Core Strengthening Exercises + Live Infinitely Giveaway

I'm gonna go ahead and hop on that New Years Resolution "get healthy" bandwagon. You know why? Cause it never hurts to keep going after this goal! I've done well in the past with completing the 12 week Kayla Itsines BBG guide, keeping a running regimen for 3 months (btw I really don't like running unless Fixer Upper is on the tv), and back in October I joined a yoga studio in Downtown Provo!

What I've found with doing yoga 3-4 times a week is that I have zero core strength. EVERYTHING in yoga requires core strength! I was sent this Live Infinitely Anti-Burst Exercise Ball, and am determined to get my core into better shape so I can finally do some killer headstands. Here are some exercises that I've been doing which are pretty basic, yet effective when building those muscles. 

And stay tuned for your chance to get your hands on your own exercise ball and fruit infuser water bottle!

Crunches

One of the main tips on this is to keep the chin lifted and not hunch your shoulders forward! Make sure to engage your core, and use those muscles to pull yourself up. 

Decline Planks

I found it easiest to get my legs situated on the ball then get my arms in place. Guys. If you thought regular planks is hard, then try this for 3 rounds of 20 seconds.

Roll In & Roll Out

This is a good "I'm not gonna die but this will work out my core" move. Roll your arms back and forth on the ball and engage your core as you move back and forth to keep balance. This is mostly to rehab after doing crunches and decline planks. 

You ready for this? Live Infinitely wants to help you reach your goals, and they are giving one Breezy Days reader a Anti-Burst Exercise Ball and 32oz Infuser Water Bottle & Reusable Gel Freezer Ball! 

Head over to my latest Instagram post to enter :)  

Professional Grade Anti-Burst Exercise Ball c/o Live Infinitely

32 oz Infuser Water Bottle & Reusable Gel Freezer Ball c/o Live Infinitely

Racerback Tank Top c/o Live Infinitely

Workout floral leggings: Victorias Secret (similar)

Flyknit training shoes: Nike (similar)

Fruit-Infused Detox Water Recipes

Ryan razzes me all the time because I'm on the never-ending search to find the perfect water bottle. We have so many in our house, and the last couple of infuser water bottles I've picked have been a huge disappointment.

That's why I was so excited to get this Infuser Water Bottle from Live Infinitely! It has a reusable freezer gel ball that instantly cools down my drinks! Say what?! There is a good sized core to put the fruit in, and the flip-up topper is easy to use. 

I wanted to share a few of my favorite detox water recipes, and the benefits to drinking water with those particular ingredients. I need to be sipping on these fruit-infused waters stat to clear out my system after all the holiday treats haha! 

Cucumber, lime, and lemon

Benefits: flushes toxins, aids digestion, boosts the immune system, rejuvenates skin, and fights inflammation.

Raspberries, lemon, and mint

Benefits: flushes toxins, fights inflammation, rich in antioxidants, boots immune system, aids digestion, eases stomachaches, fights depression, and rejuvenates skin.

Oranges, blueberries, and mint

Benefits: flushes toxins, boosts immune systems, fights inflammation, rich in antioxidants, aids digestion, eases stomachaches, and fights depression. 

What are your favorite detox drink recipes? I'm always looking for more! In the meantime, check out this Infuser Water Bottle from Live Infinitely, it is seriously the bomb :)

32 oz Infuser Water Bottle & Reusable Gel Freezer Ball c/o Live Infinitely

Racerback tank top c/o Live Infinitely

Sweater: American Eagle

What's in My Work Bag

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TheBestMe #CollectiveBias

I'm always on-the-go with my job as the Provo Office Manager and Head of Housing at a coding school. I work from the Salt Lake campus, collaborate with students, and organize events. I don't always have the time to stop by home to fix my hair/outfit between work and a night event, or to grab an energy drink to get through the rest of the day. My life is in my bag, and I like to be prepared for anything!

