Drawn Out + Weekend Reading

Friday is finally here (yessss), and although it's been a short one for me, I'm majorly pooped. Going back to work after the holidays (and a couple late-night flights) can really take its toll on a girl, especially when most of the week is spent trying to frantically catch-up on lost time... Geeesh. So if you're anything like me, you'll need to spend a couple hours laying in bed with a cup of coffee, just getting lost online. Sounds pretty good right?

Here's a roundup of some interesting reads I've come across this week to get you started... Happy surfing!

 

1. This engagement story had me all teary-eyed — such a thoughtful proposal, plus I totally identify with the ugly side of wedding planning that Kelly mentions.

2. Here's an assortment of Youtube channels for exercising at home that just may get me off the couch.

3. Totes agree with this article on the 7 habits of highly stylish people.

4. Loving this lighthearted resolution to drink more water... I'm totally rocking it in the water department this week!

5. How to make your own gin (that's right — gin).

6. I've enjoyed my leopard coat so much (on sale here) that now I'm considering getting this Chic Wish coat too... Just don't tell Mr. AiF.

7. Four business apps to love via my friend Alicia... totally downloading Weekly Calendar!

8. A DIY I wish I had thought of first.

9. And finally, this video of Bri Emery's Creative Mornings talk is a must-watch — her career journey is both fascinating and inspiring.

 

Special thanks goes out to Naomi Sutanto for creating this lovely drawing of me based on this post — thanks girl! You can check out the rest of her work here. Happy Friday!

Losing the baby weight

I've had a few readers ask about losing the baby weight and how I did it or if I have any tips.  To tell you the truth, I haven't done as much as I thought I would.  When I was pregnant I totally thought I'd be back in the gym in no time and doing all this stuff to get my pre-baby body back.  HA! The reality of having a newborn and running a business demolished those dreams but I am working towards getting back to the gym soon and really trying to cook more and make healthy meals like I did before the baby.  Although I don't have any great tips, here's what I did during and after my pregnancy that I think helped me lose the weight.

During my pregnancy

• I worked out until almost the very end.  I never did anything super strenous and just did what I was comfortable with.  My doctor told me I could do anything that I was doing before I got pregnant so I didn't try anything new but kept at what I knew I could do.  
• The amount of weight I gained was in the range of what my doctor recommended for me.
• I watched what I ate for the most part.  I tried to eat healthy although admitedly I went from eating fast food from never to at least once a month during my pregnancy!  I had to have my french fries!
• I stayed away from foods that made me extra bloated as I was already feeling so big I never really wanted any additional bloat! (except for the french fries. haha)

click through to see more...
 After my pregnancy

• Breast feeding is probably the biggest factor in losing the weight.  I know not everyone has this option but I really think it was what helped me the most.
• No snacks!  After I had the baby, I completely stopped snacking.  I'm so busy these days that I can only think about eating full meals and in between I'm either taking care of Layla or working so I never think about eating in between! 
• Stroller walks - we live in a very hilly neighborhood and the walk alone is already a great workout but taking the stroller out and walking it uphill is a GREAT workout.  I'm huffing and puffing all the way up.
• Baby wearing - I rarely put Layla in the stroller, only when we go on walks with the dogs.  She's only been in the stroller twice when we went out shopping.  All the other times I wear her in my Sakura Bloom ring sling and wearing a 10lb baby while walking around for a half hour to an hour is not super tough but I do feel like it helps!

Although I can fit into all my pre-baby clothes, my body has definitely changed in some ways, especially my belly.  I was actually looking online about any products women use after their pregnancy and a lot of women have mentioned belly bands or shaping undergarments that tighten up the core again.

The lovely team at hourglass Angel sent over the Almighty Vest to try out and to my surprise it really has helped!  I haven't worn it as much as I should (it's not the most comfortable thing) but I have seen results with it.  The first time I put it on, I was slightly shocked.  I've never worn a shaping undergarment like this before but it totally sucks you in - like a whole size down.  It's not easy to get into!  But there's good reason for that and once you put it on, you know why.  After the first time, I knew what to expect so it got easier to wear every time after that.  Here's the description that they give:

the Vest utilizes the science of compression to support long-term slimming. The PowerLatex core stimulates thermal activity and perspiration, mobilizing fat and toxins. You’ll see results as soon as you put it on. 

