Spicy Saturday at Time Out Los Angeles’ The Chili Bowl

February 3, 2016

Winter in LA is not the most brutal of seasons, but it’s enough to warrant a coat, thick socks and plenty of chili. Join Time Out Los Angeles on Saturday, February 27, for The Chili Bowl, a winter tasting event that pits city staples and newcomers against each other to see who slings the best bowls.

THE EL NINO OF CHILI TASTINGS!!
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Held at LA River Studios, the event will feature three sessions (11:30-1:30pm, 2-4pm and 4:30-6:30pm); tickets include chili tastings from each featured restaurant and are paired with complimentary beverages. With plenty of variations to choose from—vegetarian, Cincinnati-style, you name it—there’ll be something for every chili-loving Angeleno to enjoy. #chilibowl

This year’s featured contenders for best chili include:

  • Swingers
  • Barney’s Beanery
  • Jinky’s Cafe
  • Nickel Diner
  • Braise & Crumble Cafe
  • Spring St. Bar & Sandwich Shoppe
  • And more!

Important information:

  • All ages event
  • Admission includes 2 complimentary beers courtesy of Tsingtao
  • Check in location: 2800 Division St. Los Angeles, CA 90065
  • Free parking will be available at Sotomayor Learning Academy School (2050 N San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065) across the street from the venue.
  • All sales are final and non-refundable. You will not be able to change your session after purchasing.
  • Special thanks to our charity partner Best Friends Animal Society

For more information and to book your ticket, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/time-out-los-angeles-presents-the-chili-bowl-tickets-21033180810

2016 RITUAL REBOOT : SELF-CARE SAVVY WITH SONAGE

February 2, 2016

Just as my 2016 goals were beginning to wane, the event Ritual Reboot: Self Care with Sonage at LOVE Yoga Venice became the perfect answer to Recharge. Screen Shot 2016-01-31 at 7.36.12 AM   Screen Shot 2016-01-31 at 7.37.09 AM

Thursday, January 21st, I walked into the beautiful yoga studio filled with vibrantly beautiful women, all here to collectively dive into Ritual and Self-Care.

We found our mats laid out for us with lovely, white bouquets of flowers, a rose quartz stone, an Allswell notebook and pencil to journal, and a goodie bag filled with Sonage facial products to take home. The founders of LOVE Yoga, Kyle Miller and Sian Gordon co-led us through a pleasing vinyasa flow that was both mindful and thorough. As we finished the meditation, Lavinia Errico, founder of Equinox fitness clubs guided us seamlessly through our savasana with imagery and visualization. Lavinia shared her story and interesting ways to incorporate ritual into our daily practice, and I found her talk to be sincere and heartfelt.

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Looking around the room, it was obvious that every woman there had a daily practice of some sort, since we all seemed to be in-the-know of Wellness, but I loved that this workshop did not preach about DO’s and DON’Ts of self care. Ritual is deeply personal and must be created from within. It is reverential, sacred, and unique. My self-care rituals may be wildly different from the girl next to me, and that’s okay. This event was here for us to celebrate and remember ritual, however that looks for each person.

Anisha Khanna, CEO of Sonage, an innovative skincare company, spoke next about how self care equals self respect, and self respect equals self love. She eloquently posed the inner question, “What is Self Care? And what does it mean to you?” Food for thought. I pondered this idea and thought about all the ways we do and don’t take care of ourselves. This is the time to reboot that, to renew our intention of caring for self….Of course, we eat well, exercise, get enough sleep (hopefully)….but I got to thinking about the more subtle forms of self care; What kind of yoga does my body really enjoy? Are the thoughts in my head even remotely kind?

Self- care NEXT LEVEL people.

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The event concluded with an enlightening talk from Ryan Hanes-Sloan of Moon Juice, where she aptly explained how juicing as daily nourishment and high powered natural remedies can flood the body with live nutrients and enzymes. Delicious juices, chia seed pudding and yummy dried mango treats to-go made detoxing look positively effortless. I’m heading to Moon Juice immediately for the chai milk nut!

I left the Ritual Reboot event floating on air: zen-ed out from the yoga practice, revitalized from the botanical and scientific skincare line from Sonage, and refreshed from the Moon Juice libations…Entirely RE-Booted from the inside out!

XX Cristy Candler

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Babyganics: The Baby Line We are crushing on

February 1, 2016

I am gaga about BABYGANICS line of safe, effective products that help families create their baby-safe world. This is a baby safe line with incredibly high standards – and it’s so impressive, I am using on my 5 and 9 year old and MYSELF.

I just ordered these fun kits below for a preggo friend. I know she will soon be addicted. I wish Babyganics was around when my babies were BABIES!

baby-safe world essentials gift set

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SHOP THE POST:

READ ALL ABOUT THEIR MISSION AND PURPOSE

  • purpose

    We only create products with purpose.

    We actively review the latest scientific research. We listen to what you need and want to see more of. And because we’re parents too, we’re always inspired by how our own babies explore the world (bonus: when inspiration strikes in the middle of the night, chances are we’re already awake!). Simply put, everything we make has a purpose. Nothing exists “just because.”

