My Makeup Bag Essentials

Today as I was getting ready at the gym I realized how far I’ve come in regards to my makeup bag. Just a few weeks ago my co-workers and friends were laughing at me for lugging a huge makeup bag when in reality I only use a few key pieces. This weekend, I finally downsized and am loving the convenience of one single, small makeup bag which holds all my necessities.

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Here’s a quick look inside my makeup bag and the key items that are part of my daily ritual.

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From Left to Right:

Laura Mercier Eye Color Duo Guava/African Violet: The colors apply easily and compliment my greenish-hazel eyes.

Dolce&Gabbana Crayon Intense Eye-Liner in Stromboli: The Dolce&Gabbana liners have the perfect consistency. The color goes on smooth, is rich, lasts all day, and smudges easily for a day to evening look.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder in Warm Natural: I find that this provides the perfect amount of coverage over the tinted moisturizer, especially when applied using the kabuki brush.

Sephora Pro Kabuki Brush: I’ve searched high and low for a inexpensive travel size kabuki brush and after three failed attempts this one has worked wonderfully. It’s a bit more expensive than others but has lasted 6 months and cleans easily with soap & water. The dense bristles apply powder evenly and thoroughly.

Olay Total Effects 7 In 1 Tone Correcting UV Moisturizer: This magic moisturizer hydrates, provides coverage, leaves skin luminous, and fights the signs of aging with vitamins! What more could you ask for especially when you consider that you get a moisturizer, anti-aging and coverage for under $20!

Laura Mercier Eye Basics Base in Wheat: Until two months ago I had never jumped on the eye base band wagon. But, when a makeup artist showed me just how powerful this base was and how “flawless and finished” my eyes could look was with just this and mascara, I was sold. The base evens skin-tone, hiding redness or darkness on the lid while holding color in place longer. The wand applicator makes application easier too!

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer: Some times a girl can’t always get 8 hours of beauty rest. Instead of announcing to the world just how tired I am, I cover it up with this concealer. It blends easier than many other I’ve tried and the color matches my skin-tone almost perfectly.

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint- Plum Mint: I’ve had this for ages but only recently discovered it in the bottom of my makeup bag. I love it for touch-ups during the day or an added pop of gloss, shine and hydration after applying my color. It has a hint of color and a huge burst of minty flavor that I swear is strong enough for an afternoon energy jolt! linique Chubby Stick in Fuller Fig

Benefit They’re Real Mascara: Every day when I apply my mascara I think of Tina, Anne and Theodora! I first tried this mascara almost a year ago during our Mohegan Sun wine+beer weekend. We were a little bit tipsy after a fun afternoon but even with a bit of haze I immediately saw just how powerful this mascara is on my stubby, short lashes. Since then I’ve been absolutely hooked and have gone through four tubes! It never clumps, goes on easily, and the dark brown is rich enough to add color but not too dark for work and everyday use.

Question: What is your favorite piece of makeup these days?

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TRX Clinic at Reebok Crossfit Fifth Avenue

Tonight, after a long day at the office, I headed to Central Park on my own. Unfortunately my work run buddies had to leave an hour before I was able to tonight. This is when it really set in how much stronger I am than last year both mentally and physically. Tonight instead of heading to the gym to run on the treadmill, cutting the run short, or forgetting it all together due to my exhaustion; I changed clothes and headed out the door. I spent the next 51 minutes enjoying the peace of Central Park, the golden leaves, the dusk shadows, and camaraderie of other runners as I ran 5 miles in the park.

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By the time I walked through the door tonight at 8pm, all I wanted was warm clothes and a healthy dinner. I forgot how much I love spaghetti squash. It is like the secret weapon of weeknight dinners! In less than 15 minutes, including only 2 minutes of actual work, I had a huge bowl of nutritional goodness for dinner! I mixed 1.5 cups cooked spaghetti squash with 1/3 cup homemade marinara, pre-cooked chicken, seasonings, and grated cheese together for a warm, comforting dinner.

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I admit, it wasn’t the pretties dinner but it was quick, gooey, and delicious.

While I ate, I went through some pictures on my camera and came across pictures from an event 2 weeks ago that I totally forgot to share with you guys! Oops! Clearly things have been a bit crazy around these parts.

