Peanut Butter Oats

I have been so inspired by food blogs recently. Megan @ The Oatmeal Diaries constantly dares me to try new foods and eat what I truly want (aka intuitive eating) & Chelsey @ Clean Eating Chelsey shows me that variety and unconventional approaches really do pay off and bring unsuspectingly amazing results (aka grilled chocolate & banana muffins). I never really explained my food journey (mostly because I type-casted this blog as a style blog so early on) but I have always struggled with my weight (since middle school). About a year ago I joined Weight Watchers which, helped me get to where I am now, but in a way the program ruined me. I keep track of food/activity "points" in my head and find it hard to break into new routines with nutrition & fitness. Well, yesterday I threw out my little weight watchers notebook (with my detailed food entries and corresponding point values) and decided that by following bloggers like Chelsey and Megan (and a ton of other great ladies) I will keep track of the healthy foods I eat, but only to monitor my variety, not to "tally" my intake.

With all that said, I forced myself to do something completely different for breakfast today. I made Peanut Butter Oats! 

1 Cinnamon Oatmeal pack // 1/2 Banana // 1 spoonful of chunky peanut butter // 1 spoonful of grape jelly // a few shakes of cinnamon

The oats were filling & melty-gooey (word?) and I will definitely be trying this again. It was weird to eat something much less voluminous (I am a portion eater, the bigger the better in my mind) but I was more filled eating this than my usual breakfast :)

Do you guys have any healthy food/exercise blogs you follow? Please leave them below! Happy Sunday!

10 Things I Learned This Weekend

So I found a new blog this weekend, Being Brazen, and I can not stop going through all of her posts! This South African blogger posts inspirational images, quotes, and has a fresh perspective on life as well as fashion; if you're anything like me you will love her blog! Check it out here!
Anyway, she does a post each Monday called "10 Things I Learned This Weekend" and I figured I would give it a go since I did learn so much! However, I may start doing this post on Sundays and do my "Weekly Weigh In" on Monday, just like blogger the Fashion Therapist, who did a lovely shout-out to me during her WWI post yesterday, thanks girl!

10 Things I Learned This Weekend!

1. No matter how many times you argue & fight, family always sticks around
2. Having a lot of alone time can really help you put things in perspective
3. Starting a new job (or internship!) is always going to be scary but it is an adventure
4. Going out of your comfort zone is necessary if you want to branch out and meet new people
5. You DO NOT need to chug a whole pitcher of Sangria at Charlie O's to have a great time
6. Spending a few dollars for some "cheap thrills" at the dollar store is sometimes just as good as a major splurge at Nordstrom's!
7. Blogging is not a competition but a real opportunity to connect with others and start friendships (thanks to Fashion Therapist, Julie Go Lean, The Oatmeal Diaries, and In Staley's Atmosphere for being awesome new blog friends!)
8. Exercise can be the cure to stress and anxiety but sometimes a new magazine and hot shower will do. 
9. I love JollyTime Kettle Corn a little way, way, WAY too much!
10. It's fun thinking about what I learned this week...this is going to be a weekly post, thanks for the idea Being Brazen!

Did you learn anything new this weekend? Also, if you like reading/want to know more about me then please follow my blog, follow me on twitter and/or leave me comments because it really makes me smile!

This painting entitled "Pollux" by Casey O'Connell is totally isnpiring me!

(Check out more of her paintings here)