Ladies' Lunch, and Paleo-ish dieting adventures

This has been such a great month for me, I've been bubbling over with happiness. There's no other way to put it, and I am aware that it sounds cheesy and silly... but I'm full of joy. No explanation-- I didn't get a raise, I'm not preggers, I haven't won the lottery or anything-- just JOY over living in a beautiful place, surrounded by good people who make me happy, with a fulfilling career and a wonderful husband and sweet dog, along with a home (albeit rented) that's in an amazing community.

One good aspect of today was "lunch with the ladies" Michelle, Maria and Lauren at Field of Greens on Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, Florida. OBSESSED-MUCH!! My favorite lunch spot!

L to R: Me, Lauren, Maria and Michelle

I can't get enough of their salads, which is saying something because those salads are HUGE. I love the "Create your own" deal for $7.95. I get a hard-boiled egg on mine for protein, and I love choosing different veggies and some of their delicious dressing. I also love their cucumber-infused water, on tap at the side of the restaurant.

This time, though, I got the Classic Cobb salad, because I was craving avocado and chicken. I love the Gorgonzola cheese for that added flavor.

Field of Greens Classic Cobb Salad, to-go... nom nom nom

This is the restaurant Michelle and I love to hit up during lunchtime and take wheatgrass shots. She was bold today, and drank hers DOWN. You go, girl! I love how the servers hand the shot to you with two slices of orange, to chase down the grass taste. So helpful. :) 

I guess people have discovered my secret, because that restaurant was packed for lunch and the line was almost to the door. At least the service was still great, although Michelle did have to wait a few minutes for her wheatgrass. Understandable, because the demand is HIGH now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today, I decided I would give it a try eating Paleo-ish. I had a green smoothie for breakfast with green tea afterwards instead of coffee, the Field of Greens Classic Cobb salad for lunch (although the cheese and dressing were not Paleo), and an apple plus some homemade Chocolate "Crack" which is really just a combination of cocoa powder, stevia and coconut oil. Dinner was another salad of mixed greens with Standard Egg Salad on top.

Now, I'm chowing on a delicious recipe I found of a Cinnamon-Apple 2-Minute Mug Cake from The Paleo Mom. I replaced honey with agave nectar since I didn't have honey-- plus it gives me too much energy this late in the evening (it's past 8pm as I type this). I also replaced the walnuts with pecans, because, again, that's all I had. The final result was truly DELICIOUS!

My ground-up almonds made almond flour in my Magic Bullet blender

Here's what it looked like dumped out of the mug onto a plate after microwaving

Topped it with Go Veggie cream-cheese alternative, sugar free blueberry preserves-- BLISS!!!

St. Patrick's Day green

I celebrated St. Patrick's Day by sporting my favorite green dress from (of course) Old Navy. Jewelry is from New York and Company.

Eye shadow is from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette and the Coastal Scents 88 Original Palette. I have been using the heck out of the Coastal Scents Palette lately... I rediscovered it after not using it for more than a year.

Where I work at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, I snapped this photo of this military macaw who is mostly green, because I figured he was an appropriate representative for St. Patrick's Day. :)

One good deed of the day was when I rescued this fledgling mockingbird, who was dropped off at the Zoo and needed to be transported to the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, FL. This bird had probably fallen out of its nest, and wouldn't make it on its own. Once the Zoo's veterinary technician fed it, I took it to Jupiter and dropped it off. It didn't make a peep! It was a happy, full bird. Cross your fingers it does well and makes it back into the wild.

Last animal photo of the day-- my dog, Mogwai, looking cute as normal, all cuddled up on the top of the couch. He is a leucistic Pekingese, which is a form of albino but with a bit more pigmentation.

Lent -- 'tis the season to give something up

Thanks to Kerry Shorr of LuxeVivant for including me in this awesome blog post about what I, along with other "around-towners," are giving up for Lent.

My healthful snack for the afternoon

Confession: I have NOT been doing a good job of keeping out the sugar and starch that I pledged I would avoid for Lent!!! At least, not until TODAY. "After all, tomorrow is another day," said that southern belle, Scarlett O'Hara. "After all, might as well START today," said I to myself, this morning. 

Feeling inspired to stick to my Lenten resolution-- yellow is a nice color for hope, yes??

If I stay with my eating plan to avoid sugar and starch and stick with the calorie-controlled plan I like, then in exactly ONE MONTH FROM TODAY, I can relax it up a bit in preparation for our next 8-day Carnival cruise to the Southern Caribbean!

From Carnival, about the trip on the "Breeze" ship: The rainforests of Dominica, crystal-clear waters of St. Thomas, seaside villages of Barbados and white-sand beaches of Aruba are a few of the exotic treasures you'll experience on a 3, 4, 7 or even 8 day Carnival Southern Caribbean cruise. The bounty of Southern Caribbean activities including: swimming, snorkeling, hiking, shopping and sightseeing, ensure that there's something to suit every taste. Come see for yourself. Book your Carnival Southern Caribbean cruise vacation today.

