Links You’ll Love – Resolutions Edition
We survived 2012 and celebrated the end of the year, and now that the first week of January is coming to an end those New Years Resolutions are starting to look further and further away. This week’s Links You’ll Love post is here to help keep you motivated, inspired, and on track with your resolutions. Whether your goals are aimed at career success, personal improved, fashion, health, or fitness – Keep yourself going with these great inspirational pieces!
Fashion:
I love the idea of this No Shopping Challenge {Inspiration: My No Shopping Challenge} from Style Within Reach – It’s a great idea to not only purge your closets at the beginning of the year, but take stock in what pieces you have and try to mix up your current wardrobe rather than blindly adding to it. But in practice I’m not sure that I have her self-control… What about you?
Refinery 29 is here to help you with your Fashion New Years Resolutions – 20 Influencers, 20 Resolutions To Adopt Now.
Fashion magazine’s are a great place to find inspiration – From fabulous advertisements to glossy, well-styled editorials to great articles filled with advice & ideas from industry insiders:
- Harper’s Bazaar – Top Stylists Share Their Fashionable Resolutions
- Teen Vogue – New Year’s Resolutions From Fashion Industry Stars
- Fashionologie – 5 Resolutions We’d Like to See the Fashion Industry Keep in 2013
Staying inspired and motivated to try out fun & interesting new trends and styles can be hard – But Pinterest is a great tool for fashion stimulation, so check out my La Mode to get yourself in the mood!
Health & Fitness:
Ever wonder how the models with killer bodies keep themselves in shape all year around? Check out this interesting article from Modelinia – Behold the Ultimate Model Master Cleanse!
While you have your health & eating better on your mind, why not try out some new recipes? Here are a few great round-ups from some top food bloggers of their favorite recipes from 2012 – So give something new & delicious a try!
- Choosing Raw’s Best of 2012: My Favorite Vegan and Raw Recipes
- The Wannabe Chef’s 12 Months of Recipes
- OhSheGlow’s Most Popular Vegan Recipes
Are you determined to shake things up at the gym this year but not quite sure where to start with your fitness resolutions this year? Check out The Fitnessista’s 12 Days Of Fitness.
The Whole 30 is a great clean eating plan that you could try in 2013 – So do some research, check out other people’s thoughts & experiences, and try some delicious new recipes – Holly Would If She Could’s Whole 30 Meal Plan – Week One (Plus Homework!)
I’m not a huge proponent of cleanses and detoxes that are too restrictive or severe – But this clean eating version is great, filled with healthy, nutritious, easy to digest suggestions – New Year New You: Easy Detox.
2012 Round-Up
Rather than put together a December Round-Up I decided to do something a little different this month – I wanted to look back on the year as a whole and reflect, as well as put together some goals and wishes for the new year.
In my recent 2012 Highlights & A Little About Moi I shared some of my favorite posts of 2012, but this was also a big year from a personal standpoint – So here are a few of my favorite personal moments from the year:
- My best friend got married in a gorgeous San Diego ceremony that was funny, beautiful, moving, and 100% her, and I was thrilled to be a part of the festivities - The Perfect Weekend
- My aunt, one of the most influential forces in my life, celebrated a big birthday and her Summer jubilee was one of the most fun evenings this year – Weekend Wonderland
- I turned three-oh this Fall and celebrated with a week’s worth of festivities which culminated in an amazing weekend in Sonoma with my family and closest friends – Birthday Bonanza
It was also a big year for Moi Contre La Vie:
- I added a weekly personal style post & am learning how to be on the receiving end of a camera lens - MCLV Style
- I established a new partnership with Sasha Maks Vintage and really enjoyed our Styling 101 series this year, which we plan to keep going through 2013
- My love of cooking, baking & healthy eating led me to create a new series to share my recipes – MCLV Mange
Hopes & Wishes For 2013:
- Media Maven – One of the things that I’m most proud of myself for during 2012 was learning about and keeping up with shifts in social media. I’m not known for my tech skills, gadgets, or ability to stay on top of current trends in the technology world so I make one of those “I’m so proud of myself but I’ll try to appear humble” faces when I think about not only creating a Facebook page, and accounts on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Lyst, and Lookbook.nu but actually using them. All the time. And sharing. So rather than rest on my laurels 2013 will be all about continuing this trend and finding new fun & entertaining ways to share my passions with you guys!
