Health: Negative Body Image

I've been reading a lot of articles lately, like this one that have really got me thinking. I think as a woman there is a lot of pressure from society (mainly via the media) about how our bodies should look. We don't stop to think about how everyone is--unique including our physical attributes--and we literally can't look like the women we see on TV, in magazines and in the movies. Not only is it physically impossible since we are all so different-- they are PAID to look like that. They workout with a personal trainer, have a private chef cook them healthy meals, have a team of makeup artists, hairstylists and wardrobe consultants to make them look like that. There is also Photoshop and other programs to help enhance their beauty. 

What I'm trying to say is -- it's even impossible for those women whose bodies we envy to look that good every day. It takes a small army to create that image, yet as women we're told that not only is it attainable -- but that we should look like that. 

I've gone through waves of self love and self doubt over my 27 years of life and it's sad. Why should I be comparing myself to anyone else when I'm a unique individual and look like me. Am I perfect? Heck no -- there are things here or there that I could improve on but I am, as I am right now, enough. I'll let you in on a little secret: there is something that every single woman (yes, even those hot celebrities) does not like about her body. Instead of looking at my "flaws" and feeling bad about them I need to celebrate my positive attributes. 

I'm doing the best job I can balancing work, family, friends and free time while working out to maintain my health and eating the right foods (most of the time). It's a lot. We can't be perfect at everything and it's okay to not workout every single day of the week (that's not healthy either but that's a new post for another day) or eat perfect all the time. Indulging every once in a while and being more relaxed about my eating and exercise routine has actually been much better for me. I don't feel guilty if I miss a day (or two) at the gym and when I eat something that isn't totally healthy I know I will balance it out with all the other great things I do eat. That's way too much stress and pressure to put on yourself. 

Why this post today? I think that sometimes we all lose sight about what is important and our self confidence can really take a beating. It's nice to have a reminder every once in a while to be a little kinder to ourselves. No matter what size -- you're beautiful and you should celebrate the good things instead of focusing on the bad. Aim to improve your health instead of focusing on the scale or size jeans you wear. Because you, (yes you) are enough.

Adrianne's July Birchbox

My July Birchbox was fantastic! It was a great combination of beauty and lifestyle products, and I really enjoyed testing every product.

1. Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien

2. Boscia B.B. Cream SPF 27++

3. Color Club Blue Ming

4. Stila Lip Glaze in Action

5. Tea Forté minteas

6. Birchbox Exclusive Headphones

1. Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien: This perfume sample was a treat for me. I had never heard of the brand, so I was pleasantly surprised when I wore it for the first time. The citrus scent isn’t too heavy, and it smells incredibly fresh. The price for a full bottle ($85) is a bit too much for me, but if you’re a perfume fanatic and looking for a great spring/summer scent, get to a store to check this one out.

2. Boscia B.B. Cream SPF 27++: Though I am a big fan of BB creams, I’ve always been pretty skeptical of skin products that claim to match any skin tone. I’ve tried several foundations that claim to adjust to your skin tone, and I’ve also tried blushes and lip glosses that tout the same. If blushes and lip glosses aren’t the right shade of pink or coral or whatever it may be, it’s not as noticeable as if your foundation doesn’t match. 

When I first applied Boscia’s B.B. cream, I admit I was a little put off. The color looked extremely dark and ruddy. I had to spend quite a bit of time blending the product out in order to get it to look right. Once the product was completely blended, I found that it actually gave a nice finish to my skin. It didn’t feel or look heavy, and it lasted all day. It didn’t completely match my skin, but it came close enough. 

Have you tried self-adjusting makeup? What do you think of it?

3. Color Club Blue Ming: Such a beautiful summer color for nail polish! Over the past couple of years, summer nail polish has gravitated toward cooler ocean tones. I love mint and turquoise colors, especially for the toes. If you haven’t tried this trend, I think this color would be a great start. 

4. Stila Lip Glaze in Action: I already own eight Stila lip glazes. So when I received a lip glaze in a brand new color, I was very excited. Upon first glance, the color looks fairly dramatic. But once I put it on I found that it was a great match for my lip color and seemed to just enhance with a subtle berry color and lots of shine. Though I don’t mind it, some may not like that Stila lip glazes are a bit sticky on the lips. If you can get past the sticky feeling of the lip glaze, you are in for a treat because Stila has great color choices and they’re really long lasting.

5. Tea Forté minteas: This cute little box of mints is the perfect size for your purse. The mints combine green tea, mint and citrus flavors. Being a huge fan of citrus, I really enjoyed these.

6. Birchbox Exclusive Headphones: Not only are these headphones fun colors, but they are very comfortable to wear. As opposed to hard plastic earbuds, the ear pieces on these headphones are very thin, soft and flexible. They do a better job of accommodating the shape of your ear than traditional earbuds. I definitely recommend picking up a pair.

Have you guys been enjoying our Birchbox reviews? Are we providing enough information? Let us know how we’re doing so we can help you decide which beauty products you might want to check out! 

