Monday Motivation 4.

Life sure has a way of throwing unexpected curveballs your way occasionally. I didn't really fall off the bandwagon, but I kind of fell off the face of the Earth last week when I got news that both my husband and I are briefly moving to another Army base for 3 months and he leaves in less than a week and I leave in a month. My workout schedule got all sorts of jumbled up and although during the week my eating was great and I got to a great milestone, this past weekend wasn't the most ideal, but oh well. Today starts another week of workouts and chances to improve myself.



Last Week's Workouts:



Monday - CrossFit Day

Warmup - 2 Rounds
Barbell Complex (45 lbs)

Circuit 1 - 7 rounds
2x Thrusters (65 lbs)
3x Burpees

Circuit 2 - 6 rounds
6x Straight Leg Deadlift (95 lbs)
2x Broad Jumps

Bonus Workout -
21-15-9 reps of GHD Situps and Box Jumps



Tuesday - Active Rest Day
45 minute Dog Walk



Wednesday - Active Rest Day
25 minute Run



Thursday - CrossFit Day
Warmup - 2 Rounds
4x Walking Lunges
4x Jumping Lunges
8x Pushups
8x Situps

Circuit 1 - 5 rounds
20 second Kettle Bell Swing (25 lbs)
20 second Box Jumps
20 second Rest

Circuit 2 - 7 rounds EMOM (Every Minute on the Minute)
3x Turkish Getup (25 lbs)
3x Burpees

Circuit 3 - 3 rounds
10x GHD Situps
10x Weight Russian Twists  (15 lbs)
10x Back Extensions
30sec/30sec Side Bridge


Friday - Rest Day


Saturday
Warmup - 3 Rounds
8x Back Squats (45 lbs)
4x Jump Squats
8x Pushups
8x Situps
Circuit 1 - 6 rounds
5x Back Squat (75 lbs)
5x Kettlebell Floor Press
Circuit 2 -  5 rounds
6x Back Squat (75 lbs)
3x Pushups with Dumbbell Row (25 lbs)


Sunday - Rest Day


My goal this week is to be consistent. After getting a curveball thrown at me this past week, I know that having some sort of consistency in the form of fitness will be truly beneficial for me. I will continue to be truly honest with myself and motivate myself to workout and continue eating healthy the majority of the time. With my husband being gone soon, and having to only answer to myself, now is the time for me to really step up and prove to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to.


Stay tuned for the next Monday Motivation.

sephora play box.

For a few months now, I have been receiving the Sephora Play Box. Similar to Birchbox, each month you get around 5 samples from various brands that are sold in Sephora stores. Each month there is a theme and the samples in the box coordinate to that theme. Previous themes have been "No Appointment Necessary" (D.I.Y. spa treatment samples), "Now and Later" (long lasting makeup samples), "The Perfection Collection" (skincare and makeup samples that cover up imperfections and help perfect skin). This month's theme was "The In Crowd," samples that have reached "it-girl" status in the beauty industry, and to be completely honest, I loved every single thing in this month's box. So without further ado, here are this month's samples.

Milk Makeup Sunshine Oil - Milk Makeup is like the Coachella of Makeup Lines. It's achieved cult status quickly, a ton of models use their products, and it's eco-friendly and cruelty-free. And their products are amazing. I use this sunshine oil on my face at night and I wake up in the morning with a glow to my skin. And it smells exactly like it would sound. It's calming and mood-boosting enough that it even puts a smile on my RBF. This is definitely a product that I will be investing in in the future.


Sephora Collection Colorful Cheek Ink Gel (in Peony) - Not many products could make me abandon my NARS Orgasm blush, but if I am going for a more natural look during the week, this is a product that could do just that. And it only requires a tiny amount to get a natural flush. While I don't see myself buying the full product, this is definitely a good option for girls out there looking for a quick and easy, natural looking blush.


Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment - Used as a serum or a face mask, this product helps reduce the appearance of dark spots caused by wrinkles, gives skin an immediate radiance, and fights visible signs of aging. And as expensive as the full product is, I may have to invest in it. The smell is a little lingering, but in just the past few days that I have used this sample, I have noticed a difference in my dark spots and the overall texture of my skin. My Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum might just have a product that's fighting for a spot on my vanity.


