My Five Top Blogs

FASHION BLOG: On a scale of one to 10, how many times a week do you find yourself staring blankly into your closet and screaming, "I have nothing to wear!"? If you're anything like us, your number is probably somewhere near 15. And, with the amount of clothing that is most likely hanging in your wardrobe, that is so not okay. With March officially upon us (and the promise of spring on the horizon), we'rereally making a conscious effort to step up our style game; that's why we called upon four major New York bloggers to curate an entire month's worth of looks. The result? Four weeks of outfit inspiration that caters to every mood, personality, and weather forecast. See? Getting dressed every morning doesn't have to be that bad.

Why I like this blog: I believe fashion blogs are somewhat important in today's society. People who are looking for the lastest trends can look up these blogs to see what's in style. Fashion bloggers are always up to date on the newest clothes. It really also depends on what your style is and what you can afford. Some of these blogs can be for clothes that are expensive. While in some cases, getting up early in the morning and wondering what to wear. This blog that I found gives advice on what to wear early in the morning. I personally learned from this blog and it did help with my morning routine.

FITNESS BLOG: OK – I may have made a play on words here to get your attention! YES, of course the food we eat helps us look, feel & live better & healthier! We still have to work our core though!!! There are so many ways to work the core & I have written posts & have videos on Instagram& Facebook on some of my moves. Others do different exercises than me – more planks & multi-functional moves. I am kinda old school. It works for me BUT I mix in planks & TRX and other exercises as you see on my videos. Abs are REVEALED in the kitchen!!! I have made this comment a few times on my Sunday posts. We can do all the core & abdominal work in the world but if your body fat is not lower, if you are not eating for that, you just do not see them. YES, they are there if you work them but your body fat has to be lower to revealthem. Hey, that may not matter to you. That may not be your goal – that is fine!!!! BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM, YOU HAVE TO EAT TO REDUCE YOUR BODY FAT ALONG WITH DOING THE CORE WORK. You are going to have to do the hard work to reveal them. Just the plain truth. BTW, those abs above are on no food & after my Sunday outside run! Always look better on no foods & first thing in the morn. the older you get, the harder it is to reveal them – trust me on this! I have been thru hell & back with perimenopause to menopause & it is still fighting me!!! So for flat abs & to see the abs – it is not rocket science but IT IS HARD WORK!!!! I wrote about this again because I have been asked this question for all my years in fitness. I continue to be asked this question – how to get flat abs. People want a quick fix but there is no quick fix that lasts life long. Even if you get surgery, you still have to eat right & work to keep them. I do love my bras up there at the top! Moving Comfort which by the way is under Brooks now – the Orange one and my Champion one in the green/periwinkle. Always my Hoka OneOne shoes cause they keep me exercising & saved my exercise life. My Incrediwear socks are by far the best socks I have ever had or worn!

Why I like this blog: Some may think fitness isn't important in life. But studies have shown those who workout often tend to live longer. It isn't about just eating healthy, it's also about working out. Working out those muscles are for our own good. People may say "I don't have time to workout", but it only requires at least thirty mintues to an hour. As the blog mentions, people want abs quick but in reality you need to work for it. For example, if you want a management position they don't just give it to you right away. You slowly have to work for it until you earn it. Same thing with fitness, progress is key to whatever you want to accomplish.

DATING BLOG: Most people who are dating are looking for the ideal partner, but why are so many of them having such a hard time? That’s easy to answer. It’s because finding the ideal partner requires selective dating. What is selective dating? Selective dating is being choosy about who you date. It doesn’t mean being picky, it means not compromising on the things that are important to you, it means not compromising on your values and it especially means not compromising on your self-worth. Sounds easy enough, right? Not so much. Especially when loneliness clouds your judgement when dating. You let a lot of important things slide and you settle because you don’t want to be alone anymore. We’ve ALL been there, we’ve ALL done that. But, I’m here to tell you that finding the ideal partner requires selective dating … here’s why. So what ARE the best traits to look for in a partner? Well, luckily someone has done the thinking for us. I was reading an article from Samantha Joel that stressed the importance of responsiveness in a relationship. What does that mean? Well, the author defined it as “someone who makes you feel understood, validated, and cared for ” because “it’s easier to work out relationship issues, big and small, with a partner who’s more responsive rather than less“. She goes on to characterize a responsive partner with three important traits: Understanding, Validating, and Caring. Understanding partners are partners that actively listen to you and try to see things from your perspective. They also Validate your point of view making you feel respected and important to them (even when they don’t agree with you). Lastly, a responsive partner is Caring – they are concerned for your well-being, communicate with you and express affection. These traits make you feel like you truly are partners and that you can count on that person to be there when you need them. They also ensure that you will always resolve disagreements with ease. What does that have to do with dating? Well, happily ever after and forever has everything to do with your choice in partner. When you choose right, you typically end up in a better place. That’s true for everything in your life. It’s all about quality. Problem is that we’re too anxious to please other people and lose sight of the true end goal. We compromise our ideals and what we are looking for. We tend to forget what really makes us happy. What’s the solution? You need to practice selective dating which means: being happily single, enjoying the process and forgetting the outcome, being aware of red flags, listening to your gut instincts about someone,and being true to you. So there you have it. Finding the ideal partner requires selective dating, no really, it does. It also requires discernment. Discernment is the ability to judge things in your life. It’s done through experience and most certainly using your gut instincts. You know that feeling you have that something just isn’t right? That’s your discernment kicking in. It usually takes some reflection and paying attention. It’s not merely perception, it’s more, something deeper. It’s an awareness of what is authentic and what isn’t. You know what I’m talking about. You’ve been there, done that. Selective dating through discernment is using this judgment to weed out the losers from the winners. Trust it and if someone doesn’t add up then show them the door. You deserve someone who is understanding, validating and caring. Someone who feels right, respects you and someone you can trust. Imagine that! Sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not, it should be the bare minimum that you accept. Everyone deserves an ideal partner. Plain. Simple.

