Blah Blah Babycakes

Welcome to Bali

We arrived in Bali several days ago and the jet lag is still kicking my ass. My body is taking far too long to adjust to the 12 hour time difference, but thankfully my schedule includes only the following: beach, spa, nap, yoga, shopping, dinner, repeat. So, I'm able to manage. 

Our lovely villa, complete with our own Hindu temple, is in the Seminyak beach area, which is also known as the French district or the fashion district. It's a little less crowded than the more popular Kuta, which I've heard is the Cancun of the South Pacific. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)

My favorite things so far: The amazing, rich, smoky smell of Bali, the wonderful floral smell of your clothes when they come back from the laundry, the food, the warm Indian Ocean, the smile and the laughter on the faces of almost everyone I meet, the delicious tropical fruits, and the offerings (canang sari) the Balinese set out everywhere, several times a day to thank the Hindu gods and placate the demons.

Still so much to do and see, which we will if I ever get out of bed and Mr. Henry ever recovers from his travel/sun/foreign microbes-induced fever. Poor baby. What kind of fool mom brings a kid halfway around the world?

 

Henry makes an offering our first morning:

Third stop: Hong Kong Intn'l airport

Sometimes, when you are far away from home, it's the little things that give you comfort and peace.

-blogged from my iPhone

First stop: Dallas, TX

It's 82 degrees here and it feels so nice that I wouldn't be too upset to just stay here.

I'm lying.

Sadly, there have been zero cowboy sightings.

-blogged from my iPhone

How I lost 10 lbs in one month

 (Without wanting to kill myself.)

I desperately wanted to lose some weight before my trip to Bali.  Mostly, because I'm vain, but also because I read somewhere that it's a hot vacay spot for Italians, and we all know how beautiful and tall (in that non-German way) Italian women can be. The last thing I want to be is the fat American on the beach.

So I set about to lose a few lbs in just a few short weeks. I've never really dieted before. In the past (before I turned 30) I could skip dinner one night and I would be a size smaller.  Now it takes a little more effort, but my method was simple: calorie deficit.

I needed to be strict with myself. Strict and obsessed. Recording every single bite I took into a calorie counter was an obsessive joy and I took it very seriously.  I even recorded the 10 calories in my chewable vitamin B-complex.  I was not to go over 1200 calories and the few times I did, I was sure not to go over my maintenance caloric intake number of 1700.

So what did I eat? Well, I'm a big believer in the twinkie diet.  That is, I don't think it matters what you eat, it's how much. Luckily, I'm a healthy eater to begin with, so I didn't have to try and break a bunch of bad eating habits (except for polishing off Henry's leftover mac + cheese). I didn't worry at all about fat, carbs, or sugar, but I did try to get at least 25 grams of fiber in everyday. 

My diet grocery list:

Pepperidge Farm thin bread

GG crackers

smoked slamon

pre-cut veggies

blackberries

blueberries

grapefruit

grapefruit juice

Honest green iced tea

Laughing Cow cheese
mustard

cornichon

hard-boiled eggs

chicken breast

Smart Ones lasagna florentine

pistachio nuts

whole wheat pasta

deli-sliced turkey breast

Fiber One cereal

Oatmeal

white popcorn

coconut date rolls

Trader Joes Chocolate Nibs

One important factor for me was to never let myself get hungry. So most days I ate 200 calories every few hours. This took some advanced planning, but again, that's where obsession helped out. On Sunday afternoons I would plan out exactly what I would eat for the week and I didn't deviate. This made me feel lame and boring, but I was goal-oriented and I knew this wasn't going to last forever.

I didn't have much time to increase my level of exercise.  I could fit in one short run on Saturday mornings during Henry's swimming lessons, and I started taking the 5 flights of stairs to my office every day, but that burns such few calories that I didn't bother to enter them into the calorie counter. (Obvs if you work out harder and longer you can add a few more calories to your day.)

To keep motivated I alternated between wearing pants that were getting too large and pants that were still a bit tight.  The loose pants days helped me feel like I was making progress and the tight pants days were a good reminder that I couldn't afford to cheat.  

The only thing I felt was sacrificed was my social life.  Most nights I went straight home and after an early dinner, washed my face and changed into my pajamas lest I be tempted to have a glass of wine (I don't drink in my pjs) or a last minute dinner with friends.  I did go out a few times and I over-indulged in red wine one evening, but mostly one strong vodka martini was all the happy I could be.  

And I did it!  I reached my goal just in time and now I can go about the business of slowly gaining it all back.

*Remember, I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist...I'm not even very smart.  But I do look better in a bikini.

 

In-flight Shopping

It was brought to my attention recently that I'm a terrible traveler. Specifically, a "bad road-tripper", but generally terrible. Apparently, instead of just settling in for a fun ride, not only do I complain about how long it's taking, but I'm in constant need of a remedy for whatever happens to be ailing me. And a lot ails me. (Usually I'm having a panic attack or some kind of digestive issue.) Then I tend to load up on drugs and become good for nothing. (i.e.conversation, driving) I admit, I'm no fun on the road.

