Here's what I've got, babe...

I love, love, LOVE a good romper. My Spring & Summer wardrobes contain quite the collection of rompers—so much so that their designated section {are you surprised that I have "designated sections" in my closet? I didn't think so.} takes up nearly a 1/4 of my closet from April to October. With this devoted love of rompers I can't possibly go without them from November to March, but the freezing temps in the DMV don't really lend to a romper's functionality—ie itty bitty shorts. When the temps tease of crisp Spring air, the romper-lover in me starts to itch for that comfortable yet fashionable one-piece. But alas, my closet still wreaks of my Fall & Winter wardrobes, aka, heavy, cozy, frigid-fighting layers. When it's not quite time to dip into the Spring totes, but you just M U S T romp-it-out tonight, put together this transitional getup that fulfills all needs {and romper dreams}. Dip into your Fall/Winter wardrobe & channel Blair Waldorf's love of tights, boots that serve as fashionable ankle-warmers {and gracefully hide the warm fuzzy socks beneath} and a cozy vest that doubles as a warming layer & an understated "coat." You're fulfilling your hankering for rompers, keeping your current wardrobe in-tact & leaving the option to shed that outer layer in the case that Spring teases with that random day of warmth in March. It's a fashion win-win-win. This boho-meets-vintage look screamed for a hippy-meets-Brigitte Bardot 'do {say that five time fast}. Half crown braid + center part = the perfect modern-Bardot baby. Romper: Langford Market {no longer available} Similar & Similarly WANT // Vest: Wet Seal {an A N C I E N T find & one of my most prized bargain buys at $7!!} Similar {& MAJ sale} & Similar // Tights: Target {the B E S T—soft, stretchy & perfect thickness. I only have them in about 12 colors...} // Boots: Kohl's {oldies} Similar & Ca-UTE // Watch: Amazon, Similar & Yesss {all things elephant} // Rings: H&M, Forever21, gifted {random oldies} Similar {& p e r f e c t for this modern Bardot look—because Nicole Richie really is a modern Bardot.} & Similar // Necklace: Forever21 {no longer available} Super Similar {and a two-for-one!} #fashion #beauty #shopping #accessories #style

