May Round-Up
May was the unofficial month of MOI! After spending the beginning of 2013 traveling non-stop I took some time for myself in May and put time & effort into my personal goals. And I’m not going to lie to you guys, it was nothing short of glorious!
- Social Media – At the end of May I finally caved and got myself an iPad Mini which I’m hoping will mean I’ll be able to stay on top of the blog & all the various social media platforms all the easier when I’m traveling.
- Writing, Writing, Writing – May was all about collaborations and fun new projects – In addition to getting a chance to work with some talented ladies on the Blogger Fashion series, I was also thrilled to be able to try out the gorgeous clothes from The Factory’s Spring Voyage To Marrakech collection. Stay tuned for another great collaboration that I’ll be announcing Tuesday!
- Expansion & Growth – During May I had the amazing opportunity to be mentored by Hilary Rushford of Dean Street Society as I went through Marie Forleo’s 8 week online entrepreneurial & business program. I learned so much and in addition to unveiling a new website in the next few months, I’m also launching a newsletter so you can get special MCLV insights & personalized styling tips.
- Be Positive – Spending additional time in San Francisco and less time traveling this month had an amazing effect on my mindset. I had so many “I love my life” moments the past few weekends it really renewed my appreciation for the city I live in the life I’ve built for myself.
Fashion:
One of the highlights of this month was getting a chance to work with New York City photographer Lydia Hudgens while she was visiting in San Francisco – Stay tuned for some of the great pictures we took!
Food & Fitness:
Spending less time traveling this month meant more time in the kitchen and some much-needed trips to the Farmers Market. I’ve found that even when I eat healthily while I’m traveling I tend to eat smaller snack-like meals throughout the day, while when I’m home and have more control over my schedule I’ll sit down for three meals a day.
{May Fashions: Great Gatsby Fashion, Camille K: Vintage Jewelry For Spring & Blogger Fashion: Striped Shirt}
New June Goals:
Fashion:
This will be the Summer of collaborations! 🙂 In addition to working with photographers Lydia Hudgens and Jennymay Villarete, there will be another fun post in the Fashion Blogger series, Styling 101 goodness featuring Sasha Maks Vintage, and a collaboration with a great local denim company.
Food & Fitness:
It’s officially the time of year for beach, pool, and river trips so I’m going to start working on toning in preparation for swimsuit season. That means changing up my workouts and adding additional protein to my meals. If you want to stay on top of the shifts in my fitness routine check in on Instagram for updates or you can join me in getting bikini ready by emailing me for details!
We’re swiftly approaching the half-way mark for 2013, how has your year been so far?
Are you following my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram yet?
April Round-Up
Rather than focus on the fact that April has somehow just come to an end, I’m trying to focus on all the great things that 2013 has already held and all of the great things I have to look forward to in May and the rest of the year.
- Social Media – I feel like I’m doing an excellent job of staying on top of my main social media outlets {Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest} but unfortunately some of my favorites have fallen to the wayside. Time to make them a priority & add updating to my daily To Do Lists.
- Writing, Writing, Writing – Between freelancing, guest blogging, and writing copy for a fabulous new website I’m really enjoying this creative outlet. Stay tuned for more. 🙂
- Expansion & Growth – I’m thrilled to announce that I’m available for hire for all your styling needs – From special event & photo shoot styling to season wardrobe updates to closet organization. Check out my Styling Services page for more information & get started today!
- Be Positive – April was a month that taught me quite a bit on this front, including how much my health effects my mindset. When I’m rundown and burned out I have trouble keeping a positive mindset and tend to get off track easily. Time to put some additional time & effort into this goal.
{April Fashions: Top Left – Maxi Skirts For Spring, Top Right – Tribal Prints at Lucky FABB West, Bottom Left – Mixing Animal Prints & Bottom Right – Spring Workwear}
Fashion:
I’m thrilled with my April fashion choices, breaking out my warm-weather clothes, and expanding my boundaries. My biggest sartorial accomplishment this month? Definitely rocking my beloved floral short suit in LA during Lucky FABB West.
{Floral Shorts Suit in Los Angeles}
Food & Fitness:
Unfortunately due to excessive traveling my health went downhill during April – From a poor diet on weekends to stress to back problems this wasn’t the ideal month on this front. But rather than beat myself up I’m going to focus on what changes I need to make for May in order to get back to a happy, healthy place.
May Goals:
Fashion:
May is going to be a month of photo shoots – I’m thrilled to be shooting with three different photographers whose work I really admire this month. Stay tuned for some great new projects & collaborations that I’ll finally be able to share with you!
Food & Fitness:
My goal for May is to get back to basics – No more eating out, no more processed or pre-made foods. Lots of cooking, lots of whole foods, lots of raw, fresh produce. My plan is to eat raw for more of the day with cooked foods at night and lots of supplements and coconut water to help even myself out.
How was your April? Did you achieve your goals for the month?
