Things Georgia Says

Spartan Race Recap

Mon, 06 May 2013 23:03:00 -0400

Hellooo! It has been a few weeks since I completed the Super Spartan race and I am excited to share pictures and what I learned from the experience.

First of all I’d like to admit that I was not particularly excited to do this race. I’ve mentioned my past issues with athletic competition, and while I felt I was in good enough shape to complete the race the idea of it made me very nervous.

The closer we got to the big day I got increasingly anxious until all I wanted was to get the damn thing over with.

It turns out my nerves probably helped me a little bit because the second we took off I needed to move to get out all my pent up energy and I basically didn’t stop. I quickly went from freaking out to absolutely loving the race. I surprised myself in how well I did and I’m grateful for having known what I did in order to be prepared.

{Thank you to JC for the pictures :) }

I’d say that upon signing up for the race our outfits were the very first thing we started planning.

Race Attire (aside from the hair style, matching socks and other unnecessary things I had a TON of fun coordinating):

Camelbak
Elbow Pads
Good shoes you don’t mind getting dirty
Comfortable clothing, preferably not cotton (especially in cold weather)
A bag (which I checked) with a change of clothes, flip flops, trash bag and sunscreen
Black under eye stickers (I’m not sure if they helped much and I have no business trying to look badass in them)

I also packed my suitcase with several preparatory items without which my performance would have seriously suffered.

Race Supplies:

Coconut Water - before & after race
Real Sea Salt & Emergen-C - before & after race
GF Protein Bars - morning of & after race
GF Oatmeal - morning of race
Glucose Gels - during race
Epsom Salts & other indulgent bath products - after race

Here are some other ways I prepared for the race, aside from training adequately for a few months.

Carb Loading:

You can read a good explanation of it here.

I realize this is a somewhat controversial subject as some people think it’s boohaki (<- term stolen from Friends). I, however, found it extremely helpful although I did set some boundaries. When we think of carbs we tend to think of grains first and most of the carb loading I had witnessed other people do involved a TON of grains. Like cups and cups of brown rice or, like, one thousand pieces of toast. This made me nervous because I generally limit grains and I’m certainly not alone when I say I feel a million times better when I’m not eating much of them (a little brown rice or quinoa here and there is fine).

So after doing some research on paleo carb loading I decided to attempt it using mostly root veggies and fruit, along with a ton of greens and the other veg I try to eat daily. That way I could throw in some brown rice if I had to, but not a disgusting amount. This, in my opinion is a very healthy way to carb load.

Learning from my mistake: I did not completely stick to my plan. I did, admittedly use the big carb days as an excuse to pig out and due to time restraints/poor planning I ate a lot of gluten free bread and bagels. While it’s not a big deal I didn’t feel very well, nor did any of my friends. We all basically felt like sad blobs, complaining constantly of all the chocolate, etc we were stuffing in our faces. You live & you learn, but this is far from what my healthy lifestyle philosophy is all about. :)

Electrolyte Loading:

I am unsure of the details of electrolyte loading, per se, I simply just tried to get in plenty of electrolytes (from healthy sources) a day or two prior to the race. My two sources were:

-Coconut Water

-Electrolyte Elixer:

1/2 tsp pink sea salt (it is important to use real sea salt rather than white table salt, which no longer contains valuable trace elements)
1 packet Emergen-C
16oz water

{I prepared this on the plane and drank the whole bottle during the flight. This was important to me as flying is incredibly dehydrating as it is}

SMR (Self Myofascial Release):

I spent about an hour the night before the race doing SMR. I loved using Triggerpoint Performance Therapy but you could also use a foam roller.

Glucose Gels During the Race:

I used GU Roctane Ultra Endurance gels.

I brought a few in my camelbak and ate one containing 35mg caffeine in the hour before the race and an additional caffeine free one every hour during the race.

Boy did these save my life! I would never do a longer race without them.

Once we were through with the race (it took our group between 2hrs 15mins and 3.5hrs to finish), I focused on having lots of water, some coconut water and, of course, food.

We had a quick lunch in the hotel (which I needed but hardly enjoyed since I had started crashing at that point), and retreated back to our rooms to refresh for a few hours.

This is when my bathing extravaganza began.

It took me FOREVER to get all of the knots out of my hair and when I was finally done showering I hopped straight into a bath of Epsom Salts (the whole carton) and a Lush Bath Bomb.

I sat in the bath for a while, sipping water constantly, and finally started feeling normal again. I was please to hear that I had inspired some of my friends to do the same and I think it played a huge part in bringing our bodies back to life after the race.

…Which we needed because we proceded to get dressed up and go out that night. Something I only suggest if you are somewhere like Vegas and can’t resist ;)

*I absolutely plan on doing another Spartan Race. The confidence it gave me was unreal and unexpected. Finally, I need to thank Katniss whom I channeled the whole time ;)

GF Mushroom Pasta & Photo Overload

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:01:42 -0400

Hello from Massachusetts!

…Where its cold & rainy one day and hot & sunny the next!

