Quality Time

Good ol’ “quality time.” You know, those times when you are unplugged and present, soaking up whichever moment you find yourself in. Sometimes I feel like I’ve totally lost hold of that concept, and other times I ask myself, why don’t I do this more often?

It really struck a chord with me awhile ago when we were on vacation in San Diego. I had every intention to head to the pool and listen to some music while sipping my margarita. Tyson told me to go enjoy two hours solo while he napped with Parker back at the room, so I did just that. Two whole hours at the pool by myself seemed like a vacation all in itself! So, I got my towel, a front row chair by the water, and had my headphones and book by my side, ready to go. I ordered my drink, sat back, watched the beautiful setting and thought, heck, I need a picture of this. So, I strategically placed my beverage in my hand and positioned my legs perfectly for the picture. I took about… 20? Then, I sorted through those and realized my foot looked strange in each image, so of course, I took some more.

I’m sure many of you know exactly what I’m talking about right now.

I ended up taking a ton of pictures and then rolled over onto my stomach to “quickly edit them.” I opened my VSCO app, started filtering the image and then I posted it. After I posted it, I found myself caught up in scrolling through Instagram mindlessly for about 30 minutes.

There I was, an hour into my “me time.” Worrying about capturing an image and then falling right into the Instagram rabbit hole. Getting sucked into what others were doing, when right in front of me was the best moment of all.

Another time, I remember we were up in Seattle and I wanted a picture of Parker with the water and boats behind him. We had perfect weather, the perfect lighting, and his outfit was extra cute that day. He was a little sleepy and hungry, as we were on our way to dinner. I had to get the picture though… I didn’t want to pass it up. I had Parker stand there to take some pictures and the kiddo was not having it. But this momma wasn’t giving up. I literally bribed him with dessert, which I felt was a bit of a low point for me. Tyson (who is not into social media or excessive photo taking anyway), looked at me and was like… “Babe, please can we just enjoy this right now without having to take a picture? Parker clearly doesn’t want to do this.”

And that brings me to the dilemma. The choice between documenting the moment vs. the mental memory and just enjoying it.

So here is my rant: Those two moments really impacted me. Specifically with the use of time. Not just on social media, but the time I put into taking pictures and documenting everything in general. As a very visual person, pictures mean the world to me. I love taking them, I love editing (the before and after) and I love reminiscing. But the real question is, can we just dial it back a bit?

I am the first person to be guilty of all of this. But can I challenge you? The next time you have really awesome plans or an event, try to NOT document any of it. In fact, try unplugging from social media and the news for a whole weekend and see how you feel. Anytime I have done this, I feel more content and present than ever.

I just got done unplugging for 3 days from emails and social media and I honestly haven’t felt that content with life in a long time. I was present with my family; we decorated the house for Christmas without having to document it to the world; I felt like I had more time in general; I made more time for things I don’t have time to do as much like taking a walk with the family, cooking, and crafts; AND, I felt less anxious, I slept great, and I didn’t complain once about what I want or don’t have.

I think this is the most troubling part about social media. We are being bombarded with all of the coolest things people are doing and subliminally we are saying, “I want to go there,” “I want a house like that,” “Gosh she has the perfect body,” “That family does so many cool things together, we need to do more of that” etc. etc. etc.

This can’t be good for us.

So (end rant), here is the point: Social media definitely has it’s perks. The connection, the inspiration, the creativity. Heck, I run two businesses based off of social media and I truly do love sharing images that I take and like with so many people. The point is to give yourself a break. Focus in on that quality time. You, your family, your friends, your life… they all want it. They all need it. And they all deserve it.

I strongly encourage you to try unplugging for a few days. Not just one day, try and at least go two. And pay close attention to how you feel. I’m telling you, it’s one of the healthiest things we can do and you just need to experience it for yourself.

xx
Lindsay

A Self Check-In

We are finally (mostly) settled in at our new place and I feel like I just want to let out the biggest exhale. I don’t remember moving being this stressful! I think the combination of moving while sick, moving out of the first home Parker was ever in, and running a business while doing it all was a LOT. I felt like I hit pause on life (and summer) and I’m finally pressing play again.

