Long time no blog!

Y'all I'm dog sitting this week and also all of next week. Wait, let me back up...I'll actually have at least ONE extra dog in my home, that I do not own, from now until July 28th and I love it!

I joined Rover and one other dog sitting service a few months after I first moved to the Charleston, SC area and my "business" has REALLY picked up the past six months. I started just to have something to do with all the free time I spend sitting at home. I figured I could at least be making some money while doing something I enjoyed. And we all know I love a dog.

I'm watching Winston until Sunday and the poor baby has horrific allergies. Hot spots, raw spots all over him. His parents have tried special food, fish oil and Benadryl, among all the other things their vet suggested. When he was first dropped off with me, he was pretty nippy, but that all changed once I got home from work the same day and he wanted to be walked. Mmm Hmm. I see how it works, Winston.

Winston in all his cone and "cape" glory.

Stella is being dropped off Saturday and I'll have her for nine days. Next WEDNESDAY a pug and a Boston will be joining our house full. lol. It all sounds chaotic, but really it's a fun, fairly simple gig. Just love on some dogs.

I do highly suggest Rover.com if you're looking for a pet sitter or want to pet sit yourself. You can use my referral code. I think I may get $20 off a stay for my pets if you sign up through me, and you also get $20 a stay for yours. Totally worth a shot, especially in bigger areas that have a need for reliable, kind people to watch other people's pets. My special referral sign-up page can be found HERE.

Just thought I'd share what I'll be up to for the week or so.

Also getting a MUCH needed pedicure tonight with a friend from work. My feet like like they were puked on and ran over. Gross.

It feels like I hardly ever wear the things in my closet anymore, so when I get the chance, I take it! Not that I really need an excuse--if I wanted to walk around my house all dolled up that's perfectly fine, too, but damn it's nice for this homebody to get out sometimes!

Dress: Target Shoes: Old from Anne Klein (bought off ebay!) Clutch: ebay

Makeup of the night: I used the Naked palette and Sephora's Lipstick Pencil in the color Strawberry Delish. OBSESSED with this pinky color for the summer!

That's it. I haven't done a fashion post since I've been "back" to blogging and thought I'd share!

Have you guys found any cute summer clothes at Target? I am ALL about their dresses. I just love them- I love that they always have the same dress shape in different colors and patterns.

Every Sunday I meal prep for the entire week in order to set myself up for healthy food success.

What that means exactly is that I cook my lunches and dinners and prepare my two daily snacks in one fell swoop. Less to worry about when I get off work when all I want to do is relax, because God knows, my job can be one hell of a headache.

Lately I have been OBSESSED to the max with Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers! And more specifically their recipe for Crunchy Chicken Burgers. O. M. to the G, you guys.

  It's so easy that you'd think it was awful for ya....

• 2 cups TJ's Organic Broccoli Slaw
• 1 tbsp TJ's Fresh Cilantro, chopped
• 3 tbsp TJ's Champagne Pear Vinaigrette
• 4 TJ's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers
• 4 TJ's Multi-Grain or Honey Wheat Hamburger Buns ( I used Ezekial Bread!)

I feel rather lithe and long-limbed, like a....gazelle.

I am happy to say I am FINISHED with this juice cleanse. DONE. No more.

Before I give you my feedback I have to make one admission.........
I only did 3 days of just juice, instead of the 4 I had planned. I really just didn't want to do it anymore. Three days was enough for me. I don't feel bad about it, because it's not as though I started to eat junk today (Day 4), but I mixed in some fruits and veggies, quinoa and almonds along WITH the rest of my juice.

The weird thing is, once I started eating real food, I found that I WANTED juice. Or a salad. I can literally feel a change in my taste buds and the foods I'm craving.

For a recap I decided to do this Q & A style.

