Operation Beautiful at SCSU

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This afternoon I did a presentation at Southern Connecticut State University about Operation Beautiful!

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The crowd was great – some talkative boys! – and I had a lot of fun.

 

If you think I’m a public speaking pro, this is what I look like most of the time when I’m standing up there in front of all those people.  Help!

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Heh. 

 

But first…

 

In a desperate attempt to save money while traveling, I brought a tupperware of almond butter, some bread, and fruit.  Everything survived my travels, and I had a wonderfully inexpensive lunch!

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You can’t go wrong with AB+B (almond butter plus banana)!

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After the presentation, I signed copies of my book and finally got to meet Nicole of Bonus Round (formerly Another One Bites the Crust).  I’ve read her blog for SO long – years – and it was awesome to meet. 

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I didn’t really have anything to do after the crowd left, and I still had 4 hours to kill.  So, I chilled on the stage and hopped on the free SCSU WIFI for a while.

 

Finally, a janitor came and kicked me out.  😉

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So I headed over to Edge of the Woods, a locally-owned Whole Foods competitor.  Very hippie-chic.  Tons of yummy packaged vegan, vegetarian, and organic treats, but the product looks lackluster.  However, I was there for the juice bar and salad bar.

 

Picasso’s Potion:  beets, parsley, apple, and carrot!

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I also snagged this salad, which I hauled around for a few hours before digging in at the (so small and quaint and adorable) New Haven airport.

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In the mix:

 

  • Tons of yummy greens
  • Broccoli
  • Tomato
  • Kidney beans
  • Chickepas
  • Corn
  • Sprouts
  • Onions
  • Pumpkin Seeds

 

And a vegan ‘ranch’ dill dressing, which I was wary of but was so, so good.  :)  I’ll need to get Dinner Part #2 in the Philly airport.

 

Am I home yet?

{ 76 comments }

 

  • Jen @ keepitsimplefoods February 15, 2011, 6:03 pm

    You look great public speaking- very relaxed and natural which is perfect for your audience! I’m sure you’ll get even better with time.

    I’m not so sure about a beet smoothie, eh?

  • Holly @ Couch Potato Athlete February 15, 2011, 6:04 pm

    Great job bringing food to the hotel — and I agree, you can’t go wrong with AB and B!

    Have a safe trip home!

  • Nicole February 15, 2011, 6:05 pm

    So awesome to meet you also! I like Edge of the Woods- it was so close to where I used to live, which ruled. The salad bar was nice to have so close by!

  • Jasmine @ Eat Move Write February 15, 2011, 6:09 pm

    Yay! On your way home. I’m sure you’re thrilled.

    I’ve never had beets in a juice. I love veg-fruit juice mixes, so I bet I’d like it. I love carrot, ginger, apple – best combo ever.

    Your salad looks good. I’ve discovered using tzatziki (basically dill, greek yogurt, and cucumbers) as a salad dressing yesterday at Whole Foods. I can’t believe I never thought of it (hello – low cal). Amazing.

  • Natalia - a side of simple February 15, 2011, 6:09 pm

    Nice job with planning and bringing food with you! You’re well on your way to mastering the “eating in” technique, even when you’re out! Have a safe trip home 🙂

  • Rae @ Forays in the Kitchen February 15, 2011, 6:09 pm

    Too bad I wasn’t home visiting family – then I would be right in the New Haven neighborhood and would have totally taken you up on a drink! My good friend went to SCSU. Fun!

  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman February 15, 2011, 6:10 pm

    I bet you’re being modest. After all the speaking you’ve done I bet you’re a pro. 😉

  • Mama Pea February 15, 2011, 6:10 pm

    I love your posts from the road. I’m learning to pack more food than clothes 🙂

  • Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine February 15, 2011, 6:12 pm

    There’s a good dinner place in Philly airport called Currito- kinda like Chipotle, but with a build your own salad bar too. Safe travels!

  • Freya February 15, 2011, 6:18 pm

    Aah you are so efficient at travelling 🙂 I love the little packed lunch you made! And your outfit is really cute too 🙂

  • Little Bookworm February 15, 2011, 6:20 pm

    Glad the presentation went well. 🙂 That salad looks great as well. Hope you have a safe flight!

  • Lu February 15, 2011, 6:26 pm

    Smart move bringing your own lunch. I do that when we travel. My son eats a lot, all the time. I always worry about small airports.

  • courtney @ the granola chronicles February 15, 2011, 6:28 pm

    Nice call on packing almond butter and a banana! Eating out while traveling really adds up.

  • Amanda February 15, 2011, 6:29 pm

    I’m finding your traveling posts really interesting! I’m currently staying in a hotel, too (and was for Valentine’s Day wahh!) because I work in Auditing and I’m on a client. I’ve been staying for a week at a time, going home on weekends, and have become a pro at healthy habits on the road! I pack breakfast and lunch foods and order dinner at night. I also get in workouts in the morning – either at the hotel gym, Jillian Michaels dvds, or yoga. Can’t wait to get back to classes at the gym and really cook, though! Safe travels 🙂

    • Caitlin February 16, 2011, 10:19 am

      You are an awesome lady to bring workout dvds – so smart.