The map of where we will cruise, courtesy of Carnival.com

It is motivational for me to see the photos of the Dominican Republic. I have always wanted to visit there-- need to brush up on my Spanish. 

Ok, ok, so I admit that we won't be back until Easter Sunday, and I am realistic enough to know that there is no way I will avoid sugar and starch completely on the cruise. So I shouldn't call this a full-on Lenten set of resolutions-- rather, it's a modified Lent! I know, die-hard Catholics will realize that I'm WAY not following the full spiritual meaning of the 40 days and 40 nights that Jesus spent fasting. I admit that I am bending the rules to suit my will. I am Baptist, by the way...

Perhaps I could give it up and call it something other than a Lenten resolution... but I have been reading up on my devotional, and trying to seek God more. That's always a good thing!!

Busy week! TV appearance & weekend fun around South Florida

It's been busy ever since I last blogged... and I do intend to do a follow-up post about my husband's infamous Mardi Gras birthday party. :) Better late than never! I have all those pictures to upload!

Meantime, this is one look I felt like posting because I am a huge fan of this boyfriend blazer. You may notice me wearing it a LOT-- and it was from WALMART! I should have bought it in black, LOL, as frequently as I wear it!

I like this shirt, b/c it has a giraffe on it

Lip shade is a combination of Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge in Coquette, and Bath & Body Works C.O. Bigelow Mint Mentha lip gloss

This is what I wore when I was on The List TV Show on Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday, making this king cake.

You can watch the segment The List TV Show segment HERE!

Now on to another topic... weekend fun around South Florida! My husband and I love to be tourists around where we live in Palm Beach County. This past weekend, we did the Diva Duck tour that is on land and water, based out of City Place. It was $54 total, and SO worth it. I described it on my Facebook page as "cheesy, but fun," and that's exactly what it was-- complete with interesting history, looks at mansions belonging to the likes of Celine Dion and Elizabeth Post's granddaughter, and chock full of "ducky" jokes that had me "quacking" up. ;) I couldn't resist.

Two weekends ago (yes, I'm playing catch-up) we went to our favorite beach spot-- Riviera Beach's Singer Island. That's where we snorkel. But the reason I love the beach spot there is because parking is free, and especially because there is that little strip-mall type place that has several restaurants like Two Drunken Goats and Johnny Longboat's, and even a 7-11 and a beach-stuff store. 

We beach it up every weekend! This is Riviera Beach's Singer Island

It is also just down the road from our favorite snorkel spot, Phil Foster Park at the Blue Heron Bridge that has the awesome snorkel trail. I just love love love going there-- but I am going to hold off a few more weeks because the water has been cold lately. I'm so over it right now! Bring on the warmer water!

I met "Jungle Jack" Hanna at work! MAC lipstick and lip gloss/lip glass

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of meeting and listening to "Jungle Jack" Hanna, TV host and author, zookeeper, animal advocate, conservationist, etc.

With "Jungle Jack" and Callie and Maura, two zookeepers I work with

He spoke eloquently about zoo life today, and how zoos are meant to be "for the people." Well, obviously for the animals, too, but I knew what he meant-- we really have to reach people to make an impact on them.

In other fun career news, I finally have been adding text to photos lately to post on the social media of the zoo I work for. I came up with the below gem that I'm particularly loving... it shows off our adorable baby tapir calf, who looks crazy-cute in almost every single photo I take of her!

Beauty stuff: I am full-on obsessed with a gift sent to me by my mentor and friend, Farrah. 

I stole your Facebook profile pic, Farrah! 'Cuz it's so pretty :) 

She sent me a baggie full of MAC empty compacts, and said that if you turn them in to be recycled at a local MAC beauty counter, they will give you a free lipstick of your choice for every six empty primary packaging containers! It's part of their Back to M.A.C. program. I love how they are thanking customers for going green.

Green is beautiful!! So is my new favorite "nude lip" combo of MAC Faux satin lipstick topped with Viva Glam Lipglass. I texted Farrah that I was totally using the two products she sent to be recycled as newbies to me, LOL! I know, kinda gross to be using my friend's lipsticks, but I wiped 'em off first. Does that count as cleaner? It doesn't? Oh well, just call me a beauty recycler. ;) 

Wearing my new "nude lip" faves... thanks, Farrah!

MAC satin lipstick in "Faux" -- almost all gone! I will dig it out to make the most of it!

#NoShame #WasteNotWantNot

And MAC LipGlass in "Viva Glam"

Get Ready With Me "CruzTube" video

Click HERE to watch my latest CruzTube video, "Get Ready With Me!"

This is the look I have in my profile photo! It was my job's fundraising gala, a black tie event, so I went all-out with hair and makeup.

