Cherry Tomato Avocado Salad

I have made this salad countless times this summer, and I plan on making it many more! I have received SO many messages on shap chat (come find me @alyciagrayce) about the recipe, so I decided to share it on the blog so everyone can have it. It is the easiest salad ever, and will instantly impress anyone who eats it. The combination of flavors is one of my favorites, and leaves you feeling refreshed. This is the perfect side dish to bring to a get together and I hope you get some use out of it this summer!

Cherry Tomato Avocado Salad

4 cups avocados, diced medium (about 3-4 avocados)

2 cups grape tomatoes or 2 cups cherry tomatoes (I like to dice mine in half)

2 cups cucumbers, peeled and diced medium (about one cucumber)

1 cup red onion, diced small (about one onion)

4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped 

2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced 

2 tablespoons lime juice 

¹⁄₄ cup olive oil

salt 

fresh black pepper

TOSS TOGETHER! ENJOY!

Salsa Cucumber Salad

One of my favorite salads is the Cherry Tomato Avocado Salad I recently shared. So when I found this recipe I HAD to try it too! They didn't give it a name, so I went ahead and dubbed it the salsa cucumber salad, since it really is like salsa met a salad and created this beauty of a dish. There are so many variations you could do with this salad and they really are the most refreshing meals! With it being so easy to make, go ahead and get creative this summer!

Salsa Cucumber Salad

1 English cucumber, diced
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 1/4 cups corn
1 red pepper, diced
1 cup cherry tomatoes (I used half red, half yellow)
1/2 cup packed fresh cilantro, chopped
1 lime
1 avocado, diced
Salt and pepper to taste

TOSS TOGETHER - ENJOY!

Postpartum Body & Killer Leggings

I recently shared on my Instagram my struggles with my new postpartum body, and the comments I received made my heart swell. Sometimes it is so comforting to know we are not alone in the feelings we deal with. I figured I would share it below here because, like I said, it is so nice to be able to connect about these things we all deal with.  

"I gained 48 pounds during my pregnancy. When you add that to the extra 15 pounds I already had on me when I got pregnant... I have a lot of work to do to get back down to my normal healthy weight. Pregnancy changed my body forever, and I learned a lot about how I view my body throughout that experience. Thankfully I had those lessons to pull from when I realized just how much damage the body can experience when going through the process of carrying a child. Sure, there are those women who hardly look pregnant, don't get a single stretch mark, and almost instantly look back to normal once they have delivered... but for the majority of us, that is NOT the case! I have excess fat, loose skin, and stretch marks galore! In all honesty I hardly recognize my body when I look in the mirror. Despite all of these changes, I am really trying to stay positive (because hello, I have an amazing baby from all of this!) But I have to admit it's been easier said then done lately. I couldn't help but feel a tad overwhelmed today. I have never had to lose this much weight before and the task feels daunting. I don't want to be ashamed of the aftermath of my body, because my body is pretty freakin' amazing. I grew a human being after all. And I am determined to be healthy and fit. Bah I guess I just needed a space to vent and give myself a pep talk as well? I know there are so many women who relate so if your out there and feeling "BLAH" today, you are not alone. The mind really is the toughest muscle to train, but I am here to say WE'VE GOT THIS!" 

Again, thank you so much for your support and sweet comments, it really means a lot to me. On this note, some of my all time favorite workout leggings are on sale at Nordstrom right now, Zella 'Live In' Slim Fit Leggings. They are called "Live In" for a reason people... they are amazing and they can totally be those leggings that double as your "real" pants because they are thick and suck you in just right if you know what I mean. I love love love them! I posted several of their pants below! I am also loving these ones with the mesh siding :)

I'M LOVING: New Year Health Goals? Old Navy 50% OFF

You know I love me some Old Navy! And for all of you have made some health goals to hit the gym or be a little more active for the New Year, now is the time to get your gear. Old Navy is having a super sale on their active wear of up to 50% OFF. I can't get over how adorable and cheap ($7) this top is! I am a sucker for fun straps :) Here are some of my favorite picks!

A // B // C // D // E // F // G // H // I // J // K // L // M

How pregnancy has changed my view on body image...

 

DRESS // BRACELETS 

 

 

LINDSAY OLSEN PHOTOGRAPHY

 

Growing up I was always on the more confident side when it came to my body image, however, I am only human and as a woman being raised in a culture and society that likes to tell you what is "wrong" with you every turn you take, I too have had my moments of insecurity. There is that scene in the movie Mean Girls that I think every woman can relate to, where they each stand in front of the mirror and pinpoint all the things they wish were different about their bodies. It is so sad, but an honest reflection of how we often treat ourselves. Like I said, in regards to body image, I was always on the more confident side, pretty comfortable in my own body. But as I became an adult and my body started going through inevitable changes, I started dealing with more and more insecurities. I developed a self-deprecating humor in regards to my body. This joking about my body became my coping mechanism, as it was a challenge for me to accept and figure out this new woman body I was developing. I have talked about this several times on my blog before. As a teen I was very athletic and active and could eat whatever I wanted, and then around the age of 22 my metabolism completely changed as well as my overall lifestyle. As an adult, most of us just don't have the time to play three sports year round like we did in high school haha ;) The reality for me was that I couldn't keep my 17 year old body forever, and I had to let go of that idea even though the world I live in tells you, you should look like a preteen as an adult. The funny thing about ideal body types anyways is that they are always changing decade to decade, but I guess that is an entirely different post and I will spare you.

