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J Hannah’s 7-Free Nail Polish Line For The Chromaphobic

WE love a solid rainbow of color in the kitchen, but our closets are filled with nothing but grey, tan and black. Sound familiar? Jewelry designer Jess Hannah recently qualified our grayscale wardrobes as "chromaphobic" and now we can't stop using the term!

To complement her line of sleek, modern jewelry, Jess Hannah recently launched a line of nude and neutral hued nail polishes that are everything a chromaphobic girl needs.

We fell in love with Jess's modern style a while back and are revisiting her studio in celebration of her natural beauty line. From an almost-black espresso shade named Carob to the three pale neutrals shown above, everything in the collection is 7-free and ultimately chic.

Check out Jess' take on trends, recent inspirations, and the piece she's loving best, then pop on over to our Instagram today for the chance to win a polish of your own...

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Why Integrative Medicine Is One of The Most Important Trends In Wellness

Integrative medicine is one of the most important ideas in wellness today. Imagine working with a doctor who is able to advise surgery, pharmaceutical treatment and other modern medical treatments - as most of our doctors currently do - as well as natural or alternative treatments and therapies. To us, that's the ideal!

We hope to see integrative medicine become more and more mainstream; to do our part, we're spotlighting top integrative medical doctors to bring more light to the topic. Below, Dr. Edison de Mello (MD, PhD) of L.A.'s Akasha Center For Integrative Medicine is talking to us about the basics of this dynamic approach to health care, and why it's worth some consideration...

The Chalkboard Mag: How would you explain integrative medicine in just a few words?

Dr. Edison de Mello: Integrative medicine is guided by the integration of the science-based ancient approaches and wisdom of Eastern approaches to healing with the ever-growing technological advances of Western medicine.

TCM: Can you tell us a bit about integrative medicine for those who are new to the idea?

Dr: de Mello: Integrative medicine embodies the original, but often-forgotten, model of health and wellness: It focuses on a whole-person approach equally addressing the patient’s mind, body, community and spirit as the means to reach optimal health. Although conventional medicine is backed by valuable research and strong scientific evidence, it usually characterizes patients by their symptom or diagnosis rather than the person who happens to have the disease. The complexity of who they are, the uniqueness of their life and biology are, more often than not, sadly left out of their treatment plan. Integrative medicine addresses not only the many available modalities that can be used to treat the patient, but also who the patient is in relation to the dis-ease that they are presenting with.

Akasha’s approach to integrative medicine incorporates proven and effective treatments from many systems outside allopathic (traditional) medicine. These methods have sound scientific evidence and are safe, cost-effective, and long lasting. When Eastern modalities, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture, herbal medicine, and ayurveda are integrated with Western modalities, including allopathic medicine, naturopathic medicine, homeopathy, massage, psychology, nutrition and exercise, they provide the patient with the best of two worlds: the ancient wisdom of the East with the technological advances of the West. Health is more than just the absence of disease; it is a personal journey, in which optimal well-being is the goal.

TCM: Integrative medicine seems so ideal, why isn't it more common?

Dr. de Mello: I believe that it is because it’s difficult for people to wrap their heads around alternative medicine. People want a quick fix and fast remedies with immediate results. Integrative medicine requires a lot of time and effort from both the patient themselves as well as the practitioner. Integrative medicine incorporates a myriad of care, ranging from the addressing the immediacy of one’s symptoms, such as chest pain, to diet and lifestyle changes needed to address the root cause of their medical problem. The prevention of future occurrences is one of its goals. For example, in the case of chest pain, applying an integrative model, once the “crisis” has properly been managed using the lifesaving approaches of traditional medicine, the integrative doctor would then invite the patient to ponder upon the question why? Why did a system that is designed to operate optimally fail you? An integrative approach would incorporate acupuncture, stress-managing tools, psychotherapy, exercise and meditation, in addition to dietary and other lifestyle changes to help the patient return to an optimal function and, hopefully now, with more awareness. Although this sounds ideal, it requires a lot of time and effort from both the patient themselves as well as the practitioner. Persistence, commitment to change and awareness are the main keys in integrative medicine. In addition, with insurance companies not yet fully covering integrative care, cost becomes an issue for many people who may need to pay for their care out-of-pocket.

TCM: How can one find out if their doctor is open to integrative? What should they ask?

Dr. de Mello: Considering that integrative medicine has become increasingly popular, many doctors are now open to different approaches to health, wellness and prevention. If you are curious about whether or not your current primary care practitioner works in tandem with integrative practitioners, simply asking this simple question will give you the answer: Do you coordinate care with other providers/modalities? If the answer is no and you’re sure that the integrative approach is what you want for your healthcare, consider switching your care to a reputable integrative medicine practitioner. Given that insurance companies have been slow to cover integrative care, some of my patients have kept their insurance doctors as their "emergency doctors” and a center like ours as their preventative "health and wellness center".

Integrative medicine addresses not only the many available modalities that can be used to treat the patient, but also who the patient is in relation to the dis-ease that they are presenting with.

TCM: What if one has a conventional doctor, but wants to supplement with holistic or Eastern Medicine - how do they do it?

Dr. de Mello: The first question I ask patients who ask that question is, “Why?” Why look elsewhere if you’re happy with your current treatment? If you’re unhappy, identify what is lacking in your care. Maybe looking for a whole-person approach is the key to helping you achieve your health and wellness goals. However, if you are satisfied with your current practitioner but curious about an integrative approach, find a consulting clinic like ours that will consult with your primary care and assist you in the areas you would like to have an integrative approach.

TCM: Can you recommend some resources for those who would like to learn more?

Dr. de Mello: Yes, of course! I recommend that a majority of my patients watch the documentary, Finding Joe. It’s about finding your story within the story. It shows how powerful your mind really is. As for reading material, start with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health – a branch of the Federally funded National Institute of Health. Yes, integrative medicine has come such a long way that we now have a branch of it at the Federal level.

Our clinic, the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine in Santa Monica, California, which has also been in the forefront of science-based integrative care for the last 15 years, has a website designed to provide patients the most up-to-date information of how integrative medicine can help them optimize their health.

The Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, to which I belong, also has a library of online information discussing the benefits of integrative care. And University of California San Francisco School of Medicine and Duke University, both nationally and internationally renowned medical centers, provide integrative care.

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program. 

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How To Make The Superfood Lattes We Drink Daily

Making superfood lattes has long been a part of our morning repertoire. We began dabbling with unusual coffee ingredients years ago with Bulletproof coffee and collagen lattes and have since morphed our morning brew with everything and anything coming from our smoothie pantry.

After sharing our weird coffee habits with almost every blogger and friend we latte with, we decided it was high time to explore the topic more deeply on TCM. Here are a few of the staple ingredients we rely on to boost a cuppa and a recipe that'll get you started with our caffeinated obsession. For an ongoing look at how we're spiking our daily brew, follow us on Instagram Stories! 

Coffee: There's never been a food we've seen more contradictory health info on than coffee. It seems every day there are new reports on both it's benefits and it's drawbacks. One thing is clear, coffee should be consumed in moderation and with plenty of other hydrating beverages before and after, but the purported brain and energy benefits are enough to keep us committed and we love to amp it up with the fats and superfoods below to bring things into perfect balance.

