On Being a Nerd

I have a confession to make…I’m a nerd. And honestly, I don’t care who knows.

Since when is it ‘uncool’ to be passionate about something? Why do we have to feign disinterest in certain topics just because it’ll make us fit in if we do? Why can’t we all embrace our ‘nerdy’ sides?

I’m so nerdy I wear these huge glasses for real (and love them)!

I truly believe everyone is a nerd about something. For me, there are a couple things I geek out about. One is weather. I plan on going back to school as soon as possible (maybe this fall?) to get my meteorology certificate. I want to forecast the weather on TV someday, I get excited about storms and I always know what the temperature’s going to be each day. I even dragged my family to a weather museum when we were on spring break in Houston!

I love being up on the wall!

Another thing I completely love is nutrition. I could research it all day and read every article there is. I’m totally passionate about eating healthy, and encouraging others to do the same. I love trying out new ingredients in my own cooking, using superfoods to boost nutrient density and of course, browsing grocery store aisles and being an avid label reader.

No sugar-filled juices for this girl. I only go for the fresh-pressed, fruit and veggie-packed varieties!

What are you a ‘nerd’ about? 

WIAW: Back at It+Obsessions

Well guys, I’m finally back at school and ready to start off second semester! I really enjoyed having a full month off to be at home with my family, and not gonna lie, it was hard coming back. Besides missing my family, I also miss the comforts of home, having a car and a kitchen to cook in. Spring break is only a month and a half away though, so I’m looking forward to that!

This WIAW, I thought I’d show you some of the food I’ve been obsessed with lately while I was home, as well as a few other recent ‘obsessions’.

Breakfast: raspberry mocha protein waffle, frozen grapes, spicy veggie sausage

I really wanted waffles the other day, since I haven’t had one in a couple of months, but I wasn’t feeling a boxed mix. Instead, I whipped up my own raspberry mocha protein waffles, and they did not disappoint, especially with 6 grams of protein per waffle! I had one as my last breakfast at home 😦 along with a spicy veggie sausage and frozen grapes (another obsession).

Raspberry Mocha Protein Waffles (vegan, high protein)

1/2 cup oat flour (or ground rolled oats)

1 scoop Soytein cappuccino protein powder

handful frozen raspberries

1 tbsp vegan chocolate chips

sweetener, to taste (I used Truvia)

water, to thin

Process oats in a food processor or blender til mostly ground. Mix oats, protein powder and sweetener in a bowl until combined. Add water until desired consistency is reached; stir in chocolate chips and raspberries. Heat a waffle iron (or make into pancakes) and cook until browned (makes about 4 small waffles). 

I'mma office supply nerd!

I just stocked up on new pens for the upcoming semester, and of course, I scored the most colorful kind! I’m obsessed with organizing my notes by color, so these will be well-used.

Lunch: summer rolls, edamame in the shell, fresh pineapple, "poor girl's" spicy mustard (yellow mustard mixed with Sriracha)

My parents and I went to Pei Wei on Friday for lunch. I got my usual, the Vietnamese summer rolls, but when I asked them to leave out the chicken, they said they couldn’t do that! Most places are usually pretty accommodating to vegetarians, so this was a shock, especially since Pei Wei has plenty of veg options. I still got the rolls and just picked out all the chicken, which wasn’t easy, but it was totally worth it for the delicious summer rolls (with a side of in the shell edamame). Next time, I’d get an actual vegetarian option, despite my fear of ordering noodle dishes in restaurants.

Snack: in the shell edamame, small Pink Lady apple, handful organic cinnamon crunch cereal, PF paste

Snack plates are my favorite, whether for snacks or even lunch (I’d love to do one for dinner, too). I’m so indecisive so I like my meals to have many components so I don’t get bored. This was a pretty random one, but it fulfilled my craving for something sweet (cereal), something green (edamame), something crunchy and fresh (apple) and something delicious and protein-packed (peanut flour).

Outfit of the day: cream cropped sweater (Hollister), navy ruffled tank (Hollister), multi floral skirt (Hollister), grey polka dot tights (Target), grey corduroy booties (ALDO)

Sorry that I look super-pissed in the picture above–I always make the stupidest faces when I self-time. And, yes, I did just take this picture on Saturday and yes, I still have my mini Christmas tree up. What can I say, I like to make the holidays last as long as possible 😉 I’m in love with the booties that I got just before Christmas, but they’ve still yet to make a debut at school. I blame the snow and ice that randomly dumped on campus on Monday afternoon!

