by Christina | Feb 14, 2017 | Recipes, Wellness
So many people hate Valentine’s Day, but I adore it. I love any excuse to dress up, eat a fancy meal, and indulge in an epic dessert. Not like I need an excuse, but I really just love any reason to celebrate. Each year, I try to do something special. I usually take a friend on a “date” – a movie, a nice dinner, cute outfits, a smokey eye… you know the drill. I’m not sure exactly why I love Valentine’s Day so much. I think it’s because I love love. Love makes me happy. Being around it, seeing other people in it… it’s just infectious. How can people not like LOVE?!
When I think of Valentine’s Day, my mind immediately goes to two foods – chocolate and strawberries. Is that just me? Recently I realized that I want to push my cooking and baking skills in two ways. First, low or no sugar dessert options. Second, making things I don’t usually make. Chocolate is always my default. It’s so delicious. You can put chocolate on anything and it will automatically taste good. To get out of my comfort zone, instead of going the chocolate route this Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d go with the strawberry route. Besides, there are plenty of chocolate recipes out there for Valentine’s Day. And let’s be honest, we all know I’ll have plenty more chocolate recipes comin’ throughout the year, anyways.
Choosing strawberry shortcake was a no brainer. (Well, I did have my roommates vote on it just to make sure, but I had secretly already chosen before I got their answers.) I have a lot of fond memories when it comes to strawberry shortcake. I used to eat it at my grandma’s house, but it was literally just angel food cake with whipped cream and strawberries piled on top. Looking back, that sounds disgusting and was pretty lame. At the time, though, I loved it. It was a classic grandma move.
What I was really craving, though, was an actual cake. When you look up strawberry shortcake, I guess it’s not technically supposed to be a legit cake. Shortcake is more of like a sweet biscuit. Fine, but I want a cake. So I’m pretending that shortcake is just a regular cake.
I also wanted more of a regular frosting – not just whipped cream on top. Whipped frosting sounds much better. On real cake. It’s like strawberry shortcake’s sexy, more mature older sister. I also decided to throw a strawberry jam in between the two cake layers to give it some extra oomph. Some sliced strawberries on top of a cake just doesn’t do it for me. I need some more, ya know?
The frosting is literally crack. Ideally, you want to wait, like a normal person, until the cake is cool to put the frosting on. I made this at 11 PM the other night and NEEDED TO GET IT IN MY MOUTH, so I frosted the cake while it was still hot, and the frosting basically melted into it. It ended up tasting delicious and hardening like icing later on, but still. I later added more frosting to the top so it was more like a normal cake with normal frosting. Either way, freakin’ delicious.
Let’s get on to the best part of this cake – it’s sugar free. The sweetener in the cake itself is Lakanto monkfruit sweetener (use code WELLNESS for 15% off), which I’ve been experimenting with a lot recently and have completely fallen in love with for baking. Lakanto is a mix of monk fruit extract and non-GMO erythritol, which means it’s a ZERO glycemic sweetener! It also has no calories, but I don’t really care about that. Lakanto is so great because it doesn’t raise your blood sugar or insulin levels like normal sugar does. In case you didn’t know, that’s why sugar sucks. It raises your insulin levels too high and sends your body on a rollercoaster, which can lead to increased cravings, hunger, and fat storage, among other things.
For the jam, I didn’t even use a sweetener. I just used some lemon juice to bring out the natural flavor of the strawberries. Trust me, strawberries are plenty sweet themselves.
The frosting contains just a bit of honey, which provides the perfect texture and sweetness. You could probably sub this out for some powdered coconut sugar or other sweetener if you want, but maple syrup probably wouldn’t work with the texture.
I’ve also been really fascinated with naked cakes ever since Jen Glantz mentioned them on one of our more recent podcast episodes. Originally I was going to frost this like a normal cake, but then I realized how cool it looks with the sides slightly more naked so the strawberry jam filling oozes out. NOOOMMMMM.
This strawberry shortcake is light, fluffy, moist, and utterly delicious. It’s the perfect cake for any occasion, and a great alternative to chocolate on Valentine’s Day. I mean, it looks pretty extravagant. The thing is, though, it’s super easy. There are three parts, but each has minimal ingredients and is a pretty brainless process to carry out. You just kinda slop it all together and call it a day.
Because I’m a “go big or go home” kinda girl, I doubled the recipe from what most normal people would make so that it would be extra tall and extravagant. If you want a huge cake, you can double this recipe to make it how I made it, but you can definitely just make the regular recipe and have two smaller layers if you don’t need a 10 foot tall cake.
This cake definitely brings me back to my childhood, but gives it a new twist. It’s still light and airy, but it tastes like real, wholesome ingredients. Not artificial cool whip. Who would’ve thought that a paleo, sugar-free, low carb cake could taste this good? I mean, I would’ve. But now you have to believe me.
