My Favorite BLACK FRIDAY Sales

I love a good sale, especially when I don't have to wait in a long line for it. Some of my absolute favorite brands are having awesome sales this year for Black Friday. I can't even believe how many amazing deals are going on right now!

JNB: 

My absolute favorite jewelry designer is having an amazing sale 40% off sitewide with code: iloveme (lowercase)

Janessa Leone:

Janessa Leone makes the best hats I've ever owned, and they're on sale now!  30% off most styles WITH code: 30offvip 

Stone Cold Fox:

Stone Cold Fox has amazing dresses, jumpsuits and tops. I can't believe the whole store is 40%off with code: givethanks

Veda:

My favorite brand of leather jackets rarely go on sale, but this week it is 30% off everything with code: vedavedaveda

Parker:

Need a holiday party dress? Look no further, Parker has some amazing dresses & Everything is 30% off with code: chic30

No Rest For Bridget: 

This is one of my favorite boutiques in Southern California. They have a great selection of affordable clothing and it's 20% off storewide and free shipping with code: black20

Tory Burch:

Been wanting a new pair or boots? Nows the time, 30% OFF $250 or more WITH CODE THANKS 

Show Me Your Mumu:

Some of my favorite rompers are from Show Me Your Mumu. I am going to stock up while they have their 40% OFF SALE ITEMS WITH CODE MUMUSALE40

 Splendid:

Splendid has such amazingly soft fabrics. I love their tops, sweaters and lounge-y pants.  30% OFF EVERYTHING CODE: TGIF30

Club Monaco:

Club Monaco has some of my favorite sweaters this season and they have 25%-35% OFF ALL ORDERS $150 OR MORE.

 AG:

AG jeans are some of my faves. Check out their skinny jeans and it doesn't hurt that everything is  30% off sitewide with code: bf16

 Made by Dawn:

This swimsuit line is AMAZING and I can't believe everything in store is half off! If you have a trip planned, get to shopping now before swimsuit season 50% OFF ALL SWIMSUITS WITH CODE: GIVINGTHANKS

DL Jeans-

These jeans are my go-to! The Emma Power legging, and the Florence are my favorites.

 everything in the store is 50% off with code:cyber

SpaceNK:

Your one-stop-shop for beauty is having a great deal SPEND $150 AND ENJOY $25 OFF OR SPEND $250 AND ENJOY $50 OFF

Birchbox:

I love hair and makeup products, especially when they are on sale. Get 10% sitewide with code: 10forall

Wanderlust & Co.:

This site has such cute jewelry, and who doesn't love a good sale?! Get 40% off storewide with code: cyber40

Vince Camuto: 

Need a pair of cute boots or heels for the season? Look no further, Vince Camuto has a 30% OFF SITEWIDE sale WITH CODE: EARLY30

How To Avoid Thanksgiving Week Weight Gain

1. Workout Early In The Day: Things come up left and right. Parties, dinners, work functions, etc. Make sure you go out and burn your calories before you consume them!

2. Plan Ahead: If you are in for a weekend of boozing and eating, try to be good during the week! Eat tons of fruits, veggies, lean proteins, and healthy fats. It's always nice to know you have eaten great, so you have a little wiggle room for a bigger meal or two.

3. Make Your Workouts Social: A lot of people lose motivation before the holidays. It's always nice to suggest a workout, a walk/hike, or a fitness class with your friends. Grab a coffee and go for a walk instead of sitting in a wine bar.

4. Cook. Since it's colder out, we tend to want warm/hearty (higher calorie) foods. If you cook at home, you can cut the calories by not adding high calorie ingredients:
Salads: Less dressing or low-cal dressing, no cheese, no candied nuts, no chips or crutons
Soups: No cream, not a lot of oil, low sodium
Meals: High protein, lots of veggies, no cream, no butter, no cheese
TRY MY: BAKED ACORN SQUASH

5. Plan For Parties: Bring your own healthy snacks! Don't go buy a pie, make one from scratch LIKE MY RAW PUMPKIN PIE.

6. Thanksgiving Day Tips: Check out my blog post on what to do Thanksgiving Day HERE!

7. Do A Lot of Great Total Body WORKOUTS: You burn more calories when you move your whole body, at a fast pace. Time to start, here's a great Thanksgiving workout!

