6 Way to Refresh after a Lunch Break Workout

We all hear that lunch time is a good time to work out,  when you have a full schedule.   But in heat and humidity how do you look presentable for the rest of your business day.   Here are some great tips from SPARK People.  Personally I would add on of our Jordan Essentials Spritzers like Grapefruit and Bergamot   -  put it in the break room fridge I head out for a cooling spritz.

Sometimes, it’s all you can do to squeeze a workout during your lunch hour or before the evening PTA meeting. In an ideal world, you’d also have time to shower, fix your hair, and dress to impress. But in the real world, you don't always have time for all of this. Instead of skipping your workout altogether in lieu of extra shower time, consider some of these shower alternatives for time-pressed exercisers. Workout Clothes There are many different ways to refresh your body, from head to toe, starting with your workout clothes. Sitting around for hours in sweaty clothes isn't very comfortable or appealing to your co-workers. Bring a change of clothes to the gym, everything from socks, to shirts and even undergarments. Women especially need to bring a change of underwear to prevent yeast infections that might arise when wearing damp or sweaty undergarments for too long. Consider buying exercise clothes made from synthetic fabrics that are specifically designed to whisk away sweat, keeping you cooler and drier, such as Dri-Fit by Nike, Double Dry by Champion, or Cool Max. Cotton clothes retain sweat and moisture, making your sticky and stinky. Also, wear breathable socks, not dress socks, while you work out. Women should always wear sports bras, not only for support, but also so that they can change back into a clean, regular bra when finished. Head to Toe If you have long hair, pull it up or back while on the treadmill or lifting weights. This way, it’s less likely to fall down onto your neck or face and pick up the sweat that lies there. Carry a small towel with you to wipe off excess sweat while you exercise. Never touch your hands to your sweaty face, as this spreads bacteria and increases the likelihood of acne. Just use your towel (blotting, not wiping) instead! When you are done with your workout, let your hair back down. You can apply hair freshening products (in spray or powder form) after exercising to help neutralize or refresh the smell of your hair, such as Aveda Light Elements Reviving Mist or KMS Turnstylr Do-Over Cleansing Spray. Powder products also help decrease moisture and oil, keeping hair looking and smelling great until you have time to shower later. Bring some disposable body wipes or towelettes (available at most drug stores and online). These wipes remove excess oil from your skin. Some varieties are gentle and can be used on your face, while others can be used all over your body. These are great option when you don’t have time to shower and they're small enough to keep a pack in your gym bag or car. Try Crabtree and Evelyn Citrus Travel Towelettes, L'Occitane Green Tea Refreshing Towelettes for Hands and Body, or Avon Clearskin Deep Cleansing Cloths. A foot deodorizer can also help you feel clean after a heavy workout. After removing your workout socks, apply foot spray or powder directly to your feet before putting your regular socks back on. Some of these products go directly into your socks or shoes, and even baking soda works well. Either way, look for a product that kills germs and bacteria (which thrive harbor in warm, damp areas and cause foot odor), such as Gold Bond Medicated Foot Powder or Crystal Spray Foot Deodorant. Shower Time Obviously, showering after a workout is the best option. It cleans the sweat from your body and helps prevent both acne and that post-exercise funk. Just in case time allows, stock your gym bag with flip flops for the locker room shower, a clean towel, and a shower caddy. Save yourself packing space and time by bringing along travel-size and double-tasking toiletries, such as a shampoo that cleans your hair and body. It’s great that you’ve chosen to work up a sweat and fit exercise into your busy day. By packing just a few extra things into your gym bag, you can freshen up and go about the rest of your day with confidence.

Garden Harvest Vegetable Soup

Oh  how I can not wait for the day when I can grow a garden, that I am there to tend to.  Love a warm soup as the weather cools

Introduction

This soups works well with most vegetables from the garden-- experiment and use vegetables that are in season.

Minutes to Prepare: 15

Minutes to Cook: 30

Number of Servings: 8

Ingredients

1 T olive oil
2 carrots, diced
1 leek, white part only, sliced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 t thyme, fresh
3 red potatoes, quartered
1 c baby spinach
1/4 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
1 t red pepper flakes
9 c water
2 small zucchini, chopped
1 c green beans
1/2 c ditalini pasta (or another small pasta)
2 plum or Italian tomatoes, deseeded and chopped

Basil topping:
1 T olive oil 
1 c fresh basil leaves
3 T parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 t salt
1/4 t black pepper

Tips

Chef Meg was inspired to create this meal after a trip to the farmers market. Be creative and use whatever vegetables you have on hand!

