Slim Fast

I know it might be hard for some of you stuck in the snow to believe (sorry, Salt Lakers!), but swimsuit season is nearly upon us!

Even though I crave warm weather all Winter long, I find that it creeps up on me every year. One minute I am enjoying sugar cookies for dinner, and the next I am trying to put on a swimsuit without crying.

Who's with me?

(Someone? Please?)

So you don't suffer the same fate, here is the first in a series of summer slim-down tips, courtesy of OK! Weekly magazine. (Yes, I get it, I read it and I do not feel badly about it. So there.)

Diet: Cut out coffee (And Diet Coke, too).
And try some green tea instead. While coffee elevates stress and increases cravings, green tea has the opposite effect. Also replace artificial sweeteners with honey or agave, and be sure to drink plenty of water. Your body can sometimes mistake thirst for hunger.

Workout: Start strength training.
Instead of hating every minute on the treadmill, start with two days a week of total-body strength training. Weight training will help you slim down and building muscle will speed up your metabolism so you keep burning calories even after your workout is over.

Motivation: Set a realistic goal.
A pound a week is a good place to start, but shedding weight doesn't have to be your main motivation. Any small lifestyle change will add up to a noticeable difference wherever you want to see it most.

There now, that wasn't so bad. Right?
What are your summer-ready fitness tips?

Black Is The New Black

There is no wardrobe staple quite like a black dress, is there? Good for work, play, formal and not, it doesn't get much better than a little black dress. I have several, and I still feel like I don't have enough.

But a black dress can also be a boring dress if you're not careful. Here are some of Washington's finest, with some tips on how to work the LBD.

What is your favorite option?

And how do you like to dress up your LBD?

Breaking The Pattern

Lately I have been thinking that my wardrobe choices are getting a little predictable. My non-awesome Corporate America dress code probably has something to do with that, but the fact of the matter is that even unexpected things become expected after a while. We always have to be shaking it up, right?

So, my new idea is mixing patterns. Just the other day, I contemplated and hemmed and hawed and stared and tried on and took off and put back on again for ages, and finally bit the bullet and wore a striped T-shirt underneath a leopard print cardigan.

Ever since, I've been keeping my eyes peeled and it turns out that mixed patterns are everywhere! Even on The Sartorialist.

This is a particularly bold example, but it's easy to replicate this general idea according to your own comfort level. I think stripes are a great place to start because the pattern stands out even if the colors are muted, and the pattern is also simple enough to go with just about anything.

If you want to start a little smaller, try a classic striped skirt with a funkier floral cardigan.





Or this retro-feeling belted sweater paired with a feminine blouse adorned with leaves.





The particularly bold-at-heart might consider pairing different colored patterns for a truly eye-popping look, while the slightly less brave among us can throw on a snappy pair of shoes or grab a brightly-colored bag to bring a little pop to more monochromatic pattern mixing.

We won't all be The Girl From The Vintage Store In Melbourne overnight, but we can get there.

{Like what you saw? Skirt, sweaters and blouse are all from Anthropoligie.}