Tag Archives | morning routine

My Weekend Morning Routine

February 23, 2018 in Lifestyle

I’ve talked about my weekday morning routine for Monday through Friday before, including early wake-up calls and detox shots. Today I wanted to share my relaxed, weekend morning routine with you. It certainly varies from week to week depending on travel and plans, but this is a general idea of how things tend to go.

6am-7am:

I’m not a great sleeper-inner and unfortunately l rarely sleep past 7am on weekends. Regardless of when I go to bed. So on weekends I’m usually waking up around 6am or 7am and heading straight into the kitchen. I like to do my apple cider vinegar concoction {2 tbsp ACV, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp ginger, cayenne & turmeric} to wake me up, or I’ll start with a Farmhouse Culture Gut Shot and my Reserveage Vegan Collagen. I also really like the Kora Organics Noni Glow Skinfood supplements and I’m completely obsessed with Detox Organics, both of which are a great way to start the morning.

My Weekend Morning Routine San Francisco Bay Area Fashion Food Fitness Lifestyle Blogger

8am-9am:

I am, by nature, a morning workout person. Due to my early weekday schedule I don’t get the chance to workout in the mornings. {There was a period where I woke up at 4am to hit the gym before work, but I realized that I need sleep more than I need to workout first thing!}

That means I take full advantage on weekend mornings and tackle something first thing. So before breakfast, but after my first cup of tea, I’ll get moving. On Saturday mornings I’ll take a class, or two, at MNT Studios, go to Barry’s Bootcamp SOMA, or use my apartment building’s gym for a bodyweight or weights session.

On Sundays I will go for a run. I’ve been spoiled since moving to South Beach and have miles and miles of flat terrain now for weekend runs {I was in Telegraph Hill before!} 5-7 miles is my go to, but if I’m preparing for a race I may do a few more.

10am-11am:

My set eating schedule goes out the window on weekends and I frequently don’t break my fast until 10am or 11am. After a workout or a run I’ll head back to the kitchen, have some water, and start making breakfast. I’ve been living for this vegan scramble recipe lately and on weekends I have the time to play around with it more. I love adding whatever veggies I have on hand, I’ll even chuck in whatever roasted veggies are in the fridge. It’s packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, and keeps me full for a few hours.

Do YOU have a set weekend morning routine? Or is it constantly changing?

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A Morning Routine & Greeting the Day

April 18, 2016 in Lifestyle

We’ve all heard the expression “woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” And truthfully, most of us have probably experienced that. Your day just gets off to a bad start or you didn’t get enough sleep or you’re just downright cranky.

It happens.

But there are ways to help mitigate the fallout and smooth out the start to your day. I’ve chatted about my Morning Routine before and shared a few of my favorite ways to show self-care, which include tips for starting your day off right. Today I want to talk a bit more about this and tell you how I help improve my mornings when I’m up early and out the door immediately.

Morning Routine Meditation Relaxation Stress San Francisco Bay Area Fashion Food Fitness Lifestyle Blogger

My schedule and the demands on my mornings have changed dramatically over the years. At one point I was spending more time at home in the mornings, at another I was going to the gym at 4:30am each day… But things change, and as a result, your morning routine should evolve to suit your evolving needs and capabilities.

I wish that I could tell you that I meditate in my beautiful garden and then watch the sun come up while sipping homemade green juice. But that would be a lie. Not only do I not have a garden, but it’s also dark for a few hours after my alarm goes on. These days, I’m up around 5am and out the door in about 10 minutes. For me, the most important thing that I can do to ensure a smooth and crisis-free morning, is to plan ahead.

That means laying out my clothes, planning breakfast, packing things that need to come with me, and just generally thinking about my morning the night before.

Once I’m settled at the office I make time in my schedule for meditation and my gratitude journal – Both important parts of my morning. I also focus on water and my favorite detox drink in the morning before caffeine to make sure my body is ready for the day.

Now let’s hear from the experts!

