Healthy Chicks

Living well isn’t just about what you put in your body; it’s taking some time to think about what you’re putting on your body. Crazy enough, a law hasn’t been passed in the U.S. regulating what goes into our personal care products since 1938. Yup, that’s almost 80 years ago!

Once I began to read the ingredients and learn what I was using on my body, I started to get real freaked out. It’s crazy to see that kind of crap that goes into things like deodorant, lip balm, sunscreen and even kids bath products! When I first started dating my husband, I remember him telling me that my perfume was like “poison” and while I laughed at him then, I now couldn’t agree more.

While I started with little things like switching my toothpaste, I am now pleased to say most of my beauty cabinet is filled with prodcuts I can feel good about — and that work! I’m not perfect, but it’s a start. Here’s what I’ve been crushing on of late:

Best Deodorant: Meow Meow Tweet Baking Soda Free Deodorant Cream, Grapefruit

Best Shampoo: Acure Organics Lemongrass + Argan Stem Cell Clarifying Shampoo

Best Conditioner: Acure … Read More!

Happy Friday, loves! I couldn’t be more excited for the weekend. One of my best friends is getting married tomorrow, so I’m heading home to good ol’ Connecticut for the rehearsal dinner to begin the festivities tonight! (They are getting a pizza truck tonight…how cool?!)

Anyway, it’s time to bring you this week’s feature for Healthy Chicks in the Community! I am overjoyed to introduce you to one of my oldest friends Eliza…who goes by Liza but some — including me — call her Lizey 😉

I met Liza way back during the days of our pool club & swim team. She was a super-fast freestyler and absolutely gorgeous…and I thought she was super cool (and still do)! We were obsessed with random dance parties, The Back Street Boys, at-home karaoke, late-night sleepovers, oh and of course BOYS.

While much has changed since our childhood years, our friendship still remains the same! Liza is always one of those friends I can go months (or even a year!) without seeing, and we pick up like it was just yesterday. I truly admire her bubbly glowing personality…she’s simply a fun-loving gal you always want to be around! I’ll let you meet her … Read More!

Why hello there, Healthy Chicks…hope you’re all off to a wonderful week! I just got back from a week-long vacation to sunny San Diego with my dad. We had an absolute blast downing fish tacos, enjoying the 0% humidity 80-degree weather, taking in the scenic beach views, and enjoying the occasional margarita 😉

But the #1 thing I loved about San Diego was how health-conscious the community is! Everywhere we went, there were dozens of people biking, walking, running, roller-blading or swimming…and everyone seemed so alive & full of life. I also loved the fact that there were TONS of healthy cafes, juice bars and clean dinner options! It made sticking to my healthy habits on vacay super easy.

Speaking of health, I’ve got some fun news for you guys…

Remember the other month when I dared you to improve your skin health for summer? Thanks for all who participated for a chance to win big prizes!

Didn’t get the chance to submit your dares? No worries! I’ve partnered up with UnitedHealthcare’s “We Dare You to Share” campaign again to bring you a whole new round of dares for the month of September.

Each month, they post … Read More!

Is it fall yet?

Seriously, I’m so ready.

With this 90+ degree heat wave in Boston, I’ve been daydreaming about boots + leggings, pumpkin (everything) and crisp afternoon strolls in the park.

Unfortunately, my daydreaming isn’t making the season change any faster, so I decided to bring fall to me! Try these 2 pumpkin-themed recipes for a little taste of fall in your summer home.

Autumn Rosemary Pumpkin Hummus

• 1 clove garlic
• 2 TB olive oil
• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• ½ c. pumpkin puree (unsweetened)
• dash of maple syrup
• 1 tsp. fresh rosemary (finely chopped)
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• pinch of sea salt

1. Blend all ingredients except rosemary in food processor until smooth.
2. Stir in the rosemary, and add any additional spices or salt to taste.

Serve with warm pita bread, apple or pear slices, crackers, carrots or other fave veggies!

Pumpkin Pie + Dark Chocolate Energy Balls

• 12 Medjool dates, pitted
• 1/2 c. raw pecans
• 1/3 c. pumpkin puree
• 1/4 c. unsweetened coconut flakes (+ another ¼ c. for rolling)
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ c. chia seeds
• dash of raw honey or maple syrup,

The past couple of months, I’ve been working on stepping outside my comfort zone in all aspects of my life.

I took part in a 5-day meditation course where I didn’t know a single sole.

I took some risks with my career….and wasn’t afraid to speak my mind.

I hosted my third New Balance Girls Night Out event in June, where I spoke in front of 75+ women.

I said no when something didn’t feel right.

And I said yes to running Reach the Beach on September 18th.

Yup, you heard that right!

What is Reach the Beach, you ask?

It’s a 200-mile relay race, starting in the Bretton Woods ski area and ending at Hampton Beach. A traditional team is made up of 12 runners, where each teammate runs 3 legs of the relay.

The funny part is my dad has been running this race for years, and I’ve just never mustered up the courage to try it myself. But what better time than now?

I won’t lie; when New Balance first approached me about this exciting opportunity, a part of me wanted to say “No.” “I’m too busy.” “Maybe next year.” “I’m not quite ready.”

But I … Read More!

Ever since I started to hone in on my entrepreneurial ways and follow my own path, I’ve had to really focus on getting sh*t done. Without coworkers, deadlines and mandatory meetings, all that’s left is yourself to keep you motivated. I won’t lie: it isn’t easy. Some days you can feel lonely, confused and even a little lost.

But one thing that’s helped me push through is learning to better manage my time so I can actually do what I say I’m going to do. (Gotta love that procrastination that creeps in!) Here are some simple tactics that have helped me tremendously along the way:

1. Be Realistic: As a dreamer, it’s easy to get caught up in big ideas. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing…dreams are what keep us inspired after all! But it’s important to have a healthy balance of visions and realism. Set intentions that challenge you, but are realistic to achieve. This will help you gain clarity and focus, as you work toward taking one step closer to your desires.

2. Set Your Own Deadlines: Maybe Boss Lady isn’t shouting deadlines down your throat, but that doesn’t mean you need to toss … Read More!

Hey, ladies! Thanks for all the love on my personal story toward discovering peace in my body — through messages, insta comments, and tweets, I am overjoyed by all your kind words.

On to this week’s feature on Healthy Chicks in the Community! I am thrilled to introduce you to Christina — she’s pretty badass and knows how to get sh*t done like no other (especially when it comes to her workouts). I first met her when taking her class at Flywheel here in Boston. The beets were bumpin’, the studio was pitch-dark, and Christina surely  brought the energy!

I’ve had such a blast getting to know Christina throughout the past couple years, from my time at sweetgreen to catching one of her classes at Barry’s or Flywheel. If you’re Boston-based, and haven’t taken one of her classes yet…DO IT! You won’t regret it. But in the meantime, you can get to know her a little bit better over here!

NAME/AGE: Christina Lodde/34

INSTAGRAM/TWITTER (If Applicable): @xlodde

CURRENT CITY: Boston

PHOTO TAKEN (WHERE/WHEN): Comm Ave in Boston during a photoshoot for Flywheel’s Fall retail line last year.

WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK: Lead Master Instructor at Flywheel Sports Boston. Trainer … Read More!