Let's Destress Now with Shaniece.

We are currently in love with Shaniece Hairston. You might know her as Evelyn Lozada daughter but this girl is making waves in the fashion industry. I recently checked out her website Shaniece Hairston, which gives us an insight on her life. She has become one our new Muses at MuseMe. Here is a great article on her ways to distress!  Makes sure you check out her website!

1. Yoga: No matter what my mom thinks, yoga will always be one of my favorite ways to release stress. It is just so calming and also keeps my body fit!

2. Deep Breathing: I’m big on breathing techniques when I’m feeling anxious or stressed. I find a place where I feel at peace and I just breathe in through my nose and out though my mouth. Even if you can’t find a place that is relaxing, it will still help to take some long breaths. That’s one of the best things about this technique, it can be done anywhere, any time!

3. Meditation: Meditation is really simple and has been proven to really work! Just find a comfortable place, close your eyes, relax your muscles and focus on one thing. It can be your breathing, an object, or just a picture in your mind. Even just 10 minutes of this can do wonders. Just stay focused and not let distractions enter your mind!

4. Get a Massage: Getting a massage is a great way to get relaxed. I especially love going to Thai or Korean spas, they definitely have some great massage methods and techniques!

5. Workout: This is a major stress reliever for me. It’s all about releasing those endorphins! It’s even better that beyond just making me feel better, I can see results physically! I used to hate running, but now I find it to be a great way to clear my head and get energized at the same time.

6. Take A Walk: Just being outside and breathing in fresh air can do a lot! It will help clear your head and also boost endorphins. I love finding parks or green spaces to walk to in order to enjoy my surroundings to the fullest!

7. Hang Out With Friends: Sometimes all you need is to hang out with friends and laugh! My friends always know the right things to say! Playing with my baby brother Leo is also a way I like to destress.

8. Snack: I wrote a blog post on the best foods to eat while you’re stressed and I still reference it all the time! I already pay attention to what I put in my body anyways but sometimes I’ll purposely eat some foods that are anti-stress to give my body that extra boost!

9. Listen to Music: Music is definitely a huge part of my life and I’ll always choose songs depending on my mood! And sometimes a dance party is the best solution!

10. Take a Bath: Taking a long bath with no distractions is a great way to just relax. Soak in some bubbles and come out feeling clean and refreshed!

11. Sleep: Sometimes you just have to literally recharge and have a restful sleep! Through your busy days, make sure that you’re not sacrificing any beauty sleep because it can really hurt in the long run.

So those are some of my favorite ways to release some stress, which is just a normal part of life! Just keep these methods in mind to combat it and go on and tackle the world!

Instagram: @shanieceh
Twitter: @ShanieceH
images/content provided by website

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My Best Friends Would love this..

Christmas is this week!!!! If you are a last minute shopper like myself.. you are in a panic! I have a few last minute presents to get and those are for my best friends! Luckily two of my best friends are fitness and wellness addicts! Co-Founder Melissa aka Skinny Affair Muse Icon and Contributor Collette aka Mom on the Run Muse Icon are my fitness and wellness idols!

Here are a few gift ideas I found that would be great to add to their lifestyle collection!!

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Flat Tummy Tea Time. Again.

Flat Tummy Tea Time. Again. Yes, we all want a flat and tight tummy. I don't mind a little jiggle once and awhile, but we have holiday and birthdays to prepare for VERY soon. After much Instagram stalking we find a tea that is suppose to generate a flat tummy cleanse. After much research and talking to actually friends who tried these products we found one! Flat Tummy Tea was chosen. I personally have the worst problems with bloating and energy levels mid workday! My friends said after trying several tea diets that promise to get rid of all the issues they all agreed that Flat Tummy Tea was the one that actually worked. So of course after hearing that my friends tried it.. I just had to join. 

I purchased the two-week trial to see if I can totally do this! I personally have extreme bloating issues and fatigue. Hopefully this tea will be beneficial in my life! I will update you every few days to let you know how it is really helping me! Please check out our social media for daily updates!! 

