Janay Brazier

I have completed the first 7 days of this 28 day challenge and I am already feeling the benefits of it. Making sure I work out for two particular times each day and thinking more carefully about the food that I'm putting into my body has definitely made a difference. I followed the 'When, What, and How's of the Program' section and made myself aware of my start date (Monday), What I needed to do each day in terms of the challenges, and how to be successful - resulting in my rather lovely little Tone It Up journal above.

I got myself completely organised last Sunday, spending the day putting together my journal and filling in the first few pages with the Day, the word of the day, my daily 'mantra', my booty call (the short workout for the morning when I first get up), my fitness challenge for the day, my meals - including TIU's recipe of the day - and my other fierce and fabulous challenges. Below is my layout in the notebook, showing Day 1 of this week.

So, let me get to it and explain each day...


Day 1: I woke up ready to go on Monday morning (22 June) and completed my 'Booty Shorts' workout, which took me about 25 minutes.

I then went about my day, having wheat flakes for breakfast before going to work. For lunch I had an omelette and an apple. I also made sure I had enough water to drink as the weather is - surprisingly - starting to hot up here in the UK!

When I returned home later that day I completed my 'fit' challenge called 'Sweet and Spicy Strength Training'. This was a great workout that I could actually feel working as I did it. I added in the 'Bombshell Bonus' of 'Stretch It Out' here as my legs and arms really needed it.

For my 'fierce' challenge I set myself three things to complete by the end of the day. I am proud to say I completed them: Write an introduction blog post to this challenge (tick), arrange a haircut (tick), and tidy my shoe cupboard (tick).

For my 'fabulous' challenge I had to write an "I'm Amazing" list and write down all the things I love about myself. While it felt a little silly at first I really got into it and managed a good length list. It really does make you feel better about yourself.

For dinner I had a homemade wholemeal pizza, which was healthy and delicious. Yum!


Day 2: Tuesday (23 June) got swapped with Wednesday at the last minute as I discovered it was International Yoga Day and I had scheduled my Yin Yoga workout for the next day. Rather than just swapping my two booty calls I decided just to swap the whole day over. So my morning workout was my yoga, followed by the Burn, Baby, Burn HIIT workout later in the day.

For breakfast I had an oat power bar, followed by a lunch of a baked potato and a satsuma. Dinner was a tomato pasta salad, followed by an apricot yoghurt.

Swapping meant doing Wednesday's 'fierce' challenge of setting myself a morning ritual to start the next day (which I did, and it was lovely!), and my 'fabulous' challenge of soaking in some sunshine, so I headed out for a walk in the late afternoon.

My bombshell bonuses were to sit with poise (which I tried to do, but working in a Primary School doesn't really leave much time for sitting down!), trying meditation (which I did after my yoga), and reminding myself to wear SPF outside (which I slapped on generously before my walk and the sun was out!)


Day 3: Wednesday (24 June) was, as I said, swapped so I completed Tuesday's challenges. I had a lovely booty call this morning of 'Walk Your Way to Wow' before having a bowl of porridge. Lunch today was bran cereal as I ran out of time to make any to take to work (oops!), and dinner was chicken and salad.

My afternoon workout was 'Go, Go, Goddess' cardio so I set myself a real challenge of going for an interval run/walk with 60 seconds running/30 seconds power walking which I managed to do for half an hour. This was a big achievement for me.

My 'fierce' challenge of creating a vision board was pretty easy as I have two boards on my Pinterest page called 'Fitness' and 'Quotes' which I look at everyday to motivate myself.

For the 'fabulous' challenge I had to find myself a 'bombshell buddy', so I have recruited my Mum to take part in some workouts with me and keep me on track. I also regularly speak to people on Instagram.

My 'Bombshell Bonuses' today were to make a power playlist (which I will feature in another post this week as I am in LOVE with my new workout music!) and to visualise my goals, which I tried and have decided to keep thinking about each night before I go to bed.


Day 4: Thursday (25 June) started with a booty call of 'Amazing Abs and Arms' followed by a breakfast of porridge. My lunch today was a salad (I learned today that as lovely as red onion is there is such a thing as too much!)

My afternoon workout was the 'Sweet and Spicy Strength Training' again, and my dinner was fish cakes and sweet potato mash.

Today's 'fierce' challenge involved me trying to stop negative thoughts, which I find very difficult because the smallest, negative thing can really stress me out, and quickly too. So I really focused on this today and used the word of the day (positive) out loud many times!

