Friday Faves: Tasha Hussey Body

You may remember my post about the beautiful Tasha Hussey Jewelry...she sent me a beautiful green and white ring that I just adore. Well, after that post, Tasha asked me if she could send me some of her body products. And of course I said I would love to try them out! I was thrilled when the mail arrived and she sent two soaps for me and 3 for my sweet E! When I opened the package, I could smell how amazing these soaps were. And not the strong fragrance that gives you a headache...sweet, pureness of homemade soaps.

So let me tell you a little about Tasha's body products before I get into my experience with them.

"The main reason for making these products was for myself and three children. Two of my children have eczema. I also only eat wild caught fish organic vegetables and fruits. I realized that some of the store bought products were really affecting my children's skin and why was I eating so well but putting the chemicals back into my body through products. The products are natural and chemical free, soaps are made from saponified vegetable and nut oils with organic loofah's and vegetable pigments, blended with essential oils for aromatherapy and fragrance."

E was thrilled with his soaps. He calls them his Lego soaps and thinks that he should be giving them to his cousins because he likes them that much. Seriously, he said, "Mommy, H and T need these soaps!"

E doesn't ever get to test anything for the blog and so he was thrilled that he got something in the mail and something fun! The soap is super moisturizing and he says the bumps tickle. I also love how this soap smells...it's not super strong so it doesn't irritate their skin...it smells fresh and clean. 

As a mom, it makes me feel good that E is using something that is all natural and won't hurt his skin (and he could probably eat it and be ok!). 

Now onto MY soap...Tasha generously sent me two Loofah Soaps in Gardenia Mint and Honeysuckle Rose. First off, they both smell beautiful. My favorite is the Honeysuckle Rose. After using them both, I told my mom (who has tried every bath product on the planet) to try out the Gardenia Mint Loofah Soap to see what she thought. She gave it rave reviews and said she loved how it made her skin feel. In fact, I knew she loved it sooo much, that I ordered her several different soaps and a body butter for Mother's Day (I might have also ordered another soap for me ;)). 

I love the people that I collaborate with and I'm so thankful that I literally e-mailed Tasha a couple of days before Mother's Day and said, "Can you get these to me?" She was so sweet and they got to me just in time! 

So what's so amazing about this soap? You can see from the pictures (above and below) that there is a "soft" side and a "loofah" side. I love that you can scrub places like your legs and then moisturize them with the other side. I have extremely dry skin...seriously, alligator legs and I swear to you I have not used lotion since I started using this soap. 

The truth is, we often don't treat ourselves to natural body products because we think they are too expensive. That's not the truth with Tasha's soaps. Her soaps are extremely affordable and last a long time.

I believe these soaps would make a wonderful gift for almost any occasion, and to be honest, Tasha is just such a joy to work with.

Thank you Tasha for allowing me to feature your wonderful products!

Products are available at www.tashahusseybody.com
www.etsy.com/shop/tashahusseybody
www.opensky.com/tashahusseybody
Xo,

Thoughtfulness Thursday: Mother's Day

I know that Mother's Day is a celebration for us that are mothers, but it can also be day of great sadness for many women that cannot become mothers. I have many friends that have great sadness in their attempts to become a mother and I know that Mother's Day is such a hard day for them.

I also know that Mother's Day isn't just a day to celebrate biological mothers, but also a day to celebrate those that have filled the role as a mother-- aunts, cousins, sisters, grandmothers, friends. I was thinking about one of our good friends and how she doesn't have her own biological children, but she has a child that she has spent a lot of time with (more than half of his life). She has helped to raise up that child in the ways of the Lord and she has spent countless hours making sure that he has a better life. There is nothing on paper that says he is hers, but he is. It makes me think that her job as a mother is much harder than mine. My child is my own flesh and blood and I know where he gets certain traits from. It's hard to get too upset when you are raising your own child, but when it's someone else's (as in her case) I know it is hard to have the outside world influencing his upbringing. I am grateful to people like her...that have the patience and the heart to take care of sweet children.

For me, Mother's Day reminds me of what a gift my sweet child is and what a gift it is to be a mother. I am thankful that E made me a mother...and I hope and pray that he will remember how much of a gift he is for as long as he lives.

I am also thankful for my mom (if you missed my post on Daughters Be Good to Your Mother check it out). My mom isn't just my mom, but my best friend. She is there every time I need her. She is also an amazing grandmother and spends a ton of time teaching E. I know that E will be a better man because my mom has been such a big part of his life.

I know that Mother's Day is technically a "Hallmark Holiday" but I think it's important to set aside time to be good to your mom-- or any woman that has had a huge impact on you.

I hope that your Mother's Day was blessed and that you got to spend it with someone you love. Here are just a few pictures from mine :)

Xo,

Workout Wednesday: Compression Socks

I had a convo with my brother recently about compression socks. He asked why I wear them during races. So while I was explaining it to him, I thought I'd write a post about it...

