September Birchbox

So I'm still firm on my decision to switch to Ipsy BUT I'm still on the waiting list to get one soooooo I'm going to continue to receive BirchBox until then. I just like a monthly "present" coming in the mail. 

To see past BirchBoxes go HERE

The last few months have been slightly disappointing due to getting A LOT of the same product types just different brands etc. 

Womp womp womp.

BUT

This month I was pleasantly surprised to have received all really good items and new things as well!!

In this box:

Voesh New York Lemon Pedicure Masque - 

My feet are baaaad. There are super dooper rough so I lovee anything that can give them so help..and well I just like Lemon Scent so DOUBLE score!

Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara -

I can always use some mascara. This one has a really large nice brush on it making the application a bajillon times easier!! IT worked really well and stayed on all day with no issues or rubbing off and it came off with no extra effort needed.

Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream - 

THIS SMELLS SOOOOOOO GOOOD!!!!! Like every time I use it Im distracted by how amazing it smells!!!! It's a very nice non greasy lotion. I like my lotions to be moisturizing but not to leave a greasy feeling behind. This one does just that.

Amika Blow Up Spray -

My hair is on the thinner side so anything that will add a lil boost up there with out to much extra teasing is okay in my book. This also has a heat protectant in it which is just an absolute must I dont care who you are.

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund -

I may or may not have an addiction to nail polish...but regardless I love this multicolored metallic!! I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to beauty products, if it shimmer, shines, sparkles, glistens or glitters it will be my best friend!

That was it for this month, but like I said it was all stuff I hadn't received and some new product types as well, which makes this girl happy happy happy.

Whats your favorite beauty product to receive??

Have a marvelous monday!!

As always

- J

Hairr Daaay! {{5onFriday}} Giveaway Winner!

It's Finally Friday, I'm free again I got my motor running for a wild weekend. It's finally Friday I'm out of control, forget the working blues and let the good times roll!

A little George Jones to start your day off right!

I'm double posting again today, so first off a Link Up Post for 5 on Friday with the ALWAYS fabulous Darci at The Good Life Blog!!

Heres a my 5 and today they are just totes randoms!

{{one}}
It's Friday- obviously. And today is our grocery shopping day, which means cheat meal for this girl! I'm feeling me a nice big bowl of Fro Yo! My mouth is watering right now as I type this, This fatty wants froyo bad. REAL BAD!

 {{two}}
While we are in the big(ger) city today, I told the hubs we HAVE to go to Victoria's Secret because I have coupons of course for freebies. Rule number one, never pass up freebies. It's just plain wasteful! ;) And I need a new pair of kicks. I just got new running shoes back in July buuuut I need a pair of regular old sneaks to just run around in, do my crossfit workouts in and so on instead of wearing out my nice Asics and they can be reserved for running. I'm thinking some colorful Nike's... Any input on favorite everyday kicks? 

{{three}}
The hubby and I are those weirdo's that get obsessed with certain shows and then we only watch those shows. Right now our curtain obsessions are Duck Dynasty and Sons of Anarchy. Complete opposites, I know but DD is just plain hilarious and has the best moral lessons weaved in each episode and SOA is just that nitty gritty drama I crave!

{{four}}

Speaking of SOA....Charlie Hunnam...mhmmm. HELLO MR GREY!!! I read that triology in three days...and oh my oh my it made me blush but it was written so perfectly. The story behind the... ya know.. was just a beautiful story itself about love and the extra was just a bonus :P. But now a movie and Charlie Hunnam is Mr Grey. I have died and went to housewife heaven....Ahhhh.

{{five}}
Roots are for trees. It's time for this girl to get her herrrrrrr did. Yup. It's like therapy for some one else to do my hair. I can do my own, but I choose to pay someone else because well I like the pampering too. Sue me. A lot of people say I should change up my hair. Nah.. Im naturally blonde and I don't want to ruin the natural color I have and well I used to be pretty wild with my hair colors so I'll stick with my two tone paint job. My hair from age 16-21 has went from hot pink on the bottom with black tips and purple highlights; purple peekaboos and black tips on blonde, back to blonde, blonde with black tips; pink peekaboos, dark on the bottom and pink peekaboos, dark on the bottom with pink peekaboos and pink in the bangs, back to dark on the bottom with pink peekaboos then a deep purple mahogany on the bottom and blonde on top and now back to just blonde and dark. I'm happy this way and I've went from stark dark black to dark brown. I'm content. for now... :D

And now the moment you all are waiting for (maybe?)

