March has flown by! I lived vicariously through all my friends who went to SXSW event after event. I felt more at ease than the last two months because I’m scheduling less and preparing ahead more. What else is captivating me? Take a look!

Love
This New York Times article might make you cry. What a relationship goal to pursue! The writer, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, died 10 days after the article was published. The article is a bittersweet reminder of how to live and how to love.

BE Conference
I was excited to join my friend Janna at the first BE Conference this month. The best session was hearing from my hero Kristen Bell talk about women empowerment, partnerships, and the hustle. The day was an inspiring program of female leaders who have worked their way to where they are, and it was interesting to hear their stories and encouragement. Here are some tidbits I walked away with:

• Every single founder of a big company stuck with it when things got difficult. (Don’t give up!)
• Be true to what you believe and what you’re building. Filter feedback.
• Do your best work as much as you can.
• Show up and kill them with competence.
• Take the time to be a critical thinker.
• As women, vulnerability is our superpower!

Read: What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding
Reading has been fast-paced this year! One of my favorite books so far is What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman. It’s filled with travel stories and an over-arching story about how Kristin learned what she wanted in life. The book inspired my wanderlust and gave thoughtful wisdom about how to view life. Overall, it was entertaining and I would recommend it for travel lovers!

Goals: Workout 3x a Week
I rocked this goal this month! I took at least one spin class every week (sometimes two) and enjoyed my last month of ClassPass. I haven’t decided if I’ll keep using it but I do have a one-month membership to one of my favorite studios to use first. I would love to run more (cheaper and closest workout to home) but we’ll see about that. I’ve loved rotating between some of my favorite workout studios in Austin. What do you do for exercise? Anything you’d recommend?

Blogger Parties + Crawfish Boil
I’ve loved throwing blogger parties this month! It’s a win-win to promote a business, create fun content, and get to know my fellow Austin bloggers better. I posted about our aerials class at Sky Candy and I’ll have more details about our pole dancing class next month. Boyfriend and I also hosted our 2nd Annual Crawfish Boil!

#ATXBloggerMixer
This month was the latest #ATXBloggerMixer event, and this time it was a workout at SoulCycle. We had a sweaty class and then enjoyed juice and snacks from JuiceLand and cookies from Shortbread Baking Co.

Now Listening
-I listened to Jim Gaffigan’s audiobook for Dad is Fat. So funny! Great read/listen for parents, I bet!
–It Ain’t Me by Kygo and Selena Gomez
–Stay by Zedd and Alessia Cara

Tiny Wardrobe Tour
I’m going through a BIG decluttering process right now. I’ve gotten rid of lots of stuff and am continuing to pare down what I own. This includes half my wardrobe, the majority of my books, and lots of items that I wasn’t using in every room. Seriously, the amount of stuff that has gone to Goodwill, the trash, and recycling is baffling. So, when Courtney Carver, a minimalist blogger, had a tour stop in Austin, it was the perfect timing. While I don’t think I’ll have a capsule wardrobe of 33 items every month like she does, I can do more to live more with less and to own things that I truly love. Her talk was encouraging to pare down my stuff even more and seek out higher-quality clothes that fit well. Any recommendations of where to shop? I’m thinking Madewell and Loft so far. (See more minimalism posts on my blog here.)

What’s captivating you lately?

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The post Captivations v.33: Reading and Parties appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I was excited to attend the 3rd Annual Prevention R3 Summit in Austin last weekend, thanks to my friend Amy. The focus was on R3: refresh, revive and reinvent, and Prevention Magazine did a fantastic job on curating topics and gathering thought leaders to discuss how we can all live a healthy life and make improvements. I really enjoyed the panels relating to food because it’s an area we deal with on a daily basis and can always improve.

Loved the artichokes in the decor at the cooking demo station.

The most important reminder I got from R3 Summit was one I heard in different forms in multiple panels: the best way to be healthy is to EAT WHOLE FOODS, which are the products that don’t need an ingredient list. This will give you the most nutrients and is the best for your body. Try to have a fruit or veggie at each meal and consume one soup or salad every day.

Joan Lunden was the keynote speaker and did a great job at addressing our emotional health. In sharing her story about her career and challenges, she had some thoughtful advice on how to approach life. Here are some of my favorites.

