Happy Friday night!

It has been a long time since I have done a fashion post on Oh She Glows!

The following trend report was inspired by Fashionising.

Trend #1: Over The Knee Boots

Boots are on the rise and getting higher and higher. From over the knee to thigh high, the sky seems to be the limit this Fall and Winter.

How I would wear this trend:

I love tall boots. I would happily purchase a pair of boots that were just over the knee. I think that is the perfect height for boots- especially here where the snow banks are frequently knee high or more. I don’t really think thigh highs are really practical for me.

Trend #2: Ankle Boots

When I go to Toronto, it seems as if every woman is wearing some type of ankle boot! They are definitely the most popular trend right now.

How I would wear this trend:

At first glance, I did not like ankle boots and could not imagine wearing them myself, but I will admit they are starting to grow on me! Who knows if I would ever spend money on a pair though because they aren’t very practical in the wintertime.

Trend #3: Capes, Cloaks, Wraps, and Shawls

Wrap it, cloak it, and cover it. Whether you like them short and fitting or long and loose, there are a ton of wraps this season for you to select from.

How I would wear this trend:

I own a few Pashminas that I have purchased while traveling. I love them because you can dress them up or down. I used to bring them to classes or use them as a wrap for an elegant dinner out. I have never owned a cape, but I think they look really cute when they are cropped. My BIL’s girlfriend has a cute cropped cape. She wears a form fitting knit sweater or turtleneck underneath and it looks really nice with the arms peeking out.

Trend #4: Female Dandy

Prim, proper, and oh so fussy, dandy fashion is a huge trend this season. Belt it, jacket it, button it, and cap it. British fashion, high collars, tailcoats, and slim cut jackets are all ways you can make a statement. Just make sure to set your alarm extra early.

How I would wear this trend:

I love the look of this trend, but I wouldn’t climb on board. Generally, it seems too fussy for me and I don’t spend a lot of time putting together complicated outfits and getting dressed.

It also looks a bit uncomfortable. I am all about the comfort (unless that happens to be my 4" stilettos)!

Trend #5: Chunky Knits

Chunky knits can come in all forms from sweaters and jackets to hats and scarves. Trends include super, over-sized clothing and slim-cut and form-fitting knits.

How I would wear this trend:

I am not a huge fan of chunky knit sweaters (I always feel frumpy in them), so I would probably wear this trend with a huge chunky scarf or hat. I love those!

Trend #6: Ripped Tights and Stockings

The Shred isn’t just for Jillian Michaels anymore. Shred it, bend it, rip it, and tear it. Fashionising suggests wearing tights with lots of shredding or you will risk looking like you had an unfortunate run in your tights on the way to work.

How I would wear this trend:

I wouldn’t.

Call me old fashioned but this is way out of my comfort zone. ;)

Trend #7: See through clothing

You have probably seen celebs everywhere wearing sheer and see through clothing to make eyebrows raise. Sheer and layered fabrics seem to be everywhere this season leaving many of us questioning how we would ever wear that in real life.

How would I wear this trend?

Sheer fabrics = beautiful. See Through? Not for me!

Trend #8: One-shouldered Dresses and tops:

This trend seems like it has been around forever now! Apparently, we should only expect it to continue into the winter.

From swimsuits to elegant dresses, whatever piece of clothing you are looking for on top, you can probably guess that stores will have it in a one-shoulder option.

How I would wear it:

I love one-shoulder tops and dresses and I have owned a few over the years.

I find that they highlight the shoulders and arms in an elegant and subtle way without showing too much.

Trend #9: Military Trend

Gold detailing, skinny pants and military jackets are all ways you can jump on the military bandwagon this season.

How I would wear it:

I love military jackets and I am just itching to get my hands on one. However, I don’t love all of them. I would be most likely to purchase a jacket like the one above on the far left. It is cute, embellished, but not over the top.

Trend #10: Ripped Jeans and torn demin

The grunge of the 80’s is back whether we like it or not. From ripped skinny jeans to baggy hole-filled demin, there is something for the grunge in all of us.

How I would wear this trend:

I don’t know about you, but I still have bad memories of wearing jeans with holes in them in high school. I used to purposely rip holes in my knees! Oh, my poor mother!!!! hahaha. I have absolutely no desire to have this trend resurface in my closet.

