That view though. Seriously, any vacation that includes views of the water I count as a favorite vacation. And now, any vacation that includes Grey is super special. Because, seeing anything through the eyes of a little man who hasn't experienced these things before makes me melt into a puddle of happy goo. At just ten weeks old Grey took his first official trip with mom + dad! We hadn't planned on traveling with him so young, but Mr. Charming's work set up a work event he needed to be at and it was taking place on Coronado Island in California. Our options were to A. Go with him, stay in a beautiful resort and take baby to see the beach or B. Leave me and baby at home, leaving me to mom it up on my own for 4 days. We, of course, chose the former. We stayed at the Loew's Coronado Bay Resort, and I must say, for health conscious travelers this is THEE place to stay on the island. It's beautiful expansive grounds make for a scenic place to get your steps in and the dining options allowed me to not have to wander to far off to find good eats while I was alone at the hotel with baby. And check out the beds. Our king was heavenly and gave us a ton of space to sleep soundly with Mr. Charming, myself and baby in his travel co-sleeper. Although I didn't get to sleep as much as I would have wanted to in that glorious bed, the slow, sleepy mornings and post-lunch cuddles with baby made up for it. The day that Mr. Charming worked, me and Grey did a little impromptu photo shoot in the room because the light was spectacular. After his morning bath, I strapped him in our baby carrier and wore him downstairs to find some yummy nosh. There was a great little cafe on the grounds, where we also had breakfast and dinner as a family during our stay, and this little juice bar, Juice Therapy, had a delicious selection of fresh pressed juices and it was so Instagram photo-worthy I had to make a stop here. Once we got some juice, Grey and I headed to the gift shop for some organic chocolate as a treat for mama. I chose a decadent Cherry Chocolate bar that I snacked on a bit as we perused the gift shops. Aside from the eats we found at the hotel, you can check out the following gluten-free and dairy-free friendly nosh spots while on Coronado Island in sunny California. Sheerwater Located at the Hotel Del Coronado, highlights include gorgeous views and an extensive salad, meat and seafood selection for the gluten- and dairy-free crowd. Burger Lounge Grass-fed, quality beef burgers in a trendy locale that offers gluten-free buns. A note: Frys are no cooked in a dedicated fryer, so skip the spuds and just enjoy the burger. Il Fornaio Waterfront views and gluten-free Italian make this a swoon-worthy date location. Have you dined on Coronado Island? I would love to hear your favorite places to grab a bite or take in the views. We also hopped back over to the mainland to grab In n Out one night, because, YUM.
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This week Mr. Charming and I were sitting around the house after work, completing all the last minute details for Baby P's arrival and I got the urge to do something spontaneous and fun! With just 6 days out from my due date, I actually had energy on Thursday and wanted to sneak in one more date night while it was just us. Wanting to do something different and away from home, we headed to Paradise Valley, AZ - just 20 minutes or so from us - to check out some old high school stomping grounds, like my old neighborhood and our old mall and then we planned to search for some gluten-free eats for a romantic dinner. And we found the holy grail of Gluten-Free goodness. Guys. I could literally order 90% of what was on the menu. INCLUDING drinks, appetizers AND dessert. This NEVER happens. See that bread? That warm, moist foccacia? TOTALLY gluten-free. Made with tapioca, rice and potato flours it tasted HEAVENLY in a little EVOO, salt and pepper. Though I JUST put a little yeast back in after 5 years, I limited myself to one piece, plus a small toasted piece with my pasta, but you couldn't even tell it was gluten free. Not only do they offer a fully gluten-free menu, everything is also non-GMO and they have SO many vegan options too! You can substitute Daiya cheese in any cheese dish or pizza and all of their meats are nitrate and nitrite free, as well as being free of antibiotics. An establishment where I can actually ORDER pepperoni or salami and not wonder if its sketch? SCORE. SCORE ONE BIG ONE FOR YOU PICAZZOS. I think I'm in love. So, on with our order and dining experience... There were SO many things I was looking at, but I was remembering back to my decadent Italian experience at Vitello's and I was craving fresh pasta drizzled with with fresh herbs and olive oil, so my order was the following: Gluten Free Foccacia Bread (which I of course shared.) Gluten Free Fusilli Pasta with EVOO, Avocado, Tomatoes, Garlic and Fresh Basil Mr. Charming's order was tres magnifique, and looked a little something like this... And guys! You can GET THAT PIZZA, his decadent BBQ Chicken Pizza, gluten-free AND VEGAN. They have vegan chicken strips and Daiya cheese on a chewy-on-the-inside, crunchy-on-the-outside gluten-free crust. It's our new favorite out of all our favorites.
