Tax.Lady.

When it comes to filing taxes, I'd rather stick needles in my eyes! Thankfully my mother happens to be my Personal Tax Accountant. She actually gets a kick out of crunching numbers and working her magic! Is she for real?!? I don't understand her, but I can't complain. All I know is I am incredibly thankful for her services!

Tuscan.Retreat.

Something that's been on my wish list for quite a few years is to travel to Italy. I studied the beautiful language in college and recently started studying it again via apps on my iPad. I am hoping that by re-learning the language, I will be inspired to save money and travel there sometime in the near future.

I have a feeling the reason I keep putting it off is I'm afraid I won't want to come back to California. This picture is exactly how I picture life in Tuscany. It looks so serene and absolutely beautiful. Except my bike is pink and I'd have a cute doggie in the basket.

Banana.Mousse.

Banana Mousse

Ingredients-

• 2 Tbsp. low-fat milk
• 4 tsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 medium banana, quartered
• 1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt
• 4 slices banana (1/4 inch each)

Directions-

In a blender, blend milk, sugar, vanilla, and the quartered banana together at high speed until mixture is smooth. Pour into a bowl and fold in yogurt. Chill mixture for at least 45 minutes in refrigerator; when chilled, spoon mousse into 4 dessert dishes. Cut 4 1/4-inch slices from banana, and stand 1 banana slice on its side in each bowl. Makes 4 servings.

Special thanks to Beachbody for this tasty recipe. For more low-calorie recipes, please visit www.FitCoachTaryn.com

Slow.And.Steady.Wins.The.Race.

Make-up Mondays have turned into Motivational Mondays in the interest of appealing to a larger audience and because I believe starting the week off with words of wisdom helps one to be more productive and accomplish more over the next 7 days.

So to kick-off this new weekly posting category, I will share with you a quote by a man I really admire.

"Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day." - Jim Rohn

I listen to Jim Rohn's audio books in what I call my "Drive Time University" as I've mentioned to you before, and he fills me with so much inspiration and motivation.

His quote above is powerful. Remember the story of the Tortoise and the Hare? Well, do you remember who ultimately wins that race? The tortoise. Why? Because slow and steady wins the race. When you practice small things consistently, you will build momentum and you're bound to reach success.

So my friends, I wish you a good week and remember, it's the small things that you do on a consistent basis that will pay off in the end.

Sandy.Toes.

I can't wait for the sunshine to come out and bring warmer weather so I can stick my toes in the sand and enjoy the local beaches. I find so much serenity in the sand and can't wait for the dreary weather to leave for a few months.

Flower.Power.

I have a slight obsession with flower rings. They are simply adorable and add such a feminine touch to any outfit.

Downward.Dog.

Well, I am happy to report that I reached a personal fitness goal this week - I successfully touched my heels to the floor in downward dog. Because I sit most of the day at work, my leg muscles tend to be very tight. Touching my heels to the mat has been a goal of mine for quite some time now, and on Monday, I achieved my goal without even trying. It just goes to show the more you practice something, the better you become.

Reaching.Goals.

It's true...when you surround yourself with like-minded people who want similar things, it's so much easier to reach your own personal goals and make your dreams realities. Each day, I think about how thankful I am to have such wonderful motivators and supporters in my life. To you - I say thank you!

Wicked.

Something that has been on my wish list for quite some time is to see Wicked. I have always loved The Wizard of Oz. In fact, I've probably seen that movie more times than any other movie. Well, tonight, I'm going to finally see the musical and learn the untold story of the Witches of Oz and I'm so excited!

Lite.And.Refreshing.

Shaved Raw Asparagus with Parmesan Dressing

Ingredients

• 2 pound(s) large asparagus
• 1 cup (3 ounces) coarsely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 3 tablespoon(s) fresh lemon juice
  
• 2 tablespoon(s) warm water
  
• 1/4 cup(s) extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the asparagus into long, thin strips, and transfer to a large bowl.
2. In a small bowl, mix the Parmigiano-Reggiano with the lemon juice, water, and olive oil. Add to the asparagus and toss to coat. Season the salad with salt and pepper and serve at once.

Lipstick.Trails.

I am so guilty of leaving my lips behind on every cup I drink from. I need advice on a good lipstick with "staying power" that won't rub off. I'm always so scared to try them because if the color isn't right for me, then I'm stuck with it! Leave a comment if you recommend a good lipstick that will stay on my lips and only on my lips.

