My Morning Routine + BBG

Lululemon Energy Sports Bra // Lululemon Align Pant (this color is sold out, 3 options) // Lululemon Tie It Up Singlet Top (untied in pics) // Nike Roshe Two 

Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey! I've never been a morning person, but over the years I have forced myself to get into a morning routine that starts at 4:45 AM Monday-Friday. Fitness is one of the most important regimens in my life, and I have my mother to thank for that. As a teenager, I struggled with a severe imbalance in my hormones, and the only thing that seemed to keep life somewhat even keel, was fitness. Bless my sweet mama's heart, she put up with a lot back then!

Like most young women in their 20's, I've tried everything from eating Paleo, to no carb diets, to working out with a trainer and now BBG. Generally, the diets are short lived and the results are mediocre, but BBG my friends, not so much. 

I am currently starting week 13 of Kayla Itsines 24 week program, and while it is seriously kicking my you know what - I'm addicted. I still eat clean as much as possible, but let's be real, I'm human and I cheat. Even with my cheat meals, the results are unmistakeable and keep me hungry for more. I absolutely loved working out with a trainer, but I love BBG even more. I think everyones body reacts to certain types of fitness differently, but this program was built perfectly for my 5'8' athletic build. 

BBG is an ebook or app (whichever you prefer, I prefer the app) that now contains 24 weeks (used to be 12 weeks) of 28 minute resistance workouts three days a week. I workout six total days a week, so the other three days I typically do 40 minutes of cardio on the eliptical or run on the treadmill. 

Therefore, my morning routine looks like this:

4:45 AM - wake up

5:15 AM - coffee is made, Swell bottle is full, and I'm out the door to the YMCA with an apple in hand (high in fiber)

5:30 AM - 15 minute warm up on the elliptical

5:45 AM T,TH,F - start 28 minute BBG workout

6:15 AM - stretch

6:30 AM - home to shower 

7:30 AM - out the door to work 

Sub 40 minutes of cardio starting at 5:45 AM on Mondays and Wednesday on the "off days".  Saturdays I come in later so I can sleep in.

For breakfast I try to eat some variation of eggs, or egg whites. Wether they are scrambled or hard-boiled, my body needs the protein to refuel. If I'm on the go and don't have time, Starbucks just came out with Sous Vide Egg White Bites that are low in calories and high in protein. 

For lunch, I almost always eat a salad with mixed greens, grilled chicken, a little avocado and balsamic dressing on the side. 

For dinner, we cook a variation of healthy options. I get bored with food easily so we try to keep it interesting! I think my favorite healthy dinner meal is Speedies chicken, roasted sweet potatoes or cauliflower rice, and brocolli or brocollini with a little lemon juice. 

Anyway, that's a little glimpse at my morning routine & workout regimen! I've gotten a ton of questions about BBG and my progress thus far, so I hope this is helpful to some of you! Please let me know if you're interested in seeing more fitness related posts like this one! As always, thanks for following along, xoxo.

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4 Must Have Lip Colors For Spring

 Sugar Lip Polish: It is essential to use a lip scrub like this before you apply lip color! This helps slough off dead skin while moisturizing at the same time to give you long lasting color.

Sugar lip balm in Honey: This is perfect for conditioning your lips while still adding color. I wear this to work all the time! 

Aside from my hair, I think my lip color is one of the most frequently asked questions! Like my jewelry, I keep my lip colors pretty modest. I tend to lean towards the nudes and light pinks, versus the purples and deep reds. Overall, I just think nudes and soft pinks look better with my skintone, and they're practical for daily wear (aka my corporate job). With that being said, because nudes are so subtle, I think a liner is necessary. I recently went to the mall with a girlfriend of mine to pick up a few new lip colors, and she was surprised I used a liner. I had her try on "Blankety" without a liner, and then try it on again with the "Spice" lip pencil, and she was shocked at the difference. Needless to say, she left the store with both. I think when people hear "liner", they think of grandma Betty and the hard line around her lips. But in all reality, if used properly, a liner should help your lips look fuller! They're also great to shade with! When applying my liner, I put it on before my lipstick and start from the corners of my lips and move inward. I then go over the liner with my desired lipstick color, and blend until smooth and full. I also like to add a little gloss over top of my color for a perfect polished look!  

