Lemonade from life: Skinny Chick Pizza

Great idea! Especially when you live with boys who eat whatever they want and you can't : (

Lemonade from life: Skinny Chick Pizza: "The key to lasting weight loss is not complete deprivation, but consistency and moderation. One way to achieve your goals is to modify your..."

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...Winter

One thing I have learned during my time here in Chicago: there are some winter-wear items that you can splurge on, some you can just can simply scrimp on, and others that are best to deal-hunt for. I have learned this the hard way over the last ten years; being raised in Florida, I really had to just figure things out by trial and error.

Splurge: When it's 6am and you're waiting for the train for 20 minutes in 10 degree weather (without windchill), the only thing you desperately need is an extremely heavy winter coat. Because of their [high] prices, I have tried to scrimp on down coats for around $100 at Marshalls or TJ Maxx, but I find that the small details really make a difference. For example: a hoodie that is too light to stay up by itself in the wind or pockets that are not lined. And, because they're cheap, they only last two seasons before they are too worn to use. While some brands like NorthFace and Columbia, are more expensive, to me they are WORTH it for Chicago winters. This weekend Santa bought me the NorthFace Arctic Parka. This baby should last me at least 4 - 5 seasons.

Steal a Deal: For the 50-degree days and for nicer occassions, you'll need a coat that's not so utilitarian; I've found that I like wool trench coats or peacoats. Though they're less heavy than the down coats and parkas, they should still be lined. I refuse to purchase any coat that does not have pockets (why even make such a ridiculous product?) and I like this item to be in a color or a camel/tan base, so that it will match with either black or brown outfits. The department stores can charge $200+ for these items; I almost always buy mine at Marshalls or online. This year I purchased the coat below, in Avocado, from Overstock.com with a 10% off coupon for $75.

Scrimp: While I love name brands as much as the next person, I have found that some items just take too much of a beating during the Chicago winters to really be worth the purchase. For warm boots of a certain will-go-unnamed-but-very-popular-brand, the salt and mush just tear up their fabric and make them quite unsightly by the end of the season. So, instead of buying $170 *** Boots every winter, I've opted to buy a less expensive brand this year. These boots have rubber soles (unlike *** brand), warm lining, and are super comfortable on frigid days. At only $30, if they don't last more than one season, I don't really care!*

*Note: for serious snow boots, I have found that the study ski boots I bought for $170 have served me amazingly! I am still able to pull them out three years later when those serious snow storms come through.

Featured Blog

Today I'd like to introduce you to Kristen of Kristen F. Davis Designs. I "found" her when I was looking into wallpaper ideas for my master bedroom. I fell in love with her faux wallpaper project that she debuted on her blog. How elegant is this? (I plan to duplicate in my own master bedroom very soon!)

Kristen does commissioned painting and design projects around the Atlanta area. She paints everything from canvas, to walls, to furniture and is extremely talented. Check out her blog!

It's That Time Again!

Temperatures are consistently freezing, the holiday lights are up, and everyone is blabbing about Black Friday. Yes, it is officially gift-giving time. Like most people these days I very rarely pay full price for ANYTHING. I shop at the discount retailers and even then I try to stick around the sale racks. Some of my favorite stores for holiday shopping:

TJ Maxx

Marshalls

Home Goods

Claire's (really!)

http://www.dealradar.com/

One of the best places I've discovered on the internet is http://www.dealradar.com/. While we're all familiar with Groupon and Living Social, there is probably a plethora of other group-based discount providers in your area (for Chicago there are 25+). Dealradar.com consolidates all the discounts available to you into one daily email. It is SO MUCH BETTER than receiving 25 emails each day.

Pretty Pattern

I'm finishing the shelves project tonight and will post pics very soon. In the meantime check out what came in the mail today: fabric for my office project. Isn't she gorgeous!? I'm using it to make a memo board in my blue-and-green office.

