Trufit Pilates

Author: The Pilates Blonde

  • How To Launch The BRAND of Your Dreams

    Over the last few months I have received dozens of emails, Facebook messages, text messages and phone calls about goals. I love how much you share with me. I truly brings tears to my eyes.

    That being said, I know I have several readers who want to launch a business or blog in 2017. Regardless of what type of business you launch, the BRAND you create is everything. I’m not an expert by any means, but I do believe my brand is a perfect representation of me and my message. The hardest part is knowing where to start…Luckily for you, Im going to give you all the tricks I learned for a successful launch.

    SAVE DAT MONEY. I saved $5,000 over the course of a few months. I took every babysitting job I could get my hands on (staying over night, nannying, date night babysitting). I said no to every invite I got that I knew would cost money. It wasn’t always easy but it was definitely worth it

    CREATE YOUR VISION. Before meeting with the stunning duo at Silverbox Creative Studio, I spent hours on Pinterest combing through fonts, color schemes, web designs and logos. I included pictures with the vibe I wanted each reader to feel. I put them all together in a document and brought it with me to our meeting. They were able to see my vision through the bits and piece of inspiration I shared with them.

    START. Whatever your dream is, start working on it today. If you want to be a blogger, set aside 30 minutes to write everyday. It doesn’t all have to be good. Study blogging by watching YouTube videos and reading other people’s work. See what you think works about their brand and what doesn’t. Create something (anything) everyday.

    KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE. After figuring out my target market (17-27 year old girls) I created my ‘reader’. Essentially, every time I sit down to write I think of ‘Jessie’. She is a natural blonde who just graduated from a small private college in South Carolina. She works in PR but her main passion is yoga. She moved to a tiny little apartment a block from the beach that is just big enough for her and her bulldog, Mark. To be able to afford said apartment she traded in her VW Bug for a bike with a basket. She is a terrible cook ( she burns water…). Her energy fills every room she walks into especially when she smiles…her grin takes up her entire face. Seafood makes her gag and she cries at the Folgers Christmas commercial.

    No ‘Jessie’ isn’t a real person, but she is my inspiration. She is a combination of all my favorite people and places. The bulldog, for example, represents my best friend Crystal. South Carolina is my favorite place on earth, so naturally that is where she lives. She has the same hair as Megan, my blonde bombshell BFF. Every time I sit down to write I think of her and how she would relate to each post. It’s my way of keeping my writing consistent and on brand.

    BE YOU. There are thousands of businesses and blogs, but only one you. Don’t try and be a carbon copy of someone else because people will notice. The best part of just being yourself… you don’t have to try.

    BE PATENT. A business doesn’t blow up over night. Don’t get caught up in the number of followers you have or visits to your website each day. The followers will come with time. I have a handful of ‘YouTube’ famous or ‘Blog Famous’ friends. I would NEVER ask them to promote my brand. Why? Their followers wouldn’t relate to my content. If their tribe followed me on say, Instagram they wouldn’t get the content they crave. Plus, I wouldn’t be reaching the people who I want to connect with. It is a lose-lose situation so steer clear of the follow-for-follow shenanigans on social media.

    I hope this helps light a fire under your booty! I want to see you follow your passions and THRIVE. If you have any questions personal to you and YOUR brand leave a comment or send me an email!!!

    xoxo

    K

  • SKIN CARE // FAV FACE MASKS

    Hellloooooooo BABES

    I know I have been MIA butttt it is only because I want to give you valuable content. Im not going to waste your time with boring, non-informative posts. That being said I have HUGEEEE projects coming up. In February I will be working with Daniels Vein & Cosmetic Center to take you through the process of the coolest new way to FREEZE fat away….Cool Sculpting. I can barely contain my excitement. I am PUMPED. In the next two weeks I will be posting all the research I did and expect a big vlog of the entire process. AHHHH IM SO EXCTIEDDDD.

    NOTE: I have NOT been sponsored by any brand in this post. This is my true and honest opinion the BEST products I have found to date.

    Getting into today’s post, we are talking about SKIN. I have been much more in to skin care lately than I have been into makeup. I only wear makeup once a month (if that). HOWEVER, I do a face mask almost every other day. I have been testing everything from face rollers to the Acne Mask and it’s time for me to way in.

    I’m a huge believer in preventative skin care and working from the inside out. The body stops producing collagen at 20 years old which is why we start to see fine lines in our 20s and 30s. I drink a collagen powder every night to keep my skin plump and youthful. TRUST me when I say it works…my mother the skeptic swears by it. I also believe in drinking at least a gallon of water a day and eating mostly clean unprocessed foods. Don’t forget to drink your nutrients with my Berry Blemish Blaster in addition to sweating (makeup free) for an hour each day.

