Proof that a braided hairstyle doesn't have to take hours, or tons of practice. These are the three simplest braid styles that are my go-to's—one for when I'm feeling especially sweet {rare}, one for when I want to up the edge-factor, and my personal fav - the ever-so-trendy half-bun with a braid. Pin, practice & tag me on Instagram when you're ready to show off your favorite braided style! Tools & products used for all styles Teaser comb {with boar bristles is my favorite} Bobby pins Elastic hair ties Kenra Hairspray 25 *Can start curly or straight hair! {Sweet: Headband Braid} {Edgy: Hard-part Side Braid} {Trendy: Braided Half-Bun} What other tutorials do you want to see? Let me know in the comments!! #hairtutorial #beauty #style #hairhowto

We became quite the dodgers over the years—professional dodgers even. Finding new excuses, coming up with our newest reason of the week—of the month—it became sort of a game. Sometimes we would lie so much that I would start to believe it. I think some of you caught on after a while because you stopped asking. Thanks for that—dodging gets exhausting. It started out truthful, I promise. Then slowly but surely the truth got harder, so the lies started to pile up. The more we found out, the more we lied. So much so that it was hard to keep track of who we had lied to and what lie we used that time. I should have kept a list. It all started with the basic, instinctual question that you ask all married couples. "When are you guys going to have a baby?" The answer was almost always, "Oh, I don't know - we're on the five year plan!" We were young! We had plenty of time. No rush. Do you know how fast five years flies?! Fast, ya'll. Especially when you are having a blast, seeing the world, working your butts off, drinking your livers off, and just....living. We were soon faced with our five year commitment. We started to consider making our first truth a reality. That's when the lies started. They were our own doing and denial at first...but then they became forced. It was out of our hands. We didn't want to lie - but we couldn't bear telling everyone the truth. Friends of ours that were ready to start a family said, "After you go to Paris, let's get pregnant together!" Lie: "Yes! Let's!" Truth: We weren't quite ready—we were having the time of our lives, just the two of us. In hindsight, I wish we would have started then. Then we would be a year ahead of this process - this never-ending process. Everyone and their mother {including ours} would ask any chance they got, "When are you guys going to have a baby?!" Lie: After the year of "Yes!" We're going to do a whole year of flying by the seat of our pants, saying "Yes!" to everything, while we can. Truth: An excuse to keep us from having to commit to trying. I was terrified—what if I got pregnant right away?! Of course, I wouldn't have, and again, I wish I would have started then. Friends of ours announce their pregnancy and of course the question follows, "Do you guys think you'll get pregnant soon?" Truth: I hope so! We just went off birth control, so whenever it happens, it happens! This actually was the truth at the time. I feel like that's the last time we even remotely told the truth. That's when the forced lies started... "Five years is totally up, and then some - so, babies soon??" Lie: Yes, yes, soon - we're working on it! Truth: "Working on it" was an understatement. "Working on it" would mean that we were tracking ovulation, taking temperatures, and holding our breath to see whether Aunt Flo would rear her ugly head, or not. In reality, we were starting the emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausting road through infertility treatments. MRI's, blood tests, sperm tests, tests that made me literally scream at the top of my lungs {HSG, aka, this is what labor must feel like, right?!}, and the eventual diagnosis of: inconclusive. My state of fertility was inconclusive. No rhyme, reason or understanding as to why I couldn't get pregnant—just the knowledge that I, in fact, could not naturally conceive. Looking back, realizing that I couldn't naturally conceive isn't even a notch on pain's belt—the real pain, roadblocks, heartache, letdowns, dreams crashing—that hadn't even begun. Sounds dramatic, right? Well, it was - it is. And for anyone who can go through years of failed infertility treatments with their head forever held high is either the strongest person on earth - or the best damn liar. We became a mix of both—putting on faces when we needed to, and lying when faces failed us. Those select few who knew what we were going through would delicately ask, "So, how's it going...?" Lie: It's going! We're in the middle of a cycle, so we'll see. Truth: Our go-to answer was that we were always in the middle of a cycle. It was just easier that way to ensure that no one would be waiting on the hook for a positive or negative result. No sense in everyone being on edge, right? Sometimes I wish I would have been more truthful and taken some of the weight of my shoulders, off my hubby's shoulders. That man shouldered every thought, feeling and emotion I had, without blinking an eye. Then, one Friday afternoon in the Summer, while sitting at our kitchen table, the phone rang - and we thought all our lies were behind us. The blissful truth we'd been waiting for: we were pregnant. I wish I could say that's our happily-ever-after, but I'm guessing you, too, are wondering how that could be - because where's the bump, the announcement, the baby? A mere four weeks later, our lies returned. Only, this time I was broken beyond repair, and barely had the strength to speak - let alone, lie. Miscarriage is a...ya know, I don't know that there's a description for it. I'm just left shaking my head at the thought of it. Nonetheless, it's another topic in itself - and one that I will touch on, when I'm ready. All this heavy-loaded-blog-talk to say - we've been leading a second life. One that not many saw, but one that many many others also live. You'd be shocked to find out how many people go through infertility treatments, once you're going through it yourself. So, why come forward now? Two reasons—one of which is to pay it forward, if even just the slightest. I spent countless nights, afternoons, weekends, holidays—months, really—reading