Paleo, Sugar-Free Strawberry Shortcake
Total Time: 1 hour
Serves: 8-10
Ingredients:
Cake:
** In the photos I made two large layers, and this cake was huge. This is the recipe for a single layer, which you could split between two pans for a more regular-sized cake. If you want a giant cake like in the photos, double the cake recipe twice (the filling and frosting recipes will remain the same).
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 1/2 cup Lakanto monkfruit sweetener (use code WELLNESS for 15% off)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 3/4 cup almond milk (or other dairy-free milk)
- 2 cups strawberries
Strawberry Filling:
- 16 ounces strawberries (about 3 cups…one container at the store)
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- Juice from one lemon
Frosting:
- 3 cans of chilled coconut milk (chill in fridge overnight if possible, or for 6-8 hours. Or you could put it in the freezer for an hour if you’re on a time crunch like me…)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 tbsp coconut flour
Instructions:
Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350* F. Grease two 9-inch round pans with coconut oil.
- Add all of the cake ingredients in a large bowl and mix them together until well combined.
- Pour half of the mixture in one pan, and half in the other.
- Put in the oven for about 30 minutes (35 minutes if making two full sized layers), or until a toothpick/fork/knife comes out clean and the top is puffed up.
- While the cakes are baking, make the strawberry filling and the vanilla frosting. Slice the strawberries for the top of the cake.
- Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely.
- Place one layer down on a cake stand or plate. Cut the very top of the layer with a knife to make it as flat as possible. Cover the cake with a thin layer of frosting.
- Cover the thin layer of frosting with the strawberry jam until the entire layer is covered with the filling.
- Add the second layer on top of the first. Frost the top of the cake with the vanilla frosting. Frost as much of the sides with the frosting as you want. You can leave the sides naked, cover them completely, or just do parts.
- Add as many sliced strawberries to the top of the cake as you want!
- Slice and enjoy!
- Store leftovers in the fridge, covered.
Strawberry Filling:
- Wash the strawberries and chop them up into small pieces. Add them into a saucepan on medium heat and cover with a lid. Let the strawberries simmer for about 5 minutes.
- As the strawberries soften, take a wooden spoon and smash them so it starts to look like jam. Stir in the lemon juice.
- Add in the chia seeds and stir them in until they are evenly distributed.
- Allow the mixture to continue to heat up for another 5 minutes or so, until a jam-like consistency starts to form.
- Once it looks like jam, remove from the heat and put in the fridge until you’re ready to add it to your cake.
Whipped Vanilla Frosting:
- Open the refrigerated coconut milk cans and pour out the liquid. You can either save it for something else, like a smoothie, or toss it if you don’t want it. Put the heavy cream that’s left over at the bottom of the can into a large bowl.
- Add the maple syrup and vanilla into the bowl.
- Use a hand mixer to mix all of the ingredients together until they are whipped and well combined. Store the frosting in the fridge until ready to use.
If you try this out, be sure to tag me in a photo! I promise you – this does not disappoint. Hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
by Christina | Feb 11, 2017 | Recipes, Wellness
We all know I have a major sweet tooth. Alongside that sweet tooth is an intense appreciation for beautifully made sweet treats. Combined with my health issues, that has led to an even deeper appreciation for delicious desserts that are completely allergy-friendly. If it’s delicious, allergy-friendly, and looks like a piece of artwork, I’m completely obsessed. And impressed.
That being said, it’s my mission to find and share the best eateries in the area, because you should never feel deprived! There are so many incredibly delicious places hiding in L.A., and it kills me that they don’t get more recognition! That’s what I’m here for.
I’ve been dying to feature Pomegranate for a long time now, and with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I realized I had to call attention to to it ASAP. Pomegranate is a dessert shop in West Hollywood that features all vegan, gluten-free, soy-free desserts. They use only the best ingredients – no refined sugar, no artificial colors, and no chemical preservatives. That’s rare to find, nowadays.
It’s pretty easy to find allergy-friendly ice cream in L.A., but when it comes to cakes, that’s a much harder task. Pomegranate stands out as somewhere you need to go if you want a healthy, delicious cake in your life (or bae’s).
They also have quite a few other desserts that you’d have a very difficult time finding allergy-friendly versions of anywhere else. Pomegranate serves delicious puddings, creme brûlée, cobblers, tarts, and more!
Not only are the desserts healthy, but they are also impeccably beautiful. The chefs put a lot of time, effort, and care into every single dessert they create. Each slice is truly a piece of artwork. Very picturesque and perfect for the ‘gram. It makes you appreciate your dessert so much more when it’s so beautiful, don’t you think?
