Flat Stomach Update: My 21 Day Challenge

If you have been reading my blog for the past few months, you know that I have been trying to lose weight and gain a flat stomach. I started my weight loss journey in March and it has been a bit of a roller coaster but I have stayed on the tracks...for the most part.
Click here to read the beginning of my weight loss journey.

So I am not quite to my flat stomach but I am super close. And you know weight trainers say it always the last 10 pounds that take the longest and are the hardest to lose.Ugh.
To jump start my motivation, I decided to challenge myself to a workout plan that is kind of scary and intimidating.

A 21 Day challenge. 21 days straight of working out.
Yea, its real cray-cray. But I really do enjoy pushing myself to the limits. It helps me figure out what I can accomplish and what I can achieve if I put my mind to it 100%.

My rules for myself are simple:

• At least 30 min workout
• Cardio 6 days a week
• Stretch & light cardio on 7th day
• Abs & Butt exercises everyday
• 21 days straight (Nov. 1st to Nov. 21st)

Staying on track is always a huge issue for me. But I have a couple of 'pots of gold' waiting for me at the end of the rainbow. And completing this challenge will make them even sweeter.
[Hint: End date is my birthday weekend...]
Also keeping my diet healthy has become easier. Just need to add more protein and less carbs so my body will be working with me, not against me.

All in all, I'm ready!
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me." Philippians 4:13

I think I'm going to do a video as well...tracking my progress and my feelings about this insanity I am currently experiencing, LOL!

As always, thanks for reading!

Nicole

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October Ipsy Bag & Makeup Look [VIDEO]

Have you heard of Ipsy Glam Bag?
It is a beauty subscription where you sign up for $10 a month and you get a makeup bag with 4-5 sample beauty products.
It is a great way to try out new brands and product lines without spending a lot of money.

This month I decided to show you what I received in my glam bag.
[Each bag is slightly different, catered to your beauty & style preferences]

I also put together a quick makeup look using some of the items.

I hope you enjoyed these videos and this makeup look.
Please don't forget to SUBSCRIBE, RATE & COMMENT!
As always, thanks for reading and watching!

Nicole

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REVIEW: Eden Body Works Coconut Shea Curl Defining Creme

Originally posted on Natural Brownies

Looking for a product that can define your curls and hold your twist-outs?
Well this product one right here is just for you.

Eden Body Works Coconut Curl Defining Creme. Watch my review on how I feel about this product:

LINK TO VIDEO HERE

INGREDIENTS: Water (Aqua), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil , Vegetable Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Butryospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cetyl Esters, Glyceryl Dilaurate, Steareth-20, Polyquaternium-7, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Milk, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Lactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Keratin Amino Acids, Acyl Coenzyme A Desaturase, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Hydrolyzed Silk, Panthenyl Hydroxypropyl Steardimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
[taken for their website,  http://eden-bodyworks.myshopify.com/pages/products ]

Hope you enjoyed this video & review.

Comment below and let us know if you will be giving this product a try!

And don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!
As always, thanks for reading and watching!

Nicole

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Eden Body Works has searched the globe to find the most effective and affordable natural ingredients for their products. Because they believe in overall wellness, they have incorporated a beauty strategy based upon eliminating harsh and damaging chemicals from our products. their development team will always be environmentally conscious in our product decisions, ingredients, and components.
[taken for their website,  http://eden-bodyworks.myshopify.com/pages/products ]

Fall Makeup Look: Neutral Eye & Bold Lip

Fall Neutral Eye & Bold Lip [MAKEUP LOOK TUTORIAL] Featuring Ipsy Glam Bag

This is my first makeup tutorial! My twist on the fall trend of the bold, vampy lip.
Hope you enjoy!
Don't forget to RATE, COMMENT, & SUBSCRIBE!

Products used are listed in the description box on YouTube.
As always, thanks for reading and watching!

Nicole

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Lunch & Shopping Vlog

Thursday I did some light beauty shopping at Walgreens.
Check out what I purchased.

All items are linked in the description box.
And don't forget to RATE, COMMENT, & SUBSCRIBE!
As always, thanks for reading and watching!

Nicole

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UNBOXING Cocotique Beauty Box (Vlog Video)

Hello loves!
I finally received my September box from Cocotique. There was a mix up and last month they accidentally sent me the August box again. However once I emailed them, they got back to me the next day and resent me the correct box!
So here is it...

Let me know what you think about this subscription box.
And don't forget to RATE, COMMENT, & SUBSCRIBE!
As always, thanks for reading and watching!

Nicole

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Follow your DREAMS

Don't let your dreams lit dormant.

Go after what you want...fear shouldn't hold you back.

As always, thanks for reading and watching!

