tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27233547241683642732024-02-19T06:45:59.698-05:00All You Need is Love. And Yoga.Random musings on fitness, nutrition, and my seemingly unreal daily experiences.Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-83388891189413459362014-04-23T18:51:00.000-04:002014-04-23T18:51:22.645-04:00My informal guide to protein barsLast night I went out with a friend from yoga to catch up, and she had asked for my opinion on a few things. Our discussion led to protein bars - which ones are worth buying, when to eat them, and so on. She said she felt completely overwhelmed walking into a store and seeing the selection of various bars and had no idea which ones to buy. After we talked, she joked that I should write a blog post on protein bars for her reference. Well, here you go.<br />
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First of all, I just cannot imagine replacing an entire meal with a protein shake or a protein bar. I always have to supplement it with something else, whether it's a side of veggies, some whole grain cereal or chip, or fruit, depending on the size and macros of the bar.<br />
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My general rules for protein bars are this:<br />
<h3>
<br />1. High fat and/or quick release carbs pre-workout</h3>
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<br />2. Low to moderate fat and high protein post-workout</h3>
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<h4>
Pre-workout:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/jo.www.larabar.com.2011/uploads/product/large_images/4/thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/jo.www.larabar.com.2011/uploads/product/large_images/4/thumb.jpg" height="320" width="125" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.larabar.com/products/apple-pie">Mmmm, pie</a></td></tr>
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Larabars are some of the simplest, most natural nutrition bars that are widely available. I love that the ingredient lists are typically short, including fruit, nuts, and spices. Every flavor I've tried does a pretty good job of mimicking the taste of what the label says, especially apple pie and peanut butter & jelly.<br />
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I really enjoy Larabars, though I rarely eat them, especially during warmer months. They get sticky and melty in the heat...not my thing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.kindsnacks.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/k/i/kind_bar_darkchocolatenutssalt_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://static.kindsnacks.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/k/i/kind_bar_darkchocolatenutssalt_2.png" height="320" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.kindsnacks.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/k/i/kind_bar_darkchocolatenutssalt_2.png" target="_blank">Kind bars</a></td></tr>
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Kind bars have a huge variety of bars to suit individual needs and taste buds. My favorite line of Kind bars are the Nuts & Spices lower sugar bars. The sea salt dark chocolate is SO DELICIOUS. Any of their bars are perfect for pre-workout because of the natural sugars (especially in the fruit & nut line), higher fat content for satiety, and moderate protein. Again, simple, whole food ingredients.<br />
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I am intrigued by their new line of savory, higher-protein bars, Strong & Kind. I just don't know how I feel about a nut bar flavored like thai sweet chili. I'm also about savory/spicy, but it's just so odd to me.<br />
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I feel like I should also mention that Kind granola is bomb.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.thinkproducts.com/img/product/tkp-709444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://shop.thinkproducts.com/img/product/tkp-709444.jpg" height="109" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.thinkproducts.com/img/product/tkp-709444.jpg" target="_blank">ThinkThin crunch</a></td></tr>
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ThinkThin Crunch Mixed nut bars fall under the same guidelines as Kind bars for me. The coconut chocolate is definitely my #1 choice in this line.<br />
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Post-workout:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24PkXq7WIn2Bg57TJ8dnBcR5UOCkUno121p-xIPGOxZD7GMwqfHj-4ir__xFLAR6stLcBZxHIrXF2CeKOUTKYsMcQl7bncSue-PdwOQC5cafUhrc28BcgvpEMn1rZl8Ey18UWC87b52I/s1600/think-thin-products-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24PkXq7WIn2Bg57TJ8dnBcR5UOCkUno121p-xIPGOxZD7GMwqfHj-4ir__xFLAR6stLcBZxHIrXF2CeKOUTKYsMcQl7bncSue-PdwOQC5cafUhrc28BcgvpEMn1rZl8Ey18UWC87b52I/s1600/think-thin-products-2012.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo borrowed from <a href="http://a-doctor-in-the-house.com/2012/09/21/battle-of-the-bars/" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://thinkproducts.com/" target="_blank">ThinkThin</a> bars aren't the most "natural" bars, but I like them a lot. Great flavors that taste like candy bars, and are especially yummy frozen in the summer or after hot yoga. With 20g of protein and no sugar in their high-protein line of bars (with chocolate covered strawberry as the exception with 15g protein), these bars are great for a quick protein boost and muscle repair.<br />
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ThinkThin has changed some of the flavors and added a couple of new lines, including a candy bar line and a protein & fiber bar. I won't lie, I'm dying to try some of the flavors in the protein & fiber line, like the chocolate peanut butter toffee and chocolate almond coconut. I've yet to find these in stores though :(<br />
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Of their original line, creamy peanut butter will forever have my heart. And I'm missing the lemon cream pie bars. Why, ThinkThin, did you discontinue this flavor?!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAHiJzHs4WkpJoBxVO8DsuZ1oZV8z_IcvZfzjh0RVRxAUcgoWrG6SgPN-xHZyIVj8GHuX_PhsBATvXoZPi9oeUZULgr4eTRMIYi_Z8kT8XbbsuWqtIYUlBFqoDZfG59pzfb10TNDnvQs/s1600/WEBSITEUPDATES_all_bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAHiJzHs4WkpJoBxVO8DsuZ1oZV8z_IcvZfzjh0RVRxAUcgoWrG6SgPN-xHZyIVj8GHuX_PhsBATvXoZPi9oeUZULgr4eTRMIYi_Z8kT8XbbsuWqtIYUlBFqoDZfG59pzfb10TNDnvQs/s1600/WEBSITEUPDATES_all_bars.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.questproteinbar.com/" target="_blank">QUEST BARS ♥ </a> </td></tr>
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Quest bars are hands-down my absolute favorite protein bars.<b> Ever.</b> Yeah, yeah, yeah, another blog post raving about how delicious Quest bars are. Do you think Quest is getting tired of it? Doubt it. Therefore, I feel no guilt. The nutrition stats are fantastic: 19-21g of protein per bar, 5-10g of fat, high fiber, and 1-4g of sugar in any given bar. I love that the fat and calorie content varies in each bar based on nutrition needs. Some days I have trouble meeting my fat intake goals, so a peanut butter & jelly Quest bar gives me that little extra edge with 200 calories and 10g of fat as opposed to 160 calories and 5g of fat in the chocolate peanut butter. I also like that some flavors are sweetened with stevia.<br />
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I could eat these things every day. There is such a wide variety of flavors and I love them all. My absolute favorite so far are the coconut cashew, cookie dough, and white chocolate raspberry (my enjoyment of which was a true underdog story, I really had low expectations for this flavor).<br />
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Most bars need to be heated up a bit in the microwave to bring out the true dessert-like quality of these bars...sitting out by my mat during hot yoga also does the trick.<br />
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I have yet to try the cookies & cream bar, vanilla almond bar, and the Quest cravings cups. They need to get in my belly ASAP. A quest for Quest may be in order soon.<br />
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My friend mentioned that she started eating Clif bars, which, in my personal opinion, are sugar bombs. Yes, they are made with some decent ingredients, but the sugar content is out of control for what I would consider a snack. The only time I could see myself eating a Clif bar is during a lengthy hike or bike ride that requires quick-releasing carbs and protein for energy and muscle repair. Since I neither hike nor bike, Clif bars have no place in my snack box.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil17jOIJfqKFsTWmYPyQEUt5TjYAK0bP_QHbhsSs6NqXKafBPIhyqCdrVynCmWb4rfG_IygFg8NKu9mU_jEUGeVe5svxpG8qogv5osRBVYQAvpx8wDFT_dHgD3e1adLvFHesOume_7CG8/s1600/clifbar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil17jOIJfqKFsTWmYPyQEUt5TjYAK0bP_QHbhsSs6NqXKafBPIhyqCdrVynCmWb4rfG_IygFg8NKu9mU_jEUGeVe5svxpG8qogv5osRBVYQAvpx8wDFT_dHgD3e1adLvFHesOume_7CG8/s1600/clifbar.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for the visual, <a href="http://www.sugarstacks.com/snacks.htm" target="_blank">Sugar Stacks</a>.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Disclaimer:</b> I am not a nutrition expert by any means. These are my personal opinions based on my taste preference and what makes me feel satiated and energized. If you enjoy Clif bars as meal replacements, more power to you. It's just not my thing. If you think protein bars and powders are a waste of money and an unnatural source of protein, I'm not saying you're wrong. I just happen to enjoy protein bars and powders for convenience and as a way to have a sweet treat without all the sugar and to get a protein boost.</i></span><br />
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<br />Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-27072257029546774902014-04-13T10:25:00.002-04:002014-04-13T10:26:21.457-04:00Sriracha for days & faux-asian recipesThere are a lot of things I wish I were better at in terms of blogging. Like actually updating my blog, for one. Another vital skill that I lack: photography. Not only am I a less-than-stellar picture-taker, I rarely remember to even attempt to snap a photo, especially when I'm preparing food. There are two reasons for this: my knowledge of my photography handicap and my tendency to leave my phone and ipad out of the kitchen for fear of splattering food particles all over them. I definitely need to work on being neater and steadying my hand.<br />
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Onto the point of that spiel. I've actually been in the kitchen a bit more frequently testing out new simple recipes that I've thrown together, largely based on my craving for Srirarcha.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theawesomer.com/photos/2011/01/013011_sriracha_cookbook_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://theawesomer.com/photos/2011/01/013011_sriracha_cookbook_2.jpg" height="352" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theawesomer.com/the-sriracha-cookbook/83990/" target="_blank">This is me</a></td></tr>
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I made up a large batch of red quinoa this week to experiment with, and ended up making quinoa "fried rice" with all of it because it was so craveable. I even got my mom and sister's boyfriend to try it and enjoy it. Win. Especially since it's the easiest, quickest recipe ever and amounts can easily be adjusted to serve one or several people, as a side or main course for a meal.<br />
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<h4>
Quinoa "Fried Rice"</h4>
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<ul>
<li>1 tsp sesame oil</li>
<li>1/2 diced celery</li>
<li>large handful of sugar snap peas</li>
<li>1 - 2 cloves garlic, minced</li>
<li>1/2 diced red bell pepper</li>
<li>1/2 cup - 1 cup cooked red quinoa</li>
<li>low-sodium soy sauce, to taste</li>
<li>1 tsp ground ginger</li>
<li>black pepper</li>
<li>Sriracha, to taste (I recommend liberal application)</li>
<li>1 - 3 eggs </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<div>
Saute garlic, celery, and sugar snap peas in a large non-stick frying pan on high until soft. Reduce to medium heat and add red pepper, quinoa, and seasonings. Reduce heat to medium-low and add eggs one at a time, stirring constantly to incorporate into the quinoa mixture. Top with more sriracha and enjoy!</div>
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I actually served this with some baked marinated chicken and a side of balsamic asparagus. Such a good meal.</div>
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Another super simple non-recipe that I toyed around with this week was egg drop soup. <i style="font-size: small;">Guess I'm craving eggs, too, huh? </i>After being sick last weekend, I was really craving soup, but didn't want to make a big batch...voila! Egg drop soup!</div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
Definitely Non-Traditional Egg Drop Soup</h4>
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<ul>
<li>1 cup chicken or vegetable broth</li>
<li>1/2 cup water</li>
<li>2 - 3 tsp low-sodium soy sauce (I used <a href="http://bragg.com/products/la.html" target="_blank">Bragg's Liquid Aminos</a>)</li>
