Happy Thinking Out Loud Thursday! My apologies for the radio silence since last week. I’ve been a little occupied with shopping for back to school, planning/testing lots of blog stuff for the next month or so, and actually spending time with my family instead of blogging in the evenings. I only get them for another 6 days, so I’m soaking it up.
But the fact that I haven’t checked in means we have lots to catch up on. So, let’s take a look at what’s been happening in my life and mind this week. Thanks for the link-up, Amanda!
1.) My dad took the day off last Friday to hang out with me. We often run together. Well, that’s not going to be happening for a while, as we discussed on Friday. So we did something else on Friday.
We went go cart racing driving.
See, I would say racing, but I was so terrified that I probably was going half the speed the go cart was capable of attaining. The guy at the track said he thought he had accidentally put speed control on my car.
I am a pretty cautious driver. Like, I’ll totally drive over the speed limit, but I’m far from reckless. I also really like having an SUV because it makes me feel less small on the road. Put me on a twisty track in a teeny tiny car and my mind just clouds over in a panic. This probably makes no sense, since I love adventure sports, etc. and I knew nothing bad could really happen on the track, but I was freaked out. I’d do it again, but I’d still go pretty slow.
2.) I briefly complained about my doctor on Friday. He didn’t look at my foot, which was swollen and painful, and he wasn’t willing to talk about options for pain management and strengthening my hip while I’m injured. Anyway, I would like to praise my physical therapist for basically the opposite. Well, my foot just randomly decided to return to its normal size, so not for that. However, she did willingly answer all of my hip questions, assure me that I can stretch and continue the lying-down strengthening exercises we’ve been working on as long as they don’t hurt, and tell me that it’s perfectly okay to go for long walks as long as they aren’t too fast. Basically, after a long weekend of not knowing if I was doing the right things, now I have a much better idea.
3.) Speaking of what I’m doing at the gym… I have to be careful when I use weight machines because my range of motion is different from a normal person’s, so I usually just use dumbbells and barbells. Right now, I’m not supposed to do much with dumbbells unless I’m seated. That area of the gym has been busy when I’m there, so for the first time in my life I’m trying weight machines and just being mindful of my range of motion. This leaves me approximately 8 machines and the arm bike to use. Guys, my upper body is going to be so strong by the time I’m allowed to use my legs again. Or it’s going to fall off. One of those.
4.) The arm bike is hard. First, it feels kind of unnatural. Second, it’s not super thrilling. However, even if I never break a sweat while using it, it’s a challenge. Soooo I’m going with it and trying to be excited.
5.) Dessert on Saturday during the OSU game was Paleo Peach Berry Crisp topped with non-Paleo vanilla ice cream. So. Good. I say you should make some before summer fruit is gone for the year!
I’m thinking an apple version is necessary for the fall, so keep an eye out for that!
6.) I may no longer be doing high-intensity exercise, but I have the same high-intensity appetite. It actually might be even more ridiculous. AKA I’m a bottomless pit and I am always surrounded by dishes that I have a hard time believing I emptied. Please send help. Or more snacks.
7.) This has been a week of a ton of recipe testing and I’m so excited to share more food with you guys. Squash and apples and pumpkin and cinnamon galore! I’m also taking requests, if you have them, so bring it on.
8.) You can usually see the testing on my Instagram stories. Some of my friends don’t appreciate that fact…
But I like showing you guys previews. So, if you want to see what’s upcoming on the blog, just be sure to follow me on Instagram!
9.) It was somewhere around 2 years ago when I started this blog, right before I headed off to UChicago for the first time. Crazy. I’m so grateful to you for taking the time to read my rambles, connect with me, and get excited over food and life with me. Whether you need a hug today or not, I’m sending you one.
I plan to continue blogging for quite some time, and I’d love to share what you want to see. I’d so appreciate it if you’d take this survey to help me do just that! I’ll keep it open until next Thursday.
Take the survey!
10.) And now I want to leave you with some of my favorite recipes + reads from the week.
