Livin' It Up... What I'm Loving This Week

ONE:

Thoughts of passionate kisses. Yes, the dream is still alive. Sigh...

TWO:

Getting introduced to GiGi New York and wish-listing for their Taylor Tote in Black Pebble Grain with White Trim. Think this would be perfect for that Florida vacation I'm dreaming of taking this year.

THREE:

Seeing the release of the movie trailer for Ted 2 and telling everyone about it.

FOUR:

Looking at my calendar for February and being optimistic there will finally be resolution on a personal matter.

FIVE:

SUPERBOWL! Go Hawks!!!

SIX:

Knowing that tomorrow is Monday and the beginning of another week of healthier choices for diet and exercise... cause we all know Mondays and the New Year are giant reset buttons.

SEVEN:

Getting introduced to Kathleen Jane on Pinterest and browsing through her 17k+ pins.

EIGHT:

Trying new flavors in the Evolution Fresh line. Haven't met a cold-pressed juice or smoothie from them I haven't liked. You can find them at Starbucks but if you're like me you are not headed there to buy juice so I stock up during my weekly Whole Foods grocery run. My faves include: Organic Ruby Roots, Pineapple Coconut Water, and Defense Up.

Speaking of juice... must see documentaries... Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead 1 and 2.

NINE:

Recently placed an order with Nike. Nothing like getting new workout attire for that extra kick of motivation. It will be even better when I'm ordering a size smaller. Until then, I'll continue living in this Nike Rally Signal Full-Zip Hoodie. Seriously obsessed. I'm generally not a fan of the full-zip, however, this is incredibly cozy and the fleece lining is nothing but love for me.

TEN:

Great hair and eyelashes and them not going unnoticed. Small victories people.

Livin' It Up... New Bedding!!!

(In the Omni Hotel Dallas lobby, Christmas-time 2012)

My guilty pleasure is staying at the Omni Hotel Dallas. On a trip to Kansas a couple of years ago we decided to spend the night in Dallas. Little Man got excited about the hotel that was "completely lit up with lights on the side of the building". After looking at Expedia for room rates and discovering The Omni was well rated and fairly priced it was an easy decision to give it a try. To all of our surprise it ended up being the exact hotel that Little Man was excited about.

We've been back at least 10 times since and have had nothing but great experiences. We always get a downtown view and leave the blinds open the entire time watching the traffic and people walking the streets. There is also a television imbedded in the bathroom mirror which is a nice distraction while getting ready for the day, green electricity system powered by your room key, sign up for their Select Guest program to receive complimentary WiFi, and they have the most comfortable beds! Oh em gee!

I don't know what it is about their beds/bedding but it induces sleep. We went over Thanksgiving break and stayed for three days. Seems like most of my time in Dallas is spent at the hotel rather than exploring the town. We'll grab a coffee from Morsels (Starbucks with a select menu) and people watch in the lobby by the fire place, and we eat at their onsite restaurants, Texas Spice or The Owner's Box. I'll always treat myself to their Huevos Rancheros from Texas Spice on the last morning of my stay. Crave worthy!

Every time we stay we end of having one day where we want to stay in the room the entire day. I'll sit in front of the window on the chaise lounge (depending on the room you get) to read and people watch. When I get tired I'll jump into bed and fall asleep watching TV. It's so relaxing and much needed to recharge my batteries.

The bedding is so incredibly comfortable that I just had to buy some for my place. Yes! You can buy it online from their hotel website.

As part of my health/fitness goals to get more sleep I'm thanking this bedding for the restful sleep I've been getting lately. It's like being on vacation every night.

Livin' It Up... Banana Republic Haul

I have never been into a Banana Republic because I've browsed their website and couldn't justify the price tag on most of their items, however, I was given a gift card at Christmas and decided to bite the bullet and take a slight hit to my bank account.

I'm glad I did. Their clothing is well made and when it comes to closet essentials like the black pants and nude heels I know these pieces will last a long time and beats having to repurchase these items from stores like Forever 21 or Old Navy... not that I don't enjoy those stores, it's just that you get what you pay for and they don't hold up after a handful of washes. 

Here are a the items that I picked out:

Star-Stitch Crew Pullover in Oyster
(Suggest ordering a size down, unless you prefer a baggier fit.)

Kinsey Pump in Brindle

Sloan-Fit Ankle Pant in Black

... and from Gap 1969 Stretch & Recovery Legging Jeans in Pendleton Wash

I am a fan of the blog, The Northeast Girl, and used her Casual Friday outfit as inspiration when making my purchases and for planning what to wear for a lunch/ice cream date with my Little Man to reward him for making Perfect Attendance and Straight-A Honor Roll at school.

(Nonfat coconut frozen yogurt with strawberries, kiwi, mango, and almonds)

Livin' It Up... Nailed It! O.P.I. Tickle My France-y Mani/Pedi

From O.P.I.'s 2008 La Collection De France, Tickle My France-y, is an opaque nude shade with a cool lavender tone, kind of a mauve shade. The application is so easy, goes on smoothly without streaking, two coats is all you need... three for a stronger color, dries in about ten minutes, and removes easily with 100% acetone. 

Why try it for yourself? Because Tickle My France-y is rated as one of O.P.I.'s top ten colors, nude shades help give the illusion of longer fingers, and if you're a sucker for cheeky names O.P.I. takes the cake. C'mon, You Don't Know Jacques! and Bastille My Heart. Squee!!!

(Orly's Bonder Basecoat, O.P.I.'s Tickle My France-y, Essie's 3-Way Glaze)

I think I'll just use my fresh manicure as an excuse to stay in cozy clothes and curl up on the couch with a cup of green tea and a stack of magazines to avoid doing the dishes at least for a couple hours. Nothing chips my nails like doing the dishes. Ugh!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Cranberry Cleanse

I'm trying to do things that help with the functionality of my body. I've been eating healthier and making workouts a priority. Outside of seeing some weight loss I'm not noticing any other results yet.  Sometimes I think about how it would be nice to have a view into my body so I can see that eating all of these kale salads is really helping to detoxify my body and that it's not just a placebo effect.

Speaking of detoxing my body, as part of the 21 Day Flat Belly Challenge it was suggested to start the day with a Cranberry Cleanse. Supposedly it provides an energy boost while nourishing the liver, intestines, and kidneys while working to flush the body of accumulated waste.

I can't vouch for the above but I can tell you this concoction isn't too bad to throw back. Just be sure to have that water chaser handy.

Cranberry Cleanse

From: Popsugar Fitness

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 4 oz cranberry juice
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• a glass of water as a chaser

And Action:

Combine the cranberry juice, vinegar, and lemon juice together in a glass. Drink the concoction and chase with the glass of water.