Where To Online Shop: My Favorite Links Right Now

Online shopping is getting bigger and bigger. It is convenient, you can usually find deals, and shipping is typically free. Since I do styling on the side, I have tried TONS of sites for my clients and these ones are my go-to's.

1. Revolve
My go-to is Revolve. Not only does revolve have my favorite brands all in one place, but it's the easiest place to online shop. Revolve has their own app and makes it super simple to navigate. They allow free returns (if something doesn't fit or you just don't love it) and they even send you a return label with your order.
Favorite Brands to search here: Stone Cold Fox, L*Space, WILDFOX, Lovers and Friends, Rails

2. ShopBop
ShopBop is much like Revolve; all my favorite brands in one spot. This one may be a little bigger than Revolve which makes it a tiny bit more challenging to navigate. However, there are awesome finds to be had shopping on this site and a ton of variety.
Favorite Brands to search here: Mother Jeans, Alexis, Tibi

3. FORWARD by Elyse Walker
I love this site for more expensive high end designer apparel. It is on the pricier side, but an amazing site to find really nice pieces.
Favorite Brands to search here: Acne Studios, Isabel Marant, Stella McCartney

4. Shop Van De Vort:
I love this little La Jolla Boutique. It has a very Mod and Hippie feel. Need cool jewelry or a fun outfit for a festival? Go here!
Favorite Brands to search here: Flynn Skye, Novella Royale, Cleobella, Show me your mumu

5. Beginning Boutique
I love this Australian Boutique. It has tons of different brands that aren't as big in the US and has into'd me to some looks I haven't seen here in the states.
Favorite Brands to search here: Quay, One Teaspoon, Afends, The Fifth Label

6. Carbon38
Need fun workout clothes? Look no further, I'm obsessed with the fun brands this site introduced me to. Check them out for your next fun pair of leggings.
Favorite Brands to search here: Koral, Private Party, Teeki

7. Anthropologie:
Antro is my spot for a ton of basics. Great fitting jeans, cute booties, sweaters, or nice tops. I always find something at Anthro.
Favorite Brands to search here: AG Jeans, Cloth and Stone, Citizens of Humanity  

8. NASTYGAL
This site is a mix of everything. Vintage, quirky, and different! I love the looks they go for and the designers they feature on this site.
Favorite Brands to search here: For Love & Lemons, Jeffrey Campbell

9. Bloomingdales
I like Bloomingdales, because they have so many options and if I need something fast I can check to see if I can swing by and pick it up! I also have a (free) bloomingdales points card (not a credit card), so I get $ back!
Favorite Brands to search here: Elizabeth and James, Joie, Rag and Bone 

10. Off 5th- Saks
I am obsessed with Off 5th the outlet for Saks 5th Avenue. Can you say discounts? They are always running deals and I have always found really expensive clothes at a fraction of the original cost.
Favorite Brands to search here: Vince, A.L.C., DVF

Quick tip: I have registered a few email addresses to websites, so I can usually get 10-15% off my purchases. I hate paying full price for things, so if you are making a big purchase you may want to consider registering your email for a discount.

10 Favorite Dresses To Wear To Spring & Summer Weddings

We are swinging in to wedding season. Whether you have a bridal shower, wedding, graduation, or any other sort of fancy party this Spring/Summer I know you are wondering what to wear. It's time to think ahead and find the perfect dress to show stop at whichever event you are attending. I have picked out 10 of my absolute faves and I hope you're as obsessed as I am.

This dress is perfect for a warm day. If it get's chilly you can throw a nude shawl over it, don't forget to pick up an amazing strapless bra, and this dress pair with a wedge and you're set!

I am in love with all the fun florals this season. This dress is on the pricier side, but will be one that will be your go-to for years to come! It's a dream.

Feeling fun and wanting to try something a bit different? I love love love this long sleeve shift dress. It's always nice to have one in your closet just in case you aren't feeling your most slim. They flow loosely so you can dance and eat without a worry!

This Elizabeth and James dress, I just adore. It's so cute and flirty. All you need is a nude heel and you're all set! It doesn't hurt that this country star rocked it on the red carpet

I am all about bringing the color to weddings, especially in the summer. This dress is SO perfect for dancing the night away. No need to worry about any wardrobe malfunctions in this one. I would wear this with a brown or nude wedge and hit the dance floor HARD!

