Monday, October 29, 2018

Stripes and Camo in Pismo Beach

This post contains affiliate links, and www.andreaswellnessnotes.com will benefit from actions taken on the links. 


Our happy place is the Central Coast, and on Saturday we decided to get up early and escape to the coast for 30 hours or so.



I decided to keep my outfit super simple and wore the three pieces I had bought to add to my wardrobe for fall: camo jeans, a long sleeve, lightweight striped tee, and an olive tee. I love all three pieces and have already worn them numerous times. In fact, the long sleeve tee has been already washed countless times and looks just like the day I bought it. On Sunday, I changed to a short-sleeve striped tee but didn't get a photo.


Since it was still a bit cool and foggy when we arrived, we did some wine tasting at our favorite winery in Avila Beach - Alapay Cellars.


We really enjoyed our time on the beach - both in Avila Beach and Pismo Beach. In Avila Beach, we hung out for a few hours, enjoying some food and coffee.


And in Pismo Beach, we went on several long walks on the beach - our favorite place to walk for miles.


And we had some fun when I got surprised by a forceful wave and ended up quite wet.


On Saturday night, we got to experience a beautiful sunset on the beach. I wouldn't mind enjoying that every day!


Questions: Did you add any new pieces to your fall wardrobe? If yes, what are they? Anything you still want to add for fall and winter? 

Click here to check out the fabulous bloggers I’m linking up with.   

Be well,
Andrea

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Trina Turk Fall/Winter Collection Try-On Session in the Burlingame Boutique

This post contains affiliate links, and www.andreaswellnessnotes.com will benefit from actions taken on the links.

Yesterday, Kim from Northern California Style and Suzanne from Ask Suzanne Bell hosted a fun shopping event at the Trina Turk Boutique in Burlingame.

Trina Turk Burlingame

Here the two of them are in action, helping a customer. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Suzanne's white pants and leopard top - both from the current collection. Isn't it the perfect holiday statement outfit?

 

I honestly loved everything in the store and had a blast trying on a wide variety of tops.

The Trina Turk Sass Sweater Top had caught my eye online, and I loved it just as much on. The pink is such a happy color, and the fringe details are just so much fun. I could see myself wearing the top a lot - with black pants, white pants, jeans, different pencil skirts, etc. The top comes also in black and blue.


Here is Susan, Suzanne's friend, in a beautiful blue dress, which I believe she ended up buying. 



The Trina Turk Astral Top had not been on my radar, but I loved it as soon as I put it on. It's so soft and comfortable. Yet, it's dressy and fun. Again, I love that it can be dressed up or down.



I had to try on the Trina Turk Club Soda Top as I loved it so much on Suzanne. And I loved wearing it. For one, it's so soft and comfortable. Again, I think it's a really versatile top that looks great with white pants, black pants, jeans, skirts, etc. 


Here is the top with black pants and white pants side by side.


The current collection has beautiful greens - perfect for the holidays. I'm wearing the On the Rocks Top, and I love the cut and color.


While I loved the top in green, in the end, I thought it would be more versatile in black, and that's what I bought. About three years ago, I bought a black Trina Turk Accomplice Top, and it's been by far the most worn item in my closet. I take it on every trip, and have worn it with literally every bottom in my closet. It's so easy to wear, comfortable, doesn't wrinkle and always looks good. I think the On the Rocks Top will be the same.


I had to try on the Jones Coat as it had caught my eye on Suzanne's preview post. And it's just as fabulous on as in the photos. It's definitely on my wish list. 

 
And finally, Kim and Suzanne in action, wearing fabulous Trina Turk coats. 


Thanks Kim & Suzanne for inviting me to hang out with you! It was such a fun morning! 
 
Click here to check out the fabulous bloggers I’m linking up with.   

Be well,
Andrea
 

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Pre-Holiday Conscious Cleanse Starting on 10/31 & $25 OFF

Disclosure: I am a Conscious Cleanse ambassador, and if you decide to sign up for the program via one of my links, I will earn a commission. As always, all opinions are my own, and I only recommend products and services I truly believe in. 


Happy Wellness Wednesday! How are you taking care of yourself this week? The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a struggle for me.



First, my injury has prevented me from exercising the way I want to and am used to (and frankly need to).

Second, not getting enough exercise always makes me choose not the best foods. I still eat fairly healthy, but there are too many treats and convenience foods that have snuck back into my diet. I’ve also been a bit too loose with gluten (which affects my digestive system, joints and mood negatively - why do I eat it at all you ask? - good question).

