by | May 29, 2015 | Accessories, Fashion, Sewing |
Hi Beautiful People!
Sometimes when you buy a jacket, it doesn’t look as good as you think it did in the store. It happens. Buyers remorse gets us all at least once. Sometimes the problem is that the jacket is just too plain. If you think that your jackets might have that problem, there are ways to spice them up a little. Here’s how to turn that plain jacket into a fashion miracle.
This Tommy Hilfiger jacket is one of my favorites, it’s all in the details. The princess seams flatter my figure and can make a pretty dress look edgy.
JT with Vinny
Badges
Nice and simple. Removable too. If you find, your jacket needs a little more color or texture, line the outer lapels with a few badges. If you want the badges to represent your outlook or tastes, check eBay for the appropriate badges. If you’re a big fan of a certain band, why not make it known with a badge? A few too many badges can ruin the look though. Be sure to not overdo it. If you do decide to go a little overboard, there’s a tipping point where having a lot of badges has a real punk rock vibe.
Studs
On the subject of punk rock, what’s more, punk rock than studs? While you should be careful where you’re placing them, they’ll add a more defined texture to a jacket. Sticking them on one shoulder or both will instantly bring a little flavor. Just don’t overdo it, or it won’t be a very comfortable or light jacket for much longer.
Patches
When in doubt, patches can add a little color to your jacket. If you’re not too keen on the solid color of your jacket, injecting a little vibrancy can work wonders. Custom patches too are a good idea. It works on the same principle as the badges. If you want to show your outlook or tastes, patches can show that. Patches need a little more space than badges. While you can get some small patches lined on a front pocket, for more detailed designs you can them to be elsewhere. The larger patches will go directly on the back. Medium patches can go on the shoulders. Either on the top of them or at the sides.
The Worn Look
If none of the other options are right for your jacket, it might be just that it looks too new. You could wear it every day for a year to give it the worn look. A quicker way to manufacture that look artificially. Usually, different kinds of washes can give the worn look. Washed denim, for example, is pretty popular. Even to the point where they’ll sell clothes in stores that already have the look.
Leather is a little different. You want to be careful you’re not distressing it too much. The leather may crack and peel. While you do want a little bit of decay on the leather, you don’t want it falling apart. Be very careful.
If you’ve tried some of these methods on your jacket, and it still isn’t looking good? You might just have to admit the jacket might not be right for you.
by | May 26, 2015 | Food |
Hello Beautiful People!
I have another recipe from my childhood in St. Louis. When I was a little child, my mother would would take me to Rinderers’ (a drug store that was formally in the Lou) or Woolworth’s (a five-and-dime store) for carmel popcorn or peanuts and jellybeans. At Rinderers’, my mother would order a half a pound of Spanish peanuts and jellybeans (I remember taking the hulls off). The man behind the counter would scoop the delicious combination in a paper bag. Mirrors were everywhere in that place, I felt I had to behave, however seeing those Spanish peanuts and jellybeans was worth it.
My mother never made peanuts and jellybeans. However when I was having lunch with my hubby, he told me that he never had the combination of the two. I started thinking of a recipe where I could share with him one of my favorite foodie experience as a child.
Peanuts and Jellybeans
First, my hubby placed two cups of roasted peanuts (please check ingredients for msg and artificial preservatives) on a small baking sheet in our convection for ten minutes.
We didn’t have any Spanish nuts, so we used a roasted peanut instead. The smell reminded me of being a little child smell those delectable smells in the store, gosh the good memories.
Warming roasted peanuts
After the peanuts are warmed, my hubby removed the peanuts from the oven and placed them in a brown paper bag.
Warm roasted peanuts
While the peanuts are still warm, we added a 9 oz. bag of jelly beans to the bag and gently shook them together, mixing them together.
