30 Day Challenge- Day #4

4. List 5 things you would tell your 16 year old self, if you could.

• Relax!
• Live a little!
• Appreciate life without bills or responsiblity
• Listen to your gut and trust your first instincts
• Don't stress so much about doing everything right and perfect

I love this picture. This was a Spring Break trip I took with my two best friends in high school. This is at Disney World- possibly after I freaked on Tower of Terror! I still love these girls!

Have a great weekend!

30 Day Challenge- Day #3

3. Describe your relationship with your parents.

In one word- amazing. My parents are some of the most supportive and loving parents in the world. They let me make my own decisions and be an adult but, are still there to pick me up when I fall. I know there is no way I would have accomplished what I have without being raised in the family I was blessed with. They live 18 hours away from me and I struggle to not be with them on a more regular basis.

 I would say more but, honestly, that's the heart of it- and I have a tendency to ramble!

Happy Friday!!

30 Day Challenge- Day #2

2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

This is a hard one- mainly because I am a scared about everything!

• I am afraid I will disappoint someone. This one is hard to explain because I can't really call myself a "people pleaser". If I don't want to do something or you don't like me- I really don't care. I developed a thick skin about that a long time ago. But, I want the people who care about me to feel that I am a good person who has accomplished something. Don't know what that something is but- that I am someone they can be proud of.
• To be honest I don't know where this came from. I think it is just my personality. My parents always say I was one of those kids you could just give the look to and I would immediately refrain from that activity.

• I am afraid of literally anything adventurous. Roller coasters, hiking difficult trails where I can easily fall, etc. I have never learned to ride a bike or roller blades because I am convinced I will hurt myself. Luckily, I have learned to sleep through thunderstorms without running to my parents anymore. I call that progress.
• This is an honest fear in my opinion. I am the queen of clumsy. I frequently walk into walls and when we do go on hikes I almost always fall, even on flat ground. I am walking and then my ankle just kinda- boop- gives out. 

Hiking in N.H. with my husband and friends- before I fell and twisted my ankle.

Probably, my biggest anxiety in life is money. I am always afraid I won't have enough money. I have student loans and-one more month- of car loans. I go through a tail spin in my mind when I think of the student loans between my husband and I. I basically panic and convince my crazy brain that we will NEVER get out of debt. (Even when, obviously, I am paying my car off in July and I know I am good at budgeting)

• I grew up in the middle class and honestly never felt like I needed anything. I always felt that we were comfortable and never thought about our family not having enough. But, my dad and I have the same personality about money. We are the budget and debt king and queen. So, I blame him. Thanks dad!

Happy Thursday!

30 Day Challenge- Day #1

1. List 10 random facts about yourself:

I used to consider myself the “step-mom” to our German Shepherd because I was convinced he didn’t like me. Now, he is quite convinced he is my personal protector and I don’t know what I would do without him.

They are cute- admit it!

I have officially been married for one year. On our wedding day I was considered a weird bride for not being high stress and breaking into hysterics at all times. Actually, the only times I cried that day were seeing my brother for the first time and during the ceremony. 

Rare sight- me crying!

I am a child and family therapist- and boy did I work my butt off to be able to call myself that! But, I have no pictures of my Master's graduation because I got married that day instead!

I literally have some of the best "mental health stories" of my clients. My family and friends are always telling me to write a book about my experience but I am always afraid I am somehow breaking confidentiality if I write about it.

I never learned to ride a bicycle- and my husband works for Harley Davidson. Weird combo?

I broke my leg on my best friend's trampoline the day before we moved to North Carolina. It didn't help that we were also moving into our first 2-story house. I never did master stairs and crutches. 

My childhood best friend. Love my missing teeth. 

I am not very adventurous- I am still scared of roller coasters. Seriously, I hyperventilated on the Tower of Terror at Disney World in high school. It was classy.

I still have not mastered controlling my facial expressions. Everyone who knows me can read me like a book.

Crazy "Meredith face" ruining the picture- Check

I want to own a horse one day- and actually feel like I know how to ride one. It is a dream of mine to just live out on a far and never leave the house. Unhealthy hermit? That's me!

Snickers! 

In July I will pay off the first car I ever bought on my own- a year early! I am pretty excited about that! 

Happy Wednesday,

30 Day Challenge

Oh, what a lazy blogger I have been. To inspire myself with some inspiration I will now join the band wagon of "30 Day Challenges".

