Moving on up...

While chelseagilson.blogspot has faired me quite well since it's birth in 2011, we've decided to shake things up and forge a new path.  Please visit the new and improved www.travelingfig.com

paz & amor,

Chels

Comparing Plant Based All-in-One Nutritional Protein Powders!

I know I want a plant based all in one nutritional powder.  I know I want it be packed withprotein and vitamins and I know I want it to taste good.  Yet every time I go into whole foods, I stand in their protein aisle with my eyes glazed as I study the back of the nutritional labels.  After a few minutes of not retaining any information, I jut my hand out for Vega one, throw it into the cart, and book it back to the comfort of the garlicky kale and ginger beets. I’ve attempted to rectify the situation from the sanctity of my desk… but all of my online searches were veggieless (see what I did there.  Like fruit-less).  The market is too saturated… there’s just too many choices, it’s impossible to compare!   So I went on a mission to help the common consumer discern between the good the bad and the ‘tastes like fish food’.  I bought individual packets of 8 of what I thought looked like the most promising brands and scrutinized them across the board.   And this is the results.. 

A Guide to Siem Reap, Cambodia

After every trip, no matter the magnitude, my custom is to feverishly scribble down the details of my adventure on the flight home.  I desperately try to recount the sights, the sounds, the tastes of whatever wonderful corner of the earth I have just left.  But with Cambodia? Well, it has just been different. 

I am having difficulty digesting and articulating my time in Cambodia.  On the one hand there is Angkor Wat, which is absolutely mesmerizing in every sense of the word. There are the floating villages, the coconut soups, the vast jungle and the pristine beaches.  On the other hand there is a dark and dirty side of corruption that leaves me squeamish and uncomfortable.  Yet at the end of the day, Cambodia is a place I feel truly grateful for having visited... and one I strongly recommend you move up on your bucket list.  The history of Cambodia is peculiar, the people resilient and the landscape breathtaking... put it all together and you've got a destination worth shaking the piggy bank for.

For most, Cambodia is a stop on a southeast Asia tour for one reason, and one reason alone: Angkor Wat in Siem Reap.  So let's start there, shall we?

 Can you even believe I took this photo on an iphone 5? 

Maximize the benefits of your 3 day Juice Cleanse!!

I am not a dietician.  Anyone who is considering a juice cleanse should consult with their doctor. 

What started as a fad diet for celebrities has turned into a nationwide phenomenon, with juice bars sprouting up like wildflowers and home juicers flying off the shelves.  And while juicing can promise wonderful health benefits and can jumpstart a healthy lifestyle, it is not for everyone and can even be dangerous if executed incorrectly.  

So before you purge your house of solid foods and start choking down green juice, let's discern between who would benefit from a cleanse and who wouldn't.  

You should refrain from a juice cleanse if: 

-you are diabetic

-you have kidney disease

-you are extremely active

-you are on any heavy medications

-you are under 18

-you are underweight

-you're not willing to give up caffeine and/or alcohol for the 3-5 days of the cleanse

Even if you make my 'do not juice' list, don't fret.  I am simply discouraging you from doing a 3-5 day only juice diet.  I strongly believe that adding juices into your diet is a wonderful way to receive an abundance of essential vitamins for optimal health.  No need to tear up your punch card to Pressed Juicery, I promise! 

A Bachelorette Party Weekend in Cabo - The Itinerary

A play by play of the perfect* bachelorette party Weekend in Cabo San Lucas!

*Disclaimer: My definition of perfect might be slightly different than yours. Please take itinerary with a grain (or two) of salt... and a lime wedge.  (see what I did there).


DAY 1
12:00 PM.  Hooray! you've hit The Office at the right time and it's two for one margaritas!  Slurp them down with guacamole and arguably the world's best shrimp tacos.

12:15 PM. Holy F-ing Shit.  It's 2 for one margs at The Office and now you've lost all control over your limbs. Keep sunglasses on until further notice.

1:00 PM. While you're demobilized in your chair, expect a visit from the Mexican Rambo.  Don't try to resist his tequila shots.  DO pull away if he tries to steal a kiss.

Note to self.  Refrain from making kissy face when Mexican Rambo does steal kiss.

Visiting Halong Bay, Vietnam

If you're in the business of bucketlist check offs then a trip to Vietnam would be insufficient without a junk boat cruise through Halong Bay.  Sanctioned by UNESCO as a world heritage site, the over 1600 limestone islands jutting up from crystal waters are a preserved homage to mother nature.   