Jellybeans
I asked my hubby to be the first to try it and he thought it was very tasty. He said that the combination of the peanuts warmed the jellybeans and the two melded together to form a sweet but salty, warm and gooey but crunchy treat. He couldn’t stop at just a couple. He kept reaching in the bag for more.
My hubby and I count calories, so we had only seven jellybeans with a handful of peanuts; and then put the rest in an air-tight container.
Always remember you can have a treat and maintain your fitness goals, the key is balance.
When talking with my hubby about the treat, he said that he had never had tried the combo before. Since he didn’t grow up in Saint Louis, it made me wonder if it was only a local treat? Do I have some foodies out there who shared in this experience?
Please let me know if you have tried this confectionary treat or if you tried my recipe.
Leave me a comment below, sharing your experience.
by | May 25, 2015 | Food |
Hi Beautiful People,
Today, I am honoring all the soldiers who fought and died for our country. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance and a time to reflect.
My hubby and I did not have to work today, so we relaxed had some good barbecue and a healthier version of the Pineapple Upside Down Cake.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake is great choice to accompany your summer BBQ’s, picnics, family reunions or just when you want a tasty treat.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
As a child, my mother would make the cake with a yellow cake box mix. In preparing to make our cake, we bought a cake mix without looking at the ingredients. To my surprise the mix had propylene glycol in it. I had recently decided to get rid of this ingredient from my cosmetics and skincare, and I surely didn’t want to digest. I decided to not use the cake mix with its artificial indigents and food coloring. Instead, I decided to do what I should of done in the first place, make it from scratch.
Here is the recipe:
Prepare the pan
1) Butter and flour a glass dish (9 1/2 x 13 1/2)
2) Line canned pineapple slices and maraschino cherries in the dish (design how you like). It is important to use canned pineapples because fresh pineapples will not work and the cake will turn out bad.
Pineapple slices and marachino cherries
3) Spread a coating of brown sugar over the pineapples and cherries.
4) Add melted (vegan) butter on the pineapple so they stay moist.
Light coating of brown sugar
Thin coating of brown sugar looks like this below.
Thin covering of brown sugar
5) The Cake Batter
Cake Batter
1 Cup of Canola oil
1 1/4 Cup of Buttermilk
2 eggs
2 Cups of Sugar
1 1/2 Flour
1/2 Cup Coconut flour
1/2 Cup of Almond flour
1 Tsp. of Baking soda
Splash of pineapple juice from the Dole Pineapple slices
Pecans and Walnuts (optional, add a few or a lot, it’s up to you)
6) Pour the batter in the pan over the pineapples and brown sugar. The batter is not a bread batter consistency, but like a pancake batter consistency. We used a mixture of flours to create this mix (white, almond and coconut). If you do not have almond or coconut flour, you can use all white flour, or even wheat flour, if you want.
Pouring on the cake batter
7) Cake batter has completely covered pineapple slices and ready to go into a 350 degree oven.
Cake batter in pan
8) The cake takes about 50 minutes to an hour (depends on your stove). The cake should look a golden brown.
Golden Brown
9) Let cool for 30 minutes. Turn over and remove from glass dish by placing on cookie sheet.
10) Cut the cake and serve warm. We cut our cake into twelve servings and placed most of in the freezer. That way when we get the crazing, it just needs to be pulled out, thawed it and heated it up. Yields 12 servings. If you eat half a piece like we do serving size is 24 slices.
YUM, YUM, GIVE ME SOME!!!
ENJOY!
If you try this recipe, let me know what you thought about it.
by | May 24, 2015 | Fitness |
I’m happily married and loved the whole experience. Your wedding day is a precious moment in your life, and naturally you’ll want to look your best. I’ve come up with some beauty tips and have some suggestions for your pre-wedding routine.
Start Early
My first tip for a good pre-wedding beauty routine is to start as early as possible. If you’ve been slacking on skin care and healthy eating, start now! Start making changes at least three months in advance and you’ll feel great for your wedding.
