Happy, Healthy, Stress Less Mornings

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NatureMadeHeartHealth #CollectiveBias

If you read the title of this post and had the gut reaction of "yeah, definitely no - I'm not a morning person... I have to set the alarm 3 times and sleep until the very last second before I'm literally peeling out of the door, mornings are neeeeever easy" I promise we've likely got a lot more in common than you think.

So let's start with calling it like it is: most of us, I'd bet, are not morning people. Like for real, does ANYONE like getting out of their warm, cozy bed in the morning to get out in the world and adult? I mean yeah, sure maaaaybe on Sunday when it's brunch day, but for most of us, the next destination past the shower and maybe the coffee shop is either work or school - with maybe a stop for an errand or two along the way. None of that sounds like an exceptionally great time to me at 8 o'clock in the morning.

But then, we've all read the stories about how successful people rise before dawn, do an hour of meditation, yoga, jogging or marathon training (you catch my drift) and then eat their healthy breakfast and head off to conquer the day. Duuuuude, I envy those people, but I am definitely not one of them. 

To be real, I do like to take a morning yoga class, however, I'm a writer - so if I choose to take a 10 a.m. class, it means I'll be burning the midnight oil that night, and hey - I'm okay with that. But for the purpose of this post, I'm intending to share tips with you that'll give you a happy a.m. glow and allow you to get going while feeling stress free, in time to make that morning meeting (with time to spare). 

The only thing that'll get me out of bed a few minutes early.

I shared a post earlier this year about my heart health routine while traveling. I don’t typically introduce new routines or plans into my life that I know I just won’t stick to - however it’s not an option for me to skip days of wellness. I’m fully committed to self care, so in that post I shared the absolute musts on my daily routine, no matter where in the world I might be traveling.

Those 3 absolute musts:

• daily yoga
• a smoothie a day
• a supplement plan

Now that I'm spending a bit more time at home, I've been finding ways to expand on my wellness plan and since I'm definitely not an early riser - I've focused on ways to incorporate little moments of happy, healthy living into my morning routine. 

Here's 3 ways to start your day on the right foot, and you can do all of this in under 30 minutes, I promise. 

1. She Likes to Move It, Move It:

Movement of any kind helps get the blood flowing. My favorite way to get the day going is with a walk in nature. I like a bit of structure in my yoga routine, however, in the morning, there's something extra spirit lifting about being outside, while the air is crisp and the world is just starting to stir. The variety of route or location creates a feeling of newness and since it's about getting the body going, it doesn't have to be a jog. Often I get dressed for the day, and on my way to my first destination I'll take a 15 minute detour to my favorite park. I'll hop out of the car, explore for 15 minutes, and something as simple as that can be a true meditative moment for me.

Some days I'll bring along a chilled out playlist, pop on my headphones and zen out. 

If there isn't enough time to detour to the park I'll take those 15 minutes and dance in my living room and end with some meditative breathing (the last song on my playlist is always one I can get re-centered to). Here's the playlist I've been using this week. 

2. Freshen It Up:

The next must-do in my wellness routine is the daily morning smoothie. Something I've added to my at home ritual is a morning turmeric tea. I have recipes for both below and here's a hint when it comes to smoothie making: when you're in a rush just freeze it. I like to batch out my smoothies and save a little extra. If I'm on the morning grind I'll use yesterday's leftovers. Here's a regular go to recipe:

Avocado Berry Smoothie

1/2 avocado blended with yesterday's berries. The berry mix is this (frozen and saved):

• a handful raspberries
• a handful blueberries
• a cup of water or almond milk (if your preference is a creamier smoothy)

It doesn't get much easier than that.

I've also committed to reducing my caffeine intake so while I do like a little coffee in the morning on occasion, I've started drinking turmeric golden milk as a substitute. The rooty-ness of the turmeric somehow gives me the same satisfaction as the taste of a coffee bean and the caffeine intake? Well: zero. If I'm really needing a little pick me up I'll add a little black tea to the recipe below.

