Oh hello again...

First of all I would like to thank The Limited for having a huge sale last weekend, it made me happy! I got 2 blouses, 2 sweaters, tights, and 2 necklaces for $40!!! I tallied it all up and at regular price it would have been over $300. Almost every piece individually was over $40 at regular price. Here are some pics of my loot, kind of excited to transition these pieces to spring with white pants and such.

I got some other fun really bright pieces from F21, J.Crew, and GAP that I will have to share soon!

Moving on, Valentine's Day was great. I made the hubs a yummy lunch with heart shaped strawberries/sandwiches and wrote a note on his banana! Then came home to lovely white roses ( I don't really care much for colored flowers). Then we made a beautiful dinner. Grilled steaks, lobster bisque, salad, and sauteed mushrooms/onions with garlic. mmmmmm

Now on to something fun. Lately I have been packing lunches instead of spending money in the cafe at work. It helps me control my portions/eating and it is also a big money saver! After reading on Easy lunchboxes, I thought it would make sense to only carry one container for lunch instead of 12 (jk, but you get the point). These containers are super nifty. They have three compartments and on that website, there's a gallery of like 270 different ideas.Kinda crazy.. so today I took 1/2 of my left over steak, put it on a salad, side of chickpeas and cherry tomatoes, and a kiwi... bada bing bada boom. Lunch! But really, check out that link if you are interested in healthier eating alternatives throughout the day. I think they'd be great for road trips too, and obviously kids' lunches!

I promise I will be more diligent in posting from now on, but life gets crazy!

xoxo

Fit as a Fiddle..

Hello again!!

Sorry this post is going to be all fitness related, but i just have exciting things to share! As you know, I am training for a marathon and trying to shed a few pounds/get fit in the process. This week... I don't really know what it was, but I realized that HEALTHY EATING IS FUN AND DELICIOUS. I have a couple tips and some things to share! I want to cook with tons of flavor but save calories, and after reading Taralynn's blog, I learned that I can get the same "Paula Dean butter loving flavor" with PAM butter flavored cooking spray for 0 calories! wooooHoooo!  So I created a healthy meal tonight.. Italian Smothered chicken/veggies. 

Ingredients: 

chicken breast

mushrooms

onions

minced garlic

PAM - butter flavor

1 tbsp pasta sauce

shredded low fat Italian Blend Cheese

All you do is pan cook chicken breasts seasoned with salt/pepper/garlic power in some PAM, then set aside, sautee mushrooms/onions/garlic with pam then place on top of chicken, add a spoonful of pasta sauce and sprinkle with cheese, put in oven at 350 for 5-10 min or until cheese is melted... Delicious I say!

Picture of final product

Then of course I discovered a glorious pre-workout snack.. Larabars! They are completely natural, no sugar, only a few ingredients... fruits, nuts and spices.. They come in amazing flavors like banana bread, apple pie, key lime pie, cherry pie, lemon, pecan pie.. I could go on and on.. just AMAZING.

And finally, I discovered today during my workout and then run that I love to work out.. I love running. It is exhilarating, and I feel like there's absolutely nothing that I can't do when I work out hard and I know I can't give anymore. It feels good and I feel powerful. That is something that I will never give up again.. its about taking control and getting your power back! Remember there's nothing you can't do. Now I leave you with some of my favorite Pinterest images/fitness motos!

 

And my favorite quote: " You don't stop when you're tired, you stop when you're finished." 

xoxo

I didn't forget...

Hello... it's been a while. To continue on with the "about me" theme, I am going to post some Q & A's that I found on one of my favorite blogs Stylemeswanky. 

so here goes nothing:

1. What time did you get up this morning?  Well, I should have gotten up at 6:20, but I dragged myself out of bed around 7 to be at work at 7:30.. its kind of impressive really.

2. How do you like your steak?Red!!!

3. What was the last movie you saw at the theater? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.. amazing book and good movie too

4. What is your favorite TV show? I have too many.. Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, True Blood, Rachel Zoe, etc...

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Seattle... its amazing.

