High Five for Friday!

What up guys! We made it through another week. I am loving the weather today. Know what else I am loving? Here's 5 things!

1) I am loving my new photo editor that does this rocking 60's type color on photos. Here is a photo of me this afternoon at work. I updated it here and my LinkedIn profile.

2) I got a last minute invite for myself and a friend to attend a swanky black tie benefit for cancer research tonight. Not only is it a cause near and dear to me, I love an opportunity to get dressed up! (hence the updo)

3) My amazing girlfriends and Dad that have helped me navigate this rather challenging week.

4) GREEN SMOOTHIES! See my green smoothie post. I am still drinking them and they helped me today because I had clients all afternoon and didn't have time to sit down and eat. These travel well!

5) Hitting the gym. I was able to go almost everyday and twice this past week with my friend Michelle and I am feeling stronger, healthier, and overall just better. My mind is clearer and I am thankful to have the free time to be able to go.

Zone Bar: Cashew Pretzel

So I buy my favorite Zone bars by the box - peanut butter chocolate flavor. In my opinion, they are the only ones worth eating. They had a free bar in my last box called "Cashew Pretzel" and it's AWESOME. The Zone bars for me are more of a treat because they taste kind of like a candy bar. Anytime you can simulate a candy bar's taste in a "healthy" product, then you are a winner every single day of the week in my book. The thing I hate about bars is generally their fake taste. This one was hearty and you could really taste the cashews and pretzels. This bar was YUMMY. Pair it with a piece of fruit before a workout and you are good to go!

ARC Thrift Stores!

Over this past weekend, I got to have a great afternoon of girl talk and calorie burning with my awesome friend Michelle. We met at a 24 Hour Fitness out of my neighborhood - halfway between mine and hers. Exercising with a friend is such a great way to have a healthy date - especially when you have things to get off your chest...which was in our case, boys! Always something with those darn boys.

ANYWAY, my post is actually about thrift stores. As I was leaving the gym, I noticed it was next to an ARC thrift store. As you guys know, I am obsessed with the Denver ARC next to my work. It's always chock full of goodies every time I go in there. I decided to pop in this ARC for fun and I was in for a treat. I stayed for an hour and had to peel myself out of there. For a few bucks I got two fantastic Nike and North Face workout tops in mint condition which I have worn several times this week, a $4.00 George Foreman which I have cooked turkey burgers twice on, and my best find, a KILLER pair of Gap ankle length orange colored jeans which are so on trend right now. For under $30 bucks, I got several items that I would have paid that much for one of the items. (Well maybe not the Foreman. I saw those at Target last week for $9.99 I guess the Foreman fad is over.)

If you have never gone to a thrift store, you are so missing out. Just go in and start looking. It takes work. You look through 20 items sometimes before finding something decent but it's worth the work. I encourage you to venture in and if you want a good one, try the ARC on Broadway, or the ARC in Lakewood on Alameda!

Give your room a mini makeover!

While browsing TJ Max this week I was on a mission to find a great pair of nude heels. Well no luck. I couldn't find a pair I loved so I strolled the rest of the store. I was thinking of what I could do to update my place as it's been a long time since I did. I remember I had my house warming party just a week after closing on my condo so everything I bought was rushed and a "get me by" item until I could really take my time. I have done really well with most things in my house but haven't really done a lot with the bedroom. I didn't do a LOT but it's amazing what just a couple things can do to inexpensively update your space. I got a super cute zebra motif green comforter set, new pillows, a cute faux antique bedside lamp and I am a total sucker for those inspirational plaques so I picked up one of those. Since I got everything on sale, for just over a hundred bucks, I totally updated my space and I think it's a nice little fresh change for spring!

Here is a pic - my sheets were in the drier when I took this but they are green to match. I am loving green right now. 

To Wear or Not to Wear: Colored Jeans

So I have been pretty much ignoring all the emails I have been receiving from the stores I shop from regarding the latest seasons "must have" which is colored jeans. I think for the most part...they are pretty unflattering. Now if you have a super model body, you can wear any color jeans but for the majority of us ladies out there, the best jeans colors to stick with are: dark denim, black, and worn carefully, white jeans. I have several pairs of each color and they are definite staples. I buy really good quality jeans and line dry them - they last for years and are worth the investment. You can find great deals on eBay (only buy from reputable sellers) consignment shops and places like Nordstrom Rack. I just picked up a great pair of True Religion dark wash jeans there a few weeks ago. ANYWAY - I know I went off my point a little bit. The only time I would buy other colored jeans is if I wasn't planning on wearing them much and I would buy a cheap pair from Forever 21. I consider this trend just that - a trend. Not something that will have staying power.

So...if you are considering jumping on this trend - and you have your "skinny" jeans body rocking, (I am about 15 lbs away from mine) you should consider jumping this bandwagon with...MINT COLORED JEANS!!!!!!!

I freaking love them! Gorgeous!!! Stand out! Pop! WHAM! Once I get back to my skinny jeans butt, I might splurge for all my hard work and buy these Hudson ones below! I better keep drinking my green smoothies to get my green jeans! Love!

The Green Monster Smoothie

Hey All! So St. Patty's came and went this last weekend and I was unfortunately down for the count just being exhausted and a little dehydrated. One of the things that has snapped me back, and helped me celebrate St. Patty's with a green beverage that wasn't beer was "The Green Monster". It's a super healthy smoothie that's made green with spinach. You can make them a million ways but the basic recipe is my favorite! I have been having one every morning and sometimes even late after dinner if I am hungry but don't want to rummage through my cupboards.
This recipe is super simple. All you need is a blender and the following ingredients. Don't add too much water. I did that the first time and it didn't come out so well. Just add enough to blend the ingredients:

• 1-2 bananas
• 1/2 cup frozen peaches
• 1/2 cup frozen mango
• a couple handfuls of spinach
• water

Here is a glamor shot of one: 

 Here is one at my desk. I bought this cup to feel legit. 

 Here is one at my house with my huge mug I bought at the dollar store!

 Here is a pre-blended one.

Go green guys! I think you will thank me. They are yummy, healthy, and filling. I am obsessed with this drink and I am positive it's the healthiest drink I have been obsessed with yet!

High Five For Friday!

High Five For Friday!

Friday,  we meet again. Although tomorrow it technically my Friday, Fridays always have that feeling of completion. Release. Like, ahhhh I finally made it. I like it.

You know what else I like?

Here's five things:

1) The Louis Vuitton "Claudia" bag I bought about 10 minutes ago. This girl I know always comes in with her LV bags when she is oves them and I save about 65% off the retail price!

2) Ritual Friday cousin coffee dates with Sara Kay! Today's meeting was extra fun because during coffee, she got a phone call that the offer on her house that she and her husband put in got accepted! Whhhhoooo hooooo!!

3)  Doing my hair today like this: Thanks to my friend Kate of "The Small Things Blog"

4) This smoothie! I have been making them this week when I am hungry and it's helped keep me away from bad for me snacks! Here is the link on Pinterest: Green Smoothie

5) Ordering "Aquage Uplifting Foam" on eBay. I heard it's amazeballs and I can't wait to get it!

One More Thing for Friday...

I am also loving my fortune cookie saying from today's totally not calorie worthy Chinese delivery. Usually they are dumb but this one is pretty apropos:

"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want."