Joining the Chain of Betters this Holiday Season

Tweet

Pin It

November 1 is only two days away and the start of November marks the start of the holiday season for me! One of my favorite things about the holiday season, aside from the general feeling of togetherness, is how the holidays seem to inspire us to want to do good!

As we enter the festive season this year, I would like to turn the spotlight to Western Union's "Chain of Betters" as a cool way to do good this year!

The video above gives a good idea of what Western Union's "Chain of Betters" is all about, but I'll sum it up for those of us who don't click on videos when we're reading blogs (I'm guilty of that sometimes myself, so no judgment).

We live in a more global world than ever and that gives us an incredible amount of power to help even our most distant neighbors, halfway across the world!

Read More...

Review: Food to Live Medjool Dates!

Tweet

Pin It

When I was little, I loved prunes. They were sweet and chewy and delicious, so I couldn't care less that (along with my beloved knitting) my big sister insisted that my love of the sticky snack meant I was secretly a senior citizen.

I still love prunes today, but I've also fallen in love with a new sticky and sweet dried fruit snack over the past few years.

Dates!

Medjool dates are among my favorite types of dates and Food to Live medjool dates are my favorite brand to buy. Dates are nature's candy, a super sweet and nutritionally dense energy bomb that makes it easy for hikers, athletes, busy snackers, and plantbased eaters to get in enough calories and healthy sugars to keep energy levels up all day long.

They also taste like caramel, but are made of only one plant ingredient, are loaded with iron, are unprocessed (and, in the case of Food to Live medjool dates, organic), and are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, non-GMO, and naturally free of added sugar but packed with healthy natural chocolate!

Whir some dates into a smoothie, pack some in a little jar or Tupperware for a work or school snack, blend some with nuts in a food processor for the base of homemade energy bars, or stuff them with nuts and chocolate (I love almonds or peanut butter and dark chocolate chunks). There's no wrong way to enjoy them!

What are your favorite dried fruits?

What is your favorite way to eat dates?

What food did your siblings tease you for liking when you were little?

Read More...

Recipe: German Honey Cookies

Tweet

Pin It

I'm half-German and absolutely love so many things about Germany - the landscape, the people, the culture, the music, the organization, the country overall, and (of course) the food!

Food is a huge part of culture and it's a great way to take little staycations to far-away places without leaving your kitchen. So you can all enjoy a little piece of Germany in your homes, here's a recipe for traditional Germany honey cookies!

These cookies are essentially the basic 'milk and cookies' cookie. They're simple, sweet, pair perfectly fresh from the oven with a cool glass of milk, and are beloved by children and adults alike. They're also quite simple to make and use only fairly basic pantry ingredients for the most part, so there's no reason not to give them a try.

Happy food-venturing!

Read More...

Review: Mamma Chia Organic Chia Granola Clusters and Organic Chia Vitality Bars!

Tweet

Pin It

Let me introduce you to my new favorite snack foods. 

Mamma Chia Organic Vitality Bars and Organic Chia Granola Clusters are so deliciously fantastic.

They're both packed with heart healthy chia seeds, healthy fats, and plant-based protein. They're also all organic, gluten-free, and made with 100% whole grains in the case of the granola (the bars aren't grain-based).

Want omega-3 fatty acids (a whopping 1000mg of them) in a sweet, chocolatey, delicious and portable snack? Mamma Chia Vitality Bars have you covered!

They come in four great flavors, each as delicious as the next. 

While my favorite (by a narrow margin) were the Blueberry & Dark Chocolate Vitality bars, every single flavor was amazing. 

Cherry & Dark Chocolate was a close second favorite. The sweet tart cherries worked amazingly well with the chocolate and nuts!

I loved that the bars were healthy, a great snacking size, made with all natural ingredients in relatively unprocessed forms (I could still tell what the nuts and seeds and dried fruits making up the bars were), and that they were coated in chocolate, making them taste much more like indulgent chocolate bars than a healthy snack!

