Fashion — Page 5

Simple Tricks to Sneak Exercise into Your Daily Routine

Most of you know that I’ve been on a Momma Makeover Mission this year. I’ve made a lot of improvements, but still have a long way to go to hit all of my goals. Nutrisystem has been helping me lose some of that old baby weight {toddler weight? She’s no baby anymore…} – and seeing the number on the scale drop a bit has helped motivate me to get more active. I’ve never been the type to do an actual “work out,” and I’ve never been to the gym. But, I am big on multi-tasking, and on finding Smart Solutions for my busy mom challenges. Keep reading to learn my tips for sneaking more exercise into your busy day…

From Workout to Out and About…

I used to dress cute. Seriously, I did. But after switching from working in fashion merchandising to working at home, I started dressing more casually. Add in the stress of keeping up with housework all day, and a crazy wild toddler – and I’m lucky to have a clean shirt on some days. That was part of why I started my Momma Makeover Mission – to snap out of that frump-mom slump. I love these new pieces from Russell Athletics – they’re uber comfy, have a great Dri-Power moisture wicking technology that keeps you cool even when the temperature is sky high, and can easily be jazzed up a little to head out of the house to run errands. Love it! Shown above are my Dry-Power 360 Round-Neck Tee in Shockwave Green – {awesome color for summer!} – and my new Semi-Fit Performance Capri. Totally cute, right? The pants even have this sweet little zippered pocket along the back waistband, where you could add a bit of cash, keys, and lip gloss when you head out for a walk or day at the park. They’re comfy enough for my daily exercise – but with a cute bag, scarf, and sandals, it’s cute enough for going out, too.

How to Sneak Exercise into Your Daily Routine

You just won’t add any extra exercise into your day unless you’re wearing clothing that moves. Plus – if you have kids, you’re doing a ton of running – {do NOT dig in the houseplants with your new Dora shovel!}, lifting – {yes, of course I’ll pick you up for the 111th time so that you can yell that you want down}, and squats – {who else loves picking up Legos?}. Your clothes need to be ready to move with you – and you’ll find so many great women’s workout gear options at Russell Athletic. Now that you know where to get the gear, let me share my tips and tricks:

Morning Dishes: Squat while you load the dishwasher. Yes, you look funny. But the kids need a good giggle in the a.m. anyway.
Vacuuming: I do this daily. One, because I have a toddler, so I must watch my floors like a hawk, always looking for danger – coins, tiny heads ripped from action figures, and gross things the dog drags in. Two, because it’s SUPER great exercise. Turn on some tunes, and vacuum FAST. Do lunges while you go. You will totally feel the burn in your glutes and your arms.
Laundry: Lift each basket filled with perfectly folded laundry over your head in reps of 10. Yeeeaaaahhhh – pretend that you’re Arnold Schwarzenegger, so amazingly strong.
Dinner time: I do all kinds of exercises while I cook. Waiting for veggies to steam? Arm circles. {My nephew caught me doing this once, and asked if I was trying to fly. He still wonders about it…} If I have to grab the step ladder to get a specialty pot – I do a quick step workout, up-down, up-down. You can do leg lifts, squats, even run laps around the kitchen island. Whatever works for ya.

See how easy it is? Once you’ve got some super smart workout clothes that have innovative technology to keep you cool – and that are cute enough to wear out and about when you run errands too – you’ll be ready to start adding tons of sneaky new exercise into your daily routines. You’ll be squatting while brushing your teeth, washing your windows with big arm circles – Karate Kid style. And soon enough, you’ll find new muscles in those arms, and be surprised by pants that have grown too big! {When they do, stop by Russell Athletics online to pick up a new pair – scroll to the bottom to sign up for special savings offers. You will not be disappointed!

How do YOU sneak exercise into YOUr daily routine? Share in the comments!

