Latest Health News

11 Motivational Rich Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 20:24:00 +0000

DON�T DREAM OF IT. TRAIN FOR IT.

DON�T Give UP, your MIRACLE is ON us WAY.

EVERYONE NEEDS

A FRIEND THAT

WILL CALL. AND SAY,

GET DRESSED DUCKER,

WE�RE GoING ON AN

ADVENTURE.

I HAVE TO BE

SUCCESSFUL. BECAUSE

I LOVE EXPENSIVE SHIT

I NEVER KNEW THAT WE HAD A SOUND, TILL I HEARD YOUR lAUGH.

I WANT To leave FOoT PRINTS of love

NEVER Assure that Loud is strong and quiet is weak.

REAL MEN STILL DO THIS.

STACK your MONEY AND ACT BRoke

SUCCESS IN LIFE COMES WHEN YOU

SIMPLY REFUSE TO GIVE UP, WITH GOALS

SO STRONG THAT OBSTACLES, FAILURE,

AND LOSEE ONLY ACT AS MOTIVATION.

YOU ARE Not your PAST

New Year, New You in 365 Days

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 23:23:00 +0000

The New Year is almost upon us and often includes resolutions to get in shape for many of you. Are you thinking about it? What I have been contemplating is the best way to help motivate you to accomplish this goal. Resolutions can be a great start, but what I want for you is a lifestyle of health and fitness, not a few months of gym rush.

Getting healthy and fit takes time so I would like to start a campaign of motivation, support, and encouragement lasting one year starting January 1st. I am still putting together all the details of the best way to implement the program. I want you to feel motivated, encouraged, and supported on your journey to getting fit. Are you excited?

I would love your feedback and ideas for blog posts, videos, images, or live feeds you would like to see or hear. This will truly be a year of working together and learning from each other. What works for one may not work for another, and thankfully fitness is individual and not universal. This campaign will provide a genuine and real place to become the best version of you. I will prepare content based on your needs, goals and specific concerns. This is your time to speak up and our time to grow together as a fitness family.

The media outlets that will be used to accomplish the New Year, New You in 365 Days are my Stay Healthy Fitness Blog, Instagram, and Facebook. I may also consider creating an event page on Facebook and will keep you posted on that.

The New Year, New You in 365 days will be considered a guided motivational self-help program where you are responsible for your individual health and fitness. I also advise seeking clearance from your physician before starting any fitness program.

The goal is to implement realistic and life sustainable strategies to get fit through tips, motivation, and expert guidance. The areas essential to adopting a healthy lifestyle may include:

How to set realistic fitness goals.
Making fitness a priority.
Eating for individual fitness goals and improved health.
How to implement cheat meals.
What does it mean to eat clean?
The best exercise that fits your lifestyle.
Reducing stress.
Balancing life and health.
Having fun with fitness.
How to stay motivated and disciplined.
Enjoying the fitness journey.
Breaking through plateaus.
Exercise modification.

Another important goal is to enjoy the process of getting fit. You will be doing all the work, but I will be with you all the way. I look forward to hearing from you and starting this journey together.

Thanks for stopping by my Blog. Remember to subscribe and never miss important campaign updates. Let's do this!

Be well and Stay Healthy

Being Told You're Unhealthy Isn't Necessary But What Next?

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 22:00:00 +0000

Let's face it, we don't need anyone to tell us we're overweight or unhealthy. We are adults, wear big boy and girl pants, and know when we need to fix our fitness.

When your body isn't healthy, we can feel sick, fatigued, and unhappy. On top of that, you may have have been told by the doctor to change your lifestyle. Concerned friends and family may also be giving you kind hints to take better care of yourself.

If all the above is happening, you already know something should be started to get healthy. Fitness includes so many areas of health - physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Fixing your fitness will require evaluating all these areas and making healthy choices to improve your life.

It's not rocket science and requires nothing magic to improve your fitness. You only need motivation, determination, and follow-through to become healthy. Companies marketing fitness gimmicks would like you to believe a bunch of expensive things, products, and pills are required to obtain a fit and healthy body. The true story is you all possess the ability to achieve good health and fitness without all that fluff.

The first step is admitting the areas of your life that are unhealthy. Secondly, create a plan of action to start the process of adopting a fit lifestyle. If you're struggling with being overweight, have painful joints, low energy, frequent illness and low self-esteem, a great start would be to look at daily nutritional intake and exercise.

If emotional problems such as anger, chronic stress, and tension are an issue, it will be important to identify the cause of these feelings. A qualified counselor or licensed clergy member could be helpful to start the healing process.

The important thing is to get on board with fixing your fitness. Procrastinating on this very important subject does nothing but waste what could be a healthier happier life. Being in denial about being unhealthy not only puts off the work but puts off the results you desire. Changing your mental game and being honest with yourself will be a necessary step to change for the healthier.

Thanks for stopping by my Blog. Don't forget to subscribe and never miss a free update.

Be well and Stay Healthy

What You Eat In Private You Wear In Public

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 14:30:00 +0000

The truth about health and fitness is we either want it or we don�t. Let�s face it, many of us come up with reasons not to exercise or eat healthy. We even sound pretty convincing. Unfortunately, all the reasons in the world eventually catch up to you in the form of illness or injury.

What we often fail to realize is how much our lifestyle impacts our health. The food you eat, being physically active, and rest is truly your medicine. Many of us continue to walk around in an unhealthy body and come to accept this existence. Living this way causes you to miss out on how good you're supposed to feel and look. The true story of health is your body reflects your lifestyle.