Are you following my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram yet?
March Round-Up
2013 is just chugging along, virtually every time I catch sight of the date I’m shocked by how far into the year we’re getting. And while that might not be the best feeling, I’m also pretty darn thrilled with my progress this year and everything that I’ve made time for thus far.
- Stay on top of social media – I’ve found that when I get busy this is the first thing to slip so I started making a list each morning with my social media/posting schedule in it – That keeps me on track & serves as a gentle reminder. Yet another reason I’m in love w/ my planner!
- Writing, Writing, Writing – In addition to various freelance pieces I’ve written recently I’m also working on re-doing the website so I’ve been a busy girl on this front.
- Expansion & Growth – I’ve been working with beta testers on my new style consulting business – Which will include styling, wardrobe consulting, and closet organization – And I’m thrilled with how well things have been progressing. {Check out the Advertising, Collaborations & Styling Services page above for more information.
- Be Positive – While there are always setbacks I’m still working really hard to keep a positive mindset. Ignoring negative people and writing daily affirmations are lifesavers when things get stressful.
{Some fun looks from the Styling 101 series featuring gorgeous vintage jewelry from Sasha Maks Vintage: Top Left – Easter Fashion, Top Right: How To Wear Chambray, Bottom Left: Mixing Prints For Spring & Bottom Right: St. Patty’s Day Style}
Fashion:
Mission accomplished! My fashion goal for March was to get into the mood for Spring despite the chilly San Francisco weather we’re still experiencing. Between spending time in slightly warmer Sacramento and adding layers I was able to break out a number of the pieces I had earmarked for Spring – Check them out below.
{March Personal Style: Top Left – Animal Prints + Leather, Top Right – Rolled Jeans, Bottom Left: Spring Stripes & Bottom Right: Maxi Madness for Spring}
Food & Fitness:
I’m fairly pleased with my consistency in March when it came to working out and eating healthy – Getting into a routine and making my healthy habits stick was important. Unfortunately eating out has become commonplace during weekends in Sacramento so I try to stick with giant salads and drink lots of water while I’m out.
April Goals:
Fashion:
April will include a trip to Los Angeles and I’m looking forward to mixing things up on the sartorial front. I enjoy trying different styles when I travel – It’s fun to adapt your personal fashion to suit your surroundings and this trip will include some great warm weather pieces.
Food & Fitness:
As I said above, while my weekdays are settling into a healthy routine my weekends haven’t been nearly as consistent. My number one goal for April is to really focus on making healthier, smarter choices on weekends. If I’m going to be eating out I’ll be sure to grab a handful of almonds or baby carrots first so that I’m not starving when I sit down to order.
How was did the month of March go for you? Do you feel like you’ve started 2013 on the right foot so far?
If you want more MCLV you can find me on these platforms:
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- Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mclv/
February Round-Up
Raise your hand if you cannot believe that February is over.
Me either.
When my calendar reminder to write my monthly round-up post popped up I had to check the calendar to be sure. Intellectually I knew what the date was, obviously I date things at work, but I didn’t quite have a handle on the fact that the 28th meant the month was almost over. Le Sigh.
Overall Goals For 2013:
- Stay on top of social media – Check out my recent Where To Find What post to see how the various social media platforms are being utilized for MCLV – You can find different topics & pictures on each. 🙂 And stay tuned for a post on my recent collaboration with LookMazing.
- Writing, Writing, Writing – I’m joining a fun online styling site and will be sharing details and some of my pieces as soon as I can. I’ll also be contributing a weekly health & fitness post to the Cap City Strength & Conditioning blog.
- Expansion & Growth – I’m officially expanding my services to include styling, wardrobe consulting, and closet organizing. Check out the Advertising, Collaborations & Styling Services page above for more information.
- Be Positive – 2013 is beginning to look like the poster child for over booking. Between taking on more work styling & writing and my boyfriend opening a gym, I’m spread pretty thin. Approaching my days with positivity and excitement instead of dread has been key for keeping myself motivated and inspired.
{Some February Looks: Valentine’s Day, Wandering around San Francisco shooting on random doorsteps :), IFBCON Look & Emerald City}
February Goals {From January Round-Up}:
Fashion:
New York was amazing and despite the extremity-losing cold I had an amazing time {IFBCON Celebrity Sightings & Industry Insight} and have been completely awash in nonstop inspiration since I returned. From meeting new bloggers to getting to hear my favorite industry insiders speak to seeing the streets of New York City filled with amazing fashion – February has been one of my favorite months in recent years.
Food:
Smoothies & sweet potatoes have been February staples, both great for at-work consumption and easy-to-make nighttime meals. And during my NYC adventures and weekends away I’ve been traveling with bags of Trader Joe’s trail mix and Larabars galore.
Fitness:
I’m thrilled to say I’ve been hitting the gym at least 5 days a week very consistently. My morning Instagram shot to help inspire my fabulous readers to get to gym has been a HUGE motivator for me!
