Since We Last Chatted…

I celebrated Christmas…

So what if I wore yoga pants all day? I wanted to be comfy while I unwrapped presents and stuffed myself.

I made a lot of fun recipes that I can wait to share with you. I copycatted the Okonomiyaki that Carter and I had at Xia Bao Biscuit.

And the Basil Honey Vinaigrette I love from Five Loaves. (Ignore my half gone tattoo – I’m still in the removal process.)

I also made blueberry pancakes using Greek yogurt and cottage cheese.

I continued making healthy recipes like Spicy Lentil Patties…

and a vegan tofu scramble.

I celebrated winning The NYE Challenge with an IceDream from Chick-fil-A…

…and made a lot of cookies.

Seriously, so many cookies.

But it’s okay, because I did a ton of running…

including another 10 mile run on NYE…

and maybe a little trespassing.

And finally, I rang in the New Year with some of my favorite friends.

Cheers to 2013, getting back into regular posting, and sharing lots of recipes! As always, thanks for reading and staying caught up in my very hungry and healthy life. XO!

What I’m Loving Wednesday

1. Doesn’t the chilly weather just make you want to turn on your oven? This is my favorite roasted vegetable combo: sliced carrots, sweet potatoes, and beets with rosemary and salt & pepper. Simple, delicious, and full of antioxidants for your pretty face.

2. I get really excited when any of Christina Perri’s songs come on the radio because I see my name on the screen. Dork.

3. Danielle works for Red Bull and got a shipment of the new Red Bull Editions on Monday. She literally jogged to our apartment’s office to pick up the package, then jogged to my building so we could try them. (Yes, we both get very excited about little things. This is why we are friends.)

The new flavors are: cranberry, lime, and blueberry.

To celebrate, I pulled out wine glasses. Why not? I liked the cranberry best, then blueberry, then lime. We really liked the cranberry and blueberry mixed.The Editions will be available in select bars/clubs next week but fully launch on March 4, 2013. Get excited!

4. Best license plate ever.

5. My grandma introduced me to my new favorite tea, Yogi Bedtime. It’s so good!

I also love the little messages tied to the tea bag. What’s your favorite Yogi flavor? I want to try more!

6. I need these. Need. Thanks for pointing them out, Nick!

7. Over the long weekend, Boding and I picked out a Christmas tree. We got a petite one, about 5’2”…just my size.

Why we decided to take my car and not Boding’s truck is beyond me. It made for a funny picture though.

Last night I decorated it with two kinds of ornaments: neons and Chick-fil-A cows. Surprised? I didn’t think so.

Have you tried any of the Red Bull Editions yet?

What’s your favorite tea?

Have you put up holiday decorations?

Currently…

Inspired by my fellow Charleston blogger, Katie…

Listening to: Diamonds by Rihanna. Loving it.

Eating: Besides Christmas cookies? Pho. Danielle (my pho-ever friend) and I have had it 3x times in the past week. This is the Tom Yum Kung from Mi Xao, our favorite spot in Mt. Pleasant.

Drinking: The Blue Edition by Red Bull. Get excited for the new flavors.

Feeling: Energetic, probably due to the aforementioned beverage.

Weather: Sunny and 61*. It’s so cold at night though! I’m pathetic in the winter.

Needing: A massage. Or 20. I hurt my leg during a 6 mile run on Sunday. :(

Wanting: To put up the Christmas tree! I think Boding and I are doing that tonight. There WILL be Chick-fil-A ornaments on it, don’t you worry.

Thinking: I should really clean out my purse. It is madness inside that bag!

Enjoying: All of the holiday decorations around town, the seasonal treats, and the Christmas movies that I’m DVR-ing this week.

Making me laugh: Kaye cracks me up. I love her. One day I’ll explain why there is a banana next to her name.

Looking forward to: Only 3 more sleeps until the weekend!

• Friday – I’m off work, getting my hair chopped, and then seeing Wild Club.
• Saturday – Annabel’s birthday dinner
• Sunday – 7 mile run with Amanda then…you tell me.

What are you doing now?! I want to know everything.

Q&A from Instagram

Inspired by Laura, I uploaded the following picture to instagram:

You guys came up with some great questions – both serious and funny. Some of the more involved questions I’m saving for actual posts, but will answer the rest now. Here we go!

Brittany: Do you plan to always live in Charleston? If not, where? Charlotte perhaps? :) In the past two years, I’ve considered moving to a bigger city, at least while I can. I know for sure that I would miss Charleston, my friends and family, and would probably come right back. I won’t say never though!

Erica: Favorite restaurant for breakfast, lunch, dinner? Chick-fil-A, Chick-fil-A, Chick-fil-A. Just kidding! Breakfast: My kitchen or The Macintosh. Lunch: Mozzo or Village Bakery. Dinner: Cypress.

Erica: What is your ideal date? Whoa, loaded question. Something out of the ordinary. Something fun. Something outside. Something with food (obviously).