Booking

Indochina junk boats will have all you need to know and more. Book a private charter boat (4-10 people) or the 24 suite luxury Dragon Legend (more info below).  I know it seems like a whole lot of travel time just for one night at Halong Bay, but believe me, one night is plenty. Make sure you prebook your boat in advance, as they can fill up quickly.

Why you need to spend a weekend in Hanoi, Vietnam

I'm lucky to be able to say that I am well traveled.  I've navigated the narrow alleyways in Marrakech and floated through the islands of Greece.  I've been paragliding in Colombia and scuba diving in Hawaii.  And while I haven't seen it all, I feel relatively unfazed by culture shock.  Yet here I found myself on the other side of the world, covering my head, saying a prayer, and screaming bloody murder while I made a run for it across the bustling streets and I was... well, shocked.

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, yet it is far more traditional than the larger, and more cosmopolitan, southern city of Ho Chi Minh. The run down and relaxed Hanoi is often overlooked by tourists as simply a transit to the rice paddies of Sapa or the gorgeous waters of Halong Bay.  And while I'm sure Sapa is great and Halong Bay is stunning, Hanoi's got it's own splendor if you give it a chance.

Hanoi, Vietnam 

Hanoi is magical in a way that only a true nomad can appreciate. The sights, the smells, the food, the absolute chaos, the tranquility... it's all at once miserably overwhelming and perfectly beautiful.  I fell in love with the people and their quickness to laughter. I was enthralled by the history and religion.  And the food? Nothing will ever compare. Hanoi was a city I wanted to return to before I had even left.

Where to Stay
I recommend staying at the Hanoi Elegance in the old quarter.  It is a chain of boutique hotels that offer impeccable service and accommodations for an affordable rate.  Great locations, wonderful staff and an impressive complimentary breakfast spread had me hooked. 

For a five star hotel experience I recommend the Sofitel in the French quarter.  You will not feel any Vietnamese culture here, but you will find this hotel to be a French colonial sanctuary. 



What to Do
I recommend setting up a local tour guide (cost will be around $35/day) with the front desk when you arrive.  Without one, you will not be able to cross the street and therefore stuck exploring only the block that your hotel is located on.  No really, you need to be taught how to cross the street here.  It's pandemonium.  Picture 1 vespa with a family of five clutching on zipping through hundreds of other vespas carrying an equal load of people/random objects (saw someone on the freeway with a 8 foot rug on the back of her bike).  

Start at the Ngoc Son Temple to pay your respects to Confucius and lost loved ones. From here walk along the tranquil Hoan Kiem Lake, keeping your eyes peeled for rare turtle sitings.  

Ngoc Son Temple

Pumpkin Peanut and Almond Butter

Today we are making: PUMPKIN NUT BUTTER

Why mixed nut butter?  Because for me it's more satiating than peanut butter... and thus it lasts 3-4 days in my pantry, instead of 1.  Also, each nut delivers it's own particular makeup of vitamins, minerals and healthy fats.

Why pumpkin?  Because it's delicious.  Plus a can of low calorie, high fiber, NO fat pumpkin can help break up the calorie dense nut butter.  (= less guilt about scraping the jar clean).


What you will need:

-1/2 cup of unsalted peanuts
-1 cup mixed nuts, roasted in sea salt 
        (rich in fiber, magnesium and zinc!)
-1 can of pumpkin puree 
         (low in calories, high in fiber, great for skin and eye sight)
-1tsp coconut oil
       (helps you burn more fat, medicinal properties)
-1 tsp chia seeds
      (loaded with antioxidants, fiber and protein. High in omega 3s!)
-1 tsp flax seeds
       (high in fiber, b vitamins and omega 3s)
-1 tsp cinnamon 
       (can lower the negative impact of ingestion a high fat meal)
-1/2 tsp nutmeg
       (aids in indigestion relief)
-5 drops of stevia, 1 stevia packet
-1 tsp of agave or honey (more to taste)
- sea salt to taste
        (contains minerals and electrolytes that help you stay hydrated and aid in digestion)

Now What:
Put all ingredients in a high power food processor and puree for 5 minutes, stopping to scrape sides. Move contents to mason jar and enjoy!

Avocado Egg Bake

Cut an avocado in half and remove the pit. Deepen the hole with a spoon and crack an egg into the middle. Optional: top with cotija cheese. 

Bake in the oven for 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Top with pepper and garlic. Serve with a side of salsa. Boom. 

carb free, easy yet elegant and delicious.  These avocado egg bakes deliver a healthy dose of protein, MUFAS, minerals and vitamins - making them the perfect diet friendly way to start your day!

