The weight is over...

... and I mean that in a couple of ways.

1) Thanks for waiting for me, and being so patient with me as a I took a moth off from blogging to get my life in order. I have an update! I am now in grad school pursuing a Masters of Education in School Counseling. I've always wanted to work with kids in this kind of setting, and I am so excited to have finally gotten to this point. I am in school full time now, and still working part time, leaving me very little time to sit down on blog. However, now, I have something new to blog about.

2) My weight has been a struggle for me the last couple of years, but recently it's been stuck on the up train. I'm blaming no one but myself for this. Admittedly, I'm a big snacker, and in the last 2.5 year I've been the gym (maybe) 4 times. I am not saying that I am fat, but I am definitely out of shape, and as I like say: soft. It's time for me to get back on track and start living a healthier lifestyle. It's not about losing weight anymore. It's about being more active in my every day life, and making better choices when it comes to food and snacking.

In an effort to jumpstart my lifestyle change, I've enlisted the help of a trainer. Over the new couple of weeks, I'll be working out with the help and guidance of Tim Rider at the MAC in Harbor East (Pssst.... Baltimore peeps-- check him out! He's a fabulous trainer!). During that time, I'll document any progress and share with you tips and tidbits that I pick up along the way. My hope is that, if nothing else, this blog motivates me to keep going and holds me accountable for choices I make. If I can inspire you to make healthy choices, that's great too!

This is not to say that I won't be enjoying my summer. Let's be honest. I love eating out, going to BBQs, and enjoying all the fruity, umbrella drinks the summer has to offer! It does mean, though, that I'll be combating that with keeping an active, healthier lifestyle, and making better food choices overall as best I can. I'm thinking of it as a lifestyle change rather than a diet. I suck at diets.

My first weigh in and measurement with Tim (last Sunday) left me feeling a little anxious. Here's where we're starting:

Weight:
Weight: 155.2 lbs.
Body fat: 34.0% (Yikes. This should be closer to the mid-20's)
Fat mass: 52.81 lbs. (what this means is that 52 lbs of my body is fat mass)
Lean mass: 102.41 lbs.
TBW (total body water): 75.01 lbs. (what this means is that 75 lbs of my body is water weight)

Admission: I weighed myself two days into meeting with Tim and it had risen to 157 lbs. This was after Tim told me to hide my scale and forget that I even own it. He told me that my body composition is going to be changing, and my weight is going to fluctuate as I build muscle. He also said I'm going to feel hungrier now that I am working out and my body will need different kinds/amounts of nourishment. Though I was discouraged that my weight had gone up even more, I took Tim's advice, and have since removed the scale from my apartment.

Measurements:
Chest: 34.5"
Waist: 31.75"
Hips: 41.74"
Thighs: 25.5"
Arms (Bicep): 11.25"

It's not easy to throw this information out there. I feel exposed a little bit. But I am hoping that feeling of exposure motivates me. My goal isn't just to lose weight. That would definitely be a bonus, but ultimately, I'd like to build lean muscle and tone/firm my stomach, thighs, and arms. If at the end of the day I weight the same but I'm a hell of a lot stronger and leaner, then I have succeeded.

I've had 4 personal training sessions since I started last Sunday, and although I feel like nothing's happened yet (except for the 2 lb. weight gain UGH), I know that I am making positive changes for the better. I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Any work out tips or recipe ideas? Please share them with me!

P.S. I just went shopping and got some cute workout gear! Next post topic? Probably!

P.P.S. Here's a pre-work out selfie... keep in mind, I am sucking it in with all of the internal force that I can. Walking around in 100% spandex is a new adjustment for me. I found work out pants with wider bands at the waist to hold me in a little better...

Poshed Up for Preakness

"Crab cakes and football. That's what Maryland does!"

That's one of my favorite quotes from "Wedding Crashers"... and it happens to be true! (here's a clip. great scene!) But I have to add one little thing that Maryland does: Horse racing.

Preakness, in particular.

When California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby, the stakes were high and the crowds were hopeful for another victory.

Aside from the racing, betting, and outdoor debauchery that ensues from copious amounts of day drinking, Preakness is an event that calls for pomp and circumstance. Women are donned in fancy dresses and big hats. Men are spruced up in suits, bow-ties, and all things seer sucker. It's a bountiful bevy of pastels and boat shoes, which I for one, thoroughly enjoy.

[[ Sound familiar? Perhaps it's because last year I wrote a post on Preakness 2013. You can check it out here :) ]]

Here are some of the pics I took at Preakness this past weekend:

Selfie on the way to the races

Another, because... because.

My hat for the day!

Some friends we made on the infield

Some friends we made inside

We really liked his pants

Blue and yellow

Clydesdales

Mallory was my date for the day :)

Racing right in front of us!

Setting up for the Preakness

Our seats were so close to the starting gates!

Everyone was ready for the final race!

Want to Get Jessed Up?

