LindsSays: Guest Post

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While I'm gearing up for Lindsay de Mayo (aka my birthday aka Saturday aka the fun starts today), Cam from The Things I Am Crazy For is taking over! Her blog rocks, she travels around on a tiny budget- her life is really freaking cool and I want her to take me around the world with her! check her out!

Hi! When I saw that Lindsay was looking for guest posters, I quickly took the chance to email her about it. As a fellow girl on a budget, I really like her blog and am very happy to be contributing today (ed note: I LOVE YOUR BLOG TOO!)

So since my blog focuses more on travel and expat life, I thought I would do a post about travelling on a budget, and more specifically how to enjoy Paris on a few bucks. If you live in North America, it might be a bit hard to respect a tight budget for Europe travels as a 500-1000$ plane ticket usually involves a lot of savings, so I am sorry for that! However, if you are ever in Europe I recommend adding Paris to your list of places to visit.

I like to go off the beaten path but when a girlfriend from college came to France and asked me to join her in Paris, I jumped at the chance. Paris has this aura that I could spend this entire post trying to explain to you but could never achieve, but just trust an ex-non-believer when I tell you that Paris is worth it! The first time I saw the Paris skyline I was breathless. I felt like I had just entered one of my favorite movies like Paris, Je T’aime, or Midnight in Paris.

The only downside to this story was that I had just finished a degree in Scotland. It happens that international tuition fees are expensive (who knew!) and that my budget was much smaller than I expected. I was scared I wouldn’t get to experience Paris to its fullest. It ends up I was wrong. It is feasible to see a lot of what Paris has to offer on a tight budget! Here are advices and tips on how I managed a week in Paris for a few bucks…

Tips & Advices:

Instead of going for a hotel, try to rent a flat/studio. My friend had booked a little studio flat in St-Michel. It gives autonomy and you can almost feel how it is to live in that city. The other cool thing about having a flat is that you can store food from the market and heat it up instead of eating out all the time (see next point).
Avoid eating out too much. If you go to a foreign place it’s always fun to taste the food, so you should go out and experience that, but if you buy food in a grocery store and make lunches if will save you lots of money. My friend and I bought a few baguettes for a few cents and some cheese. Some juice, small yogurts and the occasional chocolate/candy and it made for great affordable lunches. Insider’s tip: you can buy 6 pain au chocolat at the store for the price of two of them in a café.
Walk as much as you can. If you stay in a convenient location it is possible to get almost everywhere by walking. My legs were actually hurting by the end of the week, but we got to save money and we got to see so much more of Paris than we would have if we had taken the metro everywhere.
Flash your student ID as much as you can (if you’re a student or if your student ID is still valid). That is of course for most things in life. Being a student gets you discounts and it’s good to take advantage of that. When I arrived at Musee D’Orsay (which I highly recommend! I believe that everyone, like me, is a fan of Monet and therefore wants to see his work…), I showed my student ID thinking that instead of 11€ they would charge me 8.50€, but no! My European student ID got me in for free! It proves that you never know what great deals you can get!
If you want to dish out the money, I would say to choose only one museum to go visit (although this might depend on your priorities when you travel). A museum can take you up to an entire day to visit (or a whole month for the Louvre…). If you spend a week in Paris you might not want to stay two days inside. I love art but Paris has so many different things to offer! We chose Orsay and were not disappointed!
It goes without saying but try to avoid being hassled. Be aware that some artists/performers will ask you to give money if you take a picture of them. Or they might try to convince you to buy their work. Some other people will try to sell you junk. Same goes with souvenirs! It usually is overpriced crap that someone will want to make you buy because you are (read: you look like) a tourist. Be careful.

There are also loads of things to do for free in Paris. Here are a few suggestions:

Go check out the Pont des Arts where lovers tie locks to the bridge and throw the key away to symbolize their eternal love.
Cimetiere Pere-Lachaise is where tons of famous people were buried including writers Gertrude Stein and Oscar Wilde and musician Jim Morrison, to only name a few. It is worth the visit and you could easily get lost in the sinuous roads of the cemetery for hours!
Another cemetery. I swear they are not that creepy! Cimetiere du Montparnasse is the other place where famous people have been buried; it includes writers and philosophers Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir (which, for nerds like me, is a total must!).
Go walk around the Jardin des Tuileries. It is situated between the museums and the Champs-Elysees. It is a great path to take to get from one place to the other.
Jardin du Luxembourg is another one of those lovely places to go for a walk on a sunny afternoon. It is full of sculptures and beautiful floral arrangements.
Go explore Montmartre. The streets around the metro are a bit sketchy but if you go up the hill a bit the landscape really transforms into quaint apartment buildings, little local shops and cute parks.
Go walk along the Champs-Elysees. It’s the high street of Paris and is full of luxury stores. It is also apparently one of the most beautiful streets of the French capital (according to Wikipedia ;) ). It is indeed a fun walk and it leads to the Arc de Triomphe.
Visit the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris. I didn’t have time to go visit it sadly, but it is absolutely magnificent from the outside. Entry is free however and my friend (who had time to go look around before my arrival in Paris) really recommends it!
Go check out the Eiffel Tower. It wasn’t on our priority list but we went and enjoyed it. You don’t have to go up (it saves both time and money on that one). You can enjoy the stature of the monument by walking in the surrounding areas.