Here is where I got my inspiration for the blue and green color scheme. I love the upbeat, energetic feeling it brings to the space. (Very useful in an area dedicate to work.)

*Photo courtesy of House Beautiful

To Rug Or Not To Rug?

As I noted in a previous post, the Master Bedroom is my refuge. Retreating into my comfy bed to read a book, watch T.V, or waste away cold weekend mornings just cuddling, is one of my favorite ways to relax. (Unfortunately, I don't get to do it as often as I'd like.)

Anyways...

The space is still lacking a major desgin element: PATTERN. I've managed to bring a bit of it into the space through the bedding, but the walls and floor are desperately plain. I do have a plan to get some pattern on the wall very soon, but today I want to throw out some options for the floor.

I desperately want a rug. I know I don't need it (there's carpet on the floor currently), but that big empty space in front of the bed is just crying for a rich, gorgeous rug. My dilemma: the space is awkward and...there's carpet. If I had wood floors I'd have no problem selecting. But whatever rug I choose, I don't want it to clash too intensely with the carpet. (Note: we do have tentative plans to take out the carpet...but not in the near future.)

Here are some of my options, the first two are my favs, but I really love them all:

Featured Blog- An Introduction To One of My Fav Blogs

Today's featured blog is Young House Love from super cute couple Sherry and John Petersik. With their comedic Chihuahua, Burger, and the latest addition to the family, baby Clara, this family has done some serious expanding in the last year. To accomodate their growth they've just purchased a new home, so there's bound to be some very exciting projects ahead!

What I love about Young House Love is their approach to DIY projects. Sherry and John have no training, licensing, or previous experience; they've learned all their lessons the old fashioned way...just diving in and rolling with the punches. For new home owners and designers, their projects page is an especially valuable tool summarizing nearly everything they've learned along the way.

*Photo courtesy of www.younghouselove.com

Get Sexy! Chicago Women's Bootcamp

For my 17th birthday I asked for a gym membership...weird, I know. Ever since then I have been working out at least four days a week. In the last year I gained weight due to a combination of factors; less intense workouts, increase in food intake, jam-packed schedule, higher levels of stress, and age all probably contributed. Since I already worked out quite often, I knew that I would have to give 150% if I wanted to dramatically shed pounds.

I knew I wouldn't give 150% on my own. (Who DOES that?)

For about four months now I've been attending the Chicago Women's Fitness Camp three to four days a week. The camp is led by Michelle Rossfeld; I haven't been yelled at so much since high school basketball practice. In addition to the bootcamps, Michelle also provides her clients with individualized cardio programs for the weekends. With the combination of these two workouts, I've lost about 13 pounds in three months. I haven't been assessed recently...but I'm hoping the number of pounds lost is even higher now.

Though the camp does seem to focus on women that are interested in losing a significant amount of weight (10+ pounds), many of the women who have already lost weight tend to stay on as clients. The reason: you won't get a better workout. Anywhere.

If you're in the Chicago area and are interested in losing weight OR you just want to challenge yourself with an amazing workout, I recommend attending the camp. First time visitors are always free.

*Photo courtesy of www.chicagowomensfitnesscamp.com

Blog, blog, blog

Just found a very informative list of tips and tricks for starting a blog. It was written by Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project - amazing writer and blogger. While some of these I have already learned, I find the rest to be quite helpful. Enjoy!

Lessons learned, forgotten, and re-learned

I got a great deal on two tall bookshelves via craigslist last week. Originally they were $25 each, but the seller ended up giving me two for the price of one...yay! As they're just particleboard, I probably could have gotten them for pretty cheap at Target, but I prefer to buy for even cheaper and then cusotmize a la Centsationalgirl. (Tangent - I heart Kate's site and home. Check her out.)

Right now I am in the middle of priming and painting them. It's been so long since I've painted anything that I forgot some of the little tips and tricks that I've learned in the past. Aside from the basics, here's a refresher course on the little details that will make your painting project go much smoother:

1) Always have paint-mixing sticks on hand. They're cheap and so precious during a project like this.