My 4 Must-Have Lip Combos:

1. MAC Spice lip pencil + MAC Shy Girl cremesheen lipstick + bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie in Trailblazer

2. MAC Oak lip pencil + MAC Creme Cup cremesheen lipstick + Dior Lip Maximizer in 001 Pink

3. MAC Spice lip pencil + MAC Blankety amplified lipstick + bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie in Trailblazer

4. MAC Soar lip pencil + NARS Anita audacious lipstick + bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie in Hot Shot

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Sachi Down Coat

Sachi Down Coat // Lululemon Align Pants // Nike Roshe Two // Shop Ditto Prada Sunglasses // Beanie

If I coud choose a winter uniform, this would be it. I was on the hunt for a down coat before our trip to New York City in December, and snagged this one on sale (lucky me!). I won't lie, it was kind of an impulse buy, but I didn't want to be cold while we were exploring the city (and I really liked the color of this one). Little did I know, this coat has been beyond useful since then! I love throwing it on over my leggings to take Titan out, or before and after the gym. It even looks good with jeans and booties, too! My Nike obsession hasn't subsided yet either. These grey Roshe Two's are new, and sold out at Nordstrom in just a few days! Not to worry though, I found them in stock at Nike here!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I spent last weekend at a conference in Orlando, and while it was fun, I am happy to be home again! It's probably a little too soon to start talking about next weekend, but we are headed to Charleston Friday to check out wedding venues (eeekkk)! I can't wait to get down there! Be sure to keep up with us on Insta Stories as I'll be sharing the venues we are visiting there!

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BLANK NYC Moto Jacket & Shop DITTO

Blank NYC Moto Jacket // Free People Thermal // BP scarf sold out (similar here) // Vince Camuto booties // Jeans // Rebecca Minkoff Crossbody // Shop Ditto Prada Sunglasses

This one goes on my list of top 3 favorite winter outfits to date. I've been asked a few times what my "must-have" buys were from 2016, and this Blank NYC Moto Jacket is one of them. It comes in a ton of different colors, and a suede version as well (5 colors). I chose black because it's one of my favorite colors to wear (I get that from my mama) and I wanted to pick a color I would be able to pair with different looks. If you follow me on Instagram, you've also probably noticed me talking about this cream thermal. Ya'll, I cannot get enough of it! I now have it in 3 different colors, and I'm eyeing this one next. This also goes on the "must- have" buys of 2016 list. I wear them around the house, but you can easily dress them up like I did in this post. Not to mention, they're super soft and stretchy! 

My sunglasses are from Shop Ditto. Have ya'll heard of them? I discovered them recently, and love the concept. Basically, they have a virtual "try-on" technology that let's you see what a certain pair of glasses looks like on your face, from your computer screen. Then, when you find a pair of glasses you like, you pay 24/month and can keep them as long as you would like. When you're over them, you send them back to Ditto, and you can swap out for a new pair! Endless designer eyewear for 24 bucks a month, i'll take it! If you're not that into sunglasses, but would love a new pair of prescription readers regularly - they do that too! You can use code "thecheekybeen" at checkout to get your first month of Ditto free! 

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T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i Hair Dryer

T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i Hair Dryer (comes in black and white) // BP White Tee

Seeing as my haircare products, routine, and waves are the most asked question from you guys, I figured I would just do a post on it! Let me start by saying that if you haven't tried a T3 product, they are all amazing, and so worth the investment. If you're anything like me, it takes forever for your hair to dry and the morning routine is forever a struggle. I'm always looking for something that can cut down on the getting ready process, and this hair dryer does just that! My old hair dryer left my hair half dry, brittle and frizzy - ugh! The Featherweight Luxe dries my hair in record time, and leaves it shiny and smooth. The first time I used it, I actually didn't even straighten my hair afterwards because it felt so silky and soft and had no frizz! I actually texted my girlfriend Katy about it, because she loves their interchangeable wand, and was curious about the hair dryer too! I was in shock! The T3 uses an ion generator and SoftAire technology to create optimal results in record time. I shaved 10 minutes off my morning routine with this dryer, and truly think my hair is healthier from making the switch. If you need any more convincing at this point, they've also won two Allure Best of Beauty Awards for Best Hair Dryer and Best Breakthrough - so you know it's serious! This one goes on the "must-try" list. You can check out the rest of their products here!

