SNAP into Shape: The Fitness Blog!

Even though summertime is coming to an end, its never to late to start a workout plan or a new diet to help you stay healthy & feel confident. One of the most important ways to stay fit is to build in an exercise routine into your schedule. Personally, I will never work out unless I have a gym membership, and for the past year, I have turned to SNAP Fitness in El Dorado Hills, because its affordable and super convenient.

SNAP Fitness is a 24/7 gym facility with hundreds of locations across the nation. Most importantly though, SNAP is super cheap, and the staff are always so friendly! Cynthia, one of the owners of SNAP Fitness in El Dorado Hills, recently teamed up with Santé Smile.

Cynthia & other employees at SNAP loved using the product samples of Santé Smile so much that now the gym is endorsing the product by giving away promotional Santé Smile products to members of the month (as well as by keeping discount codes & coupons in their office). Check out the pictures of me & Cynthia after one of my workouts at SNAP!





But, even if you don't have a gym membership, there are still plenty of other ways to stay in shape! Here are some tricks I've picked up from friends who are personal trainers & professional dieticians:


1. Cardio isn't everything: If you are trying to lose weight, most personal trainers will encourage you to not only build in a cardio routine into your exercise, but to also include a well balanced diet & a weight lifting resistance program. One of the most frequent misconceptions is that the fastest way to lose weight is with cardio alone, and many people overlook the importance of weight training!

2. When to Eat: After the first thirty minutes after your workout, your muscles finally begin to relax & repair themselves. THIS is when you want to be eating protein bars or protein shakes, if you are trying to build muscle. In any case, the ideal time to eat a full meal is 2-3 hours after working out.

3. You can walk: Depending on your body, low intensity cardio can sometimes be more effective at losing weight than running or swimming. If you are fond of walking, try walking everyday for 35-45 minutes. The key is to go for a long walk when there is no food in your stomach (like in the morning after 8/9 hours of sleep)--- this way your body will burn fat while you are walking. Be careful though! Running on an empty stomach can have a negative effect because if you work out too hard, your body may start burning muscle tissue as energy for your workout!

For more great tips, check out two websites I enjoy:

http://exercise.lifetips.com/

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/15-best-diet-tips-ever

I'm a Barbie Girl in a Santa Barbara World!

Santa Barbara truly is a Californian oasis. Sunny beaches, beautiful people, and delicious seafood- what more could anyone ask for? This summer, Santé Smile perused through one of Santa Barbara's hidden hotspots, Butterfly Beach, to give out some free tooth whitening pens. Butterfly Beach is mostly known to locals, as it is a smaller beach of Montecito off the Olive Mill Road exit off the 101. After spending a sunny summer day at Butterfly Beach, I understood why locals keep this small beach a secret from tourists, as the sand was clean and the water was a sparkling blue.

Some beach boys in the parking lot of Butterfly Beach were given some free tooth whiteners. Jonathan & Rich, originally from Northern California, were visiting the beach on a weekend road trip. As a frequent smoker, Rich appreciated the tooth whitening gift, and said that he was excited to try a product that would help absolve the stains on his teeth from smoking. Jonathan was also excited as he said he felt a bright smile was important when working in an professional industry (Jonathan works in IT at Blue Shield). The two boys were pumped to get some free stuff and to take some quick pictures!



Some beautiful local college ladies from University of Santa Barbara were also spotted at Butterfly Beach and were given free tooth whitening pens. Below is a picture of Beth, Carly & Lara, students and alumnus (Lara) of University of Santa Barbara, California. The three girls were recovering from a hang over from a night of bar hopping and clubbing, and explained that they came to the beach for their sunday afternoon nap. These beach barbies also shared with me one of the biggest secrets of Southern California: Isla Vista.




Isla Vista, otherwise known as IV, is the ultimate college student's paradise. With its own beach full of young, tanned, and in-shape college students, and a local liquor store housing over 700 different types of beer (Keg N' Bottle), Isla Vista is truly a town of its own. Lara explained that originally UC Santa Barbara's campus and housing was in the downtown area of Santa Barbara. But, in 1954, the rowdy students of UCSB were moved to a more isolated beach in Isla Vista.

