Tons of Fun in Richmond Virginia

Posted on February 13, 2017 by Krissyar

Virginia is full of fun – so if you are planning a trip for Spring Break, or Summer vacation there is a ton of fun to be found in Richmond!

Kings Dominion

Family theme park near Richmond, Virginia featuring numerous roller coasters, thrill rides, water rides, Nickelodeon-themed attractions and activities for all ages.

Canal Walk
Richmond’s Canal Walk features four centuries of our state capital’s history depicted through fascinating history medallions, statues and exhibits. Did you know that in 1888 Richmond built the first commercially successful electric streetcar system in the world? And that Richmond is the only city in the world with a triple main-line railroad crossing still in operation? Look for all of this along the Canal Walk. Don’t forget about the Richmond Slave Trail, Richmond National Battlefield Park or the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, and be sure to visit Box Brown Plaza on the Canal Walk, an exhibit chronicling African-Americans’ contributions to Richmond’s Riverfront.

Peak Experiences
One of the largest indoor rock climbing centers in the United States,  outdoor enthusiasts that share a passion for climbing will have an unforgettable experience at Peak Experiences.  Climbers of all skill levels are challenged by more than 125 top-rope routes, lead-climbing, and bouldering. The climbing wall landscape is continually transforming to keep climbers engaged and challenged upon every visit!

 **This post is sponsored in part by Pearson Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.**

Thunderbolt Indoor Karting
When was the last time you let loose? Whether you’re looking for a place to host your next business party or the next afternoon you have free, Thunderbolt Indoor Racing is the premiere place for high-speed entertainment in Richmond. Reawaken your sense of competition. Challenge yourself to reach top speeds. Feel a surge of adrenaline you haven’t felt in years as you zip around our track and cross that checkered line at the end of your final lap.

American Civil War Museum
The White House of the Confederacy was the Civil War residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Guided tours of this restored mansion are given throughout the day. The adjoining Museum has three floors of galleries containing some of the most important Civil War artifacts that tell stories from the battlefield and the home-front.

Brown’s Island
With the James River running through downtown Richmond, this island serves as a wonderful spot to observe a stretch of urban waterway. The park, a stone’s throw from downtown, is connected to the popular Canal Walk. Festivals, concerts and art displays are common attractions.
Beside being a music venue, the island is also home to pathways and is a popular place for sightseeing. Visible from the island is the Belle Isle, the Manchester Bridge, and the ruins of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad Bridge. The Rivanna Subdivision Trestle crosses the island, making it a popular destination for railfans, too.

Echo Lake Park
Echo Lake Park’s main feature is the mill pond at the center of the park. Amenities include a fishing and observation pier, 1.5-mile nature trail (mostly gravel surface and shaded), pedestrian bridge over a spillway, picnic shelter and playground. There is a one bass per day limit in the pond. No boating and no swimming. Open daily from dawn to dusk.

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March 4 Health: Understanding the Benefits of Supplements

Posted on February 12, 2017 by Krissyar

One question I get asked often when I talk about supplements is, “what does it do for me?” Most people are completely unaware of the health benefits of the supplements we have available to us. These ‘magical herbs’ have the ability to do so much more than we realize.

Boswellia Plus is the newest supplement in the Savesta LifeSciences catalog. Becoming available for the first time this month. This proprietary blend is a high potency supplement that supports the body’s natural ability to recover in one easy to take tablet. Boswellia Plus is produced from sustainable sources and is laboratory tested for potency and purity.

Benefits of Boswellia Plus include:

  • Boswellia 85% with 5% Natural AKBA extract helps support healthy joint and cartilage*
  • Cissus-quandrangularis 5% extract supports healing broken bones faster, helps to increase calcium uptake which is a key nutrient for bone strength*
  • Turmeric 95%  which supports the body’s natural inflammation response*
  • White willow 15% extract is consider a natural aspin in reducing pain*
  • 85% boswellic acids

I have to say – right now this is one of my favorite supplements. I have noticed that I sleep better, and ‘recover’ faster after my work outs when I take boswellia plus than when I don’t!

Another one of my favorites that is great for those who regularly work out is Turmeric.