The winner of The Fall Favorites Giveaway is....

LAURA D.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! 

I sent out an email, just reply and I'll get your package out as soon as possible!

Thanks for entering and following! I hope you will enjoy the products!


Whats your Friday plans?

Take us out George Jones...
 I've got a hundred dollars smoking in my billfold, I know I ought to save it but it's burning a whole right through my pocket and into my skin, Come Monday morning I'll be broke again..

-J

Ignoring the haters and Finding Positivity

I've had this post bouncing around in my head lately but wasn't exactly sure how I wanted it to come out, so bare with me, and hang out cause here we go.

I try to be extremely real and honest on here and some people take me as putting on a fake persona. I'm not a fake, I just really try to have a positive out look and spin things to the sunny side... it's hard but it's just how I've always been. Yes I bitch and moan, but for the most part I try to find the good in any situation. Some take that as being a 'fake' but It's me take me how you want but I'm not changing for anyone, sorry not sorry.

Life is literally like a game. No matter how many times you see it play out or read the 'rules' something can happen that can alter the ending, taking a wrong turn in candy cane forrest, not passing go and collecting 250 dollars, drawing the triplets life tile, having one card left and then getting hit with the draw 4 card. Things happen that are good or bad and we have to react to them. 

It's hard.

 It's not always fun but as cliche as it sounds.

That's life. 

( I have to remind myself of this all the time too) 

Life really is what you make it, you have the power to have a good day or a shitty one. You also have to power to improve someones day or shit on it. Don't be the shitter-on-er. No one like's a Debbie Downer. Life is 20% situations and 80% how you react. 

How do you react? 

Do you look for the good or focus on the bad?

Especially now that I've lost so much weight and altered my lifestyle, I've came upon all new types of people, the encouraging ones and the haters. The haters are the ones that are just jealous of your success. They don't have the power or the strength to change their situation so instead of bettering themselves they have to drag you down and make you feel bad so that you feel like your success isn't as good as it is that way they can feel better about themselves. 

Which is sad.

I'm not gonna lie, I've sat around and complained and whined about how I wish I had that car like so and so or those shoes or that job or that house or that what-cha-ma-call-it (any one remember that candy bar???) but afterwards I kick myself for it.

Yeah it would be nice to have those things but I don't NEED them and I don't know what other peoples life is like. I just need to be content with myself and my life and what I've done for myself.

I had a weird moment the other day at Walmart, it actually almost brought me to tears. I had just finished a workout and was wearing my spandex and a tee shirt, not trying to look impressive I just needed a new cable for my tv and I just stopped at Walmart on the way home. There were two bigger girls walking around just having a good time and I'm trying to decide on the super cheap cord or the cheap one...(Cheap one) and I hear them talking about me and see the pointing about how I "need to eat more" "it's pathetic how I look" "I had no boobs" and they just went on with all these remarks and gawd it hurt. It hurt because they didn't know my struggle. They didn't know that I'd lost almost 70lbs, that I workout every day and watch what I eat. That I have sweated, cried and shed blood to get to this point. That I used to hide how much I ate, that I never left the house with out being covered in sweats and hoodies to hide my body. They didn't know me, they were to busy hating on me and my body because they just assumed I had always looked like this. They were jealous and thats the only conclusion I could come to after racking my brain.

Weightloss has changed the way people look at me, people that know me either recognize me and do a double take and congratulate me or they stare and whisper and scowl. The negatives hurt but I have to remind my self that I did this for me and not for them. So why should it matter what every tom dick and harry think about me? 

IT DOESN'T.

And thats true for every aspect of life.

It doesn't matter what anyone thinks of you as long as you are proud to know you. Be the person that you would want to be friends with. Be proud, be kind, be grateful, be helpful, be loving, be positive. Its hard. Sometimes its easier to be ungrateful and be harsh but dang it, all that does is make you look bad and ugly on the inside. You don't want to be that way, You want to feel good and hold your head up high. So remove the negativity from your life and add one little positive action into your life daily. Before long you will have an easier time ignoring the haters and finding true happiness. You'll have bad days but most importantly your good days will out weigh the bad!

"May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, angels protect you and heaven accept you" - Drake

Keep that in mind today. I challenge each and everyone one of you to do something extra today to either bring positivity into your life or someone else's.