Here's a quick look at what I typically have in my work bag at any given time. It's usually mingled with a bunch of receipts and bags of almonds, but I've taken those out for pictures sake ;)

1. Energems & Treats

That afternoon slump is killer! I've recently picked up Energems from Walmart as an addition to my work bag and love how they are both a chocolate treat and an energy boost. Double whammy! I found them in the sports nutrition section by the pharmacy. It satisfies my sweets craving with one bite and helps me get through the rest of the work day when I'm cranking out design mock-ups. 

Energems are the perfect dose of caffeine, so I don't have to down an energy drink to get that pep back in my step. With the combination of caffeine and B vitamins for energy, there is also no jitters when I've taken this. Say what?! It's been awesome! There's no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives; and it's made with real dark chocolate. The bottle is lightweight enough to throw in my purse and super convenient when I need that boost of energy for a meeting :) You can get $2 off on Energems here if you want to try them out!

2. Accessories, Bobby Pins, Hair Ties, and Makeup

I don't know how it happens, but I always have a pair of earrings in my purse and it changes from week to week. When I'm working a full day in the office and then running a night event at work, it's nice to have options with my hair and accessories! I'll pull my hair back with bobby pins or a hair tie, throw on some earrings, touch up my brows, and toss on some gloss. BAM. Looking fabulous.

3. Tide to-go 

I am so clumsy. At least every other day I'm spilling some sort of food or drink on myself. I keep a bleach pen in my purse at all times for the "what if" moment. Also, you get karma points when you offer it to a co-worker or friend who is desperately trying to wipe off a stained piece of clothing. 

4. Headphones

Some days I just need to be in-the-zone when working on emails or a project. I always have my Beats or some earbuds in my purse so I can tune out the world and focus. Doesn't hurt that it also makes me look uber stylin' ;)

5. Sunglasses & Car Keys

Bug eye tortoise sunglasses are my JAM. I keep buying the same pair every summer and I don't even care if it's not adventurous. They are the best. 

Keys are a given to have in my work bag. I usually have the master set of keys for campus and master set for housing in my bag as well. Too many keyyyysssss.

The "I Love My Missionary" keychain has been on my keys since my brother Evan left on his LDS mission 3 years ago. Our youngest brother Jesse is currently on a mission, so I decided to keep the keychain on :)

6. Lotion

Utah weather is dry and sucks the life and moisture out of my skin. I love trying out new lotions and always have one in my purse for my dry hands and elbows. 

7. Pill Box

I recently got this little pink pill box holder and think it's so cute! I throw in allergy and pain pills so I have them on hand whenever I need them.

8. iPhone

Last but definitely not least. My iPhone! I enjoy picking out a new phone case every few months depending on the season, this summer is bright colorful fruits. Too cute!

What's your work bag look like? 

What do you do to keep your energy up during the work day?

How to Stay Healthy During a Crazy Work Day

This shop has been compensated by CollectiveBias, Inc. on behalf of its advertiser, ZonePerfect. #SnackandRally #CollectiveBias

My job pulls me in a lot of different directions throughout the day. One minute I'm handling a Coke machine mishap and the next I'm speaking with prospective students about our housing program. Sometimes I get so crazy with work that I forget to snack or take a quick walk around to clear my head, that's not good! I've got a few tips and tricks on how to stick to being healthy throughout the day.

1. Have healthy snack alternatives on hand

I love these ZonePerfect® Nutrition Bars because they taste amazing and serve as a great pick-me-up throughout the day! I can toss one in my purse and snack on it when I'm at my desk or out running errands; perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle. Right now you can buy 2 boxes of ZonePerfect® at Walmart and save up to $4! I picked mine up at my local Walmart in the nutrition bar aisle. 

2. Keep water near you at all times

Most the time when I feel like I'm hungry or snacky, I'm actually dehydrated! I aim to keep a cup of water or a full iced water bottle near me so I can stay as hydrated as possible. An added bonus is throwing in a lemon slice, it helps detox your system and keeps you energized.

