Scenes From Our Weekend

Grateful- exactly how I feel after my post Friday.  You guys blew me away with your comments, emails, texts and messages after my post Friday.  I was ready to share but at the same time I was apprehensive.  You ladies lifted me up, encouraged me, gave me hope, love and inspired me.  I honestly can't thank you enough.  This is a difficult and dark journey I have been on and I know it will continue to be trying but your kind words and encouragement meant so much to me. 

Thank You from the bottom of my heart, ya'll are amazing. 

xoxo

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Thursday night I headed out to an event at Zero George for The Hilliard Studio Method a fitness studio based out of Charlotte.  Next time I am home I am definitely gonna try and fit a class in.  The ladies that do this workout have incredible figures!  We are trying to convince them to open a studio here in Charleston! 

What I wore:

Dress also HERE and HERE | Booties | Earrings | Watch | Purse

I am wearing a small in the dress, it runs TTS.

After the event we stayed for a drink and a nibble at the bar.  

They make the best drinks at Zero George.  I went with my old trusty,  the Dirty martini,  but they have so many fun and innovative ones to choose from.

I always love their cheese platter, although I have really never met a cheese plate I didn't like.

They only make a certain amount of burgers each night and we got lucky they had one left so we all split it.  Let me tell you, it was hands down the best burger I have ever had.  I am not even a huge burger person but I was drooling after this one.

Friday I finally tested out my new Vitamix and loved her.  I can tell I am going to be using her often. 

I bought this copper version

I made this smoothie: coconut water, 1 banana, 2 handfuls spinach, frozen mango, frozen pineapple, and a scoop of Greek Yogurt.  I am working on a post I will run soon with all my favorite smoothie recipes. 

Loving this floral tee.  I am all about some florals.

Floral Tee

Friday was lunch at Butcher and Bee, easily one of my favorite lunch spots. 

I finally tried their Veggie burger that was just written up in Bon Appetit.  It was sooooo good!

Friday night was super low key the kids and I watched Norm of The North.  Saturday was a quick workout and then we worked on cleaning out and boxing up clothes.  Follow me @shopsnoopnattynatcloset I will be doing a blog sale this week with some of my clothes.  

I am a huge fan of this workout top that can be worn tied or not tied.  It is perfect for barre and yoga.

I am wearing a size 6 in both the tank and leggings.

Tank | Leggings

After that we hit up the mall to escape the rain.  

That afternoon I met a friend for a glass of wine at The Dewbury.  Thank goodness for my girlfriends who take care of me on the weekends!

What I wore:

Blouse (buy one get one 50% off) | Necklace | Jeans | Pumps

Fries + Aioli:) Clearly I didn't watch what I ate this weekend.  Back on the train today.

Sunday it poured rain all day so we headed to the Aquarium.

That display is all legos- I mean how amazing.

Sterling is shark obsessed so he was in heaven.

Currently crushing on statement Earrings.

ONE | TWO | THREE

FOUR | FIVE | SIX

Have a wonderful start to your week.

Daily Diet + Exercise Plan + Workout Gear

Today I wanted to share a little bit about my current diet and work out plan.  I am always on a mission to tone up and get fit and I feel like I finally have a good routine down.  I am 36 and since I am most likely done having babies I really want to try and be in the best shape I can.  

My goal is to feel good in a bikini next Summer.  I always wear one pieces because I feel too uncomfortable about my body in a two piece and I want to change that.  I am not getting any younger so I want to proudly rock a two piece while I can. 

I recently started doing some one on one training twice a week and I swear 3 weeks in and I can already see small results.  I reached out to my barre teacher Ashley Morris (at Pivotal Fitness) about training me one on one.   She has an amazing body and I love her classes.  They are not typical barre and really challenge you in a good way.   I knew she would hold me accountable and help me see the results I wanted.  If you live locally and are interested in training with her you can email her at chucktownfitchick@gmail.com.  She is amazing and trust me her body is insane- major goals. 

Ashley wanted me to have 5 set workout days.  Some weeks I only make 4 days but 5 is always my goal.  I prefer to knock them out during the week so I can relax on the weekend.  I always workout from 8:30-9:30.  I take Sterling to school around 7 come home and change and get Frances ready for school then head to the gym.  Her school doesn't start til 9:45 so she comes to the gym nursery with me.  That was a huge reason why I joined this gym because of child care.  I am the type of person where if I don't work out first thing in the morning I will make excuses, so I like to get my workouts done early.  Now that I have been going more often I feel like my body actually craves gym time.  I feel so much better on my gym days.  

This is my current schedule:

MONDAY- 1 hour barre class

TUESDAY- 1 hour training session

WEDNESDAY- Red Zone class - this is a boot camp similar to orange theory lots of cardio and circuits

THURSDAY- 1 hour barre or yoga

FRIDAY - 1 hour training session

For our training sessions we do mainly weights and ab work.  I really didn't lift any weights prior to this so I feel like I am starting to get more definition.  We focus all over the body and do leg work, arms, butt and abs.  Either before or after we train she has me to the stair mill for 15 minutes at between a 5-7 pace.  That machine is the devil.  I hate it and I am always so sweaty afterwards but it burns a lot of calories in a short amount of time. 

