Happy Monday....

Well, at least I hope you're having a happy Monday! Mine started off pretty badly but has gotten better. Let's hope it continues this way.

Just a quick post about an email I got from PETA http://www.peta.org/action/meatless-monday.aspx. I'm not sure why or how I received this email, but I'm already a vegetarian so I wasn't offended or upset about it. I just thought I would share it with you all in case you've ever toyed with the idea of eating less meat or cutting it out altogether. Maybe a Meatless Monday can be the place to start? I wonder if I should get my husband to try this....haha.

You may have noticed that most (all?) of the food-related posts on are meatless - it wasn't intentional, because I do cook meat for my husband and have some good and easy recipes. I will try to share those for anyone who may be interested. Gotta go for now, enjoy the rest of your day!

A Big Day Ahead

Good morning readers! I have a couple different things in my head right now so here they are, one by one:

Not So Amazing

I decided to try this Amazing Meal Chocolate Infusion for breakfast this morning and the verdict: it's not so amazing. Fail. I mixed the packet with milk like I usually do with protein shakes, but that didn't seem to help. It was really chalky and didn't taste very good. I still chugged it down and plan on having my usual protein shake after I work out within the next hour or so. The packet is 110 calories, has 1g fat, 13g carbs, 6g fiber, and 10g protein. It reminds me of the this product except the Vega shake actually tastes good, and they are nutritionally pretty similar. So, I recommend you try the Vega Shake & Go Smoothie over this one if you were thinking about it.

Plans for Shopping
Can you tell how ready I am for a shopping trip? Even though I didn't complete the remix challenge, not shopping for a whole month has really helped me look at my closet in a new way. I've had a friend ask me if I will go crazy on my first shopping trip because I haven't gone in a month, and I replied that I don't think I will. I've come to learn what items I'm missing from my closet and how to approach shopping so that I actually have complete outfits to wear instead of random pieces. Now I can't promise that this will always happen, but the plan is to be more mindful when I'm shopping. Thus, I've already started a list in my head about the items I need for Spring:

• casual capri pants (I have a couple pairs but they don't fit well)
• a nice pair of jeans to wear when going out - and they can't be skinny jeans!!
• some casual jewelry that I can wear with everyday outfits - looking for a chunky necklace
• a printed/colorful blouse for Spring, that can be worn casually or dressed up

I think that's it for now...

Fight Night

Tonight we are having friends over for dinner and to watch a UFC fight. Lots to do before then - get my workout in, make lunch, do some laundry, clean the house, buy groceries, cook dinner, also order some appetizers from the Indian restaurant, and make dessert...the last one isn't necessary but I'm in the mood to bake so I'm planning on making red velvet cupcakes! No...they won't be from scratch, it's a box mix - but who cares? Still yummy!

Well, I think that's all for today friends. I hope you have a great Saturday!

Food Fix Friday: Portabella

Happy Friday readers! I know I just posted about food last night, but trying to keep up with my weekly theme posts for all of you, so I have a post on stuffed portabellas...or just one portabella, because that was all I made. ;)

First, you need a big portabella cap...scoop off the top dark layer, but save it to use in the "stuffing".

Then, take some chopped spinach, the scooped out mushroom stuff, a bit of chopped tomato, and saute it all in some olive oil. I added some Spike seasoning and some dried oregano and basil for a bit of flavor.

Take this mix and put it in the mushroom cap (after brushing the mushroom cap with some olive oil (very lightly). Then, top it with some shredded mozzarella (or parmesan) cheese and bake at 350...until the cheese melts.

Dig in with a fork or eat it like a slice of pizza! It was SO yummy! Just a little juicy as mushrooms release water when cooked and also probably due to the tomatoes. Healthy, filling, and super easy. Give it a try!

Trip to Central Market

Yesterday on my way home from work I decided to stop at Central Market. It's been a while since I've shopped there for groceries because it's out of the way (except the 3 days I go to work) and I always end up spending too much money. However, my trip this time was pretty successful. I think the total was $42.17 and I got lots of good stuff.

