Our Weekend + Recent Buys + 14-Day Plank Challenge

Today was a really fun day. I woke up feeling a little anxious because I wasn't sure if Harper would be in pain or really bruised, but her upper lip area actually looked way better than the day before and though the swelling was still present on the inside of her upper lip, but the outside looked good, considering how hard the fall was.

We ended up going through with our plans to go to the Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival at the Nature Discovery Center. My in-laws joined us and we had a great time walking the grounds and playing at the park.

Can you believe Harper actually kept her sunglasses on for some of the time we were there? I think it's the longest she's ever worn them. I'm trying to get her to wear her babiators more often so she's used to them when we go to the Bahamas. By the way, babiators have a warranty--- if you break or lose them within a year of having them, they replace them for free (you just pay $5.95 shipping). Harper's broke a couple of months ago (we would have tried to fix them but the second lens was MIA) and they sent us a new pair right away.

Harper's favorite thing lately is the slide. Since the weather has cooled down a little (in the 70's or 80's instead of the 90's, ha) we have taken evening walks most nights and she loves going to the park. She can slide down all by herself now and keeps saying "more more" because she wants to go again and again.  So it was no surprise when she beelined for the slide at the nature center today.

Anytime she sees pumpkins, she wants to carry them or sit on them...

She loved that smiling scarecrow�we had to jump around just to get her to look at the camera for this shot...

 The perfect size to carry around...

After visiting the Nature Discovery Center, we took my in-laws to Local Foods. We eat there all the time but they had never been. I always get the crunchy chicken sandwich and postole soup. I've tried a lot of the sides and some salads too. It's all delicious food made with ingredients that are locally sourced. 

When we got home, I used my Zoku popsickle molds to make blueberry/raspberry yogurt popsicles for Harper. I used plain, 2% fage yogurt and blended it with blueberries and raspberries. I really love this kit--- it's really easy to use and the popsicles are a good size. I can already tell Harper will love them because I gave her the leftover mix from the blender and she licked the bowl clean.

If you follow me on instagram, you probably already saw my new Daniel Wellington watch. I'm obsessed! From the rose gold, to the simple and elegant watch face, to the navy and pink band, it's just gorgeous. I can't wait to show it to you with some outfits. Daniel Wellington is offering all of my readers a 15% off discount using the code "veronikasblushing" at checkout, if you're in the market for a new watch!

Last weekend, I purchased some new beauty items at Ulta, and I forgot to share them!

IT cosmetics powder brush  |  urban decay primer potion  |  essie "wicked"  |  seche vite topcoat |  anastasia of beverly hills perfect brow pencil  |  living proof "perfect hair day"  | 

frederick fekkai "glossing creme" | 

I also have to share these adorable bows Mary from Ryan & Wren sent to me last week:

They're perfect for fall and very well made. Ryan & Wren is one of the first Etsy shops I ever ordered bows from and I just love the styles she offers.

Before I wrap-up, I want to invite you all to join me for a 14-day plank challenge with Marion from Marionberry Style. I will be doing check-ins on Instagram and you can join the group's Facebook page here. If you're already fit, no worries, because Marion will be posting an advanced schedule + moves each day to follow. You have 20 seconds on Monday, right? Join me!

I hope you had a wonderful Sunday! Thank you for all of your comments on yesterday's post here on on IG. It was a very scary moment as a first time parent and I'm grateful for everyone who sent good wishes to Harper.

FTC Disclaimer: I was sent the Daniel Wellington watch and the two hair bows from Ryan & Wren as gifts. These are my honest opinions about the products and no additional monetary compensation was provided. All other items mentioned were purchased with my own money.

Stripes On Monday

Happy Monday! I'm blogging a little later into the night because I took a bootcamp class tonight. I had purchased a two-month membership at The Bar Method (on Gilt City!) a few months ago and I was going pretty consistently on weekends (and absolutely love the classes), but the studio unfortunatley didn't have any class times during the work week that were early enough in the morning or late enough at night for me.

It's hard to find studios that consistently have 5 or 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. classes (so I can go before work and still have time to come home and get ready or go after Harper is asleep for the night) but I found a gym that has a ton of classes and it's close to my home (Bar Method was at least a 20 minute drive)--- plus, it has early morning and late night classes every week and regular gym equipment if I wanted to work out on my own.

It has been really difficult for me to motivate myself to work out again. I know it's good for me and gives me energy and makes me strong, but I always find an excuse to "start next week." Even tonight, I almost didn't go, but I forced myself to get in my car and I'm glad I did. It was a 30-minute class, but even that was tough for me. 

My goal is to go three days per week and work up to four or five. There is a spin class I'd love to take on weekends and I'll do bootcamp during the week. 

