Category Archives: YumYum

Wednesday Things

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As new continues to develop about the Boston Marathon Bombings, I am reserving my thoughts on this blog because I can’t really write or read about it without crying.  As a runner, the Boston Marathon is like the Holy Grail of running.  Few compete in it, and even just being in the city on Marathon Monday is a blessing.  My heart and prayers go out to everyone affected, and the running community in general.  Here is a great post about basically how I feel - http://keeprunningkeepwriting.com/2013/04/17/heartbreak-in-boston/

I was published online guys.  My article was picked up by Thriive online for healthy foods you should be eating!

GO HERE

I’m like fantastically surprised and it made my day immediately, instantly, and impossibly spectacular for it only being 8:24 am and the fact I spent an hour in traffic trying to get to work.  It’s amazing.  It’s wonderful.  I can’t wait to write more. 

Today’s Menu:

  • Breakfast: 1/2 Sweet Potato, Chicken Sausage, Coffee, Smoothie
  • Snack: Banana
  • Lunch: Kielbasa w/ onions and peppers, almonds, apple, seltzer water
  • Snack: Water?
  • Dinner: Steak with Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Activity: 3-4 Miles running outside (as long as the storms hold off.  Rain is fine, thunder is not.)

We had a quiet night at home the past two nights, just eating dinner, and then watching TV.  The Husband has been so supportive during this downturn of emotion I am having, and even though I slipped a bit yesterday on the Paleo wagon, I made up for it by kicking my own ass with my workouts.  I will eventually be able to do shoulder presses without screaming obscenities at the ceiling.  I will.  I promise.

I am really excited about summer session coming up.  I am impatient though.  I want the teachers to post the book lists and syllabi so I can go forth and begin learning.  No matter that I still have like 3 big assignments left to work on (This weekend is devoted to finishing that up).  

Always looking forward, apparently. 

Happy Wednesday Loves, I hope it’s a good day for you all, and that the weather is nice where you are (75 degrees as the high today!).

 

We’re almost to the weekend!

Foodie Pen Pals – March 2013 Edition!

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My Grab Bag of Amazing!

My Grab Bag of Amazing!

The lovely Kat from http://eatingtheweek.com  was responsible for filling up my Foodie Pen Pal box this month!  She not only sent me a lot of really good food items, but she sent me a cookbook too!

 

Soy Crisps – very yummy.  I’ve seen these at the store before but am always afraid to try new things – especially healthy soy items, which for me can sometimes be a hit or miss.

Funky Monkey Jivealime fruit snacks – dried pineapple fruit snacks seasoned with lime juice – VERY TASTY and refreshing!

Quinoa Breakfast Cereal – YUMMY.  Filling.  Love this stuff!

Justine’s Hazelnut Chocolate butter & Peanut Butter – so incredibly good.  I’ve had both before, and they were both amazing, and it was nice to have them back in my house after a long hiatus.  I may have spent the nine bucks to buy another jar of the almond butter tonight at the store.

Organic Crisp Bar – I ate this so fast and threw out the wrapper before I could write down the name, and I can’t read the label in this picture, but it has a panda on the label, and it was delish.

Cooking Light Comfort Food Cookbook – I have used this approximately a million times since receiving it.  I’ve used it for reference for substitutions in my already planned meals, for a pot luck at work, and for normal everyday cooking.  I love this book.

I made out pretty good this go around, and I am thankful for this program  :-)  I’ll be skipping April and May while I am on the Paleo Challenge but I plan on restarting come June, when I have a better handle on the whole Paleo process.

And now it’s time for some details about Foodie Penpals.  In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal! 
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. 
-Foodie Penplas is open to US, Canadian & European residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. Same with Europeans. We’ve determined things might get too slow and backed up if we’re trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. 

If you’re from the US or Canada and are in participating for November, please CLICK HERE (www.theleangreenbean.com/foodie-penpals/) to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. 

