Ciao, friends! I hope you are all having a fabulous day!
My day has been going pretty well, especially since the lovely Melissa nominated me for a Liebster Award!
Here’s how it works!
What is the Liebser Award, you’re wondering?
Basically, it’s an awesome way to discover up and coming blogs! Here’s a brief explanation of the award (taken from Melissa):
1. This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
2. The award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another.
3. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
4. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.
5. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.
6. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.
7. No tag backs (aka, don’t nominate the person who nominated you).
I’m super excited about this! Thanks, Melissa for the nomination!
11 Random Facts About Me
1. I love the game MASH. Does anyone else reminder that childhood game? I still play it with my friends sometimes for fun. It’s so silly but entertaining.
2. I always make a wish at 11:11. It’s silly, but hey, you never know 😉
3. I’m currently directing my first musical. And, fun fact, it’s the same musical that I had my acting debut in 😉
4. I’m obsessed with Disney World. But seriously, I could go there every year and never get tired of it. It’s really the most magical place 🙂
5.I’ve never broken a bone before even though I have had 3 concussions (spaz problems)
6.I have a list of names for my future children, and I update it all the time. Yep, I’m that girl.
7. I can’t wait to have a family. though I should probably work on getting a boyfriend first . ..
8. I am addicted to coffee. Seriously, I have to limit myself to two cups a day.
9. I am totally Type A and organized in all aspects of my life except for my room. When I’m super stressed, my room looks like a bomb went off. I like to think that it reflects my mental state haha.
10.I am named after both of my grandmothers. My name is Maureen Elizabeth, and Maureen means little Mary in Gaelic (Mary is one grandmother) and my other grandmother is Elizabeth
11. When I was little, I told everyone I wanted to be the first female priest. Because even as a child, I was annoyed at the sexism in the Catholic church 😉 haha
Melissa’s Questions
1. Peanut butter or chocolate? the combination of the two is my favorite in the world!
2. Where did you get your blog title? I wanted a title that would reflect my desire to break free from my eating disorder and find my way to a happy, healthy life and Breaking Free & Finding Me just came to me!
3. Have any nick names? Yep! Mo, MoMo & Reenie
4. Who is your blog idol? Andie from Can You Stay For Dinner!
5. Are you a jewelry person? If so, do you have a special piece that you wear every day/a lot? I love accessorizing! I wear either my silver or gold claddagh ring every day!
6. Describe your perfect candle scent. My favorite scent is either a vanilla or peppermint scent!
7. What was your favorite childhood birthday present? Definitely my first nail polish set. I’ve been addicted every since!
8. Would you rather be stuck in freezing cold or extreme heat forever? Extreme heat baby!
9. What’s your favorite social media right now – Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or something else? Facebook and Instagram!
10. Favorite holiday and why? CHRISTMAS! Duh, it’s the most wonderful time of the year 🙂 (St. Patrick’s Day is a close second though!)
11. What motivates you to blog? This blog is part of my active journey towards recovery, and it helps me get better every day. I’m also motivated by the comments I’ve received from people telling me how my blog has helped them! And that, is the greatest motivation of all 🙂
11 New Questions
1. What is your ideal day of eats?
2. What is your favorite type of exercise?
3. If you met a genie and was granted 3 wishes, what would they be?
4. What is your favorite season, and why?
5. What is your favorite television show?
6. Have you ever met a celebrity?
7. What is your favorite vacation spot?
8. If you could live in any time period in history, what would it be, and why?
9. Describe your first date/
10. if you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you bring with you?
Hi, friends! So I’m hopping on the Marvelous Monday bandwagon, as hosted by Katie. Any excuse to make Monday a little more special 😉
My Monday was actually marvelous for several reasons today….
I woke up early to make it to my favorite gym class.
My stomach felt weird this morning and I couldn’t decide what I wanted for breakfast. I wanted to keep it light before working out but I didn’t want toast and nut butter this morning (so strange for me!).
