Hot Pink

Posted in Fashion by

Still waiting for that warm weather!  Loving this color but not quite warm enough to wear the dress by itself… so I threw a white blouse on underneath!

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  • Pink sheath dress (old – similar here & here)
  • White button up shirt (exact here)
  • Thumb ring (exact here)
  • Pink dangle earrings (old – similar here)
  • Leopard print pumps (old – similar here & here)
  • Michael Kors bag (exact here)

 

Tickled pink,

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Plaid & denim

Posted in Fashion by

I am still patiently waiting for warmer weather…  Some people LIVE for Fall and Winter. They love sweaters, boots, scarves and layering.  I am not one of those people.  My heart lies with the warmer months.  However, the weather has been up and down here in the Bay Area lately so I’ve been forced to hold onto my Fall friendly pieces.

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  • Army Green Dress (only $22.99 here)
  • Denim jacket (old – similar here)
  • Plaid blanket scarf (old – similar here)
  • Lucky Brand Booties (here)
  • Gamma Ring (here)

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Stay warm,

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Back in the saddle!

Posted in Kids by

Hi beauties,

I’ve been away for a few months because I’ve had something cooking.  Two “somethings” cooking actually.  My husband and I welcomed identical twin boys into the world in October!  We have been very busy getting used to our new life as parents to these two little dudes.  They are quite the handful but we feel doubly blessed.  The pregnancy was extremely difficult and the road to parenthood was not without it’s obstacles.  They were born at 34 weeks and spent almost 40 days in the NICU.  We had them both home just before Thanksgiving so we got to spend our first holiday together as a family of 4.  Becoming a Mother has been my greatest achievement.  I have never been so proud of anything in my life.  I am looking forward to sharing some beautiful moments with you of my sweet boys!  Please say hello to Joshua “Stone” & Ridley Wolf.

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This photo was taken when they were only 7 weeks old so they have been busy growing! (I got their onesies from THIS  Etsy shop).

Here are my boys now.

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The sibling rivalry begins!

 

Thank you for being patient with me as I grew these two little beans and began my life as a Mommy.  This site will be undergoing some changes over the next few months but I am hoping it will only make your experience here better.

 

Cheers to you!

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Belly Fat – BE GONE!

Posted in Fitness, Health by

We all want to get rid of that belly fat.  There is no magic wand to make this happen and there is no magic exercise that will instantly give you those flat abs you’ve been craving.  It takes a combination of hard work and clean eating.  You can do a million sit-ups a day, but if you continue an unhealthy lifestyle you will never see a change!  It’s not rocket science…  however, we still seem to somehow bargain with ourselves.  This bargaining is getting us no where!  The truth is you have to alter your lifestyle to promote fat loss from your entire body with a clean diet and a consistent exercise routine.  Here is a fool proof list of tips to help you kiss that belly fat GOODBYE!

  1. Stay away from processed foods – This stuff is just not natural!  Literally!  Anything that is pumped with chemical additives, high fructose corn syrup and over-processed  nastiness…  just cannot be good for you.  Cut it out!  Try and go for ONE ingredient foods.  Know what you are putting into your body.
  2. Diet – No sugar, no carbs, high protein, and loads of veggies. Green veggies, colorful veggies, all veggies!  Eat a variety of them to keep your taste buds excited!  Don’t just stick to the ones you know.  Try new and exotic veggies!  You never know, you might find something you truly love!  And keep the protein intake high!  Protein is lean, fights hunger and keeps you full longer!
  3. Exercise – You MUST have a consistent exercise program that challenges you.  I have always been told to “keep my body guessing.”  Don’t just do the same thing every day.  Do a variety of exercises each week that fits in cardio as well as full body workouts.
  4. Sleep – you need it.  your body does not work at 100% without it, so make sleep a priority.  Period.
  5. Water – Staying hydrated keeps your metabolism up and it can combat food cravings.  Can’t say it enough.  Water is the nectar of life!  Drink it up sisters!

My 4 favorite hair care products

Posted in Beauty, Hair by

I have been HARD on my hair through the years.  From the time I was a little girl to now, I have gone from ballet buns, to pageant teasing and bleaching, to pro dancing with extensions and lots of sweat and whipping my hair around into a tangled and destroyed mess.  The most damage I did was when I was dancing for the NBA as a Dallas Mavericks Dancer.  I had long bleach blonde hair and added extensions for length and fullness.

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Look at that mess!

The extensions completely damaged my hair.  I was on the court or at practice almost daily, whipping my hair around, sweating, brushing and teasing it.  At the end of my career as an NBA dancer, I decided to “give my hair a break” and take out the extensions.  I used Ovation hair care to help restore my hair back to health.  This was almost 10 years ago and I am still using this line today!  I’ve tried MANY other products through the years but I swear by Ovation.  I use the “Balance” line with the Volume Therapy Shampoo, Cell Therapy Hair Treatment and Moisturizing Creme Rinse.  It works wonders on my hair and nothing I have tried has ever come close the the softness I feel after using Ovation.  I LOVE it!

After shampooing and conditioning my hair, I always use Moroccanoil Treatment on my hair before blow drying it.  It not only works to detangle my messy, wet hair, it also speeds up drying time, adds shine and leaves my hair shiny and smooth.  I have naturally wavy hair but I wear it straight or with loose curls.  This stuff helps tame my stray hairs and gives my hair a more polished look.

