Greens on Greens on Greens: How 16 Pros Drink Their Green Juice

Creating a big difference in your health and happiness starts with the smallest changes - like green juice. Green juice isn't a new concept, but even after being immersed in the world of all things Greens, Roots, Citrus, and Fruits for years, we're constantly looking for new ways to work it into our routine. Starting tomorrow, you can join us in the 30 Day Greens Challenge and see those big changes start to take shape. The premise is simple: pick up a 30 Day Greens Challenge card at any Pressed Juicery store or online. After you've gotten on board, drink one green juice per day for the entire 30 days of the month. Join with our challenge participants and drink your way into a healthier new season. Thirty days means you'll have begun a habit that will last - and that hopefully stokes your interest in other more healthy ways of living too! If, like us, you're looking to step it up this fall, join with us and follow along on social media through the month of September. On TCM, we'll be sharing tips, tricks, and wisdom from some of our favorite experts and health heroes on how and why to work a green juice into your routine on the regular. To give you a preview of what's to come, we've rounded up some of the best soundbites from our TCM friends, Guest Editors, and role models all about their green juice habits. From Mindy Kaling to the holistic doctors at pH Miracle, here's how 16 of our favorite wellness experts, celebrities, and health heroes drink it green...

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Norm Core Office Supplies: 5 Items We Love For That Faux Back-To-School Feel

Come September our office supplies fixation reaches a raging high point. And we're guessing you can relate. This year, our nostalgia for basic back-to-school supplies (number two pencils anyone?) is coupled with our obsession with all things norm core. The result? We're on the hunt for vintage-inspired, over-simplified supplies like the below...

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TCM Weekend: A Day Of Living Well In Las Vegas

If you can live well in Las Vegas, you can live well anywhere. As Pressed Juicery opens door to its first juice shop in Las Vegas, Nevada, we're talking about how we do in the other city that never sleeps.  Not that we're bottle-service averse or opposed to spending a good couple hours rolling the dice, but in keeping with the lifestyle we promote here on TCM, we recently spent a weekend in Vegas with wellness in mind...and we have to say, we think we pulled it off. Whether you follow our lead from morning 'til night or just pick up a few hints on how to squeeze in wellness between rounds, here is our day in Vegas, Chalkboard-style. It all starts with setting up your home base inside the super-glam Aria Resort & Casino.

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Vacation Recovery: 6 Beauty Picks For Exhausted Skin + Hair

hair masks, lip masks, luxe clearing serums...certain beauty products are just made for the end of summer. As we wrap up a good season's worth of beach and travel days, we love the idea of taking a Saturday morning or Monday night and going into full-on beauty recovery mode. Take a nap or bath (or both!), make a green smoothie or a giant salad, and gather some of our favorite green beauty luxuries to restore that sun-fried hair and travel-parched skin...

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Electric & Rose: Going Local + Getting Fit With A Venice Fitnesswear Guru

Standing out in a crowd is always a challenge. And when it comes to something like fitnesswear - which is having a major moment right now - it can be even harder to just do you. What's trending? What's hot? What's fleeting, and what's going to be around for the long haul? We see a lot of fitnesswear come across our desks each day, so we're both attune to what's trending and what's more of the same. We know our readers have high standards - so naturally, we do too. All this to say: when something really special comes along, we're not ashamed to go full-on fangirl. Our latest obsession? We've fallen head-over-cross-trainers in love with local fitnesswear brand Electric & Rose. Named after the iconic cross streets in Venice Beach, CA, E&R is the epitome of the SoCal lifestyle. Part hippie-chic, part rockstar, and part fitness fanatic, we're having a really hard time prying their uber soft, stylish, and super functional gear off our bodies. Founded by designer Erin Chiamulon and her husband actor Eric Balfour out of their mutual love for surfing, yoga, active living, and their eclectic hometown, this a brand with some major heart. After a career in fashion, Erin joined forces with Eric after they realized that in a sea of workout clothes, there wasn't really anything out there that spoke to their active lifestyle, had a personal flair to it, and performed like a boss while in action. Five years later, and Electric & Rose is now a fave of celeb yogis (like Caley Alyssa, Jen Pastiloff, and Briohny Smyth), surfers and gym goers just as much as those of us who just want a little more comfort, style, and movement in our day. Take a peek inside Erin's gym bag...

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The Ballet Beautiful Way: 3 Non-Negotiable Workout Tips This Prima Ballerina Swears By

When we asked Guest Editor Lily Aldridge about her favorite fitness routine, one thing was clear over and over - she is obsessed with Ballet Beautiful. Whether teaming up with her model squad for tendus or breaking out her stretches solo, Lily credits Ballet Beautiful as her main fitness squeeze. The NYC-based fitness studio is spearheaded by gorgeous New York City Ballet alum, Mary Helen Bowers, one of our own personal fitspirations. This beauty is the one responsible for Natalie Portman's award-winning Black Swan moves, Lily's gorgeous gams, as well as the strength + elegance of the people who flock to her classes each week from all corners of the world. We (and Lily!) adore Mary Helen for her kindness, grace, and refreshing perspective on fitness. You don't need to be Big Apple bound to take advantage of Mary Helen's expertise: she leads classes each week in her stunning, sun-drenched NYC studio, which you can join in at home through Ballet Beautiful’s live online classes. Here are Mary Helen's top three standards when it comes to maximizing your workout like a prima ballerina: Working out should make you look and fantastic. The right workout makes you healthy and strong, from the inside out! Here are three quick tips for maximizing your workout: 1. You don't have to be a professional ballerina to train like one. The world of professional ballet can sometimes seem intimidating and elite. Ballet Beautiful is the opposite. This is a targeted and transformative workout designed to help anyone, anywhere, train and sculpt lean gorgeous ballet muscles, and a dancer's beautiful posture and physique. 2. Challenge yourself and try new things! There are so many parallels between exercise and healthy eating. For starters, variety is key! It's incredibly beneficial to try new exercises and stretches within our program to keep the muscles challenged and fully engaged. I'm a huge believer in targeted exercises and the importance of how each individual muscle is engaged while working out. For best results I always recommend a mix of our targeted mat exercises along with our more dance-y cardio and standing work. The combination gives supermodel like results! Love Ballet Beautiful mat work? Try our cardio and standing series to mix things up and take it to the next level! Obsessed with Ballet Beautiful Swan Arms? Don't miss our new Swan Arms Cardio DVDS which also incorporate ballet-inspired cardio work, extra stretching and fun workouts like Abs with Swan Arms. 3. Commit to a minimum of 3 hours per week No matter how great a workout is you won't be able to see results if you only practice once a week. When it comes to fitness I completely understand the time crunch the so many of us are under and how hard it is to set aside an hour every day. The Ballet Beautiful program is divided into many smaller Blast workouts that can be subdivided and done in pieces throughout the week. Flexibly is important in the modern world - I want to help people do what they can, when they cam. Just remember, in order to really see a difference in your health and physique it's imperative to set aside at least three hours each week to train and work the body. With Lily, we typically train three to four time per week for 40-60 minutes...often when her daughter is napping! To me this is the perfect maintenance pace. It's a manageable amount, even for a busy working mom and allows you to not only maintain results but see changes, too. Before a big event like the VS Show, we will step up the intensity and duration of workouts to take it to the next level.