And yet they are a healthy snack with the omega-3 fatty acids you need to keep your brain and heart in tip-top shape. Hooray!

I could rave about the bars all day, but I also want to get to the granola.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Mamma Chia granola won a place among my favorite cereals of all time from the first bite.

It's sweet, it's crunchy, it's hearty, and there are big chunks of granola for from-the-bag snacking as well as smaller pieces for a more cereal-like experience.

How do I love soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free 100% whole grain Mamma Chia Vitality Granola? Let me list the ways.

With milk, with yogurt, from the bag, on a smoothie, on an acai bowl, from the bag, on ice cream, with peanut butter and banana, in trail mix, and straight from the bag.

I may have mentioned that last way a few times, but it's because the granola is just that good. It tastes great with everything, but it really doesn't need anything to make it delicious!

Oh, and did I mention it's non-GMO, too? Trust me, you'll want to try this granola - any of the delicious flavors will do. You can thank me later!

What is your favorite way to eat granola?

What kind of snack bars do you like most often?

What snacks do you keep in your handbag/backpack/coat pocket? Is that last one just me?

Read More...

goodness Guide to NYC and $100 giveaway!

Tweet

Pin It

Are you visiting NYC soon? Or perhaps making a more permanent move to the Big City?

First of all, yay for you! I've been living here for over a year and I love it more and more every day. There's so much to do, so much to see, so much to taste, and so much to try! I love New York.

Here's my goodness guide to the best of NYC!

Place for Vegetarians and Meat-eaters to Dine Together: Dimes NYC

There are amazing salads, great vegetarian entrees, and incredible acai bowls (at brunch) for the vegetarians, but also a variety of great meat and fish options. I'm dating a meat eater, so it's the perfect Sunday brunch or Saturday lunch spot!

It's also a wonderful place to catch up with the girls over a chic and delicious meal.

Museum for Adults: Metropolitan Museum of Art

The art is amazing. But you already know that! There's something that's probably equally amazing at the Met that you might not know about! Read on to find out.

Read More...

Recipe: Perfect Pumpkin Bread

Tweet

Pin It

I love winter squashes and pumpkin, so I'm one of the many who is thrilled when all things turn to pumpkin in October! 

Pumpkin yogurt, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin soup, roasted pumpkin, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin juice - I can't get enough! 

Whether you have an extra can of pumpkin in your pantry and don't want to go the usual pumpkin pie route (or if pies are a Thanksgiving tradition for you, and you're trying not to get ahead of yourself with your holiday spirit), or you have a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch awaiting a fate other than becoming a soup or a decoration, this recipe for pumpkin bread is an autumn delight. 

For quick and easy, use canned pumpkin puree. I've tried with homemade pumpkin puree from a fresh pumpkin, as well! It's certainly more of a process (and a mess) but can be a lot of fun! Read on for the no-fail recipe (listed with canned pumpkin puree, but an equivalent amount of fresh works wonderfully, as well).

Read More...

Review: The Bliss Bar

Tweet

Pin It

If you've been reading the blog for a while (thank you!) you know that I am and always have been a big fan of food bars.

They're sweet, energy-sense, convenient, (can be) healthy, and super portable. What's not to love?

Unfortunately, you'd be surprised by how many food bars are hiding mile-long ingredients lists of less-than-healthy ingredients to lend them their candy bar-Raquel flavors and textures. 

That's why it's a real treat to discover a new energy bar that's plantbased with a simple ingredients list, just healthy fats, and minimal added sugars. 

The Bliss Bar fits the bill perfectly!

The Bliss Bar comes in five delicious flavors, three of which (my favorite three, of course) are chocolatey through-and-through!

Among the three chocolatey flavors (Amazon Chocolate, Chia Mulberry, and Chocolate Goji) I honestly can't pick a favorite. They're all delicious and the dense, sweet, disk-shaped bars taste like super fudgy brownies. But they come with a boost of natural energy, instead of a weighed down icky stomach feeling.