My last 2.5 weeks have consisted of:

Vegas Super Spartan Race: pictures and updates to come (it was a blast)

Finishing up school: final exam, etc

{Celebrating with Bloody Marys, naturally)

New job preparations
Booking an impromptu ticket home to Boston

(^ not to be cliche or anything)

It is wonderful to be here and I must admit I seem to be in full on vacation mode…

{Please excuse the grainy photo and irritating smirk}

This getaway will sadly be short lived (I go back to LA on Saturday), so I am enjoying it while it lasts :)

While I live in Southern California where local produce is widely available and brimming with different options I am always impressed by the farmer’s market here in Newburyport, MA.

My mother goes every Sunday and leaves with her bags bursting with beautiful greens and other vegetables, flowers, eggs and sometimes meats.

This Sunday we both picked up bags made by a woman who collects old boat sails and uses every inch of them to create lovely, one of a kind totes.

{Recycled and very high quality}

We also got some Bear’s Head Mushrooms from the mushroom stand :)

{The bear’s head mushrooms are on the far right. They are delicious and wonderful when grated}

…Which leads my to this quick little recipe Tom whipped up for us. It is lovely, simple, and seemingly easy to make :)

GF Mushroom Pasta

Gluten Free Pasta- Cooked
Mushrooms (we used bear’s head…you could totally try another kind) - Grated
Olive Oil
Garlic - crushed (optional: toast in a pan)
Parsley
Parmesan Cheese

All you do is cook the pasta and add in the other ingredients raw & to taste. I love it because it gives you the satisfaction of a cooked meal while including some very healing ingredients in their most natural form.

According to Dr. Fuhrman (whose books I love, by the way) eating raw mushrooms regularly is an incredible way to protect the body from cancer, inflammation and for strengthening the immune system in general. Eat up!

While I’m so sad to be leaving the East Coast I have many things to look forward to back in LA, one being…

This guy. <3

PS- I might as well address the elephant in the room: the pictures in this post are all icky because I left my good camera back in la! I do apologize ;)

Study snacks! PF Changs inspired lettuce wraps. Raw & vegan...

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 16:40:00 -0400

Study snacks! PF Changs inspired lettuce wraps. Raw & vegan (walnuts instead of chicken) :)

Recipe to follow!

Spartan Style & Recent Eatz

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:29:42 -0400

HELLOOO! How goes it!!?

Not only is school coming to an end but I’ve also been preparing for a Spartan race (and by preparing I mean working out some and planning my outfit A LOT)

Hair: Like Katniss

Clothes: Cluster F*&k

{Working my way up from the bottom. A hot pink sweat band shall join the party}

While I have not been training like crazy for the Spartan I was, of course, mindful of my athletic condition when I signed up for it. There’s no way in hell I’d do it if I hadn’t been exercising regularly for the past several months. Otherwise the race would be torture and PERSONALLY I don’t believe anyone should subject their body to something that intense if they are not prepared.

Anywho if I do, in fact, survive the race ;) I wil do a post on how I prepared (nutritionally, fitness and gear wise) and how it worked for me.

(Mellow dramatic much?)

So with school coming to an end I find myself in a bit of a whackadoodle transition period. I have done what I can to stay balanced and focused.

This includes getting quality sleep (no computer time in bed makes a huge difference), reading, playing piano, exercising (but not overdoing it), being with people I love and ….COOKING!

Food is an artform that goes into your body. How beautiful is that! I find the best days are ones when I’ve mindfully prepared at least one meal for myself. I keep it very simple, but I love what it does for me.

Here are some examples.

LUNCHY LUNCH:

**Plenty of salads per usual, along with a gluten free sandwich here and there.

Another recent favorite:

1. Butter lettuce (romaine, kale or collards would also be lovely)

2. Top with egg salad (hard boiled egg + onion/radish/celery + veganaise)

3. Throw on some sprouts. Yum!

DINNER:

Indian Stir Fry: onion, cauliflower, peas, carrots and celery sauteed in veggie broth -> lentils -> seasoned with tumeric -> served over brown rice and raw spinach. It was absolutely wonderful, warm and comforting on a chilly night at home :)

Grilled Cajun Salmon (olive oil, sea salt, cajun seasoning), Steamed Asparagus, Brown Rice w/ lentils, onions, carrots, celery <- Can you tell I’m lovin’ this combo lately? ;)

…and some therapeutic baking:

Paleo Samoas TO DIE FOR!

Recipe found here on a blog called Elana’s Pantry.

More on those later! As I always say I <3 Elana’s pantry for simple gluten & dairy free baking.

If you’re anything like me you’ll find great joy in popping a bottle of wine, putting on music and doing some healthy cooking. Try it out!

Hope you have a fun, safe Friday night!

Sea buckthorn, pomegranate, cranberry, black tea, soda water ;)....

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:24:00 -0400

Sea buckthorn, pomegranate, cranberry, black tea, soda water ;). No sweetener necessary!

At True Food Kitchen in Santa Monica.

