Tag: health

Dynamic Sonic Instant Eye Lift: Review

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Under eye bags. Dark circles. Wrinkles. Fine lines. All things aging women [or men] never want to hear. About 2 years ago I realized I needed to start putting some thought and care into my face routine. I couldn’t just fall asleep with my makeup on after a long night out anymore. Enter Gunnar and you get one tired face that doesn’t have time most days to be bothered with make-up to attempt to cover the above issues.

Like anyone, I’m always skeptical of any product that promises “instant results”, but when I was offered to try the Dynamic Sonic Instant Eye Lift – I couldn’t not try, right? Continue reading →

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Green Smoothie: Recipe & Meal Prep

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I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it a few more times…

Green smoothies are my favorite go-to breakfast!

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They’re quick, easy, filling and best of all, healthy! [this smoothie is right under 300 calories] But they aren’t so quick & easy if you have to slice & dice all your fruits and such in the morning, not to mention not all of those fruits will last long enough for you to make all your smoothies [damn you perishable items]. So here is my take on how to “meal prep” your smoothies ahead of time – ensuring they’re always quick, easy and oh so tasty! Continue reading →

BBG: 2 Week Recap

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I’m officially into week 3 of my Bikini Body Guide 12 week program! I wanted to provide a quick update for you all on my progress and overall thoughts.

Progress 8/16: 2 Weeks in, 5 lbs down, clothes are fitting looser

The Diet:

I’ve found the diet fairly easy to follow. Mind you, I have modified it quiet a bit to fit my lifestyle. I feel Kayla’s original recipes are a bit too “fancy”. I don’t want to have to go spend extra money on muesli and I don’t eat fish. So with that in mind, for example – I’ve substituted rolled oats for muesli and shrimp for fish. I’ve written everything down so maybe when I have some extra time I can share my modified weekly meal plans.

As far as what they include – it’s your basic weekly meal plan when on a diet. Smoothies, fruits, nuts and veggies. I can say she does a great job of switching up the proteins and overall meal ideas. Most diets can get very dull, very quickly with salads and chicken, rice and veggies over and over again

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#bbgfood on Instagram

The Fitness:

The fitness is alternating days of LISS [low intensity steady state] cardio and then other days a 28 min circuit targeting a specific body area [legs, arms & abs, full body]. 28 minutes doesn’t sound like a long time but when you’re doing non-stop circuits, you easily work up a sweat. Each week Kayla changes up the circuits so you’re using different muscles and not the same workout. For the LISS it’s really personal preference – spin, walk, swim, run, you name it. It offers a lot of flexibility to do which workouts when you want to.

I like to go hard when I commit to something so I’ve recently added a fasted HIIT [high intensity interval training] cardio 30 min spin class early morning to ramp it up a notch. Burpees still are not my friend…

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The Update:

5 pounds isn’t too bad for 2 weeks. Leep says hes starting to notice a difference and my clothes are fitting a bit looser. All wins in my book! While I have slacked off a bit these past 2 days, I’ve had a tummy bug and only wanted carbs and haven’t felt up to working out, I’m excited to get back at it and see what these next two weeks hold.

Polo Blue EDP: Review

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Leep has worn the same cologne since our wedding day – a year and a half ago. He picked it as his wedding scent and hasn’t changed it since. Wedding scent – yea, that’s a thing now! Since in his line of work he doesn’t wear cologne everyday, it’s refreshing when we go out in the evenings or on weekends and I get the reminding scent of our special day. For his daily wear he uses Axe as hes running out the door in the morning, leaving us all coughing in a cloud of prepubescent, BO-masker. [Sorry Axe, you’re not my favorite.]

We were both pretty excited when this little box of Polo Blue Ralph Lauren eau de parfum arrived in our mailbox! I change my perfume almost with each bottle, so the thought of a new scent for him was intriguing and I think he was ready for something new. I’m pretty picky when it comes to scents and men’s cologne can tend to be overpowering.

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We opened the little bottle and took our first whiff. The brochure describes it as “Intense, Sensual, Refined. Absolute freshness meets ultimate distinction. An intensely seductive blend of fresh bergamot and rich vetiver” – whatever the hell that means?!

The smell is sophisticated and “seductively” fresh, without being fruity, with a slight hint of musk. I can see this scent working for an array of events, from a wedding in a suit, to a night out with friends. A little goes a long way with this cologne and it lasts for hours. While it’s strong at first, it doesn’t leave behind the harsh scent of alcohol that some parfums can.

It has now become one of our favorites and we may even purchase a full sized bottle once this sample runs out. If you’re browsing for a new scent for your man, we recommend that you pick up a bottle of Polo Blue Ralph Lauren eau de parfum and give it a try!

*We received Ralph Lauren Polo Blue Eau de Parfum complimentary, but all opinions are our own.