and rereading infertility and miscarriage blogs. Despite the fact that my husband was a ROCK, and my family and friends were endlessly and sensitively supportive, there is no one who will understand what it's like to go through this - unless they are also shooting up, getting blood work done 3-5 times a week, being poked, prodded, studied, tested and growing more hopeless by the day. I promised myself that when I was ready, I would pay it forward. I used to wish and wish for someone who was going through this to "accidentally" find out so they could coach me through. So, if by reading my blog you can find some solace, or find yourself nodding along, or even find the strength to reach out - then I've done my job. And, even though sometimes others' success stories would be hurtful, I still have to say it - stay HOPEFUL, stay FOCUSED, keep your eye on the PRIZE, stick TOGETHER, and never ever ever stop searching for SILVER LININGS... My second reason for sharing...go ahead, ask. I know you're dying to... "Are you pregnant?" Truth: Yes <3 Our pregnancy announcement video by Erin Michelle Photography!! {That I still can't get through without crying} #infertility #miscarriage #life #Realtalk #health #pregnancy

Fresh off the heels of a 7-day plank challenge with fellow fab blogger {popcorn and pandas} & soon-to-be BeachBody Coach {countdown to post-VEGAS PiYO}, my bestie & I were revved up and eager to keep our middles whittled in prep for our early bikini-season-debuts in VEGAS {I don't know why I feel like that should always be in all caps. Just me?}. That's when I turned to my old-faithful—the abs that started it all. When I first started weening into working out in 10th grade, I quickly found that the one exercise I didn't absolutely d r e a d was abs. Abs, abs, abs—all day, ery'day. I was ABsessed. And who, pray tell, induced this ABsession? Why, B.Spears, of course {are we shocked that I found a way to weave Brit into another post?!}. I hung a picture of Brit-Brit's "I'm a Slave for You" abs on the back on my door and would hit the floor every night with my mini made-up ab routine. Truth be told, I still hit the floor every night with that quickie routine—only now I'm laying in front of the TV watching Pretty Little Liars instead of staring at Britney. W A Y more grown-up now, obviously. When it was time to create a new ab-chiseling challenge that would carry us to VEGAS {where I'll be seeing those abs up close & personal... Front row Brit tix, ya'll {!!!!!!!!!!!}—F R O N T row. Yea, justwait for that post.}, I turned to my ab-idol once again. And who wouldn't?! Look at that fABtastic stomach. She's still got it, ya'll. As soon as I saw that those abs were gracing the cover of Women's Health, I raced right out and nabbed a copy. Only, this time I didn't post the ab-inspiring picture of her on my bedroom door—I thought that might be a bit awkward for the hubs. So, instead, she sits abs-up on our kitchen table ;-) {I have a very supportive husband...} Whether you're planking for VEGAS, crunching for Cabo, or just need a challenge to kick-start those Summer abs, this 20-day stomach-cincher will get. it. done. Join us!! And let us know how you're doing—we can all "bellyache" together ;-) "You better werk, bitch." -B. Spears #fitness #health

Here I go again, shaming Shakeology and turning one of my favorite desserts into a *nutritious* shake! Read it [the ingredients] and weep, ya'll. This ShakeO packs a serious nutrition-punch: oats, banana and spinach? Can you say fiber & protein packed? Oh, you can't? It's because your mouth is too full with this delectable dessert-like shake, isn't it? Knew it. You know the drill - throw all of these ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth: 1 packet Vanilla Shakeology 1/4 cup old fashioned oats 1/2 frozen banana (fresh is fine, if need be, but frozen makes it creamier!) 1 cup raw spinach 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (not cinnamon sugar - this puppy is sweet enough!) 1/2 cup unsweetened original almond milk Ice to your liking/thickness So, here's where the raisins come in... You can either add a teaspoon of raisin extract in place of the vanilla {yea, it's a for real thing - found, where else, Amazon!} or add a tablespoon of actual raisins - which is what I did. The thing is, my blender didn't really...blend them all that well. But I didn't really mind! I got the flavor and the crunch - and I'm totally a crunch girl. Actually, they're more like a "chewy" than a "crunchy" but I can still did a "chew." Anyway, I digress. All you need to know is that it tastes like an oatmeal raisin cookie, and that makes me as happy as a girl eating dessert for dinner {and not gaining an ounce from it}! Are there any dessert flavors that you would like to challenge me to turn into a ShakeO?? Because I am SO up for the dessert challenge. Leave your suggestions, requests and flavors below! Psst... Fancy dessert for dinner, huh? Add these to your arsenal: Chocolate Covered Berries Milkshake-O Creamy Vanilla Strawberry Vanilla Shakeology #health #recipe #fitness

When I was told that I wouldn't be involved in any aspect of my 30th birthday, my mind started racing... But, but, what about the decor?! The layout of the house?! The events of the evening?! THE FOOD?!?! One of my biggest, ahem, concerns, if you will, was the food. I am a picker—a mini cupcake, poppable appetizer, finger food kind of gal. On top of that, I like to snack on the healthier side. Talk about a challenge for late night party food! My party planners proclaimed a big ol' "Challenge Accepted!" and delivered the most Pinterest-esque finger food spread I had ever seen. I would be doing a serious injustice to the party-planning and foodie world if I didn't provide a breakdown of every single delectable dish on that table. Eat your heart out, Martha Stewart. Pepperoni Twirls from Dizzy, Busy & Hungry {You see those little pockets of heaven off to the left? Yea, those were a foodie favorite. And the perfect late LATE night snack as you wrap up in the wee hours of the night {morning, whatever}. Tip: serve with warm marinara sauce!} Inspired by Mediterranean Cucumber Cups from The Three Little Piglets {Only, sprinkle in some pepperoncini's, layer with hummus on the bottom, and then fill to the brim with your med-mixture.