Read the Mar Issue #63 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST 9MIX 9 ACOUSTIC | STEALTH in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | UnSplash/CRYSTALWEED cannabis
CBD products and brands are proliferating the consumer market due to the high demand for such alternative treatments for various disease signs and symptoms, such as pain, stress, and sleeplessness. Legitimate products don’t guarantee any therapeutic claims since they’re categorized as food supplements and not as medicines.
To ensure you fully benefit from CBD and avoid unmet expectations, it’s crucial to be keen when buying these types of products. Here are some of the best tips when evaluating CBD products and brands:
1. Read CBD Brand Reviews
One of the most recommended tips when evaluating CBD products and brands is to read CBD brand reviews. Product review sites, social media channels, and the company's website are the best places to read reviews about CBD products.
Check these essential things that you need to note when checking reviews:
Product Quality: Check what previous customers have to say about the quality, usage, and effects of CBD products (CBD oil, tincture, topicals, or edibles) on their health. Does it come with correct labeling with dosage instructions included? Are they happy with the results? How long did they use the CBD product before they attained their desired outcomes?
Customer Service: Find out how the CBD company takes care of their customers. Does the company have a toll-free number to call? How did the customer service resolve the client’s problem regarding the CBD product purchased?
Ratings: Look for the star ratings and reviews of verified customers. Why did some customers rate the CBD product poorly? Were there any false claims that disappoint the buyer?
2. Check The Brand’s Reputation
Deal with a reputable CBD brand by checking the company’s reputation. Here’s how:
Check The CBD Company’s Website: Visit the CBD brand’s website and go to their ‘About Us’ page. This is where you can read the company's profile (including vision and mission), how they process their CBD products, and other relevant company information. Also, read the testimonials to get insight into how satisfied their customers are.
Ask Around: Do you know a relative or a friend who has been using the CBD product? If yes, then ask the CBD users about their experience. Do they highly recommend the brand of CBD oil you plan to buy?
3. Know The Source
CBD products may have different sources in terms of country of origin and the hemp plant or cannabis plant used, including the plant cultivation and manufacturing process. It’s crucial to know where the CBD product has been manufactured to ensure its legitimacy.
Check the following details when analyzing the CBD source:
Sustainable Farming: You want to ensure that you’re only sourcing CBD products that are made of organic hemp plants–cultivated using sustainable farming (helping farmers and the environment alike). Make sure that the hemp or cannabis plants weren’t treated with harmful pesticides, which can harm your health. This is especially true if you’re planning to ingest CBD oil.
Extraction Process: CBD can be extracted in hemp or cannabis plants using different methods, such as carbon dioxide extraction (CO2 extraction) and butane extraction. CO2 extraction or decarboxylation is highly recommended for ingesting CBD products because carbon dioxide is naturally found in the body, causing no harmful effects, unlike alcohol and butane.
Type Of CBD Oil Used: Depending on the cannabinoid levels (will be discussed below), CBD oils are categorized into three types. Cannabinoids pertain to the active ingredients found in CBD products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), terpenes and flavonoids (responsible for flavor and aroma), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The THC content in CBD products should be less than 0.03%. Otherwise, it’s considered an illegal cannabis product.
4. CBD And Other Cannabinoid Content
As mentioned, CBD can be categorized according to the cannabinoid content, which includes the following:
CBD Isolate: CBD isolate refers to the purest CBD form, which is recommended for first-time users who want to experiment with the potential health benefits because it doesn’t contain other cannabis compounds. Since CBD isolate is refined, it's generally odorless and tasteless.
Broad Spectrum CBD: This CBD type contains plenty of naturally occurring compounds from the hemp or cannabis plant without the psychoactive ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Full-Spectrum CBD: This form of CBD contains all cannabis or hemp plant compounds but has a low THC level, hence it won’t cause a psychedelic effect. Full-spectrum CBD is considered more natural and less processed than CBD isolate.
Conclusion
Evaluate the CBD products and brands by checking product reviews and the company’s reputation. Also, it pays off knowing the source and cannabinoid content of the product to ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth. Knowing that you’re dealing with a legitimate seller and using a high-quality CBD product gives you peace of mind that your health, safety, and general well-being are safeguarded.
Read the Mar Issue #63 of Athleisure Mag and see #TRIBEGOALS in mag.
PHOTO COURTESY | RALPH LAUREN
On the 100th day remaining prior to the Olympic Games, Ralph Lauren shared Team USA’s Closing Ceremony Olympic and Paralympic uniforms! This year, they’re focused on a clean and graphic look for its athletes that they have been dressing for the Summer Games since 2008. In addition, these looks were created in partnership with Dow to optimize the use of ECOFAST™ Pure Sustainable Textile Treatment, an advanced pre-treatment solution for more sustainable cotton dyeing that significantly reduces the amount of water, chemicals and energy used compared to traditional dye processes and will be utilized within cotton products in the Team USA apparel collection. MIRUM® is a revolutionary leather alternative material made from renewable resources that include plant-based materials and agricultural by-products and is a solution that is free of synthetic plastics. The MIRUM® Olympic Patch was developed in partnership with Natural Fiber Welding, Inc, a leading sustainable material science company that Ralph Lauren recently invested in, that has revolutionized the use and reuse of plant fibers and materials into patented, high-performance materials.
Ralph Lauren unveiled the looks with a number of Olympians from Team USA including (l-r) our April Ross (Beach Volleyball), Alix Klineman (Beach Volleyball) and Nathan Adrian (Swimming) just to name a few.
We’re always excited to see the array of looks that are involved in the Summer Games including the Opening Ceremony, competition, podium etc. Although this year’s postponed games will look different than in years past, we can definitely feel the excitement for the August games.
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/ Content Pixie
Acne is a common concern of many people, especially teenagers. Basically, it’s a skin condition that occurs when hair follicles are clogged with dead skin cells and oil. It leads to pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads.
Although common among teenagers, it affects individuals regardless of their age. Depending on the severity, acne may scar the skin and cause emotional distress.
Luckily, there are many acne treatments available today. Plus, lifestyle changes like tweaking one’s diet and going on a detox program can make a difference in preventing acne. If you want to learn more about the detoxifying properties of substances and minerals like zeolite, don’t hesitate to visit their website.
However, before you choose or get started with any acne treatment, it’s wise to know what causes acne. This way, you can pinpoint which one is applicable to you and determine how to best address the issue.
1. Oil-Based Beauty Products
Not all skin care products are created equal. Moisturizing creams, makeup, hair products, and lotions contain mineral oil, sulfates, cocoa butter, coconut, and silicones that may end up blocking your pores.
That’s why you have to read the label of every beauty product you wish to use and settle for oil-free, non-acnegenic, non-comedogenic, and unscented ones. These products may minimize excess oil production, and they shouldn’t clog your pores. Just don’t forget to wash your face after using any skin care product and apply your preferred treatment for acne.
2. Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal factors related to progesterone and estrogen are common when it comes to female acne, and these include changes in hormones because of menopause and pregnancy. Circumstances such as switching, stopping, or starting on birth control pills may also worsen or cause acne. After these types of changes, acne may even occur for several months.
3. Stress
Stress plays a big role in skin problems like acne, and it’s suspected that a hormone called cortisol is responsible for it.
Whenever you’re stressed, the adrenal gland will produce cortisol. Research suggests that hormones are produced locally in various kinds of skin cells and hair follicles. Even if it’s referred to as the ‘stress hormone,’ it’s actually an essential compound that helps regulate bodily processes, including neurological systems, digestive systems, and immune systems that affect your mood.
However, when you undergo chronic stress, cortisol may start working overtime. This can result in problems with other bodily processes and negatively impact the condition of your skin. Excess cortisol can create a favorable environment for acne, which thrives when bacteria is present.
