First Cross Country Race of the Season

Happy Saturday! I seriously can't believe that it's been almost a week since I've had a chance to blog. Insane, right?? I'm only getting busier but I really want to try hard to write a post 1-2x a week (speaking of which, if you want to write a guest post for me, shoot me an email!).

Anyway, last Tuesday was my team's first cross country race of the season. The course was a 2-mile course, with the first mile being what we call the "flat mile" and the second mile being the "hill mile of death". The course is the hardest that we run this year because the hills on the second mile are very, very steep. There's one lovely hill in particular that everyone calls the Eliminator.. let's just say that it lives up to its name.

me after the race... legs are dead!

I was really excited to race because I wanted to beat my time from last year, which was 15:14. However, it was much hotter this year than last and by the time my race started at 6pm it was still scorching. There is also no shade on the hill mile, which makes it even tougher. Once I started racing and really feeling the heat, my goal was just to finish strong and not slow down too much on the hills.



My mom took lots of videos on her iPhone so I thought I'd post some of them.

This one was at the end of the race, coming out of the hill mile. 

Most of the race was a blur but I do remember feeling exhausted about halfway through the hill mile. By this point I had lost a few of the girls from my school that were in front of me, and there weren't many people around me because the pack that we started with had stretched out quite a bit. It's really hard to run when you're by yourself and you've already passed all the cheering parents and teammates!

my 'why are you taking my picture?' face

awkwardly fixing my hair... LOL

 Me and my brother Jay with squinty eyes! So cute, I know.

I ended up finishing with a time of 15:21 which I was really proud of! I came in 17th out of the senior girls - only 2 people away from winning a medal!! So frustrating haha - and I am currently the 5th fastest girl on my team this year. Which means that I'm part of the top varsity 7 and get to wear these awesome Nike pink shorts for our next race!

School has also been tough this week because I have been having to stay up pretty late just to finish homework. I really wish I could take a nap or something when I get home but there just isn't time! And next week I start my new job - I'm trying to get ahead on next week's schoolwork so that the two days that I am working aren't ridiculously stressful.

A few nights ago my little Lexy decided to keep me company while I was studying. So cute! Iluhmybaby.

i think she was a little annoyed that I was studying and not petting her, heh.

onto fooooooodd... :) recent eats!

turkey, salame, cheese, lettuce, ranch on whole wheat tortilla

 pizza made with this crust:

It was actually pretty good for a quick and easy dinner!

 lots of frozen yogurt bowls..

eggs + laughing cow on english muffin

lots of protein smoothies..

hummus + turkey + cheese sandwich (photo taken at like 6 in the morning... aka i am not awake. my apologies!)

sunchips and applesauce. clearly i am still in elementary school.

oats with lotsa pb

saving the best puddle for last..

simple greens with mushrooms and newman's own

spinach and mozzarella ravioli

I only took one outfit picture this week, when I wore a new skirt. It's very similar to this skirt and is the same brand - both are super comfy!

Last night my friends and I also made some senior t-shirts (in addition to our class shirts) for the senior trip to a water park next week! I'm really excited about having a day of relaxing in the middle of the week. Thank heavens!

Tell me something good about your weekend (or something fun you did last week)! 
What is the hardest race you've ever run?

Butterfly Award

I hope you are all enjoying your Labor day weekends!!

Mine has been pretty fantastic - I saw Taylor Swift Friday night, I went to a giant trampoline place with friends on Saturday, and then on Sunday I got all my homework done! 

I wish I had some interesting eats to show you... but lately to be honest I've been eating the same things. My energy is focusing on school and running so creating new meals isn't really a priority. I do miss cooking lots though! I know I'm just going to be short on time for this fall semester until my college applications are in. 

Last night's dinner was pretty much the fanciest meal I've eaten in the past few weeks... and it was a bowl of pasta. But a delicious one, at that! 

In the mix: pasta, marinara sauce, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, fresh bacon crumbles (tons of flavor!! I usually don't eat bacon but this was pretty good), and parmesan cheese. 

In other news, I GOT A JOB!! I know that I'm a really busy girl already but I saw this opportunity by chance and applied for it. I have to pay for insurance on my car and am quite short on the moola, and this will help a bit lots! Plus, I'm super excited to meet new people, and it will be helpful on college apps. I'm working at a local frozen yogurt place that's been around forever (I know, dangerous, right?) and next week is my training. Then I start! I'm a little nervous about how I'm going to balance everything but I know I can do it. 

And one more update before I get to the awaaarrdd (Grinch anyone? maybe? no? haha) - the first cross country meet of the season is tomorrow! I'm hoping to beat my time from last year, but it's a super hard course so we'll see. Update on that will be coming soon :)

Good thing that Kathleen awarded me the Butterfly award, otherwise you guys would be looking at the same old same old - peanut butter tortillas, protein shakes, english muffin pizzas, eggs, and salads. Pretty much sums up everything I'm eating right now, hah! 

Here we goooo! 

Name your favorite color:

GREEN! Funny story: I used to hate green so much when I was a kid that I'd leave it out of the rainbow. And lemme tell ya- I drew a crapton of rainbows and my mom has binders full of all my pictures! Nowadays it's my favorite color, and three walls of my room are green (one is blue). 

