"A bargain is something you can't use at a price you can't resist." - Franklin P. Jones

Today I went shopping. And It. Was. Great. Please see the evidence below:

Do you see all of those irresistible products and prices?? Normally when I shop, I tend to skip over all of the accessories in favor of trendy pieces to add to my wardrobe, but today, I broke the mold and went accessory wild! From makeup to headbands to scarves to jewelry, contrary to the quote I chose for today, I feel like I actually added necessary items to my fashion repertoire. And let's be honest, those dresses at those prices? How is a girl to pass by?

So to all those who are curious, my final total was just around $70 for 15 items, and that's an average of $4.60 per item! Everything I purchased today was on super sale, ranging from 40% - 75% off the original price. So does that mean when people ask, I can coyly say my cocktail dress was $4.60? Nah... that may not look so classy, but its definitely a great deal for my wardrobe and my wallet!

Happy Friday everyone!

"Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving." - Albert Einstein

Yesterday was one of those days, lemme tell ya! The heat has officially gone to my head here in New Orleans, clouding even the simplest of thoughts and decisions.

For example, yesterday morning, I stared blankly in front of my closet, wondering what I could possibly wear that would be appropriate for class, but would also keep me cool throughout the day. So I thought to myself, ah yes, a breezy skirt should be perfect. And I will ride my bike, and every thing will be glorious and magical, just like the movies:

Photo Courtesy: Rafaella | Flickr

WRONG. Instead of making my way to campus, hair and skirt peacefully blowing in the wind, I'm pretty sure in my attempt to refrain from flashing the world, I ended up looking something like this:

Photo courtesy: Flickr

Yup, it was one of those days! But, after a frantic phone call to my mom to talk me off my ledge, I walked the bike back to my apartment, threw on a pair of shorts, got back on the bicycle, and slowly but surely rode my way to class. Yes, I was 45 minutes late, but the point is, I kept moving. And as much as I wanted to give up, skip class and crawl back into bed, I regained my balance, and it actually turned out to be a pretty good day.

"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon." -Doug Larson

I don't talk politics too often, but I'm just going to put it out there: I love Michelle Obama. And hence, I love this campaign. This morning, The New York Times reported the release of MyPlate (above), the new and improved "food pyramid" which is a part of the first lady's anti-obesity campaign. I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, I never memorized the food pyramid. In fact, I've always found it a bit confusing, and therefore, generally chose to ignore it. Now, that's not to say I just ate cake and candy all day (I wish!), but my proportion of grain to protein to fruits and vegetables is surely not always accurate.

Courtesy ThisNext.com

A few years ago, I saw an advertisement for "portion plates" which have strategically placed decorations on them to encourage portion control (right). How great is that? Some of the plates have words on them so as to relieve any confusion at all, but in general, I think it's a brilliant guide to eating healthier.

So, I say congrats to Michelle Obama and the USDA for capitalizing on this simple, yet creative, and hopefully effective method for teaching kids (and adults!) how to properly fuel their bodies. With portion control, healthy foods, and daily exercise, I look forward to our country's improved health and longevity!

For more information on this campaign, visit www.choosemyplate.gov

P.S. Don't you love the quote? SO TRUE. Mmmm Bacon...