Yummy, colorful, fresh fruit...all gone in one day except the pineapple.
I don't think hubby saw it in the fridge yet. ;)

I love roasted asparagus!
My favorite kind of lettuce for a salad - pre-washed and cut triple hearts.

Chia seeds - a new health food product I'm going to try because I've heard a lot about it.
I will let you all know what I think about it and how I use it. Cost was about $15 for this.

Wanted to try another brand of coconut water. 2/$5

Another health food product I wanted to try - it's a chocolate flavored shake blend.
Organic, raw, gluten free, vegan, soy free, and dairy free. I wonder how it will taste.

One of my favorite protein sources - tofu!
This is baked sesame peanut flavored tofu.
Convenient, healthy, and it tastes pretty good!

Heard about this ice cream on another blog and wanted to try it.
It's made of goat's milk and has rich dark chocolate ganache, and is all natural.
I like goat cheese so hopefully this will taste yummy too.

Protein bars for snacks when I need something quick. 

A Minor Change

Hi readers! I have another change for the little blog...for various reasons I've decided to take off and discontinue pictures of my outfits. I will still be writing about fashion, in addition to food and fitness, but just no more outfit pictures. I will still include pics of my shopping finds (once I can shop again) or the outfits laid out on my bed...just not a pic of me wearing them. Those pictures didn't appear very regularly anyway, so you won't be missing much. Just more space to write about other fun stuff, so please continue visiting the blog! Thanks!!

Wish List Wednesday

VS Off-the-Shoulder Top, $48

VS Daytime Jersey Scoopneck Dress, $65

Was browsing through the VS site yesterday and really liked these two items. I love the print on the blouse and the lace on the black dress. Don't know if I would actually buy them unless they went on sale. I can't justify ordering clothes at these prices without knowing how they will fit or look on me. I wish VS sold clothes in their stores (other than lingerie and pjs). But they are cute!

Get Naked!

Wait...don't start taking your clothes off...I meant get Naked Coconut Water.

I first heard about coconut water when I took Bikram Yoga this past summer...I was not interested in trying it, but bought some for my husband. I bought various brands, including Naked, Zico, and various other brands from the Indian supermarket and also the local health/whole foods market. He drinks coconut water or juice about once a week. As far as I know from my quick google search, coconut juice and coconut water are the same thing.

Anyway, I finally had some about two weeks ago - it was from the Indian store and was "roasted" coconut juice with coconut bits. I know, probably doesn't sound appealing with the coconut bits in there, but I wanted to try it and I thought it was really yummy. I bet all the extra sugar helped. Well, I wanted to get a healthier version so I bought the Naked brand this week and had one today. Success! It was yummy and had 0 added sugar and no preservatives. It provides electrolytes and potassium (as much or more than a banana). No wonder it's often the go-to drink after Bikram yoga. 

Nutrition Facts:

An 11 fl oz. container is 60 calories, 0g fat, 14g carbs, and 0g protein.

Give it a try and tell me what you think!

Only Tuesday?

It feels like a Thursday...can I have a weekend again? The last one just flew by! I think I'm feeling worn out because I've been getting up early the past two days: 4:30am. Why in the world would I do that, you ask? Because I'm trying to work out in the morning before getting my day started. Yesterday was hot yoga at 6am, today was a gym workout at 5:30. It feels good to get it over with, but then I feel like I have so much time left in the day...yet I'm still not very productive somehow...?

I'm participating in Melissa's Two Truths and a Lie today...

1. The Notebook is one of my favorite movies.
2. I have never cut my hair shorter than chin length.
3. I can't live without coffee - I drink it daily.

Sooo Ready for Some Shopping!

I've done really well this month with the shopping ban. Haven't bought a single clothing item, shoes, make-up, other face products, etc. This is quite an accomplishment for me. While it's been great on the bank account and amounts to less clutter in my closet and bathroom, I am so ready for a shopping trip!

