The Fab Life

I ♥ PR

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:39:00 +0000

So much has happened over the past few months, and I’ve done such a bad job of blogging about it...oops! So without further ado, I’ll try to catch you up to speed :)

Last year around this time, I was in serious wedding planning mode for our October 2012 wedding, so my time was consumed by that. I had started to get restless at my job around mid-summer, and voiced my concerns to my husband (“to-be”, at the time!) and my family - and the advice I received was to wait until after the wedding to jump into the job search since there was so much going on. Well, as soon as we got back from our honeymoon at the end of October - I dove right in, knowing that it would probably not be a quick search!

In retrospect, November and December are not the greatest times to start a serious job search, with holidays and traveling. I had a few interviews during that time frame, and one of them actually led to a job that I accepted in February...but more on that in a few!

I started the new year with a serious focus on finding a new job, as I really felt it was my time to move on and find a company that was a better fit for me. I ended up having more interviews than I ever expected, and a few led to real possibilities. I already knew that a few weren’t a good fit for me, but I still held out hope that something would come along. I had given myself (and my husband) an ultimatum that I was leaving my job by March regardless of the outcome of my search...which was scary, yet freeing at the same time. I needed a change so desperately that I was willing to give up my salary - although, only temporarily, of course! As luck would have it, the job that I had started interviewing for in December was offered to me. I had been waiting to hear from that job as well as another one that (at the time) I thought I really wanted - but it was in another city! I heard from both jobs pretty much around the same time - the one I really had my heart set on, I didn’t get...but the one that I viewed as a “back up”, I did get. So I did what any rational person would do - I took it. To me, it meant that I was able to get away from the oppressive environment that I was being exposed to every day.

So, with that decision made, I let my old company know I would be leaving, and got ready to take on a new opportunity, which I had alluded to here. For the job, I had to attend an intensive training in Maryland for three whole weeks, which was rather intimidating. But, I packed my bags and went, hoping that my uncertainty about the job would disappear as I learned more about what I’d be doing. As it turns out, it made me more uncertain. Long story short, I’m not a sales person...and it was a sales job. I’m a marketing and public relations person, and no amount of training is ever going to turn me into a sales person! After 2.5 weeks in Maryland, I knew that I needed to keep looking for the “right” job. I let my supervisor know, and drove home from Maryland, never looking back.

With that said, I showed up at home jobless, unsure of what the heck I was going to do with my life. I knew what I wanted to do, but I was having trouble finding the right job within commuting distance! I spent the month of April unemployed, but actively searching for a new job. I was pleasantly surprised at how 2 years of marketing experience can really make a difference in getting high-quality interviews! I found a job that I was extremely interested in and applied immediately - and I got an email back asking for me to send writing samples ASAP. I turned those articles in as soon as I could, and landed an interview the next day. I ended up going back for a few more interviews, each time realizing how much I loved the company and the job opportunity. Literally one week after sending in my application, I landed the job. It was a whirlwind of a week, but I’d never been more thrilled and grateful for a new opportunity!

I’ve been at my new job for just over a month now, and I continue to feel so blessed not only to HAVE a new job, but to have a job that I genuinely enjoy. You don’t realize how important it is to work in a positive environment until you’ve worked in a not-so-positive environment!

Needless to say, the past few months have been full of change, but good change! My entire attitude has improved, and I don’t hate waking up in the morning for work. Life is far too short and you spend far too much time at work to hate your job! :)

A Renewed Healthy Lifestyle

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 01:08:00 +0000

It’s that time of year: beach season. For most of us, Memorial Day was the official kickoff to summer, which means that swimsuit season is officially here! This is the time of year when people take dieting to the extreme, using unhealthy methods to firm up before they suit up. This is also the time of year that I cringe while listening to other people’s ‘slimdown strategies’ because they are generally not so good for your body!

I’ve always liked to lead a healthy lifestyle, but I admit that even I step it up when summer comes around. However, a healthy lifestyle does not mean ‘crash diet’ - it means always (not just for a few months out of the year) incorporating healthy foods and exercise into your life.

For me this looks something like this:

Breakfast:

-Tone It Up protein pancake OR Advocare Meal Replacement Shake

-Vitamins and Advocare MNS Max3 supplements

Snack:

-15 raw almonds or fruit

Lunch:

-Spinach salad with chicken breast, veggies, hummus, and salsa

-Strawberries, grapes, and cantaloupe

-Advocare MNS Max3 supplements

Dinner:

-Lean protein (chicken, ground turkey, pork tenderloin, shrimp, tofu, etc.)

-Green vegetable (usually broccoli, green beans, or stir fry veggies)

-Occasionally a starch, like potatoes or brown rice

I decided to incorporate the Advocare 24 Day Challenge into my diet in May, and I just completed the challenge on Sunday. I feel amazing and definitely toned up over the past 3.5 weeks! The first 10 days of the Challenge are an Herbal Cleanse, which detoxes you and prepares your body to properly absorb the nutrients in the supplements during the Max phase. After just 10 days, I definitely had more energy, and I felt better, too! By eating clean and placing an emphasis on fitness, Advocare can help jumpstart your metabolism - and a nice side effect is toning up a little bit, too!

I’ve always taken the bare minimum when it comes to supplements - just a multivitamin. So, needless to say, I was a little intimidated when I received the Advocare supplements...because I had a handful of capsules to take every day! I know some people don’t buy into the whole supplement thing, but I definitely think there is a benefit to incorporating supplements into an already-healthy lifestyle. Obviously, no vitamin or supplement should ever replace a healthy diet, but it can definitely add a little bit of “oomph” to your healthy lifestyle!

Technically, the 24 Day Challenge works best if you eat 100% clean for the entire 24 days. However, I started the Challenge the weekend of Mother’s Day, so I can’t say that I ate perfectly ‘clean’ food 100% of the time. I did try to eat the healthiest choices possible, though, and ate only small portions. I’d say that I’ve kept up my 80/20 rule during the challenge - 80% healthy, 20% (less) healthy. I never eat really BAD food, but that just means I might eat multigrain tortilla chips or bread occasionally. I never eat fried food - it just isn’t worth it to me. Nor do I like the taste of it or how it makes me feel.

I’ve been considering Advocare for a while now, because I’ve heard so many great stories about how using supplements in conjunction with healthy eating and fitness can really help you achieve optimal health. I decided to continue taking Advocare supplements after the challenge ended because I really like how much more energy I have! When it comes to health and fitness, I tend to spare no expense. I generally hate spending money (unless it’s on clothing...just occasionally, babe!), but I’m willing to spend on health and fitness without guilt. It's SO worth it!

