February Challenge – Start Simple – The Key is Consistency

February Challenge

-Start Simple-

The Key is Consistency

Adding a pop of color to your life never hurts

Many of you have sent me messages saying you’ve tried to complete a juice cleanse, but you can’t make it through the end of the day without getting hungry & eating solid food.  If you are thinking to yourself, “yep… that’s me!” Don’t worry… you are not alone! My best advise to you is to start slow!  Here is a challenge for the month of February.  I have designed 3 phases, all of which are extremely beneficial.  You can start at phase one and stay there for the entire month OR you can graduate from phase to phase throughout the month.

Phase One:   Drink 1 fresh or cold pressed juice (16 ounces or more) first thing in the morning, throughout the entire month

Phase Two:  Drink 1 fresh or cold pressed juice (16 ounces or more) first thing in the morning & then another one for your mid-morning snack, throughout the entire month

Phase Three:  Drink 1 fresh or cold pressed juice (16 ounces or more) first thing in the morning, a 2^nd one for your mid-morning snack, and then a 3^rd one for either lunch or your afternoon snack, throughout the entire month

Graduating from phase to phase:  Spend a week at level one, the next week at level two, and the next week at level three.  

At the end of each week, express some gratitude & appreciation for your accomplishment.  You are doing amazing things for body that should be celebrated!  Sometimes it can even be helpful to add a reward or consequence.  If you complete level one, reward yourself at the end of the week with a new shirt or a manicure.   If you mess up, your consequence might be that you are not allowed on social media for 3 days. (that's always my personal consequence!)

Speaking of messing up… If you do happen to fall off track one day, don’t beat yourself up.  We are human and we all make mistakes!  Don’t let one little tiny moment of weakness ruin your challenge for the entire month.  Brush it off and remember that each day is a NEW day.  Get right back on track the following day and keep reaching for your goals!  

If you have a juice extractor and plan to make your own fresh juice, the easiest way is to buy produce in bulk, juice 3-4 days at a time & store in mason jars.

If you don’t own a juice extractor, you can purchase cold pressed juices at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, or Squeezed Juice Bar.  You can also purchase freshly extracted juice at both Squeezed or Juice It Up.   Keva Juice has a few selections of freshly extracted juice, however keep in mind that if you order one with orange juice, they buy their orange juice from Odwalla & it’s not freshly extracted.  

Trader Joe's Cold Press Juices 

Whole Foods Cold Press Juices

As for the rest of your meals and snacks, try to stay as healthy as possible, but remember...BABY STEPS.   Your goal this month is to create a new healthy habit.   Don’t overwhelm yourself with so many diet restrictions and workout schedules that you quit a few days into your challenge.  And if you fall off track for a day, it’s not a reason to give up for the remainder of the month.  Be aware & make the right choices!

   

Your health is your most prized possession!  Take the actions you need to take to create the results you want. 

Summer Bodies are Made in the Winter 

The summer will be here before we know it! Just reminder that summer is only 3 months away. Don't spend this summer wishing you had started today! Be healthy and take care of your body and there never will be a "bikini season" 

I would love to see your photos and progress! Please tag me in any photos and use the hashtag  #sparklingfromtheinsideout 

Thanks for reading this week! Hope you enjoyed it :) 

XoXo 

Ashley 

5 Beauty Products I Love

5 Beauty Products I Love 

These are some of my all time favorite beauty products that I use daily!  For me, these products were game changers that became my essentials.  These are some of the very best beauty products on the market, in my opinion! I love them, I use them, and I recommend them!  

Chi Silk Infusion

This stuff is the real deal.  I have naturally curly hair, so whenever I straighten my hair, I try to avoid as much damage as possible. I ALWAYS use Chi Silk Infusion when straightening my hair.  I have tried many other serums when styling my hair and this is by far my favorite.  This product protects your hair from heat damage AND makes your hair feel silky and look shiny.  I can notice a big difference whenever I straighten my hair without using it. I also like this serum because it’s thin… it doesn’t leave your hair with that greasy feeling, which a lot of other serums do. It's a little expensive, however one bottle lasts forever.  I usually only use a small amount (dime size) before blow drying and then another small amount before flat ironing or curling.  

