Special Valentines Podcast Interview

An Open Love Letter To My Valentine

                                                                   

The Luckiest Mom Podcast

Episode 252: A Love Story

Over the weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed on The Luckiest Mom Podcast for a Valentines Day Special. I shared hilarious and awkward dating stories (Nudity in foreign films + Jello Wrestling), our famous Kiss, why I look forward to growing old with my husband, and how were embracing all the changes in our personal growth and in our relationship. I had so much fun talking with Reagen Ogle about our love story, but there were so many things I wish I would've shared but didn't get the chance to express. So here it is, my open letter to my valentine expressing all the things I wanted to say but didn't. 

To my Valentine,

First things first, I’m sorry. You told me not to share embarrassing stories but I did. I love those hilarious and cringe worthy moments, because we were young, wild and free. I love that we have those silly memories to look back on and to see how far we’ve come. Who knew Jello wrestling was a bad idea for one of our first impressions haha also who knew that our first foreign film together would lead to a LOT of nudity and misunderstood Asian cultural references. I thought I was looking pretty fly in all my spray tan glory, but bless your heart you stuck through with me during that awkward beauty moment. Speaking of which, thank you for falling in love with me whether I was Blonde, Brunette, Red, Raven Black, and finally bubblegum pink. Its not about falling in love with appearances, you thought I was beautiful inside and out. Thank you for seeing me through all my experimental hair days. 

2009 was a different time of BIG hair and Orange Spray tans

Proof that Yes I Jello wrestled, and yep it was epic

I wish I would’ve mentioned how important our SPOT is in Julia Davis Park in Downtown Boise. We said I love you on that park bench under the stars. That’s where you proposed to me only a few months later. And eventually that’s where we took our kids for a picnic 5 years after those monumental declarations of love. I still listen to the CD I made you entitled "Our SPOT mix". 

DTR'D on our Bench at our SPOT

When I talked about how we stay in love 8 years later, I did a poor job explaining that falling in love is chance, but staying in love is a choice. It was chance encounters that brought us together, but it’s every day choices that keep us together. Without fail, you kiss me goodbye for work every morning! That means all of my gross morning breath has been yours for the taking Every. Single. Day. 365 days a year, for 8 years. The choice to slow dance during the ending credits of movies always makes me smile. The choice to hold my hand and wipe my tears on Sentimental Saturday’s makes me that much more in love with you; despite showing me inspirational YouTube videos of rescue animals, athletes beating cancer, and the ever favorite YouTube genre of feminism and women supporting other women. You love to make me cry. The choice to love you in the good times and in the bad times is why our relationship is so strong, you have a front row seat to all my crazy but instead of walking away, you simply grab the popcorn and watch it unfold. 

I wish I would’ve explained why I look forward to all the boring and mundane moments of life with you. You are my best friend, and there’s no one I’d rather fall asleep on the couch with. There’s no one I’d rather be elbow deep in diaper changes with then you. I want to grow old together. I wish I could’ve detailed my reasons for my Valentines gift this year with better clarity. I bought us the flower beds and seeds because I want to grow together. I want our relationship to blossom and thrive as we nourish it. You are important to me and I want to tend our garden so our family grows healthy and strong. 

Lastly I want to talk to you about change. I love the man I first fell in love with, and I love the man you’ve become. We’ve both grown in so many different ways and it’s unfair to fantasize about the good old days of who we used to be. You love me for me and I love you for you and that’s all that matters. When I died my hair pink without telling you, you didn’t hesitate to tell me I looked beautiful. When I spoke out about women’s rights and the feminist movement, you got right behind me as my own personal cheerleader. And when we both knew how hard Motherhood was for me, you didn’t hesitate to support me in seeking the help I needed. You are my best friend and the only one I want to spend my happily ever after with. I want us to keep changing, growing, and finding ourselves as we continue our relationship for years to come. 

Mr. Ames you are my forever Valentine. Thank you for the life we’ve built together and giving me two wonderful and crazy children. I love our little Ames Wolfpack and look forward to all the grand adventures that are in store for us!

