2012 June | Two Belles, Four Biceps and the Pursuit of Fitness

Review: Tracey Mallett Fuse Dance - Cardio Melt

Jun 08 2012

Review: Fuse Dance Cardio Melt
Tracey Mallett, 2012

Tracey combines elements of dance, ballet, and athletic work in both workouts on this dvd. She works out with 3 b/g exercisers in a nice open studio. You will light dumbbells for Total Toned Body and modifications are shown in that workout. Both workouts are performed barefoot.

Interval Fat Burn: (28 min) In this cardio fusion workout Tracey performs circuits of exercises separated by higher intensity intervals. Exercises include: mambo & samba cha cha, pliet pulses & hops, hip shifts, heel taps, ride the horse, booty slap, and lunge & chest pops.

Total Toned Body: (24 min) This is a standing & floor toning routine that utilizes light weights. Exercises include: jab & knee pulls, squat & breast stroke, skater & floor touch, side plank hip drops & snakes, and step touch & tri press. Tracey does a great job of adding big arm movements to amp up the intensity a bit.

I rate this a high beginner workout that is suitable for most all exercisers. I found it to be a very unique fusion of several different genres that Tracey puts together seamlessly. A warmup & cooldown are also included & I felt a nice emphasis on the core. She is an excellent and encouraging instructor and you can tell she is really having a good time in these workouts.

For More Information:
Visit the Tracey Mallett website
Check out the Tracey Mallett Webstore
Like Tracey Mallett on Facebook
Follow Tracey Mallett on Twitter

Summer Yum Giveaway: Ayala's Sparkling Water & Nutorious Nuts Sampler Pack

Jun 07 2012

The Belles love our Ayala’ Herbal Water ! Recently we were fortunate to have the opportunity to try the newest addition to their product line: Ayala’s Sparkling Water! Cool and refreshing with a touch of sparkle. And the Belles have recently come across a super-delicious, they say “innocently addictive”, we say highly addictive snack: Nutorious Nut Confections! YUM! Nutorious Nut Confections are All-Natural, Nutritious and Delicious. These award-winning snacks are made with only the highest quality, all-natural, simple ingredients.

The Belles are super excited about this thirst-quenching and delicious giveaway courtesy of Ayala’s Herbal Water ! Ayala’s Herbal water is full of flavor yet free of calories, artificial sweeteners, and artificial chemicals, these naturally fragrant beverages evoke happy feelings. Ayala’s Herbal Water is the first nationally available organically certified enhanced flavored water made with all organic ingredients. Each Herbal Water blend is all-natural and sets a new standard for healthy beverages: zero calories, zero artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors, and zero chemical preservatives. Ayala’s Herbal water comes from an Artesian Well in Virginia. Nothing but great taste from pure water, infused with the finest natural herbs from around the world and kept fresh in a beautiful bottle for your enjoyment. And, recently, Ayala’s Herbal Water introduced their NEWEST variety: Ayala’s Sparkling Water!

Ayala’s Sparkling Water , new from Ayala’s Herbal Wayer blends herbal extracts and pure water in a fun, flavorful harmony with light carbonation. You still get Ayala’s smooth and refreshing herbal taste but now enhanced with the sparkle and flutter of delicate bubbles.

Ayala’s Sparkling Water comes in four fabulous flavors: Sparkling Lemongrass Mint Vanilla, Sparkling Cinnamon Orange Peel, Sparkling Ginger Lemon Peel, and Sparkling Lavender Mint! YUM YUM! I will definitely be getting these again (and again and again!) Luckily, you can find Ayala’s Herbal water at these local stores or online !

Nutorious Nut Confections contain zero trans fat, are low in sodium and high in Omega 3 Fatty Acids. They are outstanding as snacks or sprinkled on salads, ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal or cereal. In mouth-watering flavors such as: Blueberry Lemon Merengue, Cha Cha Chipotle aand Pumpkin Palooza and more who can resist??? Jenny and Carrie, founders of Nutorious Nut Confections, had no idea what they were on to when they created these delicious snacks many years ago in their kitchen. These are seriously delicious! I served (begrudgingly shared lol) my nuts at a Memorial Day get together and everyone LOVED LOVED LOVED them! They are so stinking delicious! I could not put them down! The bowl of Nutorious Nuts was devoured in no time flat. I will definitely be purchasing more of these- they are the perfect salty snack or sweet dessert and you can feel good about eating them! You will certainly enjoy eating them and your heart will thank you for the Omega 3′s!

The Belles are always excited to have an opportunity to try delicious and nutritious healthy snacks. We had no idea what we were getting into when we decided to try Nutorious Nut Confections . With a pleasing combination of salty, sweet and spice, each of the Nutorious Nut Confections varieties exceeded our expectations from the first bite down to the bottom of the bag.

Nutorious Nut Confections are available in six delicious flavors – it’s HARD to pick a favorite: Ooo La La Original , Cranberry Orange Tango , Pumpkin Palooza, Blueberry Lemon Meringue , Cherry Vanilla Va-Voom , and ChaCha Chipotle !

