Veggie-ful Paleo Chili

This morning, Matt talked me into doing G.I. Jane at 4:30am. Yeah, thats early.

G.I. Jane is oddly my favorite WOD. 100 burpee pull-ups (yes, thats one move, burpee, into a pull-up). I hate burpees as much as the next person, and I REALLY hate pull-ups. But the "scaling" for this is a sort of jumping pullup. Basically I can pull myself up if my arms are not completely locked out at the bottom. Still very painful, but obviously not a hard. I finished in 10:54 (about a MINUTE before Matt!!! Woop)

*Here's the proof*

Matt Hickling ‏@mthickling

Got my ass kicked this am by my gf @BeastMode_chic in GI Jane! Great job darling! #strongasschica #crossfit #mygfisstrongerthanyou!

**He did it on a higher bar!

After yesterday's killer pull-up WOD, and Tuesday's pull-up infested WOD, and now G.I. Jane....I feel like my arms might fall off.

The Paleo Chili was good!

As promised, here's the recipe :)

Veggie-ful Paleo Chili 

(pics to come later!!)

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 yellow onion (chopped)
• 2 garlic cloves chopped
• 1 lb lean ground beef (grass-fed if possible!)
• 1-2 tbsp chili powder (or to taste)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp cumin
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 15oz can tomato sauce 
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped 
• 3 carrots, sliced (1/2 in slices?)
• (other veggie suggestions- sweet potato, jicama, squash, peppers...)
• 1 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup water

1- Heat oil in a large pot, then add onion and garlic. Let cook for about 2 minutes

2- Add beef and cook until it's no longer pink.

3- Add everything else! Let cook for about an hour and a half on low (make sure you stir occasionally and check the added veggies to make sure they're soft)

4- Taste, add salt, pepper, chili powder as needed. Then eat!!!

Tastes really good over a coconut flour biscuit! Also, would be good served over spaghetti squash.

Before I sign off for the weekend (it's Friday people!!!) ...

First, I found the most amazing paleo approved dessert topping....I can't wait to tell you about it next week! (I literally sang "Almost Paradise" as I licked my spoon after making this)

Second, It's my Daddy's 50th birthday today!! 

Yep, I made him try CrossFit when he visited me.

I'll be 25 in a few months, which means I'll be exactly half his age! Which I realized this morning, means he was 25 when I was born (lots of work going on in my head today) I couldn't imagine having 2 kids right now. My parents are crazy people :)

Last, tomorrow marks 1 week until my first CrossFit competition and Sunday we are doing our CrossFit total! I can't wait to see how I do!

Happy weekend everyone!

Change is Good

Yep, I totally used to wear RecSpecs!

I hope this isn't the first time my bf is seeing that picture of me... (I told you I used to be a dork!)

It's great to be able to look back and see how far we've come, whether its major weight-loss (or weight gain!!!), muscle gains, or in my case...Nerd factor.

It's sad, I was in "gifted" classes and did well in school, but I was hardly a book worm type nerd. Luckily, I realized early that fitness and sports were my true passion!

How do you keep track of your changes?

What steps have you taken any steps to make the changes to become who you want to be?


**Also make sure you follow me by e-mail! Check out my side bar!!! I'm finally figuring out this whole blogger thing ;)

Brag Post!

Yesterday was a rest day, but I'm still feeling Tuesday night's workout! (and then this morning's workout on top of that!)

I can't believe I didn't post more about it, I love bragging about my workouts!

If I haven't mentioned before, competitor/advanced classes happen twice a week and are harder classes with 2 full WODs. Also, Joy (our the owner and our fabulous coach) trains with us, so we don't have to go over every movement prior to starting. It's great!

The first WOD was 100 OHS with 3 pullups ever minute on the minute. I ended up scaling my pullups because I still can't do more than 2.in a row. I love overhead squats though, they might even be a forte. The best part about them is the are a great full bod workout! So much core engagement! Who needs sit ups when you can do OHS?!

