Stay Hydrated

Water is everything when it comes to health, but definitely skin! It’s the easiest and purest way to cleanse your body, after all – we’re mostly made of water. I try to drink at least 32 oz of water before I head out for work in the morning, and while I love the occasional Coca-Cola, I try to limit my intake of sugary beverages. When I’m craving something with a little fizz, I down a sparkling water and keep it moving.

Whether it’s face or body, a good cleanser is always a staple.

For my face, I’ve been a long time user of Origins products. At the moment, my routine is simple.

Cleanse daily with Checks and Balances frothy face-wash
Purify with a toner
Moisturize my face with the Perfect World Moisturizer

As for the body, I stick with the Thank God It’s Natural all natural body soap. Lately, I’ve been rocking with the unscented, but some of my favorite scents are Sugar Pear and Black Raspberry Vanilla.

Moisturizer

A good moisturizer seals the deal. Not having a good one is like not drinking water. Having a base regimen is always key. Once I hop out of the shower, I always apply our super soft and moisturizing Organic Shea Butter to help lock in the natural oils and keep my skin soft and supple.

What are your favorite skin care products?

Recently, I had the opportunity to take a spin class at Cycle Therapy on Chicago’s south side.

I swear after going to Soul Cycle all these years, this visit felt like something straight out of the movie Bring it On.  I’ve been to Soul Cycle hip-hop classes, Flywheel, and Full Psycle in Chicago’s posher neighborhoods. However, once you go to Cycle Therapy, you realize you are in for a “real” experience and that there is truth to the saying “imitation is the best form of flattery”.

Cycle Therapy was by far one of the best spin classes I’ve ever been to hands down. What really put it over the top was the music.

Who warms up to Musiq Soulchild “Beautiful” and cools down to Kindred and the Family Soul “Where Would I Be”?  with Beyoncé, Fetty Wap, Drake, Young Dro, AfroBeats, and 2 Chainz mixed in for good measure.

To top it off, a few riders had tambourines, which meant they really took us to church. It truly was a “soulful” experience, pun intended.   

What I really love was seeing women of all shapes and sizes and colors and complexions. Diversity is a beautiful thing and it’s noticeably absent at other fitness studios throughout the Chicagoland area. I also liked eavesdropping on the conversations of others. Hearing our voices, our tone, our slang, etc. and feeling gives a sense of community, which I don’t get to experience all too often running and growing this company.

I’m by no means complaining. It’s not like I ever felt like I didn’t belong at the other studios, but Cycle Therapy truly felt like being at home.  It was nice to be around women from all walks of life, be it corporate America, CPS, state government, Starbuck baristas, and Walgreen’s cashiers. We all had just one goal in mind – to stay healthy and fit. It was truly all chocolate everything.

I needed this safe space especially after falling into a funk these last two weeks. Given my chaotic travel schedule, I’ve been largely on the go these last few months, which means I’ve been neglecting myself. Don’t we all? Sometimes we forget, that when it comes to working out, the benefits are not just physical, they are also emotional as well.

There are so many days when I feel like I don’t have the time to hit the gym because I need to send out these emails, review this presentation, or make these phone calls, but nothing could be further from the truth. Our bodies, while they don’t always cry out to be cared for, deserve the same priority as the other important stuff on my list. It’s hard to remember this at times, but cancer definitely taught me that self-care has to be a priority.  

This is especially true for entrepreneurs or soon to be entrepreneurs, moms, students, etc.. Sometimes we feel like we’re falling further and further behind, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The truth is, I’m getting older and every little bit of self-care counts. Like they say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

So, here’s to self-care and working out. Can’t wait to do it again this week.

If you’re in the Chicagoland area, come spin with me at Cycle Therapy. I’m too lazy to wake up in time for the 6 am classes, so you can catch me at the 6 pm classes. And if you’re ever in Atlanta, I’ve also heard amazing things about Vibe Ride, which is one of my law school classmates studios.

Hair, always.

I’m a woman of many styles so I’m always finding ways to switch up and have fun with my hair. I love to play with extensions, whether I go with short or long – it’s all fun to me! Versatility is key. And guess what? It looks completely natural and perfect for on the go. Lately, I’ve been rockin’ the Her Given Hair clip-ins paired with my TGIN staples. Just recently I grabbed longer clip-ins, which turned out to be great for the transitioning cooler weather.

A moisturizing lippie.

Let’s be honest, this is a year-round type of thing – but the fall is no time to ease up. My go-to is the TGIN Natural Shea Butter lip balm in peppermint. I love chapstick that gives my lips that plump moisturized look and leaves my lips soft, yet not greasy. It’s also perfect for prepping for lipstick that goes on smooth.

Lipstick staple.

Speaking of lipstick, Curlfriend by The Lip Bar is great for the fall. It’s that perfect nude matte lipstick with a hint of pink. I also find myself layering this lipstick with other lippies to give off that nude undertone. This is one you’ll get tons of use out of.

Candles galore. 

Last but not least, is it really fall is you don’t have a fall scented candle? I am in love with candles. I place them all over my home for a relaxing feel. If I’m not grabbing candles from Ikea, Bath & Body Works is another great spot to grab them. and when they’ve got a great sale going on – I rack up even more!

What are your fall favorites?