And after wearing it a few times now, I totally believe it!  I haven't taken measurements or anything but after I take it off, I always feel a difference in my belly.  I plan on wearing it more throughout they year to tighten up my belly area.  Obviously I know that a healthy diet and exercise is what will really help me lose weight but any help I can get in the belly department (always the last area I lose weight) is much needed!

This is not a sponsored post but I was sent the almighty vest for free.  All opinions are genuine and my own!

Work out tips and PV Body review

Getting into a regular work out routine is probably the hardest thing to start but once you have a schedule and are used to going, it's just like anything else you do during the day.  I don't love to work out but I do love feeling healthy and fit.  My routine for the past 4 months has been yoga 3 days a week and a circuit training class or Nike Training Club workouts 2 days a week and surprisingly it has not been hard to keep this schedule at all.  I'm so used to it that it's just part of my day and not something that I have to fit in.

My tips to keep a consistent workout schedule:
1. Try out different things until you find what you love - I used to run a lot but I didn't really like it all that much, I just did it because I needed some cardio which then made it really hard to go to the gym.  I tried several classes at my gym before discovering ones that made me feel like I was having fun and getting a good work out and now I look forward to going to those classes.

2. Set an alarm - Because my days are pretty busy and often times I get so engrossed in what I'm doing, I now keep an alarm on my phone that goes off the same time 5 days a week and it says "GYM!!"  This totally helps keep me on track and I for sure always go to the gym when the alarm goes off.

3. Work out with a friend or your significant other - I don't tend to like to work out with people, I like to do my own thing as I get much better work outs that way, but what I do like is the accountability of going with someone else.  On those days that I just want to sit on the couch, if I see that my husband is ready to go with the gym, a part of me knows that if he goes to the gym and I'm just sitting at home, I'll feel really lazy and guilty for not going with him too.  And on some days, it's vice versa where I'm the one motivating him to go, so it's always nice to have each other to keep you balanced.

4. You get to indulge and not feel as guilty - Of course you can not take this to the extreme and just think "I'm working out so I can eat a huge slice of cake for dinner every night!" but every once in awhile when you indulge, you feel a little less guilty and a little more deserving when you've been taking care of your body and health.

 source

5. Be Patient.  Results will come - I don't work out to lose weight although since I've changed my diet and been working out regularly I've lost a bit of weight which was just simply a nice side effect of the changes.  But I know that it took me about two months before I saw the physical changes really take place.  For those of us that are already on the petite side, seeing results can be harder as I don't think that it happens that quickly for us.  (Really for women in general, I think it's just slower.)  My husband and I eat the same things (he just eats more portion wise) but when we start eating healthier and work out more, he can lose weight and tone up like crazy within a week.  For me, nothing happens until a few weeks later.  What does happen right away is that your energy levels go up, you sleep better and just generally feel better.  Try to concentrate on those changes and don't let the lack of the physical results unmotivate you.  You just have to trust that it will come if you are consistent.  And once they come, you will be too happy to stop!

6. Being healthy is a lifestyle, not a resolution - I know that with the new year, there is a lot of these "I'm going to lose 10lbs" or "I'm going to the gym 4 times a week" resolutions.  I don't know about you but those types of things never work for me.  I can say it all I want but if I don't make it a part of my life, it's always just going to be something that I say and not actually fit into my life.  Like I mentioned before, I've made a lot of changes to my lifestyle in the past year and being healthy is one of those things.  Not just working out but also what I eat and how I take care of my stress.  All of it goes hand in hand to living a healthy lifestyle and not just a quick fix.