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Russell Athletics and received a product sample to facilitate my review.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 31, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 2 Comments

The Best {Affordable!} Summer Fashion Trends

Summer Style Trends

It’s summertime, and the livin’s easy…. And the fashions should be too! And from my “MOM-garita” look to my “Pool Party” style, my favorite summer looks have one thing in common – Old Navy! And, they have some serious summer sales going on right now… all tees and tanks are $4 bucks, flip flops all under $5 bucks, and swimwear starting at just $6 bucks per piece!! Sweet deals, right?

Plus – get a bonus Memorial Day Savings Coupon!

Old Navy – 20% off coupon – Gap, Banana Republic or Old Navy Card using the code ONPLUSUP – Today only!!
(see all Old Navy coupons)

Have fun shopping, and enjoy your holiday!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 28, 2012 Filed Under: Shopping | No Comments

The Secret to Wearing a Swimsuit After Having a Baby

So, for a couple of months now I’ve been updating you each week on my Nutrisystem journey. And if you’ve been following along since the very beginning, you might remember my goal that I started with – to fit into my very favorite pair of pre-baby skinny jeans. And, drum roll please…… Last Sunday I put them on and they FIT!!!!! This was seriously an exciting moment for me. I mean, I knew I’d lost some weight. And I’ve just started to get regular comments from people mentioning that I look like I’d lost weight. And my total weight loss is now at 17 pounds. {Can I get a heck yeah??} But I honestly am surprised by how much my body shape has changed – and could NOT be more excited!!

Pool Party by megsp22 featuring a string bikini

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” – Sam Keen

I love summer. And I love it even more this year, because I’m super excited to rock my new swimsuit and not have to hide behind a towel every time we have company over. We have a big deck and patio that surrounds an in-ground pool – which means we entertain a lot during the summer months. And last year I missed out on a lot of fun, since I was too embarrassed to be seen very often in my swimsuit. But not this year – this year I am ready bay-bee! I’m continuing with the Nutrisystem diet for about a month and a half more, and hope to have gotten pretty darn close to my goal of losing 40 pounds by then. Pretty awesome, right?

WANT TO GET YOUR PRE-BABY BOOTY BACK TOO?

Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting Nutrisystem.com. It’s simple to get started, the foods are actually really good, with loads of variety. Heck – you even get to have chocolate cake or ice cream each night for dessert, how great is that? Get started today – it’s the best choice you’ll make this year!

READ MORE ABOUT MY NUTRISYSTEM WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY, AND FOLLOW MY WEIGHT LOSS BOARD ON PINTEREST TOO!

{Disclaimer: I’m receiving a complimentary membership and access to all Nutrisystem products and services, to review here for you. All photos, opinions, and results here are 100% my own personal experience – and may vary for others.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 25, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | 1 Comment

A Drab to Fab Mommy Makeover

Drab to Fab Makeover & More

Do you need a momma makeover too? I know I do! The wardrobe that worked in my “old life” – pre-baby, when I was skinnier, worked in fashion merchandising, and went out a lot – doesn’t exactly work well with my new routines or my new shape. With the help of Nutrisystem I’m down 16 pounds so far – {can I get a woo hoo??} – but still… I don’t quite fit into my old clothes, but am losing enough that my “in between” styles no longer fit either. I need a new wardrobe that fits my new busy-in-a-different way lifestyle.

Instead of running crazy-busy all day to set up new store displays, build outfits for customers, and stock shelves – I’m running crazy-busy after a toddler who just stuck yet another crayon up her nose. Less glamorous for sure. But I need to stop wearing elastic waist pants….
I finally fit into my VERY favorite super expensive pair of jeans from before I had a baby… But I don’t fit into everything. I’m losing weight, and think I’ll hit my goal by the end of summer. But while I’m getting smaller, I seem to be a very different shape than I was pre-baby, and not all of my old styles are going to work for me now.
I need clothes that are fun and trendy, and get me out of frump-mom territory, while still being comfy and easy enough to work from home with a toddler.
Instead of fashions that can go from work to a night out – I need something that goes from blogging at my desk to cleaning Cheerios out of the VCR, and is still presentable for a last minute playdate at the park. My, how life has changed.