Sincerely,

your forever Valentine

Special Valentines Podcast Interview

An Open Love Letter To My Valentine

                                                                   

The Luckiest Mom Podcast

Episode 252: A Love Story

Over the weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed on The Luckiest Mom Podcast for a Valentines Day Special. I shared hilarious and awkward dating stories (Nudity in foreign films + Jello Wrestling), our famous Kiss, why I look forward to growing old with my husband, and how were embracing all the changes in our personal growth and in our relationship. I had so much fun talking with Reagen Ogle about our love story, but there were so many things I wish I would've shared but didn't get the chance to express. So here it is, my open letter to my valentine expressing all the things I wanted to say but didn't. 

To my Valentine,

First things first, I’m sorry. You told me not to share embarrassing stories but I did. I love those hilarious and cringe worthy moments, because we were young, wild and free. I love that we have those silly memories to look back on and to see how far we’ve come. Who knew Jello wrestling was a bad idea for one of our first impressions haha also who knew that our first foreign film together would lead to a LOT of nudity and misunderstood Asian cultural references. I thought I was looking pretty fly in all my spray tan glory, but bless your heart you stuck through with me during that awkward beauty moment. Speaking of which, thank you for falling in love with me whether I was Blonde, Brunette, Red, Raven Black, and finally bubblegum pink. Its not about falling in love with appearances, you thought I was beautiful inside and out. Thank you for seeing me through all my experimental hair days. 

2009 was a different time of BIG hair and Orange Spray tans

Proof that Yes I Jello wrestled, and yep it was epic

I wish I would’ve mentioned how important our SPOT is in Julia Davis Park in Downtown Boise. We said I love you on that park bench under the stars. That’s where you proposed to me only a few months later. And eventually that’s where we took our kids for a picnic 5 years after those monumental declarations of love. I still listen to the CD I made you entitled "Our SPOT mix". 

DTR'D on our Bench at our SPOT

When I talked about how we stay in love 8 years later, I did a poor job explaining that falling in love is chance, but staying in love is a choice. It was chance encounters that brought us together, but it’s every day choices that keep us together. Without fail, you kiss me goodbye for work every morning! That means all of my gross morning breath has been yours for the taking Every. Single. Day. 365 days a year, for 8 years. The choice to slow dance during the ending credits of movies always makes me smile. The choice to hold my hand and wipe my tears on Sentimental Saturday’s makes me that much more in love with you; despite showing me inspirational YouTube videos of rescue animals, athletes beating cancer, and the ever favorite YouTube genre of feminism and women supporting other women. You love to make me cry. The choice to love you in the good times and in the bad times is why our relationship is so strong, you have a front row seat to all my crazy but instead of walking away, you simply grab the popcorn and watch it unfold. 

I wish I would’ve explained why I look forward to all the boring and mundane moments of life with you. You are my best friend, and there’s no one I’d rather fall asleep on the couch with. There’s no one I’d rather be elbow deep in diaper changes with then you. I want to grow old together. I wish I could’ve detailed my reasons for my Valentines gift this year with better clarity. I bought us the flower beds and seeds because I want to grow together. I want our relationship to blossom and thrive as we nourish it. You are important to me and I want to tend our garden so our family grows healthy and strong. 

Lastly I want to talk to you about change. I love the man I first fell in love with, and I love the man you’ve become. We’ve both grown in so many different ways and it’s unfair to fantasize about the good old days of who we used to be. You love me for me and I love you for you and that’s all that matters. When I died my hair pink without telling you, you didn’t hesitate to tell me I looked beautiful. When I spoke out about women’s rights and the feminist movement, you got right behind me as my own personal cheerleader. And when we both knew how hard Motherhood was for me, you didn’t hesitate to support me in seeking the help I needed. You are my best friend and the only one I want to spend my happily ever after with. I want us to keep changing, growing, and finding ourselves as we continue our relationship for years to come. 

Mr. Ames you are my forever Valentine. Thank you for the life we’ve built together and giving me two wonderful and crazy children. I love our little Ames Wolfpack and look forward to all the grand adventures that are in store for us!

