Apr 30, 2012

My First Foodie Penpals Package!

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Can you believe May is practically here? 2012 has been flying by, and I’m not sure I like it! Though I’d like time to pass a little more slowly, I am excited about one thing that comes along with the end of April: a post about my first Foodie Penpals Package!

The Lean Green Bean

Lindsay over at The Lean Green Bean started the Foodie Penpals project in September, and I decided to jump on board in April! My package came from Maria of Pappa Don’t Preach, and let me tell you—she set the bar SUPER high. I loved everything about her package, including the zebra print duct tape she used to wrap it up!

 FPP - April

Everything was as good as it looked—I promise!

In case you have trouble seeing what’s in the photo, here’s a list of what Maria sent me:

  • Doctor Kracker Seedlander Snackers
  • Trader Joe’s Marcona Almonds with Rosemary
  • Trader Joe’s Organic Ginger Pear White Tea
  • Trader Joe’s Red Pepper Spread
  • Nuts Online Cacao Nibs
  • Nuts Online Organic Raw Cacao Goji Energy Squares
  • Pure Bars

If you’re not jealous—you should be! This package was amazing, and I’ve enjoyed everything in it. My top three favorite items were the almonds (the rosemary seasoning was phenomenal), the red pepper spread (it was great on sandwiches) and the energy squares (they’re naturally sweetened and delicious). Want to know how you can get involved with Foodie Penpals in May? Read on!

  • 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 her mailing address and anything else you might need, like information about 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, and the box must 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 package depending on its size and fragility. Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!
  • Foodie Penpals is open to bloggers as well as readers. 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 her 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 U.S. and Canadian residents. Please note, Canadian residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We’ve determined things might get too slow and backed up if we’re trying to send foods through customs across the border from U.S. to Canada and vice versa.

If you’re interested in participating for May, please click here to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. You must submit your information by May 4th, as pairings will be emailed May 5th!

Are you involved with Foodie Penpals or another blogging project? If so, share them here—I’d love to learn about more!

Filed Under: Events, Personal · Tagged: ,
Apr 27, 2012

Praying for Em

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In February, I had the privilege of running in the Hope Express, a 135-mile run that was created with the intention of bridging the gap between the families on the seventh floor at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa., and the dancers at the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON). The seventh floor at HMC is where the pediatric cancer patients are treated, and THON is a student-run philanthropy that has raised more than $78 million for the fight against pediatric cancer.

I got involved in THON my freshman year at Penn State, and doing so was, without a doubt, one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I had the opportunity to dance in THON my senior year, which meant I had to stay awake and on my feet for 46 hours straight. Sound crazy? Maybe a little. It took me an entire week to catch up on my sleep, and my feet ached for days, but every second of discomfort or delirium was worth it because I knew I was helping to make a difference in the life of a child.

Not wanting to lose my connection to a cause so near and dear to my heart, I applied to run in the Hope Express a few month after graduating in May 2011. I was lucky enough to be chosen to participate and met dozens of incredible people because of it. One of those people was Emily Whitehead.

Emily Whitehead

Emily

Though it was brief, I met six-year-old Emily at Hershey Medical Center a few hours before the Hope Express kicked off. She was a bit shy and tired, but overall doing well in her battle with Leukemia. Since February, however, Emily’s health has taken a downward turn, and now she needs your help.

She needs your thought and your prayers, your love and your support, your strength and your courage. She’s fighting for her life right now, but she can’t win this fight on her own. So please, keep this beautiful little girl in your hearts, and send her all of the positivity you can muster.

NO child deserves to experience this, and one day, hopefully no child ever will. Until then, THON and the Hope Express are working toward conquering pediatric cancer, and you can, too. In October, I’ll be joining 11 other runners in a Ragnar Relay to continue to raise money for and awareness about the Hope Express. As always, the money we raise will go to THON and bring us one step closer to keeping kids like Emily out of the hospital and on the playground, where they belong. To give to the Hope Express and our Ragnar Relay team, you can visit my donation page.

