SlimFast Goes…Sexy?!?!

Yeah…you totally read that right!

I am so excited to be a part of a new website called Influenster. Influenster is an invite-only site that promotes word-of-mouth marketing and product reviews. Part of their deal is that they send out VoxBoxes to qualified members that meet criteria for certain products. I joined just a few weeks ago, and received my first VoxBox over the weekend! The cool package contained products and recipes from the SlimFast company at absolutely no cost to me, for me to try and share with whoever I so choose. Bonus points for Slimfast making my day by replying to the tweet I twitted (is that even a word!?) after receiving my box! So cool!

I choose YOU!

I will never forget being a kid and living in a triplex with my parents and little brother. We had upstairs neighbors named Bev and Rick, who were always so kind and would invite my brother and I up to bake cookies, hang out, etc. Bev once invited us up and due to not going grocery shopping, she was raiding the pantry for something fun to make with us. It was pretty hilarious, because we ended up making SlimFast popsicles (did I mention I was a 7 year old who weighed like 100 lbs?). We used cut up straws, an ice tray, and chocolate flavored SlimFast powder from the big tins people always used to buy!

Were they better than fudgsicles? I don’t even recall. But it’s still a fun memory!

This box not only reminded me that the SlimFast brand exists…it reminded me of Bev and the crazy culinary SlimFast creations from my childhood.

But this? This is serious! SlimFast sent me the following in my free VoxBox:

1 10 oz Strawberries and Cream shake (10 g protein, 5 g fiber, 180 cals)

1 Awesome martini glass with a red stem and “Get What You Really Want” printed on the lip

4 awesome recipe cards to use with the variety of flavors available in ready-made shakes.

Big thanks to Influenster and Slimfast for the awesome freebies!

Using the strawberry shake, I made the suggested “Sassy Strawberry Colada:”

3 oz SlimFast Strawberries and Cream shake

1 oz coconut rum (I substituted pineapple rum, because I am allergic to coconut)

2 fresh pineapple chunks

2 fresh whole strawberries

3 ice cubes (I used 5….my magic bullet blender gets all excited, and you can use more cubes to smooth as necessary)

Ahhh….low cal perfection…in a cocktail!

Blend all ingredients. Pour in fancy glass. Garnish with a fresh strawberry. Get outta town! It was actually really good…and fun to make! And I’d bet money it’s got less cals and fat than a drink made with pre-made sugary drink mixes/bases! SlimFast ready-made shakes don’t just come in strawberries and cream flavor. You can also try Rich Chocolate Royale (and make a ‘Tall, Dark and Handsome’), Cappuccino Delight(to make a ‘Cinful Iced Latte), and French Vanilla(for a ‘Very Sexy Vanilla Sunrise)!

Check out all the other fun recipes here!

So…spill! What flavors would you choose, and what is your fave idea for a low cal cocktail? Slimfast, Influenster, and I want to know!

That’s all for now, but thanks for reading, and be on the lookout for more fun reviews and product info coming at you soon!

‘Til Next Time!

XOXO

Life as I Know It (Or, AHH! It’s Almost August)

I am proud to announce that SeeSondraSlim was founded 2 years ago, today. 2 years ago, my weight loss journey took on a whole new meaning, and I am proud that it has gained a following and earned some street cred. It has been a wild, crazy, and emotional ride. It has been everything I hoped for, and it isn’t over yet! It has been absolutely AMAZING, and that’s because of YOU. Thank YOU, from the bottom of my heart!

In other news, it has become blaringly obvious to me that I am a grown up.

For one thing, I don’t get a summer vacation anymore. I miss those! For this reason, it has also come to my attention that no matter how ridiculously slow some days seem, the weeks and months pass by so quickly!

It’s like, I look up, and BAM! Summer is almost over. I had excess skin removal surgery on my stomach over 3 months ago.  I have my thigh lift/stomach revision in 19 days, and before that? 15 days until I attend the Taylor Swift concert with my Bestie, 16 days until Sean and I head to Phoenix for the OAC Your Weight Matters Convention, and then we come home and BAM! again. It’s almost September.

The past couple of weeks I have been a blogging procrastinator because I had been preparing for what will go down in my life as one of the best weekends EVER. My best friend Alex got married this past Saturday! As her Maid of Honor (which, I was truly too honored to be), I planned a fun night out last Thursday for the Bachelorette Party, we had  rehearsal dinner Friday, and before you could say ‘chapel’ it was time to see her walk down the aisle.

I’d post Bachelorette photos, but they violate girl code, and totally encapsulate what I feel like was a successful night between 6 good friends. I was fortunate to be a part of a bridal party made up of some amazing, hilarious, and super fun women. There was no drama, no shenanigans (the bad kind, that is), and I feel like that is  true testament to who my best friend really IS.

However, I will share the room setup for the party…if only because sometimes I impress myself with my creative skills. Lol.

The main table. Lanterns, Sangria, cupcakes, gift bags, and my tower of wine glasses (one wine glass was harmed in the making of this display).

The day of is something that shall forever be engraved in my memory. Everyone looked amazing, the weather was perfect, and the ceremony was beautiful. It’s something special to watch the people you love dedicate their lives to being together. It touches something in your heart….it’s like watching The Notebook, without any sad parts!! AMAZING!

