Goodbye 2014 Hello 2015

As we are about to ring in the New Year and make 2015 resolutions. I decided to take some time to think about 2014 while sitting in a nice hammock in Cabo San Lucas.

1. I traveled!

I will never forget one of my favorite college professors advised me that the best thing you can do for yourself is travel. It is tough to come up with money, but it is so worth it. No, I'm not rich. Yes, I save and spend money on travel. I went to Greece, Turks and Caicos, LA, Las Vegas, Tahoe, and Cabo. It's been my resolution since 2012 to travel at least 2 new places a year and I've kept that goig strong! 

2. I let myself not be too obsessed with health

Health and fitness is a huge part of my life. I love working out and eating healthy, but in the past I have let it get in the way of living a fully balanced life. This year I worked out 5 times a week (instead of 6) and ate healthy 80% of the time. I allowed myself to drink when I wanted, and pass when I didn't want to. It's been a huge relief living a more balanced life.

3. Explored SF as much as I can 

We all live in such cool cities that we usually don't explore by foot. We drive, cab, and shuttle around. I tried to go on as many walks, try as many coffee shops, and yummy restaurants as I could this year.

4. I started saving

I got a financial planner this year to help me make sure I am on track with saving my money and planning for my future. It was a big step for me, but I'm so glad I decided to start this. If you need help with this let me know, I know a great guy!

5. Broke up and started dating

When you go through a breakup. It sucks. There's no way around having to deal with tons of emotions (especially when you run in to the guy all the time). This year was tough, because it was my first real heartbreak. After a lot of hurt I learned what I think I want, and what I think I deserve. It doesn't mean I've found it, but it means I'm closer to knowing myself. 

6. Stopped making work my world

Work consumes most of us. We are there more than we are anywhere else. We want to be rock stars, make an impact, and make money. I used to let work rule me. This past year I would leave work when I was done with work, and not stay up emailing all night. I didn't stress about it nearly as much as I used to. It was a great relief.

7. Started a business

Starting a business taught me SO much this year. Working with Lindsay has been a blast. We've learned how eachother work, what one another are really good at, and also how different we each are. We loved waking up on our Saturdays to work out and hang out with amazingly beautiful and inspiring women. We learned how to budget money, and make decisions together. I will take all that we learned and use these skills for the rest of my life.

8. Being there for friends when you need to be 

Weddings, baby announcements, breakups, work drama, big news, and weekly catch ups are way more important to me than I thought. Being there for people, and people being there for me are high on my list of needs. I am so thankful for the friendships I have, and am so glad in 2014 I was able to meet such amazing human beings.

There's a lot more to my 2014, but these are some of my favorites. I can't wait to see all that 2015 brings.

Cheers! 

Do It Yourself: Easy & Affordable Christmas Gifts

If you aren't budgeting this Christmas, you should be. As much as we want to shower our friends and family with expensive gifts, it isn't smart to overspend. If you don't have the budget to get all your friends something expensive, then try making one of these DIY gifts that are cute & affordable.

Hot Chocolate Jar   Cocktails Nail Polish               Wine Tray Spa Jar         DIY Coffee & Tea Mug

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Stuffed Acorn Squash Need a healthy yet hearty recipe for the holidays? I got you covered! Try this super delicious and healthy stuffed acorn squash recipe. It's hearty and filling, but not high in calories! Ingredients: 2 Acorn squash 1 Pound lean turkey 1 Can Black beans 1 Red pepper 1/2 c Corn (organic& GMO free) 1/4 white onion 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil A dash chili powder Paprika to taste A dash of salt & pepper Optional: goat cheese or another cheese 1. Preheat oven to 475 2. Cut both acorn squash in half and remove seeds. 3. Fill pyrex dish with 1/2 inch of water 4. Bake acorn squash for 25 minutes. While squash is baking 5. In large pan pour olive oil and add in chopped onion. 6. Add corn, and bell pepper. 7. Add in black beans, and turkey. Cook until turkey is cooked through.  Remove squash when cooked through, and dump out water. 8. Turn over squash and fill with stuffing. 9. Bake for another 5 minutes. 10. Optional add on goat cheese for the last minute in the oven. 11. Serve!!

26 reps 26 exercises, because I'm 26!

Here's a little bit of my birthday workout. I  just turned 26, so I thought it would be fun to do 26 exercises and complete 26 reps of each exercise. My goal was to keep moving, and take as little rest as possible.

The structure is an upper body exercise, followed by a lower body exercise, next a core exercise, and finally a "cardio" exercise. 

Enjoy! 

