When I am on the hunt for fashion forward active wear for yoga, running, training, travel and exploring the great (in or) outdoors I shop Lucy.com.

In fact, some of my all-time favorite workout gear is from the Lucy line. Why? Because of the quality, style, and fit. I mean, what Fitness & Spice Girl doesn’t love black pants that don’t fade or get stretched out over time? Tank tops that whisk away sweat, hold your iPod, and don’t look like what everyone else is wearing in the gym? And cozy hoodies that help warm you up before and after your workouts? And…well, you get the idea.

If you are in need of new workout clothes, today (November 5th, 2011) is your lucky day. Lucy is turning 12 and is celebrating with a one day 25% off everything in store or online event. So run or bike to a Lucy store near you or hop online at lucy.com (and then go workout) and stock up.

Now I really must go to Lucy’s birthday party…and I’ll buy if I want to.

I have long, thick hair that takes just over forever to dry. But don’t take my word for it, just ask my stylist who lovingly jokes that he doesn’t lift shoulders when I have an appointment.

But, I recently, and by recently I mean Saturday, started using a new product by Kenra that has cut my hair drying time in half. Yes, half.

Since I workout 5-6 days a week I am one of those people that wash my hair everyday which means drying it everyday so anything I can do to speed up the process is a Godsend.

Someday I’ll get brave enough to try dry shampoo but until then I am sold on Kenra Blow-Dry Spray. And right now Kenra is making a donation to breast cancer related charities on this and some of their other products so it’s doing good for two causes, my sanity and humanity.

Now I really must go before I blow this entire post with my dry sense of humor.

Right now I’m using plastic Target bags to tote my stuff to the gym. Don’t judge.

But, I do have my eyes all over the new gym bags from Live Well 360, like the sleek little Accel pictured here.

I don’t own one yet, but I did buy the Core bag for a gift a few months ago so I can confirm these bags are all they are cracked up to be. Not only are they well made but they have a gazillion compartments for storing all of your favorite accessories.

Speaking of accessories, to celebrate the launch of their new bags, Live Well 360 is hosting a fabulous giveaway and they just so happen to be tossing in some of my favorite things (and clients!) including Attune Foods, fitbook, Protein Bakery, and Words to Sweat By.

Be sure to stop by Livewell360.com to do some shopping and enter the What’s In Your Gym Bag Giveaway…hustle up, the contest closes on July 14th, 2011.

Now I really must go shop and then hit the gym so I can stay…on Target!

I live nowhere near the ocean, but who’s complaining?

I am.

But, I was born in California and I’ve done a lot of vacationing in Florida, so I have a mad appreciation for catching waves both in the ocean and in my hair. That’s right, my hair. There’s something so wonderfully carefree about a just-from-the beach hair style and now you and I don’t have to go on vacation to get that look.

I was surfing pinterest.com last week (pun intended) and came across this simple way solution for creating beachy-locks using a few ingredients commonly found under ANY Fitness & Spicer’s bathroom sink. Just grab an empty spray bottle and add about…

• 2 tablespoons epsom salt
• 2 tablespoons hair gel
• 4-6 ounces of water

Shake, shake, shake. Spray it on your damp or dry hair. Scrunch or style as usual.

Will this formula make your hair shiny? No. But it will give your hair some texture and if your hair is anything like mine it will unlock a little bit of curl. And, the best part? It will make you look like Pamela Anderson in an episode of Baywatch. No it won’t.

Now I really must go hit the gym, take a shower, slap on a sundress, and do the wave!

What is better than slipping into bed with freshly cleaned sheets?

If you answered ice cream you are correct, but clean sheets come in second.

Speaking of laundry, I was washing my linens this weekend and realized I was out of dryer sheets. Instead of running to the store I made my own. Here’s…

How to Make Your Own Dryer Sheets

• 1. Cut up an old race t-shirt or orphaned gym sock into small strips and tie together.
• 2. Add about 10 drops of your favorite essential oil to the fabric.
• 3. Toss into the dryer. Dry.
• 4. Remove from the dryer and store in an air tight container to use for another load or two.
• 5. Repeat steps 2-4.