Every girl has her go-to beauty regimen, bag of Mary Poppin tricks & new finds that she's o b s e s s e d with. I, of course, take obsession to a whole new level. When I find a product I love I devote my life, spending money, hair, skin & nails to that product. Sure, I add a newbie into the mix every now & then, but seldom does it make the every day rotation. You've got to be GOOD—real good—to make that list. Needless to say, these top ten must have beauty products are T H A T good. You'll notice that there aren't any hair products on this list... Silly rabbit, don't you know me well enough by now?! There's a whole top ten dedicated to those must haves. Your flaky skin, dry hair, stagnant complexion, cracked lips, limp lashes & pasty skin will rue the day they met this list... 1. Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel {$32} - I can't tell you how many years ago I added this to my regimen, but I can tell you that it will never, ever, leave. And if it tries, I will findddd youuuu {nod to Wedding Crashers...anyone? Anyone?}. The best way I can explain this is that it's like milk for your face—it just quenches the heck out of your skin, & you're instantly oh-so-baby-soft. 2. Coastal Scents 22 Piece Brush Set {$32} - Once upon a time I had a gorgeous set of make-up brushes from Sephora on my Christmas list. Of course they cost way more than my face really deserves {let's be honest} & I didn't really do my research to see if they lived up to their pricetag. Enter the hubs—researcher extraordinaire—who came across this seemingly incredible deal on Amazon for a massive set of brushes that had 4.5 stars. Come Christmas morning I open said set of brushes that was NOT on my original list—skeptical, party of one! But all it took was one swipe across my cheek & I was SOLD. These are the b e s t brushes I've ever owned, & I have been around the block with some make-up brushes. At that price you can replenish every year—not that you would need to because they hold up amazingly! Bottom line: buy the brushes, and always trust your hubby's researching abilities. 3. Aquafor {$4} - I used to be a faithful Burt's Bees girl, & although it's still in a periodic rotation, this little tube gave it the regular rotation boot. I credit this marvelous find to my step-sis who swore up & down that it would patch every crack in your lips. Sunburn, windburn, winter cracks, summer chaps—this cures all. And yea, it's a measly $4 at your local drugstore, so stock up—for life. 4. Younique Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lashes {$29} - Remember how I got around with make-up brushes? Well, just consider me the pimp of mascara, because my bevy of tubes was nearly embarrassing. I had four varying kinds in my make-up kit at all times, with a sampler waiting in the wings to mix it up whenever I felt the usual tubes weren't cutting it. And then someone says, "you should try fibers!" One glance at a before & after & I was hooked. The proof is in the pudding...or, in this case, in the fibers. I love those little shreds of magic! Trust me on this one, the price, the oddity of painting fibers {of what look like shreds of carpet} on your lashes & the double tube application is every bit worth it the second you see your lashformation. 5. Coconut Oil {$9} - This isn't just a beauty product, it's a phenomenon. You can now find it anywhere from your local drugstore, to the grocery store, & even at bulk-buy warehouses like BJs and Sam's Club. And yes, yes you do want a massive tub of it, because you will go through it faster than you can say, "pass the coconut oil, please." How? Well, let's see, I've used it as a hair mask, while cooking or baking, on dry skin, to minimize mosquito-bite itching, & have heard tales of adding it to your coffee & using it on diaper rashes. You can literally put that shit on & in everything. E V E R Y T H I N G. 6. Kat Von D LadyBird True Romance Palette {No longer available ::sad face:: Similar & Similar} - Hi, my name is Nikki & I'm a total palette junkie. ::Hi, Nikki:: Ya see, palettes are like a beautiful collaboration of colors that just look so comfy cozy together that I just want to own them and give my face a chance to cuddle with them. Is that so much to ask?! My Christmas list is always laden with five+ palettes, and I use them all on rotation, as needed. But every now & then you come across a palette that you use once, maybe twice, maybe even t h r i c e a week! Now, I know this sounds crazy, but when you have 15+ palettes at your fingertips you don't want to show favorites, but, let's be real - a classic matte palette is just going to hit your make-up sweet spot. And this little LadyBird certainly did. 7. Pink Sugar Perfume {$30-$60} - While I also have at least 10+ scents on my vanity shelves at all times {half of which are of the Britney Spears variety—don't knock it 'til you've smelt it!}, this one is a l w a y s one of them. It's sweet, it's decadent & it just screams girly! *Shopping Score: scope it out at Nordstrom Rack or TJMaxx for half the price! 8. MAC Cosmetics: Prep + Prime Fix {$22} - When you work two jobs, are constantly on the go, by the end of the day your face starts to feel like it might crack from daylong stale make-up. No bueno! Spritz this little hydration-nation on your face and you will instantly be rejuvenated. It's more than water—it's magic in MAC bottle. 9. POND'S Cold Cream Cleanser {$4} - I'm going to let you in on a top family secret...come very, very close...closer now...POND'S, ya'll, POND'S. Yea, that tub of white cream that your grandma used to cake on her face—that's the stuff. Fun fact: Pond's cream was created all the way back in 1846, & there's a reason why it's still gracing drugstore shelves worldwide. It WORKS. My grandma used that stuff for as long as one can remember, & although she passed a couple years ago {insert heart emoji}, she did so with baby soft wrinkle-free skin. W R I N K L E-free, ya'll. Would I lie to you? No. Go buy some POND'S. 10. L'Oreal Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist {$8} - As a licensed cosmetologist I have access to some of the finest self-tanning products, & while I still remain faithful to Tan Towels, I could never find a spray that 1.) was inside my monthly self-tanning budget, 2.) didn't stink like rotten bananas, & 3.) left me with a bronze-glow & not an oompa-loompa inspired-tan. That's when a bestie turned me onto this drugstore buy {or, if you're like me, you subscribe to it on Amazon and it shows up on your doorstep every month like clockwork... Time to tan!} & I'll never go back. If I ever hear one word muttered about it being discontinued I will buy the lot of it & never live a pasty day. #beauty #hair #shopping

