Healthy Chicks

Good afternoon chickies! Hope you’re all having an amazing day. Believe it or not, I slept in until 10:30 a.m. today. Normally I’d beat myself up over sleeping in as I have a lot to get done today, but instead I chose to accept it. I accepted it as my body’s way of telling me it needed sleep, as it most definitely did.

Acceptance is a tricky thing for many of us. We try so hard to reach perfection, when sometimes we just need to accept and embrace the “what is”, the now. Of course it’s important to have goals and want the best for yourself, and I 100% urge you to continue striving for those goals. But it’s when we get too hard on ourselves that we need to take a step back and accept things for what they are.

The other day, I got to thinking about how much I’ve changed in the past year, in a positive way that is. I guess I grew up…a little bit. But the number one change I see in myself is that I’ve gotten better at accepting things for what they are, and embracing my imperfections.

I’ve accepted the fact … Read More!

Good afternoon ladies, and happy Friday to you all. Currently, I’m on a bus heading back to my teeny-tiny hometown, fully equipped with one stop light and a Dunkin’ Donuts, in CT. Yes really, it’s that small. Quite the transition from Boston if I do say so myself. I’m excited for a weekend of shopping with my sister, relaxing, catching up with old friends, going to a graduation party and MEETING THE PARENTS (dun dun dun). Or shall I say, my parents are meeting The Boy’s parents for the first time this Sunday! So I guess it’s more like Meet the Fockers really, except for that none of our father’s really fill the De Niro role.  I’m praying it all works out well, although I’m sure I’ll have some funny stories. Wish me luck!

Anyway, it’s Friday and that means it’s time for my weekly Friday Favorites. Here’s what made the cut this week:

1. Copley Farmer’s Market: As you know, I am obsessed with attending farmer’s markets of all kinds. If it were up to me, I’d do all of my shopping at the market, though that would require a much large paycheck. So instead I go to browse, … Read More!

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The other day, I came across this article “77 Surprising Health Benefits of Yoga” on NursingDegree.net. The author split the benefits up into seven categories: health benefits within, health benefits without, emotional health benefits, body chemistry, exercise health benefits, disease prevention and symptom reduction or alleviation. I was shocked at how many different ways yoga could improve your health. Sure, I knew it was good for you, but seventy-seven health benefits? That’s pretty darn incredible.

Coincidentally, lately I’ve been working on adding yoga back into my life, my intentions being mostly for the emotional benefits. As listed in the article, these include mood improvement, calmness, mind-body connection, stress reduction, and even self-acceptance among others. And during last night’s Vinyassa yoga class, it did just that for me. I left the studio feeling at ease, happy with myself, and extremely carefree. It felt amazing.

While the emotional aspect has been the main goal to take out of my personal yoga practice, after reading this article, I’m excited to explore and learn from all of the other benefits. Did you know yoga can help improve your metabolism, improve your posture or even improve your sexuality… Read More!

summer on a plate – fresh blueberries, sliced banana, & agave syrup topped waffles

Happy June 21st all, you know the first day of summer – the absolute best season in the world! Not only is it the season of loving, but it’s also the season of fireworks, my birthday (24 in two weeks – eek!), BBQs, the ocean, pretty flowers in your hair, clam bakes and lobster fests, blueberry pickin’, frozen yogurt and freshly squeezed margaritas (on the rocks).

With that unfortunately comes the season of mosquito bites, bad hair days, pit stains and even worse – smelling other people’s sweat while squished in between a random dude’s crotch on the train. Not fun.

However, I choose to think of the delightful things summer has to offer! I guess that’s just the kind of person I am. I always try to see the good in things, and tend to push aside the not-so-good. Call me annoying or “too happy,” but that’s how I am and have always been.

On that note, the other day I had a not-so-pleasant experience I thought it was time to share with you all: I had my first ever anxiety attack out of no … Read More!

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Good morning; hope you all had a lovely weekend and that the Monday Blues aren’t hitting you too hard. If you need to get out of your funk I suggest you take a look at this post and this song to cheer you up a tad. Ahh, better, huh?

Anyway, yesterday while perusing the grocery aisles at Trader Joe’s, I got to thinking about the different food going into my cart, which would ultimately go into my body. More so, I started thinking about the importance of reading the INGREDIENTS, rather than just the label on the package. My number one food philosophy is that what you put into your body is what you will see, more so that real, whole, fresh ingredients is the key to finding your “happy weight.”

But my philosophy wasn’t always that way. You see, when I was in college, my number one goal was to lose weight and look good. It consumed my life, and I had the most terrible body image. I wanted to lose weight for all for all the wrong reasons (frat guys, to look “skinny”), and went about it entirely the wrong way. I counted calories like … Read More!

The other day, The Boy and I got into a chat about exercising, and his lack of exercising lately. On that note, I haven’t been no Superwoman lately either. It’s just been so nice outside and I’ve been “busy.”

Anyway, our conversation led to me preaching to him reasons to go back to the gym, and no it’s not because he has a beer belly. (That would be a whole ‘nother story, but fortunately that’s not the case and I’m not a nagging girlfriend). Rather, I was stressing the importance of exercising for your mental health.

Yes, I said it. While it may be shocking to many, one of the top reasons I exercise is in fact for my mental health, in simpler terms: my sanity. I won’t lie: in college the main reason I worked out was to strive for Victoria Secret model-esque legs, Jessica Alba’s abs, and That Girl’s tush in the latest issue of Women’s Health. I exercised every day to hopelessly achieve these unattainable goals.

Now, a few years later, I’m quite happy with my not-so-perfect body, and now see the importance in exercising for other reason’s aside from physique. It amazes me how much 60 … Read More!

Good morning everyone, and sorry I’ve been kinda a ghost lately. It’s just that I’ve got a lot on my mind, and am now finally going to share all of that with you!

1. For one, I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to become a certified health coach with a holistic focus, and will begin taking online classes in the fall. I couldn’t be more excited to go back to school and continue my education, especially with something that is so me. It’s no doubt that I love writing, I love helping people, and I love anything related to health, nutrition and well-being. So why not throw all of my passions together and make something out it? I’m confident that one day I will become a successful health coach, helping others get back on track and see that living a healthy life style does not have to be difficult. I’ve always been one for a need to feel passionate with what I do in life, and in September I will finally start this journey! More info to come…

This news is extra-exciting because my sister and I are moving into our North End apartment September 1, right when … Read More!

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Happy Wednesday ladies, and congrats on making it half way through the day. Now time for our weekly Hump Day Lesson of the day! This week we’re going to talk makeup. I know, I know, makeup on a healthy living website? Get outta’ here! You know nothing about fashion! Well that may be true, but hold up just one second there; shopping for the right makeup has a lot more to do with your health than you may first think.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you know that I’m a firm believer in reading labels. No, not the labels on designer jeans, but labels on your food. Well lately, I’ve been almost just as serious as reading labels on my cosmetics.

It all started last week when I began breaking out like whoa. Seriously, my face is a disaster right now. I’m blaming it partially on stress, because as we know stressful times can cause for beauty disasters, but I’m blaming the other portion on my makeup.

When was the last time you read the labels of your perfume, concealer or powder? Until the other day, I never had; I … Read More!