a latte lipstick: February 2015

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Magical Coconut Oil and Scrub

What does your perfect solo night look like? Most often I prefer spending my free time with loved ones but every once in awhile it's blissful to be alone and do whatever you may feel like. Feel like dancing around for 5 minutes sporadically, then piling pillows and blankets all around you the next second? Anything is acceptable.

This Friday night I set a date with myself. I enjoyed a great workout, and helped teach body pump! I'm working my way to teaching a whole class and can't wait!

After my grueling sweat sesh I made some delicious quinoa chili and sat down to watch some Modern Family and sip some wine. After a couple Modern Family episodes and wine, the magic of nothing to do settled in and I was so relaxed. Best feeling ever. So as usual I started getting crazy ideas around this point.

My current love for coconut oil began overtaking my thoughts. Before I knew it my hair was dripping in coconut oil. Any greaser would have invited me into their club.

I left the oil in my hair for about thirty minutes. It was the perfect conditioning mask for my hair. All this crazy weather hadn't been kind to my hair.

After it was in my hair making it feel so soft, I began to want it all over my skin immediately. Leading me to recreate this delicious scrub I had enjoyed previously as a homemade gift. The recipe couldn't be any easier.

Coconut Oil Scrub

1/2 C Coconut Oil

1 Tsp Coffee Grinds

1 Tbsp Sugar

The sugar exfoliates your skin while the oil perfectly hydrates. Coffee is full of antioxidants and prevents premature aging. The caffeine in the coffee is good for your skin. Enjoyed a relaxing bath covering myself in this coconut oil scrub. And might I say, my skin is the softest skin ever for winter!

Next, I wanted to eat it. Do people just eat coconut oil? Luckily I was able to get my coconut oil love under wraps before spooning it into my mouth. I love the smell of coconut oil and pretended like it wasn't snowing outside and that I was in the Caribbean sipping a Pina Colada. A girl can dream.

My relaxing, no agenda, night was fabulous. What does your solo night look like?

Thursday, February 26, 2015

20 Minute Body Weight Workout

Try this no nonsense 20 minute body weight workout. It works your entire body - chest, glutes, legs, core, arms.

Do each exercise for the allotted amount of reps and then move onto the next move. Try to get through it as many times as you can before the timer goes off! Challenge yourself each time that you go through it.

Kick and Lunge

Kick leg forward at 90 degrees then step back and lunge. Be sure that you keep your core tight for balance.

Inch worm push ups

Start in standing position then bend forward walking your hands out into plank. Push up once in plank. Then walk your hands back to your feet and stand up. Squeeze your glutes at the top for some extra booty work.

Squat jumps

Go deep into a squat position then push off your feet into the air. This move is sure to keep your heart rate up the entire workout.

No matter how many times I incorporate squat jumps into my weekly workouts, they still are so hard!

I love this workout because all you need is yourself, you can do it anywhere! I really do like working out with weights but all you really need sometimes is your own weight! If the weight is too heavy, then you can always modify (or be encouraged to make a change.)

Do you prefer working out with weights or body weight?

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Lemon Chicken Pesto Pasta

Pesto has to be one of my favorite flavors to add to chicken or pasta. It can drastically improve and enhance any bland dish. Add a hint of pesto, and Bam! the dish goes from boring to brilliant in less than a minute.

This pasta dish was easy to make and packed with delicious flavor! I added some chopped walnuts in with the chicken to include a hint of nuttiness. I was lazy buying the pesto, rather than actually making it, but it still tasted delicious.

Lovera's pesto is one of my absolute favorites if I am not making it myself.

Sprinkled a generous amount of Parmesan over the warm pasta.

And no pasta dish is complete without freshly baked bread and oil. Wish I could give up this habit but I loveeee bread too much! Sometimes you just have to live it up like that :)

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp Pesto

1 Lemon

1/4 C Chopped Walnuts

Pasta

Chicken

Parmesan

S & P

Directions:

Begin boiling water for the pasta.
Sautee garlic then add chicken.
Once chicken is almost cooked, add in the walnuts and pesto.

Mix cooked pasta, chicken, and stir in a hint more of the pesto.
Squeeze in lemon for a perfect amount of zest.

Happy eating!

What is your favorite healthy-ish pasta dish?

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Bundled Up in February and Link Up!

