healthy market CBD cooling lotion.

all my life i've slept on my back, hands on my chest and barely moving throughout the night. for some reason, probably a combination of cold overnight temperatures + bad pillows, i've been curled up in the fetal position on my side. as a result, i'm experiencing tension in my neck and aches in my shoulder.

CBD is known to help alleviate pain by calming inflammation, so i was excited to finally try a topical lotion. healthy market's products are non-gmo, gluten free, lab tested, cruelty free and have no pesticides, plus test results for each batch are available on their website...all super important when it comes to the quality of your CBD.

this zero thc hemp extract cooling lotion does just that...cools and soothes your tense muscles with a slightly addictive mint smell. but don't let that soothing scent fool ya...soon enough you'll start to feel the heat. i can imagine this cooling lotion would feel nice on the leg muscles after a long run or workout.

you can rub in 1-2 pumps depending on your level of discomfort or pain.

(400mg cooling lotion, gifted)

have you used CBD products before?

does this sound like something you could use?

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learn more about CBD & Healthy Market at https://healthymarket.com.

POPSUGAR Clean Eating App. GIVEAWAY.

[i was given a free download to try out the app, all opinions and inches lost are 100% mine.]

if you're like me and enjoyed summer a little too much...ate well, drank well (who can blame us?)...you're probably feeling like it's time to get back on track with exercise and healthy eating. with POPSUGAR's Clean Eating App, it's easy! you get a two-week clean-eating plan - five recipes a day, complete with photos, ingredients, and directions.

i thought, ok, it's going to be complicated recipes of things i don't eat or don't have in my kitchen already. i was surprised to find some simple recipes including some of the foods i already eat. for example, these mini tuna cucumber sandwiches were right up my alley. i eat tuna anyways, all i had to do was swap out the bread for cucumber. it was such a refreshing lunch, and so simple.

do you have to do some prep work? yes. do you have to cut out everything? no. there's ice cream recipes, pudding, chocolate, and yummy smoothies! will you have to go out and find ingredients? maybe. you don't have to stick to the plan or recipes exactly. if it's less intimidating, ease into it by trying one of the recipes per day, then increase each week. revisit recipes you love. i came across a couple of recipes i knew i wouldn't make, so i just swapped them out for ones that i liked and were easy for me to make. i use the app as a guide to help me through the week. it not only provides recipes, but inspiration to want to eat healthier.

create a shopping list, see step-by-step directions, and view nutrient totals.

these were a hit in my house!

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GIVEAWAY

are you ready to clean up your act...er, eating?

i'm giving away a free iOS download for the POPSUGAR Clean Eating App to one reader who wants a jump start on eating clean and healthy. to enter, simply leave a comment with your email so that i can notify you if you win. winner selected at random end of my day tomorrow, 9/26.

let's do this!

firm & tone 01. great aloha run (new PR).

it's become a tradition (three years in the making), getting together with friends on president's day for the 8.15 mile great aloha run.

this year, i was just coming off a month-long break from running and had only put in a few 2-3 mile runs before the race, so it was a good test of my current fitness level. i won't get into a lengthy race recap but will say that i was able to maintain a steady pace, run the entire course [walking only through the water stations], and gain a new PR (personal record) for this race.

with an official time of 1:36:10, i shaved off 14 minutes from last year's time. some people assumed that this might be easy after running a marathon. i wouldn't say it was easy, rather it was a comfortable distance. i will admit that it felt great seeing the results of my year of running.

prepped and ready for the early morning wake-up call.

shuffling like cattle to get to the start.

to the finish line.

crossing the finish line.

inside the stadium. 

post-race bloody ceasars. 

new year new goal.

after a year of serious running and training for the marathon, fitness became a huge part of my life. but with the marathon over and done with, what's next?

well, after taking a much-needed month off from running, i finally got back on the treadmill and even completed my first race of 2015 this past weekend. i even signed up for the marathon. again. what?! (no pressure this year, though. if i feel ready, i'll do it.) i have genuinely come to enjoy running and will continue to do it. perhaps this year i'll work on speed, and as a side goal, get the minis to join me in a race.

but there was one thing that i assumed hoped would come along with running, and that was toning up. weights were always part of my fitness regimen, but that became secondary to running when my marathon training started. besides, all that running would result in a toned body (at least my legs), right? wrong.

while some have noticed a change in my body, i still have more soft and jiggly parts than i'd care to admit.

so this year, it's all about firming and toning, incorporating weights as well as exercises that result in a stronger body overall. i believe this will only benefit my running as well.

 thanks to those who followed my journey via the marathon chronicles series. i hope that you'll stick around for this new fitness series that'll include workouts and exercises, fitness gear, diet tips and recipes, and, of course, running updates.

marathon chronicles 11. marathon recap.

the day before the marathon, my friend and i went to the marathon expo to pick up our race bibs and have our photo taken by the wall (above)...uncomfortable smile as everyone is watching you as they wait their turn.

honolulu marathon

5am, 12.14.14

it was a typical race day morning...up at 2am, hydrating with nuun + breakfast. we made it down to the starting line with enough time to use the bathroom (twice) and meet up with other friends for a before photo.

