workout clothes, diet fails and scale triumphs!

so, i figured i'd check back in to update...myself, evidently.  my weight yesterday morning was 153.8  i am neither surprised nor unsurprised, disappointed nor pleased...i pretty much look the same but am always hoping for a freak ten pound weight loss, so here we are. 
the scale triumph is a small one, but a triumph nonetheless: it has nothing to do with my weight and everything to do with my discovery that my new scale weighs 2-3 lbs higher than my old scale!  BF got on one and got on the other (cause i wasn't about to weigh myself in front of HIM!) and went back and forth and one scale consistently weighed 3lbs higher than the other!  he did it again the next day and there was a 2.6 lb difference! who knows what it is, but it's definitely important to consider that there may be a discrepancy when purchasing a scale.
the GREAT news is i had one little butt cellulite dimple and it is GONE due to bootycamp! if anyone else has that problem where they get fat underneath their butt but it's not a slope butt but it's still bigger around their thighs, go. to. bootycamp! i go 2-3x/week and i have been SO pleased with my soreness and progress!  

i've also picked up the book "wheat belly" and have consequently been cutting wheat, rice flour, rice, corn and potato based foods out of my diet.  good news: as all of the reviews say, i am actually really full all the time! bad news: i have not lost any weight and have been pretty groggy.  it's only been two days, though!  if i'm going to be completely honest (and why not?!), i haven't actually cracked this book open. at all. instead, i went to the website and read the quick and dirty tips and i've been following those!  i put the book down somewhere (i'm assuming in my house) and i haven't picked it up since haha :) oops!

the worst part about the book is definitely the delicious looking bagels on the cover...whose idea was that!?

somewhere in all of this research, i was also lead to the amazing healthy home economist ... so many tips on healthy foods that aren't really healthy, how to read nutrition labels, etc.! talk about a great resource!

i've also been on the constant quest for more adorable work out clothes and i'm ECSTATIC to show what i found at nordstrom rack:

adorable built in sports bra tops that look like this one and have a little give around the waist!! just what i want while i'm working to get rid of my 'wheat belly'!  they're only $24.95 at the rack and they're still available on the marika site for $52!

finally, cause we all know i can't go a whole post without truly buying something indulgent, i'm OBSESSED with say hay gifts on etsy!  look at all of her cute lilly stuff!!!

before...and after. or not.

so, i took a before picture yesterday.  suffice it to say, that before picture is not getting posted until there is a healthy, impressive after picture to post next to it.  and even then...ugh!  here's an example *in clothing*.  personally i think i dress well for my weight so it is not nearly as noticeable as the bikini pic i took yesterday.  

that's me on the left - love lulu (natch) but don't love the size of my thighs! yay for bootycamp though!

SO as fitsp/thinspo/any kind of inspo, i have started reading these blogs and i'm loving them:

greatist.com

keepingupwithkatie.com

itsuxtobefat.com

skinnytaste.com

hungry-girl.com

feedmeimcranky.com

ronisweigh.com

i also got a two year subscription to cooking light! i hope that it's good/i actually make the recipes.  i'm pretty disheartened-i tried to make soup this weekend but the directions never said to "stir" after combining the ingredients! wtf! so i scorched about 8 servings of soup, but since i am crazy i still kind of like it.  unfortunately, my boyfriend didn't :p domesticity - 1. alanna - 0. annnd then last night i tried to make super healthy chicken salad by using canned chicken (which in theory i think is revolting but in action i actually liked when i used it for my soup as per the previously mentioned disaster).  i bought tyson's brand instead of trader joe's because i was at the commissary, but when i used it and combined it with low-fat (not light) mayonnaise, it was the most disgusting fake tasting mush-mix i had ever tasted.  my boyfriend liked it. go figure.

