Guest Blog Posts

Guest Post Sarah OUaL: Moving

231 days

by Brittany in blends, Guest Blog Posts

Hey ya’ll– today’s the big day! Erika and Mike’s Wedding Day! I’m off getting my hair done, getting ansy and excited, laughing lots, smiling, being there for one of my best friend’s, being a witness for their BEAUTIFUL Catholic wedding, drinking, dancing, and eating lots! Today’s guest post comes from Sarah! One of my favorite blends (blog friends ya’ll!)! She’s beautiful, kind, awesome, kick ass, hardcore, hilarious, and sarcastic! No wonder i love her so much

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Heya Less Britt More Life readers!

I’m Sarah from Once Upon a (L)ime and really hate awkward, forced introductions.

Brittany asked me to entertain y’all while she’s off bridesmaid’ing her friend’s wedding. I got married in July, so she probably expected me to tell some story about that. It would make sense I guess.

(if you’re a vapid, wedding-hungry monster, you can get a fix here)

Well I thought that was too boring and expected, so I went a different route, taking on another part of Britt’s life that’s been kind of a big deal lately….

MOVING.

Like Britt, I made a long-distance and kind of scary move. In April of 2010 I moved from Corntown, Ohio to Orange County, California to pursue a job opportunity. Told my then-fiance he could tag along if he wanted (kidding, I obvsiously forced him to come), packed up our things and our dog, and got to work setting up shop out west.

To say it wasn’t easy would be a ridiculous understatement.

Moving itself is a giant freaking pain in the ass. Packing, unpacking, breaking shit, buying shit, and spending months not realizing you’re missing something until you need it (windex, ketchup, eye makeup remover, etc)

Not knowing the area, any people, or what the heck lululemon or “froyo” is? Only adds (a few gallons of) fuel to the disaster of a new life you were so pumped about.

It didn’t take long to realize I was going to have to put in some effort to not be a miserable unhappy loser in my new home. Here are a few tips I’ve got, just in case any of y’all are or will be in a similar situation.

(or maybe you’re just trying to make where you are now less-sucky)

Learn The Ropes

Find “your” grocery store/dry cleaner/bar. There’s nothing that feels more settled than a familiar produce aisle or bartender. Instant homey-ness.

(bonus points when you can get to these places without the aid of a GPS device)

Feeling some ownership of a solid, immobile object will make your new place seem less temporary. The minute the café girl downstairs from my office learned my name was the minute I felt like I was home.

Do Shit

Join a gym, book club, wine society, seashell collecting league … whatever. Check your local newspapers or meetup.com for gatherings, show up, and participate. Get out of your comfort zone a little.

Remember, most people are there because they’re just like you – they like the shit you like, and want more friends. Match made in heaven!

When you do find something you like, stick with it. Becoming a “regular” – whether it’s at a morning spin class or bellied up to the bar for happy hour – is a great way to develop lasting relationships. Sweaty, boozey, or anywhere in between.

Be Approachable

Social situations can be sneaky – you never know when your next bff moment might happen. Try to keep a friendly, “I’m-not-embarrassing-in-public!” face on. Somewhere in between these two…

I’m notoriously terrible at this. Gravity works in evil ways on my facial muscles. I’ve got a permanent scowl and regularly get mistaken for a supreme bitch. (only partly true) Because of this, people NEVER strike up a conversation or have a desire to become friends with me. Which is unfortunate since I’m too lazy/unsocial to do any of the leg work myself. Doesn’t work out so well.

I’m working on it.

Lastly, Embrace The Net

I was nervous about “internet friends” at first (thanks a lot, To Catch a Predator). I’d conversed with people online, but got the heebie jeebies and always bailed on any tweet-ups or blog get togethers.

But I got over it out of desparation. I had a few lunch/coffee/froyo dates, and in no time was whoring around with a bunch of internet-turned-real-life BFFs.

When you think about it, bloggers are the least likely to be internet predators. It’s hard freaking work keeping up with a blog! I couldn’t imagine somebody making up a fake identity, writing about fake life stories, and posting fake photos, all just to con strangers into meeting them and then going all CSI:Internet on them.

AIM seems so much easier.

The whole admitting to making all your friends online is a hurdle you’re gonna have to get over on your own, though. I still get made fun of for not being able to make my friends the “normal” way.

Internet friends are better than no friends, LOLZ IRL ZOMG, right?!

And that’s all I’ve got. So sorry if you didn’t want to hear friend-making advice from the grumpy old social recluse in SoCal. And Britt I’m sorry if this has totally defamed your blog. You can forward libel complaints to my lawyer.

SarahOUaL

Guest Post: Inching My Way Towards The Finish Line

233 days

by Brittany in blends, Guest Blog Posts, weddings

Hey ya’ll! I’m off to good ol’ beautiful South Louisiana! One of my best friend’s Erika is getting married on Saturday! I’m one of her kick-ass, amazing, beautiful, awesome bridesmaids! I’m off today in Lucy, my prius, making my way towards Lafayette getting ready for LOTS of fun, dancing, drinking, eating good foods, laughter, good times, and so much more!

Today’s guest post comes from my beautiful blend Colleen! She’s all kinds of awesome! She’s one of my best blogger friends! Don’t forget to leave some blog love! You know how much i LOVE blog love ))))

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Hello there, Less Britt More Life lovelies! My name is Colleen and I’m the girl behind The Lunchbox Diaries.