6. What did you have for breakfast? overnight oats with bananas and blueberries

7. Do you wear glasses or contacts?  Both but not at the same time!

8. What food do you despise? coconut shrimp just eww.. I can't even choke it down.

9. Favorite Place to Eat? Biaggis or The Golden Bowl.. they have the freshest Vietnamese food so delicious.

10. Favorite dressing? Marazetti's Simply Balsamic... its OMG delicous!

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? Infiniti fx 35

12. What are your favorite clothes? Jeans, Boots, chunky sweaters or...tights, skirts, boots

13. Where would you visit, this weekend, if you had the chance? Chicago.. I just want to shop

14. How many tattoos do you have?  One- it's small and of a treble clef

15. Where would you want to retire? In Seattle or on the East coast

16. What is your desktop photo?Its a garden scene with a pretty pink flowering tree in the English countryside.. I have spring fever

17. Where were you born? Decatur, IL

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Football or Basketball.. I can't choose

19. How many siblings? One older sister

20. Favorite pastime/hobby? reading, blog stalking, working out, making lists (its a problem)

21. Coffee Drinker?  Yes! Me and my Keurig are in a monogamous relationship

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?oooo it depends on what day it is.. mostly night person, but if  its Friday, I am a morning person b/c I am ready to get that day over with!!!

24. Do you have any pets? Unfortunately, no, but Andrew and I are going to get a Siberian Husky the day we get the keys to our first house!

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? I just made the commitment to love myself and not treat my tummy like a trash can and put junk in it.. and I am getting fit!

26. What did you want to be when you were little? oo a fashion designer..then and still even now a surgeon, but I settled on Business.

27.  What is your favorite color? Black of course.. but secondary I love ivory/cream and pink

28. Are you a cat or dog person? I have had cats, but I love puppies

29. Are you married? Yes, I was fortunate enough to marry my best friend in September

30. Always wear your seat belt? Always. Everyone else that rides with me does too, its my rule and the law!

31. Been in a car accident?Nope

32. Any pet peeves? Improper grammar and people that chew with their mouths open

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? cheese, mushrooms, pepperoni (but it has to be baked under the cheese), peppers

34. Favorite Flower? White peonies, White Tulips, and Dave Austin Roses

35. Favorite ice cream?Cold Stone Birthday cake remix or Peanut butter Cup Perfection

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Steak n' Shake although fast food isn't my fave.

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? None 

38. From whom did you get your last email?looks like.... J.Crew is the winner... gosh..

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? J.Crew, Lord & Taylor, Saks

40. Like your job? I love my job! I do, and I especially love the women I work with. Couldn't ask for better co-workers.. I am lucky. =)

In Case you Were Curious.....

I have been sick for the past couple days. Full on ickiness, so I thought I would do something to take my mind off of it for a bit. I did a few short quizzes that I found online and my other favorite blogs. Hopefully this will help y'all learn a bit more about me!

1.What was the last song you listened to last night?

I can’t remember the name, but it was something by Breaking Benjamin

2.What color is the top you are wearing today?

Gray and orange and blue and white

3.Would you rather be a dove or eagle?

Doves, definitely more graceful and lovely

4.What is your favorite saying?

It’s not your fault, but it is your problem. (Thanks Mr. Gemar)

5.What is your best friend’s name?

I have 2, my husband Andrew and my best friend since kindergarten, Amanda.

6.When you are sure no one is watching what do you do?

Do a little dance

7.If you were to produce movie about yourself, which actor or actress would you cast as you?

Sandra Bullock

8.Who did you hug last?

My husband

9.What color is your car?

Pearly white

10.     Which one of your physical features do you like most?

My hair or my eyes

11.    If you were stuck on a desert and could only bring one thing with you, what would

you bring?

My kindle

12. Coffee or tea?

tea

13. Daisies or lilies?

Neither, I prefer peonies , roses or tulips, but they have to be white

14. Chocolate or ice cream?

Chocolate… its my love

15. Soul or Rock?

rock

1.     Fruit cake or black forest?

Black forest

I kickstart my day witht "overnight oats,"   yogurt and fruit, or plain eggs,then have a diet pepsi. 

Other daily essentials... Burt Bee’s lip balm and my cell phone

Recent splurge... I bought a new car on a whim! I love my Infiniti fx35.

Dreaming about... being on the beach somewhere and getting fit

Beauty indulgence... I am a self proclaimed Sephora junkie… you name it, I will buy it. Sad, I know.

Can't stop watching... soooo many things! I love HGTV, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Franklin & Bash, True Blood, and Game of Thrones… I am also a TV junkie

Top shop... J.Crew is my first love, then its Ann Taylor, F21, Saks, The Limited.. I mean.. do I really have to stop?

Working out to… Anything and everything .. as long as it makes me want to run.. so typically Britney Spears, Disturbed, Rhianna, Muse

Signature scent... typically LAVANILA’s Pure Vanilla, Victoria’s Secret Bombshell, Chloe by Chloe, or Miss Dior Cherie

You won't find me... smoking or doing any kind of drugs… never did, never want to. Eww.

I heart... my husband and family. 

Xoxo. Sarah