my friend on my wrist

So there's this craze going on that I'm totally on board with, I didn't get into it because it is trendy but I'm totally aware that it is. Who cares?? It's AWESOME.

Oh I should explain what I'm talking about; my fitbit! For Christmas my then-fiance-now-husband got me what I had been desiring for MONTHS, a Fitbit Charge HR. :) :) :) And since I have opened said present, I am obsessed. There are tons of articles out there on the pros and cons of having a fitbit, and how others are equally obsessed, I recommend you Pinterest them or YouTube them.

But this is my post about it, because I love it :)

Here's why!


*It tracks my daily steps, duh; I've read around the internet that it is recommended to walk at least 5k steps a day to maintain health, and 10k steps a day to lose weight. When I hit 10k steps in a day my fitbit starts buzzing like crazy and gives me a virtual high five! It's awesome! It also encourages me to walk around more, one night I was so close to beating a friend in a challenge (I'll get to that below) so I went outside at 11:57 pm to get as many steps in 3 minutes as I could! Yeah, like I said, obsessed!

*It tracks my heart rate, which helps me know how certain activities affect me whether it is stress levels or workouts, or lovey times with the husband ;) 

*Due to the heart rate tracking, my fitbit tells me how many calories I've burned in a day! Now, I am one of those people who DETEST tracking calories. So. Much. But if I can see how many I'm burning, I'm more likely to track my intake and then I can see true progress and hold myself accountable!

*It's comfy. I am so used to wearing now, I feel naked without it (I have to take it off to charge it or when I shower, and when I got married!) 

*It's also a watch. I just have to flip my wrist over and it appears, no touch required (but sometimes I touch it too, it has a touch sensitive screen and a tiny button on the side to make the different options show up) 

*It tracks stairs and hills climbed in a day too!

*The app is the other cool part- I can see my sleep (tracked by the fitbit's heart monitor) and see how restless I am or how many times I wake up at night. I can also track my food on the app and it'll tell me if I still have calories allowed to consume based on how much I've burned!

*On the app I can challenge and be challenged by my friends! There are daily challenges, week-long challenges, and weekend challenges, and several people can join at once! It's another awesome motivation. 

Do I need a fitbit to be healthier? No. But does it help inspire me to make healthier choices? YES. I love it so so much. I'm super grateful to the husband for getting it for me! 

***** 

If you have a fitbit, add me as a friend and we can challenge each other!

Check out my #commitedtothesexy board on pinterest (and on instagram) for fitbit ideas, workout ideas, recipes, and more! 

Happy walking!'

xoxo,

Alexandra Anne 

Lovebug, Lovey-dovey, Lovebird, Love!

So, Valentine's Day is coming up. Apparently it's been coming up since the day after Christmas, according to Walmart standards (seriously?).

I am trying to get used to the fact that I have a significant other to celebrate this lovey holiday with. Well, sort of. We're currently 800 miles apart, so we can't celebrate together on V-day. BUT, my wonderful guy is visiting Houston the week before, and that is plenty wonderful for sure :)

Of course, this is my first year in Houston. I don't really know what there is to do here..... especially in the Valentine sense!

Last year was our first Valentine's day together. That was a wonderful day. The night before, M picked me up at the airport because I had just auditioned for college, and he brought me a rose. So sweet.


The next day, actually Valentine's day, we spent all day together. The day started with us dressing up (because we can) and going to...Waffle House. (I pride myself in the fact that I don't need lots of money to be spent to have a good time!) We had a wonderful time and some yummy food. Oh, and I spilled my glass of water....I tend to spill SOMETHING on every date we go on... (first movie date, I spilled popcorn in his brand-new-shiny car...) but the food was good and many laughs were had.

Proof that I spilled water everywhere...I seriously lack coordination. Tis sad. =P

Yum! Love me some Waffle House 

Then we headed over to the movies to see...(again, we're not the norm, I think...)...Red Tails. Because a war movie just says Valentine's day date of course! It was a good movie, and I loved that it took place in Italy.