NARS Satin Lip Pencil (in Rikugien) - I have actually received this pencil before in my Sephora Birthday gift and I love it. It's a great rose pink neutral that give the lips just a little bit of color and sheen that is great for day or night. If you're new to lip products or looking for a great pink neutral then this is a great product to start with. My love for NARS lip pencils is no secret, I have probably around 6 now, so it's always great to get one in a sample box.


Clinique Pep Start Eye Cream - Fun Fact: even though I suffer from extremely dark circles and bags under my eyes, I don't use an eye cream. Why? Because usually they're so expensive and in all honesty, I like simple routines that I just forget to use them. So getting a sample of one is kind of like a win-win for me, it lasts long enough to see if it has made any difference and you don't have to shell out a ton of money for it. What I have found in the short amount of time testing this product, is that it makes me look like I got 10 hours of sleep when I usually only get 6 during the week. Plus the $26 price tag makes me want to invest in this, especially since people at work have noticed that I look more awake before I have my cup of coffee.


Derek Lam 10 Crosby 2AM Kiss Perfume - Nothing and I mean nothing, could make me give up my Roses De Chloe Perfume, but I do like receiving samples just to switch it up a tad and I enjoy pretty smells. While I can't see myself as someone who would wear this fragrance, the smell of salty caramel and amber makes it almost impossible to not smell. Almost, masculine in a way, this perfume is definitely not for the girl who leans more towards floral scents (i.e. Me), but I can see the girl who goes for the more sensuous, strong scents to want to give this a try.


If you haven't tried Sephora Play Box, I highly recommend it. I used to love Birchbox, but month after month I was getting samples that I just didn't end up using or didn't like, so I finally made the jump over to my beloved Sephora. In addition to great samples, you also get a "Play Card" that gives you 50 extra Beauty Points when you use it in Sephora stores. For the same price and better, bigger samples? What's not to lose?


Until next time, Stay Beautiful!

Monday Motivation 3.

So Week 2 of BBG has come and gone and I've kept up with this week's goal of consuming 100 oz of H2O. Week 2, surprisingly, is when I usually fall off the wagon. I get bored of the workouts (if it's repetitive) and my body feels deprived because I cut out certain foods. This time around, is different though. BBG is great because it switches it up every week and I decided to not deprive myself of the foods I love (i.e. pasta, chocolate and wine) but find healthier ways to work them into a meal and eat the indulgent stuff in moderation. This has been really key for me, because if I know I can't have a certain food, I go absolutely ham on it when I do get a taste, so for those of you out there who are like me, you may want to try this approach.


And now to my Weekly Workouts from Week 2:
Monday - BBG Legs & Cardio (Nice to see ya Burpees) & Leg Burnout (Ham Curls / Abductor / Adductor / Calf Raises until Failure)
Tuesday - Spin 40 Minutes & Popsugar Pilates Workout
Wednesday - Rest Day
Thursday - BBG Arms and Abs + Weight Plate Press & Weighted Side Bend Burnout & Spin 20 minutes & Sprints for 15 min
Friday - Rest Day
Saturday - BBG Full Body & Walk 45 minutes
Sunday  - Spin 20 min & Finding 1 rep max of Power Clean, Squat Clean and Bench Press


This week my goal is to mix in CrossFit classes on M-W-F and do the BBG workouts on T-TH-SAT. I love the BBG workouts and how it's really targeting my body fat and making me sweat due to the HIIT factor. However, I used to do CrossFit and miss how strong I used to be doing it and how therapeutic it was, so when one of my girlfriends (hi Janelllllll) said she wanted to get back into it as well, I told her I'd go with her. And promising a friend to go to the gym kind of locks you into working out, so extra motivation right? I know I'm going to be incredibly sore (which is a torturous feeling that I actually enjoy), but I can't wait to get back into something that I used to enjoy so much. I also think mixing the two programs together (weights + HIIT) will do wonders for my fitness level and, of course, my summer bodayyyy.

