Hi friends,

I’m putting together a summer hairstyle post for you (with all of the Pinterest braids I’ve been rocking), but in the meantime, here’s a post from the lovely Meg with one of her staples: the top knot.

A little more polished than the post-Zumba messy bun I’ve got going on today

Thank goodness for dry shampoo.

xoxo

G

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Lately on my instagram (follow me-AzBossLady !) I’ve been getting very sweet comments on my top-knot. Top-knots are the sneakiest way out of a bad hair day and can add a little sass to your look. I love wearing top-knots because they are EASY to wear and easy to adjust. There have been many “late for school” moments that have been saved by this hairdo, and since I get so many questions about how I do it, I’d like to share my method for top-knotting with you lovely readers.

Step 1: Brush your hair. Always a great place to start

Step 2: Add product if you’re going bang-less. I’m rocking the bangs in this particular case.

Step 3: Use a soft-bristled brush to smooth your hair and gather at the top of your head.

Step 4: With your head still upside down, twist your hair several times.

Step 5: Stand up and wrap your twist into a bun.

Step 6: Secure your bun. I use a hair tie wrapped around twice. You may choose to bobby pin yours, mine won’t stay without a hair tie.

Step 7: Pin the loose ends (or style your bangs).

Say hello to your sassy, effortless, Summer look!

Planks are one of my all-time favorite core exercises.

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(It looks like Vies!)

As I’ve mentioned before, one of the tricks I’ve learned is that the maximum amount of time you should hold a plank is 10 seconds, because after that you start to engage and depend on other muscles to keep you up (especially your shoulders). An effective way to plank is to hold it for 10 seconds, rest for 3, and repeat as many times as you’d like (I usually go for 6). Try it- you may find it’s a lot more challenging than holding a plank for a minute straight.

Some more planking tips:

-Try to keep your body in a straight line from your ears to your ankles

(gaze is best about a foot in front of your hands so your spine is straight. My head is up a little too much in the photo)

-If you’re not feeling challenged enough with a plank variation, raise one leg up

-Keep your core engaged- it’s tempting to let it all hang out

Here are some of my favorite plank variations:

And remember, friends, the best visible abbies are made on the track (or cardio machine of choice) and in the kitchen.

Last night we enjoyed a veggie-full meal over here:

“Bliss in a Dish” from “Let Them Eat Vegan!”

(Pinkie is still holding on… by a thread)

I made the recipe as the book instructed, and steamed the artichokes (which were originally frozen) and the potatoes in the steamer:

went for a walk while they steamed:

and then came home to put everything in the oven.

Drizzled the veggies with an olive oil impulse buy:

and enjoyed mine atop a bed of greens with Goddess dressing and the Pilot ate his with brown rice. It was pretty glorious.

This morning I’m off to work- it’s a Zumba day- and am taking my friend her food containers since she made me lunch on Saturday.

It somehow filled itself with raw chocolate tart

Hope you have a happy humpday <3

xoxo

Gina

Something to talk about: What’s your favorite plank variation? Any fun ones that I missed?

A challenge: 

pick 3 planks from above and bust them out (if you’re injury-free, of course):

-pick a stationary plank and hold for 10 seconds, rest for 3, repeat 5x (for total of 60 seconds of planking)

-pick a single leg plank and alternate right and left 12 times

-pick your favorite plank and either do one more minute of planking (with the 10 seconds on, 3 seconds rest) or alternate right and left 12 times

After you do it, leave a comment and let me know what planks you chose!! Plank you very mucho.

More:

-10 ways to crunch

-10 ways to lunge

(Saw this on Facebook- if you have the accurate source, please let me know!)

Not our house this morning.

Most mornings are pretty amazing. Liv will wake up anywhere between 5-6, I’ll feed her in our bed, put her back in her crib and we’ll both go back to sleep for a little while (until 7 or 7:30). It’s worked out beautifully because usually when she first wakes up, Tom has to start getting up for work, so she doesn’t disturb his sleep. On the days I work, it’s a great time for me to get up and start packing my work clothes, eat breakfast and pack food for the day.

This morning, we were all up at 5… and Livi and I didn’t go back to sleep until 7:30.

Usually when she wakes up, she’s all smiles and happiness, eats, and easily goes back to bed.

Not today….

She was inconsolable, even after eating a full meal, diaper was clean, and did not want to play in her crib or go back to sleep. The only time she would stop crying was when I would pick her up or rock her and even then was whimpering. I lightly pressed down on her gums with my finger and she looked up at me like “that feels GOOD.” I grabbed her teether out of the freezer, gave her a little baby Tylenol and it was like her world was changed.

