tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327229622009-07-05T21:22:08.702-04:00Sugar Free Style is the scoop on how Audrey Taylor, a modern working gal, manages to tackle the trials and tribulations of the everyday, while staying fit and fabulous with the help of sugar-free foods and beverages. News and reflections on the Sweet Life-Style, sugar-free of course, are here waiting for youAudrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.comBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-19580387208993441192009-07-02T17:06:00.004-04:002009-07-02T17:35:34.106-04:00

Hey folks. I'm off to Savannah for the long, holiday weekend. I can't wait to enjoy some of the city's restaurants and to stick my toes in the sand once again. But I wanted to wish you all a very happy and very safe Fourth of July. Here are a few tips to help control your food intake over the holiday weekend:* Don't show up hungry. Take time to eat a light, healthy snack before chowing down.*

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-16526293260871065522009-06-25T14:31:00.003-04:002009-06-25T14:42:41.539-04:00

So one of my favorite festivals is about to begin. And unfortunately, I won't be able to attend thanks to expensive airfare and a lack of vacation days. (P.S. A special thanks to many of my out-of-state friends and relatives, who all decided to get married within a few months of each other this year - leaving me with no vacation time to spend on myself.) Anyhoodle, what festival might I be

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-83244907988123248172009-06-17T15:09:00.003-04:002009-06-17T15:16:51.725-04:00

I don't know how hot it's been where you live, but here in Atlanta, it's been crazy humid the past week or so. And since my roommate and I are both determined to save money by NOT running the A/C, it's made for somewhat of a stifling environment inside the apartment the past few days. Needless to say, I've been craving the cool treats: ice cream, frozen yogurt, ice water or sweet tea...or perhaps

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-33271734192584767872009-06-12T13:33:00.003-04:002009-06-12T14:04:23.540-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about the body and how it can signal to your brain when you're lacking certain nutrients. Lately, for example, I've been insanely thirsty. I drink water by the gallon...I'm not even exaggerating. I've also had a hankering for fruit - a giant bowl of mixed berries, cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew sounds like my dream meal at the moment. Think my body is telling me

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-11334663772189264172009-06-05T13:56:00.004-04:002009-06-05T14:06:57.418-04:00

Any gingerbread fans out there? If you're like me, gingerbread might be more of a favorite sweet treat on a chilly autumn or winter day...but since today happens to be National Gingerbread Day, who am I to debate the best time to dig into a plate of the spicy dessert? Either way, I love me some gingerbread, whether it's in the form of flavored coffee or the tasty ginger snap cookies gracing the

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-80456548609877003612009-05-29T15:11:00.004-04:002009-05-29T15:58:54.311-04:00

Any other horse racing fans out there? I meant to write about the races a few weeks ago, when we were all cheering on our fave thoroughbreds in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. And now the Belmont Stakes is rapidly approaching - June 6 to be precise. So who, dare I ask, will take this title? Will it be everyone's favorite cowboy and his Derby-winning horse, aka Mine That Bird? Or will it be

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-5345604802347515232009-05-22T14:42:00.004-04:002009-05-22T15:01:39.160-04:00

I'm not a happy camper. Yes, it's Friday and we're heading into a three-day weekend. But have you looked out the window? It's all sorts of dreary outside! And seeing as how I'm spending my weekend sleeping under the stars, this rain best go away soon. Boo hiss, Mother Nature! I'd really rather not spend my three-day camping/hiking extravangza in North Georgia dodging thunderstorms. Sheesh. Anyhoo

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-25294297238802795062009-05-15T15:31:00.003-04:002009-05-15T16:02:44.418-04:00

Okay. So I've really tried to be healthy lately - as in, loading up every day on low-fat salads for lunch, eating yogurt and fruit for snacks, etc. - but it's been so difficult because there is just so much going on. I know it sounds awful: My social life is too active, wah wah, cry me a river, right? But seriously, gang...I was down in Florida last weekend for a wedding, which meant I spent a