Kris Carr, the bad ass behind Crazy Sexy Cancer, shares her 5 Simple Morning Rituals for Energy and Mental Clarity, and it’s a Must Read.

Oprah’s go-to guy, Deepak Chopra, is also a fan of getting the best possible start to the day. Check out his post on How to Make the Most of Your Mornings.

Want a few ideas to get you started? Check out Mind Body Green’s 5 Morning Rituals to Start Your Day With Magic.

What about YOU? How do you spend your mornings?

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Nighttime Ritual

January 20, 2016 in Lifestyle

I’m a huge fan of The Daily Love and loved one of their latest videos so much I just had to share – These rituals are the difference between success and failure.

I couldn’t agree more that you morning and nighttime rituals are extremely important for setting the tone for your day. And truthfully, your life. Yes, there are going to be bad days. Yes, there are going to be extraordinarily early mornings.

But how you prepare yourself is the key to making those bad days more bearable and those good days even better.

I’ve shared my Morning Routine before – From walking to work to detox shots – So today I’m going to share my nighttime ritual.

I’ve had sleeping issues since college – Confessions of a Former Insomniac – So I’ve long been aware of the importance of having a relaxing nighttime regime to help promote quality sleep. As I’ve learned more about health, nutrition, and myself, I’ve added new things to my routine.

Food – I try not to eat too close to bedtime, especially a carb-heavy meal. A full stomach keeps me awake and after a carby dinner I’ll wake up starving the next morning.

Nighttime Ritual San Francisco Bay Area Fashion Food Fitness Lifestyle Healthy Living Blogger Bubble Bath Natural Calm Relax Sleep

Drink – I mix a magnesium based drink every night called Natural Calm. Not only does it promote relaxation, but you can get it fortified with extra calcium. I can’t recommend this highly enough, even more so than melatonin.

Lights – I have an app on all my electronics that dims them starting at 6pm so that if I happen to check my phone or laptop, I’m not shocked back into wakefulness by the bright screen. I also start dimming the lights all over my apartment so that I’m in the mood for bed.

Entertainment – While I’ll occasionally have a movie or show on for background noise if I’m writing at night, I try to turn everything off an hour before bed and pick up – GASP – A book. I have my weekend books and my weeknight books to make sure that I don’t grab something too exciting or stimulating that I’ll stay up all night to finish.

Yes, that has happened.

More than once.

Nighttime Ritual San Francisco Bay Area Fashion Food Fitness Lifestyle Healthy Living Blogger Bubble Bath Natural Calm Relax Sleep

{Images from Health Pinterest Board}

Relax – Every night I take a bath. Sometimes it’s five minutes, sometimes it’s thirty. Just depends on the night. On a good night I break out the candles, my book, and essential oils, so by the time I’m done I’m ready to hop into bed.

Bedtime – I’ve slept with earplugs in for years and they’re still an important part of my routine. They block out the little noises, like my cats, that would normally keep me from falling asleep.

Tell me – Do YOU have a nighttime ritual?

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Morning Routine

August 28, 2013 in Fashion, Fitness, Food

Whether you’re a morning person or a snooze-button person there’s something calming and relaxing about the perfect morning routine. Not only does it set the tone for the rest of the day, it gets you out the door prepared to conquer the world.

I love the comfort of routine and I love the silence and peace of early mornings. When I wake up in the mornings I like to keep it simple – I wash my face with cold water to revive my skin and then head to the kitchen for a little morning detox drink {1 Tbsp lemon juice + 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar +1/8 Tsp each Turmeric, Cayanne & Ginger}.

Morning-Detox-Drink

Then I’m out the door in my gym clothes for a mile walk to my office. I look forward to this walk every day – For that twenty minutes I get the city all to myself. The city is still sleeping, the streets are quiet and empty, and I can enjoy my city in silence.

