The moves you didn't know you needed to be doing for your goal stomach

We are halfway through the summer but that doesn't mean that it's too late to get you summer body! Whether you want to start working towards next yeas bikini body or just want to be in better shape use these tummy burning workouts bellow:

💪🏽 V - Ups
Lie flat on your back with your arms to your sides. Lift your arms off the floor and position them straight to the sides of your head. Bring your legs and arms up at the same time leaving only your behind on the ground. Lower your legs and arms back to the floor with control. Repeat.

💪🏽 Side Plank Hip Lifts
Assume the low plank position. Rotate your body to the left / right and balance on the arm of the side you chose with your top foot stacked atop the bottom. While holding for at least 10-30 seconds move your hips down and up in a controlled manor. Make sure to keep your abs tight and engaged the whole time. Repeat the exercise on the other side.

💪🏽 Reverse Crunches
Lie face-up on the floor with your palms facing down. Bend your hips and knees 90 degrees. Raise your hips off the floor and crunch them inward until your shoulders and head are the only things on the ground. Pause, then slowly lower your legs until your heels nearly touch the floor.

💪🏽 Suitcases
Lie flat on your back with your arms straight over head. Contract your abs pulling your legs and arms into your body as if you were becoming a ball. After you are in the shape of a suitcase with only your behind on the floor extend into your starting position but stop right before your legs and arms touch the floor. Pause for a quick second hovering over the ground, this is when you really feel the burn, and repeat.

💪🏽 Windshield Wiper
Lay on your back with your legs in the air so that the bend at your hips is a 90 degree angle. Slowly, with control, turn slightly to your left while lowering your legs to the ground until you are just inches away from the floor. At the same pace, bring your legs back up to the starting position, making sure that you roll back onto your back. Repeat the exercise on the right side. Repeat multiple times, completing the same number of reps on the left as the right.

💪🏽 Spider Man
Assume the low plank position. Lift your right foot a few inches off of the ground. Next, bending at the knee, bring it up to touch your elbow. Then, move your foot back next to the left. Repeat on the left side. Repeat exercise to your liking, alternating each side.

💪🏽Dumbbell Side Bend
Hold a dumbbell in each hand. The weight should be heavy but you should be able to grasp them comfortably. This exercise can be done standing or kneeling. With the weights in hand, lean to your left so that the dumbbell is parallel with the side of your knee then stand back up straight. Repeat on the right side. Repeat.

💪🏽 Hanging Leg Raises
Hang from a chin-up bar with both arms extended at arms length. This can be done with either a wide or medium grip. The legs should be straight down and the pelvis should be rolled slightly backwards. Raise your legs until the torso makes a 90-degree angle with the legs. Lower your legs slowly, returning them to the starting position. Repeat.

💪🏽 Ab Pull Downs
Using a cable machine, hook an ez-curl on the machine and lower the level of the machine to your shoulder height. Kneel on the floor in front of the machine. Pull the ez-bar down and hold it behind your neck with your palms facing towards your feet.  At the resting position your body should make a 90 degree angle with a slight arch in your back. From the resting position  crunch downwards until your elbows touch your knees and then return to rest position. Repeat.

💪🏽 Plank Side Crunches
Begin in a low plank on your left side. This means left arm, elbow to fingers, on the ground and your left foot on the ground with the right resting on top of it. Place your right hand behind your head with your elbow pointing straight up. Keeping your waist lifted and body balanced, bring your right leg up toward your shoulder to lightly tap your right elbow. Lengthen your right leg back to the starting position. Repeat. Then complete an equal amount on the other side.

💪🏽 Leg Lift
Lie flat on your back with your legs stretched out in front of you and arms down to your side. Keeping your legs straight, lift your legs until your body is at a 90-degree angle and toes are pointed to the ceiling. Slowly lower your legs as far as you can while keeping your back completely flat against the floor but never letting your feet or legs touch the floor. Repeat You may slow it down if the exercise is not challenging enough. 

💪🏽 Bicycle Crunches
Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed completely to the ground. Put your hands behind your head. Bring both knees in towards your chest and lift your shoulder blades off the ground without pulling on your neck. Straighten your right leg out while turning your upper body to the left, bringing your right elbow towards the left knee by moving your rip cage. Now switch sides and do the same motion. Repeat as quick as you can.


