New Discovery

I recently came across this product/company thanks to one of my instragram fit friends @thebettyrocker, called Capellos. It is gluten free (for those of you allergic or are unable to eat gluten) and grain free (I also know there are a lot of peopel with allergies to wheat). They use qaulity, and wholesome ingredients and you can count them on your fingers! And you can actually pronounce and understand the ingredients. They are local in Colorado, but you can order their products online. They have the chocolate chip cookie dough, lasagna sheets, fettuccine noodles, and gnocchi noodles.
Mind you, they are a bit on the pricey side but that is because they are sold in a bundle or bulk. They have pastas and cookie dough for chocolate chip cookies (Umm hello! Sign me up, carbs are my weakness!). I am always happy to find healthy ways to eat pasta or cookies ;)

                          

HUGE Give Away

I have teamed up with amazing bloggers and boutiques to bring you this amazing and huge giveaway. 25 prizes, which means 25 winners. Please read and follow all steps to increase your chances of winner these amazing prizes. If you are a blogger and would like to participate in these types of giveaways please comment on Nightchayde's blog. Good LUCK!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interesting...

So I know last week we talked a little bit about my lack of good skin care since I wasn't consistant in taking it off at night. I have been sort of looking around for acne prone & sentsitive skin care routines. I am allergic to just about everything under the sun and I have super sensitive, dry, acne prone, and eczema prone skin :( I find it very hard to find skin care solutions that actually produce long term results without irritating my skin at a decent price. After doing some digging, I ran into an overwhelmingly large trend for the organic hygiene goers for face wash to use organic (drum roll please) honey. Weird, right? That is what I though initially...until I tried it. It is very interesting. You want to make sure you get organic, from a farmers market or a whole foods type store. It will look cloudy and have a grainy texture. So, this has been my skin care routine for the past 5 days. 1st I am using what I have left of my Clinque clarifying lotion. I think it is funny it is called lotion because it is more of a toner (first toner that WON'T dry my face out) to remove make up. Then, splash my face with warm water. I then gob a good quarter size of honey on my face and rub it in circular motion around my face like a normal face wash. (CAUTION make sure to keep it clear of your hairline...that could get pretty sticky and messy). Then I just splash with warm water and moisturize with an eczema prescribed moisturizer. Since I have dry skin, I have noticed my face has retained my moisture and is more smooth to the touch. It has also reduced some of the irritation my skin was displaying (bumps & redness).

Can I Get an Amen???

Now go get it in and start your weekend off right.

Halloween

Probably my most favorite holiday of the year. I think it is so much fun to and interesting! What I would like to hear is what are YOU doing during this holiday to stay healthy and keep your kids healthy? Now I am not about to tell you to give out boxes of raisins or tooth brushes. There IS a way to have a little leniency and still stay healthy. It is ok to have a treat here and there, but don't take the fun out of it. Let kids be kids. I think it is important to help them understand that gobbling a pillowcase of candy probably isn't the best and the importance of moderation. But I'll leave the creativity and all that up to you. You're the parent, not me so you know what's best. However, the real issue is staying out of your kids candy or the stash you keep around the house until Halloween. My personal opinion, remember the importance of moderation as well. If you have trouble with temptation and the bag of candy on your shelf for Halloween, have someone hide it for you. Or, don't buy Halloween candy until right before. All the good candy is taken, and you are left with the yucky stuff..so you won't eat it anymore. Put it in places that you don't often see it, like a high shelf or a cupboard you rarely get into. Out of sight, out of mind.

Small Beginnings

So you want to start a workout regiment but don't know where to start or how. Don't overload yourself with stress about it, fitness is actually supposed to be fun contrary to popular belief. If you need a workout, go on pinterest. There are tons of workout plans, ideas, videos that offer a wide variety from cardio to weights to stretching. There are several differnt kinds that either target a specific area or are full body. If you don't have the means to invest in all the equipment or what not, it is a cheap and easy, fun way to start your fintess journey. It even has it's own health and fitness section for great workout tips, plans, ideas, and nutrition. It also has many other bloggers with amazing stories of their journeys and struggles. I know it sounds silly, but if I need inspiration or motivation I do look at pinterest's fitness section (but be careful! Pinterest is super addicting and may consume you for several hours). I have provided below a few sample workouts from pinterest. It is a super effective way to kick off your new journey. It also is portable since there is an app for pinterest while you are on the go, you can kick out a squat or push up challenge.

