Healthy Fit and Fabulous!!!
Written by Healthychic, June 24th, 2010
I’ve never been much of a make-up wearer, but every now and again I like to try something new-mainly with my eyes- and I find that I always end up looking like some kind of drug addict and not pretty at all!!! I’ve had a friend who is a very well known make-up artist come to my house to give me lessons, another friend has sent me kits that spell out EXACTLY where you are supposed to put the colors etc……. and I still can’t do it-this is just something that I cannot seem to master. If I can’t put it in on with my finger, then I can’t do it!! Through all of my trials and errors, I did realize a couple of things- 1. I wear contacts and have very sensitive eyes that water constantly (hence the dribbly eye make-up) 2.) I am obsessed with lotions and my eye cream makes the area around my eyes a little greasy so the color doesn’t stick. As a result, I end up with a significantly less than desirable look!!
Enter Smashbox eye shadow primer and Dior waterproof liner~ I have probably tried every eyeliner out there- All of the drugstore brands and most of the department store brands and finally, FINALLY I have found one that stays put!!! I haven’t stopped using my eye wrinkle cream or wearing my contacts, I have found something that works!!!
I love the Smashbox primer because it evens the skin tone on your eyelids and just makes any color go on smoothly and stay put!! The Dior eyeliner does not budge!! The only bummer about the eyeliner is that you have to work a bit to wash it off at night. I just wash my face normally and then use a baby wipe- Yep a baby wipe to remove the excess and there you have it!!!
Had to share!
Tags: dior waterproof eyeliner, eyeliner for sensitive eyes, smashbox eye lid primer
1 Comment » | 
Print This Post
Written by Healthychic, June 23rd, 2010
This is such a great question~ globally people spend millions on vitamins and supplements. If it isn’t any benefit, perhaps we could save ourselves the cash!
My personal feeling is this~ I eat a very healthy diet, but I still take my vitamins daily and here’s why. The USDA recommends that we get at least 5 cups a day of fruits and vegetables and some Dr.s argue that we need double that to keep our immune systems strong, cells replicating properly and to fight other environmental stressors. So imagine you need to eat 10 cups a day to “be all that you can be” that is an ENORMOUS amount of food! The main argument against vitamins and supplements is that your body cannot absorb all of the nutrients they contain. I think that if you are eating well and getting a boost from your daily vitamin then you are doing yourself good!
Another reason I opt to take vitamins is I feel that thanks to pollution in the air, rain and soil and importing, our fruits and vegetables do not contain anywhere near the amounts of nutrients that they contained even 50 years ago. We have the benefit and pleasure of enjoying strawberries year round, but I assure you in the dead of winter in Boston, no one is growing strawberries! It is difficult to calculate how much is lost during transport because the fruits and vegetables are picked before they have ripened so they do not spoil on their journey.
Bottom line~ eat well and take a multi-vitamin. One does not discount the other. You cannot eat crap all day and take a multi-vitamin and expect that you are keeping yourself healthy. Since it is difficult to consume all of the recommended daily allowances for nutrients from food alone, adding a supplement will give you that extra boost!!!
Tags: do I need a multivitamin?, why take a multi vitamin
No Comments » | Print This Post
Written by Healthychic, May 19th, 2010
I love dessert and always feel so much better if it contains fruit, is healthy and satisfies the craving for something sweet. I have done this recipe with both rhubarb and fresh strawberries, both are delicious, but I find that the tangy tartness of the rhubarb tantalizes my taste buds just a bit more!! This recipe makes 4 servings…. or 2 if you are gluttonous like my husband and me 
You will need:
2 cups chopped rhubarb
3 tbsps agave nectar
4 bananas
4 tbsps Nutella
2 small containers of Greek yogurt or about 1 3/4 cups
2 tbsps raw honey
To prepare rhubarb:
in a small sauce pan combine:
1/2 cup water
3 tbsps agave
2 cups chopped rhubarb
bring to a boil and let simmer 5-7 minutes until soft, but not mushy. Set aside to cool 20 minutes.
Slice 4 bananas. One each into 4 bowls.
Melt 4 tbsps of Nutella and drizzle over bananas.
In a small bowl combine two small containers of greek yogurt and 2 tbsps of raw honey. Using a fork, whip until creamy.
Add rhubarb atop the Nutella covered bananas and lastly, spoon yogurt and honey mixture over rhubarb.
Be prepared for every one of your taste buds to be happy!!!