<li>1 clove crushed garlic</li>
<li>1 tsp ginger</li>
<li>cayenne pepper, to taste</li>
<li>salt & black pepper, to taste</li>
<li>Sriracha, to taste</li>
<li>1/2 diced celery</li>
<li>3 medium radishes, sliced thin</li>
<li>diced scallions</li>
<li>3/4 cup sliced white mushrooms</li>
<li>2 large handfuls fresh spinach</li>
<li>1 egg and 1/4 cup egg whites</li>
</ul>
<div>
Add all ingredients except spinach and eggs to a saucepan and bring to a boil, cooking until celery is soft. Reduce heat to a simmer and add spinach to cook through. Remove the pot from heat. Crack in one egg, stirring the entire time to get those stringy tasty egg bits (yum!). Do the same with the egg whites, or another egg, pour it all into a bowl, and dig in.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1BFgQxuEWv0sbIGvpErhy9viSr0lQTEcEjxDt3l_TrwTfJul68ITilZlc62wxVsHhHdxV5bvd93PqXeTvmNi7deLqADyBXoCiWo2hlc7SeMCnCmqdQsIa3GPgabH0NQYKtQOD1FLrHE/s640/blogger-image--711101568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1BFgQxuEWv0sbIGvpErhy9viSr0lQTEcEjxDt3l_TrwTfJul68ITilZlc62wxVsHhHdxV5bvd93PqXeTvmNi7deLqADyBXoCiWo2hlc7SeMCnCmqdQsIa3GPgabH0NQYKtQOD1FLrHE/s640/blogger-image--711101568.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like I said, my photography skills are nil. That lighting is repugnant. The soup, however, was awesome. </td></tr>
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I've also been utilizing my air popper on the reg and toying with some new popcorn toppings. My favorite so far? <i>Sriracha, cayenne & black pepper, and sea salt.</i> </div>
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Have I mentioned that I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><b>LOVE</b></span> Sriracha?</div>
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Speaking of sriracha, I stopped by <a href="http://www.as220.org/" target="_blank">AS220</a> last night, a non-profit organization in Providence that services troubled youth, hosts small concerts, and has an amazing <a href="http://www.as220.org/foodanddrink/" target="_blank">FOO(d)</a> menu and bar. They regularly infuse their own vodkas with some unique ingredients (cinnamon sweet potato clove, anyone?). To my surprise and delight, they happened to have a pineapple sriracha ginger infused vodka, which I had to sample. The flavor was spot-on sriracha. Kudos to AS220 for the successful infusion!</div>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-23524800411188287112014-04-05T16:40:00.001-04:002014-04-05T16:40:30.719-04:00"The scales always find a way to level out..."<div>
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As always, my theory of balance is on point. Discord is an essential part of life. As some things have fallen into place for me, other things have changed in a way that keep everything from being perfect. But that's what life is all about - learning to adapt and accepting the good and the bad for what it's worth. Given the highs and the lows, I can honestly say I feel very content.<br />
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<h4>
The Good:</h4>
As I mentioned in my last post, which feels like forever ago, I started a new job and I am really liking it. The cherry on top is for the first time in almost three years, I am not on-call for crisis response 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The feeling is liberating. I no longer panic when my phone rings! My commute is also next-to-nothing now. It's a little odd to work in your hometown and run into people that know me or my family at every school I visit...so Rhode Island.<br />
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Tuesday night I went for 1/2 price dinner at India. If you've been there, no explanation is needed for why this is <b>ultra good</b>. I can't help ordering the mixed grill vegetable platter with seasoned sweet potatoes and kale cucumber papaya salad. I also can't help inhaling my meal before snapping a picture to share it in all its wonder. Sorry, not sorry.<br />
<h4>
The Bad:</h4>
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My debit card info was stolen, along with over $4000. I am still without a new card, cash, or reimbursement until the charges clear from my account. Karma will do its thing, though. </div>
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<div>
I strained a muscle and have been out of yoga for a few weeks. It totally threw me out of my element. I also missed partner yoga and will have to wait until June for fun group poses. </div>
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I caught some terrible cold or something within the past 24 hours. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I had been hit by a bus. Despite being awake since 7am, I was completely unable to get out of my bed until 11:15am. So unlike me. Luckily, I'm feeling a little better after several Motrins, lots of water, and choking down a protein shake and some mild-flavored carby foods to settle my stomach. A little dose of Ron Swanson later should further ease my suffering.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0hCeuPxrV1ITaPFEciLqUc6j7469_QgYt9z2Jwah9zu2G8FapHNyk1Pj9QinidCn2c0lHHSrEIPtArkAvWFiJVILjgDUQhAwf65LuB0LjDo_0sXsp2Wv_qpw6JqsAuP51sg8l802X8A/s640/blogger-image-1483193391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0hCeuPxrV1ITaPFEciLqUc6j7469_QgYt9z2Jwah9zu2G8FapHNyk1Pj9QinidCn2c0lHHSrEIPtArkAvWFiJVILjgDUQhAwf65LuB0LjDo_0sXsp2Wv_qpw6JqsAuP51sg8l802X8A/s400/blogger-image-1483193391.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why is he so hilarious?</td></tr>
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<h4>
The Weird:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBI6WCGhOsPBgFu7xyl84_zUBgSG5LVvFjHUhQnW9u_AsLxwxLoYLeY1nCNKmfUZPUCGQhdoac4q8t7KYhk37YGcOAT3fGlg-xzwmAd3mEqOuU8pcaxBG2XBt-BcooAZH6fjK06qPgwKM/s640/blogger-image-1386423153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBI6WCGhOsPBgFu7xyl84_zUBgSG5LVvFjHUhQnW9u_AsLxwxLoYLeY1nCNKmfUZPUCGQhdoac4q8t7KYhk37YGcOAT3fGlg-xzwmAd3mEqOuU8pcaxBG2XBt-BcooAZH6fjK06qPgwKM/s320/blogger-image-1386423153.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture succeeds in both making me giggle and instilling a feeling of discomfort that I can't shake every time I look at it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHdLdDwh7GlR3rESgrMk2NtX5y37jS9cd6tVm2hcUmofPHPLC5crKLDc8Fe-7hLdzct0frw5zgzeXYGXIGTehbnZk4KtKkkSxYtwkjVSTDWtwOyKTHr6jhmIAG_zt_D55mtfCjHWomJA/s640/blogger-image--1221097305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHdLdDwh7GlR3rESgrMk2NtX5y37jS9cd6tVm2hcUmofPHPLC5crKLDc8Fe-7hLdzct0frw5zgzeXYGXIGTehbnZk4KtKkkSxYtwkjVSTDWtwOyKTHr6jhmIAG_zt_D55mtfCjHWomJA/s320/blogger-image--1221097305.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it weird that I actually really want this sweatshirt? Perhaps.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pile of snakes that I nearly stepped on whilst walking down Hope Street on Tuesday. There were actually three more snakes that slithered away from the pile before I could snap a picture. Maddddd creepy. April Fools?</td></tr>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-72815558863614095152014-03-24T10:11:00.001-04:002014-03-29T15:36:34.233-04:00MIMM: First day jittersLife has been full of ups lately, so it's only appropriate to link up with <a href="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/" target="_blank">Katie</a> for Marvelous in my Monday!<br />
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Today is the first official day at my new job, making this Monday especially marvelous, but also a little nerve-wracking. While I can't update on that just yet, I figured I'd look back on all the wonderful little things that have made me smile lately.<br />
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About two weeks ago I had won a giveaway from <a href="http://www.rootsfood.com/" target="_blank">Roots hummus</a> through <a href="http://www.hummusapien.com/" target="_blank">Alexis' blog</a>. This stuff is INCREDIBLE. My favorite so far has been the lima bean hummus...total shock since I never eat lima beans.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still mourning the end of this tub...</td></tr>
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Other flavors in the package included original, black bean, chipotle, red pepper, and thai coconut curry. I've only cracked into the first two so far. It's fantastic to have all of this hummus on hand, but of course it presents this typical first world / white girl problem:<br />
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One of the parents of the individuals on my caseload at my old job gave me this bracelet from India as a thank you/goodbye gift. It was such a sweet gesture, it really meant a lot!</div>
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A new job of course means new clothes. And what better than outlet shopping and sales? Nothing.</div>
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Hot pot lunch! No explanation needed.<br />
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Spending Saint Patrick's Day with a good friend, and snapping a super flattering selfie of the two of us. Love it, and her!</div>
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I hope everyone's Monday is just as marvelous as mine!</div>
Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-64633726243793150932014-03-22T17:51:00.000-04:002014-03-22T17:51:55.558-04:00New beginningsHappy Spring, everyone! Today it actually looks and feels like the season has changed, but the weather forecast for RI indicates otherwise. Snow on Tuesday/Wednesday? I'll keep my fingers crossed that the storm changes paths.<br />
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I realize I've been very elusive about things lately and haven't been blogging as often as I'd like to, but this is all due to some major changes in my life. This past Wednesday was actually my last day as a service coordinator for the agency I've worked for since August 2012. It was a bittersweet departure. The job was just not the right fit for me; however, I absolutely adore the people on my caseload and my coworkers. Everyone was so sweet and supportive of me. I definitely intend to maintain those relationships.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The goodbye flowers, cake, and fruit was a nice touch. </td></tr>
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How symbolic is it that I had the first day of Spring to start fresh? Let me tell you, it feels <u>amazing</u> to finally not be on-call for crisis response in almost <b><i>three years</i></b>.<br />
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I took Thursday to do a little life Spring cleaning: I got a haircut, got a full-service car wash, reorganized my closet, and changed purses. The little things like that make me feel ready for a new adventure. Along with my recent shopping trips, of course.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">70% off at Banana Republic...yeah. this shirt cost me $15. WIN.</td></tr>
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Yesterday, March 21st, was my dad's birthday. He would have been 58 years old. It's still unreal to me that he's gone...54 is just way too young.<br />
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I took a trip to the cemetery to visit him and wish him a happy birthday. All I could think as I drove up was how much he would hate my lime green car. He'd think I was even more ridiculous for naming it and speaking to it in Spanish haha.</div>
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Happy birthday, Dad! Words can neither describe how grateful I am to have had you in my life for twenty years, nor how much I wish you could be here for twenty, thirty, or forty more. I think about you everyday, cherishing the relationship we had, the lessons you taught me, and how you've helped to mold me and my sisters into the women we've become. I love you so much, Dad. R.I.P. 8/9/10 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">♥</span></div>
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I often find myself wondering what he would think of me today. Would he be proud of who I've become and what I've accomplished? I really hope so. Luckily I still have an amazing and strong mother to support me and my sisters. She really does work twice as hard to be there for us and she deserves the world.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So now that I'm ready for a new adventure, what do I plan to take on?</span></i><br />
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This coming Monday, I will be starting my <b>new job</b> as a project coordinator for the Carol White Physical Education Program, impacting several elementary and middle schools in my area! I couldn't be more excited about this job. I'm so passionate about the objectives of the grant - increasing children and family awareness of physical activity, nutrition, and overall well-being. I'll admit I have first-day jitters, but I'm ready for Monday to arrive and to take this on full force.Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-17125303831269855372014-03-16T21:39:00.000-04:002014-03-16T21:39:10.214-04:00Sometimes I intend to blog, but then I get on Buzzfeed...Typical. Damn you, Buzzfeed, for your vortex of useless and amusing picture-heavy articles. You make it so easy to continue clicking down the rabbit hole. This would be a problem if I haven't been so real-life productive. No shame.<br />
