It’s all about the butt 🍑

 

 

Alrighty peeps!!!

This weeks workout is focused on the most important thing… THE BOOTY!! I would say that most people consider their booty the biggest asset they have, no pun intended 😉 Here are some workouts that I do at the gym or even at home to keep the booty in check!

First: ROLL 👏🏻 IT 👏🏻 OUT 👏🏻

If you don’t have a foam roller I highly recommend buying one. I got mine on amazon of course! Mine is ribbed to make sure that I am getting what I need. My muscles, especially my IT band, get very tight so I got the stiffest one possible. I use the foam roller to roll out my hamstrings, quads, calves, shins, IT bands and of course butt. Even though it’s painful you start to love it.

Second: STRETCH

Stretching is a very important part of your workout. It is something that should be done at the beginning and end of your workout to make sure that your body is getting what it needs. As I said, my muscles get tight so stretching twice is something that helps with that.

Third: BOOTYWORK

I’m more of a visual person, so the 2 videos below show my workouts. Its quick but you guys get the idea. Even though they are shown on one leg, each should be repeated on both legs. Typically I do these workouts in sets of 10 and repeat 2-3 times to ensure I am working out that bootyyy! Below is a list of the workouts:

First Video

• Donkey Kicks
• Leg Lifts
• Rainbows
• Leg extensions
• Fire Hydrants

 

 

Second Video

• Hip Thrusts
• Hip thrusts with one leg
  (Wider stance with legs further from your butt then repeat both)

 

 

So there it is guys, my first week of workouts! I hope you enjoy, let me know how they are if you try them, email me with thoughts, questions, comments, and more workouts you want me to try!

 

XX- The SB

When life gives you an avocado, use it in a face mask. 🥑

This week has been pretty slow in the modeling world, leaving me time to experiment with food, and new face masks! Each night I experimented using a different mask I’ve read about on the internet to see if it lived up to its expectations.

Mask 1: Avocado 🥑

What’s not to love about an avocado mask?! Avocado is well known and very popular to eat, healing skin from the inside. Avocado is rich in vitamins and fats so it’s important for the body. Avocado has a cooling effect on your skin and you don’t need much so you get to eat the left overs 🙂 What’s better than that?!

Mask 2: Honey 🍯

Honey is something that is also important, great for your body and great for your skin. So why not use it in a mask? Although it is sticky and a little runny, it sure does taste good! Honey has plenty antioxidants important for skin and anti aging. Who wouldn’t love to look younger for longer! Definitely recommend!

Mask 3: Turmeric 🍊

I’ve used turmeric masks before, but this is the first time I’ve made my own and into a paste. Other than leaving your skin a little yellow after you wash it off, it’s not that bad. Turmeric is good for acne scars or dark marks. I’m someone who gets a mark here or there and if this helps, I’m going to use it by all means!

Mask 4: Black Mask

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This black pore mask is one of the most popular masks out there right now, so I decided to try it for myself. It’s cool on the skin and dries within a few minutes. I am someone who suffers from blackheads, so this mask is something I wanted to give a shot. As far as peeling this off, it hurts a little bit and sticks to any baby hairs or peach fuzz you have. The most important thing is blackheads… do I think this actually works for pulling out blackheads, I would have to say no because I really didn’t see much of a difference.

Skin is something you should take care of, just like your teeth, nails and hair. Your skin acts a barrier to outside threats, oftentimes fighting them off but sometimes they get through. That leads to things like blackheads, pimples or even acne. I can’t stress how important it is to wash your face every day. These masks are something that help with protection, but do not clean the skin. These are not meant to be used everyday, unless you prefer to. You don’t need to use all of them, everyone’s skin reacts different so one may work better over another.

I would love for you guys to try them out and email me telling your experience, email is in the contact page! I’m curious to know what you think, or if you have a mask you’d like me to try!! 

Enjoy! 

XX- The SB

This New York weather has me crazy!

Guysss!

Who else is annoyed with the weather in New York, I can’t be the only one?!? I mean the winter last year in NYC was so mild, I didn’t wear a coat half the time (thanks global warming). This year, its, warm, cold, rainy, cloudy… all within the same week – insert eye roll here.