Dinner: Gardein beefless tips stir fry (with asparagus, mixed veggies and edamame), frozen mango chunks, freeze-dried strawberries

While I was still at home, I discovered a TON of frozen Gardein products in the freezer. I went through a phase over the summer where I was obsessed with them, but then I got kinda burned out. I rekindled my love for their meatless goodness over Christmas break and it was wonderful. The beefless tips weren’t as good as I remembered, though…

Dessert: carrot cake oats topped with almond peanut cashew butter and raisins

I don’t know why, but I’ve been obsessed with the carrot cake flavor combo lately. I’ve been loving the raw carrot cake bites I made and I’ve enjoyed quite a few bowls of carrot cake oats recently. I just love the mix of carrots, raisins and nut butter! Another awesome, new-to-me combo is coffee oats, topped with peanut flour paste and crushed Annie’s bunny pretzels–sweet and salty is the best!

What have you been obsessed with lately? What is your favorite pen color?

Saturday Seven

Hey hey hey! Thanks for all the wonderful comments on my bucket list/WIAW post! I always love seeing new faces around here, so stick around if you like what you see 😀

I’ve been seeing a lot of Friday Five type posts lately (well, duh, it was just Friday!) so I wanted to do my own version of that: Saturday Seven! Basically it’s the same as the Friday Five, except it’s Saturday and there’s two more things–bonus!

1. Rekindling my love for yoga

I love my purple yoga mat--plus it matches my room!

 I love yoga, and I do it on a daily basis, but lately I haven’t been really into it. I pretty much forgot about my yoga mat since it’s been in my closet, so some of the poses haven’t been as comfortable, but with my mat back in action, I should be ready to get my yoga on!

2. Obsessing over new foodie products

This list will be added to, for sure!

 Not sure if you can read that list (my camera is sometimes weird with taking pics) but I’m currently on the lookout for Oikos frozen yogurt, Clif Peppermint Stick (new seasonal flavor–heck to the YES!) and White Chocolate Macadamia Mojo bars and Silk Mint Chocolate and Nog soy milks. I know that those last 2 exist, but it’s not quite time for them to reappear in stores–why can’t it be November already? The other things I have yet to see and they need to be in my life ASAP!

3. Resting my foot

Feet look really weird in pictures...

 The foot pain on my sole has yet to disappear, but since it’s the weekend and I have no classes to be at, I decided to take a break from walking on it and see if it speeds up the healing process. I’m also planning on icing it. I’m still really hoping it’s not a stress fracture…

4. Finishing off my almond butter

It's not quite ready for OIAJ, but almost!

 For once, I actually have a jar of almond butter. I usually get my AB from the grinders at Whole Foods, so it just comes in a little flimsy plastic container. This time, I got some AB from Super Target so it came in a jar…and it’s almost out! OIAJ time later this week 😀 I’d love to try the Almond Cashew Peanut butter next time–have any of you tried it yet?

5. Plowing through my to-do list

Augh, I'm buried in homework 😦

 I just get done with 2 tests in one day and now I’ve got another test on Tuesday, a bunch of homework and a paper due in 2 weeks? Yay school 😦 I’ve got most of the take home exam done, plus I organized my closet, vacuumed my room and did my online homework. All that’s left to do today is watch the new SNL 😉

6. Rockin’ my real glasses

You know you're jealous of me...

 While I wish my “nerdy” 3D glasses were my real glasses, they don’t have any lenses. And I actually need glasses. Usually I wear contacts but I was feeling kinda lazy and kinda smart today, so I decided to wear my glasses. I think they’re flippin’ awesome!

7. Organizing my closet

...and this is only part of it!

 Yes, I’m one of those obsessive, anal people who needs to have their closet organized by color. When I first unloaded all my crap stuff into my room at the beginning of the school year, I just hung things up based on category (like tanks, sweaters, shorts, etc.). But I was getting annoyed with that, so I organized it by color, just like it was at home. Now I feel so much better 😉

What have you been up to this weekend? Any new foodie products you really want to try but haven’t been able to find (another one of mine is peanut flour!)?