Brain Dump

*A few weeks ago, HBO started playing episodes of The Sopranos from the very beginning every weeknight at 8pm.  This makes me a happy camper.  The Sopranos is still my favorite TV show of all-time and it sparked my love/fascination with all thing Mafia-related.  Sometimes I'm still not sure why I love the show so much, given the fact that I cannot stand any type of violence on any other TV show or movie.  I just get so sucked in to every episode. Love it.

*I suffer from chronic sinus infections and they always rear their ugly heads this time of year.  Yesterday I felt one coming on and woke up this morning feeling like a train wreck.  I picked up some advice from a few colleagues.  These two products are the only reason I'm semi-functioning at work.

*I had a really intense craving for angel food cake earlier this week.  Not sure where it came from, but now I feel like I need to go buy a tube pan and whip up this Barefoot Contessa treat...

*J.Crew Factory Final Sale is another 30% off with the code GETMORE.  I ordered some of the Winnie pants.  Better hop to it; things are selling out like crazy!

*Ignoring the above angel food craving, I signed up for MyFitnessPal this week. I need to do some spring/summer tuning up, if you will.  Are any of you on it?  Leave your username in the comments so I can add you as an accountability buddy!

Hiking and Picnicking

Last Sunday was the first real spring day we've had, so we packed up the dogs and headed for the nearest state park.  It turns out that hiking with two extremely curious dogs makes for very full hands, so the above pictures were the only ones I managed to get. 

1 // 2

But fortunately some people on the interwebs were kind enough to share their photos, so you can see how beautiful it was! We want to go back without the pups so we can tour that gorgeous historic home on the property.  That view made the burning I felt in my legs all day yesterday totally worth it.

We also packed a picnic, but we were too busy scarfing down our lunch to be bothered with pictures.  I made these sandwiches

{they were just OK}

and brought these chips {the best chips EVER and made not too far from where we live!}

{BBQ for him, Chesapeake Crab for her}

and packed it all up in this nifty picnic cooler set.  My mother-in-law gave us one of these Picnic Time Malibu coolers at one of my showers with our monogram on it.  We used it for the first time on Sunday and I'm kind of obsessed with it. It has everything you could ever need, including a handy compartment for wine bottles, plates, napkins, utensils, wine glasses, a cutting board, a cheese knife, and a bottle opener.  GENIUS. At the time, I wasn't sure we would ever use this, but now I'm dreaming up all the different picnic opportunities this baby will afford. Love it. 

It felt so great to be outdoors again and to do something active {read: something other than watch DVR'd reruns of 'The Americans'} on a Sunday afternoon.  I can't wait to go back again, especially since all this hiking will come in handy for quickly approaching bikini season!

{Finally} Friday Favorites

Hi all! Apologies for the radio silence this past week.  I was unexpectedly hospitalized last Thursday night and have been slowly working my way back into the real world {and through the pile of unread e-mails and blog posts awaiting me}.  I'm fine, but it piled on to what was already a pretty icky month.

I am SO happy it's March.  I am SO happy to turn the page to a new month because I need a do-over.  Don't get me wrong; February had its high points.  Celebrating M's birthday and Valentine's Day and some serious work highs for M.  I got to visit with my sweet Grandmother and my parents and my sister.  We went an entire month with no car or pet-related disasters.  These are all good things.

But I also gained 2 pounds {see: birthday and Valentine's Day} and am still experiencing this mystery pain that no one can tell me the cause of and I'm just in a very strange place personally right now.  Feeling very adrift and uncertain of what I want and what the future looks like.  And for a Type-A planner like me who NEEDS to have every detail of every day planned out, feelings of uncertainty are incredibly stressful.  I try not to get caught up in the obsessive need to have a plan for everything and just enjoy this crazy ride, but without a plan, I can't help but feel like I'm wasting precious time and energy and youth.  Does anyone else feel like this?  I feel like you're supposed to have a decent amount of uncertainty in your life as a mid-twenty-something, but I feel like I'm surrounded by people who have it together, who know what they want to do and where they're going and then I feel like a loser for not having even the slightest inkling of what I'm supposed to be doing.

Also, my house is a mess, I have piles of laundry all over the house, and a to-do list as long as my arm. Nothing, I mean NOTHING, contributes more to my stress than unfinished business around the house. It's an unwelcome visceral reminder of how messy things are for me right now.

