Ladylike

I think it is high time I slapped some makeup on this 30 year old face, wore some heels and acted like a lady! Don't get me wrong, I am very feminine, but have been feeling like I need to kick up my womaness a couple notches. I have never really worn makeup besides some Mary Kay in my early 20s (stop laughing, I'm not kidding) so I am far from being a makeup expert. Since losing weight, I feel so much better about myself and want to wear different clothes, higher heels, shorter skirts, etc. (not hoochie short skirts, just to clarify...) But, I really want to feel sexier, more like a woman my age. Sometimes I think I dress like I am still 24 and not in a career for the past 12 years. Get a grip lady, you are a WOMAN! Fix your hair, put on some mascara, wear a pair of heels and don't even think about putting that "I Heart Seth Cohen" shirt on! I can do this, I can do this...

So, makeup experimenting and heels it is! 'Tis the season, right?? This should be fun and interesting and maybe just an experiment that I don't like so much, but I am going at it full force and ready to embrace all that is ME! Look out world, this mascara wearing lady is coming for you!

Tuesday Randoms

1. I love my mom. She rules.

2. I made my first sale on Ebay last week!!! What an exhilarating feeling! This is exactly what I was afraid of... I would become addicted to selling my stuff. Oh well, if I can make a little money off of my really nice clothing/shoes and accessories, why not?!

3. Buzzfeed... why are you so awesome?

4. I lost some motivation the last couple of weeks. This has been a huge blow for me as I am normally super motivated to workout and eat right and just motivated in general. But, yesterday I had an AH-HAH moment and I am BACK IN THE GAME!! So pumped to take my coaching business to the next level and really get my life in order! I love helping people and being motivated/inspired by others. I have made several goal lists and to-do lists. I am not letting a little 2 week lack of motivation get me down. LET'S DO THIS!!

5. I think I am forcing Fall? Yep. I am wearing my new Uniqlo super cute military green anorak to work today, mainly because it is adorable and I love wearing coats:) I am ready for tights and boot season people! Bring on the Fall colors and fabrics! I love summer and all (minus the humidity) but I am ready to cuddle up in my jim jams under my flannel sheets!

6. Coffee has been my lifeline this week.

7. Taylor Swift is so annoying, I mean, WHOA annoying.

Ok, bye.

I guess I am frugal now?

Yep. I am a deal hunter. Target is my weakness.

I seriously cannot stop shopping at Target. And not because I need to buy clothes or household items all the time, but because when I go to Target "just to pick up a few things" I end up cruising the clearance section of EVERY department and usually come home with a HUGE deal!!! For instance, a couple weeks ago I came home with 2 woven baskets. One was usually $20 and I got it for $5. The other was usually $12 and I got it for $3. I mean, really??? Did I need these baskets? Not necessarily, but that is not the point! Or is it... Ugh. Lately I have also been scoring, and I mean SCORING on shoes and handbags. Like $8 shoes from $25 and $5-10 handbags from $20-30. You know my weakness for  handbags, so this could be bad...  But I have bought some great $8 heals there and love them! I love scoring a god deal and VERY RARELY will I buy ANYTHING full price unless I fear it will be gone before it goes on sale.

Here is my deal with Old Navy. Do not EVER buy anything full price unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY! Seriously. Everything goes on sale a couple weeks after it hits the floor AND they always have coups! Even if you just do the survey from your previous purchase. Hey, that's 10% off! Whoop! Like them on Facebook and use the "Reveal A Deal" tab to get a coup too.

Gap... I love you, but I hate you. Sometimes overpriced, great knits, I cannot quit you. Thankfully they have the 40% clearance going often, so I usually buy then. For instance, this past weekend I bought a t-shirt and sweatshirt for $21 total. Normally that would have been $55. I would say that was a steal. Again, I refuse to buy full price from Gap. Not worth being pissed off seeing the same item a week later 40% off. I'm serious. Pissed off. Am I taking this too far? You figure it out, I'll keep going.

The Loft. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? This is a newly discovered weakness for me. Sometimes you TOTALLY hit a gold mine when you go in and the whole store is either 40% or an additional 60% off clearance. Like when I got a super cute pair of jeans (normally $60) for $25, just because that day they were $25. I can't make this nonsense up people! Get to the loft. I mean it. 

I know I sound like that crazy coupon lady who always carries around coupons. Not true. I just look for deals and buy when I know things are on sale. Also, since I have lost over 50 pounds, I refuse to spend alot of money on my wardrobe that is constantly changing in size, so deals have become my friend! Why not save a little cash? You know you want to!

