Foods That Make You Feel FULL

With so many women making fresh commitments to their health for 2010 in both healthy eating and exercise, I thought I'd share some snacks that will help you feel full between meals. As a former personal trainer, I've tested these out and know that they contain solid nutrients, protein, proper carbohydrates and essential fats.


Maybe it's the growling in your stomach or a 3pm afternoon craving that has you searching for a snack between meals, whatever the case, you'll want to focus on eating foods that make you feel full but are healthy too.Too many people eat sugar and carbohydrates all day and wonder why they constantly feel hungry. Your body needs a nice even balance of essential fats, protein and carbohydrates. If you overindulge in one and forget about the others, your body will let you know!

The first step is to make sure you are eating properly during mealtimes. If you are eating a lot of grains like white pasta and rice- or worse, mostly sugar like candy bars, chips and soda, but no form of protein, you will constantly feel the need to eat, which brings about the need for multiple snacks. The best thing to do is ensure that at each meal you are eating protein, carbs and fat. An example might be toast with peanut butter and a piece of fruit like a bananas or a small bowl of berries. The fat and protein are contained in the peanut butter but the toast and banana will give you some sugars for energy too. Lunch might consist of salmon over a salad with several veggies and a light dressing. Dinner could be a chicken breast with asparagus drizzled with a bit of olive oil and some wholegrain rice.

Once you've balanced out your meals (and likely made them healthier at the same time) then you'll need to know what to eat during snack times. It has been proven several times over that eating 5-6 smaller meals are far more effective at both keeping you feeling full longer and losing weight as well as speeding up your metabolism, than eating only 2-3 larger meals all day long. Plan to eat smaller meals and incorporate the following as snacks in between major meals and once after dinner. Chances are if you eat a really early dinner, say before 6pm, and you stay up late, you'll be very hungry by about 8pm. Try some of the following ideas as substitutes for your regular choices.

12 Healthy, Balanced, Filling Snacks

1. Slice up a whole apple (add some cinnamon if you like) and spread with low-fat plain cream cheese or peanut butter or you can add a couple thin cheddar cheese slices. The protein and fat in the cheese coupled with the fiber in the apple will help keep you feel full. You know what the say-an apple a day...

2. A handful (about 15 pieces) of nuts such as almonds, walnuts or pecans are best.

3. Bananas are perfect, they contain both potassium and magnesium which play vitally important roles in: nerve transmission; protein and carbohydrate metabolism; muscle contraction; and in maintaining cellular integrity and water balance.

4. Whole Wheat crackers with low fat cheese or cream cheese spread

5. Whole Wheat pita bread wedges with hummus

6. Homemade granola with shredded coconut, dried cranberries, raisins, and an assortment of nuts. (You'll need only a small handful only or a 1/4 cup to measure)

7. A yogurt cup of whole yogurt like plain low-fat Greek yogurt (not sugar free which is full of toxic aspartame) which is very high in protein, with some fresh berries mixed in such as strawberries, raspberries or blueberries.

8. An egg is a great snack. You can make a batch of hardboiled eggs ahead of time and eat one with a little pepper, ketchup or salsa and add some crackers or a small piece of toast.

9. A protein smoothie is one of the most fun snacks, you'll need a blender or hand blender to mix the ingredients. Add some frozen fruit, a bit of yogurt, some soy, almond or cow's milk and you can also add a scoop of whey, soy or vegetarian protein powder to ensure you'll get enough protein.

10. Cottage cheese can be added to both sweet and savory foods. Eat ½ cup inside half of a cantaloupe or add some fresh berries instead. If you like savory, add some tuna.

11. Veggie sticks and a healthy dip like tuna mixed with ½ cup of cream cheese, you can add some minced onion and chopped parsley to taste. Chili sauce can be added and blended in the food processor and stored for an easy-to-grab snack.

