Gravy Train = DETOX

Thanksgiving was truly epic this year. Ten whole days with my fantabulous family, complete with Southern-born Mother who is an amazing cook. After feasting, carb loading and enjoying succulent desserts EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, (and because I am fairly certain gravy is actually now flowing through my bloodstream), it is detox time.

I follow no particular "cleanse", but instead focus on the following:

1) Fluids intake: H2O & Detox Tea all day long! You will flee to pee most of the day, but that's a cleanse for you now isn't it. : )

I drink copious amounts of this.



As well as equally copious amounts of this.



2) Extra GREENS: Kale and avocado salad ROCKS. 'Tis tasty, easy to make, and I know I'm getting plenty of Omega 3's from the avocado, as well as iron, folate, fiber and vitamin A, C & K from the Kale. Kale is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory supa'star. Add to this a daily dose of "Green Vibrance" supplement. Gross but excellent nutrition with a major dose of probiotics. AH-mazing. 

This is disgusting. It really is. I still take it EVERY DAY.
http://www.vibranthealth.us/ 

3) Liquid Breakfast & Liquid Lunch: Whey protein and almond butter shake. I admit to being somewhat hypo-glycemic, which can lead to getting "hangry" so I dub this super filling and tasty protein shake my "freak no more" juice! : ) Ridiculously easy to do: In a blender combine water (or milk if you want but I try to steer clear of too much dairy when I cleanse), ice, protein powder and almond butter, hit "puree".  Drink & be merry. DONE.

Very scrumptious and affordable. One more reason to love Target. : )

4) Sweat it out . . .theraputically. When I'm "flushing out the gravy" I opt for more low impact sweat sessions such as yoga or The Bar Method. S-T-R-E-T-C-H and feel the toxins being wrung out of your organs!

I'm pretty sure I look like this when I do yoga.

Eat, Drink and be Merry. Then Detox. : )

Have a Beautiful Day!

Lil' bits of awesome

Random run down of "bits" from my week of applications, lessons and life in general:

When in a time pinch, or for those who feel intimidated by shadow and liner, the answer is to focus on brightening your complexion with a few quick moves: (10 min, tops) highlighter on inner tear ducts, under brow bone and in the middle of your lid, concealer under the eyes, Swipe on blush to the apples of cheeks followed by bronzer on temples, cheek hollows and sides of nose.  Curl your lashes, add mascara.  Grooming your brows by filling in and taming with brow gel. This makes 10x more impact than spending your limited time on a time consuming smokey eye. I promise.

Love this! A chart for proper contouring.
Highlighting and Contouring will make you look sculpted and polished!

No curling iron? No problem.
Wrap offending straight lock around your finger tip, slide off, and pin against scalp. Spray with a maximum hold hairspray and allow to dry. Remove bobby pin after several minutes - enjoy your boingy new curl.

Works every time.

Random share: My new fitness motto.
Unless you puke, faint or die, keep going. A no excuses attitude makes all the difference when striving for new fitness goals and has successfully pushed me through a pesky little plateau. Also - kettlebell training rocks my world and I highly recommend!

Amen!

Have a Beautiful Day!

Sock-bun it to me!

Me oh my is today's post EXCITING!! I've finally discovered a simple solution for creating a perfect updo . . . so get ready, because a soft, full, breakfast pastry looking chignon is in your immediate future. It is so easy peasy lemon squeezy you just won't even believe it.  

1. Take a sock and cut off the toe. Choose a sock that is close to your hair color!

2. Roll the sock until it looks like a donut!

3. Sweep your hair into a ponytail wherever you choose. High for style and drama, or low for a more sophisticated chignon. . .both sides for Princess Leia buns. (Hey, you never know.)

4. Place your ponytail through the middle of the sock "donut" and start rolling the edges under, inside out.

5. Secure bun with pins and TA-DA!! You have a sock bun and are ready for action. : )



Awesome step by step images from  madeinpretoria.wordpress.com 

Give it a go & have a beautiful day! 

 

Bundle up and be FAB!

These fantastic fall finds get me through the chilly weather feeling more fabulous than frumpy. It's all about the right beauty tweaks, layering like a pro, and setting the mood. Enjoy!

1) Get soft and luxe with an infinity scarf. This pre-looped layering piece looks cozy and effortlessly chic. Wear. With. Everything.

2) Benefit Benetint for a perpetual rosy fall glow. So pretty!

3) A strong brow! Add a little fullness to those arches with Brow Wiz by Anastasia. Brush through with the attached spooly. Soft, strong . . .gorgeous!

4) A blazer with a fitted silhouette is a structured essential for cooler weather! Layer over sweaters, thermal henleys (or really anything for that matter) for a brilliantly layered, put together ensemble that is anything but frumpy! 

5) Brightly hued fingerless gloves keep palms and wrists toasty while giving your digits freedom for showing off that manicure, or you know, grasping things like. . . keys, door nobs, lipstick, Cheetos, poker chips, etc. 

