DETOX.

i am feeling much much better since yesterday. actually, i think it was the hot cola with lemon and ginger that has miraculously helped haha. being sick these past few days has inspired me to detox. i'm planning on doing a detox for a week to clear my body of toxins. think: green smoothies, salads, and refreshing lemon water. i've done detox diets before, so i thought i'd share a bit of my past experiences and knowledge with you.

a few things to keep in mind...

- be sure to ask your doctor before you begin a detox.

- it's important to release the salt from your body ( aka sweat ). so be sure you workout or head to some type of heat sauna.

- eating whole organic foods are recommended for general detoxification.

- a few teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil at night will help stimulate your liver to eliminate bile and keep its circulation flowing.

- yoga is recommended while on detox.

- drink LOTS of water.

my past experiences...

i've tried juicing multiple times in my life and being completely honest, it wasn't for me. replacing juice for my meals just didn't work out for my hectic schedule and it left me exhausted and completely out of energy before the day was over. 

however, i've found that replacing just one meal with a juice a day makes much more of an impact than replacing all meals with juices.

thinking beyong juices, it's also important to be consistent. skipping even a day, makes a huge difference. and if you quit or decide to take a break on the third day, then there's no point in continuing the detox.

with that being said, it takes A LOT of discipline to detox. but once you get through the detox, you'll definitely feel much better and it'll definitely be easier to maintain a healthier diet. 

some ideas and recipes...

- lemon water: i like to have a cup of water with lemon ( room temperature or hot ) first thing in the morning.

- tea: lots and lots of tea. the good stuff ( no artificial flavorings or dye ). my favorite is green or lemon ginger.

- water: i drink about 3-4 bottles of water a day and i always have a bottle when i'm out. it's important to be hydrated.

- protein rich smoothies: with ingredients like almonds, blueberries, kale, coconut water, apples, beets, ginger, and raspberries. best when taken in the earlier hours.

- cranberry juice diluted in water: 1/2 cup of 100% cranberry water in 2 1/2 cups of water. a few times during the day. 

- crisp, refreshing veggies: for meals.

- almonds: to snack on during the day.

- chopped veggies: for lunchtime.

with that in mind, i wish you the best with detoxification and i will be suffering along with you! xoxo

HOT COKE WITH LEMON, VICKS VAPOR RUB, AND OTHER SILLY REMEDIES.

hello lovelies! i was supposed to be going back to my normal day-to-day blogging routine, but i caught some type of cold/flu/sore throat hybrid. being sick is the worst feeling in the world, yes? I couldn't even sit up or stand this morning because i was so dizzy. i'm convinced it's the flu ( part three ), but i'm hoping it'll go away soon. 

being sick really does make you do crazy things. i've tried at least three remedies. hot coke with lemon and ginger, hot lemonade, and melted vicks vapor rub. i'm hoping i am miraculously cured by tomorrow. fingers crossed!

TYPOGRAPHY : HELLO DENVER

today's typography is called hello denver. i love the clean lines and how simple it is. the font is available in all caps ( no lowercase letters!) and numbers.

you can download hello denver HERE.

JESSIE WEBSTER'S HOME TOUR.

photographer and blogger, jessie webster's home was featured on designsponge just recently and i fell in love with the space. it's minimalistic, yet full of thoughtful details. you can see the full feature and more photos HERE.

photo credit: http://www.designsponge.com/2013/05/sneak-peek-jessie-webster.html

AS OF RECENT.

here are some scenes from the past week. i didn't get to spend mother's day with my mom this year, but i got her a nice gift. i've also been painting a lot lately and drinking warm lemon water every morning. i know it's been quite quiet around here, but normal posting will continue soon i promise!

WANT LIST : NO. 12

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

clockwise

MUSIC MIX : MAY

i've been so inspired by music this week. last week was one of the toughest times for me. i really don't think i would've gone through it without music. so here are my current favorites for may...

laisse tomber les filles - fabienne delsol

indian summer - canon blue

only love - ben howard

keep - nils frahm

mexico - the staves

feels like the end - mikky ekko

photo credit: http://hausderkunst.tumblr.com/post/35272693995

SPAGHETTI WITH HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

one of my favorite dishes is spaghetti. i love how traditional it is and that you can prepare it in different ways. heirloom tomatoes are refreshing and ideal for a nice, spring dinner. i used this mario batali recipe...

mario batali's spaghetti recipe

kosher salt

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 pint sweet 100 tomatoes or other tiny tomatoes

1/2 bunch of garlic chives, cut into 1-inch lengths

12 fresh lemon basil leaves, finely shredded

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 pound spaghetti

01: bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of salt.

02: in a 12- to 14-inch sauté pan, heat the olive oil over high heat until almost smoking. lower the heat to medium-high and add the garlic cloves. cook for 2 minutes, or until softened and slightly browned. add the tomatoes, chives, and basil and cook over high heat until the tomatoes are just beginning to burst. season with salt and pepper.

03: meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in the boiling water according to package directions until it is tender yet al dente. drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the tomatoes. toss over high heat for 1 minute, then divide evenly among four warmed pasta bowls and serve immediately.