Roxy

Today we lost the sweetest girl in the world...

RIP Roxy, you will be missed every day sweet baby.

21 Day Fix: Week 3

I'm well past week three of the 21 day fix and am starting it all over again today because I loved my results so much! 

I also didn't take a ton of pictures this week so you are getting some personal pictures as well.

First off, my boyfriend Tim and his softball team came in first for the third year in a row in their league! So proud of him! :)

Here's a sweaty selfie halfway through the week. I found that as I did the workouts I was much stronger in the third week. I'm very proud of my progress during this journey and have some skills about healthy living that I didn't have before!

Friday was my (and my co-workers) last day in our office. Cheryl left for good, quitting the company entirely and I have moved on to a different job within the company. The treats were tempting but I can tell you honestly that I didn't have one bite of any dessert! Before I would've definitely eaten something, but now I can hold out for other foods that I prefer to these sugary treats. I would much rather save my cheat for a bowl of pasta!

This is one of the cats that lives at Tim's house, Blue.  I just thought I would include this picture because she's super sassy and cute and soaks up every bit of love I give her. It must be hard to live with all boys!

Finally, on day 20 I had my first coffee- a small chocolate chai as I met with my Beachbody coach. I loved my journey as a participant to much that I have decided to become a Beachbody coach myself!

http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/MELISSAPEARCE57

I would love for you to check out my website because I want to share this journey with as many people as possible! Let me know if there's anything you have questions about!

Fun Fall Finds

Hey everyone!

Today I thought I would share a couple of fun things I picked up over the last few weeks. 

I went to Bath and Body Works on a recent shopping trip with my friend Brittni and couldn't resist picking up a few goodies. I am obsessed with the Leaves Candle and had to pick up a couple again this year. I love the new packaging with the beautiful top to the candle and how simple the label is.
I picked up a body lotion and shower gel in guava pineapple splash because there were 50% off! I also picked up Bright Autumn Day and Crisp Morning Air hand lotions because they are perfect size for my purse and these scents smell great for fall!

At Kohls I purchased a bracelet and three pairs of earrings from the Lauren Conrad collection. I love her items and I think they are great quality and cute for every day wear!

Have you bought anything this season that you are loving?

21 Day Fix Week 2

Happy Saturday everyone!

I'm popping in today to share with you week 2 of my 21 day fix. I'm actually just about to finish up the third and final week but have yet to share what I thought of week 2 so it's time to do that now!

My number one tip for those of you doing the 21 Day Fix is to drink ALL of the water they recommend! I honestly have been so full because I make sure I get my nine cups in each and every day. 

I'm also getting better about planning out my lunches because of this routine. I make sure I bring a salad, lots of vegetables and fruits to work with me so I won't be tempted while I'm working to eat the other treats that so often find their way into our office. I also bring cashews as a snack and while I was completely distraught to find out that they consider 8 cashews a serving, I have to say that it satisfies me as a morning snack almost every day!

My shakeology has become my favorite meal of the day. Score for it also being the healthiest meal of the day. I mix chocolate shakeology with fat free milk and ice in a blender and have a delicious chocolate shake. I usually try to make this in the morning, but if I have a particularly early day at work I will have it for dinner after my workout as well.

The best part about these workouts is I set up a beach towel, use my weights and put on my sneakers and that's all I need! I don't have to spend the $48 a month I was spending at the YMCA each month. I get my workout in right at home and don't spend the extra time and money I would have put in driving back and forth from the gym either!

                

                                                

Each day I check in with my challenge group and it has been so motivational. Although my sweaty selfies aren't the most attractive pictures I have of myself- they are real. You need to work hard and get sweaty to see results and I feel confident in posting these pictures because I know that I am working harder then I would be sitting on the couch!

I rewarded myself with a new water bottle from Kohls :) My next reward I think will be new weights- the 5lbs are just not cutting it anymore ;)

I have also signed up to be a Beachboy Coach and while I'm still starting the process I would love to hear if you have any questions or are interested in programs at all. It has truly changed my life- I am already down 7lbs, and have lost an inch and a half off my waist!

Have a great weekend everybody!

Summer Empties

It has been a super busy summer and quite honestly I've been very low maintenance on the products I've been using. I went through way fewer products then I usually use in a season, but I also have quite a few products that are almost done so they will definitely be appearing in my fall empties!

