New Blog - Fat Fab Fit!

Hello all, hope you're enjoying your weekend!  Just wanted to give you all a quick update.  I am no longer updating this blog regularly, however feel free to browse through the articles and links already posted.  I will post here occasionally.  I am focusing on my new blog where I share about my transformation journey through weight loss and self-discovery.  Check it out!

How can I get what I want?

How do I manifest what I want?  How can I get the things I want?
How can I live my life to the fullest?

These are some of the questions I used to always ask myself.  I used to always wonder how some people were able to get the things they wanted and I was still stuck in the same bs.  I used to be the one looking at people's posts on Facebook and Twitter on how awesome their lives were going and wonder why my life wasn't going in the direction I wanted it to go in.  Well one day I got fed up.  I got so fed up I decided to make a huge, drastic change.  I packed my bags (3 to be exact) and moved from NYC to San Diego in December of 2012.  I didn't know what I was doing, how I was going to do it, or even really why I was going; I just felt I needed to do it, and so I did.

It started out simply with an idea; I want to move to San Diego.  I had visited a few times before and loved it (and of course the fact that Comic-Con is here is a HUGE plus).  When I had made the decision to move (at the point where I was fed up with the way my life was going) I was unemployed and was surviving on about $1 a day...it was bad to say the least but I will spare you the details.  I had this bright, shiny goal to move to San Diego but absolutely no idea HOW I was going to get there.

Thankfully the Universe felt my strong desire to go.  I did my part in noticing the signs, and kept my mind and heart open to all opportunities that presented themselves to me.  I credit a large part of my change/transformation to 2 amazing, powerful, wise (and the list goes on and on) women.  These ladies were the 'signs' and 'opportunities' I needed to be able to be guided in the right direction, to manifest my goal(s).

The first is Laura Yamin, who I know personally, and was one of the people to see the power I had inside (a power I didn't even know I possessed).  Laura has dedicated a large part of her life to battling personal demons and addictions, and she shares her story on her Joyful Shimmy blog.  She shares how she was able to break down barriers, the resources and tools she used, and then applying her knowledge to teach her audience how to lead a more fruitful life.  Her blog (and business) is especially useful for entrepreneurs and overall anyone wanting to make a change.  I worked with Laura for a long time and she always gave me a fresh perspective.  One of the biggest lessons I learned from her is that IT'S OK.  It's OK if I fuck up once in a while; I am allowed to!  The world will not come crashing down...RELAX!

Through Laura I came across Erin Stutland.  Erin was a valuable resource used by Laura to set and manifest goals, and because I was also looking to manifest goals of my own I decided to check her out.  Erin offers many things for the mind, body, and soul.  One of the resources offered is her "Magical Manifester" course.  She offers a virtual (online) course for anyone wanting to manifest their goals.  She breaks down the course with lessons and tasks, which you can complete at your own pace.  You learn so much about yourself, including looking deep into why we are the way we are, and how we hold ourselves back from manifesting what we want.  The course is less than $4 a day!  Think of what you spend $4 per day on and tell me if any of those things are getting you closer to accomplishing your goals? It's a great investment, and honestly for all that she offers this is a steal!  AND by the way this is the LAST TIME this course will be at this great price!  Plus she offers a payment plan, if you want to break it down in to installments (what I did), and the payments are set a month apart. The total cost is $199 but you can choose to do 2 installments of $99.  And the best part is once you are registered you can take the course and have access to the materials for as long as you want.  She keeps us informed on her next round of the course and also if there are any updates, so we can check them out.  

The next course is set to begin on May 13th, and registration is open now.  If you're feeling stuck, like you want to make a change but don't know where to start, this course is for you!  I found it at a time when I needed it most, and I didn't even have a full-time job.  But since I wanted to take this course so badly the Universe provided for me, and I was able to pay in 2 installments, a month apart from each other.  If you have a job, think about how just $99 a month (for 2 months) can change your life?  Think of what you usually spend in a month, and tell me if you wouldn't consider making an investment into learning how to manifest what you want?

I am an affiliate of this course so I do get a percentage of anyone who registers using my link.  If you choose to take the course you can also become an affiliate at the completion.  

I highly recommend working with either or both of these women to live your best possible life.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  Also if you've worked with either of these women feel free to comment on your experience below.