4. Underlying Medical Condition
Acne may also be caused by undiagnosed medical conditions. For example, in women, a health condition known as a polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) typically triggers difficult-to-control or chronic acne. In this case, it’s essential to consult a dermatologist who can perform an exam to identify the root cause of the issue more accurately.
5. Pressure On The Skin
Subjecting your face to repeated friction or frequently touching it may aggravate acne. Hoodies, cellphones, helmets, hats, tight collars, or even your hands can cause bacteria and sweat to get trapped in your skin and ultimately lead to acne.
6. Genetics
If one of your family members has dealt with or is dealing with acne, you might be predisposed to have it as well. The reason behind this is that certain characteristics of your skin, such as the visibility and size of your pores, are dictated by your genes.
Such genetic factors are out of your control, so it’s best to change your skin care regimen to give your skin a fighting chance. This means knowing the type of skin you have and using only skin care products that work for your unique circumstances. A seasoned dermatologist should be able to help you with such matters.
7. Unhealthy Diet
Even if it’s a myth that eating chocolate and greasy food can cause acne, there’s actually a link between acne and a high dairy/high glycemic diet based on recent research. So if you want to prevent acne, make sure you’re eating a healthy, balanced diet.
8. Pollution
You might not have considered the effects that the environment you’re in has on your skin, particularly the UV radiation, dust, and dirt you’re exposed to outdoors. Having a layer of grime on your face all day may increase your chances of getting clogged pores, so removing it through a consistent cleansing routine is recommended.
UV exposure can also increase your risk for premature signs of aging like dark spots and fine lines. Acne can also be caused by sun exposure since the skin compensates for dryness by producing excess oil. This is why it’s crucial to apply sunscreen daily to protect your face in general and prevent acne.
Conclusion
Now that you know the common causes of acne, the next thing you should do is to consult your doctor about the most suitable solution for you. Acne treatments may vary depending on the issue’s severity and type. If you’re considering certain medications or procedures, always talk to your doctor first about the benefits and risks of each and continue seeing a specialist until your skin improves.
PHOTO CREDIT | Pixabay/Hands off my tags! Michael Gaida
Contractors are at risk of incidents that may cause additional expenses, ranging from site injuries to the collision of a work vehicle. There are affordable contractors insurance options that every contractor should consider to be protected from these unforeseen circumstances. Moreover, most clients require you to have insurance. You may hurt your chances of winning projects if you are not properly covered. Below are five of the most important types of insurance that you should have as a contractor.
Errors and omissions insurance
This type of insurance is also called professional liability insurance. It covers claims caused by mistakes or errors on your end, either made by you or your workers. One example is if a client complains that you used the incorrect materials causing problems in their property. Another one is if a client claims that your recommendation did not work or it caused an unwanted outcome in their place. Whether what they say is true or not, you may be held liable for it. This coverage will pay for the expenses involved in the said situations.
General liability insurance
Two of the most common problems that contractors face in their projects are property damages and injuries to others. With the right insurance, the expenses related to these incidents will not come out of your pocket. Having general liability insurance will save you the headache of worrying about the costs. Having safety measures on-site is important to prevent accidents, but there is still a chance that they may happen. Do not take the risk of not being covered in these circumstances.
Commercial auto insurance
It’s not just businesses in the transport industry that require commercial auto insurance, but any company that uses a vehicle for work. It could be a company car for driving from one site to another, for purchasing materials, meeting with clients, and the like. It could also cover a personal car used by an employee for business-related matters. Road mishaps could happen that may result in injuries, and car or property damage. Your company must pay for these expenses if you do not have commercial auto insurance.
Worker’s compensation insurance
Workers could get hurt on-site while working. It could cause serious injuries that require medical attention or even hospitalization. The accident may also cause disability, or worse, it could be fatal. Your company will have to pay for medical expenses, funeral expenses, or disability support if you do not have the right coverage. Worker’s compensation is the insurance that will cover these events. It will also cover loss of income if the employee cannot get back to work because of the injuries sustained.
Tools and equipment insurance
The equipment and tools that you use at work could be lost or damaged. They may be stolen or broken due to accidents or natural disasters. Repair or replacement could be costly. You don’t have to shoulder these expenses if you are covered by tools and equipment insurance.
Having the appropriate insurance as a contractor will win you more projects, and it will also protect you from unexpected expenses due to work-related incidents.
Read the Mar Issue #63 of Athleisure Mag and see In Our Bag | Brunching From Home in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/LOGAN WEAVER
If you’ve just given birth, the first thing that you might want to do is to get back into shape. However, you might not want to enter a fitness club because it's too pricey, there isn't a gym close by, or the responsibilities that come with the new baby might have made your life too hectic for a gym getaway.
Even though nice fitness equipment, smart gyms, and equipment are all fantastic, there are many options that you can try to get a great workout without spending for gym access. Getting in shape for free is simpler than you think, and there are several ways to do so.
Here are some tips you could follow.
1. Utilize Online Workout Programs
If you're new to exercise, you might not know what types of exercise you want. For women who have just given birth, you might also feel overwhelmed when entering a new workout area and thinking that you have a baby waiting for you at home. Therefore, online training is a great alternative to going to a gym or studio. You can try out various classes from the comfort of your own home by checking out programs like 28 AT HOME to learn more.
Being a new mom also entails a lot of responsibilities, such as keeping your baby safe and making sure that the breastfeeding cycles are kept monitored. Online classes, allow you to get fit in the comfort of your own home. You can easily sneak out for a few minutes of work out while the baby is asleep.
Another benefit of using online fitness services us that they significantly cost less than comparable offline programs. This will allow you to save a part of your budget on other needs that are essential to keeping your newborn healthy.
2. Use Your Body To Workout
As someone who just gave birth, your body might not be in the shape it used to be. Many women have reported that their bodies’ capacity to engage in physical activities has tremendously changed after giving birth to a baby. If you’ve had a normal delivery, it’s safe to say that you can exercise a few days after. However, if it’s complicated or you’ve had a C-section, you might need more days to fully recover.
If your body is ready or if your doctor has told you that it’s safe to get back to exercising, bodyweight training might be a great option for you. Bodyweight training is a form of strength training that uses only your body weight as resistance. It's an exercise that is just as good as lifting weights or using a weight machine.
Working out with your own body is more comfortable than working out with appliances, so what else does it have to offer? To begin with, you’ll end up working more muscles at once than if you used weights to focus on one body part. After pregnancy, it’s normal that fats will accumulate at different parts of your body, so increasing core utilization while stabilizing muscles can help you with this goal.
Also, you can get just as good of a workout on the floor. Depending on your objectives, taking regular walks, beginning a running routine, or attempting at-home yoga can be helpful. Kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, and even household items are just as good when it comes to home gym equipment.
If you want to improve your home workout routine after giving birth, then working out with your own body can be a good option.
3. Level Up Your Commute
There might also be moments that, even as a new mom, you might need to do short commutes. If you love riding a bicycle for fun, why not use it for transportation as well? Changing your commute can have a significant effect on your overall health. While someone is looking after your newborn, try biking a few days a week or walking a few minutes to a nearby grocery if you have the time.
According to a study, biking for errands has the same health advantages as going to the gym. Cyclists have a lower risk of death from all causes than those who drove or took public transportation frequently.
4. Don’t Ignore Proper Diet
Regular exercises are useless if you don’t pay attention to what you eat. Whether you just gave birth or not, valuing the importance of combining your workouts with good nutrition and eating habits should be your priority.
