outfits!

Ooh, I almost forgot! I have outfit pictures to show you.

This is what I wore yesterday...



Jacket: Anthropologie
Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft
Pants: Talbots
Shoes: Nine West
Bracelet: J Crew
Rings: Tiffany and mall kiosk dude

And here's what I'm wearing today!



Jacket: Ann Taylor Loft
Shirt: J crew
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity
Boots: Frye, thrifted
Necklace: Anthropologie
Rings: Tiffany and mall kiosk dude

red hot

After countless, so many, so so many times, on the Mac website with Ruby Woo in my cart, or looking at the various reds available at CVS, at lunch today I finally bought a real red lipstick.

I went for Smashbox Cosmetics PHOTO FINISH LIPSTICK WITH SILA-SILK TECHNOLOGY (that's a mouthful) in Legen...wait for it...dary. Ok, its just called Legendary.



I am wearing it, trying not to be too conscious of that fact, and I moved my hair from a low pony into a topknot. Somehow the red looks better that way.

We shall see if there is commentary.



Here's me looking slightly less than legendary, and honestly, a little snobby, in my office. I'm not snobby, I'm actually quite nice. Please someone teach me how to edit photos. Not to edit out the snobby, no. To edit out the shine.

adult school lunch

Hi all!
I was thinking about food (sometimes I do), and I was wondering, if I looked at all the food I ate at work all day, would it look like too much? So I decided to post it here. Now, this is what I have most days. Sometimes there will be variety, but honestly, not much. Once I find what I like, I tend to stick to it.

So, we start with Breakfast! I stop at my local starbucks to visit my friends the baristas every day. I get:

1) Grande Decaf coffee (I used to get a Decaf Soy Sugar Free Hazlenut Grade Misto, but methinks I may be sensitive to soy). I add in non-dairy fat free creamer when I get to work, less each day, because I'm trying to ween myself off of it.

2) Protein Bistro Box (I never eat the cheese, and I eat the egg as a late afternoon snack)





So that's done. Generally I finish breakfast and coffee by 11am (I'm a grazer).

I don't eat a typical lunch, so the remaining things I snack on as I'm hungry throughout the day.

1) I always have a Fruit 2.0 water with me. Sometimes I'll have more than one going.

2) Late July mini peanut butter sandwich crackers. Just a handful.

3) Luna Bar Chocolate covered Coconut. Please don't tell me this isn't healthy, I really don't want to know. It's their newest flavor and it is INSANELY good.

4) That egg I mentioned earlier.

5) Red Grapes

6) Banana(s)

7) Baby Carrots with a smidgen of Ranch for dipping.













I get that brand of carrots from the Whole Foods, and the ranch is really good without being heavy. Delish.

Sometimes, I can't eat all this. Sometimes, I'm super hungry and have an instant oatmeal or fiber one bar too. Sometimes, I have a cookie attack (trying to limit those!) But mostly, this is what I snack on while I'm at work. If you work with me, you probably think I eat all day long, and well, I do.

So I'm putting this out there - who's a nutritional guru? What am I eating too much/too little of?

P90X, Week 1

Hi all! Happy Monday!

I was getting a little bored with my workout video options, so about 2 weeks ago, I purchased P90X. 2 of my coworkers do it, so I knew a bit about what to expect, plus there's that added competitive bonus!

I got the DVDs on Thursday last week and started on Friday. I'm intending to do the Doubles program, which for the first 4 weeks is the same as the standard program.

This morning, I did day 4, which is the Yoga practice. This is NOT a rest day! This is a tough practice. I've done a lot of Yoga in my time, from a basic Level 1 class to an intense Vinyasa class, and this kicked even my most intense classes' butt. This was sweat dripping from my forehead while I held a shaky prayer pose tough.

