Office makeover wanted

I must confess,  I love reading blogs! They provide information, inspiration and some much more. With that being said I love the interior design blogs that showcase the latest looks for the home. Looking at the blog photos makes me want to re do my office. Back in 2006 my hubby and I went to my Shangrila to purchase office furniture. My little home based business was growing rapidly and I needed a better storage system. I had to outfit a small 10 x 10 ft bedroom. It was a challenge. I had no floor space but I was fortunate enough to have vertical space. So we he (my hubby) put up shelves and kitchen cabinets in the small little space.

Fast forward to present day, I still don't know how I managed to get all my inventory and craft supplies in that one small room in our old house. In this new house my crafts are in one room and my office (desk, computer is in the dining room). The furniture is a light birch color, yawn. I certainly don't mind it but after looking at these blogs I want an all white office. So I am in the process of saving up to redo my office. Since my office is in the dining room it has to be presentable for when guests come over.

I would like my new desk to have a glass desktop with white enamel legs . And I would like a white wall unit for books and what nots. I would add hot pink peonies for a splash of color! And accent it with my tall silver desk lamps.

{hot pink peonies}

 

{desk, Ikea}

{expedit wall unit, ikea}

 

{mirrored door insert}

I will post my current office pictures once I sprinkle holy water and get the mail & magazine demons off my desk tidy up a bit. This will be a slow design project so the after picture may take a while to get posted. What does your office look like? What decor inspires you? Post below.

Meal Planning Challenge

Happy Sunday all!

I am sitting here on the sofa just lounging and enjoying my last day off before the start of the new week. I have had a challenging few weeks with my weight loss journey. I've fallen off many times because I had food items with many carbs or I've had items that are not allowed on my diet, bread especially.

This week I am going to tackle creating a meal plan. I love planning other aspects of my life but I despise coming up with a meal plan. I'm not sure why I don't enjoy planning my meals. I guess it requires too much thought. Or maybe it reminds me that I have to have a completely different set of meals than my family. I am not sure, all I know is that I don't enjoy it. I was reading Amy's blog and she published her meal plan. It inspired me to challenge myself to create my own meal plan. So I will begin with things that I know will be a constant for me.

Here I go:

Week of 8-29-11 to 9-4-11
Monday:
breakfast: HB egg with sausage patty
snack 1: Atkin's bar
Lunch: Slice of leftover meatloaf with garden salad
snack 2: 1/2 cup of pistachios
Dinner: Tuna salad alternative with garden salad

Tuesday:
breakfast: Egg and sausage omelet
Lunch: Chicken nugget 8pcs
snack 2: pork rinds
Dinner: open

Planning my dinners at times will be a challenge since my hubby makes dinner. I typically "Atkinize" it by adding a salad to the meat portion of his meals and forgo the carb-laden sides.

Okay I've lost interest in completing the rest of this week. I really don't like this challenge. I will complete Tuesday and Wednesday plans tomorrow. I'm spent. Do you have any ideas for creating a meal plan? If you enjoy creating one please share your thoughts below because I am really at a loss for creating one for myself. Thanks in advance! Here's to a great week ahead!!!

Shopping: One word... Ugh!

I've never mentioned this but I earned a bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising. I was quite fashionable back in the day. I love fashionable clothing. Some how I've managed to not look so fashionable at my size. I look...presentable at best.


Way back when I looked forward to getting dressed and pairing accessories with my outfit of the moment. Now you're lucky if my clothes are pressed let alone coordinate. Where did my love for shopping for clothing go? Oh yeah, out the window like my waist size. I have to say I LOATHE shopping for clothes now. I don't like trying on clothes in anyone's dressing room. I rather spend the extra gas and try it on at home with the possibility of having to take the item back to the store.


Today my husband, mini Me and I went to this "Shi Shi Foo Foo" area of town that has really upscale "Hoity Toity" type shops. You know the shopping centers where shops are spelled "Shoppes" or "Shop-Pees" like my husband so lovingly calls it. We went there so I could specifically visit the J. McLaughlin store. Much to my chagrin they were closed because of a wedding. Okay so did everyone have to go to the wedding? I'm just saying. Alright I won't be so bitter about it. But I was going there to pick out my "motivating" outfit...preferrably a dress. But they were closed! Ugh.

Anyway, we continued to walk down the shopping "Centre" you know those fancy places rearrange letters because they're "Fanci." Wink wink. We went into a couple shops and store after store I didn't see a size larger than a TWELVE! Yes you read that right folks. A TWELVE! Wow so fat chicks just don't exist in their world whatsoever. How nice.

I am going to restrain myself from going off about fashion and how women over the size of 12 are the forgotten ones yet we make up the majority of the female population. Hmm...why such a disconnect? Is it because they can cash in on more money making us feel "less than" than to actually make clothes *gasp* in our size...the horror!

What do you think? Hop up on the soapbox and express your feelings! I'll start...What is so hard in making a line of preppy clothing for women sizes 14-26? I would like a shift dress to fit over my 42 DDD bra cups! Hell they make spandex pants to fit us, why not a classic shift, shirt, skort? Hmm? Okay I'm going to the gym to burn off the half a hot dog bun I had at Costco. I know, I know I shouldn't of had it...too late. Off to break a sweat!! Don't forget to rant below! ;-)

Motivation: Towards or away from?

