Payless is not a shoe store I go to often, but every once in awhile I check out what they’ve got. Especially more often now since some of my favorite bloggers are spotted sportin’ some Payless shoes. I did a little peeking last night online and found what I searched for all last winter…lace up oxford style heels!!! I’m so excited. I went up to my Payless at lunch today and they were on sale which makes me even happier!
Can’t wait to wear them this fall!
Never thought I would say this, but I’ll be kinda sad to see summer go. Your response to that would be, WHAT??? That’s right, I hate summer, I hate the humidity, the heat, the bugs, etc… I’m a winter girl. I love everything about the cold. But this summer I fell in love with my wardrobe and that’s a first for the summertime part of my closet. I usually wear my summer clothes begrudgingly and dream of a colder day ahead. But not this year. I love all my bright colors and snub my usual uniform of black and grays. What I do love about the end of summer approaching is all the great sales. My bank account doesn’t love it but I do! I’ve also developed a love hate relationship with Loft, it’s played with my emotions these last few weeks with great sales without my size available but then I find that one little gem that makes me love them all over again.
It’s funny to think that even though its still 90+ degrees outside that the fall collections in most stores are slowly creeping in to the summer leftovers. I still have a few more items on my summer wish list before I can switch gears and start looking at boots, jeans, sweaters, etc…
Yellow Shirt – feel like I’ll never find this. Whenever I do happen to find a Yellow shirt in any store my experience has been one of these three obstacles. 1. only yellow top left is an XL 2. it’s completely see through 3. I’m in the checkout line and notice a big black mark on the back of it and it’s the only yellow shirt in the whole store!
Coral Cardigan – don’t know why I became obsessed with a coral colored cardigan but I must have one.
Bright Summer color bathing suit – turquoise, pink, orange, red, any shade that isn’t black or olive, which are the two colors I currently own.
Summer Hat – just looking for a simple straw hat to wear to the beach or pool that doesn’t make me look like a farmer, is that too much to ask?
Pleated skirt – red or a light pink is preferred. I haven’t come across any pleated skirts in my normal shopping routes. I’m going to have to branch out and try other stores.
Colored Pencil Skirts – still coveting the J.Crew pencil skirts, love them!!!
As I slowly switch gears into planning what to buy for the fall and winter, I am excited about shoe shopping again!!! I had so many shoes on my winter wish list left over that I can’t wait to pick up where I left off.
I’m so happy that all my good examples of eating healthy is finally rubbing off on others, well mainly one other person. Boyfriend calls today and asks “Is Beef Jerky ok to eat?” To my surprise he took the time to think about what he ate and to my surprise Beef Jerky is an ok snack to have if you are trying to lose weight. According to Men’s Health magazine that is. My quick Google search led me to find out that not only is Beef Jerky and ok snack but it’s often misunderstood. It’s high in protein and will not raise your insulin levels. And not only should you consume .36g of protein per 1lb of body weight, but 1 ounce of Beef Jerky contains 11g protein, 70 calories and only 1g fat. However I did read that you should try and find a lower sodium Jerky or a lean meat Jerky, which usually means don’t buy it at the 7-11 but go to your nearest whole foods market. I also found out that increased insulin levels will tell your body to store fat!!!
So here is your Biology Lesson for the day:
Fat does not make you fat. Carbs make you fat. So what happens when we eat too much carbs? Our body takes in carbs and converts it to glucose through the liver. The liver stores the carbs as glycogen but has a limited capacity in how much it can store. Which is approximately 60 to 90 grams in other words 2 cups of cooked pasta. Once your Liver reaches their limits the excess carbs end up as excess fat. As you eat high carb foods the rapid rise in blood glucose will tell the pancreas to secrete insulin. Insulin is a storage hormone, which saves away your excess carbs in the form of fat for that future famine you may encounter. So a high carb diet tells the body to STORE FAT!!! You think that sounds bad, I then read this: Not only do the increased levels of insulin tell the body to store carbs as fat, they also tell it not to release any stored fat, making it impossible to use your own stored body fat for energy. EXCESS CARBS NOT ONLY MAKE YOU FAT THEY MAKE YOU STAY FAT!!! I’m really going to think twice before I stuff my face with pasta and bread.