So stay tuned for next Motivation Monday & be sure to check on my IG (@itstatjanaaa) to see pictures of foods that I eat and workouts that I've been doing.

24 Things I've Learned in 24 Years. (Part 2)

Happy Day before Friday everyone! I'm slowly learning that although I've learned a lot in life, it's extremely difficult to put it into words, especially if you want to maintain originality and not sound like a Pinterest quote. So, I hope you guys are ready for me to throw some more wisdom your direction because here is Part 2 of 24 Things I've Learned in 24 Years.

5. Don't compare yourself to others. This one was EXTREMELY difficult for me to learn and I'm still guilty to this day of doing this and I have to catch myself. For as long as I can remember, I have always watched the VS Fashion Show, not for the lingerie or even the music (although the Spice Girls performance fulfilled every 90's dream of mine) but to compare myself to these women who to me, at the time, had the ideal body. I would constantly tape pictures from the VS catalogs on my fridge and mirrors in my closet to motivate myself to hopefully look like that. Month would go by where I would eat less and less and workout out more and more and get increasingly frustrated that I was ~VS Angel Quality~ (insert eye roll here). I was truly disordered for a long time and up until recently, I didn't fully accept that I would NEVER look like that, and if I did, I would have been extremely unhealthy. So stop the comparisons and love your body and yourself, because you'll be so much happier.

6. Put yourself out there. I suffer from something I like to call "Resting Bitch Face" and I'm an introvert to boot. Most people that I'm friends with thought that I hated/didn't like them when they first met me because I don't open up to people easily. However, even though I look like Grumpy Cat in human form, I really am a happy person and I do like people (except people who tailgate, you people can eff off). So when I notice someone new in the workplace or am meeting someone outside my circle for the first time, I put on my sorority smile (and I can say that because I was in fact in a sorority), shake their hand and say hi. Doing this has helped me make new friends and helped (sort of) get over my shyness of putting myself out there.

7. Own your shit. Fact: I used to have a really hard time admitting I was wrong. I'm a really stubborn and hard headed person who likes to be right 100% of the time. When I fuck up, I know in my mind I not only let the people around me down, but I let myself down. Blaming others and constantly wanting to be write was going to paralyze my growth as a person, and people will not want to be around you, to put it bluntly. But, I've found that if you own your pitfalls, not only to others, but yourself, it motivates you to become a better person in all aspects of your life. On the flip side of this, being self-deprecating and always blaming yourself for stuff that OTHER PEOPLE have done is just as bad. Don't be afraid to (politely) call them out.

8. Stand up for yourself. Tying into the #7, I have found it essential in life to learn to stand up for yourself, especially being in the military. I HATE confrontation (my mother will try to deny this for ages, but it's true), especially when someone pisses me off or does something that makes me uncomfortable. I like mentally crawl back into my hermit shell and avoid said person at all costs. But I have found that if its a person of value in your life that has wronged you, if they truly are a friend, you can bring up to them what bothered you. 90% of the time your friend/co-worker/significant other/family member will understand, hash it out with you and you both make up. Sometimes, however, you get a bad egg, and it's totally ok to cut those people out of your life (if the situation is repeated or bad enough). I have found that toxic friends and people in life only bring you down with them because they are so unhappy with themselves.

Until next time, stay beautiful!

Champagne Campaign.

If I had to pick a favorite type of alcoholic beverage, I would pick Champagne every single time. New Year's Eve is one of my favorite holidays, not for the "New Year, New Me" aspect, but for the excuse to drink champagne literally all night. The only downside to this fabulous elixir is that it can be pricey. So I'm here to be your guide to Champagne no matter what your budget is. Disclaimer: If the specific wine is not from the Champagne region of France it is not truly considered Champagne, so if I refer to some products as Sparkling Wine, they're basically just Champagnes without the proper title and not from France, but are essentially the same thing.

