Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Operation: Eat With Your Straw...Say Whatttt?!


A Feast on Fasting...
I'm Hungry! Kendie Want NOM! NOM! NOM!







The Diva Half-Marathon is this upcoming weekend! YAYYY!! And I thought, perfect time to bust out my new seasonal tradition, the ol' Juice Fast! Taaa Daaaa!! Juice fasting cleanses, heals, and repairs our body. It leaves behind a surplus of energy that'll have you kicking your next workout in the face...Go Team!

It's important to give your body a seasonal reboot in order to rid toxins, rejuvenate, and heal any impurities or problematic areas.When we juice, a megadose of micronutrients enter our bloodstream quickly due to the lack of digestion needed. Our body becomes saturated with trace minerals and vitamins...and basically, you turn into The Incredible Hulk! By maintaining healthy micronutrient levels, you will keep your body strong, control blood sugar levels, fight aging (yes!), and become less prone to illness and disease. Check out the Facts!

Now what am I supposed to do??


Haven't tried juicing or juice fasting before?! Spring is a perfect time to begin your fast as it symbolizes rebirth and renewal. On another note, the large amount of fruits and veggies required to fast are readily available and a whole lot cheaper. NO excuses! I am still pretty new to the whole juicing concept and fasting, but I love it! I tend to fast anywhere from 2-6 days depending on the amount of willpower, time, and need. For instance, I suggest 2-3 days when you're in need of a quick body reboot, energy-level increase, or upcoming fitness event. I recommend 3-7 days for a massive body cleanse. 

Juice Fasting produced a surprising amount of energy. I run without any problems and feel great! Keep in mind, your body is working at maximum efficiency, because the breakdown and storage of food is not stealing your energy. By consuming only fruits and vegetable juices, with no solid foods, our body is able to focus its energy solely on cleansing and healing. The energy usually required for our digestive system to breakdown food, process, store nutrients, and produce waste is no longer needed. Our body's natural defense system uses the surplus of energy and powerful micronutrients to free our body of toxins and impurities that weigh us down, allowing us to maintain health and restore our health.

Just in Case...

If your body is storing a lot of toxins, you may experience headaches or waves of nausea which will pass as the toxins leave your body. If you are taking any medication, you may need to contact a Holistic Doctor or take your medications with a solid fruit or vegetable. I suggest eating bananas to maintain sugar levels during intense workouts and long fasts. And remember, you MUST drink a lot of distilled water during your fast to aid in flushing out toxins. Listen to your body! You know yourself better than anybody else. If you feel very ill, eat and try again...don't give up, there's always next time!


The Spring Fast...

My brand new roomie decided to join me, this being her very first fast. It's nice to have a buddy to keep your head on straight and motivate. We decided on a quick 2 day fast, and I gotta' say, it went really well for us both! This time, I didn't have any headaches or sickness which was awesome. I felt great, energized, and ran both days. My roomie did a great job and absolutely loved it, having just a little bit of a nausea but nothing too bad. Newbies can do this too, mind over matter! Our fast was a success, giving us a nice body reboot and courage to kick-off bathing suit season! It's comin' ladies and gents, whether we like it or not!

Gimme Yo Recipes...

During the fast, you will consume a massive amount of organic fruits and veggies. I have provided some recipes to help gain an idea of how much juice I drink. For breakfast, I consume a full small Mason jar of juice. For lunch and dinner, I consume 2 small Mason jars or one large jar of juice. I will have a small Mason jar of juice for a snack.

This is an example of a lunch or dinner portion. If you look closely, you can see that I have divided the fruits and veggies. I made 2 separate small Mason jars of juice from the photo below. So, half of the produce would be enough for one breakfast jar.


A Lunch or Dinner Recipe #1
Cut in half for a Breakfast or Snack Portion

  • 2 Lemons
  • 1/2-3/4 Bundle of Kale
  • 3/4 Container of Strawberries with tops
  • 2 Apples- Red or Green
  • 1 Cucumber or 2 Baby Cucumbers
  • One Bundle of Carrots or Rainbow Carrots with the greens
  • 3 Radishes
And Voila...



Tip: To avoid breaking down the micronutrients, eliminate oxygen exposure by filling your juice to the brim of your Mason Jar. If you do not have enough juice, fill up your jar to the top with distilled water to avoid exposure.




