Got a Go-To Outfit?

Everyone should have a "go-to" outfit that they can mix and match with just about anything. I have a few go-to's that include the ones listed below. This outfit listed below can be worn for a Saturday shopping on Newbury St., a night out with your girls, or a day-date. Depending on how you mix and match your accessories and shoes (or boots... a must-have for someone who loves to wear leggings!), this outfit can pretty much be worn any day (or night) of the week to any occasion.  

Try this very affordable moto-race jacket. It can make any body type look great depending on how you wear it--zipped, open, etc.  

Spanx is a God-send for all women!! I love their tops to wear under any jacket as they are slimming and sexy, yet comfortable and practical. And don't worry... they will still make your girls look sexy without compressing them!  

I can't even count how many pairs of Hue leggings I have in my wardrobe. They are my favorite piece of fashion since Spanx. They accentuate your legs and butt like no pair of jeans could ever do, yet they put jeans to shame in terms of comfort. Plus, who doesn't like a great pair of boots over leggings... warm, comfy and super sexy!  

Wedges are a great go-to pair of shoes with leggings. They give you some heel to accentuate those great legs of yours, without the back-ache and swollen feet. Go a little edgy by wearing red. It will give the whole outfit a bit of flavor. But, if you want to be a little more practical, then the beige or black will go with any outfit.  

What's a "go-to" staple of yours?

Valentine's Day on a Budget - It CAN Be Done!

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Photo: Planked Salmon with Honey-Balsamic Glaze

Valentine's Day can get quite pricey, so to save a little and still have a romantic evening, how about a night in with your special one? A home-cooked meal paired with a great bottle of wine and good conversation is the perfect recipe for a memorable night. Plus, by cooking it yourself, you can still keep it healthy!

Try this salmon recipe from the Cooking Channel. It's tasty, healthful, and easy to make!

For a fun and scrumptious dessert, try this chocolate mousse recipe. It is incredibly easy and low-fat, but delicious!!! Cut up some strawberries and enjoy!

What you'll need:

• 6 oz. semi-sweet morsels chocolate chips
• 1 canister of fat-free or lite cool whip
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for one minute. Add thawed cool whip and cinnamon and mix together. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

Enjoy!!

XO

RWR

What's Inside YOUR Purse?!

For all of you girls who have a dozen handbags that you alternate between depending on the outfit, all of you must have your essentials in your main day bag, right? I've listed some of my staples that I can't live without, especially when I'm traveling. 

Ultimate Direction water bottle: This item is more essential to me than my wallet sometimes. I have a bunch of them at my house and there is always one in my hand or purse. I don't drink soda or juice and it's amazing how much better you will feel overall when you increase your water intake. Having a bottle that can be filled up anywhere is essential for absolutely everyone at all times! 

Mini note-pad and pen: God forbid people actually write things down on paper now instead of their smartphone or tablet. Call me old-school, but I make my grocery lists and to-do lists using an actual pen and paper. They say that the most successful people all make to-do lists. Start making one each day and you'll be shocked at how much you can accomplish!

Body Shop Hemp hand cream: This is another essential for staying hydrated. Skin is the largest organ in the human body and it needs to be protected from chapping, which can lead to infections having open wounds with all of the bacteria our hands are exposed to on a daily basis. This cream is the best and pretty affordable at the Body Shop. 

Ray-Bans: Whether I'm protecting my light blue eyes from the rays of the sun bouncing off the snow or at a golf tournament in a sunny climate, I cannot bear to be without my sunglasses. You only get one pair of eyes in this life, so protect them... and it never hurts to use a little fashion while doing so. Just remember this one very important thing while shopping for sunglasses--they MUST say 100% UV protection. If they don't, then you will actually be doing more damage to your eyes by wearing them. People squint as a natural way to protect the pupil. If the sunglasses are giving us a false sense of protection, then we will be looking straight at the sun with our eyes fully exposed if we are wearing sunglasses without UV protection. 

Eyeliner: Everyone has a favorite feature and mine is my eyes. I like to play them up, so I feel almost naked without eyeliner. It is always in my purse!!

iPad: OK, OK... I know I say I'm old school by writing everything down, but I also love my iPad! I'm a sports junkie so I love being able to follow scores at all times no matter where I am. 

Business Cards: I travel extensively and am constantly meeting new and fascinating people. I love keeping in touch with everyone, so I carry my business cards at all time. Always be sure to follow up with an email soon after meeting someone so to be sure they remember you. 

Lip essentials: Again... hydration is key!! I have lip balm scattered all over my house and in every purse I have. I also have a go-to lip gloss that can add a little bit of color appropriate for day or night in nearly every purse. 

Toothbrush and Toothpaste: I'm a dental hygiene freak! How many people here love tasting their own coffee breath?? Gross!! It's also great to have after a long flight. I can go to the bathroom, rinse my face and brush my teeth to wake up a bit. 

BARE ESSENTIALS:  iPhone with headphones, wallet and keys.  

Cupid is a-comin’...

And you can kick your relationship up a notch with these fool-proof Valentine's Day gifts!

