Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Why? Because it’s a holiday that is essentially dedicated to food. And I love food. Yes, I know, we’re supposed to be giving thanks and thinking about Pilgrims, but I’m really just looking forward to the meal. And the best news of all is that the great eats don’t stop after Thanksgiving – in my family, at least, Christmas and New Year’s Day also bring big feasts.

There are just a few problems with all this. The holiday season tempts us to go way overboard when it comes to eating, which can be rough on our bodies in a lot of ways. Not to mention that one too many pieces of pumpkin pie can leave you feeling a little queasy. So read on for a few tips to stay happy and healthy during the holiday season.

1. Work small amounts of exercise into your daily routine.

Several studies have found that regular exercise can help counteract the consequences of overindulging in unhealthy foods. The more rigorous the exercise, the better. Study participants have seen benefits from exercises as simple as walking. Because running or walking outside may be unpleasant or impossible in colder temperatures, the gym is your best bet. But almost no one’s in the mood to run out to the gym on a holiday. So work exercise in wherever you can. Hanging out with family? Your little cousins, maybe? Run around inside with them a little bit – you get a free pass to do that if you’re hanging out with little kids. Or volunteer to help set the table and take dishes to and from the kitchen. Not only will you score extra points with your grandparents, but you’ll also be keeping your body moving.

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Nothing says summer, summer, summertime quite like a refreshing cocktail (or a Will Smith song), but we all know that sippin’ our calories away poolside leads to a not-so-cute looking backside (or all-around side). Many of our favorite friendly cocktails come along with a heaping helping of calories. And with all those hidden, tempting, pink and fruity calories, it sure gives a WHOLE new meaning to drinking responsibly.

But who says you can’t have your Sangria and sip it too?! Not I. Because this weeks body blog is all about finding the healthy balance between keeping cool with fun refreshments and looking bootylicious in your bikini.

Here are a few of my favorite healthier summer cocktails and bevvy’s! Including a delicious sans-alcohol option for a super low cal iced tea! Read More »

Vaginas.

We all know what they are. We (ladies) all have them. We know what they’re for and why they’re there. But do we know how to keep them healthy? Sure, we know the parts. We know we should bathe. We know wet bathing suits are bad and vaginal infections are worse, and condoms are very, very good.  But do we know how to ward those off? And what we can do to prevent them? I’m not so sure. So I did a little research, and came up with five little known facts about the ways to keep your vajajay healthy. Have a look; you just might learn something.

1. Wear cotton underwear. Tight underwear, especially nylon or lycra, can irritate your vagina and keep the moisture in. But cotton underwear breathes, which allows your vajayjay to breathe, and allows air to circulate. Not only does this help maintain good skin around the area but it also helped to prevent a buildup of sweat and oil which can lead to infections.

2. Never spray it with perfume or body spritzer. These things will irritate your vagina and can lead to an infection. It’s as simple as that. So no scented lotions in or on that area. No perfumes. No body sprays. Not even scented soaps.The best thing you can do to make your vagina smell nice, or rather not smell at all, is clean it with clear, soapless water.

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Whether you are preparing for that last final, gearing up for the LSAT, or just trying to get through a Summer course, the time is here (or surely on its way!) when your brain decides to go on vaca and leave you high and dry in the deep, dark stacks of the library. You can try everything – coffee, candy, that Adderol your friend offered to sell you – but none of it will make much of a difference. You’re tired and over it; your time would be better spent taking a nap or enjoying some Sangria on the porch.

That, of course, is not an option. You are going to have to try something else to get you to the finish line. The good news is that there is another – much healthier – option: these natural and healthy snacks will nourish your noggin and get you to the end without breaking a mental sweat.

Green Tea: Research keeps popping up everywhere celebrating the magical effects of Green Tea. It is chock full of antioxidants and other great stuff that increase alertness, improve learning and relax the brain. Sigh. The stuff doesn’t always taste so great, but there are lots of fun new flavors coming out every day (I prefer blueberry pomegranate), so you can actually enjoy this typically icky green beverage. Read More »