Skinny Bitch Food Diary: Take 2

My friend Alison in ATL has always had a great figure, but she recently moved into "skinny bitch" territory when she came to visit Liza and me in New York this spring. She had lost a noticeable amount of weight, and she was irritatingly perfect and controlled with everything she put into her mouth. (JK, Al! Actually, it was more inspiring that irritating!) 

As you read, you'll find out why this gorgeous gal has a not-so-gorgeous boot on her foot. Doesn't she look cute, though? Oh, and I should probably add that Alison is a vegetarian. Here's her document of one day of eating:

5 AM Wake Up Call: 

I have physical therapy on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 7am, hence the ungodly hour. Before heading to PT, I had a bowl of my new found fave Trader Joe’s High Fiber Fruit & Nut Multigrain Medley w/ Light Plain soy milk. At only 100 calories a cup, it is surprisingly filling although I have to laugh that I’m buying High Fiber cereal. Isn’t that something reserved for 80 year olds?

Vitamins:

Okay, so don’t think I'm psycho, but after being told that I had a fracture in my foot that may or may not need surgery I was willing to try anything. (I ended up having the surgery). So, I headed up to Whole Foods and spoke to Joe, the holistic, kosher nutritionist/herbalist—an all around interesting man—to learn which vitamins help bone growth. Here’s a picture of my vitamin routine: Liquid Calcium, Green’s Wild Berry Superfood (It is an acquired taste, but one 8-oz glass is equal to 5 servings of fruits and veggies), Multivitamin, Flax Seed Oil, and Vitamin D.

(I'm lovin' the pics, Al!!) 

10 AM Snack:

I’m heading into a meeting I know is going to test my patience so I quickly eat a banana before the meeting really gets going.  The second I get hungry my patience level is that of a two year old!

1 PM Lunch:

After putting on what felt like ten lbs. in my first month at Emory, I learned quickly that buying my lunch on campus was not a good idea for my wallet or waistline.  I now plan ahead and pack my lunch every day unless I have a lunch meeting.  Today, I brought one of my staple lunches: a Quorn “Chicken” Pattie, a small can of baby peas, and a kiwi.  For any other veggies out there, Quorn has been my saving grace when in comes to getting protein it is the beats out any other soy, tofu, etc. “chicken” products out there.

4 PM:

So sad. I’m starving and stuck in a meeting yet again.  I forgot the apple I brought for just this occasion on my desk as I “ran", okay still limped, to my meeting.  

 Dinner:

Finally home at 8:30 after running to meet the real estate agent to sign the lease on my new apartment J and forcing my now starving self to go to the gym (There was no excuse as I had to pass it on my way home and my clothes were in the back seat). I quickly made broccoli sautéed in olive oil and a Quorn Naked Cutlet (I’m telling you they are addicting).  Admittedly, I needed a grain thrown in to truly make this a meal, but I was too tired to even wait for instant rice to cook. I am no cook, and I usually fall in my front door starving at the end of the day. So I try to keep easy, quick dinners on hand – 5-10 minutes tops! Craving something sweet, I treated myself to a Jell-O Sugar Free Dark Chocolate treat. 

Thanks, Alison, you skinny bitch, you. Side note: Luke expressed some concern for my recent crudeness and constant usage of the word "bitch." People, if you haven't noticed, 9 times out of 10, it is a COMPLIMENT. The minute I stop calling you a bitch, is when you should worry ;)

So what do you guys think of Alison's day of eating? Check out Courtenay's food diary here if you missed it. Who are you more like?? I'm a mix of both!

 

What kind of yogi are you?

I'm the worst kind: Competitive. I know I know, that totally defeats the purpose of yoga. You're supposed to relax, and zone everything out. It's supposed to be a zen-like experience, but honestly for me it rarely is.

This weekend I went to a yoga class for the first time in about two weeks, but I didn't let that stop me from trying to keep up with the girl to my left. She had a long, lean dancer's body with perfectly sculpted arms, and I was bound and determined to take the bitch down.

As far as I could tell at the beginning of class, we were about equal. Her heels touched the ground when she was in downward facing dog, and she did slow, controlled Chaturanga push-ups just like me. Damnit. Instead of really focusing on my breathing and poses, I found myself praying that the teacher would have us do side planks. That's where I'll get her, I thought. And then, we did!