here's the good news:

 here's the even better news:

xx,

a

maxi dress obsession and victoria's secret binge

so, as per usual, i've been shopping.  i've also been thinking about my weight - par for the course.  unfortunately, i think i've finally reached the opposite side of the dreaded fence: my body confidence is too high!  i've spent too much time reading pro-body love articles, loving on my thighs and thinking that my curves are kim kardashian like, not just kind of squishy and not really proportionate.  the fact is, i have thin limbs and a not particularly large frame.  i could definitely support being 20 pounds thinner, but my goal is currently to lose 14 pounds.  i had a very indulgent week last week and weighed in at a whopping 155.6.  I haven't been that high since late last year (when i met my boyfriend) which doesn't help - he met me at 158 and liked me then, so he's not pulling a scott disick to kourtney kardashian:

Scott: "Last time around you tried to watch what you were eating, after you had Mason... at least you were losing weight."
Kourtney: "You are so crazy. I'm trying to do it the healthy way."
Scott: "Just do it faster...If I would have fell in love with you a couple of pounds overweight, this would be my ideal weight, but I fell in love with you when you were super skinny."

 fortunately, my boyfriend is no scott disick.  unfortunately, the below still holds true and while my weight is yucky to me, if i'm honest to myself it's my size that bothers me more.  i'm a big fan of showing off skin, but i've felt jigglier and yuckier since i was at my comfortable weight of 142.  besides, if this isn't initiative, what is???:

on what i'd like to think is an unrelated note, i've been super into maxi-dresses this year.  i used to think they were dumb-why wear that much fabric? now i love them, probably because as my boobs have "grown" it's become less cute and more hoochie mama to wear a tiny top and short shorts!  i'm super excited for this gorgeous dress to come in the mail - i ordered a medium in the longer, 39" hem length so i'll let you know if it's a good length for 5'8 curvy girls ;)

victoria's secret maxi bra top dress, $69.50 sale: $55.60! i picked carbon; i think it will look so pretty with a tan!

lest i hide out in maxi dresses all summer and avoid my weight loss goals, i also picked up an adorable bikini - I ordered the top in a Large and the bottom in a Medium; i'll post to update how it fits: 

Victoria's Secret bikini: $33 and $16

i'll take a before pic sometime this week after a weigh in and then i'll make sure to update my blog as i continue on my never-ending weight loss journey!

xx,

a

2011 has the BEST music!

so bummed that i haven't been posting in the past few months...it's been a whirlwind, with Vegas for Thanksgiving,

- elevator photos on the way to a fully comped dinner @ Beso - DEFINITELY eat there if you get the chance, and get their macaroni and cheese and bread pudding!-

- the whole group, on the way to the bank @ bellagio - comped table for the girls! -

- trip and I on the way to see LOVE, the Cirque du Soleil show! -

the free VH1 Diva's Present Salute the Troops Concert with Katy Perry, Keri Hilson, Niki Minaj, etc.

- She definitely sings live!  It was interesting to see what songs the Divas sang twice because it was being recorded for TV -

Skiing in Utah for Christmas with the family + Trip + friends...one whole week, all those people and no injuries!

- isn't it STUNNING?  this is Powder Mountain, Utah -

and spending New Year's in Northern VA with my friends from high school and my fab boyfriend

- amazing group of friends still in the area from high school! -

- midnight shots with friends and the boyfriend...look at what a wimp he is! -

- the happy couple! -

now I'm in Rhode Island for school until March, and it's FREEZING!

fortunately, I have the amazing Britney Spears' Hold it Against Me:

Avril Lavigne's What the Hell:

and Rihanna's S&M to keep me warm during the snow day tomorrow!

xx,
alanna

25% off Stella + Dot? It IS a Happy Thanksgiving!

happy thanksgiving, my little turkeys!

so glad to be able to offer you guys this opportunity - just visit www.stelladot.com/alannastrei 

order whatever strikes your fancy,

and the most expensive item will be 25% off!

