I don’t know about you, but I am struggling today. Since I went out last night, I wish I could say it’s because I partied too hard and filled up on McDonald’s hash browns this morning, but nope…it’s the damn time change.

Last night was so fun, but going out on Daylight Savings Time Eve is not something I’ll do again!

Well, the night started off with my Target bender. Why must Target carry everything I never knew I always wanted?? Did I need a new planner, new dishes, a desk organizer, business card holder, mini wallet, granola bars, blank note cards and envelopes, nail polish, and hair shine spray? I mean…200 blank note cards and envelopes in six different jewel tones for $9.99!? I can’t pass that up! And I can’t just tote my business cards around in my wallet and this one has a picture of the Eiffel Tower on it…of COURSE I’m going to buy that. And I do need a better desk organizer…and this one is made of sustainable bamboo!

And that’s how I ended up buying a shit-ton of stuff and not the jeans I went in for; Target has everything, but apparently they do not have my size jeans. So now I’m going to get sucked in to Target.com due to promises of free shipping of you spend $50.

Anyway, after the Target orgy, I headed to Ann Arbor to Vinology. This place is great; I can see why Leah picked this place for her birthday outing!

After an eventful week and lots of editing of my book, which deals heavily with tequila, I was in the mood for some. I was hoping they had the kind of drink menu that has strong, creative cocktails made with all types of great liquor. After all, it was a sit-down sort of affair…I couldn’t just start ripping tequila shots by myself on someone else’s birthday. But, as you might expect, their wine menu was extensive, and lacking in tequila-infused drinks.

Sad, but I certainly don’t have a problem with drinking good wine! I started with a glass of Malbec and then had a glass of merlot. Both were amazingly smooth and velvety and just made me so warm and toasty and relaxed. I just love wine. I don’t drink it very often because my family doesn’t drink (I know — weird) and I just sort of forget to buy it and have it regularly, but I really think I may need to make this a goal. I mean, after a long day in front of the computer, it’s nice to relax. And after this article in the NY Times last week said that women who drink gain less weight, I have even more incentive! But of course, it comes with the “The findings don’t mean women should rush to drink alcohol to lose weight” disclaimer. Yeah, yeah.

Because Vinology’s menu looked so great, I arrived hungry, but sadly, so many people were just there for drinks! I knew I could count on Leah though. We both ordered small plates. She got the vol au vent: beef tenderloin tips, mushrooms, and red wine jus. I had a bite and it was delicious. I had the scallops, which were grilled and served with rosemary polenta, balsamic vinaigrette, and braised endive.

It was so good. I don’t go out to eat too often, but when I do, I love really good real food! I was so hungry; I cleaned my plate.

A little while later, my friends Tracy and Kathy showed up!

We had so much fun catching up; we seriously just gushed and the time flew by. We also had a new waiter who seemed to really, really love us. He kept bringing us really good bread with chive butter.

Since I had planned to go all-out, and the scallops order was pretty small, I was still hungry. I figured rather than sit there and eat a whole loaf of bread, I should just get some real food, so I ordered edamame for us to share.

Main course, then bread and appetizers? Hey, why not? And the edamame was the best I’d ever had; it just had a really unique flavor and was served with some mysteriously delicious soy sauce. Maybe that’s where the tequila was hiding.

We had so much fun, the night just flew by, and I didn’t end up getting home until 2:00…and then I realized it was actually 3:00. I have trouble sleeping in as it is, so I knew this wasn’t going to be good. When I woke up at 8:30 (but actually 9:30?! SO CONFUSING) I decided to just get up because I knew I wouldn’t fall back to sleep. I told myself I could take a nap later, and even though I despise naps, I’m really struggling today so I might have to head back to bed!

I’m always wishing I had more hours in the day — having one less is not my thing. The good thing is, everyone else is struggling too. I suppose in that sense, it is a good idea to go out on Daylight Savings Time. That way, if you’re totally struggs and looking like a hot mess, you can blame the hour you missed of sleep and don’t have to admit to the Jager.