For the 'fabulous' challenge I had to pass along the positive, which I think I did just through the amount of times I said the word! I paid people compliments and commented on people's photos on Instagram as they charted their progress with this program. It really made me feel great, especially the ones I told to their faces as I got to see them smile.

I couldn't complete the bonus of rolling away soreness as I don't own a foam roller, so I stretched instead. I also couldn't enlist my 'bombshell buddy' today as my Mum works on a Thursday.


Day 5: Friday is finally here (26 June) and it was an active rest day, so no 'fit' challenge today. It told me in the book to keep the morning workout loose and easy because it was a rest day so I stuck to the Yin Yoga routine.

Breakfast today was fruit and a coffee on the go as I have to be at work earlier on a Friday to discuss planning and the children's work and lessons for the week ahead. This planning session on a Friday with my colleagues gave me the idea of using a Sunday evening to get everything written in my journal for the week ahead.

Lunch was a chicken and salad wrap and an apple, and dinner was scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast.

My 'fierce' challenge meant setting myself reminders on my phone to make myself feel good, such as 'You can do this, beautiful!' and 'Don't forget to show your gorgeous smile!' which felt really odd but they did make me smile when they popped up on my phone when I had forgotten I had set them.

I didn't complete the 'amazing avocado glow' part of the 'fabulous' challenge either as I didn't have an avocado spare, so I used coconut oil on my hair and scalp instead, which I use sometimes to help with my psoriasis so it felt lovely today.

My bonus challenge today involved naming three things I love about my appearance, to which I listed my blue eyes, my lips, and my naturally blonde hair. Strangely all at the top of my body, but never mind!


Day 6: I woke up on Saturday (27 June) with a horrible headache so I skipped the booty call first thing but added it back in once the tablets had kicked in. I did 'Walk Your Way to Wow' so I could get outside and get some fresh air.

I only had a cup of tea for breakfast this morning too as I wasn't feeling up to eating much, but a couple of hours later I had an apple.

In the afternoon I completed 45 minutes of Zumba on the Wii and then had a lemon chicken salad for lunch.

For my 'fierce' challenge I wrote down three things I was grateful for that day, which were my lovely Mum's cooking (we had a lovely homemade curry), for my fiancé Clay letting me watch the film 'Pompeii' in bed again even though we already watched it this week (I really love this movie), and for other TIU member's photos on Instagram making me smile at how well we all get out and have created such a lovely community.

My 'fabulous' challenge involved celebrating a friendship. I don't know how but I completely forgot about this challenge so I am going to make sure I reschedule it in down the line during the next 21 days.


Day 7: And today is Sunday (28 June), which involved a booty call of Yin Yoga (I love this routine so much) and breakfast was wheat cereal.

I had some popcorn as a midday snack, followed by a late lunch-early dinner of salmon, broccoli and carrots. Salmon is one of my favourites.

This afternoon was meant to be a HIIT workout but I never managed to fit it in! I felt awful as it's the first workout I have missed, so I am going to throw it into the mix one day next week.

I reread my "I'm Amazing" list for my bonus challenge today, along with my 'fierce' job of doing something by myself, followed by my 'fabulous' task of having a 'me' night, which I am doing right now. I am blogging from my bed, listening to some of my favourite tracks and once this is done I'm going to read some of my new book and just relax.


I have really enjoyed this week and look forward to completing the next three!



Do you follow the TIU girls? Are you part of the Fit, Fierce, and Fabulous challenge? How have you been finding it, or are you interested in taking part?

 
I know Season 5 finished almost two weeks ago now but it has taken all this time for me to write this piece without ranting about the ending (No  finale spoilers but seriously, watch it!) or crying because of what happened to my favourite character (If you've watched episode 10 you will know who that is, if you haven't then GO AND WATCH IT! I can't keep these feeling cooped up forever!)

I was rather emotional at the end of it as well. It just set me off straight away!
 

Are you a true GoT fan? Are you up to date with the series, and if so what did you think of it? What are you going to be doing to fill the void until next series? I think I'll be re-watching it from the beginning again!

Most people who know me and my fitness regime will know that I am a follower of Tone It Up.

I have been a massive fan of these girls, Karena and Katrina, for a long time now. I first discovered them in the summer of 2012 and since then I've been a member of the TIU community.

Tone It Up is very well-known, but mainly in the US, so I struggle to find girls in the UK who share the same goals. But even though these amazing ladies are far, far away the fan base they have built up is amazing, and it has meant that even though I don't have someone here to buddy up with and workout I can always count on the ladies online to give me the support I sometimes need.