I hope you all got the just of where I was going with this, I kinda just let the words flow as they came. 

Have a FABULOUS and POSITIVE Friday and enjoy the weekends!

-J

Finish The Sentence Link Up!

Boom!

I'm on a roll today.

Post numero dos.

So I like link ups- sue me.

I've always wanted to do this link up but ALWAAAAYSS missed the punch.

But not today, not in my house!

Hang on for the ride, cause hereeee weeee goooooo!

My happy place...is anywhere that doesn't require pants....not to be a creepy creep, but I don't like wearing clothes. Sorry not sorry

Whatever happened to... Carmen Sandiego? Did they ever find her? Was she the villain or the good guy? Why did she have a tv show? These are the things that keep me up at night...SIGH.

So what if I.... lint roll my dog because she sheds more hair that a yeti.

E! needs a reality show about...any family besides the Kardashians..

My go-to fast food meal is...Taco Bell's Dorito Loco Taco...don't judge me.

You might not know that I...have to have to the tv on with no sound to fall asleep. Yup I'm weird.

The hottest quarterback in the NFL is...uhh....uhm...is Channing Tatum a quarterback?

If I could....win the lottery I could afford to buy everything I'd ever wanted from Ikea and make my house look like Pinterest threw up.

My personality is awesome because...I'm a blonde and they have more fun. DUH

Twerking is....just a fancy word for weird wall humping...

I think it's super gross when...people blow there nose into their shirt. Get a kleenex ya sicko.

Someone needs to tell Miley Cyrus....that Chuck-E-Cheeze called, he wants his onsie back.

Enjoy the day!

-J

Staying Motivated Through Injuries & Cyclone Cup Winner {{W.O.W LinkUp}}

Hey hey hey!

So of course it's Wednesday and I like to party, so I'm joining the fun over at Preg Meg's blog today for Workout Wednesday Link Up. Which totally off sub but I just have to throw this out there, she is so dedicated to working out and staying fit and healthy through her pregnancy It gives me even more motivation on a daily basis because come on, she's PREGNANT and still gets after it -- Whats your excuse again?? Haha.

Today I wanna talk about working out while injured and while recovering. A lot of you have asked me to do this post, so as always - ask and you shall receive.

First off I want to start with a disclaimer-- I'm not a physician nor do I have any degrees in medicine these are my own opinions and what works//has worked for me. When in doubt consult your physician before partaking in physical activity.

Now that thats out there we can begin!

Rule number one about injuries -- don't over do it. 

Listen to your body. If it says stop, STOP. Your body knows it limits and you should never push it so hard that you risk further damage or prevent healing.

But just because your injured that doesn't mean you have to sit back and grow into the couch. If your like me then you have worked to hard to let everything slip away.

If you have any lower body injury than that just gives you the perfect opportunity to focus on upper body. The following exercise are great workout moves that require little to no assistance from the lower half.

*Russian Twists

Crunches

Reverse Crunches

*Superman's or Sometimes referred to as Swimmers 

*Seated Dumbbell Curls

*Seated Overhead Press

*Sidewinders

*Punches 

*Seated Butterflies 

*Seated Runners

The video will demonstrate all items with a * beside it 

Now If it is an upper body injury you can focus on the lower body. The following are prime examples to really work the body with out worrying about the upper half.

Squats

Lunges

*Sumo Squats

Walking

*Leg Kicks

*Bridges

*Single Leg Bridges

*Hop Squats

Calf Raises

*Pulsing Lunges

*Scissor Kicks

*Single Leg Pogo Hops

The video will demonstrate all items with a * beside it 

Ps- Totes ignore my face in this video, it was pre-makeup and pre-hair and well pre everything so I look a little pissy and constipated but I promise I'm not!!! I hope the video helps with confusion on some of the not so common moves!

Depending on your level of injury you may be able to incorporate some other moves that involve more interaction from the injured zone.

While injured though be sure to be giving yourself plenty of rest and treating the injury to help with recovery.

It is so easy to lose your motivation while injured because you can't do everything like normal. It can be really hard to keep your motivation as well because you fall into the slump. But just remind yourself that any little bit you do will benefit you greatly. Any form of physical activity great over shadows no activity at all.