So – I was super excited when a store that I LOVE, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, has a sweet contest going on. Visit their site to share your quick story on why YOU need a “Drab to Fab” Makeover too! You’re automatically entered to win a $500 Shopping Spree, a chance to be featured in their newsletter, and style advice from pro Brandy Lunsford. Awesome, right?

Plus today only – big savings – LastCall – 40% off on top of sale prices on your whole purchase!!!
(see all LastCall coupons)

To enter, just click the link above, and then click through to Last Call’s site. You’ll see a big pink box in the lower middle of the screen where you can enter to win!!! {And heck, do some shopping too. It’s an early Memorial Day sale, with an EXTRA bonus 40% off their crazy discounted designer stuff. You’ll love it.

More fun prizes to win too!

Follow @LastCallNM on Twitter and mention @LastCallNM with hashtag #LCBeachBag on your next “Tweet” starting May 22, 2012, and ending May 29, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. CT. Entrants who include a picture of a Last Call product will double their chance of winning. Awesome!
Enter Cloud 9 Living’s Father’s Day Experience Giveaway Contest for your chance to win an “experience” prize – (16 winners | more than $1,700 in giveaways) – Sign up to enter the contest and you will also receive a promotional code for $10 off all purchases between now and Father’s Day. Sweet deal!
Win a 2012 Toyota Sienna – or just take home $50,000 in cash. What a decision, right? This could be your mom swagger wagon, lol.
Summer fun is on the way, and you’ll be even more ready for it when you win this Step2 Play & Shade Pool! {Totally on my wish list right now for Abby} – or maybe enter to win a $500 spa gift card for yourself to get ready for tanks tops and bikinis!

Have fun & Good Luck!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 22, 2012 Filed Under: Contests | No Comments

Who’s Ready for Mom-garita Time?

That’s what I call this look I put together – the “Mom-garita.” It’s a breezy, relaxed look for summer…. Featuring a BIKINI. Yep, I’m serious. With the Nutrisystem diet this year, I’ve lost 15 pounds already, and plan to lose at least another 10 before we open our pool in mid-June. And – with the amazing support I get from the Nutrisystem team, I know I’ll be able to do it. Last year I missed a ton of pool-time fun because I was too embarrassed to show this post-baby body. But this year I’m actually excited to see myself in a swimsuit again. Good times.

How I’m Getting Bikini Ready:

There’s never just ONE change that you make to lose weight. It’s a combination of dietary changes, portion control, exercise, and mindset. I love that Nutrisystem combines all of those into one plan, making it a heck of a lot easier for me to stay on track. Here’s what I’m doing:

Following the Nutrisystem diet. I’m loving it. Especially that I get to have daily dessert! You can read my updates from the last couple of months to see my weight-loss progress so far.
Getting active. I am NOT a sporty person. At all. But, walking I can handle. So I recently started going for a 30 minute daily walk with Abby. I tell ya – pushing that stroller up the hills in our neighborhood is one heck of a workout! {Want some motivation to get active too? Learn my 5 gym bag essentials.}
Drinking more water. This is part of the Nutrisystem diet, and I even track how many bottles I drink each day in my daily log. I don’t like pop, so this wasn’t a big change. But I’ve been switching most of my other beverages – like milk and juice – to water instead. That’s a HUGE amount of calories saved.
Stay motivated and energized. I use the discussion boards A LOT on my personal Nutrisystem page, to get tips from people who are rockin’ the system, and just learn from other moms like me trying to lose the baby weight. I also made myself a big Dream Board type thing for the fridge door – it has my pre-baby “skinny pics” on it, and a bunch of great weight loss quotes.

I am uber duber excited for this summer – I mean, I always look forward to sunshine, BBQ’s, and good times. But I seriously cannot wait to reach my weight loss goals, and finally, FINALLY, be able to rock some great fashions again. It’s been a few years now….

Want to get YOUR pre-baby booty back too?

READ MORE ABOUT MY NUTRISYSTEM WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY, AND FOLLOW MY WEIGHT LOSS BOARD ON PINTEREST TOO!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 8, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | 7 Comments

Sunny Day Spring Fashion Giveaway!

