![]() Self care comes in so many different forms. I usually take some time to go for a walk in midtown or lounge on the couch to watch Gossip Girl reruns on Netflix. Last week, I experienced an entirely different type of self care that not only relaxed my body, but it also rejuvenated my emotional and mental well being. I was invited by @womenofsac to represent @hundredsunit at @ashabathouse for an afternoon of pampering with like-minded women. As soon as you walk in this modern bathhouse, there is a sense of calm that washes over you. You can enjoy the sauna, steam room, cold tub (pictured here), and warm pool at your leisure. I highly recommend a visit if you are looking for a unique way to unwind. You are encouraged to unplug, whisper and reflect. I have to admit, I was REALLY nervous when I received this invitation. You want me to hang out in my swimsuit with strong, ambitious ladies more than a decade younger than me? Ummmm... ok 😳. However, I was immediately put at ease the moment I walked into the serene environment with warm greetings by all of the women there. It was the #RECHARGE that I needed. Shot by: @paigeaustinphoto At: @ashaurbanbaths For: @womenofsac & @hundredsunit . . PS. I hesitated posting this pic because I didn’t want to fuel the shamers, but that is EXACTLY the reason why I need to. Before you even think about making a body/mom shaming comment, I will tell you they will fall on deaf ears. It took work and acceptance, but I am confident enough in my own self that negative opinions don’t affect me. You can however tell me how cute my swimsuit is 😊
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It’s the first day of Spring and many take this time to think of new beginnings.
Three years ago, I decided to invest in myself. I had enough of being exhausted and irritable. I felt guilty for being so impatient and moody with my kids. I was completely over the fact that I couldn’t lose those last 5 pounds. I did extensive research and found that improving my gut health could lead to some improvements in my overall health. In addition to fueling my body with good food, getting plenty of sleep and staying properly hydrated, I started a regimen of microbiome enhancing vitamins and probiotics. I made sure that everything I took was made of quality ingredients with high bioavailability. It didn’t happen over night of course, but I look and feel better than I ever have. I no longer have “brain fog” and am productive with sustained energy all day long. My skin is more radiant and so smooth... something I’m quite proud of for being 41. While I did lose those stubborn 5 pounds, I’m happier knowing that my clothes fit better. I have gained a new sense of self-confidence. The most rewarding part is seeing the same thing happen for my friends and family. If you are ready for a new beginning, let’s chat! . . P.S - I have promo codes that give you prices lower than wholesale without any enrollment fee. Only 2 left! ![]() I wasn’t born and raised in Sacramento, but I have so much love for this city. For our anniversary, instead of going out of town like we usually do, Justin and I decided to celebrate in the city where we met and fell in love. We spent our time wandering around and bumping in to friends all along the way. It was absolutely perfect. These shots were from our stroll along The R Street Corridor yesterday afternoon. I’m originally from San Jose, and I moved out here over 20 years ago to attend Sac State. I figured the 2 hour drive was far enough for me to move away, but close enough to go back when I got homesick (which was often). My intention was to move back after I graduated college, where everything was familiar to me. Then... I met a boy. We all know what happens after that. Thank goodness I’m still with that boy because over the years, I have grown fond for the city of trees. I have come to appreciate the sweltering summers as well as the cold, wet winters. During the fall, I challenge you to find a more picturesque view than downtown Sacramento with its beautiful trees full of colorful leaves. As a mom of two, I love that there are family activities year round. Sacramento hosts the CA State Fair, the Farm to Fork festival, Old Sacramento, music events, and everyone wants “more cowbell” at a Sacramento Kings game. We have new developments like Downtown Commons and The Ice Blocks to explore as well as Midtown and The Handle District (my favorite place). If that wasn’t enough, Sacramento is just day trip away to the beach in one direction and the snow topped mountains in the other. But to really get to know a city, you need to know the food. Sacramento celebrates its diversity in a plethora of cuisine. There are endless options whether you want a greasy spoon diner, casual dining with friends, or the most upscale, modern dishes you can imagine. Sacramento is great for date nights too. This once “Cow Town” continues to grow and transform into a cultural and destination hub. It’s awesome when my friends from the Bay Area come to visit me for a weekend getaway. While San Jose will always hold a special place for so many reasons, Sacramento is definitely my home. ![]() Ten years ago we made a commitment to each other in front of our friends and family. What’s funny is, that commitment was made many, many years prior. I was legitimately ready to make that commitment the moment I laid eyes on you. I saw you, and I knew I had to be with you. No lie. You know it’s true. Sure, we had some “obstacles”. Those heartbreaking moments were practically unbearable. Yet, they were necessary for what we are today. And what are we today? We are awesome parents that our kids look up to and want to hang out with. We are a romantic couple that still date and play grab ass. We steal kisses in the aisles of Target. We giggle over silly parenting situations. We smile over the domestic the bliss of our household. We can still party like a couple of twenty year olds (even though we are home well before midnight). We are more in love today than when we said our vows ten years ago. Who knows where we will be