Secret Santa

So I was contacted by T.J. Maxx and asked if I'd like to take part in a fashion blogger Secret Santa and I was all, YES. What could be better than having fashion bloggers buy me presents? T.J. Maxx/ Marshalls gave us all a $50 gift card and a blogger to shop for and set us loose in the stores. I had so much fun picking out my present for Jackie of Sweet Pie Style. After looking at her blog, I concluded that we had similar styles and basically went shopping for myself. Actually, I really wanted what I bought her. Check it out here. (Jackie is wearing the necklace and bracelet I got her under the "Day 23" heading.) More pics of the items found here.

Also, I got to go shopping with only one child since my daughter was on a play date. Shopping with only one child pinging off of the walls and touching everything in T.J. Maxx was the real gift, actually.

So, as I was being a happy little fashion blogger Secret Santa, Juanita from The Frugalicious Mommy was out shopping for me. And she actually bought me something similar to the necklace I bought for Jackie, yet secretly wanted to hoard for myself. YAY! She also sent me an adorable sequined clutch, which I brought with me to my Christmas party on Tuesday. I LOVE not bringing a bulky bag with me. Check out my prezzies!


My new clutch and necklace.


The magpie in me wants to hold onto this sparkly clutch and never let it go.


The cool thing about this necklace is that it has a huge pendant but a shorter, oversized chain. It's serious stuff and I love it.

Thanks, Juanita!

So, by my count you have eight shopping days till Christmas. I'm actually completely finished except for a few random things for the hubs. It feels GOOD! And I came under my Christmas budget about $300 so I'm feeling pretty good and itching to spend... well, $300. How about you guys? Good deals? Are you done? Or are you like me and purposely leave a few stragglers so you have an excuse to go shopping on Christmas Eve? I know. It's an illness.

Killer Cardio Workouts

If you are trying to lose some unwanted weight and inches, having some killer cardio workouts in your routine is a must. Tis the season for extra calories, be sure to add in an extra cardio workout to make up for the "extras" on the weekends.

Depending on what you have available try these four awesome cardio workouts...guaranteed to burn lots of calories.

If you go to a gym, head to one of the stair steppers.
Warm up for a couple of minutes at a pretty easy pace, then kick it up. If you have never tried this exercise, you may want to stay at a challenging steady pace, if you want to give yourself more of a challenge, try alternating single-stepping for two minutes at a fast pace with two minutes at a slower pace, climbing two steps at a time. You won't need to do this for very long!


One of my favourite cardio workouts is stairs. You can do this pretty much any where there is a set of stairs. Your house, a local stadium, or we have some awesome stairs on some hiking trails near by. Start by warming up for a few minutes, walking or even walking the stairs. Then pick up your speed by walking or jogging down the stairs (if you are in your house you might want to walk down-house stairs are closer together) then run up the stairs as fast as you can. Alternate between running up every stair, and skipping a stair. Do that for 30 minutes and you will be sure to burn tons of calories.


Take a boot camp class. These are awesome for burning tons of calories and getting in a great cardio workout. Just when you think you can't do anymore, you usually get do something great like burpees, or wind sprints!! I love them:)


If you are lucky enough to live by a beach, you have an awesome workout just waiting for you. Go down to the beach and start running. If you have never run, you may want to start with a fast walk. The sand alone makes this exercise so much more challenging. To begin warm up with a brisk walk or light jog for a few minutes, then pick up your pace to challenge yourself and go for 30-40 minutes. If you are looking for more of a challenge, try some interval training. After your warm up, go down to the water's edge (the sand is better packed there) and run/sprint for 30 seconds and then jog or walk for 1-2 minutes until you have recovered. Try doing that for even 10 minutes...you will be done. You can mix the interval portion with your regular run and give yourself the best cardio workout ever!

No matter where you are, or what you have available, you can always get in a great cardio workout, burn tons of calories and look and feel great!

Committed to your fitness success,
Kelly Parker
fitmommakeover.net

Freaky Friday: Freakin' Awesome

Sorry, you only get one picture for Freaky Friday today. And that's because it is so epically epic, it shall not be shared with other fashion mishaps.

