LET TER FROM THE EDITOR July is here at last and although we took a month off, we feel that in this issue we come back stronger than ever. One thing I realized was that by shedding the negativity in life, you can really see the sunshine. And it’s shining bright! In this little break off, o we created Braided Hearts—a beautiful organization for women. It is a peer counselling effort for women who are dealing with emotional crisis, but also for women safety, and a chance for women with low self-esteem and confidence to participate in activities to build those things back up. We’re going to begin fundraising for it, starting with the next talking point!
LILLY BABINEAU/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Pinkblitz presents the “Fall In Love with Fashion” Fashion Showcase on August 29th, 2015 from 6pm to 10pm at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Moncton, NB. Profits from this will be going towards Braided Hearts so that we can begin helping the women in our community and other communities around us. Stay tuned for more great news from this on our Facebook Pages for Pinkblitz MagaMaga zine and Braided Hearts Organization for Women. In this issue, we’ve made some changes. We’ve combined Fashion & Beauty, brought back our amazing articles on Relationships & Sex, and expanded our Wellness section to include more great information! #Summer2015 is going to prove amazing in every aspect! Stay lovely, readers!
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“After the Storm”
Photo Editorial shot by Photographer Leeann Dussault of Luna Photography. Model Chantal Hiltz.
for Success! By Eliizabeth McClelland
Summer is here and things are heating up! It’s definitely time to pull out the long, light, flowy dresses. They are comfortable and easy to throw on. It’s also easy to add a little to them, to style things up! If the dress has very little shape, adding a jacket or vest can really help to make it more flattering. A little denim on top is always a good way to add to an outfit. Another way to spice up your flowy dress is by choosing a belt with bling or a splash of colour. This can accentuate your waistline and give your shape some definition. If the dress is a solid colour, don’t be afraid to wear a floral scarf around your neck or even your waist to add some fun to your outfit. A great hat can also work wonders! Whether you are dressing for a day at the beach or an evening out, long, light, flowy dresses are a must for your wardrobe this summer. Be sure to have a couple on hand to choose from!
Model Marianne Daigle Photographer Wade Carrier
Flip Floppin’ Around! By Elizabeth McClelland
Whether you’re off to do some shopping, heading to the water or going to a wedding, there are flip flops for every occasion. They are an inexpensive way to add selection to your footwear collection and they are a must have this summer! If you plan to do a lot of walking around, say heading downtown for a day of shopping, it might be best to go for comfort as your top priority. Flip flops with a little more arch support, made from durable material are likely your best bet. Birkenstocks are great for providing comfort, durability and they have many different styles to choose from these days! For a day by the water, a cute, inexpensive pair are all you need. Something with gems, a flower or a bow will definitely add some femininity. Since you won’t likely be doing much fast walking, you can opt for less comfortable and more stylish. When heading to a wedding to dance it up all night, flip flops can be a great item to stash in your purse. Wear your high heels while the bride and groom say “I do!” But, when the sun goes down and the music turns up, pull out your handy dancing flip flops for a night of fun. Flip flops of many styles and colours are available this summer. With them being quite affordable, it’s essential to have a plethora of choices at your disposal.
Model Marianne Daigle Photographer Wade Carrier
With Nautical Fashion! By Elizabeth McClelland
One of the hottest trends this summer is the nautical theme. It can be seen in everything from footwear, to swimsuits, to dresses, to accessories. Be sure to add a little something from the sea to your wardrobe this summer! When it comes to nautical footwear, anchors and stripes are where it’s at! Whether it be a pair of sandals with an anchor as the strap or a pair of navy and white striped, wedged heels, you can’t go wrong with a sailing theme. Or, slide on some navy canvas shoes with a hint of white for a casual outfit. Navy and white swimsuits definitely follow the nautical theme. Two pieces or one, navy and white stripes will give you a feeling of the sea. A striped bandeau top with skimpy bottoms, or a deep v one piece will have you ready for a day by the water. And now for nautical themed dresses. A nice, long maxi dress with an anchor print will definitely have you set for a hot summer day. Or a long, striped maxi skirt with a cute white halter might be more your style. Sporting a striped tote can be an easy addition to your beach outfit. Carry all of your beach essentials in it. Be sure to have a big brimmed hat and anchor printed sunnies in your wardrobe too. Jewelry is also taking on
a nautical theme. Why not get your hands on a sailor knot bangle with matching earrings? It’s easy to add sea themed accessories no matter where you are headed. The nautical theme is versatile and simple to achieve. It can be the basis of your outfit, a dress, skirt or swim suit. Or it can be a touch you add, using nautical themed footwear or accessories. A little something from the sea will have you set this summer.
