a latte lipstick

I was so happy and surprised to receive the Liebster Award! Liebster is of German origins and means dearest, sweetest, nicest, beloved, lovely, endearing, etc. I'll take all those words as descriptors any day! I felt so proud to get some recognition from a fabulous blogger, Isobel's Basket. No matter how many times you tell yourself that you don't need others for reassurance, it is definitely nice to be recognized.

11 Facts about Myself:

• Working out makes me feel powerful and ready to take on the day. It's my way to take control and prepare for a busy day ahead.
• I love learning ways to make a typically unhealthy meal more healthy. Alternatives are great ways to enjoy a more naughty meal in a healthy way.
• Shelties are my favorite kind of pup. I will immediately get one once I move to my own house.
• I don't like the idea of taking a lot of medicine and try to fix aches and pains with water.
• New favorite drink to order: Vodka soda with a splash of pineapple.
• Kate Morton is my most adored author, her novels are so surprising and beautifully written.
• BCBG clothes are my brand of choice for work. Nothing is more crisp than a tailored white button up, perfect fitting black pant, and a red heel.
• I have never read the bible front to back and have begun the one year bible to be finished by next Easter.
• My self control levels are pretty impressive in most cases, once I set my mind to a goal or decision I typically always stick with it.
• Drink at least 5 cups of coffee a day, oops.
• I am a born and raised Okie and have never lived anywhere else.

Answers to Isobel:

1. What made you want to start blogging?
   I love writing and love the community that bloggers have created. This was a great outlet to get my passion out on health, fashion, and fitness.
2. What is your favorite food?
   It's a toss up between salmon or dark chocolate
3. Do you have a favorite childhood memory and will you share it?
   My memory has never been too great in my childhood, ha, and it's unfortunate because I know I was so lucky to have the best! But would have to say any day playing imagined games with my older sister. Have to love how creative little kids are in their make believe.
4. What is your favorite film?
   That's too tough. I do love some oldies though, the actresses were so glamorous! Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Doris Day, all the older Bond girls...
5. Where do you most want to travel and why?
   Europe is amazing, I love the culture there! Would definitely love to plan a trip to France soon.
6. What is your favorite book?
   The Distant Hours
7. If you could only choose three make-up products to use for the rest of your life what would they be?
   Foundation, mascara, lipstick
8. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
   Have successfully transformed myself into a morning person! Was no easy feat..
9. What makes you happy?
   I try to find happy in most things. But give me an awesome book and some extra time and I'm there!
10. What is your favorite hot beverage? (e.g. Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, etc.)
    Latte.

I have chosen amazing bloggers that have inspired me in my blog writing! So thankful for you all and proud to be part of this amazing blogging community!

• Annie - Take A Bite Blog
• Kathleen - Peony for Your Thoughts
• Joanne - She Wears Burgundy
• Patsy - Patsy Picks
• Tanya - Laptop and Heels
• Lauren - C'est Lauren
• Hannah- Sweeter than Serenity
• Daisy - Daydreaming
• Scarlett - Official Flower Business
• Kat - Bespectacle
• Danielle - Smitten With Sunday

  My Questions to You:

  1. What is your ultimate goal in life?
  2. If you only could have one more food for the rest of your life what would it be?
  3. What event/who has helped shape you most into the person you are today?
  4. Three words to describe yourself.
  5. What makes you most proud of yourself?
  6. Who is your favorite character from a book?
  7. If you could have a meal with one famous person (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
  8. How would you describe your style?
  9. Favorite form of exercise?
  10. Stripes or Polka Dots?

  Liebester Award Rules:
  Must link back to the blogger who nominated you.
  Give 11 facts about yourself
  Answer the questions of who nominated you
  Nominate other new inspiring bloggers
  Ask them 11 questions
  Display the Liebster Award badge on your post
  Tell the chosen 11 you nominated them

  Thanks again to Isobel, it means a whole lot. Ladies, be sure and comment once you answer so I can come check it out :)

Now that your arms and legs are sore, time to burn some more fat with your favorite - Cardio.

