Is cold brew a healthy coffee order? Can you shed some light on coffee in general? Is it “healthy?” How much is too much?
The coffee debate…I swear one day there is a study about the health benefits of coffee and the next there is a study released about the health risks associated with coffee. I honestly don’t see any real negative side effects to drinking coffee unless you’re prone to anxiety, insomnia, or sensitive to caffeine. Even if you’re not necessarily sensitive to caffeine having too high of dosage can cause nervousness and anxiety. Coffee is acidic, so if you have digestive issues this can exacerbate those as well.
Coffee pros: caffeine can boost mood, energy, metabolism, and performance. There are studies that show that coffee has other benefits like prevention against different cancers, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke which is likely because coffee contains high levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, and minerals.
Everyone’s tolerance to coffee/caffeine is different so it’s best to experiment with the dosage that works best for you and finding options with less caffeine like black tea or matcha if you’re having negative side effects to coffee. Most people who are sensitive to caffeine might need to stay under 300ish mg a day while others can have 1,000 mg and feel fine. Ideally you’re limiting coffee to 1-2 cups/day and cutting it off late morning/early afternoon, so it doesn’t disrupt with sleep. Also make sure you’re drinking water in the morning ….not just coffee 😉
Cold brew is low calorie (5-15 calories per servings) and no added sugar (unless you add it yourself) so it’s a healthy drink option at a coffee shop. It’s a little less acidic than iced coffee, so some people tolerate it better stomach wise, but it does contain more caffeine so can make you more jittery.
I’m new to following you guys and wondering what inspired you two to collab and create a blog?
Hi, welcome! We met about 3 years ago when Alix moved to Seattle from the Bay Area. We met at a girls brunch set up by a mutual friend (to help Alix meet girlfriends in Seattle) and we realized we were both from Orange County and lived only a few blocks away from each other in Seattle. We had a similar “mommying schedule” and started spending a lot of time together with the kids and got to talking about both craving a more creative outlet since becoming SAHM. Alix being a Registered Dietitian and having a strong fitness background and Heather being so knowledgeable about all things beauty, fashion, and mom life we mused about how we would (on some level) be able to meet at least one interest of most of our potential readers. We decided to just pull the trigger and create an Instagram account and started blogging shortly after. We both love it and have had so much fun growing and connecting with our community!
How are the Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao mixtures for your evening “night cap?” Any good?
I really like the mushroom cacao mix before bed. The reishi is calming before bed and it’s a little sweet which helps with my chocolate cravings before bed. I will also steam unsweetened almond milk on it sometimes. You can typically buy single packets at Whole Foods so you can try it out before committing to a whole box. I have also really like the chai one (caffeine free) in the afternoon for a little pick me up!
I’m back at work (after my maternity leave) and only have weird times and short windows to get in a solid workout. Do you have any gym workouts you recommend for a quick 30-45 minute workout?
We both used to do the SWEAT app which has awesome, short, and minimal equipment required workouts. I (Alix) have actually been thinking about starting it back up again so I can have a short workout option I can do at home. Tone It Up also has great workouts and we’ve linked some on our fitness Pinterest page. The Peloton app has great workout options for tread, spin, weights and HIIT classes. We also have a highlights on our Instagram dedicated to “workouts” that can be done at the gym and are typically 30-45 minutes and will kick your booty!
Do you like your eyelash lift/tint and would you do it again?
Yes! I loved my lash lift and tint that I got at Sapien Aesthetics with my girl Stephanie. I continue to use my lash serum to make my lashes grow (be consistent with using it at least 1x a day-typically at night for me) and need to get back in for another lift ASAP!
What’s your favorite Spring colored nail polish? On the hunt for the perfect subtle pink!
For a subtle pink/white I always get OPI Funny Bunny, Lisbon Wants More, Small + Cute, Mod About You, Privacy Please, or Stop It I’m Blushing!
Do you think using CBD has a real impact or a placebo effect?
There’s no doubt that the CBD boom is way ahead of the science to back it up. The one exception is for rare forms of childhood epilepsy, which have been proven to help.
Some CBD manufacturers have come under government scrutiny for wild, indefensible claims, such that CBD is a cure-all for cancer, which it is not. We need more research but CBD may be proven to be an option for managing anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain. Without sufficient high-quality evidence in human studies we can’t pinpoint effective doses, and because CBD is currently mostly available as an unregulated supplement, it’s difficult to know exactly what you are getting. If you decide to try CBD, talk with your doctor — if for no other reason than to make sure it won’t affect other medications you are taking.
For us, we have seen decreases in our anxiety when we take it but we also work really hard in all aspects of our life to manage it from exercise, to eating healthy, and getting good rest. So at the end of the day, the verdict is still out on the effectiveness of CBD. But it can’t hurt so why the hell not?!
How were your experiences moving out of state?
Alix: My husband and I had an itch to leave CA and start somewhere fresh, but as the reality of our decision set in I started to regret it honestly. I had a rough transition moving from the Bay Area to Seattle for a few reasons. First of all Quinn was only 4 months old when we moved. We had to put our condo in CA on the market while I was only 2 weeks PP and we had to keep the condo “show ready” with a newborn and a black lab….ummmm stressful. It finally sold and we packed up and moved on December 22nd AKA the darkest day of the year in Seattle lol…not good planning! Anyways, for me it was a rough transition and do not recommend moving somewhere like Seattle in the dead of winter with a newborn. I was depressed and homesick for months, but luckily my sister-in-law immediately introduced me to a great group of girls and I found my mom tribe asap and I’ll forever be so grateful for that. It took about a year or so to feel comfortable in a new city and form solid friendships. Anyways, moving out of state was scary and hard for me, but can be really exciting and fun if you do it right 😉
Heather: I moved to Seattle when I first got engaged to my husband back in 2011 and I came in October.. also not the best time to move to a rainy, cold city since I had grown up in SoCal my whole life. However, I was excited to move because I was in love and starting a really new and happy chapter in my life! We were living in a high rise in downtown Seattle and walked everywhere.. it was a unique and exciting adventure. I had a hard time meeting new friends and I quickly realized that the “Seattle Freeze” was a real thing. Everyone I met had grown up in Seattle, went to school here, knew each other, married each other, and had tight knit groups (much like my group of friends in CA). AKA #nonewfriends and I wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms. It took a few jobs to meet friends who I connected with and then meeting other transplants helped a lot. Once my husband became established in his career in the city, I met a number of women who have now become my friends and family here. And of course, meeting Alix a few years ago was just an instant kinship. We connected on so many levels and came from the same area in OC that it was just meant to be 🙂 It took me a couple years and a few babies later to build my mom tribe and I have to say, it is the key to happiness being a stay at home mom. These women understand me, uplift me, keep me inspired, and are always there with a glass of wine when I need it.
Favorite comfy athletic sneakers to wear on a daily basis – go!
Heather is answering this from her perspective… I have a loyalty to Nike because my brother works for the company and I truly love my Nike Air Max’s as athleisure but I am not sure they would be considered my “comfiest” sneaker. They just look FLY 😉 And yes I can wear them for long periods but if you’re looking for something COMFY, those wouldn’t be what I would choose. If I had to choose a Nike sneak for comfort, I would choose the Flyknit. But if I am being totally honest, my most worn, comfy sneakers for wearing throughout the day would be my Adidas. I am on a wait list for for the Ultraboost Running shoe in the color combo I want but here they are in a very classic black and white.
Thanks for sending us your questions! Happy Weekend!
xx, H&A
