Today’s post is by my favorite health and wellness elf, Jackie McCaffrey. I asked her to write about natural immune boosting, because this seems to be the time of year when we’re most vulnerable to illness. If you’ve been battling the cold or flu season, and you feel like you’re at the losing end, read on and make sure you take note of the Free gift included in this post!
3 Ways to Enjoy Healthy Holidays
Today’s post is another guest post from our awesome Fitness expert Oonagh Duncan. So many of us fall into the trap of excessive holiday celebrations, but if we are mindful and we make conscious choices about how we share in the festivities, we can actually enjoy healthy holidays. Read on for three easy ways to make healthier holiday choices.
The Motherfunk
To say that there has been a lot going on in our lives would be something of a massive understatement. It’s unlikely I’ll be posting with any regularity until June, so my apologies. In the meanwhile, I have something fun to share, just in time for Mother’s Day. Friends, particularly Toronto friends, let me introduce you to The Motherfunk!
Oonagh Duncan is a key soldier in my Army of Amazing Women, and she’s a personal trainer and fitness goddess who can now be seen regularly on the Steven and Chris Show. Here’s a clip of the Motherfunk in action. I laughed so hard watching this, that I can only assume the actual workout would be a total riot:
Now, Oonagh is shifting her MOTHERFUNK! program to a monthly charity event for Sick Kids and she wants to get a huge turn out and raise a shit ton of money. It’s a noble cause, a whole lot of fun, and a great way for new moms to get moving. Here’s why Sick Kids is so near and dear to Oonagh’s heart:
Some of you have already heard my story about why I’m so passionate about this cause. When I was pregnant with my first son, it was a crazy hot summer and my friend had a backyard pool (I know, right?) She was also pregnant and feeling the heat so she extended a broad invitation to anyone she had ever met who was pregnant to come and float in her pool on Tuesday afternoons and eat ice cream sandwiches. Best. A regular group of women started to show up and we shared way too much information about our bodies with each other, as one does during a first pregnancy. We called ourselves The Whales and, five years later, we have been through two rounds of babies, two trips, a near-divorce and two miscarriages. What started out with ice cream sandwiches has become what I’m sure will be a lifelong bond. Unfortunately, the Whales have proven a statistic anomaly as two of our babies were born with very serious congenital defects. William (now 4) was born with serious heart problems and Oliver (now 2) was born with half of one lung. They were pretty scary times. In both cases, the staff at Sick Kids Hospital probably saved their lives…and their parents’ sanity. Which is why I want to raise a ton of money for the Hospital.
Here are the details:
What: THE MOTHERFUNK! Toronto’s best dance party…that involves wearing a baby. Featured on the Steven and Chris show and named one of Top 10 Fitness Trends by SHAPE Magazine
Who: Oonagh Duncan, pre and post natal fitness specialist and canfitpro Pro Trainer of the Year
When: Every second Thursday of the month, starting may 14th (right after Mother’s Day)
Where: Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Ave in Toronto
What time: 11:15am-12pm
How much: Pay what you can, suggested donation $15…100% of the proceeds go to the Sick Kids Foundation
Here’s an image and a link to the page on Oonagh’s site: http://fitfeelsgood.ca/
If you like me, you’ll love Oonagh. She radiates positive energy, she’s tonnes of fun, and every day I wish she had a You Tube channel so I could enjoy her work outs long distance. (Oonagh, get a damn You Tube channel already!)
Awesome Stuff by Awesome Women
Photo of Nichelle Laus by DaveLaus.com
Happy Tuesday lovers!
I’m feeling much better today, but I decided to stay home and work all the same. Of course, that meant I had to bulldoze my way to my tiny desk in my cluttered bedroom. I look forward to the not-so-distant future and more space to call my own. Until then, work can’t start until all the toys and clothes are put away, so I’m a little late to the party. To make up for it, I’m going to share some of the awesome upcoming stuff on my horizon.
The Feminist Porn Awards
I was super excited when I was asked to cover the upcoming Good For Her Feminist Porn Awards in Toronto April 15, 16, and 17th. It’s the 10th anniversary of these awards, celebrating porn created for and by feminists, and as you can imagine, it’s always a great party. Frankly, porn of any kind has been low on my radar since we moved in with the in-laws. I realize that’s a lame excuse, but I will have LOTS of catching up to do if I’m going to be able to see everything on the extensive list of nominees. In my eyes, this is a worthy research project to invest my time in, even if I can’t see them all. If you would like to join me in this research, a full list of the films nominated this year, as well as the films that have won in previous years, is available on the Feminist Porn Awards website. ATTN FILMMAKERS: if you have a screener of your film, I’m very happy to review your nominated work. Just email me here.
Healthy Body, Healthy Baby
I’m not pregnant, despite my (not so) hilarious April Fool’s statement, but when this guru floated into my inbox I took note. Maybe because she’s hot. Maybe because she’s both a fitness model, a trainer and a transformation coach. Maybe because she’s a cop. Maaaybeee because she has four sons. WTF woman??? Like you don’t have enough going on, you also need to put your amazing talents on video and help the masses? Here’s a little snippet of Nichelle Laus’ seriously kick ass Healthy Body, Healthy Baby workout series:
Super mom Nichelle Laus is a proud Toronto police officer, a fitness coach and competitor, a motivational speaker, and a fit mom of four! Her passionate love of fitness is a secret she cannot keep to herself. In fact, she often gets emotional about it. She wants every mom out there to discover the happiness she discovered when she embraced this determined healthy life. So, Jeeperz Crow partnered with her and is thrilled to release their first Canadian made fitness series for moms! Every month, during her own fourth pregnancy, she designs a fitness video catered to expecting moms. Starting in her second month, and ending four months post baby gives you a full year’s worth of exercise videos for the cost of a one month gym membership. She is the pregnant best friend who suffers right along with you through the growing pains, in the comfort of your own home. Let Nichelle guide you on this journey as she herself has successfully done four times before.
