Elly's Trek: Weekend Highlights and Tara Ties the Knot

Happy Monday to all of you! I had a pretty busy weekend and didn't have time to post anything so I'm just going to give y'all some highlights.

On my way home from work on Friday, I stopped to get the mail from my mail box and found my Healthy Surprise package in it! Yay!

Check out all the goodies that were in it:

I plan on trying these snacks over the next few weeks, so stay tuned to get my thoughts/opinions.

Saturday was a busy day! A lot to do and very little time. I did a quick 4 mile run in the morning. After my second mile, I really needed some water but I didn't have any so it was a bit of a struggle. I really need to be better at carrying some with me but I hate running with stuff in my hands.

I cleaned up from my run and went to the nail salon to get a mani/pedi. While I was getting my pedicure, I read the January issue of Glamour that featured Anne Hathaway.

This part of the interview with Anne really stuck out to me:

Eve Ensler: This is Glamour’s Self-Expression Issue. When did you feel like you began to express yourself in a way that was authentic to you?
Anne Hathaway: I had that moment after I finished making Rachel Getting Married. I realized that the life I’d been living [was not authentic] and that I had to make a change. Then I found out that my trust had been betrayed quite massively. So for me, that call came at the end of 2007. Who was I going to be? There’s no magic bullet; there’s no pill that you take that makes everything great and makes you happy all the time. I’m letting go of those expectations, and that’s opening me up to moments of transcendent bliss. But I still feel the stress over “Am I thin enough? Am I too thin? Is my body the right shape?”
Eve Ensler: And is that an everyday obsession?
Anne Hathaway: If I’m honest, yes. There’s an obsessive quality to it that I thought I would’ve grown out of by now. It’s an ongoing source of shame for me.

It struck a cord with me because you don't think of stars having body image issues. I mean, to me, she's Anne freakin' Hathaway. She is beautiful! But then you have to turn the table on yourself. How many times does someone say "you're beautiful" yet you pick yourself apart to pieces? It happens more often than not, right? What we need to remember (and I'm speaking we when I should say I) is that each of us are individuals. And although it is ok to aspire to be better, be very careful about comparing yourself to someone. Be the best YOU that you can be.

..moving on..

My nails were finished and I headed home to get ready.

..shortly after I was out the door all ready to celebrate my friend's wedding day! (Seatbelt added for saftey, not for fashion.)

They had a photo booth at the reception so the bride (who I have known since I was basically born) and I stepped in for a few snaps. The first photo we were not ready for, hence the funny look. The center picture is with my old babysitter, Nanci. And then a few more of my old time BFF. I love her like she was my sister. I only wish we had remained a lot closer over the years.

It was a fabulous wedding filled with reminiscing of old times, making new memories, and celebrating the start of a new chapter. Congrats Tara and Craig! May your life be filled with more love than you know what to do with, the pee-your-pants kind of laughter, and the friendship that will grow and last a lifetime.

Sunday started out with spur of the moment trip to Ohio to surprise some old friends, followed by grocery shopping, lunch making, and some house cleaning.

I was craving some buffalo wings but didn't want the added calories of the breading. So I cooked up some chicken tenders and tossed them in some buffalo sauce. I served it with some Alexia Sweet Potato Fries and a little bit of ranch to dip them in. It was a good decision but not sure how many calories were saved.