Whole30 Challenge

Hello friends!



I am beginning a 30 day look at what I eat, how I approach food, and how to become a healthier version of myself! I am keeping a separate blog to keep myself accountable and hopefully provide some inspiration for myself to keep going when I begin to wonder what the heck I was thinking.

You can follow my Whole30 experience right hrrr.

Should be a hoot!

Meaning I'm terrified, but don't worry, I already extensively listed every emotion I've ever felt about it in my first post. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's neurotically rambling about things that could be summed up into a sentence or two. But hey, we've all got our talents!

Just wanted to note that summer 2013 has been a memorable one. I don't want to glorify it with perfectly punctuated sentences about how these are the glory days of college livin'. There's still a lot to be learned, a lot of messes to overanalyze, and a lot of sweet corn to ingest. It's been a memorable one.

 

My "Them"

This is my family, and they love me well.

Nothing can replace the ones that have watched your pimply angst slowly progress into what we hope to be adulthood. They are the people that permit a certain kind of freedom to should a loud "NOTHING" when asked what you've been up to because you're grumpy and probably hungry too. There's conditions with a big fat "un" in front of it. Intentional time is not intentional at all because entering the laundry room with intent to kick your sister's load of three dishtowels out may end with a three hour conversation about how life really is going. It's intentional with another "un" in front of it. My joy is incomplete without them, and their patience with me makes me better. They are my "them"

Yet I have been granted another place to call home, another safe zone of people that will love me through moody mornings, flippant attitudes, and any other emotion I can dish out. College friendships possess a rare intensity. An intense amount of time spent not just physically in the same place, but the shared experience of stretching and growing at a rapid, almost manic, speed. Bonds are formed and love is given alongside vulnerability because any guard you ever held becomes obsolete. Inappropriate, even. Why bother pretending to let people love you when they can do it for real?

I have experienced this love, and I promise, none of these smiling, slightly fearful-of-the-future-faces could grasp this kind of love without Jesus loving us first. I owe everything I have to The Great I AM, including these beautiful, messy, hodgepodge group of people I love so dearly.

Shout-out-to-summer

Shout out to summer and instagram-worthy moments.

Sunny and I were talked about the notion that instagram pictures typically have more of a story behind them, or just more personality, then the funny angles and obnoxious hashtags (#guiltyofthat).

I like to pretend mine do, too.

Bough a whole mess of produce at my favorite local grocery story several blocks away from my rundown porch steps and neighboring parrot that squawks "GOODBYE!" at me when I drive to work

I also (for some unfathomable reason) felt pinterest-y lately, just in the mood to do things like roast almonds and pretend putting belts over my skirts make me trendy. Thus, berries coated in a thin layer of plain, Dannon yogurt (didn't have greek yogurt, though I think that would be even more scrumptions/hip), and then frozen to summertime perfection. YUM. 

And yes, an apron was involved.

These were flowers brought to my unexpected rescue from a man that knows when I need to go be by myself and run my feelings out and make me laugh when I let him find me. Unfortunately, they went all Beauty-and-the-Beast on me and wilted their petals away (though not in a glass case ah-la B&B) BUT that's because they were handpicked and not quite ready. Still lovely all the same.

This salad looked summary, and tasted delicious. I was not allowed to instagram this one (though I never understand why I am always denied the ability to add a little blur and an artsy filter to our food!) I am an instagram fiend. And this salad was prepped and ready to go by the time I got home from work, can you say winning?? I've never eaten so regularly/well in my whole life!

This was the "after" photo.

After my run.

After my God drenched me in truth, in his spirit, in his purpose.