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My personal favorite read from my Buzzfeed binge has to be "<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/ailbhemalone/amazing-words-to-add" target="_blank">15 Underused Words To Add To Your Vocabulary</a>." I blame the nerdy English-major side of me. Am I setting a goal to use these words in actual conversation? You know it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always struggled to describe that smell. Nevermore. Thanks, Buzzfeed!</td></tr>
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With any luck, I'll return tomorrow for some Marvelous in my Monday action. I can't make any promises, though, since my day is poised to be jam-packed.<br /><br />Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-60262430880121788222014-03-09T23:14:00.000-04:002014-03-10T10:25:59.012-04:00Nutrition changesAmerica has an undeniable problem with weight and body image. And it all seems to stem from a lack of education, a lack of concrete facts, and misleading information. Studies have shown that nutrition labels aren't helpful to most people when they reach for packaged food. Serving sizes, unhealthy/heavily processed ingredients, and other vital facts are disregarded by most. To quote <a href="http://greatist.com/health/news-study-shows-nutrition-labels-overlooked">this article </a>on such studies: "People were most likely to read the nutrition label when it <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20124686-10391704/nutrition-facts-labels-often-ignored-whats-the-fix/">took front-and-center stage</a>, and tended to read facts closer to the top of the label." Therefore, people are seeing calories and nothing else. Not how many of X food equals that number of calories, if it contains added sugars or trans fat, if the ingredients are natural or chock full of chemicals...just calories. And that isn't helpful when so many people don't even know their body's caloric needs.<br>
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The FDA is planning to update the nutrition label to make it easier to understand and highlight the nutritional data that is actually important.<br>
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See details of the FDA's proposed nutrition label changes <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_632281933"></span>here<span id="goog_632281934"></span></a>. </div>
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There is a short, informative article on <a href="http://greatist.com/health/fda-nutrition-labels" target="_blank">Greatist</a> that identifies the four areas that are being emphasized through these changes and why: added sugars, fats, calorie counts, and portion sizes. I think the best part of these revisions is that added sugars are being added to nutrition labels, because that really is our major dietary downfall. Even reading an ingredient list, it's pretty much impossible to know just how much of the sugar listed on the nutrition label is added and how much is naturally occurring. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I read another article this week that talked about the success of using traffic light colors to highlight a food's nutritional value to assist people with making smarter choices. This obviously can't be done in a grocery store, but in think it would be so beneficial for people grabbing food to go or dining at a restaurant. </div>
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In other positive nutrition news, the <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/03/05/who-cuts-sugar-intake-advice-to-5-percent-daily-energy/" target="_blank">recommended daily sugar allotment</a> is now at 5% of total daily intake, slashing the previous recommendation of 10% in half. Obviously this is merely a recommendation, and these guidelines still need some clarification. Does this 5% include natural sugars like fruits and vegetables? If so, I'm screwed when pineapple season arrives...I'm not about to deny myself the pleasure of enjoying half of a freshly cut pineapple.</div>
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Again, the problem is that Americans just aren't properly educated on these things. Nutrition needs to be straightforward and accessible. The fundamentals need to be taught in schools and clearer guidelines on healthy foods need to be set in place for adults to learn. Browsing the internet, with its tangents and opinions on various diets and "lifestyles" (read: paleo, keto, low-fat, etc.), just overloads us with information and makes things even harder to understand. Nutrition can't be self-taught on such a large scale.</div>
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And to go off on a tangent of my own: Once Upon a Time returned this week! My Sunday nights just got a whole lot better to look at. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hook, how I've missed you.</td></tr>
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Linking up with the marvelous Katie for a Marvelous in my Monday post!</div>
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<a href="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/2012/06/first-marvelous-in-my-monday-yay.html"><img src="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/MiMM.jpg"></a></center><center><br></center><center>I'd love to hear your thoughts on all of this!</center><center><b>Do you think the changes to our nutrition labels will do any good</b>?</center><center><br></center><center><b>Do you follow serving sizes as listed on packaged foods?</b> I personally don't, for the most part. Just because some of the portions dictated are either too obscure or just not enough for me. I don't even understand how to interpret what a serving of popcorn is from looking at the label.</center><center><br></center><center><br></center>
Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-51131338355848101212014-03-06T23:08:00.002-05:002014-03-06T23:08:47.283-05:00Thinking Out Loud #1<div>
The last 48 hours have been a whirlwind of amusing randomness, so I figured what better time to finally join Amanda's weekly Thursday Thinking Out Loud link-up to justify my unstructured stream of consciousness?</div>
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<a href="http://www.runningwithspoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Thinking-Out-Loud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.runningwithspoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Thinking-Out-Loud.jpg" height="103" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li>I've stumbled across this tumblr blog, <a href="http://whatshouldwecallbostonproblems.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">#WhatShouldWeCallBostonProblems</a>, and it is painfully, hilariously accurate. I really miss living in Boston, but the problems are too real.</li>
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Take <a href="http://whatshouldwecallbostonproblems.tumblr.com/post/51805912907/when-i-havent-taken-the-t-for-a-while-and-then-i-have" target="_blank">this post</a> for example. "When I haven't taken the T for a while and I have to take it again:"<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You don't know the pain until you live it.</td></tr>
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Every Boston problem is worth experiencing.<br />
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<li>People take trivia tournaments way too seriously. I was covering a trivia night last night in the midst of the qualifying season for the big Spring tournament, and stunned by the vim and vigor displayed by some of these teams. Kudos to you all for your passion, but as a host, it's stressful to have people be so particular. Whatever, it makes for entertaining tales ha.</li>
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I had an odd dream last night after watching this <a href="http://www.blogilates.com/" target="_blank">Blogilates </a>video for a Quest bar recipe. </div>
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<li>In my dream, I made the apple cinnamon "churros" for my mom and I, but left them in the oven for 25 minutes...miraculously they didn't burn. Then I went to prepare the yogurt and apple dip, but had no yogurt and my mom refused my suggestion to substitute the no salt added cottage cheese I had on hand. Since it was like midnight, I obviously couldn't run to Stop and Shop to purchase some yogurt. I also boiled an entire pot of broccoli as an accompaniment. Why? I don't know. I never ever ever boil vegetables, especially not broccoli. The whole dream made no sense.</li>
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If anyone has any random dreams or musings to share, I'd love to hear them. Mostly for entertainment value, as well as reassurance that I'm not insane haha.</div>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-13600018157154850392014-03-04T21:16:00.000-05:002014-03-04T21:16:07.853-05:00A quick and somewhat vague updateI've fallen off the blogging bandwagon. My bad. Between work, covering trivia nights, yoga, and some new projects (more on that to come soon, I promise!), sitting down and typing away at my computer just hasn't appealed to me. In the midst of the chaos, I've been making more time for friends and fun activities to keep me extra happy and motivated, feelings which have become the norm for me lately. It finally feels like things are falling into place. No, it's not perfect, but life would be boring if it were.<br />
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A few high points of the last week or so:</h4>
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<li>Jared Leto's performance in <i>Dallas Buyer's Club</i>. My past encounters with Jared Leto left me with a bad taste in my mouth, albeit some funny stories, but he really earned my respect back with this role. Kudos, Jared. Props to him for his inspiring acceptance speech at the Oscar's. Yes, he deserved that award.</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo cred: <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/jared-leto-opens-up-about-dallas-buyers-club-weight-loss-shaving-his-eyebrows-20122811" target="_blank">US magazine</a></td></tr>
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<li>The Oscars in general. Ellen was a fantastically entertaining host, and almost everyone looked flawless. Good job, Hollywood.</li>
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<li>This <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/lyapalater/things-people-looked-like-at-the-2014-academy-awards" target="_blank">Buzzfeed</a> article on what people looked like at the Oscars...</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Leo</td></tr>
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<li>Finally hitting up the brunch buffet at India on Hope Street this past Sunday. I consumed at least 7 full plates of food, and finally got to try some new dishes that I never would have ordered...simply because I always, always order the same thing: Mixed Grilled Vegetable Platter. Something about that grilled pineapple and Indian spices, I can't say no. I would have taken a picture of all the deliciousness, but I was ravenous (clearly, given my aforementioned massive food consumption) after two hours of weights and yoga. Visualize, if you can, fresh-baked Spicy Chili Cilantro, Hot & Spicy Vindaloo, and Garlic naan bread, spinach and lentil soup, mango chutney, lemon cilantro chutney (my favorite!), tamarind chutney, chickpea salad, kale cucumber papaya salad, mango chicken curry, shrimp biryana, tandoori chicken, chana masala, fresh fruit with mango cream, and rice pudding. Then picture me eating it all. NOM.</li>
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<li>A relaxing night in with a friend, who arrived at my house toting a giant container of her dad's split pea soup. Unexpectedly delicious, and totally random.</li>
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<li>Big changes on the horizon, finally set in stone and put into action!</li>
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<li>The return of regularly scheduled TV programs. Oh, how I've missed New Girl and Nashville.</li>
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<li>Confirming that I am TB-free! I had to put some sort of positive spin on making a doctor's appointment and getting a shot, two things I abhor. Haha.</li>
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Again, I'm kind of running on overdrive right now. I've been entirely uncreative in the aspects of my life that don't require my immediate attention right now, but I'll be back on track at some point once I settle into a new routine.</div>
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<br />Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-5400250791127071162014-02-17T09:12:00.001-05:002014-02-17T09:12:43.436-05:00MIMM: HibernatingI realize I've been kind of MIA lately. I took kind of a mental rest weekend and opted to, as I call it, "hibernate" due to another round of snow and frigid temperatures. I could have easily taken this time at home to blog, but I didn't. I was kind of wiped from all the shoveling I had to do between Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. I need to learn how to use a snow blower for next year.<br />
