Going Gluten Free

Who doesn't love to indulge in simple carbs? I sure do. You can't argue that they make you feel full for a long time. They are prefect for satisfying my hunger, but not so great for being able to fit in my favorite pair of summer shorts. Pasta, bread and potatoes are three of my guilty pleasures and my some of my hardest foods to resist. The other day I had toast for breakfast, then a sandwich for lunch, and then another sandwich for dinner. I realized that I had just consumed 6 pieces of wheat bread. So I decided to try going gluten free for two weeks. I am now finishing up my first week and it has been a huge struggle. I have to admit I cheated and gave in three times; two times for pasta and once for chocolate cake (I couldn't resist)! Its been a learning experience to say the least about replacing the simple carbs I was so often eating with non-gluten foods. For breakfast I would substitute an english muffin or bagel for eggs, veggies and fruits. For a snack I've been relying on smoothies and Welch's fruit snacks. For lunch and dinner I've been boosting up the protein to make me stay fuller for longer. So far it's been an interesting journey and I love learning more about nutrition through my own experiments.

The End...

of the semester is here! Even though I already did a reflection before, I just feel like blogging tonight since today marks my final day as a sophomore in college! It is so crazy, I feel so old. I remember be younger and not being able to conceptualize the thought of getting to high school, let alone being an adult in college. And now it is here, just like that. 

Anyway, today I had my last final that I needed to take. It was Management of Information Systems and I do not think I did very well. The last one is always the hardest because I feel like students want to check out before taking it (well at least thats how I feel). Now I am about to pack up and leave for home. This year has gone by so quickly, and I've learned a lot. 

Tonight I have just been lounging around, thinking about summer. Last year I did my first summer bucket list and I surprisingly completed close to all of the activities I wrote down at the beginning of the summer. So this year I am thinking about doing the same thing, and one of my things on the list is to keep this blog running. I have really enjoyed this journey of blogging, and I love the theme of mason jars and maybe not always incorporating them, but having them present in some way makes it fun and creative. Some other things I'm thinking about including on my bucket list is

• learn to longboard (better) 
• workout everyday 
• read at least 3 books 
• catch a firefly 
• go to six flags 
• go to church/worship more often 
• practice yoga 

-that's all I have for now. 

XOXO,

Hannah 

Jar Gardens

One of my favorite decor items in houses are plants and greenery. The essence of house plants are a perfect way to step up your spring decor. Plants improve air quality and give off a fresh-feel. Plants are an easy accessory choice because they are available at a variety of price points, and their wide variety of hues can complement any decorating color scheme. You can find plants with low maintenance capabilities. And, they are fun to plant and watch bloom and grow. Growing up my parents always had many plants in the house and my favorite chore was watering them. Here's to welcoming spring by bringing flowers and plants to every space in your home to give it an instant dose of charm—both inside and out. 

Mason jars work beautifully as casual containers for live plants. If you’re into cooking, you can opt to grow herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, cilantro and many more for those days when your dishes are in need of a little flavor. They are easily accessed when in a mason jar and stay sealed and fresh. Just fill about 1/4th of the jar with moist potting soil and then plant the transplanted herbs. This is a great solution for apartment dwellers who do not have abundant gardening space. 

If you’re partial to flowers, place an arrangement of white or yellow flowers on your island or countertop. It’s a simple way of boosting your spirits and showing your appreciation for nature. Just fill a mason jar with water and place a flower in it. You could always plant a few flowers in a jar. Constant sunlight would be necessary for specific plants to flourish. 

Lucky Bamboo is also a great contender for greenery decor. Try a bamboo plant on a shelf or table to bring a spa or tropical-feel to your home. I have multiple lucky bamboo plants because they are low maintenance.  

Happy planting! 

XOXO, Hannah 

Spring Smoothies

As I write this post, the rain is coming pouring down outside my window and melting away all the snow. That can only mean one thing...Spring! On my way to work today I could hear birds chirping and I actually enjoyed the 0.6 mile walk instead of dreading every step I took. One of my favorite times of the year is in early May, when the semester ends and secondary school is still in session, being home to enjoy those few last weeks of Spring. Spring brings many things, on the down side allergies and pollen, but on a better note sunshine, flowers, outdoor actives and most importantly (to me) fresh fruit. Fruit is of course one my my favorite things to eat. Although fruit is highly sugared, it will always be my favorite. My favorite, filling snack is defiantly fruit smoothies (homemade) with organic fruit. 

Smoothies can be both healthy and tasty. You can add in protein or veggies by simply hiding them amongst the dominant, sweet ingredients. One of my favorite smoothies is a green smoothie with mangos, green apples, pineapple, kiwi, banana, spinach and baby kale. Here is a picture of one I made a last spring: 

There is no better way to take advantage of the Spring produce than to whip up a refreshing smoothie. Smoothies are a perfect detox and keep you fuller for longer. It is packed with a few super foods that boost energy and give a balance of nutrients. You won't have to fret over the upcoming bathing suit season if you indulge in one of these over a sugary drink or unhealthy bag of chips.

