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Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts

10 in-flight travel beauty essentials toppp

essentials By
This time of year the pressure is on to look fabulous – but regular or long-haul travel can leave you feeling less than your best. Try our top in-flight beauty essentials to ensure a more relaxing journey and fresh-faced arrival.

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1. Eye Mask
Velvet Eye Mask by Holistic Silk, £46
You’re one step closer to sleep on your journey thanks to this comforting and light blocking mask. A therapeutic lavender fragrance helps to calm stress and tension headaches.
2. Eye Brightener
Shiseido Pure Retinol Instant Treatment Eye Mask, £56
Travelling gives you time on your hands, so why not pamper yourself with an instant eye calming and reviving mask. Formulated with Shiseido-original Pure Liquid Retinol Delivery System, these concentrated under-eye treatment sheets dramatically transform the appearance of wrinkles and help improve dark circles with a single application.
3. Face Cream
Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisture Cream, £62.50
A lightweight and non-greasy yet richly hydrating moisturising cream which is perfect to protect against dry cabin air.
4. Facial Spritz
Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray, travel size, £4.32
Apply mid-flight to ensure skin stays hydrated and after you apply make-up for a refreshed and more radiant looking complexion.
5. Hand Cream
La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Hand Cream, £94
A truly indulgent and richly hydrating hand cream, this luxury skin softener refines and hydrates the hands for younger looking skin.
6. Lip Balm
Creme De La Mer The Lip Balm, £42
The ultimate skin soothing lip balm ideal to keep lips soft during long-haul flights. This wonder balm softens even very dry lips on first application to rejuvenate and repair.
7. Make-up Palette
Laura Mercier Colour to Go Palette for Eyes, Lips and Cheeks in Natural Nude, £32
Travelling make-up free is not always an option particularly if you’re flying for business. This super cute kit makes it easy to to apply a full yet natural make-up look during your journey.
8. Pillow Spray
This works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, £16
Spritz onto your travel pillow, scarf or blanket and allow the lavender and chamomile scent to calm nerves and aid a relaxing sleep.
9. Face Wipes
Ole Henriksen Truth To Go Wipes, £15
Thanks to a fresh yet warming citrus and vanilla scent – these anti-ageing facial wipes are a pleasure to use. Packed full of vitamin C, they also brilliantly brighten your complexion.
10. Foundation
Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation, £28.50
If you’re flying for business, a flawless face is essential. This stay put, non-transferable foundation is the one air hostess’ swear by and will ensure your make-up appears freshly applied.

 source http://www.insignia-lb.com/2015/01/05/top-10-in-flight-beauty-essentials/

Looking Past Rotten and Seeing Potential

Looking Past Rotten and Seeing Potential

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I See Potential!!!
Now that is an opener for you…I have to say that I absolutely love rotten fruit…well, not completely over the top rotten…but most definitely very over-ripe, brown tinged, fragrant sitting on my counter fruit.  What do I see???  I see potential…I see that with some blending and mixing that I can create wonderful healthy foods.  I look past the rotten and into the beautiful creation of OMG…this is over the top fabulous (one of my fav words) and so good for me.  YES…I even maintain a positive attitude about rotten fruit…do I toss it…NO WAY…it has potential…potential to become something better than before. This can apply to who I am as a person as well…when I was injured…did I toss in the towel…throw myself away….give-up…NO, NO, and again…NO. I saw potential with a little mixing and blending of different therapies and exercise, I DID become better than I was.  So, YES…do I go over the top about such things as rotten, over-ripe fruit…well...YES…that is ME.  I savor every small thing in life because they are truly the big things…and tonight…the rotten overripe fruit is the BIG thing that I am going to create something very special with. 