Directions

Place 1 tablespoon olive oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan or stock pot. Once warm, add carrots, leek, and celery. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and thyme and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Add potatoes, spinach, salt, and red and black pepper; cook 3 minutes. Add water, zucchini, beans, pasta, and tomatoes to the saucepan; cook an additional 8 minutes. While soup is cooking, place the basil, remaining oil and cheese in a small food processor; blend until smooth. Swirl basil mixture into the soup just until combined and serve.
Recipe makes eight 2 cup servings.

Nutritional Info Amount Per Serving Calories: 159.7 Total Fat: 4.5 g Total Carbs: 26.3 g      Dietary Fiber: 6.4 mg Protein: 5.4 g Spark People

Ohhh Moisturizing Shower Gel!

Don't leave your shower with your skin covered in chemicals! When I think of all the years that I would use "Baby Oil" for moisturizing my skin..

Showering should be a cleansing and refreshing experience - not a toxic one! Jordan Essentials Shower Gel does not contain DEA, SLS/SLES or parabens.

Enriched with aloe, JE Shower Gel is moisturizing and soothing to the skin. It is perfect for shower or bathtub use and is safe for all members of the family!

With 7 Signature fragrances, there is a scent for everyone! For years I used the Sea Spa, but I have to tell you the Grapefruit Bergamont is my NEW Favorite! (It's also safe for those jet tubs too!)

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Stressed? Take a Nature Pill!

In my ongoing quest for a healthier lifestyle.  I finally renewed my subscription to Prevention Magazine.and saw this article right after  coming back from a weeks vacation in the mountains of Colorado (the leaves still had not begun to change) allowed us time to take our walks and enjoy nature.





The article  suggests spending 20 minutes in nature.  It goes on toe say that new research in Frontiers in Psychology is the first to measure the most effective dose of GREEN therapy using a physiological response:  level of cortisol, a stress hormone . . . . . discovered that just  sitting or walking in a park or the woods for just 20 minutes led to a significant drop in cortisol levels.

This was our 4th trip to this dude ranch,  and I believe that we've done the most walking that we ever have,  we even made it up the hill to the petting zoo - which my husband thoroughly enjoyed.  We Stay at Elk Mountain Ranch,  where we are totally spoiled for a week.  .

I could just feel the stress melting away.  I even got in a lot more exercise,  just walking  in the wilderness.

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Monday's Motivation!

There is something about stepping out of our comfort zone that can be scary but sometimes if we just do it, things fall right into place.

Garlic Meatballs the entire family will love!

Garlic Butter Meatballs

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. ground chicken or turkey
5 garlic cloves, minced and divided
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c. grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish
2 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
4 tbsp. butter Or 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 lb. zoodles

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl mix together ground chicken or turkey, 2 garlic cloves, egg, Parmesan, parsley, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper then form into tablespoon sized meatballs.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil and cook meatballs until golden on all sides and cooked through, 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and wipe out skillet with a paper towel.
Melt butter in skillet then add remaining 3 garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add zoodles to skillet and toss in garlic butter then squeeze in lemon juice.
Add meatballs back and heat just until warmed through. Garnish with Parmesan to serve.

How to get your Saturdays Back!

Sometimes cleaning everything in a day can be overwhelming. You work all day during the week only to spend your weekends catching up on all that housework. What if we told you there was a better way? No more Saturdays spent inside missing all those fun-tivities with your family!

In today’s blog, you will receive helpful tips on getting your Saturdays back, making cleaning fun for the whole family, freebies and healthy cleaning options to use each and everyday.

LEARNING THE TECHNIQUES OF SPEED CLEANING

If you’re like me sometimes you get behind on your household duties. Kid’s need clean clothes, the dishes need to be unloaded, the beds need to be made…I think we all get the idea, right? It’s overwhelming and can sometimes be a source of stress. But HAVE NO FEAR! There is a better way!

In just 30 minutes a day, YES, 30 minutes a day, you can keep your house tidy all week long! Below is a fun little freebie just for you. Print our handy guide to hang on the fridge or put in a place that you always see. This guide will show you the main areas of each space in your home that you need to hit on a daily basis to keep your home in tip top shape.

GETTING STARTED WITH SPEED CLEANING

JORDAN ESSENTIALS HEALTHY HOME CLEANING SOLUTION DUO

The best part of this whole thing is right here…Are you ready? Are you sure?…Dun dun duh DUH, when we said 30 minutes, you thought that was all at one time, right? Well guess what? It’s not! Divide your time in half, now you’ve got 15 minutes for the morning and 15 minutes for the evening. Now think of 5 upbeat songs that will get your booty grooving, make a playlist and tell Alexa to crank that jam!

