Week in Review & Weekend Wishlist (merci, KW!)

J'adore when Kimberly does her Week in Review and Weekend Wishlist. The practice of reviewing all I've done/accomplished during the week is satisfying and helps me see the bigger picture. And putting into words what I hope to accomplish over the weekend, particularly a long weekend like this one, helps me stay focused. And so, I begin my first WiR and WW post!. Merci, Kimberly, for the inspiration!


Week in Review
- 3 runs (4, 3, and 2 miles respectively)
- 1 upper body strength training mini session (must get better about incorporating these)
- 1 a cappella rehearsal (we are holding auditions and finally decided on our group, after hours of deliberation)
- 1 apres-work drinks celebrating my promotion (adore my coworkers)
- 1 dinner date with bestie coworker Pallas and bestie roomie Annika @ Serafina (surprisingly delicious - had a YUMMY strawberry basil martini)
- 1 lunch date @ L'Oreal 
- 1 real date @ Kuma Inn (Date went surprisingly well, but I don't think I'm interested. Still, it was good practice!)




*Weekend Wishlist*
~ Saturday Cookshop brunch (it's my fave/easiest brunch place within walking distance), hopefully followed by a long walk around the city 
~ 4.5 mile run on Sunday
~ Oodles of sleeping in and laziness
~ Art journaling artist date avec me, myself and I
~ Catch up on my personal email (it's appalling)
~ Send out a few snail mail notes
~ Make spicy three bean chili & vegan cornbread
~ eye doctor appointment
~ yoga! (preferably of the hot variety)


 

Life Lately: Springspiration, Dating and Bonnes Amies

I keep telling myself that I will blog more often. That I will, dare I say, blog regularly. That I will actually revamp my blog, find a focus, regain my readership, grow my readership, reconnect with my blog friends and jump back into the wonderful world that is the blogosphere. But then life gets in the way, and well, I find myself doing any and everything instead of blogging. #fail


Alas, I am here many, many days later. I am here to give you a quick update on my little life that I am loving so dearly. 


Springspiration: I am itching to buy spring clothes! So much so that I may have popped into the ginormous 4-story Forever 21 in Times Square last week in between social engagements, and one of the first things I found is the blouse below. How cute is that?? Love the bright orange pop of color. After spending less than $20 on it (less than $20!!), I wore it to work the next day and received a record number of compliments. Now all I want to do is shop for bright-colored sheer delights, among a number of other things. What's on your Spingspiration wishlist? Mine is forever growing, but I know it includes LOADS of pinks, corals, oranges, tangerines, aquas, emeralds, and yes, even some nudes. :)

Dating: Yes, so I signed up for Match.com. And I have a date this Friday. My first date in... well, in a long time. I'm not keen on dating (and have this thing against straight, unmarried men - I know, it's bizarre), but I think I'm finally ready and willing to open myself up to it. Any dating tips?


Bonnes Amies: Since the start of the year, my social calendar has been jam packed. And since reading this book, I swear, I'm making new friends left and right. I even picked up the sales clerk at the Calypso in Soho last weekend (she just moved here from Austin and is this adorable artsy type; note to self: text her)! Most recently I got together with my dear amie Lesley who I met years and years ago at Kimberly's yoga and creativity retreat in upstate New York. We went to a pre-fashion week Nivea event where we ate blue cotton candy, hung out with Rebecca Romin and Jerry O'Connell and picked up many a tube of free lip gloss.

I miss y'all. A lot. Gros bisous.


 

Book Review: MWF Seeking BFF

I'm writing this book review, and I'm not even done with the book - that's how much I dig it. MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New BFF is nonfiction gold for 20-/30-something women who love having girlfriends. Don't believe me? Read below.