You can find essential oils at essentially any natural foods store or online. I recommend lavender or vanilla oils for your laundry sheets. But just for grins, if you’re lucky enough to find essential oils at a store near you, see if they have frankincense and myrrh. Don’t buy them for this project but smell them anyway…interesting, right?

Now I really must go…sleep in heavenly sheets.

So I bought a can of chalkboard spray paint this weekend.

So far I’ve managed to turn plates, coffee mugs, flower pots, wine bottles, and even this water pitcher into a chalkboard…

You’re probably wondering how you can do this, too.

I’ll tell you:

• Go to a craft store
• Grab a can of chalkboard paint
• Apply two coats of paint on just about anything
• Allow to dry for 24 hours
• Grab some chalk and write something inspirational and/or sassy

It’s so easy even a Fitness & Spice Girl can do it.

Now I really must go grab some water and then paint the town!

If you are like me you might have a t-shirt or 100 from races, corporate outings, or your favorite vacation destinations.

Want to add a little more style to one or 100 of those t-shirts? Me too. In fact, I did last night by changing the shape and adding a little ruffle to one of my favorite t-shirts in under 20 minutes.

Grab a t-shirt, scissors, straight pins, a needle, some thread, your imagination, and head over to this fabulous website, P.S. I Made This, to find out how to give a simple t-shirt a little makeover. No sewing machine required.

It’s so simple even a (Fitness &) Spice Girl can do it!

Now I really must go before I say something sew funny it will leave you in stitches.

There are three things that are ALWAYS in my gym bag. Want to know what they are? Pop over to Live Well 360, the creators of a fashionably-fit and incredibly functional gym bag called the Core, and find out.

While you’re there check out the entire “What’s in Your Gym Bag” series where you’ll find plenty of ideas from what other cool kids carry with them to the gym. You won’t want to miss what Men’s Health and some of my other favorite writers pack in their gym bags.

And, when you visit Live Well 360, please say hello to Sheila Viers, the beauty behind the gym bag. She tops my list of people I’d like to have a bowl of oatmeal with someday.

Once again, here’s the link where you can find what’s in my gym bag: http://livewell360.com/2011/03/whats-in-your-bag-joanna/

Now I really must go pack my Core with some of Sheila’s pumpkin oatmeal. Live Well.

My Grandmother’s cure for just about anything was Vaseline. That, and chocolate chip cookies.

Which explains my love of baking.

A few years ago my friend Julie introduced me to Aquaphor Healing Ointment, a product kinda-sorta like Vaseline…which explains why I brought it up in the opening credits

Anyway, I’ve recently fallen back in love with Aquaphor after (re)discovering it has so many uses that is why I’ve not only nominated but voted for it as the Fitness & Spice product of the week.

From the top, here are…

5 of My Favorite Uses for Aquaphor

• Hair gloss. Yes, you heard me right. If you have thick, dry hair that could use an emergency shot of shine, simply take a teeny-tiny (I said tiny!) dab of Aquaphor, rub it between the palms of your hands and apply it to the ends of your dry locks. If you have thin or oily hair don’t try this at home and proceed directly to bullet number two…
• Callus softener. If you’ve earned a few calluses on the palms of your hands lifting weights, massage some Aquaphor into those bad boys to take the edge off. If you pick at that skin it will only grow back thicker and that is not cute. By the way, you can do the same for the heels of your stanky feet.
• Elbow therapy. If you plan on showing off your arms in sleeveless tops you need to make sure you skin is in good shape, too. If your elbows are dry try applying Aquaphor right out of the shower and again before bed. You’ll have the right to bare arms within days.
• Lip relief. Chapped lips? Solved!
• Shoe shine. I heard this one on Rachel Ray and gave it a whirl! Rub a little Aquaphor on your shoes for a quick shine. I tried it on my boots today and it worked like a champ.

Now I really must go give Aquaphor their imaginary trophy, grab a cookie, and dab a little more Aquaphor on my head and shoulders, knees, and toes!