Callie: If you could only wear one color for the rest of your life, what would it be? This color:

Callie: What traits do you most value in a best friend? In a relationship? In a best friend: honesty. In a relationship: trust. In both: laughter.

What is your dream vacation spot (somewhere you haven’t been)? Greece.

Rebecca: What’s your take on the Chick-fil-A scandal? I’m pro marriage equality, but I am still eating there. And that’s all I’m going to say.

Brittany: When are you gonna come visit me in Austin?!? :D That is a great question! I need to. Very soon.

Nancy: Why do you love sixlets? (Still can’t figure that one out ;) ) Ha. I agree, Sixlets are one of the fakest tasting chocolates ever, but I love them. It’s a nostalgia thing I guess.

How far have you traveled for the sole purpose of getting a food item? Does Italy for gelato count?

Abi: Top 5 things to do in Charleston? Beach! Shop downtown. Eat at some of the best restaurants. Run around The Battery. Dance at Trio.

Jeff: Would you rather get to marry Zac Efron or have the ability to eat anything that you want without having to worry about any of the negative consequences? I put so much thought into this. Zac may be a major babe, but he could be a d-bag for all I know. I’d rather be able to eat whatever I want.

Lea: Are you ever coming to visit CA? Yep, I need to go there too!

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Not counting the shoes that may be in the backseat of my car and/or trunk…53.

Laura: Do you have any good mystery/thriller book recommendations besides Gone Girl? I loved The Weight of Silence. I’m currently reading Still Missing and it’s very good so far!

Jayciemariotti: Your blog is hilarious and I think we’d get along well. Wanna be bffs? I sure do!! :)

Thanks for submitting your q’s and if you have more, submit them below! xo

A Fitness Survey

Thanks for the survey, Sara!

1. Run/workout in the heat and humidity or freezing cold temps and snow?
While the sound of both of those makes me ill, I’d probably choose the heat. I prefer to wear as little clothing as possible when I run so bundling up to exercise sounds awful. Running in the rain is really cool though. Liberating!

2. Washboard abs or flat abs?
On whom? Me? Flat is fine. I think I have a 2-pack. Ha. On men? Washboard abs are okay, but if it’s too sculpted, it’s gross. Again, flat is fine. Chest muscles > abs.

3. Dr. Oz or The Doctors?
Does Dr. Oz know everything? I think he does. I’d probably obey anything he told me to do.

4. Cardio or strength?
Both! I go through phases when I despise cardio (think July, August). For the most part, I know it’s good for me, but strength training is just as important. I’d MUCH rather be fit and toned than thin and frail. I’m not saying that cardio makes you thin and frail, but I get no upper body definition from running.

5. Cravings: Protein or carbs?
I rarely crave protein – hopefully because I get enough. Who doesn’t crave carbs? I could sit around and eat pita chips, crackers, and bread for hours. Pasta bores me though.

6. Jillian Michaels or Bob Harper?
I really don’t pay attention to either of them. But hey, they have nice bodies. So does this guy, just saying.

Side note: That was not the first time I have googled “Zac Efron shirtless”.

7. Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream?
I like both equally. Froyo is a guiltless option, but ice cream is more fun to indulge in.  I can’t get enough of Chick-fil-A’s IceDream. Remember the time I got to ride in the Chick-fil-A car with ice cream? Still cracks me up.

8. To train: Upper body or Lower body?
Upper body.

9. Protein powder or food with protein?
Food with protein, for sure.

10. Lunges or squats?
Squats. I hate lunges. But not as much as I hate burpees.

11. Sweet or salty?
I like both of these equally too. I especially love the combo. I could eat a hundred of these:

12. Workout attire: cute or comfy?
I’d much rather be comfy than cute, but I’ve never bought anything that I didn’t consider cute. Thanks, Target. 

13. Body Pump or Heavy lifting?
I enjoy strength training on my own. I really dislike Body Pump.  I feel like I can get so much more done by myself and don’t have to listen to that awful music.

14. Yoga or Pilates?
Yoga is not for me. I don’t have the attention span for it, I can’t relax, and I don’t get anything out of it. I know a lot of people get so much from it, and that’s great. Pilates can be a nice change-up from my regular routine, but I’d prefer other classes first. 

15. Nike or Adidas?
I don’t own anything by either. I wear Asics sneakers. 

16. Running on the treadmill or outdoors?
Both. Running outdoors is much more entertaining, obviously. And SO much more relaxing. 

17. Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s?
Ever since our Trader Joe’s opened, I rarely go to Whole Foods. There are staples that I like at TJ’s and I love trying their new products. Amanda and I were pretty psyched when it opened last Summer.

18. Summer or Winter Olympics?
Summer! Gymnastics! Ice skating is pretty fun to watch though. 

19. Exercise classes or Exercise videos?
Classes.

20. Steamed veggies or roasted veggies?
Roasted! Beets!