Somewhere in between all of this, I started to take a good look at my whole life. I just started to go through everything: Am I exercising enough? Have I been taking the time to simply breathe? Have I been unplugging after 5pm most nights? I did this big evaluation, not to be hard on myself, but to just check-in. Do you ever do this? I really feel like checking in with yourself is one of the simplest, most effective things we can do. Almost as if an alarm needs to go off every few months to say “hey, let’s take a good look at things.”

Anyway, my internal alarm went off and I tried to think about all of the things I’d love to work on. I’m obviously not going to be able to do all of this, but it was a simple reminder of the things that are important to me and to try my best to do as many as I can. See the list I made to myself below:

Cook more often. You love it.
Cut back on animal products.
Try and be asleep by 9:30pm (I used to always do this and lately it’s been more like 11pm).
Change up exercises and strive for yoga 2x a week.
Get ready most days! You are running out of lounge clothes to wear around the house. Plus, it just makes you feel better. ; )
Date night with Tyson 1x a week. Try new things, rather than just a dinner out.
Unplug as often as possible after 5pm to spend quality time with family.
Take more photos with my camera, less on my phone.
Do more things solo- (see below).
Give thanks every day for what I have and put less focus on what I want.
Eat as clean as possible.
Volunteer.
Mind over matter: Worry less. More positive thinking.
Floss at least every other day (LOL).
Blog more often. It’s more for you than anyone else.
Be in nature more often.
Drink less. Although I still don’t drink that often, I feel best when it’s only 2 or 3x a week max.
Meditate. You know you need to do this…
Try and not get distracted. Working from home can come with its own challenges. Stay focused.

We obviously know better than anyone, what is best for us. Taking time to check-in can be so powerful.

One of the things that really stuck out to me when I was thinking about all of this, was my attachment to my family. Not a terrible problem, right? But really, especially now that I am working from home, we are always together. When we aren’t together, it feels so strange and a little uncomfortable. As sweet as this may sound (and natural for parents), I also don’t want to lose sight of who I am as my own person. Sometimes I need to remind myself to get out of my perpetual mom-mode and be, Lindsay.

Do a little check in with me? If you really do, I hope you find some helpful reminders for yourself. Not ones that come with a bunch of pressure, but just things to remind you of what you want in life and what’s good for you.

Happy Sunday, everyone! xx

Breakfast with Lauren Collins

Haaaaaappy Friday everyone!

This morning I am kicking off a new series of interviews with inspirational, badass women. Wellness experts, entrepreneurs, artists, mothers, fitness gurus, and more; these women inspire me in so many ways and I couldn’t be more excited to bring this space to Wellhaus.

Starting this series is one beautiful woman, inside and out. Lauren gives us some of her top tips for keeping fit, talks about her new business venture with her sis, and gives a little insight into the modeling world. Enjoy a little motivation from athlete, model and business owner, Lauren Collins!

1) So, hi! Introduce yourself:

Hi! My name is Lauren Collins. I’m a wife, full time model and co-founder of @siss_fit! I was born and raised in Orange County, California and I am a lover of all things health and fitness.

2) What has your health philosophy always been?

My health philosophy is keeping things simple. There is such an overabundance of information surrounding health and fitness, so I try to stick to the basics and listen to my body. Whether that is eating clean and unprocessed, or working out in a way that my body craves; I really try to avoid letting it stress me out and just do what feels right.

3) You are traveling ALL the time- how do you stay on a workout routine while your gone?

Haha yes, travel has definitely become a part of my norm! A lot of people say “I’ll get back on track when I get home,” but unfortunately that would mean that I am never on track! What has worked really well for me has been creating workouts for myself that I know are both efficient and effective. When you travel a lot it is nearly impossible to avoid long days, unhealthy dining options, and jetlag. I quickly learned that in order to balance the demands of looking a certain way, and more importantly feeling healthy and energized, I would need to come up with a health and workout routine that I could count on to deliver these results…which leads me to your next question!

