Officially hit the ripe old age of 25!

That’s it guys! I am officially 25 and could not be happier about it. For whatever reason 25 just feels right. It might be because secretly on the inside I am already a little old lady, but who the hell knows haha. Seriously though I feel like I should get senior discounts because I am such a grandma. Hehe 😝

Anyways I just had the most amazing birthday weekend in San Francisco. It is my first time in the city and I am loving it. Kind of reminds me of Vancouver with all the rain its got going on haha. Found a great healthy brunch spot that I will share with you shortly! 

A big thank you to everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes, you are the best!! 💕

x,

My valentines <3

Happy Valentines Day everyone!! Hope you are all having a day filled with love and happiness. I’ve written a bit on this before, but I don’t see Valentines Day just for those who are in a relationship. I like to use Valentines Day as a great excuse to spread the love to all the amazing people in my life. It is such a great opportunity to reach out to someone and make them feel extra special. 😊 

And men, if you are in a relationship, for the love of god do something special for your girlfriend. (Haha had to plug that in there.) This goes for you too ladies!

This year I decided to do something a bit different and held an event to raise funds for one of my favourite organizations, the Ronald McDonald House. I used to volunteer and fundraiser for RMH a lot in university, and thought Valentines Day was the perfect inspiration to get back into it. 

So don’t be blue today if you are single babes. Celebrate the fantastic people you have in your life. There is so much you can do to brighten up someones day and make yourself feel great in the process. 💕 

Lots of love!

x,

Top: Billabong / Bottoms: Billabong / Sandy bum: me 😝

Sunrise photoshoot?! Yes please. Legit woke my friend up at 6:00 am to come and take these photos… seriously, that is true friendship. If I woke me up at that time and was like COME OUTSIDE AND TAKE PICS ITS SOOOOO PRETTY I would probably be pissed haha. So anyways, super happy I have the greatest friends to help me do the ridiculous things I do haha. 

So this is it from my Philippines trip! To sum it all up, hell yea I would go there again. The first part of my trip was spent on a private island called Popototan Island, which was crazy beautiful. The photos above are from that island. I loved how remote it was, and the fact that there was no wifi was a major plus. It was almost like an internet detox?? Weird but amazing, trust me. Click here to check out my full review of the resort I stayed on at Popototan Island.

For the second part of my trip I went to Puerto Galera. This Billabong outfit was shot there. It was definitely a totally different scene in Puerto Galera. There were tons of hotels all packed tightly together going up the side of the beach, and the beachfront was pretty rocky so you couldn’t sit on it. And there was definitely an “eclectic” mix of tourists there. Not going to lie, I probably would not go back to Puerto Galera but regardless it was still a phenomenal experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything! I just happen to enjoy places with more nature, that’s all. 😜

To end, I could not be happier to have partnered with the Billabong Womens team for this trip. They are a fantastic brand and I am so happy to have collaborated with them again. Total babes over there!

CLICK HERE to get my bikini top!

CLICK HERE to get the bottoms! (Sandy bum not included 😉 )

Okay babes… we have a big giveaway for Billabong coming up soon! Keep your eye out. She’s comin’ for ya. 😘

x,

Cheers to a great vacation! And now for the recovery…

Anddddd cheers to a fannnnntastic vacation! Seriously could not have enjoyed myself more. Beautiful beaches, sun, and snorkling all day long. That being said, I mayyyyy or may not have slipped off of my 80/20 Skinny Belle lifestyle routine. And by “mayyyyy” I might mean I acted like a total raging pig for two weeks with complete disregard to my health. Oops…. 

We are talking like 5 beers a day (HELLO EMPTY CALS, MY NAME IS ROBYN.) and pretty much all carbs. Pasta, bread, rice, etc etc etc. You name it, all day ere day. Not to mention, I drank POP. I hate pop. Like literally the dumbest drink ever it has no use. Yet apparently when I am in vacation mode I love that shit. (News to me.) Don’t drink pop its poisonous and gross.

