Arbonne

I know that's it's been a long time since I wrote a post but I wanted to get back in touch.  I have gotten really busy and devoted most of my time with my kids and have gotten serious with my passion for photography the past few years as well as contributing my time with a natural company called Arbonne.

I was introduced to Arbonne late 2013 by a good friend of mine.  What is Arbonne? A green, pure, safe and beneficial company that promotes botanical premium beauty products for women, men and children.  They have a great selection of makeup products such as well pigmented lipsticks, eye shadows, foundations and my favorite makeup primer.

Arbonne also provides great supplements and products to help you stay healthy. I've tried their vegan protein shakes which comes in two delicious flavors vanilla and chocolate.  Vanilla is my favorite!  Blend it with your favorite fruits and vegetables for a nutritious treat or meal.

Below are a  few shake recipes but there are so many!

PRETTY IN PINK

2 scoops of Arbonne Vanilla Protein Powder + 1 scoop of Arbonne Fiber Boost

Splash of pure cranberry juice

1 handful strawberries and raspberries (fresh or frozen)

6-8 ice cubes

Vanilla Almond milk or Rice Dream to desired slushy consistency

Adapted by Simply Fit Kitchen

BERRY POWER

2 scoops of Arbonne Vanilla Protein Powder + 1 scoop of Arbonne Fiber Boost

½ cup blueberries

¼ cup strawberries

¼ cup blackberries

1 medium carrot

1 cup almond milk

½-1 cup pomegranate juice (cranberry is an okay substitute)

1-2 cups ice (add more if necessary)

Adapted by Simply Fit Kitchen

MOCHA SHAKE

2 scoops of Arbonne Chocolate Protein Powder + 1 scoop of Arbonne Fiber Boost

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk or rice milk

1 Tbsp of almond butter

1 tsp instant decaf coffee crystals

6-8 ice cubes

CHUNKY MONKEY

2 scoops of Arbonne Chocolate Protein Powder + 1 scoop of Arbonne Fiber Boost

½ medium banana

1 Tbsp almond butter

1 tsp ground flax seed

8 oz. water + 6-8 ice cubes

This is only the tip of the iceberg.  Arbonne also offers a great employment opportunity.  You can sell these products independently as a consultant.  There are great incentives of being a consultant.  You can purchase their products at a great discount and at times receive products for free.  You have the freedom to use your creativity to make your own income.  I had the chance to meet new and wonderful people while working.  I have had the chance to party while working.  How cool is that?  You come to someone's house and can leave as friends.  With Arbonne you can spa parties to fitness parties, the ideas of how to pitch the products are endless and are totally up to you.  Work at your own pace, create your own schedule and take control.  It's your business!

If Arbonne sounds like a great opportunity or if you are interested in trying out the products please feel free to post a comment.  I'll be happy to discuss more with you.

Cheers to natural and healthy products!

Get Radiant Skin With Ice!

A friend of mines recently asked me if I tried the ice beauty regimen.  It sounded familiar but I only knew just a few facts about it.  Reading and finding out more I realized that this beauty treatment offers much more benefits that I imagined!

Pic via wikimedia.org.

Do you like iced green tea or iced lemon water?  Does that sound refreshing?  If your skin is lacking a bright appearance or if your skin is looking puffy and dull, these iced flavors may be what your skin is craving.  What do I mean exactly?  Using ice cubes on your skin to promote a healthier appearance is an easy and affordable DIY beauty technique to help reduce the appearance of dull skin and big pores.  It helps shrink pimples, minimizes wrinkles, can help control oil production and can give you that dewy skin you crave!  It's known as the "Ice Facial".  Yes, an Ice Facial.

This technique is similar to the "back of the spoon" technique which helps decrease puffiness under your eyes.  Did you know putting a spoon in the freezer just enough until it's cold and applying the back of the spoon under your eyes are said to decrease puffy eyes?  Like the ice technique, applying ice under your eyes and to your entire face can also help decrease puffiness.  Applying ice directly to your face also acts as a natural toner.  It helps tightens and closes large pores.

Ice facials are popular in Asia and the most popular technique they use are ice cubes mixed with green tea and Vitamin E which is an added benefit.

Green Tea.  

