lets be realistic: second week of change.

this past week has been all over the place. But really, ALL OVER THE PLACE. Between work (8am to 7pm most days), celebrating my Grandfather's 88th birthday, celebrating my friend Nicole's birthday, and meeting up with friends/spending the day in Ann Arbor I'm surprised I found time to just exist as myself.

lavendar-hazelnut latte from Eli's Tea Room. It was heaven. Also, ootd.  

the essence of this past week has been: GREAT FOOD. A Lavender-Hazelnut latte from Eli's Tea Room in Birmingham gave me life. 

88 years young, and still as handsome as ever.

Steak and birthday cake at Mitchell's Fish Market for my Grandad's special day.

honest moment: don't remember what I ordered at Ronin, but it was daaaaaayum good.

Delectable sushi with my handsome man candy at Ronin in Royal Oak. 

lettuce falafel wraps, and $5 fries for 8 people (even though there were only 2 of us) at Social in Birmingham.

Comforting falafel and mountainous fries with a bestie at Social in Birmingham, too. 

sun dried tomatoes, goat cheese, chicken, pasta. *stops typing to wipe drool from her mouth*

The chicken fusilli, an oldie and definitely a goodie, at Sava's in Ann Arbor made me reminiscent of the good old college years.  

paradise in a glass: State Street Iced Tea from Sava's in Ann Arbor.

Oh, and there was a cocktail in A2 too. 

breakfast for the day He had risen, and the day i stayed in bed until 10 am. 

and of course, Easter brunch in bed, brought to you by chef mama porter.

i told you it was a good week for food. One of my favorites as of late. But, as I said before, I am so amazed that I found time to take out for myself. I carved a few minutes/hours here and there, to get back to basics. Though my pallet was all over the place, my running was my one rock of the week.

it's so incredibly important to find your rock in life. And I don't mean a person; people can be fleeting, unlike, well, an actual rock. This rock gives you stability, an escape, and a bare-minimum purpose.

my rock is running. Over this past winter, I didn't make much consistent time to run as I would have liked (you live and you learn). Recently, though, I've made a conscious choice to make running my rock again. I've said this before, but running is the one thing that truly makes me feel human. It's natural, and it's good: Good for my body, good for my mind, good for my heart.

so now it's my second week of realistic change, I feel like I'm on the cusp of a habit. Running is my rock, and it's on it's way to being habitual again. Again, I didn't change what I've been eating. I did, however, change my mindset about how I've been eating. I'm just trying to be a bit more present and conscious about how/what I consume. Fairly simple in theory, slightly harder in practice.

here's my week in review:

weight:

• down 1lb... which is probably from me exhaling when the scale calculated, tbh. 

food:

• a bit better, but there were 5 bars, 2 birthdays, and one OPENING DAY so... sue me. 

physical activity:

• ran 14.39 miles

overall, I feel pretty good. Like I said,  I feel like I'm on the verge of starting something pretty good. All I have to is keep moving forward.

keeping swimming, my little fishies.

xo,

adrienne. 

let's be realistic: one week of change.

wanna lose 10 pounds in 1 week? Um, duh. Want to shed 20+ inches in 7 days? Without a doubt! Want to become a top model, coveted by top magazines, designers, and photogs? SIGN. ME. UP. Just let me do all that riding my unicorn, with $1billion in my pocket, dating Oscar winning Leonardo DiCaprio.

let's be realistic people. 

if you're like me and are a normal job juggling, tax paying, pleasure succumbing person, non of the above is realistic. In my last post, I declared that I am 'losing the wait.' I'm giving up the negative self-doubting and self-questioning, and picking up positive, balanced thinking, and healthy habits.

and realistically speaking, I wanted to share (amongst many, many other things) my health-centric journey with you. This isn't about losing weight (I'm well within my BMI), but it's about getting healthy, physically and mentally. It's about being the very best version of myself: healthy, honest, and strong, without denying myself the wonderful pleasures of this world (I'm looking at you, Pinot Noir).

so here is my journey of change, week one. I made sure to only change one thing in my routine: physical activity. Having coming out of the down season, and taking 3 weeks off from running due to injury (right foot, left knee, hips), I wasn't quite in my best running shape. But I laced up, stretched out, and pounded that frosted Michigan pavement.

i didn't change anything I ate. Don't get me wrong: there was salmon, smoothies, and salads. But there was also McDonalds, bagels/schmear, and a trip to Dunkin Donuts. What? I'm being honest, here!

it's been one week since I started my journey, so here's my week in review:

left: monday 23rd march 2015, right: monday 30th march 2015

physical activity: 

• ran 7.23 miles, over 2 days
• completed 1 fifteen-minute Nike Training ab workout

food:

• not my best. Can I just live?!

weight:

• starting weight: hahahahahahaha... nice try.
• current weight: down 5lbs. mostly water/margarita weight.

left: monday 23rd march 2015, with the newspaper to prove it. center: monday 30th march 2015. top: first week. bottom: newspaper of first week. 

