Spring Challenge!

With the spring weather just around the corner, I have proposed a challenge for myself and anyone else who wants to join in! A couple of weeks ago I had an epiphany; I noticed that every morning I wake up and spend about an hour pampering my face and hair. To some this is crazy that I spend this amount of time doing my make up and styling my hair, but I really enjoy it. It's a fun everyday task that starts my day off with a happy and positive energy. (As long as I'm having a good hair day!) So then I asked myself, "if I'm taking an hour out of my day to treat my face and hair like a temple, why not give the same treatment to my body?" Now, I know I'm not overweight or obese, but I definitely know that I am NOT in shape!

So the challenge....

I want to create and fulfill 3 goals for myself

1. Start eating healthier and in proportion to my body

Growing up with my mom has definitely been a lesson in eating whats healthy for me and indulging when I've had a bad day...and then also when I've had a good day. I was raised eating I Can't Believe it's Not Butter and drinking skim milk. As well as substituting any regular type of food or drink for the lowfat, nonfat, no sugar added and whatever other versions there are. And while in her house I ate whatever was in the fridge usually in the right amounts. Recently, it has seemed that I have created any excuse to indulge whether it was a good or bad day, and in large amounts. Instead of having a slice of pizza and some mixed fruit, I'll just have two slices. Or instead of having a burger and then some mixed veggies, I'll have a burger fries and a milkshake. So, I'm not saying I won't still eat my favorite foods. Because lets face it, to live in Manhattan and not try something new at least once a week (no matter the calorie intake) is just sinful. But, I am going to eat my favorites in moderation with other healthy meals and snacks.

2. Workout Plan

Living in New York City can sway my schedule to be a little more on the busy side. But that doesn't mean that I can't find just one hour a day, five days a week to treat my body the way it should be treated. So, five days a week for about an hour I am going to go to the gym and do a cardio workout for about 30 minutes, followed by some ab, leg and arm exercises.

3. Results

My long term goal in my spring challenge will be to see a difference in the way my clothes fit and my overall confidence in my body. I really don't view weight and size as a number. I feel that if your confidence level is high, you feel good about how you look, and you're comfortable in your clothes, then you are good to go! There is no doubt that I love the way I am, but I kno w that I can do better. I'm not going to say that I want to lose 10 pounds; because I don't want to lose 10 pounds! All I want to do is to tone up my jiggly spots!

So my spring challenge is set! Eating healthier and in proportion, treating my body better and feeling more comfy in my clothes!

Down With Love...and Kate Spade

If there was a fashion time period of which I would adore to be a part of, it would be the 60’s. The colors are bright, eccentric, and most of all powerful. Women of the sixties ventured out in the mini skirt designed by Mary Quant and left the poodle skirts at home. It was a daring time that took a youthful woman willing to take the next step for a fashion revolution.

Mini's even being used in a work day uniform.

Down With Love, a film centered around the 60’s brings out some of the most wonderful attributes the time has to offer.

With Fashion Week among us, it is no surprise that Kate Spade’s Fall 2011 RTW line is nothing short of extraordinary. Mixing punches of color with classical prints of plaid, check, and floral, leave me flourished with happiness and excitement. From neon tights to hot pink gloves, this collection is drawn from a classical time of powerful women on the search for beauty.

With love and color,
Charisse

A New Life with a Metro Card.

In a world filled with metro cards, skinny jeans, and blackberry’s; there is a comfort of knowing that all I have to do is step one foot out the door to feel right at home.  The city is full of high expectations, immense amounts of culture, and an unforgiveable impression that will last a lifetime.  I have found my days to be consumed with walking up and down avenues drowning with amazement of the different styles and fashions of Manhattan’s residents.  You can shop in SoHo with thousands of others, jump on the 6 train and walk up a few avenues and enter an entirely different world of peace and tranquility while strolling by the strawberry fields in Central Park. 

Three rules I’ve learned in my first week:

1.     Don’t apologize when your bag brushes up against someone in the sardine filled subway.---they will look at you like you are from planet Pluto.

2.     Carry cash on you at all times.  Whether it’s for an emergency cab ride or pretzel on the street.  You’ll wish you had it when you don’t.

3.     Make sure you stop every so often just to take in the fact that you live in the most fabulous place on earth.

It’s true what they say with every song ever written about New York.  Whether it’s the city that never sleeps or the concrete jungle where dreams are made of; it is filled with fascinating mysteries of people, places, museums, restaurants, shops, etc.  It’s truly never ending.  So I ask myself who do you want to be in this new found haven?  And to be perfectly honest, it is way to grand to choose just one.  My list will grow everyday I step outside.

Adventures of Exploration :)

Central Park Days of Winter

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year's Resolution.

Merry Christmas everyone! I have decided to start 2011's new year's resolution early and start a blog.  As most of you know, I am moving to New York in about two weeks and it dawned on me on this wonderful holiday that things are going to be extremely different.  While I will still be calling my mom four times a day just to tell her about what I had for lunch, it will be very hard to keep everyone else updated on this exciting adventure I am embarking on.  So, I am going to try my hardest to keep this updated with any events, stories and musings that go on in my new start.  Photos, links, everything!  I hope everyone had a great holiday!

More soon,
xo Charisse