When is the best time to perform this facial?  Do it after a hot shower!  After a hot shower your pores will be open.  Doing it after your shower will help your skin look radiant and beautiful all day.

Different type of Ice Facials:

Try lemon!  How does lemon help?  If you add fresh squeezed lemon onto the cubes before applying it to your skin it will help give your skin Vitamin C and help rid dark spots.  Vitamin C provides a potent antioxidant protecion.  It helps shield skin from damaging free radicles and premature aging.

For dry skin - Try mixing Camomile Tea, fresh Parsley and fresh mint.

To reduce wrinkles - Try green or black tea!  These teas will slow the aging process because they contain plenty of antioxidants.  Buy only use the best teas such as the Tazo brand.  You can find this brand at Target or Starbucks.

Makeup preparedness - Freeze a teaspoon of olive oil or almond oil with mineral water the evening before your application.  After your shower, apply the ice cube to your face before putting your makeup on.  It will help soften and nourish your skin, preparing it for a smooth makeup application.

To learn how to prepare and apply it, check this video out by one of my favorite makeup guru.

Make sure to make your batch tonight.  Share your before and after photos!  I'll be sharing mines. Cheers to being FitandFab!

Caution: Applying ice cubes straight to your skin can cause delicate capillaries under your skin to break so wrap the ice cubes in a wash cloth and then apply them to your skin.

My Favorite Makeup Essentials

Are you a natural beauty but want to enhance your look or try something different?  Here are my favorite basic makeup essentials to get you started.

Face Makeup Primer
This will give you the appearance of smaller pores and will help minimize the appearance of fine lines.  It also helps blend your foundation and blush coverage giving you that angelic appearance.  Primer helps glide your foundation or powder easily onto your skin.  Moreover, using primer will help make your makeup last longer throughout the day.  Try buying some that are oil-free so it won't clog pores.

Here is one of my favorite makeup primers.

Arbonne Makeup Primer

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer



Invest in a basic makeup brush applicator set. 
You will need several brushes to apply your makeup.  A great first starter brush kit is by Sonia Kashuk sold at Target stores.  This set is only $9.99.  Slowly invest in buying good quality brand brushes.  Most are pricey but if you buy one every payday you will have a complete collection in no time.  My personal favorite brushes are from MAC.

Sonia Kashuk Brush Set

Concealor
Concealor helps lighten or disguise the appearance of blemishes, scars, pimples and dark areas.  After applying your favorite moisturizer or SPF, apply concealor.  My favorite is Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick. 

Moisturizer/Sunblock
Tinted Moisturizers are a perfect alternative to foundation or powder makeup especially if you're not use to applying makeup to your skin.  Tinted moisturizers help hydrate your face while giving a hint of color or to enhance that natural glow.  Make sure you choose ones that have SPF and are oil-free.  Here are two of my favorites which come in various tints.

Josie Maran Cosmetics Tinted Moisturizer

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer

Blush
For a natural glow and a hint of color, try appling blush to your cheeks.  Blush will give your face a rosey appearance or acheive that flushed look.  My favorite is Josie Maran's Argan Color Stick in Petal Pink.  It is a mutipurpose color stick that you can sweep onto your lips or cheeks. 

JMC Argan Color Stick $22.00 Sephora

Mascara

Mascara helps open the eyes.  My favorite is Volum' Express Maybelline waterpoof mascara. It adds fullness and length. I love waterproof mascara because the waxy formula helps hold a curl and of course the obvious, it's sweat-proof! Curl lashes and apply two coats. Don't forget about your lower lashes too. :)

Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara by Maybelline

Eyebrows
Eyebrows make a BIG difference in pulling your look together.  They are my staple to keeping my look clean and fresh.  Keep your brows upkept and well-groomed by tweezing them daily.  However, I personally get my brows waxed at least every 2-3 weeks.  Maintain the shape with tweezers and an eyebrow scissor whenever possible.  Groom them daily with an eyebrow brush and apply clear mascara to set the shape.

Have fun!