- Writing, Writing, Writing - While I do not believe in regrets, I do believe in looking back & taking stock. If I think about what my goals & ambitions were for 2012 the thing I am most disappointed in myself for not pursuing is my writing. Starting this blog was the first step in sharing the written word. But rather than dwell on my disappointment I will head into 2013 DETERMINED to not only continue to write, but to work up the nerve to have my stories read.
- Expansion & Growth – This year I really got into the groove on MCLV and created a site that I’m really proud of and in 2013 I want to expand, rework, and create more exciting & inspiring things to share – From collaborations to videos to fun DIY projects, there are lots of projects in the works!
- Be Positive - Approaching my life with more positivity and reducing negative thoughts was a major goal in 2012 and while I’m quite pleased with my progress in this area I do believe that this is a self-improvement project that should be ongoing rather than a one-time resolution. So that means I will spend 2013 trying to approach situations with a positive attitude, handle changes & setbacks with an open mind, and work towards banishing unnecessary & negative thoughts from my mind.
{Holiday Styling & Caped Crusader – The rest of the shots will be shared soon!}
Happy New Year to you all - I hope that all of you realized all of your wishes & dreams for 2012 and that you have a fun, safe New Years Eve before starting a fabulous new year.
November Round-Up
November is one of my favorite months in San Francisco – The weather is clear & bright but chilly and perfect for Fall outerwear, the tourists start disappearing, and the city is filled with fun events and holiday decorations. This November was no different, it was a beautiful month filled with fun fashion events {Sasha Maks Vintage Trunk Show & The Factory’s Voyage To Marrakech} and lots of holiday cheer.
And shopping. Lots and lots of shopping.
November Goals:
Food:
The boyfriend and I have a potentially dangerous love of Indian food so we’ll definitely be putting a cap on the amount of takeout we’re allowed to order during November, we’ll probably try to limit it to once or twice. Luckily we both love to cook – though we don’t eat even remotely a like – so I’m sure November will be full of trips to the Farmers Market & grocery stores, cooking, and “family” dinners.
I did an ABSURD amount of baking this month. Absurd. Between constant birthdays at my office and the sticky sweet Thanksgiving holiday, I must have baked at least 2-3 new dessert recipes each week in November. Luckily all of the treats were vegan and gluten-free, and a few were even raw, so I somehow don’t really feel like I ate too poorly this month.
Fitness:
In addition to chugging along with my physical therapy I’m sure that November will be chock full of walks and hiking. Sean and I are both huge proponents of walking for fitness and low-intensity fasted cardio {see his guest post on this topic here} so I’m hoping that in addition to my 1.4 mile walk to and from work, we can institute an afternoon stroll each day.
Along with 2.5 mile walk Saturday and Sunday and daily walks to and from work, I added a 3.5 mile walk once or twice a week for the month of November and it felt great. I also added one or two small workouts to my physical therapy regime each week and found that the extra walking was a great way to loosen up my sore muscles. Walking cures all as far as I’m concerned. 
Oh and this definitely cures all! If you’re not regularly rolling out your muscles – either with a foam or PVC roller – than you’re seriously missing out.
Fashion:
I’m BEYOND excited to have my “photographer” in-house for most of the month and I’m sure I’ll be dragging him all over the city to take fashion shots. Hopefully this will mean that I will have some workwear and low-key weekday looks to share with you during the month of November in addition to the usual weekend outfits.
There were lots of photo shoots during November, including the extremely fun Styling 101: Holiday Dressing shoot with Sasha Maks Vintage and Mystery Mister. I’m also thrilled to say that I’m going to be helping a friend expand her blog to include personal street style photographs – I love photography and I’m incredibly excited to start this project.