12. Wasa bread or whole wheat crackers with thin slices of Swiss and a bit of ham for a ham and cheese fix.

Remember to eat the proper portion sizes, crackers and cheese are a yummy snack, so it would be easy to get carried away to the point of it being a dinner size portion. You can solve this by ensuring that all of your snacks are around the 200-250 calorie range. Just measure it out according to the serving size and avoid adding extra fats, salt, artificial sweeteners or sugar.

I hope this has inspired you to try some new snacks that are not only healthier for you but will truly fill the hunger gap between meals. I encourage you to look online for new and interesting snacks that can easily be made ahead of time and brought in reusable containers with you to work or on the road, which is when we're all most susceptible to choosing the wrong snacks. Also, by keeping hydrated you'll feel full and it will help increase your metabolism. You can add in the healthy amount of water in cups (which is your weight in pounds divided by 14).


One of my newest favorite snacks is from Celebrity Personal Trainer Harley Pasternak, and can be found HERE.

If you have a favorite healthy snack, leave a comment and share it with everyone.


Happy Snacking!

Get Organized Once and For All!

Image Source

Since we are still in the first week of the New Year, I thought I'd share some organizing tips to make your home a more wonderful place to live. This is by far one of the biggest goals I've heard people talk about so far this week. Organizing your home can feel like a daunting task but it doesn't have to be.

I originally began my design business as a Professional Organizer as I enjoy helping people set up systems so they can be more productive, relaxed and enjoy their home. Here are some tips from an article that I wrote in that are sure to get you headed towards a clutter-free home.

ORGANIZE YOUR HOME WITH 7 SIMPLE SECRETS

Say NO to Clutter!

When was the last time you opened the door to that forbidden room, you know the one that you keep all of your items that you are unsure where else to put? Maybe it's the multi-purpose room that serves as your closet, guest room, office and dumping ground? You can be free and rid your home of clutter once and for all. There are lots of people who feel hopeless in their piles of laundry, papers, and heaps of unused items. Those that have an organized space have simply chosen to live clutter-free, and are not any smarter or luckier than you. They know a few simple secrets that allow their home to be organized and therefore stress free. I want to help you take charge and gain control of your home and life! Let's get started...

1. Out with the OLD, in with the NEW!

To minimize what goes into your house in the first place, remember this simple rule: If you bring a new item in, then one has got to go! For example when I buy new clothes I look at what I have before I go shopping. This way I don't wind up with 4 white v-neck t-shirts. When I come home from my shopping trip with a pair of jeans, 2 blazers and a sweater, I look at what will now go out the door also. That may be the old items I'm replacing or simply just other clothing items, otherwise my closet would become a jam-packed disaster quickly. The same is true for furniture (unless you're filling a new home or simply don't have ANY furniture), as well as other household items like candlestick holders, napkins etc...

2. Keep Out!

One thing I've coach my clients on is keeping a clutter-free home by refusing to bring some items inside the house to begin with. Junk mail, flyers, trash from the car, and unwanted items are just a few that come to mind. In order to avoid these, I sift through my mail and flyers near the garage where the recycling and trash bins are. Then I can immediately get rid of what we don't need. I do the same with any trash in our car. If we pickup some bottled water, or take home bulletins from church, the minute we get out of the car next, be it at a gas station or at home, the garbage goes!

You can simply say no to friends, family or neighbors that want to burden you with junk. If you really don't want the item they give you but they insist you have it, toss it as soon as you get inside or find someone else to give it to that will like it, you can even re-gift it. This may sound cruel but so is the pushiness of some people in our life who have us take what we truly don't want. Email works the same. As soon as I open my email the first thing that I do is highlight all the junk and hit delete. Once trash is out of the way I can focus on the important messages. Also, it frees me up from heaps of junk messages that use up my storage space. Think about what items you could eliminate like this everyday.

