It's officially Wellness Wednesday, and I'm continuing on with my new series today with my #1 priority for optimal health: SLEEP! 

I have a secret to admit...

Oh boy, it's been awhile since I've posted a dinner recipe on here! As I mentioned in last Monday's post, I've been staying pretty basic and boring in the kitchen for my main meals out of convenience and paying more attention to budget. Buuuut it's time to spice things up! 

I've become a tad obsessive about...

We have an entire 7 days ahead of us of goooorgeous sunny weather in the 60's and 70's, and it's back to feeling like Spring. I am so very ready to whip out my sundresses and lighter clothing, anyone else with me? It's been a...

All training clients have the same goal, really. Optimal health. Because optimal health equals feeling strong and healthy, feeling fit, and probably looking pretty awesome because they tend to go hand in hand. When I first explain to them my general hierarchy of priorities from a trainer's perspective for achieving that optimal health, some can be surprised at the ranking order. After all, my title is officially personal trainer/fitness coach--  how on earth did I rank working out so low?!

Because, these priorities for optimal health are like a pyramid. Without the foundation one one thing, you cannot possibly hope to achieve the next level higher successfully. How do you think you're going to train as hard as you are capable, with 5 hours of sleep and crappy quality foods in your body? 

Truth be told, I've been rather unimaginative in the kitchen. And I'm not giving myself a hard time about it. I've been challenging myself to cook all my meals (except social occasions) at home, and I've been doing really well! The catch is, is that I've been so busy lately that I am sticking to the basics and pretty much eating the same foods everyday. There have been...

Truthful Thursday over here today, folks. An encouraging reminder to own your reality and check in with yourself and your self-awareness.

I have two questions I want you guys to ask yourself today:

You're probably all nursing post-Easter sugar/chocolate hangovers right now, and simultaneously seeing all those gym ads reminding you that summer is just around the corner. This recipe is something that is going to both make your tastebuds and your body happy! 

For a girl who loves to cook, I can be extremely lazy and prefer convenience over elaborate. Lately, I've been making a big effort to cook mostly at home for...

I first saw caramelized bananas appear in my friend Nadja's beautiful Instagram feed, where I did a double-take because it looked like she had put scallops on her chocolate oatmeal bowl. Thankfully she clarified it in her caption! 

While it looked delicious, I'm not normally a fan of cooked bananas, as I'm the type of weirdo that likes bananas with zero sign of brown spots and a bit underripe. They can just be too sweet for me and mushy sometimes. But then my friend Joscelyn of the beautiful food blog, Wife Mama Foodie, posted a delicious recipe for Bananas Foster Oatmeal. The shot of...

Hello lovelies! Happy last Friday of March? Wait, what? Time is flying by indeed. It's been a bit of a rough week over here, but for me spring represents a time of positive change and renewal.
So, I'm doing my best to keep my chin up and embrace the unknown and the inevitable evolution of things in life. 

ICYMI- in celebration of Spring and to add a dash of color/beauty to your day,
I'm starting #floralfriday on my Instagram. The hashtag is already pretty popular, but join in and...

Hello, Spring! We are three days into this season of renewal, so what better time for some fresh and inspiring new perspectives? Apologies to you all for my being a bit AWOL, a lot of life is happening outside these blogger walls and I hope to soon be able to disclose some good news. But first! 

Today, I'm stealing some words of wisdom from beautiful women, in hopes that...

Inspiration for cooking usually strikes me thanks to a combination of things you eat or crave, and seasonal availability at the market. This one was a combination of both, and sharing it with you guys for a little sweet-tooth fix. As I was...

My wanderlust is kicking up fiercely right now, so I thought it'd be a good time to finally (I'm only three months late, I know) share the highlights of my trip to Portland. I also learned, when in Portland, you donut stop drinking coffee. Yes, donut. Because they, along with coffee, are everywhere and for good reason...

The weather is getting warmer and it's feeling like spring in NYC! This time of year always puts me in the mood for spring cleaning (I guess that's why people call it that), so I have been foraging through my closets and shelves to clean out everything I don't need...

Happy Friday my dears! You are loved, indeed. 

Anyone else in disbelief it's somehow March already?? Looking ahead to the next few months, it's full steam ahead-- lots of next steps with work, travel plans, and maid of honor duties galore.

I have a feeling a lot of newness will...

Even though Spring weather is starting to make occasional appearances here in NYC, I'm still mostly craving chilly weather foods-- namely, soup. The thing is, I'm kind of picky about my soups, but the ones I grew up loving (creamy ones, like chowder) aren't always the healthiest. 

My Vitamix has been a source of magic in my kitchen since I got it over the holidays. I was a bit skeptical about...

Our lives are about change. More accurately, they are change. We are ever-changing, ever-evolving human beings. If you resist and fight the change, you're standing still while the rest of the world continues to surge ahead. But while you surge ahead with the world, it's equally as important to take stock of the process and find contentment as well...

It's been bouncing back and forth between cold and warm weather here in NYC! It's starting to feel like an early spring, but I'm still digging the wintery, warm breakfasts. There's something about French toast that is such a homey, comfort food. Pancakes and French toast get such a bad reputation for being the unhealthiest of the breakfast food options. While they are undeniably heavier on carbs than some other options, there are easy ways to make them wholesome and nutritious without sacrificing flavor...

The most important part of gratitude is the PRACTICE of it. I've found that it's an active practice, and most crucially so when you least feel like giving thanks. The more you allow yourself to start being grateful for what may initially seem like insignificant things, the more happiness you allow yourself to feel. Those are the moments you...