I am so stoked to show your these photographs that my amazing boyfriend took of me (and him) in Arm the Animals Apparel.   The mission of Arm The Animals is to help generate funds for struggling animal rescues.  Every dollar counts...really.  Think of all the food and supplies it takes to run an animal rescue, not to mention fees for medical expenses,etc.  So Arm the Animals is all about bringing a voice to the speechless!

I love this stuff not just because it has animals on it and it helps the welfare of animals everywhere, but because it's super comfortable and very high quality.  It's not just your average shirt.

Check out the detail and the awesome "artillery" on the deer above!

My favorite shirt was the panda bear.  My boyfriend loved it too!  Above, you can find us in our awesome panda shirts.  They are great because they go with so much and they really make a statement.  Plus,  my boyfriend loves anything with a panda on it!

I have always been a lover of dolphins and so this helps represent my love for them and my support for the protection of them.  So many animals are illegally killed every year, it's important to bring attention to it.

And, one of my favorite exotic animals...the elephant! I really love the V neck on the shirts from Arm the Animals. I love how they fit, I love that they are a nice length and not too short at all.  And, I love that I can breathe through them! They never make me too hot.

Please please please support Arm the Animals.  They are a great cause and I would not be supporting them if I did not believe in what they do!

Discount Family Clothing Review & *Giveaway* Ends 4/18

Discount Family Clothing is a great place to go for clothes without breaking the bank. You can find pretty much anything there. They have items for pets, kids, and adults and the prices are so much better than going anywhere else!!

I received a Womens Slouchy Sweatshirt from Discount Family Clothing and I loved it. It was so comfy and easy to wear. The slouch part of it gave it so much more of an edge than a regular sweatshirt and I actually felt pretty good about myself when I was running errands in it.

My Advice: Don’t break the bank when you shop, instead look for places to shop where you get more for your money, and Discount Family Clothing is one of those shops!

One winner will receive a $50 Gift Card.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hot Trend: Railroad Stripes & Leather Jackets

I am seeing it more and more...different celebrities are wearing railroad stripes under a leather jacket.  I like it!  And it's something that I actually can do this time!

So I tried it out for myself...

It's one of those things where they just go together perfectly.  Your eyes don't need to deciper the look, it's just..there!
                               

I paired my striped tank top with a leather jacket, dark wash skinny jeans, and some bad a$$ boots!  It was quite a comfy look and I can't believe how well it all flowed together.

You can do this look too because it is THAT simple as long as you have a leather jacket and some sort of stripes.  The skinny stripes look best.  Chunky stripes would take away from the whole look.  My shirt had some sparkle sequins on the front which I thought might mess up the look but surprisingly, it didn't.

So, do you have anything in your closet to create this look? If so, do it, and submit a picture to me to feature on my blog... just email it to ellenr886@gmail.com!

My Rant at The Birth Control Article from Mens Fitness Magazine

Picture courtesy of MensFitness.com

Ok, I now understand why men hate our girly magazines that tell us "facts" about guys and their behaviors.  It must be so frustrating. Today I discovered an article on Mens Fitness website and here is what it said:

A recent study shows that hormone-based contraceptives can decrease a woman’s testosterone and send her in search of men with lower levels themselves.
Without artificial hormones, women tend to be attracted to men with high testosterone levels—the rugged ones with the strong jawline and copious amounts of facial hair. Also the kind of men who tend to cheat more on their girlfriend and are worse at providing for a family.
Testosterone isn’t just for men, though. In women, the hormone stimulates sexual desire and fantasy, and helps them become lubricated in response to arousal. When they take oral contraceptives containing estrogen, their testosterone levels drop, and the gentle, stable man starts looking like a better husband choice.
This may not seem like a problem, but a woman’s taste in men may change after she stops taking the pill. This is supported by previous studies, which found that women who went off their birth control found their husband less attractive and sexually exciting. Probably not the honeymoon gift he was looking for.
Some sexual health experts are so concerned about these findings that they are telling women to go off the pill and switch to using condoms. This is especially important, they say, if a woman met her future husband while on the pill.

Another alternative is sticking with the pill. Over the long run, women on hormone-based contraceptives tend to be happier in their relationship, and more likely to stay with their husband, than pill-free women.

Umm, are you kidding me?  Maybe women change their taste because the guy they met is not the same guy they are with now.  Maybe he stopped trying to impress her, maybe he became grumpy and boring, maybe they grew apart, maybe she emotionally matured and he is no longer a good match for her. I mean come on!! There are a million reasons why this stuff could happen. 

Articles like this are stupid and really tick me off.  I wonder how many guys are going to say stupid things like "See, you should go off the pill" to their girlfriend.  Ladies - Get on pill,  get engaged, get married, go off pill for baby, go back on!  Don't let anyone influence you! And men.... don't be so darn insecure... If the pill REALLY makes her change her mind about you..maybe it's something YOU are doing.  Psht...

End Rant!!

Feel free to post your thoughts!

Thinking of Switching Up My Fitness Routine

For the past few weeks I have been running, which is great but I know that I will struggle greatly in the summer because the heat will make it very difficult.  Also, I am seeing good results but I really need to pinpoint my thighs and I want to keep my butt!  I love it! And running has flattened it out way too much.

So.....

Starting tomorrow, I am thinking of switching to Jillian Michaels Buns & Thighs!  Anyone have any experience with this?  I am looking forward to it because I hear the results are great and the workouts are enjoyable.. well, as enjoyable as they CAN be for all that huffing and puffing. 

My goal is to lose another inch in my thighs by the end of May!  I really really hope I can do it!! And then for cardio and to maintain everything (and help lose belly fat) I'm going to run on my off days.  I'll keep you all posted!!

Why Handbags are Great Accessories

One of the most important parts of an outfit, is your handbag!  Think about it, your handbag goes practically everywhere with you, and it's always in the spotlight.  So why would you want to carry around an eyesore?  Sites like Silvia's Handbags have a huge selection of bags that come in bright colors with great embellishments that will help give you a more sophisticated and polished look!  And since you take them everywhere with you they are expected to take a lot of wear and tear, so make sure you spend your money wisely and invest in a durable high quality bag that won't rip or tear right away!!