health - Laundry In Louboutins

Looks

Nike iD

May 27, 2014

With my new fitness regimen, workout clothes have been the bulk of my shopping list lately… and while I’m barefoot at Barre3 class, J wanted to make sure I was outfitted from head to toe, and what better way then with custom sneakers?!

NikeiD is one of the coolest sites for custom footwear right now. You can pick the style, colors and everything from designs on the base of the shoe to the lining/swoosh and so much more! I also loved the fact that you can customize the tongue of your sneaker (J and I did each others initials… awwww 🙂

Click here to design the sneakers I ordered. Also you have to love that it is only around $20 more for a customized sneaker!

Are you in the mood for some more designing? Here are some other fun sites:

Milk and Honey – custom high end shoes
Coordinates Collection – custom jewelry

Domestic

Barre3

May 15, 2014

So I have a new obsession… Barre3.

image via Barre3

As you may know (due to my lack of fitness related posts), working out is not my thing. Growing up my parents always instilled the importance of fitness in my daily routine, but as a got older and got a job, working out moved further down my priority list.

After a year (ok maybe 2) of an occasional hike counting as my workout for the week I decided I needed to step it up. A Barre3 studio went into my neighborhood and I knew I had no more excuses.

This ballet-pilates-yoga hybrid is an amazing 60 minute core workout which has me getting up at 5 am a few times a week. I can’t believe it myself.

The people are awesome, the workout gets me sweating and for once I’m actually excited to get up and workout! My goal is to go 3 days a week, but the last few weeks I have gone at least 5 times… just because I enjoy it (and how it makes me feel).

I also am participating in Barre3’s Spring Challenge, which focuses on clean eating (whole foods) and working out (4 classes and 2 10-minute workouts at home). The blog has taken a bit of a back burner (hence this late post), as I focus on getting my workouts in, prepping my food and resisting the urge to indulge in sugar and my fun drinks (don’t worry… you’ll still have your cocktail post tomorrow!). I’m excited to share some new Barre3 inspired recipes in the coming weeks!

That being said, if you are looking for a fun class to add to your workout routine, I couldn’t be a bigger proponent of Barre3… check out their studio list to see if there is a class by you! If you are local to the South Bay, Barre3 Willow Glen is hosting a free class tomorrow night at 5:45pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 11:30am. Stop by to check it out!! You won’t regret it 🙂

Also, my apologies for all of the changes with the blog lately… I’m still trying to figure out how to get email reminders to everyone each morning (still having technical issues, so if anyone has any plug-in recommendations for a WordPress.org platform I’d REALLY appreciate it!), update links and photos on old posts, and just get a better grip of this fancy new site!

As always, thank you so much for taking time at of your day to read my little corner of the internet… I really appreciate it 🙂

Happy Thursday!

xo, Whitney

Sip

Lemon Water

April 16, 2014

My mom has been on my sisters and I to incorporate lemon water into our daily routine for as long as I can remember. Typically, I will try for a couple of days and then fall off the band wagon… BUT for the first time ever, I am actually trying to follow my new years resolutions and have been consistently drinking lemon water each morning.

On this blog I find myself usually sharing recipes/tips I have researched and tried, but sometimes forget to share things that are part of my everyday routine… so let me begin with how I start MY morning.

After doing this cleanse a few months ago, I have completely cut out caffeine. I originally switched over to decaffeinated tea first thing in the morning, but once my Meyer lemon tree started producing more lemons than I knew what to do with, I figured it was better a time than any to start my days with lemon water.

1. What is lemon water? Well, it literally is fresh squeezed lemon juice into warm water… BUT in typically Laundry in Louboutins fashion I had to mix it up. I realized that I kept falling off the band wagon because I don’t really like the taste of lemon first thing in the morning… so I incorporated some of the Master Cleanse recipe to create my own morning elixir:

Hot Water
Juice of 1 small lemon
Small splash of maple syrup
Dash of cayenne pepper

Fill your mug with hot water.
Add lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper.
Stir and enjoy!

Notes:

The key is really to enjoy purely lemon juice and water, but I wanted to share my recipe for when you need to “mix things up.” Better a little altered than not at all…right?
Make sure the lemon juice is freshly squeezed and that maple syrup is Grade A or B (no Aunt Jemima’s!)

2. Why lemon water? Here is the main question… and here are a few important reasons to start incorporating this easy concoction into your routine:

Helps aid digestion
It is a great vitamin C source – helping to fight off colds
It balances maintain the pH levels in your body
Is great for your skin and can help prevent wrinkles and acne
Helps reduce mucus produced by your body
Freshens your breath
Reduces inflammation
Helps reduce anxiety and depression

*Mind you I am not a nutritionist/doctor/or anyone remotely qualified in telling you what is healthy, but I just wanted to share some information that I have researched and found interesting.

Does anyone else start their mornings with lemon water? What health benefits have you discovered?

Tasty

Morning Sunshine!

February 19, 2013

I always ate breakfast growing up but once I “went corporate” I found it a lot harder to make time for the most important meal of the day…

The solution – smoothies! My sister went on a kick for awhile and made these AMAZING concoctions every morning, but due to my lack of creativity and time I have created a new staple.

4 ingredients + 1 blender + 20 seconds = filling/tasty start to your day!

So go grab – 1 banana, 2 handfuls of spinach or kale, 1 spoonful of almond butter and about a 1/4 cup of almond or coconut milk…

Mix everything in a blender then add some ice, blend some more and voila!

PS. If you aren’t a greens kinda person, don’t let it fool you – it tastes like a peanut butter smoothie!

Tip: When you’re done rinse your blender immediately add some water a pump of dish-washing soap and put the lid back on to blend for 30 seconds more. It instantly cleans your blender!

Tasty

Weekly Menu #7

February 18, 2013

A new recipe: Lemon Ricotta Risotto with Asparagus, Peas and Prosciutto

I saw this in Martha’s magazine last month and knew I had to make it. So many of my favorite things all in one recipe… a winner!

A tried and true recipe: Meyer Lemon Chicken Piccata and Cacio e Pepe with Lemon

I love this chicken piccata recipe and (also) saw this pasta recipe in Martha’s mag last month. So simple, yet so good!

An easy recipe: Kobe Beef Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries and Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

J bought these Kobe patties from Trader Joe’s last month and we’ve yet to make them… All I had to do was get some buns, throw together a few toppings and made a quick batch of sweet potato chips with dipping sauce and voila! Dinner on the table in under 30 minutes! (Disclaimer: These did not turn out super good…would not recommend 🙁 Also, please don’t judge the too small hamburger buns.)

Sriracha Sour Cream Dip:

1 cup Sour Cream

2 Tablespoons Sriracha (or to taste)

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

1/4 cup Low-Fat Mayo

1/4 cup Dijon Mustard

2 Tablespoons Honey