Sunday Funday: The Best Time of the Year

There really is no contest; this time of year in my area is simply the best. The tourists aren't here yet, the weather hasn't gotten unbearably hot yet, there's all sorts of stuff going on, and I'm usually spending a lot of time outside.  It's like it went from dark, cold, boring nothingness that was seriously depressing to an almost overwhelming amount of stuff to do! My friends have their pool open, it's great hiking weather, Busch friggin' Gardens is open, the beach is warming up; it's almost too much to do! The past two weekends have been so amazingly perfect that it just kept my mood lifted all week. After my backpacking trip last weekend, this one was a bit more subdued, but still really enjoyable. I spent almost all day outside in my parents backyard on Saturday and the BF and I went on a long walk today. 

Two of the great things about my apartment is the fact that I have sunroom and that my landlord is an A+ gardener and keeps the place so gorgeous! I love having all sorts of plants in my sunroom, I sometimes like to call it my jungle room (like the Walking In Memphis Song!). We also have a tiny, shared backyard with all sorts of plants and flowers that are changed throughout the seasons. It's never the same stuff twice! Even though sitting at home can get boring, it's days like these that I really enjoy being at home just looking at all the pretty stuff around us.

I've been going through cookbooks (one of my very favorite things) looking for new recipes, but mostly just enjoying the pictures. This one in the photo, The Surf Cafe Cookbook, is a great cookbook for food and photo-lovers alike. The sandwich bread recipe in there is amazing, as well as the lemon squares! I highly recommend it to anyone with taste buds. It reminds me of the kinds of things I eat when I visit my relatives in England which puts me in instant vacation mode. 

 No smart-assiness here today; it must be all the sunshine. I've got no complaints and I'm very content just staring out of the window and watching the world go by. Hope you all have a great week!

Keep It Together: Workout Clothes That Keep You Solid

I don't mean solid like that one Lean Cuisine you bought, but it wasn't your favorite so you never really wanted to eat it and it's been in the back of your freezer since Saddam Hussein was still alive. I mean solid like a stack, brick-house of a lady who yearns to keep the jiggle to a minimum during her workout!

Something I have noticed from my many workout trials and tribulations is that I just can't workout in running shorts; I gots to have that spandex! One spring I decided to make the transition from compression running capris to running shorts because everyone always looks so damn cool in their little Nike or Lululemon running shorts. I slapped on a pair, started off on my run, and got tired so quickly I had to shorten my run distance. I thought long and hard about what could have slowed me down; I'd done that run a hundred times before with no problems and then it dawned on me. What was happening during all that pathetic jaunt I called a run? A whole lot of thigh jiggle. I can't help it; I've got large thighs no matter what, and after a few more experiments I concluded that I have to have some sort of compression when I'm doing high impact stuff like running or HIIT workouts.

Now, this may not be the case for everyone, but I just feel better with a little more support. Luckily, the world of workout wear is on my side and everything is coming up spandex! I have compiled a few of my favorites that are not only super functional, but are also super cute. 

1. With Love From Paradise: Can I get a pair of these in every Aloha print ever? Great for yoga, gym workouts, walking; just about anything that involves using one's legs. I'm obsessed and hoping I can convince someone to get me a pair of these for my birthday. Totally unique and great for those who are tired of black stretch pants.

Photo: With Love From Paradise

2. Roxy Outdoor Fitness Standard Running Tights: Love these things to death. I got the purple and it's such a great color. Not too attention-grabbing, but better than your old blown-out Soffe shorts. Great for running, lifting, anything you can throw at them. I didn't spend my runs constantly pulling them back up so that's always a plus. Keeps everything high and tight just how I like it!

Photo: Roxy.com

3. Lululemon Wunder Under Crop: I tell myself I'm not paying that much for a pair of workout pants, but they are sooooo damn good. I still have my first pair I bought when Lululemon first got an online store and they are still just as good and stretchy as they were on day one. I know they have had quality issues as-of late, but I haven't really come across any obvious problems. Maybe I'm just super easy to please, or these make my butt look so good that I don't even care. If you've got the money to shell out on Wunder Unders, just get some already!

