(Food For Thought Tuesday: 5 Small Meals}

When you spread your calorie intake into five smaller meals a day, you create a steady stream of energy that can keep you going without that drag you feel in between meals. It can increase your metabolism and help you burn more calories throughout your day keeping your energy levels at a constant, instead of irregular highs and lows. This is because it regulates and stabilizes your blood sugar and insulin levels.

When your blood sugar levels spike, this can signal your body that it’s time to start storing fat and can cause your energy levels to basically crash leaving you tired and ineffective during your day. Switching to five meals a day can even help you lose weight because it can curb your cravings by keeping you full and not thinking about your next meal. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to switch from three meals a day to five meals a day.

Planning is essential to your success. It’s not just about eating five meals a day, it’s about eating the right meals. If you don’t plan ahead, you’re liable to select junk food that really provides empty calories and no real energy benefit. If you’re at work, keep a couple of emergency options in your desk in case you forget to plan appropriately. I'm constantly snacking on mixed nuts, fruits like an apple or a banana that I grab from the fruit vendor on the corner, vegetables like carrots and cucumbers to dip into hummus, or a few chunks of cheese and multi-grain crackers. Again it's all about the planning. 

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Just a little food for thought... 

{Insta-Monday}

Good morning peeps! Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. While it was mad hot out, I had a fantastic weekend - full of relaxation, shopping, and good eats. Here's a little a snapshot for you to enjoy:

- I got some flack from my Cleveland peeps about my hat - and even though I'm an Indians fan at heart, I just had to get this hat!

- I purchased the Cupcakes and Cashmere book this weekend, and I'm not just saying this because I'm a huge fan of her and her blog, but this book is AMAZING!!! It's chugged fun of fashion, food, decor, makeup, entertaining ideas! I honestly feel that it should be more than $19.99! Get.it.

- On Saturday afternoon, while me and my sister was shopping - we had an urge for a beer. Once seeing lots of people in the restaurant with this flight of beer, I had to try it. Come to find out, I'm a huge fan of dark beer - it was definitely one of my favorites!

- Rosemary lemonade at the flea market - sooo refreshing!

- I've posted about these pickle chips before - and at the flea we bought their homemade pickles and dill relish...mm mm mm - so good!

- My sissy Tara - eating some of the best roasted corn we've ever had. It was finished off with butter and cheese - delish!

- I decided to leave the ampersand sign behind this time - but I'll be back to get it!

- Maple cupcakes topped with bacon...need I say more?

- Just a quick glimpse at my finds (and piece of local art from an artist in Brooklyn, a handmade pillow full of color for the living room, and a gold letter J brooch). Stay tuned for full pics of these items once we get the living room fully together - it won't be long!

Enjoy your Monday loves!

{TGIF Peeps!!!}

How many of you are doing the happy dance this morning??? One because Gabby Douglas won GOLD last night...and because today is Friday!!! Woot woot, it's Friday, woot woot, it's Friday. I'm glad you can't see my happy dance, lol!! So on to the weekend plans... I'm still looking for comfy shoes, and I need a new pair of jeans, so surprise surprise - I'll be doing some shopping. I also plan to get some exercise in by walk/running along the Hudson, and then treating myself to some good eats and drinks. Sunday - I'm planning on going to the Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg to hopefully pick up a few finds to warm up our apartment a little. When I moved, as you know, I literally sold everything I owned - now I'm being very picky about what I bring into the house - making sure everything has a place and purpose. Other than what I've mentioned, I plan to enjoy the Olympics and get some relaxation in. What about you?

 

- Love this feature - 20 fashion essentials from the Every Girl...to get by and to invest...

- I'll be looking for brooches at the Flea to pull off this look...

- What to pack for the various trips you go on...work, the city break, the beach...love it

- How to build a bar...we are working to build ours...

- Blogging as a career - I would love to be able to do this, to have the time to do it...remember my post from yesterday? Wheels are turning...

Enjoy your weekend Peeps!

{What You Do Today}

I found this quote over on Pinterest yesterday, and it really couldn't have come at a better time. Do you ever feel like you wake up every morning, perform your usual morning routine, rush out the door to join the rat race, complete tasks that you probably wouldn't do if your paycheck didn't rely on it, and then ask yourself "for what"? Is what you do every day something that you are passionate about? Is what you do every day something that you are ok using up one of the days of your life for? This quote  really has put things into perspective for me. 

If what you're doing isn't challenging you, isn't speaking to you, isn't motivating, isn't helping you grow...change it, do something different, follow your passion....only you can do it {as I speak to myself}.

{Creme de la Creme}

Morning Peeps!!! Let me first apologize for my lack of posting over the last week. Things have been a bit hectic at work and other than sleep, I really haven't had time to do much of anything else. THANK YOU for your emails hoping that everything was ok with me - I really appreciate the support.

Last night while watching the Olympics (WOOHOOO GO USA!!!!) I was able to catch up on some of my favorite bloggers and fell in love with this super casual-chic look that Blair over at Atlantic-Pacific put together. Immediately I clicked on the link of where to purchase the sweatshirt and to my surprise it is $160 and sold out - wow guess there's lots of people eager to purchase $160 sweatshirts out there. To my disappointment I've decided that I'm going to have a Creme de la Creme sweatshirt - and I'm going to make it myself. 

Project Project Project! All I'll need is a gray sweatshirt, some iron-on black letters and just a little patience to ensure I line up the letters just right. Pair it with some boyfriend jeans and the perfect leopard pump - I'll be ready to hit the flea markets on a Saturday afternoon. You like?