May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and what better way to raise awareness of pro-active skin defense than with environmentally safe sunblock!

April 30, 2015

Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy is the nation’s first and largest chain of integrative pharmacies.

What they offer is the best selection of natural sunscreens in-store and online – available in lightly-scented and scent-free options!

Here are our picks but please view a full range of sunblock products here!

All products are sold at Pharmaca Stores and on Pharmaca.com.

 

Meredith gets Bikini Ready-ish in a day or something like that

April 28, 2015

My entire life I had dry reptilian legs that a helpful girl in my 7th grade gym class explained to me were called “ashy.” I believe her exact words were “Girl your legs is ashy. You need some lotion.” What that helpful stranger didn’t understand about the “abc’s of me” was that it was hard enough to brush my teeth every day, let alone moisturize. So while her advice was sound, I didn’t actually take her up on it until last week. After all, it’s hard to dedicate two weeks to “Getting Bikini-ready-ish” without at least committing to a slapping a little lotion on your cracked skin.

CapriClear New Packaging

It seems like everywhere you turn, people are touting coconut oil as the Messiah. It does everything from hydrate your skin to file your taxes.  The problem I have with slathering my skin with actual coconut oil is, while I LOVE a greasy dewy face, I hate having a greasy body. Not to mention, If I can’t apply it while I’m in the shower, then it probably wont happen. And If I applied real oil in the shower I would no doubt slip on my ass or cause severe bodily harm to those who enter the shower after me. And while I have nothing against the elderly or prostitutes, the smell of coconut oil on skin reminds me of both. So the perfect compromise was Capriclear Coconut Oil Spray. It has all the moisturizing benefits of coconut oil and is fragrance free and non-oily. So far, I’m softer, I haven’t slipped, and I don’t smell like a nursing home or a whore house. That much.

Scrub

I ultimately opted for this combo: Kerstin Florian’s Turkish Body Scrub ($48) and Capriclear’s Coconut Oil Spray. ($16) I have to confess, originally I was drawn to the Kerstian Forian line because of their simple elegant packaging that I thought nicely complemented my newly designed French Normandy bathroom. Thank you interior designer and architecture wonder, Alexandra Leow, it’s GORGEOUS. But the inside of the bottles did not disappoint either. The Turkish scrub smells faintly medicinal at first sniff, but that didn’t scare me. Instead it felt like the scrub was saying, “I got this handled. I will pull out the big guns for your totally neglected skin.” Some you smell and it’s clearly say, “don’t worry you will get laid tonight.” Not this one. It doesn’t mean you won’t, or you can’t , it just means that this turkish scrub has more important things on it’s agenda. Like curing you of your disgusting dryness. Which it definitely did.

 

Written by Meredith Morton

Meredith is a mom of three perfectly behaved and always impeccably dressed boys who never cuss or fight. She prefers exercise to the side effects of lithium. You can follow her on Instagram @meredithmorton but don’t expect too much.

 

the sweat shoppe

April 24, 2015

sweat shoppe

The last time I actually wore a bikini was 1987. I was sunburned, slathered in baby oil and bouncing up and down nauseous on the infamous “beach bus,” which shuttled eager valley girls over Topanga Canyon in the hopes of making contact with a real life surfer. I was 15 then. So getting “bikini-ready” simply meant “putting one on.” In 2015, its a whole other endeavor equipped with exercising, exfoliating, waxing, and a host of other things I have very little experience or patience doing. Here are some of the things I’ve committed myself to doing for two weeks in order to make life slightly more pleasant for those around me, should I ever venture into a bikini again. Dieting is NOT one of them.

Heated Cardio Workout! Cardio sucks balls. Im not going to lie. Pretty much any hard core cardio sucks for me. Add 100 degrees and a dark stinky room filled with 30 plus stationary bikes piled on top of each other and you pretty much described my idea of hell. (Actually scratch that, put a sound track on of El DeBarge and my kids wining and THAT would be hell)

Yet for some reason it’s NOT! Maybe it’s the thoughtful playlist.

Maybe it’s Melissa Lau, the instructor’s, encouraging up beat vibe. Maybe it’s her savant-like ability to remember every single person’s name. Who knows. Whatever the reason, the 55 minutes of torture I endured three times a week at North Hollywood’s Sweat Shoppe during my bikini journey, were some of my favorite moments. No joke. Its hard and intense. But Melissa’s class is a party the entire time. Such a party, my husband and I made her Wednesday night 6:30pm class our official “date night.” Romantic, I know.

Reasonably priced at $20.00 a class with packages and flash sales frequently, Sweat Shoppe’s 55 minute heated workout definitely gives you the most bang for your buck Of course there are days I’d pay triple to just not show up, but its those days that Melissa’s personality and her dedicated following of fellow spinners worked extra hard to see me through. Its definitely a supportive community with large (toned) open arms for new comers and beginners and anyone else who dares to enter. But be prepared, you have to sign up ahead of time. And if you don’t show up, you may just get a text from Melissa. It’s not a super scary text…just scary enough!

Written by Meredith Morton

Meredith is a mom of three perfectly behaved and always impeccably dressed boys who never cuss or fight. She prefers exercise to the side effects of lithium. You can follow her on Instagram @meredithmorton but don’t expect too much.

sweat shoppe

 

Barre Belle on La Brea : Setting a new bar in barre classes.

April 23, 2015

My 2 week long adventure of trying out Barre classes around Los Angeles felt very much like teen tour in the 80’s minus all the back of the bus first base hook ups (I was a late bloomer).  But, if I were to hook up on this tour, it would be with, Marnie Alton, owner of “Barre Belle.”  Gorgeous, smart, and dedicated, Marnie has managed to carve out a unique niche in the terribly over-saturated Barre market.  Her Bohemian design and thoughtful details make you feel like you’ve gotten a sought after invite to her private living space. Marnie manages to make every person in her multi level low-impact class feel like they’re experiencing a “private” session with a few of their best friends. Perhaps it’s because she “hasn’t gone corporate” or avoids “Groupons” and quick gimmicks.  Maybe it’s because of the materials she uses in the workout space that allow each class to feel fresh and clean.  IMG_9455 kCS7GqF2NH4va2x0SUHWYScSwG4DYuAeZgV4uY0YHV0,0t2waJM9Q8kqogbJGz-TArmUs485EjTXmv6UNou5Wrc  RACKED_HT_MARNIE-78

Whatever the reason, Marnie’s classes are rigorous as fuck, yet thoroughly enjoyable.  I felt safe to push myself, knowing that Marnie’s focus and expertise would prevent me from injury. Also, my 16 year old self, was really hoping to impress her.  We didn’t make out, but she did tell me she liked my hair and leg warmers, so…thats good enough for my 43 year old self.

Written by Meredith Morton Meredith is a mom of three perfectly behaved and always impeccably dressed boys who never cuss or fight. She prefers exercise to the side effects of lithium. You can follow her on Instagram @meredithmorton but don’t expect too much.

http://www.labarrebelle.com

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