Tag Archives: new orleans blogger

Workout Wednesday: 3 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Workout

Hi everyone and Happy Workout Wednesday! Today I’m sharing 3 ways to motivate yourself to workout because let’s be real here…we don’t get as excited for the gym as we do for our favorite TV show or dinner at our favorite restaurant.

Get motivational materials! Buy an outfit you love and want to look great in or find one in your closet and try it on once a week or when needed! I would say that I have about 10 outfits already hanging in my closet that I would love to wear, but are too tight or make me feel self-conscious. I haven’t done this in a while, but over the summer I found a little white romper that I wanted to fit in/look amazing in for a specific event. I also owned a couple pairs of denim shorts that I wanted to look better in/not have to unbutton after lunch! So before I started a fitness and eating plan, I tried everything on and gave myself weekly goals. At the end of each week, I would try the pieces on to see my progress and I felt more and more motivated every time I saw how much I had progressed.
Reward yourself! As if being fit and healthy isn’t rewarding enough…well it’s not. Haha! At least it’s not when I’m thinking about how much nicer it would be to sleep in a little longer instead of hitting the gym. Sometimes I need a little more than that so I tell myself that if I get up and go to the gym 3-4 times that week, I’ll treat myself to something I want on Sunday. The treat can be anything from brunch, dessert, clothing, or even just an hour longer of sleep.
Look the part! You know the saying, “fake it until you make it”? Obviously we aren’t going to paint abs on ourselves, but it helps to have super cute active wear outfits to get you excited for going to the gym.

Speaking of looking the part, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite fitness looks and accessories below!

The Alo Idol Bomber Jacket

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I love how this bomber jacket gives my workout looks a sleek and edgy vibe! Plus it’s super warm in case you go running outside during these winter months. I’m wearing the size XS.

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The S’well Water Bottle

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I’m not going to lie to you… I literally only bought this S’well metallic water bottle because it makes me feel cooler, but isn’t that what all of this is about anyway! lol

Zella Leggings

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If you have never tried Zella leggings from Nordstrom, you are missing out because they super comfortable while still figure flattering and are much more affordable than most high quality active wear brands out there. On top of that, they also make cute trendy styles like these ‘Cabana’ Crop Leggings that I’m wearing in these photos. I wear the size S in most of their leggings, but could probably squeeze into the size small for a couple of pairs.

The Black Nike Running Shoe

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I love wearing black running shoes with my black leggings because I think it makes the whole outfit appear more sleek and slimming.

The Adidas AlphaBounce Running Shoes

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The latest Adidas AlphaBounce running shoes are my new jam especially in this tan color! I’ve been wearing these in the black, but I liked them so much that when I saw the tan I had to scoop them up too! See my review on them here—> Three Ways To Help You Stay And Motivated During the Holidays

Spanx Lounge-Hooray Bra

These bras are great for the gym as well as everyday wear! Just make sure to size up!

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These exact Air Max Thea SE shoes in rose gold are sold out, but they’re are available in other colors here—>Nike Air Max Thea & here

| Shop The MZ Wallace Backpack |

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My Top 16 Purchases Of 2016

January 2, 2017

Hi everyone, now that we’ve officially transitioned into a new year, I thought I would share my top 16 purchases of 2016 that I’m bringing with me into 2017 starting with the Jenni Saddle Bag!

The Jenni Saddle Bag (designed by Haute Off The Rack in collaboration with Gigi New York)

Call me biased, but I love this crossbody bag that I specifically designed for traveling and the girl on-the-go.

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| Shop This Look |

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2. The BlankNYC ‘Morning’ Suede Moto Jacket

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This jacket has been one of my best outerwear purchases of the season because it goes with everything including our crazy Louisiana weather! I haven’t just worn it at home though. I brought it with me to NYC and everywhere else that I’ve traveled since I purchased it! Last seen styled (here). I’m wearing the sz S and it fits perfectly and I can still fit a thin sweater beneath it. Oh and did I mention that I own it in three colors? LOL That’s how good it is!

