1. It’s a HIIT!
Or “high intensity interval training.” It’s a full-body workout where you do all sorts of things, like throwing 10-pound medicine balls around (which I did yesterday), old-school burpies, squats and other interval exercises, and there’s always something different thrown in to keep your muscles guessing.
Anyway, I just started taking classes at a studio down the block, and oh, my lanta! — to live in a constant state of soreness… But it’s a good sore, ya know?
One of my neighbors is an instructor and a personal trainer, and the studio is in her garage, so I just walk down there for an hour of sweet, sweaty torture.
There’s a woman in the class in her 50s who I swear needs to be my BFF. She comes dressed in black from head to toe with her hair in a perfect high bun, and she works out wearing a full face of makeup. And she likes to make naughty jokes. 🙂 Oh, and homegirl goes HAWD when she planks, whereas I just end up laying there sadly on the floor ready to pass out.
2. Champion sports bras
On that note, these Champion Double Dry Sports Bras are the sh*t. They’re soft, comfortable and keep me dry when I’m sweating up a storm. Plus, they never chafe or irritate my skin. When I work out, I layer two of them to keep “the girls” firmly in place.
They’re usually $25 each, but they’re on sale for $19.99-$21.99 right now at Kohls.
3. L’Oreal Root Cover Up Temporary Gray Concealer Spray
I picked up a bottle of $11 L’Oreal Root Cover Up Temporary Gray Concealer Spray in Dark Brown a couple months ago at le drugstore to cover my roots because I was running low on my fave Rita Hazan Root Concealer and couldn’t make it to Sephora before it closed (#beautygirlproblems), and yay! — I like it. It gets the job done, and it costs half as much as the Rita Hazan spray, which is still my number one, though, because I think it does work a little better (it’s more pigmented and doesn’t leave my hair as stiff as the L’Oreal one does).
4. My crockpot
Otherwise known as THE BEST THING EVER. OMG! You just throw a bunch of stuff in a pot, turn it on, then have a yummy dinner 5-8 hours later.
I made chicken tortilla soup in it the other day, and it was ???.
Do you have any good crockpot recipes? HOOK A HOMEGIRL UP.
5. Saving email and social media for the afternoon
So I’ve been doing this for the past two weeks, and it has totally helped my focus and get more stuff done, especially in the mornings.
I do all of my writing first thing in the morning when I’m mentally fresh, and only after I’m done with it do I check email, Instagram, etc.
It really helps me stay on task.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. What have you been loving lately?
P.P.S. TGIF!
tulipthecat says
What is your recipe for chicken tortilla soup?
Karen says
Hi! I used this one from Pioneer Woman:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/chicken-tortilla-soup/
I changed it a little by adding a can of corn (drained) and a packet of taco seasoning in addition to the spices. Next time I plan on making it with two cans of beans, not just one (I like a lot of beans in my soup).
Kiss & Make-up says
Yes, I also prefer to keep my mornings free for the important stuff because that is when I’m most productive!
Kellie says
What time of the day do you squeeze in workouts Karen? Still trying to figure that one out for myself! And that soup looks bomb! Would you mind sharing the recipe? ?
Karen says
Hi Kellie,
The HIIT class is in the morning, at 9. On those days I wake up at 6 and immediately get to my keyboard so I can get stuff done before going to class. I like having a set time because then I know I can’t fool around in the morning! On days when I don’t have class, I work out in the early afternoon between 5 and 6, but to be honest that’s not my favorite time to do it because by the end of the day I’m so tired.
The soup recipe! I used this one from Pioneer Woman and tweaked it a little bit:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/chicken-tortilla-soup/
I added a can of corn and a packet of taco seasoning in addition to the spices. I felt like it could’ve used more beans, so next time I’m going to add an additional can of beans.
Erin says
I love Champion bras too. They messed em up for a while but I just bought one of the new types but have yet to try it on.
