Ironmum Karla Workout + Recipe Swap

In my collaboration with Fitness First Australia, I am being given a challenge every month within all areas of health and wellness. This month, I was encouraged to "switch it up" and exchange workouts with a fellow FFA Blogger. Little did I know I would be switching it up with former Iron Woman and world ranked Stand Up Paddle Boarder, Karla Gilbert of Ironmum.

This woman is beyond inspirational. After years of dedication to ocean lifeguarding and countless titles won in Iron Woman competitions, injury led her towards a new life path -- becoming a Mother. She is now the proud Mum of two little girls and she views her newfound role as a progression rather than a trade in. In fact she even says her shift towards family life has made her even more passionate about health, fitness and wellbeing. Aware of the challenges faced with busy schedules and the spontaneity of parenthood, she felt inspired to share her story and inspire others to continue to keep health and wellness a priority no matter what our daily lives bring.

Her weekly workouts make mine look like a mere warm up stretch. She runs 10k twice a week broken up by pilates, yoga, 30 minute ab stints, and 1.5 hour SUP sessions. Attempting this workout was a combination of humbling and inspiring, as my short and sweet work outs were now transformed into committed endurance training. As the month progressed, I felt a serious shift from obligation to devotion to my daily workouts. Since I can't run 10k straight, I started running 5k every day. And the times when I would normally feel unmotivated or overwhelmed, I just thought of Karla who manages to make time with 2 kids and a career traveling the world doing SUP. (That changed my attitude real quick!) I also prepared a killer recipe from her blog that you all MUST try, its absolutely amazing and is a great snack for giving you that extra boost of energy throughout your day.

Gluten-free Almond Acai Muffins

To start the week, it’s nice to fill your fridge with wholesome snacks so you aren’t scratching for food on the go or relying on making it to the grocery store on an already pushed schedule.

For this recipe you probably have most of the ingredients already in your pantry. These almond acai berry muffins are gluten, dairy and processed sugar free and full of goodness.

Ingredients:

+ 1 1/2 cup muesli (not too fruity)

+ 1/2 cup gluten free self raising flour

+ 1/4 cup finely chopped almond pieces

+ 1/4 cup flaxseeds

+ 2 eggs

+ 1/4 cup agave

+ 1/4 rice malt syrup

+ 2 tbs acai powder

+ 1/4 probiotic or greek yoghurt

+ 3 large ripe bananas, mashed

Directions:

1.  Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees. Mix in a bowl the muesli, flour, flaxseeds, aca and almonds.

2. In a separate bowl beat the eggs, yoghurt, agave, rice malt and add in bananas.

3. Combine the two bowls and mix well and then spoon out into mini muffin cases or muffin tray and bake for 20-25 minutes until brown and risen.

4. Serve with a dollop of yoghurt.



Make sure to check out IronMumKarla.com for all things body, mind, and life fit! She is truly an inspiration and I am so honored to have stepped into her fitness lifestyle even for just a few weeks!
Cheers Karla! xxx

First Base x Amés Collective

Ahhh, there's nothing better than a good crossover. Like coconut and peanut-butter, the collab between First Base x Amés Collective is super smooth and full of sunshine vibes. 

First Base, straight out of Bondi Beach, creates effortless, relaxed basics with a sophisticated black and white palette, while Tess Wilcox of Amés blasts the positive vibrations through her one-of-a-kind artisanship. These special edition hand shaped, hand painted, soul decks are black and white and RAD all over for a combined aesthetic that screams badass skater babe. Everything about this makes me wanna kick off my shoes, grab a beer and my skatey, and go cruise some concrete. Keep up the amazing work ladies, and make sure to check out ThisIsFirstBase.com to order your custom made craft.

Hawaii Travel Journal // Road Trips with Robbie

Instagram. The source. The reason why anyone knows anything about what's going on in your life anymore. 

This is where our story begins, with a simple post from me of some classic Hawaii goodness discovered by my Australian mate,  Robbie Warden. "I fly in Monday," he wrote. "Will you still be around?!" Indeed, I would. Robbie is an Australian photographer and overall legendary human. 

The adventure had officially begun.

Robbie pulled up to Log Cabins around sunset in a beat up mini van, Foodland sushi and beers in hand. He graciously shared with my girlfriends and me as we soaked up the last of the day's sun, mesmerized by the perfect sets rolling in. "So I've got this van…" he started with a cheeky grin, "I scored it off a guy in Honolulu. It's got a tent, cooking equipment, everything." I looked up with eyes that I can only assume were the epitome of "starry". "Keen to go on an adventure?" Music to my ears.

We started that night on the North Shore, camping right on the beach at Mokuleia. Grilled veggie wraps and PBR fueled our late night, moonlit tide pool floats. The tent became shockingly disposable with the first rays of morning sun. We watched it rise through a sandy, half slumber.

