book review: women of the vine

last night, i finished reading women of the vine: inside the world of women who make, taste, and enjoy wine. i got through the book very quickly because it was a combination of two of my favorite hobbies: reading and wine.

my mom brought my attention to this book after she attended an event with its author, deborah brenner. brenner is an alumna of university of delaware, the same college that alanna and i graduated from. she is also a "marketing executive-turned-wine label owner", which is a turn i would love my own career to take as well. 

the "women of the vine" in brennan's book are winemakers, vineyard owners, founders of magazines and wine groups, and wine writers. one is even a master sommelier (one of only fourteen female master sommeliers in the entire world)! her interviews with these women cover all angles of making and enjoying wine and are absolutely inspiring. 

wine spectator magazine hailed it "critical reading: the best new books of the year for any wine lover's library" and i definitely recommend it!  you can order the book (personalized to you and autographed by the author) by emailing info@womenofthevine.com. 

the author, deborah brennan. image via women of the vine

in addition to the book, deborah also founded a group by the same name.  women of the vine is "the first collaboration of sustainable family grape growers and women winemakers" (source).  the group has a partnership with farm aid which supports the mission of keeping america’s family farmers on the land.

you can learn more about deborah brenner, her book, and the women of the vine at http://www.womenofthevine.com/. 

one kings lane - blogger edition

one kings lane is one of my favorite online window-shop sites.  like rue la la or gilt, they are a website that offers deals and discounts on high-end merchandise, only to set them apart, they only focus on home goods.  i love this store but unfortunately can't afford a $1,000 table, rug, or bookshelf.  (one day! one day!) tonight though at 9pm they are hosting a sale curated by the top home design bloggers.  one of my favorites - jenny komeda from little green notebook is participating and i can't wait to see what she suggests.  my fingers are crossed that at least a few items are in my price range!

check out the sale here at 9pm tonight!

superfoods for weightloss

today when i was perusing self.com, i came across a slideshow of 20 superfoods that help with weightloss.  looking through the the slideshow, i started to get pretty excited and then wonder why i am not a size zero...these are all foods that i like to eat! there are not any huge surprises in this list of superfoods but i thought it was worth sharing as a reminder.  when i go grocery shopping tomorrow, i am going to make sure to bring this list with me so i can stock up and hopefully be a size zero in no time (i just shouldn't hold my breath for that one..)

1. beef - if you keep it organic and lean it can help you take off the lbs instead of put them on!
2. eggs
3. oats - steel cut oats are even healthier than instant oats!
4. lentils - apparently these are an excellent belly flattener...these will be going to the top of my grocery list tomorrow!
5. goji berries

6. wild salmon
7. apples - apparently if you eat an apple before eating a bowl of pasta, you will consume less calories! awesome!
8. buckwheat pasta
9. blueberries
10. almond butter

11. pomegranates
12. chiles - i hate spicy food but adding some to your diet can cause your body to burn calories for 20 minutes longer.  no wonder my college roommate who loved spicy foods is so skinny!
13. yogurt
14. quinoa
15. sardines - these kind of gross me out but are so healthy they are worth a shot!

16. kale
17. tarragon
18. parmesan
19. avocado - my favorite food!! another reason why i should eat guacamole every day.
20. olive oil

check out the whole slideshow here

fortune cookie

today, my boss took our team out to lunch to a delicious chinese restaurant in town.  i'm pretty sure everyone's favorite part of eating chinese is the fortune cookie at the end.  i had a particularly inspiring fortune today, so i wanted to share it with all of you:

it's true, and something important to keep in mind.  if i'm ever feeling inferior, i'm going to try to think about what role i might be playing in the whole situation.  what am i doing or thinking that is making me vulnerable and allowing me to feel inferior in the first place?  in other words, focusing on only controlling the things that i have control over. 

