Finding Cloud 9

Hi! My name is Lexi D'Angelo and I am a Holistic Health Coach, entrepreneur, foodie and a lover of life! I have big dreams and ambitions and I am passionate about helping people create a happy and healthy lifestyle where they live each day to its fullest potential. I created Finding Cloud 9 to help people discover all that life has to offer, as well as to guide them towards their dream life. Finding Cloud 9 is not a destination, but rather, a journey. And it starts right now!

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My Birthday + The Best Present Ever

Hello lovelies! First of all, I want to apologize for being MIA. I have been attacked by some nasty sort of flu and have been down for the count for far too many days—including today, my birthday! Bummer, right?

Luckily with each birthday that passes, I become a bit less attached to the idea that birthdays have to be the BEST, most wonderful day, filled with all magnificent things, where nothing ever goes wrong. That notion is something that I used to fully believe, only to be let down nearly every single birthday. Thank goodness I don’t think I’ve ever been sick on my birthday in the past, or else I probably would have been super let down and beside myself! Too funny…at least I can laugh about it now though, right?

While I still love to celebrate my birthday today, I think the reason I get so excited is because I am able to spend time with the most important people in my life. Recently birthdays have entailed doing something special with Jake one night, having a delicious dinner with my family the next, and then getting together with some of my closest friends the weekend following my birthday. In my eyes, this is the most perfect way to spend my birthday week.

Jake often laughs at me because I’ll randomly say, “Ahh, I just love good conversation and laughing with people! It’s the best.” Although you’ll never catch me turning down a night of dancing, I’ve come to really enjoy weekends spent with my closest friends just snuggling up on someone’s couch and telling stories over a bottle of wine. I’ve always known that I had pretty amazing friends, but I don’t think I truly cherished the time spent together as much as I do now.

So while I may be sick and miserable in bed, I know that I have some pretty fantastic people in my life, and I’ll take that birthday present over and over again any day.

My Birthday + The Best Present Ever was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Honey Roasted Rainbow Carrots

I tend to not really think of myself as a carrot person. I don’t usually go for them when they’re put out with dips, and usually only enjoy them when in soups or as part of a bigger dish. Deuxave (an amazing restaurant in Boston) was definitely what changed my mind about carrots. They have a delicious steak entree with baby rainbow carrots on the side that are cooked to absolute perfection. So, when I was I stumbled across some rainbow carrots at Whole Foods the other day, I decided to take it upon myself to create a new recipe incorporating these pretty little things. It’s so simple and so delicious! Here’s how you make it.

Ingredients

7-10 rainbow carrots

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1-2 teaspoons raw honey

Directions

Preheat oven to 385°.

Wash and peel carrots.

Grease a cooking pan with coconut oil and smear coconut oil on carrots.

Place carrots in the oven for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, take carrots out of the oven and coat with raw honey.

Flip carrots over to the other side and place in the oven for another 20-25 minutes, or until slightly crispy and brown on the outside.

Honey Roasted Rainbow Carrots was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Celebrating 2 Years With One Hell of a Guy

Yesterday Jake and I celebrated our two year anniversary. I honestly can’t believe it’s been two years—On the one hand, it feels like I just met him, while on the other, it feels like I’ve known him my entire life. Crazy how time can feel so warped! It’s been such an incredible two years though, and I feel so lucky to have found someone who I can be my true self with at all times and who can make me laugh until I’m about to pee my pants. He makes my life so full of love and happiness and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. Okay, enough with the sap :) Let’s get onto the good stuff—last night’s delicious dinner at Mooo!

Jake being the romantic that he is, came home before dinner and surprised me with some beautiful flowers.

  When we got to Mooo we were seated in these amazing high back chairs. I was in love and had to take a picture!

  We started off with some champagne to toast to a fabulous two years!

  For an appetizer, we split the tuna tartare, which was so yummy.

  Jake and I split a 12oz filet mignon for our meal—so juicy and delicious! Of course, it wouldn’t have been complete without some sides…

  We had to get some greens into our meal, so we ordered some bacon braised brussels sprouts. Mmm, mmm, mmmmm!

  And an anniversary dinner just wouldn’t be complete without our favorite, lobster mac and cheese.

  I tried to hint to Jake that dessert was not necessary (I had a little surprise for him at home), but he insisted. I guess two desserts for two years makes sense!

  Once we got home I showed him the surprise I had in store—ice cream cake! Nom nom. (Recipe coming soon, don’t you worry.)

  And this is what it looks like on the inside—Oreo crust, peanut butter cup ice cream, cookie dough, Cool Whip…you know, really healthy stuff. It was such a great night and we went to bed extremely well-fed!

      Celebrating 2 Years With One Hell of a Guy was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Survey Says: I Want to Be Skinnier + Prettier

A couple of weeks ago I asked women on Facebook to fill out a survey with about 30 questions. An example of some of the questions asked were:

What makes you happy and puts you in a good mood? What makes you angry/sad and puts you in a bad mood?

What about yourself are you most confident about? What are you most insecure about?

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be and why?

Are you happy with your current weight? If no, why? What would you want to weigh?

What is something you’d like to achieve in the next few years? In your lifetime? What is one thing you want to do before you die?

I am extremely aware of the poor relationship women have with body image (after all, I am a woman so I live and breathe the struggle myself), however, the answers I read form my survey completely shocked me. I guess I shouldn’t say shock, but more so saddened and took me aback. Nearly every single woman who answered the survey said that she was insecure about her weight or a certain body part and that she wished she could change her weight and/or body part(s). Nearly every single one of these women said that they were most confident in their abilities, their intelligence, and their personality. I guess it makes me sad that as women we often put so much emphasis on our looks and weight, when really, we have so much more to offer.

I know this is such a popular topic of discussion, but I couldn’t stare at pages upon pages of women writing about how poorly they felt about themselves without addressing this.

I think that the ironic part is, the women who wrote these answers were all different shapes and sizes and had insecurities that ranged from their legs, to their face, to their tummy, etc. The fact of the matter is, there’s no such thing as perfect.

The idea of being “perfect” is definitely something I have personally struggled with for a while. There’s always the desire to be skinnier, or prettier, or more this, or less that, but to what end? There’s always going to be someone out there with longer legs, bigger boobs, a more shapely butt—you name it. But no one out there is quite like you, and that’s why you’re so special.

Why are we so desperately trying to conform to a certain mold when we were born to break it? It’s really our differences that should be celebrated.

I also want to point out that when I asked what each person wanted to achieve in their lifetime and what they wanted to do before they died, not one person mentioned “lose weight” or “be pretty”. Every single person wrote how they wanted to be “happy” and “successful” and nearly everyone thought that meant having a family to spend their time with, a career they loved, and being able to travel and see the world. So how does fitting into a size 0 dress, or getting more toned legs, or a bigger butt help you achieve happiness? I don’t think it does. I don’ think we can equate having the perfect body (whatever that may be in our own mind) to true happiness.

