Guilt Free Spaghetti and Meatballs

I am currently feeling very guilty...

For breakfast I had a healthy dose of vigorous cardio (2 hours of swim) with a side of two protein shakes. That's basically my usual and lunch is almost always small because to be honest I usually don't have time for a good lunch. But today when I came home from work (Lifeguarding outside for 4-5 hours in the HOT Texas sun) my mom suggested Sonic, yummy :P. I usually don't get a slush but today it was just too darn hot to turn one down. Then for lunch there was pizza at home! You're killing me Mom...

Thankfully dinner was a delicious low carb/fat kinda meal. Zucchini pasta (whaaaaaaaaat???) and Meatballs (my faves). First of all, I love squash. I could have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Zucchini is absolutely delicious and so versatile. You can put it in brownies, you can grill it, annd you can substitue pasta with it! I know that eating this didn't exactly "balance out" my splurge at lunch but it definitely helped.

Here's a picture of my yummy dinner:

So it's pretty simple to make. Use a peeler to cut the zucchini into thin strips, giving the illusion that they're noodles... Cook your meatballs all the way through and heat sauce with them. Then, sauté the zucchini until soft. Finally, put your zucchini in the bowl and cover with the sauce and meatballs. Grate cheese over the top if your'e feeling fancy then enjoy!

-A

Healthy Pizza Lunch

Today at lunch I wanted starchy foods. Pasta, bread, potatoes, all the foods that make you really happy. But if you want to keep a fit, tight, healthy body eating those foods all the time won't do you any good. Eat them in moderation instead, you'll be happier in the end! 

Anyways, to curb my bready crave I decided on the healthier route. Pitas are always a good way to have some bread but not ruin your healthy plan! My mom recently went to Trader Joe's and brought back mini pitas. They're absolutely adorable and the best part is you get TWO for 70 calories. Since they're so small you don't need much to fill them up. I always enjoy a little "pizza" and since we had some turkey pepperonis (which are surprisingly low in calories) I added four to each mini pita and a quarter slice of cheese for a little ooey gooey-ness that makes pizza SO good. Next, put them on a panini press until you hear them sizzle and that's when you know they're all done! Enjoy with some fruit and a little fruit bar (which my mom also bought from Trader Joe's).

Mini Pita Pizza Recipe

2 Mini Pitas (70 cal)

8 Turkey Pepperoni (35 cal)

1/2  Slice of Cheese (40 cal)

Total for Pita Pizza's 145 calories

Yummy yum yum

-A

What Summer Means...

So when you're a teenage girl and it's summer, all you can really think about is this >

Which is true in some ways but not all.. You see, when you're on twitter or Instagram and you see everyones posts about the sand and water they forget to mention some of the other not so glamorous things.

For instance let's talk about the hair. Yes it gets lighter, but honestly it doesn't look like all the models on Pinterest. All flowy and "sexy", haha yeah I wish. Instead it looks like you just woke up or a wet dog, not attractive whatsoever. So instead you resort to hair up in a ponytail and a baseball cap. Meh...

So now onto the skin. I totally tan. Like really tan, I don't look the same sometimes. My arm hairs turn golden and they sparkle in the sun YAY! But after all the sun over and over everyday your skin starts to dry up. It always looks all white and ashy, ewwwww...

Yes, yes the water gets warmer but for me it's always warm because I swim year round in a heated pool. I don't drink, maybe some tea but that's the only drink getting colder for me. To be honest the music is always loud whenever you're a teenager so that's the same. I do love the next one though, nights get longer and being in the be-a-u-tiful state of Texas means some killer sunsets. Orange, pink, purple, blue, I loooove Texas sunsets!

Finally, life MOST definitely gets better. Pool days and hanging out with friends in downtown Austin. Honestly what more could you ask for??

