I was feeling anxious and stressed over uncontrollable matters that I have no business worrying about but as many of us know, that is a difficult challenge. I can’t change them, alter the outcome, or make the present the past or the future. I can only change how I respond to what is presented as it’s presented. As I was trying to cope with the emotions that come along with avoiding this stress, I had mentioned that I was really feeling anxious. As if I am running a race against time. Within minutes, a friend reached out and said “You are! And you’re winning!”

A smile immediately came across my face as my heart sank into my stomach. You’re right. I am winning. The friend who told me this is also in a race against time. He’s dying from AIDS.  So when I look back at the second paragraph, it no longer matters. Why? Because I’m winning and I need to keep running.

Hey green goddesses, look what I found! A totally natural, biodegradable nail polish remover. Stop the press! Is that even true?!?! Yep.

My biggest complaint about having beautifully polished nails is taking off the polish once it chips. The smell is terrible and contains (who knows how many) carcinogens. Plus, it dries out my nails.

Der-der-der-der-da-da-da-daaaaaa! Problem solved. Developed exclusively by Priti NYC, this luxury remover has been infused with soybean esters, is naturally derived, and contains lemongrass essential oils. That’s it. No acetone, no carcinogens. In addition, Priti Soy Nail Polish remover leaves hands and nails feeling moisturized and nourished with a sweet citrus scent.

P.S. I heard Jessica Alba is a fan!

Lori Bergamotto, Style Editor for Lucky Magazine, joined Savannah Guthrie of NBC’s Today Show yesterday to share her tips on how to shop like a pro at a retail store. She shared some fantastic tricks on managing the mayhem.

1) Window displays are trendy not on sale. They are used to lure you in.

2) Shoppers typically shop counterclockwise so the items that are immediately presented are mildly discounted or full price.

3) Sale vs. promo: A promo is 2 for $something. Te discounts are usually minor so really take a moment to evaluate what you need before getting caught up in the promotion.

4) The real sale rack is hidden WAY in the back where it’s darker.

5) Read fine print:p “Select styles off” could be one or two things on the entire rack.

6) Discounts usually happen on Thursdays . An average piece takes about six weeks to discount.

7) Denim 101: Did you know that the average American women owns 7 pairs of jeans.? Retailers stuff the denim wall full of options and strategically place it by the fitting room with the intent of the more you try the more you by.

8) The cash wrap is always close to the fitting room to catch you after you fall in love with the items you just tried on. They don’t want you to have time to think about it.

9) Things at cash wrap: Retailers try to get you to make an impulse purchase or cross sell you on small items while you wait in line. These are usually full price under $5- $20. Those add up!

Now, head out this weekend and test her tips and begin shopping like a pro!

“This is one of the best salads I have ever had. Hands down.”

I was inspired by a salad in this month’s Food & Wine issue (March 2013). I made a few modifications to the recipe to make this version dairy-free and gluten-free.  With any recipe, I always modify to match what I have on hand.The citrus dressing is a wonderful compliment to the savory spices and works well on other salads too. Don’t be afraid to make more that what this recipe calls for.

***Sugar Tip and Hostess Note! Be forewarned, this dish has strong spices that will make your whole house smell. In a good way of course; however, if you are having guests over, you can prepare the carrots the day before to eliminate the strong cumin and garlic smell.

This salad can be made in five simple steps:

1) Clean and prep the vegetables

2) Make spiced oil

3) Toast pepitas and roast carrots

4) Make the citrus vinaigrette

5) Toss and enjoy!

What You Need

1 Head of Lettuce
1 Haas Avocado
1 bunch of rainbow colored carrots
1 Tangerine
1 Meyer Lemon
1/4 cup Pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
4T. Olive Oil
2 T. Sherry Vinegar
1/4t. honey
1/2 t. Fresh Thyme Leaves
1-2 Garlic Cloves (minced)
about a 1/2 t. cumin
about a 1/2 t. ancho chili powder
Kosher Salt and Freshly Cracked Black Pepper

Begin by cleaning, peeling and cutting your carrots in half the long way. Leave some of the tops for added visual appeal. I think they make the dish look extra rustic! Bring a deep skillet of salted water to a boil and blanch your carrots for about five minutes. If they are thinner, maybe even less. Remember, you will be roasting them too.

Once you have blanched the carrots, toss in about a tablespoon of olive oil then sprinkle with salt and pepper and transfer to a large roasting pan. Roast carrots for about 10 minutes at 375° before brushing with the spiced oil.

While the carrots are in the oven, prepare the spiced oil by combining a shake of cumin, a shake of ancho chili powder, 1-2 freshly minced garlic cloves, 1/2 t. fresh thyme leaves, 2 T. Olive Oil, 2 T. sherry vinegar, pinch of kosher salt and a crack of black pepper. Stir to combine.

Evenly disperse your pepitas into a small baking dish for toasting. Remove your carrots from the oven. Slice your lemon and tangerines in half and put one half of each on the roasting pan and brush oil onto carrots and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Place pepitas next to the roasting pan and toast for about 5-8 minutes. They should be a nice light brown color like the picture below. When you remove the pepitas from the oven, take a second to squeeze the roasted lemon and tangerine over your carrots and continue to cook.

To make your citrus vinaigrette, take the other halves of the tangerine and meyer lemon that are not in the oven. Juice each half for a total of approximately 2T. of juice.  Combine 2T. of olive oil with the juices, sprinkle with salt and pepper and add a dollop of honey. Shake to combine and again before serving. Slice the avocado into long strips and set aside.

Remove your carrots form the oven and let rest for 1-2 minutes. Use a metal spatula to gently remove from the pan. In a large bowl, toss the greens, toasted pepitas and half of the avocado slices with the citrus vinaigrette. Very gently, toss in the carrots and stir. Add the remaining avocado slices and serve!

