Isn’t she beautiful???  Do you want to know her secret???

Yup, girlfriend rubs snail slime all over her face.  Two times a day actually, and two different kind of snail mucus too.  Are you gagging yet???  Hold that reflex until I explain.

I haven’t seen Samantha in about 8 months since we live in different states.  Lucky me got to be reunited with her in Denver, CO this last week.  We were out to dinner with a group of girlfriends and Sam came in a little later than us.  My initial reaction was to want to run and just give her a hug, but I was kind of distracted.  Well, REALLY distracted actually….by her SKIN!!!!  I went in for the hug, did some catching up, ordered our wine, but I felt like I was awkwardly staring at her face!!  No more than five minutes in, my other friend Ryann (who shares a brain with me) just blurts out…”Sam, your skin looks incredible seriously what are you doing?” And that’s when she draws us all in to reveal her secrets with us, and now Im going to share them with you all.

Samantha’s Snail Secretion Skincare Secret!!

I have been on a skincare journey with Sam for years…we always have tried the same things. Switched it up.  Tried something else…but by golly I think she has discovered the holy grail of skincare secrets.  Does she have a background in this?  NOPE (she’s actually an amazing life coach…check out her Facebook page!), but do I trust her recommendations?  Well, her skin doesn’t lie…it was straight glowing in my face!!! So, YOU BET.

The best part…everything is incredibly reasonable and I was able to 2 day ship most of it straight from Amazon Prime.  So without further adieu here is her regimen that she has so graciously shared with us all!

MORNING REGIMEN

With over 200 shoe styles from brands you love, now your stylist can truly style you from head to toe!  If you are already a Stitch Fix fanatic make sure you update your style profile to reflect your shoe size and taste!  And if you don’t have a free style profile then have some fun creating one HERE.

I have always loved this company and am so grateful for the opportunity to come be a part of their exciting launch.  Thank you Stitch Fix for everything!!

* Fill out a super fun style profile HERE

* Spend $20 to schedule your first fix

* Get excited for that front door delivery of 5 hand selected items from your very own PERSONAL STYLIST

* Try everything on at home with your own clothes, shoes, accessories etc.

* Keep what you love, send back what you don’t in a pre-paid envelope

* Apply that $20 styling fee to what you keep.  If you keep all 5 items you get 25% off your entire order

*  Refer your friends and earn $25 in store credit

I have been receiving Stitch Fixes for over a year and half now and they just keep getting better and better.  Im not exaggerating when I say that about 75% of my closet is made up of Stitch Fix items.  They are all unique, colorful, fun, and things I would have never picked out on my own.  This service is so convenient to me since I never get around to shopping at a mall, and if I do Im towing two little dudes around with me who scream as soon as we step foot into a “Mommy store”.  Basically Stitch Fix makes me feel pampered while being so simple and affordable.  Even if I keep just one item it was worth it…to this day I have never had an all 5 send back!

So without further adieu here is my fabulous July Fix.  I have until Thursday to make my decisions so since I am right on the edge of keeping all five I would love your feedback on which are definite keepers.

{1} Collective Concepts- Wyndham Tie Front Top- $58.00

Ill just go ahead and tell you now that I am definitely keeping this top.  Im in love with it.  You can’t see but on the back there are actually little gold beads sewn into that crochet part just adding that extra detail that I love about their clothing.

{2} THML- Thornton Spaghetti Strap Top- $48.00

This is one of those shirts I wouldn’t grab off a rack at the store, but when tried on with my own clothing I realized how much I liked it.  Im thinking white skinny jeans, heels, my light denim vest and we have a super fun date night or girls night out outfit!

{3} Loveappella- Dixie Crochet Sleeve Dress- $78.00

This is another no brainer keeper.  I love that my stylist never sends me black clothing (because that’s all I would buy myself) but when she does it’s perfect and has something special about it.  Hello those sleeves!!  I kind of want to wear this dress everyday and I’m putting a date night on the calendar just because of it!

{4} Loveappella- Jonnie Maxi Dress- $78.00

This is one I keep going back and forth on.  I absolutely love the color and how comfortable it is, it’s just that it’s a whole lot of fabric for me for this time of year.  When I wear it it feels heavy, but when I see a photo of myself in it I do like how light and flawy it looks.  HELP!!

{5} Dear John- Lillie Cuffed Short- $58.00

So Ill be honest, these shorts are just ok.  BUT if I end up keeping all 5 items then it would be worth the 25% off since I don’t dislike them.  They are certainly comfortable but just a little baggy, and Im not a fan of the high waist on them.  I do like the wash and the back pockets.  Im leaning towards sending these back with the maxi dress so I would love some feedback.

Well that was fun!  If it weren’t for Stitch Fix my entire wardrobe would be workout clothes so I am very thankful for having the help of someone who knows how to dress me.  Here is a little tip…if you see something you like from my fix you can actually request it in your own fix and they will do their best to include it.  You can also create a Pinterest folder and call it “My Stitch Fix Style” and pin photos of items you like, cut and paste that folder link to your stylist and they can really get an idea of your taste.  Ever since doing that my fixes have been spot on!

