I’ve written extensively about my battle with anxiety on this site. If you’d like to read my various articles on the topic, you can do so here. To sum it up, I had a traumatic childhood, a crazy parent, was homeless by 19, had really terrible relationships, then somehow got it together, married my husband and now I’m crazy happy. But the reality is that despite the fact that my life is infinitely better than it was, better than I ever could’ve imagined it or even expected for myself, I still battle with anxiety. It’s a struggle I’ve improved greatly, but have yet to 100% overcome. So here are some things I do every day to keep my anxiety at bay. They make a huge difference and really help me, so hopefully, you can use some of these as tools to help you too. Please note that I am not…
Creamy Artichoke, Leek and Tomato Side Dish
For one of Scott’s Christmas gifts, I got us a weekend away in Easton, MD for New Years Eve weekend. It’s a cute little Chesapeake Bay town with lots of seafood, antiques and quaint everything. Our hotel was gorgeous. (I promise, Side Dish goodness is a part of this!) And they had an awesome restaurant with a heated outdoor patio. Which was great because I got to drink champagne outside in December without freezing to death. We walked around, hung out and checked out some great restaurants. One of which was Mason’s, a local farm to table restaurant with an emphasis on local seafood as well. I got a white fish (forget which kind exactly) on top of the creamy artichoke, leek, and tomato side dish that was amazing. I’ve been fantasizing about it inappropriately for almost a month now like a weirdo. So I recreated it for you guys.…
Paleo Greek Tuna Salad
Every Sunday I make a big batch of food for my husband to take to work. I often make this tuna salad because it keeps well and is crazy easy to make. You can really add whatever you like, but I like to give it some Greek flavors. Because I’m obsessed with Greece. And Greek food. And Greek herbs and spices. Paleo Greek Tuna Salad I often make this tuna salad because it keeps well and is crazy easy to make. You can really add whatever you like, but I like to give it some Greek flavors. Because I’m obsessed with Greece. And Greek food. And Greek herbs and spices. 5 cans wild BPA-free tuna ( (drained))1 cup of grape tomatoes (sliced in half)1/4 large cucumber (diced)1/2 red onion (diced)1/2 cup of seedless kalamata olives (cut in half)1/2 cup of olive oildill to taste (see note)oregano to tastesalt and pepper…
Why I Drink Apple Cider Vinegar Everyday
I usually start each morning with the healthiest shot ever, which is made with apple cider vinegar and other incredibly healthy ingredients. A lot of people have a hard time ingesting ACV because let’s face it – that’s some sour sh*t. But when mixed with ingredients like lemon, raw honey, and wrinkle + cellulite reducing collagen, it’s actually pretty dang good. It’s incredibly easy to make a batch of this every Sunday and take a shot of it once a day throughout the week. And I highly recommend giving it a try, because apple cider vinegar is incredibly healthy. Before delving into the benefits of apple cider vinegar, I’d like to emphasize that I only use Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar. Bragg’s ACV is “with the mother” which is the dark, cloudy substance you may see floating around in the bottle. Its presence indicates that the best part of that apple…
My Nightly Skincare Routine (for clear, healthy skin)
It’s no secret that I have problem skin. I talk about it often on this blog, on social media, and in real life. Having problem skin sucks! You can read more about my skin woes here, but basically, I developed severe acne in the fourth grade that took me well over ten years to clear. I did clear it via diet but was left with a lot of scarring and uneven skin – which I am now working to clear and have improved greatly. I’m very strict about my skincare routine. I never go to bed with my makeup on. I always cleanse, tone and moisturize. Most importantly, I never skip a step. My point is, with problem skin, you have to be pretty regimented in your routine to see results. They don’t happen overnight, but with repeated daily use over time, the results are amazing. So far, I’ve managed…
Fertility Smoothie
A few months ago, I had a miscarriage. It was particularly shocking and even a bit debilitating, because even though I now know they’re more common than any of us want to talk about, I had prepared for conception for a year prior to getting pregnant. I took the prenatals, I took the fish oil, I ate a nutrient dense diet. Sometimes, miscarriages just happen. No matter what you do right and no matter how much you’ve prepared your body for pregnancy. Following the miscarriage, I knew I really wanted to step up my nutrition game. I always eat well, but I wanted to add something into my diet that really increased my daily nutrient intake. This smoothie packs a ton nutrients into one easy drink. Maca boosts fertility, balances hormones and strengthens egg health. Kefir is rich in beneficial probiotics. Egg yolks are high in omega-3s and vitamins A, E, D,…
The Top Five Foods For Glowing Skin
I regularly see articles floating around the internet on foods to eat for clear, glowing, vibrant skin. Unfortunately, most of them aren’t quite accurate. Apples! Chia seeds! Watermelon! Almonds! While these are undoubtedly healthy foods, the reality is that they actually don’t do much for the skin. They might sound good, but there’s little science to back up their claims of these foods being beneficial for skin health (and before you suggest it – chia seeds and almonds are high in the omega-3 ALA, not EPA or DHA, which are the omegas beneficial for skin, brain and heart health). Below are five foods that should be incorporated into the diet regularly not just for clear, vibrant skin – but for overall health. They’re amazing for the skin! I actually started my own truly non-toxic, organic skincare line, Ancestral Organics. You can check out the products here, I have everything from products for…
E. Coli Outbreak at Chipotle: Is It Sabotage?
Before beginning this article, I’d like to let everyone know that I am not a conspiracy theorist. I don’t know if what is happening with Chipotle is sabotage or random chance, but I’d like to explore both possibilities. I have to admit, I was pretty surprised when I heard there was an E. Coli outbreak at Chipotle. By the time it reached my region (the Mid-Atlantic), I felt that something was off, that it wasn’t just a coincidental outbreak. So I went out and had Chipotle for lunch. I had a suspicion that this outbreak wasn’t an unfortunate occurrence, and after diving into some research and information, I have to admit that I’m questioning the entire situation. Cue Beastie Boys. You know you love this song. Listen, I’m not one for conspiracy theories. I don’t think the government is planning to enslave us all. We did land on the moon, as…
The Most Detoxifying DIY Face Mask For Clear, Glowing Skin
I have a ritual every Sunday. I prop my computer on my toilet, turn on Freaks and Geeks, put on this face mask and relax while taking a detox bath. It’s such an awesome way to chill out and get ready for the week ahead. Especially with a super clean face and pores that aren’t clogged with grime (hey, it happens). For my acne prone skin with pores that just get bigger if I don’t clean them regularly, this has made a huge change in my skin. I always do this before bed, so I usually start my bath around 9. First, I exfoliate using sea salt and jojoba oil. This allows the mask to penetrate more deeply into the skin. I let the mask harden on my face and after removing it, immediately apply my homemade moisturizer (which I’ll be selling soon, so keep your eyes peeled!). My homemade…
Cauliflower Fried “Rice”
Even though I’m totally down with white rice (find out why it’s healthier than brown rice here), I often like to use riced cauliflower instead. It tastes great and it’s incredibly nutritious. Cauliflower is a great source of vitamin C, folate and a whole buncha’ minerals. Another benefit is that it’s low-carb. While I don’t think low-carb is necessary for everyone, it is helpful for certain people, especially those with digestive issues. Subbing cauliflower for rice is an easy, healthy and tasty swap. It’s also really easy to make riced cauliflower. Just break apart a head of cauli into florets, then add them to a food processor and pulse until it resembles rice. If you don’t have a food processor, you can grate the cauliflower. Cauliflower Fried “Rice” Subbing cauliflower for rice is an easy, healthy and tasty swap. This Cauliflower fried rice tastes great and is incredibly nutritious. Cauliflower…