Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Workout Wednesday: Squeezing in Exercise Throughout the Day
Happy #WorkoutWednesday to you all!!!
My intention behind this series is to show you how I'm incorporating fitness into my daily life while still living my life as a busy mom. I feel like I'm doing something right because every time my daughter sees me in my workout clothes she either asks if I'm going to workout (and I can actually say YES!) or she asks to workout with me. I was super proud of myself and her the first time she asked to workout with me. So I encourage all of you other busy moms, workout while your children are around so they see it can be fun and easy to fit in to your life.
Sometimes full blown workouts just don't happen. Either your day is too full, you overslept or you just don't feel like it - I've been there. But that doesn't mean your day has to be a total bust. Here are my tips on squeezing some extra exercise into your normal day.
Squeeze in Exercise
- Always take the stairs instead of the elevator. Take the stairs two at a time for a little extra burn.
- Park far away from the door so you have farther to walk to get inside.
- Plank for 1 minute each day (we ALL have 1 minute!).
- Do squats, lunges or sit ups while watching tv.
- While cooking dinner, incorporate leg lifts while standing over the stove (I also like to do this when applying my makeup).
- During playtime with your children, hold them and do squats. Your kids will LOVE it and you will love your legs.
- Go for a 10-15 minute walk on your lunch break.
- Talking on the phone? Squats or lunges can easily be achieved while chatting.
- Anytime during the day, tighten your abdominal muscles for 10 seconds and let out. Repeat as much as you can.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
What Instagram Has Taught Me...
It is no secret that Instagram is my favorite social media site. I've talked about it a lot on here and judging by how often I post, you can easily figure it out. And I don't just love instagram for the pictures. I love it because it has taught me a few things too. :)
It's true and I'm totally embarrassed to show you, but my instagram feed looks like I have split personalities. If you scroll back through my instagram feed, you will see "the evolution of Lindsay's skills." The more time I spend on instagram and analyze other people's feeds, the more inspired I get. And past Lindsay, well she had a lot to learn because the photos at the start of my feed were a hot mess.
2.) That moms really can work out.
If moms.can.be.fit didn't follow me and like a lot of my photos last summer, I never would have realized this. :) Tiffanie is a mom in her 40's who has totally transformed her body thanks to Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body Guide. Because of Tiffanie's feed and her incredible success, I was inspired to try BBG and now I love it. In fact, if you weren't aware, I started #WorkoutWednesday here on the blog. Be sure to check it out tomorrow.
3.) That there are things I need to buy that I wasn't aware I even needed.
Funny story. A girl I follow on instagram posted a similar photo of this Michael Kors puff in grey asking if anyone was selling one because grey was sold out in stores. I'd never seen the puff keychain and never needed it in my life until I heard that it was sold out in stores. I watched her post all day as others commented to look on Etsy to find something similar. I even found myself checking out the links and Etsy shops that other people gave her. All for a $40 keychain!!!! Who am I?
4.) There is community out there that I didn't even know existed.
When I first joined instagram, I looked at it as an extension of my blog - another way to connect with my readers. But I have realized there is so much more! In addition to some of you, I have connected with other beauty lovers, other moms and other girls working out. We all support, encourage and inspire each other daily. I especially love instagram because it helps hold me accountable to my workouts and gives me nutrition inspiration almost hourly (seriously just search the hashtag #bbgfood or #cleaneating).
Monday, January 25, 2016
SNOW!!
I had an entirely different post planned for today, but after three days of photographing my sweet little darling in the snow I realized something...LET'S GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT.
So here you go world (aka Grammaroo and GMa), pictures of K having a blast in the snow.
Here in the New River Valley, we got about a foot of snow. It was glorious to watch it snowing all day Friday. I found myself staring out the window with the same wonderment that I had when I was a little one myself. I don't think I will ever escape the excitement that is snow falling from the sky.
For our first two days we ventured out with a sled (or as K calls it, a boat) and tried to trudge through the knee deep know. K was more interested in using her shovel and attempting to make snow balls than she was in sledding. Unfortunately the show was very powdery so a snowman and even a good snowball were out of the question. Luckily by Sunday, the sun was out and the temperatures were a bit warmer, causing everything to melt just a bit. Which offered up the perfect conditions for Tolar to make an snow cave/castle.
The snow has been fun and I have loved every second of the joy that explodes from my daughter. We are still hoping for another good snowstorm before this winter is over!