I’m so honored that Britt asked me to hold down the fort for a day while she’s out of town

There are tons of things I could tell you in order to describe myself and the going-ons of The Lunchbox Diaries.

I’m a graduate student earning my M.Ed. in Counseling.

And what could be more exciting than that? Oh yeah. I’m a newlywed!

When I’m not blogging, Tweeting or updating my Facebook status, I can be found laughing with my new husband, baking, meeting friends at happy hour, or training for my first half marathon.

That’s right. I’m the world’s biggest Non-Runner and I made the crazy decision to run 13 miles.

Did I mention that I’m a little insane?

We can debate my sanity later, but for now, let’s chat about how I’m getting myself to the place where I can run and not want to poke my eyes out with a sharp stick.

When running, don’t think about the distance. I normally freak myself out when it comes to running any sort of distance. I’m learning that running is such a mental game. If I ignore the thoughts that normally trip me up, I can run so much farther!

Rest days and stretching are so important. I’d heard this before, but never took it into consideration until I started “running for real.” If you don’t rest and stretch properly, you’ll be much more prone to injury. I don’t know about you, but I’d be pretty pissed if I hurt myself right before race day. No thank you!

Don’t do it unless you want to. I’ve tried to be a runner all my life, but it’s never worked. And while I don’t consider myself a “true” runner yet, I’m on my way. But it’s different now because I’m enjoying it. As much as I bitch and moan about it running, I’m actually starting to not hate it (shhh!)

If you can, grab a buddy! My husband and I decided to run the half marathon together, and that makes long runs so much more bearable. Having another person there to help hold me accountable makes all the difference!

There you have it! The four basic tips that are helping me inch towards the finish line. If you like running, eating and laughing – come visit me over at The Lunchbox Diaries or chat with me on Twitter!

Guest Post: Katie

309 days

by Brittany in Guest Blog Posts

Hello my awesome readers! If you hadn’t heard, i got a job!!!! I had the interview yesterday morning and the interview went great! They hired me and i started yesterday afternoon Today is my first full day training!

My lovely friend Katie is here today to do a guest blog post! I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting her at Fitbloggin! She’s just as kind and hilarious in person as she is on her blog! Check out Katie’s post as she talks about staying healthy on vacation!

Katie Heddleston is the author and Registered Dietitian behind her blog Healthy Heddleston. She is a gluten-free half marathoner and writes about her gluten-free lifestyle, her progress with running, and so much more!

Staying Healthy on Vacation

Pre-Vacation

Plan a vacation that fits your healthy lifestyle – Know you love the water or want a bike trail near by? How about the ability to walk everywhere? Plan a vacation spot somewhere that will both suit your needs and your healthy lifestyle needs.

Pack to be active – Pack those sneakers and a few workout outfits so you are ready for any active adventure you may seek during vacation.

Pack healthy snacks for travel – Whether you are driving or flying, I bet you’ll have a little room to bring a few healthy snacks at least for the time you are traveling. Throw some apples, dried fruit, granola, peanut butter crackers, or some nuts in your bag to have a healthy snack within reach while traveling!

Pack sunscreen, bug spray, a small first aid kit, etc. – Staying healthy on vacation isn’t just about what your eat and how much you move, make sure you pack essentials to prevent sunburn, bug bites,

During-Vacation

Balance indulgences with healthy food – Staying somewhere with a kitchen? Balance eating out with eating in. Staying somewhere without a kitchen? While dining out, pick your splurge, but not all of them. Maybe you crave the bread basket? Perhaps you enjoy a glass of wine with dinner? Maybe tonight you’d really like a chocolate dessert? Plan ahead with which you will enjoy while dining out, but pick one instead of all.

Bring a workout DVD – Is your vacation on a tight schedule? Throw a workout DVD in your bag to pull our when needed.

Run a race – Planning a race around a vacation or planning a vacation around a race, is a great way to experience a new place in a unique environment – plus you are staying active at the same time.

Wear sunscreen – Lather up if you are somewhere sunny! You don’t want yourself or your family to get sunburned and damage your skin – plus, sunburn is uncomfortable!

Informal exercise counts! – Long walks on the beach in between laying-out and climbing those lighthouse stairs are all forms of informal exercise! You may not realize how much you actually are staying healthy while on vacation.

Stay hydrated – While you are enjoying your vacation; make sure you aren’t forgetting to drink your water! Staying hydrated, especially if you are in a warm climate, will keep you from experiencing dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea – all symptoms of dehydration.

Be adventurous (but safe!) – Vacation can be a great time to try new activities. I know the first time I experience most water sports like water skiing, tubing, knee boarding, and more, that I was on vacation. Make sure you are in a safe environment with trained teachers if you are trying something new while on vacation.

Make sleep a priority – I know this is hard to do since you want to see and do everything, but doing your best to make sure you get enough shut eye will ensure that you have enough energy for days full of sightseeing!

Post-Vacation

Jump back into your normal eating/exercise routine – When you get back home don’t stay on vacation mode. Jump right back into your normal active lifestyle!

Don’t get down on yourself or have guilt – Gain a couple pounds while on vacation? Didn’t workout as much as you would have liked? Vacation is over and today is a new day! Don’t feel guilty and just get back in the swing of things!