Brr...

Winter (by Texas standards) seems to be making one last attempt this week. The last few days have been cloudy and quite cool, considering our recent 80 degree weather. I'm missing the already-summer-like weather we've been having, but I've decided to enjoy cozying up in my apartment for probably one last time, before a long period of very hot afternoons, full of humidity!

I put on my cozy, oversized black sweater (my favorite thing in the world to throw on when it gets chilly around the house) and my warm headband, and kept coffee warm throughout the day. I made some sweet potato and carrot soup this week, and had plenty left over, so that's been a welcomed, warm treat. See the recipe below!

Working and staying warm!

Sweet Potato Soup 
(This makes 2 servings)
Ingredients:
1 cup of vegetable broth (try to go for low sodium!)
1/2 cup of water
1 sweet potato
1 cup of baby carrots
1/2 packet of Stevia Sweetener (optional, or use regular sugar, Splenda, etc.)

Topping (optional, or just use cinnamon if you have it on hand):
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Cinnamon

Bake the sweet potato until soft all the way through (it's fastest cooked in the microwave).
Cook carrots until soft (I boiled them on the stove while the potato was being cooked, but you can use the microwave for these, too. You can also use frozen carrots instead).
Put all ingredients other than the topping spices into a blender (leave the skin on the sweet potato, if you like it).
Blend until thoroughly mixed. Then transfer to a pot and heat it on the stove until everything is thoroughly hot (this shouldn't take long, as most of it is already warm).

If you want a sweeter soup (similar to pumpkin pie), add the cinnamon and/or the pumpkin pie spice to taste once everything is heating in the pot.
If you're not adding the final spices, try topping the soup with a dollop of plain, non-sweetened yogurt (a great substitute for sour cream).

This soup is extremely healthy, and about 150-200 calories a serving. It's great left-over, too, even cold!

For You

Do whatever it takes to sparkle today.

Currents...

My current...

...hair obsession: Beachy waves. I've been using my new 3/4 inch curling iron to achieve the look. I've never really owned a curling iron before, so I am still perfecting my skills. As my hair gets longer and longer, I'm starting to really enjoy being able to broaden my style-horizons a little!
I love everything about the photo of Mary Kate Olsen below; from the style and color of her hair, to the costume ring on her finger, to her flowing, casual top. This photo pretty much sums up my style inspiration for Spring.

...food splurge: The "Hall of Fame" pizza from Rockin' Tomato - a sampler of four of their totally yummy pizzas, including the "Cinco Formaggio", which is one of the best cheese pizzas I've ever had! SO good. Moderation is key. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of breaking into the leftovers from Sunday's dinner at Monday's lunch. I may have to stay away from this stuff for a little while.

...Mood lifter: Check out one of my favorite blogs, Everything Fabulous, and go to the Inspiration section. Every previous blog post that includes uplifting words, tongue-and-cheek advice, mottos to make you smile, endearing quotes, and photos to cheer you, is listed there for easy-scrolling. Visit on your lunch break for a some happy escapism, or on a rough day when you need little mind-reset. I kind of totally love this quote below, which I found there.

Fabulous Weekend

So, once again I found it hard to squeeze in a Saturday post. Apologies to anyone who came looking for one. It seems as if my weekends have been lively enough that I rarely even find myself on the computer, unless it's for a quick Facebook update (and even then, it's usually through my phone). Occasionally, I'll have a few days worth of blogs done ahead of time, but that wasn't the case this week.
So, just F.Y.I., for any faithful readers, I think I will follow what seems to be a standard in the fashion/style type blogs I read, and that's posting Monday through Friday and taking the weekends off. Although, there may be a random weekend post here and there if I feel particularly inspired!

How was your weekend?
I was definitely able to leave behind the negativity that had been looming throughout the week. I must say, I had an absolutely fabulous weekend!

 Steve and me at "The Stage". I've been enjoying using my new curling iron to get those sort of "beachy" waves at the ends of my hair. I layered a short, tight, black, t-shirt style dress over my gray skinny jeans. I wore black flats (my foot isn't quite ready for heels yet), but dressed up the whole ensemble with a extra long pearl necklace, tied in a knot at the bottom. A little 1920s touch. The outfit was casual, yet classy. Perfect for a Friday night downtown at a pretty casual bar.