3. The Beauty Blender— can you believe that I never tried using one until this year? I can’t because I’m hooked and have no clue how I’ve gone my whole life without one. The Beauty Blender makes such huge a difference in the way that I apply my makeup as well as the end results.

4. Ray-Ban Round Sunglasses

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I haven’t been able to stop wearing these rose gold beauties. I’m wearing the sz 53mm in the photo above, but I also love my sz 50mm too!

5. Diptyque ‘Essences Insensées – Rose de Mai’ Fragrance (Limited Edition) Parfum and Diptyque Baise Scented Candle

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I first received the Baise Scented Candle as a gift for my birthday last year and I didn’t even wait for it to burn out before I ordered a second. It smells heavenly! I always like to light it when I’m cleaning or when we have company over. As for the Diptyque eau de parfum, I got a tiny sample of it in a gift bag and got so many compliments when I wore it that I decided to buy it. I think it might the most expensive perfume that I’ve ever purchased, but it’s totally worth it. It smells so chic and fresh.

6. Pure Silk Pillowcase— This pillow case is anti-aging, anti-sleep crease and anti-bedhead! Talk about the ultimate beauty sleep! Plus it feels so smooth and silky against my face at night. I know this pure silk pillowcase is kind of an investment considering the price, but we spend a third of our lives in bed so why not treat ourselves to the best kind of beauty sleep! After all, we deserve it!

7. The Topshop Camel Coat

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Not only do I wear this coat with everything and everywhere, but I also loved it so much that I bought a second one in this burgundy color. I’m wearing the sz US 2.

See how I styled the burgundy version here—> Christmas Day Outfit Idea

8. Marc Fisher ‘Alisa’ Booties— I’m pretty sure that I never took these booties off during fall and I even got them in grey and black too! They run TTS! See the full post here—> Fall Travel Outfit

9. The MZ Wallace Metro Backpack— I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The Metro Backpack is hands down the best travel bag ever! I never leave town without it and it also doubles as a great gym bag. See here—>Three Ways to Help You Stay Fit During the Holidays

10. The Adidas AlphaBounce Running Shoes

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The AlphaBounce running shoes are very comfortable and cushiony. Plus they look super sleek with my activewear looks. I’m also obsessed with them in the new tan color. For size reference, I ordered the size 6.5 for my first pair, which is my normal size. However, I’ve heard that for running shoes, you should always go a half size down because you want them to be nice and snug for extra support when running. With that being said, I could have easily gone with the size 6, but I don’t mind the 6.5, but with a thicker sock. I actually just bought a second pair in a different color and prefer the size 6.

11. Cami NYC Racer Camis & Velvet Tanks

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To make a long story short, I ordered one of these Cami NYC Racer Tanks and then I never stopped. I’m pretty positive that I own one in every color as well as the velvet and these things aren’t cheap. That’s how much I love them! I consider all of my Cami NYC tanks year round wardrobe staples. I’m wearing a size S in the photo above, but I prefer the XS.

See how I’ve styled them in the below blog posts:

Sequin Bomber Jacket for NYE

Fall Trends To Try: The Lace Tank

Rose Gold Bomber + Lace Tank

Trend Obsession: Lace Tanks & Bomber Jackets

12. Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo & Dry Texturizing Spray | Dry Bar Dry Shampoo & Triple Sec

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Dry shampoo… y’all, the addiction is real! My boyfriend doesn’t understand why I don’t just wash my hair, but he just doesn’t get it. Dry shampoo is my life and I don’t remember what I did before it. I even use it when it may hair is perfectly clean because I love the added texture. As for the dry texturizing spray, it just amplifies your dry shampoo and gives you something to work with when it comes to styling your hair. I tried the Dry Bar and Oribe brands for the first time year and they work amazingly. Plus they smell so good!

13. Striped Slit Swing Tee

Always keep a good striped top in your wardrobe and feel free to add more when you come across super cute ones like this long sleeved top with side slits. It’s super comfortable ad comes in two other colors. I’m wearing the sz S.