Last night we went out for a friend's birthday. It was a casual thing at a piano bar, and I couldn't figure out what to wear. My other friend decided to wear jeans so I didn't want to be the only one wearing a dress...but I don't really have a nice pair of 'going out' jeans. And most of my clothes are work appropriate and not really for going out...you know what I mean? I mean, I do have some things that would work but they don't all go together - they are not outfits, just pieces. I threw something together in the end that was, you guessed it, all black. I couldn't help it. The black skinny jeans fit me best, and the top I chose just seemed right. (Plus, it was a new item that I finally wore!)

I did learn some valuable lessons as I was trying on clothes last night:

1. I need to get back to doing squats and lunges and do more cardio! Not happy with what the lack of lifting and cardio has done to my thighs!
2. When shopping, I need to think more about a whole outfit rather than just buying a single item just because I like it. If it won't go with anything in my closet, what good is a random skirt going to do? (Unless I buy a whole new outfit, which is always fun!)
3. I need more casual jewelry - most of the stuff I have is too fancy, and I don't have many bold or colorful accessories that can be worn daily. 
4. Don't get drunk at a piano bar and dance on top of the piano because your friend might lift up your dress and show your booty to everyone...no, that was NOT me...just some random girl there for a bachelorette party. It was quite a show. 

A little bit of leopard

Yesterday was a mixed weather kind of day. It was cloudy at first, then there was some sunshine here and there. It started off a bit cold and breezy, then it got warmer. I decided to put on a dress for work (yes, you guessed it - a black dress) and didn't feel comfy enough with bare legs so pulled on some tights. Added a sweater and for that pop of color a red leopard print scarf. I LOVE this scarf and it was the last one left at Zara. I was so excited to find it because I had been wanting something with leopard print but not the traditional colors. And this scarf has my three favorite colors - red, black, and gray!

The only thing I don't like about this scarf is the shape - it's like a rectangle, so I don't really know how to wear it...it's not long enough to wrap around much...any ideas?

Food Fix Friday

Last night I was really tired and didn't feel like taking time to make dinner. However, I didn't want to order in or eat anything frozen, so I looked around the kitchen and in the fridge, and found ingredients for pizza. I made individual pizzas for hubby and me.

Ingredients:
2 panini wraps (we had the garlic & herb flavor - there's a sun-dried tomato one I like better)
choice of pasta/pizza sauce (I think this was roasted tomato & garlic)
shredded mozzarella cheese
a couple mushrooms
1/4 bell pepper
1/4 c sliced olives
salad tomatoes (just b/c they were sitting on the counter lookin all lonely and useless)

I baked these at 350 degrees for maybe 20 minutes (I don't remember exactly). They were yummy and relatively healthy (I didn't need the extra carbs since I didn't work out but oh well). The salad tomatoes were not a good addition, so I won't be adding those next time. Basically, this is a really easy, cheap, and tasty meal idea that takes at most 25-30 minutes. And you can always add a salad to it.

Inspired by Tim Gunn...sort of

As I sit in my office with no work to do (ok I lie, I have work to do but I'm finding it boring) I'm thinking of ways to improve the blog. First, it doesn't help that I know nothing about html and all that fancy stuff so what I can do is limited. I would love to take some time to learn about all that but unfortunately it can't be on my priority list right now...so it'll have to wait.

The one thing that I can add though and will hopefully learn to do by the time I want to get started is a weekly link-up. I think that's what it's called...what Kileen does with the Color Brigade and Melissa does with Two Truths and a Lie. My idea is called "Make it Work" a la Tim Gunn. Every Monday my outfit will include an item that is chosen the week in advance, and I have to 'make it work' in my outfit. I would love for others to post their pictures of how they used the item. So for example, one week might be a string of pearls that I have to wear and make it work with whatever outfit I'm wearing. I would love to see how others use the same item. Another example of an item might be a denim skirt as part of your outfit for the day.

Hopefully I can get this started toward the end of Feb/beginning of March. I would love some feedback on this idea and the types of items to include in "Make it Work"!!

Brown and Black?