Even if you can’t donate, please keep Emily in your prayers; she needs them now more than ever. Her birthday is May 2—let’s help her see her seventh year and many more to come.

Are you on Twitter? Use the hashtag #PrayingForEm to spread Emily’s story and send her your thoughts and prayers!

Filed Under: Inspiration, Personal · Tagged: , ,
Apr 25, 2012

3 Simple Ways to Fight Off a Cold

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The past few days have been cold and grey here in Pittsburgh—not exactly spring-like weather! Unfortunately, I’ve been a bit under the weather, too. A bug has been going around in my circle of friends and at the office, and I think I picked it up… Yuck!

When I was younger, I never thought twice about taking medicine to fight off a cold, and I still use it if I get really sick. The thing is… I don’t get really sick anymore! I honestly don’t remember the last time I was truly ill, and I credit that to my diet and exercise routine.

After stopping in the office in the morning, I worked from home yesterday because I wasn’t feeling well. Before I left, one of my colleagues suggested I “take lots of medicine” so I would feel better. Though she meant well, popping capsules of Aleve or taking shots of Dayquil was the last thing I wanted to do!

Farmacy

This is my kind of “farmacy”!

I’m a firm believer that food IS medicine, and if you eat well, you won’t need any of the conventional stuff! Sure, we all catch colds from time to time, but your diet will decide whether you’re back at it the next day or confined to the couch for a week. Next time you feel a case of the sniffles coming on, remember these simple ways to fight them off!

1. Drink LOTS of water. The standard recommendation for water consumption is eight glasses per day, but a lot of people don’t drink nearly that much. If you don’t feel well, increasing your water intake is one of the first things you should do! It’ll keep you hydrated and help to flush out your system.

2. Eat foods high in vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc. We’ve all heard that taking vitamin C supplements helps to boost immunity, but did you know the same is true about vitamin E and zinc? Though supplements work, whole foods are always a better option. Stop a cold in its tracks by loading up on fresh produce like bell peppers, broccoli, cantaloupe, kale, kiwi, oranges, spinach and strawberries.

3. Rest! A big reason it takes people longer than necessary to get over a cold is because they don’t give themselves time to relax and recover. Once you feel the onset of symptoms, try to take it easy before you’ve got a full blown cold. This doesn’t mean you have to throw in the towel every time you sneeze, but taking a half-day off when you first start to feel sick might just keep you from having to take off two or three days later on!

After taking my own advice (and approximately 17 bathroom breaks), I feel as good as new! Keep these tips in mind next time you catch the office bug, and I’ll bet you’ll feel the same in no time.

What are your tricks for beating a cold?

Filed Under: Nutrition Tips, Physical Health · Tagged: , ,
Apr 23, 2012

Green Up Your Routine with These 6 Tips

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Happy (belated) Earth Day! Though I’m no expert, and by NO means perfect, I try to do what I can to lessen my carbon footprint and keep our planet alive and kickin’ for future generations. Making sustainable choices is important to me, and I strive to do the best I can every day. While I’m not quite ready to give up toilet paper, I do carry a reusable water bottle with me, recycle and even belong to the “if it’s yellow, let it mellow” camp (TMI?).

I may be a day late, but I’ve decided to dedicate this post to giving you some easy tips you can use to start living in a greener, more ecofriendly way. Check out the six tips below, and think about what suggestions you can adopt today!

1. Eat locally grown food. Support a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or farmers’ market. Not only will you reap the benefits of delicious fresh produce, you’ll help to cut back on the  pollution generated when food is transported thousands of miles! Check out www.localharvest.org to find a CSA or farmers’ market near you.

2. Use ecofriendly personal care products. Look for toiletries that use natural ingredients, minimal and/or recycled packing and sustainable manufacturing practices. Tom’s of Maine is a great brand available in many grocery stores. Plus, the better it is for the planet, the better it is for  you!

