A Few Things I'm Loving Lately

Here are some healthy finds that I've been loving lately!

1. Adidas Women's Squad Duffel Bag

A coworker recently arranged for a cross-fit coach that she knows to lead a boot camp for teachers two days/week after school.  I love trying new workout classes and also thought it sounded like a fun way to squeeze in some social time with my fellow coworkers, so I signed right up.  When I was packing up my gym bag the night before my first class, it suddenly dawned on me that the bag I'd been using was quite ratty and unattractive.  I had gotten it for free somewhere and never really paid attention to how ugly it was.  

I decided that I needed a cute new gym bag to go along with my new class, so I got on Amazon and started looking around.  I settled on this bag from Adidas, because I loved the colors, it had lots of compartments (like a separate one for shoes!) and it was the perfect size.

 

So far I am loving the bag and can't believe I went so long without buying one!  It is so nice to know that my shoes won't be getting dirt or smells all over my clothes, and there are so many padded pockets to protect jewelry and other small items that I may need to store after changing.  

Auromere Herbal Toothpaste

After watching an episode of Dr. Oz touting the benefits of Neem bark for dental hygiene, Jay picked up a tube of this Ayurvedic toothpaste on sale at Sprouts to try.  I was a bit skeptical about it at first, but after one brushing I knew I was not going back to my old Crest!  Even though the mint flavor wasn't as strong as a store-bought brand, my mouth somehow felt so much cleaner after using it.  And, although the tube is small, it is three times concentrated and the tiniest dot produces a ton of foam.  I feel like my teeth are as white and healthy as ever, and when I saw my dentist recently he gave me the seal of approval. 

Bethenny's Skinnygirl Workout DVD

I love going to workout classes, because someone else makes the plans, tells you what to do, and pushes you to try new things.  Since it's not always feasible to attend a class, however, I think workout DVDs are the next best thing - like having a private class in your own living room! 

I'm not exactly a huge Bethenny Frankel fan (I don't have cable and hardly knew who she was), but I had heard good things about this yoga DVD from several people and thought I'd give it a try.  

It took me a couple times of doing the workouts to really get the hang of it, but now I can flow through the moves pretty well without having to stop often to look at the TV.  I really am loving the DVD, because I feel so good and relaxed after I do it, yet my muscles are sore the next day.  It is a good blend of stretching and toning, and the moves flow fast enough that you even get your heart rate up a little bit.  The instructor does a good job of explaining things and providing different levels of modifications, and Bethenny adds some useful and occasionally amusing commentary.  I also like that the 45 minute workout is split up into three shorter segments, so you can mix and match depending on what you have time for.  I can definitely see myself turning to this DVD on a regular basis!

Bragg Liquid Aminos
I know I have mentioned liquid aminos before, but I seriously cannot get enough of this seasoning!  I put it on everything - salads, soups, rice, stir-fry, roasted veggies, fish...pretty much anything that you want to taste delicious.  The flavor is very similar to soy sauce, only better.  Plus, it is definitely better for you!  It is made from non-GMO soybeans and contains 16 essential and non-essential amino acids.  There is a small amount of naturally occurring sodium, but way less than regular soy sauce.  I don't really know how they do it, but I love it!

That's all for today!  See you soon!