Photo: Lululemon

4. Seea Pacifica Surf Leggings: I've been seeing a lot of surf leggings coming out lately and I think they're great. I really don't enjoy wearing board shorts, but I also hate destroying my inner thighs from skin,wax, board friction (cringing thinking about it). These leggings from Seea aren't strictly for surfing and can be worn for any activity where you need some protection with a little stretch (oh god sounds like a condom reference). I could see myself wearing these at them gym and absolutely anywhere else leggings are appropriate which, for me, is everywhere worth going. 

Photo: Seea

There are so many great workout pants that will keep you jiggle-free during your workouts.  When I was younger I was always under the impression that crazy spandex was only worn by male figure skaters and Ben Stiller in Heavyweights, but how wrong I was! I know I write about workout clothes on here like once a month, but it's fun for someone else to find awesome stuff and do all the hard work for you. Get yourself into some spandex and have a great workout!

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Feed My Face: Açaí Bowls

I'm all about trying new things for breakfast. I get sick of having the same stuff over and over again. Once, when I was probably 9 years old, I got really into Frosted Mini Wheats and ate them every morning and any other chance I got for probably the next two months. It was probably Kellogg's best quarter ever, but after that two months was up I never wanted to eat another Mini Wheat again. The same goes for Texas Toast and Swedish Fish, but that's another story. When the days start to get warmer, I shun my toast and oatmeal for something that is cooling and delicious. I used to just make a lot of smoothies, but I was looking for more. That's when I discovered the Açaí Bowl, or as my coworker and I call it "dessert chili". It was a smoothie, it was granola, it was healthy, all in one bowl. You can make it as simple or as complicated as you want to, but the basic concept is all the same. There's no "right" way to make an Açaí bowl, but here's a guideline as to what you can do to make a really good one!

Açaí Base

1 Package Sambazon Açaí unsweetened Smoothie Pack*

1/2 Frozen Banana

1/2 Cup chopped pineapple (pref. frozen)

1 Tbsp ground flaxseed

Approx. 1 Cup Coconut Water, milk, orange juice, whatever you desire

Blend together until smooth.

Topping Options

Granola (My favorite is Nature's Path Coconut Chia)

Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

Slivered Almonds

Crushed Macadamia nuts

Sliced Strawberries

Blueberries

Sliced Kiwi

Sliced banana

Mango Pieces

Bee Pollen (weird but gives a satisfying crunch)

Raw Honey

Agave (for the vegans)

*Now, if you don't want to shell out the bucks for special Açaí smoothie packs, you can buy the Sambazon Açaí that are almost always on sale at my local grocery store, freeze them in an ice cube tray and use three of those per bowl you're making. Can't find any Açaí where you are? Substitute it for a frozen berry mix. If I can't find frozen Açaí or nothing's on sale, I get a blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, cherry medley and it works really well. Açaí is so popular because of all the antioxidants it packs in; try and get the real stuff if you can, but berry mixes are just as good. Another option if you can't find acai is Pitaya (dragon fruit); it tastes super good, has a fabulous fuschia color, and is really good for you. You can purchase pitaya smoothie packs here!

These bowls are great for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and every meal in between and if you have everything prepped beforehand they can be made pretty quickly. They have quickly become my favorite way to start the day. Açaí bowls have been popping up in shops all over the place, but get adventurous and make your own at home!

Photo: Tumblr

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Let's Have A Protein Party!

No, not the gross kind! The kind that helps build muscle, strengthen your hair and nails amongst other things! If you are a human being, you need protein. You also need a hefty serving of healthy during your day, especially if that weekend may have resulted in a three-burrito-deep food coma with a side of a whole medium pizza. This bar is almost all raw, healthy goodness and it so easy to make and have on hand when the after lunch-before dinner murderous hunger strikes!

Hello, bowl reflection!

The Ingredients:

2 Cups Rolled Oats

2 Scoops protein powder (I used vanilla)

1 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

2 Tbsp. Chia Seeds

2 Tbsp.Ground Flaxseed

1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Tbsp. Raw Honey* (none of that processed shit!)

1/4 Cup Raw Pumpkin Seeds

1/3 Cup Dried Cranberries

1/3 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

1 Cup Peanut Butter (Creamy works best)

OPTIONAL: 1/4 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

*If you are vegan, use maple syrup in place of honey. Agave can be sweet so stick to maple!

