Time to kick off the guest posts! This one is a Q & A with Gracie from the blog Girl Meets Health! She is an awesome chick and blogs about many interesting topics. Read through her Q & A and then look forward to some posts on other topics coming up over the weekend. See you all soon!

1. Give a brief description of your blog.

Girl Meets Health is a blog about healthy living. I think my tagline says it all: Life is tough, but being healthy doesn't have to be. You see, I used to think that being healthy was solely about nutrition and fitness, but boy was I wrong. I now believe that being truly healthy begins with mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Furthermore, being healthy does *not* have to be difficult or burdensome! In my mind, healthy habits and goals should only ADD to one’s quality of life – not take away from it. And that's what I hope to convey to my readers.

2. What does blogging do for you? Why do you enjoy it?

Blogging has changed my life in ways that I certainly did not imagine or anticipate. First of all, I have formed so many meaningful relationships with other bloggers and readers, which I wouldn’t give up for the world. It has also shown me just how passionate I am about writing and sharing my voice with others. I’ve learned that I can make an impact, even if it’s a small one. Blogging has also taught me a lot about myself and my health philosophy. I feel like blogging is a continuous learning experience, and in my mind, that's priceless. Oh, and did I mention that blogging is just plain fun? 🙂

3. What is your favorite food? Nutritional value does not matter, so choose anything!

Gosh, that’s probably the most difficult question you could ask a food-lover like myself 😛 My top five are: cookies, pizza, pancakes, gnocchi, and sushi.

4. What is your favorite type of workout? Why do you love it?

Hands down – Yoga. I just started doing it a few months ago but instantly fell in love. To me, no form of exercise is as physically *and* mentally rewarding as Yoga. I also love Yoga because, well, I feel like I’m good at it! I’m certainly no pro-yogini, but I’ve found that I’m much stronger and more flexible than I thought. If I had to pick a second favorite workout – it would be strength training.

5. What is a current goal you are working towards?

My main goal right now is to figure out what I want to do with my life. Hefty goal, huh? 😛 You see, I just graduated from college in December, so I’m in that awkward stage of life where I’m not in school anymore but not quite in a career. My dream is to start and own my own business, which I’m hoping to make into a reality over the next couple of years. Another goal of mine is to save money so that I can do some traveling!

6. What is something important that you have overcome, are working towards overcoming, or hope to overcome one day?

My biggest vice is that I'm too much of a worrier/over-thinker. I try to plan and control every aspect of my life, and I'm really working on just letting go. I'm certainly making progress in that area, but I'd like to become even more laid back and spontaneous. I need to continue striving to rely on God rather than on my own self-sufficiency because He knows me better than I know myself! Not to mention that life is too short to be anxious all of the time, don't you think?

7. What is your favorite inspirational quote?

“Fall seven times, get up eight.” - Japanese Proverb

8. What are some things on your "Bucket List"?

• Fall in love/get married
• Have children
• Travel as much as possible (I especially want to visit Israel)
• Write a book

9. What is something you know now that you wish you knew 5-10 years ago?

I wish I would've spent less time worrying about what other people thought of me. I probably could've accomplished much more in life! I now seek to please God, my loved-ones, and myself. In fact, I'm still realizing that being selfish isn't always a bad thing.

10. Name one crazy, random fact about you.

When I was a child I had 3 front teeth. I had the middle one surgically removed at age 4. Beat THAT, haha!

11. If you won the lottery, what would be your first big purchase?

I'd probably go to a tropical resort for a week of spa treatments....and bring a personal chef with me 😀

12. List 5 of your favorite things.

1. food (specifically desserts!)

2. spending time with the people I love

3. animals

4. massages

5. LAUGHING! Can that count as a thing? 🙂

Question from Tina…What is YOUR favorite inspirational quote? I need ideas people!

…auf weidersehen, good-bye…Song of Music, anyone?? This will be my last post for this week, but I will be back for a few posts at the beginning of next week before heading out for trip #2. So, please…don’t cry for me Argentina bloggie readers, the truth is I never left won’t leave you. Okay, okay. I’m done with the musical lyrics. Be thankful you can’t hear me sing them. That would assure you would never come back here ever again and I don’t want that because…

Now, I’m really done! If you can’t already tell, I’m feeling a bit better today. I don’t know what is up, but the past couple of days I have been feeling way more energetic in the morning. Normally I wake up already fatigued, but this week that has not been the case. I think it may be because I am succumbing to naps and getting more hours of sleep at night. If it allows me to feel like my normal self until lunchtime I will be certain to get that extra sleep! I do still feel like crap by 3 pm and still have taste-buds that are all sorts of wonky, so it’s all relative.

