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16 Workout Tanks You Need – Cutest Workout Tanks for Women
Is your resolution this year to workout and get healthy? Why not look cute in the gym? I love these adorable workout tanks and can’t wait to add some to my collection!
Does it get better than this Train Like a Beast and Look Like a Beauty tank? I think not!
Get it here! $21.95
This refuse to sink tank is one of my faves. Obviously I love the anchor, but the motivation that it gives is awesome too!
Get it here! $21.95
I seriously laughed out loud at this one! #GymSelfie is perfect for your workouts. Bonus: When you snap that selfie in the mirror at the gym it will read the correct way.
Get it here! $21.95
*LOVE* this Don’t Quit workout tank. Perfect for some added motivation.
Get it here! $24
Love Starbucks? This fun take on the famous logo shows a buff version!
Get it here! $24.99
Hakuna MaSQUATa …. get it? 🙂
Get it here! $22.95
I love the detail of the back of this workout tank. Beast mode indeed!
Girly and tough, this muscles and mascara workout tank is a perfect blend of both!
Get it here! $16.00
Fierce and Fabulous. I need this workout tank in my life.
Get it here! $21.00
Wear your faith in this inspirational tank!
Get it here! $18.99
Check MEOWT. Haha! Get it? I love the kitty’s sweat band! 🙂
Get it here! $24.99
Because seriously…I run for ice cream.
Get it here! $24.99
I love the image of this workout tank.
Get it here! $21.95
Though she be but little she is fierce. What an awesome quote for a workout tank!
How fun is this workout tank?! This is definitely perfect for the gym!
Another awesome and inspirational quote. This is one of my favorite passages. A perfect reminder!
This post contains affiliate links.
Staying Active When The Weather Turns Cold
Is it snowing where you live? It is here. And the cold weather and ice is all coming with it. YUCK. Well, let me admit that while I love waking up to a white Christmas, the actual everyday battle against the winter is not my idea of fun.
It’s hard some days just to get myself out of my nice, warm bed early on a frosty morning. It’s dark! And cold! And while taking a long, hot shower sounds delightful the thought of getting out of the shower does not.
For me, winter is hard to stay active. I would rather cozy up, sit by the fire and drink my hot cocoa. (Don’t judge! You know that sounds amazing!) But staying active year around is important.
- Go play! Remember when you were little and you would go out and play in the snow for as long as you could? Sledding, tubing, skiing and snowballs were all part of your snow day plan. Being out in the snow can quickly burn a lot of calories. Go hang out with the kids! Ski (no hills? Try cross country skiing!), hit the best sledding hill in town (and that walk back up will help burn those calories too!) or go ice skating. Yes, it’s cold. But after a few minutes of having fun the frosty air will be the last thing on your mind.
- Start a home workout Working out at home is great and you don’t need a lot of equipment. Try doing your own ‘cross-fit’ style workout with a mix of burpees, wall sits and other exercises. Try out yoga (my favorite!) Heck, you can even pick out a new video game! We have the Wii-U and we have been having a lot of fun playing the Zumba and Just Dance games. It’s a lot of fun that we can all have together.
- Remember that everything counts And that includes things like shoveling the driveway. Because I know that you were trying to think of something positive to say about it!
- Get Creative
Grab your friends and head to your local Meijer store to walk around. Retail therapy? Sure. But also, just getting out and walking! Walk a few laps around the store before you start filling your cart. Those extra steps will add up!
And while you are at Meijer, be sure to check out SOS. This is a really delicious drink mix that you can add to your bottle of water to flavor it. But it’s not just good for flavor! This drink was created by a doctor and two professional athletes to combat mild to moderate dehydration. It’s great for drinking after a workout! And the packets make it easy to slip in your gym bag or purse.
Why should you drink SOS?
- SOS provides THREE times the amount of electrolytes than the average sports drink and it has half the sugar AND half of the calories of coconut water.
- It helps you absorb more water than just drinking it alone. Three times more water!
- It’s medically proven.
- It tastes delicious! I tried the Citrus flavor, but there are other flavors available too.