In the shop, they have a lot of single serving slices ready-to-go, which you can buy right there. You can also order larger cakes for more people and order ahead if you need to! I’m already trying to decide what I want to order for my birthday in April…
They can do custom orders and wedding cakes, or you can select something from their very impressive whole-cake menu. Any of the cake slices you see in the shop can be made into a full cake. I have my eye on the Strawberry Chocolate, Raspberry Chocolate, and Double Chocolate cakes. But my heart is especially singing for the Salted Caramel Nuts and Chocolate Banana cake!
Their most popular dessert is the Green Tea Mousse Cake with Mochi, pictured above. If you enjoy green tea, you will adore this. I’m seriously obsessed. It has an incredible mixture of flavors and textures, and the mochi really adds a nice little flair. The green tea sponge cake layers alternate with a creamy mousse, and the whole thing ties together perfectly! I’ve never had anything like this before.
Another one of their most popular options is the Tiramisu. Divine. I’m not usually a Tiramisu person, but this makes me drool excessively.
And can we talk about how STUNNING this pumpkin pudding is?! I’ve never felt so in awe of an ombre effect in my life.
Another standout is the Raspberry Chocolate Cake. It’s almost too pretty to eat… almost. I’m a sucker for the raspberry/chocolate combo.
Then we have the Strawberry Chocolate Cake, another flavor combo that’s totally unreal. Chocolate loves to combine with strawberries. I want to inhale this.
I also almost fainted when I saw they had a baked apple pie. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed this, but gluten-free, vegan apple pie is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find anywhere. It’s something I felt like I would never have again unless I made it. I’ve found raw apple pies at some restaurants, but it’s not the same when it’s raw. This is the real deal, though.
If you’re a cobbler kinda person, then definitely check out their Blueberry Jam Cobbler! Good cobblers are very hard to find, but Pomegranate knows how to do it. If you’re into savory cakes, they have options for that too! Their Savory Pumpkin and Kale cake is extremely unique and fit to impress.
There is literally no better place to be on Valentine’s Day than Pomegranate. With the holiday coming up, the owners created some new, special cakes, and they have really good deals going on so you can satisfy all of your dessert cravings! You can get the three chocolate cake set just for Valentine’s Day… and I’m all over that.
One of the cakes they created just for Valentine’s Day is this Sugar-Free, Chocolate, Hazelnut, and Raspberry cake. Yes, you read that right. SUGAR-FREE. I kid you not, this might be the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had at a restaurant. I love the chocolate-hazelnut combo, and we all know adding raspberry to the mix just kicks it up to a new level. You would never know this is sugar-free! They use bananas to add the sweetness, and it’s plenty sweet. I definitely want a full size of this one!
The chocolate cake is seriously exquisite. I think if someone gave this to me on Valentine’s Day, I wouldn’t even know what to do with myself. Immediately marry that person? The desserts are so delicate and divine, and they taste even more delicious than they look.
The Strawberry Shortcake is another one that just completely steals the show. It’s SO PERFECT AND PRETTY. If you want to impress someone, this is all you need.
I also love their mini ice cream sliders – perfect for an ice cream sandwich lover like myself! My favorite flavor was the coffee ice cream in between the salted bitter caramel cookies — so amazing. The matcha green tea ice cream sandwich in between the sesame cookies is a close second, though.
Another thing I love about Pomegranate is that if you’re indecisive (hi!), you can order their Pomegranate Garden to sample everything. That’s so up my alley. I mean, how could anyone decide between all of the delicious desserts they have on their menu?! TRY THEM ALL.
As I mentioned before, Pomegranate also sells adorable, mini vegan/gluten-free cookies. My favorite are the Vanilla Coconut and Pumpkin cookies, but they have a ton of flavors to choose from – Orange Chocolate, Spiced Almond, Black and White Sesame, Salted Bitter Caramel, Matcha Green Tea, Fig and Raspberry, and more!
These bite-sized beauties will not disappoint. If you have a cookie-lover in your life, I would definitely recommend getting them the cookie tasting jar! It’s a cookie lover’s dream!
In addition to their special Valentine’s Day items, like the chocolate coated almonds, you can also find teas from American Tea Room (one of my favorite companies), organic skincare, juices from Juice Served Here, and other to-go food items, like sushi rolls.
While the desserts are exquisitely crafted and look very fancy, one of my favorite things about Pomegranate’s desserts are that they’re …not too much. Literally the perfect amount of sweetness, and the perfect size for dessert. You get your money’s worth, for sure, and you’re not going to feel sick from the sugar rush afterward. You can taste the real ingredients. None of that artificial ish.
Pomegranate’s sweet treats are beyond delicious. Whether or not you live a gluten-free or vegan lifestyle, you will adore these desserts. They are so unique and well-crafted – you can’t get anything like this anywhere else. Anyone who says that food intolerances hold you back…THIS IS PROOF THEY DON’T.
