So I told you what I'm leaving behind in 2018 , so let me tell you what I'm taking with me into the new year! This list comprises different mindsets, actions, and items I want to bring with me into 2019 so that I can have as productive and successful a year as possible. ...

I know we've all seen a bunch of posts on social media with folks reflecting on their year, posting their favorite members, and talking about their resolutions for 2019. At the end of each year, I like to reflect on the year and recalibrate for the upcoming year. I don't necessarily do "resolutions" in the traditional sense, but I'm all about setting goals throughout the year anyway, so why not set some more at the dawn of a new year? So this year, I'm trying something new: I'm choosing 10 specific things I'm leaving behind in 2018, for real for real. Throughout the year, I told myself to stop doing these things, but I'm stubborn and hard headed so I didn't even listen to myself. Now that I'm throwing it out there in the universe (otherwise known as the internet), I have to do them, right? ...

I've eaten a lot of stuff I normally wouldn't eat - and in very large quantities - while I've been visiting my future in-laws this week. Pies and cake and cookies OH MY! I don't even have a sweet tooth, but I have been going HAM on pastries. Which brings me to the next problem - ham. And pork. I don't eat these things, but I've sucked it up and eaten a fair amount so as not to put anyone out or be difficult. I don't avoid eating "the other white meat" because of religious reasons or anything. It's really just a personal choice. But man. I had these sausages at a family friend's house that nearly had me break dancing in the kitchen, they were so good! And so, after eating and eating and eating just a couple of days in, my pants started getting tighter and tighter, and I realized I needed to get my butt up and moving a lot more than what I was doing after  getting in my 10 burpees upon arrival in Ohio. (We drove, so I just needed to mo...

This January, I'm kicking off a brand new challenge here at Flecks of Lex: The 4K by 4PM Challenge ! The goal of this challenge is to try to get 4,000 steps by 4:00 p.m. each day. The purpose is to make sure you're moving throughout the day, even if it's just to get up to walk to the bathroom or to get a drink of water. I've been working on hitting this goal over the last few months, and I gotta tell you: It's not always easy! I work a job that primarily requires me to be at a desk, and there are hours where I find that I don't even stand up once! (It's especially difficult when I'm working on the organization's website!) ...

You guys know how much I love prAna . They make clothing of excellent quality, they practice corporate responsibility, and they have a lot of great clothes made from sustainably sourced and recycled materials. I have been living  in their Cardiff collection . I was gifted the Cozy Up Zip Up Jacket , Cozy Up Pant , Cozy Up Sweatshirt , and Cozy Up T-Shirt . Let me tell ya: They live up to their names! ...

You may already know this, but I love CYCLED ! It's been a while since I've been back to the studio, but I was so glad to be back! I finally got to take a barre class at the Takoma Park studio, and it kicked my butt! Shayla , the owner of Cycled , taught the class and took us through a tough workout - all while smiling and keeping everyone motivated. ...

This is a new section on Flecks of Lex where I share workouts that target major muscle groups, and that can be done quickly with little to no equipment. I don't know about you, but sometimes I don't have enough time in between activities (be they work events, family functions, or volleyball games) to get a 30-minute workout in, but I have enough time to pump out a few exercises that will leave me feeling satisfied and slightly sore. ...

Last month, I completed my first Tabata workout on the treadmill , courtesy of Carrots 'n Cake .  It was challenging, but fun. I made some modifications based on my fitness level, but overall, it was a wonderful workout. ...

I had an awesome time at Pulse House of Fitness  last weekend! Everyone who works at the studio was so nice and welcoming, plus I got in a great workout. The studio was clean, I liked the vibe in the place, and I am definitely planning a return trip to Pulse! When I walked in, they showed me to my locker in the hallway. Everyone gets assigned a locker with the letter A or B, which they use when they have back-to-back classes. It allows people to get in and out more easily, and I think it's a brilliant idea! After dropping my belongings in a locker (and yes, they have built-in phone chargers), I got to go into the room where the magic happens: the studio! They set me up on the versa climber and explained how to use it, which was great for me since I had never used one before! (They don't currently have one at my gym, so I don't think I've ever even stood next to one before last Saturday!) I've taken some classes where they don't ever show you how to use thei...

