Ashley's Obsessions

Days 7-9

Well, it’s official. The weekends are definitely MUCH harder than the weekdays. Even though I was traveling I managed not to cheat AT ALL! I probably had an additional handful of vegetables here and there, but that’s it, and I’m not going to count that as cheating. I am actually looking forward to the upcoming week, because I definitely do better when I am occupied for the majority of the day. Overall I would say my energy is down a little bit, but it’s not like I can’t pick myself up and go walk around. I did exercise over the weekend so that helped some, but I definitely don’t have as much energy as I typically do during the week.

One delicious side I must share with you is mashed cauliflower. I was getting pretty sick of the same sides with dinner and decided to try mashed cauliflower! The first time I made it I waaayyy over processed it - first by overcooking the cauliflower and second by over mashing. So, if you want to make mashed cauli, just cook cauliflower like you normally would, drain it, add 1 tsp of olive oil, 1 tsp pepper (or other preferred spice) and mash! Don’t mash to a pulp, leave them a little bit thick so you have that real mashed potato consistency. Delish!

This product is totally worth the money. I read about it in a magazine and got a sample at Sephora to try it first. This cleaning treatment literally digs deep into your pores to pull out all of of the dirt an grime from the day. You will feel so clean and refreshed afterwards….your pores will literally thank you!

Glam Glow Super Clearing Mud Mask Treatment

Every summer I want to buy a new bathing suit. I think it is just a rite of summer. That, and my bathing suits either don’t fit, or I sat on the edge of the pool and ruined the bathing suit bottom. Well, perfect timing for me, because Neiman Marcus is having a bathing suit sale! You can get up to 33% off of some of the best swim designers like Pucci, Shoshanna, Trina Turk, and more.

L’Space Swimwear by Monica Wise Bikini

Trina Turk Mayan Contrast Cover Up

Herve Leger Cross Back Bikini

Emilio Pucci Zegare Printed String Bikini

Burberry Check Trim String Bikini

L’Space Swimwear by Monica Wise

Shoshanna Buoy Bikini

Ella Moss Trellis Bikini

Milly Halter Bikini

What will you be adding to your collection?

Les Mills 21 Day Diet Challenge: Days 4-6

The weekdays have been INFINITELY easier for me than the weekend. I barely felt hungry all week. Seriously, there were days where I had to remind myself to eat so that I could get my five meals in and have them spaced out well. I think this is because I am a creature of habit, so the schedule of work and working out has really helped me.

Another thing to note, is that I have been sleeping better during the night. I am a hit-or-miss sleeper - some nights I sleep like a rock, and others I see every hour on the clock. The past three days I have been falling asleep quickly, and staying asleep until my alarm goes off in the morning. It is amazing how a good night of sleep can change how you feel.

I know that I am not supposed to weigh myself in until tomorrow, but I am traveling, and I will not have my scale with me. And since it is so important to use the same scale throughout the 21 days, I weighed myself in today, day 6. And guess what? I lost four pounds. Four pounds in six days. Not too shabby. This has definitely motivated me more, and now more than ever, I cannot wait to see these 21 days through.

Now I am heading into the weekend, and traveling on top of it. This could be tricky. I’ll see you on the other side.

How was your first week?

If only this had been invented sooner, or perhaps if only I had discovered it earlier. For those of you who give yourselves manicures (I cannot remember the last time I had a professional manicure!) this tool from Sephora is a MUST HAVE. The Sephora Perfect Manicure tool allows you to get the perfect manicure every time. Simply insert your nail into the tool, and your cuticle and skin will be protected, so you literally cannot paint over them! I am certainly not ambidextrous, so for $3 I will be adding this tool to my beauty bag!

Sephora Perfect Manicure Tool

So while the recipes provided in the Les Mills 21 day diet challenge are delicious, it has taken me a little time to get used to them. Mainly because I have to spend about five minutes doing conversions (Celsius to Fahrenheit, kilograms to ounces, etc.) Also, I have to Google certain foods - like what the heck are prawns? If you’re looking for something a little bit easier, and also delicious, here is one of my favorite recipes…

Huevos Rancheros! (Les Mills Style)

Ingredients:

1. 3/4 cup egg whites
2. 1 full egg (good fat)
3. 1/2 cup tomato, diced
4. 1/2 cup pepper (I prefer green, your choice), diced
5. 1/4 cup mushrooms, diced
6. 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
7. 1/2 tsp pepper

Whisk egg and egg whites together in a bowl. Set aside. Put pepper and mushrooms in a small pan, and cook on medium heat. Once mushrooms and peppers are soft, add in the tomato. Cook for one minute. Then, add in the egg mixture. Cook thoroughly and enjoy! 

Sort of.

Since I have recommitted myself to my health and fitness, I have been doing a minimum of one load of laundry per day. Typically, half of the load is gym clothes, and my gym towel. I recently noticed that even when my clothes came out of the dryer they still kind of smelled like the gym. They definitely got clean, but there was a little lingering smell…hard to explain. Anyways, I discovered Sports Suds and I no longer have the problem. Sports Suds replaces regular detergent and gets any smell out of any article of clothing.