"When Rachel Bertsche first moves to Chicago, she’s thrilled to finally share a zip code, let alone an apartment, with her boyfriend. But shortly after getting married, Bertsche realizes that her new life is missing one thing: friends. Sure, she has plenty of BFFs—in New York and San Francisco and Boston and Washington, D.C. Still, in her adopted hometown, there’s no one to call at the last minute for girl talk over brunch or a reality-TV marathon over a bottle of wine. Taking matters into her own hands, Bertsche develops a plan: She’ll go on fifty-two friend-dates, one per week for a year, in hopes of meeting her new Best Friend Forever.

In her thought-provoking, uproarious memoir, Bertsche blends the story of her girl-dates (whom she meets everywhere from improv class to friend rental websites) with the latest social research to examine how difficult—and hilariously awkward—it is to make new friends as an adult. In a time when women will happily announce they need a man but are embarrassed to admit they need a BFF, Bertsche uncovers the reality that no matter how great your love life is, you’ve gotta have friends."

I bought this book on my kindle (my first actual kindle purchase!!) last week before I hopped on a plane to New Orleans for my law school bestie's, Pony's, wedding. After reading about it in several magazines, I knew I had to get my hands on it. After all, I know exactly how Rachel feels/felt. After law school, I found myself in an ah-mazing city (Austin - duh) lacking in the true friendship department. I had my other law school girl bestie, Jenny, and I had a couple of other friends I'd see semi-regularly. But the rest of the time, I found myself canceling plans with so-so friends with whom I felt little to no real connection. Quite frankly, I would have rather stayed home with Lola. So that's what I did.

Fast forward one year and a half, and I was not happy. I found myself constantly finding reasons to leave Austin, whether for the weekend or just the day, and sooner or later I found myself craving a different life altogether. Hello, NYC! 

Now my life is a series of social commitments, and I can hardly keep up. Reading this book, I find myself paying a lot more attention to my social calendar. Take yesterday, for example:

11:30 a.m. - Coffee shop catch-up avec my boys (Will and David) @ Grounded

2:00 p.m. - Brunch avec old boss/dear friend Megan @ Five Points

6:00 p.m. - Art journaling play date avec new friend/fellow art journaling enthusiast Tiffani @ her incredibly decorated apartment (more on this later - I am INSPIRED, y'all!) Psst - I was introduced to Tiffani via Valerie, another blog-y friend. Merci, Val!

In between was catching up with my roomie, another unexpected dear amie Annika. By the end of the day (around 12:30 a.m.), I realized I had been talking for about 12 hours straight. Phew! I was exhausted, but also feeling quite accomplished. All my conversations had been by choice, AND, more importantly, deeply satisfying on many levels. Throughout the course of the day, I had discussed, in no particular order: politics, interior design, goal-setting, boys, boys and more boys, hair color, fashion, self-confidence and affirmations, food... the list goes on and on. I wanted to whip out my iPhone and text Rachel about my successful day (that is, until I realized, we're not BFF's in real life - such a shame).

That is yet another reason I enjoy this book - because Rachel is totally and completely the kind of BFF I would want, so I can relate to her wants/needs/desires when it comes to bestfriendship. 

I highly recommend this book. It's funny, it's endearing, but it's also wicked smart and insightful. What more can you ask for from a BFF?

P.S. Also? I'm feeling so ridiculously, stupidly, blissfully grateful for the friendships in my life. How did I get so lucky? Note to self: Be a better friend in 2012.

 

Day 3: Two and a Half is Better Than None

Based on the title alone, I'm sure you can see where this post is headed. Oui, I broke the fast before the 72-hour mark. Et non, I don't regret it at all! To be honest, I'm impressed that I lasted this long. Could I have made it until tomorrow morning? Probably. But my night would've been miserable, and well, I get it. I get what a cleanse is supposed to do, so I really don't care that much about finishing this last half day. :)

Day 3 Recap:

Difficulty: 9 - It wasn't as hard as yesterday because I was at work and was therefore preoccupied at times. That being said, when I smelled my coworkers' lunches, I almost fainted with desire (yes, I was a bit melodramatic at work). Then when I went up to the cafeteria to get some hot water and lemon, and saw these yummy cheesy pizza bites that the cafeteria sometimes makes (and that I used to get), I swear I stood in front of them for about 5 minutes debating with myself as to whether it would be the worst thing in the world to grab a few and eat them in the bathroom. (For the record, I didn't do it.) What also made the day easier to get through was the knowledge that I would allow myself to eat in the evening.