2) For anything with corners, also have an angled brush available. For everything else, use a roller. So much faster.

3) Speaking of corners, do corners and edging first.

4) Paint in a well-ventilated and well-lit area. (Seems obvious, but easy for us northerners to forget when we want to paint and it's 40 degrees outside.)

5) Paint is meant to be applied at 70 degrees Farenheit and in moderate humidity. If you're painting in different conditions, use an additive such as Penetrol or Floetrol to allow for even coverage.

6) Don't bother with a manicure until the project is COMPLETE.

I'm Scared

There, I said it.

I've been talking about it for months and now it's nearly here. I am this close to giving birth. Not literally of course. According to my TO DO list, I will be spending the next nine months, developing, establishing, outlining, and beginning my own business. No MBA program, house purchase, or other general life goal is in my way. I have bought and decorated the house, graduated with a double Masters, shed 15 pounds, started volunteering again, obtained a second [eventually primary] source of income, and basically crossed out every other thing on my list. I am free.

Yet I am scared. In an effort to make myself accountable to the Universe I have told everyone dear to me about my plans. We've had other opportunities fall through...which in my mind is a sign from Madame Universe that I am MEANT to do this. I am MEANT to tear the band-aid, jump without a parachute, swim in my uncertainty, and DO THE DAMN THANG.

I've read enough of other entrepreneurs' experiences to know that I will be my own worst critic. I will second-guess myself to death. I'm there already. Scared, uncertain, timid, trembling, doubtful. (Wait a minute, back up. Did I just call myself an "entrepreneur"? Freaky.)

But I have conceived. You can't see the bump yet. I feel no kicks. I am still sleeping soundly. But there is a small sense of nausea at the back of my thoughts; I expect soon it will be a daily occurance. I shall go into labour on August 1st. Baby name to be announced in the future...

Are you a fan?

As an amateur designer I know the floors and the ceiling should never be ignored when creating a space. Until now I have completely ignored this rule, as a matter of inconvenience (how do I uninstall/insall) and expense (carpet was laid down by previous owners). But now I'm wondering if it's time for me to step up my game and install a pretty ceiling light in the Master Bedroom?

Here are a few of my choices. My favorite is the first one shown.

Look what mama bear found!

In a previous post I mentioned that our master bedroom was nearly complete. I was just missing one floor mirror to lean in a corner. Unfortunately floor mirrors can be very expensive; I found some I loved for as much as $400. Most will cost you between $150 and $250.


















But, stacked against the wall at my favorite hotel liquidator, I found the perfect cherry to top my sundae! A modern, espresso finished, high quality mirror! And the price... only $50! Whooo hooo.

Front Garden Makeover

Our front garden was a boring, dull space when we moved in. There was no landscaping and just a 10x10 lot of rocks. Since we have a garden apartment that we lease out I thought, "How perfect for a little patio area!" And so the makeover began...

Step 1: Clear out rocks and lay down sand and concrete.

Step 2: Lay down the brick and the border. We used both new brick and old stone pieces left over from stone work done on other areas of the garden.

Step 3: Purchase 1200 pounds of fresh soil, distribute, and garden! I chose Endless Summer Hydrangeas and Japanese Painted Ferns for the patio borders.

Step 4: Accessorize! A table/chairs set and grill were purchased from Craigslist.

Step 5: ENJOY.

Forgive me!?

I know I’ve been a horrible blogger. I have been sooooooooooo busy. Here’s what’s been going in this crazy ride called LIFE:

* Very last full quarter of my MBA! I finish up in 3 weeks! I’ll have one brief summer class in August…then ALL DONE!

* Trip to London just a few weeks ago. Celebrated my birthday while I was there. Post and pictures to come!

* Been working on the front garden. Happy to say it is nearly complete. I’ve been hounding Craigslist like crazy looking for furniture and flower pots to decorate with. Post and pictures to come.

