Makeup By Megan Alexis

Last week, I got the pleasure of getting a free makeup make over by a very talented makeup artist (a $55 session for free), Megan Alexis, plus headshots by my 2nd favorite photographer (to my dad), Mandy Leonards Photography.

There were three models there. Here are the pictures.

For the first model, Megan did a smoky eye, seduction look which turned out sensational.

For me, she went for a 50’s pinup look with the fake eyelashes and red lips. I’ve never done this look before, so I was excited for the results. Of course, it turned out fantastic.

The third model was a natural, every day look, which also turned out great!

If you have a wedding or special event you need makeup done for, or you want to change up your look, I highly recommend Makeup by Megan Alexis.

She’s very professional, talented, and a lot of fun. I learn something from her every time!

I will be using both Megan and Mandy for a boudoir shoot in May as a special something for the hubby. For more information, contact Mandy Leonards Photography.

5K Training - Hashing

For 4 years now, I have watched my husband set a training goal and either meet or exceed it very quickly. Nothing gets in his way. His friends come and help, he doesn’t think twice about making it a part of his schedule as if it was work. Not to mention, he just keeps looking better and better as the years go on.

I, however, need to be in a social setting to work out. I need to schedule a class with someone in order to stick with it. I need the accountability of meeting someone to be motivated.

I took Belly Dance classes in Muncie, but they closed down. I took a class in Noblesville after moving to Indy, but that class only lasted for a couple months. I tried another class in Greenwood, but the class was more about exercise rather than technique. I don’t really understand this because when you working on technique, you are really exercising. Belly dance really works your core; from your arms to your quads. It even works your neck and fingers!

I’ve tried tapes at home for yoga and belly dance, but staying consistent is impossible.

I finally got tired of not accomplishing or sticking to anything. The added 10lbs from the wedding and the new house was a big motivator as well. For one of my New Year’s Resolutions, I decided that this year, I would run a 5k in 30 min or less.

I’ve never been much of a runner. I tried track and field in middle school and by the end of the summer, I still couldn’t run more than a ¼ mile without walking. Pathetic.

So, Dan and I joined the Y, and all winter we would go after I got off work twice a week. I started by walking 5 minutes, and then running for up to 3 minutes, with a 1-2 min walk in between. I start running at 5mph and slowly worked my way up to 6. I was doing great! He even convinced me to start lifting weights.

Then spring hit. I was so excited to start running outside. Fresh air, sun, outdoors! What could be better?

Well, first rain was my excuse. Then it was once I got home, I would get involved in dinner, or cleaning, or taking care of something that there wasn’t time. I even tried taking Daisy with me when Dan couldn’t, but she’s lazier then I am. She has this imaginary boundary around the neighborhood that she can’t go out of. She just sits down and stares at me. Finally, 2 weeks passed and I had gone for a run once. Sad.

I really didn’t want to quit on this goal either. I was frustrated because I felt like I wasn’t progressing, and I wasn’t really training anymore. Then, Dan, my personal trainer and husband, heard about something called Hashing.

What is hashing? Well, it’s a social group where they meet 3 times a month to run. But, to make it more interesting, they include beer, a hunt, cool nicknames, traditions, penalties, and songs. At first, I was a little concerned. Running and drinking sounds like a recipe to puking, and the traditions and penalties sound like there’s room for hazing. That’s not really my thing. But, I sucked it up and went with Dan last night. I have to get this training thing back on schedule.

We had a blast. Its $6 to go on a hash (to pay for beer), and you get introduced to Pissing Ditzy, Camo Toe, and 20lb Pussy. Nick names are used to protect people from stigma from co-workers. If you don’t want anyone to know you Hash, no one will know. Dan and I were Virgins because it was our first run. We also were called Just Nicole and Just Dan. You don’t get a nickname until after your 6th hash. There were around 25-30 people there.

Now to the hunt. There are two people who are called “Hares.” These two take jugs of flour and chalk and it’s their job to mark a trail. The “Hashers,” or runners/walkers, follow the trail. No one knows where they are going before you get there. Your goal as a Hasher is to catch the Hares. If you do, the Hares have to drink. So, the Hares will mark false trails and will leave beer and food on the ground to slow you down. After a 10 min head start, the Hashers start off after the Hares.

Oh my God, this was so fun. We started in Broad Ripple Park and ran through neighborhoods and by Glendale mall. It was nice to see parts of Broad Ripple other than the bars. You can also go at your own pace. A majority of the people just walk and socialize. Dan and I ran because this is part of my new training schedule. Dan can run a lot faster and longer than I can, so while I ran with him when we were “On Trail,” he would go off and find the “True Trail” once we came to a “Check.” So, he got a huge kick out of the competitiveness, I got a kick out of socializing. We both liked seeing Broad Ripple and of course the Beer.