3. Make your own cleaning products. Conventional cleaning products are made with harsh chemicals that are far from ecofriendly and, often times, dangerous to you! Instead of inhaling toxic fumes the next time you want your kitchen to sparkle, try to make some of your own cleaning supplies–you’ll be surprised at just how easy it is. It might take a little more elbow grease, but a little physical activity never killed anyone!

Green Cleaning Supplies

Vinegar, baking soda and lemon can all be used to clean everything from ovens to the kitchen sink! (Source)

4. Buy less prepackaged food. The more packaging a food has, the more energy it took to get on the shelf! Besides, food wrapped in plastic is less likely to be food and more likely to be a bunch of chemicals, food dyes and artificial flavors disguised as food. Do the planet (and yourself!) a favor and stick to whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and lean proteins.

5. Turn off unused lights. Remember when your parents yelled at you as a child about leaving the lights on after you left a room? Turns out, they weren’t crazy! Lighting is responsible for about 11 percent of home energy costs, so save the planet and some money by turning off lights you aren’t using.

6. Reduce your meat consumption. According to the United Nations, meat production and factory farming are responsible for 70 percent of water consumption, 38 percent of land use and 19 percent of the world greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most sustainable decisions you can make is to eat a more plant-based diet—whether that means going vegan or just trying Meatless Monday every once in a while, it’s up to you!

As you can see, going green doesn’t have to be difficult! Best of all, helping the planet can help you improve your health, save money and make a positive impact. I encourage you to apply one or two of these tips to your life and green up your routine!

What are some of your earth-friendly tips?

Filed Under: Sustainability · Tagged: , ,
Apr 20, 2012

Fun Facts Friday

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OK, so… I had another post planned for this glorious day, but it turns out I have to save that awesomeness for another time. Since my plan fell through and my brain is tired from being used all week, I’m going to give you a second installment of Fun Facts Friday! Please, try to contain your excitement.

1. I recently found out that a restaurant half an hour from my house serves VEGAN pizza. Do I really even need to say anymore?

2. As much as I love running, I hate what it’s doing to my feet—my tootsies have never been so gnarly in my life! I may or may not be developing bunions, I have calluses all over the place and one of my toenails turned black. I just feel sorry for the poor soul that gives me a pedicure after my half marathon.

3. Speaking of feet… I bought a fabulous pair of heels Saturday! Originally $100, I got them for $55—not too shabby, if I do say so myself. Now if only I could wear heels without my feet throwing a hissy fit…

New Shoes

Isn’t she pretty!?

4. Thanks to my sister, I have been laughing my ass off for the past two days because of this website. It is easily one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a very long time. Considering the amount of time I have wasted watching pointless (but hilarious) videos on YouTube, this is quite the accomplishment.

5. My local grocery store started to carry Almond Breeze’s Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blend, and it is DELICIOUS! This milk + frozen pineapple + banana + spinach (no, you can’t taste it) + protein powder = A PINACOLADA PROTEIN SMOOTHIE! Seriously, my breakfast was a mini-vacation yesterday morning.

Have a wonderful weekend, all! I’ll catch ya on the flipside.

What have been some of your highlights from this week?

Filed Under: Personal · Tagged: , ,
Apr 18, 2012

Lucky

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I’m a really lucky girl.

I have a wonderful family who drives me nuts loves me dearly, I’m in good health and I’ve found the career path I really believe I’m supposed to be going down. I’ve been blessed with a life filled with amazing experiences, and I know I’ll have even more as time goes on. The exciting part about imagining what my future holds has nothing to do with what I’ll achieve or where I’ll go. But, it does have everything to do with the person I picture standing next to me: Justin.

My boyfriend of two and a half years (as of yesterday—woo!) has been my rock since the day we started to date, and I truly can’t imagine my life without him in it. He was the first person I ever told about my disordered eating, and he’s helped me make more progress than I ever dreamed possible. He was with me almost nonstop while I danced in THON and helped me stay awake and on my feet for 46 hours straight. He was completely supportive when I told him I wanted to enroll in the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and he even paid for my tuition up front because I couldn’t afford to myself.