* We’ve hired a contractor to build a deck on the back of our house. Of course, good ol’ Chicago has managed to delay the process with its endless permit reviews and restrictions, but I believe we are pretty close. (Fingers crossed. Knock on wood.)

* A few small business ideas swimming in my head, one of them firmly injected by my husband. It seems he feels I should fill up my free time with SOMETHING now that I’ll be done with school. How sweet of him.

* Training for a half marathon. I’m in week three of a 12 week program. Post to come on that as well.

Goal # 7: Workout Four Times a Week

Since requesting a gym membership for my 16th birthday, I have been working out five or six times per week. In an ideal world, I would do an hour each of cardio, weight training, and yoga every morning. To have a goal of hitting the gym four times per week is actually a little sad to me…a sign that I’m getting older and life is getting busier.

Exercise is my drug. I feel better when I do it and when I haven’t had my “hit”, I start to feel pretty down. Over the years I have found that I’m most addicted to high-impact exercise; I am trying to learn how to slow my mindby trying pilates, yoga, and meditation…it’s an uphill battle.

Here are some of my favorite workouts, exercise media, and workout locations in Chicago:

1. TURBOKICK (thanks Kristina for the introduction!) – an amazing, fast-paced combination of kickboxing, aerobics, and choreography. It's like dancing on the gym floor. The music is awesome and, with a good instructor, the classes are high energy! See an example here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHDUJ4kHTf0

2. YOGA BOOTCAMP – A six week course of 2-hour yoga sessions. For those new to yoga or looking to get back into it, this course should be a great way to [re] commit. It’s held at a Spring Pilates Wellness Center (http://www.springpilateschicago.com/) on the North Side of Chicago, a studio that keeps classes affordable and high quality.

3. RUNNING – I hate to do it, but with my Saucony running shoes I feel like I’m running on air! I also download DJ Divsa’s mix tracks (available for free at his website http://www.djdivsa.com/) and the never-ending jam session keeps me enjoying the run! Can’t wait until the weather gets nice to go to the lake!

4. KETTLEBELLS – amazing workout that leaves you limping…and begging for more. Though I’ve only done it in a class session, it’s an exercise easily adaptable to home. Sort of like yoga with weights.

5. WOMEN’S WORKOUT WORLD (Monroe St.) – A $20-a- month gym located a block from where I work. Not a high-scale facility by any means, but great for the basics [and for a recession]. This is where I acquired my love for TurboKick. http://www.w3body.com/

6. FLIRTY GIRL FITNESS – By far the best classes and instructors I’ve ever had! These ladies push you to your limits, but keep you entertained with dancing, boxing, and pole classes. Unfortunately the facility has no cardio machines, otherwise it would be heaven (salon and bar included!). The price is a bit high for me as well. http://www.flirtygirlfitness.com/

UPDATE: Plant-strong vegetarian

I did it! Twenty-eight days of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes only. I gotta say, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Week two was probably the worst week for cravings…I wanted a bagel with butter so badly! I was more surprised by some of the things I did not crave though - like cheese and sweets - which I would have thought I was going to miss the most.

A lot of people have asked me questions about my experience. The most common question was whether or not I felt a difference. I have to say that I did. Overall I felt cleaner and lighter; literally, I was more regular than I have ever been. I experienced increased energy, most noticeable in my improved and extended workouts. And I felt a general positivity and comfort with food, no more guilt and concern over calorie counts and fat intake. To be fair, some of these effects might have had a mental element as well. Regardless, they were all very positive and enjoyable.

Through the process I learned a few interesting things:

1) A lot of what I was eating was based on pure habit. For example, somewhere along the line I picked up the idea that cheese could be put on everything. Bagel for breakfast –cream cheese on top. Sandwich or salad for lunch, topped off with cheese. Pasta for dinner, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, please! Even midday snacks were not off limits; after all, an apple is always better with some cheese spread on it. I was eating cheese at every meal and didn’t even realize it.