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Pour it up, pour it up

Sometimes you just need to put down the glass of wine or that favorite bar drink and sip on some H2O. Our favorite lifestyle blogger Hannah Bronfman from hbfit.com has provided some reasons you need to step up your water game! Trust me I've learned on how to drink water on the daily. My favorite thing I do is to cut up some lemons and cucumbers each night added them to my water in my mason jar and keep it overnight! The next day it’s fresh and detoxes my body! Just keep refilling it through out the day!

  

You Have Bad Breath

Coffee breath now has a whole new meaning! “If you’re not producing enough saliva in the mouth, you can get bacteria overgrowth and one of the side reactions of that is bad breath from chronic dehydration,” says John Higgins, MD, associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Texas in Houston. Being hydrated can help with saliva production, so the more water you chug, the better.

You Get Headaches

Headaches are a symptom of many ailments, but if you’re experiencing headaches alongside other dehydration symptoms, consider this a sign that you need more H20 in your life. "The more water you lose, the more your blood volume drops, which causes less oxygen flow to the brain. That causes your blood vessels to dilate, which can make your headache feel even worse," says Greg Justice, an exercise physiologist and author of Mind Your Own Fitness.

Your Pee is Bright Yellow

A random, but very true fact. Monitor the toilet bowl and note when your pee appears extra yellow. If you're not taking a B vitamin or antibiotic, this can be a direct sign of dehydration, reflecting an over-concentration of waste, which is more easily flushed out when you’re fully hydrated. Simply put when it comes to pee, the clearer the better. 

You’re Constipated

Not the most fabulous topic of conversation, but still a very serious sign that you’re dehydrated. A properly hydrated digestive system allows for waste to easily pass through your body—not enough fluids makes this simple task much more difficult on your body.

Tips for Rehydrating

If you’ve noticed any of the previous symptoms, you’re most likely dehydrated. But don't worry, it can be reversed. Be careful to notice when you experience them, this way you can take some proactive steps to keep your body feeling good and looking great.

Here are some helpful tips to get hydrated and stay that way:

• Drink more water, but not too much! Drinking too fast may cause stomach upset and drinking too much water can cause you to expel large amounts of urine, slowing the rehydration process.
• Eat foods high in electrolytes and water. Vegetables and fruit are great for rehydrating.
• Be sure to get a healthy dose of sodium and potassium. Try coconut water for an alternative source of electrolytes and bananas are always a potassium staple.
• Stay away from alcohol and caffeine, both of which make it difficult for your body to retain fluids.  

Whether you're a firm believer in 8 cups of water a day or a connoisseur of bubbly water, we can undoubtedly agree that it's important to stay hydrated. Before your next sweat sesh, remember these tips and ensure hydration is part of your daily wellness.

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Khloe Revenge Body Please.

Khole Kardashian is killing the fitness game and you know its true. Her body and spirit gives us motivation over here at MuseMe. Her positive attitude and fitness game is on point! When I saw her Complex recent cover, I was look at you girl! So when PopSugar gave us her tips we had to reblog this! She is our Fitness Muse! 

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A Commendable Comeback.

Before my son was even born, I set a fitness goal to ensure I wouldn't fall victim to using my new baby as an excuse to be out of shape. Go big or go home: I decided to run a half marathon, with my eyes set on the Rock and Roll Seattle Half Marathon! It would be 9.5 months postpartum, almost equal to the time it took me to create this little life that would now be pushing me to achieve such a feat! Perfect!

I have been running since I could walk, and this wouldn't be my first race or my first half marathon, so I figured, "No problem, this should just be mind over matter...". Let me tell you, it was hard. My body had a much easier time giving birth the second time around but a bit of a harder time recuperating! My joints just didn't seem to want to tighten back up, making my early runs wobbly and hard! It took many miles, light weight lifting, cycling, yoga and heart (in addition to all the support from my family and friends) to literally reach the finish line, but I did it! On June 13, I crossed the finish line in Seattle, 6 minutes faster than my goal- 9.5 months after giving birth! 