Then, the 2nd WOD was a 10 minute AMRAP of 5 heavy deadlifts and 10 toes to bar. I did much better at this WOD.

Thrusters

This morning's WOD was evil. Just plain evil. I thought I had done enough pull-ups Tuesday night. Joy thought otherwise.
Alternating between Thrusters and Pullups we did
3, 6, 9, 12,15, 18, 21 (each round we are increasing reps by 3 thursters)
21, 18, 15, 12, 9, 6, 3 (decreasing each round by 3 pullups)

I actually felt stronger today. I used a red band for my pull-ups, but I didn't cry or pout or anything. I just did a few, rested, did a few more. Its a slow process, but considering in 24 years of life I was never able to lift my body weight up to a bar, and now I can at least one....I'd say I'm making progress!

Oh and hey, check out this website! Scroll down a bit....see the guy doing snatches? That's my bf :) Aren't I a great gf for sending that in? *pats self on back*

I made paleo chili last night. I'm going to taste it today and if it's good, I'll tell you about it!
Until tomorrow....enjoy these adorable kiddos!

I think I used to look something like this

Flashback!!! See? I told ya I was a Blackbelt!
I'm the taller one, the other girl was a family friend :)

Almond Butter Pumpkin Brownies

It's Wednesday, and Rest Day! I haven't taken a full rest day in over a week! I guess you could consider Saturday a rest day, I only ran a 5k, but normal people don't consider running 3 miles a "rest".

First, I want to tell everyone that last week, I registered for my first ever CrossFit Competition! I real one! with judges that you have to pay to participate in! It's a team competition, and my team is going in "Scaled" (aka not doing the heaviest weights, etc), but it's real! I am COMPETING!

Isn't this what I said I wanted when I first started writing this blog?

I have no doubt that we will do well, but we are going into it with hopes of just keeping up. This is for fun...an experience! Anyway, the competition is October 6th at Albany CrossFit. Hopefully, my hands heal before then and my body stops feeling like a train wreck :) anyone want to pay for me to get a massage? No? meh...at least I tried.

I'm a big baby. I hate rips. This is nothing compared to some people's!

This morning, someone woke me up at 530am even though I wasn't going to CrossFit. So what else would I do with the extra hour I had before I had to get read for work?...BAKE!

These are awesome! and work for the Paleo challenge!! 

Also, easy to make for the baking challenged

Almond Butter Pumpkin Brownies

adapted from thisprimallife.com

Ingredients:
1 cup almond butter
¾ cup pureed pumpkin (or squash)
1 egg
2 Tbsp Agave
1 tsp baking soda
cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a greased 8 x 8 in pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Sprinkle top with cinnamon. Serves 8. (If you are doing the challenge, either don't add agave, or make as written, cut into 8 equal pieces and only eat 2 at most in 1 day!!!...You are only allowed 1 tsp of agave a day)

Options: This recipe is easily adaptable! I'm thinking about adding unsweetened cocoa next! Other options, raisins, coconut flakes, pumpkin pie spice...if you aren't doing this challenge, add 1/4 of honey or maple syrup, or add chocolate chips! Very versatile recipe here!!!

Date night and Appetites!

This past Friday, Matt and I had to go to CrossFit in the evening because of our schedule and I didn't have a car. It's rare for us to go in the evening, especially on a Friday, but we had to get in the last "Benchmark WOD" for the Challenge. The class ended up being just me and Matt and my friend Kate and her bf (also named Matt). Date night at CrossFit! Cute, huh? I think this could be a thing...couples working out together on Friday nights instead of going out....I like it :P

The 3rd Benchmark WOD was:
5 rounds- 20 Burpees and 20 KB Swings at 35 lbs

I wasn't ready for this WOD, even though I did fine (finished in 12:07). I just know my body was not feeling good before I started. The past week has been rough on my body! Tonight is competitors class, another rough workout! Then, I'm taking a rest day!!!