The staff was also amazingly sweet and are all so knowledgeable in allergies and celiac. It was such a wonderful vibe and it was really busy for a Thursday. Which is a great sign! We are looking forward to visiting again after the baby's arrival and I have a few ideas for what will be up next on my orders...
Have you been to Picazzo's? If so, what is YOUR favorite dish? Seriously, because I'll add it to my growing list of must-trys! Sometimes it's funny to me, the response I get, when I'm with clients or people in this new world of nutrition and blogging and babies and journalism, when I mention that before all of this I was a recording artist. I sometimes forget that I don't talk about it much. I actually still am. I am still signed with NVE/Universal and I still contribute to the business side of music and write for other artists from time to time. I've just taken an extended break from touring, because honestly, it was nice to take a break and enjoy marriage and taking care of a home and starting a family. But no need for a whole biography on my music life. I wanted to share an awesome vacation experience that any singer or music lover hopefully tried, had they visited Disneyworld Hollywood Studios between 2009 and 2014. In 2010, Mr. Charming and I visited Disney World together for the first time. He and I had been planning a major trip to Disneyworld for a while and had planned 6 amazing days in the parks. If you've read our Engagement Story, you'll know how the trip began in Epcot. *swoon* All of the parks were equally amazing, and though Epot was my favorite, for not just obvious reasons of saying yes to the man of my dreams, I also adored the world travel theme, Hollywood Studios ran a close second because I got to sing my face off for a ton of people. Which, is always a good time, haha. "Producers" would walk around the park and ask random people to "audition" or sing for the cameras to see who they wanted to pull in for the show. They actually approached Mr. Charming but he told them I was the one they wanted and after bugging him to sing to no avail, they had me sing. Little did they know, it was my day job at the time, haha, and I had just finished recording my own debut album. BLVD., back in L.A. After replaying our "engagement" for the cameras and getting my "ticket to Hollywood" they took me to the studios for hair, makeup and rehearsal. Every detail was amazing. While I was getting prettified and rehearsing, Mr Charming went and grabbed some lunch until it was time for him to see the live show. You got to work with vocal coaches and a choreographer before your "performance" and sit in the "Coca Cola Lounge" to choose your song selection. Seriously, all the details were so cute. I chose a couple of Whitney Houston songs for my performance and was introduced along with three other singers all awaiting our turn. The stage was to size, with a full audience of park go-ers (and my hubby who got put on the big screen, hehe) lights and cameras, it was like being on the show. And the sound system was epic! Go Disney! After performing, the audience got to vote from their seats and as you can see below, I was number 4. It was an amazing, fun-filled day and I was happy to say I won my round!! Which got me a ticket to actually GO to Hollywood for a front of the line pass, but as I'd said before, I was already signed with an album I'd just released so I wasn't qualified to audition for the real show, but the Disney dream version sure was fun and it's a memory that will last forever. Have you participated in any theme park attractions? I loved how immersive this one was! Share your experiences in the comments below :) Well, I have a new favorite Glendale eatery. Which, OK, to be fair, isn't TOO hard to find since vegan & gluten free options are so few and far between here. I can count the places I can eat at in my town on one hand. And I still have fingers left over. One day we will move back to a beach city that thrives on clean eats. But until then. I was still super excited to find this place. Celebrating Father's Day early, Mr. Charming and I were busy shopping around town and we got hungry. So I did a little search like I do for any local gluten-free or vegan eateries that may have popped up and was pleasantly