There is something about Winter that makes me want to curl up and stay inside and wear cozy sweats and socks! I grew up in Oregon and I remember being a little girl and living in leggings. I did not like wearing jeans. I would still rather wear leggings. I have been living in “stretchy” pants as I call it since I had my 3rd baby in November. Now whose to say you can’t be cute in “lounge clothes” after having a baby?
I found myself wearing the same two lounge outfits and was on a search for some new ones that I could easily breast feed in and be cozy in.
These shirts are from Wal Mart! I saw them way across the store in the jammy department. I don’t see them online so check your store for these beauties. They were only $10!
And the socks?! OH MY! I live in these. These are hard to find. I found these on clearance at Charming Charlie, which is now out of business. I also have some from Target but they are hard to find.
And the pink leggings? OH YES sister, they really do live up to their name…”softest legging ever!” You can get them here for under $30 (when on sale) and they are often on sale! These are the “dusk pink.”
And how about this other shirt like the one above?! Gotta love it when an awesome shirt comes in two colors. Im pretty much living in these and they will carry me through cool spring mornings.
The gold glitter shoes are here.
I also love me a good pair of joggers for the winter. I have a hard time finding some that were not “frumpy” looking and warm so I found these ones. I pulled them up on my calf to look a little less frumpy.
Finding cute cozy clothes is not always easy, so let me know when you find some!
Until next time Gorgeous!
OMG do you love sweets just as much as I do? People ask me what I like to drink and I say, “I don’t but I make up for it in sweets!” I am always trying to find healthier alternatives to satisfy my sweet tooth. I shared this one on the Instagram stories last week and ya’ll wanted the deets so here you go! Im so glad I found this idea up on Bree Argetsinger AKA The Betty Rocker’s blog. I adapted her chocolate protein muffin recipe and turned it into a cupcake! She is awesome for all things fitness and nutrition. Check her out!
This makes one dozen so feel free to double the recipe if you need more than 12. These are very filling thanks to the beans and protein powder. I have used both coconut chocolate and chocolate protein and they have turned out great.
The “frosting” is Salted Caramel JEM Nut Butter and I LOVE these for that sweet tooth craving. All of their flavors are amazing!
Share this goodness with a friend who you love to share a cupcake with!
Until next time,
I get this question often! Where do you find your cute workout clothes? I live in activewear since I workout often, I am a momma and need something comfy that can get spit up (and poop) on that’s easy to wash…
and of course look fabulous!
So here you go. Here are some of my favorite places to get them, and at a decent price.
I will spend good money on something that I will wear over and over and see value in; however, I’m always looking for a deal. So the first place I love getting these two in one tanks is Lu Lu Lemon. They are worth the retail price because you get a sports bra and a shirt in one. I find them at the Lu Lu Lemon outlet in Glendale, AZ for around $30. The one on the right I got for $20 with a military discount. (Did you know they give a military discount for 25% yep!)
These shirts are hard to find in stores or online for some reason now. Here is a knock off version I like as well. The big difference is the material is more like swimsuit material.
Shirts
Leggings
I am picky with leggings. I like them to be soft and cozy. I don’t love the spandex feeling but I do like some of them. The ones below are more of a spandex and I really like these because they are thick for winter and have pockets. They are a little long, but for the price I would go get them hemmed. They are under $20. Click the photo to see where to get them.
My favorite ones right now are these light pink super soft and cozy ones below from Victoria Secret. I got them on sale and definitely worth the sale price of $35.
Every gal needs a fabulous grey hoodie to live in during Winter! This one is from Victoria Secret and the leggings were a TJ MAX find. I love TJ Max for activewear. This brand is called Mondetta.
There you have it! I love me some cute activewear and am always on the look out for fun new styles. Send me a message and let me know if you find some I may love.
Until next time,
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Find Your Fabulous Gorgeous!
Sometimes life can be just plain overwhelming and full of challenges. When I notice feelings of discontentment, exhaustion and overwhelm its usually because my self care strategies have been lacking. Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it is smart and wise! It allows you to recharge and reboot so you can show up to life better than yesterday. In one of my favorite books 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen Covey teaches that to “Sharpen the Saw” (self care) is one of the most important habits someone can develop to being “their own fabulous!”