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With yesterday's post about my favorite work out clothes, I also wanted to do a review of a new monthly subscription box that I had subscribed to called PV Body.  It sounded like a great concept as it's $49.95 a month for a top and a bottom and they send you clothes based on your style and type of work outs you do.  (Just to note, it was $39.95 when I tried it so they've upped it by $10)

I tried it for two months and I canceled.  I'm not one to do negative reviews especially on new start up companies as I do know (from experience) how hard it is to be a small online business but I wanted to give my feedback in case you guys had seen this and wanted to try it out.  Like I said, the concept is great, their execution however is not.  The first set that I got, the top was not my style at all and the bottom was okay.  Both were from the Electric Yoga which I had not heard of before but based on the prices on the site, the set I got was a good deal.  However, that doesn't matter if you don't like the style right?  So anyway, they have a good return/exchange policy so I thought I'd give them feedback about the style that I received and that I would like to do an exchange.  I wrote them twice regarding an exchange and in both instances I did not receive a personal response from a customer service person. Both times I received a standard FAQ type of response and nothing in the email even answered my question.  What really got me was in the email it said "your request is now resolved".  How can they tell me that my request is resolved when my question was not even answered?  You could tell that nobody reads their customer service emails, it's all automated.  It was a bit frustrating when all I wanted to do was an exchange and on their site it said that it was easy enough to do.  

In a 3rd email, (which was also automated) they gave me a phone number to call but also during this time, I received my second shipment (oh yeah, my first shipment was about 3 weeks late so the 2nd month came only a week later).    When I opened my 2nd shipment, I was equally as disappointed.  They sent me the EXACT same leggings as the first month.  When I subscribe to these monthly subscription boxes it's because I want to try out different things that I normally wouldn't stumble upon.  If I wanted to buy the exact same pants each month, I'd just go back to Lululemon and buy my favorite pair.  Not some unknown brand that I'm just trying out.  I just thought it wasn't a great service that they could not even keep track of what they had sent their members previously.  Even though I didn't love the 2nd shipment, the tank they sent me was better than the first so I thought I'd keep that box and return the first one.  Anyway, long story short.  I finally got someone on the phone and sent in my return.  It's now coming up to 3 weeks and I have yet to see a refund or a response from the company.  So in short... I would not recommend PV Body.  If they are still around in a year, maybe they will have worked out the kinks and can offer better service but for now, it's not something that I will be joining again.

SarahFit, one of my favorite fitness bloggers just did a post about them and it looks like they are now doing a bit of a bait and switch where they originally promised brand name clothes and now are only offering their OWN line that nobody has ever heard of or even tried.  I also saw in Sarah's comment section that it seems like I'm not the only one that had a bad experience with them.  I'm all about supporting new start up businesses and giving them a chance but it's hard to support one that seems to have so many bad experiences and customer issues.

Favorite Work Out Clothes

One of the things that keeps me motivated to go to the gym is work out clothes!  I like to work out in clothes that not only do their job (like keep the sweat away, keeps me cool, keeps things sucked in, etc...) but also that I feel good in.  I figure if you're at the gym to make yourself feel better and look better why not start out by already feeling good in the clothes that you wear?  I'm a huge Lululemon fan and admittedly spend too much money there but I also get good use out of it so at least for me, that justifies the cost. I do have a few other go-to brands that I love so here are my top faves for work out clothes that you will usually find me in when I'm at the gym.

For tops, I tend to stick to form fitting tops because I don't like my clothes to get in the way.  Whether I'm doing yoga or something more active, I do not want my clothes to be riding up or needing to be adjusted.  I love the "No Limits" tank for when you are feeling a bit bloated and not wanting to put on the form fitting tank that day.  It hides the little belly just perfectly but also does it's job and stays in place because of the waistband.

Lululemon 'Cool Racerback'- my favorite.  I have so many of these and I love going to the store to see the new colors and patterns.
Zella 'Fresh Take Z' Tank - a little thicker (fabric wise) and shorter (length wise) than the Lululemon Racerback but very similar
Lululemon 'No Limits' tank - Zella has a very similar version for less.  I haven't tried it yet but am going to order it!
Nike 'Indy' Print Tank - Nike is a bit more sporty for my taste but they do still have some cute tanks that I like.