A Weekend in Tokyo

WELCOME TO TOKYO!

Sensoji Temple

   Let's come to terms with one thing before we plan our Tokyo vacation, shall we?  Tokyo is not one of those cities that will ever feel conquerable.  In much the same way that you can't 'do NYC', Tokyo is just too expansive and too innovative to ever feel like you can really cross it off your bucket list just from a short trip.  Bummer, I know, but at least now you can enjoy the land of sushi sans outrageous expectations.  Moving on. 

WHERE TO STAY:

   Where you stay will depend entirely on what type of traveler you are.  Since traffic is absurd, cabs cost a fortune… and you could suffocate to death on the subway during rush hour…  I suggest choosing a region of the city you prefer first and planning your lodging from there.

Lessons Learned from 1 Month Sober

The day before my 27th birthday I suggested to my budweiser-before-noon, bottle-o'-wine-for-dinner, Vietnam vet dad that we try a month sober.  Never imagining he would actually agree, I found myself near panic when we ended the call.  Could I really survive 30 long, lonely wine-less nights?  And even if I do make it, what's the point in torturing myself in such a horrific manner?

Now, it is not like I am some kind of beer slugger at a regulars' bar or a fiend who hides her vodka addiction.  Simply put, I just itch for a glass of wine after a stressful day... and it just so happen all of my days are stressful.  It is not an addiction, I just identify with the European notion that life is not worth living without vino. or du vin. 

Coconut Peanut Butter

On the North shore of Oahu there are a few little shops that sell a big piece of heaven: North Shore Goodies coconut peanut butter. 

Now, I will never be able to recreate their magic.  Even if I could - it wouldn't taste the same to enjoy it on toast in West Hollywood.   The North Shore Goodie's coconut peanut butter is an experience to enjoy with a spoon with your soulmate while you watch the sun set from Turtle Bay.  

This peanut butter recipe won't give you that.  But it comes as close as my food processor will take me. 

Ingredients:

-a bag of unsalted peanuts 

-1/2 cup coconut butter (or 3 cups shredded unsweetened coconut flakes)

-1 tsp coconut oil

-1 tsp honey

-1 tsp sea salt 

-1/2 tsp cinnamon 

(optional) -drop of liquid stevia or 1/2 packet stevia or 1 tsp agave 

Directions:

put in the food processor and pulse until you can't pulse anymore.  Really, you'll be pulsing forEVER. But eventually the nuts will turn to a smooth creamy consistency.

If you don't have coconut butter then start with just the coconut flakes until they become a whipped butter. (you'll have to pulse for 5 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides)

Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips

An apple a day keeps your waist whittling away ...if you ask me.   But for some reason you can't replace the crunch of your cape cod salt and vinegar chips with the crunch of a jazz apple.  I get it.  And I'm here to help.

BAKED CINNAMON APPLE CHIPS

1. preheat oven to 250 degrees.

2. cut off the top and bottom of a red apple and discard.  Slice apple into thin pieces using a knife or a mandoline. 

3. Mix 2 tsp cinnamon with 1/2 tsp nutmeg.  Dip both sides of the apple slices into the spice mix and lay evenly on greased cookie tray or parchment paper.  Optional toppings: sugar, coconut oil, cranberries.

4.  Bake for 1 hour or when the apple slices have begun to curl up on the sides.  Use spatula to transfer chips to a cooling wrack.  Let cool for 20 minutes or until crispy.

Detox Diet Bootcamp!

TOTAL BODY TWO WEEK DETOX BOOTCAMP - Join me as I clean out my organs while rejuvenating my skin, hair and overall well being! 

February, the month everyone officially cancels their shakeology plan and deflates (or rather inflates) with defeat.

But not for us my little tulips.  This year, I have revolted against ye ol resolution and decided to adopt a one-day-at-a-time lifestyle of self improvement.  Noble, perhaps, but it actually feels a bit more attainable than my normal 'lose my love handles by Jan 31 or become a nun' mantra.

So here it goes!  This is your two week jumpstart diet!  Read the chart, shed a tear for the lack of wine and chocolate, then scroll below for words of encouragement. 