Cardio is a great way to get that heart rate up, sweat poring, and fat melting. Who wouldn't appreciate that? I love the endorphins I feel during a great heart-pumping workout. So here it is for you to enjoy... You will feel powerful and ready to face anything after this one!

Motivational imagery: Victoria Secret...that's all.

Take the LatteFit Challenge - Week 3:: Pure Cardio!

Have a great week you toned goddess!

Some days do you just look at your hair and have no idea where to begin? Finding a good hair product is a daunting task. These products have served as my lifesavers over the past few years.

"Yeah, so he leaves her and marries this simple girl, with straight hair" Sex and the City quotes <3

How do you choose your hair products? I choose mine based upon how well they actually work(duh), and their smell. The smell is very important because you will smell your hair all day! These products usually last longer than my perfume.

My hair needs some kind of creme or gel formula to keep it from frizzin' out since I do not regularly do my hair and just let it dry naturally. Finding a product that doesn't leave my hair crunchy was a definite challenge. I've tried them all. Lo and behold, I found two that I'm quite happy with, finally. (Product 1&3)

One of the reasons I don't do my hair often is so that it stays soft. I love my hair too much to damage it. Who am I kidding? I'm just lazy. Ha. But I do like to protect my hair when I do actually decide to fix it and this product is the best (Product 4).

I'm sure that we all can agree that dry shampoo is a drool-worthy creation. For some women, using dry shampoo one more day can save them almost 1 hour in the morning. Sign me up! This is the ideal dry shampoo (Product 5).

Products
1) Oribe
I use this almost everyday. It's a spray but is very very light, which I love. I can brush my fingers through my hair without my hand getting lost in a tangled mess. The smell is incredible too. Would highly recommend this product!
2) BB
This grooming creme is amazing. It's actually technically for men but I adore it. The creme holds your curl, style, or simply keeps your hair from frizzing. I put it through my damp hair most days.
3) Not Your Mother's
Great product, that's pretty cheap too! It texturizes your hair and separates your curls. There is nothing more unattractive to me then perfect ringlets. Ladies, brush your fingers through your curls! Rest in peace Shirley Temple. Leaves you looking like you came from the beach!
4) Beauty Protector
Best heat protectant spray I have ever had. It leaves your hair soft and smelling amazing. Vanilla, mmmmm.
5) BB
Great dry shampoo! Usually I don't like dry shampoos and feel that my hair quickly looks greasy again. Leaving me reapplying it multiple times a day but this product works like a charm! No need to resprinkle throughout the day!

It's been one of those trying weeks.

A week where you're holding on so tight that you're lusting over the idea of letting go.
A week where you're racing around and around but your list never seems to get shorter.
A week where one tasteful glass of wine is not enough, or two for that matter.

It's weeks like these that you seem to question anything and everything. Questions like... What am I doing with my life? Where is this going? Is this the right thing? the right time? What are you working toward? What are you choosing to spend your life doing? I reflected on my days and broke down my typical must-do schedule.

List of Necessary

• 7.5 Hours of Sleep (this is my goal amount)


• .5 Getting Ready for Bed (trying to get my skincare regimen going)


• 1 Hour of Working Out (for my health and confidence)


• .75 Getting Ready for Work (showering after working out is always good)


• 1 Hour of Driving (until teleporting is available)


• 9.25 Hours of Work


• 1 Hour Random Errands to tend to
• = 21 Hours
  

  This means that I have 3 hours of time that I can purely do what I want to do. And I know, more of that list is going to continue to grow once I add in other elements, like a family.

  Now, this is a terrible way to look at it, and I usually don't look at my life that way. I tend to choose positivity, therefore, I smacked myself over the head after being a Negative Nancy this week. Each hour counts and it is yours to make lovely or terrible.

  Why not enjoy that hour of driving with a great rendition of Rent, work with an attitude of constant learning, pray and relate with Jesus while running less-than-fun errands? Your days are what you make of them.

  So get excited about your days and life! And, if you're feeling particularly run down, remember we all have those days and times. Shake it off and bring it on!