To know me is to know my insane love for Conan O'Brien. When I was growing up there was a movie about teen girls who robbed a bank OR SOMETHING, I don't remember now, but one girl was totally in love with Coco and I aspire to be her every day.

And this is why:



If you watched the clip posted at the end of my jeggings post, you'd know that Conan was telling Tim Gunn how much he enjoyed the ladies wearing the jeggings. When Tim Gunn pointed out that men sometimes wear them too, Conan promised to wear them on the next show.

Yeah. I know. It's awesome.

Person who posts the funniest caption or comment wins street cred. And go!

How I, Jae, Conquered My Fear of the Jegging

So, remember the jegging fiasco of 2010? If you don't, here's a quick refresher.. Jae went to store. Jae tried on jeggings. Jae's bod looked ridiculous. Jae felt bad about herself. Jae drowned her sorrows in Chunky Monkey. Basically.

HOWEVER, after I wrote that post, I still was a little sad I couldn't find any that I liked. Because I really did want some to wear with my boots. So, I braved the stores again. This time, I brought my mom so she could watch children while I tried on jeggings in peace. There was less pressure this way. Anyway, long story short, I found some that I hummed and hawed over until I finally bucked up and bought them.

They sat in my closet for about two weeks before I got up the nerve to wear them. Finally, after trying them on with roughly every piece of my wardrobe, I wore them out in public. And guess what? I'm a little addicted now. I love my jeggings oh so very much. I still contend that they aren't for everyone. And I am very careful about HOW I wear them. But they can work! Even for disproportionate people like yours truly.

In fact, Facebook fans will know that I wore them on my four hours of flying yesterday. And since I promised pictures for judgmental judgment, here we go.

Here's the breakdown:
Tunic - H&M
Tie cardigan- Bluenotes
Jeggings (omg) - Forever 21
Boots - Soda via Head Over Heels
Cuff watch - Gucci
Pendant - Local

Also... this picture is taken in my childhood room. Except when I lived there I had cow wallpaper. And a keyboard. I don't understand either.

OK, so I feel like I got away with the fashion equivalent of murder here. I looked put together for my flight AND I got to wear comfy boots that I didn't have to jam into my suitcase. My suitcase which was 60 lbs already.

So, learn from my mistakes ladies. Here's what I learned in my great jeggings search.
1) Jeggings look stupid the first time you put them on. I know that know. If you have a generous backside like moi, try them on with boots. Otherwise, tears will fall.
2) Go up a size. This is advice I gave back when we were discussing skinny jeans at the very start of this blog. Don't squidge yourself into jeggings, even if they are stretchy. For heaven's sake, they're made of spandex. They're tight no matter what size you get. Save yourself the depression and go up.
3) Buy a practice pair. I loved a pair that I tried on at the Gap, but they were pricey. So I bought the $14 F21 versions. Now I know I love them, I'll spend more coin on the next pair.
4) Look for DARK washes that have traditional jean styling. Seriously, pocketless jeggings make me look like I have a diaper bum. It's not pretty. Pockets give some visual interest so it's not just a wide expanse of booty.
5) Get the safest jegging equation down: longer shirt + boots = happiness. As you get more comfortable with your jeggings, you might try flats with them, or a shorter jacket. Just do so with caution.

Still, I can understand general hesitation when it comes to jegging. I will not put them on as a MUST HAVE in your jean wardrobe. It's a bonus, like trouser jeans. If you can pull them off, awesome. If not... you can make disapproving throat noises when I walk by. No biggie.

PS: This post has been approved by Conan O'Brien.

Avoiding Fitness Scams

You hear about fitness scams all the time. One thing I can’t stand is when people are not up front with you. I was just on my computer looking up Goji berries. I knew they were good for us and wanted to know more about it. I heard the business line ringing and ran down to get it. It was a blocked number.

I answered it, and there was a gentleman on the other end who identified himself as Ron and from a company I didn’t quite catch. He then told me he was calling to make sure our fax was working properly.