On Saturday, October 6th I had a sweaty date with a few local Fitfluential Ambassadors at Reebok CrossFit Fifth Avenue for a TRX clinic. Each week Reebok has what they call Reebok FitHub events during which time they teach a skill or a workout. The one on October 6th was a TRX Suspension Training for all levels.

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It was my first time stepping in this new flagship store and I was amazed by the space overall. The upstairs is dedicated to the store where you can find all the gear to make any Crossfit session bright and colorful! I loved their women’s technical tanks and some of the bright shoes!

The downstairs however is a a whole different story. It is a HUGE Crossfit box, dedicated to sweaty WODs and strength training! This picture gives you just a glimpse of the downstairs space including rowing machines, pullup bars, ropes, and more! It was pretty amazing and I loved the bright, neon green color that splashed the black walls.

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The six of us (Jill, Kristine, Katelyn, Christine and Alfonso) were able to enjoy a 45 minute session which included a quick overview of TRX and then a quick workout incorporating all the different key body parts. While most of weren’t new to TRX it was still a great opportunity to learn a few new moves, improve technique, and sweat together!

Fitfluential Reebok TRX clinic

My personal trainer, Lauren, first introduced me to TRX over a year ago and since then we use it almost every week during our sessions. It requires you to engage multiple muscles at one time which pushes your body more than if you were just using free weights or a machine. The best thing about the TRX is that you can take it anywhere and use it at home or a gym. Some gyms in NYC, such as Crunch, even have TRX classes as part of their group fitness schedule! 

Below are just a few of the different moves we did during the session.

 

Question: Have you ever used a TRX before? What is your favorite move?

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A Sunday at the Zoo

Today I woke up with legs that were far more sore than I expected. While the 20 miler went wonderfully, spending most of Sunday on my feet in comfortable but poorly padded boots wasn’t the smartest idea! While Bo was spending the day under water for a technical scuba diving certification, I I spent the day uptown with Meg and Spencer exploring Central Park. But, before we could explore we needed to enjoy brunch, a New York City tradition that I rarely enjoy. I donned a new dress that my brother and I found at the outlets in Vermont and headed uptown for a day of fun.

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Meg and Spencer had plans to go to church on the Upper West Side as they’ve wanted to hear Tim Keller preach forever. Therefore, I did my best to find a brunch spot that was not only relatively close to  Redeemer Presbyterian, but also took reservations. After sending them a list from which to choose we settled on Elizabeth’s Neighborhood Table.

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I kid you not. This picket fence and sweet yellow house complete with gables truly exists at the corner of 93rd and Columbus Avenue. The menu looked like it’d offer something for everyone without breaking the bank and the location was perfect.  The egg white omelet was fluffy and it was filled with vegetables and delicious cheese. I was surprised to find cauliflower was one of the vegetables inside the omelet but it was a fun addition. I’m not sure why this place gets a bad wrap on Yelp because for the price we paid it delivered upon expectations. I paid $11.50 for the entrée, not $20-$25 and therefore didn’t expect complex flavors or fancy plating.

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We were greeted with sunshine and warmer temperatures when we left the restaurant, therefore choosing to meander down to Central Park. We proceeded to spend the next 3 hours wandering through the park and Central Park Zoo. It is so different to walk through the park versus run. I love sharing the nooks of Central Park with friends without worrying that I’ll get lost. I’ve learned so much about the park during this marathon training. Spencer, Meg’s husband, asked that I never take Central Park for granted as even in Atlanta there is nothing like it that is as beautiful and accessible.

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Trust me Spencer, enjoying scenery like this multiple times a week will never get old!

After 3 years living in the city Bo and I have walked through the Central Park Zoo many times but never have we stopped to buy tickets and go through the zoo in its entirety! For $12 it was a great deal and the perfect way to enjoy the afternoon together. We all loved checking out the exhibits and feeling like a child again. The afternoon feeding worked in our favor and allowed us to see most of the animals active, enjoying their lunches.  We could have sat watching the penguins play for hours! They were so full of energy and such characters!

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By the time exited the zoo at 3:00 I was absolutely exhausted. My legs were screaming and my swollen feet wanted nothing other than an Epsom salt bath and the couch.

How about you? Are you a fan of the zoo? What is your favorite animal to check out?

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