Before you start, get your handy JE Speed Cleaning Guide, your Jordan Essentials Cleaning Solution and anything else you might need during your 15 minutes.

As the songs change, shout out song #2 is done, song #3 is done! This adds a bit of excitement as you try to beat the clock. Cleaning doesn’t have to be boring. The youngest little can contribute to the cleanliness of your home because using Jordan Essentials Healthy Home Cleaning Solution, you can have peace of mind that there are no harsh chemicals, vapors or residue.

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Heels have a place at work, but flats are gaining on them

As a businesswomen myself,  I love that the "The Business Journals" offer a "bizwomen" daily newsletter in my in box.   Usually I just scan them,  but this one caught my interest.  Especially since I'm a flat's girl myself.  Going in and out of the warehouse heels are just dangerous.


When I attend business meetings so many women are in heels, and the longer they stand the more uncomfortable they feel.   At conferences it seems everyone is in heels the first day then are changing to flats.    I even have several Jordan Essentials customers who believe heels are must,  but they admit that their feet hurt and they can not live without the peppermint magnesium lotion or the dead sea salts soak.

So  when I saw the great article from Caitlin Mullen this week,  I just had to share.

High heels might be losing ground to chic flats and fashionable sneakers in increasingly casual offices, but they still have a place in business wear, at least for now.

In recent years, sales of flats and women’s sneakers have risen, while sales of high heels have fallen. In the $33.9 billion U.S. women’s footwear market, heels aren’t selling, retailers say, while shoes focused on comfort are. 

Plus, office dress codes have become more casual, meaning fewer women need to switch from practical commuter shoes to work pumps. Instead, they’re opting for shoes that can multitask.

However, as The Wall Street Journal says more professional women favor power dresses over pantsuits or blazers — think Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ivanka Trump and “Shark Tank” investor Barbara Corcoran — they’re still pairing them with heels, which have a formality some feel flats don't.

Maybe not surprising, since work wardrobes often grow more formal as promotions occur, and most workers say dressing up for work boosts confidence and performance. 

And although podiatrists don’t love them because heels can lead to hip, knee and a number of foot problems, many proponents believe heels convey professionalism.  

“I think on some level, it’s the idea that heels are associated with making an effort. I think if we’re putting ourselves in a position where we’re in some degree of pain, it’s almost, you know, I guess the old adage, ‘no pain, no gain.’ [It’s] this idea that if we’re slightly uncomfortable, then perhaps we are somehow performing better,” author Lauren Bravo told NPR.

Bravo argues current fashion trends, like consumers’ growing interest in comfort, are challenging that mindset, however. 

Rothy’s, Allbirds, Everlane and Tieks have made the comfortable flat chic — even sustainable and washable, in some cases — and women working in medicine, education and tech, among other professions, are fans, per Vox.

“When high heels come back on trend, which I’m sure they will, we’ll have higher expectations of how we should feel in them,” footwear consultant Susannah Davda told Bravo, per Refinery29. “The future of women’s footwear is comfortable.” 

Luxury shoe designers Sarah Flint and Marion Parke are blending comfort and style; Cole Haan worked with the biomechanics lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to develop a collection of heels that are engineered to relieve some of the pressure on the ball of the wearer’s foot, reports Fast Company. 

Comfort aside, many U.S. workers have a choice when it comes to work footwear. In Japan, a lack of choice has prompted backlash. Women behind the #KuToo campaign — a play on the Japanese words “kutsu” (shoes) and “kutsuu” (pain) — are lobbying the Japanese government to keep employers from requiring women wear heels, which many do, per Quartz. 

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Essential Oil Recipes for Toner Mist

I personally have developed a new found appreciation for Essential Oils,  especially when I learned about adding them to my Toner and Misting!  

Do you love the thought of the ocean breeze on your face in the morning? A cool splash of mist to awaken your pores that is also a vitamin for your skin?

Let’s customize the feel, aroma, and benefits to fit your needs.  Many products come in unscented varieties, making them perfect for combining with one of our signature essential oils.

Toner Mist has so many great benefits and an important step in any daily skin care routine.  Here are a few key benefits to toning the skin, some which may surprise you:

1.     Restores your skin’s pH balance. Hello balance good-bye skin that is freaked out!  Our skin is naturally acidic, but the pH balance can get out of sync after cleansing as most soaps and cleansers are somewhat alkaline in nature. By using a toner, the skin can quickly re-balance to a more normal pH for a healthier glow.