That Indie Glow! By Elizabeth McClelland
Being Indie is all about finding your own style and expressing yourself. This summer, Indie styles are hot! Hit up your local thrift or vintage shop and see what you can find. You want to have a look to see if you can find some old school articles that you can modify and make your own. A long, vintage, printed skirt can be updated for this summer by adding a simple fitted tank top. A midriff top will also work. Perhaps you can find a unique leather fringe bag to add to your ensemble. One piece jumpsuits with a unique pattern can really add to your Indie summer style selection. Be sure to have some lace in that collection too. Finish off your Indie look with some vintage accessories, that are timeless, that you love. Some metal bangles or hemp bracelets can bring a unique look to your outfit. A scarf headband will top things off nicely. Some cute flats, flip flops or moccasins are just what your Indie style needs for your feet. Whichever you choose, be sure they are unique and simple. Indie style is easy to achieve this summer if you use your imagination. Think vintage and Eco-friendly and you are sure to rock the old and make it your own.
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Thinking back almost 15 years, crimping was huge! From iconic celebrities like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, they wore some of the hottest crimped hair around, and it’s back! But not in the same way it was in 2000. So here are a few tips on how to crimp your hair, with an updated twist.
crimp the top part of your hair, and tie it into an updo, and away you go. This gives you a very textured look, with minimal effort, but it looks like you have spent hours on your hair. You don’t need to do the entire head. Also, try not to use too much product in your hair. It may weight it down and you want your hair to be bouncy and full of life. Great products with a root booster help to boost your waves. Abstain from using hairspray; however, if you need to, use a light holding hairspray.
There are a few different ways to wear it. The hottest trend right now is bigger! You can find a triple barrel wave or an S wave hot tool, and by using small sections, starting at the bottom, working your way up, you create symmetrical waves. Try keeping them at the same angle all the As funny as it is, some of the same celebs wearing way up. This is key to making it look its best. If this look 15 years ago are wearing it again now. you don’t, your hair may look messy and un-kept. Britney Spears rocked the crimp look in her new video ‘Pretty Girls’ with Iggy Azalea. So ladies, it’s Small crimps are huge right now too, so be sure time to dust off those crimpers—finally! to grab one. These are great for adding some extra pop to your hair. The best trick for this, is to just
This is becoming a widely popular trend. They have hit the runways all over so let’s take a look on how Something that is a bit different and bold is ribbon. Adding this to your hair will make it look awesome, you can achieve the same looks. and like you have actual colors on your hair. Clip The biggest trend right now is color. You can now them in with a bobby in and your good to go. buy gold and silver hair color (Try Redkens brand, they are super shiny and last until you wash your All of these trends are super in right now, so be sure hair) and it looks great in an updo, hair pulled back, to try one out. Or create your own based on the tips or even a few through your hair if it is down. You here. can create an ombre effect, or if you or a friend can do it, a Bayalage effect as well. Clip ins! These have been and always will be a widely popular. You can take tiny little one and place them all throughout your hair and it will look really wicked. One trend that is great, is a hair band. You can tie them up in your hair, and let them fall into your hair creating a shadow-y effect. It’s less effort that looks amazing.
