Author: Melody

#YDMGoesNatural: Whole 30 + A Fitness Challenge

- Melody 3 Comments

On August 1, someone at work thought it would be fun/funny to start a company wide fitness challenge. In a baptist building. Where there’s cake more days than not. (WHY.) So, I think just to save themselves, they put up a cash prize. And if I’m being honest that was the big hook for me getting involved. $$$. Everyone that wanted to participate put up $25 and weighed in. On the last day of the challenge, October 31, we’ll all weigh in again and whoever loses the most weight percentage wise wins the $$$!

Remember on my Facebook page (why don’t you like it?!) when I said I was starting to transition to an all natural, toxin-free lifestyle (post to come on that, too!)? There’s no excuse for me not to do this challenge. I think it’d look a smidge hypocritical if I’m chowing on Chick Fila in the break room watching my coworkers suffer but hey I’m wearing all natural/toxin-free skincare can you tell. It literally will not kill me. I (probably) will not die from trying to eat better and exercise.
Coincidentally, the day I found out about the fitness challenge one of my dental hygienists turned friend (hi, Jennifer!) posted she was starting the Whole 30 challenge the same day our fitness challenge started. I’m a skeptic so I read up on wtf Whole 30 even is, decided it didn’t sound like a cult, and joined her. The hardest thing about this challenge? No alcohol. Or butter. Or sugar. KILL ME. (No, no. Don’t. I put this upon myself and not drinking will not kill me. Right? I mean, the sugar withdrawals might do a serious number on my psyche, though.) My goal is not to transition to a Whole 30 lifestyle 100%, although that might work for some of you, it’s more of a reset for me. A test of what’s left of my will power, if you will. I’ve never been one to go out of my way to be challenged, but I’ve found myself this year asking for hard stuff to be handed to me. (Don’t ever do that, btw. Because it happens.) The only reason I can think of to not do this is because it will be hard. (But Whole 30 kinda busted that theory out of the water.) AND I QUOTE:

“It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime.”

*Gulp* Besides, who couldn’t benefit from a little challenge?

WHAT IS WHOLE 30?

I’m the wrong person to be asking since I literally just read about it four days ago, but I’ll try to sum it up. Whole 30 is a 30 day challenge where dairy, sugar (real or artificial), beans and legumes, alcohol (even in cooking), MSG and all grains are banned. You can eat whatever you want–inside those parameters. (Jennifer made ranch!) The point is not, however, to cheat the system and make Whole 30 approved pancakes or ice cream. (Don’t get them started on pancakes. Geez.) The point is to rid your body of junk and to teach it to live almost like a caveman, if cavemen had almond milk. Whole 30 will never hold a gun to your head and force you to eat anything. (It’s an inanimate website. It can’t.) It simply gives you a list of yeses and a list of nos. Abide by them. You’re an adult, for God’s sake. No cheating, no weigh-ins, no slips for 30 days. If you want to read more from the website itself, I’d start here, then go here, and end up here. If you’re serious, just read the whole thing!

 

WHY AM I DOING THIS?

I once did a juice cleanse for five days (but ate dinner!) and got dozens of weird looks and comments that sounded like, “why are you doing that,” “that’s so stupid,” “you’re an idiot,” “you look ridiculous,” “I’d be so hungry. I can’t understand why you’d want to do that,” “why are you licking the counter where I just made a sandwich,” so God knows I’m not doing it for the attention. My goal for years growing up with insanely low self-esteem was to lose weight. I’m talking the entirety of my teenage/early 20s. That damn BMI scale screwed up my brain and I always thought I needed to lose 20 pounds. (I didn’t.) After I got divorced and finally found some self worth, I decided I liked myself! (WHAT A CONCEPT!) Like, loved myself for the first time in 22 years. It was pretty awesome. Then I moved to Dallas and started a list of restaurants I had to try, and while (most) everything I’ve eaten has been utterly delicious, I’d like to maybe save some money and cook more at home. And hey, maybe eat a little better too while I’m at it. Oh, and probably do that workout DVD that literally has six layers of dust on it because I haven’t touched it since I moved. I just want to be a better steward of this kick-ass body while I’ve got it.

THE PARAMETERS:

  • Fully complete Whole 30 with no cheat days or resets
  • Exercise at LEAST three times a week, preferably five
  • Only water and black coffee
  • NO sugar
  • NO alcohol
  • NO grains
  • NO dairy
  • NO beans or legumes
  • NO artificial anything
  • ONLY what is on the approved list and what I make from it
  • Ignore the haters
  • No weigh-ins for 30 days

THE GOALS:

  • To challenge myself and win
  • To lose one jean size (losing weight isn’t my ultimate goal, but it’s a welcomed side effect)
  • To develop a habit of working out consistently
  • To treat dis body good, girl, and mean it

 

So here’s to me! Here’s to treating my body better and ultimately feeling better. Here’s to the next 30 days.

