Feather Nails

Hello Lovelies!  As some of you know I have a new found addiction with LuLa Roe clothing.  One of the many things I love about their clothing are the prints!  I've also recently become obsessed with feather prints, so when I found an amazing feather print Carly (one of my favorite styles), I had to have it!  I just couldn't resist creating a matching mani either.

I started with a basic black base using Hitchhiker Nails black stamping polish.  I used stamping polish because it opaque and only requires one coat.  I did use Pampered Polishes "The Weasleys" on my ring finger.

Then to give the base a texture and to try to replicate the somewhat heathered background on the Carly, I used Sweetpea Polish "Blackberry Winter" and a sponge eye shadow applicator to add just a little texture and sparkle to the black nails.

Then I simply stamped a feather image from Bundle Monster BMS-308 on all my fingers.  I stamped the golden feathers using "The Weasleys" over the black base and used "Blackberry Winter" over the gold base, for an inverted accent.

As usual I did a quick clean up with gentle acetone and a brush, and applied my favorite quick drying topcoat, HK Girl from Glisten and Glow.

I think these nails match my new Carly so well, I loved how they turned out!  I can see myself doing many more LuLa Roe inspired nail art designs in the future.  Are you a LuLa Lover?  Does fashion inspire your nail art designs?  Would you like to see more of my LuLa wardrobe?

Picture taken in natural lighting

I hope you enjoyed this nail art design.  Add me to your Google+ circle to keep up with this blog or  you can keep up with me on other social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Just Me,

I purchased this Carly through LuLa Roe Cristie Parish you can join her Facebook group here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LuLaRoeCristieParish/  or you can find her on Instagram @lularoecristieparish

Week 6 Recap and Self Evaluation

Hello all! This past week was so much tougher than I thought it would be.  I wasn't anymore busy than I usually am, in fact, I probably was a little less busy than normal.  I think the lull in daily activity in my life as a mom and wife, may have made me want to be extra lazy in general.  However, I pushed through and I finished Week #1 of 21 Day Fix.  I'm not enjoying 21 Day Fix as much as I did Country Heat, but this is a true workout.

Goal #1 - Just hit play

This was so much harder than I thought it was going to be, this week.  I did manage to hit play and workout everyday, as per the recommended calendar but I was not as enthusiastic or excited as I was when I did Country Heat.  Muscles I didn't even know I had were aching, but I pushed through and did the workouts anyways.  The nice part about following the calendar, is that it is designed to focus on different areas on different days, so that you are not over working one body area.  There are also active recovery days too.  I use to hate yoga, I thought it was pointless but I really needed it by the end of the week and I enjoyed it more than expected.

Goal #2 - Really focus on using the Portion Fix containers

I continued to use the Portion Fix containers and calorie counting, but I emphasized eating all of (or at least most of) the recommended portions of each food group.  My biggest problem area is fruit, I have a really hard time eating the daily recommended value.  I just don't enjoy eating fruit, it's too sweet, too tart, or just a pain to eat.  However, when I followed the container system, I was often consuming approximately 700-1200 calories.  The only day I went over on calories was the day I went out to eat with my family.  I was surprised because I never found myself hungry.  Often times, I was struggling to eat enough each day.  I don't want to starve my body, the nutrients it needs for me to make the progress I want.

Goal #3 - Hydration (again)

I feel I really failed with this, this week.  I don't know why but I'm having a really hard time drinking enough.  Even with my alarms and always having my water bottle by my side.  I think I may have to try some kind of flavor or additive, to help me drink more.

I'm personally feeling blah about this past week.  I'm proud that I hit play everyday, and that I ate relatively healthy.  I'm disappointed that I slacked off on my water consumption, and that I lacked enthusiasm.  However, I'm physically feeling wonderful!  Like I said previously, muscles I didn't even know I had were aching. Though I did not see much in the weight-loss department, only about 2 lbs, which is exactly what I expected, I feel firmer and things that used to jiggle a lot are jiggling just a little less.  I also saw the very beginnings of fat loss on my new scale.  I started the week with a body fat % of 32.5% and ended with 32.2%.  This is not something I expect to see a rapid change with but it is exciting nonetheless to see that body fat % number start to decrease.

  

These are the things that I would like to focus on this week.

Goal #1 - No modifications

My original plan stepping into this program was to increase the intensity of the program each week by doing the Ultimate program options on week two and doubling up on week three.  After, doing the first full week, I realized that I am not as strong as I thought I was.  Many days, during many of the moves I had to do modifications more often than not.  So, instead of increasing the intensity by doing the more advance workouts.  I'm going to stick with the original 21 Day Fix calendar, and try to modify the moves as little as possible.  I'm hoping that by next week I'll feel strong enough and motivated enough to double up the workouts.

Goal #2 - Eat More Fruit

This is going to be such a challenge, because there are not many fruits I like or can even tolerate.  But I'm going to try my darnedest to eat what I need to.  Luckily, bananas are a fruit I can tolerate and even kind of like.  One banana accounts for the daily recommended fruit serving per the Portion Fix container system.  Plus I love my banana protein pancakes, so if that's what I need to do, so be it.