3. Don't Keep Things You Don't Like

This probably sounds obvious, but you would be surprised at the amount of clients I have worked with that actually keep items they think are ugly or just don't fit any room in their home! Don't hold onto old furniture or keepsakes that have been handed down to you just because a loved one gave them to you. Simply give the items to someone that you know who will actually like and want them. If that is not an option then donate them or sell them on ebay and make some money while you are at it! It is good to be proactive in this area also.

I myself almost got stuck with a heap of antique furniture while moving down south  as my grandmother was getting ready to move to a retirement home at the same time. I had to just say "I would love to, but I simply can't. This eliminated a lot of lifting, transporting and storing of unwanted goods just to appease her. I much preferred that she sell it to an antique dealer and keep the money for herself.

4. Don't Become a Storage Unit for Friends

While we're on the subject of "storing" items, it is never a good idea to store items for friends, relatives or neighbors. They often have the best intention to come back and pick them up but they sometimes don't. This leaves you stuck with someone else's unwanted stuff. If you are currently in this situation, call up these individuals and tell them you are doing an early 'spring cleaning' and simply cannot hold onto their belongings anymore. You can instruct  them to come over and get them within a few days, and if they don't, you can let them know that you'll donate them to Salvation Army on their behalf if they would prefer. This is not being rude, after all they left THEIR stuff at YOUR house! This is simply reclaiming your home, life and letting you get free from clutter.

5. Have a Measurable De-cluttering Goal

It is important to have goals set for anything you wish to achieve in life. Organizing and getting rid of clutter in your home are no different. I know that the piles can seem daunting but when you have a set goal you will not only feel in control, but you will have direction and a sense of accomplishment when you are finished. For example if you are looking to clean up your basement or even a closet, have a goal that you want 25% of the items to be gone. Those items need to leave the house for trash or donation unless it is a piece of furniture, or valuable item. If they don't then all you have done is allocated clutter to other areas of your home. Maybe your goal is to get rid of 40 pieces of clothing/shoes. Whether in increments or as an entirety, create a goal as to what you want the end result to look like.

6. Start Small

Most of my clients have called me to help them because the feeling of being overwhelmed by clutter was too much for them, moreso because they had no idea where or how to start. This need not be complicated nor make you overly exhausted. If a full room is too much for one day, spend one hour per day or a particular part of a room such as all of the dresser drawers as day 1, and what is under the bed as part 2 etc. Starting small allows you to feel a sense of relief, but often times you'll find that once you get on a roll, you won't want to stop until the room is done. You'll surprise yourself! Put on some of your favorite music and get started!

7. My step-by-step Secrets to Organize ANY Room

I will let you in on my secrets of organizing because anybody can do this, you need not be a rocket scientist! Firstly, pick one room at a time like the spare/guest bedroom. Make 4 piles in that room. One pile is for trash, another pile is for items you don't want but wish to donate, and the third for items that truly belong elsewhere in the house like oven mitts or CD's, and the forth is for items you wish to sell online or at a garage sale. If you were planning a garage sale anyway you can add the items for donation to this. Then get some garbage bags and take the trash to the curb. This will not only make you feel less overwhelmed but give you more space to work and walk in.

From there you can decide if you want to display certain items, or if they are to be filed or stored away neatly. All of these items can be labeled with a marker and masking tape or label maker (this is a great investment). Then take all of the items that did not belong to their appropriate space and distribute them accordingly. This need not be complicated, just pace yourself and take your time during each step. Most importantly, you need to be brutally honest about what you use and what you don't. You've probably heard this before, but it's so true, if you haven't worn it in a year or you haven't used it in the past 6 months (other than seasonal decor), you should probably get rid of it because you WON'T use it!

Have FUN! I know that the time you put into your home will give you such an amazing sense of accomplishment. It will brighten your spirit and give you the desire to not only tackle other areas of your home, but keep them that way!

What areas of your home have you recently tackled? How did you feel afterwards?