i'm not going to lie: i actually feel a little better. Maybe it's physiological, but it's probably just psychological. Sharing this with everyone, and just having a plan has given me that nudge to get it right and get it tight.

live on, everyone!

xo,

adrienne. 

losing the wait.

alright, it's time for me to be honest. I have struggled with my body image for the majority of my life; but what girl hasn't?

i've always found it hard to strike the balance between too-skinny and screw-it-i'll-eat-whatever-the-eff-Iwant. Sadly, that's how my personality is: all or nothing. I get fixated and focussed on an extreme and, being really self-motivated to prove myself right and others wrong, I go waaaay beyond the goal I set. Or I give up because of my self-doubt; I binge on Netflix and self-loathing, and top it off with a tub of Nutella. I'll admit it: it's not very healthy.

luckily, i know this part of my personality. Kinda like the whole acceptance part of the 5 Stages of Grief, except without the denial, sad, angry part before hand. I know that finding balance is a hard thing to attain, and it's also one that can be hard to maintain once you do stumble upon it. But I'm reworking my thinking.

i'm losing the wait.

I'm dropping the inner 'wait' monologue. I'm abandoning my self doubt. I'm finished battling the 'wait, can I do this?'. I'm finished asking myself 'wait, is this worth it?' I'm finished with, 'wait, am I even worth it?.'  I'm done. I'm done. I'm done.

i'm losing the wait.

so this is me walking away. I'm turning my back on doubting who I am, what I'm capable of, and where I'm going in life. I'm losing the wait. The world, but more importantly the internet (we're being honest here, right?), is a huge place that is filled with the inspiration and the support we all need to lose our own wait. Sure, for me this is coming from a place of physical health but it can be mental too. How you mentally see yourself losing your own wait is just as important as physically abandoning it.

i'm committing myself to a new journey; a journey where, day by day and step by step, I'll lose my wait and gain good, wholesome health, physically and mentally. It will be hard some days, and will take plenty of time. All-in-all, though, it'll be worth the wait.

spread the vibes, butterflies.

xo,

adrienne.

beauty in review: Dove Dry Spray Deodorant

hi all! I feel obliged to let you in on a little beauty obsession of mine: I love, adore aerosol deodorants. I don't know what it is about them, but I've always had a soft spot in my heart (and pits) for them.

more honesty: I've used the same spray for the last 8 years. It's always worked so well, I couldn't give it up. What can I say? I'm definitely a creature of habit. I usually stick to the same products, but luckily I'm also not afraid to try anything once. 

which brings us to a new favorite product of mine: Dove's Dry Spray Deodorant.

Here are the specs:

-it's a spray. Press down the top button, 6 inches(ish) from your pits and mist away.

-but it's a dry spray. Most spray deodorants go on wet, and then you're awkwardly waiting in your room naked, with arms above your head for the 30 seconds it takes for your underarms to dry. Supposedly, you don't have to do it with Dove's spray. I've never heard of such a thing. Hey, I don't know how they do it (gypsy magic, probably) but I'm down to give it a try. 

-it protects for 48 hours. It says it's supposed to keep you dry and smelling fresh for 48 hours. Which is a pretty long time, no?

-it comes in 6 different scents/formulas. What I love about Dove products is that they offer so many different scents, and types of deodorants based on your preferences and needs. 

ok, it sounds pretty solid, right? So how did it hold up?

-it's definitely a dry spray, but more of a pilly-dry. The spray goes on dry, that part is true. But it pills (like a lived-in sweater would) once you put your arms down. Maybe I was just putting on too much; but I feel like if I put on any less, it wouldn't be enough.

-it (might) protect for 48 hours. The deodorant held up really well throughout an entire work day, and a 4.5 mile run. It definitely doesn't keep you bone dry like a prescription-strength (duh) but I think it kept me dryer than any other Dove products. With the way I sweat, I don't think it would hold up for a full 48 hours... But then again, I probably wouldn't go more than 24 hours without reapplying. 

-it smells pretty damn good. I tried the "nourished beauty" and it smelled powdery fresh, but not like baby powder. Like how you'd expect a Swedish, blonde haired super model would smell like. So... really good.

-it left me fairly well moisturized. Most spray deodorants I've come across dry out my skin if I don't swap them out for a moisture bar every few days. I've been using this for 3 weeks, and I haven't had any dry/itchy skin since. 

overall, I'd definitely have to recommend Dove's Dry Spray Deodorant. It kept me dry, smelling great, and still well moisturized. I'd call that a win-win-win. So congrats Dove! You have a new convert.

has anyone else tried it? How'd it hold up for you?

stay dry and stay fresh, lovelies.

xo,

adrienne. 

dull-day thursday.

it's crazy how beautiful days can still be so dull. 

here in Michigan, we've had one of the coldest February's on record. And most winter days in Michigan are cloudy, cold, and 50 shades of boring.

today, though, is different. It's sunny, and the freshly fallen powder is still stark white, untouched by the salt and grime from the plows. The birds are even chirping. So why am I in such a dull funk? 

