Healthy Chicks

[Big thanks to best friend/inspirer/other half Marybeth P. for designing my logo]

Happy Friday ladies! Remember a few weeks ago when I laid out my Life “Wish List” goals? Well, I’m happy to say that many of them are coming into full affect, particularly my business-related goals for Zesty Living.

I’ve been really focusing on networking, reaching out, and putting myself out there lately (even if that means writing and working on business ideas at the local coffee shop instead of at my apartment in my PJs.) It’s amazing how many  opportunities and inspiration you can find from other like-minded passionate people; the world really is a big place filled with many, many ideas!

Well, partly due to my positive vibes and vision board (I’m certain this is part of it), things have really been picking up lately. In fact, I’m hosting my very own healthy eating workshop all by myself (eek!) in mid-June , with another speaking engagement at the end of June (details to come).

Here are the ins & outs of my “Get Real (About Food)” workshop on June 14th at Oficio on Newbury Street:

Join Rachel Chemerynski, Health Coach and founder of Zesty … Read More!

For the majority of the time, I prefer to simply do it myself in all aspects of life given my ability to do so. That being said, I will always pay money for a good-quality manicure, and try as I might, I will never perfect my mom’s famous Chicken Divan recipe.

Last week, I concocted my own Sugar Body Scrub for the first time. While I am a huge fan of beauty products and anything that smells good when it comes to bath supplies, I am not a fan of the harmful ingredients that often come along with them like parabens, added colors, and other chemicals. In my mind, if you can’t pronounce it or don’t recognize it, why put it on your skin, and ultimately in your body? (Same goes to food as well.)

I wanted to craft something that was simple, rejuvenating and smelled good so I chose to use Lemongrass Essential Oil I bought from Whole Foods for its fresh, earthy properties ideal for springtime. In addition, Lemongrass can be used  for a number of health benefits including  aiding sore muscles, boosting confidence and even acting as a natural deodorant! I also added in a touch … Read More!

[via my fortune cookie from Billy Tse’s last week]

I’m really not a fan of the actual fortune cookie (tastes like sweet cardboard to me), but I am always a sucker for the secret message within.

This particular fortune really stuck with me, as I have many ideas for my business rolling around my head at the moment. Each and every day, I feel even more inspired about everything I’m learning at IIN, my growing practice as a health counselor, and the wonderful people I meet along the way.

I am truly blessed to be living the life I want to be living for myself (rather than have to be living), even if that means taking some risks and not always being certain of the “what if?” But I guess that’s all part of the journey, right?

If you’re feeling inspired by a particular something or someone, then by all means go out and live that inspiration while it’s on fire. What are you waiting for? As my fortune says, it’s time to “go deep.”

… Read More!

Today is one of those days where I found myself pressed for time in the kitchen, let alone to breathe in general. With work at 6 a.m., then straight to a meeting with a client for a health coaching session, and hours of freelance writing in Starbucks, I knew I wouldn’t be home for dinner until at least 8:15 p.m.

However, I didn’t want to let my action-packed day get in the way of my dietary choices, as I know very well that the more wholesome and balanced the meal, the better I feel overall (mind, body, & soul).

As you know, I’m usually a huge fan of 100% home-cooked, all-natural meals for ideal nutritional benefits, but today I had to be a little flexible due to the time crunch. Instead of settling for ordering in (or dining out), to-go sushi, or bland pasta, I chose to make the most of what I had on hand with a little help from Trader Joes.

Here’s what made my plate:

1. Salad with organic arugula + extra virgin olive oil + fresh lemon juice + feta + fresh mint + dried basil + raw pumpkin seeds

2. 1 c. Trader Joe’s … Read More!

Happy Earth Day ladies and gents. I’m off to work in a few, but I wanted to share three of my favorite, little ways to go greener right now. Enjoy!

1. Buy Whole Foods: Take a good, hard look at your cabinets. Are they mostly packed with processed, packaged foods? No need to revamp your entire kitchen overnight, but even a few small changes will suffice. Perhaps that means skipping the popcorn or potato chips this week, and actually purchasing real, whole potatoes and corn. Or maybe it’s simply buying your nuts and seeds in bulk and storing them in jars around the house. It’s the little things that add up, not only being safer for the environment, but also being much more safe and natural on your body.

2. Clean up Your Cleansing Products: Care2 published this amazing article “How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleansing Kit” that includes DIY alternatives for everything from soft scrubbers to window and oven cleaners. I highly suggest you check that out. Who knew how many natural solutions there were for common household cleaning supplies. Also, you may want to look into a more earth-friendly laundry detergent like Ecos Free & Clear Liquid Detergent… Read More!

I have a huge crush on granola. I absolutely love the taste, crunch and satisfaction it brings on a dull weekday afternoon. However, I do not love the nutritional content in many store-bought varieties.

While you may be tempted to buy the brands that claim they’re “low fat” or “sugar free” or “zero grams trans fat!” I highly encourage you to read the ingredients and nutritional value on the back of the box. If you look carefully, you’ll see that many contain unnecessary added ingredients, artificial sweeteners, a heaping amount of sugar, and ultimately a huge disappointment.

Take Kellogg’s Lowfat Granola with Raisins for example, which contains whole grain rolled oats, whole grain wheat, sugar, rice, corn syrup, raisins, almonds, glycerin, palm oil, molasses, modified corn starch, salt, cinnamon, nonfat milk, malt flavoring, polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, BHT for freshness, and guar gum. A 2/3 c. serving will tally up to 230 calories, and 17 grams of sugar.

When you look above, you can see that sugar is the third ingredient listed (after oats and wheat) making it one of the main ingredients in this granola. Not to mention the added corn syrup (a relative of … Read More!

The Event Deets

Last night, I was lucky enough to be invited by Sara Steele-Rogers, the Boston Event Evangelist for Evenbrite, to attend a Boloco Burrito + Samuel Adams Beer Pairing. The event was hosted by Boston Marathon runner  Danielle Pillon to raise money for Jumpstart, a national early education organization that helps children develop adequate language and literacy skills in order to be successful in school.

It couldn’t have been a lovelier evening in Boston for the event, which took place at the Boston Society of Architects Space on Congress Street. And what a wonderful idea to pair delectable burritos with refreshing beer, especially on a perfect spring night. Even better, the head chef and cofounder of Boloco, Jason Hutchinson, and Director of Consumer Relations at Sam Adams, Todd Bellomy, were there to offer their expert knowledge.

Everything was extremely organized with a low-key vibe, which is totally up my alley. Upon walking in, we were promoted to simply grab a paper plate and a cup and let the tasting begin! Before I dived into the fun, I entered the raffle to win a dinner for two on the Odyssey, which would be my dream evening for … Read More!

From the moment I woke up this afternoon, I knew it was going to be one of those days, you know those really juicy, exciting, sunshiny days. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the sun was shining bright as I crawled out of bed, and it’s an expected low 60s in Boston today.

Since I met with one of my clients this morning on Newbury Street for a health counseling session, I decided to pop into Lush Cosmetics since I was already in the area. Shockingly, I have never been inside although I’ve heard many amazing things about their company, that prides itself on offering all-natural, fresh, organic beauty care.

From the moment I walked through the front door, I was absolutely in awe by all the amazing products they carry, including everything from organic body butters and deodorants to shampoo bars and facial cleansers.

{oh the luscious bath supplies…}

{and endless soaps & gift packages!}

I was particularly fascinated by their all-natural face mask line, as I’m a sucker for anything that’ll keep my skin looking brighter, clearer and fresher (Re: “Food for Thought: Super Skin Clearing Eats” to hear more about my skin struggles & obsession with … Read More!