Hope this helps plan a visit to Paris on a little budget. The thing to remember is that Paris is like an open-air museum, so you could literally visit nothing and yet see so much! Enjoy!

Friday Favs: GUEST POST-A Week in Paris for a Few Bucks

Friday, May 2, 2014

For today's Friday Fav I have a post from one of my FAV, happiest, spunkiest bloggers, Kelly at Southern Komfort- go check her out! Thanks, Kelly, for taking over while I hop on a plane to Milwaukee to celebrate one of my best friend's bachelorette parties!

Twine, twine, twine...

Oh the things we can do with twine. I love the idea of twine wrapped wine bottles. It’s such an easy, decorative DIY craft! After looking over different steps on how this can be done, I gathered my resources and began the process.

Glass bottles - they can be any shape or size you so desire.
A roll of twine - the twine I purchased from Hobby Lobby is a pretty, hunter green color. The length was 208 feet (random, I know) and 3 ply.

**Note: Feel free to choose any length and thickness of the twine to your liking. Remember, the thinner the twine, the more you will need.

Elmer's Craft Bond Multi-Purpose Spray Adhesive.

**You can pick up this little can of wonder at any local craft store and it goes A LONG WAY! In addition to not receiving near third-degree burns from a hot glue gun, I was able to continuously wrap my twine around the bottle without much hassle... But I'll explain that later.

Floral piece

Here's how it's done:

1) Using an old wine bottle, I removed any outer labels by running it under hot water and scraping it off.

2) Once the labels have been removed, dry the bottle thoroughly to make sure the spray adhesive works properly.

3) Working from the bottom up, spray the adhesive about an inch around the bottom of the bottle. Don't worry, it won't dry quickly!

**Note: It helps to have either wax or parchment paper down to keep the adhesive from getting on your countertops. Another smart thing to do... Don't have your phone nearby since you can easily get the adhesive on that as well...

4) Once you have sprayed some adhesive onto the bottle, start wrapping your twine. When you have reached the point where you are almost out of adhesive, spray about another inch above what you have wrapped thus far.

5) Continue to spray and wrap the twine until you reach the top of your bottle.

6) Once you have reached the lip of the bottle cut the twine, spray the inside of the lip of the bottle, and place the twine in there.

7) Add a decorative flower or any other artsy item and ta-da! You have a twine wrapped bottle!

Based on the size of my wine bottle, it only took me about 25 minutes to complete everything. To help get the sticky off of your fingers from handling the adhesive, you can use soap and hot water or pour some nail polish remover over your fingers and that should do the trick.

I hope this has helped inspire your creative juices to decorate your homes with twine wine bottles!

Friday Favs: Southern Komfort Blog (guest post- How to Make a Twine Wrapped Bottle)

Friday, April 25, 2014

We've got another guest post from the hilarious Chelsea- regularly scheduled programming to resume tomorrow!

Chelsea Outlaw is a young adult librarian by trade, but likes to think of herself as an information gather, world wandered, word-drinker, and lover of all things caffeinated. She writes almost-daily at An Outlaw Life, talking about everything from the books she reads to the trails she runs to the yoga poses she loves (and hates!) the most. When she’s not hanging out on the blogosphere or navigating her way around Buzzfeed articles, she loves to hang with her hubby Mark, their four-year-old Cocker Spaniel Penny, and the fresh air! check out her blog here

Yoga is awesome.

Did you catch that? YOGA IS AWESOME.

I feel like I should make that overwhelmingly and abundantly clear before we get any further in to this post, because if there is one thing that I could shout from the rooftops until the cows came home, it would be that yoga is a truly transformative process that is freakin’ awesome.

I’m not a yoga teacher. I’m not a yoga guru, lifestyle coach, or really even all that “good” of a yoga student, since I don’t go to studio and certainly don’t practice every day (although I’m working on changing up that last bit). What I am is a 25-year-old lady who took years to lose 80 pounds through a hearty combination of time, diet, and exercise, and who in that process developed a whole host of knee pain, back injuries, and other bummers that can be associated with an active but not-always-safety-conscious fitness regime. Which is why, after taking years to find my groove, my ‘thing’, the way to move my body that brought me the most joy, I’m settled on yoga.

