5 Tips to Buying Good Mountain Bike Lighting

June 13, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Mountain bike riding is a fun and involved activity. Whether you plan to do cross-country riding, dirt jumping, freeride, trail riding, classic mountain biking or even downhill riding, you need to have the right gear and equipment. Mountain bike lights are part and parcel of these vital necessities, unless you don’t mind potentially dangerous rides when mountain biking at night.

Mountain bike lights come in a wide range of varieties, depending on the place that you wish to go riding and the spot you want lighting mounted. When buying lights, you also need to keep in mind that you need people behind and ahead to see you. Also, proper mountain bike lighting allows you to efficiently maneuver those high-incline climbs. It’s important to assess your needs before you make your purchase. To make your shopping experience a breeze, here are 5 tips to buying good mountain bike lighting.

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Six Supplements To Boost Your Health in 2018

February 5, 2018 by Kathryn 24 Comments

Disclosure: I am part of the Orange Naturals Mom Ambassador Program and I receive special perks as part of my afﬁliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

With the new year underway and my birthday just having passed, I’m already feeling the first early signs of spring fever. February always seems to be an energetic month for me, and so I use that to kick-start my health and fitness routines.

Eating wholesome foods and getting some daily exercise are the basics of healthy living, and they’re a great place to start. But for specific goals or concerns, I turn to health supplements from Orange Naturals to help feel my best. Wondering what health supplements to try yourself? Start by considering one of these six must-haves!

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Yoga Apparel and Accessories from Gaiam Make the Holiday Season Healthy-Giveaway

November 28, 2016 by Kathryn 95 Comments

There are few types of exercise more popular than yoga, and with good reason! It’s a great way to improve flexibility and strength in an relatively easy and low-impact way, and some experts even believe that yoga is one of the best ways to ensure longevity in later years! But like any type of exercise, proper equipment makes yoga easier and more enjoyable. And the clothing, mats and accessories from Gaiam Canada are some of the most popular choices on the market for a great yoga experience.

Recently, I had the chance to add some of Gaiam’s brand new line of yoga apparel to my collection of Gaiam products and I was so excited to see how I liked it. Reasonably priced and beautifully designed, the items looked like a great alternative to pricier yoga clothing collections. I received the Nova Bootcut Pants and the Harlow Crop Top to review, and both items were absolutely beautiful. But of course, the proof of good yoga gear isn’t in its looks…it’s in how it performs during a workout! [Read more…]

Revitalize Your Health in One Month with These 3 Techniques

August 29, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

Since becoming a mother, this summer has been one of the busiest, most active and most fun-filled seasons I can ever remember. Numerous vacations, activities and visits with family had me sometimes feeling like I didn’t have a second to spare, but I loved every minute of it.

I have to admit, though, that my dietary habits suffered a lot. Decadent food on a seven-day Carnival Cruise, gourmet meals at the beautiful Casino Rama Resort in Ontario and a few too many takeout meals eaten on the road had me feeling sluggish, stuffed and in need of a serious reset to my system. So for the next month, I’m taking charge of my health again with these three unique healthy lifestyle changes!

1) Intermittent Fasting

I’ve been a fan of intermittent fasting for almost a year now, though I took a break from it this summer. In its simplest form, intermittent fasting is going without food for a set period of time. There are a few different cycles that people tend to favour and when I first started fasting, I would choose two days a week to have no food except for a 500-calorie supper.

But after the indulgence I’d been enjoying, I knew I needed to kick it up a notch. So for the last week, I’ve been fasting every other day instead. Already I feel more energized, my mind is more focused and my stomach is less bloated. While many people love intermittent fasting for its weight-loss benefits, it’s also been shown to reduce inflammation, increase cellular repair, reduce insulin resistance and even improve brain function! [Read more…]

Handle Spring Fever Restlessness with 3 Easy Tips #ONatural

March 17, 2016 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

In less than a week, the first day of spring will be here! And as a confirmed lover of sunshine, green grass and warm temperatures, I could not be happier. But at the same time, I’m also finding that I’m a little more restless than usual and have a much harder time getting to sleep each night. It’s a feeling that I think of as spring fever, and from the way my boys are acting lately, I’m not the only one that’s feeling it! But getting through the changing season is a lot easier with a few simple tips! These are the three ways I make sure my family is as calm, cool and relaxed as possible through the first few energy-filled weeks of spring!

1) Run it Off

In Saskatchewan, springtime doesn’t necessarily mean the snow has melted and the grass is green. In fact, there’s been snow on the ground until almost May for the last few years! This year we’ve had unseasonably warm weather, which means getting outside is easier. But even when the weather is nasty, burning off some of that extra energy with a brisk walk or jog does wonders to keep me calm and relaxed. On a nice day, I’ll take the boys outside and we’ll explore the neighbourhood together. When the weather is too cold and miserable, I’ll just put on some relaxing music, hop on the treadmill and walk for 30 minutes. But either way, I feel happier, healthier and much more relaxed when I’m done. [Read more…]

Relax and Get Comfortable with Bohemian Pants Harem Pants and Shorts-Giveaway

February 29, 2016 by Kathryn 118 Comments

Working from home, I have a deep appreciation for comfortable clothes. In fact, I’ll sometimes stay in my pajamas for most of the day just because they’re so much more cozy than any of my daytime clothes. So I’m always on the hunt for new relaxed daytime outfits to add to my wardrobe. And recently I discovered the ultimate in comfortable, yet casually fashionable style: Bohemian Pants!

These trendy harem pants are available in a rainbow of colours and patterns that had me swooning as I browsed the site. I’m a sucker for unique prints and bright colours, so I had a hard time deciding which pair of pants was most “me.” While these pants are certainly not dressy, they’re undeniably fun and I thought they’d be especially good for lounging by the pool on a hot summer’s day.

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Lower Stress and Keep Your Heart Healthy with 3 Simple Steps #ONatural

February 25, 2016 by Kathryn 14 Comments

Between getting engaged, Valentine’s Day celebrations and starting to plan a wedding, matters of the heart have been very much on my mind this February. And while love and romance are always common themes for the month, February is also a great time to remember to take care of your heart! After all, a strong and healthy heart is one of the best ways to ensure a long life of happiness with your soul-mate.

Stress has long been thought to impact heart health and I know that the coming months will bring more than their fair share of stressful days. In addition to planning our wedding, my fiance and I are also planning a move to a new city in the summer! That’s why I’m making sure that Orange Naturals Heart Health tincture is a part of my daily routine over the next few months. Containing hawthorn, garlic, linden and motherwort, it’s a multi-purpose heart health formula that helps protect the circulatory system, reduce heart disease risk and relieve nervousness! [Read more…]

All Kids Get to Play with the Igniting Fitness Possibilities Program at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

January 22, 2016 by Kathryn 34 Comments

With childhood obesity on the rise and outdoor play declining, the importance of physical activity is something that’s been heavily emphasized in recent years. Parents are being made more and more aware of how crucial regular exercise is for their child’s overall health and well-being. And new programs are making it easy for kids to take part in all kinds of different sports and activities. But one of the benefits of physical activity that isn’t discussed nearly as often is the social aspect. And for a child that doesn’t feel confident about their abilities, the fear of being mocked or excluded by peers can be a huge barrier to taking part in any type of sport.

Holland Bloorview X National Bank from Jimmy Lee on Vimeo.

Luckily, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is changing that with the Igniting Fitness Possibilities program. Designed to bring together children of all skill levels, both with disabilities and without, the program helps make physical activity fun for everyone while encouraging social interaction and acceptance at the same time. [Read more…]