Phrases like, "long haul flight" and "crossing the International Date Line" make me especially anxious and my breath gets shallow every time I think about packing for our trip to Bali next month. In fact, when I think about our 36 hour, 4 leg flight to paradise I sort of want to cry, so I soothe myself with some retail therapy. 

Because for me, half the fun is never "getting there". It's shopping for the "there" that's the real joy. 

From deep in the closet I can hear my Eres bikini mocking me and the 7lbs I gained over the holidays, so today I'm going to focus on in-flight style and comfort. 

My friend Mary says that this cape from Anthropologie, appropriately named "Cover of Darkness" is a must-have for any long flight. It's incredibly soft and somehow looks chic while also being kind of a wearable blanket. I'll probably pair it with my favorite pair of David Lerner leggings and ballet flats.

One of the most important ways to keep comfortable while traveling is to stay well-hydrated. I'll have a pot of shea butter for lips and eyes, but nothing beats a blast of Evian in your face. Not only does it refresh and moisturize, but the cool spray helps prevent or recover from any mid-flight freak outs. (What? You don't have those?) Someone once told me that applying lipstick helps calm you down too, if you feel like you're about to have a spaz, because you've been on an airplane too long. (That also might just make you look crazy.)

Of course I'll need a pair of Carrera gradient lens sunglasses to wear as I'm dashing through the Hong Kong airport after the 14-hour flight from Los Angeles. The lights in the duty free shops can be so glaring.

And finally, a large, yet sleek bag to haul my entertainment, pharmaceuticals,
hydrators and any airport purchases. The Longchamps long-handled tote bag is very roomy and it has a zipper. (Lest anyone try to slip something in your bag that could land you in an East-Asian prison.) Plus, it will double as a beach bag at my final destination! 

I'm quite confident that having these material things will make my trip perfect and I'll be totally comfortable and sane. A cool and chic world traveler, right? 

 

 

Happy New Year

OMG! I totally miss drinking a bottle of wine and over-sharing on the interwebs. 

So here is my belated update. Christmas letter style.

(If you follow me on twitter you already know everything.)

Let's see...where did we leave off?

At the end of the summer Henry and I spent a month at Nick's parents beach house in Delaware where my days started off with a swim in the pool and ended watching the lifeguards syncronized-run off the beach at 5pm, followed by a dinner of fresh crab and one of grandfather's Campari cocktails.  It was a charmed August.  

We did sneak away to NYC for a few days to pick up my sister Angie and throw a quick party at The Shop in Brooklyn. If you had been there you would have seen me do a live interpretive dance to Katy Perry's California Girls. Several times. At least I was wearing a pretty dress.

Why does Nick even let me out of the house?

In September Henry started Kindergarten. I know I always brag about not being sentimental, but I totally cried that morning. Staying home with him for the past couple of years was definitely the best choice for our family, but now I look back on those years and mostly see darkness. No kitchen is sunny enough for me to be in it all day and I suck at leaving the house unless I'm being paid, so now that we both have somewhere legitimate to be most days everything feels very right and very happy. Still, I cried. 

Henry loves school. He's very much a rule-follower and when he gets home after school we have a goldfish cracker snack and gossip about all the kids who broke rules in class and on the bus. Henry is very gifted and I'm told he can go straight to high school next year.

I don't really remember October.

In November Nick and I hosted Thanksgiving at our house, which is really the only thing our big money-pit of a house is good for. Filled with family and friends, delicious food and a drunken game of Apples to Apples, it felt perfect.  All warm and fuzzy. 

December is my favorite month of the year.  I love the frenetic pace, the parties, the champagne and all the shopping. I love wrapping presents, getting cards in the mail, eating cheese constantly and multiple family gatherings.  It's all so festive and ridiculous.  Somewhere during all of it I developed pneumunia and cracked a rib from coughing like a maniac. Did you even know that could happen? Anyway, I spent Christmas high on vicodin back at the beach in Delaware and I remember it being lovely.  Dreamy and lovely. After Christmas we took the Amtrak to New York just in time for the city to completely shut down because of the snow storm. The first night we were nestled safely in the lobby at the Ace Hotel and dined at The Breslin where, fyi - they won't let you sneak in chicken nuggets just because your finicky son won't eat a scotch egg, but they do have, according to Henry, acceptable french fries and hot cocoa.  The next day we somehow made it to Angie's apartment in Brooklyn, but no restaurants were delivering food (at least not the 127 that I called) and so we starved and slept until rudely awakened by a Delta agent calling to tell us our flight back to Minneapolis had been cancelled and they rebooked us on a flight with a million connections sometime in the next decade. After a grueling and epic journey involving planes, trains and automobiles the four of us made it to Minneapolis in time for a couple of The Hold Steady shows. One of which was in Milwaukee, WI. While there I stayed at the beautiful Pfister Hotel. It's hauntingly beautiful and I loved it so much the staff had to force me to leave my suite in the morning and it was embarrassing.

And then finally it's January 2011 and after Angie went back to New York I put on my snuggie, settled into the fetal position on the couch and have been watching tv ever since.