This post isn’t meant to be a yoga primer for those of you who are 100% new on the subject – but, if you’ve vinyasa-ed your way through a down dog or two, and you find that your pocket books are running a bit dry, this is the article for you!

I’m a Kansas girl, and being a Midwesterner means that I don’t have available to me the wide variety of options that some of my luckier and lovelier East and West coast friends have when it comes to things like yoga studios. Within an acceptable (read :: 20 minutes or less) driving distance of my house there are only three yoga studios, one of which is hot yoga (NO THANKS, I ALREADY SWEAT LIKE A BEAST) and one of which just doesn’t jive with my current work schedule. Which leaves me with one beautiful studio – if I also had the $200/month for unlimited classes. Which I don’t.

Please don’t get me wrong, this isn’t at all about having to pay for classes. If I could, I would, and I would encourage everyone to do the same, especially if you’re just starting out. So much of the wonder of yoga, kind of like church, comes from the community that surrounds you while you’re in the practice. Plus, if you’re just getting in to yoga postures, having a professional on hand who can answer questions and/or physically show and guide you in to the proper alignment is huge. HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, so please give this some serious thought.

If, like me, it’s just not in your fiscal (or geographical or chronological) cards to head to a studio on a regular basis, here’s a run-down of the ways I’ve found to still get in a solidly awesome practice at home.

1.) Understand that your home practice will still be in your home.
For me, this means a couple of things. First and foremost, it means that, as a home practitioner, you’ve got to be more on top of the ball in terms of the lead-up to your actual practice. We don’t have the luxury of walking in to a fully-prepped room, the lights low and music soft and props ready to go. At least, most of us without dedicated yoga rooms at home don’t. In my tiny apartment, my yoga space is in a corner of the floor by the utility closet in our secondary living room/supposed-to-be-dining-room, in front of a set of bookcases and behind our dedicated laundry-folding station.

Like I said, not exactly glamorous. Having a home practice means becoming mentally okay with doing what you can in the space you have (hmmm, sounds very yogic, doesn’t it ☺). It also means having to be a bit more mindful of gathering the props I’m going to need, making sure my floor space is clear of rogue laundry and dog toys, and going the extra mile in making my home practice feel just as special as studio practice (candles, incense, setting up an altar, etc.)

2.) Find a way to find out what you’re doing.
There are a thousand ways to accomplish this! Here are links to some of the sites I’ve found most helpful, broken down by paid/unpaid/apps

Unpaid:

Kathryn Budig’s Yoga
Ekhart Yoga
Real Yoga for Real People
Rachel Brathen (@yoga_girl)
Yoga Babe Life

Apps

Pocket Yoga (iOS and Android)
Yogify (iOS only)

Paid

YogaGlo
My Yoga Online
YogaVibes

Now, I know what you’re thinking. ‘I thought the whole point of at-home practice was to not have to pay’ but I actually think that sites like YogaGlo and YogaVibes are a great meet-in-the-middle for all those of you who still want the guidance/routine/aesthetic appeal of traditional studio practices for WAY cheaper. So, you know, those are a great option.

3.) Don’t be afraid to have a little fun and go a lot crazy!
You’re at home! Make the most of it! Whether that means trying a new-to-you pose that you’d be too nervous to try in front of someone else, wearing your most embarrassing pajama pants (or nothing at all!), or just mixing it up by doing something completely silly and out of the ordinary – you should feel free to take full advantage of being in your own, private, judgment-free space (and yes, this includes not feeling bad if you happen fart during savasana, which is almost impossible to do in studio without feeling like you want to melt through the floor, totally ruining the serene vibe you had going…not that I would know…) Plus, embracing the freedom of being able to do what you want in your own yoga space can do wonders for helping to calm the studio-envy blues, can revamp and amp up your excitement to practice, and is a fantastic way to loosen yourself up and learn to laugh – a lesson we could all do with a refresher in from time to time!

4.) Bring a friend – for free!
I feel like this one is fairly self-explanatory. Getting someone else excited about the thing that you’re super into is one of the most surefire ways, I’ve found, of staying super into that same thing yourself, even if at times the motivation factor seems pretty low. Having a friend join you in yoga can not only be incredibly hilarious, but can also prompt some deeper conversations that get in to some of the things we don’t always talk about with our friends all the time – happiness, peace, harmony, self-love, and all those other amazing mental aspects that yoga can help us develop.
Plus, being an at-home student means that you don’t have to worry about guess passes, paying for a guest class, or arranging transportation/scheduling for a class that’s going on at a studio (to say nothing of yogis who get very particular about the style in which their classes are taught). It’s as simple as picking up the phone and saying “come on over, let’s do yoga!” Bonus points if you can find someone who pushes you out of your comfort zone, and allows you to do the same to them!

