I'm always curious about other people's workout routines and eating habits...

   You might want to grab a coffee for this one. I might be in a rambling mood. If you don't want to hear part of my life story (kidding. no i'm not.), just skip on down to the My Workout part 😊
   I'm always curious about other people's workout routines and eating habits. NOT in a judgy way, not at all. Just in a curious way, about what works for others and what doesn't. Growing up, my Mom was a very healthy eater, and she got up and took walks at 5am every morning. There goes Mom, out for her walk, before the sun is even up. Didn't matter the weather either. I've always admired her for that, and for tons of other reasons. But that's for another post.
   Then there's me. Kind of opposite. I mean, I was very active in high school, and I even taught aerobics classes in college! I was a female Richard Simmons. Not really, but close! Wow that takes me back! Getting off track again. Back to what my habits are now. Now, and actually since my son was born 14 years ago, I seem to naturally lean more towards the "no time for that" camp when it comes to exercise. And food? For years, YEARS, after my son was born, I didn't eat anything that wasn't handed to me through a drive through window. I could make a very long list here with excuses for that, but when I really think about it, I could have done better. I just didn't really care to. 
   Fast forward to today, no, to when I met my new husband a few years ago. New husband, who's name is Joe, ( I say new because this is my second marriage and we've been married for almost two years now) is a healthy eater and exercises regularly. I see how busy he is with work and family and he still makes time to workout and to cook healthy meals. And it motivated me. Here was this real person in my life who I have a ton of respect for anyway, who cooks healthy meals and exercises regularly. So I slowly, and I do mean slowly, got back into a workout routine and I honestly feel so much better. I've been eating healthier and exercising regularly for almost four years now! I'm under no illusions that I am going to drop 50 pounds and be a size zero. I've been this same size (10-12) for so long now and I am SO alright with that! I simply enjoy that I really do have more energy. I enjoy the mental boost that I get from knowing that I do something for myself each day. Exercising brings a sort of mental clarity for me too, not to mention stress relief. I just had to find a workout routine that works for me. One that I don't DREAD. That I don't spend more time coming up with reasons NOT to workout than it would have taken to do a quick workout. That gets my heart rate up, but without being so hard that I want to punch someone in the face. That I actually feel energized after my workout. That I don't get bored with. 
  The answer is going to be different for each of us, and it took some time, but I finally found what works for me. I'd love if you share what works for you in the comments below too! Maybe someone else will try it out and find that it works for them too.
   I am not any kind of fitness expert anymore (I'm sure that a lot has evolved since my aerobics instructor days 15 years ago -OK FINE, 20 years ago), and I am not trying to kill myself getting skinny. I enjoy exercise now because it makes me feel good. Physically and mentally. I am not trying to enter any competitions or win any awards. I just want to be healthy and feel good. I also don't like working out at a gym. Now that's just me, and remember, I don't judge anyone else. I respect whatever works for you 😊 So, after all that rambling--here's what I do and why it works for me. 

-My workout-


6 days a week I ride a stationary, upright bike in my bedroom while I watch my DVR'd shows for 20-45 minutes, depending on how long the show is and/or how lost I get in the show I'm watching. This works for me because the bike is quiet, I don't have to blast the volume on the TV and disturb anyone else in the house, and the shows (usually some Bravo series TV show--Hi, I'm Jen and I'm addicted to Real Housewives shows) keep my mind off of what my body is doing and makes it go by SO MUCH FASTER. I up the resistance setting on the bike every few months to keep it challenging. It has to be an upright bike for me. I tried to switch to a reclined bike for awhile because the upright seat took me some time to get used to. My poor butt hurt for DAYS after the first time. I sat on a pillow while I rode for a week or so after the first time. I thought the reclining seat would be more comfortable. Well, it was, but I didn't get as good of a workout with the reclined bike. So, it took some time, but now I am used to the seat on the upright and I get a good workout. I also do 50 ab bicycles and 30 push ups (separated out into sets of 25 ab bikes and 15 push ups) three days a week. For the first few weeks I did modified push ups (with my knees down) and worked up to the real thing. Push ups are HARD but they do so much good all around. I also only did 25 total ab bikes for the first few weeks and worked up to twice that many now. When it starts getting easy, it's time to increase how many you do, or switch it up. I should probably switch it up more but I just don't like to mess too much with what works for me.
We also have a treadmill and an elliptical torture chamber and I hate them both with a passion for different reasons. I really need to sell them because all they do is collect dust. 