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But it's Monday and I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/">Katie</a> for some Marvelous in my Monday action! </div>
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Marvelous is...this Napoleon Dynamite Valentine's Day picture I sent to my family. Don't ask me why we find Kip to be so hilarious.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKcrMq_iLAfRMFp94Wrk0vmJCPZOmybxoR6BwVigRxBl4aQ9oO_dZCjq-zcp036_mYffCb6s5kqfGcIOThJC0wQLFcbb0XUBMK5MBAJOmdSvdlwxAjI5Ny-m6OJZGeRsyAkmBaziVDj0/s640/blogger-image--2054855435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKcrMq_iLAfRMFp94Wrk0vmJCPZOmybxoR6BwVigRxBl4aQ9oO_dZCjq-zcp036_mYffCb6s5kqfGcIOThJC0wQLFcbb0XUBMK5MBAJOmdSvdlwxAjI5Ny-m6OJZGeRsyAkmBaziVDj0/s320/blogger-image--2054855435.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Marvelous is...dedicating several hours of my Thursday evening to watching Olympic curling On Demand and a attempting to interpret the rules and scoring of the game. It's really kind of fascinating. There is a place in Cranston that has a curling club and they run open houses to learn about the game. The next one is in early March. You know I plan on being there.</div>
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Marvelous is....when my dogs get haircuts and act like divas.</div>
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Marvelous is...staying in all weekend marathoning almost the entire second season of Parks and Recs. I got my mom and I hooked. Ron Swanson cracks me up.</div>
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<a href="http://www.kulfoto.com/funny-pictures/29852/government-employee" title="Government employee"><img alt="" src="http://e.kulfoto.com/pic/0001/0030/AJb2v29852.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a>
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Marvelous is...playing a few intense impromptu games of Rummikub on a Saturday night during a snowstorm. Something about bad weather and board games. Kind of like peanut butter and jelly. Although I prefer peanut butter and fresh spinach sandwiches. Don't hate.</div>
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Marvelous is...winter clothing clearance. I've had my eye on this one particular sweater and I scored it for $15 on Saturday! I also made out like a bandit at K-Mart yesterday, with no intentions of buying anything. $35 well spent.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrWjrQ1B8wRMkqh3PFfUiVy_o8FHbP8N785sjb7lfCJJRM9dZDF1oAz1xq8f-m9NNzukoSIFRb2pB26CzW1kGiMjoDvSreumw3zgSO-iOL95IL1IV8kLAK2li4BdOrBJb-Ufa-nOQuWg/s640/blogger-image--996804826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrWjrQ1B8wRMkqh3PFfUiVy_o8FHbP8N785sjb7lfCJJRM9dZDF1oAz1xq8f-m9NNzukoSIFRb2pB26CzW1kGiMjoDvSreumw3zgSO-iOL95IL1IV8kLAK2li4BdOrBJb-Ufa-nOQuWg/s320/blogger-image--996804826.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Marvelous is...finally beating level 382 on Candy Crush. I can't stop playing when I'm stuck on a level for over a week. The feeling of accomplishment I get from this victory is so wrong haha.</div>
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Here's to looking forward to a week full of yoga, rising temperatures (I hope!), and not feeling the compulsion to play so much Candy Crush.</div>
Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-55548614232921762862014-02-11T22:35:00.000-05:002014-02-11T22:35:13.616-05:00Starting a new chapterAs you may or may not have noticed, I've edited some past posts. It was brought to my attention from people who personally know me that my blog really isn't an accurate reflection of who I am, and that was never my intention. I was coming off as whiny, negative, and unappreciative - qualities that are just not admirable and really aren't part of my persona. After all of the things I have been through in recent years, I have grown to become more positive and more grateful for the things that I did and am lucky enough to still have, but I was using this blog as a place to rant and vent. No more.<br />
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I'm starting a new chapter in my life. It's been a long time coming, and I have to admit I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity. This is what I've been looking for, and it's what I'm passionate about. I can't wait to start this journey.<br />
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In line with other life changes, I plan to refocus this blog on what I originally wanted it to be about: yoga, healthy eating, and stress management. My life really is entertaining, and I want to share these stories without highlighting the negative aspects for some cheap entertainment value. I'm better than that.<br />
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I hope that you'll all still follow me and find that my blog posts have improved as time goes on. In the meantime, my posts may be short and infrequent due to other priorities in my life as things are working themselves out.Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-71036681168221189422014-02-11T08:08:00.000-05:002014-02-11T08:08:47.611-05:00MIMM: Looking forward to the week ahead<br />
I don't know if it's the time of year, but I've been so busy lately. I've had to cancel plans with certain people several times because I've essentially double-booked myself. It's a welcome change for the winter since I typically hibernate at home due to my hatred/intolerance for the cold. Can you believe I'll be out almost every night this week with several inches of snow and ice on the ground from Saturday and this forecast?<br />
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Yeah, me either.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Fingers crossed for no snow on Tuesday.</i></span></div>
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Tonight I'm attending a holiday party for wedding companies at the Providence Biltmore in lieu of my normal Monday routine of vinyasa and hot yoga. Free food and an excuse to dress fancy? Hell yeah. Funny how I get invited to this when I've literally assisted in DJing one wedding. My friend and I have plans to hit up Trinity Brewhouse for wings afterwards, too. Should be a fun night!</div>
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I have Tuesday off work (so I hope) and plan to squeeze in lots of yoga to make up for my lack of regular class attendance. I also find myself craving sushi something awful and am considering taking advantage of a sushi lunch special somewhere after AM yoga classes. It has been far too long since sashimi and seaweed salad have been on my agenda, or my plate.</div>
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I was scheduled to cover trivia on Wednesday night, but my godfather AKA my favorite man in my life/father figure invited me to Transiberian Orchestra. With one Providence performance each year, the stories I've heard about the show, and the opportunity to hang with Uncle Mark, I couldn't turn down the offer . Thank god my boss was understanding and found coverage.</div>
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Back to work Thursday with post-work plans for an unofficial office Christmas party at the Thirsty Beaver. Who knows what Friday holds.</div>
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Linking up to Katie's Marvelous in my Monday as per usual. I'm having trouble posting links and pictures on my iPad since I'm still learning, so bear with me! Also, this post is going up late. Oops!</div>
<br />Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-72069512976835126272014-02-11T07:46:00.000-05:002014-02-11T07:46:56.989-05:00Three Things TuesdayJust popping in to share a few links that can give you a sneak peek into my inner thoughts since my Tuesdays are non-stop busy between dragging my feet to get ready for work, actually going to work, and then heading to host trivia immediately from work.<br />
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Onto some linkage!<br />
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This <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katie-hill/yogi-tips_b_4314125.html?utm_hp_ref=tw" target="_blank">Huffington Post article</a> on 5 Things Every Yogi Needs to Know is so significant to my life as of late, <i>and totally validates my addiction</i>...but that's just my opinion. I'm not exactly sure which is influencing which, but I've noticed a huge difference both on and off the mat in the past few months. As I'm working on being more flexible in my everyday life by letting go of stupid "eating rules"and forcing myself to be more social, I'm seeing an increase in my physical flexibility in my yoga practice. I have to say, it feels pretty amazing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLhHeSoieiQEWx4xjSlpg6mVpHShLiQJIAGkAj46B-wHm0yAIDHaB6iZ73Fv9tD93WlzOk4PCDIGECjTeDN2B20bjHg8CqjcPxjU4uqdnp_-r2txywnmR1qRmOtuvLFssFAQPjO8_wYk/s1600/7880_10200120617553917_151734781_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLhHeSoieiQEWx4xjSlpg6mVpHShLiQJIAGkAj46B-wHm0yAIDHaB6iZ73Fv9tD93WlzOk4PCDIGECjTeDN2B20bjHg8CqjcPxjU4uqdnp_-r2txywnmR1qRmOtuvLFssFAQPjO8_wYk/s320/7880_10200120617553917_151734781_n.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love partner yoga. And how cute/creative is Paula? Best instructor ever!<br />
Check out <a href="http://www.shantiyogarehoboth.com/" target="_blank">Shanti Yoga & Fitness!</a></td></tr>
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Can you believe Christmas is less than a month away? IT hasn't felt the same since my Dad passed away. He LOVED Christmas, like a little kid who still believes in Santa. It just doesn't seem as special without him here. The last three years, I've wanted nothing for gifts, but this year I actually really want to buy myself an <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/buy-ipad/ipad-mini" target="_blank">iPad mini</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.idownloadblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Logitech-Ultrathin-Keyboard-for-iPad-mini-image-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.idownloadblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Logitech-Ultrathin-Keyboard-for-iPad-mini-image-001.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All I want for Christmas...ipad mini with a keyboard attachment.</td></tr>
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An iPad mini would make my life so much easier. I wouldn't have to retype all those notes and waste paper on printouts for reference. Plus, I could totally browse instagram when meetings are a snoozefest.<br />
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My mom suggested buying it for me, but I really can't let her. I'd rather see her put that money toward my sisters. I'll let her buy me a case or something.<br />
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And to further justify my long-standing disdain for The Little Mermaid, a hilariously accurate Buzzfeed article <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/leonoraepstein/disney-princesses-ranked-by-intelligence" target="_blank">ranking Disney Princesses on their intelligence</a>. Or lack thereof.<br />
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Yes, I may be bitter and blame The Little Mermaid for my Bloody Monday incident at age 4, but that's neither here nor there. She is the reason so many girls are relationship-dependent skanks today (Sorry, not sorry). Think about it: all she aspired to be was a voiceless, naked woman to impress some dude she didn't even know.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I love how this list points out that she never thought to WRITE A NOTE to Eric. <i>DUH.</i></span><i> </i></b></div>
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P.S. - the rest of the list is just as amusing and spot-on. I love Buzzfeed.<br />
Until next time.</div>
Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-14250625886873655362014-02-09T21:23:00.001-05:002014-02-09T21:23:16.801-05:00Random product reviews: You should try this because it's awesomeLast week I was scrolling through my photo stream on my iPhone and came across a ton of pictures I'd snapped of random healthy food finds that I tried and enjoyed. I think credit should always be given when it is due, so I thought it was appropriate to sing each company's praise in a blog post. And now we're here!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFtotTrSAuHWSotreEzkvYd2anGSR4GSO340jmzropsEY1XqR8yXn5THWq4ICQ7wBDI0hqgur9czg0prWd96tIkhmYQvzawMmiqh5gVpjPv0KuH1lEbT12aHMGNYp8QLy6q4aOFBz5HE/s1600/433da91a802b11e1989612313815112c_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFtotTrSAuHWSotreEzkvYd2anGSR4GSO340jmzropsEY1XqR8yXn5THWq4ICQ7wBDI0hqgur9czg0prWd96tIkhmYQvzawMmiqh5gVpjPv0KuH1lEbT12aHMGNYp8QLy6q4aOFBz5HE/s1600/433da91a802b11e1989612313815112c_5.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.rightfoods.com/" target="_blank">Dr. McDougall's</a> Black Bean & Lime soup is perfect for days when I don't have time to actually make a lunch for work. All you need is hot water and some patience (it takes a few minutes for the dried black beans to soften up), and voila! a filling, delicious lunch. The flavor of this soup is great. It comes with a zesty lime flavor packet that you mix in with the dried black beans before filling the cup up to the line with boiling water, and you just toss the container when you're done. I try to stock up when these go on sale, though it's under $2 so definitely a more affordable, healthier lunch than you'd get at Subway. I've also tried the split pea and barley soup, which is equally tasty and nutritious. I'm dying to try some of the newer products from the line: <a href="https://www.rightfoods.com/scripts/display_product.php?product_id=1118" target="_blank">Pistachio Citrus Quinoa Salad</a> and <a href="https://www.rightfoods.com/scripts/display_product.php?product_id=7792" target="_blank">Butternut Azteca Soup</a> especially caught my eye.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnCxML-gYotA25uAg3EYqdhoQbgO-cXoUjT5xT8zu_BcZsyS4KR0c1MUOmos6tj7A6HHQrTg9ruJCduMgnBGEKupPHFaYtTMR09AdQauVw3lJuiA2NEhastW_ANOhQ8_vZK6uzGQjTrc/s1600/90348e0a0d9d11e2934a123138203b9f_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnCxML-gYotA25uAg3EYqdhoQbgO-cXoUjT5xT8zu_BcZsyS4KR0c1MUOmos6tj7A6HHQrTg9ruJCduMgnBGEKupPHFaYtTMR09AdQauVw3lJuiA2NEhastW_ANOhQ8_vZK6uzGQjTrc/s1600/90348e0a0d9d11e2934a123138203b9f_5.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
