ashleyd /

A Rainy Bowl of Cinnamon Oats

 

Happy Friday!! It’s a rainy one here in New York City but that still doesn’t change my happy mood! Why am I in such a good mood? Well, for starters I enjoyed 9 peaceful hours of sleep last night. I woke up feeling refreshed, invigorated, and ready for the day. I still can’t believe what time the clock read when I woke up.

IMG_0581 Of course, I woke up at 5:30am when my alarm went off but then texted Sara letting her know that my body wanted and needed the sleep. I mean come on, how peaceful is sleeping while it’s raining outside.

The commute to work was a bit of a damp one especially since Bo and I realized that all our umbrellas were at our office desks. Oops!

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Hmm, look how intelligent those ladies with umbrellas look. Oh well, at least my shorter hair dries quickly.

IMG_0584The view from my desk this morning is equally as dreary. It’s like a big cloud landed on top of Manhattan.  I guess we’re lucky it isn’t colder or we’d be getting lots of snow just like Boston and Vermont. IMG_0590 My breakfast this morning was the regular banana and oatmeal, except with a small twist! I added a teaspoon of cinnamon and a dollop of yogurt to the mix which did a great deal for the flavor and health impact! The cinnamon was inspired by my daily fitness tip of the day which I shared on Twitter and Facebook:

Fitness tip of the day: Add cinnamon into your coffee, oats, etc. Studies find that even a 1/2 tsp daily can lower LDL cholesterol! Here are a few more random facts I found about cinnamon’s benefits:

  • Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol.
  • Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar
  • In some studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections.
  • It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.

IMG_0592 IMG_0591In fact, a few of my favorite Twitter friends had some great responses to today’s health tip with the ways they use cinnamon on a daily basis!

image Question: What is your favorite way to enjoy cinnamon?

PS- It’s a shameless plug, but I’d love if you’d take a minute to nominate me and other bloggers for the Women’s Health blogroll 🙂

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ashleyd /

A Single Lady Evening..

 

After a long week and an even longer day of work today, I left the office contemplating a couple of options for my single lady evening since Bo had a work dinner.

  • Manicure and a cocktail
  • Manicure
  • Yoga
  • Head straight home and sleep I chose a manicure and relaxing evening at home. Unfortunately, there weren’t any yoga classes taking place at a convenient Equinox location when I finally left the office.  I’m also trying to limit my alcohol consumption during the work week, which made the cocktail portion a bad decision. I also knew that while going home and heading to bed was a nice option, my nails weren’t publicly acceptable anymore. Help was needed immediately!
    I enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing manicure at QQ Nails, my new favorite nail place when I’m looking for an inexpensive but clean manicure.
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I love the bright color and I may or may not have used a scissors to open the cereal box as I didn’t want to ruin my nails. 🙂

IMG_0573 I’m spending the next hour in this comfortable spot enjoying my current nightstand book and dinner. (Confession, I’ve slept with my blankie for 27 years and am not ashamed to admit it! Though I will say he hid under my pillow during the day in college.)

IMG_0575 My mom and I both wanted to read Ree’s novel so we purchased it at Target this weekend and are sharing it. I claimed it first so I’ll mail it to my mom when I finish it. In exchange, she’ll mail me a book she just finished.

IMG_0574 A good book, relaxing scented candle, a sound machine to mask the street sounds of New York City, and a cozy bed; I’m in heaven!

Last but not least, I’m going to start sharing daily health tips on Twitter  and Facebook so follow me if you don’t already!

Question: Do you sleep with a blanket, stuffed animal, or other childhood keepsake still?

NYC Readers/Bloggers: I am hosting a brunch for are bloggers and readers. I’d love you to join! Please let me know, via comment section, whether March 12th or 13th is best. THANKS!!

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