3. When working at home, create a well-lit space to focus

Moving into our new place, Ryan and I are now able to have our own offices! I use mine mainly as a craft/blogging studio, but I definitely need to practice my piano skills as well :) 

Having a well-lit, clean, and quiet space dedicated to getting work done has helped in my productiveness and overall happiness! Working in a room that is bathed with natural sunlight makes me smile. 

4. Schedule out your day, then schedule in breaks

If I have an especially crazy day, I'll make sure to write out a quick schedule of my day. I schedule in breaks so my brain doesn't go insane! I need that boost of energy and I get that with a quick walk outside or a snack like a ZonePerfect® Nutrition bar. These bars have no less than 10g of protein and is a good source of fiber, which aids in giving me that 2nd or 3rd wind I need throughout the day. 

5. On your lunch break, go for a walk or jog

Now that the weather has warmed up, it's perfect for a walk and breath of fresh air! I'm not a morning person, so sometimes I do my work-outs at lunchtime to get that boost of energy and get the workout checked off my list for the day. Even taking a quick walk to your lunch meeting will make you feel tons better! 

What do you do to stay healthy throughout the day? What's your favorite ZonePerfect bar flavor?

Back At It Again

Am I allowed to quote viral videos? What age is the cut-off for finding that stuff hilarious? For now, I'll just keep quoting 'Damn Daniel'. 

Now that I'm finally recovering from my 2 surgeries, I'm getting back the strength to hit the gym! I started a workout plan with a co-worker to get more in shape for my trips this June. It's been a bit rough going back to the weightlifting. Especially when I'm lifting light weights to go easy on my injuries that are healing, and feeling like a dork at Vasa haha.

Who else is 'back at it again' and what workouts are you sticking with?

How to Protect Your Skin: Minimize Skin Cancer Scars

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyMederma #CollectiveBias

Five years ago this month, I had my first surgery for Melanoma. At the time I didn't realize the seriousness of the situation. I had Basil Cell Carcinoma in high school on my upper back, where the doctor excised a small football shape around the mole and that was it. I thought Melanoma was going to be the same route, and gosh I was wrong. 

I've been checked every 6 months since that surgery and this past month they found 2 more spots of Melanoma, because of these routine appointments I have tons of biopsy scars all over my body. I always tell the doctors that I'd rather have scars than skin cancer! With this being my life the past few years, Mederma has become my best friend! This post has some steps on how to take care of and reduce the appearance of those biopsy scars. 

1. Use skincare products with SPF 

Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Can I say that enough? The tan is not worth it! There are some amazing sunless tanning products on the market now, so there is no reason to be exposing your bare skin to the sun! 

The Mederma Scar Cream with SPF 30 Sunscreen can be used on fresh scars to help protect from the sun. It is the #1 scar and pharmacist recommended brand to help smooth and soften the look of your scars.  I applied this to the new biopsy scar on my upper arm. 

2. Protect your skin from the sun; wear a hat! 

Another way to protect your skin and scars is to wear a hat and sunglasses; it's a great excuse to go shopping for fun accessories ;)  Whenever I'm visiting California and we hit the pool and beach, I am ALWAYS in a big floppy hat and sunglasses. It protects the skin on my face and my eyes, plus it is a fabulous way to be sun safe!

3. Apply Mederma Advanced Scar Gel before bedtime

Sleep is such a wonderful thing. It re-energizes the body, and is a time for your body to repair itself. I apply Mederma Advanced Scar Gel to all the scars on my arms and back, so my body is relaxed and my skin can absorb the specifically formulated medicine it needs to improve the look of the scars. 

I picked up my Mederma gel and cream from my local Walmart for a killer price. For a limited time, when you purchase Mederma from your Walmart, you can take a picture of the receipt and send it in for a free $5 Walmart gift card! 

Stop by your Walmart and grab some Mederma to help reduce the appearance of those scars!