-someone on this lovely site or maybe on insta (i think it was @rachaeldee ) posted this recipe a week or two ago and i finally got around to making it and YUMM wow i am content. Definitely gonna become a staple in my kitchen!

-also finally got around to going to a slow yoga class today after not practicing for MONTHS and I’m so glad i did. I’ve definitely lost flexibility- and a hip injury doesn’t help- but getting back into it should help.

✨ the last week has just been so insanely up and down in every way and i am just tiiiired.

✨ knee pain flared up big time last week, i had to take an extra rest day AND cut an easy shakeout run even shorter Bc i had a panic attack 2 miles in because I’m just so scared of this pain and the uncertainty that it comes with and Boston is now 8 weeks away and that’s scary.

✨ on the bright side, i killed the two quality runs of the week: a 6xmile 10k simulation workout on the track and a 17 mile long run on the course with a taste of the newton hills yesterday. But now the body is sore and tight and achey.

✨ heard back from 2 grad schools: 1 acceptance, 1 rejection. My anxiety is still through the roof regarding grad schools though Bc i applied to several different programs and I’m not sure what the best path for me to take is and all these deadlines & decisions are coming up way too fast.

Dealing with some ~horrible~ hamstring tightness today so I’m gonna reflect on the good from the last few days while stretching instead of spiraling!

I made ravioli for the first time ever a few days ago. Vegan butternut squash with a spinach and cashew cream filling. It was absolutely delicious. Added a bit of tomato sauce to the leftover cashew cream for a fantastic pink sauce. Definitely need a rolling pin or pasta machine for my next attempt to make the dough a bit thinner.

Went ice skating at frog pond w Alec on Friday when the weather was more beautiful than it’s been in a while. Spending carefree time in the city makes me feel so blessed to live here.

I am SO proud of how I’m really pushing myself to get at least one cross training day (which is always swimming) in considering i didn’t do anything first semester. Getting in the pool was easy, relearning how to breathe and do proper strokes and come up with workouts was harder. Been consistently doing ~1000m in 30 min, will probably up the time and distance in the coming weeks.

Also been doing really well with incorporating yoga and some gym workouts into my weekly routine. Just came back from the gym slightly unsatisfied, but that’s usually the case. Just gotta keep pushing myself! Yoga on Monday was great though, 10/10.

I’ve been experimenting with my oats toppings and although cinnamon sautéed apples have become a staple, i only recently tried sautéing/caramelizing my bananas and WOW what a game changer. Def doing that more often.

Classes are going so-so. A lot of math, which was to be expected, but still not appreciated. Work in the lab is definitely picking up though, which is great. And I’m actually doing well and understanding my biomechanics class, which is more than i could hope for!

Sorority recruitment is this weekend, so I’m spending all of tomorrow meal prepping before a valentines dinner I’m super excited for. Recruitment/meeting all the girls is always fun- it’s just always a struggle to stay physically 100% due to the long hours and stress. Hopefully staying on top of nutrition and workouts will help this year

Shoutout to Des Linden for inspiring me to always keep showing up and to get it done this morning. Also @ all my midwestern friends, idk how you’re surviving with temperatures way colder than what I’m dealing with here in Boston.

5 frosty miles to start the morning. The esplanade was definitely way less busy but i was certainly not alone. Thought I’d overheat during the first 2 wind-free miles, but was definitely wrong about that once the wind picked up for the rest of the run. Face, hands, and thighs, which were all covered in minimal layers, definitely got the worst of it. Now I’m enjoying my post run oats (old fashioned w flax meal, banana, cinnamon, chia seeds and almond milk & topped with more banana, frozen blueberries, almonds, and PB 😋) before a busy day of classes, lab, and meetings ahead.