the talk :: baltimore love & hate.

image via google

It's been a crazy week here. I had a meeting from 9 AM to 5 PM yesterday. But on the plus side, I got to celebrate a friend's birthday by eavesdropping on the John Legend concert at Pier Six. That is one thing I love about Baltimore. You can just sit across from the pavilion on the dock, watch the boats, and hear the show for free! I plan on seeing many more of my favorite (too expensive to pay) shows from that view. Plus, you can bring your own wine. I call that a win. If you have a boat, even better!

Baltimore is not a city I would have originally chosen to work in. In fact, for many years I didn't even apply for jobs in the city. Cities are not usually my thing... I grew up in country farmland and enjoy having enough space to park all the time. But I gave B-more a chance when I got my current job through a friend. To be honest, I still dislike most of it. I hate the lack of parking and having to pay to park. I hate how congested it gets at rush hour. I hate the amount of crime (yes, all cities have crime, but Baltimore is bad). I hate that there are so many run-down sections of town.

But here is what I love. Concerts, First Thursdays, so many great restaurants, tons of young professionals like myself, Patterson Bowling (it's BYOB!), the BSO, sitting by the water, fun bars, good coffee, summer O's games, the history of the city, etc. As someone who started off hating the idea of working here, I don't mind it so much anymore. I still don't think I could live here, but I can definitely exist. :)

the talk :: another year.

Today, I’ve got nothing rolling around in this brain of mine except that this is the last day of my 27-year-old life. AGHHHH. Seriously, I remember turning 25 and wishing I could stop aging! I called it my quarter life crisis. I love my twenties with all my heart. I hope to carry the mentality of my twenties into my thirties. But I know at some point, I will no longer be considered “young.” And that stresses me out.

I feel lucky to know a lot of women who are not young by age, but still live their lives with so much fun and friendship. That’s all I can hope for, really. I want to keep my amazing friends and continue to have a good time. I know that things will change and become different than they are now. I don’t know what is in store for me – trust me, it’s a complete mystery. I haven’t even settled into a job I’m happy with yet, much less the rest of my life. But as Bob Dylan said, “the times, they are a-changin’”.

I know these times I speak of are wayyyy down the road, and I’m only turning 28 tomorrow. There’s nothing to freak out over just yet. But as each year passes (quickly, I might add), I am trying to account for each day and be able to look back on my previous years as good times. I don’t want to waste them. The bigger part of this is being a single woman… it’s a wonderful, often downplayed thing. While there’s nothing going on in that department right now, I know that one day I won’t be able to call myself single anymore. Even though my life will take on something exciting and awesome, I will miss the single days of doing everything on my terms and being completely selfish. :) I enjoy scheduling my time however I want and not having to ask anyone for their opinion unless I want it. I am fiercely independent, and I might have a hard time letting go of that. But until that part of me is gone, I will continue to embrace it.

So here’s to another year, more adventures, less sadness & more happiness, finding joy in the little things, and memories with the great people in my life. I’m (almost) ready for you, 28.

the talk :: 28 for 28

Warning: this is a birthday post. I don't turn 28 until July 9, but I've been doing some deep thinking about some things I'd like to be proactive about in the upcoming year. So here is my list of 28 things to do while I'm 28.

28 in 28

1. Travel outside the country. (I haven't done that in years).

2. Visit a friend or relative who moved away. (Basically, my friend Emily and my brother.)

3. Find a job I'm passionate about that makes me happy.

4. Try something outdoorsy that I normally wouldn't.

5. Host and cook a dinner for friends.

6. Volunteer somewhere.

7. Give blood, even though I'm terrified of it. (My dad has done it 34985947 times.)

8. Donate to one new charity.

9. Write music again.

10. Live the dream of starting a cover band with Bob & Brooke.

11. Make my own popsicles.

12. Rearrange and redecorate my space. (Not Myspace... my bedroom. This isn't 1999.)

13. Stop biting my nails once and for all.

14. Learn a new instrument.

15. Go to the aquarium. (So expensive, but I love marine life.)

16. Make paying off loans a priority.

17. Spend more time with my sister.

18. Buy a plant and keep it alive for more than a month.

19. Try new food and drinks at restaurants.

20. Get a pet. (Okay, I don't have real control over this one since I'm renting from Laura. But maybe this will be the year I convince her to get a dog!)