The Champagne to get if you have Money to Blow - Moët Chandon Brut or Veuve Cliquot Brut
Either one of these champagnes are amazing. They both have their own distinctive tastes. To me, the Moët is smoother and easier to consume, but this is kind of bitter sweet because it's extremely easy to pound the bottle back. Veuve Cliquot is just as luxurious, but has a more of a tart taste to it, which really makes you stop and savor the glass. Running at around $50-$60 a bottle (depending on where you are) these options are quite expensive, but definitely worth it for a special occasion or to add to your wine rack to save for later.


The Champagne under $20 - Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut
I discovered this sparkling wine through my IG feed, and maybe it was the $12 price tag or the trendy black bottle that hooked me, but this is one of the best reasonably priced sparking wines that I have every tried. Opening this bottle of wine, your nose instantly gets tickled by the amount of bubbles that are trapped inside. It definitely has a bit of a Chardonnay taste but is so light that it pairs well with anything that you are eating. This is definitely a sparkling wine for someone who wants a wine with quality taste, but reasonably priced.


The "I'm desperate, but Broke" Champagne - André Brut
It wouldn't be a budget friendly article about sparkling wine and champagne without good ol' André making an appearance. To make this stuff a little "classier" I generally make a poor girl's Imperial Kir (raspberry liquor + champagne) which is delicious and my go-to drink 80% of the time. Although it's made fun of for being the champagne for college girls, André is really versatile and drinkable on its own, and let's be real, with this price tag, you might as well pick up 2 or even 3 bottles while you're at it.


So until next Wine Wednesday, drink some bubbly and stay beautiful!

Glossier.

Here's a very well known fact about me: I'm addicted to trying new skincare and makeup products. My bank account and my husband can attest to this. In January, I legitimately purged a Hefty bag worth of products out of my bathroom that consisted of un-unsed BirchBox samples, products that I bought and ended up not liking, and products that I hadn't used in years. So, very much like my journey to better clothing, I began my journey to better skincare and makeup. But in this journey, I made a vow to myself to use a product that I had bought for 30 days straight and then if I decided that I didn't like it, then I could chuck it and buy something else I had my eye on.

Enter Glossier...

Created by the beauty minds behind beauty blog Into the Gloss, Glossier switches gears and focuses on making skincare a priority and making the approach to makeup more simple and natural. I love that this brand takes all the opinions and suggestions of their costumer base seriously and really works to make the brand not only affordable and natural, but effective as well. So needless to say, I've built up quite the arsenal.

From Left to Right: Coconut Balm Dotcom, Generation G (in Jam), Priming Moisturizer, Boy Brow (in Blonde), Stretch Concealer in Light & Galaxy Pack Green Mask

 

Coconut Balm Dotcom - I have gone through my fair share of lip balms and chapsticks and I've never truly found one that I love. This stuff is a legit miracle. It smells like a summer vacation and instantly hydrates your lips. Unlike other lip balm products Balm Dotcom sinks into your lips and skin and doesn't just sit there making a mess of everything. I also really like to blot a teeeeeeny tiny amount onto my cheek bones as a subtle highlighter and to give my skin that dewy glow look.

Generation G Lipstick - I didn't really start liking lip products aside from lip balm until the past year and a half or so, and since I made that dive I've been slightly obsessed with trying out new products. Unlike other matte lip products, Generation G is very similar to a lip balm that gives a matte stain effect to your lips. The best part is it's build able so if you want to go more subtle, just stick to one swipe and if you want to go more bold, build from there. It gives you that effortless French Girl worn in lip color that with other products you have to blot a million times to get the same desired effect. The color Jam (a wine shade) has been my new go-to lip color, but there are three others currently on the site.

Priming Moisturizer - I've written about this product already in one of my previous posts, so I'll keep this one a little shorter. But I really love this product. For combination/sensitive skin type folks out there, this moisturizer is heaven sent. It eliminates redness and give your skin the perfect base for makeup or for going au naturel. 

Boy Brow - Holy mama jamma. If there is one thing I always do in my makeup routine it is my brows. I love this product probably the most out of any makeup product I own. I used to be a Anastasia Brow Wix loyalist, but when the spooly brushes kept breaking month after month I decided to give something else a try. I stumbled upon this bad boy while reading an article on Garance Dore's blog about eyebrow products (go figure) and decided to make the dive. Let's just say the 10,000 person waitlist that it once had speaks for itself. This stuff is holy grail material.

