a new bike, fresh veggies and a ferris wheel ambition.

There's something about winter that leaves me yearning for more. It leaves me a little bored. A little antsy. A little bit waiting for spring.

But this winter? I'm not doing it. I won't let it happen. I want to embrace the wintery things Atlanta has to offer and embrace the fact that everyone is OK with slowing down (read: hibernating) during this season. 

The first way I'm doing it is by tackling things on my bucket list that I've been wanting to do for months. In November, I told you five things I wanted to get done by the end of the year. I only got two done - dangit - but not for lack of trying. Here's what they were:

Grant Park Farmers' market 

Live music at Eddie's attic

Atlanta Botanical Garden (Garden Lights, Holiday Nights!)

Falafel King in Emory Village

Tour Oakland Cemetary

Here's how it went:

Grant Park Farmers' market (Bucket List #3): Done. Melly and I went one humid Saturday morning after a great workout, with coffee. Easily one of my favorite mornings of the month. Workout? Check. Healthy eats? Check. Good friend? Check. Coffee? Check. Life at GPFM is good, y'all. 

Live music at Eddie's Attic (Bucket List #12): DONE. Chris and I went to Ryan Horne's Christmas show right before I left for Indy and it was solid. Eddie's Attic has such a good vibe - cozy, all about the music and chill. I can't wait to see another show there. 

Falafel King (Bucket List #75): Fail. Duke and I went after a New Year's Eve run and they were closed! For a week! I was really sad. I thought I was going to squeeze that baby in RIGHT before the end of the year. 

As for ABG and Oakland Cemetary? I'll be seeing you this year, amigos!

Speaking of amigos. My friends and I recently tried La Pastorcita, which begins my goal of exploring ethnic restaurants on Buford Highway (Bucket List #45). Highlights include a Mariachi band (two actually. for real.), awesome guac and $2 tacos. 

AND, I bought a bike to replace mine at Paris on Ponce. Looking at you, Bucket List #72! Paris on Ponce is great - they have so much stuff and it's in top condition. My bike could be some kind of art (it's really old. and cute, i think :)) OR you can ride it. Talk about versatility! 

Next up? I'm coming for you, Ferris Wheel. 

Happy Wednesday!

less is more in one four & other tuesday thoughts

- In December, I took a break from coffee. I'm so happy to have it back in my life. Coffee is pretty happy. 

- My friend, Julianna, told me her motto for 2014 is: less is more in one four. I love this so much and am now stealing it. Less is totally more for me these days. 

- I used to not know how to wear scarves - they always confused me. But then, in Austin with Robyn, she taught me how to wear them. And now I want to wear them with everything in the winter. They're outfit changers!

- Speaking of winter, who else is ready for spring? I can.not.wait!

- I am about to read Counterfeit Gods and am really excited/nervous for my world and mind to be rocked. Relationships, body image, social media? I am Whitney and sometimes I have idols. Let's do this. 

- I'm trying out these new ads on here and am working out kinks. Sorry if things get a little funky looking over the course of the next few days.

- My sisters, mom and I are doing Brene Brown and Oprah's e-course, The Gifts of Imperfection. Day one's motto: I am imperfect, but I am enough. This stuff is my bread and butter! You had to write it on your hand and Lily, Court's daughter, wanted to write a truth on her hand that she believed. She wrote, I am lovely. I think we all teared up at that. You are lovely, indeed, Lily. 

 Happy Tuesday!

go west! ATL's (insanely awesome) west coast workout

Earlier this week, I mentioned being in a bit of a workout funk - tired of trying so hard to come up with workouts and really needing something to push me.

Ask and you shall receive.

I recently had the pleasure of trying Atlanta's West Coast Workout, which has been on my ATL Workout Bucket list for a while now. The class did not disappoint - it was both insanely hard and so much fun. Tammy, the high-energy creator and instructor, is passionate about fitness and mental wellness, which is essential in my book. She's all about going beyond just a good workout class to really provide a full experience for her clients and help them live their healthiest life. 

 All of the classes are guaranteed to be full-body workouts and include cardio and strength training. 

I tried her West Coast Barre class, which is nothing like a normal barre class. It was yoga and Pilates infused, but also offered some serious cardio and core conditioning. We mainly used the barre for balance and flexibility. I often get frustrated during standard barre classes because they (1) aren't hard enough, (2) don't make me sweat or sore and (3) feel like you have to have gone a bunch in order to really do it well.

