Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Note to self:

Do not put protein powder in oatmeal after it is already cooked. I made that mistake this morning and literally felt like I was inhaling dry pretzels er something to that extent...it was not good to say the least. Having a crummy breakfast didn't put my day off to a good start, and I don't think that it got the blood flowing to my brain because I walked all the way to work, sat down at my cube, and realized that I had forgotten my laptop on my bed. A-W-E-SOME. 24 minutes and $45 later (I had to buy a new subway card) I finally got the day started..oof!

The day did get a little better though...In 3 weeks I am going to a Charity Ball in Boston!! I am a huge (HUGE) fan of dressing up and getting out on the town ;) so of course I jumped at the chance to 1. Road trip with some girlfriends to Boston for the weekend 2. Donate some $$ to a good cause and 3. play dress up :)

I have waaay too many dresses as it is, but of course I was thinking nothing in my closet would work! ;) My mother might disagree with me.....However, in the spirit of staying on budget (January was difficult to say the least) and the reality that I actually do have plenty of things to wear, I decided to do a little makeover of the wardrobe kind. I have so many long prom dresses back home that are just sitting there, accumulating the terrible attic smell that some clothes can never say goodbye to. So, I figured I would re-vamp one of my favorite dresses and make it into a sleeker, sexier, more mature version of the high school prom dress! I wish I had an old prom photo to show..but alas, they have been burned/buried to keep my dignity ;)
Picture this - but red. Anyhow, I trecked down to the lower east side today for my lunch break to this place called Nelson's to get this dress hemmed. There will be some after photos assuming all goes well - but I did hear some great things.
The highlight of my day was passing this cute little bakery that I have been wanting to try:



I didn't actually make it in (since my hour lunch break was nearing a close!) but now I know right where it is for next time. I'll have to "step inside and find out" what the heck they were talking about on this chalkboard outside ... ;)

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

What did you do today?

Living up to my mantra this morning, I...
Definitely sweat :) Today I did interval training on the treadmill:
- 1 mile @ 7.0
- 10 minutes @ 5.0 incline
- 1 mile @ 7.2
- 10 minutes @ 6.0 incline
- 1 mile @ 7.0
- 10 minutes @ 5.0 incline
Followed by a killer Magic Circle Pilates Class at Power Pilates :) I've been doing pilates for a few years, not regularly though until I moved to New York. Since joining NYSC, I take these two pilates classes at the gym every Tuesday and Thursday. I thought they were great, until I started taking classes at Power Pilates. My body gets WORKED! And it feels fabulous! 

Any one have any other good workout suggestions?

On another note, got this in the mail today!

I love love love ab, and had heard about this kind but they don't sell it in any of the grocery stores near me :( but if you go to the website you can request some free samples! I also love love love free stuff ;) in case you couldn't tell. Speaking of free stuff, Eat Move Love is giving away a Gluten free cookbook - so go to the website and apply if you a) like baking b) like winning stuff or c) love baking. Good luck!

What did you do today?

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The Po' Girls Drink


I have tried to fight the addiction numerous times, but my love of coffee keeps coming back in full vengence. Unfortunately, my coffee machine broke a few months ago and the coffee at work, while free, is not.good.


Enter Christmas, where I asked Santa for some Starbucks gift cards. Seriously, what more could a bonafide coffee addict who passes 3, count 'em 3, Starbucks on her way to work want (and that's when I take the subway, forget about walking)! However, as much as I love it, Starbucks is expensive $$$ Here are some tips and tricks I've learned so that I can indulge as often as possible!

Poor Man's Latte
An iced doppio. Add milk.

Poor Man's Chai Latte
A chai tea misto with extra foam, two tea bags and a half pump of cinnamon syrup and half pump of vanilla syrup.

Refills
This happens to be something that I am definitley guilty of. Refills are only 50 cents! ($.54 with tax). If you buy a coffee in the morning and save the cup, then you can refill it whenever for cheaper than the carts on the street (for those non-NewYorkers, this is unheard of)! One downfall, the policy is actually for 50 cent refills if you are sitting in the 'buck only. However, I dont think that alot of baristas keep to this policy strictly; hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones.

Starbucks Cards
One kind gentleman informed me yesterday that if I registered my Starbucks card then the refill would be free. Um whaaaat? I could have hugged the man. Be sure to register any gift card you get for some super sweet rewards!

**Just as a disclaimer, while I do use some of these cheapskate/genius tactics occassionally, I do also support the company by purchasing my $5 grande soy vanilla mistos pretty regularly :)


Ta ta for now - I think my coffee definitley kicked in this morning