Sincerely,

your forever Valentine

DIY Makeup Vanity For $200

Childhood Dreams Coming True

As a little girl I was always jealous of my sister's Makeup Vanity. We shared a room for years but as soon as we each got our own room, Christina was gifted with the most glorious vanity set and I got a bookcase. My 8 year old self was green with envy, especially since at the time Christina was all tom boy and kept her drumsticks and music books in the drawers instead of all the accessories I thought she should've kept in them. Though to be fair, once we got our separate rooms, our dog picked me over her, so I got to cuddle with my pup in bed for years....so who's the real winner here?!?!? haha anyways... Lets fast forward 20 years and only now am I finally making my dreams come true, ok Mr. Ames is really the one who made it happen haha but still, I finally have my vanity and I'm so happy!

When we built our house, I chose a bathroom design that would lend ease into putting in a custom Makeup Vanity, but surprise surprise, going through the builder was crazy expensive. I spent over a year debating what I should do in that space, (future self is yelling at me for not utilizing that area for more closet space #smh), but finally after going over my budget with my Husband we decided to just go for it. I would've loved to have put in a custom vanity for $700+ buuuut I have a very long list of house projects and I couldn't justify spending that much money on cabinets, let alone adding a few extra hundred on the mirror and chair too.

So after doing a little research on Pinterest and asking my friends, I found some great Ikea Hacks and DIY's for creating a DIY Vanity for under $100. They looked simple, easy, and oh goodness think of all the money I would be saving by doing this all by myself!!! Welp, Im here to tell ya, they are all LIES! Those beautiful picture perfect squares on our Pin Boards sit on a throne of lies. If you are the crafty type, sure you could've followed directions just fine and got the project accomplished...but if you are like me, then it was like running a 5k with your shoelaces tied together. Equal parts hilarious, cringe worthy, and sad at the same time.

DISCLAIMER: I was, and still am, intimidated and overwhelmed with the idea of DIY's, I don't like to craft, I'm not creative with my hands, and I hate following directions. Aka I'm a recipe for disaster. Guys I got way over my head. It wasn't till after I sent out a million Marco Polo messages freaking out to my friend that I realized, just like Gob Bluth, "I've made a huge mistake."

After many failed attempts at Ikea, Lowes, and Home Depot all in one day;  I said screw it and gave up on trying to make my old desk the perfect/cheapest make up vanity. I had a specific look in mind for this project, and no "hack" was going to give me the results I wanted. Once I made up my mind about how I was going to go about my project, I finally took a breath in and started to enjoy the experience. 

When I went away to college my parents bought a cheap twin bed frame with a matching writing desk off of craigslist. It was creme colored and had hideous flower details on it (very early 90's look), but luckily my Mother is a spray paint wizard and was able to turn it into something worth an 18 year olds approval. It really turned into a beautiful bedroom set and for years I loved it! I still get great use out of it since the bed is currently in use in my sons bedroom and the desk has been used as a work desk in my basement ever since I graduated from school. I love being able to give new life to items I already have at home, and I knew if I worked hard enough, I could make my own spray paint magic happen. So heres a glimpse of the Before and After's of my DIY Makeup Vanity.

Materials 

Mercury Hardware $20

Cabinet Pull $10

Spray Paint + Primer $12

Glass Tabletop $70

Faux Fur Vanity Chair $60

Vanity Mirror $32

Total Cost Of DIY: $204

BEFORE

AFTER

Once I decided to follow my own vision, starting and finishing the project became a breeze. I sprayed primer and white finish on my writing desk and left it to dry for 24 hours. I followed this up from knobs and hardware from Lowes and Hobby Lobby, which I thought would be fun, but honestly it was just plain annoying having to make multiple visits to each store. But despite the push and pull, it led to a shopping spree at my local Home Goods store to find a vanity stool and mirror. That was the BEST part of my entire project. Lastly I reached out to a local Glass company and had a table top custom made to fit my vanity. I cringed about the expense, but after the big chain companies let me down I decided it was worth getting exactly what I wanted then something that doesn't fit correctly but cheaper. Quality over quantity. 