I hope you all had safe, festive and fun holiday weekend!  Have a great start to your week and thanks as always for checking in!

DECEMBER FIX

From my December fix I ended up keeping the items in the bottom left combo.  I loved the grey Abana Ankle Length skinny jeans ($148.00), they are so comfortable, flattering and definitely a color of denim that I don’t own.  I also loved that Filbert Houndstooth Henley Blouse ($58.00).  The material is so soft, and I like that it’s great for an every day casual shirt but can also be accessorized and dressed up.

JANUARY FIX

As for my January fix I kept the items in the bottom two photographs.  The Lasky Draped Cardigan ($64.00) is the perfect, lightweight, layering piece.  I have already gotten my money’s worth on that one.  I also kept the plum colored Queensland Dolman Jersey Top ($48.00).  I know it’s a pretty basic piece but the fabric is great quality and I also loved the unique color to it.  If I went to the store myself I would have left with a black or grey one.

MARCH FIX

Now this Fix I had to come back around to share.  Why?  BECAUSE I KEPT THEM ALL!  A Stitch Fix Slam Dunk I like to call them.  When I first opened the box I had some initial reservations towards a couple of the items, but I always give them a chance to be tried on before I make my decision.  It’s funny but some of my favorite pieces are ones I didn’t initially like right out of the box.  And that’s why I love this service because if this were a store I would have skimmed right over them and they wouldn’t have made it to the dressing room.  So here you have it.  All five of my keepers!

THML-Zeldan Hi-Lo Blouse- $44.00-  Not much more that I can say about it besides that it is perfect, and totally my style!  Great job to my stylist Susana!!

Dear John- Marson Wide Leg Denim Trouser- $78.00- These are great!!  Light weight, stretchy, high-waisted, cute for everyday but can also dress them up for date nights.  They were a little big, but Stitch Fix is awesome and letting me exchange them out for a different size.

Skies are Blue- Conor Eyelet Detail Top- $58.00- So initially this would have been one of those items I would have never pulled off the rack at a store.  After I put it on, and added a gold locket to it and paired it with my new wide legged jeans, I actually thought it was fun, feminine and a little different for me.  As you may, or may not, know Stitch Fix gives you 25% off your entire order if you keep all 5 items, so it was worth it for me to keep this and step outside of my comfort zone.

RD- Hollen Raglan Knit Top- $68.00- Another item that when I took it out of the box I thought to myself “what is this Where’s Waldo looking thing?”  Then once I put it on, it was actually one of my favorite items.  I love the raglan style to it, and it actually has a large white stripe down the back of it which I liked too.  The fit is great, it’s lightweight and perfect for casual day to day wear.  Plus I have been loving the color red lately and want more of it in my life :).

RD Style- Navin Midi Dress- $68.00-  This dress is also spot on to my style and something I would get if I were out shopping.  I don’t know if you can see clearly but it has three mesh stripes along the bottom.  I am ALL about mesh these days.  My entire gym wardrobe has mesh cutouts in them now.  Stylish AND provides built-in air-conditioning lol.  I am excited to layer this dress for the Spring and will probably wear it all the time!

Well there you have it.  My Stitch Fix Slam Dunk!!  How have your fixes been lately?  I’d love for you to leave links to your most recent reviews in the comments if you have one.  For those of you that haven’t tried Stitch Fix yet, what are you waiting for?!?!  $20 styling fee to be applied to whatever you keep, a super fun style profile that you get to fill out, clothes delivered right to your doorstep, and even if you just keep one special thing it was worth it.  I can’t even explain how much fun it is to get this box delivered to your doorstep…10 fixes in and it still never gets old.  Click on the banner below if you are ready to get your fix on!!  Happy Friday my friends and enjoy your weekends!

I’m not sure if my girl Becky over at Olives n’ Wine is still linking up for this Tuesday post, but I definitely know she is still participating.  Girlfriend is in her 3rd trimester of her first pregnancy…she better be treating herself all day errr day!

If this is your first time reading a Treat Yourself Tuesday post, you can head back HERE to see why Becky started this series.  I am a big advocate for self-pampering…a little goes a long way when you are an overworked mama, so it’s very important to enjoy those moments that are just for you.  I know there aren’t many of them, so that’s why they are worth celebrating.

Speaking of celebrating I guess I will start with the most obvious treat of all…my 35th birthday weekend!  I’m not one to make a fuss over my birthday, never have been…but, I won’t lie, it was nice to be fussed over this year by Greg.  He booked us a night away at the St. Regis, got us a couples massage, and made us dinner reservations at an amazing restaurant (you know, the kind where you don’t know what anything actually is on the menu lol).  Even though we were just minutes away from home, it was a treat just to escape….I appreciated every single second of it!  Thank you for holding down the fort Nana!!

I had a lot of people ask me about my dress that I wore to dinner.  You know I couldn’t go without treating myself to something from Rent The Runway!  If I have any opportunity to get dressed up, I am getting my dress from them.  Here is a better shot of what the dress looked like.  It was one of my favorites from them so far, and Im pretty sure I need a reason to rent it again!  Do I hear a girls night out?