21. Get a gel manicure. (Dumb and I feel like it won't last on my guitar playing fingers, but I should try.)

22. Encourage my co-workers.

23. Go out to a fancy dinner just for the heck of it. (Melting Pot probably, since I still haven't been.)

24. Mail surprise notes to friends.

25. Read more books, watch less TV.

26. Remind myself daily that perfection is not a requirement for a full life.

27. Pay for someone's drive thru meal.

28. Enjoy the best moments, embrace my mistakes, and learn some lessons.

the talk :: where you go we'll follow!

As you may have heard, the USMNT has advanced past the "group of death" to face Belgium today in their Round of 16. It's crazy that we've made it this far, but this is what happens when you don't give up and you keep fighting! Going to watch the matches among the crowds of serious supporters has been so fun. Here are some shots from the last match (vs Germany) with our chapter of American Outlaws (AO Annapolis, at Union Jacks).

Jon leading chants!

Jeff is my most patriotic friend. haha

we always wear our wigs! (and people always ask if that's my real hair...)

Even if you're not passionate about soccer or sports in general, the World Cup only happens every four years, so you might as well join in and support! :) If you're in the Annapolis, MD area, head over to Union Jacks for the insanity (I'm not kidding, it's complete chaos... get there early). Here's hoping for another win against a tough team and celebrating our success so far!

We love ya! We love ya! We love ya!

And where you go we'll follow, we'll follow, we'll follow

'Cause we support the US! The US! The US!

And that's the way we like it! We like it! We like it!

the talk :: currently

Lately, this song is all I've been listening to in my car:

Don't hate, I love it.

In other news... a lot is happening around here this week. World Cup events + doctors appointments + girl's night + job interview + concert + birthdays + BUSY. But it makes for a good life, though no room for any more insanity. But I do need a haircut... maybe I can squeeze one more thing in :) Here are the best parts of right now:

+ celebrating my teacher friends reaching the end of the school year with sangria-swirled margaritas
+ finally purchasing a big barrel curling wand so my long hair can get right
+ buying friends legit birthday gifts that I know they will love
+ losing brain cells over The Bachelorette with girlfriends
+ plans to start a 90's cover band with Brooke (we're not kidding)
+ popsicles all day, every day
+ USA soccer... come on you Yanks! (Thursday, vs Germany!!)
+ going to the dentist and discovering I don't need another root canal
+ windows-open weather
+ my nails are longer than I've ever had them. MUST NOT BITE.
+ holding my friend's tiny baby. also, seeing a 6-foot tall man holding a tiny baby.
+ texting conversations about beer & hashtags
+ four words: work from home days
+ feeling optimistic about the future

and there you have it.

the talk :: USA!!!

After a long, lovely beach weekend, I'm back to reality! I'll do a weekend recap later in the week, but for now, let me just take a second to talk about the USA vs Ghana WC game last night. I met up with my best friend and her husband at the beach, and then we hung out with some of our old college friends by our alma mater for the game. Perfect, since it was on my way home anyway. I don't think anyone expected the game to go the way it did -- a goal in the first minute AND a win (despite lack of possession and a couple injuries). It was a great end to my weekend and I can't wait for the upcoming games! Next up: Portugal. Fingers crossed we can do it again!

Love these friends!

I forgot to pack my red hair, so alicia had to represent both of us :)

Fans filling up the bar... the poor bartender was not prepared for everything that was coming her way. (Tip your bartenders well if you're watching a game, they work really hard!)

