Mavi Bandz

Sport Lovers Unite! It's playoff time!  I know some of you out there could care less what the score of last night's game was, but in my house, sports rule!  I am an average athlete, but I have always really enjoyed watching sports of all kinds - football, hockey, golf - I love it all.  I'm a die-hard Bears and Blackhawks fan (hardly ever miss a game), and I wear my team colors with pride!  I think one of the best things about sports is the way that they bring us together whether as players or fans. I particularly love that most people bring their team with them regardless of where they move or live.  You can be walking down the street and seeing someone in Bears gear...in any state!  A quick "Go Bears" meant you were good people and instant friends.  The loyalty of a true fan is a very positive character trait, in my humble opinion.  For any sports fan, the thrill of watching a game in person is about as good as it gets.  The smell of the gr

Work it out, girl! So, did I mention that it's spring?  Speaking of spring, did I mention that it's almost summer?  Speaking of summer, did I mention that I'm completely unprepared for swimsuit season?  Cold winters don't exactly motivate a gal to get to the gym - and I'm pretty sure I definitely needed the extra body fat to keep me warm during those below-zero days anyway.  But, now that the snow and my brain are beginning to thaw, I suppose I'll do a little extra to get ready for the local pool scene.   Ok, let's be honest - I despise the gym.  So, I'm always looking for a workout that's fun and different.  I don't need anything crazy, but I'm not really a treadmill kind of a girl - you run and run and never get anywhere!  Here are a few ideas if you're craving a change from your elliptical: Zumba If you're looking for a workout that you can do with all of your friends, look no further than Zumba - the &quo

Pantone Colors for Spring 2015 Every year, the color-matching company Pantone holds a top secret meeting somewhere in Europe and invites representatives from various nations' color standards groups.  After two days of presentation and debate, these experts emerge with a list of colors that will set the trend for the coming seasons.  The group selects colors that connect with the current spirit of the world, and professionals from fashion designers to florists refer back to these colors to guide their designs and planning for future products.  This year, Pantone selected "Marsala" as their Color of the Year for 2015.  According to Pantone's Executive Director, Marsala and the other Colors of 2015 were picked because they " enrich our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability."  This year's colors are earthy and grounded, but still fun and hip!   While some of this year's Pantone colors may seem a bit muted at

Beauty, Bandz, and Backstreet! So, Mavi Bandz just finished our first trip to America's Beauty Show in Chicago, and it was such a fun and crazy experience!  We saw more strange, hilarious, and just plain cool things than you could imagine, and w e found inspiration everywhere, especially in all of the different hair styles and colors.  We met some super funky stylists, saw some really neat products, and made lots of new friends.  Here are some of our favorite products from this year's show: Argan Oil / Moroccan Oil         My #1 most addictive product this year?  Hair oil!  I love both Argan Oil and Moroccan Oil because they help your hair shine and make it feel super soft and smooth, but not greasy.  They have tons of different products, including some really great ones for heat-treated hair if you use the blow dryer or flat iron often.   My personal favorite is the Agadir Argan Oil Spray-in Treatment - you just spray it on your hair (I usual

Spring is in the air! Well, it's that time of year again - SPRING!  This is the time of year when those in the North cry tears of joy at the mere prospect of a 60 degree day, and those in the South laugh at the Northerners since it's been 75 and sunny for months already.  But, really, spring seems to be the time of year when we begin to feel rejuvenated and fresh.  Think of some of the things that we do that relate specifically to spring:   Easter Candy         Ok, I was going to lead with spring cleaning, but let's admit it - Easter candy is clearly one of the best parts of spring. Whether you're partial to chocolate, jelly beans, or marshmallows shaped as chicks, there is an Easter-themed treat out there for you!  Egg-shaped anything usually ends up being even more delicious than it's everyday counterpart, and is it just me, or do M&M's just taste better when they're pastel-colored?   Easter candy addict?  You're in lu

The Dreaded Time Change Ah, the semi-annual time change.  Spring forward, fall back - which is which and why do we all feel so thrown off by something seemingly as simple as changing a few numbers on our microwaves? Studies show that the switch to Daylight Savings Time results in more accidents both on the road and in the workplace and can even lead to more headaches since the body's circadian rhythms are affected.  In my opinion, it leads to overall sleepiness, irritation, and confusion.  Add in children, and the time change is an even bigger monster! Luckily, there are some things you can do to help your mind and body adjust and prepare for spring (which multiple people have assured me is coming soon - one can only hope): ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1.  Stick to a bedtime routine and don't stay up late for a few nights!  Try your best to get your kids and yourself to bed at a decent time and make sure to follow your routine so that yo

These are not your average Joe kind of races... these are some of our favorites across the country... Featuring.... (Did we mention that Mavi Bandz will be rocking out at the Expo??) www.hustleupthehancock.org Each year more than 4,000 people climb to the top of John Hancock Center to raise funds for lung disease research, advocacy and education.  You can choose from two climbing categories--full climb (94 floors) or half climb (52 floors).  This will be the leg workout of a lifetime!  There is also an amazing post race party.  This promises to be a good time for a great cause! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ www.ms50.com This is an ultra race...the course features soft dirt trails, pine needle paths, and fire roads on 12.5 and 6.1 mile loops through the piney woods. The 20 K runners do the long loop and are finished. The 50K runners run the big loop twice, and finish on