I won a jar of <a href="http://www.nikkiscoconutbutter.com/" target="_blank">Nikki's Coconut Butter</a> a while back in a blog giveaway...I wish I could remember which blog, but when I saw "a while back" I mean a year ago (far before I had a blog and could formally tell the internet how much I love this stuff). Nikki's has so many awesome flavors: Honey Pecan Pie, Midnight Mocha, Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie, Macademia Nut Cookie, Pumpkin Spiced Donut (seasonal), and Vanilla Cake Batter, which is the flavor I chose. Let me tell you, the flavor was spot on. I could literally eat this stuff with a spoon, but I retrained myself and instead drizzled it over oatmeal and on rice cakes or lavash bread with jam. I am dying to try their other flavors at some point, but right now I'm not in a position to spend $13 on a jar :(<br />
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A few weeks ago, I was browsing around <a href="http://www.goodseedmarket.com/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=A5904A404EFC428EB924943B69E07275" target="_blank">The Good Seed Market</a> and noticed <a href="http://kevita.com/" target="_blank">Kevita</a> in the fridge. I asked the owner and her sister if they'd tried it, and they happened to be drinking the Daily Cleanse (pictured above) as we spoke, and highly recommended it. Since I love cayenne pepper and lemon, I went with their suggestion and was not disappointed. </div>
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I should disclose that I am a chugger. I drink everything in gulps - hot tea, coffee, seltzer water included. This stuff is definitely made for sipping. I coughed a little from the cayenne on the initial taste. I must have been overzealous. They have a whole slew of interesting flavors that I want to try, especially the Mojita and Strawberry Acai Coconut. Lucky for me (and you), there is a coupon for $1.50 a bottle on coupons.com this week. I highly recommend printing one out and running to Whole Foods, or the Good Seed Market if you're lucky enough to live in the RI/MA area, to try Kevita.</div>
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Excuse the crappy picture above of my new favorite <a href="http://www.questproteinbar.com/" target="_blank">Quest</a> bar flavor. It was taken post-yoga while waiting for my mom's car to be ready at Tire Pros. I know everyone raves about the chocolate chip cookie dough and double chocolate chunk flavors, and I am completely of the same opinion. That being said, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">coconut cashew</span> </i>is <b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">BOMB</span></u></b>. Such a unique flavor, great texture, and stellar nutrition facts, all as to be expected from Quest bars. I was really shocked by how great this bar was without being warmed in the microwave prior to consumption. I think I actually prefer it as is. I still have yet to try the Quest Cravings Peanut butter cups or the new cookies & cream bar. I need to step up my Quest hunting game. Lovelovelove Quest.</div>
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Make sure you check out these companies and their products. Consider it proof that nutritious food can be delicious, and can even taste like your favorite dessert.Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-43751149882074030942014-02-05T18:01:00.000-05:002014-02-05T18:01:22.116-05:00Snow, snow go away. Come again never.More snow. And even more expected. I'm not enjoying the fact that all of my vacation time is being wasted on inclement weather and risky travel conditions. If the office wasn't so far from my house and if I-95 wasn't the only route, I'd definitely be in today. This really has been a pretty terrible winter for New England, at least in my opinion.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse Lacey knows me too well.</td></tr>
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The big controversy flooding social media sites today seems to be the Biggest Loser Finale. Apparently the winner lost a whopping 60% of her body weight, down to 105lbs from 260lbs. That is insane. It's painful how thin she looks. I'm sure I don't need to provide a picture or article link because it's everywhere, you all know what I'm referencing. If not, you obviously have internet access if you're reading blog posts and can just as easily tap into the handy-dandy google machine.<div>
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I also happened across <a href="http://thehealthyouwant.biz/beating-food-rules-blues-living-eat/#.UvK6U-Aoz_f" target="_blank">this</a> not-so-little piece on orthorexia, which I think it's relevant to this whole ordeal. It's worth reading in its entirety, despite its length. Orthorexia is becoming an epidemic in this country, and it just isn't recognized as a problem. Not all sufferers appear physically unhealthy, but the mental struggle is on par with a DSM-recognized, diagnosable eating disorder. I love that Amanda describes orthorexia as the "sneakiest food disorder." It's almost encouraged in our culture with all of these ridiculous restrictive diets and obsession with thinness. I think a lot of people could also learn a lot from the non-rule rules she provides at the end of the post. Overall, a well-written, thoughtful, and educational article that aims to bring awareness to a serious problem that's too often overlooked.<br /><br />
In my laziness after shoveling snow and then food into my face for a combined 3 hours--yes, that's 90 minutes dedicated to each activity. The snow was wet, heavy, and made me RAVENOUS--I found this hilarious list of <a href="http://elitedaily.com/women/single-girl-problems-the-17-things-that-make-me-an-undateable-girl/" target="_blank">The 17 Reasons I'm an Undateable Girl</a>.<br />
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TGFI: Thank God for Internet - Making single life acceptable</div>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-12420685203179717862014-02-03T09:15:00.000-05:002014-02-03T09:15:33.475-05:00MIMM: Slacking, but for all the right reasonsSorry for the lack of posts lately. I've basically fallen out of all typical routines this month. 2014 appears to be the year of change, which I desperately needed in more areas than one. I don't want to elaborate because a lot of things are indefinite and I don't want to jinx anything. I'm superstitious like that.<br />
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Just know that for now - anticipatory anxiety aside - things are <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><u>marvelous</u></b></span>.<br />
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I've had a few enviable adventures this last week, if I do say so myself. Thursday night I <i>finally </i>made it to <a href="http://www.raffayoga.com/" target="_blank">Raffa Yoga</a> in Cranston, RI for antigravity yoga. I wasn't sure what it would be like or if I'd be able to catch on, but it was SO much fun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKa_S-HZw4rZXwcE0DQrnn2ws81bb8AvmmyXI5gc3eyXXcwyVAQG0HCoQxJ2FpKxAwyZWkDeRCiA4_dMAkyBLdwy27AsrloioYBIepSl4JTeF87Ds4oqWz3l7FE7qZuT6xZn7mKUkaug/s1600/00fa086e8a1f11e3b46a126f252e0d6b_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKa_S-HZw4rZXwcE0DQrnn2ws81bb8AvmmyXI5gc3eyXXcwyVAQG0HCoQxJ2FpKxAwyZWkDeRCiA4_dMAkyBLdwy27AsrloioYBIepSl4JTeF87Ds4oqWz3l7FE7qZuT6xZn7mKUkaug/s1600/00fa086e8a1f11e3b46a126f252e0d6b_8.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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The harnesses are these giant white sheets that you wrap yourself up and they can apparently hold up to 3000lbs. We had the opportunity to try some pretty advanced poses and inversions like Vampire.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wingsaerialclub.com/EN/home.html" target="_blank">Photo credit</a>. Obviously this isn't me.</td></tr>
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I really loved it. The instructor actually approached me after the class and asked if I had done antigravity yoga before because I was so good at it and fearless about the inversions. Go figure. It wasn't so much of a workout to me, but it was definitely relaxing and a stress reliever. Ideally, I'd love to get to a class once a month. Well worth the $16 drop-in fee.<br />
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From new experiences to familiar settings, my friends suggested we go out to Toby Keith's I Love This Bar in Foxboro. I had gone twice with my co-workers when I was a caseworker at Key, well before I developed a taste for country music, and I had a blast back then so I had high expectations going back. I have to say, it makes a huge difference when you can sing along to the cover band. </div>
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More marvelous tidbits include a return visit to Justine's for a late-night mid-week drink and an announcement from my yoga instructor that there will be a second hot yoga class added into the rotation in the Spring! (Screw you, Punxsutawney Phil and your stupid Groundhog inner circle for "seeing your shadow" and cursing us with 6 more weeks of winter).</div>
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Linking up to the wonderful <a href="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/" target="_blank">Healthy Diva</a> for some more positivity and marvelousness. Thanks, as always, Katie!</div>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-38168820817432541562014-01-27T22:10:00.000-05:002014-02-10T23:01:41.432-05:00MIMM: Too much marvelous for one post<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Life is funny in the way that it ebbs and flows. Bad things and good things alike seem to come in waves, and right now it's high tide happiness. It's been a long time coming, and I'm planning on embracing it while it's here. I won't even get into the details because everything is so feelings-based, for lack of a better description.</div>
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Finding a new and unique hidden gem. Justine's in Providence. The location is kind of hush-hush with a lingerie shop display in a sketchy neighborhood, but once you get past the curtain, it's a gorgeous intimate bar setting with amazing $5 cocktails and a great bar staff. Check out the awesome menu:</div>
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I ordered a manhattan (my recent drink of choice), but sampled my friend's Brandy Alexander, Ward 8, and Charlie Chaplin. I was happiest with my choice, but the Brandy Alexander was incredible...just too rich to drink the whole thing. And in classic fashion, I started up awkward interactions with a slew of people at the bar. I do it because I can. It makes for some interesting memories. </div>
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<h4>
Marvelous is...</h4>
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Returning to yoga after almost an entire week's (unintentional) hiatus and unrolling my brand new Jade yoga mat!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VxMGTNHkQFJ6RC13nPCRmX5c_k_MyZXRMAAcKwgDWhR18m0ucGG5DBaQnzKWjQqiN8GLUnGN9dbbUtkiPgA5cn7Nli_Ga5BnfvX2-257ezmehxooo1EqXZeVn3Z7PH12T_PK7Eh5xrQ/s640/blogger-image-912557065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VxMGTNHkQFJ6RC13nPCRmX5c_k_MyZXRMAAcKwgDWhR18m0ucGG5DBaQnzKWjQqiN8GLUnGN9dbbUtkiPgA5cn7Nli_Ga5BnfvX2-257ezmehxooo1EqXZeVn3Z7PH12T_PK7Eh5xrQ/s640/blogger-image-912557065.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Extra long teal Harmony mat ♥ </span></span></td></tr>
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Marvelous is...</h4>
Finally achieving a yoga pose I've been working on for months. I don't know if my body just needed a rest to reset, or if it was all the positive energy emanating from my beautiful new mat. Whatever it was, I'm so excited to have finally held one-legged crow! And I know it wasn't a fluke because I've done it about five times since then. Brief holds, mind you, but holds nonetheless.<br />
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Thanks, <a href="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/" target="_blank">Katie</a>, for hosting another Marvelous in my Monday!<br />
