My Current Workout Routine
**Links to similar items down below in the slideshow**
Staying fit and working out are one of my main priorities for awhile now. I used to always be athletic and workout every day when I was in high school, and used to play pretty much any sport. However, once college started things changed drastically. I still worked out hard my first year, but that’s about all I did for the four years. My body fluctuated from having all this muscle to losing it all and being way under my normal weight. Then I actually started gaining weight, not in muscle but in fat. Once I finished college, I knew I wanted my routine to change.
I began going every day to the gym since August of 2016. My workouts are usually in the morning around 4:40am. Yes, I know I am crazy, but I also know I am not the only one that is up that early heading to the gym. There are about 10 other people at my gym that early, before I even get there. Anyways, I decided I needed to prioritize going to the gym and feeling good about myself. I was by no means overweight, I just knew darn well that the way I looked and felt was something I did not want.
My workout routines vary from cardio to lifting. At first, all I was doing was mediocre workouts. I was not pushing myself at all, therefore I was not seeing much results. Until November 2016, I started to really take my workouts serious. I started to incorporate cardio, something I really had never done. I never really thought I needed to do it, but boy was I wrong. I definitely needed to incorporate some cardio if I wanted to lose the fat I gained.
So what does my workout routine look like?
MONDAY:
I run at least one mile, with abs in between. Mondays are my leg day workouts, I usually do about 3-5 sets of supersets that target my hamstrings and glutes. I then finish off with a circuit of abs, and stretch.
TUESDAY:
I run at least one mile, with abs in between. On Tuesdays I focus on my back, abs, and biceps I love using the cable machine for workouts. Same technique, I incorporate different supersets (3-4) and make sure I do at least 4 sets of 12. I then give myself at least 10 minutes to do different ab workouts, and finish with stretching.
WEDNESDAY:
I run at least one mile, with abs in between (I’m sure it’s getting boring reading this over and over again). I just love getting pumped after my run and it gets my heart going. On Wednesdays, I also focus on legs and I mostly do a cardio leg day. I use the cable machine, leg press machine, and workouts on the grass. I think it’s important to incorporate different workouts/moves in your routine because if you do a workout over and over again, it won’t do any difference unless your pushing your body and “feeling” the burn. On Wednesdays, I usually don’t have time for abs, but I do finish with a good stretch.
THURSDAY:
I continue to do my regular run. I also do a similar routine to Tuesdays. I workout my entire arms, and triceps. I like to incorporate a couple of abs in between my workouts and the I finish with a good ab set at the end, and stretch.
FRIDAY:
On Fridays I continue to do my regular “everyday run.” I usually do a little bit of everything and workout on my arms and legs. I don’t go super hard but I do make sure I get in an overall full body workout of about 45 minutes. I finish my workout with a good stretch.
SATURDAY:
Saturdays are my favorite! I do intense cardio and run for about 20 minutes on the treadmill at a pretty fast pace. I take about a break every 5 minutes, but I do 2 minutes of abs as part of my “break”, and then get back to running. Once I am done with the treadmill, I do the stair-master and do 2 minutes at level 10 and 2 minutes at level 5 for a total of 10-15 minutes. This pumps my heart up and I end up like I recently showered (gross)! Once I am done with the stair-master, I then do about 10 minutes on the bicycle and finish with a couple of abs and stretch.
SUNDAY:
Rest day!
Overall, this is pretty much my weekly workout routine. If you would like me to go more in depth with an arm or leg workout, please leave a comment down below. I also recommend you follow some pretty great fitness influencers on Instagram. One of them happens to be my friend/classmate and I love her healthy food posts and workouts, check Kathie Arias out here. Kathie also has a blog, you can check it out here. I also love following Whitney Simmons, she sure knows how to make my arms and legs scream. I love her workouts!
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Living Room Rugs – My Favorite Places to Shop
I love decorating my home, especially the living room. However, it is such a work in progress because it takes time to perfect your living room the way you truly want it. I stopped purchasing items because we still have to do all the floors and I don’t want to be moving so much furniture, I would rather wait till they are completed. However, I do love searching for home decor ideas, and love reading blogs that recommend places to shop at.
