When it comes to The Blonde Chiffon, I’ve always got a little somethin somethin up my sleeve in terms of where I’d like to drive the blog or creative ideas I’d eventually like to put into action. I’ve been thinking about starting an interview section of the site for quite awhile now, and I could not be more excited to introduce y’all to one of my favorite health and fitness bloggers, Payton Sartain. Check out Payton’s amazing tips and tricks below and be on the lookout for more exciting interviews with top bloggers and professionals in the future!
+ Tell me a bit about yourself.
PS: Hi guys! I’m Payton. I’m a native mostly-Texan, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. I am the brainz behind my life & style blog, Hustle + Halcyon, which is basically a showing-off of the ‘pretty’ parts of my life and a compilation of all the helpful tips that I have come across that have made my life a little easier…all for you! I write about everything from health, fitness & wellness, to traveling and style. I’m a work-a-holic with a restless soul, so I’m constantly trying new things, reading new books (<< major literature nerd alert), learning as much as I can (I’m still a college student, ya know), meeting new people & blogging my heart out along the way. Behind-the-scenes: I’m a weirdo, semi-control freak, salad-hater (eeeeeps, I promise I’m healthy!) with a history of embarrassing decisions and a whole LOT to write about. I think addressing that I’m a weird-o makes it more acceptable…yeah?
+ What’s your go-to quick and healthy meal?
PS: Hmmm…I have a few go-to meals that I regularly nom on. A super-quick meal for the mornings/lunch is a hearty protein smoothie (examples here AND here) loaded with greens & LOTS of fruit (because I hate the taste of the veggies…HA). Also, I’m OBSESSED with eggs…like, obsessed…so I’ll fry an egg (whole egg, not just the white!) & put it over sautéed, well-seasoned veggies OR scramble an egg/egg-white mixture (1 whole egg & 3 whites) and have some fruit on the side. I’m also a fruit-fiend, so these are my major go-tos! The most important part of a quick & healthy meal is PROTEIN, PROTEIN, PROTEIN, so make sure to get a little of that good stuff in each meal, along with nutrient-rich fruits/veggies and you’ll be feeling absolutely stellar (which is the most important thing, of course!).
+ Favorite health/fitness trend right now?
PS: Oh, gosh I have a couple of these too. Like I said, I’m restless, so I’m always on to trying the ‘new thing’. Right now, I’m experimenting with putting coconut oil + raw grass-fed butter in my morning coffee, so look for that on the blog soon! As far as fitness goes, I really love that people are starting to look to more athletic-inspired ways of working out, instead of just going to the gym…because, boring. I’m interested in trying ModelFit (hopefully coming to LA soon), and I’m already into barre classes, boxing, and hiking! ALSO: I seriously recommend the Kayla Itsines fitness guide…it’s simple & it REALLY works. A great starting-off point, even if you don’t finish the whole thing.
+ Favorite workout?
PS: Boxing. 100%. I’m not talking group kick-boxing class. I’m talking real-deal one-on-one training like a fighter. It will absolutely kick your ass, change your mindset on working out, & push you to the limit. When I started boxing 2 years ago, I was lucky enough to happen upon a local MMA & Boxing gym (serious MMA…not the glitz-and-glam of most other boxing facilities) with the most badass, intense boxing instructor ever. Then, I started bringing my friends/roommates in for workouts a couple of times a week (which was funny because this gym was filled with all these tatted-up, macho dudes…and we were…well, not macho at all). We asked our instructor to push us, and he did it…in spades. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for going on a quick walk/hike most days, but there’s something about leaving the gym, completely exhausted, that makes for a solid day. When you’re one-on-one with an instructor, you don’t really have the option to quit (because that’s just awkward), so it isn’t hard to get a good workout in. Now-a-days, with the growth in the popularity boxing, it is SUPER expensive to have a trainer all to yourself (even classes are pricey!). If you’re low on funds, I would say either find a gym that trains local/up-and-coming fighters (doesn’t matter if it’s a hole-in-the wall…because those are usually the best) & try to get a deal, bring in a couple of friends and set up a mini-class, or find a gym with a smaller class size, so your instructor can really push YOU specifically (and if you happen to live in College Station, Texas…you have to go to ‘Unleashed MMA’…& tell Carl that I said hi!).
Photo by Anna Demarco Creative Photography
+ What’s in your gym bag?
PS: A water bottle, deodorant/body spray/dry shampoo (just in case I have to do something after working out), face wipes (because post-workout pimples are not welcome), a mini-towel, my favorite FRENDS headphones, & my wallet/cell (duh).
+ Your can’t live without beauty product?
PS: I have a GREAT relationship with my favorite concealer, Benefit Fake-up, because dark circles are a big NO.
+ Favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
PS: All my new For Love & Lemons pieces form the Spring collection/skivvies/knits, because being an intern has its FREAKING perks. If you haven’t lusted over the new stuff yet, you can do that on the website: www.ForLoveAndLemons.com. You’ll die.
+ Describe your morning routine.
PS: If I have work: I’ll wake up around 8, check emails & manage all of the social media accounts for my blog, especially if I have a post going up that day. Then, I wash my face/clean up, and drink a big glass of lemon water…seriously chug it. Then, I’ll either make a green smoothie or mix up my recent go-to, coffee with coconut oil & butter. Then, it’s out-the-door by 9 for work at 10, because LA traffic is next-level horrible. If I don’t have work, I’ll wake up a little later, dabble in some online shopping somewhere between my emails and social media, and go to brunch with a friend because I’m a HUGE brunch-er. Does that make me ‘basic’?
+ I won’t leave home without…
PS: My phone/wallet/keys (duh) and my concealer! A lot of the time, I don’t even use it, but I always have it…It’s like my version of that blanket/teddy bear you slept with (or maybe STILL sleep with) forever because it’s just…comforting. Weird?
Want more of Payton? Follow her on Instagram and twitter (here & here).