I want to believe all of us have a strong desire to be healthy people. Working in the health and fitness industry, I certainly hear this loud and clear. We talk about wanting to feel and look better, but what continues to be lacking is the action required to make this happen. More often than not, healthy living isn't a priority.

Living a life of excuses will not change your health or appearance. It only guarantees you not to feel your best and is often accompanied by unhappiness. Change takes changing your daily habits. The body you have is determined by what you do. I'm sure we can all agree with that statement.

Let me clarify my reference is to the general population who have the ability to get healthy. Some medical conditions and illness are out of our control, but I have seen those who struggle to live the healthiest lives. Another true story.

The first step to change your body for the better is owning your current lifestyle. This includes admitting you are making excuses not to eat healthy, exercise, sleep more, reduce stress and the list goes on. It's important to understand why health is not a priority.

Admitting your part in creating an unhealthy body can piss us off and it should. It's in that frustrated moment you can really be honest about your life and body. That proverbial slap in the face is often the beginning of getting serious about a healthy lifestyle. Think about these things:

You are responsible for replacing reasons/excuses with action.
You are capable of taking care of your health and making it a priority.
Having a fit body can happen at every age and it's never too late to start.
You control what your body looks like.
What you eat in private you wear in public.

Being healthy and having a fit body is achievable for all of us and should be your life goal. Dependence on prescribed drugs for self-imposed health conditions continues to increase and becoming an epidemic problem. Let me clarify certain medications are required for a small percentage of Americans but not for the general population who can get healthy. Many cholesterol lowering and blood pressure medications can be discontinued when weight is lost and body composition improved.

The problem continues to be accommodating an unhealthy lifestyle justifying it with reasons that really can't be validated. A healthy lifestyle is not an occasional event and requires full-time effort. Life is the event you need to be fit for and you only get one chance to do it right.

The bottom line is results can and will happen, but the choice is up to you.

Thanks for stopping by my Blog. Remember to subscribe and never miss a free update.

Be well and Stay Healthy

Why is Being Unhealthy the Acceptable Norm?

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 20:30:00 +0000

Have you been feeling unhealthy and just not right for some time? This can be physically or emotionally. Yet, we continue to accommodate and even accept the situation. Your body and mind can only take so much before it breaks. We often ignore the signs until we are lying face down in our own hopelessness.

Why do we continue to accept how unhealthy we are and how bad we feel but continue to tough it out day after day? Instead of making changes to create a better situation, you simply accept unhealthy as your normal way of life. Sad but true. Many of us don't even realize how good we're supposed to feel. Big contributors to this problem are continuing to eat processed foods, refraining from exercise, and living under a cloud of stress.

How often do you take inventory of your life? Are you accommodating joint pain and illness from eating unhealthy foods leading to being overweight? Are life's circumstances so stressful to the point of causing depression and anxiety? What's going on at home in your personal relationships? Is your home a peaceful sanctuary or a war zone? How about the job? Are you happy and doing what you've always envisioned or burdened by the thought?

We are meant to live a happy, healthy life. The unfortunate truth is many of you choose to accommodate being unhealthy. We eat and drink things we shouldn't, become couch potatoes, and drown in our own self-pity.

Isn't it time to stop accommodating unhealthy and start fixing the problem? If you don't know where to begin, ask for help. No shame or stigma about needing assistance sometimes. We've all been there. Society puts shaming on every human topic ad nauseam. If seeking help from a professional gets you on the right track, then go for it. I suggest an expert in the area of your struggle.

If you want to adopt a healthy lifestyle, consult with a qualified personal trainer, nutritionist, or registered dietician. Making a doctor's appointment to discuss your stress and seeing a licensed counselor or therapist may be helpful. Check out your local church and talk to a pastor. If the marriage is suffering, sometimes all you need is a little help from a licensed marriage and family counselor. The great news is you have options!

What it boils down to is changing your life for the better. It requires recognition of the problem and a willingness to fix it. There is nothing healthy about accommodating unhealthy. You can either sit and wallow where you are or put on a fix-it attitude. Wishing you health and happiness!

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Be Well and Stay Healthy

ColorProof - Color Care for Hair

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 21:31:00 +0000

Shiny and Bright Holiday Kits are available now from ColorProof. If you have color treated hair like me, some shampoos and conditioners can leave your hair feeling like you didn't even use any product. That is not the case with this brand. This shampoo has a really great lather and leaves my hair feeling smooth after rinsing. It could be more of a girly smell for me (the scent of the shampoo is called Gingered Amber Essence), but it's a great unisex brand that everyone can use, and the lather really makes up for the lack of feminine scent. The conditioner work great as well, leaving my hair feeling soft, smooth, and manageable after towel drying. The conditioner is scented with Mojito Mint Essence and it does leave a little tingle on the scalp after rinsing. It brought me back to Graham Webb Ice Cap days.

The HumidityRX Anti-Frizz Weatherproof Spray also comes with this kit. This spray calms down my wild hair and leaves a nice shine. This has a great smell and it's a lightweight spray so my hair does not dry all clumped together. It's a really natural look and feel and I do not have to go back after it dries to fix & adjust it again.

They have three sets available right now and they go for $34 each:

ColorProof Shiny & Bright SuperRich Holiday Kit
This is the one I picked since I have medium color treated in hair in need of hydration.

ColorProof Shiny & Bright SuperPlump Holiday Kit
This is for color treated hair in need of body and fullness. Boosts volume while prolonging color life.

