Hottest New Workouts

No I don't mean Bikram yoga. Which is a great "newer" workout type for me.

I'm talking about latest new ways to workout. As a girl I walk into a gym, instantly feel lost and confused and don't know where to start or what to do. I join a gym, go for awhile and then usually stop going. For me I need workout classes to keep me moving/dancing and distracted that I am actually burning calories. I love salsa music and dancing so I am a big fan of Zumba and the various knock-offs.

I am always down to try something new. Especially new ways to get me moving, sweating and toning my body. I recently went to a Pole Dancing workout class. I know what you are thinking- crazy right. I went with a small group of two friends. Let me tell you it was a workout. My arms hurt for days! And I had a bruise on my foot.

Here are a few interesting classes I would like to try:

1. Surfset Fitness
Find classes here: Classes

Source

2. Bollywood Groove
Classes

3. Knock It Out! Boxing Class

Classes- Chicago

Source

4. Aerial Yoga

Classes- Chicago

Source

5. Cardio Cheer Sculpting- Lithe Method

Classes-Philly and NYC

Source

6. Barre Bee Fit- This would bring back childhood memories at the Ballet Bar!

Classes

Classes-Chicago

Source

Alright who wants to workout? 

Have you tried any of these? Or have you seen a new cool class that I don't have listed here? 

Easy Terrariums

Please forgive me for being MIA lately. A few weeks ago in preparation for Spring my friend Jen and I made terrariums.

I posted a photo on a cute terrarium for sale on Etsy on June 15, 2011. Wow! I can't believe I have been thinking about them for that long. I really wanted a small terrarium for my office desk. Before we moved offices I was right next to a large window that would have been perfect for a terrarium to thrive. Unfortunately now I do not have a window in my office and I don't think the terrariums we made would last long.

A terrarium is a mini indoor garden contained in a glass container. Here is a photo:

Source: Sara Norris Photography

Similar to terrariums are Air Plants.

Terrariums are very easy to make. Here is what you will need:

• Glass Container
• Gravel, sea glass or beach stones
• Activated charcoal (sold at nursery or pet store)
• Terrarium plants or succulents
• Potting Soil
• Moss (optional)
• Decorative elements (optional)

Here are the items we used. Small circle glass container, terrarium plants, charcoal on the far left, potting soil in the middle and far right small stones. 

Instructions

1. Clean container throughly to prevent bacteria from growing.
2. Begin by placing drainage at the bottom of the container.
3. Add a thin layer of crushed charcoal to help keep the soil fresh.
4. Incorporate different kinds of sand on top of the charcoal for a layered effect.
5. Add soil, making sure to create a hole large enough for the roots of each plant. Remember that creating uneven layers of sand and soil can look great, but pay close attention to the levels around the edges, as this is what you will see from outside the terrarium. Note: Steps 2 thru 4 should equal about one-third the height of your selected container.
6. Place plants into the soil, largest to smallest and lightly pack the soil. Do not overplant. Consider the negative space for other landscaping opportunities like dried flowers, groundcover, moss, geodes and/or small figurines.
7. Landscape! You are the designer.

Maintenance

• Water 1-2 times per week, watering only the live plants and avoiding mosses and dried flowers. For an open terrarium, the soil should always remain barely moist, never bone dry.
• Closed terrariums should almost never need watering.
• Prune back dead foliage or overgrown plants as needed to prevent rotting.
• Terrariums thrive in natural, indirect light. Avoid placing in direct sunlight or other hot areas as you can actually cook the plants or burn foliate that is touching the edges of the vessel.
• Mist your terrarium daily to provide ample humidity.

Make sure to leave room around each terrarium plant to grow. The photo above is before I added moss.

My finished terrarium! I have mine sitting in my living room because it is a little touchy/needy and requires sunlight and lots of water. 

My blogger friend Alison at Ruffles & Ramblings recently blogged about the terrarium she made. She added cute little "fairy" clay figures. I still need to give my terrarium a little something extra.

What do you think of my terrarium? Have you seen any that you have been wanting to make? Or have made? I would love to see yours. 

Beauty Magic- Lip Paint

Last night I saw an image on Pinterest that said this green lipstick turns your lips a shade of pink based on the  levels of alkaline in your lips. The pinner said she watched Youtube videos to believe it. I too had to check out the Youtube videos.

Barry M Touch of Magic Lip Paint

This is the lipstick. Pretty weird to imagine this turns you lips pink. 