Just look at that! They're minimally processed and you can tell, because you can still see the nutritious dried fruits, seeds, and chopped nuts they're made with. 

The bars are true to their slogan (superfoods that taste like dessert)! Even the Honey Gold and Coconut Goji, which are based around other scrumptious flavors instead of chocolate, are really yummy.

And they're all made with just a few healthy, organic ingredients - plus love & light! 

Love & light, ingredients featured in every flavor of Bliss Bar, must be the secret behind the bars' great flavor and excellent nutritional profiles. 

Whatever the secret is, I hope they never change it! I have a new favorite bar!

Do you want to try the bars yourself? Use the coupon code LIVELEARNEAT for 10% off sitewide (EXP 12/31/16).

Have you tried the Bliss Bar?

What are your go-to snacks?
Do you like food/snack shopping online?

Read More...

Things to Do On NYC's UES

Tweet

Pin It

NYC is an incredibly colorful, vibrant city and I've been lucky to call it home for going on a year and a half now! The city is split into a number of different neighborhoods and, while the city isn't particularly geographically large, it feels enormous because of how many different cultures and subcultures it houses within its different neighborhoods!

I live in lower Manhattan and there is a huge difference between lower Manhattan and upper Manhattan. For the first year+ that I've lived here, I've stuck mostly to lower Manhattan. My favorite bits of the city are Union Square and below (though the Upper West Side is quite nice), so it just made sense. I've recently decided to branch out a bit, however, and took the time to hop on the 4/5 train to the Upper East Side.

Upper East Side

Surprise! It wasn't the stiff and boring home of elderly WASPs that I thought it might be. The UES is as charming as any other bit of NYC! Read on for some of my favorite things to do on NYC's Upper East Side.

Read More...

Drink to Your Health With Vitamin Chick! A Review

Tweet

Pin It

Fall is a season full of breathtaking beauty, wonderful experiences (apple picking, anyone?), and delicious flavors - pumpkin everything, especially Starbucks!

Like any other season, it's a great opportunity to start anew with healthy, happy habits that allow you to make the most of every moment of every day. I am a firm believer that wellness begins from the inside! Giving your body solid nutrition can do so much to improve your overall sense of well being.

If you've been going heavier on the apple cider donuts than the apples, pre-gaming Halloween with grab bag candy, visiting more Oktoberfest parties than you would care to admit, and/or feeling a little sluggish, I recommend Vitamin Chick juices for a quick and easy reset!



Enjoy a variety of delicious, 100% organic juices that will flood you with the vitamins you need after less than ideal eating. I was honestly surprised by how great the juices tasted, especially the Power Up!



A blend of raw coconut water, sweet carrots, and maca root powder, it's sweet and satisfying and perfect! If carrots aren't your thing, the green juices are delicious, too.

Not a fan of sweet juice? Don't worry, they even have some all-vegetable green juices (check out the Green Vaccine and Vita Green juices) to satisfy those who are watching sugar content.

If you order a pre-arranged cleanse, the juices even come numbered for you (5 juices, a booster, and a creamy nut milk to end the day) so there's no guesswork.



If prearranged cleanses aren't your thing (though they do have a variety of options, which are carefully selected to satisfy the particular need that they're designed for), you can also order their juices, milks, and boosters individually to get exactly what you want.

Either enjoy the juices as a cleanse (starting with just a one day cleanse for those of us who don't want to give up chewing for 3+ days and/or who have busy schedules) or as part of a healthy balanced diet with your usual (healthier) food choices.



Either way, you're doing something good for your body!

They regularly run great specials, such as buy six juices and get the seventh free, so be sure to check out their website for up-to-date details!

What is your favorite way to do a healthy reset?

What is your favorite kind of juice?

What are you enjoying most about autumn so far?

Read More...