1. Find me a girl who doesn't like jewelry and never needs to know what time it is and I'll find you an egg without a yolk inside of it. Michael Kors is the "in" brand for somewhat affordable designer bags, clothes, shoes  and watches. MK watches are fashionable and make for a great piece of jewelry, while also serving a purpose. Yup, after you KNOW she will know the time, you can give her a little more slack next time she's late. You just can't go wrong with this gift! In order to figure out which one you should go with, notice if she tends to wear more gold or silver. If she wears both almost equally, then a two-toned watch is always a good go-to when shopping.
2. What better way to share all of your memories with the help of modern technology than with a digital picture frame? She'll love it and it will show her that you put a lot of thought into her gift, but it shouldn't take too much work.
3. Tiffany perfume is my personal favorite and the only perfume I have worn since I was seventeen. I love that not many people wear it, so it's kind of my own unique scent.
4. This is a romantic holiday, not a birthday or Christmas, so IOU's are great because you can show her how much you care for her in a lot of great ways.
5. The word 'romance' comes from the French word for novel, roman. Back in the Middle Ages, men used to court their women by reading novels to them. How many of you guys got jipped from bedtime stories your entire childhood??? Most likely none! So why have us women been jipped from this lost art?? Promise to read her a love poem every night before bed along with a great pair of cashmere gloves, and she will be eating out of the palm of your hand!
6. A woman always needs a great purse to touch up her sexy outfit with some class for the perfect combination. If you get her a clutch, she'll love using it when out for a night with you. Try this one from Diane Von Furstenberg because it can pretty much go with any outfit or dress.
7. A couples massage is a great way to schedule a romantic day for just the two of you and then a night out on the town. Schedule one followed by a dinner date for this Valentine's Day weekend. You'll both be relaxed and it's a great way to connect. Use Spafinder to find your nearest spa and take advantage of some great deals!
8. You can never go wrong with red roses. In fact, as long as you can afford it, you should be planning on sending these to her house or work the morning of Valentine's Day followed by your other gifts when you see her.
9. I'm a huge fan of Edible Arrangements. It's such a cute way to send someone something in a different way. Chocolate covered strawberries are sweet and romantic. I love this arrangement as a great way to start her day at the office or home.
10. This gift will be your favorite gift to shop for online...lingerie. Things to note while shopping for lingerie--A) she's wearing it for you so get her something you would like to see her wear. B) now don't take what I just said too literally because it has to be something she is comfortable putting on for you. You should know what her comfort levels are if you are intimate with her. I'm putting the link for Victoria's Secret here because they are affordable, sexy and classy, and you can find a VS store anywhere in the United States. However, if your woman is bigger than a size DD, she can't shop there. Check out myintimacy.com. It's difficult to shop for their lingerie on line, but you can call them and talk to someone about what it is that you're looking for in order to save any embarrassment you may have doing it in person. They will ship it for you if you call them.
11. What couple doesn't want a romantic weekend away with one another??? Whisk her away for a weekend to a ski resort, island, or just a nearby B&B. I received some sage advice from a woman once when I was much younger, but I hope I can follow it when I have a family. She and her husband would go away once every other month and they were not allowed to talk about their children so as not to distract them from focusing on them and their marriage. They were one of the happiest couples I've ever met. 
12. As mentioned earlier, a woman can never have too much jewelry! When it is a gift from the one we care about, it makes us think of you whenever we wear it. My favorite collection for bracelets is from the Honesty collection. To help you guys out, I am just listing my favorite store, Kristen's Place. If you call this boutique and mention my blog, they will arrange a triplet of bracelets and send them to you. These bracelets are great because they go with any outfit and you can wear them at night or in the daytime. 
13. Home decors with a touch of fragrance are always a nice touch. Pottery Barn is one of my all time favorite stores and they have a great collection of these for you to choose from.
14. If you really want to splurge, and want to WOW her this Valentine's Day, have her fall head over heels for you in a new pair of heels. Every woman loves a beautiful pair of heels, so why not give her something she can put on that night for dinner with you and will be raving about to every person she knows for years to come. You won't mind the view, either!

I've Started a Blog!

Hey Everyone! Welcome to my blog. I am really excited to share with you my life experiences and interests. I'll be talking about health, fitness, nutrition, sports, and entrepreneurship—some of my favorite topics.

You know how they always say "those who can't do, teach?" Well, my friends have been coming to me for dating advice since I was thirteen, but don't think I ever follow my own advice. I'm a single gal from Boston, who absolutely loves my city and everything it has to offer. Boston Strong! I grew up in the suburbs and graduated from Boston College. I was born in Indiana and lived there until elementary school so I like to think I have the directness and work ethic of a Bostonian with the genuine friendliness of a Midwesterner... I love my city, but I get questioned on why I'm so friendly when I tell people I'm from Boston—sorry Boston peeps!!

I am the fifth of six children (yes... Irish Catholic) so I suffer from large family syndrome big time, which I'll tend to reference and explain in later posts. I can pretty much talk to anyone about anything because I don't have a shy bone in my body. My relationships with friends, family, etc mean everything to me and I'll do absolutely anything for someone I care about. I thrive on traveling and adventures, yet my home is my sanctuary when I'm actually there. I'm incredibly domestic and I love to entertain and cook so my house is open to friends and family at any time. I hope you enjoy reading what I have to write! :-)

XO,

RWR