Hi friends! Can you guys believe that we're halfway through August? I actually can because I'm currently in Jersey with my family, where it's been sweltering out as only August can be! Last weekend I was in Philly, and at 97 degrees and crazy humidity, it was just too hot to walk around much. It felt like a sauna every time I stepped outside! The place to be in this heat is definitely on the water, and fortunately I've gotten the chance to be out on both my parents' and my father-in-law's boats this trip. It's sweet relief to feel the breeze in your hair when it's so humid + hot out! I haven't been doing too much exercise outdoors while I've been on the east coast for fear of melting, but this summer when I've been home in California, I've been enjoying my latest outdoor ... [Read More]
product reviews
Weight Is Only Part of the Equation {Beets BLU Smart Scale Review}
When it comes to shaping your body through diet and exercise, sometimes people put too much emphasis on their weight alone (I've been guilty of doing this in the past too!). Of course weight tells you part of the story, but it's not the whole picture. (Source: Yahoo Health! via Shutterstock) Case in point: There's a woman whose 5'6" and weighs 140 pounds. She sporadically eats healthy but mostly eats a diet high in simple carbs, saturated fat, and sugar, and doesn't get consistent exercise. Perhaps she's lucky in that she has good genes allowing her to easily maintain a healthy weight, but she might also be "skinny fat" and have some internal things going on with her body that she's not yet aware of (like high cholesterol or being at risk for Type 2 diabetes). On the other hand, ... [Read More]
Striving for Better Balance in Life {pHenOH 7.4 Sports Drink Review}
Disclaimer: The following post is sponsored by pHenOH through my ambassadorship with Fit Approach. As always, all opinions expressed are my own. If I had to describe what healthy living means to me in one word, I'd say balance. Balance is a tricky thing: You don't just have it and keep it, it's something that you need to constantly work at, and it isn't always easily found. I've found myself swinging too far over on one side on the coin, only to later find myself way over in the other direction. But the beauty is that every day is a chance to achieve better balance, in whatever way you need it. A couple of the main ways that I'm constantly trying to keep things aligned in my life include: Balancing exercising often while also giving my body a chance to rest. Maintaining a ... [Read More]
Matcha Love: Morning Fruity Matcha Shot + Vanilla Yogurt Matcha Pancakes
There are millions of devoted coffee drinkers in the world....but I, my friends, am not one of them. Instead of the caffeine from coffee giving me energy, it gives me headaches. It actually has a bit of an opposite effect on me. Case in point: Last week I had my first (iced) coffee in quite awhile because I was near a Dunkin Donuts in New Jersey, which are a rarity here in California, and I felt so tired an hour later that I took a nap. And I'm not a big nap taker. Tea on the other hand, is my coffee shop/hot bev/lazy weekend morning drink of choice. Green tea is my favorite. It doesn't make me feel zingy, and it also doesn't make me sleepy or headachy. It's just nice and soothing. So when Kiss Me Organics recently contacted me asking if I'd like to try their matcha green tea powder, I ... [Read More]
My New Love in the Kitchen: The Ninja BL740 Blender
One major staple appliance in my kitchen is a blender. Smoothies are one of my favorite healthy go-to ideas for a quick meal or snack. I also mix pancake batters in my blender, and I usually make pancakes a few times a week. So when my blender finally conked out recently, deciding which new blender to buy was a big decision in my household. It was a blessing that my Kitchen Aid blender finally officially died, because honestly, the blender had been not been working well lately. I was getting frustrated with drinking protein smoothies with chunks of ice and frozen banana pieces in it. A foodie like me always gets excited for a new kitchen appliance, but I was extra excited for this one! After some research, I decided on a Ninja BL740 blender. In the past few years, I’ve had a few Magic ... [Read More]
Review: Lorna Jane Activewear
Confession: I'm kind of a workout clothing junkie. Not only do I exercise nearly every day, I also work from home the vast majority of the time - where I mostly wear, you guessed it, workout clothes. I even sleep in comfy workout gear sometimes. Since I sport activewear so often, I like my clothes to meet the following criteria: 1.) cute, 2.) fitted yet not too tight, 2.) allow me to move without feeling restricted or constantly falling down, 3.) comfortable, 4.) breathable. <-- I have this one shirt that makes me feel like I'm immediately sweating in it, and I hate that! Now that you have an idea of my love for workout attire, you can understand why I was excited when Lorna Jane contacted me to try out some of their activewear. Lorna Jane is Australia's #1 activewear brand, ... [Read More]