{Some additional February Looks: Emerald City, Transitioning From Winter-To-Spring, Formal Wear Done Right & Valentine’s Day}
March Goals:
Fashion:
Time to break out the colors! As Spring starts arriving in San Francisco I’ll be playing up prints, florals, and fun colors. Stay tuned for some MCLV Style posts in the coming weeks while I take the pieces I’ve been hoarding out of the back of my closet! 🙂 On the docket – My new Aqua floral shorts suit, patterned Capri pants, and flowy Piperlime blazer.
{Left: Aqua shorts – $46 on sale @ Bloomingdale’s, Aqua blazer – $60 on sale @ Bloomingdale’s, Center: Printed Crop Pant – $25 @ Forever 21 & Right: Floral Blazer – $90 @ Piperlime}
Food & Fitness:
I’ll be out-of-town most weekends this Spring so staying on top of my physical therapy, workouts, and eating a healthy, consistent diet during the week is especially important as my weekends aren’t going to be as structured as I would like. Sundays will be dedicated to grocery shopping and cooking during March and I’ll put a lot of effort into making my meals ahead of time in order to make my evenings run more smoothly.
What are you most looking forward to in March?
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Saturday Round-Up
Happy Saturday – I hope that everyone had a great week!
{Accessories from my recent trip to the deYoung, Green Monster & New GiGi New York planner, Research materials & A shot from my upcoming photo shoot with LookMazing}
So enjoy these fun snaps from the last week and get a little insight into how things have been going over here in San Francisco since my trip to New York for IFBCON.
Don’t forget to stay in touch my loves – Be sure to follow me for pictures & updates:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moicontrelavie
- Twitter: @moicontrelavie
- Instagram: @moicontrelavie
January Round-Up
Hello 2013! Goodbye January!
I feel like we were juuust focused on getting ready for New Years Eve & setting 2013 resolutions a few minutes ago {2012 Round-Up}, and now January has already come and gone!
Ek!
Well, I suppose there’s no use fighting it so we might as well check in on my progress thus far…
Overall Goals For 2013:
- Stay on top of social media – So far so good! Not only have I been diligent w/ updating the platforms that I’m already on, I’ve also fallen in love with Polyvore and LookMazing – I highly recommend that you check them both out.
- Writing, Writing, Writing – I submitted three freelance journalism pieces during January so I’m thrilled that I started working on this goal immediately this year. I hope that the momentum continues!
- Expansion & Growth – I’m also excited to announce that I’ll be heading to New York in a few days for IFBCon where I get to listen to fabulous speakers, wander the streets of New York, catch up with friends, and meet new people in the fashion blogging world. Stay tuned for updates from my trip.
- Be Positive – There have been lots of changes in my life lately and I think that without my active attempts to deal with the new hurdles in a positive manner I would be in a very different place right now. Keep an eye out for a new Be Positive post in the next few weeks with some of my experiences and tips for remaining positive during trying times!
{Some stylish looks from January: Embellish Me, Leopard Print, New Years Eve, Ballerina, Texture Queen, Striped Leopard, Cold Blooded & Lazy Stripes}
New Goals For February:
Fashion:
While I love San Francisco, New York takes fashion to whole new level. I’m extremely excited for my trip and I hope to break out all of the fun new purchases that I’ve been amassing since the Thanksgiving sales sent me into a shopping tailspin. Brightly colored pieces, lots of prints, fun combinations, and mixing & matching. All at sub-zero temperatures.
Maybe they’ll add that to the Olympics next time around?
Food:
My goal for February food-wise is to eat as clean as possible. Between feeling amazing upon finishing The Whole 30 and knowing that I’ll be traveling a lot over the next month I want to feel my best during all the fun events in February. From family gatherings to photo shoots to traveling to fashion events.
Fitness:
Making the gym a regular part of my daily routine has been key this past year as far as increasing my strength and managing my back injury {and pain}. Unfortunately February will be a challenge since there’s so much traveling involved, which is hard on my back, so I have to work extra hard to fit physical therapy and core workouts into my days. Fingers crossed!
Misc:
It’s extraordinarily sad, but I really think I need to add “stop snacking on gummy vitamins to my list of goals.” It’s getting WAY out of control over here. Maybe moving them off my desk so that they’re not so tempting while I’m on conference calls will help…
How’s your 2013 going so far? Are things going according to your plans? Have you accomplished everything that you had hoped to during January goal-wise?
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.
2012 “Best Of” Round-Up
To celebrate this final Saturday before the New Year here’s a great round-up of some fun ‘Best Of’ polls that I’ve seen recently to commemorate the end of the 2013. So let’s look back on this great year and see some of the great things that happened in the fashion world.
Enjoy!
This year a handful of new celebrities burst onto the fashion scene and made their mark on the red carpets – From the Australian actress Bella Heathcote to the fabulous It Model Cara Delevingne – BAZAAR’s Next Generation Style MVPs.