  Motivational Songs:
  

• I Gotta Get Through This


• Happy


• Best Day of my Life

Motivational Verses:

• Joshua 1:9
  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
• Jeremiah 26:14
  As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right.
• Peter 4:10
  God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another… Do it with all the strength and energy God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.

And finally...“Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Romans 12:11

Along with arms, comes the other pair of limbs. You guessed it, those legs. Current inspiration leg wise - Carrie Underwood. Her legs are the perfect toned definition but not stick thin. That girl has some beautiful legs.

I have always been somewhat self conscious of my legs, they are definitely not what I would qualify as lean . But I need to understand mine won't appear as small as I would like because they are muscular - which is good. Although my legs don't qualify as model status, I do appreciate the strength of them. I am a squats goddess, if there ever was such a thing.

One part of my leg that I am confused about are my calves. They are weaklings! I have no idea why my calves are so pathetic, I was a dancer when I was younger and currently work out my legs often. I have started to do three sets of 50 calf raises while standing during the day. Must say that I have seen a quick turn around in strength after only one week. It is also important to stretch them after working them, they get sore easy! Perhaps calves are quick to loose muscle but quick to gain muscle.

When your quads our burning: Think beaches, bikinis, and babes.

Time to hit it ladies - Week 2. Do the leg workout 3-4x this week and see results!

Being from OKC, the Oklahoma City bombing has always been very close to my heart. I was quite young when it occurred but can still feel the impact it left on our city. Next year will be the 20th anniversary.

It showed the resilience of our community and we grew closer together through the tragedy. If you have never gone to the Oklahoma City National Memorial grounds or museum you should definitely take the time to experience it. Trust me, it will make a big impact.

Please take a moment today to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever.

Tragedies like these remind you of how important it is to stop, breathe, and appreciate your life. I know that I get caught up in the little things all the time and need to actively tell myself to reflect on the most important things. Many things simply distract.

Take a moment today to remember.

With the warmer weather coming.. It's time to bronze and brighten! Usually in winter time I go for the fair skin, pink cheeks and neutral color palettes. But Spring is another story! It's about bright colors, sparkle, and fun! Time to shimmer off the winter blues.

Bronzer is a great way to get some added color. But it is important to put it on correctly or you can just end up looking, dirty. It is recommended to go two times darker than your actual shade.

My excitement for spring makeup heightened even more after reading one of my favorite blogs, Cup of Jo . I adored their looks and was inspired to make my own bronzed look.

Bronzer I adore: MAC Skinfinish Natural. This bronzer is great and the perfect shade for my skin tone. Remember, getting the right shade is the key for your best bronzed look.

Shadows I adore: Clinique, Estee Lauder.
Clinique has some great eyeshadow color options for Spring. I loved the combination of all these colors.

Bronzer is not new to me, but adding such playful eyeshadow colors to my more "natural look" is more of a challenge after growing accustomed to the neutral winter. I love colorful inspired makeup but I feel like there is a definite delicate line when it comes down to it. But, it is Springtime so why not add excitement to your makeup?! I say, go for it!

And, with any good makeup you need some lipstick!
Lipstick I adore: Glazed Berry. This color seems to be the perfect shade that is not too loud, but definitely attention worthy!

How to get my Bronzed look:

First start with a clean face. Use your usual concealer. Then, I would recommend a moisturizing not too heavy foundation. I'm currently loving Clinique moisture surge. Now, time to bronze! Apply the bronzer slightly under your cheek bones, not coming too close to the lips. Then around the top of your forehead and bottomish area of your chin. Careful not to apply too heavy! It's almost a '3' shape around your face. Check out what I mean here.

Second comes the eyes, I lined my inner eyes in white liner. Next, the shadow. I brushed the blue on my eyelids to about mid way, then filled the rest with the pink. The metallic shimmer goes under the brow bone and on the corner of the eyes. I also put some of the blue on the corner of my eyes too, added more fun. Next came eye liner, I used a liquid liner and lined the bottom of my eyes.

