I am in desperate need of some new jeans! I had today off of work and decided to go shopping.
If I were the owner of a clothing store, I would make the lighting and mirrors in the dressing rooms as absolutely flattering as possible. Make it so that we look like we are in a real life Instagram filter. Why is it that instead, all the dressing rooms are set up to induce suicide?
No luck today, I still need the jeans! Maybe I will order some online and try them on in my own mirror and lighting!
Fortunately for me, I have a great hair cut that without much fuss falls into place on its own. Unfortunately for me, I am not without hair issues, I have very straight somewhat fine hair that doesn’t have much volume.
I have used all different types of volume inducing products and mousses in the past. Overall I am usually pretty wary of them, mostly because they can end up sticky and heavy. Not so with this Not Your Mother’s Whip it up Styling Mousse. It isn’t like that at all. It is lightweight, so easy to apply, and gives my hair extra lift at the roots. I was surprised how much volume it put into my hair without weighing it down.
Another awesome thing about this mousse is that a lot goes a long way! It is smooth, thick, and creamy. It doesn’t leave my hands feeling sticky. I absolutely hate it when through out the day if I run my hands through my hair and they end up with a sticky feeling. That doesn’t happen at all with this mousse! Yay!
If all that isn’t already good enough, it smells absolutely delicious! It has a sweet vanilla cupcake frosting scent! I love products that smell great and work awesome!
If you want to check out the Not Your Mother’s brand here are links to their Instagram and Facebook pages
Does dreaming of vanilla bean crème brûlée leave you weak in the knees? Then Whip It Up will definitely have you believing in sugar plum fairies. This delicious vanilla cupcake scented mousse is rich in moisturizers to tame those frizzies as well body building volumizers for big hair dreams. It may smell sugary sweet, but this salon formula styling mousse won’t leave your fingers (or your hair) sticky!
Shake the can well. Turn can upside and dispense a small amount into the hand. Work evenly through hair, concentrating at the root to create volume and hold for any big style you crave. Proceed with styling.
**While I did receive this product from Influenster to test and review, as always, all the opinions are my own.**
If you are interested in trying out Influenster for yourself, use my referral link to check it out! www.influenster.com/r/1049268
What will you need? Good supportive athletic shoes, that’s it.
While this phase is meant to be low impact you will still be sore when you first start out.
No warm up for this workout, it starts right up with the circuit. Each of the eight parts is done for one minute and repeated through twice for a total of three times.
Workout: 1. March in place 2. Hot/fast feet 3. Punch it out in a half squat position 4. Jog in place 5. Running Man (I HATE this one) 6. Speed bags (doing this for 1 minute is a lot harder than you might think it would be.) 7. Kick outs with arm circles (Jillian also calls them mummy kicks) 8. Suicides
Repeat twice.
Cool Down/Stretches
I have finished the first two weeks of phase one and now moved on to the second half of phase 1-workouts 3 and 4. I was super sore from the workouts the first two days, but after that not much at all.
Here is one of my very favorite Jillian Micheals quotes:
“This is where it matters the most. This is where lives are made, in these moments when you can choose whether or not to say ‘I cant’ or ‘I can.’ It is a choice that will either make or break you for life.”
Initially, I found Jillian Michaels’ approach to exercise and dieting highly motivational. Her intense workouts and strict dietary guidelines pushed me to achieve remarkable physical results, which fueled my motivation and determination. I embraced her no-nonsense attitude and believed that pushing my body to its limits was the only way to achieve success. However, as time went on, I began to realize that this approach was taking a toll on my mental health. The relentless pursuit of physical perfection and the constant pressure I placed on myself led to feelings of anxiety, guilt, and a distorted body image. It was then that I decided to change my perspective and adopt a more balanced and loving approach to my body. By prioritizing self-compassion, listening to my body’s needs, and embracing acceptance, I discovered a newfound sense of mental well-being. This shift in thinking allowed me to find joy in movement, cultivate a positive relationship with my body, and ultimately, achieve a healthier and more sustainable approach to overall well-being.
I have normal to combination skin. I live in the North East where the weather has gotten colder.
Let’s see what the products claim…
“Yes to Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub
Yes to Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub is a gentle daily exfoliator to help slough away dead skin cells and restore your skin’s natural radiance. It is formulated with Lemon Balm to help calm and repair damaged skin and Grapefruit, which naturally evens skin tone and enhances luminosity, leaving skin soft, smooth, and naturally hydrated.
MAKES SKIN BRIGHTER, CLEARER, AND MORE RADIANT!
99% Natural
Petroleum, SLS, & Paraben Free
Cruelty-free”
“Garnier Clean + Balancing Daily Exfoliator for Combination Skin
Combination skin has specific cleansing needs. To look and feel its best, it needs the right clean and specific care. Go beyond clean…
Customized Cleansing: Daily gel exfoliator targets T-Zone to deeply cleanse away oil and impurities.