FREE to try before you buy!

I recently joined Influenster which is basically a free program where you receive products to try and review, and share with your people.  You link all of your social media accounts with the website, and fill out questionnaires depending on the type of box they will ship out.  If you qualify to receive a box you'll get notified and eventually receive a large box filled with items.  The purpose is to try them and share your honest opinions with your friends, family, coworkers, etc...

I recently received the complimentary "Sugar n Spice Voxbox" (my first box!) for testing purposes from Influenster.  The box contained 7 items: Colgate "Optic White" toothpaste, mouthwash, and 360 brush, Vaseline "Spray & Go" Moisturizer, Dickinson's Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes, belVita breakfast biscuits, and Nectresse sweetener.  I was super excited to see all of these items I got for free; it was like opening a present at Christmas!  I tried all of these items (with the exception of the biscuits) for 1 week (or longer if I really liked it), and here are my reviews:

Colgate Optic White toothpaste - I did not enjoy using this toothpaste.  It was very grainy and felt "heavy" in my mouth; it's a very thick consistency.  Also the taste was not appealing at all.  It definitely brought flashbacks of visits to the dentist.  On the bright side it does whiten teeth as promised.  My teeth were noticeably whiter at the end of the first week of use.  I think if you are going to use this product, only use a little on the brush so the consistency and taste won't overwhelm you.

Colgate Optic White 360 toothbrush - When I first saw this I pictured myself using it often because it seemed like it would really do a great job of cleaning.  However the brush was a little awkward to use.  It has no grip to keep it steady when brushing, and since it's curved it makes it harder to handle.  I felt like I was brushing my teeth for the first time with it.  However, the head does a great job of cleaning. I feel like my whole mouth is clean after using it.  I paired it with the Optic White toothpaste which may have contributed to my teeth being noticeably whiter in a week.

Colgate Optic White Rinse - I am never using this again!  The taste was HORRIBLE!  I don't even know how to describe it.  It tasted totally laced with chemicals.  I felt as though I was putting something toxic in my mouth.  It was also strangely a little salty.  I don't normally use mouthwash often but when I do I expect something more pleasing, minty.  This is not a product I would care to use ever again.  Also the directions state to rinse with 15 ml BUT the cap didn't indicate what 15 ml was; no lines to indicate or anything.  That would've been nice to see.

Dickinson's Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes - I like that it cleanses my face without drying it out.  I would definitely use this in lieu of a toner.  The only thing I didn't like about the wipes is the smell.  I just didn't find the scent pleasant.

Vaseline "Spray & Go" Moisturizer - I LOVE this!  I am buying this for sure.  My friends tried it and they love it too.  It's super moisturizing and not greasy at all, as promised.  Your skin absorbs it quickly and feels smooth the whole day.  Very easy to use.

belVita Breakfast Biscuits - Delicious; like eating a cookie pretty much.  It was sweet and nutritious.  I loved eating them with Greek yogurt.

Nectresse Sweetener - This was an item I was thinking of purchasing and glad I didn't.  It's all-natural but tastes like an artificial sweetener.  It left a metallic aftertaste in my mouth. I didn't like it at all.

So if you're into saving money and getting things for free, joining Influenster may be your best bet!

FREE Prom Dresses!!

Since 2009 Dominican Sunday and Operation Prom have partnered up to give away thousands of FREE prom dresses in NYC, to young ladies from low income families.

Operation Prom also has chapters nationwide, so there may be a prom dress drive in your area!  Check out their website if you are not in NYC.  If you are in New York, there are chapters within the 5 boroughs, Westchester, and Hudson Valley.

The Dominican Sunday free prom dress giveaway for 2014 is TBA!

Get your FREE on!

Everyone can benefit from getting free stuff nowadays.  Who doesn't enjoy getting things like food, software, and services for free?  Check out this large list of freebies for 2013!  On it are some really interesting freebies such as getting a free college education, free passport pictures, and much more!

Also feel free to check out my post on free classes and tutorials, as well as the many other posts on this blog, on freebies for you!

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Taking The Road Less Traveled

Guest post by Ashley Taylor

Like previous guest blogger Michael Oghia, I too am an unemployed, educated 20-something. Now, I’m not trying to question the credibility of higher education; it has its place and certainly has opened a door or two for me. However, it certainly hasn’t done much for my financial situation. 