New Beginnings: Bikini Body Guide

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New week. New month. New beginnings. 

I’ll admit, I start a lot of things [read diets] and never complete them. I do my best work staying healthy and getting in shape when I have a goal to work towards. Right before we ran the Rock’n’Roll half & Tough Mudder – I was in the best shape of my life. Time to work back to that place. I feel I’ve taken the time to enjoy Gunnar as a baby without the stresses of getting “back to pre-baby body”. Now he’s becoming more active and I can include him [and hopefully teach him in the future] in my journey to a healthier me.

As I’ve said before, I have PCOS. This brings with it: hair loss, unpredictable periods, ovarian cysts, so much more and my biggest obstacle – difficulty losing weight. I’ve seen doctors, tried prescription weight loss pills, you name it, I’ve tried it. One of the few things that works for me is going on a very strict diet and constant intense exercise. So I’m starting something new that includes a planned diet, scheduled workouts and also gives me a box to check each day. I also have all of you to hold me accountable each week.

Kayla Itsines – 12 week Beach Body Guide. 

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Today is Day 1, Week 1, Round 1. I’ve written out my meal plan and workout plan for the week and am ready to hit the ground running. Time to lose this baby weight, I do have a few weddings I’m sweating for now.

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Follow along, I’ll provide weekly updates here and more frequent updates on my Instagram page!

Exercise Ball Office Chair

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Working from home I’ve realized I don’t get up as often as I used to. There’s no walking with friends, getting things off the printer, walking to and from my car, etc. So, except for the occasional dance break with the dogs or to switch a load of laundry, I find myself pretty stationary most of the day. Which is horrible for your body! [especially with my back issues] So I decided to become one of “those people” who sits [read bounces] on an exercise ball at their desk.

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So why am I doing this? Why should you do this?

  • It forces proper spine alignment. I’m a sloucher, I try to correct it but still end up hunching or slouching behind the screens. Because the ball isn’t stable your body has to try to adjust itself to stay balanced. In order to stay balanced your body will automatically try to align itself into proper posture – which helps your spinal health and decreases back pains!
  • Get that 6-pack you’ve been wanting! Ok, maybe not – but it does strengthen and build your core muscles. To aid in balancing, your core is also engaged and if you think how often you’re sitting at the computer every day, those hours can add up and maybe you’ll start to see those abs poke through.
  • Inspiration to stretch. Let’s face it – although you’re using the ball as a chair, it’s still a piece of exercise equipment. It’s hard to sit on it without being inspired to stretch or do some strengthening moves throughout the day. Some days Leep will come home to find me rolled out under the desk with my back on the ball stretching my ab & back muscles. [getting back up is the tricky part]
  • You can burn up to 350 calories per day. More movement during the day = more calories burned. It will help you stay fit with minimal effort!
  • Reduced damage for sitting. A desk job means sitting in the same position, hour after hour, but staying sedentary for too long can be lethal. It’s easy to slump and stay in one spot for extended periods of time. With the ball even the slightest movement causes it to roll and you have to adjust to remain balanced.
  • It’s fun! Who doesn’t like the idea of bouncing around all day. If the people on the other end of my conference calls only knew I was bouncing around over here.

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So if you’re inclined, want to be healthier at your desk, or just have some fun – grab a ball and join me!

Roasted Chickpeas & Edamame

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We are snackers.

My husband can be found multiple times a day staring into the pantry or the fridge just “looking for something to snack on”. If there are chips, cookies or any junk food in sight it will be devoured first and in a matter of days while the carrot sticks and strawberries go bad. I learned if there aren’t unhealthy snacks at our disposal, we will eat what is there – so always keep healthy snacks on hand!

One of our go-to snacks when we’re craving something salty and crunchy is roasted chickpeas and edamame. Follow the easy, foolproof steps below and you’ll be crunching on these healthy bites in no time!

Roasted Chickpeas

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Ingredients:
1 -2 cans chickpeas
Oil
Spices (I used salt, pepper and cayenne pepper)

Directions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
  2. Drain and rinse chickpeas.
  3. Place on paper towel lined cookie sheet and rub to dry. During this process you are also loosening the “shells”. You can also gently pinch the chickpeas between your fingers to remove the shells. You don’t have to get everyone but I just take some time while the oven is preheating to remove as many as possible. I think this creates crunchier chickpeas.
  4. Remove paper towel and drizzle with olive oil – just enough to help the spices stick. Too much and the chickpeas will stay slightly soft.
  5. Sprinkle with spices or any flavor combination you choose. Mix until chickpeas are well coated.
  6. Roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
  7. Remove and enjoy or let cool completely before transferring to a storage container.