Side note, despite Lowes's claim to cut glass, they didn't carry glass large enough to cut and then their saw blade wasn't in store. It was on backorder and they had no idea when it would come in. Home Depot was the same story. I tried (and failed) to go to Ikea to pick up a glass top but after I purchased it I realized it was tempered glass and you cant cut through it without the whole piece shattering. So many fails and just like Lucile Bluth, after that failed DIY experience, all I wanted to do was "Set myself on fire". Sooo good times. 

After everything was said and done, I just went out one night and bought all the extra materials I would need and went for it! I dove right into my DIY and I was so happy with the results. By repurposing my old College Desk and using a little bit of paint, new hardware, and a glass tabletop; I was able to walk away with a whole new Vanity. I love how my project turned out and even though I wasn't able to Ikea Hack it like the fabulous tutorials you see all over the internet, I was able to make my vanity my own. I love the little details, especially how I chose to decorate the vanity, but what I'm looking forward to most is all the memories I'm going to make in my little corner of the Bathroom. I envision curling my daughters hair for church on the vanity stool, painting her nails, and even sitting her on my lap for Mommy Daughter makeovers. So many memories are just waiting to happen at my little Vanity and I cant wait to share them with my daughter!

DIY Makeup Vanity For $200

Childhood Dreams Coming True

As a little girl I was always jealous of my sister's Makeup Vanity. We shared a room for years but as soon as we each got our own room, Christina was gifted with the most glorious vanity set and I got a bookcase. My 8 year old self was green with envy, especially since at the time Christina was all tom boy and kept her drumsticks and music books in the drawers instead of all the accessories I thought she should've kept in them. Though to be fair, once we got our separate rooms, our dog picked me over her, so I got to cuddle with my pup in bed for years....so who's the real winner here?!?!? haha anyways... Lets fast forward 20 years and only now am I finally making my dreams come true, ok Mr. Ames is really the one who made it happen haha but still, I finally have my vanity and I'm so happy!

When we built our house, I chose a bathroom design that would lend ease into putting in a custom Makeup Vanity, but surprise surprise, going through the builder was crazy expensive. I spent over a year debating what I should do in that space, (future self is yelling at me for not utilizing that area for more closet space #smh), but finally after going over my budget with my Husband we decided to just go for it. I would've loved to have put in a custom vanity for $700+ buuuut I have a very long list of house projects and I couldn't justify spending that much money on cabinets, let alone adding a few extra hundred on the mirror and chair too.

So after doing a little research on Pinterest and asking my friends, I found some great Ikea Hacks and DIY's for creating a DIY Vanity for under $100. They looked simple, easy, and oh goodness think of all the money I would be saving by doing this all by myself!!! Welp, Im here to tell ya, they are all LIES! Those beautiful picture perfect squares on our Pin Boards sit on a throne of lies. If you are the crafty type, sure you could've followed directions just fine and got the project accomplished...but if you are like me, then it was like running a 5k with your shoelaces tied together. Equal parts hilarious, cringe worthy, and sad at the same time.

DISCLAIMER: I was, and still am, intimidated and overwhelmed with the idea of DIY's, I don't like to craft, I'm not creative with my hands, and I hate following directions. Aka I'm a recipe for disaster. Guys I got way over my head. It wasn't till after I sent out a million Marco Polo messages freaking out to my friend that I realized, just like Gob Bluth, "I've made a huge mistake."

After many failed attempts at Ikea, Lowes, and Home Depot all in one day;  I said screw it and gave up on trying to make my old desk the perfect/cheapest make up vanity. I had a specific look in mind for this project, and no "hack" was going to give me the results I wanted. Once I made up my mind about how I was going to go about my project, I finally took a breath in and started to enjoy the experience. 

When I went away to college my parents bought a cheap twin bed frame with a matching writing desk off of craigslist. It was creme colored and had hideous flower details on it (very early 90's look), but luckily my Mother is a spray paint wizard and was able to turn it into something worth an 18 year olds approval. It really turned into a beautiful bedroom set and for years I loved it! I still get great use out of it since the bed is currently in use in my sons bedroom and the desk has been used as a work desk in my basement ever since I graduated from school. I love being able to give new life to items I already have at home, and I knew if I worked hard enough, I could make my own spray paint magic happen. So heres a glimpse of the Before and After's of my DIY Makeup Vanity.

