Truthful Tuesday: I'm 27

February 27, 2018

Sweater: Nordstrom, Jeans: Express

Today's my birthday and instead of waiting until Thursday for a Throwback Thursday I wanted to do a truthful Tuesday. One of my favorite posts here on The Petite Principle was the one I shared titled "Friday Fives: 5 Things I'd tell my 21 year old self." Now I was 26 when I posted that and today I turn 27. It's weird that it's been less than a year but yet again I'm surprising myself. There was so much truth in that post, and here's some more. I am confident. 100% confident in myself, in my beauty, in my abilities, in my talents, and in the love that I have to give to the world.

Let me back up a moment... did I just say I was 100% confident in myself? Who's is this grown woman talking and what did she do with the insecure girl? Time heals all wounds, time helps you grow, time is moving and what the last 6-7 months taught me that to speak my truth. These past few months taught me to be proud of my voice, to speak loudly and clearly, to speak strongly and with pizazz. It's funny because I always thought I was confident; I was attractive, friendly, dateable, smart but the woman that writes to you today is brand new. She's proud of who she is; she's tough because of the heartbreak that she has endured, and she's a warrior to survive the pain she's been through, you know what I like her, in fact, I love her and this woman needs to stay.

Motivation Monday: My Whole 30 experience

February 19, 2018

A Whole 30 brunch meal from Slimak (minus the bread, which wasn't Whole 30 compliant)

Happy Monday, friends and Happy President's Day to those of you that are lucky enough to have today enough! I'm grateful to have today off to relax and share with you today's post. One of my goals for the year that was to get healthy, and I mean really strive to be in the best shape of my life. Now or never right?!  Well, I wanted to do this for a couple reasons and I learned that not only does it happen by working out but by also maintaining a healthy diet and if I'm being honest I certainly didn't have one. I've always been petite and never had an issue with my weight. I was skinny my entire life, but I also had a limited diet because I had many food allergies. As I entered my early 20's I outgrew some allergies and the main one being dairy. My life turned upside down. Dairy which is almost in EVERYTHING, went from being an ingredient I avoided at all costs turned into an ingredient I consumed daily. Fast forward a few years and my body started to catch up with me and became overwhelmed with how much dairy I was consuming, among other things. I started to gain weight, and didn't realize how much. Now it wasn't a significant amount but for someone who's 4'10 it doesn't take a lot to really become noticeable. And another thing, getting in a relationship definitely changed how, when and what I was eating. I gained some "love fluff" as my friend put it. This was weight I gained from the many times my boyfriend and I ate out, stayed in and ordered food, cooked together, went out for drinks or had pints of ice cream in bed. On top of that I wasn't exercising regularly. I went from the girl who never had to worry about her weight to the girl who definitely had to.

I had done research on diets, and tried weight watchers. I'd tried to give up dairy for a week or sugar and then give up after the 3rd day. At the beginning of the year I decided I really have to do something about this. My mom also had been concerned about her weight, so we decided to encourage each other to eat better. We decided we would do Whole30. A healthier eating lifestyle that we were going to take on for the next 30 days. We said let's do it for a week, with the goal of doing it for the full 30 days, and see how we feel. We agreed to wouldn't have alcohol, dairy, grains, legumes or any food with added sugars or preservatives for the next month.

Week 1: The first week was brutal for me. The first couple days felt like a bad hangover. I was irritable, and annoyed about the change in diet.  Now I wasn't a big consumer of sweets, I'm not a big candy person, but I do love baked goods, and of course it was 3 co-workers birthdays that week and everyone was celebrating with snacks I couldn't eat. My mom said the hardest thing for her that week was getting used to coffee without milk or sugar. The highlight of that first week was that I lost 4 pounds! You're not supposed to weight yourself over the 30 days but I had a doctor's appointment and she told me I was 4 pounds down. I didn't weight myself again until the 30 days were over.

Week 2: My mom and I began to meal plan, and that helped A LOT. Tremendously actually. Once we started to meal plan, it got easier and meals were tastier. I didn't crave sugar as much and I noticed my body just felt lighter. Some of our favorites dishes were Curry Chicken with Cauliflower Rice, Sweet Potato boats with Ground Turkey and Avocado and Steak Bowls with Cauliflower Rice and Salsa. I also made these dishes that I saved from my Pinterest board.

Coconut Curry Chicken

Spicy Roasted Cauliflower Bowl with Salsa

Week 3:
I noticed a significant difference in how my clothes were fitting and it was so exciting. At this point eating healthy foods felt like second nature and fruits became my favorite snack. By this point I was also exercising regularly using Alexia Clark's workout plan and running regularly because I was training for my 5k. My workouts felt great too. My joints didn't hurt, I wasn't fatigued ever. That was a game changer for me. I always felt tired or lethargic but after consuming only whole foods for 3 weeks, my body no longer felt that way. My skin and hair also looked amazing. My skin was clear and my hair was the shiniest it's ever been. Zero split ends, so smooth and so easy to blow dry.

