i dare you to find a better tasting recipe for deviled eggs. These are perfection every single time. Use caution bringing them to parties --- you'll be asked to bring them back to every gathering you're ever invited to from then on.
Ingredients
dozen jumbo extra large eggs
1/3 cup miracle whip
1 roasted garlic cloves (or 1 tsp garlic sprinkle)
1/4 cup honey mustard (I like kens or heinz - no honey mustard? Use regular mustard and add 2 tsp of brown sugar and 1 tsp honey)
3 tsp franks hot sauce
1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp of pepper
pinch of salt
paprika (for sprinkling on top of finished eggies!)
Directions
1. put eggs in hot tap water while you bring a pan of water to a boil. Drop in eggs and cook for 20 minutes. Transfer eggs to a bowl of cold water.
2. When cooled, peel eggs and cut length-wise. Remove yolks and mix with ingredients to taste (leave out paprika)
3. Spoon mixture into plastic sandwich baggie. Cut corner of bag and squeeze the mixture into the halved egg whites.
4. Finish with a sprinkle of paprika and serve with hot sauce out.
* Keep refrigerated until serving
Tuesday, December 27
Friday, December 9
Boston's Best Eats!
Sure Boston doesn't quite top the charts as a culinary destination beyond clam chowder... but that doesn't mean you should chalk your trip up as a foodie loss and eat subway the whole time you're here.
...There are some hidden gems in Beantown, and lucky for you I'm going to share their whereabouts. Tell your stomach your welcome for me... and your waist line sorry. Unfortunately while Boston has come quite far in expanding their culinary palate... they really haven't jumped on the healthy bandwagon yet. (or maybe ever). Oh well, it's freezing anyways, you could use the extra body heat.
Without further adieu...
Boston's Best Eats:
Breakfast:
Okay, well you can't beat the Taj brunch on their rooftop terrace overlooking the city. And the Four Seasons brunch is definitely a close second. Both hotels outdo themselves, with carving stations, make your own omelet, raw bar, dessert after dessert, and flowing champagne -- but you do pay for what you're getting, and it's not cheap. Both brunches run around 50-60 per person.
For a fraction of the price (and by fraction I honestly mean 1/20th) head to J Paces and Sons. It is a deli counter, but they makes the most incredible bacon egg and cheese sandwiches ever. You have to get it on a homemade bagel. Oh god and their italian subs. I can honestly taste it now.
Friendly Toast - Located in Kendall Sq. the joint is littered with bizarre antiques and signs that give it an almost fun-house feel. I could never order anything besides The King Cakes (2 pancakes with bananas and choc chips inside, peanut butter between, encircled by bacon) but their menu is ridiculously fun and imaginative. It reminds me of the Griddle in LA, but better! I've also tried the cayenne cheddar toast (delicious), herb omelette (ok, but there is way better on the menu), kitchen sink quesadilla and shrimp (4 fried coconut shrimp and a quesadilla filled with spiced pecans, jalapeno jack and cheddar, spinach, fried onions, sweet potato fries and topped with mango sour cream and balsamic-- Odd combination, I know.. but this dish is A.ma.zing), and cheese fries with strawberry habenero dip. NOTE: if you had ADHD, take an extra dose of aderall before picking up their menu; it's overwhelming -- but everything tastes so fabulous that you'll already be planning what you're getting on your next visit before you've even ordered your Red Bull frappe. While friendly toast isn't particularly diet friendly, they do guarantee that their menu is trans-fat free.
Seafood:
Why, Legal Seafoods, of course. Hit the flagship in Seaport for some Thai style calamari and the fresh catch of the day. Save the lobster and chowder for James Hook & Co, which is honestly just a free standing shack before the bridge to seaport. But, well, that's all they really need when they have held their best chowdah ranking for decades.
Italian:
You can't experience Boston correctly without dining at least once in the North End. ...And of course getting a canoli at Mike's Pastries.
You can't go wrong at any of these spots: Luccas, Lucia, Antico Forno, Bricco.
For pizza, don't even consider going anywhere besides Pompei.
Steaks:
I normally avoid chain restaurants, but the Capital Grille in Boston does steak right. Go for lunch and get the steak sandwich with havarti. You'll save money and be so pleasantly surprised you'll never have a power lunch anywhere else.
Del Friscos: In the same category as my all time favorites Maestros and Cut (in LA). Honestly this place gets five full stars! Not only is it romantic with a breath taking view, huge comfortable black couches with chandeliers and recessed lighting ..but they have a serve yourself jelly bean bowl at the hostess desk. The sunken bar, lounge and make-shift wine cellar are also nice touches. In terms of food, don't go if you don't plan on getting the crab cake appetizer, most amazing one i've ever had. No bread crumbs just crab, peppers and spices in some tarragon heaven sauce. I got the three petite filets with different sauces on each one as my main course and I was giddy with happiness. the blue cheese is extremely flavorful and the candied scallop was out of this world and finished with a perfect bernaise. The third sauce had crabmeat and a red cab demi glaze and was also, you guessed it, delicious. I ordered carmalized onions to accompany my steak and I also got the brussel sprouts - both were good, but my eye was on the mac & cheese which i cannot wait to go back and try. Although the steak and crab were fabulous, the real diamond here is the banana bread pudding. Trust me. Best part, sign up for their emails and they'll send you a hand written letter saying thank you for coming in to eat with them. Perfect touch.
Abe and Louies - Love em! Such a Boston staple. You can't go wrong with anything on their menu.
Newbury:
Met Bar: The one on Newbury has a great feel. Their outdoor seating is great and summer salads & cold plates are delightful. The inside atmosphere is almost even better, I love the big booths and the clean white. Don't get the cod lettuce cup - they're drenched in a not so tasty sauce. Do get brussel sprouts, short rib tacos, and any burger.
