Saturday Shopping Extravaganza

So Patrick has been on vacation all week snowboarding with his buddies in Lake Tahoe...so whats a girl to do in her free time on the weekend? The answer is SHOP! haha

Hes on the far right-looks like they are having fun!

My mom and I headed out Saturday morning on a mission to find some cute decor things for my house. We ended up at about 2 antique shops, several consignment and thrift stores, and some how at the mall and TJ maxi as well. After trying to hard to not buy things other than home goods, I went on a little bingger, but it was well worth spending the day with my mom.

We saw some awesome pieces at our local antique shops I wanted so many things to add character and style to our home. I loved this royal blue Victorian chair and the large letters CONN for my home state but didn't purchase them.

I did get an antique book with a pretty paisley print titled "Reflections of the Morning after". Also two vintage advertisements, the first is for Seagram's I plan on putting in Patrick's man cave, and the "Breakfast in Hollywood" movie ad framed for the kitchen.

 For the guest bedroom I scored the word "nest" with a little nest for $12 after searching for something similar on etsy, most of which were above $20. I already have bird printed canvas throw pillows and branch curtains to tie everything together. For the master bedroom I'm going for a every clean and serene look of all grey and white with accents of mint green. I picked up a mint flower pot at an antique shop and a light mint ceramic vase at TJ maxx. 

At TJ maxx I also Picked up two gold toned picture frames for the living room. I love how they are both different textures but in the same color family.

I had been LUSTING after this Tory Burch Roberson Dome satchel for over a year now, and when I saw this Anne Klein taupe purse on clearance I snacthed it. I love the structure in this bag, it came in a beautiful cobalt blue color as well but I stuck with the neutral shade. I also got an adorable trench for warmer weather. My current trench is about two years old from Banana republic factory outlet and while its cute I don't like how it doesn't zip, only buttons and has a tie at the waist, it doesn't have front pockets and no hood. I found everything that one lacked in this new trench. I can't wait to wear it with flats or rain boots and jeans in the spring. I also got raw Goji berries and powdered greens in the food section, a non slip workout headband and a beautiful journal with bible verses on every page. 

At Victorias Secret we got there at end of the semi annual sale and I got two sports bras for $14.99 each  I really needed some new ones and these are so adorable and supportive. I highly recommend the VSX line to workout in-especially if you get it on sale ; ) 

Now onto the biggest steal of the day. We ventured out to the biggest thrift store around and spent forever looking for hidden treasures. I found this rag and bone stripped cotton shirt dress with silk trim for......wait for it......$3.99!!!!!!! I looked it up online and new it sold for hundreds and on ebay it's selling for around a hundred. It has been seen on celebs like Blake Lively and Cameron Diaz. I can picture it with some Tory flip flops, straw fedora and ray bans this summer for a laid back yet still polished look. 

We ended our almost 8 hour shopping day with a late dinner at a new resturant in Putnam called The Crossings. My younger sister met us there after work. Its a brew pub built in an old train station. The place was gorgeous inside and the food was fresh and savory. We split the cod bites for an appetizer and I got a carrot ginger soup. The beer was awful. I ordered a wheat beer and it tasted flat, flavorless and watered down. Now Im no beer conosoure but I think bud light has more taste than that. I sent it back and got an Angry Orchard with a shot of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky. Between that drink and hot soup it warmed me right up with the snow falling outside.

Now I'M DONE SHOPPING! I thinking about doing like a No-Buy february challenge. No beauty products. No clothes. No accessories. Just say no. Maybe I should call it my "I love my bank account challenge" in the valentines day spirit. Who's with me?! 

Sales! Madewell, Jcrew, and more

So I can't shop and it's killing mmmeeeee. (Don't get me wrong I'm still buying chic decor for our house) J crew is having 40% off final sale items and their sister store Madewell is also having a 40% of clearance sale. I'm just going to do what I did in my pervious post and tell you the things I would purchase if I wasn't saving my pennies. 