While I have been figuring out that transition over the last few years, I have seen my body change yet again as I experience pregnancy. At first this was really hard for me. My breasts and hips grew so fast I had stretch marks within the first few months. About a month ago I noticed some more developing underneath my stomach. Up until that point I only had the ones on my hips and had none on my stomach area, and so I was surprised to see them. But I guess I shouldn't be when you realize just how big my belly actually is! haha The weight gain, stretch marks, water retention, swelling, and hormonal acne that has decided to show up, all came to a head (ironic choice of words) one night and I got a little emotional. I didn't even recognize myself anymore. Who was this person?! Trevor was there and told me that I was being crazy and that I was beautiful and not to worry so much about it all. He then started to express that he doesn't see why women get hung up on stretch marks. It made me really think about it. Why do we? How are they any different than birth marks really? And these are markings we earned doing something pretty amazing! His words helped me more than he knows.

While I still have my self-deprecating humor attached to these changes; calling myself a bloated hippo, or talking about my lack of jaw line, I have found something sweet attached to this experience. My body is changing for a very special and specific reason, to create life and give that life the best environment to thrive. It is a lot easier to be kinder to yourself when you go through body changes and adjustments when it is attached to something as sweet and as beautiful as a new little baby. On another evening, when my hormones were probably more in check, while oiling up my pregnant belly I stopped and stared at myself in the mirror and I had a moment that has never happened with me and my body before. I looked at myself and said, "this is beautiful." In that moment I didn't see the stretch marks on my hips, or bloated body, I just noticed these curves that represented womanhood, and life. It is the most positive body image I have ever had with myself. Ironic considering my list of complaints about my body right now are probably the longest I have ever had. While I am not perfect, at least now when I find myself having a weak moment about my body, I have taken myself back to that moment in the mirror.

I know that after this pregnancy my body will never be the same again, but I won't be the same again either. Pregnancy has started to change the way I view my body. After birth, everyone is always trying to achieve the look that they never had children, that is the ultimate goal. Women connect their dress size to their self worth. It is so hard to express the sentiment I am trying to get across without sounding like I am contradicting myself, but I think there is such a fine line and we as women cross it all the time and all too easily. At the end of the day we all want to be healthy, fit, and look good. I don't think there is anything wrong with trying and wanting to achieve that. In fact, I think it is what we should be doing and that it is the healthy way to be living. This pregnancy has taught me that my body should be celebrated and loved. To me that means I will treat it with respect by trying to feed it right and exercise. It also means that I will look at my stretch marks, or not as tight skin, and not feel embarrassed. I can look at that and say my body did it's job, and a well done one at that. I can view the changes in my body as experiences and not imperfections. The reality is, there is no such thing as perfection, so why view those things we can't change as anything but perfect parts of who we are? Especially since we all have them. Let's celebrate them! I have developed a new appreciation and love for my body throughout this experience, and I am so grateful for this new perspective as I am about to become a mother and want to pass on a healthy body image and confidence to my daughter. I know that I will have good days and bad days with these kinds of thoughts, but I also know that every time I look at my daughter's face... I will always be proud of my body and what it did. Our bodies are powerful creations from our Heavenly Father, and we should be nothing but honored and amazed at the capabilities and beauty in them. 

Monistat® Stay Fresh & $100 Giveaway!

All right ladies, today we are going to be talking about something that might make you blush. But we are going to go there! I have never been a very sweaty or smelly person (thank goodness) however a few years ago I discovered my newest favorite work out machine, the stair master! I would get the most intense workout and burn a ton of calories... only problem... I sweat SO bad during and after using it! I mean, that is a good thing right? It means I was really working my body! But often I would fit the gym in during a lunch break, or before I had to go somewhere else where I couldn't take a shower. So I was kind of at a loss on being able to freshen up. While working out is an obvious tim to sweat, there are also those times that just happen. After moving to Utah I had to get used to really hot summers! We have all had those moments where we are out on a hot summer day and we start sweating, everywhere. I went three summers in an apartment that didn't have AC and only had a swamp cooler... um, yeah. It is funny how we get so embarrassed about this topic, but we have no problem talking about sweaty arm pits! This is no different people, and thankfully, I have never had a problem talking about things that make other people uncomfortable :) So where am I going with all of this?

 

You have probably heard of the brand Monistat® before, but did you know they now offer products beyond yeast infection treatment? They have a whole new line called the Complete Care™ If you experience feminine odor, we have already established you are not alone in that. In fact 1 in 3 women experience occasional vaginal odor. Unlike some other feminine odor  products, Stay Fresh Gel from Monistat® Complete Care™  helps eliminate feminine odor to restore feminine freshness for 3 days with one application. How so? It helps maintain vaginal pH, and is actually fragrance-free and paraben-free, so you aren't masking yourself with a perfume! Basically you are solving the problem, not just covering it up.