Goal #3 - Hydration Still!!!!!

I'm beginning to get really frustrated about hydration.  I'm going to try to find a water bottle with a straw.  I have a tendency to drink more, more quickly when I drink from a straw.  I'm also going to try some flavoring, such as Mio or something along those lines to help with my desire to drink water.

I'll admit I'm not as amped about this program or the next couple of weeks, but I am determined.  Fitness is not always fun, but I'm determined to keep working at it, to be the person I really want to be.  To show my children that anything is obtainable, if you want it bad enough, that is one of the many reasons I started this journey.  Thank you all for sharing this journey with me, whether you are just cheering me on, or sweating right along side of me, I really appreciate your support.  See you next week.

Just Me,

New Program

Hello all! So, last Tuesday I finished Country Heat.  I am so pleased with how far I've come in just 30 days, but I'm not done yet.  This is a journey for me not just another fade diet/workout program.  I gave myself a little break this past week.  Since, I'm starting a new workout program through Beachbody on Demand, I decided to finish out week 5 with some of the Country Heat programs I did not do.  The Elite programs are killer!  I thought the basic Country Heat programs were great because of how worked out I felt afterward.  The Elite programs are even better.  I actually found myself having to do modified steps more often than not.  If you've done Country Heat but not these programs I highly recommend you do.

I also wasn't as strict with my nutrition this past week.  I did calorie count and used the portion fix containers, like I have been but I kind of just floated along.  I pretty much only ate if I was hungry.  I did splurge of the weekend and have pizza and a beer!  But I'm not to upset by any of that because, that's life.  Each day is a new day, that can be made better than the last if you really want it (and I do).  So, now it's on to the next program.

I've decided to start 21 Day Fix, because it has such rave reviews.  Plus, it's only three weeks, so how hard can it be, right? (I say this with complete sarcasm.)  This program is three weeks for seven days a week.  In seriousness though, I expect this to be a tough three weeks.  I intend to really push myself to my limit and really be diligent with both my workouts and my nutrition.

image source: Beachbody on Demand

Even though this program is a rigorous 21 day calendar, I already like that it is something different everyday.  Focusing on different areas of the body.  I also like that the calendar offers and alternative workout from the Ultimate Package (available at no extra charge through Beachbody on Demand) or during week 3 a double up option.

My original plan was to do the basic calendar week 1, the Ultimate upgrade week 2, and double up on week 3.  However, I just completed the first workout and I barely made it through without collapsing in complete exhaustion.  At this point, my plan is to take it one day at a time, do as much as I can and push myself a little harder the next day.

With Country Heat I expected that I would lose weight, (and I did) but I have a different set of expectations for 21 Day Fix.  This program involves targeting specific parts of the body, so I don't expect to lose as much weight.  However, I expect (and hope) to start losing more inches and turn body fat into muscle.

This past week, I killed my scale so I took the opportunity and upgraded to a smart scale, that also measures body fat.  I'm hoping to see my body fat percentage decrease overall by the end of this program.

New program means new starting stats.  Please be kind, I'm showing more skin so that I can see a better comparison.  Also I'm kind of flexing in the back picture so that I can compare my arms before and after too.

Weight - 140 lbs
Body Fat - 32.5%

Measurements

Left Arm - 10 7/8"

Right Arm - 10 3/4"

Chest - 35 3/4"

Waist - 34 3/4"

Hips - 41 5/8"

Left Thigh - 24 1/4"

Right Thigh - 24 1/8"

Total Measurements  - 182 1/8"

For those of you keeping track, you may have noticed that my waist increased slightly.  I equate this to either a margin of error in measuring or the pizza and beer I enjoyed over the weekend.  Either way its very minimal.

These are my three major focuses for the week:

Goal #1 - Just hit play

Being that this is a seven day a week program, I'm very nervous that I'm going to fall of the wagon.  I know many girls in the support group I'm in, double up when they skip a day, but I really don't want to do this.  Especially after completing the first workout, I'm not sure I could physically survive doubling up these workouts.

Goal #2 - Really focus on using the Portion Fix containers

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been fiddling with and kind of using the Portion Fix containers.  This week I really want to focus on eating the recommended portions.  I have no problem getting in the protein, it's just everything else that I can't seem to get under control.

Goal #3 - Hydration (again)

I know, I know...I just can't seem to keep up on this.  As soon as I slack off even just the slightest, I stop drinking all together.  This past week I took a break from wearing my FitBit and not having the alarms to remind me really, took its toll on my water consumption.  The FitBit is back on and the alarms are set.

I'm really nervous about this new program, but I'm just focusing on one day at a time.  I'll check in with all of you on Monday with a full report.  Thank you so much for supporting me and joining me on this journey.  If you would like to share your weekly goals, accomplishments, and/or transformations with me, please do!  You can share on my Facebook page, a judgement free zone.  Wish me luck on the next three weeks.

Just Me,