I think we can all agree that injuries are never fun, but most of us have to deal with at least one at some point in our lives - especially exercise lovers like myself! I've fortunately only had a few injuries thus far, but unfortunately, they've tended to be chronic issues that don't go away easily. One of these injuries has been sesamoiditis, which I've been dealing with for several years now. Sesame-what? you may be thinking. Simply put, we all have two sesamoid bones in each of our feet, and they're tiny pea-shaped bones embedded in a tendon beneath the big toe joint. The sesamoids increase the leverage of the tendons that control the big toe, and a lot of pressure gets put on them every time the big toe is used to push the foot forward. When the tissues around the sesamoid ... [Read More]
Archives for July 2018
10 Memorable Experiences in Kauai {sun, sand, trails, eats, drinks & more!}
While I was planning a recent getaway to Kauai, I was envisioning a relaxing escape with beautiful beaches, awesome outdoor activities and friendly Hawaiian people. Kauai was exactly what I had hoped it would be, and once we arrived, I quickly fell in love with the island! Nicknamed "the Garden Isle" due to the majority of it being covered with tropical rainforest, Kauai has a population of just 65,000 people (and many more wild roosters roaming everywhere you turn!). I really got the sense that the people from there are proud of their island, and I love how connected they are to the land that they call home. That respect for the earth, love for the ocean, and pride in eating local food and supporting local business is something that I think is missing from much of mainland America ... [Read More]
Big Changes In My World | Life Update!
My friends, I feel like I've been holding out on you lately. This blog is a place where I share my passions for food, exercise, travel, and all things healthy living, but it's also a place where I share pieces of my personal life and what's been happening in my world. There have been some big changes in the making and I've kind of kept quiet on here about them because I've been busy getting it all figured out.... but today I want to fill you in! When I first moved to California in the beginning of 2010, while I immediately fell in love with so much here, I didn't think it would be our forever home. So much has happened over the years, from living the Marine wife lifestyle, deployments, and adjusting to San Diego being my new home, to moving up to Northern California for a stint, to ... [Read More]
Raspberry Lemon Protein Muffins
Hi friends! Have you been experiencing a heatwave in your neck of the woods? It has been hot and also unusually humid here in the San Diego area, and while I know that many of you have no sympathy for Southern Californians complaining about weather since we have it so good overall, let me tell you... having no air conditioning is not fun when a heatwave rolls around! I wouldn't mind it being hot out if I had some coolness to retreat to inside. Yup, you heard me right! My house has no air conditioning. This concept is pretty foreign to most Americans, but living near the coast in San Diego usually equates to cool breezes and mild temperatures. I don't think anyone in my neighborhood has A/C, and it's pretty manageable except for the couple weeks out of the year when it's over 90 degrees - ... [Read More]
Hiking in Kauai: Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge’s Okolehao Trail Recap
"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt." - John Muir Aloha friends! Two weeks ago, my husband and I jetted off to Hawaii for a getaway. Having only been to Oahu before, I had been wanting to explore a more remote island in Hawaii for awhile now. After doing some research, Kauai seemed like a perfect paradise to visit for an adventurous and relaxing trip. Naturally, we planned on spending our days outdoors doing active things. Surfing was on the top of his list, and hiking was on the top of mine. I'm going to share my favorite parts of the trip overall in another post soon, but today I want to recap one of the hikes that we had a chance to do in Kauai. We stayed on the eastern side of the island in Kapaa, and rented a car so that we could ... [Read More]
10 Takeaways from Blogfest + IDEA World 2018
One of my favorite parts of working in the health & wellness world is getting to to connect and learn at industry events. Being in a building full of people who are passionate about the same things that I'm passionate about can be such a powerful thing! Last week I attended the IDEA World Convention in downtown San Diego - a gathering of 14,000 fitness pros and enthusiasts that features seminars, workouts, and an expo hall full of cutting edge brands. Within IDEA is Blogfest, the Fit Approach-run event that focuses on sessions for influencers in the wellness world. I've gone to both events a couple of times, and every time I attend it leaves me feeling inspired and invigorated - and this year was no different. IDEA + Blogfest is about so much more than just fitness. Fitness ... [Read More]