Top Her Couture

The holidays are about family, friends, and togetherness.  This year has challenged those things in many aspects.  Lockdowns, mask mandates, curfews, fear marketing, scare tactics-the list goes on!  The COVID infomercials, news casts, social media ploys are just never ending, but what about the rest of the world? It seems the majority of the world has been pushed aside to make way for political propaganda and illogical rules for the minority.  Now, do not get me wrong, those families that have lost someone from Covid-my heart goes out.  But my heart also goes out to those who have lost someone period.  Death is never easy or welcomed! As of November 25th, 2020, COVID deaths accounted for less than 10% of U.S. deaths (less than 3% globally).   9.26% to be more precise and guess what?  Pneumonia deaths account for 9.06%-a communicable disease which has a vaccine yet hundreds of thousands die from it every year. ( CDC )  I know I was not we...

Pre-workout Energy! Tried a few different pre-workout boosters and my go-to is still Optimum Nutrition's Amino Energy. No crash energy Great flavors - partial to Grape , Orange , and Watermelon No beta alanine itches or rash - I happen to be very sensitive Great for post workout! I cannot get enough of this post workout treat from Dymatize - All 9 Aminos .  It magically appeared in our pantry [thanks hubbie] and decided to give it a try. Great flavor - we order Orange-Cranberry and Watermelon Non GMO, no dyes, gluten free Can be used pre, intra, and post workout Verified free of banned substances via Informed Choice Protein Protein Protein! The taste is something you may have to get used to but so glad we switched to Paleo Protein .  Check out my recipe for a great post-workout shake . Gluten Free, no hormones, paleo ingredients Natural Collagen 26g of protein per serving free of dairy, whey, and soy *As an Amazon Associate, I receive a small po...

Being healthy is so important whether pregnant, training hard in the gym, or just an everyday good habit.  We recently switched our protein to PaleoPro's Aztec Vanilla Protein due to an onset of what we think are new allergies.  We also wanted better gut health from a cleaner protein.  So many brands have extra fillers and additives making it hard to pinpoint a problem if there is any and can become hard to digest. PaleoPro Protein claims: 26g of protein per serving. no dairy or whey or soy. pastured grass-fed beef. no added hormones. minimal processing. paleo ingredients. natural collagen. totally delicious. gluten free. I am not going to lie, the taste has to grow on you.  To help with the taste, my go to is an Almond Butter, Banana, Vanilla Protein Shake. Ingredients: 1 scoop  PaleoPro Protein Powder Half a Banana 1 cup of ice 1 cup almond milk [could substitute for your milk of choice] 1 tablespoon of Almond butter [could subs...

With pregnancy comes a lot of change.  There is change in how you eat, exercise, think, develop, and the list goes on.  Here are few pregnancy favs & finds that may help you on your journey. Prenatal Supplements Rainbow Light Prenatal Petite Mini Tablet Not horse pills Kept iron levels normal [even when anemic prior to pregnancy] Have a line for post-natal support Purity Safeguard Natural Vitality Calm Drink Mix** Come in a variety of flavors as well as non-flavored to be added to any beverage  Great for restless leg syndrome Great magnesium supplement Have trial package of 5 to try out Great for those with constant Braxton Hicks Contractions EVLution CLA 1000 ** Supports lean muscle Great source of Omega-6 Nordic Naturals Omega-3 ** Heart & Brain Health Lemon taste just in case you get the burps Added Vitamin D3 for immune & bone support ** Please consult your doctor before taking any supplements.  Results may var...

PASSION - A word thrown around amongst self-help books and sometimes deemed unrealistic.  As if we were on a quest for the Holy Grail or a Unicorn.  Most of us seek passion in one form or another yet have trouble connecting with that passion.   Thanks to Adam Rubin, the co-founder and executive director of Renew, an international nonprofit bringing personal development to adolescents around the world.  He has given us a few tools to help us discover what our passions are, connect with those passions, and lead a more fulfiling life. Expand Your Horizons.   Traveling is a great way to open up into a world of learning and experiences to drive fresh perspective and self discovery.  If you are having trouble connecting with your passion, maybe you just have not found that passion yet.  That is ok.  Take steps to get outside your comfort zone and go on adventures! Reflection.   Let your struggles and pain...