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing February 15, 2011, 6:29 pm

    Congrats on the presentation! You look so professional!

  • Leanne (For Health's Sake) February 15, 2011, 6:30 pm

    Great job on eating homemade lunches… even while on the road!

  • Devon February 15, 2011, 6:30 pm

    This is awful- but go to chickie and petes and get crab fries for dinner part 2! You eat beautifully 99.9% of the time, but the greasy gooeyness of crab fries is completely worth the splurge 😉

  • LauraJayne February 15, 2011, 6:32 pm

    I love that you are still “eating-in” on your trip! I love the feeling of saving money like that – I always think it just leaves more money for shopping!

    • Baking 'n' Books February 15, 2011, 6:36 pm

      I was thinking the same thing. Eating in can’t be easy when traveling!

  • Camille February 15, 2011, 6:35 pm

    I want you to come to Oregon so I can hear you speak!

  • The Wife of a Dairyman February 15, 2011, 6:35 pm

    You looked totally fine up there on that stage! I’ve had the opportunity to do a couple of public speaking engagements lately and am always so nervous about it! I feel like I forget half of what I want to say. It does, however, get easier as time goes on….thankfully:) Have a great trip home!

  • Baking 'n' Books February 15, 2011, 6:35 pm

    You do so many presentations – does the publishing company/agent set this up for you? Or do you do your own contacts/get contacted?

    Also – what is the most common question you get asked by your audience?! Do up a post maybe…? 🙂

    • Caitlin February 16, 2011, 10:19 am

      I have a speaking agent.

      Hmmm I don’t get a lot of questions asked by the audience, actually! Prob about blogging, so I send them to my tips page.

  • Alex @ Healing Beauty February 15, 2011, 6:36 pm

    I’m actually leaving for Philly in a few days and I am definitely following your lead in saving some money and packing my own food!!

    • Shannon @ A Pinch of Ginger February 15, 2011, 9:36 pm

      Alex- if you want some good places to eat on the cheap (and healthy!) in Philly let me know!! I’d be happy to help 🙂

  • Allison @ OneWhiteTulip February 15, 2011, 6:40 pm

    Keeping my fingers crossed for you that the plane you fly back on is MUCH bigger than the one you came in on!

  • Michelle (The Runner's Plate) February 15, 2011, 6:54 pm

    I love finding hip/chic, small cafes in new towns!

  • Elizabeth@The Sweet Life February 15, 2011, 7:02 pm

    I love your belt. Congrats on another successful presentation!

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss February 15, 2011, 7:08 pm

    As long as you look confident, that’s all the matters! Never let em see ya sweat. 😉

  • Parita@myinnershakti February 15, 2011, 7:20 pm

    Funny you wrote about public speaking – I was a facilitator/coach at work today for a “how to present effectively” workshop. Let me tell you…it’s easier to tell people how to improve then it is to be the one up there presenting! I bet you’re a pro though! Any plans to present OB in Boston???

    • Caitlin February 16, 2011, 10:17 am

      None yet – I wish! I love beantown.

  • Maddie (Healthy Maddie) February 15, 2011, 7:24 pm

    Congrats on the presentation! Great idea on bringing almond butter, bread and bananas on your trip. I’ll have to do that on my next trip 🙂

  • Lauren February 15, 2011, 7:32 pm

    Haha, I bet that is exactly what I look like when I do my presentations. Good thing no one usually takes pictures of me. 😉

  • Mel February 15, 2011, 7:37 pm

    Philly Woot Woot

    • Caitlin February 16, 2011, 10:16 am

      I heart this comment.

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) February 15, 2011, 7:40 pm

    I am glad it was a successful trip! Have a safe trip home!

  • Kim @ Kim Lives Healthy February 15, 2011, 7:40 pm

    Love how you bring your own food when you travel for business – it’s really hard to find healthy & vegetarian food in airports, especially Orlando! Nice to see you keeping your priorities & packin’ a sandwich 🙂

  • Mason February 15, 2011, 8:29 pm

    I almost went to Southern Connecticut State! But I turned it down for Oklahoma State, come visit us! 🙂

  • Bethany @Bridezilla Bakes February 15, 2011, 8:32 pm

    I can’t believe you flew into the New Haven Airport! It is TINY! Haha 🙂 I’ve always wondered about Edge of the Woods — it’s right by my brother’s house, but we tend to make the trek to TJs for more regular grocery trips!

  • Katy (The Singing Runner) February 15, 2011, 8:34 pm

    I’m REALLY trying to get my school to have you come and visit! I think you would be GREAT!!! 🙂 I just have to get the paperwork together!

  • Paige @Running Around Normal February 15, 2011, 8:40 pm

    You did a really good job of keeping a balance of eating in and out during the trip 🙂 I’m sure you did a fab job on your preso 🙂

  • Ashley February 15, 2011, 8:42 pm

    Congrats on your successful presentation! I thought you might be interested that my school is doing a screening of America The Beautiful, and having a discussion on America’s perception of beauty next week. I was wondering if you’ve seen/done a review on the move? Btw your salad looks wonderful 🙂

    • Caitlin February 16, 2011, 10:16 am

      I have not seen it! I really want to.

