Back to reality

Welp, I am officially back after an AMAZING weekend in South Beach, Florida. We got back last night around 8, grabbed Whole Foods on the way home and ended our night with an episode of Game of Thrones (PS - does anyone else watch this unbelievable show?? I've been meaning to post about it...I love it). It was pretty nice sleeping in this morning and having a full day to refresh and relax before going back to work tomorrow. I think I may need to start ending all vacations this way. I also went to a hot yoga class this afternoon with my friends Casey and Katie - great start to the week (and also a great way to sweat all that booze and Miami toxins out haha).

I promise to post more details tomorrow, but here are two pics of us cruising around South Beach on Trey's friend's boat on Saturday:

It was ridic - I can't tell you how many times we sang "I'm on a BOAT!" from the SNL skit. And we seriously lucked out with the weather, as it was gorgeous and sunny all weekend. Miss Florida already!!

Current obsession

Pilates Reformer Machine Classes

I've been meaning to post about this for a couple weeks...my friend Katie convinced me to try a Pilates studio in Dallas called Beyond Pilates, and it is AMAZING. I'm not exaggerating when I say I'm addicted. I was super nervous to try a Pilates class that used a "Reformer machine." I mean, hell, look at that thing. It sounds and looks incredibly intimidating. But I love it. I started about a month ago taking one class a week, and it really is incredible. I happen to LOVE the soreness (for days!) that comes with these classes.

It really forces you to focus on your core, which I have always needed a little coaching with. I've done those "15-Minute Abs" classes, but they really don't do that trick. Crunches are great, but using your core to do leg and arm exercises or holding yourself up requires so much more strength than a simple ab work out. I highly recommend you try a class! The only downside is the price tag. Pilates Reformer classes ain't cheap. Best thing to do is buy a package, which lowers the price down a bit, and space out your workouts. I am a big proponent of switching up your workout - probably because I'm so ADD and get bored with the same old routine every day. So I like to mix up my workouts with spinning classes, running, biking, hot yoga, lifting weights and, now, Pilates! Trust me - try it, you will not be disappointed.

Happy Wednesday!

Pictures that make me really happy...

Happy hump day!

My weekend in pictures

As promised....

Friday

Celebrating Hannah's last night out at The Loon (strongest cocktails in Dallas...yeesh)!

Saturday

Jimmy Buffet concert!

Trey, Justin, Molly and I at the concert

All the ladies on the party bus!

Some of the boys - no shirt zone, I guess?

Best dance party I've ever been a part of!

Sunday

Some much-needed caffeine and delicious brunch at Oddfellow's, followed by...



This movie was absolutely HYSTERICAL. I have been wanting to see it forever, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. After the movie, I just kept having random spurts of laughter remembering certain parts of the movie.

Kristin Wiig is the most hilarious person alive...

Hope you enjoyed!

I promise a detailed post is coming tomorrow, but I just had to write a quick "Happy Monday" update to everybody. Weekend was absolutely epic. Had SO much fun celebrating Hannah's last night out on Friday night AND Jimmy Buffet on Saturday. What a blast. Short week coming up since I leave on Thursday for South Beach!!! Wooooo hooo, can't wait.

More details to come tomorrow, but here is a little taste of how the afternoon started on Saturday:

Yep, that is the party bus we took to the concert. It was ridiculous!

FRIDAY!

1. People always tell me I look like Helen Hunt or Britney Spears. Yes, several people have told me this...and as you can see from the photos of me, I look nothing like either of these lovely ladies.

2. Friends don't let friends buy/wear unflattering things and drunk dial ex-flames.

3. A sunny day is perfect for going on a bike ride, having a picnic or laying out in the sun with a great book.

4. My favorite accessory is either my Kate Spade wicker clutch or any of my big gold earrings (I have a lot).

Perfect for the summatime!

5. If I could afford it I would get a pedicure every week. That foot massage is heavenly.

6. The cure for boredom is to read a book...or go for a drive. Something always comes to mind when you're driving.

7. I am currently "in like" with anything white...white dresses, shorts, tops, sunnies. There's something about a white dress that gets me SO excited for the summer!

Yayyy for Thursday

My "take it one step at a time" approach has worked brilliantly this week! I have crossed off almost all of the items on both my "week/work" list and my "weekend/social" list. I gotta give myself a big pat on the back for that because on Monday, I didn't think it was possible haha. Now, all I have to do for the rest of the week is sit back, relax, catch up on emails and prepare for the weekend/next week! It sure is a great feeling.