Share these moves with your besties because workouts are always better when done with a friend or partner! Get these belly fat burning moves under your belt, and you are ready to show off your toned tummy!

The 10 essential items to have in your wardrobe for every season!

Here is my list of arguably the most crucial things to always have in your closet. Most bloggers would tell you that the number one thing that you need in your wardrobe is a white tee but I have to disagree! Don't be caught wearing something as basic as a plain white tee. Make sure every part of our outfit is unique and dazzles.


1. Slip on sneakers



Easy breezy beautiful. Slip on shoes are amazing not only for days you're running late but days you need to stay comfortable and blister free!


2. The perfect blazer



Don't sleep on this wardrobe essential! You may think that a blazer is meant for the business clad wall street woman but that was yesterday. Dress up your favorite blue jean with it or throw it on over a dress. This closet keepsake is great for layering in any season.


3. Button down



Unpopular opinion: button downs are amazing. Button down shirts are not a popular favorite but they are light and breathable for the summer and go to tops for layering in the winter. These two facts are reason enough for the button down to make this must have list.


4. Black ankle trousers



These pants are a true classic in the closet. Perfect for the working gal, but tailored in a fashion that they are so flattering on every body type you can wear them straight to meet up with the girls after work.


5. Leather jacket



This one seems self explanatory. If you needed more convincing then just think of how it can edge up any outfit that you pair it with. Keep this in your closet to ensure you look biker chic in a moments notice.


6. Classic leather belt



The only accessory on the list and a personal favorite. A classic belt can take an outfit a long way. You never know when you may need one but you certainly don't want to be caught without one.


7. Ballet flats



These simple shoes are a wonderful addition to every outfit. Perfect for work and casual dress, especially when you are planning on walking all over town.


8. Little black dress (LBD)



The LBD, a wardrobe staple. Anyone writing about essential items for your wardrobe has this one on their list. It is simply the perfect option for almost any occasion, flattering on all body types and skin tones and will never go out of stile, putting it in the wardrobe hall of fame. If you don't believe me just look at Audrey Hepburn.


9. Sleek pumps



Another must have in every woman's wardrobe, heels! Make sure no matter how many show stopping platforms that you own that you always make room for a basic pump. You can never go wrong with the neutral colored sleek pump. They go with jeans or dresses whether they are wild or classic and that is why they are a wardrobe staple.


10. Your go to jean



Never have a wardrobe with out a pair of these. When in doubt pull on your favorite pair of jeans that fit like a glove in all the right places. Everyone needs a pair of undeniably good fitting jeans. Dress them up or down depending on your mood, knowing you will be turning heads no matter how you accessories them.


Take these ten items and make them your own with a splash of color or the whole budget of paint. Add out of the ordinary pieces to each of these essential items to bring the runway to the streets of NY!! No ones closet is complete without a these wardrobe basics! See my recommendations bellow, in no particular order.

For the foodies on the gram

Calling all foodies in and around New York City! If you do not follow newforkcity, drop everything and do it now!!! First, let me warn you, you will inevitably spend over an hour scrolling further and further into their drool worthy Instagram. Only to come back to reality to find a grumbling stomach and drool that has made its way to the screen of your phone.

This Instagram page gets more popular every day and for good reason. The creators of newforkcity have made something special with their foodie account. It is one of a kind because it focusses on just one area, New York. This is great for the locals for obvious reasons. It helps you find the newest, craziest, hottest, spots to eat today! Tiered of meeting the gang at the same spot? Look to newforkcity for the best instagramable food. This Instagram page is also a fabulous resource for those who are traveling from out of town. Nothing makes friends and family at home jealous like some unique, drool inducing foodie pics from the most instagramed plates in the big city.