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Roasted Edamame

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Ingredients:
1 -2 bags frozen edamame (defrosted)
Oil
Salt

Directions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  2. Drain defrosted edamame.
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  3. Place on paper towel lined cookie sheet and rub to dry. Remove any extra stems or shells that may have made it into the batch.
  4. Remove paper towel and drizzle with olive oil and salt generously. Mix until well coated.
  5. Roast in the oven for 50 minutes stirring halfway through.
  6. Remove and enjoy or let cool completely before transferring to a storage container.

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    Comment below some of your favorite healthy snacks – salty and sweet!

Bee Keeping: Shore Thing Lavender

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Last year my family started the adventure of a lavender farm on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, with my mother being the fearless leader, green thumb and brains of the operation. We all have done our fair share of weeding and tending to the plants and are proud to be entering our second year.

This year we’ve added an exciting addition – BEES! The bees will not only pollinate the lavender plants, but provide healthy local honey to customers.

Shore Thing Lavender also has an amazing line of natural, organic products for the body, home and culinary use. Be sure to follow along with our journey and adventures at the site below!

Source: We have bees!

Peloton Update

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So we’ve officially had our spin bike and the Peloton app for a little over a month now. I’ve been asked about it a lot lately and figured I’d do a quick update! I can’t sing its praises enough. We didn’t drop the large amount of dough on the “real” Peloton bike because frankly, I wasn’t sure how much we’d like it or use it. We started small with the intention that if we fell in love and used it often – potentially down the road we would upgrade.

About Peloton

Peloton offers tons of on demand classes as well as live spin classes from 6am-8:30pm. They range anywhere from beginner to more advanced. There are various time lengths available as well as types of classes and lots of instructors to choose from. A little something for everyone. I will typically do a 45 min rhythm or live DJ class. Cody Rigsby is my favorite – he’s my spirit animal.

Our Journey So Far

We started out strong – Leep and I both riding once a day. Alternating between live classes and on demand depending on the time of day all while juggling Gunnar. Then I twisted my ankle and right as that was healing… I came down with pneumonia. Right as I was getting comfortable and the soreness [in areas] was wearing off – had to take 10 steps back.

It’s safe to say its been a slow start. I finally jumped back on the bike yesterday evening and remembered how much I loved it. We have our bike set up in the garage with a small TV that we connect to the iPad. With the volume cranked loud and the dim lights of the garage you can really dig deep, jam out and get a good workout in!

Pictured above – follow me on Snapchat [mhuett] for a “day in the life” look of: tons of filter photos, randomness and Gunnar cuteness.

This is a marathon, not a sprint. My body after baby isn’t going to just bounce back – after all, it did take 9 months to put on, I created a human, it’s not going to just fall right off. Also – my main priority is focusing on time with my family and staying healthy, not a number on the scale!

Tell me about your journey to health and fitness after a baby below!

PSA: Cease the Parent Shaming

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I’ve always heard about it, seen friends share articles and in my intensive expecting research I even browsed a few. It wasn’t until I had a smiling cherub of my own that I actually understood the ugly beast it is. While I try my hardest not to be, I’m occasionally guilty of it. Newsflash: So are you! At some point we’ve all judged another mom in passing, on Facebook, or even our friends.

There is no “right-way” to tackle the journey of parenthood. As I first time mom I am clumsily learning that first hand, very quickly. Everyone does things differently, even different pediatricians tell you to do things differently. In the end, we all turned out OK [well most of us] and our children will turn out OK.

While some comments are said as jokes, some as unwarranted advice and some just are downright ugly – they all hurt a little [or a lot] and make you feel like you’re not parenting correctly or maybe a bad parent. You question every decision you’ve made and start to compare yourself – and your baby – to those around you.

STOP. Stop it right now. Breastfeed, great! Formula feed, wonderful! Cloth vs disposable diapers – just change em! Cry it out vs cuddle – you do you. In the end we’re all raising amazing little beings in our own way that’s just right for us and for them. We need to band together. When asked, offer your advice – judgement free. I know I wouldn’t have made it through some of the tough times, and won’t make it through the tough times ahead without asking for the wonderful advice of my mom, other moms and my new mommy friends!

Let’s collectively as a whole try to put an end to parent shaming. Instead of shaming let’s uplift and encourage. Stop and take a moment to tell that person how great of a job they’re doing. After-all, we’re all in this together – let’s stop being annoyed by everything and start lifting each other up.

I recently saw a post on Instagram that speaks volumes:

“To the pregnant women on social media posting constant updates and belly pictures, I am so incredibly happy for you and the fact that you will soon be blessed with the most amazing little bundle of joy, I love seeing how excited you are to become a mommy. To the women posting “selfies”, thanks for letting young girls know it’s okay to love yourself and to feel beautiful! To the mom posting a million pictures of her kids, it makes my heart so happy to see parents so proud and loving their babies! To the married couple constantly posting “sappy love posts” thank you for being a reminder to the next generation that all hope isn’t lost and happy marriages DO exist.”