Same with pants.  I see people working out in baggy sweats and I have no idea how they even do it.  I need my clothes to stick to me and keep me cool or else I can not work out properly.  If anything, investing in proper workout leggings has been the best investment for me because I used to work out in just regular old leggings but trust me when I say that these make a world of a difference.  They suck you in all the right places, don't ride up or down and the fabrics they use keeps the sweat away and comfy the entire time you are working out.

Zella 'Live In' Cross Dye Reversible Capri Leggings - I have 3 pairs of these, that's how much I love them.  They are easily my favorite.  So comfy and they don't ride up or down on you and they hold you in at the places that need to be held in.
Lululemon 'Wunder Under' Pant - if you have not tried on the goodness of the Wunder Under pants, just try them and you will see why every woman that owns them raves about them.  They are AWESOME.  I have the long ones to wear to the gym (I then change into my capris and they do make capri versions too) but I also wear these just lounging around the house, they are the best ever!
Nike 'Filament' Capris - again, a little sporty for my taste but if I'm doing circuit training where I get a bit more hot and sweaty, these are great for something that's more active as they have cooling mesh inserts at the back of the knees.

If you didn't know, Zella is a Nordstrom brand, however I read an article about how one of the designers from Lululemon actually started working there to help create the brand so the similarities between the two are not coincidental.  I love both lines and Zella has great pieces that are a bit more reasonable price wise and they also go on sale unlike Lululemon which rarely has sales.

Shoes wise - I'm a Nike fan but mainly because of my husband, I don't think he'd let me buy any other brand of shoes.  LOL.  But really, they make the prettiest shoes (in my opinion) so I'd buy them anyway.  I have a few pairs of the Nike Free Runs and they are my favorite shoe ever. So lightweight and easy to do all my activities in.  I know that it's technically a running shoe but I use it mostly for circuit training (cardio + strength training exercise) which the Nike TR Fit is a training shoe and good for that as well.

Nike 'Free Run+ 3' 

Nike 'Free TR Fit 3' 

On the cheaper side, you may be surprised (I was!) but the work out stuff from Forever 21 is pretty decent!  I actually buy my yoga sports bras from there as they are pretty comfy and hold up pretty well.  For low impact stuff, I think their sports bras and are pretty good and the price is even better!

Mesh Paneled Sports Bra | Neon Crisscross Sports Bra | Heathered Sports Bra

Target also has great sports bras and tops, I highly recommend this bra and this tank.

As you can tell I'm serious about my work out clothes!  I just feel so much better when I'm wearing stuff that I feel good and comfortable in which also helps in helping me get a much better work out.
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Dove Giveaway!

Hi all!  It's a rare Saturday post!  I just wanted to thank everyone that continues to read my blog.  Ever since starting my jewelry business it's been harder and harder to keep up with blogging and especially participating in the community.  I don't get much time to comment these days but I am still reading your blogs and love the interaction I have with many of you via Facebook, twitter and instagram!  I just wanted to do a quick little giveaway as Dove reached out and wanted to provide some fun products for me to giveaway so I wanted to share.

As I mentioned before, I've been using Dove Clinical Protection which not only does a fab job of making me smell good but is also moisturizing and gentle on the skin.  One thing that I will say about working out is that I always get a better workout when I feel confident.  It's silly but I don't want to be in the middle of a workout and be worried that I'm the one stinking up the place.  It's just like putting on the the right workout clothes, the better I feel, the more confident I am and the better work out that I get.

Dove has put together a perfect pack with everything you need for the gym!  Here's what's included:

It's such a perfect little set to just pop into your gym bag and have your essentials all in one place.

To enter the giveaway just let me know when you feel like you need the most confidence.  Is it at the gym like me?  Or at a job interview? Where ever/whenever it is, let me know in the comments!

I also wanted to include a little something from myself and so I will pick another winner who will receive the September American Beauty box from Juelp!  This includes: Eileen - antique bright white crème. Hoch - mod emerald green crème. Julep Volumizing Mascara, jet black. Lash growth enhancement ingredients and micro-fiber applicator separates, conditions, and plumps individual lashes for a thick and gorgeous finish.

