Fitness Friday: 10 Favorite Workouts

 

To get ready for the upcoming transition to the website next year, I've had to go through quite a few blogs to gather up some of the best ones to transfer over. Here's a look at my top 10 favorite blogs for working out and exercising. Let me know what you'd like to see!

 














1) A Dozen Workouts, 10 Minutes & Under
http://naturalbeautyandbody.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-dozen-workouts-10-minutes-under.html


2) Ladies Who Lift: Chest & Back Day
http://naturalbeautyandbody.blogspot.com/2014/06/ladies-who-lift-chest-back-day.html


3) Summertime Ready: Yoga & Pilates
http://naturalbeautyandbody.blogspot.com/2014/06/summertime-ready-yoga-pilates.html


4) Sets, Reps, & Weights: How Much?
http://naturalbeautyandbody.blogspot.com/2014/06/sets-reps-weight-how-much.html


5) My Favorite Cardio Machine & Workout
http://naturalbeautyandbody.blogspot.com/2014/06/my-favorite-cardio-machine-workout.html


6) Trainers Train With Trainers, and You Should Too!
http://naturalbeautyandbody.blogspot.com/2014/07/trainers-train-with-trainers-and-you.html


7) 10 Minutes or Under Workouts
http://naturalbeautyandbody.blogspot.com/2014/07/10-minutes-or-under-workouts.html


8) Shoulders, Biceps & Triceps
http://naturalbeautyandbody.blogspot.com/2014/07/shoulders-biceps-triceps.html


8.5) 20 Minute Shoulder, Bicep & Tricep Workout
http://naturalbeautyandbody.blogspot.com/2014/09/20-minute-shoulder-bicep-tricep-workout.html


9) Leg Workouts at Home
http://naturalbeautyandbody.blogspot.com/2014/09/legs-at-home.html


10) Simple Core Workouts? There's an App for That!
http://naturalbeautyandbody.blogspot.com/2014/10/simple-core-workouts-there-app-for-that.html

What Goes In the Review Box?

... Besides a boatload of skincare. I do like to experiment with makeup, but to really find gold you need to try skincare products. 

Makeup - 80% of the time it's something I've actually worn out & about more than a few times. The rest are samples I get from various places, usually for testing purposes.

Hair Care - I have my usual dailies of conditioner, shine detangler, and pomade that don't waiver too much, but I like to try different things & add new products in from time to time. (P.S: That Splat! Hair Chalk was horrible.)

Tools - Facial sponges, cleansing clothes, eyebrow combs, what does what & what works better? Most of the time these come with other products, in sample packs, VoxBoxes, or in gifts with purchase.

The Randoms: That Tide To-Go was from a Bridal VoxBox last year. I usually get these complimentary for testing & review purposes. I tried the Tide To-Go on a pair of satin-feeling white pajamas that got some kind of dark brown stain while in the laundry last year. It didn't work. :(

Do I love 'em or hate 'em?

Both. It really does vary & I try to be as honest as possible. If there's a product I don't like, I'm not going to say I like it just because a company may or may not give me free gifts. Sometimes it does bum me out having to be honest in a negative way, especially if it's for a company I normally really like such as the case of my Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure review last year.

Too Faced: The Secret to No Makeup Makeup Palette - I love this! I've purchased this more than once. Great compact all-in-one to look pretty & refreshed on the way to work taking BART.

Real Chemistry: Luminous 3 Minute Peel - OMG. Hate this! I used it while in the shower like suggested. Guess what. The stupid mixture it exfoliates with doesn't come off your face! Or rather, any little hairs you have on your face, like your eyebrows, or the soft part around your jawline will have gunk stuck in it that is hell to try & get off. I still found some stuck on my face the next day! Don't try this product. Unless you're like a reptile or something and have zero fuzz on your face.

GlamGlow: PowerMud Dual Cleanse Treatment - Not too bad. Skin felt smooth after but dry, though that is often the case with mud masks I've found. Would be good during the warm summer months when skin is more oily.

Clinique: Turnaround Daytime -I somehow came up on two samples of this, and used it almost every morning right after cleansing/ exfoliating before BB cream or primer for some added moisture that easily & quickly blended in to my skin. Loved the Turnaround Overnight product of the same line too!

Fashion Design and Makeup Artistry

I've had lots of really fun times playing with makeup around fashion and design. Lucky to live in San Francisco!

