Naked Eyes (Neutral Eyeshadow Guide)

How to achieve the perfect neutral eyeshadow look? Tools + inspiration + eyeshadow guide = the perfect neutral eyeshadow look. I have a few occasions coming and I have been looking to update my eyeshadow look. I’m a big fan of neutral makeup because it manages to look beautiful without being over the top. I also think it’s a forgiving look for those of us who are not extremely precise. My favorite neutral eyeshadow palette is the original UD Naked palette. I think the warm tones are very flattering on my skin color, but I listed the most popular neutral eyeshadow palettes.

Eyeshadow Palettes:

Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette

Contains: 12 Neural Eyeshadow colors and a brush

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

Contains: 12 Neutral Eyeshadow and a brush

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

Contains: 6 Neutral Eyeshadow colors

Too Faced Naked Eye Palette 

Contains: 9 Neutral Eyeshadow Colors

Too Faced Natural Eye Palette 

Contains: 9 Neutral Eyeshadow colors

The Balm Nude’tude Palette 

Contains: 12 Neutral Eyeshadow colors

Eyeshadow Look Inspiration:

How To Guide:

A Little Too Pin Happy (Pinterest)

I created a pinterest account last week.  1,000+ pins and 21 boards later and I’m currently looking for a rehab center. Know a fancy center with no pins in sight? I am having way too much fun creating a pinterest world. My house is getting cozy, my kitchen is well stocked, my walk-in closet holds beautiful clothes, and I have a pretty impressive workout routine down. Some boards I’m thinking of adding are: a boyfriend board – the wedding is already planned, a closet for him – he will be very well dressed, a baby board, and a DIY board – for the extension we are going add outback.

My profile:

My Boards:

If you have a pinterest account link it below, I need to get my hands on more pins.

No Equipment? No Problem. (Bodyweight Exercises)

In a few weeks I’m travelling on vacation and i have been lost without to do with my new-found fitness motivation. I skip a few days of workout and completely lose all my motivation. Bringing a set of dumbbells does sound like a good idea so i have been researching body weight exercises and coming up with a travel routine to keep myself on track. I’m hoping we will do enough sightseeing that extra cardio will not be necessary.

Lunges:

Hip crossover:

V-up:

Elbow Plank:

Mountain climbers: Reverse Crunch:Wall sit:

Daily Workout:

Jumping jacks, squats, push ups, mountain climbers, cross crunches, high knees, knee pull ins, chair dips, leg raises.

Overall workout:

Side bridge, wraparound ankle touch, double step push up, push up bird day, windshield wiper, row.

12 Move Exercise Routine:

Jumping jacks, wall sit, push up, crunch, step up, squat, triceps dips, plank, high knee running, lunge, push up and rotation, side plank.

30 Minute, No Gym BodyWeight Workout:

Tuck jump, push up, squat, mountain climber, triceps dip, glute bridge, jump plank, superman.

4 Moves Anywhere Workout:

Forward lunge, squat jump, push up, and bend and thrust.

Fitness Tools

First of all I want to say that I’m not normally a big fan of numbers, counting calories, and obsessively keeping tracking of everything. But everything has a use and I think they can be an effective tool if used appropriately. When starting out its hard to keep track of which foods to eat, how much of each, how much to exercise and when to stop eating and all the overwhelming details. Those are some of the tools I use/have used to figure out numbers and keep track of food and calories.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR):

Is the amount of calories you through basic body functions such as breathing. . Calories burned through normal daily activities and exercise are not calculated in that rate. The BMR should be the minimum caloric intake per day.

Resources:

BMR Calculator 

MyFitnessPal Calculator 

Caloric intake:

In order to know the amount of calories you need to consume to maintain your weight use the Harris Benedict Equation. You essentially multiply your BMR with you activity level. To lose weight decrease your caloric intake by 500 – 1000 calories depending on how much you need to lose. Do not go below 1200 calories.

Resources:

Harris Benedict Equation

Calories Weight Loss 

Target Heart Rate (THR):

Target heart rate zone is the ideal heart rate you should be achieving during exercise. It allows you to gain the benefits of exercise without putting unhealthy pressure on your organs. It is usually 60-80% of your maximum heart rate. Maximum heart rate is predicted through subtracting your age from 220.

Resources:

Pulse and Target Heart Rate

Heart Rate Monitor Iphone App 

Food Diary:

Food diaries can be a great way to start a weight loss journey. They help keep you accountable and make it easier to judge portions and calories.

Resources:

MyFitnessPal

SparkPeople 

Lose It App

Exercise and Workout How-To:

Resources:Some apps make it easier to come up with exercise routines, offer a way to track calories burned, track progress, and help keep you on track. Most of the ones I listed are phone/tablet options since they offer more flexibility when exercising.

Nike Training Club

Fitocracy

FitBit

How to start Yoga?

In order to improve my balance and flexibility i decided to add yoga to my daily workout routine. Thought I would share some of the information i found while researching the topic.

Benefits of yoga:

 

Types of yoga:

This pdf by health central illustrates the different types of yoga and their benefits.

Yoga_for_starter_Infographic

Vigorous and hot yoga are the best for weight loss.

Meditation:

Yoga poses and sequences:

• Make sure you warm up your muscles before starting, stretching ‘cold’ muscles can cause injury
• Hydrate especially of you are doing hot yoga
• Eat a snack or a meal 1 hour before you start, but make sure you are not full while practicing
• Be aware of how it feels and if some moves are too painful

Poses for runners:

What I look like doing yoga right now:

How i will hopefully look some day:

Resources:

• About.com
• Lifehacker
• YogaToday
• YogaJournal
• WebMD
• Yogatic (youtube videos)

Workout Gear (Wishlist)

I have been all over tumblr the last few days (follow me 🙂 ) and i have seen a lot of cute workout clothes, shoes, accessories, and tools. I have perfectly nice clothes and shoes right now, but a girls can always add to her shopping list, right? 😛 Fun neon colors are all over the place from shirt to shoes to dumbbells and yoga mats! I think treating myself to one thing at fitness/ weight loss milestones might be a great motivation. It will surely feel great to work for them. A few things on my wish list:

I tried finding the different pieces online. Feel free to mention any i missed, i didn’t recognize some of the brands.

List the Places You Want to Go

A few of the places, time, or activities i think i would enjoy one day:

Fitness Challenges 2

I decided to compile some more fitness challenges. I have enjoyed utilizing the fitness challenges I uploaded earlier this month (more fitness challenges). Somehow adding the word challenge changes my perspective on things and adds a whole nother layer of motivation which i have enjoyed.

30 Day Arm Challenge:

Push ups, planks, and chair dips

Through Blush Colored Glasses

I have been loving the ‘blush’ trend! I am not usually a fan of made up color names but i just get this one. Blush= feminine elegant pinks with a hint of beige or off white. I think its very pretty and soft.

Blush colored chair:

App Store’s 5th Birthday

Apple is currently celebrating their store’s 5th birthday by offering free applications with over $40 in value! The app store is available on Apple products including iphones and ipads.

Games

Badland ($3.99)

Infinity Blade II ($6.99)

Superbrothers ($4.99)

Tiny Wings ($2.99)

Where’s My Water ($0.99)

 

Fitness Challenges

If habits are formed in 28 days what better than a month-long fitness challenge to spark new healthy habits in our lives? the challenges are a mix of one exercise or a combination. Some are cardio, others are bodyweight exercises. Quite a few focus on abs and butts.

Jumping Jack Challenge

Start with 300 and make your way to 700 jumping jacks

30 Day Fitness Challenge

50 daily pushups, start with 50 squats and make your way up to 250, and progressive planks.