Stephanis on Newbury: A staple to say the least. Breakfast? Get the pulled pork scramble and CEO mimosas. Then go walk it off and come right back for lunch/dinner. Their lobster and truffle mac and cheese is indescribably delicious. They also have the best ahi tuna I have had to date, and I've had my fair share of ahi tuna tartars.
Cafeteria: Amazing Sangria, possibly the best I've ever had. Get the white and the red. Actually get a pitcher of both and sit outside on a lazy spring or summer day and enjoy every fruity crisp sip. The menu is limited and food is sub par. I'd save the calories and just go for one of their salads or split an app, the entrees are far from impressive and quite overpriced.
Lounges/Bars:
Drink Just all around best. This hidden gem is my favorite bar in Boston. You just tell them what you like..what you feel like, etc. and the bartenders (i feel like they should have a fancier name -- like how starbucks calls their coffee pourers baristas) create a delicious and unique concoction. It has this inviting speak-easy, relaxed feel that makes you want to engage in pensive discussions on the meaning of life. The apps are good, but will leave you hungry. I'd go for the olive mix and the bacon flavored nuts, then head upstairs to Sportella for something of more substance. Don't go here if you're looking for fast service, the bartenders even chop their own ice cubes off of an enormous block, which takes about 5 minutes but is worth every second.
Back Bay Social Club & Town: Great drink menus and they are right across from one another in the Back Bay. BBSC has meat candy (candied kilbasa=yes please), but the crowd can be hit or miss.
More laid back bars in the Back Bay area: Pour House, Dillons & Whiskeys - Go ahead go on the Boylston bar crawl! Hungry for bar food? Go for whiskey's buffalo tenders.
For a even more laid back bar crawl, hit faneuil hall. Bell and Hand will always reign as my favorite bar here, but I've never had a bad night at Ned Devine's either. (well, I suppose we'd have to come to an equal agreement on the definition of 'bad' but you get my point).
Summertime you are going to Tias. If you can't get in head to Whiskeys and ABG.
If you're looking to get down and dirty with locals and are not a yankee fan, then there's no better place to get a real Bah-stan experience than Southie. Get your fix at Stats and Lincoln. Not sure if this is a good or bad thing, but I guarantee that the first person you strike up a convo with at either of these places will either know me or have a buddy that does.
Hotel Bars:
Langham. Bond is the best place to impress friends/clients. It's fabulously decorated and feels regal with a delightful cocktail menu. Don't eat any of the desserts, no matter how good you think the cheesecake lolipops sound, take my word, they're horrific.
Liberty Hotel. Amazing. No better place to enjoy a cocktail after work. Limited seating and overpriced, but SO worth it. History buff alert: The hotel itself is an old renovated jail that housed some pretty cool celebrities back in the day. The bar is appropriately named Clink. Get it.
Mandarin Oriental. Lychee martini with champagne and grapefruit? yep. Sure its a splurge at 18 dollars, but it really is that good. Plus they give roasted nuts and olives to munch on at the bar. This is a great place to find yourself in a deep conversation with a worldly traveler. Older crowd and plenty of cougars, but I alway have a great time.
....I justified returning to the Mandarin bar & ordering the lychee martini on the grounds that it was blog research. It really is that good I couldn't even wait to guzzle it before picture snapping!
Diners:
In my opinion, you'd have to drive an hour west to hit up Worcester for some real box car greasy delights. but South Street Diner has bomb buffalo tenders and omelets with suprisingly fresh ingredients. It's not necessarily dirt cheap, but they have healthy options (which actually makes me not like them as a diner) and they're incredibly efficient, even with a packed house of drunks at 4AM. Charlies on Dartmouth Street attracts local celebrities. The owner is a jolly guy who works hard to make his diner efficient and welcoming to regulars and newcomers alike. Greasy and border-line dirty, the atmosphere is perfect. Everyone raves about the turkey hash scramble, but unless you're looking to waste 4 times your normal fat intake on mediocre flavorless food, I'd opt for a breakfast sandwich.
Desserts:
Omni Parker Hotel. The originator of the Boston Cream Pie. This hotel is also a history geek land mind.
Mike's Pastries. This place will ruin you... as you will never be able to enjoy a cannoli again after experiencing the ecstasy of your first Mike's pastry.
Del Friscos. Oh that banana bread pudding. Yum.
Max Brenners. A true dessert experience. Order the chocolate pizza. The works.
...There are some hidden gems in Beantown, and lucky for you I'm going to share their whereabouts. Tell your stomach your welcome for me... and your waist line sorry. Unfortunately while Boston has come quite far in expanding their culinary palate... they really haven't jumped on the healthy bandwagon yet. (or maybe ever). Oh well, it's freezing anyways, you could use the extra body heat.
Without further adieu...
Boston's Best Eats:
Breakfast:
Okay, well you can't beat the Taj brunch on their rooftop terrace overlooking the city. And the Four Seasons brunch is definitely a close second. Both hotels outdo themselves, with carving stations, make your own omelet, raw bar, dessert after dessert, and flowing champagne -- but you do pay for what you're getting, and it's not cheap. Both brunches run around 50-60 per person.
For a fraction of the price (and by fraction I honestly mean 1/20th) head to J Paces and Sons. It is a deli counter, but they makes the most incredible bacon egg and cheese sandwiches ever. You have to get it on a homemade bagel. Oh god and their italian subs. I can honestly taste it now.