Since I’m approximately 50 percent gay man and 50 percent white girl (actual figures), it’s no surprise that I love Lady Gaga. I always liked her music, but when I saw her on Oprah last month I just really started to love her whole attitude as an artist. On the show, she was plugging her new headphones. Of course I wanted a pair.

From what I could tell, they were pretty bomb.

The in-ear headphones feature some innovative features such as flat-cable, tangle-less wires as well as multiple flanges for optimal fittings and a signature Lady Gaga aesthetic to complete things. Heartbeats by Lady Gaga are holistically designed to deliver the soundtrack of your life with clarity and power, as well as satisfy your passion for fashion. Immerse yourself in pitch-perfect highs, precise mids, and club caliber bass. Because when your music sounds amazing, you stop hearing it, and start feeling it. In other words, sound really matters.

I mean, I didn’t need convincing. I just needed the $100 to buy them, which I obviously did not have! Then Tracy got a perk pair from her uncle who works in the music industry…so cool, right?! Well, he got a pair for her sister too, but her sister didn’t really like them…so she gave them to me!!!

I have awesome friends!!!!

First, I love that they come in a carrying case because I tend to toss my stuff around a lot, and, well, when you have nice headphones, you want to keep them from getting tangled in your bag.

Ga ga ooh la la lah…

I know spending $100 headphones is crazy (which is why I didn’t) but I have to say, the noise-canceling aspect is pretty amazing. I always wear Apple earbuds, or just whatever brightly-colored cheap replacement earbuds I happen to buy. I’m not used to anything better! But these are so good; they really get in your ear and block out all the excess sound.

Plus they just look badass! I can’t wait to rock them in public. I’m going to blast “Beautiful Dirty Rich” and pretend I am.

Good Saturday morning!

I woke up with incredibly sore shoulders this morning. I did Billy’s Boot Camp last night for the Outside the Box Shock Your Body Challenge.

This motherf*cker is CRAZY!

Um, yes, I’ll go ahead and say I shocked my body. There were so many push-ups during this DVD workout! While I liked the kickboxing aspect of it, and I definitely want to do that again, this DVD was just crazy intense and a bit too advanced for me. I ordered 10 Minute Solutions Kickbox Bootcamp off of Amazon last night, which I think will be a bit more on my level. But I am glad I decided to mix it up; that’s definitely what gets results. If you haven’t entered yet, you have until tomorrow night, and you will be eligible to win one of two Core Fusion DVDs!

This morning I was up early to teach spinning and I was excited because I got to take someone’s virspinity! She had a great time, which was so exciting for me. Clearly, it was a virspinity losing day; the lovely blogger behind The Senior 50 left me a comment this morning that said, “I thought I should let you know that this video was completely inspiring, so much so, that on a Saturday morning (this morning in fact), I woke up at 6:30 to give spinning a try and I absolutely loved it. I was terrified, but it was awesome. Thanks!” LOVE IT!! Welcome to the wonderful world of giving it to your bike; it will only get better.

The class this morning was tough; I haven’t taught all week, so I was in the mood to push it. We did a lot of fast songs with sprints, so I kicked my own ass. But hey, gotta make it worth it!

After class I came home and had my second breakfast: an egg, toast, and cantaloupe.

Today I am de-cluttering…my hair. My roots are rather cluttered, so I’m off to the salon. Since I cannot be on my laptop under the dryer, it’s the one time I really chill out, so that will be good. After that I am going to Target! I know it’s a dangerous idea, but I really need a new pair of jeans; the ones I bought in January are officially too big and baggy! I’m going to give my Fitbook credit for this one.

The other reason I wanted to kick my ass this morning in class is because tonight I am going OUT OUT! Jacki and I promised ourselves that we’d start going on adventures every other week, and tonight we are due for another one. We are heading to Ann Arbor to celebrate Leah’s birthday and then meeting up with my friends Tracy and Kathy, the twins, for their birthday drinks too. All these March babies! The menu for dinner tonight looks phenom, so I’m looking forward to enjoying myself on that one.

