Now go buy all the things!

Fashion. You love it. You live it. But there is no way to you can snag a ticket to the hottest event that happens twice a year. I feel you. Luckily as an avid "Fashion Week Faker" I know the ins and outs of pretending you were at the shows!



Here is my guide:

• Instagram. THIS IS YOUR ULTIMATE OUTLET. Use and adore this app during Fashion Week. Search the designers and follow their accounts. Check out their tagged photos for more of an audience viewpoint. New York Times Fashion is also an amazing account for street fashion as well. Hashtags are also your friends as well as locations. Search up #FW and most people tag the buildings where the shows are happening so click on them as well.
• Watch It Live. Don't tell my teachers but when it was Fashion Week and I was in class, I would be streaming it all because of this site. New York Fashion Week Live shows not only the shows on time but loops them until the next show happens! This amazing site does New York, London, Milan and Paris so if you prefer one over the other or want to see them all, this is the perfect way from the comfort of your own home!
• Snapchat. Most brands, bloggers, designers and even locations have their own snapchats. Do a bit of research and find out the hottest snap chatters of the each show. Snapchat live events also puts us backstage with models and hairdressers/makeup artists (who often have their own snaps) in one giant collection!
• Tumblr. Follow the hashtag on Tumblr to see posts with that tag on your dashboard. With these posts, you can follow blogs that are posting with those tags. If you need an artistic view of the clothes, hair and makeup, Tumblr has your back.
• Periscope. Periscope had a short bit of fame but people still use, especially brands who want to give you the behind the scenes look or closer look at their art pieces. Like and respond to what you are seeing and eventually share what you saw on Twitter so you can go back to the video to show your friends or blog about it.
• Blogs. Have a favorite blogger? Read up on their blog. They are most likely there. Don't have a favorite blogger? This is the time to find one! Liked a certain show a lot? Read up who covered them and follow away!
• Photoshop. If you are amazing at photoshop, this is your time to shine. Take a background and insert your body. There. Now you are officially at Fashion Week.

You did it. You finally booked that vacation. You go. You have an amazing time. You eat every food you can get your hands on and go out every night because YOU ARE ON VACATION. Now you are back. And its time to start working out again.

And it sucks.

Seriously.



All is not lost because I am here to help. Mainly because I just did all of that. I missed 11 days of working out because the whole point of a healthy lifestyle is relaxation. Brazil was amazing but I mainly sat on a beach and drank coconut water and beer. I came home to face reality and realized 20 minutes into my Total Cardio Body class that this may not have been the best way to face it.

Here is how to slowly get back into your routine:

1. Yoga. It's slow and there are many ways to hold a position for the less flexible.
   
2. Jog. Don't run. I nearly blacked out trying to get back to where I was just 2 weeks before.
3. Recognize you may have put on some holiday weight. Everyone does. Don't sweat it, just focus on your eating and you'll feel more like yourself eventually.
4. Lift. But knock it down a few plates to what you were lifting pre-holiday. Work your way back into it.
5. Sleep. I realized when I sleep, my body is able to see whats up aka fix itself.
6. DRINK WATER. If you feel that lightheadedness before the big knockout, drink water.
   
7. Slow down. I thought I was able to get back into my two a day workouts but I realized for my body to get back into it, we had to go slowly.
8. Breathe. Not enough people do this. In your nose, out your mouth. Learn to control your breathing and you can get through anything.
9. Ask for modified moves, every and all workouts have modified moves. Google them.
10. Remember vacation is meant to be a time to have fun and relax so don't be so hard on yourself that you did just that.
    
    
    
    I hope these tips were helpful. Stay strong and go drink some water.
    
    
    XOXO!

You've been kicking butt. You've been killing it at the gym. Eating the right foods. Then one day you wake up and just feel blah. Like you've gained 20 pounds and you aren't sure how you can even go outside. We've all had these days; you are DEFINITELY not alone. Even the fittest person has off days so don't worry if you have a little bump in the road.

Here are some tips and tricks on how to get over that bump without feeling completely defeated.

1. Take the day off. If you don't feel like going to the gym, don't. Missing one day isn't the end of the world.
2. Make yourself your favorite breakfast. Or the heathy alternative. Breakfast may not be everyone's favorite meal but it can make or break your day.
3. Throw on your favorite outfit. Or sweats. As long as you feel comfortable and fabulous, that is the ultimate way to get over a crappy day.
4. Check out your fitspiration. Now, not all fitspiration is great but sometimes seeing your goals can help remind you why one day isn't going to ruin your goals.
5. Take a walk. Anywhere. Walking burns calories but it can be peaceful. Two birds with one stone?
6. Bathtime. Or shower. Just stand or lay down in some hot water. Somehow it calms you? Insane.
7. Remember why you started this journey. To be a better you. Weight shouldn't play a major role when it comes to how you feel (but dude I totally understand, I cried when I realized I gained my 5 pounds back) but you are trying to be stronger and healthier. One day doesn't derail that journey.
8. Eat cake. YOLO man. Seriously, you want a piece of cake? Eat it. Feeling like poop happens so make it a bit better with a piece (not a whole) cake.
9. Dance around. Little Mix always cures me of a crappy day. Dance around, be silly, take dumb selfies. Don't let your bad body day ruin the awesomeness of life.
10. Seriously, don't be hard on yourself. One day is 24 hours or 1,440 minutes of your life. One day of feeling off is so small in a percentage of your life. Remember how far you've come and how amazing you feel on the other days.


