Pilates is Where It's At (on Tuesdays at least)!

Tuesdays are one of my favorite days of the week. Why you ask? Well, one of my best friends teaches a Pilates class that I have been going to for the past 2 months and I love it!! I expected to walk in the class and just stretch but it's so much better than I that. The class I take uses the reformer which is fun because it's not on a mat and it works every muscle. It took a class or two just to get used to the reformer machine, but now I'm totally obsessed with the full body workout I get every time.

My one and only complaint? The class is only once a week. Rather than paying extra to have an unlimited membership (which I probably wouldn't have the discipline or time to use anyhow), I decided to research some mat exercises I could do at home.

Whether you are experienced in the art of pilates, or just learning it like me, the sites below will be a huge resource for you!

• http://www.livestrong.com/article/331464-pilates-exercises-to-do-at-home-for-free/
• http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=8_pilates_moves_for_a_leaner_body
• http://health.ninemsn.com.au/fitness/exercise/1011020/top-seven-pilates-moves
• http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/abs/exercises/burn-ab-flab-with-power-pilates/

Revisiting Trends

While out on errands today, I mosied over to the nail polish section of Target while the Mr. was picking out some vitamins and was overcome with glee for all of the super glittered lacquers that are hot right now. I was never a fan of the crackle finish; it looks neat but it's not the girly kind of thing I swoon over. But this glitter? It's so flipping cute. I feel like I'm back in 4th grade with my Wet N' Wild Glittered nails. It's awesome when fun trends from the past experience a revival.

This got me thinking... What other things do I love that are back (or that I wish would come back)?

LEG WARMERS!! The Mr. got me the cutest pair ever for Valentine's day and I would love to be able to  actually wear them in public. They're so warm and comfy and perfect.

Image via Etsy; Original Source: homelab 

RAY BANS! I'm not sure they ever went out of style, but they're so retro-chic it's almost unbearable. I need to get myself one of these fun pairs

Image via Pinterest; Original Source: unknown

GEOMETRIC PATTERNS - Whether it be on a modern rug (like in my office) or on a beautiful blouse, funky patterns circa 1965 are back with a vengeance and I could not be happier.

Image via Pinterest; Original source: Urban Outfitters

COLORED TIPS! This is so 80s punk mixed with My Little Pony I can barely stand it. I wish I had the type of life / job where hair like this was acceptable because I would be all over it. It's fun and beautiful and I give mad props to any lady who can pull this off as well as the model.

Image via Google; Original Source: Thrilld

FARMERS MARKETS! This hearkens to a simpler time before shopping at a super Wal-mart was the norm and I absolutely love that. Our tiny little town just opened it's own market last spring and now our house is only about a mile away which is fantastic.

Image via Google; Original Source: Collegeville Farmers Market

VW BEETLES! What girl didn't grow up with a pink Barbie Bug? I loved mine and I saw one of these driving down the highway a few days ago and had a whistful look in my eye, I'm sure.

Image via Google; Original Source: CarzTune

After going through so many ideas for this this, I actually found quite a few things that I really hope don't come back (bell bottoms anyone?! UGH)... Future post?

PB&J Heart Cookies

Despite how much I love to bake, the Mr. and I are not really dessert people. When holidays come around, I covet the time I get to spend creating sweet deliciousness for other people. Valentine's Day is no exception. I didn't have much time last Monday as it was a rough day in the office and a tax-filing headache at home, but I still wanted to make something for my coworkers and neighbors. Since I didn't start until about 9pm, making a homemade dough was out of the question but I did have some peanut butter cookie mix laying around and then it hit me... I saw a cute little heart thumbprint cookie in either Better Homes and Gardens, Real Simple, or Martha Stewart Living a couple of years ago and thought I'd finally revisit the idea by making PB&J cookies!

I used the Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix and prepared it according to the instructions. Rather than flatten it out with a fork like you generally would, I created a thumbprint cookie where I overlapped my thumb impressions to create a little heart ditch. I filled the ditch with some Triple Berry Fruit Spread (just a little). I then baked the cookies according to package directions.

Voila! Precious heart cookies!

Upcycling - Old Dress Fabric to Cute Bracelets

Have you ever trashed some beautiful article of clothing because it was beyond repair and couldn't even be considered for donation? Well, I have. Mostly because I seem to find things I love and wear them out until they're just shells of their old selves. One such thing was a dress I got a few years ago in a really pretty dark watercolor-esque print. It was perfect for summer/spring nights on it's own, great for autumn with a cardigan, and awesome for winter with heavy tights and a scarf. Needless to say, I wore it until the fabric started to lose it's shape and was no longer worth wearing. I've had it in a trash bag in my closet for over a month but I just couldn't seem to part with it. Finally, I thought, why not salvage usable scraps and incorporate them into something new?

Well, I did just that and made two lovely bracelets.

One is doubled-up braid where I also used the spaghetti straps as ties to finish it off. The second is part of the bow that wrapped around the dress which was a tube of fabric. I just slipped in a couple of wooden beads and knotted the fabric after each and VOILA.