Not this class.

(1) It was so hard I almost couldn't finish. For real. 

(2) I did it Sunday and was sore until Wednesday. 

(3) I could follow completely - the instruction was clear and, while I know that I will become more proficient as I do it more (as with anything), I didn't feel like I was missing out because I couldn't quite tuck right, didn't know the terminology, etc. 

Not only that, but the space is great. It's swanky enough to make you feel like it's worth paying for, but intense enough to make you work. I can't wait to go back for another class and definitely recommend trying it.  I went to the Buckhead location, but would also love try it in Sandy Springs, because it's right by my office. You can see the schedules for both locations here.

Be sure to let me know if you try it!

all images via giltcity - which is, sadly, sold out!

budgeting for those who don't like to budget one bit (including yours truly)

Lately I feel like I've been consuming too much. Not food - other stuff. Consuming as in: too much spending, too much time online, too addicted to my phone, too many emails, too much Instagram, too much clothing in my closet...

As part of my New Year's resolution to simplify, I cleaned out my closet, reduced my scheduling and am unsubscribing from mass emails like it's my job. 

In addition, a huge, huge portion of simplifying is to reduce my spending. Which is maybe one of the least fun parts of being a grown up. Aside from paying for car insurance. Can we start a petition to just make it free, please?

Because almost everyone I know is trying to stick to a budget in 2014, I figured I'd share the steps I'm taking. And if you have any tips to share back, let me know! Always looking for ways to improve!

And so, budgeting for those who don't like to budget...

1. Assess the situation: I made a list of all of my expenses from December and put them into categories: necessary and unnecessary. Necessary things include groceries, rent, gas, car insurance, etc. Also, I put gifts as necessary because gift giving is my love language and love is non-negotiable. Things that aren't necessary? Dinners out, gifts for myself, manicures, etc. (Sidenote: You might have different non-negotiables. Some people refuse to negotiate on their nails. I get it.)

2. Set the ground rules: January is the month of intensity. So, if it's not necessary, I'm not doing it. Come February, I hope to be so motivated by how much I've saved that I keep going with this intensity.

My groundrules...

3. Eat at home: No dinners out, coffees out or lunches at work. Woof! I know - it's a doozy. But it pairs nicely with my reduced calendar scheduling. The only exception I am making is for one breakfast I already had scheduled months ago. I can save money but I can't be a flake. 

4. Don't pay to workout: There are so many ways to workout for free, including great blogs with tutorials, awesome online yoga, tons of places that offer your first class free and, of course, the world's biggest gym: outside. For this month, I am not buying a single class. Not even the Hotlanta Yoga deal that I rilllly want. 

5. Clean out your cabinets: Yep yep no grocery challenge is back! Obviously, since I am only eating food from home, I will go to the grocery. But first I have to eat what I have. Looking at you, frozen veggies.

6. Cut back on entertainment spending: Melissa and I are debating canceling out cable and sharing Internet with the other half of our duplex. I'm also not buying any books this month. If I really want a new read that I can't borrow, I'm going to the library or using LibriVox, which is free books on tape. I refuse, however, to cancel my Spotify. That is one of my non-negotiables (: 

7. Unsubscribe from daily deals: I know, I know. When yoga classes are $35 for 10, or better yet, free shipping at Madewell, it's hard to pass up. And I always like to say that I'm spending money to save money, because I'm buying things I'd want later, at a discounted rate. But that's delusional. I don't need the Madewell shirt now. Daily emails very rarely contain things you need.

8. Wait a month to buy anything big: I wanted a bike in August so badly. And you know what? I still wanted it in December. So when I found one on major discount (I ended up paying $120), I was so, so happy I'd waited. I almost spent $600 in August! Also, you know what I didn't really want? That Kindle that I bought on impulse. I never use it, dangit!

9. Leave your debit card at home: I learned this by accident. The other day I accidentally left my wallet at home. I went to run errands after work, then realized I didn't have my card. So what did I do? I didn't spend money, all day long! In case of emergency, you should have something (maybe $20 hidden, or something like that). But every now and then, leaving my card at home is a nice trick.

10. Drive less: Avoid getting in the car when you can. Walk more (see #4!) or bike (see #8!).

Remember, every little bit makes a difference. I'll let you know how it goes in February. Happy saving!