I want to let you all know that in one month from today I am getting married to FH!!!! I still feel like I have a lot to do, so I'm not sure how it's all going to play out....

But! Onto my afternoon snack: the green monster. This bad boy included 1 frozen banana, 1 cup almond milk, 2 cups spinach, and lots of ice.

yes, I know my glass is inappropriate. get over it

After my delicious smoothie, I got a call from BIL asking me to come help him in a secret mission: Operation Paint That House!!! My sister and him are moving out tomorrow into a rented house right down the street from FH and me (yay for family neighbors!). The bedrooms were painted an awful green color, so they needed to be painted. Mommasita, BIL, and I are leaving on Friday to drive down to Savannah to pick up his kids and the rest of their things in storage, so it needed to be done before then.

Lucky for us, Padre (aka Dad) had been there all afternoon spackling and taping, so when we got there we went straight to painting!

their living room/dining room

beautiful bay window in the living room

retro clock in their retro kitchen

After I left their house, I went over to mine. My aunt and uncle wanted to see updates on our home - they haven't been there since before the floor was put down! They were very impressed and can't believe we are almost done! Then I talked with FH for a while, and headed home.

By the time I got home, I was ravenous! I even had to call Mommasita to ask her to preheat the oven for me because sweet potato fries were on the menu tonight!

crispy tofu - method courtesy of Emily

this was gone in about 3 minutes flat - and my appetite was not satisfied.

far past my dinner time


I was actually really proud of myself for not totally freaking out tonight. I am a person who loves structure, schedules, and routine. I always eat dinner in between 6 and 6:30 - somehow I think the world will end if it does not work out that way. Today, however, I was totally calm and anxiety free. A little hunger shaken, yes, but I was totally fine with how my day played out.

I was still hungry after dinner though, so I decided to go ahead and have a snack - a repeat from the other night: protein muffin with cocounut milk ice cream on top. Absolutely lovely.

I want to eat you every day!

Something sparked in me today that I wanted to discuss: smoking. I hate smoking. I hate the smell, the taste, the headache it gives me from being around it, the way it makes people look 10 years older than their actual age.. you name it, I hate it.

Smoking is something I cannot and will not ever understand. Many people very close to me are smokers, and my brain does not comprehend why people smoke. In the past, people didn't know how bad smoking was (which I sometimes laugh at... inhaling smoke into your body? not bad? come on people!), but now we know it causes horrible diseases: cancer, emphesyma, heart disease, COPD just to name a few. I understand bad habits; it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. However, if you know how "bad" it is for you, and you "want to quit" - then why just not do it?

Part of me thinks people saying it is too hard to quit is an act of laziness and lack of self control. Another part of me knows that addiction (to anything) is real and can totally control your life. I have also heard many say that smoking is a social event - something you do "just with the guys" or "if it's offered" to you. I'm being very blunt, but since when is trying to impress someone with smoking still cool after you are sixteen? I just don't get it...

I was given one body and one life, and I do not want to waste it (or my money) on a habit that could cost me my life. Although its effects are not immediate, I am a planner. I want to live a long healthy life. I do not want to be hooked up to oxygen or waste away due to lung cancer. I am a believer in knowing what goes into my body. I am a believer in everything you put in to your body (good or bad) will cause some effect (good or bad). Perhaps it's the "purist" in me - smoking to me seems "dirty" and "unclean".

(source)

Uncle Sam is asking a very important request - stop smoking!

Sorry I was so heavy so late at night, but it really irked me for some reason today.

Question: Do people close to you smoke? Do you ever say anything or do you just let it go?

Question #2: Do you have a "strict" schedule you follow or do you just go with the flow?

speed training 101

Hello lovies! This week is going by super fast - I can't believe it's already Wednesday!

I mentioned this before, but I am looking to cut some time off my half marathon time for my September race - my previous time was 2:00 flat. I am following Hal Higdon's intermediate training plan because it includes some speed interval training. I have never done interval training for running before, so I wanted to do a little research on it before I did my speed training today. I looked up articles while enjoying this delicious breakfast.

repeat of yesterday - overnight oats topped with raspberries and peanut butter

look who joined me for breakfast! he's kind of blurry though - he kept moving!

Kath always talks about how much she loves her tea spoons - I also have an obsession with a couple of my spoons. This is one of them. Don't tell the parents, but these are going to be accidently going to be dropped into one of my boxes when I move.

