Healthy Chicks

I am a huge fan of experimenting with new recipes, and I’ll try anything at least once. I remember when I was a young girl, I would love joining my grandmother in the kitchen, carefully watching her every move. I was fascinated (and still am fascinated) by how quick she was with her hands, and by the incredible meals she’d create solely with fresh, simple ingredients.

I also remember what a picky little girl I once was! As my grandma would hand me a “taste test” of whatever she was cooking, be it glazed carrots, celery soup, or venison, I’d always shout out with a disgusted face, “But I don’t like that!” Her go-to response: “How do you know if you don’t like it if you don’t try it?” So I’d try it, and at least I’d learn if the taste suited me or not. And 99% of the time, guess what? I liked it.

That’s when I started to expand my taste buds, and experiment with food. My childhood years helped me overcome my fears of the “unknown” and programmed me to try everything…at least once. It transformed me into the woman I am today, and for … Read More!

Good afternoon ladies! I hope you’re all having a bright, sunshiney week so far. As for me, I’m dedicating this week solely to my health, that is taking care of myself inside and out not only foodwise, but also physically, mentally and spiritually.

Trust me, I understand how chaotic life can get at times with work, friends, relationships, children and other plans, making it seem nearly impossible to make time for yourself.

Unfortunately, during these crazy times, we tend to put our health on the back burner (re: skipping meals, nighttime bingeing, letting stress get the best of you, flaking out on yoga class because you “don’t have time”). You get the picture. What we don’t realize is that by doing this, we’re ultimately hurting ourselves in the long run.

Well, we want our health to move from the back burner to the front burner; yup right in front where everyone can see it. You see, no matter how crazy/impossible/frustrating/stressful our lives can get, we at the very least owe it to ourselves to take care of our health. And I promise it’s not impossible to do!

Here are my Top 3 Get Healthy Tips, and none of … Read More!

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The other day, I was sitting in a gourmet coffee shop with the boy sipping a hazelnut cream feeling awfully zen.

As we sat on the couch sipping our javas, I leaned over to him and said softly, “Let’s make vision boards!”

“Vision what?” he said.

“VISION BOARDS…you know like draw what we want to achieve in life within the next few years. Then we think it and believe it and it’ll most likely happen.”

“Nah, not now. I can’t draw,” he said with a smirk.

“C’monnnnn…you can draw stick figures! I did one a few years ago and everything I jotted down came true. So we’re doing it whether you like it or not. I’ll go first!”

I got him on that one and vision boards we made.

My “5 year plan” included being happy, healthy and in love (with The Boy if all goes as planned!), being published in a well-known health magazine, leading a women’s health seminar in front a group of people, traveling ( a lot) and being in a comfortable financial situation where I’m proud of my success.

The Boy’s included things like growing a garden, owning his first home, continuing … Read More!

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As many of you know, I follow a (mostly) gluten free diet because I tend to be sensitive to wheat and gluten-containing products. By mostly, I mean that I eat gluten free 90% of the time, but do allow myself Ezekiel bread as the gluten in this bread is easier to digest, as well as the occasional cheat (i.e. a Christmas cookie or freshly baked North End Italian bread while waiting for dinner).

Since I’ve cut gluten out for the most part for almost three years now, I’ve noticed many positive changes, number one being that my digestion has improved tremendously. In college, I used to have terrible stomach pains, constant bloat, and unexplained inability to lose weight no matter what my lifestyle/diet/exercise regime. Now, I can happily say the bloat is pretty much gone, and I feel OK eating just a little piece of bread or a brownie here and there because I don’t go overboard re: stomach issues.

But now I’m left with a pretty BIG problem. I had gone to the doctors this week to get tested for Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that is caused by the intake of gluten … Read More!

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The other day, my blogger friend & relationship expert Jen was interviewed on CTV News, where she said some things that really stood out for me. She was stressing that the New Year is a time for fresh beginnings a.k.a checking in with yourself whether you are in or out of a relationship.

Checking in? Now what exactly does that mean, you ask?

Single ladies may ask, “Am I happy where I am?” “Am I focusing on myself?” “Am I being open minded?” “Am I enjoying what I am doing at work/play/home?”

And those that are in a relationship may wonder, “Have things gone stale?” “What can work better?” “Are we affectionate enough?” “Does he/she make me feel good about myself and/or bring out the best in me?”

These are the kinds of questions that you may ask yourself to figure out if you are being the best you, no matter what your relationship status. 

Jen’s most valuable lesson was reminding us to live our best selves. Never let go of that passion. If you like to paint, heck buy an easel and paint away! Don’t worry about being judged by others if you want to … Read More!

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Lately chia seeds (not to be confused with the chia pet) have been getting extra attention in health magazines, news articles, and the wondrous world of the internet. But this ultra superfood actually traces back thousands of years ago to the ancient Aztec and Mayan Civilization.

So what is this so called chia seed, you ask? Meaning “strength” in Mayan, this seed definitely fits its profile. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, protein and dietary fiber, its no wonder this superfood has gained such popularity.

Here’s a breakdown of the many health benefits* & perks of the chia seed:

*the health benefits were derived from this article on Natural News, general knowledge from endless internet research and my personal experience

• Loaded with essential fatty acids, which help support our organs and keep us healthy
• Contains a high amount of omega-3s (which are difficult to get in your average American diet unless you’re pounding fish every day) for aiding digestion and keeping our hair, skin and nails beautiful, and also omega-6 fatty acids (which helps tremendously with inflammation). A power duo if I do say so myself! [If you’d like to read more about the

[the boy & I on Christmas]

So as I was looking over former posts the other day, I realized I haven’t really given an update on my life (you know, the important stuff) in quite some time now (since JUNE!?!) Of course you hear about my new juicer, love for Core Fusion, must-see movies and all of my crazy adventures in the kitchen, but that’s not really all that’s going on behind the scene.

In fact, there are probably many things about me that my readers are unaware of, like the fact that I’m color blind with shades of brown, green and red (and my boyfriend was afraid to buy me roses because he thought I’d think they were poop brown), or that I work at Exhale Spa, or that I’m 24 years old and finally in my first relationship, and a great relationship at that.

I’m highly emotional and sensitive, HATE olives and am obsessed with peanut butter, cheese, and tequila.

OK, those aren’t really the important things of life, but as you can see there’s much more to me than what meets the eye (or my blog).

Like the fact that I’m going to be … Read More!

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How can you not love these adorable, little jars?

While I’ve been loving how juicing has been making me feel inside and out, I’m really not loving the headaches that I’ve been getting. I’m pretty sure it’s due to the fact that I’ve been cutting back on coffee lately, or not even drinking it at all some days. After a bright green, clean, delicious juice it just seems strange to jump to a black coffee. Those flavors don’t really mesh too well, ya know?

Plus the juicing has so many wonderful nutrients and essential vitamins in it, and the coffee not to much. I strongly approve of drinking a cup or two of coffee a day for yourself and for the health benefits (hey, my great-grandma lived to be 99 drinking coffee daily) but I’ll have to find a way to balance my coffee addiction with my juicing obsession.

Anyway, it’s Friday so you’ve got it, it’s time for Friday Favorites. I’ve been slacking lately on this weekly post, but I really want to strive to bring it back.

Here goes:

Hurraw!: My boyfriend bought me a three-pack of this all-natural, vegan lip balm for Christmas and … Read More!