A Fresh Start

When I lost weight freshman year, it wasn't because I was exercising or eating healthy, it was simply because I wasn't eating. I spent so much time running back and forth from Augora Hills to Burbank with a mother who could survive on Diet Coke and gum (and you wonder where my caffeine addiction comes from?) for days that I didn't even think about where my next stop for food was.

Four years later, and if I don't eat every 6 or so hours my stomach feels like it's going to eat itself. But despite my attempts to eat better the last few months or so, leading up to ICDC and after, I still managed to get a Kidney Infection following my recent trip to Galveston due to dehydration and poor nutrition.

So for me, it's time for a change. I mentioned in my "Summer Girl" post that I wanted to spend the time before school starts bettering myself, so here's my chance. I started Day 1 of my new adventure with a run (well...walk/run - I'm not that active!) from my house to our local water park, a good 40 minute workout, followed by a small ab-blaster routine I found on Pinterest.

I found so many pretty spots I've never seen before on the trails behind my neighborhood, including the bridge area to the left. And some of the houses I didn't even know existed!

Of course, the second part of a good weight loss plan is diet. Three balanced meals of cereal, a large salad, and chicken with veggies left me full and enough calories for some no sugar added Vanilla FroYo from Braums (100 calories a serving and my weakness!)

On the mention of food, for lunch we stopped at one of my new favorite places, Snappy Salads in Southlake. It's very similar to a Chipotle, but salads instead of burritos. You can do a half salad, which is still sizable and fills me up, and comes with your choice of lettuce 8 toppings like bacon, carrots, tomatoes, etc. The full salad is only a few dollars more, and comes with 16 toppings. I'm stuffed off a half salad, so I don't even want to know what I'll feel like after a full salad.

The first time I went I got steak with a lime chipotle dressing (pictured right) but today I filled up on less carbs and more white meat with a red pepper vinaigrette that is totally addicting. My favorite part? The $.69 warm, fresh baked bread. I split it today with my lunch companions, Le Best Friend and Le Boyfriend, but nomnomnom it's good.

So now I'm heading to sleep, ready to wake up tomorrow and tackle day two of this challenge. All I know is by the time I get to UNT, I want to be able to walk to my classes without dying. Time to finish this episode of Firefly and hit the hay!

Love,
Holly








Check out my Fitness and Health Pinterest board:

Leadership at its Finest

I am more than willing to admit that I am not an athletic person - at all. Perhaps it's my lack of grace, or utter inability to walk on flat land without falling on my fave, but forgiving my semester Freshman year in Color Guard, and the few years I spent in cheer, I have never really liked sports.

So maybe it was just the fact that I was with friends, but I actually had a SUPER fun time at the Rangers game with my Texas DECA cohorts.

From left-Secretary Daniel, VP Scott, President Kate, me, and Sgt. Caleb

President Kate and I spent the entire time chit chatting, in between cheering at random spots for home runs. They were going to welcome us, but by the 8th inning, people were starting to leave, so Kate and I headed out. Ten minutes later I got a text from Sgt. Caleb saying they announced us on the big screen. Score 1 for Texas DECA!

We left the next morning for Los Angeles, and let me tell you, that was probably one of the most fun trips I've ever taken with DECA.

The first night in LA, we went bowling with Virginia DECA. (From left-Mrs. Hinesly, my advisor, Natalie, myself, Brandon and Emily)

We found a few awesome spots along the way to grab a bite that even I hadn't been to. One of my personal favorites was Botega de Louie, this half Italian restaurant half French patisserie, with deserts to die for. 

My desert choice at one of my new favorite LA spots, tiramisu.

Out of all the exotic choices, President Kate went for a strawberry cupcake. 

There was some amazing training lead by Tri Leadership, the same company who employs our awesome coach, Curtis. Curtis lead some of the training at ELS, along with a few other trainers we'd met at DECA LEADS, the leadership camp held at DECA International Competition for incoming State/Association officers.

Curtis also lead the training at our New Braunfels leadership retreat, which you can read about here.

Ikya, Nevada DECA State Officer, with Jordan, former Texas President and current Southern Region Vice President (National Officer)

Texas DECA State Action Team with the National Officer Team.
Back from Left: Secretary Daniel, SRVP Jordan, President Morgan, Sgt. Caleb
Front from Left: Me, North Atlantic VP Emily, President Kate, Central Region VP Christine, VP Scott

As an officer team, we get along pretty well. So needless to say, we found some time to play too. We went with the other State/Association officers in attendance to the Grammy Museum downtown, and had fun bonding with some awesome other officers. While in LA, we also filmed a new promo video for Texas DECA. More hilarity ensued when the boys started being silly.

Sgt. Caleb and VP Scott. Caleb claims that this is the best promotion for Texas DECA. Ever.

Overall, it was an awesome week spent with some amazing people. President Kate and I joined in on an old tradition, the friendship between the Michigan and Ontario officers, so named Ontichigan. With us, we became Ontichigexas. 

Ontichigexas love.

Now, I'm gonna go watch The Glee Project with my little sister before I go get a new pair of (hopefully cat eye) glasses.

Baking before breaking

So. I tried to bake last night.

After being cut from work and still having to stay another hour to bus tables and refill ice, I was in a fould mood, and decided to try my hand at baking some cupcakes for a birthday party I'm attending tonight.

It was, in two words, a fail.

Yeah. The double chocolate Reese's ones turned out fine. But like an idiot, I tried out this recipe I found on Pinterest for super rich Red Velvet cupcakes from a box.

Not to self-when recipe calls for milk, buttermilk may have gross tasting results.