My Eating Habits


   This is going to be short. I only eat when I am hungry. Then, in moderation, I eat pretty much whatever I want to, and in moderation are the key words there for me. I have to attach some rules to that eat-whatever-I-want thing. 2 Dark Chocolate Reese's mini peanut butter cups instead of the King Size pack. One dip of ice cream instead of a large shake. One piece of pizza and a big salad instead of five pieces of pizza. So, yeah, I have to attach some rules to that eat-whatever-I-want thing. I eat more slowly now too and really try to enjoy each bite when I can. Otherwise I will want to eat, and eat more, until I feel like I've gotten to enjoy my bites which means I will have eaten a cheeseburger the size of my front door. I have cut out soda for the most part, and I have cut out fried foods for the most part. I splurge once a month or so on that stuff. My daily meals are mostly low fat meats, bread, veggies and fruits when I get hungry. And you know what? I feel soooo much better when I eat healthy that now, I prefer to eat healthier food. I feel like crap after I drink a soda any more. And I don't mean mentally, I mean I physically feel sluggish and achy after a soda or a really greasy meal and I feel like crap for HOURS. WHY do that to myself? I drink coffee in the morning and water or koolaid the rest of the day (yes, koolaid! ha! I love Pink Lemonade koolaid and will drive around to several stores if needed to find it 😋). 
And I think that's it! 
   Please don't think that I'm claiming to be some kind of expert on any of this. I'm so not. I'm not trying to convince you to do any of this either. Just sharing what I've found to work for me so far, and hoping you'll share what works for you too. I'm not even sharing any links in this post 😁 I just think it's a fascinating topic and would love to hear what works for you. Please comment below?
XOXO,
Not A Two

My finds and picks from the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale!!!

I wish I could comment on every piece, but there are so many that this post would be a hundred pages long if I did 😜 So let's just get right to it--

Click on any pic to go straight to the item on Nordstrom's site. Jewelry, shoes and bag picks show up when you click the little gray arrow to the right of all the pictures 😍

Happy shopping!!

XOXO,

Not A Two

Business casual outfits and my favorites for work!

Oh the elusive term of "business casual". Jeans or no jeans? Jackets or no jackets? Open or closed toe shoes? I've worked in a large professional office with thousands of co-workers for ten years now. There have been times that I dressed SO wrong and times that I made the whole bus cas thing waaaay tooo hard. I can say I've definitely learned some things along the way. The best part is that now you can find good, professional looking pieces that are soft and stretchy! We do not have to be uncomfortable, not even at work, anymore!

All in all, it depends on your workplace rules, but if you ask me, business casual is the more comfortable side of professional attire. Comfort is all about the material. Soft knits with stretch. Soft, stretchy blazers and jackets. Soft denim with stretch. Still professional looking. Speaking of denim, I will argue that business casual can include jeans, just maybe without rips or distressing. If there are rules against jeans at your workplace, then a good comfy pair of modern stretchy slacks are the best. And jackets? I say ALWAYS. The latest designs have stretch and are so much more comfy while still looking great. I've been wearing my fav tops with some stretchy comfy black pants (yes, stretchy slacks exist and they are incredible!) or some stretchy comfy non-distressed jeans. Add some heels or cute flats (closed toe is best for work or so I've been told) and if it's chilly in your office, a blazer or jacket is the best third piece out there. If the temps are warm, add a long necklace as your third piece. I've been told that a long necklace is the female version of a tie in a gentleman's mind. It dresses the outfit up just enough. Long drop necklaces are very flattering on ALL ladies too, so I buy them up like crazy. 

