Health & Wellness

Friday Favorites: Menage a Trois, PranaVayu Yoga & More

1 Comment / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Happy Friday ladies! I’m one happy girl, as this will be the completion of one week living in the North End of Boston. So far, so good. I really don’t think living could get any better… Anyway, it’s Friday and you know what that means; time for Friday favorites. Here’s what made the cut this week:

1. menage a trois: No, not a threesome, silly! Rather, a blend of three red wine varieties. This week, I chose a California Menage a Trois blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and red Zinfandel. It was fabulous, and made for the perfect pairing with my homemade gluten free pizza.

2. The Charles: Living in Boston the past 2+ years, I’ve realized I don’t take enough advantage of what the city has to offer. Take the Charles River for example. While I’ve gone on a few runs/walks/journeys to the river in the past, I never made it part of my regular routine. Now that I live closer to everything, I’m starting weekly runs on The Charles in preparation for the Newport Half Marathon. This morning, I went for a long, slow 8 mile run along the river and it couldn’t have been more … Read More!

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A Lesson from My Yoga Teacher: Slow Down

2 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

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Yesterday, my yoga instructor said something to the class that really stood out for me. He was comparing our worries and anxieties to the clouds in the sky. They aren’t always there, but when they come they can clutter the clear blueness (i.e. clarity) of what’s really there. He challenged the class to let go of all those thoughts, anxieties and concerns and simply slow down; pause between thoughts and just concentrate on one thought at a time. In doing this, you will soon find clarity and feel more like yourself, rather than your distorted “cloudy” self.

I took his words of wisdom to heart, and am trying to carry them with me throughout the rest of the week. Although it is difficult to press “pause” on your life and simply slow down and let go, it’s something that comes with great gratification.

Slowing down to me means many things, both literally and figuratively. It means walking down the street a little bit slower, finding beauty in what surrounds you. It means looking at your watch/Blackberry/pager a little less often, and looking at the smiling faces of passerby a little bit more.

Slowing down means forgetting about … Read More!

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A Gluten Free Pizza Extravaganza

6 Comments / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness /

To me, there’s nothing so relaxing (and yet oh so gratifying ) as taking the time to create a delicious dinner for yourself. Add a bottle of red wine and some soothing music in the background and call it a party. Last night I had my very own gluten free pizza extravaganza with me, myself and I, and let’s just say it was quite the experience.

I started off my evening with some Ingrid Michaelson on Jango, playing various artists like Snow Patrol, Cold Play, The Beatles and Cat Stevens as well.

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As I prepped the ingredients to make the pizza dough using Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix, I opened up a bottle of a California Menage a Trois Red Wine. Although I am embarrassed to admit, this was the very first bottle of wine I ever opened. Let’s just say, I completely attacked the cork. However, I managed to pull through and the wine tasted absolutely fabulous nonetheless.

[next time I’ll leave the corking to my sister or The Boy]

Once the wine started kicking in, I began to prep the ingredients for the pizza pie! I chose to split the dough … Read More!

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Try Something New: Core Fusion Cardio at Exhale

9 Comments / Health & Wellness /

you’ll be sure to feel the burn with these mountain climbers

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As you know, I’m a huge fan of trying new things. As long as it won’t kill me, I’m usually willing to try something new. This morning, I decided to take advantage of my membership at Exhale Spa and give Core Fusion Cardio a go. So far, I’ve tried Core Fusion Open, the Body Sculpt DVD, Thighs & Glutes, and Bootcamp but I had never dabbled with Cardio.

Let’s just say, it was definitely worth my while. I highly recommend this upbeat, sweat-inducing class to anyone who’s looking to challenge their body with a little extra spice! With everything from kickboxing movements to weighted lunges to hundreds of mountain climbers, your legs, thighs and arms will surely feel the burn.

I’m now going to dedicate every Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. to this heart-pumping cardio class. You can hold me to it.

I dare you to try something new today. What’s one new thing you’re looking to give a shot?

XoXo,

… Read More!

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Clean Eating After a Weekend of “Too Much Fun”

12 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

[we had a blast at the wedding this weekend, but now it’s time to get back to reality (and clean eating)]

Good afternoon ladies ‘n’ those few ‘gents who read my blog! Sorry I’ve been missing for a few days, although I promise you I have a good excuse. I’ve been road tripping the past few days with The Boy visiting grandparents, mini golfing and attending a friend’s wedding up in upstate New York. Needless to say, we had a blast enjoying one another’s company, dancing the night away laughing our faces off, and um, eating our faces off. Correction: eating and drinking our faces off.

Yes, I consider myself a healthy gal 90% of the time, but if you think I’m the type of girl who’s going to pass up a good weekend for iceberg lettuce and sugar-free, calorie-free cocktails, think again. That’s where the other 10% comes in, the “leeway” or wiggle room if you will. And let me tell you, that 10% is pretty generous. It lets me indulge in one too many glasses of wine, 10 too many slices of cheese, and an extra chocolate truffle. It allows me to savor my delicious chicken, potatoes and … Read More!