Need something fun to watch while you’re relaxing at home over the holidays? Don’t worry, IFB has you covered with their TV Round-Up: Our Top 5 Super-Stylish TV Binges Perfect For Your Vacation.
Mr Blasberg’s Best of 2012: A Year in Review and Appreciation – Leave it to the fabulous Mr. Blasberg to round-up the year’s most important cultural moments – From photography exhibits to musical acts to pets stealing the spotlight.
And while I’m horrified by the fact that Miranda Kerr isn’t on this list, there are some other fabulous ladies who made Modelinia’s Top Supermodel Style Moments of 2012!
And last but definitely not least – Check out all of the fabulous Fashion Blogger related round-ups that Coco Rosa of My Precious Confessions put together during 2012 – From Hottest Fashion Blogger Boyfriends to Best Parisian Fashion Bloggers these lists are great for finding new and exciting bloggers to check out – Top 10 Fashion Blogger 2012 Overview.
Have a great Saturday!
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!
Links You’ll Love
Health & Fitness:
Sweet potatoes are a great addition to any healthy diet so you should definitely try out some of these nutritious recipes from Shape Magazine – 10 Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes.
OhSheGlow’s Fall Detox Salad is a must try – Filled with Brussels Sprouts, carrots, apple, celery, sunflower seeds, and raisins, it’s as nutritious as it is delicious {also check out this salad as part of the Thanksgiving Recipe Round-Up}.
Eating well and living a healthy life doesn’t have to mean giving up all sweets and desserts, you just need to make healthier, smarter choices when you want to indulge – Try FitFluential’s Five Healthier Desserts which include amazing choices like Raspberry Chocolate Chips, Dark Chocolate Nut Butter Pretzels, Fruit & Yogurt Parfaits, Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes/Muffins, and Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries.
Do you want model-worthy skin? Refinery 29 has the goods – The Surprising Secret To Model-Worthy Skin.
Finding a great, healthy snack that you love and that’s easy to make is wonderful – One of my favorites recently is Choosing Raw’s Cinnamon Caramelized Cauliflower.
Fashion:
Interested in spicing up your daily makeup routine? It’s always fun to see what other beauty products are out there and the sort of routines that women go through on a daily basis, so let’s check out how blogger Trop Rouge has set up her makeup routine – Makeup Monday.
Top 9 at 9: A Model’s Must Haves with Lonneke Engel gives you all of model Lonneke Engel’s Fall 2012 picks – From workout gear to sweaters to what her favorite shoes are for Fall.
Ulyana Sergeenko’s dramatic, eye-catching clothes are the perfect pieces for this dreamy Moscow-based photo shoot in the most recent Carine Roitfeld Fashion Book issue – Moscow Walk.
Oxblood is everywhere for Fall 2012 and if you’re not sure whether it’s the trend for you, trying beauty products and nail polish are great choices – 3 Chic Ways To Do Burgundy Beauty.
The Fall 2012 Collection for J.Crew is pretty phenomenal – It’s filled with great outerwear, fun, printed pants, and killer accessories. And none of those accessories are better than the Lulu Frost’s Capsule Collection – Shop It Now: Lulu Frost For J.Crew Holiday.
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?
June Round-Up
How’s is everyone’s summer going? I’ve been alternating between Sacramento and San Francisco for the past few weeks and I have to say that my summer has been HOT HOT HOT!
June was quite a month for me, it started off with a spinal procedure but things went uphill after that and I even got some much-needed family time in – my cousin’s birthday, my aunt’s jubilee birthday – and a house-hunting trip in Sonoma with my youngest cousin (post coming soon).
June Goal Recap:
- No restaurants
- No takeout
- No processed foods
- Cook for every meal
- Pay attention to portion sizes
Check!
Not only did I follow the rules that I set out for myself with the exception of one (totally necessary) chow mein order at the end of the month, I also got back into my habit of doing lots of Sunday Prep to get ready for my long work weeks.
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.
I was a walking machine this month. I walked to and from work, ran errands on foot, walked to appointments, went for afternoon pleasure walks, and even did all my shopping the old-fashioned way!
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!!!
I’m thrilled with my progress on this front I have to admit. I was creative, Summery, and was able to keep my motivation & inspiration up all month-long – Pleats & Peplums, Mission: Put Together 2012 & Workin’ That Tee. I also got to indulge my love of vintage jewelry and attended the Sasha Maks Vintage Jewelry Trunk Show and got myself a fun new piece to worship.
You can see more details about my June day-to-day life & routines in the Listing and MCLV in 24 Hours posts.
New Goals For July:
July is going to be another busy month with a visit from my brother & his fiance, a work anniversary party in Sacramento, a weekend in Tahoe, and getting some fun pictures taken. Should be fun!
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.
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.
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.