• Every time we share our story, someone learns.
• The successful people go out and make their own success. They find their purpose and joy and act on it.
• Sometimes you have to risk not being great.
• Get out of your environment to grow and understand the world.
• Take each story and make it shine. (Work hard in all that you do.)
• Do anything necessary for the desired end goal. This is what leaders do.

The first step to more nutritious eating is knowing what you’re eating and tricks to eat more nutritiously. I loved the session with Wendy Bazillian and Sarah Toland where they shared these tips.

• Don’t believe all the “healthy” labels (natural, organic) you read, even when you’re shopping at Whole Foods. If you want to be sure you’re getting the ‘best for you’ products, read the ingredients. Avoid “enriched,” “hydrogenated oil,” and artificial colors.
• If the ingredient ends in “ose” (like glucose), it is most likely a form of sugar. Consumers will recognize “sugar” but less likely the other forms, so companies hide these among the ingredients.
• After you grocery shop, mark the current date of your foods. You are more likely to use it up when you see that date.
• Rinsing your canned beans/vegetables will rid 30-40% of the sodium.
• Use glass containers (no BPA) to SEE your food. Entice yourself with good food.
• Put more nutritious foods at eye-level in your refrigerator or pantry.
• We eat 92% of what we serve ourselves. Try giving yourself smaller portions or using smaller dishware.

Moving into a more scientific discussion, the Human Gut (stomach and intestines) Microbiome is somewhat of an unknown as scientists continue to research and discover. Nonetheless, the panel had these things to share with us. So much of how well our body functions is tied to what we eat!

• Healthy gut microbiome leads to a good immune system.
• There’s a correlation of what goes on in your gut and what’s going on with you psychologically.
• Diet is the major shaper of your gut microbiome.
• Probiotics (found in yogurt, fermented foods) are a way to restore balance in your body but prebiotics (found in fruits and vegetables) should be your starting place for a healthy gut.
• Everyone’s microbiome is different and varies in the needed balance of bacteria to have a healthy microbiome. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Here is some thoughtful advice I heard throughout the event.

• Try meditation! It will relieve stress and anxiety, improve brain function, and lower risks of health issues.
• Your body needs a full cleanse a couple of times a year. Juice cleanses are not real cleanses. A cleanse involves removing, restoring and repairing. (There was SO MUCH good information in this session but it’s very scientific and requires a lot of explanation, so I recommend exploring the speaker, Ali Miller’s website to learn more!)
• If you don’t challenge your fitness, you lose your fitness. (This can be applied to most things in life. Strive for more!)
• When you’re striving for improvement, focus on the principles, not the programs. (Sometimes you can get so stuck in failing at a program that you don’t make progress. The thought is kind of like guidelines instead of rules.)
• Health is dynamic. There are goals you can reach but it’s never the end.
• Be in the driver’s seat of your health!
• Simple, small upgrades make a big difference.

Fit in 10 (minutes) Workout with Larysa DiDio

Although I geeked out on all the education discussions (everything above), I also enjoyed everything else the summit had to offer.

• Chefs of Austin restaurant The Bonneville had a fun cooking demonstration using Wild Planet Sockeye Salmon. We got to try the brussels sprout, kale and salmon salad made by Chef Jennifer and the salmon burger by Chef Chris. Both really good!
• We did a 10-minute work-out with trainer Larysa DiDio. I will admit, I did work up a sweat! She mentioned a study that showed even consistent, daily 10-minute work-outs will help you get in shape!
• I got an oral cancer screening done, thanks to Smile Generation. It took about 15 seconds and I’m glad to report no bad news here!
• I found a new favorite snack brand – Go Raw. I tried a bunch of their products and my favorites were the carrot cake sprouted cookies and Pizza Flax Snax.

Chef Jennifer of The Bonneville created this Brussels sprouts and kale salad with salmon – so good!

R3 Summit was a great reminder to think about what you consume. What I eat not only has a big impact on my weight and appearance in a week from now, but the compound results of what I eat has an influence on my future five months and ten years from now. I want to live a long life free of disease and health complications. Eating the best foods and taking time to exercise my body and mind can help me get there. Thanks, Prevention, for the reminder and for an inspirational event!

What is one way you try to live a healthy life?