From what I hear the first WOD tonight will be 100 overhead squats with 3 pullups EMOM (every min on the min).

I'm awful at pullups....but...

I'm really getting frustrated with myself right now. I'm doing well on this diet, I haven't given in to any temptations, I love eating veggies and meat! BUT, for some reason my body has decided to torture me. I get hungry in the morning and that's it. The rest of the day, I nibble on things, but I don't feel like I have an appetite to eat food. I know, most people would LOVE to not be hungry, but hunger=metabolism working! Actually, the only thing my stomach (or maybe its my head?) wants is a PB&J sandwich, or ice cream, or something else completely awful for me. I'm trying to make Paleo "comfort" foods to fix this, but I'm still forcing myself to eat. Last night, I made baked sweet potato fries and a chicken sausage. Maybe because the fries wouldn't quite crisp like fried ones, it didn't satisfy my food desires. Ugh, I hate complaining about my eating, but if anyone has an opinion as to why I'm not hungry, I would love to hear it! I'm truly afraid my metabolism is slowing.

Less than 8 weeks now! Just have to keep going! :)

Enduring Willpower

It's Monday again, and as usual, my weekend was crazy busy.

Today marks one week of the paleo challenge. This weekend included a life event for me....

I passed on birthday cake and ice cream! Not just any cake and ice cream, but lemon cake with strawberry filling and vanilla cake with chocolate filling....and ICE CREAM! I love ice cream.

Here's the birthday boy, Matt's Grandpa! These sweets were to celebrate his 90th birthday!! Woo hoo!

Also, on Saturday, Matt and I ran the "Color Me Rad" 5k fun run. We got just a bit messy! I was not in the mood to run. I was so sore and tired from the past week of crazy workouts that I basically complained the entire time. We still beat the average person's 5k time (mostly because Matt is incapable of running slow, so even though we were "running together", I was actually chasing him the entire time)

On Sunday, we had a Handstand Clinic at CrossFit Beyond. 3ish hours of handstands is not easy on your body! I am extremely sore today! But, I was able to walk a few steps on my hands, so...Victory!!!!!

My friend Kate working on her handstanding!

For dinner Sunday, I treated Matt and his brother to Spaghetti Squash and meatballs, garlic roasted cauliflower, and yes...paleo garlic biscuits!

Will someone please explain this to me? Why the heck would you drink something with twice as many carbs to protein?! Thats a legit selling point?!

Happy Monday! Have a fit week :)

Paleo Challenge: Days 1-6

 What have I been eating?!

Applegate Farms Chicken Sausage, half of a sweet potato, cucumber/tomato/onion salad

 Kale and pepper salad, buffalo chicken sausage, half ofa sweet potato

 Brussel sprouts cooked in bacon fat, turkey sausage, mushrooms, and an egg on top!

 <--Breakfast! 2 eggs scrambled with 2 strips lean bacon, and a half of a banana with almond butter

Roasted Chicken and vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, mushrooms)

Pulled/slow cooked chicken, half of a sweet potato, and brussel sprouts and mushrooms!

So, for the super duper exciting news.... I've lost 8 pounds already! Ok, so I know it's not all fat. Duh. Maybe 2 lbs were fat, the rest was most certainly water weight and bloat brought on by the crap and the sodium filled junk I was eating. Big surprise! 

What's saving me: 

-Chicken and turkey sausage- super fast and easy to eat. Good for at work lunch or after work snacks! High in protein (like 11g?)

-I found some non-cheat "cheats". They are not cheats on the challenge, but if I eat too much of them they will not help me! These include bananas in all forms (smoothies, with almond butter, alone, in the form of pancakes), sweet potatoes (I stick to a half a day, but I could do without them!), and unsweetened pumpkin streusel (Check my recipes page for this fabulous-ness).