A Lunch or Dinner Recipe #2
Cut in half for a Breakfast or Snack Portion


  • 2 Green Apples
  • One Bundle of Kale
  • One Bunch of Carrots or Rainbow Carrots with greens
  • 3/4-1 Container of Strawberries
  • 3 Oranges
  • One Cucumber or 2 Baby Cucumbers
  • One Lemon
  • 3 Radishes
And Voila...


A Lunch or Dinner Recipe #3
Super Tasty, love this one!

  • 2 Large Cucumbers or 4 Baby Cucumbers
  • 1 Bundle of Carrots or Rainbow Carrots with greens
  • 2 Green Apples
  • 3/4 Container of Strawberries with tops
  • 1/4 Bundle of Kale
Breakfast and Snack Recipe #1
  • Half of a Bundle of Carrots or Rainbow Carrots
  • One Cucumber or 2 Baby Cucumbers
  • One Container of Blueberries or Strawberries
  • Half of a Bundle of Kale 
  • One Apple
Breakfast and Snack Recipe #2
  • Half of a Bundle of Kale
  • 1 Apple
  • 1 Kiwi
  • One Cucumber
Breakfast and Snack Recipe #3
  • Half of a Cantaloupe 
  • Half of a container of Berries
  • Half of a bundle of Carrots 
  • One Cucumber
That should do the trick, Ladies and Gentlemen! 
Happy Juicing!

Missed my first Juice Blog?? Don't ever do that again! 

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Tamin' My Mane: Part Deux

Skip the Blonde Jokes, Gentlemen!
Well, Maybe Just One...


Zee Blonde Bombshell Strikes Again!!

Q. What do you call a brunette between two blondes???
A. LUCKY! (She finally gets some attention)!

HAHA just kidddddinnngggg...all joking aside, it's time to get back to some serious hair business...!

You know that sickening feeling located in the pit of your stomach right after a horrible haircut?! Arggghhh...I know, me too!! It's the absolute worst...and, after my last experience, I vowed- Neverrrrr Again!! The butchered Lady Gaga staring back at me in the mirror left me horrified and in desperate need of a quick fix... 

Thank my lucky stars, I stumbled upon my most favorite Hairdresser yet, and now friend, Vicki Hendrick. She's the Owner of London Grace Salon, cleverly named after her super adorable little girl...and, you can find her at the Lenox Salons located in South Charlotte, NC.

Vicki Hendrick's super sweet, funny, and makes your salon experience overall enjoyable. The prices are very reasonable, and most importantly, she never disappoints. I started going to Vicki after receiving a haircut and dye job from hell. My close friend recommended her to fix my hair up, and I am sooooo glad that I listened, the results were and always are amazing! 

Vicki Hendrick
 Owner of London Grace Salon

As you all know, blondes truly do have more fun...that being said, Spring is here, and I need my super Platinum blond hair back for the sunny beach look...ohhhh yaaa! I hate when my hair turns out orange-y/red instead of blond, and I never have this problem with Vicki. She only takes an 1.5-2 Hours for my partial highlight, cut, and style...not too shabby at all!! My mane's so long right now, I had to stand for my last cut...cray cray!!! HA!

Need to see some results first?? I gotcha' covered...

Let the Foiling Begin...

Before

And the Aftermath...

After
As Always, Thank youuuuu, Vicki! You're the Best!
Check my girl out, you won't be disappointed

Missed the First Tamin' My Mane??


Hook, Line and Sinker...

New Place, New Grub...YESSSS!
Cabo Fish Taco Meets, Mr. Honey Wasabi Sauce!!


Welcome To My Hood...NoDa

I am soooo excited to announce that I have moved to the NoDa area. YAAAYYY!! Which means, more Trendy Reviews comin' yo way! So what is a NoDa, you ask?? It's an artsy area in North Charlotte and stands for North Davidson Street...thank you hipsters for giving it this super hip name! The area is stacked with unique little Shops, Restaurants, Bars and Music Venues...sounds like paradise, right?!

Cabo Fish Taco is an awesome Mexican joint located right in the heart of NoDa, off of North Davidson Street and is ALWAYS super packed...which means, it's good!!! The staff are laid back, and it's nice to relax and enjoy your company without being rushed out! Outdoor seating is also available which is nice for soaking up some sun during Happy Hour.

