Is Your Hair Ready For New Years? Faculty Gets 50% off Antonio Prieto Salon!

Christmas may be over but at Antonio Prieto Salon the giving isn’t! Until May 2010 they are giving a 50% discount to all school faculty members! Simply present your id, print the offer below, and mention HealthyStyleNY.com and you will get half off your first service, and 15% thereafter! With New Year’s Eve just days away, what could be more perfect?

Cookbooks to Crush on this Holiday Season

I tend to lust over cookbooks (both new and old) all year long, but get particularly engrossed around the holiday season and find myself pouring through recipes and gorgeously rich photos for a little cold-weather inspiration and holiday warmth. Here are a few cookbooks on my list this year, and maybe on yours as well.

COCO (Oct. 2009)- Chic design and colorful cover aside, Coco (published by design-heavy Phaidon) is a compilation of recipes from 100 up and coming contemporary chefs — all of whom were nominated by 10 culinary masters including Mario Batali and Alice Waters. I’ve only yet flipped through Coco’s pages (it’s still on my wish list this holiday season), but from what I’ve seen, it’s quite an impressive publication with interesting recipes galore.

Salt to Taste (Oct. 2009) – Marco Canora, owner of Hearthand Terroir restaurants and wine bar in Manhattan, brings rustic, flavorful and market-driven Italian dishes to this book. Recipes are approachable and easy-going…you’ll want to head directly into the kitchen and cook up fresh fare like Roasted Salmon with Red Peppers, Veal and Ricotta Meatballs, Pasta e Fagioli, Fava Bean and Pecorino Salad, and Braised Duck with Olives and Rosemary. I love Canora’s personal headnotes citing family traditions and cooking tips. One of my favorite parts of the book however, is the quote on the back: “Food — buy it with thought; cook it with care; serve just enough; save what will keep; eat what would spoil; home-grown is best.”

Jamie at Home (Oct. 2008) — It might be among last year’s hottest cookbooks, but this is still one of my favorites from acclaimed celebrity chef and Food Network star, Jamie Oliver and is definitely worth a good mention. Recipes are seasonally-inspired and are organized by spring/summer/fall/winter sections. Ridiculously gorgeous, mouth-watering photos and equally tasty recipes, Jamie’s continued focus is on balance, fresh produce, making the most of the season and filling dishes with tons of flavor. You’ll find recipes like Grilled lamb kofta kebabs with pistachios and spicy salad wrap, Warm strawberries with Pimm’s and vanilla ice cream, and Superb squash soup with Parmesan croutons. And if you weren’t already aware, Jamie is taking his fight on obesity and healthier eating habits from across the Atlantic, putting America’s “diet” on a diet. Check out a 6-part video series and recipes from his American travels here. Jamie’s newest book,Jamie’s America (Sept. 2009) is currently out on shelves.

And a few other newbie cookbooks to note:

David Chang’s expressive (read: expletives everywhere) and intricate Momofuku (Chang now owns 4 restaurants in NYC — who doesn’t love Ssam Bar’s pork buns and Noodle Bar’s classic ramen)?

Food Network nutritionist (and one of my friends and colleagues) Ellie Krieger’s new So Easy, full of healthy, super flavorful recipes and nutrition info.

Photo: Flickr

Balance Self: Goal Setting Simplified

A few months ago, a client told me she had a great technique for losing weight. She hung a big sign above her scale that said, “How will I lose the last 10 pounds?”

She weighed herself daily, sometimes even more than once a day, and the sign was meant to motivate her to lose more weight. I was curious about her method, so naturally I inquired more about it. She then went on to tell me, while the sign was meant to motivate her, she could not answer the question of “how,” which is what lead her to me.

With New Year’s upon us, we are setting goals more than ever. But if a goal leaves you feeling hopeless and frustrated, it may be time to re-think your goals, right?

Trust me, I have made countless resolutions that never amounted to anything, because I simply didn’t think about the action behind the goal.

Basically, any type of goal should tell a story. It should give you a very specific action. When it comes to losing weight or getting healthy, the tendency is to set the goal at “lose 7 pounds” or just “lose weight,” which can work initially, but gets harder as you lose more weight or feel as though you are depriving yourself.

So by creating what I call a “story goal” you are actually giving yourself a task–something to do.

