We haven’t really had any one on one time lately, have we?
Let’s— shall we?
Ok I’ll go first: Thanksgiving was Thursday, obviously. To be honest the standout of the day was the jalapeño corn bread & my stepmom’s purple kale ( yes KALE ) and baby’s breath table— she is so crazy talented!! Look:
LIKE it was die cute. Maybe I should have her guest post a tutorial on the blog?!
Michael’s mom, Lisa, also did a beautiful job too as you can see. Every year she does a different theme & her flowers NEVER disappoint.
Just so you know: the photos are of Jordan ( Michael’s sister ), Nico ( her BF ), Gar Bear ( Michael’s dad aka Susan Senior ), & Michael.
Strapping boys, right?
Susan Senior is a real LOL. But you guys know that if you follow me on Snapchat.
We celebrated at my parent’s house later in the day where my dad served his special Southwestern turkey ( yummm ). Here’s an iPhone snip of me & my dad, love him:
After Thanksgiving we woke up super early with the dogs to shoot our Save The Dates. I’ll share them with you guys when they’re all ready…in 2089.
I kid, I kid.
You should know there’s really nothing like waking up at the butt crack of dawn, fully bloated, after stuffing your face with carbs, to shoot ‘candid’, laughing casually-ish photos in a see-through dress ( LONG STORY ).
Let me tell you, BARRELS of fucking fun. BARRELS.
After the shoot I did a girl’s spa day which is exactly what the doctor ordered because BLOOD ORANGE MIMOSAS, BLOWOUTS, & DEEP TISSUE MASSAGES?
Yes please, thanks.
What else?!
The weekend was mellow. Our friend, Westin, came into town & we took him to our all-time favorite San Diego restaurant: Cowboy Star.
If you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend the charming, old school restaurant. They have the best grass-fed steaks & use only the top of the line ingredients for cocktails. It’s DELICIOUS.
Sunday was spent reading & cleaning & working— rinse & repeat. I swear I have laundry coming out of my ass every Sunday. Is anyone else like this? & by the way, I promise I’m going to do a full on book club post because I’ve been reading so much lately. I can’t stop. Stay tuned because it’s a long, fun list!
Bottom line: this last week has been madness but regardless I’m really ready to buckle down & do some holiday shopping. I’ll be posting my favorite gift ideas all month.
In other news, I’m sharing two TSC Snapchat Series a week where I’ll be sharing mini tutorials of smoothies, fridge hauls, & cute/quick ideas, so be sure to follow ‘laurynevarts’ if you want to see!
Ok, your turn: tell me about your holiday weekend? What’d you cook? Who’d you see? What’d you wear?
Happy December!
From my bed, under 183737 covers because I’m freezing my ass off in 55 degree weather like a pussy willow. & drinking sparkling water of course, lauryn x
I have a special love for this post because it’s all about my best, best friend & her mother in law. They’re both the kindest, most beautiful people plus they both happen to be be mommies.
Little background: Jackie and I met when we were in junior high & went on to the same high school ( we were kinda rivals…ahh high school, how I hate you ). Anyway, we ended up becoming roommates during college…& man, those were the days!!!
We sort of had a pink princess palace ( << thank God I got that phase out of the way ) where we hosted mini parties ( we’re both OCD so no one could ever sit on the couch ) & did all the things 19 year olds do. And ever since living together we’ve stayed best friends- she helps me run the day to day of The Skinny Confidential & seriously sparkles when she walks in a room.
Ok so, Erica, is her mother in law— & lemme tell ya, Erica’s bod is smoking! Like, she’s had three kids & she looks like she’s in her twenties. Jackie & I always harass her to spill her secrets. So today I did a lil double interview; check it out:
+ Introduce yourself.
Jackie Becerra: Hiii!! My name is Jackie Becerra and I’m twenty six years old. I’m from South Carolina but grew up in sunny San Diego! I’ve been happily married for three years to Felipe Becerra and we have the CUTEST three year old boy, Ford. We live in Clairemont, CA. and own two successful barbershops called Lefty’s Barbershop down in Pacific Beach. Also, a fun fact: I’ve known Lauryn since we were thirteen & she was my roommate throughout college.
Oh! and we have the fattest, most adorable bulldog ever, Archy. Can’t forget Archy!
+ Ok Becerra, spill it: what’s your quick skinny trick?
JB: A quick skinny trick that works for me is EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. I use to be a little piggy and stuff my face with a big breakfast, lunch, & dinner. BIG no-no. I started to notice that I was always tired & was lacking energy ( & having a toddler you need all the energy you can get, trust me ).
I now eat small meals throughout the day and small snacks in between. This helps keep my metabolism going all the time!! Also, eating clean is important…especially if you want to set a good example for your kiddos & hubby.