Dress: Jessica Simpson, Nordstrom, $98

Wedges: Target, Similar $29.99

Sandals: Jack Rogers. $110

Hat: Walmart (Came in a pack of two for $7-- such a steal!) Similar, $8

Beautiful weather and good friends made for a wonderful weekend! How was yours?!

flower power

"She wore flowers in her hair and carried magic secrets in her eyes."
-Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things

It was absolutely perfect weather yesterday for Mother's Day. After brunch, I went over to a local park to walk around and soak in the sun... and it happened to be a good spot for a couple blog photos!

I'm really getting into the flower headband trend. I know that's all it is-- a trend-- but even still, I've jumped aboard the bandwagon. I picked up this daisy headband at Target.

Want to Get Jessed Up?

Headband: Target, $5.99

Dress: Old Navy, Similar $36.94

Sandals: Nine West, Similar $49.99

More flower headbands:

Target, $5.99

Francesca's, $14

Francesca's, $14

Nordstrom, $22

Forever 21, $5.80

Forever 21, $3.80

Urban Outfitters, $20

Urban Outfitters, $16

Yellowberry: Bras for the barely there blossomers

She is one smart chica.

All it took was one failed bra shopping trip with her 13-year-old sister for Megan Grassel (18-years-old) to create a Kickstarter campaign, solidify an idea, and start a company that is quickly revolutionizing the way 11-15 year olds shop for lingerie. Just check out the press she's already received.

Gone are the days of over-sexualized, animal print, push-up bras for your 12-year-old daughter. Now, there is an alternative.

Enter Yellowberry.

A bra brand that help teens and young girls feel confident in whatever they choose to wear. Megan's mission for the brand is simple, straightforward, and IMO, brilliant. She strives to "build a bra that is unique, colorful, and young made for all girls who love and enjoy their youthful, yellow stages in life." Each bra comes with a little note of wisdom attached to the tag such as "Go barefoot," "Water the flowers everyday," and "Campfires are rare: eat as many marshmallows as you can" just to name a few.

As a girl who blossomed early, this would have really benefitted me. Trying to find bras that were age-appropriate, comfortable, and not obviously/embarrassingly "training-bras" was tough. With Yellowberry, Megan has definitely found a nitch that needs her.

In a video interview featured on the company's website, Megan explains how she came up with the name Yellowberry:

"If you look at a berry, or at a fruit, before it's fully ripened, its just this yellow berry, and you can't rush those stages. But for a girl, those yellow stages are our teenage years when you're growing up and becoming a woman. That's what makes you who you are. That's what Yellowberry is about."

Girls can choose between several bra styles and colors, including Budding Berry, Bug Bite, Tiny Teton, and Tweetheart (snapshots of the bras are below).

I'm really digging this idea, and I can't wait to see how far Yellowberry goes. I think it's going to be cool to see how Megan and Yellowberry impact the bra industry. I'll follow up with this, and keep you guys posted!

friday snapshots

Some random snapshots I captured throughout the week... all the things that made me smile!

Happy weekend, y'all!

a casual drive, sunroof open, windows down.

iced vanilla macchiato = heaven in a cup

white denim (it's never too early) and sandals. Spring is finally here.

my little man, Bruiser, in all his roly-poly glory

Spring is in the air!

"She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
'Winter is Dead.'"
-A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young

No outfit post is complete without a selfie :)

This shirt/sweater duo is gearing up to be one of my favorite outfits for Spring. The floral print paired with the bright cardi is as easy-breezy as it gets. Colorful, feminine, and effortless.

Want to Get Jessed Up? 

Floating-Floral Cotton Shirt c/o Talbots, $69.50

V-Neck Cardigan c/o Talbots, $79.50

Wedges, Franco Sarto, $59.95

Local Event: Fashion Truck Gathering!

To my local Maryland readers - this post is for you!

I recently found out about this event and wanted to give you guys a heads up:

You know food truck gatherings? Think that, but swap food for fashion.

On Saturday, April 26th, from 12:00 - 6:00 pm, Baltimore's first accessories-only mobile boutique, Side Dish, will host its first outdoor fashion event, Boulevard of Chic. This will be the first of its kind: a fashion truck rally. Count. Me. In.

Here's the scoop: The Boulevard of Chic is more than just a reason to shop. It's a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit that has seeped it's way into mobile retail. Its mission is to bring savvy biz owners together and promote a "shop local" spirit. There's going to be bunch of different mobile boutiques, including fashion retailers and one-stop mobile beauty shops. Some of the vendors include Urban Pearl, Curvy Chix Chariot, Side Dish, and Loving My Lashes. More info on the fashion trucks in attendance can be found here.

And of course, as with any good truck gathering, there will be local food trucks in attendance. WIN.

P.S. Doing Good Never Looked So Good
There's a raffle! Enter the Boulevard of Chic raffle for a chance to win gifts from each of the vendors. The combined prize value is over $500, and proceeds from the ticket sales go to the MD SPCA, a non-profit organization improving the lives of pets and people in the Maryland community. More info here.

Again:
Saturday, April 26th
12 - 6 pm.
1220 Key Highway
Baltimore, MD 21230

Doesn't this sound like a fun girl's day idea?! I think so. Shop local. Walk around. Eat from a truck. Get beautified. The ideal Saturday afternoon if you ask me. 

Who's in?