Want to win our Summer Yum Prize Pack? Enter here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entries will be accepted until 11:59 pm on 6/15/2012 and the winner will be selected using random.org random number generator and announced on 6/17/2012. Contest open to US Residents (No PO Boxes)! Good Luck!

We received samples of these products to review. We were in no other way compensated for our honest reviews. All thoughts and ideas expressed are oury own. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I can not be held responsible for user errors in entering this contest, shipping errors, postage errors, damage in transit, or undelivered prizes.

Pack Your Summer Bag with these Must-Haves from Carmex

Fashion/ Beauty No Responses »

Jun 06 2012

Summer is just around the corner. It’s time to put away the scarves and hats and pack up your bag – whether you are headed on a vacation or stay-cation Don’t know what to put in it? Keep reading to find out all about some of our absolute favorite new and tried & true Carmex goods!

Carmex Lip Balm :
Carmex lip balms are ultra moisturizing, ultra nourishing, and ultra smooth. And they contain ultra flavor! Yum! Whether you like cherry or vanilla- Carmex has something for you! Or maybe youre like me and love both flavors! Don’t like your lip balms flavored? Stick with Carmex Oiginal lip balm. Each lip balm contain tons of moisturizing ingredients to give you your best lips ever. The stick goes on smooth with a rich feel! The flavor is awesome but subtle- not overpowering at all. Carmex Lip Balms contain beeswax and sun protection ingredients to protect your lips every day! Stop wind and sun burn with these awesome Carmex Sticks! These fun fresh new Carmex flavors are non-addictive ! Available in tub, tube, or stick- Carmex lip balms really do have something for everyone! Whether you like a little zing of strawberry or cherry or are in LOVE with their original Carmex with that famous Carmex zing- Carmex is a must have in our gym bags, desk drawers, summer bag, and vanity!

Carmex Travel-Size Skin Care :
Carmex skin care products (Healing Lotion and Healing Cream) also come in travel sizes. Carmex Healing Lotion is full of healing ingredients such as aloe and vitamin E to moisturize, heal and protect skin from dryness. Perfect for daily use to heal and prevent dry skin with a light, pleasant scent. The formula is fast absorbing and leaves no greasy residue behind. For intensive moisture, Carmex Healing Cream is a thicker, more concentrated formula that penetrates deep into the skin to help repair extremely dry, cracked skin. The Healing Cream is for those very dry areas such as feet, elbows, and knees. It is a moisture rich thick formula so only a small amount is needed. It really penetrates dry & even cracked skin, leaving it soft, smooth and moisturized. Both smell absolutely amazing! Lightly scented, deeply moisturizing without being greasy at all (my #1 pet peeve), and perfect for both men & women! Carmex has become my go-to lotion (for real!). Both DH & I love it- quality lotion at a great price.

To Learn More, Be Sure To Check Out:
Visit the My Carmex website
Like Carmex on Faecbook
Follow Carmex on Twitter

Now you know what we put in our beach bags. What do you keep in yours? Be sure to add these great fav’s to your bag this summer! Carmex is available at your local drug store, convenience store, and big box store- view their complete list of retailers here .

We received a sample of these products to review. We were in no other way compensated for our honest reviews. All thoughts and ideas expressed are our own. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

GIVEAWAY: Headline Shirts- Intelligently Funny T Shirts

Bargains , Fashion/ Beauty , Giveaways 13 Responses »

Jun 05 2012

Keep reading and enter to win a Headline Shirt of your very own and don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter to receive $5 off a Headline Shirts order!

The Belles are super excited about this giveaway because we LOVE the hilariously smart selection of awesome Headline Shirts! Seriously we had such a hard time choosing from their large selection of shirts. Our favorite thing is that their shirts come in men’s and women’s cuts! We are not fans of men’s cut shirts so we LOVE that Headline Shirts come in the cute form fitting women’s cut with a sassy scoop neck! The neckline is perfectly feminine without being revealing- our consensus- 4 of 4 biceps up!

Relentlessly Awesome :

Lindsey had the pleasure of reviewing the Headline Shirts Relentlessly Awesome shirt. Seriously- how could I resist this shirt? LOL, its very “me.” DH had a great laugh when I opened the package and said “that is perfect for you.” I agree- I love it! Its (obviously) hilarious and I love the colors- slightly retro, a bit reminiscent of the 70′s and 80′s- dont you think? I love the fabric and cut. Its a perfect fit!

It’s Not Me It’s You:

Maria had the pleasure of reviewing the Headline Shirts It’s Not Me It’s You shirt. Ok its slightly smart alec but admit it- its HILARIOUS! I’m slightly smart aleccy so its perfect for me. I get lots of laughs every time I wear this shirt. Not only for single people- this shirt really applies to so many of life’s “situations” dont you think? Sometimes I wish I could wear it to the office (j/k maybe). I love the scooping neck line for warm summer days and to add a touch of femininity to a casual look.

