jumpstart & go

Hi beautiful people! I almost feel like apologizing for yesterday's post ;) I was so delirious and confused. Today, on the other hand, I'm finally refreshed and feeling great. I still have some things to reflect on but I think they'll serve you as well as they will I. You see, even though I've only been working at Quirky for three days, I'm already so creatively-inspired and -empowered, I can't help but share.

[Breakfast: Overnight Oats with Almond Butter, Banana, and Mixed Berries]

As I ate breakfast this morning, I thought about my grammatically-incorrect tweet last night, "I need to move (out) of this house." I wouldn't say I'm exactly fighting with my parents but my move back in hasn't been the easiest thing for either party. I feel like I'm regressing, you know? I've lived away from home in four different locations around the world, I just graduated from college with two degrees, and now I'm back where I started. As much as I adore my family, I crave my own space, and thereby want to get my own place, hopefully sooner rather than later. 

[Pre-lunch walk: Hummus & Avocado Wrap with Cucumber and Spinach]

I know I probably "shouldn't," but because I've been bringing my lunch to work every day (and will continue to do so for my bank account's sake), I've been eating my wrap at my desk. Afterwards though, I do step out for at least 15 minutes to take a walk and get some mid-day fresh air in beautiful NoHo. An afternoon stroll is also the perfect opportunity to think, and think I do.

[Sunday night's dinner: Sweet Potato, Broccoli Rabe]

Many a times, my mind wanders to the ex-boy and I. We went on a break mid-February and by mid-March it was over. It was certainly painful, (I think I conveyed that, despite my desperate attempt to avoid the subject,) but I tried with all my might to be okay. True to character, I focused on wrapping my head around the positives of the unexpected situation: (1) I deserve to be in a relationship we both have faith in, (2) I am now free to soar wherever the career winds take me, (3) I can finally be independent in loving myself and making me happy. And with that, I didn't "let it" ruin my senior year, as it had the potential to.

[Tuesday night's dinner: Black Beans, Corn, Spinach Salad]

Then we tried to get back what we had. I wholeheartedly would have loved to get it back--we shared something so amazing and rare--but I couldn't do it. My heart is strong not invincible. I guess in some ways I couldn't let myself fall back in, no matter how selfish that sounds. Furthermore, I had convinced myself that positivities 1, 2, and 3 were enough to make staying single worth it. I needed to stay true to myself. For now, I'm doing me.

[Wednesday night's dinner: Ravioli, String beans, Salad, Wine]

Speaking of -that-> direction, dinner time comes next as the meal of the day, does it not? Last night's meal was delicious, and not just because I ate it at 8 p.m. and was starving :). I sometimes forget how long of a way I've come since my disordered eating days, and I think it has a lot to do with the way I feel about myself. I cringe when I think back to how I blatantly ignored my hunger and often overate when I wasn't hungry of foods that I quite honestly did not enjoy. I'm so glad that I've gotten into the ease of a habitual way of eating that works for both my body and soul, even if I can't really define it with a label.

So what do these three situations have in common? They are a combination of situations that I want to move on from, that I'm in the process of getting over, and/or that I've left in the past. As nostalgic as I may be for a simpler life, I am more than ready and willing for what's ahead. Here's the tentative summer schedule:

• Monday-Thursday, June-August: Quirky
• Saturday, June 5th: Graduation party
• Friday-Sunday*, June-August: Newsday... Ready for this big reveal? I will be freelance blogging for this Long Island newspaper about the Hampton summer scene. Weekends are going to be amazing as a result.
• Friday-Sunday, July 9-11: Washington, D.C.
• Friday-Sunday, August 13-15" Chicago... for the Healthy Living Summit!
• Friday-Sunday, September 3-5: Philadelphia

What upcoming events make you look forward to living out the summer?


P.S. I almost forgot, I need to do a shout-out :) Aimee, of Aimee's Healthy Living: Hawaii, rocks. Not only does she live in one of the most beautiful states in the country, but she is also a former actress, housekeeper, yoga instructor, flamenco dancer, nanny, housesitter, dog walkers, house painter, and writer. Check out her blog for healthy living tips and great recipes!