Adaptogens: Whether reishi mushroom powder, maca, ashwaghanda or rhodiola, a sprinkle of these miraculous herbs and superfoods find their way into most of our foods and beverages throughout the day. Select adaptogenic herbs with care, they're potent and should be used responsibly. We recommend starting with mushrooms like reishi which are full of immunity-boosting benefits. LEARN MORE

Cacao Powder: In its raw state, cacao raises levels of tryptophan and therefore serotonin, a neurotransmitter that releases mood-boosting endorphins, and provides a sense of calm throughout the body. Its antioxidant flavonoids promote optimal cardiovascular health as well as fighting free-radical toxins. Manganese and iron oxygenate the blood, magnesium balances brain chemistry and sulfur builds strong nails, hair and skin. No wonder it makes us feel so good! LEARN MORE

Protein Powder: Protein is critical to almost every function in the body: it's the building block of muscle, blood, bone, teeth, skin, hair and nails, and is used to make hormones, which promote growth, regulate blood sugar and metabolism, and even balance minerals within the body. It also serves as a source of energy, as well as a defense against harmful invaders such as bacteria and viruses. LEARN MORE

Marine Collagen: Clinical studies have shown that regular consumption of high-quality collagen can actually thicken your skin, meaning you may be able to give yourself stronger, more youthful skin just by drinking your morning smoothie. And don’t even get us started on what this stuff will do for your hair (hint: strength and shine to the max). LEARN MORE

Coconut Butter: Coconut butter is rich in vital minerals and essential fats; add some superfood extras and we've got a nutritional powerhouse on a spoon! We're obsessed with Philosophie’s coconut butters, which contain a blend of power-players like reishi, maca and chia seeds. LEARN MORE

nut milk: A splash of nut milk adds plenty of minerals, good fats, vitaman D and E. We love almond milk, but hemp milk is also a good option for it's unique nutritional profile too. LEARN MORE

Cinnamon + cardamom: Cinnamon is one of the most powerful antioxidants on earth and helps to regulate blood sugar. Don't underestimate that little garnish; it packs a punch. Cardamom too is a perfect addition to every coffee or latte as it reduces acid and neutralizes the stimulating effects of caffeine. LEARN MORE

Potions + More: We could go on and on about superfood coffee ingredients, but for more, see our Wellness Shop for manuka honey, tocos powder, beauty potions, chaga and anandamide - all incredible additions for custom lattes of your own... LEARN MORE
[olists num=1]

Looking for a non-coffee option? Check out our green power milk recipe here
and let us know which is your fave!

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Camille Styles’ 5 Go-To Healthy Weeknight Recipes (They Involve Squash Obvi!)

The interweb is a sea of recipes and 'recipe overwhelm' can be a real thing. We share healthy recipes all the time, as does our February Guest Editor, Camille Styles, but we're often asked what we're really making at home - and wanted to know the same from Camille!

All month long we've been soaking up practical insights from this healthy-meets-cozy lifestyle blogger. Below, she's dishing on five recipes she's really cooking and absolutely loving during this busy beginning of the year season. Grab the squash pasta and granola recipes to make weeknights better, healthier and easier for the rest of the year...

Does anyone else feel like these first couple months of the New Year are possibly the most insane time of year? It seems like work, travel, social stuff and kids' activities all conspire with each other to happen at the exact same time leading up to March. In years past, I’ve definitely allowed myself to become overwhelmed and just hope that I can keep it together without dropping any of the balls that I’m juggling.

But you know what? This year I’m determined to actually enjoy this time, to savor these last winter feels and get ready for a new season by cooking with as much winter squash as possible while it’s in season. I'm also determined to take an evening walk just to enjoy the first hints of spring in the air. Most of all, I want to cap off these busy days with more low-key nights at home, cozy in the kitchen with my sous-chef (4-year-old Phoebe), cooking and getting inspired by the season’s best produce. These are the ridiculously easy (and goooood) recipes that have been on repeat at our house lately:

Spaghetti Squash Pasta: Made with goat cheese, arugula and bacon. Finally, a delicious spaghetti-squash recipe that actually satisfies the pasta lovers in my life! Get the recipe below!

Mango + Coconut Soba Noodle Salad:This salad combines surprising ingredients like mango, avocado and peanuts in an Asian-inspired noodle salad that is so beautiful - and perfect for doubling or tripling to serve a big group. Full of thai flavors like lime, peanuts and a profusion of herbs, it’s really the crunchy coconut throughout the salad that takes it over the top and makes people stop and say, “whoa.” Get the recipe below!

Pecan + Coconut Granola: I make a big batch of homemade granola on Sunday and use it as the basis for breakfast all week long.

Sweet Potato Crostini: The easiest appetizer recipe for entertaining that looks so much fancier than it actually is. Here’s how these work: sweet potatoes get sliced up into thin little discs, then coated with olive oil and sea salt before baking them until crispy. And there you go! The most full-of-flavor vessels for whatever cravings strike. Get the recipe here.

Kale, Persimmon + Pomegranate Salad: This salad is packed full of beautiful seasonal produce. It’s perfect for a satisfying veg dinner - and leftovers hold up great for lunch the next day. It’s packed full of energy-inducing superfoods like hearty kale for loads of vitamins and minerals, a big scoop of quinoa adds plant-based protein, and avocado and walnuts load it up with those yummy good-for-you fats. Get the recipe here. [olists num=1][olists num=2]

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TCM Essentials: The Health Benefits of Ghee + How To Make It At Home

The whole world is re-discovering the beautifying and nourishing potential of ghee. Whether we're baking up veggies or Bullet-proofing our coffee, ghee is a wellness staple we never tire of. Read up on the benefits of ghee and learn how to make it according to Bldg 25...

Gorgeous golden hue, creamy, dreamy texture. Versatile as it is health-giving and energy-boosting. Ghee is a staple of my diet, one that nourishes from the inside out: Healing the inflammation in my joints, and keeping my mind sharp and my skin glowing.

Used for centuries in India and across the Indian subcontinent in both cooking and spiritual practices, ghee has gained wider acclaim in recent years for its health benefits. Traditionally, ghee is believed to cleanse the body and mind and promote healing from the inside out, and is even used topically to heal and nourish the skin and hair. In cooking, ghee boasts a high smoke point and is often tolerated by those who are otherwise intolerant to lactose and milk solids.

Before I got into ghee, dairy was wreaking havoc on my system - so ghee was a game changer for me. For a while I purchased it pre-made… until I discovered how easy and inexpensive it is to make (we’re talking half the price). Today I’m diving into the benefits of ghee and sharing an easy tutorial for making ghee at home. Once you learn, you’ll never want to buy it pre-made again!

What is ghee: Ghee is grass fed butter that has been clarified, but allowed to cook just a little longer to bring out the rich, nutty flavor of the butter. This process removes the milk solids and water from the butter, leaving behind a rich liquid that boasts a higher smoke point than butter with none of the lactose-intolerant-triggering side effects. Because the water and milk solids have been removed, ghee can also be left at room temperature, which is how it is believed to have originated when those residing in the warmer climates of India couldn’t keep their butter from spoiling. Used for centuries in Ayurvedic practices, ghee originated on the subcontinent of India and is widely used in Indian, Pakistani, and Iranian cuisines. More recently, ghee has gained more mainstream attention for its complex nutritional profile and how easily tolerated it is by those who otherwise can’t consume dairy.

the benefits of ghee: Free from casein, lactose and water, ghee is easily tolerated by people who have allergies to milk and other dairy. Because these factors have been removed, ghee also boasts a higher smoke point than butter, making it ideal for high-heat cooking. Ghee also contains about 25% short- and medium-chain fatty acids, compared to butter’s 12-15%. These fatty acids are not associated with heart disease and one of them, Butyrate, has actually been found to improve colon health by reducing inflammation in the digestive tract. Ghee made from organic grass fed butter aso contains CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), which may help lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure. As if those weren’t reasons enough to love ghee, this gorgeous golden substance also boasts a unique vitamin profile, including K2, which builds strong bones, and vitamins A, D and E. Have acid reflux? Ghee might be able to help as it increases gastric acid and improves digestion. Arthritis? Ghee lubricates the joints and reduces inflammation. Basically, we should all be eating more ghee.

How to use it: The best thing about ghee? You can use it the same exact way you would use butter or oil. Spread it on toast, cook with it, bake with it, saute, simmer, roast, even make pancakes. Add it to your morning coffee to make a Bulletproof, or try the same thing with chai tea!