To me it gets a little confusing when I’m going through my closet trying to pick my outfit for the day. When I think of dressing for the fall/winter I think layers, which usually consists of denim, a turtleneck or a chunky sweater and top it off with a great jacket (denim and leather are my favorite). Because of the bipolar weather, I find myself buying a crappy shirt from the I LOVE NY stand on the corner of Canal and Bowery because it’s not cold enough for the 10 layers I thought I needed.

This outfit is simply layered, and it kept me warm. Throwing a jacket on top is an easy way to layer, and an easy piece to take off (obviously). This “in-between” outfit is perfect for this type of weather.

XO,

The SB

 

 

What’s it like to eat plant based? 🌱

I recently moved into my own apartment here in New York City. Out of all the amazing amenities the building has to offer, my favorite would be my spacious kitchen. Its filled with great appliances and has more than enough space to actually cook!! So, it’s safe to say I’ve been on a cooking binge lately! Because I’ve had such a great response to the pictures and videos I’ve posted on my social media, I wanted to share my recipes with you!

Almost three weeks ago I started a plant-based diet meaning I can eat grains, legumes, plants, fruits and A LOT of veggies 🌱 with minimal animal product intake. Initially, I thought that it would be hard and I’d lose focus quickly but come to find out it’s really not that bad! I’ve actually come to love it and the effects it has on my body. It might be called a “diet” but it’s not really a diet, it’s a new way for me to live healthier. I’m not trying to shed the pounds, I’m trying to be more conscious of what I am putting into my body. With that being said, here are two of my favorite meals I’ve made the past couple of days!

First up: Truffle summer squash with roasted mini potatoes and a side of cabbage/kale 

Ingredients (all organic)

• 1 Summer squash 
• Handful of mini potatoes 
• 1/2 bunch of kale 
• 1/4 head of cabbage 
• 2 garlic cloves 
• 1 small white onion 
• 1 teaspoon of truffle oil
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of sea salt and pepper mixed

Recipe 

1. Pre heat oven to 375. 
2. Wash all vegetables and allow time to dry. 
3. Cut summer squash in half and remove guts/seeds. 
4. Cut mini potatoes in half or size you prefer.  
5. Brush the truffle oil onto the inside of the summer squash, season with sea salt pepper mix and place face down on baking tray. 
6. Place potatoes into a small bowl and mix in the coconut oil allowing all of them to be covered. Place onto baking sheet and sprinkle on sea salt pepper mix. 
7. Place baking sheet into the oven for 40 minutes. 
8. While the summer squash and potatoes are cooking in the oven, cut your cabbage and onions into bit sized pieces. 
9. Heat your pan and throw in the garlic and coconut oil. 
10. Place cabbage and onions into the pan (lid on) and allow them to cook while stirring occasionally so it doesn’t burn. 
11. Cook cabbage until tender then turn off the stove, with the pan lid still on allowing it to steam until everything is ready. 
12. After 40 minutes is up check on the potatoes and summer squash by poking a fork into the skin. If it goes through its cooked, if not allow it to cook for a little longer. 
13. Plate it up and enjoy!

Second up: homemade vegetable soup 

Ingredients (all organic) 

• 2 boxes of vegetable broth from Whole Foods 
• Handful of mini potatoes 
• 4 big carrots 
• 5 big pieces of celery 
• 1/2 head of cabbage 
• 1 can of white beans 
• 1 package of baby Bella mushrooms
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 table-spoon of coconut oil 
• 1 tablespoon of sea salt and pepper mixed 
• 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes 
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder 

Recipe

1. Wash all vegetables. 
2. Cut all vegetables into bite sized pieces. 
3. Heat pot and throw in coconut oil and garlic. 
4. After that cooks for a minute or so, put in both containers of vegetable broth. 
5. Once all vegetables are cut, place them all into the pot.
6. Add in the dry seasonings.  
7. Place on simmer and allow it to cook for 40 minutes with the lid on. 
8. Stir occasionally. 
9. After 40 minutes all vegetables should be cooked and it’s ready to plate up. 
10. Eat and enjoy! 