Not a Perfume sample- I was not a big fan of this perfume. It's honestly not quite an empty because I didn't actually finish the sample. It was just not something that I enjoyed wearing, in fact it made me miserable. I refuse to finish a product just for the sake of finishing it if I hate it, so this one is getting tossed.

Cake Batter Chapstick- I finished a few of these chapsticks and I love them. They are my new favorite chapstick flavor and I am only able to find them at Target. I will need to take a trip up there to get another pack of them!

Hair and Body Gel- I used this hotel shower gel and it wasn't anything exciting. It didn't have any scent and was just a basic shower gel.

Bath and Body Works Papaya Sunrise Candle- I absolutely loved this amazing scent. I would 100% repurchase this candle in the future. The scent was incredible and just made me happy with its summer-y scent!

Crest Pro Health Mouthwash- This is still my favorite mouthwash. I really think it's a great one because the taste doesn't make you mouth hurt like so many others do but it seems very effective! I didn't have any cavities at my last checkup a couple of weeks ago if that makes it sound any more appealing =)

Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara- This was a nice mascara that I kept in my purse and used on the go. I don't tend to use the mascara in my purse all that often because I don't leave the house without mascara on, but I did enjoy this one. It wasn't clumpy and stayed on quite nicely!

Red Jacket Lotion-  This hotel lotion was from last summer and it smelled like baby powder almost. I really enjoyed this lotion and kept it at work until I finished it. If I knew where it came from I would definitely repurchase it.

Moroccan Oil Sample- My hairdresser gave this to me and I am so thankful because this hair oil is incredible! I need to find this and purchase it ASAP because it was amazing. My hair has never felt as smooth and amazing as it did when I used this!

Katherine Eyeliner in brown- I loved this eyeliner that came in one of my Birchboxes. I used every last bit of this eyeliner and would love to repurchase it in the future. It went on smoothly and stayed on all day.

Maybelline Eyeliner in black- This was another eyeliner that will remain as a staple in my makeup collection. I love how smooth this eyeliner goes on, and the black is an amazing color on my eyes. I was bummed when this one finished!

Sumita Eyeliner- This was another Birchbox eyeliner and I was so annoyed because it broke! I was enjoying it until it broke and I could no longer use it. So annoying!

Olay Shower Gel in Strawberry & Mint- I really liked this shower gel, but it was one that I would use again but would never pay to have. I liked the strawberry scent but I would only get it if I couponed for it or got another free sample.

EOS Mint Lip Balm- I did at one time love this lip balm but I've found that any mint flavored balm is too addicting for me. I will not be repurchasing this in the future and I am done with this kind of lip balm!

Herbal Essence Moroccan My Shine Shampoo and Conditioner- This was a great set and worked really well with my hair. I usually don't use any Herbal Essence other then my favorite blue one, but I would definitely use this set again in the future because I was very impressed by it.

Original Chapstick- I finished a few original chapsticks and while it's not my favorite flavor, I would definitely use this again in the future because it works.

Vaseline Lip Therapy- This is a great lip balm for super dry lips but it just got too old because I wasn't using it every day. Plus I'm not a huge fan of sticking my finger in the container and applying stuff to my lips. I would much rather have a stick to apply.

2 Dove Deodorants in Cucumber- I kept these mini deodorants in my purse in order to keep smelling good while out and about. This came in handy on super sweaty days and I will continue to keep little deodorants in my purse. I'm not a huge fan of using deodorants with aluminum in them but its hard to find minis of ones that don't!

BBW Dancing Waters Soap- I really liked this soap, it was light and fresh which is exactly what I want from a hand soap. I don't like when soaps are super scented or floral. I prefer a nice light scent!

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner- This eyeliner kept breaking on me! I was not a fan, also I hated the light brown color. It just didn't look great on my eyes and it kept breaking so it was difficult to get on my eyes anyways.

Macademia Deep Repair Mask- I love love love this product. I think there has been one of these in every single empties post! I use this at least once a week and it keeps my hair super smooth and soft. I will continue to repurchase this product.

Organic Coconut Oil- This product is amazing! I use coconut oil before I wash my hair to protect it, to shave and to moisturize my skin. I have already repurchased a new one and I love how many ways you can use this product.