Now on to the next: heavy(er) weight lifting! My new goal is to tone up and build some muscle, maybe even call myself having some defined abs by summers end! 

Follow me on Instagram @mom__ontherun to get some inspiration, laughs and see my progress! 

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Time to clean my yoga mat!

I’ve been Googling “Green DIY Yoga Mat Cleaner” for days. There are soooooo many! Ingredients a bunch of these have in common are witch hazel, essential oil, and water.

I even found all everything I needed to make this yoga mat cleaner at Whole Foods in the aisle with all the natural beauty products and essential oils.

Does this sound too easy peasey or what?!

Need

-Spray bottle

-Witch hazel

-Essential oil (I chose one

Directions

1. Get a spray bottle and fill it with 3/4 distilled water

2. Fill up the rest of the bottle with witch hazel, but leave a little room

3. Add a few drops of your choice essential oil (good ones to add are tea tree oil, lavender, or lemon. These have disinfecting properties).

Make sure to test this on a small section of your mat, just in case it has a weird reaction. I’ve read that some mats are porous, so you shouldn’t use essential oils on those kinds of mats.

Here are the deets on the products I used:

Thayer’s Original Witch Hazel: Witch Hazel is a natural elixir. It’s made from extract from a witch hazel shrub.

Wyndmere Naturals’ Synergistic Essential Oil Blend in ‘Balancing’: This essential oil blend is supposed to be calming and grounding (PERFECT for yoga!). It contains pure essential oils of Patchouli, Lavender, Elemi, Lemon, Citrus sinensis, and Clary Sage.

Beauty Tip: Now that I have this giant bottle of witch hazel leftover…I’m using it as a natural toner to cleanse my face. It’s a strong astringent and antioxidant.

(Credit by Skinny Affair)

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Morning Workouts Are Real?

Morning Workouts can be beyond rough.. but you need to do it! Personally, I know the feeling of dragging myself out of bed to fit in a good workout before I start my day. Here are a few tips I learned from PopSugar that has helped me with getting my butt out of bed!   Summer is here..lets not forget! Motivation time! 

1. Set multiple alarms--When I say I set multiple alarms, I don't mean two — I mean five or six, starting half an hour before I want to get up. If I'm not in the habit of getting up early to hit the gym, my body is not ready for the rude awakening, and I find myself hitting snooze and missing my workout. When you're just getting into the habit, bombard yourself with obnoxious alarms and know that while you're totally miserable in the moment, you'll thank yourself later.

2. Lay out everything the night before--Shorts, check. Sports bra, check. Water bottle, keys . . . check, check. Scrambling around half delirious in the morning is not the most effective way to start the day. I've found that when I can plan ahead and have everything ready at arm's reach, it's much more likely I'll make it out the door and to my 7 a.m. Spin class on time.

3. Make it a date--Some days it can be so difficult to get out of bed, especially when I know that there is nothing stopping me from staying snuggled under the covers. But when I know that someone is depending on me to show up, it's much easier to get out of bed and get my act together. Convince a friend to meet you for a morning run, and you won't be able to skip out.

4. Cut travel time--My gym is a 10-minute walk from home (or five-minute jog, if I'm feeling ambitious . . . ), and the quick commute means that I can sneak in every extra minute of sleep possible. Since a longer commute would mean getting up even earlier, finding a gym that was literally around the corner meant that making an excuse about travel time was no longer an option. Even if a nearby gym isn't an option, running outside or doing a video in your living room can help you sneak in a workout, no matter how short on time you feel.

5. Leave no escape--At my gym, signing up for a class and then not showing up is a major no-no that can lead to a ding on your account. So to get myself out of bed and into the gym, I've started signing up for morning classes the night before. If I know there are consequences for not showing up, it's more likely that I'll get up and get my act together. If your gym is more forgiving, make your own ultimatums. Live with a roommate or a significant other? Pay them $5 if you sleep in — when your money is on the table, getting to the gym will seem easy.