 

 

To help get the word out Monistat® has asked us bloggers to share the news and they have generously offered a coupon code for you guys to try it out the Stay Fresh Feminine Freshness Gel for yourselves!

 

And if that wasn't enough, Monistat® is also offering a fun sweepstakes! They want to help you take control of your feminine health. Enter simply by telling us about the way in which you take control and care of your body for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card plus a full size sample of Stay Fresh Gel from Monistat® Complete Care™.”

Each comment will automatically be entered to win. Here are the official rules.

 

I have received product from Monistat® and was compensated to write this review.

 

Entry Instructions:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. Read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected. If your comment relates to or describes any product or your experience with the product, do not describe or recommend any use of the product that is not recommended on the product’s packaging or labeling, such comments will be deleted.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 6/22/2015 – 7/22/2015

Be sure to visit the Monistat® brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

The Bold Side of Water - Sparkling ICE Contest & Prize!

I always drink a lot of water. Thankfully, because my parents never gave us soda or ever had it in the house, soda has never been something that I crave or really want. For years I have maintained the habit of getting in about 100 ounces of water a day, sometimes more if my workout is hard enough. Since becoming pregnant, hydration has become even more important to me. As much as I love water, sometimes it is nice to spice it up a bit.

I always drink a lot of water. Thankfully, because my parents never gave us soda or ever had it in the house, soda has never been something that I crave or really want. For years I have maintained the habit of getting in about 100 ounces of water a day, sometimes more if my workout is hard enough. Since becoming pregnant, hydration has become even more important to me. As much as I love water, sometimes it is nice to spice it up a bit. While I don't crave soda, I do crave juice! But even too much juice isn't a good thing with all the sugar. So for those days where I want to have a little something extra and something fruity, I love a good flavored water. Trevor actually doesn't really crave soda but loves the carbonation, so he loves the fizz that is in Sparkling ICE flavored sparkling water, which combine naturally flavored sparkling water, vitamins, antioxidants and natural fruit juices to offer a bold, lightly carbonated beverage.

 

 

I have so many friends that love their sodas and have a hard time getting in enough water, and I think that flavored waters are such a smart alternative for those wanting the flavor but not the the guilt of drinking so much sugar. I love seeing a fridge full of sparkling water versus soda! Thankfully Sparkling ICE flavored sparkling waters comes in so many different flavors there is something for everyone. I know that Trevor and I often have a hard time deciding which ones to get because they are all so good! Sparkling ICE truly delivers on taste, contains just the right amount of fizz, and has 17 real fruit flavor combinations. These 10 are such standouts to me! 

• Black Raspberry
• Orange Mango
• Kiwi Strawberry
• Pink Grapefruit
• Coconut Pineapple
• Peach Nectarine
• Cherry Limeade
• Classic Lemonade
• Strawberry Lemonade
• Raspberry Tea

Today I teamed up with Sparkling ICE to share an amazing contest they are running called, Flavor Face Off!  You can enter to win a year’s supply of Sparkling ICE OR get your face on the bottle of your favorite Sparkling ICE flavor. Post your photos, videos, or messages on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook with #SparklingICEcontest. The contest runs from 6/1 - 7/31 and you can post to score daily or weekly giveaway of free Sparkling ICE, concert or event tickets, and have better odds of winning the grand prize!

  

Where can you find some Sparkling ICE? Odds are there is some at your local grocery store, but double check with this store locator. Available nationally at participating retailers.

ROCK CLIMBING

A few weeks ago we went rock climbing with some friends. Trevor and I have been a few times together over the years and it has always been an activity we enjoy. I don't know what it was about this last time but I enjoyed it even more than I usually do, so did Trevor. In fact we enjoyed ourselves so much we decided we need to make a commitment to go more often and have talked about getting month passes. While Trevor and I go to the gym a lot, I have found that the more actives you can incorporate in your life that keeps you moving without feeling like you are "working out" are key to maintaining an active lifestyle.

I feel like living in Utah, with the Rocky Mountains minutes away from my front door, I have every resource to have an active lifestyle! Skiing, snowboarding, snow shoeing, hiking, rock climbing, boating, the list really does go on and on. Even growing up in San Diego and having the ocean right there offered a ton of activities. I am so happy I am married to someone who loves nothing more then to be active and constantly seeking the next adventure. Trevor's sense of adventure and look for the next adrenaline rush sure keeps things interesting, and while sometimes he pushes me to do things that scare the living crap out of me (cliff diving off way too high of cliffs in Moab), I am so thankful to have his influence to do things out of my comfort zone. Life is always an adventure with my love! :)

Want to see your AD HERE?