Golden Milk Recipe

• 1/2 cup almond or coconut milk 
• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric paste**
• 1 piece ginger, unpeeled, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ground cinnamon or cayenne pepper

Whisk coconut milk, turmeric paste, ginger, honey, coconut oil and 1/2 cup filtered water in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer until flavors combine, about 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into mugs and top with a dash of cinnamon or cayenne.

** turmeric paste is a mixture of 1/4 cup of dried turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper and 1/2 cup filtered water - heated and then stored in the refrigerator in a glass jar

3. One for You, One for Me

Here's where the supplements come in.

Actually there's more than one supplement on my list, however, there's a few that are especially good for heart health. I'm writing this post in partnership with Nature Made® and the Nature Made® Fish Oil 1200mg One Per Day is my go to for heart healthy omega-3s. The fish oil supply only comes from wild caught ocean fish, not farm raised fish.

Here's the full report from them on the benefits:

Available at Walmart

• Only 1 softgel per day provides 720mg of heart healthy omega-3s (660 mg EPA/DHA).†
• Nature Made® supports leading heart health experts who recommend eating 250 - 500 mg of EPA/DHA per day to help support a healthy heart. “Recommend” amount equates to a calculation based on approximately 1,750 - 3,500 mg of omega-3 fatty acids EPA/DHA found in 2 servings of fatty fish per week.
• Nature Made® is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended Omega-3/Fish Oil Brand* (Based on US News & World Report - Pharmacy Times Survey of pharmacists recommending this category.)
• USP Verified & purified to remove mercury. State-of-the-art purification processes remove PCBs, dioxins and furans, and mercury to ensure purity levels below 0.09 ppm, 2 ppt WHO TEQs, and 0.1 ppm respectively.
• No Color Added, No Artificial Flavors, No Yeast or Starch, Gluten Free.

Make it extra easy on yourself by keeping your supplements separated out by daily dosage. I'll keep my Fish Oil, C, B, CoQ10 and Collagen ready to go in a daily supplement organizer so I don't have to sort through each bottle in the morning. 

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So what do you think you guys? Easy does it? I'm amazed sometimes by how much better I feel when making these practices a part of my daily routine. I'd love to hear from you guys on your easy tips to keep that wellness routine in check because aren't we all learning new things everyday?

Wanderfully yours,

Andi

Learn more via the video below.

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Simple Self Care for Fall

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #RefreshinglyHonestSnacks #CollectiveBias

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” - Albert Camus

As summer days are slowly fading away I become a teeeeny bit nervous. I am a summer girl through and through - and leaving summer mode is so bittersweet for me. Festival days and trips to the lake are fewer, however, nature reminds us with the ebb and flow of the seasons, that there’s beauty in change (and that’s nothing to be nervous about!).

For lots of us fall also means back to school and football games; for my traveler friends it means long mountain weekends and for my fashion friends it means shows and events. However for me, this season, it means a little more time at home! Ben will be off tour in October and while we still have plenty of travels lined up, even having a week or so at home is such a luxury for us!

I’ve talked a lot in past about how to maintain your healthy lifestyle and beauty routine on the road, but what about when you’re at home and the hustle and bustle of the day to day picks up? September was National Organic Harvest Month, so as we celebrate the new season I've partnered up with Honest Tea® and Kroger’s Simple Truth® brands to share a some quick and easy ways to incorporate healthy eating and self care into the day to day routine of life.

Read on for my tips, and at the close of the post learn a bit more about our current products of choice!

Skip the Trends:

In recent years wellness has truly become a trend, but to fully achieve a lifestyle of wellness look past the trends. Sure, do that cleanse and take the latest yoga class - but more importantly make wellness a part of your daily life. Find some stretches that you can incorporate into your day (even if you’re running from class to class or event to event)! When you’re home in the evenings, take long walks with your loved ones and just catch up on each other’s happenings (good for the body of course, but the connection is amazing for the mind). On the weekends, take your newspaper, grab an Honest Tea Honey Green (my flavor of choice) and read outside. Add some stretching to your reading time for bonus points!

