OK, so sure that’s a little reductive…but, um, I really love my coffee and my wine.

I also really like my PJs and my couch and my bathtub, because I’m 34 not 24. 94% of the time, I’m in bed before 11:30, with most of the time that being even before 11.

But that other 6%…

That other 6%, my friends…

Well, most of it happens out in the Hamptons, where I pretend like I’m 24, not 34, and stay out late dancing.

I used to be the kind of person who would be having fun and then suddenly hit that exhausted switch and need to go home LIKE STAT.

And then I was introduced to espresso martinis.

I’ve been experimenting with them lately at home and thought this would be a fun Friday post to share.

It’s Friday night and the gang’s all here.

There are a million complex ways to make them..but I’m not a very complex girl, especially in the kitchen, so here’s how I made them.

Espresso Martini Recipe

(Based on Jamie Oliver’s recipe)

Ingredients

• 1 shot vodka (I used Tito’s)
• 1/2 shot coffee liqueur (I used Bailey’s because it’s what I named my dog after)
• 1 shot espresso (I used Gourmesso fair-trade coffee and yup, totally made the espresso at work and brought it home because I don’t have a Nespresso … yet? )
• Ice
• Ice baby.

Instructions

Pour it all in a martini shaker; shake.

Garnish with coffee beans.

I have literally no idea where this penguin martini shaker came from, by the way. Someone left it at my apartment, oh, 10 years ago? If you’re reading this, you can totally have it back?

Tell me: how do you keep rallying when you’re tired? [This particular life hack comes in handy best after a big dinner

I started Tina’s Designed to Fit program last week.

Someone who commented here nailed it on the head — they knew themselves and knew they were susceptible to gaining weight after losing a parent. I’ve gained some weight in the past year/years, and know/am afraid of the potential of sliding further.

I “know” how to eat healthy. I lost 50 pounds a few years ago (and then gained about 20 of it back).

I’ve just gotten out of the habit. I lie to myself and tell myself I eat “healthy enough” but the truth of the matter is, I really like my wine and it leads to crappy eating choices, or I don’t plan and eat health halo foods at work.

Where Designed to Fit comes in: Tina provides my macros based on how active I am, etc (there are different levels for workout days and non workout days) as well as recipes and a general meal plan.

I’m only a week into it, but I’m currently attempting some sort of hybrid: making as many of the recipes (or similar ones) as possible but being really good at tracking my macros. As a busy single New York professional, there’s a combo of free food, being busy and being social that can distract from eating my own food. To be honest, I wasn’t making much at home AT ALL for a long time, so this is as much about re-establishing healthy habits as it is losing weight.

…that said, I texted Tina this morning really frustrated that the scale had gone up. I tracked almost everything last week and thought I did OK (I know there’s room for improvement), so why the hell did the scale go up? Tina sent me back a long WhatsApp message reminding me it could be everything from building muscle to where I am in my cycle to the wine I had over the weekend. I do need to remember a few things:

1. I didn’t gain the weight overnight; I won’t lose it overnight.

2. I’m not as young as I was when I lost the weight the first time; my metabolism is different now.

3. I’m still eating healthier than I was a week ago; this is a process, and I’m still improving.

4. I need to take some before pics…as much as I don’t want to right now.

Here’s some of the things I’ve been cooking — a mix of Tina’s recipes and others.

BLT Pasta from Cooking Light — so good! I cooked this just before I started the plan. It’s not super bad for you, but I’d maybe sub in some brown rice pasta now for a little extra nutrition/to maximize my macros.

My variation on this

I posted this on IG last night and you all asked for the recipe! Here it is, and it’s so good.

Here’s to another week of: me learning better how to fit within my macros, me attempting to be somewhat gentle with myself and not spiral when I don’t see results right away and another week of not burning down my kitchen.

Any tips from y’all on maximizing macro-based plans?