- You can learn more here!
You can find SOS products at your local Meijer.
How do you stay active in the winter?
This was a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Meijer and SOS. All opinions are my own.
Easy (and Yummy!) Chocolate Smoothie
So first I need to give a little background on why I chose to make a chocolate smoothie yesterday.
First of all. My son is the most amazing kid ever. But he is an incredibly picky eater. He will not eat vegetables (I can get him to eat a few salad ‘leaves’ with a gallon of Ranch. So I’m not sure how much good that really does..) He doesn’t do fruit either, with the exception of bananas. And you can’t put bananas in, say, bread. He won’t touch it. So meals are a STRUGGLE at our house. So, I thought I would be genius. Really. I was so proud of myself. Smoothies! And I would sneak in fruit and veggies. But I know my child. And I know that he would never voluntarily eat a smoothie. So we needed to start small.
He loves chocolate milkshakes (no whip cream and no cherry of course!) So I thought to myself…a chocolate smoothie! And I would add some fruit. And he would never know. See? Genius.
Or not. (And yes, my son loves his Tru-Moo!)
But it was really good! I promise! I’ve made it a few times!
There are only a few ingredients which makes it super easy. It’s great for a sweet treat.
I also have to introduce you to my blender. Her name is Betty. Betty Blendtec.
Seriously. This thing is amazing! Blendtec makes an awesome blender! I love that it is touch screen (how high tech!) and even more so how this thing is a beast! Seriously, you can make anything with it!! Highly recommend it!
Ingredients
- 6 oz. Milk (I did 3 oz each of white milk and 3 oz of chocolate. Tru-Moo is our favorite!)
- 1 Kiwi
- 1/2 Of A Large Banana
- 1 Tbsp Chocolate Syrup
Instructions
- Prior to making smoothies, I prep my fruit by cutting it and freezing it. This way I don’t need to add ice to my smoothies. If you do not freeze your fruit prior, you may need to add a few ice cubes.
- In your blender, add all of your ingredients.
- With my Blendtec, I used the smoothie setting. Once was enough to get the job done. If your blender does not have a smoothie setting, blend until smooth or the consistency you prefer.
- Pour and serve! You are done! How easy!
So while I didn’t trick my son into drinking some fruit with his chocolate, I am pretty sure that most any other child (and adult!) will love this smoothie! 🙂
Any tips, tricks or recipes for getting your children to eat fruit and veggies? Send them my way!!
5 Ways To Improve Your Sleep Quality
Sleep is so important. Not only does it give you energy for the next day, but it’s also when your body helps to repair itself, fight off sickness, and grow. We know it is a problem if you aren’t getting enough sleep, but it is also a problem if you aren’t getting a good quality sleep. Have you ever woken up and you feel more tired than you were the night before you went to sleep? Here are a few tips to improve the quality of your sleep and sleep better!
1. Sleep Schedule
Your sleep schedule is so important. Going to sleep at the same time every night and waking up at the same time gets your body on a schedule. Being on a schedule will help your body know when to begin to relax and help wake up refreshed.
2. Bedtime Routine
Not only is it important to go to sleep at the same time (yes, even on the weekends!) but also to have a bedtime routine. Giving your body time to unwind and begin to relax can help you fall asleep quickly. Think about it, just because you go to sleep at 10, doesn’t mean you necessarily fall asleep at 10! You should start your bedtime relaxation routine about an hour before you go to bed. And you should really try to keep it electronic free! Electronics can stimulate your mind and there is nothing worse than laying in bed with a racing mind!
So here are some ideas for things to do to help relax:
– Take a bath or shower.
This will help you a lot! The warm water can help relax you, but it also helps regulate your body temperature. This is my favorite tip for summertime especially! I find that when it is really hot out a shower can help cool you down and makes it easier to fall asleep!
– Read
If you choose to read, proceed with caution! Choose your book carefully! This is something that could backfire on me! I’m the kind of person that if I start reading a really great book, I will stay up until 3 in the morning reading! And if it’s part of a series – forget about it!