Overall, we had a great time leading the chants, screaming our lungs out, and just being together in one happy USA supporting community. So much fun and there's more to come!

the talk :: why growing up is the greatest

via weheartit

Do you ever stop and think about how wonderful it is that you are an adult and can do whatever you want?  I often do. It's the little things that make your mid-twenties (or older) that much greater. I give you...

my top ten list of reasons why growing up is the greatest:

1. You can make a whole frozen pizza just for you. I mean, you can share with your friends if you want. But mostly, you could just eat the whole thing yourself.
2. You can watch Netflix until 2 AM with no judgment. You have to get up for work at 6? Who cares! One more episode of Freaks & Geeks won't kill you.
3. You can drive wherever you want, whenever you want. Spontaneous trips, bailing on work early, getting a random pedicure, hitting up the library, unplanned happy hour, staying out late... ALL THINGS.
4. You can take a real vacation with friends instead of family. I know people still love taking trips with their families. That's cool. But I like trips with my friends more, and since I'm an adult, I can take one any time I want and do whatever I feel like doing.
5. You make all the decisions. Sometimes this one can be tricky... if you're like me, you don't know where you're ending up in life, especially career-wise. But I get to make those choices and hopefully life will turn out great! (And only get input when I decide I want it.)
6. Eating breakfast for dinner and other such ideas. I had a Popsicle before dinner the other day, too.
7. You can finally be interested in things your parents never let you do. Like play guitar (me) or live in another country for a year (my friend Emily) or paint your walls bright purple (my roommate + our kitchen).
8. You can get a pet that you've always wanted! Dog, cat, iguana, hedgehog, snail... I don't know what you like. But now you can get one :)
9. Shopping and spending as much money as you care to. $200 for one Target trip is not unheard of...
10. Living with your friends and having the time of your life. Or, getting married and living with that person. OR, living by yourself with your dog! Basically, living however you want!

And there you have it-- this week I'm going to spin class, having a sleepover with my girlfriends, going out dancing, getting a two-hour massage, and heading to the beach for the weekend. (#11 - you'll sleep when you're dead!)

tuesday-ness.

There's just something about being at home on a Monday that automatically makes Tuesday its twin. How does this even happen? For instance: I got to work and found out it will now cost me $8 instead of $6 to park every day. L A M E.

Basically, the only thing I can do to combat this day is to look at this picture over and over again until I pee myself from laughing:

My puphew is better than your puphew.

the talk :: the bachelorette & to do (play)lists

Guys, last night was the start of yet another season of The Bachelorette (no shame). Naturally, I rimmed my wine glass with pop rocks and broke out the Trader Joe's truffles. I guess ABC has decided that we must have an opera singer as a contestant for all seasons moving forward, and there cannot be a shortage of guys with long hair. (Although most of them got the boot the first night in.) Also, the "journey count" is back on! Last season the word "journey" was said no less than 32 times. I think that will continue to decrease as "adventure" makes a comeback. Thoughts??

Today I'm thinking about making a to do list. There are couple of reasons why I have been avoiding this. 1) It likely means that I will have to dust my room. I despise dusting my room. 2) I'm lazy. (So obvious.) But I have to admit, I always feel better when the list is crossed off and I'm sitting on a freshly made bed looking at my newly organized and clean things. My faux-sheepskin rug will no longer be dirty and shoved halfway under the bed. There won't be makeup all over my dresser from getting ready in the morning. Six pairs of shoes won't be scattered haphazardly all over the floor. My duvet won't be bunched at the bottom of my bed (you all know what I'm talking about). 

Real talk, people! I need an intervention for keeping things neat & tidy. The only way I can really straighten up is if I have music to get me through it. So here is your Tuesday To Do Playlist! If you need to clean or dust or keep your sanity, give these tracks a listen.