I'm also going to focus more on strength training again - I got into a habit of running a LOT and not doing as much strength work as I used to. I'm getting ready to join a new gym that's super close to home so that I'll have access to all the weights I could want...plus, I can diversify my workouts a bit and get back into Spinning and BodyPump! I think maybe my renewed focus on optimal health and better workouts is wearing off a little on my husband...he ran a few times last week AND let me sign him up for an 8k that I'm running in a few weeks! A healthy lifestyle is contagious, what can I say. :)

Technology's Negative Impact on Relationships

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:26:00 +0000

I've found that lately I have such a strong desire to escape back to my honeymoon. There's something to be said about a carefree, tropical environment with NO smartphones, iPads, laptops, and minimal television (because it's not so interesting if you can't understand the language!). Oh yeah, and getting to spend quality time with my favorite person, ever. That's what makes it so perfect ;)

I've found technology to be increasingly frustrating lately - maybe it's because I've been a stay-at-home wife for about a month now (my new job starts Monday...more on that later!). I've cleaned the house so many times that I've confirmed I'm OCD, taken Paige on countless walks, shopped (too much), worked out so much, stalked Facebook one too many times, and made nice dinners almost every night for the past month. It's truly exhausting...and the thing I've realized most is, I'm bored. Being a 'stay-at-home' wife is not for me, I tell ya. At the end of the day, I'm so ready for my husband to be home...simply because I crave interaction and carrying on a conversation with someone...particularly him, of course! And that's where I'm going with this post...the interruption of technology in all of our lives.

Why I referenced our honeymoon earlier: because it was the best week of my life. And even the first week or so afterward was pretty spectacular. Then, things started to get busier for both of us: me, stressed over the job I had, while searching for a new job....and my husband, working AND getting his MBA, which means 3 classes per week in the evenings (he graduates in the Fall, thank goodness for both of us!). Everyone asks 'How's married life?' (it's great!) and 'Are you still in the honeymoon phase?' - which we very much are! :) The only thing that I dislike is the impact of technology on our lives (and everyone else's lives)! Why do we sit on the couch in the evenings together, yet we're so engrossed in our silly smartphones or on the laptop or iPad? I mean, this is a common theme in life, I see it all the time - you go to a restaurant and see two people sitting at dinner, both captivated by whatever is on their phones instead of being captivated by what each other is saying. To say that I'm kind of 'over it' is an understatement - and I KNOW that I'm so guilty of it! It's become a natural habit to constantly check my phone, because God forbid I'll miss new photos on Instagram. I mean, really. Saying that aloud makes me feel like an idiot.

I'm really into social media, obviously...it's always been a big part of my career, so naturally it plays a role in my life. However, I think being home and away from working full-time for a month has really helped me change my perspective a bit. In my last job, it was necessary to keep a close watch on the company's social media presence, in case I needed to respond to a situation ASAP. However, now that I've stepped away from that role, I don't really 'need' to check Facebook every 10 minutes. Truthfully, I probably didn't NEED to back then, either - it really interrupted my life outside of work and I didn't even realize it at the time.

I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with this post, but with the promise I made of being more open and honest, I just felt this was worth sharing. I'm positive that we all can relate to this - I've read many blog posts and articles on this topic recently, so it's clearly on our minds. The next step is actually taking action...by stepping away from the computers and smartphones, and maybe even setting up a time frame for when it's okay to use them at home. How can I make some changes, personally? Well, my husband has class three nights per week, so when he's in class, I don't feel so bad about reading blogs, checking Facebook, etc. But when we get home from work, and we're cooking then eating dinner, maybe we should be more in tune to each other and having an actual conversation rather than burying our faces into something as irrelevant as Facebook. And the very few evenings that we actually spend together when he isn't in class, limit the amount of time we're on our phones and use that extra time to actually have a meaningful conversation. I'm definitely not saying we don't ever talk or have meaningful conversation, but it usually happens after we're 'done' using our phones/laptops/iPads....so usually right before we fall asleep at night. It should definitely be the other way around: we should spend a majority of our evening just being present, and enjoying each other's company...and then a few minutes before bed is the time to check to make sure we don't have any urgent messages to handle before the next day.

I actually think that this is a pretty hard 'challenge', if you will. Like many others, I'm so complacent and just have my phone glued to my hand at all times. When I get in the car after a Target run, I often grab my phone to see what happened while I was 'away'. Writing that actually makes me feel the need to get a grip. It's become such a natural thing that it will really take work to NOT do this. I just miss the good 'ol days when I had a boring flip phone and I texted all the time. Even THAT was less distracting than a smartphone is. So, if you're reading this and you feel like you can relate, try to become more aware of what you're doing...when you pick up your phone, ask yourself why? If it's for no other reason than habit, or worse, because you need to see what people are doing on Facebook...then get a grip. Really. In all seriousness, try to avoid complacency - be aware of what you're doing and why you're doing it. If you're in the car with your husband, talk to him. If you're sitting on the couch with your significant other, ask how his or her day was. If you're at dinner with friends, ask what they've been doing lately. Just stay away from the horrible distraction called technology! ;)

Benefits of Juicing

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

The topic of juicing can be controversial, depending on what you're reading or watching. I, for one, do not support juice cleanses or fasts - our bodies are made to run on whole foods, preferably those with high nutritional values. With that said, I think that juicing can be a healthy addition to your normal diet. I always eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner - skipping meals is so unhealthy. I still follow the Tone It Up plan, though rather loosely at times.

Source

I tend to overlook the TIU-recommended mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack, which I'm going to make an effort to get back into the habit of! Feeding your body 5-6 small, nutritionally valuable meals per day is a really good way to keep your metabolism and energy levels high. The TIU girls recommend fresh juice on their Beach Babe Edition of the TIU plan, and they even have some great recipes! A mid-morning snack (or mid-afternoon snack, if I plan to work out later in the day) is a great time to enjoy a fresh juice. This means that you're still getting the protein/healthy fats/healthy carbs that you need in a day by consuming whole foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner - but you're getting the added benefit of concentrated vitamins and minerals by consuming a fresh juice as a snack.

What can juice do for you? Well, for starters...

Your skin will glow
You will have more energy
You may see a decrease in allergies
You may lose weight - although this should not be your primary reason for juicing!
Your mind will be clearer
Reduce the risk of illness and disease (Go watch Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead...NOW. I don't recommend a juice-only diet like he does, but the point is, a healthier lifestyle incorporating juicing can dramatically improve health.)

Why does juicing have all of the above benefits (and then some)? As you know, fruits and vegetables contain an abundance of antioxidants, which play a major role in regulating our organ systems. When you juice fruits and veggies, you are extracting some of the most concentrated vitamins and minerals. Essentially, it's like making a huge salad and then putting everything in a juicer and drinking your salad! That may not sound too appetizing, but trust me, if you incorporate the right blend of fruits and veggies - it tastes amazing!

Source

With all of this said, I stand by the principle of consuming whole foods as a majority of your diet. It's absolutely a good idea to consume whole fruits and vegetables, too - after all, when you juice, you are losing some of the fiber content of the fruit and veggies. I think the best way to look at juicing is:

Juice is a SUPPLEMENT to a healthy diet, not a MEAL REPLACEMENT. Follow this principle, and you'll be on your way to improving your health!

Here's another great recipe I made the other day...although I will warn you, once you mix it all together, the color is not so pleasant. However, it tastes AMAZING.

