The Start to my Healthier Lifestyle

One of the goals I have for my 2014 year is to loose weight. I gained so much weight and with all the upcoming events I don’t want to cringe at the sight or thought of a camera flashing and showing my unattractive fat areas.

So to start the year off right I took the plunge and signed up for the gym! Yep, I’m a card holding member at Anytime fitness. I choose this gym because my mom is a member and we can work out together when I’m in town with her, it’s small enough but big enough to get everything I need done, and also it’s between my house and work place so I can’t use the excuses it’s to far. Plus the fact that it's open anytime of the day it a plus too!!!

So far I’ve got into a pattern of doing a cardio workout plan ( 1 mile on treadmill and 2.5 on the elliptical) and also doing core ad training (leg press, crunches, squats, lunges, v-cups, and bicycle crunches along with various machines in the gym). It’s been a struggle some days but the bet that my boyfriend and I have is motivation and also knowing that I’m starting to train myself to live a better, healthier life is a plus.

Along with a work out plan, I’m also eating healthier. I hate eating the same thing over and over again, so planning a weeks worth of clean meals in hard. But I’ve found that if I have a salad and switch between a vinegar/oil dressings to a light cup of ranch I’m pretty good. Also, started making fruit smoothies…which have been pretty good. I’m just not a fan of thick smoothies so I let it sit for a while to melt a little.

So in an effort to promote a healthier lifestyle I’m showcasing a few of my meals and smoothie choices and my “healthy” grocery list.

Grocery List:

• Special K
• Almond (unsweetned) milk
• Apples
• Strawberries
• Bananas
• Oranges
• Bell Peppers
• Onions
• Squash
• Cucumber
• Garlic
• Spinach
• Beef Tenderlion
• Salmon
• Shrimp
• Greek Yogurt
• Egg Whites

Meal Options:

Option 1:

• Seasoned fish
• Corn (canned, drained)
• Spinach Salad
• Oil and Vinegar Dressing

Option 2:

• Pork Tenderlion with Sauteed Peppers and Onions
• Spinach salad with side of Light Ranch
• Broiled squash with sea salt andlight extra virgin olive oil

Option 3:

• Egg white omelet with veggies (peppers, mushrooms, onions)
• Wheat Toast
• Fruit

***I'm a huge fan of breakfast for dinner!

Smoothies:

Smoothies consist of five major areas:

1. Fruit
2. Base
3. Thickening
4. Flavor Up
5. Power Boost (optional)

I’ve been following this now I’m just perfecting and looking for a power boost that doesn’t leave a bitter after taste.

The good news I’ve lost 3 pounds and 2 inches…it’s only been two weeks and I’m excited and proud of the results so far.

Within the next few months, I hope to see and post some result photos.

Ten Closet Must Have

Being that it was extremely cold in South Carolina and I did not want to leave the comfort of my home. I decided to clean and organize my closet(s). As I was organizing them I started to make piles of things that I didn't need and things that I could mix and match.

I got to thinking (and making a list) of the top 10 things everyone woman should have in her closet.

1. Black Blazer-- A nice blazer can dress up any outfit that you choose to wear and it fits any body type. I use to be addicted to blazer's and collected various colors and styles. I would dress them up jeans and screen tee or a nice peachy pink blazer over a LBD (little black dress). Now that I'm in a professional/corporate office, I catch myself wearing them almost everyday. You can't go wrong with having a few blazer in your closet.
   Tip: Make sure it fits you and it accentuates your waist 

2. Multi-Colored T-shirts-- I have tons and tons of t-shirts that I wear (mostly in the summer time). They range from black, white, green, pink, cobalt blue whatever Target has. You can mix and match them with your blazer, shorts, skirts or jeans.

3. Statement Heels-- High heels make your legs look longer, leaner and sexier no matter how we complain of the pain after a few hours walking around with them. Nude colored heels match with just about any pattern or dress color. Silver and gold strappy heels also work well with those shimmery cocktail dresses. I catch myself wearing my nude heels to work more and more.

4. Black Dress Pants/skirt-- There are many reasons to keep a pair of black   pants/skirt in your closet, but the most obvious is that they are slimming. The second benefit is that you can pair them with almost any top depending on the look that you are going for. I also like to have a nice pair tucked in my closet that I can pull out for a meeting or presentation that I'm conducting for work.
Tip: You may want to stay away from dark blues because the dark color doesn't stand out against an already dark color


5. Little Black Dress (LBD)-- Every woman owns a few LBD's, at least I do. They do not necessarily have to little in length it can just be a term that we use from time to time. I have plenty of black dresses that I have worn to weddings, funerals, and/or parties. They are sleek, sensual and always makes you look classy (and skinny). Also when buying a LBD note that you should have one that is special than all the others.