Anyway, I'm ready to put on some muscle and reclaim that energy I miss so much. Plus, going to early morning classes will force me to go to sleep earlier, which I haven't been good at for the past year. So, that's a little fitness update�wish me luck! (I'll need it)

Today I wore my new J.Crew endless shirt (30% off with code WEEKENDPLANS) to work with my Banana Republic Sloan pants. I absolutely love the fit of this shirt and how long it is. It does wrinkle a lot (as you can see, I was sitting at my desk most of the day), but I love the side slit, the navy lining at the buttons and its rounded edges. I highly recommend it! I also wore it with my navy blazer from Aritzia, but I took it off to drive because it was so humid out (that may explain the hair, too!)

shirt- j.crew (size 4)  |  pants- banana republic  |  shoes- nine west  |  necklace- dolceave, ? 

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Nordictrack $3,500 Treadmill Giveaway!

What a perfect way to sart the New Year---wishing you all the best one yet! Nordic Track is giving away their top of the line Treadmill/Incline trainer which has a retail value of $3,500, to one of YOU! Enter for your chance to win! Birdalamode // Glam Hungry Mom // The Coral CourtGBO Fashion // My Chic Bump // The Freckled Fox Veronika's Blushing // Posh By Kat // Good Life Blog Jimmy Choos and Tennis Shoes // Fashionaholic // The Sweetest Thing // From Me With Love Design The Fashion Fuse // Karly Kim // Little Miss Fearless Love, Olia // Muchacha Mary // Kelsy Bang Moiology // The Girl In The Yellow Dress // Livy Lovea Rafflecopter giveaway

Eating Healthy During the Holidays: Erin O'Leary Stewarts' Best Tips!

Today I have the wonderful Erin O'Leary Stewart from DEFINE Body & Mind and DEFINE Foods to share with us her expert tips on how to stay on track with healthier eating during the holidays.  

The Holidays are upon us, and so is the late night drinking, party noshing and over-indulging. While this may not be the time of year for detox, dieting and watching the scale every day, you can definitely enjoy yourself, have your piece of that traditional Holiday dessert and still feel great. It's about being mindful. There is a difference between savoring that well-deserved treat and spiraling down the slippery slope to stomach aches and hangovers. As we are all in recovery mode post Thanksgiving weekend, here's your chance to get back on track with your health and fitness goals. Follow these 8 steps to keep the rest of your Holiday season healthy.

1. Keep the Holi 'days' to a Minimum

There are only a few days that the Holidays are actually intended for. Don't make an excuse to overeat the entire two remaining months of the year. Treat non-Holiday days in December as days you would any other week. Don't throw in the towel and wait for New Year's resolutions quite yet!

2. Visit the People, Not the Food

Remember that you're celebrating and visiting with family and friends during this time of year. Find the talkers at the party and hang with them, not the ones moseying around the food table.

3.Tune In

Ask yourself how hungry you really are before indulging. Then ask yourself the same question half-way through clearing your plate. Do the same with your second glass of wine. And then again if you get to your third. 

4. Slow Down

Enjoy conversation and put your fork down occasionally. Take your time when eating and nurse your drinks!  

5. Eat This, Not That

Keep your plate mostly veggies and savor your favorite indulgent items with just a few bites. Better yet, take matters into your own hands by offering to bring your favorite healthy dish! Consider roasted butternut squash instead of mashed potatoes or pumpkin pie over cookies and cakes. 

6. Skip the Sugary Drinks

Avoid the eggnog and the peppermint-flavored cocktail. Enjoy a glass or two of wine, not a whole bottle. When you binge drink, your body may not be able to metabolize fat for up to 72 hours while your liver is dealing with the alcohol. So that great morning-after workout won't even be that effective in this area! 

7. Get Movin'

Be as active as possible. Whether it's a yoga class, a bike ride or a family football game, just get up a go. Food cravings are often anxiety-related. When the cravings come on, go for a walk. The calming practice of mindful movement can be very beneficial. Take a DEFINE body, revolution or mind class if you're in the Houston area!

8. Hit Restart

If (or when) you do over eat or drink one night, remember tomorrow is a new day. Don't beat yourself up. Get back on track! Start with a big glass of water with lots of lemon and a green juice before consuming your first meal of the day. This will help your body focus on detoxing, rather than on breaking down complex foods. 

Here are some of my favorite recipes to get you through your Holidays Season. Hope you can join me in the kitchen for our premier DEFINE foods workshop at DEFINE west university! Saturday, December 15th. 12:00pm. Learn new moves and recipes to keep you Healthy Through the Holidays! Sign up HERE!

1. Butternut Squash & Apple Soup http://juiceboks.com/2012/11/15/butternut-squash-apple-soup/
2. Miso-Maple Brussels Sprouts & Tofu http://juiceboks.com/2012/11/03/define-foods-miso-maple-brussels-sprouts-tofu/
3. Spinach & Quinoa Salad w Pears, Chickpeas and Cranberries http://juiceboks.com/2010/12/25/spinach-quinoa-salad-with-pears-chickpeas-and-pecans/
4. Farro Salad with Roasted Grapes & Pomegranate http://www.definebody.com/nutrition/define-foods-farro-salad/
5. Olive Oil Cake with Sauternes Roasted Pears http://juiceboks.com/2012/01/02/olive-oil-cake-with-sauternes-roasted-pears-homemade-whip/
6. Double Chocolate Crumb Cake http://juiceboks.com/2011/12/24/double-chocolate-crumble-cake/

Major thanks to Erin for this great contribution! The holidays are definitely a time to indulge a little---but it's important to keep everything in moderation :)  If you have a question for Erin, please leave it in the comments below!

