Inspire Me Healthy {Link Up}

 

 

I promised ya'll that I would share some tips on Portion control! This is the key to eating healthy (er eating what you want on some sort of orderly fashion?) I kids, portions are so important to maintaing a balance and getting what your body needs. This is what has helped me keep those pounds off post pageant. So here they are courtesy of laurenconrad.com:

Vegetables = 1 cup (cooked), 1 ½ cups (raw) = Loofah

Fruit = 1 cup = 2 Beauty Blenders

Meat & Fish = 3 ounces = 6-pan Eyeshadow Compact

Whole Grains = ½ cup = Compact

Cheese = 1 ounce = 1 Eyeshadow

Oils & Fats = 1 tablespoon = 1 Mini Bottle of Nail Polish

Tuesday Ten {Fit Tips}

I often peruse LC's site and partake in her Tuesday Ten. Well today I have decided to do my own Tuesday Ten. This week 10 Fit Tips:

1. Working out should not be chore! Find something that you like to do to workout. Me I'm a runner, but I also love dance, so I do Zumba, Turbo Kickboxing, and Barre classes.
2. Those 5 small pieces of chocolate/candy/cookies add up!
3. Don't drink your calories in the form of some latte!
4. It's about what you eat! You can 1200 calories of crap or 1200 calories of good wholesome food. Get rid of the prepackaged meals loaded with sodium and go for fresh foods! Steamed veggies, grilled or baked chicken and fish. You get twice the taste and nutrional value w/o the sodium and fat!
5. Just steam it! Yup, steamed you veggied and potatoes, the taste is better and better for your waistline.
6. Salads are only as good as the dressing... so skip the creamy fatty dressings and opt for salsa instead! less calories and the spicey flavor revs up your  metabolism.
7. Portion control! Love me some pasta but the portion that Olive Garden serves you is enough for 2 weeks! (more on this on Thursday).
8. Bread and cheese are not your friends... Eat them in moderation, but pass the bread or chip basket and opt for veggies or fruit.
9. Starving yourself is not the way to do it. Your body needs food to fuel itself and burn fat.
10. Don't diet, make a lifestyle decision. Trust me, if you commit to the change you will see lasting effects and feel better about yourself.
11. Bonus #11, get your friends and family involved. Knowing that someone else makes me accountable, keeps me in check and helps make my lifestyle worl! Hubs & I workout and eat right together.

Currently

Stolen (with love) from Pinky over at P!inkpers!stence. If you have not ever read her blog, well ya should because she rocks!

 

Reading nothing other than briefs, motions and cases. Though I just finished the new James Patterson.

 

Trying to prepare for my first juice cleanse

Anticipating missing food as I juice cleanse

Buying a black purse soon....

Lusting over the Tory Burch and Burberry ones... or the cute quilted Kate Spade

Enjoying the shorter drive to work when I stay at the in-laws, but having the whole house to myself this week ain't that bad either

Cursing the ice cream and red velvet Nothing Bundt Cake I ate last night after the delic cheeseburger and queso

 

Listening the whirring of my a/c vent

 

Annoyed with my hair. Seriously, like it should grow or be cut. I know I just got it recolored and trimmed, but I am over this mid-length funk

 

Watching any Lifetime movie I can grab. They are great, in the these things never happen to real people kind of way,

Wishing I could have a job where I wear cool clothes and get them for free or had a bakery.

Devouring anything in sight and it shows!

Waking up two days a week at 5am for workouts and barely opening my eyes for them.

Hating that hubs in out of town :(

 

Wanting more sleep.

Hoping this week goes by fast.

Feeling restless with life. I don't know what change I need to make,
but I feel it in the wind.  (I second this one and double it)

 

Wanting a black purse... suggestions now being taken

 

How are you currently?

It's Ok Thursday

  Whether you're new, old, or just stopping by, check out all that is ok and link up!   It's Ok....   to mourn the loss of the Keurig at work (and then walk across the street for good coffee)   to think you can still fit into your evening gown from state in a month   to envy your blog friend and her juice cleanse and then research them for an hour and decide finally to do one (and still be slightly scared)   that I have worn black everyday this week to work   to not be obsessed with pinterest (I just do not have the time, I'm already married, and no bun in the oven)   that I am supposed to be writing a response to a MSJ and I still have no clue which side we represent or what our position is   to change my hair color (highlight/lowlights) every 6-8 weeks   to take more than an hour for lunch every once in a while   to still be sore from the Sunday workout and blame your husband for the extra 10 lbs he added   to sleep with your dog wrapped under your arm like a teddy bear   to take Tylenol pm 1-2 times a week just to turn your brain off   that I got a store credit card for the discount only   that I am quasi-excited that hubs will be gone for a whole week soon,  (I mean I'll miss him, but I get the whole house/bed/kitchen to myself!)    

