Healthy New Year Week 3 with JuicePlus+ [Sponsored]

As a continuation on my #MySimpleChange journey with Juice Plus+, showing easy ways to inspire you to live your healthiest life yet, I’m excited to share this week’s simple changes in my life that hopefully help inspire you too!

The theme of this week’s #MySimpleChange is waking up earlier as it allows you to be more productive and feel better!

Simple Change #1: Wake Up Earlier

Waking up earlier was a game changer for me this week.  Not only did I feel already accomplished by the morning, but I was more productive throughout my day.  I did this consistently 3 out of the 5 days this week as well as changing up my workouts, incorporating hot yoga for the first time ever.

Simple Change #2: Pack in Some Early Morning Cardio

In addition to waking up earlier, packing in some early morning cardio allowed me to really jump start my day.  I took a SoulCycle class which gave me even more inspiration to fulfill the day’s work I set out to do – and left me with an energy boost throughout the day. I continue to incorporate the Juice+ Dutch Chocolate Shakes into my morning routine for a tasty, healthy and satisfying morning breakfast – especially great for on the go.

Simple Change #3: Challenge Myself 

Our bodies are capable of such amazing things. I had never done a hot yoga class, so I conquered two challenges off the bat – waking up early and doing a hot yoga class.  As a next step to challenging myself, I decided at the end of the week after waking up early consistently throughout the week, to add on to my hot yoga practice with sculpt and barre – I didn’t let my mind hold me back from doing it and I was able to achieve everything I set out to do.

Wishing everyone a great week ahead filled with simple changes – you can do it!

Disclosure: Juice Plus+ provided me with the products mentioned in exchange for this post.

 

New Year’s Resolutions and a Side of Greek

Okay, okay, I realize it’s been way too long since I’ve updated and I’m sure you’re waiting with bated breath to hear about my next culinary adventure. All joking aside, while I am not big into New Year’s resolutions, I figured I should at least set one: to update Mojitos & Florentine at least once a week.

Now that that’s settled, I had the opportunity to kick off my new year with a great cuisine adventure outside of the city – yes, I ventured to Astoria, Queens for some delicious, authentic Greek food at Mezzo Mezzo. It also helped that my culinary experience was paired with some great company as I had a chance to meet up with some fellow alums from my alma mater (Ohio Northern University). It’s become an annual tradition for our theatre department to take us to this wonderful establishment (thanks Prof. Reiss!)

For the appetizers, they served up one of my favorites, Saganaki, A.K.A. “Greek flaming cheese.”  It’s super tasty and all you need is 1 lb. Mozzarella cheese, 2 tbsp. butter, 2 tbsp. brandy and 1/2 lemon. Once the cheese is broiled over heat until it’s light brown, you just pour the brandy over it and ignite! (Extinguish with a lemon). Check out the full instructions at: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1718,159166-255206,00.html

Another suprisingly good appetizer was the octopus. Believe it or not, it’s very mild and tender:

And of course, you can’t go wrong with the grilled calamari:

For my main course, I opted for the seafood pasta – a perfect combination of clams, mussels and scallops in a creamy sauce:

Definitely worth the trek out of Manhattan. www.mezzomezzony.com.