When I started researching diastasis recti, there was some conflicting information about how to treat it, and I wanted to make sure I got this right, both for myself and for the moms I was leading in class. After interviewing a few experts, I spoke with Wendy Powell, the founder of MUTU System.

She answered all my questions, and explained how her approach is holistic and focuses on more than just “flattening the mummy tummy” to get to the foundation of core and pelvic floor restoration so that women can be stronger in all areas of life.

After completing her program, I was stronger, more confident, and couldn’t wait to recommend it to everyone. My blog posts about diastasis recti BLEW UP because I was the only one blogging about it at the time. It was kind of a whirlwind to be honest. What’s crazy is that these blog posts still get a ton of traffic even though the topic is pretty saturated at this point.

Because it’s been so long, and because the program has evolved and improved over time, I wanted to catch up with Wendy and see what has changed and what has stayed the same over the past eight years. She is truly a pioneer and I’m grateful for the way she leads and teaches.

PS – You can grab lifetime access to MUTU System for 40% off this week only for Black Friday!

Here’s my interview with Wendy:

How is MUTU System different today than it was in 2012?

In so many ways the program is updated, upgraded and smoother and easier to use. 

But the foundation remains the same. MUTU empowers women to move through motherhood with confidence, educating, guiding and supporting every step of the way. 

How has the program evolved and why?

Pelvic health, physical therapy and exercise science are evolving and progressing every year, and the MUTU team and I stay fully informed as knowledge and practice evolves. Diastasis recti, pelvic floor dysfunction and postpartum exercise science have come a long way since I started my research back in 2009. Solutions like binding to ‘close the gap’ (we never recommended that btw!), endless squeezes and contractions, or simply avoiding certain exercises, are all now regarded as outdated, ineffective or unhelpful. 

The last decade has seen shifts in understanding of biomechanics and alignment, as related to core and pelvic floor function. We understand more of hypertonicity of the pelvic floor (too-tight muscles) and the need to focus on release and extension. We know that no exercise or movement is inherently ‘bad’ or contraindicated, but rather work and experiment with movement patterns and loading, to restore function, challenge and strengthen muscles.

The MUTU Program reflects all these advances, always offering our Mamas the most current, evidence-based and effective strategies and answers.

The program looks different too! In the early years and until 2017, it was just me in the app videos, but I made the decision back then to change this. Our customer base is diverse and beautiful – in body shape, ethnicity, culture and fitness goals. One size does not fit, or represent, all. Our latest program features a stunning cast of diverse models, made up of MUTU Pros and customers. We want every woman to feel represented and inspired as she does MUTU.

The user experience improves every single year, responding to feedback from our tens of thousands of customers and to benefit from tech advances. We want to always deliver the absolute best experience and content, with no compromises.

What are the core elements that will never change?

MUTU has always been grounded in building the foundations of core and pelvic floor restoration and strength for women so that they can go on to the activity, sport and life they choose, with comfort and pleasure.

We will always provide evidence-based content, and continue to work closely with medical experts in the UK and the USA to ensure our programs and recommendations are safe, effective and in line with current research and guidance.

We will always focus on dignity and function, over aesthetics or weight loss.

Our community will always be a safe space, inclusive and welcoming to all. There is no judgment and no pressure in MUTU!

In 2012, it seemed like I was the only one blogging about Diastasis Recti, but these days Diastasis is a huge buzzword and I see thousands of posts on Pinterest. I’m sure that is both good and bad for women’s health. Good because more women are aware of it but bad in that there is so much misinformation out there. How do you advise women to find accurate information? And what do you see as the biggest misconceptions out there about diastasis?

So true, Dr Google is not always the most reliable source! But you’re right, there is an upside too, as the conversations about diastasis, incontinence, prolapse or painful sex are becoming wider and ever-less taboo.

To help women find good information, Nicole, MUTU Pro and our Connect community Manager, wrote this blog ‘How to choose the right postnatal program for you’ to give an objective checklist of what to look out for. 

And this post ‘Exercise after pregnancy with MUTU System’ gives you all the reasons why MUTU fits the bill! 

MUTU System is without question the most medically approved and recommended postpartum program available – you can see a breakdown of the Medical Evidence for MUTU here.

What are some accomplishments you’ve celebrated over the years with getting MUTU out into the world? 