Friday night was spent downtown checking out a new live music bar called The Stage. We all really liked the feel of this place, and got to see a friend's band play.
On Saturday morning (after shaking off a touch of a hangover) my girlfriend, and my boyfriend and I grabbed breakfast at Einstein's Bagel Bros., one of my favorite breakfast spots near my apartment. Later, Steve and I headed to the Borders at the nearby outdoor mall (the weather was gorgeous!) for their going-out-of-business sale. He picked up a pile of books on the cheap, and I got a Paul Simon CD for just $3. I was very tempted to buy one of the 80 lbs bags of Seattle's Best Coffee from their cafe' for $30, but I decided to pass.

We spent the rest of the afternoon laying by the pool, drinking margaritas and some Malibu and diet coke (one of my favorite cocktails). Later, after coming inside and crashing for a nap, we made some dinner and watched one of my favorite films, Forget Paris. I couldn't have asked for a better day!

We got this adorable pitcher and matching tumblers from Target this weekend. Perfect for taking frozen margaritas down to the pool, and so festive!

On Sunday night we had a few friends over to the apartment for beer and pizza, and watched a film I was in last Summer. It was a good time, and I was thrilled to have had such a nice weekend, packed full with fun activities.
The weekend seemed really long, which was nice, but it makes it that much harder to get back into Monday-mode! I have plenty to get done today, and to make motivation that much harder, it's suddenly cloudy and cool today!

I'm off to pour myself some coffee and make my to-do list for the day. Hope you have a great start to your week! xx

Drab ---> Fab

Welcome to Friday, everyone!
So. It's been a bit of an emotionally draining week for me, even though there have been quite a few positive things sprinkled in. It's time to let the negative stuff go and work on moving forward, so I can fully enjoy all the good stuff.
I'm really glad that I finished all my work last night, because now I have the whole day free to try and re-group and recover from my roller-coaster week. Tonight, I'm going downtown with my boyfriend and some friends to see some live music. I'm dying to dress up in something that makes me feel amazing, and let that feeling flow into every aspect of my mindset.

Do you ever see a girl on the street and think, "Wow. I wish I could be that cool"? You can! Let's be as fab as we want to (and sometimes need to) this weekend!

When it rains, it pours

I'm starting to wonder if there's anything in between being bored to death or completely frazzled with stuff to do. I guess deep down, I actually love it when I'm so busy I can't think completely straight. Or at least, I'm trying to embrace it. I always want to do everything, all the time, so it's nice to feel like I'm accomplishing a lot. Maybe, just maybe, sometimes life could spread things out a bit, though? Just a request.

A photo taken of me during a headshot session with Trevor Ray Thompson. I hadn't seen it in a while, and came across it today! It seemed appropriate.

Hope you're having a good Thursday! Not so much? Venting welcome below. xx

Some spring in my step!

I am really starting to feel like Spring is officially here! The weather has been in the low 80s for the past week, and it looks as though this warmth is going to continue for a while. Maybe we're done with our cold spells (fingers crossed)!
I already have some wonderful activities planned to help embrace the new season, including going to my first baseball game in years next week (super excited!) and another weekend out at the pool.

Wednesday seems like the perfect day to break the work/chore routine a bit and have coffee and a chat with my best girlfriend, so I'll be doing that in a little bit.
Tonight, my boyfriend and I will be having dinner with some friends at a great Mexican restaurant right near my apartment, so I am also really looking forward to that!

How is the mid-week shaping up for you?

I hope you have (or are thinking of) some fun plans for the weekend! It'll be here before you know it.
Meanwhile, here are some Spring-inspired images for us all to enjoy:

 Isn't this a gorgeous room? (p.s. I stole this photo from one of my favorite blogs, Blushing and Sweet.) 