I hope everyone has a great July!
Do you like to set goals for yourself each month? Or do you prefer to see month-end as a chance to check in on your progress for the year and make sure you’re heading in the right direction(s)?
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!
April Round-Up
It’s that time again!
Time for a new month to begin, and what better way to get it started than by looking back on the last month to see what was accomplished and what I’d like to get done during the next?
Reviewing April Goals:
Food:
Arianna and I are going to continue our weekly dinners and I want to focus on my portion sizes during April. I have a tendency to eat all of anything I make so I either need to stop making multiple servings when I’m home alone or learn to put my leftovers in the fridge and leave them there! (Easier said than done, obviously) I’m also going to be experimenting with my carb intake during April as I take the boyfriend through the joys of a plant-based diet. 🙂 Fingers crossed he can last the whole month!
March Round-Up
As March comes to an end I thought I’d review my March Goals and put some thought into what I’d like to accomplish during April this year.
Reviewing March Goals:
Heath: I’ve been consuming an absurd amount of Diet Coke since November to deal with nausea from painkillers so in March, as my back is healing and I start physical therapy, I’m going to reduce my medications and give up Diet Coke. Can’t wait!
I did a good job of this during the week but had a couple of Diet Dr. Peppers on weekends. Not the end of the world but I’d like to eventually get to a place where a diet soda is a rare treat rather than an every weekend type of occurrence.
Food: My friend Arianna and I have a weekly date set up to cook a healthy, plant-based dinner together. Hopefully these meals will motivate me to watch my snacking, plan my meals in advance for the week, and prepare snacks to take to work. In March I really want to focus on getting all my daily nutrients from my food rather than relying on supplements and multi-vitamins.
Our weekly meals were a HUGE success during March (Farmer’s Market Fare, Vegetable Lasagna & Cookies – fine, the cookies weren’t really healthy or a meal…) and I start stocking up on veggies and cooking basics again each week. Such a great feeling to get back into the kitchen. My whole life runs smoother when I plan out my food intake each week – No reaching for bad snacks because I’m starving, no hunger crankiness, no last-minute decisions to get takeout… Nothing but positives!
Fitness: Physical therapy started March 1st and I’m going to be the best patient they’ve ever had! I’m going to do all my exercises and work as hard as my body allows me to. I’m also going to keep walking as much as possible (2.6 to 4 miles daily) and try not to take any taxis again during March. Finally, I also need to work on stretching. Barely being able to bend at the waist during the last few months has done a number on my overall flexibility and I really need to work on regaining that so I can eventually go back to Pilates.
I ROCKED physical therapy this month! My physical therapist didn’t have the best attitude my first day and even said the dreaded words “well, you may not ever be able to do that again.” But he’s grown more and more optimistic and hopeful as I’ve gotten stronger and stronger each session. I’m even going to add a once a week low-impact exercise session with Arianna in April in addition to my daily physical therapy exercises.
Fashion: Time to reorganize my closets and move Spring & Summer clothes to the front and rearrange my coats & jackets so that shorter, lighter ones are more accessible. I love “spring cleaning” and refreshing my closet. Can’t wait to go to the Container Store for supplies. 🙂 It’s my happy place.
Unfortunately this didn’t happen during March so I’ll have to plan to do it in April. (Clearly I’m still wearing some of my winter black…)
New Goals For April:
Food: Arianna and I are going to continue our weekly dinners and I want to focus on my portion sizes during April. I have a tendency to eat all of anything I make so I either need to stop making multiple servings when I’m home alone or learn to put my leftovers in the fridge and leave them there! (Easier said than done, obviously) I’m also going to be experimenting with my carb intake during April as I take the boyfriend through the joys of a plant-based diet. 🙂 Fingers crossed he can last the whole month!
Fitness: This month is all about routine. Each day I need to do 45-60 minutes of physical therapy exercises, meet with my physical therapy once or twice a week, keep walking two and from work (1.3 miles each way) and I’m going to add a day of low-impact exercise like walking stairs – Coit Tower here I come!
Fashion: Time to get my booty to the Container Store and reorganize my closets. I went on a shoe-buying rampage during March so I definitely need to rearrange the hall closets and my walk-in to make my Spring things more easily accessible. Stay tuned for pictures of my progress!
Need some more motivation for setting personal goals and approaching 2012 with an organized plan of attack?
I loved Polish My Crown’s March Resolutions – from taking time to connect with others to planning travel time, she’s got some great ideas for how to make each month even better this year.
Each week Tone It Up! has Motivation Monday, a great weekly reminder to push yourself and focus on your goals for the week. Sometimes breaking your year/month up a week at a time makes for a more manageable approach. Baby steps and all…
Holly Would If She Could is another great blog to look at when you’re setting your goals for the month, Holly’s monthly Progress Report is always exhaustive, covering everything from travel plans to home repairs to exercise goals, she’s an avid list-writer and reading her posts will definitely get you in the mood to write down your plans for the month.