Since 1954, Isla Vista has had an infamous partying reputation. In 1959, one of the student's largest parties, the "Barbary Coast" was finally banned by the student government itself. But, Isla Vista is still known for Halloween, as every year, thousands of students come from all over California and migrate to party on Del Playa Drive, one of Isla Vista's most rowdy streets.


After hearing about all of these legendary parties, I had no choice but to check out the party scene in Isla Vista myself. By my third party, at 1 AM, the police finally showed up to break up the college student masses. However, after giving a short five minute complaint, the police were driven out by a large inebriated crowd of Santa Barbarian. The house party continued, only slightly disrupted by the police's visit, and the UCSB students continued partying late into the night.... Only in Isla Vista.

So, the two key take-aways from this blog for your next Southern California Excursion:

1. If you are NOT a college student, stay far far away from Isla Vista. If you are a college student seeking parties & adventure, here is a list of motels & hotels near Isla Vista :http://lodging.uptake.com/motels/california/isla_vista/228379543.html

2. No matter what your age or background-- if you like beaches, go to Butterfly Beach. After a day of lounging in the sun & wading in the water, you'll never want to leave. TIP: Bring water & a lunch cooler! This is not a tourist spot, so there is no place to buy food on or near the beach!

1000 Plays a Night? The Avignon Theatre Festival 2009

How does a humble town in the south of France manage to host 1000 plays a night? Seems impossible, I know, but after visiting the Avignon Theatre Festival, I saw garages, cafes, and street corners transform into stages for acting troops, dancers, and artists. The city Avignon is a beautiful rustic town lined with cobblestone sidewalks and sprinkled with medieval castles. Avignon is even enclosed by a giant ancient wall (built in the 1360's to protect the city), and is surrounded by a river and small neighboring towns. The festival also lasts late hours into the night, and a wonderful ferris wheel illuminates the town.

This year, the Avignon theatre festival was bestowed with a great new edition, as select tourists and performers were given free tooth whitening pens (courtesy of Santé Smile). Below, you can see an organic farmer, Eve, sporting her summertime hat and her Santé Smile tooth whitening pen, and a local handsome Avignon drama student, Alexandre, who I met at a picnic inside the walls Avignon.



Since 1947, Avignon has been the host of the largest theatre festival in France, and this year, the festivities ran from July 8 to July 31. Every year, the celebration is actually divided into two sets of festivities: the "Festival In," which is where plays are formally showcased inside the Palace of the Popes, and the "Festival Off," which is where the zany & bohemian-like plays are performed throughout the city.


But, why do acting troops from all over Europe make large investments to perform at the Avignon Theatre Festival, even if there are only a handful of people in the audience? The reason is because hundreds of theatre owners and executive producers attend the theatre festival as a shopping opportunity. Producers and investors attend as many plays as possible during this three week festival, and then offer select acting troops & plays to perform in their theatre during the upcoming year. Consequentially, actors from all over Europe attend this festival in the hopes of being discovered and landing a gig with an established theatre company.

For more on Avignon Theatre Festival, check out: http://www.avignonleoff.com/

This year, the Avignon Theatre Festival also had a noteworthy event titled, "A Tribute to the 60th Year Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." This event, sponsored by the United Nations, effectively raised awareness about human rights issues and served as a reminder of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On the left, is a picture of the Executive Producer of this event, Guila Clara Kessous, sporting her Santé Smile. Guila was granted the State Diploma of Performing Arts (from France) and has collaborated with established designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier.

Overall, the theatre festival was basically a giant party. Men cross-dressing and women dressed as nurses parade constantly throughout the night in the streets while advertising their upcoming performance. On a closing note, it was quiet beautiful seeing an acting troop take this opportunity to celebrate human rights. Try taking into consideration several (1, 19 & 24) of the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.... Do you feel like your rights are being protected? Leave a comment and let me know!


Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 19.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 24.

