Marvelous Monday: Prom Edition

This past Friday I had the opportunity to relive my teenage years and go to prom again.  My husband and I were chaperoning for his school's prom and decided to treat it as our actually prom had we been together.  Sweet hubby even surprised me with a corsage! 

Dinner was at Monterey Bay, which I have never been too.  Monterey Bay is located on Mt. Washington which offers incredible views of the city.

Capturing the moment

First up, appetizers!  The skewer had tuna, salmon and swordfish, a crab cake which was incredible and two shrimp with an orange marmalade sauce.

I had a salad with goat cheese stuffed dates.  My previous experience with goat cheese was not pleasant but here it was smooth & creamy.  I may be a goat cheese convert!

Hubby got a crab soup with a spicy tomato base, super delicious!

My entree was Yellow Fin Tuna, with Black Peppercorns and Green Onions.  This was amazing, the best I've ever had I joked with the hubby that after our first child is born this is what I wanted for dinner. ;)

My date got the Walleye, which was buttery and melted in your mouth.

Last up, dessert!  Chocolate Truffle cake which was moist, rich and decadent.  The perfect way to end the meal before going dancing! 

So lucky to have this guy as my date.

Hope you have a great Monday!

Linking up with Katie for Marvelous Monday!

Fit Friday: No Weight Full Body Workout

Hello everyone, long time no chat.  Sorry about the mini-hiatus I've been at my parents house this week because my Grandma passed away last Friday.  In the mist of everything that's been going on I wanted to share this take anywhere, minimal equipment workout that I came up with since I didn't have any weights on hand.  I've linked how to do the exercises below, enjoy! :)

1. Squats

2. Mountain Climbers

3. Tricep Dips

1. Lunges (left side)

2. 100s

3. Bicep Curl with Resistance Band

1. Lunges (right side)

2. Bicycle Crunches

3. Lat Pulldowns with Resistance Band

1. Donkey Kicks

2. 1 minute Plank

3. Seated Arm Rows with Resistance Band

Leopard Love

I definitely love a good leopard print.  Come to think of it, it's probably my second most popular pattern in my closet.  (Stripes are first, if you wanted to know. ;))  Just like leopard, blazers are becoming a must have item for me.  At first I wasn't to fond of them, but they have slowly grown on me.  I read somewhere that blazers are the new cardigans.  I certainly agree, they have definitely are making their way into my outfit rotation. I've loved this color ever since I seen it on Lilly's blog.  I was able to hunt down a similar one.  I will say I have been trying to be more conscious about buying clothes.  I made myself think of atleast 10 different outfits I could create using this piece.  Well, I came up with 9, five casual outfits and four dressier outfits wrote down.  This look is one of them:

Blazer, Merona Dress, Etsy Earrings, Prada Flats

At first I thought this outfit as a bit loud.  And honestly I was a tad self-conscious in the beginning but in the end I felt really good in it and it was nbd.

My gorgeous blog friend, Katie at her baby shower.

Next up, more leopard in the form of a cardigan.  This was last week when it was close to 80 degrees out.  

NY&Co Cardigan, Gap Tank, ON Navy Shorts, JCP Earrings

Up close: the little details.

What the most predominate pattern in your closet?
Blazers, love them or hate them?

Linking up with Lindsey for What I Wore Wednesday & Lauren for the Style Sessions.

My Fitness Journey

I first dabbled into fitness when I was in college.  My freshman roommate was into going to the gym and working out.  At that point in time I was probably 35 to 40 pounds heavier than I am now.  I lost around 15 to 20 pounds my freshman year thanks to my healthy influence.  Honestly I don't remember too much about my workout routine, it was probably more cardio than anything and having friends as workout partners.  This carried throughout my college career.  I do remember senior year loving Splenda.  I always remember adding 2 packets to my morning oatmeal every day.  (I cringe now, but you live and learn.)  Fast forward to after graduation, I had back surgery that July for a herniated disc and a bone chip floating around.  January 2007 I landed my first office job and became sedatary.  Within that time frame, I gained all of the weight that I lost in college and remember picking out capris that summer in my old size pre-college.  Then I vowed to myself I wouldn't be this weight again.  One night I stumbled upon some healthy living blogs.  I specifically remember Tina's blog the most,  This started my official healthier living that I have maintained today.  At that time I started an exercise regimen and was introduced to Turbo Jam.  I was drawn to it because it looked like a lot of fun.  Chalene is a fantastic motivator and the workouts seem to fly by because it didn't feel like I was working out.  Working out combined with eating nutritious foods helped me to drop the weight and keep it off since 2007.