I also got to chat with the owner, Annie, and she is so incredibly sweet (like her desserts!). The amount of attention and care she puts towards her customers and the food is really something I admire, and only makes me love Pomegranate that much more!
Not sure about you, but I think this is a prime date spot. Obviously ideal for Valentine’s Day, but I’d happily head to Pomegranate all year round!
by Christina | Feb 10, 2017 | Wellness
I can’t stop smiling right now because the woman I’m featuring today is truly one of the most incredible humans on this planet.
KRISTA WILLIAMS, Y’ALL.
If you’re not familiar with Krista, she’s the creative genius behind The Hundred Blog and Almost 30 Podcast, two of my favorite things on this planet. The Hundred Blog is a place every woman needs to check out if she wants some REALNESS in her life. Krista talks about travel, wellness, weird health trends, recipes, life talk, beauty, and… STYLE! Krista is the queen of fashion, I swear. I’m so jealous. Check out her Instagram if you’re in need of some fashion inspo, ASAP. (Realistic fashion inspo.)
Almost 30 is my favorite lifestyle podcast. For sure. When I listen to it, I either laugh so hard that I cry, or I shed a tear because the girls get so deep and real. It just resonates. Krista and her co-host Lindsey make you feel like you’re their BFF, every single time. P.S. An Actually Adultish x Almost 30 collab is coming your way VERY soon! 😉
Not only is Krista one of the funniest people I’ve ever met, but she is also, by far, one of the most genuine. She is one of the kindest, good-hearted souls I’ve ever encountered. She literally changes my life every time I talk to her. Sounds dramatic, but I’m just telling you how I feel. Krista has THE MOST INSANE aura. Her positivity is infectious. She is seriously so inspiring, incredible, and captivating – there’s no other way for me to describe it other than to say she is a LIGHT in my world. A bright bright light. It’s that thing where when she talks to you, she really looks at you and basically sees into your soul. Not in a creepy way, but in a “I actually give a shit about what you’re saying and love you forever” sort of way. There is nothing I cherish more than a conversation with Krista, because she just gets it.
She’s undeniably stunning inside and out. Krista is the kinda girl you can always count on. She’s there for everyone no matter what – good or bad. Just so much love, laughter, and light. SO MUCH LOVE. She inspires me every single day, and once you get to know her, I know she’ll change your life, too. If I’m like Krista when I’m almost 30, then I’ll be pretty damn proud of myself.
Okay, enough about my love for this sweet, amazing, beautiful soul. Let’s get to the interview, shall we?
Tell me a bit about yourself so my readers can get to know you!
We’ll I’m 36, 25, 34…
JK those are the Baby Got Back Measurements (not even close to any of those).
I’m Krista, a Pisces, who can be described as “cool but not chill” who is from Ohio. I’ve lived in Chicago, NYC and now reside in L.A. and LOVE it. I work during the day in digital marketing, and on the side/weekends have a really cool blog, The Hundred Blog, and a fun podcast, The Almost 30 Podcast. I’m a peanut butter lover, and a huge fan of affirmations, TRAVEL (I’ve been to 5 of the 7 continents), learning, growing and laughing.
Also a vegan, I’ve got a few causes that I’m passionate about.
When and how did you first get into blogging?
A year and a half ago in NYC I had people talking to me about all the traveling I was doing. I was working in NYC and London at the time so I was going on serious trips. To islands in the Mediterranean, Portugal, South Africa and Morocco. Plus in London, regularly.
I felt like there was something more for me to be doing as it related to sharing my life, and I wanted to create the “art” that I wanted to see in the world.
I love blogging, but sometimes it’s a bit fake and I feel like girls are MORE than just pretty pictures and cute outfits. I wanted to create a place that was for the girl that’s into being pretty (looking and feeling her best) AND smart, witty, well-read, traveled, and inspired. More realness, and more things related to personal growth and development.
So, a bunch of shitty posts later, I had launched The Hundred Blog. (Seriously though, those posts were the worst – LOL). It’s been live for a year and a half now and has gone through a lot of changes, including my full website redesign I did in December. I’m now obsessed with it.
How did you come up with the name of your blog?!
It came really naturally. I always say “hundred” when something is SO TRUE. Like a total agreement, is hundred. It’s also living life to the fullest – or 100%. A motto I try to live my life by!
What’s your goal with The Hundred Blog?
Be myself, and be a source of inspiration and light. I know it’s lame, but it’s true. I really want people to feel good about being who they are. So for me, in standing in who I am, I want to inspire that in others.
What do you think is the most difficult part about blogging?
For me, it’s the need to constantly be “on.” As an example, when I was in San Diego with Justin, I wanted to really just chill with him for the day, be dirtballs and do our thing, but I know that travel is a key time to share. So with that, I am on my phone way more than he’d probably like me to be.