Skin Type Specific Care: Formula, infused with antioxidants, Grapefruit and Pomegranate softens dry areas to balance skin.
Results:
In 1 use: Excess oil is removed and skin is smoothed.
After 1 week: Skin’s texture is refined and complexion balanced.”
My Findings
Yes to Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub $10 for 4 oz
99% Natural
Great natural real grapefruit scent
Does not lather
After daily use for a month my skin looked more radiant and felt smooth
Garnier Clean + Balancing Daily Exfoliator for Combination Skin $8 for 5oz can often get it on sale and use coupons
Finer grain of exfoliant
Lathers
Pleasant perfume grapefruit scent, not a natural grapefruit scent
After daily use for a month my skin was dryer with less oil
Which to I prefer…Drum roll please!
Yes to Grapefruit Correct & Repair Daily Facial Scrub
I have used the entire bottle of Yes to grapefruit daily facial scrub. I love the scent of it and the way it makes my skin look and feel. With daily consistent use, I feel like it did make a difference on my skin’s appearance and feel.
I would repurchase the Garnier Clean + Balancing Daily Exfoliator for Combination Skin. I have enjoyed using it these last few weeks. I feel like it is just not the right choice for my skin at this time of year. I will try it again in the summer months and see if my skin reacts to it in a different way.
Let me know what other types of products you would like to see compared.
Just finished baking the last of 4 loaves of Amazing Amish Cinnamon Bread! The house smells delicious and I shared it with the ladies at the library. They said the bread was delightful! I highly recommend this very simple recipe from RedFly Creations!
CINNAMON BREAD
(makes 2 loaves)
Batter:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk or 2 cups milk plus 2 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
Cinnamon/sugar mixture:
2/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Cream together butter, 2 cups of sugar, and eggs. Add milk, flour, and baking soda. Put 1/2 of batter (or a little less) into greased loaf pans (1/4 in each pan). Mix in separate bowl the 2/3 c sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle 3/4 of cinnamon mixture on top of the 1/2 batter in each pan. Add remaining batter to pans; sprinkle with last of cinnamon topping. Swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 min. or until toothpick tester come clean.
Cool in pan for 20 minutes before removing from pan.
I love Christmas! I love Christmas carols and Christmas music. At church this past Sunday I heard this song for the first time and I have been thinking about it ever since. Such a beautiful song and a great message!
One small child in a land of a thousand.
One small dream of a savior tonight.
One small hand reaching out to the starlight.
One small savior of life. Ooh.
One king bringing his gold and riches.
One king ruling and army of might.
One king kneeling with incense and candlelight.
One king bringing us life. Ooh.
See Him lying, a cradle beneath Him.
See Him smiling in the stall.
See His mother praising the Father.
See His tiny eyelids fall.
See the shepherds kneeling before Him.
See the kings on bended knee.
See the mother praising the Father.
See the blessed infant sleep.
One small child in a land of a thousand.
One small dream of a savior tonight.
One small hand reaching out to the starlight.
One small savior of life.
Over the last few months I have been on a journey from Flab to FAB. If you have been following along, thank you so much for your support. These last few pounds have been the toughest to shed! I have 1.5 lbs to go, and it has been a struggle!
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have never had an issue with daily exercise. I love to get up early and get in a workout before the rest of my family is even awake. My down fall has always been diet, even more specifically the sweet stuff! The holidays are a tough time to be trying to lose those last few pound. Some weeks I have been happy to just have not gained any weight.
I LOVE to eat! I have had many conversations with fellow food lovers about where’s the best place to get homemade ice cream or freshly baked bread, or which restaurant has the best tasting menu. I also love to cook myself. I like to try new recipes, watch cooking shows and read cookbooks and food magazines.
My favorite kind of ice cream
While the occasional food splurge is fine, and actually part of a successful weight loss routine, it is important to keep it an occasional splurge. While these occasions don’t have to be huge major special events – My daughter got a 100% on her first math test- Yay! Lets get ice cream! My son scored a goal in soccer, Yay! Let’s get ice cream! I did awesome at my job interview!Yay! Let’s get ice cream! I got the job! Yay! Let’s get ice cream! I had a great first day of work! Yay! Let’s get ice cream! I need to be careful that I only make exceptions for true special occasions.
Often what ends up happening is that these “special occasions” can become a daily even. They can easily turn into… I folded all the laundry! Yay! Lets get ice cream! I found my missing earring! Yay! Lets get ice cream! I am having a great hair day! Yay! Lets get ice cream! Today is Wednesday! Yay! Lets get ice cream! My Boston Terrier, Tessie, is super cute! Yay! Lets get ice cream! See where I am going with this…(also, can you tell I like ice cream? :-))
Look at that cute face!