Why did I want to do a juice cleanse?
I am telling you RIGHT now, I did not do this for weight loss. I am educated and smart enough to know that the weight I'd lose as a result wouldn't be in the form I wanted to lose (water vs. fat). Do NOT let weight loss be a driving factor for you in doing a 3-4 day juice cleanse. It's not that you won't see the scale move (I weighed out of curiosity and I've dropped 6 pounds) but more than likely some of that will come right back when you eat regular, solid foods. Now, if you're doing a juice cleanse for longer than a week, maybe...just MAYBE you could keep some of that weight off, but damn....that's dedication.

I decided to try this for my health, to see if it would make me feel more alert and more awake as people claimed it did for them. I felt like I needed a jump start again- I had been in a workout slump and needed to feel better.

How do I feel?
I really feel GREAT. Besides having a small craving for a hamburger, I feel more energetic than I have in a long time (and I've felt this way since day 2 mind you), my skin is super soft, I feel like I can go workout for hours on end and I'm ready and wanting to eat big salads and healthy even more than I did a week ago. No headaches, no aches anywhere. No stomach grumbles.

How much coffee do I usually drink? How much alcohol?
The cleanse said to stay off of caffeine/coffee a week before the juice cleanse. I usually drink about 2-3 cups every morning. Sometimes less. The past week I hardly drank any to easily transition into the "no-caffeine" zone that the Juice Cleanse asked of me. Alcohol? Usually it's a few drinks on the weekend: wine or whiskey with one ice cube.

Was it tough to give up alcohol/caffeine?
Nope. I only had one small hankering for a glass of wine while watching TV last night. This morning I really wanted a cup of coffee, but tomorrow will come and that cup of coffee will taste like the best thing in life.

Did I miss anything/have cravings/get actually hungry?
There were times at work when I'd get small cravings for things. Not really cravings...more like just a desire to EAT them. lol. I just wanted to bite into them.

What did I like most about this particular cleanse?
SUPER impressed that the drinks are quite low-glycemic and have a very low sugar content. The green juices have only about 7 grams of sugar per bottle, and 18-20 grams on the higher end. A few other cleanses I looked into contained about 40-60 grams of sugar per bottle! No. Just no, thank you.

Urban Remedy's cashew milk and cleansing lemonade drinks are sweetened with stevia (other cleanses tend to use agave), so they’re even lower in sugar than the juices.

I also really love their use of super-nutritious veggies like dandelion greens, burdock root, fresh turmeric, etc. I'm all for trying new and interesting veggies and....weeds/roots. haha?

Would I do it again?
Ehhhh, I'd definitely drink juices again, but I think I'd only do a juice cleanse for 3 days and it would be MAYBE twice a year during season change. I could see myself doing it after the holidays. Other than that, a long-term juice cleanse isn't for this girl, but never say never.

What did I learn the past four days?
First and foremost, my long-time suspicions were true... I love food. I just do. I love the way food tastes, I love the "experience" of eating and dining with others, and trying new foods. I will never NOT love food and that's OK. But, I also love the way I feel when eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet...

90% of the time I'm careful with what goes into my body because I want to take care of it- I want it to last a good while. I want to set a good example for other women on what a healthy body image is and how to have a HEALTHY relationship with food.

That's just how it's going to be for me, but that being said a juice cleanse is a nice way to break things up, try new things. ESPECIALLY if you don't get enough fruits and veggies, I think this would be outstanding for you.

I also learned that tastes and habits can be changed and redirected toward something better.
Cost: Urban Remedy cleanses cost $60 a day plus shipping (which costs $45 per 3-day cleanse).

Support: Urban Remedy sends you a pre-cleanse email containing tips for how to prepare for your cleanse. I liked that little something extra.

How to Order: Their website, urbanremedy.com 


Thanks for following along! If you have questions on my experience, let me know I'd be glad to answer! Now on to bigger challenges...what shall I attempt next? Hmmm.........

I woke today feeling great! No headaches, no aching and I actually felt full of energy. The realist in me decided this euphoric feeling MUST just be because its Friday, but I'd also like to think juicing is doing something good for my body.

Day 1 Overview

7:00 a.m.- My day began with a huge glass of water with lemon- no difference there. Around 8:30 a.m. I had my first juice of the day: The Brainiac. Tasted just like the ingredients it listed. Typical green juice. Not bad to start the day.

