What I ate: Sunday Style

I'm pretty late to this trend but I have seen a lot of different posts dedicated to "What I ate Wednesday."  Well, the chances of feeling like doing this during the middle of a work week are pretty slim.  So, I thought I would document my eating patterns today.

I am so in love with Sundays.  I am equally in love with Saturdays, but I am in love with both days for different reasons.  Does anybody else feel that way?  Saturdays are my days to get out and about, shop, get a pedicure, splurge on eating habits, date my husband on Saturday night, etc.  However, Sundays are my days I can sleep in a little, go to the gym in the morning, grocery shop, organize, etc.  I love being productive on Sundays and I could totally get used to staying at home everyday - everyday would be like Sunday.

Anyways, who's ready to see everything I ate?

Preface: Last night Ty and I splurged in every sense imaginable.  One of our favorite restaurants is Houlihan's and we always way over indulge.  I had the best chicken nachos ever (we won't even discuss their calorie count) and a peach long island iced tea (it's the best drink you've ever tasted).  So, not every day looks like this but I try to make Sunday-Friday look this way or similar.

Meal 1: Oikos Organic Strawberry Greek Yogurt (Chobani is my favorite and my personal favorites are Raspberry and Blueberry) + Coffee with 2 teaspoons of sugar and powdered creamer

I headed to the gym around 9:15 am and did a circuit training of weights + 25 min. of treadmill and ended with abs.

Meal 2: Oatmeal Raisin Walnut Cliff Bar + Banana

Meal 3: 2 Weight Watchers chicken breasts with 1 slice of 2% Pepper Jack Cheese + 1 cup of romaine lettuce with 2 TBS. of Three Cheese Lite Ranch + 1 cup of grapes + 7 Special K Popcorn Chips

Meal 4: 1 TBS. of peanut butter

Meal 5: Spaghetti with Whole Grain Noodles and Italian Turkey Sausage + 1 cup of Romaine Lettuce with Black Olives and 2 TBS. of Three Cheese Lite Ranch + 1 Sandwich thin with EVOO and Garlic Powder baked in the oven

Meal 6: 2 Mini Snickers (Fun Fact: 1 mini snicker is only 45 calories)

Water consumed today: About 50 ounces

I use an app on my phone to track calories and make sure I am within my daily range.  I was actually a little under my calorie goal for today.  I have found keeping track like this keeps me more motivated and I really enjoy seeing the breakdown of everything I consumed each day.  I may start using my blog as another way to document fitness related things.  Why not?  It's my online journal!

love, the Blair Abode

Confessional Friday

As usual, it has been quite some time since I have updated the Blair Abode.  One of my favorite blogs to read is A Blonde Ambition.  Each Friday, Leslie does a confessional Friday post where you can dish/confess the latest happenings in your life.  I've been thinking that it would be fun to partake and so here I am.. ready to confess.

True story: I live in NWA and actually got to meet Leslie in LOFT! It kind of felt like meeting a celebrity.  If you read her blog - you already know what a doll she is and what fun posts she has.  If you don't read her blog- go do it now. Promise you will love it.

I confess that it is Friday night and Ty and I have been in pajamas since about 5:00.  It was a long week and I don't think I've ever been more excited about doing nothing all night.  Teaching 2nd grade = mental exhaustion and Fridays took on a whole new meaning when I began teaching.  

I confess that I've been working out for two weeks straight.  I joined a gym and have been everyday after school.  I am totally on a gym high and I hope it never, ever goes away.

I confess that I gave up sodas two weeks ago.  This is a big deal for me.  I used to look forward to lunch because I knew that meant it was time to drink my Coke.  I literally craved it.  I went cold turkey and it actually hasn't been as hard as I thought.  I'd be lying if I said that I haven't had one sip of Coke within those two weeks. But really, I've only had two cokes in two weeks.  Can you feel the Earth shaking?

I confess that I am 100% obsessed with boots.  It may be a sickness.  The fact that I am having to line them up in our bedroom because there is no more room in the closet may mean that it has turned into a full blown addiction.

via

I confess that I hate washing my hair.  Am I the only one who dreads this? I mean really, it is horrible.  I usually go three to four days between washes and I also confess that I have been wearing my hair up incredibly too much.

That's all for this week, readers!

love, the Blair Abode

The New Year

Happy New Year! I still cannot believe it is really 2013.  That seems kind of crazy to me, but I'm looking forward to the exciting things ahead.  Ty and I had a fabulous 2012 and a lot has happened around the Blair abode.  My first, first cousin was born at the end of 2011 and my first niece was born at the beginning of 2012, I graduated college and got my first teaching job at one of the best districts in the state, we bought our first home together and are currently living the life we've dreamed of.  2013, bring it on.  We are excited about the happy things you are already promising.

Several things within the last few months have reminded me just how short this life is.  I'm thankful for my days on Earth with Ty and our families.  How lucky and blessed we are.  The pain that parts of our nation have known lately is so unimaginable to me.  What a reminder that the things I feel are a big deal... are so not.  Ty and I saw Irving Berlin's White Christmas at the Rep before Christmas with my Dad and Tina.  It was so good, and one part in particular has really stuck with me.  During a stressful time they said something along the lines of this, "If you're worried and you can't sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep. And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings."

Aunt, myself and mom at my first cousin's birthday party.

A lot of Christmas cooking/baking.  PB balls + Oreo truffles.

I thought really hard about what I wanted to do for my class as their Christmas present.  Instead of giving them a small gift, I created this invitation and showed it to them on the star board.  I bought cookies and supplies for us to make Christmas trees.  We had the best time making crafts, listening to Christmas music and simply enjoying each other.  Have I mentioned I love all of those sweet babies so much?

Celebrating my sweet Ty's 25th birthday.  We celebrated at Tavola's, a local restaurant that we love dearly.  We had the best time eating and drinking way too much.

Christmas moments.  

I <3 New outfits.  I wore the outfit on the left for running around town to different shops with some of Ty's family, and I wore the outfit on the right for NYE.

Love.  True Love.

New night stand for my side of the bed.  Found this beauty at a local flea mart!

How did you spend the last few weeks of 2012?

Here's to 2013.

love, the Blair Abode