book review: the american heiress

in daisy goodwin's debut as a novelist, she tells the story of cora cash at the turn of 20th century in america and ultimately europe.  i'll admit this was different than the genre of reading i typically favor, and much different than the chick-lit stories i've been spending most of my time with lately.  so if you're like me, you may be slower to get into it.  but don't stop reading!  i promise you, if you give it time you will be hooked.  i finished the book on a cross-country flight which i had intended to sleep through, but by that point the story was just too juicy to put down.

at times, cora is a difficult protagonist to side with or like.  but as you witness her growth throughout the story, you ultimately find yourself rooting for her and hoping she finds true happiness.  to me, the most likeable character was bertha, cora's maid.  i wish the novel had been more of the separate stories of two women - cora and bertha - whose lives are intertwined yet whose experiences are drastically different.  it seemed like that might have been goodwin's intention, but in my opinion it didn't pan out and i was left with some questions about each character's fate.

goodwin does a great job of luring you to turn the page out of pure curiosity and not knowing what could happen next.  (see earlier comment about my intention to sleep on that flight but couldn't put the book down.)  however, for a book of its length, i thought it could have included more dramatic scenes in the place of some idle "filler".  it seemed as if the scenes i wanted more of were abruptly ended instead of fully playing out.  without giving too much away, let me just say that if you're looking for a true love story with a happy ending, you may be left disappointed.

overall, the book was well-written and the story was good, so i do recommend it, especially if you enjoy historical english society.  and keeping in mind that this is daisy goodwin's first novel, i am looking forward to what story she will tell next.

about the american heiress, from the publisher:

It is 1893, in Newport, Rhode Island, and no detail of Cora Cash's lavish masquerade ball has been left to chance.  Beautiful, spirited, and the richest heiress of her generation, Cora is the closest thing that American society has to a princess.  Her debut is the carefully orchestrated prelude to a campaign in which her mother will whisk her to Europe, where Mrs. Cash wants to acquire the one thing that money can't buy for her daughter in the States: a title.

Be careful what you wish for.  Cora makes a dazzling impression on English society - followed by a brilliant match - but finds that the chill in the air of magnificent ancestral homes comes from more than the lack of central heating.  As she gradually learns that old-world aristocrats are governed by obscure codes of conduct and loyalty that can betray even the most charming, accomplished outside, Cora must grow from a spoiled young rich girl into a woman of substance.   

for more information on daisy goodwin and her work, visit her website, check out her facebook page, or follow her on twitter.

a healthy tip: vitamins

back in august, i attended the 2011 blogher conference in san diego, where i had the chance to meet with representatives from companies across many different industries and learn about their products. some of those companies have kept in touch with their new blogger friends, and they've shared some exciting news that i wanted to pass along to you, our readers.


since it's tuesday and we've promised to share a healthy recipe, tip, or fitness routine, here's a new product that can help you live a healthier lifestyle.  the makers of Centrum multivitamins launched ProNutrients, a line of supplements to help increase confidence in supplementing and help make nutrition possible.  (hint: click the ProNutrients link and you'll find a coupon to save $3)



the new product kicked off backstage at the Emmys, where it was introduced to celebrities who were asked what they consider themselves a "pro" at.  check out Centrum's Facebook page for some of these very interesting tidbits!

in addition to the ProNutrients launch, Centrum debuted Centrum Specialist, a line of enhanced multivitamins that is aimed at specific health priorities adults want to target - like energy, heart, prenatal, and vision. with these new offerings, Centrum expands its commitment to providing a comprehensive portfolio to help people achieve health and wellness. 

 

i recently had laser vision correction surgery, and i'm not planning on having a baby anytime soon, so i would probably go with the energy product (maybe i wouldn't feel like i needed coffee anymore?) or the heart product, since heart disease runs in my family.  in all seriousness, i did actually start taking vitamins when i got back from the blogher conference, after hearing bob harper's advice.  i chose Centrum ultra-women's.

all images via centrum.com and pronutrients.com

the spinach swap

i just came across this interesting tip on how to cut some carbs from your life.  it's called the spinach swap.

let's do some math to see approximately how many calories the spinach swap will save you...

