Guest Post: Friday FITspiration Week 4/4

This is the last post we have with Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness  to give us some tips & tricks to help us achieve our fitness goals. This chick is fabulous and the more I read her blog, the more motivated I get. We will also announce the GIVEAWAY winner today too!

Hello my fellow fitness enthusiast.  Sad to say this, but this is my LAST Friday FITspiration on this blog! But don’t be sad! You can find more Friday FITspiration every Friday on my health and fitness blog infinitelifefitness.com!

Today I would like to share some tips on creating the other important component to reaching your health and fitness goals.  YOUR WORKOUT!  Eating right and your fitness routine are the two key things that you have to be consistent with in order to reach your health and fitness goals in a desired time frame.  

As I have stated in every post previous to this, before you embark on a new fitness routine please make sure you are cleared by your doctor first!  Also, if you work out and start to feel extreme pain STOP!  It is ok if you feel a slight discomfort, but if it is an extreme pain that means you may be doing something wrong or you hurt yourself!

When creating your own workouts you have to be aware of your resources.  Will you have a gym that you can use?  Will you have to work out at home or outside? Does your job offer some kind of incentive for working out? Do you have any other spaces/facilities you can use to complete a workout?

If your job offers incentives for working out you would be a fool not to participate!! At my company they offer a discounted health package, we get a FREE membership to a local gym, we get free evaluations every 4 months, plus a whole list of other opportunities to allow people the chance to participate in a healthy lifestyle.  If you are unsure, it would be best to go to your Human Resources adviser and see if they have anything like that.

If you have a gym to use, the best thing to do is ask the manager (or if they have onsite training) if they can show you around the gym and how to use the machines.  If you are using the machines incorrectly you could potentially hurt yourself or worse not get the true benefit of working out that day.  Working out in the gym allows you the chance to use the cardio machines as well as lift weights.  The key to losing weight and sculpting the body you want is a mix of cardio AND strength training.  Now ladies, I promise you will not get big and bulky like a body builder if you lift weights!! Lifting weights will allow you the chance to strengthen and tighten your muscles so when you start to lose those unwanted pounds your body will look firm and fit (not saggy and droopy).  You want to not lift heavy the first few sessions you have until you know how much you can lift and what exercises you can do.  My rule I tell my clients is if you can lift it 10 times without extreme muscle fatigue than you are doing good and gradually build up the weight every 4-6 weeks.  I would suggest doing 3-5 sets with 8-15 reps in each set.  This is where you get to create your own workout plan and decide which exercises you want to do!

With cardio, the key is to get your heart rate up and maintain it for about 30 minutes.  I always suggest a 10 minute warm up and then go right into your more intense cardio session.  This can be done on the treadmill, elliptical, bike, stairmaster, or any other machine they may have for you to use.  Again, start off slower and then start to build up your speed and resistance.

For those who do not have a gym to attend there are SO many resources you can use in your home or outside.  I know the weather may be bad in some areas so you may be forced to stay inside for your workout.  There are dozens of circuit training videos you can find online to use in your home.  You can also do things like jumping rope, jumping jacks, lunges, and sit ups in the comfort of your home!  I usually tell clients that they can do these things WHILE THEY WATCH THEIR FAVORITE TV SHOW AT NIGHT! It is a great trade off because you kill two birds with one stone.  You get your workout done and you get to see your favorite weekly show.

There are so many other routines you can do in your home, at your local park, around your neighborhood, or maybe even at your kid’s school.  You just have to be aware of your resources and use them!  For more fitness exercises you can do for your workout or healthy food ideas please feel free to visit my blog!

And as with any other extreme activities that you would like to do, please consult with your physician first before you embark on any kind of physical activity, meal plans, or any other activities that may be harmful to you or your health needs.  

I hope the tips I shared with you will help you guys start planning out your NEW and HEALTY fitness lifestyle!  For other daily health and fitness tips please feel free to check out my blog at infinitelifefitness.com. Have a happy and healthy weekend!

Guest Post: Friday FITspiration Week 3/4

For the next 2 Fridays, Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness will be here to give us some tips & tricks to help us achieve our fitness goals. This chick is fabulous and the more I read her blog, the more motivated I get. Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY today too!

Happy Fitness Friday!  I hope the previous tips that I shared with you were able to help you transform your old eating habits/menu into a healthier menu! Today I would like to share some snack tips and suggestions for you that you may like to incorporate into your new healthy menu!

