What's Going On?

Hi Beautifuls! Happy Monday morning! I sit here still reeling from the events that have transpired over past 10 days, I am so excited to see my visions lining up!!!! I am blasting the 4 Non Blondes - What's Going On song in my earbuds at Sbucks and feel that that is a legitimate question for the day... What in the H-bomb is going ON?? Well.. in the world of Lizzie Bananas, we are busy busy.. Thanks to the beautiful girls at Lululemon Showroom I have a workshop coming up on Tuesday, September 28th to show all of you Fit and Fabulous ladies what we can do together to get your life in order! From advice on a detoxifying diet, to ridding your closet of the old and unused, to a cleansing yoga session we will cover it all; Mind, body, and CLOSET! I will keep you posted on the complimentary event but keep your eye out for postings on Lululemon Athletica Charlotte's FB page as well as The Fit Fashion Review FB page!

This weekend was a HUGE weekend in fashion and music and I hope that you all were able to tune in to some of these exciting events! The VMA's were huge last night with Lady Gaga racking up 8 awards including the Video of the Year for Bad Romance! - Don't be jealous but LB will be with the Gags next Sunday in Raleigh for her big show at the RBC center, I will definitely blog about my experience at a live performance of Gaga's! Florence and the Machine delivered an inspiring performance of Dog Days and Taylor Swift blew me away with her mature and elegant display of perfection!

NYC's Fashion Night Out 2010 came to a close on September 10th and was truly inspiring for the Fall season! For some of us money savvy, Fit and Fabulous girls, the first place I would check out for Fall fashion is Madewell!! Alexa Chung designed a collection for Madewell that dropped this past Saturday in stores. The line is made up of cool printed T's, layering pieces, peacoat inspired jackets, stripes, and feminine dresses. This will surely sell out so pop into your closest Madewell and check her out!

Well Dolls, Thanks for tuning in as always! I will be writing more frequently to keep you updated on Yoga classes, Kettlebell classes, and events that I will be hosting!!


This week's Yoga class schedule:
Tuesday:
5:30pm - 6:30 pm - 2918 Duvalla ave Charlotte, NC
(loved having class at my house so much I am going to do it again this week!)
Thursday:
3:00 - 4:00pm - 2918 Duvalla Ave Charlotte, NC

Many Thanks!

xoxo,
LB -

Elizabeth Upchurch
elizabethupchurch@gmail.com
910.639.5598

California Dreamin'

B-E-A-UTIFULs!!! If you aren't OB-sessed already with Katy Perry and her new CD, Teenage Dream, well then it is time to pick up a copy of the COTTON CANDY scented, yes, the CD smells like the strawberry shortcake dolls of our younger years, and start jamming! If you are tired of California Girls then that is certainly understandable but do NOT let it deter you from listening to every other song on this CD because it is so good and the perfect mix to say goodbye to the boys of summer. The CD kicks off with Teenage Dream, which for me breaks my heart right now but is still a favorite amongst the fit and fab. #2..... OMG it is Katy's best on the CD! The Song is called T.G.I.F. and is a fun, going out song, that breaks off into an electric sax rendition at the end that makes you want to kick up your feet like you are at The Max with Slater and Lisa Turtle! Following that, comes Cali Girls, then Peacock and Firework which are the next 2 songs to be released to your local DJ's. Circle the Drain has caused quite a stir for KP as it is a song that she wrote taking some major digs at Travie McCoy, her ex, about his inadequacies in bed, pill popping antics, and childish ways! It's awesome and definitely shows a rock and roll side of our girl. My favorite song on the entire CD is The One That Got Away.. when she says "I was June and you were my Johnny Cash, never one with out the other, we made a pact.. Sometimes when I miss you I put those records on... Ughh it kills my little black heart but is SUCH a great song! Anyway, I won't spoil the rest but there are 5 more tracks that will melt your popsicle as well as 2 hidden tracks .. which I won't spoil BUT I will say that Passion Pit is behind the remix's. I hope you all are able to pick up this gem and enjoy it as I have with my KettleKore girls, on roadtrips to the beach, and cruising for boys with Lo.... Speaking of.. Lori's favorite is E.T. so definitely give that one a listen ;) - "Infect me with your loving, fill me with your poison!" Thanks for reading Dolls! I will be in touch soon with anything and everything fit and fab!

xoxo,
LB

P.S. I am having a 3:00 pm Yoga class today, Thursday, September 9th, at my home "studio" If you are interested then please email me at elizabethupchurch@gmail.com

Also if you haven't "liked" The Fit Fashion Review page on Facebook yet, then please do so. It is definitely the place where I update everyone on class times and add photo's to posts!