2.     Shrinks pores. Most soaps and cleansers act to open pores and clean them out, but pores are then left open and exposed. Applying Toner Mist helps remove any excess oil or debris still present in the pores, and closes them back up for less risk of breakouts and acne. Tridimentional Silk Proteins gently pull at the skin’s surface to provide instant tightening while leaving the skin soft and supple.

3     Refreshes the skin. Toner Mist contains concentrates of selected amino acids, which promote cellular regeneration, adding lift and vitality to the skin.

4.      Nourishes the skin. Choose an enriched toner with ingredients like Green Tea, Aloe, Chamomile, and Seaweed.

By itself, a Toner Mist is a refreshing mist you can use any time of day to nourish the skin while leaving you feeling awake, vibrant, and ready to take on anything!  Add to that the power of essential oils and you have a superhero combination.  

·         Tea Tree Essential Oil  Add to a bottle of Toner Mist can add antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities. Use to combat acne, athlete’s foot, or other skin issues and irritations.

·         Immune Essential Oil   Add a few drops to create a barrier this busy holiday season from loved ones germs! Take this blend with you when you are traveling to support the immune system and nourish the skin while on vacation or away from home. Choose Immune blends that have Tea Tree, Rosemary, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, and Sweet Orange Essential Oils

·         Lavender Oil   Add a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil to the bottle of Toner Mist for a relaxing and de-stressing experience as part of your bedtime routine.

     We know you’ll love trying these combinations for yourself.

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Breakfast that Cooks itself - Apple-Cinnamon Slow Cooker Oatmeal

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Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 6
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 167.8

• Total Fat: 3.0 g
• Cholesterol: 3.3 mg
• Sodium: 142.6 mg
• Total Carbs: 30.7 g
• Dietary Fiber: 4.5 g
• Protein: 5.7 g

View full nutritional breakdown of Apple-Cinnamon Slow Cooker Oatmeal calories by ingredient

Submitted by: CHEF_MEG

Introduction

Start the day off right with sweet and creamy slow cooker oats for breakfast. The evaporated milk adds such creaminess that you'll think you're having pudding for breakfast.

Minutes to Prepare: 5

Minutes to Cook: 480

Number of Servings: 6

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 Granny smith apples, peeled and diced
1/2 cup evaporated 2% milk

Tips

Add raisins, honey, ground flaxseed or chopped walnuts before serving, if desired.

Directions

Coat the inside of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker, then pour in 6 cups of water. Cover and set on low heat for 8-9 hours.

Serving Size: Makes 6 one-cup servings

** from Spark People.com 

Try these tips for Joint Pain

Joint pain is often the type of pain that sticks around. It isn’t something that’s here and then gone with a one-time fix. So managing it can be a long-term process.

A Common Problem

Many conditions cause long-term joint pain. One of the most common causes is arthritis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 1 in 4 adults, or about 54 million Americans, suffers with painful joints from arthritis.

Whatever the cause, for many people the pain is so bad they find it hard to stay physically active. Poor mental and physical health often follow.

Managing Chronic Pain

To keep pain from becoming overwhelming, learn as much as you can about how to best manage your condition. There are many ways to help manage chronic joint pain.

Keep Moving 
Staying active is important. Activity can be difficult if you have joint pain, but it has many long-term benefits that will help you manage your condition and boost your mental outlook.

Exercise strengthens muscles that support painful joints. It preserves and increases joint range of motion. Some types of physical activity programs increase joint function and have been shown to improve mood, sleep and quality of life.

Activity can help you lose any extra weight. Maintaining an ideal body weight can help relieve the pressure on some joints, like hips and knees.

So keep moving if you can. You may be able to walk, swim, stretch, or do yoga or tai chi. Your doctor can help you decide which activities are safe for you.

Get Enough Rest
Rest is important when your joints are painful or stiff. Lighten your schedule and pace yourself. Ask for help when you need to. And make sure you’re getting good quality sleep. Poor sleep can make your pain and fatigue worse. If you’re having trouble getting enough sleep, learn what you can do to help you fall and stay asleep.

Learn About Your Options for Pain Relief
Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) may help relieve joint pain. Physical therapy and steroid shots may also help reduce your pain and inflammation. Talk to your doctor about what may work for you.

You can also try natural pain management techniques and ways to manage fatigue.

