last minute gift idea: kiva

Location:	Los Angeles, CA United States
Occupation:	Entrepreneur
I loan because:	It takes money to make money. And because Kiva rocks!
About me:	My mom and I create and publish journals for tracking fitness/health habits. Our first (created in 2004) is called the Streaming Colors Fitness Journal. And our most recent is the Lean Mode – Not Your Usual Food Diary. Starting a business and making it profitable has taken more hard work and more time than I ever expected.
Check out:	www.ColorCodeMode.com
Member Since:	Nov 23, 2006

I'm posting my lender profile to this blog because Kiva is an organization I really believe in and have supported for two years now. I tend to lend around the holidays. In fact, this might be the best holiday gift idea ever (only our journals are better ;~) It's a super fun way to support micro-business owners around the world through micro-lending, and make a difference in someone's life. All for the low low price of just $25. Or you can lend more if you like. Get the full scoop at kiva.org. If you're looking for last minute holiday gifts they offer gift certificates online. So check it out! Happy holidays to all, and cheers to a glorious new year. - Alexis

Do you Issuu?

Get your own - Open publication

This might be the coolest FREE thing I've found on the internet in a really really long time. Ok, it is. This site allows you to publish your book online so people can view it like they would if they had it in their hands. Every single page. Doesn't it look nice?!?! To me, this is what good design is all about. Check out all the beau-tee-ful books on their website. So cool. If you use Issuu please post a link in the comments section so we can check out your publication.

surf the turf

I like to go hiking with my girlfriends (you know who you are ladies... love you all!!!) in the canyons around LA. Most of the trails are well traveled and easy to navigate. However, some of them (like Temescal Canyon) are way more au natural than one might expect and therefore require the purchase of some serious hiking shoes. (Any excuse to buy shoes will do, right?!?!) So I picked up these North Face Cipher shoes, and after many many hikes I have to say, I really like them! My three favorite things: I like the design a lot, blue & grey are my colors. I also like the mesh inserts that allow my feet to "breathe" while hiking, which keeps me cool. And I like the traction, lots and lots of traction, so I no longer "surf the turf" (which is cool outdoorsy person speak for "trying not to fall on your a** while hiking downhill," right Stacy?) If you're looking for a pair of hiking shoes you can find these at Zappos. (They have excellence pics from every angle.)

skyr - icelandic yogurt

What is skyr? It's Icelandic yogurt. Just like regular yogurt, only thicker, and very high in protein. I read about it in this article on MSN. Apparently Skyr has about 16 grams of protein per 6 oz. compared to my Brown Cow yogurt (which I love) which usually has about 5 or 6 grams of protein per 6 oz. Does that matter? I don't know. I suspect you'd feel fuller longer by consuming more protein. But what I really want to know, is does it taste good? I'm a big fan of yogurt. So I'm a little picky about it. I don't like anything with artificial sweeteners, or anything that's overly gelatinous. Yogurt should be smooth and creamy. Like Brown Cow from Antioch, CA:

Not only is Brown Cow yummy. It's the only yogurt with a website that has a talking cow, named Lily, who will greet you (while wearing a diamond tiara) when you enter the site. Too funny! This is also one of my favorites:

 

Fage (fah-yeh) Total greek yogurt. It's the best! It's soooo rich and creamy. I have two favorite concoctions I like to make at home. I'll share them both.

Banana Bliss (I made that up, just now actually. Because really, I usually just call it breakfast.)

-1/2 cup Fage greek yogurt (usually 1%)

-1 small banana, sliced

-walnuts, sliced, (about 8, or sometimes I use pecans)

-1 tsp. of honey (for taste)

-a dash of stevia (if you want it to be even sweeter)

-1/4 cup of blueberries (optional)

This makes the yummiest breakfast or snack. It's such a treat, and it's totally healthy.

My other concoction is pretty simple:

-1/2 cup Fage greek yogurt (usually 1%)

-1/2 cup frozen mixed berries

-dash of stevia

If you don't let the berries thaw out a little bit this one gets really frosty and thick, sort of like frozen yogurt. But you don't want to put honey in it, because it won't blend well if it's cold. 