Lace is always the perfect go-to for weddings. It's cute, and photographs very well. This one is one of my faves this year.

This shift dress is super fun to dance in. It doesn't constrict your legs and it flows nicely. Dress it up and wear it to a wedding or dress it down and wear it with flip flops.

I am OBSESSED with this Stone Cold Fox dress. All you need are some cute espadrilles and you are set to show stop!

There's nothing like a deep olive dress with sunkissed skin. This one would be perfect with a pair of brown or tan wedges and some golden makeup!

This salmon wrap dress is the perfect dress for a vineyard daytime wedding. Wrap dresses are known to give you shape (sinching at the waist) and are simply classic.

10 Best Rompers and Jumpsuits This Season

Let's chat rompers and jumpsuits. Some people think that they won't work for them, but let me tell you it is ALL about what kind you get. If you have a long torso, finding one that sinches higher up on your waist will be your perfect find. If you have a short torso, you should pick one that sinches lower near your hips. There are so many amazing finds out this season, some are pricey and some are super affordable. Here are my 10 faves this year.

1. This Zimmerman jumpsuit is my favorite for this summer. It is a bit pricey, but I am eager to find it on sale somewhere. I have tried it on, and it is EVERYTHING.

2. Stone cold fox makes this fun and flirty floral romper that I can't get enough of. Dress it up for a night out with your girlfriends, or dress it down to wear to a BBQ.

3.  Faithful the brand makes this amazing beachy romper that is light and perfect to wear to a BBQ, fair, or beach party. If you have a larger chest, no worries, you can easily wear a bralette to make this wearable and comfortable for you.

4. I love splendid! Their material is amazing and this romper is super comfy and casual. Wear it with tennies and a ballcap, flip flops and a straw hat, or wedges and a clutch to dress things up a bit!

5. This Nicholas romper is EVERYTHING. I am all about the one shoulder, and the light yet detailed material makes for a super chic oufit. Wear this to a bridal shower, dinner on the water, or to a ladies brunch.

6. If you want to dress things up a bit for a special event (ie. a wedding, cocktail party, or night on the down) I think this jumpsuit is perfect. This cut is one that would flatter almost any body type (curvy, athletic, or slim). Try switching things up and be that girl with the confidence to rock a jumpsuit instead of a dress!

7. This beachy romper is perfect for the casual day out to the farmers market, walk to the beach, or day at the park. Again, if you are busty feel free to wear a bralette underneath!

8. I am SUPER obsessed with Linen and I cant get enough of this quick to throw on linen romper. It is super comfy and perfect to wear on a scotching hot day.

9. I am always so obsessed when I see a girl in a button up jumpsuit like this. I thought that you could only find them "vintage" or at a thrift store. I am so excited to see reformation bringing them back.

10. Last, but definitely not least is this hot, bright, and AFFORDABLE romper by Amanda Uprichard. Wear this to date night or out to the clubs this works on many occasions. 

SoulCycle & Why I Don't Hate It

You may have seen over the last few weeks that I've "checked in" to SoulCycle & while it's a bit out of my normal routine, I want to chat in a bit more detail about my experience.

Let's first address the elephant in the room. $30 for a spin class is ridiculous, like really ridiculous. Now that that's been addressed we can get to the nitty gritty.

I have found over the last 8 years of being engrossed in fitness that many people who are in to fitness are the most picky and judgmental people around in regards to what kind of training is best. The people who don't love to workout hard love barre, the hippie vegans love their flow classes, skinny people who used to play sports love to run, people who hate lifting love to cycle, and gym rats love to lift. Well all these assumptions are quite close minded, and in my opinion BS. All types of people like different types of exercise for different reasons. Most people have a bit of crossover and like a few different types of workouts, but what I've come to find is that most people find that one activity they love and they do a lot of it. 

I think people love to hate SoulCycle, they love to hate Crossfit, and the list goes on.

1. Paying for workouts

I luckily don't lack the motivation to workout, but many do. Paying for a class likely ensures your commitment to showing up. Once your there, having guidance and an instructor guarantees you get more bang for your buck than just showing up to a gym and hopping on an elliptical. It's also nice to do something nice for yourself every once in a while giving back to your body. From a budget perspective, I don't mind spending the money on fitness. Fitness is the one non-negotiable for me, did you read about my musties or listen to my musties? 

