Archives for 2011

We are officially in the holiday swing and this means one thing…Holiday Shopping and Gift Guides! I am putting together my list of people who I will be buying presents for this year. I have already done some early shopping and have at least one present already for everyone on my list. Yes, congratulations are in order…there is nothing better than the peace of mind of getting a jump start on your holiday shopping. This first holiday gift guide post is geared towards the women in your life.

Because I am the queen of To-Do Lists and love filling up my calendar with events, I am a huge fan of agendas. I still love the feeling of writing things down and crossing them off so I will never become completely computer-based with my scheduling. I bought this particular agenda from Lilly Pulitzer for myself last month and may have to pick one up for one of the girls on my list this year.

This Louis Vuitton wallet is an essential item in my purse. I love its compact size and the ample space for credit cards and cash. It makes a great gift but won’t blow your holiday budget.

Candles are a wonderful gift and make great stocking stuffers. Most people don’t enjoy the soothing effect of candles because they are too often caught up in the hectic nature of life. The holidays are a great time to give your loved ones a little bit of luxury and the permission to slow down and enjoy the moment. I love these Diptyque candles for their simple and pure scents and attractive packaging.

If you are really looking to splurge on the special woman in your life (and yes, this can apply to mothers, sisters, aunts and grandmothers), this Cartier love bracelet is classic, elegant and beautiful.

I absolutely adore this Tiffany & Co. Fifth Avenue Porcelain jar. I think it would make a darling bedside table accessory and the perfect place to store your rings while sleeping.

Stay tuned for more holiday gift ideas!!

Lately I have been craving fruits! Just in the past month I have eaten about a million kiwi’s, pears and apples. I’m really craving citrus fruits, probably because we are heading into the winter and fruits are harder to come by. I read all of these great tips for adding more fruit into your diet over at Elle & Blair’s website. I am including the information below. (PS- I really want to make the rainbow fruit platter as pictured above…isn’t it adorable!)

1. Eating raw fruit for breakfast is a great way to ensure you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals you need to kick start your day, which will give you way more energy too!
2. Raw fruits are super easy for your body to digest, so eating them in the morning when you’re just waking up (and your metabolism is too) makes it the best time to feast on a plate of fruit.
3. Many fruits are packed with lots of fiber, which will help you feel full and satisfied until lunchtime.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy and balanced breakfast should include raw fruits (or vegetables), a low fat protein, some dairy and a serving of whole grains. I think a lot of us forget about the raw fruit part even though it’s clearly super important to starting your day off on the right foot.

Here’s a few ways you can work more raw fruits into your breakfasts:

• Make a protein smoothie and throw in your favorite fruits to make it sweet!
• Add berries and bananas to your oatmeal along with some milk for an added kick of calcium.
• Have a fruity parfait! I love to make these as they’re kinda sweet and really filling too. Add your favorite fruits along with a little granola (or your favorite cereal works too) to a cup of low fat yogurt. I sometimes drizzle honey over the top if I want something a little sweeter too.
• Cook up a breakfast burrito by scrambling some eggs with cheese and wrapping it up in a whole wheat tortilla and have a side of freshly cut up fruit or an apple! Click here to check out my blog about why “an apple a day” really does help keep the doctor away!
• Slice up some banana and throw a few berries over your favorite whole grain cereal.
• One of my favorite options is to slice up an apple and a banana and have it with a side of Peanut Butter. You can even drizzle some honey over the banana for a super delicious breakfast.

Ugh! I hate that I haven’t posted here in so long. Life sometimes gets in the way, but believe me, I am BACK! Here’s what I’m obsessed with right now.

-Demi & Ashton DIVORCING! I’m proud of Demi for setting a good example. I think we are all tired of Hollywood couples (or couples, in general) sweeping things under the carpet. If someone isn’t treating you how you deserved to be treated, stand up for yourself!

-Jason Segal writing and starring in the *new* Muppet Movie! I literally can not wait to see this one. As a child, the Muppets were my favorite movies (and tv shows). I even loved the Muppet Babies cartoon on Saturday mornings.

-Breaking Dawn comes out today! I wish I were going to see it but alas, I don’t want to battle the long lines and the risk of not getting tickets. I will see it soon, hopefully!

-Holiday shopping! Yes, Thanksgiving is next week which means we are well on our way to Christmas! I have already picked out some cute holiday decorations and I’m already making lists and shopping for my family.

So what are your thoughts on the Kardashian family? On one hand I think it’s great to see “reality stars” who don’t look like Heidi Montag. (Who, by the way, recently revealed the startling news that she spends 14 hours a DAY at the gym!)

But then again, the Kardashian’s aren’t exactly “girl next door” types. And really, what are they famous for exactly? Kim got paid $300,000 for her engagement photos in PEOPLE Magazine?! And now Kourtney is on the cover of SHAPE Magazine. In the cover story, Kourtney talks about her running workout. As someone who has only just discovered running over the past year, I am always interested in reading about other runners. (I already have my favorite online runners). I like to read about the routines of runners…especially if it can help me look like THIS!

Today was a tough day. I was very emotional and overwhelmed. I was having one of those break down days when everything – everything – just seems to be going WRONG. I did my usual 3 mile walk with my mom in the morning (we walk every day). Along our walk we met the most interesting man, a landscape architect from Australia. He was fascinating. He’s doing work right around the corner from my parents house and it has been really fun to watch his progress.

Work was work and it didn’t help alleviate the stress I was under. But the sun was shining and that did help lighten my mood. What worked to really kick my bad mood was the 3 mile run I did after work. It turned my bad mood into a distant memory.

So my advice to anyone suffering from a less than stellar mood…GET MOVING! (I think I made this exact statement in yesterday’s post but it certainly bears repeating).

Just a little note to say “Hi!” by one of my favorite scrapbookers, Ann-Marie! Things like this make me wish I was a little more “crafty.” I would make cards ALL THE TIME!

I love this idea for a simple, classic summertime napkin! I found it on Martha Stewart, of course!