Here are a few essentials that I ALWAYS have in my cupboard.  These are some “snacking essentials” that should always give you the nutrient profile that you need to stay on track with your healthy eating.

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grains (oat meal, whole grain bread, whole grain pasta, whole grain rice)
• Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts)
• Low-fat dairy products
• Dark chocolate

And yes I just listed dark chocolate!  There have been studies to prove the health benefits of consuming small moderate amounts of dark chocolate.  It may be hard but stick to one portion size.  You can also get creative and incorporate it into your yogurt, cottage cheese, or other food options to add sweetness and flavor to anything that you think is bland. 

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For your snack here are a few key things to keep in mind:

• Allow your snack to be around 200 (but no more than 300) calories. This is just enough calories/nutrients to keep your metabolism working and to curve any between meal hunger cravings you may have 
• You will want to try to have a snack that has around 5 grams of protein, no more than 12 grams of fat, and around 5 grams of fiber. These are all estimates so try to stick close to those values. This will allow you to have a well-balanced snack. Things like fiber and protein can be digested and broken down slowly by your body which will make you feel satisfied longer. You always want to try to keep your fat intake low.

They key to eating correctly is eating until you feel satisfied.  If you get the “I am full” feeling you have eaten too much! You stomach and brain do not communicate as fast as you eat food.  So by the time your brain realizes that you are full you have consumed more than you should have.  You should not be hungry after you eat your meals and when you eat your snacks.  If you are eating nutrient rich products your body should be find working off of the food you are feeding it.  It may take you a few days to a week to get use to this.  We have always been taught to eat until we are stuffed and that is the wrong mindset.  You want to eat until you are satisfied and not hungry anymore.  Don’t worry! You will get to eat/snack again in just a few hours.  And if you are not satisfied after your meal it is always safe to double up on veggies to help you crave your hunger.  Never starve yourself!  You have to learn what are good foods to fuel your body to keep your hunger at bay.

Here is an example of some low-calorie snack options for you:

• Celery with peanut butter, cheese, yogurt, nuts, or anything else you would like to eat it with 
• Small baby spinach salad with other veggies (like tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, etc.) DON’T FORGET to LIMIT the kind of dressing you use! Stay away from the thick and creamy types of dressings (and soups!) they carry the most calories and other ingredients. Stick with the clear types of dressings (or soups). And also stick with the suggested portion size! It is not ideal to drown your salad in the dressing. 
• Cottage cheese or plain yogurt and you can add your own fruit! This is a much healthier and cheaper option. It is great if you buy a big tub of it and portion it out yourself. 
• You can also make your own fruit or veggie mix and have peanut butter or yogurt on the side 
• Nuts with a small portion of fruit (or veggie) 
• Popcorn (no added butter or salt! Try getting the plain popcorn with nothing added and add your own spices to it!)

There are so many healthy low calorie snack options available! You just have to be cautions of what those options are!  Be open minded and try new items that you have not tried before!

And as with any other extreme activities that you would like to do, please consult with your physician first before you embark on any kind of physical activity, meal plans, or any other activities that may be harmful to you or your health needs. 

I hope the tips I shared with you will help you guys start planning out your NEW and HEALTHIER meal menus for this week!  For other daily health and fitness tips please feel free to check out my blog at infinitelifefitness.com. Please feel free to check back next week to see what other health and fitness tips I share! Have a happy and healthy weekend!

***ATTENTION! This week we are offering a giveaway!  I am giving away 3 months of my health and fitness training away to ONE lucky follower of this blog! That is meal planning, exercises, and other health and fitness advice (over $350 worth of services) FOR FREE!

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WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL.

Guest Post: Friday FITspiration Week 2/4

For the next 3 Fridays, Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness will be here to give us some tips & tricks to help us achieve our fitness goals. This chick is fabulous and the more I read her blog, the more motivated I get. She will also be hosting a giveaway here in week 3, so please make sure you check in every Friday to get the details of how to enter! 

Hey guys! This is Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness here to share some more health and fitness tips with you!  Today I would like to share MORE meal planning tips with you!  Meal planning is one of the MOST important aspects to reaching your health and fitness goals. 

