Goals for 2010

The best thing about January and the New Year, is the clean slate and fresh start.  Its a new year, and who knows what can happen this year. Im pretty game for whatever the universe has instore for me but I also want to make a few goals for the year. I decided to make 2 goals each for 4 seperate catagories; personal, professional, my marriage and my home.

Home...
1.  Start and complete the kitchen renovation.....this is going to be a major undertaking since our kitchen is somewhat small.  I am excited to pick out new cabinets and storage soulutions and do this with E.  Also, I cant wait to make my first meal in our new kitchen!

2.  Finish unpacking and organize!  Im ashamed to admit that we never finished unpacking.  We moved then fall semester started and then the holidays and here I am.  Its something that I really want to do this year.

Marriage.

1.  Go on a date 1x per week.  E and I are bad about date nights. Often the weekend comes and were both exhausted so we tend to stay in on the weekend. 

2.  Always kiss goodnight.

Professional

1.  Pass my PHR!  As an aspiring human resources professional, the PHR is essential for me.  Im taking the test on 1/23 so hopefully this will be crossed off my list sooner then later.  Wish me luck

2.  Go back to work....in HR.  Once I have my PHR certification, securing a position should be a bit easier as the certification makes me extremely marketable.  That said, at 26 soon to be 27 Im really ready to get a hold on my career.


Personal

1.   Yoga....I do work out on my treadmill everymoring for 45 minutes, but I really want to do 3o minutes of yoga every morning aswell, to center myself and start my day right. 

2.  Let my hair grow out.....last May I had my hair chopped into a very cute bob.  I loved it at the time ( and it was a great cut) but I want my long hair back.


I hope 2010 brings you all lots of love, joy and success.

Baby its cold outside....

Living in Western PA, January to March is pretty much white. Lots of snow, ice and just cold weather.  Peacoats and Burberry trenches are chic and can keep you warm, but when your "dahntown" on your way to the office, and one of the PAT busses likes to play raging rapids and pretend they are at Kennywood and violate you with the melted snow and ice, those coats just arent that functional.

What works for me is down coats.....they are warm, and easy to wipe off. I know what your thinking " This is 2010 and not 1998" and your all "but I dont want to look like Puffy, Stay Puff Marshmellow, or an extra in a Bad Boy Video" fear not my friends, they new down coats these days are sleek, have feminine cuts and come in lots different lenghts and colors.

My favorites ( all courtesy of Nordstroms)

Guess ($98.00)

North Face

and my personal favorite Burberry ( $458ish)

I think these three coats will not only make you look good, but also keep you warm, because thats why we wear them, no?

Taking it all off. Literally.

Today I was inspired by another blogger and encouraged by some friends.....I really want to share my wieght struggles and my journey to back to my skinny body back.......In the past year I've but on an alarming amount of wieght. Call it vanity, pride, self esteem or conern but its really upsetting. I think people tend to sugar coat wieght gain, being "plus size" and its so not healthy.  I want to live longer, be fit, have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby and just really I miss my old clothes!
So how am I going to go back?  How am I going to shed this weight?  Well, first of all Im not going to do some diet fad, Im doing what works for me, which is exercise and normal eating. This isnt a diet, this is a lifestyle change. Here I am a few weeks ago in size 16 jeans and XL sweater

And my adorable neice Aubri

In addition to eating heathy (Im doing 1400 calories a day) a nice mix of protien, veggies, carbs and Im doing a combination of running/walking and yoga. These are things and foods that I love and enjoy. Once I shed a signifigant amount and begin to plateau I will work with a trainer a few times a week.

The thing is right now its hard, sometimes Im tired and depressed about the weight, and its hard to run, the weight is hard on my knees and my back kills, but if I feel this way at 26, how wil I feel at 46?  Im super concerend about diabetes and heart disease.\

I will be back to update, and post before and after, I see how my friends post pics of thier growing baby bumps! Well maybe  should post pics of my shrinking lady lumps. LOL, that was corny but I couldnt resist.

I hope that I can encourage more women out there to take the weight off. Im not a skinny person telling you your not attractive,  Im just saying Im right here with you, and its simply not fabulous to be unhealthy.

Purse of the Month

So I totally skipped September. I should win the award for worst blogger 2009.  This month's purse is the winner for three reasons:

1. Its the perfect color, its a mixture of blue and gray. Im totally loving everything and anything blue and gray, and while Im not a fan of logo bags, this is a small clutch that logo is okay. I've used it as a clutch and as a mini purse in tote and its great. I love the shine the C's have on them.
2.  I'm loving Coach's new look. In recent yearsespecially with all the knock of goach bags out there, Coach has temporarily lost its luster, but In the past year or  so they really stepped it up with some fresh and chic looks, and you really cant argue with  the quality of Coach leather. Its fantabulous.
3. And lastly, this was a gift from my mentor and friend at my old Company.  She gave it to me on my second to last day and its really special to me......it reminds me to go forward, and I love it.

so here she is: