My Whole30 Experience

It's been pretty quiet around here for the past month, and of course there's a reason for that. I've just finished the last day of my first ever Whole30. I'll let you read as much as you want about it here, and if you're interested in learning even more, I highly recommend this book. The basic philosophy is a 30 day challenge or reset to change your approach to eating. The following sums up what my last 30 days have looked like:

It's definitely been a challenge, but it's also been one of the smartest things I've ever done. I first heard about the Whole30 from reading Carrie and Danielle's blogs, and decided to give it a try. I won't wax on about how much it changed my outlook, but I do think it really highlighted certain aspects of food and eating for me. First of all, do you know how many products contain sugar?! It's staggering and shows up in some unexpected places. By far, the hardest thing for me to adjust to was drinking my morning cup of coffee without the addition of raw sugar. After about a week, though, it was fine and I didn't even think about sugar or grains. I've come to enjoy a splash of canned coconut milk and appreciate coffee for its own flavors. Here is my little bulleted breakdown:

• The key theme for me during my Whole30: preparation. I planned out meals for the week every Saturday and then went shopping for the entire week. It pays off in the long run. This isn't a plan where you can just grab something on the go when you're in a jam. It takes some thought.
• Shop local and seasonal. I tried all sorts of new vegetables and recipes using foods from my farmers' market. I cooked a lot and used up leftovers.
• Find a couple of staple snacks that you can rely on in a pinch. I'm on the road for most of the day for my job, so I don't always get to sit down and enjoy my lunch. I did my best, but it just isn't feasible for me every day. I packed lunches and would snack on some cashews or almonds, or if I was really in a bind, a Larabar (a flavor without added sugar).
• Eat breakfast daily. Do not skip this step.
• Don't be afraid to try new things. Cook from scratch so you can control the ingredients. I made roasted tomato soup from whole tomatoes several times. I tried roasted brussel sprouts (!!!) and liked them. I was really creative and even though my boyfriend didn't do the Whole30 with me, he was happy with all of the new menu items!
• Enjoy the money you'll save by not eating/drinking out for a month! Seriously, though, there are tons of physical benefits (better sleep, clearer skin, more energy), but it was nice to lay low for the month and not worry about going out.
• Don't worry about what every one else thinks. I gave up on trying to explain what I was doing to people because they looked at me like I had seven heads. Do it for you and your own well being.

I'm not going to lie, I'm really looking forward to going out for a sushi dinner and glass of wine on Thursday night (something I used to enjoy weekly), but this 30 day challenge was eye-opening. I don't think I'll ever go back to unnecessarily adding sugar to coffee or other foods and I really don't need cow's milk. I'm perfectly happy with the almond or coconut varieties. I plan on continuing to shop local and buy the highest quality poultry, meat, and seafood that my budget will allow. I'm enjoying the benefits of the challenge, such as the sound sleep, slimmer silhouette, and lack of intestinal turmoil (the past 30 days dairy-free confirmed the fact that I most likely have a dairy allergy). I really encourage everyone to try this, even if it's just for a few weeks. I promise that you will feel better and see results. In the mean time, I'm definitely looking forward to indulging in a couple pieces of Halloween candy tomorrow!

And now back to my regular blogging!

What's new with you?

  

Work Perks

Sometimes a little downtime at work can be incredibly useful. Today I had an appointment cancel at the very last minute, so I used the time slot to create some fun adapted books for the kiddos that I work with. We use them for matching, building vocabulary, and increasing imitation!

Moneyball Matinee

Finally made it out to the movies this afternoon to see Moneyball. As someone who loves baseball (and math), I thought it was a really great film. Jonah Hill played his character incredibly well and obviously Brad Pitt is always great. Two thumbs up!

A Game of Numbers

Trying to hurry up and reread this before seeing the movie!

It All Ends

I just got home from watching the final installment of the Harry Potter series. Although I'm sad that there won't be any more books or films (for now), I appreciate how well the final cut turned out. I think the ending was satisfying and definitely did the book justice. What do you think? If you've read the Harry Potter series, were you pleased with the ending?

Book-It

I'm excited to finally be stocked up on some new summer reading material. I can't wait to start The Hunger Games. I've heard great things about it, but was slightly surprised to find it in the young adult section of the book store. Guess we'll see how it goes!

What's on your summer reading list?

P.S. Does anyone else remember the Book-It reading incentive program from elementary school? I remember one of the prizes was being able to get a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut, which was so awesome!

Little Toot

Tugboats lined up in the harbor at India Point Park.

Do you remember the children's book called Little Toot? It was such a cute story! I feel like kids nowadays don't read as many cool books. They're more into high-tech toys. Maybe it's just me, but reading was a huge hobby of mine growing up.

Currently Reading...

I just finished Bossypants and now I'm on to Keith Richard's book, Life. Could this be the summer of celebrity memoirs?

What are you reading?

Beach Reads

This has just been added to the list of books I'm planning on reading over the summer.
What's on your summer reading list?

Recent Bedtime Ritual

The past couple nights have been spent watching chapters from the newly released Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It's hard to believe that the movies are finally coming to an end this summer! In related news, I still haven't spotted Emma Watson around town (she's a student here at Brown University). She's grown up so much since the first film!