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4 Easy Ways To Boost Your Libido Naturally

Let's talk about sex drive. The passenger seat is not an option when it comes to a topic as intimate as this one. and we're talking about ways to take charge. Whether your sex drive needs revving up or just evening out, holistic health coach, Nicole Granato, has a few tips that'll empower you to boost libido naturally...

Nourishing your body is a vital part of your health and wellbeing - it keeps us grounded, motivated and full of energy. Have you ever stopped to think about what it would look like if we focused a little more on boosting our sex organs and boosting our libido? As sexual beings, it is up to us to keep our sex drive boosted. It sustains a healthy relationship with our partners and ourselves. It sounds a bit overwhelming, but I can assure you it’s not! Here are some simple ways to begin boosting your sex drive naturally. Many factors can can attribute to a low sex drive like stress, alcohol and hormones.

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Talk to the sand. ✋🏼Shop CHAKRA #bestswimwear >> link in...

Talk to the sand. ✋🏼Shop CHAKRA #bestswimwear >> link in bio. #BECCASWIM #BeLikeBECCA http://ift.tt/2lDfCM0

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Coconut Breakfast Cookies To Pack + Go (They’re Grain Free!)

Dessert for Breakfast? There's no dreamier way to start the day, and these grain-free breakfast cookies from Pamela Salzman take the cake. Make ahead, grab, go, and stash a few extra for a mid-morning treat (you've made it through that first round of emails, you deserve it!)...

I am always looking for a make-ahead, nutritious option for breakfast, especially for those early mornings to-go when I am not quite hungry to eat, but I know I'll need something soon. To jump start my day, a crave a high protein, low-sugar meal and preferably one with good fats to keep me fueled until lunchtime.

These grain-free breakfast "cookies" are my latest habit. They're barely sweet, but they are absolutely tasty and substantial. Sometimes I'll add dried figs, other times dried blueberries. You can definitely play around with this recipe.  I also love them in the afternoon with a glass of almond milk or a cup of tea. [olists num=1]

Find more of Pamela's healthy recipes (that you'll actually want to make) here!

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An Indulgent, No-Bake Chocolate Cream Tart That’s Junk Free

If these chocolate tart photos have you drooling, we've got great news: you can be moving a slice from fork to face in just a couple of hours. Integrative nutritionist, Jennie Miremadi, shared this insanely delicious recipe with us, so you know it's impeccably clean. No processed sugar; no heavy cream - just pecans, coconut, cacao and mint for a clean superfood dessert we're ready to whip up fast. Plan a girl's night in ASAP, or keep it in the fridge as personal post-workday treat...

It's that time of year again when grocery stores are filled top to bottom with sugary cookies, candies and chocolates - and it doesn't stop after Valentine's Day has come and gone. If you're looking for a treat that won't leave you feeling unwell, look no further! This easy vegan no-bake chocolate tart is not only dairy-, gluten- and refined sugar-free, but its also delicious! With rich and decadent creamy chocolate peppermint flavors, this one will definitely be a crowd pleaser!

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Top Picks From Nordstrom’s New Natural Beauty Department

Our favorite natural brands are popping up everywhere these days - and we couldn't be more thrilled. Nordstrom is the most recent shopping mecca to go au naturel this year, adding Natural Out-Posts within their sprawling beauty department that are devoted to paraben, sulfate and phthalate free products only (see why it matters here and here).

We're still devoted to the top shops that sell only green skincare and makeup, but we see this as a step in the right direction, don't you? Here are a few of our top natural brand picks to look out for as you slip over from that epic shoe department...

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Well + With Child: A Wellness Lover’s Journey Through All 3 Trimesters

Our favorite Pilates pro Andrea Speir has a reputation for transforming clients' bodies. Currently, this mama to be is going through a major transformation herself, and we're taking notes for future reference - after all, it's not often we see bods that are this level of aspirational  - bump or no bump.

We asked Andrea to dish on her experience throughout her pregnancy and to share some healthy habits trimester by trimester. We love her insights on living well (realistically!) throughout her pregnancy. Tag a friend who needs this kind of good information and then try out a few of Andrea's Pilates moves (pre or post-preggo)...

Pregnancy has been a truly mind-opening experience for me. Being a pre/postnatal fitness specialist and studying and training pregnant women for years made me feel pretty confident in the fact that I knew what was coming. Although to some extent that was true, there is a huge difference in feeling and experiencing something versus reading about it. There have been so many incredible moments for me as I’ve experienced this amazing science happening in my body, and I’ve been continually surprised at the emotional aspect, in addition to the physical changes. Each trimester has brought about new discoveries and revelations, so I’ve broken down my own personal experience below.

First Trimester:
Sleep, Sourdough + Self-Compassion

As my pregnancy kicked off, I was beyond shocked at how tired I was. I have always struggled with sleep and it’s never been something that has come easily to me. (I dream of being one of those people that falls asleep in five minutes on the couch.) During these first few months, it was as if someone had tranquilized me. Some days it was the fight of my life to keep my eyes open; if I was lying on the couch, forget falling asleep in five minutes, I was asleep in two minutes, no matter what the time of day. This is something I could never have even imagined experiencing! It wasn’t even like exhaustion, it was like a natural and intense sleeping pill.

Overall, these first couple of months were tough. I felt like I was on a boat at all times. Kinda nauseous with the chance that I might throw up, but even if I did, I didn’t feel better because I was still on a boat. That’s the best way for me to describe the “all day” sickness. Additionally, my face looked like a teenage boy. Oh hormones! Speaking of hormones, my food cravings came on strong! Sourdough toast, mashed potatoes, Top Ramen (I know, I was surprised too), you name it. When I met with my doctor at the end she said I was on the high end for weight gain.

What you need to understand is I truly love health, fitness and nutrition. For me, working out and eating lots of nutritious food is what powers my body and makes me feel fantastic, so it’s not a lifestyle I choose just for the superficial results of it, but it’s something that fuels me and makes me feel great. Switching to someone that wanted to eat mashed potatoes on the couch and not move for six hours was not usual for me and it was fascinating for me to see how your body can so quickly shift and dip into a different path. Experiencing this in my own body gave me empathy and an understanding of how other people could experience, and live with, a different outlook both physically and emotionally, based on their lives.

Tips:

+ Give yourself a break - your body is building all the truly crucial parts of a person right now. If you are tired, lie down. If you are craving something, don’t necessarily deprive yourself. Let yourself be somewhat pampered by being kind to your needs.

+ If you feel like you can’t take one more second of being sick - don’t look at the nine months ahead. Take it day to day. Each day is different and your body will change so much over this pregnancy; nothing is forever.

+ If you gain a surprising amount of weight, don’t freak out. Your hormones are going wild, your body is retaining water, and it will even out. Remember, everyone’s body is different and even if your friend didn’t gain any weight at all in the first trimester it doesn’t mean you are going to be huge. Again, practice kindness with yourself and understand this is a different phase, not your daily life.

Second Trimester:
Taking Charge of Transformation

Now this is when the fun began. I heard you begin feeling fantastic in the second trimester, and when I was sixteen weeks in and still feeling very tired and nauseous, I began to fear I was one of those poor women who is sick the entire time! By the seventeenth week, I began to feel like a new woman. The nausea went away and I had more energy than ever. It was almost as if I wasn’t pregnant anymore physically, but emotionally I was much different. I began thinking about what kind of parent I wanted to be. I began reading as many books as I could. I bought waaaay too many cute, tiny clothes on Baby Gap. This is when the sheer excitement and joy kicked in. I was going to be a mom! Between not feeling ill and not being so huge I was uncomfortable, I was truly reveling in this exciting time.