Now back to the good stuff...

The Drinks...

There's something magical about a margarita on a Sunday afternoon! I had their house margarita, The Original Caborita: a blend of Jose Cuervo Especial Tequila, Triple Sec, OJ, and their Fresh House Mix. They have a pretty sweet margarita list and a great little bar area in case you have to wait to be seated. Hey, who doesn't love a little buzz before your dinner?!

Good Eats...

Appetizers

Cabo serves Chips and a cold Corn Salsa which is super yummy! In addition, we always order their Green Tomatillo Salsa and of course, a side of Queso too...super tasty and both great choices!!

Specialty Tacos

I ordered the Tavarua Wahoo Tacos which may possibly be the best fish tacos in the world...YUM!! As per their menu, blackened Lemon-rubbed Wahoo in a Kiwi-Pineapple fajita sauce, stuffed with Lettuce, Tomato, mixed Cheeses, & topped with a Honey Wasabi sauce. Ah-mazing! The Honey Wasabi sauce is a must and ties in the whole dish. Don't forget to order their side of Jalapeno Mashers which adds the final spicy kick to the face...fiiinnniiissshhhhh herrrrrr!! I have also had their Black Beans and Rice which weren't too shabby either...meh!

Cabo Fish Taco: Tavarua Wahoo Tacos

Now, to apply all of those tasty Cabo concepts...

My friends and I, enjoy cooking healthy and creatively...flavor combinations are our specialty. My friend, Cassie went to Cabo Fish Taco, and it was her muse for creating the ever so wonderful, Fish Taco Night...thanks for the great tips and inspiring our past Lady's Night Food Fest- GAME ON! 

The Drinks...

I was in charge of the homemade margaritas, and they turned out awesome! It's really easy to make your own variations of mixes...don't settle for the crappy store-bought stuff...EEEEwwwww!! 

Krunky K's Margarita Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 10-15 Limes
  • Tequila
  • Sugar Water or Agave Syrup
  • Triple Sec or Grand Marnier (an Orange Liqueur)
  • Optional: Add Pomegranate, Mango, or Orange Juice
  • Optional: Add a little Club Soda for a fizzy kick
How do I mix this stuff...?

Squeeze your Limes. The more Lime Juice, the more tart it will be. To balance out the tart taste, you will add your Sugar Water or Agave Syrup, to taste. Next, add your Tequila and a shot or two of Triple Sec or Grand Marnier to your pitcher and any specialty ingredients. Salt and cube your glasses, drink up!

The Dish...

Ingredients:
Serves: 2-4 People
  • 2 White Fish Fillets: Tilapia or Wahoo
  • Purple Cabbage
  • Sugar or Honey Water
  • White Vinegar
  • Salt, Pepper, and Cayenne Pepper
  • Honey and Wasabi Powder
  • Optional: Cheese Blend
  • Tomato and Lettuce
Sweet Slaw

Cut your Purple Cabbage and soak in a mixture of Sugar or Honey Water with a little bit of White Vinegar, Salt & Pepper, cover, and leave overnight to soak up all of the yummy flavors.

Honey Wasabi Sauce

Simply mix a sauce with raw unrefined Honey and Wasabi Powder. The more Wasabi Powder, the stronger the kick and manly status. This will be your Fish Taco sauce that will really make all of the flavors come together. I haven't tried this yet, but I would like to juice a couple Jalapenos and mix that with Honey, making a Honey Jalapeno sauce...I'll get back to you all with that experiment!

Fish Tacos

My friend purchased a couple Tilapia Fillets from The Fresh Market which never disappoints in the Seafood Department. Clean your Fillets by rinsing them in a cold water bath. Drizzle Olive Oil, and add your spices (Salt, Pepper, and Cayenne Pepper if you like super spicy) making sure to cover both sides of your fillets. Fish Fillet cook quickly and will sauté and only need about 5-8 minutes on Medium Heat. The Fillets are ready when they are white all of the way through and slightly brown. Next, break apart your fillets, and it's taco time! Yay!

Now, it's time to make the perfect taco! Add your Fish, Slaw, Lettuce, Tomato, and Honey Wasabi sauce. The flavor-combo will knock your socks off!! ENJOY!

Need another Fishy Recipe?? Check out my Sweet and Spicy Seafood Blog!