It can be easy AND comfy with the right pieces in your wardrobe. I've found some work wear pieces that are versatile and that are seriously soft and stretchy for a professional look that feels like pajamas! In this blog post, I'm sharing my favs for work with links below the pictures for all of the items that are still available and links to similar items for the ones that are no longer available! All tops are soft and all bottoms are soft and stretchy! If you have additional suggestions, please leave a comment below! 

I have to talk about these heels for a minute. Ladies, I have tried dozens of heels and these are the best that I have found. They have a technology called N5 cushioning, which is amazing. The heel is not a crazy high heel but it's not too short either. They have real leather upper and a non skid bottom. I love them and they are the only pump that I will wear now. I truly can walk in them all day without pain! 100% worth the investment. I have them in black and nude.

The tops in the pictures above are my absolute favorites. So versatile, lots of colors available, and so flattering on anyone! Also, please don't overlook pencil skirts. The latest designs in these are stretchy and comfy! Click on the pictures below for details on the two looks above!

Those are all of my favorite go to items! Other than these, you can pair any work appropriate top with a comfy pair of black pants :)  I've also discovered these denim colored stretchy slacks recently and am incorporating those into my work wardrobe often as well! You can find them here: http://shopstyle.it/l/oXs

A couple of tops that I'm also wearing to work on repeat under jackets:

This cami: http://shopstyle.it/l/oYc

This tee: http://shopstyle.it/l/oYe

Want flats? These are my current, closed toe, comfy favs:

Halogen-- http://shopstyle.it/l/p2d

Gianni Bini: http://shopstyle.it/l/p2j

Please remember to check my Facebook page too at www.facebook.com/notatwo! I post a work outfit idea at least once a week there too :)

Until next time!

XOXO,

Not A Two

PS: I use affiliate links, which means I get a small commission when you use my links or click on the pictures to see details, so thank you for using my links for your purchases and for clicking on my pictures, and for just being here :):)  XOXO!

Alright Macy's, you have my attention with your Free People sale

Hello lovelies,
   I'm so happy to be enjoying a calm Saturday morning shopping online 😁. It doesn't happen very often lately. I'm not going to blab much this morning because I came across a good Macy's sale on Free People and I had better get right to it. Some of my favorite pieces + some that I've been eyeing for AWHILE are on sale, plus an extra 30% off with code: FRIENDS
Free shipping and free returns on orders over $49 too! 
   I can't handle all the cuteness. Click on any picture to go straight to the item on the Macy's site :)  Scroll down to see pics of the ones that I have and love 💓

Remember 30% off with code: FRIENDS

Moonlight tee

Oversized

Wearing Sky in medium

Bralette in ivory: http://bit.ly/2qDkELH

Wearing Mauve tee in small

Six colors here: http://bit.ly/2nAt411

Hudson Tank

Oversized

Wearing Moss and Slate in small.

Six colors here: http://bit.ly/2nKe301

Rising Sun tee

Oversized

Wearing Moss and Black in small

Wearing white in small below

Seven colors here: http://bit.ly/2pgUIRh

Get Yer Gauze cardigan

VERY oversized

Wearing Rose in XS

Two colors here: http://bit.ly/2pgVkX0

Rising Sun tee

Wearing White in small

Seven colors here: http://bit.ly/2pgUIRh

Cookie tee

Slightly oversized

Wearing Black in small

Three colors here: http://bit.ly/2p7fjMQ

You can find all the outfit details, jeans, shoes, etc on my Facebook page here:

www.facebook.com/notatwo

My 14 year old is now awake so gotta run make his Saturday morning french toast (ok it's SO for me too)  😋

Have a great weekend beautiful ladies!

XOXO,

Not A Two

Free shipping at TJMaxx today!

Special blog post for TJMaxx free shipping today! Click on any picture below to go straight to that item.  

Those prices! 😲

XOXO,

Not A Two

Nordstrom Rack Frenzy!

I'm in a frenzy at the Rack this morning! LOVE all these brands below! Just look at the prices!!!  The Soprano dress I'm wearing above is now $13 in the tan/black stripe! Find all the deals below. Click any picture below to go straight to that item :)