-
Thrive Causemetics Mascara
Hi Everyone!
Today, I am sharing my new favorite mascara with you. Two of my friends, JoLynn and Brittani, recommended it to me. I had already seen multiple ads for it but I was still skeptical until I heard my friends’ rave about it. The mascara is called liquid lash extensions. When I wear it, it literally feels like it is just that, lash extensions. Of course without the actual weight of fake lashes, which is a huge bonus in my eyes.
I have had a hard time finding a mascara that I like, let alone love. My eyes are extremely sensitive so they tend to water a lot. This usually causes things like smudging and fall out throughout the day. Which ends up in dark raccoon eyes by the time I get home for the day. If it isn’t that it’s flaked off, ending up in my eye 90% of the time. I have only found two mascara’s that do not do this throughout the day and the second dries out and is very light after only a few days of using it. So I crossed that one off my list as well.
So I decided to take the chance and order the liquid lash extension mascara by Thrive Causemetics about a month ago. I have been absolutely hooked since. It lasts until I take it off intentionally! It also isn’t hard to get off (like the dreaded “waterproof” mascara). It looks perfect all day long. Sometimes even for multiple days if you don’t wash it off. I only had minimal flaking after some extremely sweaty workouts or sauna sessions. It also has Orchid Stem Cell Complex in it’s ingredients. This encourages and supports longer lashes!
I also learned that Thrive Causemetics is so much more than amazing mascara. Every product purchased, they donate to help women thrive.
How do they help women thrive?
- Supporting and empowering women fighting cancer.
- Help survivors of domestic abuse to find strength and confidence.
- Encourage and support women seeking a way out of homelessness.
- Honoring and celebrating our women in service.
I am happy to give my money to a company, who strives to make a difference in the world in such a positive way.
I have a $10 off $50 coupon for you if you follow the link below this!
http://refer.thrivecausemetics.com/1d2tgeg
I am so impressed by this mascara and the company. Let me know what you think. Have you tried this before? Thanks for reading, it means a lot to me.
-
Biceps Workout
Hey Everyone!
Today, I am sharing some of my favorite biceps workouts with you. I usually workout my biceps with my back once a week for about an hour. I believe that this gives my body time to heal before I do it again.
I do three sets of the following:
Cross Chest Curls 10 Reps
Hammer Curls 10 Reps
Bicep Curls 10 Reps
Here is a video of me doing these exercises so that you can see what they are if you are unfamiliar with them! The video is sped up slightly. When you do these exercises keep your movements slow and controlled. You can avoid injury and you will see results faster if you do this. I also like to use lighter weights for biceps. I usually see more definition quicker when I do this.
I hope you loved today’s workout! Let me know what you think in the comments below. If you want to see more workouts like this please subscribe below for weekly emails. Thank you so much for checking out today’s post.
You May Also Like
Quick HIIT Treadmill Workout
-
Filling Fried Rice
Hi Everyone!
Today, I am sharing another meal prep idea with you. I got this idea from Pinterest from Lifemadesweeter.com. This recipe is a bit more work than others that I have posted for meal prep before but it is so worth it. It is so yummy and it tastes great even after reheating several days after making it.
Ingredients (4 Servings)
2 Tbsp Cooking Oil (I used vegetable)
3 Minced Garlic Cloves
1 tsp Grated Fresh Ginger
¼ Cup Diced Onions
1 Cup Mixed Vegetables (I used thawed frozen peas, carrots, and corn)
4 Large Eggs (lightly beat)
4 Cups Day Old Refrigerated Rice (Fresh is too sticky)
3 Tbsp Low Sodium Soy Sauce
2 tsp Fish Sauce
1 tsp Mirin
1 tsp Sesame Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Add-ins Optional:
1 Cup Pre-cooked Chicken
20 Large Shrimp (cooked according to previous blog post)
Recipe
- Heat on high 1 Tbsp of cooking oil in wok until smoking. Add garlic and ginger for 10 seconds, then add onions for 30 seconds, add vegetables and cook for 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a plate or bowl and set aside.
- Return wok to stovetop and add 1 Tbsp of cooking oil. Pour in eggs, scramble until cooked through.
- Stir in the cold rice and break it up with a spatula. Do this for about two minutes.
