my ever-evolving philosophy no. 9

It's amazing what a freshly cleaned, totally restocked fridge can do for your psyche, waistline, & marriage. For today, I am a happy, fed domestic goddess.

friday favorites

So much to love this week!

Love whole living's rules to snacking, so right on the nose. I want to read it again and again.

And love these under 200 calories snack suggestions. I just may have to feature a few of my favorites next week. whole living.

Love these 24 ways to shake up your mood and energy. fitness mag.

Love this guide to skin care-- since I'm still dealing with teenage acne in my mid-twenties. Lovely. fitness mag.

Lovin a good hot short-- bff swears by them for yoga. Love this new fall color. zobha.

Love odwalla's super protein vanilla al'mondo. So tasty. It's a great way to trick yourself into getting some protein. And there you have it. Another week has flown by. This is my last weekend as a widow. Thank goodness! Rrrr takes his board exam next week. So tonight I'm thinking yoga and I'm looking forward to a little trim and deep condition... maybe even some bangs. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm also considering the possibility of some chocolate chip cookies. I'll see if I can conjure up a tasty healthier version.

Xx until monday. Lot's of love.

help!

I received this email from m, a reader, this week. I'm hoping you can share some happy thoughts, send some good energy her way, & maybe, this can even be of some use to you.

m: I am just your average 21 year old who is stuck in a rut. I read your blog religiously, and I just think you are fabulous. How do you do it? I started running the end of march of this year. I loved it! I worked out atleast once a day, some days even three times. It has been roughly three weeks since I have worked out/ran/sweated. How do I get the drive to get back in the swing of things? My body my spirit and my mind are all suffering from it, but I can't seem to have any will to actually get out and do it. Blahhh I feel gross.

j: I think it's pretty normal to get excited when you start something new, and as time goes on you feel that excitement wear off. I think that's the one real trick to living healthy. I've had many ups and downs. But I've found, as time has gone on and I've stuck it out, my downs have gotten smaller & I've been able to sustain my ups in a more moderate way. So don't beat yourself up for feeling stuck in a rut. As far as getting out of this little lull you've found yourself in, first, I would find small ways to get yourself going again. It doesn't have to be a run. Go for a walk, try a new class at the gym, or turn on some music and dance around your bedroom [when I don't feel like running I talk myself into just going for a walk and somehow, 90% of the time I find myself running]. I think we get into this mindset that if we're not doing a really intense workout it's not worth it. But it is-- doing something good for yourself everyday, no matter how small it may seem, will make you feel better and will lead to more good choices. And the truth is, it's much more sustainable. So start doing small, good things for your body & let that attitude guide you. The second thing I would do, is make it easier to workout [ie: change up your schedule, call a friend and make a workout date, make an appointment with a trainer, do it first thing in the morning before you have a chance to talk yourself out of it]. Give yourself every chance to succeed.

having my cake

1. planning a weekend away with my honey, after he takes his board exams. I could go for something like this.
2. getting back to my routine after weeks of visitors + vacation mode has set in [4x cardio 3x pilates 1x yoga].
3. filling every spare minute with friends and fun.

image: christian chaize

weekend favorites

Things have been crrr-azy, just a few...

Love these 101 real tips to become a real runner. women's health. 

Love these 12 weight loss tips from real women. shape.

Love this on my way to workout jacket. alo sport.

Loved my oh-so-wonderfully-intense led primary series at jois yoga Encinitas. Met up with bff & did things I've never done before and my shoulders are so sore I can't imagine doing another vinyasa anytime in the near future. 

my ever-evolving philosophy no. 8

Sometimes a break can do wonders. I just need a couple days of forgetting about my fiber intake and when I'm going to squeeze in cardio. And then usually after only a couple guilt-free days, I'm dying to hit the pavement and drink a spinach smoothie.

taste this: 3 ways to soak up the last bits of summer

I'm not quite ready to say good-bye to summer. I'm doing all that I can to make it last. I've become such a california girl in the nearly-two years I've lived here. Give me endless summer!

balsamic portobello burgers with goat cheese. martha stewart.

corn and two-bean burgers with chipotle ketchup. cooking light.

stuffed turkey burgers. food network.

friday favorites

Love these daily fit tips. Fitness.

Love these 9 easy ponytail alternatives. And love Jessica Biel's arms. Glamour.

Love! How cute are these? ...Especially with chilly fall months ahead. jcrew.

Love this smart, realistic thinking. And love my carbs. Carb lovers diet from health.

And loved my lunch at real food daily with bff ashley and yoga guru amy. Check out rfd's amazing vegetarian cookbook.

Well, it's a cat nap and an evening ballet class for me. I love fridays. Ciao 'til tuesday!

mysore

After I finished my yoga certification, I became totally obsessed with going to India to study yoga. Unfortunately, I am yet to visit the great yoga mecca. It is still on my long list of experiences to have. In the mean time, I've decided to get my India fill from the Ashtanga Yoga Center LA. They are a fully Mysore style studio which I think is so cool [self led practice following the traditional primary series]. It's a bit intimidating, but I'm dying to get in there.

taste this: 3 ways to do chicken like a european

 Grilled chicken stuffed with basil and tomato. Delizioso. Whole Living.