There are many variations of the side plank, but this one is the hardest (at least that I know of). I was a little wobbly as I got into position because I was trying to nonchalantly look out of the corner of my eye to see which variation the skinny bitch was doing. Ha--she just did the normal version, with her legs stacked on top of each other. YESSSS. Now I'm in the lead!

But then, we did the dreaded crow pose. I have a pretty strong upper body, so the fact that I cannot get my knees to rest behind my arms for more than a split second is puzzling to me. The skinny bitch effortlessly sprang her legs up and looked as if she could hold the position all day. Damn.

At this point we were in a tie. I knew that if we did headstands, she would come out the victor. And we did. My headstands are getting a lot better--I don't have the fear of falling like I used to; however, when I slowly start raising my legs higher and higher, I get so excited that I'm actually doing it that I usually end up spazzing out and toppling over. And yep, you guessed it, the skinny bitch aced the headstands too.

I guess the teacher picked up on the little competition I had going on because she told the class, "Don't worry about what the person next to you is doing." Oops. Sorry teach, I just can't help it!

So we ended the class with the full wheel and I did mine standing on one leg. SB did hers normal, so I suppose I beat her there, but at this point I was already feeling defeated.

I know that this is something I need to work on if I want to fully reap the benefits of yoga. Lord knows I need more relaxation and meditation in my life. It's going to be a hard habit to break--you guys remember from this post that I'm even competitive walking up the stairs! But, I'm going to try.

What about you: Are you competitive at the gym? And for all the yogis out there: How would you describe your style?

Skinny Bitch Food Diary: Take 3

Some of you might remember me mentioning Erin in this post, but today you're in for a real treat because we get to learn what this skinny biotch eats on a typical day. Being healthy has never looked this good. First, let's meet Erin.

Erin has her own cookie company called O'Cookies Wholesome Bites. They are delicious and healthy, just like Erin ;) The girl spends hours baking in the kitchen—I don't know how she keeps from shoveling cookie dough into her mouth! Oh wait, she's about to tell us...

Breakfast:

So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt (Dairy-free, Soy-free) with fresh raspberries. Kashi Nuggets Cereal and ground flax seeds sprinkled on top. Large English Breakfast tea.

I was going right to the kitchen early this morning to bake so I needed something fiberous and filling so I wouldn't be tempted to snack on the cookie dough! Hours in the kitchen, and on my feet, I like to snack every few hours throughout the day, especially with no time to sit down for lunch.

Snack:

O'Cookies Wholesome Bites! I always grab a few on the way out...

Snack:

Apple with Almond Butter. A great source of protein. Again, natural energy to keep you going...an apple a day! I needed a little something late-afternoon before I headed to a meeting, followed by the gym.

Dinner:

Tomato and Cucumber salad with good olive oil and vinegar, freshly ground salt and pepper. Quinoa with chickpeas and asparagus. Quinoa is a favorite these days! A wheat-free, easy-to-digest grain that is filling and nutritious, high in protein and dietary fiber. Quinoa is great with any assortment of vegetables for a main dish or served alongside fish or other meats.

Snack:

Dark Chocolate (my addiction!) and chamomile tea for dessert.

It's good to know that even the skinniest of bitches enjoy a hunk of chocolate! Erin's food diary is so perfect it's almost annoying. Ok, it is annoying. (Erin, I kid I kid...um..kinda.) But, I will say that Erin is my absolute FAVORITE kind of Skinny Bitch. She works hard for her flat tummy and perky ass—she deserves it, damnit. And if you aren't already dying over those gorgeous food pics (Erin took them herself—you know mine are usually five times more blurry!), take look at this.

So not only am I ridiculously envious of her beautiful Carolina Herrera wedding dress (she got married last month!), but just look at her sculpted back. And arms. You guys know how I feel about my arms from this post. Sigh.

Well, if nothing else, Erin certainly has been inspirational. What do you guys think about her food diary? Hit me with some comments, and feel free to ask Erin some questions if you have any!

Bachelor Blog 2: How do you keep your confidence up in a room full of pretty girls?

I missed my Bachelor post last week, so I'm making up for it now. Christina got the boot, and it was her lack of confidence that hurt her. I don't really blame her, I mean, if I was in a house full of professional models and girls who just looked like models, I'd be intimidated too. But it's also like, c'mon pull it together, girl!

Christina's a pretty girl. I do think she is a bit lacking in the sex appeal arena (some people just don't really have it), but if she had exuded more confidence, she would have come across much sexier. Compared to Rozlyn (slut) and Gina, I'd look like the girl who's gone to fat camp every summer for the last 10 years and failed miserably, but I'd be damned if I'd actually act like the fat girl!