They "say" Spring is right around the corner... I'll believe it when I can see actual grass beneath the mounds of snow & ice. But, just in case, we should probably start stocking up on layered essentials to help us transition from Winter to Spring. Because who am I to deny a shopping opportunity? ::wink wink, nudge nudge, shop shop:: Here's to lightweight layers, pastels, curve-hugging dresses, tribal chic, jungle-inspired, airy romantic tops, classic trenches, rompers & so many more Spring trends I am d y i n g to purchase & pull out of the totes <3 Countdown to Daylight Savings, aka, the end of Winter depression: 7 days! Countdown to Spring: 18 days! Countdown to a new seasonal wardrobe: In Progress Dress: Target in Navy {peep your local Target before purchasing online—I got mine in-store for $11?} // Sweater: Old Navy {ancient} Similar & Similar {in a variety of colors} // Tights: Target {my absolute FAV tights—I only own about 47 colors. The softest, stretchiest & thickest tights. Not to mention the chipper chicken price {that's "cheap" for you non-Father of the Bride quoters}—if they tear, just buy another pair!} // Tan Suede Booties: Kohl's {couple seasons old, but forever classics—a must invest!} Similar & Spring-worthy! // Sunglasses: TJMaxx {oldies} Similar {almost spot on!} // Necklace: Wet Seal {oldie} Similar// Thick Bracelet: World Market {no longer available—check out other options in my Military Chic post!} // Stackable bracelets: Variety buys from Nordstrom Rack, Forever 21 and god knows where else—but don't worry, stackables are a dime a dozen—Similar & Similar {because, anything with an elephant} // Rings: Tribal Stackables - Forever21 {oldies}, but here's a recap on some others from my Flippy Floppy Hat post—Similar & MAJ {Wishlist} #fashion #shopping #style #beauty

Let's flashback a bit, shall we? Childhood—I played soccer, softball, volleyball and basketball year-round, with a passion...and with as little running as possible. The name of my game was defense, aka, hang back and let the opponent come to me. Teenage years—I failed my ROTC physical training test because I couldn't run the course fast enough {or finish at all...}. I quit almost all sports that required a timed-run as part of the tryout. And I sure as heck was not running for "fun." {I also didn't understand this relation of "running" and "fun"—whose idea of "fun" was that?!} Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman {your first taste of my Britney-obsession—don't even try to knock it}—"Fun Runs", aka, 5K's, were becoming all the rage. I joined my first ever gym and stepped onto my first treadmill. The longest I could run at a 5mph+ speed was maybe—M A Y B E—three minutes. Three minutes, ya'll! The thought of running nonstop for 10 minutes or *gasp* 3.2 miles was laughable. I laugh in the face of 5K's! {insert evil laugh} Catch up to today and I am a {self-proclaimed} bonafide runner. I have completed a countless number of those daunting 5K's, crossed the finish-line of my first half-marathon two years ago, knock out at least nine miles on the weekly, and I'm currently training for a 10-miler (that's 15K!) in April. And I did it all while nonstop running. That's over 2 1/2 hours of straight running—if you're counting. So, from a barely three minute jog, to a 13+ mile trot, I am proof that anyone, at any size, any age {yes, any age}, and with any level of determination can build their stamina and L O V E for running. It's actually—dare I say—FUN!! Now that you know you CAN run, let's add in the r e a l fun part! Running on a straight & narrow road, or especially on the never-ending tread, can be total boresville—even with the jammiest of jams {like Brit-Brit}. My go-to running technique not only keeps me super distracted, but also constantly confuses my body & muscles to keep my cardio routines super-fresh! And my surefire way not to tire of the same ol' HIITs over and over again? I compete with myself! "How far did I run last time with 'HIIT-tastic'? Oh, is that so? Well, I see your three miles and I raise you .2 miles! What now!?" {You do all have pep-talks with yourself before a workout, right?!} My love of HIITs {High Intensity Interval Training} has manifested over time, and while I have countless HIITs pinned, I have started to create my own to mix it up even more and evolve with my level of running! From beginner to speedy-Gonzalez, I'll sporadically be bringing you HIITs to add to your routine. Let's get HIIT-tastic, ya'll! #fitness #health