To be honest, the emails and reviews (see Trustpilot here for eg but you can also see Facebook and Google for reviews) we see every day are the accomplishments that mean the most. 

Knowing that we are helping and empowering women to feel good in and about their bodies, to do and be everything they want to without pain, discomfort or embarrassment is why we do what we do at Team MUTU.

But the medical accolades and the press and celebrity endorsements are wonderful too!

In 2020 after 2 years of testing and assessment, MUTU System gained NHS approval in the UK. This is a huge deal as it is literally the Gold standard for any medical endorsement in the UK. We were also asked by a University Hospital to run a pilot for women unable to attend Physiotherapy outpatient appointments during COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. The results are currently being published and surpassed all the medical team’s expectations in terms of physical symptom improvement and mental health benefits.

P!nk and her trainer Jeanette Jenkins gave a massive shout-out to MUTU during their Instagram workouts, the Duchess of Cambridge is reported to love MUTU, and Vogue magazine listed us as the only digital program to make their Top Christmas Gift List for 2 years running. There has been extensive press coverage, from Glamor magazine and the Huffington Post to Motherly, Scary Mommy and Parents.com.

My team looks very different to 2012 too! We now have US and UK businesses as well as advertising and tech contractors around the world. I’m super proud of what we’ve achieved and the flexible and inclusive team cultures we’ve nurtured. You can meet our team here! 

How many women are MUTU members today and what are your goals for the future of this program? 

Nearly 100,000 and counting… our goal is to empower a million Mamas around the world!

xxxxxxx

Thank you Wendy, as always, for showing up for us in this space. If you have a question for Wendy about diastasis recti or anything else, please leave a comment! 

If you’ve ever contemplated joining the MUTU community, this is the perfect time. This week only you can get LIFETIME access (that includes any and all updates and upgrades) for 40% off. It also makes a great Christmas gift for the Mamas in your life!

The post MUTU System Then and Now appeared first on Inspired RD.

Why we wanted to buy a bike in the first place

My husband Jeff has always enjoyed running, but after spending ten years on his feet as a professional baseball coach, he developed a heel spur. Running, for the most part, is just too painful for him these days. 

He needed something else to raise his heart rate and get those endorphins going. So last year during Spring Training, he started working out on the Peloton bike at the baseball complex. He loved the instructors, the intensity of the workouts, and the competitive nature of the leaderboard.

When Jeff came home last offseason, he started looking into the possibility of getting one for our home. 

We knew they were expensive, but…yikes.

Why we decided to go with a non-Peloton bike

I told him if this was the form of exercise he enjoyed and would actually DO, it was worth figuring out the monthly payment. While he didn’t disagree, he went into investigative mode and explored our options.

He broke down all the costs involved, made a pros and cons list, and finally made a decision. We would get a Sunny Health bike, fit it with a Wahoo cadence sensor, and buy an iPad for the screen.

(Update: We have both realized our Apple Watches connect better with our phones, so we are using those over the iPad most of the time. Using the phone allows us to connect both the Wahoo cadence sensor and Apple Watch heart rate so they appear on the screen at the same time. You can do this with the iPad too, but the heart rate isn’t as consistent.)

I was a little skeptical, especially since I knew we would be losing a couple of the Peloton features you can only get with their bike, most notably the competitive draw of the leaderboard. But Jeff was confident he didn’t need that to get the most out of the workouts. 

We happened to make our decision about the Sunny Health bike at exactly the right time because it was on sale for Black Friday (if you read all of this and decide to go the route we went, maybe bookmark the bike and come back during that Black Friday window to see if you can get a better deal). 

How it has worked out for us so far

We’ve had the bike set up for less than a year now and we LOVE it. We ended up adding new pedals a few months ago because we remembered we actually had clip-in bike shoes from our outdoor bikes. Clipping in helps you use all the muscles in your legs and pull even more strength in your workout. 

Overall, we are very happy with our decision to go this route, and over time we have been able to adapt this inexpensive bike in a way that allows us to get the Peloton experience without the Peloton price tag.

I can say personally, that the Sunny Health bike is the most comfortable spin bike I’ve ever used. I used to take spin classes at the gym and would have to endure a couple weeks of soreness before my body would get used to the bike seat. I’ve never had soreness with this bike seat!