ColorProof Shiny & Bright CrazySmooth Holiday Kit
Instantly eliminate unruly frizz, repair and infuse with extreme smoothness

ColorProof products can be found at multiple salon locations throughout Connecticut. It can also be ordered directly online from ColorProof here: https://shop.colorproof.com/collections/holiday-gift-sets-2017

Great line I recommend checking out.

Thanks ColorProof for sending this over!

I Maintain a Fit Body Eating Lots of Carbs

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 16:30:00 +0000

To this day I dislike being called skinny. I have had my share of teasing as a kid and even into adulthood. Body shaming goes both ways in this life.

What's important is loving yourself right where you are while working toward your goals. It wasn't until discovering how to build curves with resistance training that my life changed for the better.

I was blessed with my Dad's genetics and thankful, but it has been a challenge to put on weight including muscle. I'm also constantly hungry and seem to burn up energy faster than the average person. I turn to healthy carbs to fuel my body and feel good throughout the day. I can feel lightheaded if I go too long without eating, especially carbs. Some of the carbs I eat on a regular basis include:

oats
quinoa
seeded whole grain bread
whole grain tortillas
sweet and white potatoes
brown rice
veggies and fruits
100% juice (pomegranate, green juice)

My metabolism seems to work faster than I can fuel and it can be frustrating. Some say they can just look at food and gain 5lbs whereas if I look at food, my body says let's burn it up. I will not exercise if I feel hungry and prefer to down a healthy meal before hitting the weights. I'm definitely not a candidate for fasting to improve athletic performance or to reduce body fat.

I just so happen to be one of those people on the other side of the spectrum that works hard to gain weight. This doesn't mean I want to gain by eating lots of crap to achieve skinny fat. My goal is to maintain or increase lean muscle mass by eating quality healthy carbs, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Genetics do play a small role in your physical appearance, but you absolutely have the power to change things by what you eat and how you challenge your body. I work hard and eat to support my goals. I don't believe in diets nor do I teach that in my personal training practice.

Genetics may predispose some of us to obesity but that doesn't mean we're to accept it and not try to be a healthy person. The same goes for lean genetics like mine. We're all on this fitness journey together with differing body types and how they function.

Regardless of your body makeup, it's important to put up a fight for what you want and not give up.

Thanks for stopping by my Blog. Don't forget to subscribe and never miss a free update!

Be Well and Stay Healthy!

Why It Takes Work to Get Fit the Right Way

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 18:00:00 +0000

Life doesn't promise easy, fair, happiness, or even health. In fact, life is hard and work is required and never an option. It's up to you to create the lifestyle that you want to live. Agreed?

This won't be found in a jar, pill, powder, or shake. If popping a 'fit pill' provided the body of your dreams, I certainly wouldn't be writing a health blog. Quick fixes are not the way to getting fit the right way.

Sound evidence has supported the best way to achieve a fit body is through a healthy lifestyle. You may be aware of some of the requirements of how to get fit but a short list is below:

consistent healthy food intake
regular exercise
plenty of rest
drinking lots of water
balancing life

Sounds like a great plan and very doable. The problem is many of you still aren't willing to put in the work. Nothing tastes better than healthy feels, remember? So, what gives?

Great marketing has convinced many of you there's a quick fix to fitness. This strong belief in false guarantees has taken away the drive and motivation to get fit the right way. False claims only provide false hope, take your money, and cause frustration.

The only way to achieve health and fitness is eating right and sweat producing work. Trendy diets and pills don't teach you how to shop for healthy foods, cook the stuff, and meal plan. They surely don't sprout legs and exercise so that you absorb the activity benefits.

What usually occurs with quick-fix programs is some initial weight loss because of being so calorically restrictive and unrealistic. Your body is running on an empty tank and experiencing typical negative side effects like dizziness, headache, and nutrient deficiencies. Your energy can become low and frustration high struggling through a program that just doesn't feel good.

Studies show restrictive fad diets are unable to be sustained and any weight lost is put back on plus more. When the focus shifts to eating healthy and not dieting, realistic results can be achieved. This is where the work comes in.

Fitness takes work. You get up and go to a job each day to supply your needs and wants, right? The same applies to improving your health. Getting fit requires time, energy, and eating healthy food. The work is challenging but the results rewarding. It changes you, makes you stronger, and able to enjoy your body and life overall.

Believing you can become healthy through gimmicks can no longer be an option. That would be comparable to owning the golden goose and not having to put in your eight to five for a living. Not realistic and not going to happen.

You are no stranger to what work feels like. It can be rewarding and provide an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. The results of hard work are being able to achieve and have what you want and desire in life. Work is never optional and something you have to do to succeed.

The bottom line is having a fit body requires work but you must be willing to put in the time and actions to achieve your goals.

Thanks for stopping by my Blog. Remember to subscribe and never miss a free update.

Be well and Stay Healthy

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Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 21:48:00 +0000

Last week, I showed you a great moderately priced skincare cream. This week, I am excited to share with you my favorite luxury skincare cream. I was introduced to Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream over a year ago and I was immediately hooked. I try tons of face creams as a beauty blogger, and this is one I never stop using, and always go back to.It's a lightweight anti-wrinkle day cream and it has floral scent that constantly reminds me of a fresh flower Hawaiian lei when I apply it. It's quick to absorb and my skin loves it. This is my #1 pick for skincare as far as face creams go.

Today's Black Friday Special is buy one, gift one at 50% off. There will also be great deals available on Cyber Monday.A 50ml size goes for $128. To find out more about the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, or to order, please go to: https://www.elemis.com/us/pro-collagen-marine-cream.html

Help reduce the depth of wrinkles, and improve your skins firmness and hydration in 15 days.