After 6 weeks I will give you guys an update.  We did some initial measurements and I will be curious to see the results.  So far I have lost 3 pounds and I am feeling more toned, my stomach also feels flatter.  

D I E T 

As far as my diet goes for the most part I eat fairly healthy.   I have really tried to cut out processed foods.  This is really hard for me because I love crackers, gold fish, cereal, if its a snack food and processed you name it and I used to snack on it.   I am getting used to it though and don't crave that stuff like I used to.  On the weekends I give myself a little more leeway.  I am not super strict, I love food so if I have a dinner out I am going to indulge and eat what I want.  

Here is a sample daily diet of what I eat.  Keep in mind I am not a nutritionist this is just me trying to eat healthy and feel good.  Everyone has different bodies and body types so you gotta do what works for you! 

B R E A K F A S T 

I always start the day with hot lemon water.  Followed by one cup black decaf coffee.  My breakfast is usually PB on whole grain toast and a little yogurt. I have been too burned out on eggs to eat them. Ashley said the complex carbs of the multigrain bread and the protein from the yogurt were a good morning combo to eat before I work out.  Since I work out from 8:30-9:30 I usually eat breakfast around 7:30.

After I work out I usually hit up Starbucks.  Probably a bad treat but I love it,  They just opened a drive through Starbucks beside my gym and it is bad news.  I usually get a tall decaf almond milk latte.  I also like a non fat green tea latte.   I have mentioned this before but after I had Frances I gave up most caffeine.  It was making me feel jittery and anxious and I feel so much better without it but I do still love my coffee.  

L U N C H 

I usually try and prep a few salads to have on hand for my lunch during the week although I typically eat lunch out at least one day a week with friends.

This week was No Mayo Broccoli Salad + White Bean Salad

The week before was Greek Salad + Couscous.

Tuna + White Bean Salad and Hummus is another go to lunch.

If I do eat lunch out I try and do a salad.  This week I ate at Taco Boy and had the Chicken Salad.

D I N N E R 

Dinner is a little more of a wild card.  I have been trying to cook healthier on a whole.  A few recent dinners I have had the past few weeks.  

Arugula + Crispy Prosciutto + Blue Cheese + Figs + Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Chopped Kale Chicken Caesar Salad

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

S N A C K S 

I honestly don't snack much.  If I do it is string cheese, olives or nuts.  

A L C O H O L + B E V E R A G E S 

Yes,  I still have alcohol.  I would rather cut back on calories during the day to allow for a glass or two of wine at night.  As far as other beverages go I only drink water, sparkling water or unsweet tea during the day.  

F A V O R I T E  W O R K O U T  G E A R

Nikes

I bought these Nikes over the Summer and love them.  They are the TR 6 OC Training ones.  They are light weight and work perfectly for the exercises I have been doing. 

I have this black color, they are 20% off right now.

30% here in several colors

My two favorite workout pants are both high waisted.  After two kids I need all the help I can get sucking it in.  I highly recommend both of these.  Sizing wise I wear a small in the Zella ones and a 6 in the Lululemon ones.  

Zella High Waisted  | in a full length version

Lululemon High Rise Pants

These are a bit more expensive but I promise you worth every penny.  These make me feel like a million bucks when I have them on,  The material is fantastic and they really suck you in and are so flattering.

Sculpt Tank

I love this top because it is not too fitted and it has the cutest back.  I own this in a few colors.  

I am wearing it here in navy., paired with the black lulu pants and nikes above. 

Side Slit Tank

I have mentioned before but I prefer tops that are not super fitted when I workout.  I love this style.  The cotton is so soft, I usually wear this for barre classes.

Also in pink, black and white

Twist Front Tee

This is great to toss on over any workout tank.  It is so soft too!  I have the black but I am thinking of getting another color. 

Define Jacket

This is my favorite jacket to toss on when it is cold.  I find it is super flattering.  I am wearing a size 6. 

Yoga Mat

This was a Christmas gift last year and I love it!  I like to bring my own mat for barre and yoga.

Also available in several other patterns HERE

Kale + Brussels Sprouts Salad with Curried Nuts | 3 Day Juice Cleanse

First things first I have a new recipe.  This recipe is an attempt to recreate one of my favorite salad recipes.  I am obsessed with the kale and Brussels salad at Tavern and Table, a restaurant here in Charleston.  It is so good, I dream about it.  Every time my mom is in town we always hit up Tavern and Table just for this salad.  I decided to try my hand at making my own version and it came out exactly like the original.  I was thrilled I can now make my favorite salad at home!

