It's the little things in life

It's a good day, why? Well for One: the sun was shining and the sky was blue, which is very very uncommon in this city.  Secondly: my run was peaceful and relaxing, while I just took in the Vitamin D and listened to the Postal Service before all of the college students crawled out of their warm beds.  Doesn't it feel so good to get an early start?  The early bird gets the worm, right?!  Right : )

Thirdly: Okay so I am pretty sure everyone who is in college now or has ever been away from home for a long period of time can agree with me when I say, receiving packages is probably the best thing in the world! Today was one of those days for me!  I feel like the luckiest girl right now who just hit the jack pot!  That's right, I hit the jack pot!  Who has 36 pumpkin spice k-cups to hold her up for the month of February (minus one for the one used in my coffee cup right now...)? This girl, and I am so excited about it, not to mention some delicious oatmeal cranberry dunkers from Trader Joes complimented the cups perfectly in my package.  I thought they only sold pumpkin spice during the fall season, who knew 'limited edition' fell into the winter months!  It's the little things in life that make the world go around, as least for me!  I really love my package thanks so much, Steph and Corinne, it was such a lovely surprise in my day!

Fourthly: To make my perfect day even better, I met up with an old friend Nick for lunch at my favorite restaurant in Oakland, The Red Oak Cafe.  This cute little hole in the wall serves whole, fresh, organic foods with all of their produce from local farms, what more could you ask for!  Not only that but they serve my favorite meal of the day, all day, breakfast!  Next on my list to order when I go there are there whole wheat banana walnut pancakes, yummy, just the thought makes my mouth water (is it absolutely absurd to think about your next meal somewhere after you literally just ate less than thirty minutes ago).  But today while I was there I had my usual, the Mesquite Turkey Sandwhich with their light, fluffy, crispy house chips (amazing every time). 

I should probably start being productive now and do some homework or something crazy like that!  Have an amazing Monday everyone, and wherever you are, I hope the sun is shining : )

Running Funk

So this entire week I have gone without any posts to the blog!! What in the world has gotten into me?!  Okay I'll admit, I was in a bit of a running funk this whole week.  Can you believe it... I went an entire week without running in the fresh cold wind!!!  It's just so difficult to try to be a perfect college student, have an active social life, run, and look human all at the same time, so instead I have been cheating my poor body and I have been a gym rat on the elliptical for 45 minutes at a time.  But today as I was getting ready to run up to the gym, I opened my window and felt a gust of cool fresh air rush in, suddenly I knew exactly where I had to go instead, so I went, and I ran, far far far away, and I loved every single second of it!!!  It's funny how in a short week you can forget how sane and happy something can make you!!! There truly is no comparison to being able to freely run where ever you want, see what you want to see, go up  whatever hill you want to venture up, as opposed to feeling like a hamster in a circle moving your body and going nowhere in the gym.  So note to self* no matter how cold it is, just remember- 1) my body will warm up 20 degrees 2) "there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear" 3) "do what you makes you happy"... as my mom put it last night! Mom's always seem to know best, don’t they?!  So anyhow, here are some pictures of my beautiful Pittsburgh bound day in Schenely Park.

 

 

What could make this amazing day better?!?! Well, the two pictures above hint at it just a bit, but if you still cannot guess, its a dog! I would lovelovelove a cute running partner, german shorthaired pointer,  preferably female, do I have any takers?  Hmm.. maybe it would be wise to wait until I am not living in a 16x8 ft dorm.  Until then a girl can dream : )



I have been converted

As gross and dirty and sleazy as I thought she was, I have to admit today while working out I officially became a fan.  On a normal day while out on a run I usually like to relax and enjoy my alone time while listening to soft music such as my Coldplay or Death Cab for Cutie playlist (thank goodness for Pandora)!  But today I decided to mix it up a bit and get the beats moving, so I switched it to the Black Eyed Peas Pandora playlist.  Suddenly while running, I notice my feet going faster, much faster, my heart was racing, and all I wanted to do then and there in the park was start dancing!  The song that came on  made me want to break a serious sweat, it was so fun, upbeat, and wild, very much the opposite of what I normally listen to...When I look to see who the artist was, I just had to throw my hands up and give her props!!! KESHA. Is. Awesome.  Lesson of the day, don't a judge a book by its cover!!

It's safe to say that I am probably going to spend the rest of my day downloading her albums and dancing in my room... and maybe squeeze some studying in there somewhere ; )

I hope everyone's weekend was fabulous!!!

bookworm

"I focus my eyes on my jade bracelet.  All these years and for all the years after I die, it will remain unchanged.  It will always be hard and cold – just a piece of stone.  yet for me it is an object that ties me to the past, to people and places that are gone forever.  Its continued perfection serves as a physical reminder to keep living, to look to the future, to cherish what I have.  It reminds me to endure."Lisa See (Shanghai Girls)

—

 

So, one of my news years resolutions was to take some time out of my day and read more.  I absolutely love love love to read.  Reading a book just completely takes you away to another place, it puts you right then and there in that persons life and the beauty of it, is you can enter their world whenever you want, wherever you want!  I just finished reading a novel called Shanghai Girls, about two Japanese sisters and their , and their journey from war torn Shanghai in the 1930's to Angel Island, and most importantly the bond they shared amidst all of the chaos.  It was such a powerful and emotionally difficult novel to read, but none the less is highly recomended.  Lisa See, the author, is truly able to vividly  take you along their every experience and pull your emotional ties in so closely that you begin to feel the pain the girls go through!  I read it so fast, that I turned the page a few hours later and it was over!  I was so confused and lost and upset and emotionally, I had the feeling like how could it end right then and there!! Don't you just hate it when that happens!!! Hopefully there is a sequal coming out soon.  But to distract my mind from wondering what happens next, I began reading "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris".  So far, I have only read a few pages, but upon excellent reviews I'll be sure to eat this one up right away and fill you all in soon!!! 