We both finally went back to sleep and when she woke up, was an entirely different baby. She was happy to be awake instead of angry at the world

Today was also her first day starting cereal:

After the pediatrician said I could start her on rice cereal, I was pretty excited about it. Livi always watches intently while I’m eating –she’ll sit on my lap and look up to see every bite go into my mouth- and has recently started reaching out for food. I figured she would love some rice cereal until she can have fruits and veggies in a couple of months.

The verdict?

I think she liked her new bib more than the cereal.

She only ended up eating about 4 bites, but it’s a start.

These days are going to be amazing:

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2 more months until the fruit and veggie fun begins.

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Thank you so much for the wrap help and feedback yesterday! I’m going to go ahead and order the BabyHawk. I think it will be comfy to wear and that Livi will enjoy riding on my back – she’s so curious and will probably love being able to see everything.

Now it’s just deciding between the Metro Pink

(reversible with shimmery gold)

and the Grandiflora

(reversible with burgundy)

It’s going to be a tough choice between the fact that the gold will match everything, but that flower print is gorgeous…

Off to Trader Joe’s and then workout time.

Have a great day <3

A glass of wine and jammies = pretty much the best way to cap off a Monday night. Or any night, really.

When are you too old to wear the PINK collection? Actually, don’t answer that.

Some other highlights from the day:

-The Schweaty May workout

Mom came over in the afternoon to hang out with Livi and told me to go run errands or workout. Since Liv and I had already done a couple of errands in the morning morning, I was excited to work out during the day instead of at night.

The workout was indeed very schweaty and it was nice to go through the entire thing without stopping to write (I test every workout before posting them, minus the ones I created while preg) Have you tried it yet?

-#smoothieaday: Green-a-colada! I skipped the banana because I’ve been kind of meh about them lately – used 1/2 avocado instead

So refreshing and naturally sweet from the pineapple.

-Visiting my great-grandmother, Livi’s great-great-grandmother (tatarabuela). She said that Livi wanted some frijoles and tortillas- soon she’ll get to experience the joy that is nana’s cooking.

-My own little Mexi meal with the Pilot at home, which cooked away in the slow cooker for most of the day.

When we went to Kelly and Shooter’s house for Cinco de Mayo, Kelly made some seriously awesome chicken taco meat. I asked her what she did and made my own little version:

-Put two chicken breasts in the slow cooker with 4 garlic cloves (whole) and enough veggie broth to go halfway up the sides of each

-Topped with 1/2 t cumin, 1/2 t oregano, 1/4 t cayenne, sea salt and pepper

-Cooked on high for 4 hours and then removed half the juice, shredded the chicken with a fork

and added 1/2 can each of organic diced tomatoes and black beans

(froze the rest of the tomatoes and saved the rest of the black beans for tomorrow’s lunch salad)

-Adjusted the seasonings as necessary

We enjoyed the taco meat with corn tortillas, greens, salsa, avocado and queso (for the Pilot). I was going to make rice and beans but skipped it- all we really wanted were the tacos anyway.

I’m not sure what we’re up to today –definitely a grocery haul- but I’m going to try and choreograph a new Zumba song for tomorrow. I did two new ones on Saturday, so I’m slowly starting to revamp my playlist.. if I don’t have at least one new song each week, I hate all of my music.

Hope you’re having a lovely morning so far <3

See ya later with a Family post!

xoxo

Gina

Today’s workout jam:

As you guys know, I’m a huge fan of “the fiyah.” I just love workouts that can be done at home with minimal space and equipment- I’m always looking for ways to spice up my at-home fitness routine. Some faves are: Zuzana ZWOW workouts (I used to LOVE BodyRock, but since she left I’m not really a fan anymore), Insanity, Pop Pilates, Physique 57, Winsor Pilates (old school, but amazing), Zumba and of course, Turbofire.

I first tried the DVDs a couple of years ago following Insanity. I was instantly hooked. Since then, they’ve remained a regular component of my workout routine. After we had Livi and I could workout again, was excited to bring them back into my life.

I did a few of the workouts early in my pregnancy, but only did the EZ -don’t be faked out by the name- DVDs and modified the HIIT intervals so they were lower intensity and low impact. One of my favorite aspects of the DVDs is that Allie (the girl on the far right) provides low impact modifications throughout all of the workouts, so if you’re just getting started, you have someone to watch.

If you’re interested in the regular Turbo DVDs, here are some posts I’ve written about them:

-Focus On: TurboFire

-Got the Fiyah

-At-home workout options

Basically, I have a girl crush on Chalene Johnson.