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On Pins + Needles: An Acupuncturist On 5 Ways To Manage Stress

We're beyond excited to have LA-based acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist Tracy Ng contributing her insights here on TCM, especially right as we're all returning back to the daily grind and scrambling to get back on track as the summer comes to an end. Tracy is helping us find ways to work Chinese medicine into our lives - starting with the topic of stress relief... Stress is part of our every day lives. Some stress is good - it can help motivate us to accomplish tasks, work more efficiently and meet the challenges that greet us daily. However, too much stress is bad and can overtax your body. Stress is a response in the fight-or-flight nervous system. When we operate excessively in fight or flight, we inactivate resting and digesting - key components that make for healthy living. Stress that stays around for weeks or months floods the body with chemicals that increase food cravings and heart rate, weaken the immune system and contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Signs that you are under too much stress include: difficulty concentrating, getting sick often, flareups of autoimmune conditions, muscle tension, digestive problems, drug and alcohol abuse, fatigue, depression, headaches, irritability and increased anger or anxiety. While I encourage my stressed-out patients to eliminate excessively stressful situations, I realize that it is not always realistic to do so. Traffic, deadlines and unexpected demands and delays are a part of life. Fortunately, there are a number of lifestyle enhancements you can make to help combat stress. Below are some practices that I incorporate as rituals in my life to keep the inner dragon goddess peaceful and calm.

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One Two Punch: Try This ModelFIT Boxing Move + Replenishing Coconut-Infused Nut Milk

All month long we've been getting our sweat 'n sip on with modelFIT, the NYC workout the runway set can't get enough of (and neither can we!). Our Guest Editor Lily Aldridge loves it too, and it's not hard to see why: the Victoria's Secret Angel-approved workout takes the best of all world - dance, sculpting, boxing, yoga, you name it - and fuses them into a straightforward yet innovative workout that reaps major rewards. Founders Justin Gelband and Vanessa Packer have been sharing their favorite simple yet effective moves each week, along with a recipe from Vanessa's site, Bonberi, to keep you fueled and fit long after your heart rate comes down. This week, Justin and Vanessa are breaking down a move from a workout style models have been going crazy for this year: boxing. "Boxing is all about rotation, which is a great way to engage the core," says Gelband. "Keep your stomach tight throughout the exercises to refrain from hurting your back”. Refuel with this homemade nut milk recipe, which uses coconut water for an extra electrolyte one-two punch! [olists num=1] [olists num=2]

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No Flour, No Problem: The Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Recipe You’ve Been Waiting For

We're not even pretending to wait til an appropriate autumn date to bust out this carrot cake recipe! We know spice and carrot cakes seem more apropos for late fall, but, this little cupcake was burning a hole in our proverbial pocket. Gluten-free girl crush and Purely Elizabeth founder, Elizabeth Stein has finally written a book. If you've never picked up her granola at your local Whole Foods, make this cake recipe your formal introduction to Elizabeth and swipe up a copy of Eating Purely: More Than 100 All-Natural, Organic, Gluten-Free Recipes for a Healthy Life. This lady boss knows her stuff: even the vanilla frosting is sinless and made from soaked cashews. Go ahead and have seconds of this one... I have always had a huge sweet tooth. This was one of the reasons I started Purely Elizabeth, after all. I came up empty handed when searching for a better-for-you gluten-free sweet treat. When I realized what was in vanilla frosting, I knew there had to be an alternative. Cashews are actually the perfect solution for a creamy sweet topping. Be sure to soak the cashews for at least four hours to get them smooth and creamy in the Vitamix.

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Cool Down For What: Make These Mint + Aloe Vera Ice Cubes

Are you that girl who hates drinking water? There seems to be one in every bunch. No judgement, but a girl's got to hydrate for glowing skin and, well, everything pertaining to your health and well-being. Forget Chinese herbs, forget green juice--if you're not hydrating with good old h2o, then you're skipping the ultimate step on the road to living well. We get that it can be tiresome to drink your weight in spring water each day, so we're styling the whole process up for you. These gorgeous ice spheres are pure Pressed Juicery Aloe h2o laced with a few fresh mint leaves. We're definitely drinking more water since we've started stocking these in the office fridge. We're all about those ice cubes lately. Maybe we're inspired because all the coolest restaurants in L.A. are using them in their cocktails or maybe it's general popsicle fatigue (is that possible?), but we're all about the glowing blocks and spheres of frozen juice and water. Here are a few sweet little ideas for using these cubes: don't be a square: We're obsessed with all the unusual ice molds on the market right now - giant cubes, bottle-ready stick.... We used these ice molds to make the aloe vera ice spheres here and they couldn't be prettier. We know we said to hydrate, but... How dope would these ice spheres be in a good old Tom Collins cocktail? Swap the aloe water for lemon water and you're all set for tall, gorgeous cocktails that will impress summer houseguests. hydration upgrade: Aloe and mint are beautiful, but they also add a few great health benefits to your water. Aloe soothes digestion, which always benefits your skin too. Mint soothes, cools and also has vitamin c, copper, manganese. DO IT FOR YOU: Self-care doesn't always mean taking a spa day or week away, sometime self-care is as simple as making yourself super-fancy ice cubes for that ever-present water glass on your desk. Add these mint-aloe cubes to your water at work all day - on a Wednesday. Just because you can.

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Prince + Princess Lattes: Superfood Tonics For A Coffee-Less Morning

We're adding all kinds of crazy ingredients to our coffee these days - things like grass-fed butter and collagen powder. But we're also mixing it up with coffee "alternatives" thanks to tips from pros like Kerrilynn below. Kerrilynn Pamer is co-founder of NYC's CAP Beauty. Just like her shop's shelves, Kerrilynn has knowledge that extends far beyond just  topical beauty alone, including these beautifying, life-enriching lattes. These drinks are just the latest in a series of drinkable wonders she's shared with us (check out this and this.) Use the body system, pair up, and skip that cup of joe with these his and hers "lattes"... Four Sigma Foods, known for their extensive mushroom and superfood knowledge, has created new blends targeting specific concerns for the superfood-curious. Princess, a combination of dong quai, mucuna pruriens and maca raises energy levels and helps with PMS and menopause and regulates women's hormones to their natural state of peace and balance. Prince is the blend you want to have on hand for increasing manhood and supporting muscle growth. This blend has a high-performing combination of muira puama, mucuna pruriens and maca that supports and stimulates man-power. Keep these blends in your ever-growing superfood cabinet and incorporate them into your life daily. By taking these consistently over the course of your life you'll begin to see subtle yet powerful changes occur. At CAP Beauty we believe that the ritual of sitting down and taking care of yourself can be as powerful as the actual foods, so take some time to treat your body and mind to some love. You deserve it. The Prince and the Princess from Four Sigma Foods are blends that can be added to your beverage of choice (our choice being an amazing superfood latte). Try this latte for whenever you need a little boost. But if you’re like us, it might sneak its way into your daily ritual in no time.

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Pudding Pack Flashback: Eat This Superfood Pudding with Pollen Glaze

Remember the black-and-white layered puddings cups of your childhood? This impressive chia pudding recipe by Melissa Parke Rousseau of M.Parke Studio is a major upgrade to your former lunch box staple: it's jam-packed with some of our favorite superfoods de jour, like mood-enhancing matcha, digestive-aiding ashitaba, and hormoning-supporting pine pollen. Is it too much to say this pudding is a solution to all the things? Because it kind of is. Here's Melissa with a few notes on the recipe that puts that '90s "snack pack" to shame... It's 95 degrees. It's muggy. It's slow-moving, slow-living time. I keep my food simple, clean, on the cooler side and mostly raw during these steamy months. Whenever I get that craving for old-school tapioca, I now turn to chia puddings - and just for this late summer heat, add in some of my favorite superfoods and tonic herbs to up its healing powers. I added matcha green tea for its high fiber content, to boost metabolism, to help with detoxification, to calm and enhance my mood and to help fight viruses and bacteria. I combined that with some ashitaba, a wonderful source of B12, a skin nourisher, digestive tonic and spirit lifter. To finish it off, I added my favorite strawberry glaze - with a touch of hormone-supporting and liver-detoxifying pine pollen.