Cabbage Wrapped Greek Quinoa Salad

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 01:13:00 -0400

Helloooooooo!

How goes it? ;)

Ted says hi.

I wanted to share some things - first thing’s first: a recipe from the weekend!

Greek Quinoa Salad (wrapped in cabbage!)

2 Cups Cooked Quinoa
1 Vine Tomato - diced (cherry tomatos would also be lovely)
1/2 Medium Cucumber - diced
Handful of Parsley - diced
1/2 an Onion - diced
Handful of Kalamata Olives - diced
1/3 Cup Feta Cheese (OPTIONAL)

Dressing:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (eyeballed)
Trader Joe’s Hummus Dressing (eyeballed & OPTIONAL)

**Cabbage Leaves for Stuffing!!

It couldn’t have been easier to make but here’s the drill!

Cook the quinoa according to the package (typically this involves bringing a 1:2 ratio of quinoa and water to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook 10-15 minutes. You know it’s done when the center becomes clear and you can see the cute little rings around the edges of the grain).

Meanwhile, chop the veggies

Drizzle the olive oil over the cooked quinoa and set it aside to cool.

Acknowledge the fact that your cat is going through a rebellious phase

Mix remaining ingredients into quinoa

Spoon into some cabbage leaves & voila :)

It was light, refreshing and perfect for a warm evening.

On another note, I wanted to share this fun playlist made by the talented Zach Thistle. <- Check out his music.

He sent this playlist to me the other day and said “Take this to the gym and smoke it”. That I will.

It is perfect for a 30 minute workout. I plan to pop it on for my early morning run tomorrow! Enjoy!

Sweet & Spicy Kale Salad

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:35:32 -0500

Hi :)

How was your week?!

Mine was lovely and consisted of beach workouts…

Gym workouts - one with Zach during which I kicked his butt:

Post Gym Brunch:

A night at the museum:

And Salads Galore!!!

{apologies for the unsightly fork marks :P )

When I look for salad recipes I prefer ones that require easy preparation and simple dressings. The easier the recipe the more likely I am to throw it together when I am either arriving home ravenous or preparing it the night before.

This salad would be great if made ahead of time because the kale will have time to marinate in the dressing and will not become soggy :)

Sweet & Spicy Kale Salad (amounts of each ingredient to your liking)

Kale (I chose dinosaur kale - I love it’s beautiful dark green color)
Daikon Radish (Diced)
Onion (Diced)
Sweet Potato & Cabbage leaves (chopped & boiled for approximately 5 minutes)

Dressing:

Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Cayenne Pepper

I poured the dressing straight on the salad but in case you are not used to cayenne pepper (it is very spicy) I suggest making the dressing separately and taste testing it.

I am currently eating this salad for dinner while doing some schoolwork…

…however it would make a lovely, energizing lunch.

I’ll leave you with a song I’m liking. Is it just me or is it SEXY?

A Salad A Day

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:21:59 -0500

Hello friends!

It’s been a while!

{^ Expresses how I feel AND promotes my favorite game}

Lately I have found myself busy with school, both nutrition and personal training, and am spending a lot of time sorting things out in my own life.

When I first started this blog it was an outlet for me to talk about my passion for health and fitness since I was doing something completely different, career wise. It was incredibly cathartic and I felt that I was constantly bubbling with ideas for recipes and blog posts.

Now that I am delving much deeper into my health related studies I am finding it harder to give broad “advice” because I realize that everyone is so different. Being human means that we observe what works for others and do it ourselves hoping for the same results. In certain areas of nutrition, however, this is hardly the case.

While some people may thrive on a vegan diet others will feel lacking and lethargic. I think that diets like Ayurveda, Macrobiotics, Raw Veganism, Paleo, etc. have truly SAVED lives. Some people follow them religiously and some take a little from each. I want you to know that you don’t necessarily have to choose. You don’t have to put a label on your diet. It is your body and ultimately only you will know if you are doing the right thing.

That being said I understand your confusion. I assume you’re confused because I certainly am. We all are really because nutrition is a fledgling science. There are contradictions everywhere.

We have been born into a world where we are constantly being told what to eat and how to exercise. We don’t know what’s right, what’s wrong, who’s genuine and who has ulterior motives. It’s no wonder we’ve completely lost our instincts.

Food is also an emotional subject. I doubt there is one person on the planet that doesn’t have some kind of emotional response while discussing the topic of nutrition. There are plenty of reasons aside from hunger that we choose to eat something or not to eat it. I urge you to explore these reasons and honor them. Acknowledge them, at the least.

So hey guys, I’ve been second guessing myself a little bit! I want MORE THAN ANYTHING to serve as an example that leading a lifestyle is easy, fun and exciting! …But that’s not to say that isn’t a constant learning experience.

We all have our ups and downs and I think it’s wonderful to talk about them. To learn from each other and support each other. That’s why I’m sharing mine :)

ALL that being said, there is no doubt in my mind that we should all be eating real, whole foods and avoiding processed ones. It’s the common link between all of the popular dietary theories. So while I share with you my beloved kombucha, maca powder, yacon syrup and other fancy things, it is not to say that everyone necessarily needs them. And while I do think most people benefit from limiting their animal protein consumption, I do not think everyone should avoid it all together.