{Some of my recent looks – Tiger Tiger Burning Bright, Prim & Proper, Lady of the Night, Ditzy Fox, Birthday Bonanza, Animalistic & Pardon My French}
New December Goals:
My real mission for December is to RELAX. I have a TONS of work, social engagements, and MCLV projects in the pipeline that will require lots of travel, time & effort this month. And since I have no desire to end 2012 as a stress ball December will be about taking things one day at a time, deep breathing, massages, and relaxing so that I can ENJOY all of my activities rather than stress out over them. Oh, and get lots of sleep!
”Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” – Benjamin Franklin
Food:
I’m not planning to give myself too much grief over my diet in December - My goal is to eat as clean as possible during the week and on weekends, and to relax and enjoy myself at parties & events.
Fitness:
Since December inevitably means tons of cocktail parties, desserts, and dinners on the food & booze front as well as lots of travel, I need to be really diligent about maintaining my physical therapy routine. I’ll be much better equipped to handle traveling if my core is especially strong and I’m feeling stretched out and limber.
Fashion:
December is all about fashion & jewelry collaborations and photo shoots! In December I’ll be sharing the fabulous photographs from holiday and New Years Eve inspired shoots as well as a handful of new Styling 101 guest posts that include Winter styling tips for everything from rainy days to holiday parties to family time.
What do you have planned for December? Are you in full-blown Holiday mode or are you still easing into things (and being stubborn) like I am?
If you’re not sure where you start in your December planning take a look at Gala Darling’s Your December Activity Guide! which includes fabulous holiday activities like Christmas cards, DIY decorations, and delicious treats you should indulge in!
October Round-Up
I adore November, it’s my favorite time of the year for a number of reasons. It’s birthday season not only in my family – me, my boyfriend’s brother, my dad, my brother’s fiance & my parents anniversary – but also in my department at work, which means lunchtime treats at least once a week. November is also the start of the holiday season – Halloween is my FAVORITE holiday, I love all the Autumn decorations, and to top it all off, it means that Christmas is right around the corner.
Let’s check up on how I did on my goals for October…
October Goals:
My primary goal for October is to make myself a priority. That may sound a bit selfish but I feel as though we modern ladies spend so much time thinking about everyone in our lives – significant other, friends, family, colleagues – and putting effort into our daily routines, that we tend to forget about ourselves. October will be about my health, my goals, my writing - I’m going to make an effort to really enjoy my passions and spend time on my hobbies.
Food:
I’m going to participate in the Green Thickies 7 Day Meal Replacement Green Smoothie Challenge at the beginning of October – And I’m really looking forward to it. Rather than replace a single meal each day I’ll aim for consuming 2-3 smoothies a day plus raw fruit and vegetables.
This was such a fun challenge to participate in! I started the month off on the best possible foot with a week of two-a-day smoothies. I ate mostly raw for my final meal of the day and had a ball coming up with tasty smoothie concoctions. My usual green monsters {Sun Warrior vanilla protein, Navitas wheatgrass, spinach or kale, lemon, fresh ginger, cinnamon & an apple} and fruit smoothies with cherry, pineapple, or strawberries as the main ingredient. It was a delicious week and I felt amazing!
Fitness:
While I’ll be keeping up with my walking and physical therapy, what I’m most excited about for October fitness wise is finally getting to my 2012 Bucket List. Sean and I made a list of fun San Francisco things to try – like bike riding across the Golden Gate Bridge, the Lands End hike, and kayaking in the Bay – but there were too many tourists around in this Summer so we’re going to finally tackle the list this Fall. Updates and cheesy pictures to follow!
October ended up being ALL about walking - check out my mileage below - walking to and from work, long walks to the Ferry Building Farmers Market, and even daily walks to Fort Mason and Ghirardelli Square to enjoy the phenomenal Indian Summer weather we had in San Francisco.