(Link Here...Sold at most drug stores) 

Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer 

I use to think that eye shadow primer wasn’t necessary until I tried Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion.  I love this primer because it makes your eye shadow last all day and night.  This product does a fantastic job of keeping your makeup in place!  Your eye shadow will not crease, budge, or fade! This primer has the best balance when it comes to texture.  It’s creamy, and easy to apply without being too creamy.  It’s easy to blend and a little bit goes a long way.  One tube lasts about a year with daily use! 

(Link Here...Sold at Sephora and Ulta) 

There are four different “potions” I prefer the Eden because it’s a matte primer.  The others have shimmer in them.   

Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheet 

I don’t like to re-apply makeup throughout the day so these babies are my saving grace.  Each pack comes with 50 sheets that you can blot your face with, removing the oil but not removing your makeup!  I have pretty oily skin, so I keep a pack of these in my purse and use them throughout the day.  I really dislike re-applying make up on an already dirty face, I think it’s harmful to the skin.  When I can do something to avoid a breakout, I take advantage of it! Love these things… I have been using them for years.  

(Link Here...Sold at most drug stores)

Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara 

 I looovveeee this mascara! It’s the best mascara on the market.  I have used several other name brand mascaras from expensive make up stores and I ALWAYS come back to this mascara.  The brush is perfect, very easy to apply.  I like the carbon black because it’s very black, giving your eye lashes a dramatic look.  It doesn’t flake, it comes off easily, it's not too thin or thick. I feel like it adds volume, length, doesn’t clump, and applies evenly! It’s just a really good mascara!  Whenever I go on modeling jobs, I check out the makeup artists collection of makeup and this specific mascara is used by almost all make up artists.   

(Link Here...Sold at most drug stores)

Instant Bronzer Shimmer Powder 

I received this as a gift years ago and have continued to purchase it ever since! I love this stuff… I don’t use it daily but I do use it a lot.  I love to dust myself in it for a little extra glow.  I feel like it gives my skin a pretty, sun kissed look! I usually sweep it on my chest, shoulders, arms and legs depending on what I’m wearing.  

(Link Here...Sold at Victoria’s Secret) 

I hope your week is off to a fabulous start and that you enjoyed this blog! 

I am very excited to share more of my beauty tips and tricks with you all! 

Xoxo 

Ashley 

Juicers I Recommend

Here is a short list of juicers that I recommend.  There are several other juicers on the market that most likely work just fine.  This list that I am sharing with you all are juicers that I have either used personally, or someone close to me has used and I know it works.  I also listed juicers that are reasonably priced.  There are definitely juicers on the market which are more expensive that are probably fantastic!  Again, this is just a small list of juicers that I know get the job done. 

The biggest thing to look out for when purchasing a juicer is that you are buying a JUICE EXTRACTOR and not a BLENDER.  

The Breville Juice Fountain Mulit-Speed $199.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond (make sure and use the 20% off coupon)

This is the one that I have used for over a year! 

The Jack Lalane $99.00 at Bed Bath and Beyond (make sure and use the 20% off coupon)

The Juice Bullet by Magic Bullet $79.00 at Target 

The Black and Decker $29.99 at Wal-Mart 

***Just a heads up with this juicer... the mouth (where you enter the fruit/veggies) is VERY SMALL.  You have to cut your fruit into very tiny pieces in order to get everything through.  I warn you about this only because juicing is a process and the more cutting you have to do, the longer it is going to take.  I only recommend this juicer because of the price ... not because of the efficiency.  If you decide to go with this juicer, please keep in mind that juicing would be WAY easier with another juicer that has a wider mouth! 

*** All of these juicers can also be found on amazon and craigslist! 

BLENDING: Everyone always asks me about the Nutribullet, Vitamix, and the Ninja.  Both the Nutribullet and the Ninja are smoothie makers.  What goes into them is exactly what comes out. There is no extracting involved. The main difference between a blender and juicer is the final product.  The texture and taste of a juice and smoothie are completely different. I've tried the same recipe in both a blender and a juicer and they tasted completely different. With a smoothie you are going to be getting more fiber because all of the pulp is left in the drink. 