Additionally, my craving for comfort food went away and I craved healthy food. I wanted to feed my baby what she needed to grow strong. What amazed me was I would find myself craving something like carrots one week, then read in my pregnancy apps and books that during that week my body needed extra vitamin K and C, and carrots are a great choice. It’s so amazing how your body tells you what it needs with that much specificity! I loved this part and it never failed to amaze me. Toward the end of this trimester, I found myself nesting big time. I wanted to buy the crib, changing table, set up her room, research everything I could about babies. I loved getting the ultrasounds so I could see her adorable little body. This was truly a time of excitement.

Tips:

+ Focus on healthy eating and begin playing with fun recipes! This is a great time to feed your child good food and also possibly pick up some healthy recipes for your upcoming mom life!

+ Incorporate a feel-good exercise regimen into your daily life (if it’s not already). Pilates, swimming and yoga feel great on the body as the joints begins to carry more weight. Staying strong will be important as this baby-bump weight increases and will come into play during labor and postpartum recovery.

+ Nest away! This is such a fun time to get lost in Pinterest boards for the nursery, looking at cute little baby shoes and letting yourself get excited about this new buddy who will soon be with you.

Third Trimester:
A Final Push + All The Feels

I was surprised how quickly things changed for me physically in the third trimester. I went from the energizer bunny to a completely exhausted woman again. This time it was different than the first trimester sleeping-tranquilizer feeling - this felt like true exhaustion. As a fitness instructor, in the second trimester, in a day I could teach multiple classes and private sessions while having meetings, conference calls, film videos, see friends, and so much more. In the third trimester (almost immediately from the first week it began), I could hardly make it through a few hours of work. It felt like I had run a marathon.

Sometimes at night when I get home from work, I sit in my car for an embarrassing amount of time because the thought of walking up the steps to my front door sounds like too much. The unfortunate side effect of this new exhaustion is that I can't sleep as easily, which is all my body is craving. When I lie down, I begin thinking about the impending huge life change. When will I be able to come back to work and what will my childcare set-up be? Do I need help in the beginning with a postpartum nurse and can I afford it? What will labor be like? The high-flying buzz I existed on in my second trimester switched to a bit more of a focused “let’s figure these details out” buzz. Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond excited still, but nervous about not having every detail ironed out at the same time.

One of my favorite things is I truly feel like I spend all day every day with my little baby girl. She quite the little dancer. She constantly kicks and wiggles and punches. I began noticing that if I put on certain music, she reacts. (She loves Michael Jackson and Alicia Keys.) When she hears my husband’s voice, she kicks. Although her favorite time to wake up and party is 4:30 a.m. (oy), I know I will miss having this constant connection with her once I don’t have her with me 24 hours a day. In the first two trimesters, I loved looking at what was happening week by week in my online pregnancy apps. Now I find myself ignoring the apps a bit more and instead looking at my actual calendar and gawking at how soon the due date is.

I am so big at this point, getting up and down is difficult - and believe it or not, I am peeing even more than I had to previously. Oh, and by the way, pregnancy brain is a real thing. I thought I had it in the second trimester- nope. You seriously forget what you are saying in the middle of a sentence, can’t think of words, find yourself doing just totally mindless things. I also could be standing and talking to you and topple over. I knew balance got greatly compromised because of the changing equilibrium with your weight, but I didn’t know you could just stumble when you aren’t even moving!

This trimester I’ve noticed my husband is getting more excited as well. I think the fact that he can see her moving through my stomach and feel her moving has made him feel more included and like this is a real thing. I’ve felt somewhat bad that I’ve been experiencing every second with her in my stomach and he can only hear me talk about it, but now I feel like we are both much more involved and I can see his level of excitement growing as my bump grows so large and in charge.

Tips:

+ If your body is telling you to slow down, listen to it. You will need to slow down with work, your social life and so much more once the baby is here and your body is doing way more than you even know at the moment so again, show yourself kindness.

+ Add in a bit of stretching and mindful meditation at night. This will help get your circulation flowing before you lie down to help prevent leg cramps and the meditation might help to center those whirling thoughts and allow you a bit of rest and recovery.

+ If you don’t feel ready, that’s normal. This is a huge life change that in a way is an unknown! Remind yourself how truly exciting that is. Your life is about to change for the better in a way you cannot even imagine and that is a truly magical and rare thing.

Pregnancy has been such a journey, and I feel like I’ve come to know my own body in a way I couldn’t have imagined. It’s truly incredible how our bodies just know what to do - we build a person! It seems like a “yeah, duh” moment, but it is beyond incredible. Yes, my body changed, yes, I threw up, yes, I found myself struggling with exhaustion and forgetfulness, yes, my joints ache and my mind is a flurry with what my new life will be like, but I have never been more excited about anything in my life. I don’t want to wait anymore, I just want her here in my arms.

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Can Going Gluten-Free Become Unhealthy?

Not all that's gluten-free is gold. While a box of flourless cookies could seem like a dream for the grain-averse, it could also be packed with preservatives and sugars - which isn't exactly an ideal swap. As embracing a GF lifestyle is easier than ever, we think a little extra awareness is in order: fave functional medicine pro, Dr. Mark Hyman, is answering the question of how to to build healthy gluten-free habits, and what to do if they've slipped to the dark side...

We are all aware that “gluten-free” has become a major buzz term. Restaurants proudly offer options like gluten-free bread and even mainstream supermarkets have whole aisles dedicated to the trend. Nearly everyone has jumped on the gluten-free bandwagon. I don’t recommend this to everyone – at least not until you understand a few facts… and here’s why: As a doctor who treats sick patients, I find that gluten often is a major cause of digestive, auto-immune, weight, mood and neurologic problems. While one would think that I would be 100% pro gluten-free, I want to be clear that there are some downsides to this trend.

The biggest problem with demonizing a food substance is caused by the food industry. In a nutshell, this industry manipulates basic foods items and turns them into “Frankenfoods.” It does this by removing naturally derived ingredients and adding in other bad stuff to make up for loss of taste, consistency, etc. Witness the past popularities of, say, low-carb or fat-free diets and the so-called healthy fake foodstuffs that manufacturers invented to replace the foods containing the maligned ingredients.

As gluten-free gains popularity, food companies – that are well-aware of a potential marketing opportunity – turn out processed, sugary junk foods as “healthy” gluten-free alternatives. Look at most grocery aisles and you’ll find gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, breads and pretty much any conventional sugary, junky food. If a food label boasts a health claim, chances are that food (or food product, more likely) is not good for you.

So while those cookies say “gluten-free” in big bold letters, turn the box around and read the ingredients. You will find high-sugar content, flour (which converts to sugar) and weird food-like additives that add up to big profits for these companies, while adding pounds around your midsection and sabotaging your health. Sometimes patients switch from cupcakes and cookies to gluten-free cupcakes and cookies. And then they wonder “Why do I feel like crap and struggle to lose weight?” Please don’t shoot the messenger, but gluten-free cupcakes and cookies are still cupcakes and cookies. Besides usually being higher in sugar and other junk ingredients, the “gluten-free” claim creates a health halo so you’re often reaching for seconds and thirds. These gluten-free, sugar-loaded, flour-filled foods raise blood-sugar levels and contribute to inflammation, both of which play a role in nearly every disease on the planet.

Don’t be fooled: Gluten-free junk food is still junk food loaded with artificial sugars, food coloring, added gums to help things stick together and additives to increase shelf life while decreasing yours. You might as well just have a soda because it all breaks down into sugar and by the way, I recommend none of the above.

Gluten-free products are also often filled with a health-harming fat, such as processed vegetable oils or hydrogenated oils and trans-fats. These clear, tasteless, highly refined and processed oils include corn, soybean, canola, safflower and sunflower oils. Like sugar, these inflammatory omega-6 fats crank up inflammation while blocking anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats.

