With month one of the MOLO Challenge behind me I have noticed some pretty significant changes. One, my overall endurance has greatly improved. I have noticed this mainly in my cardio workouts in the gym. My runs are longer and stronger. Second, and my favorite, I have lost 2 pounds and can now see my abs. Thank you, dear instructors Christie, Katie and Libby. My abs had been hiding under wine bloat for quite some time. Lastly, I am truly surprised by how much I am enjoying myself. It took me a couple weeks to find my attendance rhythm but I did. My favorite class is Saturday morning with my little Tennison in-tow. There are only a few moms that make it to Saturdays and I like it that way. I get a more one-on-one workout because as many of you know it is MUCH easier to hide and slack if the group is large. Also, I love working out with my daughter. I have the fondest memories of going jogging and doing fitness videos with my own mom. We could Sweat to The Oldies with the best of them. I hope Tennison will look back too and smile at our time together. One thing I know for certain is I am showing her the importance of an active lifestyle that she will carry with her forever.

Okay, on with what Month 2 of the challenge consists of. It’s all about the CORE this month. In addition to the normal boot camp workout the instructors have added stretches to increase flexibility and to improve balance using core muscles. Here is a look at the three poses…

Triangle pose for the lower back.

This one was a little tricky for Tennison. Luckily, she had her personal trainer on hand to assist her.

We definitely have room for improvement in the proper form department.

Downward Dog pose for hamstrings.

“Heels down, T!” For some reason she finds this pose hysterical.

Tree pose for the core.

She is an absolute champ when it comes to the tree pose. I would have included a picture of myself but all the the photos would be of me falling over. She’s much cuter to look at anyways.

*Stay tuned for next months update in a few weeks. Click here to read what last month was all about. Also, a big THANK YOU to Meghann Ayers Photography for the fantastic photos and patience!*

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment

by Alexis Novak

When I was 12 my bestie Maureen and I would mix food coloring into talcum powder then leave the mush on my driveway for the sun to bake it into homemade makeup. While my parents are disappointed to this day that I didn’t become the next Estee lauder, I still have a serious love of product.  Makeup is transformative. Even if I have kiddie hand stains on my jeans from the knees down, a decent face makes me feel put together and ready to conquer the crap my day is surely going to toss me.

Here are the products that moms must have on hand to do a quick morning makeup. I give products ideas for both Frugal Chicks following the budget and Eff It Gals who don’t care to.

Step 1- A tinted moisturizer that does double or triple duty.  Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer Tinted Moisturizer ($12.29) is for the Frugal Chick.  With SPF 20 and Retinol, this product is a good primer before anything else, filling in pores and evening out the blotchies.  Then ranging from $55 to $85 depending on where you buy it, you can score Neocutis Journee Bio Restorative Day Cream with PSP.  Apparently PSP is a growthhormone helping patients post-surgery heal faster though I really don’t care what it is so long as it keeps making my skin all dewy.  It also has anti-oxidants, hyaluronic acid and SPF 30.

Step 2- Next, a light makeup like Maybelline Instant Age Eraser Treatment Makeup ($12.99).  The collagen in this product makes it glide and stay on and the weird eraser tip applicator rocks.  Or, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 ($42) which I have been slathering on for about a month and received about four “you have amazing skin!” compliments.  No lie.  Go out and buy this today.  It says the coverage is lightweight but I find it more buildable and breathable than foundation.

Step 3-  In years of hardcore research that I would call age 12 ‘til now, I have never found a decent drugstore substitute for my dark under-eye-ness.  Now as a sleep-deprived mom, I believe nothing is more important than covering that shit up.  Do not go cheapo in this category.  I use both Benefit Erase Paste ($26) and Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage ($28), both on Sephora.com and both worth every penny.  The Benefit product is thicker so I use that when I need serious coverage like banishing a period zit.  The Laura Mericer kit has one light concealer and one a little darker for blending.  I’m a total sucker for blending because it makes me feel like the frustrated artist that I am.