} Antipasto Skewers from The Weary Chef & Satay Chicken Skewers from The Nest {My one input on food was: finger, fancy & skewered. Nailed it!} Spinach Dip Bites from Lil Luna {Okay, so these weren't the h e a l t h i e s t thing on the menu, but there's spinach in it, so it half counts, right!? Besides, the flavor combo is way worth it, and the mini size keeps you from OD'ing...if you have restraint.} Giada's Mini Eggplant Parmesan from Food Network {Like savory little pizzas without the heavy crust, but still with a crunchy crust! These were a top contender for "must-have-again" favorite.} Inspired by Asian Crab Salad Croustades {sans crab} from The Passionate Cook {I love anything with an Asian flair {it's in my blood, ya know} and these were so incredibly fresh and, to quote Katy Perry, "Japanesey" {not an actual word and makes my skin crawl, but there you have it}—they were a win, win!} Bloody. Mary. Shrimp. Shooters. from Man Titlement {I added the periods for emphasis - because, Y A ' L L. Three of my favorite things in one: bloody mary's, mini-everything and seafood. Now this is a shot this 30-year-old will do!} I wish I could tell you there was a place you could purchase these delicious mini cuppycakes, but I can *hopefully* say that they will be coming to a local bakery at s o m e point in my lifetime, because these beauties deserve to be in a window front. And in my belly, on demand. I wish I had a picture of the intricately stunning cake, but alas, that IS in my belly. Photo cred: Renee Hollingshead Photography Food spread: Courtesy of my foodie of sis who missed her calling as a critic {or chef}, my Ma who broke out of her normal food-box, and my besties who can always whip up something Pinterest-worthy! Cake/Cupcakes: Erin Horton Poff - coming soon to an Etsy shop near you... (right?!) ;-) #recipe #health #hostessinspo

Let me preface this post with a big fat two-part disclaimer: 1.) I am N O T a chef, cook or nutritionist. I credit my food-making abilities to Pinterest, my Kitchen Aid mixer, and creativity. Sometimes I get a resounding, "mmmmhmm-can't-speak-too-busy-making-mmmhmmm-sounds", and sometimes I get the infamous, "you know what would be great on this? Old Bay." {aka, I need to drown this "unique-flavor" with the almighty potent spice of the eastern shore} Ya win some, ya Old Bay some. 2.) I am N O T a photographer, of any shape, size or sector. This includes food. Especially food. So excuse my foodie snaps—I promise it's always more appetizing than it may look. Now that we've gotten the housekeeping items out of the way, let's get to cookin'! Or, crockin', in this case. I found this recipe on Pinterest {shocker} and was instantly intrigued. "Best Chili on Earth"? That's a bold statement. Now, the hubs claims to l o v e my usual chili recipe, so I was reluctant to switch it up, but we were having company over and I didn't have much time to tend to the stove so I needed a full-proof crockpot chili. This was the most frequent and highly acclaimed crockpot chili on Pinterest—I just HAD to know if it was the "best on earth." I followed Pip & Ebby's chili to a T, except the following omissions: I only did one jalapeno pepper instead of two, since one of our "guests" was a wee lad and I didn't want to overwhelm them with spice. I used 2T parsley flakes instead of 1/4 cup of fresh flat-leaf parsley because, again, not a chef, and who the heck has fresh parsley on hand? I went the ground chicken route, mostly because we're just ground chicken type of people {we don't find ground turkey to hold flavor as well}. I left out the pinto beans because the hubs has just recently ventured into the world of beans and I didn't want to over-bean him. The only addition I made was, in my opinion, a chili MUST: beer. It ain't chili unless it has that aromatic beer flavor. Lagers are my favorite, especially seasonal lagers because they come with a whole burst of added spices. I popped open a Leinenkugel Octoberfest and poured about 1/2 a cup in to the chili that was brewing in the crockpot. {If I have to tell you what to do with the rest of the beer, we need to have a little sit down chat.} Otherwise, I followed Pip & Ebby's play-by-play, taking the crockpot route and simmering for 8 hours on low. The verdict? Pretty dang good! Best on earth? For some, maybe. Did it absolutely blow my socks off? There was a strong wind, but I'm not sure they blew off. However, one of my guests did say, "this is REALLY good", not once, but twice. The first time I always accept as a courtesy, but if they're so inclined to say it again, then dang, it must be good! The hubs also approved, and the recipe has officially been added to my Tried & Tested arsenal on Pinterest. The Best Chili on Earth Serves: 12 Total time: 8-9 hrs (slow cooker) or 2 1/2 hr (stovetop) 2 pounds ground beef, turkey or venison {I used 2 lbs. of ground chicken} 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 yellow or white onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped {I used 2T of parsley flakes} 2 jalapeño peppers, finely chopped (optional) {I only used 1 jalapeno to make it more kid-friendly} 3 tablespoons chili powder 2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon oregano 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black ground pepper 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 46-oz. can tomato juice 28-oz. can diced tomatoes 15-oz. can tomato sauce 16-oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed 16-oz. can pinto beans, drained and rinsed {Omitted} {Added 1/2 cup of beer} Shredded cheese and sour cream, for topping Instructions: In a large skillet, cook ground meat over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Transfer the meat to a bowl. Drain excess grease from skillet, but do not clean. Add the olive oil to the skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add the onion, green pepper, garlic, parsley and jalapeño peppers (if using). Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the chili powder, cumin, sugar, oregano, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Stir until combined. If cooking the chili stovetop, add the cooked meat back to the skillet. If you are using a slow cooker, add everything to the slow cooker. Add the tomato juice, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans and pinto beans. On stovetop, bring to a boil, dial back to medium-low and simmer for 2 hours. In slow cooker, cook on low for 7 to 8 hours. Serve warm with cheese and sour cream. {And biscuits/rolls - duh. #recipe

