This is the final DVD giveaway for a while and the winner will be chosen on opening day at Exhale Spa Midtown Atlanta on Wednesday, September 1st.

Pure Arms and Abs is really focus workout and uses resistance bands and weights, the DVD includes a band for added bonus!

The first section is arms with weights.  It’s a standing series and you work every part of your arms, shoulder and upper back as well as your entire core area.  It is very focused and intense, but really sculpts the upper body and works on form and posture.  These weight variations are featured at Exhale Spa Core Fusion classes across the country.

Section two is arms with resistance bands.  Also, a standing series, you do a variety of exersices to tone and sculpt the upper body and core.  It’s great using the bands because you can grab them from lower or higher depending on your own level.  It is a great series and is featured in the Core Fusion Sport classes at exhale spa.

The third and fourth sections both use resistance bands to work the abdomen.  The first of the two is working in the Curl (the signature Core Fusion position) and works very deep in the abdominal muscles to create and “8 pack”.  It requires a lot of focus, discipline and patience to master this move and will change the shape of the abdomen and stretches & strengthens your back.   The 2nd ab section is using leg variations, with the band around your  feet of your outstretched legs(hip width apart)…you lower into top of  the waist holding the bands, pulling your legs up towards the sky then start working some curl variations. Another intense section.

Lastly, is just about the best 10 minute stretch series ever and is featured in most Core Fusion classes.    Check out  the classes at Exhale Spa Midtown Atlanta to get maximum results along with the DVDs!   Opening September 1st with a Grand Opening on the 15th, details to come! www.exhalespa.com

Also, bonuses are featured, you need to buy or WIN the DVD Exhale Core Fusion Pure Abs and Arms to find out!

Please leave a comment to be entered to win the DVD!!!

http://www.jeffreyfashioncares.com/

Photo courtesy of: http://www.eventintelligista.com/

Plus, Mi Amore Hats by Miss Jay Jay, from LA but now Atlanta based hat designer. These are gorgeous hats with a flapper/vintage hollywood style, bringing back classy glamour!

DJ Brian Parris will be spinning!! Don’t miss out on this fabulous event!

Check out the article on this great site environmental website
Green Muze.

Growing more popular each year, Atlanta International Fashion Week kicks off July 13th and goes through the 18th. Many events will be held throughout the week from runway shows, to work shops and networking events. The events will be at a variety of Atlanta’s best and hottest facilities! It’s sure to satisfy the fashion lovers cravings!

Check it out at atlantaintlfashionweek.com.

Some of the designers feature are:

My first recipe today is for seared brussel sprouts.

Most of the time when you think brussel sprouts, you think of the same old boiled little cabbages.  Well, we have some recipes that will delight the taste buds and are very healthy!

Cut the end of the brussel sprout off and then cut each one in half.  There will be fallen leaves, which you can save for a creamed brussel sprouts, recipe to be posted very soon.  Cut maybe about 6 brussel sprouts.

Sprinkle cavender’s greek seasoning, or a grill seasoning, and pepper on plate.  Place sprout face down in mixture and try to coat open part of sprout.

In a skillet on medium heat, spread some olive oil (about a tbspn) and about a teaspoon of butter.  Place sprouts face down on pan.  Simmer on medium for about 10 minute or until crispy/slightly burnt.

Dice some red bell pepper to garnish and enjoy as a side.  They are absolutely delicious and very easy to make.

Brussel sprouts contain many properties that help protect your defense system, which helps fight disease, including many types of cancer.   It’s also good for healthy skin and your immune system.  Another thing is that it has plenty of fiber and is a heart healthy food!

Red bell peppers have plenty of Vitamin C and A.  Also, it is heart healthy, lung healthy,  may promote good eyesight and help fight against Rheumatoid Arthritis.

My second recipe today is for grilled/smoked Kale:

Kale is something most people think about as a garnish and not really eating on a regular basis.  We have also found several delicious and nutritious ways to cook this, so we can get our servings of this extremely healthy green.

Just today, we cooked out on the grill.  Well, we actually have a smoker and it is so great to  have that smokey flavor and we can throw so many different things on there at once.    My hubby just happened to decide to throw the rest of the kale we had on there in whole pieces.  He just sprayed them each with butter spray and threw them on for about 10 minutes until getting a little dark on the edges and crispy.

They were so amazingly good and now my favorite way to eat kale and probably the easiest way to prepare  it.  You can really stick any veggies, garlic, onions on the grill to snack on.  Anyway, it was almost like having chips on the side of the turkey burgers and chicken franks we cooked out.  Great food for a fantastic day of World Cup Football.   USA v Slovenia (2-2) and England vs Algeria (0-0).  Go USA and go fun, easy, deliciously healthy food!