Inspired by my other favorite salad, a tuna niçoise, Today’s Toss incorporate’s last night’s left over lobster tail and haricot verts. I roasted some baby Yukon golds and asparagus sprigs to add some additional flavor and finished it off with fresh tomatoes and a simple citrus dressing. The citrus is a nice contrast to the buttery, rich lobster.

I cut up the tail and tossed it in cold but added warm potatoes and asparagus which slightly wilted the lettuce but in a good way. I feel that the dressing incorporates better when some of the ingredients are warm.

Citrus Dressing:

1T. Olive oil
1/2T. Sherry vinegar
1/2t. Honey
Squeeze of Meyer lemon
Squeeze of mandarin orange
Both juices combined should equal about 1/2T. of juice.
Sprinkle with kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste

Red Hot Love! Pair these sexy red pumps with an all black ensemble for maximum punch! Zappos $49

Lacy and Racy! What’s underneath your clothes is as important as your outfit. Don’t forget to add a few extra squirts of perfume today! Net-A-Porter $44

Wrap Your Watch Around Me  – This little cutie is from LuLu’s and is sweetly priced at only $19. At that price, I don’t even care if it keeps time!

Pretty In Pink Peplum: Yes, you can dress me up in your love! This dress is especially flattering on women with rectangular body types. It creates balance and shape near the hips and the sleeveless top shows off those beautifully toned shoulders. Francesca’s $48

I Left My Heart In San Francisco: Oh wait, my heart is still in San Francisco. A beautiful vintage notebook of my favorite red bridge. If you can’t view it in person, you can carry it with you! Papyrus $13

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Today’s Toss is a blend of savory and sweet combining crunchy almonds and pine it’s with sweet raisins and red onion.

Toasted almonds, and blanched broccoli, sautéed red onion, plump, sweet raisins, and tasty pine nuts seasoned with paprika, salt and pepper. Served warm. All #organic. All the time.

While the water is coming to a boil, sauté the red onion in olive oil for about 2-3 min over med high heat. Sprinkle it with kosher salt and paprika to season. then add the raisins, almonds and pine nuts and lower heat. By that time your water should be ready. Drop the florets and let them cook for about 3 min. Drain and immediately toss into the pan with the sauté. Add a sliver of butter and toss all together. The sauté acts as a dressing. Toss well and coverage is light.

It’s that time of year again! Town Hall Restaurant will be hosting their annual Mardi Gras celebration on Tuesday, February 12th, a nonstop evening of food, drink and live music that many have dubbed the best Fat Tuesday celebration outside of The Big Easy itself. The evening kicks off at 6pm and offers up all the festivities you would want out of an event that encourages indulgence: unlimited Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Etouffée, Gumbo, Oysters, BBQ Shrimp, Jalapeño Cornbread, Abita Beer, Caipirinhas and Hurricanes… along with much more! The D’Amphibians, a Bay Area band that fuses New Orleans soul with jazz and funk, will be playing for the crowd throughout the evening as guests mingle amidst face painters, balloon artists and samba dancers. Tickets are available in advance for $60 per person (plus tax) and give the ticket holder Carte Blanche to eat and drink what they want! And don’t worry… there are enough beads for everyone!

Tickets are available for purchase online at:
www.townhallsf.com

Have you been dreaming of an all day, over the top, whole body experience at one of the best spa’s our city has to offer? Well, you are not alone sister. This time of year, the middle of the winter drag, with Valentines Day right around the corner, many women find themselves dreaming of a luxurious day at the spa. However, many of these women find themselves doing JUST that, dreaming of it. Time, money and other obligations can keep us from pampering ourselves, but there are plenty of ways to bring the spa home for a fraction of the cost.

In fact, you can use all natural ingredients for your very own spa treatment as well. The ingredients can be found at your local grocery store for just a few dollars, and you can pick them up while you are doing your regular grocery shopping.

You might be thinking you still don’t have time for this “At Home Spa Treatment,” but think again. This treatment takes just minutes to prepare.

This do-it-yourself facemask is the perfect fit for dull, dry winter skin and will leave you feeling fresh and energized.

Avocado Carrot Cream Mask
Avocado provides your skin with Vitamin E and carrots are rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene. Cream is high in calcium and protein. Honey helps skin retain moisture. these ingredients will fade age spots, rebuild collagen and improve skin tone.

Ingredients: ​
1 avocado
1 carrot
1 egg
3 Tablespoons honey

To Make:
Peel and chop the carrot. Boil until soft. Strain and allow the carrot to cool. Mash into a medium bowl. Spoon the avocado into the bowl and mash. Add egg and honey. Continue to combine all ingredients until the mixture is smooth.

To Use:
Wash your face as you normally do at bedtime. Pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Spread the mixture over your face and neck to create a mask. Leave the mask on for about 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water. Pat your face dry. Continue with your normal nightly routine, applying moisturizer or toner or whatever you may use on your skin.

You can use this mask one time per week. During those fifteen minutes while the mask is setting, try placing a warm cloth on your neck while relaxing to some music on the couch. A glass of wine and some chocolate will provide you with the ultimate relaxation experience.

Remember, you can take time to pamper yourself even if you are on a tight budget- every woman needs to nurture herself. The obligations of taking care of our families on a day-to-day basis may overshadow the need to spend a few minutes taking care of our self. Carve out a few extra minutes for some “me time” and I am sure you will feel a world of difference!

Guest Blogger, Michelle Pino, has provided these tips and tricks based on the knowledge she acquires from her job at the Turning Stone Resort’s spa, Skana. When Michelle isn’t at work, she enjoys sharing useful information with others, indulging in her own DIY projects, baking, exercising and spending time with family and friends!