xx,

seasonally appropriate indian princess alanna

p.s. what i'm thankful for?
my fellow service-members, underway, overseas and standing duty!

halloween and cashmere

Halloween was, of course, fun.  Friday night we went bowling downtown for a friend of a friend's surprise party.  We went to a large party at the VFW (it was just as classy as it sounds) on Saturday night and then I Lilly'ed on Sunday, so Trip and I went to see that Katherine Heigl/Josh Duhamel movie - 'life as we know it', I believe.  It was pretty good!  Definitely a romantic comedy, so pretty predictable, but very heartwarming :)  It's our 6 month anniversary on Sunday but I have duty, so we have a busy/romantic Saturday planned!  Yay!

Halloween: Me, Becky and Christina as german beer girls

Today, I decided to replace my windshield wiper blades as I haven't had any in months (fortunately, in San Diego, you can do that...not bragging, just saying.  okay, I am bragging.  it's 88 and sunny today, Nov. 3...of course, McDonalds is more expensive than anywhere in the country and it costs 11.25 to see a movie, so I think I'm paying for all this sunshine somehow...).  Anyways, unfortunately, while I could remove the old blades, I cannot figure out how to put the new ones on.  Score: Wiperblades: 1, Alanna: 0.  Hopefully it doesn't decide to start raining :/

As a shocking aside, I have not lost any weight and am still hovering around that stupid effing 150 mark I've been hovering around for months.  I don't want to be content with it but Trip is a foodie too and we are always going new places and ordering amazing things...Bloody Mary brunch at Crabcatcher's and then dinner at the Melting Pot is sure not to help my case on Saturday - but at least we are going kayaking in La Jolla Cove beforehand!

I'm totally crushing on this Lilly Pulitzer Katherine cashmere cableknit sweater for this winter (we got samples in the store before resort came out and it's delightfully long with a fairly deep v-neck so I really liked it).  The sample was in lavender and I loved it, so I know I'll be getting that one.  Unfortunately, they also have three shades of blue and I don't know which I want - turquoise, skye blue, or shorely blue!  Halp!!



Lavender - already definitely getting it...it's almost like periwinkle, so pretty!



From left to right: Turquoise, Shorely Blue, Skye Blue

How am I supposed to choose?!  

I'm also considering getting a Babs...our manager, Sami, has one in black, and she wears it tossed over her shoulder and it looks so elegant!  You know me though...I'd go for this one:

and the most important thing I've done recently? 

I cut up one of my credit cards! 

Wooo, on the road to debt free living!

xx,

alanna

an ode to things I love...this may get mushy.

I can't get over how much I genuinely love things when I love them.  I write them love sonnets in my head, think about them before I go to sleep or while I'm driving or having a conversation with someone boring.  I think about them when I'm doing something that's a subpar subsitute for whatever it is I love, I think about them while I'm with/doing/eating other things I love...basically, once you worm your way into my heart, you're there for good.  That being said, here comes the list:

I love:

1) Pretzel M+M's

they're sweet. they're salty. you can crunch them or you can suck on them till you get the pretzel.  the bags are plastic-y, not paper-y, and oh by the way...a whole bag is only 150 calories!!

2) Lean Cuisines

Image Courtesy of: http://www.notmike.com

Okay, so this isn't my freezer (it basically was in college!).  Mine has one half filled with frozen dinners, and the other half filled with bags of frozen vegetables.  I love LC's for a million reasons: the assorted varieties (there are SO. MANY. and there are always new ones!), the ease and convenience, the pre-portioned calorie count-ability, and most importantly, the FLAVOR!  i feel like i'm going out to eat at every single meal, because I can eat exactly what I would order at a restaurant but not feel too full.  My only gripe with them used to be the price, which brings me to my next love:

3) The COMMISSARY

 image courtesy of: http://cache.daylife.com

No, that's not me, and I'm not even sure if it's my Commissary, but that is a great example of the ridiculous size and scope of the Commissary.  I wish I had thought to save my last receipt and scan it for you, but the prices are ludicrously low.  Bags of frozen vegetables go on sale for 2 for $5 at Ralph's, a local grocery store.  At the Commissary, they are always around $1.37.  Why do I know the exact price?  BECAUSE THE COMMISSARY DOESN'T CHARGE TAX.  i rest my case.