Top Posts of 2009

Even though my focus on 2010 is in full swing, I thought it would be fun to share with you and reflect a little on what YOU all viewed the most last year here at Classy and Fabulous.

Our Top 5 Posts (by pageview):


1. Wow for Walmart Decor (Under $100)

2. Cupcake Cuteness: Baking Ideas and Fun Finds

3. Monogram Monday

4. Fall Fashion Trends 2009

5. How to Dress Classy on a Budget

Top 10 Countries that Read This Blog

1. United States
2. Canada
3. United Kingdom
4. Australia
5. Russia
6. India
7. Philippines
8. Italy
9. Malaysia
10. Singapore

We currently have readers in 85 countries. I'm so glad you all found me and I am thrilled to have so many new 'friends' in the blogosphere!

What was your favorite post last year? Also, feel free to leave a link to the most viewed post on YOUR blog last year so we can all check it out! :)

The Art of Being a Good Listener

Have you ever thought about why we were given two ears but only one mouth? I truly believe that we were meant to listen more than we speak. I am always in awe when I meet people who are truly good listeners. They seem to be few and far between these days but it is a skill that we can all develop if we choose to focus and pay more attention to how we act and react.

This past New Year's Eve, my hubby and I were invited to two parties and the first stop was the home of one of our dear couple friends'. There were many strangers among the group with whom we conversed with but I also got to see a woman that I hadn't seen in several months. I don't know her extremely well but we've been a part of the same social events and have e-mailed each other recently about getting together.

She walked over and started chatting with myself and my hubby (whom she'd met once before). We started catching up on our holiday events and she had started asking me some specific questions about what was new in my life in certain areas. Once I began answering her, she became distracted and stopped listening. My responses were not long and were new bits of information to her. Somehow though, she kept pausing and stepping out of our conversation to go grab something for her new boyfriend (who accompanied her to the party and whom I had met for the first time), and to grab a glass of water as she ate something spicy, etc. I can't remember every single circumstance but there were a LOT of interruptions coming from someone who seemed so interested and had asked me about what I was sharing with her. It appeared as though a lot of her distractions involved making a good impression on her new boyfriend by attending to his every need.

I made it a point to pay closer attention when I asked her questions and to be an even better listener because what had just happened to me was not comfortable and was quite frustrating to say the least. If you're going to ask someone a question, listen for the answer, don't just appear interested to attempt to be social. She did however, inspire today's post.

One the flip side, I have known so many great listeners, one in particular always comes to mind because he has such a way of making you feel like you're the only person in the room and that nothing outside of your conversation at that time matters. I was so drawn to this quality in fact, that he is someone that I wound up dating for several years, many years before meeting my husband. Listening to others to understand what they are going through or what is on their heart makes someone feel special. It makes someone feel appreciated, heard and less alone, which many people in this world feel.

Becoming a better listener improves who you are as a person. When you are 'present' in the moment, you are not already thinking of your next response to someone's comment, or seeking out a way that you can relate to them by rifling through your mental file of your past. Many people treat conversations as a competition and are ready to fire out the next joke, comment or fact. However, being present is so important to our overall well-being and it allows us to retain more information and better assimilate information for future reference. We know by now that multi-tasking doesn't really exist. We need to be focused on one thing at a time. Have you ever talked to someone on the phone who was driving, putting away the dishes at home or worse-surfing the net while talking to you? We can always tell that they are not fully paying attention, so I'm not sure how they think they're fooling anyone.

I am amazed at how some of my friends (who are good listeners) can recall certain specific information about me or something I had mentioned one time, long ago offhand. Those are the friends that I consider to be my true friends, the ones that put themselves aside for a few minutes and really listen. Don't we all want to be a better friend, partner, wife, mother? Here are some tips below that will encourage you to listen with both ears.

Becoming a Better Listener

1. Maintain Eye Contact- This lets the speaker know that you are listening. You can incorporate acknowledgements by nodding your head too which shows that you are paying attention. There's nothing worse than talking to someone who is looking around the room, starting down to check their phone and generally appearing disinterested. Eye contact is key.