There is a little saying that I heard and like to share with the clients that I train…”If you fail to plan, than you can plan to fail!”  What that means is if you fail to plan out your meals and snacks, than it is likely that you will fail at staying on track with your healthy eating!  Most people say “I do not have time so I go grab food at this fast food place” or they run into the grocery store and just grab whatever is convenient.  Well that is not good planning! Planning out your meals (and even making them ahead of time) allows you to already know what you can/will eat and eliminates the need to go to the store or fast food place to “grab something quick”.  What I personally do is I will set aside one day a week (usually Saturday or Sunday) and I will make meals to last me all week!  Yes my fridge and freezer are FULL of Tupperware with my measured out correct portion sizes of my meals. 

I will bake a whole pack of chicken, fish, beef, or whatever meat I choose to eat that day.  I will make a big pot of rice (or pasta), and I will make a big pot of veggies.  In each of my Tupperware containers I will put 4-6 oz. of meat, 1 cup of veggies, and 1 cup of pasta or rice.  I will use these containers for lunch/dinner.  They are already measured out and in the Tupperware so when I am ready to eat all I have to do is grab a Tupperware with the meal I want, throw it on a plate, and heat it up! Talk about “fast food”!  It is pre-maid, healthy, and in the end it did save me money!

Like I said before you have to plan out your meals or you will be tempted to go to those restaurant or food places that you love, which will also tempt you to get the same less healthy foods that you should limit in your diet.

The same can go for your snacks.  You can create your own “snack packs” with zip lock bags or reusable Tupperware (so you can re-wash them and save money as well!).  You can buy the larger containers of yogurt or big bags of fruit/veggies and portion them out correctly into the zip lock bags/Tupperware.  This will allow you to have the right portion size and not tempt you to sneak another handful of chips, fruit, or whatever else you decide you want for your snack that day. 

Also, are you drinking enough water?  You should substitute water for one of your favorite cokes or red bulls during the day.  Most people do not realize that they consume most of their calories via the sugary non nutrient beverages they sip on all day!  Yes switching to the diet version of your favorite carbonated beverage is a good alternative, BUT you should slowly try to wing yourself off of those types of drinks in general.

So as the saying goes, “If you fail to plan, than you can plan to fail!”  So start planning out your menu to help you save time, money, and temptation to veer away from your healthy eating!

And as with any other extreme activities that you would like to do, please consult with your physician first before you embark on any kind of physical activity, meal plans, or any other activities that may be harmful to you or your health needs. 

I hope the tips I shared with you will help you guys start planning out your NEW and HEALTHIER meal menus for this week!  For other daily health and fitness tips please feel free to check out my blog at infinitelifefitness.com. Please feel free to check back next week to see what other health and fitness tips I share! Have a happy and healthy weekend!

Guest Post: Friday FITspiration Week 1/4

For the next 4 Fridays, Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness will be here to give us some tips & tricks to help us achieve our fitness goals. This chick is fabulous and the more I read her blog, the more motivated I get. She will also be hosting a giveaway here in week 3, so please make sure you check in every Friday to get the details of how to enter! 

Hello! My name is Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness and for the month of February I will be speaking to you EVERY week here on THIS blog about how to jump start your health and fitness goals (if you have made any or if you have ever wanted to start getting healthier!)

One of the most important things about starting off your health and fitness journey is making REALISTIC goals.  You want to set a goal that will be obtainable in a realistic amount of time.  No you cannot lose 20 pounds in two weeks (and if you are/have you should probably go see a doctor! This is not very healthy at all!)  Realistically you will lose 1-4 pounds a week.  That is only if you are eating the right foods AND incorporating a steady consistent workout schedule.  Also, you do not have to sit down and consume 2-3 BIG meals a day.  The goal is to have small meals every 2-3 hours to fuel your body, keep you satisfied, and keep your body working!

No matter what you cannot workout and eat whatever you want if you want to reach your goals!  One of the MOST important things about reaching your goals is the food you use to fuel your body!

My rule that I tell my clients…if the nutritional label has ingredients that you cannot pronounce or you have no idea what they are….you probably should not eat it!  Learn to look at your nutritional labels and see what is in the food that you are feeding yourself! You will be surprised to see so many harmful chemicals and other agents are in foods and snacks that you eat regularly.

