Review: Elevation Training Mask

So over the last six months I have slowly been making changes in my fitness and one of the things that I added is a training mask. When I wear it out I get looks, honks and sometimes even a couple questions, but its all good :) If you have heard of it and/or are undecided about it or would like more info about it I listed a couple of pros and cons from my personal experience down below.  

The Elevation Training Mask

Pros:
1. Gives your lungs a work out! It comes with different attachments that simulate different elevations and restrict the amount of oxygen that comes into the mask. I have been using the lowest level which simulates 5000 feet elevation. I don't feel like I need to change it out because  it still working for me.

2. Helps regulate your breathing. When I first started wearing it I felt like I wasn't getting enough air and my breathing was very irregular. I was forced to learn how regulate my breathing in order to be able to continue to run with the mask on. After the first month I started wearing it every 2 weeks and I find that when I do not wear the mask, it is easier for me to run and breathing is a lot easier.

Cons:
1. Can be uncomfortable, especially at first. Especially when you start sweating because you will. If you don't tighten it enough in the back it can feel like it's sliding off your face. I am not going to say you will get used it, but sometimes you have to get uncomfortable in order to get comfortable, you know?

All in all, the $80 investment was worth it. It has helped me improve my breathing, run faster for a longer amount of time and just overall, increased my fitness levels in a shorter amount of time. Of course you can increase your fitness levels without it, but if you want a challenge, then this is for you.  I bought mine on Amazon and if you want more info/reviews you can check it out here:

Elevation Training Mask

Caribbean Bound

I am currently in route to the Caribbean for a much needed vacation with family!  My first one ever. I am currently sitting in the Houston Airport waiting on my final flight and I can't wait to lay out and actually do nothing. This getaway is going to help me recharge so I can go and get my life.
I know I won't have any kind of signal to post anything so check back in with me next week when I come back.

Talk soon!

Make Up Forever Mascara | June We Are Onyx Box

So, Too Faced Better Than Sex, is my holy grail mascara, but I think I have found another one that is comparable. I am loving the whole make up sample thing because for a small price (or sometimes free) you can try out a product before you buy the full size. Especially when it comes to higher end products. I got a birthday sample a couple of weeks ago from Sephora from Make Up Forever and I am really loving their mascara called Smoky Extravagant!!! It really makes my lashes POP which is what I look for in any mascara that I wear.

And after all the drama I had last month and this month trying to get last months Onyx Box, guess who go their box in June!!! This girl right here.

I have used the dry mist oil from C. Booth and it smells and feels great so I really like so far. And the nail polish that I got from Lauren B. Beauty is my new love. I love red nail polish and this is a new favorite :)

Pretty In Pink Photo Shoot With Vic Styles

When I say that this past week has been busy, believe me its been busy! In addition to the big move I also had the opportunity to take some photos for local fashion blogger Vic at Vic Styles. She has such a lovely spirit and it was pretty awesome to be able to capture some moments with her :) Can't wait to come back from my vacation already so I can take some more!!

Here are some of my favorite photos:

Time To Unpack!

So I have moved a couple of times before, but I don't remember it being so tiring!!!! I am glad its over and I definitely don't want to move anytime soon even after my lease it up. Now, I just have to unpack and organize everything. Even though I went through most of my stuff beforehand and got rid of a lot, I will probably be getting rid of more stuff. No sense in holding onto stuff you don't need!

Seriously though, you never really realize and fully understand the amount of things you have acquired until you have to pack it all up and move! Not cool. I am super thankful that I got movers to help me move because was no way I could do it all. Last month I started looking on Yelp since it is the definitive source for reviews in LA and there were so many moving companies with a lot of great reviews. However, a lot of them were very expensive and I am just not about that life. I ended up going with a company called LA Moving Centre. They were one of the cheaper ones, but NOT the cheapest. I just got good vibes from them and liked how they were straight forward and didn't try to gouge me for every cent I had. Plus they had a $60 off couple which helped! That coupon brought it down to $195 for 3 hours, 2 men, a truck, disassembly and reassembly. The only concern I had was my flat screen tv, but they packed it up and got it to my new place without any issues! I will definitely use them if I ever loose my mind and decide to move again. Not anytime soon I hope, but I know who I will call if I need to!

Last night my place looked like who done did it. Seriously. It was so bad that I didn't even know where to start. I surprised myself and knocked a lot out so I am happy.

This was before the madness:

And this is after. As you can see it was utter chaos.

And now it looks a lot better!

As soon as I finish unpacking everything and get rid of the excess, I will start making my list of future DIY projects. I know that I want to build some shelves and I need a shoe rack so I will probably start there. In the meantime, Pinterest will be my BFF.

Until next time!!!!

Quick Update!

I am currently in the process of moving, thus the lack of updates!!! Luckily I am almost done. Expect to see a new post either later on today (6/15) or tomorrow (6/16).

Summer Skin Care | Mascara Trials | We Are Onyx | Fitness

Now that summer is here in LA--especially in the valley--I have changed up my moisturizing products just a tad. Especially since I am working out a lot more, I find that my face feels more hot when I have on heavier moisturizers so I had to find an alternative. The change is very small, I just took out the St. Ives moisturizer and made the Maracuja Oil from Tarte more of a daily staple than what it has been in the past. Plus I am trying, like really really trying, to NOT buy anymore beauty products until I have used up a significant amount of what I already have.

I am still loving the gel moisturizer from Garnier Fructis. I am still in love with my Better Than Sex Mascara from Too Faced. The roll on perfume I got as a gift during Christmas and I have recently started using it. I am finding that roll on perfumes are convenient to carry and its really hard to use too much. Plus I like to rub some of it on right before I go to sleep. I want to get some roll ons by Marc Jacobs, but I have to use what I have first!