While injured and your out of your regular workout regime, thats the best time to focus on your eating habits, because you can't work out as much. And you are wanting to really stay on point. This would be the best time to make sure your eating healthy like you want and not over indulging in too many calorie heavy treats. I know its hard cause when your bed ridden or stuck on the couch in front of the boob tube its SO SO SO easy to overeat without even realizing it!

I hope this answers the questions those of you had about working out with injury.

How do you cope with injury?

Now for a bit of a personal update

I'm on week two of Focus T25 by Shaun T. and DAAYYYUUMMM. He is kicking my ass. But I'm loving every SINGLE last second of it!!! The workouts are short but get your heart rate up, make you sweat, cry for your mommy, and you can feel the burn afterwards! I'm already noticing some great definition!!! Check out dem guns!!! I will post a progress picture at day 25. The program is a total of 50 days, with two 25 day stages.

I'm running a 5K for my birthday in October and to keep myself prepared, I'm running 3.1 miles once a week on my rest day of T25. The cross training I get from the T25 workouts is very beneficial to my running as well, so I'm hoping to see my times go down and to have a great race. It will be my first officially timed race. EEK! Although the course that I run is extremly hilly. Like no joke I can't go a block from my house in any direction with out hitting at least three hills. The race course though is flaaaaaaaaat.

 Thank baby Jesus.

Any tips for race day??

I've only ran "fun" 5K's till now.

AND NOW THE MOMENT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!!!

THE WINNER OF THE CYCLONE CUP IS...

DRUMROLL PLEASE

MORGAN DENNY!!!

Congratulations and thanks for following me and playing along!!!

An email has been sent, please respond with your mailing address so I can get the cup out this week to you.

BOOM!

Get up, get going and enjoy HUUUUMMMMPPP DAAAAAY!

- J

Taboo Food, Say What?

Ok as you all should know I'm very real about anything and everything I post on here, instagram and where ever and when I answer your questions. I'm going to keep it real end of story. And today will be no exception.

Lately I have been getting some bashing for the way I eat. Hell anyone who eats is getting bashed. I eat relatively healthy. No I don't eat like a rabbit. But I love my fresh foods.

There are those out there who bash the ones who are all pro clean eating and so one and theres those that bash those who like eating shit. Either way someones always complaining.  It's totally the persons choice how they freaking eat. End of Story. No one is forcing you to eat like them and vise versa. 

I eat pretty clean for the most part. I don't eat red meat, because I don't like it. I don't drink alcohol, because I don't like it. Not because of the calories or whatever, I'm just not a drinker, wah. Get over it. I don't drink pop because I don't care for it anymore. If I'm going to splurge on a drink its going to be something freaking delicious and smothered in whipped cream from Starbucks, no questions asked. I eat tons of fruits and veggies, because I like them, they taste good and I crave them... Go figure... BUT Newsflash. I'm human, and I like to get down on some shit food every now and then. I like ice cream sandwhiches, I love reeses, peanut butter m&m's, s'mores, whipped topping, pizza, cookies, cup cakes.

Wow, shocker huh?

Now see the key here is MODERATION. You can eat anything and everything you want and still be healthier. You just have to control your portions and how often you eat.

What really killed me was when someone out there in the internet land told me that they followed me and so on and that if I actually wanted to start losing weight I should try eating healthy and working out daily with x amount of cardio and x amount of this and eat x amount of calories-- Bitch Please. 

Are you kidding me??

Like how am I supposed to take that? "If I want to start losing weight" What the hell have I been doing since January??

No one can tell you the key to your body. Yes advice is welcome, help is always a great thing to have but you have to tweek things to fit you, your life and you body. Because you eat clean doesn't mean you eat clean 100% of the time. You can eat clean, mostly and enjoy some  of the more guilty things out there.

You have to do whats right for you, yeah you can disagree with how some one eats and so on but you can't judge them and throw the book at them because you don't like what they do and think your way is better.

Sorry for the rant but I just want everyone to realize that I eat crap food too. I try not too and I limit it, but it happens. I don't let it ruin my day of undo my progress. I pick myself up, slap some since into myself and get my butt back into gear.

My absolute favorite cheat meal is fro yo. And not nicely made, I'm talking birthday cake batter with cookie dough chunks, and the whole nine yards. I also like fat free fro yo with fresh fruit, it just depends on what I want at that time. 

The point being moderation is key to eating. It doesn't matter what diet you follow, how many calories you intake or if you eat processed foods or not. You can over eat on the healthy foods too. You have to find a balance between working out and eating right and between the foods you want to enjoy.

