3 day cleanse

After quite a few consecutive weekends completely indulging ourselves in the richest foods, crispest wines, sweetest desserts, strongest cocktails (you get the picture) that we could lay our hands on...the husband and I decided to give Dr. Oz's 3-day cleanse a try. But before I move forward, let me make sure one thing is clear.....this was in NO WAY done with weight loss as the focus. This was purely about eliminating harmful toxins from the body and hitting the restart button both mentally and physically.

I was never really hungry, but I did miss eating. I had been a little worried about the shakes being gross tasting (especially after reading reviews of the lunch shake), but what was hardest for me was just not chewing anything for 3 days. Overall, there were tough moments, but I felt that it was completely worth it for me.

Visit the Dr. Oz site for the recipe sheet, grocery shopping list and instructions!

breakfast: water, flax seed, raspberries, banana, spinach, almond butter, lemon 

*This was definitely my favorite meal!

lunch: celery, cucumber, kale leaves, green apple, lime, coconut oil, almond milk, pineapple

*This was the hardest of the meals to get down. For me, the texture was infinitely worse than the flavor (which wasn't too bad, in my opinion).

dinner: mango, blueberries, coconut water, kale leaves, lemon, avocado, cayenne pepper, flax seeds

*Not bad. Watch the cayenne, it goes a long way!

Ending notes:

• I recommend adding ice before blending and drinking as cold as you can.
• I also recommend making them as fresh as possible, but I know that can be hard for lots of people who are on the go.
• You are supposed to take a bath each night with epsom salt....I would definitely not skip this step! Heat draws toxins out of the body and will make the cleanse more effective.
• Drink LOTS of water...also important for flushing out the toxins.
• Overall, I felt healthier after the three days. I felt less bloated and didn't have as strong of cravings for sugary snacks which I had before the cleanse. 
• It also made me more aware of what I put in my body and I have been trying to incorporate more fruits and veggies into my diet.

If you have any questions about my experience, just leave a comment and I'd be happy to answer!

Cheers darlings!

Hannah

act like a kid

Summer is the perfect time to be silly. It's the time to hang out with friends, to braid your hair in crazy different ways, and sit in the grass and blow bubbles. I really try embrace silliness as much as possible. There is no need to go crazy and take it to the extreme but little doses of fun days are what makes life interesting.

This whole "YOLO" thing has it all wrong... it's not that you only live once, you live every single day and you really only die once. I'm changing it to "YOYO" you're only young once, so live it up.

Outfit: Sevenly "Land of the Free" t-shirt. Express jean shorts. Vintage jewelry. Bubbles and Face paint from 99 cents store. Vintage super cool motorcycle helmet. Make up by Tarte Cosmetics 

If you have any other fun ideas to inspire your inner-child please share below :)

XO, Jax 

summer lentil salad

After a big weekend of “Dad Comes to Town”, I have had my fill of burgers, beer, and Dodger Dogs. He only visits a few times a year, but when he does we go all out with food. I am all for indulging every now and then, but lets just say that yesterday John and myself were craving something a little healthier than truffle garlic fries...

This summer lentil salad sounded just perfect after a decadent weekend exploring yummy LA restaurants. It’s not only light and healthy, but it has a bunch of different flavors as well. Did I mention that it's super easy to make? Well it is! Lentil salads are great anytime of year, but they’re even better during hotter months when you want something cool and refreshing and don’t want to use the oven. We enjoyed this salad with grilled chicken, marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, and s&p, but it would also go great with steak, fish, or even just as a light meal on its own! So, next time you are in the mood for a dish that takes you out of “the burger-zone” and into the “healthy-but-just-as-yummy-zone” try this recipe and you’ll be happy you did.

What you’ll need-

1 cup brown lentils

2 cups chopped English cucumber

1 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half

½ cup of crumbled feta

A few chopped scallions

1 tbs extra virgin olive oil

2 tbs balsamic vinegar

1 tbs Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

Minced fresh mint to taste

Directions-

Cook the lentils: Pour 2 cups of water and lentils in a medium saucepan and let them come to a boil. Once they start to boil, turn heat down to a medium low simmer. There should just be a few simmering bubbles. Let that simmer for about 20-30 mins or until the lentils are no longer crunchy but tender…but don’t let them get too mushy! Drain and let cool.

While you are cooking the lentils, chop the cucumbers, tomatoes, mint, scallions and feta. 

Next, whisk together the dressing ingredients- balsamic vinegar, dijon, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Put the cooked and cooled lentils into a medium size bowl, add the veggies and cheese, drizzle on the dressing, and you are ready to eat! 

Bon Apetit!
Meg

fame

There's a little movie that entered infamy by singing the words "I'm gonna live forever." Fame is arguably the ultimate American Dream. Entertainment is one of America's major grossing exports and even though movies are rarely entirely shot in Hollywood, it's star performers still live forever. Here are some new starlets that I believe to be next to enter infamy and live forever. 