4) You just started a new company with your sister. Tell us about that!

I did! The brand that we started is called SISSFiT. SISS stands for sisters and is also an acronym for Stay Inspired Stay Strong. Our goal is to inspire and educate women to look and feel their best. My sister Kelly, also had a career that required a lot of travel, so we were constantly exchanging workouts and health tips that would keep us on top of our game. We began to realize that there are so many women out there facing the challenge of fitting efficient yet effective workouts into their everyday lives (who has time to spend hours in a gym, honestly?!). So, we teamed up and created workout and nutrition guides that provide women a very easy-to-follow workout plan requiring minimal time, space, and equipment, while still delivering results. We’ve personally used these workouts and nutritional guidelines for years, so it’s been really fun to share this information with other women and simplify the health and fitness aspect of our crazy, over-stimulated lifestyles!

5) What kind of pressures do you deal with in the modeling industry? How do you keep yourself mentally healthy?

I think that there will always be at least some pressure to look youthful and have a certain body type. Fortunately the industry seems to be shifting away from super thin, which is great, but it’s nearly impossible to avoid at least some criticism from time to time. Two things have helped me to stay mentally healthy: 1. A strong support system; I have the most amazing family and friends, which makes brushing off negative criticism a lot easier, and 2. I learned very early on that you will NEVER be the perfect fit for everyone. Sometimes you are too tall or too muscular or too thin, but then the next client will say you are too short or not strong enough or too thick. It’s pretty laughable honestly. But, confidence is key, and as soon as you accept and love who you are, others tend to see it as well.

6) Being a full time model is like running your own business. What are a few things that have helped you be so successful?

Well first off, thanks for considering me successful! I think that modeling is a lot like most jobs, the harder you work the more it will pay off. A lot of people think that you will succeed simply by result of the way you look, but there is a lot more that goes into this job than looks. It is very important to be on top of your day-to-day life so that you are available to go on auditions or travel for jobs at a moments notice. For me, it has been pertinent that I stay in good physical shape because I never know what type of activity a job might demand. It is also extremely important to work with an agent whom you trust and who trusts you. You’re constantly meeting new clients and creating new relationships, so working with an agent that you know has your back, but that also trusts you to perform (because they are constantly vouching and putting themselves on the line for you as well!) is crucial.

Quick Q’s:

Breakfast of choice? Avocado toast with an egg and side of fruit

Favorite workout song currently? Changes everyday! Typically something in the top 40 that is upbeat

Skincare must-have? Witchhazel, so simple!

Best snacks to bring traveling? Trail mix, healthy bars, and unsweetened dried fruit

Coffee or tea? Coffee…probably should be tea :-X

Best book you’ve read lately? Toss up between The girl on the Train and Luckiest Girl Alive

Wine or mixed drink? Wine. However, a summer cocktail by the pool can be pretty amazing too..

Favorite move for toned arms? So funny you ask this because I am a total sucker for legs and core…but arms I’d have to say bicep curl to overhead press + tricep extension. It’s a compound move, but is sure to cover all bases!

Must-try wellness tip? Pedialyte. Airplanes and hotel rooms suck the life out of my skin and totally dehydrate me, which often leads to muscle cramps. I’ve found that drinking pedialyte while traveling totally saves my skin and keeps me hydrated!

Current mantra? I love to plan, but nothing ever goes to plan so right now it is “go with the flow.” Faith is very important to me so if I can just let go of the reigns and trust the Man upstairs, life tends to work out pretty well.

Photo credits:

Medball w/white top: Les Guzman (@lesguzman)

Running w/blue sportsbra: James Macari (@jamesmacari)

All white in bed: Brandon Flint (@brandonflint_)

Sister yoga: Brandon Flint (@brandonflint_)

Anxiety

You are about to get to know me really well guys.