CVS Nail Polish Remover- Nothing amazing, it did the job and I will continue to repurchase it because it takes my polish off and is super cheap!

Febreeze Set and Refresh- I am not a huge fan of this scent thrower. I keep these around my room and the scent is great, but when I pick it up and get super close to it, the smell is terrible! I got it for free so I will finish up what I have and then I'm done with these!

Biotrue Contact Solution- Only contact solution I'm using lately. I have already repurchased it because I enjoy how gentle it is on my eyes.

BBW Champagne Love and Iced Plum Shower Gel-  This was a random purchase from Bath and Body Works and I actually really enjoyed it! The scent was nice and I love shower gels. I would buy this again in the future but there are definitely other scents I would prefer to this one from Bath and Body Works.

Olay Sensitive Shower Gel- This shower gel was unscented and not great. The shower gel itself worked fine but it didn't smell like anything which is a bummer because I like awesome scents when I shower. I got this as a free sample so I don't feel the need to repurchase.

Urban Decay Anti Aging Primer Sample- Received this in my last Sephora haul. I love the primer but I don't think the anti aging was anything special. I will stay with the original primer potion.

BBW Sweet Maui Mango Candle- I loved the scent of this candle. The throw was incredible and reminded me so much of summer. I would purchase this again next summer.

Supreme Icing on the Cake Shave Cream- I liked this shave cream when I started but I've found using coconut oil to shave works a million times better! I will continue to use shave cream instead of this and won't be repurchasing this shave cream.

Pantene Native Fusion Shampoo and Conditioner- I liked this set and it worked well with my hair. I would definitely repurchase this in the future- it is a great drugstore shampoo and conditioner!

Proterra Honey and Vanilla Shampoo- This is just a crappy hotel shampoo- never again! It was awful and made my hair feel so dry!

Earth Tempo Shampoo- Another awful hotel shampoo...

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo- What a great sample! I would use this again in the future, it worked great on my hair!

Aruba Aloe Foot Cream- I can't say enough good things about this foot cream- it is incredible. I used every little bit of this Birchbox sample. I would buy this in full size, its the best foot cream I've ever tried!

That's what I finished up this summer, what products did you use?

Sephora Haul!

I recently placed an order on Sephora.com and thought I would share the fun goodies I picked up with you guys!

I was so excited when my order came in, I love getting packages in the mail. I'm such a product junkie too that I get extra excited when product packages come in!

The first item is one I paid for and it's the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. I have used this primer in the past and it's great to keep your eyeshadow on all day without causing creasing lines. I knew I needed to order a new one to keep my eyeshadow looking great all day long. I have been using it every day since it arrived so it's very well loved =)

This Sephora Mascara in Ultra Black was a free sample. I chose this as my deluxe sample because you can never go wrong picking up a new mascara. Mascara is something I wear every day without fail and I never mind trying out new ones. I haven't opened it yet since I don't like to have multiple mascaras open at the same time, but I will try it in the near future.

A 100 point perk I picked up was the Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick. This is a gorgeous lipstick and a great deluxe sample. I actually like the color because it's a nice in between of pink and red and looks pretty natural on the lips. I wore it last weekend and enjoyed how creamy it was and how it felt on my lips. I thought it worked well with my complexion too.

Another 100 point perk I chose was the Urban Decay 7 Days of Eyeshadow. This included samples of seven eyeshadows as well as a sample of the anti-aging eyeshadow primer. I am excited to get the opportunity to try different eyeshadows although I'm disappointed the sample sizes aren't bigger.

I picked a Giorgio Armani perfume in the scent Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme. I haven't tried it yet, but I will put it with my other sample perfumes for a time when I travel!

Another freebie perfume I picked up was D&G 3 L'Imperatrice. Another one I haven't tried yet!

The last freebie I received is actually a mens cologne that I will be sharing with either Tim or my brother. It is Ralph Lauren Polo Blue.

The last item is one I am the most excited about. This beauty is a highlighter by Jaclyn Hill and Becca Cosmetics in the color champagne pop. It is a gorgeous highlight color and I have been wearing it almost every day since it arrived, it's gorgeous!

Have you placed any Sephora orders lately? Not going to lie...I placed another order last night...I have a problem!