Stretch Concealer - I love my YSL Touché Eclat for under my eyes. And a lot of the time I love it to cover up barely there blemishes, but I wanted something for when my hormonal pimples popped up that would make them unnoticeable and Stretch Concealer does just that. It melts into your skin and basically becomes part of your face and isn't noticeable at all. I still use my YSL religiously under my eyes, but if I need a little extra coverage than this magic product does the trick. 

Mega Greens Galaxy Pack - I've recently become one of those girls who twice a week will soak in a bath filled with a Lush bath bomb or bubble bar with a glass of wine, French music on, and a Vogue in hand. And what better to go with all that than a face mask? I've had my fair share of face mask affairs, but this mask puts all others to shame. 20 minutes after putting this mask on (and comparing yourself to the alien emoji on your phone) your skin feels completely detoxified of impurities and any that were existing are minimized. My week is not complete without slathering this on my face at least once. 

So in case you didn't get the Glossier love I was sharing above, I'm pretty much in love with this beauty line. And if you were wanting to try any products you can get 20% off your first order by using this link (http://bff.glossier.com/dD_Kn) because trust me, you're missing out on a whole new world of beauty products if you don't try something from this company. 

So until next time, stay beautiful!

Monday Motivation 2.

Well, BBG Week 1 is finally over everyone! And my muscles haven't been this sore in an extremely long time. In case you were wondering what my Weekly Workouts looked like, here is what went down:

Sunday - Kayla Itsines BBG Legs & Cardio (aka DEATH) & 20 minute Incline Walk

Monday - Spinning for 35 minutes & 30 minutes of Pilates (using my STOTT Pilates DVD)

Tuesday - Kayla Itsines BBG Arms & Abs & 20 minute Stepmill Intervals

Wednesday -  Spinning for 35 minutes & 20 min Pilates (Popsugar Pilates Workout)

Thursday - Kayla Itsines BBG Full Body & 20 minute Elliptical

Friday - Rest Day

Saturday - Rest Day

Sunday - Restorative Yoga (using Down Dog App on my iPhone)

Preparation was my main goal this past week, I wouldn't go to bed without planning my meals and packing my gym bag the night before. I didn't want to have any excuse to go out to eat somewhere unhealthy (which is extremely prevalent here in Louisiana) and I knew if I went home before the gym to change, I would've fallen victim to a nap on my couch. This week, not only am I going to keep working on prepping for the next day with meals and making sure my gym bag is packed, but I'm going to work on hydration. The weather here in Louisiana is getting hotter and hotter, so instead of drinking 80 oz of water a day, I'm going to shoot for 100 oz a day. Plus water is great for your metabolism AND your skin.

Stayed tuned for next Monday and stay motivated and beautiful.

le vin.

I love writing about beauty and fashion as much as the next girl, but one of the other few things I'm
obsessed with is wine. “Wine Wednesday” is actually a thing in my household and it is stuck to religiously, whether we have a good quality wine that we’ve received from our monthly Club W subscription (check it out here ➼ https://www.clubw.com/2ylsm8v9nw ) or whether we only have a box of Franzia (yes, I know, but when you’re desperate, it doesn’t matter if it's bottom shelf). so I figured I'd give some insight to a few wines that are a mainstay in my household, why they’re my favorites, and what foods go well with them. 

First up … Moët & Chandon Rosé Imperial. on Moët’s website the Rosé Imperial is described as “spontaneous, radiant and enticing.” there are 3 different grape varieties that make up the deliciousness of this rosy elixir: pinot noir, pinot muenier, and chardonnay. And let me tell you, I have never had a better tasting wine/champagne in my entire life. IT IS PURE MAGIC. Of course, the price tag is bit off putting, thats why in our house hold it is only purchased if it's a holiday/special occasion or if it's to stay in our wine collection until said holiday/special occasion. The first time I had this  was at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival and had the boeuf bourguignon from the France stand and I swear I had a foodgasm. Now when I’m drinking the Rosé Imperial, I don’t really eat it with food, I personally like to enjoy its taste and smell by itself. But if you do decide to eat food with it (and the Epcot Food and Wine Festival isn’t going on), fresh and simple foods with colorful flavors are recommended. Think, red meat, game, red berries, goat cheese, mozzarella, fresh herbs, olive oil and black olives. All in all, this is my favorite wine/champagne in the world. It’s worth every cent. Just be careful when you open the bottle, literal tears will well up in your eyes if any of the bubbly doesn’t end up in a glass. 