After the run (3-5 miles in about 2 hrs) you get in a circle and do “Down Downs.” Here is where all the songs come into play. Penalties are handed out and the punishment is drinking! That I can handle. Someone had ELFudge Keebler cookies there as a reward for finishing. Yum! I’m thinking this should be the reward every time I go for a run.

Afterwards, everyone goes to a Bar to eat and drink some more. Now, we didn’t get to go the “On After”, but next time we will plan better for it.

That’s it. It’s just a bunch of people, who get together and play fox and hound around Indy, and drink.

So, here is my new training schedule for my goal of running a 5k under 30min by June 15th:
Tuesdays – Normal Run 30-35min as far as you can go without worrying about speed.
Hash Days – Wednesdays or Saturdays, 3x’s/month
Thursdays – 800’s – Run 800 meters under 5 minutes, 4 reps decreasing rest times each week
Saturdays – Normal Run

Wish me luck and I hope some of you decide to Hash with us!

Spa Party – BeautiControl

This weekend I hosted a Spa Party for my friend Kilyssa. She has very recently decided to become a BeautiControl Consultant and this was her first party on her own. I had never heard of BeautiControl, but I enjoy being pampered and I enjoy having people over, so why not?? Plus, for hosting I got a free aromatherapy neck wrap. I’ve already used it twice since the party!

There were about 8 of us total, and we had a lot of fun. Kilyssa did an excellent job. We started the party by taking off our shoes, and giving our feet some love. Life is good when your feet are happy. I learned this at an early age from my mom, but I rarely make time to really spoil my feet. Kilyssa had us apply moisturizer to our feet. I used Herbal aromatherapy foot crème which smelled fantastic. I’m a believer in aromatherapy so I always go for those product lines when available. Next, we wrapped our feet in plastic bags (to hold in the moister), and she had warm socks for us. Talk about your troubles melting away. Warm socks are the next best thing to a foot massage.

Then we moved on to our hands. We washed our hands with Manicure spa instant manicure which has Dead Sea salts which exfoliate your skin followed with Spa Manicure Extreme Repair Hand Crème. With my job I am constantly washing my hands with BacDown. This is a harsh cleanser which removes biohazard materials so you don’t take them home to your family. As a result, my hands are constantly dry and pealing, so I apply hand cream religiously. I always have some in my purse and at work. Still, my hands are always dry and cracked at my knuckles. I’ve tried Dead Sea salts before, but within a couple of days, my hands are back to their usual dryness. I even have Mary Kay’s Satin Hands, but it usually works for a day. So, I was curious to see if BeautiControl’s lotion and hand salts would be more effective. Who doesn’t want soft hands?

Now, I enjoy a manicure and pedicure as much as the next gal, but when it comes to taking care of my face, if it’s beyond washing and applying moisturizer, I’m lost. I’ve never been one who had the time or money to splurge on facials. Plus there are so many products out there, how do you know what you need and what’s just overkill??
BeautiControl makes this easy for you. They have a skin assessment which tells you which line is best for you. For our party we used the 30’s line. My skin needs the 20’s line which I ended up getting (40% off because I hosted!)

Well, Kilyssa started us off with a busy woman’s facial. It includes a green tea mask, facial scrub, and foaming cleanser all together. This smelled fantastic and was slightly warming. Next, we used toner to help relax the skin and clean spots.

Afterwards, we dove into the more drastic treatments. We did a chemical peal to take off the dead, cracked skin, followed by microdermabrasion with buffer. I wasn’t a big fan of the chemical peel, but the microdermabrasion was fantastic. The little buffer is really soft and it feels like a face massage. To help lift our face, we used TTF. This is like Botox without the needles. I did this to one side of my face, and I could see a difference, especially around my eye.

Last step was moisturizer and sunscreen (spf 20). I really really like the moisturizer. It’s not greasy and doesn’t interfere with your foundation. I don’t like that the sunscreen is separate from the moisturizer, but I understand it’s because you don’t need spf when you are sleeping.

Now onto lips! First we used Lip Apeel to take off the dead skin, followed by the Lip Balm. I have healthy lips that only get cracked when I’m sick, so I couldn’t tell how effective this was, but it wasn’t as gross as the Mary Kay Stain Lips.

To end the evening, we relaxed on the couch, placed Eye Pads over our eyes, and warm wash clothes with a little Bath Soak on them to relax. I must admit, this is up there with the warm socks. It smelled like peppermint and was heavenly.

At the end of the afternoon, everyone was relaxed, we got to catch up a little, and be pampered! What a great way to spend a Saturday.