What Do You See?
 I also think…why throw away a perfect piece of rotten fruit…OH MY…what a waste of $$$$...and I am not about doing that.  In fact, as I have shared in the past, I am all about saving every penny I can, clipping that coupon, and the deals…RIGHT…who does not want a DEAL.  OK…off that save money by saving the rotten fruit soap box.  Getting back to what I am doing with two rotten bananas and pears…creating another version of my Stay Healthy Omega Muffin.  If you have been following me, you know my passion for creative Stay Healthy cooking and baking.  It is truly therapy for me.  After a long work day, I find it so much fun to make a B-line to the kitchen and let the juices flow…no pun intended…but in a way…YES.  Having a passion in life is so important with the balance of who I am….I truly enjoy working in my passion which to me is not really working.  My sharing of Stay Healthy recipes is also a way I can reach out and motivate people to please get healthy and Stay Healthy with the one life that we all have.  So…if that means saving rotten fruit and sharing what can be done to create healthy snacks…I will click on that video to do just that…share my passion for cooking, share the enjoyment of healthy baking, and showing the outcome of living this way….PRICELESS.  I hope that this Blog comes to mind the next time you have rotten overripe fruit on your counter…and can look past the blemishes and into the potential that something better can happen with a little blending and mixing.

Motivation of the Day: You Do Not Have to Get an “A” Everyday ~ a Great Client Share

Workout of the Day:
Cardio Time: 45 Minutes ARC Trainer
Ended with Ball Work for my Core/Stretch




Stay Healthy Omega Muffins
Nutrition of the Day:
Coffee, one cup
Stay Healthy Banana Omega Muffin
Post Workout Shake & ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds
Egg Whites, palm of raw nuts, watermelon slice
Grilled Salmon
Stay Healthy Banana Pear Omega Muffin x 2 ~ fresh baked from the oven








Here to Motivate YOU!!!!
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Stay Healthy!

Looking Like Myself ~

Looking Like Myself ~


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Taken Last Weekend ~ Vacation
LOOKING LIKE MYSELF…what do I mean by that?  Well, I have my genetics and my lifestyle of fitness and nutrition that creates…drum roll…ME!  I am not supposed to look like the girl in the magazine, the movies, or anywhere else for that matter.  Back in the day when I competed, did I look at magazines, other girls and think…I need to look like that…why is my body not responding the same way as hers…check out how tight her backside is…on and on…YIKES...and BIG YUCK.  I am so happy to come full circle with knowledge, age (yes…it is fabulous), and wisdom.  I embrace who I am, what I look like…and being the BEST ME…not anyone else.  It would be such a stressful life to constantly compare myself to her, then her, and oh my…her…OH hell to the BIG NO.  Life is too short to even think unrealistic thoughts, goals, and for crying out loud….I AM NOT HER, HER, OR EVEN HER.  Did you know that ALL images in magazines are photo shopped to soften here, cut there, and create unreal images of girls, women, and men representing something that they are not.  I am not saying that they are not fit, although some probably are not in the greatest shape …BUT…lines, bumps, blemishes, rolls, bootie, hips are quickly painted away with a few strokes of a computer…for crying out loud…you can get a photo shopped 6-pack now…lol.  Really????  I am not saying I am anti-photo shop, but if I look at a photo and struggle to recognize who it is and have to go to the credits…I say…horrible…off that soap box.   

 Some of my older model images are slightly photo shopped…not all…but some…and I have to say it is an art of knowing just how much…and loved when some softness was needed.  Overall, I prefer the edgy REAL image that shows me, right here, right now…and those… I embrace the most;)  I really enjoy taking self portraits…no photo shop…most without makeup, and posting them on the blog so that you can see ME, at 47, after kids, injuries, surgeries…and Staying Healthy with my lifestyle. 

Love the NOT overdone photo shop
It is important to want to be ME and not someone else…that tells me that I accept, embrace, and honor who I am as Darla, the woman, wife, mother, trainer, daughter, sister, and friend…How could I even walk the shoes of helping people get healthy if I did not believe in this.  I hear so often…I want to look like you… and I smile, take it as a compliment…and let them know that the goal is to look like them…their BEST self with the wonderful genetics they have. I am a mother with a beautiful daughter full of youth, smooth skin, and body that a 20 year young woman should have and it feels like a reflection in the mirror…ME and that body 20 years ago…BUT that is the point….that was 20 years ago… and all I can do and want for me is celebrate who I am TODAY…and for 47 years young…I am pretty darn happy with that. 

