Do you know why this Monday is extra freaking marvelous? Like the most marvelous of all the Mondays? Because I don't have work today!! It may seem a bit sad how much that excites me but oh well I love any day where I get paid to sleep in and chillax. 

This weekend wasn't too shabby either. Saturday was spent lounging around, reading, cooking and cleaning. I also enjoyed these:

Definitely not as good as the homemade thing but it satisfied a perpetual craving. I also baked them instead of pan frying so basically they were calorie free right? ;)

Another marvelous thing?

My January Bulu Box arrived! I haven't tried anything yet but it is fun to see what new stuff is out there and sample the goodies. I am seriously hoping the Dream Water is all it is cracked up to be because this girl has serious insomnia. 

The last marvelous thing is that I signed up for my first half marathon! I knew what date I was going to register for this whole week so I started "training" on Monday and while I am pretty sure my body can handle it (I haven't asked my knee yet but what does it know?) I know it will be a challenge mentally. I get bored REALLY easily and even though I love running and love the feeling I wonder how I will hold up to 13 miles. I ran a little over 5 miles on Thursday and time was dragging. Maybe running outdoors/with a buddy will help?

Today I am planning on shopping and then getting a beach run in with my friend who signed up for the half with me. I hope to get a solid 6 miles in since I only have until early March to prepare! 

Happy Monday! Actually it is still Sunday (hence the reason I am in a decent mood) but I know tomorrow morning I will not want to get up early to caffeinate and post an entry so handling it now is the only way!

Like any other weekend this one just flew by...

I had cocktails and saw Django Unchained on Saturday and woooww was it was more gruesome than I would have anticipated. That being said it was also really funny and entertaining. 

Marvelous is also my new Nike workout capris! I love feeling a little more dressed up at the gym (as opposed to sloppy shorts and a XL running shirt). It made my quick run feel a lot better. I don't know how or why but I choose not to question it.

I watched the whole first season of Girls on a matter of two nights. Two work nights. I may have a serious addiction. 

I finally saw the season 2 finale for Downton Abbey! Don't spoil season 3 openers for me since I won't be able to watch it for a few more weeks but the ending for season 2 was cute. Warmed my black little heart. 

Well that is all that is marvelous thus far. I am hoping Monday will bring even more!

Thanks Jenn for giving me a reason (swift kick in the ass) to blog regularly! 

This week has been crazy so far! Work has been hectic, traffic is back thanks to everyone being back from vacation and the gym is just humming along with all of the January resolutions. I am so happy it is almost Wednesday! Can you sense any sarcasm there? Ugh I guess it doesn't translate well but whatever. Let's eat folks. 

Breakfast is always coffee and a couple mini chocolates from the candy jar. The habit doesn't seem to budge and I am over fighting it so it is what it is. I usually punish myself an hour later by making myself drink green tea. Balance? Snack has been pretty consistent as well. Baby cucumbers with dressing. That photo was when I got a little distracted and dressing happy. Lunch was really good. Anytime there is homemade pizza and a magazine lunch is good as far as I am concerned. Dinner was inhaled so I only took a picture as I paused to breath in between mouthfuls. Chicken tacos with kale and lots of hot sauce. Yum. I'm hungry again all ready. 

I did two 30 minute workout videos on Sunday and OUCH! My arms and back are killing me. I was trying to put a sports bra on at the gym and my yelp was enough to draw attention (and it's the YMCA where people pass out all the time, you gotta be good to get the attention of those ladies). The videos were a mix of yoga and Pilates and while I didn't feel it then I sure have respect for it now. I can't wait to do it again ;)

Happy New Years everyone! I am writing this post Tuesday evening since I know I won't have time tomorrow morning so it is still a holiday over here. 

