// Suja Cleanse //

O N C E  again, I have been terrible at posting. Life, adventures, new jobs and opportunities have gotten in the way of more than just my blogging. My healthy lifestyle of eating and exercise has been neglected, and my body was not happy. With eating bad foods, and less exercise, I notice I sleep less, feel tired, get more headaches, and am less motivated to function. Let's face it, I get freakin lazy.

I always hate when this happens, and YES, it happens to everyone. No matter how perfect of a person, we all deviate and fail at some point. But the beauty of falling is you can always get back up, this time, more prepared and ready to fight off those bad temptations. For me, getting back into routine calls for drastic measures. Okay..not THAT drastic, but I know I need to do something to kick start healthy habits. For me, that kick start (to some, major push of a cliff to get your booty moving)  is a cleanse.

Now now, let's not all freak out. Cleanses are NOT as scary as you may think. Especially if you do them correctly and safely. And that, is why I always choose Suja Juice.

Suja is a juice company based in La Jolla (yay! local!). You can find their juice at Whole Foods, Ralphs and Costco. With Suja, you have the option to do a 1, 3 or 5 day cleanse. This time, I chose to do the 3 day cleanse, which includes 6-16oz juices to be consumed each day. Now you may be asking, what makes Suja SO special, and why did I choose it?...Well my friends, here are my reasons why, and why you should try it too!

1. Its convenient!  It is hard to fail at something when it is so easy. I don't know about you, but carrying a jug around, or having to make your juice as you go is waaay too much work for me. Suja is prebottled and ready to go anywhere, literally. Throw it in your bag, cooler, backpack or purse, and off you go! It is so easy to do during work and busy days!
2. It is not the same juice all day! You heard me! You get 6 juices that are all unique and vary in healthy ingredients. For me, this is what makes this cleanse so easy. You will actually fill up on all of the different juices, rather than just be stuck with one, plain, old, boring juice all day. Trust me, I eat like a baby dinosaur and get verrryy cranky when I am not fed (literally every two hours or hear me ROAR!). So if I don't get hungry, neither will you. If you do, that is okay! Suja provides recipes and snack tips to cure your hunger and inner dino.
3. It's organic! FOR REAL! All of the ingredients are raw, cold pressed organic juices. Suja takes time to pick out the best quality products to insure that you are getting the best possible juice and live up to their name of "long, beautiful life".
4. It's yummy! Let's be real for a sec, OK? No one wants to gulp down nasty, pulpy juice that tastes and smells terrible. Period. I am one of those people. I thought I would never be able to drink carrot, or kale juice, but that was until I met Suja. Who knew greens could taste so good? I was actually excited each day as my cleanse progressed because everything tastes so darn good!
5. It makes you feel good! For me, day one is always the hardest. My body is getting rid of toxins and being loaded with amazing fruits and vegetables. But once I get to the evening of my first day, I don't even want all of the bad food I was eating before. My body starts to crave fruits and vegetables and a cleaner lifestyle. By day two, my skin is glowing, I feel refreshed and energized and am ready to tackle the day. By the end of day 3, my body is craving more yummy juice and healthy foods. Succes? I'd say so. 

Those are only 5 reasons why I love Suja (believe me, there are about a million more!). If you want more information about Suja, visit http://www.sujajuice.com/. For more information specifically about their cleanse, along with recipes, tips and tricks, visit http://www.sujajuice.com/suja-fresh-start/. Check it out, and see for yourself why Suja is the BEST!



NOTE: Everyone is different and our bodies all react to cleanses in different ways. If you have health problems or concerns, are very active, or have never done a cleanse before, consult your doctor or physician before doing a cleanse. Always remember to drink lots and LOTS of water when cleansing to keep your body healthy and hydrated.

bye bye bunny tummy...

Having just celebrated Easter, I can almost bet that you had a little one too many sweet treats this weekend (I know I sure did...). While holiday indulgences may seem like a great choice at the time, they often leave us feeling not so motivated and fit. Getting back to feeling fit, even after a short weekend of laziness, is one of the hardest things. I am constantly making excuses for why I shouldn't get my butt moving, or how I am too tired. When reality is when I exercise and am active, I have more energy, strength and motivation. Just that first step off the couch is always the hardest and sometimes you have to be creative in tricking your body to make that first move. Here are some of my suggestions of how to be your own personal trainer and get rid of that chocolate bunny tummy!

