self care – Brick Marshmallows

Fitness, get fit, get healthy, self care, skin care, Summer Fashion, Summer Style

Hats, Baths, & Masks

June 14, 2018June 14, 2018 Melanie Hollis

HATS:

Hats are a must have for the summer months. Not only do they protect our faces from the sun, they protect our hair too. UVA rays dry out and damage the outer layer of our hair, making it appear brittle. Add in the daily humidity, and summer hair can be the worst. If you’re not having that great of a hair day, put your hair in loose braids or pull it back into a low pony and sock a cute hat on for instant style. If you have short hair, you’re already ready to just wear a hat and go. Most females overthink hats, but it’s actually a simple addition. Solid colors are easier to coordinate and straw hats go with everything. Just have fun with it.

My black hat sort of reminds me of Jethro from the Beverly Hillbillies, but I really like it. haha. It’s a bit stretchy, not too tight, and is lightweight. I’ve paired it with a shirt I pulled off the sale rack at American Eagle for $10.00 and some cut-off jean shorts (also from American Eagle). With black sandals, I’m ready for any outdoor event. Here’s a link to the tops currently on Clearance at American Eagle.

BATHS:

Do you sweat? I’m a fitness freak. Every day I do high intensity interval training and also run a couple of miles. In the summer, especially, I sweat a lot. Exercising to the point of producing lots of sweat is so good for us. It manufactures happy feelings, gives us an energy rush, reduces aches and pains, and releases toxins from our bodies. But getting that sweat off of our bodies is equally important. The bathtub is a perfect solution. Not only will it cleanse your body, but it will also restore and relax your body.

After a long day outside, it’s important to pamper our skin. Again, the sun will do some damage. Find a good moisturizing bubble bath, light a candle, turn on some soft music, and relax. I experiment with different kinds of bubble baths, bath bombs, and body washes. This one from Caress really does have a buttery burnt brown sugar smell as advertised. It. Is. Yummy. Here’s the link … I picked it up at Target.

Masks:

If caring for our entire body is important, our faces should be at the top of the list as the most important part of our bodies. Caring for our faces every day needs to be a priority. I’ve said it before, and will say it again, don’t ever go to bed with makeup on. It will age your skin. Cleanse your face everyday. Exfoliate often. Pamper it with moisturizer two times a day, morning and night. And try to make time for a mask once a week.

This mask is by a company called Yes To. I’d heard the company was started by two guys who played soccer, and was definitely curious to find out what these dudes know about skincare. As it turns out, they apparently know a lot. They use 95% natural ingredients in their products and make sure all are free of toxins. This was my first time using one of their masks, and I have to say I might be hooked. It was thick and creamy, had a nice gentle scent, went on easy, and left my skin feeling so soft. If you aren’t married to a certain type of mask, give it a try. Target carries this product too!

The takeaway is self care. As women, we’re so adept at taking care of others, aren’t we? We check off lists all day every day. It’s part of our DNA. I swear, when God made Eve, that woman probably opened her eyes and immediately got to work sprucing up the Garden of Eden.

Adam was like: “Hey, God made sex, and He says it’s very good … wanna have a go at it?”

Eve: “Ummmm, yeh, sure thing. But first I need to figure out how I can turn a pile of palm leaves into cute throw pillows for our bed, clear away all the brush so our outdoor digs will be tidy, prune a couple of trees to give some sharp curb appeal, and gather more fruit and veggies in case the Lord stops by for dinner … plus, don’t we have babies to tend to?”

Adam: “Well, no … we have to have the sex first.”

Can you relate? The housekeeping and the lists will wait. The kids will wait too. It took me fifty years, but I’ve finally embraced the importance of putting myself first for a couple of hours a day. Living in the moment. I’m very type-A … if I can do it, so can you.

Exercise, take baths, experiment with different beauty products, and love yourself. Age is just a number, but life is short. You’re worth the extra effort!

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

self care, skin care

3 Easy Ways To Tackle Health, Aging, and A New Attitude

February 4, 2018March 31, 2018 Melanie Hollis

Drink Green Tea : The number one healthiest drink on the planet is green tea. If you were hoping for Diet Coke, Chardonnay, or a Mojito to be in the running … well, no. For a toast to good health, green tea is the way to go. Not only does it prevent osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, and the risk of Alzheimers, but people who drink green tea daily actually live longer. Toss some mint leaves, orange slices and green tea bags into a boiling teapot for an amazing recipe. Add a little cane sugar, and put it on ice or serve it hot. Either way, it’s so yummy. Cheers!!!

Utilize Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion really does erase fine lines and make your skin glow. It absolutely works. If you don’t have the money, time, or inclination to treat yourself to a microdermabrasion treatment from a professional Esthetician, I’d recommend the Neutrogena Microdermabrasion system. At less than $20.00, it’s definitely worth a try. I use this system two or three times a week, following up with a really good moisturizer, and have virtually no lines on my face at the age of 50! In addition, it makes your skin super soft. Microdermabrasion is a must if you’re over 40. (Oh, and sleep on your back. Just my extra two cents.)

Choose A Life Word & Own It: Even though I’ve been a big believer in the power of positive words for a long time, I never really thought about having a life word until one of my (gorgeous, amazing, fabulous) sitters gifted me with a mug that had the word “Hustle” written on it. When she gave it to me, she said: “When I saw this, I immediately thought about how perfectly this word fits you.” Fits me? Hmmmm.

Isn’t it nice when we unexpectedly get a glimpse of how others view us? Since then, I’ve owned that word. As a busy mom of two kiddos who have special needs and who constantly keep me on my toes, it’s imperative that I stay at least ten steps ahead of them or I will surely meet an early grave. (Caregivers know exactly what I’m talking about. haha.) But I want more than merely anticipating life. I want to master it … to hustle. And that means being my best self for my children and for me.

Focusing on that one word, and making sure everything I do fits into that theme, has completely changed my attitude. Instead of going to the gym so I can check good health off my daily list, for instance, I started going to the gym because I’m a person who hustles. Instead of cleaning house and staying organized because it’s a daily chore, I now do those things because I’m a person who hustles. haha. See what I did there? Hustle has now become my designation. The mark I want to leave on life. Life is just as much about our mental game as it is our physical game, and this simple switch in thinking has worked wonders for me. Maybe choosing a life word will work for you too.

Think about it for a minute. What’s your life word?

~Mel