Once I spend some time getting my apartment decorated (hopefully in the near future), I really want to have accent pieces (such as the pillows, or flowers and vase in this room) that I can easily switch out, according to the seasons. I think that will really help create an appropriate atmosphere, all while keeping me from getting bored, without having to spend time and money on a big redecorating project!

 

I'm not a huge flower person, but I've decided recently that I really love hydrangeas (especially in pale colors, such as these). I keep seeing these pop up in different places, and I love how they just look like round bunches of tiny petals. Knowing next to nothing about flowers, it took me a while to find out what kind they were!

 I am determined to go shopping for sundresses very soon. They are something I haven't really worn until recently. I don't like to look too overly-girly, so I tend to gravitate towards ones with some edge, sophistication, or a vintage feel. I came across this one at Etsy.com (sorry, folks, it's already sold), and while it's not necessarily the perfect one for me (though, granted, it is very vintage looking), I thought it was really interesting.

Slim down for Summer

As summer gets closer, I've been looking to new foods to not only help me feel lighter and slimmer, but also to get me in the mood for the season!
Last year, I started making fruit and yogurt parfaits a lot for a really refreshing, healthy breakfast. I would also have fruit around for easy snacking. My favorite mix is Dannon brand plain yogurt (I buy the really large container. I don't feel the need to have the sweetened kind, but the Vanilla flavor isn't much higher in calories, if you can't stand the taste of non-sweetened yogurt), blackberries, and strawberries. I love layering them all in a wine glass. It's such an easy way to create a pretty presentation.
I'm telling you, this simple parfait is so delicious, and you can also substitute it for desserts (especially when you're having an intense ice cream craving) and it will really do the trick! You wont feel like you're sacrificing anything.

My dessert the other night.

I've also been substituting fish for my usual protein for dinner. It just seems like such a better choice when the weather is warm. You don't feel as weighed down, it's so good for you, and once again, it just really puts you in that "summery" mood. Tilapia is my normal go-to fish, but lately I've been eating more salmon. Salmon is actually incredibly filling, as it's a heavier, tougher fish. If you're really craving a steak, but are trying to eat better or avoid red meat, top a Salmon fillet with some steak sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce!
I love a lime glaze like Paul Newman's lime salad dressing, which I believe I mentioned in an earlier post. This dressing also works wonders on chicken! Steve and I have also experimented with stuffed salmon and chicken breasts lately, using ingredients like spinach and feta cheese. Feta is a great cheese to use, because it's so strongly flavored that you are less tempted to overload on it. I also just love the flavor. I highly recommend adding a little bit to a salad, too. It can make the simplest salad (even just spring mix and some grape tomatoes) feel a little more "gourmet" and more exciting.

Spiral salmon fillet stuffed with spinach and feta, picked up fresh from our HEB deli, and baked. 

Paired with cooked asparagus.

Let's be honest though, when trying to eat well, sometimes you just. crave. chocolate. And when you're craving chocolate, there is no substitute!
I keep a bag of dark chocolate Hershey Kisses around for when that mood strikes. Dark chocolate has been said to be high in antioxidants and easier to digest than other types, so that's a plus. Having to unwrap each individual kiss also helps you not absent-mindedly pile chocolates into your mouth (and when you do that, before you know it, you've eaten half the bag!). Also, (not unlike the feta cheese) dark chocolate has a strong taste to it, and I find that I don't actually want to eat a whole bunch of it in one sitting. After about 3 or 4 kisses, I feel fine, and my craving has been taken care of.

Look for the pretty purple wrapping...

The one "diet" tip I've discovered over the past year or so, however, has been to keep your proteins and starches separate for easier digestion. This is not a tip that effects weight loss, necessarily, but it is incredibly helpful if you're concerned about bloating, which less face it, can make us look and feel much heavier than we actually are!
So what this means is, just pair your salmon (or whatever meat) with a salad or some cooked vegetables. Skip the potatoes or pasta for that meal. If you want to have starch for a meal, have it, but just leave off the meat. Pair pasta with a yummy sauce and some veggies. I find this isn't that difficult of an adjustment, and it really does make a difference (for me, at least). Bonus: I can see how this could also significantly reduce your calorie intake for each meal without too much effort, depending on what exactly you're eating.
I don't do this 100% of the time (let's face it, sometimes you just want to have a sandwich with meat and bread!), but I try to keep to it whenever possible, and certainly when I'm doing a "detox diet" for a period of time to get my body back on track.