the serving size for whole grain penne pasta, for instance, is 2 oz.  that will run you 200 calories.  half a bag of baby spinach is only 20 calories!  in that example, substituting spinach for pasta reduces your calorie intake by a whopping 90%.  even when you take into account the olive oil that you saute the spinach in (80 calories for two teaspoons), you're still reducing your calorie intake for that meal by 50% by consuming 100 less calories than with the pasta.  plus, with spinach you're automatically upping the nutritional value of your meal with antioxidants, iron, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids.

have you ever heard of or tried the spinach swap?  if so, what did you think of it?  does it really act as a yummy substitute for pasta?  i will have to try it for myself!

p.s. - one of the comments on lauren's post mentioned using spaghetti squash as another alternative to pasta.  a cup of spaghetti squash only has about 40-45 calories.  i've personally tried this and can attest that it makes for a super tasty meal.  even for a self-proclaimed lover of carbohydrates like me, i didn't feel like i was missing out on anything! 

fall nail polish

for several reasons this weekend was a wake-up call when i realized fall was finally here.  it was the first weekend i didn't go to the beach or attempt to get tan in any way actually. it also was the first time i smelled burned leaves, had to wear jeans during the day, and went to bed in a hoodie...crazy! with fall so obviously in my face, i realized that i meant fall nail polish!

so today when i was expertly procrastinating studying for my GMATs, i decided to give my nails their first fall treatment.  i went to a favorite from last year - hot coco.  i love the richness of the brown but that it is not too dark or too brown (i do not need it to look like i have fecal matter on my hands oddly enough). 

this is false advertising and looks a lot darker than it actually is.

giving my nails their first fall coat made me excited for a whole new slew of fall colors.  i decided to diligently procrastinate studying more and found these great colors that i can't wait to try!

 both of these essie colors are great neutrals - i love how the grey is light so it won't make my fingers look too pale with no harsh contrast. 

scotch is my latest nail polish find - i can't wait to try these out.  the biggest issue i am having is figuring out which one to get.  at $14/bottle, i will need a big promotion to get multiple. 

 

i think i love these names the most - tramp stamp on the left and saucy jack on the right. how can you not want to wear these colors with those names? then i can have a not-trashy tramp stamp. who thought that was possible?

what about you? what are your favorite nail polish colors for the fall??

see what happens when, in life, you walk instead of run

a couple of weeks ago, i took a walk through a neighborhood close by, along a route that i normally run.  what was really interesting about this was how new it started to feel to me the deeper into the neighborhood i got.  i've run this particular route probably close to 50 times, but clearly i had never paid much attention to my surroundings.  sure, i took it all in from a general standpoint so that i knew i was on the right path and knew how to complete the route back home.  and i had thought this was enough.  but it was incredible to realize how much i had missed, and how little i really did know this place that i had spent a good amount of time at.  there were at least two instances during the walk in which a sense of panic overcame me and i thought that i was lost because all of a sudden none of the houses, cars, mailboxes, or even the cracks in the sidewalk looked like i had remembered them!  i had to hurry up to the next corner to double check the street signs, and only then was i reassured that i was, in fact, exactly where i was supposed to be.

like a lot of people, i usually run with an ipod, but i didn't use it that day for my walk.  not surprisingly, without the distraction of sound, i was able to better focus on my own senses - the sounds, sights, smells of what was around me.  it was very literally and ear-and-eye-opening experience.

i saw this as sort of a metaphor for life.  in this case, during my runs i was literally going too fast to really appreciate everything happening around me.  and i'm sure a lot of us feel that way about life: it can go so fast, and you just want to slow down and take it all in.  so i hope you find some time this weekend for your own inspiration; to get outside in this first hint of crisp fall weather and take in all that nature has to offer. 

dog eared jewelry

in the "pay day" spirit of it being the middle of the month and almost friday, i thought i'd suggest something to spend some of that hard-earned cash on!  we sweet snippets ladies just treated ourselves to a small piece of jewelry from dog eared, and got 10% off our purchase with the promo code "summer 2011".