The detergent company recommends that you do 1-2 loads with old towels first because Sports Suds will clean your washing machine that way. Clean my washing machine? I didn’t buy it. By nature, washing machines are clean. After all, I run hot water and soap through mine. I was so wrong. The towels came out filthy, and now, my clothes come out cleaner and fresher. It is truly a great product, not only for clothes you work out in, but also if you have pets or kids!

One of the things I dislike about summer is the constant and sudden weather changes. Like this morning it was slightly overcast and chilly, and now it is sunny, 80 degrees, and crazy humid. It is really hard to dress for this ever-changing weather, but even harder to keep makeup looking fresh throughout the day. Like right now, I am pretty sure all of my makeup has melted off of my face (like I said….humid). One beauty product I cannot live without this summer (and neither should you) is M.A.C’s Fix+. Just a couple of sprays at the end of your makeup routine, and Fix+ will carry your makeup throughout the day into the night…regardless of the weather, or whatever else you encounter through the day!

MAC Fix+

As I write this, it is the Monday of Memorial Day weekend and I have just completed (sort of) day 3 of the Les Mills 21 day diet challenge. Overall I feel pretty good. The first day was by far the easiest, mainly because I probably still had some fruits and quinoa in my system. On day 1, I measured my waist as suggested, and the area they have you measure was four inches larger than my pants size. I was not anticipating that. However, the program says that I will lose inches, so I will keep you updated.

I was completely unprepared to start this diet challenge, in the sense that I had not planned out my food. That is one thing that I highly recommend. I went to the supermarket and loaded upon lean proteins and vegetables, but I did not have any specific recipes in mind, so when it came time to cook I was just throwing a bunch of stuff together. As such, I ate the same thing for almost every meal. Again, I do not recommend this strategy….it gets a little boring.

One thing I have turned to in this program is Mrs. Dash spices. They are DELICIOUS and completely salt-free, so they do not cause bloating. My personal favorite is the table blend, but as mentioned, they are all really good. You can add them to any dish, even eggs, for a lot of extra taste.

Summary of the past three days:

Energy: Moderate

Hunger: Moderate

Exercise: Suffered a little bit…not too much.

I kind of like shoes. And by kind of, I mean that I probably have as many shoes as I do clothes. Okay, that’s probably a slight exaggeration, but if I could physically fit that many shoes into my closet, I probably would. Now there is even more of a reason to love shoes. Gucci has put a ton of its women’s collection on massive sale. I am talking 30-70% off on lots of their fabulous styles. If I had the closet of my dreams, here is what I would add to my collection…

Noah High Heel Pump in Crocodile (Swoon)

Gucci Flat Ankle Boot

Lady Bit Leather Thong with Horsebit

Gucci Noah Patent Leather d’Orsay Pumps

Gucci Lisbeth Patent Leather Platform Pumps

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I am totally obsessed with the entire IntelliWhite line at HSN. The main reason I love the line is because every product is a multi-tasker. For example, the IntelliWHiTE® Pearl Stain Eraser Pen not only whitens teeth, but it freshens your breath. Perfect for throwing in your bag or in your desk drawer. IntelliWhite is amazing, not only because it actually works (and REALLY quickly), but I also had ZERO sensitivity. And let me tell you, the whitening gels that actually work make me not want to open my mouth to speak because the air hurts my teeth. If you need a big boost for your pearly whites, try picking up the Pro Express Total Teeth Whitening Kit. You won’t be disappointed!

IntelliWHiTE® Pro Express Total Teeth Whitening Kit

IntelliWHiTE® Pearl Stain Eraser Pen

IntelliWHiTE® IntelliFRESH Oral Rinse Fusion

Results time. It has been five days since my last fit files post, and I’ve been following the Tone it Up Beach Babe 5-Day Slim Down program. I did everything the program said and did not cheat once. There was one moment where I wanted to put a couple of extra strawberries in my smoothie, but I got past it and followed the diet and exercise plan perfectly.

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With summer here it is time for those vibrant red polishes, neon pink hues, and “is that appropriate for work?” colors. Right? For some reason, I’m just not feeling it yet. But I do want to lighten up, which is why I just picked up Essie’s new nail color “Smokin’ Hot.” Even though this gray has no hint of warmth, it definitely doesn’t scream “cold.” It is the perfect color for your toes with a pale pink on your tips.

essie nail color Nail Lacquer smokin’ hot

Some of the most common places for skin cancer these days are the tops of the ears, inside the ears, and on the lips. That is because these areas get exposed to as much sun as your face, but most people forget to actually use sunscreen on them! I was personally not a fan of any sort of lip balm with SPF, mainly because I hated the taste or consistency. Until I found Sun Bum Chapstick. The flavors are incredible, and many people clearly agree, as Sun Bum is having trouble keeping this product on their shelves. For only $3.99 you will get a moisturizing chapstick with SPF 30. How many will you be picking up?

So it is not even June (at least while I’m writing this) and the thermostat hit 100 degrees here today. Yikes. Needless to say, everything is melting…including my makeup. I recently discovered Youngblood’s Anti-Shine Mattifier and it is a summer MUST HAVE for everyone. The pressed powder will give you amazing oil/sweat control. Cornstarch is the magic ingredient that leaves you dry but not looking chalky. You need this in your beauty bag.

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Anti-Shine Mattifier