BACK TO SCHOOL ITEMS

I won't admit how many years it has been since I went to school (ahem), but I will give some tips on things I think are necessary for those of ya'll who are going off to school or have a little one who it off to college. This might not be the usual list of paper, pencils, and trapper keepers other people might post about, but just a few times that I remember really using at that fun time in my life.

1. Colander

If you are a parent, you hope your university student will remember all the times you cooked for them and hope they studied every thing you did. You will want them to grow a garden and wash their vegetables. Most likely, they will be making a lot of mac & cheese (or shells and cheddar in my case). So get them a quality stainless steel colander that will last for several semesters to come instead of cheap plastic that melts the first time they use the dishwasher.  #pckt

2. Sleeping Bag

You never know when a spontaneous road trip might lead to a sleep over. This mummy sleeping bag is super necessary. It is light, easy to carry, simple to pack up, and will keep you both warm and comfortable. #egoz

3. Headlamp

I went hiking, caving, and late night exploring with my roommates and friends all of the time. There were so many times we wished we had a flashlight or way to see if we stayed out after dark. My solution to this is have a handy headlamp in your bag at all times. This one from LuxoLite is fabulous because it has batteries included, adjustable strap to let you go hands free, and different light settings for whatever situation you may be in at the time. #Luxolite

4.  Charcoal Powder

Since I already told you they won't be eating their best, you might want to invest in a Coconut activated charcoal powder by Sagano. You just have to mix it with water (or ice cream and smoothies) to help aid in digestion. This powder can also be used when you brush to whiten teeth, help with burns, and exfoliate your skin. It might look scary, but I promise it is magical stuff.  #saganofresh

5. Wall Art

Don't be the boring person who looks like they just moved in because there are no decorations or wall art. Add some character to your new casa with something like this cool minimalist bear silhouette 11x14 poster. It can be framed or just place against a wall and add simple flair. It is simple and doesn't cost as much as an original Picasso, but it is simply stunning and easy to frame and hang. #InkPrintArt

6. Swissvita Micrite 3D All Use Eye Cream

We all know that students are notorious for pulling all-night study sessions. What is the best solution?   Swissvita eye cream. This serum is additive-free, alcohol-free, sulfate-free, fragrance-free, and paraben-free so you can feel safe using it. It comes in an aluminum sealed package for your protection. You can say goodbye to dark circles and puffiness around your eyes and hello to awesome grades! #SwissVita

I was given the opportunity to purchase these items at a discounted price in return for my honest opinion.

WE MAKE THE MOUNTAIN LOOK GOOD

I probably haven't been on ski slopes for at least 10 years, but when your little "Czech brother" needs to test out his new skis because his school is taking a week long trip, you one-piece suit up!

Ivanka and I were warming up the mountain temps with our matching outfits.

 The guys didn't look too bad either.

First run on the bunny hill to boost my confidence.

Check out the Czech ski lifts in this video. It was like riding a frisbee on a stick.

I appreciate the bum tap at the end from the attendant.

I still don't know what to do with the poles when I go down the mountain so I ditched them.

Tomorrow we are going to try snowboarding in Germany.

I have a feeling that might be more my style.

All I now is we sure made that mountain look good.

Bath SCALE Of A Time

I think I have finally met my match....age 33.

• It's not as comfortable to just sleep anywhere
• I bruise more easily
• I can't just eat anything and be cool
• It takes longer to recover if I crash

What is happening?

Next week, I am getting a gym membership. I always used to say it didn't matter how much I weighed, but how I felt. Well, this year is kicking my butt in both. So I am putting a scale in my bathroom. UGH.

I have the chosen the Ozeri Rev Digital Bathroom Scale with Electro-Mechanical Weight Dial. It's 

pretty cool because it:

• illuminates for you to read it 
• measures weight up to 400 lbs / 180 kg (I promise I won't ever not be able to stand on it or even come close to the limit)

• has a digital LCD display and electro-mechanical dial 
• can switch between lbs and kg

• has an oversized platform made of impact-resistant tempered glass (so it looks cool and classy)

• is light weight (not huge and clunky)

• runs on 3 AAA batteries (totally included) 
• automatically turns off to conserve battery life

The scale is auto-calibrated and captures precise measurements when you step on. The truth might hurt (in my case right now), but the scale will always be honest with you. Another super cool feature to also get accurate numbers is it lets you set and alarm to check your weight at the same time each day. I never thought the day would come where I had to be more careful, but I am glad I now have great equipment to help me on my new journey with the next 30 years.

YOGA SWEAT

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I believe some people are made to do yoga and some are not. If you watched me when I first put on the Yoga Sweat DVD, you might have politely told me to try another form of exercise. 

Julie Schoen (yoga trainer, author, founder of yoginiology.com, and the lady in the video) looks fantastic and does the moves with ease. Deanna (mean Reese's Peanut butter cup milkshake maker, dog walker, and kinda lazy lately) looked more like an elephant trying to tiptoe.

I'm not posting any photos of me because my dog does more graceful poses than I do.

I know from other experience that stretching is super good for your body. I get a lot of knots in my shoulders and my body really lets me know when I have been slacking with exercise/stretching. So I thought why not give yoga a try?

I am an absolute beginner! I was able to follow along pretty well with the 10-minute warm-up (and it really did warm me up). The first 30-minute workout came on and the instructor goes a little fast. I'm sure it will get easier once I learn the poses. I realize it isn't so repetitious as an aerobic routine video where you do a small move a bunch of times in a row so you can catch on after the first couple. The moves are all named off as they are performed on the DVD. I've never heard chaturanga, dandasana, upward facing dog, downward dog, eagle in the nest, warrior 2, hopper step forward, offer the heart, etc. It was a little intimidating (like a foreign language). DON'T GIVE UP! You will get it. Practice makes perfect. The second 30-minute workout was more my style and KILLER for the core (you'll feel it in the legs, glutes, arms, and back too--no worries). To end, there is a nice 10-minute cool-down that helps with your breathing (in savasana) and is full of stretches that I am already familiar with from previous stretching in PE classes from high school.

It is supposed to be powerful and fun yoga for weight loss and beginners…don't let the intensity scare you. Don't give up on it. I have no doubt this 80-minute yoga DVD is great for losing weight, toning your body from head to toe, and working out in an effective way. #namaste

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.