alanna was looking for a pretty pair of "every day" studs.  these karma diamond gold dipped stud earrings fit the description perfectly!

i have a silver chain with a pendant diamond from my late grandmother's engagement ring that i currently wear every day.  it will likely continue to be my go-to necklace because of its meaning, but i was looking for a gold alternative.  when i came across this gold dipped new beginnings lotus disc necklace, i knew it was the perfect combination of simple, pretty, and inspirational.

what's the new beginning that i'm embracing and celebrating, you ask?  well, there are a few specific things...but really, every single day is a sort of new beginning.  here is a closer look at the lotus charm and the new beginnings description:

all images via dogeared.com

beauty tip: a resourceful way to moisturize your cuticles

looking for a cheap, resourceful way to moisturize your cuticles on the go? well the beauty product you need is probably already in your bag!

cuticle oils that you can purchase from a salon work wonders but they can be costly, greasy, and not always easy to apply - especially multiple times throughout the day or if you're on the go. as an alternative, a manicurist told me that you can use chapstick. chapstick can cost as little as $1 at a drugstore and you probably already own it! it also won't leave your fingers feeling greasy or slippery, so you can get back to whatever you were doing quickly without having to wait for oils to soak in.

see how the product label offers softening, protection, and hydration?  well your lips are skin, just like your cuticles so it has the same moisturizing effect.

even all natural brands like burts bees has lip balms for only $3 or $4, which still makes them a steal versus cuticle oils that can cost anywhere from $8 up. 

recipe: orzo salad with lemon, mint, and fresh ricotta

for my birthday celebration one of the dishes my mom made was an orecchiette and ricotta salad and it was phenomenal.  since then i have been slightly obsessed with healthy versions of pasta salads.  this one from dean and deluca looks both simple to make and delicious!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup minced shallots
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, or more to taste
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup uncooked orzo
1/2 cup very finely diced yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup very finely diced seedless cucumber
1/2 cup crumbled ricotta salata cheese (about 3 ounces)
3 tablespoons minced fresh mint leaves

Directions:

1. Stir together the olive oil, shallots, lemon juice, garlic, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Cook the orzo in a large kettle of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain pasta completely in a colander, running under cold water. Transfer orzo to a bowl, stir in the olive oil mixture, and let cool. Stir in the bell pepper, cucumber, ricotta salata, and mint until combined well. You could serve the salad immediately, but we think it tastes best if you let it stand at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours.

recipe from dean and deluca picture from serious eats

the start of a new week

hello readers, and welcome to the start of a new week!  how was your weekend?  do anything fun, different, exciting?  it was a fairly low-key weekend for alanna and i.  we attended a friend's party on friday night, and we each spent the remainder of the weekend being productive in our own rights - alanna conquered another weekend of gmat studying, and i spent my time reading, writing, running, and reflecting.

here are a few things you need to know to get you through the week:

• the series finale of entourage was last night.  if you're an entourage fan (or not) and saw the finale episode, what did you think? if you didn't catch the show, but need some talking points so you can join the conversation this week, read a complete recap of the finale here.
• this weekend marked the opening of the 2011 football season.  if you're a part of a fantasy football league, or just want to engage in some friendly banter with your coworkers, check out all of the final scores.  and don't miss tonight's games - it's the only time during the season that there are two games on monday night (usually there is just one, but on opening weekend they have monday night football for an east coast game and a west coast game). 
• after a summer with seemingly nothing on tv, the fall shows are finally starting to premiere!  next week is the big premiere week for most shows, but things do get started this week.  one new show i'm particularly excited for is nbc's up all night starring will arnett and christina applegate.  catch the show's pilot episode wednesday at 10:00.  have you seen the previews for this show?  doesn't it look both endearing and hilarious?  let us know what you think!  and returning for its third season, parenthood premieres tomorrow night at 10:00 on nbc. 
• today is the last day for the signed design*sponge at home book giveaway.  the deadline is 3:00pm EST.  while you're at it, check out the design*sponge book tour schedule and see if there's an event in a city near you.  alanna and i are so excited to attend the cocktail party and book signing this friday in glen mills, pa.  
• as we make the transition into fall, it doesn't mean you have to give up the fresh fruits and veggies that you enjoy in the spring and summer.  here's a full list of what's in season for the fall.  some of my faves are brussels sprouts, butternut squash (especially in soups!), pear, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes. 