Happiness comes in the form of spending time with people you love and doing what you are most passionate about.

Yes, eat healthy. Yes, workout. But do these things because they make you feel intrinsically good. Not because you feel pressure to look good. I know this isn’t an easy task. I really do. I struggle with this all the time, but with each day that passes, I think I’m starting to get a better grasp on what true happiness means, and I know that it isn’t necessarily found in a pair of skinny jeans. Hey, don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing to love the way your jeans and clothes fit, but it’s not the end of the world if that means fitting into a size 8 over a size 2.

To me, true happiness is found in the arms of Jake; in a cozy room filled with the laughter of my friends and family; in the high of an amazing workout because it truly feels incredible to push my body further than I thought possible; in the exploration of a new city or country where I can immerse myself in the culture; in an “OMG I can’t put this book down” kind of novel; and in the pride that comes from my following my dreams and creating a career and life I love.

So, I beg you to look beyond your scale and start looking at the true measure of life—happiness. Take a moment to really think about where your true happiness is derived from, and how you can create more of that in your life. And then get out there and find your happy and stop wasting your time being held back by silly numbers and stupid societal expectations.

It’s time to start living the dream life that only YOU can measure the worth of and ultimately create for yourself.

header image via | graphics and edits by me

Survey Says: I Want to Be Skinnier + Prettier was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Mulled Wine

So I know this isn’t the healthiest of recipes, but ’tis the season for mulled wine. Am I right?! While you can choose to enjoy this sweet concoction as it is, you can also reduce the amount of apple cider and forego the brown sugar and honey to make this recipe a tad bit healthier. Either way, this quick + simple mulled wine concoction is bound to be a hit and is sure to keep you nice and toasty during the holiday season :)

You’ll need:

1 bottle of red wine

2 cups of apple cider

3 cinnamon sticks

1-2 pinches of allspice

2 tablespoons of light brown sugar (optional)

honey to taste (optional)

1. Gather your ingredients.

  2. Pour wine into large saucepan and turn stove on to a very low heat.

  3. Pour in apple cider.

  4. Toss in brown sugar (optional) and cinnamon sticks.

  5. If desired, squeeze in honey to taste.

  6. Occasionally stir ingredients over low heat for about 10 minutes (note: the water should not boil, you simply want to heat the mixture).

  7. Pour into mug and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

  8. Take a sip (or two!) and make sure it’s to your liking.

  9. Enjoy!

  Pinterest pin:

  Mulled Wine was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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WTF is a Health Coach + Why YOU Need One!

So a lot of people have probably seen my blog posts and have a vague idea of what I’ve been up to lately, but you might still be wondering WTF is a Health Coach and why would you need one? Well, today I’m here to address those things!(Also, be sure to scroll on down to see an incredible deal that I’m gifting to you in December! There’s only a limited amount of spots available, so get after it!)

WTF IS A HEALTH COACH?

What isn’t a Health Coach?! A Health Coach is literally anything and everything you want it to be— a cheerleader for your life, best friend, supportive mentor, health and wellness teacher, amazing listener, advice giver, positive motivator, accountability partner, life changer…the list goes on. My primary job as your Health Coach is to help you live the best life you possibly can by helping you identify pain points you want to remedy, goals you want to set, and dreams you want to achieve. Whether those be health, fitness, food, weight, relationship, career, social, stress, time related, I’m here to help make a profound difference in your life. If you know in your heart that things could be better (I mean, they’re fine, but you want SO much more!), then Health Coaching is for you. Literally anyone and everyone can benefit from a Health Coach! Remember, you’re not a basic bitch, so why would you play it safe with a basic life?

  WHY YOU NEED ONE!

1. You won’t follow through with your New Year’s resolution

I hate to break it to ya, but there’s a big chance you won’t follow through with your New Year’s resolution to be healthy or lose weight. You’re not alone though. 92% of people’s New Year’s resolutions fail, which is such a bummer. But this doesn’t have to be you! Instead of making a grand resolution to lose 30 pounds in the next month or two, I’ll work with you to create small, manageable changes in your everyday life that will have huge, and more importantly, lasting results over time. It’s time to say “smell ya later” to those resolutions and the guilt that comes along with the failure of not completing them.

2. You’re wondering how the hell you got here in the first place.

Whether you’ve struggled with weight or body issues your whole life, or this is something relatively new for you, you can’t seem to figure out how you let this all happen. You feel like you’ve been eating relatively healthy and you’re working out more than you have in the past, but for what? You’re not seeing the results you thought you would, and you’re getting fed up. I can help you figure out how to get back on track or where to get started in order to start seeing the changes you’ve been desperately trying to achieve. All hope is not lost, pinky swear!

3. That damn bag of chips/jar of cookies/tub of ice cream (you name your devil) won’t stop looking at you.

I get it. Those mofos can be oh so cruel—flirtatiously eyeing you and even cooing your name from the depths of the pantry or freezer. It can be so hard to say no to your temptation foods, and even harder to just have a bite and not worry that you won’t be able to stop yourself. I completely get it. Been there, done that. I’m here to help you decode your cravings and figure out ways to enjoy them without overdoing it. No really, you can have your cake and eat it too.

4. You’ve been on a diet for God knows how long.

Between trying the Paleo diet, the Atkins diet, and even that juice only cleanse your friend swears by (I mean, she lost 15 lbs in 2 weeks, lucky betch), you’ve done it all. But it’s not working. You’re sick and tired of working so hard only to end up back where you started, or worse, even heavier and more frustrated than ever. I’m here to tell you those fad diets are absolute crap (especially all of that low-fat, low-cal bullshiz) and that what works for your bestie isn’t necessarily going to work for you. Everyone is different and the concept of bioindividuality is something we’ll dive into in order to discover what works best for you—for the rest of your life, not just a couple months or a few days.

5. Stress doesn’t even begin to cover what you’re feeling.

You’re stressed out of your mind (no, like SO STRESSED, this isn’t normal, how am I going to survive, kinda thing) and and your grand vision of life isn’t really playing out the way you thought it would. You thought you’d be killing it at your job, swimming in money, and living the dream. Instead, you’re on the brink of a nervous breakdown and suffering from some severe stress. As your Health Coach, I’ll teach you about the relationship between stress and chronic disease, and help you to reset your priorities and get your stress under control. This is one of my favorite things to help people with, especially since I used to experience debilitating anxiety on a daily basis. I never thought it possible to live life (relatively) stress free and happy, but trust me, it is!