Anyways, after my slightly alcoholic/glutinous two weeks in paradise, I am feeling a wee bit bloaty McBloaterson. 

I have a sneaking suspicion that I may have not been the only one to overindulge this holiday season. Because, treats, treats, and more treats. Yesssss are you feeling the regret now?? I know I am.

So, here’s a few tips and tricks I use to get back on my healthy lifestyle track after a good old fashioned overindulgence.

Dont Starve Yourself

Seriously. Don’t be an idiot. We all know if you just say “I’M NOT EATING FOR A WEEK” you will last about 8 hours (or less) then binge on whatever junk food is closest. So, eat like a normal human and just be healthy. Regular meals, as many natural foods as possible!

Tea

Drink it, all of it. I like to drink a cup of matcha tea in the morning to kick-start my metabolism. Read more about the benefits of matcha here. It is good stuff and you need it in your life. Throughout the day I will sip on herbal teas like chamomile and peppermint — both are good for digestion.

Positive Thinking

Yeaaa I know you are like whatever I feel like crap I don’t want to think positively about myself. NO DAMMIT. You are a queen, and you should know how beautiful you are! Thinking negatively about yourself does nobody any good. So cut it out and appreciate yo-self.

Sleep

Beauty sleep. I am a major believer in it. Your body needs time to heal and repair and lack of sleep has been directly tied to weight gain. Getting a nice 8 – 9 hours a night will ensure your body is feeling good. Click here to read more about the benefits of beauty sleep.

Frozen Fruit

Remember my frozen fruit tip?? Keep lotsss of frozen berries in your freezer and munch on them any time you want. Not only are you giving your body tons of fab nutrients, but you are also snacking on something healthy instead of whatever sugary/junky holiday food you were eating before.

Water

It is ohhhh so important to hydrate. Your body’s fuel is literally water. You need it to survive. So fill up a big jug of it at your desk and keep on drinking them all day long. I keep a 1.5 litre water bottle at my desk and try to drink 3 – 4 a day. It will keep you full and your skin will look gorg. 

And really, when it all comes down to it, you will get back on your normal healthy lifestyle routine and be yourself in no time. 🙂

So there you have it friends! My top tips to recover from a holiday filled with overindulgence. What do you think? Did I miss something? Comment below if you have some tips of your own you want to share! <3

x,

Some snaps from Popototan Island in the Philippines!

Holyyy. I don’t think I have ever been without a working wifi connection for an entire week. I feel like I just went through a technology detox haha. For the past week I have been on a small island called Popototan in the Philippines, and it has been lucky if I managed to get out a few iMessages in a day. Needless to say, updating my blog was 100% out of the question. I think the resort manager could tell the second I arrived I would be that guest who was constantly searching for wifi haha. Legit within 5 minutes of arrival he said to me “now I don’t want you on my back asking for wifi all the time, this is the Philippines. It never works.” Hmph. Well, I survived and here we are now. 😜

And with that… HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!! It has been one hell of a year. That’s for sure.

It’s that time of year again when I am going to get really real with you guys. A new year has arrived, and that leaves another one in the past to reflect upon. 2015 was definitely a year of learning. It was one big roller coaster ride, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The year started out strong with a nice big breakup (ha-ha.) I traveled to new and exciting places and took on new opportunities I never thought I would before. This year I truly did push myself to be better in everything I do, and see how much I am truly capable of. I made amazing, hilarious, and beautiful new friends who I know will be with me for a very long time. I cherished the wonderful friends and family I already have in my life. I took on new hobbies. Every day this year, I pushed to make myself the best I can possibly be.

The past is perfect the way it is. Without it, I would not have had all the highly rewarding new experiences I have had this year. Leaving 2015 where it belongs, I move forward into 2016 seeking greater experiences, knowledge, and challenges than ever before. 

2015 was a killer year. Bring it on 2016, I am coming at you.

x,

A few random snaps from NYC, and my holiday plans!

Hooooooly crap. Its almost Christmas. What happened to summer. I swear it was just June…. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE YEAR?!