I decided several weeks ago that I’m going to do the pre-holiday Conscious Cleanse - a food-based cleanse that focuses on whole foods - and it couldn’t come at a better time. This time of year, which is often stressful, is one of my favorite times to do a cleanse as it really sets the tone for a happy and healthy holiday season - not only food wise but also making time to take care of yourself emotionally. Want to join me? The next cleanse starts on 10/31. Don’t worry, on Day 1 all you have to do is eat more veggies!

If you want to read more about my past experiences with the Conscious Cleanse, check out my Conscious Cleanse page. I have been doing the cleanse since January 2013, and it has truly changed my life.

For more information, check out the Conscious Cleanse sign up page. If you do sign up, use code ANDREA25 for $25 off.

Be well,
Andrea

Friday, October 12, 2018

Let Go of Emotional Overeating and Love your Food Review

This post contains affiliate links, and www.andreaswellnessnotes.com will benefit from actions taken on the links.

Several weeks ago, I was contacted by the publisher of Let Go of Emotional Overeating and Love Your Food: A Five-Point Plan for Success written by Arlene B. Englander, a psychotherapist, and asked if I was interested in reviewing the book. Emotional overeating is definitely something I am familiar with so I said yes. And I'm glad I did because the book provides lots of interesting insights and thoughts about emotional overeating as well as concrete strategies that can be used every day to overcome it..



Englander starts off by addressing the apparent contradiction of overcoming overeating and loving your food. She uses the analogy of an alcoholic and a wine connoisseur. It's the wine connoisseur who truly tastes and appreciates all the nuances of a good wine. And it's the same with food. If we overeat, it's about numbing feelings, not enjoying the food, which we must in order to overcome overeating for good.

To make the book relatable and interesting, Englander gives many examples from her own life as well as from her patients. She also provides the reader with several handy acronyms to help practice and remember the strategies she discusses in the book. For example, she gives the ABCD's of stress management:

A = awareness
B = taking a break
C = noticing the change
D = deciding what to do

She devotes an entire chapter to the importance of exercise and gives many suggestions readers can explore. In that chapter she stresses the point that one has to love what one does in order to continue to do it. I couldn't agree more!

She then goes into a very detailed description of how you should enjoy a meal. She gives another acronym to help readers remember the steps, RAFT:

R = relaxation
A = awareness
F = fullness
T = taking charge of the moment

She also has a chapter on the importance of staying adequately hydrated and enjoying healthy foods as well as the minefield evenings can provide when it comes to healthy eating. Again, she always gives concrete tips and examples that are easily followed.

She tells the reader to check in every day with the following question: "Am I doing what's best for my SELF?" SELF is another acronym:

S = Stress
E = Exercise
L = Loving your Food
F = Fluids

Englander also addresses enjoying food with family and friends, how to handle special occasions and gives final tips on how to follow her program for life. I like that Let Go of Emotional Overeating and Love Your Food helps readers examine their own relationship with food as well as eating patterns that often developed years if not decades ago. The acronyms and concrete examples help readers to make lasting changes in the way they enjoy food and live life.

Questions: Do you ever struggle with emotional overeating? What strategies do you use to deal with it? 

Be well,
Andrea

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Black Outfit for TreasureFest on Treasure Island

This post contains affiliate links, and www.andreaswellnessnotes.com will benefit from actions taken on the links.
 
Last weekend, we finally checked out TreasureFest on Treasure Island. TreasureFest is a flea market with used and new clothes, jewelry and other goods, food, music and spectacular views of the bay.

I decided to wear my new faux leather leggings with an old fringe asymmetrical top. I'm really impressed by the faux leather leggings. I have another pair that was much more expensive, but I like these even better. They are stretchy and comfortable, and the ponte back is great. It ended up being a bit warmer than I had anticipated, but I was happy with the outfit.

Treasure Island

Treasure Island
Treasure Island
Treasure Island
Outfit Details: Faux Leather Leggings

The views everywhere from TreasureFest are spectacular. 

TreasureFest
 
There are countless vendors with really interesting merchandise. We bought some really good honey.

TreasureFest

Several bars throughout the event sell alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. I got a sangria, and Andy got a beer.

TreasureFest

There are so many photo opportunities.

TreasureFest

Part of TreasureFest is a huge food truck meetup, and it was hard to choose. I ended up getting a poke bowl by 808 Poke Shack, and it was delicious. In fact, we all agreed that my dish was the favorite of the day, and the boys ate more than their fair share of mine...

