March 2013 - Page 6 of 7 - My Healthy, Happier Life

ashleyd / March 6, 2013

Say It, Do It Week of 3/4

Wonders never ceased. In the past 5 days I’ve practiced yoga 3 times at Laughing Lotus. I can’t decide whether it’s the unlimited pass that has made me want to fit more classes in or just the positive energy I feel both inside and out after class. Regardless, my hips and legs are feeling looser each class which will hopefully help in the half marathon less than 2 weeks from now.

This week’s training plan is fun because it includes lots of workouts with friends! In fact, every single workout on here is with a friend or Bo! That is definitely a good way to keep myself accountable to achieve my goals. If I know I have someone waiting for me, just like Theodora was today at yoga, I’m far less likely to bail.

A few of us are meeting Sunday morning for a spin class at Revolve so feel free to join us before the class fills! It should be a fun dance party and a good way to shake out some tightness in my legs.

Until tomorrow, when I get to share an awesome Goofy Challenge Marathons+Moderation story with y’all check out the songs that are keeping me pumped through my runs and commute this week!

Have a great night!

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ashleyd / March 5, 2013

Easy Lunch Idea: Ziplock Mexican Salad

While I love getting fresh air when I step out to buy lunch on the days I don’t bring my own, it’s an expensive date with fresh air. I had a wake up call when a salad cost $14 last week! Oh New York City how I love you and hate you all at the same time! That hefty receipt urged to start bringing my own lunch again. It can’t be that hard, especially since I’m not traveling this month. Each Sunday I have plenty of time to enjoy Fairway shopping trips and stock the fridge.

This week and last week’s lunch was inspired by Anne but has been slightly altered and renamed a Ziplock Mexican salad.

So, next time you’re looking for an easy lunch option that is portable and flavorful, just grab a gallon Ziplock and stuff it full with the below delicious ingredients! I was able to buy a week’s worth of ingredients for just $23, which averages $4.25 per day!

4 handfuls of baby spinach
2 handfuls of cherry tomatoes
3 handfuls of chopped red and orange peppers
Any random leftover cooked vegetables you have in your fridge (this week I have sautéed mushrooms)
1 handful chopped red onion
1/2 cup brown rice, seasoned with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and chili powder
1/2 cup of rinsed, drained black beans
1/4 cup shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 avocado, chopped
1/4 cup mango salsa

The Ziplock salad not be pretty but it’s delicious and filling! I love pairing my salads with some crunch so often pack a serving of baked chips or crackers with an apple. This keeps me full until my afternoon snack of yogurt, cottage cheese, or grapefruit and almonds.

What’s your favorite easy lunch option?

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ashleyd / March 4, 2013

New York Junior League Winter Ball

Oh New York Junior League Winter Ball how you never fail to deliver an amazing New York City evening complete with delicious beverages, a great band, amazing gowns, and lots of dancing in a beautiful venue.This is my 3rd year attending (see last year’s recap here) our league’s largest event of the year which is a fundraiser for our many community partners.

This years gown, thanks to your recommendations, was my favorite thus far! I used Rent the Runway for the first time and finally understand why there is so much hype. After reading all of your suggestions, I decided to go big or go home and rent the Badgley Mischka Glitz Gown! I’ve learned over the years that strapless dresses don’t compliment my figure and therefore have moved towards either deep v-neck or strappy dresses instead as you can tell from the above pictures. This gown rents for $160 but thanks to the January Birchbox, I had a $50 gift card that I applied. While $100 may seem like a lot for a rental, it would be very difficult to find a gown for under that price and I find that I rarely wear gowns a second time. In addition, there are dresses and accessories of all price points on Rent the Runway. I’ve marked a few of their adorable summer dresses as possible rentals for events this summer and most are $25!

In addition to the gown, I was able to add a piece of jewelry for just $10 thanks to a promotional code. They took the guess work out of accessorizing this dress by having their stylist choose earrings.

As a few people on Instagram and Facebook have asked for more details behind my look, here are the specifics:

Hair: blow out at DREAMDRY (Rachel Zoe’s new blow out bar located in Flatiron which is quickly making a name for itself after only 3 weeks by being less expensive than competitors while still delivering a luxury, relaxing experience. Full review to follow in a separate post.)

Makeup: I did my makeup myself as the past few times I’ve had my makeup done by a professional I haven’t been crazy about the look. Instead, I invested in a new lip stick and liner to ensure that I brought a bit of a statement to my normal makeup style. Since Dolce&Gabbana Makeup is one of our brands, I was excited to finally try their popular red lipstick which is definitely one of the signature items! The woman at Sephora recommended Dolce&Gabbana Lipliner in Fire and Dolce&Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Devil. Per her suggestion, I lined my lips and colored them in with the liner before applying the lipstick. This extra step ensured that even when my lipstick wore off on a wine glass, there would still be color. The only other change I made was a thicker than normal application of both liquid eye liner and mascara.

The entire evening was so much fun, especially since Bo and I had the pleasure of finally meeting JP and Blake, two of Laura’s friends from college who live in Dallas. The 5 of us spent the evening dancing with Theodora, Shannon, and Jen! It was also a great chance for Bo to meet some of the amazing ladies on my committee and in the League whom I talk about so often!