Friendly Toast - Located in Kendall Sq. the joint is littered with bizarre antiques and signs that give it an almost fun-house feel. I could never order anything besides The King Cakes (2 pancakes with bananas and choc chips inside, peanut butter between, encircled by bacon) but their menu is ridiculously fun and imaginative. It reminds me of the Griddle in LA, but better! I've also tried the cayenne cheddar toast (delicious), herb omelette (ok, but there is way better on the menu), kitchen sink quesadilla and shrimp (4 fried coconut shrimp and a quesadilla filled with spiced pecans, jalapeno jack and cheddar, spinach, fried onions, sweet potato fries and topped with mango sour cream and balsamic-- Odd combination, I know.. but this dish is A.ma.zing), and cheese fries with strawberry habenero dip. NOTE: if you had ADHD, take an extra dose of aderall before picking up their menu; it's overwhelming -- but everything tastes so fabulous that you'll already be planning what you're getting on your next visit before you've even ordered your Red Bull frappe. While friendly toast isn't particularly diet friendly, they do guarantee that their menu is trans-fat free.
Seafood:
Why, Legal Seafoods, of course. Hit the flagship in Seaport for some Thai style calamari and the fresh catch of the day. Save the lobster and chowder for James Hook & Co, which is honestly just a free standing shack before the bridge to seaport. But, well, that's all they really need when they have held their best chowdah ranking for decades.
Italian:
You can't experience Boston correctly without dining at least once in the North End. ...And of course getting a canoli at Mike's Pastries.
You can't go wrong at any of these spots: Luccas, Lucia, Antico Forno, Bricco.
For pizza, don't even consider going anywhere besides Pompei.
Steaks:
I normally avoid chain restaurants, but the Capital Grille in Boston does steak right. Go for lunch and get the steak sandwich with havarti. You'll save money and be so pleasantly surprised you'll never have a power lunch anywhere else.
Del Friscos: In the same category as my all time favorites Maestros and Cut (in LA). Honestly this place gets five full stars! Not only is it romantic with a breath taking view, huge comfortable black couches with chandeliers and recessed lighting ..but they have a serve yourself jelly bean bowl at the hostess desk. The sunken bar, lounge and make-shift wine cellar are also nice touches. In terms of food, don't go if you don't plan on getting the crab cake appetizer, most amazing one i've ever had. No bread crumbs just crab, peppers and spices in some tarragon heaven sauce. I got the three petite filets with different sauces on each one as my main course and I was giddy with happiness. the blue cheese is extremely flavorful and the candied scallop was out of this world and finished with a perfect bernaise. The third sauce had crabmeat and a red cab demi glaze and was also, you guessed it, delicious. I ordered carmalized onions to accompany my steak and I also got the brussel sprouts - both were good, but my eye was on the mac & cheese which i cannot wait to go back and try. Although the steak and crab were fabulous, the real diamond here is the banana bread pudding. Trust me. Best part, sign up for their emails and they'll send you a hand written letter saying thank you for coming in to eat with them. Perfect touch.
Abe and Louies - Love em! Such a Boston staple. You can't go wrong with anything on their menu.
Newbury:
Met Bar: The one on Newbury has a great feel. Their outdoor seating is great and summer salads & cold plates are delightful. The inside atmosphere is almost even better, I love the big booths and the clean white. Don't get the cod lettuce cup - they're drenched in a not so tasty sauce. Do get brussel sprouts, short rib tacos, and any burger.
Stephanis on Newbury: A staple to say the least. Breakfast? Get the pulled pork scramble and CEO mimosas. Then go walk it off and come right back for lunch/dinner. Their lobster and truffle mac and cheese is indescribably delicious. They also have the best ahi tuna I have had to date, and I've had my fair share of ahi tuna tartars.
Cafeteria: Amazing Sangria, possibly the best I've ever had. Get the white and the red. Actually get a pitcher of both and sit outside on a lazy spring or summer day and enjoy every fruity crisp sip. The menu is limited and food is sub par. I'd save the calories and just go for one of their salads or split an app, the entrees are far from impressive and quite overpriced.
 |
| Stephanie's on Newbury |
Lounges/Bars:
Drink Just all around best. This hidden gem is my favorite bar in Boston. You just tell them what you like..what you feel like, etc. and the bartenders (i feel like they should have a fancier name -- like how starbucks calls their coffee pourers baristas) create a delicious and unique concoction. It has this inviting speak-easy, relaxed feel that makes you want to engage in pensive discussions on the meaning of life. The apps are good, but will leave you hungry. I'd go for the olive mix and the bacon flavored nuts, then head upstairs to Sportella for something of more substance. Don't go here if you're looking for fast service, the bartenders even chop their own ice cubes off of an enormous block, which takes about 5 minutes but is worth every second.
Back Bay Social Club & Town: Great drink menus and they are right across from one another in the Back Bay. BBSC has meat candy (candied kilbasa=yes please), but the crowd can be hit or miss.
More laid back bars in the Back Bay area: Pour House, Dillons & Whiskeys - Go ahead go on the Boylston bar crawl! Hungry for bar food? Go for whiskey's buffalo tenders.
For a even more laid back bar crawl, hit faneuil hall. Bell and Hand will always reign as my favorite bar here, but I've never had a bad night at Ned Devine's either. (well, I suppose we'd have to come to an equal agreement on the definition of 'bad' but you get my point).
Summertime you are going to Tias. If you can't get in head to Whiskeys and ABG.
If you're looking to get down and dirty with locals and are not a yankee fan, then there's no better place to get a real Bah-stan experience than Southie. Get your fix at Stats and Lincoln. Not sure if this is a good or bad thing, but I guarantee that the first person you strike up a convo with at either of these places will either know me or have a buddy that does.