1. GET OUT OF THE GYM! There are so many natural beauties and objects to include in your exercises outside of the gym. Kick your normal gym routine and take your workout to the outdoors. I, for one, have never been a fan of going to the gym. They usually smell weird, I never know how to work the machine (or I look like a fool using it) and I feel like I am always being watched. Just me? I feel so much more motivated when I am in open air and in nature. Running on the beach, doing push ups on a park bench, or running stairs are all great ways to get that booty moving. For me, being outside pushes me to work harder. Try going to a park or beach where others tend to workout. This always makes me run faster and push myself a little more knowing that there is, even though it is all in my mind, a little competition in the area. My favorite is working out on my roof. I love grabbing a yoga mat and enjoying the view while getting a little extra sweat on in the sunshine.

2. GRAB A PARTNER! It is so much easier to workout when you have someone to hold you accountable. Grab a friend or loved one and get active! It is great to be able to push each other and set goals together. Pick a new place each week to meet and workout. Afterwards grab a yummy heathly snack like a smoothie or juice to refuel!

3. TRICK YOUR MIND! I'm not even kidding when I say sometimes mind games are necessary. Pick something to do that doesn't feel like dreaded exercises and go do it. You will be enjoying something fun and be getting some work in at the same time. Paddle-boarding, hiking, Zumba, and coast bike rides are great ways to get active do something fun at the same time!

4. BE RESOURCEFUL! I absolutely LOVE finding new exercise ideas and workout routines to try. Pinterest and YouTube are amazing resources to finding a great workout and not having to pay a personal trainer. Think I'm kidding? Just look up the Victoria Secret Butt Workout, and your booty will thank me (or hate me). Some of the moves include leg weights (like the ones in the picture below) which are great for a little extra work but not a lot of strain on your body. Look out VS models, here we come...

5. LOVE YOUR GEAR! Let's face it, we all workout to look good naked, but why not look good while you work out?! Now, I do NOT mean makeup and hairspray, but rather your active wear and clothing. For me, having something that is functional and can stand my sweat, yet doesn't look like it was made five hundred years ago, is ideal. I have fallen in LOVE with the new Roxy Outdoor Fitness line. It is extremely functional, versatile and DUH way cute! The styles vary and come in a ton of colors, making it easy to find that perfect fit for you. My top and bottom both work for running, yoga, working out, and surfing. Yes, I said I can surf in these pants...basically like a rash guard for your legs, with sun protection, but not heavy like a wetsuit. Pretty rad right?! I think so too. Roxy, you have done well. You can check out all the newest styles at Roxy.com, but be prepared, you're going to get addicted! Find active wear that makes you feel comfortable, fit, functions and keeps you motivated!

6. USE YOUR BODY! Some of the best workouts I have ever done include no equipment at all but your body itself. Planks, push-ups and squats are perfect examples of using your own body. Each has numerous variations to tone and strengthen, and believe me, you'll feel the burn. You can incorporate yoga or cardio and fine tune what really works for you and your body without all the machinery.

7. STRETCH! I cannot emphasize enough how important stretching is for your body. Start and end your day and workouts with a simple stretch routine. You will be amazed at how much your flexibility will increase with just a little extra stretch time. Make sure you stretch head to toe to help loosen, elongate and relax those muscles!


 Try out these tips and tricks to leading an active and healthy lifestyle! Have any suggestions or ideas I did not mention, comment below! I am always up for a new idea and challenge!

Be creative in how you exercise and take care of your body, and most importantly, have FUN!

hold me closer tiny dancer...

For most of you that know me, you know that I am not very graceful. I run into everything and trip over my own feet on a daily basis. I have more bumps and bruises from running into stationary objects than a UFC fighter does after a fight. I've been this way since I was a kid and always got some sort of remark from my mother when I would run into things such as; "Oh hey I forgot to tell you I moved the furniture today!". HA HA very funny! I kind of felt like Angelina Jolie when she says "When other little girls wanted to be ballet dancers, I kind of wanted to be a vampire". Ok maybe not as drastic as Angelina, but I sure didn't think I was cut out for ballet.  My lack of grace and flexibility has caused me to go out on a limb...literally, and join a ballet class. Just imagine a bull in a China shop and that is me in ballet. Let me tell you I give mad props to any kind of dancer out there, whether a ballerina or not...this shit is HARD! And not just hard in a way that you feel fatigued and sweaty after a workout. Oh no, I mean like every technical movement matters and not only that, you have to make it look pretty while executing those techniques. Don't believe me? Just take one class. I am so far 4 weeks in to an 8 week course at the Performing Arts Workshop in Encinitas. If you are in the area and looking to give ballet a try, or you already do ballet, PAW is the place for you. No we do not wear tutus, contrary to popular belief, nor do we have a showcase at the end (at least not in this class). (Believe me I was really rooting for neither of these. OK, maybe the tutus, but come on, you would too!)


