Stronger, Healthier and Happier

Five very simple ways to motivate yourself to be stronger, healthier and happier. Honest, and straight from my heart. No dieting involved. Sweating and occasional vegetable eating required.

1. END “FAT TALK”

We all do it. “My hips are way to wide to wear that skirt” or “Cap sleeves make my arms look huge!” or simply, “I feel fat”. Loving yourself in the body you have at this exact moment is the first, most important, and certainly hardest step in motivating yourself to attain a healthier life. Nothing is more important that believing that you are beautiful. If you love yourself and learn to appreciate what you think are your flaws, then not only will you just be happier in general but exercising and eating healthy will become less of a chore – working out will become something fun, not a form of torture devised to make you skinnier.

I still kind of think that affirmations are silly, and I’m not telling you to take our your lipstick and write inspirational quotes on your bathroom mirror, but I do want you to end fat talk. Tomorrow morning when you get dressed, take two seconds to look at yourself and say something nice. Maybe your jeans are a little tight in the ass and maybe you’re a little pissed about that….but don’t you dare say it. First off, don’t dwell on how you look, start with how you feel……like, I feel strong! I feel refreshed! I feel loved! I feel ambitious! Feeling better already? Okay we can look to the surface now. Pay yourself a compliment…. My skin is glowing! My freckles look so summery! My hair’s so shiny! I’ve got some damn good legs! Go on, gorgeous, tell you more.

And if all else fails, take a note from the movie Spanglish and know that it’s okay to have a “desire for the comfort of fullness. [Because] when that desire is suppressed for style, and deprivation allowed to rule, then dieting, exercising American women become afraid of everything associated with being curvaceous: such as wontoness, lustfulness, sex, motherhood…..all that is best in life.”

2. DO THE COMMON UNCOMMONLY WELL

Every time I come out of a slump and all of the sudden feel the need to start working out like crazy, I always jump right in and expect my body to do exactly what it’s doing in my mind. Not so much. Since when am I so out of breath? Is it all downhill from twenty-five? No, I just didn’t take any time to re-aquaint my muscles with their long-lost love of a good run.

What I’m trying to tell you is that you need to begin by working on your form. Pay close attention to your posture, your stride, the stretch of your muscles, the impact on your knees. Your body will thank you. Look for instructional illustrations like these on Women’s Health, or if you’re a member of a gym then join a few classes and don’t be afraid to ask the instructor for help!

3. BRIGHTEN UP

I always see these little quotes on Pinterest that are all like, “Don’t reward yourself with food, you’re not a dog!” While I may not completely agree with this, possibly because of my obsession with food and general distaste for such concrete dieting rules, I can kind of understand where they’re coming from. I get that the last thing that should be on your mind during an intense sweat-fest is what you’ll be “allowed” to eat when you’re done. You should be thinking about how freaking glorious it feels to sweat out last night’s happy hour and how proud you are when you’re sore tomorrow.

Nevertheless, I still feel the need to motivate myself with something tangible. Enter: the sock aisle at Target. Have you seen all those day-glow hues in chevron, leopard, stripes, and polka dots? At a buck-fifty each, they’re not only cute but thrifty, and they’re the perfect little perk to lure me into lacing up my running shoes! I love how all the active wear has gone to highlighter hues – it’s so cheerful! What a better way to add a little sunshine to your life than a new crazy bright sports bra and a yoga session on the beach? Go on, get your cute butt down to Target and go crazy.

4. STOP THE STRESS

People stress about working out, they stress about genetically modified food, they stress about staying late at work, they stress about traffic, they stress about all that credit card debt they rang up buying Lululemon stretch-pants and whether or not it was worth it because the person behind them in spin class can see through the ass, they stress about a lot of things. Stress is a part of life that is sometimes unavoidable…..but sometimes you can totally decide for yourself that enough is enough. It’s bad for your heart, it’s bad for your head, and it is certainly not doing anything to widdle away at your waistline. So stop it already. Take a deep breath. Give yourself a manicure! Take a few extra minutes for an at-home facial! Challenge yourself to a silly yoga move you just looked up on youtube! Smile at the next person you see! It feels gooooooood.

5. SOAK UP THE SUN

Remember, people watching isn’t creepy if it’s done while running! Get outside, soak up some good old fashioned vitamin D and move your body a bit. If you’re a runner then your motivation is as simple as this: not only is it more challenging to run outside than on a treadmill, but you burn more calories. If you’re not a runner, you still have no excuse – take the hound for a long speed walk in a pretty park, shlep your yoga mat down to the lakeside and breath in nature’s beauty, invest in a pair of dumbbells or a kettle bell for quick outdoor workouts on your luck break! Your metabolism will thank you, and you might even start up a pretty tan too.

