About Me

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Hi! I'm Shanticka. My blog is about any and everything that I want it to be. Me, my family, work, personal style, friends, etc. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy getting to know me. Live, in living color.

1.28.2013

Look Good, Feel Great...

Happy Monday!! I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend, because whether we like it or not, the work week is upon us (for those of us who don't work weekends, of course). My weekend was good. Didn't do much. The weather here in Minnesota didn't allow for much anyway. It was bitter cold, and the snow came down all day Sunday. Every year, I say I won't complain, but here I am once again… complaining. *sigh* Anyhoo…

If you didn't know, I am the winner of last weeks #BLMgetFit weekly challenge (#BLMMoves). The challenge was to get moving as much as possible throughout the week. I won by submitting the below pic via Instagram of my interpretation of the challenge:


I'm loving everything about the challenges. It's inspiring to see all of the other ladies who submit pictures, and also provide encouragement along the way.

This week, I want to talk about workout clothes. If you haven't noticed from my pics, my go-to "uniform" is a tee (usually v-neck), tank top (to help catch the sweat and protect me from possible plumbers butt), sports-bra, a pair of yoga pants or leggings, socks and my gym shoes. I need to step my game up.



I want to feel good about myself, even while I'm busting my butt and sweatin it up at the gym. I know that some people just throw on an old baggy t-shirt, and basketball shorts or sweatpants and keep it moving. That's all well and good because you get the same workout regardless, right? Sure… Maybe. For me, when I can see what I'm working one, I work harder. When I feel like I look good, I feel great!

I also, want to talk support. That's right ladies!! Bra's and shoes!! Please be sure to wear the proper support to the gym. Having the "girls" bounce all over the place can be pretty uncomfortable, and cause you to not work as hard. Also, it's very unsightly and can cause creepy stares from some of the fellas (to no fault of their own) =D. And remember to care for your bras properly, as replacement can get expensive. Because you don't want to break down the spandex, here are two important rules of care.
  • Wash in cold water. No bleach.
  • Dry it flat, or line dry.

Shoes are very (if not more) important. If you're a runner/jogger, please do yourself a favor and head to your local running specialty shop to get assessed. They can be pretty expensive, so even if you don't end up purchasing from there, at least get the assessment. You will leave more informed than when you walked in. We don't want anyone hurting themselves out here. As for the rest of us, like myself who do light work, a good trainer shoe is all we need.

So lets ditch the baggy/saggy gym wear ladies and get cute in the gym!! I've found that Kohl's has some really cute gear! I ordered a few things myself. Here are a few of my favorites, and it doesn't hurt that they're on sale (you can also use coupon code TENFORBLOG at checkout for through March 9th for an extra 10% off!):


Lets keep up the great work and continue to encourage each other! This weeks challenge is (one bad apple) #SpoilstheBunch. Get inspired to eat (or drink) the recommended two servings of fruit per day and don't forget to share those pics via Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag!! 

This weeks health/wellness/inspiration link up is hosted by Beatrice over at Inspired by Beatrice Clay. Make sure you head over to her spot and link up! Thanks for reading to the end, because I know my last few posts have been wordy.

Until next time…

Have you seen my hair all picked out lately?!?! Holy hair Batman!! lol!







1.20.2013

Put Me In Coach (Link-Up)...

Happy Monday!! No different than any other Monday posting, I hope you guys had a nice weekend. I enjoyed hanging at home for the majority of it. Nothing special. Just rest & relaxation. I should say that I should have done laundry, and cleaned a little, but hey… Nobody's perfect, right?? I have one more day to get some things done since I don't have work today. OH YEA!! And Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!!!

I know it's a day off, for most of us, but it can also be a day of reflection and/or service. I'm headed to an MLK celebration breakfast this morning. The breakfast will also include a panel of influential Black Leaders of Minnesota, as well as a host of young people who will present and discuss things that they are doing in our communities to make them better for everyone. Their will also be opportunities to volunteer and donate to the respective causes. In the words of our beloved OutKast, "Get up, get out and get sumthin".

And btw, I love this song!! If you've never heard the MLK, Jr tribute song, click below. You're welcome! =D Siiiiiinnnngggg Celebrate!! Sing, sing celebrate!!