If you truly want to get fit - learn how to work out and eat right.  When you commit to losing weight and leading a healthy lifestyle [consistently exercising and making better eating choices], many doors will open to help you stay on track and keep you motivated. While group fitness offers great work-outs, you will have better success in the long run if you invest in a personal trainer.  Personal trainers typically offer a wide variety of services that tailor to each client’s individual needs.  Group fitness is not going to make sure you have good form or teach you the proper way to lift weights. Personal trainers offer a support system, they are educators, teachers, and offer a consistent stream of motivation to keep you amped and help you achieve your goals.  They are there to listen, to hold you accountable, and develop a relationship with you.  Personal training is in fact personal. Why not group fitness?  Because each person moves dif...

If you’re like most 9 to 5ers, you become glued to your desk chair. The zoned out stare into your screen, missing lunch, ‘gotta get this done today’ brain drain. To pull you away for a moment and get the blood flowing again, here are a few tips to help keep you active at work. 1) Pre-Work Out Knowing that you are likely to be stuck to your chair most of the day, make it a priority to get active before work. Whether it’s walking the dog, yoga, weight training or a run around the neighborhood, jump start your metabolism and get your body moving before you get to the office. You’ll be amazed how much it wakes you up and helps you focus throughout the day! 2) Be A Kit-Kat Give yourself a break and get creative doing it. Many companies our now offering fit programs and in-house gyms -use them! Hire a Personal Trainer to come to you for a 30 minute Quickie . Bring sneakers, resistance bands, and/or a yoga mat to work. Chances are if they don’t have them in-house, there is a place nea...

What you will need: 1/3 cup Flax Meal 1 1/4 cup Almond Meal 2 large  Egg Whites 2 tsp  Apple Cider Vingear 1 tb coconut oil 2 tsp Baking Powder 2 tsp  Baking Soda 2 tsp of each  Dried Thyme, Oregano, Basil Loaf Pan approx. 8"x4" Preheat oven to 350 degrees Mix all dry ingredients together thoroughly Add in eggs and oil. Grease loaf pan Add in final ingredient, vinegar.  Stir until combined. Pour batter evenly into pan.  Bake for 25-30 minutes. Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: about 9 slices Amount Per Serving Calories: 154.6 Total Fat: 12.5 g Cholesterol: 0.0 mg Sodium: 382.4 mg Total Carbs: 5.8 g Dietary Fiber: 4.4 g Protein: 6.7 g

What you will need: 1 lb. ground turkey or chicken 1 1/2 cup brown rice bread crumbs 1 1/2 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb 2 large egg whites PAM spray Mix first 4 ingredients together by kneeding the ground meat & other ingredients thoroughly.  Spray a large glass casserole dish evenly with PAM Spray.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Roll meat mix into small to medium size balls [about the size of a lime].  Place them in the casserole dish evenly making sure they are not touching each other.  Place on lower to middle rack and cook for about 20-30 minutes or until golden brown on top and cooked through the center.  Cut a meatball open to make sure. **You can eat these with some sauted asparagus and brown rice or with brown rice pasta and non-fat alfredo sauce [use water, not milk and add about a tablespoon of the brown rice bread crumbs to thicken]

This mother of 2 beautiful little girls has her work cut out for her.  Not only is she a full-time mom, she owns and runs 3 businesses: Phoenix Rising Events & Marketing, Just Stylin' Baby, and Sweet Pea Cakes Etc.  In the mix of this organized chaos, Dawn set a goal for herself.  She wanted to be in the best shape of her life before 30.  Her fourteen week training with Chris Williamson at The Gym , Bethany Karlin , and the constant support of her teammates, the Missfits; she is heading in the right direction. She just competed in her first NPC competition in the bikini division.  Taking home multiple trophies in the novice and open class gave her a taste of what is to come.  She will be competing in the Colorado State on July 16th here in Denver, Colorado.  Then, she plans on competing in both Las Vegas, Nevada and Miami, Florida.  This headstrong, determined mother has transformed her goals, her body, her life! Set Goals. Be Dedica...

When you have mastered being a mom of 4 like Jasmin Sanchez, the next adventure begins with herself.  Between working a full-time job, being a full-time mother, loving wife, and supportive friend; Jasmin found time to train for the NPC Mile High which took place June 4th at Englewood High School.  Her twelve week preparation with the help of her trainer, Chris Williamson , her team members, The MissFits, and her posing coach, Bethany Karlin ; she took 1st in both open and novice bikini classes.  She qualified for a national show and will compete later this year. Whether you are a mother of one or six, the team of trained & motivational professionals at The Gym can have you bikini ready in no time.  It is never too late to transform your baby body today! Set goals.  Be Dedicated.  See Results. Copyright 2011 Brett Seeley Photography & The Gym Congrats Jasmin!   Visit momslikeme.com to sign up for the challenge.