Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Breakfast To Go

No, not drive-thru!

Not being a morning person & liking the length of time between my alarm going off and me getting out the door to be as short as possible doesn't mean sacrificing good eating habits. Take 5 minutes the night before to prep and it will take even less time the next morning to have a complete breakfast.

Here's what you'll need for a breakfast sandwich and coffee protein shake:

- 1 piece toast
- 1 egg or 1/4 cup egg whites
- 1 slice ham
- 1 slice cheese

- 6-7 ice cubes
- 1 scoop protein powder
- 1 teaspoon or packet instant coffee
- 1/4 teaspoon stevia
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup non-dairy beverage (I ise unsweetened vanilla almond milk)

- blender
- something to cook the egg in (I use a microwave safe container in a round sandwich shape)

For your breakfast sandwich:
- make toast
- put cheese on top, followed by cooked egg, followed by slice ham
- cut in half, fold & wrap
- store in fridge

For breakfast smoothie:
- put all ingredients in blender EXCEPT the non-dairy beverage
- store in freezer overnight

In the morning, open your breakfast sandwich & heat in toaster oven. Take out blender & add non-dairy beverage. Wrap sandwich & put smoothie in travel container.

You're good to eat healthy on the go! 

:)

Samantha 

Sunday, August 24, 2014

But I Want to Take All the Classes!

Today ends my first week of fall semester. I really wish instead of full time work & part time school I could do part time work & full time school. Or maybe just a boat load of school.

As tired, frazzled, and perpetually feeling like I'm running late this week has been, it's great to be back in school. I'm extremely happy being enrolled in my nutrition & psychology courses this semester.

But oh my lord, school book should NOT be so stressful to the point where they make your face break out. Seriously. Five pimples have roamed my face all week. Not little baby blackheads either. I think it should be against the law for school books to be this high. Half the national student debt is probably on books alone.

I found many great sites that rent books out fortunately. Bookrenter.com loans a $155 book at $40 for 125 days. Just in time to end your finals. Many places have free shipping & returns too. I encourage everyone to check book renting sites out.

This semester I'm taking two nutrition courses and one psychology course. I was going to take a health class, but I think it's a good thing that fell through. It's only the first week & I'm already behind! One of my books showed up this weekend & one of them hasn't even arrived yet. In addition to blogging about health, fitness, beauty and all that good stuff, you can learn more by learning along with me too. One of my assignments over the weekend was to find out my personality type; not for the psychology class, but for my nutrition class. It's an intro to the dietetics profession. Check out my result of the Meyers-Briggs based test & find yours out too!

http://www.humanmetrics.com/hr/JTypesResult.aspx?EI=33&SN=-62&TF=-38&JP=11




Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Yes, I Do Paint!

Hi all!

I do abstract paintings, both on my own and for commission.
I don't normally push my work, but I need some extra money to help pay for school, so please have a look!
Here are a few samples, all available for purchase.
Please comment or email any inquiries for these or if you would like me to create something for you.

A link to my album of paintings from my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.663247137035916.1073741825.177554268938541&type=3



 




 









Sunday, August 17, 2014

End of My Summer Vacation

Great summer!

- Went back to college. Took a computer class: Computer Applications for Business, since I'm fairly computer illiterate, and got an A! I struggle with computers, and things like language & terminology, so I'm very happy because I worked for it!

- My regular day job has been going well & accommodating. I was able to still work full time while taking an intense 6 week semester. I was also able to schedule a week off (big reason why I was MIA here for a week) and glad I took it since I know I won't be able to go anywhere til at least Christmas.

- Spent a relaxing few days in Oregon visiting my mom & grandpa. I had wonderful mother-daughter time that we don't get to share more than a couple times a year now. She took me to a creamery (cheese) factory shop, and wine tasting next door from there. 

- Spent my last days as a free woman (of no work or school) in Viva Las Vegas! I've been to Las Vegas many times but believe it or not, I wanted to just have a mellow time this trip. I imagined lots of sun, pool parties, some reading and sleeping. Of course none of that happened - not even the sun! But I made some great memories with my friend Lisa. You know what they say: What happens in Vegas...

I hope everyone takes these last few days of their summer for some much needed relaxation, have a little fun and continue making it a memorable 2014! 

Me & my mom - Southern Oregon, August 2014


Myself & one of my good friends, Lisa - in the High Roller, Las Vegas August 2014





Friday, August 8, 2014

Starting a Vacation, & I'm Excited to Sleep

I'm getting picked up in 6 hours to take a shuttle from San Francisco to Southern Oregon.

Haven't been on this shuttle in over a year - since before I was able to be a semi-functioning regular member of society.

It is ironic, that during the years I was sick and stuck in bed most of the time & wishing I was out of it, that I am really looking forward to appreciating the time I have this next week of not doing much of anything. What a real vacation should be! 7 days of (mostly) not having to worry about what time you go to sleep or having to wake up in the morning. Vegging out will be attained to pro status.

I'm taking these 7 days now, strategically planned between two different pay periods and having saved up 3 days of vacation time (2 days each pay period + 3 days = 7 days.) I come back the evening of August 14th, and start fall semester (nutrition & psychology!) on August 18th. Basically if I didn't go now, I'm not going to have a chance to take a pause until at least Christmas.

If you have a chance to take a pause - take it! There will be many many full-speed-ahead times in our lives for us not to appreciate the time we can have off, when we can have it.

I will be visiting my mom & grandpa in Oregon for a few days, and a good girl friend in Las Vegas for a few days. I have a couple projects in mind I'd like to accomplish while I'm at both places this coming week, and I will share them during and after.


Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Supplements - What Should You Take?

It's always best to get what you need from the most natural source possible: organic foods. Sometimes it's not always enough of what we need for one reason or another.

What's usually suggested for most people:
  • A multiviatmin to "catch all" - think of it like insurance. You SHOULD try to get all your nutrients through food, but a multi on a daily basis is good to have just in case.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids - by fish oil supplements, or (like me) put flax-seed in various things like smoothies or baked goods. I like to grind them up first. If you're not getting at least 3 servings of Omega-3s a week, it's good to have a supplements for heart & metabolic heath.

Other great ones to take note of:
  • B Vitamins for energy & metabolism (B Complex, B12, B6, etc.)
  • Vitamin D if you're like me & can never get enough sun. Good for bone health.
  • Vitamin C for immunity
  • Calcium for bone & heart health
  • Fiber for digestive health (at least 25g+/ day for women & 30g+/day for men)


I'll share with you three supplements I take every day & why I take them:

#1 on my list: DHEA - 50mg.  I started taking this about 4 years ago when I was searching for natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals for depression & anxiety. DHEA is produced naturally in our bodies, but it is a steroid hormone. There have been many studies on DHEA for a wide variety of things, but most are inconclusive.

#2: Prenatal vitamin: No, I am not pregnant or looking to become any time soon. I take prenatals mostly as a multivitamin that has a higher iron content. I don't eat a lot of meat, and iron comes mostly from red meat. It comes from green veggies too, and although I eat a lot of those, I don't eat enough to get close to even half of my %DV.

#3: B12, 500mcg. Similar to why I don't get enough iron. I also don't consume much caffeine and B vitamins are a great source of energy.