The following is certainly clear..

HEALTHY PEOPLE EAT VEGGIES.

Lots of them. The more the better.

Veggies are beautiful. Powerful. My joie de vivre. Love them and they will LOVE YOU BACK. I’m SERIOUS!

If you take anything from this long, passionate, rambling post let it be this…

My challenge to you:

Eat a salad a day. A big a$$ salad with lots of raw veggies. I enjoy kale, cabbage (more vit c than an orange holla), spinach, onions, scallions, radishes (daikon is particularly charismatic), sprouts of all kinds, celery, cucumber, tomato.

Load them on and dress it with something simple that tastes good to you. My go to is olive oil, apple cider vinegar, some herbs and a sprinkling of real sea salt.

It will make a great, filling lunch that won’t leave you feeling sleepy. I find that if I make a salad in the morning, dressing and all, it tastes amazing after marinating for a while.

A SALAD A DAY - LETS DO IT!!

P.S.

Vegetables can also be naughty!

How to be Sick (Natural Cold & Flu Remedies)!

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:25:00 -0500

HI!!!

It seems like everyone is sick right now. I received the following texts from my boyfriend last night:

Sad boy!

I am truly sorry if you are not feeling well! I’d like to share a few home remedies in the hopes that you may find something that works for you.

Unsurprisingly, I am a believer in going the natural route when fighting off a virus. I understand the desire to resort to products that simply mask our symptoms in order to get through work, etc. If possible, however, I think it is SO important to take the necessary time for the body to heal itself, with the help of some gentle, healing and natural activities.

If you do this early on you might simply get a relaxing day at home and kill the sickness before it even happens.

Here’s the drill.

1) When you feel the sickness coming on:

Elderberry Syrup - When I was growing up my mom would give me a spoonful of this whenever I felt a little under the weather. To this day it never fails to zap that sucker away. This is my #1 secret weapon! :)

(When choosing an elderberry extract I recommend checking the ingredients for nasty fillers like high fructose corn syrup. I tend to get mine at whole foods where the choices all seem legit)

Oscillococcinum - This is a homeopathic remedy that I personally find to be very effective.

Whenever I start to feel a little out of sorts I pop a capsule of these under my tongue and let it dissolve. I repeat this once a day for as many days as it takes to feel normal again.

2) During the sickness:

Ginger Tea - Tea bags are great but you could also boil some fresh ginger with some water for an hour and that would give you a BADASS ginger tea that will basically melt your cold away. Detoxification central.

Miso Soup - I’m talking real, organic unpasturized miso paste. Dilute about 2 teaspoons per cup of hot water (do not boil as that may kill all the amazing live enzymes in the miso). You can drink it plain or add in some scallions and seaweed.

Take a hot bath - Pour in some epsom salts or even a cup of fresh grated ginger to help release toxins. Dry off immediately afterwards and hop on into bed.

Take a shower - Water helps to clear the energy systems which, in turn, will make you feel refreshed.

*Do you see a pattern here? HEAT, in general helps to kill viruses*

IN GENERAL:

Drink a lot LOT of water
Sleep - Your body NEEDS the rest, otherwise you wouldn’t be sick :)
Avoid: SUGAR, dairy (very important if you have sinus problems or a sore throat) and processed foods

I do hope this was helpful. Off to comfort my sick boyfriend! Xo

Yummy

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 15:50:59 -0500

Hello! How was your week!!

Upon waking a little later than usual this morning I popped outside for a run.

It was beautiful, sunny and a *crisp* 55 degrees outside and I LOVED it! I completed my all time favorite sprint routine:

10 minute warmup (walk)
2 minute jog
45 second sprint
1 minute 15 second walk
Repeat jog/sprint/walk 4 more times
5-10 minute cool down (walk)

I am now drinking my smoothie and waiting for my friend Danielle to arrive so that we can 1. get our nails done and 2. talk about Pretty Little Liars. I’m being serious.

Before the festivities, however, I wanted to share some gluten free recipes from around the blog world that have called to me lately:

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chunk Cookies - From The Fitnessista

Cauliflower Hummus - From the blog of a health coach whom I found through my nutrition school :)

GF Honey Pumpkin Muffins - From Peanut Butter Fingers

Grain Free Sandwich Bread - I am new to this blog but this bread sounds amazing and I am impressed by the ingredients

Crock Pot Challenge - Another one from Peanut Butter Fingers. I think I may need a crock pot! ;)

I love any chance to point out some of my favorite blogs. They have served as a huge inspiration to me with both blogging and, simply, my own health journey.

Ted wishes you a very happy Saturday!

Good Morning

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 23:00:00 -0500

Happy New Year!!

It has taken an entire week, but I believe I may now be fully recovered from all the holiday madness. It feels good to be back into a normal routine!

This morning started off very well so I thought I’d share it with ya!