Stawberry + Pear + Spinach Juice

Serves 2 or 3

Granny Smith Apples, 2

Pear, 1

Strawberries, caps removed, 1 cup

Lemon, peeled, 1/2

Ginger, 1/2 to 1 inch

Cucumber, 1/2

Spinach, 2-3 cups

Nutrition Facts (1 serving)

Calories 153

Fat 0.3g

Potassium 549mg

Fiber 7.9g

Protein 2.6g

Vitamin A 61%

Vitamin C 139%

Recipe {Sweet Green Juice}

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

I alluded to it on Instagram, but I never really shared on the blog that I finally got a Breville juicer for my birthday! My parents liked theirs a lot, and they knew that I had wanted one for a while, so that was their gift to me. I was away for three weeks after my birthday, so I didn't even have an opportunity to take it out of the box until last week when I got home!

I've been experimenting with different types of juice, but there are many more I haven't tried yet. Here's a recipe for a really great green juice that I adapted from various sources to make it my own:

Sweet Green Juice

Serves 1

Celery, 2 stalks

Grapes, about 1/2 cup

Granny Smith Apple, 2

Lemon, 1/2 peeled

Lime, 1/2 peeled

Ginger, 1/2 to 1 inch

Cucumber, 1

Spinach, 2 to 3 cups

This makes a really bright green juice, and the fruit and citrus really balance the flavor out and give it some sweetness! It's a great way to get plenty of vitamins in one glass.

I read an article on Livestrong.com about how to count calories in fresh juice, and it suggested that you can deduct approximately 10% of total calories if you remove the core from fruits and 13% if you remove the skin. I input this juice recipe into MyFitnessPal and it has approximately 220 calories. So, if I were to deduct 10% of calories after removing the core - this juice would ultimately have 198 calories.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 198

Fat 0.5g

Potassium 788mg

Fiber 9.5g

Protein 2.6g

Vitamin A 119%

Vitamin C 156%

{Wedding Day: Reception}

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:30:00 +0000

As we're about to hit our six month wedding anniversary, I remembered that I never recapped our wedding reception on the blog! So here goes...

Other than the actual wedding ceremony, the reception was the most important part of our big day. We both have fun families and friends, and some of the best weddings we've been to were ones that had fun receptions! We knew from the start that we wanted ours to be a big party, obviously keeping it classy, though...nothing too wild. Since I had already been planning our wedding before we were even engaged (thanks to Pinterest!), I had some great ideas. I actually chose my color scheme thinking of the reception, not necessarily of the ceremony. I ended up going with navy, green, and white - with touches of pale pink flowers. I loved the colors and found plenty of ideas using this color scheme.

We really wanted our reception to show our personalities - so we wanted it to be fun, of course, but also sentimental and romantic. I paid close attention to detail, from the striped signature drink straws to the embossed cocktail napkins to the music selections, and everything in between. Our reception was a compilation of nine months of hard work and dedication to make it everything we wanted it to be. The best part was, we did a pretty good job of creating our dream reception on a budget! Given enough time to plan, it's pretty easy to shop around and find the best prices and selection.

I did not hire a wedding planner or even a day-of coordinator, mainly because I'm a planner at heart and knew that I could make the wedding & reception everything I wanted it to be. After all was said and done, I would suggest that brides-to-be either hire a day-of coordinator or ask a very trusted friend or family member....or even a Mistress of Ceremonies may be able to step into the role. Luckily, our church had a wedding planner that was provided to us for the ceremony, which was great! However, after the ceremony, it was up to the wedding party to hold it together. We were so so lucky to have a great family friend as our DJ, and he has done so many weddings that he graciously stepped in and acted as coordinator for the rest of the evening! If you're in the Hampton Roads area, check him out here. I cannot recommend him enough - he's so fun and really knows how to get the party going!

We were very blessed throughout the entire process of planning our wedding & reception because we have so many talented friends & family members who helped us make our day special. As I mentioned, our DJ was a family friend, our florist was a family friend, our caterer was my MIL's company(!), and my parent's were the ultimate DIYers - they helped with so many of my Pinterest-inspired ideas! Not to mention our photographer was amazing and became a great friend to us during the planning process - oh yeah, and our videographer was a co-worker of my mother...who made a wedding video for us, gratis. If you're planning a wedding, I encourage you to think of anyone you know who may be able to help out with your big day - chances are, if you ask, they will be more than willing to help you!

Enough about the planning - onto the fun stuff! We were slightly late to arrive to the reception venue because we got caught up taking lots of gorgeous post-ceremony pictures, but everything came together smoothly. The bridal party made an entrance to "Bust a Move"....and we made each of the couples, including our parents, actually do a dance move as they were introduced! Then, we were introduced as Mr. and Mrs., and we began our first dance to "Marry Me" by Train. We had taken several dance lessons at a local studio, and made the decision to dance to this song a few months prior to the big day. This is a very meaningful song to us, and I'm so glad we chose it. Now, whenever we hear it on the radio, it brings us back to that moment. After our first dance, it was time for the long-awaited Father-Daughter dance. I literally didn't make a song choice until the week before the wedding, because I really wanted to find the right song. I wanted it to be special, not only to me, but to my dad. I had narrowed it down to two songs, and the one I chose ended up being perfect. True story, I was hesitant to choose this one, because I knew it was beyond perfect and I knew it would probably make BOTH of us cry. We danced to "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw. Listen to that and tell me you didn't tear up thinking about you and your dad! After my dad and I danced, it was time for the Mother-Son dance. Michael and his mom danced to "And Then They Do" by Trace Adkins. Country music is great for a sentimental dance song. ;)

After all of the dances, we had our Priest offer a blessing, then dinner was served. One thing that I'd heard over and over was to set aside time to actually eat, because if you don't, the night will go by and you'll end up starved at the end. Truthfully, the entire day was a whirlwind, and I wasn't even hungry at the reception. However, I made an attempt to eat a little, and we actually had a bit of time to enjoy dinner with our bridal party. After dinner, we headed up to take a few pictures in the gorgeous venue with our photographer. While we were taking photos, our youngest guests (cousins, nieces, nephews) headed for the dance floor. When we were done with photos, we ended up dancing with the kids. It took a bit longer to get the adults on the dance floor!

Our ring bearer doing the robot. Adorable!

Someone is going to make a great dad one day ;)

After some dancing, it was time to cut the cake. It really is amazing how quickly the evening goes by! Our Best Man and Matron of Honor gave sweet speeches before we cut into our gorgeous cake. Then it was time...Michael and I had talked plenty of times about how we would do the cake cutting. It was decided that there would be NO cake-smashing onto each other's faces. However, my lovely brother-in-law told Michael he should go for it after all, so he did. Which meant that I smeared cake all over his face, too. Payback!

After a lot of socializing and more dancing, we did the bouquet and garter toss. Things started to get funnier and slightly more inappropriate as the night went on...but we all had fun! The best thing about being the bride is, everyone makes it their mission to keep your wine glass filled the entire night - even the priest! He actually got me my first glass of wine earlier in the evening when we got to the reception. I think he could tell my Type A nerves were coming out before the Grand Entrance...so wine to the rescue! ;)

Yep, that's the man I'm married to.

We had so much fun, but finally it was time for the night to come to an end. It always seems like receptions fly by as a guest of a wedding, but as the bride - it literally flashes by in a blur! We had so much fun, and I didn't even realize how exhausted I was until the party was over. We were so blessed to have a wonderful day with all of our family & friends - but we were so looking forward to the next 8 days of relaxing in paradise. Stay tuned for a honeymoon recap!