Now when I first started, I'll be honest, I thought I was in shape and coordinated (I said coordinated, NOT graceful), but boy was I wrong. I am having to use muscles and be aware of parts of my body that I never knew existed! Everything has a purpose and is a part of each movement. It is crazy the amount of physical awareness and balance I have gained just from my few classes so far! I think about my motions on land and relate them to those in the water. How to achieve such gracefulness and poise and translate that into my style of surfing. It sure has been an interesting journey so far, but most importantly it is fun! I look forward to going to class every week, not just because I want to better my skills, but because I actually enjoy it! Wow, those are words that I never thought I would say about a dance class! I went in with ZERO experience of dance and am discovering a whole new side of what my body is capable of.

So here are my awesome and embarrassing ballet pictures (haha). Please feel free to laugh, and then go ahead and try to copy the moves and your laughing will stop. Told you! It's hard stuff! But it is worth it. I am not just pumping iron at the gym to gain muscle mass and a figure. I am working within myself to gain core strength and grace that ultimately translates into every part of my active life.

 P.S. Thank you Catherine (remember my Gyrotonics instructor from last week? She's back!) for the pictures and for being such an amazing role model and teacher! Thank you for pushing my limits and encouraging me to follow my dreams! <3


"Don't practice until you get it right, practice until you don't get it wrong." -Unknown

act like a banana, and SPLIT!

I don't know about you, but flexibility was not something I was blessed with. Maybe it was my lack of ballet and gymnastic classes as a child, my love for rough and tough sports, or just pure genetics.  From the waist up, I am as limber as a rubber band, but from the waist down is no bueno, and believe me my hips don't lie.

Splits were always something that I wished I could do, but never something I actually worked for. I secretly hoped that one day I would just wake up and be that flexible. Keep dreaming Olivia. The splits are not something that are easily obtained (I being a perfect example) and many people struggle with hip flexibility. (Yay, I'm not alone!) Hip flexibility is key in surfing to achieve mobility and giving maneuvers fluidity.  Even though achieving the splits isn't a requirement to be able to surf, I felt that it was a good goal to be able to visually see flexibility results. So I decided to kick my old habits and up my stretching!

I already have a basic routine of stretching for pre/post workouts and surfs thanks to my Gyrotonics instructor Cathrine. For those of you who do not know what Gyrotonics is, let me explain. Even though it sounds like a class for a mad scientist, it is actually a form of working out and rehabilitation. It both gentle and vigorous, yet strengthening core exercises that teach you to control all parts of your body with fluid and graceful motions. You work to extend, expand and open your muscles and joints with breath and motion in order to achieve flexibility and strength. Sounds crazy, I know, but it has been the most amazing experience for my body. (For more information about Gyrotonics, or to find an instructor near you, check out this link https://www.gyrotonic.com/article.aspx ) Anyway, Cathrine is a former ballerina and now instructs ballet, dance and gyrotonics. Let's just say she is my idol when it comes to flexibility and grace. I knew she would be a great person to talk to in order to kick start my path to doing the splits. And boy I was right. I mean shoot, I give mad props to dancers for some of the crazy things they do to maintain their flexibility, because I had to do some of them and they are HARD!!! (See the picture below for proof!) But I don't own expensive Gyrotonic machines, and I barely have room to exercise in my tiny studio, so my regimen had to work with the little I have.

Here are some of my favorite stretches for achieving the splits;

1. V-Stretch: Sit on the ground with your legs extending in front of you in a V shape. I sit in this stretch for about 20 minutes a couple times a day. As you breath and relax into the stretch, continue to move your legs farther and farther apart and widen your V. You can increase the intensity of the stretch by reaching your finger tips to the center (between the V shape created with your legs) as well as left and right.

2. Butterfly Stretch:Sit on the ground with your feet and heels touching and your knees extended outwards. Draw your feet as close to your pelvis as possible and draw your knees to the floor. This was extremely hard for me at first and my knees were almost a foot off the floor on each side. So don't be discouraged if you cant do this right away. I sit in this stretch daily while I am watching TV, reading a book or even eating breakfast.

3. 4-Square Stretch: Sit on the floor (similar to sitting Indian style with one leg crossed over the other) but instead, overlap your legs so that your feet and knees align, making a "square" shape. Lightly press the knee that is on top so that it touches your foot that is under it. You will feel a very intense stretch in your hips. Sit in this position for several minutes, and then switch legs to stretch the other side.