This was quite a week and tonight I can’t wait to hang out with my friends and toast and celebrate and be merry; things with my proposal are going awesome but I’m pretty much wifing it tomorrow and then throwing myself into it for the next two weeks. I figure tonight’s my last outing for a little while, so I might as well enjoy!

Have a great Saturday!

One way I get myself do sweaty, fast, bang-it-out workouts is by putting fast songs on my ipod. I just can’t help myself; when these songs come on, I crank it up a notch. If I want to do a tempo run, I put on a whole playlist of these songs, but you don’t have to do that. Simply staggering them throughout your workout playlist can really help you pick it up here and there. These are some of my favorite songs for those moments!

Take Your Shirt Off (T-Pain)

Rock This Party Everybody Dance Now Remix (Boyz Boyz)

Beat It (John Mayer ft. Fall Out Boy)

Girlfriend (Avril Lavigne)

Wild Night Remix (Hard Rockers, iSweat Fitness)

Pump It (Black Eyed Peas)

Run-Around (Blues Traveler)

Bulletproof (La Roux)

Hey Ya! (Outkast)

Tambourine (Eve)

Toxic (Britney Spears)

Shut the Club Down (Girl Talk)

Are You Gonna Be My Girl? (Jet)

Whenever, Wherever (Shakira)

I always end on a fast song too. When I do this in my spin classes, I tell my students it’s the end so they shouldn’t save anything. Give it your all, go your fastest, make it work…you’re already sweaty and it’ll all be over soon enough, so you might as well exhaust yourself.

Have a great weekend!

Everybody’s workin’ for the weekend…and it’s almost here! TGIF!!!

Since it’s Friday, today I am so excited to share a new Vision Board. Today it is that of my friend and reader Kathy! The first Vision Board I posted was from her identical twin Tracy…so I find it so fun to look at both of theirs and see how each of them wants different things.

A few weeks ago, Kathy didn’t have a Vision Board, but Tracy and I told her she pretty much needed to make one, so she did! She is a recent grad and works in advertising/graphic design/social media/all that creative jazz.

Check it…

She has career: ad agencies where she’d like to work some day, and her goal of being noted in her field as a thought expert by Ad Age or Mashable’s list of “Best Twitter Brands and the People Behind Them.”

She has romance: pictures of her dream man, Matthew Gray Gubler.

She has pictures of dance, which she wants to get back into; California, where she wants to live some day; and random inspirational words. And the balloon picture is of one of her favorite YouTubers, Kandee Johnson who is one of her biggest sources of inspiration and motivation! (I love this idea, and I might have to add some YouTube stars to mine to tell the Universe to make a Shed Theater go viral…although I don’t know that I want Justin Bieber on my Vision Board…)

She has the so-important pictures of herself at her happiest moments, including graduation, and she has the material goods: a Prius, Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 bag, Coach zippered wallet, and a white ceramic Michael Kors watch!

Love it! Kathy is so talented and knowledgeable about Web stuff, I have no doubt she’s going to be a high-powered ad chick rocking an LV bag before too long!

If you still haven’t made yours yet get to it! (Full directions here.) And when it’s done, send me pics and descrips to Rachel[at]SheddingIt[com].

During my recent sorority presentations, we’ve been talking a lot about breakfast. Most sorority houses don’t have a full breakfast, so the girls have to rely on things like cereal and toast, and it’s often the same for people in the dorms. Ugh…no one likes limited options!

I always recommend instant oatmeal. You know that pimped-out oatmeal is a meal I swear by for health and happiness. I prefer whole-grain oats, but when you have limited resources, you can definitely go with instant. Then you just toss in all the goodies: nuts, nut butter, banana, dried fruit. But even that can be a hassle or  time-consuming if you don’t have your own kitchen. So I figured out a way to make oat-pimping a whole lot easier.

Ingredient 1: Instant Oatmeal. I really like Kashi, as it has pretty impressive protein and fiber stats.

Ingredient 2: Larabar.

Larabars are one of the packaged snack foods I recommend, as they contain just a few ingredients, usually just dried fruit and nuts…aka the things I always put in my oatmeal! This pecan pie bar contained pecans, dates, and almonds.

