What I’m Loving Wednesday

1. Pure Barre –  I’ve done 3 classes in a row and I’m going again tonight. It hurts to sit, walk up the stairs, and lift my arms. So awesome! Lots of ladies signed up for the 20 class challenge.  They’re all champions for joining!

I also love the fact that we’re getting gold stars by our name. Great motivation!

2. Speaking of challenges, remember the Saving Money Challenge two of my coworkers and I had for March? For spending the least amount of money dining out, I won! Woop! My savings went to Pure Barre. Double win.

3. Holidays. This weekend, I’ll be celebrating Easter with my family and going to Seder with intern Sean’s family. I’ve always been curious about Jewish holidays, so Sean’s family invited me to see what it’s like. I’ve already studied this book.

I’m just as excited to don my bunny ears with the family! Best of both worlds.

4. This bumper sticker. You Only Live Once.

5. Pastels for Spring. Here in the South, it’s perfectly acceptable to dress like an Easter egg. Some call this color blocking. Others may call this offensive.

Cosmo Pink Polo, Coast Apparel

Lush Green Cords, Loft

Turquoise Tote, Longchamp

6. To fire up the pastel party, I painted my nails in a new Essie color, Barefoot in Blue:

But toned it down with some neutral flats:

HAPPY SPRING!

How will you be spending this holiday weekend?

Are you on board the pastel train or the neutral train? I ride both.

What I’m Loving Wednesday

1. Would you cork your wine bottles with a pickle? I would. Check out this pickle-shaped wine stopper.

This baby can be yours for a mere $7.49 at Gadgets and Gear.

2. Just days after I was secretly wishing that my coworkers would hush their mouths about March Madness, I found myself filling out two brackets. First, I had a chance to win $1,000 from Mellow Mushroom.  The second bracket was to support Ben’s fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. That fool champion is participating in the NYC triathlon in July. Interested in donating? Do it here!

Blackbaud fully supports the madness. The screens in the cafeteria now show ESPN all day. Nice.

3. Spotted at Target: Cookies & Cream Goldfish! Ahhhhhhhh.

4. On St. Patrick’s Day, Rick’s Chick-fil-A had GREEN lemonade. My favorite drink in my favorite color. I swear, it tasted better.

5. This spring weather! Is March the new May or what? Pool Day #1, CHECK.

Lynn’s pool has these awesome cabanas. Perfect for snuggling 3 deep when a storm passes by. Yup, we cabana snuggled with Easter candy and magazines.

6. Later that evening on our way to dinner, Eric and I caught a gorgeous sunset over the bridge.

7. How many times a day can I listen to this song?

Sweet & Summery Chicken Salad

Despite the fact that it’s 46* and raining here in Charleston, I was feeling Summery. Maybe because I was just at the pool last weekend? There were a bit too many Coor’s lights and Peeps this weekend so I together an easy chicken salad with some ingredients I found in my kitchen. It came together quite nicely…and Summery.

Sweet & Summery Chicken Salad, serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shredded, cooked chicken (6 oz.)
• 1/2 cup pineapple tidbits
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/4 cup walnut pieces
• 2 tbsp. plain Greek yogurt (I love you, Fage!)
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
• s&p to taste

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, toss together chicken, pineapple, carrots, and walnuts.
2. Add Greek yogurt, honey, mustard, cinnamon, and salt & pepper. Mix well. Serve atop a bed of lettuce or in a pita.

The Guzzini bowl and silverware pictured above were purchases from Eataly in NYC. This is my most recent green obsession purchase. The amount of green objects I have is obnoxious.

- my laptop

-my Blackberry cover (Matt was creeping on my text messages.)

- my Camelbak

- kitchen bowls

- one of my bedroom walls

-Longchamp bag

- mittens

– blankets

- dumbbells

–kitchen utensils

- and the unnecessary collection of Menchie’s spoons

I think everyone has an affinity for a particular color, but I probably need an intervention.  Yesterday when I was at Menchie’s, I noticed they now have hot pink spoons! I immediately texted Lucy, knowing she’d be psyched. She replied, “No freaking way! Take their spoon supplies!!!!!!! It’s you and me in spoons!”

Obviously I asked the girl at the counter if I could buy some. She smiled, handed me a bowl and said “Here. Have a nice day!”

SCORE!! But now Lucy and I are wondering what the heck we’ll do with 60 pink spoons.

What is YOUR color?