Ms. Brightside

Lately it seems as though the weather can't make up its mind: One moment the sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky, and the next it's raining buckets. The constant threat of a sudden downpour has led me on the search for functional-yet-fashionable pieces that will keep me dry under the stormiest of circumstances. A shot of color or unexpected dose of sparkle brightens my mood even more, putting me in the sunniest of dispositions even when the weather is anything but.

1. DSQUARED2 Trench, $1,094
2. H&M Faux Leather Cap, $9.50
3.Marni Clip-on Earrings, $295
4. Patricia Field Bangles {no longer available}
5. H&M Dress, $40
6. DSQUARED2 Wellington Leather Boots, $995
7. Stella McCartney Sunglasses, $225
8. MTWTFSS Weekday Bracelet, $16
9. Totes Bubble Umbrella, $24
10. Rachel Roy Tote, $89
11. Miu Miu Sneakers, $495

Tasty Tuesdays: Lentils With Tomatoes

After the overwhelmingly positive responses I've received from family and friends regarding my first recipe post (here), and in attempts to expand my culinary repertoire, I've decided to make my adventures in cookery a weekly feature called "Tasty Tuesdays."

This decision could not have come at a better time, as I am in the midst of prepping for a 10K on Sunday. In the days leading up to a race (or any big event, for that matter) I've found I feel better both physically and mentally when I fuel my body with nutritional powerhouses that pack big health benefits into a little package. This recipe is the perfect pick, as it is made with lycopene-rich tomatoes and lentils that deliver a healthy dose of both protein and fiber. Instead of the bright-red, perfectly round tomatoes most are accustomed to finding in the produce aisle, I opted to use these beautiful heirloom tomatoes I picked up at the local farmers' market. Heirloom tomatoes come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors; they also have a richer taste and heartier texture than your average supermarket variety, making them my tomato of choice for recipes that call for roasting or baking. And while this dish is delicious on its own, it also would go great with fish, chicken or served on top of rice for a light-yet-filling pre-race meal.

Monday Motivation

Combining two colorful trends for spring: neon and colorblocking (F21 Dress & Necklace)

It's hard to believe this month is already coming to a close. Even with an extra day tacked on, February 2012 has gone by far too quickly. That being said, I am overly thrilled to welcome a new month later this week and look forward to what March has to bring, which is actually quite a lot. My next few weekends are already filled to the brim with activities -- all of which I will discuss in more detail later -- so it was nice to have these past two days completely free of any pressing obligations. It was the perfect way to end the month, and in order to get a head start on the next, here are some of the things that are keeping my excitement level high for the weeks ahead.

Breakfast tastes so much better when in an oversized bowl and coffee mug

Loafers in mustard yellow and soft metallic

Putting the finishing touches on our entryway table

Gearing up for Sunday, my fourth year in a row running this women's-only race

Making A List

A weekly list of tasks, errands and other things to do

I've always been a fan of list-making. In high school and college the art of physically writing down all the things that needed to be done helped keep me organized, and it is something I still try to practice now that I'm in the grown-up world. All around the house you can spot my checklists in various forms -- a tablet of random chores on the kitchen table; a giant erase board on the refrigerator to track each month's events; a framed list of resolutions in the bathroom; and a notebook brimming with ideas that I always carry in my purse. There is something so satisfying about being able to go back over each item and put a neat little "check" next to it once completed.

Since starting my blog I've come to appreciate a well-thought-out list even more and plan on incorporating this tactic over the weekend to improve the frequency and content of my posts. "Check" back in (sorry, couldn't help myself) next week and let me know what you think!

An oversized calendar ensures we won't forget any plans

Goals for the year seem all the more important when placed in a frame

A notebook for scribbling is a daily essential (bag, Coach {old})

Midweek Vacation

Taking time to stop and smell the roses, or in this case the hibiscus

As mentioned in my previous post (here), sometimes my weeks can be so packed with things to do that I get overwhelmed and inevitably shut down. The mere thought of having to call up a person for an interview or go on a 6-mile training run leaves me exhausted, and instead I end up spending my day in my sweats watching reruns of trashy TV shows. On days when I feel myself beginning to avoid my responsibilities, I give myself permission to take a mini vacation, but with one stipulation: I have to be actively doing something productive to my life. Be it pampering myself with an at-home spa, sorting through my closet for the upcoming season, reading the latest issues of my favorite magazines or going on a stroll around the block, I need to be engaged in some sort of activity other than couch-surfing. And you know what? After a few hours of doing one or two things I want to do (rather than those I feel absolutely need to be done) I feel completely recharged and ready to tackle whatever may be waiting in my inbox.