Speaking of…I was treated to one of those the previous week as well.  Say what you will, but getting together with a group of ladies to go check out the premiere of 50 Shades of Grey was the treat of all treats.  Red carpets, red lipstick, red wine, red room hahaha.  Basically just the perfect formula for a memorable girls night out!  Want to know my thoughts on the movie?  It was mindless entertainment, just like the books were a mindless read.  And sometimes that is exactly what I need since my brain is constantly “ON”….so for that reason, I thought the movie was great!

I seem to have a love for mindless entertainment because I definitely treated myself to watching The Bachelor last night!  Why can’t I stay away from this show?!?!  If the tv is ever actually on it’s the Disney channel.  Other than that I don’t watch anything besides 30 women fighting over the same guy.  Talk about terrible television choices, but really for me it is such a weekly treat just to escape that one night into a world of garbage tv lol.  Who is with me?  Any other fans of this season?  Do you really think any of these girls stand a chance moving back to his hometown of Yawnville population 1? lol

On a side note…you can only imagine what a treat it is that my AdvoCare world seems to be colliding with my Bachelor/Bachelorette world as of late.  I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried lol.  Someone is just trying to make my life easy by wrapping up all my favorite things into one nice package haha.  Molly Mesnick also likes Rent the Runway, we are basically just BFFS at this point.  I wonder who will be next?  Think we could get Chris Soules on our team?

On a more serious AdvoCare note, I got to treat myself to an awesome event last Thursday night.  Orange County is still a little quiet on the AdvoCare front compared to other areas of this country, so we were all so excited to participate in something that was 5 minutes away from us!  What a gathering it was!  I am constantly blown away by the people this company has brought into our lives.  It is always a treat to be in the company of uplifting, inspiring, and positive people.

I’m pretty sure I was on an adrenaline high that got me through the event, but as soon as I got home I felt like I was hit by a freight train.  It was NOT a treat to get sick the last few days.  Our awesome Nana was in town visiting and she got sick first, followed by Nathan, and then hopefully I will be the last of the fam.  I did get to relax over the weekend but not without a few fun moments thrown in there too.  I can’t do a Treat yourself Tuesday without talking about my kiddos…they are the reason for my smiles!  Ill let this photo speak for itself but it basically made my mommy heart explode to see Nathan in his baseball uniform for the first time ever.  No words!

The last treat I will share seems like it is for the boys, but I can assure you it makes me just as excited too…the boys GOT BUNK BEDS!!  Nana has been wanting to get them a bedroom set for as long as I can remember, but we never really knew what kind of sleeping arrangements would make sense for these two.  Now that they are a little older we realized bunk beds and sharing a room is where it’s at (we hope!!!).  We headed out to Pottery Barn Kids, let Nathan do a trial run of the top bunk, picked out some cool bedding and will get everything set up the first week of April.  I hope this treats us to an easier nighttime routine, the boys going to bed at a reasonable time, STAYING in their rooms at night and sleeping in.  Wishful thinking?  I’ll keep you posted!

That’s all for this Treat yourself Tuesday!  Thanks for sticking with me through the blog silence and I hope to be back again soon.  Until then, go treat yourself to something big or small…you deserve it!

Maybe you are reading this right now, with similar feelings I was having at that time in my life.  Why am I always so tired?  Why do I get stressed over the littlest things?  I don’t feel comfortable in anything I wear.  I’m not really happy with my reflection in the mirror.  Where is my motivation?  I don’t have T-I-M-E to do anything for myself.  I know I’m a great mom, but I want to contribute MORE.  Where has my career gone?  Will I ever get it back?

Don’t get me wrong…I was happy with my life, I’m just not sure I was happy with the way I was participating in it.  I knew I deserved more, that I could do more, and ultimately BE more.

I have forever struggled with my weight.  I was always a chubby kid and got to sport the nickname “Cheesepuff” throughout middle school.  You know, fluffy and round…cute right?  I would find a way to lose some weight (not in the healthiest of ways), and then of course gain it all right back.  On my wedding day I remember feeling awesome weighing in at 112 lbs, and having to get my dress taken in again, and again, because this NO CARB thing sure was working!  As with everything I did, it only worked for so long.  In came the comfort of my marriage, stress from job changes,  and of course growing my two children and I was now hanging out in the 150s.  Not to get hung up on weight, because I have learned now that it really is just a number…but at that point in time it literally weighed heavy on me because I knew it represented giving up on myself.

If you have been my friend, or followed my blog, you know my story by now.  If you are new, you can rewind back to exactly two years ago when I wrote my first ever post on this blog about the 10 lbs I lost in 24 days.  Yes, that was such an exciting part of what came as a result of my decision to take the 24 Day Challenge, but what has since transpired has been pretty life changing for my family.

– My husband and I have gone on to lose 90lbs together.  90lbs!!!!  Greg is a new man…a healthier man!  And because of this I know I will have him in my life a heck of a lot longer.  He is HEALTHY.  The healthiest he has ever been.

