HAPPY JANUARY & HAPPY NEW YEAR! This year went by fast. I know I am not the only one who thought that leading up to the 1st. Like myself, you were probably one of three people this year: the one who was dragging ass through the year, the one who made a list last January and ran through that thing like a 2017 bucket list, or the one who looked up at the last minute realizing it was all over. Please pick a category, and join me on this journey. If you are that one person, (yes…YOU) who wants an “other” category…Here you go…
OTHER – OTHER – OTHER
Yes, I am that extra.
Now, January has arrived *insert cheesy fireworks and bomb theme music*. I can’t count how many times I saw the classic, “New Year, New Me” slogan. Now this is what I need you to do for me…lean closer…closer…a little more…announcing your, “new me” goals to the world does not mean you will accomplish them. I am about to share with you a few ways to achieve your new goals without falling on your face or some other random body part.
The first and most important thing is to not list a goal that seems unattainable. It might make your list look too lit to quit, but if you want to lose 50 pounds, do not list, “Lose 50 Pounds” by itself. The realistic effort that it takes to lose that number of pounds will overwhelm you, and you might get discouraged. List a smaller goal, and place your final goal out to the side.
Example: Lose 15 pounds by summer | Lose 35 pounds by October
That does not look as intimidating, and if you continue to follow it you will achieve your goal!
At the beginning of every year I save for something I really want. It could be something for my cameras, a concert, a specific trip, etc. This year, I really want to go to Bali. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I have made a post about this.
Basically I want to do everything I can while I can!
Destination chosen ✅
Decision made ✅
Lastly, if you didn’t know…If you weren’t sure…I love music. At this point in life you probably will not come across many people who don’t, but my passion is a bit different. I can’t function peacefully during the day without it. As of lately my favorite artist has been Charlie Puth. I am talking about songs on repeat, YouTube video playlist so lit and morning dance sessions to How Long. Let me stop rambling. I screamed at my computer when I went to do some exploring on Ticketmaster. I live in Georgia, USA and Charlie Puth is having a concert in Alpharetta, Georgia. This will definitely be one of my things to do for the year.
Focus Points for January
1 | Make a list of 5 to 7 attainable goals
2 | Start saving money for trip to Bali and Charlie Puth concert
3 | Post more frequent content so that you guys don’t strangle me
What will you focus on this month? Leave a comment below!
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November has definitely arrived, and it came with physical and emotional holiday baggage. It generally starts with busier work weeks and ends with last-minute holiday shopping.
Today I’m going to give you 10 surefire ways to relieve stress during the holiday season!
1 | Take a hike! I don’t mean that in a harsh way, but literally put on your favorite sneakers and get moving in the morning. Due to the fall weather changes, the weather in the morning is less humid and the atmosphere makes a great start for any busy day.
Motivation: A killer playlist! You can make your own or snag one from Apple Music or Spotify.
2 | Feeling overwhelmed? Find a nice stopping point, kick back and watch a holiday favorite! There’s nothing that helps me more when I’m stressed than getting a good laugh in! All of the Home Alone movies get me in a better mood.
Motivation: Before you start a project, plan a good stopping point. This way you have your break to look forward to!
3 | Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Get the family involved! We all have the tendency to try play superwoman during the holiday season. Having someone help you not only lessens your stress, but it also gives you a chance to bond with those you love.
Motivation: Look on Pinterest and find some cute recipes or decoration DIY’s to do with the family or something that adds a little romance for you and your significant other while still getting things done. Wine tasting while gift wrapping sounds good to me!
4 | Relax with the girls! When engulfed in things to do, you sometimes forget that you’re not the only one who is struggling. Phone some friends or your best friend for a spa date! This will give you a chance to relax and maybe even be each other’s therapist for the day. Nothing makes dishpan hands look better than a fresh manicure.
Motivation: Check out the new holiday colors from Essie and OPI. That will definitely get you in the mood to head to the nail salon!
5 | Honey I’m home! It’s time to get a good cuddle session in. Grab your boo and snuggle up! Hugging, kissing and other physical acts increase oxytocin levels. This reduces blood pressure, stress and anxiety.
Motivation: Send your love a cute/steamy text mid day to prepare them for later activities. This will also let them know that you were thinking about them, and that is a pick me up for anyone!
6 | Light a candle! This might seem so simple, but it really does work. My favorite candle has always been the Mahogany Teakwood candle by White Barn. You can find them at Bath and Body Works. The scent reminds me of cologne, and it’s so soothing! The scent instantly gets me in a good mood.
