Latest Obsession - Stiletto Nails

My latest fashion obsession has been stiletto nails.  They are like the power nail of nails.  In fact the Queen Bee herself, Beyoncè, has been seen rocking this trend.  They are a mix of classy and sassy, sexy and sophisticated.  I think I will be making my way to the salon this evening to get my hands on this new fashion trend!

Want to see more stiletto nail designs?  Check out my Flashy Fingers board of my Pinterest page.  There you can find all my favorite nail trends!

Check out Tif's board Flashy Fingers! on Pinterest.

You Are What You Eat

You know how they say you are what you eat?  Well with the Victoria Secret Fashion Show last night it got me thinking ...

Just some food for thought for you today while you are eating your lettuce and planning your two-a-days at the gym trying to get that VS model bod!

XOXO,

RTR

Rent the Runway has to be my newest obsession.  It is great for someone like me who has both limited closet space and a limited budget, but still wants to be fashion forward.  RTR gives their renters the option to rent designer dresses for a fraction of the cost of purchasing.  They make the renting process easy and hassle free.  RTR takes care of everything from return shipping to dry cleaning.  They even give you the option to rent accessories that will pair well with you dress.  And for the super fashion forward city dweller (because we all know your closets are tiny) they offer unlimited renting for $49 per month.  Unlimited renting allows the renter to rent 3 items at a time (items include dresses, coats, sunglasses, and other accessories).  After you are done with one item, you simply return it and they will ship out another item on your renting wish list.  Check out the awesome neoprene dress I rented from RTR for my fiance's holiday party this past weekend in DC.  

Like what you see and want to sign up for Rent the Runway?  Just click here!

Vacations Kill Me

I don't know about you, but when I get back from vacation I need some serious rehab and recovery.  Vacations take a huge toll on my body.  I always go on vacation with the mindset that I will run every day, and continue to eat healthy.  Who wouldn't want to run with these beautiful views?

 The idea of a fit and healthy vacation lasts about a day.  Then I fall into the mindset of YOLO I'm on vacation!  Let me eat everything I don't normally eat at home, drink mimosas in the morning, have beers on the beach, and end the night with a bottle of wine.  This kills my body.  It slows it down, and I gain about 5lbs of water weight from all the bad food and drinking.

Vacation ... ugh!

I'm Back!

Guess what... I'm back! Baxter is happy, how about you?

Sorry I've been gone for so long, but I have been busy doing great things to share with you all.  Get prepared!  If you follow my blog, you know it really has no structure on what I post, but that is all changing.  In the coming weeks look out for the following regular blog topics:

• This and That -  This will be my place to share fashion finds, products I enjoy, and other things I hope that you will enjoy reading about.
• Get It, Get Fit - Recently I have become very dedicate to my health and fitness.  Here I will give fitness tips, recipes, fitness finds, and personal progress reports on my journey.
• Charmcity Living - With a name such as Charm City Tif, how could I not talk about the great city that is Baltimore.  Here I will post about city life, living in Charm City on a budget, things to do, and great finds in Baltimore!

I will also have a blog series called "Camping the World".  Keep a look out in the upcoming week for the first post in this series.

I can't wait to get back into the swing of things and start sharing what I've been doing with you all!

Skinniness is Happiness

"I will be happier once I'm skinny." That's the thought in most women's minds. That nothing feels as good as skinny does.  That happiness only comes with a model figure.  Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's FALSE.

Now if you know me on a personal level you may be saying, "Tif, shut up!  You have been a twig all your life."  This is true for the most part.  Growing up I was really skinny.  So skinny that I always wished I would gain weight.  I had the worst chicken legs ever, and everyone made fun of me for it.  I don't think I weighted over 100lbs until halfway through high school (and I'm 5'6).  It wasn't until I hit 23 that I started my up and down weight battle.  Now, I'm not over weight by any means, but I'm not a comfortable weight either.

The picture above was taken two years ago.  I had been yo-yo dieting and taking diet pills for months.  This was my thinnest since high school.  Did I feel good?  Was I happy?  No.  I was tired all the time, had no motivation to do anything, and I was depressed.  This was not the right way to go about things.  This was not healthy, and my body was trying to tell me that.

