Weekend Recap

If I could put my stress level and anxiety into words, this blog post would be so long! 

I leave for Europe in 9 days and will still be in school.

I take online classes, so I won't actually be missing class. But that means that I have to turn in 3 weeks of assignments early. Including 3 papers. I'm a little stressed. Feel me?

This weekend was very productive! Friday I didn't go out and did two big assignments and got them turned in early. I love that feeling. Saturday I did more homework and worked that night. Then Sunday I worked during the day. 

My weekend: Work and homework. 

Exciting right?? Ha. 

I am reminded daily that a good college education is what I need. I do not want to be stuck in the restaurant business much longer. I wrote in a previous post that the nice people I serve always help me over look the rude ones. 

Well, normally that is the case. This weekend was a little different. But I have let it go and I have four days of nothing but school work ahead of me to forget about them. :) 

Yesterday when I got off of work, I immediately changed into my comfy clothes and rolled out my yoga mat. I just sat and stretched and watched Youtube videos for a good 30 min. It felt great! I forgot how much I really enjoy those times. It's good to decompress and just reflect on what really matters. 

My motto for this past weekend and upcoming week:

Namaste. 

Post Workout Snack

After a good workout at the gym, I come home and am ready to eat whatever is in the fridge. I am one of those people who is starving literally right after I walk through my front door.

To avoid pigging out, I have a solid, healthy snack that will stick to my ribs. 

It includes:

1 apple, a small spoonful of peanut butter, a few strawberries, and a big glass of water with fresh lemon juice. 

I love peanut butter. I could eat half of a jar in one sitting. Plus it's delicious with an apple! 

Strawberries are basically like dessert for me, so it helps calm my sweet tooth. 

Lemon water is a great way to detox your body. I have started drinking it in the morning and I will write and update if I notice a difference.

What are some post work out snacks you eat?

Until next time

Starting a New Chapter In My Life

When I was little, I was a great student. I was excited to do my homework. I would get home, and do it right away. It wasn't so I could play longer, but so I felt like I achieved something. 

Middle school came around and I would panic if I missed an assignment or didn't get a good grade. 

High School came and I had the same mentality, but only for the classes I enjoyed.

College came...and well, I lost ALL motivation. 

I am embarrassed with how I treated college. It wasn't until this past Fall that I fell in love with school. I really do like it. I have found my place and figured out my major. 

So I took the big step of apply to a university to transfer to. 

Today, I got my acceptance letter. 

I was kind of bummed because I wanted to find out from a letter in the mail, but I found out from an email, which I did not expect.

About 30 min the mail came with my letter. Go figure haha!

My reaction: A squeal and then I cried. I was so relieved and felt like I could breathe because I was anticipating it for quite some time. 

I am finally moving on from the horrible community college system and working towards my degree. 

As a community college student, I am NOT putting down the 2 year route whatsoever. But I am speaking out about how impacted the community colleges in my area are. I have been stuck in a junior college for quite some time now.  It's sad how at one time, I was only taking 6 units because all of the classes are full. School shouldn't be like that. 

I am 22 years old, and am just now transferring. 

Everyone my age is graduating this Spring. 

I hate that feeling. 

But it is something that I have to deal with. It actually makes me work harder to achieve my goals. 

And I am proud of myself for reaching my goal of getting into an amazing school that will bring great opportunities. 

So what if I am 22 and going to be living in a dorm for the first time?! I'm getting the experience I have always wanted, and at one time never thought I would do. 

In the future, I will be able to say "my college roommate", or "when I lived in the dorms at college". 

That puts a smile on my face. 

Another thing that makes me smile is the shopping I will be doing! I am such a nerd when it comes to buying bedding and containers and all the things you need when you live in a dorm. Yet another thing I got from my mom. I even created a new board on Pinterest for room ideas! I told you I was crazy. 

{go check out my Pinterst here}

So I am sure that there will be posts about what I am bringing with me and posts dorm room related in the future. 

And I am so excited to document and share my journey! 

Until next time

My Workout Routine

With my big trip approaching quickly, I am trying to get in the best shape I can be in. I want to feel good while I'm there, and lets be honest, look good in pictures. 

