Eggy Oats & Pushing Yourself

Good morning! It is certainly a beautiful one--sunny skies, soft breeze--praying for a little drop in temperature though (high of 108 F yesterday, WHAT?!) Any who, after reading tons of blogs like Feeding Brain and Body and Running with Spoons, I was really craving some eggy-ish oats. I wanted an egg white omelet this morning, but needed my oat fix too so what did I do? Scrambled some egg whites, placed it over hot oats, added in the fixings (freshest blueberries EVER, chunky peanut butter, grape preserves, sliced nanner, half a bottle some cinnamon) and blam! Best. Breakfast. Ever. Repeat every day for the rest of my life?

As for pushing "yourself" which, really just means myself. I think it's become really hard for me to balance working so many hours and having a social life. It's just that I'm tired after a week of waking up at 4:50am for the gym, commuting to the city, working 8:45am-6ishpm, and getting home past 7:30pm...it's just a long day. Once it's the weekend all I want to do is go to the gym, eat until my stomach explodes, lay on a lounge chair, and spend copious amounts of time strolling through Target/Marshalls/Whole Foods. But...I (and you) need to push ourselves if we're in this "rut." Being around people is healthy and necessary and just FUN, so freakin' do it, okay? I will too :)

Do you like egg/whites in your oats?

Any advice for busting out of this work-rut?

Love you all, sorry I've been away for a while--for all that want to know: Teen Vogue wasn't as cool as I hoped, oh well! 

WIWIA + WIW

Home-girl is tired...let me tell you. I am still getting used to working so many hours--it's truly exhausting (but I'm sure you guys know all about that...I'm just whining, sorry!) Anyway, I wish I took pictures of my food for WIAW. Obviously that didn't happen AGAIN (bad blogger). However, I am changing it up this week (sorry Jenn) and doing a remix on the standard WIAW, this is the WIWIA (what I wish I ate). Since I'm short-changing everyone this week (okay, 3rd week in a row, I suck) I am going to add in a WIW (what I wore), free of charge, do you love me again?

So WIWIA? 

(Please note: I did not take any of the pictures for the food portion of this post but I am crediting them :)

Breakfast: Hot oats a la Running with Spoons

Lunch: Salad Beast via A Knack for Nutrition

Dinner: Pesto Veggie Manicotti by our very own Peas and Crayons 

As for WIW: this what I wore to a recent event in NYC

(taken by a friend--Instagram on her iPhone)

Shorts: J. Crew

Wedge Booties: Bass Outfitters

Pocket t-shirt: GAP

Chambray button-down: Bass Outfitters

Necklace: Calvin Klein 

Watch: Michael Kors

I'm heading to bed...okay, maybe after I eat one of these and read a few chapters of Summer in the South by Cathy Holton.

Woke Up Wanting Pancakes...

But since I woke up at 4:30 a.m. in order to get a 40 minute cardio session and 30 minute lift (arms today) in, I sadly couldn't partake in any kind of pancake party. I have been dying to try out this recipe that I found at Tone It Up and I will definitely be making these pancakes for dinner tonight. Hopefully my pancakes will look as delicious as the ones pictured below...I'll snap some quick shots tonight!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup egg whites
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (organic rice protein or whey)- visit your local nutrition store or wholefoods!
• 1/2 banana (mashed)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbs flaxseed
• Add a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries after the above ingredients are mixed together.

Directions:

Pour into a pan that has been sprayed with olive oil cooking spray- heat on medium.  Cook one side until you see the little bubbles... just like cooking any pancake! Flip over (careful!) and cook on the other size until the middle is done (peek inside with a fork). Top with two sliced strawberries and optional powdered stevia. ENJOY your protein pancakes!  :)  If you need more carbohydrates, you may add 1-tbs agave or organic maple syrup on top.

Side note: Would anyone want to start seeing some of my work-outfits? I know I originally started blogging with a fashion-focus...healthy living blogging just took over my life, not that I'm complaining ;) Just figured I'd ask. Have a great day everyone.

What I Learned...

1. Anything that I deem "bad" at first can and will eventually turn around if I find a way to turn negatives into positives
2. After a lack of hot oats for 5 days strait NOTHING tasted better than breakfast this morning
3. Not writing every single thing I eat a day is so liberating, I can't even describe this feeling...
4. Having a shoe named after me will be pretty darn cool (more details to come in the near future)
5. Being promised 2 FREE pairs of shoes from an awesome designer is the cherry on the top of a perfect Friday
6. Working is truly not "work" if I love every second of what I'm doing...and do not even want to go home early on a Friday
7. I will feel like a major BAMF when I get to visit Teen Vogue next Friday :)

Learn anything this work week?

I'm off to the gym, then doing a major TJ's grocery haul, working ALL day, and I couldn't be happier about it!

If I can make it to the beach too, my life will be complete...oh, and a pedicure would be nice! Any color recommendations?

Ziplock Bags Full of Food...oh, and Some Fashion

Due to my recent hectic life I have been forced to transport my food as follows:

Breakfast: Dannon Light and Fit yogurt, Granny Smith apple, Red seedless grapes, 1c. Puffins original flavor, water

 

Lunch: Sandwich- Turkey, Swiss Cheese, Spinach leaves, 100cal flat bread, Granny Smith apple, Nature Valley granola bar, Diet Raspberry Snapple

Don't make fun...zip-lock bags have feelings too :)

BTW: Check out my last post for some great snacking/packing food ideas in the comments section!

So despite the fact that I haven't had hot oats in 4 days...major, major :( aka sad face, I have seen some really cool stuff! I'll leave you with pictures because I can't keep my eyes open...my tweets say it all.

I'm deliriously exhausted (but oh so happy with how things are turning out!) 

One look I saw at Première Vision Preview New York!

Another look from Première Vision Preview New York

Spring shoes from the Nicole Shoes collection--I visited the showroom

Fall 2012 Oxfords by Nicole Shoes

Thanks a Million!

I just wanted to pop in quick and send a huge thank you towards anyone that read and commented on my last post! This week has been a whirlwind so far and I think everyone is 100% right--with tons of planning and patience, I will adjust to my new schedule. So, I was negligent again in taking pictures for WIAW...and believe me, I'm really upset about it--second week in a row that I'm missing it :( This is what I'm going to do, I'm linking you all to Jenn's page Peas and Crayons so you can still see some great eats (even if they're not mine!)

While your all here...I need some help! What are great foods to pack for a long commute? I need breakfast, snacks, and lunch! Any good pack-and-go products out there? I am looking for food/meals to create that require little/no prep time! Also, there is a major need for fullness because I have been a hungry beast lately! Thanks again for the other day, I hope everyone gets over the hump that is hump day! I'm gonna slap a smile on my face and make today an good excellent day! Hey, you see that sun?? *happy dance*

The Balancing Act

How do you balance everything going on in your life? How can you connect with friends and family, date and work on a potential relationship, work full time, eat healthily, exercise, and still have "ME" time? I feel like I'm drowning right now in obligations and responsibilities...maybe this is truly what growing up feels like.

I am going to try and post regularly but just thinking about my new schedule is making my head hurt. Wish me luck! I'm off to enjoy a chocolaty and frosty treat even though I didn't make it to the gym today which, also puts me in a less than stellar mood :( Ah, trying to slap a smile on my face.

Did/do you have trouble making the adjustment from college-kid to working-adult? How do balance everything in your life?