Now that all of that emo stuff is out of the way, let's get down to bidness with the good stuff, shall we?

pineapple upside down cupcakes, i need you in my life.

if we're being honest, i need this 25-day ballet bootcamp challenge a lot more.

i am super-duper intrigued by this salad dressing that joanna posted on and am totally going to order a case.  has anyone tried this? apparently it has a blue-blood cult following. 

dying for this dress, although it's completely sold out. hoping they'll e-mail me to tell me it's been restocked soon!

And just because. Aren't these two the sweetest? They weren't sure what to make of me being home during the day this week, but they took advantage of extra couch cuddles.  I love my little monsters.

Happy weekend to you!

The Dude Gift Guide: Christmas

I have no plans to bore you with yet another gift guide for the women in your lives, but true to form, almost all of the Christmas gift guides for men I've seen this year are not for any of the men I know.  That's not to say those gift guides are bad; it's just that I don't find them particularly useful.  Since the last two Dude Guides I've done have been quite popular, I thought I'd take a swing at a Christmas edition.  Let me know if you end up using any of these ideas!

1. I could talk about stocking stuffers for days. Stockings are my favorite part of picking out Christmas gifts. So much potential! M is a condiment fanatic.  Aren't most guys? Add a bottle of his favorite hot sauce or one he's never tried before.

2.  One of my besties is a firm believer that every gift-giving occasion is a chance to, ahem, improve a man's wardrobe.  With that in mind, how's about a lovely cotton-cashmere sweater and dapper button-up?

3. Or a field coat that looks oh-so rugged and sexy?

4. Are there men out there who DON'T like Under Armour?  I've never met any.  The ColdGear compression leggings are great for the runner in your life.

5.  Going off of my friend's theory, I'm a firm believer that Christmas is a time to purchase little luxuries for people that they would never purchase for themselves.  Case in point: this lovely T. Anthony leather business card holder. Very bespoke and a fabulous stocking stuffer.

6.  The cold-weather version of his favorite boat shoes.

7.  Bacon Salt. Is any description necessary?

8.  Another one of those little luxuries: a leather Dopp kit. {True story: M puts his travel toiletries into sandwich baggies.  Eesh.}

9.  For the golfer in your life {doesn't everyone have one?}: Graphic Image's Memorable Golf Rounds book. A scrapbook for those who don't scrapbook.

10., 11., 12. M is REALLY into making breakfast. It's his favorite meal, and truth be told, he's a lot better at making it than I am. If you know anyone who fits that bill, what about a breakfast kit? A quart of theeee best maple syrup, a pound of theee best bacon, and a top-of-the-line waffle maker.

13. Classic suede chukka boots.  They'll never go out of style and they're built to last.  Plus they do a nice job of dressing up any outfit without looking too formal.

14.  Flannel PJ pants.  If you take nothing else away from this list, this is the gift to buy.  My mom got M a pair of these for Christmas last year and, well, he's kind of obsessed.  It is extremely important that you purchase these WITH pockets.

15.  SmartWool socks.  Perhaps a little boring, but everyone loves them and they're always a favorite. And bulky enough to take up some serious space in the stocking!

Operation Get It Together

anyone know the original source?

What a crazy couple of weeks!  We made it safely through Hurricane Sandy, but our town is still dealing with some flooding.  Thoughts and wishes for safety and speedy recovery go out to those who were affected by the storm.

So today begins what I am calling Operation Get It Together.  I have been doing a really bad job at life lately.  I haven't been exercising or eating healthy.  We've been eating out too much.  I haven't been doing my daily skincare routine or taking my vitamins.  I haven't been keeping a clean, organized house.  I haven't been keeping up with my friends.  I haven't made time for myself or for my husband.  I've really just been going through the motions, and it shows.  I feel icky, my skin is gross, I've gained some unnecessary poundage, and my house is a disaster zone at all times.

I can give you a million excuses for why I've slacked off over the past few months.  We moved, we adopted Ozzie, I started a new job {which requires an hour commute each way}, my car disaster, the fact that 39 days later my car is STILL in the shop, we bought a new car, M has been busy at work, etc. etc. etc.  But they are all just excuses.  Lots of people lead busy, stressful lives and we are no exception.  Time to stop making excuses and get back on track.

I'm starting out by just adding back in 2 or 3 healthy, simple habits each week.  As I get back in the groove, I'll add more in.  This week?  My goal is to go running three times and do my new yoga DVD once.

I am going to do my skincare routine every night.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4

And I'm only allowed ONE non-water beverage every day.

