Friday Favorites

Yay starting this up again...

Kind of like my old 'insty em' posts, but I will be sharing my favorite items and such from this week

I will have beauty products, hair, Crossfit, you name it

Enjoy your weekend XX

1. St. Tropez Gradual Tan
So to keep my lovely summer tan going, I mix a little of this tanner in with my favie body lotion and apply to my whole body.

It keeps my glow going all summer and year round

2. Tervis Tumbler
Esp in the summer, I like my drinks cold and to stay cold. I recently got this cute palm tree tervis in Panama City and I've been using it non stop for all my dranks.

3. OPI Polish
I have been digging the fun Brazilian collection by OPI and esp "Kiss Me I'm Brazilian"

which is currently on my fingers :) 

4. Lululemon Speed Short
You all know how much I love these shorts for WODs but right about now since its 100+ degrees out they are a staple in my workout wardrobe.

They are a must! So breathable I just love them so much. I still need those bruised berry ones! 

5. iT Cosmetics CC Veil Foundation
My love for iT started quite some time back, they just came out with their ever popular CC Cream in a compact and I must say I love it.

I won't divulge too much right now, { BIG review to come } but it is so amazing and looks flawless on the skin! Ahhhh can't wait to go into more detail.


Much Love
E 

Lulu Lust List

So...I had surgery two days ago and I am stuck in bed

What's a girl to do than to make another Lulu lust post?? <<< duh!

There are tons of cute new products I will be sharing with you..

Also if you are addicted to Lulu like myself check out this blog for all new products and reviews

1. To Class Jacket

This is the only color combo I like for some reason. In store and online it seemed the only appealing color. I am mainly a gray/black gal but this jacket is so cute, def a must get

  

2. Hot Spell Bra

This is the color combo I have and I freakin love it. I almost got the all black one but then I was like "Em, c'mon you need some color in your life", and this will look so cute peeking out from tanks in the summer ;) I got my normal size 6 and it fits perfectly

3.  Peace of Mind Tank
I love the back of this tank. Another great one for cute sports bras to poke out of :)

 

4. Run: Speed Shorts
You all know I love me some speed shorts. This pale pink is super cute I honestly want every color. They are my favorite to WOD in

 5. Run: Swiftly tech racerback
I have the long sleeve version and just love it. The baby stripes are so cute this is def a must for spring/summer. Since we do so much for training outside I need some more good tanks.

Any one else spot and new cute Lulu stuff or anyone have a brand you think I should check out?

Let me know, I am always on the hunt for functional clothing

XX
E

NEW Lululemon + Victoria's Secret

I am back with another shopping post, Lululemon, what else??? Do you know whose blog this is??

I have been sick lately [ gallbladder issues YAY ] and needed some retail therapy

Along with a Sprinkles cupcake run....ha

I needed a new pair of crops and previously tried on the Live Natural crops and loved the cotton and the fit. I didn't have a cotton pair and the feel and fit was amazing. So I went in and grabbed those along with the WU cotton roll down crops.

Thinking I wasn't going to like them as much, I tried them on, f'n loved them and decided to purchase.

WU Cotton Roll Down Crops

 

Subtle leg logo

I got the dark gray. It was between that or the green which I am sure will be joining this pair shortly...

With the waist folded

I like it better that way vs the high waist. I think the fabric of the crop along with the folding of the waist creates a very flattering look.

I DID back squat in these and they held up alright. Depends on the metcon, have any of you ladies worn the cotton while working out??

I also tried on the Ebb To Street pant and ughhhh horrible fit! Baggy in the crotch and loose around my legs...but they look cute on everyone else!!

 [ love the baggies ]

 

 Live Natural Bra

Died and went to heaven...

I saw this bra online and was like *eh maybe* so I tried on and literally loved it

Like lovey love loved it. NOT for the bustier ladies as it does not have support or removable cups let alone a place to put cups.

Girls with small boobies unite because this.is.everything.

 

Peeking out from my mountain tank, I loved the antidote pop for spring

Also wearing the awesome speed shorts

I wanted another pair of those buuuuuut it seems the 'colorful' ones are made of a stiffer fabric that I don't like. I will forever love my black pair

Had to throw in these cute cheekies from VS

I die for a cheeky bikini 

;)

XX

E

New Lululemon

Went shopping this past week so I decided to show you all what I got

on sale of course.....

 

 Lululemon Mountain Tank

Not on sale online, but got a great deal in store. Loose and flowy perfect for over leggings and under a jacket pre and post workout.

Don't yall hate when things are on sale in the store and not online??

AND I went to two stores and a cardigan was on sale in one and not at the other like WTH?!

Energy Bra

Again, this color combo still full price online but I got on sale. I've never had the Energy bra so I am hoping it will live up to my expectations. Have you all tried this one? Which bra is your fav?