-A

Relaxation

With only three weeks left of school and finals right around the corner my stress levels are about to fly through the roof. At least that's how it's been the past years. This year has been different though. I've been more easy going and everything seems to just happen without the crying, headaches, and hate towards everyone I know. I've been thinking, "How is this possible? What have I done differently this year? Why am I so relaxed????
Finally, the other night while I was slowly drifting off to sleep (listening to Simply Being) I figured it out! I know why this year is sooo much better than last!

#1. I've been running a lot more. Running for me is one of the best relaxing techniques. Last year, around finals time, I hurt my hip and I was unable to run :( But now if I'm stressed I run, if I'm mad I run, if I'm sad I run, if I feel sluggish I run. No matter what the problem, I run. It just always helps. I have time to just let it go, feel free, and when I'm done my body feels great! At least 2-4 miles every week and I'm as relaxed as can be!

#2. Before bed I listen to Simply Being, it's an app that helps you relax! A lady will talk to you for 5, 10, 15, or even 20 minuets. She tells you to relax and let everything go. In the background 

you can choose to listen to classical music or nature sounds, like the ocean, rain, or a stream. This has got to be one of the coolest apps I've ever bought. Definitely worth the 99 cents! I couldn't be happier and I know that in the morning I wake up feeling better rested and happier. More like a morning person :)

#3. Finally, my most favorite way of relaxing is pampering myself. Whether it's doing my hair, painting my toes and fingers, or doing my makeup, I always seem to cheer up and feel better about myself. I love using the Naked 3 palette! It's what I used for prom and I can't stop using it. It's seriously the bessssst eyeshadow palette in the world!

-A

Goldie Locks and the Three Prom Dresses

prom

präm/

noun

informal

1. 1.

   NORTH AMERICAN

   a formal dance, especially one held by a class in high school or college at the end of a year.

Every teenage girl looks forward to that one special night where you get to wear a gorgeous gown, do your hair, wear fun make-up, and put on shoes that scream paaartyy! At my school we get a Junior and Senior prom. I am neither a Junior nor a Senior... But! My boyfriend is a Junior and he couldn't go to prom without me! 

Back track a month ago and imagine a very curious young girl wondering if she was going to prom or not. I was getting anxious, I needed to know if we were going! I needed to find the dress, the shoes, and don't even get me started on the make-up and hair. So I gathered up my courage and asked if he even wanted to go! Of course he said yes and I was beyond happy. I just had to text my mom and let her know so we could start looking at dresses and shoes and coming up with make-up and hair ideas. He still hadn't formally asked me but that was fine, I would just wait until he did and then go shop for my dress. Right... That's what I was going to do.

After a lot of Pinterest searching and pinning we went shopping that weekend and within two hours we found THE one. Gorgeous, sea foam green, Grecian Goddess, floor length gown (and on clearance! I love great deals) that I had to have! I needed it like some kids at my school need Jesus. I had to have it! I don't quite know if you understand how BADLY I needed it. If I couldn't have it, I was just going to be a huge mess with nothing to wear to prom :(. Luckily, they had my "size" and we took it to the dressing room to try it on! 

Zzzzzzz-errrr um, yeah it didn't zip all the way. I literally felt my heart break and rip into a million pieces. I sucked in my tummy and squeezed in every bit of me in to get that zipper to zip! My amaaaaazing mom ran to find another one while I stayed and stared at the perfect half zipped dress trying to wiggle my way in someway or another. She came back with another one but it was too big! So we pulled out out phones and searched everywhere for it in my size. I felt like Goldie Locks and the Three Bears. Too small, too big, but would there be a just right?? 

Finally, with no searching luck we walked out and asked the lady to call the other store to see if it was there in my size. The suspense was killing me! I was dying to know if they had it. Minuets felt like hours until finally she gave me the glorious news! It was there, the angles had looked upon me! 

The drive felt like forever until we finally got there. It was so perfect, rushing into the dressing room all I hoped for was that it would zip! Zzzzzzzz-ip! it went up and it was just amazing. I was beyond happy!!! :) I guess there was a "just right" waiting for me. 

-A