– My family knows how to eat now.  Well better yet, this mama knows how to COOK now!  Gone are the days of butter and cheese slathered on everything.  Microwaved foods, diet drinks, overly processed and packaged items…not in this house!!  Sugar is a foreign concept too, and our fridge is overflowing with bright, colorful, nutritious and fresh ingredients.  Simple, home cooked meals are on the table every night!  Talk about saving money on how much food we used to order in.

–  Energy!  Oh the annoying, over the top energy! I sometimes wish I could just sit still and do nothing but I can’t!  Say  goodbye to the days of TV watching, nap-taking, and boredom.  Well I wouldn’t say I was ever really bored, I think I just found ways to keep myself busy.  And that’s all it ever was….now my time is PURPOSEFUL!  My kids have a crazy lady for a mommy and they love it! lol

– I exercise…and I mean I REALLY exercise.  I wake up at the butt-crack of dawn every single day (there’s that energy again) and get myself to the gym!  No excuses, and it’s go time.  I workout hard.  Any frustrations that could have been leftover from the day before, are now gone and I get a fresh and invigorating start to my day.  I also get biceps too! lol  See how this is a win/win?  This is where I need to give a huge shoutout to AdvoCare’s Performance Elite line…game changer!

- I have wonderful friends.  New friends!  INSPIRING friends!!   AdvoCare has brought THE MOST AMAZING people into my life.  It honestly brings me to tears as I am typing this having name after name run through my mind that I know now through this adventure.  Not to mention people from the past, that I have grown close with because we came together in the name of good health.  There aren’t enough words to sum up the greatness that I am surrounded by.  When you find others that share your interest in being the best versions of themselves all you do is lift one another up.  It’s the most incredible part of all of this.  Hands down.

– Income.  There I said it.  Yes…I do make an income for doing this.  It’s actually an incredible one, that most days I feel undeserving of.  Did you read above about all those people I love….I literally get paid to help THEM do their very best.  This opportunity wasn’t ever my intention, and never in a million years did I think I would end up in Direct Sales.  Say what you will about this type of business model….no wait….DON’T.  Unless you have experienced it for yourself, you will never understand the respect that comes with being a part of a company like AdvoCare.  They always say that this company allows ordinary people to do extraordinary things and that is exactly what it does…

 –  TIME with my boys.   Yes, I was already a Stay-at-Home mom when I did my first 24 Day Challenge, but I have always felt like I was on a deadline.  A confusing deadline.  Will I open up my Interior Design business again?  Will I eventually have to go work for someone else?  How in the world would I go back to the 9-5 schedule?  What other kind of business could I do from home?  I really don’t ever want to work for some else again, but I also don’t want to deal with the headaches that come with running your own business.  In enters AdvoCare….my unexpected answer to ALL of this.  I found something that provides me with comparable income to a 40+ hour work week however it requires extremely part-time hours which still allows for full-time Mom hours.    I am ALWAYS with my boys…we actually spend a little too much time together lol.  I wouldn’t trade this precious time with them for anything…and well now, I don’t have to.

 – A stronger marriage.  Greg and I have always been close, but I felt like he got the short end of the stick after we had kids.  For all the reasons I have mentioned above, my life had changed.  That confident, working, and energetic wife now felt like she was living in yoga pants, lost her spunk (was just REALLY tired), didn’t feel attractive carrying around 30 extra lbs, and wasn’t really sure of her identity anymore.  I know my purpose was to be a great mom…I had that covered since I was spending every second of my day just doing things for them.  Even if we did find the energy to go on a date night, I would end up upset by the end of the night telling Greg just how different life felt for me.  He still got to get dressed up, go to work, socialize with adults, eat lunch in peace….I just felt like I was holding these things over his head because I was jealous I didn’t get to do any of that anymore.  We never fought over these things, I just let these thoughts take over my head and felt resent for things that had nothing to do with HIM and everything to do with ME.  Let’s just say all those thoughts are a thing of the past.  They always say happy wife, happy life right?  You have to work on yourself first ladies!  Your life only gets better when you do!

- PURPOSE.  Above all…my family is and always will be my entire purpose.  Nothing over the last 2 years changed in regards to that.  However, my drive comes from a different place now.  We can only rise when we help lift others, and that has become my fuel.  To lend a hand in someone else’s success and confidence will pay you in ways no “job” ever could.  This whole experience begins for yourself, but eventually becomes about helping everyone else.  If I can play any role in a healthier and happier you, I can’t think of anything more rewarding than that.  I’ve watched countless lives change as a result of so many of us sharing our own struggles and successes.  That is purpose at it’s finest…live your life to be the best example you can be, and hope you can can create that same desire in others.  This starts from my family and extends to yours and will be what continues to motivate me to be a better person.

I share this all with you because it’s my story, and it’s worth sharing each part of it in hopes that someone else may connect with one little piece of what I wrote.  I needed to see someone else’s changes before I knew I could do it, and that I wanted them badly enough for myself.  Excuses were easy to make, being comfortable was easy to do, so I knew staying the same was not going to be an option but it was going to take some work.

