Favorite beauty fake-outs

First and foremost, a healthy diet, 4+ days/week workouts, and lots of water is the number one beauty "secret".  There are, however, some topical products I swear by when it comes to looking and feeling beautiful... even in the dead of winter.

I love living in Boston, it is a fantastic city.  The months of January - March can, however, be a little tough both mentally and physically.  The right attitude and some key beauty products can make these months a bit more bearable. Plus, the city is really quite beautiful after it snows :)

Here are my favorites:

Clarisonic Mia. I've turned a lot of people onto this little life changing device. It works by 'swooshing' the bad stuff out of your pores, rather than scrubbing them. It works wonders! I started using it about a year ago and have never had smoother skin.

Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Energy-Boosting Moisturizer.  I use this daily. I love it even more in the winter because the antioxidant-rich mangosteen extract provides for a natural tanned tint. I don't like to wear a lot of makeup so many times after I put this on in the morning, the only addition I make to the skin on my face is a little blush.

Speaking of tan, don't go fake tanning. It is terrible for your skin and you'll kick yourself later in life when you start to look like an old lady at 35. Plus, you know it causes cancer... don't do it.  St. Tropez makes (in my opinion) by far the the BEST faux tan lotions.  The one on the left is for a dark tan (I don't use this too often), but, it works like a charm.  Don't be scared when you first put it on, as your skin will turn green and then fades.  The end result, is fantastic. You will not be orange and you will smell delicious.  Their products provide a natural glow, not the oompa-loompa look. The one on the right, I use almost daily.  It's a gradual tanning lotion and won't leave your hands a crazy color.  It works amazingly well. Plus, they are formulated with natural ingredients.

Last but not least, NARS orgasm blush. Rosey cheeks are the 2nd best accessory in the winter (aside from a bright white smile).  The NARS orgasm blush is just the right color that doesn't look too crazy pink or too light.

Have a wonderful week... stay warm. xo

Girls Night

Well, I've been teasing on social media all week that I'd be back to blogging... so here is my first post since August.  Why did I stop for so long? Quickly, I started a new job, bought my first home, and felt as though if I was going to continue blogging... I needed to update the style.  Moving forward, you will find simplified posts that tie back to the description.... achieving a healthier lifestyle. Not all posts will revolve around exercise and recipes... the focus will be on my lifestyle. I hope you enjoy.

Moving on, last night I had all of my girls over to catch up, drink wine, and of course, eat. We had a lot of catching up to do which, of course, resulted in a lot of laughs.  I prepared a few of my entertaining staples. You'll see where I incorporated healthy options.

First, cheese.  You can't have a girls night without cheese.  Kim gave me this fabulous slate cheese chalkboard as a housewarming gift and I couldn't wait to use it.  When serving cheese, it's always nice to label what exactly is being served.  I always include a brie, hard cheese, and a semi-soft.  Last night, double-cream brie, Jarlsberg swiss, and manchego were served with a side of fig jam and whole wheat french baguette from a local bakery (fig jam will change your life).  The manchego and the brie are pretty much gone.

Next, homeade baked potato chips.  No need to fry when the oven will do the trick (and so much healthier).  Simply either use your mandolin or thinly slice a variety of potatoes (I used sweet and baby gourmet red potatoes).  Soak in water to remove the starches (thanks, Krista for that tip!), pat dry, douse in o/o, salt, pepper, and thyme (any herbs will do). Bake on parchment/baking sheet for 10-15 minutes.  These were a hit and are also all gone.

Last but not least, my specialty, antipasto.  If you know me, you know I am professional antipasto maker. I enjoy every second of putting this together, I put a lot of love into my antipasto.  You can use any Italian meats/cheese and marinated vegetables.  I always build around prosciutto, hard salami, and hot capicola. The beauty of this is that you don't have to cook it, you can prepare it while you chat, and there's something for everyone. Just serve it with a slide of Italian or French bread and everybody is happy, very happy. 

Other healthy options served: Tabouli, baked mushrooms, yogurt spinach/artichoke dip.

Have a fabulous weekend. xo.