You must submit your information by April 4th as pairings will be emailed on April 5th!

*If you’re from Europe, please CLICK HERE (www.thisisrocksalt.com/foodie-penpals/) to signup.

Oh, Oh, Oh, It’s Paleo

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I am making the transition to Paleo.  I’ve decided to follow this, because of many reasons:

  • I’ve tried tracking calories, points, macros, meal times, etc. and I can’t stick with it long term.
  • I’m tired of being hungry ALL THE TIME
  • I’m tired of being tired, sluggish, and feeling forced through workouts
  • I’m tired of seeing gains on the scale week after week
  • I’m tired of my clothes not fitting
  • I’m tired of being in my late 20′s and still suffering from IMMENSE ACNE
  • I’m tired of being a slave to carbs – because I am
  • I’m tired of being bloated due to dairy
  • I’m tired of watching other people be successful and waiting for my turn

I read this page on NerdFitness – The Beginners Guide to the Paleo Diet - time and time again.  Jennifer has tireless tried to convince me this is the way to go.  My friend Mei Li has become stronger, and leaner and better from Paleo and CrossFit.  How many more “results” do I need to see before I’m like “Hey, let’s do this?”

I am only saying that I am transitioning, because I have to go to the grocery store, so my food supplies are limited until I get there on Monday.  But I’ve made big changes already:

  • Breakfast: Black coffee w/ Honey, Protein smoothie with fruit and zero carb protein powder, 2 eggs fried in EVOO w/ 2 chicken sausage links

GUESS WHAT?  I AM ACTUALLY SATISFIED.  If you know me personally outside of this blog, I am normally hungry about 10 minutes after a meal – now I realize this is not physical hunger, but as I stated in my Topic Tuesday about binge eating, I don’t have a switch in my body that tells me I am not hungry anymore.  I can eat for ages.  I should have been a professional eater, frankly, because I would rock that biznass. But right now, at this moment, as I type this, I feel good.  I feel full.  I fell satisfied.  SATISFIED.

  • Lunch:  Quinoa w/ kosher salt and pepper, 1 veggie griller patty ( all mixed up ), baby carrots, apple

(Quinoa in small quantities is Paleo!  I WAS SO EXCITED TO HEAR THIS!)

To some it seems restrictive.  To me it seems freeing.  All the protein and veggies I want?  HELL YES.  Some fruit?  EVEN BETTER.  I have been printing recipes for paleo dinners and lunches (AND DESSERTS!) since yesterday.  My older sister has GI issues and was thinking about going this route, so I told her we should do it together.

Now, because I have a hard time giving up wine, I am following the 90/10 rule.  (Some people follow the 80/20 rule, but I need a bit more restriction than that) One day a week – most likely Saturday – I will eat what I want – with in reason, and not go crazy – I’ll have wine, pizza, ice cream, whatever.  So to keep myself sane.  It will be my “Treat Yo’ Self” day and it coincidentally coincides with my day that I will have my longer run of the week – so caloric-ally it balances – or I will make sure it will. I’ll move this day around if for instance there is a special occasion.

Is this Paleo?

I find myself asking that question when I look around my kitchen.  Uh, I don’t know is my predominant answer.  Luckily, NerdFitness has thought of everything.  Paleo Central is an App for your iphone that takes the guess work out of Paleo food.  OH AMEN.

PaleoCentral Iphone

Source

I’m sticking with NROLFW – which I’m sure Paleo will only help with the results of – and running.  I have been finding more and more resources on Paleo for Athletes and more specifically runners, and frankly the whole Carb-Loading is coming on as kind of a myth to me now.  Some of the best races I’ve had, the day before I was eating PROTEIN DENSE meals with little to no carbs.  I only used to carbs in the GU packets during the race to get me through.

NO CARBS?

Well not no carbs.  I’ll be getting my carbs from Fruits and Veggies.  The way God Intended.

Source

I’m sorry that picture is hilarious, and possibly sacrilegious, but still, Hilarious.