She’s inspirational, easy on the “cheeze” (I don’t get sick of what she’s saying if I’ve done that particular DVD many times), picks great music and choreography. TurboFire really challenged me and since I’ve been doing the DVDs for so long, I decided to order the advanced DVD set.

Here’s what the advanced set includes:

-Fire 60: This DVD KILLED ME. The only thing that kept me from turning it off was the fact that the combos were fun and different than the other DVDs, and Chalene said towards the end, “We’ve been to war together! Don’t quit on me now! Give me everything you’ve got” so I had to listen I burned a little over 600 calories doing this DVD, but considering the time commitment and varying nap times, I’m not sure how much this DVD will be used. My favorite Fire DVD is 45 and always will be.

-Stretch 10: A lovely stretch. I’ve actually used this DVD a few times at night after a day of teaching to stretch before bed. Per usual, she talks throughout the stretches so you can hold it a little bit longer and I like that it’s very low key and relaxing.

-Upper 20/Lower 20: Both of these workouts utilize resistance bands and high reps for muscular endurance. The lower body workout really got my booty and outer thighs- I loved it and thought the exercises flowed really well together. The upper body workout wasn’t anything crazy: bicep curls, lateral raises, overhead presses, etc., but I still got a nice burn from it. I’ll use the lower body workout more often than the upper body one.

-HIIT 30: My favorite of the group. HIIT is INTENSE, which is why you shouldn’t do it everyday, but I feel like 30 minutes is the *sweet spot* of cardio time for me. It’s long enough to really get my heart rate up and get in a good sweat, without taking a huge chunk out of my day. I love this DVD because includes the same plyometric movements that you’re used to from the other HIIT DVDs (lots and lots of tuck jumps) and while it kicked my booty, it wasn’t too much. I felt energized after this workout and could feel my slightly elevated heart rate throughout the rest of the day.

The verdict? I definitely recommend adding these to your TurboFire rotation, especially if you’ve had the DVDs for a while and are looking for a refresher. I’ll keep doing them and when I travel, I’ll always add a TurboFire DVD to my suitcase. They make fantastic hotel workouts.

Some things to keep in mind:

-They do involve choreography, so don’t be afraid of learning combos. Chalene is extremely good at cueing and making sure you know what’s next. Also, there’s a “new to class” feature that breaks down everything slowly.

-The workouts are high impact and high energy. You have the option to modify as necessary, but be sure to check with a doc and consider your fitness level if you decide to add it into your routine.

Would you, or have you, tried TurboFire? What’s your all-time fave workout DVD?

Hope everyone is enjoying their night! Time to make some tacos for dinner.

xoxo

G

*If you have questions about the Beachbody programs, hit up my friend Liz- she is amazing

Since Livi was born, I have loved being able to wear her in the Moby and Baby K’tan. In the beginning, that’s the only place she would nap, and I loved feeling her soft baby snores on my chest.

(she was only 3 weeks old in that picture!)

There are so many benefits of babywearing: the baby feels secure and safe, it helps promote healthy breastfeeding and bonding between the baby and the carrier. While baby wraps and carriers are expensive, I feel like they pay for themselves with repeated use –I’ve used at least one every day for the past 4 months- and the resale value is very close to what you pay for them. We’ll keep our wraps and carriers for baby #2 and can easily trade or sell them when we’ll no longer use them.

Now, she naps like a champion in her crib, but I still love to put her in the wrap for walks with Bell, grocery shopping and around the house during that time before bed when she just wants to be held.

The Moby and Baby K’tan have been incredible, but it’s to the point where Livi is too big for them. Lately, I’ve felt like she’s getting too heavy to be well-supported and after Googling, found out that after the baby gets to 15-18 lbs, stretchy wraps (like the Moby and K’tan) are no longer recommended. Also, Livi is to the point where she wants to be able to look out and see the world, and the forward-facing carry in the Moby and K’tan aren’t the best choice for baby’s hips, since they’re being pushed out unnaturally and could be painful for them. I’d love to be able to wear her on my hip or back.

The next step:

(most of these carriers are for older babies who have full control of their head and neck; check with your doc if you’re unsure)

-a woven wrap, which I think is the most baller of babywearing. There are so many ways you can tie them, including back carries, and since they’re not stretchy, they’re very supportive for the baby and comfortable for the mama

-a mei tai carrier. These are like smaller versions of the Ergo, can be worn on front, back or hip, but aren’t the most supportive for very heavy toddlers.

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-a ring sling. The baby is worn on one shoulder, sitting in a pocket. Ring slings are awesome for breastfeeding on-the-go, too.