Fast forward to now: my workouts now are short and effective.  Honestly I don't have the attention span to do more than hour of exercise.  I did do a month of Insanity last year but I got burnt out on it.  I loved how Insanity got my heart rate up but the length of the workouts were sometimes a drag.  Enter Shaun T's new workout, FOCUS T25.  Can I say how excited I am to try it?! 25 minutes of pure sweat with minimal equipment (yoga mat, resistance band and a pair of weights).  It's scheduled release is for June of this year, and I am marking it on my calendar.  I love to workout at home and Beachbody's programs make it easier to get in a quality workout without having to drive to the gym.




*Disclaimer: I was contacted by Beachbody to do this review. I did not receive any compensation for this post.  This review is my sole opinion only.

Empties!

There's on a trend on Youtube of beauty vloggers called Empties posts.  Essentially they gather empty containers of products that they have used up and then do a review on them.  Kassie, was the first gal to introduce me to these posts and I think they're a great idea to see what's worth purchasing/re-purchasing and what's not.  I'd also like to expand this into the realm of food.   Let's get started!

First off beauty, from left to bottom:  Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser, Aveeno Nourish + Volumize Shampoo, Clinique Perfectly Real Compact Makeup in Shade 126.

• Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser is my staple face wash.  I have dry to normal skin that's sensitive/allergic to a lot of products.  Even the sensitive skin products do not jive well (i.e. Cetaphil, Aveeno, Philosophy, etc) break me out or give me a rash. I have found that Neutrogena is the only one that doesn't aggravate my skin.  In the summer I switch to their Grapefruit Cleanser to combat with weather related oilness.  I hope they never discontinue this item, I love it!
• I've tried mostly all of the shampoo/conditioners from Aveeno's hair care line.  The only one I don't care for is the Renew because it makes my scalp itchy.  I like the Nourish + Volumize Shampoo and have no complaints with it.  I've been using it for quite awhile so I've moved on to a different shampoo.  But yes I would repurchase it.
• When I first started wearing makeup I used Clinique because it did not irritate my skin.  I would  be still using it if I did not find a drugstore alternative that I love.  (Unfortunately I think that the brand is being discontinued so I may be going back to Clinique after my stash is gone.) I received Clinique's Perfectly Real Compact Makeup as a sample and think it's a great foundation/powder.  This powder is very lightweight with exceptional coverage. You can also build more coverage if need be.  Highly recommend and would repurchase this item when my other drugstore powder runs out.    

Untitled #37 by alatteinspiration featuring a lip gloss

• Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Lotion smells amazing and I have even gotten compliments on the scent.  This lotion is thick and creamy with a touch of gold shimmer to give a subtle glow.  I normally put this on before bed.  However when I woke up the next day I would need put on more.  Maybe my skin is extra dry?  I want to try their Coconut version soon.
• I got a sample with my Naked 2 Palette of UD's Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Naked.  The pros: loved the scent, color and how long it stayed on my lips.  I noticed after having it on my lips for awhile I got this petroleum taste/smell.  Unfortunately this con was a deal breaker for me and I tossed it.

• Celestial Seasonsings Madagascar Vanilla Rooibos Tea.  Love, love this tea!  It's caffeine free and tastes like dessert.  I love to drink this flavor in the fall and winter because it feels so warm and cozy.  

• GT's Organic Raw Kombucha in Ginger is a raw, fermented drink filled with probiotics.  I was a little wary about trying this but it turns out it wasn't that bad.  It took me about 3 or 4 days to drink the whole bottle but I don't mind the taste.  It's a little vinegary but the ginger flavor is pretty good.  I would repurchase this but would not stock up on it.  

