Mia Gordon
Reporter, Host, Content Creator, Blogger

Why VII Code is the best eye mask I have ever tried

Working in TV during the day and taking care of a toddler at night my skin care routine sometimes slacks. With the early mornings, and long days my skin usually shows the wear and tear, especially my eyes. So I was thankful when I found an eye mask that actually works.

I have been using the VII Code Oxygen Eye Mask for over a year now and I am obsessed with it. The unique nutrients help reach deep to the bottom layers of the skin, helping activate blood circulation to reduce dark eye circles, sooth wrinkles, and help maintain health, soft skin.

There are three main ingredients that really help achieve this balance

Caffeine

Caffeine works as an antioxidant and anti inflammatory that helps circulate blood flow. It really helps with reducing dark circles and under eye bags. Another big plus is that it helps protect the delicate skin around your eyes from UV rays. This doesn’t only protect you, but also helps anti aging.

Tea polyphenols

Tea polyphenols help absorb water and help moisturize the skin. It also works like collagen – which helps with skin elasticity and anti aging. Another big plus is it helps cell renewal, which in turn helps tighten and smooth the delicate skin around your eyes.

Retinol 

Retinol has amazing skin care products, which is why I use it in my skin care products for my entire face so I was really excited when I saw it was a main part of these eye masks. One big positive of retinol is that it helps prevent the degradation of collagen. This in turn reduces fine lines and reinstates skin elasticity. It also helps protect the skin from the outdoor environment that can harm it.

I have tried a hundred eye creams and eye masks to try and reduce my dark circles and wrinkles but this is one that has actually worked and I can’t recommend it enough.

xo

Mia

 

5 Ways to Boost Recovery Times from Exercise

 

Exercise is a vital part of staying fit and healthy, and in a world where obesity is on the rise and a quarter of the US population does not engage in any physical exercise at all, being able to incorporate exercise into your day is an excellent way to stay healthy and support your body.

But with exercise comes the all-important recovery period. For newbies or those pushing themselves to achieve more, the dreaded DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) can be off-putting and create mild pain and soreness for a few days post-exercise. Exercise can also cause fatigue and make you feel like you cannot physically do anything else for a while afterward.

But with recommendations that you need to be engaging in at least 150 minutes of exercise that raises your heart per week, how can you improve recovery times from your workout?

 

Stretches

Never underestimate the importance of stretching post-workout. You should be doing dynamic stretching before your workouts, i.e., high knees, arm circles, lunges, or squats, and static stretching, which is holding the stretch afterward to help your body recover faster. Make sure you stretch each muscle group you have used for at least 30 seconds once you have finished the exercise, as this helps to reduce muscle soreness and pain.

 

Replace Fluids

You should be making sure you drink plenty throughout your workout, but if not, you need to replace fluids post-workout to let your body recover fluids it has lost during this period. This will allow your body to retain and continue its normal functions without dehydrating. If you are training for any type of sport or working out for longer than an hour, a drink with added electrolytes is particularly useful.

 

Massage

My absolute favourite way to recovery from exercise. Massages are an excellent way to promote recovery from your workouts. You can invest in at-home massage equipment, such as massage guns or chairs, to soothe and relieve muscle tension, or you can look into remedial massage therapy to help you work out any muscle tension or soreness in your body.

 

Ice Baths

Ice baths have become increasingly popular of late, and many athletes swear by them to help improve recovery times and boost physical and mental health. The idea behind ice baths is that plunging into cold temperatures will help to constrict and dilate blood vessels, which can help muscles get rid of waste products easier.

 

Recovery Foods

Ideally, you should be looking to consume some type of protein within 60 minutes of exercising. Protein and carbs can help your body repair, recover, and get stronger, so taking a high-protein snack, shake, or eating a protein-heavy meal post-exercise can improve recovery times and help you build strength and muscle. Adults need to eat 20 to 40 grams of protein after working out to maximize muscle growth.