Hope everyone had a great March and has some fun things planned for April!
February Round-Up
Since our leap-year month has come & gone I’m here to go over my February goals and set down some rules & plans for the month of March.
But before I get to that, I want to say a quick but sincere Thank You!!! as Moi Contre La Vie passes its one year anniversary. This has been quite the learning experience and I’ve had an unbelievable time with this blog over the last twelve months, so thank you for your continued support, it means the world to me.
Alright now let’s get back to my monthly goals and see how I did:
Overarching 2012 Resolutions:
- Buy a house: No change during February, just waiting for the perfect house to magically appear in front of me. We’re planning a trip to Sonoma in March or early though so fingers crossed!
- Take no money out of my savings accounts: Done. Buuut I did decide that would take money out this year when I make a car purchase.
- Publish something: February was a major disaster on this front for one reason – My laptop died! As of today my new laptop has not yet arrived and I’m using a work laptop for my computer needs each day. I fully plan to start my writing schedule as soon as the new one arrive though, promise.
February Goals:
Health: In February I am going to give up all sweeteners (aside from baking uses). I usually use all-natural organic Stevia or Agave Nectar to sweeten my tea or in overnight oats on almost a daily basis. I’m curious if giving this up will affect my health in any substantial way, especially whether giving it up in my evening tea will change my sleeping patterns. We shall see!
- I did great giving up sweeteners and I also really focused on sleep, which meant I got at least 7 hours of sleep during the week. Ya me!
Fitness: Last month’s “fitness” goal will roll over to February – Start back rehabilitation & be diligent about my exercises. As I said, I’m DYING to get back into the gym, so it’s really important that I take my rehab seriously and work really hard to keep my core strong.
- I got sign off to start twice a week physical therapy at the end of February and my first appointment is on March 1 so this month I’ll have much more to say on this topic.
Fashion: My fashion goal for February is to keep up the level of effort that I put into the Freckles In April Challenge. No more playing it safe and falling back on go-to outfits. This experience really shook things up for me style-wise and I hope to be able to keep challenging myself on a daily basis.
- I did a GREAT job on this during February and even tried out some new-to-me looks & styles. I added belts and tucked in shirts to my wardrobe for the first time and gave my extra-curricular looks a bit more of a rock n’ roll edge with black jeans, heeled motorcycle boots, leopard print and chunky jewelry. Unfortunately February was also the month of shopping. EK. Gotta get that under control in March!
New March Goals:
Heath: I’ve been consuming an absurd amount of Diet Coke since November to deal with nausea from painkillers so in March, as my back is heals and I start physical therapy, I’m going to reduce my medications and give up Diet Coke. Can’t wait!
Food: My friend Arianna and I have a weekly date set up to cook a healthy, plant-based dinner together. Hopefully these meals will motivate me to watch my snacking and plan my meals in advance for the week and prepare snacks to take to work. In March I really want to focus on getting all my daily nutrients from my food rather than relying on supplements and multi-vitamins.
Fitness: Physical therapy started March 1st and I’m going to be the best patient they’ve ever had! I’m going to do all my exercises and work as hard as my body allows me to. I’m also going to keep walking as much as possible (2.6 to 4 miles daily) and try not to take any taxis again during March. Finally, I also need to work on stretching. Barely being able to bend at the waist during the last few months has done a number on my overall flexibility and I really need to work on regaining that so I can eventually go back to Pilates.
Fashion: Time to reorganize my closets and move Spring & Summer clothes to the front and rearrange my coats & jackets so that shorter, lighter ones are more accessible. I love “spring cleaning” and refreshing my closet. Can’t wait to go to the Container Store for supplies. 🙂 It’s my happy place.
Tell me, how are you doing on your 2012 New Years Resolutions? Do you find yourself adjusting your goals & plans for 2012 as the year is unfolding in unexpected ways?
January Round-Up
After my oh-so-ambitious New Years Resolutions – kidding – I wanted to touch base after this first month and see how I did on my January goals, whether I made any progress or plans for the year and to set some new goals for February.
Let’s see how I did:
Overarching 2012 Resolutions:
- Buy a house: While I did spend a weekend in Glen Ellen in January, I didn’t look at any houses – I did search Zip before we headed out though and there were no houses that I wanted to see at that point. Unfortunately I can’t plan or rush this one, I have to try to be patient while I wait for the right house to go on the market. I don’t do patient well though…
- Take no money out of my savings accounts: DONE 🙂
- Publish something: While no extracurricular writing has occurred thus far on 2012, I did take step #1 and created a writing schedule for the month of February – I set some baby goals for myself to work on and plan to do some serious editing of one of my novels in my spare time. Spare time? Ha – I crack myself up!
January Goals:
- Start back rehabilitation: Unfortunately instead of getting this happy sign off I had two more epidurals, so this goal moves to February! At this point I am literally dreaming about the gym and going running – at least weekly. I need me some exercise endorphins!