Motivation: Kill two birds with one stone! Find a scent you love and play it up in your holiday decor this season. You are now more relaxed and have a new decorative twist! Most three wick candles have beautiful containers that match any aesthetic.
7 | Warm it up! For most of us, from birth to adulthood, there is one thing that stays consistent, and that is the love of wrapping up in a blanket! Grab your favorite blanket or comforter and throw it in the dryer just long enough for it to hold and some heat. While it’s in the dryer set up your area of relaxation. Once you pull it out of the dryer, immediately wrap yourself in it. Kick back and relax! Blankets are a sense of security. The warmth will be soothing and help reduce anxiety.
8 | Spend time with your pet! Take a moment to relax with them or take them along for the ride while running a few errands. This will give you some company and get them out of the house for a bit.
Motivation: Grabbing something from Starbucks or Dutch Bros? Take your dog with you! Puppuccinos are a real thing. It’s whipped cream to us and heaven to them.
9 | Everybody clap your hands! I️ know this one may sound a bit strange, but it definitely works! Clapping your hands increases circulation and activates receptors in your hands. This fires up parts of the brain and gets that noodle going!
Motivation: If you don’t want to just stand around clapping, bring in the little ones! Grab your child, cousin, niece or nephew and teach them how to play Patty Cake or Miss Mary Mack. This will be amusing for the both of you and 9 time out of 10 will make you laugh. #winning
10 | Take a hot bath/shower! This one is a must for me and many others. Hot water will ease your mind and also soothe stiff/sore muscles. Grab your favorite bath bomb and soak your stress away.
Motivation: Drop by your local Lush location or visit Lush.com and load up on all the bath goodies! My favorite bath bombs right now are: Shoot for the Stars and Sex Bomb.
What are your favorite ways to tackle holiday stress? Leave a comment below!
Your mission, should you choose to accept it… Is to bring positive energy into your life.
Motivate yourself and be consistent.
No change worth claiming comes from sitting still.
Let me introduce you to…
She’s a Virginia native but long time A-Town representer with crazy ambition & a voice to match! This R&B Artist/Entertainer can stop you in your tracks, and now she’s killin’ the fitness game! I wanted to know what has been driving this blue haired beauty.
Thanks Lex for letting me get in your head for a little bit.
What jump started you in fitness, and what was your initial goal?
I initially got into fitness because I wanted my stamina on stage to last while performing. I had gotten a little heavy and also wanted to tighten up. My goal was to get slim down and tone up.
How did fitness change your life?
Fitness changed my life immensely…not only because I became healthier, but I moved forward and pursued my certification in personal training. Now I have an additional career path.
I’ve branded
Now I’m able to help others achieve their fitness goals as well.
Did achieving your fitness goals help with your performances music wise?
Absolutely! I just went solo, and the way the music industry is set up… It’s 10% talent and 90% everything else, with image being a major factor. I am more confident on stage and proud of my body because I’ve worked extremely hard for it. It encourages others to want to be healthy and fit, and all I’ve wanted to do was encourage people. Whether it be through fitness or music or both…to be the best version of themselves.
What is your most memorable moment involving your fitness training?
My most memorable moment involving my fitness is tough because I have a few….One would have to be my videos. They’ve all gone viral because I do extreme stunts. Once I gained the strength to do stunts… I started doing videos, and the love started flowing in. I love that people are inspired and try the stunts to show me. Strength is beautiful.
With the help from my former trainer and mentor @BodyByDemond, we built a butt from scratch! I had absolutely NO booty and now I’m curvy and loving it. Squats and different squat/lunge variations are to thank for that.
One of my favorite exercises would have to be on the squat machine. Instead of doing it the normal way…with my back against the machine, I turn around and face the machine and do my squats that way.
| S I D E N O T E |
CONSULT A PHYSICIAN BEFORE PERFORMING THIS OR ANY EXERCISE PROGRAM. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EVALUATE YOUR OWN MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITION, OR THAT OF YOUR CLIENTS, AND TO INDEPENDENTLY DETERMINE WHETHER TO PERFORM, USE OR ADAPT ANY OF THE INFORMATION OR CONTENT IN THIS POST. ANY EXERCISE PROGRAM MAY RESULT IN INJURY. BY VOLUNTARILY UNDERTAKING ANY EXERCISE DISPLAYED ON THIS WEB SITE, YOU ASSUME THE RISK OF ANY RESULTING INJURY. THANK YOU.