 

Lately, I have really been trying to focus on my health and losing some weight. As someone who works in the mental health field you quickly learn all about self care. Well, one form of self care is emotional eating. Ok- one unhealthy way! It is also something I slip into quite easily.

 

I have been going to gym and eating healthy since about March. I have officially lost the first 20 pounds! I will now do a little dance. I would like to loose 20 more so I am forcing myself to do Jillian Micheals- 30 Day Shread video on top of my normal gym time.

 

I figured I would just make this the 30 day challenge month! So here is the challenge:

30 Day Challenge
THE LIST:

1. List 10 random facts about yourself

2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 5 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 3 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrasing moment.
11. Describe 5 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 3 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misundertand most about you?
30. List 5 things you would hope to be remembered for?

So wish me luck- I will need it for both the weight loss and the blog challenge!

Kabobs

I have been on a new diet since the beginning of the month because when I started working out in March I thought I could still eat sweets and see results- not so much. Since I started this diet I have lost 7 pounds and since I started working out in March I have officially lost 14 pounds. I am slowly getting towards my goal- feels very slow but I keep trying!

My diet is supposed to be a 24 day "cleanse" kinda diet but I have really grown to just get used to it. To give it the most basic description I don't eat most carbs, dairy, or red meat. I have two snacks a day- pretty much always fruit and unsalted almonds. Other than snacks I have a meal replacement shake for breakfast, deli turkey meat and an avocado for lunch, and usually a protein and veggies for dinner. I am a creature of habit but that is how I stick to a plan. I have to make it consistent to teach myself new habits. I have actually stuck with the plan and the end date is May 30.

Now, my goal is to stick with the diet long term but allow myself to live a little and cheat sometimes. For instance, on Mother's Day and our anniversary I couldn't even have cake. When we go out to eat my only option is usually a salad- and I want some freaking steak sometimes!

Anyway, the point of this post is to give you guys my favorite recipe I have discovered so far- Chicken Kabobs! I am pretty sure that I could eat kabobs everyday of my life. Amazing!

Chicken Kabobs



Ingredients:

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 minced garlic cloves
2 t. honey
1 1/2 t. thyme
1 t. crushed red pepper flakes
1 t. pepper
1 t. salt
1 lb. chicken breasts
Veggies of your choice: I use onion, zucchini, squash, and orange pepper

1. In a small bowl combine first 8 ingredients. Reserve half of the marinade for basting. Cut the chicken into bite size pieces and place in a baking dish. Pour half of the marinade over the chicken pieces. Cover and place in fridge for 4 hours.
2. Drain and discard marinade. Place veggies and chicken on your skewers (if you use wooden skewers make sure you soak them so they don't catch fire!).
3. Place skewers on grill over medium heat. Grill, turning, and basting with reserved marinade for about 12 minutes, or until juices run clear.

P.S.- if you have a hubby or other person who can't live without carbs- then serve kabobs over rice!

Good Luck! It's always good to have a healthy meal that actually tastes good!

I'm in Love...

Growing up I had a one track mind. I hated sports with a burning passion but I begged for horse back riding lessons. Of course, there is a reason that horse back riding makes you think of rich people- it is an insanely expensive habit. One which we could not afford.

My mom had a horse growing up and I would just stare at her pictures and beg for a horse. One summer I got to go to a week long horse camp. I was pretty much in heaven- other than the fact that I had to wear one of those dumb helmets.

The problem is that when I was at camp or when we have just paid to go on trail rides they never let you do anything but walk- maybe trot. I have always felt like I don't know what I am doing. 

This weekend I went horse back riding with my brother's girlfriend. Her aunt owns several horses and for the first time I cantered with a horse. My mouth literally fell open in a big smile. It was the most amazing feeling ever. I am now even more convinced that I need a horse ASAP. 

This is Snickers- he was my lovely horse that ran with me. He is very laid back- especially considering I have no idea what I am doing. He is about twenty years old so he is quite content walking but he listens well enough to start running when you want him to! 

This is Hank- my brother's girlfriends baby. From what I have heard he has the best canter around. Her aunt says it's just the smoothest ride- almost like a rocking horse. But, he likes to test people and I don't have the confidence yet to tell him what to do. He is so beautiful though. 

I will admit that on Sunday I thought I might die. My butt and my back were in massive amounts of pain. I really am going to have to work on sitting correctly and learning to post again to avoid the aches. It was worth it though. I will gladly be in pain in exchange for a day with a horse!