Lately I have been getting lots of requests for the recipe to a simple salad dressing I make weekly.  So as I was typing it out I figured I might as well share it with all of my online friends as well! Every time I cook I always try to get an even balance of protein, carbohydrates and greens on my plate. Sometimes I will sauté a few vegetables but most of the time I just throw together some lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrots and blue cheese topped with a healthy vinaigrette from Ina Garten’s Barefoot in Paris cookbook.

The book focuses on simple French cuisine and I must say this dressing is a staple in French homes. I will warn you ahead of time that this recipe contains raw egg but I have been eating it for years and I am fine. However, if you are totally averse to ingesting raw egg then simply eliminate it. The recipe is as follows:

• 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon minced fresh garlic
• 1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature (I always forget to cool off my egg  and my dressing tastes fine so I wouldn’t stress about this)
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ cup good olive oil

In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, garlic, egg yolk, salt and pepper. While whisking, slowly add the olive oil until the vinaigrette is emulsified. You can do all of this in a bowl but if you L.O.V.E. kitchen gadgets like I do then you can pick up one of these handy emulsifiers at Target for about $12 (I justified this purchase by thinking it would save water and energy on dishwashing because I can make up my dressing AND store it all in the same container!).

All that’s left to do is throw all of your salad ingredients together et voilà!

Bon Appétit

I have been a fan of Caress body wash for as long as I can remember. The second I got the option when I was little to switch from soap and a washcloth to body wash and a loofah, I was delighted to finally make the switch to “big girl” soap. However, I must admit I have been using Dial for the passed couple of years because it is cheaper (Probably not enough to make a difference but when you are buying toiletries yourself every $ counts!), but I have recently started using Caress again after testing out the new Whipped Soufflé Body Wash.

The new whipped body washes are so light and creamy that it feels like you are applying lotion in the bath. In order for the body wash to reach this velvety consistency, the formula is whipped together with fragrance and moisturizers under intense pressure at sonic speeds. I was a bit worried when using it for the first time because I thought it would leave a thin film on my skin but it left my skin feeling smooth and clean without any residue whatsoever.

The only downfall with this body wash is the lack of scent options. I prefer to use a body wash that has a fresh clean scent over a body wash that smells like fruit. Now don’t get me wrong, the White Peach Cream I tested out smelled great but I just use it at night. In the mornings I still use Dial’s Clean & Refresh Springwater Body Wash, but the Caress Peach Soufflé Body Wash is great to use in the bath before bed.

You can follow Caress on Twitter and Like them on Facebook to interact with other fans, get product updates, and receive tips and tricks from their spokeswomen, Julianne Hough.

Disclaimer: I received a free bottle of this product in exchange for agreeing to review it. There were no restrictions on what I could or could not say.

What is your favorite body wash? What scent do you prefer – Fresh or Fruity?

Everybody loves a quick and easy hairdo and whether it’s a chic chignon or a messy bun, Goody has made throwing your hair up on the fly even easier than it was before. Two words – Spin Pins. They are my current obsession and I have no idea how they work exactly, but what I do know is that they hold my hair really well and it takes literally 30 seconds to do. Whether you are walking the read carpet, walking down the aisle or just walking into work, the chignon is always a polished look and anyone can do it.

The pins are sold by the pair and come in blonde and brunette. They resemble a strand of DNA with their spiral like structure and they keep hair up no matter how many layers there are (a few strands did fall later in the day). I usually have to use a ponytail holder and like 7 bobby pins to hold my hair in a coiffed bun but with theses pins I only have to use one. I personally did not think they would work as well as they do and after trying them out I have been telling everyone I know. All you have to do is pull your hair back (no ponytail holder necessary), twist it into a bun, twirl one pin down from the top and one pin up from the bottom.

You can pick these up at your local superstore for around $5.00 and I promise they are well worth your hard earned cash.

It’s Memorial Day weekend, which also marks the beginning of the summer vacation season, and many of us will be by the water soaking up the rays. I am bad about wearing sunscreen on a daily basis (but I always put it on my face) but when I know I’m going to be in the sun I slather on SPF 50. My favorite sunscreen this season is Target’s up & up Sunscreen in the spray or the lotion. However, I prefer the lotion. I use up & up for my body and Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Sunblock SPF 70 for my face.

One advantage to spray sunscreens is they are easier to apply because you don’t have to rub it all in. Or do you? Recent research shows that for these sprays to work best you still need to rub in the sunscreen after spraying it on. Sprays are also known to irritate and dry out your skin even though it feels great while you are spraying it on. For that reason, I have opted to stick with lotions this season. I feel like they offer me more protection and stay on longer. And last but not least, don’t forget sunscreen for your lips. I forgot to take mine on vacay last week and my lips peeled for 3 days (Nothing is attractive about dry crusted lips!). I prefer Burt’s Bees Lifeguard’s Choice Lip Balm because it is minty and fresh but any lip sunscreen will do. Burt’s balm may also be applied to your cheeks, nose and ears.