21 Day Fix Week 1

My first week on the 21 Day Fix has officially ended! I thought I would share this journey with you since I figured it would be very difficult for me. I grew up being able to eat pretty much whatever I wanted. I never gained a pound. Throughout high school people would comment that I was "too skinny" but quite honestly I ate like a pig. I could out-eat most of the guys I knew and still would be a twig. I thought I was lucky, I thought that I had great genes!

During college I continued to not gain weight. Cookies, cake, pasta, pizza- I downed it all. I ate like crap and danced constantly with the dance company I was a part of and never gained a pound. Once I graduated and worked at the dance studio full time I gained a tiny bit of weight. I started filling out which I considered a good thing. Then last year when I started my office job I noticed a major change in my body. I started gaining weight, particularly in my stomach! I finally decided to do something about it and was considering asking one of the girls I knew who coach for Beachbody when someone I knew from high school, Marcy contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in joining her next challenge group!

My game plan was to use the 21 Day Fix portion containers to eat portion controlled meals and snacks throughout the process, complete Autumn Calbrese's 21 day fix workout program, and drink Shakeology daily.

So last Monday I began...

The first thing I did was go grocery shopping. Fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and ice were on the menu! I didn't want to buy too much because I am only one person and I know things will go bad if I leave them too long so it's easier for me to shop once a week for fresh items.

My lunch and snacks all packed for the day! I was a little nervous when I saw I could only have EIGHT cashews. Who knew that was a serving size?!

Shakeology for breakfast! When I first tried Shakeology I could barely choke it down. Over the week I figured out that I could add fat free milk with the powder and ice and make it taste like a chocolate milkshake. It's gone from something I dreaded to my favorite meal of the day!

I found this quote and thought this is so true. I am trying to commit to myself. I need to make my body and myself a priority every single day!

Now for the scary part...The before pictures...

As scary as it is for me to post these pictures on the internet I want to remember why I was so unhappy with my body eating carbs all the time. My stomach has so much extra fat on it that I look pregnant! I know I need to get this under control before it gets worse.

My first sweaty selfie after my total body cardio fix. I struggled through this first workout and was pretty miserable with the lack of food I ate (days 1 and 2 were very difficult for me!) but I did it!

My workout area in my bedroom :)

My mom made me these delicious treats that are 21 day fix approved (for the most part). They do have chocolate chips in them to help me with my chocolate craving, but also contains old fashioned oats, applesauce and cinnamon. They were delicious! They are worth a purple container and a yellow container for 3 cookies. I enjoyed these every day last week they were so yummy =)

On Tuesday night I cheated a little bit for my moms birthday dinner. I ate a turkey sandwich with french fries. I downed every little bit...

After two full days on the 21 day fix it tasted like the best thing I've ever eaten. Sometimes it's okay to eat a little something that's not on your meal plan- plus turkey not the worst thing in the world to eat either!

Plus we enjoyed a beautiful view while we celebrated my moms birthday!

Taking a "sweaty selfie" every day for my group has motivated me to check in and complete my workout each and every day. I don't have an excuse to not exercise or eat healthy. I need to check in every day and tell the other people in my group what I've done that day- it's kept me accountable- another great part of the 21 day fix and working with a coach.

Another part I love? The app! This app helps you keep track of what you've eaten and how much water you've had throughout the day. It has made it really easy for me to see what I can eat and how many portions I have left for the day.

Here's an example of a dinner plate with one serving of protein and two servings of vegetables. It's a pretty full plate. This plan isn't about starving yourself, it's about feeding yourself the healthy foods.

Another sweaty selfie.

Here's another meal that I got while out to eat and had leftovers for lunch. It is a southwest salad from a local restaurant called Billy Hills. It was a nice twist on getting my vegetables in as well as some chicken for protein, shredded cheese and corn.

A quick breakfast idea. Each slice of bread counts as one yellow container (although pumpernickel bread wasn't on the list I'm including it because it is definitely healthy for you!). Two teaspoons of peanut butter are allowed and I tend to add a little bit more because it's delicious. It also helps to fill me up a little bit.

Some more sweaty selfies.

On Saturday I had a sad occasion to attend but I was already starting to fill more confident in my body! After one week I have already lost 1 inch off my waist and 2 pounds!

Have you tried the 21 day fix?