I'm finally taking T out for his birthday dinner tonight. Yes, I know it's long overdue, but I was doing the 21 Day Eating Challenge, rememmmmber? He was not exactly excited when I started the challenge, but he was a great sport! Letting me celebrate with him 3 weeks late - I gotta say, I probably wouldn't be as kind. Although, sometimes I wish I could celebrate my birthday when it's warm. Let's be honest, for an outdoorsy, loves-the-summer-and-warm-weather kind of girl, February birthdays are not the greatest. Growing up, of course, was never too shabby because winters in Florida could hardly be described as a real "winter." For those of you who live up north and are rolling your eyes because I live in Texas, go ahead and think back to the SuperBowl, which was played in Dallas this year, and all of the ice storms we had. MISerable. I had snow days galore, which had its perks, but there comes a point where you get cabin fever, mmk? I moved to Texas because I thought it was warm...that it had a similar weather pattern as Florida. I was wrong.

Anywhoo, enough about weather. SO birthday dinner is tonight, going away party for my old roomie is tomorrow night (she is moving to Hotlanta for grad school...booooo) and the Jimmy Buffet concert for Trey's birthday is Saturday. Did you catch all that? Busy weekend...I told you a couple weeks ago that I was trying my hardest to try and relax for a couple of weeks until the end of May/summer hit. From here on in, it's insanity. Wish me luck!

Being from Florida, I've been to 5 Jimmy Buffet concerts. Yes, this will be my 6th. Last year, I took T to his first one, and he was flabbergasted by the tailgating. I tell you something, Parrot Heads sure know how to party! Here are a couple photos from last year's concert/what we can expect on Saturday:





Sadly, the only pic I have from tailgating pre-concert is a leetle inappropriate for publishing! Sorry for partying...

What are everyone else's plans this weekend? Is anyone else thrilled that it's Thursday? I couldn't be happier...

Frustrated (!!?!?!)

Do you ever have those days where you just want to SCREAM in frustration? Well, that has been the last two weeks for me. So, my apologies if my posts haven't been warm and fuzzy lately, but I think the worst is over. At least, I did until this week began. In planning my old roommate's going away party on Friday, the boyfriend's birthday party on Saturday, oh and work?, I've started getting the stress bug once again. Why I do this to myself is beyond me....

I know what you are supposed to do in these situations. Take a deep breath, make a check list and just get through each item one by one. Well, I tried that this morning and the list looks like a doodle page. I guess my brain doesn't always work like that. So I've decided that since I have some time before the weekend, for now, I'll focus on work. Thursday and Friday can be the focus for the weekend parties. Sorry, job, you're just going to have to take the backseat then.

Quick update on life: as most of you know, I booked a last minute trip to Florida to visit my family, and I couldn't have asked for a better mini-getaway. Every time I head to Tampa, it's always for a purpose...Christmas, a wedding, Gasparilla, a Gator game, etc. I rarely have made the time to visit for no reason at all. And it was a great feeling to have no plans...to not have to call anyone and say when am I meeting you and where? I got to sleep in my own bed, snuggle with my doggie, drink wine and just catch up with everyone. It was heavenly. I was sad to come back on Sunday but happy to have been refreshed. Call me a baby, but after several consecutive stressful weeks of work/life, going home and seeing my parents is the only real thing that is comforting. Aside from the mini-trip to Florida, I am FINALLY done with my cleanse! Here is a photo of what I drank as my first sip of alcohol in three weeks:


I'm a sucker for Pinot, and this was delicious! Thanks to my sister-in-law, I've been really into Oregon Pinots lately. Highly recommend this one. Anyway...

I'll admit, I obviously couldn't travel to Tampa with my meals for Saturday (which was my last day), so I took the "day" off but made up for it yesterday, and now I have successfully completed the 21 Day Cleanse. Here is what I've taken from it:

1. Eating small, healthy snacks after breakfast and after lunch helps you to feel full all day, thus allowing you to eat a smaller dinner. It also keeps your metabolism active all day, which helps to burn more calories throughout the day. Some snack ideas are an apple with peanut butter, string cheese and a handful of almonds, DIY trail mix, greek yogurt with honey, a slice of wheat toast with peanut butter and honey, etc.

2. Always eat a big breakfast (but not a fatty breakfast) and eat no later than an hour after you wake up. Good choices are oatmeal, whole grain cereals that are low in sugar but high in fiber (note: both of these will keep you full for a long time), egg whites and whole wheat toast, breakfast tacos with corn tortillas, egg whites and low-fat cheese...you get the idea.