Shaping Up on Saturday: Bella Shares Moves to Tone Your Muffin Top!

A few weekends ago, I met one of my readers, Bella, who happens to own a fitness studio here in Houston called Bella Body Fitness.

I asked Bella if she could contribute to my blog once in awhile because I know you ladies are always looking for new workout moves.  This one is called "Tone Up Your Muffin Top Workout," and I love it because your love handles can be a tough area to target.

Move: the Mermaid 
1. Start on your side, arm extended, hand behind your head and ankles crossed.
2. Raise legs and squeeze your oblique at the top. Lower legs and repeat
10-15 Repetitions

Move: Hip Dip 
1. Start in low plank position on your forearms
2. Tilt your torso to the right, lowering your hip down until hovering slightly above the mat
3. Return to plank position and repeat on the other side.
10 Repetitions on each side

Move: Starship 
1. Start on your palm (to modify: start on forearm) legs stacked, top knee slightly bent
2. Tap the top knee to the mat, keeping your hips up, balancing.    Careful not to put any weight on your knee
3. Bring knee up to starting position
4. Extend top leg
5. Bend knee back to starting position and repeat.
10 Repetitions and switch sides.

Let me know how it goes for you and thank you Bella for contributing!  If you're in Houston, check out the classes Bella Body Fitness offers here.

UPDATE FROM BELLA FOR ALL OF THE HOUSTON GALS: Veronika's readers, I'd like to give you a week of free classes at my studio! Just email me and say you saw this workout on Veronika's blog. If you have any questions about any of these exercises or would like me to create a workout for your trouble zones, email me at Bella@BellaBodyFit.com. Your feedback is always welcome!

xo.Bella

Fitness & Food Updates & How to Wear Your Hair at the Gym

Keeping up with my fitness and eating posts is important because it motivates me to be accountable.

I mentioned on Facebook that a new fitness studio opened less than a mile away from my house, which is awesome because the one thing that always frustrated me was having to drive to go to the gym (I don't mind driving, I just hated driving really far---I was spoiled because at our old house, our gym was also walking distance).

My fitness for the last month or so has been two sessions with my trainer per week and one Bar Method class. Some weeks I only got to do one training session because of scheduling.

I really need to step it up and start doing cardio and just working out more consistently in general.  I have noticed I am not getting as toned as I'd like and I know it's because I am not doing enough cardio and not helping my endurance.  My trainer gave my friends and I some treadmill workouts to do that are 25 minutes but super high intensity so I'm going to try to incorporate those and see how it goes. Now that I'll have a gym nearby, there will be no excuses, even on weekends.

On the eating front, I've been doing well. Eating less sugar (smaller portions) and eating lots of fruits and veggies. H and I have also been focusing on eating salads or veggies as side dishes for dinner instead of carbs (sometimes we have potatoes).  

Here are some of my lunches and dinners lately:

Tortilla soup and a turkey half sandwich for lunch

Garden salad with balsamic dressing and grilled chicken for lunch

Salmon with basil pesto and potatoes for dinner

Chicken breast and green beans for dinner

Omaha Steaks chicken stuffed with broccoli and a side salad 

(the famous peach basil oil salad)

Salad with chicken, red onions, cherry tomatoes, grapes, chick peas 

and tangerines with a raspberry vinaigrette 

From my work cafeteria- chicken with lemon sauce, green beans and corn

Tuna in water with dill, celery and onions

Grilled chicken and steamed veggies

Salad with chicken, onions, chickpeas, grapes, cherry tomatoes, mandarins

Obviously I am just showing my healthiest meals here for ideas---I also still eat Chinese food, pizza and other not so healthy foods---but I try to limit that to weekends.

I also recently purchased Tone it Up's Perfect Fit Protein. I needed more protein in my diet and you can also use this to bake and make pancakes.

My favorite snacks in the last while have been:

• Chobani Greek Yogurt (love the 0% raspberry, strawberry banana and vanilla flavors) 

•  Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin Bread

•  Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter and Justin's Vanilla Almond Butter

•  Cherries, strawberries, peaches, apples

•  Luna Bars- Iced Oatmeal Raisin 

•  Skinny Cow Heavenly Crisp bars- 110 calories for dessert 

•  Weight Watchers chocolate raspberry popsicles (80 calories and delish!)

I get a lot of questions about how I keep my hair fresh when I work out.  I have been sweating more during workouts because of the weather (and because our trainer works us hard!) so I have been sporting a super-high topknot to keep my hair off of my face. I used to wear ponytails most of the time but then the ends would get sweaty from rubbing on my back. Ew. Typing that out feels kind of gross. Anyway, I just put my hair up and wrap the elastic around the topknot three times. Like so:

Some workout outfits:

(outfits are all Lululemon except for green and pink Target tops)

Easy peasy.  When I get home from my workout, I immediately shower and then I take the elastic out and brush my hair and go about my evening wearing it down.

Have a great weekend everyone!