It is also really well made, completely sturdy, and completely adjustable. Even our kids get on and do rides sometimes.

Differences between a Peloton bike and a non-Peloton bike

Things you can only get through a Peloton bike: 

• Access to the leaderboards (actively racing other Peloton members)
• Resistance numbers (when the Instructor tells you to go to a specific resistance range, you have to go by feel which is confusing at first but gets easier over time)
• Output measurement (resistance + cadence = output. Since you don’t have a resistance measurement through the app, there is also no output measurement. The only thing this affects is the ability to set personal records or PR)

How to hack your bike to measure cadence for Peloton classes:

• • Buy the Wahoo cadence sensor and attach it to your bike
  • Once you’ve started a cycling workout, tap the screen and then tap the icon on the right side of your screen (the one in the middle). This will put the cadence directly onto the screen.
• 

   

  • The other option is to open the Wahoo app on your phone and attach it to a phone mount on your bike (see photo below).
  • (Update: Lately, we have both decided that the connection works best when we use our phone for the screen instead of the iPad. To do this, make sure you have the Peloton app connected to your Apple Watch. When you begin your workout, have the screen going up and down, tap on the icon on the lower right side of the screen, this will open up the option to connect both the cadence sensor AND your heart rate from your watch. Both will appear on the screen throughout the workout.)

Like I said, I think Jeff would have preferred the ability to have access to the leaderboard, but at the end of the day, we couldn’t justify spending an extra $3000 just for that.

Otherwise, the only thing that would be nice to have is the resistance number. BUT after taking a few classes, you can get a feel for what the different resistance ranges are and how you can best adjust during a ride. 

One thing I love about not having the Peloton bike is that our monthly app cost is only $12.99/month. (As opposed to the required $39/month when you use their bike or tread). We use the app every day whether we’re on the bike or not.

I use it for runs, walks, yoga, stretching, meditation, strength workouts. The instructors are incredible, and I would invite you to read my recent post if you want to know more about why I love using the Peloton app.

P.S. In case you’re wondering, we got the bike around the same time as we rescued a pair of kittens. Hence, the bite and scratch marks on the mat. 

Full Price Breakdown

Below is a full price breakdown based on what we did to set up our bike.

Please note that prices fluctuate.

• The Peloton basic bike price just went down $350.
• The Sunny Health bike fluctuates between $389 and $599. (That’s why I recommend keeping an eye on the price, especially around Black Friday.)
• iPad costs fluctuate of course. (While you could get by with just using a phone as your screen, you wouldn’t be able to see the wahoo cadence numbers at the same time.)

What you need to buy to set up a bike the way we did:

• Sunny Health Bike
• Peloton Digital Membership
• Wahoo Cadence Sensor
• iPad (optional)
• Clip-in Pedals (optional)
• Cycling Shoes (optional)
• Phone mount (optional)

If you have any questions, we would love to help answer them. We love Peloton as a brand, and we love their instructors. If we had the ability to buy all their stuff, we would! But if you’re a little tight on funds like we are, we hope this is a helpful option to consider. Good luck!

The post How to get the Peloton Experience with a non-Peloton bike appeared first on Inspired RD.

As we hung out in Texas, somewhat enjoying our little quarantine vacation, I thought for sure we would be sending him back to Arizona in no time.

Then 2020 became, well, 2020.

I spent all of April through June glued to my phone, scrolling my Twitter feed, anxiously searching for new information. Facebook filled up with conspiracy theories and shouting matches. My world became entirely too loud.

As I sit here mid-July, I’m finally realizing that we’re in this for the long haul. Whatever “this” is. The virus, politics, racism…our world is groaning, and it won’t be fixed overnight.

So I’m taking a step back and reevaluating what I give my energy to, how I structure my days, and who I allow to speak into my life. 

This is what self-care looks like for me in the year 2020…

…click here to continue reading on The Art of Simple…

The post Self-Care for Hard Times appeared first on Inspired RD.

When COVID shut the world down this spring, and we were literally stuck at home, I started doing Peloton workouts every day.

(We don’t have a Peloton bike, we use this Sunny bike plus the Wahoo Cadence
Sensor to mimic a genuine Peloton experience. I’ll go into more detail about that in a separate post.)