In your condition, it’s never advisable to go on a crash diet. Your body’s still vulnerable, so getting into such might cause conditions you don’t want to have. Instead, simply eat whole food like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and healthy fats. Eat sufficient quantities to sustain your physical activities. A well-balanced diet will help you get the calories and nutrients you need to fuel your everyday activities.
Is Getting Fit Without Joining A Gym Possible?
Absolutely! As a new mom, you can always find ways to get fit without joining a gym. All you need to do is to follow the suggested practices above to achieve the body you’ve been dreaming of. In this way, you can take care of yourself and get as much time and moment with a loved one who needs your care.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Braden Collum
The ankles are major weight-bearing joints in the body. Due to their functions, they're prone to injuries when walking, running, jumping, and landing. Even though everyone is at risk of these injuries, athletes are at a higher risk.
Up to 50% of all ankle sprains reported are linked to sporting activities. Also, men aged 15 to 24 years seem to have higher sprained ankles rates than women in the same age group. In their 30s, women report higher rates of ankle injuries.
The overuse of feet on activities that put too much strain on the ankles during sports makes them prone to these injuries. Others suffer re-injury due to the obligations they might have in participation in professional sports. This can often lead to long-term ankle injuries or disability.
4 Common Types of Ankle Injuries in Sports
The ankle joint comprises the bone, tendon, and ligament, and either of them can become damaged. The ankle joint connects your lower leg to your foot. Damage to either of these parts is what is called an ankle injury. You can follow this link to read more on sprains and other ankle-related injuries.
In the meantime, have a look at these common ankle injuries.
1. Ankle Sprain
Ankle sprains are among the most common ankle injuries. These are injuries to the ligaments that keep the joint in place. A sprain is a sign that one or more ligament has overstretched and torn. The most common sprain is the high ankle sprain which is the injury to the syndesmotic ligament that connects the knee to the ankle.
Most sprains are, however, not very serious and heal with ice and rest treatments. If there are persistent pain and swelling, it's advisable to see a physician for a proper diagnosis. Untreated moderate and severe sprains could lead to a weaker ankle that's even more susceptible to re-injury.
2. Achilles Tendonitis or Tear
The Achilles tendon is the largest in the body connecting the two main calf muscles to the heel bone. The tendon is often overused, making it especially susceptible to inflammation. The condition itself is called Achilles tendonitis and is treatable by tendonitis ankle treatment.
When not addressed adequately, it could lead to an Achilles tear, which is the tendon's total rupture. It mainly occurs gradually over time due to repeated inflammation and damage. It can also occur due to sudden trauma, and you'll most likely hear a popping sound and heel pain on landing from a jump.
A foot and ankle physician can examine and determine the extent of the damage through a physical examination or an MRI.
3. Stress Fractures of the Ankle
These fractures are common on both the foot and ankle, where the bone breaks due to repetitive force or impact. The typical stress fractures are:
Talus fracture: This is the small bone between the heel and the bones in your lower leg, the tibia, and the fibula.
Metatarsal fracture: These are the bones connecting the ankle to the toes. The bones help you balance while standing or walking and also help to support your body weight. Each foot has five of these bones. The stress fractures may not be noticeable right away, but it's a severe condition that requires medical attention. It's said to cause permanent ankle disability if not treated.
Stress fractures also can occur when a person changes their usual physical activity. For example, a sudden increase of activity or a change in workout surface can cause this type of injury. The most common signs of these fractures are:
Pain around the injured part may start gradually and increase over time
You notice a foot bone that seems out of place
Swelling and bruising
Tingling or numbness
You experience pain when you put weight on the foot
You have difficulty in moving your feet and toes
Since stress fractures occur over a long time, you may fail to notice these symptoms immediately. For that reason, ensure you attend regular foot checkups.
4. Ankle Fractures
Any traumatic impact or injury can cause these fractures. It's different from an ankle sprain, but it can occur at the same time. It's easy for you to confuse the two if you self-diagnose. Regardless of the type of fracture, it requires the attention of an orthopedic ankle specialist. A fracture where the bone is protruding from the skin requires immediate medical attention to minimize infection risk.
Returning Active Sporting After an Ankle Injury
Going back to play after an ankle injury depends on the injury's severity and your body's natural ability to respond to treatment and heal. Ankle sprains are graded from grade one to three, with one being mild and three severe. A grade one sprain may take up to two weeks to heal, while a grade two sprain may take up to five weeks. The treatment for sprains may involve compression, ice, rest, and elevation.
Rehabilitation and Condition Training
After commencing treatment, your physician may recommend a physical therapist who uses techniques to help your ankle become ready for your specific sport. Also, to help you restore the ankle's normal functioning. The rehabilitation process requires the early involvement of a physical therapist or trainer for a speedy return to play.
You will also need conditioned training to get fit enough for competitive sport, which might take a bit more time. Ultimately, it all depends on the injury and the time your body takes to heal.
How To Maintain Ankle Health in Sports
While some ankle injuries are purely from accidents that can't be avoided, these tips are recommended for a reduced risk of injury.
Ensure to warm up before exercising or sporting activity: A slow jog or light stretching for two to three minutes will warm up the joints, including the ankles reducing the risk of injury from sudden stretching when you engage in a sport. Ensure not to force the stretches.
Gradually condition your muscles for the sporting activity: Muscles need to be made ready for a sporting activity by conditioning the muscles gradually before the main activity. You can use cross-training activities to help build muscle and muscle strength and avoid injuries.
Avoid uneven surfaces for training: Most ankle sprains are caused by stepping on uneven ground or surfaces. Be careful if you have to run or train on uneven ground. However, try to practice on the ground you'll be sporting on to condition your body to balance correctly on the ground. This applies primarily to racing activities.
Match your shoes with the sporting activity: There are shoes for most, if not all, sporting activities. If you're involved in a sport or exercise for two or more days a week, ensure to wear the appropriate shoes to reduce the risk of ankle injuries.
Choose a shoe for your foot type: If you're flat-footed, or suffer from heel pain, choose more stable shoes rather than minimalist or neutral shoes. A neutral shoe will work just fine for a foot with a normal arch and without any foot problems. However, you should also consider your sporting activity to decide whether you need a shoe with any stability features.
Replace your shoes when the heel wears out on one side: Some people's shoes wear out on the sides of the heel, causing it to become angled. This alters how you walk and puts strain on the ankle as it tries to balance the rest of the body upright. When this happens, replace the shoes to avoid further strain and injury to the ankle.
Maintain a healthy body weight: Although uncommon, it's possible to be overweight as an athlete. The ankles and feet carry your entire body weight. Doctors believe that the excess weight puts more pressure on your ankle joints, making them more susceptible to injuries. Strive to maintain proper body BMI by eating a well-balanced diet that also keeps the muscles around the ankles strong.
Do regular ankle exercises: Ankle exercises such as non-weight bearing inversions and aversions, ankle circles, alphabet tracing with the big toe, among others, are said to be effective when done regularly.
Prevent re-injury: If you have suffered a previous injury on the ankle, you can use bands or tapes that help put the joint in place and avoid the injury's recurrence.
Listen to your body: Learn to read the signals your ankles and feet are sending and avoid straining them further. If you experience pain or discomfort in your ankle during an activity, it's advisable to stop the activity until the pain stops. Also, if you've been recovering from an ankle injury, ensure to take proper caution, rehabilitation, and conditioning to avoid a re-injury.
Ankle Health in Sports
There's no doubt that athletes' feet and ankles do quite some heavy lifting during the duration of their sporting careers. This makes injuries inevitable. In that case, it's crucial to keep the ankles in good health to provide the needed support to perform in sports. It also helps to keep the injuries to a minimum.