+ How has having a baby changed your body ( because you still look damn fine!! )?
JB: Having Ford was the BEST thing that’s ever happened to me but my body did change in some interesting ways: my hips got wider & I lost a lot of hair afterwards. But that’s because your body is trying to change revert back to your pre-baby bod so it’s going through a shit ton of hormones. It can be super hard in the beginning but it def mellows down and gets better.
My skin would also go through gnarly phases of acne. I know that sounds super gross but my skin would look flawless one day and the next look like a pizza face! After a year my body started to get back to normal. Everyone’s different in their own ways & people go through different things after having a baby.
Overall I love my body and embrace my curves! : )
+ Weekly workout schedule?
JB: I try to change it up as much as possible. Now that Ford’s in school four days a week I have some time in the morning to get a good work out in— which is so nice.
I love to run a few miles two or three times a week. When I’m not running, I like to do Pure Barre in Pacific Beach &/or go on hikes at Torrey Pines. On the weekends I love to go stand up paddling down at the Shores in La Jolla. It’s the BEST workout for your body!!!! Ahhh, try it!
+ Go-to healthy food?
JB: When I’m on the go and I haven’t had time to make myself something to eat I love to grab a couple tangerines & some mixed wasabi nuts. I also love to eat half of an avocado with a little Himalayan salt & some lemon! Oh, & lots & lots of water! Or a fresh pressed juice.
+ Motivation to stay in shape?
JB: My son and my husband. It’s so SO crucial to have a healthy mentality & lifestyle so I can set great examples for my family and friends. I don’t want my kid growing up around lazy parents who are unmotivated to exercise and eat right.
I know exercise isn’t for everyone and eating clean can be very difficult, but ultimately it’s a lifestyle that you should constantly be striving to attain. No one can do it for you.
JB: I’m OBSESSED with Shiseido foundation!!! It literally makes your skin shine and will hide any blemishes. It’s a sun protection liquid foundation so I use it everyday. It’s very water resistant ( plus it’s SPF 42 ). So it’s a win/win: protection + makeup.
+ Natural beauty remedy that you do?
JB: I know this is going to sound nasty as F & I usually wouldn’t ever share this with anyone except my close GF’s but…I only wash my hair ONCE a week ( << hmmm. Me too. Best friend secrets! LOL ).
It’s a little secret of mine that keeps my hair super shiny. It also happens to create the perfect beach waves. Honestly, washing my hair takes forever but once it’s dried & straightened, I curl the ends & wrap my hair up in a bun to sleep on!
My hair the next few days is perfect. Also, contrary to popular belief, t’s not good to wash your hair everyday. It is good for hair to develop its own natural oils ; ).
+ WTF’s in your purse?
JB: Since I’m always carrying around Ford’s backpack, it’s turned into my purse! Haha. I always carry my Kate Spade wallet, car keys, some snacks, water bottle, MAC ‘Snob’ lipstick, my Skinny Confidential chapstick ( << the best flavor ever! ), and my Crap Eyewear sunglasses.
+ As a mom I’m sure it can be hard to find time to take care of yourself— any tips?
It’s so important for us moms to catch a break whenever we can. Having kids is the best gift God can give us but man oh man it can be exhausting. My tip: whenever your kids are at school, a friend’s house, &/or grandma and grandpa’s— take advantage & go do something for yourself. WE DESERVE IT. Get your nails done, get a facial, go on a walk, DO something!
+ Quick, easy recipe:
My tomato, mozzarella, avocado & basil salad is MY ABSOLUTE favorite!!! Felipe loves it when I make this recipe and it’s super easy & healthy. Andddddd absolutely NO dressing is needed.
Take all five tomatoes and gut out the insides. Dice them into little cubes. Take the avocados and dice them up as well. Take the half log of mozzarella & also dice up into small cubes. Grab about ten big basil leaves & chop them up into small, minced pieces. Add everything together into a bowl and mix at once. Sprinkle a little salt & squeeze a lemon in the mixture. Toss all together again until everything looks evenly mixed. Again, no dressing needed. The avocado & other ingredients make up their own dressing when mixed. ENJOY : )!
Ok, now get ready to meet Jackie’s beautiful, badass mother in law. She’s the kindest, sweetest lady— so stoked to have Erica on the blog:
+ Introduce yourself.
Erica Becerra: Hi! I’m Erica Becerra, wife of the greatest husband ever, mom of three amazing boys with wonderful wives &/or girlfriends, & grandmom of one beautiful three year old boy ( see Ford below )!
+ Is it more difficult to lose weight as you grew older; if so, why?
EB: I was overweight when I was younger so I’ve always been really weight conscious but your metabolism definitely slows down as you get older & yes, it’s definitely a lot harder to stay thin!
+ Quick skinny tip?