Make the oatmeal in the microwave. While it’s cooking, chop up the Larabar (or just break it up with your fingers.)

Add the Larabar to the oats. You can do other add-ins, if you happen to have a banana or some butterscotch lying around, but really, you’ll be fine to stop there. AND THAT’S IT!

And it’s obviously not just for college girls, but if you want to be part of the cool clique, consider yourself hazed!

The Larabar adds sweetness from the fruit and healthy fats from the nuts and turns your instant oatmeal into a way more nutritious and satisfying breakfast.

And just like a sorostitute, it’s SO EASY!

Well, I was going to review a diet book today, but after I shared my stories of rejection, I received a lot of feedback from so many of you who seem to be struggling in your professional lives. So I thought I’d share a book that’s more along those lines. After all, you know I always say you have to work on your head before you can work on your ass! So today, we’re going to go with that!

So, Linchpin. Linchpin is a book written by Seth Godin. I first found out about Seth Godin when my friend Tracy — she of the awesome vision board who started her own interior design business at the age of 22 — told me about him. He’s a marketing expert, but he covers so much more than that. He’s really about ideas and innovation. Tracy told me about his book Tribes. I took her advice, checked it out from the library the next day, read it in a couple hours, and was hooked. I’ve talked a lot about reigniting my inner flame in the past year; Tribes was one thing that really stoked the fire. It’s really just about leadership, and reading it was a serious tipping for me and for this blog.

Linchpin is Godin’s latest book and it is about work. Linchpins are the people in organizations or work settings who are indispensable — they come up with new ideas, lead their co-workers, connect people, generate ideas, make things happen, and solve problems no one else could solve. We’ve all experienced linchpins in action; it might be your boss, but it might be your cubicle buddy, or your intern. You know one when you see one. It’s that powerhouse person who just seems unstoppable.

Godin is arguing that we are all linchpins. It doesn’t take a magical talent; it takes a strong belief that there is a new, better way of doing things, and you are going to be the one to do it. But the problem is that the old American dream model conditioned us to do otherwise: go to school, follow instructions, work hard, graduate, get a job, do what you’re told, don’t do extra, get promoted, settle there, retire comfortably. Except…then the economy fell apart and that model ended. There’s no more stability in following the rules. You can be top of your class, graduate with honors, and get a job that you have always wanted — and then you can get laid off during your first year. Or you can get that job and hate it, which is quite often the case.

But if you can become a linchpin, you can be indispensable and people will have to hire you and fight to keep you there. Oh, and you’ll be happy. Perfect right? Soo…how to be a linchpin?

Well, linchpins are artists. And artists are people who put themselves into their work, who take risks, and who use emotional labor to create something difficult. Art is not just typical creative things like writing or painting or dancing; Godin defines art as a personal gift that changes the recipient. And the artist is the person who creates the gift, this thing that causes a connection and causes the recipient to change his mind. Art is selling something you love, getting people to adopt a dog, managing an angry customer. Or it’s designing iPods or creating g-mail. Companies like Apple and Google hire linchpins and treat them a accordingly, and it’s no surprise then that these companies create really great things.

We all have talents. When we share them with others, we are giving a gift. And we can bring our art to any job, even jobs we’re trapped in until something better comes along. We can find a way to be creative and to do our job in a way that our bosses can’t really tell us to do, in a way that it hasn’t been done before.

But this isn’t easy. In the next section of the book, Godin talks about resistance. This is fear. This is wanting to not “fail.” It’s wanting to be comfortable, chasing “security.” It’s hoping someone else will be in charge so they’ll just tell you what to do. It’s what keeps artists from doing art and giving gifts, and it’s what keeps people in shitty jobs doing mindless work.

This is a very condensed version of what the book is about, and I can’t encourage you enough to read it for yourself and read the expansion on all these ideas, with real examples from great companies and great linchpins. Godin’s books are all easy reads, sort of like reading a really great magazine article. I’ve recommended it to every one of my friends who says, “I hate my job.” (And it’s sad how many friends I have who say that.)

