5 TIPS: GET SLIM THICK QUICK

Spring has sprung, but is your body bikini ready? If not, check out these easy recommendations on how to get that “slim thick” fit look just in time for Summer.

 

get slim thick quick

 

Commit

Studies show that it takes roughly 66 days for a new behavior to turn into a habit. If you’re reading this, then you still have time to get summer time fine before bikini season. Create a fitness plan and stick to it. If you need accountability, join a Facebook fitness support group or plan to work out with a friend. If you need inspiration, scroll through Instagram’s latest trending fitness hashtags: #slimthick #fitnessfreaks #fitnessgoals #summertimefine. Ultimately, if you don’t have a plan then you are planning to fail. Consistency is truly key!

 

slimthick fitness routine

Exercise

This leads us right into our next tip. 80% of success is showing up. So, plan to show up daily if you really want to see results. No, you don’t have to go to the gym every day! You can easily find things to do in your home or even at your place of work during your lunch break. I keep two 15 pound dumb bells in my office for days that I know will be too hectic to get to the gym. Check out Youtube if you don’t know what workouts to do for the areas that you are targeting. Vynessa Alease is one of my favorites when it comes to fitness vloggers. Try to shoot for at least 45 to 60 minutes of daily physical activity. A little effort each day will have a considerable pay off in the long run.

 

slim thick fitness

Diet

If you expect to see weight loss, then just know that you’ll need to make the appropriate changes to your eating habits. This means monitoring both what and how much you eat at each meal. The My Fitness Pal is a great app to use if you are trying to stay at a specific caloric intake. The app will tell you how many calories you’ve consumed based of what you’ve eaten for the day. This will help you determine how much you need to work out in order to burn that amount of calories. Don’t forget that seasonings, dressings and beverages will add calories to your total daily intake as well.

 

diet meal plan

 

Water

Speaking of beverages… All of the frequent exercising can dehydrate you if you’re not taking in adequate amounts of water. Try to keep a bottle of water within close reach. Yep, this gives you an excuse to purchase a cache of cute tumblers. This will deter you from drinking things that you shouldn’t, like soda. This will help you meet your daily water intake goal. It is recommended that you consume eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day. Yes, it sounds overwhelming—but think about all of the wonderful ways your body will reward you for your efforts. If water isn’t exactly your thing, try brewing up a tea or adding a healthy drink mix, like Crystal Light.

 

drink water to lose weight

 

Rest

This new lifestyle will have you feeling amazing! If done right, you can begin to remodel your metabolism. A good balance is of the upmost importance.  It is vital that you give your body the necessary time that it needs for proper recovery. This means, making sure you are rotating the muscle groups that you choose to work out each day. In addition, make sure you are getting enough sleep at night. Try to get at least 8 hours with each slumber. Without this rest period, your body can not effectively replenish its energy nor can it repair damaged tissues. Resting is imperative if you want to have a successful fitness regimen and prevent injury.

 

fitness routine and rest

 

Drop a comment below, to let me know:

  • What goals you are currently working on…
  • What milestones do you hope to reach by Summer…
  • Your favorite fitness related app…

Until next time guys! Remember, fitness is the new 20s…

Before starting any workout or diet plan, please consult with your physician.

Artis Oval Brush – Opt For The Dupe

Want to do makeup like the pros? Well, here’s your chance! I accidentally stumbled across these while looking for a new set of the traditional makeup brushes. I had no clue what these were and what they were being used for–never have I see them before. I mean, come on, these look so bourgeois! That’s right up my alley. I thought, surely those can’t be for amateur use. This made me want them that much more.

 

artis makeup brush

 

So, I went home that night and did what any clueless person eagerly yearning for info does–I went on Youtube! With a few clicks, I found a demo video telling me all about these innovative, chic little  brushes. Immediately, I was hooked! I knew that I was going to have to try these out for myself. I ended up going back to the store and making the purchase.

I found these in my local Burlington Coat Factory store in Webster, TX. I was simply ecstatic that I was getting a set of “Oval Brushes” for myself, at a great price point. I purchased this set of 3 brushes for (wait for it…) a crisp $9 guys! You cannot beat that, especially since the authentic 10 piece Artis set is about $400. That’s a major price difference! $400 is almost a car note for me! Umm, yeah… NOT TODAY… NOT EVER… I tried to find the direct link to the exact product for you guys, but I was unsuccessful. I did however find a very comparable brush set here on Amazon.

 

 

These brushes are ergonomically designed for self application of makeup.. Near the head of the brush, you’ll notice that the stems on these brushes have a little give to them. This is done to reduce the amount of pressure that it being applied to the face. The black finish adds a professional feel to the brush.

The fibers used within them are as soft as polar bear mink (Is that even a thing? lol). The fibers in these brushes are packed very densely. When applying makeup, the product sits on the very top surface of the fibers. There is little to no saturation into the brush. This is great because you end up wasting less of your product. Application is very simple. You are left with a smooth, airbrush finished consistency. How can you not be impressed!

 

 

I achieved the look below after only my second time using the brushes. As you can see, a flawless finish was delivered! They are extremely user friendly. I’d recommend these brushes for all skill levels. Be sure to check out my video below if you’d like to see the full tutorial on how I created this look using the oval brushes. I keep it super simple, so don’t be intimidated! SUBSCRIBE if you like my content!

 

 

 

Garnier Fructis Style on Natural Hair

Recently I was chosen to participate in the #GarnierStyle Voxbox Campaign, courtesy of Garnier Fructis and Influenster. As you know, I have natural hair. This made me a bit weary about trying out the products. I typically try to use as few products as possible in my hair as my natural hair is so quick to experience residue build up. However, the products were free, so I had nothing to lose.

