Something New

There's this horrible trap that happens to people who live near big cities- they never look at it with new eyes so it seems boring and familiar.  One of my favorite aspects of being by Chicago however, is that if I wanted to I could go some place different every time.  Caught up in work and school, I haven't had time for an adventure exploring the unfamiliar in so long! During my time in London each day involved trying a unique little restaurant or visiting some cultural event happening in the streets with my wonderful roommate, so I knew for my little day trip I would want her to be my partner in crime.  It was lovely to reminiscence! Below are the details of our discoveries...

Lovely
This absolutely precious bakery/cafe had the most tempting pastries and the kind of giant hot drink mugs you want to hold with two hands.  I tried their Sicilian Orange Green Tea which was a loose leaf brought out in a little brewing pot (I adore how the insides look with all the colorful leaves!).  Feeling only just the slightest bit decadent I ordered their chocolate ginger chew which was absolutely AMAZING dipped in the tea because the dark chocolate bits completely melted. I visited the location 1130 N. Milwaukee Ave. decorated with giant wooden tables, vintage Americana memorabilia and chalkboard menus.  Check out their website.

Mana
I had visited this cozy chic restaurant before, but never tasted their famous sliders! Mana is a vegetarian restaurant so the mini burgers are made with brown rice and mushroom. The bun might look white castle, but the burger and its spicy mayo are to die for. They also offer a great range of dishes with many international flavors worth a taste. Read the full menu here.

Roots and Culture
We also went to this tiny gallery to look at the new collection: Rusty Shackleford "Dream Feeder" + Katie Torn "Dream House"  There were definitely some intriguing pieces worth a look if you are in the area. Find out more about the artworks. 

All in all, a very successful downtown trip!

New Beginnings

People always wait for a momentous occasion to start changing their life, which usually doesn't work.  The true revolution is an everyday battle of constantly striving for better even when there is a set back.  So today I wanted to share some simple ways to add some health tools to your life.

Some of my major body & lifestyle philosophies (and how I keep up with them!):

Eat the Rainbow: I have always been a health foodie, hence my Jamie Oliver obsession. Combine that with the fact that I am a vegetarian and well let's just say it gets pretty creative in my kitchen.  There's no wrong way to do fruits and veggies, its not like meat where heaven forbid something is cooked too long or not long enough! Play around with textures and combinations.  One simple way to do this if you don't want a veggie only meal is to pick a base- so oatmeal, yogurt, noodles etc- and top it with at least 2-3 different plant based items. Cooking in big batches at the start of the week or meals the night before is the only way I can make sure to grab healthy options. Flavors are your friend, add seasonings and spices to your heart's content!

Liquids are magical: I rarely drink sodas or store-bought juices.  Our bodies crave water, and after you incorporate more water into your diet you will see how odd they feel after a sugar loaded drink.  This is a slow transition for most people, so don't beat yourself up to much just try to cut down on the bad stuff.

Other good fluids are homemade vegetable soups, pretty much any combination of broth and veggies heated for about an hour, pureed if desired, makes a super low calorie filling options.  

Juices/smoothies are another absolute favorite.  Fruit ones are good, but keep in mind sugar.  It always helps to incorporate vibrant veggies like spinach, beets, and kale.  I usually add ginger and cinnamon to mine for their awesome health properties, as well as for flavor.  

Every step counts: Whether it means taking the stairs or walking rather than driving- every extra bit of activity is a good thing.  I recently downloaded Map My Fitness because it keeps track of pace, calories, distance, etc during my daily walks to and from school.  I highly recommend it for runners too. 

Inspiration/Tools

Other tools I use beside Map My Fitness include the Blogilates App and MyFitnessPal.  

• Blogilates features workout videos from Cassey Ho whose motto "Train like a beast, look like a beauty" explains it all.  There are also instagram-like forums for sharing meals, motivation, and recipes.  I adore seeing other people's ideas for super simple healthy options with minimal ingredients.  
• MyFitnessPal remains my absolute favorite database for logging meals because it has such comprehensive lists and gives me nutrient breakdowns for the day.  I always need to make sure I get enough protein and iron so this really helps.