I decided to wear a mix of brown and black today...brown boots with black clothing, and a brown necklace. I don't know that I've ever mixed brown and black before...at least not on purpose. I never thought it was 'allowed'. What do I know? I really wanted to wear this blazer but didn't want to wear my black boots. I wanted to wear leggings but only like wearing leggings with boots. To add another brown piece to the look I put on a brown beaded necklace. I think the outfit worked. I got some nice compliments on it. That's usually a good sign.

Wish List Wednesday

Benetint rose-tinted lip and cheek stain, $28
(This will be one of my first purchases after the self-imposed shopping ban is over!)

I tried this lip color on at Sephora twice and plan on buying it when I get to shop again. It gives a nice rosy-ness to lips and cheeks...double duty, can't beat that! It smells great too, like roses. Other reviews of this product have mentioned that it lasts a long time.

Crazy Sexy Diet book by Kris Carr, $14.97

I read about this book on Gina's blog and it seems like an interesting read for a vegetarian like myself. I don't have time to read it right now, so I'm going to wait to buy it until it can make way on my reading list. ;)

WOTD: Back at the Gym!!

It seems like it's been weeks since I went to the gym...it probably has (but at least I made it to the yoga studio last week). Working out at home is convenient and thankfully I've done some (weak) workouts at home with my little 8lb. weights, but the gym is actually more fun...sometimes (when big beefy men aren't grunting obscenities while trying to lift extremely heavy weights).

Here was my quickie workout for today:

5 minute warm-up on treadmill

3 sets of 12 reps of the following:

• walking lunges (20lbs.)
• wide grip lat pull-down (60lbs.)
• seated row (50lbs. - this was tough for me, and I used to do 60-70lbs. a couple months ago!)
• inverted leg press (90lbs. - this was tough too, used to be able to do more weight)

Ended with crunches, leg raises, plank, and some stretching.

I was disappointed to find out how much strength I've lost in the last couple months of not lifting regularly...actually lifting pretty rarely. Just gotta get back to it I guess!! I miss the definition I was getting in my shoulders and arms!

Hooray for Sunshine!

The weather was very nice yesterday and it was actually warm enough for me to wear a dress. Today is similar but I'm still in my yoga clothes. Took a power yoga class this morning. I feel great! Came home and made some un-fried brown rice with edamame, grape tomatoes, mushrooms, an egg, and 1T low sodium soy. 

This was yummy but I started stirring the egg around too soon and it kind of turned mushy.

Want Radiant Skin?

Anyone want an at-home facial? One of my favorite products in Clinique Turnaround Instant Facial.

This is a mask that you apply on your face and leave on for about 5 minutes. Then wet your face with warm water and gently massage the mask on your face. The product will exfoliate your skin, kind of like microdermabrasion, but less irritating. Rinse your face and find smooth skin! 

I love the way my skin feels after I use this product. The only thing I don't like about it is that it leaves a sparkle on my face...kind of like glitter. It's probably not as bad as it sounds, more like sparkle that is sometimes found in blush. I'm just not used to that. The product is oil free and can be used 2-3 times per week. Give it a try and get a smooth and radiant face in time for Valentine's Day!

WOTD: At Home

I had planned on getting to the gym this morning but due to running errands and other unplanned events, I did a quick workout at home.

2 sets of the following:

30 jumping jacks

5 burpees (these are tough for me)

3 sets of the following:

12 shoulder presses (16lbs.)

12 bicep curls (16lbs.)

12 overhead triceps extension (8lbs.)

3 x 12 squats (just body weight)

3 x 12 crunches

I wanted to do more but then hubby got home from the gym and it was time to make lunch. Hope to make it to yoga later today. 

* I didn't get a chance to write a Food Fix Friday post yesterday...may have to plan those ahead of time! Look for a product post later today...maybe some makeup. :)

Some Good News and Some Bad News

Good news: I wore some kitten heels today, no boots! ;)
Bad news: I decided not to complete the 28 Day Remix Challenge.

Before you call me a quitter, let me explain my reasons.

1. I have lots of winter clothes that I need to wear before the cold weather goes away. New clothes, just sitting in my closet, collecting dust.
2. My 28 items are kind of 'safe' in regards to color so I end up wearing a lot of black.
3. Some of the 28 items are not appropriate for the weather we've been having, so I'm not really sure why I picked them in the first place.
4. I just found out about two new events that I will attend this month that require clothes not in the remix items. 