I enjoy working out but I am - like many - very busy a lot of the time. I get up early and have to be at work every weekday at 8.30. I get home around 3.30 each day, which sounds early but when you are moving house soon (more on that topic soon), organising a wedding (more to come on that too!), studying at university level from home which requires me to spend 12 hours a week reading, researching and writing, and lots of other little bits it can be difficult. So as much as I read through their weekly schedules online I often only get the chance to do one of the short workouts a day!

But I love these girls and when I heard about their first book being released I said I would set myself the challenge of sticking at this for the required 28 days. I told myself I would use this as a start up for keeping on track with a new routine, and to make myself stay on it I am going to document my journey on my blog.

Every Sunday for the duration of this 'Fit, Fierce, and Fabulous' challenge I am going to post about my week, with pictures where possible. I will explain my workouts, my meals, and all the bits in between that make TIU truly unique and inspiring.

I have started today (Day 1) and will finish on 19 July (Day 28). If you are a TIU girl then feel free to comment, speak about your experiences - either with this book, their nutrition guide, their DVDs, or just their weekly workout schedules on their website - and follow me on Twitter or Instagram.

Or if you are interested in the book and you live in the UK you can buy it from Amazon UK, or The Wordery (where I got mine from). You can also buy their first Beach Babe DVD on Amazon UK too.

 
I thought I would share with you all my latest beauty buys and which ones I am loving right now. I had a bit of a splurge at Superdrug, so if you want any of the items featured here today then you know where to head to buy them.

I always buy my make-up and most other beauty products in Superdrug because they always seem to have the best offers. I love going in there to buy a lip gloss that would normally be £7.99 and then seeing that they are doing an offer like '2 for £10'. Who wouldn't want to buy an extra lip gloss for £2.01?!

So here are my favourite items that I have picked up this month...

Gillette Venus Snap Razor: This little beauty is currently better than half price (although it has sold out online at the moment so you will have to look in store) and is just brilliant. It's small, comes with 5 blades, the closeness of the shave is brilliant because the head of the razor tilts and moves with the shape of your leg, and - what I think is the best part - it comes in this little compact box to store it in, making it the ideal razor for travelling with.

 

Max Factor Intensifying Lip Balm: Max Factor are currently on 3 for 2 in Superdrug so I picked up these two beauties, along with my usual Skin Luminiser Foundation (more about that in an upcoming post). I went in there to pick up a new bottle of foundation and one of these to try, but being offered on 3 for 2 meant I got myself another shade. There are many colours to choose from by I went for Sumptuous Candy (Number 5) because I love a pink lip, and Charming Coral (Number 2) because I haven't had a coral one before and thought I'd give it a go. These glide on so easily and effortlessly, giving a beautiful shine and colour. Being a balm these do feel more moisturising than normal lipsticks, but still be aware of dry lips and it will still cling and make it more noticeable.

 

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser: I have been trying lots of primers lately, mainly because the one I used to love by another company was discontinued. So I've been on the hunt for one that is similar and this is not only close to the one I loved, I would say it was even better. I wear this under my foundation as well as on its own when I'm having a no-makeup day. It makes my skin feel incredible and I know that this is a product I will stick with for a long time to come.



Revlon Ultra HD lipstick: Currently on buy one get one 1/2 price, I picked up four of these new lipsticks. I have been desperate to try these ever since I saw the Emma Stone commercial, so the first one I picked up was Gladiolus (the one she wore in the advert), followed by Rose because it was a gorgeous neutral pink. I then tested all the other colours on my hand - I left the store with lipstick swatches halfway up my arm - and decided on Hydrangea, a beautiful shade of pink. It then took a long time to choose between two others - Sweet Pea and Peony - because they were similar shades and I couldn't decide! So in the end I chose based on the name, because Peony is my favourite flower. These lipsticks are just stunning when they are on. I would recommend using them with a lip liner of a similar or very neutral colour. They are just so shiny and a joy to wear that I can see me going back for more colours soon.
 
 

Barry M Fine Glitter Dust (in Gold Iridescent): I have been looking for a product similar to the MAC Cinderella glitter and this has to be the next best thing. The Cinderella one was rather pricey and sold out almost immediately so I had no chance, but this was only a fraction of the price and I imagine it is just as beautiful. I used Makeup Revolution Aqua Seal Liquid Eye Primer, followed by the first eye shadow in the Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette in Iconic 1 before putting this glitter on. You do get the odd bit of glitter that falls onto your face but it was nothing so drastic that it turned your entire face into a disco ball.