Kale’s nutritional value:

Again, this is a veggie that contains all kinds of cancer fighting ingredients.   It also lowers cataract rate, promotes lung health, fights arthritis as well, is a great source of Vitamins A E&C,  heart healthy, fiber filled, and calcium riched.  You should really incorporate these veggies into your diet if you’re not already, people!  I hope you enjoy these recipes!

Charts and nutritional information from whfoods.com

As some of you know by this point, Exhale Core Fusion is my favorite way to get the body in tip top shape in the least amount of time.   Once you get stronger and are able to do all the moves, you will get more and more excited about maintaining your tone with this routine!  The first DVD I will review is Exhale Core Fusion Lean & Toned.  It seems like the toughest of the series so far, with moves that definitely have to be worked up to!

Like all Core Fusion DVDs, it is broken up into 5-10 minute workouts so you can do one or more depending on your time allowance.  If you continue to do these short, yet very effective workouts you will get stronger and you will see your body change.  It is, of course, very helpful to stick to a healthy diet, to achieve absolute maximum results!

Workout 1:  Upper Body Tone & Stretch

Phew, I just did this section and my arms are like jelly!  Should have thought of that before I thought of the bright idea to do each section and immediately follow with a review!     Slowly, I will type this…

Starting with the traditional Core Fusion warm ups for 60 seconds.  Then strong with several varieties of pushups including some with lifting up to do leg lifts to work glutes.  Then triceps backwards plank pushups with knees bent and taking one foot to other knee and as we lower into triceps, straighten that leg to sky(8 reps and then other side).  Already we’re tired, then get up to start the standing hand weights portion.  Here we work a lot of shoulders, biceps, triceps and it works!

We follow all this with a nice stretch, of course!  Now next section!

Workout 2: Thighs Tone & Stretch

Ok, at least my circulation is back in my arms so I can type!  So, we really work  every muscle in the thighs in this one!  We start standing arm’s length width from the chair with hands lightly on chair.  This, obviously followed a warm up for 60 seconds.    We put heels together to make a V with the feet and then lift the heels and start to plie down all the way to the ground and up for 8.   You really have to watch your form and alighnment in this one and concentrate!  We do variations on this and then rest.   We then proceed to place feet in V shape again and then lift the right leg out parallel to the floor and hold.  Then lift down to ground and up to hip height, pointing toe….8 times, with several variations.  Then turn to side with one hand on chair and do lunges!  Stretching after and this is a total leg toner for sure!

Workout 3:  Flat/Round Back Tone & Stretch

This is by far the toughest ab workout I think I’ve ever done!  But again, the beauty of this amazing workout is that it’s only 10 minutes in each section.

So, warm up again in typical Exhale Core Fusion fashion!  Now, we go down to the floor with bottom pushed back against the wall- legs out slighty bent, hips width apart…with bottom against wall.  We lean toward our knees and plug our fingertips into floor and on either side of thighs (with shoulders down) and start tap legs in eight times,then lifting legs in above ground  and tapping in and out again 8 times.  The point is to hold the very core tightly in making a C curve with the abs and work them more so than the thighs.  But, you are working the thighs and the shoulders as well!  You do several variations, tapping legs in twice and out 8 times and then above ground 8 times…After that, bicycles pushing legs out one at a time 8 times and then above ground 8 times. Burning!

That’s the first part and then you repeat this section 3 times but with hands reaching further  out each time!  So difficult, but will make your abs so toned!

The next part of that workout is bringing your more of your upper back against the wall with the waist down more so it’s not pressed against wall at all.  The glutes will be on ground and you bring your legs straight up parallel to wall to stretch the hams.   You will proceed to do variations of lowering legs and lifting to work the abs.  It takes a lot focus, breathing and pulling those abs in tight to bring the legs back  parallel to wall with toes pointing up at ceiling.   Then you stretch out the abs….another workout completed and it feels good!

Workout 4:  Gluteal Tone & Stretch

I absolutely love this workout to really tone and shape those glutes for a nice round bottom!  So we start (after warming up) standing arms width from the wall.  Reach out and put hand on wall about chest height.  Your body will be in one line from hands to top of head to torso and right leg pointing out-all parallel to wall.  Your left leg will be straight on the ground with knee soft.  You will start by bending right knee and then starting to left the leg, a little higher than the hip, slowly 8 times.  Then take leg a little further out and push back for about 16.   After that round, you straighten right leg and turn it out and start to bring leg all the way to ground and up  to hip 8 times.  Then turn leg parallel and do 8 more.  Some balancing and then the needle pose in yoga or standing split.  You lift leg 8 times and then 8 more but on ball of feet of standing leg.    On to other leg…then stretching nicely after to really  lean!   Awesome!

