UNTIL MONDAY......

Another weekend is upon us and mine is filled with plans. Sunday especially..... One of my best friends wedding shower will take place (yes, I'm a bridesmaid) and I'm looking forward to spending a momentous day with her. Ill be headed out to the tailor shortly to pick up my Chloe dress (see earlier post) later this evening and headed to the gym for a full body workout. I hope you enjoy your weekend, whatever you may have planned.

 

 

If you find your weekend to be quiet here are some things to try......

 

 

Is your closet a disaster? Closet Spring Cleaning!

 

Recipe for healthy and hearty muffins

 

Bored with your decor? Here is a shabtastic post!

 

 

Have a safe weekend everyone! Thank you for stopping by....bonjour!

xo

marlena

FAUX MOUSSE

I woke up excited to share this super easy treat with you! My recipe for a healthier mousse - has only 3 ingredients.... Greek Yogurt (Fage) and PB2 & a natural sweetener (optional).

Click here for an earlier post on PB2......
 
If you have any doubts about the benefits of PB2 vs. traditional peanut butter, read on. Keep in mind, that PB2 is all natural peanut butter without the fat or the added hydrogenated oil.

Traditional Peanut Butter                                       PB2  

2 Tbsp: 190 calories                                                            2 Tbsp: 45 calories
Calories from fat: 130                                                         Calories from fat: 13
Saturated fat: 3 grams                                                        Saturated fat: 0 grams
 

Mar's Faux Mousse
6 oz Fage Yogurt
3 heaping tablespoons of PB2 ( the more you add the thicker it becomes)
1/2 pack of truvia or stevia (optional)

Mix well and enjoy!

It can also be used as a dip for whole wheat gluten free pretzels, fresh fruit and even a spread on Ezekiel Bread.  Just add agave and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Easy, healthy and versatile!

THINK OUTSIDE THE CLUTCH

For most women, an evening out on the town includes your favorite clutch. Rolling forward into the day, for this spring, the over sized clutch has gained momentum and popularity. It changes up the traditional view on the compact style clutch into the over sized mega “carry – all” bag. This bag is roomy enough for your iPad for work and stylish enough to carry while brunching with your friends. Here are some of my favorite looks, hope this inspires you to Go Big & Go Clutch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

BIG APPLE FRESH

 

 

Saturday mornings I make it a point to visit my local famers market on 82nd Street. Its located in the Upper East Side, next to a Hungarian church. This part of the Upper East Side was once fully inhabited by Hungarians, Czechs & Germans living side by side. Personal fact: My mothers side of the family is from Hungary, making me 1/2 Hungarian. I personally love hearing the Hungarian language being spoken on the streets while I shop, brings back memories.....

 

Back to the post ..... At the local market you can buy anything from produce to cured meats. Ive compiled a list for you of the in season produce you should try to buy at your local farmers market. Note - Some items on this list wont be found at your market, head to the grocery store and buy them in the organic aisle.

1.  Apples
2. Artichokes
3. Asparagus
4. Beets
5. Broccoli
6. Carrots
7. Cauliflower
8. Cooking Greens
9. Grapefruit
10. Lemons
11. Lettuce
12. Onions
13. Oranges
14. Peas
15. Spinach
16. Strawberries
17. Tangerines
18. Winter Pears

Happy Shopping!

WOUND UP WEDNESDAYS

Life gets in the way of living sometimes – its easy to get lost in your to do’s and forget to stop and live. Having to work hard for the life we want is key, but that doesn’t mean we cant stop to smell the roses. Life’s simple moments and indulgence's can instantly put a smile on our faces, let us breathe a sigh of relief and appreciation. For some its quiet time when the kids are asleep  for others it’s a walk on the beach or a run in the park at dusk.

With the change of the season here in NYC, enjoying those special moments becomes easier for me, like the ½ hour I allow myself each afternoon in the park feeling the sun warm my skin - Or the long walks I take in Central Park on Sunday mornings before Church. I make it a priority to stop and take a break and indulge in special moments to ensure the best me possible. Life is all about balance. Ive yet to master it fully,  but I'm working on it one day at a time.