Make Up Question

So I have been really bad lately. I have been continuously falling asleep with my make up on...yeah, bad news. My face is already really sensitive and I get breakouts when I fall asleep with my make up. I need your help and advice. I am usually just so worn down by the end of the day, the minute I actually get to stop I end up falling asleep. As a fall back, I used to buy Burts Bees facial cloths. I like those, but I wanted to know what you guys like and recommend as far as a quick make up removal or a great facial cleanser/scrub/wash for sensitive and acne prone skin. I have tried many different products and I seem to eventually build an immunity to products that appear to work in the beginning. I have tried Mary Kay (which works for me on and off), Avon, clinique, proactive, clean and clear, and burts bees citrus scrub. I love Burts Bees citrus scrub, it really gets the dead skin off and smells yummy! Mary Kay timewise does work for me on and off. Clinique and proactive are great, but expensive. I also think that proactive isn't as dramatic as the infomercials say it is, but then again I think proactive is more for those who have really bad or severe acne. If any of you know some great cleansers/scrubs/cloths that are reasonably priced, work quickly (or just works for you) I would LOVE to hear about it! Thanks!

Soulmate Workout

Do you have a soulmate workout??? Do you get up in the morning (or whenever you workout) looking forward to or are excited for your workout? If you aren't, you just haven't found the "right workout for YOU". That is ok! You will find one! It doesn't matter if it is walking, swimming, weight training, running, yoga, pilates, dance, etc. There are a variety of things out there for you to enjoy! My soulmate workout is one of the first workouts I ever bought from an infomercial, Turbo Jam. I loved the variety of this workout as it combines kick boxing, dance, tae kwan doe, athletic drills, etc. I have a short attention span, so the fact that the pace and movement of the workout changes quite often keeps me from getting bored and losing interests. The creator then came out with a much more challenging workout, same concept, just more emphasis on the HIIT mentality. Turbo Fire is my soulmate workout that started from Turbo Jam and exploded into Turbo Fire. It is a lot of fun, the music keeps me moving (and I feel music is a HUGE deal for me.) Music makes me work harder, faster, and keeps my interest and effort level up. I have linked to two videos of the workouts below. What are some of your guys' favorite or soulmate workouts? I always love trying new things! I just had to share something I love and that helped me peel off 60 lbs and has kept me going ever since I decided to make the change. If you want more info on my soulmate workout, just click the pic below! Now go get your sweat on!

Nothing To Do With Fitness

Ok, I know this is silly and it has nothing to do with fitness, but I wanted to share this. I am a member of the Rent the Runway website. I am NOT getting endoresed or have any other affiliation with them other than I prescribe to their email alerts and hold an account with them. Anyways, they are a website that allows you to rent higher end designer clothes for a pretty decent price for those special occasions! Well with halloween coming up, and the likely hood of you paying more money than you should for a very cheap costume that you will only wear once, why not use that money on something that is higher end, good quality, FLATTERING, and actually cute enough to wear on its own? Plus, you'd only be wearing it once, so why not just rent it? Rent the Runway and Etsy have teamed up for tons of cute costume ideas with their loveable section of designer clothes. Such a cute idea! I provided the link below! I am unsure if you have to sign up (it's free btw) to be able to browse their selection, but it is worth it! These are a few of my favorite picks from the website.

http://www.renttherunway.com/halloween?nav_location=submenu&object_type=top_nav&action=click_halloween

You Better Work...

Happy Friday everyone! We are finally here! Need a little assistance getting through your workout today? I have just the thing. Now I am not much of a Britney Spears fan, she has some good music but I have never really followed her. HOWEVER, her newest song is a fantastic workout motivator and a great number to add to your workout playlist I will warn you it does have some language in it, just so you know. If you want to check it out, just click the pic below! Now get to work...