Also, that there’s a lot of comparison and numbers in this game. That’s a whole long tangent! But overall, I love doing it and even the pains are worth it.
Your favorite part?
Meeting people. Period. When I can chat with and have conversations with people in person, like you, or other readers, it’s everything. Although I read every comment, smile at every mention, I can’t explain what it’s like to talk to people in person. Feeling that connection and experiencing that energy exchange gives me LIFE.
What’s something you wish more people knew about the BTS of the blogging world?
That you’re not doing it because you’re self-obsessed or vain. For me, that’s the LAST part of it. If I could have every picture not have me in it, I would, ha.
But it’s a part of it – that you are the brand and what you look like/are wearing is important. I think people think because you share your knowledge publicly that you think you’re obsessed with yourself or better than people.
For me, it’s more that I have learned a lot from others, from experiences, and know sharing is part of growth. I’ve always wanted people to feel better about being who they are – and for me, this is being who I am. I want to lead by example in that way. There’s nothing vain about it!
What inspired you to start the podcast?! How’d you come up with the name for that?
Literally Lindsey and I (my co-host) recorded for 7 months before we actually got it down. We had some other names, but it just fell into place and we liked the way it sounded. Now it’s sort of screwed us because people are like “well I’m not 30.” LOL.
But I wanted to record a podcast, because as much as people know me on Hundred, I wanted them to hear me and I want to hear them (we take callers on some episodes!). I love sharing on the blog but having an outlet that I can use without having to put on makeup, where I can connect with thousands of badass people – is EVERYTHING.
What’s your goal with the podcast?
Be a source of inspiration and joy for women in their twenties and thirties. This time is underrated as fuck and there is SO MUCH going on and happening. I want to make people laugh, make them feel good about themselves and feel less alone. We bring on guests that are relatable, interesting and inspiring and we talk about shit that no one else does.
What are some of your other favorite blogs and podcasts to follow?
Yours 🙂
Lee from America (healthy eating and delicious eats)
Gal Meets Glam (she’s so dang sweet)
Being Boss Podcast (best for creatives!)
James Altucher Show (business one)
Anna Faris (funny podcast!)
What’s a day in the life like?
Welllllll let’s see!
6:00 A.M.: Wake up with my alarm, put my hand over my heart and say thanks for waking me up today (truly!) Then I’ll scrape my tongue, drink lemon water, foam roll, and meditate. All of this takes about 45 minutes, but it’s been so freaking amazing to stick to something. I always said I wish I had a strong A.M. practice and this is it. Some mornings I won’t be able to do it all, but meditation happens no matter what.
Breakfast also happens no matter what, too. For breakfast, I’ll have a protein shake with avocado, collagen, bee pollen, and other potions. The more potions the better, basically.
After that I’ll workout from 7 A.M. – 8 A.M. – The Studio MDR or SoulCycle with Lindsey, mostly.
Then it’s off to work, downtown. During my drive I crush podcasts and books on tape, or call my friends to catch-up. I work in digital media at a company that does promotions like Starbucks for Life. For me, I love being in a work setting, it helps me sharpen skills for my business, too.
During lunch, I’ll go on a walk, catch up on socials, answer blog/podcast emails. Lunch is usually a salad from Whole Foods or a food delivery like Klean LA. Snacks I have during the day are things like Lara Bars, almonds, a grapefruit….
At the end of the day, I’ll head to meet up with friends, or do a yoga class with someone. I ALWAYS make workout/healthy dinner dates. So 99% of the time I’m meeting up with someone after work.
After that, I’ll get home to Justin, we’ll be weirdos for an hour or so, catch-up, and if I need to, I’ll do some blog work before bed.
I’ll meditate for 15 minutes too, just to calm down and reset from the day. Bring myself back to center.
10 P.M. I am OUT.
Some days I am doing more blog work/podcast work than others. That’s pretty cyclical since we release podcasts Wednesdays and I share blog posts on Mondays and Thursdays. I also take calls for the blog and podcast (with sponsors) at random times during the day when I can get a break. Super key to get phone time with people.
Usually I am out of the house from 7 A.M. until 9:30 P.Mm at night, which I love, although I know there may be a need for a chiller schedule in the future.
What do you do to get inspired? Who inspires you?
I get inspired when I am not looking for it. I do not necessarily have anyone that I look to for inspiration – because for me sometimes it seems to closely align to copying, although I do have blogs that I follow and love. I think real human connection, having a good, conversation with a friend is what I use to keep going and stay inspired. It definitely goes in waves though, and I try not to be so hard on myself when it’s not there! Knowing it will come back!
What are your top beauty products you cannot live without?