In other Spoon Full of Sugar news, I lost another 2lbs!! That's five pounds total in two weeks!! The #BLMgetFit challenge is really giving me the boost that I need to continue with my health/fitness journey! Last weeks #NoSweetsWeek challenge had me thinking about some of the junk food that I consume, and it re-assured me that I can abstain from it IF I want to ;)

This weeks challenge is #BLMMoves. The winner of this challenge will have exercised the most collective minutes in a week. This will challenge me to make my workouts longer to achieve maximum results. I'm excited per usual. 

**To all of my BLMGirls, WE CAN DO THIS!!! Let's continue to make lifestyle changes that will continue to keep up healthy and strong.**




I'm the link-up host this week for all of your inspirational/motivation posts. Please share with us! The post doesn't have to be exercise or fitness related, just positivity and inspiring in some way =D And don't hesitate to visit the blogs of those who participate!! 

Until next time...

1.14.2013

Progress is Success...

Happy Monday y'all!! My weekend was great! It was filled with mostly a whole lot of nothing, which is exactly how I like it. I don't really like scheduling things to do on my weekend time, you know? I feel like it's for doing things that I want to do, when I want to do them. I was able to do just that, and I was happy. How do you like to spend your weekends? Scheduled, or free??

This weeks post isn't about weekends or freedom. Again (and for a while to come), it will be about my fitness journey. A while ago, I said that I wouldn't turn this blog into a fitness blog, but that's all I'm up to lately!! No, really. It's true. Please hang in there with me as I go through this. I promise OOTD posts will be back. Soon.

As I explained in my previous post, myself as well as #BLMGirls Britton of My Big, Beautiful Life, Dee Dee of Miss Foodie Fab (this weeks link-up host) and Beatrice of Inspired by Beatrice Clay have teamed up to bring the #BLMgetFit challenge!! Week 1 went great for me! I lost 3lbs, and I rocked out on our #WaterWasted challenge!! I was able to get in at least 96oz of water for five out of the seven days! While that may not be much for some, it was a grip for me. I was a very close friend of the bathroom… And still am because even though the weekly challenge is over I haven't stopped.



This weeks challenge is #NoSweetsWeek. This means NO sweets all week long. No candy, no cakes, no cookies, NADDA!! Not even if it's low fat. None. Day one went well, as I have been cutting back on these types of things already, so I'm confident I can make it through. For all of my #BLMGetFit participants, you can start submitting pics on Instagram as well as Twitter with your interpretation of this challenge (be sure to use hashtag #NoSweetsWeek).

***As I mentioned above, Dee Dee over at Miss Foodie Fab is hosting our weekly link up for health inspired posts! Please head over and link yourself!! NOTE: You do not have to be part of the challenge to share your health and/or motivational posts. This is open to all of my readers.***

And without further ado, I share my Insta-life…

Check the socks yo!! =D

All (mostly) black with a pop of color

I don't like the bikes because they hurt my butt… All pain, no gain!

I felt so sassy in this cream blazer from Dots & my Old Navy trouser pants!

Old Navy dressing room fun. I like it, and I bought it!! pssst… It's a size large =D


One of my #WaterWasted pic submissions


A little #throwbackThursday action. Don't ask me why I was 15 on Santa's lap :P


This was dinner last night. Shrimp Stir-Fry. YUM!!!



1.07.2013

BLMGetFit…Challenge

Hey peeps!! As usual, I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. This is kind of long, so... don't say I didn't warn you :)

I'm sooooo excited about this post! As you all know, I have been workin on my fitness a lil bit lately. Well, I have teamed up with some fabulous ladies from a blogger group (of which I am a member) called Bloggers Like Me in hopes to step my efforts up a notch or two.

