Upon entering the appropriately lush, plant filled space; I was struck by, or actually NOT struck by any scent of acetone or chemicals so typical of nail salons. Instead I was greeted by the Lushlife founder, Jane MaColla, offering me peppermint tea and water both served in mason jars. She stepped away to answer a call while I chose my polish, and I smiled to myself when I overheard her gently explain to the caller that no, they don’t do artificial nails…
It's apple season folks, and I for one couldn't be more excited. First of all – how fun is apple picking?! I mean, there are few ways to better spend an autumn afternoon than by donning a flannel and plucking through an orchard in search of the perfect fruit...
Click below for 3 super simple recipes to serve with every meal, stash in your pantry and give to your friends!
You know you’re a food geek when your clothing starts to remind you of produce. Such was the inspiration for this post, which came from a necklace that I call my avocado collar because; well… it kinda looks like one! I jokingly call this my “dumpy brown jumpsuit” because on paper, it should be dumpy and hideous. Yet somehow, it’s actually pretty awesome! Sometimes something that sounds bad can actually be good; like FAT, as in the monounsaturated kind that’s in avocados.
In any case, avocados are still in season – and every time I pass by the produce section, I can't help but toss a few of nature's "green butter", as I call em, into my tote. Besides being down right delicious, avocados are Healthy Hippie approved because they are made up of mostly monounsaturated fat, aka “good fat”: the sort that lowers the bad and raises the good levels of cholesterol in your bloodstream. They’re high in both protein and fiber so they’re incredibly satiating and have even been shown to reduce BMI and boost metabolism, and their high potassium content works to regulate blood sugar levels and control blood pressure. Avocados are also loaded with vitamins K, C and E, plus carotenoids and Omega-9 fatty acids – all essential nutrients for glowing skin. So basically, the incredible edible avocado makes you look as good as you feel! Are you sold?! Great, now let’s eat…
Sure, everyone loves guacamole, but if by this late in the season you're looking to get a little more creative with your avo - check out 5 of my favorite ways to indulge deliciously.
As always, my recipes require few ingredients, little effort and lots of reward!!
[SUPER GREEN SMOOTHIE] [VV] [V] [GF] [DF]
Never thought to mix an avocado with something sweet? Think again! Avocado’s mild flavor and rich texture blend perfectly with fruit for a creamy, frothy treat.
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[SPICY TROPICAL YOGURT PARFAIT] [V] [GF]
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[SMASHED AVOCADO FLATBREAD] [V]
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[CREAMY COLESLAWVOCADO] [VV] [V] [DF] [GF]
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[FETTUCINI AVOCADO] [VV] [V] [DF] [GF]
A note about alternate grain pastas: Quinoa pasta is best eaten fresh and doesn’t store well, while brown rice pasta is best cooked al dente. Both are delicious, more nutritious than white or wheat pastas and gluten free!
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Obviously when you’re cooking for yourself, it’s easy to control what’s on your plate. But what can be trickier, is finding satisfying vegan options at restaurants. Vegan cafés are often heavily lacking in atmosphere, and occasionally the food itself is just as lackluster. Thankfully, there’s Blossom – a local, mini chain of 4 restaurants in NYC that gives vegans a place to indulge in delicious eats, without sacrificing food quality or experience. Blossom’s menu renounces all animal products in favor of organic, plant-based dishes that source their ingredients locally and from small farms and distribution companies. And guess what…? They’re actually DELICIOUS!
Needless to say, The Glass House is worth a visit. So when I was invited to attend The Glass House’s summer fundraising party, I leapt at the chance. Especially when I learned that it would be sponsored by Swarovski and involve a picnic on the gorgeous lawn overlooking a pool and the house itself. Cadillac generously lent me a CTS, and my best friend Ashley Gail Harris and I cruised over from NYC to New Canaan in a little over an hour.
Tis the season…to travel! With Memorial Day just behind the bend, and summer Fridays creating long weekends for many – getting out of town is a must. But nothing weighs down a vacation like excess luggage. At the same time, the fear of spending time without our entire repertoire of clothes to choose from makes it easy to overpack. But more isn't always more, and having a bunch of clothes that don't necessarily fit your needs is as useless as having nothing at all. The key to smart packing, is to edit your options to only the most versatile and necessary items.
Part of being able to relax on a holiday is not worrying about anything - including your wardrobe. While that may seem difficult for some, it can be easy to achieve with a little planning. To get prepared for your next trip, check out these tips for a perfectly packed bag!
[CLICK HERE] For essential packing tips via Darling Magazine online.
You’d need just 5 minutes with Jessica Karp, founder of Hu Kitchen (the Manhattan restaurant and café who’s tagline is “get back to human”) to know that she’s on to something. That’s because although she’s an entrepreneur/business owner, and hands-on mother to a 5 year old girl and 6 month old boy; Jessica lacks the typical signs of someone with little time to eat lunch, let alone hit a spa. Instead, her skin is glowing, her hair is shiny and her body is fit: she looks…healthy!
News flash – it’s just as important to be aware of what we put ON our bodies as what we put in them. So while most of us know to steer clear of GMO’s when it comes to our food, what you may not realize is that they’re also present in a lot of beauty products. Many popular bath, body and makeup items also use other dangerous toxins like parabens, sulfates, phthalates and petrochemicals, all of which have been linked to health issues and scary diseases including cancer. Yikes!
