the thigh gap

Feet together… thighs apart. ugh. It used to be collar bones and hip bones and now... it's the thigh gap. If you haven't heard of or noticed the thigh gap before, you will now {sorry}. 

 A small space between your thighs is apparently the next best thing to clear skin, shiny hair, and a small waist. I think the thigh gap has become such a craze since leggings have become pants. 

Now that some spring break diets have started {for some smart crazies}, how can we get that gap?!

{Id be cool with her abs, too}

Robyn Lawley is an Australian model {who is stunnnnning} but is on the opposite end of this spectrum. Her thighs "kiss" and she is proud of it. This curvy voluptuous model has an important message that everyone {thigh gap or not} should listen to. She said, "I want my thighs to be bigger and stronger. I want to run faster and swim longer. I suppose we all just want different things, but women have enough pressure as it is without the added burden of achieving a “thigh gap.” ... We have the power to change perceptions about body image—and we have the power to stop harmful trends like the “thigh gap."

1. Kim Kardashian

2. Beyonce

3. Hillary Duff

4. Jennifer Lopez

5. Jennifer Lawrence

6. Tyra Banks

7. Kate Winslet

8. Hayden Panettiere

What do these eight beautiful & in shape women have in common.. NO THIGH GAP! Not to beat a dead horse… but… you can be beautiful without the gap.

There are a few ways to help you achieve this highly coveted space between your legs but a lot of it {unfortunately} is left to genetics. Most often, you can't have a great a$$ and a thigh gap... it's only fair girls, you really shouldn't be able to have it all. 

Iffffff, you still want to give the thigh gap a shot… here are some exercises we have collaborated that can help you achieve this look. 

If you are giving the thigh gap a shot: good luck & may the odds be ever in your favor

If you are thinking "hell to the no!": MORE POWER TO YOU.

xo

Skin care routine

In a recent post about random products that are good for your skin I listed a few things that are probably around your house that you can easily implement into your skin care routine! After trying a few different combinations of these products I have found the perfect combination of products that I really love. Keep reading if you are interested in seeing how I combined the previously mentioned products!

As previously mentioned using these products can leave your skin red or irritated for an hour or so after using them so I recommend doing these things at night when your skin will have time to recover before applying makeup. 

MY ROUTINE:

Remove make up with an olay face wipe {4-in-1 daily face cloth} before using any of these products. Removing makeup from the skin is like starting with a clean slate and will allow the products to actually clean your skin and get into your pores instead of simply removing the makeup. Once my skin is free of most of my makeup I cleanse my skin with my cleanser recipe.

My cleanser "recipe": Combine a quarter size amount of Cetaphil cleanser with two drops of lemon juice and gently apply to skin in circular motions. Rinse off with luke warm water.

Now that my makeup is definitely all gone, the next step is to exfoliate. Your skin type and sensitivity will determine how often your skin should be exfoliated. Some people can exfoliate daily without any irritation and some can only exfoliate once a week. With my skin so dry at the moment I have been exfoliating every other day.

My exfoliator "recipe": Combine 1TBSP of baking soda with a few drops of warm water and a drop of Vitamin E oil. Rub this combination all over your damp skin {avoiding your eye area} in circular motions for as long as you feel necessary {don't exceed 5 minutes}. Once you are done exfoliating rinse your skin with luke warm water and make sure none of the baking soda granules are still on your skin. 

Now that your pores are open and clean, use some kind of toner to do a last cleaning and close the pores to avoid dust or dirt getting back into your pores. My favorite toner at the moment is by simple and it is a "soothing facial toner" that is 100% alcohol free.

I apply this with small gauze pads as they are not as absorbent as cotton balls. I was noticing a while back that a majority of my toner was being absorbed by the cotton ball and wasting the product before I could even apply it to my skin. 

Once I have toned my skin I like to apply a moisturizer Vitamin E combination to help moisturize my skin and reduce acne scarring. The moisturizer I am IN LOVE WITH right now is the Clinique "moisture surge extended thirst relief" it is quite pricey but it is so thick and it absorbs straight into my skin which I love. If you go to any Clinique counter they will give you a sample to try before committing to the product. I use about a dime sized amount of moisturizer and a TEENY TINY drop of vitamin E oil. The oil is incredibly thick and sticky so you really only need a small drop. Before applying the combination to my face I rub the moisturizer and oil together in my fingers and then apply all over my face.

After applying the moisturizer {and letting it soak in!} I apply a combination of baking soda and lemon juice to any pimples or problem areas on my face. Depending on how many blemishes you have on your skin will determine the amount of "zit zapper" that you need but make sure the consistency is thick and pastey. I leave this on my skin all night to help reduce inflammation and clear out my infected pores.

When I wake up in the morning I use my cleanser recipe to remove the "zit zapper" and any dust, dirt, or bacteria my skin has accumulated throughout the night!