Materials 

Mercury Hardware $20

Cabinet Pull $10

Spray Paint + Primer $12

Glass Tabletop $70

Faux Fur Vanity Chair $60

Vanity Mirror $32

Total Cost Of DIY: $204

BEFORE

AFTER

Once I decided to follow my own vision, starting and finishing the project became a breeze. I sprayed primer and white finish on my writing desk and left it to dry for 24 hours. I followed this up from knobs and hardware from Lowes and Hobby Lobby, which I thought would be fun, but honestly it was just plain annoying having to make multiple visits to each store. But despite the push and pull, it led to a shopping spree at my local Home Goods store to find a vanity stool and mirror. That was the BEST part of my entire project. Lastly I reached out to a local Glass company and had a table top custom made to fit my vanity. I cringed about the expense, but after the big chain companies let me down I decided it was worth getting exactly what I wanted then something that doesn't fit correctly but cheaper. Quality over quantity. 

Side note, despite Lowes's claim to cut glass, they didn't carry glass large enough to cut and then their saw blade wasn't in store. It was on backorder and they had no idea when it would come in. Home Depot was the same story. I tried (and failed) to go to Ikea to pick up a glass top but after I purchased it I realized it was tempered glass and you cant cut through it without the whole piece shattering. So many fails and just like Lucile Bluth, after that failed DIY experience, all I wanted to do was "Set myself on fire". Sooo good times. 

After everything was said and done, I just went out one night and bought all the extra materials I would need and went for it! I dove right into my DIY and I was so happy with the results. By repurposing my old College Desk and using a little bit of paint, new hardware, and a glass tabletop; I was able to walk away with a whole new Vanity. I love how my project turned out and even though I wasn't able to Ikea Hack it like the fabulous tutorials you see all over the internet, I was able to make my vanity my own. I love the little details, especially how I chose to decorate the vanity, but what I'm looking forward to most is all the memories I'm going to make in my little corner of the Bathroom. I envision curling my daughters hair for church on the vanity stool, painting her nails, and even sitting her on my lap for Mommy Daughter makeovers. So many memories are just waiting to happen at my little Vanity and I cant wait to share them with my daughter!

Lady Luxe Wednesday

Luxe Couture Interview 

This past week has been a fun one! I've been battling the stomach flu, prepping for my first TV segment, and had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed by Luxe Couture Fashion for their Lady Luxe Wednesday feature. I share my favorite items on their website and a few of my favorite things...aka chocolate and books! Be sure to check it out and find your new favorite things!!

Lady Luxe Wednesday

Luxe Couture Interview 

This past week has been a fun one! I've been battling the stomach flu, prepping for my first TV segment, and had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed by Luxe Couture Fashion for their Lady Luxe Wednesday feature. I share my favorite items on their website and a few of my favorite things...aka chocolate and books! Be sure to check it out and find your new favorite things!!

Poop Face Mom

poopface

(n.)A term of endearment used between two people who are so enamored with one another that they do not care that the other one is stinky. Used in the place of babu, schnookums, and pooky.

The endearments back and forth between myself and my children are an eclectic mix between "Sweet love, my ting ting, and poop face". Oh to be 4 years old and insult your mother like a champ! I regularly get told I am a Poop Face Mom (multiple times a day, mind you) and I'm owning it. I declare from this day forth that I am a proud Poop Face Parent and no matter the variation or severity of poop names that get yelled my way, I am taking them as a compliment.

It's a compliment to my skills in parenting that my son gets angry at me for running a tight ship. I am the Bad Cop to my Husbands Good Cop, and I love it. I get to "shut it down" whenever I like and even though I'm the fun parent, I'm also the best at what I do! I am that maniacal parent who gets sweet joy out of my children's suffering haha... oh my kids dont want to go to bed, well too bad! Cue evil laughter and lightning strikes! Oh you wanted ice cream for dinner??? NOPE! Shut it down! Bless their hearts, they think they can get away with anything but I'm here to tell ya, that when Mom puts on her Poop Face Pants... Its. About. To. Go. Down. 

