Pamper and Primp: Warm Weather Ready

We're about to get full-disclosure here, girlfriends. Boys (or Dad, really), turn away.

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For some reasons, when the temps warm up and the clouds roll away to those sunny blue skies, I start taking better care of myself—physically. Maybe it's that fresh new feeling or perhaps it's the simple fact that we gals do, actually, wear less clothes, I become an expert groomer. We can't lie to ourselves. You know that in chilly December you just may let your toes go unpainted a few weeks or perhaps you don't shave your legs everyday. But April means bikinis and sundresses and tans and life, in general, just becomes a little prettier. A few things I've been trying out and adding to my list for a certain summer je ne sais quoi look:

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• These eyes: I mean, I'm going to Sephora tonight to make these bright-eyed lookers happen. 
• Seemingly simple tutorial means big points in my book, as well. Bat those eyes away, girls.
• That summer humidity can wreak havoc on the tresses, but this simple knot is a good alternative to a put-together look. And while I realize that smearing an avacado-based DIY hair moisturizer in your hair may seem a little icky, you'll be thanking me for introducing you to it when you're undoing all the drying damage the summer sun can do to your lock, giving you silky, flip-worthy hair.
• It's summer and I really don't care what you say, you need to clean up those feet after a winter of sporting sky-high heels and booties. So, take my advice and try this little trick here—I was amazed at the smoothing results and now I can proudly prop my feet up for a pedicure or massage (the chances of the latter happening being slim to none).
• I am OB-sessed with this lip. Do any of you budding making aficionados out there know what my best bet for matching would be? And speaking of lips, this sugar lib scrub I am dying to try for a perfectly smooth pout.
• Last, but not least, a little tip I just was introduced to that may or may not be TMI but I think you'll thank me: apply a little deo to your bikini line after a touch up to prevent bumps or irritation. Works like a charm!

Got any secrets you use when pampering yourself for the long sunny days? I'd love to hear!

Daily gratitude: moments alone to take care of yourself.

xoxo

Tuesday Treats: A Smathering of Interesting

Tuesday has f-l-o-w-n by. After a quick morning workout, a lovely encounter with a sympathetic cop, and an afternoon spent trying on and shooting suits at Ophelia, I realized I hadn't had my morning coffee—at 4 p.m.. But since I already had my Tuesday Treats all geared up to share with you of things I've find oh so Pinteresting, let's just go ahead and proceed, shall we?

• I've been on quite the foodie kick lately. Which would explain why the top of my recently pinned page are this breakfast grilled cheese, this adorable spaghetti dinner prep housewarming gift, and this drool-worthy Mexican grilled corn, lightened up. Too bad I'm still learning to cook...
• When brushing on the powder this morning, I noticed just how bad the ole brushes need a good cleaning. Luckily, I found this tutorial on a simple and inexpensive way to clean your brushes. Hello, my Tuesday night plans. I'm cool, I know.
• Since I'm constantly updating my space (as I've mentioned, compulsive self-improvement junkie here), I was delighted to find this super simple tutorial on how to decorate a small space. It seems the carriage house may soon be getting a few improvements. 
• Ever heard of Gimp? Me either, until I was introduced to the Photoshop-like copycat program. I talked to a few others who have tried using the free program to see if they'd like to invest in Photoshop (precisely what I intend to do), so I decided to give it a go and download. So far, so good (especially with beginner tutorial such as this and this). Stay tuned for an update to the ole blog.
• It being bikini season and all, I added these foods to this week's grocery list to see if they do make any difference for a flatter stomach. Stay tuned with an update on any results (fingers crossed!!). And to additionally rev up that metabolism, I've found that many of these foods do work. 
• This wouldn't be an Ainsley list without one single article of clothing, so all I have to say is—where was this coat this Fall? Could I wear it as a bathing suit cover up? Ok, maybe not...

Daily gratitude: an early morning workout this morning to make me appreciate a strong, working body.
xoxo

You Are A Perishable Item

A quote that I found for a client's social marketing purposes this week really hit home to me.
You are a perishable item. Live accordingly.