Early to rise we headed for the East side. After making a quick Poke stop, our agenda flew out the window, all cares attached. The day was for adventure artistry and the island our muse. We remained open to all its potential.

We stopped at a rustic beach shop for nothing more than a stretch and a look see. 2 hours later and a ukulele in hand, I wondered what life would be like without chance encounter. Shop owner, musician, and Palestinian expat, Fawazz Jubran was an exuberant fellow on a mission to spread the Aloha vibes. For the record, he succeeded famously. 

Jamming out to our new friend's mellifluous masterpiece, it wasn't long before we were forced to stop again. With whatever secret ninja eyesight Robbie possesses, he spotted a stunning, tucked away, castaway beach, complete with swing and rock for mermaid perching. An impromptu Blue Lagoon photo shoot was absolutely essential, so we got our creative on.

The day had only half passed. Starving, we stopped for a Poke picnic at Kahana Beach Park. We were greeted by a trio of salty Samoans fresh from a dive, the remains of their day's catch butchered on their lofty beer cooler. They taught me of Amakua, the Hawaiian spirit animal and guiding force unique to each individual. I taught them of the Hindu "Om" and we practiced a few rounds. Their energy was contagious, and laughter was bountiful. 

Anxious to get in a surf before the day's end, we bolted into town in hopes of some perfect peelers. Our expectations (as they often do) fell short. The waves were puny, but the people watching was nothing short of epic. Both on a budget and tempted by Honolulu night life, we high tailed it back to the North Shore. But not before making one last stop: Chinaman's Hat.

The weather was moving in fast. The winds were howling and massive rain drops were falling steadily. But the the storm had a mad electricity about it, magnetizing us down to the beach despite the onset of ominous skies. We gazed at the obtuse silhouette of the monster rock.
I sat on a fallen palm and took a deep breath of the humid air, exhaling an intention of gratitude for all of the serendipitous events of the day: the fate that allowed Robbie's and my trip to overlap, small talk that lead to deep connections with local legends, accidental discovery and immersion into a secret beauty of this mystical island. 


 "Woah," Robbie chuckled, camera in hand, snapping me out of my dreamy recapitulation. "I think I just captured your soul."

The following evening I packed my bags and left for LA. Robbie hopped on the next flight to Kauai. This trip reminded me that what makes adventure so sweet is its uniqueness, its randomness, its absolute unpredictability. What could have been another day of routine and rehearsed expression was, instead, a day of splendor and discovery. I am so grateful for Robbie's presence in it all, and for his beautiful documentation of the excursion.

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I know not everyone is able to an adventure off to Hawaii, and not everyone is lucky enough to have friends like Robbie who push them outside their comfort zone. But everyone has the wind. Everyone has the stars.  Everyone experiences the energy of the tides and the cycles of the moon. Nature pushes us to be open, to experience and thrive in new circumstances. Allow yourself to feel these guiding forces and be open to what they bring. See what doors open in your daily life, even in the smallest of ways, and challenge yourself to let go of whatever's keeping you from being moved.

Photos:  Robbie Warden | Bikini: Mikoh | Jewelry: Lotus + Lime / Bahgsu Jewels / Lakota Jewellery

Akila Berjaoui x Human NYC

all images via Akila Berjaoui

Starting tomorrow, a collaboration of epicly rad proportions will be on display at the Human NYC Gallery in Brooklyn. If you're in town you will not want to miss this.

You know those people in your life that everything they do is just cool beyond belief? You secretly hope that maybe, somehow in this universal connectedness of the human race, you may actually share one similar genetic compound thus vibing off their radiating radness?

Well for me, that's my two friends and overall badass humans Rachael Yaeger and Jill Borenstein, creators of Human NYC. Since I met these babes years ago in our glory days at Flagler College, I have known that whatever the hell they touched would turn to pure gold. From music to art to fashion these girls know whats up. They're my go to for that much needed, refreshing dose of "don't give a fuck -- just be you," inspiring, raw creativity. 

So when Rach told me about their collab with Sydney based photographer and ultimate capturer of  feminine splendor, Akila Bejaoui, I think I may have drooled a little. Through a nostalgic lens, Akila makes current the sensationalism of natural beauty that has been lost in an era of airbrushing and augmentation. I love how she describes her work:

“…I want to provoke with my photography and have it presented in a natural way. intimate. A little daring, provocative. real. Human. Think French cinema where women have always been represented as equals. What I do is a form of expression. I am privileged to be able to tell stories through images. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

As her first solo gallery exhibition in NYC with Billabong as a partner, “You better get out of the sun before you melt” Gidget 1959, features an assortment of Akila’s work over the past year shot all over the globe, including Italy, Norway, Dubrovnik, Sydney & Morocco. 

Congratulations to all the amazing women involved with this project -- wish I could be there to see it come to life. xxx

For more on the event click here.