This post is sponsored by U by Kotex but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. I was talking to a friend the other day about having an emergency stash of tampons. I try to keep one in every place where I might be at any given time, including my gym bag, my volleyball bag, my car, my desk drawer at work, my purse, and God knows where else. I find that you never really know when you’re going to need one in a pinch, or when you might have to help another woman out. Secret stashes FTW (and for the sisterhood!). But then I got to thinking about something I’ve talked about on here recently : Period poverty . What if you can’t afford to have a secret stash? What if you can’t afford to have a regular stash? I think about what women have to endure in extreme poverty, homelessness, and even incarceration, and I can’t fathom how they get through a menstrual cycle with limited resources. And what if they have especially heavy or irregular periods? It’s heartbreaking. ...

So, this is cool: My friend wrote a book! My BlogFest friend and fellow Sweat Pink Ambassador Lyn Lindbergh wrote a book, Couch to Active . This is such a neat book! It provides a roadmap to becoming active if you've been living a sedentary lifestyle, but it also provides insight into how to achieve your fitness goals in a practical, attainable way. It has an 8-week plan woven throughout the book and some really great advice that works for people all over the fitness spectrum. The tagline for the book is, "The missing link that takes you from sedentary to active," and I think that's pretty accurate. Couch to Active  is a great book for those looking to take their "one day" into "day one." ...

Oh, volleyball knee pads. So useful. So protective. So doggone funky! You see me smiling in all of my volleyball pictures? That's because I love the sport and it brings me so much joy! I get to play volleyball AND hang out with my friends at the same time? Win-win! But sniffing those knee pads... that's taking an L, guys. On Sunday, I played a hard-fought coed game. When I was removing my shoes and knee pads to change into my off-the-court shoes (it really helps your volleyball shoes last longer if you only wear them on the court! Pro tip!), I smelled something so funky, I had to take a look around and make sure it was really me that was the source. Good day in the morning was that smell funky! Was it my shoes? Was it my bag? Was it my knee pads? Foolish, foolish, foolish  me. I decided to sniff my knee pads.  ...

In this new series, I will be posting quick reviews about different products I receive. I get a TON of free samples and full-size snack items to try. I give some away, share some with my fiance, and keep some for myself, but it seems like I never really tell you guys about them on here! This is my way of sharing different snack ideas with you all. For transparency's sake, I will let you know where/how I received the product, as well as my honest thoughts about them. Have you guys ever heard of  P.S. Snacks Cookie Dough ? Um, so these are amazing. They taste so good, and you're thinking you're eating something on the naughty list, but really? It's mostly beans! I don't even know how they do it, but I'm glad they do. So what are they? They're 3-ounce cups of goodness! They are vegan, gluten-free, clean snacks. I love having them after work or before a volleyball game. ...

This post is sponsored by U by Kotex but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. Last week, I volunteered with an absolutely incredible organization: The DC Diaper Bank - an organization that provides diapers, feminine products, and other personal hygiene items to families in need. They are part of the Alliance for Period Supplies , which provides feminine products for women experiencing " period poverty ." I spent a few hours at the Diaper Bank, packaging up groups of diapers and speaking to staff about their work in the community. It was such a wonderful experience, and I learned a lot while I was there.  ...

That face is the face of a woman who got her butt kicked. (Okay, that's obviously a dramatic overreaction, but you get the idea.) I have taken the Luscious Legs and Arm Candy, Kettlebell Chicks, and Kettlebell 101 Swing Series classes taught by the phenomenal  Anabell Browne. I have sweated my face off, I have nearly barfed (due to ingesting an insane amount of sparkling water leading up to a HIIT workout), and I have learned the proper way to do Russian swings with the kettlebell. Long story short: I came to class, I saw Ana work her magic, and I got conquered by all matter of fitness equipment.  Let me back up and start from the beginning. ...