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or

-a soft-structured carrier, like the Ergo. The Ergo can also be worn on the front, back or hip and is very supportive for heavy toddlers. It’s a versatile carrier because it can be used from the time the baby is a newborn until they’re a couple of years old.

(a babywearing man is a handsome thing indeed)

Here’s the thing: we have an Ergo (in the pic above), and I’m not the biggest fan of it. It’s adjustable but feels like it’s too much for me- it’s extremely bulky. I have a short torso and don’t feel the most comfortable carrying Livi around in it. I’ve tried a few times, but I don’t love it nearly as much as I’ve enjoyed the Moby and K’tan. Tom, on the other hand, loves the Ergo and loves carrying Livi in it. I also think it may be too hot in the summer months.

For now, I’d like to get another carrier that Livi will be comfortable in and that I’ll be able to wear her on my back. I have a feeling that when she’s bigger, I’ll like the Ergo more, but for now am trying to decide between a mei tai or a woven wrap.

There is an amazing babywearing group on Babycenter, but it’s intimidating to sift through the multiple pages of forums, so I thought I’d ask for some advice

-I know I’d love the woven wrap, but is there a version that won’t be so hot in the summer? It gets crazy hot here, and I don’t want Livi to be too warm wrapped up in heavy fabric. There are literally hundreds of types of woven wraps and I’m a little intimidated to pick one (especially when they’re very expensive) and have it be too heavy.

-Is there a mei tai version that you recommend? I’m looking mostly at the Babyhawk (in the pic above)

I’m excited to hear what you think! <3

Happy Monday! Hope your week is off to a great start! I had an amazing weekend with amazing people.

I’m also wicked sore from teaching on Saturday. My biceps are killing me! I guess that’s what two classes full of booty poppin’ and crazy arm movements will do to ya.

Breakfast:

Egg scramble with 2 eggs, chicken and salsa + a brown rice tortilla for pinching

Since last week’s lunch date with the Pilot at Create Cafe, I’ve had their sparkling Stevia lemonade on the brain.

It was SO refreshing, not the least bit bitter and tasted like summer in a glass. I guess I have another reason to go their more often.. along with the crazy good sweet potato fries with curry aioli.

I’ve been wanting to make a new summer drink for a while and thought it would be fun to a little twist on Create’s version by doing a tea lemonade.

Zero calories, super refreshing, maybe a little caffeine buzz and a dose of antioxidants.

Hope you enjoy <3

Looks like a new summer staple. When it’s roasty toasty out, I make sure to hydrate with lots of water –infused with berries and herbs is a fun way to switch it up- and I also love ice cold kombucha and eegee’s in the summer.

Have a great day and I’ll see ya later with my review of the advanced TurboFire DVDs

xoxo

Gina

For fun:

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Something to read:

-Why you may need to exercise less <—why I always preach the importance of alternating workout intensities

-A celebration of fit moms

-Resistance band workout

-Homemade sports drink

I hope your Sunday is spent surrounded by people you love <3

Sending wishes for a beautiful day to all of the moms out there, mothers-in-law, fur moms, moms-to-be, blog moms who inspire me, and to caretakers who give so selflessly to others.

I’m blessed to have many amazing women in my life.

.

(with my nana, great-grandmother and madre- 5 generations!)

Thank you to my madre, stepmom, nanas and aunties who have taught me about who I really want to be when I grow up,

to my mother-in-law, who raised one heck of an amazing man

and to Livi. I’m so lucky to belong to you.

See ya later with some pics from the day <3

xoxo

Look who scared the life out of me:

At work, they’re always adding new decor, and that statue is newest addition around the corner by the water fountain. I thought it was a real, nekkid man and it frightened me a little.

World beat was a lot of fun this morning. The drummers and my co-instructors were amazing as usual and it was really easy to feed off their energy. I also got to teach Zumba, and am exhausted (but happy) from two high-intensity dance classes. Any day I get to dance is a good day indeed.

Breakfast:

Morning snacks:

and lunch, courtesy of my friend Sasha.

She’s been taking a gluten-free vegetarian cooking class and they’ve been emphasizing INDIAN FOODS. So today, she surprised me with a container full of stir-fried cabbage with Indian spices, curry potatoes, green beans with moong and coconut, and yogurt raita. It was mind-blowing.

I just got home, grabbed a shower and am going to raid the almond butter jar while I wait for pizza and wings to get here.

Some friends are coming over to watch the Celtics game.

Hope you’re having a great weekend!

xoxo

Gina

Random: remember the bird condo the Pilot built? Well, the birds disappeared after he made it. Now.. they’re back and built a nest! So cute.

Something to do: Pick 3 ab exercises and alternate between the three for the duration one of your favorite songs. A lovely impromptu ab burner