Stripes to the Max{i}

First thing, HAPPY FEBRUARY EVERYONE! It is now more than acceptable to wear excessive amounts of pink, red, and sparkles! I mean what more do you need really? Anyways. Back to this black and white outfit.

My wonderful sister has turned me on to stripes. Slowly but surely I have found my closet filled with more and more horizontal lines than I can count. This little number (which is my roommate, Stephie's dress) is the epitome of comfort and style. I could live in this, sleep in this, maybe even go for a jog in it. Okay maybe not... but you get my drift.

[dress: Nordstrom | shoes: Target]

Stripes are staple...so you better get a few into you closet. And a giraffe necklace. 

He's a very faithful and stylish companion. 

World's Easiest Pancakes

This morning I woke up and thought "I want something different for breakfast." I've been eating lots of eggs and smoothies but really wanted to mix it up (gotta keep the most important meal of the day interesting!).

Yesterday while perusing my fair share of blogs and Pinterest, multiple times I stumbled upon these ridiculously easy AND super healthy, "clean" if you will, pancake recipes. I decided to give it a shot this morning, and YUMMMMMMMMMMMM. Very satisfied according to my tummy and smile on my face. So here I give you: the worlds easiest pancakes. 

[yes that is greek yogurt  - nonfat plain - with pineapple in a margarita glass]

The ingredient list is quite extensive so brace yourselves:

A Long Weekend

First off, it's been wayyyyy too long since I've posted [fail on being consistent with this New Years goal], but never too late to get back on track!

I was extremely blessed to spend this long weekend in one of the most beautiful I know: Sunriver. Central Oregon has always had a special place in my heart thanks to my lovely parents taking my sister and I there annually when were little. Its beauty is awesome and words can barely do it justice. It's quite a majestic display of God's creation that always leaves me wonderstruck.

Not only was I blessed my the immaculate and gorgeous scenery, but also the amazing group that I went with. Some old friends and some new ones, all of whom are:

A) hilarious
B) fantastically fun
C) incredible sisters and brothers.

It was one of those groups where I was constantly laughing, continually in quality conversation, and counting my blessings each moment.

It was a weekend perfectly balanced with relaxation and recreation. Snowshoeing is one of my favorite winter activities and we trekked from Mt. Bachelor into the beautiful Todd Lake [even though it look more like Todd snowfield since it was frozen AND snowed over].

What I Wore Wednesday

This outfit is from a couple days ago...btw. I'm definitely in sweat pants right now. However, winter day are the perfect time to bust out the NEON. They make those gray, rainy, never ending days just a litttttttle brighter. Somehow the sun graced us with her presence just in time to snap a few shots.

My amazing bestie Emily played photographer and I say she's got a talent, and should probably make an FB photography page just like every other person who owns a nice camera and can use it ;)

[sweater&shirt: TJ Maxx| jeans: Forever 21|shoes: Target| necklace&headband: J. Crew]

Goals not Resolutions

One week in 2013 is already gone. Can't go back and redo anything, change anything, add something in. All we have is the next 51 weeks. I had a BLAST bringing in the New Year with some of my favorite girls in the entire world. Obviously I had to create a little photo montage since I'm in the blog world now (click on the photo to see full):

My twins, Stephie (left) and Ruthie. I'm the third twin.
Don't judge, but we also refer to ourselves as pugs. Don't even get me started.
[Stephie's dress: Free People | My Dress: Zara | Ruthie's dress: Kohls]
BTW My dress is actually Ruthie's and Stephie's dress is actually mine. Love sharing closets.

Fitness Challenge # One

First weekend of 2013 and who is already struggling with their fitness goals for the New Year? One major way people tend to get discouraged is that they look wayyyyy too far ahead. Their thinking about spring break, or summer (swimsuit season!), when in reality the focus needs to be in the NOW! Yes it is fantastic to have a long term goal, but it can only be achieved through daily success, just one day at a time. A little visual motivation doesn't hurt either. I personally LOVE the Nike Women ads:

DIY Animal Bust

Over this winter break when I have been in Corvallis, I spend much of my time alone. Which is not a bad thing at all. I am thankful that I have found contentment being alone (a skill which the Lord forced me to learn...that's for another post.) These past few days I had a large amount of solo time on my hands, and what's a girl to do when she got a lot of time to herself?
C-R-A-F-T.

My sister, Kristin, LOVES all things Anthropologie and since she got married this past May (wooooo!) she became quite fond of the paper mache animal busts they sold- she has the ram and the rhino! They are AMAZING! In the spirit of it being a new year, I decided that I, despite being not the most artistic person in the world, should attempt to make one such animal bust. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

[The Anthropologie menagerie: Yes I know mine looks nothing like this zebra, lol]

Welcome to the Blogosphere

2013 is HERE! In this year I will turn 23, graduate from college, move who knows where, and, here's the obvious, START A BLOG! I've been debating starting one for a while, fearing that it will look like I'm just jumping on the blog band wagon, when in fact that is the last thing I want to do. Oh well, I'm doing it.

Well I guess I SHOULD introduce myself (though the "about me" can also do that). I am Becca. I'm a super senior at OSU, and yes I'm enjoying putting off real life a little longer. I'm an exercise and sport science (EXSS) major and I LOVE helping people get healthy and feel great! I love Jesus more than life, and I don't strive to be perfect, I strive to be more like Him everyday. Despite the fact that I spend 32 hours a week wearing scrubs in my job as a caregiver, I love fashion! It's amazing how a outfit can totally shape your mood and how you feel on a given day. AND its just freaking fun to look cute.

[Yes I did practice my posing. Good posing is necessary for a blog.]

[sweater: Target, pants: TJ Maxx, boot: Old Navy, smile: priceless]

There are three major things that define me. And yes, I crafted it so that they are an alliteration (my mother is a writer and teacher, I cannot help but be this way):

FAITH. FITNESS. FASHION.

In a nutshell, that's me. 

I decided to title this "Free To Be" because over the years I've learned to embrace the freedom in being the woman who God has made me to be. The good, the bad, and the ugly...I'm not afraid to be real and show the world me. 

I want to focus this blog in the three "F's" above, but since this is MY blog, lets be honest I can write about whatever the heck I want. 

My goal is to encourage all you who bless me with reading this, and inspire you to grow in ALL areas of your life. I want every woman to feel healthy and beautiful on the inside and out. That is accomplished first through faith in Christ, secondly through a healthy strong body, and thirdly, it can be enhanced with all the fun things us girls can wear or put on to feel pretty. [I like feeling pretty]

So here I go, entering the blogosphere and hoping for the best. Let's go 2013. It's gonna be a real one.