BTW, got my boyfriend this pair of shorts below. Wasn't even out yet, he was super surprised and he's never had a pair before and these are more like crossfit mens shorts anyway. I had one of the workers try on and squat around the store just to make sure ;)

So if your man has never tried Lulu before and he crossfits, I suggest these 

 

 Assert Short

Outfit post to come with both of these. Check my instagram for more pics, I update at least once a day!!


 

xx

E

Flexibility...

Is super important when it comes to life...and of course Crossfit. I, like so many others, tend to not stretch or foam roll enough which can lead to stress on the muscles and even injuries. I want to try to incorporate more yoga and stretching into my daily routine.

So, tonight I am trying this little workout called Barre at a Pure Barre studio. My sister has been doing it so I thought I'd give it a whirl! Have any of you tried it?? I can't wait....

A little about barre....
It is a ballet type workout. It helps dancer and well, anyone with flexibility, stability and balance. Which you all know is the foundation of a good lift { along with technique!! }

xx
e

Lulu Lust List

Ever since starting Crossfit, and actually even before that, I have been obsessed with Lululemon. If you have never tried on or worn their workout clothes I suggest you try them!!! Their fabrics are soft, form fitting, perfect for an athletes body. Plus they are super cute and oh so cozy.

I am going to start doing Lululemon lust lists every couple weeks to showcase their new arrivals and new products. I mean, am I the only one who wants to look cute while sweating up a storm??

Not only is their clothing adorable, but also very functional in workouts. I have found most of their products to be made to withstand a lot and last a very long time. The quality is definitely there. And when I workout, I need to know my shorts/pants wont ride up or my shirt to fall down.

 

1. Post Practice Cardi

I would literally wear this anywhere!! And how adorable is this color? Perfect for spring

 

2.  Run Swiftly LS Stripe

I have this in gray and I LOVE it. The stripe version is so cute I definitely want to get my hands on it!

 

 3. Run: Speed Short

These are my new obsession. I recently got them in black and they are easily the most comfortable shorts ever. Like ever, ever. They are perfect for WOD's and everything in between. I can easily squat and run in them. And I am a hard one to please...

I look forward to more Lulu posts :)

XX
E

New Addiction<<---- Crossfit

Happy 2014 y'all! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I am ready to kick 2013 to the curb and start fresh this year. I re read all my 2013 resolutions from this post, and I pretty much followed all of them!

But these past few months I have found a new love, and that is Crossfit.
 "That cult fitness thing" as I used to call it. Yes, the very same one.
 Like obsession is an understatement. My boyfriend owns a Crossfit gym, he initially got me into it, and I can't seem to get enough!!!!!! Have any of you changed your training methods?? Have you ever tried Crossfit?? I plan on competing in February for the first time and I am nervous/excited. How are y'all staying active this year?

Lululemon Top X new jump rope

Lululemon Pants X custom Nike's [ war eagle! ]

 

 Lululemon tank

 

Hurt Locker Shirt

Can't wait to share more with you all soon,

XX

e

Motivational Monday: New Nike Flyknit Lunars

Happy Motivational Monday! Today I am so excited about introducing you { if you haven't seen these babes already } to the new Nike Flyknit Lunar 1 sneaks!!! They are so beautiful! There are 4 different color schemes and obvi my favorite is the pink, but they have neutrals as well if you're not into the neons. I am a Nike girl through and through when it comes to running shoes. I have tried a lot and always come back to them: preferably these. If you're in the market for new workout/running shoes, def check out these new Nikes!

Some info from the website:
"Designed for runners with a neutral gait, the Nike Flyknit Lunar 1+ is an ultra-lightweight running shoe that delivers a dynamic fit with an excellent blend of cushioning and support. A one-piece upper with knit construction is made of polyester yarns that seamlessly integrate areas of high breathability, stretch, and support where you need it most. Flywire technology is ultra-lightweight, customizable through the laces, and wraps the foot for a dynamic fit. Low-profile knit tongue adds ventilation and comfort. Fitsole sockliner conforms to the shape of your foot, providing comfort and underfoot support. Pull-tab on the heel allows for easy on and off. Reflective elements remain visible in low-light conditions. Lunarlon cushioning system features a soft, yet resilient foam core that works with a supportive, bottomless foam carrier to provide support and plush, responsive cushioning. The firmer carrier foam core offers lightweight, springy response. Duralon blown rubber forefoot lugs deliver cushioning and helps encourage a more efficient, natural range of motion through toe-off. Flex groves add enhanced articulation flexibility, and a smooth transition. BRS 1000™ carbon rubber along the heel contact zone gives maximum abrasion resistance and long-wearing durability. Wt. 6.6 oz."

xx
e

InstyEm

[ post workout ]

Under Armour cold gear tights X Pink hoodie (similar)

Motivational Monday: New Beachbody Workouts

Happy MM everyone! This weeks will be a bit different [ as you can see already ]. I am thrilled to share with you my thoughts on some new Beachbody dvd's. Enjoy!