Turmeric is a natural and safe herb for optimum joint health

Benefits of Turmeric include:

  • Supports healthy joint function*
  • Supports the body’s natural inflammation response*
  • 95% curcuminoids

 

 

 

 

For those of you (like me) that are working on a goal of losing weight for this year, a great supplement to try is organic garcinia.

Garcinia Cambogia has been used for centuries in Southeast Asia to support balanced appetite. Derived from the rind of Garcinia fruit, our extract contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA 50%), which is responsible for the metabolic effects. HCA also appears to promote healthy serotonin levels.

 

Benefits of Organic Garcinia include:

  • USDA Organic Garcinia Cambogia Extract Powder*
  • 50% Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA)
  • Helps Maintain Healthy Weight Management*
  • Increases brain seratonin, which may make you feel less hungry*
  • Studies show improved cholesterol levels*

 

 

 

Another great supplement to aide in weight loss and general health is organic moringa.

Moringa is one of the most nutrient-dense botanicals on the planet.Our Organic Moringa is a source of essential minerals, vitamins A, B and C, potassium and iron. It contains diverse amino acids, co-enzymes, and antioxidants. It suppresses appetite while helping to maintain overall vitality and energy levels.*

 Benefits of Organic Moringa include:

  • Superior antioxidant*
  • Contains significant amounts of vitamins A, C and E
  • Boosts energy and stamina*
  • Known to suppress inflammatory enzymes in the body*
  • 100% Organic Moringa

Right now Savesta  is offering All in a Days Work readers 40% off plus FREE shipping when you use coupon code Ayurveda317  at checkout

 

This month 4 lucky winners will get a bottle of each of the above supplements! Enter in the rafflecopter below!

**Giveaway Ended – Congrats winners!**

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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DIY Paper Cupcake Flowers

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Krissyar

These DIY cupcake flowers can be used for cute decorations, or even as some adorable Valentines Day cards. SO many uses, and super cute!

What you’ll need:
Diecut flowers from cupcake paper cups
Diecut paper pieces
Diecut Cardstock leaves
green craft wire
clear gemstones
and if you want to make the cards; Valentines Craft paper

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Take 3 of the diecut paper cupcakes and arrange them to look like a flower (I rotate each cup just a bit)

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Next, take your craft wire and poke a hole through your paper cupcake flower. Bend the wire to poke a hole back through the paper and bend so the flower stays at the top of the wire.

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Next, glue diecut paper pieces to the center of the flower. You can purchase pre-cut centers, or you can make your own. Newspaper, old book, magazines all work really well for the center.

DIY_paper_cupcake_flowers4Next glue the clear gemstones to the center paper diecut in the middle of your flower.

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Repeat with the different color paper cupcake holders – and make a beautiful cupcake bouquet!

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You can also use these super cute paper cupcake flowers to make your own adorable valentines day cards. If you purchased your Valentines’ Day craft paper, you can tape or glue the flower to the craft paper and write your message on the side.

DIY_paper_cupcakes

 

Looking for more Valentines Day crafts & recipes? Be sure to follow me on Pinterest.

Follow Krissy’s board Valentine’s Day Crafts, Recipes & More on Pinterest.

Posted in Crafts/DIY | 1 Comment

Keto Diet: Week 4

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Krissyar

So I’m nearly a week late getting week 4’s post up. I have to tell you – I was struggling last week. I hadn’t seen the scale move, and I was having a hard time feeling very motivated.

I have stayed on track except for one day this past weekend I did go over carbs by about 15 (still quite low and some people actually do a higher carb count and still lose weight). I KNEW I needed to keep rolling because as soon as I fall off the wagon there isn’t just a jump right back on option for me; I usually binge for days, or weeks – and this time I am determined to STAY no matter what.

I spoke with a few Keto Vets who gave me some helpful tips – and reminded me, that every body is different and I need to just hold out. I was also told to me make sure that I’m getting at least my 100 oz of water, and that I’m measuring my food (which I wasn’t doing).

I ordered this food scale to measure my food at home. You would be amazed how much you are eating when you just grab a few slices of lunch meat or cheese. I’ve been making sure to be extremely careful and measure every bite of food I’m eating.