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Would You or Wouldn’t You: A Stomach Massage For Stronger Abs

Pratima's gorgeous ayurvedic beauty products line our vanities. From the gold-labelled bottles to the sexy blend of herbs and spices, Pratima's oils and masks are a compelling way to introduce yourself to some of ayurveda's effective, somewhat luxurious-feeling traditions. Pratima Raichur, with her namesake beauty brand and Tej skin care clinic in Manhattan, is our go-to for all things ayurvedic. She has an intuitive way of diagnosing and treating that comes from her years of study beneath India's premier Ayurvedic physician. Since Pratima herself is not always available to us here in L.A., we were thrilled to discover her book, Absolute Beauty: Radiant Skin and Inner Harmony Through the Ancient Secrets of Ayurveda. Through the fall, we'll be sharing a series of insights from it's pages, starting with this unfamiliar, but sensible-sounding massage technique. We rub children's tummies when they're not feeling well, but somehow the habit hasn't crossed over into adulthood. Check out this traditional method that actually promises to flatten your stomach. There are no crunches involved... The Abdominal massage for strong abs A stomach massage twice a day, first thing in the morning and again at bed time, is the easiest and healthiest method for flattening the tummy, besides dieting and regular exercise. THE BENEFITS: Abdominal massage not only reduces fat deposits and cellulite around the abdomen but also strengthens and tones the muscles, especially following childbirth. (For even greater results use Pratima Kali Rai Toning Body Oil.) It is also an excellent method for reducing the effects of stress. Other benefits include relief from chronic constipation, improved digestion and improved kidney function. WHY IT WORKS: Most of us hold unexpressed emotion in our guts, so the stomach and solar plexus (the second and third chakras) are major depositories for toxins. In addition, seventy-two nadis converge at the navel, so abdominal massage stimulates energy flow throughout the body. It also balances the elements of water and fire, which are seated in the second and third chakras. HOW TO DO IT: Pour massage oil directly into your belly-button area. With your fingers, gently massage the navel in a clockwise circle. Then, using your palm, slowly make the circles bigger until you have massaged the entire abdominal region. Reverse direction, and slowly make the circles smaller until you are back at the navel. Massage 30 times clockwise, 30 times. Note: Skip the abdominal massage if you are pregnant, or have intestinal ulcers or heart problems. What do you think, readers: would you or wouldn't you massage your abs for a flatter stomach? Willing to try it - or making a hard pass?

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This Everything-Infused Grain-Free Granola Is Life Changing

Stop the presses. A granola with zero oats, millet, barley, quinoa, grains of any kind? This is the stuff our dreams are made of. We're not averse to grains in the least (see our quinoa bowl obsession here for proof), but many of us find we feel more vibrant when we're keeping them to a minimum. Grain-free recipes like this one by Tieghan Gerard from Half Baked Harvest are just the kind of thing we need more of: crunchy, snacky goodness we can eat by the handful that makes reaching into the cereal box (or popcorn bowl, or chip bag, or cracker box) but a distant memory. Tieghan's granola isn't just grain-free, it's infused with literally everything: pepitas, pistachios, goji berries, cacao, maple, vanilla, even ground coffee (and that's just a short list!). Trust us when we say you won't even miss that cereal box...

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Endless Summer: Win Our Chalkboard Mag x Planet Blue Pinterest Contest!

Stylist Dree Harper has such strong Pinterest game, we're throwing a Pinterest contest in her honor! Whether you normally join with us for our Pinterest contests or not, you're going to want to get in on this one. For the next two weeks, join with The Chalkboard and Planet Blue as we celebrate the end of one season and the beginning of another. We're basking in those last golden rays of August and jamming in as much beach time as possible with Planet Blue's gorgeous, boho-riffic summer collections and giving away $500 worth of Planet Blue goodness to our winner. We've had a sneak peak of their coming fall collections too, and have to say, we'd enter and play to win if we were you. Here's how...

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TCM Editor Obsessions: Sakara Life Hits Los Angeles

New York and L.A. are two very different beasts. But, at the same time, what happens in food and in wellness here often happens there eventually - or vice-versa. Danielle DuBoise and Whitney Tingle launched the healthy and luxe food delivery service, Sakara Life, years ago in New York and since then we've heard nothing but rave reviews from ladies and gents we trust in the Big Apple. But nothing really prepared us for our first bite of Sakara Life here in L.A. Just a day in to our week of the Sakara Life program, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, two flavored waters, and tea, we found ourselves hooked on the incredible food - especially the dressings and sauces. Our obsession with Sakara's incredible sauces inspired this recent story and had us in the kitchen all day the following weekend trying to replicate some of our favorites. We were blown away by everything from Sakara Life that hit our forks. And, even better, three days later, we felt more svelte, clear and glowy than when we began our delicious deliveries. To celebrate the arrival of Sakara Life in L.A., we asked these two wellness mavens to fill us in on their favorite habits and hotspots on both coasts...

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New York State of Midriff: How Lily Aldridge Stays Healthy During Fashion Week

Our last Guest Editor of the summer, Lily Aldridge knows how to take a selfie (see Vogue's Instagram feature for proof!) This balanced babe has been shooting us healthy Insty's all month and we're loving the green juice and beach vacay vibes. Lily lives a healthy lifestyle we're happy to share with our readers. We hope you'll pass along some of Lily's healthy stories this month to the young women in your life who need more models like Lily in their line of sight! The fact that nutrient-dense meals like salmon and asparagus are part of Lily's Victoria's Secret runway prep are incredible bits of insight for women everywhere. Sure, looking this great means mindfulness and discipline, but it doesn't need to mean imbalance or deprivation. With September starting just next week, we're thinking New York Fashion Week and wondering how Lily preps for the big events herself. Here are this top model's best tips for remaining cool, calm, and coquettish through the mad dash of a week...

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Don’t Panic: The 5 Best Natural Serums to Diminish Sunspots

So you took full advantage of summer - and you've got the skin to prove it. That bronzed glow is gorg, for sure, but more often than not there are pesky dark spots that pop up (our moms warned us, but did we listen? nooo...) to remind us of the fun we had in the sun. Annie Atkinson of She's In The Glow has the 411 on the best au natural products to diminish sunspots for good: As summer comes to a close and the final days spent pool or beachside come to an end, the physical signs of summer remain. Sunspots are the absolute worst, and even for the most cautious and careful, they still somehow appear. They come in all different shapes and sizes, vary in color and usually show up where the sun hits us - most noticeably on our face, chest and hands. Vulnerability to sunspots and physical sun damage can even be genetic, so you might notice that you are more sensitive than others, and like most other beauty woes, age only makes things worse. But before you start to panic, there is a solution! Reverse the signs of sun and UV damage with the latest skincare technologies specifically geared to reverse sunspots. These natural and organic products are not only powerfully effective, but are packed with earth-loving vitamins, minerals and botanicals to brighten and lighten. Pop them on as recommended - on a clean and toned face before your moisturizer. And remember your sunscreen the next time you face the sun! These are the winning products to take you from summer to fall, and are sure to make you beautiful, bright and glowing. 