Before I get to speed training, I HAVE to tell you a side note about spoons in my family. When we were younger, my dad was absolutely convinced that my siblings and I hid spoons, threw spoons away, lost spoons, etc. I don't know what it is with my family and spoons, but they always disappear (probably because people like me are going to steal them). We went through so many boxes of cheap spoons because they were always MIA! My mother's theory is that we would eat ice cream out of the container and then accidently throw them away with the carton. My theory is that my parents are crazy, and I never hid, threw oat (I realized after I wrote this I wrote "oat" not "out" - I'm leaving it. It just shows how much oats mean to me), or lost any spoons. It is now an ongoing joke in my family to "check the underwear drawer for the spoons - it's where they've been hiding all along!"

Anyways, onto speed intervals.....

I read a great article on Runner's World all about how to effectively speed train.

1. Pace yourself - run slightly faster than your normal pace, so on the race day, this feels like a normal speed
   
2. Pick the right distance - depending on the length of your race, your intervals should match accordingly. My schedule started me at 5x400's, but increases each week until race day.
   
3. Keep it short - your speed training should only account for 10-15% of your mileage per week
   
4. Gradually reduce your recoveries- When starting out, allow yourself to "recover" for HALF the time it took you to run your intervals. However, make sure to decrease that time over the course of your speed interval training so it is easier to keep this pace come race day.
   
5. Taper - If you are planning on doing interval training a few days before your race, be sure to decrease the intensity of your workout.
   
6. Mix it up - do different distances each week so you're not bored!
   
7. Give yourself a break - schedule interval training 3-4 days AFTER your long run so your muscles have a chance to recover

The article also said you should NOT be sore the day after speed training. If you are sore, you have overdone yourself and need to slow down a little bit the next time you train.

After reading those great tips, I went to my old junior high's track - I had to do 5x400 today. It may seem like not too much, but it was HARD! My legs were like jello when I was done! Even though with breaks and stretching it only took 25 minutes, I was beat!

1st 400 - 1:46.20

2nd 400 - 1:44.33

3rd 400 - 1:42.01

4th 400 - 1:44.52

5th 400 - 1:44.86

After my running adventure, I had to go to several Targets to try and find another pair of shoes for one of my flower girls. While I was there, I did a little Operation Beautiful work!

When I came home, I knew I needed a snack before lunch! I was starving, but wanted to do some yoga to stretch out before I ate lunch.

enter in: almonds and grapes!

I love Exercise TV! They have great free full length workouts online. I only did about a 15 minute yoga video, but it felt really good to just stretch out. I am really sore from yesterday's strength training, and I have another session tomorrow!

Lunch was kind of random, but exactly what I wanted.

huge spinach salad with tons of veggies + avocado!

on the side was leftover eggplant parm and a huge apple

I am just beat today - I didn't get to bed until almost midnight and woke up at 6. I really want to take a nap, but I haven't been napping lately, so I don't know if I'll be able to. I'm definitely a power napper though - 20 minutes is all I need! I also need to clean out and wash my car today. It is disgusting!!

Question(s): Have you ever done speed intervals? Has it worked come race day? Does your family have any funny stories like my spoon anecdote? Are you a "power napper" or can you sleep for hours?

happy birfday little brother!

Alas, I made it through my crazy, busy day! Who says teachers dont work during the summer? I have not had a second of peace all day! Moving on...

After all my errands, I got ready to go out to dinner for my brother's birthday. I ate a snack because we were going to a Chinese buffet - no dinner for me. When my brother told me that was where we were going, I really was totally fine with it. It's his birthday, it's his day... his dinner choice should not have to revolve around my food intolerances and eating habits. However, he is a boy, and honestly did not even think about it until we got there and I said, "I'm not eating" to the host at the front. Needless to say, he felt really bad. This particular kind of situation has been a constant struggle for me since I found out about my intolerances. I feel bad if I say something or I feel bad because the other people feel bad that I can't eat. What is a girl to do? Has anyone else been in this particular situation? How do you deal - do you tell the people ahead of time you won't be able to eat or do you just roll with it?

snack: fruit salad topped with walnuts

I love my little brother - no, honestly, I do. Of course, there was a time where I antagonized him, rolled my eyes at him, or was just plain mean. Matthew and I are almost three years apart. There are some fond memories I have of him as a child. One of them includes my sister and I dressing him up in a "Belle" (Beauty and the Beast) costume, complete with gold headband, and calling him Matilda. Another memory I have of him is him chasing me with a butcher knife - he likes to tell me that never happened but my sister and I beg to differ. I do think, though, since my sister and I dressed him up as a girl, he was entitled to chase use with whatever he liked.