So here you go world (aka Grammaroo and GMa), pictures of K having a blast in the snow.
Here in the New River Valley, we got about a foot of snow. It was glorious to watch it snowing all day Friday. I found myself staring out the window with the same wonderment that I had when I was a little one myself. I don't think I will ever escape the excitement that is snow falling from the sky.
For our first two days we ventured out with a sled (or as K calls it, a boat) and tried to trudge through the knee deep know. K was more interested in using her shovel and attempting to make snow balls than she was in sledding. Unfortunately the show was very powdery so a snowman and even a good snowball were out of the question. Luckily by Sunday, the sun was out and the temperatures were a bit warmer, causing everything to melt just a bit. Which offered up the perfect conditions for Tolar to make an snow cave/castle.
The snow has been fun and I have loved every second of the joy that explodes from my daughter. We are still hoping for another good snowstorm before this winter is over!
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Workout Wednesday: HIIT Workout
It's Workout Wednesday!!!
Continuing with my theme from last week, I'm all about offering up exercises that you can do at home. As a busy Mom, it is easiest for me to get in my workouts at home when I have time and the beauty of today's workout is that it can be finished in 15 minutes!
I'm sharing a quick HIIT Workout that you can complete anywhere in your house, no workout equipment needed.
HIIT stands for high intensity interval training. This is a training technique where you workout with 100% effort (full out) for quick, intense bursts of exercise, followed by rest and recovery periods. This type of workout gets your heart rate up and burns more fat in less time. And that is what I am all about!
Complete each exercise below for 30 seconds, followed by 30 seconds of rest. Repeat 3 times for a total of 15 minutes.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Winter Skin Tips
Winter is here which means frigid temperatures and cold wind can wreck our skin. Even people with oily skin on their face (raises hand) may still have to battle dry skin else where. It's important to take care of your skin daily, even if you aren't going to be in direct sunlight. Did you know that some people don't even think about their skin care unless they are planning a beach vacation?!?! Here are some of my best tips, to keep my skin looking its best every single day.
1.) Drink LOTS of water. Hydrating your skin from the inside out is probably the most important thing you can do. Without enough water, your skin can appear duller and your wrinkles and pores will appear more prominent. No one wants that! When skin is hydrated and plump it is less likely to crack.
2.) Moisturize - your face. It is important to use a moisturizer even if you have oily skin (there are different types/forumlations of moisturizers that you can use depending on your skin type). A moisturizer helps lock in the skin's moisture. Think of it as kind of "sealing" in the work you just did with your cleanser and toner.
3.) Moisturize - your hands. The cold temps and constant hand washing cause my hands to crack in the winter. I make sure to use a cream based moisturizer since it is a thicker substance with more oil to help heal my dry hands. Rodan + Fields has a specific skin care line for sensitive skin and their SOOTHE Moisture Replenishing Cream is a LIFESAVER for my winter hands.
4.) Wash off your makeup. Please don't ever go to bed with your makeup on, this can clog your pores and lead to tons of breakouts.
5.) Exfoliate. When you have excess dry skin or even dry patches, you need to exfoliate your skin and remove the dead skin that is just sitting on your face. Exfoliating can also help you get rid of blackheads and give you a more of a glowing complexion.
To help with winter redness (like you see in the photo above), I'd love to tell you about the Rodan + Fields Soothe Regimen. This Regimen is designed to help treat people with sensitive, dry or irritated skin. I use it on my hands daily to treat my dry, cracked skin. Soothe calms, relieves, nourishes and defends your skin! AND Soothe can be used on babies and toddlers, in addition to adults!
There are SO MANY uses for this regimen. My customers and other R+F customers use it to treat:
-skin redness
-wind burn
-rosacea
-razor burn
-sunburn
-keritosis pilaris
-eczema (even on babies!)
-poison ivy
-dry, cracked hands
-burns in general
-rashes
-psoriasis
Stop suffering from these common ailments and let me help you!!!! But don't take my word for it - just look at the photo above. Those are REAL results.
If you would like more info on the Soothe Regimen or if you have other skin concerns, feel free to shoot me a message! (lindsay@pursuitofpink.com)
Rodan + Fields has a 60 day money back guarantee - if you try the products and don't like the results, send them back (even empty bottles!) and get your money back. So you have NOTHING to lose by trying these products.
