Plan for Success + Fashion Friday
Hi friends! IT’S FRIDAY 😀 So glad. What are you up to this weekend?
Thank you so much for your sweet comments on last night’s post. It’s going to be like Christmas when we finally get to open the POD 🙂 Also, thank you to those of you who helped with my demographic survey. Ya’ll are awesome 😀
We just got home from our morning walk with Bella:
and munched a quick and easy b-fast. PB & J burrito for the Pilot, brown rice farina with almond milk and blueberries for me:
Since I’ve been doing the mini meal thing more often, it’s taken a little extra planning to get meals together. Like most things in life, you have to plan for success and the results are totally worth it. It’s great to come home from a busy day and have a snack waiting for me, or something that I can take with me and munch on the go.
Here are some of the things I’ve been taking along with me lately:
Sun Warrior in a baggie, a small bfast cookie (using 1/3 C oats), an avocado and 1/2 organic chicken breast with carrots
Other faves:
-Larabars
-Hummus and veg
-Brown rice tortilla and cashew butter roll-up
Bean stir fry has become a staple over here:
I’ll always start out the same way by using half an onion and two cloves of garlic, then do different variations by adding in seasonings, beans (pinto, black, kidney, lentils, pinto or chickpeas), veggies of choice (last night it was cauliflower, zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms) and put it into serving-size containers for easy grab-n-go. I’ll usually sprinkle some flax, almonds or sunflower seeds on top and munch away.
To-to list is bumping today, but I’m going to set aside time for a yoga class and acupuncture in there 🙂
Have a lovely day and I’ll see ya this afternoon with a raw sandwich bread for one recipe.
xoxo
Gina
Fashion Friday: Swimsuit cover-ups! Since beach and pool season is fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to post some cute beach cover-ups that could also double up for lunch or dinner out. I *used* to just throw some sweat shorts or jean cut-offs over my swimsuit, until I discovered how stylish and multipurpose cover-ups can be.
1. Tunic or button-up shirt
Here’s a tunic I just picked up on sale from J Crew:
I got the black and grey one and LOVE the look of an oversized button-up shirt over a swimsuit. This is a similar style and could easily be worn with structured sandals to lunch.
The plan is to wear it with my white swimsuit,
a hat:
and my coconut bead bracelet.
2. Sundress from Victoria’s Secret
I am obsessed with the VS dresses for summer. They often go on sale (29.50 right now!!) and I have one in about every color under the sun (and they’re all in the POD… wahhh), but are perfect for swimsuit cover-up to dinner. They’re extremely classic and they release the same dresses every summer. I’ll often wear a VS dress over my swimsuit to the beach, throw my hair up in a messy bun with some embellished earrings
+ sandals or wedge shoes
= ready for a night at beach clubs or casual dinner
3. Maxi dress
Usually if we have a more formal night out after a day at the pool or beach, I’ll usually go back to the hotel room to shower/get pretty/change. If for any reason we have to go straight out to a *nicer* dinner or lunch (or if we’ll go inside the resort to eat), a maxi dress is always a great choice.
+ belt and wedge shoes
or
+ sandals and cuff bracelet
Good to go 😀
Do you have any fun cover-up ideas? Any hawt swimsuits you have your eye on? Please feel free to link it up in the comments- it’s always fun to help each other shop 🙂
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ohh nice post
I hope that blogging will get me more into fashion
I’ll admit I’m a fashion disaster! I only wear workout clothes! 😛
Love how organized you are with your food prep! That takes some planning, so majah props lady 🙂
I love that Victoria’s Secret Dress!! Like Luuuurve it! I just ordered a few things off Old Navy’s site for spring, but I dont think spring will ever come here 🙁 Your food organizing skills are fabulous, I always plan ahead too but somehow I always change my mind about what i want to eat.
cute bella, good eats. thats what I like to see!
i’m working on my bikini body, so that will still be something i have to look into.
Bella is so cute!