Face Off: Lululemon vs. Old Navy

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 19:51:00 +0000

I learn a lot by reading other blogs...and if you happen to read fitness blogs, then it's likely you've heard of Lululemon workout apparel too! I have heard so many great things about the brand, so Wunder Under crops and a yoga tank have both been on past Christmas and birthday lists for a while now. Similar to the Tory Burch Revas that I had on my lists, no one in my family really wanted spend that kind of money on one item...so I finally broke down and treated MYSELF to some Lululemon retail therapy! It was totally a post-birthday present to myself. ;)

While I was in Baltimore, my husband came up to visit and we headed down to Georgetown in DC for the day. I was on a mission: to buy my first pair of Wunder Under crops from Lulu. As we were driving into town, Lululemon was one of the first stores I spotted, so we ended up there pretty quickly. :) I made a beeline for the back of the store, where all of the yoga/athletic pants were on display. I found a pair of Wunder Under's that I liked pretty quickly - they were reversible (classic black/neon green), so it was like having two pairs for the price of one. And let me tell you - you definitely want to get your money's worth at Lulu! One pair of Wunder Under crops is a pretty $82.

I will say that I really like the pair of Wunder Under's I bought - they are super comfortable. I've tested them out running and in a hot yoga class, and they work well with both types of exercise - although they are technically made for yoga! The Lululemon see-through fabric incident happened literally days after I purchased my first pair of crops, but fortunately the ones I purchased were not affected. I've read articles and commentary suggesting that Lulu apparel isn't as high-quality as it once was, but since this is my first Lulu purchase - I have nothing to compare these Wunder Under's to! From my perspective, they are good quality and I think I'll get plenty of yoga sessions out of them!

Only a day before my Lulu purchase, I went to Old Navy to browse the Active line. I'd heard (again, through blogs!) that they really stepped up their workout apparel line, so I wanted to check it out. Old Navy has always been one of those places where I went in with high hopes and usually left empty-handed. They have some cute clothes, but often they were ill-fitting. However, I was really surprised when I went into the store on this particular day. They had an entire section of the store dedicated to workout apparel, and they had quite a selection...and the best part was, they were having a sale. I tried on a variety of leggings, crops, yoga pants, and tanks and found that I liked a majority of the apparel. I ended up choosing two racerback yoga tanks and a pair of cropped leggings.

The crops are compression leggings, and they are great for running or other intense cardio workouts. I have run in them several times, taught a Spin class (hopefully more on that later!), and I even went to a hot vinyasa class directly after Spin wearing these crops. For only $23, these really are a great value!

So which is better: Lululemon or Old Navy Active?

Truthfully, I have just as many good things to say about the Old Navy crops as I do about the Lulu crops! I do think that the Lulu crops are thicker (and they are made using Luon, the brand's patented fabric). However, the Old Navy crops were more breathable (and no, they are not see-through!). I also think that for the price, the Old Navy crops are a great choice. You could literally buy 3.5 pairs of Old Navy crops for the price of one pair of Lululemon Wunder Unders! Do I regret buying my Lulu crops? Absolutely not. They are really great, and I always wanted to have some Lulu apparel to work out in! The true test between the Lulu and Old Navy crops is seeing how long they both last after many washings. I guess only time will tell!

Are you a Lululemon fan? Have you checked out Old Navy's line of athletic apparel?

On the road.

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 02:07:00 +0000

I'm currently in Baltimore (well a suburb outside of Baltimore) for three weeks of training for my new job. Call me sappy, but this is the longest time my husband and I have spent apart since before we were married...it's actually been since my college days at Virginia Tech. Considering I'll be 24 on Wednesday (yikes!), I'd say it's been quite a while since we've been apart. ;)

I usually just ignore my 'routine' when I travel for work because I rarely have been gone over 3-4 days at a time. Knowing that I am going to be away for three whole weeks this time, I decided I was going to stick to as normal of a routine as possible...meaning healthy food and fitness. Luckily, I'm staying at a Residence Inn, so there's a full kitchen. I went to Wegman's and stocked up on my normal, healthy food that I eat at home. It's actually really nice to have the option of cooking, since restaurant food often has so much sodium and calories! I now have a kitchen full of Greek yogurt, hummus, spinach, tofu, oatmeal, bananas, and brown rice protein. I've always bought whey protein, but I finally found brown rice protein, so I figured I'd try it. It's definitely no vanilla flavored whey protein, but it's really good for you and completely natural, which I like!

The hotel also has a really nice 24-hour gym, so I have no excuse to not work out every day! I actually ventured into nearby Towson and tried a Hot Vinyasa class. I'm super loyal to my favorite yoga studio in Norfolk, so I was skeptical about a new studio. Since I don't really have a choice for three weeks, I'd rather try a different studio than not do yoga at all! I went to a regular Hot Vinyasa class, but the instructor was actually a substitute who usually teaches Hot POWER Vinyasa...so to put it nicely, she kicked everyone's butts...big time! She was even afraid that no one would come back next week, when she substitutes again. Needless to say, it was a great workout!

I know I've only been gone one day, but I feel like keeping my routine is helping me enjoy the trip a bit more. I will admit that I do not like being away from home, but focusing on being healthy takes my mind off the fact that I'm going to be away for three weeks. My husband is going to come up and visit over the weekend, because we literally can't stand to be apart that long. I'm okay with that. :)

{Recipe} Chicken Sausage Pasta

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

I got my inspiration from this recipe on Pinterest, but since I don't allow heavy cream (among other unhealthy items) in my home, I knew that I'd have to come up with a healthy alternative! I also made a lot of other swaps, so a fair warning: my recipe is essentially nothing like the Pinterest one I just mentioned. It just provided a bit of inspiration. :) The end result was great...but from the looks of it, I just threw this together!

Source

1 package of Hillshire Farm Chicken Sausage (13oz), sliced

7 oz bowtie pasta, cooked and drained

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 cup low-sodium 99% fat free chicken broth

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (if you like spicy!)

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 cup cooked green beans

1. Slice the chicken sausage into 1/3 inch medallions.

2. Boil pasta. Drain and set aside.

3. Cook green beans.

4. Saute the chicken sausage with a a few small drops of olive oil.

5. Combine the cornstarch with 1/2 cup of chicken broth, whisk until blended well.

6. Add cornstarch/broth mixture to sausage, along with the other 1/2 cup of chicken broth.

7. Add all spices to sausage & sauce, allow to simmer and thicken.

8. When the sauce has thickened, add the cooked pasta and cooked green beans, mix well.

9. Sprinkle generously with shredded Parmesan cheese, and stir.

10. Enjoy!

If you wanted to make this even healthier:

-Use boneless, skinless chicken breast to reduce sodium content
-Stir in nonfat Greek yogurt to the sauce mixture to pump up the protein & calcium!

-Use whole-wheat pasta

-Forego the cheese (but the Parmesan really does add to the dish!)

Nutrition Facts per serving:

250 calories

9.6g fat

37.9mg cholesterol

627g sodium

28g carbohydrates

15g protein

{New Opportunities}

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:21:00 +0000

I truly can't remember the last time I've been so stress free - I love this feeling. Life is all about learning, and I've sure done a lot of that over the past two years. I've gone from attending law school to taking on internships in the Marketing/PR industry to working as a Marketing Director for a specialty food company.

