They gave me a Juris Doctorate? They gave me a JD!

Oh my goodness, the last few weeks have flown by incredibly fast. After finishing my last classes, last finals and papers and going to South Carolina for a week to relax at the beach, I finally graduated law school this past Sunday.

Now that things have quieted down again, I've had a little bit of time to reflect. (I'll also be back to blogging regularly again.)

It's been a wild three years and it's hard to imagine that come next fall, I won't be packing my car up and headed down to the valley by the Blue Ridge mountains. I'll miss the hiking and the wineries, I'll miss the intimate music venues and the fact that there's a Cookout down the road. I'll miss the brick lined streets and the Jeffersonian architecture, I'll miss going to class and I may even miss outlining. But mostly I'll miss the incredible friends that I've made here and hopefully the memories of the last three years will sustain me as I make the strange and surreal transition to a new city to start a new life, surrounded by new people.

Some snapshots of the people, places and things that I have loved for three years. Oh, and some of graduation as well:

 

 

I've been listening to Macklemore's Cowboy Boots on repeat as I pack up my apartment, which is only making me more nostalgic. I am excited and scared about the next step, but considering we don't have much choice... it's time to move on.

xoxo,

Protein Bars: An Odyssey Three Years in the Making

Just so we're on the same page: This isn't a sponsored post, I'm not endorsing any kind of protein bar over another, I wasn't given any of these bars to try and I've never spoken to anyone from from any of these companies. I've just been on a series of trial and error with protein bars over the last few years and thought I would share.

About two years ago when I started law school, the style of my life suddenly changed. My 1L year I kept hours from 6 am sometimes until 2 or 3 am. Sometimes I would grab lunch from the student cafeteria, sometimes lunch would be cupcakes from one of the various student organizations bake sales. I ate occasionally and not very well.

I distinctly remember a night in the middle of first semester finals when, crying out of sheer exhaustion a girlfriend of mine and I crawled into bed each with a bag of dark chocolate M&Ms, a bottle of wine and finished both. Did I also mention I was 1.) being a baby and 2.) had yet to learn to manage stress? 

When I finished my first semester finals I went home and was sick for two weeks straight. Second semester I decided I needed to set some priorities. I still didn't have time to even go grocery shopping, much less actually meal plan. My alternatives were Lean Cuisines and pre-packaged snacks. I started going running and to spin class as stress relief and knew enough to know that these snacks were not going to cut it for energy. I needed protein.

Enter the dark mysterious world of protein bars.

THIS is what I thought of when I thought of a protein bar:

 

It's back day, brah, gotta get my swell on.

Something the massive gym-rats from my freshman dorm used to consume along with their protein and creatine shakes. Never in my life had I seen a girl eat a power bar. I had absolutely no idea where to start.

But the connivence store at law school sold CLIF Bars and I was hungry, so that's where my adventure began. Eventually it lead to a series of trying different bars. I get bored easily so it's been an interesting few years. I have various leftovers of previous bars in the back of my cabinet, just in case. Here are my thoughts on most of them:

CLIF bars:

Taste: 100/10 A++++

I mean really, have you had these guys? Yes, yes you have. There is a reason why they're so popular. They're incredibly delicious. Carrot cake? Mmm. Cool mint chocolate? To die for. The texture is totally normal too. They have a ton of different flavors to keep you interested too.

Ease: 10/10

They sell them just about everywhere. Grocery stores, CVS, at school, where-ever.

Nutrition: 5/10

These are just too high in calories for my daily consumption. Ranging from 250 to over 300 calories per bar, these are more for meal-replacement. They also offer protein on the lower side of the scale, usually around 10 (but sometimes up to 20) grams. Additionally, like many other protein bars, they're high in sugar, again hovering around 20 grams. For perspective, true candy bars have between 20-30 grams of sugar in them.

SlimFast Bars

Taste: 9/10... if you have a sweet tooth.

These suckers are really really sweet. I mean really really sweet. If you can get over the weird texture of the protein (a re-occuring issue in almost all protein bars) they taste so much like eating a candy bar, it's almost unfair to candy bars. In the end though, there just isn't enough variation and I got very sick of their super-sugary-ness rather quickly.

Ease: 5/10

You really have to find these in the diet/special needs isles of the grocery store, next to the Ensure usually and the maybe one or two things of whey protein your store might carry. They're hidden in the back of connivence stores, but only sometimes.

Nutrition: 5/10

SlimFast bars are lower in calories (around 200 a bar) and in sugar, around 13g. a bar but also lower in protein - hovering around 8g. a bar. To me, they tasted like eating a candy bar and that alone was enough to confuse my nutrition based side.