They are also great for on the go situations. I will just grab a mason jar or water bottle to be able to drink one in the morning for breakfast on-the-go style. Smoothies for breakfast help keep you hydrated during hot summer days. In the summer I will drink one before or after a nice workout or when I am just lounging around.

XOXO, Hannah

Kiss Me I'm Green

Saint Patricks Day celebrations have been in full swing this past week as St. Patty's Day approaches on the 17th. Worcester had a parade in honor of the holiday on Sunday the 8th, and this weekend is Boston's edition. These parades come at a perfect time when we all are ready to get outside and have a little fun in the fresh air. St.Patricks Day can bring with it a few bad habits, just like any holiday, of making unhealthy choices that may satisfy your lips, but not your hips. 

Being Irish I know that celebrating St. Patricks Day typically involves corn beef and cabbage, beer, leprechauns, shamrocks and everything artificially colored green you can imagine. But what I am more interested in recently is green tea. Put down the beer and shakes and pick up some green tea! 

I've been reading many posts lately about the Shamrock Shakes that McDonald's offers and their harmfulness. I've been researching their components and nutrition facts and it turns out as simple as they seem, Shamrock Shakes contain 33 different ingredients! If you want to read more about "why you should never drink a shamrock shake", check out http://bamboocorefitness.com. The alternative 
green liquid that I swap out for these chemically filled beverages is green tea. 

Green tea is sweet and refreshing. Instead of coffee in the morning, I tend to substitute it for tea as much as possible because it can do the same job as coffee with added benefits. Tea can also help when waking up and stimulates the brains. It improves brain function with the help of the amino acid L-theanine. Green tea gives you a slight kick that is good for you. 

An essential antioxidant in green tea is called catechin. It is an antioxidant that fights cell damage. Green tea is not processed much before it's poured in your cup, so it's rich in these nutrients. 

My boss at work the other day said to me that she has been on a "green tea diet". Basically she is using green tea as a fat burner. Although I do not suggest this as a healthy way to loose weight, it is one benefit of green tea. It increases the metabolism in the body and can also cleanse the body in large quantities. Just substitute soda or sugary beverages for 1-2 cups of green tea for a few months. 

XOXO, Hannah 

Spring Break

This upcoming week is spring break for us Clarkies. Although this weather doesn't prompt spring break, it is a sign that we are getting closer to the end of another semester. Unfortunately I am not going anywhere fun and exotic, which means I decided to make the theme of this weeks post tropical in place of me being somewhere warm. The high of my spring break will be maybe 40°. I am never the girl that is always traveling for break to exciting locations. The few places I have traveled to (Arizona, Europe, Florida, Maryland, D.C) I feel extremely lucky to have had the experiences I did. The next time I take a plane it will hopefully be to Cape Town, South Africa, where I will be studying abroad. One day, by the time I turn 50 years old, my wish is to have visited each state for at least a day. 

Each time I explore or do smelting new, I like to keep a small token form there to help me remember those special memories. Instead of souveniers that are materialistic and costly, I decided a few years ago to start saving tickets. It mostly started in 2012 when I traveled to Europe. I saved every ticket I used, from subway tickets to museum passes. I decided to keep them in a mason jar because I think it looks cute and is a perfect way to display them with easy access. I love to go through the jar and look at each ticket. When I do this a unique memory usually pops into my head. Without these tickets I would defiantly forget some of the places I traveled to and things I have done. 

This is my jar full with tickets! I probably have about 50 for now. 

My treat for this week includes one of my favorite fruits: Pineapple

Pineapple is very sugary and sweet, so of course one of my favorites. It has many benefits such as high fiber, calcium and Vitamins A and C. Pineapple has a substance called Bromelain, an anti-inflammatory that boosts up the healing power of Vitamin C. 

XOXO, Hannah 

Reflections

It has been a few weeks since I started writing this blog and I felt it was a good time to reflect on my experience so far. I'm feeling myself getting more and more excited to write blog posts. I love letting my creative side out and this blog is a perfect way to express myself. Writing about things that interest me is what is most fun.

I find myself looking forward to posting rather than dreading it or looking at it as a task. My favorite part is definitely incorporating pictures. I love photography and sites such as Tumblr and Instgram. Those sites, and photos especially, are my inspirations for the many things that I do and write about.

Blogging has been so much fun, but also a challenge in some ways. I am a perfectionist, so figuring out new things is always a challenge for me. Trying to set up my blog and site was a struggle because I was new to this medium of blogging. I really wanted to get my the style of my blog such as the layout and background looking just right. I tried about 20 times to get a perfect header before giving up. The first thing I judge people when I glance at their blog is the overall look. I feel guilty saying that because I feel like I am judging a book by its cover by not focusing on the content, but it is the truth. That is why I have been so hard on myself to keep working at my blog to perfect it. You have to make the right first impression.

At first I had a hard time getting into the writing and I was sort of searching for something to write about. Now I have too many things to write about! Ideas are always in my head and sometimes I can't process them all and get them out there. Writing posts is now one of my favorite things to do and I have people requesting that I should keep up with my blog even after my assignment is over with. I really like this idea and hope I find time to do this.

I know my blog won't change the world, but I am happy that I am using the Internet to communicate in a way that is may be translated or interpreted by others through their screen.

XOXO, Hannah