I hope I've provided some easy tips for adjusting your normal diet through the summer. What are some of your summer eating tips? Let's help each other out this season and look amazing!

Some work, some play

Ok, so I slacked off on blogging this past Saturday (I really try to post every day, and just take Sunday off). But, it was a gorgeously warm day, and Steve and I had planned to pretty much roll out of bed and go right to the pool at my apartment complex. We took some frozen margaritas down with us, and lounged the day away.

I could get used to this...

Pluggin' away...

I spent much of the day Sunday getting work done for a Monday deadline (I'm a procrastinator, what can I say?), as well as getting started on my taxes (not fun). Luckily, I wrapped everything up in plenty of time to have a nice dinner at home with my boyfriend (salmon stuffed with spinach and feta cheese - my favorite combo ever!), and enjoy the end of my weekend.

I'm ready to have a great week. How about you?

Playing dress up

It's probably no secret that I get a kick out of dressing up and finding something unique to wear when I go for a night out, to some sort of event, or even just to hang out with friends. Between Mardi Gras, SXSW, and St. Patrick's Day, I've had quite a few excuses to wear something fun (and maybe a little extra over-the-top) lately. Here are some of my fashion endeavors from the past week or so:

Mardi Gras! 

I love holidays that give me an excuse to play with vibrant colors. Normally, if I really want some extra color in my eye makeup, I would just use a one as a small accent in the crease or corners of my eyelid. But I went a little further here with the purple and green, and added clothing (and two, small black and purple hair extentions) to match!

SXSW! 

I wanted to wear something nice for the screening of the film I was in, but I knew it would be a relatively low key event, so I knew I wasn't going to go an evening-gown-route or anything.

I paired a sophisticated black pencil skirt with a sheer, white shirt (I love to wear a bright bra underneath it). I put my hair in a messy side ponytail, and accessorized with a hair scarf, a sparkly bracelet and rings, and of course my new favorite blue nail polish. I did relatively heavy, smokey eyes, with pink-liner on the bottom for a little twist. Also pictured is a perfume I wear occasionally for nights out, called Mambo. Normally I opt for just a light body spray, but sometimes I want something heavier that will also last throughout the night.

I think the look came off as sort of sophisticated-bohemian with a little edge, which is exactly what I was hoping to create. 

St. Patrick's Day! 

Steve and I looked appropriately cheesy (but still cute, if I do say so myself) on St. Patrick's Day. You can't see it in the photo, but I am also wearing a pair of army green slacks (they look somewhat retro) that have tiny silver rhinestones up the sides - so yes, I was actually wearing some green clothing! After putting everything fun and green I wanted to wear all together, I ended up with sort of a silvery-green-sparkle theme. Works for me! 

In general, I always love seeing other people's fashion choices. It's the best way to get ideas that I can build upon, in order to make the look my own.  Hope maybe I've passed along some interesting inspiration (at least for your next crazy holiday gatherings!). I'd love to hear some of your thoughts and ideas!

Have a fab weekend!

On St. Patrick's Day, everybody's Irish

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This has always been a fun holiday for me, being from a half-Irish family. I love enjoying a mug of green-colored beer and trying to think of cute ways to incorporate green into whatever I'm wearing that day. It's always nicer when "drinking holidays" fall on a weekend, but never-the-less, some friends and I will be meeting for happy hour at a nearby Irish pub and we'll see where the night takes us from there.

Do you have any St. Patty's Day plans? Here are some things to get us all in the mood:

Yum! I would love to get some pint glasses like these for a festive touch!

Today's a great excuse to use some crazy eyeshadow, without channeling any bad 80s flashbacks.

Today makes me miss my red hair. Being a blonde, currently, I might actually wear a red wig tonight...

I'm not a huge Guinness fan (gasp!), but I do enjoy Killians!

