People often ask me what I'm doing to my hair to make it appear so soft or what scent I'm wearing, and it has made me realize that the finishing touches on a look — even simple ones (you don't always have to be in a full face of makeup) — can make a notable difference in not only the way you look but also how you feel. My beauty outlook and routine is very much influenced by the elder women who seasoned me as a girl. I loved walking into my grandmother's room and smelling her perfume in the air. I studied my mom's routine of moisturizing her skin. Women at my church almost always completed an ensemble with a brooch ... I do that very same thing now, in jeans and dresses. Because when I have taken a bit of extra time in my beauty routine, I feel it.





A youtuber I follow always says, "rich in color, rich in beauty." I believe that. The right blush can soften you and also give you a fresh-off-holiday look. I rarely step out without at least a sweep across each cheek.

Anyone else planning to be waiting at Sephora when they open in the morning for this Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer. I'll be traveling to see my ailing Gram (ya'll pray for her, please), but as soon I get a break in the day I'll be heading over to the nearest Sephora. I'm a loyal fan of the Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation as it has been the best foundation I've ever used ... and I've tried way too many to count. My shade match is precise, the finish is smooth and I don't shine through. People constantly compliment me on my skin and I almost always tell them that this foundation brand puts in work for me. From what I have read about this new concealer, the shades correspond with the foundation shades so you can skip the step of having to be color matched. I love it more already. 

Do you or have you used the brand? Let me know your thoughts. 

Every day, I eat three meals and two (sometimes three) snacks. I started snacking like clock work when we started our Family Challenge as a way of keeping me on track with my eating. Back then, I didn't always feel hungry for a snack; these days, I snack like my life depends on it because of my workouts.

I keep my favorites in my office as well as at home and also have options to keep in my bag.

I eat breakfast each morning by 8:30 a.m. and then have a snack around 10:30 a.m. If I'm going to have fruit, I have it at that time because I've read about it being better consumed earlier in the day to maximize my burn of the sugar. But, I don't think fruit is a bad option in the afternoon. I love to have a banana with peanut butter smeared.

My other current go-tos are:

Noosa yoghurts - This is my favorite brand of yogurt. I eat just half the container as a serving because they are higher in calories than many others. Also, half is actually quite filling.

Quaker granola bars - I'm pretty basic with granola bars ... I'm good with a simple chewy chocolate chip bar. But, I recently discovered Quaker's Girl Scout Cookie Granola bars. Listen, that's the best 100 calories I'll eat all day.

Cucumber slices - I peel, slice and top them with fresh black pepper and a drizzle of low fat ranch dressing. I'm willing to give up some calories to the dressing.

Wheat Thins - I love that they're light but hearty and now that there's a cracked pepper and olive oil option, I'm extra satisfied.

Oatmeal - This is both a favorite meal and snack for me. Steel cut oats with sauteed broccoli, yes.

Interestingly, if I feel more hungry throughout the day and I've eaten what I normally would, I will drink more water. I've found that sometimes when I think I'm hungry, I'm actually just under hydrated.

What are your favorite snacks? I'll try virtually anything once.

When was the last time you set a small goal for yourself ... crushed it and celebrated? For me, it was yesterday. Well, I set the goal about a month ago, but I achieved it yesterday and celebrated myself like I had won the lottery. I do that for just about every benchmark I surpass in my life — spiritually, professionally and everything in between. It helps me to stay encouraged and it has strengthened my ability to self-motivate.

When my Apple watch crossed the 45-minute mark and buzzed on my arm, I started clapping mid-stride as if I was crossing the finish line of a marathon. I mean, I felt like that because when I started using my stair stepper, my stamina was so low. I could only do about 7 minutes without stopping before my muscles felt tight and my legs burned too much for me to continue; that was Dec. 31.

In my last post, I talked about giving yourself time to make progress. It took me exactly 30 days to get to 45 minutes on my machine. I started with two 7-minute sessions — taking a two minute break in between, and then moved up to one 15-minute session the next week. A few days later, I was able to go 21 and then 25 minutes without looking down at my watch. I don't see the benefit of it yet on my body, but being able to do more lets me know that progress is happening and that better is going to show up soon.

xMVL