Making Healthy Choices with Personal Trainer Food

Looking for delicious, quick and easy, low-calorie appetizers for the big game? One of my favorites is Buffalo Ranch Chicken Stix from Personal Trainer Food ~

This is one portion (2 stix), cut into 7 pieces per stick. Serve with celery slices and blue cheese dressing. Their Dill Chicken Bites also make perfect size hors d'oeuvres and heat up in minutes for casual and impromptu get-togethers. Of course, both make a delicious lunch as well.

Thinking back to how I put on so much weight, I realized my downfall was not planning ahead. By not having meals prepared in advance or at least a planned menu, I often ate anything (and sometimes everything) in sight. Having a frozen meal that can be ready in minutes helps keep me from making bad choices.

I've also never eaten so many veggies in my life than I have with Personal Trainer Food. I sometimes skip the veggies with lunch and saute them in olive oil with a little shredded cheese for a snack.

I had no change in my weight this week. I tend to not drink as much water in the winter and seem to be retaining a lot more  lately. I started drinking Dandelion tea {thanks Karen} which is supposed to help with edema. I'll let you know if it's working in my next update. 

To learn more about Personal Trainer Food and view the entire menu, visit personaltrainerfood.com.  Follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for diet tips, recipes, and fun giveaways. Save $200 off any 28-day meal plan with promo codeChic200.

LuLaRoe Valentine's Giveaway

Our friends at LuLaRoe have a special surprise in store for one lucky reader. Their Valentine's Collection is filled with fun, happy designs inspired by love. Check these out ~

All in buttery soft fabrics ~ you won't believe how comfortable these clothes are!

No matter your size, you'll find bright and beautiful leggings, t-shirts, dresses and jackets that fit comfortably and in a range of seasonal designs to suit your personality. 

LuLaRoe is sold exclusively through independent retailers, and each has a selection of unique styles. Leggings are available in 3 sizes: One size fits 2-10, Tall & Curvy Fits 12-18, Tall & Curvy 2 fits 18+. Leggings are $25 and the Classic T is $35. To find a Retailer near you, or for more info on joining the LuLaRoe movement, visit lularoe.com and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. 

Wondering what the surprise is? One lucky reader will win LuLaRoe Leggings and T-shirt from their Valentine Collection in winner's choice of size (design will be a surprise). 

To Enter: Email chicgiveaway@gmail.com and include the following:

• "LuLaRoe" in the subject line
• your first and last name
• mailing address
• twitter id 
• facebook name 

If you're entering our giveaways, please follow Chic Luxuries on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

We would love it if you would share this giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Here's a sample post for your convenience ~

#Win Valentine-inspired T-Shirt & Leggings from @LuLaRoe on @ChicLuxuries RV: $60 Details: bit.ly/2rlpnmK #giveaway

Contest ends 11:59 PM ET February 19, 2017. Limit one entry per person and email address. Winner will be notified by email and announced on our Winner's page. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize. Open to US Residents 18 years of age and older. We received no compensation for this post, nor were affiliate links used. 

Many thanks to the LuLaRoe team for sponsoring this giveaway.

A Healthy New Start with Personal Trainer Food

Good news, bad news as far as my weight loss journey. The bad news is I gained nearly 7 lbs. since the holidays. The good news is I'm making a fresh start with Personal Trainer Food! During the blizzard we experienced the week before last, I realized another reason to have meal-delivery service is in case you can't get to the store due to weather, illness, or if your car is in the repair shop. The roads leading to and within our community were not plowed for a couple of days and with snow drifts up to 5' in some areas, they were impassible. There was also a travel ban on non-essential vehicles so I was extra thankful to see my order from Personal Trainer Food arrive. 

One of the first entrees I tried was the new Dill Chicken Bites. They were soooo delicious. Just the right amount of breading and dill flavoring. I love chicken and am happy to see Personal Trainer Food offers so many flavorful ways of preparing it. 

Another fave, the Breaded Chicken Patty. I added baby romaine, sunflower seeds, shredded cheese and a little ranch dressing. This is great to take to work for lunch, just pop the chicken patty in the microwave for 2 minutes. And nothing beats the convenience of having a tasty and healthy dinner ready in minutes after a long day at work. 

I've been on a bit of an eating spree since the holidays and this frigid weather is not helping. I'm going back to weighing myself every day. It's too easy for me to slip up without doing so, and before I know it, I've gained 10 lbs. Starting weight is 141.8 lbs. 

To learn more about Personal Trainer Food and view the entire menu, visit personaltrainerfood.com.  Follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for diet tips, recipes, and fun giveaways. Save $200 off any 28-day meal plan with promo code Chic200.

Fabulous Finds

From the yoga studio to shopping and picking up the kiddies, you'll find yourself living in...and loving...LuLaRoe Leggings and Classic T. Both are made in a buttery-soft fabric and a range of beautiful designs to suit every style. LuLaRoe is sold exclusively through independent retailers, and each has a selection of unique styles. Leggings are available in 3 sizes: One size fits 2-10, Tall & Curvy Fits 12-18, Tall & Curvy 2 fits 18+. Leggings are $25 and the Classic T is $35. To find a Retailer near you, or for more info on joining the LuLaRoe movement, visit lularoe.com

Amala Rejuvenate Firming Concentrate is a powerful serum formulated with a potent blend of Vitamin C and pro-collagen plant peptides to smooth, lift and restore skin and eliminate fine lines and crepiness. Organic cocoa bean extract helps rebuild skin's natural moisture barrier, restore elasticity, and provides antioxidant protection from free radicals and the breakdown of collagen. A 1.3 oz. bottle retails for $298 amalabeauty.com