Out with the old, in with the new!

Hi Beauts! Lizzie Bananas is back. I went on a little hiatus and am starting fresh today! Although it is Tuesday, I like to pretend it's Monday, hell, I will pretend it's New Year's Day because I am truly wiping the slate clean and starting over. I am excited to tell you all that I am going in a new and exciting direction with my career and lifestyle! As we all do, I lost sight of a few things during a very hectic time in my life and am ready to settle down and focus on what is important.. Likeee... Nutrition, health, fitness, Yoga, Kettlebells, and all of the very important people in my life. First and foremost, I AM FOR HIRE :) Yes, LB, your girl, can be your any and everything to help organize your life and get your butt in shape! As Fall is right here, right now, I will be assisting many of you with your Fall wardrobe. Starting this week, I will be helping all of my FIT and FABULOUS friends cleanse their closets of the old and unnecessary, move in your Fall clothes, move OUT Summer, and figure out what you need for the upcoming season. I will also be teaching private yoga and personal training sessions, Kettlekore and Yoga classes at ATC, as well as having a presence at Charlotte Yoga (THANK YOU DIANE!) I am thrilled to start this new chapter of my life and hope that I can be of assistance to all of you fit and fab ladies! Please feel free to email me at elizabethupchurch@gmail.com if you have any questions or ideas because I know I can't do this without you all!!

Loves,
Lizzie Bananas
Yogi/trainer/stylist for hire!

Queen City Cuisine

Hello my Beauts! I hope that all is well with you. I am excited to let you all in on a few of my newest favorite restaurant finds in the QC! At the thought of losing a staple restaurant like Las Ramblas, my very favorite, spanish tapas restaurant in Dilworth, I felt as though the owners - the masterminds behind Bonterra - had made a huge mistake taking this gem out of the neighborhood... after hearing the "agenda" I may be beginning to think otherwise. The once Las Ramblas located on Park Rd is now called Sunset Grille. It offers a wide range of comfort food from flatbread pizzas, sandwiches, and wood-fired burgers. Las Ramblas is not lost in the concept though... two of the best tapas dishes from the OG menu- now called "appetizers" are offered daily... The goat cheese cakes with apricot honey reduction, roasted garlic, and toasted almonds and the P.E.I. mussels. Las Ramblas is not gone for good though, do not be mistaken, the entire tapas menu is offered on Monday nights, including their signature Sangria, and a relocation/upgrade to LR is now in the works! Hopefully it will stay in the neighborhood!

On to the next... Southpark's newest sushi restaurant is amazing! Cyros Sushi and Sake Bar, located beside Rooster's on Morrison, began at Dean and Deluca Wine Bar in Phillips Place. If you have ever tried the Sushi menu at D&DWB then you understand the delicious and original concoctions that these talented chef's have been working into Menu's all over the QC. The Sushi chefs at Cyros have experience at Rooster's Wine Bar, PRESS, and Dolce Vita and have brought it all home to the newly opened Cyros. On a quiet Monday night at 9 pm on Sunday you can rarely find a crowd at any restaurant but Cyros was packed, the food and service was amazing, and was a perfect date night spot!

I will let you all find out for yourselves about these two but I think that you may be satisfied with either and those of you that need to visit soon, ahem... I can't wait to take you to one of these!

Enjoy!

- LB

A Day of Booty

Hi Beauts! Yes you read it correctly - 24, whole hours, of BOOTY! Starting tonight at 7:00 pm cyclist bike the infamous 3 mile Booty Loop, through Queens University in beautiful Myers Park, for 24 hours to benefit The Lance Armstrong Foundation. This is the 9th annual, 24 Hours of Booty, charity ride to take place in the Queen City. To participate the 1200 expected bikers can make the loop as many or as few times as they would like but the true devotees set up camp in Bootyville and only rest and eat when necessary and bike the 24 hours. Bootyville, located in the heart of the loop becomes a little city in itself providing food, music, camp, and even yoga classes to stretch out their weary bodies before hopping on the bicycle for more! Don't be mistaken though, everyone is welcome in Bootyville! LB hasn't ridden a bike since the 'ol toss and tumble in Boone on the way to class sophmore year but I am going to hop on the back of a certain someone's Ducati to see what the fuss is about! Hope to see you all there! Surrounding roads are closed off until 6 am on Saturday including, Queens Rd, Selwyn Ave, Queens Rd West, and Hopedale Ave !

