Pimp My Blog: TCE Edition

Damn it all. I got all excited because my stupid Blogger Dashboard informed me that this was my "100th post"... except it takes half-written drafts into account, and I think we all know that my Dashboard is where post ideas go to die. Sad day.

Anyway, the always-entertaining Errign over at Errign's Adventures nominated me to take part in the 7 Links post. While I was totally flattered and honored that a blogger that I love so much nominated me (Thanks, Errign!!), I was a little hesitant to do it at first. In the interest of full disclosure, I spent most of last week eye-rolling at what I basically considered a shameless plug for self-promotion and page hits for those of us lucky enough to get paid per click. But then my inner narcissist prevailed (she almost always does, that minx), and I decided to follow my fellow bloggers off the cliff.

THE GOAL

To unite bloggers (from all sectors) in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again.

THE RULES

Blogger is nominated to take part
Blogger publishes his/her 7 links on his/her blog – 1 link for each category.
Blogger nominates up to 5 more bloggers to take part.
These bloggers publish their 7 links and nominate another 5 more bloggers
And so it goes on!
We’ll be sharing the best posts from participating bloggers on our blog and everyday on Facebook and Twitter at #My7Links

So, without further ado, here are my 7 links or, as I prefer to call it:

Pimp My Blog: The Caitie Edition

MOST BEAUTIFUL 

I personally consider myself more in the "Miss Congeniality" category, since I can neither twirl a fire baton nor prance about in a swim suit, but I think the post I wrote the day after an emotional breakdown was a bit of a beautiful disaster.

MOST POPULAR

I thought for sure that I knew which post was going to take this category, but ended up totally surprised when I clicked the "all-time" post hit counter. The day I claimed my crown as Best Health Blogger Ever, courtesy of my "secret recipe" for oats, reigns supreme in my loyal readers' hearts.

MOST CONTROVERSIAL 

Despite my initial life plan of becoming a lawyer, it turns out that I'm too wont to stir up trouble for anyone to ever do it as a career. Damn bleeding heart. As a result of this unfortunate turn of events, I haven't really written many controversial posts. I did, however, get a really entertaining email after I wrote a post detailing my run-in with a homeless man on the bus, chastising me for "laughing at the plight of the less fortunate." What?!

MOST HELPFUL 

I'm not qualified to help anyone with anything and therefore make it a point not to dispense advice or instruction or help to anyone via my blog posts. I do, however, find that writing honest accounts of my own struggles are extremely helpful to ME, because they're cathartic. That was what spurred me to confess about my struggle with binge eating, and tossing my inhibitions out the window, if only for an hour a week. On days when I find myself struggling, I go back and read them, because it puts where I am mentally into perspective. A sort of "letter to myself," if you will.

SURPRISE SUCCESS

I actually owe the success of this post to Errign herself for linking up to it one day. I was so, SO flattered by the amount of feedback I got on Animal Instincts, particularly because it showcased a more "creative" side of my writing that I rarely have the time to play around with these days.

NOT ENOUGH ATTENTION

Does anyone else feel awkward within the confines of this category? I mean, really. But if I have to say that there's a type of post that I really loved writing and wish other people loved as much as I do (both writing and reading), it's the entire I Go Back page. Those posts are so much fun to write, and the vividness of the memories certain songs conjure up is ridiculous -- which I think everyone can relate to.

MOST PROUD

I had to really stop and think about this one, but at the end of the day, I'm most proud of this post, not so much because of the post itself, but the emotions and actions behind it. The whole anxiety issue is something I've been struggling with for a long time, and it's still hard for me to put myself in uncomfortable situations. The feeling that comes afterward, though, is SO MUCH better than the very worst outcome I can make up in my head.

And now, to continue this self-love fest, I nominate:

Katie @ Once a Southern Belle, Always a Southern Belle
Leah @ Why Deprive
Tiffany @ Simply Shaka
Maura @ Maura Me to Love

.... and none for Gretchen Wieners.

C is for Caitie (That's Good Enough For Me)!

(Yes, as a child, my mother taught me to sing the Cookie Monster song with my own name embedded into it. This is why, this is why I'm slightly chubby hot!)