I bring this topic up because yesterday Brody yelled at me in front of my friend and called me names like  Poop Face Mom, Poopy Butt, and some mixture of Face Butt Fart Head. Ya know, real classy stuff. I could've been mortified by my sons behavior and disciplined him right then and there for talking back to me, but instead, my friend and I just busted out laughing! Bless him, he was so upset and did his best to express himself, and for that I applaud his efforts! I applaud him for expressing his anger, and not fighting his emotions. I applaud him for working through his anger. It's hard to express the big feelings we feel in our tiny bodies, and especially when your'e confused about why your'e angry (btw he was angry because I answered the front door.... #firstworldproblems) and you just want Mom to pay attention to you. 

Bless him, that boy is gonna turn me grey before I hit 30 but I sure do love him. I love the way he challenges me, I love how he finds creative ways to express himself. I love that he wants to go on mommy adventures to get Dr. Pepper and go to Target. I love that he wants mom to cuddle him every night. And I love the way he calls me Tess, and not Mom. He is a handful and I defiantly have my work cut out for me but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm learning to love my poop face mommy moments because it means I am doing something right. My Mom life is beautiful and ugly and hard... oh man are some of the days SO hard... but its my poop face life and I love it! I own all of the good and the bad! So I challenge you to embrace all your poop face moments and revel in the excitement and joy that is great parenting! All my Poop Face Moms UNITE!

Poop Face Mom

poopface

(n.)A term of endearment used between two people who are so enamored with one another that they do not care that the other one is stinky. Used in the place of babu, schnookums, and pooky.

The endearments back and forth between myself and my children are an eclectic mix between "Sweet love, my ting ting, and poop face". Oh to be 4 years old and insult your mother like a champ! I regularly get told I am a Poop Face Mom (multiple times a day, mind you) and I'm owning it. I declare from this day forth that I am a proud Poop Face Parent and no matter the variation or severity of poop names that get yelled my way, I am taking them as a compliment.

It's a compliment to my skills in parenting that my son gets angry at me for running a tight ship. I am the Bad Cop to my Husbands Good Cop, and I love it. I get to "shut it down" whenever I like and even though I'm the fun parent, I'm also the best at what I do! I am that maniacal parent who gets sweet joy out of my children's suffering haha... oh my kids dont want to go to bed, well too bad! Cue evil laughter and lightning strikes! Oh you wanted ice cream for dinner??? NOPE! Shut it down! Bless their hearts, they think they can get away with anything but I'm here to tell ya, that when Mom puts on her Poop Face Pants... Its. About. To. Go. Down. 

I bring this topic up because yesterday Brody yelled at me in front of my friend and called me names like  Poop Face Mom, Poopy Butt, and some mixture of Face Butt Fart Head. Ya know, real classy stuff. I could've been mortified by my sons behavior and disciplined him right then and there for talking back to me, but instead, my friend and I just busted out laughing! Bless him, he was so upset and did his best to express himself, and for that I applaud his efforts! I applaud him for expressing his anger, and not fighting his emotions. I applaud him for working through his anger. It's hard to express the big feelings we feel in our tiny bodies, and especially when your'e confused about why your'e angry (btw he was angry because I answered the front door.... #firstworldproblems) and you just want Mom to pay attention to you. 

Bless him, that boy is gonna turn me grey before I hit 30 but I sure do love him. I love the way he challenges me, I love how he finds creative ways to express himself. I love that he wants to go on mommy adventures to get Dr. Pepper and go to Target. I love that he wants mom to cuddle him every night. And I love the way he calls me Tess, and not Mom. He is a handful and I defiantly have my work cut out for me but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm learning to love my poop face mommy moments because it means I am doing something right. My Mom life is beautiful and ugly and hard... oh man are some of the days SO hard... but its my poop face life and I love it! I own all of the good and the bad! So I challenge you to embrace all your poop face moments and revel in the excitement and joy that is great parenting! All my Poop Face Moms UNITE!

