Let’s get our beach bodies ready!

If you’re anything like me, your diet went right out the window Easter weekend.  Those damn Cadbury eggs and chocolate bunnies get me every time!! 

With Memorial Day weekend and the kick off to summer just around the corner, I thought today’s post could be geared towards getting motivated, overall fitness, and showing off our best selves.

Below are my top 6 essentials (in no particular order) for getting into shape.  Let’s support each other in this get-fit journey and pack away those beach cover ups!  We’re ready to show off our best most healthy self!

The Outfit

Shirt - Sports Bra and Pants - Sneakers

Picking out the right outfit is key.  Having good support, feeling comfortable and wearing the right size is so important to optimizing your workouts.  A good outfit is also good motivation.  If you’re just starting out – it’s a reason to buy some new clothes.  Think about how great you feel when you put on a new piece of clothing – it changes your mindset! :)  Nowadays, they have so many great workout pieces, in a variety of colors, your options are endless. 

To start, it’s important to find a quality sports bra that offers the right support.  You don’t want to run the risk of tearing any ligaments and/or having your “girls” sag.  Lift those babies up in the right support bra – I promise you’ll notice a difference in your work out. 

Having the right sneakers is also very important.  As you work out, you need to have the right shoes.  You don’t want to run the risk of your hurting your feet or causing injury to other parts of your body.

The right shirt/tank top and pants/shorts is key.  When you’re exercising you don’t want to be tugging and pulling at your clothing. If you are, you won’t be as effective in your workout.  

A Good Playlist

Having the right playlist is essential.  Think to yourself – what music makes me want to get out of my seat and dance? Make sure whatever song(s) just came to mind is on your playlist!  

Music has the ability to empower you through that last mile of the race, last minute on the elliptical or last song in cardio class.

Here are a few songs that appear on my playlist, and that get my booty in gear:

• Pharrell Williams - Happy
• Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines
• Pitbull  - Shake Señora
• Kid Rock - All Summer Long
• Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
• Dave Matthews - What Would You Say
• Cascada - Evacuate The Dancefloor
• Black Eyed Peas – I’ve Got a Feeling 
• Shakira -  Hips Don’t Lie
• Aretha Franklin - Respect

Variety

Switch it up!  Do not do the same workout day in and day out.  Your body will get use to the workout and you will not see the results that you were hoping for.  For me, I combine running, walking and taking gym classes (Zumba and Kickboxing). Interval training is also a great option, see some examples here: Womens Health Magazine

If you run one day, work with weights the next.  Another great source for variety is “on demand”.  If your cable provider offers an “on demand” feature, often times they have a fitness section. From dancing, to your core, to total body, there are a ton of fitness options for FREE!  These programs also vary in length from 8 minutes to 1 hour.  There is something for everyone. 

A Good Support System

Find support in your friends and family.  Having a gym buddy is a great way to get fit.  You act as motivation for each other and can share in the accomplishments of your weight loss / getting fit.  

Can’t find a gym buddy?  No sweat!  Share your goals. Call a friend or post to your social network your plans.  This keeps you accountable. 

For me, I also find motivation in things that I read.  Quotes like the below keep me going.  Print them out and read them when you need that extra push:

Eating Right 

Working out is very important, but you won’t see the results you want if you don’t pair working out with the right food. 

This point needs its own post as there are so many ideas for eating right.  To start, look to the internet for great ideas.  There are a ton of fun recipes out there.  Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring. 

  

Here are a few resources to get your healthy chef juices flowing:

• Pinterest
• The Food Network 
• Cooking Light 
• Fab Fit Fun

One last healthy eating tip, write down everything you eat and drink.  You will be surprised at what you intake in a course of a day.  This will help you make observations about the type of food/drink you’re having, how many calories you are consuming, and will help to identify changes you need to make.

Goals 

Whether it is to be a certain weight or to fit in an old pair of jeans – keeping your goals in sight is important to your fitness success.  

Also remember that when you're starting out your goals don’t have to be huge.  Make small, attainable goals that will eventually lead you to your overall end goal. 

For me, my goal was to run a 5k.  I am by no means a runner so this was a large goal for me.  I started making small goals for myself. Run a ½ a mile, run one mile, etc. until I eventually worked my way up to a 5k (3.2 miles).  Signing up for a road race was also great motivation.  Knowing I had committed myself to a race, forced me into training. If running 5k is also a goal of yours, the Color Run is a great 5k  (http://thecolorrun.com/) to start with.  It’s a fun, less competitive road race for all ages. Below is a picture of my first 5K Color Race with my Aunt. I am also taking part in the Boston run this May with my girlfriends!

Last but not least – don’t forget to treat yourself for any small and big wins you make while on your fitness journey.  Buy yourself something new or treat yourself to something good.  Once in a while it is okay to cheat on your diet. Whether it’s having a small piece of chocolate or a glass of wine.  These are all okay as long as it is in moderation.

I hope you found these tips helpful!  Are there any other tips you use to stay motivated?  I’d love to hear from you.  Let’s add to this list and support each other!  Happy exercising Chickies! xoxo

Sweet Tooth Saturday!