Model Diane Gallant Photographer Wade Carrier
With summer finally here, it may be a bit more about half way to your nose, and try not to go furchallenging to apply your blush. Listed below are ther. And be sure to not apply too much blush, just a light touch of color will do. some great tips and advice for wearing it. First, figure out of you are cool, warm or neutral Once applied and your contouring color is applied skin tone. This is as easy as taking a gold and silver underneath, blend it down and out with a clean card and holding it to your face. Once you have fig- brush. ured it out, you can then pick your blush. Then take a highlighting color and apply it just on It is usually a good rule of thumb to use warmer the top of the blush underneath your eye. colors during the summer because your skin is going to get a bit of a glow. But if you are on the pale And voila! You are ready to the beach with your side, stick with a neutral or cool color to make your summery cheeks! cheeks really pop. The best tip anyone can get is, to contour under your blush. This gives a really great cheek bone, and add to the effect. Remember: if you use a warm color, use a warm contouring color and vice versa. Apply blush starting as close to the middle of your ear and blend out, in a downwards angle coming
“Rushing Waves” Photo Editorial shot by Photographer Brogan Brown. Model Cassie Doucette
Sexual Chemistry! By Elizabeth McClelland
When you meet someone and you have an instant sexual connection, the good sex comes easily. You desire one another and you can’t wait to connect physically. One person is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the other and clothes are torn off as you enter one another’s presence. secretmindofthegoddess.wordpress.com But what happens if this is not the case? Is it hopeless for you and your partner to have good sexual chemistry? Not necessarily. Hopefully you are in a relationship with someone who you get along with very well. You can have fun with them, you trust them and you enjoy their company. If the only problem is that when it gets to the bedroom it’s just “meh”, then it’s not time to give up! The good news for you, is that you have found someone you can have fun with, trust and enjoy their company. Use this to help create more sexual chemistry.
is that pleases you sexually. Then, you need to be open with your partner. Share with them your desires and be willing to try new things with them. Trust them enough to let them in. Enjoying your partner’s company hopefully means that spending time with them is easy and relaxing. Use that as a gateway to help you feel confident and willing to be your true sexual self. If you don’t try, you’ll never know what you’re missing out on.
Finding someone who you want to have a relationship with can be hard enough, but when the sexual chemistry isn’t automatically there, don’t just give up. Be willing Having fun with someone is a great way to add to to try and be open enough to communicate with your the chemistry in your sexual relationship. Think of partner. Talking about things, yes, even sex, can make a something you have fun doing together and see if world of difference! incorporating that into your sex life adds to the spice. If you have found someone you trust, this will also benefit your sexual chemistry. You need to first be willing to get to know yourself better sexually and figure out what it
Dating
Pros & Cons By Elizabeth McClelland
Oh the dating world! A fun, yet sometimes frustrating, world. Online dating can definitely be helpful if you are hoping to meet some new people and increase how often you are dating. But, like anything else, online dating has its pros and cons. Some pros to online dating are: the large pool of people you can be exposed to, the matching of interests, in a relatively short amount of time and the ability to weed out people quickly and easily. Being exposed to a large number of people you would not normally have met, is definitely a pro to online dating. Most of the people you would not have crossed paths with otherwise, and they could be very suitable partners for you. Having someone else do the legwork and matching up your profile and interests with someone else’s can be a huge pro. Knowing that the people you are being “introduced” to have similar interests or beliefs reduces the number of frogs you need to kiss in order to find your compatible prince. If your religion is important to you, you can completely eliminate those who do not have the same religion as you and start from there. Much better than getting to know someone, falling for them and then having to figure out how you will get them to convert to your religion (not likely to happen). Even though Charlotte, from Sex
and the City, converted to Judaism, that is not the “norm”. It’s much easier to start with a pool of people who already believe the same thing as you. Online, you can weed out people quickly and easily. If you know you have a certain “type” you are looking for, especially looks wise, you can cut people off your list with just the click of a button. You can read up on them and decide, in minutes, if that person who likes to run on the trails every weekend will match up with your couch potato lifestyle or not. Along with the pros, you must also be made aware of the cons of online dating. When you are “introduced” to someone online, it may be hard to know if there will be chemistry or not, if they actually look the way they do in their online profile picture or if they filled out their profile honestly. It’s hard to know if you have chemistry with someone when you don’t meet them in person. Sparks flying online is not likely possible. For those people who find chemistry to be their number one important aspect to a relationship, you may find online dating more challenging. You gotta love the people who use pictures of themselves that are outdated or remarkably dissimilar to what they
actually look like. Pictures can be deceiving. Looks are certainly not incredibly important for a successful relationship, but if looks are on of your “must-haves” in a relationship, then this could be a con of online dating for you. When you meet them in person and see what they really look like, you could be very disappointed. One of the last cons might be if someone is dishonest on their profile. They are filling out their profile based on what they want people to think about them. It may not all be true! It could cause problems later if they suggested that they are “easygoing” because that’s how they perceive themselves, when in reality, they might be completely rigid in their ways. It would probably be better if their most recent ex filled out their profile! As you can see, there are many pros when it comes to online dating, most of them referring to the time it can save you. However, there are also some cons that must be considered. Like anything else, approach online dating with a reasonable amount of caution. Go in knowing that you will get to meet lots of people, if you so choose, but that some (perhaps many!) of the people you meet won’t be your instant soulmate. Don’t give up, however, because true love is out there. It simply may not look the way you expected it to.