1.) Drink LOTS of water. Hydrating your skin from the inside out is probably the most important thing you can do. Without enough water, your skin can appear duller and your wrinkles and pores will appear more prominent. No one wants that! When skin is hydrated and plump it is less likely to crack.
2.) Moisturize - your face. It is important to use a moisturizer even if you have oily skin (there are different types/forumlations of moisturizers that you can use depending on your skin type). A moisturizer helps lock in the skin's moisture. Think of it as kind of "sealing" in the work you just did with your cleanser and toner.
3.) Moisturize - your hands. The cold temps and constant hand washing cause my hands to crack in the winter. I make sure to use a cream based moisturizer since it is a thicker substance with more oil to help heal my dry hands. Rodan + Fields has a specific skin care line for sensitive skin and their SOOTHE Moisture Replenishing Cream is a LIFESAVER for my winter hands.
4.) Wash off your makeup. Please don't ever go to bed with your makeup on, this can clog your pores and lead to tons of breakouts.
5.) Exfoliate. When you have excess dry skin or even dry patches, you need to exfoliate your skin and remove the dead skin that is just sitting on your face. Exfoliating can also help you get rid of blackheads and give you a more of a glowing complexion.
To help with winter redness (like you see in the photo above), I'd love to tell you about the Rodan + Fields Soothe Regimen. This Regimen is designed to help treat people with sensitive, dry or irritated skin. I use it on my hands daily to treat my dry, cracked skin. Soothe calms, relieves, nourishes and defends your skin! AND Soothe can be used on babies and toddlers, in addition to adults!
There are SO MANY uses for this regimen. My customers and other R+F customers use it to treat:
-skin redness
-wind burn
-rosacea
-razor burn
-sunburn
-keritosis pilaris
-eczema (even on babies!)
-poison ivy
-dry, cracked hands
-burns in general
-rashes
-psoriasis
Stop suffering from these common ailments and let me help you!!!! But don't take my word for it - just look at the photo above. Those are REAL results.
If you would like more info on the Soothe Regimen or if you have other skin concerns, feel free to shoot me a message! (lindsay@pursuitofpink.com)
Rodan + Fields has a 60 day money back guarantee - if you try the products and don't like the results, send them back (even empty bottles!) and get your money back. So you have NOTHING to lose by trying these products.
Friday, January 15, 2016
Toddler Fun Recipe: GAK
Do you want to offer your toddler a really cool sensory experience and have a ton of fun? And do you want them to be entertained for awhile? Well I have an extremely easy recipe to share with you - GAK!
Last semester with my MOPS group, we had a guest speaker who showed us all sorts of awesome activities that you can play with your children. The gak was by far the most popular. Gak is a gooey, semi-slimy mixture, that is extremely pliable. It can be molded, shaped, stretched, ripped apart and more. And it's important to note that it is NOT messy. :)
The best part? It is super easy (and cheap) to make!
INGREDIENTS:
- two 4 oz. bottles of Elmer's white glue- 1 tsp. Borax (found in the laundry aisle)
- water (fill up both glue bottles with water)
-1/2 cup very warm water
INSTRUCTIONS:
1.) In a large bowl, empty all of the glue from both bottles.2.) Fill each empty bottle with water and shake them to rinse out any remaining glue. Pour the water into the bowl. Mix well.
3.) In a separate bowl, mix 1/2 cup very warm water with 1 tsp. Borax. Stir until the Borax dissolves.
4.) Slowly pour the Borax mixture into the glue mixture, stirring a little in between each pour.
5.) The Borax will start to make the glue stiffen and you will likely need to finish mixing everything by hand.
6.) Store in an air tight container. I just use a gallon size ziploc bag.
One of my favorite things about gak is that it can "move" on its own. If you let the gak sit, it will sort of melt a bit. It will flatten out and take on the shape of the container you use to store it.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Discovery Playhouse
We spent the beginning of 2016 in Illinois visiting Tolar's family. We get to visit them often, but our visits there are changing because K is older and so active and able to do a lot more. Now, we go to places that appeal to her. During this last trip, we ventured over to Cape Girardeau, Missouri and explored the Discovery Playhouse.
Discovery Playhouse is a hands-on children's museum where kids can discover and learn all while playing and having a ton of fun. They have numerous exhibits (appropriate for children ages 11 and younger) depicting businesses that children will perhaps frequent with their parents. All of the exhibits are designed to allow the children to feel like they actually work in each business.