- Finish decorating new apartment: 90% done! 🙂 Pictures coming soon.
- No taxis: I did incredibly well with this one – My doctor recommended walking as possible so I was really determined and dragged Sean around the city on foot nonstop. I think he only managed to get me into two taxis all month!
New February Goals:
For February I’m going categorizing my goals according to which area of my life they will affect most:
Health: In February I am going to give up all sweeteners (aside from baking uses). I usually use all-natural organic Stevia or Agave Nectar to sweeten my tea or in overnight oats on almost a daily basis. I’m curious if giving this up will affect my health in any substantial way, especially whether giving it up in my evening tea will change my sleeping patterns. We shall see!
And yes, I’ve been hording holiday tea, I hide it in the back of the cupboard so Sean wont see it. Shhh…
Fitness: Last month’s “fitness” goal will roll over to February – Start back rehabilitation & be diligent about my exercises. As I said, I’m DYING to get back into the gym, so it’s really important that I take my rehab seriously and work really hard to keep my core strong.
Fashion: My fashion goal for February is to keep up the level of effort that I put into the Freckles In April Challenge. No more playing it safe and falling back on go-to outfits. This experience really shook things up for me style-wise and I hope to be able to keep challenging myself on a daily basis.
So Happy February to you all, I hope that all your January goals & resolutions went well!
MCLV’s Non-Resolution 2012 Resolutions
You know what I hate? New Years Resolutions. And not just because I can’t get any time on the elliptical for the month of January while everyone whose New Years Resolution was to get into shape wears themselves out and rethinks their life choices. No, I dislike them because for the most part you just spend fifteen minutes on January 1st spitting out a list of grandiose plans for the year and then you forget about them around the time your hangover wears off.
But hey, I’m as guilty as most when it comes to the charade that is New Years Resolutions. However, this year, this year I have a plan. A good plan. I’m going to set goals at the beginning of each month, small goals, just some aims to keep in mind for the upcoming four weeks
This is inspired by my friend Holly of Holly Would If She Could who embarked on the Look Better Naked Challenge in November of 2011 and has been writing about her progress each week. Reading her posts I realized just how beneficial it is to approach this sort of challenge a week at a time – its less intimidating, its more manageable. And for someone with the attention span of a 2-year-old, I figured even I could maintain a set course of action for seven days at a time.
Overarching 2012 Resolutions:
- Buy a house
- Take no money out of my savings accounts (other than to buy said house)
- Publish something (this goal is a LONG TIME coming, I’ve been writing since I was a child and I’ve still never let anyone read my writing. It’s time. Past time.)
January Goals:
- Start back rehabilitation when I get doctor sign off & be diligent about my exercises
- Finish decorating my new apartment
- No taxis – Walk to and from work 5 days a week and run all errands on foot
See? Baby goals. Nothing I can’t do. Just a few things to keep me on track for January. Curious what everyone else is saying and doing?
Miss Rachel of The Life & Lessons of Rachel Wilkerson takes a different stance on New Years Resolutions. Each year she picks a verb and molds her goals and ambitions for the year around said verb. “Before you do anything in life, you must select a verb. You can begin, or quit, or change. You can choose, share, trust, try, think, relax, open, hope, serve, speak, write, save, flee, organize, believe, commit, or give.” I think that this is an incredibly creative and personal way to set goals for the year. For 2011 Rachel chose “invest” as her verb and for 2012 her verb is going to be “push.” What would you pick for your verb for 2012? I think that I might have to choose “evolve.” In 2012 I would like both myself and my life to evolve. Maybe this will be the year I become a grown up… Who knows! 🙂
Justyna at Chameleonic is approaching the New Year in a sanguine and entertaining way in her post: 2011 & These Are My Thoughts. I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for a happy, optimistic take on life and the future. And while I’m not always able to stay positive and idealistic in my daily life, I always appreciate and look up to those who can. Are you a glass half full or half empty type?
The Fitnessista focused on the great moments and highlights of 2011 – From family time and sweaty workouts to delicious recipes and fun trips that she took. At the beginning of a new year do you like to think about the amazing moments that the year before held for you or do you prefer to immediately let go of the past and start planning and hoping for the future? Or a little bit of both? 🙂
Rather than set Resolutions for 2012 Gena of Choosing Raw has a hope for the year – “I hope people will stop setting short-term dietary goals for themselves.” Gena is a vegan and raw food enthusiast who is a clinical nutritionist currently attending medical school. Her blog is an important and educational site in both the vegan and raw food worlds and she receives requests, questions, suggestions, ideas and pleas regarding food, healthy eating and diets. “I cannot count the number of emails I get each year at this time, detailing the fasting, calorie restricting, food group eliminating, and wacky beverage drinking that people intend to start their new years with. And it makes me sad, because these “plans” are not nourishing, they’re not always pleasurable, and most of all, they’re just not sustainable.” As a reader of her site I would say that one of Gena’s ultimate goals is to encourage people to really think about their food choices and to ultimately make healthier decisions. And that’s a huge part of her New Years Hope. “Instead of flirting with diets that promise you a new beginning, but deprive you of pleasure in order to get there, try, for a change, to greet the new year by being generous with yourself. Envision a way of eating that will feel rewarding–not just this week, or this month, but for years and years. Remember that finding pleasure in the way you eat is just as important as being healthy, because without the former, the latter won’t last.”