- Slowly add in soy sauce, fish sauce, mirin, and sesame oil. Toss and stir until everything is well mixed. (About two minutes)
- Add in meat, if desired.
- Enjoy!
I have learned a few things in making this recipe. Make sure to get your ingredients for all steps ready before you start to cook. Make sure you cook your rice the day before, if you don’t your rice will be very sticky. Make sure to thaw out your frozen vegetables, this way they will be easier to measure out and they will cook more evenly. The last thing I have found is that it is much easier to cook when you have a second person. One can do the cooking and the other can add the ingredients as you go.
We used a wok for this recipe. You could use a different type of pan but I find the Wok to be a lot easier. Here is a link to the one we have, it was very inexpensive.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-13-75-Non-Stick-Wok/165595876
Shane and I have been loving this meal. I love that I can add shrimp to my fried rice and Shane can add chicken so that we can both have what we want. I have loved discovering more meal prep recipes. I hope you like this meal prep idea as much as I do. Please let me know in the comments below, if you do. If you are interested in more healthy recipes please subscribe below.
You May Also Like
The BEST Protein Shake
-
Daily Static Stretching
Hi Everyone!
Today, I am going to talk about the importance of daily static stretching for self-care. This is something I strive to do everyday. I am not perfect but I try to stretch after every workout. I love the recovery stretching gives me after working out. Static stretching is the best after a workout because your muscles are warm so you are less likely to pull a muscle. There are many benefits to stretching that I will outline.
Benefits of stretching:
- Decrease muscle soreness
- Prevent Injury
- Improve range of motion
- Promotes circulation
- Enhance muscle relaxation
I have personally seen a difference in my life when I stretch versus when I don’t. I have had injuries and aches that could have been prevented by stretching. I have had extreme shoulder pain that has decreased significantly due to stretching and massage. If you are having a similar problem, find stretches that are good for your injury. They can really help with decreasing pain.
I made this video about two and half years ago of a simple and short stretching routine that I do after each workout. I have added to this over the years but it is a good starting place if you aren’t used to stretching regularly yet. As always, I have sped up this video so make sure that you are spending at least eight seconds in each position.
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my blog. It means a lot to me. Please let me know what you think about this post and what you are interested in seeing in the future in the comments below. If you love my blog and are interested in seeing more content, please subscribe below.
-
Upright Go
Hi Everyone!
Today I am sharing with you a product that I discovered from Instagram, Upright Go. Posture is something that I have struggled with to maintain for most of my life. I hate to admit it but it is true. I have worked on it for years without much success until I found this product. Before I bought it, I was thinking about how slouching makes everyone appear to be less fit. It makes your stomach poke out a little farther and it can also lead to severe back pain. I knew this was something I wanted to fix, so I decided to purchase an upright go II to try it out.
I was pretty nervous in the beginning. I was making a pretty big investment into something that I had never heard of anyone I knew trying, just the instagram ads that raved about it. Two things that made me feel better about it were: they have a 30 day money back guarantee and a year warranty on them. That way if I absolutely hated it, I basically had nothing to lose.
So why did I choose this posture corrector over another one?
- I loved how small it was. It wasn’t big and bulky like other ones I had seen. It can hide right under your shirt without anyone even knowing you are using it.
- It didn’t correct my posture for me, it just helped to guide me. This way I could improve my posture long term, even when I wasn’t wearing it.
- I liked how it had training and tracking mode. You can train for the recommended time (it will vibrate when you slouch), but then you can also track to see if your posture is improving over time.
- There are scientific studies that back this product, performed by three different universities. One even stated that it can improve emotional well-being and overall health.
- The reviews. There are hundreds of positive reviews on their website. It’s hard to see anything negative about it.
- 86% of people see an improvement in their posture!
So I made the dive and got one! I thought that Shane (my husband) would notice when I wore it, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t even hear when it vibrated, even when he was very near me. I loved it. I noticed that when I wasn’t training, I would stand up straight trying to avoid the vibrate. I think that it really helped me to be more aware of my slouching! I have been using it for three months so far. I am so glad that I got it!
I don’t have a coupon code for you guys yet, but they are running a pretty big sale until July 19th. The upright go II is usually $99 and it is on sale for $69. I know it seems like a lot of money but I have noticed such a difference and I definitely think it is worth it. I will link their website here.