Breakfast: 6:30am
I finally decided on vanilla chobani with a banana sliced in a little cereal on top.
It was good, but my tummy was still all wonky…probably due to all the junk I put in it yesterday ;(
So, I decided to wait on the gym and do some work first (I was working from home because my office was closed this week).
Mid-morning, I started to get a little hungry, and my stomach was feeling better, which was marvelous 😉
I also came up with this marvelous recipe for a light frappuchino at home:
Espresso Light Frappuchino:
1/2 cup of ice
1/2 cup of strong, cold coffee
1 shot of espresso
1/2 cup of unsweetned vanilla almond milk
3 drops of nunnaturals stevia
Blend it all up and enjoy!
I had this and a sliced pear with almond butter for a snack!
Snack: 10:30am
uhm, yum! So marvelous 😉
Then, because it was so nice, and because my stomach was feeling better, I decided to skip the gym and do my workout outside! I did a JM video first then I headed out for a 3 mile run in my rocking shamrock pro-compression socks… Yea, I went outside like that… I know you’re jealous!
This was the first time I’d run outside in months, and it felt pretty darn marvelous!
After my run, I showered and headed off to job #2.
I ate my lunch on the road (it’s a skill)
Lunch: 2:30pm
My usual chicken, cheese and veggies!
After work, I met my mom out for dinner, and I was starving.
We went to this cute, Italian restaurant, and because I was so hungry, I had two pieces of bread when we sat down (rookie mistake haha).
But, my entree was this marvelous feast!
Dinner: 6:30pm
whole wheat penne in garlic and oil with grilled chicken, diced tomatoes, broccoli and spinach. It was delicious, but huge!
I ate the top half(with all the veggies!) and saved this portion for leftovers for the week.
Now my plan is relax with some tea, and a book.
Which reminds me, it’s time to vote for our book club!
Please comment on this post if you’d like to join our book club, it’s open to anyone and anyone can vote 🙂
Summaries from goodread.coms:
The Paris Wife:
A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wifecaptures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.
Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group—the fabled “Lost Generation”—that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.
Though deeply in love, the Hemingways are ill-prepared for the hard-drinking and fast-living life of Jazz Age Paris, which hardly values traditional notions of family and monogamy. Surrounded by beautiful women and competing egos, Ernest struggles to find the voice that will earn him a place in history, pouring all the richness and intensity of his life with Hadley and their circle of friends into the novel that will becomeThe Sun Also Rises. Hadley, meanwhile, strives to hold on to her sense of self as the demands of life with Ernest grow costly and her roles as wife, friend, and muse become more challenging. Despite their extraordinary bond, they eventually find themselves facing the ultimate crisis of their marriage—a deception that will lead to the unraveling of everything they’ve fought so hard for.
A heartbreaking portrayal of love and torn loyalty, The Paris Wife is all the more poignant because we know that, in the end, Hemingway wrote that he would rather have died than fallen in love with anyone but Hadley.
Safe Haven:
Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again.
When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.
But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven
Wuthering Heights:
Wuthering Heights is a wild, passionate story of the intense and almost demonic love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling adopted by Catherine’s father. After Mr Earnshaw’s death, Heathcliff is bullied and humiliated by Catherine’s brother Hindley and wrongly believing that his love for Catherine is not reciprocated, leaves Wuthering Heights, only to return years later as a wealthy and polished man. He proceeds to exact a terrible revenge for his former miseries. The action of the story is chaotic and unremittingly violent, but the accomplished handling of a complex structure, the evocative descriptions of the lonely moorland setting and the poetic grandeur of vision combine to make this unique novel a masterpiece of English literature.
Welcome to another Manicure Monday hosted by Melissa @ Freeing Imperfections 🙂 Click over to her site if you want to join in on the fun!
Also, make sure to check out her post today on a how-to for those manicure newbies out there 😉
For today’s manicure, I’m sharing with you a fun, springtime manicure.
In celebration of the gorgeous weather this weekend, I went for spring blue base and a fun, flowery design.
