Elie Saab: Haute Couture

I am totally in love with Elie Saab.  Every collection he's produced has been fabulous, in my opinion.  His most recent 2014 collection, which just debuted in Paris, has not let me down.  I can only dream of the day I'd have a chance to wear one of these beauts to a gala!

Wouldn't the white pearl jacket & skirt be just amazing to wear to work???
What about that little purple number?  I'd wear it as my Easter Sunday dress.  
Which is your favorite?

Happy New Year

It's been a while, hasn't it?

I stopped blogging consistently last year because I felt like all I talked about were sad things happening in my life.  Or if I wasn't talking about those things, I felt guilty that I was thinking about other things.

As a quick update, my mom has moved in with us permanently.  Over the holidays, we moved her out of the house she's lived in for 15+ years, and now she is with us full time becasue she could no longer live alone.  This is sad, because she's only 52, but it's also wonderful because we get to see her every day and I know she's being taken care of.

The Mr. and I are continuing on with all the random projects we've got going on.  In 2013, we completed our Master Bath Remodel (pictures to come) and bought the cutest little house that we were able to rent out only 15 days after closing.  (We like to call it "Starting our Empire".) The tenant even signed a 2 year contract!

And today, in fact, we are having the large cottonwood tree in our front yard cut down.  Branches have been dropping from it for the past year, and an Arborist told us it was dying, so the Mr. wanted to make sure the tree didn't fall on our house.  Perhaps I'll post pictures of that too.....maybe!

So, while we struggle with the sad things in life, I am reminded of all that we have to be happy about.  I can't wait to share more happy news to come!

Focus T25: The Workout for Busy People

Hey, all you busy people out there! This new program from Shaun T (creator of Insanity) requires only 25 minutes of your time every day. Ask me more about Focus T25, or sign up for it today. Why delay toning your body any longer?

www.beachbodycoach.com/AMELIA486

60 Day Beachbody Challenge

Raise your hand if you’ve never struggled with your weight…..anyone…anyone?  Didn’t think so.  It seems like as soon as I hit 27 (back in April) I’ve been putting on the lbs.  I DON’T know why, and it’s super frustrating.  I had to take action, and quick! 



 

Perhaps my weight gain is related to my Paris Vacation.....oops!

A little over a month ago, I began a 60 day weight loss challenge, affectionately called the BEACHBODY CHALLENGE, where I drink 1 Shakeology shake a day and pair it with a Turbo Fire workout video.  At first, I was a bit timid about committing to drinking 1 Shakeology a day, but now, I LOVE IT!  Sometimes, I have one for dinner too if I get home late from work. 

Shakeology is super healthy for you, chalk full of essential vitamins and power-foods.  I definitely feel more energized than ever.  (For serious, I had a cholesterol bump next to my eye that has been there for at least a year, and it’s completely gone.  I noticed it started going away when I began drinking Shakeology.)

Paul (my meat eating husband) has even started requesting a Shakeology shake daily too!  So, because we both love it so much, I became a Coach, so that I can share my love for the BEACHBODY CHALLENGE & Shakeology with all of my friends and family.  (On a family vacation, I made it for my FIL a few times too—and he enjoyed it.)

As far as the diet’s going, I’ve noticed I’m more toned than before.  I weight about what I did when I started, but I think that’s attributed to the fact that I’ve gained more muscle (and muscle weighs more than fat…and I’m only 1 month in.)  The Turbo Fire workouts came with a 90 day class schedule, so I have decided that instead of just doing the diet for 60 days, I’m going to do it for 90 because I’m loving it so much!

If you are interested in the BEACHBODY CHALLENGE or in trying Shakeology, click here to order it.  You can do a “Challenge Pack” which is for a workout program and a month’s worth of Shakeology, or you can just get Shakeology on its own.  If you have questions, I’m more than happy to give you my honest opinions and answers. 

I don’t mean to be all “sales-pitchy / infomercial” about this, but I really am happy with the results I’ve seen so far, and I’m not depriving myself—which makes this whole diet thing 100 times better.

Tippi, of Africa

I recently came across this story of a little girl, Tippi, who grew up in the African desert.  Her parents are French photographers who captured images of her growing up surrounded by some pretty amazing animals. 

In the book her parents published, Tippi of Africa, with images from her childhood, Tippi said that because she rarely saw other children, the animals became her friends. 

Read more about her story here!

Wouldn't it be so amazing to have grown up like Tippi?  It's hard to fathom what her imagination is like!  I'd be so interested to meet her today to hear about her childhood firsthand!