6) Crepe wedge boots. The platforms and rubber sole make them walkable and comfy, the suede upper keeps chilly toes at bay. Ultimately these boots will have you running faster, jumping higher and looking FAB for fall. EXCELLENT!

7) Statement earrings. If you're anything like me, you are covered from head to toe when the mercury drops, so statement earrings are key for looking polished!

8) Set a mood for snuggling on a chilly night with VoluSpa Maison Candle from Anthropologie (my FAV!). Italian mandarin orange with creamy vanilla, cinnamond, nutmeg and ginger . . .um, yes please!!
   

Have a Beautiful Day!

The Smit List!

Fabulous goodies that Sarah is Smitten with . . .

The "Smit" List:



Bamboo Charcoal Blotting Sheets. The best!


These oil absorbing papers by Sephora are actually formulated with bamboo charcoal for extra grease fighting power. A must have for any bride dealing with shine, or those who just glow a little too much in general!  http://www.sephora.com/

Da' Bangs

Bang! Bang! The humidity is gone, locks are laying smoother and are more manageable. . .so nab the opportunity for an easy hair update. . .I got mine and they make me feel . . .perky. LOVE.

For a Rosy Glow

Step away from the bronzer. Get your "I just went apple picking" fall glow on with a bright pink blush. NARS "Orgasm" does the trick nicely. Add a little tousled hair, major mascara . . . and you have a seriously sexy, healthy, playful look for fall adventuring.
http://www.sephora.com/






 Have a Beautiful Day!

Sarah is Smitten with . . .Beauty in a box!

As I went shopping for my most favoritest lip product, Lipsurgence by Tarte, I happened upon their limited edition "Radiant & Rested Universal Complexion and Color Collection." I am beyond impressed with this treasure trove of beautifying goodies. . . so let's discuss!

This set by Tarte includes nearly all of my "must haves" in one neat little package. If I've ever made you up, you know that my signature look is an illuminated complexion, glowy cheeks, bright eyes and a soft, full lip. Well boys and girls, this baby has all the tools to achieve just that!  Honestly, all you have to do now is throw your concealer and a mascara into the mix and you are all set to create your own glowy glamour with this box o' beauty.

Let me break this down, ding by wallet ding:
Lipsurgence lipgloss/lipstick hybrid pencil in all of it's awesome-ness will ding you $25.00
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush $25.00 (for the full size)
Tarte Amazonian shimmering highlighter $30.00
Tarte Double ended eyebrightener (this is pre-launch so I have to guess) I'm thinking $22
Tarte Illuminating Serum $32.00 (for the full size)

Getting all of these in a box for $42.00?!?! Priceless.

Disclaimer - the illuminating serum and blush are not full size. The blush is about half the size, and the serum about a third. However, as you only need a smidgen of each, it is still awesomeness.

Portrait of Beautifying Goodness in a BOX!

Don't even think about this one . . .get to Sephora, and, as they say in Nike-land: Just DO It!


Have a Beautiful Day!

Beautiful inside and out.

In an insdustry so fixated on outer appearance, it can be easy to fall into the trap of spending more energy into evaluating & "fixing" what's on the outside rather than what's going on inside. So. . . let's talk about something ugly for a moment. This is a topic that has been dogging me for awhile and it is ultra super stanky ugly. . . something more infectious and dibillitating than any disease. Gossip. I, for one, am inviting gossip to never again be a part of my life, and I extend that invitation to you. Let's not speculate or judge, what a waste of energy . . .let's talk about IDEAS instead.  We all see the world with different eyes and have no idea what the person we're gossiping about has gone through in his or her life, so let's clean up our act and start believing the best about people, not the worst.

To help drive the point home:

"Gossip and slander are not victimless crimes. Words do not just dissipate into midair. . . . Words can injure and damage, maim and destroy - forcefully, painfully, lastingly. . . . Plans have been disrupted, deals have been lost, companies have fallen, because of idle gossip or malicious slander.  Reputations have been sullied, careers have been ruined, lives have been devastated, because of cruel lies or vicious rumors. . . . Your words have such power to do good or evil that they must be chosen carefully, wisely, and well."  - Wayne Dosick

There is a 19th century folktale about a young fellow who went about town slandering the town’s wise man. One day, he went to the wise man’s home and asked for forgiveness. The wise man, realizing that this man had not internalized the gravity of his transgressions, told him that he would forgive him on one condition: that he go home, take a feather pillow from his house, cut it up, and scatter the feathers to the wind. After he had done so, he should then return to the wise man’s house.
Though puzzled by this strange request, the young man was happy to be let off with so easy a penance. He quickly cut up the pillow, scattered the feathers, and returned to the house.
“Am I now forgiven?” he asked.
“Just one more thing,” the wise man said. “Go now and gather up all the feathers.”
“But that’s impossible. The wind has already scattered them.”
“Precisely,” he answered. “And though you may truly wish to correct the evil you have done, it is as impossible to repair the damage done by your words as it is to recover the feathers. Your words are out there in the marketplace, spreading hate, even as we speak.” - Unknown







Have a Beautiful Day, INSIDE & OUT!