Majority of the recipes on my blog are designed for juicers not blenders.  If you try to duplicate a recipe in your blender, it will most likely overflow! You will need to cut the ingredients WAY down in a blender and the taste for my recipes will be completely different as a smoothie because they were intended to be made as juices. 

JUICING: The sole purpose of a juicer is to extract the water and nutrients from fruits and vegetables. The produce will be fed through a strainer, which extracts all the liquid nutrients, and vitamins. Once the juicing process is done, you’re left with a liquid version of all your fruits and veggies, making it a lot easier to get your daily dose of nutrients. (Plus, it’s a lot easier to down a quick glass of veggies rather than trying to sit down and eat an entire plate full of vegetables!)  Juicing fruits and veggies provides us with a hefty dose of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that immediately nourishes our cells.  When you are juicing your final product should be 100% liquid with no pulp. 

I hope this clears up some of your questions.  I personally JUICED in order to lose the 40 pounds I lost, which is why I am so passionate about juicing.  There are benefits to both juicing and blending.  Like anything in life, balance is key! A good balance between juicing and blending will be life changing! 

Thank you for reading & keep sparkling!

xoxo 

Ashley 

2 KASA FOX Interview on Juicing

In case you missed it, here is the interview I did this morning with 2 KASA FOX!  

You can also CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL VIDEO!

A note from KASA.com 
"ALBUQUERQUE (KASA) – If you are looking to lose weight, clear your skin, and all around be healthier, we have found the website for you. It is called Sparkling from the Inside Out. What started out as a personal blog of Ashley Mora’s weight loss and health kick journey turned into great inspirational guide for people looking to do the same thing. We spoke with Ashley about her story, blog, and ways you can start on a path to a healthier you." 

http://kasa.com/2015/01/21/sparkling-from-the-inside-out/

My Top 3 Favorite Juice Cleanses

There are so many benefits to doing a juice cleanse! We take our cars for an oil change regularly, right?  I like to think of a juice cleanse as doing the same thing with my body.  Every now and then, we NEED to clean everything out.  A juice cleanse isn’t just for fast food addicts, it's for everyone.  We typically eat 3 meals a day with about 3 snacks.  It takes our bodies 18 hours to digest just one meal, which means that our digestive systems are working 24/7.  When you do a juice cleanse, you are giving your digestive system a much needed break! Typically, a juice cleanse is when you drink 6 fresh fruit and vegetable juices throughout the day.  I recommend that each juice is about 12-16 ounces, depending on the person.  A few of the benefits are: increased energy, regulated colon, repaired liver, better sleep, radiant complextion and hair, mental clarity, elimination of toxins, and weight loss.. just to name a few! 

Juicing can get expensive so purchase produce yourself and make your own.  Fresh juice is going to be the least expensive way to go about doing a juice cleanse.  However, we don't always have time for that.  I have tried a few different juice cleanses and these are my top 3 favorite juice cleanse that you can purchase pre-made! 

#1.  The Glow Bio Cleanse.  

I can't say enough good things about this cleanse! On the website, you will read that Kimberly's cleanse is, "more than just a typical cleanse" which is so true!  Kimberly has everything down to a science and has carefully planned out each drink to "maximize the cleanse experience." This cleanse offers a variety of options from a one day cleanse, to a seven day cleanse, and everything in between.  You can also choose between a beginner level 1 or a master level 2 cleanse.  This cleanse starts and ends with a smoothie, which is one reason why I love this cleanse so much.  The smoothies keep you full and help push everything out of your system.  Each day you are given a total of 8 products all of which taste delicious! Glow Bio uses all organic produce in their cleanse and they send very thorough instructions which I found helpful!  The best thing about this particular cleanse is that it's easy.  You will not only feel a change in your body, but you will notice a difference too!  For more information on this cleanse or to order one for yourself, Click HERE.http://www.myglowbio.com 