5.) Go somewhere that’s not your house.
This will be my last piece of advice, and I know it seems to contradict EVERYTHING I just said, but I’m serious – going to a yoga class (at your gym, at a studio, at a private home session) can breathe a lot of life back in to your at-home yoga practice. I’m not advocating going to yoga class every time. But even I can scrounge up the $15 every month, month-and-a-half or so to go take a class with my very favorite Monday night Vinyasa Flow teacher, or to check out the newest teacher at my gym, or to go to a different style of class at a different time of day. You don’t know what will work for you until you try it, and taking the time to leave your home practice to see others in action will actually help you to better your at-home practice! Promise!

There you have it, folks. Five tips from a yoga-loving-but-far-from-expert on how to make your yoga work for you in your space. Hopefully you found it helpful, and as always, I’m always around on these internet parts if you have questions or want to do some more discussing! Namaste!

Linking up with WOW Linkup, Weigh In Wednesday, Humpday Blog Hop

Wednesday Workout: How to Yoga at Home + Yoga Apps + Free Yoga Online Resources

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Gwen is taking over for the day while I'm getting my life together and avoiding another Dude Where's My Car sitch! Gwen has the best attitude and her blog is hilarious while very informative- follow her here.

I'm really excited to be doing a guest post for Lindsay! She was impressed with my health turn-around, and asked me to talk a little bit about it, and the new food life style that has worked for me. Maybe you've heard about it: it's called the Primal (blueprint.) It's basically next to no grains, sugars, or processed foods. I'll put a primal food pyramid down a little further in the post.

I lost 66 pounds last year following it, and I'm 62! The effect of what can happen to you when you give up grains and sugar IS that dramatic! Believe me, I know how FOREIGN an idea that can sound. I was a starch addict. I used to ADORE warm buttered rolls, garlic bread, chips (with or without dips), crackers, fully loaded baked potatoes, pie, brownies, cookies, streusel topped muffins, donuts…yeah, ALL of it.

Out of control eating. I got this five foot, 2 inches when stretching frame up to 195-204 pounds on two occasions after the age of 50. DUMB. But I ate with uncontrolled abandon. I ate bored. I ate stressed. I ate happily with others. I didn’t give a shit, enough, about what it was doing to me to attempt to break the eat-causes-craving cycle. Hell, I didn’t even know that the cycle existed! I lost over 70 pounds in 2009, doing the low carb / low fat South Beach diet, and thought I was on top the world. But I didn’t keep it off, because I didn’t GET it, didn’t KNOW. I gained 60 of those pounds back. Sure, I had a medical situation that scared me into an even deeper ‘what’s the point, I don’t give a shit’ mind frame that made gaining all that weight back disgustingly easy. But I still didn’t get it. I thought moderation would work. It didn’t, because I still didn’t KNOW.

Know that grains -even in moderation- can cause all this damage. Damage that inflames your body internally, which leads to disease. Eating grains IMMEDIATELY leads to brain chemistry changes that make you crave more grains (and sugar) even more powerfully than alcohol, cigarettes, or illegal drugs cravings!! IT’S TRUE. Lots of studies to back this science up.

Unfortunately, simply limiting grains doesn’t stop the cravings. That’s why so many people fail at maintenance, even if they lose a LOT of weight!! Why dieting success rates are so poor. Eventually, the grains-causing brain chemistry changes win. You start feeling deprived. You start with eating a little bit more, ‘just this one time.’ This one time becomes many times. Before you know it, you are ‘up’ ten pounds. Ten pounds becomes twenty, and by then you are established on a path of dieting failure. Yet again. Wash, rinse, repeat.

It’s not only me that’s ‘been there, done that.’ Thousands upon thousands have.

Little did I know it just took a couple of brave steps outside my comfortable (oh come on, but not REALLY comfortable when you factor in guilt and shame and fear)….box of loving/eating starches… just a couple of brave steps...my life would change dramatically and radically for life. (I know, I'm starting to sound like a late night infomercial. LOL)

First step was: being willing to admit that what I was doing wasn’t working for me.

Second step was admitting that maybe there were answers out there that I didn’t know about yet. Even at the ripe old age of 61.

Third step was seeking out new answers. New theories. Not the socially acceptable/long established ones.

Fourth step was being willing to read data that challenged all that I knew, all that the FDA and medical community that I knew…had told us all along. That was actually the biggest step!