Now before you go all, "Thanks for reminding me I'm going to die, Ainsley" on me, let me stop by you by saying that I read it in terms of wellness. Mind. Body. Spirit. The package. You won't live forever. You are perishable. So be good to yourself. A self-proclaimed self improvement junkie, I'm guilty for throwing a Lean Cuisine in the microwave (more often than not) and pulling a protein bar out of the purse for lunch, carrying a lot of stress, and sometimes sweating the small stuff. But I'm working on those. Happier, healthier, stronger—those are pretty solid daily goals. And I've found a few articles as of late that I've taken special note of, and thought you might like, too.

Mind: Try one of these 25 things that only take one minute and lead to healthy habits—stretch, floss, take three deep breaths, some of them will surprise you. You can do most of them from your office, your car, the subway—no excuses, kids. While you're there, make sure your mind is at maximum capacity with these nine superfoods that will make you the smartest and fittest (ok, no promises) you've ever been.

Body: Found deep in a list of diet boredom buster recipes, this yummy glazed salmon had me literally drooling. Now, who wants to come over for dinner and help me with my kitchen prowess? I'll provide the wine. On the exercise front, this graphic on how to get the most out of your walk—yes you heard me, walk—really grabbed my attention. For the non-runners, it explains how to burn the max number of calories while you walk away. Or if you'd rather become a runner, then follow this little link here that has what seems to be a totally doable plan for those that aren't so light on their feet... yet (cough cough, hands raised).

Spirit: And since I'm all about my little reminders of our place and our purpose, don't forget this along the way.

Daily gratitude: a healthy body that takes me where I need to go, a healthy mind that allows me to think straight along the way, and a healthy heart full of love. 
xoxo

Undoing the Dish

I'm touching on something we are all thinking about today, admittedly or not.. Thanksgiving is still lingering in the air for me, and it’s due to one thing—one major thing, might I add. After feasting Thursday on all the homemade treasures my mom is most famous in our family for, I, of course, couldn’t stop there due to the cupcake centerpiece awaiting me on my arrival home, an in-state rivalry SEC tailgate to attend on Saturday, and festive cocktails had by all, oh, every evening we spent together. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve been on the fast track to undoing the damage I did during Thanksgiving last week in a fast and furious way this week before yet another food-centered holiday dawns at the end of this last month.

Not one to ever not divulge in every festive aspect of the holiday season, I’m not exactly a say no kind of girl. And the stint between Thanksgiving and New Years provides so many opportunities for decadent treats and tasty cocktails that it can add up quite quickly if I don’t keep my eye on it. So, throughout the past few years, I’ve developed some tactics to fight the Holiday Heavys (as I like to refer to this eating period as). I thought I’d share these with you today, as office talk has centered these this week and hey, if they’re talking about it at the water cooler...

1. Stick to veggies, fruits and lean proteins. I live off these during the week. Stir-frys are my best friend. And I try to eat lots of fish—tuna, salmon, grouper—which has lots of other healthy things going for your skin, as well.
2. Incorporate a few whole grains into your menu, but try to keep dinner carb-free. Carbs are harder to digest, so give your body much more time to get rid of these—unless, of course, you’re a hard core runner. Which I clearly am not.
3. Water is your best friend. Seriously, challenge yourself to drink a glass of water with every meal, between every meal, and right before you go to bed. This will also give your winter skin (read: no tan) a glow. No one likes pasty.
4. Stock up on apples. Whenever I’m feeling hungry around the 3-4 pm hour (and it never fails), I eat an apple. This feels you right up for virtually no calories.
5. Take a break on the weekend. I always break on Saturdays for a “free day” to enjoy some wine, chocolate, and whatever else tickles my fancy.
6. Have a safety food. Everyone has that one thing they carve, and after a stressful day, it’s easy to turn to these to feel  better. Find a safe food that satisfies your cravings but isn’t as bad as the original thing. Crave potoato chips? Try the Special K chips for a third of the calories. An ice cream girl? Keep Skinny Cow ice cream treats in your freezer. While you shouldn’t be turning to these every day, they’ll ward off undoing your weekly progress in a major way.