In this new series, I will be posting quick reviews about different products I receive. I get a TON of free samples and full-size snack items to try. I give some away, share some with my fiance, and keep some for myself, but it seems like I never really tell you guys about them on here! This is my way of sharing different snack ideas with you all. For transparency's sake, I will let you know where/how I received the product, as well as my honest thoughts about them.  Okay, so these Bobo's Mini Chocolate Chip Oat Bars are so good! I received them in a swag bag from the Old Town Alexandria Fitness + Wellness Festival . I checked out the nutrition facts and determined that, while they are delicious, these aren't the greatest nutrition-wise, which isn't a total bummer, but that also means I can't justify eating them by the handful. They are  gluten-free, though, so there's that. Nonetheless, that ain't gonna stop me from eating the ones I have! They'r...

Okay, so I made this acai bowl yesterday that was delicious and super easy! I'll reason with you guys: I almost never measure my ingredients when I'm creating a recipe. Sometimes I do, but a lot of it is trial and error, or just good old eyeballing. I use frozen acai puree from Trader Joe's for my acai bowls. The packets can be a little messy if you're not careful, but they come packaged with the perfect amount, plus they're already frozen, so it makes your acai bowl that much quicker and easier to make! TJ's has some great stuff in their frozen section that makes smoothie making super simple. If you haven't taken a close look at their frozen fruit, make a note to check it out the next time you're in their store! For this recipe, I used the following ingredients (almost all of which can be found at Trader Joe's), but note that I'm estimating the quantities. It's your bowl, so make it yours! Have some fun! ...

This Saturday, I'm co-hosting my second event as part of the DMV Fitness Fam duo with my fit sister Vida from  Healthy Curves Rock ! We're hosting a free spin class at Vortex Cycle in Tyson's Corner, Virginia. The class will be a 45-minute ride, with high-energy tunes and a great atmosphere. Following the class, we will have networking and some light refreshments for all event attendees . (You guys already know how I feel about Vortex , so I'm not going to rave about the studio in this post.) Whether you're a fitness professional, influencer, or enthusiast, you're not going to want to miss out on this event! So, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and register! Bikes are filling up fast! Hope to see you there!...

A few months back, I attended the Discover Arlington Fitness + Wellness Festival . I got to try a bunch of new (to me) workouts, and I also got to sample some new food, beverages, and beauty products. One of the beauty tables that kept my attention: All That Yazz! I am absolutely in love with All That Yazz  soaps and other products. I have very sensitive skin, so I have to be very careful with soaps. Fortunately, these homemade, all-natural soaps feel great on my skin, are better for the environment than what I might normally buy (especially with its minimalist, recyclable packaging), and have delicate scents that are not overwhelming or skin-irritating. Furthermore, the fact that Yasmine does not use palm oil in her soaps is a plus-plus-plus! ...

Last week, I took my first class with Cornell McClellan - personal trainer to the Obamas for over two decades - at Fitness Snob Studio . I wanted to learn more about his Immortal Body Workout , as well as some exercises and tips to help me get closer to those coveted Michelle Obama Arms. The class was great for all fitness levels, Cornell was engaging, and I learned some new exercises and corrections to exercises I thought I was doing right all along. I loved learning new exercises, as well as different modifications and variations to the exercises I've been incorporating into my workouts. (Check out this Instagram video I made with the inchworm variation we did during the class.) Cornell made everyone in the class feel comfortable but also encouraged us to push ourselves throughout the class. He gave us a lot of cues to make sure we were completing each exercise correctly - even if we were all going at different paces. ...

