Category Archives: Fitness

Products to Kick-Start your New Year’s Resolution

12 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by in Au Naturale, Fashion, Fitness, Life[style], Product Reviews, Shopping, Snacks

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy New Year!  How’s everyone doing with their New Year’s resolutions?  I’m committed to feeling fit, healthy & energized this year and wanted to share a few products that are helping me along the way:

  • Breakfast with Back to the Roots cereals:  It’s a new year, start it clean. For this Cali-based organic food start-up, there is nothing more personal or important than what we eat and put in our bodies 3x a day. They’re’re passionate about “Undoing Food” and creating sustainable, delicious products to help kids and families reconnect with their food and how it’s grown. These organic cereals are found online or at Whole Foods and boast just 3-4 ingredients each…simple, natural & healthy way to start my day!cereal
  • Coffee with NextSugar:  There’s a new sugar alternative on the market that is finally delivering the solution that so many people (including health researchers & medical professionals) have been waiting for: NextSugar. NextSugar is the world’s first low glycemic, non-GMO and Kosher natural cane sugar that has a sweetness intensity and profile of conventional sugar, but with a groundbreaking advantage: its unique composition naturally and safely blocks up to 50% of the sugar from being absorbed by the body. AND it’s suitable for any traditional use of sugar, such as baking, cooking and sweetening.

next-sugar

  • Organic deodorant & lip balm from Green Goo:  This new year, start fresh by making a few healthy swaps with your daily body care products! This organic skincare line provides pure, natural and healing ingredients to nourish skin. Green Goo believes in using only the highest-quality, natural, beneficial ingredients the earth has to offer… food for your skin!

green-goo

  • New black jeans from SlimSation:  Never underestimate the power of great fitting, ankle-cut black pants. The goal isn’t only to look on-trend, but to look fit at the same time. SlimSation is a women’s clothing brand offering the highest form of comfort. Their ankle pants, skirts, and jeans are all made with a flexible tummy control panel. These panels work to contour your waist, slim your tummy, and shape your hips, all while keeping you comfy. They move with you, keeping your figure looking great throughout the day, whether you’re working, playing, or running errands. Plus, the secret slimming panel can’t be seen, but the effects of it are unmissable. pants

Life[style]: Sept. ’16 — Back-to-School Goodies for Mom

15 Thursday Sep 2016

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, Everyday Joie, Fitness, Life[style], Motherhood, Product Reviews, Shopping

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Now that we’re mid-September and in the shadow of back-to-school everything, I thought I’d share a few goodies that have helped me make the transition.  Now, my little one is only in a half-day preschool program twice a week, so I cannot empathize with the Xena Warrior Mamas who shuttle to/from school 5 days a week, coach/attend practice, and then simultaneously cook dinner/pack lunches for the next day.  I haven’t yet been able to relate to that big back-to-school stress, BUT I can empathize with adjusting to the change of swinging back into a routine…  getting up a bit earlier, meal planning, being more productive, and saying sayonara to the unstructured days of summer.  Here’s my review on a healthy snack option, a drink for my fitness friends, and a nifty refresh pack that comes in handy MacGyver-style no matter where your mom-mobile takes ya.

Crunchies:  This new & tasty line of all-natural, freeze-dried fruit and vegetable snacks contains just one simple, authentic ingredient:  fresh produce.  Crunchies has developed a snack food that’s not just addictive and delicious but packed with impressive nutrition to boot.  Hello, my new lunchbox go-to!

crunchies

Available in both single-serve packs and larger grab-n-go resealable pouches, Crunchies freeze-dried products provide a much-needed respite from junk foods and other processed snacks.  They contain no added sugar and no artificial flavors or coloring and are non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, kosher and halal certified.  Crunchies’ product line includes strawberries, mango, pineapple, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, cinnamon apple, strawberry banana, mixed fruit and beets.

Jet Set Kit by Savvy Travelers:  Originally designed for frequent fliers, this handy box o’ beauty & wellness is just as valuable for on-the-go moms.  Savvy Travelers offers a no-rinse line of disposable yet eco-friendly products –Made in Cali– that help keep us feelin’ so fresh & so clean clean.  Their individually wrapped cosmetic wipes are curated for the sophisticated savvy travelista!  savvy-traveler

No Water?  –No Problem!  This line of pre-packaged kits with single-use individually wrapped beauty wipes, such as the “Jet Set Kit” (featured here) contains 4 antiperspirant deodorant wipes, 4 mouth cleansing wipes, 4 cleansing and moisturizing wipes for the face and 4 lens and screen cleaning wipes.  These are a savior in the school pick-up line when you’re stuck in the car but still want freshen up, making all that running around we do more convenient and healthier all around.

