Healthy Chicks

I recently started a “Wish List” board on Pinterest featuring all things I want, from elegant  yoga-inspired jewelry to the Canon G9 PowerShot camera my sister has that will enable me to take much prettier pictures of food/life/everyday beauty. Perhaps that will finally encourage me to bring out my inner photographer? One can only hope.

During the process of “pinning” I realized I was a little bit constricted as everything I posted were just things, you know objects. And in reality, there are a lot of things on my “wish list” that don’t necessarily have a price tag, a fancy package or a tangible image. There are many things I wish for in life that involve events, actions, and happiness and these are the big things I’d like to focus on this month.

So yesterday during my two-hour bus ride home to Connecticut, I decided to make a list of things I both want and expect from myself. I call it a wish list, but it’s more or less a list of desirable goals I’ve had for myself for a while now and just need to implement.

Here’s What I’ve got on my plate:

Personal Wish List:

–Yoga/meditation… Read More!

I’m totally a simple girl when it comes to gifts, meaning I’m perfectly happy with a handwritten card, dinner and a bottle of wine. Being the sentimental, romantic gal that I am, I live for those gifts that come from the heart.

So what’s a girl to do when she doesn’t like said gift from boyfriend? You see, The Boy had given me several gifts this past Valentine’s Day, one being a bracelet that wasn’t quite my style at all. Let’s just say, I’d probably never wear it and I truly felt terrible for not liking it. I tried to, really I did but it just wasn’t me. So I did what I felt I had to do at the time: lied. “I love it! It’s beautiful! And it has pearls!”

But when weeks went by with me not wearing it, and The Boy questioning why I didn’t have it on, I could only use the “It doesn’t match my outfit” excuse so many times. I had gotten myself stuck in a huge rut. I just had to tell him, someway, somehow that I didn’t like his gift…but how? (Ha, that totally sounds like something Dr. Seuss would say)… Read More!

{Roasted veggies make for a wonderful side dish or small dinner when paired with soup or salad}

The other day in yoga class, the teacher – as always – had us dedicate the practice to someone we love or care about. I habitually began to think of someone in my life who needs a little extra hug or warmth, and then it hit me. Why don’t I dedicate this practice to myself?

Then it got me thinking. How many of us really give enough credit, dedication or time for ourselves? In a fast-paced, highly competitive environment, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the day-to-day stresses, leaving the one person who matters most (yup, that’s you) lost in the trenches. Trust me, many of us women are culprits of this, and that’s why a huge focus of my health counseling is on stress relief and taking care of yourself and your body.

Sometimes it’s OK to be a little selfish, to put yourself first, or to not let anything or anybody get in the way of your dreams. Let your dreams be your dreams, and by all means do whatever it takes to get there.

So as we … Read More!

[source]

Last week, I was given an incredible opportunity from OpenSky to interview (via email) bestselling author and health activist Kathy Freston. Not only is Kathy absolutely stunning as is evident from her photo above, but I admire her approach to living well in all aspects of her life. Talk about practicing what you preach! Not to mention she is completely down to earth and “real” with her advice; totally the kind of person I’d love to sit down with at a little cafe and chat “girl stuff” over some exotic tea. Below, Kathy dishes about her new book The Lean, her personal wellness journey, the scary four-letter word D-I-E-T, and her “get healthy” secrets. I’ll turn it over to Kathy from here.

Kathy, it’s such a pleasure to be able to speak with you. I actually had the privilege of hearing you speak at the IIN Conference in NYC this past fall, as I am on my way to becoming a Certified Health coach myself.  Were you always interested in health and wellness? What motivated you to make this your career?

KF: Hi Rachel, great to meet you, and I love what you are doing!  … Read More!

As you know, I’m usually not a fan of “quick fixes.” I believe in a whole, individualized approach to health & wellness (meaning small, gradual changes make big differences and many things effect our health in different ways) and I greatly despise the word D-I-E-T. Living a healthy, pure lifestyle isn’t just a checklist that you do once to see results; rather it’s the day-to-day that counts.

That being said, there are a few things I practice nearly every day to feel happier, healthier, and more whole in the moment. Yes, these little tips will work better if you combine them with other methods that personally work for you, but this is a great jump-start. Like I said, little changes = big differences.

4 Things I Do Every Day for My Health:

#1 I attempt to cook at least two, ideally three of my meals myself. Doing this allows me to know exactly what’s going into my food, and essentially into my body. I love dining out just as much as the next girl, but quite frankly it doesn’t always work for my budget not my taste buds. Cooking allows me to have delectable roasted veggie omelets for … Read More!

Good afternoon ladies.  I hope you all had the chance to get outside today for your lunch break, as it’s absolutely beautiful outside. High 60s/low 70s is my ideal springtime weather; it’s not so hot that all your makeup drips off but it’s just warm enough to get a lil sunshine and keep you feeling happy.

Speaking of happiness, I’m in a much better mood today regarding my skin dilemma. I think whatever I’m doing has been working so far, including focusing on my dietary choices, sipping Yogi Skin Detox Tea to help purify and rid my body (and skin) of toxins, as well as being gentle with my skin-care routine. The lovely lady at Whole Foods actually gave me a few samples to take home last night that help reduce redness/inflammation while calming the skin. I’ll let you know how that goes! I also bought a gentle On-The-Spot treatment called Pure & Clean Acne Treatment Gel which has tea tree oil in it to aid natural recovery.

Anyway, this afternoon I whipped up a delicious Turkey & Artichoke wrap for lunch which I wanted to share with my readers. I usually don’t eat tons artichokes, but as I … Read More!

{Who new artichokes could actually promote skin health? image source}

On Saint Patrick’s Day morning, instead of waking up to green eggs & ham, I woke up to a full-fledged breakout. Ever since I made the decision to go off of oral contraceptives for my health and my body, I’ve been feeling wonderful – I’ve lost weight, gained energy, and simply feel “lighter” and more healthy in general. However, when making my personal, well-thought-out decision, I was also aware of one possible side effect; that is my skin flaring up due to a change in hormones. Unfortunately, I think the inevitable is happening.

“Really, I’m dealing with acne in my mid-20s! Why?! WHY?!!” I moaned and groaned to my boyfriend, my sister, and quite frankly anyone who would listen. Having struggled with severe acne as a teenager, I thought those days were far behind me, but when I looked in the mirror the other day, those difficult years came flashing back at me.

Fortunately, I know much more about my health now (what works for me, what doesn’t work for me) and am also learning more and more everyday about natural solutions and home remedies. This has promoted me … Read More!

Speaking of cleansing (read my 3-day cleanse description here), I’ve totally been on a healthy, raw-food-loving, treat-my-body-well kick lately, and want to spread that cheer with you all (with a super sweet giveaway that is). Yup, I’ve got some exciting news for all my lovely blog readers this afternoon! ZICO Coconut Water and SpaFinder have teamed together in honor of Wellness Week (which begins March 19th), and are giving away a “Wellness Package” to one lucky Healthy Chick’s reader.

The Fabulous Package includes:

-ZICO yoga mat & bag

-Case of Chocolate Coconut Water (12-14 oz)

-$25 SpaFinder gift certificate

-Some other wellness inspired goodies (TBD)

I’m so happy to be able to (hopefully) make one of your days. So, let’s get rolling! To enter the giveaway, you can do one (or all) of these tasks below. Each task you complete, I’ll enter you in for the drawings that many times. For instance, if you tweet-tweet and like ZICO/ Healthy Chicks on Facebook, that’ll count as two entrees hence increasing your chance of winning.

Here are your tasks:

1. Comment on this post letting me know what wellness means to you OR why you want to win, along with … Read More!