I will begin this post by saying there is no firm evidence that supports compression socks one way or the other. I will also say that there is no negative effect of wearing compression socks.

Any race you go to, you see lots of runners with brightly colored socks up to their knees. No, they aren't just for fashion...there is actually a good reason behind it. Many athletes believe that their legs feel better after long runs because of compression socks.

These socks are by Pro Compression and I have worn this pair for three races!

I like the article I'm pasting bits from below (found at: http://www.fleetfeethartford.com/sports-medicine/sports-medicine-corner/compression).

"To really understand how compression socks and sleeves work, it’s important to have a basic understanding of how blood flows through the body. The heart pumps oxygen containing blood to our extremities and working muscles though arteries. Once the cells use the oxygen and other nutrients from the blood, the then deoxygenated blood, along with lactic acid and other waste products enter the veins to get taken back to the heart. Once the blood gets back to the heart, it’s oxygenated from the lungs and the process is repeated."

"Keeping oxygenated blood flowing to muscles is important for performance. The more oxygen the cells have, the better they will function. During exercise, the body produces lactic acid as a waste product. If this lactic acid is not removed from the muscles, it can contribute to soreness and decreased ability to perform. Another factor in decreased performance is muscle fatigue. Muscular vibration during physical activity contributes to fatigue. Think about how much shock and vibration is going through your leg muscles as you pound pavement with 3-5 times your body weight while running. Over time, those little vibrations of the muscles add up and they become fatigued."

So why does this matter to your running? Compression socks provide you with graduate compression (tighter at the foot and ankle and looser the rest of the way up). The graduation helps with gravity and "assists the body in venous return."

"Recent studies show that with an optimal level of consistent compression, the walls of the arteries will dilate, increasing the blood flow through them. Arterial blood flow has been shown to increase up to 40% during activity and 30% during recovery. This means more oxygen and nutrients flowing through the body! On the other hand, the walls of the veins will constrict under compression, which helps to increase the velocity of blood flow through them. Increased velocity of blood flow through veins means that deoxygenated blood and lactic acid will get back to the heart quicker, which will help to increase the rate of recovery and decrease muscle soreness! Compression will also help to stabilize the muscle and decrease the amount of muscular vibration, resulting in decreased fatigue. To sum up the benefits of compression; enhanced performance through increased blood flow, quicker recovery and decreased muscle soreness, and less fatigue."

Compression socks can help with shin splints, calf cramps and tendonitis and they can help you decrease the rate of fatigue in your muscles and recover faster. 

I love my compression socks, but I don't wear them all of the time. I bust them out when I'm running longer than 5 miles. I also like to wear them after a long run to help with recovery (I have a pair for running and a pair for recovery). In fact, if you look at most compression sock websites, they don't say anything about help during a run, it's the RECOVERY that is important.

I will say I do notice a difference when I wear them and when I don't...as far as how my legs feel. I'm not saying my legs feel like a million bucks after running a half marathon, but it typically only takes me a day or two to recover.

Tune in next week for a pair of compression socks I got to try out!

Xo, 

Tasty Tuesday: Cracker Barrel Chicken

You guys know I like an easy (few ingredients) recipe. Well, here's another one for you. Four ingredients...that's it! Bam! When I'm in a rut, wondering what I should cook, I go to this one because I always have the ingredients: chicken, Italian dressing, honey and lime juice (you can use lemon juice). This recipe is on several sites, so I'm not going to list a specific one. Just Google Cracker Barrel Chicken tenderloins and you get it!

Place chicken in gallon ziplock bag. Combine all other ingredients and pour over. Seal and marinate for at least an hour.

Pour all ingredients into a large skillet and cook over medium heat until liquid evaporates and remaining marinade becomes thick and caramelized. Coat each piece of chicken in marinade by rubbing it around on the bottom of the pan before removing it.

Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips.
1 cup zesty Italian dressing
2 teaspoons lime juice
3 teaspoons honey

Instructions
Place chicken in gallon ziplock bag. Combine all other ingredients and pour over. Seal and marinate for at least an hour.

Pour all ingredients into a large skillet and cook over medium heat until liquid evaporates and remaining marinade becomes thick and caramelized. Coat each piece of chicken in marinade by rubbing it around on the bottom of the pan before removing it.

That's it...seriously, that's it!

Xo,

Monday Memories

Happy Monday! What a great week it has been! And beautiful weather to top it off!

Monday E and I celebrated Cinco de Mayo with some Barberitos...his fav! And he went dressed as a doctor!

We stayed in on Monday, so I made gourmet Mexican dinner...recipes to come!

The roses at work were beautiful this week!

Mother's Day gift to my mom was a success! Tasha Hussey Body is amazing...post coming soon!

I took some peonies from the neighbors (who haven't moved in yet) and put them in my amazing 13th Colony Clay vase (post on Friday).