Next up is a red wine that I received from my monthly Club W subscription...l’Atelier du Sud Red Blend. I haven’t been able to find it anywhere else, but I also live in the middle of no where, so I’m sure if you find yourself at a wine/liquor store you might be able to find this there. This vintage (2014) wine instantly makes me relax. If you could bottle up the French countryside in a bottle, this would be it. With notes of white pepper, strawberry, plum and pomegranate, the best part of this wine is that it is so easy to either drink by itself or with multiple types of food. my favorite to pair? A baguette with melted gruyere and prosciutto. But you could probably pair it with almost anything, just like any other red table blend. 

On the more budget friendly side of things is Mateus Rosé. But don’t judge its price (roughly $7) before you have a taste. Aside from the Moët, this is my go-to rosé for drinking, gifting, and basically anything I need an occasion to buy wine for. If you decide to research this wine, you’ll even see that back in the 1970′s it was the world’s most popular rosé, demanded by Queen Elizabeth herself. Its floral and fruity and has hints of raspberry notes in it when you smell it. I like to drink it when I have something sweet to eat (think, chocolate squares or chocolate croissant) but the Mateus’ website recommends a light rustic Mediterranean pizza and a seafood platter to pair with their original rosé. 

Check back next Wednesday, for my first Wine Wednesday review. Until then, eat, drink & stay beautiful. 

24 things I've learned in 24 years. (Part 1)

With my 25th birthday looming in the next few months, and my quarter life crisis already in full gear, I thought that I would sit back and think about everything that I've done in the quarter of a century that I've been alive and share some of my "wisdom" with you. To prevent a giant singular post, each week I'm going to share a few snippets of what I've learned so far. So, without further ado, here are the first 4 things I've learned in 24 years.

1. Mom is (usually) right. My mom and I are incredibly alike, not only in looks, but in personality. We are both incredibly hard headed and stubborn which made for some pretty "fun" teenage years. I rebelled A LOT as a teenager and did the total opposite of my mom's advice just because I wanted to be right and prove her wrong. Now, as an adult, I really value her opinion. Do I always agree with her? No, but just hearing what she has to say helps me think a little bit outside the box when it comes to making a responsible decision.

2. Don't be afraid of being alone. Having witnessed some toxic relationships growing up and being in some as well, I found that I often settled for a guy because I didn't think that I could get any better or because I was afraid of being alone. When the time came after a bad breakup where I actually was alone, I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I had a lot to provide in a relationship, that I put other people before myself, that I'm stronger than I thought and I deserved love. Being alone can be a terrifying thought, but you often learn a lot about who you are during the solitude.

3. When you do find someone right, make the dive headfirst. When I met my husband, we had only been dating about 6 months before we got married. Being in the military and wanting to be stationed in the same place was a big factor in that decision, but we both had to put our full trust in the fact that we really truly loved each other and that this was the right decision. We have learned so much about each other along the way and we have had to grow, not only in our relationship, but as partners as well. While we still have more to learn, I know that marrying my husband was the best decision I have made (so far) and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

4. Surround yourself with a Girl(squad). I'm the type of girl who doesn't have Taylor Swift size girl squad, but I do have 2-3 girls that I am extremely close with and would trust with anything. Being in the military and being surrounded by 85% men all the time, it can be difficult to find a girl that you truly vibe with. I've been extremely lucky to find friends that I trust completely and would be willing to go to battle with and for. These girls have been there when I've been at the lowest points and highest and have put aside everything to be there for me. Carrie Bradshaw was right when she said that our girlfriends are our soulmates because I don't know what I would do without mine.

Monday Motivation.