It was voted 'Best for Mature Skin' - Harper's Bazaar 150 Best of the Beauty Awards 2017.

Nordstrom carries Elemis and it's also available at the Elemis Spa at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

Thank You Elemis for sending this over!

Achieving a Hot Body Is More About Health Than Vanity

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 00:15:00 +0000

Do you want a hot body? Of course, and there's nothing wrong with that. Who doesn't want to feel good about their outward appearance after working so hard to get in shape? Looking fit on the outside says a lot about how you're living. Fitness is a lifestyle and being healthy has nothing to do with vanity.

Getting fit and achieving the body you want is a goal that will look different for everyone. Some may want to get lean and tone, while others may want more muscle definition. Whatever your body goals, they are achievable at every age.

As you age, you should feel especially proud of maintaining a hot body. Personally, I feel honored to be over 50 with a youthful attitude. Age is just a number and not a definition of fitness. Getting older doesn't mean you become frumpy or even old. Fitness is really about having a positive attitude and maintaining your health at every stage in life.

Making health a priority certainly helps you achieve a nice body. One of the top fitness goals is to be able to wear whatever you want plus look good naked.

Being healthy and fit feels great, fun, and sexy. When you stand in front of a mirror, you should like what you see and feel confident with your body. However, many of us bash our bodies always finding something we think needs fixing. There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve your physical fitness but chronic feelings of not liking yourself aren't considered a healthy mindset.

Goals to achieve a hot body are awesome and healthy. This is part of becoming a better person than you were yesterday. It doesn't matter your age or circumstance, improved fitness makes your life better. Maintaining a good body helps you feel better about your life and self. It creates and promotes a quality life physically and emotionally.

Healthy lifestyles create healthy bodies. Maintaining your body has so many health, self, and relationship benefits. Besides looking good naked, you also feel healthy, less stress, decreased illness, more confident, and even improved sex life. All these have nothing to do with vanity but just wanting to feel good about yourself.

Achieving a hot body also improves your confidence, well-being, and feelings of accomplishment. It's just one result of living a healthy lifestyle reflected outwardly. There is a sense of pride that goes along with the fruits of fitness labor. These benefits help keep you motivated to take care of yourself.

Thanks for stopping by my Blog. Don't forget to subscribe and never miss a free update.

Be well and Stay Healthy

Youth To The People - Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 20:07:00 +0000

This is a great line to check out and the perfect size stocking stuffer! Youth To The People makes anti-aging skin care that comes from superfoods. Since the temps have been dropping, I have stepped away from my regular moisturizer just to switch it up. I have been using the KALE + SPINACH GREEN TEA HYALURONIC ACID Age Prevention Moisture Cream and it's a really NICE product and I would recommend this.

This is a lightweight yet moisture rich cream that can be used during the day, or at night. My skin feels moisturized without it feeling to greasy, or too much. It does not smell at all, just a light cream scent. Kale and spinach are said to be rich in a variety or potent antioxidants that help reduce skin inflammation.

This goes for $42 for 2 oz and you can find it in stores like Sephora, Nordstrom, or you can go directly to the YTTP website to order here: https://www.youthtothepeople.com/products/cream

All vegan ingredients, designed and made in California, all glass packaging, & made in small batches.

Thanks Youth To The People for sending this over to me!

Sinful Colors Nail Polish

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 19:01:00 +0000

You can't go wrong with nail polish stocking stuffers for only around $1.99 each! Sinful colors nail polish has launched a new line called Color Beyond and it has some vibrant colors to pick from. A few colors from the set are called Berry Charm (deep berry red), Planet Out (dark green moon metal glitter), & Endless Blue (vivid blue) and they are all great eye popping colors.

Whether your looking for the traditional holiday red, gold & silver sparkles, or neutrals and whites, Sinful Colors has you covered. These are really fun to mix and match together. I tried a few different colors together. I used Jade Kat, then I used Let Me Go as a base with Cosmotion (sparkles) over the top on one finger.

Jade Kat is a shimmering emerald green shade

Sinful Colors can conveniently be found at retailers like Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Walgreens, & Stop & Shop just to name a few. To find out more about Sinful Colors Nail Polish and to find out the complete list of stores that carry the brand, please go to: http://sinfulcolors.com/

Snow Me White, Glass Pink, & Let Me Go

Thank You Sinful Colors for sending these out to me!

How to Reach and Maintain Your Fitness Goals

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 22:00:00 +0000

Once we reach our fitness goals, are they really done? I hope the answer for all of you is a resounding - NO. Staying fit by maintaining a healthy life is the real goal.

Without maintaining your fitness, what was all the hard work for? Life is the event deserving of your best healthy self. Sure, you may be motivated by a special occasion, or to fit into a swimsuit, but those are only short-term goals.

Staying fit through maintenance means you're in this for the long haul. You have made a personal commitment to a healthy lifestyle and enjoying a quality life through the process.

Living healthily is a continual process of eating right, regular exercise, and plenty of rest. When you work hard to lose weight, reduce body fat, and gain muscle, just letting all that go doesn't make sense. For example, it has taken me decades to develop mature muscle. Without continual challenging workouts and proper fuel, I could easily lose it to atrophy. Did you know deconditioning of your muscle begins after two weeks of not exercising according to some studies?

Staying fit also means being happy and comfortable with your new lifestyle. You are in a good place physically and mentally. It allows you to enjoy the fruits of your fitness accomplishments. Sometimes your confidence can be boosted to the point of self-challenge with fitness competitions or marathons. This can be awesome and rewarding. Most of us just want to feel really good about our body and health.

