Pomegranates are a sexy fruit. The juicy red arils (seeds), the way they exploded in your mouth, the sweet tart taste. Mmmm. No other fruit seems more suited to Valentine’s Day than pomegranates. However sexy, they can also be a messy pain to open if not done properly! No one likes red stained hands, cutting boards and countertops!

No need to avoid this antioxidant packed beauty food for fear of ruining your manicure! Check out this video to learn how to quickly and cleanly de-seed a pomegranate to seduce your loved one in Valentine’s Day perfect recipes such as Pomegranate Guacamole, Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Clusters, Cauliflower and Pomegranate Tabbouleh, and this Valentine’s Salad!

I am a sucker for Valentine’s Day. My rational brain knows that February 14th has become a day for florists, chocolatiers and lingerie makers to earn their yearly nut and restaurants to charge way to much for fancy prix-fixe menus but I still love it! I think it is nice to have a day devoted to love and all things sweet! In fact, somebody gave me a homemade Valentine today and I am still smiling!

In the past Doug and I have made big Valentine’s Day plans involving fancy dinners, theater tickets etc. While this is always fun, the more pregnant I get the harder it is for me to stay out late on a “school night.” So, this year we have decided to spend the night of the 14th at home together and go on a special delayed date Saturday night to a cheesy romantic movie and dinner at Pure Food and Wine. I am very excited!

In the true spirit of the holiday I almost always wear red or pink when going out for Valentine’s Day. I even have a special Valentine’s purse with hearts on it that gets broken out once a year! This winged eyeliner and deep lip look that Rebecca Casciano created for our latest video would be the perfect compliment to any Valentine’s ensemble. It is both sexy and playful, and quite easy to accomplish!

Get The Look: Rich Lips and Wingtips

Fill in eyebrows by applying a Tarte powder eye shadow with angled brush.

Add a highlight to your browbone and inner corner of the eye using a matte or shimmer eye shadow 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone. We used Nvey Eco #162 in the Eye Color System #5.

Choose a neutral eye shadow a couple shades darker than your skin tone to your lid and blend up into the crease. This is Nvey Eco #168.

With a a dark liquid or cake liner, use an angled brush to make short stokes, as close as possible to the lash line. When you reach the outer corner of the eye, drag the brush up and out to a tapered point. Be sure to fill in any gaps between your strokes. We used Nvey Eco Organic Cake Liner in Brown.

Curl your lashes and add a few coats of black mascara like Nvey Eco’s Volumising Mascara to the top and bottom lashes.

Apply a warm, rosy blush to cheekbones and blend well. We used Alima Pure Matte Blush in Pink.

Finish the look with a deep red lipstick in a matte or cream texture. We applied Kranberry Lipstick by Youngblood with small a lip brush. This helps to create a more precise application.

(photos by Melissa Murphy melissamurphyphoto.com)

Last night’s Beauty Food Supper Club was a huge success. All of our guests had a wonderful time eating divine beauty foods, meeting new friends, and learning how beauty truly comes from the inside out! I personally loved that so many people felt comfortable to come solo. It was like a dinner party with the friends you never knew you had!

The menu was divine, Aimee Follette of Sun In Bloom is an incredibly talented chef whose dishes are truly nourishing inside and out. Everyone enjoyed the meal so much that most people bought soups, dressings and desserts to take home and enjoy over the weekend!

I could not have co-hoted this event with three lovelier women! Rebecca Casciano, Aimee Follette and Jolene Hart are true beautiues inside and out!

Our night started with a cucumber, pomegranate and ginger juice. Pomegrante boots the performance of nitric oxide, a chemical that keeps our circulatory systems young, our skin glowing – and gets us aroused! Ginger warms out bodies from the inside out while cooling inflammation that contributes to redness and breakouts.

Next up was the Divine Creamy Green Radiance Soup made with romaine lettuce, cucumber, parsley, avocado, lemon, garlic and sea salt. Avocado is one of the healthiest fats you can eat. It burns easily for energy and fires up the natural detox processes of the liver which helps skin stay clear and radiant. Lemon is full of collagen-building vitamin C, detoxifying for the liver and highly alkaline. A glass of lemon water first thing in the morning will do wonders for your internal ph keeping your body alkaline and healthy!

