On Sunday We Brunch

My favorite part about Sundays is brunch.  It's safe to say we've turned Sunday brunch into some sort of tradition over the last two and a half years.  Hubby's new job only gives us two Sundays a month to enjoy this quality time and I'm still grateful because we've gone weeks in the past without having any days off! 

We don't set alarms for these special Sundays, let our bodies catchup on all the rest they need... We'll slowly make our way out of bed and get dressed for brunch.  This week we decided to try this place Raymond's in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Followed by a trip to Trader Joe's.  

If you know me or have been keeping up with my blog posts you know I'm not a fan of fall but warm chunky sweaters never fail me.  I decided to dress up my casual fall outfit with my Valentino's.  Yes - I'm just a tad obsessed with these shoes.  

Shoe shots as we were waiting ...

Halloween | Fall Decor

Hubby : Norwegian Eggs Benedict

Me : Huevos Rancheros

OUTFIT DEETS:

:: From Head to Toe ::

Face : bareSkin Foundation - #08 Bare Beige

Eyes : Naked 3 Palette -  Limit & Buzz

Blush : Estee Lauder

Lips : Nars Lipstick - Charlotte 

Jewelry

Earrings: Tacori

Rings : Tacori

Watch : Breitling

Outfit

Jeans : Hollister light blue fade wash jeans

Top : Forever 21

Necklace : Forever 21

Accessories  

Shoes : Poudre Valentino Pumps

Next Stop ...

Must pick-up my favorite flowers. Such beautiful blooms!

Sundays usually feel so short because they technically end at 6PM and that Monday reality kicks in.  We came home and meal prepped for the week, put away the laundry we did yesterday, and will catch up on our shows from this week.  How do you spend your Sundays?

xo || Happiness Never Goes Out of Style || xo

21 Day Fix - Update

I actually started writing this post on day 10 of 21.  Unfortunately, right before I was ready to post it - I started feeling terribly sick... So yes... I'm really sad to say that I wasn't able to get through my first round of the 21 Day fix.  So there are no before and after pictures or numbers for me to share with you... but I would like to share my week 1 experience for those interested... Once I'm no longer coughing up my lungs I plan on starting another round of the 21 day fix.
Let me start out by restating (from my previous post) that the containers do not by any way decrease the amount of food you can consume (at least for me) it just cuts you off of all the bad carbs - I actually struggled with meeting my daily protein requirement and found myself too full to eat at some points through out the day.

Here is my meal plan from the first week : { I'm posting this after the fact because I knew I'd change things around to add some new flavors through out the week and that I honestly would not be able to consume everything I planned out}

Note : The last Snack column was questionable because I kept it for days I thought I'd feel hungry but I really just munched on fruit after my workouts or used the fruit to replace dessert. 

BTWs - did you know cherries are supposed to be great for muscle soreness? { So terribly sad summer is almost coming to an end - dear mangoes and cherries you will be missed </3 }

If you follow me on snap-chat you'd know I was busy with three wedding events and will be again this weekend (hoping I'm feeling better). Last weekend, I tried to eat before arriving to the events because if you've ever been to a desi (Indian/Pakistani/Bengali) wedding you'd there really no such thing as a "healthy/lighter portion option" I had a couple pieces of the tandoori chicken served as appetizers as my dinner.  Since I didn't eat all of my alloted containers - Saturday night I split a piece of wedding cake with my hubby as my cheat meal. Totally worth it!

Although I stopped a third or so of the way through due to a terrible throat infection - I felt like a whole new person the entire week.  I had muscle soreness that made it impossible to sit and stand but it was so worth it because I knew it was working and I was hopeful to see results.  The workouts are only 30 minutes but they really kick your butt.  I can't wait to get started again. 

I didn't let myself step on a scale so I 'm not sure if there was really any actual weight loss but I felt lighter, less bloated, and my clothes did fit looser than they did before I started the program. I apologize for not having a drastic before and after picture for y'all but I hope to get back on the program and show you guys just that!  Keep me in your prayers for a quick recovery.  Being sick during the summer is the absolute worst.  

xo || Happiness Never Goes Out of Style || xo

21 Day Fix

I know I did a full on blog post on maturing and changing in my 20s but I definitely forgot to mention – how significantly your metabolism slows down. 
-____- I used to eat pizza and French fries almost every day when I first started college and didn’t gain an ounce… Now I can smell McDonald's French fries and feel my arms jiggle some more :-O

No matter how hard I've tried to keep on top of the healthy lifestyle I wanted I always found take out on our dinner table the easiest option after long workdays.  Over the last few months I’ve kept my eyes and ears open to so many different workout regimen names that I couldn't even recall names now.  A good friend of mine recently started the 21 day fix - noticed drastic results and instantaneously became a Beach-body coach.  Hesitant at first I would consistently read her blog/Facebook posts on how she was positively changing her life. I reached out to her and the next thing I knew I was ordering my 21 Day Fix Package.  It just arrived last week and I couldn't wait to get started.  I've been talking about starting this since I've purchased it and almost everyone wants to know how it goes... Which is why I've decided to dedicate the next three weeks of my life and this blog to this journey I'm about to take to a healthier me ...

