Hello World

Hey oh hey world-

Holy moly, I think my last post was more than a year ago.

Wait, yes it was. Because I see pictures of bunnies and fair food.

I was in Target (my second home) Sunday afternoon when I suddenly I felt the need to write again. Maybe it was the little Christmas tree wonderland, or the dozens of snowflake cookie cutters I passed that made me a bit nostalgic, but whatever it was, I’m glad I’m back to writing.

As I’m sitting here trying to decide how to open with this long-overdue post that only a handful of people–if any–are going to read, I figure I may as well begin with what I originally wanted the Nut Kase to be about:

Health & Happiness.

Health

Since my appendectomy almost a year ago (RIP lil’ appendix!), I’ve struggled with some digestive issues that I think are mainly due to stress. Work stress. Friend stress. Life stress. While I had hoped to fix this with some simple remedies, I realized I probably needed to try a bit harder than taking more vitamins, running with my Couch to 5K app, and attending a yoga class a few times a month. 🙂

While home a few weeks ago, I ran into one of my old neighbors. In her cute cream knit sweater, with a sassy little Jenn-Aniston-In-Friends style haircut–she was absolutely glowing both inside and out.  After sharing an encouraging story with me about her own health journey, she attributed her great results to the Paleo diet. Now, I use the word “diet” hesitantly, because I like to view this as more of a healthy life choice per se, than diet.

The key to Paleo? No processed food, grains, dairy, legumes or refined sugar. Just whole foods, lots of fruits and veggies, protein, good fats and complex carbs. Easy peasy.

NOT.

After wanting to eat a handful of candy corn so bad it hurt, I finally made it through the sugar withdrawal and I am on my third week now of Paleo eating. And honestly, it’s been wonderful.

Paleo grocery shopping = lots of fresh produce

In just three short weeks, I feel a world better. That weighed-down, sluggish feeling is gone. And I’m proud of myself! Now I just need to get over my fear of the YMCA weight room to add in more strength-training exercises to my workout routine, and I’ll be set!

Happy

I’ll be honest, if you had asked me earlier in the year if I was happy, I probably would have told you it depends on the day. I think people tend to go through peaks and valleys in life, and earlier this year I was in a valley.

As I’ve begun to pick myself back up, I’ve realized there are plenty of things to be grateful for. I’m thankful that I have a job, a nice place to live and a kind, silly roommate. I’m thankful for the loving, unrelenting support from my friends and family. I’m thankful for God’s perfect, peaceful grace. And I am even thankful for this darn valley…because without it, I don’t think I’d be half as grateful to be where I am, nor would I be able to recognize how far I’ve come.

I recently found this quote on one of my many Pinterest binges, and I love it.

It’s a perfect reminder to enjoy what we have, because really, life is meant for living and loving. A little bit of stress and a few valleys aren’t the end of the world. 🙂

So, here’s a little show and tell of the happiness I’ve been finding lately.

Getting Grumps to give us a {goofy} smile? Priceless.

Fall flowers are alive and kickin’ on my balcony. Well, except for the dahlia. The dahlia was a long shot, anyways. 🙂

What’s better than a selfie-shoot with my beautiful boo? Practically nothing.

Showed up to work as a Piñata for Halloween. Someone asked me if I was a Post-It note girl!

Yes, one of my best friends and I did spend all night creating the belt headband for her boyfriend’s Quailman costume. #truefriend

Celebrating birthdays, dancing like goofs, exploring downtown Raleigh!

Continuing to better myself and be thankful for all the little things that bring such joy to my life is an easy way to remember that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.

I’m glad to back…Happy Monday!

xox,

K

PS–in case anyone is wondering, I did breakdown in Target in the Christmas cookie aisle–I have no willpower.

Saving these guys for a bake-athon in December!

A Scare & the Fair

Hello & happy Monday!

I hope your weekend was full of Halloween festivities and excitement! Mine kept me a lot busier than last weekend:

Haunted corn maze & getting the bejeezus scared out of me. Check.

Now, I am a big scaredy cat, but I LOVE getting scared. Scary movies are some of my favorites! And after walking the Field of Lost Souls, being chased by guys in scary masks, with loud chainsaws and shot guns and screaming my lungs out, I thought I was in the clear. Woo hoo, good scare! Time to go home! Wrong. Then came the haunted hay ride. And the haunted house. And scary clowns (getting scared by a creepy scary clown is the WORST). I basically screamed for 2 hours straight. My nerves were shot! 😛

Fun time with the my awesome family. Check.

