Let's Talk Juicing!

Right off the bat, my diet is something I've always struggled with. I'm constantly reaching for sweets or oversalted snacks and neglecting the leafy greens and barely know how to peel a tangerine.

I do get a little better about hydrating when in training mode, but I know I could do better. According to the 80/20 rule, I could actually work out less if I put more effort into eating cleaner. Which, I did none of while in Nashville. No regrets either way.

via jusbyjulie.com

Since this year is turning out to be a huge one for me I'm going to put more of an effort to eat cleaner, hydrate more, and work out smarter. If you're interested, I could share more of what I'm eating. Until then, I'm keeping track of my meals & water intake with my Fitbit.

After making this commitment it's time to clean the slate which I tend to do by juicing. Now, I'm not the best at juicing and find it extremely hard but mama didn't raise no quitter. 

Now there are tons of Juice companies out there, but I wanted to keep it local and with one that never disappoints when it comes to 100% blended goodness - Jus by Julie. They were kind enough to send out a one-day cleanse to test out. Unfortunately, I lasted about four hours before supplementing my cleanse with lots of steamed veggies.

via jusbyjulie.com

But here are a few tips to ensure your best cleanse yet:

1. Be Prepared
This means avoiding any fried or processed foods (including alcohol) a few days prior to your cleanse. During this time, you should also be drinking lots of water and getting in quality sleep. By the way, the above is guaranteed to give you glowing skin from the inside out if you make it a lifestyle change.

2. Right Timing
If you want to be successful, make sure the timing is right. A day following vacation or during an intense training period might not be the prime choice. Instead, aim for a day that is low-key and will allow you to focus on the cleanse. Next time I cleanse I'll opt for a Sunday which has always been reserved as my homebody day.

3. Be Easy on Yourself
Just because I didn't complete the cleanse as it was structured out doesn't mean I failed. Look at the positives - I fueled my body with amazing good-for-me ingredients and hydrated along the way. At the same time, I learned a lot about how my body works and figured cleanses are better once a season (for me) and that getting a few key weekly juices (Dr. Green & Açai Blend are my current faves) in works better. And it's super easy to incorporate Jus by Julie into my week with their super easy subscription service or by simply walking into one of their four locations.

What's your take on juicing and are you incorporating it into your lifestyle?

Learn more about these guys at jusbyjulie.com or visit one of their locations here.

Must Try: Soothe

I did it. I tried Soothe, an on-demand massage service. I know that makes me sound so bougie, but I can guarantee I'm so not. If anything, I'm just a working professional hating my desk situation and how it always tenses up my neck and shoulders.

When I first transitioned to the 9-to-5 desk grind I was so ecstatic to start working in a stable environment (compared to production). What I didn't realize was how much my posture would suffer and how important it is to have an ergonomic setup. I learned this all the hard way and ended up seeing a Physical Therapist shortly after. One thing my PT did suggest was to get massages as a way to soothe tense muscles and help alleviate any pain in between our visits or when needed.

Unfortunately, this homie doesn't trust just anybody nor did I have the time to keep commuting to a reliable massage therapist.

Enter Soothe. You can book massages (60, 90, or 120 minutes) for a flat rate (tip is already included in the price) and get the service done in your home/work/wherever. I decided to book a massage for Easter weekend since I was feeling particularly stressed out - JK, that's every weekend.

Booking the massage was super easy on their app. Create an account or log in via Facebook. Select the massage type (deep tissue, Swedish, sports, or prenatal), how long you want it for, the time and date, gender preference, and then confirm your details. Easy peasy. I must add that app's design is so seamless - so bravo to the team that created it.

Now for my favorite part - the actual experience and soothing massage. My licensed and vetted massage therapist (Hi Alicie!!) came to my sister's home with her own table, lotions, and equipment. I requested the Deep Tissue initially, but before we began Alicie educated me on the differences between all three massages (except prenatal because obvi). I ended up switching to a Swedish massage since Deep Tissue was a little too deep for my liking. After that, we proceeded with a blissful 90-minute massage in which the last 20 minutes I spent asleep. Yes... I fell asleep on her and it was the best sleep (nap?) I had in all of March.

If you're thinking this is only an NYC thing and therefore not applicable to you, I have some great news. It's not! Soothe is available in 26 cities across the country. They also offer couple massages and you could surprise someone lucky with a gift card to try it as well.