I often forget that I'm still 'young' and I have plenty of time to figure out where I belong in terms of my career path. Luckily, I do feel like marketing and communications is where I belong. At this point, I don't see myself starting over from scratch like I did when I decided to leave law school. With that said, I'm getting ready to embark on a new opportunity...one that I'm feeling very optimistic about. I left my job of one and a half years on Friday, and I'll be starting a new 'career' on Wednesday. It was time for me to move on - while I did learn much about marketing during my time with the company, I never felt as though I was truly valued. It was what I consider to be a 'job'...I showed up every day and completed necessary tasks, but there was no passion. I'm looking forward to and hoping to make my new venture a 'career'...a place where I truly feel part of a team and I feel a sense of pride in my work.

When you're in college, you dream of graduating and getting a great first job that jump starts your career. That was my dream, too. I realized after several months that it wasn't going to happen in the situation I was in, so I needed to make a change. To say its been a long time coming would be an understatement, but I'm so grateful to be able to start fresh with a new and promising opportunity. With this new opportunity, I see many great things in our future. Work isn't my life, but happiness and success in the workplace definitely has an effect on other parts of life. I'm very optimistic about what's to come!

With my new job comes training, so I get to travel to my new company's corporate office in Maryland for three weeks to complete my training. I'm not looking forward to leaving my husband and puppy for three weeks, but I'm also really looking forward to learning new things and getting to know more about my new employer. Unfortunately, I'll miss celebrating my birthday at home, but we're going to celebrate this upcoming weekend before I leave! My amazing husband also bought me an iPad this past weekend...a combination of a birthday and a 'Congratulations on the new job' gift. So far, March is turning out to be a good month!

I mentioned in an earlier post how I had been feeling down and not myself lately, and that was due to my job situation. I can honestly say I feel a world of difference in just the short time since I accepted my new job opportunity! I've even been going back to the gym and taking Spin classes - which I haven't done in over a year. Getting back into this type of routine reminds me of my college days...which really makes me happy. It's so nice to feel 'normal' and I love having a routine! Better days are in my future, I can feel it. :)

The Big Picture

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:00:00 +0000

I enjoy writing, and I've always enjoyed blogging as a wonderful creative outlet. I've always struggled with deciding what to share and what to withhold - after all, anyone anywhere can read my blog. With that said, I don't know who all of my readers are - but I suspect that a portion of them are family and close friends! Most of them probably realize that I only share a limited view into my life and my personality on the blog since they know me well, but other readers may not know this!

I've been reading many blogs for several years now, and I feel like I've gotten to 'know' so many other bloggers just by reading their content. I'm always a bit surprised when a blogger writes a post revealing an aspect of her life that I would have never guessed, based on her normal blog posts. I've encountered such posts in the form of confessions: about relationships coming to an end, unhappiness with a career/life change, or body image issues, to name a few. To me, these posts really humanize a blogger.

It's so easy to write about all the good things in your life, and it's really easy to make your life look good - after all, writing a blog is essentially writing a story detailing your life, or parts of your life. It's easy to choose fiction or non-fiction, and people will likely never know what's true and what is not! That's why, when a blogger opens up and shares a story that you know is very personal to her, as a reader, you can appreciate her (or his) honesty.

Based on what I tend to write about , I bet readers of my blog must think I'm just a Starbucks-addicted, at-times sarcastic, fitness junkie who also enjoys cooking and shopping. And, yes, they would actually be right about those things - but what they don't know is that there is so much more to me than all of those things. I'm also a very sincere, deep-thinking dreamer, with a zest for life and working toward being the best wife, daughter, friend, and business professional that I can be. I have so many thoughts that I often want to share, but never do, because I don't know every single person who reads my blog. The reality is, I'm more 'nervous' about the people that I actually know reading these personal thoughts, than a stranger. Sounds crazy, but is it? I mean, it can be much more daunting to know that family & friends may judge you versus complete strangers. Not to say my friends & family personally are the judging type, but I imagine that some people in your life may be quick to judge - hey, we all know at least one!

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this, but I've felt compelled to be a bit more open about life and write more about reality instead of materialism and unemotional posts about fitness and recipes. I've been blogging for nearly 4 years, and my style has evolved over time. I don't have a specific niche, and that's fine by me. I don't want to ever feel confined to certain subjects - after all, I do live a very multi-dimensional life (as do most people, I'd like to think!). When I recently wrote about wanting to get back in the gym and change up my fitness routine, there was an underlying metaphor for another aspect of my life: I haven't been 100% myself lately, and getting back into my old fitness routine is just a small scratch at the surface of this concern.

I'll just say, being married to my best friend has been the best thing for me during this stressful time. Admittedly, I strongly dislike the fact that I've been dealing with outside factors causing uneasiness and unhappiness during the first few months of our marriage. I've always heard that the first year of marriage is the hardest, but it's been the easiest thing I've done, and I mean that in the best of ways. Having a support system and someone to come home to at the end of a hard day is really the best form of therapy one can experience! I appreciate that, and my husband has done everything he can to make me smile over the few months, which I am so grateful for. The time that we spend together is always genuinely enjoyable, and I've been careful to not allow my situational unhappiness affect my relationship.

I'm slowly but surely finding the zest for life that once shined bright through my personality, and I'm very optimistic about the road ahead! Sometimes reality hits you over the head, quite literally, when you least expect it. I've allowed myself to live in this foggy state of mind for a few months too many, and I'm determined to step outside and find clarity. It's really amazing how therapeutic writing can be - I already feel a weight off my shoulders after sharing my thoughts! I also realize that, despite my openness, I've still left a bit of vagueness in this post. I do plan to share more soon, so stick around!

Fashion at The Oscars

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:07:00 +0000

So I have a confession: I didn't actually watch The Oscars. I really didn't have to, as my Twitter feed kept me informed about every last detail! I actually wanted to watch the awards, but we decided when we moved in to our condo to not get cable, since we don't watch much TV. We do have local channels (and Netflix!), but ABC doesn't come in clearly. So no Oscars for me.

With that said, I'm still obsessed with award show fashion, so I made sure to keep up with what the stars were wearing last night! Here are my "Best Dressed":

Amanda Seyfried
This dress reminds me of my wedding dress...maybe that's why I like it!

Charlize Theron
She has great style pretty much all the time. This dress is classic and chic.

Jessica Chastain
Maybe it's because we have the same hair color...but I always think she has great style!

Naomi Watts
This dress is actually a bit modern for such a classic awards show, but it really works on her.

And for the worst:

Reese Witherspoon
I love Reese...and I usually love her style. I feel like she would look better in a warm color. I love her hair though!

Zoe Saldana
No. Just no. There is way too much going on! Pick one element, and go with it. Not ruffles, a belt, and a multicolored train.

Renee Zellweger
The 90s called - it wants its hair, makeup, and style back! Seriously, I thought this was an old photo of Renee when I first saw it.

Halle Berry
Halle always has her own style, usually very unique. I don't mind that. I'm just not really feeling this dress. It does fit her well, I'll give her that much!

