As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve embarked on a three-week cleanse that has totally turned my eating habits upside-down (in a good way). It focuses on eating a lot of non-processed, fresh veggies and fruits and cutting out other mostly-bad-for-you things (caffeine, dairy, etc.). The first week was rough — but I’ve slowly adapted and I’ve been feeling pretty amazing. I’ve had more energy, fitting into my jeans better, even my skin has been responding positively. In the past week I’ve had two people comment on its ‘glow’ (shucks!).

The hardest part I found has simply been A) finding time to do groceries and prepare my meals; B) when I’m short on time, finding places that will serve food that fit the parameters of the cleanse and still taste good. I’ve relied on Blue Dog for healthy, organic shakes some mornings, and anywhere I can get my hands on a salad. After working out with my friend Hamid last weekend, he took me to a cafe I probably would have never found on my own: JivamukTea Cafe. He tends to always show me some hidden gems in the city.

The “hidden” cafe lives on the 2nd floor of the Jivamuktea Yoga School in Union Square (right smack in between Max Brenner and Cosi!). With no sign or indication of a cafe up there, you may very well pass right by it.

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I used to think New Year’s Resolutions were pointless. I’d make a generic list in my head of what I wanted to work on, but without definite goals, they would be long forgotten. But after this past year, I realized they can be beneficial especially if you have concrete goals. January 1st is technically just a day like any other but I like the idea of having a marker to reflect and take stock of the past year. Among my resolutions last year were to visit South America (check!) and sign up for a dance class (well, I did sign up, I still have to go…I’m just carrying it over to this year). That said, I’m still working out my list of resolutions this year…2012 kind of crept up on me and I didn’t necessarily plan ahead…

That said, one of the things I have been more cognizant of lately is my physical health and what I put in my body. Thus, I just started this cleanse with some friends and I’m hoping to keep it up for the next three weeks. Normally, I would find this type of thing terrifying, but after experiencing my very first cleanse with Ritual Cleanse last year, I’m a little less intimidated…excited if anything.

Mid-last year, I was not feeling my best. I was working ALL the time, and barely found time to even go to the gym which I always felt I had been good about before. I needed to “reset,” and I wanted to start with my diet. At that point, I had heard of cleanses, and was curious but have never really tried one before. It was a bit serendipitous actually, because when I started asking people if they recommended any, my friend Kristan told me about her obsession with Ritual Cleanse. It’s basically a liquid detox cleanse, where depending on which program you choose, you are sent fresh, 100% organic fruit and vegetable juices that act as meal replacements to rid your body of toxins and nourish it with vitamins and minerals. While I think a lot of people associate cleanses with weight loss, I was in it for other benefits — mostly for energy and mental clarity (I was starting to experience a bit of brain fog at work and was finding it hard to just focus).

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Last weekend, I was trying — trying — to get some writing done bright and early in the morning right when I woke up at 11 AM. But on an empty stomach, I could barely get myself to write out a sentence. And it was one of those occasions in my kitchen where I had like five boxes of cereal but no milk, butter but no bread, pancake mix and no energy, etc. I wanted something quick too since I had a whole day planned that required me to be out and about, not sitting in front of my computer.

I asked my cousin/roomie, Safia, where we can grab a quick breakfast and her eyes lit up as if she’s been waiting for me to ask her this all morning:

“Oh Shy! There’s this place I pass by everyday to work called Blue Dog Café and I’ve been meaning to check it out! Let’s go!” {direct quote}

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By Sadia Khawaja

You’re nobody in Hollywood ’till you’ve successfully mastered the art of multi-tasking. And you’re nobody in any ‘wood ’till you’ve successfully mastered the art of being Fabulous, Fit and Fun. So when E! News Correspondent Giuliana Rancic (master of all of the above), launched her new initiative, FabFitFun, it’s only fitting that I was pumped up in my kicks and inspired to feel fabulous, fit and fun at the aptly titled FFF Spotlight Event at the beautiful Oceana Hotel in Santa Monica, CA last Thursday evening.

Full of all the ingredients for a healthy and fabulous evening with great sponsors, primo company, and an amazing swag bag, this event had me moving and shaking all night. What I thought would be a ‘light’ 15 minute Zumba session, ended up being an intensely amazing full-on Zumba course right on the beach as the sun set.

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Here are a few facts about Kalamazoo: No one’s really sure where the name came from. It used to be known as the “Paper City” for its paper mills. It’s the original home of Gibson Guitars. It was once the headquarters for Checker Taxis until they filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

I guess there’s actually nothing super fascinating to tell you about a place as exotic-sounding as Kalamazoo, except maybe the exceptional dinner I had at their not-quite-as-exotic sounding restaurant, Food Dance.

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One of my very dear friends, Archana, is moving out of New York to travel pretty much all over the world for the next year (jealous much?!). Sometimes with all the hustle and bustle of the city, I tend to forget how much of my experience is shaped by a few key people, and Arch is one of them. She’s been my go-to for all: dinner and recipe recs (I hope by now you’ve seen her food blog, LettuceVeg.com); everything TV (like ID’ing who the redhead walking around the office from The Real Housewives of New York is); movie-watching; concert-going; and lamenting about stupid boys over dessert (always over dessert). Of course, being as organized as she is, she had a whole Bucket List of restaurants she needed to go to before she leaves. Some for the first time, others for the last time. We decided we’d have a little farewell dinner at Jean-George’s ABC Kitchen, a restaurant I’ve been dying to visit myself.

The place couldn’t have been more perfect. The decor and tables are just stunning first of all. It’s dimly lit, and has the most beautiful antique fixtures like Scandinavian chandeliers and wood-top tables. Well, you might expect that since it is housed in the equally gorgeous ABC Carpet & Home department store. Another nice thing about it is the SPACE. You can stretch out and not knock the person next to you here (a rarity in New York).

The food matches the elegance in taste and presentation, with a focus on organic and locally-grown. We started with the strawberry salad. I think we might be so used to hormone-pumped fruits we get at the market, that these juicy, organic ones were such a treat. The lime offered a nice zest to it too, and I swear I tasted a little mint as well. It was beyond refreshing.

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