For those who couldn't be there—there's nothing I can say that these pictures and videos won't say for me. Welcome to a peak behind the biggest surprise of our {and all of guests'} lives! Our gender {slash - quantity} reveal was captured by the incredible Renee Hollingshead Photography, who tells a story in every shot!! {Videos by family & friends—I have no idea how they held the cameras that still through all of the excitement!} {All eyes on us!} {All eyes on the shocked crowd!!} {The Anticipation} {The Reveal} {The first reveal...} {The second big reveal...} {The After-Shock} I am SO thankful to have these pictures & videos so I can relive it over, and over, and over again. And not to mention - show our TWINS how very loved they were from the start. {Holy moly, ya'll - we're having twins!!!} Details on mini-themed food recipes, free photobooth printables, DIY boho-themed decor and more—coming soon! #Motherhood #Realtalk #life #rainbowbabies #pregnancy

A large part of starting this blog was to one day dive into my weight journey. Therapeutic? For sure. But inspirational? That's the ultimate goal. I am the epitome of the cliche, "If I can do it - you can do it." And I did it—it wasn't always puppies and unicorns {or fruit and rice cakes}—but I did it. For those who only know me today, you may be thinking, "What is this journey you speak of?" {because you all talk in ancient history lingo, right?} And for those who knew me "then"—you've been expecting this tell-all to come at some point, right? When I decided to change my body... my health... myself — I was 16 and had no guidance, no education, and NO idea where to start. As a result, I went balls-to-the-wall for one full day, working hard to cleanse myself of 16 years worth of build-up. Funny thing—it doesn't happen overnight. I woke up the next morning with a real arm injury {1,000 triceps reps too much for a newbie?!}, and felt completely defeated. "Forget it. I'll just stay like this forever." By the time I got old enough to really educate myself and learn from healthy surroundings, I realized one very valuable tidbit: It took my entire life to get this way. I would have to succumb to the fact that it may take just as long, or even twice as long, to reverse the effects. You have to start somewhere, and while nothing is scarier and more daunting then officially deciding to change your life, there's also nothing more exciting and exhilarating when you realize that YOU, and only you, have the power to do so. Don't get in your own way. Take control. At my heaviest I was 186. {Just so you know, my stomach did a little knotted flip-flop when I typed that. I rarely say that number out loud. And I just put it on the internet. I have contemplated erasing it two times already since I've been typing out this little inside freak-out moment. But I'll leave it. In the name of therapy. ::insert prayer hands emoji::} When I finally took control at 18 years old, I didn't do a crash diet; I didn't immediately join a gym; I didn't jump fat-first into this healthy-change — I weened into it. It's been a long, constantly evolving, overwhelmingly educating experience. I did it — in my mind — the "right" way. The right way for ME. I didn't want to do a "diet" because a diet, to me, was a temporary fix. I wasn't looking for temporary. I was looking for a lifetime lifestyle change. After 10+ years of changing my life, of daily battles, of yo-yo enthusiasm, and inevitable ups-and-downs, these are, at the core, my top ten health hacks for how I got from "then", to "now." 1.) Don't Worry, Be Happy: I wasn‘t like a diehard Oprah fan growing up... until, I was. She wasn’t really an afternoon staple in our house, but damn if woman didn't creep into my life and change it anyway. On the occasion that she was on the television screen in the background as I did homework {gabbed with my friends on AIM} after school, I happened upon an episode when she proclaimed that losing weight wasn't about a diet or a workout regimen - it was about being happy. When you're happy, the weight melts off, she said. "HA! If only it was that easy," I thought. But then - it was. I started dating my now husband when I was 16 years old. By 18 I had {magically} lost 15 pounds, just by being...happy. So my first health hack is: find your happiness. (And watch Oprah.) 2.) Educate Yourself: Wait, so a Caesar salad ISN'T the healthiest option on the menu?! What do you MEAN it's one of the WORST?! I feel completely duped. Duped, I tell ya! Forget everything you t h i n k you know about food, and REALLY educate yourself. In today's technologically-equipped and health-conscious world, it's easier than ever to brush up on your nutritional knowledge. I learned from this little program that's been around the block a few times: Weight Watchers. I credit WW for teaching me everything I needed to know about what amount of calories, fat and fiber work for my body, at my age, and at my activity level. So you're telling me I should only eat 1/3 of the amount of calories I typically eat a day? And they should be filled with twice as much fiber as I was actually getting? Huh, who knew?! Welp, now I do. And once you know, you can ever "un"-know. Trust me—you will forever count calories, calculate points and glance at nutritional information...even 10 years after completing your 3-month love affair with WW. 3.) Stand Strong: Not just on your eating habits, but against the naysayers and nitpickers. The mockers. It's going to happen—even though everyone who loves you really, really does support you, there is going to be some mockery. "Oooh, little miss, 'I can only order salads and eat half of it' is splurging on a chip! Someone document it." Or, "Can you eat this? Should I eat this? I shouldn't eat this if you're not eating it, right? Oh well, I'm not on a life diet like you." And, of course, "She probably binges and purges. Or does drugs. No one is that disciplined." Stand. Strong. Call it jealousy, call it their own demons coming out to haunt them, call it whatever you want and need to in order to stand. strong. This isn't for them, not even in the SLIGHTEST. This is for you, so who the hell cares what anyone else says or thinks. 