Who do you think deserved "Best Dressed" and who is on your "Worst Dressed" list?

Work It Out!

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:05:00 +0000

So, it appears that my blog has turned into a food & recipe blog - but don't worry, friends. While I have come to enjoy cooking over the past few months since M & I have been married, it is only a small part of my life (and blog). There are other things - like fashion, beauty, fitness...all of the important topics that I love blogging about! ;)

Fitness is a huge part of my life and has been for many years. My first love was running, and to this day, it remains my go-to workout. Along the way, I've tried different workouts, and found what works for me and what doesn't. I taught Spinning classes for nearly two years post-college and enjoyed every minute of it. I miss it - in fact, I haven't stepped foot in a Spin class since I left my job teaching classes. That was December 2011. To say that I've been missing Spin and group fitness classes is quite an understatement!

When I stopped teaching Spin, I also stopped going to the gym - because I have a treadmill, a library of fitness DVDs, and free weights at home. The combination of planning a wedding and commuting to and from work 2.5 hours a day really limited the amount of time I had in a day, so I just transformed an extra room into my personal 'gym' and worked out at home! I'm very self-motivated, so I have no problem committing myself to a workout...in fact, I've always found time to work out 6-7 days a week. To this day, I still do this. I've just had a really strong desire to get back in the gym...I miss the environment!

In addition to working out at home (usually running, about 5-6 miles per day), I do hot yoga or hot vinyasa once a week. Yoga has really helped me as a runner, because running leads to muscle tightness - so yoga helps to give me a deep stretch after putting in miles all week. It's really become one of my favorite forms of exercise...other than running, of course!

I'd like to get back into a gym within a month or so. I really miss Spin, Pilates, and my personal favorite class: BodyPump! Seriously, I was a BodyPump regular when I was in college. I remember waiting in a long line to go to a late-night BP launch party in my university's gym because I loved the classes so much! The best thing about BodyPump is the music - the song changes for each weight exercise, and the music is always current and upbeat. It's a great alternative for lifting weights if you aren't too keen on building your own weights/toning routine. I'm comfortable making my own routine ( I studied exercise physiology and personal training in college, in addition to my Political Science major, and taught group fitness classes for two years), but it's great to go to a class where the routine is already laid out for you in an easy-to-follow format.

I think I may have convinced myself to find a new gym membership! ;)

Have you tried BodyPump or any other Les Mills' fitness classes?

Slow Cooker Recipe: {Healthier Barbecued Pork}

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:00:00 +0000

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love my Crock-Pot! My husband was definitely on to something when he said the one gift we HAD to get for our wedding was a Crock-Pot. I actually don't use it as often as I'd like, but when I do, dinner is always outstanding!

I was sick one day last week, and we had a pork loin in the refrigerator waiting to be cooked. So, around noon, I put this recipe together and let it cook on HIGH until about 5:30pm. When my husband got home, dinner was ready to go (well, almost...the sweet potatoes too forever to cook)! Here's the recipe:

1 cup ketchup

1 cup barbecue sauce

1 cup water

2 tbsp vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp chili powder (I added a bit more)

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp red pepper flakes (if you like spicy!)

2-3 lb boneless pork loin

1. Combine all ingredients except pork loin in a slow cooker, whisk until mixed well.

2. Add roast.

3. Cover & cook on HIGH for approximately 5-6 hours, or until pork is well done.

4. Remove roast from slow cooker and shred with a fork.

5. Return shredded roast to slow cooker and stir into the sauce.

6. I let mine simmer for a bit longer on LOW, approximately 25-30 minutes.

7. Enjoy! I served mine with baked sweet potatoes and roasted California blend vegetables.

Nutrition Facts per serving:

308 calories

13.4g fat

65mg cholesterol

947mg sodium (this is the worst part about pork!)

27g carbs

20g protein

{Birthday Wish List}

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:57:00 +0000

A little less than a month from now, I'll be celebrating my 24th birthday. It's hard to believe I'm nearing my mid-twenties - I better start gearing up for that quarter-life crisis! Kidding. Really, though, I find it hard to believe that I'm a young professional with a career, a husband, and a new puppy. Of course, all of those things happened in a pretty rapid succession, but still!

I've found that the older I get, I have a more difficult time making a "birthday wish list" or even a Christmas wish list. For one, I tend to be content with what I have. Secondly, the few things that I actually want tend to be on the expensive side - what can I say, I prefer quality over quantity! Here are a few items from my birthday list (a girl can dream, right?!):

Tory Burch Reva flats - I've only been asking for these for several years, and I admit that I'm too stingy with my money to purchase them myself. If someone else buys them for me, then I won't feel guilty. See, I justified it!

An iPad - As a self-professed Apple enthusiast, I've been wanting an iPad for a while now. I have a MacBook Pro, an iPhone, and multiple iPods...now I just need an iPad to complete my ~~obsession~~ collection.

A new MacBook Pro - Speaking of Apple products, I have loved my trusty MacBook since my college days...but at 5 years old, I think it's about time to upgrade! This is one of those "dream" wish list items, because I know for certain the only person who would buy this for me would be ME. I'd even have to buy this without my husband knowing because he wouldn't allow it...ha!

MORE SHOES - A girl can never have enough shoes. Trust me, if you look in my closet, you'll know I live by that statement. Despite having a small collection going already, I can always find room to add a couple of pairs to my wardrobe. A pair of black patent leather & a pair of nude patent leather pumps are both on my list!

A juicer - Another one of those "dream" items. I've been mesmerized by juicing for a while now, and I've pinned a bunch of recipes on Pinterest, so now I just need a way to test them out! My parents recently got a juicer, and I'm jealous of all the juicing fun that's been going on! I already invited myself to use theirs whenever I go visit, but I'd love to be able to make juice whenever I please.

A custom drawing of the church we were married in, from Etsy - I came across this idea on another blog, and I think it would be a great decor piece. The church we were married in is absolutely gorgeous, so this would be a beautiful addition to our home!

Throw pillows - We had these pillows on our wedding registry which match our bedding, but they were one of the few things we didn't receive as gifts. I've been eyeing them for a while, as I don't want them to be discontinued before I can get my hands on them!

Fingers crossed I'll get a few things off my list - I'm really not that superficial, even though I bet it sounds like it now! Since I generally don't like to spend money, when my birthday or Christmas come around, I tend to hope someone else will buy me nice things ;)

Favorite Things: {February 2013 Edition}

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:46:00 +0000

It's been a while since I have done a 'Favorite Things' post, so I thought today would be a great time to do that! To say that life has been busy is quite an understatement, but even at its busiest, I still have more "free time" than I did last year (due to wedding planning)! Here are a few things that I've been enjoying so far this year:

First of all, can we talk about Netflix? Since moving to Norfolk and having access to high-speed internet, we signed up for Netflix, which has become quite an addiction! I have never really watched much TV - I just don't have the patience for it - but I've found a few shows that I will actually sit through and enjoy.