surprised to find Fresh Healthy Cafe in Glendale, AZ at Westgate City Center. This charming and inviting little cafe serves up just what the name promises, Fresh Healthy eats. From breakfast items (served all day!) to paninis and wraps for those who can indulge in the gluten there are many options. For us non-gluten or vegan foodies there's a salad menu, a Quinoa bowl menu and a plethora of fresh juices and smoothies. Plethora is the word I use when I'm surprised by the volume of awesomeness a place offers. Almond milk and coconut smoothies, all fruit smoothies, coffees with vegan milk. Happy, happy girl. Mr. Charming decided on the Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich, which I say if you can have bread looked and smelled amazing. He rated it a 4 out of 5 for taste which is high for a cafe locale. I got the Beach Salad minus the feta cheese and I had them add beets (for iron for baby and me) and tomato. I usually go dressing-less so the tomato gives it that moisture I crave in a salad. It was also topped with fresh blubes and avocado which made the flavors just explode. SO GOOD. We paired our meals with Olive Oil Baked Kettle Chips & their Kale Pineapple Smoothies (SO GOOD). They also have gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free cookies which I so wanted to get just because I could, haha, but I'm watching my sugar and trying to stay as healthy as I can to prep for birth, so I opted out. But the Cinnamon Sugar and the Chocolate Chip cookies looked divine. Maybe next time. Have you tried a Fresh Healthy Cafe in your city? I'd love to know your favorite dish so I can mix it up next time! Leave it in the comments below. This post was sponsored by The Aetna Foundation. I may be compensated for sponsored posts seen within Nosh and Nurture, but know that I only work with companies whose initiatives and products I stand behind 100%. All opinions are my own. How healthy is YOUR city? If you're like most American's, you're unable to quantify this with a distinguishable answer, however, in a survey given by The Aetna Foundation, most residents would rate their city a C. This seems highly lacking to me and I know from experience, that where you live can have a major impact on your overall health and lifestyle. Not only are we lacking in knowledge of upping our cities health factors, most American's perceptions of health are skewed. When surveyed, most American's, up to 77% according to the CDC, would rate their health quite high, stating that they live a healthy lifestyle 5 out of 7 days. Yet when we look at this countries health decline (50% of adults suffer from at least one chronic illness) and rising obesity rates, one could wonder if this is in fact the truth. Geographical location, along with environmental influences, have a great deal to do with our state of health in any given point in our life. I know personally, living in southern California as compared to living in Arizona's West Valley, southern California greatly offered me more healthy fare, including vegan and gluten-free options, as well as more even weather temperatures and community health events that allowed me to walk more and exercise outdoors year round. Whereas, in an Arizona summer I barely make it outside, let alone to walk or get to the gym. Is part of this my doing? Of course. But part of it is the location factor. It all plays a part. My city is also greatly lacking in any eateries that aren't a mass chain, leaving very few healthy, locally sourced options. That is why I was so passionate to pair up with the Aetna Foundation and their Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge. It's a beautiful initiative that helps motivate our cities to put new programs in place to influence the health of it's community. And we, as our city's patrons, can play a part in the integration of improved conditions for how our area supports health and wellness. That fact is not only exciting, it gives us hope for a healthier lifestyle overall for not only us, but for our children's generation. The Aetna Foundation stated that 94% of America's are willing to do something in order to make their environment a healthier one. How can we do that? I share six ideas below that you can work on over time. As for what we are doing, Mr.
