Critical Cycles and CicLAvia!

August 4, 2016

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CicLAvia is coming up on August 14 – if you don’t know what that is…

CicLAvia catalyzes vibrant public spaces, active transportation and good health through car-free streets. CicLAvia engages with people to positively transform our relationship with our communities and with each other.

Basically – Wilshire Blvd is CAR FREE from 9 to 4pm and it’s a day to get out and bike!! Yes, it’s get out of the spin class and onto the real road!

I am planning on going this year with my kids, who so need to get on the road with their bikes too – but not before heading (online only) to  Critical Cycles and picking out one of their high style and high quality urban bikes. At crazy unbeatable prices (like $219!!) it’s a no brainer!  The Harper is a hot seller right now and the Beaumont 7-speed (Dutch step-thru style) is also a hit. (I think this is more me – though I can’t decide what color – they are all amazing!)

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I mean, check out this Beach Cruiser!  I think I need to move to Venice.

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More about CicLAvia:

CicLAvia first took to the streets of Los Angeles in 2010 to challenge the concept of Southern California as a car-only region. CicLAvia was launched to temporarily remove cars from streets for one day and open them to other forms of non-motorized transit – pedestrians, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, wheelchairs and more. 

The immediate success inspired local leaders to look at the transportation landscape of Los Angeles in a completely different way. CicLAvia’s goal is to inspire all of us to reimagine Los Angeles and connect participants to neighborhoods, businesses, healthy lifestyles, alternative transportation and each other in a way that is not possible by car. Since 2010, hundreds of thousands of people have freely participated as CicLAvia temporarily transformed nearly 100 miles of city streets into a large urban park and community oasis.

Summer + Rose by FabFitFun

August 3, 2016

Summer & RoseSummer is not over!!

Take a peek at this new launch: Summer + Rose, FabFitFun’s NEW, Venice-inspired beachwear brand. Named after Summer Rose, FabFitFun’s Co-Founder and Editor-in-chief, Katie Ann Rosen Kitchens daughter, the new line offers premium beachwear and activewear accessories that celebrate Southern California’s effortless style and attainable luxury.

The line’s debut product is a whimsical, moisture-wicking towel available in three color ways (blue, orange and pink). All towels feature a motivational mantra to help you find blissful savanna on your mat like: DREAM BIG, GOOD VIBES, MORE HAPPY – LESS WORRY!

Hoe cute – I love this stuff because my 10 year daughter really LOVES it and I love having positive vibes ALL OVER my house and our stuff!! It sends such a great message.

The FabFitFun Summer & Rose yoga towels are available for purchase at FabFitFun.com – and are also a featured product in the FabFitFun Summer box. Each season, FabFitFun curates a box containing more than $200 in retail product, spanning fashion, beauty, fitness, tech and home décor, all at a cost of only $49.99 or an annual subscription fee of $179.99. 

Summer Mint Cocktail Ideas!

I love me some summer cocktails! Sip your way right into the end of summer with these fun, refreshing and minty cocktails from some restaurants around town.  Mint based cocktails have been around since the beginning, but these upgraded recipes make for some innovative sippers.  Whether used as a garnish or muddled inside the drink, these cocktails prove that mint is here to stay!

With the use of fresh raspberries, lemon juice, prosecco and vodka, the mint is the perfect topper to create the Fresca Fizz.  To cure that sweet tooth, mix in some pomegranate juice with fresh raspberries, lemon juice and mint leaves to get the Raspberry Smash.

Bottiglia - Fresca Fizz

Fresca Fizz from Bottiglia

4-6 Raspberries

10-12 Mint Leaves

1.5 oz Grey Goose Vodka or Sapphire East Gin

.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

.75 oz Wilks & Wilson Raspberry Gomme Syrpup

1.5 oz Prosecco (add after shake)

Build: Add raspeberries, 6 mint leaves, and raspberry syrup into mixing tin, lighting muddle.  Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the prosecco.  Add ice and shake vigorously.  Now add 1.5 oz prosecco into mixing tin, and strain over crushed ice with 6 mint leaves on the bottom of the glass.