I will still share photos of as many outfits as I can, and hopefully they will be good ones. And the most important part of this challenge for me was the 'no shopping' rule, which I plan on sticking with, that will not change! I'm actually feeling pretty strong that I can get through the rest of the month without shopping for clothes/makeup/skincare products. Although it has been tough since I keep getting coupons in the mail for all my favorite stores for this month. Sadly, they've been going straight to the trash...but its good for me and my closet!

I love that this sweater has a ribbon trim going down the sides where the buttons are sewn. Just adds a little something different.

WOTD: Hot Yoga

...aka Bikram yoga. I signed up for a $30 for 30 (days) at Sunstone Yoga and went to my second hot yoga class today. They offer various types of yoga classes and some are 60 minutes and some are 90 minutes. The class I went to was 60 minutes.

In hot yoga, the room temperature is set at about 98.6 degrees, with about 60% humidity. It may vary on the location you are taking the class. To the best of my knowledge, Bikram Yoga is a brand of hot yoga, so there should only be slight variations if any between Bikram and other hot yoga classes. The 90-minute hot yoga class at Sunstone consists of 34 postures and is labeled a "health & vitality" class. Here is a bit of information on Heat, Humidity, and You if you are unfamiliar with hot yoga.

The benefits I was informed about from my previous Bikram Yoga classes:

• Heavy sweating helps detoxify the body 
• Helps you improve flexibility and range of motion
• Some people claim that it helps them get rid of pain
• May aid in weight loss

Some of my tips for taking a hot yoga class:

• Stay hydrated the day before you attend a class and hydrate throughout the day of class
• Wear light, breathable clothing; perhaps a tank top and yoga pants
• Take a towel with you since you will sweat a lot
• Take a full water bottle with you to hydrate throughout the class when needed
• Just like doing any other workout, do not eat right before your yoga practice; eat at least 1.5 to 2 hours beforehand
• You may want to take a pair of clothes to shower and change into afterward since you will be covered in sweat by the end of class; there will most likely be showers available as well
• Get to class a few minutes early and set up your mat and towel; lay down and get acclimated to the environment before the yoga practice begins
• Most importantly, take breaks when you need them!!

I initially took a few Bikram classes this past summer as a way to work on my flexibility and get a different kind of workout. Due to lack of time and distance (as well as expense of it) I could not continue. I'm glad I was able to sign up for this current offer at Sunstone Yoga. So far I have only tried their hot yoga classes but they offer many other types of yoga that I plan to try soon. As for hot yoga, I really enjoy it. Every time I am done with a class I feel great! 

Wish List Wednesday

VS Very Sexy Bandeau top & ruched-waist scoop bottom
$38 for the top, $30 for the bottom
Not sure what the color would look like in person, but I like the print and cut.
Someday when I get that beach body...

Banana Republic solid ruffle shirt in dark coral
Originally $69.50, online sale $58.99
Still more than I'd like to pay for it. 

Day 7 & 8

I skipped Day 6. I actually wore traditional clothing to church that was not part of my remix so I'm not posting that pic on here...it doesn't really apply. ;)

I got really busy all of a sudden and have been trying to keep the extra computer stuff to a minimum (lots of schoolwork to get done). Thus, I've been avoiding the television too (didn't watch all day yesterday and haven't turned it on yet today either!). Went to hot yoga yesterday and felt great. Not much else to update. Oh, wait, this is big. Went to the mall after church with hubby and didn't buy a single item. Can you believe it?! Yay for sticking to the plan!

WOTD: 10lb Slimdown Yoga

This has been a lazy, snowed/iced-in week where I've sat at home in my PJs and have not worked out since Monday. I wanted to do some short workout indoors since I didn't feel like getting all bundled up to head to the gym. Although I have a few workout DVDs and weights at home, I decided to try something new. The television!