This post is sponsored by Vega, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own based on my truthful experience. I am not a morning person. At. All. But I am a night person, which means that a lot of the workouts I do are in the evening/nighttime, which is not necessarily ideal for making smart food decisions. I have made a lot of bad choices after late-night volleyball games, but I’ve really been making great strides at having lighter, protein-rich snacks/meals at night. Lately, I’ve been gobbling up the new Vega Protein Cashewmilk Yogurt Alternative . This is a plant-based yogurt alternative that has the highest protein per serving of any plant-based yogurt alternative on the market - 13 grams per serving! Your body needs carbs and protein after an intense workout to repair your muscles, and this yogurt alternative is a great way to hit both! Plus, it tastes pretty good! (It comes in raspberry, blueberry, vanilla, and strawberry flavors.) This is a brand with many produc...

With some challenges, I look them directly in the eyes and say, "challenge accepted!" With others, I raise my eyebrows, cock my head to the side, blink very slowly and dramatically (think Titus Andromedon), and say, "you gone do what to who?" When I first hear about the Sparkling Detox Challenge, my reaction was initially the latter. I can only drink sparkling water? No sweet tea? No lemonade? No coffee? NO CARAMEL MACCHIATOS? What is this sorcery?! Once I chilled out, I thought, hmmm. You know what? I can go 5 days without drinking anything but sparkling water. Stop being a crybaby! And so I did. ...

It has been super hot and super rainy in Maryland for the last month. Like, super hot and super rainy. And, if you’ve been following along with my social media posts , you know that I’ve been working really hard at my fitness these days. Like super hard! I now have almost double-digit indoor cycling classes under my belt as an instructor (number 10 is tonight!), I’ve been practicing HIIT classes with friends, and I even just got certified to teach APEX classes. Needless to say, with all of the sweating and excessive heat going on, your girl has had to focus on hydration. ...

A couple of weeks ago, I attended BlogHer in New York City. It was a fun opportunity to get out of the area for a couple of days, connect with other content creators and influencers, and see some friends. While I wish I could have gotten a bit more from the conference itself, I did get an opportunity to hear from some great speakers and try out some brands for the first time. One brand that I had an opportunity to try was Honest Beauty - Jessica Alba's beauty line from her Honest Company . They partnered with The Glam  App  to set up a makeup booth where BlogHer attendees could get their makeup done, and leave the event with a lip crayon, magic beauty balm, and primer. ...

Top: Cycled , Leggings: Fabletics , Shoes: TIEM Slipstreams Recently, I took a class at Vortex Indoor Cycling in Tysons Corner, Virginia. This was my second time at the studio, but it has been at least six months since my last visit. Vortex is an absolutely gorgeous studio! They are the only studio I've ever visited that uses Stages  bikes, which were cool to try out. I love the layout of the cycling studio, this spot is as clean as a whistle, and it's located right next door to the Tysons Corner Metro Station (plus, they validate parking at the garage directly below the studio). But the real cool catch of this spot is that it features a cafe within its walls. ...

That's a question I was asked earlier this week. I couldn't believe it! Of course, I said "yes" because let's be real -- Michelle Obama's arms are on the vision board I keep stored in my mind. Her arms are practically my life goals. And so, I will be working out with Michelle Obama's personal trainer next month! Do you want to work out with Michelle Obama's trainer? Well, it's possible! ...

Some of the hardworking ladies behind Fit Approach  + me!  They are the best!  BlogFest always reinvigorates my soul. Being around so many positive, motivational people gives me the energy recharge and focus shift that my mind requires each summer, it seems. There is just so much that happens during BlogFest that it's hard to put it all into words. A lot of it is feelings . I have felt like my heart has been glowing since the final hug goodbye of the conference, and I'm going to keep this glow for as long as I can! Let me start with the basics: BlogFest is a 2-day conference within a conference that takes place during IDEA World. To attend the conference, you apply earlier in the year. If selected, you get to attend BlogFest for free, but you also get a free entry into IDEA World (I know!). BlogFest is primarily for health/fitness/wellness influencers. I'm not going to go through the full rundown of every little thing in this post. I really need a few posts...