See what had happened was...

And I know I said I was done buying stuff until I use what I have, (but in my defense this is a trial sized product that I got from Sephora. I am going on a cruise to the Bahamas next week and I need small items to bring with me so I decided to try this out. I have tried it out already and its a winner because it doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped. Plus it smells nice which is always good. So this is coming on the trip! Expect to see a travel essentials post next week before I leave!

I got this sample mascara pack from Sephora as well. If I could only wear one one make up item I would always choose mascara. Nothing like finding the one! You guys already know I love my Better Than Sex mascara, but its nice to have options and again, I wanted something small to take with me on my vacation next week. Plus you get a voucher for a full sized mascara so you definitely get your moneys worth (The sample pack from Sephora is $25). Aside from the Too Faced mascara, I have tried the one from Lancome called Hypnose Drama, Tarte's Lights, Camera, Action 4 in 1 and Blinc Inc.'s Blinc. The Blinc mascara was a total bust, but the other two are great. Especially the one from Lancome. I really like that one. I still have to try the Bare Mineral mascara. But so far, I am loving the Lancome mascara.

The May We Are Onyx Box

We are almost halfway into June and I am just NOW getting the May box from We Are Onyx. I have previously sent numerous emails (which were not responded to) and left them messages on their social media accounts about my missing box (which they did respond to several days later). I have had a subscription with them since February 2014 and haven't really had an issue until April when they started their big media campaign to get their name out there. I understand growing businesses have bumps in the road so I wasn't too upset with them in April, but this past month they had serious issues getting their product out in a timely manner to paying customers. Nevertheless, I am going to give it another go and we will see how June goes. But for now, they are getting the side eye.

Finally...

And I am finally loosing some inches!!! I invested in a shredding stack from a company called Just Add Muscle and I am loving the results so far. I am not going to say that my results are strictly due to that, but it has helped me achieve results a lot faster. Being able to see the changes your body has made is definitely making staying motivated a lot easier. What I am currently doing to achieve the results I have is another post entirely. And I promise I will share! Its really easy and its not a diet. I am definitely not left starving everyday. Cant wait to see where I am next month.

Alright ya'll, thats it for now! I have another shoot tomorrow which I am super stoked about. Cheers to taking some awesome photos tomorrow. :)

Sneak Peak

Yesterday I had the opportunity to take photos for a local fashion blogger (Katherine Lauren from On The Kattwalk) and it was a great experience. I learned so much from yesterday and I can't wait to do it again and improve for next time. One lesson that I learned while going through the 350 + photos I took yesterday: Be aware of whole person in the photo instead of the points that you are focusing on. Anyways, she was a great sport and such a genuine person and I can wait to get together in the future to get some more amazing shots and improve even more.

Anyways, here is a sneak peak of a couple of photos that I took from yesterday:

Apartment Decor Ideas

Now that I am so close to moving I have been searching everywhere do apartment decor ideas. I am still not sure on how I want to decorate my new place, but I definitely want to have some interesting pieces. Yesterday I spent a little over an hour in Pier 1 and fell in love with just about everything in the there. Now, if I could fall in love with their prices that would be great!!! They do have pretty good sales/clearance though so I am positive I will find something.

Like for instance, this wine rack. These are actually single layered wine racks stacked together. I might need 2 or 3!

And I pretty much fell in love with all of their mosaic items. Definitely unique and just what I want.

These are candle holders!

Potential corner tables

Large vase for some flower decorations

I am all about functionality and I really like how this table set can come into itself in order to save space, but then its actually three different tables. I definitely want to utilize multipurpose items.

Smell Goods

Today was a productive day. I am moving next week and I am trying to help myself out, by organizing all of my things that way it won't be so bad later on. I definitely made some headway and now I am relaxing, enjoying my clean house and scented candles/wax burners :)

One of the many Bath and Body Works candles I bought several months ago 

Wax scent is Scent Sationals: Sizzlin Cinnamin

Furniture Update | Keurig Love

After looking all over LA/Craigslist, and going back and forth to the furniture stores in my area I have finally made a decision for my living room furniture!!! I was originally going to get a sectional, but I have been trying to figure out the best place to put it since it was not going to be along a wall. Finally last night I realized that I don't have to get a sectional and I can just get a couch and chaise instead. Duh. Not sure why I didn't think about that earlier. Now when I get bored I can switch around the arrangement of my furniture versus being stuck with just one piece. This morning I went to Living Spaces and sat on almost every sofa and love seat they had before I found the perfect one. I chose a loveseat and chaise from the Langley Collection. The price kind of hurts my feelings, but I am so in love with the deep seats and how comfortable it was to sit in. I literally sank right into it. I didn't want it in the stock color (which was white) so I had to special order the color I wanted. I really wanted a black couch, but velour is not really my thing so I ended up settling for a dark grey which is already a theme where I live right now. I cannot wait to move!!!

I got the love seat and chaise from this collection

The colors I chose! I was stuck on the patterns for the accent pillows so I had to get opinions from family before I decided on the pattern :)

And two days ago I came home to a Keurig at my door! I won a contest on Instagram in April (courtesy of The Feisty House) and I am happy that it is finally here especially since I am going to be moving soon. This will definitely help me save a little money because whenever I make coffee I always end of pouring some of it out because I never finish it all. Now I can just make what I need so I am loving that. Plus I can make tea in it as well.  I did go out and get one of those refillable k-cups because buying them by the box can get a little pricey. It was really nice of them to send me some samples of the different kinds of coffee as well.