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

For all 30 articles visit http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

Learn to be Parisian. Drink Your Coffee Slow & Relax in the Elevator.

After a week in Paris, I realized two significant cultural differences between the United States & France.

1. The first distinction between our two cultures is the French elevator. These Parisian lifts lack a button that is essential in American society: the close-door button. How many times have we all anxiously tapped that button as we are rushing to our next appointment? But the real question is, does the button actually make the door close quicker? Or is it just there to keep our sanity and maintain an illusion of control? Either way, the lack of this close-door button manifests the slow-paced and tranquil lifestyle of our European counterparts.

2. The second cultural hallmark of French society I noticed one Sunday morning after grabbing a chocolate croissant. Apparently, unless you manage to find a Starbucks, it is an epic challenge to find a cafe that sells coffee to go. That's right- no inhaling your expresso while racing your way to work or chugging a white chocolate mocha as you weave through traffic. The French seem to understand that coffee is meant to be sipped, not gulped, while lounging outside on a street corner cafe.


But, all that coffee drinking does leave a terrible stain on your teeth. Furthermore, Parisians are not only known for sipping coffee and puffing cigarettes, but also for keeping their hair and skin manicured, and maintaining a sparkling smile. These are a few reasons why Santé Smile selected Paris as a target for promotion this past week, and lucky tourists & Parisians a like were surprised with pleasant gifts from Santé Smile.

Backpackers traversing Europe from Portugal to Prague, like Hippie Cowboy Michael and his girlfriend (see below), were given free on-the-go tooth whitening pens while strolling through the Sacre-Coer, one of Paris' most famous landmarks. After the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, the Catholics of France agreed to build a church as a symbol of remorse & hope. The church was finally completed in 1911, and today attracts hundreds of tourists daily.


Other local Parisian Mademoiselles (see right), also enjoy the Sacre-Coer and were caught off-guard with free tooth whitening products during their picnic with panini's and champagne (delicious!).


Plenty of other pedestrians also received Santé Smile gifts while walking through Notre Dame. On the right is a picture of two summer school students, Ian & Joe, who were caught practicing their French outside this famous cathedral.



Elise, a UCLA alumnus, was also caught outside the Louvre, one of the most famous museums of the world. Elise explained she had traveled all the way to Paris to see her all time favorite portrait in person, the Mona Lisa. After hours of waiting in long museum lines, I finally caught eye of the Mona Lisa, and it was surrounded by three layers of protection. The portrait was enclosed in a glass, surrounded by security, and finally roped off. After squeezing through a dense crowd of photo snapping tourists, I was finally able to see the Mona Lisa beauty with my own eyes, and oh, was she beautiful.


Unfortunately, however, all good things must come to end, and after five short days in Paris it was time to return to the states. This time, though, I'll think twice before ordering my next expresso to go or before pouncing on the close-door button, and instead, I'll keep a little bit of Paris with me, and just breathe and smile.

Palm Trees, Nose Jobs & Rapper Wannabes: The LA Lifestyle

Everyday, swarms of people hover and window shop along Rodeo Drive, one of Los Angeles's most trendy and expensive shopping streets. The street is lined with perfectly spaced palm trees, and the shopping district is flooded with sweet California sunshine. Walking through this Beverly Hills paradise, you catch eye of some of Southern California's newest fashion trends, and you also notice tourists snapping pictures in front of Louis Vuitton stores, or next to Rodeo Drive signs.

This past Thursday, Rodeo Drive was taken by an unusual surprise; walking pedestrians were gifted with free tooth whitening pens from Santé Smile! I had the pleasure of meeting many new friends by distributing these on-the-go whitening pens and a few of my new friends let me take pictures of them showing off their Santé Smile.

On the left is a local Los Angeles hip hop artist who was selling his newest album for $3 on Rodeo Drive. He expressed to me that business has been difficult the past couple days, but that he enjoys creating powerful music and will never give up on his dream.

