friday favorites

So much to love this week!

Love whole living's rules to snacking, so right on the nose. I want to read it again and again.

And love these under 200 calories snack suggestions. I just may have to feature a few of my favorites next week. whole living.

Love these 24 ways to shake up your mood and energy. fitness mag.

Love this guide to skin care-- since I'm still dealing with teenage acne in my mid-twenties. Lovely. fitness mag.

Lovin a good hot short-- bff swears by them for yoga. Love this new fall color. zobha.

Love odwalla's super protein vanilla al'mondo. So tasty. It's a great way to trick yourself into getting some protein. And there you have it. Another week has flown by. This is my last weekend as a widow. Thank goodness! Rrrr takes his board exam next week. So tonight I'm thinking yoga and I'm looking forward to a little trim and deep condition... maybe even some bangs. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm also considering the possibility of some chocolate chip cookies. I'll see if I can conjure up a tasty healthier version.

Xx until monday. Lot's of love.

feature friday: the best and the worst

This is some of the best sense I've heard yet. It's a like-duh guide to balancing your good and not-so-good eating choices. A healthy lifestyle isn’t necessarily about good vs. bad. It’s all about balancing the good, bad, & best. Shape.

feature monday: 5 "healthy" foods that aren't

Glamour uncovers 5 foods we may like to think are healthy choices. They also offer some great alternatives. Get the story here.

smarter snacking: multigrain tortilla chips

I believe food should be good for you & taste good. And so do they. I love these.

feature monday: stay slim while you eat out

These are some oh-so-doable tips to keep eating out from becoming a major stress or major splurge. Read it here. Self.

feature monday: canyon ranch spa kitchen secrets

Get the secrets that chef Scott Uehlein uses to make his famous food so delicious & healthy. Go. Fitness Magazine. I'll be whipping up these avocado quesadillas tonight. Get the recipe here.

my new favorite snack

Triscuits topped with cottage cheese + chives.

feature monday: 4 diet rules you can bend & how

It's just more proof that, if you're smart, you can enjoy all the things you love. Read it. Women's Health.

feature monday: what you need to know about multivitamins

This is a great guide to know just what you should be taking & what you should be leery of. Go. Real Simple.

makeover your kitchen for a skinnier you

Your kitchen is making you fat. Yes, really. Read this. Glamour.

feature monday: the busy girl's guide to eating right

This is right up my alley. Can you still eat healthy without the time to eat perfectly? I say yes! Read it here. Shape.

3 things to steal from the diets I failed

By now it's no secret that I am not a diet girl. Still, along the way to this realization, I've tried my share of diets. And I've found there are some great ideas & practices from just such plans. Here are some I've adopted to create my own mishmash.

1. Get a fist size serving of protein & complex carbs every meal. --Body for life

2. Start your day with peppermint tea. --Total Body Makeover

3. Wait until you are completely hungry to eat. --Skinny Bitch

feature monday: 7 reasons you're still hungry

Ever wonder why you're not satisfied when you think you should be? Go. Men's Health via MSN.

feature monday: how smart is your favorite snack?

This is great. 5 New York City women share their snacks & Self's dietitian weighs in. Here. Self.

get the skinny on fat

In case you haven't heard, the notion of eating fat-free-everything went out with aerobicizing and leotards. Likewise, Atkins & similar low-carb-eat-any-and-all-fat-and-protein diets are outdated & unhealthy. Learn which fats you should be eating & which fats you should be avoiding. Here. Mayo Clinic.

image: Doug Dominguez/Corbet via nymag.com

feature monday: 10 surprising health benefits of yogurt

Get your yogurt on. Go. Fitness.

feature monday: 6 rules of junk food

So I know I don't eat perfectly all the time. Here are some ways to avoid letting a little indulgence become a big splurge. Here. Shape.

taste this tuesday: fusilli michelangelo with roasted chicken

With the right ingredients, pasta can be delish & healthy [and hello, easy]. This is the way to do it. Recipe here. Health.com.

feature monday: foods to feel good

Forgetfulness, dull hair, pms. Here are your fixes. Self.

do it wednesday: let's cleanse!

Here's the scoop. This is not a let's see how few calories I can eat or a juice only type thing [I don't do deprivation]. It is simply a week of super clean eating to get a fresh start and try some new foods/recipes/practices to incorporate into my regular routine.

I'm trading in my standbys for better choices. Taking a little hiatus from my regular bagel and replacing it with veggies & legumes. I'm choosing olive oil and vinegars in place of my usual dressings & sauces. I'm losing the sugar, guzzling water & sipping peppermint tea. I may even get a little shot of wheat grass.

Here are some links for you to get you started. The Mediterranean Diet. Self Magazine Detox.

image: yoga journal