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

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

Winter has a way of depressing by suppressing. Everything from daylight, to warmth on your bones, to your drive to workout, to your will to eat well—it is all squashed by Winter. The days are shorter, unbearably colder, encourage layers {of body fat and clothing} & undoubtedly provoke the pantry-eater in you. There are no visions of poolside romps, beach body bikinis, endless fresh veggie & fruit options, or any drive-worthy factors to 'put the oatmeal cream pie down, and walk away from the pantry...' Now, before this completely demoralizes you and sends you into a Hostess Cakes-feast of Winter proportions {those powdered doughnuts though...}, let me turn this post around. There are only: 30 Days until Daylight Savings {helloooo sunshine!} 41 Days until Spring 107 Days until Memorial Day Weekend {unofficial kickoff to Summer} 137 Days until Summer! Which means, the time is N I G H to get this beach body started. And what better way to jump feet first into bikini-bliss than signing up for a 10-miler?! Say it with me now... CRAZY! Exciting! With a few 5K's sprinkled throughout, a 10-miler at the climax, and V E G A S as the ultimate reward, this ten week calendar will keep me in check and on track. Oh, and did I mention the Big 3-0 at the core of all of this? Well yea, there's that. So, whether you're counting down to sunshiney-days, spring break debauchery, a milestone birthday, a bucket list run, or some other form of light at the end of this bitter-cold tunnel, I hope this post restarts your engine & starts your kickass countdown! I'll also be joining a Clean Eating Challenge next week that will be sure to rid my Winter-bod of all of those holiday indulgences and prepare it for the road {or treadmill} to come. In the meantime, create your own countdown, download this training calendar {inspired by the infamous Hal Higdon training programs}, tailor it to your 2015 fitness bucket list & join me in springing forward—NOW! #fitness #health

You'll soon realize that I don't particularly have a "style." And if I do, it's nearly impossible to pinpoint and define. I like trendy...with a hint of flair—but not just one type of trend - e v e r y trend. I {always} put my own twist on every coveted wardrobe piece so that it works for me, my short little frame, my proud little curve, and my {ahem} lack-luster womanhood. What works for me may not work for you—and likewise, there are undoubtedly styles that I drool over that I just can't pull off {gauchos, circa 2003—it wasn't pretty}. My style evolves with my mood, and sure, there are times when I look back, grit my teeth {insert emoji}, and think, "bad mood, eh?" But at one time or another, it worked for me—or maybe it didn't, but {shrugs} ya win some, ya lose some. #fashionwars Call it Hunger Games-inspo, call it Top Gun-style—call it what you want—but I just call it today's mood: military chic with a hint of edge. I scoured the world for a jumpsuit that would fit this shorty, and when I did, and it was a whopping $19.95, you bet your bottom dollar that I stood in that ridiculously long post-holiday sale line at H&M. An hour of my life I won't get back—and a jumpsuit I'll cherish forever...no, really, I don't get rid of things easily. This may very well still be keeping my closet company in 30 years... {Not brave enough for an actual shaved side panel? Welp, neither am I. #fakeittilyoumakeit} Jumpsuit: H&M {no longer available} Similar in black & Similar in shorts! // Shoes: Target {oldies} Similar & Similar & T O N S of styles on sale at Nordstrom Rack {don't mind if I might...} // Necklace {gifted - American Eagle} Similar // Bracelet: World Market {no longer available #wompwomp, but it's where some of my F A V jewelry comes from, so let's see what else they have...} Similar in silver {mixing metals is so totally approved these days} & Similar // Ring: H&M {no longer available} Similar {and I also love/want/need!} // Earrings: American Eagle {oldies & some of my most worn studs} Similar {love their multi-metal packs!} & Similar #fashion #style #shopping #beauty #accessories