Special K Bars


Taste: 3/10... no thanks.

Blech. So these were NOT for me. I didn't like the texture at all. It was like a sad, wannabe rice crispy treat. Too chewy and not crunchy enough. Such a strange combination, which was disappointing because I really love almost everything else Special K makes. They have some kind of magic touch. The bars are also very, very small.

Ease: 5/10

Again, you can find these mostly in the diet/special dietary needs area of the grocery store. I haven'tt seen them at my local CVS although I hear rumors that they're in some.

Nutrition: 5/10

Checking in at 170 calories, 10g. of protein and 15g. of sugar, they're about average, but not exceptional in the nutrition area.

Luna Bars


Taste: 0/10... no thanks.

Confession: I've never been able to eat a whole one of these. I'm lucky if I can get to a second bite. They're chewy, crunchy-ish and taste like you're eating cardboard. I don't understand at all how they're so popular.

Ease: 5/10

Again, you can find these mostly in the diet/special dietary needs area of the grocery store. I have not seen them at my local CVS although I hear rumors that they're in some.

Nutrition: 5/10

Between 180 and 200 calories, 1 g. of sugar and 10-12g. of protein it stacks up similarly against other protein bars, but still doesn't offer anything to make up for it's disgusting taste. I just don't get it guys - what am I missing here?

Lara Bars

Taste: 1000/10... absolutely delicious!

These guys are probably the most delicious little things in the world. The peanut butter and jelly tastes exactly like a PB&J sandwich, the cherry pie and apple pie versions are a perfect dessert snack. Sadly, they're even smaller than the Special K protein bars - only about an inch by 2.5 inches, maybe 3.

Ease: 8/10

You can find these just about anywhere, although my favorite place to get them is at Sams Club where you can by a large variety box for pretty cheap. The biggest downside is they're a little expensive, but you can always make your own at home. Just Google "Larabar recipes"

Nutrition: 6/10

Between 180 and 230 calories, Lara bars really straddle the range. They aren't really a protein bar though, most hover around 5g. of protein. They do offer something really special that none of the other bars do: simple, non-additive ingredients. Most of the ingredient lists are between 3-5 recognizable ingredients long. Usually including dates (for the sweetness and chewy texture) and whatever is added for the flavor (peanuts, etc.). The sugars are also high: up to 20g. again, even though they're natural and not added sugars.

Balance Bars

Taste: 8/10

I probably spent the longest amount of time eating Balance bars because they have the greatest variety of flavors. Some are better than others, but overall they do the best at masking that strange protein texture. I really liked the chocolate chip cookie dough, yogurt honey and peanut butter ones... the flavors were very true to what they said they were.

Ease: 4/10

Again, you can find these mostly in the diet/special dietary needs area of the grocery store and at Target, but not every grocery store caries them and they definitely are not in most convenience stores.

Nutrition: 5/10

Between 180 and 200 calories, around 15g. of sugar and 15g. of protein it's a little heavy on the sugar but also gives you more protein than the other options.

Think Thin Bars:

Taste: 0/10

I'm going to be honest here, I spat these back out. I even tried three flavors: chocolate, peanut butter and white chocolate. I ate less than a bite of each. I can't even... ugh. And they leave this nasty rubber-like aftertaste in your mouth for hours.

Ease: 4/10

I picked up a bunch at Whole Foods and I know they have them at Target but I haven't really looked around too much for them. I grabbed these because they were a new option at Whole Foods I hadn't tried and thought you guys might like to see. BIG MISTAKE.

Nutrition: 9/10

Well, to their credit, these bars have 0g. of sugar and 20g. of protein for about 240 calories. I'm also convinced they contain rat poison because they taste so foul, butttttt that's just my opinion. 

... and the winner is...

Quest Bars

Taste: 8/10

These guys are pretty good. Some flavors are really closer to a 10/10. They have a different texture than the usual protein texture, but they still have a slightly grainy taste to them. They are 100% better microwaved for 10 seconds though. It's like eating a completely different bar. Just 10 seconds, or they get hard and strange. But that 10 seconds turns them into a warm, soft, gooey delicious meal.

Ease: 2/10

This is probably the worst thing about Quest bars: they're not easy to get. You either have to order them online in large amounts (at least 12 at a time) or track them down at your local nutrition store like GNC, which is what I did. I'd love to see these become more popularly available because so far, they seem like the best option.