Nicole

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REVIEW: Revlon Lipstick, Black Cherry

Revlon Super Lustrous - Creme Lipstick, Black Cherry

This color is out of my norm...really any lipstick is out of my norm seeing as I just started wearing lipstick a few months ago. But the reason why I purchased this lipstick is because I was hearing that it was a dupe of the every popular 'Dark Side' by Mac. 

Which is a quite popular color. I purchased this, the supposed dupe, because I didn't know if I would like it and I didn't want to spend the $15 for a color I would only wear once.
Whether I spent $2 or $15, this color is AMAZING!

I am so in love with it, so happy I bought it.
Every time I wear it, I just get so many compliments on it. It is just a great all around fall color.

The color glides on super smooth, great color payoff. It is a nice, rich berry purple each application.
As for lasting power, it practically stains my lips. Which, for this color, I love. It becomes a cute ombre and the still looks like a fluid color, no spots or blotches.
This I accredit to the formula of the lipstick. And because I love the feel of it, I will be trying more colors from this line.

Over all, two thumbs! All the way up! So happy I gave this lipstick a try.
Let me know if you have any Revlon colors that you have and love!

As always, thanks for reading!

Nicole

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Homemade Curly Hair Mask: Avocado Banana

Originally Posted by The Natural Brownies

Curly hair feeling a little dry?
Your curls not clumping or acting like usual?
When's the last time you deep conditioned? If more than a week ago, SHAME ON YOU!

To help your hair stay moisturized and healthy, you should DC once a week. A DC (deep conditioner) can be as simple as you regular condish left on your hair for 30 minutes or more. It can all so be mixing some ingredients up from your kitchen, such as honey, olive oil, banana, and avocado.

Check out this video by Naptural85 on DIY Avocado Banana Hair Mask for Dry Curly Hair.

Are you going to give this a try? Let us know your results.

Also, check out Jessica's post on her DIY Promise Land DC.

Made Face with Dirty Brushes

So you have been playing in your makeup lately. Having fun with colors, certain looks, and new products.
Then you notice your face is starting to breakout a bit.
First you think it is some of the new products your using, so you go back to your staples.
But your face is still breaking out...what could it be?

Well when is the last time you have cleaned your brushes?
Yea, think about it. Your using these tools all over your face. The oils and dirty on your face are transferred back and forth. Not to mention possible bacteria that could grown from dirt in your brushed.
It is important to keep your brushed clean. The rate you clean them is, of course, dependent upon how often you use them. Just pick the same time very few weeks or every month. Pull out all your brushes and give them a good clean.

How should you or can you clean them? Here's a video from beauty activist, Ambrosia on just that subject.

Now start cleaning.
As always, thanks for reading!

Nicole

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Maya says "Do you, BOO!"

SHAMELESS is the name of the game!

The best part is, you get to do what u love an not worry about what people are saying about u!
I have adopted this therory or trend and I plan to stay on this SHAMELESS journey until I get to where I wanna be!

Check out this video from Maya, its all about being positive while trying to #BESHAMELESS!

STAY POSITIVE!
As always, thanks for reading!

Nicole

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VIDEO: Fall Lipsticks 2013

Lipstick is the new best accessory! And of course you need colors to compliment the season.
Here are my picks for the this fall season.

Please RATE, COMMENT, & SUBSCRIBE!

As always, thanks for reading and watching!

Nicole

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I'm vlogging now!

I have been wanting too...and now I have done it!
VLOGGING!! 
Check out my vlog videos here!
The segment is called "Lunch with Coley". Sometimes I am talking about a specific topic or just rambling on about my hair or makeup or anything women talk about, lol. Here are my first three...

Make sure you subscribe if you want more!
As always, thanks for reading & watching!

Nicole

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ReBlog: Encourage Yourself- Life Goal

Originally Posted on Perfectly Imperfect Me

So today I was feeling down. There are just some things in life that I feel are not going the way I want them to go. For whatever reason, I am not content with where I am in life. I am 25 years old, Single, no children, have my own place, pay my bills-although it can be a struggle sometimes. Sometime you have to take a mental step back from your situations and daily struggles and look at your life as a whole. You have to look at your life as if you are not the one living it. When I looked at my life this morning, I see that is not terrible as it feels on a daily basis, LOL. I had to encourage myself in the Lord and know that what God has for me it is for me and that he will not put more on me than I can handle. So one of my goals is to be content with the things that God has given me and learn to master the daily things that come my way in this moment. I must become content but never complacent. When God sees that I am ready he will move me into the next level in life. I hope that someone who is going through some of the same things I am going through will be inspired to make a change in their thinking and grow a little more. 

Signed,

PIM


Check out Jessica's blog as she learns live with life's imperfections.
As always, thanks for reading!

Nicole

Don't forget to click the link to share!

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