6. You don’t have time to take care of your mind, let alone your ass.

Time. Oh how you wish you had more of it. You barely have time to take a shower and look presentable, let alone get your butt to the gym. And forget about that Whole Foods shopping trip—ain’t nobody got time to become a Master Chef or the money to drop $50 on eggs, yogurt, and some greens. I totally understand that there are only so many hours in a day and so many coins in your pocket. But you need to devote time to yourself. It may seem impossible, but I can help teach you how to make the time to take care of yourself—mind, body, and soul baby!

7. You’re looking for something more. You need more.

You are an intelligent, grab life by the balls, won’t take no for an answer, follow your heart kind of woman. But something isn’t working. It’s not all falling into place as easily as you had hoped. Right now, things are pretty good…but you’re torn. You feel stuck. You’re not complacent with a basic life. In fact, you fear living a basic life. You fear being a failure, not being successful, and not living up to your potential. You fear not finding passion and purpose. But how do you go from living your fine, kind of basic, life to living a life that is equally, and if not even more so, fabulous than the life you daydream about? I got you girl! Together, we’re going to say goodbye to the “basic bitch” you fear becoming, and say hello to the irresistible and extraordinary woman you know you really and truly are. Get ready to experience some real life changing and and awesomely weird stuff.

  Do yourself a favor and give yourself (or a loved one) the gift of health that literally keeps on giving. I am so excited to offer my coaching packages at a more than affordable rate—$50/month! This crazy low price is only going to be available for the month of December, but I really wanted to give everyone the chance to take their health and happiness into their own hands, without the issue of money being a factor. Health Coaching could literally change your life. Are you ready to live life to the fullest and become the healthiest and happiest you’ve ever been? Then get on this girrrrrl!

  WTF is a Health Coach + Why YOU Need One! was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Weekly Wisps

Hey hey! Man, it feels like a while since I’ve written a blogpost. I guess it’s only been a couple of days, but I decided to take the Thanksgiving holiday off from blogging and instead focused on enjoying time with family and friends. I’ve also been busy with the Healthy, Happy & Hot Holiday Challenge, which has been off to a great start. It’s still not too late to join and rack up the points! How was the rest of your week and weekend? Here’s a little glimpse of what I’ve been up to…

On Wednesday night I went out to din at the Met Bar with my lovely besties from middle school & high school. A few of them don’t live in Boston so I absolutely cherish the time that we spend together. After dinner we went to a bar to meet up with young grads from our high school. We had a blast!

  On Thursday morning Jake and I drove to my Dad’s house where the Thanksgiving feast took place. I caught this pic of my grandfather chilling on the couch before making his famous ravioli! So cute.

  And then it was time to dig into the ravioli (Bennie was a bit sad he didn’t get any)! This was just a first course before the Turkey and regular Thanksgiving meal. It was all so delish! After lunch/dinner at my family’s Thanksgiving, Jake and I drove out to Western Massachusetts to celebrate with his fam. We had such an amazing day and were absolutely pooped by the end of the night.

  The morning after Thanksgiving we pretty much enjoyed what I liked to call the breakfast of champions—2 eggs on wheat toast, bacon, and a side of mac & cheese. Can’t really get much better than that! After we took down that meal, we headed out to the paddle courts for a 2 hour paddle tournament with Jake’s family. It was so much fun!

On Friday afternoon Jake and I headed back to Boston and enjoyed a nice scenic drive.

  On Friday night we met up with a bunch of friends and went to an amazing Bruins game. Afterwards we did some dancing at the Harp and then Jake and I joined Jackie and her husband at the Improv Asylum for a hilarious standup comedy show. We were dying laughing!

  On Saturday Jake and I went to a dog show. Yes, really. We’re extremely interested in getting a cute little Samoyed puppy of our own, so we went to meet the breeder and a couple of her dogs. They were SO fricking adorable and I wanted to steal them and run away with them forever. Jake told me that that probably wasn’t the best idea…

  After hanging at the dog show we enjoyed a very yummy brunch at Stephi’s. Of course not complete without their famous Bloody Marys!

  …And a charcuterie plate. YUM.

  Sunday was a pretty relaxing day for the most part. I went to CrossFit, did some apartment cleaning, and worked on some business stuff. Fun fun. Later last night I drove to my Mom’s house and had a little slumber party with my sister who is headed back to Tulane today. I had the best wakeup this morning with Bennieboo curled up on my feet. Love him!

  Weekly Wisps was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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10 Ways NOT to Feel Like a Stuffed Turkey This Thanksgiving

It’s that time of the year again. TURKEY DAY! While this is such a great and exciting holiday to celebrate, it also marks the beginning of the weight gain season. Did you know that the average American gains 1-5 lbs EACH holiday season? And the worst part is, most people never lose the weight. I’m assuming you don’t want this to be you and you don’t want to leave the dinner table feeling like a stuffed turkey. I’m also assuming you want to enjoy your favorite foods and also focus on more important things like spending quality time with family and friends. To help you have a fabulous Thanksgiving that doesn’t leave you in a food coma or feeling 10 lbs heavier, I’ve enlisted in the help of some of my friends around the web. They’ve been kind enough to share their favorite tips for staying healthy during the holiday season. So here are 10 ways NOT to feel like a stuffed turkey this Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

  1. “Write down your goals.”

When I write down my goals, I’m more likely to stick to them. Say them out loud, write them down – anything to give yourself a little extra accountability. If your goal is to lose 5 pounds, write it down. If your goal is to simply maintain weight loss (which is not simple over the holidays!), write it down. If your goal is to work out 5 days a week until the new year, write it down. Keep yourself focused by declaring your holiday health and fitness goals with a visual reminder.

– Cynthia (www.yousignedupforwhat.com)

2. “Don’t make excuses.”

This refers to a few different things. Don’t make the excuse to not workout just because you don’t have time or it is cold outside. You can always wake up earlier and workout indoors. Don’t make the excuse that it’s okay to eat whatever you want, just because it’s the holidays! If you know you will regret eating something, don’t think twice about it, just don’t eat it. You won’t ever regret not eating something, but you might regret that second slice of pecan pie. – Kelli (www.notyourmamasmarathon.blogspot.com)

3. “Portion control. But seriously.”

Using smaller plates during the season helps. Watch your intake and just think about going back for seconds or thirds. It takes self control, but we can eat smart and keep healthy during holiday season. Don’t forget to keep to your favorite workout, don’t put it off until January. Stay motivated while leading up to the New Year

– Lynda (www.fitnessmomwinecountry.com)

4. “Have an accountability partner.”

An accountability partner or partners will totally help you follow your plan. They’ll help motivate you and it will help knowing that you’re not alone, especially during the Holidays when it’s hard to workout on vacation. It’s nice sharing with others what you’ve accomplished to stay accountable and the encouragement helps motivate you to follow the plan.