No, my workout did not consist of sitting on the couch, eating treats, and watching an hour of trash tv. I do that anyway. I browsed through the Verizon on demand channels and went to Health & Home --> Exercise TV --> Yoga & Pilates --> 10lb Slimdown Yoga. It was about a 20-minute yoga workout with Chris Freytag. Since I hadn't done yoga in a while, it felt pretty good. It was quick, gave me a good stretch, and helped shake me from my laziness. And I think I'm going to feel the burn from the chair poses and other squatting moves tomorrow.

So, if you're stuck indoors and want a convenient workout, and happen to have Verizon television on demand, try one of the workouts from Exercise TV. You can also go to www.exercisetv.tv for free workouts or to purchase DVDs.

Now that I'm alert, I think I'll actually get dressed and go grocery shopping...we do need to eat dinner tonight!

Food Fix Friday

As I try to think of ways to improve and expand this blog, I am reminded of things that I enjoy. What better things to write about than those that I have tried and love?! So, since one of the themes of this blog and my favorite things in the world is food, I wanted to set aside a special food post for Fridays: Food Fix Friday. 

For now, I will focus on foods that I have tried or made myself and write about them, but if anyone is out there who would like to send me food products to review...I'd be happy to do that as well. Hint, hint. ;)

MaraNatha Dark Chocolate Almond Spread

Okay, for all you chocolate lovers out there, this is a healthy treat! Yes, I say it's healthy because it has almonds in it!! If you have tried almond butter, take it one step further and get a jar of this delicious dark chocolate almond spread. One serving size is 32g, has 4g protein, 12g carbs, 14g fat, and is 180 calories. 

I love spreading this on a piece of toast, adding it to plain greek yogurt to get a chocolatey flavor, or just taking a spoon and sitting down with the jar...oops. I guess that wouldn't be too healthy. Can't wait to try this in summer over a scoop of ice cream!

Work in Progress

If you've visited my blog previously, you may have noticed that it keeps changing. I apologize for all the confusion. I think I've finally found a design I like and hope to stick with for a while. As I learn more about the blogger world and how to improve my blog, it will change...but hopefully for the better! ;)

The Ladies of Beverly Hills

The ice on the roads around here has not melted, campuses are still closed, and I'm still sitting at home in my PJs. No, not in the same PJs I wore yesterday...or on Tuesday. I showered and put on a CLEAN pair of PJs and continued to stay indoors. No workout today. No cooking. No shopping (aren't you proud?).

So...what can I write about? Well, sitting around and watching television has given me a lot to write about. How about the housewives of Beverly Hills for a topic? I love this group of housewives. Wait, I take that back. I love the drama that exists in this group of housewives, but I only like a couple of them. My favorite ladies are Kyle and Lisa. Oh, and I like Adrienne too, I just tend to forget about her because she's not involved in much drama. But she's cool. I especially like her "hair bling" or whatever it's called. Too bad it probably only looks good in blond hair.

More about the fun ladies - Kyle and Lisa. I like Kyle for a number of reasons. She says what is on her mind. She has a hot husband. She seems the most real. She has dark hair (Can you tell I'm not a blond?). She gave birth to her own children and appears to be a really good mother.

Lisa - I love her sense of humor. And she tells it like it is. She is kind-hearted. A little too much if you ask me...you know, the whole thing with Cedric and all. She has an adorable accent. She lives a glamorous lifestyle.

Back to Adrienne - she's cool. I mean come on, she owns a casino in Vegas! She stays neutral in drama, which is nice...but it's no fun. Ha. I think that's all that comes to mind about her.

Now for the ladies I don't like so much...

Camille - ugh. I feel bad for her being hit with a cheating husband and divorce and all...nobody deserves that. But she's not very nice. And she really does seem delusional. And what's with the kissing another married man on the lips?! How is that appropriate? I also wonder about her true reason for using a surrogate...

Taylor - double ugh. I didn't dislike her from the beginning, but she started losing points pretty quickly. She seemed to be the "pot-stirrer" for sure, just like she was accused of being. And what is she doing in that marriage that she obviously is not happy in...living a BH lifestyle, that's what.

