Do you guys ever have those moments where you’re thinking about a million different things at once and you’re anxious, stressed and excited all at once? Me right now. I can’t even tell you guys how much I have been both dreading and looking forward to October these past two few weeks. It’s one of those times when I have so much planned, tons of work to do both in and out of school and I’m traveling to Ohio and Kansas. All in a short four weeks.

I used to think that there were too many hours in a day and now it feels like there definitely aren’t enough. Who’s with me on that one?

But instead of focusing on the future (I have an awful habit of doing that), I’m bringing you what’s been happening in life lately. I seriously love doing these posts because in my personal opinion, recipes 24-7 can be a bit boring. I personally love reading other lifestyle and wellness blogger’s posts on what they’ve been up to and their favorite happenings throughout the week. It’s a breath of fresh air. So today I’m chatting about the last week of September/the first week of October (yay fall).

For starters, if you follow me on Instagram you’ll know I quit coffee last week. I’ve done this multiple times because I often over-do things and it’s hard to find a balance. I was coffee-free for 9 days and once I reached the hump of nausea and headaches three days in a row, I felt phenomenal. But when the weather was rainy and nap-worthy Friday, all I wanted was my go-to Whole Foods almond milk latte, extra hot. So it happened.

Sometimes you just gotta feed the coffee beast inside of you.

Along with that, I recently watched a video on if coffee affects our health from one of my favorite RD’s and I strongly recommend giving it a watch.

Aside from the coffee, I’ve been getting very into pumpkin-related foods lately. If you checked out my previous post on my Pumpkin Seed Cupcakes, you’ll know pumpkin is my go-to fix this month. So far I’ve made pumpkin overnight oats, paleo pumpkin waffles with cinnamon roasted apples and yogurt (my favorite indulgence) and chocolate chip pumpkin banana bread (recipe coming this weekend!) which means I’m deep into the black hole of pumpkin season.

There’s no going back from here until December, people.

If you’re one of those people that is a pumpkin spice latte lover, try scooping 1/4 cup of real pumpkin puree into your coffee with non-dairy milk and ice! I love this combination and you can pick up organic pumpkin from Trader Joe’s now for a solid $2. Steal right thereeee. 

The middle of last week I had the chance to attend an event hosted by Sweetgreen and Freehand Chicago in the city. I brought along my blogger friend Sam and we noshed on the Pesto Portobello salad (one of Sweetgreen’s new menu items for the fall), butternut squash flatbreads, tons of veggies and hummus (the best appetizer an event could have let’s be real) and these drinks.

Freehand Chicago is a small hotel in Chicago’s River North that has an attached bar inside called The Broken Shaker. The event had a few new drinks from their menu including this gem that was a mix of pumpkin, beet and tequila with a salt rim and a yellow pepper slice. Put vegetables in a cocktail and you automatically win me over.

But as if the drinks and food weren’t great as is, Chance the Rapper’s brother Anthony Bennett performed. Literally right in front of the couch we were sitting on. He’s a phenomenal up and coming rapper so if you can, I highly suggest checking him out.  I can’t forget to mention his mom and godmother asking me to take a photo for them. What a night.

Then of course as usual, I spun my head off at Studio Three. You guys, I wish I could tell you how happy this place makes me but all I can say is seriously this place makes me so. freaking. happy. I wrote a post about it earlier this year but it wasn’t until June when I got hooked on it and started coming every week. This relationship isn’t sponsored whatsoever but I always talk about it because the endorphins and energy I get when I come in and walk out of this place are on another level.

If you check out their schedule and pop in for a visit, make sure you attend Danny’s 75 minute hot power flow class on Monday nights or take a double with May and I on Fridays led by Sayre (4:30pm and 5:30pm). 

It was my first time taking a double class (that means 45 minutes of riding, a 15 minute break and 45 more minutes) ever on Friday but the energy and music was so contagious (as it always is in Sayre’s class) that the second class felt like it flew by in 45 seconds. So much fun.

Last but not least, if you don’t know by now… I’m addicted to Siggi’s Dairy yogurt and snack on it every chance I get. I always carry coupons with me so if I’m stuck in between class and a workout downtown, I can pick up my favorite 0% vanilla flavor for a snack at Whole Foods. Since it’s such a big part of my overall diet, I wanted to return the love to a reader. That’s why I teamed up with them to host a giveaway for a month’s worth of free product gift certificates. The contest ends Friday and the information to enter is on my ‘gram!

Hit it up 😉

Happy Monday!
Here’s to one crazy week, more recipes and a relaxing weekend to look forward to.

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