Thanks for reading xo

*none of the above photos are our own*

Not-So-Common Products For Your Skin

If you are anything like me, this crazy polar vortex {huh?} that has been encompassing the country has left your skin and lips very dry. I have been researching many different kinds of natural exfoliants that can help with acne as well {two birds, one stone}!

The first not-so-common products that I have discovered is baking soda it has TONS of uses beyond what you expect in the kitchen.

• Baking soda can be used as a face wash when combined with warm water, it will create a thick paste that is perfect as a gentle cleanser. 
• When rubbed into your skin in gentle circular strokes it also acts as an exfoliant. If you have dry skin at the moment this is the perfect way to help rid your skin of dead cells and dry skin. If you already have a cleanser that you love {or you need a little more strength than just water}, add a little baking soda to the cleanser before washing your face. 
• Last but not least I have found that if you leave the thick paste {of water and baking soda} on your face for 5 to 10 minutes it acts as a face mask; helping fight acne and remove black heads!

Next up, lemon juice! The acidity in lemon juice is perfect as a natural astringent to help unclog pores.

• Use lemon juice as or in your cleanser. Consuming lemon juice orally hasn't been proven to be as effective as direct application to the skin. 
• The acidity in lemon juice also acts as a natural exfoliant as it helps remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. This is the perfect exfoliant for someone whose skin is too raw to use any kind of exfoliator with texture.

My new favorite is Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin which means it can easily cross the cell membrane and and absorb locally. I bought pure Vitamin E oil at CVS or Walgreens for less than $8.00 and it will last me FOREVER. I have been using it for about 3 months now and you can barely tell I have used any at all.

• Vitamin E {like many other vitamins} is great not only just for acne but for your body in general. Vitamin E is associated with healthy skin and reduced inflammation.
• Vitamin E has also been proven to help reduce scarring {including acne scarring}.

Using these products can leave your skin red or irritated for an hour or so after using them. I recommend doing these things at night which will allow your skin time to recover before applying makeup.

Holiday Workouts

The holiday season is among us and with the holiday season comes visitors. The more people coming to visit, the less time you have for yourself. You might not have the same amount of free time as before, so making an effort to work off some of the food you've consumed may be harder than you think. So here are a few easy, at home exercises that will keep you active and looking good.

ABS

My target area for working out is always always always my stomach. I'm that girl who is always on pinterest searching for the next great ab workout. So after many hours of searching I found some perfect ab exercises.

1) 30 Day Crunch Challenge

This crunch challenge is quick and easy to do. Do it first thing in the morning or right before you go to bed! Its super easy to do and you definitely feel it.

2) Ab Workout app

 Download this app! You will not regret it! It is a free app that gives you great ab workouts. You can pick a few and do them during the day, while your watching tv or after school.

3) Other Workouts

BIG BOOTY
Another target area is the booty. Here are some quick and easy butt exercises that'll keep you in shape during the holidays

1) 30 Day Squat Challange

Pretty much the same concept as the crunch challange. I've done the squat challenge and it is super easy to maintain doing and you definitely feel the burn. I loved this one! Its a must try:)

2) Just Some Other Butt Workouts

 

Do one ab workout and one booty workout a day. You'll feel better and your body will thank you! I'm going to do the 30 day crunch and squat challange. I'll be posting about my experience at the end of the 30 days.

Running, Jogging, Walking

Since family members are coming to town there is a lot of talking and catching up to be done. Instead of sitting around the coffee table and talking up over treats, why not go for a walk? Our mom walks with her friends pretty much everyday of the week and before she knows it she has walked close to 40 miles. She is in great shape and its because she takes time out of her day to focus on her fitness. So get up, go out and walk! Walk with friends and talk:)

Another great idea for the holiday season is a 5-K. During this time of year many foundations put together events such as the "Turkey Trot" to donate to charaties. Get your friends and family together and go! This year our family signed up for the Turkey Trot in downtown Naples, so be prepared for the pictures to come!

For those of you who enjoy a quicker pace workout then walking, go for a run. Many of us are under the impression that running or jogging has to be for hours and at large distances. We are wrong! Getting up and going for a quick 20-30 minute run is a great way to get your heart rate going and for you to feel refreshed and rejuvinated. I recently downloaded the app RunKeeper. It gives you a training plan for whaterver your looking for Racing, Learning to Run, Getting Fit and Loosing Weight. The training plan gives you a great day-to-day workout plan that has instructions and motiation on what to do and how to do it. I've used this app a few times and it is a great way to go out, set a goal and just run, jog or walk when it tells you too. Its a great workout!

So get up! Go out! and Workout! Take some time out of your busy schedule and go exercise.

Losing 5lbs of bloat (in a healthy way)