Week 4: I felt changed forever. I know that's dramatic to say but that's how I felt! I survived Superbowl Sunday without Pizza, Chips, Dips or drinks. I had some baked chicken and seltzer and was just fine. By this time I had forgotten what it felt like to be bloated or have any stomach/digestive issues. My daily meals consisted of veggie omelets, salmon or other proteins with veggies for lunch and proteins, vegetables and cauliflower rice for dinner, with fruits in between. My mom's favorite snacks were RX Bars and nuts but since I'm allergic to all nuts I just stuck to apples and clementines as my go-to fruit snacks between meals.

It's been a week since I finished the Whole30 plan and I honestly don't want to go back to how I ate before. I realized added sugar is in everything, literally everything. Since I've finished I have tried Oreos, corn tortillas, teriyaki chicken and I've gotten stomachaches from all 3. I'm most heartbroken by the oreos because they were my favorite cookie but even after having them they tasted so sweet and even salty and it was just too weird, haha! I still crave fruits all the time and I'm going to stick to those as snacks. The best news of all was that I lost 10lbs! I went down a full pant size, full dress size and bra size.

Zucchini Noodles with homemade sauce and Ground Turkey Meatballs
Before Whole 30
After Whole 30

Final thoughts:
 I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. It's honestly changed my life. If you're looking for a detox, or just new lifestyle then go for it! I won't be going back to the way I was eating before, I just can't after realizing how good my body can feel on the inside. It's not that I felt badly before either, but I had gotten used to bad indigestion and stomachaches and this helped me realize there's a better way to eat.

Thanks for reading today's post.

xo


SNS: My new favorite manicure + My Favorite red dress

February 18, 2018


Dress: old, similar, Boots: Ava Aiden c/o Gilt

Happy Sunday, guys! Hope you've had an awesome weekend so far. I wanted to share something that I get asked about all the time. As long as I can remember, I took care of my nails and treated myself to manicures. After growing up as a nail biting kid, my nail care took a turn and I became devoted to having nice nails in High School and in college. Painting my nails and getting manicures became a way for me to relieve stress and I even enjoyed painting my friend's nails all the time!

After many years of treating myself to weekly manicures, I realized that it wasn't convenient to my lifestyle as a working adult. I no longer to devote my time to finding a good salon, and getting them done all the time. I began to research other manicures that lasted longer. I quickly became a fan of gel manicures. Most appointments only took 30 minutes, I didn't have to wait for them to dry and they lasted me 2 weeks! It sounded ideal to me. However, the more I got gel manicures, the worst my actual nails became underneath. They weaken and began to peal, and I realized I was doing more damage than good.

I continued to do more research until I noticed my friend Jessica's nails. She always had really fun, funky designs and her nails looked so strong. I asked if they were acrylic because that's how long and sturdy they looked. I though oh dear, I don't want to go back to acrylic nails (Hello Prom 2008! Yikes!). Jessica responded no, they're my actual nails. I've started getting SNS manicures, you should try them! As I continued to ask her about the process, and the salon, I got more and more interested.

The process is a bit backwards but it's long lasting and quite lovely. It's a dip powder manicure that doesn't require UV lights or additional drying time. The powders are packed with Vitamins A, D, E and B5 to strengthen your nails and leave your manicure lasting up to 2-3 weeks! I got mine done once and they lasted me 4 full weeks. I was amazed. My nails have never grown this long naturally and have never been so strong. Here's what my most recent manicure looked like at Week 3:


I go to Rouge Nails in Bloomfield, NJ, and I love getting my nails done by Mayra and Mirian! All the ladies there are incredibly sweet, and pay such good attention to detail. They seriously take so much pride in their work. They always offer water, coffee, wine and sweet treats. Make sure you make an appointment especially on Saturdays because the place does get packed!

Thanks so much for reading today's post. Have a wonderful week!




Motivation Monday: My 5K run

February 12, 2018



Headphones: Bose, Headband: New Balance, Gloves: New Balance, Leggings: Old Navy

Hey there! Happy Monday, everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I also wanted to get on here and thank everyone for stopping back the last couple of weeks since i’ve been active on this. It’s been an eventful past few years while I’ve been blogging and honestly I haven’t been the best about devoting my time to it. Things happened and life got in the way, which is completely fine, and it happens but it feels good to be back here and being transparent with you guys.

For some this isn’t a big accomplishment but for me it was pretty exciting. I’m not a runner by any means; the last time I took running seriously was when I was a freshman in high school and embarrassingly sprained my ankle at my first cross country meet. Well it’s been almost 14 years since then and well I decided it was something that I wanted to try again. 

