After weekends away I am always exhausted on Mondays, so I am so happy to have Monday behind us and be on to TUESDAY!  I flew to Ohio Saturday morning for one of my best friends baby showers and got home late Sunday night, and after eating dinner I climbed straight into bed, hence the lack of chatter in yesterdays post!
I realized that a lot of what I’m talking about today is related to my new year intentions (that I have been ehhhhhh kinda okay about keeping?!) so it’s kind of an update on all of that!

:: Television :: 
Just a quick comment about my favorite thing in the world….. Not to make it sound like I’m not happy The Bachelor is over, because I AM I REALLY AM, but Monday night TV is kind of killing me.  Now, you might be thinking, but Taylor – you have two hours of Bravo on, and 2.5 including my-boyfriend-Andy-Cohen….. but in Atlanta, nothing comes on until 9 PM!!!

HELP.  I need something on before 9 or I am going to LOSE MY MIND.
what’s that???
do something besides watch TV while I eat dinner?

HA!!
You’re funny……

:: Book Club :: 
I haven’t given a reading update in forever, probably because I have not been great with reading at all unless I have been traveling. My goal is one book a month (but three of these were from over Christmas, so I am behind already!)

All the Missing Girls
I really enjoyed this thriller.  It starts 14 days before “the event” and works its way backwards through each day.  I thought the writing style was unique and it kept me staying up wanting to know what had happened! A good thriller if you are in to mysteries.

The Woman in Cabin 10
It’s not that I didn’t enjoy this book, I just feel like I am one of the few to not say it was AMAZING.  I think everyone’s crazy.  It was fine.  But…… again…. STOP comparing books to being suspenseful like Gone Girl because everyone is filled with lies.  That being said, worth a read and super quick read. Nothing special though.

Fates and Furies
Someone recommended this to me and I read it while at the beach.  It was different than any other book I had read – I thought that a part I got to midway through would have been the ending but it kept going.  I will say it’s not a book that keeps you on your toes or guessing because there isn’t necessarily a big “moment” – it’s just a constant telling of a story of two people.  I did really enjoy it though because I hadn’t read anything like it before.

bikini top, runs slightly large // bikini bottom , runs TTS
identical straw crossbody for 1/2 the price 

Slightly South of Simple: A Novel (The Peachtree Bluff Series)
This is the perfect beach read! It’s about a family living in a small Southern beach town and is a great romantic read.  The next book in the series is just being released April 3rd called The Secret to Southern Charm

The Silent Sister
This is what I am currently reading about I am about 1/4 of the way through.  I started it on the airplane this past week and am hoping to finish by next weekend.  It is really good so far! I’ll update when I finish!

:: Healthy Recipes : Chicken Stir Fry + Peanut Noodles :: 
I have been trying to be better about my intention to try a new recipe a week, and last week I tried two!!
I saw both of these on the F Factor website and thought I would give them a try.  First is the Savory Chicken Stir Fry. pretty much a basic stir fry but uses coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.

I used Trader Joe’s bowl of stir-fry veggies to make it easier and then added in extra mushrooms and broccoli.  You can mix this with the Better Than Noodles to have it be a carb-free noodle bowl, too!

I also made Take Out Style Cold Peanut Noodles with the Better than Noodles.  Now, these do not have the same texture as actual spaghetti or a real noodle, but it does a good job mimicking it!
The sauce uses PB2 to keep the calories down and these make a great side or add chicken to it for a main dish.

Ready to hear my newest “hippie dippie” health thing I’m going to try out?
I can hear my mother from hear making fun of me………

I am going to attempt to ditch my microwave for a bit.  Not for everything! But I heat up my lemon water or my water for tea several times a day in the microwave because I am way too lazy to use the kettle sitting on the stove….. and it’s becoming harder to ignore the awful things that are said about it.
HOWEVER….. far worse than the water is probably that I love to stand DIRECTLY in front of it the ENTIRE TIME because I am so impatient I act as though standing in front of it will make it happen faster than if I go do something else for 90 seconds.
Any one else do this microwave thing?
I really do love my microwave….. I lied above…. I use it for a lot, lot more…..

Don’t worry…… I’m rolling my eyes at myself already…… and waiting for my scalding cup of tea to cool the heck down next to me because the kettle made it 9,000 degrees this AM.
maybe I should focus on just NOT STANDING IN FRONT OF IT and using it ….. sounds like a much easier solution for yours truly.

:: Workout Favorites ::

// sports bra // leggings // top // sneakers // 
I always love workout clothes as a great source of motivation to get to the gym.
I have been loving these Asics (I went up 1/2 a size) for cardio and they have almost 200 rave reviews!
Old Navy always has great + inexpensive workout wear.
They are doing 35% off everything today! 
as a general rule, I size down one size in their activewear.  For compression wear, it’s more TTS.
I love their colorblock leggings and always love their graphic tanks!
These tie back tanks come in a bunch of different colors.

If you’re looking for a great sneaker, these are on sale at Nordstrom and super cute for workout or athleisure!

:: Nerd Alert :: 
I am obsessed with my planner and paper goods of all kinds and just saw this Inspiration Book on Nordstrom.  This brand has tons of products, a bunch of sale, but I am definitely intrigued.

I love this one that is a Create Your Life Plan one – it seems like a good Coffee Table book perhaps!?

:: Atlanta Restaurant Recommendations :: 
Any locals have any great restaurant rec’s? Kip’s parents are in for a very quick visit this weekend (late Friday night to early Sunday AM) so I need something informal for Saturday night that takes reservations.  I’d love to know any favorite places, and bonus if they are near Buckhead/Brookhaven!