Now that you have completed shopping for everyone on your list - its YOU time. Check out some ideas below for you to buy when you get that Christmas cash from Aunt Sally.

FOR THE COZY QUEEN

1.     skyn ICELAND Nordic Renewal Pre & Probiotic Cream: saying we love this brand is an understatement. This cream in particular is one of our favorites. Its hydrating, replenishing, and made with glacial water. Can’t beat that. (Retails at $40.00)

2.     Warmies Slippers:  if your feet are always cold, these are for you! Pop them in the microwave and enjoy a warm hug around your feet. Bonus: you can also store in the freezer for a cooling affect. Win-win! (Retails at $34.99)

3.     Georgie Cozy Knitted Throw Blanket: Anthropologie makes the best blankets PERIOD. Change my mind. (Retails at $116.00, on SALE for $82.60)

FOR THE FITNESS ENTHUSIAST

1.     Blender ProStak: Having the ability to travel with several powder supplements is a game changer for the busy/on-the-go fitness pal. This is a must have! (Retails for $14.25)

2.     Walking treadmill: Having the ability to move INSIDE and WHILE WORKING is a perk I will never give up. Its definitely more of a splurge, but its so worth it if you don’t live in sunny Florida. (Retails for $389.99)

3. CRZ Yoga Thermal Fleece-lined 7/8 Leggings: CRZ is known for its closeness to Lululemon quality, and it certainly lives up to that. But LLL hardly EVER carries thermal tights. THESE ARE AMAZING. Not too thick, but adds enough warmth for winter months. (Retails for $32).

FOR THE BOSS BABE

1.  Courant Catch All – All courant chargers are great, but we love this one. The colors are chic and it makes a perfect addition to a side table. (Retails for $99, ON SALE for $75)

2. Beis Work Tote  - we have tried so many work bags, but the one we keep coming back to is this Beis Black Croc Work Tote. Its so chic and PRACTICAL. It is surprisingly light even with all our things shoved in it. It also has a trolley pass through if you travel for work. We love all things Beis, but this one is our favorite. (Retails for $118 and worth every penny).

3.  Ink and volt – We love every product on ink + volt’s website, it was hard to narrow it down to one. So follow the link and explore the organizational tools. They are allllll so good (Retail varies)

FOR THE MAMAS

1.     Mama Tee from the Bee and the Fox: This whole brand is amazing and, bonus: run by women. This is just one of the many graphic tees on their site we are loving! Go check them out. (Retails for $35.00)

2.     Loop Engage Plus Ear Plugs: MAMAS YOU NEED THESE. These magical ear plugs reduce noise by 16dB without muffling clarity. I cannot recommend these enough, they WORK. (Retails for $39.99)

3.     Mama Bracelet: These bracelets are so cute and can be customized to kids, dogs, anybody’s names! They are also gold-FILLED which is superior to gold-plated. (Starts from $30)

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Although elastic yoga pants may sound tempting at first, they won’t fix the dark cloud of bloating and discomfort that follows a weekend of overindulging. Don’t panic! My 5 go-to solutions to beat the bloat will ensure any weight gain, bloating, or discomfort is short-lived.

It can take days after overeating to feel like yourself again. Rather than trying to compensate or punish yourself (which typically leads to additional negative eating behaviors or another overeating episode), forgive and forget by using the tools below!

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1. HIT THE RESET BUTTON— Clear your pantry of anything that you might struggle to eat in moderation, and revamp your grocery list. Filling your fridge with healthy and nutrient-dense options that encourage you to look and feel your best is key to proactively approach your week and setting yourself up for success.

2. LIVE & LEARN— Acknowledge what happened, why and make a plan of action to avoid it in the future. Being accountable to yourself in this way encourages self-reflection and can lead to positive strides once you have identified some of your overeating culprits. For example, if you accidentally finished an entire bowl of chips while chatting by the snack station, perhaps serving yourself on a plate and moving to a different area, or practicing a more mindful eating approach in the future is a good start. Creating a strategy moving forward can reduce the frequency of overeating as well as better equipping you for future temptation-filled events. Most importantly, move on!

3. WALK IT OFF— Newsflash: doing hours of cardio in the gym will not “fix it.” Rather than torturing yourself on the Stairmaster or spin bike, opt for a leisurely walk outside. Walking is a great way to improve digestion, release endorphins, reduce stress, and can improve your overall health simply by honoring your body’s need to be active. This is a much better alternative that won’t leave you depleted or ravenous, unlike all that unnecessary cardio

4. DRINK EXTRA FLUIDS— Water will help rid your body of waste, toxins, additional water weight, and is a key component of the metabolic process. Feeling sluggish, puffy, bloated, having intense cravings and struggling with poor digestion are all signs of dehydration. The secret to feeling better is this: the more you drink, the faster your body will flush! Aim to consume 100 ounces of water per day to beat your bloat for good. Cheers!

5. STAY BUSY— Overeating can throw off your appetite and hunger cues BIG TIME. This is often be your mind playing tricks on you due to the influx of processed foods and alcohol. When we consume large amounts of sugar, carbohydrates or salt, the brain will release dopamine and activate your pleasure / reward sensors in your brain. Although this can feel confusing and as though you need MORE food, don’t let it fool you. If temptation is high try drinking hot tea, work on a project, or leave the kitchen all together. Your hunger will level off. This is your body’s way of attempting to sort through what happened. Implementing a rule such as “the kitchen is closed” after your last meal can also prevent you from continuing the binge cycle and eating more than your body truly needs. The body thrives on consistency & habit. The best approach to feeling like yourself is getting right back into a regular routine and creating a sense of normalcy.

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