Anne Hathaway

We first saw her as a lovable princess in The Princess Diaries, and most of us thought, lovely another cute actress from Disney. Then, completely changed pace in Rachel Getting Married and Love and Other Drugs. After all that she transforms herself again in Les Miserables, singing gut wrenching ballads leading her to straight to the Oscars. She has throughly proven that not only is she talented but a true chameleon.

Lena Dunham

She has been proclaimed as the voice of a generation. She not only stars in the HBO series GIRLS, she is the driving force behind it. Her complete raw honest writing for the show has taken the series from a Sex and the City look alike to a complete new level. Showing no mercy Lena writes and acts life as it is for 20 somethings in this generation, and for that I believe she is just starting her reign over young Hollywood.

Jennifer Lawerence

She has starred in successful indie film The Winter's Bone, She blew competition out of the water with her blockbuster franchise The Hunger Games, and is co-starring in the breakout hit Silver Linings Playbook. She is changing how people look at actresses because she doesn't seem to fit any mold given to her. She's beautiful AND talented, she's starring in a huge blockbuster AND winning Oscars. She also doesn't seem to care too much about all of the fame. She is now seen as Hollywood royalty, but she still has managed to keep that 'I wish she was my friend' feel.

I, for one, am excited to see Hollywood return attention to talented people rather than fleeting trend setters. Hopefully these women continue to inspire me to keep breaking the mold, because the world needs more individuals and less remakes.

target finds

It's a given that if you walk into Target with only 2 or 3 things on your list, you will inevitably walk out with at least one full bag...don't pretend that's not you! I know I'm not the only one. This outfit highlights a couple great finds (both old and new) that snuck into my bag on a typical run to Target...

Dress: Missoni for Target (old), Hat: Xhilaration Straw Baseball Hat at Target (recent), Shoes: Superga via J.Crew, Necklaces: Urban Outfitters and Tiffany & Co., Watch: Michael Kors, Bracelets: assorted, Fine Rings: ASOS, Turqoise Ring: somewhere in AZ, Sunglasses: Michael Kors, Nail polish: Essie Ole Caliente

companies worth investing your pretty penny

There are many choices when you buy lovely things, but not all beautiful things are backed by equally beautiful companies. Think of every dollar that you spend as a little investment into the company you're purchasing from. Now, more than ever, it is important to look a little deeper to see what companies stand for. These five companies serve to improve lives of people all over the world through the sales of the amazing products they create.

Alex and Ani

 Alex and Ani is a company that creates one of a kind bracelets and bangles. Their mission statement says that they believe in the power of positive energy through the unique beauty and symbolism of their products. They use recycled and eco-friendly materials, so that their economic footprint is
 the size of a pair of toddler shoes. Their Charity by Design line features charms designed for over twenty different charities including; Stand Up 2 Cancer, African Rainforest Conservatory, and Friends Of Jaclyn. The whole Alex and Ani line is available on their website, in local boutique stores across the country, and at Nordstrom.

Sevenly

Sevenly is a company that teams up with a different charity every seven days to use local artists to create a clothing line. Seven dollars from each product sold is donated to the charity they've teamed up with that particular week. The premise of the company is already pretty intriguing...each weekly design is one of a kind, never sold again. Not only are the t-shirts fashionable, they are functional in helping countless people across the globe. Sevenly has teamed up with many different organizations, often ones that do not receive much press or funding otherwise. Their unique tees are available on their sevenly website.

Tarte Cosmetics

Tarte Cosmetics is not only a personal favorite of mine, but it is also a company worth looking into. Each one of their products from the very start are formulated without parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. Tarte is also cruelty free, which means their products are not tested on animals. The company is very conscious of the resources they use to create their product, and invests in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and uses recyclable material. On top of their "do good" mentality they keep coming up with even more beautiful packaging. In their latest summer line they team up with synchronized swimming troupe, The Aqualillies, to create beautiful mermaid-esque waterproof make-up. You can find Tarte on their website or in Sephora stores.

Krochet Kids

Krochet Kids started off as a small charitable project working with under privileged countries to train the local people in a marketable skill and, in turn, pay them a fair wage. Since it's beginning, the company has blossomed into a successful business. One of the coolest things about each Krochet Kids product you can see the name of the person who created the product on a small label inside. You can even write them a thank-you note! Handmade beanies and hats are what the company has become famous for, but on their website they also have men's and women's clothing lines. The full selection is available on their website.

Badfish Booty

A company inspired by the sea, Badfish Booty makes jewelry out of shells naturally found in the oceans and bays of Hawaii. With every purchase made they donate their time and energy to local and international charities. Each piece is uniquely designed and hand crafted by members of the company. Their famous 'Booty' ring, featured below, is an easy way to spice up any wardrobe. Pieces can be specifically designed by request on their badfish booty website.

Even though we live in a time where choices are constantly surrounding us, sometimes choosing the right one is a little more difficult. Our hope is that this list inspires you to look a little deeper into the companies we all invest in. These are only five out of the many, continue the search and let us know what you find!

Photo credit to all of the respective websites.

XO, Jax