Products I use for drying my hair:

1. KMS Free Shape Quick Blow Dry - I spray this in my hair when it's still damp - before blow drying! It helps speed up the drying process, and doesn't leave any type of residue! 

2. KMS Silk Sheen Leave-in Conditioner - I use this once a week on damp hair, right before I blow dry! My hair tends to get really dry and brittle, so this helps keep it conditioned and feeling soft! It also doesn't leave any residue, which is amazing because most leave-in conditioners I have tried, do.

3. Joico Finishing Spray - This is a firm hold hair spray. When I curl or wand my hair, I spray this on my dry hair first, before applying heat tools. This helps protect my hair from heat damage and allows my curls to hold for much longer! I also use this as a finishing touch, and it is brushable! 

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Hair Dryer c/o T3Micro, all opinions are my own.

2017 New Years Resolutions

Show Me Your Mumu Gomez Dress // BB Dakota Jacket (tan color here) // Sole Society Heels (dupe for Valentino, also comes in black) // Vera Bradley Clutch (on sale!) // similar Nadri Earrings // Similar Bracelet

2016, what a year it has been! As with many years, we had our fair share of ups and down! We shared tons of laughs with family and friends, tears over the good and the bad, we bought our first home, we traveled more than we stayed home, and we got engaged! While I am saying good riddance to this year, and welcoming 2017 with open arms, I can't help but be thankful for the many blessings we experienced. At the end of the day, everyone in my little family is happy, healthy, and full of love - and that's all that matters. 

With that being said, if this year has taught me anything - it's that patience is a virtue. I'm a planner and I'm a perfectionist. When things don't go as planned, I silently (or sometimes not so silently - sorry babe) freak out. Just about nothing went as planned this year and my emotions were tested more than I'd like to admit. God had his own plan, and mine didn't matter. He doesn't live by time tables, and his plan will always perservere. 

I spent a large portion of this year focusing on what wasn't perfect, and what didn't go as planned. Why wasn't I in control anymore? Why did I have to face so much adveristy while everyone else seemed to be having the best year of their lives? But you can't live that way. It didn't take me long to figure out that the world keeps on spinning, and how I reacted to the adversity I was faced with, was going to determine my destiny - wether I liked it, or not. 

So this year, I'm letting whatever God has in store for me, fuel my fire. I will work harder, I will become stronger, and I will never give up. If I don't accomplish all my goals, it's okay because there's probably a plan far greater than my own in the works.  So here's to 2017, and all it's beautiful imperfections! 

2017 New Years Resolutions

1. Be less of a perfectionist and be okay with His plan

2. Create a budget and stick to it

3. LLC The Cheeky Been

4.  Workout 6 days a week, with at least 40 minutes of cardio per day

5. Print more pictures 

6. Eat less sugar (I have the biggest sweet tooth!)

What are your resolutions? 

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MY MAKEUP:

How He Asked: Our Engagement Story

Michael Kors Puffer Jacket (also here) // Gloves // Leggings // Booties // Beanie

How We Met:

Shane and I have an intereting story as to how we met. I was getting ready to graduate from Clemson, and was going through the interview process with my current company, when Shane actually interviewed me. It was one of those cheesy moments, where you felt a connection with someone you've only known for 2 minutes. "Love at first sight" if you will. I ended up getting the job, and decided to put my feelings aside and focus solely on my career. Afterall, that's why I was there! Not long after I started, a co-worker of mine brought to my attention that Shane and I actually lived in the same neighborhood (this was not planned)! She needed help with watching his 3 lb Teacup Maltese (the girliest dog of all time) while he was out of town, and solicited me for the job. This is basically where our story begins. In exchange for my dog sitting services, Shane offered to take me to dinner as a "thank you." At the time, I was making zero money with my new role and jumped at any opportunity for dinner out. After this initial dinner, the offers for additional dinners and sweet little nothing texts started rolling in! He even offered to run the rail trail with me at 5 AM before work (this was a dead giveaway, because he isnt a morning person)! I kept telling myself this was a very bad idea, as I actually really liked my job! But, you can't help who you love, so for the next year and a half we kept our relationship a secret. No social media, no double dates with your bff's, no confiding in your best friends about relationship topics, etc. Only our families knew (although our friends were suspicious)! In May of 2015, Shane was invited to a co-workers wedding and decided he was done attending weddings solo. This meant everyone at that wedding was going to know we were dating, if we showed up together! We were prepared for the consequences at work, but ready to move on to the next phase. To my surprise, my then boss, walked up to us and said "is this finally the coming out?!", "I've been waiting for this day for forever!". Uhm, what!? Due to our roles, we were the exception to the rule, and both still work for the same company! 

How He Asked:

We love to travel! Thankfully we are blessed with tons of air miles and hotel points that allow us to see the world together! I had never been to New York City at Christmas, and was begging Shane to take me! He is from upstate New York, and travels there for work regularly. I suggested meeting him there after work on a Friday before the holidays, but we only had one weekend available in December to make that happen! In true Shane fashion, he ended up booking the hotel and flights without me knowing and told me to "pack my bags, we're going to NYC babe!" on FaceTime one night! Eeeek, I felt like a kid in a candy store! What should I wear, where should we eat, what should we go see first!? My mind was all over the place, and I couldn't wait to get there. Fast forward to that weekend. We arrived in New York City after work on Friday, went to the JW Marriott Essex House to check-in and change clothes, and then had dinner reservations at Nobu. While we were getting ready, Shane mentioned he forgot toothpaste and that he was going to walk to the front desk to get some. Little did I know, the hotel manager actually had my ring (insert covering eyes monkey emoji), and he was going downstairs to meet her for it! Saturday we woke up to NYC's first snow of the season! Central Park had a blanket of white over it, and everything just looked magical. We went and had breakfast, perused around 5th Ave, had coffee at Ralphs and then Shane suggested a carriage ride around Central Park. After the ride was over, Shane asked our guide if he could take us to Glasgow Bridge. To his surprise, the guide actually said NO! What??! Shane knew we had to get there, because he had hired a photographer who was waiting for us. He typed the bridge into his maps app, and it was a 29 minute walk away! Our fingers and toes were numb, the snow was getting slushy, and I was 100% questioning if we really needed to go to it! Shane made up a quick story about how his mother had a picture at that very bridge as a child, and really wanted him to take one infront of it too! It was the only picture she asked for all weekend. So obviously, I was going to walk there. As we approached the bridge, this woman came out of nowehere and asked us if we would like our picture taken infront of it! I'm obviously all about a photo op, so I was thrilled (that's what's happening in the first picture of this post). After she handed me my camera back, I looked at Shane and asked him if he wanted me to get a picture of just him in front of it for his mom. He said "yes, but I need to ask you something"! In my mind, I was like "ok, what?" - not having a single clue what was coming! In this moment, Shane had a small speech about our relationship, this year, etc. and then proceeded to get down on one knee in the snow, to ask me to marry him!! Ahhhhh, I was crying, laughing, shaking, you name it! Did this really just happen!? To me?! Nothing but pure bliss and happy tears followed. The happiest day of my life had just happened, in Central Park, in the snow, right before Christmas. I couldn't have even dreamed of a better fairy tale engagement, I'm still tearing up and grinning from ear to ear as I write this!! It was perfect. 

That's our fairytale! With that being said, I would love to hear any reccommendations you have or things you wish you would've known in terms of the wedding planning process! I'm going to need all the advice I can get, so comment away!! 

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