Into God’s Country

“Out yonder they may curse, revile, and torture one another, defile all the human instincts (if it were in their power), but here, no, here, it is unthinkable, here there is abiding peace, the peace of God, and the serene security created by a handful of good neighbors living at one with the creature world” – Henry Miller

I still look forward to lighting a fire every morning when I wake up, even though I’m now climbing out of bed at home, feet touching cool hardwood floors and the soft sound of the oscillating fan cooing from the corner. I miss making a breakfast fire. I miss chasing the ballsy little bluejays away from our picnic table. I miss the comfort of being surrounded by hundreds of years of redwood trees.

I know Big Sur misses me too.

I had reserved our campsite back in February, as a gift to Mike for his birthday. Pfeiffer Campground fills up at the blink of an eye, and I was lucky to get three consecutive nights for us at an awesome secluded site. We’d been looking forward to it ever since.

I knew when I met Mike that he had a deep appreciation for the natural beauty in the world, the untouched. I knew I could never truly love a man who didn’t love himself when he was in the wilderness. My heart swelled at how happy he was in Big Sur.

As usual I overpacked on food. Delicious red chili, cured meats and hard cheeses, breakfasts fit for a lumberjack, enormous steaks, and of course some good ol’ fashioned American hot dogs! One of my favorite parts about camping is how incredibly good even the most simple foods taste when cooked over an open fire. There’s nothing better. I mean, c’mon, look at this:

Each morning, we gorged on a mountain breakfast of cheddar-jalapeno sausage, thick cut bacon, and sunny-side-up eggs with toast. Our bellies were completely happy until dinner, so that gave us quite enough time every afternoon to work it off in a series of gorgeous hikes.

The first adventure was a climb to a nearby waterfall and it was a killer – five miles later we were sweating buckets. We rewarded ourselves by sharing a Mexican coke from the shop up by the road……which of course became Makers-and-Coke as soon as we got back to camp.

And just as the booze was cracked open, so came the bocci ball! Mike was phenomenal. Perhaps a bit unsportsmanlike, but…..phenomenal. I played poorly and I absolutely blame the whisky and sore muscles.

Win or lose, we both got steak & ‘taters.

The next day started out cold and wet. A doe and her two tiny speckled fawns bid us good morning as they passed on their way to some adventure. We gulped down steaming mugs of coffee, shaking off the damp and the chill.

A while later, we took a long walk through meadows and chaparral, crossing a stream with our bare little toes gripping every slippery stone, and finally dirt gave way to sand as we reached the sea. Big Sur is known in part for it’s gorgeous coastline. Big ol’ cliffs and mammoth rocks that the wild ocean crashes upon. Everywhere you look, frothy white water burst like a confetti cracker on New Years Eve.

Coated in salt with wind-whipped hair, we got back in the car to head on home to camp. But wait! What’s that? Another gorgeous turn-out with a gorgeous view of the ocean?

We had to pull over. And we had to pull out a bottle of wine too.

After a few solo cups of vino and tippin’ some to the little tombstone we found beneath our feet, we figured we should probably class it up a little and take our happy hour to a more tangible establishment. Just our luck that Nepenthe was a few hundred feet away! I didn’t know much about Nepenthe until after we got back to civilization and cell phone service, but apparently we had stumbled upon quite the hotspot in the redwoods. And yes, they make a mean Manhattan.

Our final day was quick and clean, like ripping off a bandaid. Everything was neatly packed and ready to go before most of the campground had yet to stumble out of their tents. We said our goodbyes, silently.

Big Sur will see us again, and soon. Until then there is enough serenity and joy in our hearts to keep the memory alive.

Sesame Soba Salad

Summer is nearly here!!!

As if I have to tell you, right?

Memorial Day is right around the corner, welcoming the season of picnics in the park, smells of charcoal and lighter fluid, stinging sunburns, and my love affair with our new oscillating fan. At some point we’re going to figure out where our BBQ fits at this new place, but in the meantime there’s plenty more warm-weather foods to indulge in without firing up the grill. One of my all-time favorites: pasta salad! Now don’t go thinking that all pasta salads have to involve little bow-ties and huge chunks of raw veggies (though, in reality, I’d eat any kind set in front of me)…pasta salads can travel the world!

Today’s version is Asian fusion: Sesame Soba Salad (say that five times fast); a light, bright, healthy little bowl of summery goodness.