I swear by washing your face every day. It is MAJOR to keeping your skin clear. I switch around products but have been loving this Dior Face Foam Cleanser.
The one I swear by is 1). Collagen – from Vital Proteins has changed the game for my hair skin and nails and 2). Tarte BB Cream has people stopping me in the street complimenting my skin, and in a place like L.A., that is CRAZY. It is smooth, velvety, and affordable.
Staple fashion items every woman needs in her closet?
I have a nice black jacket, and a nice leather jacket that are my go-tos for life. I have worn them for YEARS and really think that a nice crisp, well-fitting jacket is KEY to looking professional and put together. You can wear a leather jacket with anything and look like a badass. Mine is from Rag & Bone and I got it in NYC at a sample sale – it gives me life.
What is the most life-changing thing that has ever happened to you?
I lived in Patagonia for a month through a program called National Outdoor Leadership School. It was a leadership program and I had to “leave no trace,” keep all the belongings I packed in my kayak (including my food rations I had set at the beginning of the trip), and it was with a group of 15 strangers. You literally did not know anyone on the trip before you met them in Chile.
We had to learn to live on the land, survive in the wild, and just be without internet, our phones and anything related to the real world. It was crazy to really test your limits, and I saw some of the most beautiful shit I’ve ever seen in my life.
One night we did a night kayak trip, and in the darkest water, with the darkest sky you saw so many stars it was insane. There is also this algae, that glows when “agitated.” So you saw glowing water when you paddled through the night. CRAZY. But so cool. Here I also learned to meditate, which is huge for me!
What do you think the biggest difference is between 20s Krista and almost 30 Krista?
Oh, there is so much! My moon sign is Scorpio, which means I am constantly transforming. In my twenties, I was really into clubs (LOL), music festivals, my friends (that hasn’t changed), and felt a bit lost in the way where I wanted so badly to find my soul’s purpose and figure out what I would do with the rest of my life.
I am turning 29 soon, and I have really just become much more focused, grateful, positive and calmer than ever before. It is so true that one small positive change in your life can domino effect to other places. As an example, I do not drink, rarely ever, and it has really helped me to improve my mind-body connection, sleep better, have better skin, and get in every workout I schedule.
I feel more “me” than ever before. 🙂
Obsessed with how cute you and Justin are. How did you guys meet?
He is the best, right?! I manifested that fucker, hehe.
He was friends with a friend’s boyfriend in college. So, I met him once sophomore year of college, when we both were in serious relationships. I was intrigued but also all over the place so we didn’t speak after meeting and hanging out just once (nothing happened! Ha).
Fast forward 5 years, and he texts me that he is coming to visit Chicago (where I was living) from NYC and wanted to meet up. At that point, I had just gotten out of a 5-year relationship and was curious about this tall, hot dude. We ended up meeting, talked as friends, and started a relationship via text, which we kept up for 5+ months. Talking all day, every day. I invited him to Coachella with 13 of my girlfriends, and he decided to come and be the only guy in the house – that’s love! LOL.
Prior to him coming, I got anxious and made him make it official with me before I introduced him to my friends, HA. He said he wanted to do it in person, but from Coachella, we were together long distance from Chicago to NYC, and after five more months of dating (doing trips etc.), I decided to go for it and move to NYC.
All the while, a psychic had been telling me I had met my soulmate, and that I needed to be patient as this relationship grew. When I first saw her, before I met Justin for the second time in my life (so he was not at all in my brain) she said, “You’ve met him once before, but aren’t with him now.”
To which I said, “GTFO.”
However, she was right. When I moved to NYC, we moved in together immediately and it has been about 4 years since! He is the most genuine, sweet, kind person and I am lucky to have someone who is that good of a person around me so much. He’s taught me a lot about just being more relaxed and more of a friend than anyone else in my life. Plus, he’s real hot, LOL.
Tips for maintaining a solid relationship?
Good QUESTION. For us, it is having fun, always. Over anything and everything, we have fun. We can get deep and he can help me with stuff, but I really want my partner to just make me laugh. Do not take it all so seriously and remember that people cannot read your mind. You need to tell them what you want/how you feel/etc.
What’s your exercise routine like?
I am a bit of a fitness fa-reak. I work out around 6 days a week, and mix it up between Pilates reformer (my new favorite), Soul Cycle, Yoga (The Yoga Collective is my shit), and HIIT training. I should probably do more yoga, less intense workouts, but I really enjoy it. I think it’s key for me energy-wise, and to keep me sane.
Favorite places to go to in L.A.?
My bed? LOL.
I am down for anything but also a creative of *the Westside* habit and really like to stick by the beach. Love Hamburger Mary’s for Drag Queen Bingo on Sundays, love Tocaya Organica for bomb healthy Mexican, love going to the Melrose Flea on Sundays, Malibu for the beaches and hikes. I live at the bottom of Abbot Kinney so I am always around that area mostly! If you ask me to go, I’m usually down 🙂
What’s your idea of the perfect Saturday?