Add some unexpected green into your outfit!

I've always found Irish Blessings to be comforting, but always with a sense of humor.

 Be safe tonight, if you'll be venturing out. See you here tomorrow!

Silver screening...

Tonight, I am finally making it out to the SXSW film festival for the premiere of a film that I had a small role in at the end of 2009. Looks like I get my "night out" after all!
The screening will be at one of my favorite bars downtown, The Belmont, which has a really swanky, "Rat-pack" type vibe to it. I'm really excited, but keeping my fingers crossed that hobbling around with my cast on doesn't prove to be too big of an ordeal (I've decided that I will be dressing up in something fun, despite the mandatory "boot" accessory!). Mainly, I will just have to be careful to not push my foot too hard. It's difficult to be patient, especially now that it's starting to feel better.

I might be doing a lot of sitting tonight, but this is proof that I can still feel pretty damn fabulous!

It should be a lovely night, and hopefully the film turned out well. It's always interesting to see the finish product, especially after such a long time.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Wish list

So, I actually had a really great Monday. I accomplished all the little things I wanted to do; stuff I really needed to catch up on (like laundry), as well as relaxing and spending some "me" time. I also got to spend some really quality time with my boyfriend and one of my best girl friends. My foot felt better and better throughout the day, and by the time my friend stopped by that evening, I was pretty much able to forget about it completely.

Sigh...

Even so, every now and then, thoughts creep into my mind about all the things I can't wait to do when I'm fully healed:

Have a night out...with fabulous heels!

Go shopping!

 

Have a fully clean and organized apartment again! (Don't you just love this room??)

Tell me how your week is going! xx

Monday relief

Victory!
I reached my work deadline very late last night, so for the most part, I have a day off today. After three  days of work until about 3:00am, I've decided to concentrate on all things pretty and relaxing today!
I'm going to catch up on some of my TV shows, give myself a very overdue manicure, and whatever else sounds appealing while I'm sitting on the couch with a still-recovering sprained foot. I'm able to hobble around some (if I'm wearing my little removable cast) so if I'm feeling adventurous, maybe I'll do some laundry. Ha! Ah, the simple things. It's an overcast Spring-like day, so I'm tempted to at least get out to my balcony and take in some fresh air, too.

Hope you are able to get into a relaxed mindset on this Monday!

Ready to run

 I spent most of Friday evening (and far into the night) working, but took a welcomed break to eat a lovely grilled salmon fillet with steamed broccoli, which my wonderful boyfriend made for me. We've been using Paul Newman's brand lime salad dressing lately to glaze chicken, tilapia, and salmon, and it's tasted great on all three. This is a super-versatile ingredient to keep around the house!
I've been doing well at eating healthy since being bed/couch-ridden. It's amazing how satisfying healthy foods really can be. I feel so much better about my forced lack of activity after eating such light and nutritious meals. I think it's definitely keeping me more energized and focused than if I was sitting on the couch for three days straight with a bag of greasy potato chips and cans of soda.

The lounging thing gets old quick...

I've been limiting my carbs quite a bit, with the exception of the occasional 100% whole wheat english muffin some mornings, with a little Smart Balance butter spread, or a hand full of crackers dipped in salsa. Other than that, I've been enjoying meals similar to the recent tilapia salad recipe I shared (see earlier post) and the salmon dinner mentioned above. Cooked spinach has always been one of my favorite foods, and it's so good for you, so I've been pairing that pretty often with whatever meat I'm eating. It's a really filling side dish, so you barely miss the carbs you might normally have on the side.
I've mostly been snacking (when needed) on baby carrots and/or a tall glass of V8 juice. It's amazing how much just a glass of veggie juice can satisfy you.
My biggest splurge this week has been some Chocolate Turtle Chex Mix, which we had out the other night during a little get-together. It is absolutely delicious, and actually the calorie count isn't that bad, especially considering naturally-high-calorie peanuts are in the mix. 

