Walking and Grocery Shopping...

This morning I went for a nice walk at ETSU's Fitness Trail with You Know, Jon. The trail is 0.64mi. We did 3 laps, which was nothing for Jon, and honestly, I probably could've done another myself. 3 laps times 0.64mi = 1.92 miles, for anyone who was wondering. Yes, I almost walked 2 miles this morning. We call this progress!

After our walk, we went to Earth Fare for lunch. I must say that I do love a good salad bar. I even got a take-out container of some tofu, mushroom, and bok choy stir fry and rice to dinner. (Side note: I just finished it, and it was awesome!)

After Jon dropped me back off at my apartment, I cleaned out the refigerator to make room for the all new groceries I had to go buy today.

I've gotten so tired of eating starches and starches and even more starches. Spaghetti, lasagna, homemade bread, macaroni and cheese... UGH! There wasn't a single vegetable in this place. Well, if there were they needed to me thrown out. So, that's exactly what I did!

With a cleaned out refrigerator, it was off the the grocery store. Today's choice was Ingles. 2013 is their 50th anniversary. They run different 50% off sales every week among many other awesome deals. So, I walked into Ingles, and IMMEDIATELY upon entering the door and getting my shopping cart (aka buggy, in the South. I will probably end up using both interchangably.) a young man who works there asked me if I would like a piece of cake. CAKE!! The worst part... it wasn't chocolate either. (There will probably be a post in the future about my hatred of chocolate, especially chocolate cake.) It was white cake, whipped cream icing... EVERYTHING I LOVE IN A CAKE! BUT... do you know what I said? "No, thank you." That's right! I said, "No, thank you." I TURNED DOWN CAKE! Please excuse me while I do my happy I turned down cake dance.

Anyway... I politely passed by Mr. Cake Man and headed towards the produce. Boy! Do I love a good produce sections. Believe it or not, Ingles actually carries a lot of organic produce as well, and it isn't that expensive. However, crazy Sarah forgot to make a meal plan for the week. (I usually do that when I'm trying to watch what I eat, but since I hadn't planned on switching over to healthier foods yet, I hadn't thought to do it.) I just stood there staring at the produce for what felt like 10 minutes, thinking about what I could buy, what I could make with it, blah blah blah. I ended up just grabbing a head of broccoli, an english cucumber, some baby carrots, spinach, bananas, and a bag of apples. Basically, I didn't know what I could cook, but I definitely knew the flavors I LOVED to juice! So, I'll probably be intaking most of my veggies and fruits through juice this week. Maybe next time I'll be more prepared.

I headed around the rest of the store picking out staples like milk, whole wheat bread, and peanut butter. (We currently have eggs so they weren't necessary.) I bought some other things as well, but they really aren't relevent to this story... whatever this story may be. I hopped over to the seafood department. I LOVE SEAFOOD! Fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, scallops, etc. You name it. I eat it, except for mussels because REALLY who likes their seafood black?! I picked up a talapia fillet and some stuffed flounder. That's 3 servings of fish for the week. My roommate won't eat it so the 2 servings of stuffed flounder in the pack are both mine! Then, I get to the freezer aisle. Oh no! We have a very tiny freezer that my roommate likes to pack with all sorts of things that shouldn't necessarily be frozen... EVER! But, I went into the freezer section anyway. I got an assortment of frozen veggies. They'll be gone fairly quickly, especially the mustard greens. This southern girl LOVES her mustard greens. I'm already picturing it... panko crusted talapia, mustard greens, and corn. Don't tell me you aren't jealous! Anyway... I even picked up some organic spinach and cheese ravioli. Mixed with some cooked spinach and vodka sauce. That's gonna be awesome. The most puzzling purchase of all, however.... the MorningStar mini corn dogs. YES! YES, I DID! I think I've been around my vegetarian friends too long. I think their crazy anticts are rubbing off on me. Last but not least, I bought some greek yogurt (vanilla's my favorite) and some ZICO pineapple flavored coconut water. I hadn't been able to find ZICO brand ANYWHERE down here. I was very pleased.