Recipe: Easy Irish Soda Bread

Tweet

Pin It

It's still a long time until St. Patrick's Day, but Irish Soda Bread is a delicious breakfast or snack bread for any time of the year!

It's like the love child of a regular loaf of bread and a scone. It's sweet, it's dense, it's absolutely delicious!

This recipe is so delicious that it doesn't require much of an introduction. Read on for the super easy, quick recipe for this amazingly delicious loaf. Then you can taste it for yourself!

Read More...

Review: Raw Chocolate Love

Tweet

Pin It

It's October and not only does that mean that it's now fall, but also the start of the unofficially official candy season! 

Let's face it, from when we start in on the Halloween candy to when we finish the last chocolates from our Christmas stockings, it's a solid three months of sweet indulgences. Wouldn't it be nice if there were healthier options that are as delicious as the highly refined, sugar-packed treats we grew up with?

There are!

I was on the hunt for a line of yummy chocolates that is creamy, sweet, rich, and indulgent, but plantbased, dairy-free, low in refined sugars, and features healthy fats instead of hydrogenated oils and butter. 

I found what I was looking for in NYC's local chocolate company, Raw Chocolate Love!

Free of preservatives, colors, additives, and animal products, Raw Chocolate Love is made in Ridgewood, New York and is kosher, gluten-free, low glycemic index, raw vegan, soy-free, high in antioxidants, and made with love!

Read More...

Healthy Beauty: Model Skin Care Secrets

Tweet

Pin It

I am really fortunate to have clear skin and people - whether it's makeup artists or other models at shoots, friends and family in day to day life, or random acquaintances - often ask me what my skin care secrets are.

Part of having skin clear is often genetics, but there are also a lot of go-to tips and tricks that models and others in the beauty industry use to keep our skin healthy and beautiful, despite the stress of heavy makeup at shoots and events.

Putting on and taking off a full face of makeup like that certainly isn't great for your skin!

Read on for my go-to hacks for a model clear complexion!

Read More...

Recipe: Best Ever Blueberry Muffins

Tweet

Pin It

Want a muffin recipe that will make everyone want to have breakfast at your place? These blueberry muffins are it! 

Perfectly soft and fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the streusel-covered top, they're melt-in-your-mouth amazing. To make them just like jumbo bakery muffins, use 6 extra large muffin tins instead of 9 regular ones. Enjoy!

Read More...

Exploring Southern Cuisine with Peach Dish!

Tweet

Pin It

Would you like to make restaurant-quality healthy food with a Southern twist in the comfort of your own home in just ~30 minutes?

How about Chicken with Muscadines and Mashed Potatoes?

You can and you don't have to have studied at culinary school or worked in a kitchen! 

Peach Dish makes it easy and convenient to cook delicious, nutritious dinners at home. You just choose which dishes you would like to order from their ever-changing weekly menu, how many people each meal needs to serve, and how many meals you would like to cook per week.

Read on to learn about my experience trying them out!

Read More...

Loving Lately: New Finds

Tweet

Pin It

Can you believe it's already mid September? For those who are school-aged, or have a school-aged child, it's either back to school time or school is already in full swing! 2015 is flying!

I've been fortunate enough to be out of NYC for most of the summer, spending June in Boston and July in NYC, so I escaped the bulk of NYC's summer heat. I've definitely been feeling it this month though! Flying from Germany to NYC was an instant 20 degrees Celsius increase in temperature (that's over 60 degrees Fahrenheit) and the first few days were absolutely brutal!



I eventually adjusted a bit, but I never really fully adjust to heat. I'm definitely more of a cold weather girl, so I'm ready for late September to bring the much needed relief of a cooler fall.

Anyway, with the start of fall here and the new seasons meaning lots of big changes for a lot of us (myself included - I'm not going back to school, but I'm taking a new step in my writing career and starting a new job as a children's entertainment writer for an animated television series in just a week!).

Before all the next new things begin, here are some of the latest new things that I have been enjoying!

Read More...