Things I hear e v e r y time I am doing a head of hair: "Oooo, what's that smell?" "What was that, that you just used?" "What do you suggest I get for {XYZ}?" "Can I see that bottle?" It's time we put those questions to rest with my Top Ten MUST Have Hair Products. You'll notice right off the bat that the list is heavy on Kenra products. I can assure you that I am not a Kenra Professional rep, even if my list screams otherwise. Over the years I have gone through my fair-share of hair product lines—using hairspray from this line, shine spray from this line, root lifter from this line, and on-and-on-and-on. I was a product line hussie! But the more I use Kenra products, the more loyal I've become. Long, short, stick straight, massively curly and beyond, Kenra has always come to the rescue. Their products are light-weight, yet hold like a champ, and most importantly - they smell like hair heaven. Now that you've heard my borderline-embarrassing profession for Kenra products, you can only imagine the level of the other products that have graced this list. To be in the ranks with my beloved Kenra speaks very highly of the three non-Kenra products, so they are not to be overlooked! Start your own love affair with the following ten products by following the links & instructions below! 1. Malibu Miracle Repair Wellness Reconstructor {$30, 12ct} - Malibu products are great for swimmer, well water-exposed, damaged, stripped & color-treated hair. This is my absolute favorite deep conditioning treatment that I do at least bi-weekly for 10+ minutes. 2. Kenra Professional Volume Mousse 12 {$16} - Daisy a dollop! All you need is a dollop the size of a ping pong ball {remember that mousse rises once it's sprayed into your hand, so start on the smaller side}, rub between your palms and distribute through your hair from roots to ends while hair is damp/towel-dried. 3. It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin {$20} - My favorite spray-in/leave-in conditioner that smells super fresh and will help that Wetbrush glide through your hair with ultra-ease {yes, yes, a top ten must have hair tools list including the Wetbrush will be coming soon!}. 4. Kenra Professional Silkening Mist {$21} - The day I discovered the Silkening Mist was the day that oily hair across the world rejoiced. This "shine spray" is actually a mist {what gave it away?}, so it creates a silky shine layer without saturating your hair with too much oil. 5. Rusk Shining Sheen & Movement Myst {$14.50} - Now, for those times when you DO want a heavier sealing shine spray, like a finishing shine spray for a sleek look, this myst does the trick. Bonus: it smells like men's cologne in the most appealing and non-overwhelming way. This is my number one best smeller and provokes the most, "mmmhmm, what was THAT!?" questions. 6.) Kenra Professional Platinum Recovery Polish {$22} - My newest Kenra obsession, rightfully nicknamed: The Magic Elixir. Used as a finisher to any style—straight or curly—this drenches your strands with a light serum that magically erases frizz & any fried-esque looking flyaways. 7. Kenra Professional Volume Spray 25 {$17} - This is my most prized Kenra obsession. It has gotten me through countless weddings, tamed even the most unruly hair, and has likely been my most repeated hair product purchase to date. 8. My Amazing Repair & Shine Secret {$20 & up} - The secret is out! A teeny tiny M&M-sized dollop of this on damp/towel-dried hair will ensure a silky, shiny, free-flowing blowdried or air-dried style. 9.) Kenra Professional Root Lifting Spray 13 {$16} - Whether I'm going curly, straight or air-dried, I never ever skip the root lifter. Because no one wants to look like a dragged-down wet dog. Pump those puppies up! Your roots, that is. 10.) Kenra Professional Platinum Blow-Dry Spray {$22} - A spray that smells like fluffy clouds, protects your hair from heat, leaves you silky & shiny...and cuts your blowdry time in half?! I didn't believe it either—but now I won't do a blowdry without it! Which, by the way, takes nearly half the time #truestorybro. #hair #shopping #beauty

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

Floppy hats—are they practical? Sure. They shield from the sun, they guard celebs from the paps, and they do a K I L L E R job of hiding roots. But do we really wear them for that reason? #letsbereal No. We wear them because they are flippy, floppy & fabulous. Because they take any outfit from, "cute", to "hello, lover" <3 Brown, black, beige—I own them all, I flop them all. On another note—don't let your eyes deceive you - this incredible location is not an enchanting forest, although it does transform into one through the lens. Believe it or not, this is where I grew up. Not directly living except for a blip during my 20s, but I grew up going to every event, occasion & festivity under the sun at this land of enchantment. Though, then, it was just, "the farm." Nothing enchanting, magical or soul-wrenching about it. Then, a friendor {Misa*Me Photography} asked for location ideas—somewhere with open space, fields galore and glamorous outdoor charm {there is such a thing}, and I flippantly said, "well, my family has this land..." Being the fabulous photog she is, she saw something I never saw—the enchantment. So she gathered a team of the most beautiful, kind & glamorously enchanting people & props and turn "the farm" into "the enchanted forest." Now, it's the same ol' place...I just have a different perspective <3 {P.S. Photo cred to my raggamuffin-of-a-sister—who knew she was a closet bloggographer?!} Coat: JollyChic {the w a r m e s t thing you ever did bundle in} // Cardigan: JollyChic {if you haven't already noticed, this site is a shopaholic's k r y p to n i t e!} Also love this geometric style & asymmetric neon style. See—addiction! // Pants: J.Crew Factory {oldies} Similar & similar with bonus leather striping // Hat: Forever21 {gifted}, Similar in brown & black // Shoes: Kiki La'Rue {a FAV & a must!} // Necklace: Nordstrom Rack {in-store sale, no longer available}, Similar & Hello baby blue L O V E R {Wishlist} // Rings: Tribal Stackables - Forever21 {oldies}, Similar & MAJ{Wishlist}; Grey Chalcedony ring - H&M {no longer available}, Similar & ROCKS my world {pun-intended} {Wishlist} // Bracelet: DC Eastern Market {gifted}, Similar & Chevron-twist! // Lip Cocktail: Kat Von D in Rosary {hard to track down! May be able to scour Amazon} topped with Covergirl Lipstick Embrace 335 {also found at Target} #fashion #style #accessories #beauty #shopping