I too LOVE VS Dresses and all their clothes for the most part, they fit me very easy and such good deals all the time.
My favorite cover up idea is that I like to wear big flannels! Usually from my husbands closet. muhaha. 🙂
Love all the cover-ups! I haven’t even thought about swimsuit season yet, but you’ve given me a good start! 😀
Totally agree on the whole “planning for success” idea. I travel for work a lot lately, and I’d be lost without my pre-made healthy snacks! I love how portable avocados are, too!
I just got this bikini from VS and I’m in love with it (different bottoms than what’s pictured) http://www.victoriassecret.com/ss/Satellite?ProductID=1265437427318&c=Page&cid=1300105508096&pagename=vsdWrapper
And I got a hat just like that from Urban Outfitters as well. I can’t wait for summer!
I love VS. Especially the bathing suits…I went a little crazy the year we got married and bought like 6 for our Honeymoon!!
I love your style looks! VS does have some good coverups for sure–thanks for the heads up on the sale!!
My easiest cover-up is a mens XL white tank top!
I’m obsessed with this maxi dress! http://www.ecolissa.com/Mata_Traders_Maxi_Dress_p/1000-017.htm
Always in need for a good bathing suit cover-up. In the past I have either gotten something from VS or target 😉 But I am liking that J Crew tunic! Thanks again girl for always giving fashion tips!! Have a wonderful weekend!!! xoxo
Your bean stir fry and having it all ready in containers…looks delish AND very smart planning.
Cover ups…I may need one. I just booked tickets to my Happy Place for a few weeks in May. Time to get away and recharge the ole batteries.
Have a great weekend, Gina! 🙂
Hi Gina! I’ve been reading your blog for a few weeks and I love reading all your posts! I live in NYC so bathing suit covers are still a distant dream. Love the VS dresses so simple yet can work in so many situations. I’m looking forward to reading more about your move and life with the Pilot!
I love that cover-up from J.Crew – darling!
Love the fedora! Mine is a staple – especially at then beach first thing in the morning when my hair is sticking straight out.
It sounds terrible, but I never buy cover ups. I have so many t-shirts I can wear… it’s hard to spend $60 on a fancy one (yet I spend ridiculous amounts on fancy groceries… go figure!).
Love these ideas! I almost bought that same tunic from JCrew last weekend….but wasn’t sure what to pair it with? Other than as a cover-up—–fashion advice? 🙂
was thinking or wearing it with leggings and sandals, too 🙂
VS has these super cute bikini bottoms called “Cheeky” love ’em. I’ve only been brave enough to wear ’em once 😉
Hi Gina,
This is my first time posting, but I look forward to reading your blog each and every day, and you are truly an inspiration for me to take my nutrition and fitness to the next level.
First, I love the beach cover-up ideas! The boyfriend and I are taking a trip to Panama in a couple months and I hope to bring my sense of style a long with me!
I love the idea of “planning for success”! Unfortunately, this is where I often fall short when it comes to my diet. Between my social life and working full-time, I’ve found it to be a constant struggle to properly plan meals, and have the RIGHT foods on hand to throw something together. Any future suggestions around this topic would be GREATLY appreciated!
hey girl,
thanks so much for saying hi! enjoy your panama trip and hopefully you’ll find more tips around here 🙂
xoxo
My favorite beach cover up is an old button down that I knot at the waist.
Such good ideas- i try to plan out my meals when going places or when I know i’ll be busy, as that’s the best way to ensure i’ll eat healthy and have an option. Great post! 🙂
Yes, I think a coverup would be a nice thing for me and going to dinner like you mentioned.
I’ve been eyeing a VS dress. Never bought one before, but I have a $10 birthday credit and a catalog recently came to my house showing those “bra top” ones. Are they worth the money? Is the fit relatively good? Wish I could try them out in the store first!
they fit AWESOME and are great about exchanges and returns
I love VS dresses in the summer. Sorry yours are packed up in the pod 🙁 but that’s a pretty good reason to justify buying some more 🙂
Did you see this?