Dress For Success: Exercise With Confidence

Jacket + Leggings from Jane.com

Exercising with confidence is a hard endeavor. Whether your at a public gym, running out on the streets, or even working out at home; getting your body moving and sweating takes confidence. Its about putting on those blinders and getting into the zone, finding that sweet spot where all that matters is hitting that next mile or pushing hard for that final lift. Our bodies are beautiful and we should celebrate that by treating them with care. We should be exercising for the joy of movement and not as a punishment for dormant motion.

"Workout because you love your body, not because you hate it."

When I exercise I stare down my reflection, I call this my "Eye Of The Tiger" moment. I look at my whole self and take in all that I am. I pull my shoulders back, tuck my stomach in towards the spine and take a deep breathe. I repeat, "I can do this, I can do more, I can be more, I can push harder, sink lower, press deeper, and fight through the pain." I do this all with a cheshire smile, because I know I'm strong, and I know how much more I can give to my workout. I have the mental strength to keep up with the physical demands I place on my body. I dont stop when its hurts, I stop when its over. I challenge myself to put those gym blinders on and focus on the reasons why I am exercising. I exercise because;

1. I love movement! I cant keep still and I'm almost always in motion. Because of my dance background, I have a strong connection with the musculature of the human body. Every step, extension of a limb or release of the spine breathes in new life into our bodies. It's fascinating to me. I'm in constant awe of the grace, strength and beauty that is the human form. I love the way our bodies move and never want to take that gift for granted.
2. I want to live a happy and healthy life. I want to find a balance between enjoying my happy treats (a daily dose of Chocolate and Diet Coke, thank you very much!) and treating my body to what it craves- aka water, protein, vitamins, fruits and veggies. I want the good stuff and the good for you stuff. I exercise because it helps me maintain a healthy weight and gets my body moving and grooving.
3. "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands. They just don't.".... Ok this one, not so much Elle Woods, but I see her reasoning pretty clear. Endorphins make you happy and increases your self confidence. When I exercise I feel great! I love the confidence it gives me in and outside of the gym. I feel more well rounded as a mother and wife when I take that little bit of time to do something that benefits me. I'm happier when I work out and I love the stress relief it brings me. 

I not only mentally prepare for my workout, but I physically prepare for it by dressing my body for success. When I teach I bring my A game. My hair is pulled back tight, (you can thank my classic top knot as my signature Barre babe look), I wear form fitting attire that shows how my body is moving so I know if my form is correct or not, and I usually put a splash of makeup on my face. Nothing dramatic, just enough to give me that confidence when I'm giving myself the "Eye Of The Tiger" look. It's not about dressing to impress or intimidate, for me its about taking pride in my body. Showing my clients that I am a professional, I dont roll out of bed and go teach. I take the time to physically prepare myself to take on the roll of instructor, drill sergeant, and fitness guru. How embarrassing would it be if I came into class looking like a hot mess!?!? As a certified instructor, I know what I'm talking about when I tell you to lift your leg higher, open your turn out, or pull the abs into the spine for safer support of the lower back. So when I instruct, I aim to present myself as a professional in my field of work.

Looking good when I work out helps me feel good. I love uGo Apparel's motto, "Look Good, Feel Good," I dont dress to impress anyone but myself...because when I workout i'm not doing it for the attention, I'm sweating for me. My choice of workout clothes definitely influences my attitude and fortitude in my classes. My confidence radiates to my clients and helps inspire them to be their best selves. 

Shape Magazine journalist, Julie Ricevuto, wrote an excellent article about how our workout clothes affect our performance in and outside of the gym. She listed the top reasons why dressing for success during our workouts improve our overall performance. They are,

- They give your brain a boost

- They up the intimidation factor

- They can improve performance

- Help prevent injuries and offer protection

Dressing up for your workout, per the examples listed above, can improve your over all performance. Your outward appearance reflects your mindset, it tells the world you are ready to sweat and crush your goals. I loved the idea that Ricevuto's article brought up of "enclothed cognition," which refers to a sort of mental shift you experience when you wear certain clothes. One study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology suggests that clothing influences behavior and attitudes because it carries a symbolic meaning. So, what you wear is actually subconsciously changing how you act.

