Free Advice Friday- Me and Food

   

Words of advice...for myself... about food... because DUH

-Wait until your food cools ALL the way down... seriously Katie, you know having a burnt tongue drives you nuts.  Wait three minutes and actually enjoy your food

-Always double check your pizza order, you know how important it is to you.  Normal pizza < pan pizza.  You were so hungry you didn't bother double checking... and then you were sad

-Water is never going to taste as good as all of that Coke Zero in the fridge, but you know what is better than Coke Zero?  Sleep!  Remember that the next time you decide to drink a whole can at 8:30pm and you don't fall asleep until 3... mmmhmmm  

-Katie, can we get it together and actually plan out our meals before we go grocery shopping... cause we all know you hate making a hundred trips to the store (especially after you teach 1-2 cycle classes, you smell and look like someone gave you a swirly). GET IT TOGETHER GIRL

-Stop trying different types of Halo Top ice cream... you know the best ones, why waste the freezer space?  Rock on Peanut Butter Cup and Vanilla Bean, Rock On.

Trader Joe's Mexican Must- Haves

When we moved to Atlanta, I kept driving passed Trader Joe's until one day I decided to pop in. It is was so different from any other grocery store I had been to.  I didn't recognize products and brands, there weren't dozens of different options for the same product, no crazy bright over head lights.  I must have looked a little bewildered because an employee came right up to me to ask if he could help me.  I told him it was my first time at Trader Joe's.  He explained how they choose what products they carry, that they won't use anything with GMO's, you can pop open a product and try before you buy, and of course, the free sample station.  This was my kind of place.  I quickly found favorite/must have products.

Trader Joe's Mexican Must-Haves.

1. Salsa- These are my two favorite salsa's.  The "autentica" has the perfect amout of spice as well as the the tomatoes are extremely small (I hate the texture of tomatoes). The corn salsa has the yummiest sweet and spicy flavor to it.  I love to use it inside of quesadillas.

2. Tamales- I tried these at the free sample station.  They are basically Mexican comfort food.  They are warm and soft with a delicate flavor to them.  I loved the pork with salsa verde on top. Interesting fact- According to TJ employees, these are "hand made by a group of Mexican Grandmas".  Yes, that explains why they are so yummy.

3. Blue corn tortilla chips- I love these!!  I will not buy any other kind of tortilla chip.  They are a tiny bit crispier than normal tortilla chips with so much more flavor. We use them as the transportation to my next favorite product...

4. Reduced-guilt guacamole- Guys, I. Can't. Even.   This is a product I can't live without.  I have yet to find a guacamole that I prefer more than this.  I love to try guacamole when we go to different Mexican restaurants and I even tried when I was in Tucson for work last year.  Nothing compares to this stuff.  I have to buy two containers a week because Nick and I can just plow through it.  I suggest pairing it with the blue corn tortilla chips.

Why you should appreciate your fitness instructors

For over six year I have been a part-time fitness instructor with my favorite being a cycling instructor.  During my freshman year of college, I started to eat better and exercise regularly.  I lost some weight, so by that summer I was addicted to working out.  I signed up for a gym back in New York and decided to take a cycle class.  I was hooked.  A few years down the road, I had the opportunity to teach cycling at Washington and Lee University. They paid for me to become certified, and I have been teaching regularly ever since.

Back in Atlanta, I taught at Flywheel and had the most amazing experience and loved all of my regulars.

Fortunately, when we moved, I found an awesome gym here in Charlottesville called ZOOM and I am now on the schedule four days a week! 

So this is a little snap shot of what it's like behind the scenes of being a fitness instructor.

We get to wear some sweet gear.  Some places give you allowances and others give you massive discounts to buy their gear and wear it during class.

We spend HOURS finding the perfect songs, organizing them into the perfect playlist and making sure to choreograph it all so the ride makes sense.

There needs to be a shirt "I can't, I have to playlist" because that is real life for us. 

We have MASSIVE music libraries. I hold premium memberships to Spotify and Apple Music as well as subscribe to DJ websites so I can get awesome remixes.  These are all out of pocket expenses but we do it because we love what we do and we love our participants.

      

We rock messy buns A LOT.  I have three types of dry shampoo and a lot of hair ties.  I schedule my hair washing days around my workouts.  Yup, I told you we are passionate.