Third comes the lips, always my favorite! Simply apply!

Total Look List:
Bronzer: Mac - Skinfinish Natural
Lipstick: Clinique - Glazed Berry
Eye Shadow: Clinique - Morning Java(03), Blushed(38), Hazy(23), Jammin(20)/Estee Lauder - Glistening Gold (74)
Foundation: Clinique - Moisture Surge(2)

Life is too short to wear drab makeup!

I have tried the delicious chocolate chip cookie dough greek yogurt that has been all over Pinterest, and adored it. Delicious tasting dessert with less sugar and fat. I'm definitely into that. But like everything in life, there was room for improvement! More chocolate, of course. Now...I have created a masterpiece. A Red Velvet style type of masterpiece.

Ingredients:
.25 tsp Red Food Coloring
.5 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Honey
1 tbsp Chocolate Chips
1 tbsp Chunky Peanut Butter
1 tbsp Cocoa
6 oz Greek Yogurt
Sprinkle Sea Salt

Chunky peanut butter is where it is at, that added crunchy goodness makes all the difference. Also, the added cocoa-y taste makes it even more decadent feeling without the guilt. Although the red dye isn't necessary, it is is highly recommended. It just adds some fun!

Now...enjoy! Post it to Pinterest to spread the love by hovering over the image! :)

Has spring snuck up on you like it has me? Perhaps because OKC saw some snow today? Ha. Nevertheless, it's time to get our bodies toned to perfection! Because you know right after snow comes... sunshine in Oklahoma.

I have created a 6 Week Challenge to get you ready by the time Memorial Day arrives! Lake time requires dazzling bathing suits and confidence!

Each week will focus on one specific muscle group. In total there are 4 strength workouts, and 2 pure cardios. Each week will be a new workout. The workouts will have 3 reps of the included moves, lasting about 25 minutes. Do it 3-4x a week. Remember to warm up and cool down before and after! Take the #LatteFit challenge with me! :)

The first week will start with... Arms!

Is there anything sexier than toned arms? I gotta say no. But I do believe there is a critical happy medium that must be met to achieve the perfect toned arms. Some celebrities arms are way too ripped, but others are just perfect. Think Cameron Diaz vs Lupita Nyong'o. Lupita is my current arm inspiration. Her arms make every dress's cut look flattering!

I want my arms to be toned, but not hulk-like. To achieve this, I try to specifically target my arms a few times a week, combining moves with dumb bell weights and my body weight. It is incredible the strength you can build solely using your own body weight! You don't need to work with heavy weights to get toned arms. Just be sure to keep your form correct throughout the exercise.

Without further ado, here is the first workout of the #LatteFit Challenge. It's a great arm workout that also has a mix of cardio to keep your heart rate up. This is a great workout to do when you don't have too much time but want a results driven work out.

Get your week off to the right start by working those guns!

Sundays are the greatest days. It is a day dedicated to you, enjoy and relax. This Sunday, Colton and I walked around downtown OKC taking in the warm weather, perusing the cute shops, and enjoying delicious treats.

Packards is fairly knew to OKC so we decided to try out their brunch. Can I say delicious?? I enjoyed their baked eggs with bok choy, mushrooms, and garlic. I had them add a sprinkle of parmesan on top and it was an absolute culinary masterpiece. The presentation was beautiful, I loved how they kept it in the cast iron skillet. I could not dig into it any faster.

Delicious bacon wrapped asparagus with pesto to die for drizzled over. The combination of tastes was heavenly.

After consuming the deliciousness, we walked off some of our fullness. I am so happy to see the beautiful flowers and red buds blooming to welcome Springtime. Then, since this is Oklahoma we experienced the most bizarre weather. We got some random sprinkles of rain, then some hail, then some sunshine again, all in about a 3 hour time frame. Yes, spring is here.

Stopped by some cute shops. Check out the crazy clouds behind.

Loved this saying and would love to put it in my office as a daily reminder to enjoy every moment. Would have purchased, but the price tag didn't quite work for me. Possibly think of creating this myself when I get the chance!