I wish I could have read this book a year and a half ago when I was in New York, essentially behaving like a factory worker to make a magazine come together. There was an assembly line quality to it all. I had to show up and do what I was told and avoid getting yelled at and then I’d get paid. There was no art in my work — and that was partially my fault. But I couldn’t put art in my work because there was just so much fear.

And as a writer, yes, I have art to give. But the act of writing is not creating art. In Journalism school, my short-sighted professors did not like when I created art. The State News didn’t hire me because they wanted writers, not artists. When I first started this blog, there were a lot of other health blogs out there that were more popular. (And there still are.) So I followed their model. I wrote about oatmeal. I wrote about my workouts. I hesitated before admitting to loving booze or talking about sex because I didn’t want to get called out. I felt like so many health blogs were just very…chaste. And that’s fine, if that’s the true voice of the blogger. But I was bored.

So I stopped writing and I started creating art. And that was the tipping point for me and for this blog. And Godin talks about fear; I know everyone thinks I’m fearless but that’s not exactly true. When I started doing Shed Theater, there was fear. (There sometimes still is!) But the artist in me knows there are dozens of health blogs out there and I need to give you a really good reason to continue to read mine.

And a lot of people say, “I don’t want to create art or have an opinion that I publicly share because I don’t want potential employers to not hire me.” Yeah, yeah, we all got that lecture in college. But here’s the thing: pictures of you doing keg stands on Facebook and examples of you creating art are not the same thing. Create your art and take pride in it and accept the consequences. I’m at the point now where I’d rather be broke and live at home than stop doing Shed Theater just so a potential employer thinks I’m someone I’m not.

The biggest thing I took away from this book and can share with you, if you feel lost and trapped and scared and alone, is to latch onto your passion. Maybe you can’t do it full-out just yet. Maybe the market means your dream job is still a few years off. But whatever you’re great at, whatever you lose yourself in, whatever you do that makes you take a step back upon completion think, “Yes, I crushed that. I’m awesome”…you have to find a way to bring that into your life. It might take sacrifices, and it might take time, but it is possible.

If you aren’t willing to do this, your life is going to be really hard. And you won’t find it easy to get to the gym or to eat healthy. Your goals will feel impossible to meet. Your life will feel very dark. I’m not trying to be all, “Oh, I’m awesome,” but I didn’t get where I am until I made a choice to create art and share it. So make the choice to share your brilliant gifts. Please and thank you.

Gooooood afternoon!

First off, I just wanted to say THANK YOU for the support and excitement over my big news yesterday!! Seriously, I feel like I have a cheering squad now and that is such a great feeling, especially because most of you don’t even know me. I want you to know that I don’t take your nice words for granted and I hope I’ll make you proud over the next few months!

Well today began my first day of work on my proposal, which means lots of editing and also a healthy amount of brainstorming. I love it though! I will be glad when this week is over and I can give even more time to it. Seriously, for the next two weeks, pretty much everything is taking a backseat. I just want to be working. I love writing, I love this book, I love that I’ve got people helping me make it better…there’s not a whole lot that can really tear me away from that!

The only downside to wanting to work non-stop is that the weather is getting nicer and nicer! To think, we had snow days a month ago…and now the snow has melted almost completely.

It’s also really, really sunny outside, and so warm. That meant when it was time for lunch today, I decided to fire up the grill! Well first I had to force myself to stop working and make lunch. Like, I could feel my hunger, but I didn’t care; I was that into writing. Finally I dragged myself away from the computer. I had just gotten a delivery from Door to Door Organics so that meant oatmeal was out. I needed something fresh!

I marinated a grilled chicken breast in tangerine juice, olive oil, and seasoning for about 10 minutes and then put it on the grill. While the chicken was grilling I steamed broccoli and cut up an apple.

When the chicken was done I put it on a whole wheat bun with avocado, lettuce, tomato, onions, and feta cheese. I also sprinkled some extra feta over the apple.

Such a great, fresh lunch! All the produce was organic and the tangy cheese on the apple was a nice way to mix things up a bit.

