Tis The Season For Engagements!

Fa la la la la la la la laaaaa. Christmas, Valentine's Day, and birthdays. The trifecta of popular times to propose. Me, my fiance proposed on a birthday vacation. I never saw it coming, well played sir. With engagements come presents. Some are awesome...some are platters or gift cards to stores you will never use. As your loved ones get accept proposals this holiday season, get them some congratulatory gifts that don't suck.

1. Tiffany and Co. Champagne Flutes. This is a pricier option, but very classy. One of my bridesmaids purchased them for us. As a person who has never received anything in a little, much less a big, blue box, I was thrilled. 

2. Ring holder. Think about their style. I personally am a fan of this Kate Spade ring holder, but a friend of mine who received the same gift preferred a simpler, etsy style holder. 

3. Bridal/I Do/Mrs jewelry. Kate Spade has super cute wedding jewelry, I am a big fan of their Mrs. necklace. Most stores or boutiques will carry their own take on this idea.

4. Monograms. I swear, I possess a little bit of my grandmother's southern spirit with my love of all things monogrammed. A notepad, necklace, or cozy pullover sweater would be a perfect choice.

5. Money. I don't care how tacky it sounds. Weddings are expensive. Many couples would rather have $25 cash instead of the same value on a gift card to a store they may or may not frequent.

6. Helpful tips and insight. Brides enjoy pointers from people who have been there. But, I don't need to hear gossip from your wedding or a minute by minute recap. You know a way to save on flowers, DIY something cute, or what worked and didn't work? By all means, let me in on your secrets!

Break Out Your Thanksgiving Pants!

{http://fyeahfriendsgifs.tumblr.com/post/3528821300}

Happy Thanksgiving! I know I will have to spend the day helping my mom prep and cook and clean up everything. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.... But I am looking forward to the yummy food! Okay, mainly the desserts. I have no problem practicing portion control during dinner, but I cannot guarantee I won't down half a pie before the end of the day. Indulge, enjoy, but focus on spending time chatting with family instead of hovering over the leftovers. At least, that will be my distraction tactic this year! Safe travels and enjoy your holiday!

Gratefulness: The Ultimate Health Boost

This is the time of year we are supposed to be most grateful for the things we have and those around us. Ironically, this is counteracted by an influx of Black Friday sales, Cyber Mondays hub bub, and a season of overspending. I love giving and getting as much, if not more, than everyone else. However, many articles have been surfacing lately about the benefits of being grateful for what you have (here and here). As a person who is often anxious and planning the next five days in their head, I could really benefit from remembering to appreciate the day to day things. Being grateful can be linked to positive health changes, lower blood pressure, less stress, getting sick less often. More importantly, it helps us to slow done every once in a while. 

According to the December issue of Health magazine, the top five things people are thankful for are their families, the freedom of living in America, good health, close friends, and ability to practice religion. Some of those are kind of deep, but here are some small things I currently appreciate:

1. This guy. Thank you for making my day a bit more hilarious.

2. Having today off. I made delicious bacon for breakfast, which I never would have time for on a work day. Also, I had peanut butter with my apple for a snack. A leisure my nut free school does not allow.

3. This baby poop picture. The longer you look the funnier it gets.

4. Finding the most ridiculous things funny. My sense of humor can be quite juvenile, but I love it.

5. Marrying the perfect man in less than nine months. Every day I literally get so excited to finally marry him. 

6. Cute Christmas cards. I love sending holiday cards to my friends. Target has a really cute selection in stores. Throw in a gift card, too!

7. My innate ability to throw bizarre foods together and make it a meal. Something I will be doing for lunch and dinner today in order to finish up our leftovers before heading home for Thanksgiving!

8. My adorable 93 year old grandmother who I will finally get to see tomorrow. She's the best.

9. Christmas music. Yes. I have been busting out the carols already. No shame.

10. This article saying it's okay to drink full calorie wine!

Step two of being grateful? Go out and tell others you appreciate them. Say hello to a stranger. Give people more compliments. They, and you, will feel way better afterwards. Promise.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

The Magnificent Mile Lighting Festival went down last night and it was freezing. I am a huge baby when it comes to being cold. You can imagine my joy at the plummeting temperatures as we were volunteering yesterday. Never have I worn so many layers and never have I been so afraid I might lose a toe to frost bite. Thank goodness one of our friends gave me their "serious winter hat" or I may not have survived. However, being a huge Christmas devotee I was in awe of how beautiful Michigan Avenue looked once the parade got going. 