Our main course was a Hearty Balancing Macro Platter with quinoa, beans, tempeh, roasted butternut squash, steamed greens, wakame, raw sauerkraut, and Sun In Bloom’s famous ( and to die for) Live Sesame Ginger Dressing. Seriously, I could eat a bowl of that dressing! Wakame is packed with beauty minerals like calcium and magnesium to build your skin, hair, nails and bones. In my case it also helps with building the little one I am growing! Raw Sauerkraut is a natural probiotic that promotes healthy digestion. If your digestion is not working properly it will show in your skin. Healthy digestion=glowing skin!

We finished our meal with a truly decadent, divine dessert. The Chocolate Mayan Spiced Fudge Cake was one of the best sweet treats I have eaten in a long time. I adore anything that combines chocolate, cinnamon, spice and sea salt as is reminds me of Mexico! This cake was a perfect example of how something great tasting can also be great for you. Cacao improves skin hydration and reduces redness by increasing the supply of nutrients, blood, and oxygen to the skin. Cinnamon stabilizes blood sugar preventing insulin spikes that contribute to breakouts and advanced aging.

On the way out the door everyone was given a beauty gift bag featuring goodies from Tata Harper, Jane Iredale, Kahina Giving Beauty and Gnois Chocolate. The night was truly special and I cannot wait for our Spring Beauty Food Supper Club in April!

Party planning is one of the great loves of my life. Few things make me happier than throwing a great fete with fun people and delicious food. Tonight I am hosting the first in a series of Beauty Food Supper Clubs with green makeup goddess Rebecca Casciano and Beauty Is Wellness founder Jolene Hart. This evening’s four course dinner at Sun In Bloom aptly called Eat. Drink. Love. is all about beauty foods to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day. Not only will we have sexy food, but each guest will leave with a special beauty gift bag loaded with goodies from Tata Harper, Jane Iredale, Kahina Giving Beauty and Gnosis Chocolate.

Sounds like a good way to spend the night before a snow storm yes? We still have a few tickets left which can be purchased here, so grab them while you can! Hope to see you tonight!

xoxo

Today is our two year wedding anniversary. It is so amazing how time flies. It truly feels like yesterday I was putting on my wedding dress and getting ready to marry my very best friend. The past two years have brought both extreme highs and low lows. Luckily through all that life has thrown us we have been able to lean on each other and grow stronger.

This wedding montage always puts a smile on my face, I hope you enjoy!

I love Thai food. In college there was a Thai restaurant near my school that my friends and I would frequent for birthdays, girl’s nights and various other special occasions. If you ever lived in Boston I am sure you know about Brown Sugar! Being a very busy college student going out to restaurants was not something that happened that frequently, but when it did we almost always went out for Thai. Sadly I have yet to find a Thai restaurant in NYC that satisfies my cravings. There are the not so scenic take out and delivery spots, and some very high end ones but I have yet to find a Thai restaurant I would actually want to sit down and eat in!

Even if I did have a local Thai spot I don’t think I could see myself ordering greasy Pad Thai anymore. All those heavy noodles… no thank you! To satisfy my craving for my old college favorite I created a lighter, healthier version of classic Pad Thai. This dish uses zucchini noodles in place of the typical greasy ones which make it oh so much better on the digestion!

Zucchini Noodle Pad Thai

• 2 medium zucchini
• 1/2 red pepper sliced thin
• 1/2 cup bean sprouts
• 1/2 cup tahini
• 1 cup water
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 T nama shoyu or tamari
• juice of 2 limes
• 10 drops stevia

1. Using a julienne, vegetable peeler or spiralizer peel the zucchini into “noodles” and set aside.
2. Blend tahini, water, garlic, nama shoyu, lime juice and stevia until smooth.
3. Toss zucchini noodles, pepper, and sprouts with sauce until evenly coated.

I never suffered from acne has a teen. I have always been blessed with good, clear, soft skin. Although I have been diligently getting monthly facials since I was 16,I have never had to work too hard to have a clear complexion. Well, pregnancy has changed that a bit!

