These are a few of my favorite things...

As Summer approaches I wanted to share some of my new favorite products for glowing skin and glamorous style!

1.Philosophy-Apricots and Cream Body Lotion and Body Spray. It is amazing and makes me happy every time I put it on. It's like sunshine in a bottle! http://www.nordstrom.com/

2.MAC Cleansing Towelettes. They use these on me every time I go have my makeup done at MAC. These towelettes have the most brilliant smell and they leave your skin feeling moisturized and perfectly primed for makeup application. http://www.maccosmetics.com/

3.Bliss No Zit Sherlock face cleansing system. I bought it cause of the name, but love it because it makes my skin feel amazing and it smells incredible too (can you tell that I like things that smell good). http://www.blissspa.com/

4.Turquoise, Turquoise, Turquoise EVERYTHING!!! Stella and Dot Turquoise jewelry is the perfect way to accessorize with this fabulous color. There are several pieces to choose from...from delicate and simple to bold and ornate there is something for everyone. Throw on the Turquoise Sea Necklace (my favorite & shown in the picture above) with a White Sun Dress and some Wedge Sandals for a glamorous head to toe look with just these 3 simple pieces. You'll look amazing whether you are running errands, meeting friends for lunch or attending your best friend's birthday dinner at the trendy new restaurant in town. Check out all of the Turquoise styles on my web site www.stelladot.com/nichole

I would love to hear what some of your favorite products are too so feel free to post them in comments! Snaps for awesome smelling beauty products, Snaps for glowing Summer skin, Snaps for Turquoise, Snaps for Stella and Dot and Snaps for sharing your favorites!!!

Nichole

I once had to judge a Tighty Whitey contest for Lambda Kappa Pi...Trust me, I can handle anything!!!

After completing the Spartan 300 Workout a week ago Saturday I really do believe I can handle anything. In just 19 mins and 33 seconds I experienced the same sense of accomplishment I have experienced after running 26.2 miles...and that took me 5 hours!!! I saved myself 4 hours, 40 mins and 27 seconds...Woo Hoo!!!

For those of you unfamiliar with the Spartan 300 here is what it consisted of:

25 Pullups (I did jumping pullups)
50 Deadlifts (53lb for me)
50 Pushups (I did girl pushups)
50 Box Jumps
50 Floorwipers (53lb for me)
50 Dumbbell Clean and Press (12lbs for me)
25 Pull Ups

Ummm yeah so there's no possible way this could have anything to do with Legally Blonde cause this is just not a very Elle Wood's workout...right? Just the mere fact that it's named the "Spartan 300" isn't very Elle like...right? Oh but wait...

Why do they call it the "Spartan 300" well mostly cause if you do it often enough you can look like a Spartan and because if you add up all the reps it equals 300 total reps. Remember in Legally Blonde 2 when Elle had to collect signatures for a discharge petition in order to pass Bruiser's Bill?...Of course you do. She had to collect 218 signatures to be exact and that's sorta the same thing as 300 reps. OK so it's not the number that's important it's that Elle didn't give up, she kept working against the clock (collecting signatures for time...3...2...1...GO!) knowing that while the task was large she would accomplish it. And...Elle didn't do this alone she had the support of her friends old and new!!!

I know your thinking to yourself...Girrrrl Oh no you didn't just make this relevant to Legally Blonde 2...but wait there's more. My experience at the Spartan 300 was almost exactly like Elle's experience collecting signatures...I (like Elle) just got into the mindset of chipping away at those reps sometimes one painfull rep after another, but I never stopped I knew I had to do 300 and stopping before 300 wasn't an option. I too was surrounded by friends old and new encouraging me, sometimes pushing me (Jill yelling "Jump!!!" when I was delerious from Box Jumps) and helping me acheive my goal. Special Snaps for my spotter, judge and new friend Brice who kept things in perspective, helped me take on each activity in manageable pieces and counted the reps for me (for some reason I can't count higher than 3 during a CrossFit workout...my brain literally shuts off). With determination and the help of my friends I totally completed the Spartan 300!

Would Elle take on the Spartan 300? I think...YES! Of course she would be the girl with the pink knee high socks, a perfectly pink Lululemon outfit, the most perfectly blinged out shoes anyone in the box has ever seen and her own bar and plates ornately decorated with Swarovski crystals (hold up...that's an excellent idea...Jill where can I buy my own bar and plates?), but she would do it with a smile knowing that no matter what the task is in front of her she can do anything she puts her mind to. Plus, we already know that Elle lives by the mantra "What doesn't kill us makes us hotter!!!" which is a totally Spartan saying if I do say so myself...so the Spartan 300 is definitley an Elle Woods workout don't cha think?

Snaps for the Spartan 300! Snaps for friends old and new! Snaps for Brice! Snaps for Jill yelling "Jump"! Snaps for being able to handle anything!!!