Source

Paleo before and After via Pinterest

I’m not going to preach at you about this, but it will become a fixture on my blog at least for the next few months while I try it out.  I’m giving it till the end of May, so about 2 months, of honest to goodness Paleo and my current exercise routine.

The only thing I have to lose is the weight and inches right?

Paleo Food For Thought:

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Workout: NROLFW Stage 1 Week 3 Workout A & 2 Miles Running

Saturday Run & DietBet Weigh In

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Breakfast 9P+ yummy…

After breakfast I put away laundry then changed into workout clothes and got my running done. I did 5 rounds of 1/2 mile run, rows, bent over rows, bicep curls, shoulder presses, and bench dips. Wahoo strength training and body weight training! I feel good and ready for tomorrow’s race!

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So my DietBet weigh in was today. I hope I can lose the 4% in 28 days. I’m really going to push it and workout and eat cleanly.

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Me on my scale for my official weigh in.

Now it’s off to run errands and pick up my race packet!

Have a great Saturday!!!

The Swed Life

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I started off my weekend with a nice 3.1 mile run which is always great to do when you know you’ll be eating a lot of good food later on!

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Then it was time to clean up the house and me, and get ready for lots of company!

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The house and I clean up nicely :-)

The menu was meatballs, potatoes au gratin, roasted Brussel sprouts, and a spinach salad. My friend Lisette made the meatballs and potatoes so I had little work to do.

I also made Red Velvet Cupcakes…

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The evening was a success and no one left hungry. The dinner party was in honor of my friend Lisa who is moving to Sweden in July for a teaching job. So the meatballs and cheese dessert was fitting.

We also had a lot if wine. My morning run should be fun :-)

Now on to the rest of the weekend!

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Arbitrary Blarney Shot…

Tuesday Things

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  • It’s technically Thursday for most who don’t have to work over the holiday weekend, and for this I am thankful.  I have to work tomorrow, but am planning on doing half a day in the office and half a day at home so I can bake pies and other desserts for Thursday.  I love baking.  I also love how I will have all of these treats in my house for a full 24 hours before anyone else will eat them, and then I will have the leftovers in my house for the entire weekend, with me trying not to eat them.  The main worry is the apple pie.  Oh how I love pie. (That’s what she said.  Oh yes she did)
  • A local radio station has been playing Christmas music since Veterans day.  Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole, but it’s a little early don’t you think?  I mean I may have cleaned my house on Sunday to the sounds of a She&Him Christmas, but I’m not forcing anyone (other than TPWSNBN) to listen to it (and he was outside mowing the lawn).  One holiday at a time people!
  • I am actually very proud of the Walmart Employees who are striking against working on Thanksgiving (or opening at Midnight Friday morning).  I think it’s ridiculous how companies expect their employees to just come in on a holiday where we should all be with out families.  Same goes for Christmas.  Even if you don’t celebrate in anyway, a day off is deserved.  NO ONE needs to go buy things that badly.  Line up the night if you wish outside, but don’t have people opening the store when they should be home in a well deserved food coma.
  • I had a good run yesterday 5k – 32’17″ – 10’25″ pace – I’m taking today off because I have class and before class I have to take an exam at the testing center.  Tomorrow will be 4 miles, Thursday will be an easy 5k in the morning to get ahead of the calories consumed that day, and then Friday is my 10 MILER.  My longest run since the half marathon in March, and subsequently my longest run till my half marathon on Dec. 1.  Eep.  I think I’ll be okay as I didn’t run farther than that before the last one during my training, and this time I am not in a walking boot 3 weeks before the race.