Drawbacks

Unfortunately, many individuals fail to maintain fitness once goals are reached and return to unhealthy habits. This is probably one of the hardest things to see as a trainer and can be difficult for the individual who worked hard to achieve so much. What happened?

People are looking for temporary fixes instead of lifelong results is what happened. Fitness is considered a burden eliminating fun foods and adding uncomfortable workouts to life. This mindset isn't ready to see fitness as an enjoyable and beneficial lifestyle. Wearing that bikini felt great for a minute, but once the winter months arrive, all that fad fitness is tossed aside. Unhealthy habits return along with an unhealthy body.

How to Stay Fit

In order to stay fit, it requires living healthy full-time. Your body achieves and maintains what the mind believes is the new motto. Falling in love with the process of taking care of your body exemplifies the best of fitness maintenance. It's important to move beyond short-term goals and into the full-time maintenance of your healthy body. This is done by following healthy guidelines used to reach and maintain your goals including:

Eat healthy or clean 80-90 percent of the time.
Consume a wide variety of healthy macronutrients.
Consume a mostly plant-based diet (60% of food intake should come from plant foods)
Exercise at least 3 days per week (5 is optimal).
Strength train at least 2 times weekly.
Drink plenty of water.
Maintain flexibility by stretching post-workout, or as part of relaxation technique.
Get plenty of sleep (6-8 hours).
Reduce stress by balancing your priorities and enjoying more free time.
Meditation/prayer is helpful.

Thanks for reading my Blog. Remember to subscribe and never miss a free update.

Be well and Stay Healthy

Dharma Nutrition Bar

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 18:29:00 +0000

Dharma Bars are USDA organic, vegan, gluten free, & kosher nutrition bars that have great texture and they are good for the body. The word Dharma means purpose, and this is a "Food with Purpose". It's a healthy anytime snack or you can choose a specific bar for before/during/after hiking, workouts, & yoga etc.

Dharma Bars come in three different flavors:
Endurance - Chocolate Almond Date - natural sugars, healthy fats & fibers to fuel the body
Balance - Vanilla Coconut Almond - cinnamon, coconut, and vanilla calm the soul
Recover - Cocoa Hemp Cherry - raw cocoa, hemp seeds & cherries repair the mind and body

These plant-powered bars were created by veteran Chef James Ricciuti. He is also an endurance athlete and wanted to develop something, "to help nurture the self, spirit, soul and balance of each and every person."

Dharma was kind enough to send over some bars for us to check out. My personal pick of the group was the Balance bar - vanilla, coconut, almond. They go for $2.59 to $2.99 per bar, or you can get a case of 12 for $30.

To find out more more about Dharma bars, or to order, please go to: http://www.dharmabars.com/

Terrain in Westport, CT Nov 18th Holiday Open House

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 21:22:00 +0000

If you love florals & greenery and a garden setting, Terrain in Westport is a beautifully decorated comforting atmosphere where you go to shop, grab a coffee, or have an organic farm-to-table meal. This Saturday they are having their annual Holiday Open House from 12-5pm and it's a great way to get into the holiday spirit because they will be having workshops, demos, carolers, and a tree lighting. Outside they have an inviting fire burning with logs and blankets and it looks like a great spot to sit and have a warm drink.

They have tons of great gifts and home decor to pick from. I stopped by Terrain to visit and to look for a few new candles that are being launched there as well. The first candle is called La Belle M�che (that translates to "the beautiful wick") and these are naturally scented, 100% made in France, hand-poured in Grasse, made from soy wax, and have a lead-free cotton wick. These come in a ton of fragrances all created with a well known perfumer in Grasse, they burn for 50 hours and they go for $39.50 each. Grasse is a town in France that is considered to be the world's capital of perfume.

La Belle M�che was kind enough to send me a few of their candles over to check out and enjoy for myself. My favorite top scents are Rose Patchouli, C�dre Poivr� (Atlantic Pine Forest), and Pamplemousse Citron Vert (Grapefruit infused with fresh notes of lime). They actually have over a total of 30 different intoxicating scents to pick from. La Belle M�che also offers essential oil candles, and colored candles.

To find out more, or to order from La Belle M�che from Terrain, please go to: https://www.shopterrain.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.enhancedResults&searchString=la+belle+meche

Thanks La Belle M�che!

The next candle is called Mad et Len and it also comes to us from the French Alps. Two globe-trotting adventurists settled down and started making these organic candles. Major cool factor - they have a blacksmith friend that makes the hand-forged black iron tins that house the aromatic candles complete with snuff lid.

Beautiful looking and they have a rich evocative smell that lures you in. They are poured in hand batches, with essential oils of undiluted flowers, woods and spices.These candles burn for around 65 hours (10.5 ounce size) and go for around $110-$425 each depending which scent and size elected. These are now being sold at the Terrain location in Westport, but they not listed online just yet.

Terrain serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and it is a high-end place to shop and eat plus it's a great beautiful space to experience. To find out more about Terrain, or to shop online, please go to: https://www.shopterrain.com/westport/

Cafe & Dining area

Here are also a few great gifts ideas and decorating ideas I spotted while browsing around Terrain:

Amaryllis bulbs dipped in wax

Twig slice wreath

Grow your own Mushrooms, all different species

The Zenza Lighting Collection

Comfy Winter throws on bench

Stargazer Starry Glass Ornaments

Glo Skin Beauty Lip Colors

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 21:08:00 +0000

Glo Skin Beauty offers innovative skincare and nourishing mineral makeup. Here are a few of the seasons hottest lip crayons and lipsticks to check out for the Holidays coming up.