For New Years Eve I had work :( but the managing partner sent us home at 3 so I had ample time to prep and watch trash tv before the night began. I knew I wasn't down to go to a club or outta town since I am still recovering from the Christmas festivities so I went over to one of my good friend's houses for dinner and relaxation. She is Japanese and her whole family brought so much good food I was about to burst. Home made sushi rolls, sashimi, chicken, pork were all on the menu (plus some items that I have no idea what they were!). Everything was really good and refreshing! After that I went over to another one of my friend's houses to catch up since I hadn't seen here since long before Christmas and then it was right in bed for me. I know, I am super hardcore. 

Home before midnight means more time in my pajamas plus not being on the road when the crazies are leaving bars! Double win!

Today I went on a long walk at the beach with my mom, followed by a breakfast at Good Stuff and then came home to do an hour of yoga! I usually can't stand yoga (sorry) but I found a video on the exercise on demand channel that moved at a nice pace and I know my booty is gonna be sore tomorrow. 

As far as eats I totally flaked on taking many pictures. Dinner was an old standby of greek salad but otherwise I only have a picture of my lunch and snacks tomorrow...

Snacks will be a baby cucumber with garlic ranch dressing and some beef jerky. I already packed these for work so I don't "forget" them and buy chips instead. 

Lunch will be my first ever roasted squash! I roasted Kabocha with salt, pepper, olive oil and a little shake of cayenne pepper. It isn't my favorite squash ever but it is pretty tasty none the less and I can check another veggie off my list!

Before and after! I also do kinda love that you can eat the peel as well, it just makes it feel healthier for some reason!

Anyway this post is getting outrageously long so I am gonna save the rest of my pictures and happenings for later this week. I hope everyone has a fabulous Wednesday! 

Back to blogging! These last couple weeks have flown by and while I have taken pictures (with every intention of posting them) I never actually made it down to writing a post. Marvelous in My Monday is the perfect way to get back into the blogging routine!

Christmas was a whirlwind and it literally felt like I landed in Michigan and then flew back out the very next day. The flights were not cool with this nervous flier but we made it out before the storm hit last week (I hope everyone stayed safe!) and minus some wind a few big "pothole" feeling bumps I arrived home on Wednesday with almost all of my nerves intact. The same cannot be said for my health and body though. Does anyone else feel like they need a looooong detox after the holidays?? With all of the booze and sugar and carbs my body is really just craving veggies and fresh juices. 

Anyway here are some of the photos from the trip:

Well the first three pictures are pretty self explanatory. Trees, snow and more snow all definitely made appearances during my 5 day long stay in the mitten state. The 4th picture is a tradition (and also not my own photo). We always try to go to Hamtramck to get polish food whenever we are in town and this is the place we always go. Ohh it is carbicide and I love it. Potato noodles, schnitzel, pierogi, city chicken (my first time trying it!), and kielbasa. I am drooling just thinking about it. The last photo is what I blew almost half of my xmas bonus on. Rose gold and shiny I love it. 

Now that I am back I am so excited to have my meals look a little more like this and to have my workouts actually take place! Happy New Years and I hope everyone has a great week!

Ahhhhh! It is almost Christmas!! In 4 days I will be on a plane flying to Michigan and seeing some family that I haven't seen in what feels like forever! If you can't tell I cannot wait ;)

I kinda like the Monday recap/link-up that is Marvelous in my Monday so I am keeping it up (for now...we all know I am a flaky blogger). What has been marvelous lately?? well.....

We celebrated Christmas with my little family in Cali (mom, stepdad, stepbro and sis) today and I had been dropping such subtle hints (if leaving notes all over my mom's desk is subtle) about wanting a sweater dress/long shirt to wear with boots and guess what?? I got one! Haha I cannot wait to wear it to work tomorrow. I also got new work pants and sweaters that I needed so basically now I have more money to spend on this:

I REALLY want a watch. I have one but it was cheap and it rusting all over so I want to buy a "grown up" one. I have been saving my tips from job #2 and I have a Christmas bonus so I can more than afford it but I have never bought a piece of jewelry so expensive before! I keep staring at them online each night trying to make up my mind... I need a decision maker stat.

I am sure I will have more marvelous things as it gets closer to Christmas but for now I am rushing off to work! Have a great Monday everyone!