For example, you can set a goal of “Eat 4 veggies every day for 21 days in a row.” Now, you know exactly what you have to do to reach that goal, so it removes the frustration of “how.” As we all know, veggies are a healthy addition and will leave you feeling fuller faster while giving you great nutrients, antioxidants and energy.

The 7 pounds you’d like to lose will become a BENEFIT of your story goal. And you’re taking the focus off the scale, which is a benefit in and of itself.

Once you clearly see what you want, it’s easier to create your plan! Hey, you need a destination when you get in your car for a roadtrip, right? And if you don’t know how to get there, you need a map, too. Breaking down your vision into mini-goals is a great way to create real changes in your life.

S.M.A.R.T goals are commonly used by authors, trainers, employers and coaches. They are a proven, effective method. Try setting S.M.A.R.T goals for yourself. Remember they need to be: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Tangible.

Keep this in mind when setting your mini-goals:

SPECIFIC: The more specific you are when setting mini-goals, the more likely you’ll zone in and achieve what you want. For example, a general goal may be to exercise. A specific goal is targeted: To ride my bike in Central Park four times a week for 20 minutes, and elevate my heartrate to my target zone.

That goal offers you a clear picture, a story line that’s easy to follow.

MEASURABLE: It’s a great tool to set criteria and ways to measure your goals. When you measure progress, reach your targets, feel and see results, you are inspired by your own achievements, and more likely to continue to work hard to create your vision.

To make sure your goal is measurable, ask questions such as: How long? How many? How much? How will I know when it is achieved? How will I know when it is accomplished?

ATTAINABLE: I am a firm believer that nothing is impossible to a willing heart. Believe in yourself and do the work. Commit to your vision and figure out the steps to make it happen. Think about the abilities, skills, resources and attitude you need to create changes. You’ll be amazed at yourself when a goal that once seemed out of reach has become your reality because you’ve stretched yourself.

REALISTIC: You have to factor in who you are as a person, your lifestyle and your current state. Your goals need to align with who you are at the core or else they just won’t stick. You can’t fit a square peg in a circle hole, right? So take the measures necessary to make realistic changes that you are willing and able to work toward.

TANGIBLE: Lots of internal changes need to occur when we create change. Most importantly, remember to keep a positive attitude and mindset. It helps to tie internal changes to tangible ones, so think of the senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, hearing. This can help to make it specific, measurable, and attainable.

And remember, S.M.A.R.T goals should answer the six “W” questions.

Who: Who is involved?
What: What do I want to create?
Why: Why is this important to me? Identify purpose and benefits.
When: Set your timeframe. Hold yourself accountable.
Where: Establish a location.
Which: Identify your obstacles and strategize to overcome them.

Remember, celebrate your dedication and create real changes in your life!

What if Success is Measured by Happiness?

How do you determine success? I assume we overwhelmingly qualify it in terms of income or materialistic value as I have never heard someone define another’s success by their happiness –a component I believe to be the fundamental element of success.

I have met many wildly financially “successful” men and women whom seem to have everything in life except the most important thing….happiness.  Let me quickly reject the notion that I think abundant wealth is a trade-off of any sort for happiness—on the contrary. I think financial success can alleviate a lot of burden and give people the opportunity of self-fulfillment through helping others.  What saddens me is when someone sacrifices happiness for financial gains or a title that they think will intrinsically satisfy them.

When I wake up in the morning I am excited to start my day almost like a child who leaps out of bed simply to play all day. My exuberance and wonder for what the day has in store for me makes me grateful for the decisions I have made and the course my life has taken.

I am saddened when I do not see people enjoying what they do and only doing it because they feel they have no choice, or believe that’s how people will perceive them to be successful.  They do not realize that happiness is a pillar of true success.

To be happy or passionate about who you are and what you’re doing can be the fuel and clarity to not only achieve but surpass your goals.  If financial wealth and social status are meant to come, they will find you.  They will come as you discover your true passions and, instead of being that of empty ambition, they will enhance your life while allowing you to experience the fulfillment that comes from doing what you love and from helping others in need.

So, if success is measured by happiness….do you consider yourself successful?

Why Not…

• Why not evaluate what you’re doing in your life.  Are you feeding your happiness or your ego and society’s expectations?

photo: flickr.com

Jen Groover’s new book “What If & Why Not? How to Transform Your Fears Into Action and Start the Business of Your Dreams” can now be ordered online at amazon.com.