HIGHlairous.
http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/our-first-naked-yoga-ambassador/
Maxi dresses are heaven on earth. My recommendation is go on vacation with an armload of maxi dresses and a bikini and some underwear and that’s all you need. I’ve also lately repurposed a bunch of my brother’s old button-downs as cover ups and smocks – lightweight fabric in fun colors over shorts is a great way to go too – more casual fun.
I’m currently obsessed with finding the perfect one-piece that flatters my shorter torso without being too revealing (aka, no super plunging neckline) but is still fun and easy to wear (aka, doesnt fall off). I always come up with impossible parameters for bathing suits, though. So far no luck.
I love that dress! Geez, its ridic how skinny some models are these days! not cute.
I just got the exact some cover up in black from J. Crew last weekend!! Love maxi dresses for summer since you can dress it up a bit. I just got one from H&M but no link since they don’t have an online store 🙁
Have a great weekend!
i wish they had an online store!
I wish I was that organized with packing food, usually I’m lucky if I get a smoothie ready for hubby and I on week mornings.
Planning for success– so planning seems to be a part of the equation for success translating to preparedness when opportunity arises. Do you think it’s possible to to ultimately make it to your plans even if you consistently have regular periods of relapse? I assume the answer is possibly, but that it will take longer. So what advice do you have if you recognize that you have regular aversions to carrying out your plans consistently and preventing/stopping the mistakes so I can see results to more degree and quicker?(like for me I can make a plan, last about a month-this varies though-, fall off the wagon when things don’t really show a change or other setbacks occur, and then get back on when being off the wagon seems worse than the prospect of getting back on the track anyway that seems hopeless)
Hi, I hope you don’t mind I’m responding even though I’m not Gina! I can really really really relate to relapse, the frustration of feeling like you’re not “going fast enough.” True change really can’t happen overnight…and often times, the deepest changes occur unnoticed. I think it’s a huge success to be able to “stay on track” for a month – but an even bigger piece of success is being comfortable in letting go and knowing that going off track isn’t the end of the world, because you can ALWAYS get back on. When you stop looking for obvious signs of change – you know, like automatic massive weightloss or muscle development- and start honoring and appreciating the small things about you that have transformed over time. Most of all it’s really really important to be patient with yourself and don’t get upset with yourself when you feel like you’ve gone off track or like you’re moving too slow.
Thanks Ilana, those are wise words. I think the biggest challenge aside from straying from plans, is that is social pressure everywhere, especially when you are constantly meeting new people – not being at your best makes mistakes easier even to criticize especially because when I go off track- it’s way off, like the ocean. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
amazing response- i couldn’t have said it better myself
there’s also pressure to go faster in your goals when you come from a poor and limited family.
there was a time in my life when all of my clothes were from goodwill, so i hear ya
I love that hat! I’ve always wanted to try wearing one like that, but I haven’t been brave enough to rock one. 😛
I love that hat! Very cute accessory.
Oooh I love the VS cover up!! I also really like your bean stir-fry idea. I could eat stir fried food every night and never get bored. I’ve also been SUPER into beans lately and made this 4-bean salad earlier this week: http://wp.me/pSUCS-1Ud – It was amazing – or amazeballs I suppose I should say! 🙂 I hope you have a great Friday night Gina!
thanks for the food ideas! I have found that mini meals give me so much more steady energy through out the day. Plus, I don’t mind eating all day..not one bit! 😉
Have a great night Gina!!
i like eating all day too 🙂
I can’t work a maxy dress, but I love the tunic idea!
totally unrelated kinda to your post but the car cover bella is sitting on in the photo, what brand is it? i have been searching for a nice one for our car. blankets just dont stay in place!
it’s from petsmart. it was about 70-80 but sooooo worth it.
I love tunics…that one is soo cute 😉
I literally just got that VS dress in the mail yesterday! Love that you featured it. I’ll take that as I sign that I made a good pick 😉