Below is an up and coming performing artist, Cherice. Cherice is from Los Angeles, and after I asked her, "Do you mind if I take a picture of you with the product?" She instinctively responded, "You'll have to ask my manager," who was a tall dark man standing behind her. After explaining to Rob the history & fabulousness of Santé Smile, he granted my permission to take a picture, and added, "By the way, you just missed my friend Nick Cannon who was standing behind you when you introduced yourself to Cherice...."

Although I missed Mariah Carey's "Dream Lover" & "Honey," I was still graced with Rob's and Cherice's company, and spent over a half hour chatting and learning more about them. Rob & I exchanged phone numbers, as he is currently organizing a huge event in NYC this upcoming fall, and asked for me to assist with promotion.


After Rodeo Drive, I cruised over to The Grove, another posh, but more affordable shopping area of Los Angeles. The adorable shopping center is paved with cobblestone walkways and has a European ambiance. There is a small trolley that goes through the farmer's market (a 24-hour food, shopping & tourist center) to the movie theatre and to other stores in The Grove. Passing by trolley goers and other window shoppers were also lucky enough to get free tooth whiteners from Santé Smile.

One young duo I met, Paul & Susie (see right), had just finished watching the controversial yet popular new movie, Brüno. Paul said that he couldn't believe some of the scenes in the movie, but overall had an enjoyable time watching it. Susie, however, was unable to fully enjoy the movie as she had just undergone an operation the day before. She is expecting her new nose sometime next week, and cannot wait to debut it during her senior year of college.

Overall, the trip to Rodeo Drive and The Grove provided a glimpse into the posh lives of some of the citizens of Southern California. All the people I met along the way were so excited to be gifted with a brighter smile, and agreed that Santé Smile would be a new fabulous edition to the Beverly Hills lifestyle.

Bohemian Fairies, Fraternity Brothers & Models Rejoice!

This past weekend, the San Francisco Capitol was taken hostage by millions of tourists from all around the world. This Bay Area city was temporarily transformed into a colorful and outrageous festival: Pride. 

San Francisco Pride is a weekend long event. On Saturday, the celebration begins with a concert in Dolores Park and the party continues into the streets of Castro at the Pink Party. Sunday begins with an unforgettable parade and continues all day with a concert at the State Capitol.

How could Santé Smile not be a part of an event like this? Free tooth whitening samples were passed out to some of the Pride goers this weekend, and along the way I met some great people. On the left in the green is Nixie Melendres, an aspiring musician and bad-ass dancer. 

Our paths crossed walking along through the crowd, and before the night was over, her and her boyfriend joined my friends and me for Thai food by the Pier. 

Another new friend, Mike, on the right below, is a UCLA Fraternity boy, and drove up the weekend to show he really does <3>

Other girls (see bottom) showcased their crazy smiles as bohemian fairies, and were definitely spreading their love and happiness at this weekend festival.

 The pictures you see here are just some of the beautiful smiles we saw from this legendary event. Check out WWW.SFPRIDE.ORG to learn more about next years Pride :)

HARVARD STUDENTS SMILE

Smiles rarely exist at Harvard. No joke, I remember once going to a Harvard library on a Friday night, and I wasn't even able to find a desk because the four story library was so crowded with solemn students. But, Harvard kids do let lose every now and then, especially on one night of the year: Eleganza. 

Eleganza is Harvard's largest entertainment production and is a combination of fashion, music, & dance (www.eleganza09.com). This year the show featured clothing by Club Monaco & Rebecca Taylor. Sponsors included Macys, Redbull, & BCBGeneration. One of the biggest sponsors this year was Santé Smile. 

I started using Santé Smile during the week of Eleganza, since then, I have become so much more confident with my smile. In just two weeks, I was able to absolve my teeth of years of drinking tea & coffee by getting my teeth 7 shades whiter! Check out www.santesmile.com for more details details. 

Anyway, its no wonder that Santé Smile collaborated with this top Harvard fashion show--- Eleganza is a famous celebration in Harvard culture where students get together, have fun, and most importantly, smile. 

P.S. If you didn't get the chance to see the show, check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhvY2Vm4UfU