Whole Life Challenge

I have made some really good choices and one - in particular - really bad mistake recently.  Let's start with bad and build up to good so we can end this blog post on a positive note.

Bad Bad Bad Bad Bad Mistake:

I decided to lack common sense for about 1 hour in total and go tanning this past Sunday.  Let me start by saying that I NEVER go tanning because I am 28 years old and trying to preserve my skin for my old age. Seriously. I also have some skin damage on my shoulders from the worst sunburn of my life.  That was a wake-up call that I need to be very careful and protective of my skin.  So when I say I never go, I mean I literally never go tanning and it's with reason. 

This past Sunday I had a little breakout and I had been feeling especially pasty.   I decided to go tanning to get some Vitamin D and ultimately clear up the break-out on my face. This is where the **disclaimer** pops-up that you should never listen to the uber tan high schooler running the biz.  The same one that doesn't ask you any questions about your skin or previous tanning experiences and would allow you to go into the highest level bed for the maximum amount of time. I opted for the cheapest/lowest level bed....max time. 

Roasted. I felt OK for the rest of the day but knew I was burned.  I put some lotion on and went to bed and thought I would be peachy keen by the morning.  When I woke up  and looked in the mirror, I was HORRIFIED.  My skin was RAGING red.  Not even just sunburned but shockingly red.  I walked into the gym that morning and people turned around gasped in horror. True story. Probably not the first time either (like I said, I was pasty). 

Now I am peeling and just want to be pasty white again.

Good Choice #1:

Since I updated last (a century ago), I decided to partake in a Whole Life Challenge with some of my CrossFit friends.  We opted-in for the Paleo lifestyle and are required to workout and stretch everyday for a minimum of 10 minutes each.  Also, we are required to get 7 hours of sleep and drink 1/2 our body weight in water to receive our total points for the day.  It's been pretty fun but I need to be more strict about my diet. Tanning is NOT on the Whole Life Challenge.  5 point Infraction. 

Good Choice #2:

I am officially signed up for the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.  Eeeeek! I was not aggressive about signing up initially, however, 30,000 people signed up, received a spot and crashed the website within the first 2 hours of registration being open.  The remaining 15,000 spots eventually became a lottery for which I entered and got in!  I will continue to do CrossFit, incorporate a longer run on the weekends and a anaerobic endurance training class on Sundays.  I am excited...and scared.

e

Ok, it's big girl time. I have been living in my current apartment for 6 months now and my walls are still barren....my bedroom / bathroom need a little TLC to say the least. I have always found it important to make the best of what you can afford.  Our apartment is not the cutest apartment but it works and there is a ton of space for 3 people.  Unfortunately for me, when I moved in, my bedroom was covered in Spackle from the previous tenants patching up holes in the wall. I stood there for 2 minutes before I insisted that I was going to repaint both the bathroom and bedroom. It was not purty.

I painted the walls (after trying out 8-10 different colors of Benjamin Moore) a nice soft grey - Benjamin Moore Thunder. To finish it off, I've been thinking about making a headboard, getting a new duvet cover, getting a large rug and hanging some pictures on the walls to make it feel more homey.  

I originally got inspired by some awesome wood plank headboards. Here are my faves from House Tweaking, Camille Styles and Design Sponge:

Replace that cat with Bones and we're set. 

But I am under a tight budget lately and I need to do a cost comparison between that and my second idea, which would be to use the "e" typography print that I framed and love.  Why do I love it? Because my name is Elizabeth.  Which starts with an 'e'.   

Artist Unknown

I've been sketching some ideas and have been thinking putting it above my bed and offsetting it with an Ikea's Lack Shelf in White and load it up with some accessories from CB2, West Elm & Target.  I also just found that awesome RHINO & HIPPO figurines on Target.com! I also love this vase.........................and I'm sucked in again. Here's what my room looks like now:

boring.

Here's a photoshopped version of what I am thinking.  Shelf is from IKEA. Accessories are from West Elm.

Better.

Maybe I will find time to do this next weekend....

Paleo Supper Club & Paleo Donuts

I have been a slacker about blogging lately.  Life has gotten very stressful & busy. Ugh. 

A few of my friends at RNCF have decided to start a Paleo Supper Club.  Once a month. Sunday evenings. FUN. We may or may not watch the Biggest Loser as well.....

I decided to make Paleo Pumpkin Spice Donuts.  Yes I know, not very dinnerish but awesome none-the-less. I've tried them out a few times and they are always a hit.  Even my mom who thinks I eat like a weirdo begged me to make more.  Win.

I found the recipe on Against All Grain.  I can accurately follow a recipe and it will probably taste good but once I start deviating from directions and self-creating it turns into a giant disaster.  So, this recipe is where all credit is deserved. 

There are two glazes recommended with the recipe - Maple Vanilla Glaze and a Dark Chocolate Glaze. I've made both before but this time around Whole Foods was out of Cacao Butter (which is usually pretty difficult to find).  So I skipped the Maple Vanilla Glaze and went with all Dark Chocolate.  Nom Nom.

They turned out great! They were devoured at our dinner and I brought some to work to share as well. Gluten Free. Dairy Free. Soy Free. Only honey & maple syrup used for sweeteners. Definitely a nice healthier version of a delicious donut.  Even Bones wanted some.