Happy Friday, all! Did this week fly by or what?
Well, you’re in luck. Instead of regularly scheduled programming, where I talk about things I see, do and eat, you get to hear me talk about myself. Aren’t you excited? Big thanks to Anne for nominating me for the Liebster award! I love talking about myself so you made my day (Disclaimer: this writer is not responsible for any and all oblivion to sarcasm).
1. If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- Hmmmm…this is tricky. Can I say pizza, because I could then add tons of veggies one day, bbq chicken another, and arugula the next? Or is that cheating?
2. If you could lunch with any 3 ladies– alive or dead– who would they be?
- Giada DeLaurentis, Ree Drummund, and Katy Perry. I have a note in my phone that says “Career aspirations: Be The Pioneer Woman.” True Story. I’m kinda going through a phase…
3. What inspired you to begin blogging?
- I fell in love with food blogs my junior year of college while I was bored at an internship and needed to fill the hours sitting at a computer. I was instantly hooked and knew that once I graduated I wanted to create my own. My first favorites were Kath Eats Real Food, PB Fingers, Sweet Tooth Sweet Life and Hungry Runner Girl. I couldn’t believe you could write about food and fitness all day and call it a hobby.
4. What was your biggest accomplishment of 2014?
- I got started on my path to having a career in health and fitness! It was tough making the decision to not directly use my degree anymore, especially with how expensive college was. But after a year in public relations I just knew there was something else out there for me that I was truly passionate about, and the second after I ripped off the bandaid, so to speak, my world opened up and I couldn’t be more excited.
5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
- I change my mind on this every other day. Currently, I would love to live in Los Angeles (and it only has a little to do with the fact that it’s 20 degrees here). I don’t think I want to live there permanently, but I’d love to spend a year or two there. I have this dream in the back of my mind that I move out there by myself, work at lululemon in Santa Monica, run along the beach, hike on the weekends, eat tons of avocados and fish tacos, and finally get a year-round tan on this pale, pale skin of mine. It’ll be my solitary year of sunshine and happiness.
6. Favorite song at the moment?
- Another toughie. But Spotify doesn’t lie, and the song I’ve been playing the most recently is:
7. Chocolate or vanilla?
- As much as I love chocolate, when it comes flavored things (cake, ice cream, pudding, milkshakes) it’s definitely vanilla. Chocolate-flavored stuff just never tastes right to me. But give me a vanilla malt and goodness gracious, life is over.
8. What was the best restaurant you visited in 2014?
- My favorite restaurant was actually back in the beginning of 2014 when I visited Boston. JM Curley — they had the best pulled pork sandwich I’ve ever had and I still sometimes have dreams about it.
9. If you could relive any moment in your life, which would you choose?
- Weird question! I’d have to say, the first semester of college. Is that a moment? Haha. I had never experienced anything like it. I was on my own for the first time, I didn’t know anyone in my dorm, and I just loved that new, exciting feeling. I met my best friends that semester and joined a sorority, which was a ball.
10. How did you come up with your blog name?
- I explain this in my About Me section but here it goes: I was extremely close to my grandma. She lived with us on and off for five or six years throughout my life, so she was very influential for me. She was such a gentle, kind-hearted, quiet woman. Every night at dinner, we would always ask her if she wanted seconds, and she would always say, “No, I had a big lunch.” I mean, she responded this way at least three or four times a week, as if we hadn’t heard it before. It became a running joke in our family. When I was trying to name this blog I kept thinking “Peanut butter-this, healthy-that” and it was all just generic. The idea popped up and the minute I thought of it, that was it. I feel like I fell into the most perfect blog title, as it not only embodies me (most of my meals are pretty big haha) but it pays homage to a woman who meant so much to me growing up.
