Fave Five

I am a serious girly girl. I love make-up, hair products, clothes, and lots of pink. I used to stray away from pink because I didn't want to be "that girl" but has since stopped caring about it and embraced my pink loving-ness.

I had a fabulous English professor in college that absolutely loved all of my pink gear. I had a pink laptop, pink Vera Bradley tote, pink fleece jacket/sweatshirt usually, and my pink cell phone. I was straight outta Legally Blonde you guys. She always told me how fabulous I was and how she would always remember my looove of pink. She rocked, and never made me feel silly for my need for pink. It is a shame that so many people can get in our heads and tell us to not like things because it's "too girly" or "too bright". If you don't like my happy colors, you can go back to your grey gloomy cloud. I'm gonna stay right here on my pink (and mint of course) cloud. In your face.

The point of my girly reflection, I wanted to do a post all about my recent make-up favorites! I am huge beauty blog follower, and tend to hear most things from two blogs in particular: The Small Things Blog and Essie Button. Obsessed with these two. They have tutorials for days as well as product reviews. My husband jokingly calls them "my friends" because I watch them daily. If I met them in person, I'd definitely hug them no matter the awkward level. Ladies, you seriously saved my beauty life. I am crazy thankful every time I put myself together for work in the morning with all your tips and tricks. Anyways, I wanted to talk about my current faves I am using at the moment.

1.  Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser

I like to think of this cleanser as an old friend. I always get it, adore it, but then think I need something cheaper. WRONG. I never have skin as awesome as when I use this product. Yes, it is pricey, but worth it. The skin on your face is super important to take really good care of, especially if you are using makeup on a daily basis. This stuff melts the makeup off and does. not. burn. eyes. You heard me. It's amazing. Check it out in a sample size at Sephora or Ulta for around $10 and see what I mean. When you wanna commit, go big with a QVC deal. It comes in giant size and lasts forever.

2. Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint

Oh. My. Lanta. These are awesome! I bought one the other day at Ulta, and then ordered a set of four more from QVC. These have an magical minty taste to them and go on super smooth. They last for a looong time, and feel good on your lips. None of this dry chapped business. I will probably buy like 100 more in every shade. No regrets.

3. Urban Decay Deslick Facial Mist

This is probably the best money I have spent on any makeup item in forever. This stuff is no joke. I used something similar at a friend's wedding because another (awesome) bridesmaid had it and shared it with everyone. My makeup did not budge. It was amazing. I have since purchased this and use it in the morning after putting on my face for work. I got home and my make-up looked the same as it did when I left. Let me remind you it is getting into the 80s these days and I take my students out for recess. The. bomb. I've been telling my fellow make up lover co-workers about this.

4. tartelette Amazonian Clay matte palette

I bought this palette a few months ago when it first came out because 1. I looove matte shadows and 2. I had a 20% off coupon from Ulta for anything I wanted, so obviously.

I use a eyelid primer before putting anything on my lids, but I usually use the farthest left shadows all over my eyelid, up to my brow. Next, I usually use the second colors for all over my lid itself, followed by the third color in my crease for definition. Finally, I use the fourth colors as liner, using my slanted liner brush. I usually find myself sticking within the same row, but occasionally I mix them up. This palette trumps my Naked palette, which I thought was impossible. I definitely love all the options and the product quality is awesome.

5. Aquage Root Uplifting Foam

This foam falls in line with the facial cleanser in terms of being an "old friend". I have strayed but always come back to this product when I want root lift. I cut my hair shorter these days than I ever used to and love the lift I get from this product. I had to learn to not be afraid of using a lot of product with this, because the lift you get is amazing, but you gotta be okay with putting a good amount of product in your hair. 

Those were my current "Fave Five". Have you used any of the products before? Did you like them/hate them/love them? Let me know in the comments!

The best breakfast hack I've found so far

I fully enjoyed this Memorial Day weekend in it's 3-days off glory. I love having a little extra time, especially on a weekend considering that's the main time I get to do things I enjoy. This past Saturday morning included sleeping in nice and laaate, as well as a quick breakfast for the husband and I.

I am one of those big breakfast lovers, not going to lie. I love pancakes with syrup and orange juice. Sometimes even a big glass of milk to go with it. However, after adding up all of those calories, sugars, and ooey gooey goodness, it takes a good amount of my daily intake, forcing me to watch every other meal carefully throughout the day. Not for me. I hate counting calories, I'd rather eat when I'm hungry but eat as clean as I can.

