Health blog – Brick Marshmallows

Obsessed With The Bees

April 5, 2018April 5, 2018 Melanie Hollis

For the record, I don’t get obsessed about too many things. Of the Meyers Briggs sixteen personality types, I’m an ENFP, which means I’m a freeeeeeeee spirit. Suffice it to say, I’m a person who can pivot and make changes as needed, so getting stuck on a product isn’t really my deal. However, I am absolutely 100% obsessed with Burt’s Bees BB Cream. Obsessed to the point that I buy up tubes just in case they decide to discontinue it.

Some females spend loads of money on makeup. They contour, highlight, and transform their faces with the most popular cosmetics on the market. I totally respect those beauty mavens, but I’ve never had the time or inclination for it. For years, in fact, I’ve only worn powder on my face. Powder, though, doesn’t provide sunscreen. And since I’m turning fifty soon, I definitely need sunscreen more than ever before.

I dislike foundation, especially heavy foundation. But I need the sunscreen foundation provides. Can anyone else relate to this dilemma?

The solution came to me via one of my favorite brands: Burt’s Bees. By the way, what’s not to love about a company that got kicked off by a hitchhiker and the bearded beekeeper who gave her a ride? Such a cool story, but I digress.

Back to the point.

I came across the Burt’s Bees BB Cream, which is basically a tinted sunscreen and moisturizer combo, and decided to give it a go. It was the best decision I’ve made in a long time. The BB Cream is light and creamy, goes on smoothly, covers nicely, and a little goes a long way. In addition, it stays on all day. It’s all I wear on my face now, applying it right over my Burt’s Bees Moisturizer, with a just an added dab of bronzer.

I’ve read the Amazon reviews, and while most of the reviews are positive, some have said the BB Cream color is either too light or too dark. I use the light/medium and it blends perfectly with my skin. I’d suggest you test the product in the store before buying it just so you can find the right shade to match your skin tone. You can find it here!

While on the subject of Burt’s Bees, another product I recently began using is the Micellar Cleansing Water … because cleansing water is the new rage, right? Up until this point, I’ve used (and have been very happy with) Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner . But I wanted to see what the big hoorah was with cleansing water and decided to put it to the test. First, the scent is absolutely incredible. And second, my skin doesn’t seem as dry since I’ve been using it, which means the cleansing water meets the promise to hydrate. Burt’s Bees never disappoints. You can find it here!

Skin care is vitally important throughout life. I can’t recall a single time when I went to bed without cleansing my face. Equally important is what we choose to put on our skin. I always err on the side of all natural and organic products, using the less is more option whenever possible. Burt’s Bees, of course, is a company that promotes natural ingredients. If you haven’t given them a try, maybe you should!

Just my thoughts.

~Melanie

Fashion, Summer Fashion

It’s A Day Dress…It’s A Play Dress!

March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 Melanie Hollis

I don’t know what it is about sunshine, but it never fails to bring out the girl in me. I turn fifty this year, but I’m still very much a girl. Can you relate? Show me the first daffodils of Spring, and I’ll happily swap denim for flirty cotton skirts and feisty summer dresses. My favorite is the fit and flare design. The name alone suggests fun and sexy … and most of my girlfriends want to be both! I do too.

The fit and flare dress accentuates any body type and always makes a woman’s waist appear smaller. A shorter dress has the added benefit of making legs look long and lean. Once a female reaches middle age, a common misconception is that all skirts and shorts must hit at or below the knees. Supposedly, as we gals age, our knees get ugly. But think about it for a second … knees are honestly weird at any age. So I say we ignore the hype, put a halt on the knee shaming once and for all, and stock up on summer dresses that scandalously hit above the knee. (Oh, the horror!!! haha)

One of my favorite places to purchase summer dresses is Altar’d State. Their prices are reasonable, their selection is amazing, and every time you purchase something, a percentage of the sale goes to a charity. This dress is their Lavani Dress. Made from polyester, cotton, and spandex, it doesn’t wrinkle and stretches in all the right places to fit perfectly. In addition, the pattern tricks the eyes and hides flaws, which is an added bonus. At less than $70.00, it’s a really good deal:

But what’s a summer dress without a pair of sunglasses? I don’t know about you, but I’d rather own scads of inexpensive sunglasses for the sake of variety than to purchase one or two really expensive pairs. Plus, if I lose or break a pair, I never feel guilty. I recently found these super cool shades for $12.99 at H&M.

