Hi — Happy almost September! Where the heck has this year gone? Feels like just yesterday I was hungover from NYE festivities. #kiddingaround 

Anyways — we are heading down to the lake this weekend but wanted to share with you things I'm really loving lately. This could be anything from hair/face products, experiences, white trash TV, sweet treats &/or all of the above. So I pretty much recapped the entire blog post in one sentence, keep reading if you're still interested. LOL

01 This Patriotic Sweet Treat — I'm a fool for anything sweet; especially fruit tarts with a dollop of homemade vanilla ice cream on top. The ingredient list isn't a mile long either so I'm going to give it a try. Any one else decide on whether or not you're going to try a recipe based on the amount of ingredients listed and whether or not a grocery store trip is required?

Speaking of sweet treats! I was craving chocolate cake the other night but only wanted to bake up a single serving. I found a really good recipe but revised it a bit:

Low quality photo provided by Merrissa

Mix WELL in a small bowl:

• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp whole milk or almond milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• Tiny pinch of salt
• Optional: sprinkle of powdered sugar, vanilla ice cream

Make sure you mix REALLY well, the egg should be blended so well that its not stringy.

Add batter to a large coffee mug that has been sprayed (well) with PAM or greased with real butter.

Microwave for 1 min 30 sec (will depend on the power of your microwave but this is what worked for me -- the top should not be wet to the touch)

Flip coffee mug over on small plate, sprinkle with powdered sugar, even add a scoop of ice cream!

DELICIOUS AND COWBOY APPROVED

02 Group Fitness Classes — Last month Katelyn, owner of Sparrow Fitness LLC, started hosting workout classes in Downtown Coffeyville and let me tell you, I'm digging it. I even convinced a couple friends to join in on the torturefun so the accountability has really helped me ditch the snooze button. A few details on the classes if you're local and want to give it a try!

If you'd like to get more details on these fitness classes, check out this post!

Photo by Katelyn Haley Osborn

03 The Hills: New Beginnings — In case you haven't heard, they are bringing back the cast of The Hills and filming a reunion series. I am so damn excited about this but also like what the hell, LC -- you're too busy to join the cast this go around?! We miss you and your low-drama attitude! Lauren was my absolute favorite, which is kind of funny because she was JF's favorite too (apparently we have the same taste in women). It's also funny because I don't watch a whole lot of television and I keep teasing JF that I'm going to cancel our Dish Network contract because I never even get the remote 😉 But The Hill's - this is something we can both get on board with.

Can we just talk about how stunning Audrina and Stephanie looked at the VMAs? Drool-worthy.

04 Tea Tree Oil — THIS STUFF IS LIFE CHANGING.

I know, it sounds crazy... why add more oil to an already oil-prone complexion? 🤷🏼‍♀️ This 100% pure tea tree oil has improved my skin tone so much! I have been extremely stressed the last month and the first place you can tell if I'm stressed--is my face. Which causes me more freaking stress because my face is broke out! It's finally calming down and getting back to "normal".

I apply this tea tree oil all over my face and down to my decollete, after I wash/tone and before I apply my morning or nighttime moisturizer. If you've never used a tea tree oil just be prepared for the overwhelmingly stout smell. IT IS STRONG. If you have sensitive skin, I would recommend testing a small patch before applying to your entire face. Or even just use it as an all natural spot / blemish treatment.

Tea tree oil has many benefits!

• contains healing properties for sores, scrapes + scratches, stings + bites
• diffuse or dilute with water to freshen linens/towels
• help fight dry scalp or dandruff
• fights bacterial and fungal infections
• the stout smell could also help with clearing your sinuses ;)

04 Verday Chlorophyll Water — If you're looking for a way to sneak in greens but don't like the taste of greens, this water is excellent. I could even see myself sprucing this up with a wedge of watermelon or strawberries and a shot or two of Tito's Vodka.

What are YOU loving lately? Tell me below!  

Xx, Riss  

I've gotten quite a few q's about a new group fitness class I've been attending lately so I'm going to share with you all of the details in today's post! As seen on the ‘gram, last week I started going to a fitness class in downtown Coffeyville. These classes are hosted by Katelyn Osborn, owner + founder of Sparrow Fitness LLC. Katelyn holds certificates in both Personal Training and Fitness Nutrition and is also a fitness/physique competitor. (So  basically she knows her shit.)

The classes are held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:15a and go for about 45min to an hour long. The time goes by SO fast and sometimes we do a quick 8 to 10 min cardio sesh after the workout class.

