Nov 10, 2011

Hail for Kale

Kale is one of the healthiest vegetables around. If you find yourself bored of lettuce or mixed greens, substituting kale in a salad is just as delicious and really creates a unique flavor. Kale is filled with antioxidants and nutrients, known for lowering your risk of certain cancers and diseases. 
The Facts: One cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6, 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. Below is a recipe for kale salad that I have created, and I use it about once week. It is very simple but extra yummy. Try it out :)
Ingredients: 1lb fresh organic red and green kale, chopped
Red onions chopped, red cabbage chopped, shaved carrots, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
dash of kosher salt and black pepper

Nov 7, 2011

Note worthy tunes

Arcade fire - Sprawl ii

Looks I Love

This season I am fond of anything and everything glittery, sparkly, and sequin-filled, which is so not my typical style. On an average day I am smothered in neutral draping tops paired with jeans, and a gold watch is about the extent of my jewelry. Lately though, I've been completely enamored with the combination of masculine meets feminine. Looks such as boyfriend jeans and a sequined top are fabulous, chic, yet still casual. Wearing a signature sequined statement piece is the perfect way to glam up your look this season. I am absolutely going on a hunt for the Vince sequined top shown below! 

Oct 19, 2011

Fall foods to the rescue

Hi loves! My hiatus is finally over, and I am back to the blog world. This week I read an interesting article about fall foods and their antioxidant effects. Although some of these foods are not common items stocked in your kitchen, they are incredibly tasty, not to mention overflowing with nutrients. Try them out and let me know what you think!

Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a great source of fiber and vitamin A, which according to the Harvard School of Public Health, stimulates white blood cells and regulates cell growth and division. 
Try a pumpkin soup on one of those crisp fall nights, with this recipe.

Beets
Beets are packed with folate, vitamin C, and magnesium, thanks to their vibrant pigment. 
Try a beet and goat cheese salad with this recipe, the combination is my personal favorite!

Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts are an incredible source of fiber, vitamin C, and folate; and if you are not a huge fan of the sprouts, you can utilize their cousin with the same nutrients, broccoli.
Try a side dish of crispy roasted brussels sprouts using this recipe.

Enjoy! 
xox

Info via The Huffington Post online

Jul 26, 2011

Jul 25, 2011

Organic meets beauty..lips edition!

After my recent discovery that Burt's Bees chapstick has ingredients that take the natural oils out of your lips, essentially drying them even more so you have to keep reapplying...I became very skeptical of lip care these days! A few months ago I wrote this post about Aquaphor, and I still think it treats your lips the best. However, sometimes we need some color in that area, without losing the moisturizing components. ILIA Pure Lip Care is an organic and ethically sustainable lip care company, using certified organic bioactive botanicals that nourish and rejuvenate the lips. This company sells lipstick in array of beautiful colors; my personal favorite is their "shell shock" shade! What I love most about ILIA is the combination  of some of the most essential oils and vitamins used. Organic ingredients such as Jojoba oil, Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, and the natural antioxidants of Pomegranate are used in the products and help protect lips against daily exposure to free radicals - free radicals cause faster aging, no one wants to look older than they are! They also add an uplifting scent, using oils of Jasmine and Orange Blossom. Last but not least, the lipstick case is made with recycled aluminum, filled with 85% organic ingredients - perfect for eco friendly buyers. All in all, this is a highly recommended product! So if you are in a chapped-lips rut, or just want to try out a new brand of lipstick, ILIA should be your next stop.
Enjoy!

photo via ilia blog

Jul 21, 2011

Summer Detox


In the bedroom: If people would buy different sheets, they might not need sleeping pills. Polyester-cotton blends and permanent press linens have a finish that releases formaldehyde, which can irritate the throat and eyes—not helpful for peaceful sleep. Use untreated cotton sheets; avoid wrinkles by taking them out of the dryer right away.
In the living roomPressed-wood products are another source of formaldehyde which is linked to myeloid leukemia in factory workers. Let pieces air out in a room with doors shut and windows open, or shop for used pieces—they've already aired out.
In the closet: The dry-cleaning fluid perchloroethylene (PERC) can cause headaches and liver and kidney damage.  If you dry-clean, keep clothes bagged while driving home so you don't pollute your car, then toss bags and air clothes outside or in an apartment stairwell for an hour
On the floor: Your Swiffer isn't organic, but it can reduce toxins. Chemicals can piggyback on dust. So dust surfaces and floors weekly, take off your shoes and wipe pets' paws at the door (so no one tracks in chemicals), and change filters in your central-air system at least once a year. Then breathe easy.
While grocery shoppingYou can consume nearly 80 percent fewer pesticides by eating organic versions of the 12 most contaminated items, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) concludes. The worst pesticidal products are apples, followed by celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, imported nectarines, imported grapes, bell peppers, potatoes, domestic blueberries, lettuce and kale.
In your body: Lemons: Adding fresh lemon juice to water, juices, dressings, fruits and veggies is a fantastic way to add flavor without calories, chemicals, additives and add tons of nutrients. We all know that lemons are high in Vitamin C, which helps bind to heavy metals and help our colon working efficiently! 
Parsley: This fantastically healthy internal detoxifier is easy to add as a garnish to any dish! From salads, soups, stews, lamb, BBQ’s or pureed green monsters! Parsley is known for detoxifying the blood stream, and is beneficial for the lungs, colon, liver, kidney and spleen. It contains vitamins, minerals, and chlorophyll. 
Garlic: 1/2 clove of garlic a day has been shown to decrease LDL cholesterol. The active compound Allicin, is effective at killing bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeasts and parasites. Garlic contains many sulphur compounds, vitamin C and flavonoids which combat free radical damage!
Beets: Beets are the ultimate blood detoxifier. These sweet red veggies are extremely effective for liver detoxification. They help with digestion, and stimulate the kidney and lymphatic systems. They are rich in potassiumphosphorusmagnesium,calciumfibrephytochemicals and antioxidants
On your body: Treat your skin gently. Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin, so keep it gentle!Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water. Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers. Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it. Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin. Moisturize dry skin. Find a moisturizer that fits your skin type and makes your skin look and feel soft.

