small detour, big realization

"He that can have Patience, can have what he will." - Benjamin Franklin

Let's go let's go let's go let's goooo

Meet my morning running buddy equipped with a built in alarm clock! In the past two weeks buddy boy has grown very fond of our morning runs. So much that he starts barking promptly at 6:15 so we are out the door and on the move by 6:30. What a guy. He is a terrific running partner. He is faster than I am, gets distracted easily, and warns off anything that dares walk near us. What more could a gal truly ask for?

By 7:30am Jackalope is curled up in the laundry fresh out of the dryer and ready to reenter his slumber.

As devoted as this running buddy is, I still managed to take a small detour on my getting it right getting it tight mission. Why? I ate too much cheese, did not plan out my meals, and decided my weekend was fair game for all things sugar.

Exhibit A. caprese at 9pm on a Thursday... First wrong turn of the week. 

There is nothing wrong with a little caprese salad once and again.  But when you almost eat the entire log of mozarella at 9pm on a Thursday when you are in full blown bikini shape up mode, there's a small problem. It was like the gateway drug to my weekend of terrible food choices.

Exhibit B. Hello 1995 it's nice to see you again. 

You didn't hear slurpees were making a comeback? Well apparently they were. Granted it was 85 degrees and I ran 3 miles that morning... Ironically my 3 miles did not cancel out my slurpee, #hurtful. It wasn't really the slurpee that bothered me, it was the "why" behind my detour... I popped on the scale Saturday and it didn't budge from the week before. What gives, what's the point, self-loathing, terrible judgments of myself ensues.

Back on track side braid... Aka I had 5 minutes to get ready this morning... 

I wish I had the ability to just say "so what, it means nothing, and you worked your donk off this week". I am slowing trying to become that person who rolls with it with patience, faith and hard work, but my olden ways of self belittlement creeps in now and again. Nonetheless, this morning at 6:30 my running buddy and I were right back on track and ready to kick the ish out of this week. Before I started to write this post this morning I really thought, I guess I shouldn't post about my progress, or maybe I need to fudge the results a bit... I'm sorry, whaaaa? Who lies to themselves that extravagantly? It was just a flash thought but the fact that it was there frightened me.

Feeling a rut, I wore 2 lucky bracelets today just because. My Grandma's gold links, and my Marc Jacobs haute pink pretty little thing.

A ton of you have commented on my progress and have gone so far as to email me your praise and encouragement. I am super thankful for all of your thoughts and wishes. If it weren't for you lovelies holding me accountable, I'd probably be lying to myself and moving nowhere. Much love.

Equipped with two of my favorite bracelets and some tougher skin against myself, it's sure to be a better week. Isn't it amazing how a little fashion is a big pick-me-up sometimes?  Have a rockin' week. xo

flannel, kale, jean jackets... someone's making a comeback...

Jean Jacket - Vintage Calvin Klein, Flannel tunic - Forever 21, wunder unders -lululemon, old boots - Frye, messy room - Mine.

On today's menu we have flannel and kale served on a bed of jean jackets. I don't always like to document my looks, but there was something Paul Bunyan meets Pat Benetar in my mojo today that ignited the occasion. Planning my menu for the day is oddly similar to my daily outfits, if it doesn't happen in the morning or the night before, it's turns out to be a real haute mess.

It's just one of those days...

Today was no exception to the rule, except I think maybe I compromised one for the other. After my daily morning cardio assault, I packed a kale salad for lunch, a mini Larabar for a snack, guzzled my meta-d morning tonic, and by the time I addressed my outfit it was time to hit the road Jack.

Little nugget fallen from heaven...