 

With exercise comes the aftereffects in the form of soreness and fatigue; however, these tips can help you improve your recovery times, get back to working out with minimal downtime and soreness, and give your body what it needs when it needs it.

Happy working out friends,

xo

Mia

 

My top tips for camping with a toddler

Living in BC I have always loved exploring the beautiful outdoors. Whether it be hiking, biking, ski touring, or camping. But now I have a little sidekick that makes heading out on some of these adventures a little more challenging.

I decided this year I was going to try camping with my little guy for the first time. I turned to my Squamish Mom Hive for the best tips and tricks ahead of the trip and also learned a lot while we were there that I wanted to share with you in case you are thinking of planning a camping trip with a toddler.

Tip #1 Think about logistics

 

This is something completely new and different and it could of been a total disaster – I mean toddlers barely like going to sleep a half hour later than usual – how about going to sleep in a completely different environment, outside, without any comforts of home. So wit this in mind I decided our first camping trip would be short and sweet – just one night as a sort of test drive. I also decide to keep it close to home in case it was a disaster and we had to abort the mission.

Also, something I learned the hard way is really check the weather ahead of time. We were having a heat wave in BC but of course the day we went camping it was cooler and raining and not something we prepared for.

Tip #2 Make sure you have the right gear

You know how when you are packing for vacation with your baby and somehow you have 3 extra suitcases somehow – well camping is no different it seems. There is so much extra gear that you need to think of brining for someone who is a quarter your size. Here is the gear that was a must have for us on our trip.

  • Pack and Play:If you are car camping I would suggest bringing a tent big enough that you could fit your pack and play. It creates a sleep space separate for your baby. Another great tip was to bring a blackout cover. Lot’s of people suggested the slumber pod but we just went with a blackout cover from amazon and it worked great and was half the price
  • Find the perfect toddler sleeping bag: I did a lot of research, and I mean hours worth of research trying to find the perfect sleeping bag and I landed on the Deuter Littlestar. Firstly I loved how cute it was with the little ears, but the material was also so soft. Then it had so many additional bonuses. It had zippers on both sides so easy to transfer Max. I loved that it was expandable and so it could grow with Max – since he is such a big kid and grows out of everything so quickly. I also loved that it was quick dry – which was a bonus on our first camping trip since it did indeed rain.
  • Bring the comfort items: One of the biggest tips I got was to make it as close to home as possible. So we brought along his sound machine and bunny.
  • Bring a carrier:We didn’t have any hikes planned but everyone kept telling me to bring a carrier and I am so glad we brought our Deuter Kid Comfort. We used it to help out with nap time (Max always falls asleep on walks) but also if there were any areas I didn’t want him running around or wasn’t safe I would leave him strapped in
  • Bring the basics: You are camping, you are outdoors, you are in nature – you need to bring the essential – extra clothes, kid sunscreen, baby safe bug spray , a first aid kid, and all of the snacks

Safety first

You are stepping out of your comfort zone and into a new environment and so all those baby and toddler proofing that you have done at home don’t exist out here so it is important to follow some safety tips.

  • Book with your toddler in mind: Check out the campsite’s location before checking. Is it near a busy road or a fast moving body of water? Maybe better to save it for an adults only trip.
  • Baby-proof the campsite: Before setting up your tent take a walk around your campsite looking for any dangerous items like sharp sticks or broken glass.
  • Keep child away from fire: I mean this one is pretty obvious ( I hope) but don’t leave your child unsupervised near the campfire
  • Write your campsite on your child’s hand: In case your toddler gets separate write down your campsite so it is easy for them to find you.

Have fun with it

Listen, this is a completely new experience – it isn’t going to be perfect but I promise it will be fun. Being outside in nature will be such an amazing time and enough to tire a toddler out but if you still need some activities why not try a scavenger hunt with items you find in nature, or better yet get your toddler to help you with tasks – Max loved trying to bang the pegs into the tent.