4.) Never Finish: You are almost always full before you think you are. You don't need that last bite—is it really going to be the difference between feeling absolutely fulfilled or still feeling hungry? Likely, it's not going to make a difference at all - so leave it be. Eventually you'll ween yourself off and find out how much you R E A L L Y need to eat to be satisfied, and you'll be surprised at how much {or little} it really it. So, always leave a bite, or two, or three. 5.) Take a Break: Whether you're at the dinner table, a restaurant, sitting on the couch, mingling at a cookout, or any other food-eating atmosphere - don't scarf down your meal in one sitting. Eat half, then take a break. Read a chapter of a book, gossip with your friends at the table, drink a full glass of water, or set your meal down and come back to it later {just make sure it's well hidden and secure!}. You may find that you're full enough and don't want to finish it. Or, you may find that you want to nibble a little more after a while - but that way you're not DOUBLEY eating, you're simply finishing your first {and only} meal. 6.) Surrender: When you start to feel full but it's just. SO. good. And you can't physically stop yourself - have a "surrender" signal. Mine is putting my napkin on top of my meal—gross, I'm clearly not going to eat it now. Or, turn your fork over. This is the symbol that you're "done" in Europe, and it should also be the symbol for your brain and stomach. Napkin on, fork over, done and done. There's nothing worse than feeling so full that all you can manage is to lay out on the couch—so don't even go there! Wave that white flag {or white napkin} and surrender! 7.) Snack. A LOT.: I always have snacks with me. ALWAYS. If I don't, I get hungry—and you won't like me when I'm hungry. Not kidding, it's in my blood, we turn into the hulk. Having snacks handy will ensure that you always have something on hand when you need a nibble, and that way you won't GORGE when you do finally get to something edible. My go-to snacks are nut mixes, 100 calorie packs, granola bars and whole fresh fruit (apple, banana). You will find them in my purse, my work bag, the center console of my car, my glove box, my coat pockets, my desk drawer—e v e r y w h e r e. They are everywhere short of my bed, because the hubby hates a crumby bed. 8.) Hydrate. And then rehydrate.: 9 times out of 10, you're not hungry, you're thirsty. I have trained myself to be a fish—I literally cannot go more than 30 minutes (sometimes less) without taking a gulp of something, unless I'm sleeping, and even then I have to have an emergency refresher by my bedside. It may be hard to adapt to being an aquatic animal at first, but like everything on this list, you will train yourself over time. Make it easy to suck down the liquids—I use special bottles {Voss #ftw}, add-ins (fresh lemons, Crystal Light To-go's, Mio, Dasani Drops, etc.), and sometimes I get fancy and sparkle. 9.) "Cheat." "Splurge." Allow: I don't like to call it a "cheat" meal, because what exactly am I cheating on? I'm not on a "diet" so I'm not "cheating" on that. I'm not "splurging" just because I'm allowing myself to have a treat. Cheating and splurging indicates that you are doing something wrong, and you're not. ALLOW yourself to have the goodness in life. I don't have a specific day, or meal, or amount—there's no definition to my "allowance". If I want it, I have it. And I try my damnedest not to beat myself up for it afterwards {sometimes I am not successful, but sometimes I do allow a wee too much. Whoopsie! Human over here.}. Truth be told - you find yourself "allowing" less and less when you see how AMAZING it feels to live a healthier life. Sure, I could have that cheeseburger and large fry, and I could definitely devour three slices of that loaded pizza, and you're kidding if you don't think I could KILL that massive tower of cheesecake - but you know what would feel even better? A bite of the cheeseburger, or four fries, or one thin slice of veggie pizza, or a forkfull of cheesecake bliss {not all together now, sheesh}...all accompanied by a healthier more filling option like a hearty salad and a bowl of strawberries {because who doesn't love strawberries & cheesecake?!}. Sure, in the moment you'll want MORE MORE MORE of that fatty goodness, but tomorrow you'll REGRET REGRET REGRET—save yourself the angst, while still enjoying a bit of the goodness. It's a win-win! 10.) Don't Let Me Fool You: Do I follow ALL of these, 24/7, 365?! Do I look like a robotic vampire to you? {But really, how cool would that be?} I too say, "screw Oprah", I don't even pretend to glance at the nutritional information, I scarf everything on my plate {and even some off my hubby's}, I replace hydration with swirly drinks, I lick that cheesecake plate CLEAN, and I too become a naysayer—I. am. human. Just like you. It's an everyday, back and forth, debate and debacle, struggle and win, challenge. It's the best and worst game I've ever played. But is it worth it? You bet your worked-hard-for-this, ass, it is. #fitness #health