The GORGEOUS Bride and I outside the hotel, right before we headed to the ceremony site!! AHHH!

The five HOT Bridesmaids! 🙂

Alex gave each of us girls a gorgeous Coach clutch as a thank you, and I was floored to learn that not only had she and Josh gotten me a special Maid of Honor gift…but it just so happened to be what!?! The runner-up dream swimsuit from my previous Dream Bikini post!

YAY! Hawaii in roughly 3 months! I am rockin’ this baby while we are there!!!

Now that the wedding is over, I am focused on preparing for all the concert/convention/surgery madness coming in August, and starting my savings/shopping/packing plans for Hawaii in October. While we are there, I am hoping to conquer one of my biggest fears: heights. Myself, Alex and our friend Zainab are planning on going on a hike that ends in cliff diving.

I have seen Forgetting Sarah Marshall, so I am assuming by the time I get to the top of a cliff, I will totally want to dive into the water…and it’s the super easy way to get back down. This doesn’t subtract from the terror that strikes my heart momentarily when I imagine looking out a nothing but sky, and down at nothing but water! But hey…I will do it anyways!

I am super excited that our Phoenix trip is roughly two weeks away! With all the things my time has been devoted to for the last couple of months, I am really happy to be going on a road trip with Sean and spending some quality time together! Plus, the convention line-up looks AMAZING! I am having a hard time deciding which speakers to see….and can’t wait for the Awards Dinner and workout schedule….plus, the water park on-site at the resort! Considering August in Arizona can be a brutal thing, I will welcome that. If all works out as planned, I may even book myself a spa service while we are there! 🙂

Most importantly, so many exclusive products will be at the convention, and I am excited to learn about new things, and be able to share info about helpful products and resources with YOU, my wonderful readers! And? Shelly Vicari, from ‘The World According to Eggface,” my personal blogging idol will be there. It’s gonna be good stuff!!

That’s all for now, but I promise I am working on getting back on my ‘A’ blogging game. SeeSondraSlim has tons more good stuff in store, and I cannot WAIT to share it all with you very soon!

‘Til Next Time!

XOXO

Tuesday Testimony Time!!

So, in addition to my adorable bikini from Albion Fit, I also purchased this sexy red/white number (bottom left corner) on clearance at Old Navy. As you can see, it was a good day with minimal swelling from my tummy!!

Do you see those abs?!?!

Just wanted to share really quick, and remind anyone that if I can do it, anyone truly can!!

More fun stuff coming soon!
‘Til next time!

Xoxo

Dream Bikini…and an AWESOME Discount Code!

I did it.

I finally did it.

And I am so beyond excited!

I bought the dream bikini I shared with you a post or two ago. It’s everything I have ever dreamed of! Killer color (my fave, coral!), killer cut (high waisted, with ruffles on top to balance out my wide hips, and to totally bring out my inner Marilyn Monroe), and it has inter-changeable straps that can be racer-back or straight style.

Photo Credit: Albionfit.com/swim

Albion Fit caught my eye originally on Pinterest a few months ago, and I have been obsessing over two or three swimsuits from their website ever since!

The suit below was a close second (like, suuuuuper close, except for my realizing I am working on a tight budget while I save for being on disability in Aug/Sept, and saving for spending money for Hawaii, too!), but I have a super cute one piece, so I said “Nah!” Truth is, if all goes well, I’ll probably order it in the beginning of October. A girl has GOT to have options, Variety is the spice of life, and all that. 🙂

Photo Credit: Albionfit.com/swims

Turns out, they were having a 30% off sale for the 4th of July weekend, so it seemed as good a time as any to purchase the suit. My bi-lateral thigh lift is officially scheduled for August 19th of this year, and Alex and I are set to go to Hawaii October 26th. I ordered the suit now, under the justification that only my thigh measurements will change, but the suit will only look BETTER after. This way, I also have plenty of time to exchange sizes, if needed, as well!

While Albion swimwear is a bit pricier than your average Target or Old Navy suit, I feel like having that stand-out piece that really has some personality, and great quality and construction is worth it. With my discount code, I only paid about $30 extra for the suit, and if you divide the price of the suit by the number of times you’ll rock it at the pool or beach, it is sooo worth it! Now that I have settled into what is going to be my “regular” sizes, I am trying not to pinch pennies so much when it comes to quality garments…but I will still use every promo code, discount code, and coupon I can find! It’s a habit I’ll NEVER lose! Lol.

Albion Fit kind enough to extend a promo offer to all of my SeeSondraSlim readers! Until 7/14/2013, you can enter “SeeSondra10” at checkout to receive $10 off ANY Albion Fit purchase!! Not only do they have adorable swimsuits (especially if you fancy retro styles and cuts, such as I do), but they have awesome yoga/workout wear as well!

I shall anxiously be awaiting that moment when I get home and see if I have any packages for the next few weeks! Between ordering Alex’s birthday gifts, and the stuff for the Bachelorette party, and now this? I’m gonna feel like the most popular girl in the world when the mail starts rolling in!

That’s all for now, but if you’d be so kind, leave me a comment letting me know which Albion Fit swimsuit is YOUR favorite!

‘Til Next Time!
XOXO