If you don't know about Bloggers Like Me, it was started by the fabulous Leslie Hendricks Young of Fashion du Jour Daily. The group includes all kinds of blogging divas from diverse genres of the blogosphere. At this time, it is a closed FaceBook group, so if you have a FB page, feel free to click the link and request to be a member. You won't regret it (tell'em I sent ya!). The support and information that is shared amongst the ladies is priceless. **Side note** Women ONLY =D

Ok, so I went off on a little tangent, but I'm back now. Today kicks off our 3 month long #BLMGetFit challenge (the button below leads to the BLM FB Fan Page, which is open to everyone)!! I'm co-hosting the challenge with Britton of My Big, Beautiful Life, Dee Dee of Miss Foodie Fab & Beatrice Clay of Inspired by Beatrice Clay. Quite a few of us have decided to pay an entry fee of $10, and whoever loses the largest percentage of bodyfat wins the pot!! Isn't that cool!? Our Challenge is sponsored by Michelle at Eat Style Play, who will be offering products and services from Beach Body Coach, to be included in our grand prize package.



Because 3 months is a long time, we've incorporated smaller weekly Instagram & Twitter challenges to keep us motivated. This weeks challenge is #WaterWasted. That means, increase your water intake. We can all benefit from that, right?! If you want to follow along for fun, you can search for #BLMGetFit to see all of the entries. The weekly winners will receive blog promotion from the BLM group on all social media outlets (Pinterest, Twitter, FB, Instagram, etc.) for that week.

While the challenge is open to only the members of the BLM group, I invite all of my lovely readers to join me in my quest for making better/healthier choices. My co-hosts and I will host weekly link ups, on our pages so everyone can participate and link any health inspired posts that you may be writing about. The link up this week is over at Brittons spot My Big, Beautiful Life, so head on over and LINK UP!!! Be on the look out next week for who will be hosting the link up.

On another note, I don't have really have any OOTD pics to show at this time, but all words and no pics is kind of odd for my blog, so here goes nuthin!

Until next time...

At the gym walkin it out

OOTD: Old Navy Blazer, Target Tee, Old Navy Rockstar skinnies, Target Booties

Yup… you guessed it! lol

Not sure where I got this sweater from, but I like it!! Tank from Rue 21

Gym & Food. Making better food choices =D


Rue 21 Jacket, Old Navy Dress, Market Scarf, Target Leggings, Minnetonka Moccsins

Gym & food… again 










12.26.2012

Hanging In There...

Hey peeps!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!! I know I did. Sharing time with family and friends is always a wonderful thing! Add in presents, and you've got yourself a party!! lol! 

Being that it's been almost a month since the last time I've blogged, I'm ashamed to call myself a blogger. With no camera, no no natural light, and the freezing temps, I been strugglin y'all! 

I've still been going strong with my workouts (with the exception of the past week or so). Now that the holidays are over, I'm back on my grind though. I'm still smitten with my hair. The growth over the past few months has been nothing short of awesome. And lastly, I have recently taken a liking to scarves... As you'll see below.

I'm including a few basic snapshots of my goings on via Instagram (again). I'm hooked! I truly love it over there =D. Won't you join me?!?!?

Now I'm off to visit all of your blogs. Until next time...



I love me some bathroom photo-shoots!


You can always catch me at the gym. That sweat is real folks!!


OOTD= Old Navy Blazer, Old NavyStriped skirt, Steve Madden heels

This was a Curves and Confidence inspired look. I'm so upset that I couldn't get pics of the entire outfit =(




I'm sure people think I'm crazy taking pics in the gym all the time, Ha! (never mind the crazy hair)


OOTD = Rue 21 Top, Target Scarf, Old Navy Skinnies & Target boots. That's been my "go to" lately



Again?? Yup!


I just wanted to toss in a throwback pic for kicks and giggles (that's me in the yellow, ha!)


Todays OOTD = Gifted Jean jacket, Forever 21 Skinnies, Sears Scarf & Target Boots


Me and my babygirl on Christmas Eve. I'm trying to get to her hair level!


OOTD = Herbergers Dress, Target Leggings, Old Navy Scarf and Target Boots (BTW, I love my puff in this pic)


It's true what they say… Black is slimming! =D


OOTD = Old Navy Striped Skirt, Rue 21 Jean Jacket, Market Scarf & Target boots


I'm back behind the wheel of my car!! I was using public transportation for a while there. It's good to be rolling again!


Hubby copped me another pair of J's for Christmas!! I was sooooo excited!






12.05.2012

Reflections...

Hey peeps!! As usual, I hope you all have been doing well. I've been good. Around as usual.

