Week of Detox Cleansing: Day #1

After an entire weekend of pig roasting, boozing, desserts, and dinners out, my sister and I both agreed it’d be a good time to do a cleanse. You know, to rid our bodies of toxins, clean up and start fresh. Since we live together, and our fridge & cabinets were completely empty (no temptations!), there could not have been a more perfect time to hit the grocery store for cleansing eats.

We did a 3-day cleanse based off of the book Clean back in March, so were a bit more prepared this time. Basically, we’re cutting out caffeine, alcohol, wheat, grains in general, meat, dairy, starchy vegetables, added sugar, and packaged foods. And we’re stocking up on lots of leafy greens, seasonal vegetables, fresh fruits, super-green smoothies, juices, raw salads, and cleansing soups like Gazpacho and Carrot Ginger.

The idea is to give our digestive system a break, particularly in the morning and evening, and stock up on hearty raw vegetables during the day.

Here’s what Day 1 Looked like:

Breakfast: Green smoothie made with banana, kale, almond milk/coconut milk, carrots, leafy greens, cucumber and celery

Snack: Roasted  Seaweed Snack from Trader Joe’s

Lunch: Big ol’ salad with mixed greens, Read More!

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Friday Favorites: Food, Fitness & Fun

Good afternoon ladies! I haven’t done one of my Friday Favorites posts in a while, so I figured I’d get back into the groove today. Here’s what I’ve been crushing on this week…

  1. Cat Stevens albums, particularly this song. I used to listen to his music when I was younger and it somehow reminds me to be calm, strong, confident and inspired
  2. The $50 voucher to Basho Japanese Brasserie that my boyfriend bought me from LivingSocial. They definitely serve up the top three Spicy Tuna Maki rolls I’ve ever tasted.
  3. The new FitFluential #proof tanks. Once you sweat, the back reads “#proof” and well it’s an extra excuse to get extra sweaty during workouts!
  4. My super refreshing, delicious homemade summer tabouli. It was so good that I’m actually making it again for a summer BBQ this weekend.
  5. Sticks & Twigs from Mary’s Gone Crackers. These little gluten free, whole grain pretzels are to die for, and contain good-for-you whole grains like brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, and millet.
  6. Grilled turkey burgers with sauteed mushrooms & onions, topped with melted fresh mozzarella.
  7. Running! Yes, I am running again in training for the Newport Half Marathon this October. And
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Lemony Chicken + Refreshing Summer Tabouli

Seeing as though it’s mid July (the peak of summer), I’ve been advising my clients to cool down in all aspects of life, be it food, wellness or work. One of my favorite ways to cool down is by eating cooling, refreshing seasonal foods like watermelon, citrus, cucumbers, and herbs.

Last night, I decided to add a little Mediterranean flare to the dinner table by making a platter of Mediterranean-inspired eats. After all, I find that a diet rich in refreshing dishes with whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats fill me up most. I decided to go with a healthy trio: homemade tabouli + sauteed chicken + pita & hummus, a combo my sister and I can both agree was pure genius.

Refreshing Summer Tabouli

{makes 4-6 servings}

  • 1 1/2 c. water
  • 1 c. bulgar wheat
  • 1 medium organic cucumber, chopped
  • 1 c. fresh parsley
  • juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 2 TB olive oil
  • 1/2 c. full fat feta, crumbled
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • fresh mint for garnish (optional)

1. Boil water and pour over bulgar wheat. Stir and then let sit covered for 20 minutes.

2. Drain the bulgar wheat of excess water and … Read More!

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Three Healthy Habits + Craving Control Workshop in Boston

Good afternoon lovely ladies! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far. Lately, I’ve been feeling wonderful inside and out, mostly due to these three little new habits of mine:

  1. Going to bed earlier (and waking up earlier) which makes morning workouts that much easier and more powerful!
  2. Getting back into running. I start training for the Newport Half Marathon this week! I can’t believe this will be my third half…boy does time fly by. I’m torn between using Hal Higdon’s Novice 2 or Intermediate training program, which mixes in Speedwork.
  3. Shutting down completely (no phone, no iPod, no computer, no TV) an hour before bed for some pleasure reading. Currently I’m reading Bright Side Up: 100 Ways to Be Happier Right Now by Amy Spencer.

On other notes, my business Zesty Living will be hosting a workshop on craving control next Thursday, July 26th from 5:30-7 pm. at Oficio on Newbury Street, Boston MA. You may read the details below & register here. I am running a promo from now until Friday at 5:30 p.m.! Simply enter promo code summerfun50 for 50% off your tickets.

Event Details

Are you a stress eater who craves things … Read More!