Depression & Your Relationship By Elizabeth McClelland The way you and your partner interact is very important. How you are feeling or how they are feeling on any given day can make or break the day. When you wake up and everything seems to go wrong, and you are having a rough day, your partner can feel that and is affected by it. That’s how it is for the average couple. When depression is involved, it changes things. Depression.ca explains depression in the following way: “Depression is not just a temporary change in mood. It is a real medical disorder that can affect anyone, anytime with many emotional, cognitive, physical and behavioural symptoms.” Visit the website for a wealth of information about depression, symptoms/diagnosis and how to seek help.
hard for a partner to cope with. It may even make the partner feel slightly depressed themselves. But, it is important that you do deal with it and seek help. Approaching someone who is experiencing depression can be tough, but it is important to help them without judgement. Being understanding and offering to make changes yourself, can help. Offering to go with them to the doctor and perhaps counselling sessions can also be helpful. You are, after all, supposed to be a team. The important thing to remember when you are in a relationship with someone who has depressive episodes, or who chronically struggles with depression, is that they already feel low and often guilty. There is no need for you to make them feel worse, but there is also no need for you to take on their depression as your own problem. It is crucial that you help them seek support and that you also seek support to better cope with it.
Women are more likely than men to experience depression. A very common time for women to experience depression is following the birth of a child. Postpartum depression can rear its ugly head up to 9 months postpartum and it can be very hard on a Depression should not be taken lightly and should not relationship. be ignored, but it can be dealt with. Your relationship can survive depression as long as each person is willing Women are naturally prone to “doing it all” and when to get the help they need and be supportive to one hormonal changes occur and new, unexpected challenges another. You chose this person, through thick or thin, are added to life, women can feel overwhelmed and can and when the going gets tough, that’s when they need fall into depression. Not only is it hard on the woman you to be there to support them the most. experiencing the depressive episode, but it is also hard on their partner. Dealing with someone who is depressed, and may not even be aware of it, can be very challenging. They may seem unreasonable or “not themselves” which can be
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Sex VS Exercise By Elizabeth McClelland
You know how it is. You get home from work, you’re tired, you’re cranky and you just want to curl up in bed with a good book and a glass of wine. It’s not great when you’re simply too worn out for sex. Can exercise really help improve your sex? Experts say, yes!
Being in shape and being more flexible can help you try new and exciting positions. When you are able to hold your body weight better and contort yourself into different positions, it allows you the opportunity to experiment, without hurting yourself!
When you are able to work out on a regular basis, your confidence goes way up! When your confidence is higher, you feel better about trying new things and that can only be a positive in the bedroom. Feeling good about yourself makes you want to be sexier, strut your Exercise gets your blood flowing. When you’re blood is stuff a little more often and show your partner just how flowing, you feel more and your senses are heightened. lucky they are to have you. Exercising before a lovemaking session may be just A little exercise can go a long way in the bedroom. what you need to take things to the next level. It’s easy enough to add a few workouts in each week, Regular exercise can be such a mood booster! It helps to especially when the reward is better sex! relieve stress and helps most people clear their thoughts. I know when I have a good run, I am usually a much happier woman. How does that help with sex? Less stress means women can focus on enjoying sex, rather than worrying about everything else they “should” be doing. Being fit and exercising regularly, can improve your energy levels. You will feel better and less tired when you get home. When you aren’t exhausted, the likelihood of being interested in getting a little nooky goes way up.