Up until the past year I thought being skinny would make me happy.  I wanted to look like I did when I was in high school.  I found out this year that this was not the key to happiness.

I made the choice during Lent to eat vegetarian for 40 days, and that is how I discovered that being healthy makes you happy.  Making the conscious choices to eat what is good for my body is what makes me happy. Food can affect your mood and you body in many ways.  I feel happier when I know I have gone through my day eating what is good for my body.  I don't binge when my day was full of healthy choices.  I also don't feel bloated, weighted down, tired, or depressed.

Changing my eating habits was not an easy venture. It's something I did slowly, and eventually it became part of my life. Now I would rather choose happiness and feeling good over the loaded chili cheese fries.  However, I do treat myself on weekends (without binging).  If I don't let myself enjoy the "bad stuff" every now and again I will feel completely restricted.  That feeling of restriction leads to binging for me; and binging leads to depression.

So YOLO! -- Why not make it a happy and healthy one?

Issues

#SingleLife

Man this week has been one crazy week.  Mostly because I have been living the single life.  No really...you don't believe me?  Well Josh left on Tuesday for a business trip and I have been living it up ever since.  Here is how my week went:

Tuesday

• Took off work to party like a rock star since my man was away (actually we went to Monday night RAW the night before and I took off because I'm old)
• Slept most the day because, well, I'm old and can't hang like I use to
• Watched Grey's Anatomy (for 20 minutes until my power went out)
• Realized it was only half the house that lost power, so I ran power cords all over my house to get the TVs, refirgerators, and internet working (you know, the important stuff)
• Electric finally came back on around 3 AM (the dogs barked the entire time while the men worked outside ... UNTIL 3 AM!!!)

Wednesday

• Worked hard ... partied harder
• Naaaahhhh just kidding
• Ate Ramen like a boss
• Cleaned the bath tub, got a glass of wine, a good book, and decided to relax in a nice bath (check out the I'm a little weird  post to see how that went)
• Went to bed around 9
• HAD THE WHOLE BED TO MYSELF WHOOP WHOOP!!!!

Thursday

• Planned on going to the gym
• Came home to a dog in his crate covered in poop ... gym? ... nope, WINE!
• CLEANING
• WINE
• CLEANING
• WINE
• Ramen
• Grey's
• Bed at 9 

I yea ... it was pretty much what I did when I was single. #SingeLife

I'm a little weird...

So if you don't know already... I'm a little weird.  And that's not a bad thing.  Here are some of my quirks:

• I have to shower before the gym.  I hate feeling dirty before I work out.
• I have to shower before I do anything... go out, go to work, go to bed, ect.  I HATE feeling dirty.  Bleh!
• I hate baths.  I always think the next time is going to be different, but each time I step foot in a tub it's like I'm a ham cooking in broth.  Don't even get me started on the oils you put in there.  Yea they smell great, but they leave you feeling like you are coated in butter.  And you know what that means...post bath shower.
• I hate being sticky.  
• I don't like the feeling of my bare feet touching the carpet.  Just the idea of it makes my teeth turn to jello.
• I will binge eat potato chips until I explode.  

Vegetarian For 40 Days

So Josh and I have decided to give up meat for Lent.  We really didn't decided to do this for ethical reasons ... honestly, we both LOVE our burgers.  We thought this would be a fun, healthy challenge for us.  So far we are in day 6 of it, and it is going well.

Recently I had the chance to try Chipotle's Sofritas, and they did not disappoint!  For those of you who do not know what the Sofritas is (because they are not in all Chipotles yet -- Baltimore is one of the lucky few) it is organic tofu braised with chipotle chilis, roasted poblanos, and a blend of aromatic spices.  The result is something much like a spicy/sweet ground beef.  I could get use to this Sofritas thing!

Besides the Sofritas I have also tired Subway's Veggie Flatizza.  This wasn't half bad either.  Normally I wouldn't eat at Subway after that whole plastic bread thing, but it was between Subway and McDonald's and Subway wins that fight.  I wouldn't eat a Flatizza every day, but it's good in a pinch and it's cheap.

Besides eating out we have tried a few things at home like black bean tacos, veggie risotto, and black bean burgers.

