a latte lipstick

Pesto is one of my ultimate favorites. You can put pesto on just about anything to add some delicious flavor. It can be a great appetizer before a dinner party, you can serve the pesto to dip crackers or veggies into. Or, pour over pasta for a garlicky yummy pesto pasta.

Some items are more difficult to justify spending money on than others but thanks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you can purchase those items for a lower price and clearer concious! Buy some great presents before the holiday panic rush sets in. Great gifts for the fitness fanatics, beauty divas, homemakers, and the shoe obsessed.


Below are some deals that I'm especially excited about for myself and for my friends.

Beauty Products

Sephora - $10 beauty deals.
Ulta - Specific deals to check out.
Urban Decay - Specific deals to check out.

This mini mascara is perfect for traveling or throwing into your purse when you're running late!
Chi products on sale, be sure to keep your hair protected with heat spray.
Eye shadow to use for your holiday parties! You can create great smoky eyes with this palette.

Workout Gear

Athleta - 20% off and free shipping over $50.
Alo Yoga - Special deals based off what you spend.
Splits 59 - 35% off.

Love these geometric workout pants. Would be too cute with any simple black workout top.
This draped back tank is awesome, it would really make me work my back out more!
Hoodies are great to throw on after a especially sweaty workout when it's chilly outside.

House Decor

Anthropologie - 25% off.
West Elm - Up to 25% off.
Moon and Lola - 25% off sitewide.

My obsession with cute coffee mugs is a little out of hand, this one will definitely have to be a present for myself!
These cute dog plates would be great for hosting appetizers or desserts!
Majestic antlers to hang in your bedroom, could be used for jewelry too.

Shoes 

Dolce Vita - Up to 60% off.
Nine West - Specific deals to check out.
Kate Spade - 25% off sitewide.

These holiday flats are too cute! Pop and Fizz..
Brown over the knee boots go with anything.
Love short booties with a little bit of a heel, perfect for running around in style! Or these leopard flats.

Which deal are you looking forward to? Happy shopping!

This time of year is full of millions of gatherings, dinner parties and celebrations! Meaning - tons of heavy dishes, creamy pies, and sugary cocktails! It's the most wonderful time of the year and not the time to be worried about your weight! However no one wants to gain 10 pounds at the start of a new year.






Choose one treat that you will eat before the party. If you simply can't resist the cheese tray, skip the pie. Life is about choices, don't deprive yourself of all treats. That's too unrealistic!

After enjoying your guilty treat, apply the perfect lipstick, lipliner and all. After all that work, you won't want to ruin the perfect pout!

Carry an adorable clutch. Whenever you carry a clutch, you only have one other vacant hand. This hand will be needed for holding champagne (you can't skip it all!) hugging on your friends, and snuggling with a sweetheart.

Alcohol, water, alcohol, water. Now I sound like my parents, but they're right (as parents tend to be.) Slow down on the alcohol, definitely enjoy the beverages but switch between water and alcohol. This will keep the calories down, and keep you less fuzzy :)

Do you have any other tricks to outsmart weight gain this holiday party season? 

Many people say how busy they are. Ask almost anyone, are you busy? The resounding answer is yes. Especially during the holiday season! 

Not to mention how being "busy" can truly harm your success. How can you truly devote yourself to a mission if you are busy doing too many tasks without focus? You can't possibly be committed to one hundred tasks. Also, when you are moving that fast there is no time for proper reflection. Are those hundred of tasks being done efficiently and correctly?

This morning I had a surprising realization that I unintentionally didn't consume any meat all week long! I didn't feel deprived in any way and didn't necessarily miss the meat. Thinking back on my week, I was anything but protein deprived! My meals consisted of quinoa, beans, nuts, seeds, protein powder, and eggs.

Throughout the past few months I have slowly started cutting back on meat. By no means am I saying I'm going vegan/vegetarian or cutting it out completely but I do think it's good to not over-do it on the animal protein. Especially since there are so many other great alternatives!

Frosty mornings and chilly nights mean it's time to pull out those boots! It can be overwhelming to decide which type of boots you should buy and which aren't quite as necessary. If you aren't careful you could easily end up with hundreds of pairs of boots! This obviously wouldn't be a bad thing if your wallet allows, but if it doesn't...it's important to know which boots to invest in. Having both casual boots and dressier boots is key. Neutral colors like brown and black is always a safe call.

Purchasing good quality boots over cheapy boots will serve you better long-term. Be sure and spray your boots with water protectant spray before use! Think of this spray as a coat for your boots to keep them dry. Keep your leather boots scuff-free by using baking soda. Dip a damp cloth in baking soda and apply to scuff marks. Splurge on these 6 different types of boots this winter and care for them properly...