∆ Matt & Kim - Cutdown

∆ Ingrid Michaelson - Girls Chase Boys

∆ The Script - Six Degrees of Separation

∆ Sarah Jaffe - The Body Wins

∆ Kings of Leon - Wait for Me

∆ Blackstreet - No Diggity (throwback!)

∆ Volbeat - Lola Montez

∆ Van Morrison - Into the Mystic

∆ The Airborne Toxic Event - Changing

Get motivated!

the talk :: currents.

image via weheartit

Making: a playlist for my good friend's due date (any day now!)
Cooking: tacos & all kinds of grilled things.
Drinking: water with lime left over from squeezing into guacamole.
Reading: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.
Wanting: good job prospects.
Playing: Aerosmith in the car, Stevie Nicks on my record player.
Wasting Time: watching old episodes of Laguna Beach.
Wishing: that there were more hours in the day.
Enjoying: nights at home with my roommate.
Liking: these warmer mornings with no chill in the air.
Wondering: is it time to finally get a credit card?
Loving: having a place to call home.
Hoping: that my best friends stay in my life forever.
Needing: to go grocery shopping. desperately.
Smelling: tulips for days!
Wearing: my daily uniform -- black pants, nice shirt, cardigan.
Following: a beautiful mess -- the black bean burger recipe!!
Noticing: that a little goodness goes a long way.
Knowing: my future will be fine no matter what. (must remember that.)
Thinking: i'm really lucky that i don't have to work nights.
Bookmarking: buzzfeed articles to send to my roommate later. 
Giggling: over Jimmy Fallon and his dancing panda.
Feeling: excited for my friend's baby to be born so soon!!

the talk :: dream set

If I could magically transport myself to a show with some of my favorite musicians and their brilliance, oh what a night that would be. And here's what they would play.

Perfect for a rainy day.

Also, new Needtobreathe today! Check that out for sure! I'll do a review later.

the talk :: eisley weekend

Something very exciting happened last weekend. I took my "sisters" Amanda and Larissa to the Eisley show in DC for Amanda's birthday. The first time we saw them was all together three or four years ago, so it was really special to do it again. (Not to mention we had Ben's Chili Bowl for dinner... and milkshakes after. Mmm.)

There are so many reasons why this was one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. For one thing, it was in a small venue (U Street Music Hall) but it wasn't overcrowded. Eisley has a pretty big following and they haven't toured in a long while, so I thought for sure it would be super packed. We got there after the opener (I'll get to that in a second), and we found ourselves up front without a fight. I felt like the crowd was just kind of... hanging out. That's pretty rare for a show. Anyway, everyone had a great view no matter where they were.

It was amazing to see the girls play again, especially being moms and touring with all their babies! One of my favorite parts of the show was Chauntelle singing lead on a song, and her husband brought their baby out to watch her right next to us. Their little girl kept pointing to her mom on stage and smiling. What an amazing way to grow up! Not to mention they all have their own side projects (Sucré, Perma, Rising Fawn). That's a huge responsibility... props to them. They really have the coolest dynamic going on. They grew up playing music together as sisters with their brother and cousin, the girls all married musicians, they all had babies around the same time, and they continue to stick together, write, sing, and leave a legacy.

I promised I would talk about the opener: The youngest brother and sister of the DuPree family, Christie and Collin, are Merriment. I had heard they were working on some music and their debut album, "Sway," came out today! There is no lack of talent in this family, let me tell you. It just keeps getting better and better. There is never any disappointment where their albums are concerned. They all have an incredible talent for writing, unique vocals, and passion for what they do.

It was a very good night. And you can stream "Sway" here... and then buy it because you'll love it so much.

the talk :: pro vs. con

Today has been one of those days. 

1. Wake up. Put on a cute dress. Get out the door on time. 

2. Find your highway ramp shut down. Circle around to find the other ramp shut down. Get on the alternative highway. 

3. Sit in traffic. Be blinded by the sun so you can't see the street signs. Miss a bunch of turns. Arrive at work an hour late. 