Snaps For Pretend Cheetos

The wisdom of an almost 2 year old friend of mine, Grayson, struck me last night. I was in the car riding along with him and his sister Reece. Reece was eating Cheetos and she politely offered me one. I responded "no thank you I can't eat Cheetos" and Grayson immediately turned to me, held out his little empty hand and said "do you want a Pretend Cheeto Michole?"...Pretend Cheetos!...What a totally brilliant idea!!!

I'm definitely an emotional and mindless eater. Sometimes I don't even realize how much of a given thing I've eaten until I look into the empty bag and say "Holy crap! Where did all my Peanut Butter M&Ms go?"...kinda like when Elle was distraught that Warner broke up with her and she was laying in bed eating a whole 1 pound box of chocolate (you probably didn't think I could bring this back around to Legally Blonde...did you?...Oh Snap!...I just totally did!!!). What if I could use the brilliant concept taught to me by an almost two year old when I find myself in these situations...before I destroy and entire 1 pound bag of Peanut Butter M&Ms? What if I could eat Pretend Peanut Butter M&Ms? OK...so I'm not gonna be like some crazy person sitting alone in my living room lifting one imaginary Peanut Butter M&M after another to my mouth and pretending to chew...it would look more like...Do I really need to eat Peanut Butter M&Ms right now or would some fruit or a chocolate flavored protein shake (the "Pretend Cheeto") satisfy the sweet craving I am experiencing right now? Do I really need anything at all...or am I just stressed and would a long walk, talking to a friend, or even...wait for it...a CrossFit workout help me more than the "Real Cheeto"? It's all about weighing whether or not I really need the "Real Cheeto"...cause let's face it sometimes you just do...or could I make a better choice and have a "Pretend Cheeto" or no Cheeto at all?

From now on when I want Peanut Butter M&Ms, a cookie, ice cream, chocolate whatever the temptation may be I'm just going to have a "Pretend _______(insert sugar filled delicious item here)". The awesome thing about it is that while the Peanut Butter M&Ms might be "Pretend" my awesome results and my fit, healthy body will be totally Real!!!

Snaps for Grayson and his Wisdom, Snaps for "Pretend Cheetos", Snaps for Real Results!!!

Nichole

The Bend and Snap!

Omigod you guys! I totally realized as I was doing Power Cleans last night that they are just like the Bend and Snap! The position of the feet is slightly different, but the actual Bend and Snap part is almost identical! This finally proved the point that I have heard over and over again that CrossFit is all about "functional movement"...Omigod it totally is!!! If I keep doing these Power Clean things I'm going to have the best Bend and Snap around!!!

I bend and snap!
Now look how hot it's gettin'
Bend and snap!
I bet right now you're sweatin'

Not only did the Power Clean/Bend and Snap epiphany come to me last night as I struggled to catch my breath, but would you even believe that I actually enjoyed myself at a CrossFit Class? Don't get me wrong the WOD made me sufficiently angry (as any good WOD should do), but it was also fun and challenging in a way that I hadn't allowed myself to enjoy before. Maybe I was just so excited to be able to practice my Bend and Snap...maybe I was just delirious...maybe I've finally made that "conceptual leap" thanks to my Master Mind Fight Club friends and all of their brilliant advice and shared experiences??? Whatever it is I'll take it!!!

Snaps for Power Cleans, Snaps for the Bend and Snap, Snaps for lack of oxygen to the brain, Snaps for the Master Mind Fight Club!!!

Nichole

Snaps For Getting Whipped Into Shape

Not only is there Legally Blonde One and Two, but there is also Legally Blonde the musical which takes all of the wonderful lessons from the films and sets them to music. What's better than breaking out in song about all things Legally Blonde? I think nothing!

Tonight is my first WOD of my new CrossFit beginning! The song Whipped Into Shape is what I'm listening to as I get ready to get back into the CrossFit groove.

I want you whipped into shape
When I say jump, say "How high?"
You know you're doing it right
When you start to cry
If you don't look like you should
You've got to whip it, whip it, whip it good
Like prison, ladies, no escape
Til you're whipped into shape
What doesn't kill us makes us hotter!

Can you guess what my favorite line is? Ahhh you know me so well already...What Doesn't Kill Us Makes Us Hotter...and see everything CrossFit, or in life for that matter, can be related back to Legally Blonde.

Snaps for Whipping Myself Into Shape! Snaps for CrossFit! Snaps for Leaglly Blonde The Musical!



Nichole

My First Snaps

Snaps (insert snapping here) for blogging!

My Snap Cup will be my place to "give Snaps" to all the wonderful things I have to be grateful for and even to give Snaps for those things that seem difficult at the time, but are leading to great learning!

What is a Snap Cup you ask? Those of you who know me are aware that Elle Woods is my hero and I believe that everything a girl ever needs to know in life can be learned from watching Legally Blonde One and Two! The Snap Cup made it's debut in Legally Blonde Two as a way for our hero Elle to share her positive, ever hopeful spirit with others. Snaps for Elle!!! Snaps for Legally Blonde One and Two!!!

This blog is for everyone who has something to be grateful for, something to be hopeful about or positive energy to share with others...it's for everyone who has something to Snap about! Thanks for reading...Snaps to you!!!

Nichole