I will never be "done"

TOP: LULU LEMON C/O TROLLEY SQUARE
BOTTOMS: C/O KOHL'S
BRACELETS: ALEX AND ANI

For the last three years I have struggled with gaining and losing weight back and forth. I have blogged about this many times. For me, weight has always just been an indicator of how healthy I am being. While I want to look good, I care more about how healthy I am. Even if I looked good in my clothes, losing and gaining the same 10-15 pounds back and forth is not healthy.

Growing up my parents always fed us very balanced meals. I didn't even have to think about it, good food was just given to me. We hardly ate out, and soda or candy was literally a treat, only being enjoyed a few times a month for a family movie night or birthday party. I was the epitome of health; eating right, and extremely athletic, playing up to three sports a year! Going off to college and making my own meals I felt like I could do whatever I wanted. Considering I was still young and very active, this didn't really affect me much. But that behavior was obviously not going to last forever, and eventually caught up with me.

I am an extremist, eating incredibly healthy, or completely falling off the bandwagon. This summer I feel like I hit my low in regards to my health. I started the year off great, losing thirteen pounds. But once I hit a good "goal weight," I fell into those same patterns of "Alright, I am good, I am done." The rest of the summer I just had a hay day enjoying myself. One night while out of town I became extremely sick. It was a very painful night, and I realized it was because of my poor nutrition choices. My body was done. Over it. I remember thinking, this is because of YOU. It was such a low point for me. The pain lasted for hours, and while I won't go into all the gory details, it was an extremely painful but effective lesson. I realized that I needed to make a change, a big one.

I learned that You. Are. Never. Done. giving your body what it needs. While food can be an enjoyable thing, ultimately it is our fuel. I wasn't giving my body what it needed to thrive, let alone live comfortably. I know that balance is the key, but finding a way to implement it in a lasting way over the years has been a challenge. This is the time of year where I usually pack on the weight, and I want to make sure this year is different. I guess I am trying to start a new years resolution now, kind of get a jump start to January? Like I mentioned before, I have never really had a problem staying active, but I want to make sure I continue that as well as start making better choices in regards to my diet. Has anyone else found some "secret" to maintaining the balance for the long haul? I have started to take note as to when and why I over eat and eat something really unhealthy back to back, I figured that is a good place to start? BAH!

GET THE LOOK:

STAYING ACTIVE - KOHL'S ACTIVE WEAR

TOP: C/O Kohl's New Balance (SIMILAR) 

BOTTOMS: C/O Kohl's BeUp (SIMILAR) 

SHOES: C/O Carnival, Nike Similar 2014 Version

My parents instilled an active lifestyle in me from a young age. I grew up playing sports, dancing, riding bikes, roller blading, running, going to the beach or going on hikes. In high school I played Basketball, Field Hockey, and was on Varsity Lacrosse for three years. I went from intense workouts everyday after school to moving away to college and seeing a significant shift in my activity. I was able to stay a little more active by being involved in club Lacrosse teams, but once I graduated from college and started working full time, having those same activities such as organized sports available to me were non-existent. I had to make more of a conscious effort to work out. Working out at a gym was pretty foreign to me, but I knew I needed stay active into adulthood, not only did I need it, my body craved it. It has taken me a few years to really get down a routine that works for me, but I feel like I have finally reached a place where I understand my adult body and what it needs to be at its best.

This time of year things get the most difficult for me. I am not alone, statistics say that the average American puts on 50% of their yearly weight gain during the holidays. I always put on the most weight from October through January. This year I want to really make an effort to combat that.

I have teamed up with Kohl's to share the different ways I stay active and healthy. I have decided to start a little health and fitness series on my blog. I have often blogged about these topics over the years, but will be making more of an effort during these months where it seems so challenging to stay on top of it. We could all use the reminder when the pies and candy start rolling around!

I think the biggest problem/excuse people make when it comes to working out is not having enough time. It can be so hard to find the time when you have a busy family, work full time, or both. Add the holiday season to all of that and we can pretty much excuse ourselves completely from finding time to stay physically active. I chose the phrase, physically active intentionally. Not everyone considers themselves an athlete. I believe anyone can be an athlete if they want to be, but the reality is not everyone enjoys working out or running. And I am here to tell you that you don't have to run a marathon to be fit and healthy! However, you do need to be physically active.

TAKE INVENTORY OF YOUR TIME

Sit down and take inventory of your day. How do you spend your time? Odds are there are gaps during your day where you COULD fit in some physical activity. If it is important to you, you will find the time. For example, I noticed that I liked to watch a t.v. show at the end of the night to unwind after work, it was an hour long program. If I am being totally honest with you, I often would watch two shows. That accounts for two hours out of my day! I know that when you come home from a long day at work that all you want to do is veg out, but I decided I could at least walk during that time. When I go to the gym, I usually do the stair master for an hour, while watching a show! I love killing two birds with one stone with this time saving method. I get the enjoyment of the show, but I am also sweating like a beast while I am doing it. If you want to tone it down, walk or do a light jog on the treadmill while you watch a show or read a book. I never feel guilty about taking the time to watch some t.v. if I am working out while doing it.

How to be Comfortable on Your Period + $100 GIVEAWAY!