I’m curious…What Fall/Winter Trends would/do you wear?

What trends are currently popular in YOUR city?

See you tomorrow. I will be telling you what GREEN costume I may sport this Halloween!

Good morning!

Today we have a very special treat for the Summer Glow Boot Camp! Leslie will be talking about a VERY important topic that I think many of us struggle with- feeling confident in summer clothes! I know I always feel a bit self-conscious when I whip out the summer wardrobe. Society places so many expectations on women to not only be thin, but perfectly tanned, smooth, and cellulite free. It can make the most sane of us feel a bit crazy at times. Leslie is here to offer her awesome tips on how to get past those summer wardrobe fears and to embrace your awesome GLOWING self!

Hello Oh She Glows readers!  My name is Leslie, and I blog over at the whole plate.

When Angela put out her “casting call” for the SGBC, I jumped at the chance.  I’ve been an OSG fan for quite some time now, and I adore the positive message that Angela spreads.

On my blog, I often write about balance and self-acceptance.  Last year, I found myself working in the high fashion industry, and as you might imagine, the atmosphere made both of those things difficult to attain.  Nonetheless, I still harness a deep love for fashion, and like many, I used to dread the skimpy clothing that peppered garment racks as summer approached.  The sudden exposure our bodies receive in summer attire can be intimidating, but over the years, I’ve employed a few strategies to relish in showing some skin.

1) Throw out the rule book.  Fashion magazines often entice readers with promises of “seventy tops for your figure,” but I’m not here to tell you how to flatter your frame.  Only you can do that.  In my opinion, there is nothing more fashionable than a woman who pulls off her outfit with pride.   Maybe your favorite dress isn’t the one fashion editors recommend for you.  It doesn’t matter.  If you feel beautiful in it, then you are.

2) Embrace your rights as a woman.  I know, it’s easier to say the words, “I am beautiful” than to actually believe them. Summer arrives, and retailers suddenly ask us to reveal more than we do the other nine months of the year.  Instead of complaining, I’ve finally begun to respond with enthusiasm.  As women, our ancestors fought long and hard for the equality we have today.  It is our right and privilege to bare our arms and legs.  Put on that halter top, zip up those shorts, and feel your place in the feminine community.  Your exposed skin reflects the history of our gender and the freedom we should be proud to enjoy.

3) Treasure the atmosphere.  Summer is my favorite time of year.  The long days, the heat, the opportunities to be outside – these are available to us for just a short period each year, and personally, I savor them.  If I remain indoors with the air-conditioning, warmed by a baggy sweatshirt, I am allowing the season to slip away.  Chances are, long sleeves won’t feel comfortable in the sun and hot air, and wearing them will cause you to fixate on your body, rather than the ambiance surrounding you.  So shed those layers, and cherish the beautiful sensation of the summer heat embracing your bare arm.

4) Be a bit narcissistic.  Your legs carry you up flights of stairs, on countless errands, perhaps on miles of runs.  Your arms support every item held in your hands, help you reach high and low, propel you off the floor in a morning push-up.   Your stomach digests the food that keeps you strong, and its core strength keeps you balanced.  With all that your body can do, why wouldn’t you want to show it off?  Take pride in the support it provides you, and wear clothes that let the world see its strength.

5) Dress yourself with your heart, not your head.  You’ve been working hard, strengthening your body through the SGBC.  Maybe your head is still arguing that you aren’t ready for a swimsuit or a skirt.  Don’t listen.  We women tend to spend hours overthinking our clothing choices – is this flattering, what is the size, can I pull this off.  Fashion is a means of literally wearing our hearts on our sleeves.  Quiet the negative thoughts and allow your clothes to reflect the person you are.

The next time you peek into your closet, I hope I’ve inspired you to toss away the layers and take a fashion risk.  And if you have a free moment, I’d love to see you at the whole plate!

Thanks Leslie! I absolutely loved this post so much. I think this is such a great topic and I will admit one that I have not really addressed on OSG yet! When Leslie approached me with the idea I was just thrilled. I especially loved this part, “So shed those layers, and cherish the beautiful sensation of the summer heat embracing your bare arm.” Wow, what an amazing visual that gave me..a warm summer day…nice breeze..and feeling the warm sun on my skin. Who wants to constantly be all covered up and self-conscious all the time. Embrace it! :) I couldn’t agree more with ‘If you feel beautiful in it, then you are’…nothing is more attractive on a woman than confidence!!