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Wining + Dining in Boston’s North End

Like any twenty-something girl, I absolutely love to be wined and dined, especially in Boston’s very own Little Italy also known as the North End. Well, this past Friday, I spent the evening wining & dining (and laughing) with my beautiful younger sister Krista and let’s just say we were not dissapointed.

{posing with our brights ready to hit the town!}

We started the evening out at Boston Bottles, our favorite little wine and beer shop which is conveniently located minutes down the street from our apartment. They have quite a generous selection of wine and craft beer, and never disappoint no matter what day of the week. Not to mention the staff is knowledgeable, extremely friendly, and always remember our faces (and our taste in booze) each time we visit.

But wait, it gets even better! Every Friday evening starting at 5:30, Bottles hosts a wine tasting free to the public. Each week, my sister and I look forward to the new selection of wine, and we’re always pleasantly surprised. Not only do we have a blast, but it’s also a great way to try a different type of wine you may never have thought to try. Who … Read More!

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Sunday Blueberry Banana Oats + Inspiration

{taken via Instagram}

In the mix:

  • 1 c. water
  • 1/2 c. oats
  • 1/4 c. frozen organic wild blueberries
  • 1/2 of a banana
  • 1 tsp. butter
  • 1 TB all natural peanut butter, chunky
  • 1 tsp. agave syrup

Cook the oats on low/medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes, adding in the fruit and toppings gradually. Top with big scoop of your favorite peanut butter. Serve with a bold coffee like Chocolate Hazelnut with almond milk.

Happy Sunday. Think cheery, sun-shiny thoughts today. As my mug says, “Life is Good. Do what you like. Like what you do.”

XoXo,

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21 Itty Bitty Summer Pick Me-Ups to Boost Your Mood

It’s summertime and the sunshine is beaming, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re feeling so sun-shiny inside. Even the cheeriest of us have those days where we could use a little extra boost. Here are 21 little ways to brighten up your mood this summer. Feel free to add your own in the comments section!
  1. Squeezing in a little extra time with those friends that make you extra cheery
  2. Reading booklets, magazines and articles packed with inspirational quotes like the one above which is from an IIN magazine
  3. Escaping to the beach for a sun-kissed afternoon
  4. Getting out of the house/apartment & going for a long walk
  5. Shutting down all sources of technology (yes, that includes your iPhone!)
  6. Avoiding Facebook & twitter stalking for a day, and living your life rather than comparing it to others (think: I’m so jealous all my friends are at this party except me! I can’t believe she’s engaged! Her job is my dream job! Life is so unfair!) Try to remember there’s always another side to every person’s story…
  7. Reading a steamy summer romance novel
  8. Signing up for a 5K, 10K or half marathon in your area like the UnitedHealthcare Half in the beautiful
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Q & A With Skinnygirl Rockstar Bethenny Frankel

Skinnygirl fans, you are in luck! This week, in conjunction with OpenSky , I was given the opportunity take a look inside the life of the superwoman Bethenny Frankel. Ever since I read Bethenny’s book Naturally Thin, I have been hooked as she and I have a lot in common when it comes to eating well and listening to your body. Not only is she an incredible author, TV celebrity, mother and successful businesswoman, but she is also hilarious and extremely blunt which I love.

Take a peak at how amazing this woman is for yourself in her interview with OpenSky below. Enjoy!

You’re a new TV host, Founder of Skinnygirl, 4 time NY Times best selling author and chef, but if you had to describe yourself beyond that to someone, what would you say?

Well, I’m most definitely a businessperson, but I’m most proud of being a mother. Ever since I had Bryn, I make all my decisions based on what’s best for her so that’s how I define myself first now.

It seems like everybody’s biggest challenge for living a healthy lifestyle is time. What’s one simple thing time-starved women can fit into their day to live Read More!

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Exercise for Your Body: What’s Your Perfect Blend?

[family hiking trip in Waterville Valley, NH this past weekend]

As you know, I am an avid fan of running mostly due to it’s hidden benefits none of which include losing weight or getting “skinny.” Sure, these are extra perks that may come along with exercising, but they’re not the main reason I run. Rather, I run for clarity, creative sparks (i.e. coming up with a fabulous idea for a new project), getting outside and de-stressing.

I find that when you exercise for weight loss or to obtain that perfect celebrity bikini body it takes all the fun out. And well, when you take the fun out of something, what’s the point?

Exercise should be exciting, invigorating, motivational and even a little surprising. It should challenge you, make you sweat, make you laugh and even make you cry (in a good way like the tears that came when I ran my first half marathon with thousands of other women).

On the other hand, it should not make you feel bad about yourself, evoke jealousy, create anger and bring out insecurities. If a certain exercise is causing this negative impact, you may want to rethink it; most likely there is something … Read More!

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