4. Feel like your cubicle-ridden life is going nowhere.

I was the picture of discouragement and generally bummed out today. I barely moved from my desk and didn't feel like talking to anyone. Starting the day badly usually sets the tone for the rest of it, and I was no exception. Now that I have sweatpants on, I think it's time to pull a Rory Gilmore and make a pro-con list.

PROS OF TODAY:

1. The weather was nice
2. I wore a cute outfit
3. I wanted an unhealthy burrito, but I was good and did not eat one.
4. I now get to have a relaxing night at home and ignore that this day even happened.


CONS OF TODAY:

1. So much traffic. So many obstacles.
2. People were all over the internet about how HIMYM had a great ending. You are all lying to yourselves.
3. April Fools is annoying. Who invented this day?
4. I'm still craving a burrito.

Except for the burrito part, the pros outweigh the cons. And I sort of feel better. I leave you with some goodness that was playing on the radio on my way home:

the talk :: transition

Today has been hectic. I can only assume that's to make up for the lazy snow day I had yesterday. And that's why I'm blogging at 7pm instead of 7am. Le sigh.

I'm in a period of musical transition. I'm writing and trying to put another record together, although it's been a struggle and I haven't recorded anything in ages. There's a lot of self-doubt and criticism going on in my head. That criticism is both the best and worst thing for me. I read this quote a few days ago:

"there is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."

- Aristotle

Well said, dude.

I can't avoid criticism because I am my own worst critic. But I am also my best. I applaud myself when I write a good lyric or two. Not because I am self-centered, but usually because I am so relieved I actually did something worth hearing (in my own mind, of course). That feeling is often short lived. 

I put my record from 2012 up on Bandcamp today. It's the only album I've written that I don't hate. If you listen to it, you may say, "good grief, that's depressing." It comes from a very real year of my life. The tagline in my profile says "music from the heart, for the heart." That is the epitome of what I do and how I write. Despite bad recording quality, a lone acoustic guitar, and non-perfect vocals, these songs are me. Do me a favor? Just listen to the words and if the rest seems okay to you too, well great. :) And if you start listening and you hate it, at least listen to "Been Here Before", "Break", or "Wounds". (Especially "Wounds".) Those songs are straight from my unfiltered heart.

PS - harmonies are my most favorite thing.

tuesday isn't supposed to feel like monday

You know... sometimes you get to sleep in and do your makeup properly and wear a dress for the first time in months and put on your cool leather boots. And sometimes work decides to be super frustrating and not love you back and the coffee maker breaks and you get home three hours late. (Those last two aren't directly related.)

Today was crazy, hence why I'm blogging way later than usual. But here are the good things... the things way more worth mentioning. I think it's important to end the day reflecting on the good instead of the bad.

1. I successfully made turkey avocado burgers for dinner.

2. I got a super cute new iPhone case.

3. I have enough money to pay my bills and live a fun life. I take this one for granted way too much.

4. Music usually fixes all.

5. I am so excited to take a hot shower and relax. 

Speaking of showers: my hair is wet in the above picture. It doesn't usually look so... stringy. ;)

And on that note, hope your Tuesday was way more awesome than mine. As Miss Stacy from Anne of Green Gables would say, "tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it."

xo,

Sarah 

the talk :: journal day 2

I'm behind on the Sometimes  Sweet journal prompts because of my vacation... but this is one that I definitely want to participate in! 

We all have songs that really mean something to us. Often just hearing it can take us right back to that place and we are able to re-experience the memory associated with the song. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, but either way music has the ability to really draw things out of us and evoke deep emotion. Choose a song that has a particular meaning to you. Tell the story of the memory associated with the song, sharing as much detail as you can. Take us there; let us experience it with you.

I have shared my story before about how my love of music came to be, and a lot of that has to do with my time in college and a friend of mine. "Hold Nothing Back" by Copeland evokes such strong memories for me. It was first introduced to me by a friend who is an incredible musician. He played a huge part in showing me different kinds of music, and my taste in music completely changed in that. 