We have all had that moment when we check the calendar, or we start to get a mild cramp, and we realize... it is that time of the month. You let out a sigh and know that you are going to have to endure another week of discomfort. If you are like me, you have shaken your fists into the air and asked why guys got such a lucky break!

 

I am going to get a little tmi right now, but seeing that pretty much all of my readers are women, I feel comfortable talking about this. Endometriosis runs in my family, and all of us girls have very long, painful, and heavy periods. We have been through it all in my family when it comes to the worst of the worst periods. Because of this, we have gathered different tips and tricks to help us find comfort during the most uncomfortable time of the month. Stayfree® pads has asked me to talk about the ways I find comfort during my period, and I figured since managing painful periods have been a part of my life, I would share the things that I do in case any of you could try something new!

 

HOW I FIND COMFORT DURING MY PERIOD

 

HEATING PAD - Oh my goodness! Heating pads were sent down from the heavens to save my life once a month. There are several different kinds of heating pads. I prefer an electrical one. I crank that puppy up to full blast and lay on top of it. The heat will loosen tight muscles and ease cramping. This has done wonders for me! My old roommate made a similar type of heating device by sewing up a small pillow case and filling it with rice. You just pop that in the microwave and voila, you have a heating pad that also molds to your body! 

 

WATER - STAY HYDRATED! This is key while on your period, I mean, it is pretty key no matter what time of the month it is, but it especially helps when you are on your period. Drinking enough water will speed up your digestion and help prevent water retention caused by monthly hormonal changes.

 

STAY ACTIVE - I know, I know. It is usually the LAST thing you want to do. And if I am being totally honest, the first few days of my period, being active is pretty much impossible for me. However, forcing yourself to get up and be active has proven to help alleviate period pain. Stretching your muscles and increasing your blood flow will give quick relief from cramps. Exercise also releases endorphins into your system so you feel more relaxed, and it helps prevent the tightening of muscles.

 

TEA - For me, tea has always been a huge comfort when my body is under the weather, and that totally applies to being on my period! Besides sneaking even more water into your day, there are so many health benefits to tea. I drink herbal teas, and like to have one before bed. My favorite is Echinacea tea. Cuddle up in a blanket, with a hot mug of tea and your favorite TV show and I am good to go!

 

COMFORT FOOD - While I wouldn't recommend this for your diet, it is nice on a really bad period day to indulge in your favorite treat. I happen to be an ice cream girl, butter finger to be exact ;) As you can see from the image above, this totally happens sometimes. And sometime we just need it to happen. I am not saying you through all caution to the wind a binge eat on macaroni and pizza rolls for a whole week, but sometimes, it is just comforting to enjoy in those things that make

 

BE PREPARD - We have all had a moment when we are not prepared for our period. It arrives earlier than expected, or we run out of tampons during the week, there is nothing worse! How many of us have a story where we were not prepared while on our period and you had that moment where you have to go home and change *cringe!* I have a cute little pouch that I carry around in all of my bags that hold tampons and pads. That way you can easily take the cute pouch with you to the bathroom without everyone at work, or school seeing you trying to hide your tampon. Having great products on hand are a must. Oh and don't forget a great pair of sweats! ;)

 

Inspired by high-performance fabrics, Stayfree® Ultra Thin® pads have flexible layers that move with your body and ThermoControl® technology to wick away moisture. So you'll stay dry and comfortable. Stayfree.® Keep Moving.™ To get $0.50 off any Stayfree® product, including Stayfree® Ultra Thin® pads, visit www.stayfree.com/special.
 
Enter for a chance to win a $100 Drugstore.com gift card!
Leave a comment below letting me how you pamper yourself for a chance to win a $100 Drugstore.com gift card!

Sweepstakes Condensed Rules:
No duplicate comments. Your household may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
 2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique
term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
No Purchase Necessary. This Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C. age 18 or older (19+ in AL & NE). Void elsewhere & where prohibited. Winners will be selected via random drawing, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules, by which entrants are bound, are available here. This Sweepstakes runs from 9/4-9/30.
Be sure to visit the Stayfree® brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
Sweepstakes is sponsored solely by BlogHer. Energizer Personal Care LLC is not a sponsor. Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Twitter.
© 2014 Energizer.     Stayfree and all other trademarks are owned by Energizer.
Bloggers were compensated for creating blog posts in this Stayfree® campaign.

 

5 Day Juice Cleanse and Giveaway with Just Organic Juice

It tastes like CHRISTMAS people, CHRISTMAS!

If you follow me on instagram @alyciagrayce you would know that a few weeks back I did a five day juice cleanse from Just Organic Juice! After watching the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead on Netflix one night, I was fascinated by the idea of juicing and health benefits you reap. I have always wanted to try one and see what it was like. I honestly wondered if juice could really satisfy me all day, let alone three or five days.

