let's talk about // bloglovin' and google reader shut down

Hello there!! I just wanted to give you guys a heads up.  As I'm sure most of you know, Google Reader will be shutting down on July 1st.  But have no fear, Bloglovin' is here!!  Bloglovin' is a super easy and convenient way to keep up on your favorite blogs...I never used Google Reader because I found it too confusing, and instead I use Bloglovin' which I absolutely love.   It is so easy to keep track of your favorite blogs and keep track of your own blog.  It is really easy to import the blogs that you follow on Google Reader onto Bloglovin', just go here!  And if you want to follow my blog on Bloglovin', just go here, or click on the pretty link on the right sidebar.  Hope your transition goes swimmingly!

Post-it phrase of the day: "You are on the right path." 

let's talk about // birchbox

Greetings!  I just wanted to pop in and let you guys know that I just joined Birchbox!  If you've never heard of Birchbox, I'm sure you're not alone.  Basically you subscribe to the site and then once a month they send you a box in the mail that is full of high end beauty products.  It costs $10/month and they have subscriptions for men and women.  I'm very excited about this!  My box will be coming in about two weeks and I'll do a review post once I've received it.  If you want to know more about Birchbox, check it out here.

Post-it phrase of the day: "Happiness doesn't depend on what we have, but it does depend on how we feel towards what we have."

know how // iced green tea

I plan on doing a post on the benefits of drinking green tea in the near future, but for now let me just say you should do it, because it's great.  BUT, I recently haven't been in the mood to drink it hot.  As it gets warmer cravings for hot chocolate and cider go out the window, so we replace these with cold drinks.  I've never really had iced tea because I don't do caffeine (I drink decaf green tea), but I decided to take my green tea and make it ICED!

weightless wednesdays // carbs after dark?

I've been hearing a lot lately that it isn't a good idea to be eating carbs basically anytime after lunch.  Does this sound absurd to you?  Because when I first heard it, I thought it was absolutely crazy, but then I thought about it and it makes sense.  I don't know all the science behind this, but I thought about it in practical terms. Why are carbohydrates necessary?  Simple, they provide the energy we need to function in virtually any capacity.  Complex carbohydrates are great because they provide our bodies with energy for a longer period of time.  The danger in carbohydrates is not using them, because they are then transformed into fat cells for long term storage (I guess that was a little more "sciencey" than I was hoping).  Based on this information it makes sense that what we call carbs (complex carbohydrates) have no purpose after about midday.  We simply do not need a lot of fuel for our nighttime activities.

So, I decided to try this out a bit and see how I felt.  There was a drastic difference in the way my body felt on nights that I steered clear of carbs and nights I didn't.  I think the most obvious difference was that when I ate carbs all throughout the day, I felt incredibly bloated by the time I headed to bed.  Whereas, when I saved my carbs for strictly breakfast and lunch, my belly seemed to remain relatively flat for the whole day.  Apart from that, I feel myself getting slightly thinner in general from enacting this practice.  Try this out for yourself and let me know how you get on.

Post-it phrase of the day: "Don't wait for the perfect time to start because there never is a perfect time - start NOW!"

just another manic monday // 3 shades of valentine

I know these colors clash so much, but I kind of like that.  

Colors used: OPI in I'm Suzi & I'm a Chocoholic, with accent OPI in Dulce de Leche and Honk if You Love OPI

Post-it phrase of the day: "Being happy doesn't mean you're perfect. It just means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections."

let's talk about // my big black book

I would like to go on record and say that I am an avid pinterest user, you can check mine out here.  And while, I love this site, and think that it is one of the most brilliant ideas, I still would not give up my big black book for anything.  Basically, my big black book is my physical style board.  Every time I get a new catalog, I pick out my favorite looks and paste them into this "lookbook" (that's what my mom and grandma call it).  Where pinterest is great for being able to find a certain item of clothing, lookbooks are meant to inspire the way you style your clothing.  Composing a lookbook on pinterest is very easy, but I like to have something physical as well.  Plus, it will be fun to look back and see how my style has changed over the years.

That's enough of an introduction, let's take a look inside.  And if you're thinking about starting your own lookbook make sure you buy a notebook large enough to easily fit a page from a  catalog, trust me the folding method doesn't work very well.

just another manic monday // gilded

Colors used: OPI in Warm & Fozzie, with accent OPI in Curry Up Don't Be Late.

Post-it phrase of the day: "The purpose of life: life with a purpose."

weightless world // metamorphosis!

Hello dahlings, so I wanted to let you know that I've recently started the Metamorphosis by Tracy Anderson program.  Everything you need to know about how it works is in the video above.  I'm planning on doing a review halfway through and at the end to tell you guys how it's worked; but let me tell you that after 2 weeks my body does feel more muscular and my skin feels tighter, so it seems to be working!

Post-it phrase of the day: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

feeding the village // baked ziti

In this new segment, I'll be showing you what I've made for my dinner group.  So to preface, my dinner group is composed of a number of friends of mine that live in my complex and we have dinner together Sunday-Thursday.  There's about 10 of us and it works out that each one of us has to cook about once every two weeks.  I love dinner group and I highly recommend it to everyone.  It's a cheap and fun option for us youngsters that live close and have similar schedules.