#2 Nekter Juice Cleanse 

 I stumbled across this juice bar while I was out of town in Phoenix, Arizona and I loved it! It's the cutest juice bar I have ever been to and they offer some really great products.  I ordered a 5 day juice cleanse from Nekter Juice Cleanse which I liked a lot.  This cleanse provides you with 6 products a day... all juices.  The last juice is a mix of cashew milk, vanilla bean, and cinnamon, which is a nice change and something to look forward to at the end of each day.  You also get a tasty lemonade in this cleanse that is to die for!  For more information on this cleanse or to order one for yourself, Click HERE. https://www.nekterjuicebar.com

#3 Squeezed Juice Bar Cleanse 

I love going to squeezed in Albuquerque, New Mexico!  It's by far my favorite juice bar in town and they offer some really delicious recipes! There isn't anything too fancy about this cleanse like there is with the first two, but I still enjoy this cleanse a lot.  You are given 6 juices per day.  All 6 are fruit and vegetable juices.  The nice thing about this cleanse (for those who live in abq) is that you do not have to pay for shipping!  5 of the 6 juices are VERY tasty... almost too good to be true.  You will get a juice in your cleanse called super juice which in my opinion can be a little rough.  Some people love it, but it's not my cup of tea.  You can also customize your order if you don't like certain juices.  My favorite cold pressed juices from squeezed are replenish, liquid sunshine, sweet burn, fatigue fighter, green machine, and thrive! All of those juices get five stars in my book! For the address to Squeezed and for more information on their cleanse, Click HERE http://www.squeezedjuices.com

Other places to purchase juice on the go.  

These are the juices that I give the ok to.  I always try and purchase juice as organic and fresh as possible.  Be careful when buying juice because the 100% juice label doesn't mean anything.  There is a difference between a marketing label and the ingredient list.  Read the ingredients on the label and if it says concentrated.. put it back! 

The worst "juice" to buy is:

v8 

Naked Juice 

Zico 

Odwalla 

POM 

Simple Orange 

Bolthouse Farms 

Tropicana 

Ocean Spray 

Minute Maid 

Del Monte 

Welch's 

The best juice to buy: 

Fresh Juice from a local juice bar 

Whole Foods sells fresh cold press juice that they make in stores.  I have found their cold press juice to be the least expensive.  They offer a variety of juices. 

Suja Juice (Health Food Stores, Sprouts, Whole Foods)

Suja Elements (Health Food Stores, Sprouts, Whole Foods)

Trader Joe's Cold Press Juice (Trader Joe's)

Evolution (Starbucks, Health Food Stores) 

If you are new to juicing, I highly recommend starting off SLOW.  Start swapping out one meal or one snack a day with a juice.  Choose recipes that you will enjoy... if you hate vegetables, you won't be able to jump into a straight veggie juice right away.  If you are interest in purchasing a juicer, click HERE for the list of juicers I recommend.  

If you need recipes for your own juice cleanse, click HERE for a list of 50+ Juice Recipes.

 Since I started juicing, I have lost a total of 40 lbs and have never been healthier in my entire life! If you are skeptical... just give it a try! What do you have to lose? When you feel good on the inside, you look good on the outside, which is why I always say, "When you sparkle on the inside, you radiate on the outside!" 

Keep Sparkling, 

xoxo 

Ashley 

For daily tips and recipes follow me on: 

Instagram: ashleynicolemora1 

Twitter: MissAshleyMoora

My Skin Care Secrets

Happy Friday! I am excited to say that I am going to be expanding Sparkling From The Inside Out into a health AND beauty blog! It’s important to me that Sparkling From The Inside Out is constantly evolving and growing. I truly believe that when you feel good, you look good and when you look good, you feel good! Outer beauty starts on the inside, and I want my website to help everyone optimize their natural beauty.  My hope is that with Sparkling From The Inside Out, you will be able to become the very best version of yourself and be the very best YOU, you can possibly be! With that being said, stay tuned for a lot of fun and exciting beauty tips and tricks that not only I use, but also secret tricks that professional make up artists and hairstylists use as well! 