Skip the Line (But Really, Being Healthy is Hot):

Man, I can remember when the most important thing my girlfriends and I talked about on a Friday night was what we were going to wear for a night out. Not so much anymore. It’s not that we don’t still want to look good and have a fun time, but there’s so many other ways to enjoy our time together. Looking for an activity to do with your friends on the weekend that doesn’t involve waiting in line for a show? Here’s a few options!

• Find your local “pick your own” farm and make an afternoon of it. Afterwards go home and create new recipe with what you’ve gathered at the farm.

• Host a meditation night! Invite your BFFs over throw some cushions on the floor and zen out. Pushing your mental and physical comfort levels with friends by your side can create major fulfillment!

• Meet for a night of stargazing and moon watching. As the fall air turns brisk, find a spot near your own home where you can build a campfire and just hang out and tell stories!

• Have a pajama dance party date! Ben and I rarely go to bars, however, that doesn’t mean we don’t love a little late night dancing. We’ll put on our PJs, pull out some old school seventies jams and crank up the record player. Again, it’s all about the movement, and we truly have the best time!

DIY Your Snack Game:

Our household is fully focused on organic living and the slow food lifestyle. We love weekends at the local market and finding farms near our home to buy from. It’s so easy however, to skip the healthy stuff when you’re on the go. Our local grocery is Kroger Marketplace, and when we’re there we shop the Simple Truth products all the time! I often use the Simple Truth products in my smoothies and nightly recipes, however I stock up on the Simple Truth snack options too.

My friends often laugh that I’m the girl that constantly has a cooler in the car or the most packed picnic basket, however, keeping healthy goodies on hand is so much better than pulling over for fast food or convenience store snacks. I’ll make snacks to keep in the fridge that I can throw in the cooler on a whim, and even on days when I’m in a rush I’ll find a spot to pull over and re-center.

Beauty is so much more than what you’re wearing (clothing, makeup or otherwise!) and I’m staying on the side of working to get that glow from the inside!

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Here’s a little more about my current Kroger favorites below:

Simple Truth Beef Jerky - made with certified organic beef and organic spices, it’s a good protein boost!

Simple Truth 7 Ancient Grain Rice Crackers with Sea Salt. I slice up a few apples and my local farmer’s market cheese, add a drizzle of local honey and I’ve got snacks to go!

Honest Tea is brewed with real ingredients - the brand stands for honesty and transparency – from the way the ingredients are presented, to their efforts to help make the earth a better place.

As always I hope these little reminders are helpful to you! I can’t wait to see what you guys are all up to this fall! For even more amazing inspiration, tips, and recipes check out the ideas here!

Wanderfully yours,

Andi

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ROYGBIV Rainy Day Rainbow Pizzas

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SummerSoStrong #CollectiveBias

If you've been hanging around here for awhile you know that Ben and I moved into our new home this past fall, we're officially into the first month of our first summer here and already we're spending so many days grilling out and enjoying porch weather. I find a meditation in cooking and Ben loves to grill so we've just recently started having friends over to experience a little bit of country living with us.

This past weekend I made plans with my friend Lauren and intended to bring some of that outdoor summer cheer over to her house as we planned a pool day afternoon. I packed up a basket and traveled over with every intention of dining al fresco. Well sometimes, despite the blue sky weather report, the sunshine refused to come out, the rain comes in - and so what was originally intended to be an afternoon cooking outdoors became rainy day indoor fun.  

I had planned to make ROYGBIV grilled veggie pizzas, a favorite Saturday afternoon recipe in partnership with Dixie Ultra®. However with the change in weather the pizzas we made were modified just a bit as we roasted the veggies and baked the pizzas versus doing everything on the grill. In the meantime, I posted the whole process on IG stories and so many of you were like "GIVE US THAT RECIPE" and truly you can create these rainbow delights either way and it's all super easy! 