When I tell patients to eat a gluten-free diet, I don’t give them license to eat gluten-free cookies or gluten-free bread. Remember: Nature created its own gluten-free diet – an avocado is gluten-free, as are almonds! Go gluten-free, but do it correctly. Here are nine take-aways I recommend to my patients who are confused about how to go gluten-free without falling into the duplicitous food-industry marketing trap:

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How To Make Green Power Milk For Afternoon Energy

That dreaded 3pm slump happens to the best of us - even in our offices, where superfood-doctored potions frequently flow from blender to mug! We drink smoothies and superfood coffees like it's our job around here, but recently realized that more than one of our favorite blends barely qualify as a smoothie since they're as thin as a latte.

We decided a new category of wellness drinks was necessary and we'rere calling them "power milks". This matcha and green powder-spiked power milk recipe is the ultimate example. It is our team's sippable solution to coffee overload, and we've been rightfully obsessed ever since its first spin around the Vitamix.

Using cold-pressed green juice and Pressed Juicery's matcha hemp milk as a base (read up on ingredient benefits here!), we created this revitalizing blend to house everything we need for a fuzzy-minded afternoon. Discover the key players below, and try an alkalizing, crash-free cup of clean, delicious power with the recipe that follows...

Green Juice: We drink green juice daily for its detoxing and alkalizing abilities, both of which are especially important in balancing out an acidic coffee habit. Green juice also energizes, giving us a dense dose of planty nutrients in a form we can easily absorb (juicing reduces the energy our body needs to digest foods). LEARN MORE

Matcha: Yes, coffee, but matcha offers so much more. Made by finely grinding whole green tea leaves, matcha is used to boost energy and metabolism, while also calming our mood, focusing the mind and cleansing the body. It is rich in chlorophyll, antioxidants, and the polyphenol EGCg known for its cancer fighting and DNA damage-reversing properties. LEARN MORE

Superfood Greens: One of our smoothie pantry staples, Food Matters' Superfood Greens offers all the goodness of a green juice in (very practical) powdered form (aka easy double-dosing). The blend contains wheat grass, barley grass, alfalfa grass, spirulina, chlorella and mesquite - all of which help balance and energize our body and mind. LEARN MORE

Pearl Powder: Pearl powder is rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, silica and amino acids. In traditional Chinese medicine, it's valued for skin perfecting properties, and known as a powerful Shen (spirit) stabilizer. Pearl powder supports mood stability, and helps relieve the uneasiness, nervousness, anxiety and tension associated with occasional stress, leaving you cool, calm and collected. LEARN MORE

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Roasted Brussels Sprout Salad With Sweet Potato + Goat Cheese

Meet the healthy bloggers and bicostal BFFs behind this recipe in our East vs. West Coast feature from earlier this week, then whip up the warm Brussels sprout salad from their new cookbook, 28 Day Plant-Powered Health Reboot. This recipe is just what we're craving this cozy time of year: a bowl full of flavorful veggies able to keep us sated for hours, and a recipe that's ridiculously easy to execute. Make it for a light weeknight dinner or bring it to work for a fortifying desk lunch that doesn't suck...

This savory roasted Brussels sprouts salad is both filling and flavorful. The almighty sweet potato adds a subtle sweetness to the dish, and comes packed with fiber, vitamins A and C and trace mineral manganese. Complementing the sweet potato with Brussels sprouts makes this dish so much more nutritive. These two ingredients alone cover one-third of your daily fiber needs! Add the creamy goat cheese and crunchy walnuts and you've got yourself a winner!

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Bioavailability: The Secret To Making Every Food A Superfood?

One of the most important and least discussed nutrition topics these days is bioavailability. Find out what you should know and how you should adjust your shopping and cooking habits...

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Actress Jennifer Esposito on Living (And Thriving) With Celiac Diease

binge watching lately? Then you've probably come across actress Jennifer Esposito. What you might not know about this small screen goddess is that, between filming The Affair and NCIS, she's also on a mission to support those suffering from celiac disease - a condition that hits very close to home.

Jennifer's personal commitment to clean living helped her navigate the tough diagnoses of both celiac disease and cancer, and brought her out on the other side better than ever. She now champions the cause for others with a blog, a cookbook and NYC bakery dedicated to gluten-freedom. We asked Jennifer to tell us more about her journey towards wellness, and share a few firsthand insights about living with celiac disease. From common misconceptions to a simple weeknight recipe we love, here's Jennifer...

All toxins lead to stress in our bodies, which is the cause of inflammation, the number one cause for disease. I speak very openly about my journey through celiac disease and cancer and now I am able to give back what I learned in my journey for healing. It's all about keeping inflammation down, eating allergen free and still eating deliciously (without feeling deprived). Here a few other bits of knowlege from my own experience...

Know Your Facts:
The Biggest misconception about celiac disease

There are many common misconceptions about celiac disease, the biggest one being that it is an allergy. Celiac disease is not an allergy, it is an autoimmune disease. Basically, here’s the best way to explain the disease: It is like trying to put out a wild fire - all the time - it is difficult to predict when, where or how it will affect your body. As you are trying to heal from one ailment another starts out of nowhere completely unrelated and out of control. When you have an autoimmune disease, your body is in attack mode, fighting foreign invaders to your system constantly. The problem is, it can mistake almost anything for an invader.

Inflammation is the enemy to all, but especially for people who have auto-immune issues. I know that for me, if I’m not sleeping enough or if I’m under too much stress, or not eating or drinking enough, it triggers everything to be off in my body. The cause of inflammation sets off the whole system; one thing triggers another; and trying to figure out the cause and remove it is like running after a wild fire. So for someone like me, with celiac disease whose life literally depends on 100% uncontaminated gluten-free food, it's extremely scary to navigate a world that chooses to eat gluten free. A slight cross contamination does not mean as much to those who have the choice, but for people like me, it is life wrecking. Literally. It only takes 1/8 teaspoon of gluten to set off a celiac into an autoimmune - "wildfire" – hell for weeks, sometimes months.

That small amount of gluten damages and kills the villi in the gut; the villi are in charge of taking nutrients from food which fuels the body. Without these villi, there are no nutrients and the body shuts down. It’s not a good thing to have to be concerned with every bite of food. This is why having dedicated gluten-free food options available is so very necessary for the people who need this food to survive.

Stock Smart:
Top gluten-free kitchen staples

Two of my favorite naturally gluten-free staples I always have in the house are cauliflower and sweet potatoes. I make cauliflower pizza, soup, rice, mashed potatoes and tater tots all from this glorious versatile veggie. And there are so many things I love to make with sweet potatoes. They can be mashed, baked, sautéed and are a great breakfast, topped with some smashed banana, cinnamon, chopped nuts and honey. One of my favorite snacks is sweet potato with some maple syrup, turmeric, sea salt and cinnamon. [olists num=1]

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program. 

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12 Pretty Breakfast Recipes You’ll Want To Wake Up For

We can hardly sleep at night knowing there are overnight oats in the fridge. Feel the same? Here are our top twelve drool-worthy ideas for pretty breakfasts that'll get you out of bed.

Whether you've no time to kill between waking and working or are planning a full weekend brunch spread, there's something healthy, filling, pretty and sweet here for everyone. Try everything and let us know which ones stick in your monthly rotation!

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East Vs West: Living Well In Oakland + The Bronx

East, West, whatever: there's so much to love happening in wellness on both coasts that it's hard for us to pick a side. We're obsessed with the way long distance BFF's Jessica Jones (MS, RD, CDE) and Wendy Lopez (MS, RD) are flaunting their healthy lifestyles on both coasts. The two friends live in Oakland and the Bronx, respectively, and share their variety of healthful adventures via Food Heaven Made Easy.

The pair recently co-authored the new whole food cookbook, 28 Day Plant-Powered Health Reboot and we asked for a few insights. Find out what these two are all about, from green smoothies versus green scrambles, vegan donuts versus pizza, and the one winter veggie they're both obsessed with...

