]]>
But I got an idea and I’ve decided to break things up. Let me know in the comments to this post or on instagram if this is a good idea or not! It makes it easier for me to market and help you guys find the perfect bikini so hopefully that translates to an easier shopping experience.
Every day this coming week, starting Monday December 12th, there will be a release of a new color wave of discounted ready to ship bikinis.
What I offer year round is a plethora of swim styles that are meant to be the foundation to your bikini wardrobe. The colors offered every season pair beautifully with countless other tones. And the styles created are meant to offer all day comfort so you can wear our pieces from sunrise to sunset no matter the occasion or adventure.
However, because we have so many styles and can only offer a limited amount of discounted ready to ship pieces, sales can be overwhelming. So to make the most of this opportunity to stock your bikini drawer at a heavily discounted price, we’re going to shop intentionally based on the rainbow.
Monday December 12th we are going to release pieces from our spring collection in SUNSET, HONEY, OCHRE and SAGE.
If you sign up for our newsletter you will get early access to the sale the day before it goes live to the public, I’m hoping… I've never sent a newsletter so this will be my first but I think I have it figured out :)
Tuesday December 13th we’ll release a small batch of bright bikinis, HIBISCUS, PERSIMMON, DAISY and AVOCADO
Wednesday December 14th we’ll be all things blue! AQUA, TURQUOISE, OCEAN, GLACIER and FOG will make their appearance.
Thursday December 15th it's time for some purple haze with a little dusting of pink!! BLOSSOM, IRIS and LAVENDER
And to cap off the week, Friday December 16th we’ll get to business with MIDNIGHT, SHELL, and SAND making their debut.
Pieces will appear online at 12pm MST, as items sell out they will disappear from the website.
This is the time to stock those drawers intentionally, bikini lovers! You will also be able to shop by color and style from our main menu! I'm really hoping this will make for an easier and more enjoyable shopping experience. But please keep me posted on your thoughts!!
If you're new here and hoping to make your first purchase, here's what I can recommend as your mama bikini connoisseur. To build the perfect capsule swimwear collection, start by finding a set in your all time favorite color (be it green, blue, purple, orange, pink, etc.) and a style you absolutely love and would wear everyday no matter the mood.
Next, you need your classics, a neutral beige or tan, white, brown and/or black in a set that shines, is subtly sexy, might push your comfort zone just as smidge, but keep it as something you would want to wear all day :)
Next let’s think about colors, you want your bikini wardrobe to reflect your everyday style. What is your favorite color tone? Are you a green girl? Do you like bright greens or dark greens? Bikinis are intimate, so you do want to stick within your comfort zone for colors and styles, especially when building the foundation to your wardrobe, we aren’t going to buy pieces and then not wear them!
As you continue to build your collection, you want to keep adding styles that have contrasting in their designs, like the LEO top and the LUCIA top, both absolutely necessary and similar but different enough to offer completely different looks to the wearer.
And then you want to continue adding new colors to your drawer, expand on the color tone you love and then add in some colors that pop or neutralize your current collection. Think of the colors you’re missing in your wardrobe.
Bikini shopping can and absolutely should be done intentionally! And as your bikini guide, I apologize about not giving enough information about our offerings and how they can truly transform your love of bikinis.
If you're looking for more info on styles we offer check out some of our past blog posts! And we'll see you back here for the last ready to ship sale of 2022!!
]]>
“Domestic violence is more than just physical violence. During the relationship domestic violence can be coercive control, physical abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, and financial abuse. When the relationship ends, the abuse does not stop, it just transitions to a new form of abuse referred to as post separation abuse. Post separation abuse continues to escalate and often far surpasses the DV the victims are subjected to while under the same roof as their abuser.” - Tina Swithin from One Mom’s Battle.
Aside from physical abuse, almost every other form of abuse is covert, meaning it can be invisible to the outside and seemingly inescapable to the victim, making it even harder for victims to find support and resources. Oftentimes victims don’t even know they are in an abusive relationship until they’re trying to leave. And without a proper exit strategy, leaving an abusive relationship can leave victims helpless to fend off the lifelong effects of abuse such PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, digestive issues, and so much more.
For anyone doubting the potential severity of covert abuse let’s compare it to a drip of water. At a quick glance, a single drop of water can seem harmless. But what happens when that drop of water doesn’t stop? It drips slowly, once an hour, every hour, every day, every week, every month. What happens to what is catching the drop of water? Erosion. That drip of water starts eating away at whatever is underneath it until there is irreparable damage. And that’s exactly what covert abuse does.
Covert abuse is meant to murder your soul. It’s meant to slowly, deceptively, inescapably eat away at who you are from the inside so that no one else can see what’s happening.
Post separation abuse is something I had never heard of before. When you exit an abusive or toxic relationship, the red flag behaviors during a relationship can drastically escalate after a relationship ends, and that’s exactly what happened to me.
Domestic violence doesn’t just affect the victim. It affects the victims' children, family, friends, coworkers, and community. “It causes diminished psychological and physical health, decreases the quality of life, and results in decreased productivity. ” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499891/)
If we can bring awareness to our voices and experiences, maybe it can help someone else in a similar situation navigate their obstacles with a little more ease and hope. Maybe it can make someone think twice about judging or gossiping about someone.
I have personally struggled with depression and PTSD. I used to be exuding creative energy, an endless drive, an inability to get sick, I used to be able to do it all. That was until the PTSD, depression, anxiety, and constantly activated fight or flight system caught up with me.
But I am determined to regain my light and live a life of peace and happiness. And I’d love to help find our way together. Be it through making you super comfortable and subtly sexy swimwear and intimates to help regain your self confidence because yes, you are beautiful and deserve to feel beautiful. Or by sharing stories and resources as I too continue to navigate all the obstacles that this life has to offer in our pursuit of happiness.
Whatever reason you’re here, I truly am grateful for this chance to connect with you.
If you would like to help even further, please think about donating. Your support moves mountains. We are looking for donations to help purchase more supplies so we can launch a new collection as well as make up for lost sales during the many months our founder has had to step away over the last two years to fight in her personal battle. We will be donating 10% of every order for the next 7 days to local organizations and nonprofits providing resources for victims of domestic violence. If you have a specific shelter or program you would like us to donate to, just make note in the comment section at checkout and we will make sure we donate directly to the organization of your choice.
We’ve always been a community of bikini lovers who stand up for each other and I’ll forever be honored to have an opportunity to spread our support and love.
Let's make our voices heard. Domestic Violence and Bullying will not be tolerated and we are determined make that known.
RESOURCES FOR VICTIMS
A really amazing resource I found for anyone suffering from or would like more information about post separation abuse is https://www.onemomsbattle.com/post-separation-abuse
This website is from the perspective of a woman who is a victim of domestic violence and a mother. This is a great website to just help you understand what you’re experiencing, as well as offering a plethora of resources. Throughout searching the site for information, it will remind you to be gentle with yourself, to listen to your intuition and to slow down if needed.
When you’re deep in the throes of abuse, it feels so dire and urgent in your attempt to escape but it’s extremely important to bring yourself back to center and slow down so that you can see what is happening presently and not be clouded by intense emotions that deserve their own right time too.
The first thing to do when leaving an abusive or toxic relationship, if you are able to, is prepare. Come up with an exit strategy before actually trying to leave the relationship. An exit strategy consists of your support group, your financial plan, division of assets and parenting plan.
Your support group can be small, but you’re going to need support. Coming from a true lone wolf, it’s going to be hard to do this alone. Be it an old friend in another city, you need someone who you can always call, who knows you, sees you, believes you, and loves you. There’s going to be times where you’re going to feel crazy, like no one believes you, like no one loves you, there’s going to be times when “friends” are going to shame you and blame you. And that’s when you need to lean into your support group. If you’ve been completely isolated, my second resource is going to become your main support network.
The second part of your exit strategy is financial planning, how are you going to support yourself independently. Where are you going to live and how are you going to pay for it? The third part, how are you going to divide assets? If you have kids, the next part is going to be creating a plan on how you are going to parent once separated. If you have planned and prepared for these things, escaping an abusive situation can be a lot easier. If you weren’t able to make an exit strategy, don’t fret, you got this, many weren't able to create one either.
The second most helpful resource is going to be therapy. Finding a therapist can be scary and is another slow process that must be taken very delicately. Your therapist is your ally. And you’ll know the second you meet them whether you can open up about your trauma or not. You are your biggest advocate. Remember that. You can find therapists in your area and message them directly on www.psychology.com
Therapy is going to help give you tools to re-center and keep yourself grounded in reality while navigating trauma. Suffering from covert abuse such as bullying, isolation, emotional and psychological torment are deadly to how we feel and think about ourselves and it's very easy to get swept into negative thought patterns of self doubt, depression and even suicide ideation.
Therapy will also help you remain in control of your emotional state if you’re having to go through anything legally. A good and experienced therapist can help guide you so that when working through legal issues you have the tools to manage the emotions that come from experiencing trauma and having to keep facing your abuser even after the trauma has stopped.
The next resource, seems meaningless, but is actually the foundation to your healing, developing a self care routine. It can start simple, just focusing on these 5 different areas: exercise, nutrition, meditation, small pleasures, skin and dental care.
For me, exercise has always been a big part of my life and I also have a dog, so I have always had physicality and getting outside in my daily routine. If you do not, just start walking. 15 minutes a day through your neighborhood is all it takes to start. But hold yourself accountable, rain or shine, you get that walk in.
I had a sporadic brain hemorrhage in 2013, going from a college athlete, to barely being able to walk, I started my recovery by walking my neighborhood. Just 15 minutes a day is all it takes, if you want to incorporate a little work out, check out my work out.
Next, nutrition. When you’re going through a traumatic event and are nervous all the time, the last thing you want to do is eat, or perhaps you can't stop eating. But if you want to successfully withstand what comes after a traumatic experience, you have to keep your body strong. And that comes with what you’re eating and drinking. Find what works for you. So be gentle but these are my go to’s when my mom isn’t there making amazing home cooked meals.
Fruit is an ally of mine. I can always eat a little bowl of some mango, kiwi, banana, some berries, some nuts, honey and milk.
Even when food doesn’t sound good. You can usually drink something that tastes good. So lot’s of water and/or coconut water. Kombucha. Goal should be 64-96 ounces of fluid a day. Make your drinks fancy, you can add lemon, lime, orange, cucumber. You can make cute little floral ice cubes. Whatever it takes, allow yourself the extra time and enjoy each drink.
I do start everyday with 32 oz. of room temperature water with a slice or two of lemon or lime.
Also adrenal cocktails! When your fight or flight is activated your adrenal system is working overdrive so it’s absolutely necessary to do whatever you can to repair yourself internally. I personally think this recipe is delicious and tastes like an orange Julius, originally from @wildflora.wellnessShelby on Instagram
1 scoop collagen protein
Pinch of salt
1 tsp turmeric
Squeeze half a lime
8 oz orange juice
Cream to taste
12 oz coconut water
And then I think this recipe tastes like a margarita!
Squeeze or juice one orange, one lemon, one lime
Pinch of salt
1 scoop collagen protein
12 oz coconut water
Smoothies have become my savors. When buying out, I always go green, I always add protein and/or peanut or almond butter. At home in the morning I blend fresh pineapple and cucumber chunks, 1 scoop of collagen protein, pinch of salt and coconut water, let it sit for about an hour and it’ll settle and not be so frothy.
Also, for my booty building babes, protein shakes before bed! Not only to help when you’re trying to build muscle or maintain weight, but protein shakes an hour before bed honestly help me sleep. Just a scoop of protein and 12 ounces of milk, I personally use vegan protein because whey protein hurts my stomach. But I’ve also found protein shakes before bed help me wake up less nauseous from anxiety.
And lastly when it comes to nutrition, be gracious with yourself. If you only feel like eating cookies and ice cream, let yourself just eat cookies and ice cream. You’re going through a really hard time, and you’re doing a really good job and your body deserves whatever it’s craving.
Oh and skin and dental care should also be added to your daily self care routine too! Look into tongue scraping and oil pulling in addition to flossing and brushing, start with adding tongue scraping every morning. Then add oil pulling at least once a week, if not every day. I heat my oil up before swishing.
I don’t wear makeup so I never cherished my skin. But over the last year I’ve found how soothing and therapeutic it is to take care of your skin every morning and every night. I’m happy to share my little routine, it’s simple.
It may seem meaningless or like you have no time to add these little tasks to your day. But start small, start taking care of you. Start treasuring the 5 minutes you make for yourself. The only way you can keep fighting is if you are strong.
Meditation and/or journaling is also going to become a helpful tool. Just because you’re experiencing something traumatic, doesn’t mean it has to become trauma. Learning to hold space for your emotions and not burying your experience is going to be another slow and delicate process, but fundamental in your ability to withstand and recover from abuse.
And now the most formal and probably insufficient resource of them all, especially if you are married or have kids, is going to come from educating and preparing yourself to enter the family court system. Whether that be with an experienced lawyer or doing the research yourself, chances are you’re still going to feel extremely overwhelmed and underprepared.
Legally, you’re going to need to educate yourself on division of assets as it pertains specifically to your relationship, parenting plans, and no contact orders. These are the basics but please feel free to reach out to me if you have any other questions or resources. We are each other’s biggest ally’s, especially if you’ve been through this before, the more we know, the better chance we have at taking back our power.
If you are in an abusive situation, you are not alone. It sure feels like it, but I want you to know you are not alone. There aren’t many answers out there. You have to ultimately trust in your ability to overcome any obstacle. It’s going to be a work in progress the rest of our lives. But I want you to know I stand with you, you are beautiful, you deserve to feel loved and safe and live in a home with minimal conflict.
Love & Light,
]]>
Shot by Ashley Rhian Photography
Quinn wears our Lucia top size large + Louie bottom size xl in storm
Jazz wears our Giada top size medium + Sasha bottom size small in silver lining
Shelby wears our Charli top size medium + Paloma bottom size large in lavender
Quinn wears the Ren top size xl + Cindy bottoms size xl in lavender
Khadija wears the Charli top size xlarge + Cindy bottom size large in dusty rose
]]>
]]>
In this style guide I am going to break down our 4 different low and mid rise bikini bottoms. Low rise refers to the bikini sitting lower on your hips whereas midrise sits a little higher.
We're going to start with our lowest rise bottom and work our way up to the midrise gals.
Low Rise Bikini Bottoms
The GIA bottom is our classic low rise bikini bottom. Meant to sit super low on the hips for that 90's Blue Crush beach babe vibe.
Next is our cheekier low rise bikini bottom, the AVA. Sitting low on the hips with super cute adjust strap sides detailed with gold hardware. This bottom is a classic teeny bikini
LYDIA is our lowerise moderate coverage bottom with a super cute lowrise waistband.
Midrise Bikini Bottoms
Our FREYA bottom starts to sit a little higher on the hip closer to the midrise. This bottom offers moderate coverage with it's hip hugger design.
FRANKIE is our adjustable midrise cheeky string bikini bottom. Strings can be worn low or higher rise, back can be adjusted for cheeky or moderate coverage.
The MAHINA is our least coverage offering bottom perfect for soaking up the sun and showing off your assets.
And the finish, we have our long standing best selling bottom, the CINDY. Designed to sling up on the hips, this cheeky bikini bottom elongates your legs while giving your hips ultimate freedom to shine.
]]>We have over 10 different styles of swim tops and that can absolutely be overwhelming! So I'm here to break them down, one by one, and detail how they differ and what makes them all so uniquely invaluable.
I'm going to break our tops down into three different sections, the Crop Tops, the Pull On Tops and the Tie Back Tops.
If you are looking for ultimate comfort, look for simple designed tops that pull on. If you are wanting more customization, if you have a smaller band but larger cup, you may prefer the tie back tops.
Style and size are very dependent on not only body type/shape but also preference. If you are wanting more coverage with your top size based on your cup size. If you have a smaller band but larger cup, this is where preference is going to come into play, you can either size down for a more minimal look or size up for more coverage and potentially comfort/function.
Let's start with our Swim Crop Tops
AURORA is one of our oldest and most best selling swim tops. She's designed to be the super cute, super essential cami crop top you can wear in the water and then pair with your favorite skirt to wear on land. This top is designed to fit compressional, there is no elastic under the bust to help create lift so you are relying on the compression of the fabric to help give you the support you need, while also utilizing the adjustable shoulder straps to help give you even more lift and support.
Next is our REN top, this top hits a few inches under the bust so sits a bit higher than most crops. This top is designed with a deep V neck front and a deep scoop back. This top does have elastic under the bust as the shoulder straps are fixed. Do note, you'll want this top to fit compressional to ensure your ladies stay covered in all situations.
Now we can move on our to Pull On Tops
Say hello to the LEO. This is our essential sport top. Designed to be super cute while also being super active. This top has elastic under the bust with a deep scoop neckline and a deep scoop back.
LUCIA is our sweetheart top, with the ultra flattering sweatheart neckline, this top is a classic that is not only pretty but also functional as another sport top style option.
The JENNA is our essential bralette with skinny adjustable shoulder straps. The straps give a femininity while the design offers complete function for versatility.
GIADA is our minimal sweetheart bralette with a super comfortable and minimal elasticized back strap, she'll easily become your favorite everyday top.
The Marlow is our looker, with a super deep v front and a center knot accent. This top is super supportive and equally sexy.
BETTY is our minimal tube top with adjustable straps. She's super cute and timeless with an extra touch of femininity from the wide placed adjustable shoulder straps
And to finish our swim top style guide, we have the Tie Back Tops
CHARLI is your ultimate classic swim top that ties behind the neck and back for a retro inspired look.
EMMA is your essential halter with a fully customizable tie back. This top offers the most coverage and support of any other top as you can fully customize where uyou ned
The VERA is our sexy triangle crop top that is fully customizable by tying off in the back. This top can easily be worn in the water and out on the town.
MATHILDA is our minimal one strap tube top. This top can be worn multiple different ways but the most classic is with the single strap slung behind the neck and tied behind the back for a super sexy silhouette.
]]>Welcome to our High Waisted Swim Bottom style guide!
Here, I will break down our 5 different high waisted bottom styles with a brief history of their design, differences, and how they are meant to enhance different body shapes.
Let's start with some basics first. I'm going to be talking a lot about "leg cut." The "leg cut" refers to the front leg opening of the bikini, so where the bikini sits when looking at your front. A longer leg cut, means the front leg opening will hit higher on your hip basically making your legs look longer aka elongating. A lower leg cut will hit lower on your leg, although this does not offer an elongating effect, it does provide more coverage.
If you are looking for a high waisted bottom with more coverage, stick with moderate/lower leg cuts whereas if you want to go cheeky and elongate those legs, look for bottoms with a higher leg cut.
HIGHWAISTED BOTTOM STYLES
Ok, let's with our very first bottom design, the ZOE. This bottom was designed to be our timeless, classic high waisted bottom with moderate/full coverage. This high waisted bottom hits around the belly button and has the lowest leg cut and offers the greatest amount of coverage of any of our bottoms.
Next we have our BELLA. This bottom hits just below the midline and has a little higher leg cut than the Zoe. BELLA was designed be our cheekier high waisted bottom.
The PALOMA bottom hits around the belly button and has a smidge higher leg cut than Bella, making her a little bit cheekier with a 2.5" waist band that is extremely soft and does not dig in.
Now we're going to head to the cheekier side of our high waisted bottom styles.
The SASHA is our 80's inspired swim bottom with a high leg cut and cheeky back. She's been around since our very first collection in 2016 because she is that flattering.
We'll finish our high waisted style guide with the LOUIE. Our highest rise bottom with the highest leg cut and an ultra flattering 2" waistband.
]]>
Loungewear is basically the most comfortable underwear/base layers that can be easily accepted as a bikini in any socially acceptable settings. Loungewear was originally designed to be items worn post swim when you still wanted to wear your bikini but wanted to take it to the most comfortable status bikinis can offer.
Loungewear is double lined to offer opacity, even when wet. And is made from buttery soft bamboo fabric, this fabric offers not only complete comfortability but it is also extremely stretchy. Sizing is a bit more fluid as the fabric is extremely stretchy. Please refer to our size guide for specific measurement recommendations. But overall we recommend ordering true to size with loungewear.
How does loungewear differ from swimwear? Loungewear can absolutely be worn in water because it is double lined, so many colors will offer moderate/complete coverage when the fabric becomes it’s most translucent, however this is not where it shines. Loungewear really shines on land as everyday wear because it is so comfortable.
So why do you need loungewear? Not just because it’s the most comfortable “underwear” you’ve literally ever worn but because it was made with love and attention to not just creating something beautiful but creating something that can withstand the test of time and play, as well as be produced in a sustainable way. Most generic underwear is made from fabrics that are actually very harsh for the body. And most generic underwear is mass produced, which in turn produces mass amounts of waste. These little items are the base to most of our days/outfits, so why not make them super soft, super comfortable and super sustainable?
Loungewear Styles
The Dreamlette is the cutest little bralette set we ever did dream up! Our rendition of the backless bralette. Designed for all day wear with a tube top silhouette, elasticized back for ultimate comfort and adjustable slide shoulder straps for ultimate customizability
The LEONA CROP TOP
Is our our essential scoop neck crop top. This crop hits above the belly button. We do recommend ordering true to size in this crop if you want a snug fit for more functionality.
The WINTER CROP TOP
This top was available as part of our winter 2020 lounge collection, formerly known as WINTER LEONA. This top is two inches longer than the original Leona and hits below the waistline.
The TUBE CROP TOP
Our newest member to our tube top family, meet our TUBE CROP TOP. Hits right above the belly button with an ultra flattering strapless silhouette.
The CLASSIC HIGHRISE BOTTOM
Our most classic swim bottom turned into your favorite loungewear bottom. This bottom is high waisted and offers moderate coverage.
The CHEEKY HIGHRISE BOTTOM
This bottom offers minimal coverage with a high leg cut to elongate and accentuate every figure.
The LOWISE BOTTOM
Our newest loungewear bottom, the LOWRISE, offers moderate coverage with a low to mid rise bikini underwear design.
Our Recommendations
If you have yet to snag a loungewear set, we recommend grabbing a complete set. This offers a small discount and gives you the chance to try both a bottom and top. The CLASSIC HIGHRISE & LOWRISE bottom are modeled similarly to classic underwear whereas the CHEEKY HIGHRISE gives a bit more flare. Every design offers something unique to all our beautifully diverse body shapes. We hope you find something you love! xx
]]>
We live in a 750 sq. ft home, our living room is no more than 10 ft x 10 ft and we’ve got two wild little men running loose, so no excuse ;) I do recommend wearing shoes or getting the little grippy socks that bare classes require if you are doing this on wood, tile or any other slippery type of flooring. Generally carpet shouldn’t be too slippery but always wear shoes if you want extra grip and stability.
My form isn’t the best in this video, I made it with just myself and the kids so it was super distracting, running back and forth from checking the camera to doing the next exercise. So I definitely recommend checking out my first workout blog to get a good understanding of the majority of exercises we’re going to do here.
The everyday 10 minute workout is seriously my lifeline, it has the ability to shift my mood from down to upbeat, gives me energy and motivation to see the positive in everything so I wanted to transform my outside version into an inside version. Given the world’s circumstances, and if you live in the PNW then you know how untrustworthy our “spring” can be, so even when it’s pouring or you’re confined to your home during a lockdown, you can still get a super invigorating workout at home.
Ok let’s get into it
Gemini Mountain Swimwear’s 10 Minute Everyday Home Workout
Alright, that’s the home workout! You’ll notice I swapped out some of the more dynamic exercises of the everyday workout for more yoga centric exercises. I did this because generally if you’re stuck at home you’re not trying to get your adrenaline pumping super high, you want to get a good workout that calms your spirit yet satisfies your body.
Let me know what you think about this change and which version of the everyday work out you like better and why.
See you all next time!
]]>
Let me know how it goes! xx
]]>Regardless, here it is, my essential everyday work out. This workout has been the backbone to my body, mind and spirit over the last 7 years. My body was able to easily regain its better than original shape after two pregnancies while also getting my ass into initial shape in 2014 after being a partier in college.
My dad wrote this list of exercises down for me the summer of 2013 and I have been doing this exact work out at least three times a week since I started. I’ve definitely taken some time off here and there, postpartum, being sick, being overworked, etc. Working out has never been an obsession for me. It is the time to give to myself, to give my body it's time to be taken care of and fully focused on.
I really suggest getting your mind and body connected prior to this workout. I like to walk for 5 minutes. Getting outside is honestly clutch, it really is needed to give yourself a break and fully get everything out of this time with your body. So if you can get child care or bring them with you to a field, getting outside in fresh air enhances every aspect of this workout. Regardless, the 15 minutes you consistently dedicate to this workout will change your life. If you can’t get outside, then I’ll show you how to do this in your living room in the next video.
Before we get into the actual work out, please listen carefully, this work out is meant for moderate to advanced workout experience. I am not professional and I do not recommend doing this without proper supervision or experience. This workout, although gentle for every stage of life, should be done supervised if you are not familiar with over 70% of these exercises. That being said, I want to eventually break down every single exercise so you can really see it up close and make sure you’re doing the exercise properly. But just to cover my ass ;) by reading this and following exercises in this video you are inherently signing on all risks associated and deeming yourself fully responsible in the event of injury.
My dad was my soccer coach and was a college strength and conditioning coach so I am all about technique. I’m trying to look my absolute best, while sure as shit not getting injured. So I’m going to break down the exercises here and have a little voice over in this video that gives you points to really concentrate on to make sure you’re properly positioned in these exercises. Nothing should ever hurt it should burn but you should never feel pain anywhere in your body. If you do, stop what you’re doing immediately.
The Workout Broken Down
Like I said earlier I like to sync my mind and body prior to exercise. This means, I like to walk around and loosen up my joints and muscles while also releasing all the anxieties and tensions that my mind has been stewing over. Once my mind has cleared and my body is ready then it's time to begin the work out.
This series should take you about 15 minutes in the beginning. Once you’re comfortable and have practiced for a bit you’ll be able to get down in under 10 minutes while also doing max reps. You want at least 10 yards of space, the more the better. I like to go to a soccer complex and will do one exercise all the way to midfield about 50 yards. You can also do this in as little as 8 feet, you’ll just be changing sides more frequently which actually is perfect for booty building in the long run. As you get more comfortable doing this, you can start working on going through this series of exercises faster and at a longer distance.
I generally stick to reps of 20 lunges. This might help some, but I’m a freak so I count when I run and jump. I usually do about 20 when I’m going the skips, shuffles, etc.
Ok without further ado, here is my every day workout.
GMS Essential 10 Minute Work Out
Ok so that’s my “warm up”. This is my secret. It might not seem like a lot or it might seem super intense. But it's neither. It is the perfect, most essential warm up for anything you do in life, especially once your body gets used to it. You’re probably going to be sore tomorrow. Even when I take a week off, I’ll be sore the next day. And once your body can do this soundly and comfortably, we can add on because that is where we will start working towards “results.” But before we get there, we focus here because this series of exercises really does build the perfect foundation for your body for life. Let me know how it goes! xx
]]>
Did you know that fast fashion is the second largest polluting industry in the world, right behind Big Oil? When I started making bikinis I had no idea it would end up making me a crusader for the earth. I was disgusted that the passion I had found in making swimwear also make me one of the biggest polluters in the world. I couldn’t take this, so I immediately teamed up with a fabric supplier who produces sustainable techno-fabric made with ECONYL® - 100% regenerated nylon made from post-consumer materials, like water bottles, fishing nets, fabric scraps and carpet flooring found in landfills and oceans all over the world.
Every swimsuit we offer is made with this regenerated fabric and we couldn’t be more proud. And not only is our fabric sustainable, our manufacturing practices are founded around creating the least amount of waste possible. We also save our fabric scraps and turn them into one of a kind pieces or create other products, like scrunchies, that you can enjoy for years to come.
It’s not only our mission to empower women, we also want to empower Mother Nature. So now you can do your part to save the world too. And wearing recycled plastic never looked so sexy. Win win
]]>
]]>
Our FW18 campaign shoot for the very first bamboo loungewear collection, Diary of a Wildflower shot in the mountains of Montana xx
]]>
Our SS18 One Rainy Wish campaign shoot, shot on location in Olympic, WA
]]>
]]>
A dear friend gifted me the book Women Who Run With the Wolves, and not only was it the inspiration for the fall collection, it has become my daily guidebook.
Here are a few of my favorite excerpts from the book Women Who Run With the Wolves, written by Clarissa Pinkola Estes:
General Wolf Rules for Life
“While it is useful to make bridges even to those groups one does not belong to, and it is important to try to be kind, it is also imperative to not strive too hard, to not believe too deeply that if one acts just right, if one manages to tie down all the itches and twitches of the wildish criatura, that one can actually pass for a nice, restrained, subdued, and demure lady-woman. It is that kind of acting, that kind of ego-wish to belong at all costs, that knocks out the Wild Woman connection in the psyche. No, it is better, more graceful, and far more soulful to just be what and as you are and let the other creatures be what they are too. “
“To love a woman, the mate must also love her untamed nature.”
“Though fairy tales end after ten pages, our lives do not. We are multi-volume sets. In our lives, even though one episode amounts to a crash and burn, there is always another episode awaiting us and then another. There are always more opportunities to get it right, to fashion our lives in the ways we deserve to have them. Don’t waste your time hating a failure. Failure is a greater teacher than success.”
“Go out in the woods, go out. If you don’t go out in the woods nothing will ever happen and your life will never begin.”
“If you have yet to be called an incorrigible, defiant woman, don’t worry, there is still time.”
“One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul.”
“When we accept our own wild beauty, it is put into perspective, and we are no longer poignantly aware of it anymore, but neither would we forsake it or disclaim it either. Does a wolf know how beautiful she is when she sleeps? Does a feline know what beautiful shapes she makes when she sits? Is a bird awed by the sound it hears when it snaps open its wings? Learning from them, we just act in our own true way and do not draw back from or hide our natural beauty. Like the creatures, we just are, and it is right.”
]]>
Quotes by: Clarissa Pinkola Estes
We decided to create a blog because we want to show everyone a little more of what life is like on Gemini Mountain. Although it is a one woman show behind the design and construction of the swimwear, it takes a whole team of beautifully creative souls to capture and present the magic we create. And for that, we want to help share and connect you to the people behind and in front of the lens. The bikinis featured in the photos are apart of our spring collection, so stay tuned.
Now, here's the sneak peek of what we do while we wait for the seasons to change...
Photographer : Of The Wolves Photography
Model : Aimée Bartel
Swimsuit : Gemini Mountain Swimwear
Kimono: Donkey Girl Designs