It's officially 2016 and you have grandiose plans about how this year is going to go... But, we're a measly two days in and you've already snuck a bite of those Christmas cookies you should have tossed, or you haven't even cracked the surface on your treadmill/closet clean-out/new year-new you plan. I'm here to tell you that it's totally okay. As perfectionists living in a world where social media glorifies what life "should" look like, we have become our own biggest critics—more than ever. Our bodies, hair, nails, wardrobe, relationships, Christmas trees, desk, calendars, Instagram snaps, plates of food, 2016 resolutions—everything must be pristine, colorful, positive and picture perfect. But life is full of bloopers with behind the scenes shots of laundry baskets filled to the brim, messy buns {and not the imperfectly cute kind}, chipped nails, cupcakes for breakfast, screaming matches, takeout five nights a week {or cereal for dinner five nights a week}, cursing photoshop to hell, and wine—more wine than is appropriate to glorify on Instagram. So, as we enter a fresh year, one where social media will remain the ruler of all things {seemingly} perfect, I beg of you to remember that it's totally okay... To wait until January 4th to start that "New Year—New You" mantra. Who wakes up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on New Years Day? I for one wake up exhausted, slightly hungover, craving a greasy cheeseburger, and dreaming of one thing—the couch. I'm thinking the new me would scoff at the idea of starting fresh on a weekend of R&R, so I'll wait to embrace her on Monday. To say NO. You can't be everything to everybody. Let's be real - you can't even be some things to everybody. At some point you have to say NO to an offer, luncheon, brunch, client, date, party, project, or whatever else is thrown your way. Your FOMO will fade and you'll have more time to enjoy the things you do say yes to. I promise this will change your life. If you pin—but never win. Look, Pinterest is supposed to be a place to spark creativity - not a place of shame to make you feel like a failure because you never finished {or even started} that homemade holiday wreath. If lunch isn't a salad in a jar and dinner isn't crock-potting away and you haven't finished your 1000th jumping jack for the day—it's okay. It's also okay to continue pinning on top of the 10,000 pins you haven't accomplished yet. Keep those creative juices flowing. That you didn't finish that project you set out to accomplish in 2015. You're lucky enough to be here for another year, so it's not a wash, it's just an extended deadline. And the best part is, the hardest part is over - getting started. To put up a social front. Those {seemingly} perfect lives we all see on social - it's okay to partake in the "front" they present. No one really wants to see the negative drama BTS - if so, it would be called "anti-social media." There's nothing wrong with showing the best parts of your life, given that they're not completely staged and fake. Don't live a make-believe social-only life - make sure it actually mimics the best part of your life that is truly happening... And then feel free to leave out the detail about how right before that perfectly styled picture of you posing against a brick wall your Instagram husband said, "okay, go" with all the lackluster enthusiasm in the world. To start small. You don't have to lose all five pounds {okay, six. fine, seven. FINE, eight.} that you gained through the last quarter of 2015 {aka, eating season} in the first two weeks of 2016. You don't have to sign-up for a half-marathon right out of the gate. The house doesn't need to be completely renovated by Valentine's Day. And your new business doesn't need to be off the ground and running by Spring. But you DO have to start somewhere - so start small. Download theFitness Pal app to track your calories; sign up for a 5K; pick one room to redo and go from there; and at least open the Business Plan Pro wizard. Don't set yourself up for failure - it's okay to take one tiny step at a time, as long as you're stepping, period. If you're already counting down to your next day off. 15 days until MLK Jr. Day. But who's counting? It's also okay if you already put in to take off on March 4 to binge watch season 4 of House of Cards. Underwood for President! If you're having the hardest time parting with that fashion statement that all of the fashion-powers-that-be say to toss for 2016. Long live pastel hair, coachella-inspired music festival fashion, and suede. Also, I just started "mastering" contouring, so I'll be sticking with that cheeky goodness for a bit. Let's also remember that trends don't hit the level of us "real" people for a good year—in which case, we're right on track. I'm going to leave you with some of my favorite words from the ever wise... Bethenny Frankel. Namaste, 2016. Psst... More fuel to your 2016 resolution-fire: 10 Health Hacks: How I Changed My Body, My Life Commit to Fit: The 6 Commitments That Helped Me Lose 80 Pounds #Realtalk #life #Hair #health #fashion

When the hubs and I finally got pregnant {and it stuck!}, I was hell-bent on doing whatever I could to protect the baby - even if that meant not working out {for an avid-fitness girl, this would be HARD, but having this babe was WAY more important}. To my surprise, my doctors encouraged me to workout - even asking, "are you still running? I hope so!" every time they saw me. Except for a three-week stint when I was on "light" rest to help the embryo really bury in and settle, I maintained a near-normal workout routine through the first trimester. Naturally, when I found out I was pregnant and was allowed to workout, I took to Pinterest ASAP! I wanted to pin every single baby-friendly first trimester workout I could find. What I really wanted was for someone to tell me exactly what workout to do every day for the next couple of months. And while I found some incredible workouts, I didn't find many full-blown schedules. I also wanted someone to tell me if 10 lbs. was too much, plyo was out of the question, and what pace I should run at {and what pace I shouldn't go over}. Every single person said, "do what's right for your body." Huh!? But how will I know?? Well, now I know. You just do. I know that's vague and slightly annoying, but trust me - once you get started you will know. You'll notice that your usual 7mph pace takes your breath away much quicker than before; your 10lb hand weights now feel like 50lbs; and psychologically you don't feel comfortable doing any supermans because you don't want to squish the babe! Feel it out - TRUST your body, and listen to your mind. If it freaks you out, don't do it! But that doesn't mean you can't push yourself - just back off when your body {or babe} say whoaaaa buddy. From one first-time-mom to another: you will know. Nonetheless, I chronicled every workout for the first trimester - including notes about what I could still rock, what I should probably rotate out of my calendar, and when things started to get uber hard. Luckily, like I said, I maintained pretty much my norm through the first. The second will be a different story {I can already tell} - but don't you worry, I'm chronicling that, too ;-) Here's every workout I did for each day that I worked out in the first trimester - including links to almost every workout! 