Hi friends! How are you? I hope you had a wonderful week! It was the kids’ first week back at school (wah) so we’re back in the routine and I’m already counting down the days until Rodeo Break. <— it’s an Arizona thing but we always look forward to a couple of days off in Feb

What are you up to this weekend? We’re going to do a sushi and movie night, get in a hike, and meet up with some friends in Scottsdale. I hope you have a fun weekend!

I started a 14-day EquiLife detox before I head into the CBO protocol. I’ll be doing a full post about everything, but let me know if I can help with any questions or include anything in the post.

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. This is where I share some of my favorite finds form the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

Friday Faves 1.12

Life:

Liv is 12! I can’t even believe it. She’s officially a *tween* and so bright, intelligent, hilariously sarcastic, and I love her passion for dance, skincare, and music.

She asked for a homemade cake instead of a bakery cake, so P and I made this for her:

We spent the day at the mall for shopping, boba, and ramen with her best friend, and then had cake with my mom and nana. Disneyland was her big celebration, so we had a lovely low-key day on her actual birthday.

Italki! I was googling ways to practice Spanish and this had excellent reviews. The short story is that my mom’s side of the family speaks Spanish, but growing up, I’d always answer in English. I minored in Spanish in college, and would read novels and write essays, but we spent very little time actually speaking. So while I understand it really well an

Hey hey! How are you? I hope you’re enjoying the day so far. Today, I’m re-sharing this post with updated info – comparing two fitness tools: the fitness alta and the apple watch. They no longer make the Alta, but the Luxe is similar here. 

Apple Watch vs. the Fitbit Alta

Something that has helped a lot with my motivation to get moving and stay active throughout the day has been my Apple Watch. I’m a huge fan of fitness trackers – I’ve used multiple Fitbit models, the Tom-Tom Spark 3, Garmins, Polars, I’m kind of a nerd about fitness trackers – and the latest fave is the Apple Watch. It’s sporty but cute enough to wear every day, and the stats and interface are amazing.

When I switched over to the Apple Watch, I’d been wearing a Fitbit for the most part, and most recently the FitBit Alta. I like that the Alta is much smaller than other fitness trackers and it gave me similar stats (plus the heart rate model tracks your heart rate). I’ve been a Fitbit fan for years and have consistently used the Fitbit as an effective way to track my steps and workout stats. I’d been eyeing the Apple Watch for about a year, but wasn’t sure if the cost would be worth switching over.

When we first moved to Valdosta, we attended an auction for Liv’s new school, and on one of the tables was an Apple Watch. I decided to put it into destiny’s hands. A couple of mint juleps later, and lurking around the auction table, I was the proud new owner of an Apple Watch (and a pair of Prada sunglasses. Yolo. <— do people still stay that? hah)

Here’s my review of the Apple Watch vs. Fitbit Alta:

Interface:

The Fitbit interface is simple. It tells you everything you need to know (steps, distance, calories burned) without any extra bells and whistles. If you log into the app, you can also track data on sleep, which can be extremely insightful.

The Apple Watch takes things to the next level. Your goals for the day are split into little circles: move goals (calories burned), standing (I think it’s move for 5 minutes of every hour), and workout (30 minutes of activity per day). It’s SO satisfying to see the circles build throughout the day, and an easy way to glance and check how you’re doing.

Sharing 10 gluten-free, dairy-free soup recipes: nourish your body with flavorful, allergen-friendly soup recipes made with wholesome ingredients.

Hi friends! How’s the day going? I hope you’re having a great one so far! It’s finally WINTER here in AZ. our warm weather has transformed into a wintery tundra, and all I’m craving is a hot, comfy bowl of soup.

For today’s post, I’m sharing a roundup of 10 delicious and healthy soups you can try this winter!

10 Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Soup Recipes

1. Sausage Kale Soup via Fit Mitten Kitchen

This Sausage Kale Soup (also known as, “Zuppa Toscana”) is a comforting dairy-free soup classic. A healthier take on the Olive Garden recipe with a variety of ways to lighten things up. Make in the Instant Pot, slow cooker or on your stovetop! Dairy-free, Paleo, and Whole 30 friendly.