Madewell

I have to admit I saw this on one of my favorite bloggers veronika's blushing and thought it was adorbale 

 Terrace dress

Chambray Pintuck shirt

Pave' Arrowstack necklace

I'm really into the scalloped detail lately

Silk scallop peplum top

J Crew

The polka dots make this boyfriend bottom down lady like

 Boy shirt in embroidered polka dot

I collect their tippi sweaters they are a wardrobe staple!

 Merino Tippi baseball sweater with removable collar

How cute for a saturday running errands!?

 Embroidered emblem baseball cap

These are stunning. period.

Blue Grotto crystal earrings

In addition to those sales I found out about an deal on my favorite hair mask. The macadamia deep repair mask is 40% at BeautyChoice.com and you also get free deluxe samples of the AMAZING glam glow face masks! Use the code MLMG at check out-Go scoop that up!

Happy shopping! : )

Thanks for reading xoxo Brianna

What I ate this week & #shopaholicproblems

So my juice cleanse is over, I haven't stopped juicing-but don't worry I'm eating. And I didn't go straight to the Micky D's drive-through either. I've been trying to eat as many fruits and veggies as possible. I eat good fats from coconut oil, fish and nuts and seeds. I try to eat 6 small meals a day now if I can. In case you are a little lost on how to eat like this, here is what I ate this week...

Monday

B- Savory Oats and a fresh juice

S-100 calorie guacamole and turkey pepperoni

L-Almonds, bell peppers, sugar peas, raspberries

S- Kids chobani greek yogurt

D- Smoked salmon omelet

I love Smoked Salmon!!!

S- Dole dark chocolate covered frozen banana slices

Tuesday

B- Smoked salmon omelet on whole wheat flat bagel and a fresh juice

S- Kiddos Chobani greek yogurt

L- Three Tuna Salad lettuce boats made when plain greek yogurt & avocado

veggie chips on the side

S- pumpkin seeds and unsweetened apple sauce

D- Spagetti Squash with chicken and kale

S- Banana applesauce cookie

Wednesday (Wasn't feeling well)

B- Juice

sick in bed watching les mis 

S- tea with lemon

L-Spagetti squash with chicken and kale

S- popcorn and cherries

D-brown rice, quinoa, black beans with avocado and raw peppers

S-mango

Thursday

B- Oatmeal with banana and sunflower butter

S-kid Chobani greek yogurt

L- Black bean and kale salad

S- Pumpkin seeds, Mango & pineapple

D-Chicken and pasta with peanut thai sauce my momma made

no snack

Friday

B- Smoked salmon omelet and green tea with lemon

S-juice

L-Peanut putter and banana sliders, raspberries, red bell pepper

No snack

D-Spagetti squash with black beans and kale

S-post great grains cereal with almond milk

Saturday

B-juice 1/2 bagel with cream cheese

S-Starbucks tall iced vanilla chai and sugar peas

L-Pinto beans, sour cream cheese and blackberries on the side

no snack

D-pesto chicken

S-peaut butter banana sliders

Sunday

B-Smoked salmon with cream cheese and chive on whole wheat english muffin

cantaloupe on the side

S-unnsweeted applesauce

L-Grilled chicken Sandwich (we ordered out while working on our house, Pat ate my fries)

S-juice

 D- Quinoa chili

S-blackberries and a spoon of maple almond butter

It seems a little repetitive but if it a'int broke don't fix it, and I try to use up my groceries without much waste so I tend to eat similar meals in a week. The juices I mentioned have everything from tropical blends like orange, mango, pineapple, & carrot, or green juice with kale, cucumber, celery, lemon, ginger. Thats one thing I do switch up and make whatever I feel at the moment. I get a lot of ideas for healthy meals, and snacks from pinterest, take a look my Healthy & Yummy Board for more. Let me know what are some of your favorite go to healthy meals and snacks to help you stay on track! 

On a completely unrelated note J Crew Factory is having 40% off clearance items right now and since I'm tryyinnngggg to cease pleasure spending so I'll just share my picks with you. They have been sitting in my shopping cart for a week and it's devastating I can't add them to my closet but I shall survive. 