Two words: social responsibility.  I haven't had much brand loyalty when it comes to my general workout clothes. With my volleyball clothes, I definitely have specific pieces I buy, because I'm a creature of habit when it comes to the sport I've been playing for almost 25 years. I need very specific items for volleyball that aren't going to shift or irritate me when I'm setting or diving or what have you. With all of my other workouts, aside from weather-related consideration, I'm not too picky with my clothes. For indoor cycling classes, I want to make sure I'm not sliding all over the seat, but aside from that, as long as it fits and wicks sweat, I haven't been terribly worried. That is, of course, until I fell in love with prAna !  ...

People often think that there's a quick fix to losing weight or hitting your health/fitness goals, and the answer is that there isn't: It takes a lot of hard work and habit changes to lose weight safely and sustainably. Nevertheless, this doesn't mean that you can't make small changes now to change your mindset and bad habits! Below, you'll find 9 simple changes you can make today  to start living a healthier life. ...

Working on the "Hunger Pose" while trying to smize with Nikki Major Yesterday, I took my first ever Vixen Workout class with Master Instructor Nikki Major . It was a great workout that pushed the limits of my comfort zone. The class was hosted at The Fitness Snob - self-described as the WeWork of fitness studios. I could use a lot of words to describe myself, but sexy sure ain't one of 'em! This class was a dance workout that had some sexy, feminine dance elements, that I was sure I did mostly wrong, but I came out of class feeling a little sexier than when I walked in! ...

Exactly two weeks from today, I'm going to be in San Diego for Blogfest and IDEA World! This will be my third year in a row at the conference, and the first time I will travel to San Diego. I can't wait! Last year's conference was in Las Vegas, and the 2016 conference was in Los Angeles. I'm hoping they'll come to the East Coast at some point, but until then, I will fly my butt out west because I absolutely LOVE Blogfest ! Anyway, back to the reason I'm posting today! I thought that today was as good a day as any to explain why I love Sweat Pink/ Fit Approach (our Blogfest hosts) so much, and why I love being a Sweat Pink Ambassador . ...

I was born and raised in the Washington, DC Metro Area. I went to college in Brooklyn, New York, but I came back to the area after college and have lived here since. I love this area! There is so much history, power, and beauty in DC, despite the bad rep it gets due to the national political climate. One thing that I think is true of a lot of people who have grown up in major metropolitan areas is that you end up not getting to do/see a lot of the touristy things in your city. You tend to take them for granted. When I was younger, my parents made sure that I visited various landmarks, museums, memorials, and other historic sites in the area. It really made growing up in the shadow of the nation's capital a pretty cool experience. Now that I'm an adult, I find that I don't get to do as much sightseeing in DC as I'd like, and on the rare occasion that I do, it feels like I'm experiencing it all for the first time. ...

I decided to try out a new feature here on Flecks of Lex: 9 Things I'm Diggin. Why 9, you ask? Well, it's my favorite number, and it's my blog, so... here we are! My goal with this feature is to share with you different things I'm enjoying each month -- be it food, drinks, activities, books, etc. ...

This year, Mother's Day in the United States falls on May 13. That means you have just over a month to get yo mama something nice or do something nice for her. I love giving thoughtful gifts, but I have to admit that it can be pretty tough to get your mom something interesting and not cliche. I recently received a hand-picked gift from Occasion Station . This is a pretty cool service that allows you to set reminders for special occasions, birthdays, Mother's Day , etc. and give you custom gift ideas for each event. If you upgrade to their  personal shopper option , they will even pick out and  ship the gifts for you! I received all kinds of cool eco-friendly products in my Occasion Station box. A couple of cute tote bags (my favorite is the "Plastic is So Last Season" one), a bracelet, and a notebook with recycled paper came in my gift box. You can see some of the gifts they have to offer in their gallery here . I recommend checking out what Occasion Statio...