Is it as cold as it is there as it is here? Below freezing in mid February seems quite unfair to me! I was hoping to get to start wearing spring clothes soon, but it looks like it's still time to be bundled up! The flippy skirts and crop tops will have to wait.

Some of my favorite warm things right now to get me through this harsh weather!:

BCBG Puffer Coat I needed this coat! Puffers seemed to be everywhere this winter. They haunted me until I finally purchased on!

This amazing Silk Scarf. It's such a classic and can be worn almost every day!

This Sequin sweater. I mean come on, it's perfect! I love adding glamour to a cozy look.

So excited to be linking up with Pumps and Push Ups! Add your link below :)

oh, hey girl link-up

Link-Up ‘Rules’

1. Follow our blogs on blog lovin.
2. Link back to our sites from your post!

An InLinkz Link-up

Monday, February 16, 2015

Becoming a Body Pump Instructor

After a long weekend of lifting, sweating, dying, and loving every second of it, I'm super excited to announce that I am going to be a Body Pump instructor! I will be able to start teaching classes now! This is the first step, next I will need to submit a video for final assessment. Eeek!

This weekend was filled with inspiring people and amazing stories. It was really special to hear all of our differing reasons for wanting to become an instructor. They were all so different but we all had the same end goal, to inspire and change people's lives through fitness. One class at a time, you can begin to push past mental or physical weakness.

The body pump challenge was one of my favorite parts of the weekend. I don't think I have ever pushed myself so hard. There were moments where I didn't think I could do it, but I fought through it and truly amazed myself. We discussed how all the blocks you make for yourself are not the truth, you are capable of so much more. Don't let your mind be in the way of your goals.

I was reminded how you are never "finished" with fitness, there is always room for improvement - one more mile, one more weight, one more challenge. But isn't that the fun part?!

I simply cannot wait to begin my journey as a Body Pump instructor and inspire someone to reach their goals and change their life for the better. If you're in the OKC area come take a class at Golds Gym!

This is my happy place.

So proud to join the Les Mills One Tribe! Our goal is to make the world a fitter planet! Sound kind of difficult? You bet! But we are fitness lovers, so we are always up for the challenge!

Brannon Gilliam was our trainer this weekend and he was so awesome! Inspiring is an understatement. He was the perfect combo of pushing and encouraging you. I hope to grow to be an instructor that can do both! Scream at you, while you still know that I am on your side :)

Thinking about becoming an instructor and have questions? Comment below!

What kind of instructor do you like best? Fierce, fun, nurturing, scary?

Friday, February 13, 2015

Chocolate and Champagne Celebrations

via

Who is ready for Valentines Day? No matter if it's spent with your plus one, or with your best friends, it's all about the love, y'all!

The last few Valentines Days Colton and I have celebrated by cooking a delicious meal at home and then choosing a special restaurant to go to after Valentines Day to miss the crowd.

I'm drooling looking over this chocolate fondue from last Valentines Day. Will definitely need this to happen again this year! Anything dipped in chocolate gets a thumbs up!

The musts for Valentines Day, no matter your current love situation, is chocolate, champagne, flowers, and pretty lingerie.

I love wearing glamorous sparkly pieces on Valentine's Day. Diane Von Fursteberg recently launched her costume jewelry collection. Is it acceptable to spend all my savings and buy every piece? Wait, who am I kidding, it would only buy a couple pieces. However they are gorgeous!! Valentines Day calls for a little extra somethin' that sparkles. Adore this gold blingy ring and this sweet pink necklace.

"Jewelry is so sensual. It's a punctuation mark on your look. I have a huge collection; it makes me feel glamorous and powerful." - DVF

What will you be wearing to celebrate? Feminine, Sexy, Glam, Pink, Bright Red?

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

6 Useful Practices To Fight That Craving

Cravings are my least favorite. They are so unfair, hard to fight and come at the most inappropriate times! No Stomach, you do not need chocolate cake at 9 p.m.

Here are some useful practices that I have found helpful to resist these persistent cravings, fight them and take control.

As important to remember, when you slip don't go full fledge freak out, just get back on track. We all give in sometimes and it's important to not dwell on it. If you dwell, you tend to keep making mistakes. Love yourself, don't be hateful.

Workout. Working out kills the urge and gets your head back in the game. Even if you go for a shorter time. Once your heart rate is up you feel powerful and strong and don't want to give in. Try this 20 minute workout.