Blend your way healthy!

I try to eat a pretty healthy diet, but when it comes to searching on the Internet for tips and help on what and how much to eat, it can be pretty intimidating. There’s way too much information out there. The advice that’s consistent no matter where you look is to eat several servings of fruit and vegetables every day. 

So, my answer? Smoothies. What can be easier than throwing all those fruits and veggies in a blender and drinking them? 

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I started making smoothies for breakfast in an effort to incorporate more fruits and veggies into my diet. It was difficult for me to incorporate two to three servings of each of those every day. That’s just a lot of food! So, in order to help myself along I’ve been drinking a smoothie every day.

The great part about adding smoothies into your diet is that the options are endless. There are tons of combinations so it’s not easy to get bored. Plus, it’s something you can start doing without having a lot of know-how or following strict recipes. Sure, you can search for smoothie recipes, but you really don’t need to. Just pick a few things you like and try them together. 

I typically pick two to three different fruits and blend them with a small amount orange juice. I’m a little less adventurous with the veggies, but I do include a handful of spinach in every smoothie. Other veggies I really like incorporating are carrots and cucumbers. If you’re afraid of your smoothie tasting too bitter, I definitely recommend starting off with the veggies I mentioned. If you’re making a fruit smoothie, spinach won’t affect the taste (I promise!) and carrots/cucumbers only add sweetness. If you use carrots, chop them very finely. Also, you could add an extra boost like flax seeds or a supplement like protein powder to any smoothie.

Here are a few combinations that I like:

• Mango – peach – kiwi 
• Apple – cucumber 
• Strawberry – banana – blueberry 
• Banana – pineapple 
• Cucumber – Asian pear 

(And don’t forget the spinach!)

How do you incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet?

Our Health: It’s All About Moderation

Do forgive me for throwing a cliché at you, but I sincerely believe that moderation is one of the best ways to living and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

It took me a very long time to realize that I can’t just eat whatever I want and expect to look and feel healthy. When I was in college, I was a very busy girl. In addition to my classes, I held two part-time jobs and played softball. I rarely prepared myself a meal and I mostly relied on the not-so-healthy stuff in our school cafeteria or stops at Wendy’s on the way home from a doubleheader. Even though I was in good shape and working out a lot because of softball, I weighed a lot more than was comfortable for me.

It was all about my eating habits. With every meal, not only did I eat things that weren’t very healthy, but I also ate until the point that I felt full. I often came away from a meal feeling sluggish and it’s because I stuffed my face. And even when healthy options were in front of me, I always opted for the fatty, fried and salty foods.

It’s been years since college and I’ve managed to transform my eating habits. It’s rare that I sit down and eat until I feel uncomfortable and can’t stand up. There have been plenty of times where I’ve been at lunch with friends and received comments about not being able to finish my whole meal. It’s all teasing and good fun, but the reason I do things like that is because it helps me prevent myself from over eating. I haven’t given up the foods that I love, but I do try to eat healthy for the most part. It’s really important not to deny yourself things, because that’s when cravings strike. Don’t deny yourself things, but also realize that you can’t eat junk at every meal.

 

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It’s also important to find what works best for you. For me, I try to eat less during every meal, but I eat more frequently throughout the day. That’s not the best approach for everyone, but it’s one that’s helped me. Oh – and don’t forget to squeeze in some exercise!

Feel free to share your best tips for staying healthy – we’d love to hear them!

Adrianne's June Birchbox

It’s June Birchbox time!

Here’s what I got:

1. BORGHESE Bagno Di Vita Soak

2. Eyeko Fat Eye Stick in Chocolate

3. theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen

4. Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

5. LUNA Bar in Chocolate Peppermint Stick

1. BORGHESE Bagno Di Vita Soak: When I spend money on beauty products, it’s usually not in the bath/shower department. For me, bath oils, powders or bubbles are a luxury item that I really can’t justify. 

I tried this bath soak and was a little surprised. I opened the packet only to find a black powdery substance. Aren’t bath powders usually white or a lighter color? I dumped it under running bath water, as instructed, and waited for the water and powder to mix. Unfortunately, the powder sank right to the bottom of the bathtub and I had to mix it by hand. Once I mixed it, my bath water turned a murky green color. Not really what I pictured for a relaxing bath time, but I tried it anyway. The powder does smell nice (a bit floral), but I didn’t notice that it had any benefits for my skin. Not something I’d go out and purchase. 

2. Eyeko Fat Eye Stick in Chocolate: Hooray for makeup in my Birchbox! This is the reason I signed up for Birchbox – I’m obsessed with trying out new makeup. Eyeko is a brand I’ve heard quite a bit about, so I was really excited to receive this sample. 