Workout 5:  Pretzel Core Tone & Stretch

This is such a good workout for that back side of the waist that you don’t normally think about working.  It also gets the glutes and hams a bit as well…

You warm up, then go down to your mat for the pretzel.  Sit with left leg bent 45 degrees in front of your hip and your right leg back behind your hip.  The leg is extended out diagonally behind you with toe pointing back.   You have to focus on bringing that right hip forward in this.  Then you taken your right hand to floor in front of you with fingers in ground.  The left hand will be lifting straight, parallel to floor.   Pushing the right hip forward, start to lower that arm to the ground and up.   You will feel that work in your back side for sure.  Then we do a few variations of that as well, both hands  with fingers into ground and lifting the leg up for 8, pushing it back for 8 and with the  left arm raised up lifting the leg for 8.

After that set, we do a round of curls for the abs in between.  This is a signature Core Fusion workout and will give you an eight pack, as Fred and Lis say!   You work those abs hard and then go back to the pretzel on the other side.  After a round of the pretzel core again you will go back to some ab curls again.  Then finish with stretching at last!

Workout 5: Bonus: Stretch

Love a nice stretch and so good for you!  We do some ham stretches with splits.  Then go to the wall and lay down with bottom against wall and legs up on wall..doing variations of leg/hip stretches.  Blissful!!!

There’s a bonus section of course that you have to either buy or win the DVD to find out about!

Go to www.exhalespa.com or www.acaciacatalog.com

To WIN a copy of the Exhale Core Fusion Lean & Toned DVD:

Winner will be chosen at random Tuesday June 22nd around 4pm.

Leave a comment here.  Tell me why you would like to try this workout phenomenon out!

Atlanta based artist Greg Mike opened the doors to his brand new studio, ABV, in the StudioPlex lofts last Friday. Showing 16 artists all in an old comic book theme where each artist had a storyline.

It was a very packed event and only the fashionable, cool and artistic were present.  Great music, art and time in general were had by all.   This will be a monthly event put on by Greg Mike at the new ABV studio, so stay tuned for more!

Silla revamps the Greg Mike tee

The back is hot, you all want one don't you???

I wanted to share my first experience with Exhale Core Fusion class.  This was a sample class given at Loew’s Hotel by co-creator Elisabeth Halfpapp.   The Exhale Spa at this location is not open until September 1st, but they had two classes available by invite last Wednesday. The first was for people that wanted to try it out and the second class was for those that may want to instruct or are currently instructors.

I opted for the second class since I am interested in teaching with Exhale.  I have to say I was a little intimidated going in since I knew that I had no previous background in fitness training.  I had only worked out at my home to DVDs for more than 10 years.    I find their style of training so fascinating and since from experience, I knew it worked, it made me even more want to bring this exercise routine to as many people as possible.  It is not only focused on the body, but the mind as well, and I definitely a change in my entire being since starting this.

I did find when I got to the class that there were a lot more people(50+) than I expected and yes, most of them with fitness backgrounds.  However, I did have an advantage over some and that is that I had been working out with Exhale Core Fusion DVD’s for 4-5 months now.

So, out came Lis, who I did introduce myself to prior to class since I had previously interviewed her via mobile phone for my blog.   She spoke with several people prior to class starting and introducing herself.  There were also several members of Exhale NYC teams there, including Exhale Spa founders Annbeth and Julie.  Plus ,the new Exhale Midtown Atlanta spa director, Barbara, was working out with us!

She was of course full of life and energy and proceeded to explain Exhale’s background and future in Atlanta(see interview with Lis and Fred for background).  After about a 10 minute preview of the routine,  she started up and we went right into some hard work.

It started with the strong plank poses, holding positions where you really have to tune in and hold in the abs so they can support your spine and the rest of the body.  In that series, you do push ups and yoga side plank.

Then we went to the wall, where chairs were lined up around the room.   Everyone was to then take a position by a chair where we were to do the famous Exhale bar routines.  Using the chair in place of a bar,  you put one foot on the back top part of the chair and pushing chair against wall for 30 seconds stretching the legs and then turning to face out and doing side body stretches (reaching arm over the side of body).