3. Don't make drinking coffee every morning a routine...this is a tough one for me, but I'm slowly getting used to it. Three weeks off was good. Everything in moderation ;) I'm going to switch to tea now...any suggestions?

4. Eat your "most healthy" meal at night. Stay away from starchy carbs and fatty meats and focus on lean meats and veggies instead. If you have to have a carb side to go with your meal, try to choose brown rice, parboiled rice, barley or quinoa, which are healthy alternatives to white rice and pasta.

Okay, that's my first and last nutrition post to date, my friends! Hope you learned a little something. Hope everyone has a fantastic week - here's to praying mine gets better. Off to the checklist!

Friday

Well, Blogger is having some serious issues today. I tried several times to get on earlier, and it was frozen. So obnoxious! Anyway, here is the Fill in the Blank Friday for this gorgeous Friday..

1. If I had to use 3 words to describe why I am undoubtedly a Tuttle they would be stubborn, wine-lover and outgoing. I think all of us Tuttles possess all three of these "qualities."

2. Something that happened to me in life that initially seemed bad but turned out to be good was I have two answers to this one. The first is getting suspended from high school my junior year for drinking before a Homecoming dance (yes, I went to one of those strict-as-hell private schools). That sucked...but I wrote my college essay on integrity/telling the truth even though people in my group lied about drinking and got away with it, AND I got into University of Florida! My second answer is moving to Dallas. I initially wasn't too thrilled about leaving Florida - my home of 22 years - but I ended up with a wonderful job (that I'm still at today) and met a really great guy ;)

3. Something I inherited from my mom is her brown eyes and her humor. We laugh and laugh anytime we are together...sometimes about absolutely nothing. It is so fun!

4. Something I inherited from my dad is his nose, height and stubborn-ness. Can't help it.

5. My goal for this summer is to spend time with friends and family, take as many weekend trips as possible (even if it's just to the lake!) and read lots of book.

6. The best thing about this week is that after two highly stressful weeks at work, I am flying home to FLORIDA in 2 hours!! I'm so giddy I can't help it.

7. Something I couldn't give up if I tried is watching movies. I know many people say it's a waste of time, but I enjoy them so much. You get to leave your own world for 2 hours and go somewhere totally different - hilarious, enchanting, romantic, thrilling, terrifying, dramatic, etc. Movies will never get old for me.

Who am I?

Who I Am...

I am...a 25-year-old beach-loving coffee and fun addict

I want...a lot of things! A high salary, a vacation somewhere tropical, a puppy, my own business, a new house, a plan for life. Sadly, none of these "wants" will happen in the near future...sigh

I have...a tendency to say what is on my mind all the time. A blessing and a curse.

I wish...all of my high school and college girl friends lived in the same city as me

I hate...the winter

I fear...death

I hear...the economy is only going to get worse in the next couple of months to a year's time

I search...to renew my faith

I wonder...if I'll be in Texas forever

I regret...not taking little trips here and there to visit old friends. Life is about moments, right Dad?

I love...my family and friends. Don't know what I'd do without them.

I ache...when I have to say goodbye to people.

I always...try to look at the glass half-full

I usually...love to be outside - scratch that, I always.

I am not...a stay-at-home mom type. Sure, I plan to do so when I have babies, but that will not be my only job once they get older.

I dance...at weddings. Gotta have some liquid courage though! I'm not the best dancer.

I sing...all the time. Maybe too much!

I never...get off the phone with my best friends, family & boyfriend without saying "I love you"

I sometimes...think about the future and get anxious.

I cry...at weddings. Can't help it.

I am not always...my happy and outgoing self. It's rare, but I have my days where I just want to be alone.

I lose...interest in movies and books when they don't get to the point sooner than later.

I am confused...by some of the people in Dallas. Who cares what designer you're wearing?

I need...to travel more - specifically to Italy, PRONTO.

I should...probably get back to work now, eh?


Who Are You?

(Post idea from Live What You Love)

Thrilling Tuesday

I am SOOO happy today because I have been wanting a road bike for SO long but didn't want to break my bank over it since I'm not exactly a serious rider. Well, last night, my wish came true! I was perusing Craigslist yesterday and found an awesome road bike for $150! That's the most I wanted to spend, so I went to take a look at it after work/the gym, anddddd I bought it! I absolutely love. I can't wait to ride! Here are a couple photos of my new pride and joy...

For those of you that are bike enthusiasts, it is a Fuji Allegro 12-speed road bike. Added bonus: you can't tell from the pics, but it looks brand new! I love it - it definitely soars.