While at the Discovery Playhouse we got to visit:
Hospital Nursery
Firetruck
Pet Clinic
Dentist
Garden
Farm
Grocery Store
Bank
Water Garden
I didn't know what to expect when we decided to check out the museum, but I left in awe. I was thoroughly impressed by the level of detail that went into each exhibit (the ATM at the bank actually had a live surveillance camera). K got to care for new babies at the hospital, drive a huge firetruck, "ride" a horse at the pet clinic, give me a teeth cleaning at the dentist, water and pick vegetables in her garden, milk a cow and collect eggs from chickens on the farm, serve as cashier at the grocery store, act as bank teller and play to her heart's content in the water garden.
There was so much to do we could have easily spent all day there. Each exhibit brought smiles to everyone's face, I'm not sure who had more fun - K or the adults. All of the businesses were completely interactive for both children and adults. It was so fun for us to let loose and pretend with K. Each exhibit seemed better than the one prior which didn't seem possible because they were all so perfect. I spent all day oohing and ahhing over everything. I can only wish that a children's museum like this opens somewhere within driving distance to us soon (if anyone knows one near the New River Valley, VA - let me know).
It was clear which businesses K frequents in her daily life as she knew exactly what to do with the conveyor belt at the grocery store (yep, my girl goes with me every week). She has also taken plenty of lessons from her Grandy because she did not want to leave the garden. She kept watering her vegetables and tending to her crops, just like my Dad does with his garden. It warmed my heart to see her so excited about the garden.
If you live in or near Cape Girardeau, Missouri or are going to be visiting soon, go! Take your kids, you won't be disappointed.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Workout Wednesday: The Living Room Workout
I am SO EXCITED to bring you a new series here on Pursuit of Pink - WORKOUT WEDNESDAY!
With the start of a new year, everyone has goals and resolutions to lose weight, am I right? Well, of course I'm one of those people too. And I really hope that this time I stick with it, hence my purpose in starting this series. Working out for me hasn't always been an issue, it's keeping my eating in check that is the toughest for me. After all, abs are made in the kitchen. So with 2016, Tolar and I are committing to eating clean (most of the time) and I'm giving Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body Guide another try.
(You can read here why I love Bikini Body Guide - BBG - so much.)
Workout Wednesday can be for anyone, but I will say that the majority of what I share is going to be for busy moms - because that's what I am! I plan to share some workouts and tips that help me achieve success along the way and my ultimate goal is to keep US accountable while I share my fitness journey with you.
Today's WORKOUT WEDNESDAY is all about working at in your home. That's where I workout the majority of the time. And now that the temperatures are really starting to dip low, inside my house is where I will find myself.
The Bikini Body Guide has specific strength workouts for me to follow three days of the week and the other three days are for cardio. Here is a great workout that you can do in your home. My two year old daughter even got in on the action (click here to read some hilarious outtakes of a time when my 2 year old worked out with me). The best part, I can complete this all while watching The Today Show! Enjoy!
This workout takes roughly 15 minutes, complete twice for a great sweat!
Let's make this a conversation too! If you have any fitness tips, workouts or suggestions feel free to share them with me. I LOVE connecting with my readers. You can leave a comment below or connect with me via facebook or twitter. I love when my readers share links with me!
And of course, join #thekaylamovement with me on instagram (@lindsaytolar) so we can really encourage each other.
With the start of a new year, everyone has goals and resolutions to lose weight, am I right? Well, of course I'm one of those people too. And I really hope that this time I stick with it, hence my purpose in starting this series. Working out for me hasn't always been an issue, it's keeping my eating in check that is the toughest for me. After all, abs are made in the kitchen. So with 2016, Tolar and I are committing to eating clean (most of the time) and I'm giving Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body Guide another try.
(You can read here why I love Bikini Body Guide - BBG - so much.)
Workout Wednesday can be for anyone, but I will say that the majority of what I share is going to be for busy moms - because that's what I am! I plan to share some workouts and tips that help me achieve success along the way and my ultimate goal is to keep US accountable while I share my fitness journey with you.
THE LIVING ROOM WORKOUT
Today's WORKOUT WEDNESDAY is all about working at in your home. That's where I workout the majority of the time. And now that the temperatures are really starting to dip low, inside my house is where I will find myself.