When Just Organic Juice contacted me about trying out one of their juice cleanses to review, I was pretty excited. I have always felt that juice cleanses were pretty pricey, and never wanted to commit to trying one without knowing if I was going to enjoy it let alone be able to drink just juice for five days straight. So this was my opportunity! I started with a three day cleanse and was going to let them know if I wanted to do a five day. I wanted to make sure I was feeling good and felt like I could really do a five day. After reviewing their site, I picked the Hard Boot Cleanse from Just Organic Juice. I wanted a step up from the beginner Soft Boot Cleanse because I have drank juices before and knew what to expect with how they tasted. The Hard Boot cleanse is also their signature cleanse,  and "JOJ’s signature (and most popular) cleanse, designed for an ambitious beginner or an experienced cleanser who needs to reboot metabolism and refocus energy on life extending habits. The “Hard Boot” Cleanse will flood your body with live enzymes, vitamins and minerals, give your body the digestive rest to clean house, and help you shed those extra pounds. JOJ’s legal counsel has required the following disclaimer however, please read, “WARNING: the ‘Hard Boot’ cleanse will leave you addicted to feeling great and wanting more.”

Okay, so where should I start? First and foremost, the juices were DELICIOUS! As someone who has tried several other juice brands, I can attest that JOJ is one of the most scrumptious, in fact, I would say it is the best tasting I have ever had. The grapefruit and mint juice was a total treat, and their AlmonDelight is seriously out of this world yummy. These two were by far my favorite and they are more like rewards during your day of juicing. My co-workers were pretty jealous every time I pulled my grapefruit and mint juice out in the morning! The AlmonDelight literally tastes like how Christmas smells, and I can honestly say that if everyone around me was eating ice cream and I had one of these juices I wouldn't even be tempted, it is that yummy.

The only negative side affect I got from the juice, wasn't really a negative to me, especially because it is expected. I had some liquidy poop (TMI), but that didn't even happen until after day three. Besides that I was pleasantly surprised that I has no negative side affects from the juices. I was always completely satisfied and never hungry. I didn't have any headaches, and felt like I had a ton of energy. Way more energy then I normally do that lasted into the night. It was amazing! It really was an eye opener because it showed me just how much of an addiction food is. I missed having a hot meal, and being able to chew. I realized how these sensations did nothing more than simply comfort me. I didn't miss the food itself, as much as the comfort it provided, and that was a huge wake up call to my eating habits. Once I was able to acknowledge that, it really wasn't difficult and I continued on to do the five day cleanse. I will note that I am not a huge beet fan, but the beet juice didn't bother me at all until day five. I think the monotony of the diet got to me with the beets, but it didn't matter because it was the last day! I also knew I had that AlmonDelight waiting for me!

I know everyone is wanting to know if I lost any weight, which I am sure peaks a lot of people's interest in doing a cleanse. But I want to make it clear that this is first and foremost about your health. I really learned a lot about my food triggers, emotional triggers, and what it means to really give my body the nutrition it requires to function at it's best. I tend to get bloated during the week when I am overeating, and I ended the five days feeling more alert, energized, and not bloated. I also lost six pounds! I personally think most of that was just water weight that I normally am retaining from poor eating habits. But even if I hadn't lost a pound it wouldn't have mattered because of how amazing I felt. As I type this I can tell you that I have been craving the juices. I can sense my body wants them and misses them. This experience has shown me that my body responds so well to juices and having more vegetables and fruits in my diet and that I need to give it that. Now that I know this, I am much more willing to spend money on juicing in my future. In fact, I am pretty dead set on buying a juicer now! haha I wont lie, I miss the convenience of having these juices delivered to my door (in the cutest bag by the way) and having all my meals just planned and done for the day. Talk about saving yourself A TON of time!

As JOJ says, "Organic juices and cleanses will serve most any purpose: jump start metabolism, change eating habits, flatten a belly for that special event, increase energy, improve mental clarity and performance, or simply provide peace of mind that you are giving your body an organic infusion of nature’s best to invigorate the body and mind for healthy living."

All I can say to that is YES, YES, YES! If you have ever thought about doing a juice cleanse, TRY IT! And today I am SO excited to host a giveaway for JOJ so that one of you can experience this as well. I really am excited for you guys. Today JOJ and I will be giving away a Three Day Juice Cleanse from Just Organic Juice.
 

It is super easy to enter, only four entries! Follow us via instagram and like our facebook pages :) God LUCK! and Happy Juicing!   

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#1800MinuteChallenge & Grand Prize

I have been really loving the balance I have found when it comes to eating better and working out. I feel like the biggest thing for me is just being CONSISTENT. If I don't do good one day, I don't need to throw everything out the window the next day. I can just start now. Getting over that has been my biggest challenge. And I have found that if you just commit to doing something every day, you will make so much more progress.

Erin came up with an amazing idea to start a challenge on instagram that will help motivate all of us to make sure we keep on moving! The instagram community can be such an encouraging and inspiring place, and we hope that we can all help motivate each other to be a little more active! Starting April 1st through May 31st we are committing ourselves and challenging others to being physically active for 1800 minutes total. If you do the math that rounds out to nearly 30 minutes a day. I for one work out a lot more then that anyways, but for some, they just need motivation to take the FIRST STEP, to just get started. I love this idea because it allows for so much freedom to do whatever you want. You can split it up, 20 minutes one day, 45 the next. Start at your comfort level, but just do something active.

