Hey Mer-babes! We've made it though another exciting week of 2017. My favorite part of these weekly round-ups is taking a step back and analyzing my past week. Not only do you get to relive the best moments but there always seems to be a hidden theme. This week my theme was for sure, wellness.
I always feel like my best self when I am most active, for me exercise is truly the best medicine. Mermaid Waves Real Life Fact: A killer workout releases 100 times the endorphins of an online shopping purchase. Seriously, think of how good you feel when you leave a workout out drenched in sweat, literally nothing beats it. Not only do I feel amazing when I am active but also eating what works best for me. For me thats a vegetarian diet with little to no diary (except for pizza days), and lots of whole grains, preferably bread. I don't believe in restrictions but instead recognizing the things that you eat do affect you. For me dairy causes headaches and breakouts, I steer clear of it most of the time for those reasons but sometimes a grilled cheese sandwich is worth a few pimples.
Now lets get started with this weeks favorites! Shop my Friday tee.
Soul Cycle
It is honestly impossible to walk out of Soul Cycle without a smile, or at least a feeling of triumph. I have heard so many stories of fear that keeps people away from taking their first class and I completely felt the same way. I walked into my first class alone and was probably the only person at the lockers who wasn't covered in Soul Cycle gear, I had literally no idea how to set up my bike or clip in my shoes. So embarrassing. As the class began the lights went down and the music went up, I felt like I was in a haunted house, and I was completely out of breathe before the first song ended. At the end of class, I couldn't figure out how to unclip my shoes and began to panic again that I would be stuck on the bike forever.
Then I went the second time, I had previously googled how to successfully clip in and out of the bike and I was ready to go, I had the best time ever. Since my body knew what to expect and could relax a bit I got to actually dance, sing, and enjoy the full Soul Cycle experience. Now I go at least once a week, and it is honestly my favorite part of the week. Each class is a new challenge and brings new good energy into your life! Plus, it has done wonders for my legs and booty.
Sign up for your first class and get $10 off! This isn't sponsored just my personal referral link for you to use!
Scratch Goods Mask Bar
This week I visited the Mask Bar at Scratch Goods for the second time, and I am ready to go back again. Scratch Good's describes their mask bar as an interactive, customizable skincare experience, and I couldn't say it better myself. Think of it as a guided facial, where you are in charge. You get to mix your mask, apply the oils, and learn how to take the best possible care of your skin. When you get a facial its easy to leave their feeling wonderful, duh, but then returning home and going back to your everyday routine. During the mask bar you not only learn how to do things, but why it is important and how it can lead to your best skin ever. It is honestly just as relaxing if not more relaxing than any typical spa facial experience.
My favorite tip is to apply all products to your face using outward and upward motions. We are so quick to just smear cream or makeup all over our face as fast as possible, without even thinking about the effect that may have long-term. By using outward and upward motions you are teaching your face muscles to stay in those positions, when you pull your face downward you are literally assisting gravity in the drooping of your skin!
Matcha Green Tea
Babes, I have a new favorite tea. I love matcha to infinity and beyond, but it is not the simplest thing to make at home. You have to manually whisk it, blah blah blah, my point is its not simple. I discovered quite an exciting thing at Whole Foods last week, Rishi's Matcha Green Tea. The sencha green tea and matcha powder live happily in harmony in ONE TEA BAG! Not only is it the simplest way to make matcha, the flavor is amazing. It is a little more subtle than straight matcha because of the sencha but has bolder flavor than your average green tea. I highly recommend adding it to your daily tea intake.
If you aren't a tea drinker you should be, matcha is a much healthier source of caffeine than coffee. The release is much slower and lasts longer, leaving behind the spikes and crashes the coffee drinkers often feel, with only a fraction of the caffeine in a cup of coffee.
Neutrogena Light Therapy Mask
Ok, so I bought this last night and have only used it once, but I am seriously so excited about this mask I had to include it. I have heard some good testimonials from my followers and friends and after having a tearful breakdown about my acne yesterday morning I decided to go for it. It uses two kinds of lights to treat breakouts, the blue light targets acne-causing bacteria and the red light reduces inflammation, one of my biggest pet peeves. You simply turn on the mask and sit for 10 minutes, I took selfies, wrote an email, and watched TV, it wasn't too obstructive and I felt totally able to multitask during the treatment period.
I am going to document my journey with it and will be posting a full review on my YouTube channel at the end of my first 30 days. I found it cheapest for $34 here.
Bollywood Groove
You need this Bollywood Groove class in your life immediately. I took the Cardio X class in West Loop with my bestie this week and am still smiling and recovering. I like the think of myself as a pretty fit person so I am usually skeptical about the intensity of fitness classes. When I stepped into the studio I had no idea what was coming at me, I thought it would be a low impact fun Bollywood Dance party. I was drenched in sweat by the end of song one, I kid you not. Not only was I sweating but I was laughing almost the entire time because I was having that much fun. I am an extremely competitive person, I blame it on my ballet upbringing, so I like to be the best one in the room. That being said I was going really hard, like my life depended on my Bollywood moves. I was so sore and I am finally feeling a bit of relief this morning, three days later. That is truly the sign of a good workout. I literally can not wait to go back and get dancing again!
For more Wellness check out the new Health + Fitness section on Mermaid Waves! Featuring recipes, workouts, and healthy living.