The Dixie Ultra® paper plates, are strong, super cute (co-created with the design gurus at Target) and will keep up with your long-summer days - standing up to whatever you dish up during your backyard barbecues, pool days and parties. Keeping in mind this particular afternoon was really a “just because” Saturday hang out, it seemed like the perfect time to test out the plates and celebrate time together without worrying about lots of clean up afterwards.  

So, why ROYGBIV and why is this in the beauty column?  

As you guys know I'm all about eating for my health and to be your healthiest reflect back to elementary school art class and remember this rule: ROYGBIV - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Mama Earth gives us fruits & veggies of every color and the general idea is to eat foods from each of these color families every day. The goal in this is to get all of your vitamins and minerals in without having to supplement and following this approach will allow for that! 

Read on for the recipe, a few variations and learn a bit more about Dixie at the close of this post!

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Rainy Day Rainbow Veggie Pizzas

• Organic Pizza Crust (get fancy and make your own, or buy a store bought version to keep things simple)
• Organic Pizza Sauce (same as above!)
• Mozzarella Cheese, sliced thin or shredded (or whatever your preference is!)

Here's the veggie and spice breakdown in order of the color scheme, you don't need all of these, truly you can choose your favorites as long as you promise to load up on them. I never really measure things out for recipes like this, it's all a bit intuitive, just chop up enough veggies to cover the pizzas and eat the leftovers on the side:

• Red: Red Pepper, Sundried & Heirloom Tomatoes, Cayenne Pepper (a pinch, sprinkled across the top)
• Orange: Freshly Grated Turmeric (a thumb is plenty)
• Yellow: Yellow Pepper, Heirloom Tomatoes, Freshly Grated Garlic (a clove or 3)
• Green: Asparagus, Brussel Sprouts, Fresh Basil, Oregano (a dash)
• Blue: Hmm, this one was a little trickier to get on the pizza, so I diced up some fruit for a salad on the side with blueberries, strawberries & bananas for dessert.
• Indigo: can we include this in the Blue category? I think so.
• Purple: My heirloom tomatoes included a few with purple hues, however you could add in eggplant here too!

Ok, now to give you some variations if you want this to be suuuuper easy and "just because" you could purchase a pre-made organic pizza and throw it on a pizza stone over the grill or in the oven - and as I mentioned if you want to get a little fancier you could also make your own dough & sauce. I won't leave the recipe for that here, but my friend Lauren has been making her own and so far the results have been good!

Back to the process: once you've got all of your ingredients lined up give all of the veggies a rough chop and get things underway.

Grating the turmeric, your fingers will turn yellow, but that's how you know it's legit!

Pinch the basil right off the plant, bake a little right into the pizza and then chop a little more to garnish with

Grilling Option

If you're going to grill your pizza, start by grilling the veggies first. I like to pile mine into aluminum foil and let them cook over direct heat for a few minutes. You could cut them a bit larger too and place them directly on the grill. (Ben loves this approach).

Once the veggies are looking good give the grill a coat of oil and add the crust. Let it cook for just a few minutes over direct heat. Using tongs, check to make sure it's browned a bit and flip.

Once it's browned, flip it and follow up with your sauce, cheese and then pile on the veggies. If the crust seems to be cooking through and the toppings still need more time using the tongs slide the pizza to lower heat. You're in for a charred and deliciously awesome treat.

Roasted & Baked Option

Chop all the veggies just the same, heat the oven to 350 degrees and spread them across a baking sheet. Add some olive oil and sea salt and let them roast. 

In the meantime slather the sauce on the crust and add the cheese. Once the veggies have had 7-10 minutes to really get going, pull them out, and put the pizza in. I like to let it go long enough to have the cheese start to melt and then pull it back out to dress it with the veggies. Pile the veggies on top, and place it back for just a few more minutes.