Happy Saturday! I hope you are having a wonderful spring weekend. For today's post, I wanted to share an easy and fun Easter dessert for you to share with your friends and family (of all ages). Break out that apron and let's get our sweet tooth on!

To begin you will need:

• Peeps - any color, any shape
• Sprinkles - any kind (the Nonpareils were my favorite to work with)
• Candy Melts - any flavor (I did white, orange, and milk chocolate)
• Cookie Sticks or Colored Straws (I used color straws)

Step 1:

Prep your bowls with the chocolate melts (use a separate bowl for each color melt) and your sprinkles.

Step 2: 

Heat up your chocolate for 1 minute in the microwave, stir, and reheat for 30 seconds.  You don't want to overcook the chocolate.

Step 3:

Dip the end of your cookie stick/straw into the melted chocolate.

Step 4:

Stick the chocolate end into the bottom of the peep. Then, dip as little or as much of the peep into the melted chocolate. Once covered in chocolate, pour on your sprinkles.

Step 5:

Prop the peeps upright for the chocolate to harden.

Check out the finished product:

Easy, right? If you're in a scramble to figure out what to bring to an Easter get together this weekend, I hope this helps.  Have a great holiday Peeps! ;) xoxo

Romantic Up-Do

Happy Saturday! I have the perfect hair style to share with you for whatever your plans may be.  Last weekend we talked products.  This week let’s create a romantic up-do using some of those items.  Here is a picture of the finished style:

Let’s get started on yours (video below)! xoxo

 PS. This is my first EVER tutorial so please ignore the major dork moments that happen throughout the video.  My videos can only get better from here...right?? (haha) 

The Perfect Tresses!

Aren't we all in search of the perfect locks? I know I am! So for that reason, I thought I would introduce you to some of my favorite haircare products this weekend.  Ready. Set. Let's go....

First up are these two gems!

On the left: The L'Oreal Elnett Satin is my favorite hair spray of ALL time. Let me tell you, over the years I have tried every type of hairspray - from the cheap end of the spectrum to the very expensive, this remains my favorite. 

So what's so great about it? This hairspray doesn't leave your hair all crunchy. It allows your curls to look natural while maintaining its hold. Change your mind and don't want a curl, up-do, etc. - the spray brushes right out without leaving your hair looking like this...

This hairspray also has a UV Filter, which is especially good for someone who highlights or colors their hair like me, as it protects your color.  The spray also goes on very fine and the smell is light.

The cost for this hairspray is $12.99.  It is on the pricier side for product, but I don't curl or style my hair everyday so the bottle lasts me and is well worth the money.

On the right: Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo by Suave is AMAZING for those days off your regular shampoo/conditioner.  It's also a saving grace on those mornings you hit the snooze button multiple times and are running late (speaking from experience of course ;) ). You spray it onto your roots and it soaks up any oil. I also feel it gives your hair a bit of body, which is perfect for an up-do or for those ballerina bun days.  I am also slightly obsessed with the smell of it as is my hubby.  He always asks what smells so good...oh you know, just my dry shampoo ;)

So where can you grab a bottle for yourself? At any of your local drugstores or discount retail stores (Target, Walmart). I've seen this product range from $2.99 at Walmart to $4 at CVS.

Next up on the left: Beauty Protector Protect & Oil. Above is a sample I received in my latest BirchBox and I am obsessed. You can either use this product when your hair is damp or dry.  For me, I love to use it when I am straightening my hair. You only need a small amount, which I run through the ends of my hair.  It leaves it looking glossy and smelling great.  The oil has heat protection, which is perfect when using the straightener. Having a frizzy hair day? This oil helps to tame those lose strands.

Middle: The Kerastase Initialiste was my splurge product through my hair dresser.  I wanted something that would make my hair feel and look healthier before my wedding and this product was the answer. After you wash your hair, drop the serum onto your scalp, and massage in.  It acts as a leave-in treatment.  After using this on a regular basis leading up to my big day, my hair definitely felt healthier and stronger.

On the right: The Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray is my answer to sexy beach hair.  When my hair is damp, I spray this product on, scrunch the ends, and blow / air dry.  For me, it adds some body to my locks and gives it a bit of a wave.....just like I would get from the salt water at the ocean.  I obviously use this more in the summer, but even on these cold New England spring days, I'll spray it on and dream about those beach days to come!

Above is Malibu Well Water Shampoo (aka Hard Water Wellness). This product works wonders for those of us that suffer from hard water.  I use this product approximately once a week in addition to my normal shampoo/conditioner routine. It helps to replinish the mositure that gets stripped out by hard water.  This is also an awesome shampoo for those of you that may have a pool. It helps protects against the effects of chlorine.

Last but not least is my L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm. Since we've had the heat running in my house for as long as I can remember, I feel like all of the moisture has been sucked out of the air - especially in my hair. I love this balm because it adds moisture to my locks and helps to repair my split ends.  I use this roughly once a week.

Those are my picks for my favorite hair care products! Don't miss next week's tutorial where I use some of these products to create the following up-do. Have a great weekend friends! xoxo