Thea's Skinny St. Patty's Day Spritzer

Skinny St. Patty's Day Spritzer

It's time to party! You can definitely go out this St. Patrick's Day to have some drinks, and keep it low-cal. Why not have some people over and start it off by serving this delicious Skinny Spritzer. It is festive and delicious!

Ingredients:

• Green food coloring
• 1 chilled 750ml bottle of dry white wine $
• 1 liter chilled lime-flavored diet soda
• Fresh Lime 

Directions:

1. Bring out wine glasses.

3. Slice lime.

3. Pour lime flavored diet soda in to glass, fill half way.

4. Place 1 drop of green food coloring into each glass.

5. Divide 1 chilled 750ml bottle of dry white wine among glasses.

6. Add lime.

7. Serve! I liked to add some cute napkins to keep things extra Irish :)

Nutrition Facts:
TOTAL Calories: 605 Carbs: 20 Fat: 0 Sugar: 5 Fiber:0
Calories Per glass: 76 Carbs per glass: 2.5 Fat:0 Sugar:0.6 Fiber:0

My Holiday Eating Tricks!

Ok, we all know it isn't realistic to skip out on all the delicious food & drinks the holiday has to offer. I mean it is possible, but it might drive you a little crazy. Go in to your day with a plan.

For example, my trick is to....

1. Workout the day of the holiday, so I am feeling ok before going in to the party.
2. Eat what I want or drink what I want, NOT BOTH. If I want numerous cocktails, I will try to not have numerous cookies. (it's hard, but worth it).
3. Walk around after your meal. Get a group together, and go out for 15-30 minutes.

Hope these tricks work for you. They are simple, and do-able!


Have a happy holiday!

Holiday Gift: Crafty, Affordable, and Thoughtful

I am passing around gifts this week. Nothing says Happy Holidays like a homemade gift. For those of us whose wallets aren't full this season, it's time to get creative.

I made a jar of workouts (around 20). The workouts range from body weight, to fun cardio ideas, circuit training, TRX, deck of cards workout, and park workout.

If you need some workout ideas, go to my workouts of the day.

Here's one: Thea's Fit Countdown

Thanksgiving Quinoa Cranberry Salad

INGREDIENTS
1 tub organic mixed greens
1 cup quinoa
2 large beets grated
½ cup chopped pecans
½ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup chopped scallions
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage, or 1 teaspoon dried
¼ cup Extra Virgin olive oil (evoo), or more as needed
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon, or more juice as needed
1 teaspoon coriander
Pinch of cayenne, or to taste
Black pepper and salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Put the quinoa in a small pot and add 1½ cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring the water to a boil, then cover and remove from the heat. Let steep for at least 10 minutes, or up to 20.

2. Put the slightly cooled quinoa in a large salad bowl along with the beets, pecans, cranberries, scallions, oil, and lemon zest and juice and sprinkle with the spices and pepper. Use 2 big forks to combine, fluffing the quinoa and tossing gently.

3. Stir in the parsley and sage. Taste and adjust the seasoning, moisten with a little more evoo and lemon juice as you like. 

4. After cooling, toss mixture in a big salad bowl with mixed greens, as much as you need to feed your crew!

The Best Valentine Gift: Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Holy crap! Pardon me, but I think I outdid myself again!!!!! Serious, holy, no joke, heaven, party in my mouth, drooling, crying because this is so delicious!!!!!!

No time to waste, heres it is!

Ingredients:

2 c. Dark chocolate chips
1 c. Gluten free wheat rice crispy treats
1 c. Crunchy organic peanut butter
1/2 c. Stevia

1. Boil water on medium heat in big pot.
2. Use smaller pot and place in bigger pot.
3. Put dark chocolate chips in small pot and stir on LOW heat.