Before Facebook

5:45am alarm goes off. I turn over, pick up my phone to turn off said alarm and immediately check email and duh Facebook.

Yes, I'm 29 years old and Facebook is the second thing I look at in the morning. I would not say I am obsessed, per se, but I realized how Facebook has taken over. So, I dug back into my mind to pre-facebook. For that that is circa 2004 and summer before my senior year of college. I first heard of The Facebook then.

I was a summer orienation assistant at TCU and some of the younger OSAs were all talking about this Facebook thing. This was when you had to have a .edu email and only certain schools were on it. This was before I owned a laptop and before every one knew every move I made. This was before all my undergrad discretions were this morning's newsfeed. This was safer times.

I am blessed that facebook was not around when I indulged in punch or imbibed on rum-flavored jello. No one can make me relive bad fashion, bad relationships, and bad choices. There are no pics of the 21st bday, the freshman "puker" (aka marching band end of summer party), or the other random things I did. Thank goodness right?

There are also not pics of fun nights in the sorority house, silly birthdays, football games, mixers, etc... My Facebook includes only those pics post graduation for the most part, minus those pics people uploaded and later put up that include awful high school memories. Now, I can chat in an instant with my bestie, or get through law school tax class by facebook stalking, or chatting, or playing scrabble like we did 1L. I can toil away billable hours if I'm not careful, or find plaintiffs online.

Facebook, the good, the bad, the ugly truth is that it defines so much of who we are, where we have been, and how we conduct our lives. My children will never know a world without constant connection to the outer world, where everything you do is committed to memory via the WWW. Oh how I long for the days of AOL, AIM and yes I remember ICQ. But for better or worse, Facebook is here to stay and who knows to what lengths it will grow.

Meanwhile, I will sit back and reminisce about the days of 'ole when I just sat next to roommate and chatted via AIM.

Finding What's Missing

I have this sense that something is missing in my life. I kind of touched on this yesterday, but kind of confirmed it whilst facebook chatting with one of my besties yesterday. I admitted I kind of missed sorority life, not so much for the college part of it, but the sister part of it.

Women need friendship, companionship, face it, we need someone to gossip and shop with. And its not like men who can sit across from each other, say nothing, and watch TV and feel like they hung out. We need that interaction between parties. That has been missing in my life. Sure I've got friends, but not like I used to. In law school I had constant interaction, girl talk in K and I's carrel and cupcake time. Life before law school I was a single girl, worked with all women and close to my college friends. But now, I'm married, living in the suburbs, commuting everyday. I lunch sometimes, or the occasional dinner, but I never really "see" my friends. And hubs and I don't have couple friends that we do things with. (And I love hubs, but let's face it, he's not the same as your girlfriends).

So, as my friend and I discussed my missing link, I also began to ponder whether part of what was missing was God. I have not been to church in well like a long time. I used to attend every Sunday in law school. It grounded me, got me ready for the week and allowed me time to reflect. So, perhaps I need a few things. My friend and I decided we needed to find our way back. We could both use a good church home to ground us and provide that piece we are missing. So here's to finding the missing link.

We all go through it at some point. We feel lost, empty, or just like something is off. Take the time to find what that is. It could be friends, alone time, a good book, God, or simply just an off day. Don't doubt yourself though, you know you best and when something isn't right, take the time and fix it.

My husband thinks I'm crazy

Yes, he does, and the truth is, I probably am. I mean, all women are some sort of or amount of crazy. Don't try to deny it ladies, because you know deep down you are have done some crazy things over the years. So, on to my story.

I get in funks, we all do right? But this was Saturday night. We had gone to dinner, come home, were watching TV and it happened. I do not know if it was boredom, or that I felt like a giant pig from the Mexican food I wolfed down earlier. Or perhaps, it was the fact that the jeans I put on were tight. Yup, muffin top tight. I'd blame hormones, but I know its me. I eat way more than I should everyday on occasion. And lately I've been mourning my upcoming 30th bday. I also have been missing life as it used to be. Hanging out with friends, dancing with the girls, cocktails, movie nights and game nights.

I have been jealous of my friends who seem to have it all. Brunch dates, the cutest clothes, hair, etc... I admit its silly and my life is good. I mean I've got a loving husband, adorable furbaby, good job, home, food etc... But yet, a funk it is. Maybe I just am more feeling complacent. I mean nothing "new" has happened in about a year. After last year, perhaps its just my body's way of saying do something spontaneous.

