A Few of My Favorite Christmas Things- Plus a Workout!

Merry Christmas Eve! And for some, merry it's so close to Christmas you can almost feel it!! So sorry for a lack of post yesterday, this was meant to be for the day before Christmas, but all well. Christmas day there will not be a post, but we will start back up on Friday! And next week, there will be lots of life hacks to make the New Year happier, healthier, more organized, and an all around kickin year. Of course, there will be plenty of pics on Instagram in the next day or two as well!

For now though, let's savor this Christmas goodness and talk about a few of our favorite things over the holidays. Lately, I have been overcome with feelings about how blessed we are. I can truly say that life is incredible right now, and that is something to be oh-so thankful for! My favorite thing over the holidays is spending time with friends and family and all the kindness we get to spread around. This year, it feels like everyone has gotten nicer for Christmas instead of more rushed, stressed, and just plain mean. The general goodwill towards our fellow inhabitants of this earth is definitely my favorite this time of year.

Of course, kindness is a bit trickier to take pictures of, so let's look at some favorite things around our place instead, shall we! Also, sorry for the lack of super wonderful make you cry at the beauty pictures, these were taken by me with my iPhone. I am not the photographer in the family.

1. Brown Paper Packages Tied up with String

Yes, this is the reason for the post's title. The hubs had a great idea to go super traditional with our wrapping this year and I am OBSESSED. When you put all the packages together it looks like Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel did all our wrapping for us. This paper is also the least I have ever spent on wrapping and the bows are hands down the easiest as well. No wonder Pottery Barn and the like use this as the wrapping of choice, it is wonderful!

We have also added white paper to the mix (swoon), but those will be in pictures later.

2. Cats That Love Trees

Our cats love to sleep under the tree, play around it, smell it (side note: Chuu smelt like a Christmas tree the other day, it may have been the happiest day of my life), and just look at it. The do not, however, enjoy climbing it. That is something I will never stop being happy about.

3. Christmas orchids

These orchids bloom every Christmas and every Christmas it makes my heart happy. This year, we have seven whole buds on the orchid and six of them have bloomed! Chances are pretty high that it will stay like this until my birthday. Just another one of my favorite bits, orchids that seem to have found the fountain of youth!

4. This Funny Stick Village

My Grandma got the whole village thing for us from Crate and Barrel and I am loving them. The fox is especially cute and greets everyone who comes into our house. Too bad I did not get a pic of him. Next time.

5. Live Sprigs

So, this is not the greatest picture ever, but the candle holder is brass, the ornaments are white and silver, and the tree sprigs are green. We also have automatic tea lights mixed in that give the prettiest glow ever to the centerpiece! The color combo, spell of fresh evergreen, the chic but natural look make this a favorite for me. Tree sprigs are also free and can be picked up at any Christmas tree lot. When you cut the stems, it smells like Christmas, winter, and everything happy in the world. Then, put them around your home and spin around in joy just like Maria does on that hill.

6. This Workout

This barre workout has to be on the list because it is just great over Christmas. We are busy and workouts can fall on the back burner list, but this workout can be done anywhere at anytime! It is wonderful and I am loving it this season.

Merry Christmas and I hope your days are sunny and bright and your Christmas is just splendid!

Love,

Jenni

3 Great Workout Combos

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We all have our favorite type of workout, but mixing it up can do more that reduce our risk of injury. Mixing up a workout routine is a sure-fire way to get better results, work different muscles, and (almost most importantly) keep us from falling into that dreaded workout rut. Over the past few years I have realized a few killer combos that keep workouts interesting, and best of all, help improve performance in each. These three workout combos are some of my absolute favorite weekly combos for getting some ridiculously good results. 

Running and Yoga

Running and yoga is the first combo on this list because it is, hands down, my absolute favorite. When it comes to getting my core in shape, there is nothing better than yoga for the upper abs and running for the lower. A study completed a few years back switched the fitness routine on three yogis with the fitness routine of three runners. By the end of the trial, the runners had more stamina and the yogis had more strength. When these yogis and runners incorporated both into their workout, results skyrocketed. This is because both running and yoga help different areas of our body perform better. Yoga can also improve a runner's balance and joint mobility. 

To really get the yoga and running results, try alternating between running and yoga in your weekly workout. Another way to get the benefits of this combo is to use your run as a warm-up, then complete a yoga flow. Trust me, your body will thank you for it! 

Ballet and Pilates 

The first step in loving this combo is understanding how uncharacteristically sore you will be the next day. When I was training in ballet, Pilates was my go-to workout after class. Pilates is great for conditioning the body and help stretch the muscles. This makes ballet so much easier and improves strength for those super difficult movements. Ballet is also a massive cardio and toning workout that will help get all those muscles ready for some of the intense isometric workouts Pilates requires. In fact, a lot of the Mary Helen Bowers workouts use a Pilates/ballet fusion! 

Both of these on their own are fantastic, but when put together, you have a winning combination. To get more of these benefits, try completing a barre workout followed by some Pilates. There are also some great ballet fusion workouts that incorporate Pilates or yoga. These are great for all the muscles (big and tiny) of the arms, core, bum, and legs. Seriously, after just a few fusion workouts you will feel like the most toned in all the land! 

Swimming and Cycling

This is my favorite workout combo to do when we are on a vacation. Most people do not consider their vacation to be a time to sweat at the gym, but there are plenty of ways to get a workout that do not require heavy equipment, or even, workout shoes. Swimming is a great workout that is light on the joints and gets a great cross-body tone. Pair this with cycling, and you have a combo that is hard to beat. Other great replacements for swimming include surfing, paddle boarding, or SUP. All of these will work the upper body and give you a great cross-body workout. Whether you prefer an intense cycling class that will shed 800+ calories, or a Sunday stroll on your beach cruiser, both are great when paired with swimming. 