the weather was expected to be very windy. add to that the unexpected rain, and it was a cold and wet experience. not complaining, though; i'll take wet clothes and sloshy shoes over the hot sun any day.

photo: honolulu marathon FB page

with 22,000+ runners it was crazy crowded, but exciting. there was a nice fireworks show followed by the starting gun. we shuffled like cattle through the staging areas until we reached the start line and then it opened up enough for a slow jog. 

muscle cramps are always my main concern, so the game plan was to take enough walk breaks early on and throughout the course.

mile nine and running with the masses.

the first 12 miles went smoothly. you are running with the masses the entire time, so it was easy to keep a slower pace if you wanted to.

by the time i hit the 10-mile stretch of flat highway, the rain was much heavier, and my shoes and socks were soaked. my feet were starting to feel uncomfortable, and all i could think about was the potential blisters i would have afterwards. luckily, my sister and her family came out to see me and brought a pair of socks. sitting for just 30 seconds was a nice reprieve. i felt refreshed with a dry pair of socks and took off for the last 10 miles.

swapping socks at mile 17.

around mile 19, my legs and left knee were starting to feel the effects of all the flat road running. it was painful to run, and just as painful to walk. my body reminded me that this was the longest distance i had run in my training, and by mile 22, i hit the wall. i wasn't physically exhausted. i still had gas in the tank. but my legs were done. i did the most walking here, and it was mind over body (and a lot of praying!) at this point convincing myself that i was only a few miles away from the finish....that in less than 45 minutes, the marathon and all the training i put myself through would be done.

the final three miles over the big diamond head hill were a welcomed change for my muscles. i did shorter run/walk intervals the next couple of miles and put all my energy into running the final mile to the end.

hearing my name announced as i came in and the last beep as i passed over the final timing mat was such a huge relief.

i did it. my first marathon in the books.

official time: 06:11:36

overall, i was happy with my time. i estimated 6-1/2-7 hrs, so 6:11 was awesome. i ended up making one bathroom stop around mile 20 and swapped out my socks at mile 17, which probably cost me 5-8 minutes.

race gear: adidas top; roxy siren top ; fabletics running shorts; new balance 890 v4 shoes, nike dri-fit hat

race fuel: honey stinger gold energy gel (brought 6, used 5)

the good: excellent water stations and volunteers, the cool weather, the hills, no muscle cramps, the amazing spectators along the way who passed out treats to the runners.

the bad: the rain (wet shoes and socks), sore knee, my music playlist was on the worst loop  (300+ songs and i swear it kept playing the same 10 fricken songs over and over), many miles of flat running.

in the days following: i took an ice bath and threw on my compression socks for the rest of the day. i was already sore and knew the next day would be worse. the next morning, every inch of my body was in pain, and i could barely walk on my left knee. but by the third day i was feeling great and almost considered jumping on the treadmill. haha, i didn't.

what's next? a little break for the holidays!

food for thought.

did you know that happiness is a skill that is

within our control?

growing up, we always had dinner as a family...at the table, tv off. it gave us a chance to talk about our day and to stay connected amidst our busy schedules. when i had kids, i did the same for them. family meals make a difference.

with all the holiday meals and gatherings coming up, this infographic from happify illustrates a few quick and easy things you can do to improve your mood and overall well-being.

happy thanksgiving!

did you/do you eat together as a family?

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looking for black friday sales? here's a round-up.

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did you enter the Datevitation GIVEAWAY yet?  these love coupon books make great gifts for your significant other, friends, or kids.

enter to win a love coupon book from Datevitation.

marathon chronicles 09. race recap 25k.

Hokulani 25k - Kailua, HI

5:30am, 10.5.14

loved this race tee! the sponsor was a bakery known for it's cupcakes...so you know what was at the finish line!

this race was described as the most difficult in our 5-race marathon readiness series. it was mostly flat with some rolling hills and two challenging hills at miles 9 to 11. and challenging they were...just look at the elevation! in addition, the course was 3.2 miles longer than the last one (15.5 miles total), so the game plan for this race was to take it nice and easy.

the early start for this race was at 4:30am, which meant a 2am wake up call. it was difficult getting to bed so early, and i tossed and turned most of the night worried that i wouldn't hear my (5) alarms. while i allowed myself the same amount of time to get ready, i just felt rushed and full from my usual 16 oz of water + cereal/banana/peanut butter/coffee breakfast. psychologically, the pre-race routine is difficult to do at 2am when your body is usually at rest.

i used the RunKeeper app to keep track of my pace.

it was a rough start...my body didn't want to get going. we were faced with some hills in the first few miles which added to my general sluggishness.

mile 1: 13:19

mile 2: 12:06

mile 3: 12:42

mile 4: 12:52

mile 5: 12:10

my mind finally felt in sync with my body as the course flattened out in miles 6-8. i felt good enough to pick up the pace, but with two killer hills and nine more miles to go, i kept it nice and slow.

mile 6: 13:04

mile 7: 13:32

mile 8: 13:19

the hills were tough, but early on i decided not to stress about it. i walked when i needed to walk.