EB: What inspired you to start modelling?
can’t live without.. So I’m not about to let it go without a fight!
KI: I’ve wanted to be a model since I was 9 years old. I had my first taste of runway and artistic license and it’s EB: What has been the best part so far? been fueling me ever since. KI: The best part is happening right now. In exactly one EB: What challenges did you face? week I’ll be heading to NYC to walk runway and visit agencies for representation. 17 years in the making KI: Gaining agency representation from a distance was haha! definitely one of them, originally from Newfoundland, I wasn’t going to move to Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver EB: Where do you hope to be in 5 years? without a contract. Normally agencies won’t sign you unless you live in the city.. I’m fortunate enough to have KI: Wherever I’m meant to be. found an agency who believed in me enough to work with me to make it happen. Signed in May of 2013, I EB: What advice do you have for other plus size girls moved to Toronto a year later. struggling in the industry? KI: Don’t take advice. Do you. Listen to others, but at the end of the day, you are the only person who has your KI: Modeling is everything to me, it saved my life and it best interests at #1. fulfills me. I’m lucky to have found that one thing you EB: What motivates you to keep going?
EB: Who are some of your role models? KI: A beautiful mix of people I’ve met in the industry that are kind beyond anything I could have imagined. Model and business woman Madison Schill, photographers Michelle Aristocrat, Peter House, Mark Wong, designer Gavarcia, fashion journalist Stephanie Laleggia, MUA Steph Cruz ... These creative and talented individuals have listened to me rant and have watched me cry and in all cases have put a smile on my face so big it hurt. And all expected nothing in return. They have all shared a huge part in my journey and I will never forget their kindness or soul. For that reason, they are my role models. EB: You’ve been on the Marlyin Denise show a few times now. What was that experience like? KI: I LOVE TELEVISION. I’ve worked with celebrity stylist Alexis Honce a couple times now.. She’s incredible. Being on tv is my favorite... Everyone is wonderful, the camera men crack me up. Everyone is so cool calm and collected, it’s such a relaxing environment.
EB: How was the transition from small town unpaid shoots to moving to Toronto, working for an agency and getting paid to model? KI: No one has ever asked me that question before. My friend Katie put it perfectly when she said “karyn! You’re no longer a hobby model!” . it was a dream come true. I’ve worked so hard for so many years, nothing came easy. Moving from a small town to Toronto wasn’t scary... When it’s everything you’ve ever wanted, you don’t feel fear.. Sometimes people say it was very brave.. I don’t feel that way either.. I just did whatever it took to make it happen.
To follow more from Karyn Inder, check her out on Instagram: @karyn.i
GET TO KNOW
Kelsey Burdett
Photography by Wade Carrier Biography written by Kelsey Burdett.
My name is Kelsey Burdett and here’s a little bit about who I am outside of Pinkblitz TV. I was born in Canada but grew up just outside Chicago, Illinois, where my family and I lived for just under 10 years before returning to Canada. If there’s one thing being an honorary American taught me it’s just how much fun sports are to play and to watch. I also grew up watching Sportscenter on both ESPN and TSN and I remember idolizing the female anchors. We moved back to the Maritimes during my junior year of high school and landed in Moncton, New Brunswick. My family is my number one priority; all of their support has given me the confidence and independence to pursue my interests and try to gain as much experience as possible. Unfortunately, there aren’t many female sports anchor opportunities here so I began to explore other options. I am now a marketing major at Carleton University in my final year. I have become very involved in my school and currently sit on two executive marketing boards during the school year. I absolutely love my program and I picture my career in marketing with great satisfaction.
Even with my success in marketing thus far, I still couldn’t get the sports casting out of my head. But between my extracurriculars and my degree, I have had a lot on my plate so my initial interest in broadcasting had to take the back seat. Or so I thought. I found out about Rogers TV and immediately started volunteering between jobs during the summer just to see where it would take me.
always loved fashion and shopping but it was a far cry from my original intention of sports casting, so if I had any apprehension it was that I wouldn’t deliver the information the way they wanted me to. I cannot stress enough how relieved I was when I came to find out that Pinkblitz’s goals are to be all inclusive and realistic for everyday women.