in another ten years, but I’m looking forward to the journey there. You keep me safe. I’ll keep you wild. ![]() A little throwback to when the nights were a little warmer. While most of you will like this post and make super supportive positive comments, I hesitate sharing these pictures because I have been “mom shamed” before. But here is the thing... I don’t care anymore. I work really hard to stay in shape and live a healthy lifestyle. If I happen to be proud of my progress (especially after a trip to France) and want to share that pride, I will. I’ll be my my own #wcw 😊 I only hesitate because I hate the need to explain myself. I hesitate being on the defensive end of a conversation. I guess no one enjoys that. I hesitate because I know posting a picture of myself in a revealing outfit will welcome judgement. I say... Bring. It. On. Go ahead, judge and mom shame away. It doesn’t matter to me and here’s why. Parenting is freaking hard. Sometimes we have our rough moments, but the good ones make it all worth it (hopefully 😜). We are all doing our best. So before you ask me where my kids are on a Friday night (with their loving grandma), what I do all day as a stay at mom (helping people with their health goals and being my own boss), or what my kids think when I wear a short skirt (it doesn’t even register because I don’t make it an issue), just know that I make an huge effort everyday to teach my boys to be respectful of everyone, stand up for what they believe in, and be compassionate to those less fortunate. What I wear has no bearing on my ability to raise my kids. It doesn’t matter if I wear baggy sweats, a business suit, or a bodycon dress with stilettos. I do what is best for my kids. I’m a good mom. Heck, I’m a great mom. My kids are happy, well adjusted, and kind to others. No one can or has the right to tell me otherwise. Not only am I proud of them, but they are proud of me. They genuinely think I’m a cool mom and it’s their opinion that matters to me most. ![]() I wasn't always the trim, fit girl. In fact, I have spent most of my adult life tired and overweight. Growing up, I was never concerned about my weight. Sure, I was a chubby kid, but everyone told me it was a healthy look. When I set off to go to college, I didn't even think about the "Freshman 15". I should have because I gained a whole lot more than that. College was about staying up all night eating pizza and instant ramen while cramming for exams. Beer and sugary, alcoholic drinks flowed freely during nights of partying (sorry mom!). No one was there to tell me to ease off the potato chips or that four nights of Taco Bell was bad for me. I was young! I recovered quickly from no sleep, junk food and shots of tequila. That mentality carried over into my late 20's and early 30's. That's when my pant sizes really started to go up. By the time I was married and had two kids, I was 160lbs* and a size 14... a snug 14. Even with constant cups of coffee and snacking (on sugar), I was tired and hungry. I knew something had to change, or I would be miserable. With the encouragement of my husband, Justin, we joined a family oriented gym. This was the start of my journey. Because I wasn't really familiar with gym equipment or weights, I started with group fitness classes and fell in love with Zumba. I studied dance all throughout high school and college. Zumba allowed me to get back into dancing on a regular basis. Since going to the gym made me feel better about being active, I knew I had to eat better so I wouldn't negate my time working out. I was able to lose about 30lbs and drop to a size 8 on my own. I knew I had more work to do. I was still exhausted and took afternoon naps daily. Justin and I set out to make meal plans and lose weight together. He was (and continues to be) so supportive. We tried everything... meal replacement, NutriSystem, juice cleanses, low calorie and restrictive diets. It all worked, but it didn't last. We gained back all the weight we had lost because none of those diets were a lifestyle that we could have (or should have) maintained. We felt grumpy and deprived. At least I know I did. So what changed it all?!?! We started cutting sugar and carbs out of our meals. It was tough at first. VERY TOUGH. I craved ice cream and hash browns constantly. With a little discipline and spousal accountability, the pounds started to come off. This type of meal plan may not work for everyone, but it worked for us and we were able to maintain it. At the gym, I incorporated weight lifting into my workouts. This is when I started to SEE a difference. All of sudden there was a contour in the shape of my legs from building my quads and hamstrings. My arms, shoulders and back started to look more sculpted. I also started Plexus supplements, and this is when I could FEEL the difference. I was no longer dragging through my day. I was motivated and my workouts were more productive. I slept like a baby, woke up refreshed, had all day energy and was in a great mood. I was finally healthy. ![]() What is it like today? I continue to dance and lift weights. I am a Plexus ambassador and share how the supplements helped me get and stay healthy while making an income doing it. It is the best job ever. My body no longer craves sugar and instead of feeling sad or deprived when I pass on a cookie, I happily reach for a handful of almonds. Does that mean I'm a total bore and wet blanket at dinner parties? Do I stare longingly when someone eats french fries? Not at all! I still indulge in the occasional treat of course, and I enjoy watching people enjoy their lives. I'm back to having carbs, and I know how to stay healthy with it. There is a science to how I healed myself and allowed my body to lose weight, lose body fat, gain muscle and have more energy. Was it just one thing? No, it was a combination of nutrition, fitness, supplements, and discipline. Can it work for you? Absolutely. * Not to say that 160lbs is overweight for everyone. It was overweight for my height and body frame. More importantly, it was the result of an unhealthy lifestyle.