The key is to ankle health in sports seems to lie in health, safety, proper sporting shoes, and listening to the body. Also, avoid self-diagnosis and have every issue checked by a qualified professional to avoid escalation to severity. It's also important to take time to heal before going back to sporting activities.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Sara Dubler
They say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, and nothing quite says “I like you” like the effort and love involved in cooking a meal.
How to Impress an Older Woman with a Homemade Romantic Meal
It is often said the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach – however, this is often true for women. There is nothing quite like the effort it takes to cook a good meal, to express just how much you like someone.
Many older women were born when women were “tied to the kitchen sink,” and men were never seen at the cooker. However, times are changing, and many women feel there is nothing sexier than a man who knows his way around the kitchen.
Things to Consider When Building your Menu
Menu building is the most important part of cooking a meal for an older woman. While execution and nailing the dish is important, your choice of ingredients not only say a lot about you but also what you think of her.
One of the best ways to create and build your menu is to talk to women and listen to their answers. When you are chatting with older women, try to find out about their favorite foods, drinks, etc., because your tastes may not be the same.
Not only might you have different tastes, but older women might have different dietary requirements, avoid certain foods and even be allergic to different ingredients. It’s best to know before you start cooking.
Observe Dinner Etiquette
Once you have spoken to the older lady in question and planned the perfect menu to impress her, you need to consider dinner etiquette and the dining differences you might have. In a restaurant, the right glasses, cutlery, and dinner settings are set by professionals, but you’ll need to do it yourself at home.
On top of setting the table, older women often have polished dinner etiquette – growing up at a time where meals always took place around the table. It is important to consider several different things before sitting down for dinner with an older woman, including:
· How you hold yourself at the table (keep elbows off the table, don’t slouch etc.)
· Don’t drink too much (Dutch courage is great, but getting sloppy drunk at the table will not impress your date).
· Keep conversation clean (unless she takes it in a different direction)
· Don’t eat with your mouthful.
· Ask questions – and listen to her answers.
· Offer drinks, check things are ok and clean dirty plates from the table.
Ideas of What to Cook
While it might seem tempting to impress your date with an extensive selection of food and dishes. As the host, if your meal requires a lot of cooking, your guest will be left alone for long periods – or worse, she might join you in the kitchen when you’re at the most stressful time.
Instead, carefully plan meals that can be prepped in advance or reheated before serving – this way, you can ensure you’ll not leave your date alone too long.
Salads:
Salads can be prepped long before your guest arrives. Prepare the salad of your choice and leave it in the fridge until it’s ready to serve. If you find your salads get soggy when left in the fridge, don’t add the dressing until it’s ready to serve and better still, keep all elements of the salad prepped but separate – this way you’ll be able to throw it together at the last minute, and it will taste fresh.
Charcuterie:
Another great dish that can be prepped in advance are charcuterie boards – they look impressive and great for fussy eaters and require no cooking. Simply prep your meats and cheeses, and you can pick up sauces, olives, and crackers in the supermarket, and your dish will be complete. They make for a great starter for when your guest arrives, or just a pre-meal snack.
Oven Roasts:
Oven roasts taste great, require very little preparation, and can be left alone to cook. Any meat can be used in a roast, and if you don’t have an oven, a slow cooker or crockpot will work just as well. The most difficult part of a roast is your timings; everything else is thrown into the oven together and taken out just before serving.
Fish:
Fish isn’t everyone’s favorite, but if your older date likes seafood when done well, it’s one of the best meals you can enjoy. Fish takes a matter of minutes to be pan-fried and can be served with something as simple as a salad or roasted vegetables and doesn’t require any sauces – just a squeeze of lemon.
Complete a Practice Run with Friends
Before your cooking date with your older lady, if you’re not used to cooking, others do a practice run in your house before inviting her over. Your friends will be honest, you can test your timings and tweak anything that didn’t come out quite right.
Make sure you write down everything you need to do and keep a plan or a checklist to ensure you don’t forget any ingredients or crucial parts of the cooking process.
We caught up with one of our faves, Vanessa Lachey who got her start competing in pageants, being a host on MTV's TRL as well as a number of TV hosting jobs. She also appeared on CBS' The Bold and The Beautiful, FOX's BH90210, and recently, FOX's Call Me Kat. We talked with her to find out how she fell in love with the entertainment industry, Netflix's Love is Blind which she hosts with her husband and 98 Degrees band member, Nick Lachey and what she's working on at the moment!
ATHLEISURE MAG: We’ve been fans of yours since you were on the pageant circuit and of course seeing you as a host on TRL, when did you realize that you wanted to be in the entertainment industry and what drew you to it?
VANESSA LACHEY: I have always loved entertaining my family and friends. I liked making people laugh, and honestly with my dad being in the Air Force and me moving around a lot, being silly and outgoing was my way to make friends and also a coping mechanism for when I was sad or uncomfortable. The pageant was a dare when I was in high school. More of a push my boyfriend's dad who thought if I won his son would appreciate me more. What ended up happening was I realized I only knew how to be ME. I was so nervous and I thought I never stood a chance, but once I won, by being me, I realized how special and unique we all are and can be, as long as we stay true to ourselves. When I started hosting I combined two things I LOVED and knew, music and my outgoing personality. It was such a fun fit and my most favorite job! I owe a lot to both of those experiences and what they did for me personally and professionally.
AM: You've been in so many different great shows, what are the things that you look for when you're considering participating in them?
VL: Honestly, the number one thing I think about is how will the affect my family. Both with my schedule and time away from my kids and time away from my kids and time away from my husband. Next I look at the role and if it's fun, would I enjoy it and how can I make it “mine." For hosting I always want to be a part of something fun and entertaining, but love when I also get to be a part of something bigger and moving or inspirational.
AM: It feels like last year we consumed a lot more programming than normal due to lockdowns etc and we got sucked into Love is Blind. I loved the concept behind it and thought that you and Nick as hosts was such a great addition! What drew you to being involved and how was it for you and your husband to do this together?
VL: This was such a fun project to work on together. We actually hadn’t work together much previously – we’d done a few pageant hosting gigs together but that was it – so it was kind of an experiment to see what our working dynamic might be like. What drew us to it was actually the similarity between the show and how Nick and I first started dating. When we first got together he was living in LA and me in NY, so we communicated mostly over text or the phone for the longest time, really only seeing each other when one of us had work in the other’s city. Obviously we had already seen each other when we started dating, but we loved the concept of this show where people meet and fall in love without relying on physical attraction or having the burden of outside distractions. None of us knew what they outcome would be, so it was a wonderful surprise to see the couples and love that resulted from season one!
AM: Will you be coming back for the next season and can you share anything for fans of the show?
VL: Yes! We are so excited to be starting filming for season two AND three in the next few weeks! Season 2 will be in Chicago and season 3 in Dallas. I can’t share too much, but I can promise you won’t have to wait too long before you get to see it all unfold.
AM: Tell us about your new role as Tara Barnett in Call Me Kat and why you wanted to be on this fun show?
VL: Yes – Tara is such a fun character to play and I really enjoy the sit-com space. I’m also a big fan of Mayim Bialik’s and working together and playing best friends has been such a joy. This was one of the first times a job approached me about a role they thought I’d be a fit for, and I feel so incredibly lucky to be working during an otherwise really difficult time.
AM: I know you haven't been on this show although you could be in an upcoming season, but last year many fans of the Masked Singer kept thinking that the Snow Owls were you and Nick when it was actually Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black! Would you ever consider being on this show and what would your costume be?
VL: It’s so funny seeing all the speculation around Nick and this show! We enjoy watching at home and even the kids love analyzing the contestants people think sound like him. I think I will leave the singing to Nick, but it certainly would be fun!
