Rest Day And New Beauty Finds

 

I ran a little over six miles yesterday morning. I felt so super great that I decided there must be something to the whole don’t-run-too-many-days-in-a-row-and-make-sure-you-crosstrain-thing.

Today is a rest day. Want to occupy me for a bit?

I don’t know what to do with myself when my routine is off. Maybe I should clean the bathrooms. Or organize a closet. Or bake. Or maybe clean and then bake or, which makes more sense, bake and then clean.

A normal person would have just chosen to stay in bed and sleep a bit longer. I never claimed to be normal.

The race is Sunday morning but I am heading into the city a bit later today to pick up my number,  check out the Race Expo and then land myself at the Blue Water Grill for dinner.

However, before I go,  I may need to stop at Whole Foods because I ran out of my facial cleanser.

Yes, I realize I was just at Whole Foods last week but I kind of sort of on purpose forget things as an excuse to go back to the food bar.

I haven’t done a skincare/cosmetic post in a while so let’s take a look at what I have been using and really loving these days.

I know I say it over and over but the Whole Foods 365 skincare line is terrific.

1. Whole Foods 365 Facial Cleanser – For $5.99, you just can’t beat it. Free from the parabens and funky ingredients, there is no reason to use a facial cleanser from a department store beauty counter. Save where you can.

2. Whole Foods 365 Body Moisturizer – For $5.99 once again, no reason to use anything else. I find this moisturize super hydrating for the body and it is free from scents, parabens and all the bad things.

Clinique Products:

You may recall that I gave up my favorite skincare products along with my Dior addiction last year in favor of removing all allergens and parabens from my cosmetics and skincare.

I never imagined that I would replace my makeup/skincare with so many products from Clinique and be happy at the same time.

3. Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer with SPF – Love this product. I have been using it every single day for a year now and have no plans to switch it up. It totally subs as a foundation, is super light, nongreasy and includes an SPF of  15.

4. Clinique Super Daily Defense Moisturizer with SPF 20 – I switched to this moisturizer about a month ago and have been very happy. I was actually surprised to read not-so-fabulous reviews of this formula on their website but everyone is so different; I happen to really like it and I am pretty picky.

5. Clinique RepairWear Intensive Night Cream –  It’s richer than a day cream but not overly thick or greasy; absorbs right into the skin while hydrating and doing it’s thing.

I find it ironic to note my skin appears more hydrated now than when I used the higher-end (and much more expensive) moisturizers.

 Guerlain:

I have mentioned my newfound love of Guerlain, which is in the same family of companies as Dior but made without parabens and other allergens that have bothered my skin in the past.

While I prefer Clinique’s moisturizers (explain it, I can’t), Guerlain’s cosmetics are terrific and I recently added two new items to my routine.

6.  Hydrating Lip Shine is ridiculous and you need it. Super hydrating like no other lipstick I have ever placed on my lips, the color goes on beautifully and doesn’t get sticky. In fact, you don’t even know it is there except for feeling as though you just hydrated your lips with a great lip balm.

And the way it comes out of the tube is kind of cool too.

7.  Cils D’enfer Maxi Lash Mascara – Even if you can’t pronounce it, you need it. I just love how it glides right over the lashes without a clump while lengthening and curling without making you look like some tarantula.

I swore by Dior Iconic for years which was lovely and all but this mascara from Guerlain is much better.  Not to mention, it comes off pretty easy when you go to remove it without irritating your eyes which was always an allergy issue for me.

On my radar:

This Terracotta Four Seasons Bronzer from Guerlain.

I tried it in Bloomingdales recently and loved the various shades of bronzer plus the pop of pink color in the palette. Once I run out of the bronzer I currently use, I will go back to buy this.

It sound so silly but I really look forward to a new nail polish. I take my time selecting my color of the week and love pedicure season for the various shades of deep pinks and lavenders I alternate between.

Essie’s new Romper Room looks like a good time for the fingers; has anyone tried it yet?

So I have a feeling I will be popping in before the race on Sunday. I have yet to finalize what I am wearing and my running playlist is incomplete.