– Sherry (www.stayhealthynfit4you.com)

5. “Taste everything, eat nothing.”

This is one of my favorite party mantras. Of course you want to experience all that the dessert buffet has to offer, but you don’t need to eat a huge slice of every cake there to taste them. Tiny portions of rich foods allow you to enjoy them without leaving you full and lethargic. Focus on how you want to feel at the end of the night.

– Kath (www.katheats.com)

6. “Get active with your family.”

Get active with your family. Plan a turkey trot or jungle run and make it fun, not competitive. Take evening walks, or enjoy some time at a park, or go take a class together. Make being active part of your time together as a family, just as much as eating and relaxing are!

– Brittany (www.fit.naturallysisters.com)

7. “Don’t go overboard trying to make up for extra calories.”

Keep up with your regular exercise routine but don’t go overboard trying to make up for the extra calories. By keeping up with your regular schedule, you won’t feel so bad about your holiday indulgences but it won’t keep you from missing out on the fun parties either. Then when January comes, you’ll still be at your normal fitness level and be ready to kick into super mode if you need to.

– Vilay (www.everyday-asian.com)

8. “Offer to bring a meal.”

Make sure you are including veggies at every meal! Offer to bring something to a holiday party…bring a hummus plate and veggies so that way there will always be a healthy choice for you.

– Colleen (www.livefreeandrun.net)

9. “Carry a water bottle.”

When I have a water bottle with me I’m more likely to drink water than splurge on sugary drinks, many of which are filled with empty calories. Plus, the more water I drink, the more full I feel and the less tempted I am when I see all of those tasty holiday treats.

– Kathryn (www.dancingtorunning.com)

10. “Try some new recipes.”

If you’re like me, you enjoy baking cookies during the winter holidays! Maybe instead of the fattening ones, we can try some new recipes that are healthier. Healthy doesn’t have to mean yucky – there are a lot of low calorie options out there that taste great. Experiment a little and try something new.

– Heather (www.heatherrunsthirteenpointone.com)

  10 Ways NOT to Feel Like a Stuffed Turkey This Thanksgiving was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Let's Get Naked

Okay, so I used a bit of a provocative blog title to get you to read this. We’re not really going to get naked. I mean, unless you want to. You’re more than welcome to strip down right now before you continue reading what I have to say…Although there will be no nudity in this post per se, I still feel like I’m about to fully expose myself…

I’M GOING TO EXPOSE MYSELF AS A FRAUD.

Well, kind of. While I think that all of the posts I have written have come from the heart and have been the “true me” speaking, I feel like the tone of my website is a bit airy and devoid of my true personality and spirit. First of all, let’s be clear—I LOVE Finding Cloud 9 and fully believe in its mission and purpose. I 100% believe that EVERYONE is capable of finding positivity, purpose, and passion in their everyday life and can absolutely turn their wildest dreams into reality. There’s no question in my mind about that. There’s also no question in my mind that I am so fired up to be on this journey and I cannot wait to help so many fabulous women find their Cloud 9.

I JUST THINK I’VE BEEN PLAYING IT A BIT SAFE.

And to be honest, I’m not a huge fan of safe. I’m a fan of taking risks, even if you have absolutely zero clue how they’re going to pan out; I’m a fan of blindly following your heart because it simply feels right; I’m a fan of putting yourself out there and exposing yourself to the world, regardless of what others might think; I’m a fan of fully committing and being absolutely true to yourself. And unfortunately, I don’t know if that’s what I’ve been putting forth on my website. While the pictures of me sauntering around in a white dress are nice and all, and are definitely a part of who I am, it’s not the full “true me”. Don’t get me wrong—I love that white dress and I love getting all dolled up (on occasion) and having someone shoot lovely photographs. I love all things whimsical and pretty and would love to spend my days on a beach practicing yoga. But that’s just not the real, everyday me. Most of the time you’ll find me in my workout clothes with my hair flowing around me like crazy…Or if I’m wearing “real clothes” I’ll be in what my friends like to call my Baby Gap sweaters aka long sleeve crop tops, paired with some booty accentuating black leggings. I’m probably cracking a joke, swearing (a lot…it’s a work in progress), and talking about poop way more than the average person is comfortable with. That’s me. So while there’s definitely a part of me who is represented in the white dress, it’s not all of me.

IF YOU’VE GOT IT, WHY NOT FLAUNT IT?

I really want you guys to get to know all of me. I don’t enjoy fake people, so I don’t want to ever appear fake here. This is a space I chose to create and share with the world, and I want my true self to translate on each and every page. So while I’ll try not to drop the f-bomb every other second or talk about my poop, I definitely won’t be trying to play it safe. You are who you are, and each part of you makes you unique. So if you’ve got those things that make you special and different (each and everyone of you have them, I promise you!), why not flaunt them? From now on, I’m all about showing you the full me.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

It means you’re not getting basic (more on that here). You’re getting the real deal with absolutely zero bullshitting. I’ll say it how I feel it, and I hope that this will make it easier for you to relate to me. And yes, it’s safe to say that putting myself out there could prove to be a bit alienating and that some people may stop visiting this site, but that’s okay. It’s actually more than okay. I truly want to attract real, vibrant, passionate people who are excited to express their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. I hope that the more real I am with you, the more comfortable you’ll feel being real with me. Let’s get ready to experience some real life changing and weird stuff together.

Check out the newly revamped pages: Home, Meet Lexi, and Work With Me. I’d love to know what you think about the changes!

#screwbasic #letsgetrealweird

Much love always,

Lexi

  Let’s Get Naked was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Weekend Wisps - 11/21

Hello hello you fabulous people! How did the weekend treat you? Mine was filled with lots of fun activities.

On Friday afternoon I got a much needed massage at Keldara Day Spa. It was absolutely heavenly. That night Jake and I ended up taking it easy and we ordered in food and watched the X-Men: Days of Future Past, which was surprisingly great!

  Kristin displaying her hatred for the freezing cold temps…and a nice half eaten slice of za chilling on the right.

On Saturday we woke up fairly early to get ready to head over to Harvard-Yale. It was ESPN Game Day so it was absolutely nuts. Unfortunately it was also cold as hell, and me and my friends were on the verge of tears after only a couple hours of tailgating. We left the tailgate around 1pm and headed to John Harvard’s for some warmth and drinks. It felt sooo nice to thaw out.

  Warming up with the girlies!

The bar was pretty crowded though, so after a couple of drinks we decided to head back to Southie and keep the fun going at Lincoln Tavern. I had such a blast hanging out with everyone, but I was absolutely beat by 5pm. Jake and I decided we would go to the movies instead of going out, and we went to see Mockingjay—Part 1. The last book in the Hunger Games trilogy was probably my least favorite, but I think they did a really good job with the movie and setting everything up for the second part. After the movie ended, we were both hungry, so we picked up some sushi from Genki Ya and headed home to relax.

