Mixin' it up Monday

Some things I tried today on my quest to be more adventurous:

1. First Ever Fartlek Run.
I set my alarm for 5:30 and got out of the house around 6:30-started on my standard 3 mile loop. I am so tired of doing the same thing over and over and not getting particularly good at it, so today I tried to make it a little different than normal. I jogged the first mile to warm up, but for the rest of the run I alternated running fast (not quite a sprint) and jogging slow between each lamp post. It didn't feel too hard but it definitely had me huffing and puffing! It was a very satisfying workout---and I came home, showered, and ate breakfast all before 8am!

2. Sephora Makeup Consultation
I went in for some help with a simple, everyday look to wear in college. The actual consultation was a wonderful experience-it was very personal, lots of collaboration on what works best for my needs, she walked me through application techniques and now I look all pretty for the rest of the day! I should go be social or something before I have to take it all off. But oh my lordie-I didn't even purchase all the items she used on me (who really needs eyebrow color anyway) and just chose what I really wanted and she rang me up and all of a sudden I had just spent $185! So basically I left for a good 20 minutes, met up with my mom, told her the damage, and then marched right back in to return $95 worth of what I had just purchased. Lesson learned. I'm fine with splurging at Sephora for things like BB cream (which is a miracle in a tube) and eye shadow primer but I'll stick to Target for things like mascara and concealer. I feel a little dirty on the inside (some quality buyer's remorse right there) but the products I that I did end up with are worth it. So here's a couple pics of what I look like all done up, and what products I purchased!

I can't seem to smile straight or open both my eyes the same amount. And one cheek is pinker than the other. But man, do I feel good!

Samples on the left, purchases on the right. 

3. Vitality Bowls.

There's a place at the mall that sells Acai bowls, paninis, and smoothies. Here's their website: http://www.vitalitybowls.com. I had a 'Nutty Bowl' and it was delicious! It contained "Açaí, Banana, Strawberries, Peanut Butter, Soy Milk, & Apple Juice topped with Granola, Bananas, Almonds, & Honey". Little pricey-$10 for a small bowl (which actually filled me up for lunch) but then again, "healthy" food tends to sell for more. I would totally recommend this place-totally refreshing on a hot day!

My Nutty Bowl. Now we know why they're not called 'Pretty Bowls'.

Tonight I'm making paella! I'm really excited about that-last time I made some it was fantastic. And gone rather quickly. 

What are your favorite makeup routines/looks/products? Ever tried a Vitality Bowl? Ideas for other ways to make running more exciting? Does anyone even read my blog? 

Sunrise Run

I did it-I successfully woke up at 5:30 this morning, got my butt out of bed around 5:45, and was out the door at 6:30!

It was so worth it. The sun was just coming up over the hill and everything was so peaceful. I even ran without music for a while because I wanted to enjoy the serenity of the morning. I gotta say that despite my concerns, I felt completely safe; the people who were out (the very few of them) just seemed to be getting their morning walk in before heading off to work. It was surprisingly one of my better runs! I had a half of a banana and a spoonful of peanut butter (and of course a cup of water) before heading out and that combo gave me exactly the kind of energy I needed to power through a medium-long run.

I am by no means a morning person-communicating effectively and smiling seem to escape me before, say, 9am. But I love the benefits of getting up and working out early: my metabolism has been kickstarted for the day, I'm refreshed and ready to get down to work, and it always leaves me in a good mood.

And that's exactly what I'm thinking about trying to do for college. In an ideal world, I'd love to be at the gym at 6:30 in the morning during the week to get my workout in before heading to class. My time studying would be more productive, and I wouldn't feel like I had to stay up late. I read somewhere that the hours of sleep you get before midnight are significantly better quality than the ones you get after midnight.  So I wonder- how many college students would see an improved GPA and test scores if they went to bed an hour or two earlier but woke up earlier and used that time to get a head start on the day? And I'm not someone who can function on little sleep very well-so I guess it's a matter of 'strategic sleeping', if there were ever a thing. It's not very realistic, but we'll see if I can stick to my routine!

One thing I am concerned about is fueling my body. What's been happening lately is that I run in the morning and then am falling asleep around 4pm. I think I'm not eating quite enough and that I need to be eating foods that will give me more sustainable energy. I'll be pondering how to improve upon this over the next few days. Any advice?