Ice: Crushed

Glass: Collins

Garnish: Raspberry, Mint Sprig

Drunken Sailor 1

The Drunken Sailor from The Hudson

1.75oz Sailor Jerry’s rum

.75oz strawberry puree

.75oz mint simple

1oz fresh lime

mint sprigs

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Kin-Tucky Derby from The Churchill

2 oz Kin White Whiskey

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

Slapped Mint Leaves

Topped with Mixwell Grapefruit Soda

Raspberry Smash

Raspberry Smash from Hearthstone

6-8 Mint Leaves

6 Fresh Raspberries

2 oz. 50 Bleu Vodka

1 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

1 oz. Pomegranate Juice

½ oz. Simple Syrup

Build: Add mint and raspberries into mixing tin. Lightly muddle, to press berries and to release the oils from mint. Now add the rest of the ingredients. Add ice and shake vigorously. Now strain over crushed ice.

Glass: Rocks

Garnish: Lemon Wheel, Raspberry, Mint Sprig

Refreshing Cold Mint Julep for the Derby

The Mint Julep from Tilted Kilt

1.5 oz. Marker’s Mark

1.0 oz. Simple Syrup

12-14 mint leaves

In a double old fashioned glass muddle the mint leaves with the Simple Syrup just enough to release the oils but not tear the leaves. Fill glass with ice, add Jim Beam Black and stir until glass is frosted. Garnish with a mint sprig.

 

National Watermelon Day! I Lancôme, True Botanicals, Stila, Too Cool For School

it’s national watermelon day and we’ve rounded up a few watermelon inspired and infused goodies!

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True Botanicals Deep Hydrating Body Oil

$95 / TrueBotanicals.com 

A highly absorbent, luxuriously scented body oil that delivers deep hydration on a totally different level. Softens and smooths even the most severe dry skin with a 100% natural formula, packed with essential oils.

Contains Watermelon Seed Oil, rich in EFAs that restore skin’s elasticity and helps the body eliminate toxins.

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Lancôme Juicy Shaker

In Meli Melon & Wonder Melon

$21 / Lancome-usa.com 

Juicy Shaker’s bi-phase technology delivers the first pigmented lip oil with two distinct phases. The first phase features a transparent oil for a comfortable, non-sticky shine. Formulated with a blend of five nourishing oils, it treats your lips like a lip balm.

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Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Lip Balm in Melony Peony

$15 / Sephora 

A moisturizing lip balm with a tender, jelly-cushion texture that hydrates and minimizes the look of fine lines. 

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Stila Lip Glaze in Watermelon

$22 / Stila.com

Add the perfect splash of color to your makeup repertoire. Wear the Lip Glaze “a la carte” for a more subtle color statement or layered over one another for your own unique color creation.

Snack Alert! IPS CHIPS

August 2, 2016

IPS CHIPS!

Don’t let your snacking slow you down. With ips chips and ips pop you get just the right amount of protein to help satisfy your hunger quicker and get the nutrition you need.

ips chips and ips pop satisfy with integrity: great crunchy taste and packed with protein for nutrition that counts.

Just finished an entire bag…not sure if this is a good thing but it’s better than finishing a bag of something else!

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Ips Snacks (www.ipsallnatural.com) recently relaunched its line of light, crunchy chips to now be made with whey protein and offer 6-7g of protein per serving and they are all kinds of yum.

Available in Sea Salt & Black Pepper, White Cheddar, Cinnamon, and Barbeque to satisfy your sweet and salty cravings healthfully.

The brand is launching a brand new product, Ips Pop, now which also provides a delicious, airy snack with the added benefit of whey protein.

Both of these products are great car snacks, beach snacks (my kids love them) additions to lunches, and come in family size portions for family outings and parties.

For us moms on the go, non-perishable snacks get boring fast – Ips Chips and Pop are both convenient, delicious, and satiating. Kid approved!!

PROTEIN COMPARISON
1 oz ips chips = 1 egg*  | 1 oz ips pop = 20 almonds*

*Figures based on 5 (ips pop) 7 (ips chips) grams of protein per serving.

BUY THEM HERE! 

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