I am obsessed with this posture trainer. Let me know what you think, if you have tried a posture trainer before or if you are looking at trying one. Thanks for reading. Please subscribe below to get more awesome content each week, directly to your inbox.
-
Tricep Workout
Hey Everyone!Today, I am sharing some of my favorite tricep workouts with you. I usually workout my triceps with my shoulders once a week for about an hour. I believe that this gives my body time to heal before I do it again. I love working out triceps because there are so many different angles that you can hit to work them out.
I do three sets of the following:
Assisted Tricep Dips 10 Reps (Remember the higher the weight the more it is assisting you)
Tricep Pushdowns 10 Reps
Skullcrushers 10 Reps
Here is a video of me doing these exercises so that you can see what they are if you are unfamiliar with them! The video is sped up slightly. When you do these exercises keep your movements slow and controlled. You can avoid injury and you will see results faster if you do this.
I hope you loved today’s workout! Let me know what you think in the comments below. If you want to see more workouts like this please subscribe below for weekly emails. Thank you so much for checking out today’s post.
You May Also Like
Quick HIIT Treadmill Workout
-
Sugary Alcohol Drink Alternative
Hey Everyone!
Today I am sharing a recipe for a healthier alternative to the sugary alcohol drinks that have a million calories. Being healthy doesn’t mean you have to give up having a drink with your friends. Sometimes you just have to be creative.
One of my friends shared an idea with me about a year ago for a healthier alternative. Don’t worry it still tastes great, way better than the low calorie seltzers in my opinion. Plus it has less calories too.
Raspberry Vodka Lemonade!
Ingredients:
1 bottle of water (500mL)
1 Oz of Vodka (I use 80 proof)
1 Raspberry Lemonade Drink Mix (I love Kroger)
Recipe:
- Mix ingredients together.
- Enjoy.
I was trying to get in better shape last summer and that’s when I realized how many calories were in some of the drinks I was drinking. I was surprised to say the least. That’s when I started to try out some alternatives.
Here is a chart of some current popular drinks and how many calories they contain:
Drink Calories Raspberry Vodka Lemonade 65 Raspberry Smirnoff Ice 228 White Claw 100 Mikes Hard Lemonade 220 Budlight Beer (12 oz can) 110 Arnold Palmer Spiked 220 I have loved drinking this healthier alternative. Not only does it have less calories it is extremely cheap to make too. It costs about $1 per lemonade for everything listed in the ingredients. Let me know if you try it out in the comments below. Thank you for reading today, please subscribe if you are interested in seeing more content.
You May Also Like
The BEST Protein Shake
-
Smart Goals (Refresher)
Today, we are going to focus on SMART goals. I get asked a lot about how I accomplish so many big tasks and still have time to have fun while doing it. When I am thinking of goals I would like to accomplish, I like to use this formula in order to make my goals work for me! The SMART method helps push you further, gives you a sense of direction, and helps you organize and reach your goals.
What does SMART stand for?
Specific: What exactly are you trying to accomplish? Who, What, Where.
Measurable: How will I know when my goal is accomplished? What part of my goal can be measured?
Achievable: Is your goal attainable? You weigh the benefits from the risks and drawbacks. Can you pursue this without undervaluing your current obligations? Can you realistically accomplish this goal? Don’t set yourself up for failure.
Relevant: How is this goal significant to your goals in life?
Time-Bound: When will you accomplish this goal? Make sure you have a specific day in mind.
Let’s try turning a regular goal into a smart goal.
I want to run a marathon.
Specific: Who=I What= run a marathon Where = Ogden
Measurable: 26.2 miles
Achievable: This goal may not be attainable for everyone but it is for me. I have run many half marathons and I am following a training schedule.
Relevant: I want to live a healthy life so this falls into that category.
Time-Bound: The marathon is on May 18th so it will be accomplished by then.
Now we’ve turned a regular goal into a SMART goal.
I will follow my training schedule for nine weeks prior to running the Ogden marathon on May 18th. I have run multiple half marathons prior to my training weeks.
Let’s do another one.
I want to travel to Europe next year.
Specific: Who: Shane and I. What: Travel. Where: Europe (Ireland is priority)
Measurable: Did we go or not? Did we plan it or not?