March 17, 2012 – Half Marathon Splits

  • I hope my splits/time is better and slightly more even than these were.  I would love to beat my time from March – and while that is a strong possibility, I am really doing this to have fun.  AND HAVE FUN I SHALL.  no but seriously.  I would like to beat my time.  No joke.
  • I really need a new pair of running shoes.  Since I stopped using the Mizunos – at least for now to see if those are the problem – I’ve noticed how old my other shoes are… But I have a half next weekend, so breaking in a new pair right now is not going to happen. AGH Runner Problems.
  • I think it sucks that I didn’t take this week off.  I should have.  But because of England, I have no more vacation hours.  But it was worth it.  So worth it.  Let’s go back to that happy week, shall we?

  • Sigh.
  • I am having copious amounts of salad today for lunch and dinner.  I noticed last week how great I felt eating salad everyday, and now that I have a great mindset of things to add to a salad I am very happy.  GIVE ME ALL THE KALE.
  • Well I guess I should get to work.. whine.

Total Wine Haul

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1 case of Post Road Pumpkin Ale
1 six pack of Dogfish head 60 minutes IPA
1 large bottle of Legends Porter
1 large bottle of Pike Place IPA
1 craft pack of various beers of amazingness

$76 bucks later and we are pretty darn happy.

It all started with the desire to bring beer to my parents house tonight for my dad’s birthday. Then it blew up into our own cravings (TPWSNBN’s pumpkin craving, my Porter craving). It must have looked interesting as I eyed the kegs and wondered, would this be better to bring home?

Hope you’re having an amazing weekend!

BOOST

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I pretty much need to have this tattooed to my forehead at all times.  I am currently downing a sugar free AMP energy drink so I wouldn’t have to mosey across the street to Starbucks.

I’m wearing stripes today too.

And my hair is down.  I’m taking advantage of the fact I don’t need to blow dry it for it to look half way decent.  I still might put it up before class tonight, not sure yet.  Oh the decisions of my existence.

I have now submitted 3 out of 10 activities for one class.  When I take the exam this Friday I will officially be two weeks ahead.   This makes me happy.  I asked the professor if I could submit activities like WAY in advance and she said as long as I don’t skip ahead to anything then that’s fine.  I’m really liking this teacher.  I love online courses.  I hope my linguistics class ends up being awesome too, but sadly with all the people in class that know SO MUCH MORE than I do on the subject already, I doubt I’ll participate much.  Which leads me to my next question… If you know so much already why are you taking a 200 level intro class?  To boost your ego?  Ugh.

Blue Moon… You Saw Me Standing Alone… Without a Dream in My Heart… Without a Love Of My Own

This weekend, and all weekends long or normal sized, was no long enough.  I even had Friday off, and still.. blah.  I think it’s because I stayed up past 1:00am every night and woke up around 10 or 11 everyday.  Thus making this morning’s alarm at 6:00am worse than most days.  I didn’t emerge from bed till about 6:35 am and then I was already late, so I took my damn time.

I had a dream that I was able to quit my job and go to school full time.  This also must have meant that I got into the Grad Program in the first place.  This made me uber happy. I woke up to my reality as it is now, and fear and anxiety took over.  I am only applying to one program.  I am only giving it one shot.  I don’t know how I could do any better.  I could I guess apply for a program at another school?  But Where?  How would I even afford it?

Sigh.

I just get so confused sometimes

I just hope all of this hard work I am putting into this pays off.  I mean I could be focusing all of my energy into discovering the cure for something that would benefit someone other than me, so I hope GMU realizes that.  My time is precious yo.

This AMP energy drink needs to freaking kick in already.

So Summer is over, right?  Is it Autumn then?  Or is it unofficially the end of Summer with Autumn still weeks away?  My calendar is no help.  It says nothing on the topic.  This year, regardless is going by tooooo fast. I am not sure how to relish every moment if the majority of the things I have been looking forward to have passed.  Luckily there is still England in 31 days!  31 DAYS!  I could get through one flavor a day at Baskin Robbins and never repeat.  But I won’t.  Because I’d like to lose 10 pounds in those 31 days.  Think it’s doable?  We’ll see.  I’d like to at least be smaller than I am now.  We’ll put it that way.