Myself, Erin from Living in Yellow, Alissa from Alissa Circle, and Emily from The Freckled Fox, are joining forces in hopes that you will join us. 

All four of us will be focused on motivating, inspiring, and keeping this whole thing exciting for you over the next 60 days. My goal is to have thousands of us all come together over the next 60 days to get healthy, become stronger, and perhaps shrink a few inches off of the places that need it. Swimsuit season is right around the corner whether we want to believe it or not. 

Here's what you need to know: 

1. You will want to sign up to be a part of the challenge just so we know who is joining in on the fun (and so that you have a chance to win the amazing grand prize at the end of the sixty days). You can register here. 

2. Starting April 1st, you will be responsible for tracking your own progress. Don't worry, I've gotcha covered. After signing up for the challenge, you will receive a spreadsheet via email from me which will allow you to quickly track and total your minutes! 

3. Throughout the challenge use #1800MinuteChallenge on Instagram or Twitter so that those of us also participating can follow along and cheer you on. Make sure to follow @livinginyellow, @alissamcircle, @thefreckledfox and @alyciagrayce for occasional workout ideas, our favorite playlists, and extra tips + tricks on how to get your 1800 minutes in! 

4. At the end of the challenge (May 31st) those of you who have completed all 1800 minutes will email me your spreadsheet [livinginyellow@gmail.com]. On Monday, June 9th one winner will be drawn to receive the #1800MinuteChallenge grand prize. It's still a secret on what you will be receiving but don't worry, we will fill you in on the details as time goes on. Keep in mind that the best prize of all will be how great you feel and look at the end of the challenge. Our prizes will just be the cherry on top ;) 

Who's ready to do this thing?!

I'M LOVING : FITNESS WEAR

For this Things I am loving edition I decided to focus on Fitness wear and gear. While I haven't always been perfect, since the start of the year I have really developed a more balanced lifestyle. Eating better and working out more consistently has been my goal. I have learned that everything in life comes down to consistency. I have lost 10 pounds since February, and I feel amazing. Here are some different fitness wear and gear that I have been loving.

A. B. C. D. E. F.

Last year I saw that Forever 21 had been adding to their active wear collection. While shopping I stumbled across some capri yoga workout pants and was stunned at the quality and price. To this day those work out pants are my favorite and people always ask me about them. They are shocked when they hear Forever 21. Fit wear can get really pricey fast, and Forever 21 has developed an amazing collection of affordable and good quality active wear.

tid + bits of life via instaLOVE♥

It has been awhile since I did a tid + bits, and there really are a lot of random and fun little things going on these days. I feel like time is going by in warp speed! The end of law school is almost here, and Trevor has been extremely busy. More details on why soon ;) Since his time is so tight we have been really trying to utilize our time together. None of this sitting on the couch watching t.v. business. We have been trying to plan more active dates.

Last week we went rock climbing, and it was a total blast! Before we knew it we had been at the climbing gym for over three hours. Talk about an all over body work out. I think my arms are still sore. We were even able to fit in a ski weekend with Trevor's family. The night before we left we went to a pizza hot spot here in Provo called The Slab. So... Um... just so you guys know, a slab of pizza at The Slab is really two giant pieces of pizza. I thought I was getting two slices and Trevor thought he was getting three. No wonder it was so expensive! You should have seen the stares we got when our order filled up half of the table next to us! HA! 

See that beach? We are headed there in a few shorts months! We are going to THAILAND! I have always loved traveling, and will honestly admit how hard it has been to not be able to while we have been in school. I struggle with wanderlust on a weekly basis. One or the both of us have been in school since we met, so the fact that we will be done has had us itching for a big trip. Trevor has worked his butt off in school and deserves an amazing break and vacation. We also have our five year wedding anniversary coming up, so this is kind of just a big celebration trip! We will be going to Bangkok, the island of Koh Samui, and we are pretty sure we will also do Chiang Mai. Any tips or advice on where to eat, stay, go, etc. would be amazing! I am coming to you sea of internet people, let us know what we need to know for Thailand :)

I am still going strong on trying to eat a more balanced diet and work out consistently. I have lost 8 pounds since January, and inches *fist pump*. I currently love finding new and fun healthy recipes to make. I shared this incredible one on my instagram and though some of you may enjoy it as well. I love me my carbs and sweets and this one makes me feel like I am actually eating pancakes made with flour :)

STRAWBERRY AND BANANA PANCAKES

I made these scrumptious puppies with ONLY two eggs and a banana. Seriously.

DIRECTIONS: Blend 2 whole eggs, and 1 banana (ripe) together. I like to add a drop of vanilla flavoring or a dash of cinnamon. Then heat your pan to a LOW medium, with coconut oil or pam spray. These pancakes are delicate, so be careful when you are flipping them. Flip pancake once you see the edges start to harden, and little bubbles pop and form on the surface. This here is one serving, and I had already ate one of the other pancakes! I topped it off with a light spread of organic peanut butter, strawberries, and honey drizzle. Guilt free pancakes!

