“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Monday, friends and welcome to the sixth edition of The Monday Post! This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of my favorites, so much in fact, that my mom (with her oh so eloquent handwriting) wrote it on this chalkboard as part of the decor at my wedding reception.

To me, it means that if you live every day with purpose and put your whole heart into what you are doing, letting go of what you can’t control and focusing on what you can, then you should end the day feeling happy and content. As I work on my 2019 goals and reflect on them nightly, I am constantly reminding myself of this quote.

This week, on The Monday Post, I am super excited to share my top pics for spring work dresses, more healthy office habits, and my favorite drug store beauty products. Enjoy!

Spring Work Dresses

“Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.” – Miranda Priestly

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good floral print and/or a soft pink for spring. But, spring 2019 is proving to be quite the year for mixing things up. Think head to toe neutrals, bright pops of oranges and magentas, lavendar, polkadots, gingham, mixed patterns, paisley and bandana prints, feathers, ruching, and so much more. Below, I’ve listed some of my favorite spring work dresses. All you have to do is click on the picture of the dress and it will take you directly to the website. Happy shopping!

Healthy Office Habits Part III

Meal Prep

I’m not talking about spending your entire Sunday meal prepping – we are busy people with busy lives who like to enjoy time away from the office with family and friends.  I’m saying start small – swap out your morning breakfast taco with toast, hard boiled eggs, and a piece of fruit.  There is literally no “prepping” needed other than putting it in a bag for work (if you buy the already hard boiled eggs.)  Once that feels comfortable, try a protein bar instead of a trip to the candy bowl.  Then, work your way up to bringing lunches. Again, start small. You can buy shredded rotisserie chicken from a grocery store, or throw chicken breast it in the crockpot for 4 hours. Roast some broccoli, asparagus, sweet potato, or whatever your choice of veggie to mix with the chicken, and there you go. Easy and healthy.

I do not portion everything out beforehand. Instead, one of my coworkers bought a food scale that she leaves in the kitchen at work (this one.) I know how much chicken I plan on eating (usually 3 ounces) and weight that out. Then I add in my veggies by weight, and while it is heating in the microwave, add it all into the Lose It app (more below on the app.)

Not only does bringing your food help with your waistline, it also helps with your wallet.  I think you might be surprised if you sit down and add up all the money you are spending on breakfasts and lunches.  I also think you might be surprised if you knew how many calories were in salads at restaurants….but they’re healthy, right?

This week, I’ll be sharing my meals at work and at home through my stories on Insta, @toasttopostblog. Keep a look out and feel free to ask questions, comment, etc.

Disclaimer

I am not a nutritionist and am only sharing things that have worked for me, especially on my postpartum weight loss journey. I use the Lose It app to log my food and have found it to be very helpful for weight loss. You can enter in current weight and goal weight, and it will recommend a number of calories to eat in a day. For a more thorough nutrition and fitness account to follow, I recommend following @lorifitlife on insta. She is one of my coworkers who has been on an amazing weight loss and nutrition journey and has been such an inspiration to all of us.

Tip

Leave some fruit at your desk (if possible.)  Buy protein bars and other healthy snacks to leave at work as well.  This barely requires you to plan ahead. When I walk into work on Mondays, I have my handbag, food bag (literally a reusable grocery bag,) a gym bag, and usually a work bag – that’s kind of a work out in itself 😊

Favorite Drugstore Beauty Products

I have nice/expensive beauty products, and I have A LOT that I buy from Walgreens and other drugstores. For example, one of the products I use daily is this Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain in crush. But, in the fall, I love buying one tube of this Chanel lip crayon in Cassis. I also wear this mascara daily, but have a tube of the Benefit They’re Real that I wear to special events. It’s all about balance. Remember looking your best will help you feel your best 🙂

Misc

One of my 2019 goals is to do more in the community, whether through volunteering, donating time and/or money, etc. This past week, my work hosted a blood drive, and I thought, “This is perfect timing.” I was a little nervous because I hadn’t donated blood in a few years, and after being sick on Monday, I wasn’t sure how I would do. It ended up being fine (I didn’t pass out) and I am proud to have participated and hopefully my blood will go towards saving someone’s life.

We are on the verge of another government shut down if our friends in Washington can’t get it together and make a decision by Friday. Fingers crossed they figure it out. I can’t stand of all the federal employees who may have to go without pay again. It really hits home to me when I think, “What would happen if I couldn’t afford to buy my babies’ formula?”

President Trump is in El Paso today, but so is Beto. This will surely be some good entertainment for the week. Stay tuned.

The BAFTA’s were yesterday, and Kate Middleton is just stunning. She is my favorite royal, although I believe I dress slightly more like Meghan because she has that work chic look going on. But, back to Kate, I mean, come on, how gorgeous is she in this Alexander McQueen?

Don’t forget, Valentine’s Day is on Thursday. Click here for all your date night outfits, Galentine’s Day gift ideas, and Valentine’s for the littles. I already have my twins’ outfits picked out. Have a fabulous week and remember, you can shop my Instagram by going to toasttopost.com/instagram or under STYLE > SHOP MY INSTA in the top menu.

Cheers – MP