Of course, you can’t undo major foodie damage with diet alone. Or, you probably can but you shouldn’t. I am a major supporter of getting your boot-ay moving.

1. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a Pure Barre girl. So when I’m on diet detox, I try to up my weekly three classes a week to four. Can’t get to a Pure Barre near you? Try an at-home workout like the one here for long, lean dancer's muscles.
2. Walk for at least 30 minutes every morning, in addition to your normal workout routine. By walking first thing when you wake up, if even for just 30 minutes, every single morning, your metabolism not only revs immediately, but you burn additional calories in addition to whatever your workout regime may be. Not a morning person (hello, raise my hand). Great tips for becoming a morning exerciser here.
3. Cardio, cardio, cardio. While you should be strength-training in some form or fashion (muscle mass burns calories way faster than fat, even when sitting still), cardio is the fastest way to blast away fat. Tear up that elliptical for an hour. Do some walk-run interval training. Take a kickboxing or zumba class. Whatever it is, do it for an hour at least 3-4 times a week and you’ll melt away your extra cushion in the blink of an eye.
4. Fit it in whenever you can. This workout here is fast and has major results for both blasting calories and toning you back up—you can do it before each shower and it takes less than five minutes!

A few more tips, all courtesy of my "Healthy Me" Pinterest finds. 

• Skinny drinking tips here—great for holiday parties!
• Eat Yourself Skinny—my fave healthy recipe blog
• 25 natural appetite suppressants here—for when you just can't get full (assuming this happens to people other than me)
• A super-calorie blast playlist for all you runners out there here.

(photo creds here)

Happy {Wedding Part Une} Weekend

Friday, Friday, FRIDAY.
I love you so much.

I've said a thousand times, October at the beach is my absolute favorite time. It's warm during the day and crisp and cool at night—perfect to grab a cozy sweater to top off your suit after the sun begins to dip down from a day in the sun on the beach. This weekend will be filled with lots of that, as well as a lot of celebration as my dear, sweet friend Shelley gets married! So before wedding bells ring, we'll be doing a little celebrating at a few different parties before the big day.
Not spending the weekend on the beach? Don't worry, I've got you covered. A few Friday Finds to fill all that sweet extra time you've got on your hands this weekend:

• On the foodie front, trying this healthy breakfast pizza (my favorite dish), then whipping up this metabolism-revving sleep-inducing smoothie before you hit the hay that night.
• Remembering this and always thinking this.
• An extra 40 percent off at J Crew Factory on jackets and outerwear. You're welcome.
• A great cheat sheet to get your creativity flowing for your Halloween get-ups courtesy

Here's to hoping your weekend is fabulous and fun!

xoxo

On the Menu: Caprese Snack

Last night, I wrapped a photo shoot early and came home looking for a snack after a long day in front (unfortunately not behind, where I'm really much more comfortable, but this is another story for another day) of the camera. Since my dinner plans weren't until eight, waiting wasn't an option. After remembering the fresh mozzarella and baby grape tomatoes I had stocked in the fridge, I  pulled out the super-simple recipe I wrote about here to whip up a caprese snack.

All you need:

• 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
• 2 ounce sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• Drizzled balsamic vinegar to taste

First, I chopped the tomatoes into fourths. You could do halves, but I like a smaller bite.

Next up—mozzarella.

Then I pulled some basil from the fresh basil plant that sits on my windowsill...

and chopped and added to the mix.

A balsamic drizzle finishes it off, paired with a good tossing.

Then spoon one cup of the mixture onto a plate—voila! A super scrumptious snack for around 141 calories and lots of nutrition to boot.

Note: I doubled the recipe so I could have another serving for today's lunch—throw this medley on top of lettuce with some grilled chicken breast and you have a different meal!
Original recipe found here.

