Hey hey! How are you? I hope you had a wonderful week!

I’m ready for a whirlwind weekend ahead. P has her last soccer game, Liv has a dance competition, and I’m subbing a dance cardio class. I’m also looking forward to studying for IHP and watching a movie with the fam. Have a warm and happy weekend!

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party, but before we get into the fun, I have to tell you about GOAT YOGA.

We were originally supposed to go up to Mt. Lemmon and stay in a cabin with friends, but it snowed like crazy, power was out on Mt. Lemmon, and the roads were closed. Instead, we planned a day of fun together: goat yoga, arcade, boba tea, shopping, and dinner at our house (with fort building. We tried to accommodate all of the kids’ requests!). It all started with goat yoga.

It was at Udall park, and despite the frigid temps on Mt. Lemmon, it was in the 60s and slightly cloudy. We laid out our mats in a fenced-in corral, and before we knew it, a pack of goats, wearing unicorn horns, tutus, and butterfly wings, paraded into the corral.

And at that moment, all of my dreams came true.

We went through a very leisurely yoga practice with lots of stretching, but any time we were in a folded position (child’s pose, tabletop, head to knee, etc.) there’s a 90% chance a goat would jump on your back. It was everything. We were all cracking up, and we had hoof marks and scratches on our backs, and I will never forget it.

You guys know I’m obsessed with goats – I’d have 12 if we didn’t have an HOA – and we all love them. We got our goat fix and will absolutely return. We loved ALL of the goats, but our very favorite was the smallest one named Flower, wearing a flower crown and tutu. I can’t.

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Today I’m excited to have author and celebrity weight-loss coach Charles D’Angelo on the show! Definitely take a listen to this one and let me know about your biggest takeaways on Instagram. <3

Here’s what we talk about: 

– Mindset: how can you cultivate a positive mindset, especially when you feel defeated

– His mindset tips for achieving health and fitness goals

– Resources that he loves and would recommend (books, podcasts, websites, etc)

Here’s more about Charles D’Angelo:

At 16, Charles was 360lbs, bullied, eating lunch alone, and unhappy. Following a health scare, he took his life into his own hands and turned the very thing that he was bullied about into his own empire.  He lost 160lbs, went to college, and created a life for himself. During his own weight loss journey, Charles dug deep, figuring out why he chose to find solace in food and make himself a victim, rather than live life with the hand that he’d been dealt. Learning to take the emotion out of food pushed Charles into a new way of living. 

Connect with Charles on his website and check out his books here.

Resources from this episode:

The weather is cooling down, and I’m still obsessed with my sauna blanket. It feels even BETTER when it’s chilly outside and you can use the code FITNESSISTA15 for 15% off! This is one of my favorite ways to relax and sweat it out. I find that it energizes me, helps with aches and pains, I sleep better on the days I use this, and it makes my skin glow. Link to check it out here. You can also use my discount for the PEMF Go Mat, which I use every day!

Check out Nutrisense here and use the code TFP for $30 off and 1 month of free dietitian support! The dietitian support is invaluable and helps you assess your data, make changes, and run experiments.

I love love love the meals from Sakara Life! Use this link and the code XOGINAH for 20% off their meal delivery and clean boutique items. This is something I do once a month as a lil treat to myself and the meals are always showstoppers. I’m enjoying a shipment this week; the lavender parfait has been my favorite so far.

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Sharing my tips on how to whiten teeth with baking soda and how to do this at home. As always, talk with your dentist before doing anything to your teeth. As we all know, I am not a dentist and do not work in the dental industry. Just sharing my experience!

Hi friends! How’s the morning going so far? I’m getting ready for a little photoshoot, and also have a podcast interview later today. I hope you have a wonderful day ahead!

For today’s post, I’m doing a little reader’s request and sharing my experience whitening my teeth with baking soda. I often get questions about what I use for my teeth, and my routine is pretty simple. I tend to stay away from conventional whitening products and whitening procedures because they increase my tooth sensitivity and I don’t love the ingredients.