Days 1, 2, and 3 were Shoulders and Back, Plyometrics, and Arms and Shoulders. The Plyometrics workout was a killer, but in a very good way. The weights days have been great too, but I think my standard 5lb dumbbells are a little bit lightweight for most of the exercises. I need to pop by the sporting goods store and pick up some 10s.

Day 1 involves a lot of pull ups, of which I can do zero. I don't have a pull up bar yet, that will be another investment. However, you can do the modified moves using a resistance band, which proved to work well enough. I really want to get to the point where I can bang out 10 chin ups.

On weights days, you also do a 20 minute Abs routine, called Ab Ripper. This, this is tough. I'll be very happy when I can get through this whole routine. For now I can do about 10 reps while they happily go on to do about 25.

I took my before pictures before starting, and NO, i won't be posting them here. But if you're lucky, and I'm lucky, you can see the after pics.

I think this program should keep me interested and engaged for the next 3 months. I didn't mean to make the timing like this, but I'll hit day 90 on December 23rd. Hopefully some success will be my Christmas present to myself!

All this exercising my body, and I've also started exercising my mind a bit, with guided meditations. I'm using the CDs from Belleruth Naparstek, including the programs on Stress, Panic Attacks, and Losing Weight. I've only done 2 so far, but I like them quite a bit.

I feel like its almost a very enjoyable second job right now, attending to myself. When I'm at work, I think about what else I can do to better myself. I love it.

On a more troublesome note, I have a beauty issue! I have naturally curly hair, and its happiest when I wash it at night and let it air dry while I'm sleeping. Lately, with my intense morning workouts, I'm working up quite a sweat.

After I cool down and do my makeup and get dressed, I'm still having to deal with wet, sweaty, kinda limp, curly hair. It's making for less pretty mornings than I'd like.

Any curly-haired ladies have any recommendations for me? I don't want to wash my hair with my after-workout shower, because it takes forever to dry. I've been going with pulling it half or all the way back...which I suppose will have to do!

purpose

i have a confession to make. I'm not great with long term life goals.

I do, in theory, of course, know how to set a goal and work towards it. I do it all the time. I'm great with short-term goals, even mid-term goals. But I get distracted.

Of course, perhaps I am not giving myself enough credit.

For example: work. One could say, well, Sara has accomplished quite a bit in her career thus far. She is, arguably, quite successful, especially for her age. And this would not be false. I love my job. I love the company I work for. But I think, I'm pretty sure, I've gotten where I am because I work hard until the work is done, I don't think of anything as being outside of my job description, I take opportunities where I see them, and I act in the best interest of the company. Ok, so that's pretty good. I'll take that in an employee.

What I'm trying to say is its not as though one day I said, this is what I want to be in my career, and this is how I'm going to get there. Does everyone else do that? Or maybe I have done that, just not in the explicit way I think others might.

I guess what I'm REALLY trying to say is this..I have ended up with a very happy life. An amazing life. Did I go through a whole boat load of crap before I got here? yes. Did I ever plan for this? No. It was more like an idea, a That would be nice, and now I've got it. I am so so fortunate.

I'm impulsive, and I'm an instant gratification person. I get pissed when my efforts don't yield results. I have a near inability to wait. I have a tough time saving money.

I have ideas about what I want - I know what I want to do long-term in my career, and I have educational goals and mentorship relationships built around that. But its years away. Its sooo farrrr.

I have goals for my diet and for exercise. I do the exercise, every day, because, well, I love it. whaaaa? I know, I love it, what can I say. But it doesn't yield results, not yet. Not major. The diet? I have good intentions, and I'm probably 70% good, and then I have a stressful day at work and I'm all cookie cookie. So there's that.

I have goals set for myself to try to work on my anxiety, travel goals, as simple as going on the metro. and I do those, when I feel good.

So wait, where am I REALLY going with this? I'm just rambling now. Somewhere in the exercise of writing this all out, I seem to have found that I am decent at setting and working towards goals. Perhaps its patience I need to work on. Patience, grasshopper. Patience.


edit. note: well of course, she said it better today. =)

monday monday

Welcome back to work! Umm, yay! Ok, its not so bad.

