PURE BARRE: 27L FIT FILES NO. 2

As promised, I'm talking about Pure Barre today! I don't remember how I found out about it. I was looking for new fitness routines because I'd grown tired of the gym and I must have stumbled upon it while reading a blog or article or something. I've read other articles since going to the classes and I've died from laughter because everything the author had written WAS. SO. TRUE. Let's go back to my first class shall we? 

A LUXE SCENT

1. Dolce + Gabbana // 2. Marc Jacobs // 3. Dior // 4. Coach // 5. Viktor + Rolf // 6. Hanae Mori // 7. Marc Jacobs

I don't wear perfume. It makes my head hurt, so I wear body spray. But I can recall memories by scent. I smelled someones perfume and it took me back to first grade. So I decided I want to wear perfume for my wedding. Not just to remember the day, but it's also something I can use on our anniversaries. I was thinking a light floral + clean scent, something chic and not overbearing. 

I smelled Coach Poppy the other day and loved it, and I've heard great things about Viktor + Rolf Flowerbomb. So this weekend, I'll be heading over to Sephora to smell these and pick one out.

Have you tried any of these? Which one did you like? 

27L FIT FILES No. 1

It's that time again! Time for another fitness update. Here's what I've been doing:

// Attending personal training 2 times a week.

// Attending Pure Barre 3-4 times a week.

// Trying to eat healthier by watching calories, and cleaner by eating more protein, fruits + veggies. 

// Water - definitely trying to drink more of this, such a major challenge for me! 

We're going to pretend that I just started working out and technically that's not the case, but I've been devoting more time + energy to it since I signed up for Pure Barre in March that I'm just going to roll with it, so you roll with it too!

I've definitely noticed some significant changes in how I work out on my days with the personal trainer since I've started attending Pure Barre (and I promise I'll post about this soon!!). And, I've lost 3% body fat!! Most of it has come from my midsection which I am thrilled about. If my stomach was already flat, I'd be worried about toning rather than losing weight. Pure Barre has given me more strength within my core and quite possibly more endurance too. So while my personal training sessions are getting harder, I have noticed it's easier to do some of the newer moves because now the strength is there. 

Now that it's warming up outside (aside from this random cold front) I plan on starting to attempt to run on the trail behind my place. The goal this Spring/Summer is to do more outdoor activities rather than just stick to the gym. I don't do long distance running though, never have. If I can work my way back to sprints, then I'll have it made!

I've also been tracking everything via Fitbit - I'm also wanting to start using the LoseIt app again - have you used these? 

FOR FUN + INSPIRATION


// Here's my personal trainer's Instagram if you ever want to get a kick out of me working out, visit! I'll be your comedian for a night. 

// My health + fitness board on Pinterest. I've found all sorts of awesomeness here and have even squeezed in some time to try a few!

// Saw this yummie smoothie recipe. I'm wanting to try it, but will probably add a few extras of my own...I'm in desperate need of potassium! 

THIS HEALTH + FITNESS THING: AN UPDATE

Remember when I shared my goals for this year with you? Well, one of those goals was about this health + fitness thing. The goal is to be healthier and get fit. It's February 19th people and I am not any better off than I was when I made that list...the shame!!

I also talked about whole30 in this post. That's been a bust folks! I started off good, then  I fell off the wagon by the end of the week. I had every intention of hopping back on but then Valentine's day came. 

HEALTHY LIVING: GREEN SMOOTHIE

I was reading Oak + Oats and stumbled across these posts. Beth and her husband did the whole30. I mentioned last week that Aaron and I are currently in a biggest loser contest, so I'm all about trying new things to get the healthy in and flush the unhealthy out so that I can beat him!!!...and live a healthier lifestyle too! We are currently following the whole30 program, you can learn more about it here. 

*disclaimer: yes if you look back at Monday's post, I went HAM over the weekend...this is why. I "officially" started whole30 on Tuesday.*

I finally got around to making a smoothie and it turned out pretty good! I didn't follow any recipe, I just threw some things in the blender and hoped for the best. And it turned out ok, I didn't send us to the ER!!

So let's talk about what's in this blender. By the way, I didn't measure, I just tried to make sure I used more veggies than fruit. 

1 tub of pre-sliced fresh pineapples

6 strawberries

Several handfuls of: red + green swiss chard, tat soi, arugala, and spinach

Looks like I accomplished my goal of making sure it was green!

This was pretty freaking delicious!! I'm making another one tonight with bananas instead of pineapples. 

Do you have any smoothie recipes that you love? Please do share!

*Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter! The first one goes out tomorrow!*

BIGGEST LOSER CONTEST

{image via, text added by 27th + Luxe}

So A and I have a contest going up until the wedding. We are both eating healthy and working out (he has a HUGE head start because he's been doing it for a while already). Whoever's body fat percentage decreases the most between now and May 1st gets the gift of our choosing (for a reasonable amount of course!). 

I'm pretty excited about this because it motivates me to work out and eat healthy-I can't let him beat me!!

I've been meeting with a personal trainer since before Christmas, but then Christmas came and well you know how that goes! I've been back at it since January 13th. Have I seen any changes? Well I'll be completely honest here...not really. I've lost a few pounds but I haven't necessarily been eating out or working out as much as I could. 

I thought I'd put together a little inspiration board to give me (and any lovelies out there who are committed to being healthy and fit!) some extra inspiration. Who doesn't love shopping? And I truly believe I'd be more committed to working out if I looked cute doing it!

Pumpkin Pancakes

For fun, I decided to make pumpkin pancakes today!! And, A assisted by making some coconut oil syrup thingie-it was good!! I am not one of those from scratch people, so this was pumpkin mixed in with the pancake mix.

We drizzled his syrup thingie on top of the pancakes and sprinkled dried blueberries on top. Delicioso!!

{New Hair Care Products from Tendrils and Curls}

Two weekends ago I visited Tendrils and Curls in the Upper Kirby area of Houston. It was my first visit to the natural hair store and I must say it is very cute! Some of the products I was looking for were out of stock, but I did find some goodies to try out!

As I Am Co-Wash Conditioner:

Free Your Mane Intense Hydration Mask:

Hair Therapy Wrap:

So today Friday was the first day I did my new regimen (trying to recover from the dry air and retain some growth) from start to finish.

Step 1: Co-wash hair and detangle with wide tooth comb

Step 2: Massage Hydration mask through hair and put plastic cap over hair

Step 3: Heat the Hair Therapy Wrap in the microwave (80 seconds really is enough!!)

Step 4: Place wrap on head (over plastic cap!) and sit for 20 minutes

Step 5: Rinse and style

So here's my review! I've used the co-wash and the hydration mask before, so the result was no surprise. My hair smelled heavenly and felt soft. But after I used the Hair Therapy Wrap for 20 minutes and rinsed the hydration mask from my hair, oh my!! My hair felt super soft and moisturized. I LOVE THIS and I am sure this will be really great during the winter.

For styling, I used Cantu Shea Butter Leave in Conditioner and this mixture of oils I made to seal my ends. The mixture consists of coconut oil, jamaican black castor oil, shea butter, and wild growth oil. The mixture works wonders as well, I'll have to keep that one in rotation. And finally, I've recently started using Curls Unleashed-their twisting creme. I LOVE IT. It defines my twist outs and really reduces frizz. :-).

{All photos can be found on my Pinterest, Luxe Street LLC}