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NYC Bite of the Month: Coconut Coffee At Hanoi House

Normally, We take our coffee Bulletproof or Chalkboard style, but NYC foodie Kat Odell is introducing us to a whole new way to fatten things up. Coconut drenched coffee is nothing new, but East Village cafe, Hanoi House, is serving things up on a whole other level. Okay, technically, this is dessert, but we'll definitely be trying this at least once...

What I Drank: Hanoi House’s Coconut Coffee.

Why I Drank It: I admit, I am somewhat of a coconut coffee junkie, whether the drink is made from coconut water (hey, Kopi Kopi!), coconut cream (hey, Santina!) or what I like to do at home - add a scoop of coconut oil to a scalding black brew. Aside from immediately falling for basically everything at East Village newbie Hanoi House (but please promise me you’ll order the umami bomb Bo Kho stew), I was especially keen on the cozy eatery’s coconut coffee iteration.

Why You Need It: Because adding a scoop of Il Laboratorio coconut gelato in a hot (or cold!) glass of coffee is somewhat genius. In hot coffee, the ice cream melts into a sort of coffee milkshake which, when breakfast launches, will just give you an excuse to eat ice cream before noon.

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In My Fridge: How Blogger Camille Styles Stays Healthy At Home

We are what we stock in our pantry, and for Camille Styles, that means a ton of clever staples that sweeten up life naturally. Our February Guest Editor and cozy breakfast queen is a busy blogger and entertainer, and needs to fuel up accordingly. That means protein-rich snacks, a wholesome sweet potato addiction we can relate to, and the occasional ice cream indulgence (because why wake up for a 6AM spin class if there's no room to treat yourself every once in a while?)

We're rummaging through Camille's kitchen to get a feel for her flavor of wellness (explore all our fridge excursions here!). From the condiments that make farmers market finds extra crave-able, to simple recipes a weeknight wouldn't feel complete without, here's Camille...

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Natural Beauty Then + Now According To An Editor Who Has Seen It All

Natural beauty has come a long way. We've watched as the industry evolved from a small handful of crunchy brands and products into a full-fledged glamour-fest. Gone are the days of sacrificing style for the sake of green values.

As an editor for Vogue, W, Harper’s Bazaar and full laundry list of incredible fashion books, Christine Lennon has seen it all first-hand. We asked her to share her inside insights after decades of experience and here's what she had to say - favorite products included...

I remember writing a story about “green” beauty for Vogue about 12 years ago, and being shocked when I saw the issue. The photo that the typically faultless Vogue art department chose to illustrate my story was a model backstage at a Dior Couture show dressed as a “forest fairy,” a psychotic woodland nymph straight from a Burning Man staging of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It felt like it was sort of a joke to people back then, when “natural” beauty meant homemade avocado masks, henna hair dye and some hippie oils from the health food store. Natural or “green” beauty was a novelty, or for the kind of people who ground their own nut butters (not that we’re judging) and was perceived as a sacrifice.

Three things have changed since then: Our understanding that ingredients are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream (cosmetic chemists, dermatologists and “scientists” used to flatly deny this was the case); technological advances that can create elegant, non-toxic ingredients to incorporate into products; and the shift in our culture toward the idea that healthy beauty is a luxury, not a sacrifice.

From the mid-‘90s to the early ’00s, dermatologists and “experts” would claim that none of the freshly brewed chemicals they mixed into their products penetrated the deeper layers of tissue. Skin was an impermeable “barrier,” they said, insisting that nothing we applied topically was absorbed into the blood stream. That meant nothing good, or potent enough to re-program the skin not to age so rapidly, and nothing bad, which could potentially alter the healthy chemistry and hormonal balance in our bodies (or cause cancer, for example), could get through.

Today, we know better. Some researchers estimate that the skin absorbs up to 80% of what we slather on it. It was only after I spent the better part of decade smearing every new product on the market on myself that I started to ask difficult questions, and listen to the mounting concerns about the hundreds, sometimes thousands, of chemicals women put on their skin every day. These days, there is no greater luxury than finding and using a product that works like magic, is good for you and is gentle on the planet.

I look back at those early green-beauty pioneers with such admiration. They were, and still are, thought leaders in an industry that was slow to change. Sustainable, green, good-for-you beauty is anything but a compromise, and anything but a fad. Here’s a list of my favorite natural products, the classics and the new models, from then and now. [olists num=1]

Be sure to check out Christine's debut novel, The Drifter, out February 21st!

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The Balanced Bowl: Planty Comfort Food By Flora Ex Machina

Comfort food should be comforting, and for us, that means knowing we're nourishing our bodies with each bite. This macrobiotic bowl by Alle Weil - holistic Nutritionist of Flora ex Machina and a TCM fave - was created with all that in mind for a new partnership with L.A.'s fave farm-to-doorstep delivery service, Out of the Box Collective. Get a taste of this deliciously cool collab with the recipe below, and for a bigger bite, be sure to order a produce box here or pantry box here before February 21st...

When it comes to clean, wholesome foods, the key is in the pure unadulterated ingredients. Inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Five Phases or elements, and the fundamentals of macrobiotics, this balanced bowl reinvents our obsession with comfort food. Filled with different textures, flavors, and various seasonal vegetables and a grain, it satisfies cravings while providing a nourishing and grounding meal.

Each of the five Earthly elements are represented, creating a balanced and nourishing plate that reduces craving, keeps you sated, and provides a wide spectrum of bio-available nutrients as well as probiotics. You’ll feel grounded, energized, and full longer. Because these recipes use only pure, unprocessed ingredients, prepared using the necessary steps in order for your body to absorb their nutrients (such as sprouting and fermentation), your body will digest them efficiently and with ease – meaning, no bloat, indigestion, or cravings.

Listed below are the five elements and their corresponding flavors, the organs and emotions they correspond with, and a few ingredients that are promote that particular element. It is said each meal should contain one component of each element to be balanced. More so, cravings may be linked with either an element lacking in the diet, or even an emotion or element that is too strong or deficient.

The Five Elements Explained

Wood
Flavor: sour, acidic
Organs: liver, gallbladder
Emotion: anger
Supporting Ingredients: lentils, mung beans, broccoli, carrots, sprouts, yogurt, vinegar, lemon, lime, sauerkraut, olives, chicken

Fire
Flavor: bitter
Organs: heart and small intestines
Emotion: joy
Supporting Ingredients: corn, amaranth, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, chives, dandelion greens, raspberries, coffee, wine, shrimp, cacao

Earth
Flavor: sweet
Organs:  stomach, spleen, pancreas
Emotion:  sympathy, worry
Supporting Ingredients: millet, sweet potato, winter squash, chard, collard greens, eggplant, apples, bananas, dates, honey, sweeteners

Water
Flavor: salty
Organs: kidney, bladder
Emotion: willpower, fear
Supporting Ingredients: buckwheat, aduki beans, beets, burdock, dulse and seaweeds, sesame seeds, grapes, miso, tamari

Metal
Flavor: pungent, hot
Organs: lungs, large intestine
Emotion: grief
Supporting Ingredients: rice, soy, cabbage, cucumber, daikon, garlic, ginger, mustard greens, onions, cinnamon, cheese, beef, spirulina, tofu

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Behind The Scenes With Tata Harper x Ulla Johnson At NYFW

We Love to experience the madness that is New York Fashion Week - from afar. More and more designers are showing here in L.A. and wellness is becoming ever more stylish; that means we receive more and more fashion invites...but our favorite part of NYFW is scouring over the digital fine print from the comfort of home!

Natural beauty is breaking through major fashion barriers lately, especially with the trend toward naked, natural, glowing skin. We can't even imagine how many front row bags kept RMS highlighter and Beautycounter gloss packed away.

Backstage at Ulla Johnson this season, we got a glimpse into makeup artist, Romy Soleimani process as she prepped models with Tata Harper skincare and makeup exclusively. While the look is bare, don't be fooled - green beauty can do it all these days. We love the look of this naked, fresh face on Ulla Johnson's models as they model Johnson's cult-status California vibe in top form...