    Now for the good stuff.

    MASKS

    I am a sucker for a good face mask. I really love having a mini spa at home. Some of my favorite masks are a little on the expensive side, others are for babes on a budget. I pick my masks based on how my skin feels at day. If Im oily, I know my skin is dry (the body produces oil to try and hydrate the skin) so I use a moisturizing mask. If I slept in my makeup after my bestie’s 21st birthday celebration (lol) I use a mask for deep cleansing. That makes sense right?

    GLAMGLOW

    I found this brand when I was DYING to know what the mask was that every influencer I follow (stalk) was wearing, the mask that pulls black heads and acne to the surface. Enter the SUPERMUD mask. It goes on gray, dries greenish and visibly pulls out black heads. I know, I know the price is scary but I wouldn’t tell you about it if I didn’t think it was worth your hard earned money.

    My second fav from GlamGlow is the GRAVITYMUD firming treatment. This mask makes you look like the tin man. It comes with a supercute mini brush for application. Best part…its a peel off mask. I have definitely noticed firmer skin since adding this gem into my routine

    My final choice of the squad is the YOUTHMUD. This one I find to be the most exfoliating. This is one I will use a day or two after the SUPERMUD. Why? SUPERMUD brings imperfections to the surface while the YOUTHMUD exfoliates them away.

    SKYN ICELAND

    I found Skyn Iceland during my two month hunt for the PERFECT eye mask. As I told you HERE I love love love their product and everything they stand for as a brand. I love that they are comfortable, stay in place and don’t leave a sticky residue. PLUS they actually work. After falling head over heals for the eye masks I also bought their forehead and smile line masks. I seriously love them soooooo much.

    Sheet Masks

    I (very) recently learned the power of a sheet mask. They have always sort of freaked me out…but for the TPB readers I’m willing to do (almost) anything. Turns out I actually enjoy a good sheet mask. I have been using Sephora brand and they are great! They are easy to use and perfect for babes on a budget!!

    ICE ROLLING

    I found ice rolling when every blogger on the planet did a post about it. I needed a stocking stuffer for Christmas so it was an obvious choice. Why use an ice roller? Think about when you ice an injury… It decreases inflammation by cooling the most superficial layers of the skin which constricts blood vessels to decrease redness. It is PERFECT after some late night shenanigans or too much Chinese food or chips and salsa… you get the picture. Plus it feels oh so good.

    LAST but certainly not last the Acne Masks from Neutrogena.

    The second I saw the commercial for the Acne Mask I knew I had to test it out for you. I mean seriously, a mask that decreases inflammation and treats acne causing bacteria?!?! The first time I tried it I fell in love. Even if I didn’t see improvement in my skin, the mask has the same feel-good effects as going into a tanning bed. I loveeee to start my day with a little meditation and a ten minutes mask session. The mask comes with 30 sessions. They you recycle the charger-like-thing at your local Best Buy and get a new one! I have noticed a major decrease in the redness in my cheeks. PLUS since I have started using it, I have gotten the best feedback on my skin.

    I hope you found a product or two to add to you wish list!!! If you have any face mask you are obsessed with LET ME KNOW! I’m always looking for the latest and greatest in skin care!!

    xoxo,

    K

  • I Ain’t Sayin She’s a ‘Goal Digger’….

    Hello Hello Hello

    I hope your holidays were Merry and Bright!! As this year wraps up I’m am soooooo thankful for how terrible my 2015 was because it set me up to have a killer 2016. Isn’t that the way life goes? I mean that’s how it is in the movies so in must be how it goes right? Unless you are my best friend Peter… everything always works out for him. Anyway, I knew I wanted to make 2016 my year to get things done. I wrote out a hefty goals list for 2016 and I have to say I achieved every milestone. 

    It’s the time of year for a fresh start and honestly, you should give it your all. If you aren’t exactly where you want to be in life it’s time to make changes. Speaking as your friend, we all need that extra little push to help us get started. And because we are friends, I made this chic Goal Digger Guide for you to print and post where you can look at it every single day. Frame it, tape it, put it on a billboard, I don’t care as long as you look your goals in the face every single day.

    Take a second to look at seven categories. I’m sure as you look at them one or two goals are popping into your head already. Great. Write them down. Then take a few minutes to really think about exactly where you want to be 365 days from right now. Write down the things you want to most but scare you, the goals that make you nervous… those are my personal favorite. Try to have at least two goals per category, but no more than five…I want you to be set up for success.