  On Sunday we woke up even earlier and Elena met us at our apartment so we could head out to Southbridge for the Gobble Gobble 10k. It was both Lain and my first 10k, so we were a bit nervous and also very ready to get it over with. For Jake (aka Mr. Marathoner) this was pretty much a quick little jog. He kindly agreed to run with us though to help us pace ourselves, which ended up being extremely helpful. We decided that our goal would be to run it in under 9 min/mile. We started off around an 8:15/mile pace for the first 3 miles, then dipped to an 8:45 for the next two, and then really picked it up the last mile or so. Jake kept trying to tell us to go slower, or maintain pace at certain points, but we weren’t the best at listening, especially in the beginning. Oops. We were pretty pumped when we finished with an average pace of 8:25/mile. Woohoo! After the race we were ready to get the hell out of there and get some food.

  On our way home we stopped at Sweet Green and I got their delish butternut squash and Harvest Bowl…So in love with those things! Once Jake and I got home we crashed on the couch and watched the Pats game for a while. The rest of the day was pretty low-key and I spent some time working on some new content for Finding Cloud 9–Stay tuned for that ;) We ordered some pizza from Salvatore’s (nom nom) and enjoyed it while watching a CRAZY episode of Homeland. Why do they always make you wait TWO WEEKS after the good episodes?! Ugh! Also, random, but yesterday I also started reading Money: Master the Game by Tony Robbins. I’m only just in the beginning (its 600+ pages long), but so far I find it to be incredibly interesting. Have any of you heard of this book or read it yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

  Weekend Wisps – 11/21 was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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It's the Freakin Weekend + 5 Things to Do

Yup, that’s right. It’s the freakin weekend! God I love Fridays. In just a few hours I will be starting my weekend off right with a lovely massage…I am SO excited. This is something that I wish I could incorporate into my life on a weekly basis, but for now, I’ll just enjoy them as special, once in a while treats. After my massage I’ll drive home (while listening to one of my favorite podcasts in order to distract me from the annoyance of rush hour traffic) and start to get ready for some fun weekend shenanigans. Tonight Jake and I are headed to a Harvard “pre-game” party in celebration of the commencement of Harvard-Yale. Neither of us went to Harvard or Yale, but we have a few friends who did, so it’s bound to be nice little reunion. Tomorrow morning we’ll be heading over to Harvard with a bunch of friends to tailgate at the Harvard-Yale football game, and I’m so excited to enjoy some chilly, but nice and crisp, fall weather and hang out with some of my favorite peeps. Hopefully Saturday night will be a relaxed one, because Sunday morning I’m running a 10k Turkey Trot in Southbridge with Lains! Despite my nagging shinsplints and knee pain (yeah, yeah, I pushed it too hard with the 8-mile run the other day), I think it will be a blast. What are you up to this weekend? Any fun plans? Or are you just hanging low and relaxing? Be sure to take a look at 5 things to do this weekend below! Xo.

Win a $100 or $25 gift card.

– Check out the details here, and win some money while helping me out. You guys are the best! I seriously couldn’t do it without you!

Give some gifts.

– Get those holiday shopping lists ready…Check out Popsugar’s picks for the “Most Stylish Gifts $25 Can Buy“.

Get crafty.

– If you want to be an absolute DIY baller this Thanksgiving, try your hand at this fun and fabulous Holiday Thanks Centerpiece. And then snap a pic of it and insta the hell out of it.

Have a laugh.

– This video of three grandmas smoking weed for the first time is hilarious and strangely cute.

Be a natural beauty.

– Looking for some fabulous new makeup products this holiday season? Be sure to check out Refinery 29’s list of “The Best Farm-To-Bottle Beauty Brands You Need To Know“.

  Have a fabulous weekend!

      It’s the Freakin Weekend + 5 Things to Do was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Dream Finder: Pragati Gusmano

Good morning! Can you believe it’s already Thursday? Can’t say I’m complaining :) Today I wanted to introduce you to yet another fabulous Dream Finder: Pragati Gusmano, who is a Naturopathic Doctor. She has a lot of great info to share, and for those of you who may not know, she tells us the difference between Naturopathic Medicine and Traditional Medicine, as well as provides us with a few of her top tips for staying healthy. Scroll down to read the second installment of Dream Finders!

Tell us a little bit about your background. When did you first know you wanted to be a Naturopathic Doctor? I never actually knew I wanted to be a Naturopathic Doctor, but I always knew I wanted to be a Doctor. I went back and forth between being Pre-Med and not being Pre-Med. I wasn’t fully committed to living a life of prescribing medications and my experience with the medical system left me feeling like this was what I would learn in medical school. During my senior year of college I took a Medical Anthropology class and learned about various types of medicine (Ayurveda, TCM etc), I found out that I could study medicine in a variety of ways and it didn’t mean I was bound to allopathic medicine.

What’s the best or most interesting part of being a Naturopathic Doctor? The worst or most difficult? The best part is working with minimally invasive therapies like botanical medicine, nutrition and nutrient therapy to help others feel better than they’ve ever felt before. The most difficult is getting doctors who practice conventional medicine to value and respect my opinion. Unfortunately, we are still a society that relies heavily on pharmaceuticals and many people believe this is the only way to treat and manage disease. 

Can you briefly explain the difference between Naturopathic Medicine and Traditional Medicine? Conventional medicine addresses symptoms. When you visit a Medical Doctor for a headache, the approach would be to get rid of the symptoms of the headache: pain, blurry vision, discomfort. When you visit a Naturopathic Doctor for a headache, the approach would be to find out what is actually causing your headache. Is it a stressful job? Poor eating habits? Allergies? Whatever the cause might be, the goal is always to find it, rather than palliating the symptoms of disease through medication.

Naturopathic Doctors believe that the body has an innate ability to heal itself (known as the vis). By supporting a healthy life, through integrative therapies and preventive care, we can strengthen the vis and put you on a path to long term health and wellness. 

What advice do you have for other aspiring Naturopathic Doctors? Are there any resources or tips you’d like to have known about when you first started out? I highly recommend shadowing a Medical Doctor and a Naturopathic Doctor. Think about how you want to practice medicine and what your belief system is.

How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle? And in your eyes, what does it mean to be healthy? My top three ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle:

Meal Planning: Think about what you’ll be eating in advance to ensure you’re getting well balanced meals. Food is fuel and you should fuel your body with high quality and nutritious food.

Hydrating: Drink water throughout the day. This helps you focus and flush out toxins.

Practicing Gentleness: Be kind to yourself and value the effort you make to live well.