I also love sipping on coffee throughout the morning with just a little 2% milk, and switching to hot tea in the evenings or before bed. I recently discovered Celestial Seasonings' brand of Dragon Fruit Melon Green Tea. It packs a ton of antioxidents, but it also tastes so delicious. I absolutely love the flavor. I add maybe 3/4 a tea spoon of sugar.

Still, I can not tell you how much I am dying to get out and run again. Maybe this whole injured-foot thing was only to make me appreciate exercising. My legs feel terrible from just sitting around so much. But alas, I will have to be patient.

Have a great weekend! See you Monday. xx

Trying to keep sane...and entertained.

An extra big coffee is needed this morning!
I was able to get a quality night sleep last night (a huge improvement over the first night with my injury), but ahead, is another day of working on my computer non-stop, towards a quickly approaching deadline. And of course, I can't go out for a quick run or even walk around the apartment for a little energy boost these days.

I'm looking forward to things getting back to normal. I feel like I'm missing out on everything with this injured foot! I'm glad the weekend is almost here, though. I'll be working during some of it, for sure, but at least I'll have my boyfriend around more. He definitely helps keep me sane. Well, as sane as can be expected for me!

For now, I will daydream of nicer days...

Wishing you a lovely Friday and a fun weekend!

Vegging with veggies

Just got back from the doctor. X-rays were negative for broken bones - yay! However, I'm going to be doing a lot of laying around and wearing my trusty "boot" the doctor gave me, until I start to feel better. I still can't put any weight on my foot. Thank goodness for best friends who come to see me at home and keep me entertained, and my boyfriend who's really stepped up to help take care of me.

One reason I'm bummed about what could possibly be 6 weeks of non-strenuous activity, is that I had just been getting back on a good workout routine and keeping my diet in check, and it felt great! Vegging on the couch kind of makes me want to pig out, but I've vowed to at least eat well if I'm not going to be able to workout for a while. So, this seems like the perfect time to share a recent healthy recipe I came up with on the fly the other night. Read on.


Tilapia Salad:

Ingredients:
Tilapia fillet (I usually have a big bag of individually wrapped, frozen fillets on hand. It's only about $6 at somewhere like Walmart).
Spring mix
Salsa (as spicy or mild as you like)
Lime juice (from a fresh lime, or a bottle - make sure there's no sugar added!)
Salt and pepper (or another kind of seasoning you like. Just go easy on anything salty.)
Medium sized Avocado

Season the thawed tilapia with salt and pepper. (I'm not a big fan of salt, so I don't use much. I am much more liberal with the pepper) I grill up the fish in a already hot, small pan with some calorie free cooking spray. While it's cooking, I combine spring mix and diced avocado in a large bowl (use lots of spring mix to really make this into a full meal!). Then give the mix a few splashes of lime juice and toss your salad.
When your fish is done (make sure it gets flaky and completely white), lay the fillet on top of your salad. Then spoon some salsa on top.

Between the salsa, avocado and lime juice, the tilapia salad feels like a really fresh Mexican dish. You could even pair it with a Skinny Girl margarita to make the meal a little more festive and indulgent. All in all, the salad  alone should run you around 350 calories. Enjoy!

Let me know if you try it and how you like it, or feel free to share your variations on the dish and/or your own healthy meal ideas!

A day in bed?

Sounds lovely, doesn't it? But wait, no! I severely sprained my ankle today and have no choice.
This explains the late blog post today. And it explains the change in schedule. I promise to post the yummy recipe mentioned in yesterday's post very soon.
I'm also on a temporary laptop at the moment (mine has some major problems and is being looked at), so I don't have my blog folder. So, I apologize if I've been a bit short and simple lately!

Hopefully my ankle (actually, it's really more my foot) will heal quickly, but it seems pretty bad, so I might be laid up for a bit. This is such a hectic week for me, too, but I guess some things will just have to be canceled. At least I have no excuse not to concentrate on work. Yay! Yes, that was sarcasm.

I am wishing you all a fabulous and healthy week! Appreciate your working appendages! xx

A bit blah

It's only Tuesday and I'm already feeling a bit overwhelmed. I did actually have a pretty productive day yesterday, but I felt like I was in a fog all day and ended up with a migraine. Not so fun. My boyfriend has been feeling under the weather too, so I really hope we're not coming down with anything.