Keep warm and snugly all winter long with the Therapedic® Electric Heated Plush Throw Blanket. The silky soft blanket is so cozy and chic, you'll want one for every room. It has 4 heat settings and a 4-hour auto shutoff. Available in 3 colors for $59.99 exclusively at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Perricone MD No Makeup Concealer hydrates and brightens the eye area while decreasing the appearance of dark circles. The anti-aging formula blends easily and doesn't crease, cake, or settle into lines. The concealer doubles as a eye makeup primer and blemish corrector. Available in 3 shades for $35. perriconemd.com

Who needs lash extensions when there's TIGI Cosmetics Lush Lash Mascara? Fibers lock onto lashes to lengthen and curl without clumping. Formulated with vitamin B to nourish and condition lashes. $24 tigi-cosmetics.com

Enjoy a yummy Giusto Sapore Pistachio Chocolate Chip Biscotti with your afternoon cappuccino. With just the right amount of sweetness and crunch, these are twice baked to perfection and soooo delicious. Available in 6 varieties, an 8-oz. package is $9.99 at giustosapore.com 

Create a natural looking glow with Mally Beauty Soft Focus Highlight to Lowlight Trio. These talc-free powders with luminizing pearls allow you to build light to highlight and contour your face.  feather-light pigments blend to brighten the complexion and soften fine lines and imperfections. $35 mallybeauty.com

Treat yourself to custom hair care products by mixing a specially formulated oil blend in with Mon Shampoing Gentle Shampoo with Keratin and Gentle Conditioner with Keratin. There's a delightfully-scented oil to treat every hair need ~ oily, color-treated, fine & brittle, dry & curly, and delicate. An 8.45 oz. bottle of shampoo is $42, 8.45 oz. bottle of conditioner is $43 and a .17 oz. vial of oil is $19. shop.monshampoing.com

EVERPRO® GRAY AWAY Root Touch-Up Magnetic Powder  covers gray hair until your next salon visit. The mineral-infused powder with self-adjusting color technology blends with your hair color and lasts until your next shampoo. Comes with a mess-free sponge applicator which ensures precise coverage. SRP: $9.99 A store locator is available at grayaway.com

Using advanced self-heating technology, the steam heat of MegRhythm's Gentle Steam Eye Masks soothe tired eyes as the soft lavender aromatheraphy relaxes. Great for travel or while taking a bubble bath after a stress-filled day. Also available in unscented and citrus. A box of 7 one-time use masks retails for $10.99 on amazon.com.

Chic Giveaway! ~ One reader will win the prize of their choice from our gift closet!

To Enter: email chicgiveaway@gmail.com and include the following:

• "Fabulous" in the subject line
• your first and last name
• complete mailing address
• twitter id 
• facebook name 

If you're entering our giveaways we ask that you follow us on the social media sites in which you belong. Links to our pages can be found here: Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest 

We would love it if you would tweet this giveaway, here's a sample tweet for your convenience ~

#Win the prize of your choice from @ChicLuxuries' gift closet in the *Fabulous Finds* #Giveaway bit.ly/2ENYh9T

Giveaway ends 11:59 PM ET February 16, 2018.  Limit one entry per household. Winner will be notified by email and announced on our Winner's page. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize. Open to US Residents 18 years of age and older. We received no compensation from any brand featured in this post, nor were affiliate links used. 

Brentwood Home Giveaway

After featuring their delicious candle in our Holiday Gift Guide, Brentwood Home reached out to us to host a giveaway of one of their yoga pillows. Their Crystal Cove Collection features three yoga pillows which are as beautiful as they are functional. 

My doctor recently suggested I try a yoga pillow to help deepen my breathing. She said we only use a fraction of our lung capacity and noticed my breathing is extremely shallow. I tried Brentwood Home's Crystal Cove Pranayama Pillow which is also the pillow I selected for the giveaway. Place the pillow on the floor positioning it beneath the length of your spine, arms outstretched. Take several deep breaths, the pillow allows your chest and rib cage to expand for longer, deeper breaths. 

Handcrafted in the USA, the pillow is covered in a soft stretch knit fabric accented with beautiful details including Brentwood Home's logo embroidered on the trim and a stunning wave design inspired by the tide pools found in California's Crystal Cove Park. The removable cover is washable and there are carry handles on each side for easy transport to yoga class. The organic cotton inner liner is filled with natural buckwheat hulls to create a firm base that is pliable enough to adjust to your body. 

Love how it blends with my duvet, shams and other pillows...

The Pranayama Pillow measures 26" long, 6" wide, and 4" high. $49. To view the entire Crystal Cove Collection as well as Brentwood Home's complete line of eco-friendly products, visit them at brentwoodhome.com. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter for new product releases, discounts and more. 

Chic Giveaway ~ One reader will win the Crystal Cove Pranayama Pillow from Brentwood Home.

To Enter: Email chicgiveaway@gmail.com and include the following:

• "Brentwood Home" in the subject line
• your first and last name
• mailing address
• twitter id 
• facebook name 

If you're entering our giveaways, please follow Chic Luxuries on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

We would love it if you would share this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter. Here's a sample post for your convenience ~

#Win a yoga pillow from @BrentwoodHomeLA on @ChicLuxuries ARV: $50 Details: bit.ly/2CTg4Mb #giveaway

Contest ends 11:59 PM ET February 12, 2018. Limit one entry per person and email address. Winner will be notified by email and announced on our Winner's page. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize. Open to US Residents 18 years of age and older. We received no compensation for this post, nor were affiliate links used. 

Many thanks to the Brentwood Home team for sponsoring this giveaway.

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a joyful, safe and healthy new year. May all your dreams come true in 2018!