What are you reading right now?!!?

By the way... how lovely would it be to be reading in one of these?!  Oh well, maybe in a few more months when the weather is warm I'll look into investing in one, until then its looking out the window to the snowy city of Pittsburgh!!  Happy reading everyone : )

 

Whatever you are, be a good one.

Reading this made my heart melt.  It made me think, you can be anything you want to be, so whatever you are be a good one. 

"How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world! How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution toward introducing justice straightaway... And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!"

-Anne Frank

If only I had a kitchen...

Ah, Jenna's pictures from eatliverun.com steal my heart once again.  How delicious do these yogi bars look?!  My favorite part is that they are simple wholesome ingredients and the dark chocolate of course!!! I cannot wait for summer so I can finally have kitchen to use and experiment in, because my college dorm kitchen only consists of my Keurig, a microwave, toaster, and a refrigerator!! Any suggestions for nutritious college dorm room solutions with my lack of a kitchen?!

Happy Wednesday!

This week is just flying by!  I've been so busy with school work, basketball games, yoga, and rush week for Pitt's Business Fraternity!  I am loving every single minute of it though!  Today I already got in two hours of some hot and steamy ashtanga yoga then later I have my two hour long self defense class with the legendary Curtis Smith (Billy Blank's right hand man in all of his Tae Bo videos)!  Hey a girl's gotta know how to defend herself right?!  Surprinsingly the self defense class is much more rigorous than I expected it to be.  Who knew punching and kicking a punching bag was so much work, not to mention jump roping!! No one is going to be able to mess with me after this semester!! I hope everyone's week is going well, don't worry friday is just around the corner : )

I have a problem...

Confession 1:
I have a problem, I shop.  I love to shop, all the time.  I guess that's only part of the problem.  The other third would be I do not have a job to support this addiction... Oh and the last third would be that I'm all the way in Pittsburgh while my mother lives four hours away.  So what's the problem with that, well the problem with no job = no money, the problem with my mother, well she's practically my stylist, and I need her approval on all of my findings!  Thank goodness for picture messaging!!!  Here are my new favorite earrings my lovely mother picked out for me.  Aren't they just precious? Why yes they are!!  So.. Anyone want to go shopping?!

Currently loving...and attempting..

Thank goodness for David Swenson, the yogi master of all time! What is a poor college student to do when the prices of joining a yoga studio are $90+ a month around Pittsburgh! Ay vay, can we say student discounts anyone?! Luckily for me David Swenson seems to save the day, every day.  Although practicing yoga isn't nearly the same with a DVD as it is back at home at the Fitness Plaza, it is pretty much my only choice as of now, so practice the first series I will!  I began using his first DVD called ‘The Practice’ which works up to a 45 minute routine (great if you don't have much time), later this summer I began using his ‘First Series’ DVD.  I have to say while I have been practicing yoga for four years now, this 2 hour DVD still presents a quite a challenge with some of the poses, take it backs, and plentiful vinyasas.  If you are new to yoga I highly recommend beginning with ‘Ashtanga The Practice’ by David and if you feel you are ready for the next level go for the First Series and I assure you a fantastic workout.  It is said from a fellow yoga instructor that some may never be able to pass the first series, but practice makes perfect right!? For those finding the first series simply too easy (hats off to you) there is a second and third series out there too, maybe that will be a goal of mine to start before I graduate.  But one foot in front of the other at a time!  First I must grasp jumping back and jumping forward.  Here is a great tutorial on how to do it, although as many times as I watch it my body just won't cooperate with me, maybe the more I watch it'll get the message? 

What are your current workout/fitness goals? 

"Between Effort and Ease"

Not only is it 19 degrees outside in Pittsburgh, but it’s also currently snowing and extremely windy.  But wise words once told me, "There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear"  So before I bundled up I decided what better way to heat my body right up than to practice yoga!  Pictured below is Parsva Bakasana, one of my favorite poses. Take caution when attempting this arm balance pose if you have any lower back are wrist problems.  Benefits include, strengthening wrists and arms, toning belly and spine, as well as improving your balance.  If you’re a beginner a helpful tip when a approaching Side Crane Pose is to secure your balance by lowering your head onto a block as you lift your feet off the floor. When you feel balance enough slowly shoot out your legs and don't forget to breathe!!

Pose of the day: Parsva Bakasana (Side Crane Pose)

Namaste

Picture Perfect Run

My feeling is that any day I am too busy to run is a day that I am too busy.
--John Bryant

What could be better than cleansing your body with fresh crisp air in your lungs while on a morning run?  A beautiful view to go along with it.  The scenery in Pittsburgh doesn't quite compare to the beautiful farms, green rolling hills, and blue skies of home. Getting myself out to run can be quite difficult at times but nothing is more rewarding than that feeling of accomplishment when you're done.  Plus nothing is more painful than running a half marathon with any training prior (oops of 2010).  New Year’s resolution 1: Take care of my body and properly train for the St. Luke’s Half Marathon http://www.lehighvalleyhalfmarathon.com/ this May 1st hosted in the Lehigh Valley! Where are you running at this winter?