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Read Your Labels: Toxic Beauty Ingredients You Should Toss This Weekend

You've restocked your pantry, cleansed your closet - now it's time to de-bug your beauty drawer. And to help you out, we've enlisted a pro who's been living and breathing skincare since single-digits. Ever since the age of eight, Ayla Beauty founder Dara Kennedy has been obsessed with skincare. While most of us were raiding our mom's beauty drawers for the first time, Dara was developing a passion that went way beyond playtime. Her love for quality skincare and beauty products is what ultimately propelled her to start Ayla, her beauty studio in San Francisco and online shop. Natural beauty can be overwhelming for even the "greenest" of us - so we're thankful for beauty mavens like Ayla who can help us figure things out. Ready to detox your beauty loot? Here is Dara's short list: the most toxic beauty products you should toss - plus, amazing non-toxic beauty products you should replace them with:

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How To Build A Raw Bar: A Summer How-To With Montauk’s Surf Lodge

There's nothing like the beaches here in Southern California in summer. But there's also something so quintessentially summery about the Hamptons this time of year too! Our gal Dria Murphy has been cooling her heels at Montauk's The Surf Lodge all summer long and we asked her to share a little with us about how the other coast spends the summer. Her answer? With a Hamptons-esque raw bar, of course. The Surf Lodge's Chef Chris Rendell is giving us the 411 on building a perfect raw bar at home - from essential pre-planning and tool gathering to dips on dips on dips. Take his cues, do some of the strategic prep-work beforehand, and invite everyone over! We wonder how to get our hands on a case of that local brew? Keep things simple so that you can party along with your guests: press play on Sunburnt Synths Radio, Chef Chris's cooking class playlist of choice, and you're good to go. Here's how to wow your backyard crew: 

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From Salad Dressing To Stock: 12 Clever Ways To Use Coconut Water

Think you're the most devoted coconut water lover out there? Well, we wonder if you've heard of all twelve of these coo-coo for coconuts uses? Our friends at Food Matters are uncovering a dozen new and unusual ways to use our favorite nut from coconut Americanos to coconut water as stock to cook rice in - absolutely genius! We're obsessed with this list. Which idea are you going to try first? Need a refresher on why you should be drinking coconut water in the first place? Here are 55 reasons.  [olists num=1]

To read more ways to use coconut water click through here!

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How To Host A Clothing Swap: Throw A Party + Raid Your BFF’s Closet

September is right around the corner. And back to school vibes mean we suddenly want to buy all the things. Press pause on your consumeristic tendencies with us for a moment and consider throwing a clothing swap with friends instead. If you followed our closet detox with Ashlee Piper earlier this summer, you probably have a ton of old threads lying around waiting to leave your closet. Call a couple of girls, whip up a few healthy cocktails (we've got a few ideas for you) and get to swapping instead of shopping! Ashley Rae recently shared this party idea with Cameron Diaz's Our Body Book and is walking us through the process, step by step...  A few weeks ago I went to a bachelorette party for a friend. While we were all sitting in the ‘quiet room’ at the spa (not being quiet at all) we were talking about how weʼre all so bored of our wardrobes but don’t want to spend the money to buy new clothes. We all have different priorities now, houses, businesses, children, travel, etc. and to be quiet honest, I’ve never been the type of girl to spend a lot of money on clothes. I don’t see the point. Since we all do have very nice clothes though (weʼve just grown tired of them), we decided to have a clothing swap. I had heard about clothing swaps in the past, but had never attended one myself…until two weeks ago! My new neighbor hosted this epic (and I’m talking epic) clothing swap with so many clothes that it felt like her dining room and living room had transformed into a free-store. I took some inspiration from her and hosted my first clothing swap. And it was such a success! [olists num=1] By the end of the swap I had cleaned out my closet of everything I hadnʼt worn in the past six months and added two pairs of heels, three dresses, five tops and one bikini top. We packed up all the clothing that was left behind and donated it and decided to continue swapping on a semi-annual basis. Success!

For a look inside Ashley's own clothing swap, click through here! 

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Summer Resolutions: Give Yourself The Workout Motivation You Need

Somewhere between New Year's Day, "bikini season," ...and the next New Year's Eve, our good intentions to workout weekly can get over-ridden by other priorities. We may ramp up our efforts before a big event (beach vacay! big date!), but then fall back into old habits once life gets in the way. It's still the middle of the summer and we're hoping to motivate ourselves to amp things up again, recalling those far-flung resolutions, and renewing our fitness "vows," while we still have a good, meaningful chunk of the year left.  Workout routines are just good habits that we cultivate over and over again - which means, if you're gonna get fit, there's no better time than the present. Our friends at Darling interviewed the creator of VIPE, Marlies Korijn, to share these motivational secrets, and we loved her four simple yet super effective tips... 1 | SET REALISTIC GOALS Set realistic goals! The key is consistency, so try to define a routine and stick to it. Work out at least two or three times a week with recovery days in between. Dress for the gym right away to give yourself less opportunity to back out of a workout. I drink a protein shake two hours before my workout to get the best results – Body Brilliance Vegan Protein Formula in chocolate flavor with almond milk is my favorite. Protein takes time to kick in which, is why you have to drink it in advance. Then, set a fun playlist and get pumped up! Have fun with it! 2 | MAKE FITNESS FUN There are so many amazing options on how to exercise these days! Find something that appeals to you personally so that you’ll actually want to workout. I personally love spin, TRX and boxing because I get inspiration through action and sports! Remember that exercise can include games and team sports as well, which can be more fun than going to the gym. Plus, working out with friends helps to keep you motivated. 3 | BRING A FRIEND Choose a friend to work out with who is at a similar level. Accountability is key. At Vipe, we take breaks and go to exercise classes together. I am certified in TRX, Power Plate and spin so give the team pointers on form. We will work out together and then grab a high-protein lunch afterwards! It’s fun to go as a group so we encourage each other. Fitness and health should be a priority in our daily lives. It’s also important to switch it up. Trick your muscle memory by gradually increasing to heavier weights with fewer reps or alternating between upper and lower. 4 | SNACK ON HEALTHY SNACKS Overeating when you feel like you’ve “earned it” can be a problem for a lot of people. My personal biggest pitfall is licorice candy when I’m feeling indulgent. Especially since I just had a baby and am constantly breastfeeding! As a healthy alternative I’ll go for Wasa multigrain cracker with a slice of low-sodium turkey or cut celery sticks and radishes dipped in hummus. I recommend snacking on healthy snacks frequently and don’t allow cravings to get in the way of your workout routine. I will also splash some Organic Stevia Sweet Drops in my water bottle to switch it up (peach mango is my favorite).

To read more, visit Darling by clicking through here!

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Summer Recipes 101: Learn To Make Perfect Gazpacho

This chilled gazpacho by Claire Thomas of Kitchy Kitchen is pretty much the perfect summer soup (no, that's not an oxymoron!). Filled with tropical fruits like mangoes and pineapples and a spicy habañero pepper kick, it's like a vacation in a bowl. Keep this recipe  - which is completely raw! - on hand once September rolls around to beat the post-vacay blues... I'm a huge fan of gazpacho. Gazpacho is easy to make, can sit in your fridge, is refreshing on a hot day and is so light. You can't feel guilty eating a big bowl of gazpacho. It's also exceedingly flexible, so you can play with the flavor profile however you like. Today I'm going with big, bright flavors like mango and pineapple punctuated by habanero heat.