2) Convenience played a major factor in my eating. For years I never thought of going to more than one grocery store. My shopping destination was always Pete’s, a Latin-based chain in our area. To give credit where it’s due, this store has an amazing produce section. But the rest of the store is mainly packed with high-sodium, processed food selections. After the Engine 2 plan, I now do my produce shopping at Pete’s and get the majority of my other foods at Trader Joe’s. Making the extra trip takes extra time of course, but finding healthier food alternatives is worth it.

3) Patience is truly a healthy virtue. Making a dietary change doesn’t only involve restraint. I chose to focus on retraining myself instead: learning new recipes, finding healthy substitutes, and giving my palette time to become accustomed to the new tastes. Since finishing the E2 plan, I have had to restrain myself from proclaiming to others its benefits. For example, I would love to have my entire household on the E2 program as well. I have to understand, however, that people can make their own decisions and the best I can do is point them in the right direction. So I have learned to incorporate some of E2’s methods in my cooking to make it healthier overall, as opposed to forcing the change on others in my house who are not interested.

I continue much of the E2/vegan lifestyle even after completing the 28-day program; though I am not as strict about excluding dairy (I’ll eat non-fat Greek yogurt and low-fat cheese occasionally). I have continued to concentrate my diet on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes…though I will allow myself the occasional piece of pizza or scoop of ice cream.

Goal # 2: Legal Documents

Death is rarely welcome… Unfortunately I’ve experienced a number of untimely deaths already. A few friends passed away in high school and my mother past away a few years ago, only in her 40s. My experiences have taught me that death can happen at any time – there is no guarantee that we will have the opportunity to enjoy old age.

Taking this into consideration, my relatively new marriage status, and a recently purchased property, I have been meaning to drag Mr. Bartender and myself to an Estate Attorney for a while now. I’m happy to say, earlier this week, we did just that!

Through experience with my mother’s estate and after a thorough reading of “Why Wills Won’t Work” (http://whywillswontwork.com/) I knew that I preferred a trust to avoid probate and allow a smooth transition of our assets to our beneficiaries in the case of our deaths. Questions we pondered included:

- Do we have the proper amounts of life insurance, AD&D insurance, and liability coverage for our cars and property?
- What are our current assets?
- Do we want to leave all of our assets to each other should only one of us die? Or do we want to distribute them to other people as well?
- Where do we want our assets to go should both of us die?

I know the process can seem daunting and depressing, but our attorney seems very pleasant and really broke it down very simply. The goal for us was to create a strong legal foundation so that as our assets accumulate through life and our family expands, changes can be made simply and quickly.

If anyone needs a good Estate Attorney in Chicago, I’ll be happy to refer ours.

Goal # 1: Going "Plant Strong"

A few weeks ago I learned that my blood pressure is a bit high. I knew the day would come, but I must say I was surprised it came so soon. I was raised with good eating habits (no fried foods or salt), I work out regularly (3-4 days a week) and I don’t drink too much (3-5 drinks a week). Though I like my sweets, I have a pretty healthy lifestyle compared to the average American.

Problem #1: no one should compare themselves to the “average American” when gauging their health. We’re a country of tubbies.
Problem #2: genetics. Both sides of my family are plagued with weight problems, diabetes, heart conditions, alcoholism, etc.

A friend at work told me about the Engine 2 Diet: a 28-day plan that promotes a “plant strong”, essentially vegan eating program. Unlimited amounts of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes; cut out all meats, oils, dairy, and processed foods. I must admit, I shed a little tear when I thought about not eating cheese, but I committed to the plan for the 28 days.

Though I may incorporate some low-fat cheese and margarine back into my diet after the 28 days, ultimately I'm looking at this as a lifestyle change. The book provides a number of recipes and approved foods, as well as online resources. The hardest part has been adjusting my palette and learning more healthy cooking skills/recipes. I'll follow up in a few weeks for an update.