As I sat here this morning, knowing I wanted to write a new post but not entirely sure about what, I was morning blog-stalking on my coffee break and came across Errign's fun food questionnaire! I thought it looked more interesting than the usual chain emails I sent at age 12 (A/S/L?), so here ya go: 
 
A is for Apple, what’s your favorite variety? Ouch, a heartbreaker from the beginning -- I actually suffer from Oral Allergy Syndrome with respect to most pit/core fruits (apples, pears, plums, nectarines, apricots, etc... plus a "true" peach allergy!), and haven't been able to eat them raw for the past 5 years without having my lips/throat swell into this horrible itchy rash. I used to eat a Red Delicious every day for lunch, though!
B: is for Bread, regardless of nutrition, calories, or whole grains what is your favorite type to have a nice big piece of? Banana bread -- LOVE it!
C: is for Cereal what is your favorite kind currently (just one!) Currently- Cheerios!  
D: is for Doughnuts, you might not currently be eating them but what kind do you fancy? I was JUST discussing this with Andrew at Dunks this morning -- not a big donut eater, but I love all Munchkins except jelly, and DD french cruellers and blueberry cake are both fab, too!
E: is for Eggs, how would you like yours prepared? Scrambled with cheese or in an omelet. My dad gave himself salmonella poisoning about 15 years ago by eating a "dippy" egg he made and we almost lost him -- internal hemorrhaging is NOT worth it to me!
F: is for Fat Free, what is your favorite fat free product? There was once a time in my life when I would brag about the amount of Fat Free staples in my diet -- I can't believe I was pumped to eat the processed plastic known as FF cheese or Ranch ::shudder:: -- so my fave FF product now? Either 0% Greek yogurt (I like 2% better, though, but we normally only have 0 at work) or VEGETABLES.
G: is for Groceries, where do you purchase yours at? Ugh, this question makes my heart hurt!! When I'm "at home" (meaning where I grew up), it's Hannaford's ALL THE WAY. I love that place! Here in Boston, I hit up Star Market and Stop n Shop for staples, and Trader Joe's and Whole Foods for "random things" (they're my local markets, believe it or not!). And the Farmer's Markets for produce!
H: is for Hot Beverages, what is your favorite hot drink?Coffee.
I: is for Ice Cream, pick a favorite flavor and add a fun topping. M&Ms are my FAVORITE topping. Oh, wait, I need ice cream to go under them? Mint Chocolate Oreo, plain Oreo, Mint Chocolate Chip, and plain Chocolate (but only from Friendly's). I don't discriminate (except against Strawberry. Ewwwww.).
J: is for Jams or Jellies, do you eat them, and if so what kind and flavor? Strawberry and blueberry are my favorites -- my MIL cans her own sometimes. SO. GOOD!
K: is for Kashi, name your favorite Kashi product?TLC bars!
L: is for Lunch, what was yours today? Um, it's 10am, and I came to work sans lunch so... likely it will be either a 6-in veggie delight with all the veggies except olives and hots, or a Boloco cajun minibowl, brown rice and all-white chicken, please!
M: is for microwave, what is your favorite microwave meal/snack? Breakfast sausages, the disgusting, processed, frozen kind. No shame. Followed closely by bagel bites. Sue me.
N: is for nutrients, do you likes carbs, fats, or proteins best? Fats, for sure. The reason my cholesterol is so perfect but my weight is still high is because I love, love, LOVE good fats and use them all the time!
O: is for oil, what kind do you like to use? Extra virgin olive and coconut, usually.
P: is for protein, how do you get yours? DAIRY -- my parents had to buy a gallon of milk PER DAY to keep the 5 of us in milk as kids -- a lot more beans since the Veg Challenge, chickpeas, hummus, edamame, and lean meats.
Q: is for Quaker, how do you like your oats? Overnight and in a jar.
R: is for roasting, what is your favorite thing to roast?POTATOES. Sweet, russet and onions all on one pan, drizzled with EVOO, sprinkled with salt and pepper and tossed in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes.
S: is for sandwich, what’s your favorite kind? The #13 at Rusillo's in West Caldwell, NJ... "grilled chicken with fresh mozz, arugala and roasted red peppers with balsamic vinaigrette."  TO DIE FOR. No one knows subs like the Dirty Jerz.
T: is for travel, how do you handle eating while traveling? Totally on the fly -- if I'm traveling, it's a vacation, and I'm eating what I want within reason, since I'm usually late and hauling ass between terminals and burning calories anyway!
U: is for unique, what is one of your weirdest food combos? Probably Green Monsters....
V: is for vitamins, what kind do you take?I'm HORRIBLE at remembering to take them. Fo' realsies.
W: is for wasabi, yay or nay? Yay, but only a little!
X: is for XC Foodie, why is she so awesome? Umm... idk, my bff Jill?
Y: is for youth, what food reminds you of your childhood?Pot roast!
Z: is for zucchini, how do you prepare it? Sliced, grilled, sauteed, whatever -- but Andrew HATES it, as in, will vomit if you try to sneak it into his food because he can taste it anyway (I'd accuse him of lying, but I'm the same way with olives. Heaven help the person who tries to sneak a tiny sliver of ANY kind of olive into my food, because I will ralph all over them when I inevitably taste it).

Pick a letter – what’s your answer?