The Foodie Diaries

Yesterday, a momentous occasion happened.
I sat down with a few cookbooks, and made a grocery list.

This was a turning point in my adult life. You see, one of my old college roommates and I (hey Ann Clark) used to make fun of ourselves and the fact that we ate like junior high girls. Frozen pizzas. Easy Mac. Lean Cuisines. Turkey sandwhiches. I fueled myself on these easy-as-pie quick fixes throughout my entire college experience or, should I say, when I wasn't eating the majority of my meals at the Chi Omega house. Sadly, I didn't grow out of this habit, but regressed, turning to meal bars or fruit that fit easily into my on-the-go post-grad schedule. The act of preparing a meal was reserved for get-togethers with friends, complete with appetizers and wine, and I rarely used my measuring cups unless I was preparing to bake a treat for friends or co-workers.
But, not anymore.
One of my goals for my 25th year (you'll hear a lot about these in the next few weeks, as I've kickstarted changing a few aspects of my routine) is to put thought, time, and effort into changing my meal plan to not only be low-calorie, but actually nutritious and fuel for my body—Lean Cuisines not included.
Pinterest had a lot to offer me, of course. A few I stockpiled ingredients for at the grocery:
Grilled avocado:

Skinny Chicken Enchiladas (this site is my fave):

Oven "fried" pickles (the Mississippi girl in me rejoices):

Baked tomatoes (this link also has tons of under 200-calories yummy options):

Everything-but-the-kitchen sink salads (multiple combos here):

Then my stockpile of cookbooks proved useful (Mom has liked to "encourage" me getting in the kitchen the past few years for Christmas/birthday/any gift-giving holiday. Thanks Mom!).  A few of my favorites thus far:

• Hungry Girl: quick, easy, low-calorie options to all your favorite foods—that will leave you stuffed. I love how it's divided into what you'd like to eat: soups, salads, "fast food fakes", sweets, and even a chapter on "man food."
• The Best of Cooking Light: more complex recipes that take more time and preparation, but the outcome is fantastic. I'll use this the next time we have multiple dinner guests—they'll never know the meal is low-cal.
• Skinny Meals: a nice mix of easy and impressive, there are quick meals and ones that take more effort, suitable for even the pickiest palate. No hard-to-find ingredients or unusual pairings found here.

Moral of the story: don't be surprised if I get super excited about upcoming foodie accomplishments and start featuring a few recipes here on the ole blog. If you have a few favorite sites, or a favorite cookbook, I'd love to here your recommendations—newbies love advice!

Health Bits: Pure Barre

This past Saturday morning, I woke up bright and early, threw on some yoga pants, and sent myself down the street to our local Pure Barre studio.

My sister-from-another-family, Ashley Singleton, happens to be the owner of said studio (yes, she's 25, gorgeous, and a small business owner—line up, fellas). Because I have a long past in ballet and other types of dance, Ashley has been telling me this workout is for me since, well, the first day I met her. Created by dancer and choreographer Carrie Rezabek Dorr, Pure Barre is super effective in changing your body—it's a total body workout which utilizes the ballet barre to perform small isometric movements. Read: this workout is intense. It lifts your seat, tones your thighs, flattens your abs and burns fat in record breaking time to strengthen and lengthen your muscles versus creating bulky mass. Who doesn't want the body of a dancer? That's what I thought.

Ash originally lured me there under the notion that the classes are small, she would have ample opportunity to personally work with me, and I'd get a mega-toning workout. And let me tell you: I. Am. Hooked. It's the type of workout that will beat you up the first time you go, but make you want to master the technique. And the music is awesome—the type of music that makes you want to start a serious dance party.
So, to see all the benefits of a Pure Barre regime, I'll be attending two to three times a week for ten sessions, which is the program's promise that you'll see results. I'll of course be writing about the experience for VIE, so promise me you'll read the May/June issue to see how it turns out! You can scope out a studio near you here.