Stay in the LOOP and follow me on Instagram @alyciagrayce

Polar FT4 Review

Last May (whoa, where has the time gone?!) I did a review on my Polar FT4 watch. I also talked about this watch on a segment I did on the Daily Dish. Recently I have been getting a lot of questions regarding my watch, so I figured I would do an update and review the watch again but this time on my YouTube channel!

Hopefully this helps you decide if this watch is a good fit for you! I sure do love mine! :) Happy Health &Fitness!

 

Polar FT4 Watch 

I also updated my advertising spots! Check out the new $5.00 AD!

Xtend Barre Challenge

As I mentioned previously I believe that goal setting is huge for helping someone have will power in losing weight and developing healthy habits. So I have decided to undertake a pretty fun goal this month to whip me into shape.

At the end of the year I attended a bloggers night at the Xtend Barre in Provo. Holy Cow that work out was  KILLER. My butt was doing spasms during the work outs, HA! What is Xtend Barre you are asking yourself? The Xtend Barre Workout is the premier ballet barre workout… Dance and Pilates Amplified. I have always loved Pilates, and actually used to dance when I was younger, so I love the combination and the work out.

Laughed so hard when I saw this picture of me!

After the class the lovely ladies at Xtend Barre challenged me to attend three classes a week for a month and see what a difference it made. How could I pass up that kind of challenge? It will only benefit me! I have attend classes all last week and let me tell you, I can ALREADY see a difference in my strength and flexibility. I can't wait to see the difference at the end of the month.

Since I like to make things even more difficult for myself, I will also be attending my body pump class twice a week. Together along with being more committed to eating healthier, I think I can make some big strides at the start of 2014.

To keep things fun, I figured I would document my experience here, and share with you the results! So here we go, to a healthier me! I have already lost four pounds!WOOT WOOT!

Brand New Start...

It is pretty disappointing to start the new year off knowing you failed some of your goals. I made several health related goals last year that didn't stick. I started off last year with a confession, and to throw another confession in there, I am exactly where I was a year ago. Which is pretty disappointing.

I mentioned how I wanted to get healthier, and lose weight. I did that, but wasn't able to maintain it. I said I didn't want to gain weight over the holidays, I did, and am a little heavier then I even was when I originally posted last year about my weight. I even said I wanted to get in the best shape I have been in as an adult before my next birthday. I am not in the best shape I have been in as an adult, and I still have problems with yo-yoing with my weight. I technically have a little less then a month left before my 25th birthday, so I plan on giving it my all this month to see if I can at least still say I tried and got close to accomplishing No.2 on my list. It is amazing what I have seen people do with just even one month of strong dedication.

I was raised in a family that was always very athletic and pretty dang healthy. I played sports all though out my childhood, and into high school. For that kind of start in life I couldn't be more thankful. I was taught that eating right and staying active was incredibly important. 

When I started college however I got very excited about the fact that I could eat whatever I wanted. I remember one week I ate my favorite, macaroni and cheese, straight for a week. Why? Because I could, and there was no one there that could tell me no.

For the first time in my life I wasn't playing a sport. Combine that with a teenager being able to eat whatever they want, and you know why people gain the freshman fifteen. After the first semester I had gained about ten pounds. I knew I needed to make a change, and I soon started going to the gym on campus. There was something rather depressing about the gym. You were so alone. I missed being on a team, and having someone like a coach and my teammates push me further then I thought I could go by myself. 

Over the last seven years I have gained and lost, gained and lost. The back and forth in learning how to get it right as my body changes from a teenager to an adult. Trying to teach myself to be my own coach, my own teammate. No one is going to give me that but myself.

It can be hard these days to eat right and stay consistent when processed foods are just easier. It can be hard to motivate yourself to workout when you have worked all day and your favorite show is on. Staying consistent in the world we live in can be a huge challenge. I have decided to make my health a huge priority of 2014.

I really want to make the commitment to treat my body better, consistently. I want to love my body, I want to be healthy. I truly do believe that our bodies are our personal temples given to us from our Heavenly Father. We live in a time where it is almost easier to treat it poorly. To feed ourselves with unhealthy junk and be lazy. I fight this everyday, and I want to truly make a change.

I have found that setting very specific goals help me have better will power. Along with that, I have Trevor, who will also be joining me in getting in shape and living a healthier lifestyle. I know it seems like I have had so many false starts. I have blogged about this countless times. But I guess that is just an example of how a lot of us feel about weight loss and getting healthy. Like we have tried countless times, and it hasn't really "stuck" yet. But if we don't keep on trying, it never will have the chance to stick.

So here is to 2014 and doing everything I can to have it stick! Even if it means actually SHOWING you my progress as I go. I find that when you make your goals public, you are more likely to achieve them and feel accountable to them. So stay tuned...

Now to brighten up your day a little bit go enjoy some Sunshine!

Want to see your AD here?