Lies I've Been Telling Myself

If you read yesterday's post, you know I'm getting back in gear with a good ol' health kick this week. That being said, I keep lying to myself...and I'm so proud of it!

You see, when I prepare a meal I'm thinking, "There is NO WAY this will fill me up. What else do I have to eat? I think I have some Cheetos in here somewhere..." 

Mind you, this is a conversation I have with myself before the first meal is even cooked through! Knowing that the portion is plenty [aka I don't think I'm even physically capable of starving myself #hungrygirlprobz], I've started lying to myself in preparation of the meal.

"I am going to be SO FULL when I finish this baked potato. 

I may not even be able to finish the whole thing!"

OR

"Baby carrots kind of look like Cheetos.... and they taste just as good!"

I kid you not. I say these things to myself inside my head. Will it work? Signs point to Yes. I hate to quote Hitler's publicity crew here but, "If you tell a lie long and loud enough, people will eventually start to believe it." Sadly, they used their powers for evil instead of good, but there is a ring of truth to this strategy.

So I persist. Anytime I feel sick to my stomach lately, I think, "Must be all that sugar. I should really lay off the sugar." While there is a noticeable relationship between belly aches and sugar consumption in my life, I don't know that a doctor could pinpoint it as my sole source of nausea. Hitting the vino too hard on occasion could earn an honorable mention, perhaps. Whatevs. I'm taking it. If it helps me stop chowing down 4 donuts and an iced coffee in one sitting, I'm game.

Wish me luck, my little loves! 
And send me your favorite healthy-but-delicious snacks and treats, please! This girl's gotta eat. 

xo
Sarah :: Your Plucky Picaroon

Have health tips? Share, please!

Panic Mode :: Bikini Edition

It's that time of year when *ruh roh* pool parties start popping up everywhere. Suddenly, all of these freakishly skinny chicks who apparently don't eat in the winter time [or at lunch time, or at all really] all got together and chose the chairs right next to yours for their sunbathing this summer. Ugggggh.

I always want to be in better shape, but I go through spurts of actually trying to be in good shape. This week, I signed up for the Tone It Up! Bikini Series. A little late [only 6 of the 8 weeks left], but hey. Worth a shot, right?

I mean, if I workout with these girls for the next few weeks, I'll look this, right?

Okay. Okay. Back to reality. So maybe I won't be on a Sports Illustrated cover anytime soon, but there are perks!

1. I haven't done any real working out in months. I hate admitting that. Just... awful. But anyway, that means it should be pretty simple to see results! Doing something will get me farther than I am right now.

2. It's FREE! Woo! I'm a sucker for free stuff. 

3. They are pretty stinking cute, right? I'm hoping I'll be motivated by their cuteness and maybe develop an ab muscle or two. 

Alright. As Keenan and Kel used to say, "Ahhhhh, here it goes!"

Skeptically hopeful,

xo

Sarah :: Your Plucky Picaroon

What's your favorite Stick-To-It workout routine?

the best days are birthdays

Wow. What a birthday...
Before I jump in with all of the awesomeness that was my 26th birthday, I'll be honest and tell you I had a bit of a 'freak out' about being 26 already. How did that happen?! It's only a matter of time before grey hair, saggy boobs, and laugh lines. Eep. I'm not ready for this.

Other than my random moments of melancholy for feeling old [yeah, you can slap me. I'd do it too], it was a most superb day!

Like the old ladies we are, Emily and I barely lasted until midnight to ring in my special day. I had a glass or two of birthday wine, wolfed down my weight in chips and queso, and was snoozing by 1am. Pretty awesome.

In the morning, I woke up to McDonald's breakfast in bed. What?! Super awesome boyfriend placed the order. Super awesome best friend delivered the goods. It was SO good.

After some napping, blogging, and A-Beautiful-Mess-App-ing, we took a trip to Target. Seriously though, can I just live there? I want it all. All the dresses. All the sandals. All the purses. All, I say. ALL. We also grabbed a birthday Starbucks, courtesy of boosky and bestie. [Have I mentioned that I love them?]

Em served me grilled cheese and Cheetos for lunch [dairy is healthy, right?], and I downed a birthday beer or two. Then, there was the cake.

OH EM GEE.
This cake.
I can't describe it in words.
Chocolate cake, chocolate sauce, chocolate chunks. 
Devilishly delicious.
So maybe we surrendered, sat the entire cake pan between, and dug straight into it with spoons. No napkins. No plates. No shame.

After dinner, we walked the beach. Sunset was gorgeous, of course. We let the sand squish between our toes and the salty air sting our cheeks. You can't buy that kind of happiness.

We rounded out the night with a[nother] viewing of Pitch Perfect. Bahahahahahaha. Is it just me or does that movie get more hilarious with each viewing?? 

There are SO MANY good one liners. Like:

"What's your name?"    

"Fat Amy."

 "You call yourself Fat Amy?"    

"Yeah, so twig bitches like you don't do it behind my back."

{::}{::}{::} 

"I have a feeling we should kiss. Is that a good feeling or an incorrect feeling?"

"Well... sometimes I have the feeling I can do crystal meth, but then I think, mmm... better not."

{::}{::}{::}

"The Trebles don't respect us, and if we let them penetrate us, we are giving them our power."

"Not a good enough reason to use the word 'penetrate.'"

I could go on for days, but I think you get the idea. So funny. Fat Amy is pretty much the bomb dot com.

Can we talk about Facebook for just a sec? I know that nobody actually remembers our birthdays, but bless Facebook's heart for putting that little reminder up there on the homepage. All day long, I got well wishes and love from my Facebook friends! Several of my favorite peeps tweeted bday greetings my way. Text messages and phone calls and birthday cards. Whoa! I'm overwhelmed. I feel a bit like Sally Field in the first 10 seconds of this commercial:

Thank you, beautiful people!!! I hope May 20th was good to you too!!

