Finding myself, at the gym.

I don't have many pictures of me when I was around 150lbs, this one was taken in Nov '09. I don't talk a lot about how I got to this weight, or the daily difficulties of just getting out of bed. So we are going to save that for another day.  

 

In late 2010, I had crash dieted (1100 calories a day, for my wedding) and dropped to 130.

 I still felt horrible, no energy and I still didn't like what I saw in the mirror. 

 I wasn't doing it the right way or for the right reasons. My husband would have loved me at any size. But I didn't see that, nor did I love myself at "any" size.
  I don't have a lot of pictures from this time either.

 

 Nov of 2011, I finally started my workout. I started slow, didn't understand or take it seriously at first. I did began to eat more sensible, using Herbalife meal replacement shakes and getting in lots of healthy snacks. (I love Herbalife)

 

I worked out with my trainer 3 days a week and we did a lot of cardio. Buttttt, I still didn't know a lot about what to eat, protein, good carbs/bad carbs, all that.

Eating right still was an issue for me. So, I "overnight"  got down to an unrealistic 112 lbs. I still wasn't toned, and not knowing what to do, I kept not eating right.

 

Flash forward, it's February 2013 now. I am taking in probably 1800ish calories a day, I don't keep too much track on that. I now love protein shakes for extra energy and weight gain  (Herbalife has yummy ones) and I am gaining knowledge on proper eating everyday.

 

I love working out, it's a part of my life now. I just know now, that it takes a healthy balance of a good diet and exercise.

 Everyday I get more and more comfortable in my own skin and love myself from the inside out.
Perspective is everything.

 

I'm looking for high protein recipes if you know of any good ones you have tried! I am an Herbalife Distributor and am working on my website today, so everyone can check out the product! Keep checking back! I will make a new post about it later, Love you guys!

https://www.goherbalife.com/terranelson/en-US

 

All these cute tees and tanks are from skreened! I'm addicted to that website.  

30 Before 30 #6 I finally cracked

#6 NO SODA FOR 30 DAYS NOT EVEN DIET

 

On January 14th I quit soda. Cold Turkey. So, Valentines Day was otherwise known as the day of 8 gallons of soda for this lady. This whole time I thought I would drink it all day long as soon as I could. Then when the day came, I found myself still reaching for water. I thought I was in the clear, maybe I really just didn't need soda anymore. But before I get to how I cracked at 35 days... lets rewind a couple weeks.

 

The first few days were ok, although they went by pretty slow.

Two weeks in, I almost cried. I would tell my husband to let me smell his soda and I literally almost went to walmart at midnight so I could get my fix. It would kill me to be around soda....

This is getting a little dramatic....

 

POINT OF THE STORY.....

 

I went 35 days NO SODA. I cracked tonight.

 

Weapon of choice... Diet Cream Soda in a wine glass

 

 

 

 

Worth it? NO. Sadly. Now I just feel full and gross.

 

SO NOW I am going to commit to drinking more water and green tea.

 

 

 I bought a 'Flat Belly Diet Journal' yesterday to help me keep track of what I am really eating and drinking. It has this recipe in it for "Sassy Water". Should help with my recent carbonation bloat!

 

FROM THE BOOK

 

Drink one full recipe of Sassy water every day. (for four days only) The ingredients in Sassy Water aren't just for flavor: the ginger helps calm and soothe your GI tract. Even more important, the simple act of making this Sassy Water every day with serve as a reminder during the Jumpstart (their four day Anti-Bloat diet) that life is a little bit different and that things are going to change.

 

SASSY WATER

2 liters water (about 8 cups)

1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger root

1 medium cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

1 medium lemon, thinly sliced

12 small spearmint leaves

 

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher, chill in the refrigerator and let the flavors blend overnight. Drink the entire pitcher by the end of each day.

 

 

 

 I have not tried this water yet. I plan on buying ginger root and cucumbers tomorrow...

 I will let you know what I think! Wish me luck, it's not exactly Moscato. :)

 

Bare Minerals... From work to Date night

TWAS the night before Valentines and all through the house....

was no sign of Valentines Day....

 

I was named "most romantic" senior year of high school, how could one of my favorite holidays creep up on me?! I had big plans of decorating the house up cute, trying out all those new pinterest DIY's, a making at least two makeup tutorials...

 

But here I sit, almost ten o'clock on Valentines Day Eve, drinking moscato, trying to finish up one video. 

 

 I love makeup, I love LOVE, so where did I let the time go?

This weeks video is still all about the Bare Minerals Makeup. Since VD is on a work day this year again, I wanted to try out a "work to date" look. The first part of the video is my basic face, basic eye makeup. There's also a mini tutorial in there on false eyelashes.

 

The second part of the video is me making the look a little more dramatic after I came home from work. I really tested it out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE MAKEUP HAUL:

 

Foundation: Bare Minerals Ready in Medium Tan

Bronzer: BMR in High Dive

Blush: Joyous Jennifer

Highlighters: Stroke of Light, Secret Radiance

Concealer: Summer Bisque

Eyes: Nude Chiffon, Velvet Mauve, Rock Star, Black Leather

Brunette Brow Kit

Mascara: Flawless Definition

Lips: Blush Quickstick, Strawberry Shortcake

False Lashes: Salon Perfect "Demi Wispies"



SATURDAY NIGHTS = Facials, Hot Bath & Moscato

 

 It's Saturday night, you know what that means! Facial night!

 

I love to spend one night a week, just relaxing and doing a beauty routine. Being an esthetician, I have a smorgasbord of products in my bathroom, but my new favorite thing is my Clarisonic! Here's a video showing you a little bit about it and what I think of it.

 

I added some info straight from the Clarisonic website if you want to get more technical :)

 I bought mine from the DaySpa I work at here in town.