i hate being in such a mood. It's not that I'm sad, angry, confused, or anything like that... But I'm not happy, motivated, or elevated to a positive place. I'm stuck in neutral. 

maybe I'm just over winter; I'm ready for warm air, green grass, and being able to go on a run without wearing 50lbs of winter gear. Or maybe it's just one of those neutral days before I shift up to high gear. Or maybe it's nothing at all, maybe it's just a Thursday. 

either way, I still know that I'm super lucky, crazy blessed, and happy to be here. And that coffee can always turn my day around. 

happy Thursday, lovelies. 

xo,

adrienne. 

the perfect pre-post workout vegan smoothie.

mornings are hard. Like really hard. Even for us morning people. It's hard when even just waking up on time feels like an accomplishment, let alone dragging your derriere to the gym/studio/trail all before you shower, make breakfast, and head to work.

unfortunately, when sleep is in high demand and low supply, I start to cut corners. And those corners are usually with breakfast. I hate feeling hungry, especially after I've gotten my morning workout in (or more probable, before my afternoon run). And I hate feeling tired, even when I got 8+ hours of good solid sleep. But a certain something easy, tasty and fast makes my mornings a smidge easier: my hybrid morning perfect pre-post vegan smoothie.

now it's equal parts smoothie, iced coffee, and protein shake so it tackles all of the bases you'll need to get your day moving in a healthy and whole way. Caffeine fix? Check. Protein quota? Double check. A serving of fruit? Triple check. Now that that's all covered... Try it out!

ingredients:

-8oz chilled double brewed coffee OR 1 serving instant espresso in 8oz of water

-1 scoop vanilla vegan protein powder (Vega Sport is my up most favorite! Vegan, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, 100% amazing). Don't worry, any other protein powder will work. 

-1 tsp. coco powder

-1 large banana

-1.5 cups ice

1. Throw all of the ingredients in your blender, in the order above. The order is important: the weight of the ice and banana helps create a smoother blend. Trust me, I've got your back on this one.

2. Blend until desired consistency. If it's not blending smoothly, feel free to add in a little almond/coconut/rice milk.

3. Pour into your cup, and drink up, butter cup!

as I said, mornings are hard no matter what. Hopefully this little recipe makes them suck just a bit less. Oh, and don't forget to tell me what you think!



veg on, lovelies.

adrienne.

10 reasons why I run.

"now bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible." -William Shakespeare 

1. because it's hard. Like really hard; and I'm not just talking about running 6 miles of hills in the deep, humid August heat. The hardest part was, and will always be, the first time I decided to run 10 years ago. You will fall. You will break. You will cry, because running is challenging, painful, and demanding...

2. but it's just as rewarding. There's not many things more rewarding than incinerating 700+ calories on a cool 8 mile run on a Tuesday morning before most people's first alarm has gone off. And then eating whatever you want for the rest of the day because you know you earned it.

3. it's free. I'm balling on a budget here, people.

4. it's natural. Just like eating, drinking and breathing, running is one of the most natural things your body can do. Our bodies were built so that we could outrun our predators and catch our prey. Running = survival.

5. and it makes me feel good about myself. This goes back to the whole reward thing. Pounding the pavement gives me a solid high, one that lasts all day. Is it that mythical "Runners' High"? Biologically, sure. Psychologically, without a doubt. After each run I know that I've pushed myself, and done something good for my body, and it keeps me floating high for hours on.

6. it's the best way to get some 'me time'. It can be hard for me to turn off my brain, and tune out all of the external stimuli. I've struggled with it for my whole life, but running has helped. All I have to do is throw on my trainers, put some headphones on, and then go until I run myself into a calm, still oblivion.

7. but that doesn't mean I always go it alone. Running is a really good team sport. The first half marathon I ran I trained for with my best friend/partner in crime (what up, Aconn), and it was probably one of my favorite things we've done together. It gave us time to train (and complain) together; we pushed each other, encouraged each other, and made sure neither one of us gave up on ourselves.

8. it has taught me discipline. After a while, running the same 5k loop in my hometown every day got boring. So I decided to commit myself to running a half marathon. The training is brutal, but worth it. I knew I had to stick with it because I wanted to cross the 13.1 finish line (and also, I'd be pissed if I had wasted $90 on a race I couldn't even complete). Running has taught me how to commit to something just for myself...

9. and what it truly means to be my own competition. Growing up, I always competed against others: softball, poms, volleyball (even chess club. Yeah, I said it). But I never really knew how to compete against, and beat, my own self. Tracking my progress motivated me to go farther, harder, and faster. Beating your own personal record > everything else.

10. most importantly, though, it has made me love my body and love myself. Just like a lot of people out there, I've struggled to accept all of the bits and pieces that make up my being. I have spent weeks, months, years hating this and that about myself; my legs are way too big, my boobs way to small, my arms too scrawny. Lacing up for runs over and over again though, has helped me to appreciate my body for what it is: strong, capable, and beautiful.

run on, my friends.

xo,

adrienne.