How-to's

Finding time for exercise

We all know that exercise is vital for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  Despite this, I still find myself struggling to clock the time.

This is me in a red-faced selfie after exercising this weekend (don’t mind the finger in front of the lens):

MY COMMON EXCUSES

I am great a making excuses.  Some of these might sound familiar…because you are using them, too!

  1. Work is busy and I need to work late.
  2. I need to run errands.
  3. I am tired.
  4. I really should catch up on housework.
  5. I would rather watch TV. (Who wouldn’t?)

GETTING A WORKOUT IN

I am really good at talking myself out of making it to the gym.  If you are good at doing this too, here are a few thing you can do to help bridge the gap:

Tackle some household chores – Chores do not get completed without effort.  Effort = calorie burn.  According to Health.com, here are 4 great calorie burning chores:

  • Hand washing dishes for 60 minutes will burn 100 calories.
  • Talking on the phone while walking around the house for 35 minutes will burn enough calories for a 100 calorie brownie.
  • Scrubbing down the bathroom from floor to ceiling for 35 minutes burns as much as a 35 minute walk on the treadmill, and it’s much more productive.
  • Wash the inside and outside of your windows for 30 minutes to burn off 100 calories.

Walk the dog – My dogs love leisurely strolls.  I grab the leash and they are immediately ready to hit the pavement.  Just remember to keep your pet well hydrated and don’t allow them to become over heated during the hot summer months.

Go exploring – Lots of towns are incorporating walking trails as part of their community development plans. If the weather permits, go on an adventure!  The natural inclines and declines on a trail are a great leg workout.

Go dancing – Hitting the club scene may not be for all of us.  Try taking a weekly dance lesson instead.  You will be learning and moving at the same time!

Make a date with a friend – Saturday morning walks have become a ritual for me and my bestie, Julie.  We put in a 6 mile walk while catching up on our week.  We talk as we walk, so the time flies.  You can also use this time to walk a mall or outdoor market.  All of that walking = calorie burn!

MY WALK THIS WEEK

While we are on the subject, I would like to share some of the finer points of my Saturday walks.  We walk around a gorgeous area of Buckhead, Atlanta called Chastain Park.  We walk the blue trail; it is a trail that is 3.1 miles.  We take two loops around to make just over 6 miles.  There are a couple of hills right around mile 2 that make my quads burn.

Our walks take about 2 hours to finish.  We could make our walk faster, but what fun is that?  Our walks include staying hydrated, petting cute puppies, gabbing, and ogling the beautiful homes that surround the park.

This week I took my camera to take pictures of some of the beautiful homes to share with you.  I got a little extra calorie burn for carrying my Canon for 3.1 miles!

Here are a few of my favorite homes around Chastain Park:


Fabulists

Fabulist Friday Week 1 – My Top 4 Fabulous Items of the Week

Shortly after I announced that I was starting my blog over, a friend of mine asked me if I was going to bring back Fabulist Friday’s.  Initially, I said no.  It is a lot of work to get posts out every Monday and Wednesday.  There is a lot of planning, writing, photo editing, etc that goes into pulling together a blog post.  But I have changed my mind!  The blog is about being organized AND fabulous.

Consider this week 1 of the all new Fabulist Friday tradition!

THIS WEEK ON THE LIST

JCrew’s blazer in plaid with velvet tie for $228.   This olive, mustard, and red blazer is feminine and fitted (but not shrunken).  It is sharp and sleek with clean lines, a popped collar and a slightly longer length. Bonus: a velvet tie for a super polished take. This beauty is currently available for pre-order at JCrew.com.

Butter London has released its newest polish: Glazen Nail Lacquer.  My favorite in the collection is Dazzled. Iridescent shine is at your fingertips with Glazen Nail Lacquer. Inspired by Butter London’s award-winning Glazen Eye Gloss, this sparkly limited edition nail color is packaged in a travel-friendly Fashion Size bottle (0.2 fl. oz.) for the perfect pick-me-up.  You can pick up a bottle for $10 at ButterLondon.com.

This week Bath & Body Works introduced one of their new fall scents: Heirloom Apple.  It is currently priced at $24.50.  I recommend signing up for their newsletter.  They will notify you when they put their 3-wick candles on sale.  I picked up one this week for $12.50 during a 4 hour flash sale.  The fragrance is golden honey-crisp, apple blossom, and fresh sugarcane.  It is a lovely scent that will get you in the mood for fall. You can pick one up at Bath & Body Works.com.

Tory Burch introduced a few new items to her fashion line this week.  Among them were this dangling beauties: Ginko Leaf Earring in vintage gold. Wear the Ginkgo Leaf Earring to bring a pretty, face-framing glow to any look. Tory’s love of natural elements and Art Nouveau sculpture inspires the clustered design, which comes molded in brass and falls to a flattering length. It’s finished with a simple French hook, adding to its delicate feel. The earrings are splurge at $178 for the pair.  If you are looking for an addition to your wardrobe that can take you into the next season, these are a perfect find!  You can find these earrings at ToryBurch.com.


How-to's

How to care for nail polish

I love having nice looking feet.  I am a big fan of pedicures.  They are a girl’s day go-to.  They are relaxing.  They are also a little pricey.  A simple pedicures near me start at $35.  That is a little steep for every two weeks.  I would rather put that money toward my awesome highlights.

Here is a selfie from this weekend:

Because I would rather put my money in my hair rather than my feet, I have procured my own pedicure accoutrements.  That includes quite a bit of nail polish.

I also have some really great tools and a snazzy bag my mom bought me to keep everything together. When I am ready to have some me time, I just reach for my bag.  Everything I need is in it.

This weekend I gave myself a pedicure and painted my toes using a color by Zoya called Odette.  I love this shade of purple.  It is a great shade for this time of the year: summer, but almost fall.

Mimi insisted that we pose together for a mother/daughter photo.  She also insisted that her toy be included; I am not one to argue with a puppy.  (Her nails are way more adorable than mine!)

STORING YOUR POLISH

Nail polish should be stored in a cool, dark place with a consistent temperature.  This makes storing your polish in the bathroom a don’t.  Bathrooms change temperature every time the shower runs and exposes the polish to humidity.

Don’t store your polishes near any sources of heat as they are flammable.  Also, heat will cause the polish to thicken.  Keep them away from direct sunlight.  Light exposure can promote discoloration and fade the pigments within the polish.

WHEN TO THROW POLISH OUT

Nail polish does not last forever.  Fitness Magazine  recommends tossing open bottles after two years. Unopened, they can last indefinitely, says Annette Soboleski, a nail technician for polish maker OPI Products Inc. Once a bottle is opened, however, some ingredients will evaporate, causing the polish to thicken and separate. To thin the polish and make it last longer, add a few drops of nail-lacquer thinner.

RECYCLING POLISH

Did you know that the EPA considers nail polish to be a hazardous waste?  You can read more at EPA.gov. In most states it is okay for households to throw away nail polish and a number of other items that are considered hazardous waste.  If you are in a state that requires these items to be recycled (Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada) or if you just want to do good for the environment, you can recycle your old nail polish bottles.  Need to find a facility?  Earth911 has you covered.  They have a website that will help you find a recycling center in your zip code.  You can check them out at Earth911.com.