Tags: healthy dessert, Healthy recipes, nutella and banana, rhubarb recipes
2 Comments » | Print This Post
Written by Healthychic, May 19th, 2010
Overheard today in the women’s locker room at the gym…..two women discussing fitness and “why” they workout. One exercised in order to eat what she wants, the other to battle her “saddle bags”. So of course this got me to thinking why I workout. I can’t put my finger on just one reason, but if I weighted (no pun intended) my answers, I’d have to go with- I want to look good naked. I figure if you look good naked then you will definitely look good in clothes. Next on my list would have to be health and energy. It’s amazing how much more energy you have when you exercise regularly……next..I love challenges….and so on and so on….
I am sharing this, because it was incredibly motivating to consider all of the reasons why I choose to make exercise a regular part of my life. I am currently 8 months pregnant and it’s a little tough to want to drag myself to the gym or studio for a workout right now. So- I’ve made a list of all of the reasons I like working out and all of the benefits it provides me and posted it where I will see it several times a day.
I’m guessing that even on those days where I don’t necessarily WANT to go exercise, I’ll be able to choose any # of motivating reasons to find that get up and go!!!!
3 Comments » | Print This Post
Written by Healthychic, April 16th, 2010
Last Saturday afternoon, my family and I were out for a walk. We passed a cute little farm stand that had the most beautiful organic blood oranges. I insisted to my husband that we NEEDED these because I was going to make him a yummy dessert…… he wasn’t sold until he was actually eating them and then of course asked if we can have these “every night”. In my opinion blood oranges are the perfect combination of tart and sweet and nothing accompanies them better than a little bitter dark chocolate. They are a match made in heaven!!!
You will need:
1 large piece of parchment or wax paper
2 blood oranges peeled and separated
2/3 cup dark chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli 70% cocoa chips)
2 tbsps unsalted butter
Heat chocolate and butter together in microwave for 30 seconds. remove and stir. Continue to heat and stir at 15 second intervals until the chocolate is soft and dippable. Drag each slice of orange through chocolate until one end is coated on both sides. Place on paper to cool for 15 minutes. Remove from paper, serve and enjoy one of this season’s most beautiful fruits!!
Tags: blood orange, desserts, healthy dessert
1 Comment » | Print This Post
Written by Healthychic, April 16th, 2010
This dish is so fast, healthy and delicious!! You won’t be able to pick it up and eat it like you would a regular pizza slice, but when you taste it, I don’t think you’ll mind Serves 2
You will need:
4 large portobello mushroom caps
1 can diced tomatoes drained
8 oz tomatoe sauce
sea salt
pepper
dried basil
crushed red pepper
3 cloves garlic minced
1 lb chicken italian sausage
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
2 tbsps canola oil
Olive oil
Preheat oven to 350
In large baking dish drizzle olive oil over the bottom. Place portobello mushroom caps stem up in dish and drizzle with more olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper and bake in oven for 12-14 minutes. Remove and set aside
In a large sautee pan add canola oil and garlic and sautee over medium high heat. Remove casings from sausage and crumble into sautee pan to brown. When sausage is browned and cooked through and in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and spices to your taste.
When sauce is finished, spoon sauce over mushroom caps and top with 1/8 cup of mozzarella cheese. Put back in the oven for about 5 minutes to melt cheese. Serve and enjoy!!!
Tags: portobello mushroom pizza. healthy portobello mushroom dishes
2 Comments » | Print This Post
Written by Healthychic, April 13th, 2010
The other night I was preparing dinner and realized that the 4 lbs of chicken I had purchased were going to go bad if I didn’t use them RIGHT NOW!! So- I decided to make the chicken greek style and accompany them with the 2 lbs of fingerling potatoes I had and some haricots verts. The Greek style dinner was delicious, but the salad I created from it the next day was super yummy too! So of course I have to share!!! You just can’t beat having 2 super healthy meals out of one night of prep! each meal serves 2.
Night one: Greek Style Chicken and Fingerling Potatoes with Steamed Haricot Vert
You need:
4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 lbs fingerling potatoes halved
1/2 lb haricots verts
3 lemons
4 tbsps of dried oregano
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Black Pepper
Preheat oven to 350. Place chicken breasts in large baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over all of the chicken and squeeze the juice of 1 1/2 lemons over all of the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with 2 tbsps of Oregano, Sea Salt and Pepper. In separate baking dish place all potatoes. You will do the same thing for the potatoes that you did for the chicken. Drizzle olive oil all over the potatoes. Squeeze the juice of 1 1/2 lemons and sprinkle remaining 2 tbsps oregano and sea salt and pepper over the potatoes. Using a large spoon, mix potatoes to ensure they are all covered with lemon, olive oil and spices. Cover the chicken and potatoes with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes. When there is about 15 minutes left bring water to a boil to steam the haricots verts and steam 7-10 minutes. Drizzle haricots verts with olive oil and serve your delicious and nutritious meal.
