Category Archives: Health

If you only do one thing this week…become a red wine connoisseur

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As most of you may know, my fiancé is in the wine business so, over the last two years, I have had an opportunity to drink some unbelievable wines and tour some of the most breathtaking vineyards here in the U.S, as well as in France and Italy.
At this point, one would think I’d know an awful lot about wine, right? Ummmm, not so much…

I’m ashamed to admit that I know what I like but that’s about the extent of my wine knowledge. I fell in love with Rose so I made it a point to educate myself and now this week I’m going to tackle red wine and next week, champagne. Then I’ll do a blog about which glasses to use (I’m constantly confused) and what you need to have a well-stocked bar (this would be necessary as I realized I didn’t have shot glasses the other night- I still don’t know how that happened).

Lets start with the basics~

Red wine is usually named for the primary grape that is used to make it in most new world wine regions, such as the U.S., South America, and Australia (Cabernet is a type of grape!). However in old world wine regions, such as Italy, France, and Spain, wines are typically named for the region in which they are grown (Bordeaux comes from the Bordeaux region in France).

The grape’s skin is what gives red wine it’s beautiful, rich red color. Red wine’s colors vary due to the particular type of grape used, as well as how long the skins are in contact with the grape’s juice during the fermentation process.

The most common red wine varietals are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandal, Shiraz, Petite Sirah, and Malbec. Familiarize yourself with these and you’ll do just fine ordering from almost any wine list.

So what’s the difference between all these wines? Lets see if you’ve followed along so far…

It’s all about the grapes!

Take Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s originally from Bordeaux but now is all over the California coast.  Cabernet grapes need to mature a bit longer than other grapes so their flavors mellow beautifully and blend nicely with other grapes, usually Merlot. Cabs range from medium-bodied to full-bodied and are characterized by their high tannin content. They’ve got structure and rich fruit characteristics. Flavors you may pick up on include plum, cherry, blackberry, blueberry, warm spice, vanilla, tobacco and sometimes even leather aromas.

Merlot is another grape that originated in France. Merlot is more of a “fruity” wine, not as strong-bodied as a Cab.

Now on to my favorite, Pinot Noir. Similar to a Merlot, Pinot Noir is a lighter-bodied wine with lots of fruit flavors. You may find Pinot Noir to be a bit more expensive than other red wines and this is because the grapes are not has hardy and abundant as some of the other varietals.

Next up, Zinfandel. Admittedly, I thought this was a white wine and it can be, but the grape itself is red. Who knew? For White Zinfandel the skin is quickly removed so you’re left with a rose/blush colored wine. The grape, which is known for its rich, dark color scheme, makes a wine with medium to high tannin levels and a higher alcohol content. Zinfandel’s flavors include raspberry, blackberry, cherry, plums, raisins, spice and black pepper.

Here are a few bottles at various price points to get you started~

Cabernet Sauvignon

Jordan (Sonoma, California $50)

Franciscan (Napa Valley, California $22)

Merlot 

Duckhorn (Napa Valley, California $40)

Jacob’s Creek Reserve Merlot (Australia $10)

Pinot Noir

Flowers (California (personal favorite!) $45)

Veramonte (Chile $12)

Zinfandel  

Gnarly Head (California $10)

Ravenswood (Sonoma, California $25)

Finally, although you don’t need a reason to enjoy a glass of fabulous red wine, Dr. Oz recently did a segment on how a glass of red wine a day can help you lose belly fat. Red wine also contains antioxidants that may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of “good” cholesterol and protecting against artery damage. I’ll drink to that!

xo,

TFab

Transition Seamlessly Into Fall

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Being born and raised in South Florida, I knew very little about seasons until last August when I made the move to New York. Now that I’m entering my second year up North, I can actually say that I’m looking forward to making the transition from Summer into Fall. The girls started school last week and with Labor Day today, I figured it would be a perfect time to blog about preparing our homes and ourselves for Fall.