2. From an exercise physiology perspective 

Many people in fitness are up in arms over the fact that SoulCycle is more choreographed and less about the actual cycle. People say it's a bit "dancey" and also way too "fake" for them. In every single class I've taken the instructors focus on proper set up, form, and let you know modifications. I also love the dancey feel, it makes the class more fun!

3. Dark rooms, loud music, too hot 

Yes. The rooms are dark, loud, and warm. I don't mind it. I think that's my favorite part. I am 100% in the zone & the music is so loud I don't have the distractions of my own head saying "I can't". It is quite warm, but this is to ensure you get warm fast and stay warm, remember the class is only 45 minutes. 

4. Not that different from other spin classes

Well, it actually is a whole lot different. I honestly don't enjoy spin nearly as much when I go to a class at Crunch or 24 hour fitness. I love the dark rooms, loud music, motivating instructors, and riding to the beat. That doesn't exist at many other spin studios. I leave here seriously pumped on life. 

5. Not something you can do everyday

True. I don't go to SoulCycle everyday. Lately, I have been going more often due to being away from home & the gym I belong to. To ensure I get my workouts in while not staying at home I have been running, doing home workouts, and going to SoulCycle. 

Not sure if this will inspire you to try a class, but I'm hoping this will open your mind to why people might take SoulCycle. If you put down your guard for a second, you mind discover something you really enjoy! 

My Beauty Philosophy: Where I Save and Spend

I have enjoyed reading up on some of my favorite bloggers social media posts on how much they spend on their beauty services and which they prioritize. Let's face it, we ALL have a routine. Some may spend less & others spend more, but everyone spends on maintenance. It's usually fun, we enjoy the pampering, and we love to feel great about ourselves. However, it can get super pricey. I like to splurge on certain things, and save on others. Here's my current beauty breakdown.

SPLURGE: Hair color
I spend more than I like to admit on hair color. To me this is my biggest spend. I was tired of hating my hair and having to spend a lot getting it done every 6 weeks, so after doing some research I found a solution. I found someone amazing and get my hair done less often (2-3x a year instead of going 6-8x a year which meant getting it done every 6-8 weeks). After doing the math I spend about the same, but now I LOVE my hair and before I was impartial to it. I see Johnny Ramirez from Ramirez|Tran Salon. He is the King of Color and I suggest EVERYONE see him once in their life.

SAVE: Eyebrows
I don't get my eyebrows done as often as I used to. I can't believe salons in SF can charge as much as they do. Instead of going every 2 weeks, I go every 4-6. In between going, I pluck and trim at my house. This saves me a lot :)

SPEND: Haircuts
Hair is everything to me. As I mentioned earlier, I have gotten so many bad dye jobs and cuts I don't mind spending on amazing color or cuts. I see Anh Co Tran from Ramirez|Tran Salon. He is a sweetheart and amazing at what he does. It doesn't hurt that he has a rolodex of celebrity clientele, see it for yourself.

SAVE: Spray Tans
I LOVE a good spray tan, but I only get them for special occasions. I have girlfriends who love getting them regularly and I don't blame them. It's just not a must for me. I have used some great self-tanning products that keep me a decent color year round. My favorite is St. Tropez bronzing mousse. Make sure you wear a glove with this one. I also really like this lotion.

SPEND: Gel Manicure's
I am someone who just loves having my nails done. I don't know why, but I love a gel manicure. I think this started when I was a personal trainer. Wearing workout clothes all the time sometimes made me feel less feminine, so I made sure to always have my nails done. I don't mind spending the money as this is a little "me time" I look forward to.

SAVE: Waxing
OK. This one depends on the person FOR SURE. I don't mind going to the cheaper salon I've been going to for years. There are other salons that cost 2-3x the price, that I personally am not willing to go broke over.

SPEND: Blowouts
I love a good blowout. I am VERY particular with what I like, but every time I tell drybar exactly what I'm looking for they deliver! I splurge a little on this as it is $65 a month for 2 blowouts. With this, I can get a 20% discount on everything in store & I can also gift blowouts to friends.