CitraGreen Sport:  As we continue to face the new school year head-on, many parents are concerned with keeping illness away, especially with the fall and winter months approaching.  CitraGreen is a way to maintain the essential nutrients and vitamins we need daily just by simply dissolving a tablet in 8 ounces of water.  Now, I’ve reviewed CitraGreen before, but I wanted to be sure and share their gym supplement offering, too!

citragreen-sport

Benefits of CitraGreen Sport:

  • Sports recovery offered during and post-exercise with electrolytes POTASSIUM, CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, PHOSPHOROUS, IRON + 4 more essential minerals.
  • Contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Iron for a healthy immune system.
  • Contains Vitamin E, Manganese and Selenium antioxidants which contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
  • Complete Vitamin B complex (6 B Vitamins) to combat Vitamin B deficiency and boost energy levels – with Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B12 and Iron which contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Also contains Vitamin B1.
  • Contains Vitamins D2 (ergocalciferol) which, like many Vitamin D foods, fights to combat symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency or low Vitamin D.
  • Suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets with organic wheatgrass.
  • No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

Life[style]: May ’16 – Spring Cleaning from the Inside Out with CitraGreen, Epsoak & Woolite Darks

17 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by in Au Naturale, Fitness, Life[style], Product Reviews, Shopping

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy Spring!  Love this season of rebirth and renewal.  I like a clean home, but I’m getting more & more into clean living these days.  I really want to be the healthiest version of myself for my family.  No matter if I’m sleep-deprived or overwhelmed emotionally, if I’m feeling healthy & strong I know I can take on the day.  Here are some new products I’ve tried to do a little spring cleaning from the inside out:

CitraGreen:  As a superfood, the potential health benefits of wheatgrass are numerous, but reaping them can be hard to stomach given the supplement’s bitter-tasting notoriety. Enter the world’s first effervescent wheatgrass tablets that transform the superfood into a convenient, palatable superdrink.  CitraGreen wheatgrass supplement reviewThe benefits of this mighty little wheatgrass supplement include:

  • 20 essential nutrients
  • Antioxidant cell protection
  • Immune support
  • B Vitamins for energy
  • Electrolytes for recovery
  • Suitable for vegans and gluten-free
  • No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
  • Re-hydration and recovery both during and post-exercise

In addition, CitraGreen is ultra-easy to use. Simply drop one tablet into a cup (eight ounces) of water, wait one minute and voila. Gritless and mess-free, just literally add water and enjoy.  It’s easy as that & ready to go, with no mixing or stirring required and has a nice natural lemon flavor.

Epsoak:  Any other mamas love a good long bath???  These days, that time to myself enjoying a good soak is basically equalivent to a spa day.  I’ve found that Epsoak Epsom Salt from San Francisco Salt Company offers the best quality epsom salt at the best value. Epsoak epsom salt for bath review

They even make varieties that include essential oils like lavender and eucalyptus!  Epsom salts help soothe muscle pain, cleanse pores, and detoxify the skin and contain Magnesium and Sulfur, which helps:

  • Ease stress and improve sleep and concentration
  • Muscles and nerves function properly
  • Regulate activity of 325+ enzymes
  • Reduce inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps
  • Improve oxygen use
  • Flush toxins
  • Improve absorption of nutrients
  • Form joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins

Woolite Darks:  And finally, a new product to keep my clothes clean without the worry of fading, shrinking or stretching!  Apparently this Woolite formula has an active ingredient that is especially excellent at preventing color fade and transfer.  Plus, the company recently paired with Dress for Success to create the #ShareConfidence campaign, encouraging women to be confident and pay it forward — check out the heartwarming video here.Woolite darks

My finds from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

19 Sunday Jul 2015

Posted by in Fashion, Fitness, Shopping

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Have y’all checked out the this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale yet?  It’s my favorite sale of the year and we do a lot of our Fall shopping during this time.  My picks this year are just no-fail closet staples:  tees, workout wear, and classic cashmere.  It’s always a win when you can find high-end basics at a reduced price!  Slide1

Clockwise beginning from top left:

1.  Nike ‘Venom Tempo’ Dri-FIT Shorts & ‘Tempo’ Track Shorts:  Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to commit to a regular gym routine since my baby was born.  BUT, what we do love are our regular evening walks around the new ‘hood just before her bedtime.  These shorts will serve me well outdoors during our hot Texas summers.  I went with a fun print (hello, hot pink leopard!) and a classic black.