Fashion:
Bring on the accessories! My favorite parts of Fall are the extras – From fabulous outerwear to chic gloves, scarves & pashminas, hats, and boots. You’ll notice that my Fall style is all about layering, I love mixing up my pieces and piling on the accessories. I also have something of an outerwear obsessions. I have dozens of blazers, wool & cashmere jackets, trench coats etc. Can’t wait to break them out!
Despite October being the warmest month of 2012 here in San Francisco, I still managed to break out my fabulous cold weather gear – From my favorite H&M coat {Sergeant Pepper} to my new Floral Blazer from Piperlime {Factory Girl} to my cute new sweaters {Ditzy Fox & Pardon My French}.
New Goals for November:
I’m going to have a house guest for most of November so my primary goal will be learning to control & deal with the stress in my life, as well as decompressing after work in a socially acceptable manner – Baby carrots & hummus out of the container in workout clothes while catching up on my Twitter feed isn’t exactly the image I’d like to project.
Food:
The boyfriend and I have a potentially dangerous love of Indian food so we’ll definitely be putting a cap on the amount of takeout we’re allowed to order during November, we’ll probably try to limit it to once or twice. Luckily we both love to cook – though we don’t eat even remotely a like – so I’m sure November will be full of trips to the Farmers Market & grocery stores, cooking, and “family” dinners.
I’m also officially giving up diet soda during the week this month. I’ve reduced my intake dramatically over the last year but I still have the occasional Cherry Coke Zero or Cherry Diet Dr. Pepper during the week so going forward those will be weekend treats only!
{Inspired by Vegan Sparkles’s Vegan MoFo Tandoori Cauliflower & Cucumber Raita Wraps - Recipe coming soon!}
Fitness:
In addition to chugging along with my physical therapy I’m sure that November will be chock full of walks and hiking. Sean and I are both huge proponents of walking for fitness and low-intensity fasted cardio {see his guest post on this topic here} so I’m hoping that in addition to my 1.4 mile walk to and from work, we can institute an afternoon stroll each day.
Fashion:
I’m BEYOND excited to have my “photographer” in-house for most of the month and I’m sure I’ll be dragging him all over the city to take fashion shots. Hopefully this will mean that I will have some workwear and low-key weekday looks to share with you during the month of November in addition to the usual weekend outfits.
This month I also wanted to share some of my little achievements since my goal was to make it a “me” month!
- 4 massages
- 60+ miles walked
- 2 trips to the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market
- 7 online purchases (Seriously guys, I clearly a problem, someone sign me up for a 12-step program)
How was everyone else’s October? Did you enjoy our first month of Fall? Are you getting geared up for a fabulous holiday season now that Halloween has come and gone?
September Round-Up
It’s hard to contemplate, but it would appear that September – and Summer – are officially over. Fall is my favorite season by a long shot, but I find that I’m still having trouble letting go of Summer. Lots of trouble.
Food:
I still plan to be social and I will keep up the weekly dinners with Arianna, but I want to reduce wine consumption to once or twice a month, rather than every weekend, and eat a primarily raw diet this month. Monday through Friday I usually eat raw for three of my four meals – Smoothies, fruit, salad, nuts, veggies & hummus - and then roasted or sautéed vegetables with tofu, tempeh, quinoa or seitan for dinner. For September I’d like to eat primarily raw during the week, then have more flexibility over the weekends.
Munch. Munch. Munch. I’ve been snacking up a storm this month, and per my plan at the beginning of the month, mostly raw snacks. My portion sizes have been well controlled which is important, but I’m essentially eating at all times.
I also tried the So Delicious mini ice cream sandwiches that I’ve been seeing all Summer – So. Good. So good in fact that I almost wish I’d never crossed that line because there’s clearly no going back!
Fitness:
Finally it’s time to report some good news on this front! My latest doctor’s appointment was quite positive so in addition to continuing physical therapy I’ll be increasing my hours at work. This means that I can start going downstairs to the gym for a mid-day workout during the week. I. Am. So. Excited.
Unfortunately I was overly enthusiastic about the progress I was going to be able to make in September. There were a few bumps along the road but I was able to consistently keep up with my physical therapy and add one or two extra workouts a week – Including a fun weight vest workout.