How I Met Your Mother. All I can say is, how did I miss out on this show for so long? Out of every TV show I've ever loved, this one takes the cake. I must be crazy to actually admit this, but we're on our third round of watching every episode of HIMYM.
Mad Men. I've always heard good things about this show, and of course, I've seen it win multiple awards. I tend to rebel against shows that are "popular" so I never watched Mad Men in its heyday. Now that the craze has worn off a bit, I'm completely fine admitting that I watch it...and that I've enjoyed it. Although, it's pretty sickening seeing how women were treated back in the '60s!
Desperate Housewives. This was the first (and only) show that I've ever watched religiously and never missed an episode! Now that the show has ended, after 8 long seasons, I realized that I'd forgotten a lot of the earlier episodes. I started watching a few episodes on Saturday mornings, and it's safe to say, I'm already hooked on it again.

It's no secret that I'm addicted to Starbucks, and it's safe to say that I'm still quite attached to my Starbucks coffee. I love a good nonfat Misto in the morning to get a good start to the day, but sometimes Pike Place is too strong. I've grown to enjoy the newest addition to the Starbucks family, Blonde Roast. It's smooth and pairs well with nonfat steamed milk & sugar-free caramel flavor. Yum!
Crock Pot dinners. It's so nice to come home after work, and dinner is ready to go! I've been scoping out Pinterest for healthier slow cooker recipes, because even though I appreciate the convenience, I refuse to sacrifice my healthy diet.
Hot Vinyasa. I've been addicted to yoga for years now, but I appreciate hot yoga & hot vinyasa classes more than ever during the cold winter! I've been incorporating one class per week into my fitness routine. It really complements all of the running that I do on other days of the week!

Lemons...in everything. I have been on a serious lemon kick since January. I add lemon slices to my water, tea, and Diet Coke (shameful, I know...chemicals are bad!). The benefits of lemons are great, and they add plenty of flavor to your food & drinks!

What are your favorites for February?

Best & Worst of the Superbowl

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:43:00 +0000

Of course I'm referring to ads - who cares about the actual game? Ha. I kid. GO RAVENS! But really, one of my favorite parts of the big game has always been the commercials. Now that I'm a 'grown up' with a passion for marketing and advertising, it makes watching Superbowl ads that much more interesting! I'm far too interested in analyzing things, so here's my take on the best (and a few of the worst) ads from this year's Superbowl:

Source

1. Dodge "God Made A Farmer" - This was absolutely my favorite commercial of the night. Like most viewers, it caught me off guard and I sat there with my mouth slightly agape as I listened to this masterpiece. I actually got chills during this one. I realize that some people just didn't "get" it because not everyone understands the farming lifestyle; however, I come from a farming family and I even held the title of President of my high school FFA chapter in the past...so this was a clear winner for me. When I saw that FFA was a sponsor of the ad, I knew that no other ad could top this one! Mad props to Dodge for mentioning God on national TV, too.

2. Taco Bell "Viva Young" - I watched this entire commercial and thought it was clever, before realizing it was Taco Bell behind the ad! I'm so anti-Taco Bell...but the ad won my respect (at least for their creative team). I especially loved that Fun.'s 'We Are Young' was in Spanish.

3. Budweiser Clydesdales - I'm so glad that Budweiser brought back a classic. I mean, it really isn't a Budweiser commercial (or heck, not even a Superbowl) without the traditional Clydesdales. I actually teared up...and I heard that sentiment echoed across social media. It was a sentimental, but happy, moment.

4. Doritos Goat 4 Sale & Fashionista Daddy - I love that Doritos once again let its consumers be the face of the brand's ads. I thought that both the Goat & the Dress Up commercials were funny. Neither were too thought-provoking, but it sticks with the viewer because of the abstract humor. +2 for including the #Doritos on the screen and engaging fans!

5. Pistachios & PSY - I just happened to see this one by chance and of course, the song [Gangnam Style] is what caught my attention. I totally think this song has been overplayed (like many other songs...), but I still can't get over PSY's hilarious dance moves. I thought this one was cute. Purely for entertainment purposes!

6. Coca Cola "Look at the World Differently" - I'm admittedly a huge fan of Diet Coke and all of the brand's social media efforts, so I was a bit biased toward Coke's commercial. However, I really liked the message behind it. It was actually quite thought-provoking, and I realized that sometimes even I see the world from a pessimistic viewpoint...and it made me want to have a more positive attitude.

Now for my "Worst" list. There were a lot of commercials that were just so-so, but these are a few that just disappointed me:

1. GoDaddy.com "Perfect Match" - First of all, this was disgusting. I really don't want to watch (or hear) anyone making out that closely, ever. Second of all, that was the dumbest analogy I've ever seen. Bar Rafaeli - you're better than that!

2. Volkswagen - No, I don't think this commercial is "racist" like some so-called experts believe. It just didn't "do" it for me. After last year's successful campaign with the Star Wars dog teaser and then the commercial with the dog chasing the Volkswagen - I think this year was a let down. Did they get a new creative team for this one? I don't know what the story is behind it, but regardless, I just wasn't feeling it. And this is coming from a proud VW owner.

3. Oreo - I may be in the minority with this one. It seems as though the campaign went over really well (although when the lights went out in NOLA...Oreo's quick-thinking social media campaign did even better!). It just didn't draw me in...but then again, I hate Oreos, so I don't really care about whether or not the cream or cookie is better. For true Oreo fans, I could see where this type of commercial could increase engagement across social media platforms!

So, what do you think? What were your favorites or least favorites? Similar to Doritos, who added the #Doritos hashtag to its commercials, I noticed quite a few brands doing this. It's a great concept - I'm actually interested in looking further into this to see which brands were successful with the use of these hashtags!

"Lightened Up" Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +0000

I know I recently said that I haven't been so creative with dinner ideas, but I was making a meal plan for the week (by going through my Pinterest boards...as usual) and I realized how many recipes I've tried! I thought I'd share some of the good ones, along with my healthier substitutions...

Broccoli Cheddar Soup - I made this one last Friday night, and it turned out pretty good. It's no Panera Broccoli & Cheddar...but it's also a bit healthier!

How to make it healthier:

Instead of regular half & half, I used fat free.
I used low-sodium, 99% fat free chicken broth instead of chicken stock.
Use 2% cheddar cheese instead of regular cheddar.

Skinnytaste's Chicken & Broccoli Noodle Casserole - I've made this one twice, and both times, it was a hit! I generally don't eat much pasta, but if I do have some, I like to make the dish as healthy as possible. The only things I do differently to make it 'healthier' is use unsweetened almond milk instead of 1% milk and I use whole wheat pasta.

Courtney's (of Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life) Skinny Chicken Broccoli Alfredo - I love using nonfat Greek yogurt in recipes, and this one is no exception. Courtney takes a typically unhealthy dish and makes it super-healthy and protein-packed!

Um....if you're beginning to think we have a broccoli obsession.....well, we probably do. I like all vegetables, but M is a bit more picky - so we eat a lot of broccoli. At least it's nutritious and full of antioxidants!

Shrimp Stir Fry with Fried Rice - I loosely followed this recipe, because in my opinion, it's hard to mess up stir fry! I used to eat stir fry at least once a week in college. It was super easy to cook up some veggies and chicken for dinner!