I want it, because it looks like an incredible work out, even if you aren’t preggers. I figure that the degree to which I am out of shape puts me on par with the average seven-month-pregnant North American woman, so it will all work out. Get it? Work Out? Ugh. Don’t take if from me, check out the world of Nichelle Laus for yourself here on her glorious website. (Nichelle, Imna look you up once we have our own place again, and I’d like to test run your videos.)
Use common sense and consult with your physician before starting any new workout routine.
More of What You Love
I miss my opportunities to talk to you, with my actual voice. This need was largely satisfied by my hosting duties with Les Coquettes, but now that the troupe has retired, I find myself looking for new ways to chat with you. That’s why I’m hard at work creating my new podcast series called The Passion Project. Inspired by my motto “Live With Passion, Tell Your Story” The Passion Project features the inspiring lives of the real-life men and women in my own circle who are pursuing their dreams and living a passionate life on their own terms. I hope to be ready to launch by the summer, so if you’d like to be the first to know, email me and let me add you to the Playboy Mommy Family. You’ll also get my monthly newsletter, with awesome free stuff and tidbits you won’t find here.
A Gift To You
Doodle by Charlene LeBlanc
I’ve been wracking my brain for a way to create a little present for you. Something of value, in exchange for you signing up for my Playboy Mommy Family. The answer came to me via Facebook, and the amazing and wonderfully playful work of my (super hot, badass) friend Charlene (Chuck) LeBlanc, who designed this lovely, mindful doodle. Charlene and I are collaborating on a guided journal and colouring book that we will make available for free to those of you who sign up for my Family Perks (see sign up form below). If you join the family, you’ll get my monthly newsletter, plus any promo offers and giveaways from sponsors, in addition to special news and updates before anyone else is in the know. By filling out the form below, you’re letting Chuck and I know that you are eagerly awaiting your beautiful meditative colouring book and journal, your very own space to play!
[mailmunch-form id=”56523″]Natural Spring Pampering
Isn’t it amusing how our Canadian spring always goes from winter to summer with no real in between? The tragic result of this dramatic shift is beautiful weather that gives me ZERO desire to spend any time indoors cleaning out the winter grime. Thank the gods for rainy days, or I swear I’d do nothing at all. Okay, truthfully, on the rainy days I’d rather focus on natural spring pampering than on house work.
Today I have an exciting new treat for you. I’m happy to tell you that Playboy Mommy has our first official sponsor, Holy Taste, a Canadian company specializing in organic health foods, supplements and natural cleaning products. Holy Taste is partnering with us to bring you some of the best items they have on offer, and I’ll give you the real scoop on how these products perform.
We’re going to get things rolling with this beautiful bundle that I hand selected from the Holy Taste website of a collection of products sure to help you feel fresh, inspired, and invigorated – everything you need to tackle your spring projects!
The Holy Taste Spring Pampering Bundle consists of the following delightful treats:
Righteously Raw Caramel Cacao Bar – This is an experience in chocolate that is not for the faint-of-heart. If you’re a die hard chocolate lover like me, you’ll appreciate the incredible richness of this 90% dark chocolate, lucuma and date bar. It’s delicious and it’s an incredible source of anti-oxidants. A couple of squares was all it took to power me through a particularly challenging day with the munchkins. If super dark chocolate isn’t your bag, consider gifting this to the chocolate lover in your life, because we all know at least one.
Devas Vanilla Body Lotion – This line of beautiful, natural beauty products is handmade in Quebec from ingredients sourced from the company’s own organic farm. Sometimes I lock myself in the bathroom (because that’s what you do when you are at home full time with three kids) and rub this on my feet and hands. It makes me so happy that I want to cry.
Devas Grapefruit & Bergamot Bubble Bath – As I’m typing this, I’m realizing that I’ve only used this product as a shower gel thus far. Clearly I need to schedule some time for the full on bubble bath experience. These days, I only get in the tub with a rambunctious toddler, which isn’t exactly the soothing and rejuvenating experience I crave. This light, fresh, clean scent is mild, and my dry skin seems to find it quite agreeable.
NutriDeo Frankincense Natural Deodorant – My quest to find an effective, clean natural deodorant has finally ended. I’ve tried powders with some success, but they are so messy. I’m so glad to have found NutriDeo, and I love this slightly musky scent. It’s gentle on my skin, and the fragrance is subtle. FYI, natural deodorants last about 18-24 hours and you have to apply them generously. It took me a while to find one that worked with my particular body chemistry. I don’t sweat a lot, but I guess I’m particularly pungent. You’re welcome for the extreme over-share. NutriDeo works, and now I want to try the other scents too!
Aangen Yogi Tea This unique ayurvedic tea infusion claims to be “perfect to energize your body any time of the day, especially in the morning or before engaging in any physical exercise.” It was created in partnership with one of Toronto’s leading Ayurvedic doctors to ensure that it is perfectly balanced according to Ayurvedic medicine, which I’m becoming more and more fascinated by. This tea is also designed to help detox, boost the immune system, aid in concentration, and increase warmth. I haven’t yet swapped it out for my daily morning coffee, but it is a wonderful sipping experience, and it does give me a nice little nudge right around the 3pm slump.
Holy Taste is offering the Spring Pampering Bundle for a limited time to Playboy Mommy readers for $49.99. Plus, Holy Taste is offering an additional 15% discount with the code 110513Holy.
[standout-css3-button href="http://holytaste.ca/spring-package-bundle-p-475.html"]Get the Bundle![/standout-css3-button]
- 1
- 2
- Older Posts