Happy Birth Month!

by Jenni in

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Happy Birth Month to all those March babies out there!! I am a Marchie myself and have decided to devote the first day of our birth month to my birthday plans this year.  ​

Usually, February comes around and I start trying to think of ​things that I would like to have for my birthday. This can be quite a difficult process since we are just getting off the Christmas and Valentines Day highs and things seem pretty filled out. This year, I decided to make a change and not pick anything at all... Instead, I will be giving all my birthday money to three charities. 

Charities are awesome- one for one's, medical outreach's, animal shelters, local,  global, there are so many great ones out there. This has made the decision of three quite difficult. So far, I know that Free Wheelchair Mission and Charity: Water are for sure, but the third is still undecided. With a birth date of March 20th, there is little time to decide, but for now, let's go over the two that have already been picked and maybe a few still in consideration!

Charity: Water

We have talked about both Charity: Water and Free Wheelchair Mission before on the blog, but that is no reason to not bring them up again. ​Both companies donate 100% of the proceeds to charity. This is incredible. There is no amount of donated money that goes to bills, advertisement, anything. 

Charity: Water uses corporate backers to pay there internal finances so all of our money goes to getting clean water to people in need. The foundation is quite clear about how they spend there money and what they do to make more. These guys are so precise, they can tell you what country and which well you money has gone to building. That is some air tight financing! ​

The thing that stands out to me about both these organizations is they make it easy to give a donation as a gift and make it tax deductible. ​Charity: Water has giving campaigns with pre-made, easy to navigate sites for those wanting to donate their birthdays, anniversaries, anything. This way, people can see how much you are raising, how far you have to go, and donate to your giving campaign.  

Since I am going for a few different foundations, I decided to make my pledge with Charity: Water $500. You can get to my page from here! ​

Free Wheelchair Mission

I learned about this organization a few years back while at a conference. ​We were able to watch a video of one of their wheelchair drops and hear from some of the leaders and those impacted by FWM. Honestly, I was a bundle of tears by the end of the video. It is incredible to see someone who, up until then, was either hidden away in a back room or crawling on the ground now have mobility and respect. 

FWM is one of the greatest reasons that I decided to donate my birthday to organizations. Seeing what a difference a wheelchair can make in a person's life is incredible. 

Just like Charity: Water, FWM has fundraisers available for different events. You choose the amount to raise, create your donation page, and get others involved. ​You can also opt to buy a gift card for birthday's, Christmas, anything. Gift cards are the price of a wheelchair and let the recipient choose where they would like the wheelchair to go. So nifty! 

Since there is the option of the gift card and other places to donate, I decided to make my fundraising goal $300! You can see my web page here! ​

Other Birthday Options

I am still trying to figure out one more foundation that I would love to donate to for my b-day. Right now, Tom's shoes, Vicky's Pet Connection (where we got our kitties), ​Honor Animal Rescue, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for orphaned elephants (would so rather move there and volunteer myself!!), and WWF are all on my "must give" list. Oh boy. 

There are so many great organizations to choose from that I may just have to expand my limit of three a little. If you know any great organizations to add to my list, let me know! I would love to hear any of your favorites and suggestions!!​

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Simple Systems: Healthy[er] Pizzas

by Jenni in

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I love pizza. It is one of my favorite foods in the world and I am quite sure I could, happily, live off of pizza and sushi. Unfortunately, it is said that eating pizza once a week will cause 10 pounds weight gain in ten years. I am currently working very hard to disprove this on a personal level and have decided to investigate the healthiest and the least healthy pizzas that are commonly eaten today.

The biggest pizza brands include Pizza Hut (favorite), Domino's, Papa John's, Little Caesar's, and Hungry Howie's. To keep things equal, all have been judged per one slice of the healthiest pizza option- veggie. Veggie is healthier than all the rest because it has less cheese and less fat since there is no meat. 

Let the healthy pizza battle begin...

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut's 14" pizza has tomatoes, mushrooms, black olives, green peppers, and red onions. This is based off the original pan crust. 

  • 320 calories
  • 14 grams fat
  • 5 grams saturated fat
  • 36 carbs, 2 grams from fiber and 4 grams from sugar
  • 12 grams protein

Domino's

Domino's is based off the large, 14" pizza wit original crust.

  • 400 calories
  • 17 grams fat
  • 49 carbohydrates
  • 19 grams protein

Papa John's

These measurements are based on a 14" pizza with onions, peppers, baby portobella mushrooms, black olives and tomatoes.

  • ​280 calories
  • 9 grams fat
  • 4 grams saturated fat
  • 39 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams from fiber and 5 grams from sugar
  • 11 grams protein

Little Caesar's ​

The Little Caesar's pizza is based on a large, 14" pizza with mushrooms, black olives, onion, and green pepper.​ The Little Caesar's pizza also has 15% daily value of vitamin C, 8% vitamin A, 20% calcium, and 15% iron.

  • 270 ​calories
  • 10 grams fat
  • 4.5 grams saturated fat
  • 33 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams from fiber and 4 grams from sugar ​
  • 13 grams protein ​

Hungry Howie's

Hungry Howie's pizza's seem to be the healthiest option until you look at the serving sizes. A large Hungry Howie's pizza comes with twelve slices, four slices more than any other pizza on our list. To be a comparison, all proportions would need to be multiplied by 1.5. The numbers in parenthesis are the actual equivalent.

  • 200 calories (300 calories)
  • 6 grams fat (9 grams)
  • ​3 grams saturated fat (4.5 grams)
  • 28 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams from fiber (42 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber)
  • 10 grams protein (15 grams)​

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Reistance Band Workout

by Jenni in

One of the lovely people over at Snapguide requested that I do a workout only using resistance bands. Oh how I love requests, and I really love this one! Making a workout that only used resistance bands was so fun and I got to learn some great moves that have worked muscles I was not sure existed!