SAVE: Massages
I don't get frequent massages. Since I workout a ton, I do sometimes feel like I need to get a massage. I make this happen on a budget by going to an affordable foot spa down the street. It's way more affordable than a nice spa and another bonus is I can usually just walk in when I feel like I need a massage.

SAVE: Facials
I love a good facial, but I don't frequent to the esthetician. I try to go 2x a year, rather than a monthly visit. Over time, this may change.

I'd love to hear where you spend and save, please share!

Starting Over: My transition in to a new career

I am the first to admit. I don’t have it all figured out when it comes to my career. Does anyone though? Even if you’re satisfied where you’re at now. Are you on the path to continuously grow your role? The cool thing about work is, well a few things.

You can do whatever you want. Seriously, it’s like the… what do you want to be when you grow up question we are asked time and time again at a young age. If you decide you want to do one thing and decide to change your mind, YOU CAN! That’s one of the many blessings we have living in the USA.

I recently made a really tough decision & changed my career. Ever since I was in college I knew Kinesiology, health and fitness were my passions.  I knew I wanted to incorporate these passions in to my life & set out to start my career in fitness.

I started working in a physical therapy clinic & after about a year of doing that (knowing I wanted to branch out in to corporate fitness) I moved back to the Bay Area for my “dream job”. I started working for Plus One Health Management helping run fitness and wellness programs at a HUGE tech company. Over the 3.5 years I was there I got about 5 promotions, learned a ton, and truly met the most inspiring people. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by individuals who motivated me to be the best version of myself. Over time I sort of became unchallenged and bored. I was still super happy, but not inspired. I missed being inspired and excited about work. I enjoyed it, had fun, but wasn’t learning anything or anywhere near the compensation I wanted to be making. I discovered that I am the type of person who needs to be constantly learning to be happy at work. So what did that mean for me? I had to get a new job.

I decided to start hunting for a new role & explored many options. I landed on moving in to either sales or recruiting. Sales is sales and recruiting is people sales. My passion in health and fitness stemmed from helping people get fit & healthy. Recruiting was just that, but helping people in their career. Once I made this decision to transition in to recruiting the hunt began.

I worked with a few agencies & also applied online. Many people asked, “why the switch” & my response was that I felt ready to gain knowledge and skills in something outside of fitness. I started at GoPro & learned SO much over the next 4 months. I got used to a different schedule. Actually having my mornings to myself. Being able to in a sense disconnect my passion from my life. My manager was what I like to call a BAB (Badass Bitch). This is a compliment of course. She is motivated, hard-working, intense, and someone I learned a whole lot from. I felt like I was in boot camp some days, but wouldn’t take that experience back for anything. GoPro started feeling really weird. I felt like I wasn’t supposed to be there. The communication style for lack of better words sucked & the amount of change in such a short amount of time raised some red flags for me. Peoples demeanor changed & everyone seemed to start to feel like there was “weird stuff” going on. My gut was telling me to start looking for a new job.

I had a problem with what my gut was telling me at first. One was because I just started there, and two was for the reason that I wanted to make sure it was legitimate and me not just feeling like there was too much change. I reflected for a while and realized it wasn’t the change, it was how things were being handled and communicated that made it so shady. I quickly started looking for a new job. I interviewed a bunch of places & the most frequent question I was asked was why I was looking for the change. I had to be honest, but with my honesty I think some people could’ve mistaken it for someone leaving WAY too early after just starting a job. That didn’t bother me.

I interviewed a bunch of places, and was nervous to get an offer somewhere. You see I didn’t hate GoPro, I just knew in my gut I needed to leave. After a very promising onsite interview at a company in SF on a Wednesday night, I headed to work back at GoPro. The news was broken to me on Thursday that Friday would be my last day at GoPro. Yep, I was laid off. Me, a 26-year-old passionate capable and qualified employee. I was in shock. I also, oddly enough, felt a sense of comfort. I know its weird to say, but I then knew and trusted my intuition more than ever. There was shady stuff going on, and I had a pulse on it. I wasn’t sad like many of my other co-workers, but I was a bit stressed. I was stressed on money & wanted to make sure I had an income. I talked to my mom, my boyfriend, and a few friends & I felt good. I felt supported and I felt blessed to be moving to a new company. By Friday, I had already scheduled 3 more interviews.