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I have been a busy bee in the kitchen this morning as you could probably guess from my late post!

Today I was baking up some donated orders. The first one was for the Glo Bars I donated to Natalie’s bake sale for cancer. The second was for the SGBC Sidebar challenge, and the 3rd one I will be announcing below!

Classic and Revive…two lovely choices.

My new packing table! lol

A taste of heaven…

ATTENTION US READERS!

I know you have had it a bit difficult lately seeing all of these Glo Bars and not being able to order any yet! You’ve also had to deal with two Neal Brothers contests that were only open to Canadians. Well, today I want to say a little ‘thanks’ to you all for your dedicated support with Oh She Glows and your enthusiasm with Glo Bakery.

So today I am holding a US-ONLY contest on OSG! I will be sending another test package to the states and YOU could be the lucky recipient! You have a chance of winning one of these variety packs above (Heaven, Class, and Revive bars)!

How to enter:

• Leave a comment below about Leslie’s post on being confident in summer clothes. If you have any tips on being confident tell us what they are!
• Contest is open until TOMORROW, Friday at NOON EST.
• Open to US residents only please.
• GOODLUCK!

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I am off to pack and ship some stuff! Then it is back to calculating Nutrition Facts.

See you later for the winner of The Amazing Grass Contest! You have 1 more hour to get your entries in!!!

Also, just a quick note about emails- I am experiencing a large volume of emails lately for OSG, GMM, and Glo Bakery. Please rest assured that I am receiving all of them and I will get to them as soon as possible! Thanks so much for your patience. :)

Sometimes, having this website is truly awesome. It’s like having a bunch of my girlfriends over for a girl’s night at times!

Tonight, I thought I would take advantage of the plethora of fabulous fashionistas who read this blog, and ask for your girl-to-girl advice!

Help me decide what dress to wear to the wedding tomorrow!

The only rule: I am not going to tell you name brands! I don’t want that to influence your decision at all. Tomorrow morning, I will be revealing the brands of all the dresses.

The contenders in no particular order:

DRESS #1

With no flash so you can see the detailing:

Click to enlarge…

DRESS #2

DRESS #3:

DRESS #4 (same as pink dress only black)

The shoes:

Now cast your vote!

For my hair style, I am probably going to curl it.

Leave a comment below and let me know your top 2 dresses!

Happy Monday everyone!

Thanks for all of your comments on North America’s Healthiest Cities post this morning! I must say I have a huge desire to visit Victoria and Ann Arbor now! :D

My gosh I have been so busy the past while! Not that I am complaining, but I can hardly keep up!!! Yesterday I put in a 15 hour day on Glo Bakery and OSG- baking orders, paperwork, and preparing Summer Glow Boot Camp for its’ launch on Wednesday!! Exciting stuff :D Today I have another busy day. I have already done 2 orders and I have a bunch more on the docket for the next few days!

Yesterday’s workout was AWESOME!!!!

I turned on the TV and Perfect Stranger with Halle Berry was on, so I decided to watch that. Here I was thinking that I was going to watch a ‘light romance’ movie- boy was I wrong!!! lol. That movie was messed up! I guess it didn’t help that I started watching it half way through. :) The good news is that it was so suspenseful that it made my workout FLY by. I had only planned on doing 30 mins or so but it quickly turned into 1 hour so I could finish the movie!

The workout:

• Duration: 60 mins
• Treadmill hill walking: First 15 mins at 4.1 mph, incline 15%, 40 mins at 4.2 mph, incline 15%, and the last 5 mins was at speed 3.5 mph incline 15%
• Max heart rate: 166 bpm
• Avg heart rate: 151 bpm
• Distance: 4.11 miles

After every 10 minutes I did CORE work!!

Here I am doing my favourite waist whittler!!! Twisting Advanced side planks!!! I can actually feel my ab muscles ‘crunching’ as I do this workout. It sorta feels like someone if wringing your waist like a wash cloth…LOL…but that is the beauty of it- it is SO effective. I have noticed a huge improvement in my middle since doing this move! My middle has toned up even more since the end of the BBBC!