69% of American's believe it is crucial to tend to our mental state to avoid stress, while 59% believe being in a good mood makes or breaks our day. This group also agrees that fitness and nutrition play an equally important role in our well-being. This means we are on a good path to a majority of American's seeking balance and understanding the importance this trifecta of details makes. There is hope! Walking, yoga and meditation are wonderful ways to de-stress and its important to take time out of each day, no matter how brief, to check in with yourself and your state of well being. Even on the busiest of days I take a moment throughout the day to assess my stress level and decide if I need to step away and get fresh air, if a gentle stretch will help or if I need to break away all together for a short yoga or meditation session. As we juggle work, family, home and social responsibilities, self-care becomes more and more a vital aspect we need not push to the back burner. Many feel guilty in doing so, but in the end your work, relationships and overall happiness will be amplified when you're centered, less stressed and happier overall. The Aetna Foundation is looking for the top 50 healthiest cities and YOU have a chance to make an impact in your community and get them nominated. If you follow along the challenge you'll get to learn about the innovator cities that are making the biggest changes. Those include:
Before we wrap up, make sure to visit my post of tips on how you and your family can increase Health & Wellness in your home every day! The Aetna Foundation also gives some great tips, so make sure you check it out to see what we recommend! And, if you feel so inclined, pin and share with all your lovely friends and family. And finally, we'd love to know what makes YOUR city great? Comment below or join in the conversation on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #HealthiestCitiesChallenge and let us know! If you also tag @noshandnurture, I'll feature a list of Healthy Rock Star cities here on Nosh and Nurture's Wanderlust to spread the word on how awesome your city is doing or what you are doing / eating / enjoying in your city to boost your health and wellness. This past weekend I was in Los Angeles for a work event. Mr. Charming and I rented a darling home in Toluca Lake in a beautiful, peaceful neighborhood and explored many neighboring cities and beach towns on my time off. I had one of the best Italian meals of my life, all gluten-free and vegan, and I had to share my top seven list of healthy eats in Studio City, CA where the crew and I spent a lot of our time while I was in town. Make sure to check out #1 to read about the best pasta in Hollywood.
1. Vitello's Italian RestaurantAbout: After going through a drastic renovation to make it a modern piece of eye-candy in Studio City, Vitello's offers live entertainment (which was amazing) and delicious Italian options for gluten-free and non-GF foodies.
Favorite Selections: Hands down the gluten free Capellini. The freshest ingredients I've tasted on the West Coast. The gluten-free pasta was cooked to perfection, the olive oil was pure and clean, the tomatoes had a kick of spice, the large garlic cloves were divine and the basil was fresh and delicate. A 10+. My non-GF husband RAVED about the lasagna. Location: 4349 Tujunga Ave, Studio City, CA 91604 To say this eatery was love at first taste would be a great understatement. As a traveler with many food intolerances and a health conscious palette, Snap Kitchen in Uptown Dallas and I were a match made in heaven. Upon arriving, I was warmly greeted by the staff and was encouraged to ask any questions I may have. I also met with Lead Dietitian and Local Marketing Coordinator, Daniel Magoon RDN, a man who understands the need for healthy, clean food in one’s community.who was hands down the nicest and most down to earth person I've met on my travels. The restaurant is set up as a quick service eatery, where all of the food is prepackaged in BPA-free containers. Making it the perfect stop for travelers or locals who want to stock up and have easy meals to prepare at home. They also have an extensive selection of organic juices in an array of flavors, as well as organic black coffee. As I was going to be touring Downtown Dallas most of the day and then catching a flight that evening, I was able to stock up on quite a few goodies that were delicious, convenient and TSA approved! Win/Win/Win! All of Snap Kitchen's items are organized by mealtime and are clearly labeled with allergen markers. Owned and operated by professional dietitians, the foods are tested for allergen and Celiac safety regularly, as well as multiple testing on nutritional content. With easy to read photo indicators I was able to scan the shelves to see which items were gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo, Whole 30 approved and more. Snap Kitchen is also a Peanut-Free zone for those with allergic littles. Their food practices are also sustainable and community-concious. Snap Kitchen uses Cage Free and Certified Humane eggs, sustainable, antibiotic-free, non-GMO fed fish and the highest quality local meats, fruits and vegetables from local farmers. Something that is hard to come by in the restaurant industry and something I look for, since that is how I eat and feed my family at home. They also donate surplus food items through SoupMobile to help feed those in need. For breakfast I chose the Almond Butter & Maple Pancakes. At only 180 calories for the entire dish, and only 6 grams of sugar, the pancakes are made from Gluten free, non-GMO steel cut oats, almond butter, egg, maple syrup, vanilla extract and cinnamon. I'm always skeptical when it comes to gluten-free pancakes because they are either really good or really, really bad. And I was ecstatic to find that these fell into the first category. REALLY GOOD. They were fluffy and sweet, but not too sweet. And since the sugar content of the pancake was low for a pancake, I added a little of their maple and vanilla bean syrup on top because it..... was.... vanilla bean maple heaven in my mouth. My other top breakfast picks are below. For lunch I tried the Naked Beef. It was so clean, flavorful and guilt-free. I ate half for lunch and took half with me on the plane so I didn't have to worry about finding safe, healthy eats at the airport. The dish is made with petite tender beef, garlic snap peas and roasted cauliflower. A lovely, carb-concious Paleo meal that is also Whole 30 approved. It was hard to choose just one lunch/dinner option as so many looked beautiful and tasty. Below are my other top favorites:
And of COURSE we have to touch on dessert, because finding a healthy, Paleo dessert is like finding a Unicorn in the forest. My favorites were the Coconut Macaroons and the silky Chocolate "Mousse". While the mousse is made with soy, it is non-GMO soy and I know some of us can tolerate clean soy in small amounts.