The inspiration for this season was a strong, intellectual woman with her feet on the ground. I played into the colors for the collection using army green eyeliner on certain girls and a rusty red lip on others. The textures and fabrics of the collection also inspired me as I created a velvet matte finish for the lip and skin. Here's what I used:

pre-show Mask: To boost the skin’s glow, models were treated with the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask to enhance the skin’s natural radiance.

layers of Moisture: Refresh skin by liberally spraying Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence all over the skin to allow for fast, thorough absorption of the Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum. As a final, mattifying step, apply the Tata Harper Rebuilding Moisturizer to prep the skin for makeup.

two Makeup looks: Models were treated with two different eye-look options inspired by this season’s palette: Some models had a swipe of army green eyeliner, while others were kept completely bare. Models who wore the army green eyeliner, kept a natural flush with Tata Harper Be True Lip Treatment. As an alternative to the bold, army green eyeliner, models were treated to a rusty red lip – a mixture of Tata Harper Volumizing Lip and Cheek Treatment in Very Naughty and Very Nice.

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Body Electric: Why We’re Intrigued With Microcurrent Therapy

You may have heard about microcurrent as an aesthetic treatment. It's become increasingly popular as more and more women experience the therapy's undeniable ability to lift, reshape and rejevunate the face and body.

We recently covered our microcurrent experience with Mila Morgan, ANP MA here in L.A. (read "The Anti-Aging Beauty Treatment That Could Replace Botox"), but there is more to the story on this unusual treatment than just the mini-face lift effect.

At a cellular level, our bodies produce electricity. It's a medical fact not many of us are familiar with. The big idea behind medical microcurrent is that the extremely low level of cellular energy we normally maintain in good health can be replicated by a medically attuned machine and applied during therapy sessions to return our cells to a more vital status. Medical microcurrent is a fascinating area of alternative health with anecdotal results that range from pain relief in conditions as various as migranes and surgery recovery to arthritis and fibromyalgia.

We are certainly not qualified to report on this alternative modality's efficacy on a medical level (and you should always consult your physician before trying anything health related), but we are certainly curious enough about the modality's too-good-to-be-true promises to experiment with the treatments on ourselves and report back!

Here's what we learned from Mila and a little bit about our own incredible results with the therapy...

on microcurrent therapy: According to Mila, "Our entire body is electrical. Heart, brain, neurotransmitter function, etc. Microcurrent emulates our electrical properties precisely. The body runs on 500 microamps, which is exactly what I introduce back into the body to 'reboot' the cellular electrical system."

"Microcurrent allows the body to return to homeostasis, whether that balance was lost through stress, environment, aging, diet, exercise or mental imbalance. During a treatment session, ATP, adenosinetriphosphate, which is the energy chemical for all cell function, is increased by 500%."

Mila tells us there are three overarching benefits to microcurrent treatments that make the therapy so widely effective.

"The number one medical benefit is a decrease in inflammation in the body - significantly and prolifically. This helps stave off disease, as all diseases begin with inflammation. In addition, other cellular changes occur during microcurrent: cell turn over occurs more quickly at the germative layer and there is an increase in Gluconeogenesis - basically the body utilizes glucose more efficiently and helps stabilize blood sugar. (One study I refer to proved a stabilization of 12 insulin dependent diabetics after 6 weeks.) Lymphatic drainage, blood flow, protein synthesis, nutrient transport across the cell membrane, metabolism and brain neurotransmitter activity are also all increased by microcurrent."

Why we tried it: There are many energy-related therapies are out there in the natural wellness world and many have found relief and comfort through them. Whether it be TENS units designed to address nerve pain or the healing hands of a reiki pracitioner. When we heard that Mila was using microcurrent to rejuvenate the body and heal pain, there was something that intuitively struck us about it.

What we experienced: We visited Mila for eight sessions of her microcurrent facial. Just by receiving current during the facial, Mila says that the entire body benefits from the balancing effects of the current - a subtle, but palpable calming and rejuvenating effect. Laying under Mila's double magic wands one afternoon, and after hearing dozens of her stories about clients who'd just left the office - coming in for facials, then dragging in ailing family members to address post-surgical healing, headaches, depression, arthritis, even fibromyalgia - we decided to try the therapy for ourselves. Our experience with Mila's facials gave us good reason to hope in microcurrent's promised ability to reduce pain, heal inflammation in the body and address a wide-range of conditions with inflammation as the root cause.

A lingering chronic shoulder strain was causing daily pain. Mila and her assistant got to work for over twenty minutes targeting the area with both current wands. Over the course of the therapy the skin over the inflamed muscle and nerves turned red over very specific areas only, revealing the most inflamed trouble areas and helping Mila target the areas of need more specifically. Edges of scientific acceptance or no, we left Mila's office pain-free for the first time in months, as she claims so many of her other clients do as well.

The treatment was painless, although the current can be felt - invitingly so. Whether it's to rejuvenate facial tissue or relieve muscle pain, the current feels absolutely therapeutic. And has zero side effects.

What do you think? We'd love to see new medical research on this therapy and others like it that are providing so much experiential evidence through alternative health practioners around the country. As attitudes about natural health continue to shift we wonder if more side effect-free, affordable treatments like microcurrent will ever become the new norm.

Will the medical research community allocate more time and funds to therapies like this one? It's a broad topic, to be sure, but one worth discussing here with our community. We'd love to hear from you in the comments below. Have you ever had a personal healing experience with natural or alternative healing modalities like medical microcurrent? Do you think these types of therapies are catching on?

The post Body Electric: Why We’re Intrigued With Microcurrent Therapy appeared first on The Chalkboard.

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Designer Ross Cassidy Wants You To Find A Style + Commit To It

Ross Cassidy is over the lumberjack-lives-in-a-factory look that's dominated recent design trends. As he launches a super-sleek collaboration with CB2 this month, we caught up with the L.A. designer to pick his brain on all things interiors - and he held nothing back!

Take a few design cues from his responses to our interview below and check out his extremely modern, minimal collection (this table!) at CB2.

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18 Natural Beauty Tips We Stole From Sienna Miller’s Makeup Artist

Wendy Rowe's beauty credo is simple: nourish from within, but don't fear a little glitter to get your glow. Yes, collagen drinks and healthy meals have their place - and an important one at that - but for this celeb-adored makeup artist, the balance of natural and next-level is key.

Wendy's book, Eat Beautiful, captures her holistic attitude to building beauty with glow-inducing recipes; the interview below covers the rest. From her go-to spot treatment and fave face oil, to a skin-boosting homemade juice, we're exploring advice from an international beauty expert we love...[olists num=1]

Like to learn from more beauty pros? We've got you covered, read every Green Goddess Guide we've ever published here. 

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Why Sweatworking Is The New Networking (Here’s How To Kill It)

Don't sweat it. Well, actually, do. Networking can be a nightmare without a solid strategy, but we're learning about one that actually sounds... fun? You may have heard of sweatworking, but have you actually tried it yet? It may be not include acroyoga, as shown above, but a walk to the park and back? Absolutely. We love the concept, partly because if the businessy stuff is a bust, we still fit in a great workout!

Enterprising ladies, Lauren McGoodwin and Kit Warchol of Career Contessa are refreshing us on the idea of this healthy, multitasking trend and getting us warmed up to try it in real life...

You’re in a crowded room and your nerves are getting the best of you. Your cheeks flush and your forehead is slick with sweat...

Does this sound a lot like your last networking experience? Maybe, but we’re actually talking about sweatworking. And no, we didn’t make that up. But it is the newest craze you need to know about — and since we typically write career advice for women who are overbooked most days with meetings, happy hours and side gigs, we’re all about it.

What is sweatworking?

Okay, so sweatworking isn’t exactly a real word, but it is a real thing. Rather than going to a stuffy networking event, you plan your professional social time around exercise. When you think about it, businessmen have been doing this for years on the golf course. But because women are cooler than men (what, like you weren’t thinking the same thing?) we’re taking it a step farther by getting a real workout in.