Secret Ingredient - Part 2

Low Carb Pancakes - These are fantastic.  They have a almond taste, they are really good.  I prefer these to real pancakes because I don't feel bloated and useless after having them.

In a blender combine:
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/4 c melted butter (I use Fleischmann's w/ olive oil)
1 whole egg
3 egg whites

In a bowl, combine:
1 Tbsp baking powder
3/4 cup almond flower
1 Tbsp Splenda
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Salt
Blender mixture

Cook 1/4 cup of batter on a hot griddle until the center starts to bubble, then flip.  Serve with low carb syrup (sugar free).  Yum!
8g carbs
31-34g protein.

Banana Nut Muffins

Preheat oven to 400F.  Fit 12 muffin cups with liners and coat each liner with cooking spray.
Mix together:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup brown sugar splenda
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Stir in:
2 mashed ripe bananas
3/4 cup milk (I use almond milk)
5 Tbsp melted butter
1 whole egg

Fill muffin cups with batter and sprinkle with cinnamon and splenda.
Bake 20-22 min and cool for 1 min.  Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Stove Top Oatmeal - Dan's favorite Breakfast
In a pot, bring to a boil the following:
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup milk (I use Almond milk)
1 tsp cinnamon.

Once boiling add 1/2 cup old fashioned oats and lower heat to med-low.

Once oats are cooked to your liking (3-5 min) take off heat and add 1/4 cup of walnuts or pecans, 2 Tbsp sugar free syrup, and raisins (optional).
Mix in one scoop of vanilla protein (if you choose not to add protein, only add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 of milk).
You can also cut up an apple instead of the raisens.  I don't like the texture of apple in the morning. 
Dan likes to add a little splenda or brown sugar splenda for added sweetness.

This and the Mixed Nuts cookies are recipies from Dr. John Berardi. 
Mixed Nuts Cookies - These are my favorite.  Even Dan's siblings liked them for Halloween instead of candy!
Preheat oven to 375F.
In a mixing bowl, combine:
3tsp butter (with olive oil)
1 egg
1 Tbsp cinnamon

Add in 2/3 cup crushed pecans, 2/3 cup crushed almonds (I prefer hazelnuts), 2/3 cup crushed walnuts. Add 3 scoops of chocolate or vanilla protein powder.  I prefer chocolate caramel Muscle Milk.

On a baking sheet, scoop out 6 equal portions of the batter.
Bake for 6 min or until you see the butter bubbling from the cookies.
Serve warm or store in the fridge.  I prefer these cookies warm myself.

Enjoy!  Feel free to add your favorite Cinnamon recipe!

Secret Ingredient – Part 1

I love food. I like finding new recipes, watching people cook, cooking, eating, and learning about what food does to your body. I love food. If I had my dream job, I’d open a bakery/café and be around food all day.

I also love being healthy and skinny. These loves don’t often mix. It is my goal in life to have my loves co-exist.

My favorite additive to almost any food is cinnamon. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, cinnamon can be that added something that is missing from what could be a fantastic meal.

Go ahead, think about taking a walk in the mall. Cinnabon with their wonderfully fattening cinnamon rolls, or Auntie Annes with the cinnamon sugar pretzels. Yum. Now, lets go to Starbucks and order a Pike Place Grande coffee. Pretty good. Now add a dash of cinnamon and taste. Difference is night and day with just a pinch!

In history, we see cinnamon mentioned in the bible during Moses’ time. That’s believed to be between the 17th-19th centuries BC! Chinese history has cinnamon documented as far back as 2800 BC. Cinnamon is why Columbus ended up in the Americas. I mean, what’s America with apple pie and no cinnamon?

 Why do we love cinnamon so much?? It’s just bark.

Cinnamon, or Cinnamomum verum, is a small evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka. Cinnamon the spice is from the tree’s bark. Cinnamon is harvested by growing the tree for two years and then coppicing it. This is a fancy term for cutting the tree down and leaving the stump. The tree can re-grow from the stump and be re-harvested. Cinnamon is so cool, it’s even Green. From the branches of the tree, the outer bark is scraped off and then beaten to loosen the inner bark. The inner bark is dried for 4-6 hours, and cut into 5-10cm lengths for sale.

Once ingested, cinnamon can do some amazing things for your body. Scientifically, the use of cinnamon to help lower blood glucose levels is most interesting.

Blood glucose is just the amount of glucose circulating in your blood. Glucose is a sugar that your body uses for energy, usually found in carbohydrates. Think breads, pastas, donuts. Typically, your blood glucose levels are fairly level. In the morning they are low, and after eating, they spike. When you have a high blood glucose, your body stores the excess as glycogen, first in your liver, and then in your fat tissue for later use. When you have low blood sugar, like when you are exercising, your body uses your storage tissue for energy. So, if you have high blood glucose levels, such as after eating a foods rich in glucose like any carbohydrate, your body stores more, and your fat tissues get full.
Yikes.

