Another long week is almost over; I can see the the light at the end of the tunnel! Haven't got too much going on this weekend, which is more than fine with me. If I hadn't mentioned before, I'm doing 3 weeks of interviews (with socials the evenings before) for an accounting program I'm in. It's been nice to come home, turn my brain off a little bit and get cozy in my unmade bed. So here are some less intense links that caught my attention:

1. I'm on a Hamilton high after my sister introduced me to the musical over Spring break. The lyrics are super catchy, the songs are practically rap, there's history involved. What's not to like? I just HAD to take this Buzzfeed quiz because I have a Buzzfeed problem. (I can't stop doing their daily crosswords no matter how terrible I am at them) In other recent musical news, RENT, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder and Finding Neverland are all showing in the Dallas this broadway season. There goes my wallet....



2. Read Foodiecology's healthy living ABCs a few days ago. Thought it was a super fun idea! Using this as inspiration to make my own at some point. Stay tuned!

3. I had leftover canned pumpkin from making that chocolate cake so THIS LOAF happened (but I still have leftover pumpkin sitting in the fridge....aaaaawkward) Happy half Halloween!!! Yes, I am making that validation for my use of pumpkin. Though why does Fall have to get all the fun? Spring deserves some punkin' lovin' too. And you only need one bowl?! Yes puh-lease. Kaylee: 1, Dishes: 0.

This tastes better than it looks I promise!

4. Sleep Habits of College Students -- Interesting to see how others live. On the topic of sleep, I have not been sleeping well these past couple of weeks. Blame it on my subconscious anxiety for these interviews, these horrible allergies, still not adjusting to daylight saving time, whatever. I am far from your average college student; I am a morning person as much as I hate to admit it. Even on weekends, I am awake by 7:30, which is an ungodly time for most. I try to get 7-8 hours of sleep a day. My typical bedtime routine involves some form of reading, blogging or writing. I'm usually in bed by midnight but my mind has pretty much shut off waaaay before then. I wouldn't be able to function if I had to stay up all night. Sad, but true.

5. I think I found my new pick-me-up song! Try hard not to dance with this song. Even though my musical tastes have expanded since high school, The Maine will always remain one of those that I keep coming back to. P.S. Please know that wherever, whoever, whatever you are right at this moment, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.


Here's what the lead singer writes:

You are beautiful because your eyes are different sizes and your lisp gets in between your tongue and teeth every time you try to say "something". You are beautiful because the scar under your chin looks like a spider and because you have a massive fear of heights. You are beautiful because there never has been, nor will there every be anyone else on this Earth like you. Because your flaws are like fingerprints and should be embraced just like the free will that resides inside. You are not beautiful because of the symmetry in the little squares on your telephone, you are beautiful because "you" are the only "you" this place will ever know. -John C. O'Callaghan V.

Questions:
Got any simple ways to use pumpkin? (I am desperate 😭 )
What's your bedtime routine? Are you a morning person? 
Name one of your go-to feel-good songs! 

 Over the past months, I've enjoyed reading others' posts so I decided to partake in Thinking Out Loud today too. Thank you Amanda for these Thursdays! This may not be a super exciting, fun topic to ramble about but I've been thinking a lot lately about my struggles in recovery, or actually the lack thereof, and what it means. Honestly, I just want your thoughts/advice/words of wisdom/musings.

I've been feeling strangely good about my recovery. I have overcome many of my previous fear foods, allowed myself to nibble when I'm hungry though I know a bigger meal is next, managed to shush my inner comparison critic and eat for myself with others present. I haven't been struggling as much as I was, which may seem like a positive thing.

But I wonder if this a sign of recovery or a sign of backsliding? Am I not challenging myself enough? Am I unknowingly lying to myself? My counselor encouraged me to trust myself--trust that maybe I am recovering. I guess I'm scared of accepting that because I don't know what recovery feels like exactly. Because I don't know what it means to have a healthy relationship with food anymore. Because I don't know where to go next.

P.S. These past few days have been nonstop. I'm exhausted; hence the quick post. It's also almost my bed time (aka midnight) so I hope what I'm saying makes sense! But hey, I guess the mind doesn't make sense half the time, yeah?

Questions:
How do you cope with doubt? 
Any other thoughts? 

Somehow I managed to simultaneously have the busiest yet most unproductive week (but really 10 days) ever. So to be honest I was originally going to post this last Friday until I realized Meghan's link-up is actually for Mondays... #kaylfayl Thus, here we are. Back to school. On this Monday morning. Yay. Sense my enthusiasm?

Here were some of the highlights from my Spring break:

• Walked around the lake pond thing near my parents' house with my father dearest. Look at that glorious sunshine! ☀️ Summer I'm ready for ya!
• Slept "in" til 9 (*self-five*) when we sprung forward a week ago

• Had a Bachelor Finale watch "party" with my aunt & sister. Side note: Anyone else upset that Jojo is the new bachelorette? Was totally rooting for Caila 😩
• Volunteered for the North Texas Food Bank's mobile community pantry. Sorted, packed and distributed produce galore! 
• Attended not one but TWO classes at Central Market with my mother. I learned a) how ridiculously easy popovers are to make and b) what a Texas 1015 onion is

Maple bacon ice cream with a bacon brittle Bacon definitely makes life better...

Cheddar and thyme scones fresh out of the oven

• Wore sandals out for the first time this 2016! I repeat, summer I'm ready for you!!! 
• Got a much needed haircut. The last time I got it cut was over Thanksgiving break so it had definitely been waaaaaay too long (4 months--ohmygod it's the middle of March) so I had a couple inches chopped off. 
• Went on Sister Whole Foods' date before said haircut

• Finally figured out how to use the filters features on my Snapchat. I may be going a tad crazy with them. Just a tad. I apologize to anyone who follows me for spamming you with my face
• Checked off the majority of my to-do list
• Avoided the things that actually had to be done
• Watched the new Digimon Tri with my sister (and fangirled more than a college student should have over an anime show)
• Celebrated π day in the most rational (HA-HA get it??) way--with pie of course! 

Blueberry 3.14

• Baked a chocolate cake last Saturday afternoon though not eye-pleasing as Tieghan's 
• Skyped with my best friend who's thousands of miles away (SHOUTOUT TO THIS BIRTHDAY GIRL BTW!!!!!!)