My brother and I were not super close when growing up - he was known as "the boy". Since he was the youngest, the only boy, and kind of in a different world from my sister and I, he inevitably got left out. My brother is a particularly deep person - very artsy. He has a passion for music and song writing which blows us all away. Although I feel as if I live in a dorm room some days due to the fact that I have to pound on the wall to get him to stop playing his guitar, his music is unbelievable.

Little brother is also very chivalrous. I found this out for the first time when I was about 13. 13 year old Chelsey was very awkward - verrrry awkward. I really don't think my body did what it was supposed to until I was about 20 years old. Needless to say, I was very self conscious about the way I looked. One of little brother's friends were spending the night and we proceeded to have the following conversation:

Friend: Hey, Chelsey! I know why you don't have a boyfriend.
Me: Why?
Friend: You're really ugly.

Insert little brother here - knocking the crap out of said friend. Matthew has always acted like an older, protective brother to me for as long as I can remember, which I have always loved. People always say if you want to know how a man treats women, look at how he treats his mother (and sisters). This man is kind, loving, and compassionate. I am so blessed to have such a great sibling!

Earth Mother and Hippie Child

You may think that caption is weird - but this is honestly what we are called (hence the peace signs). My parents think it is so funny how I am so "pure" in the sense of what I eat and what I expose my body to. Matthew's taste in clothes and music depict a "hippie" character. Apparently we were meant to live in the 60's (which I really wasn't). Oh, and this picture was taken about 10 times - my mom needs serious help with her picture taking abilities.

I had fun sitting and chatting with my family - and watching the BIL eat. We have an ongoing joke in my family about how much he eats. It's fun to just mess with him.

BIL with his first two plates of food

plate #3

Insert cupcakes after dinner - there were 20, but my cupcake holder would only hold 18. Oh well...

Can you read what it's supposed to say?

this little guy was in poor condition

birthday boy!

probably a little embarassed we were singing to him - it was so much work just to light the dang candles. We were definitely singing.

When I got home, I was ready to chew off my arm, so dinner was not pictured. It was just a salad and some taters - I had to eat quick in order to get to my house to help FH with taping down paper to our new floors. Our trim is going in tomorrow, so we had to make sure it was down so no one would track anything in on it. Before I left, I snacked on another cookie dough ball, some raisins, and cashews!

I have overnight oats waiting for me in the fridge - I have a feeling tomorrows will be a replica of what I ate today! They were just too good to not eat again. I have to get up early anyways to let the guys in to do the trim at 7:00 am! It takes me a good 20 minutes to get to my new house, so I'll be an early riser again!

Sleep tight! xoxo Chelsey

environmentalist in action

I groggily awoke this morning at 6:45 - it does not matter what time I go to sleep at night, my body just wants to get up that early! I had a lovely bowl of oats waiting for me in the fridge - nothing beats overnight oats somedays. I love rolling out of bed and having my breakfast waiting there for me.

a smiley face in your oatmeal is a great way to make sure you start your day out joyously!
not pictured: my massive peanut butter spoon - i tried to make it into the "nose", but that just was not working.

tinkerbell coffee accompanied these oats.

After breakfast, I decided to make a 'to do' list for the day. I have a lot to accomplish and I did not want to forget about anything!

If you look close enough, you will notice my first two items on my list are pretty ridiculous.

"make to do list", "straighten up room" - okay, so these were done (the first one obviously).

Sometimes I like to write things on my to do lists that have already been done. There is nothing better than crossing things off of a list! Does anyone else write things on their list that have already been done?

Now for the title today, I decided to forego all of my errands/running around via my bike today! I suppose that would make me an environmentalist (on some level) for saving our Earth by not creating any pollution. Go me!

hello bags under eyes - thank you for never leaving my side.

There are two mental notes I made while riding my bike to my first location: 1) Get a backpack because the reusable grocery bag does not make for a friendly companion while traveling on bike. 2) Don't be so quick to give things away to goodwill anymore - I just got rid of my backpack last week.

The hardest part of my journey? Crossing this street:

I had to sit and wait for about 3 minutes, but then it was all clear!



As you can see from my half marathon training schedule, all Tuesdays are "stretch and strengthen" days!

So I mosied to Body Tech - one of the two places I go to workout (yes, that seems silly. I have one account with FH and one account with the 'rents which I am being deleted from ::tear::)

I will miss you when I'm married Body Tech. Good riddance.

My other stops included the grocery store for a much needed lunch ingredient (don't worry, it's coming!), a birthday card for little brother (a post on him to come), and the library (where I had two overdue books - however, the nice library lady waived my 90 cent free - THANKS LIBRARY LADY!)

