** Photos used with permission from Ride Culture.

The first time I went to a spin class, it was in a giant generic gym. The lights were florescent and harsh, the music was blah and the instructor kept telling me to pretend I was climbing a hill, to imagine the scenery. If I wanted to climb a hill and enjoy the view, I’ll get on my mountain bike, thank-you. I left that class unimpressed and never went back.

Fast forward years later when my friend Caitlin Walker invited me to try a spin class with her in Vancouver, BC. I knew there was a newer genre of spin studios (think SOULCYCLE) that people seemed to love so I figured I should give it another shot. This class was much different than my first experience years earlier! The music was loud, the studio was dark and nobody tried to get me to imagine I was climbing anything! What did happen was something more like this: I clipped into the pedals, the music started and I began one of the most intense workouts of my life! I’ll admit, there were a couple moments when I wondered what I’d signed up for and if I’d make it through the class without passing out. But by the end, I felt amazing. Not only did I get the workout of my life, I also felt inspired, energized and maybe like a little bit of a badass! I wished there was something local so I could get that kind of workout on the regular.

This is where I get to tell you… Bellingham is getting its very own spin studio and you’ll have the chance to see what I mean! The same Caitlin Walker who introduced me to spin has dreamed up a beautiful new studio called Ride Culture, located next to the future home of Scotty Browns in Barkley Village and it is exactly what Bellingham has been missing!

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to join in on a training class prior to Ride Culture’s opening. The class was challenging and my heart rate definitely got up there! If I could describe how it felt to be in this spin class, I would choose ‘supported.’ Caitlyn’s constant encouragement to push hard coupled with reminders to listen to my body created exactly what I look for in a workout class. I want a workout that will challenge me but I also don’t want to feel stupid for not being able to stay at the class pace the whole time. You won’t feel this at Ride Culture.

I had a chance to sit down with Caitlin to get a little more info on her new project and I’m excited to share with you!

How did you come up with the idea for Ride Culture?

Pretty much the way I approach life. If I want it and it doesn’t exist, I’ll create it! After taking a SOULCYCLE class in 2012, I started dreaming of what it would take to create something similar for my community.

What is your inspiration for the name?

The word “Culture” incites memories of travel to new countries and experiencing other cultures which, having grown up in Thailand and Costa Rica, is close to my heart. Culture = Community to me. Every home, office, etc has its own culture. I wanted to create a place where we could all bring our cultures together and create a place full of diversity, energy and kindness for everybody and everyBODY.

What motivates you?

I am motivated by a desire to take care of others. As a child I thought I’d become a nurse. I grew up watching my parents give back to the less fortunate in Asia and Central America. As an adult I’ve found my way to give back by helping others become healthier and happier through exercise. Now if I could just find a solution for the obesity rate, food insecurity, etc…

What would you say to someone to who has never tried spin?

I hope your first class is as life changing for you as it was for me. Riding in sync with others in a dark room with the beat of the music driving you to push yourself makes you feel like you can accomplish anything!

How is Ride Culture prepared for opening safely during the pandemic?

We had the advantage of our building being under construction during 2020. We learned we could enhance our safety protocols by installing UV air scrubbers and lighting into our studio. This technology will ensure our space is not only sanitized but also thoroughly disinfected.

 When you think about people coming into Ride Culture for the first time, what do you hope they experience?

I hope they are wow’d by the design, feel pampered by the amenities; that they feel welcomed and become slightly addicted to the workout!

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Ride Culture has an open house on Saturday, March 27th from 10am-12pm to check out the studio, purchase a ride class pack and get entered for some great prizes! Doors open for business on Monday, March 29th and you can visit their website www.rideculture.com for more information. I cannot rave enough about Ride Culture. It’s a beautiful and inspiring place to work out and you’ll leave feeling more at home in your body, grateful for all it can do. I hope I see you there!

xo Bonnie

Beauty products and the idea of “must have” items had never been a huge priority for me in my younger adult life. I don’t think I really found my stride with my own makeup until I was past 30. Growing up, my Mom didn’t put a lot of emphasis on cosmetics or skin care and I felt like it was a lot of work I didn’t want to do. I was also fairly frugal and didn’t want to spend my money on promises that probably wouldn’t add up to anything. That’s such an attitude for a young person to have, right? I remember reading about ‘fine lines’ and other old people problems and looking in the mirror to see zero lines of any kind. My hair was thick, my skin had plenty of bounce. End of story.