Fashion:
I love Fall. I love love love Fall. I’ve had fun with colors, prints, and lighter fabrics all Summer – not to mention wearing shorts for the first time since Junior High – but I have to admit that I’m thrilled for Fall to arrive so that I can break out my outerwear and cold weather accessories.
Most of the MCLV Style Posts in September were catching up on Summer looks - IFBCON Day One, IFBCON Day Two, Styling 101 – Rock n’ Roll Chic, Date Night & Symphony Gala – but there are some fun Fall looks that I’ll be sharing in the coming weeks. I’ve also done a bit of shopping to prepare for the cooler weather – Stay tuned for a Fall Must Haves post!
{Left to Right: New blazers from Piperlime, pieces from the Nicole Richie for Macys Impulse collection & Zara necessities}
New Goals for October:
My primary goal for October is to make myself a priority. That may sound a bit selfish but I feel as though we modern ladies spend so much time thinking about everyone in our lives – significant other, friends, family, colleagues – and putting effort into our daily routines, that we tend to forget about ourselves. October will be about my health, my goals, my writing - I’m going to make an effort to really enjoy my passions and spend time on my hobbies.
Food:
I’m going to participate in the Green Thickies 7 Day Meal Replacement Green Smoothie Challenge at the beginning of October – And I’m really looking forward to it. Rather than replace a single meal each day I’ll aim for consuming 2-3 smoothies a day plus raw fruit and vegetables. I’ll track my nutrients via the My Fitness Buddy Android app and share my nutritional intake from the challenge with you all afterwards!
Fitness:
While I’ll be keeping up with my walking and physical therapy, what I’m most excited about for October fitness wise is finally getting to my 2012 Bucket List. Sean and I made a list of fun San Francisco things to try – like bike riding across the Golden Gate Bridge, the Lands End hike, and kayaking in the Bay – but there were too many tourists around in this Summer so we’re going to finally tackle the list this Fall. Updates and cheesy pictures to follow!
Fashion:
Bring on the accessories! My favorite parts of Fall are the extras – From fabulous outerwear to chic gloves, scarves & pashminas, hats, and boots. You’ll notice that my Fall style is all about layering, I love mixing up my pieces and piling on the accessories. I also have something of an outerwear obsessions. I have dozens of blazers, wool & cashmere jackets, trench coats etc. Can’t wait to break them out!
Are you looking forward to Fall? What’s your favorite part about Fall from a fashion standpoint – The layers, the accessories, the outerwear?
August Round-Up
After a fun, action-packed July I was looking forward to a social, but slightly more relaxing August. I broke out the shorts and soaked up some Summer sun at my family’s cabin on Fallen Leaf Lake in Tahoe, spent a lovely weekend wine tasting in Sonoma, and watched some friends kick booty at a CrossFit competition in the city. Not too shabby.
Let’s Review My August Goals:
Food:
Now that Arianna and I are back on our healthy meal plan I find that I have TONS of motivation to get creative in the kitchen. And whether I’ve been in Sacramento or San Francisco, I’ve managed to find farmers markets most weekends in July, which I want to keep up during August so that the apartment is always stocked with healthy basics. I’ve been planning dishes around what I’ve been able to pick up which I love to do since it makes me feel extra healthy to eat seasonal, local, and organic produce.
{Tofu & Veggie Stirfry and shredded Brussels sprout salad & cauliflower mash – MCLV Mange posts to come!}
August was another healthy month, in fact, I can only remember a single restaurant trip! Lots of new recipes – like those above – and lots of baking. Now that the boy is trying to reduce his sugar intake I’ll probably take a short hiatus from all of the sweet treats though, so September will have less kitchen time.
{“Healthy” Super Charge Me Cookies – YUM}
Fitness:
Physical therapy, physical therapy, physical therapy.
Same old, same old. The good news is that my doctor is letting me extend my work hours so that I’ll be spending more time at the office. How sad is it that I’m thoroughly looking forward to this?