My substitutions:

Instead of szechuan sauce, I used Trader Joe's Sweet Chili Sauce.
I added red pepper flakes.
I didn't use as much oil, just enough to lighly coat the pan.
For the fried rice: I cook brown rice and mixed veggies, then add one egg and a little bit of low-sodium soy sauce, and then stir while cooking the egg completely.

I actually found all of these recipes on Pinterest...even though it seems like most of the pinned recipes are unhealthy, I've been able to find a few healthy ones that actually taste great! Have you tried any good (& healthy) recipes from Pinterest?

{Recipe} Healthy Turkey Stroganoff

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:30:00 +0000

I find myself lacking creative dinner ideas most nights of the week. I have an incredibly extensive Pinterest board dedicated to all kinds of recipes....but most of them aren't "healthy" and I wouldn't eat those things except for special occasions. Lately, I've been taking recipes I find on Pinterest and recipe websites and substituting healthier ingredients. Last night was no exception. We had lean ground turkey that needed to be cooked, so I decided to make Turkey Stroganoff. A dish that's usually loaded with fat (and beef, not turkey) - I decided I was up for the challenge! Here's my version:

Photo Credit

Turkey Stroganoff

Serves 4

1 lb lean ground turkey

1 tbs. butter (you could do without this)

1/3 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup flour

1 1/4 cups low-sodium beef broth

1 tsp. mustard

1/3 cup nonfat Greek yogurt

pinch of oregano and basil

pinch of garlic powder

salt and pepper, to taste

2 cups whole wheat pasta of your choice, cooked and drained

1. Brown the ground turkey and drain excess liquid. Set aside.

2. Add pasta to boiling water.

3. In a skillet, add 1 tbs. butter and melt. Pour wine into skillet and simmer.

4. Whisk flour with 1/4 cup of the beef broth, mix well until smooth. Stir mixture into skillet, whisking until mixed well with the wine/butter.

5. Stir in remaining broth and 1 tsp. mustard.

6. Add spices and browned ground turkey to skillet and stir until mixed. Allow to simmer for a few minutes.

7. Just before serving, stir in the nonfat Greek yogurt and mix well.

8. Serve over pasta. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts per serving (without pasta)

161 calories

7.4g fat

66mg cholesterol

303mg sodium

6.8g carbohydrates

17g protein

{Orange-Strawberry Protein Smoothie}

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +0000

I'm apparently on a smoothie kick - I've been whipping them up right & left! They're so easy to make, filling, and a great way to get your daily intake of vegetables, fruit, and vitamins. Here's a really good one I created this weekend:

Orange-Strawberry Protein Smoothie

1/3 cup of nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
3/4 cup frozen strawberries
3/4 of a small orange
1/2 cup spinach leaves
1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder

Nutrition Facts: 234 calories, 2.9g fat, 656mg potassium, 22.5g protein, and a whopping 202% of your daily Vitamin C requirement!

{DIY Floral Arrangement}

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:49:00 +0000

I recently began subscribing to Joss & Main...which is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I get so many inspiring decor ideas...and a curse because I can feel my bank account evaporating just by looking at all of the pretty home accents! I saw this floral arrangement on the site recently, and I absolutely loved it. I had even found the perfect spot on our coffee table (which I'm working on styling), and then I realized that this little (fake) floral arrangement was $100! Now, I'm all for quality over quantity, and I will spend my hard-earned money on high-quality clothing, accessories, and home decor. However, there was nothing I could do to convince myself that $100 for a small vase with fake flowers was worth the cost.

So, channeling my inner Martha Stewart, I decided I was going to DIY this little project. Here's my inspiration:

How I did it:

I ended up finding all of my DIY supplies at Garden Ridge, but I'm sure you could find what you need at a large craft store like Michael's or AC Moore. I purchased a silver metallic candle holder/vase, a small block of green floral foam, and an assortment of pink silk flowers.

First, I cut the foam into the correct size for the vase - it's always best if it's a snug fit - then put the foam into the vase. I trimmed the silk flowers to the appropriate length (FYI: it's best to use scissors made for cutting wire, or pliers...I learned the hard way). Then, I began arranging the floral stems by sticking them into the floral foam, and I continued to add flowers and greenery until the arrangement looked "full" and had no noticeable gaps. This little project was incredibly easy and took all of 15 minutes from start to finish...and I even did two of them! Here's what mine looks like:

{Recipe} Protein Smoothie

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:32:00 +0000

I had such a craving for a nutrient-packed smoothie yesterday, so after a long yoga class, I found myself at the grocery store....impulsively buying too many fruits & veggies. Does this ever happen to you? I mean, I usually stick to a grocery list, because I've learned that I tend to buy too much and it ends up going bad before I use it. Oops. I'm going to do my best to incorporate all the extra produce into my meals this weekend!

I've been wanting to get into juicing, but alas, I don't have a juicer - yet. So for now, smoothies it is. Here's a recipe for a protein smoothie I threw together last night for dinner - it was delicious.

Protein Smoothie - makes approximately 16 ounces

1/3 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/3 cup frozen blueberries
1/3 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup fresh spinach
3/4 scoop of vanilla whey protein powder

Being the nutrition nerd that I am, I entered the recipe into MyFitnessPal to get nutrition facts. In case you wondered: one smoothie has 223 calories, 3g fat, 26g protein, 5g fiber, 515mg of potassium, and it's 92% of your daily Vitamin C intake! Enjoy.

Office {Chic}

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Lately I've had a desire to turn our second bedroom (okay, my treadmill/fitness room...) into a home office. Right now, my laptop is sitting on a hallway table. We tend to use the computer while sitting on the couch...which, let's be honest, will probably happen even if we had a designated 'office' area. I just love a clean, crisp, and organized desk - it inspires me. Here are a few of my favorite design ideas:

{Green with Inspiration}

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:18:00 +0000

As most of us know by now, emerald green is officially having a moment. I'm loving the rich green accents and statement pieces that have been popping up on the fashion scene. I finally purchased a pair of emerald skinnies that I'd been coveting for awhile, and I'm loving the outfit pairings I've put together. Here's some of my inspiration:

Diet Betting: Healthy or not?

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 17:36:00 +0000

Yesterday, I watched a segment on the Today Show about 'diet betting' - and it got me thinking. It seems like, more than ever, we all need an incentive to lose weight & get healthy...a monetary or material incentive. Its as if feeling better about your body and seeing your health improve isn't enough. Maybe I'm being cynical - I guess if it motivates someone to improve his or her health, then that's all that matters. Or is it?

The first thought that struck me after watching the segment was that, not only does it create a desire for a 'reward' for losing weight, but it can turn into unhealthy competition. If you're competing with family, friends, co-workers, strangers, etc. to lose a certain amount of weight for a chance to win money or prizes, do you think you might go to the extreme? Very possible. I could see where this seemingly harmless concept could really cause you to lose focus on what really matters - your overall health.

Now, I'm not saying that this concept doesn't work for everyone, because some people do need incentives to motivate them. If you use the incentives constructively to get motived, then it can be a good thing. Just be mindful of your actions...don't go to the extreme with your health & wellbeing in order to win a prize. Get fit & healthy for YOU - to feel better, physically and mentally!

How do you feel about 'diet betting'? Have you ever tried something like this to lose weight?