When someone recently said that “my life looked so great (totally referencing to what they see on social media),” I thought to myself… well, yes, mostly it really is. I mean, I don’t really curate the things I do for social media. I actually do those things in “real life” and then try and just make what I’m already doing look pretty for the camera. But, it’s easy to look at pictures of everyone’s “happy moments” and convince yourself that your life isn’t nearly as awesome as theirs (I’ve done this so many times). And this is the troubling part about social media.

Anyway, I’ve been meaning to write this post for some time, and hearing those words prompted me to get it done. Because, you know, we are all only human. I’ve got shit I deal with, you’ve got shit you deal with, and we all have shit we deal with. The stuff you don’t always see on social media. Pardon my language.

For me, anxiety has been a huge, shitty (haha- ok, done cursing) beast to deal with. And I’ve been dealing with this since my early 20’s. I even remember the birth, so to speak, of my anxiety. It basically came out of nowhere. I had a really bad stomach ache after returning home from a trip to Costa Rica when I was 20. I started semi-panicking that I caught something while I was there. That then led to my heart beating irregularly and before you knew it, I was at the doctors office freaking out, making sure I was okay.

We did some testing and the doctor said I was fine, but those following few weeks I kept getting a number of “strange” symptoms. Real symptoms. So, I went back to a different doctor, only getting close to the same feedback, except this doctor wanted to explore more possibilities. Blood tests, heart monitors, an ultrasound… you name it. Each week from that point on, it was a new symptom or a new sensation that brought on another fear. When I say I’ve seen just about every doctor out there, I’m not kidding.

On the bright side, this is where I began my journey and interest into natural health. I was scared, and this lingering fear of something being wrong with my body frightened the crap out of me. Every doctor had a pill for my symptoms and having to take medication only further perpetuated my fears. So, I took matters into my own hands and tried to heal myself.

I started to eat really well, exercise often and I overall started feeling so much happier and healthier. You can’t deny the power of eating well and exercising. But, the anxiety was still there. Just more manageable.

The anxiety I deal with is a bit different now. After Parker was born it turned into more of this constant worry. Like CONSTANT… to where I get this overwhelming fear that something bad is going to happen way too often. Like, maybe we shouldn’t go on that trip… WHAT IF? What if THIS happened, what if THAT happened… and then I start going through the motions like it is real life and visualizing the worst case scenario always. Of course I still have my hypochondriac moments too, but I feel like I am a little more realistic about them. I’m better at helping myself not overthink it these days.

This all might sound crazy to some of you, and to others, you might know exactly what I’m talking about. I’ve realized that anxiety comes in all shapes and sizes. I don’t know everything there is about anxiety, but I will tell you that there are some things I have done that have really helped me manage everything. Although anxiety definitely influences my wellbeing, I still do almost everything I want to do. It isn’t debilitating for me like it has been in the past. I don’t take prescription medication and I don’t go to a psychologist any longer (I’ve done both and would highly suggest that you start with a mental health professional or with a naturopath like I mention below). In fact, I don’t even think most people I know, know that I struggle with this. Ultimately, I’ve just found that for my own journey, what I do on a daily basis has helped immensely and hopefully you might find some of these simple things helpful too.

Here are my top tips to help with anxiety:

1. Eat well: Feed your body the right foods to help support your mood. Less processed foods, less sugar, less alcohol, less coffee and more healthy fats, superfoods and warm foods. This is hands down, the most important tip.

2. Exercise: I actually turn to exercise if I’m feeling really anxious. It gets your mind off of “your mind” and onto something else. Cardio, weight training, yoga, whatever it is. I can say, I’ve never felt worse after exercising. ; )

3. See a Naturopath: I whole heartedly believe in the care given to each person by an ND. I also believe in the power of natural medicine and the referrals one can give you to therapists and other providers.

4. Acupuncture: Getting this twice a month has done wonders for my anxiety. It also keeps my whole body feeling healthy. Just make sure you find a good one! I’ve seen a few mediocre acupuncturists.