I want to share with you some of my favorite places to search for decor, in this case living room rugs. There are so many online websites that have affordable rugs, and different styles as well. Most of the good sales are during the holidays, but regardless most of these rugs are about $111-$300 for an 8’x10′. My favorite style of rugs are the Shag Rugs, the soft cozy materials. Those are by far my favorite but hard to keep clean. So I hope you grab a cup of coffee for this lengthy post!
1. Wayfair – Hanley Blue Area Rug by Charlton Home
This blue rug with a geometric pattern really adds a pop of color to any living room. Most of the time it is hard for people to choose colored rugs because they feel like it is hard to decorate. It can be hard if your couches aren’t solid colors. The blue rug would look great with white or grey couches. On another note, I recommend shopping from Wayfair because they have so many styles and different sizes. This Hanley Blue Area Rug is only $111, and Wayfair even offers free shipping.
2. Overstock – Safavieh Moroccan Shag Grey/ Ivory Trellis Rug
Alonso and I are eyeing this rug and want to pull the trigger, but like how I mentioned above, we still have to do our floors. I will have to wait to purchase this rug once we are done with renovating the entire floors downstairs. My favorite Shag Rugs are in the material, polypropylene. This material is so soft, similar to a baby’s blanket. Overstock is one of my favorite online home decor websites to shop at because not only do they have a little bit of everything, but I also get money back when I shop. I shop through Ebates and get money back when I shop through them at the Overstock website. You can use my LINK to get $10 back when you first sign up and start shopping through them. This rug is around $241 and you also get free shipping.
3. Rugs USA – Bermuda Easy Shag EZ04 Lattice Rug
Rugs USA has some affordable rugs as well. The Bermuda Easy Shag Rug is the perfect white color and is around $267 and also has free shipping. I recommend purchased from Rugs USA if you are looking for different types of rugs and sizes. This website specializes in only rugs which makes it easier to choose the perfect one. The other sites sell other items besides rugs and may not have as much inventory. However, don’t to get me wrong, I would recommend doing some thorough research before choosing where to purchase your rug. You could find a cheaper rug at Rugs USA rather than the other websites I shared with you or vice versa.
4. Home Goods – purchased in store
Lastly, I wanted to share with you the rug I purchased from Home Goods a couple of months ago. We regret purchasing it because instead of waiting for the one we wanted we kind of got ahead of ourselves and purchased this one instead. The reason we don’t like it is because of the material. We learned we do NOT like wool because it flakes all over the place. It even ends up in our cars from sticking to our shoes. Can you believe that? However, Home Goods has some very affordable rugs, ours was around $140. The most expensive rugs that Home Goods has is around $299. They carry some great styles! I would for sure recommend them, just make sure you double check if you like the material before you purchase it.
Please tweet me on my Twitter any recommendations you have for cleaning wool rugs or comment down below. I would really appreciate it!
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Living Room Rugs – My Favorite Places to Shop
I love decorating my home, especially the living room. However, it is such a work in progress because it takes time to perfect your living room the way you truly want it. I stopped purchasing items because we still have to do all the floors and I don’t want to be moving so much furniture, I would rather wait till they are completed. However, I do love searching for home decor ideas, and love reading blogs that recommend places to shop at.
I want to share with you some of my favorite places to search for decor, in this case living room rugs. There are so many online websites that have affordable rugs, and different styles as well. Most of the good sales are during the holidays, but regardless most of these rugs are about $111-$300 for an 8’x10′. My favorite style of rugs are the Shag Rugs, the soft cozy materials. Those are by far my favorite but hard to keep clean. So I hope you grab a cup of coffee for this lengthy post!
1. Wayfair – Hanley Blue Area Rug by Charlton Home
This blue rug with a geometric pattern really adds a pop of color to any living room. Most of the time it is hard for people to choose colored rugs because they feel like it is hard to decorate. It can be hard if your couches aren’t solid colors. The blue rug would look great with white or grey couches. On another note, I recommend shopping from Wayfair because they have so many styles and different sizes. This Hanley Blue Area Rug is only $111, and Wayfair even offers free shipping.