Welcome to the Sunny Day Giveaway!

I have teamed up with Sweet Silly Sara and a group of fantastic bloggers to bring you the chance to win a really stylish pair of Liz Claiborne Aviator Sunglasses valued at $49! These would be a sweet addition to your spring look – Love ’em!

This giveaway begins on May 5th and ends on May 19th at 11:59 PM EST

Please enter via the rafflecopter form below. You don’t have to do all of the entries – but the more you do, the more chances you have to WIN!

*The participating bloggers cannot be held responsible for shipment of this prize. The prize will be shipped to the winner via Sweet Silly Sara.*

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 5, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | 73 Comments

Crazy Dog Tshirts Gift Card Giveaway!

Crazy Dog Tshirts Giveaway!

I’ve partnered with The Deals and More to bring you this fun giveaway – so I’m sharing their awesome review here with you too. The post was written by The Deals and More – and the giveaway is brought to you by a bunch of my bloggy buddies! Read on, and enter to win…

Why these shirts Rock

Recently I had the opportunity to review a couple of shirts from Crazy Dog Tshirts. I spend hours trying to find the perfect shirts for my husband. I looked at all the movie ones and found a couple that he would like but then decided to see all the other wonderful shirts they have. It finally took me a couple of days to decide on which ones to get for sure. There were so many to choose from and I finally narrowed it down to just a couple.

First Shirt – Paddle Faster, I hear Banjos

Paddle Faster I hear banjos t-shirt. The movie Deliverance bring us the classics. This hilarious t-shirt is screen printed on one of our super soft tees. The deliverance t-shirt is one of our newest additions to our funny t-shirt line! One of our famous movie t shirts. Navy with white lettering, one of our best sellers, funny t shirt, cool t shirt.

My husband thought this shirt would be funny since we moved from to the south a few years ago. The first thing I noticed about this shirt when it arrived was that it was super soft. It’s a nice dark blue color with that faded white logo. After washing this shirt it still kept its softness. This shirt is washed at least once a week and has held up perfectly. The one thing my husband loves about this shirt besides the softness is that the collar has kept its shape. Normally he notices that the collars in most of his shirts start to stretch after just a couple wears but this one has stayed soft and kept its shape.

Second shirt – Sorry folks, parks closed.

Wally World t shirt. Paying tribute to the famous Wally World in National Lampoons Vacation movie. The Wally World shirt we offer is screened on our super soft tees and has the classic saying “Sorry Folks, Park’s Closed!”. Don’t you think that Moose outside should have told you? Wait until you try on this awesome shirt!

This is far my favorite shirt that I have reviewed. This shirt came from their sister site Nacho Mamas Tees. Every time I see Marty Moose it reminds me of John Candy (Lasky the security guard) being taken “hostage” and riding the rides. This is one of those movies that you can’t help but laugh at. There is always something that goes wrong in a National Lampoons movie. Out of the many times my husband has worn this shirt, only one person has known exactly where this shirt comes from. This movie along with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation are two of those movies that are a must see. If you have never seen it, please do. It’s great.

There was a little problem with the Parks Closed shirt. When I got it, I washed it inside out on cold and the color’s bleed. I immediately contacted the company letting them know what had happened. They apologized about this and said that they had never seen this happen before. They immediately sent me out a replacement shirt which was the exact same one and I had no problems with this one. Later on, I had received an email back letting me know that they pulled the lot of shirts that the first one sent to me came from. They didn’t want that to happen to anyone else and that they thought the problem was that they didn’t get a chance to cure long enough in the dryer. Finding this out makes me appreciate a company even more. Not only did they handle the situation fast and effective BUT they made sure that the problem was taken care of. Because of the way they handled this in a professional manner I would highly recommend them to anyone. Not only do they sell quality shirts BUT they stand behind each and everyone they sell.

Crazy Dogs Tshirts has a great selection of movie tshirts to vintage tshirts and everything in between. They even have kids shirts. If you are wanting a great quality shirt that is a great price, this is the place to go.