    What inspires a new addition to the Babyganics family?

    The latest research

    Thanks to the pediatricians, dermatologists and other hands-on practitioners in our extended family, we’re always tuned in to the latest scientific research. If a new study reveals a better way of doing things (or something we should avoid), we want to know about it—and we want you to know about it, too.

    Personal experience

    We’re parents ourselves, so like you, we’re constantly amazed by our babies and the way they explore the world. That can lead to some pretty incredible “what if…” and “a-ha!” moments when it comes to our products.

    Community feedback

    The families that make up the Babyganics community are our greatest resource (and our reason for being!), so when it comes to product development, you better believe we’re all ears.

  • values

    We’re all about having it all.

    Our goal is to create totally safe, totally effective products that parents can actually find and afford while keeping sustainability in mind.

    For every product we make, we balance:

    Safety

    Is this product safe?

    We create products that help parents safely care for their babies. If we can’t make something baby-safe, we don’t make it.

    Accessibility

    How can we make this accessible to parents?

    Creating a baby-safe world shouldn’t be a treasure hunt! We work hard to price our products within reach and get them stocked where families can find them.

    Effectiveness

    How can we make this both safe and effective?

    We formulate products that do what they say they’ll do, do it safely, and continue to do it reliably over time.

    Sustainability

    Can we produce and package it more sustainably?

    We always look for readily available, attainable earth-friendly ingredients and packaging solutions for our products.

  • formulation

    We put a lot into what we do (and we keep a lot out).

    Formulation is about more than just a product’s “recipe.” The ingredients we choose (and the ones we don’t), the box, tube, or bottle we select for our formulas, and the kind of packaging material we use all play a role in creating our best possible product.

    How we formulate our products:

    Ingredient selection

    We always start with plant-based ingredients, organic when practical, then add any carefully chosen synthetics or preservatives needed to create safe, effective formulas.

    And it goes without saying (but we’ll say it anyway): our products are formulated and designed to be non-toxic.

    Our no’s

    Our list of “never use” ingredients comes from EU, Canada and US lists of ingredients to avoid and refers to industry standards like NPA and EWG. We always ask “Is this something we’d confidently use around or on our babies?” If you see it on the shelf, the answer was “yes.”

    Usability design

    When we design packaging for our products, we consider how they’ll be used in real life and how we can make that experience easier for parents. (Self foaming shampoo & body wash to make bath time easier? Yes, please!)

    Packaging

    Our babies deserve a baby-safe world and a healthy planet. So we look for ways to use recyclable, recycled or sustainable packing materials (without sacrificing efficiency and affordability).

  • testing + review

    Testing 1, 2, 3 (4, 5, 6…)

    We thoroughly test every product we create to make sure it’s baby-safe (meaning that all of these tests add up to ensuring that the product is safe to use on and around babies).

    We put our products through the tests that are absolutely necessary AND those that go above and beyond what’s technically required depending on how a product will interact with you and your baby.

    Since we make such a variety of products, many of which require unique tests, you can bet we’ve got a pretty comprehensive list!

    One last double-triple check.

    We test every single batch of every single product before it leaves our hands and makes its way to you. Specifically, we test for microbes, color, odor, appearance, pH, consistency and more. If it doesn’t pass, it doesn’t ship. When it comes to baby-safe, there’s no grey area!

    We always test for:

    Formula stability

    Stability tests let us know that our finished formulas will work the way they should, even after they’ve been exposed to bright light, heat or cold on their journey from us to you.

    Batch microbial testing

    We conduct microbial testing on each batch of our products to be sure there’s no sign of sneaky microbes or bacterial growth.

    Preservative safety + effectiveness

    When we use preservatives, we make sure they are baby-safe and help our products resist contamination so they stay that way over time.

    Product efficacy

    It may seem obvious, but after all is said and done, making sure a product does what it should is an absolute must.

    Depending on the product, we also test for:

  • Skin irritancy
  • Eye stinging
  • FDA compliance*
  • OTC efficacy*
  • SPF value
  • Broad spectrum testing
  • Water resistance
  • Toxicology review
  • Photo toxicity
  • Skin barrier function repair
  • Efficacy of skin moisturization

  • refinement

    When it comes to our products, the end is just the beginning.

    You know how you’re always looking for ways to help your baby keep developing and be the best they can be? We look at our products the same way. We stand behind their safety and efficacy, but we’re always reviewing the latest science and research behind new ingredients and packing materials to enhance our products and make them even better.

    What inspires us to evolve or improve something we make?

    The latest research

    While we always stand behind our products’ efficacy and safety, we never stop looking for ways to improve. Even after a product is “finished,” we’re actively reviewing new scientific research for ways to advance or evolve it. As the availability of effective plant-based, natural and organic ingredients grows, we continue to incorporate them into our formulas while maintaining our promises of safety, efficacy, accessibility and sustainability.

