Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Cute baby shower ideas!

I had an amazing weekend at my cousin's baby shower, she is having a baby girl and she will be named "Samantha". I was in charge of the decorations (centerpieces and  favors) which is perfect for me because I love arts & crafts!  It was an outdoor baby shower so I had to think of the elements which included bugs, dirt and sun!


I originally wanted to do a pastry table with cupcakes, candy and chocolate covered pretzels in pretty jars however I am glad I did not do that because was 85 degrees Saturday and all of it would have melted it .
So I had to think of practical decorations and I had seen this idea of a diaper cake and wanted to try it out!
I saw some good tutorials on youtube including this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0v_Yzt9-E8

I bought the ribbon and rubber ducky at Walmart and bought the little trinkets as well as the butterflys at the dollar tree. The best part is it doubled as a gift! WIN.

Total cost: $25





Monday, March 18, 2013

My favorite flea market finds!

I am a big fan of flea markets. I love shopping at vintage booths and finding hidden treasures. A lot of what is sold there is second hand or closeout items. What that means to the average consumer is BIG savings and unique merchandise.

I got this pair of earrings for $1.00!
I love the gold and emerald and the best part is they have yet to tarnish. 
                                 I  bought these at the Big Top Flea Market in Providence, RI
                                 


Love this necklace from the Big Flea in Cumberland, RI.
It is a handmade piece from India.
The petals act as links to expand the grid like design


Cheap sunglasses!
I got a pair identical to these Ray Bans (minus the logo) for only $5.00.


Essential Oils.
In my yoga class the instructor likes to spray some Jasmine during our relaxation time.
Perfect for some aromatherapy and to relieve some stress.




Found some oils at the Raynham flea market in Massachusetts, $3.75.
 Picture by: http://anacortescenterforhappiness.org

How I manage to eat healthy and still maintain my sanity!


         Every pageant girl knows that fitness and strength training is only half the story, the other is the dreaded  "Pageant diet". I've been on my healthy meal plan for about 8 weeks now. I feel better, I'm more energized and I've lost 10 lbs on this diet alone so far. Eating the right foods can help your body gain muscle mass and muscle helps burn more fat, so it is a win- win situation. Being confident on stage is very important especially when you're strutting in 5" heels and tiny bathing suit. So I'll share with you my diet tips:

Getting in the mental game:
First you need to be ready to handle such a drastic change, the biggest thing is what motivates you.
I made collage of my favorite contestants in their swimsuits on Pinterest and use this as inspiration.
Track your progress by taking a picture of yourself once a month. My biggest joy is fitting into old jeans.
I like to read inspirational websites like thedailylove.com to keep a positive mindset.

Weeks 1-4 lessons:  Eat often but choose smaller healthier portions.

-Get your measuring tools:  I bought a measuring cup spoon set, a scale to weight your protein and glassware (with measurements marked on the bottoms these are perfect for packing your lunch for work)

- I had a difficult time adjusting to eating every 2.5- 3 hours and cooking all my meals.  My first step was to visit my local grocery store and armed with my shopping list, I bought food for the next two weeks. Since I am only preparing foods for myself I always had plenty of leftovers. If you are cooking for others the added benefit is that your family will be healthy too!

-The biggest changes for me were swapping white breads/pastas for wheat, (which keeps you full for longer), switching to FAT FREE everything (including dressings, whole milk for fat free milk, fat free cream cheese and fat free yogurts). I also cut out olive oil / butter and switched to a cooking spray. Lastly, I don't use salt because it makes your body retain water and that makes you look bloated. I also only drink water because who needs to drink all their calories anyways?


Weeks 4-8 lessons: Getting my food planned out ahead of time is my secret to sticking to the plan. 

-I always bring a snack with me if I'm traveling so I am not tempted to have food from a vending machine! I usually take an apple, banana or orange with me.

-I buy in bulk and freeze my food. For example, English muffins come in a pack of 6, I leave 2 out for the week and freeze the rest for next week. I start preparing my meals at the beginning of the week.

-I cook my lunch/dinner in batches and refrigerate it for the next day. I also spend one day baking or grilling my chicken for the week which I then freeze until I need it.  I also chop all my broccoli for the week ahead of time ( I eat that 4x a week).

-When I eat out I request my vegetables to be made with no butter and I never eat the free bread brought to a table. I usually go with a salad or a buffalo chicken wheat wrap. If the portions are big I save my leftovers for next day's lunch.

A typical Monday/ Tuesday:

Breakfast:
1/2 cup of oatmeal which is low on the Glycemic index it's important to use old fashioned oats, instant oatmeal has added sugars, salt and preservatives.
Add a handful of fruits of your choice.

 Lunch includes fish and veggies:


Stir fry your fish using a cooking spray, add the broccoli at the end, put a lid on it and let it steam for 5 mins.

4 oz of shrimp or fish of your choice
1 cup of broccoli 
1 cup of green beans 
4 tbsp of low sodium soy sauce
217 calories total 

Dinner: Salad with 4 oz chicken or 4 slices of lunch meat (you can also do 4 egg whites and 1 whole egg).
I add some balsamic vinegar, tomatoes and shredded carrots.

Special thanks to Scott's Fitness for helping me put together my meal plans.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

DIY Graduation cap


Stand out in the crowd with your very own bedazzled cap.
This graduation cap project is really easy and fast. 



Materials:
1         Graduation cap
1         Silver Sharpie
1         Pack of stickers, rhinestones or sequins. 


Instructions:
1. Start with letters. I drew a basic letter then I thickened the letters as I saw fit. (You can use a stencil if you want a more professional look.)
2. Place the stickers around the words, I placed them in a random pattern. I bought them at the Dollar Tree. (If you can't find ones with an adhesive back, use a glue gun or super glue.)
3. Add the year you're graduating in.
4. Be Creative, I layered two colors to make a semi 3-D heart and a trail leading to it.
5. Make a statement, whether it's a catchy phrase or a reference to your major you can be creative.

Total cost: $3.00



Monday, April 23, 2012

Inspirational Salads for Summer!

Summer is almost here and many people are trying to get into bathing suit shape.
Here are some healthy meal inspirations to help you get to your goal weight!


 A berry berry healthy salad!



Add a balsamic vinaigrette to this fruit salad for a perfect combo of sweet and tangy.



Get your protein add an egg and sunflower seeds to this pineapple apricot salad.