 

Thank you for watching!

 

And if anyone knows how to set your first frame to something other than a random frame in the video..... PLEASE let me know LOL I thought I had it fixed by setting a picture as the first frame. I use Windows Movie Maker.

 

 

 

 

Healthy skin begins with Clarisonic

While cleansing is the first step in any skin care ritual, it is often overlooked. Typical manual cleansing can leave behind dirt and oil trapped in pores. This build-up can damage the appearance and health of your skin and keep your skin care products from working like they should.

 

Used and recommended by spas and dermatologists, Clarisonic Sonic Skin Cleansing Systems use a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to gently, yet thoroughly remove 6X more makeup and 2X more dirt and oil than cleansing with your hands alone. Cleaner skin is the first step toward healthier skin. And healthier skin is smoother, more radiant and more beautiful.

Forehead Before Cleansing

Cleansing With Clarisonic

Manual Cleansing

Sonic Cleansing Benefits:

Removes 6X more makeup than manual cleansing

Leaves skin feeling and looking smoother

Removes impurities that keep creams and serums from working their best

Gentle enough to use twice a day

Reduces oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes

Minimizes the appearance of visible pores

---

 How to Use Sonic Cleansing

Our Sonic Skin Cleansing Systems gently and effectively remove dirt and oil, and prepare your skin for moisturizers and serums.

Softer, smoother, cleaner skin in just 60 seconds:

 

Charge the handle in the charging cradle.

 

Wet your skin and apply cleanser to the brush head.

 

Use circular motion; 20 sec. on forehead, 20 sec. on nose/chin, 10 sec. on each cheek.

 

 

Football? Nah, lets go shopping.

This weekend was great. I've been able to workout every day, spend time with people I love and had Saturday off work. And... I was asked to be Matron of Honor in my BFF homegirls wedding in September. I am so very happy.

 

 

Today, the weather was amazing so Sarah and I went shopping, while it was cut short due to Oliver's new found molars, we still had a good time. I found this cute "leather" skirt for only $3.00 at rue 21.

 

 

And of course the Super Bowl was this weekend, let me just tell you a little convo between me and a friend. He asked me who I wanted to win, I answered with, "whose playing"

 no joke, I really didn't know.

Yes, I'm one of those girls. :) I am the type of wife that is happy in the kitchen cookin' up the goodies and drinking all the moscato, rather than watching the game.

It's late and I can't think of what else fun went down this weekend.... But I CAN tell you I am working on my valentines day makeup tutorial. This one will help you go from "work" makeup to "date" makeup, since valentines day is on a workday this year. See you guys soon!

How to nix dry skin with a Drake song....

Thanks to the wonderful Missouri winters, my skin has been very dry and itchy lately. I have tried a few different things to relieve this awful condition short of moving to Florida.

So this is my version of a milk bath, you can add 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil (vanilla, lavender, coconut). I went with Vitamin E oil because my skin needs the extra hydration.



GRAB THESE ITEMS

2 Cups powered milk
1 Cup cornstarch
5-10 drops essential oil
32 ounce jar with lid (I love mason jars with DIY chalk labels, watch for a post about that soon) :)))))


I put everything in a pitcher and stirred with a whisk. Then transferred it to the mason jar. This way I could make sure I didn't have any clumping problems with the oil. If you want to skip the extra step, just put everything in the mason jar, lid on, and shake....

EASY ENOUGH


TO USE

Toss 1/2 Cup of the mixture into the bath, light those candles, put on your Drake/Chris Brown playlist..... and forget about everything else for at least 30 minutes.

Forever 29??

THIS IS A

"DRINK STRAIGHT FROM THE BOTTLE"

KINDA POST

I NEED HELP FINISHING MY LIST!!!!!!

I have a little over a year before I am 30. Years. Old. I am not coping with this well. To lots of people 30 shouldn’t be that big of a deal. “Wait til you hit 40” they say… I’m not about to start thinking about 40yet people.

To me, 30 is the age where you need to have already known yourself, already gotten out all the “omg I can’t believe I did that” and gotten it all together. It’s a time in my life when I’m ready to be a woman instead of a girl. That’s what scares the be-ge-bes out of me.

SO… I am making this list of 30 things I need to have done before I am 30. It’s a mash up of all things I have not done yet in my life. Some are geared towards letting me hang on to my 20’s, while others are prepping me to be a 30 year old woman.

1. Go on a road trip following Route 66
2. Get another tattoo
3. Hold a five minute conversation with a native in Spanish (I'm currently up to 45 seconds)
4. Start a blog
5. Conquer my irrational fear of spiders
6. 30 days no soda. Not even diet Started on 1-14-13
7. Watch a beautiful sunset in peace with no distractions
8. Take the train to St. Louis
9. Learn to knit a scarf
10. Finish vacation scrapbook started in 2010
11. Squat 100 lbs (1 set if 12)
12. Go to a concert and learn all the songs beforehand
13. Stay awake for 24 hours
14. Go to a pro sports game in full fan getup
15. Read (finish) 12 books --- ain't nobody got time for more than that
16. Have a moonlit picnic
17. Learn an organized sport and actually play in a game of it (I played both basketball
      and soccer as a kid & was so "good" they let me keep the bench warm)
18. Learn to shoot a gun with precision
19. Get another boxer puppy
20. Go 24 hours without my cell phone turned on (did this in '10 when I went to Mexico &
      then again when I went on a cruise in '11) I went 7 days with no phone.... I want to try it
      again, not bc of being out of the country
21. Ride my bike along the Katy Trail to Green Ridge and back
22. Take a girls only trip somewhere fun
23. Swim with Dolphins
24. Go to an Esthetics's Trade Show
25. Learn to make a full course meal from scratch
26. "Adult" up my wardrobe.
27.
28.
29.
30.