Feels daunting?  It's two stinkin' weeks.. you can do it.   And this is not a starvation plan - it's quite the opposite. These two weeks will be quick and painless and you'll be showering me with love letters once the weight starts sliding off.  This plan is built to be affordable, easy and effective.  If you are looking for a more gourmet approach to weight loss, please visit the food section of my blog for truffle infused recipes and splurge worthy tips!  But remember, this plan is meant to be mostly monotonous ... in weeks three and four I will add nuts, yogurt more fruits, meats and grains (and yes chocolate and wine)... but these two weeks are a bootcamp. Clearly, we have all learned by now that no trail mix is safe in the house, and whoever denoted 1/4 cup as the serving size should be ostracized from society .  I mean, I've been 'dieting' for years and I have never had just one serving of nuts.. lets get real. My two week plan will shrink your stomach, and keep you full of good heart-healthy nutrients that will detox your system, rev your metabolism and get you on the right track for healthy life-long maintenance of your ideal weight.  Another founding component of this two week jumpstart is to nix our addiction to sugar and salt.  For good.

Life Lessons I learned from Improv Class

As I groggily drove home from the final Improv 3 class at Second City, I tried to justify the now $1100 I have spent at the school.  Sure the classes are absolutely hysterical and so much fun.  And I can say without a doubt that I have not only stepped out my shell but I perhaps even shed the damn thing all together (picturing a shell-less turtle is not exactly the model image of courage I was trying to conjure with that metaphor - but you get the idea).  But confidence boost and mastery of 101 theater games can't really be worth the grand I should have put towards a new car...

or can it?

WHAT I LEARNED FROM IMPROV CLASS 
1. The golden improv rule: Never say no.  To say no to your scene partner in an improv sketch is the highest offensive, punishable by banishment from subsequent participation.  Really.  No matter how odd or vulgar the suggestion is - if your scene partner blurts out 'like a bag of dicks', you damn well follow up with, 'oh right, that's a great idea Billy - maybe we should gift him two bags of dicks just to show our gratitude!'.   Albeit a horrible example, this rule is painstakingly applicable in life.  Stop automating with no and negativity.  Saying YES as often as you can in life will leave you wide eyed and ready for all of life's greatest pleasures.

2. I guess the golden rule is really not just 'always say yes' it is always say 'yes - and'. It is not enough to just be a minion who blindly agrees.  In improv you add on by saying yes, then building upon the idea or situation in order to propel the scene forward with life and vitality.  Are we finding a pattern with how this applies to life? YES AND it is that in improv and in the real world it is always a rewarding experience to be a contributor.

3. Everything is open to interpretation.  Today an audience member suggested 'curling' and one improviser started curling his hair, and the other started curling weights.  They recognized the miscommunication... and made it work - turning the story into a school too cheap to build separate male and female locker rooms in the gym.  My perspective is so drastically different from yours.. and that's where the magic of collaboration comes into play.  Tis important in life to be completely open to interpretation. Let yourself see things from another point of view...and never assume anyone will see things from your eyes.

2015 Resolution

Woke up to the sounds of swaying palm trees and the trickling of the pool in a villa on Phuket Island, Thailand for my first day of 2015.  I felt the sun beaming in from the sliding doors, stretched my arms straight overhead and let out a loud exaggerated sigh.  Ahhh, another new year....

In some ways the idea of beginning a new year tugs at my anxiety.  Am I really in my late 20s?  And what the hell am I doing with my life?  On the flip side, the notion of a clean slate energizes me and helps me refocus on who I am and what I really want out of this upside down crazy life I'm living.

So I washed my face, stumbled into the kitchen for some coffee and fruit.  I took a few peculiar euphoria longana fruits and peeled them to their lychee-like soft fruit and enjoyed them by the pool.   I really wanted to indulge in my favorite guilty pleasure: spooning the skippy peanut butter straight of the jar... but I restrained myself.  It's 2015 and I'm going to be in a bathing suit all day for Buddha's sake.  Not to mention I've already gained 6 pounds this trip on ramen, pad thai, curries, and every other heavenly food I've inhaled on my three week southeast asia adventure.  I gathered my self constraint and took my towel to the grass for some quick yoga flow.   2015 I'm so going to own you.

Minutes later I was back in the kitchen to refill my coffee cup ...or at least pretend to.  My coffee wasn't even finished, and I really didn't want any more.  I was there for one thing, and one thing only.  The peanut butter.  My kryptonite.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for...

With the dropping of temperatures to a frigid 67 degrees, we have entered the polar vortex of autumn in Los Angeles.  Tis the season of tree lightings that start November 1st, getting in verbal arguments over the last pillar candle at Home Goods, and obsessing over all things pumpkin flavor.