Why should I try sweatworking?

Why would you want to exercise with someone you’re trying to impress? It sounds odd, but in reality it’s way less awkward than milling around a hotel conference room with strangers. Plus, considering you probably have too many commitments already, combining your spin class with a work meeting isn’t a bad way to go.

And while it may be uncomfortable at first — especially if you’re doing this with a stranger or boss — after a few minutes of working out, everyone lets their guard down and relaxes. Endorphins beat cocktails any day. And that whole “we’re all in this together” mentality really does something.

Since exercising is about focusing on your body and destressing, you probably won’t actually talk about work with your sweatworking partner, which is the secret to being a really good networker. Networking can feel forced and like both parties are only interested in what they can gain. By finding common ground that isn’t work related you’ll start to form a real connection. Everyone is more likely to help someone they’ve connected with on a deeper level.

How do I start sweatworking?

Let’s start internally. It’s important to network within your own company and exercising is a fun way to get to know your coworkers, without navigating the rocky waters of alcohol-laden happy hours. Networking is a never ending process, and like any relationship in your life, you have to continuously cultivate your professional relationships. Which is why we like to keep track of our efforts with this networking tracker. That way you never let any relationships slip through the cracks.

Next time your boss mentions how they haven’t been to yoga in a while, invite them to your favorite studio with you after work. At lunch, when a coworker mentions they can never find a consistent tennis partner, volunteer yourself.

For people you don’t know that well, it can be a bit trickier and you will have to get creative. Maybe you’ve used Bumble to meet dates, but have you used Bumble BFF to make new friends? It's the perfect place to find someone as obsessed with cardio barre as you are. When you’re at an actual networking event and a someone shares they’re new to the area, offer to take them on a hike that ends in a view that can’t be missed. And don’t forget to introduce yourself to people you meet in your classes. You never know who might be your next boss.

Would you ever try sweatworking? Tell us about it in the comments below!

The post Why Sweatworking Is The New Networking (Here’s How To Kill It) appeared first on The Chalkboard.

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The IMAX Spin Class We Can’t Get Over (It’s Drake v Rihanna Week)

V-Day vibes tend to linger long after the 14th, and for some of us, that's not necessarily a positive thing. Whether you're a relationship-in-betweener, going through romantic drama, or simply recovering from a recent chocolate overdose, we say sweat it out! 

We recently discovered a spin studio in NYC that uses IMAX technology for an immersive sweat we can't get over - and that will get your mind off anything and everything. We sent our NYC love, Katie Horwitch of WANT, to get a closer look at IMAXShift for a heart-pounding class starring Rihanna and Drake. Here's the scoop...

Feeling more “black heart” emojis than “heart-eyed” emoji post-Valentine’s Day? Whether you’re going through a break-up or just allergic to the Hallmark Holiday hype, forget the love song playlist: for the alt-Valentine experience, it’s all about the break-up song.

IMAXShift is the Brooklyn spin studio that specializes in immersive, thrilling and effective workouts that are powered by…wait for it… a full-on IMAX screen and sound system. While rides in front of the 40-foot by 24-foot screen vary from soaring over the coasts of Hawaii to cycling through the solar system, our personal favorite utilization of the ginormous screen are their music video rides. This week was all about the ultimate break-up ride: Drake vs Rihanna.

For the record, we’re firmly against gaining joy from someone else’s pain. But how could we resist spinning it out to the music of our favorite couple that almost was? While IMAXShift’s Drake and RiRi Breakup Ride only lasts for Valentine's week, you can catch their signature music video rides whenever: Beyonce vs Jay-Z, East Coast vs West Coast Hip Hop – you name it, they play it. And if you need an extra push, each bike’s console tracks your speed, torque, resistance and power in real-time, sending everything to your email so that you can go harder, better, faster, stronger next time around. Now that’s something to fall in love with.

Not able to make it? Here are some of our favorite Drake and Rihanna workout songs to add to your playlist:

Drake- Hotline Bling, Headlines, Forever, No New Friends, Started From The Bottom

Rihanna- Work (featuring Drake!), This Is What You Came For, Disturbia, Diamonds, SOS

Playlist heaven - Get all of our other fit-spired playlists from Playlist Yoga here in L.A. to Sophia Bush's personal hot list here. 

Drake vs. Rihanna, Beyonce vs. JayZ... What's your favorite spin class playlist of all time?
Tell us what gets you sweating in the comments below. 

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Pretty Rx: 5 Superfoods For Shiny Hair + Stunning Skin

Glow goddess, Sophie Jaffe, knows that beauty comes from within - and that what we eat is a major part of it. This raw food chef (and responsible party for our Philosophie superfood obsession) is breaking down five beauty foods that brighten and boost, and sharing a green smoothie that delivers a dynamic dose. Consider this your planty prescription for the kind of beauty that demands a double-take. Here's Sophie...

Just like you need your magical hours of beauty sleep, filling your plate with nourishing beauty foods will make you look and feel like you can take on the world. While you probably already know that drive-through milkshakes and deep-fried Oreos aren’t your best friends when it comes to your body, there are also foods that should be viewed as equals to the products on your vanity. By incorporating beneficial beauty foods that are chock-full of nutrients into your diet, you’ll make your locks luscious, your skin radiant and your energy magnetic with extra je ne sais quoi.

Next time you’re at the grocery store, fill your cart up with these five foods so you can eat pretty:

Cacao: If you’ve had pimples or inflamed skin, you may have been told to stay away from all things chocolate. However, it’s absolutely possible to get your chocolate fix without worrying about skin flare-ups. The no-chocolate rule stems from the fact that most chocolate bars are packed with dairy and sugar, two ingredients that have been shown to affect hormones and blood-sugar levels, which can be linked to acne and problem skin. Cacao itself is actually loaded with vitamins A, C and E (nutrients essential for healthy skin), good fats (that balance oil production), zinc (which repairs skin cells) and chromium (which keeps blood glucose levels in check).

Tart Cherry Juice: Here’s a beauty food to help you get in enough beauty sleep, an essential for spritely energy and no under-eye circles. Whether you broke the no-iPhone-before-bed rule or have a nerve-wrecking presentation in the morning, help your body ease into sleep by pouring yourself a glass of tart cherry juice. After you’ve hit the sack, the melatonin from the cherries, will help you drift off to dreamland. As an added perk, this tart fruit is also a champ at fighting inflammation.

Goji Berries: If you’re on a weekend hike, playing a round of afternoon fetch with your puppy at the park or dancing away at an outdoor music festival, chances are you’ll be soaking up some mega sun rays. We all know it’s important to topically apply sunscreen (always do!), but did you know that you can also eat and drink additional skin protection by flooding your body with antioxidants? Goji berries have off-the-chart levels of antioxidants, which have been shown to boost skin protection and reduce sunburn redness by as much as 40 percent! If you snack on these berries or use them as a fun topping for your smoothie bowls, your skin will also take on a radiant, princess-like glow.

Papaya: We’ve all been there – it’s hard to feel beautiful when you’re suffering from bloat. Enter papaya. Also known as pawpaw, this tropical fruit contains a digestive enzyme called papain that breaks down fiber, which will create gas if it’s not properly digested. With two days’ worth of vitamin C, papaya also brightens and tightens skin and contains vitamin A compounds, which support cell turnover. As another beauty bonus, papain removes redness in the skin by reducing inflammation.

Coconut Butter: While shampoos, conditioners and treatments can certainly perk up your hair, you can also eat your way to gorgeous locks. Make coconut butter - which is created from pureed, raw coconut - your secret weapon for maintaining healthy, happy and radiant-looking hair. Philosophie coconut butters will help to hydrate those strands and packs a punch of vitamin C, which helps build collagen and promote overall hair strength.

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