I did about 3 sets of 1 min each per side. I also did some scissor ab moves (1 set).

Here I am just covered in sweat!

The whittler…

My arms are really sore today from these side planks!

Not sure what is on the workout agenda for today. It might be an off day since I am so busy and we are having a BBQ party with about 6 other friends tonight!

I am still considering running in a 5k race on Wednesday morning! :)

Last night Eric and I tried out the new SOL veggie burgers!!!

I don’t know why, but I thought that these were going to taste horrible!!

Each burger has about 15 grams of protein in it and just over 100 calories! Not too shabby!

I added some healthy fats to my meal by adding 1/2 avocado and 1 huge scoop of my favourite hummus:

My dinner:

Along with some frozen veggies that I steamed. I included some PC frozen Edamame beans! This was the first time I have ever tried these beans before! They were yummy!

1 cup has 17 grams of protein and 8 grams of fibre!

My burger was nothing short of mind-blowing delicious!!!

I was very impressed with these SOL burgers! They had a nice texture too! And guess what? Eric DEVOURED his! He liked them better than the Money’s Veggie Burgers (although he loves those too!).

My new Twenty Valley Wine Glass from the 10k race!

Dessert was a cup full of delicious blueberries!

Here are some pictures of some of the delicious baking I did yesterday!

I was successful in making gluten-free brownies!!! It was my first attempt ever at making something gluten-free and I was so scared. It wasn’t so bad though! Nothing a little gluten-free flour and xanthum gum couldn’t fix! ;) I was impressed with the flour I bought…it didn’t have an overly ‘beany’ taste like some of the bean flours do.

‘One Glo-ing Bite’ Walnut and Chocolate Chip Gluten-free brownies:

And Glo Ginger cookies:

Today was all about my On The Glo II bars!!! I have a ton of orders for these this week. Don’t forget they are 25% today!!

1. I still can’t sleep longer than 7 hours! What the heck!

2. Check out the renos Eric did on the house this weekend over at Soup Up My House! 

3. Summer Glow Boot Camp is COMING!!! Wednesday July 1, 2009!! You won’t believe the awesome prizes we have up for grabs!!! Over $1000 worth of prizes to be won!

Today’s Clue:

Do you like to plan in advance? Well, this challenge is for you- mark your ‘calendars’!

4. You can follow me all day on Twitter to see what I am up to!! Expect lots of Twit-pics! ;)

5. I was scoping out the Lululemon website this morning trying to find the name of my shorts for a reader. I came across their new ‘Running Dress’:

This is what they say about it:

“Sassy and sporty…the perfect technical combo!

Run, play tennis, hit the gym — there’s nothing you can’t do in this dress”

Now I am sure we have all seen how crazy popular running skirts are nowadays! But I have never heard of a running dress before! What do you think of this? Do you think it will catch on?

Personally I can’t see myself wearing one!! But I guess I shouldn’t knock it til I try it! ;)

What do you think? Would you wear it?? Would you wear it to a gym??

256. Amy asks, “I LOVE reading your blog, and it has been inspiring me to try new things in the kitchen, as well as finding creative ways of getting the hubby to eat healthier dishes. I always notice in your pictures that you look very polished and put together, even in sweaty workout clothes.

I’ve been in the process today of cleaning out my closets–and trying to streamline what clothes I do have into a wardrobe that is both classic, and functional… I think it would be awesome to come up with a list (with help from you readers!) of the 25 (or even 50) classic, timeless, user friendly and versatile pieces that all of us fabulous women love to wear.

I’ll start by saying that my favorite staple is black stretchy (yoga type) pants, I have pairs by patagonia, prana, and ibex which makes great thick wool ones I wear almost all winter! I’ll wear these with nice blouses and sandals, camping, and out running or in the field. And I am obsessed with scarves!”

Oh, Amy, I almost squealed with excitement when I read your question! What a fabulous idea! :)

I used to be all about buying whatever clothes were cheapest, but now I tend to buy quality investment pieces for the ‘classic’ wardrobe staples (like work blazers) while other items like tees, tanks, etc I buy low-end.

