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Alicia

Life

5 Nutrition Tips from My Reward Fitness

February 4, 2015
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We’re a few weeks into this #2015STRONG initiative and I’m (surprise, surprise) finding plenty of struggles along the way.  I think this is ultimately a good sign though, because it’s a lifestyle I want to adopt, not an extreme all or nothing approach that ends up lasting for a short amount of time.  I’m also as stubborn as a mule and am known to refrain from asking for help, even when deep down I know that it’s needed.  This is why it’s so amazing having Meray just a text message away.  She was able to point me in the direction of some amazing nutrition tips that are simple, yet effective and I’m feeling re-energized this week!  Here are a few of my favourites:

1. Always eat a healthy breakfast. Your brain needs glucose for energy. Starving yourself will cause you to be “brain-dead”. Another theory suggests that eating breakfast can increase satiety (reduce hunger) for the remainder of the day. A study done in the University of Nottingham found that those who skipped breakfast were more resistant to insulin, which increased their risk of diabetes. You want to make sure that your breakfast has a minimum of 20g of protein and healthy complex carbs. An example of this is egg whites and oatmeal, or a couple of eggs with mutli-grain toast.

2. Meal Prep! Cook your meals in advance and always have food on hand. This will help keep you accountable to staying on track, and will prevent you from binge-eating when you are hungry. People who don’t meal prep often eat “quick and easy” foods that tend to be unhealthy. I encourage my clients to meal prep 2x a week, and make enough for a few days. This will save you time and money during the rest of the week.
3. Drink lots of water. Did you know that roughly 60% of your body is made of water?! Drinking adequate amounts of water maintains the body’s fluid balance which helps transport nutrients in your body, improve digestion, and regulate body temperature. Another perk to drinking water is it makes you feel full, which helps you consume fewer calories.
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4. Don’t be scared of fats! There are so many health benefits to eating “good fats”. Good fats are unrefined animal fats, fish fats, some plant-based fats, olive, nuts and tropical oils. Some healthy fats include avocados, nuts, coconut oil, salmon, and meat. By increasing healthy fats in your diet, you can lose fat by improving your metabolism, balancing your hormones (ie. thyroid), and by decreasing cravings. Please note that increasing healthy fats in your diet will promote fat loss if you decrease your carbohydrate income.

5. Be creative with your meals.  Eating healthy should be your lifestyle, and therefore should not be a burden or considered a “diet”. You can eat healthy, and still enjoy your food. Try new recipes, and experiment with different herbs and recipes. There are so many healthy substitutions for cooking, for example: cauliflower can replace flour, almond milk can replace milk, coconut oil can replace butter, and banana or apple sauce can replace sugar.
For more nutrition tips from Meray of My Reward Fitness, check out her latest post here.  AND if you’re in need of some meal planning tips (like I always am), my girl To Vogue Or Bust is sharing some advice on the blog today.  If you sign up for the #2015STRONG e-newsletter, we’ve also got a FREE 4 Week Wellness Plan you can download and print.  It’s all about pen and paper when organizing life, amiright?!  Enjoy my darlings and happy Wednesday!

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Style

A Punch Of Colour + a LOFT Giveaway

February 2, 2015
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The Details // Photos by Alex
Dress, LOFT
Color Block Scarf, LOFT
Blush Jacket, Aritzia
Assorted Arm Party, Olive + Piper
Bag, Urban Outfitters / similar
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I’m currently in my p.j.’s watching Death Comes To Pemberley and writing this blog post, which is basically the exact opposite of participating in Super Bowl Sunday.  What can I say?  I don’t care for football, I’m not really eating junk food right now (what’s a Super Bowl without 7 layer dip?!), and I’m feeling quite productive.  There’s no use in stopping this creative train once it leaves the station!

So once I got that teaching gig that I mentioned a few posts back, I immediately headed to the nearest LOFT location to find a new teaching appropriate ensemble.  Found this black dress with faux leather detailing on sale, and gorgeous colour block scarf, and now I want YOU to shop as well.  I’m giving away a $100 LOFT Gift Card this week because let’s face it – you totally deserve it!

To Enter:

1. Follow @aliciafashionista on Instagram

2. Then comment below on this post with your insta username and an email address to contact you at.

That’s it!  Contest is on from Sunday, February 1st at 6 p.m PST until Tuesday, February 10th at 6 p.m. PST.  No purchase necessary.  Contest is open worldwide.  Winner will be chosen at random and contacted shortly after.  Good luck xo

P.S. Shoutout to my mom for buying me these amazing boots with zebra printed heels for Christmas.  Isn’t she the BEST?!  I sure think so – thanks, ma!