 What whizzes you off:

When people try to impress other people. I know that sounds really odd, but it bothers me because they end up acting in a way that's not themselves! I don't try to impress anyone - it's pretty much if you like me, you like me, and if you don't, you don't. I don't try to schmooze (<- this word makes me giggle) or show off to people because that's just not who I am. I don't care if I'm popular or not, whether every hair is in place all the time, or if I run out of the house without makeup on. Whenever you see me you get the true ME, not somebody else. 

Name your favorite dessert:

K so this is pretty much the hardest question ever. Instead of picking my favorite I'll show you guys what I made yesterday! It's a super simple ice cream pie that I threw together when I got the urge to bake but didn't have time. 

The crust is just smashed chocolate wafers, a little melted butter, and some chocolate syrup mixed together and pressed in a pan. Fill the rest of the pan with your favorite ice cream and bam! Dessert is served. I used chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.. heaven. 

Best feature:

I LOVE my legs. They are so strong, muscular, and carry me through everything! I also love my newly-defined arms and my smile. 

love the smile... the sunburn? notsomuch. (:

Your favorite pet:

I have four! There is no favorite. I love my kitties so much. In fact, just the other day when I was petsitting for a neighbor, I got to play with a super-cute kitten that they're fostering. I tried to get my momma to adopt him but no dice. I guess four kitties are quite a handful already! Plus Ginnie the primadonna would get her feathers all ruffled :) 

Your biggest fear: 

Losing someone that I love. I can't imagine life without my family or friends and losing them would just kill me.

Guilty pleasure:

That's a toughie! Non-food related I'd have to say celebrity gossip magazines and Facebook. Addicting! In terms of food, I don't have a guilty pleasure, per-say, since I strive to not feel guilt about any food I eat. But I really do love nuts and nut butter (<- who doesn't??) and my new favorite is this all natural peanut butter. It is jam-packed with peanut flavor and is 99%  peanuts! The bottom part is especially good since when you get down there it's all crumbly. 

When you’re upset you:

Talk to my mommy. Most teenagers I know don't have a good relationship with their parents but I am lucky enough to call my mom my best friend. We always have the best time together and she can always make me laugh.

What is perfection:

It doesn't exist!!! Nobody is perfect and that is what makes us special. I think the imperfections are the most beautiful. 

Since Kathleen tagged a million people (lovee it!) I figured instead of trying to find someone that's not tagged, if you haven't done this award already, I tag you! 

The Best Night of My Life.

I cannot even begin to tell you guys how AMAZING last night was.

I GOT TO SEE TAYLOR SWIFT IN CONCERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *insert shrieking screaming Julianna*

I was the happiest girl alive last night. Taylor Swift has been my favorite artist ever since I heard her music (the first song I remember hearing was "You Belong With Me"), and last night was the best show I have ever seen.

I went with my older brother because then I didn't have to worry about trying to drive myself home in the crowds, plus he's the best brother ever. He didn't mind my freaking out/hyperventilating/screaming like a twelve-year-old girl.

I left cross country practice early yesterday afternoon, speed-showered, put my Speak Now shirt on, and got in the car. We listened to Taylor the entire drive over to San Jose (more evidence as to how awesome of a brother Jay is) and my excitement was practically through the roof.

We got there a little over an hour early with a perfect amount of time to park, look around HP Pavilion, go potty, and get some souvenirs.

I got this amazing red T-shirt and a Speak Now wristband that I've been oogling for quite awhile on the Taylor Swift webstore but never could get myself to pay shipping on a wristband.

before the show

my excitement x 50 million bajillion

Dinner was half of this mini pizza:

And a boatload of Jay's fries:

The two openers for Taylor were seriously awesome. Josh Kelley and needtobreathe. I was really excited when I found out that needtobreathe was opening since I really like one of their songs, and Josh Kelley played some fantastic music.

At this point I was seriously freaking out. I have been looking forward to this show since the day that I got tickets, and I knew that it was going to be a night to remember. You know how people always talk about that one concert that they went to when they were young? This one was it for me.

The second that Taylor's band started playing and the curtains started opening I found myself shrieking my head off, jumping up and down, and being filled with awe at how blessed I was to be there.

She started with "Sparks Fly" and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect song to kick off the night.

If you want to see what the experience was like for me, check out the music video of Sparks Fly. This pretty much sums up the FANTASTIC show that I got to see - but it was 50 million better times in person.

I didn't get very many good photos because the lights were so crazy in there, but I can tell you that the show was incredible!! The dancers were spectacular, there were a bunch of set changes, and I was belting out the lyrics to every single song. Words cannot even describe how much this night meant to me.

She played almost every song on the album Speak Now, with about 4-5 from her older albums ("Fearless", "You Belong With Me", "Love Story", "Fifteen", and maybe a few others?). I loved every single word.

It was the best night of my life so far in all of my sixteen and a half years!!!!

I'm wearing the concert T-shirt this morning and I can't stop smiling. There is literally a grin plastered on my face from ear to ear - it hasn't disappeared since I got to the concert last night.

Who is your favorite musician? Best concert you've ever been to?