Imagine a curated list of suggested shopping items, styled into outfits just for you and delivered directly to your email box by a trained stylist. Sound like a dream come true? Well now it can be - thanks to Le Curate. The girls behind this genius idea are Allison Berlin and Sara Pollan Dimedio. We were first introduced through a photo shoot we all worked on back in the day - and it was love at first collab! So when they announced their latest venture, of course I was thrilled and honored to participate.
In addition to their personalized, online and in person shopping services - Le Curate also stages stunning editorial spreads featuring interviews with fashionable tastemakers around the country. Meant to inspire readers to experiment with the latest trends in unexpected ways, these features offer tips and a unique perspective on personal style. For our shoot, of course I had some input on the styling - but the girls chose all of the clothes. Let me tell you, for a stylist to allow herself to be styled... it ain't always easy! So let it be a testament to their skill, that I loved each and every Hippie in Heels inspired outfit.
[CLICK HERE] To view the full spread and interview on Le Curate. And click below for even more exclusive outtakes!
xx
Natty
St. Patrick's Day is this weekend, and whether or not you plan to dress like a leprechaun or go on an Irish pub crawl - the green-themed holiday is a great excuse to load up on your veggies! In honor of the occasion, I've rounded up 6 of my favorite green recipes - perfect for hosting a healthy St. Patty's Day feast!
[CLICK BELOW] To view full post
SNEAKY SPINACH SHAMROCK CRACKERS [V] [VV] via Oh She Glows
-Serve with Edamame Hummus or guacamole
EDAMAME HUMMUS [V] [VV] [GF] via Pip & Ebby
- Serve with Sneaky Spinach Shamrock crackers, cucumbers and/or celery.
- Garnish with 4 whole edamame in the shape of a 4 leaf clover, or – if you have flat leave parsley lying around – stick that on top
BROCCOLI RAAB AND GREEN GARLIC QUICHE [V] via Rural Intelligence
- Delicious served at brunch or dinner!
GREENS & QUINOA PIE [V] [GF] via Vegetarian Times
- Chicory is the same as curly endive. If you can’t find it, dandelion or another bitter green should work well as a substitute.
PARMESEAN SPINACH CAKES [V] [GF] via Eating Well
- These are great dipped in a little hot sauce too!
SUPER HEALTHY GREEN SOUP [VV] [V] [GF] via Green of Quinoa
Happy, healthy St Patty's Day!
xx
Natty
Sometimes, business and pleasure coincide in the most delightful way. Like when Cadillac invited me to their "Style Driven: 50 Style Stars" event with WhoWhatWear… in Los Angeles. Yay! Which is where one of my BFFs (Krystal) happens to live.
Double Yay! And on the weekend that she was planning to road trip up to my hometown of San Francisco… for which Cadillac offered us a shiny new Escalade hybrid to test-drive! So many “yays” that I’m starting to sound like a Yorkie puppy...
[CLICK HERE] To view full post on Cosmo.com
...And taste it all we did… After five, finger licking savory courses and two desserts, we felt that we’d celebrated the holiday appropriately. So it’s a good thing that I had asked everyone to wear their favorite “chic to feast”; aka "fat day" outfit. Because let’s face it, no matter what your denim size, we all have our off days, but that doesn’t mean that everyone needs to know. If you need inspiration for your next fat tuesday (or fat Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday…) click through to check out how these gals and I stay stylish any day of the week.
Being a true "foodie" is about more than just sampling the city’s best restaurants and cooking healthfully at home. It’s equally important to understand where our food comes from, and the impact it has on the environment and community. So when I stumbled upon International Rescue Committee (IRC)’s New Roots program – I was curious. As it turns out, the program is doing good in more ways than one.
After an exhilarating but exhausting 8 days of runway shows, parties and trudging around town in the snow – Fashion Week has finally come to an end! As a special treat to celebrate it’s finale, I hosted an intimate dinner for some of my most fashionable friends at Mas (la grillade). With temperatures well below zero, and yet another impending snowstorm on the forecast – a relaxed and decadent meal full of smoky goodness seemed the perfect way to unwind and recap the week.
But this holiday is for more than just couples, it’s for anyone and everyone who wants an excuse to celebrate. I mean who doesn’t love, Love? Love for your BFF, your faithful French bulldog who’s ALWAYS there when you need her, your awesome dry cleaner, who never scolds you for bringing in wine stained blouses week after week…
Besides – this holiday was never for (most of) the boys anyway. I’m pretty sure that the majority of males are happy to leave the doilies, pink hearts and sappy, soul-baring cards to us lady folk. But even if the thought of all that makes you want to upchuck your kale salad and shut the blinds until the 15th, there are plenty of ways to feel the love.
Ah, the great paradox of Fashion Week—on the one hand you're running around all day and are in desperate need of fuel, but then you're also surrounded by sample sizes, models, and the constant flash of photogs. So what's a hungry fashionista to do? Simply snack smart at the city's most stylish spots! From grab and go bites to sit and stay dishes, here are the healthiest meals to munch this NYFW.
[CLICK HERE] To read full post on Guest of a Guest.