We spend our evenings and lunch breaks creating new playlists for every class.  Yup, I teach four classes a week.  Four days in a row and sometimes I take subs for other people's classes.  That's a ton of music. I have friends that teach full time and make 12-14 a week.  Worship these people, they are amazing.

Sometimes, I have to listen to NPR in the car because I legit can't listen to any more music.  Don't worry, it only lasts for a day or so.

Yes, I actually do what I call out on the bike.  I know other instructors take it easy for all different reasons.  I just can't, I love a hard workout and I won't call out something I personally can't do.

We love when you tell us you loved class, playlist, song, our energy, our outfit.  Tell us you love us!  We put a ton of time and energy into giving you an awesome experience.  Let us know.

Personally, I love when people find me on Facebook or Instagram.  I want to be your bestie!  We sweat together, you have basically seen me at my worst.  That's a special bond.

So next time you find yourself in a group fitness class, be sure to tell your instructor "thank you" "you were amazing", "you made me feel awesome"... anything.  It really means so much to us.

Free Advice Friday

Dear President Elect,

My first edition of "Free Advice Friday" goes to you.  Today is an enormous day for you.  You will be taking office in a few short hours.  Here are some free words of advice from a twenty-something.

My advice to you, be humble.  You are the leader of the free world, though 44 people have already done the job, none have made it through without mistakes.  They all came from various education, religious, ethnic...backgrounds. They have given you 44 examples of what to do and what not to do. They have lead through war, depression, economic bliss and economic heartache.  Learn from them, reflect on their examples.  Learn from the advisors around you. Listen to the people of your country, take their concerns with as much consideration as a you would that of a billionaire donor.  You have no political experience, use that to your advantage and tell people that you are learning and want as much help from those around you as possible. 

Be kind.  I am going to tell you right now, your campaign was not my cup of tea, but it worked for you, clearly.  You're here now, about to take office.  You don't need that campaign manager anymore, you don't need that bullying image anymore.  So, be kind.  Be kind to the people who still question your appointment to that sacred office.  Be kind to the people who were hurt during your campaign. Be kind to our country's friends and foes because you are no longer campaigning, you have won. 

Protect us. You are now responsible for protecting EVERY citizen in this country.  Those citizens are made up of people who love you and people who hate you.  People who live a lifestyle you agree with and people who don't. They are made up of religions you may or may not understand. They are members of communities you may or may not understand.  Your job is to protect us all.  

Be learned.  Please continue to learn about our country both past and present.  Please find the time to gather all the information you possibly can before making decisions.  You have an enormous job that has life and death consequences every.single.day.  You must take every decision, everyday, with extreme seriousness.

Accept criticism.  To be humble and learned is to be able to accept criticism.  You haven't done the best job with this.  But today is a fresh start for you. There will be people that criticize you and/or your decisions. They may have merit to do so and they may not. You can and will be hurt by comments you hear. Now is the time to learn and grow or just ignore those comments. Prove your critics wrong, not by words but by actions. Twitter is not presidential, please stop.

Eight years ago I was extremely disappointed that President Obama won. I loved Mitt Romney and just knew he would have made an amazing President. Years have passed and I have been infuriated by certain decisions President Obama has made but I have also been extremely proud of others.  I have grown to love and adore him and his family. He is a wonderful example of what a President should be. It is going to be a hard transition for me as well as many others. It will take time to gain our trust and gain our love. My hope is that I can learn to enjoy having you as a President and that you can help to keep our country great.

Sincerely,

Katie Hiatt

Color blocking

 

 

    

A little flashback to what I wore to church on Sunday.  I know color blocking was so three years ago but... its chic, its easy and its staying with me.

Dress- Banana Republic  similar

Shoes- Banana Republic similar

Leather Jacket- Banana Republic  faux version, leather version 

Clutch- Madewell similar

Sunglasses- J Crew similar

A walk behind our Nouveau Chateau aka Hiatt Manor

On Sunday, we decided it had been far too long since we visited our lot where we are building our house.  We had been told there were trails that connected all of the phases of our development.  We went to the first hour of church and decided to skip the rest and enjoy a super mild January day outside.  I changed into some warm workout clothes because I don't own any flat shoes for cold weather.  My life consists of heels, flip flops or sneakers. 