I can answer that for you. Pretty sad.
Fashion:
August will be more of the same fashion-wise, I want to expand my comfort zone and keep the color coming. I also want to head into the Fall season having exhausted every piece of bright, patterned Summer-wear in my closet!
Color Color Color! My personal style has been creative and bright lately, I’ve been having a lot of fun with it. I’ve also had the amazing opportunity to work with Sasha Maks Vintage this month so stay tuned for more Styling 101 posts featuring her killer vintage jewelry!
September Goals:
After a crazy busy Spring and a fun, but indulgent Summer I’m hoping that September will be the beginning of a healthy, active, responsible Fall for me.
Food:
I still plan to be social and I will keep up the weekly dinners with Arianna, but I want to reduce wine consumption to once or twice a month, rather than every weekend, and eat a primarily raw diet this month. Monday through Friday I usually eat raw for three of my four meals – Smoothies, fruit, salad, nuts, veggies & hummus - and then roasted or sautéed vegetables with tofu, tempeh, quinoa or seitan for dinner. For September I’d like to eat primarily raw during the week, then have more flexibility over the weekends.
Fitness:
Finally it’s time to report some good news on this front! My latest doctor’s appointment was quite positive so in addition to continuing physical therapy I’ll be increasing my hours at work. This means that I can start going downstairs to the gym for a mid-day workout during the week. I. Am. So. Excited.
So stay tuned for a new fitness series similar to the Gym Goddess posts that I published last year, this one will chronicle my re-introduction to working out and focusing on strengthening my core.
Fashion:
I love Fall. I love love love Fall. I’ve had fun with colors, prints, and lighter fabrics all Summer - not to mention wearing shorts for the first time since Junior High - but I have to admit that I’m thrilled for Fall to arrive so that I can break out my outerwear and cold weather accessories.
If you’re a fan of To Do Lists and setting goals for yourself than I think you’ll love this great post from the always inspirational Gala Darling – 50 Things To Do Before Summer Ends…
Does the end of Summer inspire you to shake things up? Are you ready for a detox or cleanse after a few months of over indulging and vacation mentality? Do you love the changing of seasons from a sartorial standpoint?
July Round-Up
I’m not going to lie, I’m having trouble coming to grips with the end of July. Not only does it signal that it’s almost the end of summer in my mind - SOB – on top of that, this time last year we were preparing to head to London for our European adventures, which I don’t have to look forward to this year. But despite all of my qualms, August has arrived and this little blogger is going to have to put on her big girl pants and let go of lovely July.
Let’s Review My July Goals:
Food:
I’m not looking to make any big changes with my diet or eating habits this month, just try to stay on track and try not to let my busy schedule or weekends away derail my healthy eating habits. It’ll be all about Sunday Prep Days, keeping healthy options around at all times – desk, purse, apartment – and carrying hearty, filling snacks with me, both during the day and while I’m traveling.
Arianna and I started up our healthy Tuesday night meals again this month, which I really look forward to. I love cooking and trying new recipes, and it’s really fun to have someone who’s also interested in raw & vegan fare to cook for. I cook for Sean pretty frequently, but we definitely don’t eat the same types of food.
I also have to admit that there was an inordinate amount of baking & sweet tooth satisfying this month – from The Wannabe Chef’s Dark Chocolate Cherry Zucchini Bread to Hungry Hungry Hippie’s Dessert Cubes to Pure 2 Raw/Purely Twins’s Almond Meal Chip Cookies to Choosing Raw’s Blueberry Ginger Ice Cream.
Couldn’t. Stop. Eating.
Fitness:
Physical therapy here I come. Time to step things up a notch, add more extra exercises and really prove to my physical therapist and doctor that I’m getting strong enough to proceed with the next steps in my treatment. Waiting for someone else to give me the green light is by far the most frustrating part of this injury, I feel helpless and that’s not a feeling that I’m used to.