Hotel Bars:
Langham. Bond is the best place to impress friends/clients. It's fabulously decorated and feels regal with a delightful cocktail menu. Don't eat any of the desserts, no matter how good you think the cheesecake lolipops sound, take my word, they're horrific.
Liberty Hotel. Amazing. No better place to enjoy a cocktail after work. Limited seating and overpriced, but SO worth it. History buff alert: The hotel itself is an old renovated jail that housed some pretty cool celebrities back in the day. The bar is appropriately named Clink. Get it.
Mandarin Oriental. Lychee martini with champagne and grapefruit? yep. Sure its a splurge at 18 dollars, but it really is that good. Plus they give roasted nuts and olives to munch on at the bar. This is a great place to find yourself in a deep conversation with a worldly traveler. Older crowd and plenty of cougars, but I alway have a great time.
....I justified returning to the Mandarin bar & ordering the lychee martini on the grounds that it was blog research. It really is that good I couldn't even wait to guzzle it before picture snapping!
Diners:
In my opinion, you'd have to drive an hour west to hit up Worcester for some real box car greasy delights. but South Street Diner has bomb buffalo tenders and omelets with suprisingly fresh ingredients. It's not necessarily dirt cheap, but they have healthy options (which actually makes me not like them as a diner) and they're incredibly efficient, even with a packed house of drunks at 4AM. Charlies on Dartmouth Street attracts local celebrities. The owner is a jolly guy who works hard to make his diner efficient and welcoming to regulars and newcomers alike. Greasy and border-line dirty, the atmosphere is perfect. Everyone raves about the turkey hash scramble, but unless you're looking to waste 4 times your normal fat intake on mediocre flavorless food, I'd opt for a breakfast sandwich.
Desserts:
Omni Parker Hotel. The originator of the Boston Cream Pie. This hotel is also a history geek land mind.
Mike's Pastries. This place will ruin you... as you will never be able to enjoy a cannoli again after experiencing the ecstasy of your first Mike's pastry.
Del Friscos. Oh that banana bread pudding. Yum.
Max Brenners. A true dessert experience. Order the chocolate pizza. The works.
Wednesday, November 30
Chelsea's makeup picks 2011! A few splurges sprinkled amongst some CVS steals.
I have tried literally everything from Wet and Wild to Chanel, and while I prefer a few of the higher end brands -- my awards list is comprised of a mixture of CVS, Sephora and Saks buys.
I have larger pores and fair combination skins with minimal (aside from the few habitual zit offenders every 4 weeks) breakouts.
Primer - Smashbox. Worth every glossy penny. Goes on smooth, covers pores and leaves skin feeling flawless. No woman should go out for a night without this god sent. If you can't bear to spend the $, covergirl ageless primer does an ok job too. Don't go near bare minerals, it peels off your skin and makes concealer and foundation look like cake.
Eye shadow Primer - Urban Decay. Now, i'm sure you're thinking you don't need eye shadow primer, but believe me once you use it once you'll never look back (get it look, eye, eye primer - such a stretch, but its hard to be witty in a blog post about makeup). I even will wear it without eye shadow over it, the light nude color of the primer is so pretty!
Foundation - Mac for full coverage that will really last. Este Lauder for everyday full overage that doesn't look like you have makeup on. Don't skimp on foundation that you're putting on in the AM and wearing all day, it's worth the extra money.. i promise!
Pressed Powder - Revlon pressed powder goes on smoothly and leaves my skin shine free. I touch up twice a day with it. Dior makes a pressed powder that feels like silk, but does the coverage look any different than Revlon or cover girl? not to me. Save the 60 dollars.
Under Eye Concealer - I use Cargo because I got tricked by the saleswoman at Macys. I don't believe this is something you need to splurge on unless you have serious bags/discoloration. If you do buy mac or HD Studio Effects from Sephora. If not stick to Revlon.
Eyeline - Maybeline long lasting in Noir is fabulous! I've tried Mac on one eye and maybeline on the other. Ive tried Dior, HD photo finish, everything, and this $7 is still the best! It really stays and goes on so smoothly!
Mascara - Loreal Volumunious in Blackest Black. Honestly wouldn't consider using any other mascara. this is like liquid black gold to me. My one staple that I swear by. For thick, full lashes that look long and dark, Loreals where it's at.
Blush - Liquid I use Revlon and over it I put covergirl pressed powder. I also have nars, two faced, etc etc and these cvs brands work just as well!
Finishing Powder - Bare essentials. Really no comparison if you want a full clean coverage that will last. Covergirl makes loose powder that works, but you'll have to reapply it a few times throughout the day.
Eyeshadow - While I do love my two faced palete and mac separates, I really think covergirl is just as good in selection and quality. if you want more drama just wet the eyeshadow brush a little before applying.
Lip Liner/Lipstick - Don't splurge! Covergirl is Great!
Lip gloss - Sally Hansen lip plumper, Youngblood lip glosses are so amazing but ridiculously over priced, loreal color riche lip glosses give a nice color too.
Chapstick - Sugar. Is it REALLY worth the splurge? probably not. Does it feel like you've just kissed a cloud when you put it on? Damn right it does.
Fake Lashes - Revlon
Post script - Don't skimp when it comes to brushes. Foundation should be applied with a brush similar to a paint brush, end of story. Investing in good makeup tools (and by investing I mean the Sonia Kashuk linke at Target - don't get crazy and buy the rediculously overpriced ones at Sephora or worse, Neimans) will only extend the life and quality of your makeup.
Cheap on makeup remover, face wash, toner (or even witch hazel if you have oily skin than can handle the alcohol) but for god's sake buy yourself a decent face lotion that targets your specific problems. Again, this can be achieved by olay, but read the labels do some research and put your best face forward.
