Bumpin': Prenatal Workouts, YouTube Edition

Since posting about my favorite prenatal workouts, I have discovered some great prenatal workouts on YouTube, so I thought I'd share them with y'all!  (All of these, plus some of my favorite non-maternity workouts are listed on my Health and Fitness Pinterest Board.  And you can follow all my boards here!)

10 Minute Prenatal Pilates

This video actually contains 5 different 10 minutes segments.  They are all really great to do individually or together.  Just as a disclaimer, I usually skip the exercises that she does on her back.

Heidi Klum's Prenatal Workout from FitSugar

Also 10 minutes, this prenatal workout uses light weights and will get your heart rate going!  I like to combine this workout with one or two of the pilates segments above.

Denise Austin's Prenatal Cardio Workout--Fit and Firm Prenancy

20 minutes long and low-intensity cardio.  Sometimes good ol' Denise drives me bonkers, but I found that for a third trimester cardio workout, this is just right!  Not too intense, but by the end I feel like I've gotten a decent workout.

Do you have a favorite YouTube workout video?  I don't know why I haven't used YouTube more in the past for my workouts--there are endless options on there!!!

Be sure to check out my other Bumpin' posts on the link list on the right for all things maternity related!

Nice Women

Sometimes it's hard to be a mom.  Sometimes, you're 8 months pregnant, your one and a half year old likes to run like a crazy person through the aisles at Sprouts randomly pushing every box and jar as far back on the shelf as she can, while at the same time your four year old son is determined to push the cart, but keeps running into tall displays of glass beverages and other people.  And sometimes, you get mean looks from people while you're trying to manage this circus, all the while you're out of breath because your belly is constricting your air flow as you're running around trying to catch your daughter and fight her into staying in the cart, but in the end you just end up carrying her, making it even harder to breathe.  And sometimes those people that give you mean looks are other WOMEN.  Or even, other MOMS!  And those times are the absolute WORST.  In your head you're thinking, "Oh, sure, your kids are perfect and have never acted like puppies that were just let loose in a huge warehouse of bouncing balls!" or "I thought we were supposed to be on the same team!!!! Don't look at me like that!" 

BUT . . . SOMETIMES . . .  you're in that same scenario, and a woman stops and laughs and says hello.  Then she asks you how you're doing, tells you in a light-hearted tone that unfortunately things get worse before they get better, and you feel a sweet connection with her and know that she's not judging you at all.  And then, sometimes, a little bit later, that same lady flags down your car as you're about to leave the parking lot, comes over, gives you a huge hug, hands you a bunch of flowers and tells you, "I got these for you to make your day a little bit better!"  

That's the lady that I met today.  And she really did make my day a little bit better.  A lot better, actually!  I felt so loved by a complete stranger!  It made me so happy to know that there are nice women out there.  Women who are routing for each other and are there ready to support a mom having a hard time.  I want to be one of those kinds of women.  I don't want to be a caddy woman or the woman who gives dirty looks at the mom in the grocery store or on the airplane or at the fancy restaurant that is struggling to keep her toddlers maintained.  And I NEVER want to be the woman who gives unsolicited advice in the grocery store insinuating that you don't know what you're doing or how to control your own children.  Instead, I want to be the woman who gives that mom an encouraging smile, offers a sucker to the crying toddler, or buys a beautiful bunch of flowers to "make her day a little bit better."  So, to the kind lady at Sprouts, Thank You!  You made my day better, and you inspired me to always be on the lookout to help out the other moms out there.

Dallas!

This weekend we went to Dallas for a quick trip to see one of my very best friends from college. We really only had one day, but we packed it in!

I had never been to Dallas before, and it is such a cool city! We started out by catching the trolley and taking it downtown to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

This was definitely one of the coolest museums I have ever been to, and we barely even scratched the surface of all they had to see and do! Before we even entered the museum they had fun, free crafts for kids to do in the lobby. Will and Peter made a parrot out of clay, then I helped him create a parachute for a little toy frog out of a plastic bag. This was so much fun! Will would have been satisfied to do the crafts and leave!

Once in the museum, we spent a lot of time in the kids play area and then we went to the Sports room. This room is fun for the whole family--you can race a T-Rex, cheetah, Pliosaurus, or several famous athletes; you can check out how an MRI works; take videos of yourself performing a sport and then watching it back in slow motion and even compare your video to a pro; plus more! Really fun stuff.

Here's a video of Will and Clara racing a professional athlete. At the end of your race, it even shows your stats!

After the museum we walked over to Klyde Warren Park, which was lined with food trucks and had lots of shade, a playground, and a splash pad! Perfect for a hot and hungry crew! And the banh mi sandwiches we got were soooo good!

We spent the rest of the afternoon swimming in our friends' pool and hanging out. Then we went out on the town for Korean food in Dallas' K-Town (Who knew?! I almost felt like I was in LA!) And then, to finish off our ode to LA, we stopped at Sprinkles!!!! There's nothing like a good cupcake to finish off a great day!