Today's total grocery damage... a little over $115. That actually isn't bad. I usually spend anywhere from $130-150. I think the kicker was that I bought food that will ACTUALLY fill me up. Oh, and I didn't worry about what my roommate would want. I was only feeding myself.

But did you notice the really amazing thing? Did you? I'm not sure if you did so I'll tell you.

Everything I bought fits into a pescetarian diet. That's right, kids. I've talked about it. I've researched. I've blah, blah, blahed about it until I just did it. Ok... so I had a tiny bit of chicken salad today at lunch, but starting today at 2:49pm when I got home from the grocery store. I had decided to be pescetarian.

This life of mine of awfully crazy.

Until next time...

Keep It Sassy,

Sarah

Sometimes People Change...

Sometimes we change for the better. Sometimes we don't. It all just depends on the circumstances surrounding our decision or indecision to change.

I found myself surrounded by a collection of different circumstances a few weeks ago. I was more depressed than I had been in a very long time. For those of you who don't personally know me, let me give you a little background info on myself.

My name is Sarah. I grew up in one of the smallest towns in existence called Mooresburg, TN. I have never been thin. I have never been fit. I have never been attractive or pretty. This has led me to live a fairly (I say fairly because I have had fun in my life... some fun that I even regret) sheltered life. I've only dated one person in my entire life. I'm socially awkward. The only time I seem to fit in is when I in rehearsal or performing. I'm an actor/singer/fancer (fake dancer, for those of you who just thought, "WTF?!").

A few weeks ago, I stepped on a scale for the first time in a long time and was shocked at the number I saw. No, I'm not going to tell you what it was. However, I will tell you it is the heaviest I have EVER been. This did not help my depression whatsoever. So, I thought to myself, "What can I do to remedy this?"

Let me just say, if there has been a diet... I have probably tried it. Dieting is not easy for me. I love food, fatty foods. I love french fries and soda (especially a Coca-Cola). I love carbs. Bread, pasta, you name it. Oh, and it doesn't help that those are the cheapest things you can buy in a grocery store. So, I often find myself living off Subway sandwiches (because I unfortunately still work there even with my college degree) and spaghetti. Diets + me = more harm than good.

This time, though, I did something that wasn't dieting. I got online and started looking up gyms in the area. See, I have lots of friends who are health junkies. I'm talking marathon runners, crossfit trainers, nutritionist, Zumba class members, swimmers, dancers... you name it, I probably have a friend who does it.

A friend and coworker of mine has a membership at Anytime Fitness here in town. Not to mention the other friends I have across the country who are also members. So, I took a wild hair and signed up for a tour and 7-day trial membership. Little did I know, I would be signing up for an 18 month membership by the time I left after my tour.

Let me go ahead and tell you... it is the best decision I have ever made. Bre (my friend and coworker) and I go every night at 9pm. I will literally be heading there right after I finish writing this. My other friend, Jon (aka You Know, Jon) has been so supportive, he comes down every Saturday to go for a morning walk with me before we go out for a healthy lunch. He has his own blog that he has just started. He's attempting a paleo-vegan lifestyle for 9 week. If you are interested in checking out/supporting him, you should check out Jon's Paleo-Vegan Experiment.

So, how am I doing now? Well, as of last night, I am 5 lbs. lighter than that dreaded weight I saw on the scale 3 weeks ago. Now, I know 5 lbs. in 3 weeks doesn't seem like much. However, that is 5 lbs. lost be working out alone. I haven't changed my eating habits yet. Right now, I'm ok with that. One step at a time.  Though, I will tell you that the more I work out, the more my eating habits adjust themselves on their own. I find myself drinking more water than I normally would before I started working out. Remember when I said I love soda? Yeah, that's not a lie. Soda = water to the pre-working out Sarah. I'm also becoming one of those annoying coconut water people. I know! I was shocked too, but after a while it just seems to taste SO GOOD! Oh, and let's not forget my obsession with salad at the moment! I am LOVING some salad! Though, this spring weather lends itself very easily to salads.

Sometimes we just change without realizing it is happening. I never thought I would be one of those people who went to the gym everyday, but here I am. It's almost been 3 weeks since I started my membership, and I couldn't be happier that I did.

