I am done with sophomore year of college!!
I guess you could say I’m halfway done with undergrad, but I guess I have one more year of undergrad + 3 more years of grad school…so…still lots of school left.
Needless to say, these past two weeks have been crazy with exams and things, so I haven’t been talking to you guys as much. I apologize! Let’s catch up.
Last Saturday, our dear friend Emma came to visit from Ohio, so we went to breakfast at Tatte!
I ordered the shakshuka because I’ve always wanted to try shakshuka (from any restaurant), but for whatever reason, I never had the opportunity/the restaurant didn’t have it that day. THIS WAS THE DAY and what a glorious day it was! Shakshuka is a North African spiced tomato-based dish with poached eggs (and feta in this case). Toasted challah on the side. UGH.
Luckily for Rachel and me, Tatte was on the food bucket list for their nut boxes, which are essentially pecan pies except 100x more fun and delicious. Rachel and I shared their mixed nut box.
shortbread cookie box with mixed nuts and caramel goo (unofficial term) holding it all together
Shakira should sing about shakshuka
I miss Emma already!
Then I went to work and made this one pan chicken that I wish I could eat myself. I always do this to myself— make tantalizing food that I can’t eat.
I keep forgetting that it’s May. What is this weather!?
At least we students don’t feel as tortured being inside as we study.
Lots of good food has been fueling me through the week. A good balance of nutrients + soul food.
There are no photos of the soul food because sometimes you just need a moment with your warm cookies.
Some solid moves and grooves kept me and my friends sane this finals week. A few friends joined me for a yoga study break on Monday!
My body has been pretty tired from lack of sleep, being sick, stress, etc., so workouts have been pretty low key. But my favorite workout this week was on Wednesday:
- lots of lat pulldowns + single arm dumbbell press
- 20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2 cals on rower // 12 overhead kettlebell swings + 5 burpees over rower
MY LUNGS.
Last night I took my family out to dinner since my parents just arrived for my brother’s graduation! (And since I had a lot of dining points to use 🙂 ).
And last but not least, Five Minute Friday! We’re talking about swallowing pride and letting go of control. (p.s. that is a regular jacket hood, not a nun habit)
Have a fantastic weekend, friends! I can’t wait to talk with you guys more since school is over 🙂
So tell me:
Do you struggle with asking others for help/letting go of control?
Have you ever tried shakshuka?
What is your favorite way you moved this week?
What are you doing this weekend?
Daily Moves and Grooves 
Mm the grape leaves in your food pictures have me swooning! I love them! When you shoot your videos, do you just do it with an iPhone and then upload them to YouTube? How does it work?
I do it with my iPhone or Photo Booth on my Macbook and then upload straight to Youtube (I transfer it from my phone to my computer if I do it on my phone)!
Our weather is weird, too, but in a different way. It keeps flip-flopping from 60s to 80s and then back down. Kind of disconcerting, but I’d way rather it this way then yours! 😜
Haha, when you said the thing about it being an ordinary jacket, I thought you were talking about the sweatshirt you were wearing in the picture before the video, and I was like, “???? Has what a nuns habit looks like changed at all?” I kept looking at it, trying to figure it out, and that’s when I saw your hoodie in the video. 😄
Haha that’s funny! Hope the weather stabilizes where you are, Abbie!
Yep! Nailed it/me once again. I always have people telling me to loosen up (literally) bc I carry so much stress and tension in my head and neck. The body doesn’t lie that’s for sure. It’s so incredibly hard for me to relax but it’s reminders like these and the fact that God is ultimately in control that bring be peace. Like what’s going to happen if I just trust and let go?!🤔🤔 that’s where God takes over!!?
Anywhooooo, I CANNOT TAKE ONE MORE DAY OF RAIN AND COLD PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!!!!!! Ahhhhhh
And congrats to you and your bro! Have a great one pal 😘💗
It is SO hard to let go of control for people like us! Sometimes it seems like we’re challenging ourselves by staying in control, but the ultimate challenge is letting it go. Love you, girl!
Nutrients and soul food are some of the best foods for a busy week! 🙂 And, swallowing pride for me is SO HARD, but this passage often comes back to me when the Lord humbles me and gives me some loving discipline from His hands.
Hebrews 12: 6-13 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.’
Friend, I am SO happy for you that you are done with the first year!!! 🙂 I hope your rest is sweet and your summer LOVELY!
I am so amazed at your ability to reference Scripture, Emily. What a gift! Thank you for sharing 🙂
I’ve tried making my own version of shakshuka but haven’t tried anything legit! Always a yes to drippy, yolky poached eggs plus you can’t go wrong with feta.
I actually got into a little tiff with my mom over my stubbornness on not letting her help me so this really hits close to home this week. Over the past year, I’ve learned to be less controlling overall but I still struggle with letting others help me. In my mind, independent = strong and asking for help = weak; I need to remind myself that reaching out and knowing when you need others is the strongest & bravest thing there is.
Oh my goodness I would love to try making my own shakshuka. It seems like such a fun and easy dish!
And YES. I feel ya, Kaylee. Asking for help is one of the hardest things for me to do, but we need to remember that we cannot do it all. We’re social beings who need one another to get through life. Praying that all is well for you, girl ♥︎
Congrats on finishing off your sophomore year! So exciting 🙂 Fav way I moved this week was yoga! Also- what is up with all this rainy weather?! Not a fan at all! Have a great weekend Alison!
Thanks so much, Lyss! Mm I need to some yoga soon. Hope you’re having a great week, girl!
Congratulations on finishing another successful year of college! And may I just say that shakshuka gave me serious cravings….anyways, this is such a great post of delicious and healthy eats! I too have a very internal locus of control and put a lot of blame but also a lot of credit towards myself–it’s one extreme or the other. I’m trying to make a bit more external attributes without refusing to take responsibility of something when I need to. It just alleviates a lot of stress from myself and takes into consideration things I cannot control.
Thanks so much, Cassie! And yes, interesting that you tied this into locus of control. What you’re trying to work towards is great. I think I need to do the same!