2014: The Perfect Time for a Cleanse & Detox

With the new year and new resolutions, this is the perfect time to restart your body with a cleanse & detox. It's kinda like a fresh start (physically and symbolically) for your body to get rid of all the bad stuff we ate during the holidays (I know I overindulged!!) and get back on track to a healthy lifestyle. I acutally did this cleanse with D back in May of last year and I really felt the benefits. Not only did I feel  cleansed, but energized and excited to eat cleaner. So what did I use?  I picked up this book "Look Better Naked" by the editors of Women's Health magazine which gives you a 6 week plan to basically look, well hot! They suggest using the 2-day cleanse to kickstart your 6 week plan but you don't have to use it. I did this cleanse again starting new years day and I'm feeling so excited to restart my body and try to stick to the 6 week eating and working out plan!

In a nut shell, the 2-Day Cleanse looks a little something like this:

Breakfast:
Light shake
Blend 1 cup fat-free (soy, almond, rice or hemp) milk
1 cup berries
1tsp peanut butter or flax seed oil
1 cup ice

Snack:
1 cup sliced cucumbers
1 cup green tea

Lunch:
steamed or raw greens (romaine, spinach, mesclun, arugula, kale etc.)
4 oz. lean protein (white meat chicken, firm tofu or fish)
2 tsp oil (olive, sunflower or walnut)

Snack:
10 asparagus spears, blanched
1 cup green tea

Dinner:
same as lunch

Yeah, to some this might look like their regular food plan. But to me, this looks meager and challenging. The shake I know I'll be able to do because I've been drinking breakfast smoothies for the past few weeks and I'm totally down with it! The nice thing with this plan is we are allowed to add spices and fresh herbs to make the meals more appetizing. For example, I think I'm going to add a little vinegar and fresh dill to make a cold cucumber salad -- that's more flavorful right? We are also allowed 2tsp of oil with both lunch and dinner to use how we want. I'm thinking of mixing that with some balsamic vinegar to make a vinaigrette and fresh herbs to make a dressing for my fresh greens. Lastly, I'm trying to think about how to liven up that meat since we are only allowed to bake or broil it. I'm thinking chicken could be marinated in fresh lemon juice and cracked black pepper. And fish I could experiment with some spices and use a rub. 

and a little humor to reminds ourselves to laugh when we're lashing out in hunger (I do this, do you?!)

Has anyone else ever done a detox and cleanse, and if so how did it go??
Anyone else committing to a healthier lifestyle for 2014?

xo Steph

New Years weddings & resolutions

This New Year's eve D and I were invited to a wedding -- and I was actually extra excited because it meant that we didn't have to find something to do for NYE, instead a fabulous night was already planned for us. As much as I love New Year's Eve, there is a level of stress in finding something to do and of course making that NYE a magical night. But we all know in reality, this night may or may not live up to our expectations.

But this year, my old roommate was getting married and I knew a magical night was already planned a year in advance. Here's some pics from the night.

Outfit Details:

Dress: Express (last year) // Bracelet: Express // Necklace: Boutique in Hoboken

Watch: Michael Kors // Heels: Michael Kors

the decor was everything black, silver, glittery and sparkly -- all my favorite things!!

After saying their vows and being officially announced husband and wife -- they completed an old German tradition of having to complete their first difficult task as a married couple. The task was to saw a log in half (complete with a custom painted saw with their names on it, and matching Mr & Mrs. aprons). I have to say -- I have NEVER seen anything like this at a wedding before and it was such a fun thing to watch. Granted I was waiting in horror for her to rip her dress or something but they completed the task with nothing more than a little sweat and some upper body strength!

Now that my friends, is a couple who's in it to win it!

A picture of the beautiful newlyweds.

Once the clock hit 11:00 we switched from wedding reception to full-on new year's count down mode. They gave everyone fun hats, sparkly crowns, necklaces, noisemakers -- you name it!

We celebrated the start of 2013 in style! I know have secretly (or not so secretly) decided that if I ever get married -- New Years Eve might be a very fun night to save the date and get hitched! ; )

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In addition to sharing my new year's eve wedding post, I thought it would be fun to share some of my resolutions. I know everyone has their feelings about resolutions -- and I for one, am for them! I know January 1st is really just another day, but there is something to be said for starting new habits at the beginning of a new year to symbolize a fresh start. 

I love fresh starts so here are some of mine:

1. Make better efforts to keep in touch with friends & family

This is something I've always been bad at. I have so many wonderful friends and family that I don't keep up to date with -- simply because I don't pick up the phone and call them. Well that all ends in 2012. Phone calls, texts and emails are coming your way people!! It's time to reconnect and nurture the relationships I do have.

2. Healthier lifestyle

The old standard of resolutions. I am a junk food junky, and while I will I openly admit it, I'm certainly not proud of it. I'm going back to eating as "real" as possible and using a food journal to track everything (yes, every.single.thing) I eat in the day. I used to do this all the time and found it very effective in that it kept me accountable for what I ate. Remember that small little hand full of potato chips you ate -- yeah, you have to write that down too!

3. Wear lipstick

Yes, you heard me right! I heard someone talking about it on the radio the other day and thought this was a fabulous idea. As silly as this resolution might be -- I am vowing to wear lipstick. I've always been afraid of it and that wearing it will make me look like a clown -- but I'm not afraid anymore!

As a result, I've already purchased my first three shades: a classic red, a vampy burgundy and a nude.

4. Do my hair more

Kind of goes along with #3 -- but I'm making a resolution to put more effort into my hair. I got my hair "done" for the wedding (see above) and I just felt more confident and pretty. So I went out and purchased  a set of jumbo curlers (yes, the old school kind that your mom used to use) and hoping to get some nice results.

5. Enjoy the present moment

I am a perpetual daydreamer and planner so sometimes I catch myself not enjoying what's right in front of me because my head is somewhere in the clouds. In reality, the now is all we have. When you think about it, the history no longer exists except in our memories and the future has yet to be created. The moment that currently surrounds us is all we have. Even though I am a planner by nature, I want to celebrate where I am in life, at this very moment instead of being so focused on where I'm going and where I want to be.

Where I am right now, is something to be celebrated and savored.

6. Love D more

Inside and out ; )

With that being said -- I'm truly looking forward to everything 2013 has in store for me.

Anyone else doing New Year's resolutions?

-Steph