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-16388490500518651002009-05-05T13:47:00.003-04:002009-05-05T14:28:19.818-04:00

Hola amigos. Happy Cinco de Mayo! Anyone else celebrating over a pitcher of margaritas or cerveza and a plate of chips and salsa tonight? If so, you won't be alone. In the United States, celebrants claim Cinco de Mayo (of "Fifth of May") is a way to honor Mexican culture and heritage, much as St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, and the Chinese New Year are used to celebrate those of Irish, German,

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-62221967966882639332009-05-01T17:31:00.004-04:002009-05-04T21:54:30.018-04:00

Okay, so I confess that whenever I eat trail mix, I tend to eat the M&Ms first. Yummy chocolate goodness wins every time! However, the raisins are always a close second. Seriously, I love me some nature's candy. Always have, always will, I suppose. So how fortunate that raisins - despite the sweet taste - are a low-fat, healthy food snack. For those unaware, raisins are an antioxidant-rich fruit

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-54927040068570371912009-04-24T09:47:00.004-04:002009-04-24T11:17:25.297-04:00

Lafeu: 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a thousand salads ere we light on such another herb.Clown: Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the salad, or rather, the herb of grace.- All's Well That Ends Well, ShakespeareAlas! It appears my favorite big-city mayor, Chicago's own Richard M. Daley declared April 23rd as "Talk Like Shakespeare Day" to celebrate the 445th birthday

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-76090100586231459202009-04-17T16:17:00.003-04:002009-04-17T16:30:26.435-04:00

Silly me. I decided to sleep with my windows open last night, enticed by the glorious weather of late. But instead of rolling out of bed with a giant smile on my face, I woke up itchy and sniffling. (Yes, the title of this entry is the sound of my ginormous sneeze this morning.) Thank you Mother Freakin' Nature! Yes, it's pollen season in the ATL again. And according to experts, allergy sufferers

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-53123165381912815972009-04-16T17:33:00.003-04:002009-04-16T18:01:41.625-04:00

Now that I'm older and wiser...and obviously more mature...I've become more of a wine snob. Instead of those cheap boxes of Franzia (Hello! I was a poor college student once!), I try to find a decent - but still cheap - bottle of wine to pair with various meals. I've even attended a wine tasting here and there. But, like many others, I'm not always sure which wine matches with what type of food.

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-41915225940986360862009-04-10T15:28:00.005-04:002009-04-10T16:20:36.445-04:00

Happy Good Friday! I'm not sure how the rest of you celebrate Easter weekend, but I can't seem to get through it without snarfing down at least one or two Cadbury Creme eggs. And even though one egg is nearly 172 calories, they are just too yummy to pass up. Hey, cut me some slack, would ya? Easter only rolls around once a year. But for all of you folks with more discipline, here are some low-cal

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-42101561583715664912009-04-06T16:12:00.003-04:002009-04-06T16:29:09.426-04:00

Up until a few minutes ago, I'd been feeling pretty foul today...not sick so much as cranky. A combination of a totally gray Monday combined with a heavy work load and all the depressing news of late (Scores Dead in Italian Earthquake! Binghamton Shooting Rampage! Dad Killed 5 Kids Because Wife Was Leaving! Media Witness Solemn Return of Fallen Service Member! etc.) had me blue most of the

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-37442482714097962432009-04-03T15:23:00.003-04:002009-04-03T15:45:47.568-04:00

After excessive festivities in recent weeks due to various birthdays, anniversaries, housewarming parties and other milestones in friends lives, I was looking forward to a nice, low-key evening tonight. I had hoped to curl up on the sofa with a glass of wine and maybe a good book or movie. Oh but no! Turns out there are more birthdays on the calendar this weekend. Will it never stop? * Sigh *Sooo

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-48325289936406922652009-04-02T16:28:00.002-04:002009-04-02T16:54:58.832-04:00