4) My car

It's a white 2007 VW Jetta Wolfsburg Edition...meaning it has everything I want in a car with the insurance of a much less well equipped vehicle.  Heated light-colored (a must in sunny San Diego!) leather seats, sunroof, huuuuge trunk space...this car could not make me happier if it tried.

5) Crystal Light Individual Packets + my Camelbak Water Bottle

 I know it says to mix them with a 16 oz. bottle of water, but my Camelbak is 24 oz. and those things are still crazy potent.  I drink more water (and consequently use the bathroom more - I consider it fair given how long people's smoke breaks take) than anyone I know.  I have been at work for less than three hours and I'm on my 3rd bottle.  I have four Camelbaks (in different colors, obvi) because I have ones that I don't mind carrying around in uniform (navy blue and kind of a slate gray) and ones that are way more fun for the gym and Lilly (pink and green, of course).  SO happy!

6) My Boyfriend!

Can you blame me?

xx,

alanna

jessica simpson, no0o0o0o0o... + lilly pulitzer fall

i know, i've been MIA for entirely too long.  way too much vacation + new job at public affairs + less income = less blogging.  but fear not, y'all, cause trip is leaving for pakistan and i am going to have entirely too much time on my hands very soon. 

first things first:

jessica simpson?

photo credit: http://www.wwtdd.com/

why??  and yes, i understand the other photos in the article do show off that her legs are still very toned, but that dress? with her curves?  i don't think i've seen a worse fashion misstep since...lady gaga's meat dress: 

sick.

i'm sorry i did that to your eyes.  to make up for it, i offer you my personal, full, must-buy recommendation from lilly pulitzer fall:

the adalie wrap dress.

if they made this dress in one million prints, i would buy every. single. one.  and at only $148,  i wouldn't even be in serious debt!  i am not lying, this FLEW out of our store so quickly that some of the girls that work there didn't get one!  i have worn this to an interview, to a rehearsal dinner, AND to a hail and farewell...talk about versatile! 

i also picked up this adorable (and very reasonably priced) shift:

but this is what i'm really excited for:

the shauna tunic engineered...i just looove dresses with sleeves for winter, and this one is still really fun.  we're not getting it at fashion valley, so we'll have to see if my dedication leads me to order it from another store...

frickin' couch. and lilly with kkg!

my couch:

is currently stuck somewhere in my apartment complex.  after acting like a friends episode and trying to get it up the stairs, in the elevator, over the balcony, and through the roof (ok, the last two were suggested by a drunk guy walking by), i finally just listed the poor thing on ebay.  $1599 (BEFORE TAX) and nothing to show for it but a year's worth of storage unit bills, i'm finally giving up.

on a better note, Trip and I booked a trip to Mexico!  we'll be staying at an all-inclusive resort in the end of August, prior to his sister's wedding!

finally, and the best news - here's the flier for the new Lilly Pulitzer Kappa Kappa Gamma gear, coming out for fall:

love it! 

also, after personally drinking what added up to two bottles of wine yesterday, i am proud disappointed okay with saying that my Monday morning weigh in was the exact same as last week's.  now that i have a big, sexy vacation to plan for, though, i think it'll be easier to stay on plan! 

have a fab week, y'all!

WW steals, Brazilian Blowout and Wine Tasting

First things first...after one week on Weight Watchers, I lost four pounds.  Kind of scary to realize how much I had to be eating before, huh?  Since then we've had a major holiday weekend (including a wine tasting trip), and because I didn't have to go into work on Monday, I didn't get a chance to weigh myself.  This past week could have been detrimental, but hopefully it was more like a maintenance week. 