I hopped out of bed at 6am with the intention of going for a run and doing some sprints. (I love doing some cardio first thing in the morning, even if I plan to do a full workout later in the day-I just find it very energizing). I was greeted, however, by darkness! I failed to consider the sun when I ambitiously planned my workout, so I was forced to resort to a plan b:

TABATA!

Tabata is a form of cardio interval or HIIT training which, among other benefits, is said to be wonderful for fat burning.

1 round of Tabata takes 4 minutes to complete and consists of the following:

20 seconds intense exercise
10 seconds rest
Repeat 8 times for a total of 4 minutes.

(If you choose to research the Tabata method you’ll be interested to find how beneficial such a short workout can be!)

Anywho, my routine looked like this:

Jump Squats
High Knees
Burpees
Mountain Climbers
Repeat!

*I did 3 rounds of this (for a total of 12 minutes), waiting several minutes in between each round until my heart rate returned to normal.

I use the Tabata Timer app which makes it very easy to keep track of the timings:

After showering I made a delicious smoothie inspired by the Booty Call Buzz from Tone It Up’s blog. As I have previously mentioned I am not a huge coffee drinker but sometimes it just hits the spot!

Green Maca-Mocha Latte

6 cups of spinach
1/2 cup coffee (cold or room temp)
1/2 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
1 scoop vanilla brown rice protein powder (Perfect Fit)
1 T cocoa powder
1 T maca powder
5 ice cubes
Stevia (optional/to taste)

Twas delicious, nasty color aside! ;)

Hope you have a great week!

PS. Please consult a physician before making any fitness changes and, as always, honor your body! Xo

Everyone Feels Gross This Time Of Year

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 02:25:00 -0500

I’m going to be honest. The holidays make me feel a little wacky. In theory I love this time of year. The food, the drink, the family, the friends and the festivities are all wonderful things…on paper. The closer we get to Christmas, however, I feel myself getting stressed, out of balance, out of character, and inexplicably blue. (…did I mention out of control? ;)

In the past 2 weeks I have:

Taken shots of rum, vodka, scotch and sake
Eaten an entire container of Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Almonds (picture below) and CHIPPED my tooth in the process
Spent several hours alone in my (messy) room writing music
Felt less than badass at the gym
Called my mom for at least 1 mini breakdown
Attempted to dress my cat in a santa hat and necktie for the most distastrous Xmas picture of all time

As I discussed this with my mother today she reminded me that yesterday was the winter solstice, AKA the shortest day of the year. Considering the brief, dark days and cold weather this time of year would probably best be spent inward and in reflection, however the holidays drive us to over exert ourselves mentally, physically and socially.

Whether or not you are as sensitive as I am you might be feeling a bit out of whack. THAT’S OK. I get it. Let’s get through it together.

1. Have a sense of humor - I mean…it just feels so good to laugh. Look for the humor in otherwise awkward situations and try not to take yourself too seriously.

2. Write in a journal

3. Spend some quality alone time - My go to is clearly a hot bath or shower. Other ideas include a massage, a good (healthy) meal, a walk in the woods, or maybe just a quiet moment with a cup of tea.

4. Read - Augusten Burrough’s short stories always lift me up. Talk about finding the humor in things. He is a beautiful writer and will make you feel worlds better about your own awkwardness :)

5. Exercise - Hike, walk, run, resistance training at the gym, yoga class, etc.

6. Sleep - Try not to do anything too stimulating before bed, such as looking at your computer or the tv. Read!

7. Drink a lot of water - Per usual but of EXTREME importance

8. Chill out with the coffee - Try replacing at least 1 cup of coffee with an herbal, black or green tea. Coffee is not only dehydrating and hard on the digestive system/adrenals, but it can also completely exacerbate anxiety. I, for one tend to go to a very dark place after drinking too much coffee. Bad news!

9. Spend time with people that make you happy - Even if it has to be for a few minutes over the phone. Or maybe over some sake.

10. Focus on the positive - It is so easy to be hard on people, especially close friends and family. Try to remind yourself what you love about them and appreciate the lessons learned when conflicts arise.

11. Eat your vegetables - Leafy greens are of great importance, along with as many other veggies you can fit in your mouth ;). Green smoothies are great for me since I am in southern California but if you’re dealing with colder weather kale, spinach and other greens are lovely steamed. Try a peaceful dinner of steamed kale, brown rice and lentils (seasoned any way you’d like). ROOT VEGGIES such as squash and sweet potatoes are also very grounding.

12. Be Creative - Perhaps even something other than what you do professionally. I like to write, draw and paint. Tonight Zach and I spent a while learning pop songs on guitar/piano and singing them. It was so much fun and very different from what I am used to doing musically.

I’ll leave you with some songs I’ve been enjoying lately. Good luck to you and happy, happy holidays!!! <3

Hope you had a great weekend, friends!

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 01:25:47 -0500

Hope you had a great weekend, friends!