So, I present to you, the best breakfast "hack" I have found so far: a banana mug cake with maple syrup, with orange infused water. AH-mazing, you guys. It is basically pancakes with syrup and OJ with a serious fraction of the calories, so you can indulge guilt free.

Ok, so the mug cake looks small, but it is packed with good protein from the clean ingredients and therefore sticks with you!

Here's what is in it:

-1/2 banana

-1/4 cup oats

-1 egg

-2 tbsp milk

-2 tbsp greek yogurt

-Stevia and cinnamon to taste

I mixed all of these ingredients (sprayed my mug with my Coconut oil spray from Trader Joe's ) in a regular mug, microwave it for 1-2 minutes or until your center of your "cake" is not longer runny.

Result?

Amazing and the husband even liked it! Win win. I paired it with a touch of pure maple syrup and cinnamon. I got a little cinnamon happy but I am a cinnamon lover, so it was just fine with me!

My infuser bottle came from the one and only Blogilates! Check them out here.

What is your newest breakfast hit? I know I am really into smoothies, and organic waffles with almond butter lately along with my mug cakes!

Back at it, and loving me some Blogilates

Alright guys,
tumblr is still up and running, but I like a little more s  p  a  c  e to write blurbs and organize them in the order I post them.

I know.

I am type A to the max.

So first things first. I just had stitches in my foot. STITCHES. In the top of my foot. So needless to say, my usual fitness routine has had a damper in it for the most part. No running during this time and I'm steering clear for at least another week or two since the muscles around that particular injured part of my foot are feeling stiff at the moment. I did lace up my gorgeous new running shoes for a 1 miler the other day and it was fabulous. Until my foot stiffened and I had to walk the last stretch. Nothing like a full-blown accident to throw a wrench in your stride. Literally.

I will say I was searching for a low-impact way to get my work outs in during the 12 days of stitches-town and I found the BEST workout I have done in a long time. (I'll get to that).

I was big into Pure Barre last Fall but once my "trial membership" was up, there was no more affording that mess for this teacher. So I waved goodbye to my pretty little studio where I flaunted my adorable leggings with wacky designs at the *obvious* envy of my classmates (Ladies, I get them all at TJ Maxx, thrifty remember?) and said hello again to my pretty decent gym membership where my own complaint is the lack of availability of different classes. Yes they have like every class you can imagine. No, they do not all fit my schedule of needing at work out at 6am on the dot.

Ok, so for the exciting part. THE workout program of workout programs. And wait for it, it's FREE.

I know! I KNOW! Gym membership, you may be left in August when my contract comes up again.

Ok so I have been using the website Blogilates.com for the whole month of May (minus 7 days where I was ordered to be lazy so my foot could heal) and I am in LOVE. Cassey Ho is amazing and so positive. I literally feel so much more positive after her workouts. I notice it on my morning commute, during stressful situations at work, and when I get home from work. I am just happy and calm. Which is so nice, you guys.

Ok, so what is this Blogilates I speak of? Well, it is free youtube video workouts that are organized into a monthly calendar just for you! Crazy that this is free, right?
All the work of organizing and changing up regions so you do not overwork them is out the window. FREE. I do highly recommend the app where you do pay $.99 a month for the calendar and you get a monthly video that isn't online yet as well as positive reinforcement (there's my sped teacher senses tingling) when you check off a workout on the app. A super cute pink box pops up and says "Killed it!" or "Beast!" It's the little things that get me to complete a workout at 6am and these little pop ups are so nice.

I am seriously obsessed and best part? It's a mix of so many different workouts, boredom is literally impossible and she releases a new video every Monday! Also, I am seeing similar toning results that I did with Pure Barre. A-mazing.

I have been telling everyone I know about this girl and probably driving people crazy but I promise you that you are going to love it! Here is a link below to check out one of the videos I did this morning and my legs are dying!

Perfect Legs Workout

I also love how body positive Cassey is. She reminds us that our own bodies are ours to love and I am loving that attitude. Sure, my stomach isn't quite summer ready but I am working on it and she is right there with me. I promote this same stuff to my Girls on the Run team each season, and she is proof about how uplifting this positive talk can be!

Comment below and let me know if you check out Blogilates and how you like it!