My little Snapp left the next morning, headed back to the Hoosier state. I have a day or two free to chill, sleep, read, walk the beach, and all around enjoy my oneness with the ocean. I have more super awesome company coming on Friday!!! 

Enjoying the after-glow,
xo
Sarah :: Your Plucky Picaroon

A Refresher Course

Hey! It's Summer!! Well, technically we've still got another month of awesome Spring-ness until Summer officially begins, but I've had a birthday and I'm calling it like I see it. The pool opens this weekend. DQ commercials are back in full force. Wendy's even started offering a Frosty Waffle Cone! Hecky to the yes! It's summer!

Beat the heat with a few of my refreshing faves.

1. Yellow Nails

This one seems pretty self explanatory. They're bright, colorful, and fun -- just like summer! Every time you catch a glimpse of your hands it's like a little ray of sunshine beaming back up at you. Two cheers for Sinful Colors and their awesome [and awesomely well-priced] color selection!

2. Ms. Audrey

Seriously. What's not to love about this woman? She's got great quotes, great songs, great movies. She's a stunna, so boys are all about it. But she's also regal and charming, so girls can't help but fall under her spell as well. Anything and everything involving this woman lights up my soul just a little bit.

3. Low-Cal Margs

Have you been scooping up these single serving drinky drinks like we have?! These have been the perfect addition to ensure beachy bliss. The fact that several flavors come in low calorie, low sugar versions makes them the bees knees if you ask me. Did I mention they also taste delicioso??

4. New Sundresses

'Nuff said. What girl doesn't love a shopping spree? Just add a sweet, cute, or sexy sundress to your shopping list and feel your self-confidence sky rocket. There's just something about dresses, you know? Girls love the way they feel in them. Guys love to see girls in them. It's a win-win. This one is from Vicky C's. 

5. Sleepovers with Besties

Ladies. Ladies. Ladies. We all forget from time to time how incredibly valuable our girlfriends are. We get wrapped up in work, love, life, and other unfortunate incidents and forget that we are a phone call away from giggle fests, wine nights, chick flick marathons, and choreographed *NSYNC routines. Don't underestimate the power of a good time with your favorite friends. When you call her up to ask about a sleepover and she nearly swoons from happiness, you can tell her Sarah sent you. :)

6. Reading, Oceanside

So maybe you don't have an ocean nearby.... but you get the idea! There's something about reading a great book in an awesome setting. This could be a cute little park or a hammock in your backyard or, if you're lucky enough, da beach!!

7. Coconut Lime Breeze

I've raved about this one before, but geez louise I CAN'T HELP IT! This stuff is amazing. Seriously. Smear a dab of this near your nostrils for an instant vacation. Glorious, I tell you. Just glorious. 

There you have it! The plucky way to spend a summer's day. No work and all play, obvi. :)

xo
Sarah :: Your Plucky Picaroon 

What are your favorite ways to beat the heat?

So, I'm 26 now.

Well hello there! Do these words you're reading feel older, wiser, more mature than those from yesterday? That's quite possibly the case, and I'll tell you why. Today is my birthday! I am officially in my 'late twenties.' wooo [?] On this day of the anniversary of my birth, I thought I'd share some tiddy bits of wisdom for all of you youngin's out there.

You should know that...

{::} iced coffee goes down way more quickly and easily than the real thing. It is also much more difficult to find in "skinny" versions. Slurp one of these bad boys down and let the pee pee dance ensue. But it's worth it. Oh.so.worth it.

{::} contrary to popular belief, you can be a cat person AND a dog person. Your mind is blown, right? Trust me on this one. I spent many an hour of my 25th year of life grappling with this issue but it's true. With enough persistence and dedication, you can be both. 

{::} getting your Masters does not guarantee that people will want to hire you. Actually, that's not true. Being 25 and having a Masters means people would love to hire you.... as an intern, or a volunteer, or an assistant to the assistant's assistant. They just don't want to hire you on in any sort of real capacity, including responsibilities, benefits, and vacation days. You'll spend many a frustrated, tearful moment with friends and loved ones waling about the unfairness of it all.

{::} downing water at the same pace as adult beverages will NOT make you more sober. It will, however, help with your hangover the next morning. Just don't count on your 3:00am self to be mostly coherent because you've been good about chugging water all night. Some lessons are learned the hard way, and this one I pass on to you for good measure.

{::} at some point between ages 23 & 25, your biological clock goes haywire. Your uterus starts convulsing at the sight of chubby cheeked babies. You cry during Hallmark commercials. You start eyeing houses in different neighborhoods for 'livability' characteristics. It starts out all fun and games, and then 

BAM!

It hits you.  You're, like, acting like a grown up. 

Assuming you're unwed, your family is thrilled when you find yourself in a good relationship and before the year is up will be expecting invitations to witness your bridal march down the aisle. Stay strong, my compatriot. If you don't get married until you're 28, you can still pop out a baby or two before 30.

{::} you finally know what people meant when they said, "I wish I could eat like I was 24 again. You just wait. Your metabolism slows down and it's all down hill and saggy from there." Somehow, 26-year-old cellulite seems so much more visible and unstoppable than that from years before.

{::} you will never be this young again, but growing up isn't as terrible as people make it out to be. We've still got a lot of good miles on these tires, kittens. 

Cheers to another year of life and lessons and adventures!

xo
Sarah :: Your Plucky Picaroon

What life lessons have you learned since your last birthday?