The curried nuts are my favorite part of the salad.  You could make a whole batch of them just to snack on.  They are addictive.  The combination of the kale, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet and spicy curried nuts, tart granny smith apples and salty pecorino cheese is out of this world good.  The salad is best the day you make it but it will save in the fridge for at least a day.  If you keep the ingredients separate it will save even longer. I enjoyed this as my lunch but if you wanted to serve this as a dinner I would simply pair it with some grilled chicken, shrimp, or fish

Enjoy!

|| K A L E + B R U S S E L S  S A L A D  W I T H   C U R R I E D  N U T S ||

- 1 head of kale de-stemmed and chopped

- 1grany smith apple, sliced thinly

- 1 bag Brussels Sprouts, quartered

- 1 jar Marcona Almonds

- 2 teaspoons honey

- 2 tablespoons butter

- 3 teaspoons curry powder

- pecorino cheese

Wash the Brussels Sprouts and cut into quarters.  Toss with olive oil and salt and pepper.  Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees about 20-25 minutes.  Pull and set aside.

For the Curried Nuts :

Toss the nuts, melted butter, 2 teaspoons curry powder and honey in a bowl until nuts are coated.  Pour on a baking sheet lined with foil.  Bake at 350 degrees about 12-15 mins, stirring the nuts frequently.  Pull from oven and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon curry powder and let them cool.

For the Lemon Tahini Dressing:

( I ended up doubling this) 

- 2 tablespoons tahini

- juice of 2 lemons

- 1 garlic clove

- 2 tablespoons water

- salt

- cayenne pepper

Whisk all ingredients together until smooth. 

Place the kale, Brussels sprouts, apples, and nuts in a large bowl.  Pour the dressing over and mix well.  Add the pecorino cheese to taste.

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3 DAY JUICE CLEANSE

Several of you asked and wanted to know how my juice cleanse went.

  I had never done a juice cleanse before but always toyed with the idea of doing one.  So when Blend Juice Bar (my favorite juice spot in town) reached out about doing a cleanse I was all over it.  It was perfect timing after my trip to NYC and a fairly indulgent Summer. 

Why did I do the Cleanse?

I did the cleanse not to lose weight but to re-set by body.  After a glutinous Summer,  I felt like my appetite was out of control and I just felt super bloated.  I wanted to flush my body and try to curb some of the cravings I was having.  I was feeling the need to snack frequently between meals and wanting something sweet after each meal.  I also just felt tired most days.  I wanted to change that.

Was the cleanse harder or easier than I thought it would be?

The cleanse was honestly easier than I thought it would be.  The hardest part was controlling my mind.  The juices actually kept me pretty full but my mind kept thinking about food and just wanting to chew on something.  Food was all I thought about for those 3 days.  It made me realize I eat a lot out of boredom and just to chew.  Since the cleanse I am trying to be more mindful about what I eat. 

Day One

The first day went really well.  Each juice tasted better than the next one.  They were such different flavors it really kept me satisfied plus I looked forward to trying what juice was next.  The white juice, which was a cashew/coconut water/cinnamon blend was so tasty.  Sterling tried it and claimed it tasted just like cinnamon toast crunch. 

I love how Blend has labels on each juice so you know exactly what is in your drink.  You drink them in a certain order and I loved all 5 of them.

I have tried several of the juices like Suja that you can buy at the grocery store and these fresh pressed ones taste so much better and they cost roughly the same.

Day Two

I woke up and felt great.  I had so much energy and my mind just felt clear and not foggy.  Before the cleanse I would wake up so tired and now I was having so much more energy.  Day two was harder than day one mainly because I just wanted to chew something.  I caved that night and ate one carrot and one piece of celery before bed.

Day Three

Once again I woke up and felt great.  I actually woke up before my alarm even went off.  So much energy.  Around lunch time I got super spacey and felt really weak.  I also got a killer headache. I ended up eating later that day because I just felt so out of it out.  Not sure if you are supposed to the eat the same day you finish your cleanse but I did.  A few hours after I ate my headache went away and I felt much better.

Results and would I do it again?

I would 100% do a juice cleanse again.  I would however probably just do a 1 or 2 day cleanse.  By the third day I was ready to be done.  I lost 4 pounds, 2 of which I have already gained back as I figured I would because it was water weight.  I do feel less bloated and I have been much more mindful about what I eat. The craving sweets after every meal is gone. I don't feel the need for dessert everyday.    I feel like the cleanse really helped clean out my body and flush out toxins.  I peed so much those first 2 days and my pee was completely clear so I know I was super hydrated.  Since the cleanse I have tried to drink way more water. Overall it was a great experience.

Blend Info

For locals that are interested in doing a cleanse, you can call Blend or go online to order.  It was so easy each day I just stopped by and my bottles were in a cooler case in the fridge near the front door ready to go.  They offer three different cleanses : Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.  I did the Beginner Cleanse which costs $50 a day.  If you don't want to do a cleanse you should stop by Blend anyways and try one of their juices or smoothies- my favorites are the green juice and green smoothie! I also love the wheat grass and Nature's Flu shots.

*Blend did not compensate me to write this post but they did graciously give me a free juice cleanse.  All thoughts and opinions are purely my own.