2. Overstock – Safavieh Moroccan Shag Grey/ Ivory Trellis Rug
Alonso and I are eyeing this rug and want to pull the trigger, but like how I mentioned above, we still have to do our floors. I will have to wait to purchase this rug once we are done with renovating the entire floors downstairs. My favorite Shag Rugs are in the material, polypropylene. This material is so soft, similar to a baby’s blanket. Overstock is one of my favorite online home decor websites to shop at because not only do they have a little bit of everything, but I also get money back when I shop. I shop through Ebates and get money back when I shop through them at the Overstock website. You can use my LINK to get $10 back when you first sign up and start shopping through them. This rug is around $241 and you also get free shipping.
3. Rugs USA – Bermuda Easy Shag EZ04 Lattice Rug
Rugs USA has some affordable rugs as well. The Bermuda Easy Shag Rug is the perfect white color and is around $267 and also has free shipping. I recommend purchased from Rugs USA if you are looking for different types of rugs and sizes. This website specializes in only rugs which makes it easier to choose the perfect one. The other sites sell other items besides rugs and may not have as much inventory. However, don’t to get me wrong, I would recommend doing some thorough research before choosing where to purchase your rug. You could find a cheaper rug at Rugs USA rather than the other websites I shared with you or vice versa.
4. Home Goods – purchased in store
Lastly, I wanted to share with you the rug I purchased from Home Goods a couple of months ago. We regret purchasing it because instead of waiting for the one we wanted we kind of got ahead of ourselves and purchased this one instead. The reason we don’t like it is because of the material. We learned we do NOT like wool because it flakes all over the place. It even ends up in our cars from sticking to our shoes. Can you believe that? However, Home Goods has some very affordable rugs, ours was around $140. The most expensive rugs that Home Goods has is around $299. They carry some great styles! I would for sure recommend them, just make sure you double check if you like the material before you purchase it.
Please tweet me on my Twitter any recommendations you have for cleaning wool rugs or comment down below. I would really appreciate it!
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My Top 3 Lipstick Brands
Beauty is one of the many topics I like sharing on the blog and today I wanted to share my top lipstick brands. I went through a phase where all I did was purchase lipstick products. I have a lot that I don’t use…sadly! The type of lipsticks I wear vary from matte, to glossy, to semi-matte. I haven’t really found a preference, but all I know is that no matter what lipstick I wear I still dislike wearing it while I eat. For example, if I am eating a burger my lipstick just gets all over my face.
There are so many brands out there that have really great lipsticks and their quality is really good. I wanted to share with you some of my top three brands that I feel are not only affordable, but also really good. I have purchased from these brands for far too long and only been disappointed very few times (like once or twice). Some of my top brands for lipsticks are also high end brands, but I figured I would share those with you on another post.
So what exactly am I looking for when I purchase a lipstick? That can be a very simple answer like the color. However, I also look for the consistency and how it applies on my lips. If the product is matte and is a lipstick and not a liquid lipstick, chances are it will be a little difficult to apply on the lips. Personally, I don’t like that. If I am looking for a matte lipstick I go for a liquid lipstick, they are just way easier to apply. I also love glossy lipsticks for an everyday look.
NYX – Fortune Cookie NYX
When I first started purchasing lipsticks I went with NYX. I just read so many great reviews and figured they would be perfect to start with. They have a great variety of lipsticks from matte, to gloss, to suede, and even liquid lipsticks. I personally, love their Butter Gloss Lipsticks that are only $5, talk about a steal! I have so many colors, and I love that I can pair it with other lipsticks to have the glossy finish. I do run out of these like crazy, but I love how convenient NYX is that many stores carry them.