And with my crockpot out, my faux fur vest on and the DVR filled with Hallmark and Lifetime Xmas movies...  I have no doubt that this will be another holiday season of epic proportions.   Yet, it is those moments of a pounding eggnog hangover, the euphoria of eating a dozen sugar cookies in one sitting, and maxing out not one, but three, credit cards (and that was just on stocking stuffers) - that bring me to reflection.   Just a momentary pause from the gluttony and indulgence to remember the lessons of Christmas' poorly overshadowed cousin: Thanksgiving.  

Asking myself to dial back on the eggnog is simply a set up for failure - so I won't even bore you with a claim so pretentious.  This season, I just want to be more thankful. For family, friends, a wonderful boyfriend, a dog who only behaves when she's asleep... health, opportunity, travel, a higher IQ than the majority of the population... you know, the simple things.   So here it is.  My thanksgiving thank-ful list.  Hopefully I remember to glance back to this throughout the season so I can stay emotionally grounded while I abandon all guilt and inhale stuffing. 

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for:

  

 1. The end of the crop top trend.  I can feel it coming.  

2. George Clooney.  And each and every single one of your silver fox grey hairs. 

Turning Twenty Seven

I have to admit that my previous post was a bit more dramatic then it probably needed to be.  I might not truthfully even know what depression is... but I sure as hell was frustrated with life and couldn't muster enough energy to write.   Maybe depression manifests itself differently for everyone - but there still has never been a day in my life where I haven't truly smiled over something.  And for that I am grateful.

I wanted to write about despair for a number of reasons - but mostly because it's real.  It is something that all struggling actors grapple with at one point or another in their careers.  Maybe something that everyone experiences once or twice as they settle into their late twenties - and thus is important to shed light on.  But I also wanted to dial back for a moment and take a breath.  My blog is one giant neatly packaged story of adventure, travel and triumph -- but, as I pointed out yesterday -- I am just human too... and with that comes a less glamorous side of my me that I felt compelled to share.

That, and I just wanted to write again.   I wanted to finally digest the idea of turning another year older.  So here it goes.  Here's me at Twenty Seven.  

--

Birthdays afford me the ability to reflect on the past year - and what a hell of a year it has been.  Maybe the best year of my entire life.  Actually I'll scratch that - definitely the best year of my life. Lets hit on the highlights shall we?

TWENTY SIX

October - I move into a new little house with Matt and Shelly - My FIRST home! to decorate however I fancy!  And my own orange tree.. and soon my own garden with fresh strawberries and herbs and tomatoes.  And a perfect little yard for Shelly.  

November - I spend the fall auditioning like crazy and feeling so energized by it. Mom and I take an online screenwriting class...  and I churn out my very first screenplay!   I also spend every Wednesday night performing in my first ever play at some dark and jenky Hollywood theater that I absolutely fall in love with.  Shelly and I spend Thanksgiving on the beach in Newport.

The Acting Saga: Depressed.

It was during my second intensive acting session at Margie Haber Studio.  I had just watched a playback of my audition tape and I was shocked by how disgustingly unattractive I looked.  Physically yes... but it was even more than that.  My eyes were completely void of emotion... they were just... blank.   The instructor dismissed the tape as 'lifeless' and moved on to the next student.

Lifeless.  That night on my walk home from class I cried.  Hard.  I called my mom and said I wanted to get a nose job, called my dad and said I was ready to hang up this dream. By the time I got to the front door, I was too exhausted to think of anything besides drowning the day in food and wine.

I am no stranger to an occasional meltdown... especially since I started on this acting journey.  But normally the morning sun shining through the bedroom curtains and my dog snuggling her soft cold nose against my cheek usually refreshes me enough to shed the prior night's despair.

The next morning was different though.  The misery had sunk in and my body felt too heavy to pull

Healthy Apple Crunch!

Healthy Apple Crunch Recipe! 
An alternative to Apple Crisp - great as a dessert or as a granola!

This healthy recipe will keep you more than satisfied without de-railing your diet.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup old fashioned oats 
4 red apples, cut in small pieces 
1 green apple, cut 
1 banana (frozen or fresh) cut finely 
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp Grade B maple syrup 
1 tbsp peanut butter (any kind)
1/4 cup nuts or trail mix 
1/4 cup cranberries
3 tsp cinnamon
sprinkle of nutmeg
1 squeeze of clementine and/or lemon
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Basically combine everything and put it in the oven at 375 for 20 minutes. Remove and stir. Return to oven for 25-30 minutes. Let cool before enjoying!

great paired with greek yogurt for breakfast, or frozen kefir or frozen yogurt for dessert! Also good as an on the go snack.