Ciao!

Off to Panama until the 2nd. See you next year!

It's easy being green

Here's that all-green post, as promised. To be honest I couldn't find many photos on green clothing/accessories, I hope you enjoy what I did manage to find :)

Tuesday

3 more days.

Stress is not flattering

Pimples! Eye bags! Lazy! Pale! Weight gain! Somebody save me from the stress, it will be the death of me. I am so very much ready for this Panama trip. Friday needs to come sooner! 1 day down, 4 to go.

House trick

I love candles, I love the romantic lighting they provide and the wonderful scents that fill your home once a candle is lit. Naturally, since I love candles so much, I lit two today. As I was walking into the hallway I noticed one of the candles leaking wax onto the table. I immediately rushed to the table to save the beautiful blue and tan rug underneath but I was too late. The wax had dripped from the table onto the Potterybarn rug and I thought for sure that it was ruined. In the middle of guessing just how much money it would cost and who to call to get the wax out, a light bulb went off. YOUTUBE! I typed a 'how to' into the search bar and I clicked on the first video I found. A 1 minute, 25 second video was all I needed. The trick? Simple. All you need is a paper towel, a butter knife, and an iron. It took about five minutes to get the wax out (with no mess) and now the rug is as good as new. Moral of the story? When in doubt, distress, or despair...YOUTUBE it! ->Here<- is the 'how to'.

Little nothings

Day #2

I biked today and now I'm off to the gym for step class!!

Day #1

For breakfast I enjoyed a delicious blueberry and banana smoothie, for lunch some chicken and cucumbers, and for snacks throughout the day I "indulged" in a granola bar, a clementine, and some carrots. I'm not too sure about dinner yet, probably a refreshing salad. Unfortunately no exercise :/ but I am hitting the gym tomorrow so yay! I kind of have to now that I bought four new bathing suits...don't judge me! I did in fact buy a new water bottle to keep me hydrated throughout the day (it's eco-friendly too).

Diet

Now that I'm going to Panama for Christmas and New Years and I will be spending most of my time wearing hardly anything on a beautiful beach, either sun soaking or surfing. Both of the previous require a bad-ass body...one I have been trying not to think about. The time has come though and I must step into this with the right set of mind. I can do this! It's simple.
My plan? For the rest of this week I am not allowing any processed foods to enter this body, nor will I allow bad sugars or bad carbs. No take out, no baked goods, and NO greasy yummies. Friday I will start my 3-day no carb diet, which SUCKS but I have to do it. I've done it once before but I kind of messed up...hehe, oops. Once the 3 days are up I will continue on a low carb diet.
Throughout these two weeks I will be exercising for 1-2 hours a day (hopefully more), getting my fix of both cardio and muscle building (mainly abs and legs, I don't want big arms!)
I can already feel the fat burnin' off and can already see my dream bod!
Wish me luck, I will leave myself (and possibly you) with some much needed THINspiration. I'm short and it's more difficult for short people to lose the pounds quickly which is why these lovely ladies are my insp.

P.S. I will be posting updates on my weight loss mission as well as yummy and healthy recipes.

Plans change

Remember that trip I said my family was taking to California? Of course you do, I literally posted it two days ago. Well it turns out that one of my brothers is no longer interested in going so it is no longer a family vacation.

I admit I'm a little bummed we aren't going to spend five days in California but as often as a door is closed, one is opened. Cheesy but true. Rather than vacationing for five days on the west coast we have decided to visit some family friends in Panama. I am incredibly stoked to see one of my closest friends and her family (basically my second family). We still plan on doing some pretty incredible things. My family is only staying the five days but I get to stay behind for an extra sixteen! 

After Christmas we're heading to an island to spend a few days in the sun. Surfing is once again included and we're trading in the wine for some classic pina coladas on the beach. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Once again, I'll be sure to pack my cameras.

Water and Flames

I find that the best money spent is the money spent on a good book, one you'll find yourself reading and re-reading, recommending to friends, and carrying all over town. Today, just now actually, I went to Barnes & Noble with my mom and I found a book of selected poems from 1955-1973. It's called Burning in Water Drowning in Flame by Charles Bukowski. Once in the car I opened it's cover and flipped to the first poem, my favorite so far is the fourth poem on pg. 18 titled For Marilyn M. 

for marilyn m.

slipping keenly into bright ashes,

target of vanilla tears

your sure body lit candles for men

on dark nights,

and now your night is darker

than the candle's reach

and we will forget you, somewhat,

and it is not kind

but real bodies are nearer

and as the worms pant for your bones,

I would so like to tell you

that this happens to bears and elephants

to tyrants and heroes and ants

and frogs, 

still, you brought us something,

some type of small victory, 

and for this I say: good

and let us grieve no more;

like a flower dried and thrown away,

we forget, we remember, 

we wait. child, child, child,

I raise my drink a full minute

and smile. 

hmm, I wonder who that's about...

New

Here are some pictures of the things I bought yesterday on my shopping trip and my new sheets!

California before Christmas

My family is thinking of taking a trip to California just before Christmas to visit my aunt in Palo Alto. My aunt also has a house in Pacific Grove so we'd road trip up and down northern California. We'd fly into Palo Alto, drive to Pacific Grove, head to Monterey, drive back to Palo Alto, hit up San Francisco, and possibly make an out of the way trip to the redwoods.

I really enjoy visiting my aunt, most of my family lives in California but everyone else is spread out in the southern cities (we decided to go north). I'm looking forward to kayaking the kelp with a few friendly otters and surfing the freezing waters off the coast of Santa Cruz. Knowing my family we'll also hit up the ranches for some wine tasting and stop in Carmel for a bit.

I'm very excited for this trip! I'll make sure to fill my suitcase with lots of camera equipment to document everything. I. Can't. Wait.

A shopping success!

Finally! I never go out and find a bunch of amazing clothes, it's normally just a cute top here and there but today was fantastic! I don't think I've ever been so excited over a shopping trip. I spent quite a bit but I bought a lot and it happened to be a cheap store so it was all worth it. Yay! I bought a scarf (my fave), a bangle, nail polish, three shirts, a sweater, some jeans, a bag, and shoes...SUCCESS. Did I already say yay? Hehehe :)

Oh, and I plan on doing this with my new nail polish. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Biking weather

Miami is getting chillier! For the past few weeks a couple of cold fronts have been blowing our way and I am pumped for the winter! For all you northerners...no making fun. Us Miami folk pride ourselves on our hot and humid climate so we're not used to the chill and although our "winters" are no match for yours, we still manage to enjoy them (67 degrees is pretty damn cold to me!).

Regardless, cold weather never fails to lift my spirits so I've decided to take advantage and revel in it by being outside as much as possible. This week my best friend and I have biked to and from school, today was our third excursion, and we've been having so much fun! Exercise really does give you a certain high and biking with a buddy (let's not forget Florence) makes it all the better.