The way Katelyn has the classes set up is referred to as AMRAP (as many reps as possible) so these classes are literally for any level of fitness, beginner or expert! For instance, each class will consist of warm-ups and then AMRAP style workouts. Each workout will be a specific time 'working' and a specific time 'resting' (e.g. workout for 20 sec, rest for 10 sec, workout for 20, rest for 10 - for 3 rounds). The best part about this style of working out is not feeling like a failure LOL! For instance, I might only be able to get out 10 burpees but my girlfriend might be able to push out 12! You're so focused on what you're doing that you're not noticing what the ladies around you are accomplishing. What's that old saying...'i'm too focused watering my own grass to notice if yours is greener'.

Anyways, I'm seriously digging these classes so much; I was even able to convince a couple friends to join in on the fun so the accountability has really helped me ditch the snooze button.

A few benefits I've noticed from attending these classes:

1. Accountability. Like I mentioned above, when you have friends meeting you at the fitness class it makes it harder to skip! They have helped me stay accountable + motivated to get my ass up!
2. I don't have to think too hard about it. I fall in and out of love with the gym all of the time. I love going to the gym because I love the way it makes me feel afterwards. I hate going to the gym because most of the time I don't know what the hell I'm doing or how I need to structure my workouts to yield the best results! With this class being led by a lady who knows what she's doing, all I have to do is show up and put in the work. I don't have to think too hard about what exercise to do next!
3. Doing it right. Katelyn is a huge advocate of ‘form over reps’. Making sure each person is going at their own pace and that their form is on point. She often expresses that it is much more important to do 5 GOOD squats rather than 10 halfass squats. She is there to guide you through the motions, celebrating and applauding when she sees you push through a set. So essentially it's like personal training without the cost of personal training. 😉
4. It's actually fun. Yea sometimes I'm dirty cussing my alarm clock when it goes off at 4a but when I get to the class and see my girlfriends there I get pumped + excited to conquer the class. Plus it sets the mood for the rest of my day! By the time 3p rolls around I've actually forgotten that I had woken up at the ass crack of dawn and already put in the work!

A few details on the classes if you're local and want to give it a try!

The cost for each class is either $8 OR $4 + a donation; as outlined below.

• 5:15a Monday - Upper Body (donation: a pair of socks)
• 5:15a Wednesday - Plyo/Core (donation: women's sanitary product)
• 5:15a Friday - Lower Body (donation: 5 Walmart type sacks)

If you're interested and want a buddy to go with, give me a shout!!

xx, Riss

My Christmas tree has been up for 3 weeks and I’ve been blaring Christmas music since November 1st.

You know, its kinda funny because I’m actually the type of person that waits to put their Christmas tree up last minute. But truth be told, I’m taking a different approach to the holiday season this year. Although the happiest time of the year, it is also the busiest time and I know my schedule picks up significantly after the middle of November. So putting up the Christmas tree when the time suited me was the perfect choice this year. Plus I get to enjoy the lights + cheer a bit longer than most.

(And no, it doesn't mean I'm trying to skip Thanksgiving.)

A few of my intentions this holiday season:

• Prep + plan. No waiting until December 24th to stress out and start my Christmas shopping. As I mentioned above, I'm completing my holiday check list as time suits me. 

• Be present in all family functions, this is an ongoing goal of mine. Put the damn phone down, chat with family + friends, get to know your family on a deeper level.

• Give back more. A few weeks ago I did some work for one of my clients, Shelbie, owner over at ShelbieLFitness.com. She overpaid her invoice by 35% to show her gratitude for me and all I've done for her these last few months. At that moment I decided to take that extra $ and give back to a charity this holiday season. (#radgirltip: if money is a bit tight this year but you still want to give back, donate your time!)
• Daily gratitude. Reflecting on the day I had and jotting down the small things that made me happy or grateful. (I included a 2 pg gratitude journal in the guide to staying rad during the holidaze!)

I hope to sip my coffee (+ hot cocoa!) a little slower and enjoy the smallest of joys this Christmas.

What are your intentions + desires this holiday season? If you're like me and wanting to make the best of it, download my short guide to surviving the holidaze! Make sure and catch up with us in the Rad Maverix Lifestyle Facebook group and let us know what you're up to and how you're staying rad this holiday season. 

 

PS - ShelbieLFitness and I have collaborated on a small giving back project this year.

You can purchase the tee below for $30 and 100% of the proceeds will be given to families in need this holiday season.

this is a pre-sale and if you order by sunday, december 3rd, you can score free shipping by using code "freeship".

xx,

Riss