140 lbs *Positive pregnancy test on the third day of Week 4!!* Day 1: 5 mile run {I hit a PR this day! Ran 6-9mph. Little did I know life was about to change...} & 2:00 plank Day 2: Tone it Up (TIU) Kettletoning with a 10-15lb. Kettlebell & 2:00 plank Day 3: PiYo Sweat, TIU Daily WO {ab workout - skipped plank jacks; swapped out for ankle taps} & 2:10 plank {this was all after getting the call that we were pregnant (!!!!), hence skipping the plank jacks. Nervous-nettie, party of one!} **Tip: sign-up for TIU and you'll get a new quick Daily WO every day - it always changes, so there's no way to link back to them.** Day 4: 3 mile treadmill HIIT {made up} = 27:15 & TIU Daily WO Day 5: Jillian Michael Kickbox Upper, TIU Daily WO {arms}, TIU Toned Arms, TIU Bikini Abs {got hard at the end with on-back exercises so modified a little} & 2:15 plank {Umm, was I insane this day!? I'll have to use these as inspo post-pregnancy - like, see what you used to do!} Day 6: TIU Exclusive WO Tone HIIT Up {20 minutes}, TIU Total Body {14 minutes}, & TIU Daily WO {full body} - no modifications but limbs felt heavier and I lost breath easier Day 7: REST 138.9 lbs Day 1: 4.5 mile run {6mph, 6.5, 7, then back down to 6 and then only .100 mile sprints at 7, 7.5, and 8, opposed to my normal .250 mile sprints (1 lap) - couldn't stick out the usual sprints at the end; too winded and didn't have the energy, but still made it through and felt great!} & TIU Daily WO {abs} & 2:00 plank Day 2: TIU Kettletoning {mostly with 15lb. kettlebell - some 10lb.}, TIU Daily WO {full body} & 2:15 plank {felt great through all!} Day 3: Incline Interval HIIT - Sweaty Mess {loved!!} - Modified to run 1-10 minutes starting at 6mph and increased .5mph every 2 minutes, at 2 incline; completed 10-38 as listed = 2.7 miles & 2:20 plank Day 4: Turbo Fire Core 20 {mostly standing, which is great!} & TIU Bootycall from BB3 {TOUGH! Not my usual strength and endurance. I took this one out of my workout line-up after this!} Day 5: REST - bad cramps, shooting pains and spotting Day 6: 2 mile run {6-8mph} = 17:41, TIU Arm Routine Pin x2, TIU Bikini Yoga {16 minutes}; 2:00 plank & :30 side plank {each side} Day 7: REST 138.9 lbs Day 1: 4 mile run {rough, little energy, winded easier} & 1/2 mile incline walk to 4.5 miles Day 2: TIU BB3 Total Body {25 minutes} - used mostly 10lb weights; modified laying abs with sitting abs {v-sits}. Pushed through even though nausea started to set in this day! Day 3: 1.7 mile walk outside with 5lb weights & TIU Exclusive WO Body Bliss {did drop set when needed and modified floor abs to do on my elbows} Day 4: Treadmill Shredmill HIIT through 4th set & then more {side walks and free weights} - 35 minutes = 2.17 miles Day 5: TIU BB3 Arms & 2:00 plank {tired!} Day 6: Docs put me on "no intense workout" regimen until further notice... Day 7: REST 138.9 lbs Day 1: REST Day 2: REST Day 3: TIU Toned Arms {x1 - 10lb. weights} & TIU Inner Thighs Pin {x1} - took my time and didn't push myself Day 4: TIU Bikini Body Routine Pin {x1 - 8-10lb. weights} Day 5: REST Day 6: TIU Arm Routine Pin Day 7: TIU Inner Thighs Pin {x1} & TIU Bikini Abs {skipped hardcore floor work at the end} 138.9 lbs Day 1: REST Day 2: 20 minute leisure walk at lunch {outside} & TIU Toned arms {x2 - first time with 10lbs., second with 8lbs.} Day 3: REST Day 4: REST Day 5: REST Day 6: 20 minute walk 3-4.5mph with inclines & 3lb. hand weights = 1.2 miles Day 7: REST *Looking back, it pains me to look at this week - my inner-psyche that was trained to workout has a pit in its stomach. BUT, during my "rest" period, I remember feeling completely at ease about it - anything for the babe!!* 141.1 lbs {finally on the move!} Day 1: REST Day 2: TIU Toned Arms Pin {x3 - 10lb., 8lb., 8lb. - skipped bands move on second and third round} & 2:00 plank Day 3: 1 mile incline walk {3.5-4mph at 6-12 incline} with 5lb. weights & TIU Best Abs Routine 15-20 reps each move {modified bird plank to be on knees} Day 4: TIU Daisy Duke Pin {x2} Day 5: *Graduation Day from Shady Grove Fertility!! Officially approved to get back in the game!* 2 mile jog {4-6.5mph} & TIU Bikini Arms {x1 - 10lb. weights; 20 reps each move} Day 6: SO sore! Hurts to get back in the game. TIU Beach Yoga {20 minutes} & 1st Trimester Core WO by FitMommy Day 7: REST 141.1 lbs Day 1: 3.5 mile run {4-6.5mph} - felt good! Note to myself: Not as much "oomph" as I used to have, but stick with it and go at your own pace - get over the 1 mile hump! Day 2: TIU BB3 Beach Bombshell {8-10lb. weights} Day 3: Turbo Fire 30 - felt great! Then super sore at night. Day 4: Turbo Fire 40 Stretch - much needed! Day 5: PB Fingers HIIT: 30 minute treadmill workout {modified to run less mph and do walks at inclines} - 30 minutes = 2.707 miles; not bad with 10 minutes of walking! Day 6: 1.5 mile walk outside with 5lb.weights Day 7: 2:00 plank {this was a rest day but I threw it in there, because, what's 2 minutes?!} 142.9 lbs {gained exactly 4lbs in the first trimester} Day 1: 3.5 mile run {5mph for 1/4 mile, 5.5 for 1/4 mile, 6 for 1.5 miles, 6.5 for 1 mile, 7 for 1/4 mile, 5-6 for last 1/4 and then cool down walk at 3-4mph for 1/4 mile} = 34:53 & 2:00 plank Day 2: TIU BB3 Beachball & TIU Bikini Abs/Arms Video {6 minutes} - felt "normal" for the first time in weeks!! Day 3: TIU BB3 Kettlebells {used 15lb. weight as much as possible but had to drop to 8-10 sometimes} Day 4: Treadmill HIIT - 30 minute incline/interval HIIT {made up!} = 2.520 miles Day 5: TIU Beach Yoga, TIU Bikini Arms & TIU Toned Arms {8-10lb. weights} - great arm day! Day 6: 1.8 mile walk outside with 5lb. weights Day 7: REST Next up: second trimester workout schedule! I switched from doing tons of TIU {which started to get too ply and HIIT-happy for me & babe} to dabbling back to my BeachBody On Demand subscription {totally worth it! Tons of videos at your fingertips}. Get ready for some P90x3, a little 21 Day Fix, and tons of PiYo {because, low impact, lean muscles, and core strengthening}! Until then - remember to talk to you doctor about a workout regimen that works for YOU! #workout #pregnancy #health #life #fitmom #fitness

