Okay…I’m not gonna lie.

I feel like a bit of a healthy living blogger failure.

I have been seriously, seriously lacking in motivation lately, both when it comes to working out and eating healthy.

I think that being so busy and stressed out has really taken a toll on my energy levels and desire to workout. It could have something to do with the change of seasons too, because all I want lately is comfort food.

The other night, after I got home from an all day recruiting event, I stood in front of the pantry with no creative inspiration or desire to cook. So instead, I rented some movies and decided to go for some take out.

Nothing but good old barbecue sounded good to me, so I did it up big.

BBQ chicken with onions and pickles, baked beans, potato salad and a huge piece of cornbread with honey butter.

If that isn’t comfort food, I don’t know what is.

I definitely enjoy eating like this sometimes, and I think that it’s important to treat ourselves once in a while. I’m a firm believer in the fact that no one should deprive themself!

That being said, I really do feel better and look better when I am more committed to healthy eating and exercising. I think that life calming down a little should help (recruiting is finally over, thank God!) and hopefully I have will more energy to workout.

So to kick off a week of sticking closer to my exercise routine, I went on an awesome run. And as I was running toward the beautiful Rocky Mountains, it occurred to me that I have never showed you guys where I fell in love with running!

So I’m going to take you on a virtual run with me. Ready?

First, we need to head out of the neighborhood down this huge hill. Trust me…running down it is way more enjoyable than running up on the way back. So enjoy this part!

Make sure to take some looks around as you run down the hill and toward the dirt road.

It’s pretty around here

Pretty soon, we’ll get to the dirt road, which is off limits to cars. I love that.

Pause when you get to the top of this next little hill to take a look at this view…

Then take a right!

Feel free to keep admiring the mountains. Just make sure you’re good at multitasking. I don’t want to have to cut our run short because you tripped and hurt yourself.

Good job! We’ve made it to the final stretch of the dirt road.

Feel free to say “what’s up” to the cows.

And before ya know it, we’ve made it to the fence!

If we turn around now, we will complete about 3 miles. But we can add 2-4 more by turning to the right…

…or to the left. But whatever we do, we’ve got to touch the fence! It’s bad luck if you don’t.

No wonder I love to run, huh?!

I am so spoiled by this gorgeous scenery.

And this awesome 5.5 mile run (I decided to turn to the right ) gave me the energy and motivation I needed to be a healthy college girl this week.

Tell me about your favorite run/workout spot! 

Is anyone else craving comfort food this time of year?! (ALL I WANT IS PUMPKIN BREAD AND COOKIES!!!)

Love you guys! xoxo

My dear, dear friends!!

Oh how I have missed you. I have not read (and obviously have not written) any blog posts in such a long time!

Life has not slowed down one bit, believe it or not. Between school, recruiting with accounting firms, and working, I am up to my nose in stress!!

Being stressed and busy like this makes me so nostalgic for summertime. I had tons of time to do anything I wanted. Like…

Laying out by the pool!

Planning and cooking delicious, healthy meals and trying new recipes.

Having the time to exercise at any time of the day (and do anything I wanted!)

Being with family.

Being with this boy that I miss terribly!!!

Sigh.

Isn’t summer glorious?!

But as much as I miss all of this stuff, I have to remind myself to adjust my attitude and look around at all of the stuff that I am thankful for right now.

I absolutely adore fall in Colorado! I’m loving…

All things pumpkin!

Pumpkin black bean soup!

 Courtesy of Courtney’s blog!

pumpkin bread the "naughty way"...no healthy substitutions here, people!

pumpkin pie for breakfast

pumpkin spice lattes

The gorgeous, changing leaves.

The cool, crisp air and bright sun.

Fun fall decorations.

Warm, comforting meals.

Another picture of the pumpkin black bean soup…you guys MUST make this meal. This soup was amazing and we made grilled cheese with rye bread and jarslberg cheese to go with. To. Die. For.

The drawing near of the holidays!

(source, source and source)

Sometimes, I just need to adjust my attitude and get a little perspective. I think too often I spend my time wishing I was in a different place or a different time of life. I end up missing out on all of the wonderful things that I should be enjoying right now!

That being said…there is one thing that I miss about summer that I forgot to mention…

I MISS YOU GUYS!!!!!! All of my wonderful blogger friends, readers, commenters…I miss talking with you and reading your blogs and comments more than you know. I miss reading about your lives and getting new tips for meals and workouts. I hate that blogging has had to take backseat to school and work and internship hunting. I hope that in the next few weeks, life will slow down and I will be able to catch up with you all once again. Just know that I am still here and thinking about you daily! I hope you are doing well!

Love you guys!!

Tell me something you miss about summer…and something you’re LOVING about fall!

One of the accounting firms that I am interviewing with for an internship next summer is taking me and one other recruit from CSU to the Pepsi Center tonight to see Keith Urban and Jake Owens!!

They have a suite at the Pepsi Center and are going to reimburse us for parking when we get there.

This makes all of the hard work, late nights, stressed out weeks, [and the tears over failed tests] well worth it

Be back soon with an update!! Love you guys!!

Oh. My. Goodness.

This past week has seriously been one of the busiest of my LIFE!

I’m so sorry I’ve been MIA. Time for some updates!!

First of all, were you guys as surprised as my boyfriend was about my weekend visit to Chicago?! It was so wonderful to be able to surprise him with a visit. Showing up at his apartment unannounced and seeing the shocked look on his face was seriously the best feeling ever. We had such an amazing weekend together filled with lots of relaxing and good food. Unfortunately, I realized I left my camera card there so I can’t show you any pictures from the weekend But hopefully I will get it back soon!

One thing that I learned this week was the importance of accepting bad news along with good news.

Let’s start with the bad news, shall we?

I had an accounting exam on Tuesday shortly after I arrived home from Chicago. Since I didn’t do much studying over break, I wasn’t expecting to do fabulously on the exam, but I wasn’t too worried.

Well…upon receiving my grade on Thursday, I learned that I should have been more worried. Guess what I got?

(source)

You guys! I FAILED!!!

I was seriously completely shocked and devastated. I have always been an A student and have seriously never failed an exam in my life. This was a major, major blow to my confidence, especially since I am still adjusting to my recent transfer. As soon as I received this score, a million negative thoughts came racing into my head.

I shouldn’t be an accounting major.

I am going to FAIL this class!

I am NEVER going to find a job!!!!!!!!

Luckily…some good news came shortly after.

I interviewed for a summer internship with two different accounting firms this week, and just got the news that I have been invited back for second round interviews.

This news came as such a relief for me and was such a confidence booster. I realized that I really need to put little things like this into perspective.

So I failed a test. Oh well! All that means is that I have to study harder and be more proactive about asking for help when I don’t understand things. Everything will even out and I am positive that I can bounce back from this.

SOOO this is why I haven’t been posting this week…I’ve been a bit preoccupied stressing about my future

But I plan to post again this weekend with something more fun and lively. After all, this blog isn’t called Stressed Out College Girl.

THANK GOODNESS!!

Tell me about something GOOD that happened to you this week!

Have you ever surprised your significant other with a trip to see them?!

Ever failed a test??? (maybe lie and say you have even if you haven’t…just to make me feel better! )

On Friday night, I caught a plane into Chicago to surprise my awesome boyfriend for our two year anniversary.

He was pretty surprised [and thrilled] to say the least

It’s been an INCREDIBLE weekend! Be back soon with details!

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!