My fondest memory of this song is my friend and I sitting on a hill in our college courtyard, him playing the song on an acoustic guitar and me feeling like I had to know this band that wrote such a great piece of music. It sounds strange, but it really did pave the way for me to find myself as a musician and be influenced by something other than pop radio. It's a special memory for me. The chords, the lyrics, the feeling I get when I remember sitting on that hill... I feel like it was the beginning of a journey for me. Now I find myself writing a music blog, writing and recording my own music, and playing music for other people. That all has to start somewhere, and for me, it started on a grassy hill with a good friend.

the talk :: in all honesty

I've felt lately that I've been struggling to find the perfect balance of music + lifestyle in this space. This is a blog I started to showcase music. But I also have a very busy, lovely social life, and I'd like to share that too. Yesterday's post got me thinking about the importance of sticking to my original goal: introducing musicians that my readers may not have heard of. After I announced the Music Monday post on Instagram (@sarahfisch), Josh Mhire was nice enough to respond and show his appreciation. That is why I do what I do. Not for the recognition part of it, but so musicians that I feature will know they are heard and their hard work is worth it. I'll still share my life on here, but I want to try to keep the music going at the same time. :)

On that note... another album came out today that I am dying to share with you! I've mentioned Noah Gundersen on the blog before. He released "Ledges" today, and I am so excited to give it a listen. "Cigarettes" is already one of my favorite songs, having heard him play it live. Here's a little bit of why you should check him out:

Also this, with his insanely talented siblings. I almost cried the first time I heard them do this live:

You can listen to "Ledges" on Spotify or get it here, and listen to Noah's older work here. I can't wait to see him next month!

the talk :: as of late

▲ Re-watching all eight seasons of 24 on Netflix. I have to be ready for the comeback!

▲ Nickel Creek is going back on tour! This is a life dream moment.

▲ I just got a whole bunch of new books from the library. The Sprouted Kitchen is one I'm excited to start on and get some new recipes!

▲ Speaking of recipes... this week's lunch is quinoa stuffed red peppers. So good and I love not having to think about incorporating a vegetable.

▲ Confession: this is the first year I did my taxes all by myself with no help. It's the little things.

▲ This morning my windshield wipers were frozen to my car. Very unhelpful in the defrosting process. I think I'm moving to Hawaii.

▲ I spent the Super Bowl with my best friend, her husband, and their puppy this year. We had delicious (and healthy!) homemade margherita pizza. Also, asparagus with parmesan cheese is the best side dish ever. 

▲ It's possible that I am going back to Sweet Lobby for the first time in forever on Saturday! They have the best macaron flavors. I can't resist getting a whole box and trying to make them last as long as possible!

▲ Did anyone else forget the Olympics are starting this weekend? 

▲ Three words: apple cider mimosas.

▲ I've renewed my sponsorship over at Bubby & Bean... be sure to pay Melissa a visit and check out the pretty blog button she made me in her sidebar! :)

the talk :: clean eating

image via weheartit

There has been a lot of talk about the subject of eating clean lately. Naturally (pun intended), I wanted to give my two cents since that's what I do best! First of all, let me preface by saying that I thought I was being healthy for years... before all this hype started, before things were labeled as bad for you, before any of this became a trend (and I do believe it's a trend, but also beneficial). Little did I know I was still eating preservatives and unnecessary sugars, and nowhere near the amount of veggies I should be. I like the quote above because it is so true. 

Take a minute to think about what you put in your body daily. I want to address this because I have made changes in my diet that I never thought I could, or would. Once you get in the routine of eating what you like, it's kind of hard to get out of it. But our bodies are better served and more functional when we aren't filling them with things that have minimal or no health benefits. This is not meant to be a "get on my soapbox" post, it is simply to share the changes I've personally made to make a better diet a part of my daily life. Here are some things that have made me feel better overall:

1. No more than one cup of coffee a day. I was never an all-day coffee drinker, though I have worked with plenty of them. Coffee, in fact, has antioxidants and isn't bad for you. It's how much you drink and what you put in it that matters. Instead of using creamer in my coffee, I now use vanilla almond milk or coconut milk.