I was doing a lot of cycling, plus a few walks, runs, and strength training workouts. After finding my favorite instructors (Robin, Ally, Jess S., and Matt) I found myself having a blast every day and feeling the mental health boost I needed during an anxiety-producing pandemic.

One day, Leila asked if we could exercise together like last summer and I of course said a big YES, immediately pulled up the program we used before, and pushed play.

As we got into the workout, I found myself making faces and having to correct the messaging coming from the instructor. “Don’t worry Leila, six-pack abs are not our goal.” “I love my body, don’t you love your body too?”

Everything in this program was focused on looks, and my stomach was in knots.

I’ve done this program a few times before, but this time, after hearing nothing but body-positive and healthy messaging from my Peloton instructors, I had to turn it off.

With my 11-year-old impressionable daughter by my side, I realized this kind of program is no longer a viable option for us.

I want her to exercise for healthy reasons – to get stronger for softball, to feel better mentally and emotionally, to challenge herself and be proud of working hard. And at the end of the day, I want her to look in the mirror and feel good about the body that has, no matter what it looks like. 

So she has started doing Peloton workouts with me. She loves doing Ally Love’s cycling classes, especially her “Sundays with Love” rides. She and Joe partner up sometimes and do a strength class in our garage. We do fun walks together around the neighborhood.

It’s been great, and I don’t have to correct the messaging because it’s all affirming, positive, and challenging her to do her best.

This isn’t an ad for Peloton (I wish! Ha.) but a reminder to be careful about who and what you allow to speak into your life.

Is your fitness instructor teaching you about why you do the exercises you do? Is it to get stronger for a specific activity, or to look better at the beach? Are you being challenged in a way that makes you feel better about yourself, or are you constantly feeling less than because you don’t quite measure up?

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look better in a bathing suit, but when that is your only focus, you miss out on the absolute joy exercise can bring. 

Today, on my 41st birthday, my hope for my daughter, and for all of you, is that you would surround yourself with voices that challenge and empower, that you would give yourself grace in all things, and if you’re able to exercise, you would have fun and feel happy when you’re done.

The post Shifting my Perspective on Fitness appeared first on Inspired RD.

Welcome to the world before Pinterest…and the golden age of Clipart. I mean, look at this thing! Stuffed full of recipes cards, magazine pages, and printouts, all from my pre-gluten-free days and most from Rachael Ray.

One of the recipes jumped out at me and I remembered how much I liked it (and how easy it was) – Beef Picadillo. I texted my friend to make sure she likes olives (YES!) and got to work. 

As with every recipe, I started with what it said to do, then tweaked it to my own liking, adding a little more tomato paste, almost doubling the olives, and adding a splash of my favorite secret ingredient.

After taking it over to her house with a container of Mexican Rice, her husband (who does NOT like olives and WASN’T hungry, thank you very much) texted me to say he had accidentally eaten two bowls and what did I put in there oh my gosh this is amazing.

This Beef Picadillo recipe is sure to please, easy to throw together over rice, and naturally gluten-free.

I hope you like it as much as they did!

Recipe notes:

**You could easily make this paleo or Whole 30 compliant by serving over cauliflower rice, a baked sweet potato, or your favorite veggie noodles.

**The secret ingredient is optional and probably sounds a little strange, but I’m telling you, it’s worth trying.

**If you’re one of those people who just can’t do cilantro, substitute in some green onions or your favorite fresh herb (or just omit it altogether).

Like most of my recipes, this one is easy to play around with!

Print

Beef Picadillo

This beef picadillo is sure to please, easy to make, and naturally gluten free!

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Latin American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Author Alysa Bajenaru

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper diced
• 1/2 cup pimiento stuffed olives coarsely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 3 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 3 Tbsp. water
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 1 Tbps. fresh cilantro chopped
• 1/2 tsp. fish sauce optional
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, and olives. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add in ground beef, using a spoon to break up the meat as it browns.
• Stir in tomato paste and turn heat down to medium-low, stir for 2 minutes.
• Add water and frozen peas and carrots, cover until just cooked through, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in fish sauce (optional - but it is that *special secret ingredient* that adds a savory punch that makes people say "OMG why can't I stop eating this")
• Stir in cilantro, salt, and pepper.
• Serve over rice.

The post Beef Picadillo Recipe appeared first on Inspired RD.