For the Salad:

(serves 2)

- 2 cups Soba Noodles (cooked and rinsed)

- 1 cup shredded purple cabbage

- 1/2 cup chopped snow peas

- 1/2 cup julienned carrots

- 1/2 cup julienned red bell peppers

- 1/3 cup diced green onion

- 2 tbsp. sesame seeds

- 2 chicken breasts, cooked and sliced

For the dressing:

- 3 tbsp. sesame oil

- 1 tbsp. soy sauce

- 1 or 2 tsp. of red pepper flakes

- 1 tsp. ground ginger

Your soba noodles are cooked, rinsed, and have been set aside in the refrigerator to cool. Julienne, slice, and chop your way through the vegetables on the ingredient list above and put that all in a large mixing bowl. In a separate, small bowl, thoroughly whisk together the ingredients in the dressing. If you’re not a fan of a spicy kick, start with just a smidge of the pepper flakes and ginger, and give it a taste before you add more.

Now add the cool soba noodles to the vegetables and pour over the dressing. Sprinkle the sesame seeds and add your sliced chicken, then gently fold in all the ingredients until they’re all mixed together and happy.

Serve in chilled bowls, accompanied by a nice glass of crisp white wine or perhaps………cold sake.

Enjoy!

Nutella Ice Cream

I’m sitting here staring at the freezer whilst trying desperately not to sprint over there and shovel down the last of the ice cream. Nutella ice cream. Homemade Nutella ice cream.

You can make some for yourself too! You only need five things: Nutella, milk, half-and-half, sugar, and some serious willpower against temptation.

Grab your blender and plop 1/3 of a cup of delicious chocolatey nutty goodness in it. Once all of it is in there you can go ahead and lick the measuring cup. It’s okay. No one’s looking. Now pour in 1/3 of a cup half-and-half, one cup of whole milk, and 1/2 cup sugar. Blend away until completely homogeneous then pour the mixture into a stainless steel or glass bowl.

Now, if you are a lucky duck and you have an fancy machine, go on and finish the ice cream according to the manufacturers directions. But if you don’t have an ice cream maker, don’t worry your pretty little head! All you really need is that bowl you’re holding. Just take it over to the freezer and pop it in. Close the door. Walk away. As the day goes on, keep paying visits to your bowl of deliciousness and give it a good whisk with a fork each time. Over a few hours you’ll watch the liquid turn to slush, then to sort of a soft-serve texture, and then finally to scoop-able magnificence!

Easy, ain’t it?

So what are you waiting for? Go make yourself a bowl!

Cinco de Drinko

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriba!

Cinco De Mayo, though a thoroughly Americanized holiday, is one of my favorite days of the year. Ever. For sure.

Mike and I are headed down south to spend Sunday with two of our favorite drinking buddies: my parents. I’ve been planning and practicing the menu, salivating over Pinterest, and gathering ingredients. Today I’m sharing a delicious little Cinco de Drinko libation with you: the Hibiscus Margarita.

Hibiscus flowers are packed with vitamin C, aids in respiratory health, and promotes good blood pressure among other benefits. For this recipe you can use dried hibiscus that have been soaked in hot water, or a hibiscus tea. The rest is easy-peasy….just whip up your favorite classic margarita (I prefer mine with a gold tequila for a richer flavor) and top the cocktail with a float of hibiscus tea!

The sweet, floral notes of the hibiscus are such a refreshing addition to this classic Mexican cocktail. And….you get all the added health benefits. Which is a pretty tasty bonus…

What are your plans for the fifth?

Three Things.

One of my favorite parts of our new little home: the buffet. It’s currently hosting booze, fragrant lilies, and a record player. Now I just need to sniff out a local record store – any Los Angeleans have a tip?

I took this on a recent visit to Seattle. The naturally occurring color palette in just this one frame is so inspiring! All of the rich, bright, rustic tones of a Californian sunset. And speaking of Californian sunsets………

Mike and I are beyond thrilled with the shots from our recent engagement session with Ryan Weeger Photography. I can’t believe I was able to narrow it down to just one for this post…..I love every single one!

Herbaceous

Ok so here’s the deal. Our wedding venue allows us to bring in as much beer and wine as our little hearts could possibly desire, but we are limited to two cocktail choices for our guests. TWO. And they have to be “pre-mixed”.

To some this may be a bit of a dilemma, but to Mike and I, it’s just another excused to pretend we’re mixologists and get sloshed………….you know, for the sake of the wedding. We’re on the hunt for something refreshing and flavorful that embodies the general atmosphere of the venue. The central Californian foothills will be blanketed in golden September sun, a light salty breeze will drift in from the coast, the lemon groves will rustle gently in the background as they soak in the last of the daylight, and a crimson sunset will illuminate the old Spanish barn, filtering in through the gaps in the sideboards as we dance the night away. It will be an absolutely gorgeous, emotional, thrilling day. But what will we be drinking?

Contestant number one: The Cucumber Rosemary Gin & Tonic

The Cucumber Rosemary Gin & Tonic enjoys seersucker pants, long afternoons spent toiling in the garden, and being served in a monogrammed pitcher with plenty of crushed ice. CRG&T has a refreshing personality and is adept at maintaining a light, airy conversation about horse breeds of the world or perhaps an article in the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living.