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Tuesday Talk: Now Stretch it Out

2 Comments / Health & Wellness /

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I have a confession: I don’t stretch nearly as much as I need to. Scratch that. I barely stretch at all. Sometimes I’ll go for my long runs, and hit the shower before I even think to stretch out my hamstrings. Not good, not good at all. I know we hear this all of the time, but stretching is vital, especially for those who are physically active.

Not only does does stretching help prevent injuries, but if often improves our athletic performance along with many other benefits such as flexibility. Maybe that’s why I can barely touch my toes without bending my knees, and to think I used to be The Queen of sit-and-reach in gym class when I was younger. Hm, maybe it has a little something to do with the lack of stretching, don’t ya think?

The other day my hamstrings were so tight from running that I could barely lift my legs up during Core Fusion class, when the rest of the class made it seem like a piece of cake. I was ashamed, but tried not to get too down on myself. It’s simply a matter of fact: I need to stretch more. … Read More!

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Finding Your Place of Zen

2 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

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According to Urban Dictionary, zen is “a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts.”

Zen sounds pretty darn good, now doesn’t it?

To me, that means shutting down, unplugging, relaxing, and finding time to breathe. It’s letting go of the hectic-ness of reality and simply being. It’s finding that balance, and feeling of “OK.”

For me, there is nothing as zen-ful than a relaxing night in with me, myself and I. All I need is dimmed lights with a delicious smelling candle lit, a good book or magazine, a cup of herbal peppermint tea with some lemon and Ingrid Michaelson playing in the background.

Internally, it’s feeling calm, collected and at peace with my mind, body and soul. It’s having no worries, or choosing to let go of those worries. It’s that feeling you get during Shavasana in a yoga practice. That is the utter definition of zen to me.

What does zen mean to you? How do you find that place of … Read More!

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Tuesday Talk: Operation Tone That Tush

9 Comments / Health & Wellness /

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Good morning ladies! So, yesterday was my first day working as a receptionist at Exhale Spa Battery Wharf. Let me just tell you, I’ve never wanted to live at a job more so than this one; the place is absolutely beautiful and oh so serene. And that’s not all. All of the Core Fusion and Yoga instructors are absolutely ripped.

While some may complain about the mandatory classes staff must be a part of, I was jumping up and down in excitement. Required exercise? Being forced to tone my bod? A workout challenge? I AM IN.

I’m mostly excited for toning my tush. Yes, I said it. I mean, will you look at that butt on the cover of Exhale’s Core Fusion Body Sculpt DVD? I gotta say that’s one fine butt, and I definitely wouldn’t mind if mine looked half as good as that. Plus, as you already know I am absolutely obsessed with Core Fusion workout DVDs, and I figured it’s time to take it to the studio. Hence Operation Tone That Tush here I come!

One of my coworkers aims to take at least three Core Fusion classes a week, and … Read More!

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Homemade Dinners Taste Better: A Healthy Chicken, Broccoli & Spinach Alfredo for You

11 Comments / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness /

Picture this scenario: You go to a restaurant with high expectations, and immediately order your favorite thing on the menu be it a large spinach salad with feta and chicken or your go-to Chicken Parmesan. Hunger fills your mind, as you fiddle your fork and sip on your water in anticipation for your meal to arrive. Then it comes and, well, it’s just not that good. It’s mediocre at best. There’s either too much sauce, or not enough sauce, or lacking any “zest.” You immediately think to yourself, “I could have made this dish a heck of a lot better myself, and saved a couple bucks too.”

Sound familiar?

I’m sure it does.

Don’t get me wrong. I adore wining and dining, when it’s done right. I’ll never attempt to make my own sushi, because I could never compete with the hole-in-the-wall place down the street from me that makes it perfectly every single time. And there’s nothing like a superb Italian restaurant, or eating at a 5-star seafood joint. There’s a time and a place for everything.

However, sometimes it’s nice – and much more practical – to just do it yourself, the way you want it.

In fact, … Read More!

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Tuesday Talk: It’s All About the Condiments & Accessorizing Your Food the Healthy Way

4 Comments / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness /

They say it’s all about the accessories when it comes to making (or breaking) an outfit. The perfect pair of heels can instantly dress up the jeans & a tee look, and the right necklace can can make a plain old outfit go from “blah” to bangin’ in seconds.

Well ladies, the power of accessorizing goes much farther than your closet. In fact, the same rules apply to our everyday meals and that my friends is taking advantage of CONDIMENTS. I 100% believe that condiments can make a bland meal go from zero to five stars in a second, that is if you pick the right ones. The best part? The opportunities and combinations are endless!

Today I played around with this Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce I picked up from Trader Joe’s. I thought, “Ah-hah, the perfect way to dress up a plain old turkey sandwich.” And that it did. The mustard was delectable, at only 10 calories per teaspoon. With no sugar, fatty mayo or other added crap, this light ‘n’ zesty sauce makes for the perfect sandwich accessory.

Since I have been going carb-crazy lately, I decided to make Turkey Lettuce Wraps instead with:

  • 2 large Romaine
… Read More!

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