspired last night while watching the Biggest Loser finale by David who said something like "No longer is my story a sad one".

I feel that way too.

No longer is my story one of a girl who lost herself after her relationship ended.

My story is one of a girl who found herself.

I am optimistic, not pessimistic, about love again.

We all have stories to share.

What makes us who we are.

We all deserve to CELEBRATE and LOVE ourselves-because these stories are beautiful.

So today on February 14, 2014, I am loving myself as well as everyone in my life.

Are you?

Ryan loves you too!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

more snow days.

Last week we had not 1, not 2, but THREE snow days.

With the forecast of more snow storms tomorrow and Thursday, I am praying for no more cancellations! I just want to get the semester going, you know!?

The snow days were nice though...

I introduced my friends to my favorite wintry snack: snow!

0 calories for the win!

--

In other news, Valentine's day is always my favorite- whether I am sharing it with a boyfriend, my nanny girls or just girlfriends, it is always a fun day.

This year I am going to a GALentine's day brunch and celebrating with a group of ladies!

all via pinterest

How are you celebrating this year?

Reasons I love being a Nutrition major part 1

Writing a blog post at 6:30 AM on a Sunday morning?

I blame my upstairs neighbors who woke me up with their extremely loud fighting at 3:00. Ugh.

Currently I am 4 cups of coffee deep for the day and well into a few episodes of Gilmore Girls.

--

In other news, have I mentioned that I love my major?!

Evidence:

On Friday I made oatmeal for breakfast, put some almond butter and bananas in it and then checked Instagram while I ate. Turns out that Friday was National Peanut Butter Day! Only nutrition majors would celebrate that. Of course I then had to document.

For homework this weekend, one of my assignments was to write a paper about the KitchenAid mixer aka my favorite appliance ever!

And to be educational, I am really enjoying my nutrition through the life cycle class. 

So interesting!

random thoughts

First day of classes and I come down with a cold!

Ugh, at least it is almost the weekend already.

Here's what's going on in my world...

-I can't wait to make this recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod. Yum!

-Makeover week on Biggest Loser. Of course I cried.

-Eating this with Sarabeth's preserves. Don't like the maple as much as the classic flavor, but it's still good!

As you can tell, nothing huge going on.

Just trying to get straight A's while eating healthy.

How about you?

dreaming of summer

All of this cold weather has me dreaming of SUMMER!

Even more so, taking spending some time cleaning up my diet from the 5 week holiday break that I was on. Ugh-Don't wanna talk about it.

I am also trying to be a smarter grocery shopper (ha) and be more creative in the kitchen to utilize what I have without breaking the bank.

Today I had a quinoa bowl for lunch-my fave!

I kept it simple with black beans, spinach, salsa and some greek yogurt.

From Pinterest-here's what I want for dessert today: summer fruits!

Berries that are actually in season!

I can't wait.

spring semester goals

And a new semester has begun!

I am excited for this one: Nutrition Through the Life Cycle, Food Prep, Microbiology and Organic Chem. While doubling up on sciences will be tricky, I am going in with a confident mind-set!

I CAN DO THIS!

Last semester was a stressful one and I am determined to handle school-stress more efficiently this time. Here's how:

1. Go to spin class 3 mornings a week
2. Meal plan and prep every week
3. Go for a run when feeling stressed!
4. Allow some downtime-not always go-go-go
5. SLEEP!
--
I am feeling good about this semester already.
Bring it on!

golden globes pizza

My best friend and I have held a tradition for the past few years of making homemade pizza and watching the award shows together. Sadly, she was cruising the Caribbean tonight, but I still made our pizza without her!

I like to load my pizza with whatever vegetables I have on hand-I even like black beans on it. Also, the original recipe calls for oil but I use applesauce instead. Try it!

Golden Globes Veggie Pizza

dough:

1 package active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

1 teaspoon sugar

2 tablespoons of applesauce 

2 1/2 cups flour

dissolve yeast in the warm water. add the rest of the ingredients and let rise for 5 minutes.

toppings:

diced tomatoes

1 bell pepper

spinach

1 onion

garlic

oregano

basil

crushed red pepper

salt & pepper

mozzarella cheese

spray a 11x7 pan and spread the pizza dough.

Add your toppings and bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes.

enjoy!!

Back to the Globes...I wasn't too impressed with the dresses this year but this was my fave.

No surprise here-I love her style!

Did you have a favorite?

January Blues

My mom and I share a disdain for the month of January.

I'm not sure if it's just the post-holiday blues or the bitter cold, but either way you slice it, January stinks. Along with the rest of America, I will be upping my workouts and focusing on my diet to get things in line after the holidays. Fun stuff, right?

If only this was my view each day....

I still have two more weeks of winter break-YES!-and I am trying to savor them. 

I have been cooking a lot for my family: this weekend was cream of wild rice & chicken soup, biscuits, taco salad another night..watching father of the bride pt. 1 and pt. 2, and just relaxing.

Honestly, as much as I have realized that I am not a 'college person', I am thankful in many ways that God changed my views and that I decided to go. I never would have realized how important it is to actively spend time with family.

That is another thing that I want to focus on this year. Being present with my family and my friends, and anyone that I encounter really. 2014 is the year that I am leaving the past behind, baby!!

hello 2014!

Here we are in 2014-how did that happen?

I spent the last few weeks enjoying time with family and friends over the holidays. 

I rang in the New Year last night in Washington D.C. with 1000 other college students praising the Lord. It was the best NYE that I have had.

Great Gatsby theme:)

I have never been big on resolutions and truthfully, I didn't even think about any this year.

I always have goals for myself:to spend more time in the Word, to run faster, to be nicer...and it seems silly to wait until January 1st to start these things.

2013 was a year of changes for me.

I quit a job that I loved and learned how to say no.

I transferred to a new college full-time and made great friends.
I'm sure there were more, but that's all that is coming to mind right now.

For 2014, honestly I just want to be confident with myself.

I have realized that I lost my confidence three years ago and it is slowly coming back.

I want to look in the mirror and think "I feel pretty!" instead of seeing what is wrong.

I want to talk to people without worrying if they noticed that I forgot to pluck my eyebrows.

I just want to be confident, happy and free.

I know that my confidence comes from the Lord.

I love this verse:

This is my prayer for 2014: I want to be a Proverbs 31 woman.