Do you ever find yourself getting off track?  Tell me I'm not the only one!  What do you do to get yourself back in a good place?  Any tips or tricks?

My List

Kate Spade 'To Do' refills

At the risk of being blogger-cliche, I've come up with my own 101 in 1,001 list.  I first was inspired to do this when I read Design Darling's list.  I started working on a list, but just couldn't seem to find the motivation to finish it.  Then I read The Dirty Martini Diary's list and how Lulu was starting it on her 30th birthday, but thought maybe she should've have started the list to culminate on her 30th birthday,  and that lit a fire underneath me.  Because November 11, 2012 is 1,001 days until my 30th birthday.  Time to get cracking!

1. Find a fitness routine that works for me and stick with it.

2. Purchase personalized stationery. 

3. Buy a house.

4. Cook at least one recipe out of every cookbook I own. {Salmon with Lentils, Barefoot in Paris. White Lightning Texas Chili, Southern Living: Our Best Christmas Recipes. Potato Sourdough Starter, Southern Living 1995 Annual Recipes. Chocolate Chunk Blondies, Barefoot Contessa Foolproof. Lemon Chicken Breasts, Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That?. Fried Zucchini Spaghetti, My Father's Daughter. Orange-Raspberry Trifle, Barefoot Contessa Family Style.}

5. Take a flower arranging class.

8. Develop a filing system for important documents, mail, magazines, etc.

9. Visit at least 3 new states.

10. Be able to better define my aesthetic, in both fashion and interior design.

11. Scrutinize the contents of my closet and donate, store, or toss all the things I never wear.

12. Throw my first Sunday brunch party.

13. Adopt another rescue dog. {Ozzie, August 2012}

14. Buy an Hermes scarf.

15. Grow vegetables and herbs at home.

16. Take a ballroom dance class.

17. Learn to make homemade bread. {Potato Sourdough Bread, March 2013}

18. Buy an Apple desktop computer.

19. Drink eight glasses of water every day for one week.

20.  Learn to speak French.

21. Ask Grandmother for her coconut cake recipe.

22. Take up yoga.

23. Send fifty handwritten notes, not including thank-you notes.

25. Sing karaoke. {VA's Bachelorette Weekend, March 2013}

26. Get some backyard chickens.

27.  Host a major holiday.

28. Get a massage.

29. Make M breakfast in bed.

30.  Go camping with M.

31.  Learn the art of canning food.

32.  Follow the 100 Days to Christmas eBook.

33. Make Julia Child’s Boef Bourguignon. 

34. Make an address book with contact information for family and friends.

35. Join the S***burg public library. {March 2013}

36. Visit all the D.C. monuments.

37. See the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes Christmas show.

39. Floss every day for one month.

40. Do a cleanse.

41. Purchase and learn photo editing software.

42. Take a self-defense class.

43. Buy a piece of original art.

44. Cook a meal for my mother.

45.  Visit Montpelier.

46. Put together a home management binder.

47. Find my best beauty routine.

48. Learn how to play Gin Rummy.

49.  See an opera performed live.

50. Invest in ten coffee table books. {1. Vogue Weddings, March 2013 2. Vogue Living, March 2013 3. The World in Vogue, March 2013}

51.  See a Broadway show.

52. Throw my parents a 30th anniversary party.

53. Buy a Goyard tote.

54.  Learn to make my mother-in-law’s marinara sauce.

55.  Learn to make Grandmama’s rolls.

56. Go on a trip with my sister.

57. Visit all of the S***V*** vineyards. {Three Fox Vineyard, October 2012. Glen Manor Vineyard, March 2013. Boxwood Winery, March 2013.}

58. Find a way to volunteer locally {soup kitchen, homeless shelter, SPCA, etc.}

59. Purchase a set of quality luggage.

60. Read every Jane Austen novel. 

61. Learn needlepoint.

62. Get a facial.

63.  Take a sewing class.

64. Try one totally-out-of-my-comfort-zone exercise class.

65.  Buy a pair of Ferragamo Varinas.

66.  Go to a music festival.

67. Order a wedding album.

68. Research and put together a family tree of M and me.

69. Read twenty new books.   {1. Unbroken, May 2012 2. Divergent, May 2012 3. Insurgent, June 2012 4. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, June 2012 5. The Royals, July 2012 6. Sarah’s Key, May 2012 7. Gone Girl, October 2012 8. The Emperor of All Maladies, January 2013 9. South of Broad, February 2013 10. Game Change, February 2013 11. The Space Between Us, February 2013 12. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, March 2013 13. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, March 2013 14. The Night Circus, March 2013}