  • Fall cleaning is just as important and necessary as Spring cleaning. Flip your mattress (this should be done twice a year), winterize your pipes, and clean out your closet. You know the drill~ anything you haven’t worn in the last year, donate. Anything with tags still attached, wear or list on ebay. Items that need repairing should be sent to the tailor (make sure to give your shoes the once over too to keep your heels in pristine shape). Make room for a few fall purchases to update your look.
  • Give your garden some TLC. Uproot summer plants from the soil, dispose of them, and don’t forget to turn the soil over. Now is a great time to invest in some Chrysanthemums. They come in all different colors and are the ultimate fall flowers. Go to your local nursery and purchase a generous amount to give your yard a beautiful, autumnal look.
  • Change your tablescape. I use a different table runner for each season and fill a tall, glass container with seasonal things. Goodbye, seashells, hello, pine cones!
  • Change the scents that surround you. I start with my air fresheners. I’m slightly addicted to plug-ins and switch the scent to correlate with the seasons. Try “Warming Apple Cinnamon Medley” for the scent of fall. Heaven! Varying your hand soaps, lotions and even your perfume is a simple luxury that will make you feel at one with the changes around you.

  • Scour the fall fashions and choose a few key pieces that will add to your wardrobe. Check out one of my favorite blogs for some inspiration and direction.
  • One of the easiest ways to stay current is with your nail polish. Make the transition from your Summer brights to jewel tones or other new fall colors.

September 23rd is the first “official” day of Fall so make sure to celebrate by noshing on some delicious seasonal foods. Put a date on the calendar to go apple picking and pick up your pumpkins for carving and decorating. And finally, for all my fellow Starbucks junkies, make sure to grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte (just released!) to really put you in the fall mood.

xo,

Tanya

Turn Your Black Thumb Green

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Ok, I’m determined. I can and I will turn my black thumb green.

I adore flowers, especially orchids, but can’t seem to keep anything alive more than a few days. Even hardy plants seem to wilt in my presence (I killed bamboo for goodness sakes! Who kills bamboo?!) but with my mind set, I know I can accomplish anything so here we go.

The girls would love a vegetable garden but considering my past history and after doing some research, it seems herbs are a better place to start. I went to my local nursery (farmers’ markets are also a good choice) and picked up organic potting soil, three beautiful pots that fit perfectly on my windowsill, and some seeds. I will give updates if anyone’s interested and would love to hear any tips from my fellow gardeners. With any luck, I’ll have some fresh herbs to add to my fall meals. Listed below are the basics to get started in case anyone is a novice like me.

Source: http://www.oprah.com/food/The-Urban-Herbalist#ixzz1TGZkgTt5

  • Light: Herbs love the sun, so choose a spot with plenty of it. Southern exposure is ideal, but any bright window with four hours of direct sun will do.
  • Containers: Pot especially pungent herbs like cilantro, mint, basil, and lavender individually, so their roots don’t overwhelm one another. Try planting other varieties together in a single hanging basket or a long ceramic trough. Choose containers with holes in the bottom for drainage.
  • Soil: Fill the pot with potting soil, which is lightweight and drains quickly.
  • Water: Allow the soil to become dry before watering. Pay attention to shifts in temperature—consider air-conditioning, radiator heat, and seasonal variation in sunshine—and adjust your watering schedule accordingly (anywhere from once a week to once a day during hot spells).
xo,
Tanya

 

Eat Seasonally

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Just looking at the picture above makes my mouth water. The heat is on and we’re all looking for ways to cool down and stay fit during the summer season. During my trip to Italy last summer, I learned the secret to everything tasting unbelievably fresh and delicious= seasonal ingredients. I added that to my travel journal but, alas, failed to follow through in my every day life.

While in the Hamptons this past weekend, the girls and I decided to go strawberry picking. Standing in the fields eating red, ripe strawberries, feeling the juice drip down our chins, I was yet again inspired. I made my way over to the stand to check out the other fruits and veggies that were for sale. I picked up some asparagus and red potatoes and voila! I added some carrot quinoa and we had a dinner that was fresh, healthy, and yummy.

Those that know me, know I love to cook. I’m certainly no chef and I base all my meals on recipes. So here comes the change~ I’m going to take a trip to the local Farmers’ Market each week, stock up on whatever looks good and then plan my meals. I came home and looked into Farmers’ Markets and found a local, weekly market ten minutes from our house. Perfect!

Realistically, I may not make it to the Farmers’ Market each week or my family may be craving something that isn’t there. Plan B is stocking up at the local market. Listed below are the seasonal fruits and vegetables that should be easy to find.