Not Shopped
I embrace my fine lines earned from laughs, smiles, and a few frowns along the way and also the energy that I still maintain from taking care of myself…and say…YES YES YES.  I believe that aging is a privilege and an honor and although there is no such thing as the fountain of youth…the only way to keep this body and mind young is through living a healthy life…that means regular exercise, healthy foods, plenty of rest, and balance of work and play.  Also, living a healthy life and feeling youthful decreases my risk of illness…I want to do my best to live a good long life.  When it comes down to me and my mirror…there is acceptance and I look back and smile…YEP…the lines are there…I EARNED EVERY ONE!!!

 

THIS IS ME!!!!

Motivation of the Day:  Don’t Compare Yourself to Others in Your Journey of Life…Let Your Life be Yours…and Live it to the Fullest!

My Workout of the Day:
ARC Trainer: 30 minutes
Body Stuff: (light today…a bit tired) 1 minute intervals
Modified french press (repeated 4x in between legs)
1 set cross back step ups
1 set reverse lunges
1 set squat lateral lifts
STRETCH TIME

Meal 3
Nutrition of the Day:
Coffee, one cup
1-1 Chocolate Cherry Whey Protein Muffin
2-Post Workout Shake/ ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds
3-Shredded Chicken & Spinach Wrap
4-Small potato topped with n/f Greek Yogurt
5-Ground Turkey Breast Burger & Grilled Corn
6-Watermelon/Protein Ball


Personal Share:  Hubby wanted to prepare a full course healthy meal for me, so last night on the menu was: Appetizer: Grilled Jumbo Shrimp marinated in an orange ginger sauce and Chicken Sausage Skewer ~ Main Dish: Grilled Salmon and Brussel Sprouts ~ Dessert: Grilled Peaches stuffed with Goat Cheese topped with crushed Raw Walnuts.  He paired the dinner with a light Muscat wine.  The meal was absolutely fabulous….and we created a small video of part of it…bloopers are fun.  Enjoy the images as well.

 




Stay Healthy!


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It’s All Chemistry to Me….

It’s All Chemistry to Me….

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Me and My Protein
It really is a fabulous relationship…chemistry is so important when it comes to that.  What is also important is breaking those relationship bonds…YIKES.  How can that be good at all…the chemistry I am talking about is the process of what food turns into when it hits my face…my relationship with food.  What it comes down to is the simplicity of the calorie and me.  Do I count them….NO…but eating my 5 to 6 meals per day in small portions keeps me in the ballpark of where I want to be every day.  The Law of Thermodynamics says this…whatever is not burned as energy is stored…that is it people.  It is truly that simple. So, when large portions of food are hanging over plates and made up of high calorie fat laden items….look out energy storage…when excess calories are consumed the body converts what is not used into FAT stored on the body…OH YUCK…some would like to get more colorful than the YUCK word.  Also….I hear stories about the snack grabs…going to the pantry and grabbing a handful of this and that…snack snack snack..and usually on CRAP…guess what…calories in the face not burned through physical activity add up…BIG TIME!  Look at this example…let’s say you take in 2000 calories per day but are only burning 1500 calories per day, that means an excess of 500 calories are left over which are placed in the fat storage body bank.  There are 3500 calories in one pound of fat, so on this course of eating, a person would gain one pound of fat every 7 days…that is 4lbs of fat per month.  Can you see how this adds up…can you see how this works.  So do I sit around eating out of boredom, without reason, and just because it takes good….Hell to the BIG NO.  If you look at the simple chemistry behind it, and realize every morsel placed in the face is a calorie ready to be converted to another form of energy in the body….that in itself can be the motivating factor to knock it off, and take control of the chemistry relationship with food.  I eat to live and not the other way around….I have shared this before.  I maintain a fabulous chemistry balance with my food in (energy) and energy out (the physical activity) which keeps me at a maintenance weight.  Now if I consumed too much over several days…guess what…I would gain…Not what I want to do.  I ensure that my food choices are not heavy calorie laden with lots of veggies, fruits, lean protein, and healthy fats.  In fact, I eat as many veggies and as much salad as I want at my last meal….over half my plate are the greens.  My lifestyle with eating this way is as natural as breathing so it is not hard for me, and is key to maintaining my physique.  I never plan to count calories ever again in my life…been there done that years ago…it is a pain in the bootie….however for newbies wanting to get a handle on food intake….I feel journaling it for awhile is great accountability until the Stay Healthy lifestyle is completely adapted.  The Food Administration just developed a new food pyramid guide…the dinner plate…and I love the simplicity of the visual… a long time coming and it covers my philosophy on food intake pretty well.  The point I am strongly making is that weight loss is not hard to understand when you grasp that it is all about Chemistry….one last look.
The New Dinner Plate..Check Out the Portions!
~Too many calories consumed to energy out – fat is stored, weight is gained ..YUCK

