Time for a Stretch

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Cobra Pose 

From a prone position place the hands down under the shoulders, or farther away from your body depending on your spines flexibility, and raise the upper body. 

Push the legs together if you wish to engage the lower back and gluteuls. 

Leave the legs slightly open if you want a deeper stretch. 

Benefits of Cobra Pose
This pose increases the flexibility of the spine. It can also strengthen the spine. 

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Crushing On...

Essie's Neon Collection

Neon Nail Colors! 

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Dream Dressing ~ Cold Weather Casual

On these cold winter days getting out of bed is a struggle for me but actually having to be productive is even harder. This would be the perfect get up for a mild winter day when there are errands to be run & a to do list to whittle down. 

Comfort is key as is staying warm but ultimately you still want to look put together & stylish :) 

How amazing is that Gotham City Ring by Noir? 

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O is for Oatmeal

I've never been the biggest fan of oatmeal as a breakfast food. 

I attribute it to a few things, the texture (I grew up on Malt-o-Meal so all the bumps & lumps of the oats never worked for me), what to accompany it with & the hassle of making it. 

Up until recently I thought oatmeal was only good for oatmeal raisin chocolate chip cookies (yummy!) & making the topping for a fruit crumble (double yummy!!). 

And then my nutritionist told me to I should try to stay away from wheat since both the little man & I have a sensitivity to it (and she delicately mentioned it wouldn't hurt my looks either to eat less carbs - hehehe.) 

So I gave it another try and I discovered two things: 

1) 

Once you get the hang of it, it doesn't take too long to make. Honestly washing the pot is more bothersome then standing at the stove for 1 minute stirring continuously. 

2) 

The perfect accompaniment to oatmeal is a dollop of fruit preserve.  

I'm trying to start each day with a warm bowl of oatmeal with my favorite jam on top. 

Btw - one of my favorite brands of jam is Hero's. It's delish!!

PS - while writing this I got a huge craving for oatmeal cookies so I pulled out the butter to soften and will be baking up a batch shortly. I'll fill you in on the results :) 

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Dream Dressing ~ The Weather Out Here Is Frightful

Well really just very wet. It's been raining & windy all weekend. 

When the rain comes it's always time to pull out the brights.
And a little touch of florals to remind us to hang in there and Spring will be on her way soon {we hope!}

Happy Sunday & stay dry folks!!

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This Weeks Task: Returning!!

Happy Sunday everyone. 

We just got back from a delicious massage and jacuzzi time at a local spa. It was heaven! (and much needed!) Now that I'm all relaxed I'm feeling jazzed up to tidy the house from our guest filled weekend. 

As you know from here I'm working my way through a list of traits & habits I hope to acquire throughout the year & tasks I wish to accomplish. 
For this week I think I'm going to finally get around to returing all the things I've borrowed from people.

I have a ton of pregnancy books my friends lent me, containers from when they brought over dinner or even just some coats and scarves people have left here my accident. These items always sneer at me as I"m tidying up or cleaning the house since they don't have a spot they belong in (since they're not mine!) so they get moved from one place to the next and I never quite feel like the place is clean.
I've started seeing these items in my dreams taunting me so I'm excited for this week to finally be rid of it all :)

What's your favorite method for borrowing & returning your friends things.
{I think I've decided on a 'no borrow policy', it just makes things easier to not end up with someone else's stuff that needs returning!}  

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Someone Enjoyed Themself...

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What I'll be up to this Weekend!

Happy Almost Weekend Everyone! 

Today we are heading on some vacay (can you say it like that if you're not in college anymore?) to the beautiful Dead Sea (the lowest point on earth!!) for a quick weekend jaunt. 

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We will be staying at the lovely Le Meridien Hotel right on the shore of the Dead Sea. 

I can't wait to soak in the Dead Sea mineral baths! 

This is where the world renowned mineral cosmetic company, Ahava is based. 

Kristen Davis is their spokeswoman,

 have you seen her beautiful ads? 

I just might have to pick up some of their amazing products. I've heard their face creams are divine! 

It's been a busy week so I've very excited to get away, and to such a peaceful, serene & beautiful place. Not to mention the fabulous spa treatments they offer (can you hear the excitment in my voice?) Yay, I can't wait! 

Do you have any plans for this weekend? Is it going to be a relaxing one or a 'to do' one for you? 

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Dress of the Day!

Image from InStyle - February 2011 Issue

For this pick it's more like dress of the year! 

I came accross this beauty while purusing the pages of InStyle's Febuary 2011 issue. 

I was awestruck at first glance and then completely overtaken at further inspection. 

More then a piece of clothing this dress is a work of art. 

The dress is made up of what looks like stenciled stiff fabric and delicletly draped to create amazing layers of swirls and waves.

We have all come to expect amazing things from the lovely ladies of Marchesa but even this went above & beyond for me. 

The runway review of their Spring 2011 Ready -to- wear show on Style.com started with this sentence 

"There were times today at Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig's Marchesa presentation when you couldn't breathe." 

and went on to say  

"it was the dresses—literally breathtaking—all exquisitely wrought this season with orientalist-inspired details" 

I couldn't have said it better or agree more 

"Chapman and Craig have proved time and again they know how to knock them dead. "

Don't you agree? 

Image from InStyle - February 2011 Issue

Marchesa satin-faced organza dress
Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear

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Let's Eat!

It's been raining for two days so naturally to curb the depressing shadows that descend with a rainfall, I want to eat :) 

I joke. Sort of.

My stomach wants this: 

I have termed these 'ooey gooey cinnamon rolls'

But my brain thinks this would be better for me: 

I think it's time for a little healthy eating. 

Have you heard about Daily Garnish? 

It's a great site that's all about healthy recipes, cooking tips & active living. It's a recent discovery for me but I think it'll become a daily read very soon :) 

DailyGarnish.com

I'm dying to try this recipe for Quinoa Tabouli from there. 

Quniao Tabouli - Daily Garnish
There are step by step photos on the site which are beautiful and easy to follow. I can't wait to try this! 

One of my all time favorite sites for healthy cooking (and beautiful photography) is 101Cookbooks by Heidi Swanson. She is such a talented photographer and has written 2 cookbooks. 

This recipe from her for Lemon-Scented Quinoa Salad is one of my all time favorites. 

The blend of ingredients and flavors come together to make the most wonderful taste in your mouth and it's so healthy you'll feel amazing & light afterwards yet incredibly full & satisfied. 

Lemon-scented Quinoa Salad - 101Cookbooks

While we're on the topic of qunioa :) I love this twist on it from Martha Stewart (who else? See here & here) I'm always looking for make ahead breakfast items that are good to 'grab & go' since we all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but no one really wants to get up earlier then they have to, to make it. 

Quinoa Muffins - Martha Stewart

These are delicious and taste as a breakfast muffin should. I love how the addition of raisins makes them feel decedent and not at all as healthy as they really are! Ps - They freeze well - so whip up a big batch, freeze individually and every morning you can just pop one in the toaster & go! :)

I didn't mean to go all quinoa crazy on you but these are truly great recipes (and my favorites) and quinoa is an amazing grain. Especially when you are trying to be healthy but don't want to sacrifice flavor or substance.

 

Do you like quinoa? What are your favorites ways of eating it?

Happy Tuesday everyone!!

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