AM: In addition to playing roles in various shows and competing on Dancing with the Stars, you have hosted a number of great shows from TRL, Top Chef Junior, hosting various Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, you will be hosting a virtual awards show called Total Wireless Awards. Can you tell us more about this show and who is being honored?
VL: Yes! I’m so excited to be a part of a program that is so positive – I think we can all use more positivity after the past year. The Total Wireless Awards are featuring five amazing real-life individuals who have really done amazing for themselves, their families or their communities during a really challenging year.
We’ve got a single mom who is working so hard in order to give her three kids the best education possible, all while going to school herself. A high school student named Danny Goldberg who was inspired by his ER physician dad to find ways to help his community during lockdown and started Zoomers to Boomers – an organization that is now active in more than 30 cities across the globe! And a goofy, comedian dad who started making fun TikTok videos with his kindergarten aged-daughter to help make virtual learning more fun.
All of these amazing stories were made possible by virtual connection – something that Total Wireless offers at such an affordable price – plans start at just $25 a month with no-contract required. We’ll be releasing the five stories on Total Wireless’s Instagram page on March 16th and are asking folks to go vote for their favorite story. Then in a few weeks, I’ll be announcing the “fan favorite” winner and sitting down with them to reveal their grand prize!
AM: Are there upcoming projects that we should keep an eye out for that you can tell us about?
VL: I’ll be starting production for Netflix’s Love is Blind Season 2 & 3 and so excited for what’s ahead.
PHOTO COURTESY | Vanessa Lachey
Read the Mar Issue #63 of Athleisure Mag and see Keeping it Fun with Vanessa Lachey in mag.
Read Mar Issue #63 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure Beauty in mag.
Read the Mar Issue #63 of Athleisure Mag and see Rock This When You’re Kicking Off Spring Vibes in mag.
This month's The Art of the Snack takes us to Tribeca's Jungsik which is known as a culinary experience when dining at this Michelin 2 starred new Korean restaurant. We talked with Executive Chef Suyoung Park and Pastry Chef Eunji Lee, 2 women that continue to helm this experience through their menu. They talk about the restaurant, signature dishes, cocktails and desserts that we should enjoy when there.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into Jungsik which we had the pleasure of attending an editor event for Sweet Seoul early last year, how do you define New Korean cuisine?
EXECUTIVE CHEF SUYOUNG PARK: The definition of new Korean cuisine is as follows: It is based on traditional Korean food but combined with various ingredients and techniques of the world. We’d like to introduce different tastes and a variety of new Korean cuisine.
AM: Jungsik is a 2 Michelin star restaurant. What does it mean to have this distinction and does this affect the way that one operates when having this?
EC SP: The authority of Michelin is well recognized in the world. Thanks to the grade of Michelin, people come to visit our restaurant because they expect steady taste and service. And even some people come to taste our food owing to the grade of Michelin. So I guess the grade of Michelin has had a positive effect on us. And especially when it comes to New York, 2 Michelin star grades are worth more. To that extent, we have more responsibility to keep the taste and quality.
AM: What can guests expect when they come to dine at Jungsik?
EC SP: Jungsik of New York has been rated as a 2 Michelin star restaurant since 2013. I guess people come to our restaurant because they expect our steady efforts, unchanged taste and our own way of giving good service.
AM: When we attended the Sweet Seoul editor event, we enjoyed the cocktails and array of soju that was offered. What are 3 cocktails that we should try when visiting?
EC SP: At the moment, we are about to launch a new cocktail, "Busanhaeng". (Calvados, absinthe, Ango, Port/Omita Molasses) an updated variation of our Su-Jeong-Gwa old fashioned with Islay scotch, rye, and a spiced (Su-Jeong-Gwa) syrup. The last has yet to be named, but will be a tom collins style cocktail with Damsol (pine) soju, quina wine, calamansi, and soda.
AM: Due to the pandemic, restaurants have had their operations change to accommodate the way they interact with guests. How has Jungsik, which is truly an experience when you’re able to eat there, been able to serve guests in terms of indoor dining and how have you incorporated pickup and delivery?
EC SP: We offer our guests three different ways of service now. Indoor, outdoor and delivery service. When we provide our guests indoor service, we keep the tables separated from each other by 6 feet. And all of our staff wear masks and gloves all the time when they work in the restaurant. We offer our guests cutlery wrapped separately, hand sanitizer and the QR code menu because of Corona Virus. Jungsik has built some personal outdoor rooms and we are doing our best to give safe and private fine dining to our guests. We started offering delivery to our customers that they can enjoy our fine dining service at their home. It consists of three courses, starting with salad, they can have rice, a main course, dessert and Petit fours within their own private places.
AM: Prior to coming to New York, you apprenticed under Jungsik himself in Seoul. What was it like to work with him and how has that affected how you operate today?
EC SP: Chef Yim is a very creative chef, and he took me in the world of fine dining as a pupil. Thanks to him, I became a chef. I learned a lot of things from him. He taught me leadership and how to create new techniques in cooking Korean cuisine.
AM: Tell us about your culinary background and how you came to Jungsik.
EC SP: I actually got my start into the food industry by studying Food Styling and working as a Food Stylist in Seoul, Korea. I found that it didn’t suit my creative mind, and started as an intern at the Millennium Hilton Hotel in Seoul, Korea. I honed my skills at the hotel and started to look for other, more ambitious kitchens, and found a place at Jungsik Seoul in 2013. For the next four years, I widened the breadth of my skills and rose from the position of line cook to Sous Chef. To further my knowledge and experience, in 2017 I worked overseas at Ms. G’s, a high regarded Two-Hat restaurant in Sydney, Australia. Here I expanded my knowledge on all types of Asian cuisine, particularly Southeast Asian. In 2018, I came stateside to work at ATOBOY, Chef Junghyun Park’s first restaurant venture. After traveling the world and gaining invaluable experiences in different metropolitan cities, I returned to Jungsik New York’s location as the Chef de Cuisine in 2019.
PASTRY CHEF EUNJI LEE: I moved to France in 2006 for baking and pastry, INBP (The French National Baking and Pastry Institute) and Ecole Ferrandi. Then I worked for 3 years in Ze Kitchen Galerie, a one Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris under Chef Williame Ledeuil, a 4 years in Hotel Le Meurice a three Michelin-starred restaurant in that period (it now 2-stars) under Chef Alain Ducasse and Cedric Grolet. And I got an offer from Chef Jungsik Yim so I finally came to NY as an executive pastry chef at Jungsik in 2016.
AM: Back in 2019, you were named a New York Rising Star by StarChefs and you won the Art of Presentation Award, why were you drawn to working with pastry?
PC EL: I have always loved art and eating, and I think pastry is an edible art. And love to see people’s face when they’re tasting my desserts. It makes me happy. I personally look for sweets when I get gloomy or stressed, so the reason why I love my job is being able to spread the happiness in the world via my sweets with not only visually but also with flavor, in our not-so-easy lives.
AM: How do you define your style of cooking?
EC SP: My principle of cuisine is to stick to the basic and make consistent dishes.
PC EL: Korean heritage french techniques and acclimated to New York.
AM: When creating the menu, can you tell us where the inspiration for your dishes come from?
EC SP: All my inspiration comes from the ingredients and dishes I like. We all become creative when we make the best use of the past memory. All the best menus start from what we like or enjoy. They will gain popularity or recognition if we do our best with what we like and what we are able to do.
PC EL: I get inspired anywhere, anytime, by anything. Sometimes by seasonal fruits and ingredients, sometimes by visual objects, sometimes by Korean culture and food, and sometimes I get inspiration from a strange flavor or ingredient that I’ve never used so it is challenging and exciting.
AM: What are 3 appetizers that you suggest?