Fifth was reading this data, these books, with an open mind. Once I did that, the seas parted. I got so excited, so passionate, so angry at Big Agra and Big Pharmaceuticals, that it EASILY propelled me to DARE to attempt the changes necessary.

Sixth was giving up grains and sugars as an experiment of' n = 1', (the term means n=YOU, a study of one person. Yourself.) even though I had never heard of that term before or then. (or until almost a year later!) It wasn’t cold turkey. It took a couple of months of trying it, pulling back, trying it again. Between November 2012 and March 2013. I had a bout of ‘carb flu’ in December and then on another attempt in January. But when I realized the ‘carb flu’ was just one more part of n = 1 / my body’s proof of how ADDICTED to grains I was, I became determined to kick grains fully to the curb to reach out and grab the brass ring of better health. To stop the eat-crave cycle and WIN. So I tried it a third time, and this time FULLY gave up grains, not just a half-assed few days attempt, and didn’t have carb flu this time and I have NEVER looked back!

Because a funny thing happens about a week or so after giving up grains.

The bloating stops. The brain clears. You literally start feeling lighter and more free-spirited. Even though still quite overweight, you start feeling in charge and yet FREE AS A BIRD.

Again, not just me. Happens to THOUSANDS.

But you never know until you give it a good college try. I suggest a week, but if you can spare 30 days, I swear you will never be the same! You will wonder how it took you so long! You, too, will start shouting it from the rooftops! Your success, physical and every bit as importantly, EMOTIONAL, will propel you the rest of the way and change your life forever.

I highly suggest two books:

Wheat Belly

and

The End of Overeating. You can find both on Amazon (real books or Kindle versions.)

The transformed my life.

Come on, you’ve given 30 day attempts (if that still scares you, how about a simple 14 days?) to many different other diet plans. Why not consider this one? Sure it’s scary. I PROMISE you the rewards will outweigh any ‘how could I ever give up THAT?!” mindset. Or fear of how you will live the rest of your life eating so unlike those around you. You will become a beacon of light for YOU. Your 180 degree turn around will propel you to happily continue the changes in your diet that you have made. It honestly becomes easy. I promise.

But the first step is accepting that what you are doing really isn’t working. Or that it’s hard to continue to fight the cravings. To get feelings of deprivation. And want all of that to STOP. Want to find true, lasting success. Want to learn a way to put your health above your temptations.

It CAN be done!!! :)

I’m a 62.5 year old living proof! :)

If you want to read more, my blog is: http://www.againstthegrain.us/

Oh, and here is the Primal Food Pyramid:

Guest Post: The Primal (blueprint) and how Gwen Lost 66 pounds at age 62!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Today's guest post comes from my favorite thing out of Europe (never been a Nutella or Beatles fan) and good great friend, Petar. When he's not in class at Catholic University Law School you can find him teaching group class/personal training at Washington Sports Club or djaying around DC- and ladies, he's siiiiinglllleee! Check out his hype mixes (great for working out!) on Soundcloud and his webiste here. Annnd check out one of my favorite pix of us (plus Harrison) at Zinzi Ball last year:

Anyway, I asked him to write up a post on 5 Things Your Trainer Wants You to Know, and here are his tips with awesome illustrations:

via

1. Don't Be a Cardio Queen: There is a common misconception among novice gym-goers that the best way to get in shape/lose weight is to chain yourself to the cardio equipment. It is easy to get trapped into that way of thinking, when an led display on the equipment indicates that amount of calories "burned." However, spending hours on the treadmill/elliptical/bike is not the most effective way of getting lean. Any exercise is better than no exercise, but if you are dedicating yourself to a workout routine, you at least want to make sure that it is an effective one. The problem with aerobic (cardio) training is that your body becomes more efficient the more you do it. Therefore, the more you do cardio, the better your body is at it, and the less fat you burn. This article does a great job of explaining this.

via

2. Embrace the Iron: Ok, so Cardio is not the most efficient way of getting shape. Then what is? Strength training. Resistance-based exercised breaks the muscles down. As the body rebuilds, the muscles become stronger, and the metabolism increases. This means that the body burns more fat and continues to burn fat throughout the duration of the day (not just during the exercise itself as is the case with cardio). Think about it. Gymnasts look like this, and marathon runners look like this.
(Sidenote from Lindsay: if you're working out at home EatHardWorkHard has a great post on free online dumbell routines)

via

3. Listen to Your Body: It's easy to get carried away. Maybe you have gone to the gym for several days straight and want to see how long you can maintain that without skipping a day. Maybe your workout buddy lifted a very heavy weight and you don't want to fall behind. Maybe you are tired, but have not been in the gym in two days and your guilt is preventing you from skipping your workout. All three scenarios are dangerous- they have the potential of preventing you from listening to your body. The longterm consequences of injury far outweigh the risk of momentary satisfaction of pushing your body past its limit.

via

4. Drink Plenty of Water:Our body is mostly made up of water. It only makes sense that the best thing to consume is water. The body is funny: when it receives little of something, it tends to hoard it. Whereas, if something else is in abundance, it does not hold on to it. In the case of water, if you consume little water, you will retain a lot of water weight. On the other hand, if you are drinking enough water, you will not carry as much water weight. Water weight = bloated. Less water weight = more cut and defined.