Loves,
LB

A Trip to the Motherland and All I Got was This Lousy Tan...

As I scraped the bottom of yet another empty bottle of product I finally decided it was time to take a trip to the Motherland and pick up some new goods! SEPHORAA - Get ready for the always inquisitive Lizzie Bananas! As always I asked every Bleach Blonde - MAC employee impersonator - in there a trillion questions trying to find the best self tanner, hairspray, morrocan oil, and pimple treater in stock.. I have some bad news and some good.. Starting with the bad - Frederick Fekkai is NO LONGER sold at Sephora!! Good News - you can now find it at your local TARGET (not kidding). Bad News - I tried Kate Somerville's, Somer 360, self-tanner wipes... Major disappointment. They left me with little color AND average to be about 6$ a wipe.. LB would have to go through the whole box to get the bronze glow I am looking for in a tanner. Good News - The NEXT self tanner I will be testing out is our favorite Jailbird's, Li-Lo, Sevin Nyne - WILL keep you posted on the results of that review.

Hairspray - so, yes, it is very 80's of me but I realized that a little hairspray for shine and control has become my MO for curly days! I had been using Aveda's Brilliant hold and shine spray but it was leaving me sticky and tangled. I picked up Oscar Blandi's Lacca Hairspray - LOVE IT! It smells like Jessica McClintoch perfume and feels light like a shine spray but holds very well. It uses sugar for hold and honey for shine and is exclusive to the Motherland! 5 stars for this! I'm sold!

So Moroccon Oil- Keep hearing about how great Moroccon Argan oil is for skin, hair, nails, you name it! So I have dry skin, dry hair and I new that this may be a great product to have around for those super dry days! JOSIE MARAN ARGAN OIL. After hearing from my Lady Gaga wannabe sales girl that THIS was THE ONLY ARGAN Oil I should be using.. I must agree... It is just what I needed. After a long hot shower I applied the oil to my face, ran it through my hair, and finished by rubbing the excess into my hands. I woke up still feeling dewy and my hair was super shiny - cuticles conditioned too! A+.

Lastly, I picked up a product that I had the chance to try a month ago when visiting my favorite Kelly women at the beach.. (NO SLEEP TIL BK.. THANK YOU FOR THIS) The Boscia Willow Bark Breakout Treatment is AMAZING! My first experience it wiped out a nasty little pimple in 2 days.. it literally brought it to the surface and i peeled it off like dried toothpast 48 hrs later. no scar, no red mark!! I always feel like I am fighting a little guy right around my chin area and am always looking for the quickest remedy. I have reviewed the PTR in the past and thought it to be wonderful, but Peter, You ain't got nothin' on this one.. Thanks again Bets for introducing me to this one.. it's found a permanent spot in the regimen!

Well Gals, this is all I've got for today! I hope that it is helpful for any of you looking around for the best of the best products..

Thanks for tuning in!

xoxo,
LB

Say Goodbye to our Gals in Hollywood

Oh Boohoo, I am soo down right now as I watch the last episode of The Hills... EVER. We have known little Kristin Cav since she was but a mere tween... and LO, well Lo has always been the mirror image of my little LeLe... Why Brody, Why must you break all of our hearts with these odd girls like Jayde Nicole and Avril... eeek! As much as I used to think Stephanie Pratt was the biggest iD on the planet, and Audrina to be just a little trashy.. I will miss their company. They have been friends to all of us and LB will cry for our girls and guys and long for the always confused gaze of Frankie, as he becomes increasingly perplexed by Spencer's antics.

As bummed as I am about the ending of an era, I am really excited about a few upcoming things in the world of LB! I am having a Kettlebell Workshop this Thursday evening at 6:00 pm at the Lululemon Showroom located at 1318-A9 Central Avenue Charlotte, NC 28205! If you are unsure of where that is I will explain.... If you are sitting on the porch at SOUL.. our favorite Gastro Lounge... then look to the left at the brick buildings with archways.. it is back there with the signature Lululemon stylized A logo on the door, behind the Junior League Warehouse and right near Bang Bang salon. Got it? Great!! I can't wait to see you there. If you would like to facebook me for more information or to RSVP then please do so! I hope you all can make it to this Complimentary class!!

xoxo,
LB