They offer two types of crayons. One is called Suede Matte Crayon ($18 each) for longwear and it has a velvety-smooth finish and it comes in 7 vibrant colors to pick from. The other is a Cream Glaze Crayon ($18 each) for high shine lip color and that's available in 6 colors.

The Lipstick is a creamy, longwear lip color ($24 each) that lasts and it's available in 16 colors. It has a blend of antioxidant Vitamins A, C, E, and Green Tea Extract plus titanium dioxide to add some natural UV protection.

I like both of the products and they have a great color spectrum to pick from. They offer great neutral day colors and more dramatic night colors. My favorite holiday red is the Suede Matte Crayon color called Bombshell.

Great packaging with black containers and the lipsticks are in heavy solid cases. Both are easy to apply.The brand can be found at select Spa's and Salons across New England. To order directly, or to find a location nearest you, you can check on their website: https://www.gloskinbeauty.com/

Thanks Glo Skin Beauty for sending these over! Looking forward to wearing them.

*Cruelty Free Brand

Hard ? Candy

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 18:19:00 +0000

Hard Candy has recently launched some new eye-popping fragrances. Hard Candy's Pink Eau de Parfum is a floral musk and it goes for $8.23 for 8 fl oz. Hard Candy's Black Body Mist is sweet - with floral, fruit, and sugary notes and it also goes for $8.23 for 8 fl oz. They are not heavy scents and each offer a refreshing mist of something different.

The brand has been exclusively sold at Walmart store since 2009, and it's a popular & affordable brand with the Millenials. Hard Candy was king enough to send over some of their products for me to check out. So, let's check out a few more of the many products they offer.

The Velvet Mousse Matte Lip Colors go for $7.15 each and it comes in 14 full-coverage bold colors that won't fade. I tried the color Heather which was a nice Fall brown shade. It comes in a really nice case, nice thin tube and application brush, so it's easy to apply and accurate.

The Hard Candy Sassy Eyes Sultry Eye Shadow Palette goes for only $9.35 and offers 9 wonderfully awesome neutrals to pick from, plus eyeshadow primer, a mini Take Me Out liner in Soy, and a dual ended applicator. The palette also includes an instructional card with 3 start to finish natural looks. This a great palette with lots of nice colors for the price.

The Take Me Out Liner in Treasure Chest for $4.95 is a totally fun glitter eyeliner pencil that has a sharpener in the cap. It's also available in chrome, glitter, bold and basic shades if black glitter is not your color.

Take Me Out Glitter Eyeliner in Treasure Chest

Glow All the Way can be applied to face & body for a luminous, sun-kissed bronze glow. It goes for $5.68 and it's available at Walmart for in-store purchases only.

The Matte Finish goes for $8.25 and it sets makeup or skin with an even, natural color.

The Sheer Envy Prismatic Highlighter goes for $7.15 and it leaves skin with an iridescent shimmer that diffuses light.

Lastly, The Just Glow Baked Illuminating Duo goes for $8.00 and offers two baked powders to reflect light so your skin looks great in all kinds of lighting.

To find out more about Hard Candy, please go to: http://www.hardcandy.com/

Walmart for direct orders: https://www.walmart.com/browse/beauty/makeup/hard-candy/1085666_1007040/YnJhbmQ6SGFyZCBDYW5keQieie

Thanks Hard Candy!!

How to Turn Intentions Into Action to Achieve Your Goals

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 18:27:00 +0000

We all have good intentions and dream about fulfilling them. Somehow they get pushed aside and forgotten. Well, not really forgotten, because they continue to dance across the pages of your thoughts. At least this is the case for me. Can you relate?

Are you guilty of not following through on good intentions to make something happen? Have you started that fitness program or kept your promise to eat healthier? If not, why?

Research indicates individuals who make a plan are the most successful. In order to turn those intentions into action and achieve your goals, consider trying this approach:

Write down your goals - be specific and honest. I want to lose fat, gain muscle, feel better, be healthier, look good naked, become more flexible, reduce chronic pain. These are just a few examples.
Plan how to achieve those goals - re-arrange priorities, better time management, keep a fitness journal, eat healthier, exercise 4-5 times per week, get more sleep.
Turn your plans into action - focus on your health, follow-through on scheduled workouts, toss the junk food, cook healthy food at home, write down daily achievements, limit alcohol intake, get to bed earlier, drink more water.

Looks simple when you see it on paper. It actually does make the process easier when you think about it as directions to a healthy life. Following a plan helps you stay on track and feel less overwhelmed.

Moving from intention to action takes good planning. It can be applied to most everything in life from painting the house, spending more time with family, to adopting a healthy lifestyle. It helps you stay true to taking care of the important things.

What has helped me is setting up challenge systems where I complete three goals of intention for that day. For example, today I plan to get in a morning workout, take my ailing father to the doctor, and cook a healthy dinner. Setting realistic daily goals is a great way to feel accomplished. It also provides motivation to repeat the process.

The Bottom Line

Having good intentions are great but remain thoughts until you put them into action. Goals to improve your health and fitness won't happen without effort. Follow-through is what will create better health, a fit body, and overall improved quality of life.

Those things you think about all the time must come to the forefront of your actions. Has a family member or friend been on your mind to call? Pick up the phone. Has date night with your spouse been put off for months? Time to bring on the romance. Are the intentions to exercise four times a week not happening? Get your calendar, schedule your workouts, and don't cancel. Do you want to eat better at home and reduce dining out? Write a healthy food list and head to the store.

Every active step made is a step closer to fulfilling your goals and taking your intentions further than your mind. It's important not to get stuck in the 'thinking about it' process without any action. Good intentions only go so far and although they may sound good, living it out through your actions is what really counts.