I always make sure to apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going in the sun in order for the lotion to soak in and I re-apply ever  hour (Experts are now saying you need to re-apply ever 30 minutes but that is just annoying). Never think it’s too late to save your skin because you spent many years baking in the sun and ALWAYS wear sunscreen! If you are older and would like to reverse signs of sun damage then you can always check out the CO2 laser.

What is your favorite sunscreen? Do you use a different sunscreen for your face?

Neon colors are the hot trend for summer but I am still on the pastel wagon from this spring. I usually don’t get manicures at the salon that often because my nails chip within 24 hours so it’s a waste of money, but I do like to paint them at home occasionally. I also don’t like spending a lot on nail polish so I have been scouring Walgreens and Target the past few months for the perfect pastel shade. I wanted a light purple but every shade I found would be too lavender, eggplant or just plain wrong. I knew exactly what I was looking for and I couldn’t find it anywhere for a bargain price.

Well the other day I ran in Walgreens to get some ribbon and finally saw the perfect shade of lilac at the end of an aisle.  Revlon came out with pastel pink, blue, yellow and purple. My favorite shade is called Lilac Pastelle and is number 185. I believe neon polish is too loud for work but pastels are demure enough for the corporate world.

You will need to paint two coats on your nails and it dries fairly quickly. I put a top coat from Sally Hansen on top and my nails didn’t chip for about 72 hours!

What is your opinion on nail colors? Do you believe that pastels are inappropriate in the workplace?

Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday (as in two days from now) and many people have still not gotten their lovely mothers a gift! Mother’s Day is always a hard holiday to buy for because you want to get them something they will use, but also something they will appreciate and wouldn’t just buy themselves. So I have compiled a list of a few things at different price points that I believe to be perfect gifts for mom.

If you have a brother or sister (more than one is even better) or if you can get Dad’s help then you can go all out with this amazing perfume from Creed. It is called Spring Flower and is one of my all-time favorite scents. It was originally created in the mid-80’s for Audrey Hepburn, and was later released to the public.

If your mom loves sentimental gifts and doesn’t like you spending a lot of money on her then a simple “I Love You Mom” book is the perfect gift. But here is the catch, this is (in my opinion) only a good option if you sit down and relate each quote or story to one of your own and write it in on every page. They always have these books at Walgreens, and since there is a Walgreens on pretty much every corner this may be your best bet.

This year’s hot gift seems to be the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System. Clarisonic developed the sonic technology proven to gently yet effectively loosen dirt and oil to clear your pores. I got my mom one of these last Christmas and she LOVES it!

Jewelry is always a good option and lately I am loving the pieces from Ann Taylor. They are classic and elegant and can be paired with anything from jeans and a t-shirt to a fancy dress. To top it all off, your purchases this weekend are 25% off!

And last but not least, for the sporty Mom, lululemon has some great items to choose from. If you want to splurge then you can get her a pair of pants or a jacket. If you want to spend less than $100 but more than $25, you can get her one of lululemon’s adorable tops. And if you want to save money but still want her to think of you every time she is at the gym (even though she may be at the gym to get in a little time to herself), then you can get her one of their fun water bottles from SIGG, which are a line of Swiss-made reusable bottles that are made of metal so they keep your water extra cold.

Hope this helps and to all you moms out there – Happy Mother’s Day!

What did you get your mom for Mother’s day?

Earlier this season on Grey’s Anatomy, one of my favorite shows, there was a scene where an older man is talking to McSteamy and says, “one day, you are going to wake up and all the big stuff – all the milestones you have been looking forward to – graduation, wedding, having kids, your grandkids – it’s all behind you – it’s all over.  All you got is a bunch of yesterdays and very few tomorrows.”

This quote really made me think about how I am spending my time and where I am spending it.  I will be finishing graduate school this fall and I can’t believe how fast the past 2 years have gone.  I thought to myself – Time is flying by so fast it’s scary. How do I make things slow down, there are too many things I want to do!

Anyway, back to my point. I was listening to a webinar by J.D. Power and Associates about gen y early careerists and their behaviors when I realized that they were defining me to a tee.  They stated that early careerists spend on average, 3 hours per day online.  Now for most of us, we are thinking – Just 3? I spend way more than that.  And that may be true, I know it is for me, but even though we are in the new information age (Have you seen those hilarious bing commercials?), I think we need to take a step back from the computer every now and then and smell the fresh air.  We all have the numerous blogs we like to read everyday, numerous sites to visit.  Homework must be turned in. Blog posts must be written.  And not to forget – work must be done.

I know very well that all of these things must be done and we all want to be successful and be great at our jobs, but we have to remember to step back every once in a while and take a deep breath. Go on a walk outside with your dog.  Go sit on a nice patio with your friends.  Relax on the back porch and read a book that does NOT have to do with business or how to further your career (I personally can’t wait to sit down with The Carrie Diaries and Spin: A Novel). Take up Pilates. I don’t know what it is but just get out and do something!

