WORKOUT PLAYLIST APRIL 2013

Hi everyone!

I thought I'd share a new workout playlist with you. I've been hitting the gym 5 times a week recently to get in top shape for summer, which means I need a lot of different songs to change it up while working out!

But why does music help you with your workout? I found this explanation online:

Music acts as an ergogenic aid to exercise. Ergogenic means "an increasing capacity for bodily or mental labor especially by eliminating stimulus". There are five strategic ways that music influences physical activity and in turn performance and in turn performance and motivation. Dissociation, attainment of flow, synchronization, arousal regulation and acquisition of motor skills. Dissociation, or music to make the mind forget feelings of fatigue, causes the body less effort, and the exerciser feels happier. When the exerciser experiences dissociation, the workout is more fun and there is more motivation to continue. 
http://www.livestrong.com/article/140042-how-is-music-motivating-exercise/#ixzz2PclsuFI5

The effect of the music depends on the BPM (beats per minute). A warmup requires less BPM (80 - 100 BPM) than a cardio workout (112 - 115 BPM). So it's useful to save your upbeat music for later on in the workout and start off with more calm music!

Here is my list of favorite tunes of April 2013:

Cher Lloyd - Want u back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inwAc-ZBpx0

Destiny's Child - Lose my breath
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqeIiF0DlTg

Jennifer Lopez ft. Fabolous - Get right (remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiN5t73dxX8

Kat Deluna ft. Akon - Push Push
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNFaIij6AlU

Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne - Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUbpGmR1-QM

Pitbull ft. Christina Aguilera - Feel this moment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jlI4uzZGjU

Sean Paul - So fine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PQgYpnhDIw

Ke$ha - C'mon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8A4QVop3-8

Usher ft. Ludacris & David Guetta - Rest of my life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_nziODUGcw

Maroon 5 - Daylight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzltJdMfux0

Nicole Scherzinger - Boomerang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoRrGsgohYE

Taylor Swift - I knew you were trouble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNoKguSdy4Y

Enrique Iglesias ft. Sammy Adams - Finally found you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_EiqPp-vBM

Calvin Harris - Drinking from the bottle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uztCqjxrkjQ

Macklemore - Thrift Shop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK8mJJJvaes

I definitely notice a difference between working out with or without music. Do you notice a difference? Or maybe you have other motivators?

x x x

SCANDALEYES RIMMEL LONDON MASCARA REVIEW

What I like

Gives a lot of volume and elongating of the lashes

Long lasting, perfect for a day to school/work

Available in waterproof

What I don't like

Doesn't separate eyelashes well

Hard to put on without making mistakes because of the thick, not flexible brush

Would I buy this again?

Yes, I have actually bought this mascara a couple of times. 

I have naturally very fine & short lashes and the Scandaleyes Mascara really gives me the extra volume that finishes off my daily look. For a night out, I use another mascara with a finer brush after the Scandaleyes one to separate and elongate my lashes more! 

You can find the Scandaleyes mascara at your local drugstore or online for € 11,99 ($8,49 in US). 

x x x

MENU MONDAYS

This week I'm showing again what I ate Monday! 

Breakfast

2 eggs 

2 

cherry tomatoes

some lettuce 

1 cappuccino 

Lunch 

2 low fat yogurts mixed with light grenadine 

1 kiwi

1 banana

blueberries

some oatmeal and Rice Krispies 

After gym snack

a handful of mixed nuts 

Dinner 

rucola salad 

peas

cherry tomatoes

chicken with moroccan herbs

some pieces of goat cheese 

olive oil

mexican ketchup 

I also had an apple as a snack in the evening and drank water trough out the day. 

Starting off the week (and month) pretty good. Bikini season here I come! 

x x x

FACE CLAY MASK - AVOCADO & OATMEAL

Today I'm showing you one of my favorite face masks. It's the magic combination of avocado and oatmeal. I bought one of the brand Freeman at the Dutch drugstore chain Kruidvat, but you can also order it online (link below). I use this mask once a week.

But why are avocado and oatmeal good for the skin? 

Avocado

• Lots of vitamins & unsaturated fats that are good for both dry and oily skin. 
• The healthy oils slow down the aging process. The oils get easily absorbed into the layers of the skin, stimulating the growth of new skin cells and improve blood circulation. 
• Moistures dry skin, making you skin feel super soft.  

Oatmeal

• When cooked it's great to reduce acne, inflammation & redness of the skin.
• When used raw it exfoliates dead skin cells.
• Absorbs and removes excess oils and shimmer.

How to use the mask

Remove any makeup as usual. Put a thick coat of the mask on your skin using your fingers, making sure you cover your whole face (or choose to just cover problem zones, for example your chin, cheeks or T-zone). Avoid the sensitive skin around the eyes & mouth and your hairline. 

Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. You will notice the mask will dry up, making your skin feel tight. 

Wash your face with warm water and remove leftovers with a cotton pad and some refreshing tonic. 

Moisturize your face as usual.
You will be left with soft and healthy looking skin!

Some great homemade masks with avocado and oatmeal are: 

• Avocado & honey, for all skin types (cleansing and rejuvenation of the skin) 
• Avocado & yogurt, for dry skin (moistures the skin)
• Avocado & egg, for oily skin (reduces oil and shimmer)
• Oatmeal & yogurt, for all skin types (cleansing and rejuvenation of the skin)
• Oatmeal, honey & lemon, for all skin types (lemon exfoliates and the honey moistures)
• Oatmeal & banana, for all skin types (the banana brightens up your skin tone)

Good luck (not eating your mask)!

Link to buy the Freeman mask:

http://www.freemanbeauty.com/product/avocado-oatmeal-facial-clay-mask

x x x