 

You know how much I love nail polishes and getting my monthly box of nail polishes.  I love this set as it's perfect for the fall!  And if you have yet to join yet, make sure to use the code MAVENINTRO to get your first box for 1 cent!  Click here to join (my referral link)

See the widget below for all the ways you can enter.  Entries will be taken through the week and then I'll select 2 winners using the Rafflecopter widget which chooses winners randomly.  The first winner will have her choice of which set she wants and the 2nd winner will win the remaining set.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks everyone!  Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Giveaway products sponsored by Dove.  The Julep products which were provided by me.

My Skincare Essentials and Favorites

It's been awhile since I talked about skincare and I've updated my routine and found new products so wanted to share!

1. Earth Science Eye Makeup Remover Chamomile and Green Tea - I'm a pretty heavy eyeliner user and I am crazy about getting every last bit off.  I've been using Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover for years but in the past few months, it's been irritating my eyes and not getting the makeup off as much as I'd like.  I went searching for a more gentle, non-irritating product and came upon this one in the beauty section at Whole Foods.  It's more of a gel but I like it because I feel like it does a better job of taking of the makeup in one clean sweep rather than having to go back and remove some more.  (Just a tip, it's cheaper at Amazon than it is at Whole Foods so don't get it there.)
2.  Xen-Tan Face Tanner - I don't mind getting my body tan through the sun but I'm so paranoid of freckles and wrinkles that I use pretty strong SPF on my face and when I go on vacation, I always bring hats to wear in the sun.  To offset the weird pale face/tan body I use a face tanner.  I got this one as a sample but I ended up liking it so much I bought it and have been using it all summer.  Granted, I haven't gotten much sun this summer so I'm not that much tanner but still it gives my face a slight tan and it's a very subtle difference which is what I'm looking for.  Many formulas are for face and body which I don't believe in as what you put on your body should not be the same formula as your face so I like that this one is specifically for your face.  
3. DDF Glycolic 10% Exfoliating Moisturizer - I get breakouts occasionally, especially on my forehead and hair line and my first defense against breakouts is glycolic acid.  It's been pretty effective for me and I really like having something a bit stronger like this when it's needed.
4. Alba Facial Scrub, Sea Algae Enzyme - I love exfoliating.  It's so soothing and I love the feeling of getting all those dead skin cells off.  I spend a lot of time testing exfoliators and I finally found one that I love!  This one has the perfect size of granules where it's not to harsh but also not too soft.  It just feels like it's getting it's job done, know what I mean? 
5. Glytone Mini Peel Gel - I was looking for something to make my skin glowy and "fresh" (which is a funny word for skin but I don't know how else to explain it.  I caution if you have sensitive skin from using this.  It doesn't irritate my skin or anything but it certainly reacts to it.  You put on a thin layer and leave it on for 10 minutes.  The whole time it's on, your skin tingles like crazy.  You can really tell it's doing something!  It's not the most comfortable feeling but I do feel like it helps my skin as every time I do it my skin gets super glowy afterwards.  My husband even remarked on the glowineess of my skin!  I've used quite a few Glytone products and really like everything I've used from them.

One last thing worth mentioning that you guys may think I'm crazy for...

Wedderspoon Raw Organic Manuka Honey Active 16+

Yes, honey for skincare.  Specifically Manuka Honey.  So the story is, I have stomach/digestion issues and have had it for about a year now.  Doctors can't tell me what's wrong and no treatments have worked.  You don't even want to know how much time and money I've spent on tests, labs, xrays, etc... to find out absolutely nothing.  Just guesses which leads to more tests which leads to more guesses and yeah, not fun.  I spend a lot of my days not being able to function because of my stomach.  ANYWAY, not trying to share my health problems but I was doing research on stomach problems and remedies when I came across Manuka Honey which is supposed to be this kind of "miracle" product that can heal a lot of things including stomach/digestion issues.  It's also been found to be great for skin healing and acne treatments.  (There's a ton more benefits but I don't want to list it out so google it if you are interested in finding out more)  I figured, with everything I've been going through why not give it a shot.  It hasn't cleared my stomach problems but my skin loves it!  Everytime I get a big ol zit that I have to get rid of, I just dab a little bit of honey on it and overnight it shrinks a ton and then disappears a lot faster than if I had used any other treatment.  The trick is DON'T SQUEEZE IT!  I know it's so tempting with zits especially those massive ones that you want to kill, but leave it alone, put some honey on it and before you know it, it'll be gone and you aren't left with any ugly dark marks or scars.  I don't know if this will work on everyone and obviously, proceed with caution if you have sensitive skin but it worked for me so wanted to share.