Remember, always start with buffing and a base coat!
I then applied two coats Essie Bikini-So-Teeny
I let it dry for a little then I designed a flower with my Kiss Nail Art polishes!
Go slowly, and it shouldn’t be too hard 😉
I ended with a top coat on everything!
In addition, I tested out a new product! Nicole Quick Dry drops, which you apply to nails after putting a top coat on. I loved it! It made my nails dry super fast!
Weekly Exercise Goals (Monday, March 11th- Sunday, March 18th):
This week I don’t have night class so my work schedule is a little more more flexible. I have two parades this upcoming weekend so I’m going to try to condense my workouts into 5 days instead of 6!
This week, I’m also starting a new challenge for myself. Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed that while I’m eating healthier overall, I want to incorporate more vegetables into my diet. I think the best way to do this might be to be to try and replace some of my fruit snacks with vegetables and see how that goes! I also want to make sure that at least two of my meals include a significant number of vegetables!
Questions:
What are you exercise goals for the week?
How do you incorporate more vegetables into your diet?
One of the most frustrating things for me on this journey towards recovery has been how much patience it requires. I have never been a patient person and I have wanted things done NOW. Recovering from my eating disorder, however, is not going to be a fast process and I’m just going to have to get used to that idea.
That’s easier said than done however, and I dealt with that realization today when I was faced with two other of my serious trigger situations: drinking and family parties. Today was one of the many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations my family partakes in and, as with all parties in my family, it revolves around food and alcohol. Since, I’ve been actively recovering from BED over the past 3 months or so, there haven’t been any huge family parties so I haven’t really had to deal with that trigger.
Because I knew today would be a trigger situation for me, I planned to get up early, get in a little workout and eat a healthy breakfast before going. Well, I forgot about daylight savings time, so the workout didn’t happen and I felt rushed and annoyed with myself this morning. When I got to my aunt’s house, it was mimosas and bagels time and I ate more than my share. After going to the parade for a bit, we came back to the house for more drinks and lunch. I didn’t keep drinking, but some reason, I just ate way more than I needed to. I just starting sampling everything, and before I knew it, I was horrendously full and had binged without even realizing it! I was so upset with myself, and as I was internally chastising myself, I looked down to see that I was still picking at my plate! What is wrong with me?! I had eaten appetizers, a sandwich, cookies, cupcakes, ect.
On the plus side, I did get to spend some time with my boyfriend though, so that was pretty great 😉
On my way home, I was supposed to meet my parents for dinner, but I knew I was way too full, and if I went, I would just order something unhealthy because “I’d already blown it,” so I declined my parents invitation and just went home.
Now, looking back on my actions, I’m trying to distinguish what caused me to binge today. I wasn’t particularly stressed or anything. And, now I’m thinking, that I really just might have been on autopilot. For the past few years, I’ve trained my body to think that family parties are a free for all, and I need to eat whatever I want and whatever I can get my hands on because I was restricting myself the rest of the time.
However, that’s no longer true. I’m not constantly restricting myself and I think I need to continually remind myself to be present when I eat. I know that when I sit down and concentration on my food, I’m so much less likely to binge and overeat, so it’s understandable how at family parties, ect, it’s so easy just to mindlessly shovel food into my mouth.
I’m disappointed with myself, because I know this binge could have been avoided if I had paid more attention to my body and my mindset today. But, I’m glad that I’m beginning to understand my triggers and keep things from getting completely worse. Normally, I would have gone out to dinner tonight and ordered something totally greasy and not at all what I wanted because it was a “bad food” and I’d already been bad.
So I guess I feel like I’ve taken 2 step forward and 1 step backwards in this battle. But, hey, I guess that’s better than 1 step forward, and two steps backwards, right?
I just have to keep reminding myself that I can beat this and I will beat this. But, man, I sure wish it was easier . . .
I hope your Saturday was lovely. I know mine was! And, it was filled with just a ton of my favorite eats!