About Dixie Ultra®

Strong & Confident: Dixie Plates are stress tested, stronger than ever and have a new, innovative rim. They're full perfect for piling lots of goodies on your plate.

Soak Proof Shield™ & FlexProof™ Technology: they stand up to the heaviest, messiest foods you can dish out.

Skip the dishes: spend time with your friends and family with less clean up, they're also microwave safe, recyclable and cut resistant.

Save 25% on Dixie Ultra at Target with the Cartwheel offer until 7/1

Happy first day of Summer by the way my wanderful friends! How are you spending it? Thanks for being here, see you again soon!

Wanderfully yours,

Andi

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Probiotics: A Spring Celebration Recipe

Good morning and happy March!

First! It's the day after Mardi Gras. And in days of past that would mean I'd be going on a serious cleanse or detox plan to combat all of the sugar fueled foods and drinks I'd consumed over the past several weeks.

This year, however, is different. I've been at our home in Nashville quite a bit, and traveling still too. 

In Nashville the weather is still fluxing between grey cold winter vibes and hints of sunshine on occasion, and even last week in Los Angeles temperatures were cooler than I've ever experienced there. Soon, however, Spring will be here. And for a sunshine loving girl, it couldn't come soon enough. (YAY!) After days of travel and a pretty serious halt in my usual self care routine I'm committed to re-upping my health game this week. 

Sugar filled foods, blasting heat, moisture sucking air travel... I've had a case of it all.

(Must I remind you of that king cake that's been on repeat at my house. Le sigh!).

If you're in the same boat and feeling like your skin is showing it, I find the fastest way to recover that healthy glow is by working nutrient rich, probiotic filled foods and drinks into the daily routine. You'd have to truly be living under a rock to have not heard of the benefits of probiotics to your over all well-being. Probiotics are the "good" kind of bacteria that help maintain total body wellness - however while you might know that probiotics keep the gut healthy they're also effective in improving our skin health. (HANDS UP!)

I honestly hear girlfriends of mine talking regularly about the topical products they're using to care for their skin. In the meantime, the wellness world is sharing more and more about the importance of what you eat and drink in regards to how your skin looks. I'm a serious advocate for considering what you're ingesting (green smoothie obsession over here) when it comes to your outer glow. However, if you're out on the road like I am so often, and skipping a day of smoothies here and there, my recommendation is to consume lots of leafy greens (challenge yourself to adding kale to every meal, and minimally order a salad when all else fails) and add probiotic rich foods to that.

Here's a list of 5 probiotic rich foods that are easy to find anywhere:

• Yogurt
• Dark Chocolate
• Miso Soup
• Pickles
• Tempeh

Each of these foods are quick menu additions and things that, as a traveler, I can get anywhere.

Want to know a little more about how it works?

A way probiotics support skin health is by aiding our natural moisture levels through the production of hyaluronic acid. HA is a "natural substance our body produces and is a major contributor to the elasticity, tightness, and strength of our skin."

According to Dr. Roshini Raj of Mind Body Green "probiotics strengthen our skin so that it can act as a physical barrier to the negative effects of winter by keeping out pathogens, bad bacteria, pollution, and other toxins."

I definitely need all of that. Count me in.

And, because, hey, I am from New Orleans and even though Mardi Gras is over we still have the oncoming Spring days to celebrate (and c'mon! cocktails are a serious part of my culture) I've got a fun little probiotic cocktail recipe for you too!

Pomegranate Blueberry Probiotic Mimosas

• 1 bottle of champagne or prosecco
• 2 - 1 liter bottles of Indian River Select Brand Prohealthy Blend Orange Juice
• 1/4 cup wild blueberries
• 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
• Oranges, sliced
• Squeeze of lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
• Dash of Cayenne Pepper (optional)

Add the bubbles to a large pitcher first, and then top with the OJ and stir. From there, add the berries, pomegranate and orange slices. Mix in the ACV, squeeze a bit of lemon and garnish each drink with a dash of cayenne. If you're not an OJ lover you can sub in Indian River Select Brand Prohealthy Blend Grapefruit Juice.