"26"

1. shoulder press

2. Squats

3. Sit ups 

4. Double unders (jump rope)

5. dumbbell row

6. Walking lunges 

7. Leg raises

8. Box jumps

9. dumbbell bicep curls

10. Side lunges

11. Plank with hip rotation 

12. Dumbbell tricep extension 

13. Back lunges 

14. Left side plank with hip dip

15. Ice skaters (speed skaters)

16. Shoulder pushup ( pike position)

17. Sumo squat

18. Right side plank with hip dip 

19. Toe taps on box 

20. Dumbbell reverse fly

21. Kettlebell swing

22. Toe touch crunches (lay on mat, feet in air, touch your toes) 

23. Mountain climbers 

24. Ball slams (med ball or sandbag)

25. Curtesy lunges

26. Burpees

10 Reasons Why Trying To Be A "HOT" Girl Will Make You Broke

Being a girl is super awesome, right? Guys think we have it easy. We get free club entrances, and free dinners on our first few dates. I mean it is super easy to have a model face, perfect skin, have awesome bodies, and make it look easy. Little do men know how much money goes in to being a girl (especially during the holidays).

1. Haircuts: 
Split ends are not ok, but what the hell it costs $50-$400 dollars to get our hair done every 6-8 weeks. That is only if the hairstylist doesn't fuck the color up and we only have to stop by once in that 6-8 week span (unlikely).

2. Nails:
When you are a busy bitch like me you are usually running around town in workout clothes. We have to get our nails done just so we don't feel like boys running around in sweats. If we get regular polish that will chip in about 20 minutes, so we get gel & $45 dollars later we are feeling fresh, and broke.

3. Fitness classes:
Girls are all supposed to have perfect bodies. Big (and perky) boobs, round butts, and a tiny waist. Gym memberships now run from about $50-$180 a month. This doesn't include the cost of personal trainers so we know how to properly do exercises ($65-$180 an hour), Pilates classes to lengthen and tone ($18-$30), spin classes to keep on trend($20-$35), and yoga to stay flexible ($15-$30).

4. Clothes:
Guys make fun of girls for shopping. Guys won't date a girl who doesn't have good style. Therefore, we have to keep up with the trends. Good jeans cost well over $100. Boots start at $50-$300. A nice top runs around $30-$130. A nice jacket $60-$300. Hundreds of dollars later we have one outfit that cost about half our rent.

5. Makeup:
Every girl has gotten the "are you tired?" question when they show up to work without makeup on. Gosh! We are almost forced to put shit on our face to make us look "presentable". According to a study from Mint, the average woman spends approximately $15,000 on beauty products during her lifetime. Of that, $3,770 goes to mascara alone (I mean, it does brighten your whole face). Next time I want to buy a car and can't come up with the money, I will thank my full face of makeup for that!

6. Face wash, lotions, & potions:
Wrinkles? Oh, hell no! We buy shit tons of sunscreen, eye cream, face wash, a Clarasonic, toner, night cream, and the list goes on. We are scammed in to buying everything we can to make us look youthful, fresh, and have clear skin. I can't believe it when I leave the estheticians office on how much money I just spend and how much I walk away with.

7. Spray tans, tanning lotions, bronzer:
Nothing is worse than a girl who is pasty white, right? The last thing you want to do is get in to a bikini when you match your white towel. Spray tans cost an upwards of $40 and if you want it to last then you better buy the $30 lotion that helps it stay. If you don't want to pay $40 for a spray tan you most likely are willing to get a "steal" and spend $20 on a gradual at home tanner.

8. Waxing & Threading:
It is totally unacceptable to have bushy ass eyebrows, and GOD FORBID your vagina isn't waxed. If you have hairy arms, you better wax that too. This is where the "pain is beauty" comes in to play. Waxing and treading will cost you $100+ a month if you are going every 2 weeks. As we all know, girls aren't supposed to have hair like normal human beings.

9. Bras, panties, and Spanx:
Girls want to wake up looking like a supermodel. Unfortunately, less that 1% of the population looks like one. The other 99% are spending money on push up bras, thongs, and Spanx to keep everything "in it's place". Sadly, after dropping our hard earned cash on lingerie we will never look like Gisele.

10. Health and diet foods:
Green juices, organic salads, tea cleanses, and the lose 5 pounds in two week diet program will cost you way more than just eating regular "fat people food". I want to be skinny, so of course I am willing to spend my lifes savings at Whole Foods.

 

The list goes on so for the people who get plastic surgery, Botox, teeth whitening, eyelash tinting, eyelash extensions, or anything else... BE READY TO BE BROKE. Dudes better pay for our damn dinners after all we do to stay looking this fly! Beyonce (bless her) did NOT Wake Up Like Dat.

Lips That Say Happy Holidays

Tis' the season for amazing red lipstick! Getting that perfect red lipstick isn't always as easy as it seems. Too pink, too brown, too purple, too bright, a little dry, or too shiny. I have tested out SO many lip colors that I have boiled it down to the list below. Now to be afraid to add a little pop of color to your look this Holiday season.

Kevin Aucoin: Blood Roses

MAC: Ruby Woo

ELF: Rich Red (only $3!!!)

Lancome: Smouldering Mauve 

 

 Givenchy: Rose Ruban 

   

Wet n' Wild: Rose bud (for only $1.99)