Believe it or not I don’t really believe in New Year’s resolutions.  Usually those come in the form of a list, you dive in head first, with excitement, and give it your all….at the beginning.  If I would have listed out,  lose 30 lbs, make only healthy foods for my family, exercise daily, quit drinking diet soda, stop drinking coffee, make new friends, find new interests, strengthen our marriage, travel more, earn an income for our family, stop watching television, increase my energy, be a better mom….PHEW I would have been exhausted, overwhelmed, and feeling a bit defeated before I even started.  We all know that goals without plans are just wishes.

Starting somewhere small is perfect…just START.  January 5th is going to be a starting point for hundreds and hundreds of others who are ready to commit to doing something a little different this year.   Of course you can jump in with both feet, grab a 24 Day Challenge and come join us for our biggest group challenge to date…but I want to hear your story first if you are willing to share it.  E-mail me, message me on Facebook, reach out to me on Instagram, leave me a comment here….maybe weight loss isn’t your focus, maybe you’re looking to gain some muscle, learn healthy recipes for your family, maybe the idea of some more time with your children is weighing heavy on you, maybe you’re hoping to surround yourself with more positive people in 2015, maybe you are looking to provide an extra source of income for your family, maybe you’re exhausted and could use some energy.  Maybe you don’t realize you need or want any of those things….originally, I didn’t either, but to know they now exist for me all under one AdvoCare roof has been eye-opening to say the least.

A year is simply a measure of time, but it’s a way to distinguish a period of memorable occurrences in your life.  That year you were born, that year you graduated high school, that year you went to college, that year you fell in love, that year you got married, that year you had your first child…what if 2015 could be that year that you made a decision that ultimately gave you more years?  More meaningful, healthy, positive, and purposeful years with those that you love the most?  2013 was that year for me.  This year can be YOUR year…all you have to do begin!

So this post is going to seem a little overindulgent on the treat factor but I haven’t posted one of these in awhile, so this is a culmination of some of my most recent favorite treats.  ‘Tis the season to be generous and trust me. my Christmas shopping is almost completely done, wrapped and shipped for everyone else…I just may have gotten a little side tracked in the online shopping process that’s all! lol.

Let’s start there…I decided to treat myself to a stress-free holiday season.  There is nothing that gets me more flustered than feeling behind, rushed, or forced to do something that should be enjoyable.  I used my awesome new Plum Paper Planner, and got organized early this year.  Christmas cards are in the mail, presents are shipped, and decorations are up.  Now I can just sit back and enjoy the rest of the holiday season right?  Doubtful since I usually find more unnecessary things to stress over, but the important stuff is done!  I also eliminated my intricate Advent Calendar for the boys and replaced it with a Lego Advent Calendar (which they love WAY more), and our Elf on the Shelf isn’t doing a single fancy thing this year but moving a few inches each night lol.  It’s all about simplicity heading into 2015 and I’m loving it!

Now it probably sounds like I skipped right through Thanksgiving with all this Christmas planning but I assure you we treated ourselves to an awesome one!  Greg took almost the whole week off from work and it was so great to have him home just enjoying the simple things we are most thankful for.  We had a great time at Nathan’s school for a Thanksgiving feast, and then had an equally fun time at our own Thanksgiving meal at home.  I cooked way too much food, but treated my belly to some “cleaner” options too!  It was nice to have a stomach ache free turkey day with my fam!  Greg may have set up a mimosa bar and made Moscow Mules…but remember this post is about the treats so I had to let you know about them!

This next treat is more for the hubby, but it’s a treat for me too to know he’s driving a nice, new, SAFE (and fuel efficient) car.  He had a Jeep that used to be mine, and it pretty much sounded like it was about to explode every time you accelerated sooooo…..getting a new car has been in the cards for awhile.  We treated ourselves to a sitter, and spent all of Black Friday at the gym, car shopping, and then went out to a late lunch to celebrate.  It was so much fun to be out and about for a day date!  We tried car shopping with the boys and needless to say, that was the FURTHEST thing from a treat lol.

Speaking of Black Friday, did you all catch this Fabletics deal?  I already owned the two in the middle and thanks to this sale I now have the two on the end.  I can’t get enough of my leggings from this company.  They are so flattering and compress in all the right places!  I will only wear my Fabletics leggings on leg day now because the other leggings have no business being worn while squatting and dead-lifting.  I know there is no chance of seeing through these and can push my booty back in confidence now haha.  I’ll still be a Lulu tank top girl, but my legs belong to this company now!  If you want $25 off your first order…here you GO!

Speaking of Lulu tank tops….this one JUST showed up at my doorstep.  Like as I was typing this!  I’m going to go try it on and report back if it’s a keeper.  Aaaaaaaand….it’s a total win!!  If you have any interest in it I would recommend going a size up than you normally would so you have extra fabric to tie it in the back.  Seriously can’t wait to wear it tomorrow.  See what I did there?  Treat myself to new gym clothes, and in turn it motivates me to go workout.  #worthit!

These pretties also motivate me every day to get to the gym.  They may have been November treats, but they deserved some recognition since I have so much love for them.   I don’t need nice clothes, jewelry, fancy things…just give me gym gear and I am the happiest girl on the planet.