Death by Comparison

Lately, I’ve been struggling with the spirit of comparison.  I mean, I’ve been overwhelmed by it.  A majority of my thoughts center around how I lack compared to others, and quite frankly, it’s depressing.

Do you ever catch yourself comparing yourself…either negatively or positively?  Neither is good….you’re either bringing yourself down—diminishing all your positive attributes (I’ll never be as eloquent as Jim), or you’re being bombastic, stroking your ego (I’m so much luckier than Lucy—I have great style and she…well, she could use some help).   

Perhaps Dallas is just a breeding ground for comparison.  So much of my daily life swirls around materialism, and talented people, and well-dressed people, and beautiful people, and wealthy people.  Who has the nicest car in the parking garage?  Who has the best wardrobe?  Who has the latest and greatest “it” item?  All of these things totally drive comparison.  They also drive me totally INSANE!

In an effort to rid myself of these thoughts – no, lies – roaming in my head, here’s my “Death by Comparison” list. 

• I am not creative.  I really wish I was, but I’m not.  My blog posts aren’t creative either.  There are a ton of people I know that are incredibly creative.  I only know Excel.....
• People don’t care to hear what I have to say.  Some bloggers have tons of followers and readers…I only have 9 (who are willing to admit they follow my blog).
• I am not as “trendy” as some girls I know.  I really try to be and I wish I was, but I’m not.  A lot of my friends are wearing Palazzo pants, and peplum tops.  I haven’t even tried this stuff on.
• I don’t have a big group of girlfriends.  I wasn’t in a sorority.  If I’d been in a sorority, I might have a big group of girlfriends.  Oh, I’m so jealous of girls that have a big group of girlfriends to socialize with.  Hell, at this point, I’m not even sure if I have a “BFF”.  What’s wrong with me!!!
• I work out daily, but I’m not skinny.  I’ve never seen my abs.  I know girls that NEVER work out and are in great shape…their thighs aren’t big, their tummies are taut…  I love the sun, but I hate putting on a bikini.
• I started a small business, and it failed.  I could never get my “friends” to help me promote it.  Why don’t I have friends that would help me promote my business?  Why don’t I have friends that would be excited about this?!
• I so desperately wish my husband would take me to Galas and Balls.  But, we’re never invited to them.  I know so many people that get to go to Balls and dress up.
• I don’t think I’m pretty.  Honestly, I don’t.  I see beautiful, pretty people all the time---why am I not as pretty as them?

Oh. My. Gosh, see!  Death by comparison is real!  How can anyone feel good about themselves with thoughts like this!

As I thought about this post, I knew there must be some reason I am so inundated with these thoughts, and then it hit me.  Social media is driving this.  I look at people on Instagram and Facebook and Blogs, with their fabulous lives, and their beautiful friends.  I think “Wow, how lucky for them!  If only I had that!” 

You know what's completely crazy?!  I bet people look at my life and think "How lucky is she?!"  I do have a beautiful life.  I am lucky to have been blessed with everything I have.  So, my comparative thoughts are just lies.  They are lies I'm telling myself.  They are lies that I have to make sure I don't believe.

Do you catch yourself scrolling through social media comparing yourself?  Or walking around comparing yourself?  How do we find a healthy balance and stop comparing ourselves to others---aside from moving to an island where we are all alone with no Internet? 

How are you breaking the spirit of comparison before it becomes the death of you?



Cheatin' on 7-Eleven with The Pearl Cup

Ya'll, about 15 seconds ago, I got my daily email from the Dallas Business Journal, and 1 of the headlines Made. My. Day.

"The Pearl Cup Coffee sets up shop in the AT&T Performing Arts Center."

Oh. My. Goodness,  I am so excited about this!  I work in 1 Arts Plaza, right across from the AT&T Performing Arts Center!  Do you know how easy it will be for me to pop in there?!

Let me clarify about cheating on 7-Eleven.  Here at 7-Eleven Headquarters, we have a strict "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" policy on outside coffee.  So, that means absolutely NO Starbucks or outside coffee.  Like, seriously, if you walk into the building with Starbucks, people instantly start staring and pointing.  While I do love our coffee (and the fact that we have a 7-Eleven convenience store right downstairs), I can't tell you how many times I've just wished for a coffee shop where I could run into at lunch and enjoy a Chia Tea Latte and people watch.  I've wished so many times that the Pearl Cup further in Downtown Dallas was within walking distance because they serve my favorite Chia Tea Latte. 

Technically, I'm not cheating on 7-Eleven because we don't offer Chia Tea Lattes.  So there, I already feel better about my future visits to Pearl Cup!

Dear Pearl Cup, thank you for being awesome and opening up in the Arts District.  I'll be seeing you soon!