Night two: Healthychic Greek Salad- Not your traditional style Greek Salad- but I like this better!
You will need in addition to left overs from last night:
1 lb baby spinach
1/2 red onion finely chopped
Cherry or grape tomatoes halved
4 oz Feta Cheese cut into small cubes or crumbled
Pitted Kalamata Olives
1 Lemon
Olive Oil
Sea Salt and Pepper
Divide spinach onto 2 large plates. Dice left over chicken and place on one part of each plate. Cut into thirds the haricots verts and place on one part of each plate. Place 2 oz feta cheese, onion, tomatoes, kalamata olives and left over potatoes on remaining spaces on each plate. Squeeze juice of 1/2 lemon and drizzle olive oil over each salad. Top with a little Sea Salt and pepper. Serve and Enjoy!!!
Tags: chicken, fingerling potatoes, greek style, healthy greek salad, steamed haricots verts
1 Comment » | Print This Post
Written by Healthychic, April 11th, 2010
I was feeling very brave this weekend, so when after our river walk, my family and I visited the local gourmet market and my husband asked if we should get some things to make for dinner …….I responded with a YES!!! I had been inspired to try to make risotto and fish en papillote by a friend who swore I could do it and where better to get the yummiest ingredients?!?
For the Risotto, I used a recipe out of my Gourmet Cookbook I will paste the recipe below.
5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
3/4 lb asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 1/4 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1/2 cup grated parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Bring broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Keep broth at a bare simmer,
covered.
Cook onion in 2 Tbsp butter with 1/4 tsp salt in a 4-qt heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add rice and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Add wine and simmer, stirring constantly, until absorbed.
Stir in 1/2 cup broth mixture and briskly simmer, stirring frequently, until absorbed. Continue adding broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently and letting each addition be absorbed before adding the next, until rice is creamy and tender but still al dente (it should be the consistency of a thick soup), about 18 minutes. (There will be leftover broth mixture.)
Stir in asparagus and cook 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir in zest, remaining 2 Tbsp butter, parmesan, parsley, and pepper to taste. (Thin risotto with some of remaining broth if necessary.)
For the fish:
Preheat oven to 500
I used the following ingredients, but you can choose to use what ever you like- you just need to change the baking time dependent upon the type of fish you are using.
1 lb halibut
2 bok choy washed well and trimmed and separated
2 shallots thinly sliced
1/2 cup grape tomatoes halved
about 12 chives
olive oil
1 lemon
Sea Salt
White pepper
Dry White wine
2 15 inch pieces of parchment paper
On each piece of parchment paper I first laid out the bok choy. Then I placed about 1/2 lb of halibut, 6 chives, 1 shallot and 1/4 cup tomatoes. I drizzled each with olive oil, splashed with a little wine and squeezed the juice of 1/2 lemon. Then I sprinkled with a bit of sea salt and white pepper. Last I twisted all of the ends into a securely closed pouch and placed them into a baking dish. I popped them into the oven for 14 minutes.
The Bok choy was perfectly wilty, the tomatoes sweet and the fish so light and flaky……. It really doesn’t get easier or tastier!!!
I love these 2 recipes together. They really complemented one another and the fish is quite simple to make while the risotto requires TLC. You have the time to make them both and the end result is SOOOO SUPER YUMMY!!!! You’ll be hard pressed to find a better meal in a restaurant!!!
Tags: Asparagus risotto, fish en papillote
3 Comments » | Print This Post
Written by Healthychic, April 9th, 2010
It was at the end of my yoga class, we were in savasana and our instructor read to us this poem. One line of this poem jumped out at me at the time and I have continued to read this over and over and I always feel like one part or another speaks to me. I hope you enjoy it too.
The Invitation
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dreams
for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon…
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your
fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
”Yes.”
It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after a night of grief and despair
weary and
bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.
It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.
It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.
2 Comments » | Print This Post
Written by Healthychic, April 9th, 2010
I had not heard of this program, so I’ve looked into it. My personal philosophy is that there aren’t any magic pills or programs. Often times I think you can learn a lot about nutrition and serving sizes from some of the programs out there, but the statistics show that the results achieved in Weight Watchers and programs like this, are not long term. However, after looking into Organicliason.com, I do think that it offers great tools to educate on the importance of consuming organic what I call “whole foods” and the supplements that are suggested are great, but they are all things that you can find in your local health food store. The supplements are not unique to Organicliason.com.
Overall my opinion is that this could be a great way to learn more about organic living and health, with the guidance of online nutritionists. So if a program is what you are looking for, I say give this one a try!!!
Tags: Kirstie Alley, Organicliason.com
1 Comment » | Print This Post