Had to end the walk with some yummy coffee from Elemental of course.

Thought the explanations of coffee was interesting and helpful to customers that do not know the differences between coffee types. You cannot imagine how helpful this sign is for the employees.

Hope everyone had a great weekend, and have a great start of your week!

Last night I attended a wonderful event put on by the Alzheimer's Association and many amazing people. Alzheimers disease affects so many, yet there is not much work being done to find the cure and fund the research. More than 5 million people are living with Alzheimers in the United States today, and it is the 6th leading cause of death in the US. See more facts here.We need to begin the discussion on this very emotionally challenging sickness to help work toward discovering the cure. Events like these are great platforms to share personal stories and involve the public on the important cause.

The event was done beautifully and raised quite a hefty amount of money. Their theme "domino effect" was so touching and honest. Giant dominoes covered the large venue with large staggering proportions. The entire room had an almost purple glow around it from all the lights.

Smart move to create these "bid pals" that people received after signing in. Made it very easy to click on a button if you wanted to be entered into a raffle. I think I saw the purchase confirmed button a little too often. At least it was for a good cause I'm reminding myself today.

The assortment of raffled items were drool-worthy: vacations, shopping sprees, and Justin Timberlake tickets.

Some amazing looking decadent desserts. Unfortunately I could not consume them...9 more days! I'm sure the people at my table were tired of me eyeing their sweet treats jealously.

Colton and I after dinner.

Having some fun getting photographed! Towards the end of the night...

Beautiful poem by Owen Darnell::

Do not ask me to remember
Don’t try to make me understand
Let me rest and know you’re with me
Kiss my cheek and hold my hand
I’m confused beyond your concept
I am sad and sick and lost
All I know is that I need you
To be with me at all costs
Please do not lose your patience with me
Do not scold me or curse or cry
I can’t help the way I’m acting
I can’t be different though I try
Just remember that I need you
And that the best of me is gone
Please don’t fail to stand beside me
And love me until my life is done

Spread Awareness...

What would a world be like without coffee? I simply cannot imagine it. I refuse to believe there was a time when people did not have coffee. How would anyone do anything?

Caffeine runs the world if you ask me, specifically coffee. It gives you energy and encouragement to get through the many tasks set before you each day. There is comfort in waking up each morning knowing your next step — strong coffee. Next comes all the rest, but for that glorious fifteen minutes you are alone with a steaming mug of happiness.

I even have an obsession with coffee mugs. My collection is growing constantly and quite quickly to be honest. I am going to begin collecting mugs from everywhere I visit. Eventually, my life story will be able to be told with coffee mugs.

I love the way that people have stored them and used them as a way to decorate their house. I love each of my mugs and I don't like having to stuff them all into a cupboard instead of displaying them. Thanking pinners once again for showing me such creativity and innovation!

5 Reasons to Drink Coffee:

1. It gets you out of bed in the morning
I don't understand the people that don't drink coffee. Who doesn't need coffee? Over achievers.
2. Gives you a necessary breather
Whenever things are crazy at home, in the work place, or even your mind, that moment to relax and brew a cup of coffee means everything!
3. Brings friends/families together
My dad and I bond over our love for coffee at all times of the day. In high school when I would come home for lunch we would always brew up another batch.
4. Health benefits
There are multiple health benefits for drinking coffee... Look it up.
5. Warms you up
I'm cold all of the time but putting my hands around a warm cup can warm me up in no time!

Take that breather with a steaming cup!

Unfortunately, I am not made of money. Therefore, I have to ask myself this question often when my willpower weakens to a shopping craving that I can't shake. Quality or quantity?

Sometimes I fall captive to quantity in my unstable moments, but usually I always choose quality. Sure, one item is not as exciting as a full blown shopping spree but in the long run...so worth it.

Every time that I buy a cheap item I love it... for an evening. I rock it and feel great wearing something new, but not for long. Usually cheap fabrics/materials only hold up well for 3 wears before that once soft to the touch fabric transforms into a bally mess.

