TYT

A Day at the Mall: Treat yourself Tuesday #23

May 31, 2016 by Alicia Leave a Comment

It has been a good 5 months since I have done a Treat Yourself Tuesday post. I have definitely been treating myself during those months. I seem to be buying more clothes than I used to, but considering I would go months without buying clothes and my current ones are getting worn, it was needed. I spent a few hours at the mall on Memorial Day. I wasn’t looking for anything particular, though I am in need of a new purse, but rather we were enjoying browsing the sales. Of course I didn’t find a purse, because when I am searching for something specific, I never find it, but I did find a few other things.

Treat-Yourself-Tuesday-Badge — Thanks Becky

For one, I finally bought myself a lunch bag. I actually can’t recall the last time I had a lunch box of any kind. From elementary school to high school, I would just bring my lunch in a paper bag. In fact, I so believed in saving the environment, I would use that same paper bag for 5 days and throw it out each Friday. That helped me to feel less wasteful. In college when I lived off campus junior year, I would bring my lunch in a paper bag as well. It was easier to squish a paper bag lunch in my backpack than a lunch box.

Since I started working, I have either used a plastic bag, a Lululemon bag or Athleta bag. Even those bags get worn overtime though and I thought it was time to upgrade to a real lunch bag that was big enough to hold my salad container and my water bottle. Thank you Memorial day sales this was about 70% off. I can’t wait to use it daily.

With getting engaged and friends getting engaged and married, I have more parties (baby showers, bridal showers, weddings…) to attend than ever before. Actually compared to some, I really don’t have that many, but I don’t like to wear the same dress to EVERY event. I also have my own engagement photos and bridal shower one day soon, which means more dresses. I pretty much only buy dresses to wear to events, but it is nice to have a couple summery dresses for hot days and also a dress for a pool cover up.

I got one dress from Express. Don’t mind the dressing room photo.

I also found a $6 dress from this British store Primark that is fairly new to the mall. Their stuff is crazy cheap. I think of Forever 21 when I go to the store.

In addition to those treats, there was a cookie that has no picture because it was eaten immediately. Mrs. Fields is the best! Another treat has been the sunshine this past weekend. May has been so rainy and even though it rained Sunday evening, Monday actually turned out to be pretty nice. I love the summer temperatures and wearing shorts again.

Do you enjoy summer dresses?

Relaxation, Sweets and more: Treat Yourself Tuesday #21

November 10, 2015 by Alicia Leave a Comment

Happy Tuesday!! As the title of my post says, I have treated myself with relaxation, sweets and more in the past week. Happy to be linking up with Becky today and share with you how I am treating myself.

Last week, my biggest treat in a while, besides those Lululemon pants last month (which I was living in over the weekend), was getting a massage. I actually bought a package of 3 massages, because the deal was really awesome! I plan to write a separate post on my massage experience, but I will say I am TIGHT! Like everywhere!! Oh and it may not have helped that I did a leg workout including some lunges and squats and upping my weights just 36 hours before my massage, because I was still sore when walking. Though she worked on a lot of the tightness, but suggested since I had the package to come back in 2 weeks so I can get even further relaxed. Yes that’s how tight I am, everywhere! I aim for a massage once a year so it had been 11 months and maybe that was a bit too long… I can say that I did feel better the next day. Usually I am always rubbing my neck and shoulders at my desk at work and I honestly haven’t felt much of a need to do that since Thursday so that must be a good sign.

In addition to the massage, I treated myself with some sweets…of the ginger and peppermint variety. Sorry, but I’m kind of over pumpkin except for the piece of pumpkin pie I plan to eat at Thanksgiving, but I’m moving onto peppermint and all the gingerbread treats now.

I was sooo excited when I found this peanut butter at Wegmans!! It’s gingery but tasty and good on apples. I thought the combo might be weird with the flavor, but it’s pretty good. And I love peppermint bark which is what this Theo chocolate peppermint stick reminds me of

and a ginger cookie from Whole Foods when I went there on Friday.

Now onto the books…

I finished this in 3 days and loved it! Plus there are some delicious recipes at the end, for breakfast, lunch or dinner and some chocolate treats.

I just received my Yoga Anatomy book in the mail as I want to learn more about the anatomy of poses. Studying yoga anatomy may not seem like a treat, but it is for me as it is something I really want to work on and learn about. Plus after being out of school for 3 years, sometimes I miss the learning and studying, but it’s nice not to have any tests.

It was also a treat to attend the yoga workshop I mentioned yesterday, on Saturday and I am signed up for a backbend workshop this Saturday that I am really excited for.

Fun fact: the only workshop I did before taking yoga teacher training was a backbend workshop in Chicago back in 2013. It was super challenging, but fun and I learned a lot.

I have heard great things about the teacher for Saturday’s workshop and since I missed his backbend workshop last year when he was in town, I am looking forward to seeing what he will teach me and to learn more about deepening my backbends.

Well that’s all for my recent treats! I am definitely learning to take some more time for myself and focus on things that make me happy, like a chocolate bar or taking a yoga workshop 🙂

Hope you have a fabulous Tuesday!!

Shopping Spree: Treat Yourself Tuesday #20

October 6, 2015 by Alicia Leave a Comment

Happy Tuesday!! Slowly moving through the week…but I have some treats from the weekend I have to share with you. These helped to cheer me up at least while we had rain and wind from the hurricane coming up the East coast.

With the weather, Saturday was a good time to hit up the mall. But first, Saturday morning I headed to a yoga class at Bloomingdale’s to benefit cancer. Since October is breast cancer awareness month I always try to participate or donate in some way this month each year. Usually I get a pink hair extension but haven’t found a hair salon around Philadelphia that does it.