This is not my usual style/OOTD post. Now that a new year is approaching, I wanted to talk a little about goals. My goals. I also thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane with a few of my earlier pics from the blog. =D I started blogging back in September of 2011. Yes, my baby turned 1 a few months ago. 

When I started, I had no idea what I was getting into. All I knew, was that I had seen a few other blogs written by real women, with real style and I wanted to be involved. I wanted to evolve. I was bored with my "look" and wanted to document any changes and/or or transformations through pictures.

I had no expectations really. I just jumped right in. Since that very first post, I have changed so much, and learned quite a bit about myself. The most fascinating part about this is, you guys have been hanging in there with me all the way. 

Very early on

I have a few goals this year. One of them is to re-do my blog. It needs a serious make-over. I recognize that I put as much thought into the layout as I new to do at the time. I know better now, so I should do better.

My first experiment with COLOR! This dress is/was everything!

Another one of my goals is to participate in the blogging community more. There are bloggers in the Twin Cities area, and I want to connect with them. There are also things like "Link Ups" and "Blog Hops" that I want to get into more, as well as Guest Blogging on one of the homies blogs ;) #BLMGirls

Tried something new with my scarf here. Blogging has provided so much inspiration!
A more personal goal that I had this year, and accomplished was "going natural". I transitioned for almost 11 months, the finally did it!! I was so proud of myself!

BEFORE
AFTER
3 months after

Last but not least, I have a weight loss/health/fitness goal for this year. I have been slowly working up to this for a while. It started in June when I went to a health/wellness fair that my job was holding. I hopped on the scale only to find out that I was at my heaviest weight ever! I left the fair with a sense of determination, and a hint of embarrassment. Thinking to myself, How could I have allowed this to happen??  What's crazy to me is, I had been taking pictures of myself for almost a year, and never really saw a need to change. It wasn't until I saw the number on the scale that my light bulb came on. What I do know is, my second thought was, What am I going to do about it?


My very first OOTD picture

I joined the gym at work, and haven't looked back since! I officially reached 17lbs lost about a week ago, and that means the absolute world to me. In the short term I have around 15lbs to go. As far as the long term, I will figure that out once I reach my next milestone.

Today after my workout

The weight and inches are slowly coming off, and I'm feeling much better than I've felt in a long time. I'm looking better too(in my eyes)! I'm making lifestyle changes that I can keep up with for the rest of my life. It's amazing what being active everyday can do for your confidence! =D


Date Night with Hubby about two weeks ago
**Did you set any goals at the beginning of the year? Did you accomplish them? What are your goals for next year?**

This post is powered by #BLMGirls. You can also check out other posts from our #BLMBlogHop by visiting this linkhttp://curlsandmo.com/ and learn more about #BLMGirls here:http://www.facebook.com/groups/BloggersLikeMe/ 










11.27.2012

Bout that Insta-life...

Hey peeps!! Long time no see! Believe me, I've been around. Reading, lurking, sporadically commenting and such. I hope you all have been well.

Since my camera has been busted, I haven't been much for taking blog pics. Mostly, I've been around and about on Twitter and Instagram.

In this post I have a few pics of outfits, shoes, and random goings on that I've recently captured. Be forewarned that it's quite picture heavy. If you kick it with me on Twitter and Instagram, then these pics are nothing new to you. If you don't, feel free to stop on by and chat me up! I'm really hoping that "Santa" is able to help a sista out with a new camera... Seeing as how I've been a really good girl and all. ;)

Until next time...


Moccasins that I LOVE so much

My first time wearing All Stars. Pretty cool.

 Lace skirt - Target; Blazer - Old Navy; Shoes - Call it Spring

J's - Sometimes gymshoes are necessary

Working my Torrid dress for Ladies Night Out with #myclique

Ladies Night Out done right!!

Hubby and I attended a social event and made it in the local paper!! =D
Been working on my fitness. Those inches tell the tale.

Still getting used to, and loving my #naturalhair

OOTN: Headed out with hubby to a comedy show.

More on that fitness routine. It's been good to me.

Quick dressing room photoshoot

Old Navy sweater dress as a top & Rockstar jeans




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