Nutrition: 10/10

Between 160 and 200 calories, Quest offers two lines of bars, their 99.95% natural and 100% natural lines. They're also both low carb and gluten free and are very, very, very low in sugar, which is the reason I found them in the first place. Most bars are around 1-2g. of sugar and all of them are around 20g. of protein, offering the most protein and the lowest amount of sugar while still tasting delish. I also like that they use whey protein and not soy protein, since I'm still wary about my soy-intake.

Right now Quest bars are my go-to bar. I love the idea that they're so low in sugar (sweetened with Stevia, not Splenda or other artificial sweeteners). I'm hoping in the future low-sugar bars will become more in-demand, forcing other companies to lower the sugar in theirs and broadening the options. For right now though, it's worth the trip to my local GNC and fighting the lax-bros because they're delicious and nutritious.

Have a favorite protein bar?

Any other suggestions for me to try out? 

xoxo

Weekend Wrapup: Horse Race Edition

The closer I get to graduation, the better my weekends are. It's like they really don't want me to leave this place. It's hard to remember even where to start!

Friday I found out an appeal I wrote a brief in opposition to was denied, so my friends and I went out to celebrate.

(English translation: when a someone is unhappy with their trial in court and has been convicted, they can appeal the decision to a higher court. In order to do so they, or their lawyer, must write a brief, or a long paper, explaining why they're appealing. Usually that the judge applied a rule of law wrong or some part of the judicial process didn't meet the set requirements. Then opposing counsel, or me, in this case since my office was responsible for the conviction, writes an opposing brief making all of the counter arguments. If we win, the case is final. We won and the case doesn't have to be retried, saving my office a lot of work.)

Good friends, pizza and Sam Adams summer

Saturday we were up early and off to the races:

We had a great time. Played a lot of cornhole, made friends with the undergrad Glee Club and won a couple of serenades from them, bet on some horses, lost those bets, and ate a lot of bagels and fried chicken. The weather was perfect - mid 70s and sunny.

I've decided SPF 55 isn't doing it for me any more though - I need SPF Irish.

I spent Saturday night nursing my sunburn (which I have dubbed "funburn") and catching up on Game of Thrones.

... and just in case you thought I was having too much fun this weekend, I leave you with a picture of my Sunday and every day from here on out:

Casebooks, supplements, outlining and ice cream.

... and that's what I'm going back to. Sigh. Come back weekend!

xoxo,

LAST Last Day of Class Ever

I know these "I'm graduating OMGEEE" posts are going to get old. But they aren't going anywhere for a little while yet, because I just can't get over how weird it is to be done with my formal education for good.

Yesterday I had my last day of classes, ever.* I felt mostly excited and slightly bittersweet. I haven't loved every second of law school, but I have always loved education and learning. At the end of classes, we applaud our professors out of the classroom (old school) and my last class happened to be with one of my favorite professors ever. I was biting back the misty eyes a bit.

Anyway, please excuse if things are a little quieter around here. I know I am terribly behind on responding to comments and emails. I'll still be posting 3-4 times a week if I can, but not every day. I have finals to study for now (yuck) and I'm really trying to live every moment of my last month. (Expect an update about the horse races I'm going to tomorrow though, because hello! horse races!)

In the meantime, check out the Spotify playlist I've had on repeat while I study:

* For those interested in law/legal careers - I'm considering getting my MPH (masters in public health) in a few years because I'm hoping to get involved in my firm's medical malpractice defense practice group, but it would be part-time while working and not the same as this full time graduate school business. 

xoxo

Obsessed: It Always Comes Down to Food

Because everyone should know about the things that I'm currently obsessing over, here's a list of some of my favorites this week:

1. Hemlock Grove

The new original series by Netflix is like a combination of American Horror Story, Dexter and Teen Wolf. I'm about halfway through the season and I still haven't entirely figured out what's going on yet, but I like that about the show. It's also really, really well produced. Warning: It is both graphic and freaky as all get-out.

2. White Chocolate Wonderful Peanut Butter

I had this stuff for the first time Sunday on our hike and promptly went out and bought my own jar. Since then I've eaten about half of it. Lesson learned: don't keep this in the cabinet. But sooo good.

3. Mellow Yellow Nail Polish

I wanted a fun spring/summer color and originally went hunting for neon yellow but picked up this gem when I saw it. I love the warm, sun-shiney yellow and can't wait to show my nails off.

