© 2014 sarahfortune.

HELLO
Mom to Iris. Wife to Todd. Our little family lives at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We love it here and I love sharing little bits of our life.

© 2014 sarahfortune.
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Category : Health & Beauty

Health & Beauty, Life, Skincare

Two Weeks Later – An Update!

It’s been two weeks since I walked through the doors of NWA Center for Plastic Surgery‘s skin care center for my first consultation. As mentioned in my previous post, I had zero clue as for what to expect. And if you are in the same boat as I was (basically clueless about skin care), then hopefully the sharing of my experience will be helpful!

Once I got all checked-in, I talked with the esthetician for a good thirty minutes about my skin. The approach wasn’t about what I hated and wanted to change – it was about what I loved and wanted to preserve. That positivity matched the atmosphere, which felt more like home than a doctor’s office. With big windows that let in a lot of natural light, and decor that left me wanting to move in, I felt comfortable. Like I was on a nice little retreat from my work day.

After figuring out what would work best with my skin (mine is pretty sensitive), I jumped right in and started a few treatments. One of the first things I did was dermaplane. I think I had heard of it before, but I had no idea what it was. And in case you don’t either, I’m here to tell you that it means taking a scalpel to the face! Sounds horrifying, right? It was actually incredibly relaxing, pain free, and I would do it every week if I could. The process scrapes off the layer of dead skin cells and the velus hair (the peach fuzz) on your face and it instantly made my skin softer than it has ever been.

After that, she did a few more treatments of various creams and ointments, including a very light chemical peel which again, sounds scary and painful, but it was easy breezy. All of this took less time than my lunch hour. From there, I went down the hall and met my new best friend, Annie. She just so happens to be the Nurse Injector and she introduced me to my other new best friend…Botox.

That’s right. For the first time ever, I got Botox. And I would do it again in a heartbeat. I’ve been curious about it for some time now, but only recently realized that it’s helpful to prevent wrinkles, not just smooth them away. Which, by the way – it DOES. Like magic. Like REAL-LIFE Photoshop. The best thing about how NWA Center for Plastic Surgery offers Botox is that they are thoughtful about how it’s done. I was told to start small, which I did, and that no one would actually notice that I got it, which they didn’t. Obviously you still want to look like you, just a refreshed version of you. And now two weeks later, that’s what I got – my skin is smoother, but my expression is still mine. Although, it might be smiling a bit more lately because I honestly love my skin again. I’ve already switched from my full-coverage foundation, to a tinted moisturize – or nothing at all.

Now let’s get to the fun stuff – The before and after photos! I am still a work in progress, but I started noticing a real change on day four. The Botox was injected in my forehead, by my eyes, and in-between my eyebrows. The photo on the left was taken at my first visit, right after the dermaplane. On the right is two weeks later, right after a workout.

With Botox, the only thing I regret is not doing it a little sooner. Now that I’m “on the other side,” I see how it’s a subtle game-changer. I’m also realizing how many other people do it – and I had no idea. I love talking about this sort of stuff and it seems that once the conversation gets started, so does everyone else. So, let’s keep talking, learning, and sharing. I’m been religiously using the SkinMedica day and night, and I go back for another round of dermaplane (woo hoo!) in two weeks. Can’t wait to see (and share) the rest of my progress!

Special thanks to the NWA Center for Plastic Surgery for sponsoring me on this journey! Seriously, y’all have made my year and I’m so excited to share.

Health & Beauty, Life

ABOUT FACE: My New Skin Care Journey

So next week I turn 36 and, as I inch closer and closer to the big 4-0, I’m realizing that I need to start taking better care of my skin. Don’t get me wrong, I wash, exfoliate, and moisturize every day, but I’m discovering that things are starting to change and the cream I pick up during my grocery store run isn’t cutting it any longer.

The problem is, I’m pretty naive when it comes to skin care and am always overwhelmed any time I try to figure out a routine. At the end of the day, I end up with a hodge-podge of products and just cross my fingers that they are all actually doing something. I often find myself admiring other people’s skin, wondering what it is that they do to perfect it and – not just how do I get there – but where do I even start?!

So here I am – starting! I can’t tell you how excited I am to team up with NWA Center for Plastic Surgery, specifically their Skin Care Center. I just had my first consultation yesterday and leading up to my appointment felt like waiting for Christmas morning. I didn’t have any idea what to expect, but I was ready for the experts to have their way with my face. Over the next six months I’m going to document my journey as I try some core treatments and a regimented (and finally consistent) skin care routine. I’ll share my journey along the way, talking about my entire experience – not just the cool products (which, by the way, are very cool), but the maintenance as well. I feel like much of the treatments are kept “hush hush” on a personal level, but I’ve been so curious for so long, that I’m ready to try it all out and share my experience.