Not going to lie though…I do enjoy being girly every now and then.  It’s a once a month thing where I will curl my hair, maybe a twice a month thing to get dressed up (read: wear something a step up from workout clothes), and well something has been missing for a long time now, and that is nice nails!  I can’t even tell you the last time I got a manicure or pedicure…GROSS!  I think my toenails have polish on it from the Summer!  I am hard on my hands and feet so it just doesn’t seem worth it.  I think I found a solution though…I tried Jamberry wraps for the first time and I think I’m sold.  I know my girl Katie works out like a beast and she wears them, so I got some from her website last week and they are great!!  They were pretty easy to put on,  they don’t chip, they look great, and I’ve worked out 5 times already with them on and they still are fab!  These are the colors I went with and currently have the purple ones on…surprise!!  Excited to try some more!  There you go hands…finally treated you to some attention other than callouses!

My last treat I am going to share with you are my new favorite McGuire Majorelle Flare jeans!  Those two times a month I dress up that I mentioned above?  Yeah, you will find me wearing these!  I am still a fan of skinny jeans but I LOVE that this style is coming back too!  I haven’t bought a nice pair of jeans for myself since losing weight (yes it’s been two years), so this was a worthwhile splurge!  I will warn you, they are made VERY long and come with a tag that tells you to cut the bottom of them to your desired length.  As in, take scissors and just cut!  Not something that you would normally want to do with nice jeans, but the style is to have them fray at the bottom so I went for it!  Got my tallest wedges and snipped off about 4″ and I love love love them!!  Best treat in awhile!

It was pouring rain today so I actually treated myself to having my groceries delivered for the first time.   It was FREE delivery since I have never used this service before and they should be here any minute with my order so that’s all from me!

I know your mind is on others, as it should be, especially during the holiday season….but please make sure to take some time to treat yourself along the way too!  You deserve it!!!  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are having an amazing start to your December!

Since I had already had great success with the 24 Day Challenge, this new plan wasn’t too far off from what I had learned through my experience with AdvoCare.  I still had to eat clean, I still got to use all my awesome Performance Elite supplements, I just needed to refine what kinds of clean foods I was eating, and how much of each of them I was eating. I will recommend that EVERYONE start with a 24 Day Challenge when they are looking to make some changes.  It certainly benefits weight loss, but even an athlete who is ready to reset and feel their best will benefit from this being their starting point.

The biggest change in the new plan was WEIGHT LIFTING…on my own…in the gym.  Can I just say I have completely, head over heels, fallen in love with going to the gym.  Talk about feeling empowered and inspired ladies…go grab some heavy weights and literally watch your body transform over a short amount of time!   You can’t leave the gym in a bad mood, you just can’t.

So did “changing things up” break me of my plateau?  I would say YES!  Actually even more than I expected for such a short amount of time.  I dropped about 3% in body fat and definitely feel stronger, and can see my body composition changing.  If you follow my new Instagram account you have seen most of these photos since I do frequent updates there, but for those of you who don’t, here are my before and after photos with a  3.5 month difference between the two.

So now what?  I wouldn’t use the word plateau this go around, but I will say I know it’s time to push myself further and continue to make slight changes to what I am doing.  There was a good two months where I felt continuously sore from my workouts.  When that soreness subsided it was a sign that my muscles were getting too used to what I have been doing, so I reached back out to Leah for my second consult.  My new and “improved” plan basically  just increases EVERYTHING….cardio, weights, repetitions, calories, and carbs, oh my!

I have been asked on Instagram to share recipes, workouts, what supplements I’ve been using, how to track macros etc…and since none of those things are something I can sum up in a comment on IG, I wanted to do this post!  Now I always need to preface that I am NOT a professional, I am not a personal trainer, and I am not a certified Nutritionist (even though I do have some curiosity in pursing this), so my advice really isn’t advice at all.  I am just documenting what I have been given, what I have been doing, and what has been yielding my own personal progress in hopes that it helps to keep me accountable while also providing some insight to others who may be looking to do the same.

One of the first questions is….

WHERE SHOULD I START?

If you know me by now, AdvoCare has my heart!   Deciding to do the 24 Day Challenge almost 2 years ago was undoubtedly the best decision I have ever made when it comes to providing overall wellness for myself and my family.  You can say you want to start eating right and exercising all you want, but you need a PLAN and you need a COMMITMENT.  Do you have to do the 24 Day Challenge specifically?  NOPE!  There are certainly other programs out there that could be the jumpstart you need, but I can’t stress enough how important having guidance is.   Do something, and do it for a specific amount of time.  Break bad habits, learn how to eat correctly, challenge yourself, and commit to it and commit to yourself.  Once you have the basics down, and see results, and feel your best you are so much better prepared to challenge yourself further and to make a sustainable lifestyle change.

HOW DO YOU EAT?