The next Monday I had 5 interviews, Wednesday rolled around & I already had a job offer (I wasn’t sure if I wanted to work there). By the next week I had finalized my last interviews and by that next Wednesday I had an offer. I believe all this opportunity came about for a few reasons. One, I believe God has a plan for you even if you aren’t aware of it. Two, I truly believe life gives you exactly what you need practice in. Three, if you work really hard and are kind and amazing things will happen. Four, trust your gut.

I then got connected with my old company. Not Plus One, but the tech company we contracted with. They interviewed me via phone & then asked me onsite. I was ecstatic, because something felt right. Out of all the amazing companies I interviewed with, this one was the best. However, I had to get back to another company who extended me an offer. I had to accept or decline without having all my options laid out in front of me. I asked for more time & got it. A few days later I got an offer at Facebook. I couldn’t have been more excited. I realized at that moment that’s what it should feel like when accepting a job. You shouldn’t just be inspired by money as money won’t make you want to show up to work everyday. It’s much better to make your choice based on opportunity, growth potential, company values, impact, and culture. Facebook was the company who checked all those boxes for me. I immediately accepted and my new chapter began.

Over the last few months, I haven’t posted much. I was going through so many transitions in my career I didn’t know where to start when thinking about posting and blogging. I do believe this post is very important, especially now, because much like myself I’m sure there are others out there dealing with comparable situations. Whether you’re interested in leaving your job, trying something new,  have recently started something new. Know that it will all work out. It doesn’t mean it will be easy, but you will know when you find the right fit.

Chia Pudding Recipe

Chia pudding is all the rave right now. I love it sooo much. It's tasty, healthy & is super affordable to make!

Here's my new favorite recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup almond coconut milk

3 tbsp chia seeds

2 shakes cinnamon

1 shake nutmeg 

1 shake allspice 

1 packet Truvia (or you can use honey/agave)

Fresh fruit (today I went with Blackberries)

1. Put 3 tbsp of chia seeds I n small mason jar or cup that has a lid

2. Pour (while mixing with a spoon) in almond milk.

3. Add spices and stevia & mix with spoon.

4. Put the lid on and vigorously shake (shake it like a Polaroid pictureee🎶)

5. Let this sit for a few hours, I usually let it sit overnight

6. Shake again before opening

7. Top with fresh fruit

Girl Talk: Time Management

Last week I spoke to you all about learning what your "musties" are & how to make time for them. This week, I want to chat with you about managing your time to create the schedule you love.

Girl Talk: What are your Musties?

After hearing about my non-negotiables or "musties", I want to know what yours are in the comments below!

Girl Talk: Weekly Podcast for Ladies

Girl Talk. Girl talk is defined by Urban Dictionary as "Deep conversation between members of the female sex. Contrary to popular believe, it is not always about boys." Wow. Women can talk about things deeper than clothes, boys, and juice cleanses? Who'da thought!

The honest truth is all those things are super fun to talk about, but I can't wait to open a forum to discuss so much more than just that. My podcast will be posted weekly and I will be chatting about my thoughts as well as answering your questions. Don't forget to post your questions in the comment section of my blog, instagram, or Youtube.

Working On Yourself: Why this time will always be the most valuable in your life

Do you find that the more caught up in life you, the less you have the chance to work on yourself? Maybe you haven’t thought about it much. Perhaps you are someone who plans out the logistics of your day and as the day goes on check things off the list. You go to meetings or work, you respond to emails, go to the gym, and catch up with an old friend. If you think of it these things are work (or to you a task). You are expending energy planning, coordinating, and doing. Now it’s time to ask yourself; What are you doing to recharge yourself or fill up that energy tank?

Working on yourself is the most important thing you can do to better your life. What would you do if you had zero responsibility for a day. I like to think of this as “free time”. The free time we had in preschool where we got to do whatever we wanted for 30 minutes. You could play house, read, color, listen to music, take a nap, etc. It’s super important for you to plan out “free time” in your busy schedule. This time can be 20 minutes to 6 hours. It’s totally your call, but just be in tune with yourself to know how much you need to allot for yourself. You can go on a walk and listen to music, sit in a bath drinking wine, watch a movie, go get a mani/pedi, or whatever else you feel like doing. Be sure during this free time you aren’t working on anything. No instagram posts, no emailing, no taking calls, no texting friends; this is YOUR time. Once you take this time for yourself recharge, you will be full of energy to do the things you love doing all week/weekend long. 

