What I’ll be wearing one week from today:

From high school senior to college {super} senior.

Crazy how time flies!

Life’s been one heck of a rollercoaster this Spring semester, with an even mixture of stress and smiles.

Between the chaos of responsibility, I squeezed in such fun as the BFF’s San Francisco bachelorette party, volunteering as a running buddy, and morning strolls around the farmer’s market for local strawberry salads…

I can’t wait to get in touch will all of you again. Non-existent blog posting has placed a void in my life, and I greatly miss your inspiration.

Hope you are well and well fed, my friends!

Your soon to be graduate,

The Nutrition Nut

Oh, well hey! Good morning.

If you’re surprised to “see” me, I am just as surprised. I haven’t published a blog post in nearly 2 weeks. Nutrition Nut on the Run has certainly taken a back seat lately, but I’m not too worried about it. I know when the time is right, my habitual blogging will reappear in my life (and yours) “bigger” and better.

I guess you can say I’ve been preoccupied working on one of my 2012 goals to do more. If I didn’t know better, I may mistake myself for the Energizer Bunny these days.

Life via social media:

Facebook

It’s crazy to think that just a few weeks ago I was trembling in my seat thinking about the uncertain path of my future, and now, one month before receiving my diploma, I have started my job – squeezing in hours between my already packed 5-class schedule, internship, exercise, and personal life – as the Wellness Assistant for one remarkable company. #grateful

Twitter

& because I’m on a roll doing more, I added something else to my life for the remainder of the semester:

DailyMile

I’d love to stay and chat, but I should probably brush my hair and get my butt to class.

Happy Workout Wednesday!

See you when I do :)

HP

Wise Word Wednesday

LIFE:

It’s busy, stressful, and wonderful simultaneously.

I have 6 weeks left to go of my college career… SIX weeks!

Less than 30 school days remain in my {immediate} future.

In between the madness of class, studying, and mentoring my clients, I’ve searched, interviewed, and secured a “big girl” J-O-B! More on that later. #teaser

In between the madness, I’ve made time for hikes and nourishing my mind & body with delicious, wholesome foods.

Last night, I made wild {balsamic-glazed} salmon with sautéed rainbow chard, sweet onion, raisins and sunflower seeds. Yes, this would be the dish I had to pinch my nose to eat as as a child. Perhaps, subconsciously, I made this nostalgic recipe in honor of my mom’s birthday {Happy Birthday, Mom!}… or maybe because Mom is always right — even when we’re talking about leafy greens and raisins ;)

In between the madness, I squeeze in baking dates with my kitchen whenever possible — more or less once a week.

To Note: the non-descript, moist, light, nutty baked good above is the best thing to come out of my oven all year. I whipped up my own version of a quick Carrots ‘N’ Cake treat: Pumpkin Nut Date Bars. #OMG

Pumpkin Nut Date Bars

– the Nutrition Nut version

• 1/4 c. canned pumpkin
• 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 2T maple syrup
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 c. canola oil
• 1 egg
• 4-6 Medjool dates, chopped
• 1/3 c. walnuts, chopped

Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with canola oil.

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients until smooth.

Spread batter in prepared baking pan, and bake @ 350F for ~20 minutes.

Let bars cool completely in pan before cutting.

Makes 9 bars.

In between the madness, I cleanse the body {of pumpkin nut date bars} and clear the mind by sweating at the WREC.

Thursday’s workout:

In between the madness, I blog {though seldom} because my life would not be the same without it – it being the virtual world where I find the daily inspiration to be me.

& when there is time, in between the madness, I sleep.

Goodnight.

xo Hill

{graduation pics in the park}

{maple cinnamon sweet tater + rainbow chard lentil bowls}

{sunny sunday hikes}

All is well and good. If only senior year would slowww down.

Happy Workout Wednesday!

If you’re in a rush today and need an easy, high-intensity workout to get your heart pumping, I’ve got the perfect interval run for ya…

There are 24 hours in a day, and this workout is just 24 minutes in total, meaning excuses about “not having the time” are not allowed! If you have the time, try adding the Tone It Up Lean Arms and/or sexy legs pyramid* workout to your routine – hello, spring shorts and tees!

*No one has called me out on my “typo.” The squats are with both legs ;)

Hello HIIT, bye bye belly!

Get to it! :)

Hill

source I / source II / source III 

I’m standing on second base… halfway to home plate… 8 chaotic weeks to go… and though it is easier to focus on the desired destination, embracing the journey and putting faith into the foundation of my future will ultimately allow me to turn my dreams into plans.

Embrace today, embrace your journey

& have a happy Monday!

Hill

Hi friends :)

Have a good weekend? I hope so. I’ve enjoyed having a little time to spend with the ol’ blog. I even got around to creating a WORKOUT page – about time, no!? I hope you find it useful; I’m looking forward to expanding the workout repertoire and sharing my discoveries in the realm of all things exercise.