2.  Nike ‘Performance’ No-Show Socks (3-pack):  Quality no-show socks are hard to come by!  I’ve tried several cheaper brands and they usually slip off at the heel or the elastic wears out prematurely.  My other Nike socks are the best I’ve got — slow to wear out and quite breathable.  I don’t ever see them marked down, so this was a solid buy in my book.

3.  Nike ‘Free Flyknit 5.0 TR’ Training Shoe:  Because, new shoes.  And if I’m going to be doing the utilitarian mom look in public, I might as well have fresh clean kicks.  Grocery store runs deserve a dose of cute, too.

4.  Halogen Relaxed Slub Knit U-Neck Tee:  Another great Anniversary Sale staple!  I nabbed this classic white tee because of the nice lightweight cotton fabric and the super-flattering fit.  Trust me, the V-neck tees at Target aren’t cut as well or feel as soft — this one is on sale at a similar pricepoint so definitely check them out!

5.  Halogen Zip Back Cashmere Sweater:  A go-with-anything, dress-up or dress-down topper.  With temps in the 100s later this week, I won’t be able to wear this Fall find for awhile, but the cashmere material stretches it between seasons.  Love the longer length & all the prints & colors.

Gym Bag Beauty Essentials

15 Friday May 2015

Posted by in Beauty, Fitness, Shopping

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

Summer is fast approaching and it has suddenly hit me that bikini season is around the corner.  Although we all know we feel better after a gym session, let’s face it – finding time to work out is HARD.  That being said, a great starting point is to prep your gym bag with all the essentials.  Keep your gym bag stocked and ready to go with the below necessities:

gym bag beauty essentials

1.       Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths in Energize: Keep up with your active lifestyle with ease. Try Ban® Total Refresh® Cooling Body Cloths to instantly cool the back of your neck and décolleté or use for an all-over refresh during any transitional moment day or night.

2.       David Kirsch Wellness Kirschbar: Created by fitness expert David Kirsch, the KIRSCHBAR is the only meal-replacement bar gives you all the nutrition you need for a completely satisfying meal or post-workout snack: it’s 100% natural, gluten-free and is made from 20 grams of high quality, easily digestible protein and 6 grams of fiber.

3.       KMS California HAIRPLAY makeover spray: Dry cleansing and instant style renewal. Split-second style refresher. Absorbs oil and builds bulk to refresh limp or day-old styles. Great for quick style touch-ups and in-between shampoos.

4.       Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Mini Deodorant: The perfect deodorant to throw in your gym bag! This all-natural, freshly scented deodorant provides superior, long-lasting odor protection. Soothing essential oils blend with powerful anti-oxidants and beta glucan technology for daily defense and nourishment.

5.       Rimmel London Wonder’lash Mascara with Argan Oil in Waterproof: You can now get the Moroccan Argan oil your hair loves in a Rimmel mascara with new Wonder’lash Mascara with Argan Oil. Condition lashes and break through clumps for full, smooth volume. The unique brush’s super-soft bristles hug and coat each lash, perfectly separating them from root to tip. Even small corner lashes are dramatically transformed for an effortlessly eye-catching look. Lashes are left smoother, sleeker, and more defined than ever.

6.       Orico London Coco Spritz: An all day coco boost! With just one spritz, your skin will be cleansed, nourished and protected. The main ingredient, Coconut Water, is an excellent humectant and intensely hydrated and locks in moisture to encourage a healthy radiant complexion – especially after perspiring. The nutrients in each bottle provide anti-bacterial and antioxidant benefits to reduce the appearance of blemishes or redness, too.

7.       Scunci Everyday & Active™ 3x Stronger Braided Hair Ties: A No Damage braided weave creates a hold three times stronger than regular no metal elastics to keep hair out of sight and out of mind.

8.       NYC New York Color Smooth Skin BB Crème Instant Matte: Refine your skin instantly with this long-wearing crème with an effortlessly matte finish. Smoothing and hydrating, this crème leaves skin looking healthy and silky-smooth without even a hint of shine.

9.       Burt’s Bees Brightening Daily Facial Cleanser: Clinically proven to help improve the appearance of surface dullness, this cleanser, infused with Daisy extract, helps reveal a more even skin tone in as few as 4 weeks*. Formulated with a multifruit complex, our cleanser effectively removes dirt oil and makeup. Make it part of your daily regimen for a brighter and more even complexion, naturally.