When I heard about Revolution Math, it was in the middle of our Covid homeschooling adventure. I was looking to get a little more help with math for our 5th grade daughter and thought this might be an interesting online option. When I found out that we could try it out for only $5, I jumped at the opportunity. 

So far, she’s had four lessons (which have cost us literally one quarter each session) and is gaining confidence in concepts like order of operations, working with fractions, and multiplying/dividing decimals. Each class has had 1-3 students and the same teacher each time. They start with a story adventure, play a game, then dive into the lesson and work. At the end of each lesson, they finish the story and collect “gems” which they can use for real life prizes. 

Every week, I get an email from her teacher explaining what she learned and how she is doing with the content. 

With our $5 trial, we also got a learning kit that includes dice, a protractor, graph paper, area tiles, character masks, and a poster.

We plan to keep going until school starts (or doesn’t start??? who knows, right?) so she enters 6th grade as strong as possible. 

I think this is a perfect program for summer because it’s only once a week, and it can help prevent the “summer slide” which honestly is probably going to be even worse this year because of how we had to finish the school year. 

Click here to get one month of Revolution Math for only $5

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the specifics of this program, so let’s go through some of them.

Who is Revolution Math for?

Revolution Math is for kids in 2nd-5th grade (although if your child is outside that age range and you still want to try the program, you can contact the company and they will help you assess your needs). 

How big are the classes?

Classes are limited to 4 students to make sure everyone gets the individual attention they need. (One week, we were the only ones in class, making it a true tutoring session which was awesome!).

What math program do they use?

Revolution Math integrates an interactive learning experience with a story-based curriculum and Common Core aligned math games. 

How much does the 30 day trial normally cost? 

The trial is normally $49 but until the end of the year, you can get 4 math tutoring classes plus the math kit for only $5!

Is it fun? Does she actually enjoy her classes?

I’ll let her note answer this question.

Let me know if you join, I would love to hear about your experience! 

Click here to get started! 

The post Why we Love Revolution Math Tutoring appeared first on Inspired RD.

This year I wanted to share more of a community perspective, so I posted the following statement on my Facebook page and asked people to comment. “What I wish people knew about celiac disease is _______________.”

I asked my friend Gluten Dude to share it on his page as well, and we got almost 300 responses.

If you have celiac disease, feel free to share this with friends and family who might not understand. If you don’t have celiac disease, you will at some point know someone who does, and this can help you have a better understanding of what they go through. 

So, without further ado, this is what we want you to know about celiac disease. 

It’s real. 

Celiac disease is not a fad, it’s not a diet, it’s an autoimmune disease.

It’s not an upset tummy disease.

While some of us have gastrointestinal symptoms, celiac disease affects the entire body. There are over 200 known celiac disease symptoms, ranging from joint pain to neuropathy to infertility. 

No, I can’t have just a little gluten.

It’s hidden in a lot of things and a tiny bit can make me sick for weeks.

I’m sorry but I can’t eat the “gluten-free” cookies you made me.

But I would be happy to teach you how to make your kitchen more safe for me if we’re going to be hanging out a lot.

Bringing my own food keeps me safe.

It has nothing to do with being picky or snobby. Believe me, I wish I could just eat whatever I want.

Eating out is hard for me, but I still want to be invited.

I want to be part of the group! If you truly want to make sure I can participate in the meal, I can teach you some questions to ask before deciding on a restaurant. But please don’t exclude me because of my gluten-free diet.

Gluten-Free ≠ Vegan

I’m not sure where this misconception stems from, but gluten-free means avoiding wheat, barley, rye, and contaminated oats. Vegan means avoiding all animal products. Just because something is vegan doesn’t mean it’s safe for me. 

Celiac disease doesn’t have a cure, and there is no medicine I can take to treat it.

My only treatment is to eat gluten-free for the rest of my life. 

I’m not trying to be difficult.

Speaking up for myself, reading labels, asking questions…honestly, it’s all exhausting and sometimes even embarrassing. I’m doing what I need to do to stay healthy, not to be a pain or to seek attention.

Just because I can’t eat gluten doesn’t mean my diet is boring.

There is so much delicious food I can eat. Fruits, vegetables, potatoes, rice, meat, beans, gluten-free grains, ice cream, wine, cheese…don’t feel sorry for me!

Did I miss anything? Feel free to comment below to fill in the blank.

