30 for 30 Photos: Day 2

The rules:

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
Day 04 - A picture of your night
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory
Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate
Day 12 - A picture of something you love
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity
Day 19 - A picture and a letter
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change
Day 25 - A picture of your day
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

Day 2:

I can't find a picture of me with my two best friends from when we were young. The three of us are really close even though we live across the country from each other. I miss them both like crazy.

I have known this lass since I was around 3. She and I grew up down the road from each other and she is one of my rocks and is one of the funniest people I know. She is brilliant, successful, and one of my favorite people :) I always look forward to talking to her because she always understands me and consistently provides amazing advice. She and I also have a passion for *N SYNC and have been to what, 4 concerts together? Pretty awesome.

I have known this lady since 1st grade. We've been best friends since a bus ride home in 5th grade, and she and I shared the same passion to leave Ohio. We were also the palest in our class and the weirdest. She's my girl. Whenever we write cards to each other we say, "No words," because there aren't any to describe our friendship, what we've been through together, and how much we miss each other.

The three of us have been close since high school. It's rare the three of us are together because of the distance, but when we're together I always feel like I'm 15 again. They are the main reason why pizza, movies, and sweatpants will always be three of my favorite things :)

Justification for Black Skinny Jeans

Justification for Black Skinny Jeans by mkrulia featuring black pump shoes

Good morning and Happy Saturday!

Clearly I'm obsessed with Polyvore. I've been thinking of buying a pair of black skinny jeans, and after playing around on here with imaginary money I feel like I could pull off the look...even though I'm 5'3...and not stick thin. Clearly I enjoy colors. I created five outfits that could possibly go with these jeans I found. Every item except two pairs of shoes is under $50, too! The earrings, ring and shades at the top could go with any outfit IMHO, which is why they're kind of floating aimlessly. I also think the gold earrings on the left could go with either of the left outfits, and the shoes are all pretty versatile. I LOVE the shade of the blue pumps; albeit way too high for me to wear, I really want to find a pair in that hue.

30 for 30

So I was inspired...or maybe I'm just bored...but I've been reading blogs doing this "30 for 30 Photo Challenge" and I think I will try to do the same. What's funny to me is that I have not met these lovely ladies, and yet they are inspiring me to write thus aiding my new years resolution. Maybe other bloggers are doing this too, but I first heard of it from my online blogger friend (is that weird lol?) Christina the author of Hungry Meets Healthy, who heard it from My Two Cents...Before I Spend It (cute blog), who heard it from Fried Pink Tomatoes (another cute blog!), who got it from Facebook. So here I go!

The rules:

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
Day 04 - A picture of your night
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory
Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate
Day 12 - A picture of something you love
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity
Day 19 - A picture and a letter
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change
Day 25 - A picture of your day
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

Day 1:

This picture was taken days before graduating college in 2007. Why I love it: Otterbein is pretty, the school is now named Otterbein University so I'm happy I have a picture with the correct sign, and I was thin at the time. If you've been reading my blog you know I'm on Weight Watchers and I am trying to look that good (actually, better) again.

Facts about me:

1. This is the first picture of myself I've posted to this blog. I've tried to keep it anonymous, but I think the content is decent (right? haha) so why be so shy? My name is Mary :)
   
2. My new favorite drink is No Sugar Added Vanilla Chai powder in coffee. It's AWESOME and 2 points!
   
3. I am the youngest of three and miss my siblings who live across the country from me.
4. I can't wait to graduate from my Masters program at Georgetown (Communication, Culture & Technology Program).
5. Food is fantastic: it can be delicious, is fun to make with others, and can bring people together. It can also unfortunately make my butt expand. I digress...
   
6. I'm a musician...ish...to real musicians I probably suck, but I think I play the flute really well as a hobby and my home church keeps asking me to play over the holidays! (#pathetic ??)
7. I find inspiration in Classical music and black and white photographs.
8. I wish I had thin fingers so I could wear fun cocktail rings. The adjustable junk turns my fingers green. Attractive. Healthy. Whatever.
   
9. Some days are made better by the little things that take a little time: receiving a card in the mail or sending one, a door opened when your hands are full, a dog running up to say hello, drinking a good beer, chatting with an old friend, walking through the city unconcerned about the time, etc.
   
10. Sports are fun to watch and play: I love to box, play volleyball and softball; and watch the Steelers, Big Ten basketball and football, Georgetown basketball, the Nats, and any close game. The NFL Red Zone is the best channel ever on Sundays.
    

New Dress - Need Accessories!

New Dress - Need Accessories! by mkrulia featuring flower print dresses

I just bought one of LC's dresses from Kohl's (I actually saw it on this site first!). I am so excited for it since it was on sale AND I found an online coupon (!!!), but I'm not sure how to style it. I have similar pumps to the pair listed here, but no neutral sandals that I can remember. Unfortunately the dress doesn't come with the cute belt which is why I added the J.Crew one, but I have plenty to choose from so I won't be buying a belt haha. And really, I'll probably wear my tan round toe pumps and pearls with it! Anyway, what do all of you think? Clearly I can't decide and I'm obsessed with this site!