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5. Try New Things: At the end of the day, the best thing you can do is exercise. Any type of exercise beats sitting on the sofa. Trying new things will keep things interesting and it will make it less likely that you get bored. Further, your body gets used to doing the same thing over and over. New exercises/activities will keep challenging the body and produce continued results.

Linking up today at WOW , Whimsy Wednesday, Weigh-In Wednesday

Wednesday Workout: Guest Post- 5 Things Your Trainer Want You to Know

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

A few weeks ago on my trip to San Diego I did one of my friend Steph's mini-triathlon training workouts assigned by her coach, and today's guest post comes from her (most raved about) triathlon coach Lauren Wilson. Lauren graduated from University of South Carolina with a BS in Sports Management and now pretty much does all things fitness related: she is launching an interactive website with lots of free videos (yay!!) in the next few weeks (stay tuned for more info in the coming weeks), owner of Wilson Coaching LLC, Vice President of Chucktown Triathletes, Master Teacher at Medical University of South Carolina Wellness Center and is a Juice Plus Sales Coordinator. I have no idea where she found the time to do this guest post that involves a FREE WORKOUT but it's awesome- read on! PS I'm going to try her workout tonight-- #PrayForMe haha

Meet Lauren!

No Gym? No worries!

This winter has proved challenging for all of us. Chances are you’ve been housebound on more than one occasion unable to hit the gym or attend your favorite body-pump class. However that doesn’t mean you can’t get in a killer workout!

Some of my favorite fitness routines involve little to no equipment and can be done in the comfort of your home. Despite all the efforts to popularize them, calisthenics are still one of the most under-appreciated strength training tools out there. I think this fact is connected to the common thought that to obtain strength, you must attend a gym. As experience shows, this thought is wrong, and you can get results even with as little as your own bodyweight.

Number one benefit of calisthenics is the fact that you are your own gym. Plus it is very convenient, saving you time and money! Additionally, most of the time you do not use any external resistance, therefore it feels much different and opens new horizons for you. Let’s review a few awesome benefits when it comes to including calisthenics in your fitness routine.

Hand Balancing and Static Exercises
Handstand and various levers (Back Lever, Planche, Front Lever, etc.) are unique bodyweight exercises. No weighted drills can provide analogues of this specific static load. Once you try them, you will be amazed how weak you really are. I am sure that if you add these positions to your training routine, you will experience solid gains in strength and muscle.

In addition, I believe that you MUST become proficient with your bodyweight for complete strength and muscle development. It is a no-brainer, but some people are still obsessed with their Bench Press numbers, while struggling to perform even 5-10 push-ups.

Bodyweight Training and Joints
Despite what other people say, bodyweight training is easier on joints. It can be a fair alternative to weight training if you have an existing injury. A couple of weeks of exclusively calisthenics can give you a break from weights, and can be some sort of a de-load. You will feel fresher and more powerful when you return weights to your training regimen.

The Environment
The environment can help you big time with your bodyweight training. Your home may not have a pull-up bar, however visit your local parks, playgrounds, and schoolyards. With their help, you can do Dips, Pull-Ups, Step-ups, planks etc. Use anything helpful!

Sustainability
Finally, what is really cool about calisthenics is the fact that you need literally nothing to sustain this type of training. Just imagine that all the gyms are closed and you’re cranky because you feel lazy and crave a workout! If you know how to use your own body as a gym, then you simply do not stress about such situation. Additionally, there will be no need in constant gym-search if you travel or move a lot.

Last important note, bodyweight is not the ultimate training tool, but it is so different, natural and fun that it would be a big mistake to neglect this unique training approach.

The full-body routine below will help you burn calories and blast fat, experience lean muscle growth, break through fitness plateaus, achieve personal bests, more easily perform daily activities and most importantly, have fun!

Try this at-home body-weight work-out:

The following body-weight only routine will target all your major muscles and give you a challenging full-body workout. To add difficulty, try your best to complete the following routine with little to no rest between exercise. Complete 1-3 sets.