  • jen @ taste life February 15, 2011, 8:44 pm

    SCSU is my mom’s alma mater!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey February 15, 2011, 8:48 pm

    I love that you just hung out on the stage by yourself – that cracks me up.

  • annette February 15, 2011, 8:49 pm

    SO how did it go?! I bet you rocked it!! Have a safe flight back on a creaky/freaky airplane 😉

    • Caitlin February 16, 2011, 10:15 am

      It was so much fun!

  • Ali @ Ali Runs February 15, 2011, 8:51 pm

    Love your outfit!! Sounds like you had a great presentation!

  • sarah (sarah learns) February 15, 2011, 8:56 pm

    you look like a very enthusiastic and expressive public speaker! 🙂 plus your outfit is adorable. i love the skinny belt.

  • Donna February 15, 2011, 9:04 pm

    Wish I had known you’d be so close – I would have loved to see and hear you. I live in Mystic, CT, about an hour away and I LOVE your blog!

    • Carla @ Will Run for Health February 16, 2011, 12:15 am

      This may be a totally stupid question, but is that the location where Mystic Pizza (with Julia Roberts) was filmed?? If so, I’m totally jealous!

      • Donna February 16, 2011, 7:04 am

        Yup! Amazing how many tourists stand in the middle of the busy main street of Mystic taking pictures of the Mystic Pizza sign. The bridge in several scenes is the “bottleneck” I go over every day, but the actual restaurant scenes were filmed in the next town over, Stonington.

        • Caitlin February 16, 2011, 10:14 am

          Mystic Pizza is an awesome movie 🙂

          Thank you for reading my blog!

  • Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) February 15, 2011, 9:16 pm

    The pics of you where you’re public speaking, major props! Public speaking is harder than it looks until you are the one in front of the room with all those eyeballs on you!

  • Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans February 15, 2011, 9:28 pm

    I think its such a good idea to bring food with you. Its a good way to ensure you get healthy and wholesome food no matter what!

  • ashley February 15, 2011, 10:30 pm

    omgosh.. that may be the most delish looking salad i’ve seen in ages!

  • JenATX February 15, 2011, 10:50 pm

    i love when you do self-timed pics.. its like there’s a camera crew following you haha

    • Caitlin February 16, 2011, 10:12 am

      haha i think self timed pics are so fun!

  • Victoria February 15, 2011, 10:56 pm

    Hey Caitlin,
    I am taking a public speaking class in school and I have to give my first speech on Thursday! ahhh! I am freaking out… clearly you have been doing this public speaking thing for a while now with all your books and your website. I was just wondering if you had any tips? Thanks!

  • Marie-JourneytoBodyZen February 15, 2011, 11:05 pm

    I love your belt 🙂

  • Rachel @ Healthy Teacher February 15, 2011, 11:13 pm

    Bravo for talking to chirren, aka teens or tweens. It’s fun, huh? And, I’m positive I make far more heinous faces than you have documented here. Kudos on trying to keep eating in. It’s saved me and my husband hundreds, I mean hundreds, of dollars a month.

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) February 16, 2011, 7:57 am

    Such a cute outfit! I love the bright yellow belt. 😀

    And good for you for public speaking!! You are my inspiration. 😀

  • Allie February 16, 2011, 8:00 am

    Your travel posts are really cool to read! Hope you have safe travels 🙂

  • Kristina February 16, 2011, 9:16 am

    Glad everything went well!!! I’m sure you’re thrilled to be on your way home!

  • Krista February 16, 2011, 9:20 am

    Sarah and I were at our local Chapters over the weekend and were happy to see that the Operation Beautiful book was set up on a display right at the front of the store with some beautifully soft blankets, candles and inspirational mugs. Wish I had had my camera!!!!

    • Caitlin February 16, 2011, 10:09 am

      Yay! That is so awesome and makes me really happy 🙂

  • Kathie February 16, 2011, 9:23 am

    Glad to hear everything went well! Safe travels home.

  • Gretchen @ Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! February 16, 2011, 9:44 am

    Public speaking is nervewracking even for the most experienced one out there – I was a communication major in college and took full courses on presentational speaking. My heart still races, my palms still sweat, and I still talk waaaaay too fast anytime I’m in front of a group of people. But I think some nerves are always a good thing — keeps you on your toes. 🙂

  • Ashley February 16, 2011, 10:31 am

    I love public speaking! So weird, right? I think you look fine! You look comfortable & real : )

  • Kiran February 16, 2011, 10:40 am

    You are awesome! I can never muster any guts to do public speaking 😀 And that salad looks yummy!

  • Claire February 16, 2011, 12:00 pm

    Cute public speaking picture, hehe! Also, I’m a total lover of a smoothie everday, good to know it’s OK for me to do that 🙂

  • Nicole @ yuppie yogini February 16, 2011, 1:16 pm

    New belt looks cute!

  • Amber K February 16, 2011, 1:37 pm

    You always look so calm and natural when you’re speaking!

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