Physical: After sleeping all day yesterday, it's no surprise that I had tremendous difficulty falling asleep last night. That being said, when my alarm went off this morning, I wasn't tired. I had a good amount of energy and felt it all day. My coworker commented immediately on how "great" I looked, and how my skin was glowing. I honestly don't think I looked that different at all, except that I was minus a lot of water weight.

Emotional: Mmmm... I basically b*tched all day about how hungry I am. So yes, I was a treat.

Pounds Lost: Down another 1.5 for a total of 5.5 pounds. Not bad for just 2 days! I'm curious to see what my weight will be tomorrow morning now that I've reintroduced solid food to my diet. I will say that when I got dressed this morning, I put on a skirt that's normally a bit tight on me, and it was very loose. Now that, I will miss.

I'll tell you what I won't miss though... those damn juices!! I now officially hate the Blueprint green juice - it's way too freaking sweet. And the pineapple, apple, mint one is delicious but also very sweet. I do, however, love the spicy lemonade and the cashew milk. Mmmm.

So, are you dying to know? What did I eat? How did I break this infamous fast? Not with a piece of fruit or lightly steamed veggies, as suggested. Nope, I knew exactly what I wanted...

Creamy avocado on Ezekiel sprouted bread. Delish. I hope my tummy doesn't hate me for it. So far, so good!

Now for the real questions re: the cleanse:

1. Was it worth it? 


Monetarily? No. I'm actually pretty pissed that I have 3 of those darn green juices left in my fridge. I would never buy Blueprint's green juice again - it's so not even close to the best I've had. Also, one of the things that drove me the most crazy about this cleanse was the lack of variety. I think if I were to do another cleanse, I'd do it when I had my own juicer and could therefore pick and choose my own combos. Or I'd try Cooler Cleanse, which has more variety (watermelon + lime and coconut? yum!).

For the experience? Absolutely. I wanted to do a juice cleanse, and I did it. And I understand the benefits - de-bloating, quick weight loss (albeit water weight loss), a chance to give your body a break. These are all really good things. That being said...


2. Would you do it again?


I don't think I would not do 3 2.5 days again. This girl is just not meant to go that long without solid food. I would, however, consider a 24-hour one, or even a juice-til-dinner type situation. That way, you still get a lot of the benefits of a cleanse, but sans the absolute agony of knowing you don't get to eat for a really, really long time.

3. Would you recommend it?

Eh, this is tricky. Here's what I would recommend: if you want to reset and give it a try, go for it. But try a 1-day cleanse first just to see what you're getting yourself into. And then maybe splurge and go for  a 3- or 5- or 10- day one (who can do 10 days?!?!!), if you think you can handle it. I personally could not (and don't really want to).

4. What have you LEARNED from this 2.5 days of misery?


I've learned that I love how my body feels when it's 5.5 lbs lighter. I've learned that I absolutely cannot go without solid food for more than 24 hours without wanting to kill someone. I've learned that when you're truly hungry, you don't crave pizza or burgers or beer, you crave things like brussels sprouts and lentils and kale soup. I've learned that I'd rather eat really healthy and in moderation for 4 weeks than go more than 4 hours without food. I've learned that you can lose an astonishing amount of weight when you just drink juice. I've learned that your mouth really does fill with saliva when you see delicious food in the Food Network that you absolutely cannot eat.

 

Juice Cleanse: Day 2 - Why Am I Doing This?

Day 1 Recap:


Difficulty: 8

Physical: Great, minus hunger pangs.

Emotional: Not so great. Being hungry makes me uber cranky. In retrospect, I don't think I was hungry so much as I missed the ritual, excitement, comfort, etc. of eating.