Much love,

Andrea

 

Me and Van Gogh

Don't Get Burned

May is skin cancer awareness month.

One gorgeous Sunday in April I was sitting in the backyard in a brunch induced coma when I suddenly realized that I'd neglected to put sunscreen on my arms and chest and had been quickly burned by the spring sun.

It was a stupid mistake and one I rarely make, but it reminded me that I needed to replenish my arsenal of sunscreen and sun safety products. With the latest news that many sunscreens may actually do more harm than good, choosing a non-toxic, photo stable sunscreen can be a daunting task. Thankfully, the great people at the Environmental Working Group are working hard on our side researching sunscreens that are safe and effective.

Check how your SPF rates with the EWG 2010 Sunscreen guide.

Other sun safe products

UV detector:

Spa Finder's I Will Reflect Melanoma Bracelet changes color when exposed to harmful UV rays. 

   

A big ol' derby hat:

A wide-brimmed hat looks glam and keeps you protected.

       

Sunscreen:

I use Vanicream on my boys.

     
 

Fat Cat

I'm oddly proud of my cat that my sister and I brought to New York from Minneapolis more than 10 years ago. I don't even really like furry friends, but that handsome little man is quite a pet and he's been through a lot for an animal. I thinks he's seen the inside of every vet office in Brooklyn and lower Manhattan (I once thought he had a cancerous growth on his belly, who knew cats had nipples?) and there was the time he got lost in the World Trade Center when I brought him to work. He moved in with Angie and her boyfriend when I left NY. And now in the twilight of his life he's name checked on the cover of Spin Magazine. Way to be, B!

Gone

Two years after spilling red wine all over my MacBook it has finally corroded and died. The geniuses said it was a miracle it lasted this long.

But now I'm wondering with what do I replace it? Another laptop or an iPad?

In the meantime I suffer with the loss. I don't even know what to do without my computer.

May Day

Sipping mint juleps under a big hat. 

Wouldn't it be lovely?

"Before tasting, insert a cocktail straw near the mint sprig. Inhale a deep breath, and slowly sip until someone says, "May I fix you another mint julep?"

Packing for NYC

About Face: Top Three Anti-Aging Products

I take skin care very seriously, mostly because I'm extremely vain, but also because I love the look and feel of healthy, glowing skin. Unfortunately there are around one gazillion skincare products to choose from and it's all very confusing and overwhelming. I've spent way too much money trying to find a magic potion, but I've finally found a regimen that works and I'd like to share the cliff notes version with you (because my friends are sick of hearing about it.)

The following three products are my holy grail for beautiful skin and anti-aging effects:

1. Sunscreen. This is your first line of defense. Anti-aging is all about prevention and without a photo- stable chemical or physical sunscreen you might as well rub baby oil on your face and forget about it.

2. Retinoids.  They are popular because they work.  Retinol builds collagen, improves the texture of skin and gets rid of fine lines and wrinkles.  As a bonus, it will shrink your pores and keep away pimples and blackheads. There are affordable over-the-counter retinol products, Green Cream is a cult favorite, but if you have access to a dermatologist get a prescription for the good stuff.  This is the stuff that makes your face glow.

3. Vitamin C.  Vitamin C acsorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant that neutralize free radicals, increases collagen and reverses and protects against sun damage. It stays on your skin for 48 hours, so a little goes a long way to protect and brighten your complexion. There are a few great C serums on the market.  My personal favorite is Skinceuticals C E Freulic, but there are a ton of less expensive options. You can even make your own. Just make sure it has the acsorbic acid.

If you have any questions feel free to ask me anything.  I'll be doing a more in-depth post about my favorite sun protections in May for National Skin Cancer Month.

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55 has a MUA rating of 76%
Green Cream has a MUA rating of 76%
Skinceuticals CE Freulic has a MUA rating of 71%

Real Fake Boobs

According to WWD the median bra size in the United States has increased over the last decade from a 36C to 36DD. 

This means nothing to me, as I've stayed exactly the same over the last decade. My mom assured me that someday my breasts would arrive, but I've stopped waiting for them and have totally learned to love my body the way it is.

That doesn't mean I wasn't all over this amazing, boob enhancing bra that my friend introduced me to. The first time I saw her wearing it I gasped.  I was like, "What's happening here?  How did you do this?"

She told me it was the U-Plunge Bra by Fashion Forms and that I should buy it in nude and black and to thank her later.  Instead of adding bulk like most padded bras, this little miracle worker pushes your tits together and gives you natural looking cleavage.  The kind that looks amazing with wrap dresses and low-cut sweaters.

I'll warn you though, despite how the model looks on the box, you will not look good once you have your clothes off. You'll want to remove this wunder bra yourself.

Weekend

Seeing The Runaways at the new Showplace Icon theatre in St. Louis Park. Apparently, this theater has a bar, couches, reserved seating, bathroom attendant and a "no teenagers allowed without their parents" rule. 

Dinner at Doug Flicker's new Piccolo.

Some serious couch time to catch up on RHoNYC and How to Make It in America.

Candlelight yoga at Corepower.

Kristin Stewart plays a young Joan Jett in The Runaways