In the end, thank you Whole Foods for the bag of pre-cut and pre-washed kale/carrots/cabbage mix, you make my heart warm and my daily menu plans doable. Additionally, two shakes to Larabar for the minis that taste like a 10:30am slice of apple pie. Not quite sure what the diagnonscience is on my outfit of the day, but since working out more and eating mo bettah with rather elaborate planning, I've embraced messy hair and the occasional mishmash outfit. Chew on this, "About half my designs are controlled fantasy, 15 percent are total madness and the rest are bread-and-butter designs." - Manolo Blahnik

xo

style inspired by my roots and wings

Finally Friday, I'm free again, got my motor runnin' for a wild weekend...

Can you name that tune? Totally feel like it's been a hurry up and wait type of week. Hope your week was super fab.

Hitting up a little nostalgia lane today. This is a locket my Gramps gave my Granny, and I believe it is bringing some luck my way. I also have a bit of a locket fetish so this was the perfect piece added to my collection in a bitter sweet moment of cleaning out my Granny's house a few weeks ago.

One thing my Granny truly past on to me was a deep love and obsession for pretty details, delicate moments and ornate stories. Attention to detail was never missed by Grandma Betty, you could count on her entire outfit coordinating from her bag to her shoes and not in an over the top my outfit threw up pink way. I think she would have approved of my headband...

She also loved her some scarves. Another obsession passed to my veins. I don't know if I could live without my Big Chunky Infinity scarf from isn't that knit, a gift from on of my most favorite lady lovelies.

Maybe it's the weather, but just feeling like remembering. Hopefully April showers bring a few flowers to the dreamscapes of my life right now. Happy Friday.

xoxo

Checking in...

2 weeks in, Whey to Go

Jack would like you to know that my working out is seriously cutting into his cuddle time, though he gets to go on morning runs with me...

Two weeks ago I embarked on the Tone It Up Bikini Challenge, and here is my first "holding myself accountable" post.  Thanks for all of your lovely words and tweets of encouragement.  Today I stand 7 pounds down, but more than that, feeling great, alive and feeling blessed to simply have my health.  I feel like I take it for granted now and again...

Morning shake getting ready... Mixed with a shot of espresso, bomb.com

I did not really get in this thing because I want to drop 20 pounds or something, I just needed a little structure to my workouts and nutrition, and the energy and confidence it is giving me weighs in much heavier than any lbs ever could.

keys to success...thus far

Morning Meta-D metabolism wake up and go drink!  We're talking water, apple cider vinegar, a smidgen of apple juice, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon.  Wakes me up in the morning, and it just makes you feel like your whole system gets a spring cleaning every morning.  Plus I love all things spicy so this is a perfect start to my day.  #nomnomnom

Water with a straw!  If my cup has a straw I have calculated that I am 203% more likely to drink it, and drink a lot of it.  Totally was once confusing hunger with dehydration.

And finally the purchase the hubs makes fun of me for, but I could careless.  Skechers Tone Ups!  They don't have the big swooping arch foot, they are subtle and give my squates, lunges, and dog walks a little pep in my step and hopefully lift in my badonk.

A few tips for anyone else embarking on this challenge

•  Do it.  It is worth the hard work, your body will thank you, and more importantly your mind.
•  Get yo donk up in the morning!  Just 30 minutes and sneak in the cardio sesh.  Makes the workday feel like a breeze and when life gets busy in the evening you won't have to self-sulk.
• Plan your meals as much as possible and stock your fridge with your favorite lettuce and salad toppings.  Stock your shelves with different types of beans for protein, and nuts (in love with chili lime nuts from Trader Joe's).  There you go 4 minute salad.
•  Weigh yourself once a week.  I. hate. scales.  However, I do know that when I weigh myself consistently I keep off what I want to keep off, and shred even more.  I may never be happy with a number, but there is satisfaction in the little things.
•  Have fun.  Enroll a buddy.  Right now Jackalope (my pup) are in it together on the morning runs, but I much prefer sweating with real friends.

Hope your week is fantastic!  5 weeks to bikini  season.  #eep.

P.S. Probably won't be posting the pound droppage week to week, maybe at the end I will do a little before and after shot.  But probably shouldn't hold your breath... ha