Five months ago Baby Max was born. Getting back into a fitness routine was a journey to say the least! For reference, I am 39 years old and gained 38 lbs in pregnancy. Had a natural birth with no medication or epidural at a birth center and went home the night I had Max. Did not even take ibuprofen...
Read MoreToday I wanted to share the new cropped sweatshirt! It comes in mauve, dusty blue, and black. It’s designed to be lightweight enough for Spring and Summer months but also is the perfect amount of soft and cozy to slip on after a workout or when you are feeling like you need a little lift for your mood. I love the perfect shade of this one and how the cut shows off your hips and waist.
Read MoreToday is now Day 6 of 30 Days of Outfits! This series has been so much fun to put together. Today I am sharing the cutest travel look. Bosidu sent me this adorable striped bag that has so many compartments! I love the design and the quality and they are giving you guys 20% off using this link. This makes a perfect last-minute gift for your travel companion. I paired it with these adorable capri pants that are the perfect length for even short legs like mine! They come in a variety of colors but this canyon pink had me at hello. I paired it with more stripes and then added blush sneakers to elongate my legs. Since I’m only 5’0 I use all the tricks! You can shop the whole look here and browse the other 30 Days of Outfits here!
Read MoreWow! I cannot believe it’s been almost two weeks since I wrote the last post on here. It’s been kind of a blur. Something really life-changing took place last week and created a positive shift in my life. I’ll be sharing more about the experience in the coming weeks, but one thing I’ve learned is to take some time to the first process. That’s exactly what I did yesterday. I took a few hours and went a few miles to clear my head and combat the stress I was feeling. Stress is stress even if it’s positive. When big things in life hit, give yourself a little breathing room. It’s okay. You don’t have to have all the answers. You’ll be able to work things out, but for now just process. I loaded up my backpack with water and snacks, grabbed my boots, and set off with my Mojo coffee in hand for an afternoon of getting lost in nature. It was so healing! Every time I do this, I come back as a better human being.
Read MoreThe past few days it’s finally reach coat worthy temperatures here in Texas. I was able to do a little scouring through my coats to locate something that would keep me warm and snuggly while I headed for a nice long walk. I pulled out one of my favorite puffy jackets in a sweet shade of pink and paired it with leggings and blush sneakers for a stylish but comfortable outdoor look. Puffy coats are my favorite when it comes to comfortable winter wear. They layer nicely over sweaters, vests and basic fleece pullovers. I’ve rounded up thirty options for you below in every shade I could find! They make the perfect gift and all of the options range from $40-$200!
Read MoreOver the past few months I’ve gone hiking almost every single weekend. I love the feeling of getting outdoors and pushing my body! Although I live in a somewhat flat terrain in College Station, TX I’ve found with traveling a few hours away I can get a completely different geographical setting. This post includes a mix of day hikes, aggressive backpacking and camping ideas for Fall travels. If you are looking for something laid back and shaded I would try Davy Crockett National Forest or Mission Tejas State Park where the El Camino Real begins and dates back to the late 1600’s when the Spanish settled in Texas. For more aggressive hikes try Lost Maples State Natural Area or Goodwater Loop and Trail which both offer stepper terrain! For a waterfall sighting Crockett Gardens in Goodwater Loop and Trail along with Riverplace Nature Trail in Austin both offer a pretty sighting. Below you will find a list and photographs of actual travels over the past few months designed to restore your love for nature in Texas!
Read MoreOver the past few months I’ve gone hiking almost every single weekend. I love the feeling of getting outdoors and pushing my body! Although I live in a somewhat flat terrain in College Station, TX I’ve found with traveling a few hours away I can get a completely different geographical setting. This post includes a mix of day hikes, aggressive backpacking and camping ideas for Fall travels. If you are looking for something laid back and shaded I would try Davy Crockett National Forest or Mission Tejas State Park where the El Camino Real begins and dates back to the late 1600’s when the Spanish settled in Texas. For more aggressive hikes try Lost Maples State Natural Area or Goodwater Loop and Trail which both offer stepper terrain! For a waterfall sighting Crockett Gardens in Goodwater Loop and Trail along with Riverplace Nature Trail in Austin both offer a pretty sighting. Below you will find a list and photographs of actual travels over the past few months designed to restore your love for nature in Texas!
Read MoreA long walk is just what I need at the end of stressful days. I believe walks at sunset are one of the easiest and quickest ways to connect with your inner self and admire the beauty of the world we live in. After hours of being connected to my phone and computer - getting the chance to disconnect from techonology and reconnnect with nature helps soothe anxiety. Fall is my favorite season for sunset walks. The air is crisper, the breeze is cooler and the earth lights up with strands of gold grass and leaves. It’s truly a magical season and evening walks light up my soul.
