a latte lipstick

New Years Eve should be brought in with a dramatic fashion look that sparkles and shines. I don't care if no one else is dressing up where you will be dancing the night away, you do!! What other night can you pull off huge bows, feathers, glitter and fur?

The New Year should be brought in with some bold colors and fun textures. This year the golden color has really stuck out to me. It's an attention getting color that pairs great with neutrals and sparkle. Textures like the polka dot leggings, bejeweled skirt, and rough leather will make a statement. And I want you to make a BIG statement this NYE because 2015 is going to be your year!


These pieces really say "Bring it on 2015!" And don't just bring it with your accessories and your outfit, let's glam up our makeup, nails and hair. OPI never fails to impress with their signature or sassy colors, try this classic red or fun glittery gold. Fake eyelashes? Yes, please.

Furs just have a way of making you feel glamorous, and who doesn't want that? You can add a touch of dazzle to any outfit by adding fur. Leggings, black long tee, and fur vest, a perfect combo this winter. And who doesn't want some leather gloves with a fur trim? Glamour at its finest.

I remember perfectly when I was younger and my mother would wear her gorgeous minx full length fur coat, I would always beg to try it on. Let's be honest, I did last week too, but it's still such a staple piece and good furs last forever! I always said by the age of 25 I would buy myself one. Why did 25 seem old? We will have to change that to at least 30...

BCBG

Ecru

Linda Richards

My obsession with fur vests has gotten a little out of control. I adore these three fur vests. The BCBG is a soft faux shearling that could easily be thrown over a basic tee with jeans or leggings. Ecru vest is rabbit and so very soft to the touch! The Linda Richards is Marsala, which will be the it color in 2015! Which is your favorite?

All found at R Meyers.

And no, we aren't making cookies. This is actually to put on your face! The combination of these three above ingredients create an amazing natural skin product. It balances, exfoliates, and cleanses your skin without any yucky chemicals.

Raw honey is great for your skin. It has the pH of 4.5, ranging within your bodies healthy pH balance. Honey can balance your skin tone, brighten complexion and reduce acne scars.

Coconut oil puts babies' skin to shame! After using it, your skin is suuuuper soft! It also has an antioxidant property that fights off free radicals that your skin deals with each and every day. Fight back!

Sugar is a great exfoliant to the skin. Not to mention it is a natural humectant. Meaning, it draws moisture from the environment into your skin.

Don't be alarmed by the strange drippy texture. It's honey, what did you expect?




Simply mix the three ingredients together. The mixture should be stirred well and look cloudy. **Warning, try not to smell it or you will want to eat it instead!

Apply the mixture to your face and leave on around 5 minutes. After 5 minutes gently massage into skin and then rinse with warm water. Pat face dry. It's difficult to keep your hands off your face after doing this scrub/mask, it's soft as a baby's booty!

And there you have it, the easiest and most convenient face scrub/mask you will ever make!

What other interesting products do you use in your beauty routine?

December is a whirlwind month and passes way too quickly. Getting into the holiday spirit is quite difficult when you are still busy in your normal routine. Therefore, it's important to slow down and truly enjoy all those special moments, like holiday gatherings, baking, celebrations, and Christmas decorations.

My father is a health freak, ahem, health nut. Since I was a kid he has jokingly, but not, said "Sugar is poison" followed by me rolling my eyes. However, the more I research sugar, the more the statement rings true. Sugar is extremely addictive and many doctors, nutritionists, etc. believe that sugar is what causes obesity, not fat.

Generally, I eat really healthy but when it comes to sweets, I go a little overboard. It's the one thing that I don't feel like I have complete control over, which I hate. I have done fruit/vegetable cleanses, and cut out gluten, but ten days "without" sugar was the most difficult! Quotes because I was very very lenient and plan to try it again and be more prepared. Sugar is a sneaky beast.

So about my lenient sugar-free challenge for ten days... Guys, it was hard, and I wasn't even hardcore. Clearly proving that I am addicted to sugar. I don't feel bad about it though because it is in everything!