There are too many girls in New York who are a quadruple threat, which I just decided to call the S.S.S.P.: skinny, stylish, successful, pretty. I really haven't been to any other city with so many S.S.S.P. girls just walking the streets everywhere you turn. (From what guy friends tell me, I'd find them by the herds in Madrid, too). It can be hard to deal with sometimes, but I've learned to.

How? Well, you know how you can immediately sense when another girl is intimdiated by you or another girl in the room? (Not that I intimidate anyone, but I think the girls know what I'm talking about here). I'm forever fearful of being that girl because it's just so obvious--I don't want someone else to be able to detect my confidence drop as soon I shake their hand. I also don't want to be the girl who acts bitchy because I'm insecure. (Give it up girls, everyone knows why you're acting that way). So as soon as I meet an S.S.S.P. or anyone else that makes my insecurity levels rise, I just give myself a little pep talk. Really, I do. I say, "Ellen, be friendly, be confident, be engaging--do not let your insecurity show," and it works.

I guess it helps that I genuinely like meeting new people, so even if you are a skinny bitch, I'm not going to hold it against you. Well, not for long ;) I've also learned to be adaptive to different personalities, and to find a common denominator with anyone I'm talking to. There used to be a group of fashion girls I'd always run into and felt so intimidated by until one day I decided to actually get to know them. I've found a couple topics of conversation that I know if all else fails will always be easy and pleasant with them, so that's what I turn to when I need to. See, it's not so hard.

So girls: How do you keep your confidence up in a room full of pretty girls? And guys, how important is confidence to you in a girl?

Have you had an Aha! health moment?

I have. Sorta. It was after I read Bethenny Frankel's book, Naturally Thin, that I realized it takes a lot of hard work to get the bod you want. Even skinny beeotches like Bethenny have to work for it. I mean, I already knew this, but I never wanted to accept it. It took me until just recently to get used to the idea that there won't be many days that I'm not thinking about what I'm putting into my mouth or how I'm going to squeeze in a workout even though I'm busy and exhausted. I'm in this for life--unless I decide one day that I just don't give a damn! I don't want that day to come though. As much as I think it would be sweet to eat anything my heart desires without thinking twice about it, I know it would make me feel and look like shit. No thank you.

I used to constantly resent the fact that I have a slower metabolism and that I have to exercise at least five times a week just to be "normal." And I certainly resented my skinny bitch friends who could eat whatever the hell they wanted without gaining an ounce. Me? I can gain weight just by thinking about having a second slice of pizza. I've gotten a lot better about not comparing myself to other people, but it's still a struggle.

So, while I used to feel sorry for myself that I had to work so hard to be a size six (sometimes an eight depending on the item of clothing), I've realized I'm actually not working hard enough. I don't need to clock in more hours at the gym, but I certainly could push myself to the limits more often. My shirt should look like this when I'm done on the treadmill, but more times than not, it's just a little damp around the neck. Not cool. (My parents didn't raise a wimp!)

It feels good to be more at peace with my body. I still have a ways to go--it's gonna take something BIG to make me finally realize that late-night pizza is just so not worth it. (Well, most of the time). I can't wait for that day to come! Have you ever experienced an Aha! health moment? How has it changed you?

Skinny Bitch Food Diary: Take 1

As you may have noticed, I love talking about food and I'm always curious to know what other people are eating. SO, I've asked all of the skinny bitches I know and love to document one day of eating so the rest of us average folk can get a peek inside the world unknown. 

This is Courtenay, one of my very best friends in the world. Court is blessed with good genes (she would have to stuff her face with Oreos all day just to be a size 4), but I am happy to say that she really works for her svelte shape, too.

This is a pic of Court and I at a Clemson/Georgia Tech football game two years ago. I think we were the only Tiger fans in the entire stadium not wearing orange. Oops.

Here is one day of Court's food diary:

Morning: I woke up hungry and knew I would not last until my normal 10am breakfast, so I ate two pieces of turkey bacon on the way to work. I also indulged (since it is my birthday week) and had a cookie, too.

Breakfast: Once I got to work, I had my usual breakfast: Greek yogurt and Kashi Go Lean cereal. I eat this every morning—not only is it really healthy, but I love it!