Most Saturdays I work (about 99% of them). I cannot remember the last Saturday I wasn’t doing anything for my blog/podcast. On the weekends we record Almost 30 for a few hours, and then I will work out, meet-up with someone, and at night I do not do SHIT. Unless I have to, hehe.
I love having SUPER productive weekend days and chill weekend nights with Justin. We are regulars at Bareburger (literally how hilarious) and love to hang together when we can since most days/nights during the week we are too busy.
But, my ideal Saturday I would workout, hike in Malibu (there’s no traffic), get Sunlife Organic Smoothie Bowls (somehow I get them free), have all my best friends meet me at Malibu Farms (there’s no one else there – LOL), and we’d hang and laugh all day. I’m in bed by 9 and my sheets are clean and smell like lavender.
Favorite sweet treat?
Everything?
Favorite ever: puppy chow
Favorite that I actually eat: my smoothie I make, or an acai bowl from Sun Life Organics (no banana or honey with cashew butter on top) it gives me LIFE.
Smoothie: Vega Sport Chocolate Protein, avocado, coconut milk, ice. Blend and eat like a soup.
What’s your go-to meal?
I seriously am so bad with cooking. Nothing I’ve ever made is my go-to meal – LOL. I think it is mostly a smoothie, protein oatmeal (with coconut oil, protein powder, and chia), or I LOVE Thai Vegan’s vegan rolls. They are wrapped in this amazing rice paper, and you can dip them in this amazing peanut sauce. It is LIFE and so cheap.
What does wellness mean to you?
Choosing to follow your bliss rather than the crowd or anyone else. I think what stands in the way for most people as it relates to health and wellness is the fear of what people will think of them. What people will say if they go home early because they want to get a workout in the next day, or if they do not drink because they do not want to feel like shit? I think moving beyond what everyone else is doing, what diets they are on, what workouts they are doing, and focusing on what’s good for you – is wellness.
How do you deal with negativity and self-doubt?
Literally, keep myself so busy that I do not have time for it. HA. I definitely have my days, moments, times, but I always remember that they PASS. Like any feeling, even the good ones, they are temporary so I do not attach to it. Staying away from social media and in my own lane – is everything.
What is something that everyone needs to do to improve his or her well-being, whether that be mental or physical?
MEDITATION. I cannot say it enough. I cannot put into words what meditation has done for my life, but it has literally changed who I am in the best way possible. Meditation has allowed me space in life, eliminated my anxiety, allowed me to channel my best self-more often and connect with the spiritual side of me. I meditate twice daily (once in the morning and once before bed) and each is key for me. In the morning, it helps to set my intention for the day, give thanks and be grateful, and in the evening it’s a way to de-stress and allows me to have really deep sleep.
What is the strangest wellness trend you have ever tried? Did you like it?
I have done a lot of weird stuff, like being electrocuted to release your muscle fascia, or cryotherapy. But I think about in college when I’d eat like a box of wheat thins and froyo for dinner and think I was eating healthy because it was low-fat. To me, that’s strange and crazy.
For cryotherapy, however, it’s when you get frozen for 3 minutes, and it’s been really helpful for helping relieve sore muscles. If I could do it every day, I would.
Tell me a really weird fact about yourself.
When I was really little I got lice at camp and had to shave my head because my hair was so thick. This was also the time when I had an eye patch (I had a lazy eye), and I was obviously KILLING the game in life.
Can only go up from there, right?
Also I make websites on the side! I’ve made 5 or so on Square Space and love it.
I know. You are truly, madly, deeply in love with Krista Williams right now. Follow her everywhere. Head to The Hundred Blog, subscribe to the Almost 30 Podcast, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. Everything. I adore Krista for putting up with all of my questions and answering them SO DAMN WELL. She always makes me smile – her energy is contagious! HOPE YOU ENJOYED! XO
by Christina | Feb 2, 2017 | Wellness
On average, adults sit for about 6 hours each day. Now that more and more people have jobs that require staring at a computer screen, that number is increasing. So many of us spend most of our lives sitting on our butts….and we def shouldn’t be.
There are a ton of health risks that have been associated with sitting for too long. First of all, there’s weight gain. Sitting all day every day reduces the activity of lipoprotein lipase (an enzyme that helps us burn fat) by 90%. In English: sitting a lot leads to a slower metabolism. Besides weight gain, sitting for too long, too often has also been linked to cardiovascular disease. Too much sitting can increase blood pressure and shrink the diameter of the arteries, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Sitting too much has also been linked to osteoporosis. A lot of sitting decreases mineral bone density, which increases the chances of bone fractures. Being sedentary has also been correlated with decreased insulin sensitivity and diabetes (which go hand in hand). And that leads back to the weight gain. Yikes. Besides these specific risks, too much sitting has been linked to early death, in general.
