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I’ve noticed most of my winter wear consist of a lot of cardigans and Tippi sweaters. It is time for a change. I have been eyeing this Cotton Cable Sweater from J.Crew for a while now. It currently comes in navy and ivory. Both great colors, maybe I will get both–you can never have too much of a good thing! The reviews say it runs a little large, so I would suggest going down a size. This sweater you can wear throughout winter and during spring! Hello nautical yacht wear!

Lately I have been trying to learn new recipes and taking a stab at cooking different types of food. I am a soup fan– I’ve never met a tomato basil soup I didn’t like and want to have every day of the week. Well a few months ago I tasted my very first sweet potato and kale soup and it is all I have been able to think about since then. I figured why not make my own dreams come true and try making it as my first ever attempt at making soup. 
Anyone else have that “how do they do it?” feel about soup? It is so simple, yet so complex.
Sweet Potato and Kale Soup
makes for 4 servings
Ingredients
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 clove minced garlic
1 red or yellow bell pepper, chopped
3 medium sweet potatoes, cubed
5 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 can coconut milk
1 bunch dinosaur kale, de-steemed and thinly sliced
In a blender, add the chopped onion, bell peppers (I only used the red bell pepper), garlic, sweet potatoes and broth. Puree until your liking. 
*You can skip liquifying the ingredients if you prefer a chunkier soup, and put it all in a soup pot.

After pureeing, pour into a soup pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add coconut milk, kale, salt and pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes.

Although it taste good, to be honest I wished it was a little more creamier. The soup was still a little chunky and too watery for me. I would maybe add more potatoes, and less broth. And maybe try smashing the potatoes before mixing it with the other ingredients. I will have to try it again and play around with different techniques. Practice makes perfect!

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It maybe a winter wonderland outside, but in my mind it is happily a week away from spring and a little sunshine. From this dress to these shorts, my current wish list is an indicator that I am in need of some vitamin d. I have been looking at high-waisted bathing suits since last summer and this blue striped two-piece looks perfect to wear on my vacation that has yet to be planned. Who wants to invite me to their beach house?!………..

Speaking of planning, it is week two of 2015 and I still do not have a datebook. I feel desperate and dateless. Anyway, I always seem to gravitate towards GiGi New York for journals and datebooks. They are simple and chic, and you have the option of engraving your initials on it! And how cute would the Harper cutout flats look with a little white summer dress! Add a string of pearls and you have my entire spring wardrobe. 


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I am excited to announce ClassPass has arrived in Columbus, Ohio!  If you love to try new workouts or if you made a New Years resolution to start living a healthier lifestyle (I know I did!), you will love using ClassPass. Pay each month a $79-$99 fee and enjoy all different types of workouts at different fitness studios around the city. You can go to unlimited number of classes but only to one studio 3 times per month. It is a great way to not get stuck in a rut with only one form of exercise routine and get more out of a diverse mix of workouts than a regular gym membership. The best part is you can enjoy ClassPass in different cities nationwide like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago and much more! So if you are a traveler, you never have to put a pause on your workout routine. Thank goodness!
When ClassPass approached me to try out their services I immediately jumped at the chance to explore new fitness programs.  I wanted to learn new skills, and I wanted to throw myself into programs that I have never done before and probably wouldn’t have tried. I decided to try Crossfit and TRX. 
Crossfit 
 I like to call this, the day I learned how to decipher Bob Harper’s Insta pics and became his spirit animal.
To my surprise I enjoyed the class more than I thought I would! Going into it I was a little nervous because I knew it was more of a “manly workout” than I was used to, and I have heard lots of stories about people getting serious injuries from doing it. My verdict: It is definitely not a walk in the park, but it was not as impossible as I originally thought.  It helped that I lift weights normally, so I was use to putting intense pressure on my muscles.  Well I accidentally made the mistake and signed up for a regular WOD (workout of the day) class instead of a beginners program…. oops! One of the girls in my class placed 3rd in her division at the Crossfit Games this past summer… so you can imagine how similar in strength we were–like twins. Anyway, everyone was very nice and helpful in teaching me the proper techniques. I saw the sense of “community” everyone talks about that surrounds Crossfit. I learned how to do a snatch, the proper form of lifting, and how to climb ropes. Although I was not lifting as massive of weights as the rest of the class, I was doing more than I thought I would be able to do. Will I go back? Sure. Will I become a Crossfit junkie? No. Although I can see how people love it–it is really empowering– Crossfit isn’t the type of workout that will benefit my body. I will, however, be cheering on my new friends as they head to the Crossfit Games this coming summer, while I sit comfortable on my couch 😉
TRX
It’s like the time your gym teacher takes you outside to the playground to “play”, when in reality he makes you do chin ups while timing you.
First, for those of you who do not know what TRX is, it is total-body suspension training. Working all muscles groups at once, this workout helps enhance your balance, strength, flexibility and core strengthening. The class I took was a 40 minute spinning, 20 minute TRX class. I was a little familiar with TRX before doing the class through personal training sessions, but had never taken a class focused primarily on it. I did enjoy having the cardio portion first, fatiguing the muscles before doing the the strength training. However, I have signed up for a full power hour class because I want to focus on the strength training portion more than the cardio. As a total-body workout, I felt it mostly in my core, which is nice since some exercise routines the core section can be rushed through or not really touched upon. A few more TRX classes and I will have that 6 pack in no time…..
For my next adventure I am looking into doing Hot Box. I am not exactly sure what type of a workout it is, but I do know it is a form of strength training done in a 90 degree room. I am not completely convinced I am going to make it out alive… Anyway, I have also been trying new yoga studios because part of my 2015 goals is to get certified in teaching yoga. Hopefully once I become namaste, I will be able teach at least once or twice a week somewhere. 
ClassPass has been a great contribution to my 2015 healthy lifestyle goals. It has kept me motivated during the bitter cold by having something new to look forward to trying and learning. Click here to learn more about ClassPass and to sign up!
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