Dr. Jonathan Fader, sports psychologist for the New York Mets, says these findings totally hold-up in real life. "When you put on new fitness gear, you begin to get into character like an actor putting on a costume for a performance," says Fader. "As a result, you expect to have a better performance, making you more mentally prepared for the task." Basically, when you wear cute workout wear, not only are you more inclined to actually be active, but Fader says those tank tops and racer-backs will also make you feel more confident in your abilities, which could lead to an improved focus, motivation, and gains.

Dressing for success is a great motto for 2018. It can apply to virtually any situation, like a final piece of the puzzle, this quote completes my health and fitness goals this year. For 2018 I created practical goals that promote self care and good health that specifically focus's on NOT involving my scale or counting calories. Regardless of the number on the scale, I want to feel beautiful and strong in the body i'm in. Thus I want to dress my body in activewear that flaunts my curves, provides support, and most importantly; gives me the inspiration to exercise with confidence.

Jane.com has done exactly that.They are an online boutique marketplace that features the latest in fashion trends, home decor, and children's clothing. I've shopped on Jane.com for a few years now and I always find something fun and stylish either for myself, my kids or my home. I love getting a good deal, and on Jane.com, the deals are right at my finger tips. 

Jane has an awesome Work It Out campaign going on right now with the best workout clothing, gear and accessories available on the market. I recently picked 3 items that I knew would up my game in and out of the studio. By typing in Activewear to the search engine, it pulled up all the discounted deals in the fitness category. The deals running at that time were;

Luxe Workout Leggings, Seller: Luxe House Of Couture

Black and White Wind Runner, Seller: Jacey Lane

Bluetooth Headphones with Ear loop, Seller: LAX Gadgets

My Jane.com haul

"Style Is A Deeply Personal Expression Of Who You Are, And Every Time You Dress, You Are Asserting A Part Of Yourself."- Nina Garcia

Luxe Workout Leggings, Seller: Luxe House Of Couture

This powerful tight delivers unbelievable softness and lightweight compression in a new print and cutout design for a fun energetic feel. INSPIRED FOR: yoga, studio workouts, hanging out or whatever you're doing that day! I've only worn them a couple of times when I teach Barre, but I'm telling ya, these are going to be my go to leggings from here on out!

Jane.com- $22.99 

Retail-$48.99

Bluetooth Headphones with Ear loop, Seller: LAX Gadget

Sweat proof, lightweight, take anywhere Bluetooth Wireless In-Ear Sports Earbuds Headphones for your active lifestyle. High Quality Sound: High-fidelity stereo music and clear speech via Noise reduction. Built-in microphone allows you to answer and end calls, allows you to adjust the volume, pause, select songs and pick up calls completely effortlessly. Soft Secure Hooks allow for the earphones to stay in-ear while working out. Comes with tough carrying case. 

Jane.com- $9.99

Retail- $29.99

Black and White Wind Runner, Seller: Jacey Lane

This designer inspired Wind Runner will be a must-have for the fall, winter, and spring! Perfect color to go with any work out top. Even throw on some jeans and tennis shoes for a casual day of running errands! I love that Jacey Lane's boutique goal is to give you practical, fashion forward clothing at an amazing price. Now that's something I can definitely get behind!

Jane.com- $27.99

Retail- $69.99

Be sure to check out the links to both Jane.com + Jane.com/activewear! Jane's deals change frequently, so you may not find these exact items, but there's definitely going to be something that you'll fall in love with! I love my new gear and I love the confidence they give me! Now go treat yo self to something new and fabulous... YOU DESERVE IT! Go forward with confidence, positivity, and love my friends! Get your "Eye Of The Tiger" face on and get to work! The link is in my profile, so go shop and check out all the fun items up for grabs! You can thank me later! ;)

"The Secret To Great Style Is To Feel Good In What You Wear" 

Shop My Look

Jane.com

Jane.com/activewear

**DISCLOSURE: Jane.com sent me these products, but all opinions are my own.**