 So, how exciting that Beachbody contacted me to share my thoughts on some of their new videos?! There's 3 in particular I will be doing this blog post on. I believe some of them have yet to come out so this will be a sneak peek into them. You all know how much I love workout videos, I meeeaaan you don't have to leave your living room to do them and that's totally my style. ha. I have personally used the original Power 90 and the P90x, let me tell you those are insane workouts that will transform your body. My mom used the original Power 90 in her 40's and she was in the best shape of her life. So here are the 3 very different exercises I will be chatting with you about:

1. Insanity: The Asylum Vol. 2
The original Asylum was about speed, strength, power, and agility. There are 7 new all-star workouts in Asylum 2. Most of these workouts are less than an hour each so I am guessing its a lot of high intensity.  You also get tons of new tools to help with your transformation! You'll receive calendars, 24/7 online access, a playbook and more. Shaun T has an amazing body and I have a feeling if you want to get shredded and ripped in 90 days; this workout is for you! Click link above to read more/purchase.

2. Les Mills Combat Workout
Now this one is an MMA (mixed martial arts) workout. This is something I would probably get because I love mixing it up with my body. I take kickboxing classes and it really shocks my body when I mix up workouts. I can tell when it starts getting used to certain workouts because I don't feel the burn  anymore. This particular workout takes moves from 6 different martial arts disciplines. You can burn up to 1,000 calories per hour! You can choose from a few different warrior kits depending on what you want. There are some great success stories too. If you're interested in this kind of workout, click the link above!

3. Brazil Butt Lift Master Series
Leandro Carvalho created this series. Now this one looks like fun! Everyone wants a perkier, rounder butt right?? I know I do! Leandro is from Brazil [[ arguably the best bootys on the planet ]] and he implements some native techniques along with his background in dance to sculpt your booty. Supermodels seek him out to train them so I meeaan he must be good. You again, can choose from different kits depending on what you want.

So, each of these kits is totally different and thats what I love about Beachbody: variety! Haven't you ever heard that old saying "variety is the spice of life"? Well when it comes to workouts, variety is how results happen. And my friends, Beachbody has shown that they deliver proven results! So if you are interested in amping up your workouts, try one of these videos! And if you have already tried any of these or any other Beachbody products, I would love to hear your thoughts!

xx
e

InstyEm

{{ Who says adults can't wear kids clothes?? }}

Kidding, well just a little. These are kids Under Armour compression pants, buuuut why not buy kids if you can?? Know what I mean, they are a lot cheaper hehe

xx
e

5k Update & Supplements

Y'all might laugh, but one of my friends got the date wrong on that 5k I am supposed to do this Saturday!! It was actually this past Saturday haha, but there are going to be more later this month in Atlanta so it looks like I will have more time than I thought to prepare [[ I'm not complaining!!! ]]
So theres the story on that....
Now some talk about supplements. I don't think they are for everyone but if you've tried supplements for boosting your workouts I think you will appreciate this. So I had read about this supplement called Thermo-Success and it is supposed to "Promote body fat reduction, appetite control support, amplified metab., energy boost, and mood boost".
How it works...
Unfortunately, there will never be a magic pill that allows you to never work out and eat junk food all day long while still staying thin. But there are things you can take, combined with healthy eating and daily exercise, that will aid your body in its effort to rid itself of fat.  Thermo-Success is a powerful thermogenic diet pill that is designed for both people who are looking to loose a lot of weight, and for those who are simply looking to get cut.  What is a thermogenic? A thermogenic is a dietary supplement, designed for weight-loss and cutting fat, that works by raising your bodies metabolic rate so that you burn more calories from fat.

Why Thermo-Success is better...
Thermo-Success, like all products by Supplemental Success, is made with premium ingredients – combined to be an all encompassing weight loss supplement.  Thermo-Success is made with herbal supplements, which not only help rid your body of fat, but also help promote a healthy natural body in almost every area of concern. Thermo-Success does not just focus on one element of weight loss, but targets ALL areas of weight loss.

Overall, I have found it to complement my 5k training by giving a great energy boost in the a.m. and also for when I do my yoga/toning exercises. I am very picky about supplements and what I put into my body and I truly love this supplement! Guess What?!?! Lucky for you all I have a 15% coupon code for all my readers from the wonderful people at Supplemental Success!! Use the code "naturallyem" for 15% off your Thermo-Success purchase! I know you all will love this supplement at much as me. They also have 2 other ones called Cerebral Success (for a brain booster) and Testosterone Success. I hope you all try it out and let me know how it works for you pre-workout!

I will have some natural body product reviews this week so get excited haha!
Now back to the grind!

xx
e

Pulled Muscles...