Read MoreWith all the hype of kids going back to school, it’s the perfect time to grab a pair of new sneakers. I try to refresh my athleisure twice a year (usually Spring and Fall) discarding anything worn or that no longer fits and adding in a few new pieces. Recently I bought a few things to include new leggings (same fit as the ones you are seeing in this pic just in a powder light pink), sneakers, and this adorable top from my friends over at Off the Grid. Sneakers are something you want to change out as soon as they start getting worn. Your feet are imperative as vehicles to get around and worn shoes lead to backaches and injuries. I love the look of these old-school New Balance ones. In fact, I had the same pair in college and wore them until they were no longer in good condition.
Read MoreBack in June, I realized I was getting bored with my workout routine. Every few months I try to switch things up or I find that I don’t push myself to workout daily. My go-to is to walk or run but I felt like in the heat of Texas summer that was even a stretch to do. Just about that time my friend Courtney reached out and offered for me to try her workout program. I told her immediately I was down! At this point, I could benefit from accountability and a new routine. I’ve been going through the workouts the past five weeks and not only have I seen muscle tone, I’ve also noticed my strength improved! She’s offering 50% off to all of my friends who register through noon tomorrow using this link so I had to pop on and give you all of the details to the program.
Read MoreWe are already two weeks into 2021 and I don’t know about you, but I’ve found time outdoors is time well spent. Last weekend College Station and a large portion of Central and South East Texas experienced a snow storm. It was odd, but welcomed following a bleak week of political events earlier that week. Social media was soon flooded with pictures of snowmen, snow angels, families getting outdoors and kids having snowball fights. It was one of the most refreshing experiences and I have to tell you it was much needed for all of us.
Read MoreAbout six weeks ago I started using the @sweat app. I noticed my activity was lower and so was my mood. I lacked motivation and also kept getting cluster headaches. After talking to my therapist, she suggested I try adding HIIT into my workout routine. I am a very busy mom who works full-time, homeschools and runs a beauty business online. I have very little time or mental space to figure out a manageable routine. I decided after browsing a few black Friday sales to give BBG another try. For the past three years I’ve used the app during the Fall and Winter months to get my heartrate up during shorter days where a long walk just wasn’t possible. The workouts are really simple and it feels like I have a personal trainer on my phone! If you are looking to refresh your workout routine for the new year and want something effective I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TRYING THIS APP! Here are details about my results over the past six weeks.
Read MoreLet’s go ahead and just start with how this post can benefit everyone. I mean EVERYONE right now. Whether you want to admit it or not COVID-19 forever changed us and being stuck inside all the time is rough. Currently, I work from home and homeschool my child with virtual learning. By the end of the week my routines feel monotonous and I have an itch to go explore. For most of this past year I’ve taken day trips to surrounding areas like antique shopping or exploring near by honey and lavender farms. Every time I get a chance to leave I come back feeling renewed. I gain inspiration that carries me through the coming days and weeks. My soul literally feels more joy. Last weekend my daughter and I took a trip to Cedar Park on the north side of Austin. Our activities included being mostly outside and socially distant. At the end of the weekend she said this hike in St. Edwards Park was the best thing we did. Whether you face nature alone or take your loved ones, getting a little lost in nature is often times the refresher we all need to get us through the stressful times.
Read MoreThanksgiving is a few weeks away and if you are anything like me you are already dreaming of all of the delicious dishes that will be served. I thought it was appropriate for us to have a quick discussion about health and fitness before diving into the high calorie season. You don’t have to stick to a strict diet all season. You don’t have to jump onto a crazy workout regimen. You can actually enjoy the holidays, move your body and keep the weight off with simple strategies. I’ve found over the years a few things have helped me stay in shape while enjoying all of the amazing foods our holiday traditions provide.
Read MoreTwo years ago I gained weight. Sigh - there I said it (you can scroll to the bottom for a before and after pic). That was a big one for me to let out. I’m very much a perfectionist in a lot of ways. It’s a tough attribute to deal with because no matter how hard I try - it’s impossible for me to attain perfection. I wasn’t just overweight either. I was depressed and anxious at the same time. Can we say double-whammy? I didn’t want to drive anywhere due to panic attacks. I was constantly walking around in a foggy gloom. I wondered if this was all there was to life… I had this corporate job I was frustrated being apart of because I didn’t feel like I made a difference. I didn’t fit in with any of the suburban moms. My friends were married and had multiple kids. I lacked purpose, discernment and everything felt really complicated.
Read MoreI’ve been sharing lately about mental health on my facebook and instagram feeds. I realize that between COVID, Black Lives Matter, hurricanes and fires… our mental health is more important than ever. Last week we discussed how transformation is an inside job and turning setbacks into comebacks. Today’s topic is a little more action oriented. So sit down, take a few notes and my goal is for you to walk away with a few things you will implement today. Remember a plan without action is just a dream. Let’s make your dreams reality.
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