Hope everyone is enjoying these warm sunny days! 
xox

Jun 23, 2011

Book Worm

In the midst of trying to find a great summer read, I stumbled across this little gem. What Should I Read Next? helps you find a book to read based on your other reading interests. When I opened the site I typed in Little Bee by Chris Cleave (which is an amazing book and I highly recommend it - it is one of those books that took me about 48 hours to finish because I couldn't stop reading) and it gave me a list of about 40 books based on similarities such as writing style, authors voice, themes, and length. What a great tool to use when you are having a hard time finding a good book to read!

Jun 16, 2011

Alternative route

 Lately I have envied the people I see leisurely riding their bicycles to work or around the city. It is such a great idea especially when the expenses of owning a car and keeping it in a city are overwhelmingly high. But there is another very important reason to switch means of transportation from car to bicycle. The environment is incredibly delicate and needs to be nurtured just like human beings do.  By riding your bike to work instead of driving, the earth could be spared automobile ozone pollution that accounts for 72% of nitrogen oxides and 52% of reactive hydrocarbons in the air. David Lawyer wrote the ultimate paper comparing bicycle vs. automobile energy use, and found that bikes are 2/3 more efficient than cars even after factoring in the energy to produce the extra food the cyclist requires. So next time you have to make a trip to CVS down the street, or if you normally drive 10-20 minutes to work, rethink your options and especially rethink what is happening to the earth every time you turn on your car. 
Saving the planet > getting a workout > traveling in fresh air = bike ride :)

Jun 15, 2011

Color Me Pretty

I've been relishing in my love for this seasons trend of brights. My closet has slowly transformed from a sea of neutrals and blacks, to a glowing waterfall of reds, greens, blues, yellows, oranges, and patterns. I have created some of my favorite summer looks; casual, comfortable, and of course, vibrant. Spice up your wardrobe this summer with a few vivid signature pieces, you'll end up becoming addicted to color!
1) Diane von Furstenberg cashmere sweater  - net-a-porter.com   2) Les Prairies de Paris long sleeve blouse 
3) TopShop silk top - topshop.com  4) River Island yellow blouse - riverisland.com 
5) J Brand red shorts - jades24.com 6) J Brand denim shorts  - net-a-porter.com 
7) Short skirt - farfetch.com 8) FAIR true striped skirt  - fashion-conscience.com 
9) Christian Louboutin high heels  - net-a-porter.com  10) Mulberry handbag  - matchesfashion.com 
11) Yves Saint Laurent envelope clutch - net-a-porter.com  12) DAY Birger et Mikkelsen beaded necklace - 25park.com 
13) Kenneth Jay Lane turquoise ring- charmandchain.com  14Dorothy Perkins bangle bracelet- dorothyperkins.com
15) H M bangle bracelet - hm.com  16) Cacharel round sunglasses - openingceremony.us


xox!

Jun 2, 2011

In the raw: Part 1 !

When the days are long and busy, and all hope for cooking a nutritious dinner is lost, do not fret. I know packaged foods, bars, fast food, or 5-minute meals are very convenient at times, but that is just not the way to go. Fresh foods are key to a persons diet. I was told many times that you should never eat anything that will not expire. By that I mean, a bag of chips probably lasts for a few years unopened, while a bag of carrots lasts for only a few days. The longer the expiration date on the package, the worse the food is for you.  An incredibly quick and easy way to eat healthy is to eat fresh foods. This way, you get all of the vitamins, minerals, and proteins you need in your diet, while eating on the fly. Each of the pictures below shows a meal combination of fresh foods. They are a great base to work off of, for those days when cooking is just not an option. Take a look at some of these meal options below. The breakfast options can also be accompanied with greek yogurt and low-sugar granola, which is an easy and delicious way to incorporate more nutrition into the meal. Next time you go to the grocery store keep these meals in mind and shop the right way!

May 31, 2011

Snapshots

 Here are 9 reasons why I want an iPhone.
Can you believe these photos were taken by a cell phone? These vintage-looking snapshots are amazing...oh technology...
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