Fresh (or frozen) fruits are a good purchase.  You should try to have at least one serving of veggies with each meal! Frozen veggies are a good alternative if you are on a budget.  Local grocery stores sometimes will have a great sale on frozen veggies so you can pick up a few packs, toss them in your freezer, and not worry about them going bad/getting moldy!  BUT make sure to stick with the PLAIN frozen veggies (no added sauces or butter).  Those added sauces will raise the fat, calories, and other potential “Bad” things that can be added to the veggies.  Find your own spices to use to season them to make them taste how you like! (For example…Mrs. Dash has a whole line of spices that are salt free and taste amazing!  McCormick also has a good variety of spice or you can mix your own blend of spice to add to your meals.)

The next important thing to pay attention to is your portion sizes.  That is one number one issue with eating too much (or not enough).  Look at the following image of a good indication of the CORRECT portion sizes of most common foods that you may eat:

Here is a good example of an eating schedule that should help you visualize how often/what you should be eating:

• 8:00 AM BREAKFAST: 2 large eggs (scrambled in olive oil), 1 piece of whole grain toast, 1 large fruit/1 cup or fruit (berries of fruit cut into cubes)
• 10:00 AM: 1 small cup of yogurt, 1 serving of nuts (almonds, pecans, or walnuts are all a great choice) or 1 small banana with 1 Tbsp. peanut butter
• 12:00 LUNCH: 1 baked chicken breast, 1 cup of green veggies, 1 cup or brown rice or whole wheat pasta
• 2:00 PM: 18 baked tortilla chips with 1/4 cup guacamole
• 5:00 PM DINNER: 4oz grilled salmon, ½-1 cup green veggies, and 1 cup of brown rice or whole wheat pasta
• (If you are still hungry) 8:00 PM: 1 cup HEALTHY cereal with 2% or fat free milk

Now remember, the above menu is just an example!  You should eat every 2-3 hours and you should start your first meal within 2-3 hours after waking up in the morning.  There are so many other healthy options that you can use for your snacks and meals.

Eating the right things and learning to turn down those yummy treats you are accustomed to having is one of the HARDEST parts of getting on track with your health and fitness. Once you are able to learn that self-control everything else will just fall into place! Like I said the diet is SO important if you want to reach your health and fitness goals in you set time frame.

And as with any other extreme activities that you would like to do, please consult with your physician first before you embark on any kind of physical activity, meal plans, or any other activities that may be harmful to you or your health needs. 

I hope the tips I shared with you will help you guys start planning out your NEW and HEALTHIER meal menus for this week!  For other daily health and fitness tips please feel free to check out my blog at infinitelifefitness.com. Please feel free to check back next week to see what other health and fitness tips I share! Have a happy and healthy weekend!

A Trainer's Perspective with Monica Pitts: Part 2

Monica Pitts from the blog Temple Fitness is back for Part 2! I've been writing a lot about my experiences personal training, but I thought it would be great to hear about the experience from the perspective of a personal trainer. Read on!

                                                        Source: Uploaded by user via KandidlyKim @ Work It Out, Gurl on Pinterest

Nutrition

This is the golden ticket. I can’t stress enough how important nutrition is along your weight loss and body transformation journey. You can’t erase a poor diet with exercise but you can erase exercise with a poor diet.

Most trainers will include or a meal plan or make nutritional recommendations to help you reach your specific goals. Don’t expect to reach your weight loss and fitness goals if you are not willing to stick to your meal plan. This is another part of doing your homework.

It Works…BUT you must work IT

How many diet plans and workout plans have you attempted and failed? Honestly in most cases it’s not the plan that failed but you failed the plan. You failed to work the plan like it was intended to be worked. You might work out but not follow the meal plan or follow the meal plan but not follow the exercise routine.

In some cases you succeed for 3 weeks then give up after not seeing results fast enough. Crazy thing is that many times you are on the brink of greatness but give up way too early to see it manifest. Consistency is key. You have to be willing to work it until it works for you.

You Have It In You

The best trainers will take your perceived weakness and capitalize on it. In other words we will use your weakness and create it into strength. When I am training clients I always make them try something that they think they can’t do. I make them do it over and over until one day they CAN. I believe in their ability and want them to also believe in themselves.

So don’t ever say you can’t do something. Even if it’s difficult or you fail at the first attempt don’t give up. Keep pushing yourself. You have it in you to succeed.

THE MIND

Last but definitely not least it’s imperative that you prepare your mind for the journey. A great trainer will inspire you to reach your goals but they can’t motivate you. You must find that motivation…..that thing that moves you into action…within yourself.