 

Today is August 8, day 8 of 92 of the fitness challenge and day 7 of 30 of Whole 30. Be sure to follow me on Snapchat (@melodyrich) where I’ll be documenting all my meals!

xx

Granny Shades by the Water

- Melody 4 Comments

See? I really did add more dresses to my wardrobe! A few weeks ago, Old Navy was having an $8 sale on dresses and this is one of the three I snagged. I don’t normally go for brighter colors but I’m glad I jumped on this one. It’s one of the more flattering dresses I now own! It also has adjustable straps. Very cool.

I was entirely too hot for anything other than the thinnest dress imaginable. We took the water taxi over to Charleston and walked around a bit to get a feel for the town. When I tell you that my entire body was covered in sweat, I mean my entire body. Okay? 

dress: Old Navy, booties, earrings: Forever21, sunnies: thrifted

I’m eternally grateful to my past self for buying these flat booties. They’re pretty masculine and I love them. They’re also fuede*. Have you ever been to Charleston? I’d love to go back with a much smaller group and explore the city more and learn all its history. What were your favorite places?

xx

*fuede: [fwaid] fake suede.

Getting To Know You: Cait

- Melody

Two years ago I launched this series in an effort to get to know the people I was spending every day with a little deeper. Since moving to Dallas I’ve expanded my small circle just a little bit wider. I’m bringing this series back to highlight the relationships in my life that influence me. You can read more about the beginning of this series here and here and read all of the posts in it here.

The story of how I met Cait is a wild one. Five years ago I attended the Passion conference, a Christian conference aimed at high school seniors to college seniors. At this conference, where there can be up to 25,000+ attendees, they break you up into colors of about 1,000-3,000 people. Then they break you up into family groups of 10-12. This particular year I met a girl in my family group named Stephanie. We’d appointed Stephanie to be the leader of our group and at the end of the conference we decided to stay in touch via social media. We lived in completely different states; I in Texas and she in North Carolina. Last year I posted this picture on Instagram. Apparently, one of Stephanie’s friends had just moved to Dallas the month before also and she thought we should hook up. At this point I’m thinking this girl must live in one of the suburbs of Dallas and couldn’t be that close to me.

After Stephanie tagged us both in her comment on my photo, a Cait Butt private messaged me offering to help me move in and gave me her number. Turns out, Cait lived less than 10 minutes from me! I didn’t need any help that day, but she messaged me again a couple of weeks later and had an extra ticket to Shakespeare in the Park, an outdoor ampitheater that shows, you guessed it, Shakespearean plays in the summer. I met Cait and three other brand new people that day. We sat on a blanket and she brought wine and cheese and fruit and we had a picnic and watched Romeo and Juliet. Despite having just moved to Texas a month before, she welcomed me with open arms. Because that’s who she is.

Late last year, her roommate got engaged. (THE WEDDING WAS BEAUTIFUL.) They were breaking their lease and Cait needed a new apartment. After one in Grapevine half an hour away fell through, she texted me and one or two other people asking for prayer and any advice on what to do. She had to be out of her current place by that weekend. We had always joked about how funny it would be if she ended up moving into my 12-unit building. Two people moved out at different times in the months leading up to Cait needing to be out, but they were leased already and Cait wasn’t ready to move just yet.

The day Cait texted me in a panic, I looked out my back window. One of my very long time neighbors was pulling a U-Haul into the parking lot. I could not move my hands and fingers fast enough to text my apartment manager about that place. She said Cait should come by the next day for a showing. I was crossing my hands and fingers and feet and heart all day. Daniel, the greatest landlord on the planet, was there and so was one other applicant. I was nervous and so was Cait. But the place was so perfect for her. A couple days later I got the news. Daniel decided to give the place to Cait. The winning factor? That she was my friend. And that she is.

Cait is warm. She is welcoming and outgoing. Actually, outgoing is too mild a word for her. I think it’s safe to say that 100% of the people she’s met so far in Dallas she has either walked up to or gone to a place or party where she knew no one. Save the ones she’s met online. 😉 Cait is bold and smart. She’s decisive and full of self-discipline. At the moment I’m writing this she’s finishing up a three week juice cleanse. THREE.WEEKS. HOW. She’s loving and full of family. She’s rich in friendships and knowledge. She’s a photographer. A creative. A leader. A friend. I don’t think anyone that knows Cait has ever felt unwelcome in her presence. I sure haven’t.

Every time you see her you will be greeted with a big, genuine hug and a question about your life. She’s invested and genuine and real. She never hesitates to be known or share her life with you. That’s her whole goal, actually. I didn’t even have to ask her any questions for this post because she makes herself so well known. Cait wants to share her life with you. And I am so changed because of the fruits of that. I am one of the fruits of that. I know that if I need a lime or a cup of sugar or some ice I can knock on her door and she’ll help me out. I know that she’s always down to experience something new with me.