Mother’s Day recap + Lands’ End Performance collection review

27 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in Everyday Joie, Fashion, Fitness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

I fortunately got to celebrate with my mom twice this month:  first, during an early Mother’s Day visit hosting her for a few days here in Austin, and then we got to surprise her with an impromptu visit back home on the actual holiday.  I love that no matter how old I get, I always cherish when Mother can come to the rescue as nurse, soul food chef, and occasional housekeeper.  I don’t mean to call her a maid, but my mom has some kinda knack for cleaning certain things around the house better than I ever could.  The flip side of that coin is she also has a knack for pointing out say, dust bunnies hiding behind the door of our guest bedroom…uh, THANKS for bringing that to my attention, Mother.  But, she showed me how she heats a bowl of tap water to steam up the inside of the microwave first, therefore making it easier to wipe away nuked residue.  In showing me this trick she thoroughly cleaned my microwave…thanks, Mom! 🙂

Serendipitously (for reasons I’ll explain), a few weeks ago I received some fresh fitness attire to review from Lands’ End.  Did you know they now make Activewear?  I remember this brand from years ago…their catalogs showcasing mix & match bathing suits to fit every shape, size, and color preference.  Well, they offer so much more than swimwear nowadays, and I was happy to get to try out some sample pieces from the debut Lands’ End Performance collection in the gym.  I received the 1.) Regular Performance Sport Crop Pants in Black 2.) Performance Colorblock Tank Top in Soft Pink Painted Stripe, and 3.) Solid Med-High Impact Performance Sports Bra in Black.Review of Lands' End new Performance Collection

Pants:  These workout pants are smoothing, supportive and most of all, SO SOFT!  The wide-leg, capri cut wasn’t great on my chicken legs…I usually go for full-length yoga pants or fitted legging-style crops.  The pockets are a huge plus, though — there’s a hidden zip pocket and a pocket for your iPhone in the back.

Top:  I loved the length…nice and long.  Great bright colors.  Super breathable and lightweight without clinging to my skin.  SIZE DOWN because it runs large and the armholes & silhouette were a little wide for my frame.

Sports Bra:  A flattering, quality piece!  Adore the individual molded cups for “the girls.”  My other beloved high-imapct sports bra by Moving Comfort definitely works, but it is in no way wearable post-workout due to the compression factor.  This sports bra by Lands’ End is comfortable enough to wear both running errands and around the house.

Overall:  The fabrics are fabulous…supportive where they need to be and breathable in the places a girl can appreciate.  I suggest sizing down — I’m a Small in Nike, for example, and in this label I could’ve definitely gone with XS in every piece.  Apparently evolving way beyond catalogs & bathing suits, Lands’ End brings their tried & true standard of quality and performance to workout gear.  It all comes at a moderate, budget-friendly price point and they even have Lands’ End Shops at select Sears locations.

So, back to Mother’s visit:  I showed her Whole Foods Market new location at The Domain, did some cooking at home, watched girly movies, did our nails…ya know, a bunch of girly stuff!  One of the highlights of her trip was our evening checking out a new yoga studio.  Whether as a rental investment or to buy & live in ourselves, at the time we had been actively looking at houses on Austin’s East Side and I wanted to show her the neighborhood.  We decided to experience the classes at a boutique yoga studio called East Side Yoga.  This welcoming, affordable & peaceful studio is located on a great street, representative of the area’s vibe.  Yoga is something both my mother & I have practiced in our own lives for years, and the activity has turned about to be a perfect way to share time together.  It’s wonderful when you can discover new shared interests in your relationship with Mom, right?  I was recovering from a minor medical procedure so we opted for an easy Restoring Hatha class.  I’ve never been to a class where the instructor goes around the room and asks each and every student to speak and share any health issues or requests — kinda different but ensures personalized attention.  The studio is intimate without feeling crowded, and the substitute instructor was so great…such a soothing voice!

Best part: since Mother didn’t have her yoga clothes, she was able to sport those pieces I had just received from the Lands’ End Performance collection!  As I said, they were a touch too big for me, but it all fit her perfectly!  We’re basically the same size, but she prefers her workout clothes a bit looser and with more coverage.  These pieces were so great for her:  fun colors, quality fabrics, and age appropriate.  She commented on the softness & comfort of the pants, especially — she stayed in them for the rest of the evening and they proved comfy enough for TV-watching back at home.  She even brought ’em back home to La Porte as part of her Mother’s Day gift.  Here she is, modeling their tank at our post-workout dinner:My mom in Lands' End Performance top

After our class, we walked across the street to the cutest European-style cafe, Blue Dahlia Bistro.  This place is consistently satisfying, great for any time of day, and the outdoor atmosphere was fitting for a nice little bite with my mom.  That’s egg salad on toast points topped with capers…it was so light and delicious!  We had a little table with a nice vantage point for East Side people-watching, too.  Miss you, Mother!  Come back to Austin soon!