Summer Fruits:

Apples

Apricots

Avocados

Berries- All

Cactus Pears

Cherries

Figs

Melons

Nectarines

Summer Vegetables:

Asparagus

Basil (I’d like to try growing some)

Beets

Broccoli

Corn

Cucumbers

Eggplant

Green beans

Okra

Peas

Radishes

Rhubarb

What I love about this list is that there are quite a few fruits and vegetables that are not a part of our diets. My favorite source for recipes is allrecipes.com because recipes found on here are rated. Choose a four or five-star recipe rated by 100+ people and you can’t go wrong. I typed in Rhubarb and found a recipe for Rhubarb Strawberry Crunch rated 4 1/2 stars by 467 people. I can’t wait to try this out! (Don’t forget to read the reviews as there’s usually great suggestions for making the recipe even better)

Eating seasonally provides you with many benefits. Your food will be more nutritious and taste fresher. You will be lending the planet a hand by saving on the cost of transporting out of season fruits and veggies from various parts of the world. By shopping locally, you are stimulating your community and/or state’s economy. And last but not least, you’ll save some $, perhaps to purchase a few summer outfits! 🙂

xo,

Tanya

Plan A Girls’ Night Out

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Time with your friends to unwind, share, and laugh is necessary for you to stay connected to those you care for. Unfortunately, due to hectic schedules both personally and professionally, we often put this on the back burner. I’m ashamed to admit that it had been five months since my last Girls’ Night so this past Saturday was long overdue.

After an unexpected delay due to train issues, one of my dearest friends and I arrived at DBGB a few minutes after our reservation. DBGB is one of Chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurants and is described on their website as “where the French brasserie meets the American tavern.” Here you can find 14 different types of sausages, more pork than you can imagine, burgers, and lots of seasonal dishes. This trendy yet casual downtown spot where most of the staff is wearing chucks, exudes cool so expect a full house on most nights.

As I mentioned, we were a few minutes late but it wasn’t a problem at all and the host was actually very pleasant, which can be a rarity in hot NYC restaurants. We made our way to the bar for a cocktail before sitting and again were greeted with smiles from friendly bartenders (where did they find these people?!) They do not carry my cocktail of choice these days, vanilla flavored vodka, but do offer a house-infused vodka which, with a splash of Sprite, made for quite a refreshing beverage. We ordered the Chop-Chop Salad and the Asparagus and Fried Egg to share for our appetizers and both were delish (the asparagus is a can’t miss). For my entrée, I got the Amish Chicken and she got the mussels in a wine sauce, light and perfect for summer. I know ordering chicken when their specialty is sausage and pork isn’t the bravest move, but I’m working, albeit slowly, on changing my boring palette to include more than poultry and pasta.

After dinner we headed over to Chelsea to check out Avenue, a restaurant/lounge/night club. We arrived around midnight and there was no one there. I’m talking ghost town status. Our waitress assured us that it would get busy and eventually it did but not until close to two. Geeze! Maybe I’m getting old-er (not old, never say old!) but two seems kinda late to get the party started, no? The decor was very pretty and the music was ok- a bit too heavy on the hip hop and not enough dance music for our tastes. Plan on getting a table or not having a lot of room to dance (see above photo for an idea of the layout). The crowd was beautiful and trendy and I enjoyed taking in the NYC fashion scene (dress shorts with heels= extremely popular choice).

All in all, my friend and I had a great night catching up and enjoying the city and the warm weather. If you only do one thing this week, plan a Girls’ Night with one of your closest friends. Find the time, make the time, get something on the calendar. Nourish your friendships and in return your friendships will nourish your soul.

xo,

Tanya

Becoming an Organized Traveler

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During the last year, my traveling as jumped from once or twice a year to once or twice a month. Needless to say, I have the art of traveling down pat. As I prepare for yet another upcoming trip, I thought I’d share some of the tried and true tips that have made traveling a bit easier for me and my family.