Initially I tried counting calories when I was first trying to lose weight, and well that backfired when I tried to fit as many 100 calories packs of Doritos into my day as I could.  Learning to eat real, unprocessed “clean” foods, and eating throughout the day was the game changer.  I have been a “clean eater” for the past two years, but where I needed to fine tune to break my plateau, was learning the right way to balance the clean foods I was eating.  This is where I flipped back to calorie counting, and macro-nutrient counting…only this time I was doing it with healthy foods!  The past 3 months I have been staying between 1500-1600 calories, and around 130g carbs, 150g protein, 45g fats, and tracking this all through the MyFitnessPal app.  This was to help me burn fat and lean out, but also be able to sustain the type of cardio and weightlifting I was doing.  My new program with Leah has me bumped up to 2000 calories a day, and has me increasing my carbs, protein, & fats steadily each week for the next 3 months.  This is to start building muscle, but also doing it in a way that keeps you lean.  I’m not going to lie, Im a little nervous about it and haven’t fully committed yet.  But I will after the holidays!  If you want to get an idea of how to track your macros and where you should be for your goals I HIGHLY recommend checking out iifym.com AND getting a $50 consult from Leah, so she can come up with something specific for you and your goals.

 A lot of people will read what I just wrote and think it sounds overly complicated and a bit too obsessive, but I promise you, once you get the hang of it (and have already mastered your clean eating) you can integrate this in and start to know how you should eat, and how your body responds to it.  I have meals upon meals that are my favorites now and I just keep them in rotation, and know I’m staying within my targets.

I mean really does it look like I’m lacking in fun things to eat?

Also note, I am making all these changes to last me a lifetime.  So do I still have date nights, girls nights, go on vacations, drink wine occasionally, eat all my kids’ Halloween candy?  Yup!  This is what makes you feel like you have forever CHANGED your diet, but you’re not ON a diet.

WHAT KIND OF EXERCISE DO YOU DO?

If you have been reading my blog, you will have probably seen my progression from light cardio & classes at the gym to distance running, then to bootcamp type workouts and now to weight lifting.  They all were wonderful for what they were throughout this process.  You definitely have to find something you love doing!!  I will say weight lifting has surpassed my expectations and has become something I consider a hobby now, because I thoroughly enjoy doing it.  I know that gym can be intimidating so Im happy to share what I have been doing with you if you want to try some of it out for yourself.  Seriously save this image to your phone, look up any exercise that you may not know what it is, and then walk into the gym confidently because you have a PLAN (that you can pull up on your phone and copy and just look like you’re switching songs on your playlist haha)

So here is the deal.  I have been told to start with 45 minutes of fasted cardio 4 mornings a week (meaning on an empty stomach), and to do 30 minute HIIT workouts the other 3 days.  It’s a lot, but Im trying to get myself there.  So far I would realistically say I have been doing 30-40 minutes of cardio to start my workouts.  20-30 minutes of that is on the stairclimber then the next 10 minutes I do sprints on the treadmill.  I figure its combining cardio and HIIT all in one right?  I typically try to burn between 250-300 calories before even starting in on weights.

Then I follow the plan below.  Each exercise I do FIVE sets of 10-12 reps unless otherwise noted to do a different amount.  My last set I always lift to failure (when you can’t possibly do one more).  You will basically want to die, but in the best way possible!

Don’t forget to get some core/ab work in there (you hear that Lauren?!  Yeah I need to listen to this advice too), and of course listen to your body if you need to rest.  Again, Leah can provide you with a plan that is best suited for your goals and the amount of time you have to workout!

WHAT KIND OF SUPPLEMENTS DO YOU TAKE AND WHEN?

Something you don’t know about me is I went through a phase, when I first moved to California, where I was into lifting weights.  It doesn’t even come close to how I feel about it now.  It wasn’t invigorating, I wasn’t seeing that much progress, and it felt like a chore.  Looking back now I know the difference… I wasn’t eating correctly and I didn’t use supplements.  Energy, strength, recovery, and just proven science behind good quality (and safe) supplementation can be the difference between being a good athlete and being a GREAT one.  I feel like a million bucks before my workouts, during them, and after and I know I can give a huge hug to my beloved Performance Elite products for this.

Here is my daily regimen:

Mix the following in a blender bottle-

-1 scoop Fruit Punch Spark

-1 packet BioCharge

-1 scoop Mass Impact

-1/2 scoop IsoPure unflavored protein powder

Add lots of water and ice and shake shake shake!!

Take 2 Catalyst and 2 Muscle Strengths and head out the door, shaker bottle in hand.  Drink some on the way to the gym.  Get on that stairclimber and drink mixture throughout.  Don’t drink it all and when you’re done cardio top off with more water. (Remember this is just what I do, doesn’t mean its necessarily correct lol).

Add in a packet of Rehydrate if you need more flavor and for electrolyte replacement.

I sweat A LOT, so all this liquid drinking leaves me with an empty blender bottle by the end.  As soon as I am done working out I mix up a Muscle Gain protein shake and drink it as Im leaving the gym and have a banana waiting in the car for me.

Get home and eat breakfast and take your multivitamins too (in my case AdvoCare MNS 3-working on getting better about remembering everyday)

More Spark and Catalyst around 3:00pm.  If I had a tough workout- pop a couple of Nighttime Recovery before bed.

Instead of going through each product with you (that’s a whole other post), I have created a bundle with all my favorite products in it.  You can click through them and read about all their awesome benefits and see if any of them sound like something that could help support your workouts and lifestyle.