To me, being healthy means living a grounded life with intention. Do things that make you feel well because they make you feel well; not because you have to.

What’s one food you can’t live without? Call me crazy but it’s kale! Cheese is a close second.

Quick health tip? If you work at a sedentary job, make it a goal to do 2 quick burst exercises every hour. This will get you moving for about 20 minutes a day, break up the monotony of sitting at a desk and boost your energy.

Fun fact? I’m a water baby. I’ve always love the sea and when I had the chance to study the medicinal benefits of seaweed in Ireland I realized that I had found my calling. I’ve also taken multiple seaweed baths, which is fun thing to tell people.

“When I wake up I…” Give my dogs lots of kisses and usually sing them a good morning song.

“Before I go to bed I…” Unwind with a cup of my favorite bedtime tea.

What inspires and motivates you on a daily basis? Helping and educating others are my main objectives. My biggest inspiration is a good attitude. I find that when I focus on the positives in my life I make far more progress. It’s normal to have those days where you just feel down and out, but having a sense of perspective on how far I’ve come is my biggest motivator.

Anything else you’d like to tell us about? I’m passionate about animal rights and about saving the lives of rescue animals. I frequently share links to dogs that are in desperate need of adoption. I hope to become a pet foster parent one day and play an active role in finding homes for abandoned animals.

Where can we stalk you?! (website, Twitter, Facebook page, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.)

Web: www.simplemedicine.co Twitter: DoctorPragati Facebook: www.facebook.com/simplemedicineblog Instagram: www.instagram.com/pinkpre Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/pinkpre

Dream Finder: Pragati Gusmano was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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What I Ate Wednesday (WIAW #4)

I feel like this installment of “What I Ate Wednesday” would be better named, “What Didn’t I Eat Wednesday”. The day started off with a few random things and then ended with an absolute feast. And man, was it phenomenal.

Per usual, the morning started off with some lemon water. I was still taking care of Bennie, so the morning was a bit hectic, so I didn’t eat anything right away.

  After taking Bennie outside in the pouring rain for a little bit, we rushed inside and then I packed his things up to return back home to my mom. By the time I dropped Bennie off and got to work, I was very hungry, but I didn’t have many options. I ate two handfuls of cashews to hold me over for about an hour or so.

  I realized I had some Paleonola left over from the past week, so I poured myself a very large serving and topped it off with almond milk. I wasn’t too pumped that my breakfast pretty much consisted only of nuts, but I was trying to make do with what I had available. It was also surprisingly filling…probably because I ate about 3 servings worth.

  A couple of hours following my strange breakfast, I enjoyed some of my favorite peppermint Yogi tea.

  By the late afternoon I was getting pretty hungry, but it was also POURING out, and I didn’t have it in me to leave the office. I was happy to discover that I had a Siggi’s yogurt and an apple in the fridge, so I made myself a snack. I topped the yogurt off with some honey and chia seeds, and of course, added loads of cinnamon to my apple slices.

  Once I got home from work, I still had about 2 hours to go until I was meeting Jake for dinner. I was hungry and knew that if I didn’t eat something small, I would be ravenous and eat everything in sight at dinner…So, I cracked an egg on a frying pan, and drizzled some hot sauce and blue cheese on top. It was the perfect little treat to hold me over.

  I met Jake at Ostra around 8pm and I started the night off with an Oyster Cocktail that has tomato vodka, cilantro and some other secret ingredients. And of course, an oyster on the side!

   Once we sat down, we were served some warm bread. I had a small piece with some butter on it.

  The first appetizer to come out was probably one of my favorites—Smoked salmon tartare with lemon scallion, shallot, and caviar, served with house brioche. Absolutely to die for! Although I’m a salmon fan, I’m usually not fond of smoked salmon. This is the one exception to the rule. So in love.

  The second appetizer was a sea bass tartare with black truffle carpaccio and fennel pollen crostini. It was absolutely divine. (My mouth is watering as I’m writing about these things. I really need to control myself…)

  Our third appetizer was a prime sirloin carpaccio with Seckel pear, beech mushrooms, pickled red kuri, and parmesan shavings. Once again, so good.

  Our fourth and final appetizer (I know, I know…it turns out I was still ravenous, regardless of having a snack before dinner, but oh well. The food was too good to miss out on!) was French escargot with Bomba rice “risotto”, Malbec, Serrano ham, and trevisano. Holy shit. This was out of this world. I can’t even begin to explain the flavor bursting from it.

  For our entree (yeah, we clearly needed more food), we ordered the grilled filet mignon “Maitre’d Hotel” with vin cotto, pommes puree, roasted shallot, and mushrooms. So much flavor and so yummy.

  Of course, the dinner would not have been complete without some truffle parmesan fries and a fabulous bottle of Mount Veeder cabernet.

As you can tell, this was quite the decadent night of eating! I usually don’t indulge as crazily as I did, but I’m a big proponent of treating yourself from time to time :) I hope you have a great rest of your day and that you enjoyed taking a peek at this What I Ate Wednesday post!

    Only 8 days until the Healthy, Happy & Hot Challenge starts…

Sign up today and keep that rockin’ bod throughout the holidays, all the while still having a blast!

What I Ate Wednesday (WIAW #4) was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Little Things I'm Loving Lately

Good morning! I hope your week is off to a great start. I’m feeling a bit groggy this AM, but that could be because of the delicious and indulgent dinner I enjoyed with Jake at Ostra last night…Stay tuned for all the yummy things we ate in tomorrow’s WIAW (What I Ate Wednesday) post. Today I wanted to share the six little things I’m lovely lately. Sometimes we don’t take the time to realize how the most simple and little things can make us so happy.

1. Gold Notebook

So first up, is my gold poppin notebook. This little guy comes with me EVERYWHERE, and has been so useful in the past couple of months. I love to jot down quick ideas I have for my business, plan things like the Healthy, Happy & Hot Challenge, write notes from meetings with my business mentor, and so much more. It doesn’t hurt that it’s so pretty and shiny either!

2. Podcasts

The second little thing that I’m loving, is the Wellness Mama podcast. Podcasts have become such a significant part of my day, as I usually spend at least an hour in my car. They’re the first thing I listen to before work, and the last thing I listen to before heading home for the day. Instead of listening to the radio, I love listening to podcasts that cover topics I’m interested in. The Wellness Mama podcast covers so many great health topics, and I really like that I get to squeeze some learning into my driving time…It definitely makes my drives feel more productive and interesting!

3. Strappy Sports Bra

I cannot tell you how many different sports bras I’ve tried out over the years. After much searching, I feel confident in saying that I have found the ultimate sports bra! I am completely obsessed with Reebok’s “Strappy Seamless Sports Bra” and wear it for everything—walking, running, CrossFit, Yoga, and even to work. It’s too comfortable not to wear! I also love that it has removable padded cups to enhance the overall shape. Did I mention it comes in nearly 30 different colors?! Amazing.