A little disclosure before you begin:   This post is not sponsored by anyone in any way and I am not a beach-body coach. I am just looking to get back into shape and a healthy lifestyle.  

The program is a bit pricey, especially if you include the Shakeology (meal replacement type protein shakes) with your program –  I did not.  I purchased the 21 Day Fix which included the containers, meal plan booklet, and exercise DVDs for about $70.  Shakeology are meal replacement shakes which I find drinks/shakes don’t work so well for me – as I find myself looking for a warm meal regardless of how filling they are.

 When I first opened my package I was really overwhelmed with how hard this diet was going to be looking at the size of the containers… But after day one I have learned that the amount of food I’m allowed to eat with this meal plan is way more than I normally eat.  The problem is I have been eating all the wrong things.  Depending on your weight you get assigned a diet plan that allows you to consume a certain amount of calories/containers.  I’m allowed to have 3 veggie servings, 2 fruit servings, 4 protein servings, 2 carb servings, and 1 healthy fat serving.  {Let me know if you have specific questions in regards to the breakdown of the meal plan} I am definitely struggling to meet the 4 protein servings. 

Purple : Fruit ; Green : Veggies ; Red : Protein ; Yellow : Carbs ; Blue : Healthy Fats ; Orange : Seeds & Dressings

The program encourages you to take pictures and your measurements on Day One of your Twenty One Days and then again on the twenty-first day. I found a cheat sheet to help me keep track of all changes my body takes throughout these three weeks.  As well as a this printable to help track my container intake. 

I've added a checklist to my daily planner to constantly remind myself to monitor what I'm consuming.

The exercises DVDs that come as a part of your 21 day fix program kick your BUTT.  I haven’t been to the gym in over 6 months – I do walk a lot to and from work in the city but obviously this is a whole new level of being active.  I am extremely sore!!

When you sign up for the 21 day fix you’re assigned a beach body coach – who happens to be a great friend of mine.  She has a great accountability group on Facebook where we all post our daily food intake and workouts.  The group really helps with getting up off that couch and doing the workouts… everyone else is seeing results and I want them too!  Watching the other girls make such great progress really helps keep your focus and is a great way to find new meal ideas.  In our accountability group we have a daily goal – 100 squats & 100 ounces of water.  I’m slowly building my way up to both.  All this water intake makes for too many bathroom breaks at work  J

My New Victoria Secret Tumbler - This measures 24 Oz - trying to drink about 4 of these a day. The wings never hurt ;)

Meal Planning

Before I started I had to tackle one of my biggest battles – meal planning.  I skimmed through the recommended meal plans and decided to keep it simple the first week with room for little temptation.  I knew I’d need to cook in bulk so my first thought was – Costco.  Luckily this month they had a special sale for all organic items.  I purchased: organic quinoa, organic veggie patties (they are delish) tons of fruit and vegetables.   From our local butcher I purchased 2 pounds of cold cuts and 3 pounds of boneless chicken breast.  All day Saturday – I spent washing, cutting, and marinating the chicken.  I washed and measured out my fruits and veggies as well.  At the end of the night my dad grilled the entire 3 pounds of marinated chicken for me. Next I made quinoa – not paying attention to how much I actually needed.  I think have enough to last all 21 days! I didn’t want to waste any so I measured out just how much I’d need for week 1 and froze the rest to use for next week.

Smoky Southwestern :: Mediterranean :: Adobo

I marinated the chicken with three different sets of spices [ recipes provided by the 21 day fix meal plan]

I made quinoa two ways.

1.  Just boiled with a couple cloves of garlic.

2.  Simmered in taco seasoning with 1 can of  black beans and 1 can of corn.

Final Product.  [[ Dusts of shoulders ]

Stay Tuned for an update on Day 7 as well as more meal plans through out my 21 day journey. Did you follow my snaps while I was meal planning? [ @thenewmrs4 ]

xo || Happiness Never Goes Out of Style || xo