The only good pic I have of minis we would use; these are for a D&D campaign we did over the summer :) 

All dressed up. This is his trollface impression; I cringe everytime he does this. 

Following the movie we headed back to M's house to paint minis for tabletop games.

:) :) :) 

Can't wait to see my guy again!!!!

2012 had a wonderful Valentine's day.
What will 2013 have?

Probably a visit to NASA ;)


Any ideas for a Valentine's date in Houston?
What should I bake my man for dessert?

I can't wait to see my Michael! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

xoxo, alexandra anne

Houston Stuffsies

Houston is full of new experiences for me, I am doing a lot of things for the first time ever!
One new thing I have done has been to try new foods, or beverages, such as the above pictured drink, "Orchata." I chose this drink because it sounded yummy AND because Vampire Weekend has a song called "Horchata," that I have been intrigued by for a while. I knew that the drink existed, but had never seen it. I was able to find its Mexican form at a restaurant called Tilas. Lots of yum!

I've also been swing dancing three times since moving to Houston; this girl loves to dance!

The oddest thing I've probably done in Houston would be making my own sushi, and trying octopus and eel for the first time. Octopus is chewy! It's best consumed if you don't expect it at first. Have someone give you a sushi bite but not tell you what's in it until after you have swallowed. It isn't terrible! It might take some getting used to, but it was very yummy.

What new things should I try in Houston?
My bucket list so far is as follows:

*NASA
*Zoo (free for UH students! I gotta go sometime!)
*Beach- I live on the coast, ya'll, I gotta go walk a boardwalk or something!
*Eat a Kolache- I don't REALLY know what they are haha but I wanna try them.
*Meet other bloggers in Houston or the Houston area :)

What would you add?

Have a good week!
xoxo,
alexandra anne <3

Oh Life

Linking up with Sar today to share what this weekend held for me

This weekend I...


*Ate a waffle shaped like Texas

*Spent a while on some music theory homework, like a boss ;)

*Got my Lindsey Stirling poster in the mail! :) (Please youtube her, you won't be sorry!)

* Listened to a boatload of Zelda music; seriously, you have no idea how much I am obsessing over this beautiful music!

*Had a friend over to study, and she passed out on the other side of my bed. Yes, of course I took a picture ;) (so did my roommate!)

*Showed my school spirit by going to the gate opening of a football game, and leaving before the game even started (I'm sick, that's my excuse, and that's also why I'm in my bed writing at this moment; please ignore the pile of used tissues...)

So, even though I was sick this weekend, I still accomplished things, and most importantly: I had good music time. <3

What did you do this weekend?

It's Sunday Ya'll :)

This morning I sang at Nathan's church (Nathan sang a duet with me at my senior recital, and we've done some opera work together; he's my bud!!) and was so so blessed by the congregation. They were so appreciative of the music I brought (all glory to God!) and I had a lovely time singing for them.
Then his parents took boyfriend and me out to lunch! We ate at an Indian buffet :) this is only my second time at an Indian restaurant, and I think I can officially say...I like Indian food! Which leads me to my linkup :) it's about food ya'll!

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Pizza! Hands down. No matter what "diet" I have been on, I *always* make an exception for pizza. I will never ever ever give it up. <3 

What's your guilty pleasure/comfort food? Mashed potatoes. They're so easy, and so yummy. They also make me feel better. That, or chocolate. I try to find healthy chocolate substitutions though; satisfy my craving without completely making my body upset at me =P

What's the weirdest/craziest thing you've ever eaten? Raw oysters I suppose. I don't really eat anything crazy per se. 

What foods do you avoid at all costs? Really spicy foods. I want to like spicy, but my mouth is just too sensitive. I'd really rather not. 

What meal reminds you of your childhood? Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup! :) :) :) Mom used to make that for me when I was little (I make it for myself now) and I loved it. 

Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it.

My topping for pasta. I concocted the "recipe" when I was living in Italy and had to cook for myself. I experimented a lot with toppings, and settled on a special combo of: salami, green bell peppers, and onions, all sauteed together in olive oil. SO. much. YUM. 

I'm a foodie for sure!!!!!! 

xoxo, alexandra anne