Good lord.

Okay so I know the blogosphere has been going crazy with “Christmas gift ideas for him/her/your dog/the pope” for the last month or so, and if it’s not already obvious I am 100% unprepared for the holidays. Like, in every single way. Wish I could say this was the first year but that would be a total lie… haha. Oops 💁

For presents, I have known what I am going to buy for at least two months now. I honestly just have been putting it off and procrastinating for SO long now. Just the worst, eh? That’s okay… I am going to go to the mall tonight and power it out.

**Side note** The biggest benefit of being single during the holidays is being able to spoil the crap out of yourself. 😂 I loveeeee to spoil people, but this year it’s just me so… HELLO PRESENTS! Let’s just say I am going to be treating myself very well this holiday season. #dontneednoman

Annnnnnnnd I am leaving for a two week vacation to the Philippines in 3 days!! SO EXCITED. 

Have I packed? Hell no.

Sooooo probably should start that soon because I am leaving right from Christmas dinner with the fam jam to go to the airport. And I will fill you guys in soon on my beauty packing essentials, because I am (if I do say so myself) a master last-minute packer. Give me 1 hr and I am good to go.

It has been so many years since I have had a proper vacation… the kind where you park your ass on the beach and don’t move until your festive drink needs refilling. Yes, that kind of vacation is exactly what I need right now. Legit cannot wait.

I also have an exciting announcement about a collaboration I will be doing for Skinny Belle on my trip! I’ll fill you in on all the dirty deets when I am bored in the airport/on my ridiculously long flight.

Okay… off to the mall I go. Wish me luck, it’s like the hunger games at this time of year. Also, good luck to all my fellow last minute shoppers. May the force be with you.

x,

The skinny on how I set goals and actually achieve them! 

Today I want to talk with you guys about goals, how you set them, and how you can achieve them. Ah yes, things are getting very real today. Get ready for this. 😉  

So, getting right into it… I have always had a very clear vision for how I want my life to be. Along with this vision comes a very clear set of steps to help myself achieve my goals and make my vision a reality. It can be hard some days to keep pushing, when all you want to do is stay in bed and watch Netflix/sleep/be lazy. There are a few tips and tricks I have up my sleeve to keep myself going and always be moving towards my goals.

It can be scary as hell to set your sights high, as many people often think this leaves room for failure. I actually think the opposite. If you have high expectations for how you want your life to be, you have already mentally set yourself up for success. By setting high goals (even if you only accomplish half of what you originally set out to achieve) chances are you will achieve more than you would have if you had set modest goals.

“SHOOT FOR THE MOON. EVEN IF YOU MISS, YOU WILL LAND AMOUNG THE STARS.”

Totally obsessed with that quote, always have been. Just ignore that fact that it is totally factually incorrect and pretend that those literal distances make sense haha. But it is the spirit behind the quote that I like and apply to my life legit every day.

Aim for the top. Don’t be conservative. Be bold with your vision, and your achievements will directly reflect that!

How to bring your goals to life? VISION BOARDS!

I like to have physical reminders of what I want in life plastered all over my house. One key thing that I always am updating and working on is my vision board. A vision board is kind of like a scrapbook for how you want your life to look – a visual representation of your goals. Having a vision board is a great way to remind yourself why you get up every day and work so hard. (It can be easy to forget when you get in the thick of work/school/general life responsibilities.)

To make a vision board, all you need is a cork-board from the dollar store and a bunch of magazines. Go through the magazines and cut out anything that represents or looks like something you want in life. Your vision board is completely personal and can be organized any way you want. It is also something that is never “done.” I know I always am adding new things to mine that are more relevant, and taking away things that have maybe become a lower priority for me. Compile your favourite words, phrases, photos, or quotes and throw them all together on your vision board. Put the board somewhere you literally can’t avoid it (mine is above my full length mirror lol) so you will see it every single day.