Jenn from the Fit Bottomed Girls has a list of 5 goals for herself to tackle in 2012. Including “make fewer goals.” As you’d expect from a contributor to a blog titled Fit Bottomed Girls, her goals for 2012 are primarily health and fitness related. When you make resolutions do you focus on career, health, family, friends, fitness or something else?
Happy 2012 and I hope this new year brings you everything that you hope for!
Motivation
Personally I find an external motivator to be great incentive to keep up with an exercise regime. I wish I could say that I have all the internal motivation that I need in order to meet all of my goals, but unfortunately I don’t. Sometimes on days when I’m tempted to skip my planned workout, knowing that I’ll have to admit my failure aloud to someone else is usually enough incentive to push through.
Usually. 🙂
I’m registered to run the San Francisco Half Marathon on July 31st and haven’t run consistently for months, so I need to begin training, um… Now! It just so happens that one of my best friends is training for the Death Ride (which I lovingly call The Ride of Death) a 129 mile bike race with 15,000 miles of climbing through the Sierra Nevada’s near Tahoe. Her race is July 9 and although we’re training for different types of races in different cities (she’s in Sacramento), she has been acting as an unofficial sponsor and motivator for my last-ditch training efforts.
Monday mornings I email her my proposed workouts for the week (subject to scheduling changes) and each morning I send her a confirmation of what I accomplished the previous day. I’m going to include various types of exercise in my training program in addition to running, specifically circuit training and Pilates.
Below is a draft of a proposed schedule for one of the weeks of training:
Monday:
- Run to work (1.3 miles)
- Mini cardio session (2 miles stationary bike & 1 mile elliptical trainer)
- Pilates Mat class (5pm – 6pm)
Tuesday:
- Jog to work
- 15 minute circuit training workout
- Run (pm)
Wednesday:
- Walk to work
- High intensity interval training on the elliptical
- Pilates Mat class (5pm – 6pm)
- Yoga Flow (6pm – 7:15pm)
- Walk home
Thursday:
- Walk to work
- 25 minute circuit training workout
- Run (pm)
Friday:
- Jog to work
- 15 minute circuit training workout
Saturday & Sunday – Rest & stretching (maybe a massage if I can be convincing enough) and long walks or a hike
Hooking up with a workout buddy who you can share your plans with or a like-minded friend who you may not workout with but who has similar goals, can be a great motivator.
If the idea of sharing your workout goals/plans with someone else isn’t appealing, or if you’re just getting started and want to hold off until you feel like you’ve made some progress, there are other external motivators that may help you when the odd lazy day rears its ugly head.
(1) A kick-ass play list can do wonders. Put a super charged playlist on your MP3 player or blare it over your computer/sound system. Everyone has their own style and different beats that get them pumped up, and I personally refresh my Nano weekly, but here are some artists/bands that never fail to get my heart rate going, regardless of my mood: Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, Chemical Romance, Finger Eleven, Breaking Benjamin, My Darkest Days, Jason Derulo, Lady Gaga, Bon Jovi, K$sha, Katy Perry, Beyonce, Sean Kingston.
(2) Sign yourself up for a class on a day when you don’t think that you can make yourself do a work out. You’ll feel guilty not showing up after having reserved a spot in the class and even guiltier when you see the charge on your credit card! The two days of the week that are the hardest for me to get off my booty are always Monday and Wednesday, so I’m getting into the habit of doing at least a Pilates class at Glow Yoga each of those days. And now that I’m getting to know the other students and the instructor, there’s even more motivation not to play hooky!
(3) If you have a movie or a book that you find extremely motivational, that can be a great way to get yourself going. If hearing Jillian’s commanding voice shoots you out of your seat, start your workouts with some Shred, even if you don’t plan to do the video it can give you the push you need. Personally I’ve found that popping in a dance DVD before my 5:30pm after-work runs or reading a few pages of Born To Run are a sure-fire way to get myself going.
(4) Finally, one of my favorite pieces to read when I need to stoke my motivational fires is The Better Man, about the (then) 75 year-old fitness guru & health nut Don Wildman (my friend Jim sent me this YEARS ago and I saved a PDF in case of emergencies). This always gives me the kick in the pants that I need to get off of the couch.
Good luck getting yourself onto the trail, treadmill or into the gym. Make me proud!
Moi Contre La Vie 