Lunch in the shade under the palm tree was really relaxing, especially since there was live music. I could have stayed all afternoon.

TreasureFest

One last look at the great view of the Bay Bridge. 

TreasureFest

Questions: Do you own faux leather leggings? If yes, how do you like them? What was the last flea market that you visited? 



Thursday, October 4, 2018

Sentence a Day: September 2018

Here are my sentences for September 2018. You can read my past sentences on my Sentence a Day Page.

Saturday, September 1, 2018
Andy and I took another barre class together; then we made use of our season passes and went to California's Great America.

Sunday, September 2, 2018
It was on our summer bucket list to catch a San Jose Giants game, and we finally did (with free tickets) - always such a fun time.
Monday, September 3, 2018
Andy and I tried out Orangetheory Fitness for the first time and enjoyed the workout a lot more than we thought we would.


Tuesday, September 4, 2018
After quite some time, I went back to my "regular" gym and did a basic weights workout and a little time on the step mill.


Wednesday, September 5, 2018
We took another barre class, ran about a million errands, and I worked on my fall classes; at night we went on the first family walk since Saturday when the kid hurt his foot (so glad it is better!).


Thursday, September 6, 2018
I took a 6 a.m. barre class with my favorite instructor; since I hadn't taken his class in about 3 months, it kicked my butt; later in the day Andy and I did a second workout at the gym - I was really exhausted and sore afterward. At night we went to Avaya stadium to watch the Cal vs. Sac State soccer game.


Friday, September 7, 2018
I did work in the working, we ran lots of errands, including annoying car stuff, took a fabulous barre class at labarre and went out to lunch.


Saturday, September 8, 2018
We celebrated the older kid's birthday at Steins Beer Garden in Mountain View.


Sunday, September 9, 2018
I started the day with a barre class, and in the afternoon the kid went to a birthday party and Andy and I used the time to make a Costco run.

Monday, September 10, 2018 
Started the day with a barre class and a green smoothie before getting caught up on work.


Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Talked with the kid a lot about 9/11 and the fact that his brother was about his age when it happened.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018
I met my friend Lara in Walnut Creek for a barre class and lunch at True Food Kitchen.


Thursday, September 13, 2018
I studied two semesters of Spanish in college and have always wanted to take another Spanish class (in fact, last quarter there was a Spanish class in the room next to mine, and I really wished I could have joined...); in the meantime, I started playing with the duolingo app.


Friday, September 14, 2018
Andy and I went to a barre class and then ran a couple errands at the mall, where we decided to get some delicious vegan food at the Loving Hut in Valley Fair.


Saturday, September 15, 2018
We drove to Berkeley to catch the Cal Football game. 


Sunday, September 16, 2018
We did a "heavy" weights workout at the gym and went to the Santa Clara Arts and Wine Festival. 


Monday, September 17, 2018
I started the day with a 4.5-mile walk and then got a lot of work done; in the evening we watched the Emmys.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018
I got some upsetting news in the morning but remembered that life is really about how we react to things - going on a hike also helped.


Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Andy and I concluded our summer break with a visit to Picchetti Winery (review).


Thursday, September 20, 2018
I decided to take an Exercise Physiology class and have been dealing with annoying registration issues; hopefully, it'll be fixed soon.

Friday, September 21, 2018
The kid was off from school and we baked banana almond butter muffins (grain/gluten-free).




Saturday, September 22, 2018
I started the day with a barre class in a studio, ran errands and then we were invited to our friends' house for dinner in the evening.

Sunday, September 23, 2018
I woke up not feeling well, got caught up around the house and made it to the gym for a short elliptical workout.

Monday, September 24, 2018
I'm excited to be a student again for the first time in many years.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Lots of dense reading today - the book assumes quite a foundation in biology and kinesiology.



Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Andy and I got to go to a delicious wine dinner at Il Fornaio Palo Alto, featuring Testarossa Winery - another local winery we haven't visited yet.



Thursday, September 27, 2018
I started the day with a long walk, got work done and read my text book for an hour.



Friday, September 28, 2018
I got a lot of work done first thing in the morning, broke the day up with a "heavy" weights workout at the gym and ran numerous errands in the afternoon.


Saturday, September 29, 2018
I started the day with a barre class, went on a 6-mile walk, and we celebrated my father-in-law's birthday in the afternoon.

Sunday, September 30, 2018
We finally made it to TreasureFest on Treasure Island - a flea market, food truck meet up and all around good time. 


What were some of your highlights in September?


An InLinkz Link-up

Be well,
Andrea