Just because I am not at my best, however, doesn’t mean I can’t still always do my best under the current circumstances. It would appear that since being pregnant I have just succumbed to the “eat whatever I want and not give a tiny rat’s @$$” mentality. Well, I guess that would be partially true, because I do always eat what I want and what I enjoy over what I “should” anyways. Now, the things I want (or to clarify, anything that isn’t on the “I simply CANNOT eat that right now” list) aren’t always as wholesome and nutritious as I like. So, what’s a gal to do? Recognize that it’s okay and still choose the best options of those that appeal to me as often as possible. I never believe in force feeding yourself something for any reason, pregnant or not.

Since the “I simply CANNOT eat that right now” list I mentioned above is fairly limited, I have been eating pretty much the same things day in and day out for the past few weeks. And there is some sort of semblance of healthy living in the meals, so I go with it. It helps balance out the Mexican & DQ so I’m not in maternity clothes at only 2 months pregnant.

Although, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. They may not be the most attractive, but those stretchy waistbands are heaven! Moving on now…

A typical day for me goes something along the lines of waking up at 6:00 hahaahaha 7:00 and reading my Bible/praying before rolling out of bed in time to get Makenzie up. Then we quickly get dressed and eat breakfast. My breakfast of choice lately? A honey wheat bagel with cream cheese and some homemade local grown strawberry jelly…thanks to the sis-in-law. Oh, and the requisite prenatal vitamin on the side.

After breakfast, I determine if the gym is a go. I always get dressed in my gym clothes so that way it is easy to head out to the gym if I am feeling up for it. Since my get-more-sleep revelation, I have been making it to the gym per my normal schedule. Yesterday I did spin, today I did Power, and tomorrow I am hoping to get in some Kick. After the gym, I come home and refuel with a big banana.

Bananas are typically one of my least-favorite fruits, but not now. I HAVE to have one a day. Mmmm, bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S! I couldn’t help myself!!!

I spend Makenzie’s morning nap getting my blog post organized for the day and doing other little household chores. Then, once she wakes up it is time for some lunch. My lunch adoration these days? Grilled cheese and soup.

Yes, it is crazy hot outside in Georgia most days right now, but I still want soup. I am in L-O-L-O-L-O-L-O-V-E with soup. They may not be homemade (I may be crazy to eat it, but I’m not stupid enough to be slaving over a hot soup pot in Georgia heat people!), but they will do for now. In all their sodium-laden glory. And it is a way to get some semblance of veggies in there. While we’re at it, I even get some veggies in with my one daily handful of these babies.

I kid. I kid. I know potato chips aren’t a veggie! They still are good though. And salt + vinegar chips speak to me these days. I don’t feel bad. One handful won’t kill me. Just like one bowl of cereal a day for my afternoon snack won’t kill me either.

Mom’s Best Naturals Cinnamon Squares is the cereal of choice right now. I don’t know why, but kiddy style cereal is a nonstop craving of mine during pregnancy. I don’t foresee this bowl going anywhere anytime soon.

Amidst eating all of this, M & I do lots of playing before the 3:00 slump rolls around. Then we resign to the couch with piles of books and 20 minutes of Elmo’s World. I am so proud of her. She knows over half of her letters now. A, B, C, D, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, Q, S, T, W, X, Y, and Z! I guess pregnancy sickness does have it’s benefits because she just soaks up time with her mommy and her favorite alphabet book. All I have to do is answer her on each page when she asks “Whassat?” and she gets it so fast. I love my little bookworm!

After all that fun, and the occasional torture of reading Panda Bear, Panda Bear What do you See? a thousand times in a row (the most repetitive, dull book EVER but she loves it), it is time for dinner. Last night we opted for lasagna and I snuck in one of the 3 or 4 veggies I actually like right now -- sweet potatoes, corn, tomatoes (OH TOMATOES!!!), and peas.

Not too long after dinner, I chill on the couch and then go crash in bed. There you have it! It may not be perfect and I know there are better foods and options for things, but I’m giving my best effort and feel good with it. Now, it is time to say goodbye since I will be packing all day tomorrow and heading to bed early for our early start to Indy. Have wonderful weeks and I will see you all next Monday! 🙂

• Can you eat soups or traditional cold-weather foods during warmer months? Or what about eating icecream in winter?
• What is your favorite flavor of potato chip and your favorite kiddy cereal?