Whatever you want in life, it is yours. So go out and get it babes! And remember, set them goals high. You won’t regret it 💕

How to you make your goals come to life? Do any of you guys have tips to share?? Comment below!

x,

20% off custom designed iPhone/MacBook cases + giveaway for you! <3

Hellloooo friends! Happy Sunday! Seriously the best day of the week. I would even go as far to say that Sundays are magical.

What do you guys think of my new phone case & MacBook skin? S’cute no? I designed these myself from an online store called CaseApp. It is sweet, you can legit make any kind of phone case of laptop skin you want. Custom font, photos, you name it. Definitely one of my new fave sites.

Which is why…. **drumroll** I have teamed up with the people at CaseApp to get you guys 20% off your entire purchase on their site! Hell. Yes. 

All you have to do is use the promocode “SKINNYBELLE20” on the CaseApp website and you are good to go! 🎉

ANDDD I am doing a giveaway! One lucky winner will get $40 to spend in the CaseApp store. 💰 All you need to do is COMMENT BELOW TO WIN. $40 FO FREE. Yaaaas.

Happy shopping friends! Remember to comment on this post to enter to win $40 <3

x,

Hands down my favourite meal replacement bar.

Sometimes life happens, and you don’t have time to make yourself a nutritious meal. Work, school, you name it. Vega One Bars are basically my lifesaver from eating complete crap when you get super busy. I carry these bad boys everywhere with me. No matter what I am doing, I always keep at least one of these in my purse. Because you never know. Being hungry sucks, because hunger leads to hanger and hanger is definitely not a cute look on anyone. LOL.😜

Plus, if you don’t come prepared you will end up eating whatever garbage is closest. AKA fast food. AKA the fast track to becoming a slug. Fast food is legit the worst thing you can eat and it is so often the thing that we lean on when we get super busy. That or just junk food in general. Solution? VEGA ONE BARS!

Alright so why do I choose Vega to be the bar that I carry around with me? Well… there are a few reasons:

PLANT-BASED PROTEIN

Plant-based protein is my freakin’ favourite. I hate eating weird dairy byproducts and getting all bloaty and gross after. Just feels so nasty. Vega One bars are filled with protein from plants! Which makes my tummy very happy 😊

TASTE UNREAL

It is like eating a straight up chocolate bar. I don’t know how those guys do it… when I eat a Vega One Bar I am like a kid in a candy shop. Every single ingredient is plant based, and it tastes like a nice slice of heaven.

NUTRITIONALLY FORTIFIED

Vega One Bars are packed with all the nutrients you need to cover you nutritional bases. Which is happiness! Way better than some gross fast food meal if you ask me.

The one thing you guys might not love about Vega One Bars is the price. They are about $4 per bar, but if you ask me that is TOTALLY worth it. 

Anyways, I am definitely team Vega! And team “come prepared”, so you don’t end up eating junk food when life gets busy. 

As you guys might have seen before, I have teamed up with my friends at Vega to do a fall/winter smoothie series. Check out my first post on my PB Apple Smoothie and my classic Coconut Berry smoothie recipes. 

What do you think? Will you start to bring a power bar with you “just in case”? If you have another great meal-replacement bar to recommend please leave it in the comments, I always love to hear what you guys like <3

x,

Old photos bringing back great memories!

The other day I posted this photo on my instagram, after I had spent some time looking through old pics. So much fun to look back at all the awesome things we do! This was the last day of the ski season in April this year, and my god was it a good one. It was full on spring skiing, slush and all. Also, being a ginger sucks so bad sometimes. I legit got the worst burn from this day hahah. It was really nasty so I won’t go into details. You would think after 24 years of being a ginge I would have figured out sunscreen… apparently not. 😜

Anyways, these photos got my super excited for the upcoming ski season which is scheduled to start in under 3 weeks! For those of you who just started reading Skinny Belle (HI WELCOME I LOVE YOU 😀 ), skiing is the primary way I like to stay fit in the winter time. That being said I usually only have time to go on weekends because it is such a time commitment. Soooo, I have some great stuff I will be sharing with you soon about what I will be doing mid-week to stay fit! Stay tuned!

x,