Paz y amor. (y belleza!)
Chels
I have larger pores and fair combination skins with minimal (aside from the few habitual zit offenders every 4 weeks) breakouts.
Primer - Smashbox. Worth every glossy penny. Goes on smooth, covers pores and leaves skin feeling flawless. No woman should go out for a night without this god sent. If you can't bear to spend the $, covergirl ageless primer does an ok job too. Don't go near bare minerals, it peels off your skin and makes concealer and foundation look like cake.
Eye shadow Primer - Urban Decay. Now, i'm sure you're thinking you don't need eye shadow primer, but believe me once you use it once you'll never look back (get it look, eye, eye primer - such a stretch, but its hard to be witty in a blog post about makeup). I even will wear it without eye shadow over it, the light nude color of the primer is so pretty!
Foundation - Mac for full coverage that will really last. Este Lauder for everyday full overage that doesn't look like you have makeup on. Don't skimp on foundation that you're putting on in the AM and wearing all day, it's worth the extra money.. i promise!
Pressed Powder - Revlon pressed powder goes on smoothly and leaves my skin shine free. I touch up twice a day with it. Dior makes a pressed powder that feels like silk, but does the coverage look any different than Revlon or cover girl? not to me. Save the 60 dollars.
Under Eye Concealer - I use Cargo because I got tricked by the saleswoman at Macys. I don't believe this is something you need to splurge on unless you have serious bags/discoloration. If you do buy mac or HD Studio Effects from Sephora. If not stick to Revlon.
Eyeline - Maybeline long lasting in Noir is fabulous! I've tried Mac on one eye and maybeline on the other. Ive tried Dior, HD photo finish, everything, and this $7 is still the best! It really stays and goes on so smoothly!
Mascara - Loreal Volumunious in Blackest Black. Honestly wouldn't consider using any other mascara. this is like liquid black gold to me. My one staple that I swear by. For thick, full lashes that look long and dark, Loreals where it's at.
Blush - Liquid I use Revlon and over it I put covergirl pressed powder. I also have nars, two faced, etc etc and these cvs brands work just as well!
Finishing Powder - Bare essentials. Really no comparison if you want a full clean coverage that will last. Covergirl makes loose powder that works, but you'll have to reapply it a few times throughout the day.
Eyeshadow - While I do love my two faced palete and mac separates, I really think covergirl is just as good in selection and quality. if you want more drama just wet the eyeshadow brush a little before applying.
Lip Liner/Lipstick - Don't splurge! Covergirl is Great!
Lip gloss - Sally Hansen lip plumper, Youngblood lip glosses are so amazing but ridiculously over priced, loreal color riche lip glosses give a nice color too.
Chapstick - Sugar. Is it REALLY worth the splurge? probably not. Does it feel like you've just kissed a cloud when you put it on? Damn right it does.
Fake Lashes - Revlon
Post script - Don't skimp when it comes to brushes. Foundation should be applied with a brush similar to a paint brush, end of story. Investing in good makeup tools (and by investing I mean the Sonia Kashuk linke at Target - don't get crazy and buy the rediculously overpriced ones at Sephora or worse, Neimans) will only extend the life and quality of your makeup.
Cheap on makeup remover, face wash, toner (or even witch hazel if you have oily skin than can handle the alcohol) but for god's sake buy yourself a decent face lotion that targets your specific problems. Again, this can be achieved by olay, but read the labels do some research and put your best face forward.
Paz y amor. (y belleza!)
Chels
Wednesday, November 23
Drastic Drop the weight Pageant Diet!
In preparing for the Miss MA USA pageant that I competed in this past weekend, the biggest stressor was getting in "skimpy bikini on a stage in five inch heels shape"
As a now seasoned pageant participant, I had a few tricks and tools already up my sleeve, but as my journey to skinnydom proved exceptionally effective this year, I figured i would share with all of the people who would never take time to read my 4 post blog.
If you follow this extremely restrictive diet and workout regime, you will lose weight. It is not necessarily healthy, and I am by no means a nutritionalist so please take my plan with a grain of salt (and then make sure you log that grain of salt in your food diary, and stress and feel guilty about it for 15-20 minutes).
Start of dieting journey - 118 pounds, 5'6, 3 months before pageant.
3 months out I watched what I ate very carefully. I made sure not to have too much sugar, sodium or carbs. My calorie intake was low, around 1000 and I kept track of everything I ate on livestrong.com "daily plate". I didn't necessairly watch calories, but I made sure that if I worked out hard I would reward myself with some extra protein & nutrients. More important, watch any sugar not found in fruits, and saturated fats and by all means don't even touch anything with fried, tempura, crispy, creamy, or rich in the description. Try to eat everything as raw as possible and avoid anything in packages, especially those horrid little lean cuisines and other frozen monstrosities.
Dining out:
Breakfast - egg white veggie omelette. Make it taste good with herbs and garlic or a little tobasco sauce/jalepenos
Lunch/Dinner: chicken & veg, a salad with grilled chicken, salmon, halibut, swordfish, tuna. no dressings aside from balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar.
AVOID: cheese and candied nuts on salads (a little goat or feta wont kill you, but be reasonable!). Definitely no creamy sauces, don't eat soups out - they're loaded with sodium and fats, unless you have access to the nutritional info and you can verify it's not going to throw you off track. Don't touch the bread on the table, and don't even let your eye wander near the butter. If you must have a nibble of bread you better ask for olive oil and use a small amount. if everyone else gets nachos, you don't eat them. any of them! you're on a diet! Let the people you eat with know you're on a diet and that you're watching what you eat, who cares if they say something snooty - this is for you and you're going to look fabulous!