Back to why protein – Beef Jerky – doesn’t raise insulin levels: Protein is an amino acid which provides cells with the building material they need to grow and maintain their structure and Carbs provide cells with energy. Ingesting protein also causes the release of insulin but also the release of glucagon. Glucagon stimulates the release of glucose from the liver to the blood stream which pretty much means it moves the fat out of its storage unit. Glucagon also suppresses insulin.
Bottom line: glucagon and insulin do opposite things and therefore proteins and carbs do opposite things to your body. High levels of insulin/carbs can lead to obesity.
When you are about to consume your excess amount of pasta, bread, your favorite baked good, remember this line from my favorite TV show Friends: “A moment on the lips, forever on the hips” and now we know why!
Ann Taylor & Ann Taylor Loft - 30% off Friends & Family starts 8/2 thru Sunday - let me know if you need a coupon, I’ll forward it to you.
Target – Spend $75 on Clothing, Shoes & Accessories get 20% off online only! (don’t forget AAA members get an extra 10% off when you log on through their site)
Banana Republic – 25% off your entire purchase now thru 8/3 – use code BRAUG25
HAPPY SHOPPING!!!
I’ve been obsessed with the color blue this summer. I’ve bought several different blue striped shirts in the last few months. You may ask how does one own several different blue striped shirts aren’t they all the same? Well each shirt has a different shade of blue and width of stripe and it makes the world of difference when pairing together outfits. Not to mention the purchase of different shades of blue of solid color tees too that entered my closet this summer. So one may say this is my blue period. Still deeply immersed in the arms of blue, it’s no surprise I fell in love with this this top from Loft. I first laid eyes on this beauty in February when Kendi wore it in an outfit post here. Unfortunately it was no where to be found at that time. But last week I saw Loft brought it back and I knew I had to have it. I ran to my loft the next day on my lunch break and they didn’t have it, not a one. I checked online and to my delight there was my size. I added it to my shopping cart and went to see how much I had to put in my cart to get free shipping. WHAT no free shipping? Loft always has free shipping if you spend $100 or $125. But of course the one time I want to order something I have to spend $9.95. I hesitated and now my size is no more. Now that there is free shipping I have nothing to order. The troubles I have in life. Yes I know there are way more important things to worry myself about and I will gain some perspective tomorrow. But right now I’m blue over this top.
I’ve decided to start sharing all the outfits I love for the week. I see so many outfits on the blogs I follow, some I like some I don’t. I keep a little look book folder on my computer to refer to when ever I feel stuck. Those times I stare at all my clothes and irrationally believe I have nothing to wear. I can then flip through my saved look book and the creativity juices start flowing again. May sound a little neurotic to put so much stock in what I wear each day, but that’s me, I guess I’m a little neurotic. So each week (if I remember) I’ll share my favorite outfits that I find and let you know the ones that add inspiration to my closet.
Last week I was I drew upon these great looks and recreated them with my wardrobe:
Here are some other outfits that inspired me to copy one day:
Had a good Saturday. Started off early at the gym and then to get my hair cut. Had a nice afternoon in Winter Park with my boyfriend. We ate lunch, did some shopping and went in saw one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in awhile. CRAZY STUPID LOVE. Go see it! It just came out this weekend. Steve Carell is great as always, but Ryan Gosling really through me through a loop, I haven’t liked him since The Notebook, but I have found a new respect for him after this movie. He’s FUNNY, who knew!
I follow so many lovely bloggers and get so many fashion ideas from them. One that I love to follow is Cori at La Vie Petite, check her out! She is absolutely adorable and has the cutest little family, not to mention a fun fashion sense. Plus she is vertically challenged like myself which makes it more relatable in what clothes will flatter more petite girls like ourselves. Oh and she can sew, which makes me totally envious of her. She is going to give away this custom made skirt in Navy, Red or Kelly Green. I sure hope I’m the lucky reader, because I would love this skirt in Kelly Green. 
Here are some more great outfit posts by Cori.
The day has finally arrived. The day my birthday gift from my boyfriend got here. Super excited about it. Isn’t it so pretty!!!
Can’t wait to wear it. It’s a lovely upgrade from the $9 Target watch I’ve been sporting around.