EC SP: Our signature appetizer would be Fried Oysters with Seaweed Aioli. Secondly, it would be our Octopus; braised octopus with Gochujang Sauce. Thirdly, it would be Korean beef tartare. The guests love our dishes because of their distinct Korean style and taste.
AM: What are 3 signature dishes we should order?
EC SP: We have the 5 and 7-course menus as our signature. Especially, as mentioned earlier, Octopus, Crispy Kimbap and Wagyu Galbi are our representative menu.
AM: Are there vegan and vegetarian dishes?
EC SP: We also give a vegan or vegetarian menu. Vegetables Jeon and Crispy veggie kimbap would be their best choice.
AM: What are 3 desserts that we should try at Jungsik?
PC EL: The baby banana, our signature dessert. It is banana cremeux, dulcey mousse, and banana baileys cake. The NY-Seoul, which is one of my favorite dessert because it exactly expresses my mingled identity, it is Korean brown rice cream, French puff pastry choux and American style of corn cookie dough. Our truffle cone is another seasonal signature dessert only for truffle season, made with black truffle ice cream & cream, in a chocolate waffle cone.
AM: What is your process like when you’re working with each other?
EC SP: We always share our opinions with each other when we try to make a new menu. Chef Eunji helps me a lot and participates in helping me make decisions for the restaurant. Chef Eunji always cheers me up and gives me strength.
PC EL: We discuss about ingredients that we’d like to use and thoughts for the menu, then taste dishes and share ideas together.
IG @Jungsik_Inc
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | Dan Ahn
Read the Mar Issue #63 of Athleisure Mag and see The Art of the Snack | Jungsik in mag.
JOHN REED is focused on creating a unique fitness experience and a space that’s more than just a gym. The combination of music, art and design is what creates the JOHN REED feeling – a vibe similar to when you’re in a nightclub. Its members go with fitness goals in mind, and also find they are meeting others who share similar interests and are ultimately becoming part of its growing community. The first JOHN REED opened in Germany in 2016 and grew to 30 locations globally. It's newest addition opened Mach 17th in Downtown LA.
Los Angeles is a hotspot for fitness, music and lifestyle and these qualities are also the DNA of the JOHN REED clubs. Downtown is a growing, metropolis section of LA where art and innovative concepts have merged.
JOHN REED offers a large and diverse range of training areas, classes, and equipment. From the massive Freestyle Area with every type and size of free weight, machine, and functional equipment to it speakeasy-style Group Cycling Studio, every space has been thoroughly thought through and outfitted with all top-of-line equipment to meet you wherever you are on your fitness journey. Members also get unlimited access to these areas as well as boutique studio style classes such as cycling, barre, yoga, and Pilates.
Before, after, or even instead of a vigorous workout, members may access amenities such as the Snooze Room and Sauna to relax, stylish locker rooms with salon quality blow dryers, hair and body care, and many small intimate coves as retreats for social interaction. Members can also enjoy a nightclub feel while with a professionally built-in sound-system and various lighting concepts.
The JOHN REED Juice Bar offers handcrafted smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and grab-and-go healthy snack options morning through night. Members have the choice to choose whey and vegan protein for their pre or post workout, they also have a variety of grab and go snack options to help fuel you.
JOHN REED offers one type of membership and it’s $100/month. There are no contracts, initiation or cancellation fees to worry about. At JOHN REED, members are empowered to take control of their fitness journey.
Cleanliness has always been a top priority at JOHN REED Fitness. That’s why they declare they have defined their cleanliness protocols and safety standards in accordance with the CDC, local, and state guidelines. Preventative safety measures taken include temperature checks, mask wearing at all times, social distancing, reduced capacity and the frequent deep cleaning and disinfection of the workout and locker room facilities.
PHOTOS COURTESY | JOHN REED
Read the 63rd Issue of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | JOHN REED Fitness in mag.
Read the 63rd Issue of Athleisure Mag and see How to Dress | When Getting Vaccinated in mag.
Although many are waiting for a greenlight for Season 2, the first season of this limited series dropped this month. We're introduced to CEO of The One, Rebecca Webb who is a woman in tech who is known for creating a company that allows you to find your perfect match through DNA data. The idea of finding your perfect someone seems possible especially since users and potential matches see the perfect life that she has.
As expected, not everything is as it seems. Throughout the series, we will learn how she was able to build her company, more about the matches as well as what dark secrets she has been hiding.
For those that have enjoyed reading Atlas Obscura, you can now listen to their podcast in partnership with Witness Docs. Each episode explores destinations and topics that you may not be aware of, while finding the beauty and nuances of them. Some areas are across the world and others may be much closer to home.
While many of us have yet to act upon our wanderlust, it certainly gives you ideas to add to your bucketlist. Co-Founder and host, Dylan Thuras takes listeners on his journey with new episodes that drop Mon - Thurs and are less than 30 minutes each.
Dylan also has interviews of those who are connected to these places and can share the history so that they can create insight into what makes this such a covetable place or topic.
We enjoy a podcast that has figures that are able to share their story in their own words. In Plain Sight: Lady Bird Johnson, we hear first hand from Lady Bird and see how she had a powerful role in his presidency.
Much of these recordings which comes from her audio diaries have never been heard. We are introduced to her in the hours following the assasination of JFK. We hear her concern as the presidency transitions to the Johnson Administration. She shares her thoughts on historical actions that took place, how she navigated the politics and polarization of her era to become one of the most influential members in the administration. Hearing about her efforts puts her in a new light that many have not understood.
Read the 64th Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.
Soccer season is upon us and our eye is on the US Women's National Team's Olympic Gold Medalist, 2 X FIFA World Cup winner - Kelley O'Hara who also plays for the NWSL Washington Spirit. With a season that kicks off next month, we took some time to talk about how she fell in love with the sport, being able to play for the DC team, what it's like when she's in training, her schedule when competing with the national team as well as her home team, joining KT Tape as one of its newest ambassadors and of course her upcoming projects in film, podcasting and her beauty brand.
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with soccer?
KELLEY O'HARA: I think I fell in love with soccer in high school. I played a lot of sports growing up, and soccer was one of my favorites, but it wasn’t until I decided soccer would be the sport I wanted to pursue full time and wholeheartedly that I really fell in love with the game.
AM: When did you know that you wanted to go pro?
KO: I always knew I wanted to play for the USWNT, however I didn’t think much about turning “pro” because for most of my high school and college career there was not a professional domestic league to play in. My goal was always to continue to play post college, but I always thought that would mean having to make the national team as my only option. Once the WPS came around, I realized I had the opportunity to get drafted and play not only for the national team but also for a pro team.
AM: What is the role of a defender?
KO: Technically I play defender, but I play it in a very attacking minded way. My number one priority is keeping the ball out of the net for the other team, but my next biggest priority is contributing to our attack in a meaningful way.
AM: The season is about to start next month for your team, Washington Spirit which you recently joined. I know that you also live in DC so how exciting was it for you be able to play for your city?
KO: Honestly, it’s a dream come true. I feel like every pro athlete would probably love to be able to live where they play. I have spent the last 10 years of my professional career moving from city to city - spending season in one place and off season in another - it’s nice to be in one place and living at home full time! Plus, DC is such a soccer city! I am really excited to play for the fans here and try to win a championship for the District.
AM: What are the weeks leading up to the start of the season like for you in terms of training and getting ready to get back on the field?
KO: We just spent three weeks down in FL for spring training to prepare for the Challenge Cup, which is the NWSL preseason tournament this year. That starts in April and then regular season starts in May.
AM: What are your workout routines like when you’re training for the week for the next game versus off season?