Mary's Spring Outfit

Mary's Spring Outfit by mkrulia featuring a faux leather belt

This is something I would absolutely wear. I LOVE how gray is versatile and how any color addition can incorporate so much character. As you can see, I like a lot of color!

Week 6

Good day, Readers! I hope you are all doing well! This week continues the roller coaster that is life, but hey - at least it's a fun ride! Weekly updates below :)

P.S. This should read that I'm posting it on Feb. 17.

First of all, if you saw my last post (2/16) you clearly have seen my new obsession: polyvore.com. I saw this site on my friend's blog Running in Stilettos and then again on a new blog I'm following called Kendi Everyday. I entered a contest on Kendi Everyday for a $25 coupon to my new second obsession: Shop Ruche. Hopefully what I put together on Polyvore will help me win!!!

Now on to the food!

Thursday night we wanted to use up the broccoli in the fridge and made Gina's Broccoli Cheese and Potato Soup. Holy cow. Gina. I want to meet her some day and shake her hand. Make this soup tonight...or the Chicken Pot Pie Soup. Both are winners. Look at this masterpiece:

Weight loss:
3.8 pounds!!

Total weight loss:
12.1 pounds!!!!!!!

I've hit my 5% target! This means that I've lost 5% of my body weight. It doesn't sound like much, but it is! And it helps me past that plateau I hit last week which bummed me out a little. If you're curious, here's what Weight Watchers says about the 5% milestone:

"Losing just 5 percent of your body weight doesn't sound like much, but it could mean you're well on your way to dropping a dress size. Aside from looking better and feeling more energetic, there are significant health benefits, too...Breaking your weight loss journey into small steps of 5 percent-10 percent will help to keep you motivated. For most people 5 percent is enough to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Your weight-loss success may also mean that you help to lower your blood pressure. There are many other health benefits, too – research has shown that a loss of 5 percent–10 percent of your starting body weight can make a real difference.

• Health benefits
• Lowers your body’s cholesterol levels
• Can improve blood sugar control
• Reduces aches and pains
• Improves mobility
• Can improve your breathing
• Helps you to sleep better
• Reduces the risk of sleep apnea
• Helps prevent angina – chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the heart.
• Decreased your risk of sudden death from heart disease or stroke
• May stop the need from regular medication
• Reduces the risk of certain cancers
• Your emotional health will also benefit hugely. People who have lost 5 percent-10 percent of their body weight report improvements in quality of life, a noticeable reduction in depression symptoms, increased energy, plus a more positive attitude to life."
  

Pounds remaining to reach goal weight:
27.7 pounds

Overall mood this week:
Hard to say. I'm a happy person, and of course I'm ECSTATIC about my weight loss, but I sure do wish I had an internship to balance school right now...or at least SOME idea of where we're going to live and work after graduation in May. It's causing a lot of anxiety, but at the same time the open possibilities are so exciting that it makes me happy. It's a complete double-edged sword, but I'm eager for my budding career to bloom. Maybe I find comfort in discomfort.

Worked out:
Four times again, even on Valentine's Day! Go me!

Yummy finds:
Saturday afternoon I munched on a new dip for a quick snack and can I just say yum!!! We got this dip at Harris Teeter, called H.T. Trader's Fat Free Black Bean Dip. I LOVE Mexican food and flavors and after the bf's roommate said he was getting Chipotle, I obviously craved a carnitas burrito bowl (excuse me while I salivate...). Instead, I had this delightful 1 point dip with some Trader Joe's Organic White Corn Tortilla Chips and an apple for an incredible mid-day, 4-point basketball-watching snack. Go me! P.S. I saw on LaaLoosh that Trader Joe's has a new tortilla chip out - have any of you tried it yet?

On a funny note, the bf's Dad sent him these slippers for Valentine's Day...they're the Killer Rabbit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail! So awesome!! And warm! Nothing says love like a killer rabbit on your feet :)

How did you celebrate Valentine's Day? We were looking forward to a low-key evening of staying in on a Monday night, exchanging silly gifts, and watching TV. We decided to save allowance points for the big day and planned our week accordingly. Last year we splurged on an expensive meal. While it was romantic and fun, it was too expensive for one night, so we opted for ordering a Papa John's heart-shaped pizza! We had everything planned: after class/work, he'd drop me off so I could throw on my killer red dress, wrap his silly gift, and then head over to his place (two blocks away) for our date. We ordered the pizza on Saturday so that it would arrive at 8pm on Monday night. This picture is from the Papa John's advertisement, so clearly this is what we were expecting:
Instead, at 8:45, we received this piece of junk:
To say we were disappointed would be an understatement. We saved our points for pizza. We bought nice beer (and saved the points for said beer) to accompany our pizza. We ordered days in advance. I imagined a funny Facebook profile picture. I even wore a damn red dress on a Monday night. And THIS is what arrived at our door. Yeah. Hrmph!