One of the things that really trips people up about setting weight loss goals and being more mindful about eating is that you may often feel like you haven't "earned" your right to a treat or something that you might enjoy. Some people call them "cheat meals" or "cheat foods." I just call 'em things I like in moderation . It's important not to create new unhealthy habits around food as we form new, healthier habits. Food shaming yourself is definitely an unhealthy habit! The other thing we sometimes do to ourselves is what I'll call "relaxation shaming." I'm really guilty of this. If I'm not working out on a particular day because I'm sore or tired, or whatever , I shame myself into thinking I should be doing something. This year, I've focused more on not relaxation shaming myself because I am trying to avoid burning myself out, which I have done more often than I'd ever like to admit. One thing that ...

Getting back into running has been a real struggle for me. I struggle every late fall to early spring, but it's been especially rough this year. I just haven't felt like running. In fact, I've felt like doing everything except  for running! I just haven't had the desire, you guys. I have been doing so many fun workouts and getting into great shape without running. Frankly, I haven't even missed it. And that's what makes me a little sad. I was really loving running for a while there. I was running a race every month -- sometimes twice a month -- I was designing my own medal rack, I was beating my PR and reading running books, but then I just stopped. It's hard for me to think back to when exactly I stopped running, but I think it must've been around this time last year. ...

I am so pumped to check out the Discover Arlington Fitness + Wellness Festival next month! I am going with a group of friends, and am planning to get my sweat on all afternoon! I love a good fitness/wellness festival. Lots of smiling faces, plenty of people who are into trying out new workouts and food, and of course, all the endorphins! This festival is hosted by Discover the District , and features 4 hours of awesome workouts from great studios. I have done some Sweat Pink DMV workouts at a number of the places, and have never left disappointed! It's so funny to me that Arlington, VA has become a go-to spot for workouts. I grew up in the DC Metro Area, and it's always funny for me to see how much the area has changed over the time. Arlington is definitely way  cooler now than it was when I was growing up, and even when I was fresh out of college.  ...

As you guys know, I have been working on my fitness and weight loss goals extra hard this year. I'm down nearly 20 pounds, I'm stronger and leaner, and my energy level has been much higher. Overall, I'm feeling great! We're almost a quarter of the way through 2018 (can you believe that?!), and now is the time when I really have to stay focused because this is where I hit a slump. Things get wicked busy at work, there are no 3-days weekends until Memorial Day, and the weather is pretty janky. As far as my health and fitness goes, this is crunch time. These are the extra innings! If I'm not focused now, this could determine how my summer will be, which often determines how I will end the year. Translation: If I start getting lazy and making excuses now, I will be sabotaging all of my hard work, and it will be hard to recover! ...

Last week, I took my first beginner's class at [solidcore] . This morning, I took my first real  class. I have one word to summarize both experiences: Sweat. My volleyball friends know that I'm not much of a sweater. I never have been, really. I'm not sure why, but it's never bothered me! I know that I have worked super, duper, DUPER hard in a workout if I have any visible sweat -- even if it's just a couple of beads of sweat. When I tried [solidcore] last week, I was dripping   with sweat. Like, it was really gross. I thought it was going to be easy, but boy was I wrong. I didn't learn my lesson from when I took Pilates reformer at my gym, so maybe I'll never learn to stop underestimating workouts? ...

If you've been following me on the 'Gram , you know that I've been loving the Fitt (and especially FittDC ) website! I've been checking out their Official DC Fitness Bucket List , and thought I would recap some of my experiences on this #ThrowbackThursday, and brainstorm some of the items on the list I haven't done yet. ...

I love Instagram. Yeah, I said it. On Instagram, I see photos of all different kinds of workouts and boutiques, and it always inspires me to try out new things. But recently, Instagram did me dirty. It led me to believe that something would be so easy, and that I would look so strong and powerful while doing it. Well, to that I say: You sleep in a bed of lies, Instagram! ...