Poor Mario Lopez (wrapped in his red scarf) couldn't handle the cold. He came down twenty minutes before the parade started and was ushered right back up on a golf cart as soon as he completed the route. I don't blame him.

I felt very badly for the people trying to contain this guy! He face planted at one point...

I loved this trolley. I also loved being able to take pictures from the middle of the street. Too cool.

The ABC 7 float was my favorite. 

Sadly, I missed Santa at the very end. My feet were frozen and I tried to escape inside a store to warm up as Santa was passing behind me! Horrible timing. The experience was amazing and really puts me in the Christmas spirit. I will have my decorations up before the end of the week for sure.

Ferris Bueller's Arianna's Day Off

Oh, vacation days. I can never get enough of them. Today I took my last vacation day of the year, outside of my three day Thanksgiving break and two week Christmas break. Thank youuu, teaching! I had to be downtown early this morning for a doctor's appointment. I made the mistake of following internet directions instead of using my common sense. This means I took the long way around to access the building. Nothing like lake front air first thing in the morning! On the upside, this was my glorious view on my chilly walk:

I only ate an apple and some tea before heading out the door this morning so I made a brunch snack as soon as I got home! I love being at home. I have the freedom to cook up whatever I'm craving at the moment. 

I made a light salad for lunch after working out. It wasn't too filling so I followed up with this delicious combo of greek yogurt, raspberries, almond butter, and chocolate chips. So good. 

I did some online shopping for Christmas presents and purchased some vitamins as well. My hair has already started to become very dry due to the cold. Hopefully, some hair, skin, and nails vitamins will help! Now, I am catching up on my favorite Investigation Discovery shows and trying to muster up the focus to make it through the rest of the week! Thanksgiving break is so close!

Holiday Shopping...On A Wedding Budget

I adore the holidays. I always have, and I really adore the shopping. This year, I am trying to do things a bit differently and abide by my list. I have to stay focused! I always disliked getting or giving random gifts no one really needs. I have a nice pair of gloves, I don't need fifteen other pair with coordinating hats and scarves. Who has the space? These are some items on my list for others this Christmas:

Fiance:

Our presents to each other this year? Wedding bands. The gift that keeps on giving, right? I'm also going to make him a delicious meatloaf dinner. His favorite meal.

Mom:

My mom wanted a new perfume. This one is sultry without being overpowering.

We have this set of Christmas dishes, and last year it was not so subtly hinted we needed a serving platter to go with it.

Brother:

A true Colt's fan, I am looking into a jersey for my brother. Hopefully I can find one for less than $100! And, of course, I will get him a six pack. To him, that is always the perfect gift.

Grandmother:

My grandmother has been collecting cute perfume bottles for years. This one is from Anthro but I am going to keep an eye out for different ones as well.

Friends:

DSW gift cards for my bridesmaids, they have to have something towards their wedding shoes!

Coworkers:

Ahh yes. The dreaded work gift exchange. I will be including this delectable gift set along side a gift card to Target or Starbucks. My skin gets dried out this time of year so I love festive lotions!

Each picture is linked to where you can purchase it if you're interested! What are you getting for your family and friends this year? 

Hot Cocoa on a Dreary Day

While I had a productive morning today; meeting with the DJ, grocery shopping, cleaning, ect, my energy crashed post workout. Thanks, rainy weather. As temperatures drop I long to reach for something warm and rich. Tea doesn't always cut it! However, lattes, mochas, and flavored drinks aren't always the best for you. Even your typical coffee house hot chocolate is about 300 calories... More importantly, they add up financially! To warm you up with an extra caliente kick, or clear your sinuses, drink this instead.

Ingredients:
-1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder

- 3 packets truvia

- Cinnamon and cayenne pepper to taste (about 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp cayenne)

- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

- Reddi Whip on top!

Calories: 70

 

Before heating mine on the stove, I mixed the cocoa powder, milk, and truvia in a blender. Otherwise my cocoa gets very clumpy... Heat for a few minutes and add cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and vanilla. Taste test it as you go along, here's a picture of how much I added. It was spicy without being overpowering.

Garnish with a little whipped cream and cinnamon on top. Drink up!