With the beautiful weather lately, we all need to enjoy it as much as we can before it gets so hot you can fry an egg on the sidewalk. As a person who reaches for her computer first thing in the morning after making my coffee, I am writing this just as much for me as for all the other hard working gen yers out there.

Just sayin’

Spring is finally here to stay, so that means outdoor exercising is in full swing. Everybody has their own routine with different running accessories they won’t leave the house without, and I am no exception. For me to have a really great workout everything has to be in order. If a hair is constantly in my face then I will quickly turn around and call it a day. iPod goes dead – I’m done.

With all the excuses we can come up with (Face Doctorette was actually included in Spa Week Daily’s post on 58 Excuses for Skipping the Gym) as to why we can’t workout, it is important to have all your ducks in a row and be ready to run out the door at a moments notice. There are four things I consider to be my outdoor running essentials and I suggest checking them out for yourself.

First up is my iPod. I assume that most of you have this gadget already considering it reached 50 million users in just 3 years. To give you an idea as to how fast Americans adopted this new technology, it took radio 38 years to reach 50 million users, television 13 years and the Internet 4 years. I can’t run without my iPod indoors or outdoors, however, some people prefer to run in silence – it’s your call.

Second is my SPIbelt, which stands for Small Personal Items belt. My good friends over at The Running Couple introduced this to me last year and I finally broke down and bought one a couple of months ago. I LOVE it. I also bought my boyfriend one for his birthday and he LOVES it; and when his dad saw it, he went out and bought one and now wears it everywhere!  I bought the black belt with the hot pink zipper of course, but I would suggest buying the waterproof belt in order to protect your belongings from sweat on those extra hot days. I wear mine around the middle of my stomach right above my belly button and put the pouch in the back, but you can wear it whatever way feels best to you.

Third are my Maui Jim sunglasses. I wear the HO’OKIPA style in tortoise and they don’t budge at any point during my workout. They have PolarizedPlus2 Technology, which block glare and UV rays from all angles, and rubber nose grips that resist the will of gravity and keep your glasses in place.

Last but not least, bobby pins. I just need 2 for each side of my head and I am good to go. Like I said before, if hair is constantly flopping in my face I can’t focus and will turn around ending my workout early. I like the blonde colored bobby pins from Goody but any pins will do.

So that is it – my outdoor running essentials. If you don’t like anything around your waist but still need a place to keep your keys then check out these super cute (and functional) running shorts from lululemon. I love these shorts and would recommend them to anybody but they are not an essential so I left them out of my list!

What are your running essentials? I always love hearing about new fitness accessories so if you have any suggestions please let me know!

Happy Monday everybody! Jamba Juice, one of my favorite smoothie places, is celebrating their 20th anniversary by offering a “heaping helping” of feel good. Don’t know what to get? My all-time fave is Orange Dream Machine, which takes me back to my younger years by my Memaw’s pool, but if I’m feeling extra healthy I go for Berry Fulfilling. To print, click on the coupon below. Enjoy and have a great week!

I always try to eat as healthy as possible (really tasty cupcakes don’t count) but with my busy schedule it is hard to find time to cook. I am pretty sure most people reading this blog are in the same boat. I don’t eat fast food and I usually just run to Central Market or Eatzi’s to pick up a healthy meal for one, but this gets expensive over time. Since I live by myself and I don’t like leftovers, I am always trying to find recipes that are fast, easy and good re-heated.

A couple of weeks ago I was reading the March issue of Self Magazine and a great recipe landed right in my lap – Pasta Carbonara Light, contributed by Jennifer Iserloh, author of Secrets of a Skinny Chef. I made the dish last week for TV night with my girlfriends (they loved it by the way) and I made it again last night after realizing I needed to use the rest of my basil before it ruined. This meal is so quick and easy that I was able to cook it while simultaneously staging an Indian wellness session (crazy I know – you’ll read about that later). The best part is that you more than likely have all of the ingredients already; you just have to throw them all together!

Ingredients

6 slices nitrate-free turkey bacon, chopped
4 egg yolks
½ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
½ cup grated Parmesan
½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper
2 cups of frozen peas
1 box (16 oz) wheat pasta
2 tbsp half-and-half
¼ cup of fresh basil

Directions

Heat oven to 425^o. Coat a cooking sheet with cooking spray (I just cover one with foil so it is easier to clean up). Spread bacon on sheet and bake until crisp, which is usually around 15-20 minutes and set aside. Whisk egg yolks, yogurt, Parmesan and pepper in a bowl until smooth. Place peas in a colander and set it in the sink. Cook pasta in a stockpot as directed on the package; drain pasta over peas to defrost them. Return pasta-pea mixture to stockpot and place over very low heat. Add egg mixture and bacon and toss about 1 minute, until egg mixture evenly coats the noodles. Turn off the heat, add half-and-half and stir well. Top with basil and Parmesan and serve immediately. It sounds like a lot but I usually do all of the directions above simultaneously, which makes it go by really fast!

Nutrition

472 calories per serving, 12 g fat (4 g saturated), 66 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 19 g protein