 

Lots of these were taken place downtown and around Civic Center venues. A few of them were at Ruby Skye, which if you haven't heard of it is a popular night club that has grown into infamy. 

Yes there's me on the bottom right, photo by April Wise Photography. :)  

Here's Josie, one of my favorite models I've worked with...

.... And doing practice sessions at a photographer's studio below.

 Beach fashion shoot for Mia Swimwear....

 

Various test shoots for photographers, designers, models and stylists around the Bay Area...

It all started from playing around with makeup for shows in my living room, inspired by all the years performing dance and the countless hours I spent putting makeup on since I was a kid.

Skincare Reviews - Clinique, DDF, Laura Mercier

This is what happens when you get busy & distracted & think you don't have much to say. You end up with a bunch of products you tried & tested & didn't post about before you forgot about them.

Korres Black Pine Firming Lifting & Antiwrinkle Night Cream - This was in a big Korres Black Pine variety pack. I've actually really liked everything from this one particular line, but that's the only think I can remember since it's been at least a few months.

  

Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30 - Stuck this in my gym bag to try on after a workout. Remembered it was good enough to stick back in my bag, but forgot it after.

Philosophy Miracle Worker - Like most things Philosophy, it has been pretty forgettable for me.

DETOX Nutrient-Rich Purifying Facial Cleanser - Yeah..... Opened the bottle to sniff it & see if that would help me remember. Nope. I got nothing.

Alright now that we got the unmemorables out of the way, here are four great skincare products that are memory-worthy!

Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish - Thank you dedicated Review Box that I throw stuff in to review later though often forget about, because you saved me this thing that I love! *Makes note in iPhone Notepad to find to order later* It smells great and uses the perfect balance of fine granules that are small enough to be gentle yet large enough to feel & do some decent exfoliation. I used it when I was in the shower, but if I still had some left I would totally put it on my face right meow.

Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster - Put this little sample in my gym bag to try out after showering. A little goes a long way with this oil, but doesn't have a greasy feel after. Great to have a burst of moisture & antioxidants applied quickly, all over your face & neck. 

Clinique Turnaround Overnight - I reserve nighttime to products that I don't mind if they leave a heavy feeling of residue on, because I'm going to bed & it's going to be washed off in the morning. However, this was pleasantly not the case with this revitalizing moisturizer. Clinique has been a favorite of mine since I was in junior high, and though through the years I've tried to dismiss it as basic, as old school, as something that was either for the very young or very old, it keeps coming out with products like this that remind me it is super awesome amazing and not basic at all. There are Clinique counters everywhere - go ask for a sample of this!

DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer -Was pretty stoked with my first DDF product: Amplifier. I used this Pore Minimizer as a primer too and it worked really well! Smooth soft skin slightly moisturized and ready for makeup application. 

What to Pack for Vegas - Or Any Quick Hot Weekend Getaway

 

Foot Cream - Gold Bond Ultimate with Shea Butter - You're dry from the desert weather and drinking more in a night than you do in a month. Take 30 seconds to put this on your feet & hands before you go to sleep and you'll be glad you did in the morning. 

Dramamine - It's not just for motion sickness

Natural Deodorant - Nothing super crazy, but that's going to be easy to wear no matter what you are wearing. Lavanila Deoderant

15 Hour Primer - Benefit Stay Flawless - Ladies: Invest in a good primer! If this isn't weather you're used to, you're going to be a sweaty mess before you get to the top of the hour. Make sure any makeup you've spent any effort in putting on actually stays there for a decent amount of time. Benefit has some of the best primers around. Check out the Porefessional if  you want something a little less hardcore, but Stay Flawless is a safe bet.

Aloe Vera Gel - For any possible sunburns. Also works good for a light hold in your hair, especially if you don't normally like to use something as heavy as gel, but want some unruly curls or waves to calm down.

Dry Shampoo - Oscar Blandi - Bottomless mimosa brunch, pool parties, dinners & nightclubs. Who has time to wash your hair all those times throughout the day? Get a good dry shampoo spray.

Travel Size Fragrance - Michael Kors is one of my fav. Don't bring the whole sha-bang. You'll be a very sad panda if it opened up or broke in your travel case. (Yes, it's happened.)

BB Cream - Too Faced Beauty Balm SPF 20 - Look for a great all-in-one that will last. Ideally you'll also want to look for SPF 30 & above.