KO: In season training is all about recovery, preparation, and then execution in the game to get a win. So, most of the training is focusing on making sure you’re physically ready, i.e., your loads for the week are enough but not too much, and you’re tactically prepared for whoever you’re playing. In the off season, my workout is very individualized and is about working on weaknesses. It allows me to create a quality base physically for the season ahead and offers me the luxury of working on technical aspects I want to specifically focus on.
AM: On game day, what’s your routine like leading up to hitting the field?
KO: Game days are pretty chill. My main focus is preparing my body to perform, so eating and drinking the right things leading into the game, while also mentally preparing for what needs to get done.
AM: You joined the KT Tape team earlier this year, what does this partnership mean to you and how will you partner with them?
KO: I’ve been using KT Tape pretty much my whole career, so it’s cool to turn it into an official partnership. I love that their product is athlete focused and really works! I’ve relied on their tape throughout the years to give me the extra assistance my body might need, so to know they are now supporting me not only on the field but off of it is pretty great.
AM: What are your go to products?
KO: I have primarily used their KT Tape Pro, both for performance and recovery. I just tried their newest product the KT Recovery+ Wave and it was incredible! It helps to relieve pain in tissues and joints with sensation-free electromagnetic waves. You don’t feel anything from the device, but it modulates nerve activity to give you pain relief and it really works! I was blown away.
AM: In addition to being on the Washington Spirit, you’re also on the US Women’s Soccer Team. How is it managing both of those schedules and are there differences for you when you are competing?
KO: It definitely makes for a busy schedule, but I feel lucky to have that problem! When it comes to competing for my two different teams, I don’t approach them differently. My goal is always to win - whether that’s in an off-season pickup game, practice, an NWSL match or an Olympic final - I aim to bring the same competitiveness to everything. Winning is a habit, so it’s something I am cultivating.
AM: We're looking forward to seeing LFG which comes out on HBO Max which focuses on the US Women’s National Team’s fight for equal pay and has you, Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald, Becky Sauerbrunn, Sam Mews and others on the team speaking and advocating about this issue. Why did you want to participate in this film?
KO: We wanted to tell our story in our own voice. I think a lot of people really only know what has happened or is happening by what or how the media writes about the lawsuit, but most people don’t know the amount of time, energy, and persistence this legal battle has taken. Plus, we know that our fight and hopefully win has the potential to create important change we need across all industries.
AM: The past year has definitely been one that we have all been navigating. With the Olympics postponed to this summer, what are you looking forward to with the upcoming games?
KO: Definitely the joy that is competing and chasing after a goal with my team. I’m also looking forward to the Games hopefully giving the world something to look forward to and to showcase the unity and joy that sport can provide not only for athletes but for their fans
AM: Outside of the sport, you’re the host of Just Women’s Sports. Tell me more about this podcast and why you wanted to have this included in your platform?
KO: The Just Women’s Sports podcast was born out of the desire to give female athletes a space to tell their stories. Only 4% of media coverage is dedicated to women’s sports, and it’s something I have personally felt my whole life. Haley Rosen, the founder of JWS, wanted to change that. I came on board to help advise the company, but that quickly turned into wanting to be involved and do the work to help change the future of what covereage looks like for female athletes.
AM: What other projects are you working on that we should keep an eye out for?
KO: I am an owner and partner in Tame the Beast - a company of grooming and shower products with a focus on sustainability and reducing plastic consumption. I am creating a unisex skincare line with them that will be launching this summer, which I am really excited about!
AM: You have so many accolades from being a 2 X FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist and receiving the Hermann Trophy in 2009, what do you want your legacy to be in the sport?
KO: A winner and a good teammate - the type of player and person you always want on your team.
IG @KelleyOhara
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 36 KT TAPE | PG 38 - 40 USWNT |
Read the Mar Issue #63 of Athleisure Mag and see Winning is a Habit with Kelley O’Hara in mag.
Read the Mar Issue #63 of Athleisure Mag and see The Pick Me Up in mag.
Since the launch of Netflix's Selling Sunset, we have enjoyed being able to get the scoop on the real estate market especially within one of the top agencies in The Oppenheim Group this docuseries. We have enjoyed seeing this team booking listings, holding open houses, celebs they work with and the drama that comes along. This month, our cover is luxury real estate brokerage owner, attorney, contractor and developer - Jason Oppenheim. We took some time to talk to the Selling Sunset star to find out how he transitioned from being a corporate lawyer and eventually to working in real estate. He talks with us about his firm, his team, the successful show, which has just been greenlit for a fourth and fifth season, as well as the importance of philanthropy and making it a team effort.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to being in real estate, you were a corporate lawyer, what was the moment that you realized that you wanted to work in the real estate industry as I know that your great-great grandfather Jacob Stern, started his firm in the 1800s and was instrumental in creating a number of deals in the early development of LA?
JASON OPPENHEIM: That’s difficult. I left my law firm not knowing what I wanted to do and not having anything lined up. I went and traveled the world for 3 years after I quit my law firm. So I really wasn’t working for years after that. Even when I got back into the United States, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to get into real estate. I knew that it was a passion of mine and I gave it a shot. But I definitely wouldn’t say that I knew before I left law that I wanted to do real estate.
AM: Why did you decide to ultimately launch your own firm that you’re president and founder of?
JO: I was at Coldwell Banker for many years and getting experience and I was working on a team of two women. They taught me a lot and I actually really liked that team, but I didn’t enjoy working at such a large brokerage at Coldwell Banker. So that was kind of the impetuous of me leaving and just starting my own firm. I think that I had just developed enough of a client base that I felt comfortable and I had always wanted to be an entrepreneur and had always wanted to do my own thing. But I had to create that confidence and make sure that I had enough of a book of business to be able to do that.
AM: We have had a number of people that we have interviewed who began as lawyers and have transitioned into other careers, as well as our co-founder that has done the same. What skills from practicing law have also carried over to what you do within your industry now?
JO: Yeah I think that being a lawyer is probably one of the most applicable professions so I think that there are a lot of things that helped me as a lawyer that have been applied to me being in real estate. I think that creative thinking and critical thinking have been two of the most important things that I took. Being an advocate for your client is something that I understood and of course, just your legal acumen. So much of practicing real estate requires that the more understanding that you have of the law, documents, contracts etc. – I think that the better you will be as a real estate agent. I don’t think that there is probably more of a relevant profession for a real estate agent than as a lawyer!
AM: In terms of location and your territory, what areas do you guys cover?
JO: Oh all over Los Angeles really. Certainly, we are the most prolific agents in the Sunset Strip and Hollywood Hills. We also do a ton in Beverly Hills and we’re opening up a new office in Orange County and we’re getting a lot of new listings down there. I would really say all of Southern California.
AM: In terms of you opening another location, what is the process and/or criteria that you look for when it comes to making that commitment? I know in watching the show, there was talk and hope from some of the agents in terms of opening up in Miami?
JO: Well, it’s a very slow process. I mean I’ve been thinking for many years about opening a second office and I was very reticent to do so until I was certain about a lot of different factors. One of them is that there is a healthy luxury market, another one is great office space, another is that I am able to recruit top agents, another is that it’s a place that I love and enjoy – you know I have to be passionate about it and I’m not going to open up an office in an area that I wouldn’t want to live in myself! I’m probably going to buy a second home in Newport Beach. And also location! It needs to be far enough from LA where it makes sense. You want to expand when you’re doing this. Orange County by far, I thought was an important area that I wasn’t in. I think that there are others like The Valley, Miami, New York, but I thought that hands down, this was the best place for a second office.
AM: Before getting into the show, what is a typical day like for you and how involved are you with the agents that work with you?