I am kicking off this new endeavor with my all-time favorite skin care products and secrets! 

#1 Face Wash: Obaji.  I have used this face wash for over 13 years.  I had chronic keratosis pilaris growing up so I had to start using face wash at a very young age.  I have tried a lot of different face washes over the years… Clinique, MAC, Neutrogena, Proactive, & Clean and Clear. I have pretty much tried everything at one point or another and I have always resorted back to this one.  I love everything about it but I especially love the way my skin feels after I use it.  I highly recommend this product and in my opinion it’s best to invest a good face wash over anything else.  (my mom has also used this skin care line for YEARS and has beautiful, young skin!) Click HERE for information on Obaji.

#2 Face Lotion: Neutrogena Oil-Free.  I have also used this product for several years.  I have experimented with several other products but I enjoy this one and it’s inexpensive.  You can find it at almost every drug and grocery store.  Neutrogena has a few of the same kind (oil-free) that has sunscreen in it, but I personally do not like those.  I can feel a difference between the ones that have sunscreen and the one that doesn’t, so be on the look out!   Obaji has a face lotion called Vitamin-C that I like a lot too, but it’s pricey and I personally don’t find it necessary to use.  If you are dealing with a chronic skin problem then you may want to check into the Obaji lotion.  Obaji has a fantastic skin care line.  

#3 Juice: drinking just one juice a day can improve your skin.  Your skin is a reflection of your health.  Our liver is detoxing our bodies 24/7.  With all of the chemicals, processed food, sugar, alcohol, pollution, and other junk we put into our bodies, our liver has to work that much harder to cleanse all of those toxic chemicals out.  When the liver is being over worked, it recruits the skin.  There are other reasons that cause skin problems however, adding more natural fruits and veggies into your daily diet can certainly help decrease those issues.  

Juicing has several detoxing and cleansing benefits, but one of the most beneficial things juicing does is clean out the liver.  By cleaning out the liver, you will be able to clean up your skin.  By drinking just one juice a day, you are able to remove some of the toxins built up inside your body.  Fruits and Veggies that help with skin are: Carrots, Pineapple, Kale, Beets, Celery,  Lemon, Apple, and Cucumber.  

Juicing is also very hydrating to your cells and internal organs which reflects positively on your skin.  

#4 Exfoliate:  I like to use these little exfoliating pads about once a week just to make sure I completely remove everything.  I don’t like to exfoliate frequently because it feels too harsh on my skin. I purchase these at target .

#5 Never workout with make up on:  When you sweat, your pores open up so you do not want make up going directly into your pores.  Working out with make up on can cause breakouts.  

#6  Never go to bed with a dirty face: No matter how tired you are at night, always wash your face before going to bed! Our bodies naturally detox every night and it is so important that your pores are clean and clear! 

#7 Zit Cream:  Since I started juicing, I can’t say that I have had one break out.  I haven’t touched my acne cream once in almost two years, but prior to juicing I would break out occasionally and I would use Kate Somerville’s acne cream.  You can purchase this as Sephora.  

#8 Keep it simple:  As much as I want to say that I have all these cool little tricks up my sleeve, the truth is, I don’t.  Since I started juicing, I have been able to keep it really simple when taking care of my skin.  I don’t use foundation… I only use loose powder.  I only do face masks when I randomly have to urge to do so and I don’t spend a lot of money on skin care products.  

As I mentioned earlier, outer beauty starts on the inside.  Rather than investing and spending a ton of money on skin care products, try to invest in what you are putting into your refrigerator and pantry.  Start making small changes, such as incorporating one juice a day into your diet.  Slowly but surely start to expand your intake of natural fruits and veggies and I promise that your body will start to follow! 

XoXo 

Ashley 

For daily tips, tricks, and inspiration follow me on twitter: MissAshleyMoora

or  

On Instagram: ashleynicolemora1 

Happy Birthday Sparkling From The Inside Out

Celebrating one year of Sparkling From The Inside Out! 