I said “really”. He said yes, was everything going well. I then asked him how he got my number. He said it was on the fax machine list.

I quickly told him I didn’t have a fax machine, and he even more quickly said he must have the wrong number. I hung up the phone saying to myself “BUSTED”.

You know I don’t mind being marketed to. If you have a good product or service that will benefit me, then sure go ahead, but do it properly. Don’t be sneaky about it. Don’t try to hide what you are really doing. I can’t stand that.

If you are thinking about joining a club, new class, or personal training do your homework. And follow the tips below to ensure you don’t get scammed on your next investment.

Tips For Avoiding Fitness Scams.

1. Look for social proof. Do they have testimonials? Can you see and meet people who have experienced the program you are about to do? If other folks are getting results, it’s a good bet that when you follow the program too, that you will see results as well.

2. Look for Guarantees. Do they guarantee their program or class? If they won’t, why not? Are they unsure of it themselves? If the program is as great as they are saying, then it should be guaranteed.

3. Can You Try It Out? Investing $600 in personal training without first trying it out and meeting the trainer is not cool in my books. When you are investing that kind of money, you want to be sure you “click” with both the company and the trainer. Not only will you love your results but you will enjoy every workout as well. Always try it out first.

4. Hidden Fees. Take a look at what the program is offering. If you are joining a gym, are there hidden fees on top of your membership rate? Do you need to pay extra for classes, sauna, or pool? How many days a week does your program include? Ask lots of questions, don’t’ be shy and find out as much as you can.

When you are meeting about the program you are interested in, you definitely want to go in prepared and know what you want. Know what your goals are and if they seem like they can’t address your goals specifically then it might not be the right place for you. If you feel comfortable with them, and the program sounds good, try it out. One of the most important things in a program is if you enjoyed it. If you enjoy your program you will do it more often and when you do it more often you will see some amazing results!

Committed to your success,

Kelly Parker
www.fitmommakeover.net

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Does anyone else hate when superstar singers screw around with Christmas songs? There's nothing I hate more than when I am belting out Christmas carols in an impromptu concert in my car and the Christina Aguilera feels the need to throw in 10 minutes of runs so I can't sing along. IT'S RUDE.

But seriously, it is kinda freakin' freezing out where I live right now. I've got a little over a foot of snow and I'm heading up to Canada in two days to warm up. There is something very wrong with that picture. Anyway, last week it was my week to carpool and OF COURSE I would have to head outside at the unholy hour of 8:30am to scrape off my car in preparation of loading four four-year-olds into my SUV and slip-sliding down the hill to preschool. And believe you me, I very much wanted to do so in sweatpants. But of course, I blog about fashion and whatnot, and I'm constantly terrified one of the other moms is going to be like "Heeeey! You're wearing yoga pants, you hypocrite!" And I would never live it down. So I force myself to get dressed in the morning.

Luckily, since I grew up in Canada, I am a prostar at dressing for the cold. I tend to underdress out here because I don't find it as bone-rattling as Canada winters, but I still keep warm while looking mildly fashionable. Here's some ideas for you to marinade upon as you think of me, begging my seat warmers to hurry the freak up, and then telling the kids that "freak" is not a nice word to say.

If You're Classic:

Berkley Peacoat
Old Navy Womens The Diva Embellished Trouser Jeans, $15
Forever21.com - Shoes - Casual - 2082867030, $20
dELiAs > Ramona Stone Flower Headband > accessories > jewelry > hair, $8.50
Red Leather Purses, $40

OK, I have a firm believe that EVERY woman should have a winter dress coat. I got my first pea coat when I was 17 and I fell in love. I love how classic and streamlined they look. I have three now, in black, red and cream, and honestly, they are as warm, if not warmer, than my big ugly snowmobiling parka. They felt is warm and they don't make you look fat. Need I say more? I like pairing mine with flats as long as it's not snowy, otherwise it's boots.