Achievable: We will save up $200 each month this year and book our flights when they are the cheapest. We will also book our accommodations during different times so that it isn’t one big payment.
Relevant: Shane and I have a goal to have a big trip out of the country at least every two years.
Time-Bound: We want to travel during the summer so our goal will be completed by August 31st. .
Now we’ve turned a regular goal into a SMART goal.
We will save up $200 each month for the year prior to and leading up to our trip (15 months total to reach $3,000), we will book a flight to Europe as soon as we see one drop below $500 during summer of 2022, after our flight is booked we will continue to make accommodations for our time in Europe, we have done this before and we will complete this by August 31, 2022.
What is something you would like to work towards? It can be personal or work related. It can be anything! I have used these for school, work, traveling, fitness, etc. If you can think of any type of goal that you would like to achieve, it can be turned into a SMART goal.
Did you fail at achieving your SMART goal? Don’t get down on yourself if you don’t achieve your goal. Just Remember: Evaluation: What didn’t work? Revision: How can we make it work next time? Action: Try again.
I love using SMART goals to help me accomplish my goals. Have you used them before? What did you think? If you loved today’s post please subscribe below! Thanks for reading.
-
Amika: 3D Volume & Thickening Duo
Hi Everyone!
Today I am sharing with you my favorite shampoo and conditioner that I have been using for almost a year, Amika 3D Volume & Thickening shampoo and conditioner. I have pretty thin hair because naturally blonde hair is more fine than other shades of hair. It’s also thinner than it should be thanks to it being bleached two times in one day a few years ago. It was beginning to get noticeably thin and I almost started treatment for alopecia. (Super embarrassing for me to admit).
That’s when I started going to my hair stylist, Savannah. She was the one to inform me about Amika’s 3D line. She used it on me at the salon and I loved it! I didn’t start using it right away though, as it was pretty expensive and I already had a stockpile of my set that I was currently using.
A few months went by and I noticed that Amika was having a sale on their liter products. I already knew that I loved it so I bit the bullet and got a liter of each shampoo and conditioner. I am STILL using the original bottles. I cannot believe how long it has lasted. It was definitely an investment to get but I think all in all it costs about the same. My hair feels healthier than ever and I am constantly getting compliments on it. I love the way it smells (so does Shane lol).
So why should you make the investment?
These products contain Redensyl which promotes hair growth by stimulating regeneration in the hair follicles. It also contains Hydrolyzed Rice Protein which improves hair manageability and thickness. The ingredient Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein penetrates hair to thicken, volumize and lightly moisturize. They are also: free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, gluten, silicone. They are cruelty free, never tested on animals.
Last but not least, my favorite reason. They use 100% recyclable packaging. Their bottles are made with 90%+ post consumer recycled plastics to reduce virgin plastic production.Once you finish their products, print a free prepaid shipping label off their TerraCycle page. Attach the label to any parcel you have around and ship back your empty packaging. TerraCycle receives the packaging and holds onto it to for them. Once they collect a significant amount, it’s 100% recycled and given a new purpose. What’s its new purpose? Anything amika can think of that’s made out of plastic!
I have a link that I have attached below to get you $10 off your first purchase of $59 or more.
I am obsessed with these products and this brand. I have nothing but good to say about them. If you aren’t looking for volume, there are tons of other products that they offer that I am sure you will love. Let me know what you think, if you have tried their products before or if you are looking at trying some. Thanks for reading. Please subscribe below to get more awesome content each week, directly to your inbox.
-
Lower Back Workout
Hey Everyone!
Today, I am sharing a lower back workout with you. I like working out lower back because it offsets your ab workouts. It also helps to strengthen your muscles so you are less likely to throw your back out. I believe working out your lower back is very important.
I do three sets of the following:
Back Extensions 10 Reps
Deadlifts 10 Reps
Swimmers 10 Reps (Each Side)
Here is a video of me doing these exercises so that you can see what they are if you are unfamiliar with them! The video is sped up slightly. When you do these exercises keep your movements slow and controlled. You will see results faster if you do this. You will also lessen the chance of getting injured.
I hope you loved today’s workout! Let me know what you think in the comments below. If you want to see more workouts like this please subscribe below for weekly emails. Thank you so much for checking out today’s post.
You May Also Like
Quick HIIT Treadmill Workout