Step 4- Look alert! I am a devout eyelash curler because it makes me look like I’ve actually slept.  The one that makeup artists swear by is Shu Uemura ($19) but the Tweezerman is a decent alternative for 12 bucks.  Then comes my favorite part- drenching my lashes in very black thick mascara.  I loved Lancome mascaras for years but then discovered Covergirl’s Lash Blast Volume ($7.79) which helps me achieve that full, dark, dramatic look that dangerously borders on stripper-ish, I mean goddess-y.  I look amazing from five feet away, just don’t get close-up.  Also, don’t get waterproof.  It layers poorly and you have to tug lashes out to remove it.  My current favorite mascara is Fairy Drops Scandal Queen mascara ($24) for the times when I want to look like one of Gwen Stefani’s teenage dancers who are dressed like big baby dolls.  For me, this is most days.  This mascara has a cult following and is the #1 selling mascara in Japan because it helps achieve that gothic-naughty-school-girl-thing with its freaky, patent-pending wand.

Writing all this, I am starting to wonder if I need more therapy.

Step 5- Blush is a tricky lair.  You buy a pale-ish pink and then it doesn’t even show up on your face.  Here’s the deal.  You need a cheery pop of color on the apple of your cheekand it should be darker, more rosy or mauve-y than you think.  I love all of the blushes in boxes that Benefit makes like Sugarbomb, Dandelion and Bella Bamba, it’s lastest spring look ($28 each).  I have no time to look for a blush brush so I like that the built-in brush is ready for me.  You can get the same look with Physician’s Formula Powder Palette in Blushing Rose ($10.99).

Step 6- Kissy face.  I’m currently loving Covergirl’s Outlast Lipstain in Cinnamon Smile, Saucy Plum and Teasing Blush ($7.99).  Don’t we all want to look as fresh and fun as Drew Barrymore? These pens actually do stay put and aren’t drying.  Later in the day I layer with a Burt’s Bees tinted balm.  Another good apply-once-and-not-worry-about-again choice is Stila long wear lipcolor crème ($20).

Step 7- Possibly the most important for morale and mojo is perfume.  Or scented-body lotion.  Something divine smelling that makes you feel a little less like a diaper-changing, dish-washing, bath-giving, meal-prepping beast of burden and more like a sexy fem-bot.  Well, even just a little bit.

Up next, my fave skin products list…

Written by Alexis Novak • 2 Comments

Here are a few trends you will be seeing everywhere this Spring. Some you have seen before and a couple are very unique. You decide what’s Hot or Not…

Written by Lea Barlow • 1 Comment

By now, you have all read that the best way to feed your body is with 5 to 6 small meals a day. Well, that’s true. I don’t even remember making a conscious decision to make it a part of my lifestyle.  My body led me there because it couldn’t handle the ups and downs of the traditional three meals a day.  Five hours between every meal left my blood sugar low, my mood foul and my stomach growling.  You know what would happen next – fat fest.  It truly is the worst way to eat because your body clings to the food out of fear of being starved again.  Definitely not a way to lose weight. But the one hard part of eating several times a day is coming up with interesting food options. Here are 10 mini-meals under 200 calories that are fun and nutritious. Oh, and very kid-friendly!

Cottage Cheese with Pineapple Chunks

Look for cottage cheese with only 4 percent milk fat to keep this any-time-of-day snack at around 110 calories per half cup, with 5g fat, 15g protein, 2g of sugar. Mix in a half cup of fresh (not canned) chopped pineapple to add flavor and texture. The protein in the cottage cheese helps to balance the sugar content in the pineapple so it will keep you satisfied longer.

Nutritional information: 151 calories, 15g protein, 10g sugar, 5g fat, 1g fiber

Bean Tostada

Spread ¼ cup fat-free refried beans on a corn tortilla with two tablespoons shredded light cheddar cheese. Heat in a toaster oven until cheese melts, top with tomato salsa.

Nutritional information for one tostada with two tablespoons salsa: 160 calories, 4g fiber, 8g protein.

Celery and Strawberry Cream Cheese

Top four medium stalks of celery with two tablespoons of reduced-fat strawberry cream cheese. No flavored cream cheese in the fridge? No problem. Take regular reduced-fat cream cheese and add real strawberries or raspberries on top.

Nutritional information for four celery stalks and two tablespoons of reduced-fat strawberry cream cheese: 110 calories, 4.5g fat, 4g fiber, 4g protein.

Apple & Turkey Slices

This one is easy to find in the fridge: Wrap fresh sliced turkey around apple slices for a no-muss, no-fuss snack. Also PERFECT for kids’ lunches!

Nutritional information for four turkey slices and one medium apple sliced : Approx. 132 calories, 2g fat, 9g protein, 14g sugar, 3g fiber

Veggie Sushi

Written by Lea Barlow • 1 Comment