Blustery.Day.

This wind and rain are trying to lift my feet off the ground and make me soar up and away...

Adorable.Trench.

Trench coats are definitely a Spring must-have. While I don't personally own one, I know I need to add one to my wardrobe. This little red one is simply adorable and at $1900, completely out of my price range!

BODYPUMP™.

I have a new fitness love and it's LES MILLS™ BODYPUMP™. O-M-G this 60-minute Group X class kicks my booty and gives me such an amazing sense of accomplishment when I am done.

BODYPUMP™ is the original barbell class that strengthens your entire body. It challenges all your major muscle groups by using the best weight-room exercises like squats, presses, lifts and curls. Great music, awesome instructors and your choice of weights inspire you to get the results you came for – and fast! Like all the LES MILLS™ programs, a new BODYPUMP™ class is released every three months with new music and choreography.

BODYPUMP™ is designed to improve strength and endurance in the major muscle groups and, in doing so, burn calories.

I have attended two classes so far at 24 Hour Fitness but I definitely plan to continue attending at least once a week, if not more.

For more information about this format, visit www.lesmills.com or to find a schedule at a 24 Hour Fitness club in your area, visit www.24HourFitness.com

Daylight.Savings.

I am SO thankful for Daylight Savings Time. I love leaving work when it's still light out and I love that setting our clocks ahead means summer is approaching. While we only gain one hour, I feel like we gain much more and it makes me feel like I can accomplish more in a day. Oh, how I LOVE this time of year!

Shorter.Workweeks.

Do you ever wish work weeks were shorter? I would be happy with 4-day work weeks and 3-day weekends all the time. I'm sending my wish out into the universe.

Peanut.Noodles.

This low-cal chicken recipe had me at peanut butter!

Ingredients-

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1-1/2 teaspoons chile-garlic sauce
• 1 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
• 8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
• 1 bags fresh vegetable medley

Directions-

1. Put a large pot of water on to boil for cooking pasta.
2. Meanwhile, place chicken in a skillet or saucepan and add enough water to cover; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer gently until cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, shred into bite-size strips.
3. Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, chile-garlic sauce and ginger in a large bowl.
4. Cook pasta in the boiling water until not quite tender, about 1 minute less than specified in the package directions. Add vegetables and cook until the pasta and vegetables are just tender, 1 minute more. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Rinse the pasta and vegetables with cool water to refresh. Stir the reserved cooking liquid into the peanut sauce; add the pasta, vegetables and chicken; toss well to coat. Serve warm or chilled.

Tropical.Sunset.Inspiration.

Lately I haven't been too adventurous with my eye shadow application. I've been sticking to my usual everyday neutral, but shimmery, colors. I found this image and it has provided inspiration for me to brighten up my eyes and explore application techniques for Spring. I absolutely love this color combination. It looks like a tropical sunset.

Baby.Hedgehog.

I have a confession. Rodents and little fast-moving creatures give me the heebie jeebies. However, how incredibly ADORABLE is this little baby hedgehog?! My boyfriend recently introduced me to Stumble! which provides me with websites and content that is specific to my interests. One topic of mine happens to be animals and this little guy popped up. It just might be one of the cutest things I've ever seen. And I NEVER say that about creatures such as this. The third picture just happens to be my favorite!

I.Love.Shoes.

I wish these super HOT Christian Dior's would just walk their way right into my closest. Or better yet, right onto my feet!

The.Early.Bird.Gets.The.Worm.

It's true. When it comes to reaching fitness goals, the early bird really does get the worm. There are many studies that have proven that the people who wake up before the rest of the world to begin their day with a workout are more productive, feel better about themselves, have nicer and more positive attitudes and are generally healthier than those who choose to snooze and put off their workouts for a later time. Let's face it. When we say we'll workout after work, many times it just doesn't happen. We either end up working later than we planned or other things come up. When you workout at 5am, you are not allowing anything to get in the way of "YOU" time. Don't believe me? Try it. Give me three weeks and tell me if you don't in fact see an improvement in your attitude, your productivity, your appearance and your energy level. Hearing that alarm go off before the sun is up will be difficult the first few days. I won't lie to you. But, keep this routine up for 21 days and it will become a habit.