Big things aside, he does little things—important things—that I probably definitely don’t thank him enough for. Like taking our dog, Lucy, out. Or washing, drying and folding the laundry. Or filling up my gas tank when I forget to. Or proofreading my blog posts (except for this one!). The list could go on and on.

Fuoco Wedding 2

Thanks for making me smile!

So thanks, Justin. Thanks for being my roommate, my boyfriend and my best friend. Thanks for telling me I look beautiful when I wake up in the morning. Thanks for eating at vegan restaurants on a weekly basis with me. Thanks for continuing to buy me flowers for special occasions even though I always kill them. Thanks for having the nerve to get my phone number on New Year’s Eve six years ago. Thanks even more for calling.

My life is full of happiness and love because of the people in it. Having healthy and happy relationships make life a more fulfilling journey. I lost sight of that for a little while, but Justin helped remind me of it. I’m not saying you need to have a significant other to be happy, but I do think you need to have close relationships to genuinely enjoy life. After all, the best moments aren’t as exciting without someone to share them with—right?

Who are you close to? How have they impacted your life?

Filed Under: Personal · Tagged:
Apr 16, 2012

Some Like It Hot

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This weekend was a heavy hitter for me in the fitness world! Though I’m not complaining (I loved my workouts this weekend!), my body could definitely use a little rest, or at least some active recovery. Oddly enough, that’s how my killer workout weekend started—with what I planned to be a relaxing day!

My weekend started with a half hour stress relief massage, and apparently I needed it—or at least my shoulders did! The massage focused on my neck, shoulders and back, but the masseuse spent most of her time working epic knots out of my shoulders. Though it’s finally starting to feel a bit better, my neck/shoulder area was killing me after the massage! I know it’s better to have the knots out, but I think she used a little too much pressure. Or I’m just a whiny baby. Either way.

After my massage, I went to my first hot yoga class since… August? Yikes! It’s been a while, so I was a little rusty at first. Luckily, bikram instructors (at least the ones I’ve practiced with) are constantly giving cues, so I caught on again with no problem. I also found that I didn’t lose all of the flexibility I gained so long ago, which was an awesome surprise. One thing my body did struggle with was the heat—105 degrees is no joke! I felt fine throughout the entire class, but I was sweating so much I looked like I had just gotten out of a swimming pool when it was over.

Camel

Camel is one of my favorite bikram poses! (Source)

I always feel great after hot yoga, but this class felt more difficult than normal for some reason. My butt definitely got a good workout, and while this isn’t a problem (my flat booty could use some more muscle), I could really feel it during my Sunday run!

Speaking of… A 12-mile run is in the books, my friends! I think (knock on wood) my IT band issues are gone, and aside from some expected feet/knee discomfort toward the end, I felt great during the entire run! It’s all downhill from here, too, which I can’t believe. Tapering starts next week, and the race is only three weeks away!

Have you ever tried hot yoga? What did you think?

Filed Under: Fitness Tips · Tagged: , , ,
Apr 13, 2012

My Running Lust List

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Over the past few months, running has become a big part of my life. It’s helped me meet new people, get into great shape and do things I never thought I’d do—like train for  half-marathon! Since I’m taking my running seriously and doing it often, I’ve started to create a mental list of things I’m lusting after.

The thing is, this list keeps growing, and I’m afraid I’m going to forget something—which is why I’ve decided to share it with all of you! (Side Note: My birthday’s in October, but I’ll happily accept early gifts, haha.)

1. Tiger Tail (Source)

I remember reading about the Tiger Tail over on Carrots ‘n’ Cake, and it’s definitely something I’d love to have! Rumor has it that this bad boy is even better at releasing muscle tension than a foam roller, and that’s saying a lot! Being able to apply more pressure to areas like my quads and outer thighs would help with recovery after runs.

Running Skirt

2. Running Skirt (Source)

Now that it’s well into spring and warmer weather is finally here, I’ve decided that I need a running skirt—obviously. The idea of looking oh-so-cute while running my ass off like a machine makes me happy in so many ways. A lululemon skirt isn’t necessarily a must, but it would definitely be a welcome addition to my running wardrobe.