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Ovation hair Balance line HERE / Moroccanoil Treatment HERE

(P.s. I do not have any affiliation with Ovation or Moroccanoil and will make no money from your clicking on their link and buying their product.  These are simply my personal opinions that I am sharing and I am not being paid in any way to share them).

10 Foods you should be eating for a healthier you

Posted in Fitness, Food, Health by

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  1. Water – I always start any of my fitness and nutrition posts with this.  It is essential for your health!
  2. Natural Peanut Butter – Peanut butter is full of good fats!  It also has potassium, protein and fiber in it and it is a GREAT source of energy.  Not to mention, it tastes super yummy!  I used to carry a small jar of peanut butter around with me and eat a spoonful if I was craving something sweet.
  3. Non-Fat Greek yogurt – Low in calories and carbs but high in protein!  Add in some nuts and fruit and it makes a perfect, filling snack.
  4. Almonds – These little nuggets have good fats, fiber and antioxidants.  Grab a handful of these for a great snack!  (Tip:  Eat them raw or roasted for the healthiest option.)
  5. Eggs – High in protein and can be eaten so many different ways!  The recipes are endless and these things are easy to eat on the go.  We always have a bowl full of hard-boiled eggs in our refrigerator.  It makes it easy to grab and go!
  6. Blueberries – Blueberries are one of the best sources of antioxidants!  Add them to your yogurt or freeze a small baggy full for a sweet, after dinner treat.
  7. Oatmeal – Oatmeal is one of the best ways to start your day.  A cup of oatmeal contains 6 grams of protein!  Oatmeal is also full of fiber.  It is a great weight loss food and the fiber in it helps protect against high blood pressure and diabetes.
  8. Avocados – Fiber, potassium, Vitamins and good fats are all things you can find in an avocado.  So add them to your salad, sandwich or just cut one in half and enjoy!
  9. Quinoa – Fiber, fiber, fiber.  Quinoa also has proteins and amino acids and is a good source of iron, magnesium and lysine!  Prepared like rice and can be eaten with virtually anything!  Cook up some of this yummy side dish tonight and reap the health benefits!
  10. Dark Chocolate – I know…  it can’t be true.  But it is!  Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.  It helps to lower your blood pressure, reduces risk of stroke and increases blood flow to the brain!  (Tip: Make sure that the dark chocolate you buy is at least 70% cocoa and nothing sweeter than bitter-sweet.)

3 secrets to staying fit while on vacation

Posted in Fitness, Health, Workout by

Summer is coming to a close and many of us are trying to SQUEEZE in a last getaway before it officially comes to a end! Keeping your health and fitness as your number one priority is difficult even under normal circumstances.  Throw in a beach, a mountain, a lake, a resort or a just a few days off of work and it can turn into a disaster.  Don’t let your vacation turn into a fat trap!  Here are a few tips to help you survive vacation without completely undoing all of your hard work!

1. Water – The number one rule of ANY healthy lifestyle is DRINK WATER.  It’s a given, but I’ve listed it hear just as a reminder! Obviously those fruity drinks will be tempting and you will (and should) indulge in some of them while relaxing and soaking in the sun.  Just try to keep your water intake up!  Not only will it help tremendously with your waistline but it will also help ward off an ugly hangover.

2.  Get moving – This doesn’t mean you have to spend your entire vacation in a weight room or in a boot camp class!  It just means, if you want to hold onto the progress you have already seen, then it is important to stay active while on vacation.  There are tons of ways to be active while on vacation.  Hikes, bike rides, laps in a pool (or lake, or ocean) to name a few.  If you aren’t able to do any of these then try a mini workout in your room!  An easy example you can try is

  • 20 pushups
  • 20 squats
  • 20 lunges (each leg)
  • 50 crunches
  • Rest 30 seconds
  • Repeat all 3 times

3.  Choose your poison – A vacation is a vacation and it definitely should be enjoyable!  However, choose one meal a day to do the indulging and keep the other two meals and snacks as high in protein and veggies.  This way you get to taste those yummy things you’ve been craving (and worked hard for) but you don’t fall completely off of the wagon.  You keep yourself in check and accountable this way.  So if it’s waffles and syrup that you just can’t say no to then go for it!  But keep lunch to a salad full of veggies and chicken and dinner as a fresh fish and green side.  It’s an easy compromise that allows you to enjoy while not going completely crazy.

7 Tips to burn fat (faster)

Posted in Fitness by

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  1. Hit the weights – By adding in weights to your workout routine, you will ensure that your muscles are here to stay.  Also, muscle burns fat faster!
  2. Run like Crazy – Your weight will melt off faster if you add running into your workouts.  Try sprints!  100 yard sprints, 10 times in a row will burn fat quicker!
  3. Green tea – add this refreshing liquid to your post workout routine.
  4. Early morning workouts – Early morning workouts help you start burning calories earlier and this lasts throughout your day.  Bonus…  you won’t be tempted to skip the gym after work since you’ve already gotten your workout in!
  5. Zzzzzzzzz – Getting a good night’s sleep has many health benefits.  It will also keep you on track and make you less likely to skip a hard workout, give less than 100% at a workout, and make poor food choices.
  6. Ice Ice baby – Drinking cold water has been proven to force your body to burn calories in order to warm your body temperature.  Add ice to that water!
  7. Lean Mean Protein – Protein makes fat burning possible by boosting your metabolism and helping to build more muscle.  Add chicken to that salad, eat a spoonful of peanut butter or snack on a hard-boiled egg!