I quickly shook it off, though, because come on - it's a funny story. Sure we were hungry and the pizza tasted like sawdust. Sure it was late and we didn't get what we wanted. But we got our redemption. The bf used the power of social media and with his friend they hit Papa John's on all available fronts. It was hilarious and empowering. While we're still waiting for an apology response (and maybe free pizza for life?), we will never forget our failed pizza Valentine's Day.

Week 5

This week included a holiday so I knew it would be tough. What holiday you ask? Well Super Bowl Steelers Sunday of course!! Even though we lost I had a great time hanging out at a friend's party. It was better (and cheaper!) than hanging out at the Steelers bar all day on Sunday, and I made sure to be productive all day so that I wouldn't go nuts waiting for the game to start!

Weekly recap:
Well it was another crazy Friday night for my bf and I. We went grocery shopping! So wild, I know. We bought essentials that will last a while (aka freezer-friendly!). Plus, my hair deserves quality shampoo, which was on sale, so of course I bought two. Anyway, we were delighted to see that most of the Weight Watchers products had updated point values to reflect the new system. One product was even updated - for the better! Okay, so, there was a one-point tiny carrot cake that I craved when I was on the program in college. NOW it's a creme carrot cake - meaning, that for two points this carrot cake is now twinkified! That's right! YUM!

Our second exciting find was a new product by Lean Cuisine. The Market Creations are entrees that you leave in the bag to steam in the microwave. I was very excited to try the Asiago Cheese Tortelloni! It's 7 points and is a decent portion size. I had it today for lunch and it's tasty! Word of warning: know the wattage of your microwave. Let me explain. So, the bag directions say to cook for either 5 minutes or 8 minutes, depending. Well, I chose to do 7 minutes...but I think next time I'll try for 6...or I could investigate my microwave wattage. Decisions, decisions.

Saturday night the bf and I tried Gina's Arroz Con Pollo. This is SO insanely delicious. Look at this picture - that is one serving! It was only 8 points, too! From start to finish it took about 1 1/2 hours - but the last half hour is completely hands-off and is the hardest part because it smells so incredible!
I ended the day with 8 points remaining, so do you know what that means?!?! Dessert! We found Edy's Slow Churned No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream, which is 2 points per 1/2 cup, and with Diet Root Beer, a root beer float was such a fantastic way to satisfy my sweet tooth...and a way to keep me under my point limit for the day!

Sunday for the big game we decided to contribute to the yummy spread by serving a light Buffalo Chicken Dip, also by Gina. We served it with reduced fat crackers, carrots, and celery. It is supposed to be served warm, so we let it simmer in our awesome crock pot for the entire game. I should have promoted it more or put up a sign to say what it was because we have a lot left - oh well, at 3 points per half cup I'm happy we have leftovers! Next time we'll try it without bleu cheese and possibly less hot sauce.

Weight loss:
Unfortunately I didn't lose weight this week. I ate my feelings after the Steelers lost (aka 2 cookies - oops) and then didn't really eat well this week. What I mean by that is that I barely ate anything all day, worked out, and then ate most of my remaining points after 6pm. That isn't healthy, even though what I was eating was healthy. I gained .5 pounds, which isn't much, and I like to think it's muscle - I worked out 4 times - three days worth of crazy boxing class plus one day of running! Sure it's muscle, right? Right. Besides, no matter what the scale says, I feel really great!

Total weight loss: 8.3 pounds

Pounds remaining to reach goal weight: 31.5 pounds

Overall mood this week:
It's been an up and down week with the Steelers losing, not hearing back about the incredible internship that I REALLY want, gaining, medical issues, etc. BUT overall, this week was nice! I did some online shopping, caught up on 30 Rock, and had so much fun cooking with the bf. Plus, classes went well and I'm getting some confidence in myself.

Worked out:
Four times! Go me!

Yummy finds:
Food finds are discussed above in the weekly recap!

For some non-related food finds, ladies please check out the dress selection on lulus.com. TOO CUTE! I like a few of their shoes, but the ones I like have 5 inch heels, which does not work for me haha - I'm a 3.5 inch girl or lower! I walk too much and too far for the fun shoes! I'm not a huge fan of their accessories and in my opinion the tops are not worth the prices, but I think the dresses are pretty unique and at good prices! Thanks to some great advice from some friends and fellow bloggers, I chose two of the dresses (and not all 6 that I liked haha), and one new coat which is also super cute. Maybe I'll post them when I get them if they fit? We shall see.

Also, I hope you are familiar with Etsy, the online flea market. I LOVE THIS SITE! My best friend from home has her own shop and has made some really cute things for it (she made them for me for Christmas!). I did need a new computer sleeve and found this gem:

And I have seen cute coffee cup sleeves in coffee shops and found AMAZING ones on Etsy for much cheaper. Check out my new one!

Finally, I thought this magnet was too cute...and crazy cheap...yes, I spent more to have it shipped. Whatever. :)
Have a good week, everyone!