Lose Weight & Gain Muscles With a Kettlebell

Don't have time or enough money for the gym or are your pockets just not full enough to purchase expensive home gyms?   Bring the gym home with a Kettlebell.  They are inexpensive, easy to store and most importantly it can deliver an intense workout anywhere you want.
On several visits to the gym I couldn't help notice trainers training members with what looked like a bowling ball with a handle.  Members appeared to be doing a series of swings pulled under their leg to the top of their head.  What is that?  I want to try.  I tried the 9lb kettlebell for the first time last week.  I felt my heart race within the first 10 seconds.  It wasn't easy and found it a definite challenge.

History
Kettlebells were created by the Russians and were used as a training tool to help prepare for the Olympics. Did you know that Russians are known for their strength and endurance amongst other nations?  When the U.S. and Russians were training together the U.S. noticed that the Russians were able to stabilize themselves.  They didn't have a hard time catching their breath or break a sweat after vigorous training.  The U.S. wanted to know their secret.  Well, their secret was their kettlebell training!  Today kettlebell training is now used by America's armed forces.  Our Secret Service also uses the kettlebell for their fitness tests a.k.a. the "Snatch Test".  It will make you fitter and STRONGER.

Advantages
Short on time and need a full body intensity workout?  A kettlebell is the perfect choice.  While training with a kettlebell it will make your heart race in a short period of time and I guarantee that you will feel the sweat coming out of your pores.  Exercises using this tool helps focus on the core.  Using different methods of training will help contribute overall strength training, cardio burning and will help burn fat fast.  Moreover, it is easy to pack away at your home and it's a flexible workout.  You can take it with you anywhere you go.  On vacation or to work.

So, what's the difference between dumbells and kettlebells?  A kettlebell's handle is thicker making every exercise more tremendous.  The kettlebell incorporates more coordination into your workout.  Not only is it physically challenging, it's mentally challenging.  The kettlebell doesn't have a uniform weight pattern which in turn creates instability.

Muscle building
It works the legs, arms, chest, shoulders, abdominals - you name it! This tool outperforms circuit weight training.   You will use more muscles during these exercises because your core.  More muscle contractions = more muscle building.

Weightloss
In just 15 minutes or more while using a lightweight kettlebell you can have a cardiovascular workout while toning and building muscle.  Your heart rate and metobolism will skyrocket causing effective fat loss.  You are always in motion.  Lifting, squatting and more.  It is said that if you continue doing the kettlebell for 30 minutes with a few second breaks in between you will be guaranteed to sweat like a pig!

There are fitness DVD's on how to use the kettlebell or you can also watch some for free on Youtube.

Summer is coming.  Get lean and toned with a Kettlebell!

http://www.amazon.com/10-Minute-Solution-Kettle-Burner/dp/B004IQHYOM


Here are some example videos on how to use the kettlebell.

Acheive your Weightloss and/or Muscle Building Goals.

Get inspired with Jennifer Nicole Lee!

Need inspiration or extra motivation to help you reach your weight loss goal?  Get inspired with Jennifer Nicole Lee!

I discovered this sculpted mother of two on http://www.bodybuilding.com/.  Aside from Jennifer Nicole Lee, bodybuilding.com was on one of my tweets and is highly recommended! It is a perfect exercise and diet motivational tool. 

Back to Jennifer Nicole Lee(JNL).  JNL lost 70 lbs from being 200 lbs heavy and successfully transformed herself to acheive a lean and muscular body.  Not only is she a triumphant of weightloss, she also became a fitness guru and is a successful author of many fitness books to name a few Fitness Model Diet and her first book, The Mind, Body & Soul Diet and many more.  She has also been featured on "Oprah", "Inside Edition" and "The Early Show" and has exercise DVD's.  JNL has been crowned "Miss Bikini America" and holds other awesome titles.

Check out her first episode of "On the Go" on BodyBuilding.com here.   Here you will get her personal tips on exercises and her nutritional guide/diet.  You can also obtain fitness tips on her website: http://jennifernicolelee.com/flashintro/.

Fit and fab mamas, get inspired for Summer and for your lifetime.  I am!  Thanks Jennifer Nicole Lee! 

Follow her page on Facebook: Jennifer Nicole Lee Fitness Celebrity
Twitter: THEJNL

How to put on contacts.

Hi fabulous ladies,

Here is a tutorial on how to put on contacts by yours truly.  I'm wearing the color grey by Acuvue 2.

JoAnne