Healthy Chicks

Spring is finally in the air (at least here in Boston!) I can’t tell you how truly happy I was yesterday morning when I woke up to sunshine, 70-degree-weather and that oh so joyful feeling of utter bliss. I put on my new maxi dress ‘n shades, head outside and didn’t look back. There’s something about spring that gives me a newfound sense of renewal and passion, which I’m sure many of you can relate to.

Ready to ring in spring with an extra pep in your step, the Healthy Chick way that is? Here are 10 things to do right now.

1. Set Your Intention Spring is a time for new beginnings and change! Take out your journal and get really clear about your intention for the season. Think about what you want…and then ask yourself why. Right now my intention is around clarity, self-care and being true to myself.

2. Take a Spa Day Literally. A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to spend an evening at Boston’s newest organic day spa, Spa Day. This hidden oasis on Washington St. makes you feel like you’re miles and miles away from the city. While I was … Read More!

Well, it’s officially Daylight Saving Time, and I’m praying/hoping/dreaming that we really do indeed “spring ahead.”

But in the meantime as I continue to freeze my butt off, share Ubers with strangers to work, and recoup from the Boston Blizzards of 2015, I’ve also been having a lot of fun navigating some new + exciting healthy finds. Hey, when the weather gets rough, spend your paycheck on things that are good for your health. Am I right or am I right? Hey, at least it makes things seem a little sunnier! Below are my latest obsessions.

BEAUTY FIND: Love Lettuce Face Mask, LUSH, $6.95

Last week while visiting my lovely friends at LUSH Cosmetics, I was given a tub of their “Love Lettuce” fresh face mask. Made with natural, soothing ingredients like lavender, almond oil, and honey, this mask is intended to give dull skin a renewed glow while balancing oily t-zones.  The product also contains ground almonds for an all-natural exfoliating effect!

Since my skin can be on the sensitive side, I tested it out on my nose and neck last night and fell in love. I can’t wait to try it out on my entire … Read More!

I spent a large portion of my life — that is, the majority of my upper teens and early twenties — hating food.

It’s not that I didn’t like the taste of food; now that I loved. That certainly wasn’t the problem.

It’s that I hated the way food made me fat (or so I thought.) Regardless, it made me feel fat and for that reason alone I grew to despise it.

Even worse than hating food was that I was well aware of this “issue” of mine, and wanted so badly to be normal like the rest of my friends. I was ashamed of myself and my weird ways with food.

I’ll never forget that feeling of watching my beautiful + lively college roommates enjoy pizza, pasta and beer without a care in the world, as I’d sit there starving myself. Literally. “Thanks, but I already ate dinner,” or “I’m stuffed,” I’d lie to myself (and my friends) and I sat there salivating watching them eat, feeling 100% empty.

Whether I ate a spoonful of peanut butter, some rice cakes, roasted chicken or a half of a bagel, I was left feeling guilty; it was … Read More!

As you know, I’m a firm believer that in order to thoroughly enjoy fitness + discover your personal path to wellness, you must find an exercise that makes you shine. In other words, the goal is to find something that you love + look forward to instead of something you feel you “have” to do.

After all, there’s nothing worse than painfully dragging your butt to the gym for a treadmill run just because you “need to work out.” Where’s the fun in that?

Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to discover several exercises that makes me shine and feel my best self including running, yoga and barre. These are the exercises that make you sweat, feel sexy, and leave feeling totally OK with the fact that you just spent $20+ to get your downward dog on. These are the exercises that leave you wanting more.

One of my true loves — which has always been there for me through thick and thin — is spinning. There’s nothing like a good, sweaty ride that gets my blood flowing + heart pumping!

Living in Boston, I’ve been blessed to experiment with many different spin studios – – seriously … Read More!

I am not really a fan of cleanses, detoxes and definitely not diets. When you think of a traditional cleanse, you think of restricting yourself, juice fasting and calorie-counting, all of which I don’t believe in. I’m a HUGE advocate for treating yourself, and firmly believe that Healthy Chicks Eat Burgers Too.

I also don’t feel that a 7-day or 14-day juice fast can “fix” your body (like a magic pill) and erase years of pizza parties, wine binges and sitting on the couch only to go back to your old habits once the cleanse is over. It’s a lifestyle, and like anything making changes to your diet takes time and commitment.

That said, I am a believer in doing a whole-foods based cleanse with the goal of resetting your body and getting you back on the right track (vs. healing you and erasing years of “bad decisions.”)

In the past few months, I got married, enjoyed a two-week honeymoon in Hawaii, forged through some busy times at work, and survived the holiday season. Needless to say, my body was feeling a little blah.

This is the very reason I decided to give Clean Slate: A Cookbook and Guide… Read More!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but why aren’t you feeling in the holiday spirit?

Are you feeling stressed out to the max?

Hung-up about your body?

Sluggish…Broke…Defeated?

Are you finding yourself ordering takeout 5 days of the week?

Milking that snooze button a little more than you should?

Skipping the gym…because PJs just seem a little more enticing?

I’ve got a secret for you: you’re not alone.

There’s been a lot of talk lately on feeling those winter blues (er, pre-winter blues to be exact).

So I’ve been busy brewing up a fun, interactive wellness challenge for y’all! That’s right, the 21-Day Winter Blues “Get Healthy + Happy” Wellness Challenge: Ring in the holiday season feeling happy, sexy and confident in your own skin!*
*WITHOUT DIETING OR GIVING UP PUMPKIN PIE!!

The challenge will begin on Monday, December 1st (right after Thanksgiving weekend), and includes:

• Daily dose of positivity sent straight to your email (even better than your morning latte!) with clear action-steps to implement right away for the 21 days.
• Access to private Facebook group to hold one another accountable – I’m a firm believer that the main reason we don’t follow through is because we

Are you feeling a little off,

Down in the dumps?,

“Blah?”

Don’t worry, my darling. It seems like you just may be dealing with a little case of the cold-weather, pre-winter blues. And I’m totally with you on this one!

As I hiked through the pouring rain in 40-degree weather the other evening, carrying multiple tote bags for a work function, a part of me just wanted to break down and cry. Mind you, that morning I had an argument — er, disagreement — over my recent health insurance bills and then had to trek an hour out of my way because I left some items for my event in the hubby’s car. Did I mention I spilt dressing on my favorite jeans?

It was pretty much the epitome of one of those days. You know the type.

So I reached out to twitter world, asking for favorite ways to perk up on those gooey, rainy, less than perfect days.

I loved all of the suggestions, from curling up with a hot cup o’ coffee + macaroons to squeezing in a sweat session at the gym. Here are some of my personal favorites:

1. Curl up with a magazine or … Read More!

Good morning ladies, hope you’re all having a great week! (Can you believe it’s already Thursday?) Time is sure flying by for me lately. Not only am I getting married in 29 days (eek!) but I’ve also been busier than ever with work and did I mention I’m training for a half marathon?

Some may call me crazy to run a half marathon just 12 days before my wedding, but honestly for me running is one of my favorite ways to de-stress and spend time with myself + for myself. So I signed up for the Newport Half Marathon held on October 12th, and haven’t looked back since.

Aside from having the proper fuel, upbeat music and a whole lot o’ stamina (especially for those long runs), having the right workout attire makes a huge difference too! I’m a firm believer that if you feel comfortable and fabulous in what you’re wearing, you’ll have a better day, and well a better run too.

That’s why I was ecstatic when City Sports kindly offered to send me some items from their new fall fitness collection for me to try out. It could not have come at a better time…smack dab in … Read More!