So, stay tuned…


My new best friend: SkinMedica c/o NWA Center for Plastic Surgery

Health & Beauty, Jazzercise

I tried Jazzercise for 6 months and Here are the Results

Six months ago I did something I never thought I’d do – I joined Jazzercise. As mentioned back in March (just one month in), I was curious to see how I would feel about it at the six-month mark. Well, here I am and here’s how it went.

In order to really get a full understanding of how Jazzercise works and how it works for my body, I decided to set a personal goal to attend 100 classes before my 6-month contract was up. Despite several weeks of travel, being out for two weeks because of a pulled neck muscle (not Jazz-related), and being slowed down due to multiple colds, I’m proud to say – I met my goal! My 100th class was just this week and now the verdict is in:
I’m just as in love with Jazzercise as I was when I first started.


Taken on a celebratory (wine) walk after I completed my 100th class.

The Basics:
+ In a perfect world I go to about 5-6 classes a week. However, with a busy work schedule, lots of travel, and a kid who likes to bring me illnesses home from daycare, that certainly doesn’t always happen.

+ The sessions last for a full hour and include a warm-up and a cool-down. When I started I was surprised to discover that there are several different formats, which took me a while to fully understand. Now I know that Fusion incorporates more strength, while Dance Mixx features more cardio. All I bring to class each day is a huge bottle of water, as they have plenty of mats and weights to use.

+ Unless you pay for each class individually, you have to sign a contract and pay a sign-up fee. However, occasionally there are specials where they waive that fee or a have free, no-strings-attached month. The longer your contract is, the cheaper your plan is. More info can be found on my first post or directly from the source at Jazzercise.com.

Why I still love it:
+ It’s a one-stop-shop. I do Jazzercise for the same reason I subscribe to Blue Apron. I want to work out for the same reasons I want to eat well, but in the past all of the preparation and planning got in the way. Due to my crazy busy schedule, I don’t have time to master the week of perfect recipes the same way I don’t have time to seek out the perfect fitness routine on my own. With Jazzercise, I know I have a place that I can go every day and get handed a full, well-rounded workout. With cardio, strength, and stretching – it’s everything packaged up nice and neat in every class.

+ I admit I had preconceived ideas about what Jazzercise was before I tried it and it wasn’t necessarily favorable. Of course I assumed it was stuck in the 80s, but the soundtrack proved instantly that it’s not. Also, I immediately realized how much people really loved Jazzercise, so I wondered if there was some sort of incentive to share the excitement and get your friends to join. I was actually happy to learn that the fanfare is genuine. So if a girlfriend tries to get you to go, it’s most likely because she really thinks you’ll love it too. One exception to this is that I did once win a sweet Jazzercise water bottle during a special sign-up promotion, but I think you still get my point.

+ That brings me to one other thing I’ve earned – my very own Jazzercise beach towel. And yes, I mean earned and not won. Jazzercise holds periodic challenges throughout the year, where if you attend a certain number of classes during a set amount of time, you earn some special Jazz-merch. This was the first challenge I’ve accepted and, while the towel is great and all, it’s more about having a goal to work towards.

+ The workout creates such a positive feeling. As cheesy as it is, there’s something about the combination of music, pushing your body has hard as you can, and the encouragement of the instructors that leaves you feeling incredibly happy to be giving it your all. While some days I might think about going to the happy hour next door instead, I still look forward to it instead of the normal dread I have about other exercise. And by the way, according to their website, the average person sticks with Jazzercise for seven years. That’s a long time for a workout regimen.

+ Even after six months, it’s still just as much a mental work out as it is a physical one. Jazzercise does a good job shaking things up with new songs and routines just as soon as you think you know what you’re doing. This is still the only hour of my day where I’m totally focused on one thing and one thing only.

+ After my very first class, the instructor told me that it takes about a month to fully get it. She was right. I still have my off days and I still mess up during every song, but I don’t care and neither does anyone else. You’re made to feel comfortable and are reminded that this is your work out, so you can make it your own. And believe me, we all do.

What I’ve gotten out of it:
+ I went from not exercising at all to exercising 4 – 6 days a week. So, did I lose a bunch of weight? Not really, but that wasn’t my goal. I’ve always had a smaller frame and I tend to eat semi-well, so I started this journey to tone-up and to feel better overall. While I’m not perfect (who is?), I am more confident and I’m finally wearing clothes again that I hid in the back of my closet long ago. Shockingly, I even fit into my wedding dress recently, which took place nearly a decade ago.

+ I also gained the confidence to wear a bikini in public for the first time since before Iris was born. While I still often choose my one-piece, it’s amazing to have options you feel good about.