4. In a separate small bowl mix peanut butter and stevia.
5. Fold in rice crispy treats.

6. Using cupcake liners small or big(I found heart shaped ones) paint on melted chocolate to completely cover liners.

7. Place in freezer until dried.

8. Pull out of freezer and spoon in peanut butter mixture.

9. Cover with more melted dark chocolate then place in freezer.

10. Once dried then pop out of cupcake liners and clean the edges.

11. Time to eat and or wrap up to gift your valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Day After Christmas Guilt

Who is feeling like the last few weeks of treats/drinking has taken a toll on you? For me personally, I notice a difference right away in My energy level and mood even after one or two treats a day. Let's start today with some positive thoughts to keep us moving forward!!!
- Today is the first day of the rest of your life- What happened yeterday is in the past and to ve frank; you can't change that. You can either remember it and be discouraged, or you can look at it and move on in a more positive direction. Time to make a healthy start to a healthy day, hopefully a healthy week, turned in to a month, creating habits turning in to a lifestyle you carry on throughout the years. What better time than now?
-It takes 2500 calories to gain or lose a pound- On top of what your metabolic rate is (what you burn just by breathing and being awake) you must consume an extra 2500 calories to gain a pound, you also must cut or burn 2500 calories to lose a pound! SO one bad day won't kill you! Just remember to balance bad meals with a few days of really healthy ones! I like to think- you can have your cake (from time to time) and eat it too!
- Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going- Today I'm sure you feel kind of like crap if you ate and drank too much (just the motivation you need to help you make the healthy change your body needs). Now it's time to listen to that gut feeling (no pun intended) and get a movin'. Motivate yourself everday and look for the motivation in everything around you to help you push closer to reach your goals.

Merry Christmas everyone!
Thank you all for supporting me and allowing me have this outlet to share my passion!

Tips To Stay Healthy During The Holidays

1. Drink TONS of water.
2. Get active as much as possible (skies the limit). Walk, run, hike, gym, swim, bike, jump around, etc.
3. Start off your day right. We have all heard it is best to eat breakfast to jump-start our metabolism in the morning, to help us not overeat throughout the day, BUT ALSO if we start off healthy I BELIEVE we will be less inclined to crave junk.
4. Eat something before you go out to a party. If you go starving, because you wanted to fit in to that little dress you are most likely going to overeat at the party. Eat throughout the day 5-6 meals.
5. Fill yourself with veggies and protein before reaching for the holiday treats/ heavy carbs/etc.
6. If you drink alcohol. ( FIRST try wine or champagne, then hard alcohol mixed with no sugar added juice or soda).
7. Don't deprive yourself. OK, you may think I wouldn't say this. BUT this is your life so have a few treats:)

Remember: This is your life, have fun and live healthy. Happy Holidays!

Thea's Thanksgiving Tips:

Thea's Thanksgiving Tips:
1. Start your day with a morning workout. A run, hike, or walk with
your family could be fun!
2. Drink tons of water! This helps you recognize real hunger versus
thirst/dehydration.
3. Eat veggies and protein first then go on to bite at the heavier
foods. (ie. By filling up on tons of mashed potatoes/gravy/bread rolls/
stuffing you are more likely to consume more and get less nutrients
from these).
4. Grab a smaller plate and utensils. (this helps you not overSTACK
and slow down when you eat).
5. Bring healthier options that still taste amazing (sugar-free mousse
or pudding, homemade healthy cake, cookies, dark chocolate)
6. Eat throughout the day, and don't eat like you've never seen food
before ( most likely there will be leftovers tomorrow).
7. Enjoy your meal and a slice of desert(don't deprive yourself,
hopefully you've been eating clean and deserve a holiday treat).
8. If you're planning on drinking. Sip on water between beverages. Also stay away from high-calorie add-ins if you are making mixed drinks. TRY: Brut Champagne, Unsweetened Cranberry Juice, With a few cranberries in the glass.