Pre-workout: I am lucky in the fact that I can work out on my lunch break. So before I headed to the gym, I had a handful of almonds for a little protein.

Lunch: I usually have a light lunch because my dinner is usually pretty heavy. (Even though I know that's bad!) So, for lunch I had a granny smith apple with natural honey peanut butter, and a grilled chicken salad with Paul Newmans’ Lime Vinaigrette—it' so good, you have to try it!!

Snack: By mid-afternoon, work really slowed down. I'm feeling a little bored, so I know I must avoid heavy snacking and mindless eating. I have two handfuls of cheddar pretzels and a Diet Dr. Pepper.

Dinner: I had a meeting right after work and of course wine is there. Before I know it, I drink 2 glasses and have some bruschetta. I rushed home so I could change before seeing a movie with my hubby and ate a peanut butter and jelly on the way to the theater. At the theater, I devoured handfuls of popcorn. I finished the night with a 14-calorie popsicle because I always have to have a sweet treat every night!

My verdict: Courtenay hit it just right with her healthy choices and indulgences—it's all about balance. Now, I know that I personally probably would not be able to consume this calorie intake on a daily basis and maintain my weight. (Not that it is a lot, I just have an unfortunate metabolism). HOWEVER, I'm sure Court has never done this. 

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What do you think of Court's food diary? How would it compare to yours?

What little health-conscious things do you do that make a big difference?

I just discovered the other day that my gym is a block away from work (I have a "golden" membership, so I can go to any NYSC in the city). I was excited to try it out just to switch things up a bit. Now you know from this post that I am all for taking the stairs, but when I saw this never-ending staircase in front of me, I contemplated taking the elevator. I was exhausted just looking at it. But, since I'm really trying to squeeze in extra exercise any way I can these days, I decided to go for it.

About a third of the way up, I heard someone behind me. She kept getting closer and closer. There is no way I'm letting her pass me, I thought, so I picked up the pace to what felt like a sprint. (Yes, I am competitive--even on the stairwell). I was breathing pretty heavily by the time I got to the top--What is this, a workout before my workout? I thought. But I felt good. It's just like any time you exercise--you're not ever going to regret doing it.

So I'd say this is the number one thing I do to go that extra mile. I walk as much as possible (which isn't hard to do in NYC), and take the stairs whenever I can. The other thing I do on a daily basis is drink water. TONS of it. TMI WARNING: By the end of the day my pee looks like water. It keeps me hydrated and feeling full--I love it.

And yesterday, I followed Bethenny Frankel's advice and tried to make my lunch more visually appealing. Usually, I just eat my 6" turkey sub on top of the plastic Subway wrapper it comes in, but look how much prettier it looks on this bright plate. Even though I had eaten this same meal for dinner the night before, I was so excited to eat it on this watermelon-colored plate, that I was practically skipping back to my desk with it. This just confirms what I said in this post: Bethenny Frankel, you are a genuis.

Last week, the guy behind me in line at the grocery store started doing bicep curls with a jug of water. He's going to have to do a lot more than THAT to impress me, I thought. But then his super-hot, skinny bitch of a girlfriend came up and gave him a big smooch on the lips. Boy did I feel dumb.

So tell me: Whether it's taking the stairs or doing bicep curls in the grocery store--what are the little health-conscious things you do that make a big difference?

What's your breakfast of champions?

I actually did buy a box of Wheaties last week, but that's not what this post is about. This morning I had a really healthy, yummy breakfast that left a smile on my face--oatmeal and granola. Oatmeal is my favorite breakfast these days, but I've been looking for a way to jazz it up, and now I've found one!

Remember Erin from this Skinny Bitch post? Well, she's now adding granola to her O'Cookies Wholesome Bites Company, and I couldn't be more excited about it. She's still in the experimental stages, so she gave me a sample to test out. (Umm, Erin, wanna hire me as your full-time taste tester? I'd be really good at it, I swear). Look how cute that packaging is. It even has the ingredients written on the little card: Oats, almonds, dried cranberries, coconut flakes, raw honey, and coconut oil--everything is organic, of course.

I recently switched from the sugary oatmeal flavors to plain, and without something delicious like Erin's Cherry Almond Granola to mix in, it just tastes...well...plain. The verdict: YUM-MY! It tasted fresh and healthy, with just the right amount of sweetness--perfection! But, because this is a critique and Erin wants my honest opinion, the only thing I would maybe change is having full almonds in the mix. Halves or slivers might work better. That's just my personal preference, but Liza said she really likes the full almonds, so what the heck do I know?