70.  Make homemade marshmallows. {February 2013}

71.  Lose these last pesky 10-15 pounds.

72. Get in the habit of monthly self breast exams.

73. Turn off my iPhone/iPad/computer for an entire weekend.

74. Buy a nice camera and learn how to use it.

75. Throw a surprise party for a friend. {Happy Birthday, Kristi! September 2012}

76.  Spend a weekend at the Greenbrier.

77. Go tubing or kayaking on the river.

78. Find a skincare regimen that works for me.

79. Take a trip to France.

80.  Create a will.

81. Go on a spontaneous day trip.

82. See ten so-called classic films.

83. Visit Harper’s Ferry, WV.

84. Invest in a classic handbag.

85. Have a picnic. {Sky Meadows State Park, April 2013}

86. Learn how to do a perfect smokey eye.

87. Start a collection. {Spode 'Woodland' China collection started on Christmas 2012.}

88.  Put $10 in savings for every goal accomplished.

89. Visit my sister at college before she graduates.

90.  Take a food styling or cooking lesson of some sort.

91. Try five new foods.

92.  Learn to French braid.

93. Go vegetarian for a month.

94.  Buy myself a beautiful piece of jewelry.

95.  Run a marathon.

96. Pay off all debt.

97. Have a father-daughter date.

98. Go apple picking.

99. Visit 3 new cities.

100.  Attend the Preakness or the Kentucky Derby.

101. Throw a party for completing my list! {Happy 30th birthday to me!}

I started developing this list back in the spring, so one of these I can already check off the list and several others are in the works to be completed before November 11. Plus I've already started making headway on my 20 new books goal.

Are any of you following your own lists?

*You'll notice there are a couple of numbers missing; I left those off because I felt they were too personal or private to share on here. I promise I can count.

Friday Favorites

 

We all know how I feel about toile. I can't wait to pick up one of these Harry Barker toile beds for the pup when they're available in June! 

 

This adorable Run for the Roses Derby party featured on Hostess with the Mostess.  I've always wanted to host a Derby party and this post is full of fabulous ideas.

 

Jenna's Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream

My new blog crush, Eat, Live, Run.  I've been making Jenna's recipe for black bean burgers for over a year now, but for some reason, I'd never taken the time to explore her blog until last week.  I tend to get kind of obsessed when I make a new discovery and Jenna's delightful blog is no exception.  Case in point: Two of the four dinners I made this week were Eat, Live, Run recipes.

 

Six Weeks to Sleeveless workout.  I need to start this workout STAT. We are just 3 weeks away from our first wedding of the year, and exactly 6 weeks away from my 5-year college reunion.  Tricep dips, here I come!

What all inspired you this week?  I'd love to know.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Friday Favorites

 

I thought I'd try my hand at one of these Friday Favorites posts that seem to be so popular these days.

 Thank you so much for your sweet comments on Our Wedding post!  Because I can't help myself, here's one more picture.

I'm starting this workout on Monday. Although I'm skeptical as to whether or not I will lose an entire size in 2 weeks, it's a great way to get my booty in gear for spring and summer clothes.

 J.Crew

Hopefully said workout will have my legs looking hot in these cuties I picked up last weekend!

I'm a total The Hunger Games fangirl {M is taking me to see it on Sunday and I am so excited!} This Letterman interview solidified my girlcrush on Jennifer Lawrence. Doesn't she seem like someone you could totally be friends with?

 And since weekends are all about being a little decadent {but I still want to fit into those short shorts!}, here are some droolworthy Texas cheese fries, courtesy of Skinnytaste.

Happy weekend!

To Do

 

I've been rather lazy the past couple of weeks, and as nice as it is to give myself a little break sometimes, I'm starting to feel kind of icky.  I haven't been going to the gym, I haven't been eating as healthily as I should, and I've let the clutter monster start to rear its ugly head all over the place.  So I have declared this week to be The Week of Accomplishment.

I will get caught up on laundry {only one more load to go!}.  I will go to the gym at least 3 times {already been once!}.  I will sort through all of the mail.  I will declutter. I will finish going through that box of magazines that is taking up entirely too much space in the guest bedroom.  I will eat healthily {except for our D.C. date night}. And I will conquer the file cabinet project once and for all.