Whole Living: 3 Day Reboot Detox

I love to cook but now that my schedule has been so busy, the last thing I want to do after working 16 hours a day is to get in the kitchen and cook.  This has led us to eating out more than we like and I was feeling a bit lethargic and not so healthy in general.  I recently subscribed to Whole Living magazine and I'm obsessed with it.  I read every single article and have really changed our food and eating habits because of it.  I came across this "detox" that sounded perfect for me.  From the magazine:
"New Year’s resolutions a distant memory? Whether you want to recommit to a healthier eating regimen or simply treat your body to some R&R, our three-day reboot is a delicious way to do it."

image via whole living

Last week, I did the 3 day reboot and the rest of the week I stuck to a generally healthy diet.  I ended up losing 3 pounds during the week (which to be honest, was probably just water weight) but not only that, I just feel a lot more "cleaner", healthier and energized.

Read more for my thoughts and tips on the detox...

I wanted to share with you guys because I often get questions about my diet and exercise which I'm hesitant to post about only because everyone's bodies are different and I'm certainly no expert.  For me, I generally like to cook/eat healthy for 4-5 days out of the week and the rest of the days we eat out.  Of course this varies and some weeks we eat out more but in general this what we like to stick to.

I'm a huge fan of detoxes every once in awhile and I've done them before but I highly recommend this "reboot" because the food is actually tasty!  Also, I know that juice cleanses are pretty big now and I've considered them but knowing that I like to eat actual food, I think juice cleanses would just make me feel stabby and probably not fun to be around :) 

Go to the Whole Living site for more details on the 3 day reboot and the recipes, which are very easy to follow and the best part is, that the first day you prep almost all of the food so that it makes it very easy to stick to the diet for the next two days.  One tip: in the beet salad, they have you put the scallions in the first day which was delicious but I ended up hating it the 2nd and 3rd day because all I tasted were the scallions which as you know, is a very strong flavor.  Next time I will only add them on the day that I eat the salad.

I loved the breakfast smoothie so much that I made it this week too!  I just made a batch on Monday and then filled the rest into mason jars for the next few days.  It's so easy to grab and go in the morning!  I also add in chia seeds which is an amazing little "superfood" that doesn't add flavor to your food but it add tons of nutrients.  Read here for the benefits of chia seeds.  I started adding them into my foods for the fiber but I've noticed all the other benefits including more energy and help keeping me feel full between meals.  I recommend making a chia gel to keep in your fridge which makes it easier to add to your drinks.  They become softer as I don't love the crunchiness of the raw seeds but I really like the texture of the chia gel in my drink, it's like a healthy version of bubble tea!

I order Chia Seeds from Amazon, mainly because I'm an Amazon Prime member and I love the free 2 day shipping so I haven't really shopped around but I think the price on Amazon is pretty good.

And because if you know me, I can't not have baked goods in my life.  These are for after the detox obviously but when I need something relatively healthy to munch on with my coffee or tea, I make these raisin bran muffins that are low fat!  They are just as good as any of those muffins you can get at coffee shops but you won't feel as guilty after eating them.

It uses raisin bran cereal (I get mine at Trader Joe's), whole wheat flour, only a 1/4 cup of brown sugar for 6 muffins and no butter at all!  I do suggest to add about a 1/2 cup (or more) of raisins to the batter if the cereal you use is skimpy on the raisins.  I love these muffins and they are really easy to make.  Side note: I make them a little less healthy by adding turbinado sugar on top but the crunchy topping completes it.  Trust me on this.  :)

Anyway, if you were thinking of doing something like this, I highly recommend the 3 day reboot.  3 days is nothing and is so worth how your body feels after you are done!