Work On Your Skin
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have beautiful makeup for your wedding. But to ensure that your makeup looks great, you need to take care of your skin. Make sure that you are following a skin care routine suited for your skin type. Your routine should include moisturizers, cleansing and exfoliating when needed. If you have skin issues that are not clearing up, you might want to try a treatment at a medical spa. Healthy skin makes makeup much easier to apply!
Eat Better
One of the best ways to improve your skin is to eat a healthier diet. Increase your intake of fruits and veggies and drink plenty of water. All these things will help to promote healthier skin and a better physique. Try not to binge on fatty foods but don’t cut them out completely. Allow yourself the occasional treat and make healthy snacks. If you’re not good at sticking to a diet, go and visit a dietician or nutritionist. They can help create a plan that is personal to you, so it fits your lifestyle.
Hit The Gym
JT exercising with the Kettlebell
Start working out as early as possible. If you want to lose weight before the wedding, don’t leave it until last minute. You’ll just end up feeling stressed and not putting as much effort into your workouts. If you need some help, get together with some girlfriends and train together. You could even join a boot camp for some serious exercise!
Relax
Relaxation should take on a large part of your beauty routine. Wedding stress will only make your skin feel worse if you let it build up. Spend a day relaxing at home or go to get a massage to feel renewed. You could even rope your hubby-to-be into treating you to a day of relaxation!
Get A Facial
A facial is a great way to treat your skin before the big day. A decent facial combined with the proper massage technique can help to reduce any fine lines. Facial give you a deep cleanse so if you wear makeup regularly you’ll want to consider having at least one before the wedding.
Wear The Right Makeup
JT applying mascara
It’s essential you wear the right makeup for your skin, especially when it comes to foundation. Make sure that your foundation suits your skin type for the best results. You also want to check that all your beauty products aren’t leaving you with any breakouts. If anything starts to affect your skin, stop wearing it! You might want to spend some time with a beauty expert and make sure all your products are right for you. Good makeup will make sure your skin looks it’s best at your wedding.
What would you include in your pre-wedding beauty routine? Let me know!
by | May 23, 2015 | Fitness |
I could not get a six pack until I cut these five foods out of my diet. Trust me, I worked really hard to get lean. I have been exercising since I was 13. When I was in my early 20’s, I competed in full contact kickboxing. I trained and worked out so much that I needed 6000 calories/day or I would lose weight, and I still didn’t have much of a six pack. Then I stopped eating these five foods, and I got shredded in a few months.
#1 Food That Make Us Fat: Processed (Refined) Sugar
Before buying anything in a box, bag, or bottle, read the label. If sugar is listed in the first 3 ingredients, don’t touch it, it will make you fat guaranteed. Sugar digests almost instantly and goes directly into your bloodstream. Your pancreas responds by secreting massive amounts of insulin into your blood stream. Insulin makes your body to convert the sugar into fat.
Sugar makes you fat kracked
The Bottom Line: Eating refined sugar forces your body to store fat. Stop eating it!
Like most super villains, sugar goes by many aliases. Don’t be fooled. All of these will make you fat:
— Sugar
— Brown Sugar
— High Fructose Corn Syrup or Corn Syrup
— Dextrose (if it ends in “ose” it’s bad)
— Artificial Sweeteners – They don’t contain any calories, but they still trick your pancreas into dumping insulin in your bloodstream which will make you fat.
I LOVE SWEATS. WHAT CAN I EAT INSTEAD OF SUGAR?
The sugar that occurs naturally in fruit digests much more slowly and won’t make you fat. I Personally love honey; it’s fantastically sweet and has a low glycemic index. Another one of my favorites, ripe Mangos have a low glycemic index and taste absolutely decadent.
GLYCEMIC INDEX: WHAT IS THAT?
The glycemic index measures how quickly carbohydrates digest to sugar. Besides a few exceptions, foods with a high glycemic index will cause a large insulin response and make you fat.