4. Yogi Tea

If you’ve been following my WIAW posts, you’ve seen that I clearly have an obsession with Yogi Tea. I’ve really never been much of a tea fan in the past, but Yogi’s amazing flavors have really changed that for me. My favorite tea they make is the Bedtime Tea. I don’t know what it is, but now I crave that tea flavor before bed over sweets or other late night snacks. Absolute. Game. Changer.

5. Beeswax Lip Balm

I’m not really sure what’s been up with my lips as of late, but they’ve been super chapped…and it’s not even winter yet! I’ve tried everything from Carmex, to Aquaphor, even to Eucerin lotion, but nothing has helped them out. Turns out, Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm is my lips’ savior. This little guy comes with my everywhere now!

6. Ear Warmer Band

Since I signed up for a 10k Turkey Trot (can’t believe it’s already this coming weekend!), I knew I would need something to keep my warm. I’m usually not a fan of headbands, as I feel like they usually slip off and are more a burden than anything, but Lululemon’s “Run With Me Ear Warmer” is the perfect accessory for my chillier runs. It’s so comfy and absolutely keeps my ears nice and toasty, and perhaps even better, it doesn’t fall off of my head…Win-win!

  What about you? What are some of your favorite little things that you’re loving lately? I’d love for you to share below in the comments!

Also, we’re only 9 days away from the start of the Healthy, Happy & Hot Challenge.

Sign up today and keep that rockin’ bod throughout the holidays, all the while still having a blast!

Little Things I’m Loving Lately was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Weekend Wisps

Good morning everyone! I hope you had a fabulous weekend. Mine was pretty busy and crazy, but it was fun! On Friday after work I went to pick up Bennie from my mom’s house. Once back in Southie, I let him get to know his surroundings a bit and took him for a little walk. I had plans to meet up with my high school friends for dinner, so I had to leave Bennie at the apartment. I was so sad and it was so difficult for me to leave him! Luckily, Jake came home to hang with Bennie an hour later, so he wasn’t too lonely.

Dinner with the girls was absolutely delish. We had lots of champagne, wine, cheese, and crackers to start off, and Lainz made a yummy kale salad and some amazing pumpkin ravioli for the entree. Mmm mmm. After a lovely evening, I headed home to hang with Jake and Bennie. The remainder of Friday night was spent snuggling on the couch with Bennie and catching up on some Homeland.

Lain striking a pose!

Pretty mantel setup

Group selfie shot!

On Saturday morning I took Bennie for a little walk near my apartment. Then around 12 I met up with a bunch of friends we took him to the dog park nearby. He was such a good boy and played so nicely with all of his new friends!

After the dog park Jake and I went for brunch at Stephi’s. Their Bloody Marys never get old! For the rest of the afternoon I hung out with Bennie in the apartment and took him on another quick walk.

Early in the night Jake and I met up with a bunch of friends to go bowling at Kings. It was a lot of fun, but let’s just say bowling isn’t my thing. We all headed back to Southie and went to Lincoln for a little bit before returning home to Bennie. And in true addict fashion, the night wasn’t complete until we watched another couple of Homeland episodes.

On Sunday morning Jake and I cooked up some mean omelets. I took Bennie for a couple of short walks before heading out to meet Lainz on a run. We recently decided we wanted to push ourselves and try to run a 10k, so we thought it was a good idea to meet up and run about 5 miles to make sure we would be able to get through 6.2 the following weekend. We met at Lululemon to purchase a couple of necessary matching outfits for the following weekend, and then we were off running. We ran together for the first 3 miles and then Lain ran off towards Cambridge to see her fam, and I continued back towards Boston. I got a little bit lost along the way (typical), and before I knew it, I was already 5 miles into my run. I was feeling pretty good though, so I decided to keep going. At 6 miles I hit Back Bay, but I wasn’t too tired, so I wanted to keep going. Keep in mind, I usually only run 3 miles, tops, and the most I have ever run is 5 miles. I kept running and then at 7 miles my ankle and knee was starting to bother me a bit, but otherwise I felt pretty great. I told myself I would run one more mile, but I shouldn’t push my luck, seeing as my body was not used to the wear and tear of running at all. So, I ended my run at 8.1 miles! I was pumped. I felt super accomplished and proud of myself, and realized how mental running becomes after a certain point.

The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging with Bennie on the couch. I actually felt pretty terrible and dehydrated after a couple of hours, and knew I need to fuel myself with some multigrain thin crust pesto pizza. Yum yum. After hydrating and eating I felt a lot better! Sunday night didn’t look too much different, and I pretty much remained on the couch until bedtime.

I hope you enjoyed your weekend, and if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for the Healthy, Happy & Hot 28-Day Holiday Challenge! It’s going to be so much fun and you’re going to get so many helpful tips on how to keep the weight off this holiday season, while still enjoying your favorite treats.

Weekend Wisps was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Healthy, Happy & Hot Challenge

Happy Friday! My goodness, I’m so happy it’s the weekend. I’m so excited because after work today I’m going to my mom’s house to pick up Bennie, my fluffy and crazy golden doodle pup! He’s staying with us in Southie for the weekend and I can’t wait to snuggle him and take him to the dog park around the corner. It’s going to be great! I’m also looking forward to a relaxing evening with some middle school/high school girlfriends…you know, the ones I always write about. They are just the best, and I can’t wait to enjoy a lovely meal at Lainz’s house.

I also wanted to let you guys know about my newest program, “HEALTHY, HAPPY & HOT”. It starts November 27th and goes until December 25th.

  Did you know that the average American gains between 1-5 pounds each holiday season? Want to know the worst part? Most people never lose those pounds. Eek! But this doesn’t have to be you!

  Join the “Healthy, Happy + Hot” 28-Day Challenge, and you can have your holiday treats and eat them too! As a gift for being such fabulous readers, I am offering this to you for FREE. It is packed with so many useful tips, tricks, and ideas that you’re absolutely going to love. I truly believe that the holidays are meant to be enjoyed and celebrated and that you shouldn’t deprive yourself of festive and delicious treats. But this doesn’t mean that you should completely ignore your health and toss it to the curb either. I want to show you how fun and easy it can be to stay in shape while living it up during the most fun and wonderful time of the year! I can’t wait to embark on this journey with all of you. It’s going to be an amazing 28 days!

  CLICK HERE to get started!

(Scroll down to see what else is included.)

Once you sign up for the challenge, you will be able to enjoy:

Weekly motivational emails with the week’s challenge enclosed.

Daily tips and tricks.

Free email support from a Health Coach (me!).

Printouts + worksheets

Healthy + delicious holiday recipes.