I'm going to keep the post short today. I slept too late, and have to play catch up on work, especially since I have some evening plans tonight (if Steve and I aren't sick, that is!).

I felt a little better last night after a really healthy dinner I came up with on the fly, which I will share with you all tomorrow. For now, it's time to get moving! Have a great day, everyone.

Up and at 'em

Ah, it's another lovely Monday already. I've got a busy week ahead of me - work deadlines, a music video shoot, social events, as well as random loose ends to tie up and everyday-tasks to complete. I'm also getting back on my workout schedule after a few days off and starting on a stricter diet of healthy, "real", fresh foods.

Thankfully, I enjoyed a mostly "chill" weekend with my boyfriend, and it felt so nice. But, I also got a fulfilling cleaning job done on my apartment and we did all our grocery shopping for the week. Whew! I spent Sunday night on the couch enjoying some red wine, cheese and crackers, favorite TV shows, and cuddling. Come to think of it, that was pretty close to my Saturday night, too.

Tell me how your weekend turned out and what you have planned for the next few days! I'm going to try and stay as motivated as possible and have an accomplished week. I hope you're able to make the most of your Monday. xx

Weekend Lounge

I had a great couple days, visiting with my sister. She left this morning after we went out for quite an indulgent breakfast. We squeezed in a good amount of shopping, dining, and seeing friends while she was here, but were still able to enjoy a little down time at the apartment, being nostalgic and sipping some wine. Still, the two days kind of wore me out and I know I've got a really busy week ahead.

So today, I'm definitely in lounge-mode. Hope everyone's having a fabulous weekend!

Little things that make me smile...

Here are some things that have been putting a little pep in my step lately...

...Skinny Girl Margaritas: I adore Bethenny Frankel Hoppy, formerly of The Real Housewives of New York City. Now she has her own reality show with her husband and new baby, and I'm just as addicted to that. I recently tried the signature cocktail from her "Skinny Girl" brand, The Skinny Girl Margarita. It's sold pre-mixed and one serving is 100 calories (considerably less than a typical margarita which can run you up to 500 calories, depending!). It's sweetened with agave nectar and made with premium blue agave clear tequila. I am usually wary of pre-mixed cocktails, as they sometimes taste pretty rough. Steve brought this home last weekend as a surprise, knowing what a Bethenny fan I am, and I must admit, I was super excited. To my delight, the drink tasted so fresh and had a great flavor. It's so nice to just pour it over ice into a glass, add a straw (or garnish if you like - lime, salt, sugar...) and go!

Love Texts:  Sap alert! The other night, Steve went to take the trash out, and my phone rang, telling me I had a text message. He had sent me "I love you!" while he was outside. It definitely put a smile on my face. One night after that, when he was at the store picking up some ingredients for dinner, I did the same for him. It's just a really cute way to remind someone how much they really affect you. I highly recommend it!

The Cello: Every now and then I can hear the person in the apartment below me practicing the cello. It's amazing how it immediately puts me in a good mood. There's something really romantic about hearing the music radiate through the building. It makes me feel like I'm living in a building full of artists.

New Accessories: I'm totally obsessed with some new accent pieces I got, to take me into Spring. I've never felt I could pull off aviator sunglasses, even though I love them. The other night at Walmart (Steve and I were doing one of our late-night wandering sessions), I found a gold colored pair for just $5 that actually looked good on me! I don't usually like the way I look in light colored glasses either, but these have mirrored lenses, and I think that makes it work for me. I can't stop wearing them! 

For me, a cool manicure is an accessory, so I'm thrilled about two new nail polish colors I found. One is a shimmery silver shade (say that 3 times fast!) by Revlon called "Silver Dollar" and one is an almost neon-like blue by Sally Hansen called "Calypso Blue". I am looking forward to using the blue on just the tips for an edgy, summery French manicure. I'm wearing the silver shade now, and it's very edgy/sophisticated.

I gotta admit, I feel really cool when I wear these.

 Have a fab day!! xx