My Growing Library

I was so happy to come home from my trip home to a stack of new magazines and another book by Steve Martin (gifted from M, of course)! I've been a fan of his ever since he starred in Father of the Bride (and the subsequent sequels). I just finished reading An Object of Beauty and I must say, Steve Martin is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. The newest book in my collection is actually a memoir that Steve wrote about his own career in stand-up comedy. I'm only a few pages in and I can already tell I'm going to love it. Side note: doesn't Kate Winslet look amazing on the cover of Glamour? Love her hair!

New Year, New Reads

I've heard great things about this one!

Little Miss Literature

loved them then. love them still!

Summer Reading

Tis the season for summer reading! No, I'm not referring to that dreadful list that was passed out at the end of the school year that everyone put off until the end of August. I'm talking about trashy beach reads (and decent books, too) that are read leisurely by the pool, in a hammock, or anywhere relaxing (preferably near the ocean). I always feel like I read ten times more during the summer than in the cold months, possibly because it's more relaxing and I'm usually on vacation.


This year, I'm in need of your help. Do you have a favorite book that you'd recommend? It doesn't have to be something recent or award-winning, just entertaining and nothing too upsetting. I just finished reading The Art of Racing in the Rain, which was good, but somewhat depressing. I picked up L.A. Candy last week and it's been a nice, light read. Definitely nothing serious. I usually gravitate towards memoirs, interesting novels, and anything fashion-related. I'm not overly, picky though.

Go ahead, suggest away-I'm looking forward to new ideas!

Book of Awesome

I'm a big fan of the blog 1000 Awesome Things, so naturally, I went out and bought the book written by the creator of the site. It is definitely awesome! It really makes you stop and think about the simple, little things throughout your day that make you happy. It's also fun to think about how universally appealing certain things are, like popping bubble wrap or being granted an unexpected snow day. I bought the book right before heading to the airport yesterday and three separate people commented on it just from peering at the cover! I encourage you to check out the blog and if you like that, check out the book too!



On a somewhat related side note, I also purchased a set of five colored bobby pins at J. Crew earlier in the day and the rainbow colors reminded me of the word awesome on the cover of the book. I know. Ridiculous. I swear I didn't coordinate the purchases intentionally.

What are some awesome things that make you happy?

Got it Covered?

Growing up in Catholic school, it was some sort of unwritten (yet mandatory) law that we had to cover our textbooks. My mom always managed to do so with brown paper grocery bags (I still have no idea how). When I first saw these book jackets by Book City Jackets that's exactly what I thought of! Of course, these are much cooler and some are even made in limited editions! My favorites are the fiction, nonfiction, and favorite set. I love that you can use them to jot down notes, something I never dared to do in elementary school. Best of all, they're made from recycled paper!

Look Me In the Eye

I just finished reading a fascinating memoir by John Robison, brother of Augusten Burroughs (famous for the book Running With Scissors). The book chronicles his life with Asperger's syndrome and how it influenced his relationships, personality, and ability to function on a daily basis. His accounts of his thought processes were incredible and I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for him to actually write about it. He actually went through over 40 years of his life before finally being diagnosed with Asperger's. This was a challenge because he didn't have any physical symptoms or a "disability" per se, but he knew he was different from his peers. There was no research about the Autism spectrum when Robison was growing up so people just assumed he was socially inept. I give him so much credit for coming forward and telling his story.

As someone who works with kids on the Autism spectrum, it provided me with a lot of great insights. John struggled in school, but is a brilliant individual, especially in areas of engineering and machinery. He even went on tour with KISS in the 70s because of his knack for repairing broken amplifiers and incorporating pyrotechnics into guitar design. I highly recommend this book and Robison's website where he blogs about public appearances and current Asperger's research that he's involved in.

Have any of you read this already?

Luxe-urious Travel

I couldn't resist these chic travel guides when I read about them on Tiane's blog. That girl definitely knows how to travel and to squeeze every little ounce out of a city in just a short amount of time. I had to take her word for it with these travel guides from Luxe. First of all, they don't look anything like touristy guides (like Fodor's or Michelin) so if you have your nose in one, no one will know! You can pose as a local, even if you have no idea where you're trying to go! That's definitely a plus. The purpose of these guides is to show you a city from more of a local's perspective. They don't cover all of the main touristy attractions, but instead give you inside info on places off the beaten path. Perfect, I know!

I scooped up the US travel pack that includes Chicago, Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. I'm a little embarrassed to say that of those cities, I've only been to New York. It's okay though, because I'm actually planning a trip back to NYC at the end of April, and I'll have my Luxe guide by then to steer me to some fun new places. My only disappointment was that there wasn't a San Francisco edition, because I'm planning a trip there for late summer/early fall. San Francisco seems like a city where it'd be nice to have a local's perspective. I'm looking forward to pouring over these books when they arrive next week. I will definitely keep you posted!

Oh, and if you hurry, you can get them at a HUGE discount at Gilt. I basically got four for the price of two. Yay!

Foodie Notebooks

I adore these little notebooks from Bold Ideas. They're great to keep in your car or purse for those times when a great idea strikes you while on the go. Or, if you're anything like me, you can use them to jot down to-do lists and little reminders. I love fun notebooks like these!

Required Reading

Speaking of books and reading (see below), wouldn't this be an amazing way to catalog your collection? It serves as a library and a work of art in the same room. I love it. It's aesthetically pleasing to me on so many levels! (seen on Beauty in Everything)