Physical therapy went great this month, I kept it up really consistently and worked through soreness, exhaustion, and boredom. I miss the gym. My sessions are not interesting and there’s not much to share, but I’m getting the job done and I meet with my back speciality again at the end of August so fingers crossed.
Fashion:
As Summer persists I’d like to continue wearing lots of colors and prints on weekends and during evenings out. I have patterned dresses and some colorful separates for work and I’ll also continue to make an effort to incorporate less black in my daily looks, but obviously there’s a bit more formality and less flexibility or chance for creativity when it comes to office wear, so I’ll be focusing on my downtime looks.
Mission accomplished! And what’s even more exciting than just working hard at meeting my July fashion goals? My Mission: Put Together 2012 post got chosen by the IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers) for their Links A La Mode piece.
Here are some of the posts with pictures of my colorful personal style triumphs for the month of July: Kisses, Celebratory Weekend, One Piece – Two Ways, The Dress Dilemma & Multicolored Pleats. Even Sean got his own fashion post this month - The Man Behind The Camera.
New Goals For August:
August is beginning to look like it’s going to be a month full of preparation. Sending invitations & picking menus for November, planning my Labor Day Weekend trip to New York City to visit my favorite boys & attend the IFB Conference, and schedule & plan an end-of-summer road trip down south to visit friends in Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Food:
Now that Arianna and I are back on our healthy meal plan I find that I have TONS of motivation to get creative in the kitchen. And whether I’ve been in Sacramento or San Francisco, I’ve managed to find farmers markets most weekends in July, which I want to keep up during August so that the apartment is always stocked with healthy basics. I’ve been planning dishes around what I’ve been able to pick up which I love to do since it makes me feel extra healthy to eat seasonal, local, and organic produce.
Fitness:
Physical therapy, physical therapy, physical therapy.
I’ll continue to add extra moves to my “workout” sessions, but other than that all I can do is work hard and wait for results. I’m not a patient person and I’m not thrilled by this prospect, but I do believe that I’ve grown up in the last ten years and learned not to overreach when it comes to my back – the initial injury occurred when I was a springboard diver at Berkeley when I was 18.
Fashion:
July turned out to be, accidentally, something of a shopping month. With multiple trips to Zara, the Nordstrom Twice-Annual sale, and the Bloomingdale’s sale, my closet is packed with some great new finds. But that meant I needed to do another closet cleaning project – Giving clothes away, buying new hangers, and reorganized things so that everything is accessible for throwing together late Summer looks.
One of the things that I love most about closet cleaning & organizing is that you rediscover things you’d forgotten about in the depths of your closet. It’s almost like shopping! So I pulled this old friend out of hibernation for some much-needed love & adulation!
August will be more of the same fashion-wise, I want to expand my comfort zone and keep the color coming. I also want to head into the Fall season having exhausted every piece of bright, patterned Summer-wear in my closet!
How is everyone else handling the end of July and the prospect of the end-of-Summer? Are you approaching August with more maturity than me?
Links You’ll Love
Happy Monday everyone!
Here are some fun links to get your week started right. Enjoy!
Fashion:
When I saw this shot I was pretty intrigued. This is quite the vampy, sexy manicure! DIY Nail Art: A French Manicure That Fades To Black.
How you style a look is nearly as important as the pieces itself. Want some new ideas and tips on how to mix the pieces in your closet? WhoWhatWear to the rescue – June Styling Tips.
Does the ethics of a brand affect how much you like it? Vogue – Style Ethics: Olivia Wilde’s Bag for Alternative Apparel + Our Favorite Eco-Friendly Picks.
Did you enjoy all of the 2013 Resort Collections? Well Eat, Sleep, Denim has a must have a list from the shows for you – Denim Trends: A Wishlist.
Health/Fitness:
I don’t know about you, but I’m at a loss without music. Can’t work out. Can’t run. The right playlist not only gets you amped up for your exercise routine, it can keep you going when you’re ready to quit! These gym-regulars have just the play list for you – Victoria’s Secret Angel Erin Heatherton, Dutch model & Organice Your Life founder Lonneke Engel, and model slash DJ Harley Viera-Newton.