My favorite part about working with Pinblitz TV is taking real questions from real women and turning I made my interest in broadcasting clear to the it into the kind of advice that I would want to hear volunteer coordinator from the very first day. After as a real viewer. a few days of training my coordinator asked me to come help out at an audition only giving me a time The beauty of this magazine is its local nature; and a date to show up. everything we do can be perfectly tailored to our audience, which gives it the kind of authenticity Fast forward to the audition day; I walk in without not found in international magazines. And if the a clue as to what I would be doing to help when the content wasn’t enough, I wouldn’t be doing the producer asks me to stand behind a desk. I expected show or the magazine justice if I didn’t mention the that he was just checking lighting or positioning and people putting it all together. I was extremely surprised when he said I would be interviewing him on any topic for two minutes and The Pinkblitz team is a fantastic group of people then had to cut to commercial break on cue. It may who act more like friends than anything else. I have been a blessing in disguise though, because have never felt so at ease doing something so far the impromptu interview didn’t allow me time to outside my comfort zone. Not only has Pinkblitz get nervous and overthink everything. introduced me to a group of amazing people but it has also given me the opportunity to pursue sports Two weeks later I got an email asking if I would be reporting. My entire experience with reporting and the fashion host for a magazine called, you guessed Pinkblitz has made me very excited to see what it, Pinkblitz. I couldn’t write the confirmation email happens next with my involvement in the magazine. fast enough, and before I had time to form any expectations for the show, we began filming. I’ve
CHEESY CAULIFLOWER
Breadsticks! A RECIPE FROM JENNIFER RICHARD
Ingredients • 4 cups of riced cauliflower (about 1 large head of cauliflower) • 4 eggs • 2 cups of mozzarella cheese (Can be low-fat, or light) • 3 tsp oregano • 4 cloves garlic, minced • salt and pepper to taste • 1 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese (for topping) Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare 2 pizza dishes or a large baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Make sure your cauliflower is roughly chopped in florets. Add the florets to a food processor and pulse until cauliflower resembles rice. 3. Place the cauliflower in a microwavable container and cover with lid. Microwave for 10 minutes. Place the microwaved cauliflower in a large bowl and add the 4 eggs, 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, oregano, garlic and salt and pepper. Mix everything together. 4. Separate the mixture in half and place each half onto the prepared baking sheets and shape into either a pizza crust, or a rectangular shape for the breadsticks. 5. Bake the crust without toppings for about 25 minutes or until nice and golden. Once golden, remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Put back in the oven for another 5 minutes or until cheese has melted and is bubbling. 6. Let rest for 5 minutes or so and then slice into fingers and serve.
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If you’re anything like most people these days, you’re pressed for time. There are hardly enough hours in the day to fit in all the things we need to do like work, eat, take care of our kids, shop, go to school, etc. Fitting in a trip to the gym might be near impossible most days, so here are 10 easy exercises that don’t take a whole lot of time to do, need no fancy equipment, AND you get to do them in the comfort of your living room. 1. Squats. The dreaded S word. As much as you might hate them, your glutes will look fabulous! Stand tall with your feet shoulder width apart and lower your hips like you’re sitting in a chair. As you bend your knees, your thighs should be parallel with the floor. Make sure that your knees don’t go beyond your toes, keep your chest up and look straight ahead. Bring yourself back up to your starting position and repeat.
4. Tricep Dips. This helps us ladies out who are unhappy with our arms, especially the backs (triceps). Sit with your knees bent and your feet hip width apart on the floor, (Or on the seat of a study chair) hands behind you on either side of your hips. Lift your hips off the floor and shift your weight back. Bend and straighten your elbows 20 times, leaving your feet flat, then come back onto your heels and repeat.
2. Boat Pose. This one helps to tighten your lower belly, which can be super hard to tone up if you’ve given birth. Sit with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor or a yoga mat if you have one. Place your hands on the ground. Lean your upper body back and lift your legs so your body forms a V. Stretch your arms forward with your palms facing in. Tighten your lower-ab muscles while keeping your shoulders relaxed and your back straight. Stretch your legs and hold for 5 slow, deep breaths. Lower your legs and repeat.