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Style

Love For Athleisure

January 28, 2015
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The Details // Photos by Alex
Hat, H&M
‘Wasting My Young Years’ Tee, London Grammar
Faux Leather Jacket, Joe Fresh
Wunder Under Crop Pants, Lululemon

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My love for the athleisure trend just keeps growing and growing.  I think these Nikes might just be my favourite purchase of last year.  They’re so chic and practical all at the same time, really glad we made the investment.  I say we, because Adam most definitely got matching ones.  Personally, I take my athleisure wear from an active day of errands, straight to the gym or a class.  It’s just crucial for me to be ready to go for my workouts, or trust me – I’ll never do them.  Paired with a blanket scarf, this is also my favourite casual airport attire lately.  In fact, I’ll be wearing this combination with a giant winter coat to YVR tomorrow.  I’m catching a flight to New York City for a really quick, but totally amazing 48 hour trip!  And I cannot express to you how excited I am, especially since the current blizzard situation nearly cancelled things altogether.  If you have any must-see/eat/shop recommendations, definitely let me know, and be sure to keep up with my day to day #AFxNYC adventures on insta @aliciafashionista!
P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for our #2015STRONG newsletter!  Today’s email included a delicious post-workout green juice recipe.  Sign up here.
P.P.S. Alexandra also has an amazing athleisure look up on To Vogue Or Bust today!  Be sure to check it out here.
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Style

In A Fog

January 22, 2015
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The Details // Photos by Alex
Black and White Blouse, TOPSHOP (majorly on sale here)
Denim, P L E N + Y / similar
‘Martina’ Pumps, Nine West
Color Block Purse, Le Chateau / similar
Camel Coat, TOP SHOP / similar
Double Pearl Earrings, Le Chateau / similar

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I know they always warn us about how long January is, but it really isn’t understandable until you’re right in the middle of it.  We’re one month into winter and I feel like I’ve already mentally skipped spring and am onto summer.  I literally wore shorts yesterday (albeit, with tights) and ‘couldn’t believe’ how cold I was.   Needless to say, I’m sick of this season and my closet that goes with it.  And, it’s only mild weather here!  I honestly don’t know how you East Coasters do it.  I’m headed that way next week and am definitely ill prepared for those frigid temperatures.  I don’t even think that I own a ‘real’ winter coat that could actually keep me warm.  Packing should be real fun.

How do you keep your winter wardrobe interesting without breaking the bank?

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Life

WELCOME TO #2015STRONG + A Full Body Workout

January 21, 2015
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Tata Tamer Sports Bra, Lululemon // ‘Elle est forte’ Tank, She Is Clothing c/o // Runners, Nike Air Max Thea

You guys are amazing.  The amount of interest in #2015STRONG is overwhelming and exactly what kept me motivated at the gym today.  Every time I wanted to give up mid-set, I’d remind myself that we’re all in this together and it’s so wonderful!

Meray from My Reward Fitness has given us some amazing tools to get us all started.  If you’re feeling lost at the gym like myself, or simply bored with the same old moves, it’s time to shake things up!  We’ve got a video outlining some moves we used in our full body workout that I think you’ll really like.  I hadn’t even USED a kettlebell before to give you an idea of how out of shape (and apparently out of touch?) I was.  Now, I know EXACTLY what to do with that kettlebell and feel confident enough in my routine.  I’m super excited to pass this knowledge onto you as well, I really hope that it can do the same for you!  Big shoutout to my workout partner in crime To Vogue Or Bust for putting together this amazing video!
Want this in a PDF to take to the gym with you?  Sign up for our newsletter to get it sent right to your inbox!  Plus, I spent all of yesterday working on it, and it’s worth it simply for the love and effort that I put into it.
Happy #2015STRONG to you all xoxo
Life

Health + Fitness Goals #2015strong

January 20, 2015

Runners, Nike Air Max Thea // Wunder Under Crop Pants, Lululemon // ‘Wasting My Young Years’ T-Shirt, London Grammar // ‘Elle est forte’ Tank, She Is Clothing c/o

You’d honestly think that working for yourself would automatically mean you were in the best shape of your life.  You set your own schedule, you have tons of “free time”!  It’s just so not the case for me.  Client work and deadlines always seem to trump that yoga class or quick trip to the gym.  I’ve instead struggled to find a work/fitness balance for the past 3.5 years.   Sure, I’m active-ish, but a lack of routine eventually ends up taking a toll on your mental health.  I’m super happy and positive, but that doesn’t mean that I’m at all immune to depression and anxiety.  Which, in turn, only makes the motivation to be physically active that much tougher to find.  The Girl Boss life isn’t an ideal time to halt your workout routine, it should be the optimal time to establish one!