I forgot to take an outfit picture this morning, what with the shocking of the system into having to be places at certain times and all that. But never fear, the internets are here to help, as best they can.

Picture this, if you will. Today, I am rather monochromatic.

I have on this sweater:, which is the Tippy from J Crew (sidenote: I own 4 colors of this sweater and counting. It is delicious).



Paired with these slacks, or approximate. I can't grab the Talbot's photo, sorry! They are navy slacks, and delightful. I don't understand why I never bought navy pants before, they go with everything. I should probably just buy another pair now.

With these, I have on these here platform pump loafer doo-hickeys



Also, I have a major crush on these shoes.

There is another color of these shoes, shown in the September Vogue, and they are not available online. Don't mess with me, Nine West, I will find you.

My necklace is multiple years old from Anthropologie and my bracelet is from J Crew but apparently not cool enough to be on the site anymore. Sigh.

Tomorrow, I will try to remember to take a picture so you don't have to imagine so much. But while you're at it, imagine me at a size 4. K thanks.

the a-z of me

Saw this over at Miss Indie, and I thought I'd give it a try. Enjoy!


A. Age: 33
B. Bed size: Full
C. Chore that you hate: Mopping
D. Dogs: are awesome, but I'm a cat person
E. Essential start to your day: Coffee, protein plate, Brightest Young Things
F. Favorite color: Orange
G. Gold or Silver: Silver.
H. Height: 5'3"
I. Instruments you play: Violin, guitar, piano
J. Job title: Recruiting Manager
K. Kids: None yet.
L. Live: Live what you love.
M. Mother’s name: Carol
N. Nicknames: Squirrely Chesnuts
O. Overnight hospital stays: None, knock on wood.
P. Pet peeves: bad drivers, people who missuse literally, rude and impatient people. Slow down, enjoy life, don't bitch.
Q. Quote from a movie: "I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that." -Lloyd Dobbler
R. Right or left handed: Righty.
S. Siblings: 1 older sister
U. Underwear: hanky panky, or anything fancy and retro
V. Vegetable you hate: beets
W. What makes you run late: sleeping too much
X. X-Rays you’ve had: teeth, ankle, wrist
Y. Yummy food that you make: macarons, chicken marsala, guiness chocolate cake
Z. Zoo animal: red pandas, and any big cats

the kind of woman who...

today so far, I am..

the kind of woman who owns Missoni.....for Target.
the kind of woman who knows how to make Macarons.



these are good things to be.

Target was insane this morning, but in kind of a low key way? There was a small group of women, maybe 15 of us, who were running rampant through the Missoni, but the rest of the store was empty. I picked up the flats, which I had my eye on, a cardigan, a blouse, a scarf, a tap pants/robe set, a set of plates, a throw pillow, and a vase. I tore myself away from the bedding, which wasn't that hard, only because they only had king size sets left.

I wouldn't call what I used restraint, but the woman in front of me spent well over $1000, and she was far from alone in that.

Of course, I got there an hour after opening (had an appt at 730), and there were VERY few smalls left, and nothing but XLs in some of the things that really caught my eye. Oh well.

And then I came home, worked out, and made macarons. Vacation is neat.

I am also..

the kind of woman who gets caught out on not following through with a phone call she forgot about before going on vacation..dammit.

randomness

Hello lovelies! I have random thoughts in my head, and rather than posting to Facebook ad naseum, I thought I'd post them here.

1) Speaking of Facebook, I hope it does get hacked on November 5th. I don't exactly dislike Facebook - and I certainly participate. I just also like the concept of taking down such a power, given that it will not harm nor endanger anyone. I'm all for the revolution.