2. Don't Interrupt- As much as you want to jump in with a similar experience or mention something you heard on the news that relates, resist the urge. Interruptions can cause the person speaking to lose their train of thought. Besides, cutting people off and constantly interjecting is just plain rude. It tells the person speaking that what you have to say is more important than what they have to say.

3. Stop Fidgeting- Many people fiddle with their clothes, twirl their hair or slouch in their chair which shows boredom and disinterest  (whether they realize they're doing it or not) and can actually distract the person who is speaking, whether it is a formal or casual setting. Sometimes, what someone says may not be of interest to you, especially in a long lecture but just press through and know that it will be over soon. Try to sit up straight, avoid fidgeting and instead focus on the person speaking. Remember that what you have to say might not always be interesting to everyone around you, so be gracious.

4. Repeat Their Words- To show the person speaking that you are listening, repeat what they said or comment and say something short like, 'Wow, I had no idea that Bali, Indonesia had so many beautiful places to surf'. Be sure to keep it short though so you don't distract them or wind up taking over the conversation which can be easy to do.

5. Avoid Distractions- Whether you are meeting someone for business, joining some friends for coffee or spending time together with your spouse, the most important thing to do is eliminate distractions before they arise. If you go out to dinner to catch up, make sure your cell phone is off and that your kids are left with the sitter. Set yourself up to be a better listener that will not be distracted by other people, noises, phone calls, the TV, computer and the like.

None of us are without flaws and I can certainly attest to being a poor listener at times, especially when I have a lot on my 'to do' list. Everyday I strive to become a better one though, especially in my own home. It's easy to take someone close to you like a spouse for granted, especially when you may have heard the same story many times before and feel like you don't need to hear it one more time.

Is there anyone in your life whom you admire because they are such great listeners? Maybe you experience people who constantly interrupt you? Does their behavior inspire you to become a better listener?


Thanks for Reading!

XO



*image: (1)

Quotes by Oprah

Today's post is short and sweet, I'm sharing some of my favorite quotes from a classy woman that ALL of you know and many of you love-Oprah! I hope these 7 quotes will cause you to think about your own life and go after your dreams this year!

'Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.'

'My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.'

'The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams!'

'I believe the choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself.'

'There's no easy way out. If there were, I would have bought it. And believe me, it would be one of my favorite things!' (on exercise/losing weight)

'Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.'

'The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.'

~All quotes listed above by Oprah Winfrey.

What is your favorite quote? It doesn't have to be one from Miss. Winfrey, but I'd love to hear which ones you refer to when you need some inspiration!

Reader Request: Classy or Snooty?

 

Thank you to to all of those who keep sending me your reader request questions! If you haven't yet, you can find out more about it here on my previous reader request post. Our previous (and first) published reader request was titled 'bringing classy back'. Thanks to Kimberly for sending in her question.

Today's question is one that many of you may be able to relate to. Jacklyn writes in and asks this:

Hello,

I would like to know when a woman is conducting and displaying herself with Manners, Elegance and Class why she's labeled as being snooty?

Thank You,

Jacklyn M. of Ft. Lauderdale, FL

This is how I responded.....

Dear: Jacklyn,

Thank you for writing me, I'm happy to answer your question. I think this happens quite often actually. Many classy and elegant women exude a confidence and carry themselves in a way that other women simply cannot relate to. They are genuinely kind and aren't looking to 'impress' anyone or be someone who they are not. Instead, the outsiders see such a woman as trying to act better than others, aloof, or 'snooty' as you mentioned, simply because of their chosen attitude, actions, reactions and overall conduct.

Another common reason is because consciously or unconsciously, the person doing the accusing may in fact be envious. Being a classy woman takes work, effort, patience, grace and isn't without imperfections. Other women do realize it takes someone special to rise above the drama and nonsense in this world, stay focused and show one's best possible self with dignity, and often it is far easier for them to critique others than it is to change themselves.