But reading can be super relaxing! Just make sure you choose your book carefully!
– Drink a glass of tea
At night, a drink can help you relax as long as you are drinking the right thing! You might think that a glass of wine or other alcohol helps you wind down, but it doesn’t! And you should definitely avoid caffeine! Caffeine effects can last up to 12 hours! Avoid caffeine after lunch time and if you need coffee after that, switch to decaf!
Tea on the other hand, can be a great choice at night! Certain teas (like chamomile) can even help to sleep better! Just avoid drinking anything about 30 minutes before bed.
3. Exercise
You know exercise is good for you, but did you know that it will help you sleep better! Working out will help you fall asleep faster, in a deeper sleep and overall improve your sleep quality. But it shouldn’t be done right before bed! It will give you a boost of energy!
4. Your bed is your place!
Your bed should be your oasis! It should be a calming place that is a place that you look forward to going to each night. It might sound silly, but making your bed and keeping your space clean is so important. There is just something a little luxurious about turning down your sheets and climbing into a nice clean bed.
You can even spray your pillows with a lavender spray. Lavender is a scent that is really relaxing and can make your bed seem like a real oasis!
Not only should your bed be a place you should enjoy, but it should be a place for you! (And your spouse!) The more people and fur babies that you pile into your bed, the more kicking, tossing, turning, snoring, getting up in the middle of the night and less overall room you have to get a good night sleep!
A quality mattress, pillows and sheets should be an investment. Some things are ok to splurge on! And these are a few of those things!
5. Prepare for tomorrow … today!
Don’t stress about tomorrow. Mornings can be hectic and crazy. Ease your tensions the night before by doing what you can the night before. Going to bed knowing that your clothes are ready, you know where the kid’s shoes are, school papers are signed, lunches packed, and breakfast is laid out means that you can rest easy. (And your mornings will be much easier!) If you shower at night then your mornings will be even easier!
Everyone needs a good sleep! These are just a few easy tips and tricks that you can use to help improve the quality of your sleep. Don’t forget to pin!
Avocados – Everything You Need To Know
Avocados are one of those things that used to intimidate me. How do you tell when avocados are ripe? How do you cut avocados? Heck, is an avocado a fruit or a vegetable? Avocados were just not something I was familiar with. Except for the fact that guacamole is delicious.
So for all of you who stand in the produce aisle confused this is for you! Avocados and everything you need to know!
First of all. Is an avocado a fruit or a vegetable?
Avocados are fruits! (Random fact: They are also called an alligator pear.)
How can you tell when an avocado is ripe?
Hold the avocado in the palm of your hand. Gently squeeze. If it is ripe it will be firm but also yield to gentle pressure.
Make sure you avoid fruit with dark blemishes on the skin or over soft fruit.
How do you ripen avocados?
Avocados don’t take long to ripen. Simply place the avocado in a plain brown bag and store at room temperature. It will be ripe in a few days (2-5).
I don’t have 2-5 days!
Put an apple or banana in the bag with the avocado to speed up the process!
Do NOT use the microwave to speed up the process!
Alright. It’s ripe. How do I cut an avocado?
Cutting an avocado is pretty easy! Cut in half lengthwise around the seed. The turn it a quarter, and cut in half again. Remove the seed, but don’t throw it away! Then, starting at one end peel of the skin.
Why don’t I throw the seed away?
Because you can use it to regrow an avocado plant! Pretty awesome huh? Find out how here.
What do I do with my leftover avocado?
If you have any avocado leftover it is really easy to store. If it is uncut, store them in the refrigerator. If you have already cut it, sprinkle it with lemon, lime or white vinegar. Wrap it in plastic wrap or place it in an air tight container.
And just for any of you trivia people out there…
Did you know that California produces 90% of the nation’s avocados and 40% of all of those are grown in San Diego County.
43% of all US households buy avocados.
So there you go! Next time you are at the store craving some guacamole there is no need to be intimidated! Go ahead and pick up a few!
Boxtera Review & Giveaway – Healthy Snacks Delivered to Your Door!