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Real Garlic Butter + Tomato Toast From A Sustainable NYC Dairy Farm

If we're going to do dairy, we want to go for the good stuff! And that doesn't mean the sugariest ice cream in the grocery store: that means choosing responsibly-farmed dairy that's done right from farm to table. Monique Otero from Brunchpants gives us the scoop on a NYC farm setting the bar high for the dairy industry - and shares a recipe for garlic butter tomato toast that will rock your world... Dairy is an ingredient I love to indulge in, but when I do, I always source from dairy farms with responsible farming practices. Ronnybrook, in New York’s Hudson Valley, is one of those farms. This farm goes above and beyond traditional organic farming methods, never using any pesticides or RBST and making sure their cows get daily access to outdoor exercise. Ronnybrook treats their cows like family and they even have comfort cow stalls with individual mattresses. All of their milk is tested daily to insure that their products meet the highest quality standards. One of my favorite summertime recipes is roasted garlic tomato toast using Ronnybrook's European-style unsalted butter (Read about our buttered coffee obsession here.) This is my butter of choice because it is fresh churned in small batches and has a higher butterfat content than traditional butters. I usually double this roasted garlic butter recipe and freeze half so it is ready to go for unexpected summer picnics. You can find Ronnybrook at farmers markets all over New York City. They are at the Union Square Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

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No Sir, No-Sew: This DIY Tote Bag Is Made From A Recycled T-Shirt

Make a green impact and run your errands at the same time: BYO-bag. Here in LA, most stores have a ban on plastic bags, so if you want a paper bag, you're going to have to pay (literally). Even if your city doesn't have restrictions like this in place, toting your own tote to the grocery store is a simple way to make an eco-friendly shift. Ashley Poskin at Hello, Natural, is showing us how repurpose our old t-shirts into this simple and adorable grocery tote bag. The best part of this DIY tote bag? You don't even have to pick up a needle and thread. Here's how to make it happen: [olists num=1]

To read more about making your own tote bag - plus tons of other simple DIYs - visit Hello Natural by clicking through here!

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Superfood Spotlight: Angelica Root

We know that keeping track of cool superfoods can feel daunting, but, the truth is, there is no rush. -these "superfoods" aren't passing trends - - they're vital parts of our natural world, and they're here to stay. Medical experts have studied herbalism for eons, so don't get overwhelmed! That's just what features like our superfood spotlight are for - learning about one herb, veggie, or superfruit at a time. Guido Mase, an herbalist at Urban Moonshine (one of our favorite brands for herbal remedies like tonics and bitters), is introducing us to a medicinal plant that's brand new to us: angelica. Why you should give this unique, spicy, mineral-rich root a try... What it is: You can tell this plant has been well-respected, even adored, across the world: Its name hearkens back to the archangels who guard and protect the human race. European angelica (Angelica archangelica) is a root that is warm, spicy and slightly bitter, helping to enliven digestion and circulation. Though it is more stimulating than its Chinese cousin (Angelica sinensis, known as dong quai), it also has a deeply nourishing quality too. It is a member of the parsley family and its flavor profile reflects the salty, celery-like quality of these herbs. The plant grows huge in its second year, putting out a softball-sized globe of flowers that is truly impressive. Why use it: Angelica root is a medicine chest all on its own, possessing bitter, aromatic and tonic qualities. It is first and foremost a digestive bitter, helping to relieve indigestion, gas, and bloating after meals. But its warm spice makes it uniquely suited for long-term use, acting to improve circulation, relax arteries and move blood to peripheral tissues (the volatile oils and coumarins it contains are thought to be responsible for these effects). Finally, the root is packed with B vitamins, including B12, and lots of minerals - from calcium to a good supply of highly bio-available iron. This is probably why the root is still given to those suffering from anemia, where it proves to be a gentle but effective tonic. One note of caution: The spicy, stimulating quality of angelica makes it inappropriate for use during pregnancy. How to use it: The traditional preparation of angelica root — preserved, crystalized cubes - is delicious to share as a unique aperitif or digestif. If you don't have time for the recipe below, you can approximate the traditional cubes by adding 5 drops of angelica tincture to a cube of raw sugar. But to really highlight angelica's unique flavor, mix it with floral and citrus notes in a delicious, slightly warming bitter cordial. [olists num=1][olists num=2]

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Immunity Ice Cream: The Crazy Dairy Product You Need To Discover

We'll basically take on any excuse to eat ice cream, but especially if said ice cream is actually more health food than health foe. Our gal Lacy Phillips of Free + Native Journal is making dessert dreams come true today with this elegant, immunity-boosting superfood ice cream recipe - lavender and lemon zest included. Made with the ONE dairy product you've probably never tried, but are about to discover, this chilly, power-packed treat is our discovery of the week!  We're on a superfood ice cream tear, by the way - get all our crazy ice cream recipes here. Here's Lacy... I’m about to suggest something that is going to freak out every plant-based eater, but I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t believe in its ancient ayurvedic and traditional medicinal benefits (such as being loaded with fat-soluble vitamins A, D and K; brain-feeding omega 3s; and probiotics). Here goes: Eat raw milk and cream. Shriek! Yes, these are incredibly medicinal foods - especially for the hormone health of women. Just recently, Melissa Rousseau of M.PARKE STUDIO introduced me to the wonderful extra-medicinal upgrade of adding colostrum to your favorite cold treat. Colostrum, known as “immune milk,” - what mammals secrete before their actual milk flows - is packed with adaptogenic properties that have been known to support immunity while assisting in regenerating and rejuvenating the body. This lavender colostrum ice cream recipe is the perfect nourishing treat to bring to your end-of-summer gathering.

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TCM Weekend: A Day of Wellness In Ojai

In Los Angeles, an hour drive can get you a mile on the 405, through the In-N-Out Burger drive-thru on a Saturday night - or straight to the quiet, heavenly city of Ojai. Ojai has an uber-crunchy reputation it has earned with great pride. Nestled just beneath a unique mountain range with storied energetic properties, Ojai is the kind of town that's so quiet it'll make you uncomfortable if you're not in the mood for it. But when an earthy, sleepy, silent weekend is all your heart is yearning for, Ojai is just the place. Pure therapy just an hour out of the city. Ojai's Topatopa mountain range runs both east to west and north to south, creating what the Chumash native's considered a sacred place and what many still consider a natural energy vortex. Whatever the case may be, the calm energy in little Ojai cannot be denied. Here's how to spend the perfect day once you're road-tripped up...

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Lily Aldridge On Her Pre-Runway Diet + The Mask She Uses Weekly

Okay, she didn't wake up like this, but she does wake up like this. Our August Guest Editor, model Lily Aldridge is schooling us today on beauty basics. Her, count 'em, twenty tips - from her VS fashion show prep to the mask she's whipping up weekly - have us circling back to some of our favorite natural beauty basics. What we love most about Lily's insights is that nothing you'll take away from this list feels like a chore - nightly dinner of salmon and fresh asparagus? Hardly sounds like deprivation to us! These are the kinds of beauty tips we can wholly embrace. Lily's list of twenty tips prove why this balanced babe has earned her place in the wellness spotlight. We're trying this old school yogurt and honey mask ASAP...

lily aldridge diet beauty tips

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Yes, Please: The Avocado Margarita

What we'd give... Okay, guys we tried to convince Nashville's Avo Restaurant to share all the luscious, boozy details with us for their avocado margarita, but to no avail. Wisely, they've kept this dreamy cocktail recipe all to themselves, and now we've got plans for a Music City wellness weekend spinning in our heads! Avo serves up raw, vegan food fit for a city that takes it's food pretty seriously. These vegan ceviche tacos are a perfect example of what they do best. Gather your taco ingredients, a bottle of tequila, a bowl of limes, and a couple of avocados, then spend one of these hot August nights working out an avocado margarita recipe on your own! Let us know what you come up with. Surely we can't match the Avo's green salty goodness, but we're going to give it a running shot with loads of ice in the Vitamix and a pink salt rim...