After I had a nice workout at the gym, I came home and made myself a nice egg sandwich.
Lunch: 1:30pm
I toasted a bagel thin and topped it with egg whites, turkey and cheddar cheese. I also enjoyed a little of my mom’s homemade bread. mhmmm
I did some work then I headed to the mall for some major retail therapy. Let me tell you, my credit card is crying right now 😉
I sipped on a light espresso frapp. as I shopped. delish!
Snack: 4pm
Before I knew it, it was time to meet my friend for dinner!
We went to a great Japanese restaurant, and I bet you’ll never guess what I had…
Dinner: 7pm
First we shared an order of steamed gyoza. YUM!
Then, I had a spicy tuna roll with brown rice for dinner (shocker). It was delicious! I also tasted a few bites of my friends sesame chicken 😉
After dinner, we walked around chatting for a bit before we go to my favorite part of the night…FRO YO!
Dessert: 8:30pm
I had chocolate/peanut butter on one half and cake batter on the other topped with a little butter finger, a little Reeses and some whipped cream. so freaking good!
I’m home early for a saturday, but I plan to do some reading and get to bed early as I’m getting up early tomorrow for a fun parade 🙂
It’s a beautiful day outside and the sun is shining while I enjoy my delicious breakfast which I can’t wait to tell you about, and listen to this awesome song, which Taryn so kindly posted yesterday.
But, before I dive into my breakfast gloating, let me fill you in on the rest of my Friday, and what a glorious and relaxing day it was.
I spent the afternoon relaxing my brain cells by reading the latest edition of cosmo. It normally has litttle-to-no articles that apply to me as a totally single, totally non-nymphomaniac 22 year old, but this month’s issue was pretty good! There was even an article about the end of the “hook up” era which I think would be ah-mazing. I’m so ready for boys to grow up, but I digress.
Anyway, for dinner, I cooked up my buffalo chicken pizzabut with an added bonus! I read about putting egg on pizza on Monica’s blog, and although I was skeptical, I tried it out. I basically added an egg white patty layer before I added the sauce.
It was actually really good! You couldn’t really taste the egg, it just made the pizza denser and more fulling so two pieces was more than enough! And now, it can technically be breakfast! Bonus!! 🙂
Dinner: 5:45pm
After dinner, I caught up on last week’s Glee & Smash. My inner musical theater nerd was in heaven. Does anyone else watch Smash and feel like Ivy totally should be Marilyn?
A little while later, I whipped out a special desert for myself. About a week ago, Julie told me about Ben & Jerry’s Cannoli ice cream and I hadto try it.
Now was you may remember, one of my random facts about myself, is that I can rarely eat B & J’s without eating the entire pint. I said that lightly when posting the survey, but the truth is, that B&J’s used to be one of my biggest binge triggers and when I was hating myself, and wanting to binge I would start with B &J’s, so I haven’t had it in awhile, while I’ve been working on my recovery.
However, I could not get this ice cream out of my head, so I made the decision yesterday to apply my philosophy of not giving food power by getting a pint of B &J’s. I think this was important for me, because if I hadn’t, I would have just kept building up the “power” of this food in my head.
Dessert: 8pm
So, last night for dessert, I fixed myself a couple scoop of the delectable ice cream with whipped cream for dessert and put the pint away. I enjoyed the portion, and then the craziest thing happened…I was actually satisfied! It was great, and I was pretty proud of myself for doing something “normal” with a trigger food haha.
In more important news however, my verdict on the flavor was that, while fantastic, oatmeal cookie chunk, cinnamon bun, and red velvet are still my top 3! 😉
After doing nothing but relaxing and reading for another couple hours, I had a rice cake and some grapes before heading into bed.
Snack: 10pm
This morning though, I had a really delectable breakfast. I read about peanut butter cookie dough overnight oats on Julie’s blog, and I knew had to to try it. I usually am a big fan of greek yogurt in my overnight oats so I wasn’t sure how this turn out, but it was really delicious! I omitted the brown sugar and topped mine with frozen banana slices this morning and it was delicious!