You must believe in yourself. You must know that you deserve to be healthy, fit and strong. You don’t have to settle for mediocrity when you can be your best. Finding time to meditate, pray, or recite mantras may help you make that powerful shift.

Many of us allow the external things in this life to define us and limit us. Becoming conscious of your inner Being and true identity in this world can be the difference between reaching or not reaching your goals. We all have the power in us to succeed but we have to believe in that ability before we can access it. A strong mind creates a strong body. If you think you can then you will!

I hope this helps you go out there and finally reach your weight loss and fitness goals! It’s a NEW YEAR, it’s time for the NEW YOU to make a debut.

Make sure you connect with Monica on Facebook and on her blog. 

A Trainer's Perspective with Monica Pitts: Part 1

I’m happy to bring a wonderful guest post to you. This one comes from Monica Pitts at the blog Temple Fitness. I've been writing a lot about my experiences personal training, but I thought it would be great to hear about the experience from the perspective of a personal trainer. Read on!

How many of us dream about achieving that “perfect” body or our ideal body weight? We have tried diet after diet and workout after workout only to leave us feeling defeated and frustrated. As a last ditched effort we hire a certified personal trainer.

The problem with this is that we have not let go of our unrealistic expectations and tarnished perception. Some of us are still trying to look like that fitness or Victoria Secret model from the magazine. We expect to lose 50 lbs in 6 weeks or go from couch to marathon in 3 weeks.

While it is important to have goals and find ways to inspire yourself to reach them you have to understand a few things. A personal trainer is not a magician. You can’t expect them to perform miracles. We cannot wave a magic wand or cast a spell to help you get there. It takes discipline, dedication and good old fashion hard work. 

Source: startnow.stockphotosweb.com via KandidlyKim @ Work It Out, Gurl on Pinterest

It’s also important for you, the client, to understand a few things before we get started on the journey together.

Reality VS. Fantasy

Makes sure you set goals that you can achieve. Don’t go into the journey expecting to become a fitness model in 2 weeks when you have 100 lbs to lose. While I am a huge believer that all things are possible I also understand that you have to be realistic. Your ultimate goal may be further down the path but making smaller more attainable goals along the way is the best way to go. This ensures that you are staying motivated as you reach each milestone.

YOU vs. YOU

Don’t compare yourself. This is not a competition between you and someone else. You are only striving to be YOUR best. Even if you are participating in a competition you will never look or be like the other person. You can only compete with yourself. Every day you go into that gym you must be willing to face your fears, insecurities and weakness. It’s the old you versus the new you. You are fighting the old habits and thoughts as you transform into the new and improved you. Don’t short change yourself trying to be someone else.

Slow and Steady

Have you ever heard that saying slow and steady wins the race? It’s true. Look at your journey as a marathon and not a sprint. Don’t attempt to cut back too many calories, drastically change your eating habits, or workout 7 days a week just to see fast results. This can lead to exhaustion, injury and defeat.

Approaching this journey with the intention to make it a lifestyle will reap amazing results as the weeks, months and years go by. You don’t want to get burned out trying to do too much at one time. A healthy and sustainable training program will yield a 1-2 lbs weight loss per week.

Do Your Homework

You must understand that a trainer can only do so much. Most clients can only afford to hire a trainer to work with them 2-3 days per week so some trainers will assign you homework such as cardio to do on your own. Homework may seem meaningless (as my 13 yr old likes to think) but it isn’t. It’s a part of the complete package. So in order to get the best results make sure you do your homework!

Stay tuned for Part 2 next week!

Make sure you connect with Monica on Facebook and on her blog. 

Blogger Date with @BklynActiveMama

So this past Saturday I met my first blog friend in person! I was so excited/anxious/intimidated! Not only was it great practice for FitBloggin in June BUT just for practicing to take my networking offline and back to face to face. Anywho, I met up with Nellie from Brooklyn Active Mama! When we realized that we were both from NY and attending Fitbloggin we thought it would be a great idea to link up and talk about being roomies to save some cash at the conference.

We met up a Soco Brooklyn which is known for it's southern style cuisine with a touch of class. The ambiance was fabulous and the food was delish! I had the Short Rib Hash with Scrambled Eggs (it generally comes with over easy eggs, but I don't like those) with Hibiscus Sweet Tea for our brunch date and loved it. There was so much food that I ended up bring home a doggie bag for my husband. I had no idea, but Nellie says that brunch is "the thing" to do in Brooklyn... there were cozy restaurants on every block... needless to say I cannot wait to go back and explore some more.