4. Artic Zero "Ice Cream"

Ever want to eat the entire pint of Ben and Jerry's? I do all the time, even though I really, really, really shouldn't. An entire pint of Arctic Zero however, is only 150 calories. It doesn't taste quite like ice cream and is made with whey protein, but it's gluten and lactose free and the mint chocolate version is quite delicious. Pro Tip: Strawberry tastes SUPER fake and Vanilla Maple is just plain weird. The Chocolate Peanut Butter version is delicious in shakes, but the Chocolate Mint is so good I eat it right out of the carton.

5. The Tone It Up Girls

I mentioned earlier that I'm trying to get back in shape and these girls have been my saving grace. From easy to plan and remember meals to lots and lots of YouTube workouts to daily motivational emails and tweets, these girls are really pushing through the month to graduation. 

6. Trader Joe's Cinnamon Almonds

They should really just call these what they are, "cinnamon SUGAR" almonds or "delicious almonds" because that's what they are. I've used these to replace my usual sweets/desserts and have had no sugar cravings whatsoever. And this is coming from a girl who just can't give up her chocolate.

7. These Sparkly Gold TOMs wannabes from Target

Meet all of my requirements: comfortable, cheap and sparkly! I wish they were as friendly as real TOMs so I could feel good about my purchase, but since they're going to be worn in the mud at a horse race, I didn't want to pay full price for TOMs only to ruin them.

That's it for this week, anyone on board with me for these?

xoxo

Weekend Bucket-Listing

As of today I have exactly 25 days until graduation. (Yay!)

I have absolutely loved living in central Virginia for the last few years, it's absolutely beautiful. I woke up a few weeks ago and realized all those things I had been putting of because I had school work to do were never going to get done if I didn't start on my bucket list. This weekend was one for the record books.

Friday: We spent the day hitting up the vineyards. It was kind of dreary and we were bored. That's the most amazing thing about this area. What do you do when you're bored? Casually suggest hitting up some vineyards.

Saturday: My small section from 1L year got together to play a reunion softball tournament. We wore our first year shirts, had our first year banner and found our first year walk out songs. It was both nostalgic and horrifying - I really have no desire to rewind three years. But we had a ton of fun and you can bet your butt that I brought everything a good softball mom should: orange slices, capri suns, chocolate chip cookies, gushers and fruit roll ups.

Some fantastic looking tournament not-winners.

Sunday: Some of my more adventurous friends and I woke up really early on Sunday to hike Old Rag. It's a 8.5 mile hike in the Shenandoah Valley to one of the most beautiful views on the East Coast. We ended up having an absolutely gorgeous day for it - sunny but cool - perfect for a longer, more strenuous hike.

Besties, chillin on a mountain.

It was a wonderful weekend and I am very bummed to be back to the grind this morning. I am excited that this is my last week of classes ever!

xoxo

Preview to Summer: My Three Favorites

I love recommending books for other people, I love to think about who they are and what kind of books they like and make a few recommendations with the hope that they'll like one or two. So I really loved this prompt as part of the Preview to Summer blogger book swap, what are your top three favorite books? I have so many favorites I was so excited that I get to pick three, so I picked from three different genres.

1. Modern Fiction

Gone With the Wind
Margaret Mitchell

Forget the movie if you've seen it, while it's a classic in it's own right, it doesn't come close to capturing the amazing characters in Gone With the Wind. From the strong, independent, overly passionate Scarlett to the infuriatingly charming, tempered, snarky Rhett. These characters quickly become your best friends.

“No, I don't think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That's what's wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.”

2. Chick Lit

About That Night

Julie James

Julie James writes what I like to call "smart girl chick lit." If you like strong female characters who are just as capable both personally and career wise as their very steamy counterparts, then you have to pick up a Julie James book. About that Night is still my favorite after all these years.

“Kyle had to give her credit; it took skill—plus no heart and a serious abuse of the English language— to break up with someone in fewer than 140 characters.”

3. Memoirs

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) 
Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling is a smart, strong, funny, confident woman... but she wasn't always that way. She captures all of the insecurities and hilarities of daily life with the style of your best friend whispering in your ear. If you haven't read this yet (I hope most of you have) no book will make you feel better about your own doubts and fumblings through life.

“If I’m at a party where I’m not enjoying myself, I will put some cookies in my jacket pocket and leave without saying good-bye.”






Other favorites that I didn't include, because if I included them on every favorites list I'd never talk about anything else include: Harry Potter, Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series, anything by Chuck Palahniuk or Gillian Flynn, The China Garden, and The Time Traveler's Wife.

I already love how interactive and creative this book swap is and can't wait to find out who I'm paired with this week!

xoxo,