Here are a few ways I recharge that I can do without leaving and going to Tahiti! LOL That’s always nice too 🙂 I like to call it “Finding my Tahiti”
MOVE YOUR BODY!
Did you know there is so much research that supports moving/exercise for mental health? I think thats pretty obvious these days. When you move your body it releases so many chemicals in your body that make you SHINE! Find something you love and don’t be intimated by being a beginner. Find a friendly face or friend who will encourage you and love you right where you are and who may push you a little to get to that next level. For me it all started in the group fitness room when I was 17. I started step aerobics and all was history! I was hooked and never stopped. Maybe there is someone you watch on social media and they inspire you. Reach out to them and tag along with what they do to learn or maybe start an in home workout. Whatever it is , DO YOU! BE YOU! I personally love to be around others when I workout with great music! Group fitness is my jam!
Mindset Journal
Oh I used to journal much more before 3 kids. One thing that is crucial in helping one’s mindset is journaling. You can start with gratitude. Write 3 things your grateful for every day. My new favorite journal is the Happiness Project Journal for moms by Gretchen Rubin. It’s a quick one sentence journal that you can’t help but make time for. It’s awesome. Check it out here. You will love it!
Go do something you enjoy by YOURSELF!
Yeah, its true, I love being by myself to recharge. I love being around other people as well but where I get to recharge is being alone. I personally love eating good tasting healthy food! So if I can eat by myself at a restaurant and sit there in peace without shoveling my food down my face and feed the newborn and two kids at the same time, I am recharged. At the moment I am writing this, I live in an area that does not have those kind of restaurants. I will go to a coffee shop and just “be.” That might be working on a blog post, reading, or journaling.
Or if you enjoy shopping I always love to find good deals on activewear since I live in them. Go find you some deals! Some of my favorite places to find workout clothes you ask? Check out my blog here on that.
Trying something new.
When you are in a rut whether it be cooking, workout out or mom life, expanding your brain and trying something new is super powerful. Maybe it’s a new book to listen to or read. Mine usually has to do with eating. I like to try new recipe’s.
Look for a new recipe to make. I always look for new “healthier” sweet options to make. Some of my favorite recipes come from being creative or researching “healthier” eating options. Check out my recipe page here for some ideas.
Gratitude
I’ve seen the power of gratitude. When we start speaking in a gratitude language positive things happen. Decide how you want to show up every morning. Especially on the days you know it’s going to be just plain hard and challenging. Do you want to stay in the space of overwhelm, anger or confusion or do you want to get in the space of joy, peace and intention. Life is full of challenges, it’s how we see those challenges that builds our character.
Do one thing that will help you look your best every day. Yeah Gorgeous, that could be make up, putting on a cute outfit, or getting nails on!
Whatever it is for you, make it happen. When you look your best you feel more confident and thats when you get the fire inside too! For some of my favorite make up check out my post here.
Listen up Linda! You are valuable and an important part of the world and the world needs your fabulous. You just got to find it!
Until next time,
When I open the fridge and find my kale going bad I think to myself, “I don’t want to waste this kale!” So what to do…….????
One way to get a bunch of greens in you is to cook them or freeze them. Don’t let them go bad!
Below is my simple way to cook them up and get them in your body!
I hope you love this as much as I do. I’m all about eating healthy, simple, and delicious without taking hours in the kitchen.
Let’s get real, we all have something that we don’t super love about ourselves. I admit it, one of my least favorite parts is my brows. I really wanted to get them microbladed. I had an appointment to get them done and then I found out I was pregnant and couldn’t. This turns into a blessing because I recently discovered something that I hear is suppose to be better called Ombre Brow technique. I still can’t get it done until I’m done breastfeeding. Until then, I love getting the henna done.
The Ombre technique is suppose to look like the Henna but last for a year or two, similar to microblading.
After coloring and shaping she removes the color to set.
Press play below and check out my “in person” experience and interview with my brow artist Laura Gange! She explains the differences between Microblading vs. Ombre technique.
I remember it all too well. The time in my life I REALLY needed friends. You know, the time when your heart is shattered into a million pieces and you have NO clue on how you will ever feel whole and fully yourself again. The time you’re laying on the bathroom floor crying wondering how you will ever heal. Feeling hopeless like you have no value to give. Have you been there before? I have, and it absolute has everything to do with why I do what I do.
