Tips & Tricks

Workin’ On My Fitness…

vintage ladies workout

True story:

I was out at a friend’s birthday dinner a while back, when I noticed that one member of our crew wasn’t eating much. When we asked if something was wrong with the food, she replied “No the food’s delicious, but I have to really watch what I eat now because my thirties have been interesting…”.  Afterwards, we all laughed and made jokes about how we knew the struggle but had pretty much given up. But later on that evening I did a little bit of self-reflection and asked myself had I really given up, and was I really resigned to my current state of affairs?

Truth be told, I’ve always been prone to gaining weight when I’m not careful (HELLOOOOO Freshman 15 and those extra pounds I put on after getting married).  But I was always able to keep things in check by being extremely active.  Before I hit my thirties, I was always able to quickly drop it by working out a little bit more and watching what I ate for a few weeks.  However, these last couple of years, I’ve noticed that it takes a lot more sustained effort to stay in shape and I just can’t indulge like I used to without paying the price later.

I’ve been slowly but surely cleaning up my eating habits over the few months and consistently working out at home (I’m a secret fitness video junkie), and so far I’m feeling great.  For me the focus isn’t so much on making lots of short-term changes and losing a bunch of weight temporarily.  Instead, I’m focusing on building strength (I’ll flex my biceps for you once the weather warms up a bit) and replacing a lifetime of not-so-great eating choices with healthier (but still delicious!) habits.

It’s definitely a journey, but I’m determined to have fun with it!

 

Recipes

A Sweet Little Recipe: {Vegan} Coconut Milk Chocolate Mousse

Vegan Coconut Milk Chocolate Mousse Recipe

I haven’t done a recipe post in a while.  But if you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been cooking up a storm recently.  I’ve been trying to cut back on dairy, processed sugars and gluten, but I got a bit of a sweet tooth the other day.  After a bit of experimenting, I came up with this chocolate mousse recipe that wound up being WAY more delicious than I anticipated.  I’d love for you guys to try it, and let me know what you think.

Ingredients

  • 14 oz. can coconut milk
  • 3-4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2-3 tablespoons unrefined coconut palm sugar or honey

Directions

  1. Refrigerate coconut milk overnight
  2. When you open the can the next day, the solids and liquids should have separated.  Spoon the milk solids into a small mixing bowl.
  3. Add cocoa powder and sweetener to taste, and beat 2-4 minutes on high speed with a hand mixer.
  4. Serve immediately.

I enjoyed mine with strawberries at first but wound up finishing it off the next day with just a spoon. I’m really happy with how this turned out, and I can’t believe how easy it was.

Everyday Outfits

Closet Confection: A Lesson In Warmth



{Juno Jacket (similar here and here), Zara Faux Fur Stole (similar), Neiman Marcus Hat (similar), J. Crew Fluted Skirt (similar), Cappelli Fleece-Lined Tights, 3.1 Phillip Lim x Target Handbag, Coach ‘Lenora’ Boots (old, but you can still nab a pair on eBay.  I also like these from LL Bean)}

It’s freakin’ frigid in my neck of the woods, so I’m doing all I can to stay warm and toasty.  Not gonna lie, some days I go full on marshmallow-mode with a knee-length down parka and Uggs.  But most days I try to stay stylishly cozy.  My secret weapons are as follows:

  • Warm Hat: Bonus points for ones that cover my ears!  This hat I’m wearing comes with a nice fleecy lining around the brim that keeps me extra warm.
  • Furry Scarf: I picked this faux fur stole up at Zara on a whim, and I seriously think it’s my best cold-weather purchase in the past two years.  It adds an instant touch of glamour, and looks and feels surprisingly realistic.  I couldn’t find this exact one online, but I’ve seen them in Zara stores recently (and it also comes in leopard!).
  • Hands-Free Purse: When the temps dip well below freezing, it’s nice to be able to stuff my hands inside my jacket pocket.  This crossbody style purse helps me do just that.
  • Fleece-Lined Tights: Pretty much the greatest advancement in women’s hosiery in the past 10 years.  I’ve stocked up on a few pairs of these and much prefer them to pants or regular tights for keeping the winter chill at bay.
  • Snow Boots: I do a LOT of walking in the city, and it’s very easy for my tootsies to get cold.  Also, there’s nothing worse than ruining a good pair of shoes in the mucky slush and salty pavement.

So those are my tips, but what do you guys do to stay warm?

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