Day 1

Today is day one and I'm feeling pretty good about this year's Action Plan!

I spent the holiday weekend doing home improvements with my Dad, okay, my Dad did the home improvements and I helped. But it was a really busy weekend, I ended up running out of time and not getting to some things that I wanted to. Like, grilling some chicken. So I'm sans salad today, but I think I'll survive.

On the menu for Day 1 is, the Antioxidant Smoothie which will make two meals, a green apple with almond butter, a couple of Cuties and some unsalted cashews/almonds with dried cranberries. I'll round out today with some Jamba Juice for dinner.

I'm meeting a long-time friend who recently accepted a position with Channel 7 here in Denver after work and I so smartly suggested we go to Jamba Juice. After browsing the menu, I think I'm going to either have the Berry UpBeet or the Orange Carrot Karma.

I'm feeling a little slow today without my daily coffee, but I'm hoping by week's end that the cloud will be lifted and I will wake up easier and more energized.

After today, only 27 days to go!

The Year of the Dragon

2012 will begin with me committing to the Whole Living 28-Day Action Plan . I did it last year and loved the results.




While I'm really looking forwarding to challenging my mind and body again, I am a little nervous. This year's challenge looks like it could be difficult. For starters, I don't have a juicer and don't want to get one just for a month, so I'm going to revert back to the 2011 plan and utilize the smoothie recipes. I also think I like some of the 2011 recipes better, so I'm going to do a combo of the 2011-2012 plans. I'm not sure about some of those breakfast recipes and think I'll be sticking with smoothies and whole grain English muffins :).

I'm most excited about clearing my head, cleansing my body from the inside out and giving caffeine a break. Last year's plan made me feel wonderful and after all the sweet treats and overindulging I've done this holiday season, my body can use a break!

I'll be blogging daily about this again, like last year. I actually think it's what helped me stay focused and complete the plan.

Feel free to join me and if you do, please let me know. They say it's easier with a friend and I agree...so let's do it together!

I'll Just Call This Number 9

While number 9 on my 30 Before 30 list is to make an entire Ina Garten meal, I'm going to go ahead and count Thanksgiving 2011 as that and cross it off my list.

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving 2011 was the first time I've ever made this holiday meal all alone. I had been dreading this for weeks, but it turned out okay. This year it was just me and my Dad and I cooked WAY too much! I think timing everything out is the hardest part and if I hadn't had to make those damn crescent rolls for my Dad, he special requested them so don't ask, then I think the marshmellows on the sweet potatoes would have been better.

The menu was:

• Turkey, of course, with gravy
• Stuffing
• Cranberry Sauce
• Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Bacon
• Salad with Denver Botanic Gardens Thyme, Lemon and Raspberry Vinegar
• Crescent Rolls
• Sweet Potatoes with Marshmellows

I'll be eating turkey and all the trimmings for a while, but I have found some pretty good looking leftover recipes from who else, but Martha!

I had a pretty great Thanksgiving with my Dad, I hope you were able to spend the holiday with the ones you love most.

Number 7

Number 7 was to get a hot stone massage which I gladly did and loved every single moment. My sister and I spent a weekend at the Brown Palace in Denver and while there we took full advantage of their spa services.
While I thought it would be a little strange staying in a hotel in Denver, the city I live, it was not at all. It may have been because it's super nice or that I think they had scented air pumping through the vents. Either way, it was wonderful and I loved every minute of it!

I can't believe I hadn't gotten a stone massage before now and I will never wait so long to get another. It was absolutely the best massage I've ever had. The only complaint I had was the music. It sounded like I was lying face down in a bird sanctuary. Not Cool! I did ask that it be changed to something without birds, but every track on his CD had some sort of chirping.

Only a few more months until I'm 30... I better get working on this list!

Number 29!

While I hadn't intended on being so drastic with Number 29 on my 30 Before 30 list, I have to admit my new hairstyle is growing on me, haha!

The girl I've been going to for the past two years to get my hair cut is on maternity leave so I had to go to someone I've never met before...SCARY! However, my sister went to the same girl and loved her. This took away some anxiety and I was actually looking forward to the trim.

Well, it didn't go near as well as I'd hoped and although she said she linstened to me, it's pretty evident with the final result that she did not. While I'm not happy with it, I don't feel near the amount of resentment towards the fill-in hairstylist that I did the morning after it was cut. And, honestly, it's just hair and it will grow back so I need to stop being such a big baby!

I recently joined Pinterest and found The Small Things Blog. It's where I saw the way I wanted to try wearing my hair, only longer. But the cut I got ended up getting it's pretty close to the picture here. I do like it, but I would have liked it better if it was how I described it. But like I said above, it will grow!

Tell me what you think...but only if it's a compliment!



The Before Pic taken in my car right before going in




The After Pic the morning after in my bathroom



"you're the one that I want" cover by The Lennings

Nothing can really replace the original and I still see Danny dropping to his knees when Sandy appears in her black and red outfit, however I really love this version too!

Happenings and New Music

I've been MIA, but all for a good reason...I got a new job! I'm the new PR Specialist at Bonfils Blood Center in Denver and truly love my position. It's an ideal fit for me and I'm beyond happy!

I will return to regular blogging soon, as I know I only have a few months until I hit the big 3-0 and my 30 Before 30 list isn't quite complete. However, I ran across this song today on twitter and had to share, I love it because it's really different than anything I'm hearing on the radio lately and of course, it's about Elvis...need I say more?!