DRINKS: for gods sake no drinks other than water and an occassional glass of wine.
NOTE: You really shouldn't eat everything on your plate, but if you're like me, you do. That's why I don't take bites of foods I shouldn't eat, I just order things my body wants and needs, like protein and veggies! My dessert is a glass of wine, but to each their own. This diet is for rapid weight loss for a certain date. So there's not much room for setbacks and cheats. That being said, having a few bites of a dessert or a nacho or two won't kill you, but dont be a glutton. and log every single ingredient (yes, 1/5 tsp of sour cream should be added if you dipped your nacho! and YES whip cream should be added too!). log things that seem silly, so you see how they affect your nutritional breakdown. After you reach your weight loss deadline then you can indulge a little and still maintain a healthy diet/weight/physique, but for this just don't. have some self control and harness the power of "guilt".
Supplements:
one a day women's multivitamin
fish oil
1000 mg of vitamin C
zinc, calcium & magnesium pill
Dieurteic teas. I like the flavor of Berry detox
Sample eating schedule -
Eating:
7:00 AM - 1 serving of fruit
9:00 AM - Large black flavored coffee, 1 serving of fruit
12:30 PM - protein & veggies
3:00 PM - snack
5:00 PM - 1 scoop of care one protein powder with water
7:00 PM - 1 scoop of care one protein powder with water, protein & veggie, tea
Possible snack at night
Fruit serving: 1 medium banana, 1 medium apple, half a grapefruit, 1/3 cup of berries, 1/2 cup of grapes, orange
Coffee: NO cream, no lattes, no skinny vanilla lattes. Flavored or unflavored black coffee or cafe americanos with no sugar. if you must then add a splash of skim, soy or almond milk
Best snacks: sliced cucumbers, baby carrots, handful of unsalted nuts, handful of unsalted soy nuts, sliced bell peppers, celery
Other snacks that should be enjoyed in extreme moderation: teddys all natural super crunchy peanut butter, 1 serving of flax seed multi grain low sodium chips from trader joes, half of a cliff bar (no more than 1 bar per week), 1 oz of dark chocolate,
Drinking: tea! any kind all kinds all the time! Skinny waters, vitamin zero water, lifewater zero, soda water, occassional glass of wine (stay away from excessively sugary whites like reislings), black coffee
Protein: light tofu, grilled chicken, sodium free/low sodium deli turkey/chicken, friendship low sodium 1% cottage cheese, egg whites, salmon, halibut, tuna, swordfish. Seasoning is the key. I eat everything with grilled onions and roasted garlic. Lemon on my fish with basil, yum.
Vegetable: Any veggies work for me! I love them all! be wary of potatos, i don't eat them at all, and don't over eat sweet potatos ...but everything else is free range. Now, not all veggies are made the same, from a droping weight perspective spinach and broccoli is a better choice than their non leafy green buddies, but honestly, eat up your veggies. Sautee them (in no more than 1 tsp of veg oil), boil em, nuke them, throw them in an omelette, eat them raw in a salad, bake an eggplant with some tomatos, go ahead get inventive!
*If you work out in the morning, drink protein shake before and after workout and add more substance to breakfast: 1/4 cup old fashioned oats, 1/4 cup cottage cheese, fat free greek yogurt plain, egg white scramble
As the date approaches, you must start to tweak your diet. I cut out dairly almost entirely, I don't eat any fruit after 11:00 AM, and I try not to eat more than 100 g of carbs. I keep my calorie intake under 1000 and the pounds slide off.
To curb hunger: I chew a lot of gum, drink water, vitamin waters, teas, and coffee. If I had a great workout I'll have an extra scoop of protein powder. I also snack snack snack on cucumbers and celery, I love the crunch!
WORKOUT PLAN:
For me this is what worked:
*Beantown bootcamp (beantownbootcamp.com) 2-3 times a week. It's very intense cardio and drills.
*Beantown Bootcamp strength training class 1-2 times a week. Kettlebells, bench pressing, serious high intensity weight training
*Advanced Pilates once a week
*TRX one to 1-2 times per week
In addition to these workouts, I supplement with the Smith Machine, mat exerices, kettle bell workouts, etc. While you are starting, go heavy on the cardio - sprints, running at 8 on a 6 incline, push push push yourself to fry off all the fat. As the date approaches focus on muscle building. Don't be afraid of machines, personal trainers, or free weights. And don't underestimate the power of a good yoga or pilates class to stretch out your muscles and give you a strong core.
As a now seasoned pageant participant, I had a few tricks and tools already up my sleeve, but as my journey to skinnydom proved exceptionally effective this year, I figured i would share with all of the people who would never take time to read my 4 post blog.
If you follow this extremely restrictive diet and workout regime, you will lose weight. It is not necessarily healthy, and I am by no means a nutritionalist so please take my plan with a grain of salt (and then make sure you log that grain of salt in your food diary, and stress and feel guilty about it for 15-20 minutes).
Start of dieting journey - 118 pounds, 5'6, 3 months before pageant.
3 months out I watched what I ate very carefully. I made sure not to have too much sugar, sodium or carbs. My calorie intake was low, around 1000 and I kept track of everything I ate on livestrong.com "daily plate". I didn't necessairly watch calories, but I made sure that if I worked out hard I would reward myself with some extra protein & nutrients. More important, watch any sugar not found in fruits, and saturated fats and by all means don't even touch anything with fried, tempura, crispy, creamy, or rich in the description. Try to eat everything as raw as possible and avoid anything in packages, especially those horrid little lean cuisines and other frozen monstrosities.
Dining out:
Breakfast - egg white veggie omelette. Make it taste good with herbs and garlic or a little tobasco sauce/jalepenos
Lunch/Dinner: chicken & veg, a salad with grilled chicken, salmon, halibut, swordfish, tuna. no dressings aside from balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar.