I’d also like to be close friends with Duchess Catherine when this all over as well.  I doubt that one will be as easy.

I have “Mario Kart Love Song” stuck in my head.

Trying not to be BeBe in a Boot ver. 2.0

I am not sure if the compression sleeves did anything, but I will continue to wear them after long runs.  People swear by them, so I guess there is something to them.  May be it’s a long term thing.

Sorry for the pale legs.

xoxo

 

 

 

Weigh In Wednesday

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WI: +3.2
Total Lost: -41.4
Emotion: Befuddled

Day 09/100 – 100 days to Healthy

I’m not going to sit here and say that I had the perfect week and this makes no sense.  I didn’t have the perfect week.  I didn’t think I had a 3.2 gain week, either, but here we are.  I’m okay with it.  Because it’s one week in my many many weeks that I will live and weigh in.

Onward!

So I am getting all ready for the Whole30 exercise.  I’m thinking giving up all of that stuff will be difficult, of course, but not impossible.  I plan on taking it one day at a time, and seeing where I go with it.  Because the plan calls for no grains, dairy, alcohol, processed foods, legumes, sugar – and this severely limits my normal foods, I’ve decided to plan out my dinners – at least – ahead of time.  Breakfast can always be eggs and some veggie with turkey bacon.  It’s annoying to get up and make food like that every morning, especially when you are rushing 99% of the time like me, but in the end if my body operates better, isn’t it worth it?

Lunch – I’m loving the salads lately with chicken.  I am shocked at how full I am from a massive salad with tons of veggies.  Salads will always be a staple in my life, no matter what weight I am.

Dinners: (At least what I am currently planning – I hope I can stick to it) – September 2012 – WHOLE30 Challenge

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

1

Out (most likely)

2

Italian Sausage, Peppers and Onions over Spinach

3

Taco Salad (Ground turkey, veggies, avocado over spinach)

4

Baked Chicken with roasted broccoli & Carrots

5

Steak with Side salad and roasted brussel sprouts

6

Waldorf Salad with Chicken Breast

7

Out – Paleo Compliant Ordering

8

Out – Paleo Compliant Ordering

9

Dad’s Birthday – Could be Tricky.  I’ll do my Best

10

Chicken Stir Fry with Asian Slaw

 

11

Turkey Mini Meatloafs with Salad Side

12

Mexican Stuffed bell peppers (Now with real Mexicans!)

13

Breakfast For Dinner! Eggs, Bacon, Sausage

14

Out – Paleo Compliant Ordering

15

Out – Paleo Compliant Ordering

16

Crustless Chicken Pot Pie

17

Beef Stew with veggies

 

18

‘Pasta’ with meat and tomato sauce

19

Med. Salad with Chorizo

20

Chicken and Lamb Kebabs

21

Out – Paleo Compliant Ordering

22

Out – Paleo Compliant Ordering

23

Pork Loin with Roasted Baby Potatoes

24

Pan Fried Halibut with Roasted Cauliflower

 

25

Garden salad with grilled chicken and pine nuts (Balsamic Vinaigrette)

26

Low Carb Tex Mex Sloppy Joes

27

Pot Roast with Veggies and baby potatoes

28

Out – Paleo Compliant Ordering

29

Out – Paleo Compliant Ordering

30

Spaghetti Squash Pasta and Garlicky Beef

What do we think?

Obviously the meals in which I could make extra – I will – and that will be lunch the following day.  I love salad, but I don’t love salad.  I plan on posting pictures and recipes for the good ones.  The bad ones, I’ll just post a sad face in the dinner category.

I feel good about this.  I feel good about plans.  I seem to work well within limits.  I know the plan says “Some Fruit” but honey, if you are taking my cheese and wine away, I’m keeping my damn grapes and apples.