The post 2016 Prevention R3 Summit Recap + Tips for a Healthy Life appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I recently came back from a very fun and creative weekend in San Francisco. It was my first time in the city and I loved it (more travel posts later). My main reason for the trip was Brit + Co’s Re:Make conference. It was a day filled with creative inspiration, smart and entertaining speakers, new company discovery, and brilliant and colorful design. It was fun to talk and geek out about DIY and creativity with other attendees! In more detail, here are four things that made Brit + Co’s #ReMake2015 conference rock.

Creativity

The website and conference is focused on one thing: creativity. Brit + Co’s Founder and CEO Brit Morin started the morning discussing creativity. From studies and questionnaires, we know that most adults don’t think they are creative and exercising creativity has the positive outcomes of happier and healthier lives. According to research from San Francisco State University, those who participate in regular creative hobbies perform 15-30% better at work! So, what if we held creativity with as much importance as eating good foods or exercising? By consistently setting aside time to be creative, we have the opportunity to be more relaxed, more energized, and happier. That’s one of the reasons why at each seat were watercolor notebooks, brushes and watercolors to be used throughout the event.

Speakers

The conference featured smart and entertaining speakers who helped us think about creativity in new ways, encouraged us to act on our goals and shared their insights in moving forward and doing great things. Some quick highlights:

• How can you be more creative? Author and Professor Tina Seelig recommended paying more attention to things! Think about the processes in your daily life and how to make them better.
• Creativity X Organization = Impact. Scott Belsky emphasized the importance of focus and organization to actually make progress on your ideas. Coming up with ideas is great, but instead of focusing on the next idea, commit to one and organize your routine and plan to accomplish it.
• Less than 1% of girls study computer science. Made with Code is on a mission to change that. Kate Parker, Made with Code’s Head of Marketing, was on hand to share the cool things the organization is doing and why it’s so important. Their website is a great resource to learn more.
• Suzanne Howard, Partner at IDEO and founder of IDEO U encouraged: Creativity is a muscle you need to exercise to prevent atrophy.
• Lindsey Stirling ended the day with an incredible violin performance!

Want more creativity from speakers? Head over to anitakc.com for a full recap on the speakers!

Up-and-Coming Cool Companies & Brit + Co’s #IAMCREATIVE Foundation Winners

One of my favorite parts of the conference was hearing from up-and-coming companies. There were a few products that I thought were so cool and are on their way to big things when they launch. You can read all about the featured companies here but here are the three I was really amazed by.

1. June is an intelligent oven that recognizes the food you put into it and cooks it to perfection. Hundreds of recipes are programmed into the oven and you can add your own. The company includes an app for recipe suggestions.
2. Little Lotus has a created a swaddling blanket to keep your baby at the perfect temperature, providing peace of mind. They are also a one-for-one company and your purchase of a blanket gifts a life-saving Embrace infant warmer (a blanket that acts as an incubator) to babies in developing countries around the world.
3. Lily is the world’s first flying camera that is a combination of a drone and a GoPro. Throw it up in the air and it will follow you. Check out the cool video on their website to see it in action!

Also, earlier this year, Brit + Co unveiled #IAMCREATIVE Foundation to provide grants to creative individuals ready to take the next step in entrepreneurship. All five finalists were introduced and surprised with grant rewards at the conference. Learn more about the winners in this Brit + Co post.

Design

Last but definitely not least, the design was on point! As you could have guessed, around every corner was something Instagrammable, creative and asthetically-pleasing. From the GIANT coloring book wall to colorful signs and displays, the setting was a constant inspiration. Creative displays and friendly representatives were there to gently promote their products and it was obvious the sponsors had a fun time being as creative as possible about how to present themselves. It was the perfect place to do it!

This Crayola crayon wall with 8,000+ crayons was a feature at the Re:Make festival on Sunday

Displays by Hallmark (left) and Izze (right)

Other big hightlights…

I met Brit Morin and Jordan Ferney (of the blog Oh Happy Day)!

Thistle is a company that delivers cold-pressed juice and healthy plant-based meals, in SF, East Bay and the South Bay. They sponsored the lunch with delicious superfood salads and cold-pressed juices. Since their mission is to deliver nutrition that is delicious, healthy and affordable, they’ve kindly offered my readers a discount! Use the code “FEARLESS” for 20% off. Visit their website thistle.co.

Yummy cookies were from Doughbies, another California company.

What a fun conference! Here’s to living creatively!

The post 4 Things That Made Brit + Co’s #ReMake2015 Rock appeared first on Fearless Captivations.