Spring is in the air! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the temperatures are in the low 70s. At least these are the current weather conditions in Southern California! Last week while shopping at Target I picked up thesedish towels. They are so adorable and they freshen up of the kitchen perfectly. Which, got me to thinking, perhaps with the warmer weather on the horizon, it’s time I got serious about a wardrobe refresh for spring. Below are seven transitional items I’m LOVING this week.
Like so many women (and men) in their 50s, I would like to stave off the signs of aging. Hell, I’d like to reverse the signs if I could. There are hundreds of anti-aging products that claim to be the source of the fountain of youth. The latest buzz is around a supplement called collagen. As far as benefits, they say adding two scoops of collagen peptides to your morning drink may help heal your gut from the inside out, aids in skin elasticity, hair and nail health, and joint pain. I’m a bit of a skeptic, but if collagen can help with any of these issues, then sign me up!
For those that haven’t heard of this supplement, collagen is a protein made naturally by our bodies to maintain elasticity. Your body has produced collagen your whole life, but the production of collagen slows down as you age, robbing skin of plumpness and elasticity. It also translates to brittle hair and sore and aching joints because the spongy cartilage between our bones weakens.
I think it’s important to note, there is no research supporting the claims that collagen supplements aid in joint and skin health.
Despite the lack of evidence, I decided to give it a go. I add Vital Proteins Collagen Peptide to my morning coffee. The recommended dose is two scoops per day – but I have only been adding one (unless it’s a two coffee morning)! It’s a super fine powder that easily dissolves into my coffee leaving no clumps. And it’s unflavored so it doesn’t alter the taste.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t 100% sure it was working.
I mean, I haven’t seen a reduction in fine lines or a new healthy glow to my skin. I don’t believe my nails are any stronger or weaker than before I took this powder. As for my hair, it’s course and I have a lot of it so it’s difficult to know if it has helped prevent any thinning. I can assure you it has NOT slowed down the graying.
On a POSITIVE note, I thought my hair felt silkier but I didn’t put too much stock into, chalking it up to the placebo effect.
However, while at the salon last week getting rid of my pesky grey roots, my stylist commented on how nice my hair felt and looked. His compliment was unprompted. He asked what I was doing differently and the only answer I had was taking Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. He said “wow, it’s doing something because your hair is definitely smoother and softer”.
The Collagen Peptides must be working. RIGHT!?!
In addition to having smoother and softer hair, I also noticed the pain I had been experiencing in my wrist was gone. While I do not suffer from osteoarthritis, for the past 6 months I had be experiencing pain in my right wrist that prevented me from certain exercises. A few weeks ago, I decided it was time to attempt push-ups again and VOILA no pain! Push-ups are once again part of my workout routine.
So, while it may not be ‘the’ magic pill or in this case powder – it didn’t cure everything – Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides has helped strengthen my hair and reduce pain in my wrist. So, if you’re looking to add some collagen into your daily routine check out Vital Proteins! I saw enough benefits that it is now an essential part of my morning routine. It can be purchased direct from the website at www.vitalproteins.com, they even offer a subscription. It can also be purchased at Costco or Target. In fact, Target has it on sale this week.
Definitely drop a comment below if you give it a try and experience any benefits from taking Collagen Peptides.
I hope you had an incredible holiday season and your New Year is off to a great start!
I’ve been away from this space for far too long and I have missed it. My hiatus was a little longer than I had anticipated. My dad passed away on October 29th and I needed the time to grieve.
He was a very private man, so I don’t want to use this space to eulogize him. However, what I will share is he was the best dad ever and a very kind man. I don’t think he had a mean bone in his body. He lived a good full life, one that he was happy with and in the end, that’s all that really matters.
On the morning of 31st of December, what would have been my Dad’s 85th birthday, we got up early to watch the sunrise and scatter his ashes. It was a beautiful morning. My dad would have loved it. And I believe he did. I saw a yellow butterfly an hour after we released his spirit. It was a peacefulmorning that brought some much needed closure.
So, as cliché as this sounds, the end of 2019 was truly the end of a chapter of my life. But thankfully in every end, there is also a beginning.
The year 2020 is all about RENWAL and NEW BEGINNINGS for me.
As for this space, I hope to use it as it was intended. As a creative outlet as I discover my second act.
May 2020 be full of bright new beginnings for us all!
This time last year we did a little road trip to Oak Glen, CA to go apple picking. Apple picking is an East Coast tradition that’s as American as apple pie and I wanted Jackson to experience it at least once.
Oak Glen, CA is about 90 miles (about 1 hour and 30 minute drive) east of Newport Beach, CA. It’s a bit of a hike but well worth it.
The farms are all beautifully decorated. The leaves on the trees are turning colors and there are apples to pick!
Actually, there is more to do than just apple picking. You can press your own cider, enjoy hayrides, run through corn mazes and/or sunflower fields, kids’ crafts, animals to be seen, country music to be heard, shops to be explored and more.
Apple Of My Eye!
Our kiddo loved picking apples and exploring the local area (which means something). It was the perfect way to kick off the fall season.
Should you feel up for an adventure this weekend, here are a few things I learned from last year’s day trip to Oak Glen:
It’s extremely busy making it difficult to find parking.
There are a few restaurants in town but I would recommend packing a picnic lunch to save money and avoid the long lines. You can always buy some treats at the orchard’s merchant shops to add to your picnic and sample the local fare.
Because the town is mile high in elevation, you will find it about 10-15 degrees cooler than its surrounding So Cal valleys, so bring a sweater.
Wow, I got a little off topic on that trip down memory lane!
Any ways, here are some links from about the web that caught my attention this week.