By 10:00 a.m. I started feeling a few small hunger pangs, understandably, which is about the time I always eat my greek yogurt. Instead, I reached for Juice 2 of the day: Time Machine. This one was just what I was craving - and didn't even know it! It was lemony like tea and spicy from the cayenne. No chugging with this one even if I wanted to because that cayenne sneaks up on you. Two thumbs up for this baby!

I even let Meredith, my friendly friend and co-worker, have a taste. She concurred.

Unfortunately, the second juice only kept me satisfied until I started salivating hearing announcement after announcement about a "burger burn in the front of the facility" blaring over my place of work's loud speaker. Thanks, guys.

I also found myself going towards the fridge to grab a snack. Sorry. Not today. Or tomorrow...or the day after that......or the next....

12:15 p.m.- I can feel a headache trying to creep up on me. I tell it to "get the hell out of here" and push through. Other than that minor itch, I feel good. I don't feel sluggish or weak, just sleepy from a restless night's sleep.

The third juice of the day is nicely named, Flush. Flush because that's what I've been doing to the toilet all day. This juice is SUPER refreshing and minty and I love it! So far I haven't met a juice in this cleanse I don't like! Two thumbs up so far on taste!

1:00 p.m.- I finished with Flush rather quickly and I have another hour and a half before my next juice. AN HOUR AND A HALF?! I find myself nervously trying to figure out what to do with my hands...with my mind..WHAT'S HAPPENING? I keep looking out my window at work, distracted, thinking about snacks now. Almonds covered with chocolate and other NatureBox snacks I have at home. I just want to chew. Already. It's only day 1. I keep breaking out in random dance moves in my work chair (if you can even call them that? More like wild flailing of my arms.) It's a weird thing- and then I'll feel sleepy again. This is weird.

2:30 p.m.- TIME FOR THE NEXT JUICE! It's probably me hallucinating, but I immediately feel better with the first sip. Oh my God. It feels so good to have something else in my stomach, even if it's not a solid. After Party is earthier than the juices I've had so far today, but the apple and lemon cut that taste significantly. I've tasted earthier, that's for sure. Kinda wishing it were more earthy/heavier so it could have a more filling effect on my stomach.

This headache nag is still hanging around. Blah. I start doing Google searches on "juice cleanse benefits" to keep myself motivated.

4:30 p.m.-The time seemed to fly between the last juice and number 5. Probably because I was driving home from work and all I could think about was consuming the next juice, The Warrior. The Warrior is strawberries, chia seeds and stevia. This was the most filling of all of the juices so far and delicious- strawberries? How can you go wrong?

6:00 p.m.- Last call for alcohol!!!

Last juice of the day and the "creamiest". Relax was cashew milk with vanilla and cinnamon. It was a nice ending to the day- creamy, comforting (if THAT'S even possible) and now I'm definitely welcoming bed with open arms. It's been a long day. Thank God tomorrow is Friday.

Was I starving today? It seemed like when I started to get that hungry feeling it was time to drink another juice, so I didn't felt ravenous or dying for food. My stomach had a bit of an empty feeling, but I didn't have bad cravings for any food.

Most frequent thought of the day?
"This is hard, but it's really not THAT bad."

Overall thoughts for Day 1?
Not bad, but not ideal. I wouldn't say awful by any means, but difficult, yes. The baby headaches I experienced were the most annoying part about day 1. Plus I was a little emotional overall today, so that didn't really help my longing to chew something.

Check back here tomorrow for Day 2, when I either push forward or trip and fall. lol Just kidding. I'll make it. 

I am an unbelievable HUGE Red Hot Chili Peppers fan.

HUGE. Love them. They're in my top three of ever.

So, when it was announced that Chad Smith and Will Ferrell (I SWEAR they MUST be related. Their resemblance is uncanny!) were going to battle it out in a drum battle I was over-the-moon excited!

Anyone else a huge fan of RHCP? Or Will Ferrell for that matter?