Being able to pick yourself back up is not always done by ourselves. We need girlfriends by our side. To hold us, tell us we are going to “Find Our Fabulous” again and to tell us that this too shall pass while we scream, cry and kick ourselves during the hurt and pain.
I’ve had many key friends in my life who have made a huge impact on my life who have helped shape the me I am today. Karen is one of those friends. I met her in high school PE class and she just LOVED me for me. Even though we were different. Karen is a picture of LOVE to everyone and she took me in and just loved me.
Then there’s Nichole who just loved me the same way Karen did. She understood me and when I was going through one of the hardest times in my lives gave me the best book that could change my life forever. I met her and Jaimie in graduate school. Funny because these two beauties I rarely talk to but I know if I pick up the phone we would talk forever and just love each other!
During this life changing time in my life, I moved to a new state not knowing one person and found a deeper need for friendships. Ones that would put me in my place and help me become the person I wanted to become. During this move, I literally did not know anyone and it took a long time to find these friendships. I was lonely, hurt, and in a place I was learning about who I wanted to be and grow like I’ve never grown before. It pretty much sucked. I had a job that was very challenging in a big city trying to find my place and faith. Growing and becoming who you are CALLED to me is not always pink rainbows and candy!
Over a long 7 years is when I met these beautiful faces. Each of these ladies helped me realize who I was called to be and what kind of friend I needed to be.
Through all these friendships, I also realize I will also be used in people’s lives to help them, all while realizing, it’s not about me. There are seasons of friendships and those you look back on asking “what was God’s purpose in that?” Realizing that was not about me. I needed to be in their lives to help them even if the friendship did end. There’s no glory in ending friendships but there is a special place in my heart and makes me smile for the times I had.
There are those friends who you love dearly and find the friendship comes to an end because it’s really not healthy. That is ok! There was a purpose there and learn from it and most importantly ask yourself what did I learn and how did I grow from it. That may have been a time when YOU were serving in their life and it wasn’t about you. Or life circumstances change and you are in different seasons of life that don’t mesh with the time it takes to be a friend.
Because lets get real… building a relationship with anyone takes time.
I have a husband, two kids and one on the way, a business, a blog and I realize we have to reserve our time carefully. Being busy, we only have so much time and it’s wise to select who speaks into your life.
I love meeting many of you on social media, through this blog and through my business. It puts a huge smile on my face to read those messages from you that something impacted you in a way that helped you pick yourself back up , or found a new tip for your make up routine or discovered a new recipe and it helped you reach your fitness goals or conquer those cravings and find that great deal on an outfit! You are the friends I may never meet, but admire, appreciate and encourage me to do what I do. Helping you Find Your Fabulous!
I believe my heart becomes bigger and more impacted from meeting new people and hearing their stories. I learn so much from each new friend I meet. As I write this blog I smile thinking of all the people who have come into my life and imprinted any type of impact.
Realize that friendships are like seasons and each season has a time and purpose that has a place in your heart of life. Cherish them and take them in for what they are. A part of life that will help shape the Fabulous You you are called to be!
Straighten up your crown and reign on Gorgeous!
Don’t be afraid of the GREEN SMOOTHIES!
I often hear, I don’t like them or “I’ve tried all sorts of green smoothies and I’m not in love.”
Give this one a try if you like peppermint and chocolate!
Watch how I make this at the bottom of this post!
Get a favorite vanilla protein powder. I’ve tried many and my recent fav’s is this Vanilla Cake batter one! I LOVE it!
Then get yourself some Cacao Nibs to stay on the healthy side vs. getting chocolate chips.
I also love this toasted almond coconut milk for my shakes! It’s so creamy and smooth and has no added sugars.
In the photo below is the peppermint essential oil I use and greens. I usually use spinach or kale in my green shakes.
What can I say I love my greens and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand how powerful they are for our bodies. I put greens in my kids shakes as well and try and get creative with them!
This is a great shake when wanting that ice cream but you know you shouldn’t! Try it and let me know what you think. It’s one of my favorites!
Happy Shake Making!
XOXO
Vangela
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