magic monday

Happy Monday! Pascale here, receptionist at Freshair Boutique, and your new Monday Blogger. I have all sorts of posts lined up for you guys, so stay tuned and be sure to subscribe in order to keep up with all things FRESH.

After a solid few weeks of holiday-induced bad habits, I've started to feel pretty sluggish and lazy. So sluggish and lazy, that after a long day of work, I just can't be bothered to do anything more than eat my roommate's leftover perogies and my go-to snack of smoked oysters and sour cream on Triscuits.

Whenever I feel myself getting into this funk, I know it's time to turn to my beloved Braun MP80 Juicer.

I inherited this juicer when my parents made the upgrade what I believe is the Holy Grail of juice-extracting machines, THE BREVILLE.

These days, living such fast-paced lives as we do, it can be difficult to get the necessary nutrients from our foods. Nutrients that are important for whole body, as well as hair and skin health. For those of you who aren't super-fans of those dark leafy greens (rich in iron, zinc, and essential B vitamins) adding a few leaves of kale, a handful of spinach or a few florets of brocoli to a beet/apple/carrot juice is a great way to get your servings of veggies while limiting the 'yuck factor'.

I picked up a copy of this great book, Juicing For Life, courtesy once more of my brilliant mama, who is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to all things health and wellness.

This book, (which I understand now has a much more chic, updated cover) has pages upon pages of information on how juicing can benefit those with disorders or ailments ranging from Varicose Veins to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Eczema.

I find that within a few days of steady juicing (and easing up on the cheese burgers) there is a noticeable improvement in my skin and hair, as well as my energy levels. Here's a few of my favorite juices, for you to try at home!

Cherry Lime Fizz

This one is less of a juice, and more of a great, sugar-free alternate to soda. I added the cherries to give it a bit of colour, but feel free to use any fruits you have lying around. Peaches, grapes, lemons, pears, and melons all taste great.

Juice the following, pour it over ice, and top off with sparkling water.

1 lime (depending on your juicer, you may want to cut off most of the peel) 1 apple 5-10 cherries, pitted

Beauty Spa Express

This is a great mid-day juice, full of B vitamins. The carrot and apple really steal the show.

one handful of spinach one handful of parsley 4-5 carrots 1/2 -1 apple, seeded.

Fresh Complexion Express

A great morning juice! Pineapples aren't exactly in season, but they are a great source of Vitamin C.

2 slices fresh pineapple (with skin) 1/2 cucumber 1/2-1 apple, seeded

Ginger Hopper

Don't be afraid to add more ginger to this one!

1/4 inch slice ginger root 4-5 carrots 1/2 apple, seeded 1 small beet

Any of these recipes can be used as a rough guideline, don't be afraid to experiment! As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, 'All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.' Try adding half a lemon and an apple to a particularly heavy vegetable juice, or a beet to lend some depth to a light, fruity juice.

Leave any juice suggestions, or questions you have below, and be sure to stay tuned this week for more posts from the Freshair team!

xxo

pascale

the fresh perspective...

  FACIALS

I recently received a facial service from the one and only Renee at the shop!  I fell asleep and it felt remarkable!  We chatted a little about how everyone should take the time to get a facial.  She suggested that a facial once a month could keep your skin in the best condition.  A monthly facial would include some extractions and some masks.  Whether  you are an oily type or a dry type, there is a mask for you.

Being one of the oily types, I had a deep cleansing facial with a few extractions.  My skin looked and felt AMAZING!   Why is it viewed as vain when people put a real effort into taking care of themselves?

How much care do you take?  Do you watch your diet?  Are you concerned about your hair, skin, and nails?  Do you exercise?  When was the last time you had a massage or gave your hair a deep treatment?  Does your dentist see you twice a year and your optometrist as well?  Is it important to you to look well put together day in and day out?  These are some funny questions, but the answers tell of how you treat your physical body.

How important are you to yourself?  I know that I like to push myself physically and enjoy sweating, but I neglect little things like facials.  I don't have regular appointments for massages and I could pay more attention to my hands and feet.  Thanks Renee for a great experience, you'll be seeing me in four weeks!  That's the fresh perspective...

[polldaddy poll=6405960]

Yoga'd...

I did a tiny, little, baby, handstand yesterday in yoga! Me! It was awesome... I'm going to work on it a bit more before the next class in two weeks.  It's amazing the way the body works when we trust it.  At first my arms were in the wrong position and after looking around, I properly positioned my arms and boom! I was up! I think it's called a teddy bear something or another...

Anyways, I managed to get one leg completely up and straight and soon, I'll be able to do both!  I'm so pumped! Can't you tell? Over excessive use of exclamation marks...  I'm so proud of myself that I wanted to share!  Have a happy Monday?  Even though it's wet, cold and dank...

Peace

Living...

Monday, Monday, the beginning of the week for most.  Here we go again...

My brother moved to Montreal last week and has only been gone for less than a week and it's so strange how much I miss him even though I didn't see him everyday.

He lived just down the street and we would meet once a week at least.  I knew where he was and I knew what he was doing mostly, and now...

I'm so happy that he has taken this opportunity to try something new and relocate himself and his life to another place.  He will be learning how to speak french (I'm envious but I am hoping he can be my pseudo teacher) playing music, and doing a lot of writing.

Life is something you can only experience when you breathe.  It's the one intrinsic thing that separates us from the dead. Inhale, exhale.

Peace