Whatever options you choose, be sure to track what you’re doing, your symptoms, pain levels and any medicines you take. That can help you learn what works best for you.

What If It’s New Pain?

In addition to chronic joint conditions, joint pain can also stem from overusing a joint or injury. If your joint pain is new, talk to your doctor.

Signs of joint inflammation include swelling, warmth, tenderness, redness and pain with movement. Often, rest and warm baths, massage, and stretching may help with short-term pain.

But call your doctor if:

• You have a fever.
• Your pain lasts more than a few days.
• You have severe pain and swelling, especially with other unexplained symptoms.

The National Institutes of Health lists many other causes of joint pain, including:

• Bursitis — the swelling of a cushion between muscles, tendons and bones
• Muscle pain
• Autoimmune diseases like lupus
• Infections
• Tendinitis — swelling in the bands that link muscles to bones

To keep new joint pain from becoming chronic pain, it’s best to check with your doctor to get to the root of the problem.

Keep Trying

You don’t have to just live with a lot of pain. There are many things you can try to find relief. Start by talking to your doctor. And keep asking questions and trying things until you find what works for you. It’s important to keep working through a toolkit of options for helping manage the pain. Having different strategies to try is the key to success.

Top Tips to Love your Lips

This is something that I am paying close attention to, especially this week,  as we vacation in  Mountains     Being that I'm based in Houston there is a lot of difference.  

There is a wealth of things that attack my lips -  altitude, the sun,  dryer air,  wind,  50 degree change in weather  each day.

TIPS FOR HAPPY LIPS!

DO NOT USE STRAWS!
Straws make your pucker stay puckered much longer than you may want. Each time you take a drink from a straw, you draw the skin in around your lips. Once in a while at a restaurant is ok, but daily can add up to wear and tear on your lips. Choose water bottles that flow not ones with straws that suck. Avoid the pucker!

Drink Water  \Hydration makes pretty skin. Grab a 20 oz or more water bottle and drink up. NO straws, right?

Use Nontoxic Ingredients
You are eating whatever you put on your lips!Products that are applied to the skin can quickly be absorbed into the bloodstream. In the case of the lips, those products also tend to get consumed as we lick our lips or talk.  Unfortunately, many commercial lip products contain petroleum-based ingredients, such as mineral oil, that are not only drying to the skin, but can be highly toxic as well.  

Avoid mineral oil (petroleum based product), parabens, lead, and other synthetic oils. Read the labels and look for plant-based ingredients.

Best Choices for Best Lip Care
 Ingredients like natural beeswax, shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E are healthy choices for lip care. Rather than just sit on top of your lips giving the illusion of moisturizing, like mineral oil do, these yummy ingredients actually penetrate deep into the skin to moisturize at a cellular level, leaving lips feeling great when initially applied and even after the product has worn off!

Start with a Sugar and Jojoba Lip Exfoliant
Sometimes the lips need some extra help in removing dead skin cells, toxins, and pollutants that can get into the pores of the skin and cause drying and unhealthy looking lips. Exfoliants gently exfoliate the lips, removing dead and dry skin cells, leaving them smooth and kissably soft.

Apply a small amount to the lips and circular motions to increase circulation.  A little bit goes a long way, so use sparingly. Let this sit on your lips for a minute or so, then wipe away with a soft, damp cloth. Once or twice a week should do it. In the winter months when the lips tend to be more dry, you can exfoliate daily with a gentle, naturally-based exfoliant.

Moisturize your lips like you would other skin surfaces.  
Shea Butter Lip care is a perfect choice morning and night to add a moisturizing base before applying lip care like lip sticks and glosses. You will love how moisturized your lips feel! Moisturizing on a regular basis will leave them feeling soft, nourished, and absolutely amazing.

Bonus Anti Aging Tip! Use a Serum Around Lips
Getting some fine lines and wrinkles around your lips?  After exfoliating, and before applying color, apply a Multi Peptide Firming Serum or Anti Aging Eye Gel. Just around the outside of the lips should do it!

FAQ -My kids lips look terrible!  
We get asked this all of the time! Kids tend to lick their lips when they are dry and not use products that moisturize. Sugar lip exfoliates can get rid of dry, flaky skin and give the lips a fresh, healthy start. And, since it is made from sugar and plant-based oils means it is safe if they lick it.

Taking time to pamper your lips always pays off. Healthy Skin, Healthy Life - Something you can smile about! 

Want more tips about a healthy life and a healthy work, life balance?

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For informational and entertainment purposes only.  Jordan Essentials does not diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure anything.