——-> LAUREN’S FAVORITE PRE/POST WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS <——-

Whew…that was a long post.  See I go away for a long time, but all I am doing is storing up all this info to come blast you with one big, long, update!  Thanks for hanging in there!  I hope those of you who have asked me questions have found this information helpful. And if you ever have any additional questions definitely shoot me an e-mail, message me on my Facebook page, or say hello on Instagram.

I also need to give a big ole shoutout to the #fitfam on Instagram.  I never realized there were such distinct communities  within the Instaworld, and I am so happy to have squeezed my way into this one.  To wake up each morning and scroll through photo after photo of inspiration, honesty, struggles, motivation, and lots and lots of MUSCLES, I am just so amazed by the positivity, support and drive that I am witnessing on a daily basis.  It makes me smile everyday seeing so many of you working towards a healthier you, and I am proud to be amongst such great company.  Keep on smilin’ and keep on flexin’…I am definitely watching, and I’m beyond inspired!

Have a happy and healthy weekend my friends and as always…thanks for reading!

I was going to just let my 8th Stitch Fix slide under the radar but it was too good to keep from you all.  It was hands down my favorite I have received from when I first started this obsession.  Every.single.item. was a keeper except a pair of skinnies because I already owned them!  Just waiting on some sweater weather to finally show up, and I will be living in everything you see below.

If by chance you are new to Stitch Fix here is the gist of this brilliant concept.  Fill out a super fun Style Profile (even if you don’t schedule a fix, go make one HERE …It’s a great way to figure out how to describe your taste in fashion).  Then when you are ready spend $20 to schedule your fix, let the experts put together a custom delivery of 5 items for you.  Try them on in the comfort of your own home, with your existing clothing and accessories and keep what you want and send back what you don’t.  Your $20 styling fee will be applied as credit towards what you keep, and everything else you can send back in a prepaid envelope.  You can also refer friends and get a $25 credit to spend on future orders if they decide to see what the craze is all about too.  Best part is if you keep all 5 items you get 25% off your entire order.  This October fix would have totally been an all-five-keeper if I didn’t already own the jeans!  On the other hand, even if you keep just one unique item I think it’s totally worth the experience, and I bet it will quickly become one of your favorite pieces in your closet.

Honestly when I look at my closet now it makes me happy.  My favorite pieces are all from Stitch Fix and I love that they are all items I would have never thought to choose for myself.  The convenience factor alone is worth it, but having a stylist get me to step outside my comfort zone has been the best part.  However, if you create a Pinterest folder just for your Stitch Fix style you can pin outfits you like into it and send that link to your stylist.  They can even get as specific as sending you exact items you have seen in other people’s fixes if they have them still available.  So if you see anything you like from my order, go ahead and pin it to your folder!

So enough chit chat from me….let’s check out my awesome October Fix!

{ 1 }- Kaleigh Ankle Biter Skinny Jean- Kensie Jeans- $88.00.  Status; SENT BACK (only because I’ve received them before and KEPT them!)

Dark navy, super comfortable, and the PERFECT length.   I still liked them the second go around, but these are already hanging in my closet from a previous fix.

{ 2 } Adolfo Faux Leather Elbow Patch Sweater- Kensie- $98.00.  Status:  KEPT

Ok so the price tag was a bit of a shocker but oh em gee, I just couldn’t say bye to this sweater.  The color, the comfort, the neckline, the elbow patches and the FRONT POCKET POUCH….I didn’t want to take it off.  The second we see some 60 degree weather I am running to my closet to grab this!  It’s so cozy it makes me want to hug myself

{ 3 } Cheyenne Colorblocked Mixed Knit Shirt- THML. $48.00.  Status:  KEPT

Loved this little casual top.  My favorite neutral colors, but still interesting with the change of materials and textures, and I love the dolman sleeves.  Im also a fan of baseball style tees and this has that look to it but in a sweater form.  This top will be getting a lot of use!

{ 4 } Alexander Graphic Knit Drape Front Cardigan- Moon Collection. $68.00.  Status:  KEPT

I knew I was going to love this open front sweater before I even tried it on.  I don’t know what else to say about it besides that it’s perfect and I plan on living in it!

{ 5 } Lucine Swiss Dot Blouse- Skies are Blue. $64.00.  Status:  KEPT

Last but not least this dainty top.  It came with the white cami for layering and I was unsure of it right out of the box.  Actually I was unsure of it still when I first tried it on with the navy skinny jeans.  This is when it’s nice to be able to try it on at home because I tried it on again the next day, with my own jeans and shoes.  Once I saw it in my photo, styled the way I would wear it I decided it was a keeper!  This is the perfect example of not my style at first glance, but happy I opened my mind to it.

Do you see why I can’t stay away from Stitch Fix?  It’s like I am waiting for them to bomb so I can put a stop to the madness, only instead they just keep getting better and better!  Thank you Stitch Fix for putting a little love and spunk into my dull wardrobe.  I feel so special every time you show up at my doorstep and Im pretty sure we won’t be breaking up anytime soon.

If you’re feeling up for a fix, or just want to have fun with your custom Style Profile, you can get started below!  Enjoy!