I have a few pairs of shorts I am bringing, and I will look good in them. It's a promise, haha. 

I will admit though, I was doing great for about 3 weeks, but I have slacked off on the gym. I was doing at home workouts, but slacked off on those too. Woops. Since I have only a little over a month until I leave, now is the time to get my butt in gear!!

Cardio

For me, cardio consists of the bike, the stair master, and the treadmill. I do about 10-15 min on the bike, then 15 min on the stair master, then about 10-15 on the treadmill. I try to keep my heart rate up, but I do take about a 2 minute break in between each machine to stretch and whatnot. Sometimes I do closer to an hour, but I go by how I'm feeling that day. When I work out at home, I do jumping jacks and high knees, and even jumping rope. 

Arms and Back

I love planks. I swear that they are the best whole body workout. I normally do 5 sets of 30 second planks with about a 10 second break in between each set. I also use the weight machines at the gym, but prefer free weights and my own body weight to train. I feel like it's more natural. I do arm dips {I doubt that is the proper name for it} on a bench or chair, and they really do the job. Most arm workouts use my back muscles, so I kill two birds with one stone. 

Abs

Oh ab workouts. It's a love hate relationship. I have a set routine that I love. If I am out of shape, I only do it about 3 times, but my normal amount is 5 times. I start off with a 10 pound weight and just do 20 normal sit ups. I then move onto 30 Russian twists with the weight. Next is leg extensions, where you lean back on your arms while extending your legs and then bringing them into a crunch. I do 20 reps. Finally, I use an exercise ball and squeeze between my feet. I raise my legs up, take the ball with my hands, and then lower both my legs and arms {with the ball in my hands} down and repeat, but this time putting the ball back between my feet. Again, don't know the name of that either, haha. And that is my ab routine! Feel the burn.

Legs

Because my knee is still recovering, I have certain exercises I do the strengthen my legs. I love doing the leg press, it is one of my favorites. I also like the abductor and adductor machine. It's always a challenge but your feel great afterwards. But the best one for me is just simple squats. I use one of the weight benches so it sets a goal for how far down I need to get my butt. It really helps build up my muscle and keeps the booty perky! I heard a saying that I love: "Ass to grass". Its so true!

So that is my workout routine! I normally am at the gym for about 2 hours Monday-Thursday, but on Friday and Saturday I normally have more going on, so it's closer to an hour. Even if it's 30 min, I still feel good because I was able to get some sort of exercise in. 

I also change it up. Sometimes I replace cardio machines with swimming. It's all about what makes you feel the best and gets you the results you want. 

And with anything, do a workout routine that is right FOR YOU! Don't go by what others do, otherwise you could harm your body. 

Happy workouts!

xo

-c

Save the animals!

The other day I went shopping for some supplies for my trip, and I stopped in at Lush. 

I love Lush for multiple reasons, but mostly because their products are hand made and they do not do ANY testing on animals.  I signed the petition that they had at the register and I was so excited that there were so many pages already filled out.

A few days previously, I received the Lush email that showed a brave woman in the U.K. demonstrate what animals are put through when they are forced into being lab animals. 

A woman was inside a Lush store, wearing a nude body suit. She was in the window, so all of the tests were easily seen by the public. What was done to her will forever be in my mind. 

*Warning: this image may be disturbing to some*

But I think we all need to see it. 

Her mouth is forced to stay open while she is getting creams, injections, and drops tested on her. All sorts of animals, including cats and dogs, go through this daily. For most, this is the only life they know. They are born in the lab, and die in the lab. 

Reading this article helped open my eyes. Let me tell you, I am forever doing my research on my cosmetic brands and if animal testing is involved. It is a subject that many don't like to talk about or even think about, but it is a big problem. 

I came across a video that made me cry. 9 Beagles were rescued from a lab and they never stepped foot outside of their small crates. They never were able to feel the sunshine or the grass. They only knew of the living hell they were put through everyday. It makes my stomach hurt just to think what they are tested with. 

No animal should go through this. It is disgusting that humans can inflict pain on an innocent living being. 

To take a stand and make a difference, click here to learn more and spread the word. 

xo

-c