For example, I spent about $80 on my favourite RW & Co. work blazers, but will often wear $10 tees/tanks underneath. I love mixing quality items with cheapies! :)

Here are my favourite classic pieces in my wardrobe:

1) The Little Black Dress (Semi-dressy)

What: RW & Co Black Dress

This is my go-to black dress for all occasions. I wore this to my Master’s convocation ceremony last October and I wore it in my previous workplace many times.

2) The Little Black Dress (formal, Special occasion):

What: BCBG Open Back Black Dress

I call this my fancy pants LBD because it is for very special occasions! Leah actually convinced me to buy this at an outlet BCBG discount store last summer. I bought it for my honeymoon and I wore it LOTS on the cruise ship.

3) Little Black Dress (Casual)

What: Wet Seal black sweater dress

I love this casual black dress because I can dress it down…

or up with a pair of heels…

4) Summery Dress (light-weight and colourful)

What: Miss Sixty floral dress

This is my go-to summer dress for BBQ’s, picnics, birthdays, or just shopping! I can dress it up with heels or wear it with flip flops from Old Navy. I wore it lots on my Honeymoon. I got it at a Miss Sixty outlet store for $40 bucks!

5) A well-fitted Blazer.

What: RW & Co

Love, love, love RW & Co Blazers! I have one in brown, black, and this tweed one. It was basically all I wore to work and I often wore them for presentations in grad school. They instantly dress you up- even with jeans on!

6) Shorts

What: Old Navy walking shorts

I don’t know about you but it takes me forever to find a good pair of shorts that fit me right! I always have to try on about 15 pairs before finding ones that don’t ride up! These are my go-to summer shorts for any occasion. I can dress them up with stilettos and a fancy top for a night on the town!

7) Detail pieces to highlight body parts you love

What: Tank from Kusadasi, Turkey

I love showing off my back! It is one body part I have always loved no matter what my weight. ;)

I am known for always having tops with interesting back detailing on them, whether it is my workout tanks or summer tops. When I see a top with a funky detailed back that looks good on me, I often end up taking it home! They are my signature piece.

I think everyone has at least one body part that they love to show off, so I think it is fun to ‘play up’ these features with fashion! Think about what you like to show off the most and try to mix and match your pieces around that framework. Find clothes that highlight what you LOVE about yourself!!

8) A great fitting swimsuit

What: Bikini by Roxy

It took me forever to find a bikini, so when I found this Roxy one I got it in both black and white!

9) Scarves/pashminas

I have 3 pashminas that I have been given as gifts. They are so versatile and I love them in the winter and summer. In the winter I use them as a scarf. In the summer I use them as a wrap for chilly nights or cold shopping malls/office buildings.

WINTER:

SUMMER:

10) Casual Clothes

Casual clothes will never go out of style! I choose well-fitted and body hugging casual clothes. Of course, I have an obsession with Lululemon. They are investment pieces and I find they look very put together even when just going grocery shopping!

They are my go-to travel clothes!

Well, those are 10 to start off with! I could go on, and on…but wow this post took me a long time! lol.

Tonight’s Question:

What are your top 10 wardrobe staples or ‘must haves’? What pieces do you think will never go out of style- or- are there any??

Mmmmm.

If you click it, it gets even more delicious looking.

We got the best fresh strawberries from the market last Saturday! Since Eric was ploughing through the quart at a good pace, so I knew I had to get in there and have some before they did a disappearing act.

I am so glad that I didn’t end up putting these in my Green Monster. They deserved to be eaten on their own, with no other masking or competing tastes! :)

We don’t buy berries often because they are so pricey, so it is a nice treat to have them around!

You can almost taste them off the screen, can’t you?

Of course, I had a Green Monster to go along with it…but the berries were the star of the show, that is for sure!

In the mix:

• 1/4 cup cantaloupe
• 1 T natural peanut butter
• 4 cups steamed spinach (does steaming it today with scalding hot water count? lol)
• 1.25 cup PC Low fat Soy Milk
• 1/2 banana
• Kyolic Garlic extract

The juicy cantaloupe added a nice refreshing taste to this Green Monster! I will definitely be adding it again. :)

Yesterday I made a ton of Gl’oreos!

I ‘veganized’ my recipe!

Dinner was a delicious veggie wrap and steamed baby carrots…

I didn’t over cook them this time! No Sir eee!