Not only do they deteriorate in appeal after a couple wears, cheap clothes generally don't fit as well! You can tell when an item was made with a woman's body in mind versus a poorly made item that doesn't properly fit anyones' body. The waist points should not hit your hips!

Sometimes that cheap Forever 21 blazer looks just as nice as the higher marked BCBG blazer but, it's not. You could probably get a few good uses out of the cheap blazer before it gives that wilted look. That is not worth it, woman! Quality in fit and material is important to being your best polished self!...Because that button holding on by a thread is not cute.

Quantity::Forever21	Quality::BCBG

Every time that cheap and cute item calls out to you as your walking through Target with groceries, remember that. Yes, I am scolding myself too.

Paying more for an item that you will wear for a long time is always worth it in the long run. I want to feel that nice fabric brushing against my skin when I'm racing around at work. Not that cheap scratchy item that leaves me wanting to rip off all my clothes the moment I enter my house.

Meaning that, with the decision I have chosen, I do not get to buy as much as I would like to. It is important that I am reasonable in all my purchases. However, instead of purchasing those classic black pumps every 4 months it will be every 3 years, looking at you Jimmy Choo.

Who doesn't love a good margarita? No one. But it always is a little discouraging when you order one knowing that you are consuming about 500 or more calories in a single drink. Not to mention how overly sweet some can be! It's easy to enjoy for a bit, but then leaves you questioning if it was worth that many empty calories. Therefore, I usually go with a glass of wine or vodka water instead, but then I am missing out on one of the funnest most Summery drinks ever! Some days, you just need a margarita. Am I right??

So I came up with a great solution! Get ready for the best margarita, not too much effort, and few calories! 130 each to be exact. There are also only 5 ingredients and it's definitely much cheaper. Ideal! It has the perfect amount of sweetness and tartness.

Ingredients (Per Serving)
1.5 Ounces Fresh Orange Juice
1.5 Ounces Fresh Lime Juice
1 Tsp Agave Nectar
2 Ounces Silver Tequila
Salt to rim glass

Squeeze the oranges and limes. The fruit press worked really well! But squeezing them will work too if you are found in a tough situation without a presser.

What time is it? Margarita time!

Add tequila and nectar. Shake. Shake. Shake.

Always enjoy on a patio!

Cheers to the Weekend! What are your plans?

Went to Dallas this weekend to visit my besties who have unfortunately chosen to relocate there. However, their location in Dallas definitely has some perks. Always offers me a great excuse to get some shopping in, brunch with the experienced Dallas brunchers, enjoy a Sprinkles cupcake, and check out a plethora of ranging bar scenes. Besides of course just getting to be in their great company...

Dallas is the perfect amount of distance to bring me that weekend getaway feeling, without driving for hours. I must say how much I enjoy the city ambiance! Arriving back to our small sky line was somewhat discouraging but OKC is growing! It is exciting to get to watch it transform and to be a part of it.

I was so happy to finally meet Samantha's pup named Grace. Sweetest puppy ever, she definitely reinforced my growing desire to get a puppy. If she can have one in an apartment in Dallas, I surely should be able to have one in my house with a large yard! Also, her apartment was of course impeccably clean and beautiful! You would have thought she'd been settled there forever. My poor room dulls in comparison. Ha.

I also adore all their outdoor bars. Summer beer, benches, beautiful weather, and my babes made for a great Saturday. Dallas' range in bars is jealous worthy, I love that there are normal bars, dance clubs, outdoor bars, etc.

Also, who doesn't enjoy some fiesta music? I may or may not have joined him in dance as the night progressed! :)

Absolutely obsessed with Breadwinners for brunch. I'm convinced that if a Breadwinners opened up in OKC I would be 5 pounds heavier and much much poorer. Their mimosas coming in at $10! Yikes! But who can go to brunch with their friends and resist the pulpy goodness after a night out?

Really appreciated all my fabulous friends and their city. Made for a great weekend but a terribly sleepy beginning of the week. Totally worth it!