-Being too busy to think about food/not having a car all week to drive out and buy much food

-Chipotle is a great GO-TO with their salads! BUT watch out, the chicken and beef and fajita veggies are cooked in soybean oil! Stick with the carnitas :) its my fave anyway

**Note, I snack a lot! Usually almonds, fruit, or halves of avocado. I eat a lot. I make sure I get enough protein to keep from feeling hungry, but don't be deceived. I am not starving myself or watching calories (portions I do watch, but thats becasue I have goals and they include gaining muscle and losing fat). I understand what my body needs.

Dreams and Risks

Since I was about 12 I think, I've wanted to bake. My life plan was go to pastry school with my bff Courtney. We would live together through school and bake amazing things. Then I caught a stick of butter on fire and my mom told me I'm too messy to ever bake professionally. (For some reason I took that to heart and that is the reason I never even thought to actually pursue this dream) So I went in to Radiation and Courtney answered her call in the church.

My dreams have changed slightly, but not by much! After a year in a desk job, I realized that 8-430 chair sitting is bogus. This is totally not me. I have a personal trainers certification, I'm going for my CrossFit level 1 coach cert next month, and healthy eating and fitness are everything to me (okay and my family and friends and bf) but I know they want me to succeed in these dreams. I've realized that I am my father's daughter more now than ever before....He started his own business and his success inspires me. (I just teared up typing that, haha) Also, ever since I've changed my FB name to my first and middle (to prevent creepers and employers from finding my personal life) I have begun signing things as KC (which are also my dad's initials and what everyone calls him).Weird.

I follow a Paleo lifestyle and I love it. What I love even more? Baking Paleo! I love making yummy amazing things for my friends that are following this diet (and some that aren't) and hearing them rave about how surprisingly good it is! (not surprising because I made it, but surprising because it's Paleo!) So how do I get started? What do I do now?  How do I make my dreams come true and start this paleo bakery and eventually (someday in the future, after I become more experienced) open my own gym (CrossFit preferably!)?

It's scary to know what you want and feel drawn to it....but not know how to get there. It's like I'm on one edge of a cliff, and I look across the canyon and see everything I've ever wanted. Sure, there's an unsturdy looking bridge to my right and to my left a long, twisting trail that supposedly leads to the other side...but I'm safe right where I am, why risk it?

I have a fabulous and supportive family, I have a boyfriend who encourages my dreams rather than knocks them down, and I have drive....Now I just need guidance, or a nudge in the right direction.

On a less serious note, I'm going to recap my meals from this week tomorrow (a Staurday post?! heck yes!) and tell you how the challenge is going! I got some pretty exciting news to share :)

Points of interest

While surfin' the net lately and checking out some tweets and blog posts from new friends, I've come across some things that I love! I thougth I'd take the time to share them with you!

-Women really need to realize that lifting weights does not make you bulky. Unless you try really hard to get bulky! Check out one of the fittest women in the world, Camille Leblanc Bazinet. She can lift more than me, she's huge right?Looks all big and manly?

No! She doesn't! She looks awesome!
Check out this post and learn more about why all women should be lifting weights!
Why Strength Training is Critical for Women
a post by Jennifer from Wine to Weightlifting

-The website that bring you these....

When attempting to RX a WOD...

-The Girls Gone Strong Manifesto... It rocks. Actually, everything about these women and what they post is so fitting to me! I'm not a yoga runner girl. Sure, both are fun, but give me some heavy weights and I'll be much happier!

-These shorts are great. I think I own 6-7 pair now. Absolutely need more.

-This song <3

-KOMBUCHA! delicious and healthy and Paleo friendly! I sound like a commercial, but truthfully, this stuffs gooooood.
See synergy.com for more info on their fabulous-ness

- Chef Katelyn
Her blog and tweets are awesome
Today she almost tricked me into drinking my coffee with coconut oil and salt. #gullible

Hope you enjoyed some of these as much as I do!