This tomato was so close to being ‘too ripe’…but we got it just in time.

I can’t say that much for the other tomato…I picked it off the windowsill and it exploded in my hand! I had to laugh…

It literally EXPLODED. Tomato guts everywhere. Wish I had a pic of that…

With ‘ketchup’ (tomato paste) and ‘relish’ (avocado) :D

It was SO hot in this house yesterday that I drank probably 4 Amazing Grass Berry Swamp Waters!!! They are so good with lots of ice and sooooo refreshing. I crave them all day long!

Dessert was this bad boy!

…ok, ok…

x2! :D

I have more pictures to show you or a couple other goodies but my camera battery died so I’ll have to wait!

Last night we started watching Confessions of a Shopaholic and it was SO CUTE!!! :) We didn’t finish it yet (I got too sleepy) but I absolutely loved it so far.

SGBC Casting Call:

Do you want to be featured in the SGBC? Do you know some fun and unique strength exercises that require no equipment? Well, here is your chance to shine!

What you need to do:

1. Pick one or two of your favourite unique toning exercises that require no equipment (although regular household items like chair, steps, soup cans are ok).

2. Have someone take 1-2 pictures of you (or another agreeing individual) doing the exercise.

3. Write up a brief description/instructions of the exercise.

4. Email me the pictures along with the name of the exercise and brief description to ohsheglows@gmail.com

5. Casting call closes at 4pm EST on Saturday June 27th, 2009.

Today’s Clue:

Aren’t prizes truly Amazing???

1) Be sure to check out Eric’s blog if you haven’t already. He has a new post up on light switches and dimmers. Just when you thought there was no reason to think about these sorts of things! Eric says, ‘There’s more to life than Green Monsters, Ange!!’ lol. Ok, I made that up, but that’s something he’d say. Now go check it out…and embrace your inner tech goddess!

2) Glo Bakery website is being updated! Check it out. As a quick reminder I am taking Canadian orders, but I am still looking into the regulations for exporting goods to the US. Thanks for your patience!

3) Does your boyfriend or husband drink Green Monsters? Want to surprise him with a GM shirt? Well, now is your chance! I have added some ‘boyfriend’ tees to the collection. They are awesome organic tees too. If you’d like a women’s tee in the organic cotton let me know!

I LOVE this one below:

Now I just need to get Eric to start drinking them. I’m thinking he should do a blog post about it??? ;)

Back to the kitchen…3 more orders today!

WOW how is it Thursday already!!!!???

Audios!

Today was fun! I got to use my birthday gift certificate from my Brother in Law and Sis in Law for a nearby shopping mall. And of course, I knew exactly where I would use it!!

Lululemon

I wanted to buy a race outfit for the 10k race that is in exactly 2 weeks!!

I had a white tank top in mind because I have plans on decorating the shirt and white is a nice template!!

Here is what I tried on:

I have had my eye on the Speed Shorts for a LONG time (right).

Here are a few things I tried on:

A lovely Hills Running Skirt:

Some more run shorts with anti-chafe tights:

And here is the race outfit I decided on:

[Click to enlarge]

I love that the waist band on the shorts doesn’t ‘cut in’. It also has an elastic tie to tighten if need be.

As Leah always says, “Nice bum, where ya from?” lol ;)

Note the zipper pocket at the top- this is why I love Lulu!!!

A huge thank you to Dave and Ewa for the lovely gift!!

Lunch was awesome leftovers!!! This Banana Apple Coconut Curry is simply amazing!! I polished off the rest today :)

• 1.5 cups curry
• 1 PC Flatbread bun
• peanuts
• coconut

And Spelt cereal + AB:

And a banana:

See you tonight for:

• my proposed design for the tank top!!!
• The TWO winners of my Align giveaway!
• My grocery shop buys

Time to get to work! :) I want to design my logo/t-shirt today and also try out a new recipe with a new ingredient. If anyone has any experience making homemade t-shirt designs I would love it if you gave me tips! I am thinking iron on transfer right now but I am quite terrified it won’t work!

Coming up tomorrow:

• My before and after measurements from the BBBC! Did it WORK?
• A My Hip-T contest giveaway!

Hope you have a lovely day! Congrats to Meghann for finishing the marathon! WOW!