To make your very own Cucumber Rosemary Gin & Tonic, you will first need to whip up a batch of rosemary simple syrup. Don’t be scared. It’s easy.

Rosemary Simple Syrup

2 cups water

2 cups sugar

5 sprigs fresh rosemary

Place the water and sugar in a pot, then heat gently on the stove until boiling. Once the mixture begins to boil, give it a quick stir until all the sugar has dissolved. Now, remove from the heat and throw in the rosemary sprigs. Let the mixture steep for two hours on the kitchen counter. Once it’s cooled, pour into a jar and keep it in the fridge for up to a month! Easy peasy!

Okay so now that you’ve cooked up a little herbaceous simple syrup, let’s get back to the cocktail, shall we? Great.

The Cucumber Rosemary Gin & Tonic

Dry Gin

Rosemary simple syrup

Cucumber, peeled and sliced

Tonic water

Crushed ice

Place two or three thin slices of cucumber and one sprig of fresh rosemary in the bottom of a glass and muddle with the back of a spoon. Pour in equal parts gin to tonic, and two tablespoons of rosemary simple syrup. Stir in the crushed ice and serve!

Isn’t she lovely?

So I need your help again. I know I know I’m soooooo helpless. It’s just that you guys are so good! Everyone chimed in with such awesome, clever suggestions for a bouquet toss song that I can’t help but coming back to you for more advice….

What would be your cocktail of choice on a balmy September afternoon in an old barn nestled in the central Californian coast? Tell me! I’m getting thirsty already…

Nesting.

Have you ever lived alone? With a roommate? With a lover? With a husband? A Wife?

I’m thinking of all the places I’ve called home – some proudly so, some perhaps a bit reluctantly. The first time I moved out of my parents’ I was…well I think I was eighteen. That sounds right. I moved in with one of my brothers because his roommate was moving out and it just made sense. Kind of like baby steps. I adore my brother, but I’m fairly sure that although living with him was like THE coolest thing ever to me, he probably wanted to strangle me. I cooked fish without opening the kitchen (and every other) window, I let bathroom-cleaning duties fall by the wayside, I constantly used his Old Spice deodorant and his Paris Hilton for Men cologne, and generally was just a messy little piglet relishing in my newfound freedom. Whatever, we still love each other. More so now that those years are behind us.

After my brother got engaged to the lovely Sarah, I left the lovebirds to the apartment and moved in with my friend Marissa and a girl we found on Craigslist. We had a gorgeous townhome with hardwood floors, enormous walk-in closets, a cozy brick fireplace, and an awesome little patio where I grew basil and strung up pretty white lights. Marissa was basically as messy as I was, if not more so, and I felt right at home. We doubled our wardrobe and spent ninety percent of our time watching Will & Grace re-runs and nursing massive hangovers.

I honestly can’t remember why I moved out, but I think we had a bit of a spat and I hated her for like two months or something so I moved back in with my parents for a hot minute before schlepping my belongings to an apartment on Blanton Street with Hallie and my best friend Diane. Ah yes, Blanton….a funny little apartment with mold in the walls, cracked-out neighbors, and a mean Chinese landlord. We hung my grandma’s chandelier, painted a wall red, and I grew tomatoes on the balcony. I was living here when Mike and I started dating. The first night he slept over, he accidentally found the hatchet I kept in my nightstand and probably thought twice about ever talking to me again.

Mike was then living in a loft in downtown Los Angeles, a place I would soon think of as my second home. I loved that loft. I loved that the building was a really, really old bank with a vault and old elevators. I loved the high ceilings, exposed brick walls, and spiral staircase. I loved the view from the deck, and the nights we spent drinking wine and talking until 3 am.

The next year, I moved into my first ever all-by-my-self studio cottage. No roommates. Wyatt and I could walk around naked and watch whatever we wanted on TV. My grandma’s chandelier again lit up the room, and the French doors opened up to my very own little backyard. And while I basked in the glory of my very own place, Mike moved to Marina Del Rey and settled in a brand-new community right on the harbor. There was an ever-present salty ocean breeze, a big kitchen, and a nice gym. Again, we commuted an hour back and forth, making memories in each home.

Now here we are, scouring Craigslist in search of our first apartment together. A little nest. Finally, coming home to each other every night. No more “my house” “your house”. My side of the bed will only be in one bed. I won’t have to pack parmesan cheese in my overnight bag because he never has any at his house. We can hang pictures on the walls and we can still walk around naked because there will never be roommates to think of ever again ever. I have never been more excited to move.

Where have you lived? What walls have you known and what have those walls known about you?

Hourglass And Bloom

A LIFESTYLE BLOG