Thanks for stopping by my Blog. Remember to subscribe and never miss a free update.

Be well and Stay Healthy

Leonor Greyl - Natural Fine Oils for Body & Hair

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:28:00 +0000

Changing of the seasons always leaves my skin a little dry. I have been using Leonor Greyl 'Huile Secret de Beaut�' Organic Hair and Skin Oil after the shower, and I like the product. Its leaves my skin with a soft and subtle sheen and it feels great. It's rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins E and A.

This is a delicate oil with a light texture and you can also spritz it into your hair and/or body after the shower. It boasts anti-aging properties and it has a really pleasant fresh scent of lemon grass, tiare, and yucca. Includes UVA/B sun protection.

The 'Huile Secret de Beaut�' Hair and Skin Oil goes for around $66 for 3.2oz and you can find it at Saks Fifth Ave and Nordstrom.

It comes in a nice thick glass spritzer, and it has a yellow honey color to it. To find out more about Lenor Greyl products, or to order direct, please go to: https://www.leonorgreyl-usa.com/

Thanks Lenor Greyl for sending this over!

Doing What I Can With What I Got is Good Enough

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 21:00:00 +0000

Life can have a way of making you feel not good enough. Whether from past circumstances or negative self-talk, it can really be a continual upsetting existence. If you let it...

I have struggled with the feelings of not being good enough to understand how destructive it can be to your confidence and well-being. I decided years ago this was no longer going to define me. It was probably one of my healthiest life-changing decisions.

Health and fitness require acceptance of who you are now in order to make the changes to become a better you. Your journey can't be about what everyone else is doing and worrying about what they're thinking. What matters is what you're doing to improve your life and how you feel about you. With me?

When it comes to fitness and especially workouts, I make them my own. I do what works best for my body and life. My About Me section explains why certain medical issues require modifications to some of my exercises. I worked through lots of emotional and physical stuff to an amazing place of acceptance of who I am.

Life is not meant for any of us to understand why things happen, but handling it the best you can when hard times come calling. Giving up and being angry would be easy but what good does that serve ... nothing.

In my case, accepting the new injured me and working hard on what I could do became the focus. Maintaining all my hard earned muscle took some creative program planning. I saw it as a positive challenge and not an obstacle. I had to discover through trial and error what worked best for me.

I am in tune and listen to what my body is telling me. There's a difference between exercise that feels good and not right. If anything twinges in the not right direction, I put on the brakes and immediately modify and do something else. I don't believe in pushing past something that will hurt my body and land me flat on my back or worse. I appreciate the gift of what I can do and will not fudge this up.

Do I miss certain things ... yes. I get so excited watching others perform what I used to do. I want to jump in and do it with them. That is just my inner athlete still alive and well. She is super cool, but my outer athlete is now the boss of what I can do now. That girl is still pretty tough.

Exercise is about being smart and creating a quality life. I understand the importance of feeling good and not accommodating chronic pain. My goal is to maintain lean mass while decreasing or eliminating discomfort. I know what it feels like to be in severe pain and how hard I have worked to achieve being pain-free.

My fitness journey is not about doing what others can do, but doing the best at what I can do. It's about acceptance of my body and the thoughts surrounding it that belong to me. I believe in adopting a healthy lifestyle to create a quality life. I walk and teach this motto daily. It's about doing what I can with what I got and that's good enough.

Thanks for stopping by my Blog and don't forget to subscribe and never miss a free update.

Be well and Stay Healthy

Munk Pack - 18g Protein Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 18:57:00 +0000

Munk Pack protein cookies are a great alternative to keep around during the upcoming holidays to cure those sweet cravings. These are great for on the trail, after a work out, breakfast, office or school.

They are gluten free, vegan, non-GMO, no sugar alcohols, good source of fiber, no soy, no dairy, and no cholesterol. The cookies come in four flavors: Coconut White Chip Macadamia, Double Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, or Oatmeal Raisin Spice. These are minimally processed, without the additives and fillers found in most snacks.

The cookies go for around $1.68 ea. or a six pack goes for around $16.79. Munk Pack cookies are sold at some Whole Foods, Target, and Big Y's in Connecticut. To find out more about the brand, or where to purchase in your area, please go to: https://munkpack.com/

Munk Pack was kind enough to send me some cookies over to check out for ourselves. I hit the trail with my kids and we tested these out. My 6 year old daughter opted for the Oatmeal Raisin Spice and she ate the whole thing except for one tiny piece. My 4 year old son picked the Double Dark Chocolate and he was not that into it (the sugar count was not high enough for him), and he gave it back to me. They are soft, fresh, and they have a little texture and crunch depending which one you choose.

It's a great alternative to a protein bar or protein shake, and these are easy to carry around. Plus, the fiber in them will provide sustainable energy to get you to the next meal and/or snack. I would have to say Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate were my fave but I'm not an Oatmeal Spice lover, but my daughter liked it. Bottom line, a brand worth checking out.

"For all life's adventure's"

Thanks Munk Pack!

Zombie Rolo Pretzel Eyeballs

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 21:34:00 +0000

These are really quick yummy easy treats that only take a few minutes to make. I am going to be reading to the 1st grade class on Monday and I am going to bring in these nut-free treats in for the kids. This is also a really easy treat the kids can help make at home. The only part they would need help with is pressing in the eyeballs.

All you need are a few things:
Mini Pretzels
Rolo's
Candy eyeballs
Icing

Lay your pretzels out on the tray, place rolo on top

Melt in oven at 350 for 3 minutes

Remove pretzels from oven and press in eyeballs

Cool in freezer

Add icing on eyeballs

Enjoy!