Having a whiter smile can definitely boost your confidence, and standard teeth whitening products can be hard on the budget. Not all of them are effective, they can contain sketchy ingredients, and there are a few household ingredients that can be used to help whiten teeth, including baking soda! I’m dedicating this post to sharing my experience whitening my teeth with baking soda and my favorite dental products. 🙂

How To Make Teeth Whiter With Baking Soda

Baking soda is my #1 favorite way to whiten my teeth. While baking soda can be an effective teeth whitening agent, there are things to consider before using it. I’m going to share a couple of precautions before diving into the actual methods. (And another friendly reminder to talk to your dentist before doing anything with your teeth.)

Is It Safe To Brush Your Teeth With Baking Soda

Yes, in most cases. While it’s safe to use baking soda to whiten teeth, it can be abrasive when used in large quantities. Baking soda, when overused, can corrode the tooth’s surface enamel. You just want to make sure you don’t use it too frequently, leave it on your teeth for too long, or use too much. A little goes a long way!

How To Use Baking Soda To Whiten Teeth

Baking soda paste

This is my go-to method. I start by topping my toothbrush with baking soda and add a little bit of water to make a paste. I add as much as needed to have enough for my entire mouth. I gently place the paste on my teeth and keep it here for about 3 minutes to set. Then, I scrub, using the toothbrush, and rinse. Word to the world: it tastes HORRIBLE. I kind of just curl my lips up and try to avoid tasting it. I do this once a month, but my dental hygienist said it would be fine to do once a week.

Baking soda with toothpaste

You can also mix a little baking soda with your toothpaste, or use a toothpaste that contains baking soda.

Baking soda mouthwash

This can be a cheap and effective alternative to tradition alcohol-based mouthwash. Simply mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water, swish, and rinse. (Make sure not to swallow the mixture.)

Baking soda and lemon

This is a common method, but not one that I’ve tried or would recommend. I think that it would be too intense and feel like it’s unnecessary since the baking s

Sharing some recent Amazon finds as we finish up winter and head into spring!

Hi friends! How was the weekend? I hope you had a wonderful one! We didn’t end up making it to Mt. Lemmon because they lost power and roads were closed for half of the weekend. Instead, we joined some friends for Goat Yoga and a day of fun – I’ll share pics in Fri Faves! – and had a little dinner get-together. It ended up being the perfect weekend: good time with friends, goats (we all know I’m obsessed and would have 12 if I could), amazing food, and a little shopping. 🙂

I’ve been loving Amazon for everything lately, especially since I can usually get quick shipping with Prime and don’t have to leave my house.

The fashion options are often at amazing prices, especially for trendier pieces when I don’t want to spend that much. They also have SO many of my favorite brands available (like Rails, Paige, and Mother Denim).

I’m not going to buy any more winter-y clothes so I can get ready for spring and wanted to share some of the things I’m loving from Amazon as we start to (hopefully) transition into warmer weather. Ready for some sun!

Amazon Fitness and Fashion Faves

Tops and layering pieces:

This loose-fit button-up to layer with jeans, dresses, or even use as a coverup.

Oversized jean jacket

This pullover

Shoes:

These mule sandals.

These nude heeled sandals

Flat sandals to swear with jeans and dresses

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Hi hi! Happy weekend and happy Rodeo break to my Arizona friends! (Rodeo is a big thing out here; in February, there’s always a 2-day break from school.) What do you have going on this weekend? We’re *supposed* to head to Mt. Lemmon to play in the snow, but as of right now the roads are closed. Fingers crossed we can make it up there.

I’ve been wanting to share some pics from Trevor’s wedding last weekend! He got married last year (they eloped in Vegas!) and it was time for their big wedding celebration with the fam. It was held at a local residence on an exquisite property, which felt more like a botanical garden than someone’s actual home. It was so beautiful!!

The Pilot was the officiant and crushed it, of course. The ceremony was heartfelt, humorous in just the right spots, and personalized for them. Their vows were so beautiful, too.

They had a Photo Booth, a DJ (who played a Selena mix that just set my soul freeeeeee), and dinner was catered by Seis Kitchen.

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