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<a href="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/2012/06/first-marvelous-in-my-monday-yay.html"><img src="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/MiMM.jpg" /></a></center>
Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-63299212114722597652014-01-26T18:17:00.001-05:002014-01-26T18:17:09.692-05:00Spill It Sundays: TV Shows<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once again, I've been a terrible, no good, inconsistent blogger. Forgive me. I've decided to </span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Link up to <a href="http://thebigmansworld.com/2014/01/26/spill-it-sundays-9-tv-shows/" target="_blank">Arman's Spill It Sunday</a>! This week's theme: TV shows.</span></strong><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">What was your favourite TV series growing up?</span></strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>When I was a wee one...</i></span></strong><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sesame Street, obviously. There are old videos of me reading magazines and poorly singing the theme song while I watched the TV shows before age 2. I was such a nerd.</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>When I was a kid...</i></span></strong><br />
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<a href="http://kidzshowz.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/tumblr_ma9p23p8uf1rvhe1xo1_1280.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://kidzshowz.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/tumblr_ma9p23p8uf1rvhe1xo1_1280.gif" height="245" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My dad and I would have "Kablam parties" every Friday night when I was a kid. We would go to the store and pick up a bunch of snacks, usually Cool Ranch Doritos and crunchy Cheez Doodles (not Cheetos!), and just hang out watching this weird Nickelodeon series. I was also really into Spongebob. I blame my dad for that one, too.</span></strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>When I was in college...</i></span></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vh1.com/sitewide/promoimages/logos/az-project/rock_of_love2_281x211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.vh1.com/sitewide/promoimages/logos/az-project/rock_of_love2_281x211.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vh1.com/shows/rock_of_love/season_2/series.jhtml" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photo credit</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My freshman roommate and I were obsessed with Brett Michael's<b> Rock of Love </b>on Vh1. No, it wasn't even a good reality TV show, but we loved laughing at Brett's sad attempts to bed these women and maintain his image despite the obvious fake hair. What is romantic about telling someone you want them to administer your insulin? Nothing. At least not in my eyes.</span></span></div>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">What is your current favourite TV series?</span></strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I really love a lot of TV shows for different reasons. I've mentioned before here that I am hopelessly in love with Gunnar on Nashville and Captain Hook on Once Upon a Time. Their attractiveness is more appealing to me than the actual content of the shows, to be honest.</span></strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I find myself talking about <b>Duck Dynasty</b> far too often and realize that I definitely watch it too much. Whenever I scroll through the TV guide and see Duck Dynasty is on A&E, I turn it on immediately. I have a little crush on Jase and I find Si and Willie to be hilarious. It doesn't help that the rest of my family has the same problem. </span></span><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn-s3.thewrap.com/images/2013/12/duck-dynasty-618x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn-s3.thewrap.com/images/2013/12/duck-dynasty-618x400.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thewrap.com/duck-dynasty-ratings-slide-week-2" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photo credit</span></a></td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As for new TV series that I'm loving, I have to say <u>Brooklyn Nine Nine</u> is my number one. It needed to be said somewhere in this post. Does anyone else find Andy Samberg to be kind of sexy?</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.fox.com/shows/brooklyn-nine-nine/photos/Cast/bk_12-white-andy_1438.rc-photos-thumb-243x222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.fox.com/shows/brooklyn-nine-nine/photos/Cast/bk_12-white-andy_1438.rc-photos-thumb-243x222.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://azure.foxdev.fox.com/brooklyn-nine-nine/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photo credit</span></a></td></tr>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">If you could guest star in ANY TV show, which would it be?</span></strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I would have to say <b>New Girl</b>. </span>New Girl is basically the ideal primetime TV show for my sense of humor. I really love awkward, uncomfortable comedy in a TV series, but it's usually found in more obscure shows like <i>Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!</i> (an Adult Swim classic)...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.hitfix.com/photos/662597/tim_and_eric_awsome_sWEB_article_story_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.hitfix.com/photos/662597/tim_and_eric_awsome_sWEB_article_story_main.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.hitfix.com/articles/tim-and-erics-billion-dollar-movie-to-cost-a-billion-dollars" target="_blank">Photo credit</a></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And Portlandia. The bookshop skits are gold.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/lNO6IWi.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/lNO6IWi.gif" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://imgur.com/gallery/ym47x" target="_blank">Photo credit: So many bookstore GIFs!</a></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Back to New Girl... I really just want to hang out with Schmidt and Winston. I would totally be BFFs with them in real life. Maybe I should just be Jess. I'm awkward enough. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.avclub.com/images/438/438196/16x9/627.jpg?8024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://media.avclub.com/images/438/438196/16x9/627.jpg?8024" height="179" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.avclub.com/review/new-girl-all-in-102892" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photo credit</span></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">What genre of television do you enjoy the most?</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f2f2f; font-size: 14px;"> (Reality, Action, Drama, Comedy)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Definitely comedy. I prefer comedy in any form of media, really. At the end of the day, I want to laugh. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, I marathon Duck Dynasty, Top Chef, and a slew of other reality TV shows if it happens to be on, but comedy most captures my attention.</span></div>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Which TV series do you think should NOT have been renewed after it’s first season yet had?</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, I could go on forever about TV shows that shouldn't have been renewed. If we're talking reality TV shows, definitely any series that chronicles the lives of the Kardashians. I'm sorry (not really), but they just do not deserve their fame, nor do I want to watch them drone on with their flat affect and overly done up appearances about whatever drama they've been able to muster up this week. Yet I will still watch it if my sister turns it on...I never claimed to be perfect.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Which TV series do you think deserved to be renewed yet was not? </span></span></div>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ben & Kate! I wanted to cry when that show was cancelled! It was so funny, and made Tuesday nights the best comedy night on TV. I don't even understand how it was cancelled in the middle of its first season. RIP.</span></strong><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks, Arman, for the fun blog post idea :)</span></strong><br />
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-79806650359039862532014-01-22T16:41:00.001-05:002014-01-22T16:41:18.133-05:00What I'm reading on a WednesdayNo work for me today. The office is closed, but I was (again) expected to drive to one of the group homes to work for the day or take a forced vacation day. Considering it takes 30 minutes to get to the nearest house on a normal day, I didn't feel like finding out how long it would have taken today. When precipitation falls, New Englanders forget how to operate a vehicle. Clearly, I took today off. It's not even the end of January, and I've already wasted two vacation days to snow. And I just found out they are predicting more snow for next week. Not to mention it feels like -9°F with the windchill today in RI. Come on, winter! Enough already!<br />
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Since I didn't have to get up for any particular reason today, I actually slept in until 9:15am, which is unheard of for me. I'm such an insomniac, but my body and mind apparently needed a rest. It felt awesome.<br />
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My day today has really consisted of playing Candy Crush on my iPad, an hour of shoveling, a makeshift kettlebell workout at home, and marathoning episodes of Portlandia and Best Ink. Nothing exciting, so I thought I'd share some articles that caught my attention over the last week.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/inside-our-kitchen/article/sweet-potato-caramel" target="_blank">How to Make Sweet Potato Caramel</a> via Bon Appetit<br />
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Who knew that healthy, refined sugar-free caramel was awaiting me right on my countertop at almost all times? I definitely need to give this a shot. Worst case scenario, I've cooked some sweet potatoes.<br />
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<a href="http://eatlocalgrown.com/article/12499-4-natural-sweeteners-that-are-actually-healthy.html?c=cure" target="_blank">4 Natural Sweeteners That Are Actually Healthy</a> via eatlocalgrown<br />
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I sometimes engage in an internal battle about my daily use of stevia in my coffee, tea, or food. Realistically, I use at least two servings of stevia a day, some days more than that. I know it's not as bad as Splenda, but I really feel like I should try to cut it out completely. It's nice to read some positive potential side effects of stevia. I still want to cut back, but maybe there are definitely worse things I could be putting into my body. Like heroin.<br />
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<a href="http://yoganonymous.com/10-of-the-many-benefits-of-practicing-yoga/" target="_blank">10 Benefits of Yoga</a> via yoganonymous<br />
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Just more justification for my yoga obsession. I seriously cannot say enough about how much my body and mind has changed for the better since I traded in running and kickboxing for yoga. Miracle exercise, I tell you.<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/08/sleep-deprivation_n_4557142.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003" target="_blank">A Horrifying Picture of What Sleep Loss Will Do To You</a> via Huffington Post<br />
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Okay, this article freaks me out. I need to start getting more sleep ASAP.<br />
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-6216780016971656262014-01-20T08:21:00.000-05:002014-02-11T08:24:15.542-05:00MIMM: Low-key plans with high entertainment valueLet me preface this post by saying that American Horror Story this week gave me the serious creeps. I can't deal with that butler, or all the blood. Ugh.<br />
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Now that that is out of the way, onto more marvelous things. Like the weekend. I'll do my best to keep descriptions brief despite all the amusing and awkward details. Honestly, it's too much to share, and I'd have no idea where to begin. </div>
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Friday night I finally got together with another girl who works for the trivia company after several reschedules. We were going to check out Justine's, but we ended up at The Avery because it was easier to locate. No complaints there. I would have snapped a picture, but it's always super dark in there. We happened to end up seated next to this group of completely insane group of people ranging from what I guess would be late 20s to late 40s. Long story short, they convinced us to go with them to Lili Marlene's on Federal Hill, and we stupidly offered them a ride. Weirdest mile-long drive in my life. It took like 20 minutes to fully get out of the Avery parking lot haha.</div>