Breakfast: 9am
I guess Julie has been really influencing my food choice’s lately haha.
Hope you are all having a great day! It’s a snowy wonderland here. Even if it’s March, I do have to admit that it is pretty….
I had a great workout today! I did Spin and a muscle circuit.
Afterwards I had an appointment so I tried a vega bar to hold me over.
Snack: 12pm:
I ran some errands and picked up some sushi at the grocery store for lunch. I can’t help it! I’ve been craving sushi like crazy lately!
Lunch: 2pm
Spicy Tuna Roll
So, while catching up in blogs today, I saw this post on Ashley’s Blog. I love surveys so I figured I would join in on the fun:
The rules of how it works:
List 11 random things about myself
Answer the 11 questions Ashley asked
Come up with 11 questions to ask other bloggers
Tag 11 other bloggers to do this next
11 Random Facts About Myself:
I secretly wish my life was like Glee and I could break out into song whenever I wanted to express my emotions
I have a tendency to quote lines from plays I’ve been in during ordinary life and people never get them. #theatergirlproblems
I always order a grande or venti at starbucks even when I only need a tall. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach/bladder
I find it almost physically impossible to not eat the whole pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream when I get one.
I hate it when my manicure chips, and as soon as it does, I start peeling it off and I have to redo my nails.
I’m really weird and I have rotating signature scents/perfumes for each season.
I can’t go into T.J. Maxx/Marshalls without buying something
I’m obsessed with Shakespeare and read his plays for fun.
I’m one of 21 first cousins. Big Irish families for the win!
I have a love/hate relationship with high heels. I’m short, so I love how I look in them, but they kill my feet!
My favorite outfit is a dress. I feel like nothing is much girly and flattering than a pretty dress 🙂
Here are my answers to Ashley’s questions:
1. If you could go on vacation tomorrow, where would you pick?
I would pick a tropical location! I am so over the cold.
2. Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate!
3. What is your favorite movie that you could watch over and over again?
10 Things I Hate About You
4. What is your biggest fear?
Not accomplishing all of my goals in life.
5. Are you an early person or always running late?
I’m always early. Being late is one of my pet peeves!
6. What is the last book you read?
Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts
7. What would you change about your life?
I would change my attitude about always having to be “perfect” and learn to let things be
8. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Happy, healthy, in a career I love, and in a serious relationship (hopefully!!)
9. What is your favorite candy?
My favorite candy is dark chocolate!
10. What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is grilled chicken and whole wheat pasta in a garlic reduction with fresh garlic, roasted broccoli and sundried tomatoes from my favorite Italian restaurant
11. What is your favorite muscle to strength train?
I love to hate to strength train my quads. I’m loving the definition I’m getting but it hurts so bad!
Now here are my questions for you all!
1. What is your dream job?
2. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
4. Are you a coffee or tea person?
5. Do you like group exercise classes or working out solo?
6. Are you a cardio or strength person?
7. What is your favorite book?
8. What is the last movie you saw in theaters?
9. How many times a week do you work out?
10. How many siblings do you have?
11. What is your favorite 90’s band?
Ok, so I’m tagging Melissa, Taryn, Leslee, Cai, Mallory, and Nicole in this, but I’d love to hear from all of you! Those of you who don’t have blogs, leave your answers in the comments section, and those that do, leave a link for me so I can check out your survey too!
If you would like to contact me privately with questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to email me at: maureenbreakingfree@gmail.com
Hello, Friends!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I'm Maureen, a 22 year old New York gal on a journey to break free from my eating disorder and disordered thinking and find my way to the healthy, happy me that I know is inside! Here you'll read about my journey, and my passions which include: food, fitness, theater, books and an eclectic mix of other goodies. I hope you like what you read :)
I am NOT a registered dietician, nutritionist, or medical doctor. All blog posts contain my own opinions, based on my personal experiences and knowledge.
Breaking Free & Finding Me 