I hope to incorporate products (like the ones I just talked about) into my Product reviews page!
What?! You haven't seen it? Look at the top of the page....now, do it, I'm waiting...

Yes, see it? Ok, there's nothing on it yet. But there will be!
Did you also see my new "Life Goals" page? Ok, I'll wait while you look again. Seriously, be more observant! If it was a snake it would have bit you!

Ok, Check that out too, because I'm awesome and confident that I can get all (or a real good chunk) checked off! And then I'll add more!

Raw Chicken

I like to think I'm pretty good at cooking, now (I've come a long way since my days of think garlic came from jars and shaker bottles...thanks Megara!). I successfully roasted a chicken for Thanksgiving last year, though much smaller, and was ultimately upsidedown (shutup...it tasted fine) it was cooked! Last night, in an effort to make yummy a paleo meal to span a few days, I decided to roast a bird. My roommates bf asked me how I was going to tell if it was fully cooked, to which I replied "I think the thingamajig need to pop out of the whatchamacallit". Obviously, I was mistaken and the button had only slightly poofed and not fully popped. MY BAD.

Today's WOD was "Christine"
It was another Benchmark WOD for the challenge, so I had to do Rx
3 rounds
500m row, 12 body weight deadifts, 21 box jumps
The sad part is, I'm not light...My boyfriend and I (and most of the upper level guys in my class) weight about the same. SO, these guys that max deadlifts over 300lbs are doing the same weight as me!

it just isn't :(

I finished the WOD in 15:01. I was happy enough with that time. I think the worst part was going from heavy deadlifts to box jumps. I can jump higher than 20", but when I approached the box I felt like I was jumping The Great Wall of China. I tripped into the box a few times before the lactic acid cleared a bit and I regained control of my muscles.

I <3 Katie Hogan. Look at that angry face! I picture this a lot when I need lifting inspiration!

I think Friday I will recap my meals for the week and talk about week one of the challenge! Going strong! Lots of awesome foods and no bad cravings yet! Though, I eat more fruit than I was, I'm slowly removing them from the diet!

Do you notice a difference in how you feel when you eat better?
Have you tried any special diets/lifestyles? How did they affect you?

Snatchin' it up

I love when I surprise myself and rock a WOD.
Ok, so I really don't know if I did THAT well....but I felt like I did! Today is day 2 of the Paleo challenge (I promise I'll stop talking about it daily and keep my updates to weekly for the most part!)
We did a Benchmark WOD (part of the challenge is to see how you improve in CrossFit as well as weightloss, overall health).

"Randy" 75 reps of 55# Snatches- Women's Rx (Mens Rx was 75)

 A snatch is taking weight from the ground to overhead position without stopping in between. (A clean and jerk is ground to overhead, but you pause with the weight on you shoulders)

I completed this in 7:56, and then collapsed on the floor with a heaving chest, gasping for air, unable to move my legs or close my hands (mind you, my finger still looks like a purple grape on the end of a stick)

This lasted a god 2 minutes before I rolled over and pulled myself together.

Then we were told to do 2 rounds of run 200m 15 squats.
"Um, excuse me, if I squat, I won't be able to get back up." BUT I did it and whined a bit.

Tonight, I'm supposed to go back to CrossFit for competitors class (an hour of really hard stuff)
but it's raining, there are 60mph winds expected, and I don't have a car right now (yes, I'm accident prone and break things...this is why I don't have nice things! ok that's a total lie, I'm spoiled). Anyway, my bf texted me to tell me I'm not allowed to walk or ride my bike in this weather to CrossFit.

this is how I feel about that.

Though, I am still sore. There is a chicken waiting to be roasted in the fridge... AND I really don't want to walk in the rain for 3ish miles. I might actually listen to the guy for once (he is a nurse, but I'm stubborn)

My strict paleo-ing is going well, I know I feel good waking up after a good food day, so I can't wait to see how I feel after 63 days of this.