Weekend update: I can honestly say I had the most relaxing weekend of my life! I saw Something Borrowed on Friday night with my good friend Katie and loved it! I've read all of Emily Giffin's books, so I was really looking forward to this movie, and they pretty much nailed the story. I really enjoyed it - aside from the fact that I felt like I was at sorority rush all over again. Haven't seen that many giddy girls in one room in years. Guess that's what I get for going on opening night! Saturday, I woke up, worked out, then headed to the pool to catch up on my reading. It was awesome - the pool at my complex is unbelievable. I need to post pictures because it was pure luxury: cabanas, a hot tub, a lap pool, three stainless grills. Ahh, the beauties of renting from a condo owner. It was my first time out there, and I can say with certainty that I will be back every weekend. After pool time, I headed to the mall to run a couple errands and pick up some things I needed (mandatory Forever 21 stop - can't help it!). Came home, made dinner, watched a movie and passed out. Sunday, I woke up and basically repeated my Saturday! Headed down to the pool, finished the last Harry Potter book (exhilarating feeling, I tell you), then headed to the gym for a body pump class, cleaned up my apartment, ate dinner and met up with the boy to watch a movie and end a rather perfect weekend. I know so many people would disagree, but it was incredible having some relaxing time to myself. I call it the "calm before the storm" since, come Labor Day, I won't have a weekend break like this one for a couple months.

Anywhoo! That is my update. This week is going to be a busy one at work - I already woke up this morning thinking it was Wednesday. Womp wompppp.

Enjoy your Tuesday, lovelies!

UPDATE: Pool pic from the condo's web site - still doesn't do it justice. I'll take some of my own this weekend :)

TGIF

1. What I love most about my home is how cute and small it is - normally people would hate living in a small studio, but I love it. I call it my little shack. Perfect space for me.

2. I'm excited because today is Friday! I am going to see Something Borrowed tonight and relaxing the rest of the weekend. It's a great feeling.

3. My preferred method for blowing off steam when I'm frustrated is going for a run. Never fails. Or listening to rap music really loud.

4. Currently I am craving lots of things haha. Chocolate, for one. And definitely a glass of red wine. One more week!

5. The thing I love about my mom is that she is the nicest person on this entire planet. I'm serious. She bends over backwards for everyone and is the most selfless person I know. I strive to be like her but know that I'll never come close to her level of niceness.

6. If I was going to write a book about my life, the title would be Life...To Be Determined because I'm still young and finding myself. Who knows where I'll be a year from now!

7. If I were to eat one thing for the rest of eternity, it would be cheese...and freshly baked bread...gotta have those carbs to live!

Half way mark

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Today marks a special day for me becauseeee.....

I am HALF WAY done with my cleanse! Today is day 11/21, so I only have 10 more days, baby woop woop! I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself so far. I know 21 days doesn't sound like a long time to be on a pretty strict diet, but I'm on day 11 and it's felt far longer than 11 days. So, I have to say that I've felt a lot healthier (obviously...this is the point, right? haha). But what I mean by that is I typically feel that I HAVE to work out hard every single day. Yes, I've still been working out, but I don't feel the strong need to, as compared to before I started. Just makes you think about what you are putting in your body, you know? I've also felt a lot more energetic (yes, WITHOUT coffee!) and less hungry. So far, so good, my friends. Stay tuned.

I'm sure everyone has super fun Cinco de Mayo plans today, but sadly (since I can't enjoy myself a delicious margarita), looks like I'll be calling it an early night and catching up on my shows from this week. Boring? Maybe. But let's hope my body will thank me when this cleanse is over!

Tootles!

Best new restaurant

I had the pleasure of dining at Lucia last night in Oak Cliff (about 15 min from Downtown Dallas), and I can honestly say that it was the best meal I've had in Dallas. And, yes, I would call myself a "foodie." Sadly, I forgot my camera at home, and iPhone photos just would not do this restaurant justice. It was more than a meal - it was a food orgasm. Everything literally melted in your mouth.

(Side note: I get one "cheat meal" per week on my 21 Day Challenge, so I didn't cheat!!)

Let me just describe to you what we had for dinner in hopes that [if you live in the Dallas area] you will pick up the phone immediately and make a reservation. The resto only has about 15 tables so you have to have a rezzie. My wonderful boyfriend called about a month ago to make plans for us to go this week, and oh, how thankful I am for that boy. Anyway, getting sidetracked here...

