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Being Thankful: Make it an Everyday Thing

3 Comments / Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

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Thankfulness. Now, what exactly does that mean? Some of us give thanks before a dinner with our families, and we say thank you every day to the Starbucks barista, but what exactly do those words mean? According to Dictionary.com, thankful is defined as feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative. But I see it as much more than that. If you ask me, it comes from the heart and is the utmost sign of love & giving. If you share your thanks, it’s only natural that good Karma will come back your way.

Take this for example. Two years ago during Lent, I sent out one email a day for 40 days to a person I loved and was thankful for – everyone from cousins to grandparents, new friends to old friends. The results amazed me! Nearly all 40 people emailed or called me back, thanking me for turning a bad day around and ultimately making their day/week/month. How incredible is it that a few simple words of kindness can completely turn someone else’s day around? How a simple gesture of gratitude can make someone smile, even if just for a few minutes?

Now, why is it that sharing … Read More!

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Quotable Sunday: Chasing That Golden Dream

1 Comment / Lifestyle, Uncategorized / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

I’m Back & Friday Favorites

2 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

[source] Faneuil Hall Tree Lighting this weekend!

Hey ladies! Sorry I’ve been M.I.A. all week, but I guess I’ve been in vacation mode ever since our New Hampshire getaway. But now I’m back in action, just in time for Friday Favorites. Here’s what I’m obsessing over this week:

Surfing the internet for tasty Thanksgiving recipes to impress the fam. I have to make a comeback after I made the worst gluten free red velvet cupcakes last year. I guess some things are meant to be left alone, or maybe it’s just my poor baking skills.
27th Annual Faneuil Hall tree lighting ceremony this Saturday. I will totally be attending, and so will Santa!
Cupcake-flavored lip gloss
Red pea-coats
Dad’s homemade turkey chili with turkey & sausage meatballs
Snuggling by the fireside with a glass of red
Cleansing – This week, I am cutting out all processed foods, corn, gluten, sweets, cheese, etc. (Pretty much anything that comes in a box or a bag)
This song (Seriously obsessed)
All of the gorgeous holiday recipes lately on Jessica’s blog over at How Sweet It Is like these Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting.
Good, ol’ fashioned holiday

… Read More!

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Friday Favorites & New Hampshire Getaway

7 Comments / Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

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Good morning everyone, and happy Friday. I am one very happy girl indeed, ’cause after I get out of work tomorrow afternoon I’m heading up to my family’s condo in New Hampshire to spend the weekend with The Boy and The Fam. We’ll be doing the usual, like eating Dad’s homemade chili, going for a brisk fall hike, and sitting by the fireplace with a glass of wine and some cheese. And the not so usual, like CELEBRATING MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY with The Boy.

Yup, he and I will be staying until Wednesday to celebrate our one year of being together. We’ve already planned some fun activities like getting hot stone massages, going on a foliage stroll (if there is any left), and simply enjoying each other’s company. I couldn’t be more happy to have met someone like him, and can’t wait to cheers to the big ONE.

Anyway, it’s Friday so it’s time to share some of my favorites of the week. Here goes:

Long sweater/ leggings combo
Apple pie, pumpkin pie, or any pie-scented candle
Fuzzy, bright-colored socks
Making a healthy take on kid food & calling it comfort food
Sleeping in on the

Comfort Food for You AND Your Kids: Mac & Cheese and Chicken Nuggets Get a Makeover

7 Comments / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

[source]

Craving these lil guys? Try this healthy substitute instead. You AND your kids will appreciate.

I have a confession: As healthy as I may be, there’s something about those little Dinosaur chicken nuggets and boxed Mac ‘n’ Cheese that gets me every time. Every time I see my little cousins nibble away on their itty bitty dinos, I want to join in. I don’t know if it’s childhood memories or comfort food cravings that gets to me, but it is what it is.

But I’m well aware these little dino friends aren’t the best for your health. In fact, the Tyson’s brand for one is loaded with foreign, unnatural ingredients like rib meat, modified corn starch, sulfate, riboflavin, dried whey, caramel color, and methylcellulose. Yuck. What happened when chicken was just…chicken?

Anyway, when my craving hit last night, I decided to give this classic comfort food combo a makeover, and let me tell you it was definitely for the better. My remake came out tastier, crunchier and best yet: guilt-free. Feed this to your kids next time they want McDonald’s, or stuff your face with it. No judgement. None at all.

Crispy Baked “Chicken Nuggets”

Tuesday Talk: Clear Your Mind & Find the Light

4 Comments / Uncategorized / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

[source] find the light, it’s there I promise.

Today I got to thinking about how a bad mood can totally put a damper on your entire day. Scratch that: your entire week. Negative thoughts & worries tend to take over any sense of rationality you once had, making it only more difficult to see the light. Suddenly, you transform into a full-fledged Negative Nancy, finding it nearly impossible to snap out of it. Sound familiar? Don’t worry; all you need is a lil old fashioned distraction to get you back to normal. Follow these simple tips to clear that fogginess, making way for sunshine!