2. Read the labels. I can't stress this one enough. Have you ever actually looked at what is in your food? I know I didn't. A good rule of thumb is if you can't pronounce what's on the ingredients list or you have no idea what it is, it's probably best to stay away and find a healthier, natural alternative. Side note: some good things are just defined by their scientific name, like ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). It's a good idea to Google anything that you don't understand and see if it has any actual health benefits or if it's a useless chemical.

3. Make substitutions. This is a HUGE one for me. Once I figured out that some of my favorite foods are not so good for me, I didn't know how I would live! (So dramatic.) Trust me when I say that it is easier than you think to substitute healthier options for the things your body craves. For example, I love pasta. LOVE IT. Instead of white pasta (or even wheat), opt for quinoa pasta (I get mine at Trader Joes). The ingredients are quinoa (a super high source of protein) and brown rice. The next time you look at a box of white pasta, look at the ingredients list. I guarantee you it will be written in foreign language. I also use spaghetti squash instead of real spaghetti, and olive oil, lemon juice, and hot sauce for salad or pasta dressings. Take a look around the internet for healthy substitutions for your personal favorite foods.

4. Portion size. This one is common knowledge, right? Well, I still wasn't following this rule for a long time. While I am not overweight, I am a classic over-eater. I could sit down with a huge bowl of pasta or snacks and just EAT. Some things that help me fix that problem are only cooking with nutritional ingredients, using smaller plates, and following the rule of protein the size of your fist, small side of veggies, small side of grains. And choosing healthy snacks like carrots and hummus instead of chips... or if you must have chips, pita or corn tortilla chips. Just not the whole bag!

5. Cutting down on not so healthy things that I can't entirely give up. I love cheese. It's just a fact, and I don't want to live without it. But even low-fat cheese can be bad for you when you eat a ton of it in your pasta or have grilled cheese every day (oh, college times). Now, I choose a less fatty one like feta and sprinkle it lightly through salads and quinoa pasta if I must have it. And making cheese sauce out of cashews is a good alternative for things like mac and cheese if you get a strong craving. Sounds weird, but non-dairy people swear by it.

6. Completely cutting out things with zero nutritional value. We have all eaten things that don't do anything whatsoever for our bodies. We crave them because our bodies become addicted to them over time. The biggest one is soda. I have never been a big soda drinker except for ginger ale once in a blue moon. For those of you who drink one a day or more, hear me when I say this is doing nothing for you. There is nothing nutritional or good in soda. I guarantee that if you replace your soda with water or at least substitute seltzer, you will notice a difference in how you feel. If you drink it for the caffeine, I recommend weaning yourself off and replacing it with a smaller daily intake of coffee or tea. If you think there is no harm to it, realize that soda is nothing but chemicals (especially the diet ones), and daily consumption does affect your health. It may seem impossible to give it up, but your body will get used to it, and  you will feel the difference. Sorry if I'm preaching at you here, but this is one item I feel passionate about!

I am by no means a nutritionist or a health food expert, so don't think I am trying to be. I have simply seen the benefits of eating well and making positive changes in my own life, and I wanted to share. I didn't think it would be possible for me to even make those changes at one point in time, so if I can do it, you can too. Don't beat yourself up if you relapse into a bad habit, just try to do better the next time. And of course, pair eating well with some type of exercise a few times a week to really reap the benefits. I really enjoy Way of Gray: awesome workouts that take only 30-40 minutes, with healthy recipes and food substitutions that Sophie uses in her own daily life. Clean eating may be a trendy thing in the world right now, but it's a trend your body can get on board with.