Chicken with pesto potatoes. Sorpredente. Real Simple.

Grilled chicken breast provencal. Ooh la la. Health.

my ever-evolving philosophy no. 7

Finding a healthy balance is a deeply personal experience. No matter how many resources I have, my motivation has to come from within. And because there are so many strings attached to eating & exercise, I’ve overcome so much more than just my body.

friday favorites

Love these so-me, 21 fit forever secrets. Self.

Loved Ashley Greene in wh and loved reading her right-on fitness philosophy. Check out her gorge photos.

Love this oh-so flattering tank in oh-so many colors. Athleta.

Love relieving tight muscles with my foam roller.

And I've recently gone absolutely crazy for these odwalla superfood bars. They've been great because I've been constantly on the go. I'm hoping I can finally catch up on some sleep this weekend. My sister and I have our hearts set on a few flea markets and the Getty. And I would love to get some yoga in. My brain and body need it. Hope you're up to something fun. Back on monday for more!

on holiday

My sis and her two cute nearly-two year olds have decided to extend their visit another week and I'm totally jazzed. It's been great shopping, beaching, and narrating everything to a couple jabbering toddlers. I must say I've been pretty pleased with my eating despite feeling like I'm on vacation. Luckily, I have the type of job where I can squeeze in a workout pretty easily.... although I have found myself counting carrying a little through the sand as a cardio. So you win some and you lose some. Hopefully you're soaking up the last little bits of summer. It seems like as soon as fall hits the rest of the year just flies by.

taste this: 3 ways to do pizza

How delish does this pizza bianca look? Health.

Barbecue Pizza is always a fave. Health.

Love this insalata pizza. Cooking Light.

my ever-evolving philosophy no. 6

Sometimes I just have to let go. It's amazing how happy [and tired] I can be when I just let myself fly by the seat of my pants. I'm a planner. Ask anyone. It's what I do best. But sometimes it's so nice to just do, without thinking. 

fit five: teri -- a foodie stays fit

So can you tell I've been a little swamped? Not to worry though. I'll be back in full swing soon. Here's one adorable guest and her fit five [pictured just before her first big race]...

Hi! I'm Teri from A Foodie Stays Fit and happy to be on the fabulous blog of Have Your Cake! These are my must-haves in my fitness routine. Can't wait to hear about your must haves! 


1. Eggs – They are such a great recovery food and super cheap. When I was training for my marathon, scrambled eggs on toast was the only thing I could stomach after my long runs. And now that I’m more into weight training, I love cooking up some eggs (usually 2 egg whites and 1 whole egg ‘cuz I have high cholesterol) for a protein boost to rebuild  my muscles. 
 
2. Burt’s Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion. I put this on my feet before my workouts and then put on my socks. The heat of my body helps this really penetrate and soften my feet, plus it feels so great and tingly when I’m done - a mini spa treatment while I work out!
 
3. The Stick - Running this over my legs feels so good after a tough workout and is great at loosening up tight muscles. It’s especially helpful if you have IT band problems from running.


4. Weight Training - I've seen more changes in my body in three months of weight training than 10 years of running. Really.


5. A Little Superstition - I always wear a green ribbon on my shoes when I run a race. It came on a good luck package that my best friend gave me before a half marathon; I wore it in my hair for that race and it was the first time I'd ever raced without having IT band issues mid-race. Now I wear somewhere on me in every race. I wore it last year when I ran my first full marathon and had a great experience. :)

having my cake

1. Loving long long long power walks.
2. Feeling so so good taking Trader Joe's supergreens.
3. Counting down the days until my sisters come to visit.

friday favorites

Love these so excellent 7 ways to curb your cravings. Women's Health.

Love this inspiring girl's pursuit of 365 days of yoga. Glamour-- Vitamin G.

Love these brights to make my run a little more fun. Nike via Nordstrom.

And love these brights <-- -->. On sale too. Lucy.

Love this fruit skewer idea. The Nest. It looks so decadent, doesn't it? Don't you love when the weekend comes so fast? I can't wait to check out the new Santa Monica Mall. I'm due for some good shopping. And hopefully I can squeeze in a little ballet class, which I'm also way overdue for. Have a deliciously almost decadent weekend!

my ever-evolving philosophy no. 5

As far as eating goes, I like to feel like I'm being spontaneous or like I have the freedom to make up my mind in the moment. So what keeps me out of trouble is having a backup plan. I know how much I can eat to feel good. And I have my house stocked with healthy fall-back foods so whatever I choose, it will be a good choice.

taste this: 3 ways to do easy southwestern

Easy chicken tacos. Real Simple.

Easy poblano, mango, and black bean quesadillas. Cooking Light.

Easy cilantro-lime fajitas. Fitness Mag.