Luckily it turns out that she's as genuine as she is stylish AND uber cool (Be warned she is also ridiculously photogenic along with her equally photogenic gorgeous baby boy - good genes there! Check out her own blog for proof x) and so she has very graciously agreed to do a couple of posts for little old me and my mission!
It gives me immense pleasure to introduce the fabulous musings of the amazing Sheridan French. I urge you to check out her blog - The Southern Eclectic - without delay (but only after checking out the following article of course!) It will soon become a daily staple. x
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When Justine asked me to write this article for her, she had envisioned it being entitled “Yoga Mat to Board Room in 10 Minutes Flat.” I was given free reign to amend as I saw fit, and I want to use this post as an opportunity not only to share great fashion and beauty tips to carry you from exercise to office, but also to shed light on what I feel is the ONLY exercise you ever need to do: CrossFit. No additional cardio required.
I won’t go into CrossFit in too much depth as the best information can be found on their world site http://www.crossfit.com/, but I will give you all a brief overview to peak your curiosity enough to look into it yourself. Traditional gym workouts today are extremely unproductive. Based off of body building, isolated movements (working on biceps, triceps, delts, booty, etc.) only use a few muscle groups at one time. And don’t get me started on cardio. Who wants to get on a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical machine and do mindless exercise for 30 minutes? Um not me thanks. So let me introduce you to CrossFit.
CrossFit is based around using your entire body in every exercise movement you do. For example, today my workout was four rounds of 10 pushups, 10 sit ups, 10 air squats, and 10 pull ups for time. Sounds scary!!! But don’t be intimidated - keep reading: The brilliance and universal appeal of CrossFit is that they do not change the workouts, but the scale and intensity is changed. The same routines are used for elderly individuals with heart disease and cage fighters to military units and college kids. As their website says, “the needs of Olympic athletes and our grandparents differ by degree not kind. Our terrorist hunters, skiers, mountain bike riders and housewives have found their best fitness from the same regimen.” I could go on and on, but take a look at the affiliate link (http://www.crossfit.com/cf-affiliates/) on their site to find a CrossFit box in your area.
Now, before I go into the fashion bit, I have to say a few things. You will be covered in sweat head to toe from CrossFit. BUT I have never had a workout longer than twenty minutes. (That is not a typo). Sometimes they are under 10 minutes. So, although you are way more in need of a shower after a CrossFit session than a yoga session, you will have plenty of extra time to get ready for work. Also, workouts can often be done from your own home. Mega plus, as you don’t even need to worry about cramming crumpled clothes into a gym bag. That said, the environment of the CrossFit boxes are so uplifting, encouraging and supportive within the group participants, I highly recommending getting to a location near you if you are able.
Onto what we all really care about - how to look lovely for a day at work after a tough workout in the morning! Quite daunting at first. But there is absolutely no reason you can’t look perfect and glowing as you stroll through the door. Since summer is coming up I am going to focus outfits around warmer weather ensembles.
Items that never fail to look lovely after being squished into a bag are flowy skirts, nice looking t’s, and classic cardigans or jackets. Trousers can also be thrown into the mix but I don't think they fare as well with a few crinkles. The slight creases that may develop on the shirts can be hidden under the cardi. See below for examples!
(L.O.V.E. this look!)
(And this!)
For post-workout hair if there's no time to shampoo, spritz some spray gel onto the top layers of dry strands, like Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Spray Gel. This leaves hair softer and more manageable. Next, wrap a medium size section of hair around a round brush rolling it to an inch away from the scalp. Hold a dryer behind the section for about 10 seconds and blow roots forward for added oomph. The air will also help dry excess sweat on the scalp. Leave hair wrapped around the brush for a few seconds to cool. To preserve volume, unwind strands with your fingers rather than pulling them through the brush. Repeat this on remaining still-damp, flat sections. For a sleek and swingy finish, hold the dryer approximately 6 inches from the ends and flick your wrist as you blow dry. Finally, tousle hair into position with your fingers. No one will ever know that you drenched in sweat just moments before! (Tips from Fitness Magazine)
The best quick makeup routine - I'm talking less than three minutes - involves concealer, rosy blush on your cheeks (which you might not need if you're still glowing from your workout), a beautiful champagne eyeshadow swept over your lids, and two coats of L'Oreal Voluminous black mascara on your lashes. Finish with your favorite shade of coral or rosy pink lipstick and voila! You're ready to go for a great day at work.
xoxo,
Sheridan French
The Southern Eclectic
http://sheridanfrench.blogspot.com/
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