Wow, people are so gullible! Yesterday was April Fool's Day so you would think everyone would expect pranks galore! But apparently folks are still falling for the crazy, year after year. Case in point: a viral email clip showing the "first-ever flying hotelicopter" apparently fooled millions of people - with tens of thousands referencing it on Facebook and Twitter pages. The spoof advertisement

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-74454007495802883092009-03-27T15:50:00.002-04:002009-03-27T16:26:59.471-04:00

"Bacon tastes gooood." Vincent Vega, Pulp Fiction"I'll have the smiley face breakfast special. Uhh, but could you add a bacon nose? Plus bacon hair, bacon mustache, five o'clock shadow made of bacon bits and a bacon body." Homer Simpson, The SimpsonsI had planned to keep it low-key this weekend - maybe run some errands, catch up on phone calls and do some household chores that I've been putting

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-63806518689231088242009-03-25T15:06:00.003-04:002009-03-25T15:25:58.170-04:00

So I've previously mentioned my penchant for nutty snacks, whether it be cashews, macadamias or pistachios. One of my faves, though, is the pecan. Not only does it taste great, it's also pretty nutritious. Seriously! According to the National Pecan Shellers Association, research shows that adding just a handful of pecans to your diet each day may help inhibit unwanted oxidation of blood lipids,

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-14352683086833115582009-03-20T18:01:00.006-04:002009-03-25T15:34:37.548-04:00

Well, it's official guys and girls. It's now spring. YAY! And what better way to usher in the warmer weather than with a little March Madness! For any folks reading this from overseas, this is the time of year when employers across the U.S. notice a dip in staff productivity, all because workers nationwide are frantically plunking down money, filling out brackets and eagerly watching to see which

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-1188008338074888842009-03-17T15:31:00.006-04:002009-03-17T16:18:05.845-04:00

* May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,May good luck pursue you each morning and night.* There are many good reasons for drinking,One has just entered my head.If a man doesn't drink when he's living,How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?Irish ToastsHappy St. Patty's Day! So I'm currently debating between attending my first official kickball game (yes, I'm a dork - I joined a

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-74940310826088297892009-03-13T15:35:00.006-04:002009-03-13T15:48:17.725-04:00

Sho'nuff: Am I the meanest? Sho'nuff 's Goons: Sho'nuff! Sho'nuff: Am I the prettiest? Goons: Sho'nuff! Sho'nuff: Am I the baddest mofo low down around this town? Goons: Sho'nuff! The Last DragonSince I just dumped such a serious topic on you, I figured I should end the week with a more light-hearted item. It is Friday, right? So...do any of you remember "The Last Dragon," a so-bad-it's-good

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-51198242688073207122009-03-13T14:34:00.004-04:002009-03-13T15:53:42.224-04:00

As most of you know, I tend to keep this blog pretty light and fluffy - with only the occasional foray into more serious topics. After reading this Boston Herald article earlier - news that has managed to totally depress me all afternoon, I might add - I decided it was time for a more sobering entry. To sum it up, a recent survey by the Boston Public Heath Commission found that almost half of

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-283065813776099832009-03-12T15:35:00.002-04:002009-03-12T15:57:18.366-04:00

Omigosh, y'all. Somebody in my office just ate popcorn and it smelled SO.FREAKING.GOOD!! I was literally walking around, nose in the air, trying to sniff out who was holding that bag of buttery goodness. And now, I may have to fix up some of my own popcorn tonight - because the little handful I just scored from my co-worker was so not enough!Do any of you remember a short-lived but wonderful

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722962.post-57746451685839984402009-03-10T16:07:00.006-04:002009-03-10T16:23:02.840-04:00

All my friends in the Midwest and Northeast may want to stop reading...because this blog entry is about sipping cool drinks in the warm sun. Yes, folks, the weather here in Atlanta ticked up to a balmy high '70s over the weekend - and to celebrate that glorious temperature, several of us strolled over to a local Mexican restaurant Sunday afternoon to enjoy some margaritas on the outdoor patio. I

Audrey Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02902240652881122046noreply@blogger.com0