My Health/Fitness Journey and Journey back to ME!

I'm back!!! But before I get back to the fun stuff, I wanted to updated you on what has had most of my attention the last year! Enjoy:) 

In June 2012 I decided I needed a change. I NEEDED to get healthy, but more importantly, I WANTED to get healthy. I had reached 220 pounds, size 18/XL and am now 50+ pounds and 40+ inches smaller and a size 10/M. With my weight gain I would just wear too tight of clothes or buy bigger ones, not really caring what size I was . I was unhappy. I was a smoker, I was extremely unhealthy. I had ended up in the hospital with a kidney infection and then 6 months later with pneumonia. The day I got pneumonia (3/7/12) I quit smoking and never looked back. In May I got a serious throat infection and knew that my health was going downhill, and fast. People had mentioned things to me about being overweight and unhealthy and I just kept saying  “I know, I will get there”. I really didn’t realize how important that moment in my life would be. The moment I REALIZED that I was extremely overweight and unhealthy and needed to do something about it. I was ready, FOR ME. My longtime friend Dennis was a beachbody coach (and now mine) and kept calling me and telling me about this “crazy Insanity workout”. I kept tell him “yeah, yeah, ok, pish posh”. Little did I know that his friendly nagging would lead me towards the most rewarding thing that has ever happened in my life. I ordered Insanity. I will never forget calling Dennis and telling him I was ready to order. I think he was shocked. But mostly, he asked, “are you SURE you are ready for this? Insanity is CRAZY!” I said, “Yes, I am SO READY. I need something drastic to kick my booty into gear, and I think this is it. I am committed.” That was it. Insanity came in the mail and I started the next Monday. 

On the Sunday before I started I took my before pictures and measurements. That was the biggest shock of my life. I had NO IDEA how out of control my weight had gotten. I had avoided full length mirrors whenever possible and just did not have a clue how far off I had gone.  I was more motivated than ever to tackle Insanity and get my life back! Once I started Insanity I felt so good about myself and what I was accomplishing and seeing the weight and inches drop and realizing what I was capable of and that I COULD DO IT. It was an emotional awakening. Who had I become? Where was the runner/volleyball player/skier/hiker/active Hannah? No anywhere to be found. I had become so unhappy with who I was and NEVER realized that. Until I knew how good I felt about what I was doing for me and my body. It changed me, it changed how I viewed myself and what I wanted my future to be. I never knew that a workout program could do that for me, that I DID that for me. 

Whoa. Shaun T kicked my booty. He kicks everyone’s booty! I was an official ADDICT about 3 weeks in. After the 2 week hump of “I don’t think I am going to make it out alive, I can’t do this” I was on fire. I never missed a workout for my first round. 6 days a week I was busting my butt, up early and sweating like a maniac. In my first round I lost 20 pounds and 20 inches. I did a second round (with a one week break in between) and lost another 20 pounds and several inches with the help of Shakeology as well. Shakeology really helped take my health and fitness to the next level and helps me daily as my healthiest meal of the day and also to maintain my weight. It really has transformed my nutrition and gives me way more energy to get through the crazy workouts, and that is awesome! This was the most rewarding, and most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. Both mentally and physically I was challenged. I had triumphs and meltdowns. Yeah, I cried. Putting your body through something so crazy (and awesome) and seeing that YOU ARE capable of doing something so difficult and amazing is awesome to experience and often that is when I had my meltdowns. Realizing that I made the choice, I put in the work and I DID IT! There was one workout where I had to do power push ups in my second month of round 1 of Insanity. The week before I could only do about 2 and horrible form. I did 10 of them in a row with great form. I had to stop my workout because I was crying so hard because I was so proud of what I had just done. Something I never thought possible. I was becoming a different person, physically and mentally and so strong!! I feel like I can conquer anything I set my mind to and now have the renewed confidence to do so. 

My motivation grew when I became a Team Beachbody Coach in September 2012. When I became a coach, my life changed even more than I thought possible. I have a family of teammates and coaches that are amazing and they inspire and motivate me daily. I would be lost without them! Helping people achieve their goals and working towards the same goals together is amazing and such an incredible experience. Going through your journey knowing that you are accountable to people and knowing that we are all in this together is so incredibly awesome and motivating. Again, without my coach family and teammates, I would be lost. We keep eachother going! So much support, so much love. It is amazing. 