Look up the glycemic index of a food here.
#2 Food That Make Us Fat: White Flour
This includes white bread, crackers, pasta, and cereals. Read the label. If “unbleached flour,” “bleached four,” “enriched flour,” or any other type of “flour” is listed in the first 3 ingredients, don’t touch it unless you want to get fat. White flour digests to sugar just as fast as table sugar and produces a similar insulin response.
Flour makes us fat
The Bottom Line: Eating white flour forces your body to store fat. Stop eating it!
But I love bread & pasta! What can I eat instead?
Best Option: Eat whole rolled oats and brown rice – they are super foods. They are loaded with nutrients and digest slowly giving you a steady supply of nutrition and energy for hours. Bread an is best avoided all together as even 100% whole wheat or 100% whole grain bread still have a relatively high glycemic index, but if you must have bread, crackers, or pasta definitely get the 100% whole grain version.
LOVE MEXICAN FOOD? CHOOSE THE CORN TORTILLAS
When ordering or cooking Mexican food, always go with the soft corn tortillas. They are made from coarsely ground corn and have a low glycemic index. Don’t touch the flour tortillas unless you‘re trying to get fat.
#3 Food That Makes Us Fat: “White” Potatoes
Is the potato white on the inside? Don’t eat it. Potatoes have an ultra high glycemic index meaning they digest to sugar very quickly and cause an insulin spike. You guessed it:
Eating “white” potatoes forces your body to store fat. Stop eating them!
No Potatoes? What can I eat instead?
Sweet potatoes and yams are delicious and are another super food. They are bursting with vitamins and minerals and are a very slow digesting carbohydrate. Please don’t put sugar on them, it insults one of nature’s most awesome foods (and it will make you fat).
#4 Food That Makes Us Fat: Anything Deep Fried
Most deep fried foods are breaded with white flour, or they are potatoes (french fries). White flour and potatoes quickly digest to sugar which causes your pancreas to dump insulin in your blood turning your body into a fat storing machine. If that weren’t bad enough, the food is also dripping in high calorie saturated fats.
Deep fried food makes you fat
Eating Deep Fried Food turns your body into a fat storing machine while supplying it with gobs of calories to turn into fat.
Eating deep friend food is probably the most effective way to get fat as quickly as possible. Unless you’re trying to get fat in record time, stay away from it.
But I love French Fries! What can I eat instead?
Don’t deep fry; bake or grill instead. For a french fry substitute, slice sweet potatoes into fries and bake or grill them. Brush on some olive oil, sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese, and bon appetite. These fries are both good for you and delicious.
#5 Food That Makes Us Fat: White Rice
Just like white bread, white rice is another refined grain that digests to sugar very quickly. Eat too much, and you will get fat.
No White Rice? What do I eat instead?
Why brown rice of course! It’s one of our super foods; it’s delicious, and it’s inexpensive. I buy my brown rice at Costco, 25 pounds at a time, and I’m single. That whole bag is for me. Brown rice is that awesome.
So That’s Why Americans Are So Fat…
By now you’ve probably realized that most Americans eat A LOT of these 5 foods, and this is precisely why 74% of Americans are overweight or obese! 74 percent – that’s insane! If you are part of the 74%, you now know exactly what you are eating that is making you fat and exactly what you need to stop eating to get your normal, healthy body back.
When you stop eating these foods, you will notice that you start losing fat like crazy (it’s almost scary). You will also notice that you can eat A LOT of good unprocessed food (as much as you want, anytime you want), and you will still be losing weight.
Maybe you know these foods are bad for you, but they taste too good, and it’s hard to stop eating them. It’s hard to change. You need an action plan to change your habits. You need to start small and change progressively because changing everything all at once is extremely difficult.
This article was written by Kurt Boyd, fitness fanatic, and director of Strength Stack 52. We have recently developed Weight Loss Stack 52, a game that helps you break bad eating habits and replace them with healthy ones.
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