JO: I mean a typical day. I’m up – usually, my dogs wake me up because they want to be fed maybe around 7am. I take my dogs to coffee every morning so I take them to a coffee shop, usually a different coffee shop for about half an hour. I go through emails and take things slow on my own. Then I come into the office and basically just work and catch up with my staff and go through emails. I go through showings that I have, meet with clients and a lot of it is on the phone. Sometimes I have interviews but a ton of phone calls – I mean dozens and dozens of phone calls. I don’t even know how many, but it is a lot.
AM: When it comes to onboarding your agents, what are you looking for to represent The Oppenheim Group?
JO: You know, an intelligent, thoughtful, sophisticated person. Experience is preferred but it is less important to me then I think raw intelligence and general ambition. Someone that I get along with.
These are people that I will be out with for lunch or at a listing appointment and it’s important to me that I get along with them and that they get along with everyone else! You know, it’s just about being with good people! I mean I really wouldn’t take an agent, no matter how successful they are, that he or she just wasn’t a good person!
AM: On the show we see some serious open houses that have had some fun themes that your team has put together that remind me of editor events that we can’t wait to get back to – what have been some of the favorite ones that your firm has been part of?
JO: I think that I always like a first open house because I think that is very exciting! So the first open house for a new great listing is pretty exciting. I do have to say that generally, my favorite open houses tend to be my favorite listings. Obviously, my favorite open houses tend to be those that I would want to stay at even if it wasn’t an open house - sexy view, tall ceilings, open floor plan and all the stuff that just kind of makes it more fun. More importantly, I would say, it’s the first one because for me it’s about meeting clients, meeting buyers and it’s also about price point. I like open houses at an attainable price point in the area. Sure it’s fun to sit at a $10 million dollar open house, but I would prefer to sit at a $3 or $4 million open house because I am going to meet more people.
AM: This past year has definitely made a lot of our workflows change in many ways, what did you do to navigate these times and how do you feel the market has been for you?
JO: You know, we’ve done all right. We had a decent year despite the pandemic. The luxury market is not only fine even thoughout the pandemic, but it is extremely well right now. I think that we were extremely fortunate and I think that our clients were extremely fortunate and that they have recovered from this. I wouldn’t say that there is any long-term impact at all.
AM: How did the concept of the show, Selling Sunset come about and ultimately, what are the takeaways that you want to know about this show when they are watching it?
JO: You know, we had been approached by different producers and agents for quite some time and both my brother and I were rather reticent to move forward on a show. But when Adam DiVello (Editor’s Note: Adam is formerly a Senior Production and Development Executive at MTV where he developed Laguna Beach. He left the network and launched Done and Done Productions and created as well as executive produced its successful spinoff, The Hills and The City. He is producing Selling Sunset.) reached out to us, we thought about it a bit more and we took a team meeting and I think he had a bit more influence with us and we started to slowly come around. We wanted Netflix, but we weren’t sure if we would get Netflix so we were excited about that!
In terms of what they would take away from it, you know what I would say? I would simply say, that they should just enjoy and watch the show! There’s so much about television now more than ever, just being able to sit down – for me, I like to sit down with my dogs and just sit down for a couple of hours and just destress and have fun! In many ways, I hope that that would be enough for me! I would hope that when people come up to me that they just say that they enjoyed the show, it makes them happy, it’s fun to watch, they enjoy looking at the real estate and that’s enough for me! If they come out of it with more of an understanding for real estate or a passion for it that would be great. I always think that real estate is such a great opportunity for investors and people generally. So if I can get people to be excited about that whether that means they join the profession and become real estate agents or they want to do it as an investment, I think that either one of those would be great simply for the show.
AM: How did you decide who would be on the show?
JO: I didn’t really decide. Obviously, it would be people at my brokerage but it was more of a production decision than anything else.
AM: As a fan of the show, when you and your team are in the office, we’re always thinking about how close you are together. Is it ever distracting when you’re all in there together between doing calls, maintaining business etc?
JO: Well I do step out sometimes to make phone calls from time to time as everyone will! I do like the idea of an open office, but there are certainly negative effects to having such an open office.
AM: Recently, you were greenlit for a 4th and 5th season. How long do you film each season and how are you able to juggle the demands of your business while integrating the show into it?
JO: It’s not terrible for me. The filming requirements aren’t as demanding for me as they are for some of the other women so I manage ok. But you know, it’s certainly a balancing act and we just work really hard. So we end up just having to work more hours in the day to be honest. That’s ok because we all love what we do and we are all capable of doing that.
AM: You’re getting ready to film the next season and for avid viewers, there was a lot going on! Can you share what a general idea of when this will air?
JO: Well we haven’t started filming yet so there isn’t anything that I can tell you about that!
AM: Alright then. We’ll just have to stay tuned!
What have you learned about yourself in filming this show?
JO: You know, one of my biggest concerns was since I’m a private person, I was concerned about people coming up to me. But I think that what may be a surprise to most is how much I enjoy kind of just having the ability to make people be happy and to smile. Just to enjoy watching people smile is really enjoyable for me. I love when a young person comes up to the window and takes a photo of me and they’re just happy! You can kind of tell that you made their day happier and that feels great! That was one of the things that I wasn’t expecting as much.
AM: Clearly you’re very fit, what are your workout routines that you like to do to stay in shape?
JO: Just the gym and that’s it. I wish that I had something more exciting to say. I mean, I workout less than what people think. I workout for less than 30 minutes and I get teased sometimes on how little I workout, but I don’t do it for so long. I go to Monarch Athletic Club or Equinox.
AM: Do you have certain routines that you like to do?
JO: I like to do everything.
AM: How do you take time for yourself?
JO: Oftentimes, ironically enough, I sit down and watch Netflix you know? Because I really enjoy it. Most days, I’m at home watching TV with my dogs and it makes me pretty happy. I like to go out to dinner with my friends, but most of the time, I like to sit, watch a game, sit down with my dogs with some frozen yogurt and watch Netflix.
AM: One of the things we enjoyed watching in the show was how much philanthropy is very important to you and you get your office involved as well. What organizations do you like to give of your time and/or donate to?
JO: Yeah that episode that you saw on Selling Sunset is the one that I love giving to – Food on Foot. I like to not only spend my time when I can, but more importantly, I like to be charitable with some of the income that I have as I think that they do a really, really good job. I think that we’re going to be on Celebrity Family Feud soon and we have chosen that charity so hopefully we’ll win some money on Celebrity Family Feud.
AM: For #TRIBEGOALS, we like to ask those that are trailblazers in their industry, who are 3 people that you are inspired by that got you to where you are today whether you know them in person or follow them from afar.
JO: I like Albert Einstein definitely as someone that I look up to. I’d say that I was very lucky to have in both of my professions in real estate and in law – I was able to work with very successful people that earned my respect and were able to teach me about leadership, experience and professionalism. The woman that I worked under when I was at Coldwell Banker, her name is Joyce Rey. She is still an icon in real estate and she taught me a lot. Then when I was a lawyer, Daniel Petrocelli is one of the leading attorneys in the country as well, just as Joyce is one of the leading women in real estate. So I guess, I was just really lucky in my professions in law and in real estate to work with someone like Joyce Rey and Dan Petrocelli. I think that they had such an influence on me in terms of my professional life.
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS
| PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | FRONT COVER, PG 22 + 23 Benjo Arwas | BACK COVER, PG 16, 18, 21, 24, 27 - 32 Rochelle Brodin |
Hear luxury real estate owner/broker, contractor, developer at The Oppenheim Group and Netflix's Selling Sunset star, Jason Oppenheim on an upcoming episode of our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.
Read the Mar Issue #63 of Athleisure Mag and see A Passion Realized with Jason Oppenheim in mag.