 

I encourage you to welcome those moments into your day or week and appreciate all that is going well in your life. Here are some examples of what I do and some examples I thought of for you:

 

 

• Wake up a ½ hour earlier in the morning, brew your favorite coffee or tea and sit on the couch. Open the windows and mentally prepare for the day.

• Indulge in an a la carte spa treatment at the end of the workweek
• If you work in an office, take a walk at lunch and let the sun warm your skin, especially on days during the young spring like this week

 

 

• Serve your meals on white simple plates – creates a beautiful display of the meal you created
• Order a gourmet meal to go, open your favorite wine and have dinner in the park on a weeknight
• Head to the local farmers market and take in the best of the seasonal treats 

• Go to bed early one night and turn off all media. Open the windows, slip into your comforter and have a full nights rest
• Enjoy a decadent piece of chocolate after a long stroll
• Make time for your significant other without the distraction of your cell phones
• Visit your local cheese shop and buy a fresh baguette – go in the park at dusk with a friend and enjoy

• Spend time with a best friend lounging on the couch and laughing
• Purchase spa products and pick one day out of the week to pamper yourself
• Listen to the Gypsy Kings while cleaning…. Always gets me moving
• Discover an intriguing book or article and let the words take away

 

• Create a Sunday morning routine. For me it includes walks, church, brunch and reading

 

 

 

• Enjoy a dinner full of conversation and feel good food
• Last but not least – enjoy….. enjoy whatever it is that allows you to get lost in the moment

Have a beautiful day! A happy & healthy mind creates a happy & healthy you.....

TUESDAY GROOVE -n- MOVE TUNES

 

 Had to share a music link to my FitnessFits family! Click on the link below and enjoy the heart pumping beats - listen to it while running and I promise you it will make your run that much better!
 

Miss Cady Miami 2013 - Click to start moving!

 

 

 

 

Tie up those sneaks and start moving! Trust me, this will get you in the mood to move!

 

 

THIS & THAT TUESDAY

Went on a great run last night! The weather in NYC could not have been more perfect. Carl Shurz Park is a must for locals in the UES.  

Pics from my run

After my run, I made myself my dinner smoothie. My Sneaky PB Smoothie! I call it that because of the spinach that I put into it. Try it and tell me if you taste the spinach.... I promise you wont!

 

Sneaky PB Smoothie

Handful of Organic Spinach
Handful of Organic Blueberries
2 Tablespoons of PB2 (see info on product below)
1 scoop chocolate whey protein
1 tablespoon of Flax Oil
1/2 cup Organic Chocolate Almond Milk
1/2 cup of Filtered Water
Blend until smooth and enjoy :)
TIP - Place Spinach in blender first, blends easier

 

 PB2 Peanut Butter Powder nearly 85% less fat calories without the chemicals typically used in producing reduced fat foods which makes it so good for us. You won’t find preservatives in PB2 either. What you will find is natural roasted peanut flavor that’s also available in a rich chocolate variety.  The oil has been squeezed out of roasted peanuts and what remains is this delicious powdered peanut butter – all natural with no artificial sweeteners!

MONDAY REMINDER!

 

COFFEE TALK (Weekend Review)

Hope you all had a beautiful weekend! I sure did :)

 

The weather here this past weekend was perfect. & spending time with friends and family was exactly what I needed.

Just have to share - We rented a Fiat for a Sunday drive down the shore in NJ and I have to tell you… it was love at first ride. Not only was the car adorable but perfect for NYC traffic –we got the last laugh… being able to zip through stand still traffic. We actually high fived in hysterics as everyone else was in standstill. I now understand why all of Europe loves the Smart car.

 

back to the usual - The weather is looking great this week in my area, try to find sometime to spend outside and get your heart pumping with some outside workouts. See you shortly!