I’m so excited to spill the beans! A few weeks ago I got an invitation to be a Boxtera Blogger! Yay! Which means I get one of Boxtera’s awesome monthly subscription boxes sent my way to share with you and give one away! Each month Boxtera fills a box with healthy snacks and mails it right to your door. They use FULL size products which is awesome since lots of monthly boxes just do samples!
Their products are designed to entice your taste buds by sending you one each of a salty, sweet, savory, sour and bitter snacks. These are natural products with no trans fats, no artificial sweeteners, no artificial colors, and no artificial flavors!
You can choose from their standard box (which I received) which includes 5 full size products for $19.99 each month or the family sized box which includes 10 full size products for $29.99. (There is also a company size too!) Shipping is FREE! That means you are paying between $3 and $4 for each full size snack to be delivered to your door! (Want a discount code? Use APRILBOX for an additional 10% off!)
My Boxtera Review
I have to say, one thing I loved about my box was that it was filled not only with good for you foods, but foods I probably wouldn’t have purchased at the store myself. And they were all really good! (If you find a snack you love and need more you can order individual bags on Boxtera’s website!)
The first thing I pulled out of my box was a bag of BBQ Banana Chips. They had run out of the toasted watermelon seeds so this was my surprise. I will be honest. The first thought I had when I read it was – ew. Gross. But I decided to be open and try it and guess what? They were good! Like you eat them in one sitting if you aren’t careful good! They didn’t taste ‘banana-y’ but instead of a really good sweet BBQ flavor. The fact that the BBQ was coated on a banana chip gave it a great texture and super crunch.
The next snack I pulled out was the Honey Almond Crunch. This was the savory choice. It’s a great snack mix filled with almonds, dried cinnamon apple, dried pineapple, cranberries, sesame sticks, and honey roasted peanuts. This was my favorite! I will have to order a few extra bags! The mix of fruits and nuts were perfect! Even if you don’t get a box – order a bag of this! 🙂
At this point I was super happy with my box! And then I pulled out dried tangerine slices. This was my ‘sour’ snack. They start off nice and sweet and then at the end you get the sour! They are AWESOME.
The Wasabi Bean Medley is full of rice crackers, peanuts, sesame seeds, soybeans, almonds, lentils and black beans. It’s got some Wasabi flavor! I didn’t think the kids would be fans of it, but I was wrong! The bag was gone pretty quickly! I love that this snack packs in the protein!
The last item in my box were these banana ribbons. I was kind of excited – my son loves bananas. The banana ribbons tasted good, but they have a big banana-y smell. We ended up chopping them up and adding them to muffins and our oatmeal in the morning. For us, it’s perfect!
Overall I was really impressed with Boxtera! I’m super excited to get next month’s box and try out all the delicious snacks that will be arriving to my door! I love the fact that they are all healthy snacks and I love the fact that we can eat healthy on a budget! (Not to mention they are shipped to my door!)
Want to sign up to receive Boxtera delivered to your home? Click here.
Make sure to follow Boxtera on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram too!
One lucky winner will receive a Boxtera Box of their own! Good Luck!
Good Workout Songs To Add to Your Playlist
I don’t know about you, but I am so much more productive with music on! In fact, I don’t think I can clean, cook, or blog without it on! You know what else I can’t do with a little musical motivation? Workout!! So since I’ve been trying to workout a little more these days I asked around and got my friends help filling up my play list. So if you are looking for good workout songs — here is a list to get you started!
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (Beyonce)
We Run The Night (Havana Brown)
Moves Like Jagger (Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera)
On the Floor (Jennifer Lopez featuring Pit Bull)
Hear Me Now (Hollywood Undead)
Can’t Hold Us (Macklemore featuring Ray Dalton)
So there you have it 15 good work out songs to power you through your next sweat session!
Coffee before workout?
With the New Year brings new resolutions. Of my personal resolutions is to get healthy. (Isn’t that everyone’s resolution this time of year?!) I’ve been reading a lot about coffee before workout. Should you do it? Should you not? Does it really even make a difference?
Surprise…..