For anyone that has been labeled 'snooty' my advice is to continue to do what you do best-rise above and continue to surround yourself with only people who love you, respect you, celebrate you and are positive influences in your life. You cannot change someone's opinion of you but you can lead by example by continuing to be gracious and warm. In this world we will never please everyone, so we can only be the best possible version of ourselves.  :)

Warmly,
Karla

Has anyone ever received this type of label simply by being your classy self? How did you feel or respond?

Thanks for reading!

XO

New Year, New YOU!

Don't you just love the feeling of a fresh start? That's one of my favorite things about New Year's day. It's like hitting the reset button on your life. If you've had a rough year and feel that you've missed out on accomplishing some key goals, or didn't create enough in the first place, you get another chance to do a better job.

Every year I put a lot of thought into my goals a few weeks beforehand. I separate my personal and business goals and try to create realistic expectations for myself and also write milestones for each so I know I'm staying on track. Admittedly, I had a LOT of goals last year and realized at the time that some were a bit out of reach with all that I had going on but I always like to aim high and challenge myself, I work better under pressure.

Over the past few months my hubby and I have put an even greater focus on our health.  Our priority this year is on total body health. Each year that I get older I'm more conscious about things like my water intake, blood pressure level, level of flexibility, etc. While those things have never been a problem before, I know they can creep up quickly if not proactively addressed. I am a firm believer in being proactive instead of reactive, it's easier and more cost effective in the long run.

Since we're both ex-personal trainers we have a lot of knowledge that we want to make sure we capitalize on, it's easy to get overwhelmed by life and take the easy road. We've also just learned a lot of new information, much of which I will share with you in upcoming posts to help keep you all safe and healthy too! So, this is at the top of my list this year. Following it are a few others too. I didn't want to bore you all with my business goals or new business plan for my design business, but here are 10 things I'll be focusing on this year in my personal life.

My 2010 Personal Goal List

1. Eliminate and Avoid Toxins-Avoid all foods with preservatives, food color, toxic ingredients, excess salt, MSG, excess sugar for the most optimum health while including more whole, organic foods. (We're thinking of this year as 'the year' to try for baby #1 and I want to make sure I'm not passing along any toxic, yucky stuff along to our future baby as this commonly occurs from both mother and father.) We've already detoxed our home from all personal care items and cleaners that were not up to par. We're proud to have a 'green' home complete with a compost area and a lawn that never gets sprayed with any pesticides.

2. Publish 3 Books-Many of you may know that I have written a book for women on the topic of being classy, it is getting very close to completion now (it was put on hold due to some matters I had to attend to this fall) and I am very excited to have it published and available for you very soon. There will be a giveaway of a few copies too so check back often for info on how to win your very own copy. I also have two other books that I'm writing simultaneously. (Did I mention that I work better under pressure? LOL) The second one is an environmental tip book and the third is all about the best and easiest ways to save money with a fun twist. More details on all 3 coming soon!

3. Make a 'from scratch' Meal 5 days/week-This is the healthiest way to eat to ensure you know what is going into your food. Unfortunately we have less control with pre-packaged foods, restaurants and fast food. I know this seems a bit ambitious but I've been doing it everyday for the past week already and so far, so good. Hubby is overjoyed and especially loves my homemade pizzas. I'm a gal that loves to create new things with my own two hands and I get really bored if I don't, so it will help me be even more creative and experimental in the kitchen.  Don't worry, I'll post the best recipes for you all to try too!

4.  Take More Photos- I realized this past year that we don't take enough photos. I was reminded of this while visiting the homes of some friends' this holiday season who are camera happy. I want to snap them all-the romantic, the goofy, the picturesque. I need to make a better effort to have my camera on hand at all times so I can capture the amazing things I see everyday. I would love to eventually get a much better camera to take more professional photos but in the mean time my focus is on taking more quality photos. I love making memories and reflecting back on the best moments in time through pictures.