 

Happy camping my friends,

xo

Mia

Find out more about my new favourite skin care product from VIIcode

As an on camera personality I am always trying to look and feel my best, as a new mom that isn’t always easy. I am tired ALL…THE…TIME. So in order to fake it until I make it I rely on good beauty products.

I have shared some of my favourites here before but recently I did a big haul. I wanted to make sure that anything going on my face is high quality with trustworthy ingredients. Out with the old and in with a new they say. And one area I am really focusing on lately is my eyes – because as many moms know, that is the first place to give away how tired I really am. It is also a really sensitive skin area and so I wanted to chose my product wisely. I have recently fallen in love with VIIcode’s latest T2 Oxygen Eye Cream.

About the product

This eye cream is created to regenerate skin cells near the eye  with the help of some true superheroes aka natural ingredients which include

Elderberries

This product is filled with antioxidants. It helps maintain the cells around the eye to keep the skin firm and glowing

Jojoba oil

Another oil filed with antioxidants that helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Evening Primrose oils

Primrose is great for boosting blood circulation, helping give those tired eyes life.

What I love

The first thing I noticed when I opened the bottle was the smell. It smelled really fresh and earthy. I also really loved the texture. I have tried a lot of eye creams over the years but have never felt one quite this smooth before. I have been using the cream at night for the past few weeks and I am already noticing a softer texture around my eyes.

There you have it my friends, my latest beauty secret for you all.

xo

Mia

 

 

Mom life: Returning to work after mat leave

While the first few days feel like I blur I still remember the feeling. The feeling of utter joy to have my new baby in my arms but I also remember just feeling so overwhelmed, anxious, scared, and of course tired. I remember wishing away the early days. I can’t wait until he sleeps through the night or I can’t wait until he no longer has to feed every two hours.

But then the days started to fly by, and those early sleepless nights were a distant memory. As someone once told me “The days are long but the years are short.” And it’s so true – this year flew by in the blink of an eye. And 13 months since I said see ya later to the Weather Network to embark on this incredible new journey as mom – it is time to head back to work.

This year has been my biggest year of growth yet. It has taught me patience, kindness, love (like I have never known before) and what is truly important to me. It has been a year full of memories, laughter, tears, and now it is time to turn the page on the book again and start a new chapter.

I was speaking with my therapist the other day about the anxiety I am having around finding the perfect balance. A balance between work and life they say but it is so much more than that, work, life, family, friends, my baby, and myself. It sounds like something only a superhero could do. I was feeling so overwhelmed that this wasn’t possible. And you know what – finding that perfect balance might not be humanly possible -but we decided I would just take it one day at a time.

Before having Max my life was my work – I had worked for 10 years to get to where I am and I finally found a job that I actually saw as a career that I love. After years of working part time, freelance, hard news and all the in between moments. At the Weather Network I have finally had a chance to tell real stories, ones that matter. Bringing important information to people, while also focusing on climate change and sustainability – which is something I care deeply about. I have had a chance to even create my own documentaries on these topics. I love my work – it has allowed me to travel and explore. I have seen the Northern Lights in the Yukon, the glaciers that tower over Whistler, the grizzlies of the Great Bear Rainforest. I have been given so many incredible opportunities and I am truly excited to see what comes next as the videographer and bureau chief for the Weather Network out here in British Columbia.

But now I have this new priority in my life. Gone are the days where I can just pack a bag and go. Gone are the days where I can just drop everything and run out to cover active weather. It is going to be a new balancing act for sure – one that I am nervous to try and conquer, but also one that I am excited about. I am excited to write this next chapter of my life – of our lives.

I know it isn’t going to be easy, there are going to be hiccups, and bumps and challenges – but that is the world we live in, and now I know just how challenging it is to be a working mom, but I want to be a mom that my son is proud of.

So mommas I see you, I feel you and I am here with you as you start to write new chapters of your own lives.

xo

Mia