While the skin on my face has remained glow-y, soft and clear my back and shoulders are a different story! Early into my pregnancy I developed a mild case of bacne, a common side effect of the hormone surplus expectant mamas experience. Add onto the hormones the amount I sweat daily from spinning and yoga and well, I guess it is not so surprising that I am having some breakout issues! While my case is not bad at all, it still irks a perfectionist like me. Ever since the first red patch reared it’s ugly head I have been on a mission to clear it up naturally, without resorting to anything harsh or toxic. I have not been able to clear it up entirely yet but have made great strides, and would even wear a sleeveless dress in public these days! Not preggers? These bacne fighting tips and finds would certainly work for non-pregnancy face breakouts as well!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Acne is a side effect of inflammation and acidity in your internal system. When your body is acidic and internally inflamed you can experience many unpleasant side effects such as illness, fatigue, weight gain, bloating, and yes… acne. While nothing has changed in my diet or routine to make my system more acidic the principal of fighting acidity with alkalinity still holds. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is highly alkalizing and can be used for a myriad of things. It is great as a salad dressing alternative and can be consumed in a glass of water for a daily alkaline dose. I have been applying diluted Apple Cider Vinegar to my bacne in order to alkalize my inflamed skin and calm it down. Despite the not so pleasant smell it does calm down my break out situation quite a bit!

Probiotics

Probiotics are another great way fight internal inflammation. Taking a quality probiotic daily helps make sure you have plenty of “good bacteria” in your gut which aids in digestions, clear skin, and an overall alkaline ( aka healthy) system. I always, always take a daily probiotic and have been doubling my usual dose during my pregnancy to make sure I am covered. I like the Dr. Ohirra’s brand because they are easy to find at most Whole Foods, and do not need to be refrigerated.

Blum Wipes

I work up a pretty good sweat almost every morning at Soul-Cyle. While my morning workout feels amazing, helps get my blood flowing, and has kept me strong and in shape it certainly does not help my bacne. Now, immediately after I work out I go to the ladies room, change out of my soaked top and wipe my back and shoulders with these Blum wipes. It really has helped!

Belli Anti- Blemish Facial Wash

Most acne washes contain lots of drying, questionable ingredients that I am not comfortable using- especially when pregnant. I was thrilled to discover Belli’s facial wash made especially for pregnancy acne. Although originally intended for the face a little on my loofah works great on my back!

Vered Therapeutic Balancing Face Oil

Most people’s instinct with acne is to try and dry it out completely. However, over drying the inflamed area will only make it worse. Your skin will start to produce more oil to compensate which will lead to more breakouts! I have been trying to keep my back nice and hydrated to calm it down. Vered Therapeutic Balancing Oil not only hydrates my inflamed skin but also calms it down and helps minimize the redness.

Bacials

Along with my monthly facials I have been having my aesthetician perform bacials, or back facials on me. I lay on my side (belly lying in no longer an option) and she cleans, exfoliates, extracts and generally works her magic on my back. This deep cleaning has certainly helped keep my bacne in check. Plus, my amazing aesthetician Jennifer is a new mom herself so I feel completely safe in her hands. She would never use anything on me that she wouldn’t to have used during her own pregnancy.

Patience… It’s Temporary

While I have been able to somewhat manage the minor breakouts on my back I have not been able to totally clear them up. Like many things in pregnancy there is no way to completely control what your body will do or how you will feel. When I am my most frustrated I try and remember that this is all only temporary and a VERY small price to pay for the little girl I get to meet in May.

It’s no secret that I love OMilk. I use their Almond Milk every day in my smoothies, sauces and sometimes to make a cup of hot chocolate! While the classic Almond Milk is amazingly useful, I also love their special seasonal flavors. Available only by home delivery, a bottle of specialty flavored OMilk in my fridge is a real treat. Yesterday, I was thrilled to find out they are bringing back their Chai Cashew Milk! I personally love chai spices, and paired with cashew milk it is a delicious, creamy treat (even better when served hot!).