Oh, and I have to mention that the bowl I ate my oatmeal in was made by Jenn! She gave it to me for my birthday. I had a lotta love in my breakfast this morning, and it made me really happy. What's your breakfast of champions? And help Erin out: How do you usually like your granola? (Big chunks? small chunks? sweet? nuts or no nuts?)

NYC's superficial bullshit—I'm over it.

In New York, if you're fashionable and skinny, you've got it made. If you are those two things, people will tell you all day, every day just how chic and fabulous and SKINNY you are. Seriously. Oh, and good hair helps, too. Honestly, it doesn't even matter if your mug is fug. 

I don't know, some Manhattanites might disagree with me, but this is the impression I get at every party or event I go to. The girl with the pretty face is not the one being told just how amaaazing she is. And I guess I'm mainly talking about the fashion crowd. My sister and some of my best friends in the city are in the fashion industry, so I kinda fell into this circle by default. (Well, I'm the girl on the outside of the circle peeking in). Going to cool parties can be a lot of fun, but honestly I'm starting to question if it is even worth it—it's certainly not doing good things for my self-esteem. 

Olivia Palermo from The City is stylish, skinny and gorgeous. And she has a beautiful mane. Bitch. I think she's incredibly insecure, though. I saw her at the charity party I wrote about in this post where I got my infamous red bag, and she didn't seem confident at all. She kept trying to join in on other people's conversations, but no one really wanted to talk to her—it was totally awkward. Hmm, I guess even the fashionably elite have their issues.

Sadly, all of this superficial bullshit has rubbed off on me. I'm never happy with my weight, my hair or what I'm wearing. I guess it doesn't help that I can't even afford a haircut and that my D.I.Y. manicure looks like a six year-old did it. I need to find a way to be the best version of myself I can be with the resources I've got right now. I can't keep waiting and waiting for things to get better because even when I do have the money to buy new clothes and go grocery shopping at Whole Foods, I'll have a new set of issues.

Does anyone else feel this way? Do your surroundings or the media have an impact on the way you feel about yourself?

Photo Shoot Friday: The Housewives of NEW YORK!

Last night I went to Gotham magazine's 100 Hottest Bachelors of New York party at M2 Ultra Lounge. I took a look at the bachelors on the list before I went (Ok, I studied it...I didn't want to miss anyone!), and the most exciting person on there was Edward Norton. I knew he wouldn't be there, so I didn't even let myself get excited about it.

Hmm...who else would I want to see? Justin Bartha! He's not even near one of my favorite actors, but The Hangover was pretty sweet, so I figured if I saw Justin Bartha, I'd be happy enough. So once Julie, Federicka, Nancy and I got to the party, we instantly surveyed the room. Not only was Justin Bartha nowhere in sight (he was probably holed-up downtown somewhere, working that hipster scene with gf Ashley Olsen)--but hello, where are the hot bachelors of NYC?! Instead, we got hit on by every lame dude in the place.

I suppose you can't really blame the guys for trying--look how good my girls look. However, we got a couple pick-up lines thrown our way that must be addressed:

#1: Julie and I walked past a tall, preppy guy in a yellow striped sweater, and he turned to Julie and says, "Hey, do I know you?" Julie, blinded by the guy's good looks (he was attractive, I'll give him that), stops to entertain his question. And he keeps saying it..."Yeah, I know you..." After about the fifth time of hearing him repeat himself, I grabbed Julie's arm and dragged her away. Guy, if that's the best you got for a girl as pretty as Julie, then you don't deserve to talk to her. Next!

#2: A guy (I didn't get a good look at him because I was too busy trying to stalk the NY Housewives) comes up to Federicka, Julie and Nancy and says, "Where's the fun at?!" Umm, what do you say to that? "It's right here, baby!!!" It was funny because just as Fed was about to give him a witty response, Julie starts explaining in-depth where the FRONT DOOR is at. She totally misheard him. He quickly walked away.

Here we have Kelly, Alex, Simon and one of the new NYC Housewives, Sonja Morgan. As much as I really think Kelly just sucks at life, I have to admit, she looked totally hot. Skinny bitch. Sonja is pretty, but I'm not sure if she can compete with some of the other ladies. I wasn't digging her look at all, and later in the night she wrapped a stupid pink shawl over her shoulders. Sonja, this is not Housewives of ATLANTA...step it up and represent, woman!