I used this as an all-over eyelid color. The color is pretty – brown, but it looks a bit purple in sunlight. I did end up liking the product, but it’s really difficult to blend. If you try out an Eyeko Fat Eye Stick, make sure where you apply it is exactly where you want it to be. I made the mistake of coloring the product on in sort of a messy and quick fashion because I figured I could blend it out, but I ended up causing myself a lot of work by doing that. Next time I’ll be more precise. Here’s how it looks on me:

3. theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen: Eek! More makeup in my Birchbox! Stains are really hit or miss for me. Sometimes stains can be over-drying and end up making the area where you apply it look parched. I tried this stain both on my cheeks and lips, as the product suggests. Before you blend the product in, the color looks like it may turn out to be too intense. But it turns out to be a very subtle pink, and just gives a really pretty glow. Here’s how it looked on my lips and cheeks:

One thing that I would advise is to really consider which other lip products you wear with this stain. I always put on lip balm before I apply any type of lip gloss, lipstick or stain, so I did the same with this product. On the day I first tried the stain, I wore a Body Shop lip balm that had a bit of shimmer in it. The products must have combined in a weird way and I ended up having to re-blend everything. It seemed like the stain just settled into certain spots on my lips – not pretty.

4. Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream: This was probably the strangest product I’ve received in a Birchbox and I’ve been a subscriber for seven months now. This skin cream comes from Japan, so I was excited to try it since lots of great cutting-edge beauty loot comes from Japan. The little booklet that came with the product said the cream is intended for dry skin (perfect for me) and that it could be used on the face, lips, hands, cuticles, feet, elbows or wherever else you might experience really dry skin. I was skeptical to apply the cream to my face (you’ll know why after I describe it), so I went ahead and tried it most of the other areas the booklet suggested: my lips, feet, hands, cuticles and elbows.

The cream looks exactly like Carmex and the scent is a dead ringer for Vicks Vapor Rub. Kind of an odd combination for a skin cream. This is why I was hesitant to apply it to my face – my skin is way too sensitive and I figured I’d have a bad reaction. But, it really is effective. It feels a little greasy after you apply, but it does a great job of softening and moisturizing the skin. 

5. LUNA Bar in Chocolate Peppermint Stick: I’m not sure quite how to review a mini energy bar other than to say it tasted good! 

It seems like subscription boxes have become extremely popular over the past year or two. If you’re interested in trying some higher end beauty and lifestyle products without committing to buying a full-size item and possibly not liking it, a subscription that delivers tester sizes is an excellent option. There are subscription boxes featuring all natural/green beauty items and even health products. And there’s one for every budget. Check out SubscriptionBoxes.com for information on all types of subscription boxes, including those geared toward food, crafts, baby and more!

Stay tuned for Amanda's June Birchbox review!

Our Health: Why I'm a Vegetarian

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If any of you follow me on my personal blog, it's not new news that I'm a vegetarian. I've been living this lifestyle for over 6 months now and haven't looked back since. Before I embarked on this health journey I never imagined giving up meat. Of course there are environmental and animal lover reasons to be vegetarian but my choice was mostly for my health. You see - high cholesterol, cancers and other bad bad things run in my family. When I was checked out a few years ago at my general doctor I found out that my good cholesterol was really good but that my bad cholesterol, due to my family genetics, was high too. No bueno.

At the time I didn't know what I could do about it but knew I didn't want to go on any medication if it could be avoided. I continued my life as "normal" but was a little more conscious of my choices. Fast forward to the end of December of last year when I visited my mom and stepdad in Arizona. My mom is a certified nutritionist and although I think she can be extreme sometimes with the way she eats - I really admire her for all the things she does (and does not) put into her body. She doesn't look a day over 35 and she's in her 50s (sorry mom) but you would NEVER know it.

Anyways, back to my story. So I was visiting them and my mom was really excited to show me this documentary about vegan and vegetarians (I was not excited about this at all and thought it would be boring) man was I wrong. When I finally decided to let her show us this video I was blown away. It was life changing - yes, seriously.

Forks Over Knives convinced me to become a vegetarian forever. It focused mostly on the health aspect of begin a vegetarian/vegan and that really hit home with me. They highlighted examples of countries throughout history that did not have meat based diet at one point of time or another (mostly due to war) and how the deaths due to cancer and heart issues DRAMATICALLY (yes I had to put that in all caps to get your attention) declined when they did not have access to animal protein. Uh ... there's a way that I can help control if I have cancer and heart issues or not? Sign me up. I'm telling you - spend the hour to watch this video and your mind may change a little too. Jay still eats meat but he's more mindful about it now and even has vegetarian meals and days without meat. Even reducing your consumption a little can make a huge impact.

I'm not here to preach my views on this to you all and do not think this way of lifestyle is for everyone. It's just my take on my health and the choices that are best for me. I've received some criticism for my choices when I decided to switch - most people don't understand and don't want to - and that's perfectly okay! I know we've all grown up with the philosophy that eating meat with every meal is healthy and we need our protein - but let me just say that this works best for me and my lifestyle now and it was a choice I made for me.

Have questions? I'd love to hear from you! I'm also planning on having my mom guest post in the near future so if you have any nutrition questions for her please let me know.