What I wish people knew about celiac disease is ___________.

The post What I wish people knew about celiac disease is ____. appeared first on Inspired RD.

This was never something that bothered me as a kid because I watched whatever episode happened to be on after school, but these days, when you sit down to watch a series start to finish, you want to do so from start to finish. And if you go to Hulu right now and start watching, Saved by the Bell is ALL over the place. 

For instance, episodes 1-14 feature A.C. Slater, but then you “meet” Slater for the first time in episode 15. What?

Thanks to quarantine, and baseball being suspended, my husband had time to put together this chronological list of Saved by the Bell episodes. 

They are numbered by seasons on Hulu not as on IMDB. 

We hope you have as much fun watching it with your kids as we have!

Here is how to watch Saved by the Bell in the correct order (on Hulu):

Season 1: 1988-1989

Good Morning, Mrs. Bliss

• 1.1 Summer Love
• 1.2 Love Letters
• 1.3 Wall Street
• 1.4 Leaping to Conclusions
• 1.5 Parents and Teachers
• 1.6 The Showdown
• 1.7 Save the Last Dance for Me
• 1.8 The Boy Who Cried Rat
• 1.9 Let’s Get Together
• 1.10 Practical Jokes
• 1.11 Stevie
• 1.12 Clubs and Cliques
• 1.13 The Mentor

Season 2: 1989-1990

Saved By The Bell

• 2.15 King of the Hill
• 2.4 Fatal Distraction
• 2.5 Screech’s Woman
• 2.3 The Gift
• 2.2 The Lisa Card
• 2.13 The Election
• 2.6 Aloha Slater
• 2.1 Dancing to the Max
• 2.7 The Substitute
• 2.8 Cream for a Day
• 2.12 The Mamas & The Papas
• 3.14 The Babysitters
• 2.9 Pinned to the Mat
• 2.10 Beauty and the Screech
• 2.14 The Zack Tapes
• 2.11 The Friendship Business
• 3.12 Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind
• 4.23 Slater’s Friend
• 2.16 Save That Tiger

Season 3: 1990-1991

• 4.19 Screech’s Birthday
• 3.6 Blind Dates
• 3.1 The Prom
• 3.16 From Nurse to Worse
• 3.3 Save the Max
• 3.11 1-900-CRUSHED
• 3.4 Driver’s Education
• 3.7 Rent-A-Pop
• 3.8 Miss Bayside
• 3.2 Zack’s War
• 3.10 Model Students
• 3.13 Running Zack
• 3.5 House Party
• 3.9 Jessie’s Song
• 3.15 The Fabulous Belding Boys
• 3.18 The Glee Club

Season 4: 1991-1992

• 3.17 Breaking Up Is Hard to Undo
• 5.18 The Video Yearbook
• 5.20 Snow White and the Seven Dorks
• 4.1 The Last Dance
• 4.3 The Aftermath
• 4.2 Zack’s Birthday (Malibu Sands)
• 4.4 The Game (Malibu Sands)
• 4.6 Fourth of July (Malibu Sands)
• 4.10 Boss Lady (Malibu Sands)
• 4.8 My Boyfriend’s Back (Malibu Sands)
• 4.12 The Last Weekend (Malibu Sands)
• 4.18 Palm Springs Weekend (1)
• 4.19 Palm Springs Weekend (2)
• 5.22 Best Summer of My Life (Malibu Sands Recap + Palm Springs recap)
• 4.23 Cut Day
• 4.13 The Wicked Stepbrother (1)
• 4.14 The Wicked Stepbrother (2)
• 4.9 Fake I.D.’s
• 4.15 Date Auction
• 4.20 Hold Me Tight
• 4.17 S.A.T.’s
• 3.5 Operation Zack/The Surgery
• 5.11 Love Machine
• 4.24 Home For Christmas (1)
• 4.25 Home For Christmas (2)
• 4.7 Check Your Mate
• 4.11 Pipe Dreams
• 4.21 No Hope With Dope
• 4.26 Mystery Weekend
• 4.22 Rockumentary
• 4.16 All in the Mall
• 5.8 Day of Detention

1992: Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style

Season 5: 1992-1993

*The following episodes alternate Tori and Kelly/Jessie about every other episode.

