Sick as a Dog

So, it happened.  I missed blogging on my Monday/Thursday schedule for the first time!  Shoot.  Oh well, it's not like I have any regular readers who were disappointed. :P

I have been SICK.  Sudafed, Nyquil, and a lot of tissues--that's been my world for the past few days.  So, I will keep this short.  Wish me...health? 

Next post will be March favorites!

Love/Hate

I have such a love/hate relationship with dieting.  I love the idea of getting healthy and slimming down, and I love it even more when I see results (which I HAVE!).  However, sometimes it is pure torture having to resist the foods I love and crave.  Earlier this week, I walked out of my office to go to lunch, and the smell of burgers and fries from the restaurant just down the street wafted my way.  My stomach screamed "I want THAT!"--figuratively, of course.  My one saving grace that has kept me from being miserable is the weekends.  I do my weekly weigh-in on Friday mornings so that I can relax the diet a little on Friday and Saturday.  If I didn't have some cheat days thrown in my routine, I'd go insane.  I don't want to feel like I'm depriving myself, and let's be honest, everybody needs a french fry fix every now and then.  So, I get really excited about food on the weekends!  Haha.  I know I should be trying to have more of a "this isn't just a diet; it's my new healthy lifestyle" mindset, but purposely giving up pizza and Chinese takeout sure sounds like dieting to me.  It's really hard not to give into my cravings, but I've made up my mind to lose weight.  The taste of that Sonic Oreo Blast is not worth the future health problems or feeling crappy about oneself.

Since I don't weigh for the week until tomorrow, I can't give an exact number of pounds I've lost.  But, I can say that I'll be hitting the 10lbs-lost mark soon.  My clothes are starting to hang a little more loosely on me.  It's exciting!  I'm proud of myself, and I hope to continue the journey toward a healthier me.

February 2013 Favorites

February is such a short month!  Can't believe it's already over.  Here are the things I loved this past month:

Health

• "Dancing with the Stars" Fitness DVD:  Man, this is FUN. And, it's a great workout!  I don't think my body will ever look like that of the girls on the cover, but who knows? :)

• WeightWatchers:  If you've seen a few of my most recent posts, you'd know I started following the original WeightWatchers plan lately.  I'm already seeing results! LOVE IT.

Beauty

• amika Obliphica Oil Nourishing Hair Mask:  I've gotten into deep conditioning my hair lately, and this product is wonderful.  I first sampled it through Birchbox, but I've purchased the small size of the regular product.  Once I run out of this, I might need to purchase the bigger jar.  It smells so amazing, and it leaves my hair feeling soft and moisturized.

• CoverGirl 3-in-1 Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation:  Blends so easily, provides excellent coverage, stays on all day.  All without feeling heavy or cakey!  I'll be interested to see if this foundation still holds up in the spring and summer months when the weather is much warmer.

• Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat:  Definitely should be a staple in any girl's nail polish stash. Makes nails super shiny, and it lasts for days.

• Coach Poppy perfume:  I received this for Christmas, and I already know I'll be reaching for it all throughout the spring.  It's such a girly, floral scent.  

Book

• Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling:  Another Christmas gift.  I took way longer to read it than I should have, but I finished it this month.  It was hilarious, and basically, I want to be her best friend.  I heard she has another book coming out later this year!!

Websites

• NouveauCheap: If you love drugstore products like I do, or even if you just like deals, this is the website for you!

• BuzzFeed:  Wonderful pop culture goodness.

Music

• "We Come Running" by Youngblood Hawke

• "Suit and Tie" by Justin Timberlake

• "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons

• "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club

Oh, and here's a Nail of the Day pic:

Color Club/Birchbox collaboration "Put a Pin In It"

One last thing: My birthday is Saturday!  I don't know why, but I have a good feeling about 24.  I'll be in my hometown this weekend visiting family and friends.  I told my mom I didn't want any specific gifts, just for her to take me shopping.  Expect a birthday haul on here soon! :)

Weight Watchers Update

Good news!  After 1 week following the Weight Watchers plan, I've lost 5 1/2 pounds!  I know it was probably mostly water weight since this was the first week, but still.  I'm so proud of myself!  And, I know this will be something I can stick with until I reach my goal.  I'm so excited to be getting healthy! :)

Also, sorry for the short blog post--Monday snuck up on me!

January 2013 Favorites

I can't believe January is already over!  Time just goes by way too fast.  Here's the list of things I've been loving for this first month of 2013.

Health:

• Vitamins- As a part of my health kick in this new year, I've started taking daily multivitamins and a Super B Complex.  And, I love it.  I have a lot more energy than I used to.

• "Q&A a Day" journal- Falling under the mental/emotional health umbrella, I've really been enjoying using this journal as a tool for self-reflection.

Food:

• LUNA Bars- These nutrition bars come in a variety of flavors, and they're all delicious.  These aren't meal replacement bars, just a healthy snack bar.  The packaging says they're specially formulated for women, though I have no idea how.

• Mueller corner yogurt- Finally, a kind of yogurt that I don't dread eating.  My favorite is the granola variety.

Fashion:

• Scarves- A cold weather must! They can add the perfect amount of warmth to an outfit in addition to be snuggly and cute! My scarf collection has grown exponentially in the last few years...

• Skinny jeans- I know I'm a few years behind on the skinny jeans trend.  However, I haven't really felt confident enough in my body to pull them off until now.  At least, I hope I'm pulling them off! Haha

 Beauty:

• Batiste Hint of Color Medium/Brunette Dry Shampoo-  This stuff is AWESOME.  Most dry shampoos leave a white, powdery film in my brown hair that can sometimes make 2nd day hair feel even worse than it already does.  BUT, this product is tinted to blend in with dark hair. AND it has a faint caramel corn scent. AND I found it on sale at TJ Maxx.  Need I say more?

• Cover Girl Clump Crusher mascara- While not as volumizing as some of my favorite mascaras, this new addition to the LashBlast line has really impressed me.  It seriously leaves your lashes with no clumps and very natural-looking.  Thumbs up.

• Cover Girl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm- Another new Cover Girl product and the latest in the new beauty trend of jumbo lip pencils.  Sheer color and a silky, smooth texture. My favorite shade is "Blush Twist".

Music:

• "Come On" by Ke$ha- Not a huge Ke$ha fan, but this song gets me singing along.

• "Up Against the Wall" by Fiction Family- I heard this song on the radio a few weeks back and just KNEW I knew the voice. Surprise: It's Jon Foreman, formerly of Switchfoot. Love.

• "Nancy From Now On" by Father John Misty- I can't really explain why I love this song. I just do. It just hits me in a good place.

• "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis- How can you NOT dance around like a fool when this song comes on?? (Video is below, and it's not censored. Just a heads up!)

 

Hope y'all had a great January!