11. Blog goals for 2015?
- I’m going to make this a much more running-focused blog. I’ve always been “a little bit of this” “a little bit of that” in terms of fitness, and while I think that variety is fun to read about, it’s really important to me that I dedicate myself to running this year and share my journey with you. As you know I’m going to be running my first marathon in October, so I have lots of work to do and lots of first-time experiences to share. I want to do it all as healthy as possible, so it’s important I focus on that throughout 2015. I’d also love to continue to do blogger meet-ups and become a more active member of the Chicago blogging community.
I’m not going to nominate anyone in particular, but I’d love to here your responses to one of the questions above!
i had a big lunch 
I would love to live in LA – actually it is David and I’s aim to live in the states and soon hopefully! Just see what opportunities come up with his job – I should be able to run my health coaching business (once I graduate) anywhere! 🙂
That would be amazing! Running a health coaching business would be perfect there haha. Otherwise CHICAGO is a good choice of course 😉
I will always love the story about how your blog got its name. It is so cute. And mmmm that sandwich. I don’t think that I could do lunch with your 3 ladies–I used to love Giada, but the fact that she says “and that is why I love it” after every single darn thing drives me nuts now. Katy Perry would be interesting–I wanna know just how much of a loony she really is.
You know that I am still so proud of you for following your intuition last year. I know that it was hard, but look at you now, and how happy you are!
Haha Katy is a loon but she seems like she’d be so much fun — and Giada can be as annoying as she wants (aka switching into a fake Italian accent every ten seconds) but she’s on the Today show a lot lately and her food always looks mouth-watering. So as long as she was making the lunch I suppose 🙂
Love that story about your blog name! I also agree with your pizza strategy- that could totally work.
What sorority did you join?
I was a Pi Phi! Were you Greek? And glad to hear there is support for my pizza plan 🙂
Yep- I was a Phi Mu!
I love the Pioneer Woman, especially her blog! I’m not huge into watching Food Network shows, but her style of writing is hilarious, and of course, her photography’s amazing.
And reading it always makes me want to go live on a ranch in the middle of nowhere…until I remember that she has to drive an hour to get to the grocery store 😉
Yeah she spends a crazy amount of time in her car…..haha. I couldn’t live in that much isolation but I imagine having Food Network camera crews over ten hours a day would take away from that isolation haha
If I could eat only one pizza for the rest of my life, it would be pizza as well. It’s so versatile, so I’m sure it probably is cheating on some level, but this face does not care. I just want pizza!
Exactly! If I’m going to eat ONE thing for the rest of my life, it has to be as versatile as possible.
I love how you got your blogs name and that picture of you and your grandma is so adorable. I would have lunch with Rachel Ray I just love her and she inspires me.
Rachel Ray is another good one! Anyone who can cook and will talk about food with me 🙂
I loved hearing about how you came up with the name for your blog- that’s great!
I also remember reading those blogs early on and thinking how great it was that people could make a website where they just talk about food and running all the time. It took me a while to get the courage to start my own blog but I’m so glad I did.
Same! It took a lot of courage to be a “blogger” because, unless you have a blog yourself, there are a lot of judgments about it. But it’s such a good forum to talk about/read about all the things that we love! It’s my favorite thing to do besides actually work out and eat 🙂
Well many people say I do look like Katy Perry (not me – I swear) – so after lasts weeks brunch you can cross that one of the list haha 🙂 Happy Friday!
You single-handedly made my dreams come true! Thanks you 😉
My brother in law’s family lives in Santa Monica and I always love to go and visit them. The weather is great! We are actually headed out there at the end of February. Yay!
Congrats on running a marathon in October. I still dont think it’s something that I want to do in life. I am more than content with my halves 🙂
So…….what would I have to do to sneak myself into your suitcase?
Yeah I never thought I’d want to run the marathon but I’m trying to challenge myself this year past my preconceived ideas of what I’m capable of. Let’s just say it should be interesting 😉
If I could pick a moment of my life to relive: when I worked at summer camp, one Friday night after camp had ended for the week, five other counselors and I went to a lake that one of the counselors lived on. It was the most picture perfect night — not a cloud in the sky, perfect temperature, not hot or humid at all — and we just cruised around the lake and had the most amazing time. I remember sitting in the boat thinking, “This is the happiest I’ve ever been,” and I still kind of feel that way about that moment. Definitely one of my most treasured memories!