These are just a few of my favorites that you should incorporate into your daily stretch routine of stretching your whole body. Achieving the splits will take time and a lot of dedication, but if you put in the time you will see results! I will check back in with an update of how my stretches are going the closer I get to the splits. Are you ready for the challenge? Comment with your progress, results, and what your favorite stretch is!!

Let the stretching begin!! :)

from land to sea...

Even though my heart always belonged to the ocean, I was stuck on land. I grew up in the small town of Lodi in Northern California. Only two hours from the sea, and two hours from the snow, it could be considered ideal. It is the kind of place where you always see someone you know at the store, or they know you. My family, on both sides, had several generations established in Lodi, and for that, getting away with anything was nearly impossible...thanks mom and dad! The coolest place in town was the movie theater and Foster's Freeze and everyone at House of Coffees knows your usual order. (If you are from Lodi you totally get all of those references...if you aren't from Lodi, well, lucky you.)

My childhood was spent in a country home surrounded by vineyards and orchards. Oh so completely different from saltwater and sand. With two older sisters, an older brother, and a younger brother, there was always something to do and trouble to be made. I was a total tom-boy with major attitude and sass.(Don't be fooled by the photo above folks, I was not an innocent as I appear.) I loved the outdoors and being able to run free, but I belonged in the water. I am pretty sure I learned to swim before I could even walk, as with all of my siblings as well. Water was our sport. We were all swimmers and water polo players with an intense competitive drive. Probably the cause of why any game I play is never just "causal" or "for fun". I had to win...of course. With so many siblings, there was always someone to impress or have to beat. Congratulations were never just a pat on the back, but rather a lecture about "you know, if you would have done this, you would have been so much better". But I won?...nope not good enough. A lot of it was out of sarcasm and for joke, but part of us really wasn't kidding. I remember teasing each other and saying "just remember, if you don't win, you don't get water or food". We were TOTALLY kidding then. My family never made me do anything I didn't want to. I never did the typical girl sports of dance, ballet or gymnastics (and that is why I lack so much grace). Oh gosh it would have taken an army to get a bow in my hair! I was able to choose the sports I wanted to do and just told to do my best and have fun. Yeah, freakin, right. I wanted to win at everything I did. Every sport was a new challenge and opportunity for success. From swimming, to water polo, to soccer and then golf, I made my rounds. I was always the smallest on my team, and the most underestimated. But it's not the size that matters, it is the heart. I was no prodigy at any of the sports I did, but I worked hard to be the best player I could be. I learned so much from every loss and every win, every teammate and every coach, and for that, I thank you all. You played a huge role in who I am today and the meaning of work ethic.

Toward the end of high school, decisions had to be made of where to attend college. I had worked hard to keep good grades in hopes of going to a University. I decided to go to culinary school and pursue a career in baking and maybe one day own my own bakery. I loved to make sweets and treats, and a hands on school experience was what I thought I wanted. I went to school for two years until I got a job offer that required me to move to San Diego. I jumped at the chance and packed up my little car with what I had, set school aside, and headed south.

I eventually found my own place in Solana Beach. In a tiny studio above a sushi restaurant, a block from the beach, was where I fell in love. My first love was surfing. Could you ask for anything better? My only neighbor was an avid surfer, and when he found out I was interested in the sport, he walked over with an extra board and said "Here, this is now yours. Go rip". I was hooked. My entire day began to revolve around surfing. I was in the water, twice a day, three times a day, and sometimes more. I couldn't get enough. I was exhausted and on a high I had never experienced with any other sport before. My neighbor, Dan, showed me the ropes, gave me fitness advice, and totally took me under his wing and became my coach. A year and a half and 5 boards later, and I am still as in love as I was from day one.

me..duh.

People say I'm crazy. And I say, that's okay. Because sometimes it's the crazy within that drives us to such lengths to be the best possible version of ourselves that we can be.

I am no where near perfection, nor do I ever plan to be, but I am perfectly me. I laugh too much, talk too loud, am extremely sarcastic, usually too competitive, and am always the first in line for food. (Seriously, free food and I'm SO there). I seek excellence in all things I do, and always tell myself that if it is easy, I must not be doing it right.
A lot of things have changed in my life in the last two years. Some things, good and some things bad. But that change has given me a new perspective on life. A new vantage point to how I want to live and the things I want to do and see. I came alone, but I sure didn't get here by myself.

 My journey will never be easy. I will never be normal. This is my life, these are my stories, my adventures and my dreams.

Ready or not..here. I. come.

<3