A Hot Bath and a Change of Pace

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:58:14 -0500

I find a hot bath to be an incredibly relaxing, healing and rejuvenating experience. I have one at least once a week. I tend to bring in a good book, light candles, dim the lights and pour various delectable smelling concoctions into the water.

{Ted has trouble with the fact that he can’t hop in with me}

Side note: I have never brought in my laptop and watched friends, 30 Rock or Arrested Development. Who would do that. WHO

(^ Ok it’s my favorite thing to do EVER)

Benefits of hot (or warm BE CAREFUL not to overheat yourself, as I have so many times) bath:

Relaxes the mind & body
Improves circulation
Soothes muscle soreness
Stimulates release of toxins

Some favorite bath products:

Lush Bath Bombs - They contain baking soda which is helpful in the release of toxins, and smell delicious
EO Bubble Bath & Salts - Nice company, nice ingredients, smells nice -> nice central.
Epsom Salts - Great for sore muscles. Throw them in with some lavender or rose essential oil or even squeeze in the juice from some freshly grated ginger

*It is important to bring in a big glass of water with you to drink so that you don’t get dehydrated. Pop some cucumber in there and it will be just lovely. I would love for you to set aside some time for yourself to try something like this. You very much deserve it and will feel wonderful afterwards!

I thought this would be a nice time to give an update on what’s going on in my life because it strongly relates to the health and wellness theme to this blog. If you have no interest in what I’m thinking/feeling/doing these days read no further!

Several months ago I enrolled in an online holistic nutrition program. At that time I wrote a post briefly explaining why I made this decision despite the fact that I was already becoming immersed in a COMPLETELY different career, that being Film Scoring!

At that point I had already had doubts about film work but still had hopes to persevere through the hardships (crazy long hours, high stress, and all that comes with these things) in order to honor what I absolutely love about it: writing music, collaborating with brilliant people and constantly being challenged by my work.

While studying film scoring in college it never occured to me that I would not be ok with the lifestyle that tends to come with such a career. I was just “following my bliss”, so to speak and running with what was interesting to me at the time. It wasn’t until I moved to LA and started working in the industry that my eyes began to wander.

I developed and grew as a person while learning that my health, happiness and relationships are incredibly important to me, and it seemed to take a very stable and experienced film composer to maintain balance in all areas of his (or her ;) ) life. I started to entertain the idea that maybe I am meant to do something else.

As my own well being became a huge priority, I began to care greatly about that of those around me. I am aware of how many people are sick, tired, unbalanced and confused about how to become healthy. I also see the long hours that are worked in entertainment and the extreme stress that is put on those working in that industry. I find it scary what their bodies go through.

The reason I am writing all of this is to explain why my priorities have shifted and why I am currently very focused on learning more about health and wellness. I am not done with music or film scoring, nor do I think I will ever be. I am simply putting it slightly on the back burner for some time in order to develop another career that feels very right for me.

I am working to gain the ability to support the many, many people who need it. In my mind this means guiding them to cultivate balance and happiness through a healthier lifestyle.

In addition to nutrition I have found fitness to be very important in my life. For this reason I enrolled in a personal training course about 2 months ago. This, as it turns out, was a profound decision and is truly changing the way I think about health and how to improve people’s lives.

…You can therefore expect a lot of fitness advise from now on :)

I am interested in these kind of existential crises those of us in the arts tend to have. Do we make our art into a career? How do we bring creativity into another career? Will we be fulfilled only doing art on the side?

Ladies and gents in music who I know might be reading this :) - have you had any similar thoughts about your music career? Has it conflicted with other interests? I would LOVE to hear about it.

Inevitable Thanksgiving Recap

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:16:43 -0500

Happy Monday! Welcome back to the real world :)

I hope all of you (in the US that is) had a lovely holiday. Mine was spent with friends and it was wonderful. There was a nice crowd of 15 people at my apartment and of course lots of good food.

I like hosting holidays at my place and am always grateful for Zach’s contribution.

Basically while he slaves away in the kitchen…

I clean, assist with the food a bit and CLEARLY do other productive things with my time…

{we all have our vain moments}

Ok, I OF COURSE do some of the cooking myself but it is just nice to know that someone will take care of the finishing touches when people start arriving.

{Friends, AKA LA family}

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and while I don’t feel I went completely crazy this weekend I do feel a little worn out.

I knew something was up when I was grocery shopping and nothing had ever looked more mouthwateringly delicious than this bright bunch of radishes!

I couldn’t dig into them fast enough!

If you and I are in the same boat today, recovery wise, I have previously talked about bouncing back from a crazy weekend, vacation, etc. here and here. Yes, that subject has been thoroughly covered as I tend to get a little wacky from time to time!

What did you do for Thanksgiving? How do you bounce back, if needed?

I will be back very soon with a little tid tad of an announcement! Xoxo

Just a Suggestion

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:51:51 -0500

Happy Sunday!!

It’s cold AKA 60s in LA and I am LOVING IT! I am one of those people who gets very uncomfortable when it’s hot out, especially this time of year. It’s not supposed to be in the 90s in November! (I am still one of those annoying east coast people trying to get used to socal weather).