Front of little brother's birthday card

inside of little brother's birthday card

back of little brother's bithday card - I'm such a trickster.

The "hippie" concert I speak of in that picture is some 3 day concert my brother is going to this weekend in West Virginia - it reminds me of Woodstock, therefore, I call him a Hippie.

I'm that dorky sister you wish you didn't have. Balloon boy there is saying "It's my birthday" and yes, there are twenty "20's" on the envelope. Guess how old he is turning!

After creating the card of his dreams, I went where no clean eater has gone before....

You want me to make you what? Boxed cake? (notice the fear in my eyes)

Since I just so happen to be the BEST sister in the entire world (sorry Kirstin - aka big sister), I pushed past my anxiety to make the boxed cake into 20 amazing cupcakes. Sometimes, my family does not appreciate my vegan, gluten free recipes - I'm sure my brother would not have appreciated an avocado cake for his birthday (although I was very tempted to do so). My family enjoys a good 'ole boxed cake. ::sigh:: I know they're delicious - it's just not my thang.

cake batter bowl which was delivered to said birthday boy with a silver spoon

ready to be baked!
pictures of the finished product to come later!

While those bad boys were baking, it was time for the star of the show to appear in my life for lunch. This ingredient made me make a special trip to the grocery store today. (Okay, I won't lie to you. I'm basically at the grocery store every day.)

The avocado - laden with healthy fats and a bright green color. This guy was going to make my lunch stellar!

Enter in: mexican tofu scramble.

sorry for the shade - scramble with avocado on the side. a pink lady apple was also enjoyed.

Yes, I am willing to come cook for you.

This was absolutely delicious! Healthy fats - CHECK! Protein - CHECK! Fiber - CHECK! Total lunch domination - CHECK!

I have quite a busy afternoon - I have to go to the house to complete my "honey do" list from FH, pick up some supplements from my doctor, ice those cupcakes, and get ready to go out for dinner for little brother's bithday!

Big post on him later - he's quite the brother!

hello appetite, i am so glad you joined me today!

So, the last time we talked, I was just about to go for my run - which I said was going to be a piece of cake. My body is still not working with me the way it should. I don't know what my deal is, but I better shake out of it soon. Despite my horrible run, my apetite has been in full swing today!

Right after my run I snacked on some Ends n Pieces and almonds.

I had to run some errands, including going to not one, but two banks. Then I stopped by "the shop" and talked with FH and his cousin for a little while. I was going to go on a mad Target hunt before I went home, but I was too hungry. I needed some fooooood! So, while my father was eating breakfast, I was making lunch. That seems weird, doesn't it? I had already eaten three times by the time he ate breakfast! Granted, I did eat at about 11:30, but that's lunch time, not breakfast time! What time do you usually eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

open faced hummus and grilled veggie sandwich, broccoli, and a peach

After I ate lunch, I made some of Averie's Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls. Holy cow these are delicious!

I ate this - x4

After I made my treat for the day, I was going to go to multiple Targets to try and find a component for my wedding centerpieces! We had 15, but needed 20. However... right when I was about to leave, Bestie called and wanted to know if I wanted to lay by the pool. HELLO! I always want to lay by the pool. Needless to say, I went and laid by the pool.

We did get a chance to go to Target when we were done and found exactly what we were looking for! I also bought an apple because it was 3:00 and that is the time my stomach starts to get hungry again!

My sister was making lasagna tonight, but I obviously can't eat it (darn you gluten and dairy!!!). I decided to whip up some eggplant parmesan!

I started by toasting 4 pieces of gluten free bread, then stuck them in the food processor with some almonds and fresh basil.

I sliced my eggplant into 1/4 inch pieces. I didn't nuke them, but if I made them again, I would definitely do that. My eggplant was a little still crunchy when they were done.

I dipped the eggplant into almond milk, then coated them with the breadcrumb mixture.



These babies cooked at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes, flipping once. I served mine topped with marinara.

delicious

I served my eggplant parmesan alongside a green salad!

When the sister saw me taking pictures of my food, she said: "Take a picture of my recipe too!" She worked very hard on her lasagna (pronounced lasaGnah in my family hehe) and I am sure it was delicious! Everyone raved about it.

The hardworking chef

looks good, no?

For right now, I'm just hanging out until FH comes over to get his portion of lasagna! I think maybe a snack is in order too...

Question: How does your family feel about your blogging/taking pictures of your food? Do they think it is weird or are they totally supportive?