3 “Not So Common” Nutrition Tips
Hmm not so common… I don’t do cleanses. I hear everyone doing a fitness cleanse, but I read an article that shined light on how silly they actually sound. To cleanse your body of something like alcohol or drugs makes sense, but to cleanse yourself of food is silly. There are vital nutrients that are needed for your body in the foods that you’re “cleansing” yourself from. That also goes to say that your liver just isn’t doing its job if you’re needing a cleanse lol.
How do you push yourself when you are feeling a little less than motivated?
I remind myself that I want to be…
I want to wake up, throw on whatever I want to wear and not worry if I’m going to look right or feel comfortable in it. If you stay ready, you’ll never have to GET ready! If all of my clothes burned to the ground, I want to walk out the house bare naked with no worries.
Alexis Branch | @iamalexisbranch
Alexis Branch | @iamalexisbranch
Alexis Branch | @lex_frombliss
What are your future goals?
For music, I’m finishing a mixtape, album and plan on touring. Specifically overseas. For fitness I plan on doing plenty of fitness tours and boot camps. I’m coming out with my own fitness app, workout sweat band, and fitness DVD. I plan to be a household name!
STOP! HEY YOU!…YES YOU! GO FOLLOW ALEXIS ON INSTAGRAM RIGHT NOW!
CHECK HER OUT ON SOUNDCLOUD | LEX FT. KAMILLION – MAKE IT HOT | THE REMAKE
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Travel is something everyone experiences in life. Whether it be moving to a new town or going on an adventure.
For those of you that love to travel, you may be familiar with the word WANDERLUST. For those of you that are not…
Wanderlust is a feeling. It is a strong desire to travel and explore the world.
There have been a few places & events that I have been wanting to see. I figured….Why not share with you?
The Color Run
This fun & colorful 5k run is currently the single LARGEST event series in the WORLD! The Color Run events are held in 50+ countries. If you’re not big on running, that is perfectly ok. This event is about having a great time! The best part is that this race has no time limit!
How does the race work?
Ticket prices are broken up into two categories: Team Runners & Individual Runners.
Prices for Team Runners are as low as $35.00/person and can reach almost $60.00/person.
Prices for Individual Runners are as low as $39.50/person and can reach almost $60.00/person.
The sooner the purchase | The cheaper the ticket!
Participants start the race in a white shirt (Please do not show up in any other color). This is obvious because the colors will show up much better this way!
At each kilometer, participants are doused in crazy & vivid colors that can range from hot pink to aqua blue.
Once you are finished with the race…it’s not over! The Color Run hosts a Finish Festival. This is a huge party that includes music, dancing, food & color throws (You get one color throw of your own at the beginning of the race, and additional color throws can be purchased at the festival).
The Color Run is all about:
Healthiness: Promotion of a healthier lifestyle.
Happiness: This race is known as the “Happiest 5k on the Planet“.
Individuality: Everyone is welcome, & everyone runs for their own reasons.
Giving back: Millions of profits gained from Color Run events have been donated to charities (HandsOn Jacksonville, Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City, Maui United Way & the Cool Kids Campaign are just to name a few!)
To check out their site & possibly register to participate in a Color Run event CLICK HERE! >>>> SHINE TOUR 2015!
Coachella: The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Annual Festival
This festival is so massive that it is broken up into TWO WEEKENDS! Coachella is held at Inland Empire’s Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert. This event is in April, and the lineups are identical, so if you miss the first weekend…just go to the second one. You really can’t lose!
Not just one genre of music is showcased at this festival. They have branched out to cover rock, indie, hip hop, and electronic dance music! Some of the artists that performed at this years festival are: The Weeknd,Tyler the Creator, Azealia Banks, Drake and David Guetta.
When you enter Coachella, the set times for performances are posted everywhere, but if you forget a time just check the site. On the official site you can build your own schedule as well!
Art will be everywhere, and you can not miss most of the pieces because some of them are just….HUGE!
Are you an artist that is interested in showcasing your large scale artwork at Coachella? Email low resolution images of your past work & your proposal to INFO@COACHELLA.COM.
Now, let’s get back to business!
