Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Thoughts on Societal Pressure







via style.com


Yesterday another talented member of the fashion industry ended their life.  L'Wren Scott seemingly had it all; An iconic longterm partner, a successful clothing line, talent, and legs for days.  Obviously something was amiss, and a continued existence must have seemed to hard to bare.

I often think about the pressure of my little life.  Sometimes it seems to be so much.  Expectations exist for work, appearance, and finances.  It is hard to escape them.  Then I think about what it must be like to be in the spotlight, which creates an even greater strain for perfection.  It had become such a problem.  So many talented people, both famous and not, are turning to drug addictions or suicide to escape.  How many people do we have to lose until things change?  The hamster wheel of life is killing people, and society as a whole turns a blind eye.  It weighs on my mind.

In an attempt to free myself I try to not let the daily grind bog me down.  Work is hard, living in New York is a challenge, and the drive to get ahead can be overwhelming, but there is solace in each moment.  If you make time to treat yourself well and breathe, the things that anger,upset, and stress pass.  You are again left with the moment and your breath.

Monday, March 03, 2014

Breakfast Smoothies


I've spoken about my love for juicing and smoothies before, but over the past couple of years I have really become almost addicted to drinking at least one a day.  Typically this serves as my breakfast, but I have had them for dinner as well.  

With the cold winter weather in New York it is really hard to find any fresh, good quality vegetables and fruits, so I have switched my routine up a bit.  Instead of full whole vegetables I have been supplementing my smoothies with nutritional powders that have served me quite well.  After having about 5 colds at the start of the winter, I have managed to stay healthy for the past month or so.  I contribute the turn around to the antioxidant smoothie listed below, which also serves as a meal.  Try them out for a healthy boost!

Spirulina Smoothie
adapted from Hungry for Change

1 cucumber
1/4 pineapple
Juice of 1 lime
1 handful of spinach
3 kale leaves
1 avocado
4 tsp spirulina powder
1/2 cup of water
6-8 ice cubes

Blend and drink!  This makes two large twenty ounce smoothies.

Combat Cold Smoothie

Handful of raspberries
Handful of blueberries
2 Tbsp pomegranate avrils (if in season)
1 scoop Garden of Life Perfect Food Powder (cacao flavored)
1/2 scoop Garden of Life Raw Meal (vanilla flavored)
1 tsp nut butter of your choice (I use almond)
1 tsp coconut butter (optional)
a sprinkle of ground flax seed
a sprinkle of chia seeds
a sprinkle of bee pollen
1/2-1 cup of coconut milk (depending on the consistency you like)
4-6 ice cubes

Blend and drink right away, this one doesn't save very well.  Makes 1 smoothie.  You can get the Garden of Life powders as well as some of the other obscure ingredients at Vitacost.