Sleep. Getting enough sleep is crucial! Studies show that if you're well rested, you have boosted your anti craving willpower. As if we needed something to tell us to get more sleep!

Talk nice to yourself. Studies show that saying one thing to yourself that make you happy before eating can decrease how much you eat by 11%! Seems crazy to me, but even if it works 5% it's worth a try!

Chew gum. Especially if you're hungry and grocery shopping! Gum disrupts your cravings because it reduces the ability to imagine what you are craving to eat. Harder to salivate over something you can't properly imagine.

Laugh! When you laugh and get distracted your need for that item dissipates. Watch 5 minutes of Mindy Project. Lift your mood and fight those cravings.

Water. Water is the end all answer. When in doubt, drink water!!

How do you fight your cravings? Any practices to add?

Sunday, February 8, 2015

No Love for the Love Handles Workout

February is the month of love. The one thing we don't love are those love handles. Who in the world even named this part of fat on the body? Love handles are quite difficult to get rid of and like to stick around once they have arrived. An unwelcome guest.

It's important to work the obliques to fight this fat, but it's also just as important to get that cardio in to really tackle the area. This workout really targets the love handles but I would recommend pairing with some heart pumping work too. Or, you can do burpees in between each set!

Building those muscles internally is super important but you must be eating right to truly lose those love handles. Avoid all the bad fats and enjoy the healthy fats.

Do each move for 1 minute, 30 sec on left, 30 sec on right. Each set takes 7 minutes, go through the workout 3 times.

Hope you're having a fabulous Sunday!

What do you think of the workout? Which exercises do you do to lose the love handles?

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

6 Reasons Why Fitness Lovers Rock at Life and Evolution Fresh GIVEAWAY

You're not there for fast results, you stick with it.

You are determined to reach a goal, no matter how long it may take to reach. It's easy to be discouraged when you feel like you keep working at something and see no results, but it's critical to keep moving forward regardless. Before you know it, change happens. Slow and steady wins the race in the end.

You don't discourage easily.

You don't get discouraged by Susie's perfect flat tummy, you get your own! Your success is what you put into it. Carrying on about how something or someone is not fair won't get you anywhere in life. Don't be discouraged by set backs, trudge forward.

You are disciplined.

Plenty of times you are tempted in your life to do something you want to do, but shouldn't do. As a fitness lover, you may falter on hitting the gym a couple times, but you'll always end up back there because you know it is good for you! In life, being disciplined is very important so that you can succeed at a difficult goal and live a healthy lifestyle. It's not easy being fabulous!

You have a good strong bod.

Speaks for itself. Being strong and active makes everyday movements more simple and less taxing. You can carry in your 100 bags of groceries without having to take two loads. Because who has time for that? Being fit provides confidence that you carry with you each day.

You hold yourself accountable but know when to give yourself a break.

Sometimes you just need to give yourself a break. Other times, you need to push yourself to extreme limits. You are in charge of you, you know what your body and well-being needs. Some days you may have to treat yourself with special care, while other days you know you can push yourself out of your comfort zone and get the ball rolling.

You're persistent.

Be persistent in your daily life, whether that means continuously asking someone for something you want, or reaching out to that friend who has strayed off path. Being persistent doesn't mean you're annoying, it shows that you really care about what you seek.

Now it's time for an Evolution Fresh GIVEAWAY!

Remember when I told you about the #3daystogreen challenge? I joined the movement created by Evolution Fresh that "challenges Americans to rev up their green engines by drinking one green juice a day for three days." They are rewarding those who sign up and take the #3daystogreen challenge, pledge here.

As previously mentioned I really liked this challenge because it's simple to do, and focuses on adding something healthy rather than taking something away.

These green drinks have four different flavors: Sweet Greens and Lemon, Smooth Greens, Organic Sweet Greens and Ginger, Essential Greens with Lime. My favorite had to be the Sweet Greens and Lemon because I like that added bit of tart and a little sweet.

So what are you waiting for, sign up for the challenge and enter my giveaway below! I will be sending the winner a $40 Evolution Fresh gift card and coupon for a free green drink to get started. Also, a really cute green-o'clock alarm clock to help remind you when it's juice time!

Sign up for the Evolution Fresh Giveaway

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