PFMs Healthy Living: New Year, New Me, New You

photo credits

i have taken a posting hiatus for quite a bit and there really isn't any particular reason other than life got hectic.  it brings to mind my previous post on 2012 and what the "end" really means in all the end of world prophecies.  i stick by my concept that it really meant hard endings and change specific to individuals (for my numerology folks - 2012 = 2+0+1+2 = 5 and 5 means change).  events like Hurricane Sandy and the Newtown tragedy only help prove my theory.  while there are many still dealing with how to move on from both the aforementioned events as well as other personal upheaval, the good thing is - we are still here!  this means that we have the chance, just like in the beginning of a new day, to start all over - fresh.  

the main message that i feel sums up 2012 is learning to be grateful for the things that truly matter - family, food, shelter, warmth.  it is hard to take any of these things for granted as we move into the new year.  in an age when we have access to so much, we are being forced to recognize we only need a little to make life bearable.  ...at least that's what i got and it's what i share with you.   my goal is to be happier.  instead of focusing on what i don't have or what i "need" to have to "be happy", i am focused on being happy right now, with everything exactly as it is.  achieving my goal will mean that i am living in the moment and making an effort to enjoy the roller coaster ride called life (which will remind me that that the ups and downs are all part of it).  i'm working on my outlook and, though i have a ways to go, i am enjoying the process of learning what really makes me happy.  it comes down to the above four things; they are the pillars to my foundation on which to build my true happiness. 

i challenge you to do the same; if you are unhappy, the only thing that you can change right now is you and your outlook on life.  if you can change that, be prepared for things to shift right before your eyes.  we have to "live our best life now".  to quote Rihanna's song Right Now- "tomorrow's way too far away, we can't get back yesterday, but we are young right now, we got right now, so get up right now." tomorrow isn't promised, yesterday is already gone and all we have is today - so love and live life right now.  

best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and new you! xo sesheta

p.s. many thanks to all of our readers for visiting and reading our blog throughout 2012.  here's to hoping that we continue to inspire, encourage and provoke your best life as we strive for ours!

-the PFMs

Ask the PFMs: How to Fight Cold Season

It's that season, and I'm not just talking about the holidays. Every winter it seems unavoidable that we all get a common cold or flu, especially when stress comes into the picture. I tried my best to stay strong but something's had me feeling under the weather for the past few days. The good news is that I've been digging into my trusty stash of healthy remedies to boost my immune system and recover quickly. I've been asked to share my tips for those days when you are feeling run-down with flu or cold symptoms, so here's my routine. Please remember, I'm not a doctor! xoxo Becca

1. Sainsbury's Vitamin C Tablets are amazing, but too bad I can't seem to be able to find them for sale in the United States! One a day in a tall glass of water is all you need. My brother brought them back from a trip to England and now I'm hooked, but this version by NOW Foods is my alternative.

2. It's an Owl Mug. Better to make it a cute one because you'll be sipping hot tea out of this every morning. Try brewing something soothing like raw ginger root tea with a splash of fresh lemon juice (here's the teabag version) or just drink plain warm water to stay hydrated and keep things moving in your system. 

3-4. Be sure to avoid sugary and processed foods and get a super healthy dose of energy by mixing Green Vibrance into your morning green smoothie. We have recipes here and here. Fresh foods (veggies and whole grains) will go a long way in making your recovery a fast one. 

5. The Sinus Rinse Kit is something that I've grown to like (not love.) It feels pretty weird at first, but the results will have you coming back for more. Hint- you will be able to breathe through your nose again without taking antibiotics.

6. You know that I'm the soup queen, so there's really no reason for me to need an excuse to have soup for lunch and dinner...but being sick is a darn good one. I have a simple homemade soup twice a day like this one. And when I'm feeling up to it, I give this recipe a go.

7. Get more sleep and stay warm. I rest as much as possible with a pair of socks like these to keep me cozy.

8. The only thing more frustrating than feeling under the weather is having breakout prone skin on top it. That's usually the case with me...if I'm not feeling well, my skin bears the brunt of it. LUSH Cosmetic Warrior Face Mask contains a mix of garlic and tea tree oil which are powerful antiseptics and disinfectants. I love it- my face feels fresh, clear and moisturized thanks to the natural ingredients like honey, eggs, and grapes. If you're worried about the smell, don't be. It's pretty odorless.

9-10. Choose high quality vitamins and supplements. My multi-vitamin of choice is MegaFood, recommended by Kris Carr. It can be taken anytime, with or without food. Plus, I make sure to have zinc on hand at the first sign of sickness.