Overall though, I feel like I am on a high from being able to meet one of my favorite bloggers in person. It helps to keep me inspired and ready to take Work It Out, Gurl to the next level. If I feel this inspired from meeting 1 blogger, I can only imagine what FitBloggin will be like!

Anyways, head on over to Brooklyn Active Mama and show her some love! She blogs about fitness, career, mommyhood and everything in between.

Like any blogger, we obviously had to get a good picture together.

Me: left Nellie: right

Sidebar: Nellie is trying to convince me to run a 5K with her on the last day of FitBloggin... now I am no runner. Period. Can't cope with that out of body, chest beating in your throat feeling...but she is very persuasive. I am NOT committing to running it, but I will try to keep a partially open mind to experimenting with running in the gym to see how my body responds to it.

Are any of you a non-runner who ran a 5K before?

Friday's Letters

Dear LIPA....................I know I was mad at you for the past 11 days, but you made up for it by restoring my power last night.

Can you tell I was excited to get dressed with LIGHTS?????

Dear Family......................We have been through a lot in these past 11 days, we definitely have grown closer even if it was because we had no heat. Love you to pieces!

Dear Kim............Thanks for keeping me sane during these past days of no power. We were in the struggle together. We had too much fun making songs about not having power! 

So the power went out at work, so we decided to kick up our feet and enjoy the heat while it lasted. 

Dear God...........I  cannot say thank you enough. I am always grateful, but even more so now because you spared my life, it was rough being without power but I never doubted you. Things could have turned out totally different but you kept me and my family and for this I say thank you.  My prayers still go out to all those affected by Hurricane Sandy. 

Dear New Apartment..........I'm so excited to move in next week. OMG I still can't believe I have a place to call my own. #BlessedBeyondMeasure 

Yeah so about that shopping trip with my Mom........Evidence of why you shouldn't go apartment shopping with your mom. #PleaseDontJudgeMe

Friday's Letters

Linking up with Ashley for another Friday's Letters

Dear Daddy...........I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to you!!! You are such an amazing person and I am so blessed to have a father like you. Thank you for being selfless at all times, and providing for us, you are the epitome of a great father and husband and you are definitely a hard act to follow. You have shown me how a woman should be treated and for that I thank you. 

Dear EDC 670.........Like really???? This whole statistics chapter is really not my fav, I feel like I'm back in college in my Psych classes. 

Dear Jordyn.........You definitely have your godmother wrapped around your little fingers. Every time I go into a store I have to pick something up for you. I love you and I can't wait to see the beautiful woman you grow up to be.

Dear Alex.........Although we don't speak or see each other as much as we used to I really appreciate our friendship. You are one of the few friends that I have that we can pick up from where we left off. Just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday Eve, I am glad to have you in my life and glad to know that we are more than just friends but family. You definitely aren't getting of me anytime soon. Have a wonderful Birthday and I hope you enjoy your day tomorrow. Kandy Krew for Life!!!!! (I never forgot about it) 

Happy Friday everyone, wishing all of our lovely readers a Fabulous weekend!!!! 

Friday's Letters

Linking up with Ashley for another Friday's Letters 

Dear Friday, have ever told you that you are my favorite day of the week?

Dear Fall, HELLO!!!! Please stay awhile, although I am a winter baby I do enjoy this wonderful weather and I'm not quite ready to pull out my uggs and winter coat yet!

Dear Revlon, thank you for this red lipstick I think I'm in love!

Dear Library, looks like we are going to rekindle our long lost relationship since I just realized that I have midterms in two weeks. 

Dear Dazzles (Don't judge our name), I love you guys, I never would have thought that we would be this close but I'm glad to have you as friends. Our Instagram comment conversations have definitely gotten me through this week <3

Happy Friday Everyone and as always stay FAB <3 

Who's In Your Circle: Fall Back into Blogging Day 5

So as you guys know Kim and I joined the SITS Girls for their Fall Back into Blogging Challenge, and today is the last day. For today's post we were supposed to re-post a post that was published on September 28th of last year. Of course I hadn't written anything this time last year because I was so overwhelmed, so I chose the closest post to this date this time last year.

"Although this past month has been all over the place, I have really learned a lot about myself and those around me. I find that in life you really know who your true friends are when everything is going wrong. I have found, like most people, that everyone is around and is always there when everything in your life is going well, but once things aren't so great it is hard to find your "friends."