Monday Motivation

Necklace scored over the weekend at a jewelry swap/nail polish party I hosted

Weekends go by far too quickly, in my opinion. As soon as the alarm rings Monday morning I know the next five days will be filled with a never-ending list of projects. For weeks when life seems so busy that I can't imagine being able to cross everything off of my to-do list on time, I look to the small things in life for motivation, be it mementos from a girlie get-together, a thrifted porcelain juicer, the smell of a favorite perfume or views from an early morning run. And while I may not always want to say good-bye to the weekend, these regular reminders help me welcome whatever the coming week has to offer.

"Bubbles" bar decorated with vibrant carnations and colorful nail polishes

Perfect for making fresh-squeezed juice in the a.m.

Super G: my super power for getting through the day

Sunrise over a neighborhood park

Test Kitchen

I've always had a special affinity for baking. I enjoy following a recipe step by step, then watching in anticipation as the ingredients come together as if by magic to form some sort of confectionery creation. Maybe it's the mad scientist in me, but to this day I still get excited when I find a new recipe that I can experiment with in my lab, aka the kitchen. So when I came across this recommendation on the ever-lovely and inspirational The Glitter Guide for Raspberry Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Coconut Shortbread Cookies, I knew I just had to give it a go.

The best part about baking -- besides eating the finished product, of course -- is putting my own spin on a recipe. In this case, since raspberries are a little pricey right now, I opted to try this version of Strawberry Frozen Yogurt. And while the recipe calls for whole milk yogurt, I used my favorite brand of plain nonfat Greek yogurt instead. The desired thickness and creamy texture were still there, but for far fewer calories and less fat.

Since I don't have an ice cream machine, I made the frozen yogurt the old-fashioned way: by freezing the strawberry mixture then furiously breaking it up with a fork every half hour, which is actually a great arm workout as the mixture becomes more and more solid. I also made sure to leave a fair amount of strawberry chunks in the yogurt for an added homemade touch.

The results were everything I could have hoped for, and I can't wait to serve these healthier versions of an ice cream sandwich later this weekend at a small get-together I'll be hosting.

California Dreamin'

Right around this time of year I get major wanderlust for a trip to California. When I was a little girl, as soon as Valentine's Day had passed I would begin anxiously counting down the days until summer vacation, because summer meant a trip to visit my aunt and uncle in California. I remember spending endless days playing in their pool, shopping swap meets and outlets bigger than any I'd ever seen before, getting a mani-pedi at the salon where my Aunty worked and, of course, going to Disneyland.

To this day, Feb. 15 still makes me start to dream about packing my bags and heading back to Cali, and these images from around the web only add to my desire to purchase a ticket to The Golden State.

Images via 1/2/3/4/5

All The Small Things

Snapped up this heart-shaped pillow to add some V-day flare to our couch

When it comes to romance, I tend to rank on the low end of the mushy scale. It doesn't take sweeping gestures or grand displays of affection to get my heart racing. Instead, I prefer the small things, like a silly card or a nail polish in a pretty new hue. Which is why this Valentine's Day (my 11th with the S-man) I was overly thrilled to receive a snazzy new pair of sunglasses in the perfect shade of candy apple red. With an unexpected pop of color and oversized shape, these sunnies will no doubt inject some new life into even my most ho-hum of outfits.

Love notes from my Valentine and our three naughty kitties (notice how the "I" has been strategically crossed out and replaced with "we"; gotta love his attention to detail!)

Essie nail polishes in (from left) "forever yummy," "lovie dovie" & "a cut above"

Hot pink ombre flowers in a skull vase? LOVE!

Can't wait to pair these babies (available in purple here) with a floaty dress or romper