This workout combo is especially good for those with joint pain or previous injuries that may limit range of motion or athletic performance. Swimming is commonly used as a form of physical therapy and cycling puts limited pressure on the knees but gives the legs a massive toning. Both of these workouts also increase the heart rate and can burn some serious calories! 

My First Pure Barre Class

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On Sunday I attended my first ever Pure Barre class and checked the first thing off this year's workout bucket list! Pure Barre is a new(ish) form of exercise that is opening studios throughout the US. This form of exercises incorporates yoga, pilates, and of course, ballet barre work. It is meant to lift, tone, and burn... In fact, that is a big part of the class and those that attend are tagged "LBTers". Get it? It took me a minute, but I got it too.

The actual class is about an hour long (but feels like 20-minutes) with free weight work, barre work, resistance band work, stretching, and the most incredible little mini ball that I now love. I was told this would really work my legs, bum, abs, and arms with emphasis on the legs and bum. This is correct. During the barre portion my legs were shaking like a leaf and my buns were in fire! I was also sweating within the first five minutes of class.

There were tons (and I mean tons) of isometric exercises, so knowing how to move was a bit difficult at times considering that everyone around me was hardly moving at all. Thankfully, the instructor was keen on giving guidance and I was keen on listening intently.

After the class, the instructor promised that understanding the movements gets easier with time. I would completely agree with her that it is all about understanding the vocabulary of a Pure Barre class. Hopefully, all the differences between lifting and tucking and twisting will become clearer with time. For now, I am just happy that it gave me a good lift and tone and burn.

This was a great workout for sure, especially for those saddlebags and inner thigh regions we all want to improve. I will for sure be taking the class again and would definitely recommend it to others. Just be sure you are following the dress code and have a spare couple of bucks to get the sticky socks needed for the class.

Ballet Bum Workout

If you read the bonus post from last week, then you know how addicted I have become to this workout. The entire set takes about 10-minutes (maybe less) and can be done once, or multiple times for some serious results. I like to do this before yoga or after a jog.

To complete the 10-minute routine, do each exercise ten times before moving on to the next. Complete all exercises with the right leg before moving on to the left.  Be sure that hips are even, bum is tucked under, shoulders are down, and the back is straight during each exercise. If you prefer, you can use the back of a chair or a counter for stability. Just be sure that your hands are only resting on it for balance instead of grabbing it for support. No claw hands here!

First Position Plie

Start in first position, making sure that your toes are in line with your knees... Toes turned out more than knees can do damage to the joints. Slowly bend knees and lower as far down as possible without sticking the bum out or lifting the heals of the ground. Hold this position, then slowly come back up to starting.

Second Position Plie

Stand in second position, feet about shoulder width apart, toes in the same line as the knees. Slowly bend knees like the first position plie, making sure that the bum stays tucked in and the knees are pushed back like your are between two sheets of glass. Hold, then return to starting.

Tendu Front

Tendu front, side, and back are all completed in first position. Hold the optional chair/table with the left hand and place the right arm in second position, making sure elbows are lifted and shoulders are down. Beginners can hold there right hand on their hips.

Slowly extend the right foot in front of you, leading with your heal and keeping the ball of your foot on the floor until the leg is fully extended. The right leg should be turned out facing the right wall. Be sure that the hips stay even and the toes stay pointed, then slowly return to starting. Complete all ten before continuing to side and back.

Tendu Side

This is pretty much the same as the tendu front, but to the side. Slowly extend the leg in the same plain as the left foot while keeping the torso and hips facing forward and the right knee towards the ceiling. Return to starting, being sure to keep both legs straight and strain off the neck.

Tendu Back

Like front and side, but directly behind you. The hips should be even and the ball of the foot should stay on the ground for as long as possible. Be sure to keep the hips even and torso up without strain on the neck. Hold, then slowly returned to starting.

Battement Front

Like tendu, battement is pretty much the same for the front, side, and back with the rotation of the leg being the only main difference. Likewise, the arm can be in second position or on the hip.

Start in first position then slowly bring the right foot up the left leg like you are drawing a line up the center of the leg with the right big toe. Begin extending your right leg out towards the front once your toes reach the left knee. Hips should be down, toes pointed, torso facing forward, and right leg rotated out. Hold, then slowly lower straight back to starting. Complete all ten before moving to the side and back.

Battement Side

Like battement to the front, but to the side. It may be hard to get the right leg completely to the side on the first time. Be sure to keep the torso facing forward and the hips even- the proper positioning is more important than the leg being out to the side or high up.

Battement Back

Same as front and side, but to the back. Keep the torso up and hips even. The longer you hold these, the more toning will be happening in the bum. Just be sure shoulders stay even and there is no strain in the neck.

Arabesque to Attitude

This one is soooo great for those saddlebags. Begin facing the chair/table with both hands resting on it and the feet in first position. Slowly extend the right leg directly back, making sure that it is straight and rotated outward. Hold this position, then bend the knee so your are in attitude. Hold again, then extend straight back. Continue this straight, bent pattern ten times, then lower back to starting.

Attitude Releve

Begin in first position facing toward the chair/table with both hands resting on the top. Extend the leg back into attitude, making sure the knee stays as close to parallel to the floor as possible while hips are even and torso is straight. Slowly lift the left foot so you are on the balls of your foot, hold, then lower back down. Complete ten releve's before lowering the leg back down. Once complete, do it all over again on the left side.

First Position Plie

Second Position Plie

Tendu Front

Tendu Side

Tendu Back

Battement Front

Battement Side

Battement Back

Arabesque to Attitude

Attitude Releve