Instagram was a great platform choice for their media and not only because today it is arguably the most frequently used and popular social medias to chose from. The hashtag feature on Instagram helps users refine their search and be directed to content that they are interested. For example if I am trying to find a post from newforkcity about burgers, I simply search that hashtag and am left with a list of hamburger pictures. You can also further refine your search for burgers to make your life easier by adding the location if you know it, giving you an even more specific list of pictures of burgers. Newforkcity stands out from other food blogs with the features on Instagram that allow them to add their location, tag other accounts, and add a comment to their post. Being a food blog people want to know how they can get to the restaurants and food trucks featured on their page. This is all redly available and made simple by Instagram through the features mentioned before. When a follower sees the picture they also have the exact location of the restaurant and the restaurants page linked only a click away. Now get to scrolling so that you can beat everyone to the hottest up and coming brunch on Sunday! While you're there don't forget to take a picture of your own gram worthy food for your followers.

To mom jean or not to mom jean

To Mom Jean or Not to Mom Jean

The "mom jeans" have recently been a debated fashion fad for the millennials. I don't care what anyone says. I am here for the hype. They can typically be seen on any of your local hipsters and the particularly fashionably savvy ladies. Every famous celebrity and  socialite can be seen in them, flaunting only their upper abs, giving us all serious style envy.

The mom jean is the slang word for a high wasted women's denim pant. Originally fashionable in the late 1900's, they hit rock bottom in 2000 when they were mainly worn by middle aged women deemed unhip.  Today they are my go to pant whether its for comfort, fashion or lower tummy coverage. Why would anyone say no to a pant that covers that post boozy brunch, or the cheat day bloat? I don't understand those who refuse to join the movement, but I do love a good joke about the mom jean.

SNL has a famous skit mocking the mom jean highlighting how bizarre the concept is to some. This skit had a massive impact on coining the term mom jean, helping it stick for good. The mom jean "haters" include, almost exclusively, the older generations, the very moms that used to wear them in there unhip period. I have the utmost respect for the moms and grandmas that are still kicking it in their high wasted denim that they have owned since the 80s. Little do these ladies know, they are one hole in the knee away from owning $200.00 effortlessly cool mom jeans. Let this be a lesson to all of us to never throw away any article of clothing no matter how unhip it may be and may the style gods bring it back in style soon!

Progression of the personal stylist

Wondering where all of the elite New York women with personal stylist frantically following with arms full of clothes bags and jewels have disappeared to? The answer is most likely online. With the rapid expansion of technology and personal stylists are forced to move their business to online.

One of the newest start up, fashion/ tech companies on the scene that assists personal stylists is Arthur. Their business plan is to offer tools to help you grow and manage your styling business. They have created an online platform where personal stylists can create lookbooks, save all of the necessary information on sizing and preferences for their clients, order products, and bill clients through their site. With these applications stylists can work remotely and offer clients a vast variety of looks all with a click of a button.

Being an online stylist is not as easy or glamorous as it looks. The stylists that have perfected their online services to "reigning queen status" have us blue with envy of their perfect, esthetic pictures and party ready looks. Stylists with a devoted client base have a leg up on those just starting out, making it look effortlessly cool. This is because clients are the key to making it as a professional stylist. You can have all of the best looking outfits and ideas but without any clients you won't be making anyone any money, especially not yourself. That being said, there is still hope for stylists that team up with Arthur's online styling program without clients. The main things that will lead them to success are strong social media presences, outgoing personality, and the drive to search and work for clients.

Let Arthur help you become a more efficient and accessible stylists! You can find the Arthur website clicking here. Do you have what it takes to be an online personal stylist? Click here to sign up with Arthur and begin your future of bringing style to your neighborhood and beyond one client at a time!

The 411 on Mad Fads

Welcome to Mad Fads! Let this blog be your one stop shop to stay up to date with all things fashion, food, and fitness New York city! Brighten your day with this informative and entertaining lifestyle blog for the fun loving New York resident! I will take you through the fashion dos and don'ts of modern day. See stories on stores that keep you and your wallet looking good! As well as what hot and what's not in the fashion industry.

As a fellow New Yorker, I will share my deep knowledge on the must try hot spots, hole in the wall restaurants and, most importantly, who has the best food with a view! Find posts of healthy AND yummy recipes, from sit down meals, to on the go bites. Don't get me wrong I'm a waffles for breakfast and dinner kind of gal, but I also need my green smoothies. Learn how I keep a healthy balance between fried and fresh food. 

Finally, learn tips and tricks for adding fitness to your busy city lifestyle. I am a division I student athlete who hates to run. I'm here to share with you intense interval workouts to keep you tight and on time.