5. Do more: Contrary to what you most likely want to do, following through with the things that make you anxious really helps. It isn’t easy getting yourself to do it, but when you realize you can do things that you are fearful of, your fear of doing it subsides. Hence, the camping in the middle of nowhere photo above… looks great, was great, but wasn’t easy for me.

6. Breath work and meditation: The 4-7-8 breathing exercise from Dr. Weil is one of my favorites. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it for at least a week!

7. Supplement: There are some great supplements out there that help ease anxiety and/or are important for your mental health. L-theanine, B vitamins, probiotics, fish oil, and magnesium are some of my favorites. Talk to a Naturopath or a health professional about a supplementation plan.

8. Have a supportive partner, friend or family member: My husband has been such an integral part in helping me manage my anxiety. He listens when I just want to tell him what’s going on in my head, never judges, but always encourages me to recognize that much of what is going on in my mind is anxiety. He constantly urges me to push through my fears, which is exactly what I need. If you don’t have someone that can help tell you “you are ok” I’d highly recommend reaching out to your partner, friend or family member to ask them to be that person for you.

9. Get educated: I would strongly suggest reading books about mindfulness. A couple of my favorites are The Power of Now and Spontaneous Happiness. There is also a class currently on Mind Body Green —> click here.

10. Unplug: Spending too much time on social media, watching or reading the news and browsing the internet can really fuel anxiety. Do yourself a favor and take a break from the things that don’t serve you.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to get help. In fact, I highly suggest you don’t try and figure it all out on your own. There was a point in my life where I had to take prescription medication just to calm me the heck down. And that was what I needed at that point in my life. Be okay with accepting the things you need to get you to a better place.

I’ll be sharing more tips (like aromatherapy, my favorite peaceful feeling tea and more soon). As always, I love hearing other peoples stories. If you’ve experienced something similar or have any great tips, now that my comment box is finally working, comment or email me!

Fashionably Late to the New Year

new cascadia bread, sunshine burgers, suja juice and purely elizabeth granola

While physically it is now three weeks in, I am mentally just starting the new year. It has been chaos in our home. Lot’s of exciting changes and things happening, but I haven’t had time to sit and really focus in on what I want out of 2016.

I personally like making goals and/or things to strive for each year. I like to look back and say, “Okay, what did I accomplish?” I also go through these thoughts on my birthday each year, because technically those are really what hold you accountable. And well, since I’m going to be 30!!!! this year, I realized that I have a lot to think about.
One of my most important goals this year is to shop more at our local healthy grocery store, New Seasons and/or Whole Foods. I’ve been a big fan of Trader Joes for a long time, for many reasons. Its affordable, they have good organic options, and well…they are awesome. However, I find myself there buying non-local and non-seasonal foods. Not to mention, I tend to buy more items that are packaged.

So far this year, we’ve averaged an extra $15/per week on groceries by shopping more local, seasonal and organic. And frankly, I think that is quite reasonable considering the long term effects you gain.

As for some other goals:

-Eat less animal products
-Eat less sugar
-Travel more
-Create a more flexible schedule so I can spend more time with my family
-Take more photos
-Fear less, strive more
-Find something new and fulfilling to take on

Happy belated New Year everyone! May this be your best year yet!

Featured: Blogger Delighted Momma Interview

If you have yet to visit her blog to read about her family, try one of her DYI skin care tricks, or make one of her tasty, low glycemic recipes- it’s time for a visit! Lindsay Kujawa’s blog, Delighted Momma is one of my regular reads, so you can imagine how thrilled I am to have her featured on my blog today.

1. Tell everyone a little bit about you and your blog…

I blog about healthy recipes, “real” life stuff, my family, skin care (I am a licensed Esthetican) and fun do-able DIY’s. It’s a little bit of everything really 🙂

2. What is your overall philosophy on eating healthy?

Make it fun! Healthy eating does not need to be boring. If you want cookies- make them healthy. Use almond flour instead of wheat flour and honey instead of processed sugar.

3. What is your favorite go-to, quick recipe that you love making for you and your family? Lately, I have been loving the crock pot. I stick some chicken in there with onions, carrots and whatever other veggies I have on hand. I love serving this up with a side of cauliflower rice. So easy and delicious.