 Enter Cinnamon.

A 1985 study showed that the stomach emptied ~35% slower with cinnamon supplementation as opposed to none. Two benefits. One, you aren’t as hungry as often, and two, you store less glycogen because of a slow and steady level of blood glucose over time.

Scientists have also found that cinnamon can enhance the efficiency of insulin in the body. Your body releases insulin to help lower your blood glucose levels.

Studies have also showed that the supplementation of even as little as 1 gram of cinnamon daily reduced blood sugar, triglycerides, (bad) cholesterol in type 2 diabetes patients.

But, let’s not forget Apollo’s advice. 1. Know thyself. 2. Everything in Moderation.

There is a health risk with cinnamon due to the natural presence of coumarins. Coumarins are toxic when too many are consumed, which has caused scientists to warn those who consume cinnamon at every meal. Since even as little as 1 gram (4 tsp) helped the type 2 diabetes patients in the study, it is best to err on the side of caution and not exceed more than 4 tsp/day. Might I suggest that you don’t literally eat a tsp of cinnamon or you’ll unknowingly take on the cinnamon challenge.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Secret Ingredient where I give you a few of my favorite cinnamon recipies!

Using Fish Oil as treatment for itchy skin – A Case Study

As my first blog post, I’m going to start by doing what I do best. Science.

Fish oil has been pushed on patients by herbalists, chiropractors, and nutritionists alike as a miracle supplement. Fish oil will prevent heart disease and stroke! Reduces inflammation and prevents osteoporosis! Helps you lose weight and improves colon health! Creates new brain neurons and will stabilize moods! Prevents hair loss and stimulates hair growth and shine!
So, does it work?

Meet Daisy. She is a 1 year old black lab/shepherd mix, weighs 56lb, and spayed. She is also my baby and is spoiled rotten by both her parents. We’ve had Daisy since she was 10 weeks old.

As Daisy aged, we noticed she scratched a lot. We treated her for fleas, first with over the counter medicines, then with different veterinary prescribed treatments. We even tried oatmeal baths. Nothing seemed to work and she started losing her hair! First it was on her tail. Then it was on her rump. To my heartbreak, she would whine as she scratched. My poor baby.

Photo taken by Mandy Leonards Photography

Our next thought was food allergies. Daisy only was fed Iams Puppy formula. We switched her to Purina’s Beneful food, with no change after 2 weeks. She did start to eat more, so apparently Iams tastes like cardboard. Next, we started supplementing her night meal with Purina Alpo wet food. 2 weeks later, still no change.

After extensive research, we decided to try fish oil. (Please consult your vet before giving your dog any medicines or supplements. I do not advise research on animals unless properly trained.) We dosed Daisy with 1 capsule of fish oil twice daily (10mg/lb EPA) frosted with peanut butter.

So, what is fish oil?

Fish oil is found in fish, as its name implies. Fish sources include tuna, salmon, anchovies, tuna, oysters, bass, trout and many many more. But, because it’s from fish, and fish live in the sea, you should be concerned with purity. Contamination from mercury, arsenic, lead, PCBs, and other compounds may negatively affect you. Pollute the Earth, pollute your body. The circle of life. Be sure to check the standards of refinement or distilling for your brand of fish oil.

Fish oil is composed of the Omega 3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). EPA is absorbed through diet and is found in human breast milk (from the mother’s diet). DHA can be absorbed through foods or by your body converting it from EPA via docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). I won’t bore you with this process. If you are interested, look into a career in organic chemistry. Your body cannot “make” either DHA or EPA because they are longer-chained fatty acids, so food or supplements are your options.

Numerous studies have been performed studying fish oil, DHA, and/or EPA in humans, rats, mice, ect, as well as in vitro (think in the lab not in animal). Do a Pubmed search. How many hits did you get?? The results are controversial. What is important to remember is your body is a system made up of many many systems. Don’t let us scientists fool you. We do not know how all of these systems work together. There are many diseases and conditions we do not know the causes for. How do you prove that something can prevent cancer if you don’t know what causes it? How do you prove that fish oil can slow Alzheimer's, if we don’t know what makes one person develop it and not another?

Back to my experiment. After one week of treatment, we noticed she wasn’t itching as often. After 2 weeks, we noticed some of her hair filling in. After 3 weeks, goodbye bald rump! Now, a month later, Daisy is mostly itch free, her coat is full and shiny, and her shedding seems to have lessened.

So is fish oil a miracle worker? I don’t know, but I must admit, I have started taking fish oil. I mean, who doesn’t want fuller, more shiny hair? I know I do.

Photo taken by Mandy Leonards Photography