~Less calories consumed to energy out – energy is burned, no fat is stored, weight is lost…YEAH
~Same amount of calories consumed to energy out – no weight is lost, Maintenance…This is ME…so YEAH
So, yes it is all about the chemistry for me...YIKES..that was a tough one in college...but now it all makes perfect sense for my Stay Healthy Life;)


  
Motivation of the Day: It's Starts with the Person in the Mirror
 My Workout of the Day:
Arc Interval Training: 30 minutes...YIKES..I really had to motivate myself today...did a no/no &   went to bed too late..BUT..Stayed TRUE to my Workout...LESSON LEARNED..Bed on time tonight!
This was Tough Today!
Body Work: repeated cycle 4x
Hamstring Curls 25 lbs @ 25 reps
Leg Extensions 25 lbs @ 25 reps
Low Ab work, Leg Lifts on Bench 25 reps
Modified Triceps Extensions 10lbs on bar @ 25reps 








My Meal 2
Nutrition of the Day:
Coffee, one cup please (needed it BIG TIME)
1-Post Workout Shake (gotta have my prune juice in it..lol..love it)
2-Sweet Potato with plain non-fat yogurt topping
3-2 Protein Balls (Vanilla Whey, Flax, Cinnamon, Raisin) YUM!!!
4-Grilled white fish with lots of grilled veggies
5-Protein Pudding
My Sunday Night Spontaneous Splurge...It was FABULOUS!
Splurge Report: Hubby & I made a Margarita Pizza on a thin crust Boboli, used low fat Italian cheese blend, fresh basil, roma tomatoes, olive oil, and minced garlic (YUM)!!! I had 2 slices. Our dessert...Low fat butter pecan ice cream with chocolate grahm crackers.  We were out all day and instead of stopping at a pizza place, we made our own...It was a spontaneous unplanned splurge...I never plan as I shared before and everything is better when I make it myself!!! 


I am SERIOUS about Spreading the Stay Healthy Life!
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Stay Healthy!


Recovery Day….

Recovery Day….

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REST MAKES MY MUSCLES!!!
YES….I am a RECOVERY girl….I believe in the healing powers of rest, sleep and the fabulous benefits this has on my body.  In fact, I know that my lean gains are made during this very important time and I will not deny myself…so another way I maintain my 47 year young physique is to get plenty of rest and when my body is screaming for a recovery day…I LISTEN.  What does that mean…sitting on the couch watching & wasting precious hours in front of the TV eating crap…hell to the NO.  What it does mean is I do not plan a workout for me and if I do…it is active recovery….possibly a walk or even a stretch program in the studio in between clients.  It is also a fabulous time for me to catch up on paperwork, writing programs and the to-dos that are always there.  It also means that I stay true to my 5/6 small meals per day and using my palm size portion philosophy.  I will not be burning as many calories today, so my portions will remain a bit smaller, but very frequent…full of lean protein, fibers, antioxidants, and fabulous healthy fats.  This is very important for me as well being a woman at 47…meaning the healthy fats, especially flaxseeds, which studies have proven assist with hormone balance.  Ladies you know what I am talking about…pre-menopausal symptoms can be a bear…that will be a whole other subject though.  Back to recovery…exercise brings about tissue trauma in need of repair…do not let this alarm you.  It is a good thing and the way my body builds lean mass…when I feel DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) that simply means that the muscles have been challenged & micro-tears of the soft tissue are bearing fruit.  Recovery allows for building & repair of the stressed areas and PRESTO…MUSCLE!!!!  Of course there is a difference in…YIKES…I tore my muscle and …WOW...I worked out and feeling the fitness love today.  Usual post workout soreness should last no longer than 24-48 hours.  Sometimes it is the second day after my workout that I feel the DOMS the most and then I count from there how long the recovery lasts.  I try to get at least 6-8 hours of sleep per night…very important for healthy recovery and in general.  Sometimes taking a rest or recovery day is hard because I LOVE to workout everyday…however…I know that it is counterproductive to over-train.  Not allowing my body to rest will set me up for chronic injury, disturbed sleep, burnout, decreased immunity, and so many things that do not say Stay Healthy.  Fitness is all about balance and being obsessive about my exercise to the point where my life & health are negatively affected is NOT a good thing.  So today I rest and allow my body to grow beautiful muscle and to regenerate so that my next workout I feel ready to challenge myself…it is like going on a mini-vacation for the day and coming back home to my comfort zone…my studio and me!  Oh another personal share…..I DO NOT WATCH TV….well, rarely…I am not kidding…and DEFINITELY NO TV IN THE BEDROOM…Big NO NO...I will let you think about that;)