If winter has had you feeling over the hill, a bit dumpy, and totally worn out, there is good news. Spring and Summer are coming soon, Hallelujah!!! So get ready to shake off those icky blues by slipping yourself into a fit and flare dress. It’s guaranteed to peel you off the sofa and toss you right out into town. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Celebrate your beauty at every age. Dare to show your knees. Embrace your inner sexy. And let the eyes roll if they must. We only live once ladies!

Just my thoughts,

Melanie

Fitness

So You’re Over Forty And Ready To Begin Building Muscle?

February 20, 2018February 20, 2018 Melanie Hollis

Getting older is such a pain, isn’t it? What used to come so easy requires much more effort. Even sleeping now requires effort … what is that about and whyyyyy? Just over three years ago, I found myself at a real crossroad in life. Everything fell apart in one fell swoop, and I wanted to curl up in a hole and disappear. But I was still responsible for two kiddos who have special needs and who require constant care, so retreat wasn’t an option. You’ve heard of flight or fight? I thankfully chose to fight and have been fighting like hell ever since.

You may not be at a major crossroad in your life, but perhaps your waistline is. haha. You can’t really run from your waistline, so maybe it’s time to fight back. Want to lose some of that fat? Decrease the risk of Osteoporosis? Burn more calories? And improve your heart’s health? Then, you better hit the weights and get to lifting. When you’re ready to take that first step toward build muscle, as with anything, it’s best to begin with a simple solid foundation. Three really good tools for your cache are the foam roller, the medicine ball, and Yoga. I’d suggest to begin by spending one month, 30 minutes a day, becoming a student of these three fitness weapons that will assist you in initial steps toward slaying your body.

Foam Rolling: Do you foam roll before or after a workout? Yes. Both. It only takes a couple minutes of time and is worth every second. Rolling Massagers reduce muscle tension and tightness, reduce soreness, and reduce levels of stress hormones. Some studies say it even fires up your central nervous system, helping to regulate heart rate and blood flow. I don’t know much about the scientific evidence, but I do know how foam rolling has benefited me. I work out hard six days a week, and still run and do yoga on the seventh day. As a result, muscle pain has become my norm. I kept reading about roller massagers, but was a major skeptic until one day I found one on sale and decided to give it a try. Aaaaaaand it works. After rolling, my muscles feel energized and aren’t nearly as sore. As with anything, rolling can be overdone, so I keep it to only a few minutes twice a day. Most rollers are around $30.00, so it’s not much of an investment to add to your fitness arsenal. If you’re looking for a first step, then buy one!
Medicine Ball: Medicine Balls were used by ancient Greek Athletes and Gladiators, and they’re still around today, so there must be something special about them, right? Absolutely. Not only will you burn calories with the medicine ball, but you’ll build strength, power, balance, and work your core. Abdominal curls, Russian twists, big circles, standing torso twists, woodchoppers, lunge twists, wall sits, chest pushes, hamstring curls, knee crushers, and squat leg raises are all examples of what you can easily do with one simple medicine ball. With three sets of 12 reps, building muscle with these exercises will be no problem. To buy a 6 lb. ball, click here. For an 8 lb. ball, click here.

3. Yoga: Last, but far from least, is Yoga. I cannot say enough about Yoga. It has transformed my life and my body. To build beautiful lean muscles the right way, you need to be physically flexible, and Yoga will definitely improve your flexibility. More than that, however, yoga will also increase your muscle tone, improve your energy, help you maintain a balanced metabolism, improve your circulatory health, produce a gorgeous posture, and as an added benefit, will greatly enhance your mood. Formal Yoga exercise classes can be found at most gyms, but Yoga instruction can also be found on DVDs and at your fingertips on convenient phone apps. I have the Asana Rebel application loaded on my cell phone and use it every day. The most magnificent thing about Yoga is you can jump in at anytime, at any age, and at any level … and grow into it. It’s something you evolve into slowly, but the benefits are almost immediate.

As with anything, building muscle takes time, dedication, hard work, and patience. Consistency pays off. If you begin with these three simple building blocks, you’re off to a strong start. Just stick with it, and then slowly incorporate other exercises into your life. Each new challenge will bring a brand new reward.

If you ever need any help getting started, and if you live close by, just let me know!

~Mel