 

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation and Concealer (in Soft Beige): I love Rimmel Foundations and when I'm not using my usual Lasting Finish Foundation I now use this. This is a lighter version of my normal foundation but it still gives the same great coverage. I don't always use the concealer as I think the foundation looks fine on its own most of the time. I would definitely recommend this to everyone though. Get yourself down to Superdrug and test out the shades. Mine is Soft Beige.

 

Bourjois Aqua Blush: I was so excited I was spotted these in a magazine a couple of weeks ago, and with them on 3 for 2 I had a bit of a splurge and bought all four, along with my favourite Liner Feutre eyeliner in Noir Black and one of the favourite blushers - Little Round Pot in Lilas D'Or (33). These aqua blushers say that they last for 12 hours, but I am yet to wear one for that long so I can't comment on that aspect yet. My favourite is definitely Pink Twice (3) because it gives a lovely rosiness to my cheeks, and I love how you can build the colour up, so I wear it more subtly during the day but add a bit more when I'm going out. Berry Nice (4) was a bit too dark for me with my current colour. I'm lacking in tan right now but I can imagine it will look gorgeous with a darker complexion. Ingé-nude (1) was nice but it was one of those barely there colours so I felt like I needed a lot of it to bring out the colour, and CocoriCorail (2) was also lovely, but I just preferred the colour I got from Pink Twice.

 
Are you heading down to Superdrug to test out any of these items? Will you be adding any of these items to your make-up bag? If you have any of these items let me know your opinions either here or over on Twitter.

I am a massive fan of fake tanning, especially over using a sun bed! I do enjoy laying in the sun when I'm on holiday or occasionally in the garden on an uncommonly hot, sunny day in the UK.

However, fake tan does have a lot of undesirable factors, such as the strange scent of digestive biscuits, the sludgy brown colour of the lotions, the orange tell-tales palms, and having to sleep in particular clothing when waiting for it to work overnight - or in my case, sleeping inside an old quilt cover and with a towel over my pillow. Plus, how annoying is it when you have to wake up extra early to wash the lotion off, using almost a whole bottle of body wash to escape the smell!

Well, when I heard about this new tanning product back in May I actually thought it was a joke at first. I mean, isn't the first rule of tanning to not get it wet until the developing time has passed? Tan and water just normally do not mix.

But when I started looking into St Tropez newest gradual tan I found it to be very real, very affordable, and very appealing!

The basic idea of this is to use it in shower, to wash as normal and then turn the shower off to use this. Rub the product on in a gentle, circular motion to cover everywhere you want it, wait three minutes, and then turn the shower back on to wash it off. Sounds pretty simple, right?

I picked this up from my local Boots store, who seemed to have it on release earlier than the date stated online (I bought it on 30 May but on the website it stated it wasn't out until 1 June). There were only two left on the shelf when I got there, so I quickly grabbed mine.

I actually used mine the first time when I was in the bath, going against the 'in shower' philosophy of this product. I washed as normal, and then stood up to push all of the excess water off of my body with my hands before stepping out. I then applied the tan all over my arms, chest, neck, face, and back.

I used my phone to time the required three minutes, although I think it was probably nearer to four as I didn't start the timer until I had washed my hands. The instructions clearly stated to wash your hands immediately. I'm assuming that's because it only takes three minutes to work and if you leave it on your hands too long they will end up a deeper shade of orange! I used a damp, soapy flannel which I had at the ready to clean my palms, fingers and nails up.

I then got back into the bath and had a really quick wash again to get the creamy lotion off, before getting back out and patting myself dry. It's important not to rub yourself dry as you could end up pulling some of the tan off and end up patchy.

So I got into my pyjamas straight away after getting dry, and there was not that typical tan smell, and I didn't mark any of my clothes.

The next morning I woke up the most amazing colour. I didn't expect so much colour after only one use as it is a gradual tan, but I was the perfect shade.

This is definitely a tanning product I am going to stick with forever. I can't see how anything by anyone else could ever beat this. It was just so simple and quick to use, and I couldn't fault a single thing about it.

If you would like to try it for yourselves you can buy it here in the UK, either to be delivered to home or collected in store, or go into your local Boots. You can also check product availability online first.


Have you tried the new St Tropez In Shower gradual tanning lotion? If yes, what do you think of it?