Growing up, I was a pretty avid athlete. I played soccer from the time I was 2 (they start us Germans young in the beautiful sport) up through college and playing intramural games now. Being in the military requires you to be physically fit because it could be the matter of life and death one day. But let's be honest, 99% of women in this world work out and diet endlessly to look good in a bikini. To be completely honest, that's a main reason as to why I work out. I live in the South where it's warm 80% of the year, and I'm about to move to Hawaii where it's a paradise year round; being in a bikini isn't really optional.

Over the years I've gone through countless workout programs, anything from Insanity to Crossfit and everything in-between, and I've dieted to no end as well, sometimes to the point where it was unhealthy. I've been yo-yoing constantly for the past 2 years and I'm tired of not loving the way I look and feeling like shit because I'll eat great for 2 weeks only to fall off the wagon again. So, I figure what better way to motivate myself than to post to my blog? The place where anyone on the internet can follow my journey and possibly get motivated themselves as well. My hope is every Monday, post what I've been eating lately and the workouts I've been doing, mostly, to hold myself accountable and maybe influence a few people along the way.

Yesterday, I started the Kayla Itsines BBG program and today am stumbling around like a crazy person because my legs feel like jello. I will share my journey with you and post progress and food  (clean and cheat meals) photos to my Instagram to hopefully keep myself motivated to continue on this track instead of falling continuously off the wagon. So stay tuned, and cheers to loving ourselves and our bodies.

Sweat with Kayla App
Contains everything every BBG Girl would need in one place

Makeup.

My general philosophy when it comes to makeup is less is more. I like to look like myself and only enhance the features that are my favorite on my face. To me, skincare is the infinitely more important. When your skin is healthy and really vibing with your skincare regime, you honestly don't need much makeup. Not to say I dislike the look of smoky eyes and contours, because I shamelessly am still mesmerized by the tutorial videos whenever I stumble across them, it's honestly, just not my style. I like my natural face and, as an added bonus, less makeup means I get to sleep in like an extra 30 minutes in the morning (because being in the Military makes you appreciate when you can get any extra shut eye in).

After my skin is clean and moisturized, I use my Yves Saint Laurent Touché Eclat under my eyes, down my nose and under my nostrils, and on any imperfections that may be bugging me that day. I hate the feel of foundation (although Glossier's Perfecting Skin Tint is one product I am dying to try, if they ever get re-stocked in my shade) so I never use it. Then I use Glossier's Boy Brow (in Blonde) to fill in my brows and to give them more definition. Even if I'm extremely tired in the morning and don't want to go through with my whole routine, I still use Boy Brow. In my opinion, brows are the frames of the face and if those are on point, you look like you're ready to take on the day. After my brows are imperfectly sculpted, I use my handy dandy Clinique Chubby Sculpting Highlight Stick, which I received in my Sephora Play Box, along my cheekbones and just below and above the ends of my eyebrows. During the week, I don't really wear mascara because my allergies can act up and I rub my eyes like an onion addict, so I generally curl my lashes and then I'm off to work.

However, on the weekends, I always use my Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Waterproof Mascara. I think that this is the best volumizing and curling mascara out there, and even though the brush is large, I have yet to get any mascara on my eyelids when applying this product. Even though it's waterproof it comes off easily with my Dior Cleansing Oil or my Bioderma Sebum H2O. Also on weekends, I hardly ever go out without a lip color. In years past, I've been a NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil addict (in the shade Cruella and Dragon Girl), but when Glossier came out with a makeup line, I knew that I would love their lipstick. Fighting off the urge to buy every single color, I opted for the Glossier Generation G in the berry/wine shade Jam. What I love most about Glossier and their makeup products is that they show the same product on models with various skin tones, so you'll easily be able to tell if the color of the product will suit you or not. 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my simple and quick makeup routine. One day, perhaps, I'll change my ways and contour and cat-eye on the regular, but for now I'm enjoying my sleep and my natural beauty. 

spring uniform.

