Valentine's Day Nail Art

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGBuCLjALlA&feature=player_embedded

How to be Confident

Though being happy with who you are is rarely found in a typical teenage girl, it is possible.Did you know that 9 out of 10 boys are more attracted to girls that are confident? Yes, it's true. Even if your goal isn't to grab their attention, it's the confident girls that are noticed, and that goes for everyone.  Here are a few tips on feeling a little bit more right and just with yourself, even if you are as shy as can be : )

• Make a list with the things that you love about yourself, or that make you unique. If you are a great softball player, if you love your natural blond hair, if you like how out- going you are, if you're amazing with kids, if you're patient with people or calm in hurried situations, if you are a great chef, you should put these things on your list. When you're feeling not so great about yourself, read your list!
• Find your passion. Do you love animals? Do you love soccer? Are you an artist? Staying focus on your passion will help you create goals for yourself, keeping you on track. Plus, when your life is going through the roof, thinking about the amazing things you love is a great way to comfort yourself. 
• Find a role model. Whether it's your sister, best friend, Jesus Christ or English teacher, these people can guide you and comfort you.
• Improve your posture. Sitting up straight and walking confidently with your head up is proven to make you look more put together.
• Take care of yourself. Obviously, you're going to want to take care of yourself by bathing, eating healthy. But also, treat yourself. Manicures, eating dessert one night, hanging out with friends, reading a book, buying a new handbag are all great ways! Just be sure to not over do it, otherwise you'll be defeating the purpose.
• Take action. Journal in a diary or notebook about your day. Be sure to include up's and down's, exciting and bad news, stuff like this. It is a way to pour out your feelings and it's nice to be able to confess everything (even when nobody see's it). Talking to a friend is also a similar way to do this!

Nail idea!

Last year at camp, all my girls learned a few nail tricks/ideas! I love this one and it's super easy to do. You can use any colors you want. 

P.S.- you'll want to take a clear (twice) over the sequins, or they will fall off after a day or two. 

Best ways to rev up your metabolism!

Keeping that metabolism up high is very important. Enough if you're young, being active and making healthy choices is extremely detrimental if you want to keep healthy. Here are some over- looked ways to make sure that you do so.

• Power up with proteins! One thing off the top of my head would be peanut butter, or almonds. Every single meal you eat should include some source of protein. Not only does it help your metabolism, but it is filling.
• Become a fan of green tea! I have heard too many times that green tea does spectacular things for your body. Drinking green tea is an effective way to get EGCG, which is an ingredient known to speed up your metabolism!
• Become friends with machines! All those machines at the gym do look intimidating at first. Especially when there's that itty bitty girl over there who can leg lift 150 lbs. Just remember, she started somewhere too. These machines are good for building lean muscle, which is a major factor in building metabolism.  
• Eat Salmon! Salmon is a Omega- 3 powerhouse! 
• Cut down on carbs. These foods are often processed and full of sugar, which you most definitely don't want. 
• The easiest and most effective way to keep or rev up your metabolism high to DRINK, DRINK, DRINK water! 

Taylor Swift Valentine Cards!

I am a huge Taylor Swift fan. <3 her. So, apparently she has a line of Valentine's Day cards coming out! They are adorable, definitely the best I've seen so far. Check them out!










There is more too!

5 Runway Inspired Trends

New year = New trends. Here are a few cute, but simple ways to test out those trends without blowing through your wallet! Hope you love : )

• Retro is IN! Stephan and Co. Fan Chain Earrings. $12

• Bright pleats are a really cute, especially for petite or pear- shaped girls. Bold Flame Skirt at modcloth.com $30.

• This is probably the most excited trend I've found out about because I've always loved old- fashioned and floral items! Bethany Heel $30 at delias.com (love this site)

• Boho lace goes great with tribal pieces. Floral lace top for $20 at Forever 21.

• Stripes were totally a hit last spring and apparently they will be again! Mercury Messenger Striped Top at lulus.com for $33.

Best Body Lotion for your Skin!