I don’t know about you, but fresh veggies and colorful salads are always a highlight of the summer for me. I love crisp, bright, refreshing recipes full of farmer’s market fare. If you agree check this out – Sweet and Savory: 3 Ways to Enjoy Summer Carrots.
A raw diet is something that I tried when I first went gluten-free and vegan a few years ago, after reading Carol Alt’s Eating in the Raw: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Slimmer, Feeling Healthier, and Looking Younger the Raw-Food Way. While I don’t follow a 100% raw diet 100% of the time, I definitely appreciate the health benefits and continue to eat a high raw diet – usually I eat raw until dinner. Well, luckily for us Miss Alt is back with a new book called Easy Sexy Raw: 130 Raw Food Recipes, Tools, and Tips to Make You Feel Gorgeous and Satisfied. Check out the review on Amazon or the piece on her new book in the NY Daily News.
It might not be news to you, but studies show that Sleepy Brains Are Drawn To Junk Food. Which means that in addition to introducing major health problems, reducing concentration, and causing forgetfulness, sleep deprivation can cause weight gain. Are you getting enough sleep? Check out my post on sleeping – Confessions of a Former Insomniac.
Just as I love braids for summer, there are certain makeup looks that just scream Summertime to me. From dewy skin to bronzed perfection, find the perfect look for warm weather days. The Zoe Report’s 10 Summer Beauty Wants – Hot Topic and Gala Darling’s beauty obsessions on Beauty Bender.
May Round-Up
How was everyone’s May? Did you enjoy your three-day weekend to celebrate Memorial Day?
I had some pretty lofty goals for May that included cooking more, progressing with my physical therapy, and participating in a fun fashion challenge that would inspire me to up my fashion game during the month. And you know what? I’d like a do-over.
May was hectic on both the work and the life side of things for me. With two weddings, a law school graduation, buying a new car, the CrossFit Regionals in San Jose, a family visit, a trip to Sacramento, a back procedure, and an emergency root canal, my month quickly spun out of my control. Quickly.
P.S. We named her Eleanor. She wants to be a Shelby Mustang when she grows up.
When I look back at the month I’m happy to say that I actually ate pretty well and was able to keep up my daily walking routine for the most part. However that being said, none of my official goals were met, or really even thought of, over the course of the month.
So rather than break down everything that I did wrong or what I wish I could have done differently, I’m going to just say that I enjoyed myself in May and call the month of June a do-over so that I can start with a clean, guilt-free slate.
A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!
- No restaurants
- No takeout
- No processed foods
- Cook for every meal
- Pay attention to portion sizes
I’ve actually done a great job of this already, I’ve been cooking up a storm all week, and didn’t order anything when I went to a Mexican restaurant Saturday night for my beautiful cousin’s birthday. Ya me! Ya self-control!
Fitness:
My next round of physical therapy starts in a week so once again it’s time to work really hard on my exercises but make a conscious effort not to push myself too hard. Too much will send me back to the starting line, so I need to really listen to my body and acknowledge when I can’t do something even when I want to try. I’m also going to amp up my daily walking routine. Currently I walk 1.4 miles to work, and then home again. In addition to this I’m going to implement a short afternoon walk Monday through Thursday, as well as another taxi moratorium on weekends.
All walking all the time!
Fashion:
Unfortunately I didn’t get to participate in Definitely RA’s Mission: Put Together May fashion challenge as much as I wanted to – SOB – so I’m going set a few goals for myself for June to make it up to myself.
- No wearing all black every day. Black dresses for work and weekends are fine, so long as the accessories take them up a notch and making them interesting and unique.
- I’m awful at doing my hair. Awful. I pull it back into a simple bun 95% of the time. For June I’m going to make an effort to “style” it as much as possible. Pictures forthcoming. Hopefully.
- Weekends are for color during June - As little black on weekends as possible. I’m scared already!!!
Good luck to everyone during June, let’s all work hard to meet our goals and keep each other motivated!