Your Sister in Dating Bliss, Single Dating Diva

Why I like this post: Datng....something everyone looks forward too. Well not everyone, but most individuals do. When it comes to your first date, people sometimes research information on how to survive or not make a fool of themselves. So what better way to find out then by reading a blog. This blog I read is mostly for singles, but can be for everyone. For starters, it mentions that the individual looking for their partner has to be selective. In other words, they have to know what they would like in that particular peson. If we want a sweet person, then that's what we need to be looking for. Also we can't fall for the first person we meet. We need to carfully select our ideal partner by going on different dates with different people. And when we find our special one, then we get to know them more. Trust in your instincts when it comes down to your heart. But make sure you get treated the way you deserve to.

BEAUTY BLOG: Being a woman in today’s day and age makes for a ton of things to worry about. Besides never being able to find a pair of jeans that fits just right and losing countless hours to Pinterest and beauty blogs, there are some other universal concerns we all face. Whether you’d rather be caught dead than without your red lipstick on or you’re more of a BB cream and run kind of girl, there are just some things we all need to know. How do you cover dark circles? Which makeup product do we all really need? Which shampoos won’t dry out hair? Will that mascara actually give eyelashes 200% more volume? Inquiring minds need to know. Regardless of how much makeup you wear on a daily basis or how often you get your hair colored, the search for the best beauty products can be exhausting. Plus, once you get the products, you then have to learn how to apply them, how much you need, which ones will work best for you, etc. Everyone appreciates a little help in these areas. While most of us have that one friend who always knows which concealer to use for what kind of pimple or how to actually do a fishtail braid at home, many of us are left in the dark when it comes to the beauty aisle. So, what’s an under-informed girl to do besides call up the local makeup company consultant? Easy: Head to a makeup blog. Whether they’re into luxury beauty or YouTube makeup tutorials, there are countless beauty blogs out there making lives easier (and way more fun). From how to wear the latest beauty trends to reviewing which products are worth the hype, beauty blogs have become the best friend you always needed, who can tell you exactly what to buy, or not buy. They’re like Yelp for the beauty industry, only you can find a blog aimed at exactly what you’re looking for and lose track of time with what you’ve found. In an effort to help you find your beauty blog soulmate(s), we’ve put together a list of the 50 best beauty blogs out there. Taking into account amazing original content, useful how to’s and loyal social followings, we’ve put together this fully comprehensive list of beauty blogs. From YouTube sensations to lawyers and doctors making second careers out of blogging, we’re guaranteeing this list has at least a few blogs you’re going to bookmark.

Why I like this blog: I find this blog useful because it gives many tips on beauty. For a woman today, beauty seems to be the most concern within the community. People are always looking for other ways or tricks to do their makeup. Women are so inseure on how they look and believe hiding their inner beauty with pounds of makeup is the way to go. Besides all the insecurities, women try to find the best product that there is. If someone has sensitive skin, they may think "what's the best product out there?" Or if someone needs oil control, they investigate and ask around. So reading beauty blogs is useful because real life people give amazing tips on what products to use.

FOOD BLOG: I’ve spent the last week hopping around New Jersey, taking moto adventures through the northwestern hills and lakes, visiting with family and friends, and remembering all the things I love so dearly about my home state. I got to stay at my aunt’s house on Lake Wawayanda, and it is the epitome of a perfect summer retreat. The backyard is unreal. Hammock naps, reading on the dock, storytelling around the fire pit…SO perfect for hot days in mid-August. My cousins have a kitchen more fully stocked than the local grocery store, so naturally I baked. It was wonderful timing too because I recently partnered with Mike’s Hard Lemonade to celebrate summer days spent gathering in backyards. HELLO!! So the recipe I came up with is for Hard Lemonade Glazed Cupcakes. And I’m obsessed with them. I love lemon-y baked goods. And Mike’s is an incredibly nostalgic summer beverage for me. Pairing them up worked out REALLY well. I also decided to keep them glazed and frosting-free to avoid a melty mess, but if you’re NOT serving them at a sweltering hot picnic, top them with the frosting of your dreams! The glaze really is amazing on its own though. This recipe yields about 2 dozen cupcakes, and uses a whole bottle of the good stuff. You can actually make them with any of the Mike’s flavors as long as you switch up the fresh fruit juice to match, but GIRL LOVES LEMON. The recipe has 3 layers of flavor. There’s fresh lemon juice and Hard Lemonade baked into the cupcakes themselves, then when the cupcakes come out of the oven, they’re each doused in a teaspoon of Mike’s, THEN once they cool, they’re soaked in a sweetened Hard Lemonade glaze. The result is moist, cakey, lemon-y goodness with a subtle kick. They were a hit!!

Why I like this blog: Cake. Donuts. Pies. Pasta. Steak. Food is life. Who doesn't like a good, juicy steak with a side of fries or coleslaw. But not a lolt of restaurants or people know how to really cook a certain food. So people go online and read reviews about certain restaurants. But what if we want to get healthy. When we hear healthy eating we all of a sudden think salads. Am I right? Salads are not the only healthy option that there is. There's ways of still eating what we want to eat, but were given certain portions. Healthy food blogs or any food blogs could be useful when it comes to eating habits. If we want to know more, we need to reasearch what to eat and what not to eat.