Osmotics Colour Verite Discovery Collection

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 17:23:00 +0000

Help fight the signs of aging. Osmotics has a full range of anti-aging skincare to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The Colour Verite Discovery Collection offers sheer colors to to enhance skin tone, not cover it. It is a five piece set and it's all liquid as opposed to powder.

I have never used all liquid before, so this was a new experience for me. I had the impression I was not going to like it because I was going to feel tacky by the end. Surprisingly, it's not tacky at all. It's a very natural look, and the simple steps make it easy to do on the run. It's not as long of a commitment as powder is to apply. Overall, I was impressed by the collection.

The Discovery Collection goes for $98 and it comes in light, medium, or deep. I tried the medium and it was a good match. It comes in a cute shiny purple bag wrapped in purple tissue paper and contains the following:

Inner Light Bio Defense Primer - Blurs lines and imperfections
Real Skin Flawless Facial Tint SPF 45 - Sheer protective tint and sun screen to prevent aging
Concealer and So Much More - conceal under-eye discoloration and even skin tone (will not settle in fine lines)
Radiance Illuminating Blush - Natural fruit extracts to enhance radiance and fight signs of aging
Healthy Lips Line Smoothing Color - color is called Bare only Better and its moisture rich to hydrate and plump for fuller looking lips

To find out more about the brand or order online, please go to: http://www.osmotics.com/colour-verite/

The brand can also be found at Nordstrom and Soft Surroundings around Connecticut.

I liked the product, but for $98 I think it's an expensive price tag for a natural look. Call me old school, but I like my powders.

Thanks Osmotics for sending this over!

Models Own - Nail, Makeup, and Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 19:39:00 +0000

Models Own offers British beauty at really affordable prices. They just started selling exclusively at Ulta this year, and Ulta is having a great sale right now on the brand.

Titan Teaberry Jumbo Stick Matte Lipstick on sale at Ulta for $4.89 ea

The company was originally founded in 2008 with a focus on nail polish, now the brand has over 650 products to pick from. Tons of palettes for under $10, sick nail colors (like mirror reflect chrome polish), face glitter for Halloween, and Matte Liquid Lipstick (with a hint of mint) to name a few fun products they have available.

The Jumbo Stick Matte Lipstick is available in six colors.

Models Own was kind enough to send me some products over to check out for myself. For the price, this is really decent quality stuff. The palettes are nice quality and attractive packaging, with mirrors, and applicators included. The highlighters and eyeshadow palettes get high ratings as well with the Ulta reviewers.

On sale at Ulta now for $9.09

The Grand Finale Loose Powder leaves a velvet texture and a light finish to keep your face in it's place. The powder is called Translucent.

I love all the colors! The A.M. Kit has tons of neutrals which I LOVE!, and the Sculp & Glow kit is great for fair to medium skin tones, while the Rock Star palette offers daring night colors to kick it up. I recommend a eye lid base for the darker shadows so they don't crease.

To find out more about Models Own, you can go to: https://www.modelsownit.com/

The better place to go is Ulta, where you can purchase in US currency: http://www.ulta.com/brand/models-own

On sale at Ulta now for $12.59

On sale at Ulta now for $11.89

On sale at Ulta now for $12.59

Turn Your Brain Back On and Stop Mindless Eating

noreply@blogger.com (kazafi) — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 18:10:00 +0000

Mindless eating is ugly and what it does to your body is even worse. Many of us walk around with brains turned off and grab whatever food items are in our grazing path. No rhyme or reason but doing an auto-pilot action of putting something in your face.

You know the glazed over look watching TV and mowing through a whole bag of chips. How about the work break room goodies brought back to the desk as you plug away at your computer. Often times, we're not hungry, not thinking, and eating out of boredom or habit. This continued pattern isn't good for you or your expanding waistline.

What the heck is going on and why? It's no wonder America is plagued with the highest obesity rate and enormous doctor bills for self-induced illness. Mindless eating is a topic that should be at the forefront of your eating habits. Each time you eat something is an opportunity to better your health and fitness. We have really dropped the ball not thinking before eating. Are you stressed, emotionally upset, bored, or whatever? Unhealthy food isn't the answer to make you feel better.

Emotions can play a role in mindless eating and it's recommended to address these issues in a healthy way. There is no amount of tasty donuts or pizza fixing an emotional problem. What it will do is add fat to your body and another reason to be stressed. Why not look into professional help, go to a counselor, see a minister, or talk to a trusted friend.

Most of the time, mindless eating is done out of habit and convenience. If it's there, put it in your face and so on. We're the true 'Walking Dead' feasting on gross things doing gross things to your body. It's time to turn your brain back on and start breaking these unhealthy habits. Don't you agree?

Start the process of mindful eating by taking food and behavior inventory:

Toss the junk food in the frig and pantry and replace it with healthy "real" food.
Get off your butt and start working out instead of sitting on it so much.
Stop blaming your spouse, significant other, friends or circumstances for mindless eating.
Just because someone in your home brings in crap food doesn't mean you have to eat it.
Start packing healthy snacks for work and stay out of the break room.
Drink water if you feel the urge to eat without thinking.
Ask yourself if what you're eating is helping or hurting your health.
Be mindful of alcohol intake. Are you really having only one drink?
Make a plan to eat healthily and stick to it.
Keep a food journal and be honest with yourself.

Thanks for stopping by my Blog. Remember to subscribe and never miss a free update!

Be well and Stay Healthy