I always think it is so cool to be in a store before it opens. Great yoga class, though I was glad I brought my own mat, because these ones were thin and slippery, but a good light mat to carry or for travel.

After yoga, I drove back home. I actually was such in a hurry I forgot my phone and all my tires needed to be filled that morning so I was a little worried to be without my phone. At least I had my ipad, but made it home safe. I think due to the temperatures dropping from 70 to 50 overnight, my tires needed air. I am counting down until I can change to my winter tires because those seem to do better with holding air in them…

After I made it home safely, I dropped off my things and headed to the Cherry Hill mall since it is basically across the street from Wegmans and I just felt like shopping (which is rare for me). I walked into the mall and saw the GNC store and I was so excited because I wanted to try the new Quest bars. I also picked up a couple Combat Crunch bars (notice the bottom one is just an empty wrapper…that was my lunch). The bars were buy 3 get 1 free by the way until Nov 2 I think. I heard about the Combat Crunch bars from Ali, Fit Girl Moves in one of her youtube videos. They were good by the way and so are the Quest Pumpkin pie.

I then was just walking around the mall, not really looking for anything specific. I stopped in Gap Body and found a good workout shirt on sale, so I bought that.

Then I found the Lululemon store. I walked in and thought, you know, why not try on some wunder unders? I actually don’t own any clothes from Lululemon even though I have walked into the store admiring the clothes so many times. My main pair of leggings are wearing out though after 5 years and so it was time for some new ones, so I treated myself to a pair of black polka dot ones. With winter around the corner, I need to keep warm to continue my 5am workouts. I know that these will get some good use!

Of course I had already spent so much money thanks to my Lululemon purchase, but why not walk into Macys?! I really needed some PJ pants and a few years ago I got a pair at Macys that I loved, however I have been unable to find them again. Well I found a pair that came pretty close and they were actually 40% off, because when does Macys NOT have a sale? The woman at the register also tried to give me more discounts but they didn’t have any coupons at the register for that day, but that was ok as they were reasonably priced after the 40% off.

So I think I’m set on clothes until next year… HAHA. But really, I rarely buy clothes and when I do, I never really plan on what I’m getting. These were all items I needed and know I will get good use from since they are actually replacing my clothes that are wearing out.

Over the weekend I turned on my heat for the first time…getting so cold and it’s only 55 degrees outside…

With the temperatures dropping, I don’t have to worry as much about using the oven because it helps to heat up the apartment and that’s what I want right now. I had to try Julie’s cupcake recipe! Luckily I found Spice Cake Mix at Target. I couldn’t find it at the grocery store. Oh man these were sooo delicious! With or without frosting, really good. I may have eaten 3 on Sunday…good thing I brought 6 to work so I wouldn’t eat the whole dozen.

I had so much downtime with being stuck inside over the weekend, though the sun did finally come out on Sunday for a bit, which I was happy about. I was able to spend some time reading, watching Netflix and cooking. I was also practicing my headstand. Yay for middle of the room practice, just need to get my legs a bit straighter over my head.

That’s all for the treats today. Hope you guys are having a good week so far.

Treat Yourself Tuesday #19

September 8, 2015 by Alicia 2 Comments

It’s been almost 2 months since my last Treat Yourself Tuesday post. Of course a great treat this past week was having a 3 day weekend. Now, unfortunately, we are back to reality for 4 days, which is better than 5 at least and then I am off on vacation next week, which is the treat of the year for me! After that, I have to start thinking of vacations for next year, but need to save up some money first and figure out some other things first.

Treats this week included sun time, yoga, and a few things for vacation. Thank you Becky for the link up.

First up, a new coloring book and some electrolytes. Weird combination I know, but Amazon shopping can do that…I tried the Vega sport at Glow Retreat and I really like to drink these after a workout.

Secret Garden was the popular coloring book I first heard about when adult coloring books were getting popular and I saw it was back in stock when I ordered it for my sister last month and decided I wanted something more fun with different pictures to color.

Of course when you get a new coloring book that leaves a bunch of open space, you need to treat yourself to a couple thin markers to doodle your own drawings.

I also got some new protein snack bars to try (yupbrands.com) . I saw them on Kasey’s (Powercakes) instagram and periscope and youtube channel. She talks about them a lot, but for good reason. They are tasty!

I was planning to save all of them for vacation, but while doing the clean eating challenge last week, I baked the sugar cookie flavor and it was sooo good.

This weekend was filled with gym time and pool time, which meant lots of sun time that I love!! I’ve definitely gone through a few bottles of sunscreen all on my own this summer. I look so pale, but this is tan for me haha.

I also enjoyed some yoga time outside.

I tried to enjoy a meal outside yesterday while listening to Heather‘s periscope…this lasted about 2 minutes before a bee came over and was really interested in my honey ham…

…at least I still enjoyed having the patio door open with the screen shut and feeling the light breeze, even if that combined with baking brought the apartment temp over 80 degrees. I like it warm anyway, at least until bedtime.

About that baking, I whipped up some black bean brownies (thanks to Becky making these last weekend and putting them up on Facebook, I had to try them). Bringing some to work today to see who I can trick 😉

And there was more cooking, the chicken was prepared over the weekend but finally made the bruschetta topping. Recipe here.

Workouts, good eats, coloring, what more could you want? If only this was my life everyday! Back to work today, but still trying to eat clean and avoid all the sugary treats at work. Hope you all have a good day too!

Did you cook anything over Labor Day?

What is your ideal day?

I think ending my day with the chicken bruschetta and another black bean brownie was good.

My ideal day is going to the gym to work up a sweat, cooking some delicious eats and spending time outside.