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Show Us Your Greens: Join Pressed Juicery’s 30 Day Greens Challenge

We're firm believers in the power of green juice. One bottle, five pounds of produce, a life-changing habit that happens a day at a time. Small changes add up, and creating a better life is all about those baby steps. As easy as it is to swig a bottle of greens, even simple habits can be easy to stray from. Starting September 1st, we're challenging ourselves, our friends, and our TCM readers to drink one green juice a day for 30 days to get the new fall season started right. Join us as we begin our 30 Day Greens Challenge! Starting today at all Pressed Juicery locations, you can find 30 Day Greens Challenge cards available for purchase to get ready for our September 1st start date. Pocket one, buy one for your mom, get your gym buddy involved. We're ready to make this challenge count. Start your 30 days right away if you want or wait until September begins so you can stay in sync with our group challenge. Throughout the month, we'll be sharing special ways for you to stay engaged with our community, including encouragement from Guest Editor Lily Aldridge and other greens-drinking pals, as we start the fall season. Are you up for the challenge? We've shown you our greens, now show us yours. Here's everything you need to know:

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Catsuits + Beyond: Our Readers’ 7 Most Popular Fitnesswear Picks

we've learned quite a bit about our readers since launching The Shop last fall. And we have to say, we're impressed. We knew you ladies (and gents) had great style and a love for good design - why else would you join along as we force our obsession for gorgeous photography and well-styled living into our wellness stories? But not until we amped up the fitnesswear offerings in our The Shop did we realize just how fierce you ladies are - and we're talking straight up fearless. The proof? This catsuit - and six other stylish fitnesswear picks that have flown off our digital shelves. How many of you are rocking this catsuit as you read this? We love it!

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Ripe For The Picking: Easy Apricot Bites With Raw Dark Chocolate + Coconut

Right now is the perfect time to enjoy some of our favorite fruits in the entire universe - stone fruits like peaches, plums, nectarines, and apricots are in season and ripe for the picking all the way until September! Food blogger Monique Otero of Brunchpants has us drooling over these dark chocolate covered apricot bites sprinkled with flecks of pistachio and flakes of coconut - perfect for a summer barbeque or a mini dessert. Just try not to eat the whole batch at once... Apricots top my list of stone-fruit choices. As soon as the season comes along, I head straight to Red Jacket Orchards. This farm goes back three generations and boasts the largest apricot farm on the East Coast. Started in 1958, this family-run orchard prides itself on sustainable farming practices incorporating holistic and bio-dynamic techniques to improve their organic production. You can find RJO at the Union Square farmers market and smaller farmers markets around the city. See their full schedule here. Combining fruit and chocolate, these sweet (but not too sweet) apricot snacks are a summer-must during stone-fruit season. I like to serve these as a light dessert after a barbecue or as a quick grab when I want a healthy indulgence.

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How ‘Bout Them Apples: Win A Farm-To-Table Produce Box With Kaufmann Mercantile

We hate to admit it, but we've only got a few months left of summer. Good news is, we love the excitement and fresh start that autumn brings! Whether you're a kid, parent, or somewhere in between, the end of August can mean only one thing: it's back-to-school time. Farm-to-table delivery service Out Of The Box Collective is partnering up with homeware store Kaufmann Mercantile this month to get you and your family ready for the transition. Get your hands on their mouth-watering cinnamon applesauce recipe, perfect for both kid-sized and adult lunchboxes – then enter to win your own Real Food Box below! We're thrilled to team up with Kaufmann Mercantile, the online homewares store dedicated to a slow and thoughtful home. What distinguishes Kaufmann Mercantile from the flood of other homeware shops is their dedication to positively affecting the environment. Their hand-picked products are made from quality materials that will last a lifetime, instead of those that are used once before ending up in a landfill. Their apple baker and apple cutter, one of which is included in each of our Real Food boxes, epitomize fall. In combination with our Gravenstein apples, reluctant students can take advantage of these tools and impress their new teachers with a classic apple gift. The Real Food box, delivering across LA on August 24th, features a myriad of seasonal ingredients perfect for making kid-friendly meals - sweet potatoes, lipstick peppers, tomatillos, Larder Bakery bread, ingredients for pesto pasta and, most importantly, Gravenstein apples. These prized apples have been nominated for the Ark of Taste, Slow Food’s catalog of delicious and distinctive foods facing extinction. They are small and stout but mighty with their crunchy, sweet-tart flavor and are perfect for lunch-box applesauce! [olists num=1][olists num=2]

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Retreat Yourself: 8 Things You Can Expect On A Yoga Retreat

Going on a yoga retreat used to be a thing only the hippiest of hippies embarked upon - my, how times have changed! You know that yoga is having a major moment that just won't quit, which means that yoga retreats are becoming the newest must-dos on the to-do lists of everyone from business execs to Bikram junkies. The beauty of retreating yourself is that you don't need to be an experienced yogi to reap the full benefits - just like yoga itself, it's more about the journey than what you actually do on the mat. Ben Crosky is the co-founder of YOGASCAPES, a yoga retreat company aimed at creating a full-on travel experience by taking some of the most vibrant, energetic yoga and wellness teachers around and pairing them with everything you need to get a real taste of the local culture and breathtaking, off-the-beaten-path surroundings. He knows how overwhelming it can be to venture into the unknown (literally!), so we asked him to break down the ins and outs of what you can expect on your yoga retreat of choice... Whether it’s your first yoga retreat or your twentieth yoga retreat, it will be - hands down on the mat - the most generous thing you could possibly do for yourself. Time and time again we see amazing people from around the world have transformative experiences on our yoga retreats. Some are coming for deep healing, some are coming to disconnect from technology.  Others are marking a big transition or wanting to scratch a travel bug while staying healthy. Some are jumpstarting their yoga practice and others truly have no idea why they are on retreat except that something deeper has called them. One thing that I’ve learned in leading yoga retreats with YOGASCAPES is that no matter what the intention was for coming on retreat, most people end up coming away with something they didn’t even know they needed. That’s just what happens when you spending a week getting to know yourself in a supportive, playful, healing space. In your search for a yoga retreat, you never know what you’re going to find that inspires you.

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Models On Instagram: 6 Healthy + Body Positive Women We Love

The way we see it, we're in the middle of a sort of body-positive renaissance right now - and there are some pretty phenomenal models helping to spearhead that revolution. Slowly but surely, these women of all shapes, sizes, colors and creeds are banding together to encourage something that is way more than skin deep: self-love. In a culture that fat shames and skinny shames, damns you if you're "too fit" and damns you if you're "not fit enough," it can be hard to feel like you've got the right body type. The truth of the matter is, there IS no "right" body type - and we love these six models for not only embracing what they've got and who they are, but inspiring us to do the same alongside them. From joyful gym sessions to philanthropic pastry faves (really!), here are six models who remind us that we're all our own brand of beautiful.