I guess what I'm really saying is that you should probably get used to the words "gym, work, out, walking, healthy, lifestyle, veggies, fruits, coconut, and water" more often on this blog.

Keep It Sassy,
Sarah

The blog that suffers...

Glitter Covered Sass is becoming a blog that suffers. I cannot for the life of me figure out what exactly it is I want to cover.

When I first started Glitter Covered Sass, I was living a completely different lifestyle than I currently am. Now, don't get me wrong... I still love glitter. I still love making sassy comments about things that really don't matter in my life or anyone else. Yet, I cannot devote this blog to a lifestyle I no longer lead.

Then, I decided I would write reviews on things I love... books, music, theatre, television. However, I quickly realized that reviews were not for me. There are many bloggers out there who write fantastic reviews. I'm just not one of them.

So... now what?

That's the question.

For now, I'm just going to start updating everyone on myself... my life. I'll tell you right now, though. It won't be fascinating, but it's a start.

Music Review: Eden Espinosa's "Look Around"

As promised, here is my review of Eden Espinosa's album "Look Around."

By Song:

1. "I'm Not That Girl" -- This is a beautiful arrangement of the Wicked song. So full of heart. Definitely a great way to start the album.
2. "Stone Cold Sober" -- It's nice to hear a rougher, more pop (almost rock even) sound from Eden. It's a nice change from her Broadway sound.
3. "Petrified" -- This song fits perfectly after "Stone Cold Sober." It also has that rougher sound. It is a very relatable song. One that anyone who is feeling a little down can understand. Though, it is mostly lower than we are used to her singing don't be fooled. Those high points are definitely still there.
4. "I Know the Truth" -- One of my favorite songs from Aida. It hasn't been rearranged very much but simplicity of the sound is beautiful. It is possibly even more haunting than it is in the show's arrangement. You can really picture Eden sitting on a stool in a very intimate concert venue performing this song as you listen to it, and there's no other sound but her voice and the guitar. Wonderful.
5. "I Miss the Mountains" -- The first verse is beautiful and melodic. The change into the chorus seems to pick up a little too quickly for me. I would've liked to stay in the soft place a little longer, but it fits the story being told.
6. "With You" -- Anyone who has been through a heartbreak, lost a loved one, etc. will completely relate to this song. It's not as haunting as her version of "I Know the Truth" but it is a beautiful song. When the tempo picks up at the bridge you aren't thrown by it. It's the moment of rage or denial you feel in that sort of heartbreak. Really lovely.
7. "Once Upon A Time" -- We know it so well. It is synonymous with Eden. The arrangement is different and dreamy. It feels very childlike. It's not the belty version we all know. It is very different. I would compare it to an upbeat lullaby.
8. "One Song Glory" -- I love the beginning of this song. The building of the song. How will it sound? How does it all fit together? Each instrument... each note... each chord? It's beautiful. Her voice comes through soft and haunting. The instruments build as the song progresses, finding their place in the mix. One of my favorite RENT songs just became even more precious to me. The moment the back-up vocals came in I got chills.
9. "Look Around" -- The title song is beautiful and simple. It is a perfect ending to the album.

Overall:

I found this album to be very enjoyable. It flowed nicely from one song to the next. It's a nice acoustic album for anyone who enjoys that sort of sound. It's not the high belty stuff we've come to know her for, but I didn't expect it to be. It's simple. You want to hear more of her voice even after the album ends. My favorite songs were "I Know the Truth" and "One Song Glory." They are absolutely beautiful arrangement. I definitely recommend this album to anyone who enjoys musical theatre or acoustic sounds. It's definitely for you. I'd have to give it a 4 out of 5 glitter rating.

Upcoming: Music, a Book, and a Movie

I am currently downloading Eden Espinosa's album "Look Around." Even though, it was released on December 18th, I haven't been able to purchase it until now. Some of you may or may not know that she is one of my MANY music idols. I find her voice to be absolutely stunning. I have heard and read many great things about this album. However, I'm plan to let you know my exact feelings sometime this week.