I’ve acquired internships, but all are unpaid, leaving me to pay the bills in unusual ways. The way I see it, college grads don’t have much choice besides either moving in with mom and dad to save money or struggling on their own while slaving away at multiple jobs; neither of which leaves much room for personal growth. There’s always the grad school route, but that comes with the pressures of debt only adding to the trillions America owes already. Plus, after 16 years of schooling continuing students are beginning to burn out if not burnt out already. 

I was one of these burnouts. By the time my graduation day rolled around I knew I was done with school. That’s when I opted for the new alternative more and more college grads are pursuing: jumping the country. You, heard me right; jump the country, cross the border, shift paradigms, get the frick out! My original plan was to take a 3-month gap summer on an island in Central America getting my Divemaster certification and teaching Scuba to tourists as a way of recharging my batteries after University. I was certain, after 3 months on an island, I would be ready to come back to America and reinstate myself in the workforce as a productive member of society. I couldn’t have been more naïve. 

Every day on The Island was an adventure. My office was a white sand beach with turquoise waters. Business attire was a tan, salted hair and a bikini. Evenings weren’t spent in front of the TV, but rather talking with friends and strangers alike over a couple beers under a star-studded sky while tropical breezes and live music beckoned you to dance. I returned to The States refreshed. Depressed for leaving behind paradise, but ready to be responsible in the Real World. I filled out countless applications and attended a few interviews, but only received rejection in return. I was overwhelmed and honestly baffled, as I attended a top school, got good grades, was involved in college and hold a solid portfolio accompanied by solid internships. I did my research and discovered that, according to statistics, nearly half of American college graduates are stuck rowing this sinking ship that is the U.S.S. Unemployed. Furthermore, the 50% that do have jobs are employed in positions that don’t even require a degree. Combined with the nation’s high unemployment rate it’s easy to realize that recent grads have it a bit tougher than those who graduated at the height of the New Millennium. My parents’ advice, get a job at Starbucks and stick it out. That’s what I would’ve done, but after the personal growth I experienced over the summer traveling I could no longer accept it as an option. 

After 4 months of job hunting, and cleaning bathrooms at a taco shop in the meantime, I scraped up enough money for a ticket back to The Island for a 2 week head-clearing. “Is that all you’re bringing? A duffle bag and dive gear?” my father asked me on the way to drop me off at the airport. “Yes.” “How much money?” I peaked into my wallet, “$50 US and about $20 in the local foreign currency.” “Where will you be staying and working?” he probed out of concern. “I don’t know. I’ll figure it out when I get there.” He silently held his breath for a few seconds, probably debating what a good father would do in this situation. Should he turn around and keep me safely in his reach or let me go out and experience the world? In the end, he did not turn around at the next highway exit, but continued to the airport, “Ok, I trust you.” My plane touched down at 2:15pm. By 5:30pm I not only had a place to stay, but work lined up for the entirety of my “vacation,” and a beer in my hand as I watched the sunset with people I counted as family. Once again, every day was an adventure; I was meeting interesting people and experiencing wonders most only dream about. On top of that, I was making a living doing something I loved! 

At the end of the 2 weeks I called my family to ask permission to stay. Being the amazing people they are my parents fully supported me. Traveling is unconventional and requires a bit of bravery, but the benefits far outweigh the bit of sacrifice it requires. Depending on where you go and what you do, it’s generally cheaper to live and the support system of a small community is comparable to that of an extended family. My last bit of advice: start small. This wasn’t my first bout at solo travel and I would never encourage anyone to just toss a dart at a map and move there. Long-term travel is a ladder and you have to learn to crawl before you can walk, much less climb. Take it one step at a time, stay flexible in your mind-set and don’t look back; you’ll never regret it.

Ashley Taylor is a 20-something graduate from the University of Florida. Growing up in a family that valued travel over most other things, it was only a matter of time before she set out to explore the world by herself. Solo travel experiences include: front row seats at Old Trafford, riding bikes through Paris at 4am, going through a hurricane and earthquake at the same time in a third world country, and dancing with Jake Gyllenhaal in New Orleans. Currently she works as a Divemaster in Roatan, Honduras, and couldn't be happier. E-mail at amtayla@gmail.com for any and all freelance writing opportunities.  

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