Has anyone bought an expensive piece of jewelry for themselves before? 
What is going on this Monday?

Well I didn't do too well following the theme this week...but I had fun eating and drinking my face off so I guess it's okay? Well doubt it but this week I am trying to eat clean to counteract all the indulgences. 

This Sunday we had a block party and somehow I ended up getting almost no pictures of the food or guests but all of the pictures of the themed beverages of the night....

There was also a boatload of wine at the party but these were more fun and seasonal I thought. Food was just about everything you could imagine and way too many sweets!

Today I was finally feeling a bit better (I can't party on work nights anymore I guess...) and back to eating healthy. For breakfast I had granola (you know what it looks like) and coffee.

I bought a little size of it cause I wasn't sure if I would like it and now have to go back to target to buy the big box. I also have to hide it in my desk cause people be stealing my dressing at work and I am not letting them steal my coffee as well. I am not bitter at all.

Lunch was a kale salad (whole foods had one with cabbage and carrots mixed in!) with roasted garlic dressing and chili (obviously unpictured). Our neighbor always makes chili for the block party and since we hosted we got all of the leftovers. Spicy chili is perfect for a comfort food lunch. 

I have no pictures of dinner since I haven't eaten it yet but it will most likely include this:

...and a great deal of chips. There is also some left over cheesy artichoke dip that I I can totally see myself finishing off. 

Hey Hey also check out my first MIMM! (Since you care so much and all). 

I have been wanting to join another link-up lately and what day is better than Monday? Well Friday is a bit better...but not for linking up so Monday it is! For more details on Marvelous in my Monday head here. 

This is my new favorite outfit. It may not have a long life with that title since I just went shopping yesterday but it made my Thursday way better. The top is from Nordstrom Rack and I paired it with leggings and high heel black leather boots. Comfy and just a bit sexy, aka my ideal work outfit.

Now I understand that my name isn't the easiest to spell, I mean half my teachers couldn't even say it properly (Did they really think my parents hated me enough to name me Cat-lin??) so when the Starbucks man asked me how to spell it I just said it didn't matter. I didn't realize he would throw this option out there. wtf?

randoommmmm... I miss this though. I miss my random ass road trips to northern California for a range of shady reasons (mainly for/with guys) and the places I would stop (and/or force them to stop) along the way. The one part of my job (well main part..) that I hate is the lack of flexibility. I want a job that lets me travel and explore and sends me to different places. I swear if I wasn't such a freak about flying I would become a flight attendant in a heart beat. 

Usually my mom and I plan a trip every spring and this spring I realized that I won't have enough vacation time to go anywhere. It bummed me out to realize that my random and crazy spur of the moment trips are over and I most likely won't ever get them back. I know that life will give me many more fun times but it is disappointing to know that that chapter is behind me.....

Now I am off to work and dead tired from our annual block party last night. I will post more on that later, including all of the good eats that everyone brought. Have a good Monday!

I would LOVE to say "Oh it's Wednesday ALREADY?? This week is just flying by!" but I can't. This week is crawling and it is only Tuesday night. Oh well onto some eats....

I swear I had more that liquids and granola..there is just no photographic proof...ehhh it wasn't that pretty of a meal anyway. For lunch I had a plain kale salad and some hard boiled eggs (booorriinnggggg). I don't know what I was thinking packing that lunch last night. It was lame and didn't even taste all that great. I am drinking the Kombucha right now and planning out dinner. I ran 3 miles yesterday (yayyy me!!!) and today I am taking a break so my knee doesn't get too angry at me and quit the team. I loved being all tired and sweaty and it definitely put me in a good mood after a long day at work. 

I have also been attempting to break out of my fashion rut with these:

I rarely wear prints, let alone printed pants, but the muted colors (black and gray) helped me feel a bit more comfortable and it felt good to mix it up and not just wear the same 3 outfits to work. I have another new outfit planned for Thursday so the firm better watch out ;) 

I hope your week is going by faster than mine! 

Anyone else own printed pants? Do you like that they make you stand out more or no?
What are you eating this week?