4. You just had another baby not too long ago (who is adorable by the way) and you look amazing. How did you bounce back so quickly?

Oh you are too kind. The secret is…there is no secret. After you have a baby you must make exercise and eating healthy a priority. I try to make it to the gym or do at least an hour of weights/cardio a minimum of 4 days out of the week. I also really watch what I eat and try to stay away from processed food.

5. Being a diabetic can’t be easy, but you seem to do a great job at getting your sweet tooth fix without spiking your blood sugar. What are the best eating tips you have for other diabetics trying to manage?

These are great questions! My best tip would be to stick with a low glycemic low carb diet. It is just not worth it to eat a bagel and have horrible blood sugars for the remainder of the day. It makes you feel like crap! BUT if you do have a a craving, get your running shoes out and take a little jog. This will help with the blood sugar spike.

6. What tips do you have for eating a low glycemic diet?

Get creative with your veggies and cooking! For example, if you want pasta, make it using shredded zucchini or baked spaghetti squash. Top it with your favorite “pasta” sauce and ta da! My other favorite camouflage veggie is cauliflower. You can make mashed “potatoes” with it “rice” and so much more! If you want pancakes make them with almond flour. You can still have all the things you love, you just need to find alternative ways to prepare them.

7. I’ve noticed more paleo recipes lately. How are you feeling eating that way?

I can not say enough good things about eating Paleo. I have completely cut dairy, wheat, and processed sugar out of my diet and I have never felt better! My skin is the clearest it has ever been and I have so much energy…and that’s saying a lot considering I am still getting up in the middle of the night to feed my five month old.

8. What does a typical day of eating look like for you?

I always start my day with a cup of coffee and a green smoothie. I carry around a little zip lock baggie of mixed nuts and snack on those up until lunch time. For lunch I typically eat some type of protein (usually chicken that I prepared in the beginning of the week) with a spinach salad. Dinner is my favorite meal to prepare since I feel like this is the only meal where we are all actually sitting down and eating together, so I try to make it fun. I tend to cook a lot of salmon, grilled shrimp, baked chicken, etc…. And I like to pair it with a big side of stir fried veggies. If I am feeling like making a quick and easy treat I will make coconut milk ice cream with gluten free chocolate chips. It is SO yummy and my two year old always thinks I’m pretty cool when I make it 🙂

How awesome is she? Thanks for the inspiration Lindsay!

Featured: Tristan Prettyman Interview

Singer-Songwriter, Tristan Prettyman kicks off the new interview series on WELLHAUS. Tristan is such a beautiful person inside and out. I love that as busy as she is, she prioritizes her health and still lives life to the fullest. Read below to learn how Tristan stays healthy and fit…

How would you describe the way you eat?

I eat pretty healthy. I generally lean towards a vegan/vegetarian diet, but I do eat animal protein from time to time. About a year ago, I underwent surgery for a polyp on my vocal chord. At the time, I went to see a Aryuvedic doctor, he ran a bunch of tests, and concluded that wheat and dairy were 2 heavily mucus forming foods for me, and suggested I avoid them as much as possible. So mainly I just try to avoid wheat and dairy, that has helped tremendously with my voice, as well as the way I look and feel. Once I cut out wheat and dairy, my skin cleared up and everything from my hair to my skin, went from dull-to shiny and bright. I still eat it from time to time, since I am not allergic, but I definitely feel much better when I cut it out. I have never liked eggs since I was a kid, so breakfast has always been a tough one for me. Generally my day starts out with fresh juice, a green smoothie, or avocado smeared on toast with tomato, sea salt, and nutritional yeast. Lunch is usually a salad, and dinner, is whatever I am craving. I always try to follow my cravings, they are usually pretty spot on with what my body is in need of.

What kind of exercise do you do to stay in such great shape?
I’ve been surfing since I was 11, so that is always in the mix. But over the past couple years I have picked up yoga and Pilates. When I am home, I train with my trainer twice a week and I also love going on walks with my mom or with friends. I have always been pretty active. I feel like a slacker if I don’t get out and do something everyday.