I recently had a conversation with one of my childhood friends and when I got off the phone I was speechless. She called me on a week night and said that she wanted to go out, when I told her that I wouldn't be able to make it, she proceeded to tell me that I'm lame and wack amongst other things that were said. So in my mind I'm thinking: what makes me so wack? Honestly, if the pure fact that I am working full-time and going to school full-time is a problem then I'd rather not be around you.

Many times people hold onto friendships and relationships because of the time that they have invested in it. But at what point is it time to let them go? It is crucial to have supportive and understanding people around you, especially those who can understand or relate to what you are experiencing and help pick you up instead of keeping you down. Of course you do not need someone to determine how you are feeling, but other people can definitely influence the decisions you make and how you feel. I am slowly finding my circle of friends becoming smaller and smaller and I am OK with it, not everyone can accompany you on this journey called Life! It might not be the spring but sometimes you have to do some early spring cleaning and evaluate who is in your circle."

Although this post is from last year, I still feel the same way, it's so important to evaluate the relationships and friendships that you have to ensure that you have a strong an positive support system. 

As always thanks for reading, and special thanks to The SITS Girls for this great Blogging Challenge!

Fall Back Into Blogging with @SITSGirls : Favorite Fall Recipe

Today we are linking up with The SITS Girls for their Fall Back into Blogging week, and we have to share our favorite fall recipe.

Unlike most people, I would rather look at pumpkins versus eating them, so my favorite fall recipe is Sweet Potato Pie. Some people argue that it tastes the same, others say that is it is very different. I just know that I love it. It is rich with the sweet potatoes, cinnamon and a nice flaky crust! I immediately think of Thanksgiving time when my Grandmother makes a few of these pies... I don't know how I want to eat them because they are good hot, cold, or room temperature. Sometimes I eat half of the slice cold...and the other half warmed up in the microwave. I don't need whip cream or ice cream either... just give me a healthy slice of this pie.

Now, my grandma's recipe is full fat... I see the cellulite forming in my thighs every time I eat a slice, so I searched high and low for a healthier version and found one on another blog, Skinny Taste. I followed the recipe to a "t" and LOVED IT!

Head on over to Skinny Taste to get the full recipe details! And I promise that you will not be disappointed. 

Remembering my College Days

Today I decided to link up with the SITS Girls and catch the remaining days of their Fall Back Into Blogging Challenge. 

Today is day 3: Writing Prompt

Fall always reminds me of school. I mean that's what happened for so long, after the summer is over and you went on all of your family vacations its time to go "Back to School" shopping. This is always one of my favorite times of year, especially being that I love to shop. So I decided to share some of my memories through pictures.  

I think that its so funny how different I looked each Fall of my college years. When I was taking these pictures you could not tell me that I didn't look TheBomb.com, but looking back sometimes I wonder what made me come up with these outfits. I must say that although I enjoyed every year of college the best year was Freshman year, I was in every fashion show, I met so many great people and most of all it was my first time away from my parents.

I learned a lot from being away from home but the most important thing that I learned is that I could be myself all the time, and that I was capable of accomplishing any and every thing that I put my mind to. I hope you enjoy my pictures, and please promise not to laugh too hard at my corny pictures!

 I promise this is not what I wore on my first day of school. This was actually an 80s party, this was like the best party of my life. It was after a student organization event, the music was great, and we had so much fun!

This was sophomore year, after just moving into my new dorm with my BFF. We had a blast together as you can tell from all of the random things on my desk it took a while for me to get settled in, at least a week or two (please don't judge me).

Welcome to my junior year. I was in every fashion show EVERY year so I decided that my junior year would be the last year of participating in fashion shows, because I never got the chance to actually sit in the audience and enjoy the show. So this was one of my last fashion show outfits. I definitely miss these days.

Hello Senior Year, I was too excited to be graduating but I knew I was going to miss college so much. I was always very active in many student organizations but when senior year came I made sure that I didn't miss an event, I wanted to make the most of my time. As you can tell I was experimenting with my hair again, and this was my Wendy Williams meets Diana Ross hair! 

What I wouldn't give to go back to college, when it seemed as though there was never a care in the world. I miss my afternoon naps, and long study nights in the 24 hour room. I can truly say that I enjoyed my college experience and if I could do it all over again I would in a heartbeat and I wouldn't change anything about it.