As for me, I am definitely doing this again after getting settled into my apartment. It's too easy and convenient not to. I'm not a baller so I can't afford to do it every week, but it's something I will definitely add into my monthly routine. My sister who was home during all of this was thoroughly impressed and has an appointment lined up as well.

Soothe Hours & Tidbits:
They come to your home, office, or hotel within an hour
Hours: M-S 8a-12a

www.soothe.com

Editor's Note: The photos I shot of myself were a little too naked for my liking and the interwebs, so decided to go with Soothe's images instead :).

Four Easy Steps to Getting Perfect Pores

My infatuation with Asian beauty and skincare started a couple of years ago. So it was a dream, A DREAM, you guys when Peach & Lily reached out to me about this amazing product launch from Caolion. (I may or may not have teared up while reading their email because I’m a freak like that.) 

I still have not ventured out to Flushing to visit their first brick & mortar store but plan to in the very near future (i.e. tomorrow). Although it’s a bit of a trek, I would totally go for their skin analysis machine and the ability to test out cult beauty favorites they carry from Korea and Japan. Try before you buy na mean. After shopping, I’d obviously dine in that neighborhood too since the cuisine is so bomb - but that’s a post for another day.

Peach & Lily curates and sells some of the most innovative products on the market. So, it’s no surprise they’re teaming up with Caolion (my favorite) to sell their Perfect Pores Kit (a total of 3 masks) at a special price with a cleanser included for free. If you want to be daring you could buy each separately for a total of $35ish or be shop smart at Peach & Lily for $84 (was $106).

“But what exactly are pore packs?” 

GOOOORL, I am so happy you asked cause we about to get into it.

Pore packs (essentially masks) work to clear your pores of all the dirt and grit that creep into skin. At the same time, these masks are so heralded because they don’t strip your skin of hydration.  If you’re looking to tighten and “de-clutter” your pores, these are a better (& less painful) solution compared to rip-off strips.

This pore pack set comes with a Freshly Chitosan Foam Cleanser, Premium Blackhead Steam Pore Pack, Premium Original Pore Pack, and Pore Tightening Memory Sleeping Mask. This might sound like a lot at once but I gotchu and we’re going through this one by one – get your shopping cart ready boo.

Freshly Chitosan Foam Cleanser
Before applying any mask, you got to get rid of that top layer of grime. (Taking this opportunity to remind everyone to always wash your face before bed – even if it means using a makeup remover wipe). I tend to use a makeup remover wipe before a cleanser but to put this to test, I bypassed that step and used this instead to see how effectively it removed everything. It did. Although, my face did feel a little tight after use it did leave my face feeling a little tight but refreshed nonetheless.

Premium Blackhead Steam Pore Pack
Alright, I’m going to be totally honest here and say I’m fully stocked on this and the Original Pore Pack for the next three years. I’ve already known of this cult classic, tried it, and fell in love with the powerful duo. The Premium Blackhead Steam Pore Pack is a bubbling self-heating clay mask that works to deeply cleanse your skin. It’s made of 100% natural sparkling water, charcoal powder, and natural oat grains, which gently buff dead skin cells while keeping you hydrated. In the end, you’re left with firmer-looking skin.

Premium Original Pore Pack
After you get the gunk out, you slather on the cooling Original Pore Pack, which tightens up enlarged pores, calms, and revitalizes your skin. This purifying mask is made with Glacial clay, Alaskan glacial water, and menthol.  I absolutely love using this solo on a hot summer day for the cooling sensation alone – so good! After one use (or at least on me), your skin is left with a luminous healthy glow.

Pore Tightening Memory Sleeping Mask
The last and final step, and only before bedtime, is applying the Pore Tightening Memory Sleeping Mask. Sleeping masks are generally used to intensely hydrate your skin, as you guessed it, sleep. These masks are not messy and won't leave stains on your pillow. Think of it as a heavier night cream that gets massaged into your skin. (P.s. No needs to use your moisturizer when using a sleeping mask.) You will, however, wake up with soft, dewy skin. I tend to use one twice a week, but when the temps drop so does my usage. This product is new to me so I was extra-excited to sleep in this. It’s advertised as using a shape memory technology, but if we’re being honest I have no idea what that means. I do know that I woke up with brightened and tightened skin and went barefaced to work because of how amazing my skin looked.

My general consensus after trying out Caolion’s Perfect Pores Kit – obsessed with the results. For those of you looking to tighten pores or add masking to your regime, I’d highly recommend diving head first into this kit. And yes, the kit was gratis but like I said before – I already own loads of the Pore Pack duo because it does work.