Well, last night on Jimmy Fallon they duked it out on the drums and I almost missed it! If it hadn't have been for a friend of mine's call, I would have slept right through it. The phone ringing awoke me from my sleeping splendor and at the exact perfect time to see Will and Chad's interview with Jimmy. HA-larious.

The drum-ff was great, but imagine my surprise when the entire band showed up to perform!? It didn't even cross my mind that they would appear! Does this mean a new album soon? God, I hope so.

Anyway, I was taken so aback by the entire band's appearance that I let out an audible *GASP* that woke up both of my spoiled-ass dogs. I guess it scared the shit out of them because they both jolted up and one darted off the bed. LOLZ.



That segment just made my month.

That's all I have to share on this glorious Friday. Hope you all have a great long weekend to celebrate Memorial Day- and remember those fallen soldiers. Stay safe and have fun!

I finally changed up the blog layout after having the last one for YEARS.

Since it's been a very long time since I last blogged, I'm taking advantage of Throwback Thursday and sharing my big DIY project from last December!

For about six months I had been drooling and scheming over having a pretty, girly, functional bar cart. I pinned, I scoured the interwebs in search of the perfect one for me. I knew I wanted something colorful, NOT boring and decor surrounding it that fit my personality.

I'm not much of a DIYer, you must know, so my first step was checking out Etsy in search of already made bar carts. After much searching, I found this cutie:

THE ONE!

That color! That serving top! I was in love. So much so that I almost slapped down $400+ to have that biotch shipped to me! Yes, no need to call me crazy. I knew I was, but I TRULY didn't want to do any work. hee hee.

Well, step in my pal Erin, pro DIYer, who INSISTED I check out Craigslist or go dumpster diving (haha JK. She meant just scoping out shit people had tossed on the street.) to find a piece that I could re-do myself. I finally wised up, took her advice and checked out Craigslist. I kept finding pieces that were just OK, but I had a VERY specific vision in my mind of what I wanted.


FINALLY, I found it! And I'll be damned if it wasn't SO much like that Etsy love I first found. Check it out!
I thought it was even BETTER than the expensive Etsy find! I scooped this up for $125 in town!

Then came the "hard" part...deciding on paint and color.

I knew I wanted that bright blue, but what kind of paint? The Etsy buffet was painted with Chalk Paint (not Chalkboard, but Chalk paint) and I really loved the vintagy feel that type of paint gave. It's a bit on the expensive side, but from what I had read about it, it didn't take much of the paint to cover a piece AND...NO priming?!

Sign. Me. UP!

I collected my supplies and got to work...

Britney Spears is a must for all painting projects :) Oh, and whiskey.

 Look. I cannot tell y'all how easy this was! I mean, I was two neat whiskey's in and I was still painting like a champ. It's hard to screw up with chalk paint. Here's one coat of Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in the color Florence. I ended up doing two coats total.


Anddddd, here's the after! I was So, so thrilled!


I took off the bottom two right doors and added some gold wallpaper. Things have changed a bit since this photo was taken, but it's essentially the same. If I can do this, so can you!

Have any of you ever done a DIY project?

Lawd have mercy, I truly need a food and exercise overhaul.

My workout shoes are dusty, my stomach is bloated and I feel really lackadaisical (BIG word of the day! hah!). My health and fitness routine has been thrown off, especially with my vacation to Mexico. I'm all about balance so no guilt from this girl one bit, but it's time to get back to business, ya heard?!

Bringing me to my topic today: Juice Cleansing.

I've never done one (I take that back. I think I may have done a DAY of juicing a couple of years ago. Then I quit.)

Lots of research has been done on my part to make sure I really wanted to do a juice cleanse and I've read it all: "Do it," they say. "Don't do it," they say. "Girl, yo body cleanses itself naturally," they also said (Pretty sure that belongs in a Summer's Eve commercial...). I can see valid points in all opinions and after deliberating and reading and researching, I've decided I want to partake! Sign me up!