This is why I’m SO excited to introduce you to our health/fitness initiative, #2015STRONG.  It’s time to get our strength back, thanks to personal trainer Meray from My Reward Fitness.  She’ll be helping Alexandra and I reach our personal wellness goals, and we really want to share this experience with all of you.  We invite you to start training for #2015STRONG with us – RIGHT NOW!  All levels are welcome.  One thing I instantly loved about Meray was her firm belief that everyone has their own health/fitness goals, and that we should all respect that.  For instance, Meray is currently training for a fitness competition which includes a very strict diet and specialized intensive training.  Alexandra is already quite active and simply wishes to mix up her routine, while working around her current sports injuries.  I’m aiming for some fat loss (yeah, I said it) and to just get stronger.  I want to be able to go on a hike and feel like it challenged me, not rocked me.  I want to go to the gym and feel competent and fierce, instead of lost and out of place.  Why shouldn’t we all feel amazing in our own skin right at this very moment?!

If you sign up for our newsletter below, we’ll be sending you the best tips and tricks right to your inbox, so you should definitely go ahead and do that.  Also, if you’re interested in hiring Meray yourself, she has really great rates and is an amazing trainer to work with.  She helps you feel supported, but can also be firm enough to keep you on track.  Plus, she’s pretty great to hang out with.  Take a look at her pricing info and FAQs here.

Can’t wait to get started and to be in this one together – we’re going to kill it!

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Style

Weekend Spectacles

January 18, 2015
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The Details // Photos by Jen
Sweater, Dex (old)
Denim, Mavi
Cream Blouse, 8th and Main
Scarf, Forever 21
Glasses, Bailey Nelson
Booties, Miz Mooz

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To pass the time before a recent coffee date, I wandered into Bailey Nelson and impulse bought a ginormous pair of prescription glasses.  Some people add a pack of gum to their purchase, I invest in fashionable (AND functional) eyewear.  The purpose behind the purchase was to use up my benefits for last year, but also to congratulate myself on a new gig (I know, I seem to collect jobs like I do frames).  Since the 5th, I’m now teaching a social media course at a local college two days a week.  It has been really challenging in a great way and completely recharging. I know that it’s something that I genuinely enjoy because I now look forward to Monday mornings!  Definitely a sign that you love what you do and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the semester brings.

P.S. How much do you love a glimpse into the contents of my bag in the last photo?  That’s definitely a ton of random papers and a giant Mac power cord… #realtalk

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Travel

insta Mexico

January 14, 2015
 

 

 

 

 

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There isn’t much that beats our annual trip to Mexico.  Adam works his buns off all year and I get to enjoy the benefits of his company trip to the Mayan Riviera.  Pretty sweet deal, right?  I like to think that it’s because I’m SUCH a supportive wife and basically a driving force of his impeccable work ethic *takes bow*.  We had a really great group of 24 this time around and it was all party party at the always incredible Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso.  They seriously live up to their five-star status and really, we’ve grown accustom to their incredible service.  It’s a resort that I cannot recommend enough!  And I love the way of a Mexican resort vacation.  Morning omelettes, longer days lounging poolside or by the beach.  Slushy drinks, gorgeous sunsets, and then getting dolled up and going for dinner.  It’s my kinda way to relax and kick start 2015! xo

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Style

Chassé, you say

January 8, 2015
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The Details // Photos by Alexandra
Leopard Faux Fur Jacket, Plum
Oversized Blouse, WINNERS
Hat, Forever 21
Black Denim, P L E N + Y
Boots, Ella Shoes
Assorted Bracelets, Olive + Piper
Bag, Phillip Lim for Target
Red Velvet Rouge Gourmand Lipstick, Lise Watier 
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There are so many pairs of ‘dinner shoes’ in my closet.  You know the ones.  Those super high heels that you can literally only walk in for 15 minutes, so you only wear them to a restaurant where you sit for most of the evening and curse if anyone suggests continuing on to another location afterward.  No one should have to Cinderella at midnight just because your feet hurt.  It’s 2015!  So yeah, I’m always searching for a shoe with height to it that I can actually wear and move in without looking like a dog walking on ice.  I decided to try a (new to me) store called Ella Shoes on Granville Street while shopping downtown and can already tell that it’s our hidden shoe shopping treasure!  Their selection is really varied in many ways, as it has shoes for a wide range of personal styles, comfort levels, as well as age range. After trying on half the store (they have a very helpful and patient staff), I settled on these Bruna Boots.  An astonishing 4 inches high, but more comfortable than my .5 inch kitten heels.  Height means nothing, it’s all about the comfort when it comes to staying in the same footwear for a full workday!  I’ve already chasséd around the city in these beauties and though I haven’t completed my high heel training to make it to 8+ hours in them, I’m well on my way!

Hope you’re all having an amazing week! xo

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