Thanks for the fun times, Bonnie and David! We loved Dallas!

On Matching . . .

Do or Don't?

Do you like to match with your kids??? I know a lot of people who would say, "Once I have kids, there is no way I'm going to match with them!" Were you one of those people? Do you think it's cheesy or cute to match with your kids?

In our house, we're fans of being matchy-matchy with each other. We do it all the time. Maybe we're cheesy, but we love it.

Kickin' it in LA!

*Disclaimer: This is actually a list of things to do in LA and Orange County! But since I have family in both places, I tend to just mesh the two :)*

Last week, I took the kids to LA to visit my family. So . . . instead of a Kickin' it in SA this week, I thought I'd do a Kickin' it in LA! Southern California has so many fun things to do, but here are my top ten things to do with kids when visiting!

1. The Beach. Of course! You can't go to California without visiting the beach! My favorite family-friendly beaches are:

Baby Beach and Doheny in Dana Point:

Baby Beach is a bay, so it doesn't have waves--perfect for babies to splash around! There is even an area for kids roped off in the water to keep them from any of the boats and/or stand up paddle boarders coming in and out of the water. And speaking of . . . this is a great beach for Stand Up Paddle Boarding! It's so fun and anyone can do it! Throw your kids on the board and take them for a ride in the bay. There are a bunch of places that rent boards, here is a link to Dana Point Jet Ski and Kayak Center right in Dana Point. They're located by Doheny, another great beach for families!

Salt Creek:

With a huge grassy field above the shoreline, this beach is a great place to have a picnic or let your kids run around!

Manhattan Beach: Anywhere by the pier is perfect--then just walk around the charming beach streets and grab a bite to eat!

And if you're in Orange County (the Dana Point and Laguna beaches, specifically), make sure to catch a ride on the free trolley that runs up and down the PCH stopping at all the best beaches. This was a huge hit with our kiddos! 

Here we are at Oak Street in Laguna Beach after taking the trolley. It's great because it's just a short walk down the stairs from downtown Laguna to the sand! And if you go to Laguna Beach, be sure to grab a pizza from Gina's Pizza--soooo good!

2. Hike to the Hollywood Sign.

This is a fairly easy hike--approximately a mile and half each way, or 3 miles total (this is a guesstimate, anyone have an exact distance??? I was finding differing answers when I tried to look it up . . . anyway, it's not too long!). It's not very steep; my 3 year old was able to make this hike without assistance, but with lots of rest stops and water breaks :)

To get to the hike, take the 101 to Gower St. and turn North (I think--turn towards the hills :)) on Beachwood St. Take Beachwood all the way up until you can't drive anymore. (You may see signs for Hollyridge St./Hollyridge Trail--you're in the right place!) Once you get to the top and you're off the asphalt, there is a dirt path the makes a sharp right. Take that trail and continue on your way! You will be continually going towards the left across the hills towards the Hollywood sign. Once you reach a paved road, going to the right will take you up and above the sign. This path is a little bit more strenuous than going to the left. Going left will take you to a large look-out spot below the sign. This is the path that we take, and it's great! (Neither path will take you all the way to the sign, which is off limits to anyone other than people in the movies I guess!)

Make sure to take hats and lots of water! Happy hiking!

3. Griffith Park.

One of our very favorite things to do in LA is to take the train ride in Griffith Park! We rarely visit California without making at least one stop at Griffith Park! At only $2.75 a ticket for a train ride with pony rides and playgrounds nearby, you can't lose!

And speaking of playgrounds . . . Shane's Inspiration Playground is just down the road from the train station and pony rides (follow the signs towards the carousel--bonus, there's also a carousel!) inside Griffith Park. This park is universally accessible to people of all ages and abilities. It is so much fun! And don't forget your scooters and bikes because there's a little path for riding with a pretend gas pump and everything.

4. Take the metro rail (train) to Chinatown or Little Tokyo. Both are located on the Gold Line. The train is free for kids under 5.  Taking a train for many suburb-living families is a novelty in and of itself, but once you get off, you'll have fun exploring the many souvenir shops! And don't forget to grab some ramen, sushi or dim sum before hopping on the train back home!

5. Dodgers Game. Take me out to the ball game! And Dodger Dogs (hot dogs) are the best! Go Blue!

6. Pirate Ship Playground at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, formally known as Reese's Retreat. This playground is big and fun and your kids will enjoy being the captain of the ship! Add in some exercise for mama by pushing the kids in the jogging stroller or pulling them in a bike trailer as you join the many locals exercising around the Rose Bowl. The distance is just over 3 miles all the way around and makes for a great workout! 

