Southwest Y'all

No, I didn't go to the southwest, as much as a nice vacation to some warm weather would be nice. I can picture myself at a spa in the desert. Now that I'm daydreaming of a trip well stuck in this gloomy weather we have today, I should get to the point. 

Every since I got my (stupid) braces put on it has been extra difficult to find dinner meals. It's hard enough to find healthy meals that I can cook and in a sensible time, let alone find foods that I enjoy (I'm a picky eater...I didn't eat my first salad until I was 20 years old) and don't have foods that will stain my braces. Tal and I have completely different taste pallets, but he suffers through my bland tastes and the lack of red sauces we have going on now. 

Let me just say one thing, TGFP "Thank Goodness For Pinterest". Pinterest has been a lifesaver with food, teaching, clothes, DIY projects...basically my whole life. I have more pins on my Pinterest than I know what to do with. Maybe this summer I'll do some purging in organizing....maybe. Anyway, I found this great recipe for a Southwestern Black Bean Salad. Now, like I said I didn't eat salad until I was 20! I know, but I tried (once in high school), it was just a texture thing and lettuce just didn't mesh well with my mouth haha. Although, this salad doesn't have any lettuce, I still never would have tried it a couple years ago. 

Photo from skinnytaste.com 

Let me tell you all, this salad was awesome and super easy to put together. All you need is some black beans, corn, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, olive oil, and avocado. Tal and I decided to add some brown rice to it and it was almost like a healthier version of Chipotle without the meat. You all need to click here and make this tonight. It is a great summer salad that is cold, refreshing, and filling. Yum! Yum! Yum! This will definitely be a good addition to the summer menu in my house. 

Natitude

This weekend Tal and I took Zeus up to Northern Virginia to visit my mom, and his mom who conveniently lives about 2 miles away. My mom and her boyfriend bought season tickets for the Nationals this year and since he was out of town Tal and I got to go.

It was a nice little break to get away, see my mom, give Zeus a big backyard to run around in, and go to the Nationals game. It was absolutely perfect weather! Low 70's, perfect for shorts and a t-shirt without being too hot. I had to borrow my mom's Bryce Harper shirt since I don't own one yet. At least it was for a cute player, right....but hands off ladies, he is already taken. No, not by me, Mr. Harper himself is already signed up for the position of my future brother-in-law (at least according to my sister haha).

I wish I had more pictures from the game to share, but T hates, and I mean hates, taking pictures. So I am lucky if I get anything. I was able to snap one of the two of us, but I am still learning how to smile with these braces without showing my teeth....ughhhhh.

I didn't get my long run (not much of a long run yet, only up to 2.5 miles, but still something) in on Saturday because we didn't get up to Northern Virginia until almost midnight. After that, I was not about to get up before the game and go for a run. After the whole weekend, I felt just as tired as Zeus did when we got home on Sunday and didn't run then either.

After a long weekend of not working out and eating out WAY too much it took a lot of effort, but I am back on track and worked out this morning. I tried to do running and some "strength" training in the morning, but unless I get up at 4:00, there just isn't enough time. I think my new plan is running in the morning and doing my other workout after work is going to be the best plan. I ran this morning and did my workout this afternoon so it is a step in the right direction. I'm ready to get back on track this week :)

I'm Back!

I'm back blogging world! I started this a while ago and did really well for about, oh, 2 weeks (if that). Well, after some time away, I have decided to get my butt back in gear! Along with my lengthy list of other health problems, I have TMJ...what does that mean you ask. That means my jaw sucks and I got the joyous opportunity to wear a mouth guard type thing for over 6 months and now I get to wear braces for almost a year! Braces....seriously....I'm 23 and now I look like I am 15. Yippee...I hope you can hear my sarcasm. 

Well, if I have to suffer through a year of having braces I might as well get my butt into action and start to loose weight. My logic to all of this, aside from wanting and needing to live a healthier lifestyle, is that if I have to suck it up and be unhappy with my smile for a year I might as well use this year to make myself better all around so that when I do get my braces off I will be skinny and happy with the brand new Kelsey! Plus the disney princess half marathon I plan on doing with my college roommate, D, is only 10 months away! 

So I am back and ready to make myself better. I have done so well for the past two weeks working out and running. I tried to work out after work, but I usually ended up coming home, walking the dog, cleaning up whatever mess he made, and then making dinner. By then I am done and ready for bed. T calls me an old lady because I would go to bed at 8:00 every night if I could. So, I reluctantly decided it would be better to get up and work out before work. Well, let me tell you, it sucks, but I manage to push through (most mornings). The 4:45 alarm blows, but I know that it is making me a better and happier person. 

I don't want to ramble on for too long with my first blog back, but I am excited to get back into things and make progress. I hope to use this blog to share what I am doing with my workouts, any new recipes I find (and attempt), my hopes to DIY my apartment this summer, and managing my RA. Maybe someday I will get the courage to share with the world, but for now I am happy to use it just for me.