EB: Carbs earlier in the day…for example brown rice, quinoa, or pasta at lunchtime & then protein and greens for dinner. Eating more during the day and less at night allows me to sleep better too!
+ For someone who’s looking to lose weight, what’s your number one trick?
EB: Count calories, even if it is just for one week— it’s the biggest eye-opener ever. Portion size is the key. Information is everything! We thought we were eating so well until we started counting calories…now we can add things we want ( like a glass of wine ) & then eat more salad so we keep our calories in tact.
That way we enjoy what we eat while not feeling deprived. No diet- it’s a lifestyle now.
+ Favorite healthy, snack?
EB: Carrots/celery with hummus or cottage cheese.
+ How do you maintain your weight?
EB: Watching what I eat & exercising. I love to stand up paddle or surf every day…( exercise is so important!! ). I treat myself to things I want but not all at once, so dessert on occasion. But the dessert must be great— make those calories count : ).
+ Cocktail of choice?
EB: Love my wine…Chardonnay or Cabernet. And occasionally a scotch & water!
+ Recommendations for women who have trouble keeping weight off?
EB: My husband & I have been using a calorie counting website to keep track of everything we eat daily and it’s truly kept us on track. We set a goal, say 1400-1600 calories & really stick to it, that way any exercise above and beyond that will be calories burned.
It’s hard in the beginning but on the site you can set up favorites/groupings so the foods you regularly eat are automatically inputted so you don’t have to add everything every time. It makes you think every time you’re about to snack.
It also taught me that I can eat one meal with high calories & control the rest of the day, that way I can maintain my weight.
+ Weekly workout schedule?
EB: I have been stand up paddling every morning for about a hour to an hour & a half. I surf and run too!
+ Quick, healthy recipe:
EB: Great breakfast that fills you up: Scramble three to four egg whites with tiny bit of butter, warm up 1/2 cup black beans warmed from a can, 1/4 avocado sliced, & add ‘Margarita’s Salsa.’
‘Margarita’s Salsa’: boil five Italian tomatoes and five serrano chiles for fifteen minutes. Put them in the blender with salt…& that’s it! ‘Margarita’s Salsa’ has almost no calories and you can eat it with wheat thins or pita chips for a snack ( << making this ASAP!! ).
Although Thanksgiving was amaze, I still felt like shit the next day. I figured I’d drank too much bubbly, but it was actually a full-blown ‘food hangover.’
On Black Friday, I ran into a girlfriend who told me she didn’t drink alcohol the night before, & still felt like crap. She normally eats super healthy, so the Thanksgiving feast left her feeling sick.
I’m used to clean eating, so an indulgent day like Thanksgiving really threw me off track. All of the stuffing/mashed potatoes/pumpkin roll/cookies/blah, blah, blah shocked my system. AND I’ve felt bloated all weekend–!!!
Ew.
The holidays really know how to pack on the LB’s. So. I’ll be busting ass alllllll week. You play, you pay.
Take the next few days to eat super clean; indulging is fine, but try to balance your diet like a checkbook.
It’s definitely that time of year when many of you are graduating from college! It is such an exciting time; last Saturday my friend, Jordan celebrated her graduation surrounded by friends & family. The weather was perfect, the champagne was flowing, & glittery fruit-filled tarts were delicious [ see below ]. I totally began to reminisce about my graduation party- ahhh, time flies by so quickly!
For more easy healthy living tips for graduation parties click here.
Let’s face, when it’s your birthday [ or a friend/family member’s birthday ] it’s natural to want to overeat. That’s entirely acceptable. Just splurge in smart ways. There’s absolutely no reason to have an alcohol hangover and a food hangover the day after a birthday celebration.
How to Not Gain Ten Pounds at Birthday Parties:
+ Pick & choose: personally I like to drink my calories on my birthday, so I prefer the party to be full of semi-healthy foods.
+ When people ask to bring things: request blue corn chips, fresh tomato salsa, homemade guacamole, big salads w/ healthy dressings, and/or a veggie platter.
+ My food choices for my family gathering? Low-carb chips with homemade guac & salsa, my Dad’s famous cilantro salad with jicama [ <<<< we’ll talk about jicama in a later post ] & tangerines, homemade cocktails with all fresh ingredients [<<< thanks to Michael ], sparkling water, a strawberry platter, a veggie plate, and pink cupcakes.
+ Water, water, water: I know I always say this: for every cocktail, chug a glass of water! So simple, but people always forget this rule.
+ Balance: just because it’s a birthday doesn’t mean you have to stuff your face! Balance it out like a checkbook. Pick wisely.
+ Last & most important rule? Make your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife do everything for you- it is, of course, your birthday [ !!! ].
Side note: my Grateful Dead tee can be found here, white shorts here [ cheaper version: here ], & the DIY glitter candles can be found here.