3. Inserts (Source)

Though this item isn’t quite so glamorous, it’s one that will benefit my running. After my long runs, my feet (specifically the balls of my feet) have been killing me. The discomfort subsides after a few hours, but it definitely makes the last few miles of my runs and the next few hours afterward less than pleasant. I have no idea what type of inserts would be the most helpful, but I do think they’d alleviate the pain.

OK, so my list wasn’t as long as I originally thought. Either that or I’ve already forgotten some stuff—probably the latter. Anyway, I hope to add some of these items to my running gear collection soon and cross them off my lust list!

What are some of your “must haves” items for your workout routine?

Filed Under: Fitness Tips, Personal · Tagged: , ,
Apr 11, 2012

Be the Change

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Monday night, I had the opportunity to see Miss Representation, a 90-minute documentary about the stereotypical, limiting and often degrading portrayals of women in the media. I first saw the film’s trailer at the Mega IIN conference I attended in March and talked briefly about it in a blog post I wrote a few weeks ago. While I loved the trailer, I had no idea how much the full movie would move me.

As a female who’s struggled with disordered eating for a large portion of her life, I know first hand how negatively the media can affect women. Though I’m embarrassed to admit it, I truly thought the models and actresses in magazines really looked like their photographs in real life—thin, flawless, perfect—until just a year or two ago. I had no idea how much Photoshop could completely alter how someone looks!

Do you want to know what the sad part is? Even after I started to realize the women on the cover of magazines didn’t really exist, I still wanted to look like them. I would have killed to attain that standard of perfection, even if it was impossible. That almost made it more attractive to me—knowing that if I could look like that, I would have achieved an unreachable goal.

Women in Numbers

Source

I know how unhealthy that sounds, and I’m not proud of having these thoughts and feelings. But you know what? I’m not ashamed, either. In a society that equates a woman’s worth to her physical appearance, it’s no wonder millions of women and girls are battling issues like eating disorders and depression. In fact, it’s a situation that can bring me to tears and make me want to punch the closest man to me all within a 30-second span!

Miss Representation sheds light on the reality women face in today’s society, one that many of us ignore, intentionally or otherwise. The documentary features strong, intelligent, inspiring women and men who provide insight and commentary about the issues facing women in America today. It also shows dozens of shocking facts, including the following:

  • 53% of 13 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies. That number increases to 78% by age 17.
  • Rates of depression among women and young girls have doubled in the past ten years.
  • 65% of American women and girls have disordered eating behavior.
  • The United States is 90th in the world in terms of women in national legislatures, behind countries like Afghanistan, China, Cuba and Iraq.
  • 15% of rape survivors are under the age of 12.

Statistics like these are absolutely infuriating, and they need to change. NOW.

A wise woman once told me that whatever you accept becomes acceptable behavior. I might be just one person, but I sure as hell am not going let things continue like this while I sit back and watch. Whether it’s writing blog posts, hosting screenings or running for office, I’m going to do something to change this. And I challenge you do to the same.

If you haven’t yet, do yourself a favor and watch this film. Find a screening near you. Better yet, host one. Educate yourself, educate your community and help to improve the world we live in. If we don’t take a stand and make a change, who will?

What is something, big or small, you can do to benefit women in your community?

Filed Under: Inspiration · Tagged: , , , ,
Apr 9, 2012

Back to Work

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First of all, I want to apologize for the short and sweet posts I’ve written lately! Life has been busy for me recently, and my blog has suffered a bit because of it. Though I don’t have much to say today, don’t worry—I won’t leave you completely hanging!

After a long holiday weekend, the last thing I want to do is go back to work, and I’m sure a lot of you can agree with me on that one. So, to start the work week off right, I thought I’d throw some words of wisdom your way. Hopefully they help you tackle the week ahead with a little extra “umph!”

 

What Makes You Happy

Quit Waiting

Crazy Ones

Here’s to a kick-ass week!

What are some quotes that inspire you?

Filed Under: Inspiration · Tagged: ,
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