1. Place all of your dry ingredients in your mixer or in a bowl if you are mixer-less.

2. Add your wet ingredients to the dry mixture.

 3. Turn on mixer to medium-low and mix ingredients until well-incorporated or until the mixture begins to stick together.

4. Spray a brownie pan (I used a 6 or 7x 12 pan) with cooking spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper to the size of the bottom of the pan. The spray will help the parchment stick and the parchment will make it easier to get the bars out.  Once everything is mixed together, spoon out the mixture into your pan.

5. Press mixture into the pan firmly to make sure everything stick together. The firmer you press the bars, they better they will stay together. Once the mixture can be packed down no further, place the pan in the freezer for an hour.

6. Once the bars have hardened, cut them into 2x2 inch squares, wrap in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the freezer! As a precaution, I would have added a bit more peanut butter to my batch because these did come out a bit crumbly. As long as I have a napkin around to catch the debris, I'm not worried about it.

Well, there you have it! These protein bars get their protein goodness from the protein powder, the pumpkin seeds, AND the peanut butter and I have been eating them as a pre-workout snack. Great for snacking when you get home when you feel ravenous. There's enough fibre and protein to keep you full until dinner without resorting to eating all the chocolate within a five mile radius. Enjoy!

Check It Out!

If I'm preachy about one thing, it's taking care of your skin in the sun. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and it's a good time to just get all this information out there. Now, there has been a lot of back and forth about sunscreen, vitamin D, and general hubbub about the suns effects on your skin. The fact of the matter is, excessive and repeated exposure to UVA/UVB radiation mutates your genes resulting in skin cancer. It's NO JOKE. Cancers like melanoma don't even have to manifest itself in place that regularly see the sun (bottoms of feet, scalp, nether regions). Your dermatologist doesn't just exist to give you Botox or give you Accutane; you need to see them yearly to check everything (I mean everything) for signs of skin cancer. I know my generation was and still is obsessed with being tan and I remember going with my mom to the local tanning salon to get brown for prom and going to the beach four days a week all summer without a lick of sunscreen. I WAS STUPID, but that doesn't mean that I can't do something about it now. I am now an avid fake-tanner, sunscreen slatherer, hat wearer, umbrella toting good-girl when in the sun. There are so many ways to protect yourself from the sun; it never hurts to ask your dermatologist what are the best ways to protect yourself. My sun care routine involves the following:

What's Normal and What Isn't

The ABCD's of detection: 

Asymmetry: does it look like a circle, or is it wonky?

Border: like asymmetry, is the border even or varied?

Color: one shade, OK. Two shades, get it looked at.

Diameter: Bigger than a pencil eraser= get it looked at

Sorry for the gross picture, but a visual guide is always a good thing to have. Again, self-diagnosis won't do anything but make you crazy. Go to your dermatologist if you have ANY concerns!

What can you do to keep the sun off

1. Sunscreen! Mineral, chemincal, I figure as long as you wear it you're better off. The difference between the two is a mineral or physical sunblock immediately blocks you from the sun because the sun protection comes form micro milled minerals covering your skin like a barrier. That's why they tend to look really white when you put them on. I always use a mineral sunscreen on my face because it's non-irritating. Here are some of my favorites:

Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense (for face)

Coola Mineral Sport SPF 35 (body)

Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Lotion (for face and body)

Chemical sunscreens contain ingredients that have a chemical reaction with your skin (takes 15 minutes), that scatters UVA/UVB radiation instead of reflecting it like the mineral ones. This is the most widely available kind because the synthetic chemicals are cheaper to make than mining for minerals (not a Starcraft reference). I like to use mineral sunscreens, but chemical ones are easier for me to find and not so hard on my debit card. Here are some of my favorites:

Sun Bum SPF50 Moisturizing Sunscreen

 

 

Australian Gold SPF 30 Spray Gel with Bronzer

There are sooo many ways to keep yourself safe in the sun. This will be a sort of ongoing series for the month since I've already created what might be my longest post. The important thing is that you can still have fun outside, you just need to be safe about it!I spend as much time as I can at the beach, but I suncreen up before I go and use other measures to make sure I don't end up a wrinkly old hag in 10 years. I've seen some of the girls I went to high school with who tanned religiously and they look so old! I want to be forever young!

