Valentines 2013

You won't find any hearts in my Valentines decor, but that doesn't mean it lacks the spirit ha ha.

I wanted to make a XOXO sign/tag for my wreath, but I was too lazy and instead found a pre-made Love one in my scrapbooking bag...score! I don't really like how it turned out, but oh well it is what it is. I do however love the rose petals...ha ha...I definitely had fun playing with them before I settled on what I wanted them to look like.

 I saw this layout for a card on etsy and thought to myself 1. This is so me and 2. I can totally recreate this! So that up there is my version of the card I found for ZERO bucks...ha ha. Why spend 5 bucks plus shipping when you can make it yourself????

Closet Re-Org

I was bitten by the spring cleaning bug this past weekend and I just had to do something with my shoes because they were taking over my closet. On top of that I had purses in so many different places that I couldn't keep track. So off to Target and HomeGoods I went...

I bought this shelving unit from Target. It doesn't hold all my flats, but the others were already in boxes so they were out of the way and one pair I keep by my bed for when I need to leave in a hurry and don't want to think about shoes...ha ha.

Next up...shoes with laces. I don't wear these as often as I do my flats just because I don't think they are that appropriate for work (except my Sperrys on Fridays). I knew I wanted a basket I could see through to store these in and I found the perfect one at HomeGoods. The only pair not in there are the tennis shoes I'm currently using for my workouts...I like to keep them right by my bedroom door. Why you may ask? I don't know really...maybe they make me think of working out...ha ha.

Finally, my purses. While I don't own a lot, they still get in the way or shoved under stuff and I never think about them again. My crossbody bags were sitting on a shelf above my clothes and occasionally the strap would fall and get in my way...not fun. Then my other small bags were under clothes and inside other bags...not very useful. While I was at HomeGoods I found these two matching bins with tops that I thought would be perfect! Turns out they were!! I really like that they have a top so that dust won't settle on my bags :)

Now for my labels...I forgot to take pics of the process :( but I'll try to explain my thought process...ha ha. I had three leftover wood circles that I spray painted silver for a project I was going to do for Christmas, but ended up not needing those and they have just been chilling on my closet floor for months now. To add a pop of color to them, I cut out circles of teal paper and tried to write pretty on them...ha ha. I stared at them a while and didn't like that the cut out circles were just slightly smaller than the wood disc so that's when I decided to add the pearls. Then just for kicks, I added another string of pearls towards the bottom to make them look super girly. To attach them to my baskets, I hot glued ribbon on the back and just tied them on.

I really like how everything turned out! Now I will just have to see how long this organization will last ;)

WWU:4

Wednesday, 2/6 - Cardio Barefoot Flow (from a Pin) plus 10 min standing ab routine (472 calories burned) Both of the videos are from JessicaSmithTV on youtube...so far I'm liking her routines plus they are for small spaces!!

Thursday, 2/7 - Stride machine with resistance of 5 (378 calories burned) I wanted to try and keep my heart rate between 145 and 160 (optimal fat burning zone for moi according to my trainer back in the day). So it was a lighter workout for me, but still a good one. On a normal workout day my heart rate will be around 178 and go as high as 191. I've maxed it out at 204 I believe (not trying to) which probably isn't good.

Friday, 2/8 - 5k (553 calories burned) My race is coming up fast!!!

Saturday, 2/9 - Rest (unless mopping the kitchen and scrubbing the bathroom count)

Sunday, 2/10 - Rest

Monday, 2/11 - Cardio Barefoot flow (378 calories burned) my hrm wasn't working right at the beginning so I lost a few minutes with that, but I don't think my calories burned count would have changed that much.

Wine Cork Box

A few weeks ago my Dad was cleaning out his bar area and found an unfinished wood box and gave it to me and said "I've got a project for you." ha ha. The box came with instructions for how to place corks in it, a small bottle of Emler's glue and a piece of sandpaper.

I attempted to arrange the corks how the picture on the instructions showed, but since they aren't the same size I was getting very frustrated. Finally, I found a way to fit the corks in the box without having to cut any...yay!

I love how these are corks they've actually used and not craft corks. I think the wine spots and the different names really give it character. Also, I love the unfinished frame with the corks. I think paint might have taken away from the corks. I can't wait to give it back to him and see what he thinks!

WWU:3

Wednesday, 1/30 - modified HIIT treadmill from a pin. (446 calories burned) Since I can't link to Pinterest at work here is the breakdown of the workout...

• 1 min at 5.0
• 1 min at 5.5
• 1 min at 6.0
• 1 min at 6.5
• 1 min at 7.0
• 1 min at 7.5
• 1 min at 8.0
• 2 min at 4.5

Repeat 5 times. My modified version was running the full minute up until speed of 7.0 where I switched to 30 seconds on 30 seconds off. I also only repeated the sequence 3 times plus an extra few mins at 4.0 to complete 30 minutes of cardio. I would not recommend doing this if your legs are already sore...

Thusday, 1/31 - Cardio Ballet (389 calories burned)

Friday, 2/1 - Rest

Saturday, 2/2 - 5k run/walk (579 calories burned)

Sunday, 2/3 - 65 min Elliptical (709 calories burned)

Monday, 2/4 - Rest

Tuesday, 2/5 - 5k (619 calories burned)

You may be wondering why there are 2 rest days so close together...well Friday I went and saw Camelot after work and didn't get home until after 11 pm so there was no working out that day. Monday I had my workout clothes on and everything, but I was so hungry I decided eating was more important. I had planned to make up Monday's missed workout by working out twice yesterday...buuuuutttt...after my run I took a nap and then had no motivation the rest of the night. Oh well...a body needs to rest every now and then.

p.s. - I made an update to my cookie dough yogurt post...click here to read about my second try

Cookie Dough Yogurt

Sorry for the grainy iphone pic...

I pinned this a while back because I loooooove cookie dough! Anytime I come across something with the words cookie and dough in them I get really excited. I've also seen a few bloggers post about it lately so I finally decided to see if in fact it did taste like cookie dough.

While it didn't really taste like cookie dough to me, it didn't taste bad either. I think next time I'll make sure I have enough peanut butter and I'll try making it from the Fage yogurt (that I couldn't find because it wasn't in the regular yogurt section, but now I know to look for it by the almond milk).

Here's what I pinned linking to girlgonecountry.com

Has anyone else tried it? What did you think? Mine definitely wasn't as thick as the picture...one of the reasons I want to try it again.

***update 2/6/13: I tried making this again with the plain Fage yogurt. Sadly this is not my thing. It gave me the worse acid reflux episodes I've had in a long time. Also, it tasted horrible this time. This experience was similar to when I first had mangoes. The first mango I ate I really liked. Then I tried another one and gagged on it. Now I won't touch mangoes, but I do like mango flavored stuff. Weird...I know. If you have tried this and didn't like it, I would suggest getting vanilla greek yogurt and putting some mini chocolate chips in it. It's so good!

WWU: 2

Thursday, 1/24 - 30 minute HIIT treadmill 30 second sprints (474 calories burned)

Friday, 1/25 - 5k (669 calories burned - I accidentally let my hrm run an extra 32 mins)

Saturday, 1/26 - Pop-Pilates dvd (383 calories burned)

Sunday, 1/27 - 65 minute Elliptical incline 10 resistance 7 (719 calories burned)

Monday, 1/28 - Rest

Tuesday, 1/29 - Decemburrr Circuit Workout (409 calories burned, plus carpet burns on my arms from the plank jacks)

If you ever want to know more specifics about my workouts, let me know! Or maybe I'll start sharing that info anyways...hmmm