After a brief stop at my desk to get through my inbox I head to the gym for 10-20 minutes of stretching, rolling out, core, and/or some quick yoga poses. Nothing strenuous, I just like to have those few minutes to myself to warm up my muscles and prepare for the day.

Once I’m back at my desk I’ll have another glass of warm water with lemon juice and then either a peppermint green tea or a non-dairy capucchino. While I’m not an intermittent fasting junkie I do like to wait a few hours for breakfast and will usually have a protein-packed smoothie after my mid-morning weight training session.

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My breakfast smoothie can vary though usually it contains a combination of the following fresh, organic ingredients: Kale or spinach, ginger, sweet potato, vegan/gluten-free protein powder, mint, and lemon juice.

What’s your morning routine?

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Links You’ll Love

October 22, 2012 in Fashion, Fitness, Food, Links You'll Love

Fashion:

Outerwear is always one of my favorite parts about dressing for Fall, and with all of the fun patterned and colorful blazers in stores this season I’m even more excited than usual. Not sure where to start? Time to check in with the experts! The Glitter Guide’s Fall Shopping Guide: Blazers.

One of my new favorites to keep an eye on during Fashion Month is Russian designer and photographer Ulyana Sergeenko. Her style is dramatic, eye-catching, and perfectly over-the-top. And luckily for us fashion lovers she’s just one of many chic up and coming Russian fashionistas making the scene these days! You’ll thank me after you check out all of these lovely ladies in Bougeotte’s Modern Russian Czarinas Are Being Born.

Beauty lovers have been buzzing about the new Courtin-Clarins beauty blog that launched last month. If you haven’t gotten a chance to see what these French beauties have to say now’s the time! WhoWhatWear – The Scoop: Claire & Virginie Courtin-Clarins.

Patterned pants and all-over-prints on suits and shorts suits are all things that I’m excited to wear this Fall and next Spring, so why not check out some fabulous versions worn lately to get you in the mood? The Next Evolution of Fashion’s Print Obsession: The Printed Suit.

I recently discovered a fun new fashion blog that I’d love to share – Advanced Style was created by Ari Seth Cohen and celebrates the fabulous fashion of the older generations. As someone who grew up on Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant movies, couldn’t wait to start working after college so I could have a formal wardrobe, and dresses up to travel – this is right up my alley. I love the formality and classic approach to fashion celebrated  by previous generations and this website is a great place to find stunning photographs of just that. Enjoy!

Health & Fitness:

I remember thinking at 18 that 30 was so old but now as I’m swiftly approaching the big three-oh my thinking has changed – I’m looking forward to the things that I’m going to accomplish in my thirties, the goals I’m going to set, the places I’m going to visit. Needless to say I was thrilled when I saw this article – Does life really begin at 30?

Sweet potatoes are a great favorite of mine – I love that there are an endless number of recipes that you can make with them, from snacks to savory dinner to sweet desserts. Versatile and delicious, what more could a girl want? More recipes to try of course! 10 Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes: Easy and tasty sweet potato recipes, each with about 300 calories or less.

Finding new recipes, reading about food, health & nutrition, and finding great food blogs written by creative, passionate people are some of my favorite pastimes so I was thrilled when Green Thickies posted a list of the their favorite blogs – Some I already knew and others I eagerly looked up. I had dozens of recipes printed in minutes! 🙂 Check out 8 Best Vegan Blogs for links and recipes to try!

Sometimes when I look at a recipe I’ll immediately think “no” in my mind when I look at the amount of oil, butter, or sugar being recommended. Rather than count certain recipes out, we can substitute healthier, nutritious ingredients for the more calorically dense, fattening ones. Apple sauce is one of my go-to ingredients to lighten up a recipe, but for Fall why not try pumpkin? How to Substitute Pumpkin Puree For Butter and Oil.

Speaking of pumpkin, this was one of the first pumpkin recipes I made this season when Trader Joe’s started stocking the shelves with canned pumpkin – How To Make A Quick Healthy Pumpkin Pie Fudge. So. Good.

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