Houston Eats

First up, Melange Creperie Street Cart at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market at City Hall (901 Bagby Street Houston, TX)  Urban Harvest Farmers Market is at this location on Wednesdays and then at Eastside Street on Saturdays and Sundays.  We waited about 20 minutes or so, but it is worth it.  Tehy guy who makes them is so outgoing and friendly.   They serve both savory and sweet crepes.  We ended up splitting the Strawberry and Bitter Orange Crepe.  The flavor was magnificent, and the crepe was light the perfect compliment to the sweet and bitterness of the fruit.

I've tried a couple of Pho restaurants in Pittsburgh and unfortunately the Pho was not that impressive.  They were ok in comparison to what I've had in Vietnam.  (Ok, that sounds snobby but once you have the real thing in the home country it's hard to go back.)  This place actually had the same name as the place we went to in Vietnam so we had to try it.

We started out with the spring rolls, which had shrimp and pork in it.  The sauce was good, however I thought that they were pretty fishy tasting.

Spring rolls with spicy peanut sauce

Next came our Pho, I ordered beef tenderloin and beef balls.  The broth was really good.  My experiences with American Pho is that the broth is too watery and unflavorful, not the case here.  They brought out a huge plate of the add-ins, sprouts, jalapenos, basil, and lime wedges which I loved.  I'm glad they didn't skimp out on those.  Definitely would come here again the next time we're in Houston.

Beef Tenderloin & Beef Ball Pho

Next up Korean Noodle House.  Handcut noodles and free homemade kimchi? Yes please!  Kimchi was amazing, I'd go back just for it.  So, so good!

Doesn't get more beautiful than this.

My husband got the hand cut noodles with beef and I got the cold noodles with spicy chili paste.

Seafood comparison from my mil's dish.

We both loved our entrees and pretty much cleaned our plates.  That being said, my mil wanted more broth with her soup and they were very nice and gave her more without charge I believe.  The people were incredibly nice as well.  Would defintely come back to Korean Noodle House.

Soba noodles with spicy chili paste, daikon radish, a slice of pork, hardboiled egg, and sesame seeds.

Two words for Boomtown Coffee, Mayan Mocha.  Oh my gosh, we went here two times.  Our first time we came I got an iced coffee which in my opinion don't even waste your time on it.  For me it was weak and they did warn me it was pre-made (aka out of a box).  Hubby got the Mayan Mocha and it is amazing.  The girl even asked us on a scale of 1-5 how sweet would you like your coffee and he choose 3.  It was perfect and spicy.  (Which if you do not like spicy foods, I do not recommend this drink for you.)  Anyway, after you took a sip you had the nice sweetness of the mocha and then a nice spicy kick afterwards.

Hot Mayan Mocha

We went back before we left Houston and I grabbed my own but iced.  Hubby kept his hot.  I was a tad disappointed, it was a little too sweet and the nice spicy kick was faint.  In hindsight, the key is to specify your preferred sweetness to the barista which I did not do.  It was still good.  All in all, this will be my coffee place when I come to Houston.  Adios Starbucks!

Iced Mayan Mocha

Looking for good dim sum, go to Fung's Kitchen.  We made the mistake of going there on Easter Sunday and we had to wait about 30 minutes to get seated.   I'm not sure if it's normally this crowded on a Sunday or if it was because it was Easter.  After we were seated we quickly got to business in ordering our dim sum items.  (For those not familiar with dim sum, the food comes out on carts from the kitchen.  There is an order sheet pre-placed at your table and the waiter will stamp it with whatever you picked up.  Standard fare include chicken feet, dumplings, sticky rice steamed in banana leaf, and sweet egg custard buns.)  Like the Pho, I've had real dim sum in Hong Kong.  This place transported me back to Hong Kong.  It is the best I have tasted stateside.  My two favorites were the pork shumai (pronounced shoe-my) and the sweet egg custard buns.