mile 9: 13:40

mile 10: 14:22 (the hills!)

mile 11: 13:09

the home stretch was nice and flat. i wasn't tired, just sore...the extra three miles were wearing on my knees and hip. instead of pushing it and risking injury or cramps, i made it an easy jog to the finish line.

mile 12: 12:36
mile 13: 13:20

mile 14: 13:46

mile 15: 13:10

mile 15.5: 12:08

official time: 3:28:05

race gear: adidas top; roxy siren top ; fabletics running shorts; new balance 890 v4 shoes

race fuel: honey stinger gold energy gel (miles 5,8,12)

the good: fairly flat course, no cramps.

the bad: it was super muggy and hot in the early morning as we ran along the ocean. the first water station wasn't even ready for us, so i couldn't hydrate until mile 5. the water provided tasted horrible. my right knee and hip were sore.

in the days following: the next day, it was painful to walk - my right knee and hip were still hurting. i used this recovery day to drink a lot of fluids,and took [the sample pack of] BioAstin hawaiian astaxanthin that i received in my race packet at a friend's recommendation. it's an antioxidant that's supposed to help with your joints and recovery among other things. i did an easy 45 minute walk tuesday and have plans to meet up with my friend for a run tonight.

actions to take: continue to increase my training run pace, get in some longer runs, and start running early morning (vs evening).

next race: 30k, october 26th. longest run of the series.

$300 Sephora GIVEAWAY.

ahhh...so jealous, guys! we're giving away a fabulous gift card to one of my favorite places to stock up on beauty essentials...SEPHORA! one lucky reader will have the chance to win a $300 Sephora gift card! i have a huge Sephora wish list...benefit hoola bronzer, diorskin pore minimizer, anastasia beverly hills brow wiz just to name a few! what would you get?

enter daily over the next 2 weeks and earn bonus entries by sharing the giveaway with your friends on social media.

good luck!

GIVEAWAY

Prizes: $300 Sephora Gift Card

co-hosts: [oomph.] ♥ Simply Sherryl ♥ Stacy's Savings ♥ Pretty Thrifty ♥ Miss Erin Says ♥ Becoming Fab ♥ Jenn's Blah Blah Blog ♥ Simply Carmen Renee ♥ StushiGal Style ♥ Lazy Mom's ♥ Sassy Sweet Style ♥ A Good Hue ♥ Prosecco & Plaid ♥ 

giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck!

giveaway ends 8/26 and is open worldwide.

enter using the rafflecopter form below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

want to participate in awesome giveaways like these? click here for deets.

marathon chronicles 01. first run.

i jokingly mentioned in my fashion to fitness post that this blog may turn into a documentary of how i ran my first marathon. well, it won't...but since fitness has become a huge part of my life, i am going to write about it here in this series called marathon chronicles. if health and fitness don't interest you, then feel free to skip these posts...but ya might miss out on some fun stuff!

last weekend, i completed my first run of the year.

while i haven't officially started training for the marathon, i had been training for this 8.15 mile great aloha run. it was a nice substantial distance that allowed me to gauge my fitness level at the start of this year. i did this run last year with absolutely no training and completed it just fine. not fast, but not last...probably running 60%/walking 40%.

this year, after running 3-4 times a week, i shaved 10 minutes off last year's time and ran 85%/walked 15%. the one issue i faced this year was heavy and fatigued legs; they felt like lead at the start of the race. i was on my feet for most of the day-before, so it's possible my legs didn't get enough rest and recovery time? anyways, it's something i'll have to look into so that it doesn't happen on marathon day.

i slept at my friend's house the night before so that i didn't miss the 3:15am wake up call. last year i woke up at 5:30am!! after coffee and cereal, we headed out and arrived at the buses by 5am.

here we are around 6:15am making our way to the corrals.

7:00am gun goes off. so many people this year! it took a while before we were actually able to start running.

and...crossing the finish line.

next stop? breakfast!

fashion to fitness.

"it's only $1 per mile."
that's all it took for me to sign up for the honolulu marathon.
never mind that fact that it is twenty. six. miles.

i was at my friend's house for dinner one night, and somewhere between hellos and a couple drinks later, i was all in. we have been talking about training for the 8.15 mile great aloha run coming up in february, so what's another 18 miles?
but seriously, despite all my anxieties and fears about finding the time to stick to a training schedule, i'm excited. i told mini-she that i was going from fashion to fitness this year...that i was going to live and breathe fitness. trade in my stilettos for nikes, my necklaces for a pedometer, my skinny jeans for compression pants.
she's not convinced.
but look. my first marathon-training purchase...a hat to shield my face from the sun when i'm running all those miles.

just a warning that in six months, this blog may turn into a documentation of how i ran my first marathon. haha.

and a few other things i plan to pick up along the way:

- a pedometer to track my workout miles

- lightweight sunglasses

- sunscreen

- new running shoes

- swimsuit for those cross-training workouts

- workout clothes

have you completed a marathon?

if not, do you have the desire to?

veterans...any advice on what to do or not to do?