E and I went strawberry picking Friday...he liked eating better than picking!

E fell asleep on my lap like when he was a baby...I didn't stay long, but it was sweet!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the women out there! This sweet and silly boy made me a mom!

Xo,

Friday Faves: 13th Colony Clay

There's something super special about flowers in a house...especially in the springtime. I love the color and fragrance they add to a home...and there's a certain "homey" feeling that they add as well. Finding the perfect vase (that isn't one of those cheap glass vases from the dollar store) isn't easy.

As a Southern girl, I love a good monogram...let's be honest, I'd monogram everything if I could. Monograms make everything personal and yours.

One thing that I love about blogging is finding companies (or them finding me) from my home state. There's nothing better than showing off what products come out of Georgia (because there are most definitely some beautiful things).

Well, 13th Colony Clay is an amazing company that makes beautiful gifts...all made in Georgia! Finding products made in the USA seems nearly impossible to find these days, so that makes this company extra special. What else is special about this business? They're family owned...that's pretty darn cool.

Jeff from 13th Colony Clay was super excited about a collaboration and gifted me one of their beautiful Cylinder Vases. Now, even though I read about it before I got it, I had no idea how beautiful it would be when it came. First off, it's HUGE (12" tall and 5" diameter) and perfect for a centerpiece! It's definitely a statement and every single person that has walked into our home as adored it.

The vase which is monogrammed is the perfect gift for a housewarming, a hostess, Christmas, a wedding or Mother's Day! It is the perfect vase for a big fancy table or an everyday kitchen table (that's what I use it on).

According to their website, "Each vase is created using a combination of a slip casting process and handcrafted artistry. The basic shape is created pouring a liquid ceramic material called slip in to a plaster mold. Once the desired thickness and firmness is reached, the vase is removed from the mold, and the true artistry of the piece takes place. One of our talented southern artisans hand carves each monogram into the vase creating a unique piece just for you. From there, a glaze is applied to give the vase a beautiful and durable finish that will last for many years."

Here are some pictures of my beautiful vase!

What other products do I love/want of theirs?!

 I'd love this sweet bud vase for our bedroom...

 This box would be perfect to put my everyday jewels in.

And God knows I love some coffee...how much fun is this coffee mug?!

Thank you Jeff and the 13th Colony Clay for the wonderful opportunity...your products are truly amazing!

Please check 13th Colony Clay for your next gift...a wide range of prices that make it reasonable for a small gift or a larger one!

Also, stay tuned for their newest venture Snarkbites that will be featured on the blog too!

AND you can receive 25% off an item on the 13th Colony Clay site if you back their KickStarter for $25 or more. Use code: JULIASNARKS
Xo,

Thoughtfulness Thursday: My Age

I've never revealed my age on the blog...not because I care if you know how old I am, because I really don't. I guess it's just not something that has come up. Well, without further ado, I'm 27 (though sometimes I still tell people I'm 23...weird I know). When I came across this article, http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/survey-says-life-goes-downhill-after-age-27 I thought it was interesting because it's about my age. You never see anything written about people that are 27. Most articles are about 30 year olds or college graduates...27 is just somewhere in the middle (though I'm nearing 30 every day).

So, the article talks about that at 27 is when both men and women say they feel the best about their bodies. I'm not sure I agree with this...I think 26 was my year for this, but I do think people in their mid/late twenties are much more secure than younger (and a bit older) folks.

Why 26 you ask? Well, 26 is when I started back into fitness after having E. I grew up dancing, was in great shape most of my life (okay except for the time when I was injured and gained a ton of weight), got pregnant and had E...then like most moms didn't feel like I had time to work out. It took me two years to say, "okay, I'm going to start working out again AND spend time for myself." Best decision I ever made (okay, not the best decision ever, but the best decision for me physically). Running 4 times a week gave me a mental mommy break (and it gave me a break from work). Running also gave me more confidence because I was losing weight (I had lost my pregnancy weight but was not in shape). I was finally toning up and feeling a lot better about myself. Physical exercise helped me mentally and physically tremendously.

The article goes on to say, "we tend to relax about our looks and those of others as we age (good to know there's more to life than being ridiculously beautiful, I guess). On the other hand, millenials believe themselves to be in the prime of their looks but are too nervous to enjoy it: Sixty-nine percent of 16- to 34-year-olds say they regularly worry about their looks. Lastly, people ages 50 to 68 said they worried less about basically everything—appearances, finances, health, relationships, family, or personal success—than younger respondents."

I think the basis of this article is that it's okay to feel good about yourself. If you're nearing 27, then enjoy it...if you're past 27, enjoy that too. Feel good about yourself (and find some way to do that).

I think this quote sums it up well, "Life happens, and the emphasis on appearance tends to diminish when people get older and they find other things in their lives where they get nourishment, enjoyment, and happiness," body image expert Sarah Maria Dresibach told Today.

Xo,