Lulle says
I think I need a crockpot in my life. In the summer having something stay hot for hours in the kitchen is the last thing I want (no AC in our house and it gets so hot during the day that the meat thermometer turns on by itself in its drawer…), but now that fall is coming, it would be so helpful! We’ve definitely started eating more junk or ready-to-eat food since I started my new job. It’s tough to keep chopping and simmering after a long day at work! I think the crockpot would really make a difference.
Karen says
Hi Lulle,
It makes a HUGE difference, especially when you get home after a long day and a commute. Better yet — crockpot recipes that you can freeze! That way you can make a ton of food and then freeze a serving or two for a future meal. 🙂
Jennifer says
If there’s ever a time when you can’t get to your neighbor’s for a HIIT workout, check out Yoga By Candace. She puts up super short HIIT workouts like this five minute one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBu-yo_qywk interspersed with all of her yoga videos, which I highly recommend.
I like the 3 and 5 minute HIIT’s because they’re so short, I can’t use time as an excuse and they’re a great way to warm up before yoga.
I am loving so many things right now:
-My garden, which is ripe and luscious and full of beautiful flowers and greens;
-Sunday Riley’s Luna Sleeping Oil, which is blue and makes me look 10
years younger.
-The Outsiders, a show I found on Hulu. It’s a drama about mountain folk, who I find utterly fascinating. Season 2 comes out in January.
-Urbay Decay Vice lipstick in Firebird
-Topricin, a homeopathic pain relieving cream. It works but unlike many, it’s odor-less. I’m always sore from something these days.
Karen says
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the workout recommendation. I’ll look her up! I’ve been trying to mix things up because I absolutely can’t bear to be on the treadmill these days, so I’m looking forward to giving her short workouts a try.
By the way, I’ve been using that Sleeping Oil and liking it, too! Have you ever tried Sunday Riley’s Good Genes? It’s excellent!
Ruchita says
I’ve done some HIIT workouts from YouTube and they are tough in a good way!
Thanks for the recommendation about the sports bras. I really need to get some new ones.
For some reason, Mingus gets really affectionate when I’m working out. I’m trying not to pass out while doing planks and push ups and he’s purring and head butting me. Sometimes he’ll lay down right next to me. It’s so cute!
Happy Friday! Hope you and the family have a great weekend. 🙂
Karen says
Aww, Mingy is such a great personal trainer! He should make his own workout DVD. 🙂
Tabs does the same thing, by the way. His favorite move is to actually get underneath me while I’m trying to do my sorry planks, LOL!
Re: HIIT. Do you have a particular channel you like to watch that has good workouts?
Sandy P says
Hey Karen, several years ago I tried Cross Fit for one month! Very much like the classes you attend. The trainer is a good friend of mine and he told me that being in my sixties didn’t matter…..he lied! haha. Anyway if I had been younger and not a couch potato I could see where it could get addicting!!
Sara says
What else have you been making in the crockpot?! I’m always looking for new ideas.
I use mine atleast once a week (more so now that we are approaching fall) My favorites are turkey meatballs, chicken chili, minestrone soup, honey garlic chicken, pulled bbq chicken.
Janet says
This white bean chicken chili is amaaaaazing! If I have bell peppers on hand, I chop some up and throw them in as well. http://themasseyspot.blogspot.com/2014/10/we-eat-crock-pot-white-bean-chicken.html?m=1#.V9ypjvA8KEc
Chris25 says
I’ve been loving Colourpop Lost lipstick, Madeleine cookies, brioche toast with Kerrygold butter, following the Replikate community on Instagram (we buy the same products Kate Middleton wears and post pics online), and waking up early to see the sun rise.
Kate says
I love my crockpot but I LOOOVE my electric pressure cooker. Have you heard of Instant Pot? I didn’t until early this year and it’s changed my cooking game! I was introduced to it my nomnompaleo.com. (I’m not paleo at all.)
I love this post because it combines my 3 favorite things: working out, cooking and makeup.
P.S. FitnessBlender on YouTube is my favorite place for HIIT workouts.
LindaLibraLoca says
I am most productive in the mornings as well, so I try to get stuff done then. When the kids let me, that is.
Oh, and HIIT rules!
hanna says
I need to start working out. HIIT sounds awesome, so I’ll have to look into it.