They also offer prepackaged gluten-free brownies and cookies, which I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a couple of those for the plane too. Overall, Snap Kitchen is a vibrant, community-benefiting establishment with great eats and friendly faces! For more on Snap Kitchen and to find a Texas or Illinois location near you, visit www.SnapKitchen.com. Walk into the lobby of The Joule | Dallas and you no longer feel like you're in the west. The stylish hotel, located on Main Street in downtown Dallas, transports visitors to a world that embraces high fashion, individuality and style like no other. I experienced the Joule this past weekend and was inspired by every unique detail. From breathtaking art installations to awe-inspiring lighting displays, it stimulates your every sense. Upon pulling up to the grand entrance on I was greeted by valet and escorted inside. An eye-catching steam punk era gear rotates as the lobby's centerpiece and is surrounded by plush retro furniture. Videos of underground subways hang nearby, adding to its metropolitan feel. It's an inviting space that mixes Dallas charm with a Manhattan-like buzz of electric energy. As it was early when I arrived, and not quite time for check in, I headed to the hotels Weekend coffee shop. The small open space is airy and welcoming, like a big hug, if hugs smelled of fresh coffee and pastries. Although I was disappointed in the fact they didn't have any gluten-free selections, their coffee made up for it. I will usually splurge on a decaf latte when I'm traveling because I miss the warm drinks of my past and they offered vegan, non-soy lattes, so I was in coffee house heaven. I ordered a decaf almond milk vanilla latte (their vanilla syrup is extremely pure and is free of corn syrup!) and enjoyed writing and reading in the sitting room area adjacent to the cafe until it was time to check in. Once I finished making love to, er, enjoying my delicious latte, I headed back to the lobby to check in. After checking in, I was led to my room, the King Suite, where I was greeted with a scrumptious bowl of fresh fruit & sparkling water. When I travel, I look for rooms with separate spaces. A place to sleep, a place to read (I have an obsession with chaise lounges, I must admit) and a place to write & focus. Since most of my travels include journalism or blogging, a good desk with a comfortable chair is a must, and The Joule's King Suite delivered all three. From the bedroom/living area there is what I affectionately called "the beauty wing" - a large mirror greets you through an open doorway and to the right was a vanity. Though I preferred the lighting in the mirrors over the bathroom sinks, the vanity gave me a nice place to set up and organize my jewelry and accessories for the morning. The lighting throughout the suite was one of my favorite touches. Mr. Charming and I have a thing for good, stylish lighting and we were quite impressed. The expansive rain showers would satisfy any luxury seekers needs while also serving its functionality to those just seeking a place to rinse off or belt out a good tune (the acoustics are better than any vocal booth I've been in). The water system took a little while to learn (three handles - one to turn the water on, one for pressure and one for temperature), but once I got it down I enjoyed the rain forest like atmosphere as the warm water washed away the day and the ESPA spa body wash (from the hotels own in house spa) that smelled of bergamot, jasmine and warm cedarwood made me feel pampered. For those looking to relax after the shower, the hotel does offer buttery soft bathrobes and silky soft slippers to slip into. A special extra touch that goes hand in hand with a mini bar. Which the hotel rooms also offer. After luxuriating for a while, I got ready (best mirrors & lighting for makeup application by the way girls!) and headed downstairs to explore the hotel. With various towers its easy to get a little mixed up, so don't hesitate to ask a concierge for direction. The staff was amazingly attentive and helped me with museum tickets, finding my way around and dinner reservations. I ventured up to the pool first because I had heard about this hotels amazing infinity pool. I took some magazines with me and headed up to the hotels tenth floor to enjoy the view before my dinner meetings. As you enter the pool area you first come upon a bar and a scattering of comfy cabanas, tables and chaise loungers. The best part about the pool? The view! Swimming ten stories above Downtown Dallas you can swim to the pools edge and out over the street below. The view below also makes for taking beautiful photos, but be careful, you never know who or what is watching you. After