*Speaking of the east coast my heart goes out to those affected by the hurricane and snowstorm. I wish I could teleport you all here where you’d be perfectly comfortable in the 60 degree weather.

This post is focused on CLEANSING.

You have most likely heard a lot about the different kinds of cleanses and their benefits. The trend seems to be getting bigger every day. Juice cleanse, master cleanse, liver flush, salt flush, etc. We hear stories of people curing themselves of awful diseases, feeling wonderful, losing weight and having glowing skin.

I would like to say: BEWARE. This is just my opinion, of course, but I am not a fan of this cleansing obsession. It can be very dangerous when not done properly and again, in MY OPINION, I don’t think it is necessary most of the time.

We can gently cleanse our bodies daily through food and exercise.

By eating well and being good to our bodies everyday (and of course indulging mindfully from time to time) we keep ourselves healthy. The body tends to perform well when given the right fuel, physically and emotionally speaking. We cannot do harmful things 95% of the time and make up for it with a juice cleanse. In my mind that is irresponsible.

I understand the feeling of wanting to be as healthy as possible, however those of us who have this desire run the risk of causing damage if we try too hard. I am SO one of those people which is why I am writing this post. I want to remind you to be careful.

I also want to remind you that we are all different. One man’s medicine is another man’s poison. Don’t feel like you “should” do anything extreme just because other healthy people do it. And if you do consider it do not take it lightly or do it impulsively. Do your research and think it over!

A few safe ways to gently detox the body:

Drink enough water
Eat lots of veggies! Leafy greens, cabbage, beets, radish, celery, broccoli, you name it
Drink Green smoothies and juices
Eat whole grains
Exercise
Do Yoga
Avoid processed food, sugar, dairy and caffeine

On another note, I am really excited about my new running shoes:

(The Asics Gel-Kayano)

I have really flat feet and Plantar Fasciitis, so it is important that my shoes provide the proper support. Until recently I had to wear running shoes that looked like this:

(At least in my mind they did)

They were good for my feet but I was just way too vain to appreciate them. Enter Asics to change my life!

**Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, friends!!**

Apple Cinnamon Spice Oatmeal

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 21:07:02 -0500

Goooooooood morning!

I woke up this morning to a very chilly apartment and since it was only 6:30am (thank you daylight savings), I thought I would stay warm in bed for a while and watch last night’s episode of SNL…hosted by Louis C.K.!!!

I do not feel the need to keep up with SNL and admittedly after Kristen Wiig left I don’t see myself enjoying it very much, HOWEVER, I loooove Louis C.K. I would post a clip of his standup but it would likely be wildly inappropriate ;)

When I finally got out of bed it was still pretty cold and I indulgently put on slippers and a sweatshirt and decided to make a warming fall breakfast for myself and Zach, who was on his way over.

{Ugh. Sorry for the awful picture}

I used some gluten free oats that I picked up from Trader Joe’s yesterday, and while we are on the subject I’d like to clarify something about oats and gluten for those who might not be aware:

Oats are naturally gluten free but many are packaged in factories that have flour and gluten just flying all around the place. It is therefore very important to buy certified gluten free oats and oatmeal if you can’t have gluten. K? :)

Anywayyyyyy, this is what I added to the oatmeal:

1 apple
1 handful raisins
1 handful raw almonds, chopped
1 scoop Perfect Fit Protein
cinnamon
pumpkin spice

*Each bowl was served with coconut milk poured over, a drizzle of maple syrup and a sprinkle of chia seeds

Yum!

Ok, so here’s the kicker: it is 88 degrees outside today! What. Is it weird that I want it to be cold?

Hope you had a lovely weekend <3

Halloween & Quinoa Salad. (the two are not related)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 23:44:02 -0400

Hola! Good evening! How was your week!?

Mine was wonderful and filled to the brim with school, music and halloween festivities. I didn’t plan to dress up and when I decided relatively last minute to go to a party, I had to throw something together quickly.

The result:

Surprise, surprise…I went as a cat. Black ripped tights and flannel made me an outdoor cat ;)

I thought my friends looked pretty freakin cute:

{Photos all stolen from Instagram}

Now for the abrupt and awkward subject change: QUINOA!

In case you are not familiar with quinoa, it is a grain-like food with a light, nutty taste. It is versatile and easy to prepare.

It is also a complete protein, which makes it great for vegetarians and vegans.

Some other attractive qualities of quinoa:

High in b vitamins, iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, vitamin E
Gluten free
Easy to digest
Protein content equal to milk
Strengthening to the heart, lungs and kidneys

In order to cook quinoa just follow the directions on the package (duh). The general way is to briefly rinse it, add to a pot with 2 times as much water (1 cup quinoa->2 cups water), bring to a boil, cover & reduce to a simmer, leave for 10-15 minutes depending on your stove.