Accurate Journal

Make sure you are keeping track of your intake and your output. Your body has the most accurate information as to your nutrition and exercise not matter what you put down. If you aren't seeing change and are stuck, re-evaluate your input and output. You are just as likely to over consume and be under in acitivity as you are to under consume and over exercise. As your body changes, so must your habits. As you begin to lose the weight, it becomes harder to burn as many calories now that you aren't carrying around those extra 10-50+ lbs. However, as you start to create muscle  and become stronger in your cardio endurance exercises, which either allows you to go much harder, faster, or stronger and you are still sticking to your caloric intake with your prior weight, you could be under consuming the nutrients you need. It is a fine line to walk between the two. I find it helpful to have a calorie tracking device (see fit tips section for more info on this) like my fitbit one. You may also want to consult with your physician, nutritionist, personal trainer, or all three if you have those resources available to you to help you evaluate your nutritional needs. Like I said, it is a fine line to walk and you need to make sure your body is getting nourished properly to perform properly.

Be Your Personal Best

I know that a lot of the time, we sit there looking at our friends, family, peers, celebrities, etc. and we compare ourselves to other people. Sometimes we look at others and think that they are perfect, they do everything right or better than we do. We always see someone having a better body, a better diet, a better life, better talents, better looks, better well...everything. We like to put people on these pedestals and dig ourselves into these deep dark holes. We aren't pretty enough, we aren't smart enough, strong enough, we aren't...good enough. I want you to STOP listening to those voices. Stop beating yourself up and trying to live someone else's "perfect" life, or live up to their standards. You are always trying to be something that you're not to live up to someones standards or make someone like you for their reasons, and not yours. DO YOUR OWN PERSONAL BEST. STOP worrying about perfection or doing something to make someone else happy. STOP comparing yourself. Start doing things for yourself, to make yourself happy. To some that sounds selfish, but it isn't. You need to start doing your own best, we all have weaknesses, we all fall down, we all fail. But we fail in our own ways and have our different challenges and our own strengths. It is unrealistic and unfair to live a life for someone else, to live under someone else's telescope, to make everyone else happy to be someone else. Be you, live life for you, do and complete tasks for you and yours. No one is perfect, no one. All you can do is your absolute best, and try your hardest. That is when you live your full potential, that is when you succeed. You are being true and honest with yourself, and you start living a life that fulfills those strengths and endures those personal weaknesses. You will never hear anyone say or regret living up to THEIR OWN PERSONAL best and their own standards. They created a life where instead of being someone else and living like someone else, they left their own footprint, their own accomplishments, legacies. Sorry this was a long rant, but I feel like this is something we all deal with, even me. This post even might have been more for me because I am SO guilty of doing this. Just rememeber, that you are amazing and talented in your own way, don't hide that to be just another Jane or John. Be you.

His and Hers Give Away By Nightchayde

Hey Guy's! I have an amazing giveaway for you hosted by 

Nightchayde.

Make sure you follow the steps in the rafflecopter at a chance to win two gift cards.

The winner will get to choose a $50 giftcard for herself and one for the man in her life. 

There will be a second place prize of a Modern_85 scarf seen here.

And a third place prize of a Modern_85 Headband seen here. 

Good Luck!

Giveaway Hosted By:

Nightchayde

Co-hosted By:

Life with Amberly & Joe/ We & Serendipity/ All Things Unpredictable and Chic/ The Red Closet Diary

While Camden Sleeps/ Karissa & Company/ Sincerly Jenna Marie/ PreppyPanache/ Kiss Me Darling

Dallas Leopard/ Rapsberry Glow/Lil Red Runner

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best Ab Workout...THE BEST

MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!! 

But OH SO effective!

A Big Thanks!

Did you start your 20 minutes a day, 1 hour a week calender? You did???? I knew you would! How do you feel about scheduling at least 20 minutes of the day for YOU? Why shouldn't you? You deserve it!

HOLY WOW. So I logged on today and noticed blog went up 30 followers. WOW. What an amazing and wonderful treat to see. I cannot thank you enough for taking a few moments of your day to peruse my endless scribbles about my passion. I cannot say it or thank you enough for just pushing the follow button. It means the world to me. I thank you so very much for such an awesome opportunity!

BUSINESS: I would like to post everyday an exercise for those trouble spots. Now, I know I told you all that there is no such thing as spot reduction. BUT, you can make those areas stronger and once you begin to lose the weight all over by sticking to your diet and exercise, those areas will be able to show off their potential ;)


Today's workout: Triceps (hardest little boogers to get toned and shaped!) Do these exercises twice a week and get rid of the flab and jiggle under your amrs! Sorry about the faceless creepy graphic...