    Remember that we can have it all but not all at once. I can’t work a 12 hours shift, get a massage, do a speaking engagement for the Arthritis Foundation and teach a pilates class all in one day. However, I could totally do all of those things over two or three days. It’s called balance and we all need it. What I am trying to say is, don’t be overwhelmed with the amount of goals you have. Having goals is great and you will achieve them, just not over night. The fun part is busting your booty to watch all your dreams come true.

    Okay, go light a candle, put on your favorite song and write down your wildest dreams. THEN share them with me (Please & Thank you). If you aren’t a social media girl, send a little love note to my email address. I am so excited for 2017 and I really hope you are too!!!!!

    xoxo,

    K

  • Graduation and Goals

    Notice anything different about me?

    Well I’m hotter by one degree because I GRADUATED!!!!!

     

    I know, I know…bad joke. But it’s BIG news.

    So what’s next?

    The question I have been asked the most: “What hospital are you working at?” —- The answers sounds insane but Im not applying for a nursing job any time soon. Nursing is different from other degrees in that I have to take a state board exam and to be able to sit for NCLEX (boards) I have to get my name released by my school which won’t happen until the end of February or early March.

    ALSO big news, I’m starting Villanova online in May so that is BALLER. (Get it…because basketball and such)

    Until then you can find me blogging, teaching Pilates and smiling my way through my days at lululemon. (I recently discovered I have a passion for talking about pants. I’m dead serious. I love lululemon # job love)  Also, I’m starting my second Pilates certification in January and starting my first yoga certification some time this year. While classical Pilates will always be my first love, in order to reach my long term goals I need to have a well rounded fitness education.

    Speaking of goals…. Let’s talk about how I set goals for the next TEN years. Yes, I mapped out exactly where I want to be at thirty-three. I started by meditating. I let thoughts flow in and out of my mind and pictured the road to thirty-three. I pictured the good, the bad and the incredible until I reached the point where I was exactly where I wanted to be… It was so perfect (for me) that I never wanted to leave that place.

    Let me give you a little peak into how my morning is going to look ten years from today….

     

     

    My alarm sings at 6am. As I yawn and stretch, I reach for my robe to make my way downstairs to my coffee maker. I pour my coffee and look out my kitchen window to see the love of my life throw a stick for the dog. He is up early to feed our goats and chickens and to collect the eggs. I love watching his breath float through the chilly morning air. He sees me in the window and races the dog to the house to see who gets the first kiss of the day. Griffin (the dog) wins. He is faster.

    After enjoying breakfast together, I rush upstairs to pull myself together. I take a bath with lavender oils while singing old school Beyonce. When I’m finished my ‘concert’, I quickly fill in my brows and spray my hair with dry shampoo. I pick out my favorite black on black outfit (always lululemon). Then I tip-toe into Grayson’s room. His sweet two year old face fills my heart. His hair is damp from sweating his way through all the adventures in his dreams. I rub his back and sing him his wake up song. I get him dressed and we meet Dad down stairs.

    I fed him breakfast and get him in the car to go to school. When I get home I jump on a conference call with other Mommy-Bloggers. We talk about balancing authenticity, branding, and potty training.

    At 10am my door-bell rings. It’s my first client of the day. I teach professional athletes Pilates in my home studio. After five hours in the studio, the rest of the day is spent blogging.

    My husband pick’s up Grayson while I make dinner. After the house is straightened, the three of us play until bedtime. As soon as I get G asleep I find my husband has the 25th season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and a glass of champagne waiting for me in our room. I fall asleep 13 minutes in and even though he claims to ‘hate’ reality TV he finishes the episode without me. When it’s over, he sneaks down the hall to check on Grayson. Then he crawls back into bed, kisses my forehead and turns out the light.

     

     

    How to I get to be a big-time blogger helping thousands of people everyday and run my own athlete-based Pilates studio out of my gorgeous farm house? WORK.

    I won’t bore you with the details but just know that I have every milestone mapped out (with wiggle room of course…life is highly unpredictable). In order to achieve those goals I need to work towards them every single day.

    Would you guys be interested in a full post on Goal Setting? How and why I do it? I really didn’t understand the power of meditating about goals until I saw the vision for The Pilates Blonde. That was a year ago and today it is better than I ever dreamed. If that’s something you want to read, leave me a love note in the comment section below.

    I just want to thank you for all your support over the last six months. Putting myself out there with no filter is scary. I trust you and love sharing my life with you…I wouldn’t be anywhere without you!!

    xoxo,

    K