On Saturday I ran my first 5k - okay, i’ll admit I did walk a little but I can happily say I completed it. I finished faster than I expected - 40 minutes - and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. Thankfully it wasn't too cold; it was a nice 40-45 degrees. My mistake was not training outside, I had only been running inside on a treadmill. My lungs took a beating the first mile and I ended up with a cramp from breathing with my mouth so much. After the first mile, things got easier. I got comfortable with my pace and a little inside kept saying, "just keep going."

After a few months of training, following this program I ran alongside my best friend and boyfriend on Saturday and it was awesome. I realized I enjoy running around outside way more than inside on a treadmill but the feeling of accomplishing something new was an even greater feeling.

Will I become a runner? Who knows! What I will say is that it’s great to put fear aside and just try something new. When you’re sure of what you want, you’ll figure out a way to get it. I wanted to run a race and I did, and all I had to do was try to take the first step. Literally.

Thanks so much for reading!
xo

Friday Fives: 5 gifts to get your BFF for Valentine's Day

February 9, 2018



Happy Friday, everyone! Hope everyone is excited for the weekend because I am! I'm running a 5k this weekend - my first one ever, and I'm so nervous but excited? I guess we'll see how it goes. My friend asked me a couple months ago if I wanted to run and I said sure, why not (without any proper training) and I signed up. I figured why not start the year on a high note and try something new. I mentioned in my intentions post that my goal for the year was to do better, learn more and trust the process. So here I am checking off another thing on my list for 2018! It also holds a special place in my heart because we're running in support of people with disabilities. 

Anyway, while I'm sure you have all purchased your Valentine's Day gifts already, I figured I'd share another Friday Fives post and share the 5 gifts I'd get my BFF. I'll admit I'm notorious for shopping last minute for gifts - whoops! So lists like these sure to do help :)

1. Blush Mules - For your fashionista friend that loves to stay on trend, and under $70.

2. This lip paint is literally stunning (pun intended, haha!) and has been the go-to for so many ladies that I know. They're calling it the universal red lip because it looks amazing on everyone. Perfect for your make-up junkie friend.

3. This glass is perfect for your wino friend, and she'll be able to celebrate #WineWednesday on the 14th with this glass. 

4. For your cozy friend (that's me!), the next two items are essentials when it comes to self care and whether you have a valentine this year or not, don't forget to be your own valentine every day. Treat yourself with this bubble bar. I just purchased it and it smells heavenly! It's apple/cinnamon scent is perfect for winter and it leaves your water the prettiest shade of pink.

5. This. stuff. is. gold. In December, my roomie and I were in the middle of a big move and after being stuck in inside packing box after box, I took and break and headed over to Williamsburg here in Brooklyn. Williamsburg is always a fun neighborhood and they have really awesome shops. I stopped by Soap Cherie, never having been there before, and fell in love. The mixture of all the soap scents was amazing and I left with a body scrub and this body lotion. It smells amazing. I'm normally not a fan of patchouli but the mix with the lavender is so, so, good! Not only can you find their products at their shop in Brooklyn but now you can shop them online at Nordstrom.

Thanks so much for reading and have a great weekend!

xo

Parisian Vibes in Brooklyn

February 8, 2018


Happy Thursday, loves! Hope you're all doing well. I'm so excited to share that I'm crossing something of my intentions/goals list for the year. I have been wanting to travel to Ireland for the longest time. Not sure why, but I always felt like it was a place I had to visit and I'm so excited to say that my boyfriend and I will be traveling there in late August, early September!! It feel so surreal, and it feels so awesome to crossing something off my list. I feel like I'm finally actually doing all the things I've always wanted to do, no excuses. We won't be staying in Ireland the entire time; we're actually flying to Amsterdam, probably traveling to one or two more cities and then ending our trip in Ireland. We're not sure which cities to visit in between yet, we're deciding between Zurich, Switzerland or maybe Rome. Please send me your recommendations! :)

In honor of my Eurotrip, I wanted to share this look I shot with my favorite Caitee Smith Photography in Brooklyn this past weekend. Shooting with Caitee has always been such a blast and she always has made me feel so comfortable in front of the camera. So we shot right by Prospect Park and it reminded me so much of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. In true Parisian fashion, I wore this adorable pearled beret. I didn't think I would be such a fan of berets but they are so cute. To match with my pearled beret, I wore this grey/creme colored turtle neck from Zara and my favorite high waisted rip jeans from Top Shop.

I bought these OTK boots a few years ago on a whim from Gilt. It's funny because it was my first time ordering from Gilt and my first time ordering OTK boots online without trying them on first. OTK boots are one of the hardest things for me to shop for because 1) I'm super short, 4'10" to be exact and 2) I have more athletic calves so I could never find the perfect boot until I found these beauties. Since then I have yet to find a pair that fits me as well as these. I ordered these because they are so stunning but they were way too tall and wouldn't fit my thighs. So upsetting. Anyway, I'm still on the hunt to find another pair of great OTK boots because I'd love a pair in a different color. I'm thinking about getting these or these, so I'll report back with my findings.

Thanks for reading today's post!

xo


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