Woman Crush Wednesday: cleanbodyfreshstart

So lately I have been struggling to get down my road to becoming a vegan. I believe it is mostly as a result of being a college kid who still lives in the dorms. I've been really upset with the situation and I will continue to try to work around it, but I always get this uncomfortable feeling when eating anything with an animal by product.

But in my moments of weakness and sadness, I know know where to turn to. Rosie is my God and cleanbodyfreshstart is the Bible.

http://cleanbodyfreshstart.tumblr.com/tagged/myface

http://cleanbodyfreshstart.tumblr.com/tagged/myface

I first got a glimpse of her insight when I came across her Tumblr over a year ago, since then it has been the blog I have visited the most. I also followed her on Instagram.

Why you she adore her?
For those of you that don't know Rosie, a beautiful Aussie vegan following the 80/10/10 diet (80 percent carbs, 10 percent fats, and 10 percent protein) She is always exploring and advocating the benefits of a high-carb vegan lifestyle. She so often dedicates her time to answering people questions and inquires about her lifestyle. Not only is she a great role model for for every vegan and vegetarian, but also she is incredible independent and compassionate spirit. She is truly in touch with the Earth and is in touch with her own soul and focuses on the positive simplicities in life rather than dwelling on the dark moments of the past. She is a skilled yogi and has learned the ways of truly listening to the body and giving it what it needs. Although no one is perfect and is always fighting their own battles, Rosie always has a beautiful outlook and perspective on life. Everyone regardless of age can learn a little something from this wonderful Aussie.

http://cleanbodyfreshstart.tumblr.com/tagged/myface

Check out her blog! cleanbodyfreshstart.tumblr.com

OR her Instagram: cleanbodyfreshstart

Why you should drink Peppermint Tea

As it may say in my about, tea is my favorite beverage! I don't think I have ever had a tea I have not liked. It is funny because when I first started drinking tea early in high school, I did not particular care for it. But I drank green tea for the health benefits and before I knew it, tea and I's relationship blossomed into something of quite a treasure. Now here I am, years later with a collection of tea ranging from lemon-ginger, to green, to chai. Even Your Tea's Tiny Tea! While green tea has always been thee staple to the my collection, I'm starting to integrate more peppermint tea, a tea that is frequently overlooked but quite incredible.

Early today my stomach was grumbly and my digestion seemed to be off. I was just having a lot of discomfort in my stomach. While I generally drink my green tea, I knew what I needed to do, swap out green for peppermint.

//Peppermint tea is known for its aid to stomach issues. Helps dismiss stomach aches, helps eliminate bowels issues such as diarrhea and constipation. Skip the pepto and drink some herbal tea!

//On that note, it helps with with overall digestion. Feeling gassy? Drink some tea. Stomach pains? Drink some tea. The peppermint tea helps move through the intestines in a peaceful, non-irritating manner. 

//Then on that note, it helps debloat! Who does not love that? 

//It helps with cold and congestion. It is a natural decongestant! 

//It can suppress hunger to aid weight loss.

//Boosts immune system. Plenty of calcium, vitamin B, and potassium.

//Reduces stress, anxiety, and aids sleep as a result of the aromatherapy and the ingredients listed above, peppermint is also a nature muscle relaxant

//Peppermint has been proven to enhance memory. New study drink?

//Can help fight skin damage caused by radiation. Please still wear sunscreen...

//Can increase levels of estrogen to improve skin. So maybe add a peppermint tea to your skin routine!

//Better breath of course!

Peppermint tea is incredibly therapeutic. Definitely a great staple to holistic living and natural medicine. Always satisfies the soul and the body!

-Shannon

One simple step to achieving happiness

Last week I was very flustered with my life. I started to think about internships, resumes, studying abroad, finding a job, my classes, and relationships. It was too much. I had no motivation and felt nearly empty and drained. It was an incredibly oppressing feeling. The anxiety was about to reinstate itself, and that thought all on its own was terrifying.

But over these last couple of days, I really started to focus on myself again, reevaluate, and create some goals and push myself in a positive direction. Not goals of what I need to do with my life... but goals of who I want to become. My ultimate goal is simple: to be the most understanding and compassionate person I can be. Then I have other goals that will help advance me to that peaceful and happy state. With that said, I have found some inner peace and have began to focus on the small things and live in the now rather than focus on the big picture. A concept that is quite simple, but easily forgotten. Now, I have had some time to really focus on myself, get in touch with my spirit again, and set my priorities straight of what would really bring me happiness. 

“The best thing you’ve ever done for me
is to help me take my life less seriously.
It’s only life after all.”

—  Closer to Fine- Indigo Girls.

So as a result, over the last day or so I got a rush a gratitude and thought it would be a splendid idea to share some of the simple joys that I have been blessed to experience everyday!

1. Any cup of tea that I happen to make. Never fails to satisfy the soul and body.

2. Riding my bike to class being able to feel the crisp air in my lungs, witness the change of colors, and inhaling the smell of changing seasons.