My husband, Nathan, and me at the gala

Here are the products I used in the video:

Urban Decay DeSlick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray
Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15
Smashbox Hybrid 2-in-1 Luminizing Primer 
Neutrogena Skin-Clearing Oil-Free Makeup in Natural Tan and Fresh Beige
Becca The One Perfecting Brush
Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation in Bronze 607
MAC Contouring Brush
ELF HD Lifting Concealer in Light
Bare Escentuals Max Coverage Concealer Brush
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Mary Kay Eye Primer
Mary Kay Loose Powder in Ivory 2
Kabuki Brush
Benefit "Gimme Brow" in Medium/Dark
Coastal Scents 88 Color Original Eyeshadow Palette
ELF Eyeshadow Brush
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
ELF Essentials Eye Crease Brush
Fluffy blending brush
ELF Liquid Liner in Black
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Blackout
ELF Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder in Antigua
ELF Studio Stipple Brush, one regular and one pink
Cover Girl Eye Enhancers Shadow in Champagne
Mary Kay Mineral Shimmer Powder in Canary Diamond
Maybelline The Falsies Volum Express Mascara in Very Black
ELF Small Angled Brush
Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge in Coquette
ELF Pout Perfector in Glow
Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus
Suave Keratin Infusion Smooth and Shine Serum
Velecta Paramount Professional Super Lightweight Hair Dryer
2 Round brushes
MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon
Fluffy shadow brush
MAC Eyeshadow in Shroom
Hot Tools 1 1/4 inch curling iron
Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play Harder hairspray
Sally's Beauty Supply clip-in extensions
Teaze brush
Ambiance Volumizing Dry Shampoo in Black
Salon Perfect Self-Adhesive lashes

Disney World! Vacay photos! Oh, and my OOTD

I'll just start with a quick post about my OOTD... it's a shirt I think of as my "dressy zookeeper" or "safari" type shirt, because of the color and front pockets. The fabric is silky, so it's dressier than a real zookeeper would wear (and I ought'a know, since I work at a zoo).

My jeans and the shirt are both from Old Navy, my favorite place to shop. Shoes are animal-print flats from Payless.

Now, on to more fun stuff-- THREE DAYS OF DISNEY WORLD!!! My husband and I took advantage of the Florida Resident Special Offer of three different theme parks for $129 each. So worth it! 

We did the Magic Kingdom first, on Thursday. 

It was amazing! I love riding Space Mountain. My favorite part was visiting the new FantasyLand expansion. We rode "Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid," and visited Maurice' Cottage in "Enchanted Tales with Belle." 

 

The grand ballroom in Beast's Castle, and the stained glass window from the movie's ending

Beast's ripped portrait

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The character "Gaston" had huge biceps, and the "swagger" to match :) 

Belle and Lumiere... the character sounded just like Belle from the movie!

I also loved the evening electric parade and the night shows, "Celebrate the Magic" and "Wishes Nighttime Spectacular" when they put all the animated stuff on the castle and do fireworks to music. DISNEY DOES IT BIG!!

The only downside to the day-- it was super-hard to eat healthfully. I know it was a vacation... but someone needs to alert Disney dining officials that this is 2014, and people want nutritious food, even on trips. I gave up after the first day... plus I had been looking forward to chowing down in Epcot. :)

So Friday, yes, we did Epcot. I was most looking forward to the World Showcase! We had done DisneyWorld with a park hopper pass in 2012, so we had already hit up a bunch of rides then. This was taking our time, being leisurely, and enjoying the day doing the quality things that we wanted to do on the last trip... plus eating and drinking our way around the world, ya heard?!

Here are some photos from Epcot, where I only took video of the IllumiNations nighttime fireworks show (which was amazing):

Chevrolet's Test Track, and the fun green screen at the end of the ride

Mexico

 

Norway, where characters Anna and Elsa from "Frozen" stay... did you know the movie was based on the museum in Epcot's Norway?! 

China (with my new peacock umbrella that has my name written on it in Chinese)

The Jeweled Dragons acrobatic troupe, and Mulan!! (love that movie)

Germany! Spot the hidden Mickey :) 

Werther's caramel place (Karamell-Küche shop), with chocolate-covered pineapple spears and a candied apple

Morocco... rub that lamp, Aladdin

Italy

 

America

 

Japan, where I wanted to buy a bunch of Hello Kitty stuff... but didn't, 'cuz I'm an adult, albeit one that goes to Disney without any kids.

  

France (where we had a yummy, non-nutritious and pastry-filled dinner to celebrate Valentine's Day)

England, Mary Poppins, Pooh and Tigger

Canada

On Saturday, we visited the Animal Kingdom for the first time ever. It was like Zoo Disney. 

Giraffes on the safari ride

Mount Everest. I hated that coaster! Steep drops are bad, mm-kay?

I'm not ashamed to say this musical made me cry. Three times.

The last day, we had lunch with my bestie, Rikki. It was also awesome to watch her live shots on tv in realtime. :) She is an Orlando reporter. 

All in all, a very successful, fun-filled trip! I am SO GLAD we went. I felt like I earned that vacation, after two solid months of late nights working from home, stress-filled days, etc. It was exactly what I needed! :) :) :)