Go for a long, mind clearing walk without your iPod/Blackberry/pager (bonus points if you go at sunset)
Give yourself a mini makeover. Paint your nails a bright color, give yourself a soothing oatmeal facial, and even light a few candles
Take a bath. You owe it to yourself
Blast the music & let loose
CLEAN your room / your house / your apartment. You’d be surprised how therapeutic cleaning can be.
Snuggle up with a good book & let your mind disappear to another world
Go out to dinner with some old friends,

Quotable Sunday: Soup for the Soul & My Trip to Zoup Fresh Soup Company

19 Comments / Uncategorized / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

Today, after a long day of shopping for winter clothes, my sister and I decided to stop at Zoup Fresh Soup Company to warm up. I had only been to Zoup once before, but decided to give it another go. After all, it is officially sweater, snuggling, and soup season.

With twelve rotating soups on their menu, a variety of fresh salads, sandwiches and breads, this place was an instant hit in my books. After sampling four different soups – including Chicken Pot Pie and Collard Green Chicken & Barley – I decided to go with a classic zesty Tomato Basil paired with a Loco Burrito Salad (with Romaine, fajita chicken, salsa, mozzarella, tomatoes, guacamole, and tortilla crisps).

The waiter must have liked me for sampling all their soups, that he upgraded me from a cup to a bowl for free. What a nice surprise! The soup was perfect, with just the right amount of spice and I licked my salad bowl clean. I will definitely be back this winter to stay nice and toasty!

Hope you all had an amazing weekend. Now grab yourself a cup of soup & enjoy.

XoXo,

Bloggers for Boobs Event Recap With Pretzel Crisps & Likeable Media

6 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

I’ve been so caught up in Integrative Nutrition lectures, friends, work, and life in general that I completely let the week get away from me. In fact, I STILL haven’t written about the Bloggers for Boobs event I attended last week. Hosted by Pretzel Crisps and Likeable Media, this blogger cocktail party benefited the Susan G Komen For the Cure. Pretzel Crisps has been on an ongoing mission to raise money to donate for the Susan G. Komen Foundation through their pretzel sales, and will make a minimum donation of $100,000. Talk about a company with a good heart (and good snackin’).

[look at all these tasty flavors!]

The Bloggers for Boobs event was absolutely wonderful, and quite a few people showed up despite the miserable snowy/rainy weather. I was able to connect with other bloggers, chit chat with the event hosts, enjoy a specially crafted cocktail (with Chocolate vodka and raspberry) and snack on pretzel crisps munchies. I ate far too much cheese throughout the evening as well (oops).

[how pretty?]

In addition to a silent auction with prizes like a 10 pass pack to Exhale Spa, we were prompted to enter a recipe contest. We were … Read More!

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Guest Post: Indoor Winter Exercises to Stay in Shape

Leave a Comment / Health & Wellness / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

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This guest post was written by Ashley from Long Island Heart Associates. For questions about heart health and exercise, contact our cardiologists today.

Baby, it’s cold outside, and you might not feel up to bundling up and braving the cooler temperatures with wind, snow and ice just around the corner. The good news is that there are many exercises that you can do indoors to stay in great shape, lose weight and keep your heart healthy. You don’t even need a pricey gym membership to exercise indoors this winter; many workouts can be done at home.

If you have any exercise equipment in your home, dust it off and bring it to an easily accessible part of your home. Keeping your treadmill in the basement might not work out well during the winter, when it is likely to feel cold, damp and uninviting. Bring it into the living room so you can jog while watching television or enjoying a flickering fire in your fireplace. Even a small trampoline, called a rebounder, can help you stay in shape this winter. Set it up in the family room and bounce or jog in place to your favorite … Read More!

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SuperFood Roundup: Stock Up on These Healthy Natural Supplements

6 Comments / Health & Wellness / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

Yesterday, I took a trip to Whole Foods and decided to browse their Whole Body section. I was particularly interested in all the natural supplements and powders they had to offer, as I’ve heard so much talk about various super foods. I was overwhelmed and amazed with the many powders, supplements, and natural remedies I came across. While I was extremely tempted to go home with $100 worth of these miracle supplements, I decided to do a little research first. After all, I’m not made of money.

Instead, I picked up a few packets of a Green SuperFood blend made by Amazing Grass. You simply add the packets to milk or water, and in an instant you can enjoy a glass full of superfoods. Is there really any better way to start the day? I decided to try the natural green blend, as well as the chocolate flavor, which was absolutely delicious might I add. The blends contain a variety of natural supplements including organic wheat grass, barley grass, alfalfa, spirulina, spinach, chlorella, maca, acai, rose hips and green tea just to name a few.

Do these supplements sound foreign to you? I decided to do a little research … Read More!

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