Are NO fun!!
I have been in so much pain the last couple days. I pulled a muscle in my chest like right behind one of my boobs. I can't laugh, turn to my right, or exhale too fast. It is quite lame and has definitely changed my workouts since I can't do upper body for a while. I've never had a pulled muscle in my chest before so this sucks pretty bad. Haha, enough of my rant right?

Sorry! I had to vent it is annoying the crap out of me!!!!

On to something more exciting, I want to show you all some things on my Christmas list cause I think its fun to see what people want and so on. These are going to be all fitness items and I'll do different categories as the weeks come leading up to Christmas. Clearly this wasn't a planned blog post today << can't you tell? >> haha but we are going to make the best of it! So without boring y'all anymore, I am going to show you some things on my xmas wish list this year!

1. New Sneaks
This is embarrassing but right now I don't own a pair! Yikes! So I have been researching which ones I want {{because I am so picky}} and I have come up with these Nikes in the shade pictured below. Ob-sessed with the neon yellow color haha. I've always been a Nike gal when it comes to sneaks and these are just too pretty. Us girls like to be pretty even when we sweat ;)

2. New Water Bottle

If you don't know by now, I am kinda obsessed with putting fresh organic lemon juice in me water. So when I found this bottle, it was love at first sight!!! I mean isn't it amazing?? It keeps the nasties from getting into your water and keeps the rind for about a day or so, something like that. Either way it makes squeezing fresh citrus juice into your water a breeze!

3. FlipBelt Fitness Storage Belt

OpenSky is easily one of my favorite websites so I was ecstatic when I found this fitness belt on there! You can store your phone, money, credit cards, etc. in it all while working out. It is a cool idea, especially if I plan on joining a gym sometime soon. I love that neon yellow color she's wearing [[ see a theme??? ]] 

4. Food Steamer

Not really fitness accessories, but still in with the healthy lifestyle items. I've been wanting a food steamer for quite some time now and this one is pretty badass looking. Its got all different tiers to cook all your food at once! Neato! Plus those steamer baskets you can get for your stove just get nasty and go bad too quick.

Well, there y'all have it! Part of my Christmas List! Are any of you asking for fitness/health items too?!

xx

e

Fitness Friday: My Fave At Home Workouts

I am going to start this new little thing called Fitness Fridays woop! Get excited!
I wanted to do a lot more fitness posts on here because I've recently gotten back into working out just about everyday [5-7 days/wk] and it kind of comes back to keeping your body healthy as well as your skin believe it or not! I am one of those firm believers that 'you get out what you put in'. If you put the time and effort into taking care of yourself, eating right, exercising, you get phenomenal results. So I wanted to share with you all some of my favorite at home workouts since I mainly workout at home and have yet to get a gym membership <<Christmas List!!!>>

You need very few things to do a decent at home workout. I like to use my own body's weight to firm my arms so there are different exercises I have found that help with sculpting different parts of the arm just by using your own weight. Exciting stuff

What You'll Need:

1. Yoga Mat
I use a pretty generic pink Nike one but any mat will do! If you use it a lot I suggest investing in a heavier duty one [on the Christmas List again!]

2. Water Bottle
This may seem silly, but I always keep a cutesy pink water bottle next to me with fresh squeezed organic lemon juice in it. Haha

3. Yourself ;)
The most important of them all! And a good attitude hehe

So here are some of my favorite workout vids I use on a daily basis. Each one is a little different, but its good to keep it mixed up.

Mandy Ingber's Yogalosophy

I love, love, love these workouts. Her shorter workout is about 33 mins long and it is the perfect amount of toning and yoga if you're in a rush. I mean, can't everyone spend at least 30 mins a day bettering themselves?!?! I think so. She also has an hr long workout on there. I find yoga so grounding and relaxing. It puts me in a better mood for the day ahead and clears my mind of negative thoughts. There are soooooo many benefits from yoga! I love it!

 I mean if its good enough for Jennifer Anniston....

Ballet Beautiful Total Body Workout

This is my newest dvd and I love it! I mean she trained Natalie Portman for Black Swan so of course I had to try it. I wasn't sure about the whole 'ballet' thing because I've never done any kind of dancing in my life ha. But I was surprised at the amount of floor work and toning exercises. Theres even a section where you can pick and choose for a custom workout and just do what you want. I do this practically every day and I am still challenged by it. She has a new one out called Body Blast which I plan on trying soon.

So as you can see I am more of a low impact, yoga/pilates gal. I do run...occasionally. I like ellipticals and all that jazz. But I still think that you can get a good workout in at home. Just use what you got! As long as you are doing something that is a lot better than nothing!!

Do any of you have any other video recs??

xx

e

InstyEm

[ [ Pants x Mat x Waterbottle ] ]

Post on this tomorrow :)

xx

e