Okay, just had to get that out of my system. Yes, it's my birthday, and yes, despite it falling on a weekday this year, I enjoyed it tremendously. But... I'm not done celebrating. ...

How many of you guys had a Nokia phone back in the day? (Any Millennials in the house?) Man, my Nokia phone was clutch ! The battery lasted for like eleven billion years, that sucker was prepaid, and it was the most solid phone I've ever owned. It's probably still alive somewhere, with one bar of battery left. When I think of Nokia, I get a bit nostalgic. The brand got me through some rough times (middle school, high school, and even part of college), I gotta tell ya. So, when I learned about this opportunity to review their new Body+ scale , I jumped at it! I trust the Nokia name, and I know they don't play around with battery life and durability. ...

Well, my January Whole 30 is over, and I did spectacularly! I felt great, worked hard, lost some serious weight, and busted some of my bad habits. My goal last year was to lose 20 pounds, and I was doing well up until the holidays, when I just bombed on my goals. Yikes. So far this year, however, I am already down 15 pounds, and I feel great! I'm motivated, making healthier decisions, and being more intentional about eating breakfast. Some might say I'm CRUSHING IT! What's my secret? ...

Just one week to go in the January Whole 30! I'm proud of myself for making it this far, sad that I even had to do a reset, and mad that I still can't have cheese. Suffice it to say I have a mixed bag of emotions. This Whole 30 was actually easier for me than my first one, and more successful than my last one (where I let peer pressure end it a good two weeks early). I've been making all kinds of interesting dishes, and I've really enjoyed learning new flavor profiles and things that I like. Despite my cheese withdrawal/desperation, I've been mostly  happy about my meals. ...

This is a sponsored post. All thoughts contained in this review are mine (with the exception of a hilarious anecdote from a friend).  Okay, I'll admit it: It's kinda nutso to have "the best of" anything for this year when this year really just started, BUT , if this were December of 2017, I would definitely say this is the best app of 2017! It's true that I didn't actually get to test out Gixo in 2017, but who's counting? But really, it is  the best fitness app of 2018! So far, my 2018 has been very stressful, but I have managed to get my health and fitness in order. I have been on the Whole 30 since January 1, lost substantial weight, and have a lot more energy. The energy is kind of crazy, actually. I haven't had coffee in two days, and just realized it! No headache, no walking around like a zombie, nothin'! Because I have extra energy, when I get home, I don't really feel like just being lazy around the apartment anymore. It'...

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was given a pair of Tabio socks through my ambassadorship with Fit Approach (Sweat Pink) in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts shared in this post are my own.  Socks are a pretty important part of an active lifestyle. I know they're probably not one of the first things you think of when you think of important tools for an active lifestyle -- they may not even make your list at all! -- but deep down, when you think about it, you know it's true. Socks can make a race harder, they can help your insoles and shoes last longer, they can rescue your toes, and they can help you keep your form and focus during a workout. They're pretty dang important in my book! I recently received a pair of bright red Tabio socks, and I was excited to give them a try.  I love socks! I am not a fan of feet (if you know me well, you know about my disdain for feet), so anything to cover them up gets an automatic thumbs up from me! But! I'm a...

Happy New Year!  It's that time of year again. You know the time. It's when people create resolutions for the year, duh! Some people will find success, and others will find failure. What separates them? To me, there are two things: focus and attainability. How often do we set lofty goals for ourselves that we really have no intention of hitting? Or we set goals that are attainable, but we don't set forth the steps to get there? This year, I'm determined to set goals and make resolutions that I know I can meet, as long as I face them with a couple handfuls of focus. At the top of my list is weight loss. This is one area where I really need to focus in order to find success. Focus on preparing my meals in advance, and focus on having healthy options available to me at all times. One of my problems with weight gain comes when I'm experiencing an enormously high volume of stress. I don't have time to go home to eat, and I don't have access to a micro...