This recipe is super easy and makes A LOT. If you’re a soup lover, make the whole batch and reheat when necessary. If you’re not feeling that soupy, cut the recipe in half! The good thing about soup is you can place in the freezer and reheat it whenever you’re in the mood! This ones super healthy and great for the winter months ahead! 

I’m excited to see what I cook up next and I can’t wait to share the recipes with you guys, stay tuned! 

XX- The SB

Everyone has a story, this is mine.

“Being happy doesn’t mean everything is perfect. It means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfection.”  – Anonymous

This post is something that took me a couple of weeks to write. There are things that many people outside my family do not know about me, and I wanted to include them in this post so you guys can really get to know who I am on a personal level. I told myself to be as honest and genuine as I can be when I first started this blog. I’m putting my life out there in the open for everyone to read. Everyone has a story, and this is mine.

Growing up I was always the tallest in my class, even taller than the boys. I never really liked my height, I actually hated it. Most of the time I would wake up for school with the hope I would be the same height as everyone else. Once I reached middle school I didn’t care as much because boys got taller and so did some of the girls.

Once I turned 15, I grew into my body and wasn’t a double zero anymore, shocker. I never really thought much about my body/weight until I started modeling. It’s not that I ate bad or didn’t care, I just didn’t think about my body much when I was 15. After I signed my first modeling contracts in New York, my whole perspective on my body changed. I will never forget the first time I had my measurements taken. Standing there at 15 years old, in a bathing suit, in front of a whole team of people I didn’t even know is something that will stay with me forever. Even though I was young and new to the industry it was easy to see I didn’t fit the mold. The words “you can’t work until you’re measurements are smaller” still plays over and over in my head. I wasn’t even 16 and felt like a fish out of water in New York, I knew nothing about the industry and felt completely worthless at that moment. I wished I was the girl who blew up instantly and worked for everyone, but I wasn’t. Right then I decided I would dedicate the next 6 months of my life to working out and eating right in hopes that I would start working. To be honest I was scared, and more so embarrassed. People always told me how tough this industry was and I never took it to heart until then. My parents always said, “you have to have tough skin”, if anyone knows me; I’m a pretty sensitive person. Let me tell you this journey was a struggle, none of it came easily to me. I sometimes felt depressed, angry and most of all, frustrated. It was all I thought about for months and months, but one day I realized I wasn’t going to get anywhere without being happy and loving myself first.

Fast forward to 2016, I’ve moved out of my house after graduating high school 2 and a half years ago, lived in Chicago, Europe and now the toughest city in the world; New York. I’ve signed with agencies internationally, been  featured in and on a lot of magazines. But most importantly I’ve met some of the most amazing people and worked for the most amazing clients. I live a life most people dream about, and you want to know why? I never gave up; I never let someone tell me that I couldn’t do something because I “was too big”. With hard work, dedication and perseverance I came out stronger than I ever was before. Even though I sometimes compare myself to others, I remind myself that nobody is like me. It’s always important to love yourself and your body. Easier said than done, trust me I know that and it took me a long time to get to where I am now. Don’t ever think that you and your imperfections aren’t enough. There is NO definition of perfect! We all struggle at some point in our lives, and I’m here to tell you that its okay, so go and do whatever you set your mind to and never give up. You can and will achieve your goals but let me tell you that there are going to be many obstacles in your way. As my dad always told me, if you can dream it, believe it, you can achieve it. And that’s the damn truth.

XX- The SB

 

p.s. – Be confident, and be you.

Hello? How do you work this thing?

Sooooooo… I started a blog!

As my school semester is coming to a close, I figured part of my final project for my writing class would be this thing (secretly, I’m hoping for more Instagram followers!) I guess we’ll see how this whole writing shindig goes! I told myself why not try it out everyone is doing it, right? Plus, I paid a year upfront, soo I’m stuck with it until then lol. You guys gotta bear with me until I figure out how to use WP, which could take a while. Oh and the picture of me looking out the window, kinda represents how I feel right now, locked in my house because its freeezinggg! But hey, I’m making kale and broccoli chips so I’m content 🙂 Stay tuned for the recipe.

XO,

The SB