Spring is symbolic of new beginnings and change. So in honor of that, I've completely gutted my closet and decided to rebuild my wardrobe. I recently stumbled across Reformation and fell in love with basically everything. Their clothing has a equal mix of L.A. girl coolness and French girl effortlessness. So of course, I added some much needed new pieces to my wardrobe. Add Reformation's Baby Rib Tank (in Buff since I love neutrals) to Madewell's Perfect Summer Jean and my beloved Rondini Bikini Cuir Sandals, and you have my ultimate Spring Uniform.

routine.

Don't we all wish we could go back in time? Maybe tell ourselves what's to come or develop better habits so we wouldn't have to struggle as much later on in life? For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with finding my skincare routine. Unlike most of my friends, or much of the population for that matter, I didn't really have issues with acne when I was a teenager. I probably would've scoffed at someone if they asked me what my skin care routine was and asked them if it was for women in their 30's and 40's who were trying to prevent wrinkles and aging without botox. I didn't know much about skin care in my teens aside from a Noxzema Pad and if I was feeling adventurous, stealing some of my Mom's Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean Foaming Wash.

Then my 20's happened. And BOOM, just like that, deep, cystic, and extremely painful acne hit my chin and jawline like a ton of bricks. My first thought was because my skin was oily, I needed to dry my skin out, so I bought all the drugstore acne washes and treatment gels that you could possibly imagine. Needless to say, that didn't work, and in fact, made my skin worse; think tight, dry, and dull. Thankfully, years and many trial and error sessions later, I have found my routine, my holy grails of skin care, if you will.

In case you didn't already know, here's a spoiler alert: I am an absolute Francophile. Ever since I could read a Vogue, I associated anything fashionable with the French. So obviously, the majority of my skin care routine consists of French products. Simply put, the French know what the hell they're talking about, and honestly I've worn less makeup and felt more confident in my skin since using these products, so the proof is in the pores.

So without further ado, say hello to my little friends...

Dior Gentle Cleansing Oil - Three pumps of this bad boy on my skin does wonders and instantly puts me in a spa state of mind. The lily extract that is used in this formula not only calms your mood, but any inflammation or redness that may be present in your skin. Not to mention, it removes makeup (yes, even waterproof mascara) with ease and without burning your eyes. My skin is feeling clean and fresh, without the natural oils being stripped. I thank the skin care gods every time I wash my face for the chipper British Saleswoman at Nordstrom pushed this product into my hands because I don't know what I'd do without it now. 

Bioderma Sebum H2O Micellar Water - One thing that I've learn about skin care during my journey to facial zen, is that toning is extremely important and where a lot of the cleaning and refining takes place within the pores. And Micellar Water is not only a toner, but a cleanser (which is great for those late night when one is too lazy to go through every step of a regime) and a makeup remover. My favorite way to use this is an extra cleansing step (double cleansing is apparently the new craze in skin care straight from Korea) after washing and as a toner before I use my serum. This potion smells quite nice and leaves your skin with a tingling feeling that just subtly lets you know that it's working. This stuff truly is a French god send and is the stuff of lazy girl's dreams. 

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum -  As a wine lover, I never would've guessed that the properties in wine would be good for your skin. But the Viniferine within this silky serum reduces the appearance of acne marks (please and thank you) and helps boost radiance and improve complexion. The smell isn't for some (it literally smells like a vine) but it doesn't bother me, and I like to think of it as a nice glass of wine for my face. Since using this serum, my skin definitely has a nice natural glow that wasn't there before.

Glossier Priming Moisturizer - Say "Hey there" to the only American product in my everyday skin care routine. Glossier, brought into this world by the same people who brought you Into The Gloss, is the ultimate Cool Girl's skin care and makeup line. This gooey goodness is packed with hyaluronic acid (for moisture), tea and honey extracts (for redness), and an oxygenating agent (for stressed skin) creating a cult favorite product on beauty blogs and celeb Instagrams alike. The Priming Moisturizer actually helps boost the effects of the Vinoperfect Serum, so I feel like I have the perfect skin of Gigi Hadid.

So to all my Beauty Obsessed girls out there, if you're in a skin care rut or just looking for more products to hoard on your amply supplied vanity then definitely give these products a try. I can 95% guarantee you won't be disappointed.