Get Off Your Ass: Almost Everyone's New Years Resolution

The number one thing people put at the top at their New Years resolution list (at least here in the states) is to lose weight and get healthier. You can't do that without eating less and moving more. About 4 years ago I lost 40 lbs. by doing just that and my "secret" was this: workout videos. Yeah, I did some running and I ate tuna fish, salad, and smoothies for six months, but working out in the comfort of my own home helped me out a lot. If you are overweight and embarrassed of going to the gym or working out outside, this is a great alternative. The best thing is that I got most of my workout DVDs used on amazon.com for something a third of the price of new ones. It allowed me to build up a collection of videos that helped me tone up and well as slim down and feel healthier. Here are a few of my favorites and why I like them:

1. The Biggest Loser Cardio Max

 

This video worked because nothing motivates you to do better than watching morbidly obese people doing better than you at jump lunges. This video allows you to pick sections so that your workout can be between 30 and 50 minutes. Great for beginners or just a quick workout.

2. Jillian Michael 30 Day Shred

Yeah, Jillian is riding the coattails of her BL fame, but this video is great in a pinch. It's 18-20 minutes or work with little to no rest so you are moving the whole time. You start off with level one then after you are decent enough you move on to level two and so forth. This was great after a long day at work and I didn't feel like doing an hour long video.

3. Brazil Butt Lift

Ok, this system has a corny name and Leodro is so fabulous and happy that you want to slap him for having fun doing walking lunges, but damn does this work your butt. I did not use this religiously as a part of the plan, I used it as a supplement to what I was already doing and if I wanted an extra butt workout. I'm really ADD when it comes to workout videos and get bored easily so switching things up keeps me interested in working out. Minimal equipment required and pretty fun to do.

5. Get Ripped! With Jari Love

If you can get past the eighties high-cut briefs on the cover as well as some seriously over processed blonde hair, Jari Love just wants to help you discover weights. Warning: her videos are long (60+ minutes), but great for a weekend or day-off workout that will burn some serious calories. I work my hear rate monitor for a few of her workouts and once burned 793 calories. That's nothing to make fun of and resistance training is what helps lean you out. The more muscle you have the more calories you burn throughout the day. DO WEIGHTS for the love of god!

6. Tone It Up Beach Babe Workout Series

Other than the fact that I want Karena and Katrina's lives, this two-disc workout series is great for little bursts of exercise during the day if you can't commit more than 30 minutes. They're on the beach (plus), in Hawai'i (bigger plus), they have awesome hair (super plus), and they do all of the exercises with you (they're not whimps mega-plus). Their whole Tone It Up nutrition plan and workout videos are so comprehensive and wonderful, they've really done a great job.

7. Yoga Journal Yoga for Strength and Toning

Yoga may not be the best fat busting workout, but you HAVE to stretch. I hurt myself a few weeks ago because I didn't stretch afterwards and messed up my neck. This video not only stretches things out, but it's a great strengthener. Look at it as killing two birds with one stone. It's 60 minutes of strengthening yoga with a bonus 30 minute ab practice that is KILLER. Put them together and you'll be sore in the morning. I used to do this in my sun room in the summer time so it would get nice and hot like a free hot yoga class. I sweated a lot. It totally worked.

8. Exhale: Core Fusion Body Sculpt

Holy Hell, who ever thought that teeny tiny movements could hurt so good? This video was a huge surprise and wake-up call for me. I thought I was pretty strong, but the barre-like moves in this 5 10-minute workouts had be shaking like crazy. There are no crazy moves, just tiny little movements repeated a lot to really work deep within your muscles. No weights, no equipment other than a chair or rolled-up towel. Try this, it will tighten and lift everything. Hardest ab workout I have EVER done.

I hope this list helps. I have a buttload more videos that I like to use, but these really stand out to me as the best of what I have. I also use MyFitnessPal on my iPhone to keep track of my calories which makes it so easy to keep yourself in check. Good luck everyone and get to stepping!