Our shirts came super fast and packaged nicely! We also must point out the ease of use of Headline Shirts website- easy search tools and navigation bars, clear pictures, & plenty of size options. We really appreciate the clever & witty T shirts and know you will like them too! Visit their website, sign up for their newsletter to save $5 on your order and enter to win via Rafflecopter here:

Entries will be accepted until 11:59 pm on 6/15/2012 and the winner will be selected at random and announced on 6/17/2012. Contest open to US Residents (No PO Boxes)! Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Amy Dixon's Give Me 10: Core Cuts

Fitness , Reviews No Responses »

Jun 04 2012

Give Me 10: Core Cuts
Amy Dixon, 2012

This dvd contains six 10-12 minute core focused workouts. Amy leads with 3 backgrounders, one providing beginner modifications. The set is an open studio and you will need a stability ball and dumbbells for some of the segments.

Hard Core Definitions: This is a traditional floor core routine. Exercises include: crunch variations, bike, leg drops, Turkish getups, plank variations, and a low back series.

Yoga 6 Pack: This is a standing & floor core focused yoga routine. Exercises include: tree pose & side bend, triangle side bends, warrior 3 & knee pull, some great balance work, down dog knee pulls, side plank leg raises, and a table top series.

Tight n’ Toned Tummy: This is a weighted core focused routine that will also hit other muscle groups. Exercises include: curtsy & chop, side lunge & overhead reach, side bend leg raises, plank rows & press or snatch, Russian twists, and V sit dumbell pass through.

Core Ball Breakthrough: This standing & floor ball routine fully utilizes the ball. Exercises include: standing twists, deadlift series, hi plank series, dip & side bends, squat & twists, plank & pike w/ knee pulls, and lo back work.

Core Ball Blast: This floor ball routine uses the ball in many fun & effective ways. Exercises include: crunch series, ball roll outs & pull ins, oblique work, bridge series, & kneeling lean backs.

This dvd offers a lot of great core work and also hits other muscles as well. The pace in these workouts is quick so you really dont waste any time. Amy is a great lead with great cuing. I rate these routines intermediate to high intermediate but a mod always shows options! I received this dvd to review.

For More Information:

Visit Amy Dixon Fitness online

Friend Amy Dixon on Facebook

Follow @ amydixonfitness on Twitter

LOVE: Nutorious Nut Confections

Nutrition , Reviews No Responses »

Jun 01 2012

Warning, warning!! Continue reading at your own risk The Belles have recently come across a super-delicious, they say “innocently addictive”, we say highly addictive snack. Allow us to introduce you to Nutorious Nut Confections! YUM! Nutorious Nut Confections are All-Natural, Nutritious and Delicious. These award-winning snacks are made with only the highest quality, all-natural, simple ingredients. Nutorious Nut Confections contain zero trans fat, are low in sodium and high in Omega 3 Fatty Acids. They are outstanding as snacks or sprinkled on salads, ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal or cereal. In mouth-watering flavors such as: Blueberry Lemon Merengue, Cha Cha Chipotle aand Pumpkin Palooza and more who can resist??? Jenny and Carrie, founders of Nutorious Nut Confections, had no idea what they were on to when they created these delicious snacks many years ago in their kitchen.

These are seriously delicious! I served (begrudgingly shared lol) my nuts at a Memorial Day get together and everyone LOVED LOVED LOVED them! They are so stinking delicious! I could not put them down! The bowl of Notorious Nuts was devoured in no time flat. I will definitely be purchasing more of these- they are the perfect salty snack or sweet dessert and you can feel good about eating them! You will certainly enjoy eating them and your heart will thank you for the Omega 3′s!

Ooo La La Original – is a scrumptious blend of walnuts, almonds and pecans in a buttery, sweet confection. The package states, “Great for snacking, on salads, over ice cream or in a yogurt parfait” I wish I could say more about it but the bag was polished off in one sitting. Yeah, it was that good! Innocently addictive? I think they know perfectly well that after just one bite people will be headed out in droves to get their hands on more Nutorious Nut Confections!
Cranberry Orange Tango - is a refreshing blend of walnuts, almonds, pecans and dried cranberries
in a delicate orange confection. This is my favorite to top over vanilla yogurt and my favorite spinach, cranberry and walnut salad. Yum!
Pumpkin Palooza - is a delicious blend of walnuts, almonds, pecans in a pumpkin spice confection. This nut blend made for a decadent breakfast sprinkled over belgian waffles and protein pancakes.
Blueberry Lemon Meringue - brings walnuts, almonds, pecans and dried blueberries blended together and
infused with a lemon blueberry twist. Great for baking or a summer get-together. This fruity blend is another one that I enjoyed bite after bite sprinkled on yogurt.
Cherry Vanilla Va-Voom - is a delectable blend of walnuts, almonds, pecans and dried cherries in a
sweet vanilla confection. Try this on pancakes, on salads or over ice cream for a yummy treat. I enjoyed this one over my simple and healthy banana ice cream – just take a frozen banana and whip it up in the food processor. Voila! Top it with the nuts and you are in for a tasty treat! Great for summer days!
ChaCha Chipotle - is a blend of walnuts, almonds and pecans in a sassy chipotle confection. This is another one that went from bag to mouth. Normally I am able to practice some self-control but I like nuts and I love spicy – this was the perfect combination!