![]() I decided to go bright, bold red this time. I needed a little bit of color during the dreary winter months! It looks so much brighter in the sun (swipe!). The transformation of it is also really fun to watch. I always trust the lovely @bellabru (check her on Instagram) to take good care of me. I started doing fashion colors in my hair over a year ago with pinks and purples. Honestly, it was a little scary at first, but my husband encouraged me to “stop thinking about it and just do it”. I did, and I love it! Just last week, I ran into a friend (at Target of course😜) that I haven’t seen in awhile. She told me it’s on her bucket list to get her hair done in blue. She was hesitating because there are other priorities, and she keeps putting it off. But now, she is finally going to do it because she wants to start living a full life, and there is no time like the present. She is absolutely right! Get your unicorn hair. Take that dance class. Read a book by the fire. Wear high heels. Have wine with your friends. Date your partner. Do whatever it is that makes you feel good and happy. Life is too short to sit around wishing about all of the things you could have done with boring hair. For as long as I can remember, it always rains on my birthday. Sometimes it’s a light shower. Other times, like today, it’s a big, windy storm. Whatever it may be, it never stops me from celebrating!
I had such a fun afternoon with Marci. For months now, we have planned to spend the kid free portion of our day at DOCO Sacramento... brunch,some shopping, some Fizz, and maybe some coffee. That day was finally today! Despite the crazy weather, I fully appreciated the fact that Marci was game and it was a perfect start to my birthday celebrations. As often I wear heels and love to dance, I’ve never actually taken a heels dance class until last night! I reached out to Stilettos with KG months ago and her class has been on my to do list since. When my birthday came around, my ever supportive friend Chi-Chi gifted me her class. I had to make a party out of it right?!? These lovely ladies from Hundreds Unit came out in a crazy rainstorm to dance and celebrate with me. The choreography was amazing and stretched all of us a little outside of our comfort zone. Even the rest of the girls that we hadn’t met yet danced with so much sexy confidence. We all cheered and supported each other. It was an unforgettable experience, and I can’t wait to do it again. Go follow @kgstilettos on Instagram. Even if you don’t plan on attending her class (which you definitely should), she will inspire you to hold your head a little higher, walk with some sway, and let out some sexy. ![]() It’s a car selfie! In fact, it’s a “waiting in the parking lot for my son to get out of school” selfie. It is also happens to be an office selfie. That’s right... I get to make money working from my phone while doing everyday things. I’m a branding specialist for a company that focuses on balanced gut health and how integral it is for our overall health. It is company that promotes healthy lifestyle habits, and offers products that support those habits. I absolutely love what I do, and not to toot my own horn... I’m pretty good at it 😁 I don’t have to invest in and carry inventory. I don’t have to host parties (unless I want to). I don’t have any obligations to purchase or make quotas. I work on my own terms and allow my job to fit my lifestyle. It’s has taken a while to get to where I am, and I have made mistakes. However, those mistakes have taught me how I can mentor others on an improved path. I have stuck with it for three years, and I promise you I will continue to do it indefinitely. Yes, I have incentive and promos I can offer, but the real value comes in the freedom and flexibility you can gain. So why not you??? As many of you know, I’m heavily involved in the organization Hundreds Unit
It is a non-profit womens empowerment group that allows women (and sometimes men!) the opportunity to perform at major events that they would normally never get the chance to. You might ask, “Why is this so important?” From the outside looking in, we may look like an average performance group. However, it’s more than just performing at an NBA or NFL game. It’s about pushing past what you think you are capable of mentally, physically and emotionally. There have been countless times when I have felt insecure or not good enough to go in front of thousands and dance, but then I turn around and there are hundreds of beautiful women supporting me and cheering me on. They do it because they genuinely believe in me, just like I believe in them. These are women that I would have never met let alone built lifelong friendships if it hadn’t been for the Unit. |
AuthorI'm a cool mom... or at least I try really hard to be. I have a passion for health and fitness, and I love sharing with the world. Archives
May 2019
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