5. Write More Blog Posts this Year- I really enjoyed blogging in 2009 and it has turned into a labor of love. It is like a little garden that needs to be tended to daily and keeps the little birds chirping and butterflies happy and fluttering about-those would be you ladies, my readers (or so I hope and that is my intention). I started off slow last year and started increasing my monthly posts in June. Now I find myself getting a new etiquette post idea every time I run an errand or a fun money-saving/decor post all while shopping for my design clients. In 2009 I wrote 89 posts, this year I would love to write a post per day but I know that may not always be possible with vacation and the busyness of life. So, I'm aiming for over 250 posts  for 2010, including at least 1 giveaway per month starting next week!

6. Read The Word EVERYDAY-I really want to get back to starting EVERY morning reading my bible.  It is filled with great inspiration and wisdom for my day, sometimes a gentle reminder of His love and grace is all I need and other days some bold scripture to encourage me to fight a battle or stay strong in the midst of a storm is what is required. Sadly, many days I've already started my day and then wait until I'm ready for bed to read and inevitably fall asleep instead-not good. My goal is to re-read it in its entirety again from cover to cover. On a side note, I enjoy praying for others including complete strangers so if you ever need or want prayer for a particular area in your life, feel free to send me an e-mail and I will keep it confidential and keep you in my prayers. :)

7. Travel to 3 New Countries-My husband and I love to travel, he has been to 60 countries and I'm still trying to catch up to him! My goal this year is to see 3 new countries which should be doable considering he travels quite a bit for work (motivational speaking) and I try to join him as often as I can. Last year we saw 3 new countries together: Turkey, Greece and Italy. I really enjoy learning about new cultures, meeting new people and of course tasting a lot of great, new cuisine! Traveling is a great escape from the stresses of everyday life and we firmly believe in taking two vacations per year when finances allow.

8. 5x per Week Workouts-During the time I was a personal trainer I was in the best shape of my life. I miss the strength that I once had (and my bicep muscles) and the balance that once came so easy to me. I told my hubby that I really want to commit to working out 5 times per week again, he is my accountability partner. I will be adding fun sports, yoga, pilates and outdoor activities to the mix so it won't be gym-only workouts or boring monotonous routines. I hope that by getting back into the best shape possible before trying for a baby, I can bounce back more quickly and maintain a high energy level at such a physically demanding time.

9. French Lessons- Growing up in Canada, I learned French from grade 4-9 instead of Spanish, as they learn here in the U.S. I didn't enjoy learning it at the time because I didn't see how it would be useful, but we've traveled to France a couple times now and I love knowing how to order my meal, ask for specific things and make conversation with Parisians. It comes back to me so quickly once I'm there and I want to keep it fresh once I return again. One of my long term future goals is to live in Nice for at least 3 months, so this would be most helpful in adapting to life France.

10. Create Something New Everyday-This was on my 2009 list and was my favorite and most accomplished goal. As I mentioned above, I feel best when I am creating, so whether it's sewing a cute little pillow, re-purposing a piece of old furniture, baking a new dessert recipe, or making a fun scrapbook page layout,  it is essential to my sanity.

I do have some other goals that I haven't listed here as they are more personal and private in nature. I look forward to tackling them all and I'll let you know how I did in December!

In the mean time, I'm curious to know which blog post at Classy & Fabulous was your favorite this year? Did one in particular speak to you or challenge you? Leave us a comment. Don't forget to read yesterday's post about  New Year's Resolution success secrets. I'd love to hear what's on your list for 2010!

I hope this year will be your best year yet. My wish for you is that you'll stretch and challenge yourself in ways that you didn't know you could. I pray that you'll love yourself more each day, realize all of your dreams and know that you are worth it! Here's to a fabulous and fun year ahead and a new YOU!