I already own these in a nude color and love them

Factory Sylvia Patent Leather wedges in Cabernet

Factory trompe l'oeil stripe collar sweater

Factory Keating Boy Blazer in Moderen Red

I also love the Factory pencil skirt, Factory Cotton shift dress, and the 4 inch chino short but they didn't come in my size so they didn't get put into my imaginary cart lol

Thanks for reading xoxox Brianna!

Hangry and Lethargic: My Juice Cleanse Experience

 In my last post about new year resolutions I talked about wanting to get back into good health. I also mentioned I got a Dash Juicer for christmas, so I put the two together and decided to detox my body with a juice cleanse. I planned on doing two to three days of only fresh juice, green tea, water and coconut water. Sound extreme? Well its actually not, our bodies are build to store fat and survive on it for periods of time like our hunter gatherer ancestors. That being said, our modern day life is MUCH MUCH different than those of our predecessors. We sit on our butts most of the time and eat whatever is fast and convient. I had stated to fall into that same pattern and wanted out! I wanted more natural energy, and to
stop the cravings for all of the sugar, caffeine and salt. So it began.
The day before I went to target and got a plastic water bottle, and a pack of throw away paper cups with straws. I know thats not the most environmentally friendly way but I figured I didn't want to lug around empty juice containers at work and what not. I filled 6 8oz cups with juice and made detox water, infused with cucumber and lemon. I was pumped.

Day one

I started my day with one of my favorite juices to buy at my local organic cafe Heirloom Food Co. They call it the Heirloom Sunrise, it's carrot, lemon, apple, and ginger. I also had a cup of green tea. Everyone at work thought I was crazy. Yes, I also had to work a 10 hour day with out any food LOL. Midmorning I had a pineapple, orange and carrot juice. Same for my afternoon snack. For lunch and dinner I had a beet, pear, lemon and ginger juice. I drank a ton of water, and had another green tea with my afternoon snack. To be honest I felt like crap. I had highs and lows of zero energy to this euphoric burst of energy only to dip back down. I never actually felt hungry but my mind was foggy and I became clumsy and couldn't think straight almost like being tipsy from alcohol. It was strange, but never the less I finished day one without the one thought of chewing.

Day two

Now for day two I was home all day, I didn't have to work and we were snowed in. I thought it would be easier without the temptation of looking at and smelling other peoples food. I was wrong. I woke up ravenous, and extremely cranky. I went right to the juicer with a midmorning juice of cucumber, celery, pear and lemon and a green tea. About 20-30 minutes after I felt better. I got my boost of energy and literally did some silly karate chops at Patrick who was working from home due to the snow. I cleaned the house feeling great. I had a beet, pineapple, grapefruit, and ginger juice for lunch. A Grapefruit, apple, pineapple, carrot juice followed shortly after that because I was starving. I had those three juices between 6-9 pm again. And then I began to crumble. I had no more juice left for the day and much stomach though feeling flat, felt so so so empty. So I had about a handful of Town House Pita crackers covered in mediterranan herbs mmmmmmm. It was just enough to satisfy me but sadly end the juice cleanse at about 10 pm. 

The aftermath

I wasn't upset I didn't do the full two or three days I planned, I was happy I started at all. I did feel like I already craved less junk food and wanted more fruits and veggies. I think it was a great way to kick off my health goals for 2014 and I would do it again. I'll just warn everyone ahead of time that the juicing crabby Brianna is coming out for a few days. I did read that the first few days are the hardest. I experienced breakouts on my face which is another thing that can happen in the beginning of a juice cleanse, since the skin is the body biggest organ it does a lot of detoxing. Then after about a week you'll have the most radiant glowing skin, or so they say. Right now I look a mess.

After I finished my cleanse I discovered a documentary called Fat, sick and nearly dead. It followed a man who did a juice fast for 60 days. He not only lost weight but improved his health thus adding more years on to his life, he even was able to stop taking prescription medication. I wish I had seen it before I started I would have had a lot more motivation to keep going. I'm thinking about doing a 5-7 day cleanse in march or april sort of as a "spring cleaning".

Thanks for Reading xoxo Bri! Go ahead and follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram too!