You're plugging along with your diet and you hit a plateau...BAM! Or your weight loss journey is not going as "planned" and you lose momentum. What do you do to stay motivated? Or do you completely throw in the towel because you're fed up? We won't talk about giving up just yet. That is another blog post. Let's talk about motivation. A while back I discovered a podcast called "Inside Out Weight Loss" it approached weight loss thru self reflection. It has had a profound impact on my weight loss journey. It set the foundation for me that has helped me adopt and stick to my diet and new way of life.

{image, Personal life media}

In this particular episode Renee talks about towards or away from motivation. What is that you ask? In simple terms it states that towards is the motivation you want to strive to become, like a smaller size. Away from motivation is what you don't want to become, obese, larger than a size 14.

Depending on the day my motivation can be away from or towards. For example, the other evening I was laying in bed watching tv and all of a sudden I started having cravings for something to eat. I knew that I wasn't hungry but it was the after effects of having a dish with pasta. Boy Dr. Atkins wasn't kidding when he said to stay away from carbs like pasta and bread.


Anyway, the cravings to have something to eat were really strong. I went to the kitchen and had a glass of water. That didn't help so I went back to lay down. Laying there I thought to myself, "you're going to go and eat something you shouldn't eat that will satisfy you for 10 minutes. Or you can regain control and not have anything to eat go to bed then have a feast in the morning. What is more important? Eating some type of garbage now and look like the picture in the race car? Or watch the digital scale go down a digit or two in the morning?"

 {my AWAY from motivator}

Needless to say I opted for the second. It was tough. I can't say I overcome the cravings every time because I don't. But the fact that I think about what motivates me really makes a difference. And when I am faced with challenges I always think of what will motivate me more, looking like I do in the race car or finally fitting into the size 6 that I've dreamed of being for over 15 years!

{My TOWARDS motivator, to look like that in a cardi and boatneck}

So what is your motivation strategy? Away from or Towards? Have you thought about it? If so let me know I would love to know what motivates you. I may help me too! Here's to achieving our next goal!!!

Dry Brushing

Have you heard of it? Do you know what it is? Well I am here to tell you what it is. First let me start by saying how terrified I was to think that my skin would be loose and flabby as I lost my weight.

{earth therapeutic far reaching back brush}

I know you are probably saying...Erika lose the weight first THEN worry about flabby skin. Well my answer is um NO. I want to ensure that my skin shrinks as my body does and I did some extensive research and I found out about dry brushing. 

Dry brushing is brushing your skin with a natural bristle brush or loofah to promote circulation and lymphatic stimulation in the body. Brushing the entire body with long firm not hard strokes will promote circulation and elimination of toxins in the body. Your skin is the LARGEST organ in the body and a portal for elimination by way of skin sloughing and perspiration. We often overlook taking care of our skin. I mean slapping on some lotion after your shower is not enough. 

Exfoliating the skin by way of dry brushing from what I've read is one of the most effective ways to accomplish the following:

1. Exfoliating the skin

2. Reducing the signs of stretch marks

3. Reducing or eliminating areas where cellulite is present

4. Tightening loose or excess skin.

So I am going to take it upon myself and play human guinea pig to see if I accomplish the same results. I will take some before photos tomorrow and post them next week and I will post each week my results so you can see for yourself if it works or not. I've read that you can begin to see results within 3 weeks. What steps are you taking to ensure you don't have flabby excess skin when you lose the weight? Are you even worried about having loose skin? Post your comment below! Here's to a youthful glow!

I'm moving on...

...to the next phase of the Atkins diet plan. I was surfing the web and found an article about 7 mistakes you may be making on your low carb diet. Well I was guilty of 4 of the 7 mistakes! Yikes!!! My original plan was to remain in the Induction phase until I reached 199 pounds. After reading the article I am really doing myself an injustice by staying so long in the initial phase.


I have to admit it was my fear of choosing the wrong foods and slowing down my weight loss progress that prevented me from moving on to the next phase. But I eventually have to figure out what foods I will be able to eat and what foods I must avoid. The sooner I start that phase the better. I have to learn what my carb limit will be...that is what I fear, the trial and error process. Ugh! I don't want to do it. I must if I am going to reach my weight loss goal I guess.


Anyhoo, I'm off to bed. What are your thoughts about being on a diet but your fears are preventing you from moving to the next phase of your diet plan? How are you going to approach the challenge you face? If you have any suggestions please feel free to leave them below. Biting my nails right now. I'm a big girl. I'm a big girl. (Oh yeah I am a big girl...whole reason why I'm here, LOL) I can do this...right?

Fashionable Friday: Boatnecks & Cardis & Animal Prints...Oh My!

Happy Friday Fashionistas!!!

{all images, jcrew}

I love classic preppy looks and as always J Crew delivers. I am a very casual dresser. Jeans, boatneck tee shirt or blouse and a cardigan or sweater set. Since I have quite a large chest I typically opt for the twinset as opposed to a shirt and blazer. I always feel like a linebacker in women's clothing when i wear a blazer. So I choose the twinset and top it with my signature pearls. One thing I look forward to when I achieve my goal weight is wearing a blazer.

{steve madden shoes, scout bag}

My go to staple shoe is a loafer or ballet flat. I love flats. Whether they're boring or unique I just love em! Heels...I'll pass. Now when I get to my goal weight maybe that will change...but for now gimme FLATS!

So what is your casual style? Post your comments below. Thanks for stopping by. Happy weekend!!!