After my 2 rounds of Insanity I began Les Mills Body Combat and lost about 10 pounds and a couple inches, but gained so much muscle definition and strength! Who knew all that kicking and punching would produce awesome muscles!! I then dabbled in Body Beast and continued doing Combat and Insanity. I am now in my second week of Shaun T’s Focus T25 and LOVING it! 25 minutes a day, a total sweatathon! After every program I complete I cannot wait to start a new one (or do a second round) I am addicted to fitness and staying healthy and on track. It is now so important to me and my biggest priority. I need this, FOR ME. I love working out, I truly do. I was not sure I would ever be able to say that again! Insanity will always be my soul mate workout and will always have a special place in my heart because it literally changed my life. When I meet Shaun T, I will undoubtedly start crying. 

I am continually reminded that to embark on a health/fitness (or any change/journey) YOU have to want it. No one can make you want it. You may need it, but you have to be ready and want the change, otherwise you will not succeed. I truly believe this. It takes dedication, commitment and pride. You will fall, you will cry, scream, curse, laugh, smile. It will be hard, you will have to work your booty off. You need to be proud of yourself. You need to celebrate every victory (every inch and pound). This is what keeps me going. I am so proud of where I have become and so grateful to so many people for supporting me. I made the change and I am living proof that it can be done!

Fancy Finds

I had some stellar finds over the past 2 weeks!

The first was from Groupon Goods. A pair of Betsey Johnson sunglasses for $11. Joking? No. I was beyond excited about this because a) I LOVE Betsey and b) I LOVE leopard print. So, I naturally picked the ones with a little pink leopard:)

Since I started Insanity in July and became a Team Beachbody coach, I have lost 30 pounds and about 30 inches. Therefore, most of my clothes, especially my pants, are embarrassingly big. So, I finally broke down and went to Gap Outlet in search of a cheap pair of jeans. Well, that I did find, as well as a pair of workout capris and shorts. Total for all three? $26. WHAT?!?! Yeah, you read that right! The jeans were $18, then 40% off. Wowza! BONUS? The jeans were 2 SIZES smaller than what I was wearing before Insanity!!! I nearly had a happy tears breakdown in the dressing room:)

Since I was so excited about my new size, I decided to buy myself a little something to celebrate! Vera Bradley outlet was having 40% off the entire store. Oh boy... an hour later in the store and this is what I walked out with! The Frannie, a small adorable cross-body bag that I have been wanting. Total of $14!! Whoop!!!!

I would say this was a successful shopping week:)

Fall into Fashion

It is my favorite time of year again... FALL!! It is my favorite for a few reasons: 1) Beautiful East Coast foliage, seriously amazing 2) The weather is much less daunting than the 90+ degree humid nastiness 3) I get to break out my scarves, sweaters and boots!

There is almost nothing I love more (fashion wise) than an adorable dress with a pair of tights and high cognac boots with a cardi and scarf all wrapped up into a delightful Fall treat of an outfit! Cozy and cute is key. Get a cute knee length (3/4) coat so you are still looking fashionable. I will admit, I once sported the North Face waist length jacket over an adorable outfit with my boyfriend cardi hanging out the bottom of the jacket. Not okay. Invest in a 3/4 length coat, you will thank me:) I got one last year on super sale at Target for $35! It can be done my friends!

Wrap that neck up with a neutral scarf (if you are wearing an overly colorful outfit) or an awesomely detailed or colorful scarf (if you are wearing a delightfully cute and practical neutral outfit). Remember that accessories can make or break your outfit, so rock that scarf!!

Fall is such a great transition fashion period. Enjoy it and experiment with your fashion!! 

Friday Favorites!!

Can't believe it's Friday, again! I know I really should not be surprised everytime it comes around, but I am, haha. On to my favorites!

I am on a mission for bargains. My sister, Kim, is an AMAZING thrifter. I mean, amazing. She also dominates at being crafty! She has found the most ridiculously awesome items are her local thrift stores in Alaska and now I want to thrift. So, that is what I will try.

Kim made me that scarf I am wearing above for my birthday last month. I am obsessed with tribal print right now, so of course it is an infinity tribal print scarf! Love!! I think I may be going a little overload with the tribal... is that possible? I have shoes, scarves, bags and sweaters all tribal print. This is a trend, but I do not want this trend to disappear quite yet! Stay tribal!

My best find this week was this foot stool/cushion from Target (as seen above). Originally $30, I got it on super sale and $7.50. Yowza!!! I would call that a steal! Now to just get a cute chair that matches... Here is where thrifting will come in handy...

I am headed out of town for the weekend! Enojoy !