Your own words are the bricks and mortar
of the dreams you want to realize.
Your words are the greatest power you have.
The words you choose and their use establish the life you experience.
~ Sonia Croquette ~

Today was all about the butt! I don’t know about you, but my butt looks a little ‘soft’ after a long winter. :) Time to whip it into gear, right??

I started my butt workout with a super hill workout on the treadmill at the maximum incline 15%. This workout really works my glutes- I can feel it working!

Pre workout snack:

You’ll never believe it but I found a few slices of frozen Ezekiel bread in the back of my freezer this morning!!! I squealed with delight. I still can’t believe it has been 4-5 months since I last bought some??? :)

It was the cinnamon raisin flavour and I had it toasted with a glob of raw Almond Butter.

The workout:

• Duration: 55 mins.
• 3.8 mph, incline 15%
• Distance: 3.19 miles
• Max heart rate: 164 bpm
• Avg heart rate: 148 bpm
• Feel the burn: 460 kcals
• Butt exercises- see below

The butt exercises I did were the step ups as shown on this morning’s BBBC video!

One:                                       Two:

Three:                                       And then I did some backwards step ups:

I did about 15 per leg and really squeezed my butt when I lifted my leg! make sure the movement is very controlled- especially when you land. The more controlled you make it the harder your body works!

Lunch was exactly what I needed to fuel my body after the workout!

Quinoa, tomato sauce, and avocado wrap:

This is how I cut my avocados:

One: Slice while it is still in the skin,

Two: Now scoop out with a spoon.

Three: Place on food and spread out with the spoon!

I decided to mix some Eden Organic No Salt Added Spaghetti Sauce with my leftover cooked quinoa:

• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1/2 c spaghetti sauce
• I also added a handful of black beans when I discovered I had some to be used up!

Then came the solgurt (soy yogurt), Nature’s Path Spelt Cereal, walnuts, agave nectar, and cranberries!

Since I buy the unsweetened Solgurt, I have to add a drizzle of sweetener or this is way too tart! I probably added about 1 t of agave.

The sweetened Solgurt has something like 22 grams of sugar in it per serving- a bit too high for my liking.

This wrap was really tasty! I loved the quinoa in it with the sauce.

Fun facts about Quinoa:

• Quinoa is very high in protein and is a high protein seed that is used as a grain
• It is a great source of complete protein as well as magnesium
• It is rich in Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, dietary fiber, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese

Those Lace pant cover-up thing a ma bobs…

PPP told me that they are called Bella Bands

Sarah suggested this hilarious name for them: “Muffin wraps for those muffin tops!”

Kelly says you can find them here: www.myhip-t.com

Angie says you can buy them here and they are called JAKs

Thanks everyone!! :) Those jaks look awesome!

I am going to try to do a FAQ either tonight or tomorrow depending on how much time I have after my work is done.

Enjoy your Friday afternoon!! :D

Missed parts 1-4?

My fridge!! Where the fun happens, right?? :D

TOP SHELF:

• Glo Bakery ONLY products! Eric knows not to touch anything on this shelf. lol
  • Vanilla extract, almond extract, peppermint extract, lemon juice, almond milk, non-hydrogenated olive oil margarine, marzipan, fondant, applesauce, soy yogurt, pumpkin, etc.

MIDDLE SHELVES:

• Organic brown eggs, light PC Margarine (hate this crap!), cheese slices (we bought for the family BBQ), 3 english cukes, honey dijon, pureed organic garlic. In the pull out drawer is Eric’s bagged 1% cow’s milk.

BOTTOM SHELF:

• 100% grapefruit juice (I bought this for my father in law while he was here this week), soy milk, cow’s milk, brita filter, chick peas (soaking overnight to make hummus tomorrow), cooked quinoa, mayonnaise (in laws), tahini (for hummus mostly).

Produce Drawers (bottom):

• Right hand side: 4 bunches of organic kale (I told you we had a major surplus!!! bahaha)
• Left hand side: 3 avocados (once they ripen they go into the fridge), organic PC romaine, more kale (!!), 4 lemons, organic carrots.

THE DOOR:

The basic sauces, condiments, dressings, blah blah blah!!! :)

So there you have it!       