Packing:
•    I’m a list-maker and here is a time where it is imperative. You must plan your outfits! Ladies, we know that if we don’t organize, we overpack, throwing random tops, dresses, and shoes into the suitcase while thinking, I may wear that…maybe. Take fifteen minutes, stand in your closet, and choose your outfits. I do this two days before a trip so that I can have the most up-to-date weather forecast.
•    Pack from your last day forward. What I mean is put your last day’s clothes in the suitcase first and go backwards so you’re not tearing apart your suitcase on the first day.
•    Wear your boots and jacket on the plane to save room in your suitcase.
•    If you travel frequently, keep a toiletry bag packed and ready to go. I also keep a few ziplock bags in there so that the morning of, I can throw any liquids (remember, 4 oz or less!) in. I store the ziplock in my purse for easy access when making my way through security (you don’t want to have to open your suitcase). I also make it a point to buy my moisturizer in 4 oz or less bottles- it makes traveling that much easier.
•    Don’t waste space by packing shampoo, conditioner, or lotion if your staying at a nice hotel or with a friend. Their brand will be fine for a day or two. (Hotel conditioner also makes for a great shaving cream!)
•    For face wash, I used to keep my fav in a travel bottle but I have recently found an easier solution. Say Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes are fabulous! They are 98.7% natural and biodegradable so they’re a great eco-friendly choice for girls on the go (I will also admit that I’ve been known to use them when I’m not traveling on those late nights when I don’t have the energy to really wash my face, they’ve been a lifesaver).

Travel Day:
•    Comfy clothes, slip on shoes, and a light jacket (planes can be cold) are a must for everyone
•    Make sure all travelers have things to do on the plane to keep themselves occupied
•    Eat a healthy meal before traveling
•    Take a bathroom break before arriving at your gate (although for some kids, going to the bathroom on the plane is inevitable because of the “fun” factor)

On the plane:
•    We all love Jet Blue because of the tv, but you can also use your time on the plane time to catch up on your reading or, my new favorite thing to do, edit home movies. Make sure your laptop is charged, sit back and get those movies ready for prime-time viewing. You know that’s been on your to-do list…
•    Take an immunity enhancer. Traveling can wear down your system so it’s best to be as preventive as possible.
•    Drink water, spritz your face, and moisturize your hands. I love the travel-size Evian bottles that they sell at Sephora. This will keep your skin hydrated during the flight.
•    Make healthy snack choices. Nuts, pretzels, craisins (new on Jet Blue flights!) are much better choices than the cookies. Even better, pack your own snacks so you really know what you’re eating.

Once you arrive:

  • Always use the same combination for hotel safes
  • If you’re in an area you’re unfamiliar with, use your phone to take a picture of any maps. Then, instead of walking around with your face buried in a map (it screams tourist!), just look down at your phone like everyone else. 😉

Tips For Kids:
•    Make children pack their own suitcases. Dedicate 30 minutes to this. As always, kids do best with very clear directions. For example, tell them to, “Lay out three pairs of pajamas”. Notice how I said lay out. Yes, let them pack but, of course, approve of all choices. You don’t want to get where you’re going to find your child has thrown together mismatched outfits. Go through each category (pajamas, underwear, socks, day clothes, night clothes, and any specialty items) and have them spread the piles out on the floor. Once they’re done and you’ve checked, instruct them to fold and place the clothes neatly in their suitcase. Believe it our not, kids are usually very excited to pack  because it elevates their excitement about the upcoming trip.
•    If you travel frequently, a child-sized suitcase is a must.
•    Encourage them to pack a carry-on bag for the plane. My girls don’t leave home without a portable dvd player (if we’re not traveling on a plane w/t.v’s), a chapter book (I always make them read a chapter before any electronics are removed from the bag), fully charged ipods and game players, and a notepad and colored pencils for drawing.

*Note- I do not charge electronic devices. This is their responsibility. Yes, even my six year old. I do give them reminders but, if they don’t, then they can read the entire time. I’m sooooooo mean, I know, but responsibility is hard to teach and this is one great opportunity!

Finally, don’t forget…
•    chargers for your phone, laptop, camera, and the kids electronics
•    hair supplies personally, I always bring my curling iron, brush, pins, and a travel-size hairspray
•    a travel steamer (hotels will have an ironing board but, in my opinion, nothing beats a steamer)
•    over-the-counter medicine Even though I rarely use or give to my children, I never travel without advil, children’s tylenol, something for upset stomachs, and band-aids.

With all these tips, your travel should go a bit smoother. Here’s to a fabulous trip!

xo,

Tanya