+ Beyond the outer benefits, I definitely feel better inside too. I fall asleep easier, I haven’t had a serious migraine since I started Jazzercise, and I have more energy. I also like knowing that Iris sees me taking time to care for my health and I hope it instills something in her too.

Will I continue?
+ My answer at this point? DUH! Right now Jazzercise just works for me. It works for my schedule, it works for my body, and it works for my mind. So right now my answer is a resounding YES! Will I be writing a year update? Two year update? Seven years? Only time will tell. Till then, see ya there?

PS – This is not at all a sponsored post. I just wanted to share my honest journey.

Health & Beauty, Jazzercise, Life

CONFESSION: I’m a Jazzerciser

I have a serious confession to make.
I’ve been Jazzercising… and I LOVE IT.

It all started back in October when I was planning Iris’ birthday party. I stopped by the party supply store on my lunch hour and noticed that a Jazzercise location had opened up right next door. Intrigued, I grabbed a pamphlet from their front door. I took it back to my office, which happens to be right around the corner, and half-jokingly showed it to my co-workers. But that’s when I noticed their hours… They have a class that starts ten minutes after our office closes and ends early enough for me to pick up Iris before her school closes – pretty perfect timing. Not only that, but October was totally FREE Jazzercise month for anyone who wanted to try it, no strings attached. Office challenge, anyone?!

One afternoon before the freebie month was over, a few of us got up the nerve to try it. No, we didn’t wear cheesy headbands and matching leotards (although we threatened to), but we did jump straight in, not knowing what to expect. My first class was… a mess. I was all over the place and all out of breath after just the first ten minutes. However, I left feeling like I had actually done something good, even though I may not have done it correctly. My co-workers and I laughed about it afterwards, but we all were in agreement – we wanted to do it again.

After getting through the craziness of the holiday season, I officially joined Jazzercise two months ago and haven’t looked back. I pay $50 per month and that gets me unlimited classes. My location offers 27 classes per week and they even offer child-care at several of their classes. I’m lucky to have a Jazzcercising buddy too, as my good coworker friend also took the plunge. You see, I’m not an exceriser at heart. In fact, I usually freaking hate it. My schedule is jam-packed during the week with home-life and work-life. Making time for me is usually pretty difficult, but now thanks to Jazzercise, I finally have an hour a day that I devote strictly to taking care of myself. I will admit that even with over 30 hours of Jazzercise under my belt, I still very much feel like a newbie and probably will for a while. I’m not naturally coordinated or athletic, but the best part is that it doesn’t matter. I may jump in the wrong director or squat on the wrong beat, but the point is – I’m moving, working up a sweat, getting my heart-rate up, and actually having fun doing it.

Why I love it:
+ It kicks my butt. There are several different style classes, but overall it’s a mix of (often intense) cardio, strength, stretching, and Justin Bieber. Okay, maybe just a little Bieber, but tons of other current hits (for once I actually knew every song that was featured at the Grammy’s).
+ It’s a mental workout as much as a physical one. You have to pay close attention for a full hour, otherwise you’ll quickly get off track. It’s rare that I go five minutes in my day without getting side-tracked, so to have a full hour where I am just concentrating on one thing is life-changing.
+ The environment is welcoming and positive without being overwhelming. The instructors are always upbeat and encouraging, which makes for a comfortable space for us girls to give it our all.
+ Because of that moment when a routine clicks and it makes me feel like Beyonce. I mean, I know I look more like a stumbling drunk person, but I feel like Beyonce!
+ For the first time in my life, I want to exercise every day. I’m actually bummed if I miss a day, not because I feel guilty, but because it really is something I look forward to. On days where I can’t make it to a class, I try to walk, jog, or do a bit of the routines I can remember at home – but it’s just not the same!
+ As with any exercise, it’s pushed me to be more conscious of what I eat. I’ve pretty much eliminated fast-food from my diet and since Whole Foods just opened near my house, I’ve been eating lots of leafy greens and tofu for my weekday lunches, while sticking to fruit and proteins for healthy snacks.

What I’ve been surprised with:
+ I am not the youngest person at Jazzercise. On some days I’m actually closer to being the oldest. While people, including myself, have a preconceived idea of what Jazzercise is (hello, 1980’s moms in neon spandex), the brand has totally revamped itself to stay relevant.
+ Turns out, Jazzercise might be the secret weapon no one is talking about. I’ve run into several friends and acquaintances there that I had no idea Jazzercised!

I signed a six-month contract, so I’ll be curious to where I am a few months from now when my beach vacations are over and the idea of wearing a swimsuit isn’t dangling in front of me for motivation. I really hope that I’ll be right here though, with my weights, mat, and dancing (I mean Jazzing) shoes on. Just kidding, they are just regular sneakers. And Jazzercise is, surprisingly, a regular work out – just a much more fun one.