Out of all of the places you have traveled to, which country inspired you most to be healthy?
Australia is amazing. Bondi beach in particular. Everyone is beautiful, healthy and beaming. I really loved it there. Healthy food, healthy people. There is this amazing walking pathway right on the water. Every morning I would wake up and look out the window and people would be doing their routines. It inspired me to skip the hotel breakfast buffet and go put my running shoes on.

If you’re not in the studio recording, describe your typical day…
I love being at home. About a year ago, I got to move into the house that my parents raised me in until I was about 4. My dad has kept it as a rental since the 70’s and when the last tenant moved out, my dad and I remodeled the whole thing. So, I love being in my home. It’s where my mom was pregnant with me and it’s where I birthed a lot of the songs on my new album. It has a very nurturing, womb-esque feel to it. I love it. I love cooking as well, so I am always doing some sort of experiment with food in the kitchen. I also have a garden now, so I am usually out there playing in the dirt. Some days I don’t ever leave the house… I’ll just lay out on the deck in the sun and listen to music.

I’d imagine being on the road a lot can be stressful. What are a few things you do to combat stress?
Stress while touring is inevitable, it’s just part of the program. Schedules are hectic and constantly changing. And often we are in a new city each day, sometimes 2! I definitely try to rest as much as I can: napping while driving, not staying up late at night, etc. Diet and exercise are also key. If I’m not feeling good inside and out, I start to stress out about that, “Why aren’t my pants fitting!?” I also try to keep the caffeine and alcohol to a minimum and generally just try to stay in the moment, in the flow, and not worry too much about what is coming next.

What are a few of your favorite healthy places to eat in San Diego?
I love Solace in Encinitas. Everything is locally grown, organic, and yumorama. It is a little on the heavier side, but they have some really amazing dishes that are just to die for. I also love Evolution Foods downtown. They have these amazing raw tacos, and anyone that follows me, knows that I love tacos! They are made of walnuts and cauliflower, kale, avocado, carrots and wrapped in cabbage (ask for a side of the vegan chipotle and you are ready to rock!). Naked Cafe is Solana Beach is another staple for me. I love their whole menu and they are vegan/veg friendly. And I have to mention Zinc Cafe! Its’ right down the street from my house and they have amazing coffee, breakfast smoothies, etc. And their granola with berries is my favorite! They also have gluten free toast and muffins, which makes me very happy 🙂

Cocktail of choice?
I love wine, but that is not a cocktail is it!? I would say Greyhound. Those are yummy 🙂

You have great skin! What’s your secret?
I get facials regularly and I have been working with Mirabella Mansori in Solana Beach, for almost 6 years now. My mom was always big on facials. I always thought they were some kind of indulgence, or treat, but for the amount of time I spend in the sun, it’s really important for me to take as good a care of my skin as I can. As I have gotten older, I am starting to see the damage and effects of the sun. Exfoliating is huge! I highly recommend using a dry brush for the body and I also use a Clarisonic on my face. It’s hands down the best invention for your face ever.

Favorite meal for breakfast?
Fresh juiced oranges, with chia seeds and aloe vera…
Toast with avocado, cucumber, tomato, sea salt, lemon pepper…
Green Smoothie: A fresh hacked open coconut: The water and some of the meat, vitamineral green, maca, cacao beans, dates, frozen bananas,coconut oil hemp seeds and blend, top with bee pollen…

Any other healthy remedies you incorporate in your life?
I take silica almost everyday for strong nails, skin elasticity and hair (makes it grow fast and strong!)
I also drink a ton of Mate tea.
Whenever I am feeling sick, Oil of Oregano is my go-to. A couple drops in some orange juice and it will kill anything you have going on inside you.
For my throat, I love Osha root. I am always putting that in my tea or water bottle.
I regularly use liquid chlorophyll in my water too, to help oxygenize and promote healthy blood cells.