beauty

Beauty is an Inside Job: Embracing my Postpartum Body One Day at a Time

Leave a Comment / Lifestyle, Mindful Moms /

TRUTH: The most beautiful I ever felt was when I was pregnant.

Despite gaining nearly 40 pounds, not fitting into my favorite clothes, and treating myself to any foods I wanted, I felt like a freakin’ Goddess.

I loved watching my bump grow month after month, nourishing my body (and baby), and of course my glowing skin was a nice perk. More so, I loved how I felt in my body — especially when the baby kicked, I was in the zone doing laps in the pool, or meditating with my hands gently rested on my belly and heart.

I felt beautiful and connected in a way I had never felt before, in a way that’s hard to describe. I was simply so amazed and grateful for my body growing a tiny human — especially after struggling to get pregnant — and that to me felt beautiful.

Here’s the thing: beauty is an inside job. It’s 99% how we feel and speak to ourselves. 

In my teens and early 20s, I struggled a lot with my body — my thighs were “too fat,” my boobs were too small, and I wasn’t as skinny as the rest of my friends. … Read More!

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Monday Inspiration: 5 Ways to Be Beautiful From The Inside & Out

Leave a Comment / Health & Wellness /

I spent this past weekend on Cape Cod with a group of college girlfriends celebrating our friend’s bachelorette party. As I was looking around at the group of ladies (some whom I hadn’t seen in years), I couldn’t stop admiring how beautiful everyone is.

And no, I’m not talking about just on the outside. It’s no question that everyone rocked their LBD and looked absolutely glowing, but what I’m talking about is the beauty that comes from within. Inner & outer beauty are connected and if you can express them both then girl, you’ve got it goin’ onnn!

Here are 5 Ways to Be Beautiful From The Inside Out:

1. Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself & let loose: True beauties aren’t afraid to make a fool out of themselves and have a good time. This sort of inner-child playfulness is downright attractive!

2. Be True To YOU: What I love about all my friends is that we are all so incredibly different and that’s OK. Our group of friends is made up of free spirits, creatives, party-hoppers, sporty gals, accountants and entrepreneurs alike. We all have completely different tastes in clothes, music, men, you name it. But … Read More!

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What's on My…iPod, workout schedule, mind?

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Happy Friday fellow healthy chicks, and hooray for the glorious weekend ahead! Since it’s Friday and I know you’re all just itching to get out of work and get your hands on a martini, I’ll keep this post short ‘n’ sweet. Today we’re going to play a little game over at Healthy Chicks so that you all can get to know me better, and I too can hopefully get to know YOU better along the way. 

What’s on My…? 

iPod: Newly downloaded songs= Katy Perry’s “Firework” (totally motivating and great for an energy boost, plus she totally rocked it at the VS Fashion Show), One Republic’s “Secrets” (also gets me going in the morning along with my coffee), Paramore’s “The Only Exception” (how can you not love this song?), Sad Brad Smith’s “Help Yourself” (have been obsessed since watching the movie “Up in the Air“), George Harrison’s “What is Life” (an oldie but a goodie).

Refrigerator Shelves: Honestly, I’m embarrassed ’cause there isn’t much right now- definitely time to hit up Trader Joe’s. Currently I have eggs (I heart making egg white omelets), a bunch of veggies (including spinach, cucumber, carrots and zucchini), marinara sauce (leftover from … Read More!

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The Recipe to a Happy, Simple Saturday

3 Comments / Health & Wellness /

First off, I’d like to take a moment to honor this day, and remember all of the loved ones who were lost. We should all keep that in mind throughout the day, and try to maintain a positive, hopeful mindset for the future. 

I plan to spend this gorgeous Boston fall Saturday as simply as possible. No crazy plans or hectic appointments. Instead I’m going to relax, reflect and be happy. It’s said a picture’s worth a thousand words so instead of my usual wordy posts, I decided to enlighten you with photographs instead. This is how I plan to spend my lazy yet thought-provoking Saturday…

Seek out life’s simple pleasures. Find joy in the little things. This can be going for a walk and feeling the crisp fall air blow through your hair, or sending a “thinking of you” note or a hug to a friend in need…

 

 

Paint your nails…a pretty color…on the porch outside…with your best friends

Finally tackle that pile of laundry you’ve been procrastinating all week…

 

Do something crafty and creative, like organizing your bulletin board or starting a crochet

 

Drink a lot of H2O (with lemon if you have it)… I have to admit, … Read More!

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Bring Your Inner Beauty OUT

2 Comments / Health & Wellness /

This morning after breakfast, I went into the bathroom for my usual makeup routine. Moisturizer. check. Few dabs of liquid concealer. Check. Touch of powder. Check. Mascara. Check. Eyeliner. Check. Then I saw some bright pinkish/purply lipstick at the bottom of the bag, something I haven’t used for a verrryy long time. After all, I’m a pretty simple girl and normally just stick with clear lip gloss or vaseline if anything on my lips. But today was different. This lipstick had a story behind it. “bibo,” it read in cursive across the outside. “bibo? what the hell is bibo?” Then I remembered what it stood for when my mom gave it to me a few years ago: bringing inner beauty out. 

So what did I do? I grabbed ahold of that lipstick, twisted it up and applied some on my lips. Sure, it’s bright and a little bit much but I was going to rock this lipstick for all that it’s worth today. That’s exactly when I decided that I would also make today dedicated for bringing my own inner beauty out. No feeling fat. No feeling sorry for myself. No comparing myself to other women. No, today I … Read More!

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The Power of One Little Compliment

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Today when I was ordering my food at Panera, the barista caught me by surprise. While normally it’s just the usual place your order, fake smile, take the buzzer and go, today was different. “I absolutely love your dress,” the woman said. “It looks so cute and comfy!” Not only did the lack of robotic communication take me by surprise, but I was also completely flattered. She then continued by telling me the salad I ordered was a good choice, and that I seem like one healthy girl (little did she know I’m a “Healthy Chick” after all). Anyway, back to the point: this stranger’s simple compliments completely made my afternoon. And they weren’t even over-the-top or extravagant in any way. I walked back to find a seat beaming in confidence, just because of two little nice lines from a stranger.

This got me thinking about how I wish we saw more of these kind exchanges more often in life. Too many times throughout the day, I see people frowning and looking completely pissed off, or watch as people blurt out rude comments without thinking. I see it every day in line at Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. Yelling. Shouting. Snide, … Read More!

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