Class was good last night.  I got violently ill on the way home – TMI WARNING – had to pull over in a parking lot.  This hasn’t happen whilst I was sober in YEARS.  I’m like What the fudge? I got home and was wobbling into the house dropping my crap everywhere – I’m sure TPWSNBN thought I was drunk, and then he was mad that he was paying tuition for me to get drunk with a bunch of Linguists – and then I had to run into the bathroom again.

Finally once that was over, I decided I deserved a Weight Watchers Ice Cream Bar – since obviously dinner didn’t count – and then I went upstairs, brushed my teeth twice, washed my face and jumped into bed.  It took a while for the rest of the brood to come up stairs but, they did eventually – and I was already out.  I slept in till 6:45 am this morning.  It was glorious.  I still got to work by 8:15.  This will be the new Wednesday Plan for me.  Since I won’t get home till after 11pm, it seems to work the best.

Today after work I am planning on 3.5 to 4 miles.  My legs seem to be completely okay from Insanity fit test – which I realized just showed me how out of shape I am, and will have to be repeated as I did not immediately go into the actual program.  So really I put myself through 25 minutes of intense pain and breathlessness for the hell of it.  It amazes me though, that I can do a half marathon – not saying this was easy, but I did it – but 25 minutes of that – I want to throw a kettle bell at Shaun T’s head.

Dinner tonight is something… I can’t remember the dish. Salad?  Who knows.  I’m sure I’ll change my mind 8 million times though.

xoxo

Weigh In Wednesday

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Day 02/100 – 100 days to Healthy

WI: – 0.8
Total Lost: – 44.6
Emotion: What the What?

I have no clue how I managed to lose weight over the course of this past week.  Sure, yesterday I was on my game.  Kind of.  But nothing brilliant enough to warrant even a 0.1 loss, let alone a 0.8.  I’ll take it.  Believe me.  But I am stunned to say the least.

Plan of the Day:

  • Breakfast: Spinach, Sweet Pepper and Onion Fritatta, coffee with protein powder and cream
  • Snack: Banana
  • Lunch: Salad, yogurt, Steaze No Calorie Soda, Grapes
  • Snack: Apple and PB
  • Dinner: Italian Sausage with onions and peppers (TPWSNBN will have pasta with his, me? I’ll have some spinach or broccoli)
  • Activity: I’m getting my hair done this afternoon, so today is a rest day

I ran last night after work – 3.1 miles in 31’49 – I’M GETTING FASTER.  I have a 5k at the end of September to ease me back into racing, and then I’ve got 10k’s a half and another 5k to round out the year.  Then the Marathon in March.  I type that and my stomach turns.  Ouch it’s gonna hurt.  But a good hurt.  A hurt that will allow me to eat a massive hamburger that evening without worry.

I’ve realized Ritz Crackers can not be in my house.  I devoured the whole box in 7 days without help.

I’ve also realized that the next 40 days while I wait for George Mason University to review my grad school application, I will be either nauseous, angry, depressed or all three.  So just as a warning!

One thing that seems to calm me down is “Master Chef” on fox.

via. Fox.com

EVEN  THOUGH THEY KICKED MONTI OFF LAST NIGHT.  WHAT THE.  OMG.  JUST WRONG.

via. Fox.com

She was my favorite.  Possibly because she kind of looks like Anne Hathaway – but a bit older.  And she looks like a friend I used to work with at Caribou Coffee, but a bit older with different hair.  (Hi Beckie!)

Ugh my stomach is in knots.  This needs to stop happening.

Blog Post Of Awesomeness Round Up

I am very lucky that I randomly find or get introduced to awesome blogs and their owners through the many people I ‘know’ on Twitter.  You ask one question on a social media site, and suddenly you have people coming from all over offering their knowledge and advice.  It’s truly amazing.  I am not sure how I would function without social media in my life (Cliche? May be – get over it.  I love all these crazy ultra personal sites!).  These are a few of the many blog posts I’ve read over the past few days that struck a chord with me.  Hope you find some answers or new ideas through them!

xoxo Enjoy Your Wednesdays!