If I accomplish all of the above by Sunday afternoon, I get to buy myself something pretty.  Because, yes, sometimes I have to bribe myself into acting like a responsible adult.

*For the life of me, I cannot find the origins of this photo.  I found it on Pinterest and I've Googled it as well, but no bueno.  If you know who the photographer is, please let me know so that I can give credit where credit is due.

Green Juice Journey

This morning I started green juicing.  Well, not juicing actually.  Green smoothie-ing. 

In an effort to eat healthier and get more fruits and veggies into my diet, I started researching the whole juicing trend.  As it turns out, although homemade juices are very healthy, smoothies are the way to go.  Juices aren't "complete" foods, meaning that since all of the fiber has been stripped from the fruits and veggies, you're missing out on a vital component of what you're ingesting.  Also, I think smoothies are easier.  You just put all of your ingredients into a blender or food processor and whir away. 

There is a wealth of information to be found online about green smoothies;  I used this website and bought this book.

Some of the benefits of green smoothies are:

• Increased energy
• Brightened, "glowing" skin, hair, and eyes
• Fewer mood swings
• Increased metabolism
• Weight loss

Sign me up!

So today I started my own green smoothie revolution.  I'm not giving myself deadlines or goals.   I know this isn't going to be an every day thing {although it will probably be an every week day thing} because, um, I live for Sunday brunch.  But I really want this to become a lifestyle thing so that when I'm hungry and need something fast and on-the-go, my automatic response is to make a green smoothie, not to run through a drive-through or heat up a frozen pizza.

looks like something from the swamp, right?  tasted pretty yummy!

I used about 1 cup of spinach {maybe a little more or less.  I eyeballed it.}, one Fuji apple, one banana, the juice of half a lemon, and 2 cups of water.  I used a food processor because we don't have a blender.  But the texture was similar to lawn clippings, so I think I'm going to have to invest in a blender.  Any recommendations?

Do any of you do green juices or smoothies?  I'd love to hear about your own experiences and recipes!

fit train friday

well, folks, starting monday there are going to be some drastic changes in the belle and beau household.  we are going vegan...until dinnertime, that is.  i've written on here for awhile now about my attempts to get healthier and more in shape, not just for the wedding, but for life.  i've always been a skinny girl and by all measures, i still am.  but i'm not healthy, or at least not nearly as healthy as i should be. 

what i haven't written about as much is how much the beau wants to do the same.  as a college athlete, he was used to eating anything and everything he wanted {and in very large amounts} with it having zero effect on his weight.  but since he is nowhere near as active as he was in college, those eating habits have caught up.  i mentioned to him today over lunch that i was considering adopting mark bittman's vegan before dinnertime approach and he said he would like to join me.  i am shocked that he wants to do this, but thrilled at the prospect of having a partner to help keep me accountable and encourage me. 

we're not following any strict rules and realize that the first week or so will probably be the toughest, as we adjust our eating patterns and our pantries to this new lifestyle.  trust me when i say neither one of us will be going full-fledged vegan or even vegetarian.  he loves bacon way too much {i would wager second only to me} and well, there's no way in hell i could ever be convinced to give us cheese.  but we do recognize {or at least i do} that this way of eating is not only better of us, but better for the planet.  win-win situation.

i would love {and really need} to have any suggestions, recipes, etc. that you have, sweet readers.  i don't really know where to start, so i really need some ideas for some yummy, filling vegan breakfasts and lunches that can me made rather quickly. help me, please!

happy weekend, darlings!

fit train friday: small victories

this morning did not start off well.  the beau is {thankfully} on a renewed kick of wanting to get healthy and in shape, not just for our wedding, but for life.  so last night he decided that one of the steps required is getting himself on a regular sleeping pattern: in bed by 11pm, out of bed by 7am.  since he has a bad habit of turning off his alarm clock iphone and rolling over for another hour, he also set our actual alarm clock to go off a few minutes after his phone as a back-up.  well, at 7am when his phone starts going off, he stumbles out of bed, over to our actual alarm clock, and starts yelling at it that he doesn't know how to turn it off.  nice. day one wake up FAIL.

he had also decided that another one of the steps was to get his work-outs done in the morning.  with his current work schedule, that's really the only time he has and he says he always feels better for the rest of the day.  even after the epic wake up fail, he manages to make it out the door with a healthy breakfast {whole grain bagel + organic, no-sugar added PB + a banana} in time to get to the gym.  20 minutes later i hear him walk back in the door.  he has a flat tire.  not a happy camper. 