5. Booty Burn. This exercise not only strengthens and tones your butt, but it also attacks the fat in your thigh muscles! Who doesn’t want that?! Start on your hands and knees with your hands directly under your shoulders. Keeping your right knee bent to 90 degrees, lift your right leg up and out to the side, like a dog at a hydrant; do 30 repetitions of this. Next, straighten your right leg out to the side (toe on the floor) so it’s in line with your hip, then lift the leg until it is parallel to the floor. Do 30 repetitions of this, then return to your starting position and repeat the entire set on the opposite leg.
3. Walking Lunge. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and place your arms to your sides. Step forward with your right foot and lower your left knee towards the floor. Your knees should be at a 90 degree angle. Make sure that your right knee stays over your right ankle and don’t let your knee go past your toes. Step up to balance on your right foot and then switch feet.
6. Jumping Jacks. Brings you back to elementary school, right? So easy to do, but it still works up a sweat and targets a range of muscles. Start with your feet flat on the floor, hands flat against your thighs. Jump, while extending your feet to shoulder width, arms raising up over your head. Bring yourself back to starting position. Continue doing these, while speeding up your jumps. If you want to add a little resistance, you can add some hand or
ankle weights, or even a resistance band. 7. Walking. Simply put, walking burns calories, and is amazing for your body. You can walk off stress, a bad mood, or just that burger you ate for lunch. You can walk in your house, up and down the stairs, or around your neighborhood. 8. Dancing. Put on some tunes and just dance. Dance in every room of your house. Dance with your dog, your partner, your kids, your roommate, just sweat it out! 9. Weights. You don’t need a total gym to lift weights. Anyone can lift no matter your fitness level, and you can use household items! Start small and use soup cans to give you a little run for your money, and as you get stronger (or braver) use milk jugs, laundry soap bottles, basically whatever you have around your house, you can use it as a weight! 10. Standing calf raises. I do these while I’m brushing my teeth in the morning, while I’m cooking at the stove, or while I’m doing the dishes. So easy to do, just stand on one leg, (steady yourself by putting your hands on a wall if you’re a little nervous or working on your balance) with the opposite leg bent behind you at a 90 degree angle and raise your self up to your tippy toes. You should feel your calf muscles working at this point. Do as many reps as you feel comfortable with and then switch to the other leg.
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www.1ms.net When most of us reach for the radio dial in the car, or turn on some music in the kitchen while we’re cooking, we’re not always looking for instant gratification, we’re usually just looking to fill the space of silence. What you’ll notice though, is if a song comes on and “touches” you, you’ll start tapping your toes, moving your hips, singing along, smiling, or just plain dancing around the room. I don’t know how many times I’ve been in a terrible mood, gotten into my car, turned up the stereo and embarrassed myself in rush hour traffic by dancing and singing along. That, my friends, is good for your mental health. Need to settle in and do some work at your computer or desk? Turn on some classical music in the background. The lyric-less melody will help you concentrate. Jazz music sets a nice easy listening mood while you’re at a restaurant for dinner. You’ll notice it in the background, but it won’t overpower your meal. Music has been proven to enhance higher brain function. At my little guys’ school, they have a “Brain Break” every couple of hours where his teacher plays music that the children have chosen, and sometimes, something of her own. This small window of music helps them release any stress, dance and shake it out, and be prepared for the next leg of work that they’ll get into. Music improves concentration and attention,
emotional intelligence, and memory. We’re very blessed to have educators who teach this way. The right music can also help hospital patients. It can distract from negative happenings, releases endorphins, reduces blood pressure, and increases the production of immune-boosting hormones, all extremely beneficial for positive mental health. Music can calm you, and can help you fall asleep. Choosing something with a soft melody and low beats per minute can help your body and brain relax and bring you to a peaceful slumber. Just look at babies. Lullabies are a staple in most homes with young children. If you’re feeling low, put on some happy tunes, songs that remind you of a happy time. If you’re feeling unmotivated to clean your house, put on some speedier tunes, something with a little bass, something to make you move. Music is good for the soul.