Enter turning 30. My skin starting sending subtle hints that it was worth taking care of and yesterday would’ve been a great time to start that plan. I started trying different skincare lines and ended up leaning towards clean brands even though some of the clinical ones probably could’ve given me better results. I kept thinking about long term health and what was going onto my skin and therefore, into my body. It also felt worth it to invest in quality products that might cost a little more. I was also starting to see my own value in a new way and embracing the idea that I was worth taking care of… this was a newer idea for me. I was very good at taking care of everyone else but I consistently put myself on the back burner.

Now I am 40 and although I know I’m going to grow old someday, I’m definitely on board with holding some of that off for as long as possible. I would like to age gracefully rather than like a head on collision. Lol! I have tried plenty of products over the last decade and found my own ‘must haves’ that I use all the time. I’m definitely not a beauty expert but I know what I like and here are my current favorites!

Honest Beauty Mascara

I have tried so many mascaras from the high end brands all the way to the ones sold at Target. My main problem with mascara has been that, for me, most mascaras run and I have raccoon eyes after a few hours of wear. I’m not sure why this is but it’s annoying enough that I had opted out of wearing mascara at all unless I was going out for something special. I have found some that didn’t run but then they flaked!! Even trying another brand felt futile but I ordered this product online and crossed my fingers. I’ve been wearing this product for a few months now and cannot say with enough enthusiasm how much I LOVE it! It’s also a clean product (safe, non-toxic, made with natural ingredients) and the best mascara I have ever used. It doesn’t flake and I don’t have raccoon eyes after a few hours. It’s a total win for me!

Prose Shampoo & Conditioner

This is also a clean brand and it’s customized. I spent about 10 minutes filling out a survey on the Prose website and was excited to see if the products were good. I have always had a sensitive scalp and most shampoos irritate it. I wanted something that would help me stretch my days between washing as my hair is long and if you have long hair, you know what I’m talking about. All I can say is that this brand has been so good for my hair and scalp. It’s not nearly as sensitive as it was prior to using the products. I did decide I wanted to make some tweaks to my mix so I went online and changed a couple of my survey answers and this last shipment was even better!

Beauty Counter Counter+ Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm

This brand is one of my favorites for skincare and I use many of their products. I love everything I use but this balm is my favorite of all. I have tried other balms from companies like Goop but nothing compares to this one from Beauty Counter. It’s so gentle and makes my skin feel clean but not stripped. I even use it as a makeup remover at night. This balm is also a clean product so I feel good about using it on my skin everyday. If I had to pick one skincare product I would never want to be without, it’s this one.

* photo used with permission from Beauty Counter

Beauty Counter Overnight Resurfacing Peel

This product is amazing. I don’t always have time for a mask for exfoliating my skin so this is a great option for me. I apply it at night and use a warm wash cloth in the morning to wash my face and my skin is smooth. It sloughs off dry skin in a very gentle way and takes up zero time in my day. It’s not a total substitute for a mask but it’s a great product for in between masks. The only negative I can think of with this product is the smell, which is somewhat unpleasant. However, I’ll keep using it because the results are great! I buy Beauty Counter from my sister-in-law @familyfulfillmentproject on Instagram.

* photo used with permission from Beauty Counter 

Rodan and Fields Lash Boost

I have always had total eyelash envy of anyone with long, thick eyelashes. Mine were never anything special… until now!!! I have been using lash boost  for under a year and only consistently for the last 6 months and my eyelashes are so much longer. They’re still not as thick as some people’s but I am so happy about them. I’ve even had friends mention how long they are when I have mascara on which is a huge thrill if you’ve never had long lashes and suddenly you do. lol! I apply the serum at night and wash it off in the morning. Easy! A big shout out to my friend Katie James, who hooks me up with this product!

Modere collagen

It might seem funny that I’d add a collagen product I drink into a blog on beauty products. The reason I am though is because I’ve been using it for 3 solid months now and I have so much new hair growing. After my 2nd pregnancy, I lost a lot of hair and it just kept falling out for a few years, which gave me some panics for sure. I have had a couple spots on my head that were noticeably thinner for the last several years. I heard about this product from one of my favorite Instagram accounts @shalicenoel. She recommended giving it a couple months to see results so I decided to give it 6 months, just in case my body needed more time. After 2 months, I had all this new growth in those thinner areas so I’m a total fan of this product. I had added powdered collagen to shakes for added protein for years but powdered collagen absorbs at a much lower rate than liquids so I think this is why the results have been so much better for me. If you want to try it, this code will give you $10 off! (6677093)

Well those are my top 6 products I’m using these days. What are the ones you love?

xo Bonnie