Resistance bands are great for toning muscle and increasing both strength and flexibility. This workout is comprised of one circuit that should be done twice with a one minute break between each. I recommend starting 5 lb. resistance bands and increasing from there as needed. Start with a two minute warm up jog, then complete each exercise for one minute with a one minute break between circuits.

This workout should take about 20 minutes and burn 200+ calories!

Squat Press

Get ready to feel it in your arms and legs and abs (shoulders knees and toes). Start in squat position with feet shoulder width apart and resistance band evenly under feet. Hold the ends of the resistance band in each hand. Squat down and stay in squatting position while you raise hands above your head. Rise back up and continue for one minute.

Lunge with Bicep Curl

These are quite popular in the resistance band world, because they are awwwsommeee! Place the resistance band under your right foot with the ends in each hand. Complete a lunge on your right side, but stay in the lunge position and complete a bicep curl. Come back to starting once the curl is completed and continue with right leg lunges for one minute. Switch to the left leg in the second circuit. 

X-Extensions

Oh I love these. We have covered these wonders before in the Calorie Burn Workout, but not since then. Start with legs hip width apart with resistance bands evenly under each foot. Place the left side of the resistance band in the right hand and visa versa. Raise your arms above your head at a 45 degree angle so the band forms an "X" in the center. Come back to starting and complete as many as possible in one minute.

Resistance Band Push-Ups

These will take your push-ups to the next level, for reals! The first time I did this was rough, and not just because they are tough... Learn from my experience and wrap the band around your back and between your chest and inner arms. This will make sure it does not roll up and get knotted in you hair. Yea, that was a great workout...

Hold the band tight in each hand so it is stretching when you rise up. Complete as many of these bad boys as you can in one minute, then you can cry a little. 

Side Lunge Pulls

I have recently come across these and love them! Place the left foot on the middle of the resistance band and hold the outer end with the left hand. Complete a side lunge with the right leg and pull the left arm across your body so you rotate to the right while extending your arm. Come back to starting and complete as many as possible in one minute. Alternate to the left side in the next circuit.

Be sure to only rotate your body during the lunges, keep the stationary leg, stationary.

Fly-Back Kick-Back

This is wonderful for the back and legs. It is a variation on the usual fly backs but with a band instead of a band. Place left foot on the middle of the band and stack right foot behind. Hold the ends of the bands with each hand and lift right leg back as you bend body forward so you are in a "T". Lift arms our to the side so that are on the same plain as your back, hold, then return to starting. Complete as many as possible in 1 minute, then alternate to the left leg in the next circuit.

X-Wrap

Hello thigh-master version 2.0! Lay on your right side with legs stacked on top of one another and straight out. Wrap the resistance band once around your ankles and tie a knot in it so there is only a small amount of slack when ankles are together. Lift the left leg up as high as you can while the right leg remains on the ground. Complete as many as you can in 1 minute, then complete for the right leg in the second set.

Pelvic Push

This will work your thighs, bum, and lower abdominal muscles. Lay on your back with legs bent and feet flat on the floor. Place resistance band over your pelvis with hands on either side holding the resistance band to the ground. Make sure the band is tight, then raise pelvis off the ground so only your shoulders are touching the floor. Hold, then return to starting position and continue for one minute.

Five Gym Hairstyles Inspired by NY Fashion Week

by Jenni in

{via}

New York Fashion week has recently ended and I have got the fashionista bug. There were some great new hairstyles traipsing the runway this year, many of which would work for a day out or a day at the gym. With a few bobby pins, a hair band, and some creativity, we can have gym hair that stays in place and is runway ready! Change up your usual look with these five fun, fashionable, and easy gym styles. 

The Bun

Low chignons have been seen all over the runways at NY fashion week. Bring some of that couture style to your gym routine with a mid to low level bun. For a clean look, pull hair back to the nape of the neck and twist. I like to stick a few bobby pins in, then pull a small elastic band around the entire bun. If you are jogging or doing any cardio, you may want to add a pin or two more for safe keeping. 

Side Braids

This is a great option if you have short or layered hair around your face since the braid will keep out of the way.

Start at your part and do an inverse french braid around the side of your head. I like to add in a new bit of hair every third braid rather than every braid. This keeps it from looking too divided between the loose area and the braided area and gives a bit more of a natural look. Once you reach your ear area, pin the braid in place and pull the rest back. To get even more style, put your hair in a bun or braid the other side as well.

The Tease

This look is great for a yoga, pilates, are barre classes since it is a twist on the traditional. Pull hair into a ponytail on the back of your head, then tease. Once hair has a bit of extra volume, roll the ends under and secure with a few bobby pins. If you want some extra classy, tie a ribbon around the hair and place a small knot or bow at the bottom. Look at you, ready for yoga  by day and the theater by night!

Twists

This is a great option if you like the braid idea but do not have the time or dexterity to complete it. Start at your part line, just like you would for the braid, but twist the locks instead. Add a few strands after each twist to get that cute, naturally twisted look. I like to bring the twists a bit higher than the braid and keep it twisted just above my ears and all the way to my ponytail. Super chic and super simple! 

Fishtail

Fishtails are great for girls who have long, flowing locks since it does not weigh down a ponytail or leave a giant bun nob on the back of your head. Fishtails can be tricky at first, but the unique style is totally worth the learning curve! 

Pull your hair to your dominant side and split in two sections. Take a small amount of hair from the bottom of one section and cross over to the bottom of the other. Continue doing this on alternating sides until you get to the bottom of your locks, then add a hair band and enjoy. You just did a super cute and super stationary style anyone would give mad props to!