Also, I will be writing a review for Hidden by P.C. and Kristin Cast very soon. I'm a huge House of Night fan. I just finished reading it a few days ago. First, I have to wrap my head around what I want to highlight as to not give away too many spoilers.

The last part of this post's title OBVIOUSLY refers to the movie-musical version of Les Miserables,which you can currently catch in theatres. I went to see it on Christmas Day with my roommate. I have some very strong opinions on this. (Imagine! I have strong opinions on everything.) Most of these opinions are very positive. Some are not. I'll have my character breakdown up soon. I said a few things on Facebook, but I knew I could be more detailed on here.

Not included in the title are a few other things...

1. Season 5 of Merlin premieres in the USA on Friday, Jan. 4th on SyFy. I would recommend EVERYONE watch it. It's the final season of the show and COMPLETELY worth it.

2. The Survivors Series made an announcement yesterday... a very exciting announcement. Head on over to their blog to get all the details. The Survivors Series Blog (Hint: It's Book 3 related.) If you haven't been reading The Survivors Series, I implore you to go purchase The Survivors and The Point of Origin RIGHT NOW! You won't be disappointed. I plan on reviewing The Point of Origin sometime soon. I will probably re-read it before I do so, though.

That's all for now. I hope the New Year is treating you well.

Glitter & Sass...

Sarah

Today's the Day

Happy New Year's Day, friends! I slept like a rock last night. I would like to thank my friends Merlot and Nyquil for that wonderful night of sleep. It was very much needed. I'm still feeling very under the weather, but it will pass as all colds do.

So, I've been thinking a lot about New Year Resolutions. We always make them, and most of the time we always break them. However, I really want to try to be a better person. I want to try to find out what my dreams are and follow them. I want to learn to love myself as much as I love the glitter covered sassy version of myself. So, here's a list of things I want to do this year. I would rather think of this more as a year long bucket list than resolutions.

Here goes:

1. I want to make better financial decisions.
2. Finish Book One of The E Series.
3. Finish secret musical project.
4. Read more.
5. Go on a real vacation.
6. Keep the apartment clean.
7. Build up my book.
8. Audition for more than one show.
9. Pay off my credit card.
10. Treat people better.

These are just 10 of many ideas I have for this year. Hopefully I will complete them all. If not, here's hoping I can finish most.

End of 2012

Alright, everyone! I know it's been a really long time since I've posted ANYTHING, but I'm going to try to rectify that now. 2012 has been a year of many downs and very few ups. Example: Old car died. Sad. Got new car. Yay. Car payments. Boo. I've been really down on myself this year, but I'm hoping that is all going to change.

This blog is going to be changing direction. I'm not really sure what direction I'm going in yet. So, please be patient. It will continue to be "Glitter Covered Sass" because there's honestly no better way to describe me or the things I like. Since I no longer spend every weekend out at the club, I can no longer focus my attention on the shiny, sparkly happenings there. However, there are shiny, sparkly happenings all around us everyday so I'm sure I'll find something.

I will probably end up doing reviews. They won't just be books like some of my favorite blogs are. I will probably cover many facets of entertainment. Books, Movies, TV series (I've got a few of those planned already.), Music, Theatrical experiences in the Tri-Cities area, etc. Anything artsy... you can probably expect me to cover it... if it's in my taste anyway. I will still post my fun-loving quotes of the week if I can. I really enjoyed researching different people to find the ridiculous things they have said.

I have been quite lazy this year. I haven't seemed to care about much. I have started writing a book series. The idea is quite fascinating if I can focus enough to get it all written down. I'm still working on my musical. It's still in very rough shape though. I'm hoping to get all the kinks worked out by the end of 2013 so I can finally contact the artists and obtain the rights. We'll see if I can make it. I'm hoping to get up to NYC sometime in the 2013 as well. Hopefully, I can come back with lots of things to discuss. We shall see.

It's all going to be a little touch and go, but I promise to give you more attention in the new year than in 2012. If you have any suggestions or things you'd like for me to discuss, review, criticize... by all means, LET ME KNOW!