My Workout of the Day: RECOVERY Active Rest

MY MEAL 3...SO SIMPLE STAY HEALTHY GOOD!
My Nutrition of the Day:
Coffee, one cup
1-Early Morning shake (small)
2-Mid Morning Shake (more like a meal)
3-Egg Whites on Sprouted Bread
4-Protein Balls & Sweet Potato
5-Spinach Apple Cran Salad w/Walnuts & Grilled Fish
6-Protein Pudding (maybe..depends on time of meal 5)


Motivation of the Day:  Not Having the Time to Take Care of YOU IS NOT AN OPTION



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Stay Healthy!

It’s all about Maintenance

It’s all about Maintenance

Motivation of the Day: All it takes is Daily Maintenance to Keep Your Body in Excellent Running Condition



Strictly Maintenance!
I am a MAINTENANCE GIRL!!! What does that word mean to me…AWWW…Not talking about the negative term that refers to …Oh That Girl is High Maintenance…YUCK. What I am referring to is how I maintain my body every day. I am at a happy place with my body and self, and really for me, it is all about maintaining the muscle I have developed, and continuing a healthy quality life. I want to feel good and be the BEST me every day. I am at a place of acceptance of loving who I am and feeling pretty darn good about it. For me it is not about…I want MORE MORE MORE…where is the satisfaction in that…if I thought like that, I would never be happy or healthy for that matter. I have been in the fitness field along time and have seen so many people go overboard with not being happy with themselves after achieving the ultimate and have the most beautiful bodies…and still not happy…that makes no sense. I celebrate the accomplishment of creating the body that I wear today and am truly satisfied with that. It is important for me to maintain the structure that I have gained…I did work hard for it, and I enjoy the look of it, and deeper than that…I celebrate the overall good health to every part of my body inside and out that my daily maintenance plan gives me. Just as a car & home NEEDS to be maintained…I better feel stronger about that attention being given to my body and health. For crying out loud…things can come and go…but my body…JUST ONE PER LIFE. That is why I INVEST in a good maintenance plan daily….through my fitness and the premium foods that I eat every 2 ½ hours. Maintenance is a fabulous place to be and I enjoy the upkeep;)

My Workout of The Day:







ARC Trainer Interval 35 minutes
Bodywork: I completed this series 6x


Low Rows 30lbs @ 25 reps
Triceps Kickbacks – Medium Tube Resistance 20 reps
BOSU Back Extensions – 15 reps
Stretching…Watch the Video!

My Nutrition of The Day:









Coffee, one cup please


Meal4:Sprouted Bread topped with B/S chicken,avocado, mustard
1-Pre-workout shake (the light one)   
2-Post – workout shake (make it a meal)
3-Brown rice & shredded b/s chicken breast
4-B/S chicken on sprouted bread with avocado & mustard
5-Spinach Salad & Egg white Scramble
6-Protein Pudding….Watch the Video!


IF YOU ENJOYED THE CONTENT, LIKE IT, LEAVE A COMMENT, AND IF YOU LIKE… OFFER ME A PROTEIN SHAKE;)      STAY HEALTHY!