people

This lucky girl was invited to attend rapper Nelly's annual Black & White Ball on December 21st in my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Gotta say, I was really excited. I've always loved Nelly's music but I was truly thrilled at the idea of going to a glam event that would surely bring good vibes to a recently damaged city and it's people following the events of Ferguson. I've touched on the topic a little HERE. I needed a dress and I had no time to shop for one! A stylist-blogger friend of mine by the name of NYCPretty (who knows more about fashion than any person I know) mentioned Rent The Runway to me. I'd heard of it but the idea of renting a dress was really foreign to me. Then again, the idea of spending hours--maybe even days--shopping for the perfect dress was something I just couldn't do ESPECIALLY during the height of Christmas-time shopping. Nope. So I headed to Rent The Runway's NYC Flatiron boutique after booking an appointment for a personal stylist session and...

There’s no turning down the lights on Carrie Underwood’s bright stardom because she just beat Beyonce to the punch of launching her own fitness line. The trend in activewear these days seems to be famous musicians starting their own fit collection. Makes perfect sense to me! I can only imagine how much these super stars have to workout to look so incredible, and a true diva likes to do things her own way. On Wednesday, December 10th 2014 in New York City, I listened to Carrie Underwood talk about what inspired her to launch her CALIA by Carrie Underwood collection with DICK’S Sporting Goods where it will be exclusively available for purchase starting March 2015.  She had needs—just like all women do—and she felt like many brands of fitness clothing weren’t being designed with the feminine fit and accents that women want to see when they look in the mirror. The collection is soft, feminine and versatile. The boldest print is a dark wild...

Priya Lawrence has 2 full-time jobs. She's a NY state registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a loving mother to Raina, 4, and Trevor, 1. Can you imagine having 2 jobs that require all your attention, passion and love? It seems nearly impossible to me...but Priya does it...and manages to show up on time, twice a week, to the bootcamp class where I met her. She's an outstandingly balanced health professional but says her workout never truly ends. Priya is constantly on the move for clients, and with her kids. I got a few snapshots of her juggling act as I FOLLOWED her on a routine neighborhood walk with Raina and Trevor through Madison Square Park. "I run a growing nutrition private practice, Tried and True Nutrition, Inc. with my business partner, Pam. We focus on empowering our clients to make healthy food and lifestyle choices thru one-on-one sessions, corporate wellness programs and group education." "As anyone with kids knows, my day starts early in the...

Dina Ivas is a yoga instructor at Equinox Fitness gyms in NYC. Lucky for me, she teaches at the location I belong to. Her classes are popular for their cardio component and twisty ab work. Dina has an infectious laugh and a penchant for fitness fashion. All of this naturally led me to FOLLOW her on her way to work. She detoured down the Highline and told me a bit about herself. "I grew up in a small town in New Hampshire where the most exciting thing to do was go to the mall, or get scorpion bowls at Grand China.  I knew I needed more, so when I graduated BU and was offered a PR job in Times Square, I took it.  I'd never been to New York but the pull was magnetic.  I love the energy here, and, at least for now, I still love the grind." "Bold, bright, never boring. I truly feel that what you wear can have a direct effect on how you feel, so I try to dress happy." "I always thought you had to be edgy to attract people to your...

It's been a while since I've gotten really personal. And the time for that is NOW. So here I go... Earlier this week I had an interesting thing happen to me. While meeting with a person (whose identity will remain unknown) that works in an aligned industry to my own, I was told--straight to my face with 100% eye contact--that I was "too pretty to be taken seriously".

Now I should probably give you the context of conversation so that you understand what it's in reference to. My goal for the last several years has been to become a wellness tv host or correspondent for fitness & health trends happening around the world. Basically I dream of doing what I do here on Mizzfit.com but through the medium of television. I'm passionate about what I do and I'd love to reach more women doing it! The person who threw this wild comment at me knows of my ambition and for some reason thinks I'm "too pretty" to earn people's trust and make it happen.

Deep breath.

This is where things...

Fred Devito is one of the founders of Core Fusion as well as a founding partner of the exquisite Exhale Spa locations around the world. He is widely known and incredibly respected in the fitness industry. I've learned a great deal from him, which you're going to hear all about.

What I've learned from Fred can be broken down in 3 stages of knowing him. There's the "DVD" Fred stage (consisting of many living room workouts...and intermissions to catch my breath), the "O.M.G. I just took class from the real-life Fred Devito" stage (and I wish he would look away so I can stop holding this awful pretzel pose), and lastly the "One To Admire" Fred stage. I should mention that Fred turned 57 on the day that I interviewed him for this article. He told me he'd been in the fitness game now for 30 years. I asked him if he planned to take a break and he said:

"I'll never stop doing this." - Fred Devito

1.  The "DVD" Fred stage

I got into barre-fitness workouts in 2007...