While I have been on my Flab to FAB journey, I have had to start thinking about food and diet in a different way. While good healthy food feels rewarding, food is fuel, not a reward. Celebrating is fun, and celebrating with food is fun too, but it is not the only way to celebrate.
Instead of using food as a reward, I have been trying to reward myself in other ways. Some ways include: getting a pedicure, buying new smaller clothes :-), getting some new makeup, or splurging on a new purse. Sometimes the celebration is just giving myself a little bit of a break to sit down and read an extra chapter in a good book. While I do still like to celebrate with food, I am slowly retraining myself to have a healthier relationship with food.
I hope that you found this helpful, and thank you for following along with me on my journey from Flab to FAB!
Click HERE if you would like to read my previous Flab To FAB posts.
I love to watch beauty videos on YouTube. I love to see the products and makeup recommendations. I am always looking for new YouTubers to watch. Here are some of my recommendations of my favorite Youtubers to check out and subscribe to.
This girl is not only a natural beauty, she is real and super funny. She tells it like it is and gives great product reviews, all while being entertaining. I especially love her “Woops and Womps” videos. She refers to herself as a brown biscuit. Her make up is always perfect and she is so funny!
Another YouTuber you’ve got to check out is Rachel from RachhLoves. She is another funny one. I love all the little extra graphics she adds into her videos. Some of my favorite videos that she does are her follow ups after a haul. It is great to see what she thinks about the products after she has used them for a few weeks. She also does some great “Lazy Girl Guide” videos.
You have got to check out Jessica Braun from jambeauty89 She is so cute and has the sweetest personality! I love to watch her videos because she gets so excited over the smallest things. While she doesn’t do tutorials or get ready with me videos, she does do a lot of drugstore product reviews. She just recently got married and she and her husband Tyler are so cute.
Leigh Ann from Leighannsays is another favorite of mine. The perfect word to describe her is quirky. She is another funny natural beauty. She recently moved to a new place and adopted a little three legged dog named Luna. She does a lot of make up tutorials, hair tutorials, make up reviews, fashion hauls. She has the same type of stick straight eyelashes that I do, so I know that I can trust her mascara recommendations.
I hope that you check out these YouTubers. Also clickHEREto read my first post about Beauty YouTubers for my 3 top favorites…Tati, Melissa, andCandice.
Free weights (3, 5 or 8 lbs depending on your strength level)
While this phase is meant to be low impact you will still be sore when you first start out.
Where can you expect to be sore the next day?
Back
Biceps
Glutes
Hamstrings
Abs
The workout is broken down into 4 circuits; each of which are repeated once with one minute of cardio in between the circuit repetition.
Here is a breakdown of phase one workout two
Warm-up
Skaters
Hugs
Toe Taps
Repeat
Circuit 1:
Table position and stabilize with the opposite leg and one arm stretched out
Pelvic thrusts with left leg across the knee-advanced modification- raise crossed leg and continue with pelvic thrusts even more advanced add the use of the cable for added resistance
Superman-advanced modification- pulse (I seriously HATE these!)
Pelvic thrusts with right leg across the knee -advanced modification-same as above
Step-ups with weights-advanced modification- heavier weights.
Cardio -1 minute-Upper Cuts in a half squat position-advanced modification-use weights-repeat circuit 4
Cool Down/Stretches
I have already completed these first two weeks of phase one and now I’ve moved on to the second half of phase 1-workouts 3 and 4. I was super sore from the workouts the first two days, but after that, not much at all.
I will write a detailed review of Cardio 1 and Workout 3 and 4 soon.
I hope this was helpful if you are trying to decide if Jillian Michaels Body Revolution is right for you!
Click here if you would like to follow along with me as I journey from Flab to FAB!
Here is another one of my favorite Jillian Michaels quotes:
“Transformation isn’t a future event, it’s a present day activity.”
Initially, I found Jillian Michaels’ approach to exercise and dieting highly motivational. Her intense workouts and strict dietary guidelines pushed me to achieve remarkable physical results, which fueled my motivation and determination. I embraced her no-nonsense attitude and believed that pushing my body to its limits was the only way to achieve success. However, as time went on, I began to realize that this approach was taking a toll on my mental health. The relentless pursuit of physical perfection and the constant pressure I placed on myself led to feelings of anxiety, guilt, and a distorted body image. It was then that I decided to change my perspective and adopt a more balanced and loving approach to my body. By prioritizing self-compassion, listening to my body’s needs, and embracing acceptance, I discovered a newfound sense of mental well-being. This shift in thinking allowed me to find joy in movement, cultivate a positive relationship with my body, and ultimately, achieve a healthier and more sustainable approach to overall well-being.
Fortunately for me, I have a great hair cut that without much fuss falls into place on its own. Unfortunately for me, I am not without hair issues, I have very straight somewhat fine hair that doesn’t have much volume.
I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram 
Looking Joli Good 