INNER THIGH TONING

Let's tone those inner thighs...shall we!  The inner thigh is one of the hardest areas to keep tone. I find this exercise has helped quiet a bit and within two weeks after focused repetition of this workout, I visibly saw a difference.  A good healthy balanced diet and cardio play a big factor of course, but as we age we all have those areas that need to be targeted.  Let's tackle the inner thighs.

Don't forget to stretch and get your body warm before you jump in.  These exercises will help tone, and give your beautiful legs that long, lean, and tone look. 

Step your feet wider that your shoulders / Turn your toes out slightly / Bend your knees and sink your seat to knee level / Place your arms straight up by your ears /Draw your abs in / Take tiny pulses up and down for 30 seconds /  you will start to feel the burn / After you finish your 30 pulses - now hold the above position for 30 seconds more /   Ouch!

Reach both arms straight out in front of you / Repeat your tiny pulses for 30 seconds /                 Now hold in the above position for 30 seconds /

With your arms remaining overhead you are going to lift your heels up and down for 30 seconds / When you finish your pulses - hold for your last 30 seconds /  You're probably feeling the burn now...and that's a good thing. You are on your way to toning your inner thighs. Another exercise you can do anywhere, in your home or take it on the road. *I am not a trainer, I just enjoy sharing what I do with you. Do what's right for your body. 

As soon as you wake up...say 'Thank You' all the way to your bathroom sink...Look in the mirror and know you just got a new day, another start to becoming who you want to be. Walk out your door and be proud of who you are...and never give up your dreams.

ALTAR EGO APPAREL / Take Flight  Ombre Tights / Emi-Jay Headband / Nike top - bra - studio wrap training shoe /   * I am proud to be a part of the Ambassador Program for ALTAR EGO APPAREL.                 

ALTAR EGO BELIEF:  

We believe in women. We believe today’s women not only represent external beauty, but also inner strength, creativity, intelligence and compassion.  In the same way art is open to interpretation, we believe each woman uniquely symbolizes her own truths.

We believe in empowering her to communicate them.

You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted. -Ruth E. Renki

SAM EDELMAN BOOT-IFUL

Being from Texas, I was thrilled to see the fashion frenzy around fringe is here to stay. From micro-mini fringe trimmings to the scrumptious strips of suede, get ready to channel your inner cowgirl, and kick up your heels...your fringe heels that is.

This season Sam Edelman did a sexy, fringe boot that doesn't break the bank.  The 'Belinda' is comfortable, fits true to size and available in three delicious colors. Club Monaco Masserole Flounce Sleeve Shirt / Acquaverde Jeans / Borsalino Fedora

The Belinda / Winter Sky (color)  

Club Monaco Blouse /  Love the long sleeves, and the flowy feeling of this blouse.  You can dress it up or down. / Masserole Flounce Sleeve Blouse.

Kick'n Back in my Fringe Belinda Boots with my pal Buster. / HERMES Bracelet /  VAN CLEEF Bracelet.

Sam Edelman 'Belinda' Boot

JCREW / Vintage Necklace

Remember, fringe is all about FUN... when you wear fringe you want to dance around and feel free, and that's a good feeling. These boots are designed to Move You!

Why not do a little front tuck.  This JCREW Camo Shirt is long in the front and the back, which gives you a few more options.   AG JEANS

I am a casual dresser most of the time, and I like to mix my high-end brands with my casual wear. Combining my favorites gives me the best of both worlds, and why not enjoy your beautiful things every chance you get?  No matter what the occasion is... live in the moment and create your very own personal style. JCREW Turquoise Vintage Necklace / JCREW Top / HERMES Blanket /

          'Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.' - Orson Welles

BEAUTIFUL DINING WITH FRIENDS

One of my favorite things about a dinner party is the preparation beforehand especially when I know my girlfriends are coming over. Your female friends always notice little details, and appreciate the time you invest. Making the time to gather your girly friends is important, mainly because they are a big support, and you always seem to laugh at the simplest things. When I made the decision to begin my blog these five women were an incredible support, and an honest sounding board for my daily questions and motivation. I wanted to give a big thanks to all of them and hoped they would connect with each other.  This dinner was a way of saying "Thank You for your generosity and daily encouragement."