I feel all sorts of weird knowing that my usual long run tomorrow morning is capped at three miles so I guess I can fill that extra time with getting everything in order.

Have a great weekend!

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I was not compensated in any way for this post; I just like sharing what I like and all thoughts/opinions are my own.

Who else is running the More/Fitness Women’s Half on Sunday?

Favorite cosmetics/skincare at the moment?

Favorite Essie color?

 

 

 

 

What My Friend Ate Wednesday

 

Today’s What I Ate Wednesday post should really be called “What My Friend Ate Wednesday” instead.

One of my best friends (and loyal blog reader) decided last week that she wanted to “clean” up her diet. As she said to me, “It’s not that I eat fried, fast foods or even feel the need to lose weight – I just want to start watching my intake of processed ingredients and learn a bit more of how to eat healthy and prepare new-to-me meals without monitoring points from Weight Watchers every time I think my pants start to feel different.”

I don’t talk diets or points too much here because I don’t like to preach at anyone, especially my friends (which all of you are!). But, when asked directly, I will offer my advice.

She requested a shopping list based upon what I knew she would like:

• Fruits and Vegetables – both fresh and frozen – carrots too even though she tells me they are higher in points
• Whole Foods Bulk Bins: oats and quinoa
• Whole Foods 365 brand condiments of choice
• Ezekiel Bread
• Brown rice
• Whole Wheat Pizza Dough
• Chick peas, lentils, black beans, kidney beans
• Organic or at least the hormone free lean meat and poultry
• Meatless products for the freezer including veggie burgers, meatless meatballs, chicken-type tenders etc.
• Organic and/or hormone free Greek yogurt, eggs, liquid egg whites, cheese
• Frozen greek yogurt – Stonyfield

I had no intention for this to become a post but she was so excited after her trips to Publix and Whole Foods that suddenly the pictures of her meals starting hitting my iPhone.

BREAKFAST:

Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats cooked with mashed banana and fresh blueberries (I believe in water with perhaps some skim milk).

My thoughts: Delicious but missing the peanut butter. She has nut allergies which I can’t hold against her.

Next time I would like to see her cook some egg whites into the oats for added protein and the fullness factor.

LUNCH:

Since she works full-time in a school, she gave some thought to her meals on Sunday and prepared her lunches for a few days.

Brown rice mixed with a variety of vegetables, meatless meatballs and a mix of tomato paste/tomato sauce.

Since the Trader Joe’s has yet to open in her area (expected to open in May!), I directed her to Whole Foods (and Publix) to locate the 365 brand or Gardein for basically the exact same frozen products.

Like the chickenless tenders for example? I am telling you, these are the exact same item.

While she isn’t looking to become a vegetarian, she did ask for options that didn’t involve chicken as her protein source. Besides beans, dairy products and working with tofu, I told her to get a few of the frozen meatless products to start with. My goal is to get her to make her own meatless meatballs like I started doing and freeze a batch so that she has them readily available.

DINNER:

Throughout the day she told me she had a greek yogurt for snack along with cut cantaloupe, a banana and an apple. She said she kept snacking to ensure she wouldn’t arrive home ravenous. Smart girl, I know – that’s why we are friends.

She wasn’t starving but has fallen in love with the Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel Bread so she made grilled cheese (Horizon Organic she tells me) with a side of mixed vegetables and sliced banana while she prepared it. I think she has a thing for bananas.

Would I be full from this? Not a chance but everyone is different.

DESSERT:

She took my advice and bought the Stonyfield Organic Greek Frozen Yogurt.

Worth every penny I tell you, especially if you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you to buy their frozen greek yogurt.

I must interrupt this post to inform you all that I just got the call that school is closed yet again due to the weather.

I. Just. Can’t.

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Please tell me someone else wants to hide in a closet from all of these snow days?

What are you having for breakfast today?

Tell me three items currently in your freezer? Sweet potato tots, frozen vegetables and raw cookie dough just waiting to be baked at some point.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the What I Ate Wednesday fun!