The Lazy Girl's Guide to Fitness

I hate working out. With a passion. But there are ways to cheat the "system," so to speak, without short-changing yourself. Work smarter, not harder, I say. If you enjoy working out-- go for it! This posting isn't for you.

First-- get youself a pair of FitFlops. Don't get the stupid tennis shoes that look like moon shoes... get the prettiest FitFlop you can find. I have the Pietra in pewter. Now, there's some studies that say fitness shoes don't work... but I think the FitFlop is great. They are $60... which I admt is pricey.. but they're cute and super comfy, so I'm in. Wear them when you walk your dog, wear them on vacation, whatever. Just don't wear them sitting on the couch or they definitely won't work!

Next, get some cellulite cream. Now, if you don't have cellulite, great... you can skip this part. If you don't know if you have it... then you probably don't! I like Nivea Good-Bye Cellulite Fast Acting Serum. It's fairly inexpensive and it works. You have to use it everyday, just slap some on after the shower and you're good to go. 

Another cream I like is FatGirl Slim and FatGirl Sleep by Bliss. It's a bit more pricey, at about $30 per jar... but it works. Sometimes the Bliss website has sales and specials where you can buy one and get one free or half-price or something like that. I only buy mine if there's a special. Tightens the skin right up. 

Finally, the hard part: Actually working out. There's lots of different workouts you can do... anything you can do to get moving I count as exercise. I go for a 30 minute walk every day, so I count that (in my FitFlops, of course!) Make it fun. Bring you dog or go with a friend or talk on the phone. The time will pass faster. If you have hills in your neighborhood like I do-- all the better. Take the long way, don't cheat yourself.
Go for a swim. Hang out with your friends at the pool and sneak in some laps. Swimming is the perfect exercise because there's no stress on the joints and you don't sweat! Bonus points for riding your bike to the pool.

Another thing I just started is the 10 minute trainer. It's a series of exercises on a DVD that are meant to tone the body --and it only takes 10 minutes! And trust me, it's no joke-- you will be sweating and your muscles will be sore. But really, since it's so short, it's not that bad. Think of it as the CliffsNotes for P90X. I've only been doing it a few days, so I will let you know if it really works. I think there's a 30-day guarantee or something, so if it doesn't do the trick, at least I get my $80 back. Anyway, can't hurt to try, right?

Sweet Cheeks



Physicians Formula Happy Boost Blush in Rose



No, not those cheeks! We'll get to that later. No, I'm talking about shiny apples on your face. What better way to dress them up than with some blush. And for that fresh-faced flush, a rosy pink is the way to go, right? So when I saw Physicians Formula Happy Boost Blend blush with its cute little packaging, I had to try it!
Supposedly it "promotes a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins and helping protect the skin from environmental stress."
Now, that's a lot to expect from a $12 blush. But hey, I bit, and picked up one of my very own. It comes with a brush that is hidden underneath the palette. The brush isn't that great. Get a good one. I like the Flatbuki Brush from Too Faced. It's soft and it distributes color lightly and evenly. That will run you another $12.50.



Flatbuki Brush by Too Faced

Back to the blush. I couldn't wait to get a whiff of it and start feeling happy. It is supposed to "provides a feeling of joy each time you apply. It smells nice, like Sweet Tarts and flowers. It's a very faint smell, not overwhemling and when it's on your cheeks, you can't smell it. It went on nice and pink, but maybe a little bit too bright a pink for my taste. I have fair skin, so maybe it would look better on darker skin. They have different colors. I got "Rose." Didn't love it, didn't hate it.

My favorite blush is still Snow Bunny by Too Faced and Pink Leopard. They are both $28 but it will last forever and double as a bronzer, too. They both have enough

pink in them to give you that fresh-faced look.

  

    

Snow Bunny by Too Faced and Pink leopard, underneath





 

  

Cute as a Button

So one of my favorite things is nail polish. Always has been, even as a little girl. Then, I discovered Manicures and Pedicures when I got a bit older. Ahhh, heaven! Anyway, this is the color I am currently wearing, by Essie, called Cute as a Button.
It's described as a "juicy persimmon delight."
Um, whatever, basically it's a coral pink color. Very pretty. I have fair skin but it'd look fantastic with a tan. A perfect early summer color!
It costs about $8, I bought mine at CVS then took it to the nail salon and got matching tips and toes. It's fun to check out all the different colors at the nail salon, but I like bringing my own, that way I have the color for touch-ups. I usually only do this when I have an event or am traveling.
Anyway, what do you think?
What's your favorite nail color?

Truth and Beauty

Hi!
This is my very first blog post... hope you enjoy.
I will be covering many topics, mainly beauty... including fashion, hair, skin, body... and everything in between!
Today I'd like to start with the IPL facial.
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light.
No, I'm sorry... IPL stands for PAINFUL!!
Now, I will say I bought it on a discount, groupon-type deal... so I only paid $33 for something they said was worth $150. (I will disclose all prices on items I try, I buy everything on my own and if something is free, I will say so.)
Ok, so, back to the IPL facial.
This is no relaxing spa day. No.
This is like being whipped in the face with a hot metal rope. Over and over again.
Here's what happens:  You lay down in the treatment room, don protective goggles, and the technician rolls a hand-held device over your face. He pushes the button and ZAP! Then another ZAP! All over your face and neck. I beeged to have the machine turned down to a lower frequency. It felt like a million bees stinging you at once. Beauty is pain, right? NO!
Will I do it again? NO!
I will be staying far, far away from any IPL facial, althouth my technician Brad was very nice, he could do nothing do quell my gasps of pain.
Does it work, you may be asking?
I have no idea.
I don't see a difference so far. I was told I need more to really see a difference, but as I said... I will not be going back!!
Ever!
Have you had an IPL facial?
Tell me about it!