I'm so proud of you for taking on this crazy fit life but its worth it. I have an off day like every week so you aren't alone. If you ever need to talk, hit me up on Instagram or Twitter and we can compare bloating feelings (#JustGirlyThings, more like #JustPeopleThings). Keep your head up, tomorrow won't be that bad, I promise.

See you on Monday!

XOXO

Seeing as today I was running all around New York City, this blogpost is a bit late but it's my birthday so I am going to let it slide. I took to Twitter to ask what you wanted to read about this Friday and coming up first was "How To Stay Motivated."

It is officially the day that people give up on their resolutions. They put in a solid week and by the 8th, gym memberships just seem like a figment of the imagination. TBH, if I wasn't paying like so much a month for the gym, I can see how that happens.



Well I am here to give you tips and tricks on keeping your mojo when it comes to kicking your booty into shape.

1. Remember that you paid for it. Whether it is your gym or the veggies in your fridge. That is money you spent so you might as well use it.

2. Have a Goal Event. This event doesn't have to be big. It could be simply, wanting to feel better about yourself by the first day of summer. Mine is gotta be bikini ready for Brazil. In February.

3. Start Small. Don't go in thinking, "Right gotta lose 15 pounds in 2 weeks." Because you won't (and if you do, you probably aren't doing it the safe way). The moment you notice you won't be hitting your 15 pound goal in 2 weeks, you'll probably ditch the idea all together. Personally, I aim to lose 1/2 pound to a pound a week. Not insane and it lets me have little successes that keep me going.

4. Join a Class. This could be a yoga class in person or even just subscribing to a certain YouTuber and doing their newest video at a certain time. Check in. Having other people know you are there helps you not want to a miss a day. I take about 6 classes throughout the week. If I miss one, the next time I'm in class everyone asks where I was. Suddenly I feel really bad that I am missing a class with my "friends."

5. Get to Know the Instructor. This goes hand in hand with #4. Get to know that YouTuber or the head person in your class. Know their name, what they do for a living. The more you know about them and feel comfortable with them, the more likely you are to 1) show up and 2) push your body to limits. I've met a number of my instructors' family and even friended them on Facebook. You'll never really succeed in a class if you don't feel like you are being helped.

6. Have a Good Gym Playlist. Working out without music is like going on a picnic with no food. Possible but not nearly as fun. Download an app and listen to something. Anything. I listen to podcasts, radio and 8tracks. You'll want to actually start the workout if you have something to look forward to.

These are just a few things that I think can help you really get into the workout mood. Once you really start to workout and enjoy it. You'll see why I go twice a day. There is an energy after working out that is amazing and I look forward to it everyday.



I believe in you. If you want to get in shape this year. It's totally possible. Keep these few tips in mind and get that booty you've always dreamed of!

See you Monday!

XOXO

HAPPY ALMOST NEW YEAR! 2016. Whoa man. 2016. Everyone always makes these amazing goals for the year. I'm not trashing that idea at all. Kinda cool that there is a date that can be a refresh button for all of humanity.



Personally, I think anyone can start a new life any time in their life. One day I decided to change my diet and I did it. You don't need a date but if you want a date. This is the time to start.

If the New Year gets you down, like it does a lot of people. Here are some things that for sure going to make this year pretty cool for you.

1) Your birthday
2) Halloween
3) SUMMER
4) The Sun will Shine
5) Someone will show they care for you
6) Your favorite artist will have a song on the radio
7) You'll eat a delicious meal
8) Puppies will be born
9) YouTube videos will be posted
10) A bed will always be there for you

Don't let this New Year, New Me thing get to you. You are amazing as is. As wonderful as this time is, remember you don't HAVE to change but it is a cool time to make some goals.

Until Friday!

XOXO

Dear One Direction,

     Thank you. Thank you for an awesome five years. Thank you for creating an environment and fandom that felt like a safe zone. Thank you for the fun. Thank you.

     Whether this break is 18 months or 5 years, we are here and always will be. A fandom isn't just created for a certain period but a lifetime.

    Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the insanely ridiculous tweets that I couldn't understand half the time. Thank you for being there when others weren't.

    You know what is weird, in the past five years, there hasn't been a day where I haven't seen any of your faces. Even weirder, I am actually worried about you during this break. Get plenty of sleep and drink water. Sing loudly in the shower. Eat your favorite food. As much as this is a change for us, it is an even bigger change for you.

    Thank you for the tours. Thank you for the albums. Thank you for the photoshoots and especially thank you finally getting a snapchat.

    A break means a break. A break from all contractual related things. So go write songs for other people, heck even sing with them. Use this time to really get to know and use your talents. As fans, we know this is your break as much as it is ours. Enjoy it.

  Thank you for five amazing years that have forever changed my life. Our lives. See you when it feels right, One Direction.

XOXO

To see this in video form, check out my channel on Thursday! http://www.youtube.com/mavslade