Month: January 2014

How to Keep Warm during the Polar Vortex

After a week long trip to Smugglers Notch in Vermont where the temperatures were as low as -35 on the ski mountain, I have learned a few tips on how to keep warm during this winter polar vortex. This was our second year enduring these freezing cold temperatures at Smuggs but this year we came prepared and we conquered and thought we’d bring our tips home for you!

Remember it is a polar vortex winter, so don’t go outside dressed for a New England Winter. Wear boots, a hat, warm mittens and even a face warmer every time you go outside. Even if you are just running to the store, dressing warm and keeping all of your body warm will help you to remember why you love New England Winter. I guarantee this will leave you feeling less cold and more enthusiastic about going out in the cold.

1. Wear fashionable, comfortable boots.

Some great boots I found are rubber boots, but I glammed them up with some long socks and they rocked the cold weather. They are by Isle Jacobsen and are rubber boots that are not only stylish but warm.  I found mine at www.kingswharfe.com in Kennebunkport, Maine, they ship no charge and they are a small local boutique that I’m sure this time of winter would appreciate the business (1-207-967-1208).

Isle Jacobsen Boots can be found and ordered locally

2. Wear a hat

Hats are cute now, so come on, buy yourself something warm but stylish. Hit your locally owned ski shop for a cool selection of hats. Here are some hats we love with links where to buy them.
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3. Wear a large scarf

Wearing a large eternity scarf doubled up will keep your neck and face warm when you go outside. You can pull it up over your face and head when you go out and pull it back down when you enter inside. One line we love and have found to be not only adorable but very useful in cold weather. Wooden Ships by Paola Buendía. The website shows all the wonderful scarves but you have to find a store local to you to purchase. You won’t be disappointed when you find and buy one.

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5. Wear Long Bottom Covering Long Sleeve Tee’s or Tops
Wearing a top that covers your bottom will help keep that bottom warm when you have to sit on cold car seats, or any cold outdoor seating. Lucky and Free People Brands are both bohemian style and offer many longer flowing options.

5. Wear warm comfy Leggings
The best brand of leggings we have found are Lysse Leggings. They are thicker than most leggings and also are “high rise, tummy control”, not only keeping your tummy in, but keeping it warmer. These come in many sizes, selections and styles, they are warm, comfy and fit perfectly into long boots.

6. Wear Long Socks

There are lots of options for socks. You can go sporty with the Under Armour Momentum Ski and Sport socks or find more Under Armour all weather socks here http://www.levelninesports.com/.

You can go trendy with a dressier, longer wool sock under your boots that will keep your legs and your feet warm such as these long cuffable socks from sockdreams that come in a variety of colors.

7. Layer Up
Wear layers…Under your long sleeve tunic wear a warm tank top or velvet top to keep your core warm. Over that layer a light top like we recommended under point #5. Cover that with a buttoned up sweater, cape like sweater or even a fancier fleece.

8. Don’t forget your gloves
Texting gloves are best or even fingerless gloves if you find gloves really annoying.

5 New Things to Try in 2014

It’s a New Year and that means, inspire yourself to try something NEW!

We tried some non-traditonal trends in exercise, food and home management  (and yes we even tried them) for you and wanted to write a blog post and inspire you to try some of our recommendations and if none of them are for you, try something new and tell us about it.

 

Exercise Trend – Bikram Yoga

Bikram Yoga UsaIt’s a growing practice in Yoga, called Bikram Yoga. Founded in the 1970’s by Bikram Choudhury from Hatha Yoga,  the practice was designed to heal your body using 26 poses and did we mention a very hot (usually 108 degrees) room.

The Daily Mail just featured the practice noting many celebrities and athletes who swear by the practice including Lady Gaga (and we all know what her body looks like). We can’t guarantee yours will look the same, but you will certainly have fun trying if this heated workout is for you.

This grueling class takes 90 minutes, involves 26 poses and requires you to sweat your you know what off.  It’s claim: move fresh, oxygenated blood to one hundred percent of your body. The claimed result proper weight, muscle tone, vibrant good health, and a sense of well-being.

What we found – increases energy, mental clarity, tones and detoxes the body along with helping with joint and back issues. We recommend talking to your doctor before trying. Find out more about Bikram Yoga here:  http://www.bikramyoga.com/.

 

 

Drink Trend – Kombucha Tea

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Kombucha Tea is an ancient and controversial tea that people swear has many healing properties but experts say there is no real proof to its benefits and not to bother drinking it. Made by brewing tea and using  a specific bacteria to ferment the tea, the result produces probiotics that help fight bad bacteria that cause havoc on your body. It has a bubbly property similar to soda but tastes almost like apple cider and water. We like it but many people think it’s just plain “gross”.

What we found – helps with digestive issues, reduces sugar, alcohol, food and coffee cravings. We don’t recommend you make it, just buy the commercial blend we like this one. http://www.synergydrinks.com/.

 

 

Home Trend – Decluttering and Reorganizing Spaces

Home-Organization-101-Season-3People love to collect and people hate getting rid of things. Because stores like Target and Home Goods encourage buying on the cheap we tend to buy more than we really need for our homes. After doing this for a few years, you will find, things begin to collect and clutter…all of a sudden there is nowhere to put anything, you can’t find anything and you have just too much stuff.

Well, 2014 is time for a cleanse in your home! There are so many resources on the Internet about how to declutter and reorganize your home it’s hard to know where to start, but we have found what we think is one of the best sites out there to help you get a handle on how you can nicely design and organize your spaces. A Bowl Full of Lemons has step by step guides on how to tackle the different areas of your home.

What we found – we loved reorganizing and designing the pantry, also found other great sites to follow and pictures to see through this website. http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net.

 

 

Cooking Trend – Steaming VS. Roasting

Roasted VegetablesSteaming vegetables and fish is both low fat and one of the best ways to keep vitamins and nutrients in your food. But it is also boring, messy and can even be tasteless. If you want to keep variety in your healthy diet try roasting! Roasted vegetables, fish and meat is another excellent cooking method to keep your foods nutrient rich.

Roasting makes your food more tasty. Try spreading any vegetables out on a pan with salt, olive oil and roast away! Our favorite roasted vegetables include brussel sprouts, red peppers and carrots (yes, stop boiling the carrots please!) You can even add spices, cook using healthy coconut oil (for a sweeter taste). You will really notice the difference in taste as roasted vegetables almost become richer in taste.

What we found – winter vegetables are delicious, but try summer vegetables too such as tomatoes and summer squash. These are vegetables your kids will eat! Here is a great article on how to roast your veggies. http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/09/19/how-to-roast-vegetables/.

 

 

Diet Trend – Go Gluten Free

gluten free diets, trend in 2014 gluten freeSo many health experts are recommending this now, that gluten-free menus and foods have become common place. Elisabeth Hasselback brought Celiac disease and the gluten-free diet to the American forefront with her book the G-Free diet and of course talking about it daily on the View. But many health experts agree, that going gluten-free is the way to go whether you have Celiac disease or not.

What we found – the gluten-free diet is a bit hard to follow, we recommend using non-processed foods so no processed gluten-free grocery items, sorry! If you don’t have Celiac and still want to eat bread the Ezekial Bread (whole sprouts) is low-carb and full of protein and tastes delicious (especially cinnamon with almond butter). One of the best recipe websites is the Gluten Free Goddess.

Please tell us about some new trend you have tried and what you would recommend to inspire our audience to try something new!

Good Luck and Happy New Year!