I encourage you to plan out some interruption-free free time in to your weekly plans. Tell me what you plan on doing, and how you felt afterwards. It’s truly a great way to reset and recharge.

Cheers to the weekend.

You Think You're Fit? Try this!

I killed myself in the gym yesterday and thought I'd share what I did. Who is ready for a challenge?

Warm up:

0 incline

1 min 4.0 side shuffle

1 min 6.0 run

1 min 4.0 side shuffle

1 min 7.0 run

1 min 4.0 side shuffle

1 min 8.0 run

1 min 4.0 side shuffle

1 min 9.0 run

1 min 4.0 side shuffle

1 min 10.0 run

1 min 4.0 side shuffle

1 min 11.0 run

1 min 4.0 side shuffle

1 min 12.0 run

Workout:

CIRCUIT 1- complete 3 exercises then rest 60-90 seconds after all 3, then repeat 2 more times

15 Sumo squats

15 Leg or Hamstring curls

30 Pop squats (good video demo here)
CIRCUIT 2- complete 3 exercises then rest 60-90 seconds after all 3, then repeat 2 more times
15 Leg press (1 leg)
15 Leg press (other leg)
15 reverse lunges (1 leg)
15 reverse lunges (other leg)
30 ice skaters
CIRCUIT 3- complete 3 exercises then rest 60-90 seconds after all 3, then repeat 2 more times
15 Dumbbell deadlifts
15 glute kickbacks (1 leg)
15 glute kickbacks (other leg)
15 squat jumps

CIRCUIT 4- complete 3 exercises then rest 60-90 seconds after all 3, then repeat 2 more times
15 Leg extensions
15 Air squats (squats without weight)
30 jump lunges

Cardio finisher:

0 incline

1 min 5.0 

1 min 6.0 run

1 min 5.0 

1 min 7.0 run

1 min 5.0

1 min 8.0 run

1 min 5.0 

1 min 9.0 run

1 min 5.0 

1 min 10.0 run

1 min 5.0 

1 min 11.0 run

1 min 5.0 

1 min 12.0 run

Finding The Right Personal Trainer For You

I've been meaning to write about this topic for a while, and it's taken me longer than expected to finish. A lot goes in to finding a personal trainer. There are a few super important factors that go in to choosing the right fit, so before you get one make sure you read through these.

1. Availability

You would think it's weird that I put this as #1. The most important thing when it comes to finding a trainer is finding someone who can train you at the times you're available (choose a realistic time where you aren't cutting it too close). You might fall in love with a trainer, but if your schedules don't match up it won't be a good fit,

2. Personality

This person isn't only your trainer/coach, this is someone who you are comfortable talking candidly about insecurities, goals, sometimes work stress or relationship issues. They may become your friend, so pick a trainer who seems "cool" and someone you truly vibe with off the bat.

3. Training style

Before finding a trainer, try to make a list of what you're looking for. Do they have a degree in exercise science? What about specific certifications (TRX, CrossFit, Olympic Lifting, HIIT). What's the trainers background (bodybuilder, college basketball player, or lost a lot of weight in their past). Do you have an old injury and need someone with a physical therapy background? Be ready to ask these questions.

You need to also chat with them about what type of coach they are. Are you someone who wants a drill Sargent, someone completely focused on form and movement, someone bubbly and fun, or someone who is more calm and understanding after you've had a long day. These are all things to think about.

4. Price

Trainers aren't cheap. 9 times out of 10 what you are paying the trainer is no where near what the gym pays them. That being said, make sure you budget for a trainer and if you want a specific number of sessions to let the trainer know/prep so they know how to program workouts accordingly. In SF Bay Area anywhere between $80-$120/hour is normal. 

5. Goals

After chatting with your trainer about your goals, make sure they understand them. A great trainer will know what you need to do to get there. A lot of time homework is given out. It's on the client to make sure they are doing what's asked of them to achieve this goal. For example, if you're a basketball player, but you never practice your shot on your own time then a lot of your time that would be used to progress you to new things will be wasted since your shot is so off.