Kim - hmm...well, I can't help but feel a bit sorry for Kim after the finale episode. That was bad. She needs to  stop being such a little girl though and stick up for herself and her sister. And deal with that other little problem that nobody wants to mention...even though it's already out in the open now.

Well, there you have it. My thoughts on the BH housewives. If you missed out on this season, catch the re-runs! If for nothing else, at least to get a glimpse of their glamorous lives!

Wish List Wednesday

Oscar de la Renta, Resort 2011, via www.elle.com

Hive & Honey, on www.piperlime.com

Robert Longo rose charcoal drawing, via www.wmagazine.com

PJs for the Win

Well, another day stuck at home due to the icy roads. I can't complain. Since I'm still sick and there was nowhere to go, I lounged around in PJs all day. In addition to being comfy, I got to save two outfits for the 28 day challenge and I only have 26 days left! Well, it will be 25 days since tomorrow is going to be another day of PJs at home. This challenge is going to be a piece of cake! ;)

In between trying to rest and do some work, I browsed around some blogs and fashion/shopping websites. Since Wednesday is typically a tough day, being the middle of the work week, I thought it would be fun to do a weekly post called Wish List Wednesday. It gives me an excuse to browse online for things I like (that I will most likely not always buy, but can wish for anyway) and then post the items on here. A Wish List Wednesday post is soon to follow!

My 28 Items

Well, I finalized my 28 items for the remix challenge last night but didn't even put together an outfit for today (got the day off due to snow/ice on the roads and was sick, so lounged around in pjs all day). Even though I most likely won't share each outfit of the day throughout this challenge, I wanted to share the items I picked.

Okay, I just attempted to type out what each item is but I'm not very good at describing the colors and styles. I can just tell you that most of the shirts and sweaters are from Gap, Express, AT & Loft. Slacks and dress pants from Gap, jeggings from Express and F21, skirts from Loft and F21. Lace top from F21. Black blazer from Target (great find!). A random top from Nordstrom and one from Victoria's Secret. There is also a pair of black leggings and 5 pairs of shoes...one of which have not been worn yet and are in the shoe box. Oh, and I threw in a black dress from The Limited. I have to admit that there are about 7-8 items here that I have never worn...some that still need the tags taken off. This is going to be fun!!

Pros and Cons

I don't feel like writing in complete sentences or paragraphs, so I'm going to do a list of sorts. I'm feeling sick, it's early, and it's snowing outside...so I thought I'd change things up a bit!

Topic: Today

Pro: Campus closed due to inclement weather

Con: I'm sick

Topic: Staying home due to weather

Pro: I can get more work done

Con: Not going to feel like driving to the gym in the snow

Topic: Not driving to gym

Pro: Don't have to go out in super cold weather

Con: Less motivated to work out when at home

Topic: Reading other bloggers' comments on the 30 x 30 Remix Challenge

Pro: Getting different viewpoints and thinking about why I really want to participate

Con: Reconsidering whether I want to participate

Topic: Participating in the 30 x 30 (or in my case, 28 x 28)

Pro(s): Gets me to be creative; forces me to wear what I already have and focus less on shopping

Con(s): Causes me to ignore other clothes in my closet; the items I picked may not be appropriate for an expected event (since I picked mostly dressy work clothes and only a couple casual items)

Speaking of the remix challenge...I picked out my 28 items yesterday but after reading many comments on J's Everyday blog and having difficulty trying to pick only 28 items to wear for the month (not including accessories), I'm feeling kind of ambivalent about this challenge. I still plan on participating because I think it will be a good thing for me - to focus on some of the new items in my closet that I have not worn at all or not enough, and to get creative - but I'm a little worried about ignoring other clothes in my closet. However, if I am really honest with myself, I have to admit that I probably do the same thing anyway - focus on a few items and wear them over and over. At least for this challenge, I picked items that I have not worn much previously. I will participate as long as I can and try my best, but if I really need/want to wear something that is not part of the remix items, I will. Heck, I'm doing this for myself, already put my own twist on it, so I can make up my own rules. 

Okay, time for breakfast and then being productive on this snow day!