Her moving into my building was a literal answer to my prayers. I was lonely and depressed and God moved a friend four doors down. Daniel joked we should set up cans and strings between our doors so we could constantly talk to each other. Why haven’t we done that yet?

Cait has introduced me to new foods, new places, countless new people, new things, new music. I got to meet and hang out with the dudes of Jared and the Mill a couple of times and I’m now apart of a small group for a church I’ve never even visited because of her. Now those people are an invaluable part of my life.

Today marks one year since I met Cait. I cannot say enough about this person. She is good. She is beautiful. She is my friend.

Happy Friendaversary! I love you!

 

xx

 

PS. Girl really loves coffee, y’all.

I Want to be Ilana Wexler

- Melody 2 Comments

Do you watch Broad City? Seriously, if you don’t, stop reading my blog RIGHT NOW and go watch the first episode on Hulu. Don’t have Hulu? Good god, I’ll give you my login JUST GO WATCH IT.

Anyway, Ilana is my spirit animal, just like every other 20something, and she wears these strappy bralettes in almost every episode. I scored this one at Forever21 for $10. It only came in black and white, but I should’ve just grabbed another black one. I wear bralettes way more often than a real big girl bra. Big girl bras are just too much work sometimes. Why not be more comfortable and not worry about straps showing and wear a bralette?! Win win.

top, skirt: thrifted, bralette: Forever21, sandals, Old Navy, glasses: borrowed

What’s your opinion on bras? Comfy? More support? Braless? Let’s start a real boob talk in the comments.

xx

Little Black Dress on a Private Beach

- Melody 2 Comments

Promise me you won’t judge my ghastly unpedicured feet, okay? And definitely don’t look at them on a wide screen like I am, rn. Yikes.

Yes, it’s true! I just spent the last week bathing in the Charleston sun on a private beach. My cousin and his husband live there and while they’re vacationing in Europe for weeks on end (WHAT) and my cousin’s parents are watching they’re two boys, they rented us a mansion on the beach. Cool. All 40+ of my dad’s side of the family showed up and spent a week in bliss riding in a Bentley up and down the coast. NBD. I hope I don’t sound too braggy, but I think the rich life suites me.

And now for my two favorite photos of all time!

One of the 40+ people. <3

dress: Old Navy, bralette: F21, unpedicured feet: all me

I made a vow to myself to add more dresses to my closet this year. I’ve severely cut down the money I spend on clothes. Like, to $0. Not on purpose! But stuff like food and bills and an apartment kind of forced me to do that. So I’m being more intentional on the things I buy now. Namely this little black dress. It’s a really easy wear. Breezy, long enough for work, and flattering. No pockets, though. 🙁

All in all, I came back with no sunburn and a lot of new freckles on my body. That’s how my skin likes to do, see. Thank you Drew and Jim for a fantastic week! And thank you Jayden for the photobomb.

xx

Dallas Bucket List: Experiencing Thai Food

- Melody

Look, I’m pretty sure I’ve had Thai food before? But who can say! It’s been a long 25 years of life. I can’t keep track of every meal I have or every type of food I have. Thus, experiencing Thai food for the first time was added to the bucket list.

When I moved here I joined a website called Nextdoor. (You should seriously check it out.) It connects you to all of your neighbors! Only people in my neighborhood can be apart of my Nextdoor and see my posts. I’ve sold things on there, asked for recommendations, reported crime. It’s a lifesaver. Earlier this year one of my neighbors started a Bunco group. (If you don’t know what Bunco is you probably didn’t grow up in East Texas.) I got on the email list but every month there was a game, I was either busy or too tired or too anxious to go. But last month? I finally went. I bought a bottle of wine and showed up to a house full of complete strangers. I knew literally no one. Not even any of their names, besides the host that night. It was intimidating. I poured myself a glass of wine and made myself comfortable over by the window and heard an incredible story of raccoons having a party in one of the lady’s kitchens.

In Bunco, you basically end up playing with every person as your partner. It’s an excellent way to get to know people. For that I was very grateful. When I showed up I noticed there were two other girls there my age. I got to know them pretty well by the end of the night and we swapped numbers. The first time we all hung out was my first time having Thai! (Hi Janie and Abby! We’re, like, friends now.) I keep a separate list of restaurants and bars and on that list was Crushcraft. A very instagrammable place for Thai.

At Crushcraft you order first and then pick up your food. Abby decided we needed the Beer Tower; a literal tower of Thai beer. It was entirely worth it. Thai beer is delicious. We all got different dishes, all of which were very good. I ate the leftovers for lunch the next day. Worth it.

See those spring rolls? You should also get those. Yum.

My first time having Thai food was a win. Would definitely go back! Does this count as real Thai if it’s Americanized? I mean, the names of the dishes were Thai and we properly butchered their pronunciations. So maybe it’s pretty authentic? If you know of a real Thai place in Dallas let a girl know. I like food.

 

 

xx