Drive.Time.University.

I am extremely thankful for motivational and personal development books and audio mp3s. About a year ago I started reading personal development content and listening to motivational speakers on a regular basis. I am one of those people who never wants to stop learning and these are the perfect tools that enable me to continue personal growth without having to sit in a classroom. Audio mp3s and CDs are such great resources. I listen to them in my car in what I like to call "Drive Time University." Let's face it. We spend many hours of our weeks driving to and from work, running around town, etc. Why not use that time to better ourselves? There are plenty of people in this world who just know what they are talking about as a result of learning from mistakes and have become extremely successful. If they are willing to teach us their methods and share with us their tools for becoming better individuals, why wouldn't we listen or read their words of advice?

Lhasa.Apso.

Growing up, I had the CUTEST doggy, Popper. He was a Lhasa Apso and he was MY baby. He became a part of my family when he and I were both very young; he was a few weeks old and I was about 7 years old, thus making us the same age in dog years. He was my favorite companion and I could ALWAYS rely on him to bring a smile to my face. I had to say goodbye to my Popper when I was 17 years old and it was the saddest day I have ever experienced.

I am really wanting to adopt a doggy, and of course I want another Lhasa. They are such an adorable and extremely loving breed. They do require a lot of maintenance, but then again, so do I, so I guess it's really quite a perfect fit for me!

Until I find another home for myself (my apartment complex says no dogs), a Lhasa Apso will remain on my wish list.

Pesto.Egg.Sandwich.

One fun fact about me: I LOVE sandwiches!

Today's fun, and healthy, recipe is Sliced Egg and Tomato Sandwich with Pesto Mayonnaise. Now, this is the first sandwich I have seen using a hard boiled egg, without turning it into Egg Salad. I am intrigued by this, so I will be trying this recipe pronto. Oh yea, and I love pesto! Thank you Fitness Magazine for the inspiration.

Ingredients-

* 1 tablespoon reduced-fat mayonnaise
* 1-1/2 teaspoons basil pesto
* 2 slices whole-grain bread
* 1 hard-boiled egg, thinly sliced
* 1 small tomato, cored and thinly sliced
* Kosher or coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
* Fresh basil for garnish on the sandwich

Directions-

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and pesto. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Spread mixture on 1 slice of bread; cover with egg, tomato and remaining bread.

Enjoy!

Enchanting.Eyes.

I love the look of this lime green and yellow eyeshadow combination. It just screams Spring! A trip to the MAC counter just might be in my near future :)

Serenity.In.The.Sky.

Picture this. Soaring high up in the sky. Sunshine warming your skin. A cool breeze in your face. Pure silence of the nothingness surrounding you. I've always wondered what it would be like to soar up and away in a beautiful, brightly colored hot air balloon.

Hello.Spring.Colors.

Forget about the dusty, muted shades. This Spring it's all about the-bolder-the-better brights and I am so excited! Not only are brights in, but the fabulous and unexpected color combinations are what the season's trend is really about. The colors we will be seeing, and most certainly wearing, include pink, orange, and deep purple; turquoise and taxi cab yellow; lime and emerald green. Talk about knock-out style!

TurboFire.

Did you know we are 90 days away from Summer? Are you ready to hit the beach?! My guess is you'd feel more comfortable slipping on that itsy bitsy bikini if you were a little more toned, or if you lost a few pounds. Am I right? Well if you said yes or even nodded your head slightly, I want to let you in on a little secret called TurboFire. It's currently the #1 infomerical in the United States and there's a reason for that. This program is NO JOKE! Chalene tears it up in this HOT workout series and guess what?! She saved the best spot in class just for YOU! Oh, and did I mention Chalene is a personal friend and mentor of mine?! I can personally promise the results you see here are REAL!

Friends.Are.Like.Flowers.

Friendships are much like flowers. One day you plant a seed, over time you give that seed lots of love and nourishment and as a result a flower blooms. No two flowers are exactly alike. Each has its own unique features and imperfections and that's what makes it beautiful. I am so thankful for the friendships I have. My friends are my flowers and I can't imagine my garden without them.

It's.Official.

Well, it's official. I am a blogger! I am so excited to share my thoughts, my ideas and my favorites on a daily basis. What took me so long to take the plunge? I don't know. What I do know is this - you are about to be dazzled!