AVOID: cheese and candied nuts on salads (a little goat or feta wont kill you, but be reasonable!). Definitely no creamy sauces, don't eat soups out - they're loaded with sodium and fats, unless you have access to the nutritional info and you can verify it's not going to throw you off track. Don't touch the bread on the table, and don't even let your eye wander near the butter. If you must have a nibble of bread you better ask for olive oil and use a small amount. if everyone else gets nachos, you don't eat them. any of them! you're on a diet! Let the people you eat with know you're on a diet and that you're watching what you eat, who cares if they say something snooty - this is for you and you're going to look fabulous!
DRINKS: for gods sake no drinks other than water and an occassional glass of wine.
NOTE: You really shouldn't eat everything on your plate, but if you're like me, you do. That's why I don't take bites of foods I shouldn't eat, I just order things my body wants and needs, like protein and veggies! My dessert is a glass of wine, but to each their own. This diet is for rapid weight loss for a certain date. So there's not much room for setbacks and cheats. That being said, having a few bites of a dessert or a nacho or two won't kill you, but dont be a glutton. and log every single ingredient (yes, 1/5 tsp of sour cream should be added if you dipped your nacho! and YES whip cream should be added too!). log things that seem silly, so you see how they affect your nutritional breakdown. After you reach your weight loss deadline then you can indulge a little and still maintain a healthy diet/weight/physique, but for this just don't. have some self control and harness the power of "guilt".
Supplements:
one a day women's multivitamin
fish oil
1000 mg of vitamin C
zinc, calcium & magnesium pill
Dieurteic teas. I like the flavor of Berry detox
Sample eating schedule -
Eating:
7:00 AM - 1 serving of fruit
9:00 AM - Large black flavored coffee, 1 serving of fruit
12:30 PM - protein & veggies
3:00 PM - snack
5:00 PM - 1 scoop of care one protein powder with water
7:00 PM - 1 scoop of care one protein powder with water, protein & veggie, tea
Possible snack at night
Fruit serving: 1 medium banana, 1 medium apple, half a grapefruit, 1/3 cup of berries, 1/2 cup of grapes, orange
Coffee: NO cream, no lattes, no skinny vanilla lattes. Flavored or unflavored black coffee or cafe americanos with no sugar. if you must then add a splash of skim, soy or almond milk
Best snacks: sliced cucumbers, baby carrots, handful of unsalted nuts, handful of unsalted soy nuts, sliced bell peppers, celery
Other snacks that should be enjoyed in extreme moderation: teddys all natural super crunchy peanut butter, 1 serving of flax seed multi grain low sodium chips from trader joes, half of a cliff bar (no more than 1 bar per week), 1 oz of dark chocolate,
Drinking: tea! any kind all kinds all the time! Skinny waters, vitamin zero water, lifewater zero, soda water, occassional glass of wine (stay away from excessively sugary whites like reislings), black coffee
Protein: light tofu, grilled chicken, sodium free/low sodium deli turkey/chicken, friendship low sodium 1% cottage cheese, egg whites, salmon, halibut, tuna, swordfish. Seasoning is the key. I eat everything with grilled onions and roasted garlic. Lemon on my fish with basil, yum.
Vegetable: Any veggies work for me! I love them all! be wary of potatos, i don't eat them at all, and don't over eat sweet potatos ...but everything else is free range. Now, not all veggies are made the same, from a droping weight perspective spinach and broccoli is a better choice than their non leafy green buddies, but honestly, eat up your veggies. Sautee them (in no more than 1 tsp of veg oil), boil em, nuke them, throw them in an omelette, eat them raw in a salad, bake an eggplant with some tomatos, go ahead get inventive!
*If you work out in the morning, drink protein shake before and after workout and add more substance to breakfast: 1/4 cup old fashioned oats, 1/4 cup cottage cheese, fat free greek yogurt plain, egg white scramble
As the date approaches, you must start to tweak your diet. I cut out dairly almost entirely, I don't eat any fruit after 11:00 AM, and I try not to eat more than 100 g of carbs. I keep my calorie intake under 1000 and the pounds slide off.
To curb hunger: I chew a lot of gum, drink water, vitamin waters, teas, and coffee. If I had a great workout I'll have an extra scoop of protein powder. I also snack snack snack on cucumbers and celery, I love the crunch!
WORKOUT PLAN:
For me this is what worked:
*Beantown bootcamp (beantownbootcamp.com) 2-3 times a week. It's very intense cardio and drills.
*Beantown Bootcamp strength training class 1-2 times a week. Kettlebells, bench pressing, serious high intensity weight training
*Advanced Pilates once a week
*TRX one to 1-2 times per week
In addition to these workouts, I supplement with the Smith Machine, mat exerices, kettle bell workouts, etc. While you are starting, go heavy on the cardio - sprints, running at 8 on a 6 incline, push push push yourself to fry off all the fat. As the date approaches focus on muscle building. Don't be afraid of machines, personal trainers, or free weights. And don't underestimate the power of a good yoga or pilates class to stretch out your muscles and give you a strong core.
Paz y Amor,
Chelsea
Tuesday, November 1
Sunday, September 18
Fallin'
Despite my previous blog, I have always been a proud Bostonian, and there's no better time to appreciate MA than fall.
Fenway franks taste even better when there's a crispness in the air. And while I vow never succumb to drinking anything besides bud light at a Red Sox game (although I do detest beer..), 'tis the season of pumpkin spice coffees, espresso martinis, and shipyard pumpkin ale. Here's to combat boots, scarves and layers upon layers ..to apple picking, pumpkin breads, and butternut squash.