Source

Many items that I eat are packed with sugar. Read the labels ladies, sugar is easy to be hidden in the ingredients. Starting off, I looked into products I regularly eat to see if they have sugar. I was unhappy to find that nearly everything I eat that's "healthy" has at least 6 grams of sugar in it. Don't even get me started on protein bars and powders. 21 G in Clif Bars, 23 G in Power Bars, 15 G in Special K Protein Bars...Yikes!

It has been awhile since I have created a workout and thought it was fitting to create one for the holiday season. Holidays are the time to indulge in some treats, but might as well try to negate some of those delectable desserts with a booty kicking Tabata workout. It's all about the balance during the busy season!

Tabata workouts are cardio intense and the perfect workout to do when you may not have a long time. These workouts can quickly be modified to fit the time that you have to get in a workout. Traditionally, Tabata has 8 rounds.

This high intensity interval training is sure to give you results. The structure of Tabata consists of 20 seconds of hard work and 10 second rest (20:10 ratio) in four-minute sets of one move. This interval training improves your endurance and keeps the metabolism revved!


This particular Tabata workout pairs two moves to alternate between for the four-minute round. Spend two minutes on each move with the 20:10 ratio. After complete first round, move on to the next. Trust me you will be a sweaty mess after only one round! Then, repeat, time and body permitting of course.

This post is for all my teacher friends out there who have homemade lunches everyday or, for those sweet mommas who make packed lunches for their kiddos. Make it even more sweet by providing more nutritional benefits!

Have no idea what to buy for the fitness fanatic in your life? Here are some great options for those enthused workout friends!

What motivates you, pushes you, and inspires you to work your body, eat right and live healthy? It is so important to have some motivation to keep you going each day. Do you have a body crush? I sure do, lots of them. Get one.

Time is something that we all don't have enough of so try to get your body moving at every opportunity. Fit in a workout, no matter if it is for 30 minutes or 30 seconds throughout the day.

Each season I take inventory of my closet. This allows me to really see what my closet is full of and what it is lacking for the upcoming weather. Doing this prevents me from aimlessly shopping around and picking out clothes or shoes that I don't need just because It's Winter Now! I'm sure I need it... If I do that, I end up with one hundred pairs of cozy leggings and absolutely no tops to go with it. Awkward.

Shop for all the essentials first. Essentials I would recommend:

These are all good neutral pieces to have for winter. It's easy to make multiple different outfits by mixing and matching these neutral pieces. Then, you can go crazy with the accessories to make a completely different look. Buying these essentials will help you save money, while still looking fresh with fun jewelry, scarves, or shoes!

Energy is one of our most important resources, something that we cannot spare. It's what keeps us moving in our daily activities, keeps us creating goals, and keeps us reaching them. The thing is, this is no secret. Yet, you (and me, I'm not playing the blame game here) are not letting yourself keep and maintain your optimal energy levels because your are feeding yourself bad foods, not getting enough sleep, and ultimately depleting all your energy.

 As Kimberely Snyeder(whom I adore) says in her book The Beauty Detox Foods,
Energy is what keeps your machine(body) running as it is supposed to. Without it, it won't work properly. Energy is in charge of flushing toxic waste out of your body, recreating tissues, and maintaining your ideal weight. Also, it keeps your skin glowing, your hair flowing, and your body going. Oh yeah, I'm so hyped on energy I just made a rhyme about it.

One of the major culprits of energy is...Digestion. Of all things I want my body to do, digestion steals most of my energy. The answer? Eating easily digestible foods. Our bodies were not created to digest complex proteins and chemicals. By choosing to change your diet to non-complex foods, you can conserve your energy to do other beneficial things, like creating beautiful dewy skin and long hair.

 Easily Digestible Foods:

• Vegetables
• Sauerkraut - also aids in digestion of other difficult foods
• Brown Rice
• Oatmeal
• Fish





Difficult Digestible Foods:



• Animal Protein
• Dairy
• Fried Food
• Hot Peppers




Animal protein has a very complex protein chain, making it difficult for your body to break down and digest. Steer clear when you can! I'm not going to be able to cut it out completely, but am going to try to reduce my intake to 2-3 times a week. Looking at you, quinoa and beans.



What's your secret to lasting energy?