reading by the pool, I made my way to the spa. ESPA is a spa that nurtures mind, body & soul and aligns with their vision for whole body health & wellness. It partners with their fitness center VITAL fitness. Their state of the art wellness facilities are what caught my eye in the first place and I feel like touching on them briefly doesn't capture all the benefits they can offer those staying in or visiting the hotel. For my full review on the spa, ESPA click on the ESPA image below. For a menu of the classes and amenities offered at VITAL fitness, click on the studio image below. After checking out the spa and speaking with the kind staff on their menu of services I wasn't quite hungry enough for dinner yet and was in the mood to do a little shopping. Their on the pulse connection to what's trending makes this fashionista very happy and I spent thirty minutes chatting up the girls in their on site clothing store, Ten Over Six. Eclectic separates, colorful eye wear and on-trend accessories made up the shop of colorful selections. Their jewelry display was also quite impressive. Other shops include Traffic L.A. and DSquared2, which I have to be honest, I may have cried inside a little, because working in fashion for so long DSquared2 has been one of my favorite lines, season after season. I got butterflies being in the the presence of their beautiful F/W 2015 collection. As Carrie Bradshaw famously stated "shopping is my cardio" so after browsing a while I had worked up quite an appetite. The Joule's own CBD Provisions has an extensive gluten-free menu with many dairy-free options so I wanted to head there for a delicious hot meal and to meet up with some writing contacts in town. Americano is another eatery set to open on October 5th. To see my reviews, photos and favorite dishes choose the restaurant below. With such contrasting designs and menus, both are a must try. While the hotel does offer a lobby bar and the cool retro Midnight Rambler, I was sleepy from my busy day and after a delicious dinner I retired to our room to write for a while. At the touch of a button my window shades were drawn back to showcase the lights of the towering downtown buildings and the air was dropping to a cool and comfortable 70 degrees. While Dallas has many sights to offer, its easy to get lost in a dreamy day of enjoying The Joule. Set to open on October 5th, 2015, Americano is the newest addition to the exquisite collection of The Joule's stylish and decadent offerings. The restaurant, with it's fresh, modern feel will feature an Italian menu complete with dishes that range from comfort food selections such as brick-oven pizzas to more fanciful bites, like butternut squash stuffed tortellini. It's vibrant red and green palette set as the backdrop to the restaurants retro Italian cinema theme, incorporating decorative touches from the 1950's and 1960's. The throwback nod showcases a cohesiveness with the hotel lobby that sits just outside the restaurants double doors. The eateries Executive Chef, Matt Ford, will also feature small plate appetizers, in-house fresh pastas topped with chicken meatballs and fresh Artisanal breads. The dessert menu is equally impressive with beautifully handcrafted pastries by renowned Executive Pastry Chef Ruben Torano and fresh gelato. The bar, topped with smooth marble and bronze, is also set to feature a wide selection of on tap beers and an abundance of wine varietals. Those who enjoy the energy of Downtown Dallas will appreciate the spaces innovative outdoor patio. Situated against the bustling sidewalk of downtown's Main Street, the glass enclosed patio features modern, bi-folding windows that open for patrons to enjoy balmy Spring nights and cool winter afternoons. Opening October 5th, 2015!
Location: The Joule Hotel at 1530 Main St, Dallas Hours: Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday – Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Contact: http://www.thejouledallas.com/ |
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aboutNosh & Nurture was born of this journey I am on to better the health of myself, my family and those around me. What started as a simple compilation of recipes has grown to a all-around lifestyle journal with ways to incorporate organic products into your home, pantry and beauty cabinet. I also include stories on pregnancy, new motherhood, travel, Proverbs 31 marriage, and spiritual health, as I am a Christian who couldn't do any of this without my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. For more of my story you can click here.
All recipes are gluten-free and dairy-free with a lot of soy-free, grain-free, sugar-free options. |
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