A fourth of our order.

Oh the infamous tamales!  My husband wanted to try an authentic Mexican tamale during our stay in Texas.  After browsing around the web, I found Alamo Tamales.  Originally we planned to stop their for a snack however something else happened.  When you walk into Alamo Tamale, it reminds you of a cafeteria.  There's a window where you can peak into and see tortillas being made.  I first spied guacamole and picked up a small container.  Next we had to place our order.  I ordered 1 beef tamale and 1 bean tamale.  Unfortunately I did not realize that 1 equals 1 dozen.  We  received the the bag and my husband questioned the lady and the lady said there was 1 beef and 1bean in the bag.  The guacamole was spectacular, dare I say better than my beloved Chipotle.  The tamales were good and verry filling.  I seriously did not eat for the the next six hours I was so full.  And no we did not finish the order, hubby had 6 and I had 4.  Not wanting to let good food go to waste we decided to give the rest to a hungry homeless man on the highway.

Last stop, BBQ!  A must when visiting the South.  I had picked out two places to choose from, Gatlin's and Lulings.  We choose the latter for date night.  I got the turkey and Hubs got ribs and beef.  I've never had Southern BBQ so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I was sort of disappointed, my turkey tasted like ham.  If I had to rank from best to okay, I would say rib first, beef second, and turkey last.  The amazing thing that we did discover at Lulings was their amazing hot sauce.  Holy cow, vinegary, sweet, hot... perfect. If it as airport approved I would have bought a few.

Note that no meal would be complete without Texas Toast!

I also want to mention, Central Market on Westheimer Road.  Central Market is a foodie paradise.  The giant, organic Honeycrisp apple that I posted here was from there.  I seriously could have spent an afternoon there, ooh and ahhing.  Plus they were giving out free samples of sushi.  Winner, winner sushi dinner.

Overall, it was a successful food trip.  We found some wonderful and tasty places and if we're ever back in the area we'll be back.  Thanks Houston for the delicious food! 

Addresses:

Central Market

3815 Westheimer Rd

Houston, TX 77002

Melange Creperie at Urban Harvest Farmers Market (City Hall location, Wednesdays only)

901 Bagby 

Houston, TX 77002

Pho 24 Cafe

9750 Bellaire Blvd.

#108

Houston, TX 77036

Korean Noodle House

1415 Murray Bay St

Houston, TX 77080

Boomtown Coffee

242 W 19th

Houston, TX 77008

Fung's Kitchen

7320 Sothwest Fwy #115

Houston, TX 77074

Alamo Tamale

809 Berry Road

Houston, TX 77022

Lulings City Bar-B-Q

4726 Richmond Ave

Houston, TX

OOTD Houston Style

Some highlights from our trip:

Airport style, multiple layers to add and subtract between temp changes.

Grey Hoodie: AE, Purple Tee: VS Pink,  Tank (underneath): AE, Scarf: Target, Jeans: Limited

At the farmers market, I must say I probably won't add the belt the next time.  Chambray I think would have been better knotted.  You live & learn. ;)

Chambray: ON, Tank: F21, Scarf & Maxi Skirt: Target, Sandals: Rainbow 

Ahh beach & sunshine we have been reunited!  Seriously it was perfect beach weather, sunny with a little breeze.  We went to Galveston beach, about 45-50 minutes away from Houston.  I was nervous reading all the reviews saying it was dirty but I was impressed.  They offer different beaches, some in which you have to pay ($8 per family) to use.  We just did the free beach and it was fine, I was just looking to work on my tan and get my toes wet anyway. ;)  The water was a tad dirty but that's to be expected since it's the Gulf. I wish were able to stay there longer and explore the area, they had a ton of cute shops where we got salt water taffy at (La Kings Confectionary).

2 piece: Target, Cover-up: VS Pink 

Sparkles for the day!  I have this notion that sequins/glitter are just for special occasions or night time.  Time to change that way of thinking.  Even the guy at Boomtown even complimented that he liked the sparkles.  Coffee + sparkles make a great day in my book.