• 5.4 The New Girl
• 5.1 The Fight
• 5.6 Teen-Line
• 5.5 The Bayside Triangle
• 5.7 Masquerade Ball
• 5.9 Wrestling With The Future
• 5.10 Drinking and Driving
• 5.2 Student-Teacher Week
• 5.21 Earthquake
• 5.12 Isn’t It Romantic?
• 5.15 The Teacher’s Strike
• 5.16 Slater’s Sister
• 5.17 The Senior Prom
• 5.14 The Will
• 5.3 Screech’s Spaghetti Sauce
• 5.11 Class Rings
• 5.24 School Song
• 5.26 Graduation
• 5.25 The Time Capsule

1993-1994: Saved by the Bell: The College Years

• 1.1 Pilot
• 1.2 Guess Who’s Coming to College
• 1.3 Zack Lies and Videotape
• 1.4 Rush Week
• 1.5 Slater’s War
• 1.6 The Homecoming
• 1.7 The Poker Game
• 1.8 Prof. Zack
• 1.9 Screech Love
• 1.10 Dr. Kelly
• 1.11 A Thanksgiving Story
• 1.12 Teacher’s Pet
• 1.13 Kelly and the Professor
• 1.14 A Question of Ethics
• 1.15 The Rave
• 1.16 Bedside Manner
• 1.17 Love and Death
• 1.18 Marry Me
• 1.19 Wedding Plans

1994: Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas

1993-2000: Saved by the Bell: The New Class

• 2.26 Goodbye Bayside, Part 2 (Zach, Slater, and Lisa return)

2015: Saved by the Bell: Jimmy Fallon Years

• 1.1 Jimmy Fallon Went to Bayside High with “Saved By The Bell” Cast

2020: Saved by the Bell

• Promo Video

We hope this was helpful, I think he had a lot of fun putting it together for you. Goooooooo Bayside!

The post How to Watch Saved by the Bell in the Correct Order appeared first on Inspired RD.

• Moisturize your neck. 
• Relax. 99% of what you’re worrying about will never happen.
• Wear sunscreen.
• Talk less, listen more. 
• 5 weeks of unlimited tanning for $35 is NOT a good deal.
• Jesus loves you.
• Revel in the energy you have to be able to run 5 miles at cross country and go straight to a 2 hour soccer practice.
• Choose friends over boyfriends.
• Bangs are never a good idea.
• Your sensitive eyeballs could use a pair of sunglasses.
• It’s far better to be different than to go with the crowd.
• You don’t, in fact, know everything.
• Seriously, moisturize your neck.

Turning 40 has sent me down a road of self-reflection. There is both gratitude and regret, failures and triumphs. Gratitude for the experiences I’ve had, places I’ve traveled, and family who loves me. Regret for the way I neglected my body in the way I suspect most young people do.

Sunburns at camp, on the river, at the pool. A tanning bed membership in college (WHY). I’m trying to remember if I even had a skincare routine. What was I putting on my face? As a 90s teen I can only assume it was Noxzema.

These days I find myself playing catch-up by moisturizing the heck out of my neck and taking steps to repair some of the damage of my youth.

And those of you who know me know when I get excited about something I can’t not share it, so come along with me on this skincare journey.

If you’re young, let this serve as a friendly reminder to start NOW so you won’t be playing catch-up when you’re my age. If you’re close to my age or older, hopefully by sharing what works for me, it can help you find what might work for you. 

Before we get started, let’s get a few things out of the way. 

– I have only ever shared products that I use myself and would be recommending to you whether it is an affiliate of mine or not.

– Some of what I share may have an affiliate link, which simply means that if you purchase an item I recommend, I will get a commission from the company at no extra cost to you. (Many times you even get a discount because they give me exclusive codes to share.)

– If you ever have any questions, please let me know. I’m an open book!

While I was in Arizona in March, I hung out with my friend Lindsay and her skin was glowing. I asked her about what she’s been using and she gave my samples of a few Beautycounter products. I had heard of Beautycounter and knew they were committed to safe and effective skin care so I jumped at the opportunity to try it for myself.

My skin, which has always been sensitive, especially to anything new, drank them up and asked for more. Seriously. In less than a month, I was experiencing smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin with zero irritation.

Here are three products I’ve been using and loving so far. 

• • Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil– For a while I had skipped any kind of cleanser and was only using Erase Your Face makeup removing cloths (which I still highly recommend, they are magic!) but this cleansing oil has been so good for my dry skin. It removes makeup and adds moisture at the same time. Plus it smells amazing and just feels good.

• • Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream – My skin has been super dry lately (thanks hormones) and this cream is so luxurious. I’ve always been afraid of heavy creams thinking they might cause breakouts, but my skin is smooth and clear!

• • Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel – I’ve always had sensitive skin, so I was a little nervous to try it, but this overnight peel is so gentle it hasn’t irritated my skin at all. It helps with cell turnover (which decreases as we age) and is gentle enough to use 3-4 times a week. You put it on after cleansing, let it sit for 5 minutes, then add your moisturizer on top. It does all the work while you sleep!

My plan going forward is that as I run out of a skincare or makeup item, I will replace it with a safer version. This seems like the most responsible and cost-effective way to go. Since the cc cream I use is almost gone, I just pre-ordered a new lightweight foundation from Beautycounter, so I’ll keep you posted on that. I’m excited to be able to wear makeup that will actually be improving my skin at the same time.

I am also running low on my neck firming cream (Seriously youngin’s, moisturize your neck!). I’ve been using the Yeouth Neck Firming Cream from iHerb.com for about 3 months now. I’ve been liking it pretty well, but would prefer something with a little more firming power. I’m not sure if I’ll stick with that or possibly try swapping it out for the Countertime Antioxidant Soft Cream.

One other product I’ve been using for about a year and highly recommend for anyone needing extra moisture is Acure Argan Oil. You can find it at Sprouts but can usually get a better price on iHerb.com. I use this when I need extra moisture, especially during allergy season when my nose gets dry. Acure also makes an awesome brightening scrub for those of you who don’t have issues with dry skin. 

If you’re interested in learning more about anything I’ve mentioned here today, make sure to leave a comment or shoot me a message. I’ll be sharing on social media too, so make sure you’re following me on Facebook and Instagram!

The post Dear Younger Me appeared first on Inspired RD.

How many times have you said that and meant it? I know I have – too many times to count.

How many times has that person come back to you in their time of need and told you exactly what you can do and how to help? Mmmm…probably close to zero times.

Last night I posted a little note on my instagram stories. It was sort of an admission of feeling overwhelmed and at the same time a blanket apology to anyone I hadn’t texted/emailed/called back lately. After posting the story, I got a few DMs from people who were feeling the same way, plus a few thanks for admitting I do not in fact have it all together all the time. (Um, hi I never ever ever have it all together. Like, ever.)

So today I’m sitting at my husband’s desk (I’ve taken over his office because, you know, he lives in RENO right now), and I’m paying bills and wrestling with our health insurance company, when all of a sudden my phone dings.

It’s my friend Leslie. She lives down the street and our kids stomp up and down the block taking turns playing at our house and theirs…or at least they did before sports intervened and our lives got so dang busy. Now we’re lucky if we see each other a couple times a month. 

Leslie had seen my instagram story, and because her husband travels for work, she understands my crazy life better than most. And instead of saying, “I know you’re overwhelmed, let me know if there’s anything I can do,” she texted me with a concrete offer. 

“Send the kids down after school to play and I’ll feed them an early dinner.”

BAM.

Just like that.

My kids had practice, her kids had practice, this wasn’t a free night scheduled a month in advance. This was an act of love when I needed it. Right now. She met a need I never would have asked for and in a wholly practical way.

I want to love like that. In real, tangible, right-now ways. 

I don’t have a big wrap-up to this post. I scratched it out on notebook paper at my daughter’s practice because I didn’t want to forget how her act of kindness made me feel. I needed to write it down as both a reminder that I am loved and a challenge to love better.

The next time I’m tempted to say, “Let me know if there is anything I can do,” I hope I stop myself and simply show up. Right then. Meeting whatever need is in front of me. 

I hope this inspires you to do the same.

***

I wanted to add a little edit here to acknowledge the ridiculous amount of help I get from my parents on a regular basis. They drive the kids to practice, make them dinner, coordinate their schedules with mine to make sure everything gets done, drive us to and from the airport, stock our fridge when we get home, take care of Hobbs…the list goes on and on and on and on. I am forever grateful for the way they love us.

The post How to Help appeared first on Inspired RD.