COFFEEEEEEE

Self Magazine: The Benefits of Coffee

Thank heavens coffee is good for you in so many ways.  Between a full time job, planning a wedding from halfway around the world (save the dates should go out this week... engagement party in December?), keeping in touch with friends and family who are 8 hours behind London time, working out as much as possible, 4 fantasy football teams, learning Russian, plus maintaining a proper social life in London, I'll need it!

For those in London who are missing pumpkin spice lattes, check out Tone It Up's Recipe!

1 1/2 cups vanilla almond milk1/2 cup coffee1 1/2 Tbs. pumpkin puree1 tsp. agave syrup1/2 tsp. cinnamon1/2 tsp. nutmeg1/2 tsp. vanilla1/2 tsp. cayenne (optional)Directions:- Place all ingredients into a small saucepan.- Set stove to low heat and bring ingredients to a simmer stirring constantly.- Carefully pour heated drink into your favorite mug and enjoy :)

In Praze of Graze...

I’m a bad dieter. If I’m hungry or am denied from my fave foods, one wrong move and I go all Mr. Hyde on everyone around me. This is why the cleanses, cabbage soup diet, Dukan diet, or several of those just won’t work for me. Or they do work for me, but everyone hates me at the end.

Enter eating healthy and exercising more. Novel idea, I know. I’ve found that eating 5 small meals a day to keep your metabolism up, exercising, and drinking tons of water is a good way to lose weight (and to keep it off). To compliment those meals, enter GRAZE.

I heard of Graze a few months ago when talking with one of my girlfriends mentioned that several of her coworkers had these box thingys delivered to work so they can eat throughout the day.  Then a couple weeks ago, another girlfriend posted a code on facebook where I would get 2 free boxes if I signed up. It took me 2 free seconds to go for it.

I am converted. Not only are the boxes affordable (each box is £3.49), but they are so good for you! Each box comes with four little snacks that you can munch on throughout the day. I started with 3 weekly deliveries, but have now cut down to two since I don’t go through that much that fast. Each box is good for at least a couple weeks, so you can save your snacks for later.  Plus you can rate each of the packs on the website to ensure you get a lot of what you do like (chocolate), and nothing of what you don't like (olives).

My first Graze box!

What it looks like open - which includes a packet with the best before by dates for your graze box plus nutritional information on each packet.

Close up of the packs... nummy!

I bring the packets with me while running errands, mix them in greek yogurt for a more filling meal, or keep them around the house for when I have a craving. Each little packet has a mix of nuts, dried fruit, olives (yuck), chocolate, seeds, and other yummy bites that are recommended for not just losing weight, but keeping your energy up. If you’re a vegan – no problem... If you can't have dairy… no problem.

Thus far, I’ve only ordered the Eat Well Box, but just ordered a Nibble Box for Monday (I’m dying to try the dips and mini breads they have). My deliveries are Mondays and Wednesdays, but their website makes it easy to order more quickly.

My fave sweet snacks thus far are the beach bum (banana coins, mango, and coconut flakes – I mixed this in with my greek yogurt for a yummy breakfast), dark rocky road (cranberries, dark chocolate buttons, and pecan nuts – a great afternoon pick-me-up), and jaffa cake (Belgian dark chocolate, orange sultanas, and roasted hazelnuts). They have savory too – the herb garden (oregano rice crackers, crispy peanuts, and baked herb bits), America’s nut mix (almonds, Brazil nuts, and pecan nuts), and savory roasted seeds (roasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds with soya sauce) are delish as well.

There are over 100 different snacks with shows that variety is the spice of life!

TRUST ME, order today! If you want a voucher for a free box, leave a comment and I’ll email that over, or I’ll be posting it on twitter soon.

American Invasion Part 2: SPORTS!

For the past 3 years (holy moley, I've been in London that long?!) I've been at Wembley Stadium representing my homeland - 'Merica.  The annual NFL game at Wembley (which is known as the "International Series," but I call "awesomeness") is the only day of the year I get psyched to roll out of bed for GAME DAY.

I grew up going to various sports games.  I'm pretty sure that has something to do with Dad having three daughters and no sons, but either way I'm a bit of a tom boy in a girly-girl's body.  I grew up with the Angels, Ducks (even went to the first every Anaheim Ducks game... and asked why they weren't doing the flying V), Trojans (I came from a divided home - Dad's side went to USC and Mom's side went to UCLA), and had season tickets to the Yankees when living in NYC.

I'm a huge NFL fan - I root on the Giants every Sunday and have four fantasy teams (because I have no free time...).  Even though I wasn't in London the year the Giants played here, I've been at Wembley every year I've been living here.

The first year, my friend Brenda came out to root on the Pats (we have several disagreements about her bad taste in sports).  Last year, my friends Tyler and Lara came out to root on the Niners.  This year, I didn't have any visitors from the States, but that didn't stop me from getting together with 6 of my friends and heading to Wembley to root on the Bears (Dad's a fan and taught me the fight song) as they beat the Bucs in a somewhat average game.

And yet it was awesome.

Pregaming at the Churchill Arms (that's f-hubs getting iced because I love him)....

Me celebrating all the Bears signs (Bear Down, Chicago Bears, Make Every Play Clear The Way to Victory...)

The Bucs were in town (What's a pirate's fave letter?  Q... You thought I'd say AAARRRRR, didncha?)

From the tailgate (where my friend and I shook our tails waiting for our frosty beverage)...

To the Goo Goo Dolls revving up the crowd to "Iris" (yeah, not really a revving up song)...

To the singing of the US and UK National Anthems...

To the streaker...

(Image and story via yahoo sports Canada)

And... SQUIRREL!

(Image on yahoo sports)

It was a great time.  I'm really hoping that the rumours are true and London will get an NFL franchise (even if that means before LA does)!!!!

She Was (is) An American Girl...

I know I've fallen behind on posting again, but I'm hoping for a major catch up this week!

Last week was a very exciting week in the world of Wendy.  There was much wedding planning (yes, I have the dress, and no, I won't tell what it looks like), get togethers with friends, attempts to work out, and of course something I'd been looking forward to for a while - American Girl in Chelsea's second event.

This event - Pink Diamonds and Pink Champagne - was held to raise money for a cause close to my heart.  My grandmother is a 15+ year survivor of breast cancer, and as such, I try to run as many 5Ks, raise awareness, and show as much support as possible.

This event, held at Geog Jensen (HINT HINT, f-hubs), had it all.  Manis provided by the Chelsea Day Spa (I have a course of manis and pedis booked - you should too), hand treatments provided by QMS Cosmetics (their treatments are life changing, I kid you not), champagne and pink cupcakes on arrival (which I consider a well-rounded meal), and of course some great shmoozing with other American Girls, and even some British Girls who enjoy the company of us Yanks.

I am amazed at AG's ability to not only put together a great event, but to work the room as well.  Everyone had a great time and left happy (and with great goody bags)!

Me and "AG"

(photo courtesy of AG's facebook page)

Getting prettified and catching up with another AG (for the record, it is Monday and the mani hasn't chipped yet)...

(photo courtesy of AG's facebook page)

My friend and I shmoozing with another American Girl

(photo courtesy of AG's facebook page)

This is what heaven looks like (champers and cupcakes)...

(photo courtesy of AG's facebook page)

Mani courtesy of The Chelsea Day Spa (post on that here); pink diamonds from Georg Jensen (sadly I didn't leave with the ring), and some champers...

(photo courtesy of my artistry)

For those who haven't discovered it yet, American Girl in Chelsea is pretty much the bible for us expat ladies, and anyone else living in London!  Looking forward to the next event!