My Experience Inside an Infrared Sauna

07 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by in Fitness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

For my story in the May/June issue of InFluential Magazine, I explored new & innovative ways to enhance my fitness game.  I didn’t necessarily want to cover new moves to try in the gym or what trendy classes to take, but focused more on how to add to what I’m already doing:  what to eat, how to speed recovery, and supplementary spa treatments that are new to the market.  See the full article here:  http://issuu.com/influentialmagazine/docs/influential_mayjune_final_/48

May/June Cover of InFluential Magazine

In doing my research on the topic, I seriously think I’ve discovered the hottest –both literally and figuratively– new way to lose weight:  SmartSweat Infrared Saunas.  I predict that these sauna sessions will be all the range soon, especially when it comes to weight loss & detoxification.  I was truly baffled at my results after just 3 sessions!  Btw, they are NOT sponsoring this post…this is me, just wanting to share more about the experience.  I cover a lot of the specifics (the technology, health benefits, etc.) in my piece for the magazine, but I thought I would share a little more of the personal firsthand details here on the blog…

I first heard about the infrared sauna/weight loss connection when I read it was one of the tricks Rachel Frederickson had up her sleeve to win The Biggest Loser.  You remember her:  the most recent winner of the weight loss reality show who shocked judges at her final weigh-in and went on to win the whole competition.  Well, in the time after they finished taping but before the live season finale, she did a lot of work on her own back at home and got what some thought was too skinny for her final reveal.  I think she looked fit, healthy & happy and she’s added back on just a couple more pounds since winning and apparently has found her happy medium.  Reportedly, regular infrared sauna sessions were one of the tools she used to seal the deal on winning and that’s how the idea first got on my radar.

A few weeks later when I noticed it was offered at the place where I get my spray tans, I knew I had to try it out!  I bought-in on a bundle promotion they were running and snagged three sessions for around $30.  –Definitely worth trying it out at ten bucks a pop, ya know?  They book appointments in 1-hour blocks, and my total time inside the booth was 40 minutes.  A few more things I should note:

–Unlike your gym where a traditional sauna is either unisex (uh, have you ever had a man in a speedo hit on you in the steam room? -gross!) or separated back in the men’s/women’s locker rooms, these saunas are completely private.  You’re in a small room all by yourself where you get to disrobe and sit through your individual session in total privacy.

–These saunas won’t wreck your tech.  I played on my iPhone to get acclimated at the beginning of all my sessions, in fact.  The type of booth I went to (called SmartSweat) boasted an array of digital entertainment choices to keep me occupied:  Apple TV, Netflix, music, and a digital display with the current time, session countdown, and temperature.  See, you can even take selfies in them!  🙂Me inside an infrared sauna

–No headaches in this heat!  Even just ten minutes in a traditional sauna can send me to headache city, gasping for fresh cool air upon exit.  They say an infrared sauna allows the body to sweat out less water and more toxins, and in turn, reduces my risk for head-pounding dehydration.  You should still drink lots of water during and after your time in the sauna, though.

–During my first session, I freaked out for a second at the thought of “infrared” and imagined I was like, microwaving my insides or something.  It does heat you from the inside out, but I was assured that it’s the same technology behind baby incubators and completely safe.  So, I just chilled out & meditated on the “infrared” technology benefits:  detoxification, weight loss, reduced blood pressure, improved circulation, and pain relief.

My experience was a bit different with each visit, too…

1st session:  Not too much sweat.  Just relaxed…checked my e-mails & Instagram account.  Left feeling more energized & somehow, in a better mood.

2nd session:  A little more sweat.  Feeling psyched…tweeted about it and took a #selfie.  Experimented with some arm exercises utilizing the provided small 1-lb. hand weights.  Noticed my post-session skintone looked less sallow and more vibrant.

3rd session:  Almost immediate sweat…and lots of it.  Drank tons more water.  Did a pretty legit workout in the booth with their 3-lb. weights:  bis, tris, chest press, calf raises, squats, etc.

My results:  diminished appearance in cellulite (this is a HUGE plus right here, folks!!!), a more toned look to my physique, and glowing skin.  I’m telling all my friends about it and would recommend this to anyone — apparently you can burn up to 600 calories per visit!  Because they’re so new to the market, people have asked me where you can find infrared sauna booths and I’ve noticed they’re at a variety of establishments.  For example, I’ve heard a radio commercial offering it at a local massage place and I’ve seen them at tanning salons, too.  If you’re in Austin, you can experience the very same infrared sauna technology that I did at Aruba SunSpa in West Campus.