After stretching both sides, we began an intense “turned out thigh” workout.  In this routine, you stand parallel to the chair with a hand on the chair a little in front of your body.  Then you stand in ballet first position with heels together.  You have to make sure you are in straight alignment and then proceed to lift the heels up and bend the knees.  You start doing plies, coming halfway down and then up…you do about 12 of these and then hold.  You’ll come out of it, just standing  for a few seconds and then start back up,  getting into position then going all the way to ground and halfway up for 12 then holding.  As you can imagine it gets progressively harder, but you only have to work out for 10 minutes, that’s the beauty of this.   After those reps you stop and reset,  you go halfway down, holding and maintaining good posture the whole time and bring heels up higher.  You tip pelvis down and pull abs in and take hands off chair onto inner thighs and start to lightly press thighs out, doing about 8-10 of those.   That is a truly intense total thigh workout.  And of course you follow it by stretching in runners stretch.    That is the key to Core Fusion, the stretching out of the muscle you just worked.

here’s a sample of “turned out thigh”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd5EFkFJ3Vo&feature=related

After that series, we headed to the mats and started on our core workout(like we hadn’t already been) and did the Core Fusion Curl.  It’s very effective and is the signature ab workout in Core Fusion.   We lay back and keep feet on floor with knees up…then form our abs into a C form and hold our thighs with elbows out and shoulders down.  We hold that curl, with waist and lower back on ground but shoulders off…then let go and hold hands together above the knees, then start about 8 crunches.  We reposition, holding our thighs again and then turn to the right and then let go and with hands together hold them above the right of thigh and work the obliques, then same on the left.

Then on to another ab workout where we are up on our knees(which are hips width distance apart) and we then lean back using only our abs and thighs.  From here we hold and then come back up and reset.  We then lean back again and take the right arm back behind us on the floor and then steady the abs and release the arm then pumping both fists together toward the right side, holding ourselves up with the abs through 10-12 of those…and then the left side.

sample of this ab workout:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqfAHHBN02g&feature=related

After that intense curl series, we move on to the pretzel core which really focuses in on the back side of the waist (and gets the legs and glutes as well).  In the pretzel, you sit on the floor with left leg in front of you bent and right leg behind you bent slightly.  You then push the right hip forward and take the left arm out to the left and lean toward that arm and start to take the right leg up, and do that about 8 times.  Then push leg back while holding it in the air just a little.  After doing a few variations of this you may even cramp a little in the side at first, but will build the strength.    You will switch to the other leg to complete the workout….

I may not have explained all the workouts as well as I would in person, but that’s why you need to buy the DVDs and visit Exhale Spa Midtown Atlanta this fall!

Aaaahh, the workout is complete and now we stretch very well and do the Savasana at the end.   Now energized but still feel like jelly!  After class Lis and Barbara stayed to chat with a few of us, including  myself and a Bella Moda model and hopefully future Exhale trainer(she is currently a fitness instructor).  We talked, munched on healthy snacks, drank water and got a picture before going on our way.

I was overall extremely satisfied with my class with Lis and look forward to more with Exhale Spa very soon!

Please stay tuned for more of my blogs, giveaways, news, plus buy DVDs from Exhale Spa!!

Having been a long time Project Runway fan, I was delighted to be invited to attend a meet and greet with none other than Anthony Williams from this past Season 7 at The Whiskey Blue. I was really excited since he was an Atlantan who went very far on the show. I had him in the final four, as posted on my PR blog, of my fantasy PR league.

I came to the event which was appropriately name Cocktails and Couture. However, the cocktails were very expensive and the couture was what some of us were wearing. I wore a gorgeous pink dress with black zebra like stripes and cap sleeves, made by up and coming, amazing local designer, silla.

I was chatting with a couple Bella Moda Models that came with me, and the next thing you know, you know who is standing right in front of me. I hear,

“Heeeeyyyy Everyone” in that southern and festive voice that everyone knows and loves. He went on through the room greeting various people and then went to end of the room to receive an award given to him by W Hotel for achieving 2 wins in Project Runway this season and being one of Atlanta’s newest rising stars! He gave a very funny and “Anthony” like speech saying that he didn’t know anyone here, but appreciated us being here for him.

We then proceeded to meet him and take pics in front of the W Buckhead backdrop. He stayed “on” all night and it was great to see that he is himself all of the time. I don’t think you will ever see Anthony acting any other way but like himself. That makes him very loveable!

We all can’t wait to see what Anthony has in store for us in the near future!!!