On The Blog: My Itty Bitty Summer

I'm not sure what I had expected this summer to be, if I even expected anything at all. I had hoped to fulfill my New Years Resolution of getting a passport & using it, and I kind of almost did that...

First on the agenda was visiting my dear friend Lisa at what is almost like a second home to me now, Las Vegas. Originally planned as a quick day &1/2 trip to see Calvin Harris with her shifted themes rather quickly. Friends gathered to get a couple rooms at Mandalay Bay, and then Lisa ended up being out of town. We all still had fun of course, and I hope to see her soon.

Met up with an old friend that I haven't hung out with in years, thinking we'd grab some food after work and catch up a bit, maybe grabbing a drink or two before going home. Six hours and random Grand Mariner bottle service later, we quickly remembered how much fun we used to have together, and definitely plan to hang out more!

What's that? It's PRIDE in San Francisco! 

Last weekend of June every year the city turns into an uber happy partying rainbow where everyone comes out to play! 

I did it! New Years Resolution fulfilled! Well, part of it. A month prior I had to public transit a couple hours to get a certified copy of my birth certificate to get my passport for the first time. Now all I have to do is use it! Icing on the cake is that I am happy with my picture, thank god.

Then came Forth of July! SUPER happy I got to spend it with a few of my favorite home girls, all of which who make it very tempting to move to Sacramento. Yes, all three of them live in Sacramento! I don't know if that is a blessing or a curse, but I love them all! BBQ Pool Party in effect, with fireworks being set off for over two solid hours. Seriously awesome.

Here is a really cure picture of one of my longtime friends, Renee. We've been friends since 11 years old, entering sixth grade together. We are highly responsible for the nicknames both of us answer to til this day. Isn't she cute?!?

July also brings something I wait all year for: The Gilroy Garlic Festival! I super geek out on all the art, and food (and of course, the wine tent). It's a tradition of my friend Carlos and I to go every year now together since 2007. We also share in the joy of wine, like this 2004 Paul Hobbs LaGarto merlot. 

As I mentioned, I *almost* fulfilled my New Years Resolution, since I had to delay going out of the country until mid-September. I did want to take a few days away before starting Fall Semester to have a little me time and to visit my mom in Oregon. Where do I go for me time? Las Vegas of course! Solo trip this time for a day, 90% vacation courtesy of MyVegas slots. My Basis Peak fitness tracker shows how much Sin City can help you exceed your daily step goals and the calories you burn from them.

My cute mama & I hiking around Crater Lake.

Wine Tasting at Red Lily Winery

Scary Southern Oregon fires!

And now it is time for me to get back to school! Two of my textbooks have arrived. My summer was short and sweet, and even though it wasn't full of big events, I made a lot of nice memories with friends and family, and grew a whole lot in my heart and soul!
:)

I Can't Be Sick!

It's inevitable: Even the healthiest people get sick on occasion. Somehow this basic logic is lost on me anytime I fall ill for more than two days.

Here I am, sick in bed on a Tuesday. I attempted going to work yesterday after being laid out all weekend long with what started as a minor sore throat on Thursday. Going to work yesterday was not the brightest idea my stubborn self has had. I figured I rarely get sick, I'm healthy, you're not contagious after two days, you're not sick longer than two days, people depend on you, it's in your head...

The latter thoughts opened up the realization of underlying issues I have with just the thought of being sick - even if it's just a cold, or whatever god-awful plague upon the Seven Kingdoms I seemed to have picked up this past week. It's the constant subconscious fear of ever being sick the way I was for a solid three years of my life. Everything I've done since then is a passionate sprint to get as far away as I can from the possibility of that happening again - I've worked over two years at a gym which I am a manager in, I went back to school and began studying nutrition more, and I started this Natural Beauty and Body blog.

Yet somehow I seem to turn to dark thoughts that I did something wrong, that I could have done or can do better, that it's my fault I'm sick and I need to snap out of it. Logically I know that everyone gets sick from time to time, but it's like a phobia; after one really bad camping experience you are terrified of spiders forever.

We always seem to be able to give out great advice that ourselves have a hard time taking. At work when I'm about to stress out on something, I think, "What have I or would I tell my manager if they were in this position?" Get rest. Eat healthy. Drink fluids. Take your vitamins. The real world will still be waiting for you to stress out and work 10 hour days when you are feeling much better.