6. Don't sweat a slipup--Some days I miss the mark and end up skipping my workout, especially after indulging a little too much the night before. It's important to accept that I'm not going to make my goal every time. If you miss a workout, don't beat yourself up; just pay attention to what went wrong — were you up too late the night before? Did you just turn off your alarm instead of getting up? Listen to your body, and learn from what didn't work instead of getting upset.

7. Plan a reward--Call me crazy, but one of my favorite treats is a refreshing, rich iced latte. Since they can be pretty pricey, I try to keep this delicious treat to something I enjoy on the weekend only. But I've found that if I promise myself a slightly sweet, strong, and milky cup of deliciousness on the way to work if I hit the gym first, it's easier for me to face the day knowing that a treat is coming my way.

8. Crash early--OK, I admit it — this is the puzzle piece I consider my weakness. I'm a night owl, and as hard as I try to hit the hay at 9 p.m., I'll just toss and turn until my body decides it's ready for sleep, usually around 1:30 a.m. I've found the longer I work at adjusting my schedule, the easier it becomes, but there are still days I wish that I was able to magically pass out. I've learned that turning off the TV and closing my laptop an hour before hopping into bed does seem to help, so be sure to shut off the screens when you're trying to go to bed earlier than normal.

9. Remember the results--I never expected that switching my workout routine from after work to before it would affect my mood throughout the day, but I swear it has. Though I may feel sluggish getting out the door, once I've sweated out my morning weariness, I leave the gym feeling seriously refreshed and invigorated. Maybe it's the endorphins, or maybe it's the fact that the day is now full of possibilities — but I am ready to hit the ground running. If you're struggling to find the motivation, just remember the energy you will feel pulsing through your body as soon as you step out the doors and start the rest of your day.

How do you get your morning workouts in?! 

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Collette Takes on TRX.

Another one in the books!

As I was talking to my trainer today, he asked me about my fitness goals, etc and whether I think TRX training is working for me. Here's my response: "YES!" 

I have only been doing this the past month, but let me tell you- I'm not as strong as I thought! I can spend hours at the gym pumping da iron (in Arnold's voice), doing crunches and such but one hour of TRX totally kicks my butt! 

Here's what it is:

•TRX stands for Total Body Resistance Training 

•The only weight involved is your own bodyweight, and it's all core based

•You control the resistance level by adjusting your body position

•Since it can be set up anywhere, you can do the exercises virtually anywhere 

After my first class, I felt pretty challenged because of this new-to-me exercise and the fact that I struggled through it a little. Now, I'm factoring in that I gave birth nearly 6months ago and unfortunately wasn't allowed to have a very active pregnancy but I'm not using it as an excuse to pity my lack of core and body strength. I am using it as a reminder however, that this weakness I feel is only temporary! 

In the few weeks that I've been doing the TRX Training, I can already tell that it's working. I'm holding suspended planks longer and doing more reps per exercise interval. The best part about it all is that this exercise is low impact, high results and is suitable for all fitness levels. My group contains a range from 20-somethings to seniors! 

In answer to my trainers question of what my fitness goal is, I'm trying to get myself back in shape in general and for the half marathon I'm running this June. 

So, do I love this workout? Yes

Would I recommend it? Absolutely

Cheer me on and stay up to date with my training and adventures via my Facebook page and Instagram! 

-----------------------------

Xoxo

C

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Fuel My Workout Now.

We all need a good pre-workout snack to help fuel a effective workout. Personally, I know how it feels to workout and in the first fifteen minutes I have lost all my energy. Here are a few pre-workout snacks that really has worked for my daily workouts.  Lets just say on a side note on how delicious these snacks are and yes of course healthy! 


Protein Smoothie

An easy-to-digest protein smoothie is a great option if you need to fuel up before a workout, and this vanilla protein smoothie is perfect. Slightly sweet and simple to make, you can whip this up not too long before your workout. For more smoothies, check out our healthy smoothie recipes roundup.