To get to Coachella, you can either drive (if you are going with friends, carpooling is best) or you can ride the shuttle. Tickets can be purchased alone or you can purchase your Coachella ticket and shuttle ticket in a bundle package. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO! >>>> Valley Music Travel
I did mention that Coachella is in the desert right? Well just in case I didn’t (I did), IT’S IN THE HOT…SCORCHING…DESERT! There I think I got my point across. Please stay hydrated. Wear clothes that are light and airy…don’t go almost naked though…unless you are into that kind of thing. The weather at night is a completely different case! Bring a few layers with you because it could get a bit cool.
Coachella does have a long list of restricted items! Please make sure you look over this before you start packing your bags. Some of these restricted items are: drugs of any kind (This includes medical marijuana.), recorders, chains, flags, pets (Leave little scruffy at home!), professional cameras, sharpies/markers, hula hoops ( Don’t look at me crazy…I don’t know why either!), selfie sticks, fireworks, umbrellas, tents, laser pointers, outside food/drinks, etc. For the rest of the list CLICK HERE! >>>> Festival Info!
There will be vendors everywhere selling food, clothes and all kinds of things! As of 2015, credit cards are accepted, but if you feel the need to carry cash…there are ATM machines available. There are also cell phone charging stations for those that bring them, and DAY parking is free!
Venue gates open at 11:00 AM each day and the last set generally ends around 12:30/1:00 AM.
This week long event is held in February every year, and is known for its explosive showcase of culture! There will be a massive parade, beautiful costumes, food, music and all of Rio to see!
Rio Carnival is generally broken up into many parts, but there are two types that are a “Must See“: Street Parties & The Parade!
Street Parties are literally the parties that just don’t stop. They occur every day… all day…for the entire week practically. There will be dancing, food and live music! The individuals who organize these street parties are called Blocos. This is the time to enjoy the city, and all that it has to offer. Just make sure you wear comfortable shoes and carry some form of identification on you. Many of these parties are on the Rio Carnival event list. The party located on Avenida Rio Branco, Downtown is a musical competition like no other. It starts on Saturday and ends on Tuesday. The largest and most organized party is on Cinelândia Square! Did I mention that street parties are free?
The Parade is something that you will always remember! The parade is located at the Sambadrome. This is where the beautiful costumes and amazing floats come in!
Warning: There will probably be some form of nudity…I’m just saying. The parade happens each night during the week of Carnival. The show is LONG! (Ends around 5:00 AM). I promise that it is completely worth it! The parade is a competition of Samba schools, and the schools are judged at the end of the week. It is beautiful to those who are watching, but these dance teams are giving it all down this half a mile runway! I am sure those costumes & bright lights are no joke.
If you are interested in the history of Rio Carnival, the Samba Museum is located inside the Sambadrome at the very end of the runway. It is directly under the arches of Apotheosis Square.(You couldn’t miss them if you tried!)
Costs & Fees
You knew this was coming….Don’t act like you didn’t.
Now in the grand scheme of things, it’s not bad at all. It just depends on where you are coming from. (Expedia anyone?) Once you are in Rio for Carnival, the only tickets you will need are for the parade and any clubs that you may decide to attend after certain events.
GET YOUR PARADE TICKETS AHEAD OF TIME!
I can not stress this enough! The tickets for the parade go fast, and the prices go up even faster. They start at $47.00/person and shoot up after that! The end is somewhere around $771.00/person. The VIP Boxes are much..MUCH different. To find information for Rio Carnival VIP Boxes CLICK HERE! >>>>Tickets & Prices
Golden Rule: Travel in groups!
We travel not because we want to escape life, but so that we can experience it.
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HAPPY JANUARY & HAPPY NEW YEAR! This year went by fast. I know I am not the only one who thought that leading up to the 1st. Like myself, you were probably one of three people this year: the one who was dragging ass through the year, the one who made a list last January and ran through that thing like a 2017 bucket list, or the one who looked up at the last minute realizing it was all over. Please pick a category, and join me on this journey. If you are that one person, (yes…YOU) who wants an “other” category…Here you go…
the entire week practically. There will be dancing, food and live music! The individuals who organize these street parties are called Blocos. This is the time to enjoy the city, and all that it has to offer. Just make sure you wear comfortable shoes and carry some form of identification on you. Many of these parties are on the Rio Carnival event list. The party located on Avenida Rio Branco, Downtown is a musical competition like no other. It starts on Saturday and ends on Tuesday. The largest and most organized party is on Cinelândia Square! Did I mention that street parties are free?
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