Happy Healthy Mother's Day!

photo via Savvy Sassy Moms

"Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever."  ~Unknown

Still scrambling to find the perfect Mother's Day gift???  What better gift than the gift of health??  Here are some out of the box gift ideas to keep Mom happy, healthy and full of joy.  LOVE YOU, MOM!!!

-♥ J :)

P.S. A good article on what Mom's really want.

For the Exercise Fiend: Jillian Michaels Body Revolution 
Jillian Michaels Body Revolution promises to transform your body in just 90 days.  I don't know if all that is true, but with 15(!) different DVDs this workout system will surely keep mom entertained as well as in tip top shape.  Since each DVD is only 30 minutes long, it would be perfect for moms on the go (which I'm pretty sure is every mom).

For the Smoothie Lover: Nutribullet
It's not a juicer.  It's not a blender.  It's "superfood nutrition extractor."  Whatever they want to call it, the Nutribullet is fan-friggin-tastic!!!  I am so in love with this thing I will have to devote a whole post to it another time.  For now, I'll just say this:  This blend/juicer/"extractor" purees smoothies like nobody's business!!  It works as well as my Vitamix…but for $350 dollars less…and with less clean up.  It's pretty awesome.  See for yourself HERE.

For the Bookworm: Rachel Dratch's Girl Walks into a Bar
This heartwarming and hilarious autobiography chronicles the adventures of Rachel Dratch as she transitions from Saturday Night Live alum to new mom at the age of 44.  As sweet as she is witty, Rachel cracks your heart wide open with her rollicking tales of second acts and uncharted waters.  I laughed and cried through this entire book (much to the chagrin of the stranger sitting next to me on my flight).

For the Skin Care Junkie: Josie Maran's Argan Face Travel Kit
This kit has everything your mom needs for glowing, ageless skin.  The fact that it comes in travel size means she can jet off at a moments notice.  Just in case the next present you want to give her is a fantastic tropical vacation.  Just saying'.

For the Foodie: A CSA subscription
Like Netflix for vegetables, Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) is a subscription to a local farm.  Save Mom from schlepping to the grocery store with a weekly (or monthly depending on your order) direct to door delivery of seasonal, locally grown fruits and vegetables.  Community Supported Agriculture "hearkens back to an earlier time-a time when people knew where their food came from, ate in harmony with the seasons, and enjoyed a delicious, healthy diet of pure, fresh foods."  And this way you finally get to tell Mom to eat her vegetables.

The 30 Minute Workout Theory (Part 2)

Good afternoon, Veggies!!  How are we all doing this fine Tuesday after Thanksgiving???  I hope everyone had a relaxing, food and fun filled weekend.  Hey…what's that I see in the distance??  Why…it's a wagon.  Let's hop back on it, shall we??

Now where did we leave off???  Oh, yes.  My favorite 30 minute workout videos.  I have certain criteria for a good 30 minute workout.  First and foremost, the video has to be a challenge.  If I am going to go through the trouble of changing into workout clothes, I need to break some sort of a sweat.  If I don't feel like the workout is doing anything, I'd rather drink my coffee and watch The View.  Next, the workout should require very little equipment.  If I have to spend fifteen extra minutes hauling out some contraption (I'm looking at you Fluidity Bar…) it's not worth it to me.  Finally, the video can't be annoying.  That means no annoying instructors, no annoying music and no annoying weirdo moves.  It should be noted that each person's "annoying" threshold is a very individual thing. What I find tolerable might make you want to punch the television.  That being said, the following DVD's are some of my favorites.

-♥ J :)

Best All Around: Metamorphosis by Tracy Anderson
Required equipment: yoga mat, 3lb. weights, sneakers
Price: $89.97

My love of the Tracy Anderson workout is well documented.  Her latest incarnation is a 90 day program consisting of nine 30 minute muscular structure workouts and one 30 minute cardio workout.  To achieve maximum results, Tracy wants you to do the muscular structure and cardio workouts together.  But just between you and me…when I am pressed for time, I'll do muscular structure one day and cardio the next.  At $90 Metamorphosis is pricier than the other videos, but for that money you get ten different workouts.  That breaks down to less than $10 per workout.  Besides this is the only workout where I have actually seen the shape of my body change.  I'll pay $90 for that!!  Can't recommend it enough. 

Best Butt and Thigh: Physique 57 Express 30 Minute Full Body Workout
Required equipment: high back chair, exercise ball (sold on website)
Price: $24.95

The express version of the one hour Physique 57 workout, this video is not for the faint of thigh.  I've been doing this video for over a year and I still have to take breaks during some of the moves.  Ballet inspired, this workout quite literally kicks your butt.  When Charli and I did this video for the first time at the end she shouted, "That was the short version?!?!  I don't even want to know what the 1 hour workout is like!!"  If you do want to know what the 1 hour workout is like, you can check that out HERE.

Best Yoga: Jillian Micheals-Yoga Meltdown
Required equipment: yoga mat
Price: $12.99

This workout is great, but don't come to it looking for yogi spiritual enlightenment.  Jillian doesn't even give you so much as a parting "namaste."  This is more "exercise" yoga.  Some of you may like it for that reason...some of you may hate it for that reason.  I like it because you work up a sweat, it has fantastic core work and you get two 30 minute workouts on one dvd.  As for inner peace…eh…not so much.

Best Circuit Training: Jillian Micheals- 30 Day Shred
Required equipment: 3lb. weights, sneakers
Price: $10.99

Some days you just want to do some old school jumping jacks, sit-ups and push-ups.   This workout is for those days.  Basic but not boring, this DVD includes three separate workouts.   Each workout uses a 3-2-1 circuit training method: 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs.  This workout is Erin's favorite of the bunch.  She also wanted me to tell you that she loves Jillian Micheals-Ripped in 30 (which I haven't tried yet).


P.S.  For great tips from Leo about how to get back on track after the holiday click HERE.