YES! It does make a difference. Many experts say yes! Drink a glass and then head to your workout!
So WHY should you drink a cup of joe before your workout?
– Drink a glass to give you a little boost of energy! That boost could help make the difference between tiring out after 10 reps or pushing it to 12.
– Caffeine helps burn fat. And isn’t burning fat one of the main reasons for working out?!
– A research team at University of Illinois found that people who drank coffee prior to working out had less muscle pain during their workout.
Now – obviously some coffees are better than others. For example, a cup of regular coffee is probably better for you than my favorite, white chocolate mocha. (Although it’s so good!!) 🙂
So this morning I will be grabbing my favorite coffee mug and enjoying my coffee before heading to my workout! (Is it ironic that my favorite coffee cup is a giant donut as I’m working on getting healthy and losing weight? Perhaps…)
Best Morning Workout
Mornings can be hectic. I know I’m busy up getting ready for my day as well as helping everyone else get up and get ready for their day! But I also know that if I don’t sneak in some sort of activity into my morning I’m more than likely going to get busy and forget about working out later on. Plus, working out in the morning helps me feel good! Morning workouts are meant to help set the pace for the day. It’s been proven that people who wake up and move a little are more apt to move more throughout the day. We are talking 15 minutes here! Try it out and see how just a few minutes of your day can make a HUGE difference!
Today is the day to get started!
Here is my favorite, best morning workout.
1. Basic Crunch: 10-20 reps (just lift your shoulder blades off the floor!)
2. Plank Pose: 30-60 seconds
3. Reverse Crunch: 10-20 reps (Lay on your back with your knees pulled up to your chest. Then, straighten your legs out and lower to the ground. Don’t touch the floor! Your heels should be about 5 inches from the floor. Then return to starting position.)
4. Double Crunch: 10-20 reps (While laying in crunch position, lift both hips and shoulders up simultaneously.)
5. Plank Pose: 30-60 seconds
6. Bicycle Crunches: 10-20 reps per side (In crunch position, bring your right elbow to meet your left knee. Then switch to bring your left elbow to your right knee)
7. Quick cardio circuit. Do 10 jumping jacks, 10 push ups, 10 squats and 10 lunges without resting in between. Do your circuit as many times as you can according to your fitness level. The more you do your morning workout, you can build on the number of times you complete the circuit.
8. Stretch! I like to finish by just doing some basic stretches holding each post for 10-12 seconds.
If your New Year’s Resolution was to create healthy habits then a quick morning workout is a great way to ease yourself into getting more activity!
2013 Gift Guide Giveaway: Polar Loop Review
The Polar Loop is a MUST have for anyone who lives an active lifestyle or who WANTS to have an active lifestyle. I know that there are lots of fitness trackers out there, but this one is different. And it’s amazing.
1. It’s easy to use. To charge simply plug into your computer. The charger is easy to attach – it is attracted by a magnet!
2. It’s waterproof!! This is the first fitness tracker that you can swim with!
3. You can add one of Polar’s heart rate monitors and get even more data and more precise numbers. No heart rate? Don’t worry – I found that Polar was pretty spot on with my times and steps. (Yes, I was the weirdo outside counting my steps and then seeing how many my Loop told me I had.)
4. The (free) software allows you to track your progress!
5. It’s fun! I can look at my Loop and see how much activity I’ve done for the day and how much I need to still do. It also tells me how many minutes I would have to do in a high energy level workout (like jogging) or a low energy level workout (like walking). I’ve found that it’s pretty motivational – I can see that in order to reach my daily goal I only need to go jog for 6 minutes. 6 minutes? I can do that! So off I go!
I feel very techie when I wear this, but I don’t have to be techie to work it. Which is great, because I’m NOT techie. I absolutely love it and I feel empowered with it. It is such a great tool to use. I am going to get my son one for Christmas. I think that him earning 100% on his activity tracker would be a great way to earn video game time! 🙂
You can get a Polar Loop for yourself and for everyone on your holiday list this year! One lucky winner will receive a Polar Loop of their own on December 10th!
Keep in touch with Polar Loop!
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