recipe for getting grounded

with the stressed-out craziness that tends to dominate our lives, sometimes we have to remind ourselves to get grounded.  stay present.  and take care of ourselves.  here are a few simple ways to embrace the here and now and slow down.

eat this: summer is a great time to enjoy fresh, local foods.  whole foods, like fruits and veggies, are filled with nutrients and antioxidants that leave us feeling healthy and refreshed.  my favorite seasonal treat lately?  cherries!

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do this: take time for yourself.  my favorite "grounding" activity is yoga.  with all the breath work and concentrated focus on the poses, it keeps your mind present.  every time i leave class, i feel mentally (and physically) lighter.

wear this: give yourself a break from the high heels and skirts.  barefoot it and pull on a pair of comfy yoga pants or your favorite t-shirt.  we don't always have to be glamazons.

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drink this: water (or sparkling water) with fresh fruit.  after all the summer bbqs, vacations and cocktails with the girls, we definitely need a bit of a detox.  h2o keeps you hydrated and revitalizes your skin & organs...but, it can get a little monotonous drinking 64oz a day...  so, infuse it with flavor.  squeeze an orange wedge into your glass, add some mint and cucumber slices or a bit of fresh ginger.  water is boring no more : )

what do you do to get grounded?

interested in "cutting the crap" on your plate, in your head and in your life?  read about the maven movement here..

om monday: yoga pants

hello mavens!  i hope you all had a terrific weekend and are enjoying the 1st day of august.  (can you believe it's august already?!)  as i mentioned in friday's post about blogging your way to the front row, i'm loving the new ideas the book has regarding building your blog/brand.  that said, i'm going to make a subtle change to lifestyle maven.  every week, i'll have recurring post themes:

om monday - covering yoga and healthy living inspiration
foodie wednesday - recipe or similar food-related post
happy hour friday - cocktail recipes & weekend fun

tuesday & thursday will remain open for posts on a whim.  so, without further ado, om monday commences : )

as you know, i <3 yoga and practice several times a week.  (i actually just got back from vinyasa yoga class as i write this.)  this love affair did not bloom overnight, but has taken time to develop and grow.  but, no matter how seasoned you are, novice or full-out yogi, there is one must.  yoga pants.  (they will instantly make you feel more zen.)

with all the inverted poses one finds oneself in during a typical class, it's much more comfortable to wear fitted yoga pants rather than shorts or looser fitting pants.  even if you're just beginning your yoga practice, i highly recommend investing in a pair (or two).  they're inexpensive, and you'll feel much more comfortable in class.  and, even if you never attend another yoga class again in your life, i guarantee you'll get good use out of them.  i often find myself sporting mine on days when class is not on the schedule...

so, where to buy them?  the latest pairs i purchased were from victoria's secret.  they often have sales or deals if you buy more than one pair.  plus, they have lots of cute colors and patterns, so you can select which ones best reflect your yoga style : )  you can also find (more serious) options at gaiam as well as a lot of other yoga products - like mats, blocks, etc.  and, of course, you can usually locate yoga-style pants at kohl's, target and marshalls.  (so now you have no excuse not to get yourself some asap!)

namaste.

do you <3 yoga (pants) too?.

sparkle

remember how last week i put a teaser in my m.i.a. post about a product that craig & i are developing?  well, today - yes, TODAY - is the official launch!

as i said before, it's a beauty product that capitalizes on a major fad right now, and i gave you one  clue.  ok, one clue: "pale will be the new tan".

drum roll please..........

www.sparklesunscreen.com

sparkle sunscreen is lotion with spf 30 & glitter - to make you both pale and dazzling - just like the vampires from the ever popular twilight saga : )  cool right?

the 100ml tube is only $9.95 and available exclusively online at www.SparkleSunscreen.com.  it's a limited quantity product so if you're a twi-hard, or know one, act fast because it'll only be available for a limited time.

i hope that you visit the sparkle site or follow us on twitter or like us on facebook.  or all three!

if you're a hardcore fan, you may even want to grab the sparkle button below - created by yours-truly.  so, spread the word & get your sparkle on : )

<center><a href="http://sparklesunscreen.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb403/cailenascher/sparklebitemebutton.jpg" /></a></center>.

m.i.a.

i know i've been a little m.i.a. lately.  my 5 posts per week have dropped to 2 or 3.  but, the truth is, some very exciting things are on the horizon that have diverting my attention elsewhere (momentarily).  i figured i might as well fill you all in on what's going on since you're probably wondering where i've been...

see, i'm still here!

(1) i'm developing (along with craig's business guidance) a very cool product that should be launching within the next couple of weeks.  this beauty product that we've been working on capitalizes on a major fad right now, so we're really excited to see where it goes.  (i know that's a tease, but i'll certainly keep you all posted as to when it's available!  ok, one clue.  pale will be the new tan.)  want to be notified when the product site launches?  leave your email address in a comment below.

(2) i've been contacting publishers about a cookbook i'm writing, entitled vegetables & vodka.  it highlights healthy (veggie-based) dinner recipes & low-cal cocktails to promote a life of healthy balance.  i'm also working with fellow lifestyle and healthy living bloggers to gather recipe submissions for the final book.  thanks to you all for your interest and contributions!!!

(3) lifestyle maven is starting a movement.  the maven movement promotes "cutting the crap" - on your plate, in your head and in your life.  it's meant to empower women to take charge and simplify their lifestyle and food choices in order to cultivate health and unearth happiness.  and, of course, be simply fabulous, too.  (see the button to the left just below my picture?  give it a click for more info.)

so, mavens, you can see why i've been a little preoccupied lately.  i hope you'll forgive my absence and stay tuned for all the simply fabulous things that await.

cheers!
cailen.