Then it was time to work out. I love to work out, but my workouts are definitely going to be scaled back for the next two weeks. I am an overachiever when it comes to fitness, and I am going to have to settle for the minimum while I throw myself into this proposal. It’s hard choosing between two things I love that both make me feel really good! For me, it’s like choosing between the captain of the baseball team and the captain of the football team. And then having to stop to eat is like…having to stop hooking up with the captain of the baseball team to go sleep with the soccer coach. How do I choose!?!? Why aren’t there more hours in the day?!??!

Because it was so nice out, I skipped the DVD plan and instead went for a 15 minute run outside and then did a 15 minute bike inside. I finished up with today’s 100 push-ups workout. My max was 7 today. Slowly but surely, I’m getting there…

Then it was time to shower and catch up on e-mails and now I’m about to head out again. I’m going to a Tweet-Up/Women in Business networking event with my friend Tracy. I’m really excited about it because in my current state of passion, I can only imagine how great it’s going to be to connect with other like-minded women! I have to grab a snack to have in the car because it’s an appetizers and drinks kinda shin-dig and I’d prefer not to show up so hungry I spend more time networking with the finger foods than the professionals.

Oh also! Obviously, I’ve spent the past few days doing quite a bit of work on Shedding It! You may not have noticed how a lot of things have been streamlined, but I think overall, everything is easier to find. I know you miss my cartoon icon and her fabulous hair, but sorry — you’re just going to have to get used to my fabulous legs instead.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a couple updates with you that you may not be aware of yet!

First, I added a subscribe form to the page so definitely sign up! This is for people who don’t use Google Reader but want to know when I post something new. You’ll get an e-mail each time! No SPAM or ads obviously, just me, all up in your inbox.

Also, there is now a Shedding It mobile site for iPhone and Android users! If you’re bored between classes and want to access the blog, hit the site from your phone and it will automatically redirect to the mobile site. (It takes a minute.) It’s just a little easier to read…and it has my YouTube feed linked to it, so if you’re slinking home and 7 AM and want a reminder of the “I’m Lovin’ It” rules, you can access it easily! Morning sex and McMuffins…there’s an App for that!

Have a great night!

After writing about cooking with beer on Monday, I was good and ready to do just that! These brownies, from the March issue of Cooking Light, are “Black and Tan” brownies, based on the traditional two-beer drink. And you need Guinness! So perfect for the next Hump Day — St. Patrick’s Day!

Ingredients

Tan Brownies

6 tbsp softened butter

1 and 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Black Brownies

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped

4 tbsp butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup Guinness

1 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

This Is How We Do It

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place one rack in the lower third and one rack in the upper third.

Start by preparing the tan brownies: beat together the butter and brown sugar and then beat in two eggs and the vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients and then add to the sugar mixture with the pecans, beating until just combined.

Spoon the mixture into a 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Put the brownies on the rack on the lower third of the oven and bake for 15 minutes.

While the tan brownies are baking, get started on the black. Put the chocolate and the butter in the microwave for about a minute, stirring every 20 seconds, until it’s melted and smooth. Add the sugar and stir until it’s well combined.

Add the eggs, vanilla, and Guinness, stirring with a whisk until it’s combined. Then add the dry ingredients. The chocolate batter is so, so smooth.

This is the first time I actually got to use the Perfect Brownie Pan I bought Preston for Valentine’s Day! I was so pumped. When the tan brownies have baked for 15 minutes, remove them from the oven.

Your first thought might be, Um, those aren’t done! Right. They are not done. You have to pour the black brownie mixture over them and bake again. If you’re using the Perfect Brownie Pan, you also have to insert the dividers so you get perfect brownies.

Bake in the top third of the oven for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Heyyy, perfect brownies! They are like little shots, all in a row.

Let them cool and then enjoy!

The layering is a bit different on each brownie, but check it — you’ll get that black and tan effect!

You can have the brownies as a treat with the leftover Guinness. Or, if you’re trying to be healthy, you can use the Guinness to work your bicpes like I did.

Have a great Wednesday night!