The restaurant itself is an adorable and cozy little house...very Italian. I even mentioned once we sat that it felt like we were in Italy. Lots of Italian prints and rustic pieces hang the walls. Lucia is artisanal...meaning the kitchen makes almost everything from scratch, from the in-house bread to the pastas and cured meats -- yes, we tried all three! Once you sit, the waiter brings by warm olives. Yes, warm. I've never had warm olives, and let me tell you, they were delicious. A great way to start the meal! Since I'm no-alcohol for a couple weeks (last night was the first time I craved it...), Trey asked for a suggestion for a smooth cab, and our waiter poured him a glass of a delicious blend - didn't catch the name...I was obviously too busy munching on olives and taking it all in! Then came the bread, which had the perfect crisp and was so yummy and pillowy. On to the good stuff. Lucia’s menu is divided into four courses - very Italian style, of course: antipasti (starter), primi (pasta), secondi (entrée) and dolce (dessert). As suggested by our waiter, we ordered the following:

Salumi misti, a tasting of the resto's house-made cured meats
Ricotta gnocchi with pork ragu and mushrooms (half-portion)
Risotto with baby squid (half-portion)
Quail stuffed with sausage and served atop polenta and spinach

I don't know where to start. All of the house-cured meats melted in our mouths. Unlike anything I've ever tasted. The two pasta dishes we ordered were absolutely out of this world. I'm a huge risotto-eater, and this dish blew every risotto I've ever eaten out of the park. The gnocchi, too, was delicious. Another mouth-melter. And both were perfectly sized. I absolutely recommend family-style sharing at Lucia. Then came the sausage-stuffed quail with polenta. Wow. Trey and I both like gamey foods, so quail is something I almost always order if I see it on the menu, so it was no surprise this entree caught my eye. It did not disappoint. Perfectly cooked, and the sausage was a great addition.

All-in-all, I am calling Lucia the BEST restaurant in Dallas...it was definitely the best meal I've had here, and, although I've only lived here for 3 years, I think I've made my rounds to all of the hot restaurants here. Hey, it's my job, right? Yeah, I'll just keep telling myself that...

books books books

Did anyone else have the Monday blues yesterday? Maybe it was due to the fact that it was freezing and rainy all day in Dallas, and all I wanted to do was crawl back in bed. Yes, I got in bed at 8 p.m. for those of you wondering! Got back from the gym, showered, ate dinner and hopped right into bed with my Kindle in hand.

I just downloaded three books: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie and Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent. I bet you're trying to figure out what in the world my "genre" is in books haha. Well, I like to dabble. I love reading but a book has to hook me pretty quickly for me to like it. The first book I bought on my Kindle was Water for Elephants, and I finished it within 3 days. Yes, 3 days. And that's after my 9-5 work day. Ok, ok, the day I finished it was on a flight to Tampa...you win. Anyyyway, if you haven't read it, do so NOW. I saw the movie with my old roommate Hannah last weekend and thought it was great, but nowhere near as good as the book was. That's how it always is, isn't it? But I did enjoy the movie...more than I thought I would. I didn't go in with high expectations because I've learned that movies made after books are never as good as the book itself.

So, last night, I decided to start Dale Carnegie's book. A friend of mine recommended this to me because...well, I have a problem with worrying too much about the future haha. I didn't get too much into it because I was pretty exhausted, but I'm very interested to read it. All I can report was that the preface was good? Haha

I've tried to get into Dragon Tattoo a couple times, but it's tough. I am someone who needs a book to grab my attention pretty quickly, and this has been a difficult one. My mom keeps promising me that it gets good, so I'm going to try to get back into this one over the weekend.

I saw the little boy who wrote Heaven is For Real on the Today Show and have wanted to read it ever since. It sounds like such a heartwarming story. I can't wait to start this!

Next on my list: The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Has anyone read this? I saw previews for the movie due out in the summer, and it looks really good. I know this was one of Oprah's Book Club books (big surprise...sorry, not to be rude, but, really), but this one actually sounds more my speed than the others she chooses, which are typically a little too deep and race-centered for me.

Welp...that's all I really have for today! Sorry to have a somewhat boring post.

Have a great Tuesday, friends!

Happppppppy birthday!

And, because I had no time to post this yesterday (I was busy with the birthday boy!!), I am doing a belated birthday post to the best boyfriend ever:

Happy 25th Birthday, Mr. Trey Rome!

I know we aren't officially celebrating until the Jimmy Buffet concert in a couple weeks and until my cleanse is over (thank you for being understanding on that, by the way!), but I love you and wish you the best birthday ever! I think this year is going to be a great one for you!

Cheers to that sexy birthday boy!