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Lili Marlene's was not what I expected from a bar on Federal Hill. It isn't exactly easy to find unless you know you're looking for it. I actually wasn't even sure it was open when I looked from the street. Upon walking in, all I could think of was a speakeasy. Again, too dark to take a picture. I loved the vibe of this place, and definitely want to go back. My grapefruit martini was amazing and for only $7.50 for a drink on The Hill, I have no real excuse not to. Our experience at Lili Marlene's was filled with just as much surreal and random interactions, even after our drunk/crazy "guides" were cut off (no surpise) and left.</div>
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Saturday is better explained in pictures, I'll leave the details up to your imagination:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marilyn Monroe themed bathroom at The Scurvy Dog in Providence.</td></tr>
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The usual yoga on Saturday and Sunday mornings left me feeling a little better about all the alcohol I consumed. All in all, a solid weekend that deserved the entirely unproductive Sunday I had. I'm also a little bitter that I have to work today despite it being a holiday. At least I won't hit much traffic.</div>
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Linking up to <a href="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/" target="_blank">Katie's</a> Marvelous in My Monday!</div>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-4271517699489636592014-01-19T16:40:00.000-05:002014-01-19T16:40:00.028-05:00A new approach on eating to gain muscle & a chipotle pumpkin chicken stewI'm not changing out of yoga pants today, and I don't feel guilty at all about that. Sundays are made for being lazy. Plus, my weekend was entirely overstimulating and chock-full of awkward situations, far too little sleep, and new-to-me people and places. But I'm saving that for tomorrow's Marvelous in my Monday post, so you'll just have to wait for the details.<br />
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One thing that I have accomplished this week was doing a little research on putting some structure into my eating routine to gain weight and build muscle. I really struggle with knowing how much food is enough, especially when it comes to carbs. The problem is that I basically cut out most non-vegetable and non-fruit carbs for a while when I revamped my lifestyle in college. My body and tastebuds just stopped craving them. Now, after years of trying to gain back some of that weight, I finally started to become more comfortable with increasing my carb intake and have found some foods I really enjoy. The problem remains that I just don't know how much my body actually needs to repair and build muscle, so I tend to severely overeat at night when I look back on my daily intake and realize I haven't really consumed any whole grains. This usually appears in the form of me eating an entire bag's worth of chips or several bowls of cereal without even necessarily feeling hungry, but eating because I'm panicking that my body didn't get enough fuel and I'll lose the precious little muscle I have been able to build. Kind of a ridiculous notion, I know.<br />
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The point of my mini-rant is that I really need to implement some more structure into my eating routine in order to retrain my brain and body to know what it needs. After reading several articles about the <a href="http://bellafalconi.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/benefits-of-carb-cycling/" target="_blank">benefits of carb-cycling</a>, I've determined that this is probably a good dietary guideline for me to follow. I've found <a href="http://www.fitnessrxwomen.com/nutrition/healthy-eating-tips/carb-cycling-diet-101/" target="_blank">this article on FitnessRX</a> to be very informational.<br />
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Basically, there are several ways to structure carb-cycling, including high carb, moderate carb, and low carb days based on my workout schedule, with fat intake in contrast to carbs and high protein intake on all days.<br />
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My rough weekly plan is:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sunday</span> -<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> 9am Total Fitness, 10am yoga;</span> <b>high carb day</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Monday</span> - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">6pm Vinyasa yoga, 7:15pm hot yoga;</span> <i>moderate carb day</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tuesday </span>- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">6:30pm Yoga Fusion;</span> <b>high carb day</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wednesday</span> - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">7pm Tone & Crunch (kettlebells and TRX);</span> <b>high carb day</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thursday </span>- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">off;</span> <i>low-moderate carb day</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Friday</span> -<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> off; </span><i>low carb day</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Saturday</span> - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">8:30am yoga fusion, 9:45am vinyasa yoga; </span><b>high carb day</b><br />
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<b>So I'll follow a high carb, lower fat diet on the days I'm lifting weights. </b>I found <a href="http://www.fitnessrxwomen.com/fat-loss/fat-loss-diets/jumpstart-meal-plan/" target="_blank">this meal plan example</a> helpful in giving me an idea of what a day's intake should look like on both low and high carb days, though I'd aim to consume closer to 2000 calories daily rather than 1400. This week I am going to come up with a meal plan for myself to follow and ideally I'll start carb-cycling next week officially. We'll see if I can stick to it.<br />
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For dinner tonight, my lazy self was motivated enough to throw some pantry ingredients into a crockpot and call it cooking a meal. I loosely followed <a href="http://www.ateaspoonofhappiness.com/chipotle-chicken-pumpkin-soup/" target="_blank">this recipe</a> from A Teaspoon of Happiness, tweaking here and there based on what I had for ingredients and quantities.<br />
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Crockpot Chipotle Pumpkin & Chicken Stew</h4>
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Ingredients:</h3>
1 15-oz can pumpkin puree<br />
1 15-oz can black beans, undrained<br />
2 or 3 medium sized boneless skinless chicken breasts<br />
2 tsp minced garlic<br />
3 stalks celery, chopped<br />
1 medium zucchini, chopped<br />
1 medium onion, chopped<br />
4-5 large handfuls of kale (I used about 1/2 the bag pictured)<br />
4 cups low sodium chicken broth<br />
3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, diced<br />
2 tsp adobo sauce (from the can of peppers)<br />
cilantro<br />
cumin<br />
salt & pepper<br />
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Dump all the ingredients into a crock pot over the chicken breasts, adding spices to suit your tastes (I used a lot of cumin and cilantro, but very little salt). Cook on high for 4 hours. Remove the chicken, shred with a fork, and return to crockpot to cook on low for at least 2 hours. Serve with shredded cheese, if you're into that.<br />
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Super easy, super filling, and super delicious. #supersoupsunday haha</div>
Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-14897894896752675092014-01-15T17:51:00.000-05:002014-02-11T08:22:49.918-05:00StressingThe past two weeks have been crazy hectic at work. The weekend can't come soon enough, though it's looking like rest isn't in the cards. I'm not complaining. I think that I need fun more than I need sleep.<br />
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I wish I had something better to post on here, but I'm just <i>so tired</i>. I'm completely lacking creativity and motivation.<br />
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I'll end this post with something that I stumbled across on <a href="http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/best-of-the-best-47.jpg?w=500&h=403" target="_blank">The Chive</a> this weekend that had me cracking up. I can't even look at it without bursting out laughing, and I'm typically a silent laugher...<br />
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<a href="http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/best-of-the-best-47.jpg?w=500&h=403" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/best-of-the-best-47.jpg?w=500&h=403" /></a></div>
LMAO. DONE.Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-48569725186035965782014-01-13T09:41:00.000-05:002014-01-13T09:41:49.803-05:00MIMM: On patience and things well-deservedAnother wonderfully uneventful weekend gone by and it's Monday again. And marvelous it is! My yoga instructor and owner of Shanti Yoga & Fitness in Rehobeth, MA, Paula Paluch, found out yesterday that she was accepted as a brand ambassador for Jade Yoga! Congratulations, Paula!<br />
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I can't say enough about Paula. This past week has been a great one for her, and she certainly deserves it! Last year she was brave enough to relocate her yoga studio and quit her job to dedicate her life to what she loves. Undoubtedly, this wasn't easy for her and life threw her some curveballs, but she was persistent and positive throughout it all. Now all of her hard work is truly paying off in tangible ways: a slew of new yogis have been popping into the studio, she had a wall-to-wall full class on Thursday, and now she is a brand ambassador for her go-to yoga mat company! I'm so proud and inspired by her.<br />
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Now onto a quick weekend recap: After a week of sheer insanity and a packed schedule, I was ready to do absolutely nothing come Friday. The crappy weather was a great excuse for me to stay home and lounge about on Friday and Saturday. My sister convinced me to go to the movies to see The Lone Survivor on Saturday afternoon, though she failed to convince me to change out of my yoga attire.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDVHgu0ItJEPz4I0LtKU8FhZJF2vpyKNHwASjnK304DTcCJTjVdapymmqqi7qraR8i0bXCVJgQwoeOTszXTSptwEF9idL1-7vnVnM4GJN-P-rjVGNJH6JzcZOt_TWy9NQiZiKSEz93hY/s1600/lone-survivor-mark-wahlberg-636x400x2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDVHgu0ItJEPz4I0LtKU8FhZJF2vpyKNHwASjnK304DTcCJTjVdapymmqqi7qraR8i0bXCVJgQwoeOTszXTSptwEF9idL1-7vnVnM4GJN-P-rjVGNJH6JzcZOt_TWy9NQiZiKSEz93hY/s400/lone-survivor-mark-wahlberg-636x400x2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.contactmusic.com/article/mark-wahlberg-lone-survivor-perter-berg-war-movie-financing-reviews_4006961" target="_blank">Photo cred</a></span></td></tr>
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I just can't turn down an opportunity to gaze at the beauty that is Mark Wahlberg. Will I be watching Wahlburgers on A&E when it premieres next week? You bet your ass I will.<br />
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Lone Survivor was disturbingly intense. I have to say it was an amazing story of strength and courage, and the acting was superb, but I was a ball of anxiety for the entire 121 minutes.<br />
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By Sunday, I was itching to at least pretend to be productive. During yoga, Sue asked for some help with a facebook issue, giving me a excuse to take a walk in the unseasonably nice weather and spend some time at <a href="http://www.goodseedmarket.com/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=A5904A404EFC428EB924943B69E07275" target="_blank">The Good Seed Market</a> in Seekonk, MA.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1/164320_177246725650355_2410926_n.jpg?lvh=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1/164320_177246725650355_2410926_n.jpg?lvh=1" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check them out on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Good-Seed-Market/177245128983848" target="_blank">Facebook</a></td></tr>
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I just love browsing around this store. They have an awesome variety of natural and organic products at really reasonable prices, and the owners and employees are so welcoming and helpful. I'm really happy to have met the owners. Like Paula, they are just doing what they love and their passion creates success. If you live in the RI/MA area, you should definitely stop in and check it out! FYI, they're running an awesome special on chia seeds. I made sure to create a post to advertise it on their facebook page while I was there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWTwmAUXK1AVFld7g4lugKIBvZzEUUGEE6cEJT4-AA_n23jBRXnqoiIW0u_YrFloN2rjkSJlDlyRbgtH53_uZxlfswOlN5ollEoqH8iwPG8pqTovyHfxIsqCBgtaSPtuJERXLBusMoWQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-01-12+at+9.00.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWTwmAUXK1AVFld7g4lugKIBvZzEUUGEE6cEJT4-AA_n23jBRXnqoiIW0u_YrFloN2rjkSJlDlyRbgtH53_uZxlfswOlN5ollEoqH8iwPG8pqTovyHfxIsqCBgtaSPtuJERXLBusMoWQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-01-12+at+9.00.03+PM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't love chia seed pudding?</td></tr>