What does my husband find appropriate for this type of activity... please see below.

Jacket - Lululemon (no longer available)

Pants - Lululemon (no longer available but I REALLY want to get these)

Sneakers - Brooks (from Nordstrom Rack)  on sale $55 here!

Hat- AEO similar

 

 

Woah- dark shadows...

When two goobers get together and take a selfie...  <3

 

Nick wears a button down EVERYWHERE

 

SO.MANY.LAYERS

 

It doesn't look like much since it's winter so the trees are bare and its super overcast but it was gorgeous on these trails.

 

We can hardly wait to move in!  T minus 5 and a half months.

Nouveau Snow - How we spent a snow day

Over the weekend, we had our first snow.  As a girl from upstate New York, I have had my fair share of snow. I don't like the stuff, its cold, it makes me ugly and have I mentioned it's cold? 

I will give it to snow, it is gorgeous and somewhat romantic.  We woke up on Saturday to a little blanket of snow covering everything. We had a meeting with our house builder that got delayed a few hours so I decided to make a carb heavy breakfast because YOLO and I was sick of eating eggs.

Nick and I listened to Pandora and danced around in our PJ's as I made our waffles and we opened up the blinds so we could keep watching the snow fall.

  

I just loved staring at the snow from our warm apartment.  

 

Jacket: J Crew  (Size down, I am wearing a 00)

Beanie: Nordstrom  (It tends to sell out so snatch it up, $15!)

Jeans: Banana Republic (On major sale!)

Boots: Hunter Boots 

I wore the Hunter Boots all day and realized they are most definitely rain boots if they don't have inserts.  I whined all day about how cold I was so Nick basically begged me to order the polar fleece inserts.  

We headed out to our house meeting then went out for some celebratory tacos.  The roads were really bad and most things were closed in Charlottesville so we ran to Red box for a movie and ordered some Chinese takeout.  For as much as I absolutely love to go out on the weekends, it was such a great feeling changing into my PJ's and eating take out.

What are your go-to snow day activities?

Ruffles and Bows, Oh My!

]

 Dress: J Crew Factory (old) similar

 Shoes: Banana Republic (on sale!!)

Clutch: Madewell (old) similar 

Doormat: Target

 Yesterday, we had shortened church because it snowed here in Cville.  You may be asking "uh, girl, it doesn't look like it snowed".  Trust me, it did and I am covered in goosebumps in these pictures.

Nick talked me into snapping some pictures after church since I kept going on about how these were my new favorite shoes and I only got to wear them for an hour.

I scored these beauties for $22!!  The website didn't have my size so I located a store that did, via the website and they were running a sale on them.  Hands down my new favorite heels.

I thought the ruffles went perfectly with the bows on the shoes.  Decided to keep my purse neutral and style with a messy bun since there was a lot of volume happening on my dress.

Happy Monday!

"Nouveau" Year

My Toast to 2016

 Here's to my husband: to the arguments that ended with understanding, to the tears that ended with growth and the love that continues to follow us.  You are the best part of my life, you inspire me to become more charitable, more hard working, more loving... Let's keep loving life, creating adventures and exploring the world together.

Here's to my health: this little body of mine continues to keep pushing and recovering even after queso binges, running half marathons, teaching cycling classes and any other challenge I decide to throw at it.  Thanks for always being up for a challenge.  I promise to drink more water, get more sleep and fill you will lots more veggies (but the queso is still a must as is the Coke).

Here's to my family: thank you for being my constant source of smiles and laughs.  The joy your children bring to me is indescribable.  I am so happy to fill my life with memories of you all.  

Here's to my church: thank you for your constant dedication to service and spiritual growth.  Though, we may disagree on some policies, I know you mean well.  I promise to be a little better this year about not skipping you as often.

Here's to my country: President Obama, I am so glad we were able to have a better relationship. I am sorry I judged you a little harshly at the beginning ( I just really loved Mitt OK?) but you have done an awesome job and your wife is on point.  Stay classy and enjoy some well deserved time off.  To my fellow citizens, let's keep it classy, we are better than all this nonsense.  Be smart, be kind, be caring.