3. The satisfaction of getting up early in the morning and setting the tone for the rest of the day.

4. The internet. Okay I know that sounds pathetic. But I have been reading and discovering more about a vegan diet and follow some pretty inspiring people on Tumblr. The key is to limit that time spent.

5. Texts from my mom who is currently traveling in Ireland.

6. Classic rock. It feeds my soul when nothing else can.

 What are you grateful for?

-Shannon

Review of "Duolingo"

Hey everyone! I know a decent amount of people are already familiar with this app, but I recently discovered it and my mind was blown! So the app is called Duolingo. Essentially it is an app that teaches you a new language. So for example, I chose German and French. Naturally, anything that teaches you a a new language that is not a class, seems skeptical, but I learned many basics of the language in one day! The app tracks your progress and gives you a certain amount of work to do everyday based on the level of intensity you choose to learn the language on. They keep track of your "streaks". So in other words, how many days you religious practice the program. Some of the languages you can learn are: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish, and Danish. Plus they keep adding new languages with software updates.

When I first started using this app, I thought "yeah it's pretty cool now", but how much is a FREE, that is right FREE, app going to teach you? That's when I discovered these grey charts. Each bubble is a new topic, and within each bubble is anywhere from 1 to 10 lessons. (By the way, there is another page of lessons, I unfortunately deleted it.) However I took a moment to add up every lesson in the German language and it came to a grad total of... 403! Would you believe that an app could offer you 403 lessons of a language free? (Sorry for poor quality photos, enlarging screenshots here... risky business)

 

 

      

 

 

Of course you start at one bubble and work your way up through rest. For each lesson you get four "hearts". So if you get a question wrong it takes a heart away. If all your hearts get taken away, then you have to start the lesson over and are kept from advancing to the next level.

Guys. This app is the real deal! It's easy and effective, and a pretty awesome app to have when you feel like chillin' yet want to do something with your life.
 Definitely worth the download.

Some Fall Adventures

Hey Guys!
I am really going to reiterate that I've been slackin' on this blog, which I still have a deep affection for. SO PLEASE DON"T GIVE UP ON ME. Also I have not quite met my goal of posting twice a week... well good thing there are still two more weeks left in October!
So where I go to school, no season can beat the beauty of fall. It is honestly the best, and if I have not made myself clear in my previous post, I LOVE FALL. I have been enjoying every aspect of nature, as I always do. So with the beauty of nature at the tips on my fingers that calls for some adventures!

 I took this picture up at my friends cabin in September. The yard was full of mushrooms and moss. This is probably one of my favorite pictures that I have ever taken.

 Here is my Joe, us adventuring down into a valley after fetching some Taco Bell.

Then one weekend my brother and his boyfriend came to visit, and we went to a natural landmark near my college with my boyfriend.

 Probably my favorite picture from the trip ^

 a family picture.

 Later I went on a build (we build houses)  for a club I am a member of with my friend. Unfortunately the safety glasses wouldn't stay on with my glasses...

 Then as I was biking to a meeting and was passing by one of the oldest building on campus and could not resist a picture.

Then this past week my boyfriend and I went on an adventure down a nature trail, wondered off of it a bit,  and it was incredibly beautiful.

 

 Being a goon.

 Hope you have been having just as wonderful of a season as I have been having!  I am excited for more to come.
-Shannon

Ahh yes! October, my single most favorite month out of the 12. The leaves, the rain, the chilly weather. Everything about it. However, as much as I love this season, I won't lie, I have been riding the struggle bus way too much lately. I have been very unmotivated and have been taking way too many naps. With that said, I must make some goals!

1. No more naps// pretty self explanatory. 

2. Finish a book// I have so many great books started! I'm really into Cyndi Lauper's memoir, and Stephen King's 11/22/63. As good at AHS and The Walking Dead are, I need to exercise my brain a bit.

3. Find a job// This one is probably thee ultimate goal. College is expensive and I like to treat myself more frequently than I should. Let's just say my funds are running low.

4. HIIT & lifitng// I have goals for my body. I'll either lift or do HIIT, I need to do both of them together to get better results. I'm just a tad lazy.

5. Get above a 90% on a French test// I could be doing better in French. It is very fast-paced, but if I plan to be fluent as possible, I need to study a bit more. 

6. Finish all homework before Sundays// It would literally be a miracle if I finished all my homework before Sunday. My weekends would be so much more enjoyable if I did not procrastinate. 

7. Limit dairy// I hope to give it up by the end of the holidays, but I should only allow myself it once a day or every other day. One more step to being vegan. 

7. Write two blog posts a week// And She Was has been neglected. MUST STAY MOTIVATED.

8. Go to bed by 11// Sleep is so underestimated. I need to get at least eight hours of ZzZzs.

Quite a few goals, but I need to get myself back on track. It is not even on option. It's only October! Best of luck to me!