If you want to know more about how I eat, ask!

Whats your favorite guilty pleasure food??

Happy Tuesday!

-J

Motivation-Meet Me Monday Mash Up

Hello Wisconsin! 

Or wherever you are

It's everyones favorite day again!

Well it doesn't bother me cause I start my week on Sunday's so I'm already back in the swing. But I have been KILLER busy. I worked 11.5 hours today like a champ. Gotta make the public happy! And I'm going to use this to make a valid point to the whiners out there, that " don't have time ". Well kiddo's I worked 11.5 hours, worked out for a little over an hour, made supper, packed the hubs and I's lunches for work, did the dishes, folded laundry, picked up the house, showered, wrote this post and still had time to kick it old school, YO.

What's your excuse again?

Does anyone else wake up in the morning and stumble out of bed walking like a drunken baby giraffe in high heels, or is it just me? 

crickets

It's just me.

Well grab your cup of coffee, or whatever your morning caffeine drug of choice is and pull up a seat! I'm going to start up a new thing for Mondays, well most Mondays: Motivation-Meet Me Monday Mash Up.

Say that three times fast.

It's where I'm going to throw out some fitness tid bits, motivation picture/quotes and just some random tidily winks to help all ya'll get to know me a bit better. Feel free to do your own post like this and comment or email me the link, I'd LOVE to get to know more of you better! I for real love connecting with all of you! 

Thats why I love my Instagram!

Here.we.go.

Boom.

I'm in love with these jeans, mainly because it's the smallest size I've owned since like Jr High....

I feel FIERCE! haha.

This girl right here "tried" to lose weight for the wedding. That girl tried Body By Vi- doesn't work when you have the meal REPLACEMENT shake as a dessert...she tried Insanity and started 6-7 times and never finished the first week and cheated on half the video anyways. That girl is gone though! The girl who works her ass off to be fit and healthy has gladly taken her place.

I don't drink soda or sugary drinks in general or alcohol...weird I know, I just don't really care for the taste.. This is what my drinking consists of water, Spark, Mio, Rehydrate, Meal Replacement shakes (used properly now!), peppermint tea, regular tea and on occasion skim milk/almond milk/soy milk which ever one sounds good during the shopping experience.

Random Fact. I have an obsession with a good smelling house. I love Scentsy, candles, febreeze, those cinnamon pinecones at christmas..My house always smells like you imagine a house in the magazine would...now if I could only get it to look like one...

I'm in LOVE with my guns arm muscles right now. Prepare for some serious flexin' outside of flex it Friday. I don't know if I can contain myself to one day a week of flexing...

Oh yeah this girl Started WEEK 2 of a Shaun T program (T25) And she is not half ass-ing any minute of it! BOOM. Pretty damn proud.

For extra motivation I keep quotes as my lock screen on my phone so everytime I see my phone I'm reminded to spit out the cupcake. Nah just kidding I wouldn't spit out cupcake, that'd be wasting...

But it does help to remind me to stay on track.

Asic Gel Noosa Tri 8's are the shoe of choice in this household. I have 2 pairs and the hubby has one. I will be getting another pair before the end of the year...I like to retire them before they are worn out so I always have a back up pair. These are seriously the most comfortable shoes I have ever ran in. Although I want to get a pair of somethings just for some average day tennis shoes vs wearing out my expensive runners...I'm weird, I know.

Any recommendations on some average priced, comfortable cross trainers?

I could eat my weight in fresh garden salad. I don't put cheese or dressing on my salad, instead I use low fat cottage cheese!

Favorite salad topping?

These are my top 5 workout songs at the moment. They make me want to push harder!!!

What song gets you up and going??

Victoria's Secret is a weakness. I love their beauty products, especially their lotions!!

I don't use a gym. This right here is my gym. That and any piece of furniture I can use...

This is our only child. She is 10lbs of pure cuteness and thinks she's human. Yeah she takes showers, she sits at the table and will eat off of a plate, and sleeps with her head on a pillow and body under covers.. Taking her on a mile walk every night is what I do for a cool down.

This right here, I LOVE. Who doesn't want to hear that!!?!?!?

How are you motivating yourself this Monday??

PS- Make sure you get your entries in for The Fall Favorites Giveaway and The Cyclone Cup Giveaway also be sure to be checking instagram today I'm going to be throwing out opportunities for extra entries!

As always

-J