cute accessories holder

i feel like i never have enough storage space or the best solution for all of my jewelry, spare change, keys etc.  when i stumbled across these bowl sets on etsy, i knew they were the perfect solution.  not only are these bowls the perfect size, they are so pretty.

i think they would look great on my dresser and they are reasonably priced too!  check out all of up in the air somewhere's selection here. 

storycorps: the stories of 9/11

i will be the first to admit that i am a dork - as such one of my guilty pleasures is listening to NPR...one of my favorite features is when they feature a story from storycorps.  storycorps is a non-profit that records, shares, and preserves the stories across the nation. their stories are really well executed and you feel immersed in the storyteller's lives during the short clip.

so today when i read an article on NPR.com about storycorp's initiative to honor the 10th anniversary of 9/11, i was very intrigued.  in honor of the victims of 9/11, they are setting out to record one story for every person who died that day.  so far they have 1200 stories recorded from widows, children of deceased parents, firefighters who were there that day, etc.  i checked out a few of the stories on storycorps.com and they were extremely moving to say the least.

i definitely recommend watching their animated versions of these stories (i once spent a whole night just watching animated versions of different stories on storycorps!) - they are amusing and add a fun element to traditional storytelling.

there is a full hour long special that they are currently airing that features many of the stories...you can check that out here.

plus if you are as moved as i was and want to support a great initiative you can donate to their 9/11 project over here!

happy friday! hopefully we will have a few more uplifting posts today as well...

a ice-cream date outfit

our little jessy may or may not have a hot ice-cream date this week...because i am so excited for her  (maybe even more excited than her??) i thought it would be fun to put together a few date suggestions from jcrew. what's even better is that they just announced their $8.95 flat shipping, holler!

first up - 30% off outfit...in case she doesn't want to invest too much money, here is an outfit exclusively from their final sale section.

and a pricier option in case she decided he is her true love already.

all images via jcrew

hbo documentaries

i had a good amount of down time this weekend with the holiday (and day off from work!), so i finally got around to watching some of the hbo documentaries that i always wish i had more time to watch.  here are two that i've seen so far and highly recommend.

hot coffee made its sundance debut this year and premiered on hbo on june 27, 2011 as part of their documentary film summer series.  i first read about this documentary on rosemary brennan's blog, ro ro ro your blog and made a mental note to add it to my netflix queue.  unfortunately, it isn't available on netflix yet...but fortunately, hbo kept it on demand for quite a while so i was able to catch it!  (as of last night, it was still available on demand)  this film documents tort law (and tort law "reform"),  the civil justice system in america, big business interests, and consumers' access to the courts.  here's the trailer for the film:

dvds of the film aren't available until november 1st but you can pre-order your copy here.

"we'll never know all the heroes. we know our uniformed people were heroes; they went there and they died and they gave up their lives bravely trying to save the lives of other people.  but what we don't know is all the individual stories of the person who gave up the elevator for another person, the person who calmed someone and got them out of the building.  the person who organized their floor so that everyone could evacuate.  the person who, maybe at the last moments, comforted people when all of them knew they were going to die." - rudy giuliani

this documentary follows rudy giuliani, then-mayor of new york city, and his staff from the first moment of the september 11th attacks through the tragic days and weeks that followed.  i highly doubt you will be able to watch without crying or feeling intense bouts of anger - i certainly wasn't able to.  it is incredibly graphic, so please watch at your own risk.  the emmy award winning film was released back in 2002 so it's available on netflix, and for purchase through amazon.com.

with the 10th anniversary of the attacks just around the corner, you can donate to the families of september 11 or the 9/11 tribute movement.