Are you one of those lucky people who can go to bed quickly, or is it a challenge?

There is nothing worse than waking up and not being able to go back to sleep. The trick is to stay calm and relaxed. A full fledged freak out won't help matters. I have some tried and true tips to get you snoring and keep you snoring.

You know that one person, the one that irks you so badly about that one thing? Kickboxing is the answer! You can punch, kick or pummel without repercussions.

Kickboxing is a great form of exercise. You can burn massive amounts of calories, improve endurance and increase strength all by throwing some punches and kicks! Over 500 calories can be burned in one hour of kickboxing. KaPOW! Kickboxing works your legs, booties, core and arms. It's a full body workout that will leave you out of breath and feeling awesome!

Friendsgiving is one of the best holidays. Not only does it give you an excuse to hang out with sweet friends, but also to enjoy Thanksgiving food not once, but twice a year! We were so lucky to get to make it into a weekend getaway at my sweet friend Haley's lake house at Tenkiller. Check her out on her blog.

Full weekend of puzzling, DIY-ing (which I happily watched), talking, playing cards, good food and having more than enough laughs.

We bundled up and explored the area. Beautiful changing leaves surrounded us like a fall hug. Little did we know the next day the trees would be covered in snow. Oklahoma keeps us guessing!

What a week it has been so far! I had an awesome shoot for a client exploring the beautiful state of Oklahoma. The breathtaking sights and inspiring Oklahoma talent made for a great shoot!

Can you believe it's November?

In Oklahoma, seasons fly by quickly if you don't watch out for them and actively appreciate them. One day it's beautiful and sunny, while the next day is a snow hazard. Really challenges the cleaning out the closet situation. Don't pack up those shorts until after mid - December! Ha.

Fall is one of my favorite seasons and it always ends too suddenly! Before it gets too cold, bid farewell to Fall properly by participating in an assortment of "fally" activities. How many can you do before the first snow falls?

Crunch in the leaves in boots. Enjoy hot chocolate. Make a fall wreath. Wear dark sassy coffee lipstick. Make homemade chicken noodle soup. Throw a bonfire party. Get tipsy on Wassail. Snuggle with one hundred blankets and your favorite mystery novel. Roast pumpkin seeds. Buy awesome boots. Take a chilly walk under the changing color of leaves.

Soups are easy to make in bulk to enjoy multiple times a week. What I love about soup is that they don't give that leftover feel. I always reheat it on the stove and it makes it feel "new." And yes, I know I need to get over this ridiculous notion but for now I'm still a baby about leftovers.

This is the perfect light, but delicious fall soup. Very easy to make too!

Canelli Tomato Soup Ingredients:

Canelli Tomato Soup Recipe:

What kind of soup do you like to make for Fall?

Do you have basic understanding of your pH balance? If you are like my recent self, you don't. However, it's super important for your health so gain some general understanding about pH balance and how it affects your body. I'm happy I did!

Your pH balance is based on a scale of 0 to 14. A neutral pH balance is 7.0. Above 7.0 is alkaline, below 7.0 is acidic. Oxygen levels in food increases as the acidity decreases. Oxygen is a good thing, to be clear. The more oxygen you provide your body, the happier and healthier your cells can be.

So why should you care?

Can you believe it's November? The month of turkey, crisp air, family and no shave November for the boys, and some lazy girls. ;)

October passed by in a blur and it's time to get even closer to the season full of Holiday Cheer. I spotted my first christmas tree in a store window today, a little early one might say. I scoffed at it, but secretly enjoyed the first sight of the festive Christmas spirit.



Here are some interesting links I have run across to share with you this month.



Has Starbucks lost its cool factor? I know that I'm still a pretty loyal customer. Just taking a peek at thousands of fashion bloggers you can quickly see that Starbucks cups are still an essential accessory for Fall.

How the most successful people avoid burnout. This is an interesting useful article! Tips from successful leaders who are "on" 100% of the time.

7 interesting facts on the pill. The pill was marketed as a fertility drug, then as a PMS drug before it was allowed by the FDA.

Preparing for a long run? Load up on the carbs the right way.

Give feedback to people the right way. People are quite sensitive and all react differently, it's all about how you say it!

Whether we do social media for our personal brand, or a client, it's important to think of posts from every angle. However mistakes do happen. Check out how to correct a social media blunder.

Enjoyed reading Skinny Bitch. Love their tone, too fun...and harsh! But sometimes you have to be if you want to be a Skinny Bitch. :)

Have you run across any interesting articles lately?