girl meets: 11.22.13.

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fuel.

I always get so excited when a new Bestowed box arrives in the mail. I know I’m going to open it to find so many delicious and healthy treats!

Bestowed was kind enough to send me a free box for November, and this one was especially great – full of some old and new favorites.

If you want to try Bestowed for yourself, use discount code HELLOTEN105 to get your first box for $10 (normally $19)! This code expires on 11/30.

fun.

I love when my friends send me funny random things throughout the day.

…like this weird animation of me that Jessi made. I still have no idea how or why she made this but, I’ll take it. Haha.

And then there’s the Male Models And Cute Kittens Doing The Same Pose “article” that Erica posted on my Facebook wall. She really knows me too well…

Also on the fun front – on Wednesday night we had a clothing swap at my place for our last Community Group. We all walked away with a ton of great new clothes, and we donated what was left (about 3 trash bags full!) to Covenant House.

food.

To add to the girliness of the evening, I made an old favorite - a batch of Nutella Cake Batter Blondies. They were a whole lot of ooey gooey chocolately success, to say the least.

As for a new favorite – I’m loving these Little Green Handcrafted ‘Shroom Burgers. I always find store-bought veggie burgers to be way too small, and these are actually the size of a real burger. My go-to lunch lately.

(yes, we initial our food. haha)

fitness.

Every time I stop working out first thing in the morning…I pretty much stop working out all together. Why do I always forget how amazing it feels to exercise before work?! Back on the bandwagon with some strength training + treadmill intervals.

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Have you discovered any new food finds lately?
Do you prefer a morning or evening workout?

scenes from the weekend.

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Despite growing up just a few hours away, over the weekend I visited Washington DC for the first time.

I got to explore the city for a few hours on Friday and see all the sights. DC is beautiful!

Good thing Jessi has a supurb sense of direction, since I can’t even seem to use Maps correctly. Umm…

I was in DC for the Visionaries Retreat, which I also helped organize. Visionaries is the business community of my church, and it was great to hear from amazing speakers like John Bevere and Steve Dubbeldam (whose wife created one of my favorite magazines, Darling!).

It was an incredible couple of days – I learned so much, and am excited to bring the ideas back into the real world to further my career/passions.

I got home last night, and 12 hours of sleep later I had another great lazy Sunday.

Most of the day was spent with a smoothie by my side…

…and season 3 of HIMYM in process. It’s the simple things, you know?

Have you ever been to Washington DC?
What was the highlight of your weekend?

being a girl in nyc: post seven.

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This is part of the “being a girl in nyc” series by Jessi and I for our Community Group at Liberty Church. These posts are based solely on our own thoughts, opinions, and experiences.

how to move on. {by jessi}

Moving on, and knowing when to move on. I believe this is one of the hardest parts about dating.

So what happens when you meet Mr.Right, and then he becomes Mr. Awful?

1. KNOW YOU SHOULD MOVE ON

This is the hardest part, in my opinion. Knowing to let go of things.

5 key signs that you know it is time to move on:
1. Your relationship brings more pain than joy. AKA – you are constantly stressed about the relationship, crying to friends, and having to make excuses for being upset.
2. He/She compares you constantly to others. Comparison to strangers, exes, anyone. He/She should be celebrating who you are. If they want to be with someone else, let them.
3. When he/she is causing emotional/verbal/physical abuse. RED ALERT!!!
4. When your fundamental beliefs and values are different. There is no excuse for this. I hear it from people all the time. However, when it comes to making major decisions – these are the things you will both turn to. If you don’t share the same values, it automatically makes things more complicated.
5. When neither of you feel the same way anymore. You have changed, and he/she has as well. If you can’t learn to grow together, and love the changes in one another. MOVE ON.

2. GO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Friends are the best cure for a sad heart/break-up. Allow your friends to remind you what makes you so special. Often times, our friends can notice great things about us that we can often dismiss. Allow your friends to help you see you! Also, they will hold you accountable to not call your ex.

3. GET RID OF EVERYTHING THAT REMINDS YOU OF HIM/HER

I find it so strange when people keep notes and pictures from exes. Grieve and leave! You don’t need this stuff. Let it go. If it is something really nice, decide if you have an emotional attachment to it. If you do, then LET IT GO. No matter how nice the Louis Vuitton Bag looks on your arm – your sad crying face with it – is just not a good look.

4. ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE SINGLE

Don’t be a serial dater. It is not fair to you, or the next person you date. Allow yourself to cry and grieve the past relationship. Give yourself time to find your passions again. Have fun enjoying your hobbies, friends, and the unique things that make you, you! Don’t just find your identity in someone new. Figure out who you are, and who you want to be. Then down the road – meet someone that can’t wait to be with that person.

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How do you get over an ex?
Which of these do you agree with / anything to add?