Fun exercises and workout ideas.

Exclusive access to the Healthy, Happy & Hot Facebook community—Motivate; provide accountability; ask questions; post photos of challenges, meals, exercises, etc.

A live webinar to provide additional coaching and answer any questions

Prizes for the challenge winners!

And best of all…A HEALTHY, HAPPY & HOT YOU!

It’s truly a no brainer!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP NOW!

Healthy, Happy & Hot Challenge was originally published on Finding Cloud 9

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Dream Finder: GiGi Eats Celebrities

Happy Thursday and welcome to the very first “Dream Finder” feature! The overall purpose of Finding Cloud 9 is to inspire women to embark on their unique health and wellness journey to find their Cloud 9 and live the life they’ve always dreamed of. With the “Dream Finder” series, I hope to share the stories of inspirational women who are focused on following their dreams and making them a reality. Through these fun and enlightening posts, you will be able to get a glimpse into their lives and learn about their tips, struggles and insights. I can’t wait to introduce some truly incredible women to you all! The first lovely lady I’d like to introduce to you is Dream Finder: GiGi Eats Celebrities (aka GiGi Dubois). GiGi is not only hilarious, but extremely knowledgeable in the areas of health and fitness…Not to mention, she holds a masters degree in Nutrition Communication and Science, from Tufts University. If her name doesn’t entice you to read on, I don’t know what will!

- Tell us a little bit about your background. When did you first start GiGi Eats Celebrities and what’s it all about? 

Well, what more can I say that isn’t already in the name? I eat celebrities! Duh! Okay, just kidding—however, I wouldn’t mind taking a bite out of Ryan Reynolds, damn you Blake Lively!

Truly though, GiGi Eats Celebrities started out as a blog and vlog based around the mystical world of celebrity diet and fitness trends. I would poke fun at celebrities that go to EXTREMES in order to achieve their “red carpet ready” bodies. I would then discuss how to achieve this look without noshing ONLY on cabbage for the rest of your life, eating specific colored foods on specific days of the week, or starving yourself. I mean, who wants to eat nine hardboiled eggs a day?

Since the launch of my blog though, I’ve expanded it exponentially. I now discuss the healthy and not-so-healthy foods lining the grocery store shelves, cook up some delicious “GIGI APPROVED” recipes in my kitchen with very special guests (I have created three spin-off shows) and lets just say, lots of other treats are baking in my brain at this moment!

    - What’s the best part of owning your own business? The worst or most difficult?

The best part about owning my own business is that I’m my own boss! I call the shots! No one can fire me! Creating this job for myself has been a dream come true, because I can mold it to my lifestyle and schedule.

That being said, I’ve actually been diagnosed with “worife.” It’s a disease where my professional and personal life blend together so much, that my conversations and almost everything I do on a daily basis is to some how enhance the brand that is me. The funny thing is, every one of my friends is the same way. We are all so very driven by success, that I tend to not notice my “disease” very often. What helps me stay at ease, though—other than working out daily and getting a lot of sleep—is talking to friends and family who don’t quite understand what I’m doing, thus I have to talk about other things with them… Them looking at me as if I need to be in an insane asylum when I scream that my web host blocking my site because of caching issues, also helps too.

- What advice do you have for other aspiring health bloggers/TV personalities/coaches? Are there any resources or tips you’d like to have known about when you first started out?

DO NOT LOOK AT THE NUMBERS! If you look at your traffic and comments and compare them to other bloggers, you’re only going to depress yourself. People fail to realize that the people they generally compare themselves to have been blogging for FAR LONGER than you, or perhaps they are some how connected to a public figure who can help them spread the word! Oh man, I used to do this the first year of blogging and I really got myself down! It’s like when someone dictates their mood based on whether or not they weigh the amount they want to – I call it BLOG DISMORPHIA (as opposed to body dismorphia)! Don’t do it! LOVE what you post! Love blogging/coaching/educating because it makes you feel good, helps you get things off your chest, makes you feel as if you’re entertaining or educating others. Don’t do it solely for the fact that you want to make money or feel accepted by a “mass” audience. THIS WILL inevitably lead to failure!

Inescapably though, you’re going to want to grow your business in some fashion, so what I recommend you do is… Research. Google is the most powerful research tool there is. If you have a question about blog traffic, GOOGLE it… If you think PhotoShop is more confusing than learning the Chinese language… GOOGLE it. Clearly Google and I are in a very serious relationship.

You could also reach out to bigger bloggers, TV personalities, coaches, etc and ask them for advice. Not trying to blow smoke up my own… Ahem, but a lot of my friends who want to get into blogging or who have questions about the obnoxiousness that is WordPress, come to me for advice and of course, I am going to give it to them!

- How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle? And in your eyes, what does it mean to be healthy?

What if I told you that I work out for two hours a day (and I mean EVERY DAY) and I do not eat wheat, dairy, gluten, sugar, soy, nuts, fruit and eggs. Would you believe me? Good, because that is exactly what I do. Exercise to me is like a morning cup of coffee, or ten. Ha Ha. Everyone asks me where I get all my energy and I truly believe it has to do with my intense sweat sessions every morning. As for my diet, while a majority of people think eliminating whole food groups is NOT healthy, for me it is because I have a lot of food intolerances and allergies. I do believe the last time I had a sweet treat (well minus the GiGi-Approved recipes on my blog), was back in 2002!!!!!!!! (yes, all of those ! are necessary, ha ha).

- What’s one food you can’t live without?

I may at some point be the sole cause of the salmon extinction.

- Fun fact?

Not exactly sure if this is “fun” but, I do not have a large intestine.

- “When I wake up I…”

Don’t tell my brain it’s time to wake up… Instead I push my body into the gym without my brain knowing what’s going on. By the time my brain does in fact wake up, I am done working out!

- “Before I go to bed I…”

Turn my AC on. I don’t care how high my electricity bill may be, I need to sleep in a freezer. I should have a label on my arm that says: please store in a very cool, dry place.

- What inspires and motivates you on a daily basis?

We all have crappy days every so often, however, whenever I feel like I am stuck in a mud pit… I think of someone who inspired me. Then I ask myself: did they give up? Most likely they had their hardships and downfalls and were on the verge of giving up, but decided to keep on pursuing their ultimate goals… And look at them now! Uhhhhh HELLO Oprah… Right?

- Where can we stalk you?

Stalk me… Because I love stalkers!

http://gigieatscelebrities.com

http://youtube.com/user/gigieatscelebrities

http://twitter.com/dubagee

http://facebook.com/gigieatscelebrities

http://instagram.com/gigieats

http://pinterest.com/dubagee

OKAY do you THINK I have enough social media!!!

Dream Finder: GiGi Eats Celebrities was originally published on Finding Cloud 9