other hbo documentaries that i plan to watch in the coming days and weeks (hint, hint: keep an eye out for these on future sweet snippets posts):

• love crimes of kabul
• nine innings from ground zero
• paradise lost
• sex crimes unit (because i'm a huge law & order: svu fan)
• wishful drinking

fitness tip: jumping rope

lately, i've been supplementing my workouts with five minutes of jumping rope.  it burns up to ten calories per minute and i feel like it's really helping to build my cardiovascular fitness.  it works your core and your upper (arms and shoulders) and lower (glutes, quads, calves) body simultaneously.

image via waist hips and thighs

the best part about it is that this workout is totally affordable.  most jump ropes are about $10 at sporting goods stores, and you can sometimes find them even cheaper by checking discount stores like marshalls, target, and walmart. 

and because a jump rope is small, light weight, and flexible, it's super easy to pack in a suitcase when you travel to make sure you can squeeze in a quick workout on the road. 

you'll soon find - if you haven't already - that it's incredibly difficult to jump rope for long periods of time.  that's why this type of exercise is best used as interval training.  here's an example of a jump rope workout from fitness consultant and expert, rusty moore:

• Stand in front of a clock or timer of some sort
• Jump Rope for 3 minutes to warm up
• Rest for 30 seconds
• Jump rope as quickly as possible for 60 seconds
• Rest for 30 seconds
• Jump Rope as quickly as possible for 60 seconds
• Rest for 30 seconds
• Repeat this alternating pattern for 15-20 minutes

you can customize the workout for your fitness level, by reducing or increasing the time of each interval.  personally, i can only do two minutes of straight jumping right now before i start to feel tired.  so i would start with a two minute interval instead of three, and hope to build up to the three minutes. 

inspirational photo: slain navy seal's devoted dog

in honor of labor day...

image via abcnews.com, photo by lisa pembleton

i know this story is over a week old, but every time i look at this image it tugs at my heart strings.  the loyalty that this dog feels for his owner up until the very end is inspiring.  after seeing this, i think most people would have trouble disagreeing that dogs really are a man's best friend.   

take advantage of the end of summer sales

so like our editorial calendar says, every thursday we will be showcasing something fabulous for you to spend your end of the week paycheck on.  this week, we're sharing with you some of the great end of summer sales taking place across the web.

anthropologie

with free shipping and free returns for the month of september, you can stock up on everything you need to complete your new fall wardrobe.  i'm a sucker for shirtdresses, so i was immediately drawn to this one:

banana republic

30% off your entire purchase and free shipping, today only! use promo code: brweekend.  with that spending power in your back pocket, i say go ahead and splurge!  like on this fabulous leopard print trench coat from their mad men collection:

kate spade

today is the last day of their sample sale, where you can get up to 75% off and discounted shipping (only $5).  i'll admit, i love almost every single item in the collection, but if i had to pick one item to showcase it would be this gold "know the ropes" necklace:

happy shopping!!

book review: sarah's key

you might have noticed but jessy and i have put together an editorial calendar of different content we want to share with you each week day (that you can check out right above here in the header).  on wednesdays we are going to share our favorite current reads and tunes.  to kick it off, i thought i would share an awesome book i just finished - sarah's key by tatiana de rosnay. 

here is a brief description of sarah's key from barnes and noble: 
 

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.

Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

what i loved about sarah's key is that it is a historical fiction and i learned a lot about france during wwii but it never felt tedious and it was a very easy read.  all of the characters were easy to connect with but i should warn you - you will definitely need tissues to get through this one!

and for some even better news - i just found out that this is a movie! it is currently playing in smaller theaters across the country. you can check out the movie on imdb here!  i am going to see where it is playing by me now...

happy birthday alanna!

on this day, 24 years ago alanna was born.  and knowing how much she loves birthdays, i just hade to make the public announcement.  so happy birthday alanna!  i hope it is the best birthday ever, and that every year is better than the last. 

now blow out the candles and make a wish!!

philadelphia earthquakes!