2. Instant Pot White Chicken Chili via The Almond Eater

Easy Instant Pot White Chicken Chili is a creamy and delicious soup recipe that’s both gluten free and dairy free. It’s made with beans, corn, chicken, and plenty of spices, and then topped with cilantro, avocado and tortilla strips, making it incredibly filling, too.

3. Roasted Butternut Squash Soup via Cookie & Kate

This homemade butternut squash soup is the best I’ve ever tasted! This recipe is super creamy (yet cream-less) and full of delicious butternut flavor. Leftover soup tastes even better the next day. 

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Sharing the top blog posts in 2023!

Hi friends! How are ya? I hope you’re enjoying the morning so far! I’m looking forward to a barre class and then catching up with a friend for lunch.

For today’s post, I wanted to share the top 10 posts and pages from 2023. It’s always helpful to go back and see what type of content performed well, so that I can expand on these topics or write additional posts in the new year.

Here are the top 10 posts and pages of 2023!

10. Why I Tried Nutrisense and What I Learned

I’ve been using Nutrisense for a couple of years now, and it’s been such a helpful tool in my health journey. It’s been so insightful to see how my body responds to different habits, stressors, foods, and workouts, and I’ve been able to make positive changes in my routine.

9. How To Make Turmeric Face Scrub

You can totally buy turmeric face scrub, but it tends to be on the pricey side and can contain ingredients you may not want to put on your skin. I’m a huge fan of beauty DIYs because you know exactly what’s going into these products and you can personalize them according your unique needs and preferences.

8. How To Keep Your Guinea Pig Cage Clean

The guinea pigs are SO cute but I REALLY didn’t want our house to smell like a barn when we got them. Here’s how I keep their cage clean! It always makes me chuckle when this is a top-performing post every.single.day. Maybe I should start a guinea pig blog?

7. How to train for a half marathon while strength training

I made this training plan for a friend (who has used it successfully a few times now) and wanted to share it on the blog. I’m definitely not a running coach, but I am pretty good at putting plans together that can help you get towards your goals while preventing overtraining injuries.

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Sharing some of my favorite online workouts and how you can try them for free.

Hi friends! I hope that you’re having a lovely morning. The kids are back in school and I’m back to the routine over here. I have 1:1 coaching calls, a podcast interview, and am trying to put the house back together after our trip.

For today’s post, I wanted to share some of my favorite online workout options. I know that many of you are trying new things in 2024, and these might be fun options to add into the rotation.

These fitness apps provide unique workout experiences with a focus on accessibility and effectiveness. Choose the one that aligns with your fitness goals, preferences, and level of experience. As always, consult with a fitness professional or healthcare provider before starting a new workout program.

8 workouts I love that you can try for free

Sculpt Society

Sculpt Society, founded by Megan Roup, combines dance-inspired cardio with sculpting exercises to create a dynamic and effective workout for toning muscles and boosting cardiovascular fitness. I LOVE the instructors at Sculpt Society. They all have genuine (not fake) energy, and aren’t over the top. They have good form cues and I love all of the routines. It’s one of my favorite ways to shake my legs out in the middle of a work day and I always have a blast.

Who Might Benefit: Ideal for individuals who enjoy dance-inspired workouts and want to focus on toning and sculpting their body.

Pros:

Fun and energetic dance routines. Targeted sculpting exercises for muscle toning. Suitable for various fitness levels.

Cons:

May not be suitable for those looking for low-impact workouts. The dance workouts are higher impact (you can always modify) and the strength workouts are more barre/Pilates-esque and low impact.

Cost: Subscription starts at $19.99 per month.

Equipment Needed: Minimal equipment, often using resistance bands and light weights, with gliders and optional ankle weights

You can try one month free on the app using my referral link here. My full review of Sculpt Society is here. 

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