So on this occasion I decided to make a simple baked ziti (which surprisingly no one in my group had ever heard of).  This dish is really easy and is always yummy, and is great for using up all the bits and bobs in your fridge.  For instance, this time I used some ground turkey I had in the freezer and some spinach that I needed to use up.

delish dish // chameleon bread

I wanted to share this recipe with you all because it is so easy and useful.  I call this chameleon bread because it is so versatile!  I use it for sandwiches, bruschetta and crostinis, croutons, and general munching.  

know-how // preparing a head of lettuce

How is everyone?  As I was putting away my groceries and preparing all my produce for storage, I realized that most people my age and maybe even some older probably don't know how to prepare a head of lettuce.  So I thought I'd share my know-how.  It seems these days that many choose to get lettuce that comes in bags and is already washed and cut.  I've never purchased bagged lettuce, but it doesn't seem appealing to me and then when I did a little research I found this article.  Basically, it's a bad idea, but many people find the alternative: daunting, time consuming, and maybe even wasteful.  I tell you NAY!

what to do when -2

  It seems that winter has officially kicked in and it is wicked cold outside!!  A couple days ago, when I was referencing the weather to get ready, this is what I saw:

  I think we can all agree that -2 is quite cold indeed and is more difficult to dress for.  So, I decided to offer you guys a little advice on how to dress nicely while trying to stay warm.

just another manic monday // stripey!

  Colors used: Sephora by OPI in Under My Trench Coat, with accent Sephora by OPI in I'm With Brad.

Post-it Phrase of the Day: "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

let's talk about // resolutions

 We're still in that time of the year when people are making their resolutions,  so I thought I'd offer my two cents and let you guys know what my resolutions are.  My family and I are very into New Year's resolutions.  Every year we make goals and resolutions and if the grandkids complete their resolutions then we get $100 from Granny.  In the past, I have given up ice cream, peanut butter, soda, red meat and a number of others.  I used to just have one resolution, but now I generally have many different resolutions that cover all aspects of my my life.  Now, I would like to share with you: my weight loss resolution as well as my beauty resolution and some tips for resolution making.

  If it wasn't obvious, my weight loss resolution for 2013 is to not eat any fast food.  This includes all those great burger places nearby, including In-N-Out and Five Guys which will be hard.  This also includes delivery pizza places like Pizza Hut, Papa John's and Little Caesar's.  Take-out of any kind is also unacceptable...which sadly means no Chinese take-out (although Provo literally has no good take-out places).  This will be difficult, but sit down restaurants are still acceptable and I'm looking forward to discovering new restaurants because of this resolution.

just another manic monday // jaded

  Colors used: OPI in Jade is the New Black, with accent OPI in It's My Year. 

Post-it Phrase of the Day: "Celebrate what you want to see more of"

x Ren

the BEST way to eat // grapefruit!

  I know that I promised this post a while back, but now it's finally being posted!  So, I think we can all agree that grapefruits are good for you and delicious as well, but you can't exactly eat them like you would an orange.  And many people have huge objections to consuming the white parts as well.  Well this grapefruit consumption technique fits all those needs!  Below you'll find step by step instructions.

new year, new you!!

  How was everyone's holidays?  I hope you all were able to spend time with your family and ring in the New Year in style.  I spent New Year's up at my grandparent's in Boothbay Harbor, ME and it was blissful.  Monday night, I cooked for all of us and then the festivities began.  Each one of us wrote goals for 2013 and then we sent them into the universe through the flames of a driveway bonfire.  We ended the night with an at home fireworks display that was as terrifying as it was enchanting.  But the most exciting part of the visit came the next morning when my Uncle Tom, cousin Jules and I plunged into the frigid Atlantic to raise money for Boothbay's Y.  

  Above is a video from the event.  Let me assure you  that the video does not paint a fair picture of just how cold it was, and WINDY!  My goodness, it was just awful, but also exhilarating.  And it helped me set the tone for the rest of they year.  This year I have many goals and resolutions and one of them is to venture outside of my comfort zone more.  And boy was this outside my comfort zone, I hope you enjoy watching me freeze (I'm the one wearing a navy blue tshirt and navy blue shorts).

Post-it Phrase of the Day: "I, not events, have the power to make me unhappy or happy today."   

x Ren

manic mondays

We're introducing a new segment here!  Manic Mondays, here we go!  So basically, I find nail maintenance to be a very important aspect to looking put together and to presenting one's personal style.  Everyone looks better with a fresh manicure, it's as simple as that.  I do my nails every Sunday, so I've decided that I might as well share pictures with you guys every following Monday.  

the BEST way to eat // breakfast

  We've heard ever since we were little that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Guess what, it's true.  If you're trying to maintain a healthy weight a good breakfast is absolutely vital!  

  This is the best breakfast ever!  Consisting of store brand Bran Flakes, Homemade Granola, and fresh fruit; this breakfast makes me feel great every morning!  If you want to feel great too, follow the breakfast rules below.

know-how // homemade granola

  Okay, I am finally putting this recipe up for you guys, and it's a good one!  I have never met anyone that doesn't like granola, but I have met plenty of people who don't like the cost.  Store bought granola can be really expensive, and when you look in the ingredients there are many things I can't pronounce and would prefer not to consume, so I make my own.  All growing up my mom made granola and we eat it every morning for breakfast.  Being on my own, I have tweeked the recipe a bit, but I still say "I got it from my mama".