Sequin Tank & Gold Belt: Jcrew Factory,  Shorts: The Limited

Our last night in Houston, aka date night.  What's a trip to the South without testing out their BBQ? I just needed the hat. ;)

Tank (on sale now!): J.Crew, Scalloped Lace Top: F21, Shorts: The Limited, Cowgirl Boots: Ariat

If you're looking for a comfy pair of cowgirl boots, Ariats are the way to go.  My bff reins horses and competes and told me Ariats feel like tennis shoes, they're that comfortable.  I agree with her, I wore mine right out of the store and wore them for the rest of the day.

Hope you're all having a fabulous week so far! :)

Linking up with Lindsey for What I Wore Wednesday & Lauren for the Style Sessions.

Houston Snapshots

I can't believe we're back already! We had a wonderful time in Houston. I will be writing 2 posts about our trip, one food and the other outfit related. Until then here are a few snaps from our trip.

5 Workouts for When You're Away From Home (No Gym Required!)

We leave for Texas tonight and since we are not staying at a hotel I don't have access to a gym.  This means getting creative on getting a good workout in.  Here are five ideas to get working out to.

1. Enjoy your surroundings!  It's a vacation for a reason.  Take a walk, hike, bike ride through a park, go swimming.  Do activities that give you the most enjoyment and that are fun. 
2. Make up your on HITT workout using the Seconds app.  I've been doing 20 seconds on with 10 seconds of rest with four movements, repeat for a total of 2 sets.  Exercises include jumping jacks, high knees, burpees, and vertical jumps.  (Note you can play around with timing to, if you have a higher endurance try 30 seconds on 15 seconds off etc.)  
3. A free 20 minute Yoga class from Yogadownload.  All of the classes are in audio form. If you're not familiar with yoga they offer a pose guide to help guide you.  They also have a YouTube channel as well which I think are much easier to follow. 
4. Your own bodyweight circuit workout.  Think squats, planks, lunges, pushups, etc.  Here is a handy guide to 50 Bodyweight exercises.
5. Youtube channels!

• Fitness Blender (has HIIT/Tabata style workouts, as well as strength training and beginners workouts too.)
• Fitnessista (offers great HITT workouts and 5 minute Ab Burners)
• BexLife (gives targeted workouts (i.e. abs, butt/thighs) as well as mediation and cardio workouts)
• Blogilates (A lot of Pilates workouts that only require a mat.)
• ZuzkaLight (Zuzka offers a ton of high intensity workouts that take little time.)
• FitTV (gives you a lot of different workouts from dancing to yoga to strength training)

If you only get in a few workouts don't sweat the small stuff.   Just remember, exercise will always be there when you get back from your trip.   Spending time with loved ones is priceless and good for the soul. :)

How do you fit exercise in on vacation?

What are your favorite Youtube workout channels? 

Linking up with Tori and Brittany for Anything & Everything Tuesday. 

The Chambray Debate

Yesterday's shopping outfit to which I did not resort to a "plain, old tee" and jeans but an actual shirt is a win in my book.  Pattern play a bonus.

I have been on the hunt for the perfect lighter chambray top to add to my wardrobe for a few months now.  I have been eyeing this J.Crew one for quite sometime and decided to go ahead and buy it yesterday.  After trying on two different sizes, I'm not sure which one to get.  Part of me says the larger size because Stacy and Clinton would kindly tell me that I have a bit of body dysmorphia because think I am bigger than what I am  I am more comfortable with bigger tops and skinnier bottoms.  On the other hand aka the voice of reason tells me the medium fits me much better.  (Stacy and Clinton would also add that when you wear bigger clothes you tend to look bigger.)  I ended up leaving with no top for now until I can decide on a size.

Medium 

Large

Can I add that I love the hot pink tank underneath?  Too bad it wasn't the correct size or I would have snapped it up faster than you can say neon azalea. ;)

What size would you choose? 

Have you experienced body dysmorphia when trying on clothes?

Linking up with Lindsey for WIWW & Lauren for the Style Sessions.