Now there are times I have a rough day and I am not drinking water like I should – I mean it’s hard to drink 100 oz of water when you aren’t used to it. That’s 12 1/2 glasses of water. Over 6 bottles of water from the store – it’s a LOT to drink. So I’ve started adding Powerade Zero it taste JUST LIKE KOOL-AID! It’s amazing how easily I can drink a big bottle of this versus water. It’s also good for electrolytes, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium which you sometimes lack on a Keto diet.

 

I was also told to PUT THE SCALE away for a week. When I was going to the bathroom (which was like every 5 minutes it seemed drinking that much water) I would weigh myself since the scale was right there. You’d be shocked how much you weight goes up and down in a few days – or even a few hours – time. I promised I wouldn’t weigh myself again until Friday, and I’m hoping some of the changes I have made will show some results!

 

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The Art of Male Grooming

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Krissyar

Looking after your skin is essential for everyone. Your face is your greeting card to the world, and, as time ticks on, the benefits of youthful, plump skin begin to slip away. Aging, especially for a man, doesn’t have to be so dire, with very little in the way of effort needed to keep yourself looking good.

 

Here, we look at the bare essentials to male grooming, implementing some very small changes that could get you looking, and feeling, much better.

The Money Maker

Probably the most important part of your body to start looking after; the face requires a regular routine to keep it in tip-top condition. This includes facial scrubs, facial washes and moisturisers.

 

So, where do you start? Nowadays, most skincare brands have a men’s range – Usually products that are very similar to the women’s range but with ‘manlier’ packaging. You can go for higher end skincare such as Clinique, Clarins or Lab Series, or go for something a little more wallet-friendly such as Bull Dog.

 

Invest in a good facial cloth, and try to factor the care for your skin into your morning and just-before-bed routine.  

Body Hair

A little extra fluff can be a nuisance, especially if you get sporadic back hair or need to trim your neck hair often. However, if implemented into your weekly routine, it can be just as easy to introduce as the skincare regimen.

 

Firstly, you need the right tools to help you with excess body hair maintenance. If you want a very smooth, hairless look then you might have to go for waxing, which can be expensive and painful. You can get this done at most beauty salons and, if booked in at regular intervals, this method can have you hair-free for a good period of time.

 

If waxing isn’t your thing, try some decent clippers such as the ‘TT2040 all-in-one pro body groomer series 7000’ from Phillips. With the right guard on, you can come close to being hairless and, if you are careful, it is pain-free.

Facial Hair

Keeping on the excess hair theme, your face is also an area that can be overcome with it. Generally thought to be something that older men deal with, excess hair can affect you in your younger years, with little hairs sprouting from your nose and ears at will. What you need is a good nose hair trimmer to keep on top of this on a regular basis. It will take you mere seconds to buzz away, leaving you confident that you aren’t turning into an old man!

 

Next up is the beard. Being hairy is all the rage now, with beard care brands popping up every other day to cash in on this facial hair trend. If you have been blessed with non-patchy beard-growing skills, then you will be winning the beard game. All you need is a little guidance on how to keep everything where it should be.

 

Real Men Real Style has a great guide to how you should train your beard, tips on upkeep and products to help you on your beard journey.

Sometimes forgotten is the eyebrows – Whether bushy or fairly tame, it’s good to keep a smooth line. If you are new to tweezers, don’t be worried about using them. The pain is very minimal and plucking unruly hairs takes up very little of your time. Follow this YouTube video from ‘BluMaan’ for a guide to getting it right.

Hands and Feet

Nail care is serious business. No one wants to be with a man who has gnarly toenails and long fingernails. This part of male grooming has the highest priority of all, and only sheer laziness can stop you from achieving acceptable hands and feet.

 

Get some nail clippers or scissors (scissors are a little gentler on the nail), a nail file and some hand and feet moisturiser. Within 15 minutes, you will have transformed your extremities into beautifully manicured and moisturised parts of your body.

 

Many men wield nail clippers as if they are an actual workshop tool, not something that is used on a part of yourself. Each snip should be precise and measured, as jagged nails are not a good look either. Also, be sure to use different scissors or clippers for your feet and hands. Using the same clippers (without washing in between) can spread bacteria, causing infection.
Once you have properly cut your nails, you won’t need to do it again for a long time. That’s if you use your trust nail file on a regular basis, ensuring they are keept nice and neat.

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