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought I would share my super sweet {in taste & gesture} Pink Champagne Cupcake Recipe! And by "my", I mean, adapted by Sassy Mama in LA. {You may remember these pink-beauts when they made their appearance in my inaugural blog post} The shamps not only adds a moist-meets-fluff factor from the bubbly, but using pink shamps brings just a tinge of extra of sweetness. This may sound odd...but I can almost TASTE the pink. And do you know what pink tastes like?! Sweet, sugary, angelic romance. Yep, all of that just by biting into these bitty-cakes. Now, I know what you're thinking—why would my manly-man enjoy a mouthful ofpink? Trust me, it does something to make your heart pitter-patter and melt, all at once. BUT, if your man is just u t t e r l y repulsed by eating something pink {Hi, Daddio!}, feel free to dye it black—like his soul. {Just kidding...sort of.} What's e v e n better about adding shamps to cupcakes? The recipe doesn't call for the whole bottle—so, by all means, if the shamps is popped, pour yourself a glass! {Don't mind if I do... Cheers!} Hubs, wifey, fiance, gf, bf, bestie, workplace, girls' night in—whoever or whatever the recipient—pop the shamps {pour yourself a glass}, follow this recipe {sip another glass}, and get your fizzy-cake on {accompanied by that last glass}. Pink Champagne Cupcakes {NC notes in pink!} Makes: 18-24 Cupcakes Total Time: Approximately 30 minutes Ingredients 1 Box of Class White Cake Mix 1 1/4 C + 3T of Pink Champagne 3 Egg Whites 1/3 C Oil Pink Food Coloring {drop to your likeness of pink!} 1 Container of Vanilla Frosting Optional: frilly sprinkle decor for topping Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners {Note: you may not end up using all cupcake slots}. In a large mixing bowl, add the dry cake mix, 1 1/4 C pink champagne, egg whites and oil. This is where you have to make the decision between pink, or black {or any other color that suits your valentine's preference}—once that decision is made, add as many drops of food coloring as you'd like until the batter is coloriffic. Now, at this point it always comes to the "mix with a mixer for 3-minutes on medium" step—yea, yea, mixer, smixer. Unless it's made from scratch, I'm not busting out the mixer. I whip out my trusty whisk or cake spatula and get in my arm workout for the day. Mix until no lumps appear, approximately 2-3 minutes {I suggest switching arms before the starting mixing arm falls off into the batter}. Fill the cupcake liners approximately 2/3 of the way up—do NOT fill to the top or your cupcake will overflow. And that is w a s t e d champagne, people. #partyfoul Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. While you cool your 'cakes on a wire rack, "whip" up the frosting {I use "whip" lightly, as you're really just opening a tub of ready-made icing} by transferring the contents of the container to a small mixing bowl and add in 3T of champagne. Yes, it will bubble, but it will settle as you stir - so gets to mixin'! Once combined, pop in the fridge so it thickens back up a bit while your cupcakes completely cool. Once your cuppy-cakes are cooled, grab the icing, fancify it as you'd like {I used Wilton Tip #106}, and ice each pink fluffy mound. Optional: Top with extra decor {I used a mix of CakeMate Silver & Gold "Glitter", Wilton Pink Sparkling Sugar & Cake Mate Classic Pearls. Go big or go home!} Now you are free to indulge in your pink champagne cupcakes {hey, if you made them for yourself, no one is judging—we're our own first & forever Valentine, right?} or package them up to pass on to your 2015 crush. Mine just so happens to be the same one as in 2014...and 2013...and all the way back to 2002 <3 Happy Valentine's Day, lovers! #recipe

If you're on the east coast right now, you are getting slammed with dreary, rain-soaking, want-to-stay-in-bed-all-day weather {Thanks, Joaquin}. But I have a reason for you to get out of bed—even if it's just for 10 minutes to throw together this warm, comforting, Crockpot Balsamic Chicken. And by "throw together," I really do mean, throw together - with any canned, jarred or frozen ingredients you have on hand. You know the saying "everything but the kitchen sink?" That totally applies here. The base of this recipe is chicken breast and a balsamic glaze that is too die for. Everything else is free game. Feeling Italian? Go for tomatoes, onions, garlic & fresh hearty herbs like basil. Feeling Greek? Go for olives, peppers, red onions & oregano. In this case, I was feeling, "ooooh, look, this might go good!" I raided the pantry, the fridge and the freezer for this flavor-packed hearty meal that was ready in 10 minutes...plus 4 hours of simmer time. Balsamic "Pantry" Chicken in the Crockpot Servings: 4-6 Total time: 10 minutes, plus 4 hours Ingredients 4-6 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts {thawed, if frozen} 1 medium onion, sliced thinly 1 can tomato, okra, corn mix {juices included} 1 can artichoke hearts {I poured out most of the juice and reserved a tiny bit for extra flavor} 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 4 cloves of fresh garlic {or, if you're lazy like me...2 Tbsp of jarred chopped garlic} 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 tsp each: oregano, basil and rosemary 1/2 tsp thyme 1 pinch red pepper flakes {or a couple pinches - we like spice!} S&P to taste Instructions Spray crockpot with Pam (or greaser of choice) & set crockpot to High. Drizzle in olive oil, then lay in chicken breasts {flat} and sprinkle with S&P. Top with sliced onions, pantry/freezer findings, sprinkle on garlic and remaining seasonings. {Basically, throw the rest of the ingredients BUT the balsamic vinegar in the pot.} Drizzle everything with balsamic vinegar. Set and forget for four hours! Depending on the flavors you went with, you can serve over rice, quinoa, pasta, orzo, or eat by it's lonesome! The above version touts less than 200 calories per cup, before the "base" {in my case I served over quinoa & drizzled with a Tbsp of balsamic glaze}. Rainy days may be dreary, but at least they're delicious! Psst...More delicious comfort food: Deemed the "Best Chili on Earth" #recipe #hostessinspo #health