Taking the time to set a beautiful table sets the tone for your dining experience. Yes, it takes effort but it's incredibly rewarding when your guests walk in and appreciate the beauty. It really is a creative experience. While I'm waiting in a carpool line, I like to spend time looking at magazines and scrolling through Pinterest. First I pick the colors I want to use, then decide on the meal, also the music is always important so I love making a playlist from iTunes. It seems to be forever summer here in Los Angeles, so I chose a California Chardonnay.  I love to mix and match my china, and it always makes for nice conversation because it all has a story.  Frank Family Chardonnay is always my first choice for a California white wine.

Rose Petals frozen in an ice cube tray / Gold Pasinski Bar Glasses /Photo: By Becca

 Buying the flowers puts me in the best mood, and that too is important for being a happy and relaxed host. A great dinner party begins with the spirit of the host. I set the table the night before, that way I'm not rushed on the evening before my guests arrive.  Since it's all girls for the evening, I thought different variations of pink would be ...pretty.  Can't go wrong with Pink Roses, Tulips and Calla Lilies.

And now comes the fun part, getting creative with the flowers.  I play my favorite music and let the creative juices flow.

Christofle Water Pitcher & Fish Vase / Baccarat Papillon ( butterflies) / Photo By :Becca

Philippe Deshoulières China & Serving Tray /  Founded in 1826- 100% made in France / Christofle Flat Ware / Nautical Luxuries Shell Napkin Rings 

 The meal tonight was vegetarian. All the dishes are from the book "the forest feast"  By: Erin Gleeson. This book is not only visually stunning, it's yummy. Our friend and chef, Berta  prepared these meals. It's always fun looking through cookbooks and deciding on your courses. Berta served us an amazing meal, and each dish looked just like the book. I really recommend The Forest Feast cookbook, it's simple and everything I've made in the past always turned out.        *My favorite salad - Arugula - Watermelon - Goat Cheese - Jalapeño / Dressing:  vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, and dijon mustard. / Photo By:Becca

Red Cabbage Salad with radishes - lentils - cherry tomatoes / Dressing: olive oil, lemon, and dijon mustard. / Photo By:Becca

Corn & Cauliflower Tacos / cauliflower, corn, red pepper flakes, chili powder, garlic powder, olive oil, salt, & pepper ( roast together in over @ 425F, 15-20 minutes (until golden) Top off with Greek yogurt, feta & hot sauce.

Desert / SO DELICIOUS Dairy Free Coconut Milk & Raspberry / fresh blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and homemade granola from Whole Foods / rose petal decoration / Anthropologie bowl /  I love to mix china patterns together. It's a great expression of who you are,  just like fashion.  These bowls from Anthropologie put a perfect touch on the dessert. / Photo By:Becca

Elephant place card holders /  Saint Hilaire  / When the trunks are up it means "Good Luck" 

Salute...Cheers...À Votre Santé

Candle sticks are also mixed and different heights. The Baccarat Butterflies seemed appropriate for the evening.

Thank you!  Val - Lindsay -Jesica Ryzenberg - Amanda Korbitz  Becca Murray  Thank you Berta for a great meal.

For dinner gifts, I found these journals by Compendium. Each one has a beautiful illustration and inside you will see whimsical images and quotes. These beauties are all writers and creative, so I knew these journals will have a good home.  Write down your dreams, your goals, and your visions and watch your world bring all the right players into place...it truly works. / Photo By: Becca

It's been an incredible breath of fresh air connecting with the girls pictured above. If I can encourage anyone over the age of 45-50, It is to keep connecting with those who are younger.  First of all they're fun, they are full of dreams and possibilities, and they also have an interest in you. We all have pearls of wisdom to offer each other, and if you remain open minded,  we can all be helpful to each other in reaching our goals.  The more you connect, the higher you vibrate, the happier you will be.  That's a wonderful feeling isn't it...