So, I digressed. Saturday, funk, husband... It was pouring down rain and I decided I needed to look for office decor. So we headed out to HomeStore. I wanted bookends. Nada. I did find some baskets and hangers. (hubs looks at me and says ok, well its not bookends). So we get back home and I'm still in the funk. So I decide to find a movie. There I am sitting on my bed, watching some random Lifetime Movie and I decide, I am going to the gym. Yes, I at 9pm went to the 24 hour gym and ran. I good 30 minute all-out run. It felt good. I got home all hopped up on endorphins. I want to cry. No real reason, just want to cry.

Hubs looks at me and I know he's thinking, this woman is crazy. Today was better, but the funk is still here. I know I know, its just a phase, it will go away,  but seriously, I think I need something new. Normally I go with a new hairdo, but I have been growing my hair out so that won't work. Meanwhile, I'll just make random trips to the gym at 9pm and hope my husband embraces this.

Well, I just rambled, but hey its my blog right?

Friday's Letters

Dear Hubs - SHHH! Seriously, you might be the loudest person I know. I like quiet, quiet TV, quiet music, quiet evenings. Dear Weather - Thank you for the reprieve, I can totally handle mid 90's instead of 100's. Dear Headache - Go away, I have you from about 9am til well I go to sleep and you are now infilitrating my right eyeball. Dear Chloe - I love you, but must be you be in the middle of everything, I mean I can't even steal a kiss from hubs without you jumping in the middle thinking you are missing out. Dear Hair - Grow just a few more inches and I may be happy with you. Dear Food - Taste bad so I will not want you, or perhaps I will blame it on stress and continue to consume ;) Dear S. Rose - Thank you for all your help this week with my family law case, I truly appreciate your advice and help! I am blessed to have made such good friends in law school. Dear Lovely - I love our lunches and love you! So glad I have you in my life. Dear Hubs - You. Me. Mexican Food.

It's Ok Thursday

  Back from temporary MIA status due to overwhelming amount of work in time to vent. Yes people today's it's ok is my moment to release some pent up aggression. So link up and tell me what's ok with you!   It's ok....    to be absolutely frustrated with the way courts work sometimes, as well as judges and attorneys, I get that things are not always fair, but sometimes I wonder that the decision is made before I event walk in the courthouse, let alone open my mouth the argue   that I skipped workouts on Monday and Tuesday because hubs was not home, I had to take Chloe out early, and quite frankly I was just too tired   that I yelled at the Einstein's girl, because even though I asked for very very light smear on my bagel the idiot girl heaped it on, so I had to stand there and scrape it off in front of her and then I let out a HUGE groan and said I asked for LIGHT smear, look at all this you just wasted (granted this was also after I had to wait for 7 minutes for anyone to acknowledge that I walked in the door!)   that I am 2 months to 30 and have breakouts like I am 12 because I am stressed out and going though some sort of hormonal change, right?   to have a eye that constantly twitches   to roll my eyes at people in line at Starbucks for their assanine drink orders (who gets a skinny latte with extra whipped cream? can we say ironic?)   that I do not want to chat with anyone at the gym at 6am while I am trying to get ready for my day, seriously, do I look like I want to chat?   that I am disgusted by people who do not wear shower shoes in the gym showers (its just gross)   that I am looking forward to seeing The Campaign even though people say it s bad ( i never agree with critics)   that I just need to vent sometimes!            

True Life: I Hate My Stomach

Ok, so I was so pumped for Saturday night. Hubs had a work event that I got to attend! Yeah the ASAE convention is in Dallas this year and they hosted a shindig at Cowboys Stadium featuring Big 'N Rich! It was amazing!! Yummy food, great music, cool venue... until it hit. Yup, my stomach issue.

I have been dealing with this for about 3 years now and mean it sucks. I have it down to a science now. I will inevitably be at some sort of event, where the food is served later than I normally eat and I scarf it down and then wait for it... BAM! My stomach explodes to the size of a watermelon and I cannot breathe or stand up. It's pretty much a night blower by all acounts.

It is the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life and lasts well until I have emptied the contents of my stomach. Thus, I spend the entire night making trips running to the bathroom only to drive hieve. The next morning I am exhausted both from lack of sleep and well the episodic running and puking.

It puts me down and out for the count for a couple days after because I'm weak and well just spent. So needless to say, I am just not with it today. My body aches, I'm so tired I'm barely awake. So, if anyone knows what caused my stomach ailment let me know.