When I first set out on my fitness journey I taped my number one inspiration on the back of my bedroom door—Britney Spears and those fab abs. That picture was the last thing I saw before walking out to face the day ahead—a day full of choices: healthy or unhealthy, active or lazy. That image on the back of my door got me through many a 'doughnut vs. celery' and 'stairs vs. escalator' decisions. Mind you, this was, oh, I don't know - 11 years ago? But have we SEEN the new Women's Health cover? Girlfriend's still got it! Two years ago I stumbled across (or, likely, Instagram-ed across) someone's post of a workout calendar—genius! Five minutes later I was on Snapfish creating my first custom workout-inspo calendar. How could I not have thought of this before?! I hung it right in front of my treadmill, so I could stare the inspiration right in the face. There's something about staring at, "PR - Two little letters that make every runner smile," that makes you sprint that extra 30 seconds just to get the chance to jot down "PR!!!" in that day's square. There's also something so rewarding about looking back over a month's work that pushes you to conquer the next month with even more determination. As one of the best health moves I ever made, I now pass on my 2015 workout-inspo calendar to you! May it encourage you to sprint a little farther, throw that kettlebell with a little more oomph, and stick that crow for your own personal 'PR' moment! {Major Snapfish calendar deal until January 13, 2015!! 60% off all photo calendars using code: 60BKCAL.} 1.) Sweat More, Bitch Less. {or, do like me - Sweat More, Brag More ;-)} 2.) Sore. The Most Satisfying Pain. {LOVE to hate it} 3.) Run With Your Heart - Not With Your Legs <3 {Heart gets you farther—trust me} 4.) The difference between your body this week & next week is what you do for the next seven days to achieve your goals... {Repeat, repeat, repeat} 5.) Workout because you love your body, not because you hate it. {Working out is NOT a punishment—it's your body's reward} 6.) 4 Simple Rules: Never miss a Monday; Never go 3 days without exercise; Workout at least 3 days a week; Never give up {Mantra status} 7.) Losing Weight is Hard. Being Fat is Hard. Pick Your Hard. {I've done both—I can tell you which one is harder. What do you think?} 8.) I will beat her. I will train harder. I will eat cleaner. I know her weaknesses. I know her strengths. I've lost to her before. But not this time. She is going down. I have the advantage because I know her well. She is the Old Me. {This is my absolute FAV this year—it hits me right in the heart which then trickles right on down to my running legs and makes me FLY. I purposely put it in August to help me push through that downward Summer lull and kick-off Fall, aka, running season, on a high!} 9.) PR. Two little letters that make every runner smile. {My FAVORITE thing to get to write on my calendar} 10.) Sometimes I feel like giving up. Then I remember I have a lot of motherf$&%'ers to prove wrong. {One of which is myself—I can be a hell of a mother F'er} 11.) Crawling is acceptable. Falling is acceptable. Puking is acceptable. Crying is acceptable. Blood is acceptable. Pain is acceptable. Quitting is NOT. {Kapeesh?} 12.) No one ever drowned in sweat. {This is comforting to me, because I glisten like a hog} You can get the exact calendar I created on Snapfish here! Happy 2015 - Happy Health - Happy Jogging - Happy Jotting! #fitness #health