Last year, when I first discovered the OMilk Chai Cashew Milk, I created this Chai Chia Pudding to serve at a party we hosted together. This could not be an easier to make, truly delicious, good for you dessert! Don’t have a party coming up? Feel free to make a bowl and enjoy it yourself as this pudding keeps well in the fridge for about three days!

OMilk Chai Chia Pudding

• 1 cup OMilk Chai Cashew Milk
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• cinnamon
• dried coconut

1. In a medium bowl pour the cashew milk over the chia seeds and stir.
2. Allow chia pudding to sit in refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour stirring occasionally until it thickens and the chia seeds absorb all of the liquid.
3. Serve the pudding in individual bowls or ramekins topped with a sprinkling of coconut and cinnamon!

I love anything purple. It has been my favorite color (with pink being a close second) for as long as I can remember. From decor, to fashion, to makeup, purple appears everywhere in my life. My den is a deep cozy purple and my baby’s nursery will feature pops of lavender and lilac. As a teen I even tried sporting violet colored contact lenses to look more like Liz Taylor!

This latest Get The Look video with Rebecca Casciano shows how using one color in various tones is anything but boring! Here purple, plum, eggplant, and mauve combine perfectly on eyes and lips for the sultry winter look. Just make sure to keep your cheeks light to maintain balance.

Get The Look: Pretty in Plum

Add a highlighter to your browbone and inner corner of the eye using a matte or shimmer eye shadow 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone. We used the Jane Iredale Eye Steppes in Go Cool for all 3 eye shadow colors!

Choose a deep purple for your lid and blend up into the crease.

Add a second, brighter or lighter shade of purple into the crease and blend to brow bone.

Curl your lashes and add a few coats of black mascara to the top and bottom lashes. We used Nvey Eco Volumising Mascara.

Apply a mauve-toned blush like Jane Iredale’s Barely Rose to cheekbones and blend well.

Finish the look with either soft lavender or a rich eggplant lipstick or gloss. We choose Jane Iredale Lip Fixation in Relish.

Someone once told me “you can either have a clean home, or a green home.” You can imagine my reaction! It took a lot of self control to not laugh/scoff in their face. Anyone that has ever been to my exceptionally neat and clean (yes I am patting myself on the back) apartment would know this is just not true!

I put as much effort and care into selecting my personal and home care products as I do with my food. Just as I will not eat any processed, chemical laden “food” I similarly will not clean my home with caustic, toxic, dangerous cleaning products. This does not mean I make my own cleaning agents (I am not the most DIY type for anything other than cooking) or simply clean my home with hot water. Instead, I spend a lot of time seeking out brands I can trust that do not use any scary, nasty ingredients.

I have been mildly obsessed with The Honest Company  from the moment I first heard about it. Founded by Christopher Gavigan, the former CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World (and author of the bestselling book by the same name), and actress/super-mom Jessica Alba, The Honest Company has created a line of effective, innovative, clean, safe and beautifully designed products. They make every type of cleaning, bath and body, and baby product you could possibly want from detergent to dish soap to diapers. By far what they are most known for are their adorable, 100% non-toxic, chlorine free, plant based diapers. I seriously never imagined myself getting excited about diapers until I saw their purple leopard print, and star patterns! You can bet my little girl will be sporting these come May!

Although I am not quite ready for diapers yet, I was eager to try their other products out for myself. I was thrilled when they sent me their Laundry Detergent, Dish Soap, and Oxy Boost amongst others. I am pleased to report that they all lived up to Honest’s promise! They are highly effective, look great, smell great, and contain nothing harsh or questionable. I especially love the Body Oil which smells yummy and has helped keep my skin (and belly) from getting dry and rough in the freezing weather!

I am a big fan of anything that can help simplify my daily life, from automatic bill payment, to green juice delivery. What has excited me most about The Honest Company is their monthly subscription options. They have both Diaper and Family Essential Bundles available that after making a few selections will show up at your door every month! I have already enrolled myself in the Family Essentials Bundle program, and plan on adding a Diaper Bundle when my little girl arrives. How great is it to not worry about running out of detergent or diapers?

Thank you Honest Company for making my life just a little bit easier, and for actually getting me excited about diapers!