Pounds Lost: 4 (Wow - a lot more than I anticipated after just one day.)


Moving on to Day 2 - yes, it's been harder than Day 1. Today is the first day I've seriously considered giving up on this stupid cleanse. I've spent nearly the entire day in bed, either sleeping or complaining. I was supposed to go to the gym and run today, but there was no way that was happening. Running makes me extremely hungry, and I knew, I knew, I'd break down and eat something on my way back home.

It's only 8:24 p.m., but I'm already drinking my cashew milk because I intend to go to sleep after finishing this post. I have to be up really early for an eye doctor appointment anyway, and I just don't have the energy to do anything else besides lay in bed and sleep. This cashew milk is the only thing that keeps me going, to be honest. It's so thick and delicious, and last night I found myself attempting to get every last drop out of the bottle. A new low, for sure.

Also? I skipped Juice 5 (green) again today. Honestly, the idea of drinking yet another one of those makes me want to vom.

I have nothing else to say except that I'm glad tomorrow is Day 3, and I'm glad I have work to keep me busy for most of the day. I also have to say that I am seriously considering breaking this cleanse tomorrow before dinner. Would that be awful?

How the HELL do people do this for any longer?!?!?!!



Day 2 Recap:


Difficulty: 10

Physical: Low energy, but no other detox symptoms evident.

Emotional: Miserable. Angry. Annoyed at myself for doing this.

Pounds Lost: Will report tomorrow...


 

Juice Cleanse: Day 1 (Almost) Over

This. Sucks. No, really, it sucks. Need evidence? The photo above depicts my lunch today and my roomie's lunch today. Hers? A portobello panini. Mine? Juice.

As if I needed any confirmation (and I really didn't), being hungry does not suit me. I get really cranky and at times, borderline tearful. I just want some freaking food! Sigh. I guess I should start at the beginning. I planned to start my juicing at 10 a.m. so that I could one every two hours (10, 12, 2, 4, 6, 8). But a very late bedtime meant that I didn't get rockin and rollin until around 11 a.m. this morning. And when I woke up, my mind and body instinctively thought: "BAGEL." Because that is, after all, what Saturday mornings used to be. Bagels or brunch or, at the very least, avocado toast (mmmm avocados). But this morning? Just juice.

Mistake #1: Starting a juice cleanse on the weekend. Unfortunately, I had to because I have a work lunch on Tuesday at which I absolutely cannot be drinking juice.

Moving on. I had Juices 1 and 2 before leaving the house. Blueprint's green juice is very easy to drink, but I agree with many others who say it's a bit too sweet. Like sickly sweet. I don't normally find this to be the case with green juices so they must add a lot of apple juice. Juice 2 was the gold juice - pineapple, apple and mint. It was very sweet, but very refreshing. Delish.

Today my roomie, Annika, and I made plans to have an NYC day of fun. First stop was the Museum of Modern Art - one of my favorite museums of all time. My firm has a corporate membership so Annika and I got in for free. Holla! I brought along Juice #3 (green) knowing that we'd be out for awhile. The weather today was snowy and frigid - PERFECT weather for a juice cleanse. ...

Mistake #2: Starting a juice cleanse on the coldest, snowiest day of the year. I swear if it were summer, this whole thing would be a whole lot easier.

After viewing several galleries, our hunger led us to the Cafe on floor 2. My sense of smell was on fire - I wanted to eat everything. But instead, I busted out my green juice while Annika ate the most delicious looking and smelling portobello panini. See photo above.

We spent the rest of the day shopping along Fifth and Madison during which I didn't feel hungry, exactly, just a bit empty. We ended our extravaganza at Starbucks where I ordered a green tea. The hot liquid definitely helped, but was it the same as a soy misto? Absolutely not.

By the time we got home, I was full on cranky. And full on hungry. Time for Juice 4 - spicy lemonade. This was surprisingly delicious! Perfect balance of tart and sweet, and the cayenne is barely noticeable. LOVED it.

