Things I’m Loving Lately [ 1 ]

Just some things I’m loving lately and felt inclined to share with you 🙂 Skin care, fitness, food, and more!

this recipe

So while I’m far far away in another land I thought I’d take some time to chat with you and catch up a bit.

Lots of bloggers do these little “Friday Favorites” or “Loving Lately” posts and I think it’s an awesome way to connect with your audience. Get a little inside look at what goes on beyond the food and recipes, ya know? Maybe I’ll share some new items with you that you may want to also include in your life! Maybe?? I don’t know, let’s give it a shot.

SKIN CARE

OSEA natural skincare. When they reached out to me about trying their products I was so excited. They are an an ecologically-responsible natural skincare line, which I find to be pretty neat. So not only are they a great company, their products are awesome too. I love the smell of these products and my skin feels so smooth after using it. The moisturizer is light and I put it on multiple times a day.

Tea tree oil! A while back I mentioned I was dealing with some psoriasis flare ups. I’ve been using this tea tree oil about every other day and it seems to be helping. That and my stress levels are finally down. Either way, there are several other ways to use tea tree oil. I was even reading on how it could potentially help acne? So that’s kind of cool. I’m basically a hippie these days.

Homemade Gelatin Face Mask

1 TBS unflavored gelatin (I used my Vital Proteins*, but plain gelatin from the grocery store will also work)

2 TBS milk (your choice)

~⅛ tsp turmeric

Mix everything together in a small bowl then microwave for 10-15 seconds and apply the warm mixture on your face. Let dry, then peel off.

Alright so hear me out. My little sister actually shared this little mask recipe with me so I thought I’d test it out for myself. She didn’t use turmeric but I figured I’d add it in? Your call.

She actually just applied a thin layer to her nose and said it helped remove blackheads.

I decided to go big or go home and cover my entire face. For those of you that know me well, this should come as no surprise to you. Sorry I don’t have any pictures to share, but let’s just say it was pretty fun(ny).

A word to the wise, the thinner the layer the more it will act like a facial hair removal. Which means you should really avoid your eyebrows at all costs. That being said, I may actually try it as a facial hair removal… not even kidding.

Oh, and as far as the rest of my face goes, I applied a medium thick layer and let it dry for about 20 minutes and it peeled right off! My skin felt super smooth.

But the areas where it got thinner, like under my eyes and by my ears, that hurt when pulling off, ha. Soooo stay away from those areas!

FITNESS

Therapy balls*! The two little blue balls come in a mesh sac …. Ummm bear with me people. They’re small but mighty! Oh my god. Dying… Get it together, Ashley. I suppose I could erase that but nope, leaving it!

OKAY but for real. I LOVE these things. They are great for getting out stubborn knots in your back and/or hips. You just find that pressure point and place the ball between you and the wall (or floor) and press your body into it. I find it works best if you can just hold the spot for a little bit before rolling. Check out this video for a quick guide.

Trigger Point GRID STK*. I’ve been wanting one of these for over a year. And when they were offering a deal at the IDEA expo, I had to jump on it (and make room in my suitcase).

I have the TP GRID foam roller*, which is also amazing, BTW. But the stick is a little more travel-friendly, and you don’t necessarily need to get on the floor. Plus I find it is particularly great for rolling the soleus and gastrocnemius, aka the calf muscles. I have really tight calf muscles that contribute to my plantar fasciitis. So rolling those out with the stick is a bit easier than using the GRID foam roller. Of course you can also get your IT bands, traps, and other trouble areas with the little knobby handle. Check out this video for how to release the calf muscles, which will also link to other videos if you’re looking to release other areas. <<– saw this guy present a foam rolling presentation at IDEA with Jess!  He was awesome.

Oh, and if you’re unfamiliar with foam rollling and what it is, check out the TP website, it’s super helpful.

FOOD

Ka’Chava. If you’re looking for a superfood shake, Ka’Chava is what’s up. It is actually considered a meal in itself, with 7 grams of fat, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 9 grams of fiber, and 24 grams of protein per serving. The flavor on it’s own is not bad, but I typically use half a serving and blend it with frozen fruit and a little bit of nut butter plus non-dairy milk for some added flavor. But as an on-the-go meal option, the nutrients you get from the powder alone are pretty good and totally satisfying!! I’ve tried it myself and would totally use this if I were on-the-go all the time but still wanting to get in a nutritious meal.

A word to the whey-ers, you may find the consistency a tiny bit chalky if used to blending whey powder with just liquid. But if you’re already familiar with plant protein, I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised with how good this stuff tastes!

You can use the code “fitmittenkitchen10” on your first order for $10 off! Not an affiliate code, just sharing the love.

Brew Dr. Kombucha. It was on sale at Whole Foods and I just kind of had to try it. This is actually my second… okay third, time getting this one and I LURVE it. I also had the lemon pepper cayenne one. Sooo good I just can’t resist! Okay but seriously after I get back from the UK I WILL start making my own. Gotta save that money, honey.

FASHION

Lorna Jane Sculpt Compression Bra. Can a bra alone be considered “fashion”? I say YES. Especially when we’re talking about activewear. It has always been my favorite… activewear that is. Or I guess we’re calling it “athleisure” these days. Anyways, I have this thing for quality, technical fabrics. Call me an activewear snob, but I just can’t do the cheap stuff. I do have a degree in fashion, after all *hair flip*.

So when I saw Lorna Jane had a booth at the IDEA expo, naturally I had to check it out. Surprisingly enough I had never purchased anything from LJ before, but I was chatting with this super nice girl who was helping me out… AKA she did a kickass job at getting me to try on ALL THE THINGS. When she handed me a bra I was super skeptical.

I’m in the BBC (big boob club, anyone?) so I tend to stay away from the letter sizes. But she held up this higher neck bra and said it was compression and blah blah blah so I thought, “what the heck, I’ll give it a go” as the Aussies would say.

Well it was love and perfection and I had to get it!

Alright so that was a very long way of me telling you that if you’re in the market for a new sports bra, I HIGHLY recommend this one. I can’t say I’ll be doing any jumping moves in this bra, but it will be great for lifting, yoga, and just plain ole wearing in general. I’m actually obsessed. And I love that the neck is higher.

Hmmmm anything else…? Nope, I think that is it for this round.

How do you feel about these posts? Yay or nay?

Are you interested in any of the products or things I mentioned? Let me know!

NOTE: This post contains affiliate links, that have been noted with an asterisk. If you purchase anything from those links I will receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!