Funny story - I mentioned this (on Facebook no less) and I had a comment back saying..funny how they used the date from V for Vendetta. Well..yes...but. Its Guy Fawkes night. There is some history there. And while V for Vendetta is a great movie, it is not based on an original concept. I'm not making fun - more of an observation of cultural references.

2) I have this song in my head, often.

3) Who else is completely psyched about The New Girl? I am.

4) Did you know that Zara has its US online shop open now? Heck yes.

5) It won't stop raining!

6) Has everyone checked out Hello Giggles? How about Rookie? Checked out September Matchbook? And if you don't read Nat, please do!

7) Speaking of awesome blogs, bloggers are kind of blowing up huge, huh? I don't think one September issue of any women's / fashion magazine was without one blogger showcased, even briefly.

8) I think I'll start posting outfits again, that was fun!

9) I have been working out before work and after work, using my exercise videos. I switch them up, so as not to exhaust any one muscle group two times in a row. However, they all have some version of squats. I'm not sure I can squat again.

10) It is Thursday, and I have next week off. The hours will now be 2 times slower, for the remaining 14 or so hours I have left of work. You're welcome.

11) Is anyone else already feeling overwhelmed by all the 9/11 media 10 year anniversary machine? I know I am. 10 years is a long time, and no time at all. This year is different and special because of the weight we put on it, and I don't want to disrespect the thousands of people more deeply affected than I. I think that it is very important to offer continued memorium of those that were lost.

If you think about it, if you're honest with yourself, we all remember everyday. Ask yourself what your first thought was when we had our earthquake a few weeks ago. I remember the fear I felt in 2003 when the lights went out in New York, and there I was, next door to the Empire State Building. What all of us think when we see a plane we think might be flying a little low. This is what it did to us. We have a fear now we never had before. Its not going anywhere.

However, the reflection has brought to my attention some beautiful pieces of journalism, and I am sure that this Sunday will bring more. Look at this and this.

Goals Post Script

I forgot a goal! But you know, it's kind of a suprise goal. So I need a code word. Hmmmmm. Do the marzipan thing. Code: Marzipan.

Week 15 Recap / Week 16 Goals

I mistakenly gave myself two weeks (plus a day) to accomplish a weeks worth of goals. Eh, it'll happen. Let's see how I did!

Week 15 Goals

1) Make goals (and, done!) haha. - Well, done, obvs.

2) Find another exercise DVD I like as much as 30 day shred that I can switch up with Ms. Jillian. Or it could be another Jillian DVD. Despite having 3 30 day shred workouts I still would like more variety. Plus, Level 1 is already kind of easy. PX90I suppose.

Dudes, I have much bounty in the way of exercise videos. I went a-explorin' on Netflix and came back with a nice catalog of Crunch workouts + a new Jillian. I have 3 versions of Power Yoga/Pilates workouts, a Boot Camp, a Sculpt & Tone, and some Dance, in case I feel a lil crazy (or lazy, those are easy). I look forward to my workouts.

3) Plan a little one day getaway for Mr. Fred and I. Maybe back to the B&B we went to last summer.

I would very much like to do this, but Fred is feeling like his weekend time is a little too plan-y lately, and wants some free time. So free time he shall have. And then later, B&B. October mayhaps?

4) Pull another round of clothes for eBay from the closet - anything I passed up last time with the thought that I might wear it? That I haven't still? Up it goes

I did this yesterday, and one thing already sold. Woot!

Week 16 Goals

1) Identify and make 2 new dinner recipes. I am in a rut.

2) Put together a list of things to accomplish on my week off next week - some pure fun, mostly just catch up on house, etc. Although, I must stress...tis a vacation. So it'll be light on the goals. But you know how you feel better when you have things done and not hanging over your head like oh yeah, look at that box there I need to go through that and throw most of it out, or gosh I really do need some kind of way to store my shoes so I don't end up with huge shoe piles in my room. Those.

3) Keep working out at my current pace, cause it feeels gooood.

Yeah, that's it =)