To prepare for the workout complete 5 minutes @ moderate intensity: jump rope, jumping jacks, run the stairs, if weather permits run outdoors!

Step 1: 1 Minute Elbow Plank
Get face down on the floor resting on your forearms and knees. Push off the floor, rising up off your knees onto your toes and resting mainly on your elbows. Contract your abdominals to keep yourself up and prevent your booty from sticking up. Keep your back flat--don't let it droop or you'll defeat the purpose. Picture your body as a long straight board, or plank.

1 minute jumping jacks/jump rope

Step 2: 20 Side Step Plank with Push-Up (10/side)

Start in plank position with hands close together directly below chest. Step out to side with one leg and one arm and complete a push-up. Return to center and repeat on other side.

1 minute jumping jacks/jump rope

Step 3: 30 Reverse Bridge w/Triceps Dip

In a seated position, raise your body off the ground using hte support of your arms and legs. Using your arms, dip towards the ground, bending 90 degrees at the elbow, then return arms to extended position. For added difficulty, extend one leg out and complete 10 dips/side.

1 minute jumping jacks/jump rope

Step 4: 40 Mountain Climbers

Assume a push-up position with your arms straight and your body in a straight line from your head to your ankles. Wihtout changing the posture of your lower back (it should be arched), raise your right knee toward your chest and tap the floor. Return to the starting position and repeat with your left leg. That's one rep. Alternate until you've completed all your reps.

1 minute jumping jacks/jump rope

Step 5: Body Weight Squats

Extend your arms straight out in front of you with your palms down and keep your feet flat on the floor a little wider than your shoulders. Slowly bend your legs to start the exercise and make sure to keep your back as straight as possible. You should also keep your head up and try ot look straight ahead during the exercise. Keep your feet flat on the floor as you squat down. When your thighs are parallel to the floor, stand back up to finish the first repetition.

1 minute jumping jacks/jump rope

Step 6: 40 Supine Bicycle Abdominal Crunches

Lie on back and bend knees slightly lifting feet off the ground. Place hands gently behind kneck for support and bring left elbow to right knee. Twist at the waist trying to get as much rotation side-to-side.

1 minute jumping jacks/jump rope

Step 7: 30 Reverse Lunges w/Knee Drive

Stand on single leg and bring opposite knee toward chest (think Karate Kid). Complete lunge by stepping backwards and bring knee back up to chest--standing on a single leg. Repeat 15/side.

1 minute jumping jacks/jump rope

Step 8: 20 Burpees

Begin standing. Bring your hands to the floor just in front of your feet; jump your feet into a plank position. Do one push-up. Jump your feet back to your hands, and from the crouched position jump up, similar to a squat jump. Do jump as high as you can.

1 minute jumping jacks/jump rope

Questions for Lauren? Interested in trying a triathlon but not sure where to start? Want more workouts like this? Live in the Charleston area and want to go to one of her classes?? Find her on Facebook, Twitter or e-mail at Lmwh3i@gmail.com

Wednesday Workout Guest Post by Lauren Wilson: No Gym? No Problem!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Today's Friday Five is brought to you by none other than my fiance (hate that word) Harrison! Besides testing my clean recipe concoctions he has a full time job as a realtor, and we are actually in the process of buying our first house now (really if I can do it ANYONE can). Below is the information he gives to people considering buying a house. Buying a house is quite a big-kid thing to do, but it is so important to be educated about this as it is one of the best investments we (especially as millennials in big cities who throw our moneys at rent) can make.

Cool DC condo I showed

I am Harrison, Lindsay's fiance, realtor, and a native Washingtonian with a love for comfortable couches and cool kitchens. When you buy a house you're not guaranteed to have exponential value growth or wealth growth. What IS guaranteed is that you are building more wealth than you ever will renting (currently your rent pays someone else's mortgage). In fact, in DC owning is 34% less than renting.

First and foremost, before you get started on buying a house you need to talk to a realtor. It is their job to help you navigate through each of these points and it's free to you (the people selling the house pay both their realtor AND the buyer's realtor- none of your money goes towards realtors). Talk to friends- who did they use? Research realtors, read reviews of them online, even check Yelp. Interview realtors to figure out if their style matches your's- they are going to help you every step of the way which you can see on this chart (notice there are only two steps you are responsible for- click on it to enlarge):

Here are the 5 things to know going into the home buying process:
1. Get Pre-Approved

This is how you know your purchasing power! This is a vital first step that people often put off but THIS is how you know what your money can get you.
Your realtor should be able to connect you with an experienced, knowledgeable and helpful lender.
Income + Credit Score + Savings and Assets + All Your Debts (student loans, other recurring payments) = Your Pre-Approval Rate = How much house you can afford

2. Be Open Minded

If you want a deal on a house you've got to think outside the box. In order to get into your first place you may have to look a little outside the hottest neighborhood downtown, but still has valuable amenities of some kind.
Up and coming neighborhoods can offer good value and future appreciation potential
If you are working with a good agent they will be able to capitalize on value and get you what you need
Be prepared for sticker shock- especially in hot neighborhoods! It's expensive to live next to cool stuff- you know where most of your friends want to live and this is going to cost (if you're in DC the hottest neighborhoods for millennials were Columbia Heights and Chinatown- check out this Washington Post interactive graphic showing where millennials are buying.)