Probably a lot like this :)

We'll see what I end up doing tonight :P

Do you have a hard time taking a break from the gym?
Do you alter you life/make crazy sacrifices for a workout?
Is that safe?

Keep working hard everyone! You rock! Loving the feedback from #sweatpink and #girlsgonesporty <3

Happy Monday!

 It's Monday! And DAY ONE of the LuRong Living Paleo Challenge! I'm pretty excited about this. I love food, and it will be rough...but it's only 9 weeks and in those 9 weeks, I'm going to transform my body and feel fantastic! Then pig out on Thanksgiving and then go back to being healthy :) I'm ready!

Sunday morning, Matt and I enjoyed a final cheat that was absolutely necessary for this fall weather... APPLE CIDER DONUTS AND APPLE CIDER!

Remember how I was complaining about dying? No sleep-->stress-->pain....well Friday night I showed up at Matt's apartment before dinner and found these beauties!

My favorite flower, with a cute little card. This pic does not do them justice, but there were a lot of them and I couldn't get them all into the picture :(

I went pillow shopping...again. This time I tried out every pillow on display and finally found one that has potential to be perfect. I felt like Goldie Locks "This pillow is too hard...this pillow is too soft!"....

Saturday was spent playing volleyball and trying not to look at these guys...

Yeah, those are full grown men....in short dresses....playing volleyball! My team lost pretty bad, but it was a beautiful day and lots of fun, I got sun burned, and completely exhausted from the sun....I was in bed by 9:30pm.

I just explained my weekend in the most out of order way I could. Hope you kept up :)

Today's WOD was 3x3x3x3x3 over head squats (trying to find your 3 rep max weight)

Here's an idea of how I did...

In my book where I track my workouts, the last time I tried my 1 rep max overhead squat, I got 105#.

Theoratically...no...factually? 3 rep maxes will always be lower than 1 rep max...because you have to do it 3 times...duh!

Anyway, so my 3 rep max was 115#!!!! 10# more than my old 1-rep max!!! I can't wait to see what my new 1 rep is! Eeeek! Go me!

Finally...

You may be wondering what these icons on the side of my blog are for...

Well, I applied and I am now a Sweat Pink and Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador! These are 2 different websites that promote health and fitness bloggers and offer advice, tips, info, etc for fitness lovers! They also give some really cool gear! I'm really excited to be a part of these 2 groups as well as staying faithful to Girlnetic! 

Happy Monday everyone! 

I need a new Pillow.

I think I'm dying.

Ok that's a lie. But everything hurts. Last night was another competitors class at CrossFit and then, me being the genius, exercise loving crazy that I am (ok again, a lie, I like to workout, but I've learned to love my breaks!) I woke up for 6am class too! (Note: competitors class was at 7pm...which means there was less than 12 hours between the end of that workout, and the start of todays) Now, I know, "suck it up Karli" you CHOOSE to do this" yes...I do. But I did not ask for things to wake me up in the middle of the night or the sore throat I'm suffering from due to dry air, or this ache in my neck from buying yet another awful pillow. I have 6 pillows in my room now....not one of them is comfortable, and my newest (extra-firm) is awesome when I sleep on my back. Which is like 5% of the time. The other 95% I'm rolling around wrapping myself up in the covers or kicking things. The point of this all, I need just one night in a completely dark room set at 68 degrees F, with some sort of humidifier, and a decent pillow. Please and thank you.

Compeitors class was fun...as usual! I love new people and seeing classes full....for the sake of the gym's growth...but when I get to workout with people that know what they're doing and are serious about getting better, I do better!