I felt SO amazing after today’s workout. You know those workouts that leave you drenched in sweat, glowing and energized?? That’s how I felt today. Nothing beats it.

The workout:

• Duration: 54 mins.
• Speed: 3.8 mph, incline 15%
• Max heart rate: 162 bpm
• Avg heart rate: 148 bpm
• Feel the burn: 454 kcals

This hill workout is tough, tough, tough! It was the same workout as the past couple days only I walked a bit fast (3.8mph vs 3.6/3.7). I also did 2 side planks (50 sec each-full arm extension) and a downward dog for kicks.

I studied my food safety manual while I exercised and my attention span capped out at 30 mins. :D Same with yesterday. At that point I just don’t want to be studying while working out. It is a great way to kill two birds with one stone, though! Now all I have to do tonight is a quick review.

The other day I came across Spring and Summer 2009 colour pallet trends by TLF. Apparently, TLF ‘forecasts’ the colour trends 21 months in advance!

Here they are for Spring/Summer 2009. TLF divides the colours into 3 categories: Chic, Classic, and casual. Click on the image below to enlarge!

What colour pallet do you like the best?

I think my favourite is the classic colour pallet. That or casual. I think the chic would wash me out too much with all those beiges.

This is what it says about the classic:

The Classic world is deeply inspired by colors of the Mediterranean beaches, where the strong appeal of the sea combines with the period of figurative arts. Flaming and almost primary colours convey strength and energy, but drive us towards a measured chromatic indiscipline through creative and post-futuristic combinations, daring with creative couplings.

Awwww…takes me back to our mediterranean honeymoon!!!! *sigh :D

It’s Office night…yawhoo. Have a great night!!

Tomorrow I will be showing you experiment #2 with my tofu! Did it turn out? We shall see…I will also be doing another round of your favourite- FAQ’s!! :) Lots of great questions to address.

Everything about my eats today is green!

We have a huge surplus of organic kale in our house right now! Last night Eric walked in the door with 4 huge bunches of kale!!! Now we have 5 bunches to use up. lol. I really don’t know what the poor guy was thinking.

Last night playing with my food:

So I decided I am going to have to drink 2 green monsters each day to use it up. Look at how much I used in this morning’s GM. It barely fit!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 serving extra firm tofu
• 3 huge organic kale leaves
• 1 T Raw almond butter
• 1.5 cups unsweetened almond breeze
• 1 large frozen banana
• ice

It made so much I had to put it in a bowl and eat it with a spoon like I saw on KERF the other day.

It was delicious!

I was a bad girl today and ate lunch at my desk! It only occurred to me just now that I used to eat my lunch at my desk while working every single day at my old job. I am thankful now that I can take actual lunch breaks if I want. Today though, I have been in such a good ‘groove’ that I couldn’t be bothered to stop.

My lunch was quick and easy:

Nature’s Path Spelt Cereal with 1 T dried blueberries, 3 T pecans, and Almond Breeze (Original).

An Echinacea Cold Season tea (my nose has been stuffy lately but now I think it is just allergies!) plus a green tea:

A whole wheat English Muffin with 1/2 avocado, walnuts, and 100% wheat bran for extra fibre:

Dessert was a granny smith apple!

I also have my last Larabar for a snack if I get hungry anytime soon while at my desk.

Wow I had no idea that the lace pant cover up thing a ma bob was going to be such a big hit on this morning’s post! :) How dare I post it without saying where I got it from! It is What I Wore afterall, right?

I have a white one and a black one and they are fabulous! They are great for low rise jeans when you don’t want any skin showing on your back. I love dressing up my Lulu’s with a bit of lace too!

I got them from an Ontario store called Jean Machine. I love the black one over jeans. I find it is quite slimming and pulls everything in together! They are great if your shirt is short.

I threw on a red top for these pictures because I love the red and black together:

What should we call this lace pant cover up thing a ma bob, anyways??

I would suggest looking for these at your local jean store! They have them in every colour of the rainbow at Jean Machine!

See you tonight for more fashion fun…

I am just in a fashion kinda mood today, what can I say! Tonight I will be talking about spring/summer trends.

Today’s question: What is your all time favourite accessory?

I would say one of my favourites is a flashy hand bag!! I have my eye on the Coach hand bag in the Shop 4 A Cause auction!!!! lol.