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Sweat, Then Sip: Try This ModelFIT Workout + Juice Combo At Home

this month, in honor of our Guest Editor, model Lily Aldridge, (who's been known to visit this studio) we’re sharing wellness mini-sessions from Justin Gelband, the co-founder of modelFIT. This NYC studio has both top models and fitness fanatics sculpting and sweating their way to runway-worthy bodies. Along with co-founder and nutritionist Vanessa Packer (check out her lifestyle site bonberi!), Justin has turned modelFIT into a premier East Coast studio top bodies are flocking to for unique, individualized health programs. The studio has five different fitness class formats. Last week, we shared Justin's two-step abs exercise (that requires absolutely zero crunches!) based on the Sculpting class. Today, we're breaking down a movement from modelFIT Dance Cardio that studio fanatics are obsessed with. Don't be fooled by how simple this move is! Learn the move, get sweating, then cool down with this supermodel-worthy juice from Vanessa... [olists num=1] [olists num=2]

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By Land Or By Sea: The Sweetest Seashell Candles To DIY This Summer

it's easy for a simple craft project to spin out of control. We love a little DIY, but the struggle is real when it comes to the danger of over-embellishing! A far cry from a pair of bedazzled jeans, this simple, adorable seashell DIY by Athena Calderone of EyeSwoon is just the type of little project that we can get behind. With only four materials total, these tiny shell candles are easy to construct, completely chic, and really fun to pour. Need to find an excuse to make the candles yourself? Pop over to our feature with Athena today on the beach and get inspired to throw your own summer soiree - rose sangria and all.  

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The Team Lunch Series: Unlock Your Best Pitch + Sriracha Soba Noodles

If you're anything like us, great conversation and delicious food are always a recipe for inspiration. Carolyn Sams and Isis Krause of First Seating know the power of a great breakfast or lunch to transform a team meeting into a fun social gathering – especially if everyone gets to play in the kitchen! First Seating helps teams of all shapes and sizes (especially non-profits and purpose-driven businesses) tackle their most important initiatives and issues through engaging, collaborative, creative round-tables helping to drive rich conversations, collaborative decisions, and stronger connections among teams. All summer long, we’ve been bringing you a series of team lunch concepts from this creative strategy duo to help you and your team connect and create business solutions in a fun, practical, personal way - plus office-kitchen-friendly dishes to go along with the discussion (like this Breakfast Salad!). So far, the ladies have shared their perfect conversation starters for your team pow-wow and ways to define your company culture to get everyone on the same page (and amped up about the work they're doing!). Today, Carolyn and Isis are helping you refine your core message so you can create your best pitch ever… In a world driven by storytelling, one of the greatest skills you can have is the ability to give a great pitch. We’re not talking tweetable taglines, but instead the unique ability to share a clear and enticing message of what your company, product or idea is, and why it’s so special. But getting there is tough, especially taking the time to step back and see your key value proposition. Inspired by the great Business Model Canvas, we’ve created the Messaging Canvas - a series of key questions for your team to find clarity in your pitch. Each section will help you and your team build up a prioritized list of ideas and phrases that will help you speak with authenticity and passion, instead of a script. Work through the Messaging Canvas over a long team lunch – we’ve found that a healthy meal will give you the time and energy to take on these big discussions in a way that’s invigorating and inspiring. Our soba noodle salad is a perfect lunch for this conversation: It’s easy to prep, and has a wonderfully-addictive combo of fresh ginger, scallions and sesame oil. (Two of our favorite soba noodle dressings are Momofuku’s Ginger Scallion Sauce and Heidi Swanson’s Otsu Soba Salad. We combined them into one and made a few tweaks to get the flavor just right.) [olists num=1] [olists num=2]

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Spanish Rose: An Ibiza-Inspired Rosé Sangria With Honey Lavender Syrup

We're hitting the Hamptons with the lovely Athena Calderone for a moment of pure summer beach bliss. Athena, whose EyeSwoon recipes have graced our pages many times before (take a gander at her day cooking at an upstate orchard here!) promised us her homemade rosé sangria recipe and we knew we couldn't miss. Read through the stylish hostess' inspiration for an afternoon on the bay and stir up a pitcher for your own summer celebrations. Tomorrow, join us as we share a DIY version of a few of Athena's favorite summer elements and ideas. Here's Athena... Most summers my family and I travel to the Spanish island of Ibiza for a two-week holiday. Summers on the Mediterranean coast are synonymous with paella. Late afternoons are spiked with Cava sangria and feasting on seafood paella so fresh, you can taste the sea in every bite. For the first August in quite some time, we’ll skip our trip to Ibiza, so I decided I would bring a touch of Spain to Amagansett. Together with new my friend, Amagansett neighbor, and fellow foodie, Jodi Moreno of What’s Cooking Good Looking, we set out to make the absolute swooniest paella beach grill. We decided on a vegetable paella to support the plethora of local veggies that Amagansett farms grow in high season. As for the décor, I kept things light, bright and simple, letting the surroundings guide the palette and allowing the natural beauty of the vast, sweeping views to take center stage. We chose to grill on the bay beach, which somehow gets forgotten here in Amagansett - it's usually desolate with vast stretches of sand and still waters to take in at dusk. You can see why I opted for neutrals: the breathtaking vista of the sun reflected off the bay, casting an incredible pink hue over the sky. Some nibbles of olives, Marcona almonds, shishito peppers and rustic bread were set out as our paella cooked, getting crispy at the bottom as it traditionally should. And as our meal simmered to swoony perfection, Jodi and I poured lavender-infused rosé sangria, served with local fruit from Balsam Farm. Oh, one last thing: As beautiful and breezy as these images appear, we were sticky and sweaty as we began to bring things down to the beach. A meal on the beach takes a lot of effort, so prep as much as you can at home to truly enjoy the experience as the day cools down - and don’t begin the actual grill until 5 or 6 p.m. There really is something magical about eating a meal as the sun sets - the spectacular lighting, the beauty and stillness of the horizon, the soft breeze as we savored each crazy delish bite… Feasting with friends on the beach with this loose nod to Spain is the epitome of summertime swooning. Who needs Ibiza anyway? the sangria There's no denying the importance of a refreshing cocktail during the warm months of summer. I was inspired by memories of Cava sangria I sipped in Spain… sitting at a hidden seaside restaurant in late afternoon getting all giggly and boozy. Transitioning this sangria Stateside seemed like a swoony, and necessary, idea. Enter rosé sangria: super crisp, chilled, refreshing and studded with local fruit! But what launches this sangria to star status is the inclusion of a honey lavender-infused syrup! Jodi made this unexpected concoction, which boasts a subtle, yet fragrant flavor once it mingles with peak-season, farmstand-ripe apricots, juicy blueberries and slightly tart gooseberries. Nothing expresses the joys of hot summer nights and unwinding with friends quite like a pitcher of sangria. And this rosé version is oh-so-simple: fresh seasonal fruit, simple syrup, and rosé - finished with a touch of soda water for effervescence. It is guaranteed to refresh you on the hottest of summer days!

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Summer Luxe: 7 Upgrades To Your Warm Weather Beauty Staples

once warmer weather rolls in, we break out a whole slew of summer-specific beauty products. From refreshing scrubs to dry shampoo to lightly scented body oils that give bare legs a glow. As long as you're going to go wild with the dry shampoo after the beach - make it an incredible, natural version like Rahua's. Need a serum to keep your skin from going haywire in the heat? Forget the tacky, teenager-friendly breakout cream, we're giving Kypris' clearing serum front row placement on our vanity. We've picked seven ultra-glamorous upgrades for your summer natural beauty staples that will put your old stand-bys to shame...

