5 for Friday

Here are some things I cannot do without right now.

1 and 2.  Crazy hormones are making me break out like a 13 year old boy!  The only thing I feel good about using AND it actually works is the Blemish Control by Sensaria.  You need to order it from Julianna.  The price seems high, but a little dab will do ya and it lasts.  On top of that, with winter and the hormones I need a good facial moisturizer and love the Balancing Moisturizer.  Once again, a little goes a long ways and it is just right.

3.  Love when these are in season and I eat one each night.  Pomegranates are my favorite!  And for those that think they are too much work, shame on you!  Here is a good step by step.

4.  My clogs.  I love them.  Best present I received last year and I wear them nearly every day in the colder months.  So not sexy, but I'm ok with that right now.

5.  Elf on the Shelf.  Why didn't I heed my friend and get one sooner?  My kids named him Reggie and talk to him all the time.  They truly believe in him (even my 7 year old) and all I have to say is "Um, I think Reggie heard that" and it is all sugar and spice.  It's not too late.  Barnes and Noble has quite a few.  He is coming out throughout the year just to check in on us.  And yes, I know that my kids should just love each other and be kind without such reminders, but I am doing the best I can!

Have you got 5 things you are loving right now?  I want to know about it.

Have a great weekend!

~mave

Top 5 - workout

So I was speaking with my friend Tracy (you might remember her from here) and asked to her to tell me her 5 must haves for fitness. I personally like fitnessmagazine.com (you can sign up for free). They have a lot of great videos to show you what you are supposed to be doing and give you great ideas for new fitness routines. Here are Tracy's top five.

1. An exercise/stability ball. Great for core fitness, balance, stretching and any time you increase your instability you are using loads more core musculature and different kinds of muscle fiber to compensate - stronger, faster. Here are some exercises you can do with it, from Good Housekeeping of all places. Keep in mind that they come in several different sizes so be sure to make sure you have the right one for you.



2. Resistance band can be used for toning and stretching. It is great to throw in your suitcase when you travel. I use mine a lot to stretch out my hamstrings. There are several types - the tubular kind and the stretchy ribbon-y looking ones (see how technical I am?). Here is some information on how to choose the band for you.


3. Yoga mats- use it in yoga and pilates classes and for you exercise vids you do at home. Mats also travel well, so you can take them with you on business/pleasure trips. Mat shown found here.


4. iPod. Do you really need an explanation? Music to calm, music to move. Music is crucial to workout happiness for me. And podcasts. My favorites that have me laughing outloud are the Lost Podcast or NPR's Wait Wait.

5. Sports bra. Even if you have a less than ample bust line, you still need support. Tracy likes lululemon and Athleta. I personally think all workout clothing should be as beautiful as Athleta, or maybe I wish I had that body that all Athleta wearing models have, but I'll get there, right? I know a girlfriend of mine who has some bazumbas really like sports bras from Road Runner.

What are your must haves for workout nirvana? And speaking of iPods, what is your workout music? I need more songs to add to my playlists.

~mavis (with some major help from Tracy!)

Reading Rainbow (ba dum bum)

Mavis & Dove like to read. We like to read good books. Mavis will even read mediocre books. Dove claims to have A.D.D. and only makes it through a book if it is real good. And it has to have substance. She has started hundreds and only finishes roughly one-third to half of them. Here are our recommendations:

Dove's top 5 reads ever

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffeneger

Ohhh, it's sooo good. Best love story ever. It's about a man who has this genetic disorder where he is sometimes displaced in time. He is in love with a woman who lives life linearly like the rest of us. She be bops through life, while he bounces in at out of it at different ages. I am sometimes a hard sell when it comes to romance, but this gets my full endorsement.

The Little Prince - Antoine de St. Exupery

This is the most condensed form of genius wisdom ever written. It reveals human foibles through the eyes of a young prince who is wandering around the Galaxy and gets stuck on Earth. It's full of simple profundity. For instance - The Little Prince meets someone on one little planet, a drunk man who is crying. "Why do you drink?" "Because I'm sad." "Why are you sad?" "Because I drink."

'Nuf said.



The Hundred Secret Senses - Amy Tan

Typical Amy Tan in that it is about strained mother-daughter relationships that are interlaced with Chinese-American culture. A teenage girls meets her Chinese half sister and is mortified by her bizarre behavior (she sees dead people). It's well written and full of beauty, intrigue and mysticism. Ew, I think I'm going to read this again.










The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

I am currently reading this for the 4th time. It's a great story and full of so much wisdom. It is the book I recommend/give more than any other and always the feedback is that it transformed the person's life. It is the story of Spanish shepherd who is on a quest to find a treasure at the pyramids. On his way he discovers the idea of a Personal Legend and how to accomplish his soul's desires, as well as learning how to understand the soul of the world as it communicates with him about how to achieve his Personal Legend.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith

A classic. This book is not for the faint of heart. It's sad. It's full of tragedy, but so elegantly portrays the human condition. I read this in high school and reread it again a couple years ago as a sociology student. I gained so much more from it the 2nd time around from having some serious life experience under my belt. I'm no cheerleader. My hurkies plain suck, but man I wanted to do so many rah-rah-ree's for Francie, the girl through whom the story is told. Oh, and I love her so much that I used to want to name a daughter after her.

Mavis's top 5

I lied, I did 6. I couldn't narrow it down once I started thinking about it and frankly, this is only the top 5 that I can recall. I am a reader. I used to turn off my light for my parents sake and then when I would hear them down the hall, the light would switch back on and I would keep reading. And, yes, I do read mediocre ones. I have been so desperate for reading material lately that I have read 5 James Patterson's just in the last couple of weeks. Not that he is mediocre, but I don't think his books are really ones that move you, just scare the heck out of you.



I am moved by most of Leon Uris' novels. Most, not all. Trinity had me so emotional. Exodus is also fantastic. Somehow he makes characters so complex and so simple, you find yourself so exhausted emotionally, but it is worth it.

This book has always just stuck in my head. I was taken in by it. It has been way too long since I have read it. I am going to start it again right away.

These are the books, among others, that I would sneak read when I was 7-ish and up. I loved them. I still have them for my kids.

I'm talking the whole series. I wanted to live there. I still want to visit Prince Edward Island. It is on my list. I think delightful is the perfect word for this gal.

This is a must read. It is one of those books that you should read multiple times throughout your life because you will get just what you need from it each time. It kind of speaks to your soul.

The best historical fiction. This is the first of one trilogy about the Welch princes. I have read almost all of her books. The characters are all historically "accurate" except for one main character and you wait until the end to find out who (it isn't always obvious) but it doesn't change the story line, just adds to it. As far as I can tell, she sticks to the facts of history, just adds a tiny bit of flavor. Look into it.

What are your favorites? We are always in need of new reading material, so please give suggestions, favorites - the lot. Leave us comments galore, or better yet, play along on your own blog, listing your favorites. Just leave us a comment with your blog address so we can come and see.

One stipulation - we've read the Twilight series, so no need to suggest that. And we're well read enough not to need Jane Austen recommendations, either (we already know she's the bee's knees).