Here's Luann. She's a tie with Jill for my second favorite housewife (Bethenny is first, duh). She's pretty and classy, and that's good enough for me. It was funny watching the ladies have fake conversations with each other. It seemed like such work. Towards the end of the night when everyone was posing for pictures, Luann was throwing a minor Countess-esque tantrum about not having her jacket. She was waving her coat check ticket saying, "I'll take a picture, but I need my jacket. Where is my jacket?" Oh, Luann.

Here's Jill. It's not the best picture of her, sorry, I had a hard time getting around the camera crew. You can't really tell, but mama was lookin' good last night--and skin-ny (well, for her). Supposedly she follows one of Bethenny's Naturally Thin rules: Treat your diet like your bank account. Basically, if you make a heavy-calorie investment with one meal, save calories in the next one. You need to balance your account. Simple enough.

Speaking of Bethenny, she was the ONLY housewife not to show up. At one point, I heard someone say, "Clear the area for Bethenny!" and I got waaaay excited. I whipped my camera out, put the flash on, and stood there for at least twenty minutes just waiting for Bethenny while my friends were off somewhere drinking champagne and getting hit on by guys with slicked-back hair. She was a no-show. So, I decided to join my friends and have a little photo shoot of our own.

The champagne ran out, so I settled for this large can of Sapporo beer. It was pretty tasty actually. Beer is really good when you only drink it occasionally.

Here is Federicka working out her Cavalli dress. Loves it. (She works for Cavalli. Lucky bi-otch!)

And her Cavalli shoes. This pic doesn't do them justice--look at that gross grandma carpet! (Confession: I was totally jealous of Fed's outfit).

We were tired, and a bit unimpressed with the party, so we headed out early. Federicka jumped in front of this cool piece of artwork just as we were leaving. Love that model stare, Fed.

So, all in all the party was just OK. It was cool seeing the housewives, but that was about it. Most of the time, the parties you see on TV really aren't as cool as they look. Just remember that.

Tell me: Who is your favorite NYC Housewife? Season 3 will air in a few months. Are you excited for it?? I am!

I did a little pre-birthday shopping. Got a problem with that?

I received some birthday money from relatives this week (Um, am I too old to be getting birthday money?), so I thought it couldn't hurt to buy a few new things. In the past, I have spent birthday money on bills or rent, and while I just might kick myself for spending the money on myself this time, it felt really nice to get a few new pieces. (I give you full permission to throw this back in my face the next time I cry and bitch about how broke I am). 

I got the plaid shirt at GAP and the fur vest at American Eagle. I like mixing casual and dressy pieces—I haven't tried this on together yet, but I think it just might be my birthday outfit! I was tempted to get this denim vest Jenn wrote about on her blog, but I didn't want to have to call her every time we were supposed to hang out to make sure she wasn't wearing it, too. 

GAP is having a buy one, get one FREE sweater sale! I got this for myself and one for my mom's Christmas present. The sweater is a lot prettier in person AND it has pockets!

My boyfriend bought me a cool purple dress from American Apparel as a little pre-birthday present, but it was a bit too snug, so I had to return it. (Actually, it was a lot too snug—mucho back fat was a grande problemo). I exchanged it for this white tee and a pair of black leggings. The scarf is from GAP—I went a little nuts in that store! I could see myself wearing this with my denim button-up shirt and black skinny jeans with either boots or Converse. It's so funny, when I first moved to NYC, I was all about getting the trendiest clothes I could find. Now that I'm more in-tune with my own personal style (it's a work in progress), I know that basics work better for me. 

OK, so I definitely didn't need these pajama pants, but most of the ones I own have holes in them, and I thought it would be really nice to wake up on my 29th birthday in a fresh pair of PJs. (Eek, I'm still trying to find a better way to justify the purchase!)

I really hope you like what I bought because you'll be seeing these pieces over and over again in pictures. I haven't been shopping in so long, that it seriously put me in the BEST mood ever. I told sales clerks to have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! a little too cheerfully, and I even caught myself smiling at several strangers on the street. I just hope I don't come crashing down from this high tomorrow and sink into a deep buyer's remorse stupor. That would suck.

Stores like GAP and American Eagle have really stepped up their game. If you had told me they would be my go-to places a year ago, I wouldn't have believed you. What are your favorite places to shop? And how many crazy people out there are going shopping on Black Friday?! Not this girl.