- It’s Buckeye season now and ice cream season always. –> Buckeye Fudge Ice Cream
- You know I’m all for the fruit and prosciutto pairing. –> Pear and Prosciutto Flatbread
- PB&J for dessert. –> Peanut Butter & Jelly Cupcakes
- How can you extend the goodness of summer? –> Endless Summer (What I Am Taking with Me)
- What motivates your fitness? –> Six Things That Changed the Way I Approach Fitness
Your turn:
Are you a fast driver?
What’s your favorite fall produce?
Anything else I should know?
Survey SEZZZ. I need to do one soon too! I love how your dad is always in Ohio State gear whenever I see him. Represent, boss!
LOL him and half the rest of the state of Ohio 😉
haha my friends do the same thing! Its literally every time I post on instagram and I have to explain to them that most of that food has been long gone lol.
Total blogger problems, right? ?
So many things to say….1) I’m the same with driving. I go over the speed limit a tad but I’m not at all reckless. So go-karting and going “all out” would leave me terrified haha. 2) I’m so glad your PT has been helpful! 3) Damn right your upper body is going to be super strong after the next few weeks.
My dad totally made fun of me for not going faster on the go-kart. He lapped me three times…
Thanks for your support, friend. ❤️
I think half the fun of instastories is getting to see the ‘behind the scenes’ blog stuff before it goes up – but maybe that’s because I’m a blogger hhaah
Maybe that’s why I love it so much…. I’m nosy about other people’s behind the scenes and I love teasing my own 😉
I used to be more ‘cocky’ about driving, but a few experiences (THANKFULLY not an accident) really slowed me down and reined me in. Go-cart driving looks fun, and I think that’s great that you were cautious. 🙂 Ooh yes, and i love the Instagram stories. I loved watching you make the Paleo Peach Berry Crisp.
I’m so glad you weren’t in any accidents! I’ve been in a couple scary situations, but no accidents either 🙂
And thank you! I’m loving IG stories and hoping to do some more stuff like that, especially since I don’t have quite the setup necessary for real recipe videos right now 🙂
I feel like I am the most cautious driver..my mom wouldn’t agree. But I seriously will only drive my car because I’m comfortable in it. Glad you’re experimenting with weight machines. They daunted me at first but now I love!
I hate driving any car other than my own! It makes me so nervous. I’m hoping to learn to love the machines 🙂
Go carting looks like so much fun! I think I’d be pretty cautious too though 😛 Congrats on two years of blogging and good luck with all of your back-to-school things! We’re in the same boat because I’m moving back into the dorms in just two days and starting my senior thesis two days after that, ick.
Have fun moving back! And whoa – good luck with your senior thesis! That sounds daunting, but soooo rewarding. I’m sure you’ll do beautifully 🙂
Go carts and I do not get along…nor do bumper cars…I have many stories to tell about those types of things, hahaha! (Not happy stories!)
I totally agree! I HATE cars! We have SUVs, trucks, jeeps, and that’s what I’ve grown up with so I just feel better in them!
My first week of school has been crazy!!! I’m so exhausted and can’t wait for Friday tomorrow!!
LOL I’d love to hear ?
I hope you get some rest this weekend, my friend! You deserve it!
Favorite fall produce is probably apples!! i really want to go apple picking this year, and get some fresh apple cider 🙂 I would say I’m in the middle when it comes to driving, although I do like going fast on the highway hehe
I am such a huge apple lover! I think I eat at least one every day… Apple picking is so fun! We go in big groups from my school every year. 🙂
I just got my driving permit, so I’m a super slow driver, haha. People love to pass me 😉
Better to be safe than sorry 🙂
That text from your friend is very similar to what a friend sent me! When I’m unsure about a photo for the blog I’ll text her a photo and last week she sent back “Now, If I am going to be your editor I think you need to pay me in these treats because I can’t actually eat with my eyes” 😛
Hahaha if only all these treats traveled well ?