3. Involve Family/Friends/Loved Ones EARLY

This is one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make (and the biggest check you've written)- it's important to have others involved!
If you know someone who recently bought a house talk to them about their experience
Do this early so you aren't scrambling at the last second to get advice/money/opinions from important people- it could slow you down when it's time to put in an offer

4. Use All the Tools Available to You (but double check important facts with your realtor)

There are tons of great mobile apps to do your own research (Zillow, Redfin, Trulia ) but the important information on those sites is not always up-to-date.
A benefit of working with a realtor is confirming that information is accurate, and having someone help you sift through the junk that is out there.

5. Pull the Trigger (JUST DO IT)

As millennials we are used to having our decisions validated and being coddled every step of the way (fifth place trophies anyone? I know, I'm one too). A good realtor will get you the information you need in a timely fashion, and in an aggressive seller's market (like we have now in DC) you need to be ready to trust your gut, your heart, your wallet and your instincts.
Remember: In the long run, when you buy real estate, you're saving money and giving yourself the opportunity to build more wealth as compared to renting!

If you're in DC I host First Time Home Buyer Seminars all over the city- the next one is Thursday, March 20 (here is more information). Connect with me on social media, especially with questions/comments- I love answering questions about first-time home buyers:
Twitter
Facebook
Email
Check out the cool houses and condos I show in DC on Instagram

Here are a few other amazing DC homes I've shown & sold recently:

PS: Harrison has been selected by Realtor Magazine as a finalist for top 30 real estate agents under 30! Please take 2 seconds to vote for him in their online poll: vote here. You don't have to give any personal information or even your e-mail address! THANK YOU!

Linking up today:

Friday Five: 5 Things Millennials Need to Know About Buying a House

Friday, March 7, 2014

While I'm soaking up the San Diego sun my good friend Charisse is taking over Thursday on Broke & Bougie! Enjoy!

I'm Charisse, a twenty something non-profit professional. I also happen to be a full-figured fashionista and often Lindsay's personal stylist. I am so excited to finally get the opportunity to write a post of Broke and Bougie!

While getting ready for the ballet this weekend, I had a mini meltdown because I had nothing to wear and not in that "I have lots of stuff but just not feeling what I have" kind of way. In that moment I decided I needed to maybe a get a couple of new items to addto my wardrobe to get me fashionably through the Winter. I started with my usual plus size friendly online shops: Asos Curve, Target, and Simply Be. I wasn't really finding anything I like and then I remembered that I had read on one of the plus size blogs that I follow that Talbots is a great place for curvy girls. Not only do they go to size 20 in their straight sizes BUT they have womans and womans petite. When I think of Talbots I usually think of Boca, sweater sets and loafers but I thought why not try, you never know right? Plus a trust fashionista can make anything work. Boy am I glad I went with it, Talbots is currently having a huge end of season sale; up to 60% off all items. I purchased 3 pairs of great pants for $87 original retial price, wait for it......$387!! SCORE

Prints and textures seem to be on trend for fall 2014 so I will definitely get some wear out of these next season. If you are afraid of wearing prints on bottom, ease your way in with a subtle mono-chromatic print like these purchased in black.

I also have seen jewel tones making a return on the runways at Mercedes Benz Fashion week (streamed through Youtube) like these velveteen pants I got in a burgundy color.

Another item coming in strong this year is the tuxedo pant. I found this pair for under $30.

All pants were ankle length (another big trend) which is perfect for my 5'3 frame, they tend to hit just where I like it.

Moral of this story: open your mind to all retailers, you never know what you may find. Being a plus size woman who loves fashion is sometimes hard. The fashion industry is slowly moving towards seeing us as actual style influencers worthy of stylish and accessible clothing and not just people who need shrouds of drab clothes to cover a body that we are trying to change (come on Jenna Lyons, extend JCREW's sizing already).

Do you have any great straight size cltohing stores that work for a fuller figure? If so share away, I am always looking to add to my arsenal.

**Follow Charisse's fashionspiration on Pinterest