Take 2...

Whew it has been way too long since I've posted on here. I'm not really sure why, but maybe I just didn't have anything to write about or wasn't clear on the direction I wanted to go. Well, I've been thinking about this blog a lot over the last couple of weeks and I think I still want to focus on clothes/fashion/beauty/etc, but I also want to focus on my renewed efforts to become healthy and fit.

If you look back to the beginning of the blog, you can see I focused on this a little bit, but my desire and energy for exercise trailed off and became almost non-existent during some periods (i.e. last Fall). I work in politics/government, so the campaign season got the best of my workout routine. With a new, steady job for at least the next 4 years I am ready to re-devote some time and energy to being healthy and fit.

For the past few New Years Resolutions, the boyfriend (BF) and I made the goal to get in beach-body-bikini shape by summer. We'd give it a couple of good weeks of effort, and then trail off. I've never really been overweight or out of shape (except for freshmen year of college when I gained 20lbs in first semester due to stress and family "issues"), but I've lost all that and have hovered in the same weight range for almost 7 years now. I've been a vegetarian for almost 8 years, so I eat a fairly healthy and clean diet, granted there's always been room for improvement. Less processed food, less sodium, more cooking...

So here we are, April 13, 2011. About 2 months ago, the BF and I decided we wanted to try out the P90X system. Our friend had just bought the set and was going to let us borrow the DVDS. We were pumped to try something new. Well, that plan didn't work out. A month later, after trying to figure out whether we really wanted to invest in the program and questioning whether we'd stick with it, we found an awesome deal on Craigslist and we were now officially owners of the P90X system. My first day was March 16th!

Over the past few weeks I've stuck pretty closely to the plan. I'm doing the "Lean" program which I think is probably just as intense as the "Classic" program but focuses more on fat loss and has more cardio. I'm looking for that lean beach body :) HA

I finish up the first phase of P90X on Saturday, so figured this would be a great place to share my journey, share my results, my thoughts on the program, and my dedication to that healthy and fit lifestyle I've always dreamed of. So, with that said....starting tomorrow, I'll do my first post on my progress/status so far.

In the words of Tony Horton, P90X creator, "BRING IT!"

Top 5 Emmy's Dresses

Another award season means I've finally remembered to catch up on my blog posts. This is a great excuse to talk about gorgeous gowns from last Sunday's Emmy Awards. There were dozens of gowns that I thought could make the top 5 list, which is why this decision was so hard. But here they are, my Top 5 Emmy Gowns 2010:

5) Emily Blunt in Christian Dior.
Color is classic and fresh.
And the detailing adds interest to what
would be just another one-shoulder gown.

4) Rose Byrne in Gucci.
I really like the structure of this dress.
Very unique, yet classic.
A little Greek Goddess-esque.

3) Eva Longoria Parker in Robert Rodriguez.

It's all about the details of the little black dress.
Details details!
Oh, and Va-va-voom too.

2) Jayma Mays in Burberry Prorsum.
Nailed the accessories and hair.

1) Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta.
And the Glee gals score top 2!
Simply gorgeous.
And that's how you do ruffles :)

Update on Romper

So ordered it, it arrived, tried it on, and a big fat FAIL. I ordered the M which should have fit my lower half according to the size charts, and it was HUGE. I returned it to the store and tried on a small. The small fit much better in the upper body but the side pockets and shorts length were still too big and too long. Sad day for my romper quest. I'm sure this pretty romper is meant for someone, just not me. I did like the material though and cute flutter/ruffle sleeves so props to The Limited for that detail..

Romping around the neighborhood

So at first I was skeptical of the jumpsuit/romper trend, but it's definitely growing on me. Growing on me so much in fact that I ordered this one online this week. I'm not sure how it's going to look or if it's going to be the least bit cute, but hey, I can always return it right?

While there are so many cute ones out there, I figured this one from the Limited's Jodi Arnold Collection was my best bet because it looks a little more sophisticated. Black? Check. Ruffles? Check. Flutter Sleeves? Check. Ok sold.

Flutter Sleeve Romper, $79.50 (but I got it on sale)

Here are some other cute options I stumbled along, but plan to wait and see if the above one works out first...they are both from Lulus

$43

$36

Hello little pretties....

I'm going to Vegas in May for my best friend's bachelorette party and am starting to look for some cute going-out outfits. These little pretties caught my eye today---all from Shopbop. Not that I can afford any of these right now--but they're nice to look at :)

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Ella Moss

Laila Azhar

Haute Hippie

Myne

Robert Rodriguez

Big Discovery!!

After almost 9 months of having AT&T uverse, I just discovered today that we have FREE, I repeat...FREE....exercise videos from Exercise.TV!!!! I'm not talking about Denise Austin type videos (not that she isn't great) but recent videos like those from Jillian Michaels, Kim Kardashian, Harley Pasternak, Biggest Loser, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, etc.

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome!!!!

I spent a whole hour just trying out new videos, including:

First workout: 13 minutes of hip hop dancing. So fun! (It wasn't this exact video but it was by Crunch)

Second workout: Not the book of course, but a workout routine from him that included 7.5 min of tough cardio, 75 shoulder presses with weights, 75 crunches, and 75 squats with weights.
Third workout: 30 min of Yoga Sculpt by Maura Barclay. Very intense yoga for intermediate and advanced. Not quite what I was expecting, but definitely a great workout.


Yay new videos. Also, with the weather being beautiful this week, I went out the to lake twice and ran for 30 minutes. Too bad it's supposed to rain and even SNOW tomorrow. Thanks Texas.

Beauties of the Academy Awards

Some of my favorites from the 82nd annual Academy Awards.....

Elizabeth Banks in Versace

Sandra Bullock in Marchesa

Sarah Jessica Parker in Chanel Haute Couture (such a unique dress!)

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Dries Van Noten

Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab Haute Couture (so beautiful for Spring)

Kate Winslet in Yves Saint Laurent (always looks beautiful)

Mariska Hargitay in Vera Wang

Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta

And, on a related note, I'm so proud of my boyfriend for his fairly "spot-on" fashion analysis of tonight's gowns. He said exactly what I was thinking and about 2 seconds before I could even put the words together. Quite impressed. He even gave some quick snipit about Tiffany's jewelry. Point boyfriend!