Last night's WODs were:
5 rounds

I wish I had a pink prowler :(

Prowler pushes, adding 10 lbs each round
Followed by 2 box jumps, adding height each round

Then:
3 rounds
2 minutes of clean and jerk
2 minutes rest
(I did 105# and got 35 reps)

6am Today...
Filthy Fifty

50 Box jump, 24 inch box (20in)
50 Jumping pull-ups
50 Kettlebell swings, 1 pood (25#)
Walking Lunge, 50 steps
50 Knees to elbows
50 Push press, 45 pounds (35#)
50 Back extensions
50 Wall ball shots, 20 pound ball (14#)
50 Burpees
50 Double unders

I unfortunately had to scale this (40 reps and the lower weights). I didn't want to not go...but tomorrow I'm playing volleyball and this week has been ridiculous on my body (and back) so I figured it would still be a better workout then laying in a comfy bed.

For breakfast, I made coconut flour flatbread and made it into an egg and turkey sandwich! Mmmm.

Ingredients:

2 Eggs

2 Tbsp coconut flour

1/8 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

1/4 coconut milk (almond works also!)

Beat eggs and then mix everything else in. Wait a bout a minute, then on a hot griddle/pan, pour the batter into circles (like pancakes!), once the side start bubbling, flip until cooked through.

Eat it by itself or make sandwiches! 

By the way....

IT'S FRIDAY!!

I get to eat at Carmine's Brazilian Grill tonight! Woot! Om nom nom, I love food. Have an awesome weekend!

P.S.- If you were wondering why my blog is titled "Keep Going" well, first, I got the idea from my soul sister (theres no other way to describe this girl, we have never met, but we are so similar..and she's awesome) Lindsey, who had it printed on her custom Nikes (and she has good taste!). Second, it fits me because every time I think back to a time where someone pushed me while running or doing anything where a partner knew I had more energy/strength/whatever to go faster or harder, they would yell Go Karli! or Keep going! (Specifically, my friend Amy and I were running a race...we started out together, but she yelled for me to go and it really drove me!...then again last night during a warm-up the girl I was running with told me to keep going, and I suddenly had a new burst of energy to finish the mile)

See ya laters

Last night was last trivia and wings with Megan/my last cheat meal before the challenge eating extravaganza at my favorite bar that is conveniently located only a few blocks from my apartment. First we had fried pickles, and spin art dip (spinach/artichoke)...then I had buffa-cue wings and sweet potato fries, all washed down with a Sourthern Tier Creme Brulee beer (which tasted like coffee and syrup, I wanted pumpkin beer!) It was fantastic. For the first time in a long time (3 months to be exact) I didn't think about what I was eating, I didn't think about how it would affect my body, I didn't care how many calories it was...I just ate it and enjoyed it and had an awesome time with 2 great friends. We came in 6th place out of 7 in trivia, but oh well, we tried!

First I was like...Mmmm

Then, I kept shoveling it in...

and this is how I felt after!!!!

This morning, not feeling so great. It could have something to do with the food and beer...maybe also because my neighbors were filming an episode of divorce court on the back deck that is literally 20 ft from my deck that is right outside of my bedroom. Either way, I'm tired, my head hurts, my body aches, and I want to whine about it some more!

                                             

Also, on top of Megan, my best Albany friend, moving to Alabama forever, my best friend from college is moving back to Serbia today. As a sophomore in college on the Women's Varsity volleyball team, I was asked (forced) to pick up this new recruit (Hristina) from the airport and have her stay at my house until school started. She quickly learned that I'm an awful driver, I tell the same stories 50 times, I like jumping on beds, and I snort when I laugh. I learned that she has lived a crazy life and gone through more than I could ever imagine....from living in a city that was under attack, to travelling and living in a foreign country on her own, to losing a parent. She quickly became my best friend (or maybe I forced myself into her life because I do that sometimes) either way, my family accepted her as another member, she's spent holidays and family dinners (sometimes with out me even being around) with us. I won't get into the politics or how ridiculous it is that it is impossible for her to stay in this country now....but it sucks. I'm sad. Whats worse, is I've lived 500 miles from her for the past year and can't even say good-bye. So I'm not saying good-bye. But today sucks none the less. 

Halloween 2007?

yeah, we hold hands...got a problem with that?