For those of you who made sweet Weight Watchers comments, thank you!  BUT I will show you exACTLY why i'm back on the WW:

the gut!!!!!

that did not used to be there, and now it's out of control, even when i'm sucking in! 

off topic break: speaking of which, that's an example of some post Brazilian Blowout hair...the significant part about the BB is that I expected to have Nicole Richie/Lindsay Lohan loose ringlets in shiny hair when I was all done [just air dried], and that is NOT the case.  The good part about it [that I'm extremely glad about] is that it takes SO much less time to blow dry and I don't need to flat iron it anymore.  I still can, and then it looks just amazing, but i can also spend just 15-20 minutes blowing it out and look like I spent my normal hour flat-ironing and blow drying! //end of off topic break

The good thing is, at my new job, there aren't a lot of opportunities to snack unless you bring your own food.  when I was on the ship, the vending machines were always stocked, I had drawers of granola bars and popcorn, and there was always cereal, donuts and other snackies down in the Wardroom (kind of like a communal kitchen/dining area for Officers).  Here, I get to experiment with my own bring snackies with no alternative temptations!  hence, i give you:

Alanna's Greatest Weight Watchers Finds

(so far)

• 
  
  Flatout Multigrain Wraps = 1 point.  Amazing microwaved, toasted, room temperature, wrapped around lettuce, spread with a Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedge, filled with roasted peppers...pick your favorites and fill it, or broil it in the oven, coat with spray butter and crushed garlic and enjoy your pita chips!  With 8 grams of fiber, it's crazy filling, too!
• 
  
  Kraft Singles 2% Reduced Fat Pepper Jack Cheese = 1 point.  I know I've already told y'all about this, but I am OBSESSED with this stupid cheese!  It is so incredibly flavorful!
• 
  
  Gardenburger Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Veggie Burgers = 1 point.  Just as good as they sound, and there's cheese pieces inside that melt out and keep the patty from getting too dry in the microwave.

i combined all of the above with romaine lettuce and spring mix, two roasted yellow pepper slices (they're ~5-15 calories each depending on the brand, I get mine from Trader Joe's) and a few spritzes of Balsamic Vinagrette spray salad dressing for a THREE POINT MEAL that was INCREDIBLY filling! 

now, back to the list:

• Raita.  At 25 calories for a 2 tbsp. serving, it is one of the best dips/dressings/spreads I've found, especially because it is creamy and delicious, not runny and gross like some of those other low calorie dips.  I get mine at Trader Joe's and love to dip baby carrots and sugar snap peas in it!
• Thomas's 100 calorie English Muffins = 1 point.  Once again, I've already extolled their virtues and you know it, but really, seriously?  Get the cheese from 3 bullets up, split the muffin, spray with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and nuke for 20 seconds.  You. Will. Die.

Alanna's Most Disappointing Weight Watchers Find:

(thus far)

• Pirate's Booty = 3 points for a 1 oz. serving!  So disappointing, because 1 oz. is only 140 calories, so i thought I was fine until I entered the nutrition facts into my handy little point calculator.  No luck, my friends - because of it's relatively high fat content and zero grams of fiber, Pirate's Booty is a Weight Watchers letdown.

I'll leave y'all with a group photo of us wine tasting - I'm standing [bending over] in front of Trip (we think he may have been tickling/grabbing me, or that I was trying to get out of the way of Barnyard, the guy in the wig behind me).  I'm in the Lilly Bowen I told y'all I wanted - I know, I know, I haven't lost the ten pounds, but what other opportunity to legitimately wear intense Lilly's in public is better than wine tasting?  I'll probably be wearing one to Opening Day at Del Mar as well!

ETA: here's my submission for pink and green thursday!!

over on pink preppy lilly lover!  i know it's supposed to be pastels but...i couldn't resist!