Those moments are the best. You sit there and you’re completely present, and it makes you realize how insane and beautiful life is. The way you described that truly sounds like a magical moment
I applaud your choice in food! Pizza all day, every day!!!
And the story of how you named your blog is adorable ❤ I love it!
No contest 😉
i’d live in Cali, out of all the places i’ve been…if i didn’t live exactly where i do live, in NYC. i love it so much. 🙂
Well it’s good that you love where you live! I really do too. I just wonder what it’d be to live in a place where weather didn’t affect your day — where it wasn’t a regular topic of conversation haha
I bet you are pretty excited about the half time show at the superbowl. I agree. ..pizza would be my favorite as well. Because like you said you can always change the toppings so you are getting variety there:)
Um heck yes I’m excited! I can’t wait to see my girl KP for halftime! She’s the best.
Pizza for sure and lunch with Katy Perry would be fun for sure! Don’t tell anyone I said that 🙂
No judgment here! She’s my girl!! 🙂
I love The Pioneer Women too! I watch her show every Saturday practically!
Isn’t she the sweetest thing? And her food always looks amazing!
Ohhh baby, pizza for me, too!! I love it!!! Food blogs are the best, right?!! Gosh, I just love food so much! I’d love to live in LA, too!! Hey, let’s move there together for a year! Yay! That pic of you in college…eeeek!!! You sexy lady! You and your grandma?? Come on, there’s no picture cuter in the entire world like ever! 🙂 The story of your blog name…priceless!! Perfect story! So cool! Can’t wait to read about your training, too!! Can’t wait! Have a fab weekend! XOXO
Sounds like a plan! Your husband won’t mind, right? haha 🙂
Nope!! Hehe! 🙂
I love the reason for your blog name! Mine stems from my job, I work at a place called Collegetown Bagels and my title is “Sandwich Artist”. Ellie Slices Bagels seemed like a great fit!
I LOVE BAGELS — I’m insanely jealous of your job right now.
Pizza is definitely not cheating. I think I might try this new recipe I found for plantain crust pizza this weekend! Hahaha, Ree Drummond! I remember when she came to our local Walmart this past year for a book signing event for her cookbook. Since she lives in Oklahoma (I live in Arkansas) she is pretty much a local celebrity around here to many people. The Walmart was PACKED to say the least.
I’m also very vanilla myself. I love dark chocolate but…most things I stick with the vanilla. If you haven’t tried Molina vanilla extract, you must! It’s usually in the Hispanic food section of our grocery stores. It’s far better than other vanilla extracts you buy at stores.
And can I move with you if you’re moving ANYWHERE warm, near the beach, where you eat avocados and fish tacos all day?….Take me there.
Thank you so much for telling me about that vanilla! I’m going to search it out next time I’m at the store! And I’m not surprised the Walmart was packed…she definitely seems like a bonafide celebrity these days haha
The story about how your blog got it’s name is so sweet! What a beautiful way to honor your Grandma.
I am a chocolate girl but I am on team Pizza all the way!
Team pizza is always a good team to be on!
Loved reading this post! I’m slightly obsessed with the PW…I have two out of her three cookbooks and am ready for her to make another one! Happy weekend 🙂
I should definitely invest in one of her cookbooks! Her stuff always looks awesome.
Great post! These are always fun to read. I read your About Me section the other day and love how you came up with your blog name. Such a cute story!
Aren’t these kind of surveys the best? I love learning about everyone!
You’re too cute, love these posts!
Same! I love learning about everyone.
KERF was the first blog I ever read and I was hooked. Still love blogging and reading blogs 🙂
KERF has a way of hooking ya 😉