14. Burberry Scarf

I have always coveted the Burberry Cashmere Scarf in the classic camel check color and this past holiday season I decided to finally bite the bullet and buy it. I’m so glad I did though because it’s a timeless accessory that I know I’ll wear in years to come. Plus I feel so luxe and grown up when I’m wearing it! LOL

15. Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel

The Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel is the perfect everyday bag for the girl who always carries her life with her because it fits everything. I love it in this tan color and the grey.

16. Koral Lustrous Leggings

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These leggings are so flattering and comfortable that I bought an additional pair in case anything ever happens these. I also bought a couple of a other styles too for active wear outfits. I’m wearing the sz S and I usually wear a sz 26 in jeans. I also love these Alo Moto Leggings that I own two colors as well.

See how I’ve styled them in the posts below:

His & Hers New Year’s Day Style

Sleek Holiday Party Outfit

Chic Christmas Eve Outfit Idea

Sleek Holiday Travel Outfit

Secret Santa Game Idea For You & Your Friends

Bonus Purchase: BaubleBar Statement Necklace

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Haute Off The Rack Office Closet Tour + Giveaway!

January 2, 2017

Hi everyone and Happy Motivational Monday! It’s the first Monday of the new year so I thought I would share some of my 2017 goals and tips on how I plan to stay organized and achieve those goals. Plus I’m sharing the long-awaited Haute Off The Rack office closet tour along with a special giveaway at the bottom of the post!

My 2017 Goals:

Travel more and bring Blake along! We’ve already booked an 18 day trip to Italy and Greece, but I would also love to visit some new places in the US too. Other places on my list include: Napa, Vermont, Canada, Cabo San Lucas (again), Nashville, Washington D.C., New York (always), Chicago and
Save up for a house! My goal is to buy or start building a house at the beginning of 2018.
Exercise & eat better! I plan to do some type of physical activity at least four times a week even if it means just going for a walk or riding my bike.
Maintain a clean and organized home! This one is difficult for me because we live in such a tiny house. However, since I work from home, I need a clean space to help me stay focused and organized so this resolution is key to a successful new year.
Learn Spanish! This has always been a goal of mine. In fact, I’ve had Rosetta Stone dowloaded on my computer for the last six months, but I’m finally going to sit down and do it at least once or twice a week starting now.

How I plan to stay organized & achieve my goals:

Wake up earlier! I always complain about not having enough time in a day, but I know that waking up earlier can definitely help contribute to more hours in a day.
If I put I workout clothes to leave the house, I must also work out!
I mapped out a full 2017 editorial calendar to help me better plan trips and creative content for you all throughout the year.
I’m going to stop saying “I’ll do it later.” I’m just going to suck it up and do what needs to be done right then and there. I strongly believe that this will help me keep my house and life cleaner as well as more organized.

We live in a rental home with only two bedrooms and little to no storage space so I came up with a way to create my own little makeshift walk-in closet. I hope you enjoy the tour!

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I love my Gigi New York 2017 date book! I’ve use the Desk Diary style for the past four years.

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| Shop My Handbags |

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| Shop My Shoes |

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| Shop White & Gold Display Shelves |

New Year’s Giveaway!

I’ve teamed up with Shop Rachel George to give away this beautiful vegan leather and gold office chair to help one lucky winner get a glam start to decorating her office this year. Just make sure to follow along with @HauteOffTheRack and @ShopRachelGeorge on Instagram on the rafflecopter app below to officially enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

His And Hers New Year’s Day Style

January 1, 2017

Hi everyone and Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful New Year’s Eve and day! We spent the evening with all of our friends and then celebrated Blake’s birthday this morning with the most glamorous birthday brunch (aka donuts, burgers and fried chicken sandwiches at the Butter Krisp drive thru). It’s been raining nonstop over here in Louisiana so we’ve remained glued to the couch since “brunch.”

Anyway, I just wanted to share these holiday photos of me and Blake that I actually meant to get up on the blog weeks ago.

We’ve made some unforgettable memories this year while we’ve also learned that adult life is even harder than they say, but at least we know we can always count on each other for laughs and reassuring hugs when the going gets tough! I can’t wait see what 2017 brings!