Lets pull in the umbrellas, and shack up at the local bar. Now's the time to explore those restaurants away from the waters edge. Farewell to Seaport's Strega, Anthony's Pier 4, and Barking Crab. Move over Tias and Whiskey Priest for the welcoming of warm fondue to share at the Wine Cellar. Alibi, the roof of Rattlesnakes and the Colonade pool will give way to dark and cozy corners of Toro, Red Lantern & Abe and Louies.
 |
| Copley Square |
So, don't be the leaf that refuses to turn yellow. Dive into fall and embrace your changing colors, for we are truly blessed to experience the magic of fall.
Paz & Amor,
Chelsea
Wednesday, August 10
Bostonian criticisms: Unhealthy, poorly dressed massholes.
In my east meets west, gets sent back east saga, I've made quite a few generalizations.
1. people in MA want to be overweight. It's a rarity to find any sandwich, omelet or even salad not smothered in cheese and bacon. Toast is always drenched in butter, girls and guys alike slug bud heavies over vodka sodas, and if it's not deep fried and caked in 3 days worth of sodium, then it doesn't taste good. No avocados, no balsamic vinaigrette, no fat free frozen yogurts with fruit.
2. People in MA have a horrific sense of fashion. Working in the back bay, this observation didn't initially jump out at me. However, after a clever GQ poll so frankly stated: "Boston is the worst dressed city in America," I began to look around. Full grown women wear running sneakers, yes, like reeboks, with their skirt suits. And not just any suits, but pewter colored, un-tailored polyester blend suits. These same women have short "manageable" hair cuts dyed a becoming mousey mix of brown and grey, with chipped red nail polish. Yet these middle-aged women aren't the only culprits. Younger women can be seen in two outfits: The first, a hooded college sweatshirts, jeans, uggs and toting a longchamp or coach bag that's so worn and dirty you can barely see the C's. The second: leggings, old navy flip flops, an oversized and unflattering tshirt with a faux-leather belt and silver hoops. Men are no exception to this critique; in fact they're most of the reason Boston has earned it's deplorable title. Think beer belly enhancing t's tucked into too baggy shorts with tube socks and tevas. For the younger males, flat brimmed sports hats with the official sticker still on, light wash baggy jeans, and work boots. Now I'm not saying I haven't fallen victim to the "I'm from Bahston and I dress for cahmfort" trap, because I have, but thankfully the Back Bay is swarming with extremely smart dressed men and women who keep me on the toes. Lets just pray I don't get re-located to downtown crossing.
3. Massholes are actually honest to god assholes! Of course not when you get to know them, for if you make a friend in Boston that person becomes closer than a sibling. Boston loyalty runs thicker than the Irish mobs, or perhaps they're one in the same, but either way you make friends for life here, which is a real rarity in LA. That being said, I've never seen less friendly people in my life. I sit next to the same commuters every single morning on the T, think they would say hi? These unsalted crackers not only abstain from muttering a greeting, they grumble when you sit down next to them! It's a three person bench seat, and you are actually mad at me for sitting on the furthest end of your row? THEN you have the audacity to push past me, hit me with your oversized faux leather bag, put your head down and forcefully thrust yourself through a sardine tight crowd. I actually saw 30 people walk by a man in a wheelchair trying to open a heavy convenience store door today. I stop and open the door for him, and I truthfully thought he was going to cry with gratitude. Sure chivalry is dead, but common courtesy?
Now, while I am bitter to be back home, and this is a rather harsh critique, there are many things i absolutely adore about beantown ..and the more I explore, the more I fall in love with this city. I also fall victim to these stereotypes myself. The entire time I lived in CA i complained that I couldn't get a chicky pahm, buff chix calzone, or hot fudge sundae with hunka chunka pb fudge ice cream from Friendly's. I try hard to stay trendy here, but the weathers ridiculously unpredictable ...and I have to walk/travel so far to get to work! Plus all the streets are cobblestones, and if by some miracle they are paved... they are riddled with pot holes. Who can walk in heels on streets like that?! As for the massholes, I hope to God, my uninhibited friendliness remains intact because observation 3 is really the most disheartening.
Paz y amor,
Chels
Tuesday, August 2
This is me, trying to find me!
As a born and raised Suburbian MA girl, I naturally escaped the doldrom of small town life and headed West to Los Angeles before my air born graduation cap could even hit the ground.
After a year of working in reality tv, going to houses that made me blush and parties too fabulous to describe, I have returned, somewhat grudgingly, to my parents home in Halifax, Massachusetts.
The move home was strictly career base, as I was offered a job at a modeling agency that I couldn't pass up. In the best analogy I can conjure in my wine induced, sleep deprived state: LA is to Hogwarts as Halifax is to the closet under the Dursley's stairwell.
My passion is traveling, exploring, trying new foods and testing my limits. I love to read, write, eat, drink, exercise, complain, and laugh. Follow me while I try to assimilate into Boston life, without losing my LA inspired zest and energy.
Paz y amor,
Chels
After a year of working in reality tv, going to houses that made me blush and parties too fabulous to describe, I have returned, somewhat grudgingly, to my parents home in Halifax, Massachusetts.
The move home was strictly career base, as I was offered a job at a modeling agency that I couldn't pass up. In the best analogy I can conjure in my wine induced, sleep deprived state: LA is to Hogwarts as Halifax is to the closet under the Dursley's stairwell.
My passion is traveling, exploring, trying new foods and testing my limits. I love to read, write, eat, drink, exercise, complain, and laugh. Follow me while I try to assimilate into Boston life, without losing my LA inspired zest and energy.
Paz y amor,
Chels
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)