by the time we've finished dealing with all of this, i have approximately 30 minutes to pack our lunches, take the dog out and feed him, and get ready for work.  i don't like being rushed, so now i was not a happy camper.  until...

i grabbed the first pair of jeans i saw.  starting to put them on, i realize they are the jeans that i haven't really been able to wear since i put on the love weight.  as in, i can get them on, but it ain't pretty and it ain't comfortable.  so i've just avoided them.  this morning, i put them on. and they fit. not to tight, nothing spilling over the top, and nothing riding up where it's not supposed to. hallelujah!

as i did a little dance of joy in my closet, i also realized that i am starting to form some truly healthy habits and overcome some of my bad ones.  in the past, when running late like this morning, i would have hit up the mcdonald's drive thru for my go-to breakfast of an egg mcmuffin and a large diet coke {maybe white trash, but soooo delicious!}.  today, i packed a little kashi go lean! crunch {honey almond flax, yum}, some organic 1% milk, and some english breakfast tea to take with me to the office.  healthier, cheaper, and still satisfying.  go me.

it's so nice to start finally seeing some results {even small ones} from the changes i've been making in my life. running at the gym or run/walking outside with the pup, making nutritious meal choices throughout the day, and even adding some light weight lifting {in the spirit of full disclosure, i lift my weight while i watch barefoot contessa}.  i feel better, i look better {i think}, and my jeans fit. not a bad way to start the weekend!

fit train friday

feeling much better {thank you for asking}.  but since there weren't a whole lot of gym hours logged this week, i thought this week's fit train post would be better directed to other things i do in the name of vanity health.

sunscreen. a daily must.  i've worn some form of spf on my face, neck, decollete, and back of hands religiously since i was 14 or 15 and i'm hoping that pays off in lack-of-botox dividends someday.  i was a devoted olay complete gal for years and years and years, but as i become more concerened with purchasing products that aren't tested on animals and are all-natural, i've switched over to burt's bees radiance day lotion and haven't looked back.

multi-vitamin. another daily must, although this has only been in the past year.  my doctor told me these were basically a form of health insurance.  not to take the place of eating a wide variety of fruits and veggies, but a back-up for those day where the only fruits and veggies i eat are in the from of milkshakes and burger toppings.  ahem.  i've been a flintstones complete girl, but after alice + gwynnie's recommendation, i may be switching over to the new chapter prenatal vitamins.  good thing these are kept at my office or else the beau may panic...

omega-3s. the newest addition to the team.  after reading this article in my winter 2011 martha stewart weddings, i was a believer.  i take 2-3 omega 3 supplements a day {i take the sundown naturals brand, since kroger, cvs, and/or food lion ALWAYS seem to be running a buy one, get one special}. helpful hint:  if you take them at room temperature, you will get a mean cause of the fish burps.  store them in the freezer, and the fish burps disappear almost completely.  i've also been grinding flax seeds to sprinkle over my breakfast {either a homemade smoothie or kashi go lean! crunch}.  i will say i haven't seen a huge difference in my skin yet, but my hair is so much softer and shinier.  so i'm sticking with it!

water.  another fairly new addition.  i've had a BAD diet coke addiction since college.  i'm down to maybe one a day, sometimes none at all.  i've replaced the caffeine with a morning cup of tazo awake black tea and spend the rest of the day chugging water like it's my job.  right now my goal is to drink 60-65 oz. a day.  so yeah, i use the little girls' room pretty frequently, but i can tell a huge difference in how i feel.

what about y'all?  what do you do in addition to diet and exercise to look and feel prettier? i'd love to know your secrets!

fit train friday

let's talk a little nom-noms today, shall we?  i think everyone knows that the basic equation to lose weight is eat less + exercise more.  i have no troubel with the exercise more part, in fact, i enjoy that quite a bit.  but the eat less part? not so much.  the good news is that you don't necessarily have to eat less in quantity {in fact, in some cases, you can eat MORE}, just less in calories. 

i am pretty much hungry all of the time, and i love anything cheesey, salty, and/or crunchy.  i don't really have trouble coming up with healthy meals, but snacktime can be my downfall.  so i'm always on the lookout for some yummy, non-flabby snacks.  i was flipping through the january issue of shape last week and bingo!  check on this amazing list of snacks! i am already completely obsessed with the sonoma snack and the peppery pear crunch is next on my must-try list.

what about y'all?  any yummy, healthy snacks you depend on that i should know about?