While it’s cooking I like to add in some of this magic stuff:

{Seitenbacher Broth}

Much like brown rice and other grains, quinoa is all about what is added to it. It is often used in savory lunch/dinner dishes but is also great for breakfast (cooked in coconut or nut milk and served warm with nuts, raisins, cinnamon, you name it). So good.

I have been making big batches of plain quinoa and, more often than not, adding veggies to make a quinoa salad:

My favorite veggies to add have been:

Broccoli
Radishes (red or daikon)
Mushrooms
Parsley
Onions
Scallions
Cucumber
Cabbage

(You can add the harder veggies in while the quinoa is simmering to soften them up)

I then season it with olive oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper. So simple, SO GOOD!

It is great for leftovers (and is yummy cold), which are very handy for taking to work, etc:

I don’t believe I’ve met one healthy person who DOESN’T carry food around with them. It is a key to feeling good all the time :)

In other news, Ted says hi.

I think he looks very siamese in this picture. :)

I hope you have a great week and a happy halloween! My favorite halloween-y movies (because I love any excuse to watch a movie):

Gluten Free, Certainly

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 21:50:19 -0400

A friend of mine recently asked if I had any suggestions for gluten free friendly restaurants in LA.

Um…

Seeing as my life revolves around food I’d say yes sir, I absolutely do.

Eating gluten free in restaurants is not always as hard as one might think but it can get quite boring. I’ve found that after looking over a menu and speaking with the waiter it quickly becomes apparent whether or not the restaurant is on top of the whole gluten free thing. If not, the safest option tends to be a salad. I’m a complete salad lover but I mean c’mon. I can make a baller salad at home. Gimme something fun!

In my experience the following places are not only knowledgable and helpful, but they also offer some exciting dishes that us poor GF people rarely get to enjoy.

Here we go…

True Food Kitchen - Great for brunch or lunch, by the water, healthy, fresh, tasty
Coupa Cafe - coffee/breakfast/brunch/lunch -> go there immediately
Veggie Grill - Vegan comfort food. Amazing chili sweet potato fries
Real Food Daily - Vegan, good for dinner, have GF beer :)
Akasha - Love their cafe. Great teas & coffee, GF french toast
The Den of Hollywood - Happy hour & fun GF sandwiches
M Cafe - Macrobiotic and VERY DELICIOUS
Fresh Brothers - Pizza!

Places I’d like to try:

Catch - Seafood, nice for dinner
Rock Sugar - Pan Asian
Fonuts - Gluten free donuts HELLO

{mushroom omelet w/ side of sweet potato hash at True Food Kitchen }

{kale, vegan nachos and vegan quinoa mac & cheese at Veggie Grill }

I do hope that some of these are appealing to you! I’d love recommendations for other gluten free spots in LA if anyone’s got ‘em!

Until next time <3

My New Friend

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 15:26:59 -0400

Hello, friends! How was your week?

I hope it was good/fun/productive/relaxing/all of the above, and I wonder if it was as hectic as mine! ;)

This post is dedicated to the new man in my life.

Ted!

Ted is a 2.5 month old siamese/tabby mix. I adopted him from a local animal rescue about a week ago and I’d say he has settled in quite nicely!

He is playful, inquisitive, mischievous and VERY affectionate and cuddly. He’s the purrrrfect package.

While I grew up with cats & dogs and would say I am very experienced with them, Ted is the first pet I have raised as an adult. He is my first baby! This past week has been full of ups and downs as we adjust to being in each other’s lives.

I worry about him every time I leave the house and I research regularly about kitten behavior and nutrition to make sure he grows up to be strong, well behaved, happy and healthy.

Kittens and puppies are always a handful but I’d say I have it pretty easy with Ted. I have to keep him from climbing in the refrigerator and dishwasher, and I let him learn his own lesson when he incessantly begged to join me in the shower. Regardless, he is a complete and utter sweetheart. He comes when he is called and his beautiful blue eyes gaze intently toward anyone who speaks to him.

There is nothing better than having a furry friend in your life! Especially when you have RESCUED them. There are SO many amazing animals out there who need homes. My little Ted was found in a trashcan in Hawthorne, CA when he was only 2 weeks old. I can hardly stand the thought!

In addition to city animal shelters there are also many non profit rescue organizations. I love and support these organizations because they are pretty much exclusively NO kill and they rescue animals from the high kill shelters before they are euthanized. They then give them the medical attention they need and love and care for them until they are adopted.

Some LA based rescues include:

Lange Foundation (Dogs & Cats)

Cage Free K9 Camp (Dogs only)

Kitten Rescue (Cats & Dogs)

What’s Up Dog! L.A. (Dogs only)

Labs and Friends (Cats & Dogs)

New Life K-9 Rescue (Dogs & a few Cats)

Grace Animal Rescue (Dogs & Cats)

East Coast Rescue:

Adopt A Lab - This is where my mom got these dodos:

{Someone gave them up. It makes no sense!}

You can expect to see Ted on this blog a lot from now on. I’ll also include info on his food, etc from time to time. This is, after all, a healthy living blog :)

*Do you have a pet? Do you have a cat?? Any kitten advice would be lovely! <3