The ACV increases nutrient absorption, reduces water retention and has antioxidant properties. 

The Indian River juices (both are available in 1 liter bottles at Harris Teeter) are non GMO and have GanedenBC30® Probiotic. I'm also stocking the 59oz grapefruit and 1 liter OJ on my brunch bar for this recipe this coming weekend (good to have extra for those that want several rounds of mimosas)!

I hope these beauty tips have been helpful to you guys. I'm seriously committed to living my healthiest life, while having a bit of fun along the way! Btw - send your ideas my way. I love hearing from you.

Here's a few probiotic skin care products I'm testing out too. 

Enjoy the coming Spring days you guys. I'll see you outside!

Wanderfully yours,

Andi

This post is in partnership with Indian River Select Brand. As always, creative direction and content is my own. 

3 Products That Are Actually Good For Your Face

Products featured in this post were received c/o the brand featured. As always, opinions are my own.

As the year winds down I've been taking a look back (as we all do of course) and thinking about the ways I evolved in 2016 - celebrating the high moments, releasing the low - and reflecting on how I intend to move forward with fresh possibility in the New Year.

As I mentioned last week I'm also thinking deeply about how this space will evolve in the New Year...

I spent most of 2016 traveling, researching and writing, and in 2017 I'll be home a bit more. As my book goes through the design, layout and marketing/sales process, there just won't be quite the need to see every single national park and every little artistic hideaway. It doesn't mean I don't have travels planned - however, the frequency will slow down a bit. 

And really, I'm good with that. 

I want to practice the art of slow traveling - slower living for that matter - holistic wellness, natural beauty routines, inspired nutrition and enjoy the experiences as they come. 

As I looked back I did a little research on the posts that attracted the most attention on Oui We this year. The #1 post? 3 Essentials for Timeless Beauty. It seems I'm not the only one considering new fountain of youth approaches. 

As I mentioned then I'm asked sometimes about my routine (I spent 10+ years in the beauty business so fair enough) and I shared a bit about my self care, my essentials to live a healthy life, and a few Ayurvedic techniques I live by whether out traveling or at home.

I also consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable about the subject because - hey - I traveled for a year meeting the girls whose lifestyle, gorgeous good looks, wardrobes and beauty bags we all have a tinge of envy for. I excavated the bottoms of those bags and discovered secrets that girls with that effortless chicness all seem to know. 

So, in the new year I'm adding a new category to Oui We.

Beauty.

To make it into this category however, the products needed offer healthy care options, be harmful of toxins, cruelty-free and made with high quality, natural ingredients. 

So, the first company that made the list for my new category? Well with a name that's super fitting it's the color cosmetics beauty brand 100% PURE®.

100% PURE is a fruit pigmented organic cosmetics brand that meets those requirements. The brand offers a healthy line of nourishing personal care items, 100% free of artificial colors, artificial fragrances, synthetic chemical preservatives and all other toxins.

It's beauty, as pure as it is powerful. Truly, health food for your skin.

I've personally sampled the Maracuja Black Tea Mascara, the Semi Matte Lipsticks and the BB Cream. Each of the products are vegan and gluten free and infused with natural moisturizers to hydrate the skin (and the lashes in the case of the Mascara). I'm including those 3 products in my 2 minute day wear makeup routine. That routine? Simple:

BB Cream, Brow Definer, Mascara, Lip Color

If I've got even one extra minute I'll add a swipe of black liner. And voila! Done. 

To me it's so good to know that the things I'm putting on my face treat it as well as my skincare does. 

I hope you all enjoy this addition. Let me know if there's certain topics you'd like to hear more about of course. I'm listening! And, if you're interested check out 100% PURE here!

xoxo,

Andi