PFM Obsession: Bathroom Pendant Lighting

I'm officially on the house-renovation-train and not getting off until things are finished. And by finished, I mean that walls are closed up, floors are cleaned up, we have a place to sleep, and at least one bathroom completed. I would especially love it if our home smelled beautiful again (and not like sewage, thank you very much Sandy). This doesn't seem like too much to ask, right? The good news is that we are well on our way with the reconstruction...my hubby and I might be able to move back home before the New Year. High on our to-do list this weekend is to pick out pendant lighting for over the bathroom sink. Under regular circumstances, I totally enjoy the whole design process, but when it's rushed like this how can you not feel a bit of pressure to make the best decisions? So take a look- any opinions will be very happily accepted. The home design inspiration just keeps a-flowing over on our Pinterest boards. xoxo Becca

Ok y'all, here's the color plan for the main floor bath: charcoal walls (Benjamin Moore- Racoon Fur) with yellow and/or deep blue accents. Our tile is picked and ready to go...white subway for the frameless shower walls, and marble hex on the floors. We chose chrome cross-handled faucets and showerhead from Moen (Weymouth). The sink (pedestal?) and mirror will be chosen last, depending on how much space we end up with after the shower is finished. We already have this Kohler medicine cabinet so we will definitely make it work in either in this bathroom or the one in the basement. 

1. Regina Andrew Antique Mercury Glass Candy Dish Pendant is both vintage and feminine.

2. Regina Andrew Cage Pendant pulls off industrial yet soft.

3. Glass Bulb Pendant, it's a classic.

4. West Elm Industrial Pendant is glamorous and still simple. 

5. Lafitte Pendant- ooh bubble glass. Just not sure about the white cord.

6. Pelle Bubble Chandelier would only happen in my dreams!

7. Capiz Pendant- I love the texture.

8. In Orbit Pendant, known as "hip vintage"

9. Meridian Pendant Lamp has a vintage-modern look.

10. Roost Berlin Pendant Light is another clear glass option with vintage style.

So many lovely options, but I have to choose just one. Are any of you currently in the middle of designing or renovating a bathroom? 

PFMs in the Kitchen: Thanksgiving is Here!

Thanksgiving means more to me than ever this year. I've always loved this holiday for a couple of very specific reasons...my brother and I both have birthdays that happen to fall on or around this holiday (yay!) Next reason is the food: my mother serves up a few of her infamous (and my absolute fave) vegetarian Thanksgiving dishes. Ultimately, nothing can hold a candle to the real excitement behind the holiday- recognizing and being able to give thanks for what's important in life. To my husband, my in-laws, and my sweet sweet friends...I hope you feel the major vibes of gratitude that I'm sending your way. To my mother and brother...this will be the first Thanksgiving in (too) many years when we will be celebrating altogether under the same roof and I can't wait. Lastly to my incredible neighbors and friends in Long Beach with whom we will forever share a special bond...I'm grateful for all the support and help we've given each other over the last few weeks. For our readers that want to give back and help those affected by Hurricane Sandy, you can find one of the many options right here.

And as always, let's bring on the healthy living! Things have been too chaotic lately for me to post any of our actual Thanksgiving recipes, so I borrowed inspiration from the internet to give you a glimpse at some dishes that are similar to what we will be chowing down on tomorrow. Our Thanksgiving will be a non-traditional mix of vegetarian-vegan-deliciousness! Have a wonderful holiday! xoxo Becca

Poblano Cornbread Stuffing via loveandlemons

Spiced Tofu Katsu via The Cilantropist (Tofu Cutlets are the superstars of our Thanksgiving!)

Brussels Sprouts and Red Cabbage Slaw via The Yellow Table

Parsnip Puree Topped with Almond Parmesan via sb&gb

Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Crisp via Two Peas & Their Pod

Spiritual PFM: Death, Transformation and Saturn in Scorpio

in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we on Long Island (and around coastal NYC) are doing our best to get life back to normal.  the hardest part is that normal life isn't possible for many people who have had major or total damage to their homes.  i can't imagine being told that you can't return home for weeks or months or, even worse, ever.  i know a few people, like Becca, who are in this similar situation.  the only silver lining is that many of the areas hit by the storm are middle to affluent neighborhoods; they will rebuild and most will return.  i can't help thinking about just how devastating Katrina must have been to the lower income areas of Louisiana and to those who couldn't afford to rebuild.   i also can't help but think about all that is going on as i witness the forced transformations happening all around me, especially as i am dealing with personal transformation.  a few things came to mind as i pondered it all:

• death and transformation - many are afraid of the idea of death, me included.  i think that fear comes from not understanding the powerful message of death.  when the death card, like the image above from the Motherpeace tarot deck (my favorite deck), shows up in a reading, it doesn't always mean literal death.  everything in nature goes through a death and dying cycle.  things have to die to make way for new things just like the leaves fall of the tree each autumn.  while that doesn't mean death for the tree, it does mean a stage has ended for that tree symbolized by the dying of its leaves.  many of us are in a stage of transformation.   some were forced into the stage by Sandy.  others, like the earth, are in this stage because this is the time of year that our part of the planet goes dormant. 
• scorpionic energy - this time of year, in astrology, is ruled by scorpio.  scorpio is associated with endings and beginnings, death and dying, and transformation.  it rules the time of year when the days are more dark than light, plants are literally dying and animals are stashing food - all in preparation for the cold of winter. it makes utter sense (at least to this layman astrologer) that we would be dealing with all that is happening now while we are in scorpio and right as saturn entered the sign of scorpio.
• saturn in scorpio - as i mentioned, i am a just an astrology aficionado.  i tend to believe that this science truly affects or maybe dictates what is happening on earth.  when things are hectic in my personal life or there are major occurrences (i.e. eclipses, full/new moons), i literally look to the heavens for answers.  i am a libra so i was fully aware that saturn was in my sign recently.  i was also fully aware that at the beginning of the month, it moved out of libra and into scorpio.  i wanted to do a dance of joy!  saturn is known as the taskmaster and forces us to experience hard lessons based on where it falls in our astrological charts and also what sign it is in.  so basically, scorpios are going through it right now.  the things is, you don't have to be a scorpio to feel the pressure of saturn.  if scorpio plays an important part in your birth chart (which i recommend you have done at least once in your life), it can also be stressful for you.  well, needless to say, my dance of joy has quickly stopped. scorpio plays a major role in my birth chart.  Dang it! so basically, i thought the hard lessons were over and they seem to be just getting started.  while in my search for understanding, i came across this cool astrology blog.  please see the links below to see how saturn's placement can affect you - scorpio or not.  hopefully you'll find some interesting and enlightening info like i did:

http://willowsweb.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/saturn-in-scorpio.html

http://willowsweb.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/saturn-in-scorpio-grounding-charge-and.html

it seems like both Becca and i are in the middle of transformation.  life is forcing us to say good-bye to things and concepts that no longer fit into the plan.  just like the snake in the pic above, we are shedding layers so that we can make way for the new, wonderful, bigger and better (have to stay positive) things waiting for us on the other side.  Becca is shedding layers of her house and i am shedding concepts and behaviors.  that doesn't mean that there won't be tears or resistance or downright kicking and screaming throughout this change.  (i think i've done it all and i'm sure Becca has too lol.)  ...but i am just trying to keep my eye on the prize and trust that as i peel away the dead layers that no longer serve me, i am making way for a happier, self-satisfied me. #fingerscrossed lol xo sesheta

Design Lust: Vintage Style Bathrooms

(Images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

 When things get difficult, don't give up! It's truly been an amazing thing to see all of my neighbors pull together and support each other in the aftermath of the hurricane. Long Beach was hit very hard, but we are staying strong and will rebuild better than ever. 

On a lighter note, there seems to be a few rooms in my house that I now unexpectedly get to rebuild. Let's be real...of course I'm not thrilled that we just moved in 1 1/2 years ago and plenty of the work that we did has to be redone...but shall we have a look on the bright side? Due to our trouble with Sandy, my husband and I are able to start fresh and tap into what I absolutely love doing- interior design! 

Our first project: the bathrooms. We originally didn't do anything to the two bathrooms in our house other than a coat of paint after moving in. Fast-forward to now...due to flooding our entire finished basement (including the bathroom) had to be gutted down to the studs. The one on the main floor is getting a total remodel. I'm turning my negative thoughts into positive ones by fantasizing about having a beautiful vintage style bathroom where I can finally take a steaming hot bath and relax in peace and quiet. All I will have to do is light some candles...and breathe. Here are some of my recent inspirations that I've been collecting to get the bathroom reno process started.

My ideal bathroom is vintage-inspired and would stay true to the aesthetics of our 1920s bungalow. I imagine it with white subway tile, marble hex tile on the floor, and perhaps a wall-mounted sink. I'm obsessive about choosing paint color so white tile is a (classic) no-brainer! Both bathrooms are super small and will have to remain so...which means it will take some smart (and quick) decisions to increase storage and save as much space as possible. I'm looking forward to documenting each room throughout the house that we remodel, while also re-defining how we use the space. Although my in-laws are generously letting us stay with them as long as needed, my husband and I are feeling the time crunch to get the renovations completed. We can't wait to get back into our own home. What's your idea of the perfect bathroom remodel? I'd love to know if you're making any plans that you want to share. xoxo Becca

A Day in the Life: Home Is...

Hurricane Sandy came through NY and completely destroyed the city of Long Beach that we love so much. My hubby and I are safe, but our home is not. Cue this song, which has become my mantra "home is wherever I'm with you." Thanks to family and friends that are keeping us optimistic. Not sure when we will be back with steady content here on MavenFresh, but you can keep in touch via Instagram and Twitter. Sending love and prayer to everyone else affected by this disaster. xoxo Becca