I must admit, this is the most thought I've ever given to yogurt in my entire life. Probably won't need to post on this again. Ever. So, if you haven't tried Fage Greek Yogurt you should give it a shot. And for the truly adventurous, this Siggi's Icelandic Skyr sounds like it could be a real treat! Now if I can only find it on the west coast...

stella mccartney for adidas

Doesn't this hoodie look super comfy?!?! It's all thick and warm, perfect for fall. I think Stella McCartney has done a fantastic job designing athletic apparel that is functional yet stylish. I have my days when I want to wear super high energy brightly colored workout clothes (my lululemon), and then I have days where I want to be more calm and design-y. Stella is perfect for that. Though I must admit, her clothes are a little spendy, so I usually wait for them to go on sale. However, I think this hoodie is a must have! Check out Stella's fall collection for Adidas.

i dig my sigg

love the motto on the back! it's the same concept as our fitness journals. make small manageable changes one day at a time.One of the healthiest habits I have is drinking water. I always have a bottle w/me. I drink way more than the recommended 64oz a day. I think it goes back to when I was little and my mother owned a clothing store in Stillwater. She was always sending me down the street to Brine's deli to get her lime flavored Mendota Springs bottled water. This was back in the day, before plastic bottles were everywhere and glass was the trend. Now in my recent attempt to be more environmentally conscientious I'm trying to quit plastic bottles altogether. I've converted to aluminum. My bottle of choice: Sigg. These water bottles are everywhere in LA. I got mine at Whole Foods, but when I looked at the Sigg website I wish I would've ordered direct. This Eco Logical bottle is so cute! Their website has a lot of fun designs. And yes, I realize they are kinda spendy - $25 for a water bottle!!! But they are really durable, lightweight, and they don't have any funky odors. So your water tastes like water flavored water. Not plastic or tin. Anyway, thanks mom, for getting me started on drinking lots of water, and for all the change I kept from every bottle you drank. I made a killing off of you. Ha!

think pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and one of my favorite fitness retailers lucy activewear (yes, they have carried our wonderful Streaming Colors Fitness Journal in their store) is supporting the cause by donating 10% of the proceeds from lucy's Think Pink graphic tees to Network of Strength, a non-profit which offers immediate emotional support to those battling with breast cancer. Our family has been lucky so far, we don't have any immediate relatives diagnosed with breast cancer (knock on wood) but I know it is a cause worth supporting. And I want to encourage all women to get in the habit of getting their mammograms on time. Whenever that is for you. Also please consider supporting the cause in any way you can... these lucy t-shirts are just one option. (FYI, I have a bunch of their long sleeve tee's like this one and they are fantastic! So so comfy!!!)

these shoes were made for running

I'm lovin my new Saucony Grid Propel running shoes!!! I have narrow feet and high arches and these shoes give me plenty of support. Plus they're nice and light and they let your feet "breathe." My tips for running shoes: 1) buy them a little big so your toes have some wiggle room 2) alternate between two pairs so they have time to dry out between workouts 3) replace them after 500 miles. Getting the right shoes is really important. If you need help I suggest going to a running store where they will help you figure out the best pair of shoes for you based on your needs. I like Road Runner Sports and FrontRunners in LA.  

penguin sport-wash is the best!

 Sweat may be the "cologne of accomplishment" but who wants to smell like it? Ever notice that sometimes your workout clothes (especially tight tees and tank tops) stop smelling fresh? This Penguin Sport Wash works like a charm. I had some samples in one of my 5k race goodie bags so I gave it a try and loooooved it! I noticed the difference more in my tech fabrics than in cotton, but I still wash both in it. Everything gets nice and clean! And, it's safe for the environment. You're welcome ;~)

sambazon smoothies are yummy

 If you have yet to try acai (ah-sigh-ee) you are missing out. It's a yummy fruit from Brazil that has a berry/cocoa flavor and is super loaded with healthy Omega fats, protein, and fiber. When I buy them pre-made I like the Sambazon Supergreens Revolution. They're anywhere from $2.50-$3.50 depending on what store you buy them from. However my favorite thing to do is blend my own smoothie. I use the Sambazon Pure Acai Smoothie Packs. They come in 4-packs that are about $5. It's more affordable this way, plus I figure it's better for the environment not to be purchasing individual bottles. And I like that I can control the sweetness by using stevia. 

My recipe:

-1 pack of Sambazon pure acai pulp

-1/2 cup of frozen berries (mix of raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries)

-A splash of water (to thin it out)

-Sweeten with stevia powder (or honey) to desired sweetness

You can also add any combination of fruits. My suggestions: mango, pineapple, banana, strawberries, and peaches.

This makes such a lovely & tasty smoothie. Give it a try! :-)