The Her behind And Her Little Dog Too!
Hello! I am Leslie, the blogger behind And Her Little Dog Too. I wanted to share a little bit about myself with the blog world and let everyone know my story. In December of 2007 I started my blog as Jackson’s World with the intent of posting about my new puppy Jackson. In 2007 I had 3 posts, 2008 I had 94 posts and in 2009 I have had over 600 posts. Things have really picked up in 2009. Its funny how the blog started as all about Jackson, transitioned to posting about my daily life and now focuses on healthy living, eating and exercising.
I am a 2006 graduate from Villanova University with a B.A. in Communications and a Public Relations Certificate. I am originally from Northern Virginia (right outside D.C.) but I currently live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with my fiancé and dog, Jackson.
In January of 2008 I decided to change my life. I was feeling tired all the time, bloated and unhealthy. I wanted to make a change for myself, for the better. I started a detox diet the first week of January for 2 weeks and cleansed my body. The detox diet consisted of no sugar, caffeine or carbohydrates for 2 weeks. It was hard to stay away from some of my favorite things, but it was well worth the end result. The aim of the detox was to cleanse your body and focus on eating fruits and vegetables and lean protein. This was the jumpstart I needed and what got me started off in the healthy direction.
Through changing my eating and exercising habits, I have been able to maintain a close to 20 pound weight loss and I have never felt better. Through this blog I have developed a love for cooking healthy meals and trying new things. Check out my recipe page here for more information on some of my favorite eats.
I have also developed a love running from reading a variety of other blogs. It has become my newest hobby and I can’t get enough of it. Running in various races and Half Marathons have helped in my quest to become healthier. I have ran farther than I ever thought I would and am currently training for my first Marathon! Check out my running page here.
Green monster and various juice creations have also become another favorite hobby of mine. I love trying new combinations with various fruits and vegetables. Through drinking Green Monsters, I have had more spinach in 2009 than I ever thought I could eat in my entire life! Check out my favorite Green Monster and juice recipes here.
With my newfound passion for healthy living, eating and exercise I recently decided to make a career change. In September of 2009 I made the choice to go back to school to get my Masters for Food and Nutrition. Between school, work, blogging, running and spending time with family and friends I have a very full schedule!
I should also note that I am recently engaged as of October 2009. I have been dating my fiancé for 4 years (as of Nov. 2009) and we went to Villanova together. After we both graduated in May 2006 we have both lived and worked in the Philadelphia area. Check out our apartment tour here.
Our Wedding Date is May 21, 2011 – in the Villanova Chapel. For lots of fun wedding details and my updates planning process, check out my wedding page here.
hi leslie can you recommend any good restaurants in avalon,nj? im going there for the 4th.
Hi Leslie! I stumbled upon your blog, and was looking through some of your pictures, and saw the ones of you, and your husband in Istanbul, on your honeymoon. It brought back sooo many memories… My boyfriend Turgut, lives In Kartal, Istanbul, which is on the Asian side. I was there last July, and it is now my favorite destination. The food, the history, the people, the beauty, and magic of the city left me speechless. Thank you, for sharing your pics… I was at every place pretty much that you took a pic of, plus many more. Thank you, for making me smile. Right now my boyfriend is trying to obtain his visa to move here to Denver. God bless you, and your family.
Anita
Just found your blog and am so excited to follow along! I just started blogging, and am working to loose some weight, run and maintain a healthy lifestyle and attitude!
would love to be in contact with you in regards to a store opening (fitness apparel) in the philly area!
what a cute blog! just came across it, love that you are a fellow nova alum! so jealous you got married at villanova, my wedding was a week after yours but out on the west coast or else that would have been my first choice too!
Hey Leslie,
You came up in the sidebar of my twitter and I’m glad you did – this is a great blog, with a great story too!
I’m now following you on twitter – definitely looking forward to some of your future posts!
I grew up in NoVA right outside of DC as well!
Hey Leslie:
I was lucky enough to be traveling in Tampa, FL during basically all of the Hurricane Irene storm and aftermath. As I’m a Philadelphian as well, I searched the internet for pics of the area and how it was affected as I wanted to stay informed. I came across your blog with pics and it was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for taking the time to post your pics and detail. You’ve got a great story to tell and a great blog site. Cute dog-
LL
I just found your blog through Carrots n Cake! I currently live in Northern VA (Leesburg to be exact) so the fact that we both know the Northern VA area caught my attention. I look forward to trying out some of your recipes and getting to know you a little better!
Hi Leslie,
I just stumbled upon your blog! I have always thought about going back to school for nutrition since it is something I sincerely enjoy discussing. I can’t wait to read more, and your dog is so adorable!