Jam of the Week

Love Interruption + Jack White

Well we can stop mourning the death of The White Stripes!

Jack finally got around to this.

Album is set to release on April 24th but here's a little taste:

Enjoy!

Friday Faves

1 | Clinique Youth Surge

This stuff is amazing! I've been a long-time fan
of Clinique's skincare line and this quickly became a fave.
You can't top waking up with velvety skin each morning.
Goodbye winter flakes!

2 | Cardio Theater

via

The best thing about my new gym is watching
movies while I sweat. The range of movies is great -
one day I'm watching a rom-com and the next we've
got old school James Bond.

3 | The Barr Brothers





Love these guys! Also check out this out.


4 | Morning Parfaits

via


Current mix: plain yogurt mixed with a splash of
honey, vanilla granola and craisins. Good stuff!

5 | Words



via


What are you faving right now? 

Channeling Martha

I have been in a crafty mood lately, constantly perusing the
webs for something fun that I can actually use. 
I settled on 3 fairly simple projects and set a goal
to finish them before February disappears. 


Dog Bed on Wheels

via

The browndogs will love it! We'll probably make it

a bit larger to accomodate both. Thankfully, they like to cuddle.

I like this design because we can roll it out of the way when

needed. And hopefully it will cut down on the amount

of hair that burrows into our rugs. 

Might have to bring the handy-dandy husband into

the mix on this one. I am not to be trusted with power tools.

Circle Scarf

via

I have talked about this before and

it's high time I dust off the sewing machine

and make my own. Even though I failed

sewing class, I'm thinking this will be easy.

Door Candy

via


This guy can be made in minutes.
And I think it's kind of Kate Spade-ish.


Anyone else channeling their inner Martha?

Jam of the Week

Sunshine + Atmosphere

 

It is GORGE outside today!

view from my office

A warm 75 degrees and blue sky.

And it's January.

I love Alabama weather!

-- A

Click Here

1 | Alabama Tourism recently launched

The Year of Alabama Food campaign. I'm hoping to make

my way through the recipe list starting with my fave dish

at one of my most fave local eateries.

2 | I really like WhitneyK's Lessons Learned idea.

I could definitely benefit from writing down my own lessons.

3 | Jen is hosting a great giveaway that includes

her amazing baked goods. She's a fantastic baker!

Years ago, we worked together and she would

frequently treat us at team meetings with

goodies from her kitchen!

What are some of your favorite links?

Sleep Deprived

I am dying to pull those drapes and jump into this biscuit right now:

elle decor

I am one step from being a complete zombie.

We were awakened at 2:30am to the sound of

weather sirens going off in our neighborhood.

Lucky us, there's one about 30 yards from our back door.

The outskirts of Birmingham were hit with tornados and

straight-line winds throughout the early hours of the morning.

We are fine, other than being exhausted from the anxiety

of waiting out a storm. I think I fell back asleep

around 6am. Just in time to start getting ready for work...

Hope everyone is having a pleasant Monday.

Please keep our storm victims in your thoughts!

Jam of the Week

This jam goes out to Etta James.

R.I.P. 

1 | 20 | 2012

You'll be missed!

Reduced Fat

This is exactly how I felt during my orientation at my new gym.

I signed up a few days after Christmas and was introduced

to my  personal trainer. Her name is Chris and she wasted

no time getting to the humiliation round. While she recorded

the bazillion inches that surround my thighs, tummy, arms,

and - worst of all - booty, I fought back tears. As this was going on,

I literally saw images of what had been comforting me for so long -

cheese, good wine, and anything that ends with "casserole". 

Then I stepped on the scale. 

What the What?! 

I was convinced it was wrong.

By about 20 lbs.

I also filled out a questionnaire about eating habits and my

daily routine. Another shocker. I was consuming repetitive foods

(insert any of the comforts above) and a lot of empty calories. 

My new job is also a culprit. I sit at my desk all day, only getting up

for meetings and the occasional jaunt to the copy machine.

At the ad agency, I ran around all the time so going from fairly

active during workdays to sitting on my rear for

8 hours 5 days a week hasn't been ideal.

But maybe the worst of it all was the last

question that Chris threw at me:

Why do you think you let this happen?

My answer:

Brutal side effects of infertility drugs combined

with frequent pity parties and laziness.

So we worked out a plan: 

- I work out with Chris one day a week, alone 4 days a week

- 5 days of cardio

- 3 of those days I do the strength circuit she created

- follow my Weight Watchers plan & increase H2O intake

- stop feeling like a major failure

I also posted this helpful guide to my bathroom mirror

to serve as a morning reminder of my new rules.

found here

I like lists and this one is easy to understand.

So far, I've lost 7 lbs though most of that is due to being so sick.

I'm finally on the mend which means I'm craving food again

so I don't expect another big drop!

I know over time I have whined posted about needing

to get fit and I've made several honest attempts to achieve my goal

and find happiness with myself. But nothing seems to stick.

After reading Bailey's posts from yesterday and today,

I feel really motivated. I'll be "weighing in" on her blog on Friday's

and plan to do the same on here. While I'm not going to post my

goal weight, I do plan on reporting back with progress updates.

I'm not asking for cheerleaders but I do welcome healthy tips!

Happy Friday! I'm off to refill my water bucket.

64oz down, 64 to go!

Happy Birthday, Betty!

Today is my favorite golden girl's birthday.

I hope to be as young, energetic and full of life

as she is when I'm 90 years old.

Stay golden, Betts!

-- A

Dear Followers,

via

You can now find me at 

onehotmessblog.com

-- A

Warmer Days

It's in the 30s today in Alabama and

all I can think about is warm weather.

Which I'll probably get next week!

No seriously, it was in the 70s on New Years Day.

70s.

Alabama weather is so schizophrenic.

Any given day in the first few months of the year, 

it can be snowing at dawn then hot enough

to melt your lipstick by noon.

We call this Spring.

And Madewell's Spring Collection has me craving warmer days!

I like to call this one the "Elaine Benes".

May your weekend be warm and sunny!

-- A

MOONRISE KINGDOM

Good news fellow Wes Anderson groupies! 

The following film is coming soon to a theater near you:

“Wes Anderson doesn’t make movies, he makes worlds.” - Elle

-- A

Jam of the Week

Since I've been down with the sickness, I have logged

an abundance of TV hours. The codeine haze and lack

of energy made doing anything requiring a vertical

stance impossible. And when all you can do is lie in

suffering, cursing the germs inhabiting your body,

a good Keanu flick is in order. 

Let's be real. There's only one.

Yep, Point Break.

So enjoy this jam that may or may not have

anything to do with the football star turned surfing FBI agent.

   Futurebirds- Johnny Utah 

Vaya con Dios, Brah.

-- A

Laissez les bons temps rouler... TIDE!

We did it!

Bama is back on top and all is right again.

all images via

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

-- A

Roll Tide, Ya'll

Well HELLO!! I am way overdue for a post but life

has gotten in the way of social interaction on the interwebs.

I came down with the sickness last week which took a turn

for the worse over the weekend. But I have been working on

a few fun posts including one for today that is now useless.

In case you haven't heard,

there's a game being played in New Orleans tonight.

We had planned a fun viewing party with the few friends we

have in town that also decided not to make the trek down to NOLA.

Sadly, I just had to cancel the shindig due to contagion. 

Looks like it's going to be jambalaya and beignets for two tonight. 

I'll be back soon. And hopefully beaming from a big win! 

Roll Tide, ya'll. Let's get 14!

-- A