    Community feedback

    We consider the families in our community our greatest resource, so we take feedback seriously&em;and we act on it. Providing better choices for babies (and the parents who love them!) is an ongoing effort and commitment we continue to make every single day.

This Facial that will change your face and your life (inside and out)

January 31, 2016

Are you interested in a Transformative Mind Body Healing that takes place on a cellular level to restore deep wellness from within?

Your Skin. Your Health.

Sadie Adams, the founder of Take Care Center for Body Mind Regeneration (in downtown NYC and Venice Beach and she performs in-home treatments seasonally in the Hamptons and year round in Los Angeles county) has been sharing her insights about movement and consciousness for over 17 years. Her studies in anatomy at The School for Body-Mind Centering™ and in Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy at the Ayurvedic Institute have led her to focus on regenerative therapies. Sadie draws upon science, technology, ancient wisdom and intuitive awareness to support healing and increase human capacities. Her community of clients and practitioners greatly influence her work. She believes that conscious relationships, sensitivity and presence are essential in the process of healing and evolving.

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I entered Sadie’s space with some understanding that this would not be your ordinary, run-of-the-mill facial experience, but I had no idea what I was in store for. The process, as I studied the micro-current machine was much more than words can explain. During the MICROCURRENT face and body treatments, a fine electrical current, strategically applied, enhances a healing environment and safely brings tissues to a younger, healthier function. The facial applications are sub sensory, while the gentle rhythmic patterns of microcurrent can be applied to the body to organize, strengthen and clarify the fluid membrane balance, tonifying tissue. The treatments are non-invasive, non-thermal and incredibly relaxing. They stimulate the body’s own natural healing process to help counter the effects of sun damage, aging and acne prone skin, without any pain or discomfort.

be-good-to-yourself

Sadie’s integrity and commitment to this work, along with her skillful guidance, allowed me to go deeply into a restorative savasana for both mind and body. I could feel my subtle body wake up to the re-organizing of cell tissue and a profound sense of peace come over me. Though she was working on the surface level of my skin, this process dove far down into sub layers, calling upon healing from within. More importantly, through this work, I felt ancient traumas (a vicious dog bite to my face, a head-on car collision, old “mean girl” slurs from high school) dissolve and move away from my consciousness. It’s as if I was releasing external forms of my understanding of “beauty” to allow a more authentic and truer sense to come forth. The imprint of being a Broadway star for so many years (and all the makeup that ensued) naturally fell away.

Sadie’s expertise in the treatment process unveils profound healing, as she holds the space with her wisdom and guidance to move through any obstacles that may be emotional, energetic, or unconscious. On top of all that, my skin looked smoother and more radiant than ever before! I recognized a true sense of wellbeing from my face that went beyond the surface landscape.

Sadie’s work is mindful and exquisite. She is a conscious facilitator and expert practitioner for inner beauty to rise forth when layers of blockages have been released. Like the evolution a snake undergoes in shedding her skin, this work deeply transforms one’s inner and outer self to True Beauty.

To find out more, go to: takecarespa.com

XX Cristy Candler

UNDER ARMOUR AMBASSADOR SIMONE DE LA RUE LAUNCHES HER FIRST BODY BY SIMONE DVD

January 22, 2016

WHAT: There was explosive energy felt by the guests at the Body By Simone event on January 15, 2016. Under Armour Ambassador Simone de la Rue launched her first ever Body By Simone DVD, “The Signature Classes” at her West Hollywood Studio. Simone taught her signature BBS moves to an intimate class of 40 fitness enthusiasts. All of the guests were hydrated by Essentia water and outfitted by Under Armour with their latest apparel styles. After the class guests mixed and mingled while enjoying Live Beaming juice and salad.

WHERE: BBS Studio – 8623 N. Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069

ABOUT BODY BY SIMONE:

Body By Simone, Simone De La Rue, the personal trainer for some of the hottest bodies in Hollywood, shares her fitness secrets and teaches women how to achieve an A-list body using her fun and unique strength training and cardio workouts. Simone’s total body workout is a unique fusion of Pilates, bar method, strength training, and cardio dance moves. Perfect women looking to lose weight, tone up, change up their routine, lose baby weight, or exercise while recovering from an injury. Her workouts are fast-paced, fun, and targeted for the muscle groups women most want to tone: arms, abs, glutes, and thighs.

ABOUT UNDER ARMOUR, INC.

Under Armour (NYSE: UA), the originator of performance footwear, apparel and equipment, revolutionized how athletes across the world dress. Designed to make all athletes better, the brand’s innovative products are sold worldwide to athletes at all levels.

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Under Armour Ambassador Simone de la Rue, launched her first Body By Simone DVD “The Signature Classes” at her West Hollywood studio on January 20, 2016.

Screen Shot 2016-01-21 at 7.39.49 PMGuests at Body By Simone DVD Launch party enjoyed Live Beaming juice after their class taught by Under Armour Ambassador Simone de la Rue. Screen Shot 2016-01-21 at 7.39.59 PM