Here are my top 5 picks : )

Philosophy Pure Grace Perfumed Body Lotion. This is a great lotion if you like the clean, fresh scent. Best   for girls who like the natural approach to style, makeup, hair, etc. $34 for 16 oz bottle. 

• Me! Bath Choco-holic Body Icing. Great for chocolate lovers. Very yummy scent. Great for the ladies who love a lot of moisture. Has a silky and slippery texture when applied. $22.10 at mebath.com

• Sebamed Moisturizing Body Lotion. For those who live in cool climates, and want your skin to remain hydrated and healthy, this stuff is for you. It helps moisturize but stays away from making your skin feel oily or greasy. Ladies who have sensitive skin, give this a try! $9 at Walgreens.

• Nouri Shea Chamomile Shea Body Cream. This is an eco- friendly lotion with a very, very pretty scent to it. I really like this lotion! $20 at Nourishea.com

• Beyond Coastal After- Sun Moisturizer. The name says it all..... great for those of you who are out in the sun a lot and want to make sure your skin stays protected and ages gracefully! Also has antioxidants, natural aloe, marigold and Shea butter in it! This lotion does it all!

It's 2012...... time to start believing in yourself!

85% of women in today's society make it a New Years Resolution to lose weight, eat healthier, build up strength, or just stay on track. Did you know that by January 6, 27% of these women have already given up? By the time April rolls around, another 30% have given up! I have read countless times that the number- one cause of this is putting to much upon yourself. Whether the reason is that you don't have enough time, your muscles have become sore, you find it dreadful, or feel uncomfortable around the gym, I feel that it is unacceptable for 57% of women to give up their goals before the year is even half way over. Don't let this be you, ladies. Here are some very useful, helpful, and easy to tips to help you SUCCESSFULLY reach your goal!

• Find your objective- I want to lay off the fatty foods. I want to give up soda for a year. I want to lose 30 lbs in 6 months. I want to run a 5k in less than 30 minutes. I want to be able to be happy with what I see in the mirror. I want to get rid of my muffin top. I want to become a stronger women. I want to take a zumba, yoga, or pilates class. I want to join a gym. These are all great goals (and easy) to have. Remember: You can always add to your ultimate goal. But taking away from it?....that's just discouraging!
• Create your plan- Making a food journal is a great way to keep track of what and how much you have eaten. It is also a motivating tool you can use! Signing up for a class at your gym or for a "fun mile walk or run" with a friend is also a great plan. It is a great way to hold yourself accountable, as you know you don't want to let that friend down! Come up with your plan.... whatever it may be!
• Start off and Build up- Making a schedule and increasing each days difficulty is a great way to stay on track and to see all that you've done! If you are planning starting your journey to running, looking at beginner schedules for "5k" are a great guidance tool. I would recommend (for a beginner) running 1 min, walk 2 min, run 1 min, walk to 2 min, run 2 min, walk 1 min, run 2 min, walk 1 min, and so on. You should do this for about 20- 30 minutes total. Keep up this technique until you are able to run for 15 min. straight, and then you can add on to your schedule. 
• Believe in yourself- All this "2012 New Year's Resolution" jazz may sound great. But, if you're not excited and don't have faith in what you're capable of doing, you will get nowhere. Find a motivational or inspirational quote that you love, and use this as a road block when negative thoughts come into your mind. Write this quote on a sticky note and put it on your bathroom mirror. Whatever it takes to remind yourself that: anything is possible. 
• Let a Friend Know About your Journey- Each week, get in touch with one of your closest friends. Let them know your progress. Ask them to keep after your resolution and make sure that you don't quit. This is also a great motivation. 
• Subscribe to a Fitness Magazine- They have end- less amounts of tips, tools, workouts, races, diets, recipes, etc to keep you on track! Shape, Fitness, Women's Health Mag, Runner's World, Seventeen, Self, and Girl Get Strong are all great ones. 

I wish you the best of luck! You can do it. You CAN. It's all worth it, in the end! 

A man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Giving up is easy, but holding it together when everyone would have understood if you fell apart, now that's true strength!