I'm looking forward to experimenting with veggie recipes and going outside my comfort zone when it comes to food.  Who knows...maybe I will never eat meat again.  Or maybe I will keep that date with a burger I have for burger and a beer night on April 22nd.  Only time will tell.

I ♥ NYC

Oh New York!  I have to say, I really enjoyed my trip.  New York is a very unique city, with an amazing culture. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I went to New York, considering I already live in a city, Baltimore.  But Baltimore is nothing like New York.  

Everyone always says, "everything is bigger in New York", but they weren't kidding.

Each part of NYC is different from Time Square, to Brooklyn, to Manhattan.  And I know we only visited a small portion of it in our time there.  I honestly think the city is for people with ADD like me, who always needs something to do (because there is never a shortage).  The city is open 24/7.  There is never a shortage of 99 cent pizza or 75 cent bagels (all of which are awesome! - But you have to try the Artichoke Pizza).

And there is ALWAYS a chance for a photo opp where ever you go!

A walk in Central Park with our friends (amazing hosts).

The other half looking handsome in a candid.

Our friend's dog for a walk (Camden is a sweetheart).

NYC Weekend - Trendy? or Fashion Flop?

So I'm going to NYC this weekend to visit some friends who moved up there last year annnnnnddd  I feel like I have NOTHING to wear.  I mean, I have clothes, but nothing that screams, "HEY I'M COOL!  I'M ALL NYC AND TRENDY!"  My clothes scream, "I have a ton of crap that I don't know how to match, but I some how throw it together and it looks good (most of which comes out to of the dirty laundry -- it's okay, I smell it first)".  

So, anyways, I went on Polyvore and decided to come up with what I thought looked NYC and trendy.  This is what I came up with...

I think I might have a few of these things laying around (maybe not the exact name brand, but a good knockoff).  

So, after all of my research (which was about a good hour on Pinterest and Polyvore) I have decided that anything black is the way to go.  So I will be filling my over night bag with anything that makes me look Emo.  Also, I found that the staples to any outfit are a beanie, some simple black shades, and some weird jewelry.  Also, if you find a shirt with a random word on it you are GOLDEN!  

Alright fellow bloggers...wish me luck!  I promise to post pics of my fashion fail when I return.

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Food Snob

So...I have to admit, I've become a food snob lately.  How can I help it though?  I'm spoiled.  My fiance cooks for me all the time.  And by cook, I don't mean my version of bake.  He does everything from scratch.  No MSG in his food.  So when I have prepared foods, I make this weird ewwwwy face.  I can taste the chemicals and added sugars and sodium.

Yes, this is my ewwwwy face.

I won't eat at McDonald's or most fast food chains for that matter.  I think their food tastes horrible.  Starbucks lattes are waaaaay too sweet for me, and I have trouble finishing any dessert.

Now don't get me wrong, sometimes I do have craving for things that have no nutritional value at all.  Things that I'm pretty sure aren't even food.  Like Hot Fries.  I loooove Hot Fries.  And when I get a craving for them, I eat them.  While eating them, I wonder why I'm eating them.  They don't taste that great, and have no real food in them, but I want them (I'm pretty sure this is part of my food addiction I am still struggling with). 

I guess...for now... you can call me...a hypocrite.

House Wife

So I have to admit, I love being a house wife.  I love the days I get to work from home and clean the house, prepare dinner, and surprise my fiance.  Today I am baking cookies.

Yes, cookies out of a tub are considered baking.
You do have to bake them...RIGHT?!

 I'm not just baking cookies to surprise him with a delicious treat when he comes home though, I want the house to smell amazing.  You know, that "I just baked something" smell.  Good thing my Joe Corbie's order just came in at work.  I'm not the best baker in the world.  Actually, I'm not good at all.  Baking is alot like chemistry.  You have to follow the recipe exactly how it states, or you will find yourself having an epic fail.  Luckily for me, chemistry and baking aren't' exactly the same.  If I screw up following the recipe in baking I won't end up blowing anything up, or melting my skin off with acid.  (Side note:  I'm good at the analytical side of chemistry...I'm too impatient for the applied side.  Which explains my baking skills) 

Welp all...WISH ME LUCK!