Influenster sent me two products, both shown below. I received these complimentary products in exchange for my honest opinion.

garnier fructis style

– Curl Renew Activating Spray (Reactivating Milk Spray)

– Curl Scrunch Controlling Gel (3 Extra Strong Hold)

I was excited to get to try these products out because Garnier Fructis was my go to brand when I had relaxed hair. I had nothing but positive experiences with the brand. I hadn’t use the line on my natural hair until just recently. My relaxed hair loved these products! If you’re curious to see how the products did on my natural hair, go watch my live demo video here on Youtube!

 

 

If you’re interested in getting free products like this, go sign up for Influenster right now! They need opinions on everything from hair, to makeup, to snacks! You name it…

Sign up for Influenster: www.influenster.com/r/1328751

Want even more #FINALRANT ?! Join the mailing list today!

 

 

Breakups & Little Black Dresses – Sponsored Post

 The worst part about a breakup is knowing that you have to go through the emotional roller coaster of getting all of your feelings back on track. It’s like you’re drowning in a soiree of different moods: happiness, sadness, independence, sorrowfulness, hopefulness, hopelessness, loneliness, anger…. Umm, shall I continue? LOL! In the wake of it all, you finally start to see the light and realize that things aren’t so bad after all.

“I can see clearly now the rain is gone!” This rang so true the first few days after my separation. Hindsight truly is 20/20.

It is at this point in time that you start to see the perks of not having anyone there governing a part of your life. You can go out on dates again! Doing your makeup can take 3 hours and no one will have anything to say about it! You can go shopping without having to worry guilt trips from your significant other. There won’t be anyone nagging for you to come to bed at 2 in the morning, while you’re binge watching Orange is the New Black on a week night. You’re now the only reason that you’d miss a girl’s night out.

Anyway, I digress… The whole point of this blog post is that you have to take the bitter with the sweet. Know that there will be ups and downs, breakups and recovering shopping, sorrowful binge eating and extreme bubble booty gym bounce back. Heh!

This breakup has actually treated me pretty well. I’ve learned a lot about myself, that my BFF is truly “bout it, bout it” and what expectations I have for future suitors.

It may still be a bit early, but I’m well prepared to jump back on the proverbial horse. I’ve even got the perfect little black dress, from Holly O Boutique, for when that time comes.

This little black dress  (by Holly O Boutique) is sexy, yet still tasteful. I love the lace detailing, as it adds just enough delight and intrigue to have your date on his toes all night.

These  pictures do this swanky little dress very little justice. If you want a better view of the detailing, be sure to check out my review video over on my Youtube channel.

Link to Holly O Boutique dress shown:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EORZ734

Pair this with a warm, inviting perfume and a cute pair of black stilettos–MAGIC! I promise you that your date won’t know what hit him!

Seriously, this is a dangerous combo. Try it out, let me know how it goes!

 

African Fashion Week Houston 2017

Any newcomer to Houston knows how daunting this city can be. When I first moved here I was always so overwhelmed. With all of the tollways, highway and sub-cities, it’s no wonder I ended up Google mapping myself everywhere. Oh, and don’t even mention public transportation. I’ve never been in a taxi or on a bus.

city of houston

After years of living in Houston, I’m finally finding the time and courage to take in all of what #HTOWN has to offer. Despite having lived in many different areas of Houston, I had never really visited downtown… It was just too intimidating. Limited parking. One way only traffic. The possibility of getting smashed by a Metrorail. Umm, no… I’ll pass!

minute maid park houston astros

That was my mentality back then, it only took an eternity to shift my thoughts. Friends, dating and boredom inevitably lured me out of my small town city shell. I love Houston’s night life: the sports life, the bar scene, the great eats! When my friends ask where we’re going, I’m the one that’s usually persuading them to go downtown now. I’m finally getting a taste for the fine and eclectic city life that Houston boasts. And… boy, is it addicting! The more hidden spots you find, the more you want to explore… Like, what else have I been missing out on?!

This past weekend, I got to experience my first local fashion show: African Fashion Week Houston. I had my beloved BFF of all time with me, Cristal! She’s a Houston Youtuber too, check out her YT channel here. It was quite entertaining: the  unique outfits, the handsome men, the playful ambiance, the mini bar. You can imagine how psyched I was to be there and able to capture all of the glory. It was like a small scale, more intimate New York Fashion Week meets #blackexcellence. Y’all know I’m here for that!

 

natural hair houston

 

African Fashion Week included a week of luxurious events all across downtown Houston. Beautiful venues, all composed around a concurrent theme: Making the Connection. All of the international beauty that was on site was simply mesmerizing.

 

african fashion week in houston

 

I got an aesthetic dose of African culture, tradition and art. Do y’all see these colors and patterns. The models rocked the runway! Those hosts were great! The designers did their thing! The crowd was very receptive to it all… Good times!

 

african fashion week houston

 

And, just as I said in my last post, there was plenty to eat, drink, and shop! I was at both the food counter and the mini bar. I promise I only had one cocktail! It was a myriad of events, with something for just about everyone.

 

african fashion week houston

 

It’s safe to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the event, the designers, the model and the other photographers that I met. Throughout the event, I made sure to Tweet, Snap and IG. To see more of my Houston African Fashion Week posts, check out the event hashtag #AFWH2017.

 

african fashion week houston

If you want the first look for any of my upcoming events, be sure to follow me on Instagram @final_rant (: