Tuesday- Day 3 Back & Abs

Alright so this morning while I was outside with the kids, I'm working at a summer daycare, I thought, how am I going to fit in my work out today? I work from 7 to 6 and then tonight I have to be at a photo shoot at 6:30 which means I won't be getting home until after 8. By that time all I want to do is eat and go to bed before starting it all over again tomorrow. As I was hanging on the monkey bars I realized, why not work out on the play structure? It's a perfect spot. So I worked on back and abs. Here is what I did:

Pull ups on the monkey bars- 3 sets/ 5 reps ea @ own body weight.

Hanging crunches- 3 sets/ 10 reps @ own body weight (for these you want to be in the pull up position, hanging, and bring your knees to your chest. You want to make sure that you keep your body as straight as possible, the less swinging around the better.)

Bent over dumbbell pull up- 3 sets/ 8 reps ea @ 40ibs (for this one what you want to do is take a dumbbell and bend over, you want to on a bench but if you dont have one then standing will do. Then you will lower the dumbbell straight down and then bring it to your chest. Do this for each side. Make sure to watch your form and keep the dumbbell close to your body)

As you can see my work out today did not have too many exercises but it did the job and was better than nothing. Now tomorrow should be another interesting day because I have an appointment at 7, after work. We will see what I can pull off tomorrow. Oh, I actually talked to the kids at work and we are going to start doing a morning work out for about 20 minutes each day. I already drafted up a work out plan for them. It should be fun and they are excited. I am too because this means I can get my work out's in too, sort of.

Did you get your work out in today?

There is still time to fit in a quick 15 minute work out.

Until tomorrow...

Monday- Day 2 Legs

Alright, so this morning I wasn't too sore from yesterdays work out but I could definitely feel it. I felt like all day I had really good posture and my stomach felt as if it was flat as a board. I made sure to have a decent breakfast, I usually do, but this morning I decided to go for the oatmeal. It carried me through most of the morning. I had a turkey sandwich for lunch followed by grapes, string cheese, and a few wheat thins for a late afternoon snack. After I got home I started my work out.

Here is what I did:
3-4 mile bike ride
1/2 mile walk after dinner
calf raises: 3 sets/ 50 reps weight= body weight
Squats: 3 sets/ 10 reps weight= body weight

So I did it! Day 2 is done and out of the way. Now tomorrow will be challenging because I have to be at a photo shoot after work, the reporter I met with last week wants to get some shots for the article coming out this week. So, I am thinking that I might just do arms since I have the dumbells at home.

I hope you got your work out in today, even if it was a quick one. Any work out is better than nothing and will help you get that much closer to your fitness goals.

Enjoy the rest of your night!

Sunday- The start of a new work out

So tonight I decided to hit the gym before heading home that way I wouldn't feel guilty for not going tomorrow. I usually end up going in the mornings before work but now that summer is here I have to be at work by 7. I am thinking my chances of making it to the gym in the mornings are slim. So tonight I went and started a new work out, well I sort of did it before but now I understand it more.

It is the Ryan Reynolds work out from when he did Blade Trinity. It is a great work out if you ever want to try it but it is not easy. I started out today with just doing chest and abs. See Ryan ended up working out one body part a day, chest day, back day, etc. I always like to throw abs in there somewhere. So here is what I did:

Stretches
Cable press- 3 sets/ 8 reps @ 100ibs
Swiss ball crunches- 3 sets/ 100 reps
Peck Deck- 3 sets/ 6 reps @ 90ibs
Dumbbell bench press- 3 sets/ 8 reps @ 45ibs
Wide lat chess press- 3 sets/ 5 reps @45ibs
Ab crunch machine- 1 set/ 50 reps @60ibs

I spent about 40 minutes at the gym.

Afterward s I wanted to make sure and have something healthy. So I pulled out the blender and started tossing things in. Now I know this might sound gross but bare with me, it was actually good. I made a smoothie that consisted of:
Dole fruit juice
2 leaves of lettuce
5 baby peeled carrots
small hand full of blueberries
4 strawberries
1 banana
a couple dashes of Cinnamon
1 raw egg
1 8 oz strawberry yogurt
Blend it all together and you got a great tasting smoothie full of fruit and vegetables.

That is it for tonight! Tomorrow I will attempt to do legs by biking after work, calf raises, and squats.

Personal work out

So I decided that since I had this blog up already I would turn it into my personal work out log. I will do my best to keep it up, given I have already so much to update, but tonight I feel inspired by my work out.

What follows will be my work outs.

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MIX IT UP North Bay!

MIX IT UP While You Still Can

And so the time has come that I am now in a position to give advice to the under 30 crowd about what they need to do to avoid the many pitfalls that I have experienced in order to get to the other, ugly side of 30.

First, let me assure you, it’s better to be 30 than to be 20, 21 or even 25, but, more on that later. There are some basics you’ll need to know that will get you through the night.

DRUGS
Now, I feel like I’m getting preachy. Put down the pills. Use only as prescribed. Yes, this means you, clown-ass.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Many of you have it and don’t know it. Get it treated or your head will explode.

CARBS
Pretty much, you should give up the carbs now. I’m talking about refined carbohydrates, essentially any food made by humankind that comes in a box. This will, generally, stop you from becoming a fat ass, or becoming more of a fat ass or getting Type II Diabetes or high blood pressure and a bunch of other stuff by the time you turn 30.

RELATIONSHIPS
They’re not going to be the way you think they’re going to be. So go easy on yourself and the other person. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Is there someone for everyone? Who knows? But, I do know this: you’re good enough for you. And speaking of standards. . .

CAREER
Dreams die hard, bitches. And you can quote me on that. First, remember you don’t have anything to prove. Then, live with passion. Don’t try to impress me. I don’t care what you do with your lives. I just want you to be able to wake up in the morning and wonder what the hell’s going on. And then let me know.

EXISTENTIALISM
You’re gonna have a crisis. Not right before you turn 30 or right after, but 8 months later. That’s when it hits you. You’re not a teenager, anymore. You’re not in your mid-20s reveling in post-college wonder. You’re a 30-something and you’ve achieved some things and not other things. And you probably haven’t taken any of my advice and are fat, dying of liver failure and all your relationships have fallen apart, along with your general appearance (and on a side note, how come all the men at a 10 year high school reunion look like bald, middle aged plumbers and the women are still hot? I’ve seen the pictures, though I refused to attend. Can someone explain this?) But, life is still better than ever, if for no other reason than you’ve outlived Jim Morrison.

BOOZE
Your liver’s dying. Unless you have a donor, it’s time to start cutting back, especially if you’ve hit 25. And if you’ve hit 25 you know what I’m talking about. I’m preparing you to be able to function for life after 30 which is much better, but I’ve decided not to say why. But, suffice it to say, I’m preparing you for the time of your life when you need to be able to get up in the morning and be quasi-functional physically and mentally.

STANDARDS
As legendary pornographer Jackie Treehorn put it “Regrettably, Dude, standards have fallen.” This is true. What are your standards? Do you have any? If you have to think about this for more than 10 seconds you don’t. Get some. You’re gonna need them, before you abandon them.

TEXTING
Stop texting. It’ll destroy your relationships. Stop e-mailing. Give people a call. Better yet, meet them in person. Only call or text people if you don’t care if your relationship is destroyed. Oh, and get the pictures of you with your pants down around your ankles in the bathroom at Spanky’s off your Facebook. I don’t mind looking at them, but Human Resource departments typically don’t.

ONE MORE THING
Finally, I’d like to caution you against taking any sort of advice. You’re probably not going to take it anyway. You’re probably gonna find some all new way of destroying the cosmos or your love life or libido or mental health. In that case, I’d say sometimes not doing anything is better than doing something. Or just do everything I say and don’t blame me for the inevitably negative consequences.

You’ll make it. I’ll be there cheering and welcoming you to the club. It involves a lot of soup.

~ Charles McAuley

Release party

I want to start out by thanking all of you for coming last night to our release party. It was a great turn out and everyone had a good time.


I just wanted to let you know that today is the day MIX IT UP will be available to the public. You can find out where you can get your copy by going to our website and clicking on About Us and then find us. For those of you who are not able to pick up a print edition you can click here

I hope you all enjoy!

Also, please go to our home page and take our short survey so that we can get some feedback from you. We want to know your thoughts so we know what to do for the next one.

One last note, if you know of anybody that would be interested in advertising with MIX IT UP please let me know or they can send an email to advertise@mixitupmagazine.com as well as check out the website for more details.


Thank you,
Ed Troxell
Publisher / Executive Editor

Bowl for Kids' sake- Big Brothers, Big Sisters

Today team MIX IT UP went out and supported Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay for the Bowl for kids' sake. Our team was made up of Robin, Tim, Daniel, Jessica, and I. We all had a great time out at Double Deckers where the event was held. Big Brothers Big Sisters had everything set up from registration to T-shirts, to pizza and drinks to even silent auctions on decorated bowling pins. This was one event that we will have to catch again next year. Check out our video and for more information on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay go to


More photo's from Steve at BBBS of the North Bay

Napa’s Miracle Workers Creativity is a fickle mistress.

It doesn’t come from a simple A+B+C formula, in fact it’s a product of so many factors both environmental and internal, that it’s nearly impossible to pin point what exactly creates an exciting and dynamic band. However, those in the Napa/Santa Rosa area should look no further than local sensation, The Helen Kellers, a band that exudes such wild and unencumbered ingenuity like it’s going out of style.

Taking their name from the legendry miracle worker herself, The Helen Kellers craft an exciting blend of bludgeoning alternative rock that’s punctuated with gentle atmospherics, flourishes of power-pop, and large sounding choruses. The band is comprised of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Ryan Rushworth, his sister and keyboardist Rebecca Rushworth, drummer Dustin Miller, bassist Drew Wright, and multi-instrumentalist Kyle Stoner. Through all of it, it’s been the Keller’s passion that has pushed them into their budding notoriety in the local music scene.

“I started the band when I was 16,” explains vocalist Ryan Rushworth.

“I’d turn most of the poetry that I had written into songs. When my sister took up piano, we started collaborating and writing songs together and the band’s grown from there.”
And indeed the band’s grown alongside the Rushworths’ ambition, hooking up with Miller and Stoner and finally settling on Wright for bass, after a revolving door of bassists. And like with all great artists, their heroes and idols played an integral part to their eclectic sound.

“People like Brand New, Elliott Smith, The Velvet Teen, and Radiohead really inspire us,” explained Rushworth.

“These artists really tap into something from the creative insides, and we’re really interested in exploring that ourselves rather than making something that’s sugar-coated.”

And make no mistake; the Kellers examine some deeply personal topics from alienation to broken relationships. Backed by rolling percussion and feedback induced guitars, their song

“Shadow” seems to reach up from the depths of nightmares as Rushworth’s black sarcasm laments, “We drink together/Friends forever/As we toast the setting/Sun…”

“I was picked on a lot as a kid and I channeled a lot of those feelings into our music,” revealed Rushworth.

“For people that are struggling with those same feelings and fears, I hope they can be inspired by what we create.

But it hasn’t just been The Helen Kellers’ ability to tap into something personal that’s given them their allure, the band has also worked tirelessly in promoting themselves.
“There isn’t a music scene in Napa,” explained Rushworth.

“It’s a very conservative town that’s populated by people who primarily listen to cover bands and jazz. There aren’t really any venues or clubs, so we have to go over the Petaluma, Santa Rosa area to really play gigs.”

And indeed, their live show is quite the experience. Catching one of their shows at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, it’s clear that The Helen Kellers’ passionate performances are the mark of a band that leaves a little bit of themselves on stage. They work as a unit, often rotating instruments between themselves, but always pushing their voices and instruments well past their breaking points, show after show.

For The Helen Kellers, they’d rather go big before they go home.

A typical Kellers show is bound together by Rushworth’s enigmatic stage presence as his body sharply seizes to his dissonant and caustic guitar, his Robert Smith hairstyle flailing with each spastic movement and heart wrenching scream. Elsewhere, Rebecca Rushworth’s gentle keyboards add soft texture to their songs, while her syrupy backing vocals make their Keller’s material simply soar. Elsewhere, Miller and Wright keep a tight rhythm section while Stoner fluctuates between additional percussion and occasionally sharp, lead guitar work. To see The Helen Kellers is to see a finely tuned machine, one that offers up raw, unfiltered emotion, through musical prose.

And people have begun to take notice.

“The local bands have been really good to us here,” explained Rushworth, “Bands like Body or Brain, Subtones, The 33’s, Nan de Carlo, and Tear It Down have really helped us out. It’s not really a competition around here, more like a bunch of friends looking out for one another.”

And with such fantastic support, it seems the Kellers are truly aiming for something large in their future, consistently building a following after each show.

“”We’re going the distance!” laughs Rushworth, “But seriously, we’re really excited right now. We’re going into the studio at the end of November and will hopefully be done with our album by next February.”

It’s difficult to imagine that The Helen Kellers won’t blow up big at some point. With songs like the positively expansive “Poetry To Bleed” and the mammoth pseudo metal of “Not Going Home,” the band is perched to become a force not just in the Santa Rosa area, but perhaps in the mainstream as well. And while it’s unclear what the exact ingredients are that make an immersive band, it’s clear that The Helen Kellers are just as much part of the ride as their fans are.

“I was to expose us to anyone and everyone,” chuckles Rushworth.

“Take that as you will.”
/By Michael Digrande

Corrections for Issue 1

Our apologies:

In our Contributors section we missed spelled Daniel’s last name, it is Ojinaga.

In our house ad (male) we misidentified the photographer. The photo was taken by Nick Nacca.

A Pre-release exclusive for Thriving Ivory

A Pre-release exclusive for Thriving Ivory:


I just came back from the most amazing concert and it was right here in our own backyard. That’s right, I saw Thriving Ivory in Petaluma at McNear’s Mystic Theater. The performance was amazing! I saw Drew (from T.I.) as I carried in a box full of MIX IT UP, hot off the press, for the select few that would be attending the concert. After unloading the 100 copies I brought, Drew got his first look at the magazine. He was very happy with the look, the photos, and the story.

As people poured into the theater I started handing out copies of MIX IT UP, just in case they didn’t get them back at the booth. Sitting back at my table with Jessica we noticed people flipping through the magazine and reading it. Jessica, being the “proud momma” (FYI-she’s a friend, not my mom) pointed out how people were enjoying it. At this point I felt a sense of accomplishment. It is really something to see your hard work, along with others, printed and in the hands of complete strangers. Looking around the theater flashes of yellow MIX IT UP from the back cover caught my eye.

The show opened with American Drag followed by Thriving Ivory. Thriving Ivory entered a black stage which soon shot beams of white light out to the audience, lighting up the stage as they started to sing. Fans screamed as Clayton’s voice mesmerized the crowd while Scott, Drew, Bret, and Paul took listeners beyond the average sound of piano, keys, guitar, bass, and drums. Thriving Ivory is among the few, that sound great live.

Thriving Ivory is not only a great band, performing songs that will take your breath away, but they are also your average guys, doing what they love.

Enter the world of Thriving Ivory…


To Clayton, Drew, Scott, Bret, and Paul, thank you for everything.

The Anticipation for issue 1

For months now MIX IT UP has been talked about and in the works. What started out as an idea soon became reality. Taking the idea of starting a magazine, reading Nolo's Starting and Running a successful newsletter or magazine, and asking advice from those in the industry really helped move things along. From there things just kept falling into place. It has been an amazing few months and I, as Publisher/ Executive Editor, have learned so much on this journey.



I have learned that you have to take what you know and run with it. Don't let fear run you. Research as much as you can and know that even if you think you have researched everything, there will always be more to look up. Find out as much as possible about your subject. Take on an internship, even if its not paid. There is nothing better than real life, hands on experience. In this business, and really in every aspect of life, you have to keep after everything and everyone. Make notes of who you called, emailed, texted, Facebooked, Twittered, whatever way you communicate, that way you know when you talked to them, what you discussed and when to follow up.



Don't be afraid to talk to people once you get your idea nailed down, at least have a plan laid out. Talking will allow you to meet new people, network, and get your message out there. Believe it or not there are still people out there that want to help and provide their expertise. Be respectful and appreciative of those around you. People, especially those in the industry, are very busy but are willing to take the time to meet with you. Be prepared and DON'T waste their time.



Just a few months short of a year, a little over a week until the official release and one day short of picking up the final, printed copy of MIX IT UP (the Premiere issue), I can't believe it is finally done. All the hard work everyone has put into MIX IT UP will finally be printed and out to the public. As a Pre-Release special, exclusively for the Thriving Ivory concert tomorrow night at the Mystic Theater, some lucky fans will get their copy of MIX IT UP, featuring Thriving Ivory, early. Then, next Sunday, April 5 those attending MIX IT UP's Release party at Upper Fourth, will be able to get their copy of MIX IT UP and to enjoy a night out. Following this eventful night will be the release to the public (April 6).



I can't express how grateful I am for all of this and how amazing it is to be able to put this out there.



I hope you enjoy!

MIX IT UP
your source for work and play
Don't be afraid to express yourself.

Ordinary Riches

Company Of Thieves Review (4/5)

Debut albums are rarely the work of a band that has found their sound.

Often times, debut records sound like a mishmash of ideas that music nerds love about other bands and have painstakingly placed into their own songs. This results in a very uneven experience, one that even the greatest bands have succumbed to. The Beatles didn’t start breaking away from traditional blues licks until “Help!,” the first three Electric Light Orchestra records are largely ignored, and U2 didn’t really begin to flourish until 1987’s “The Joshua Tree.”

However, Company of Thieves happily defies this trend of messy debuts, achieving something even the Beatles could not do on their first LP.

“Ordinary Riches” is twelve concise tracks of immersive drumming, shape shifting guitar work and Genevieve Schatz’s commanding voice. Carefully balancing a mix of soft jazz and bluesy undertones, “Ordinary Riches” mines past musical archetypes but maintains an incredibly modern feel. This is evident on the internet smash “Oscar Wilde,” a track that revels in Marc Walloch’s climbing and twisting guitar lines that plateau with pristine apexes. Elsewhere, Mike Ortiz’s precise backbeat holds the group together as Walloch’s dreamy distortion and Schatz’s entrancing voice provide an almost sultry swagger to the song.

While there is a temptation for young bands to show off how remarkable their playing is, this mentality can clutter up the songs. Rather than following suit, Company of Thieves is smart enough to let the atmosphere build within these tracks, playing to what the songs need as opposed to impressing listeners. “Old Letters” opens with lumbering bass, swaying strings and cumbersome piano as Schatz’s whispered vocals cut through the air. Additionally, Walloch’s shimmering-to-overdriven lead work rounds out the track nicely as the song maintains a brooding sense of claustrophobia throughout its running time.

It’s not all horror movies and nightmares, but Company of Thieves excels at creating soundscapes that pull listeners in rather than act like background noise.

Yet the truly fascinating aspect of “Ordinary Riches” is how well the band seems to gel as a unit. Most contemporary bands are vehicles for a lead guitarist or an overrated singer, with the rest of the group merely there to fill their own instrumental roles. On “Ordinary Riches,” each member is recognizable as they add some of their personality to each of these songs. Whether its Schatz’s saucy delivery on “In Passing,” to Walloch and Ortiz’s stuttering rhythms on “Pressure,” each band member sounds like they have a voice in these arrangements.

Still, this is far from a flash in the pan, one-hit-wonder album that people forget about in a year. “Ordinary Riches” has teeth to it, a record that seems to lament on impermanence and frailty rather than a mere collection of sappy, Top 40 tailored, love songs.

“Even In The Dark” finds Schatz pondering how life continues to move when we don’t seem to see it, “Gotta listen to the laughter/Everyone must be heard/Now/Even in the dark…” Against a wall of soft acoustic strumming and a shuffling beat, Company of Thieves explores something far more poignant and interesting rather than the simple “love song by numbers” formula that dominates today’s radio.

But perhaps the group’s biggest strength is its authenticity. None of the songs on “Ordinary Riches” seem forced and derivative. Company of Thieves’ song craft is tightly refined, adding an organic quality to these tracks rather than having them feel like a monotonous workout. At the end of the day, good song craft means songs are not looked at as the sum of their parts, and Company of Thieves is incredibly talented at keeping their music spontaneous rather than methodical.

For this, look no further than pulsing bass and rich blues stomp of “Under The Umbrella.” Instead of filling the track with bludgeoning southern rock riffs, Walloch experiments with his ever changing guitar tones, which are echoing one moment and gritty the next. The song ascends on Schatz’s airy vocals, climbing until Walloch unleashes a searing wah-soaked solo that rides confidently until the track’s end.

“Ordinary Riches” will remind listeners of a time before music had to be fed through Pro Tools and processed to death. Company of Thieves relies on their ear for musical tension rather than their need to pen a cross over hit, allowing their songs to charm listeners instead of spoon feeding them.

Simply put, this is an album that succeeds because of its disciplined playing instead of its flashy construction.

“Ordinary Riches” urges its audience to remember when music took them places instead of being served to them in some sort of iTunes playlist. It displays a side of modern rock that is ethereal, evocative and nostalgic, while never really cornering itself into a restrictive and empty genre.

And to think, all of this came from a couple of rookies.

/ By Michael DiGrande

House Hunting

House hunting

It was just a normal Sunday. I slept in from the late night adventure of watching a friend’s kid the night before. The vibrations of my phone woke me as it skipped across my desk. As I stretched out I found it almost impossible to leave my warm, comfy bed. Once I got up I realized it was already 10 a.m. I wanted to hit the gym before a friend came into town but all I could think about was getting back in bed and sleeping. About 10 minutes later I forced myself to get up and head to the gym.

The day was starting off overcast and cold. By the time I got to the gym I was awake and ready to pump some iron. Today’s workout, chest, legs, and abs. I got in a good half hour workout and my abs were killing me. This new machine (new to me), the one were you grab the bars (shoulder width apart) and crunch down to your knees as them come up. Man that is rough. When I got out of the gym the sun was shinning, the sky was blue, and the chill had blown away. I made it back home where I showered, shaved, and got dressed for the day. At this point my stomach was ready for some food.

My friend was arriving soon, a half hour to be exact, and I was trying to figure out what we could do for the day. When she arrived I still had no idea what we were going to do but all I could think about was food. We headed over to Applebee’s and ate. We decided to do some house hunting.

House hunting is not what I consider the typical 24 year old Sunday outing. It was an interesting afternoon. I felt all grown up looking at houses I can not afford. It felt as though I was on the verge of starting the next chapter in my life, a family. We looked like a young couple ready to find our first home to start a family in. The thought of owning a home has never really appealed to me. I still have that travelers itch and find myself needing to see a part of the world every year, sometimes twice a year. The thought of spending $300,000+ on a house is crazy. Today, however, that thought was not so crazy. For the few hours of house hunting this thought felt real. It really is a trip to be looking at houses and picturing you owning and living in it.

I am sure the real estate agent was thinking, this couple can not be serious buyers. On the other hand, he could be thinking, they just might be the sale I’ve been waiting for. Either way the real estate agent was very nice and provided us with all the information we needed, he even offered to answer any questions we might have.

Walking around the neighborhood, touring the various houses we found ourselves accompanying older couples and their families. Some houses were completely furnished and set up for our viewing; others were bare, only showing the sheet rock and basic layout of the house. Having a house all put together with furniture and laid out really does make a difference, you able to picture yourself living there.

For me, the minute I walk into a house I can tell if it has potential or not. If it is open and bright then it has that homey feeling. For instance I walked into one and I could see straight back to the backyard. The light from the living room on my left was combined with the light shining down from the open staircase above and it just felt like home. The next thing on the check list is bedroom size. I am one who is really picky when it comes to bedroom sizes. I can not stand having a hole in the wall room, which is usually what you find now a days. The bedroom should be big enough to have a queen size bed, dresser, and a few other pieces of furniture all while being able to have room to move around.

It seems as though house hunting is like dating. You see what catches your eye, check it out, and decide what you like and don’t like. Every house is different and just because it looks good on the outside doesn’t mean it will look good on the inside and vice versa. Some houses have the large living rooms with the open kitchen. Others have the small bedrooms with large bathrooms and closets.

After seeing a few houses they all started to blend together and it’s hard to figure out which ones you liked. Just like the dating scene sometimes it takes time before you find the right one.

Happy house hunting….

Fashion Advice

Do you have a question for our fashion expert Michelle Wilson? Then ask away. Michelle is a recent college graduate who owns her own clothing boutique with her twin sister Cristina. Fashion what she lives for.