     Fruit and Oatmeal

For a long run or intense workout, you need the right fuel to keep your energy up. A small bowl of plain oatmeal (not the packaged kind), a little sweetener, and a sliced banana will keep you full and ready to go.







Honey Almond Butter and Apple
Just like dessert: mix one banana, a spoonful of honey, a scoop of protein powder, a tablespoon of cocoa powder, and one tablespoon of almond butter together; spread on apple slices; and enjoy. This snack will sustain you during any intense workout!



For the rest of this article check out PopSugar.

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Berry Refreshing Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie in a bowl?  Is this real life? I love a good smoothie. I found this amazing recipe for a Berry Refreshing Smoothie Bowl. Full of good-for-you ingredients, this mixed berry smoothie bowl is rich in vitamin C and low in calories, and will fill you up and get you going on a hot morning. It takes less than 5 minutes to make. 

Don't be afraid to get creative with seasonal fruits and your favorite toppings. Make this recipe dairy-free by eliminating the nonfat Greek yogurt.

INGREDIENTS

Smoothie bowl base:
1 cup almond milk
1/2 frozen banana
1 cup frozen mixed berries
1 tablespoon nonfat Greek yogurt (optional)

Toppings:
1/3 cup blueberries
1/4 cup raspberries
2 tablespoons granola
1 teaspoon pepita seeds
1 blackberry

DIRECTIONS

Blend together the almond milk, frozen banana, frozen berries, and nonfat Greek yogurt (optional) until smooth.

Pour your smoothie base in a small bowl and top off as you like! Dig in immediately.

Calories per serving: 265

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Wellness Hacks.

                       MuseMe Style loves to showcase new and fun healthy lifestyle blogs! 

 I’m Kelsey, a certified Health Coach and the blogger behind bananas + bellinis, a healthy lifestyle blog where I share my favorite health tips, recipes, natural beauty and self-care tips and secrets for living a happy, balanced life.

I refer to myself as a “city girl/hippie chick hybrid” because I believe that you can be fabulous, have a social life and love fancy things while still being concerned with your health and the environment, having a spiritual practice and  embracing a natural, holistic approach to life.

My mission is to show the world that healthy doesn’t have to mean boring, balance is the key to a happy life and that it’s okay to chase that shot with green juice.

Check out the rest of this article on Skinny Affair.

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{Trendy vs Spendy} Activewear For Less

Have you read my summer activewear post on Trend Hungry? Summer's here and so is some fun in the sun! Here are my spring to summer activewear faves. :)

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Summertime Fitness Madness..

So summertime is here and trust me I am not really ready to be in a bikini just yet! Every year I say I am going be ready to be in my best shape for summer and it always happens that I get a little lazy. So this summer I am going into this 150%. I have become obsessed with these three products to help obtain and maintain my goal of a summer body!

First I am using BOOTEA 28 Day Teatox. It’s such an easy detox program. I did the 14-day teatox a few months ago and saw a great difference. So I am going try the 28-day teatox this time around. It tastes great and you can drink the daytime tea daily and the nighttime cleanses every other night. I have more energy and calms down my cravings!

Second I’ve been obsessed with Frank’s Body Scrub. These products are great for scars, stretch marks and celluliteI used every night when I take my shower. It’s a little messy but you see fast results. I am very pleased to say I can see a difference already and I’ve only used it for the past 3 weeks.

Third I have become obsessed with Bliss Products: Fat Girl Slim. I am currently using their Arm Candy, Fat Girl Slim Morning and Night Cream, Six-pack and Lovehandler creams. All these products help with toning and firming the skin.

But you just can’t rely on these products for a great summer body. I have been working out daily and eating a lot better. Luckily my job at Facebook provides great organic food. And yes I am very spoiled at Facebook! Hopefully these products will work and I can show off my results for my Vegas goal body!

What are your favorite items to use for body and working out? Please share!

By the way, Melissa is our little fitness guru! I can’t wait to see what she will post!

xx.chauncey

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