My reasons:

1. Seriously, I just want to say I've done it. I feel like, for myself, I'd like to be educated and informed and able to tell others if they ask the benefits and negatives I've experienced. Plus, I've heard from others that it's such a great test of willpower and makes you really think about the food you eat to keep your body healthy. I need a REALLY firm reminder of that right now.

2. I love juice, yo! I used to have a juicer before I handed it over to my good friend, Erin (you better be using it, girl. *raises eyebrow*). It took too much prep and time to clean after every juicing. I sound really lazy, but I'm sorry, and I admit that I just do NOT want to make time for that. I'd rather buy it. #lazy. (HASHTAG! hehe)

3. I think juicing will give me that kick in the ass I need right now. See above. The point of this entire post is to get myself some "act right" in the health department. It sounds like a great way to take a break from foods that could be disrupting my digestive system and give my body the clean nutrition it really needs to function properly.

4. Reading about how it makes you feel better overall sold me. I could very much by day 3 be an annoying, hungry bitch, but I'm willing to risk it. My one-day experience with juicing isn't the same as 3 or 5 days, but I'm ready.


I've decided on the west coast company Urban Remedy, after watching YouTube and blog reviews. All of the juices sounded delicious, especially the last juice of the day. I also liked that Urban Remedy juices aren't loaded with sugar and the only added sweetener in a few of the juices was a touch of Stevia.You can check them out online here.

Have any of you tried a juice cleanse for health or fun? What kind and how did you like it/not like it?

I should be starting in a couple weeks and plan to blog the entire process. Sorry (way) in advance for what I said when I was hangry.

So....did you all miss me? I've missed you...and this blog!

Am I back for good?

I hope so!

I'd like to be. And if I'm back, I think my blog needs a MAJOR overhaul design wise. That's probably the hardest decision and step forward I need to make.

But, totally (kinda) off-topic, I just returned a few days ago from Cancun, Mexico where me and two of my fellow 30th birthday girls celebrated for five days at an all-inclusive resort. This was a first for me and it was pretty damn amazing.

We stayed at The Excellence Riviera Cancun (which I HIGHLY recommend) where we sunned, sipped and met lots of great people! Including someone I have to give a special shout to. Her name is Chelsea (HEY GIIIIRL!!) and we randomly met in the pool one day during vaca and she's a reader of my blog (well, WAS when I blogged regularly)! I thought that was just super cool seeing as how I've never met anyone randomly in person who has read my rants and ravings. She kinda helped light the fire under my ass to blog again, so I thank her precious self for that!

I'll leave you with some photos from Mexico and I hope the next time I blog isn't too far away. I miss you guys. Are you still out there?

It's a sunny-rainy-typical-flooding Sunday in Charleston and I'm sitting here all comfy on the couch with two scared Chihuahua's, watching The Family Stone (one of my faves, but...it's a Christmasy movie. What gives, cable?) sipping on a Honey Jack (neat)! 

Remember my neighbor Ray? He gave me a gruff, "HAPPY EASTER," from his van this morning.

Then.....just now, Ray and his three children come to my door. Knocking, ringing the doorbell, practically trying to SCRATCH their way in (Ok, semi-dramatic) to give me another box of Girl Scout cookies.  The kids get bored and trot off to the van while Ray sticks around TALKING. HIS. ASS. OFF.

My head is spinning- I seriously have no idea how to even start describing my encounter.  The only thing I can think to do is tell you all of the subjects we (he) discussed in 10 minutes:

The Dove.
The Dove has a mate for life.
The fact that Ray gave the Girl Scout's $100 and publicly asked everyone around him who was going to MATCH him.
I finally met his wife, Connie.  She seems like a gem, btw. Seriously. Nice lady.
Ray talked about how in three weeks or so he would be grilling a turkey and that I better come knock on the door to have some.
That if I ever need money or sugar I can also knock on the door.
That he lost one of his teeth from his dentures just yesterday "from his wife's bacon."
That he doesn't care that I'm a Republican or Democrat as long as I'm a good person.
He also said that he doesn't know "which way I swing" but that he has a son around my age and that he begs me to take him from his current woman.

*sigh*  And I'm spent.....