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NYC Bite Of The Month: The East Village Bar That Helps You Unwind (Sans Alcohol)

If you don't already have a wind-down routine at the end of the day, you should probably get on that. Stress is a total mood-killer (literally), and luckily, you've got your pick of ways to soothe your soul and quiet your brain: meditation, yoga, reflexology - and now, this brilliant find in NYC. Fellow Cali girl, Eater Drinks editor Kat Odell, has been scouring NYC each month and reporting back on the most healthy sips, snacks, and sweets the city has to offer (rough job, huh?). Her newest find is a super-powered tea from Kavasutra in the East Village. Kavasutra is a kava-only tea bar which specializes in helping you unwind, sans alcohol. Mixed drinks, shots, the classics - this healthy happy hour alternative seems like a dream after a long day of hustling on the job. Here's Kat's verdict on her new cocktail of choice...

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Take A Hike: 6 Breathable Fitnesswear Pieces Made For The Outdoors

Summer in L.A. means, come Saturday morning, half the city is hitting the trails. Getting outdoors and going off the grid is one of the perks of living in a sunny city surrounded by natural beauty. Last on our list of day-hike concerns is the idea of sucking it in while we're getting our sweat on. Lately, we've been getting back to our roots and gearing up for hiking excursions au naturale - stocking up on water in reusable bottles, layering on sunscreen with safe ingredients, and rocking a few of our favorite OG, eco-luxe tops and pants. When it comes to hitting the trails, nothing can replace our old, favorite, worn-in, but soft-as-heck cotton t-shirts. Because of it's eco-friendliness, we're also finding cotton pieces in more and more of our favorite fitnesswear shops. Cotton gear feels good at the start of a hike and breathes well through to the end. Whether for a romp up Runyon or a turn through Topanga, here are six picks we're hitting the trails in all summer long - hippie-chic leggings included...[olists num=1]

This post is sponsored by Cotton Incorporated. Find your cotton favorites here.  

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How To Beat Fatigue: A Replenishing Tonic For Coffee Drinkers

We love us a good cup of coffee: the piping hot brew, the rich aroma, the way it picks us up when we're feeling the midday slump, even the simple ritual of our daily coffee run brings us joy. Yet, sometimes, we can go a little overboard. Some Monday mornings we find ourselves four cups deep, jittery and wondering why we're feeling so mysteriously wired. A few too many cups of coffee coupled with the stressors of everyday life and you've got a recipe for adrenal fatigue. Here's the deal: your adrenal glands control your hormones, and when your hormones are out of balance, so is everything else: your mood, weight, emotional state, energy levels and everything else that determines if you're feeling high on life or down in the dumps (read more about adrenal fatigue here!). As much as we hate to admit it, guzzling down multiple cups of caffeine can exacerbate any adrenal issues. To help get our buzzing bods back into balance, we enlisted holistic health guru Ashley Neese to create this adrenal tonic with Sun Potion's Tocos, one of our favorite adrenal-saving superfoods ever. Grab your blender and slowly back away from the espresso machine...

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The Healthy Friend Date: Lily Aldridge On BFFs + Staying In Shape

Do you ever feel like you've got to choose between hanging with your friends and keeping your wellness plans on track? It's easy enough to fit in a workout or a healthy lunch when you're laying low, but - a day out with the girls? Those wellness goals can quickly go out the window as your best bud ushers in the next round of drinks! Our Guest Editor Lily Aldridge knows a thing or two about keeping life in balance. As a highly sought-after model, Lily keeps in tip-top shape year round, eating well, keeping her skin this gorgeous and sweating it up with workouts of all kinds. What we love about Lily is that on top of being one of fashion's top pros, she's a true girl's girl at heart and knows how to live life to it's fullest - most recently, hitting up all the pastas on vacation in Italy, then returning home to extra green juices and a little more time in the studio. That's how it's done! Keeping friendships in full bloom while still staying fit and glowing is a challenge we all face. We asked Lily to talk to us about how she handles that dilemma herself, including her favorite kind of healthy friend date and the gal pal most likely to sabotage her diet (we all have one!)...

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The Coolest Ice Cubes Ever: Upgrade Your Summer With Rainbow-Flavored Ice

Why keep things cool with plain old ice when you can chill drinks down with juice cubes like these? You've seen the coffee ice cubes to keep your cold brew from getting watered down (genius!), but what about juice ice cubes for your juice, water and juice cocktails? See where we're going with this? Your bar cart is never going to know what hit it. And your mama's pitcher of lemonade just got a major upgrade. The best news is that these gorgeously glowy ice cubes are effortless to make if you have the right supplies. Here are a few fun points of inspiration - take our cues and try this at home! Share some Instagram snaps with us by hashtagging your images #thechalkboardeats. Let's see just how pretty this can get! Rose coconut water Champagne: Use these gem-like cubes in glasses of champagne or throw them into a pitcher of your favorite summertime punch! We used Pressed Juicery's rose coconut h2o, you can also add a couple of drops of essential oil to coconut water on your own. Apple Lemon Ginger tea: Apple Lemon Ginger juice with a kick of circulation-boosting cayenne is perfect to freeze up and throw in a glass with more juice on it's own, with iced tea, or a good shot of whiskey. Make cocktails or mocktails glass-by-glass to show off the ice cubes or throw everything into a giant pitcher! the Rainbow igloo: Forget popsicles. Want to cool down with your kids and get them excited about fruits and veggies? Freeze juices of all colors in the giant square ice trays we've used here and lay them out on a clean surface. Let kids build whatever they'd like til the melting begins! Chlorophyll Water: We froze tray after tray of Chlorophyll h2o after we realized just how gorgeous they turned out. Have trouble staying hydrated? If these frosty green ice cubes don't keep you motivated we don't know what will. Stack them high in a tall tumbler, fill with water, and stay cool! spicy Arnold palmer: Freeze a tray of Pressed Juicery's spicy lemon h2o and toss them in a pitcher of iced tea - as thing melt you'll get an instant Arnold Palmer effect!

Taste the rainbow! We have a few more colorful ice cubes ideas to show you later this month, but we can't wait to see what you do with this idea yourselves! Swipe up an armload of your own favorite juices, pick up these giant cube ice trays, and get to freezing things up. Make a cocktail, a healthy juice concoction or pitcher of punch and share your drinks with us using hashtag #thechalkboardeats .

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6 Beauty Brands We Love from One of LA’s Coolest Salons

In L.A., the bar for hip hair salons is set pretty high. That said, we still get a thrill every time we step inside Salon Benjamin's cool, open space on Melrose. Never mind the fact that the salon sits across the street from the coolest vegan lunch spot in town or the roster of famous faces that make their way in to see Benjamin and team regularly, the space itself is so fun and cozy with it's gallery walls, vintage furniture and reclaimed wood floors, we'd visit just for the coffee and the magazines. Benjamin Mohapi, the founder of Benjamin with Negin Zand Salon, is all about simple, understated beauty and the products he uses in the salon really strike a chord with us. We love seeing our fave natural hair brands, from Davines to Rahua, lining the walls of the shampoo room, and the salon's accompanying apothecary Selects is an inspired curation of beauty products in an equally as inspired little boudoir-style room. Benjamin and team are constantly on the hunt for new, well-designed and highly functional beauty brands that meet their green standards. Here are a few of his latest favorite natural wonders...

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