If You're Sporty:

Old Navy Womens Wool-Blend Bomber Jackets, $55
YMI Back Stud Womens Bootcut Jeans, $40
REPORT Wrapped Womens Boots, $34
ROXY Equinox Handbag, $50
Flat Knit Ruffle Scarf - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal, $11

If you're a little more sporty and the whole pearls and loveliness isn't really your bag in the winter, might I suggest a super cute bomber? It's super warm and I kind of love the lumberjack-esque plaid. Just girly it up with a ruffled skirt so no one mistakes you for an actual lumberjack. You should definitely invest in a pair of warm ankle boots that go on and off quickly. Wear your jeans over the top and you just see your cute, soft, warm little feet. I have a bomber with fir on the hood and it is my go-to jacket when it's blustery out. Plus, I find treats from last year in its myriad of pockets. Once I found an entire Three Musketeer bar. SCORE. ALSO! Be careful when wearing puffier jackets and a purse. Tiny purses jammed over a puffy arm looks silly. Look for big straps or a messenger style.

If You're Trendy:

Daytrip Glitz Tank Top, $27
Khaki boiled wool biker jacket, 45 GBP
Women's Skinny Jean - American Eagle Outfitters, $40
Mossimo Supply Co. Red Kamisse Boot - 9.5 : Target, $24
leather look twist handle bag, 28 GBP
ASOS Vintage Style Military Stud Earrings, $10

Now, if you're a little trendier, you should definitely own a leather jacket or something like it. Now, note that all jackets are not created equally. You've seen both my Steve Madden and my Guess jackets, and my Steve Madden is TERRIBLE in the winter because it's very thin. My Guess one is heavily lined so it's a lot warmer for the winter and I've been wearing it a lot. Sorry, Steve, but you're in the closet with spring. Pull out the knee-high boots to wear over skinny jeans for extra trendy points from moi.

So remember that cold weather is not an excuse to look like a dog sledder. Unless of course, you actually OWN a dog sled. No, I have never owned a dog sled.

Face Your Fears

Face Your Fears and Do The Thing You Think You Cannot Do!

Let's face it, when it comes to routine we do the same thing over and over because we are comfortable with it. We like knowing that our day is running smoothly, we like it when we get the same coffee through the drive thru everyday (probably with a donut, bagel or danish), we have our favourite snacks when we get stressed or angry, more often than not our comfort foods (which is almost never healthy), we like routine. It's comfortable.

When I was in Brussels this past summer we went to this very cool park. It had some of the most amazing and in my mind dangerous things for kids to do. I couldn't believe how high the climbing structures were, the slides went so high and on forever and there was never any enclosures on anything!

I watched in horror as many 4 and 5 year olds climbed to the very top of these ridiculously high rope structures. I was sticking out like a sore thumb. I was nervous and it showed. To these kids, they were having a great time at the park.

In this video, I am at the top of a ridiculously high metal slide. It feels like it goes straight down. Take a look:




Believe it or not, it really did make me nervous. It was very tall and skinny. But I did it! I really had no choice, I had a 5 year old waiting behind me, getting impatient as I sat convincing myself I shouldn't do it. And voila, after (about a few minutes) it didn't seem so bad.

You must do the things you think you cannot do. You must face your fears. If you do not, you will never change. If you are comfortable wearing a size 12, or 16 or 32, you will always wear that size. Doing something that is different is often uncomfortable and challenging.

It's this discomfort and challenge that will push and move you forward. If you are afraid of running in a race, or something non-fitness related like public speaking, you really need to get out there and conquer your fears. When you do, you will feel such a feeling of accomplishment, a feeling of pride and know that you were strong enough to do it.

A lot of people are afraid to try new things regarding their health and fitness routine. When going outside of your comfort zone, I have had many people experience things they now love and have made it part of their routine.

With nutrition, you must definitely do the thing you think you can't. This is so important when wanting good health. Everyone has the food they turn to when they need to feel good. To be healthy you need to try foods that are healthier and encourage yourself to not eat the things that you know won't take you to your goals.

So face your fears. Face the unknown. You will become stronger, you will move forward and you will probably find new things that you will love and enjoy.

Committed to your fitness success,

Kelly Parker
www.FitMomMakeover.net
www.bestfitbodybootcamp.com