The Bikini Body Guide has specific strength workouts for me to follow three days of the week and the other three days are for cardio. Here is a great workout that you can do in your home. My two year old daughter even got in on the action (click here to read some hilarious outtakes of a time when my 2 year old worked out with me). The best part, I can complete this all while watching The Today Show! Enjoy!
This workout takes roughly 15 minutes, complete twice for a great sweat!
Let's make this a conversation too! If you have any fitness tips, workouts or suggestions feel free to share them with me. I LOVE connecting with my readers. You can leave a comment below or connect with me via facebook or twitter. I love when my readers share links with me!
And of course, join #thekaylamovement with me on instagram (@lindsaytolar) so we can really encourage each other.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Easy DIY Bow Storage
Ok Moms of little girls - this post is for you.
The bows...they are everywhere, am I right?
One day after getting K dressed, I got to thinking that it would be so much better if I could see all of the bows at once. That way I would use different bows more often. I created a simple DIY in my head and made it happen. The best part about this DIY? It took me all of five minutes and cost me zero dollars since I already had everything! Ok, that was two parts!
MATERIALS:
-blank canvas-ribbon
-staple gun
INSTRUCTIONS:
1.) Use whatever size canvas you want. I had previously bought several 12x12 canvases for a monogram in K's room, so I had an extra 12x12 canvas left over. I decided to keep it white, but you can always paint or decorate your canvas if you want.2.) Grab some ribbon and measure it out long enough to fit over the entire length of your canvas, with some extra length included at the top and bottom to secure on the back.
3.) Using a staple gun, secure the ribbon on the back at both the top and the bottom. I pulled the ribbon tight and pressed down to staple. You can space them as far apart as you need; I just eyeballed the distance between each ribbon and "measured" with a hair bow to make sure there was enough distance between them.
4.) Hang on your wall and attach bows to each ribbon.
We hung the bow storage behind K's door, so it is easily accessible, but doesn't take away from the other decor in her room.
Now I'm on to figure out how to create a DIY for all of the headbands!
Monday, January 11, 2016
Recipe: Mini Margarita Pies
I'm a huge fan of key lime pies and margaritas. Really anything with a lime or lime flavoring - I'm all about devouring it (hello, lime tostitos!). I also love mini food, because I don't have to feel guilty about consuming a couple. These mini margarita pies are little, light (kind of) and oh so yummy.
I can't take credit for this recipe; my great friend Annie brought these to a cookout years ago and everyone raved about them. In fact, I think Tolar was the biggest fan out of everyone. Sadly, it has been several years since I made them so when I went to find the recipe, I couldn't. But Annie came to the rescue! She shared this link with me...however there wasn't an image so I couldn't pin it on Pinterest (come follow me!) to save it for later use (because I'm sure Tolar and our friend Jimmy are going to expect me to make them again). So I decided to help myself and you out.
Feast your eyes on this fun and yummy recipe! These mini margarita pies are perfect for any occasion - cookout, birthday party, new year's eve party, valentine's party, having friends over, girl's night, anything! Make these and be ready to share the recipe, because your friends will rave.
Besides being small in size and full of flavor, I love that there isn't too much prep work involved. Enjoy!
INGREDIENTS:
-1 package refrigerated cookie dough (use the break and bake kind)- 1 package softened cream cheese
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 2-4 limes (depending on how much lime flavor you like)
- 8 oz container of cool whip
INSTRUCTIONS:
1.) Preheat oven to 375 degrees.2.) Cut the break and bake sugar cookies in half. Roll each half into a small ball and place in ungreased mini muffin pan.
3.) Press cookies with a floured mini tart shaper (HACK: I used the top from my vanilla extract - just make sure it is screwed on very tight).
4.) Back cookies for 8-10 minutes (8 minutes is what I used, our oven gets pretty hot).
5.) Remove from the oven and cool for 1 minute. Then lightly repress with a floured mini tart shaper.
6.) Place on cooling rack.
7.) In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese with powdered sugar.
8.) Cut limes in half and squeeze to add lime juice. You can also use a microplane grater to add some lime zest to the mixture.
9.) Add cool whip and whisk all together until smooth and creamy.
10.) Transfer cream cheese mixture to a sandwich bag, cut a tiny hole in the corner and pipe into the cooled cookies.
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- Lindsay @ Pursuit of Pink
- Welcome to Pursuit of Pink. I'm Lindsay and I'm so glad you are here. I believe a positive life is a happy life. Join me as I try to walk that out daily - in life, motherhood, style and more.
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