But as much as I loved it, I still wanted food. I honestly can't tell if I'm hungry or if I just don't know how to handle not having solid food in my tummy. I'm super pissy. I pitched a massive fit while sitting in my roomie's bed (we watched Friends With Benefits - highly recommend). I just. want. some. FOOD.

I haven't had Juice 5 (another green) yet, and I don't think I will. It's already 10 p.m., and I think I just want my cashew milk and my bed. Honestly, I can't bear the thought of drinking another juice juice anyway. Le sigh. I really hope tomorrow's easier.

Day 1 Recap:


Difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 8 - As tough as it's been, I haven't really been tempted to break the cleanse and eat something.

Physical: I feel great. Just fine, really, minus the really-pissing-me-off pangs of hunger. No caffeine withdrawal. No low energy. I feel fine.

Emotional: To be honest, I felt pretty good for most of the day until we were sitting at Starbucks, and I thought about going home and curling up in bed with a good movie. Because along with PJs and a good movie, I also wanted some Thai takeout. By the time the movie was over, I got REAL cranky, and my mind started saying all kinds of nasty things about myself and my body to myself. No bueno, my friends. I'm feeling a little better now. Am going to get my cashew milk and watch Vegucated.

 

Juicy - My Attempt at a 3-Day Juice Cleanse

My diet over the last month has been... less than ideal. Needless to say, the number on the scale is not what I hoped it'd be by this time, and I'm feeling a big slow, sluggish and bloated (and don't even get me started on my conscious). Who's to blame? Well, I am, of course! An endless number of holiday parties, plus my sister's visit to NYC for her birthday (hello, Babbo!), and a nasty week-long cold that left me unable to go to the gym and unwilling to cook my own food, have reminded me of a fact I absolutely know to be true - when you eat crap, you want crap. And it's really tough to break the cycle.

Fast forward to now: I'm in a wedding next weekend for which I hoped to be about 5 lbs lighter. Also? I have lost that lovely vegan glow, both inside and out, and miss it desperately. Now, I have no illusions that I'll be able to follow a perfect vegan diet while I'm in New Orleans (for, by the way, what is guaranteed to be the wedding of the century). But nonetheless, in an effort to revive my pasty, lumpy bod, I've decided to embark on a 3-day juice cleanse a la Blueprint, an NYC favorite.

I've never done a juice cleanse. Heck, I've never even fasted (I once attempted a 24-hour fast and gave up about 3 hours in). But I've heard wonderful things about them (and I've also heard not-so-wonderful things about them), and I'm willing and ready to give it a shot.

Blueprint offers three levels of cleanses: Renovation, Foundation and Excavation. I chose the Foundation level since I wanted a little more variety than the Excavation, but I also wanted at least half my day to be green juice goodness. Here's what my daily menu looks like:

1 - Green juice (a mix of greens + apple + lemon)
2 - Gold juice (pineapple + mint)
3 - Green juice (repeat)
4 - Yellow juice (a spicy lemonade)
5 - Green juice (one more time!)
6 - White juice (cashew milk + vanilla + cinnamon)

Basically I'm just supposed to drink a juice, in the order shown above, every 2 hours. The last juice is actually a milk, a heavenly thick and delicious cashew milk that tastes like a really healthy and good-for-you milkshake. I'm really excited about ending my day with one of those babies.

I've read several reviews, and everyone says the same thing. Day 1 is kinda cool. Day 2 blows. You're never hungry, but you desperately miss chewing. And by Day 3, you will be thinner, glowier and have a sugar ton of energy. Now, I know me, and I know what I'll miss is the savory. These juices are all sweet, and I have always preferred savory over sweet. The smell of baking bread, a sizzling hot pizza, a steaming bowl of chili... those smells will be tough to ignore. Also? It's supposed to snow tomorrow. Who wants to drink nothing but juice on a cold, snowy day?? Le sigh. The things I do...

Anyway, I plan to blog about the cleanse because well, I'm sure I'll have a lot to say (or scream). Feel free to juice cleanse with me! ;)