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I had a really encouraging conversation while I was there, and I left feeling more positive than I had been about my current situation and the future in general. Hearing Paula's news later that evening only reinforced my feelings. I just have to continue to pursue my passion, be patient, and eventually it will pay off. Maybe not in the way I expect or as soon as I hope, but it will happen.<br />
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As always, I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/" target="_blank">Katie</a> for some Marvelous in My Monday action :)
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<a href="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/2012/06/first-marvelous-in-my-monday-yay.html"><img src="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/MiMM.jpg" /></a></center>
Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-18870700412412318702014-01-06T09:30:00.001-05:002014-02-11T08:24:56.209-05:00MIMM: Marvelousness thus far in 2014Well, it's the end of another weekend and the return to five day work weeks from now until May (!!!) I am definitely in need of some positive vibes here, so I'm happily linking up to <a href="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/" target="_blank">Katie's</a> Marvelous in my Monday.<br />
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<a href="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/2012/06/first-marvelous-in-my-monday-yay.html"><img src="http://www.healthydivaeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/MiMM.jpg" /></a></center>
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This week, I'm focusing on the progression of marvelousness so far in the new year:<br />
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I kicked off 2014 by MCing a bowling alley New Year's Eve event. At first it was awkward and I had no idea what I was supposed to do, but I just went with it and created my own agenda. It ended up being a blast. The more people drank, the funnier it got...although I was concerned about potential injuries from intoxicated bowling accidents. Fear not, no such mishaps occurred on my watch. Definitely an atypical New Year's Eve.</div>
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New Year's Day was spent doing not much of anything other than venturing to the nearest theater to see Anchorman 2 with my family. As a huge fan of the original Anchorman and Will Ferrel in general, I was very hesitant of this sequel. I just didn't think it could/should be done, but those promos convinced me otherwise. And the movie itself did not disappoint in terms of hilarity. Originality was lacking since it was essentially the same exact movie as Anchorman, but I can't even care. There were so many ridiculous quotable lines. This <a href="http://www.cinemablend.com/new/10-Hysterical-Anchorman-2-Lines-You-Quoting-Years-Come-40851-p5.html" target="_blank">Cinema Blend article</a> sums up some of the best lines. Well done, Will Ferrel and crew.<br />
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I caught up on all the episodes of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (sadly) and had just enough time with the snowstorm to start a few new Netflix marathons before the return of regular programming after the holiday hiatus.<br />
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I'd seen a smattering of episodes of Portlandia, but I marathonned season 3 over this weekend. This show is essentially a higher budget Tim & Eric Awesome Show with a female main cast member. If you like awkward humor, please watch this now.</div>
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I also randomly started watching Parks and Recreation and find myself hooked. I didn't like it when I first attempted to get into this show, but I guess I was just in the right mindset today and have officially been sucked in.</div>
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On a final note, this Sunday marked the long-awaited return of Downtown Abbey! Why do I love this show? I have no idea. But I'm glad it's back, with all it's random drama and British accents. What can I say, I'm easily entertained.</div>
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Other marvelousness in my Monday includes hot yoga (my favorite) and the warmest day of the week according to the extended forecast. Let's pretend it's not raining, or that tomorrow's anticipated high is 17 °F :)</div>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723354724168364273.post-77830883774199582172014-01-05T16:49:00.000-05:002014-02-11T08:20:42.906-05:00Spill It Sunday: Childhood Dreams vs. Reality<br />
After a lazy weekend of yoga and not much else, I was a little uninspired for a Sunday blog post. Then I stumbled across <a href="http://thebigmansworld.com/" target="_blank">Arman's</a> Spill It Sundays link up and thought I'd join in.<br />
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<a href="http://thebigmansworld.com/" title="The Big Man's World"><img alt="The Big Man's World" src="http://thebigmansworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Spill-it-Sunday-option-2-.jpg" height="200" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;" width="200" /></a><br />
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Every week is a new theme. This week's topic: Childhood Dreams vs. Reality. </div>
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I'll start off with one of my favorite childhood pictures of myself:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsUfQgN7oNyzDDd_JnZJEZp31FP_rgR64-T2z64Phq4D2foi72QgqSwuxC-lTOpp6ks00JHTz0G8hcE-LMJe_R9nEkbDTBjBiRLih-nxNiIXrEvtu9SmGTeUN_RRNl-pPZeCeFz6Z4VM/s1600/e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsUfQgN7oNyzDDd_JnZJEZp31FP_rgR64-T2z64Phq4D2foi72QgqSwuxC-lTOpp6ks00JHTz0G8hcE-LMJe_R9nEkbDTBjBiRLih-nxNiIXrEvtu9SmGTeUN_RRNl-pPZeCeFz6Z4VM/s320/e.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents tried really hard to raise a little hipster.</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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-> <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What did you want to be when you were younger (career wise)? </strong></h4>
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<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I was an odd kid. In the second grade, my teacher did a lesson series on dinosaurs and I honed right in on paleontology. I was obsessed with the idea of traveling to random desserts, caves, wherever it was that I assumed dinosaur fossils might just be hanging out waiting for me to dig up, dust off, and admire. I think it was the cool hats, casual attire, and warm climates that were presented to me as an essential part of the role of a paleontologist. Highly unrealistic, obviously. Luckily this fascination was a phase, not so much a long-term dream.</strong></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Pre- and post-paleontology infatuation, I always imagined myself writing. I wanted to be an author. I was always a lit nerd, burying my nose in advanced reading level books and day dreaming about random stories. </span></div>
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-> <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What dreams did you have when you were younger?</strong></h4>
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<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have always been relatively practical about my future and what I would be able to achieve. As a kid, I don't really recall any outlandish dreams other than the typical pre-teen 90s girl hopes of one day marrying Taylor Hanson or Justin Timberlake. </strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdnpix.com/show/141370875773188489_6t9HxY08_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdnpix.com/show/141370875773188489_6t9HxY08_c.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't even try to tell me Taylor Hanson didn't maintain his sexiness.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I wanted to go to Disney World, another "normal" young kid's dream. </strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90KEwOAKJ6sfkP6QBNHGuaOmDiRXmqfVdoeSS8szzMZx-T5g48039Scc0tWxscIP9d-Dmbkit6h6OQ2gzYrnbO43sSyHo-tOkiUrPQF7PToz2_3vKmOt7sWMKe1yiSUlYZdEKQ3L57BY/s1600/r_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90KEwOAKJ6sfkP6QBNHGuaOmDiRXmqfVdoeSS8szzMZx-T5g48039Scc0tWxscIP9d-Dmbkit6h6OQ2gzYrnbO43sSyHo-tOkiUrPQF7PToz2_3vKmOt7sWMKe1yiSUlYZdEKQ3L57BY/s320/r_3.jpg" height="320" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family trip to Disney World, FL. My dad was more excited than any of us.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</strong></span></strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsUfQgN7oNyzDDd_JnZJEZp31FP_rgR64-T2z64Phq4D2foi72QgqSwuxC-lTOpp6ks00JHTz0G8hcE-LMJe_R9nEkbDTBjBiRLih-nxNiIXrEvtu9SmGTeUN_RRNl-pPZeCeFz6Z4VM/s1600/e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Speaking of Disney, I am sure I dreamt of someday becoming a Disney princess. More specifically, Ariel. There was a time where I adored the Little Mermaid. Those dreams were shattered, however, on a day my family refers to as "Bloody Monday," where my brand new Little Mermaid outfit was ruined after a messy injury resulting from a run-in (literally) with a dishwasher. Did I mention I was a klutz?</strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<h4>
-> <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Are you in the same career path as what you wanted?</strong></h4>
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Absolutely not, and I am actively working to change that. Pushing myself to start and maintain a blog is one step towards pursuing a career in writing. Not like I don't enjoy blogging or writing in general, mind you. This just holds me accountable to sitting down with my thoughts and putting them to paper (or keyboard in most cases). I'm also applying to jobs more in line with my ideal career goals: grant writing, health psychology, etc. The problem is that Rhode Island is devoid of promising job opportunities, and the job market is so competitive that any chances of me getting hired to a position that I've applied for is disturbingly unlikely. But I'm determined to keep trying. </strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<h4>
-> <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Have you achieved any of your childhood dreams?</strong></h4>
</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, I didn't marry a Hanson brother and Justin Timberlake is married to Jessica Biel so there's your answer to childhood dream #1.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been to Disney World numerous times and continue to dream of going back. I don't care what you think, Disney World is so much fun.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In regards to the Little Mermaid, my opinion of her is vastly different from the idol-like figure I once viewed her as...</div>
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<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgezcrQzMS1qzehabo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgezcrQzMS1qzehabo1_500.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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Seriously, this bitch is a slut. What woman gives up her voice to be a naked human being for a guy she has never actually met? Her motives are obvious. Whore.</div>
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-> <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Will you try and make any of those dreams realities? </strong></h4>
<div>
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Like I said before, I'm actively working to pursue my dream of a career in writing, whatever that may be. I believe that as long as I keep trying, something will come my way when the time is right. </strong></div>
<div>
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div>
<div>
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Will I pursue my long-lost dreams of marrying a 90s boy band member? Probably not. But if JT showed up at my doorstep, divorce papers in hand and a ring in the other, don't think I wouldn't accept.</strong></div>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div>
<div>
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In closing, I'd like to share another favorite childhood picture of my mom and I. Again, baby hipster status with that bandana. Thanks a lot, Mom.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfe-cFERps4Mi0ZXTlurwLLUjheC2YgjPPGXreJQhka7-igN8fLx7pC_GAxm7dcE9GQZ3r8gJrXXQpFLezQTVp1uRZ18_VI_gA7MibGmlsQQ2S11wEHfAF4KSDyCO6RydzaplDYbRHfc/s1600/r_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfe-cFERps4Mi0ZXTlurwLLUjheC2YgjPPGXreJQhka7-igN8fLx7pC_GAxm7dcE9GQZ3r8gJrXXQpFLezQTVp1uRZ18_VI_gA7MibGmlsQQ2S11wEHfAF4KSDyCO6RydzaplDYbRHfc/s320/r_5.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933977916360995575noreply@blogger.com4