Wow! I cannot believe today is Sparkling From The Inside Out's 1 year anniversary!  Today is a special day because not only am I extremely proud of Sparkling From The Inside Out, but today I am also celebrating 2 years of successful weight loss!  Throughout my entire life, I have struggled with weight.  I have never been "naturally thin" and up until 2 years ago, I had never been on a diet that lasted more than a few months.  

When I was 20 years old, I reached my heaviest weight.  I can't pinpoint exactly what caused the weight gain, all I know is that it's all fun and games until nothing in your closet fits you anymore.  I felt so embarrassed.  I would drastically alter my hair color every few months hoping that the change would make feel pretty or in hopes that a new hair color would motivate me to hit the gym.  Weird, I know!  Needless to say, I was not happy.  I didn't feel good... I was tired all the time, I was grumpy, I had constant headaches, my back always hurt, my stomach was always upset.  Something needed to change and the last thing I wanted was to go on another fad diet, lose some weight, and then in a few months gain even more back. 

When I decided to start preparing for Miss NM USA in January of 2013, someone recommended that I go on an all natural diet.  There were no protein shakes involved, no supplements, no low-carb/ high protein, no low fat, no nothing!  This was SO strange to me... I didn't know weight loss was even possible without some sort of shake.  This is how I got introduced to juicing!!!!! I needed to add more natural fruits and veggies to my diet and juicing was the perfect way to do it.  I'm not going to lie, I was skeptical.... Veggies were so not my thing and green drinks looked disgusting.  However, I was desperate for a change and nothing else I had tried before worked so I figured, why not?! 

From the moment I started juicing, the pounds literally started to melt off my body.  For the first time in my life I found something that not only worked, but was also easy, fun, and maintainable!  Today I weigh 40 lbs less than I did when I was 20 years old!  I have been able to maintain a healthy weight and keep the extra pounds off for the first time in my life (celebrating two years today!)  Sure, there have been a few bumps in the road every now and then, but the key to successful weight loss is balance.  When you can find balance while maintaining a new lifestyle, you can achieve anything! 

In the first three months I started juicing, I lost 30 lbs.  I went on to compete in Miss NM USA 2014 at my lowest weight yet. I was proud, I felt good, I was healthy, I was happy, I felt energized, and most importantly I felt like I was radiating.  I felt like I was Sparkling From The Inside Out.  One week later I started my blog in hopes that I could help at least one person feel that sense of accomplishment.  I knew this was one way I could leave my footprint in this world. 

After writing my first blog, my inbox was flooded with questions.  People wanted to know more! So, I continued blogging and sharing my experiences.  After the first few months, I started receiving messages such as, "you have inspired me, I just bought a juicer, I’m starting on Monday, I’ve already lost 5 lbs from juicing, you have motivated me to make a change in my life."  I was so inspired by all of the messages I received.  Throughout the year, I continued to receive messages from people saying that my blog helped them lose all their pregnancy weight, or that they were fitting back into their skinny jeans.  I even had people sharing that their skin and hair was healthier because they had started juicing after reading my blog.  I can't put into words how touched I am to know that I have made a difference, even if it’s a small one.  The best compliment in the entire world is when someone tells me I have motivated them to achieve their goals or that they think that I am inspiration. 

I am proud to have had over 50,000 views in over 35 different countries in one short year. I am now endorsed by Google and my blog has its own website with clean recipes, at-home workouts, and more!  As great as all of that is, I am even more proud of the success stories I have received from people across the world.  There is nothing that brings me greater joy than knowing that I have helped, motivated, or inspired someone.  I can only hope that this year brings even more inspiration and empowerment! 

So thank you all for following along this past year!  Sparkling From The Inside Out wouldn't be a success without all of you!  I wish you all the very best in 2015 and I hope that you make it your healthiest year yet.  When you feel good on the inside, you look good on the outside, which is why I always say, "When you sparkle on the inside, you radiate on the outside!" 

Keep Sparkling!!! 

Xoxo 

Ashley