apparently philly is trying to be the new cali, because we were feeling some quakes this afternoon!   (along with the rest of the east coast)

the epicenter was outside of charlottesville, so hopefully all the wahoos are okay.  

phillies player hunter pence is an eyewitness for CNN

and a real write up by the NYTimes

bob harper on diet and fitness

as part of my vacation this past weekend, i attended the 2011 blogher conference in san diego, ca.  it was an absolutely fabulous time and extremely educational as well. i went as company sponsor but also as a blogger.  another company sponsor was quaker, who has teamed up with celebrity personal trainer bob harper (from the biggest loser).  bob was present at the conference for one of the days - he led a cardio workout saturday morning, spoke at a breakfast session, and then was available in the quaker booth for photos and autographs.  unfortunately, the wake up workout was sold out, but i did have the pleasure of attending the breakfast to hear him speak.  i took some videos to share with you guys - i hope you enjoy!

before you watch... let me just say that, in person, bob is extremely attractive.  he's like a perfect specimen of a human being.  you could see his triceps through his shirt and he had some of the most chiseled calves i've ever seen.  i'm guessing his body fat is in the range of 0%. 

here is bob answering a blogger's question on how to lose her last ten pounds:

in this video, bob talks about how working out affects your mood and how you can stay motivated to work out, even when you don't want to:

listen to bob talk about supplementing your diet with multi-vitamins and other nutrients:

and finally, bob's motivational quote will keep you on track:

how to talk to little girls

i just read this post by joanna goddard over at cup of jo about how to talk to little girls.  she refers to an article she read How to Talk to Little Girls by Lisa Bloom, where Bloom recommends that you talk to little girls not about their looks (their cute bow, pretty dress, or adorable hair) and instead talk to them about substantial ideas and books.  this immediately made sense in the fact that i am always quick to compliment a girl on whats on the outside, not on the inside. and it also made me realize that i would never go to a boy and be like wow i like your striped tie.  well if i did, he would probably be disinterested fast.  instead i would ask about a toy or a game and try to engage him through something he would find interesting as well.   it was pretty thought-provoking and interesting how such a minute conversation can really shape a girl's perception.

i recommend that you check out both joanna's blog post here and lisa bloom's article here...they are worth the read.  and now i can't wait to see a little girl i can try this on. 

sweet snippets is on vacation!

hi there readers :)  we don't mean to leave you hanging, so we thought you should know that we're on vacation. 

alanna has been in paris for the past week (jealous!) and is on her way to san francisco tomorrow for a long weekend.  as for me, i'm off to san diego through sunday night.  it's part business trip, part pleasureful vacation (and on my birthday, no less!). 

so unfortunately we won't be blogging while we are gone, but you know what vacations mean?  lots of fun things to write about when we get back!  we will miss you all very much, but will be back to blogging shortly!  we hope you have a great rest of the week and please have a safe and enjoyable weekend. xo

j.crew fall shoe collection

i don't know about you but i am totally obsessed with j.crew's fall shoe collection.  not only are they beautiful, but they're made in italy.  (yes, i took the photos right from the catalog because the layout in there is way better than on their website.)

greer platform booties; pia calf hair pumps; greer platform heels

valentina pumps in leather & patent leather

bielle loafers in satin, leather, and patent leather

penny loafers are making a comeback!  (i saw them in a cole haan promotional email as well)

lula glitter ballet flats - these fancy flats are perfect for fall and even into winter



mona pumps in leather, tweed, satin, tortoise, and suede



oxford ballet flats - the most adorable way to be comfortable at work

happy shopping!!

the evolution of harry potter

sorry for the harry potter-heavy posts recently...it will be out of my system soon, i swear!  i spotted this over at how i met your father and it reminded me so much of my own post about harry potter.  i love seeing the side by side comparison of ron, harry, and hermione from each of the films.  if only my evolution from age 11-18 was this un-awkward!

don't you love how they are wearing their hogwarts uniform in every picture except for the last?  just seeing that makes me tear up a little.