A Wedding Filled Weekend

We are just over nine months from our wedding and while we are actually ahead of schedule, (thank you long engagement!) I catch myself panicking we are falling behind. For no good reason. Thankfully, this weekend eased my unnecessary planning anxiety. Most importantly, I found and ordered my wedding band! 

I tried on a few, then fell in love with one that complimented my ring perfectly, very similar to the one pictured above, minus the eternity style. Too bad I have to wait nine months to wear it! Our save the dates also came in, they look classy and elegant. I almost had invites figured out enough to order samples...then The Walking Dead came on and I lost my fiance's attention. Damn. We are meeting with a DJ next Saturday so I need to just calm down.

Wedding hysteria can so easily become just that, hysteria. I always wanted a long engagement to be able to simply enjoy the moment. My fiance and I have been together over seven years and I cannot wait to finally marry him. Spending the rest of our lives together should be the priority and focus in all this. Not stressing out over minuscule details no one but me will ever notice. This is fine and easy to say now, but in a few more months I am sure I will be over reacting and over analyzing everything regardless. It's what I do. What got you through wedding planning stress? I foresee a lot of working out and deep breathing in my future.

Mini Meatloaves from Heaven

Meatloaf gets a bad rap. It's one of those everything-but-the-kitchen-sink dumping ground meals and meatloaf is not particularly healthy nor tasty. Until now. 

You'll need:

- 3/4 cup milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

- 1/2 cup oats

- 1 egg

- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 lb. extra lean ground beef

- 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce for topping

Makes six mini meatloaves. Calories per loaf (if made with almond milk): 168

Mix egg, oatmeal, milk, and cheese. Stir in salt.

Add in ground beef.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Divide into six mini meatloaves. Top with barbecue sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

I top ours with half a slice of sharp cheddar cheese. Place the slice on top with a couple of minutes left for a delicious, even melt. One meatloaf is enough for me. Male counterparts tend to prefer two. :) Easy sides are garlic green beans, potatoes, or a salad. All of which you can throw together while your dish is cooking. The meatloaf saves for amazing leftovers. Chop it up, reheat, and add to pasta. Or make a sandwich to eat at work. Not to brag, but you will be shocked by it's amazingness.

Five Ways to Make Your Week Better

Nothing is as gratifying a feeling as knowing you are prepared for the week ahead. I don't often have time during the week to meal prep and cook and do laundry. Putting in some extra effort over the weekend makes the rest of my week easier.

1. Make lunches for the work week. Usually, I compile a large salad for lunch with a veggie burger, lettuce, some quinoa, and whatever vegetables I have on hand. I will also use whatever leftovers I have from the previous week, like my tilapia, quinoa, vegetable combo above.

2. Make a weekly to do list. If I have extra time, a list of all I need to accomplish that week makes it easier to narrow down a task I can do quickly. Such as paying bills, reading a book or article, or sending a card. I also love my planner from Paper Source. I can view things by the week and attach my current to do list to the page. Productivity at it's finest.

3. Stock your cabinets, fridge, and fruit bowl. I love grocery shopping on weekend mornings. Outside of being able to avoid crowds, I am always prepared for the week ahead.

4. Get in a solid weekend workout. My goal is to get in six workouts a week. Lately, it's been more like five. If you come home from work exhausted, hungry, and not feeling well, you don't want to work out. Squeezing in at least one weekend work out makes it possible to take an extra day off to relax and recharge.

5. Know where you can get a {healthy} last minute meal when things get too crazy. Some days, you don't have time to pack a lunch. In the evening, you may not want to cook. No big deal. Keep a good for you place in mind (aka not fast food) for when you'd rather someone else prepare dinner.

What To Do With An Extra Hour???

Weekends fly by way too quickly, especially since I had to attend a fundraising event for work Friday evening. Good thing I have those additional sixty minutes, huh? Daylight savings time is one of the many reasons I enjoy Fall. Normally, I would be asleep by now but I decided to live a little and watch a movie (The Help) while sipping on tea in celebration of such time travel. Today, I've been in a bit of a funk, but I did get in a nap, a workout, and I made a huge batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for my fiance to munch on this week. 

They are now overflowing from a bowl on the kitchen counter. So good. I'm about 3/4 of the way through my current read The English Girl, and I am torn between finishing it or simply going to bed. I should probably opt for the beauty sleep. Damn my love for books... 

This week I am going to post one of my all time favorite recipes. Seriously, even the pickiest of eaters rave over this dish I created. Stay tuned!