6. Scarves--  Really who doesn't love scarves? I have a small collection of scarves that I love to wear with my blazers, LBD's, jeans and especially long sleeve tees. I think that they give an outfit the finishing touch and they ultimately keep you warm.

7. Cardigan-- Along with a large number of blazers I have a growing collection of cardigans. Caridgans are prefect for cold office and also for those chilly nights out on the town. They can also be used to match up great with a summer dress, blouse, and/or tank top for spring/summer events.
 Tip: also make sure these fit and can be buttoned up 

8. Black Opaque Tights-- In the winter a nice pair of black opaque tights are essential to wear with dresses and the occasional dressy shorts that I tend to wear out for a casual night out. Black tights go with almost anything.

9. A good pair of jeans: Dark blue, straight cut and no holes…please! You need to have basic jeans that fit you well and that will look classy casual if you want wear them with heels. Once you have the classic ones, you can have more fun and get different types and colors.

10. White Button Up-- A simple classic white button can give you that extra push in a professional business setting. These shirts give you distinction and you can wear them with jeans as well. Button up's are fabulous and chic. Recently my mom has been getting me to wear a sweater over my white button on. So far I like it and it keeps me warm.
Tip: Make sure when you choose your white shirt, it is your size. If it is too big it will look like you took it from your boyfriends closet.

Happy Shopping Ladies!!!

Makeup 101: Foundation

The evolution of makeup for African American women has came a long way over the past 3 to 4 years. The art of emphasizing the beauty of black women remained undiscovered for years. 

For me personally it started in 2009, when my roommates all convinced me to try makeup, more than just eyeshadow, mascara and lip gloss.  The process always start with hunting for the right line and the right products, especially foundation, which was a struggle for me. You'll have to do a lot of trial and error, which can be rather costly for some.  With anything that you do you always want to make sure you start with the right Foundation. Most African-American women are blessed with flawless skin tone, if you have been blessed then in some cases you can skin foundation all together. For those of us who are not we should always consider and never forget your skin tone and undertones when choosing the right foundation.

Coverage: You have to decide how much coverage do you want. You can choose sheer, medium and full coverage. Me personally I choose full to cover up dark marks and scares. Sheer are those that little to no blemishes. Medium is when you have some areas that you want to conceal or small flaws you want to hide. Full is for those that have uneven skin tones and/or major flaws that we want to cover up. For those that do not have that much to cover I suggest a BB cream. It gives you just enough coverage and also a glow to your face. 

You want to match your over tone to your complexion, I suggest trying different shades along your jaw line. Let the foundation set it and see if it's too dark and in some cases you can tell instantly that something is too light.

 Texture:  Foundation can be cream, liquid, matte or mineral powder. The most common is liquid, it allows you to modify the coverage (little or more) that you may need.  Matte foundations can absorb oils and ultimately leave the skin uneven with a powered-like finish. The matte tends to work better on dry skin, because it helps moisturize the skin. 

Apply:  [ Note: prior to applying foundation you should apply a primer. This topic will be discussed in a later post. Just know it's beneficial.] For those that choose to have little coverage, you can apply the foundation of your choice (preferably liquid users) with your fingers. For medium or full coverage I suggest a sponge or a brush. Some people choose to start from the top (forehead) and work your way down (to your neck). Or you can do the dot method (dots on the left and right side of your nose, one on your forehead and another on your chin). If you choose to do this method you will need to start from the center and work your way out.

After applying the foundation you will then go into applying your concealer and the remainder of your makeup. I'm pretty sure at some point I will cover all of the steps after apply foundation. If there is a professional on site do not be afraid to ask for help.

New Year.....New Chapter

I have been wanting to do a blog for a while and I have been low-key stalking (no judging) blogs that discuss things that I love....makeup, fashion, jewelry, healthy lifestyles, and everything else women love. I'm self proclaimed baller on a budget. I don't always buy the latest and most expensive stuff, but I make it look good. I have a lot on my plate with school, work and family but I'm hoping to be able to update pretty regular about various things that I find interesting. I figured that since it's a new year, why not start the new year off doing something that I have on my vision board.

I hope that you stick around as I figure my way around doing the blog and also read and provide feedback on various things that are posted.