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7. The Americana at Brand. Located in Glendale, this is a nice outdoor mall, but it's lots of fun for kiddos too! There's a beautiful fountain with water shows to watch, a free trolley that runs around the perimeter, and when the kids need to run around and take a break from shopping, there's a playground. And, currently, they have a Kids Club program every Tuesday from 11am-1pm with entertainment, free food, and activities for kids. They also have a farmer's market and petting zoo with pony rides on Saturday mornings! In addition to all this, plus having great stores and a movie theater, they also have great amenities. Make sure to take advantage of the family bathrooms, indoor play area, and changing/nursing rooms! The Americana makes shopping enjoyable for everyone!

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8. Disneyland! What's a trip to Southern California without going to Disneyland??? Or, at least to Downtown Disney . . . If Disneyland isn't in your budget or you just don't have the time to make it happen, go grab dinner and window shop in Downtown Disney. They've got a bunch of great restaurants, and family friendly places such as Rainforest Cafe as well, which is fun for kids. My kids love checking out the huge Disney Store, as well as the many other fun toy stores along this strip.

9. LA ZOO. Pretty self-explanatory :) We always love a good zoo day! 

10. Good Eats. What's a trip to California without some good food?! 

Some of my favorite places to eat in LA/Orange County are: 

Las Golondrinas: the best Mexican food you will ever have! Or at least I think so :) Their carnitas and their breakfast burritos are TO DIE FOR. And they have mini bean and cheese burritos that are the perfect size for little hands!

The Dragon: Korean/Chinese food in Koreatown. Since my brother served an LDS mission in Korea, this has become a family favorite. (The website makes it look fancier than it is--we always take kids and they are very accommodating.)

Ramen: in Little Tokyo. I don't have one specific restaurant, all of the ramen places at which we've eaten have been great!

Casa Bianca Pizza Pie: in Eagle Rock. Super good pizza. 

Auntie Em's Kitchen: in Eagle Rock for breakfast or lunch! Or brunch!

Kogi BBQ Taco Truck: On the move! Track it down and have yourself the best Korean BBQ taco you've ever had! Or the first one you've ever had ;) But believe me, it won't be your last!

Blue Fish: in Montrose. My very favorite sushi restaurant. It is so good--I recommend the Montrose Roll and the Popcorn Lobster! I'm craving it now . . . 

What are your favorite things to do in LA or Orange County? I'd love to hear! And feel free to drop me a line with any questions!

Emiline Beauty Faves

My morning routine is pretty simple. I don't use a lot of products, but the ones I do use, I love and swear by. That being said, I'm always on the look-out for a good product that will make me look or feel   just a little bit better. So, in case any of you are in the same boat, I thought I'd share my tried and true favorites with you!

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray

Going for those gorgeous beach wave curls??? Well, I still haven't quite figure out how to get perfect curls, but this Texturizing Spray sure helps. I have naturally wavy/frizzy/wispy hair and this product helps tame it on those days I don't want to straighten it. Using this, my hair usually still just looks wavy, but it holds nicely all day without getting too frizzy. I sometimes use it with my curling iron as well when I'm looking for bigger, sleeker curls, and with my extra fine hair, this really helps to hold the curl.

Olay Complete All Day UV/Moisturizer

Not much to say about this besides the fact that I've tried a ton of different face moisturizers and this one wins. I love how it makes my skin feel, it's not too oily, it contains SPF 15, and I can get it in a double pack at Costco :) Score.

Ulta Eyeshadow in Lustre

It's a great base shadow, or on its own (which is how I usually wear it). And it lasts all day. 

L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

A lot of times I skip everything and only wear mascara. And this mascara can handle the pressure of being my only primping product. Since I've been wearing mascara, I feel like I've tried pretty much every grocery store brand, as well as several more expensive brands of mascara, and this is still my favorite.

NARS The Multiple Stick in Orgasm

A recent discovery and new favorite! I LOVE this thing! It makes me feel like a grown-up! This stick makes me feel put-together and is just enough of that extra something to use to touch up before date night. I use this multi-stick on my cheeks and lips and the color is just perfect. It's definitely a little pricier than everything else, but in my opinion a splurge that's worth it!

Essie Nail Polish

I think they have the best colors. And it's good quality stuff. Enough said.

 St. Ives Daily Hydrating Vitamin E Lotion

A basic, effective, and hydrating lotion. And it has a great, mild scent. Ever since I had kids, I'm a lot more sensitive to smells in general, but especially in colognes, perfumes, deodorants, and lotions. Okay, so pretty much in anything that goes on the body! Anyway, this lotion still smells nice without being overpowering and is very hydrating. It's a great staple to have on hand.

I was searching through my photos for an example of me wearing these products and I found this one that shows the NARS stick and the texturizing spray. Remember that this is obviously at the end up the day (it was approximately 9pm), and you can still pretty much see my lip color and blush (from the multi-stick; I'd applied them around 6pm). And this is what my hair looks like after a very long day (styled in the morning) in the heat and humidity. The texturizing spray keeps my waves without getting too frizzy. Note that I did not use a diffuser, but just let my hair dry naturally, so I'd imagine for you ladies with naturally curlier hair, or if you use a diffuser, that this product would work even better for you.