Holiday Wellness Discount – mysaudavel.com

Saudeval is making giving the gift of wellness even easier this holiday season. Gift packages are now discounted by 10-15%  with mention of the below offer and HealthyStyleNY.com.

Saudeval offers a combination of fitness training, healthy cooking lessons, and massage to help you achieve equilibrium and sense of total health and wellness.  And because comfort is always a “de-stressing”  factor, they will come to your home on a schedule that is convenient for you (or, of course, the person the gift is for!)

For more information go to www.mysaudavel.com.

What’s On Your Gym Playlist? This Month’s Top Ten

This month we will all need a little more energy and motivation to get through the holidays! So, we’ve compiled a list of hot tunes that are guaranteed to get you moving ! This month’s playlist is GRREEAAAaattttt, Guaranteed to add an energy boost to any sweat session. Just click here and download! Wwoooorrrkkkkkkkkkkk
1. Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart, Alicia Keys– DOWNLOAD this song… You won’t regret it. Awesome.
2.  Morning After Dark – Timbaland
3.  Do you Remember – Jay Sean
4.  According to You – Orianthi
5.  Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
6.  Give It Up to Me – Shakira
7.  Livin’ It Up – Shwayze
8.  Whatcha Say (Klubjumpers Remix Radio) – Jason Derulo
9. Yes – LMFAO – This song ROCKS!!!
10. TiK ToK – Ke$ha

photo: flickr.com

PURE Yoga Stretches West (Upper West Location Opens!)

If yoga is where your heart is, you now have one more option on the Upper West Side. Today, Pure Yoga opens the doors of it’s Upper West Side location. A sister location to the Upper East Side Studio, both siblings offer yoga classes that will soothe your soul and bring your practice to a higher level. 

The hustle of Manhattan’s Upper West Side stops at Pure Yoga’s doorstep. Upon entering Pure, shoes are not permitted in the inner studio environment, which is arranged in a sequence of interconnected courtyards and lounges. Each courtyard functions as a communal gathering space for the studios, while comfortable lounges provide the opportunity for a moment of reflection, a hot cup of tea, or a conversation with a new friend.

A variety of classes are offered for both beginners and advanced yogis, in styles ranging from Ashtanga to Yin Yoga, from Hot to Vinyasa Flow, Anusara and more. Pure harmonizes several yoga practices to produce a consciousness-raising experience dedicated to well being. This holistic approach provides a motivational foundation and sanctuary for yogis of
all backgrounds in an effort to promote a temperate internal balance. 

If you have never experienced PURE yoga, you are in for a treat. The studios are beautiful and serene, instructors top-notch, and the additional amenities make the total experience purely perfect.  PURE Yoga offers classes at a per class price, or an annual membership. For more information or class schedules head to their websitewww.pureyoga.com

“This is yoga in its purest state. No hype… simply pure yoga.”

Entrepreneurial Spotlight: Lauren Luke (& The Power of YouTube) *VIDEO*

Who’s Lauren Luke? Well, if you have not yet heard of this entrepreneur/make-up maven, you must watch the video below. Lauren has become a phenomenon in the makeup and social media worlds, grabbing followers and fame thanks to Youtube. She started out doing make-up application tutorials on the video hosting site, and her passion for the art (and her millions of views) had make-up mega store Sephora knocking on her door (or hitting her up on Facebook or Twitter…who knows).

Lauren Luke’s new line of makeup “By Lauren Luke” is popping up in Sephora stores across the nation. We caught up with her for her premiere launch right here in NYC. The ever endearing Lauren shared her story, showed me her beautiful make-up kits, and talked about her rise to fame and what the future holds for her.

If you have trouble viewing the video below, please see it on YouTube by clicking here.

20% off Spa Services! Limited Time!!

For a limited time, Spa Week is offering its $100 Gift Cards for only $80.
That’s right, it’s not a misprint. From now thru December 22^nd, spread some
joy while saving money. What could be better than the Gift of Wellness?
How about the Gift of Wellness on SALE!!

Nothing can help you relax during the Holidays better than a soothing massage
or an invigorating facial.

Need A Gift? Go Local!

It’s that time of year again, and one of our favorite community centers is holding a Holiday Gift Fair.  Head over to the Sixth Street Community Center this Saturday Dec. 19th for food, fun, and holiday finds for everyone.