This afternoon, I decided to utilize the final daylight hours of my Spring Break freedom to bake. I whipped up a batch of pumpkin muffins inspired by a Carrots ‘N’ Cake recipe*. The recipe is gluten-free and Paleolithic diet friendly — but seeing as though I do not follow either of those diets — I made them because the recipe appeared easy, delicious, and nutrient-dense.

*I omitted the walnuts because I felt like they already contained enough (healthy) fat. I might add a handful of plump raisins the next time around.

I like me a muffin with staying power. Despite their higher fat content, these muffins are very light in consistency, and have wonderful flavor from the roasted almond butter and honey.

A perfect breakfast or school snack if you ask me.

I’m feeling something spring green for dinner…

Take it easy!

HP

Well, hey there!

Hope ya’ll have had a good week. It’s hard to believe my last Spring Break is coming to a close, and in 8 short weeks I’ll be dressed in a cap and gown! My class schedule has got me workin’ hard ‘til the end, but I’m trying my best to enjoy my final days as a college kid… including happy hour dates and late-night baking: cast iron skillet cake — yum!

Believe it or not, I actually caught my dinner on camera tonight! Remember the healthiest dinner I’ve ever made? Well, tonight’s “recipe” is another one of my go-to meals when I’m craving vegetables. Yes… I crave vegetables.

Balsamic Lentils with Maple Cinnamon Roasted Vegetables

In a baking dish, roast ~8 halved brussel sprouts, 2 small pealed + cubed sweet potatoes, and 1 thick slice of onion roughly chopped — drizzled with olive oil, pure maple syrup, sea salt + cinnamon — @ 400F for 25-30 minutes.

In a microwave-safe dish, heat ~1/2 c. Trader Joe’s cooked lentils drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Top with roasted veggies, creamy chevre and crunchy pepitas.

Serves 1.

Besides brussels, I also crave cookies and am notorious for digging into a bag of frozen cherry pistachio chocolate chip cookies after feeding my body a fiber-rich, plant protein-rich {vegetarian & gluten-free} meal.

Life is about balancing… brussel spouts & baked goods… books & blogging… Pinterest & paper-writing… car-washing & career searching… Lee Brice & Amos Lee… minty mojitos & green tea…

Your turn! Life is about balancing…

See you soon :)

Hillary

Monday Moves

Quick, high-intensity workouts are where it’s at. #strongissexy

Hope you all have had a wonderfully, positive Monday.

How did you get your move on today?

xo Hill

Just in case you’ve forgotten who I am, the Nutrition Nut, in this extended blog posting haitus… I’ve decided to spend my Saturday night filling out this A-Z survey I’ve seen floating around on a few of my favorite blogs.

A is for age: twenty two.

B is for breakfast today: fluffy ginger pear pancakes + iced coffee.

C is for currently craving: nothing currently, but I’m ready for a day of colorful, clean eats tomorrow… a kale mango Green Monster smoothie, yes please.

D is for dinner tonight: lentils + maple roasted brussels, carrots, red onion, chevre, pepitas and balsamic {dessert: warm whole wheat cherry pistachio chocolate chip cookies, just FYI}.

E is for favorite type of exercise: running obviously. though, functional strength training is something I am loving more and more with every workout.

F is for an irrational fear: choking.

G is for gross food: capers.

H is for hometown: a quaint town on the northern california coast.

I is for something important: friends.

J is for current favorite jam: “Titanium” – David Guetta + Sia

K is for kids: they do call me Mama Hill… someday perhaps?

L is for current location: my quiet abode.

M is for the most recent way you spent money: restocking my vegetable supply at Trader Joe’s.

N is for something you need: an umbrella.

O is for occupation: senior college student on the job hunt…

P is for pet peeve: a cluttered fridge.

Q is for a quote:

{source}

R is for random fact about you: I’ve never colored my hair.

S is for favorite healthy snack: larabars.

T is for favorite treat: cookies.

U is for something that makes you unique: my lifestyle.

V is for favorite vegetable: I can’t single out one favorite, but brussel sprouts are highly misrepresented – definitely one of my top 5, yum!

W is for today’s workout: ‘twas excellent! 2.10 mi. TM run // 16 min. + 75-minute full body sandbag workout.

X is for x-rays you’ve had: leg + spine.

Y is for yesterday’s highlight: ringing in St. Patrick’s Day @ midnight with my first Irish Car Bomb ;)

Z is for your time zone: Pacific, yo.

Today is the first day of my last Spring Break… ever. I’ve certainly missed blog posting, but my last semester as a college kid isn’t one I want to watch from the sidelines. I have half of a semester to go, 5 classes to pass, 4 clients to counsel, many friendships to enjoy, 1 body to take care of, 1 polished resume ready for the world, and a future ahead of me of infinite unknowns…

See you soon, friends!

Hillary

Of Possible Interest:

• The ABCs of HP
• The ABCs of HP: Edible Edition
• Twelve Truths
• Twenty Things About Me