MILANI – Teddy Bare MILANI
This is probably my favorite go-to lipstick that I own. You can tell from the picture I use it often. The name of the exact lipstick on the picture is called Teddy Bare and you can find it on MILANI’s website, here. The reason I love this brand is not only because they have great colors, but because of their consistency. These color statement lipsticks, are very nourishing on the lips, yet stay a long time on as well. I usually pick this lipstick up when I am heading out for a late night because I know it won’t rub off or be worried on how dry my lips are getting. MILANI is also affordable and this lipstick is only $6.
COLOURPOP – Dopey COLOURPOP
Lipsticks from ColourPop Cosmetics are very pigmented and my favorite matte lipsticks from them are their Ultra Matte Lipsticks. They are very matte and can sometimes get dry if you don’t add any lip balm before, but that’s the purpose of matte lipsticks. They have a huge collection that range from Ultra Satin, to Ultra Matte, and even Ultra Glossy. I like all of them, but prefer the Ultra Satin and Ultra Matte Lipsticks. They also have a ton of colors to choose from, and they sometimes bundle a couple of them and sell them at a lower price. You end up getting more for a lower price.If you have any recommendations of other brands that you recommend please leave a comment down below. I would love to try new brands as well!
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My Top 3 Lipstick Brands
Beauty is one of the many topics I like sharing on the blog and today I wanted to share my top lipstick brands. I went through a phase where all I did was purchase lipstick products. I have a lot that I don’t use…sadly! The type of lipsticks I wear vary from matte, to glossy, to semi-matte. I haven’t really found a preference, but all I know is that no matter what lipstick I wear I still dislike wearing it while I eat. For example, if I am eating a burger my lipstick just gets all over my face.
There are so many brands out there that have really great lipsticks and their quality is really good. I wanted to share with you some of my top three brands that I feel are not only affordable, but also really good. I have purchased from these brands for far too long and only been disappointed very few times (like once or twice). Some of my top brands for lipsticks are also high end brands, but I figured I would share those with you on another post.
So what exactly am I looking for when I purchase a lipstick? That can be a very simple answer like the color. However, I also look for the consistency and how it applies on my lips. If the product is matte and is a lipstick and not a liquid lipstick, chances are it will be a little difficult to apply on the lips. Personally, I don’t like that. If I am looking for a matte lipstick I go for a liquid lipstick, they are just way easier to apply. I also love glossy lipsticks for an everyday look.
NYX – Fortune Cookie NYX
When I first started purchasing lipsticks I went with NYX. I just read so many great reviews and figured they would be perfect to start with. They have a great variety of lipsticks from matte, to gloss, to suede, and even liquid lipsticks. I personally, love their Butter Gloss Lipsticks that are only $5, talk about a steal! I have so many colors, and I love that I can pair it with other lipsticks to have the glossy finish. I do run out of these like crazy, but I love how convenient NYX is that many stores carry them.MILANI – Teddy Bare MILANI
This is probably my favorite go-to lipstick that I own. You can tell from the picture I use it often. The name of the exact lipstick on the picture is called Teddy Bare and you can find it on MILANI’s website, here. The reason I love this brand is not only because they have great colors, but because of their consistency. These color statement lipsticks, are very nourishing on the lips, yet stay a long time on as well. I usually pick this lipstick up when I am heading out for a late night because I know it won’t rub off or be worried on how dry my lips are getting. MILANI is also affordable and this lipstick is only $6.
COLOURPOP – Dopey COLOURPOP
Lipsticks from ColourPop Cosmetics are very pigmented and my favorite matte lipsticks from them are their Ultra Matte Lipsticks. They are very matte and can sometimes get dry if you don’t add any lip balm before, but that’s the purpose of matte lipsticks. They have a huge collection that range from Ultra Satin, to Ultra Matte, and even Ultra Glossy. I like all of them, but prefer the Ultra Satin and Ultra Matte Lipsticks. They also have a ton of colors to choose from, and they sometimes bundle a couple of them and sell them at a lower price. You end up getting more for a lower price.If you have any recommendations of other brands that you recommend please leave a comment down below. I would love to try new brands as well!
[slideshow_deploy id=’1527′]
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