Like I said, it has no ryhme or reason, no certain food triggers it, My husband thinks I eat too fast, doctors have told me its fatty foods. I have had every test under the sun... nothing. Meanwhile I just need it to be 5:00pm.

Friday's Letters

Dear Chloe - I am so glad you are feeling better, but seriously, you cost me and arm & leg (but I would not have it any other way); Dear Office - It was nice knowing you, but I have moved on to a warmer office! Yes, third move in less than a year for me Dear Hubs - So since you will be really busy these next few days I have decided that I get to shop, thanks Dear Mom - Happy Birthday! You do not look a day past 29, well ok maybe a day since then you would look younger than me; Dear K - It was so good to see you this week, I miss our time together, must have BFF weekend soon; Dear Summer - GO AWAY! It is too hot for my poor baby girl to even go outside, much less for me to enjoy the sunshine. Dear readers - I am sorry I have been a tad offbeat this week, super stressed at work, hope to be back to normal soon.

Happy Friday loves!

It's OK

  Linking up for some It's Ok Action!   IT'S OK.....   to take your call phone to the bathroom with you so you do not miss a call/email from a client or the boss, right? to change offices three times in less than a year that I spend more time driving to and from work each day than with my husband to just not care sometimes that someone does not like you or your work that I have cried in the bathroom at work you helped your best friend eat an entire wedge of brie on about 10 minutes that I only wanted a drop of wine and had 2 glasses that to compensate for the brie, I had a salad for dinner TO SAY NO     Happy Thursday ya'll!

P.S. thank you all for the thoughts about my Chloe, she seems to be doing well now! Must be all those prayers.

 

What a Night

Ok, so for those of you who do not follow me on Twitter or facebook, I experienced the worst last night, my poor baby girl had to be taken to the doggie ER. Chloe Elaine has been a little under the weather for the past week, but we chalked it up to extreme heat. Well, last night the bottom fell out, literally.

She returned from her evening business trip, came into the kitchen and vomitted. Like the worst I have seen. I'm not sure where all this came from, but it did from my lil sweet girl. She then collapsed. Passed out, collapsed on my kitchen tile. Her breathing was shallow, and her eyes were barely open. Right then all I wanted was for her to open her little mouth and say mom xyz hurts.... The look in her eyes was so sad. I tried to get her to drink some water, nothing, she did not even want an ice cube (which normally is a treat!). So, hubs and I headed to the emergency vet.

My heart raced, I have never been so worried in my life. My sweet precious baby was ill and could not even tell me what was wrong. Well, neither could the vet. Several tests and dollars later, we were home, slightly more active. Well this did not last long. She continued to vomit throughout the night.




Needless to say, but the family did not get much rest. Chloe seemed okay this morning, but not herself. I am one worried mama. I think its even worse because she cannot even tell me what is wrong. So, thoughts and prayer for my lil angel-pie. I wish it was take your dog to work day.

When Your Mother Was Right

Yes, we have all heard those fated words from our mother "just you wait, you'll understand someday." Well folks it happened again last night. Yeah I admit this has happened before, but last night I really understood it. I was on my way home from work, after my first day back from vacation and oh wow what a day it was. I digress... so I was talking to my mom on the phone, like I usually do, but this time it was more of a vent that a discussion, and then the words came right out of my mouth. I told my mother she was right. Yup, I said mom you know what, I get it... when you said someday you'll understand, well I did and now do.

It was one of those moments when I knew she would either gloat or get emotional. Honestly, I think relief was more like it. She kind of let out a sigh and said yup, we all experience it honey. It was actually nice to have my mom understand (for once) what I was feeling and know exactly what I needed to hear. But I also realized that when she needed to hear these same things, neither my brother nor I did. I mean, how could we? We did not honestly understand what she was feeling after one of those hellacious days at work. We had nothing to compare it to. But now, now I could tell my mom, wow what a trouper! You put yup with this for years to be able to provide for my brother and I. Kudos Mom!

So, when you have one of those days at work, where no matter what you do you cannot seem to get it right, or you're overwhelmed, or up to here in deadlines, remember, Mother knows best, and she does know exactly how you feel.

I'm Back

I am back from Puerto Rico!!! We had a blast, but so sad that tomorrow is back to the grind. I've got mediation, deposition, briefs and hearings to attend to! I promise to post pics soon of our fabu trip!

If you want a place to visit, hit up PR! It has beach, history, sun, rain forest, waterfalls, and yummy food! This was def a different type of vacation for us, but we had an absolute blast. Til tomorrow loves.