 

Saturday I spent time with my family in Chapel Hill, celebrating the beautiful life of my Great Uncle Chuck. It was so good to spend time with my Aunts, Uncles, cousins, brother, Nana and my dad.

 

Out in downtown Raleigh with new friends. Check.

No pictures…but I ran into my cousin while out, which was a nice surprise!

 

NC State Fair–getting my fill of fried food and barnyard animal cuteness. Check. 

I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves 🙂

There was an 800 lbs. pumpkin. Think of how much pie you could make! 🙂

BIGGEST BUNNY EVER!

 

We even got to see some little baby pigs race!!

 

After getting our fill of prize-winning produce and animal cuteness, we moved on to more serious things. Like deep-fried food. I went to the fair with my friend Sarah, and we split some deep-fried red velvet oreos–which were freakin-awesome-good. 🙂 But there were so many other crazy options to choose from. The craziest? The Krispie Kreme burger. Yes, a cheese burger with two Krispie Kreme doughnuts used for a bun. Holy heart attack.

I totally ran up to a guy and asked if I could take a picture of his burger 🙂

 

Having to hunt down my car because it got towed during the Fair. Check. Boo.

The last little bit of my weekend was spent finding my little Jeep, after it had been towed because I may or may not have parked in a movie theater parking lot to avoid paying $10 for Fair parking. While Sarah and I waited for Rachel to come scoop us up (thanks Rach for saving the day!), we did what any good parking rebels would do, and ate a bag of cotton candy.

 

Now that I’ve loaded up on sugar for the week, I’ll have plenty of energy to get back to running and begin some more of my cross fit classes this week! I also can’t wait to MAKE MY HALLOWEEN costume!

Well have a marvelous Monday! 🙂

xox K

 

Weekend Whirlwind

This weekend was a bit hectic. Let’s recap–

Saw Jason Aldean. WOO HOO. Let’s just say….BEST CONCERT I HAVE EVER BEEN TO! 🙂

It was hot hot hot. But good music with great friends is always worth it! ((Have you heard his new song Take a Little Ride? It’s my new fav!))

This Saturday my little bro turned 18. Just in the past year or so he has grown a foot and now towers over me–whata cutie.

I stayed in Charlotte just long enough to celebrate Zach’s birthday, then I was off to Raleigh on my next big life adventure: to begin my first job. I’m a bit nervous and definitely excited.

My roommate and I are still working out apartment situations, so for the time being I am staying with Kyle and his roomies. I’m a Carolina girl living with a bunch of State guys–oh gosh! 🙂 Kyle even cleared out a spot in his closet for me (he definitely got mucho boyfriend points for that!).

This weekend may have been a little busy, but I am all set to begin my wonderful job. I’m so excited I can’t hardly stand it. Now to decide what I’ll wear on the first day… 🙂
Have a happy Monday!

xoxo, Kath

 

 

Oh Hey, June

This week has been a little crazy and it is a brand new month, so I figured it is time for an update 🙂

-I did mucho traveling this week to Raleigh for two interviews. Even though it poured in the morning on my way to my first interview, it cleared up by the time I headed to my second. Thank goodness–no one wants to go on an interview with frizzy rain hair! 😉

-between interviews I needed to grab some fuel, so I headed to Earthfare and picked up my first veggie juice. It was called the Red Sunset. After ordering it, I suddenly realized I was in a crisp, white button-down shirt and the juice was bright red. So I had to hold it at arms length while carrying it to the car. People stared at my carrying technique, but I took no chances 🙂 No spills happened…and it was pretty good! Sweet from carrots and beets, and it had a little kick from some ginger root. Veggie juice is a new staple!

-Last night, Kyle and I joined my Grams and Bob for dinner at Nakatos, our favorite Japanese steak house. There really is no better combination than miso soup, ginger salad dressing and stir-fried veggies 🙂

-I joined a gym!!! After hearing wonderful recommendations from Mickey and my good friend (and high school bio teacher!), Krista, I knew I wanted to join. The first class Krista and I went to was Group Power. It’s a bar bell/toning class that had my arms and thighs singing last week!

-I’m 23 miles into the 100 mile challenge! Woop woop!

Well I’m off to the gym for some Group Power. Have a lovely Saturday!

xoxox

Kath