Seeing is believing:

These are the colors they sell. In the top left corner is the "Touch of Magic" one. From what I have found it seems like this lip paint came out in 2007 or 2008. So unfortunately I can't ask him to enter this in our CITY Awards, but it has me wondering if anyone else has created a lipstick like this. Is Barry M onto something?

I have found another company whose lipsticks do the same effect- Fran Wilson Moodmatcher

Her mood changing lipsticks came out in the early 90's which may have sparked the Mood Ring fad of the late 90s. 

"Each shade changes according to your body chemistry for a truly “personalized” lip color! Super-long-lasting 12 hour formula won’t wear off, even when eating, drinking or kissing! Experience the rich, natural moisturizing powers of Aloe Vera and Vitamin E."

MoodMatcher Website

She also has MoodPearl and MoodGloss

Mobile Food

Good Afternoon to my lovely followers. For those of you who live in Chicago Suburbs, or if you plan on visiting Schaumburg I highly recomend keeping your eye out for the Toasty Cheese Mobile truck.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ToastyCheese
Twitter: @mytoastycheese

The company who manages my office building set-up Toasty Cheese to stop by and visit us for lunch today. I was a little afraid with it being freezing out that they wouldn't show up. They didn't disappoint, and they had a pretty large turnout of hungry customers. This was my first experience at a food truck. I have been waiting for the trucks to make it to Chicago since watching "The Great Food Truck Race." My sandwich and fries were really good and worth the wait of standing outside freezing.

I ordered:
The Big Blue $8 and Rosemary fries
Grass-fed rib-eye, blue cheese, red onions and baby arugula with lemon balsamic on a toasty pretzel roll

They have a few options that also sounded really good:

The Hannah Banana $5
Deep fried—Nutella, banana purée and marshmallow fluffon panini


The Chef’s Choice $8
Duck bacon, Provolone, fresh spinach and fresh baby arugula with Sicilian cherry tomatos and aïoli on panini

And the dessert menu:

Black Bottom $3.75
Dark chocolate cake with a baked-in cream cheese and chocolate chip filling, very “brownie-like” in texture.
Frosted with cream cheese frosting and topped with white and dark chocolate shavings.

Peanut Butter Cup $3.75
Milk chocolate cupcake with a peanut butter cup center, frosted with peanut butter frosting and topped with milk chocolate shavings.



Lucky Luis Bites $5.00
Whether you compare them to donut holes, mini-elephant ears or beignets, when you eat these fluffy, fried, cinnamon sugar-dusted pastries, you’ll feel lucky! Ten bites per order, served with your choice of two dipping sauces.


Have you tried any food from a food truck? If so where and what did you get?

Natural Beauty: Safe Haven

Last night I met a friend for dinner and a movie. We made plans earlier this month to see "Safe Haven" which premiered on Valentine's Day. I was in California for work the week of Valentine's so we had to wait until  last night to meet up.

I didn't know too much about this movie, but I love a good chick flick and a movie from a Nicholas Sparks' book can't be too bad. The movie was decent, a little weird/awkward at times, but the ending made up for the decent movie. I really loved Cobie Smulders (Robin from HIMYM) character in the movie.

Even with the ok acting, crazy guy, and cheesy lines I was mesmerized by Julianne Hough's hair and makeup.  She had this perfect beachy/natural look with salt water wavy hair, defined eyebrows, sparkly blue eyes, rosy peach cheeks and a glossy lips.

Source: Celebrity Gossip.net

This picture shows the beautiful natural look she rocked throughout the movie.

Source: The Seven Sees

Source: The Movie Blog

Fashion & Beauty Inc shows you how to get the look:

Have you seen the movie? If you have what did you think of it? Don't you just love her makeup in this movie?

Trend Alert: First Knuckle Rings

Have you seen these rings? Would you wear them?

Sources:

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Matte Nail Polish

Matte nail polish is making a comeback. I have never really liked the matte look. A matte with gloss french tips is usually the only look I like. I recently saw an image of the new Zoya Pixie Dust matte glitter nail polish and fell in love with the glittery sparkle look. At $9 a bottle the price is comparable with Essie.

Below are a few matte glitter polishes I found:
Top left- Zoya, Top Right- Color Club, Bottom Left- Orly, Bottom Right- CoverGirl

What do you think of the new matte glitter nail polishes? Would you wear them?