What if you workout? The thing is, exercising doesn’t negate the effects of sitting on your butt all day long. So if you’re sitting for 8 hours at work or school, and then you drive to the gym and workout for an hour, you’re not saving yourself. Sure, exercise is good for you, but it doesn’t make up for the fact that you spent most of your day sitting down. Actually, it’s been shown that people who do exercise a lot are often the ones who sit more throughout the day, because they think, “Oh, I got my exercise.” (I used to be one of these people.)
Think about it. We weren’t designed to sit on our butts all day. We were designed to walk around and move throughout the day. A little sitting, a little standing, a little sprinting, a little lying. But definitely not sitting in a chair for 12 hours in a row, only getting up to go to the fridge and pee.
The best way to stay healthy? Don’t be sedentary! Try to spend half of your day standing or walking. First of all, take walking breaks during your work day. It’s not only good for your body, but it’s also good for your brain. You can’t just sit all day long. When someone calls you, get up and walk around while you talk. If you’re meeting with a friend or a coworker, walk and talk instead of sitting down for coffee. Just get up. It doesn’t mean you have to sprint walk. This isn’t about working out! It’s about moving, and not being on your butt. It can be slow movement, or just standing.
Another trick? I always either walk around or stand while I’m checking social media. Social media takes way too much time out of my day, and I’m not going to sit around while I go through my feed. You guys might have noticed that I walk in circles half the time when I’m making Insta-stories. My roommates think I’m weird, yes, but that’s okay. I’m preventing heart disease and diabetes! Score.
The big problem, though, is that there’s a lot of work I need to do throughout the day that I can’t do while moving. I know some people can read books while walking, but I can’t. I get dizzy. Enter: the standing desk. This has been a lifesaver. Ever since I bought a standing desk, I do almost all of my work standing up. At first it was weird, but now I can’t focus if I’m sitting down. I get antsy.
I bought a pretty cheap foldable table / standing desk on Amazon that I just stick on top of my desk to make it the right height for standing while working. There are a ton online, but this is the exact one I bought. You can go all out and buy a full-on standing desk if you want to, but it’s not really necessary. If you don’t want to buy anything, find somewhere in your living/work space that’s tall enough to act as your standing desk. For example, when I’m in my bedroom, I do my work on top of my dresser. It’s the perfect height. Out in the living room, I either use the little fold-out table I bought on Amazon, or we put our computers on top of the fireplace mantel. Get creative. Do you have a bar area? Maybe that’s a good height. A cabinet? A counter? Look around – I’m sure you’ll find something.
Besides preventing all of those unfortunate health risks I mentioned before, using a standing desk has other benefits, too. Working while standing has been shown to increase energy and productivity. One study suggests that working at a standing desk can increase productivity by 46%. I don’t know about you, but I want to be 46% more productive. Ben Greenfield (one of my idols) cites this all the time, so I’m all over it. Using a standing desk can also increase your core strength and might even help with your posture. Think about it…you probably hunch over when you sit at your desk. Lastly, standing more often will help you burn extra calories throughout the week. I hear it’s 87 more a day. Not a ton, but still.
People might think you’re weird at first, but whatever. They’re the ones missing out! Like most healthy habits, people will make fun of you at first, and then they’ll copy you. And they’ll be jealous they didn’t do it first. Once you get into the standing-while-working lifestyle, you might develop different feelings toward your favorite coffee shop that you usually do work at. That’s okay. You’ll eventually find a spot with a high enough table. OWN IT.
In all seriousness, I feel the difference. Now that I’m used to standing while working, I can’t go back to sitting. It makes me feel like a slug, and I can’t get as much done. I don’t have time to not get a lot done, and you probably don’t either. So get off your butt and work at a standing desk! You’ll thank me later.
by Christina | Jan 30, 2017 | Recipes, Wellness
Finding dairy-free ice cream (or any kind, really) that’s made from real, organic, healthy ingredients is an extremely difficult task. Unless you make it yourself, pretty much every ice cream on the market contains less-than-ideal ingredients. Even if it’s vegan and gluten-free, you’re almost always guaranteed to find something on the ingredient list that you don’t really want – guar gum, agave, cane sugar… the list goes on. If you’re getting it from an ice cream shop instead of a store, half the time you don’t even know what the ingredients are. That’s usually for a reason, if you catch my drift.
And I’m not talking about soft serve. I’m talking about ice cream. Thick, dairy-free ice cream. Although I love the healthy soft-serve shops in this area, soft serve is not the same as ice cream.
There is one place, however, that I can always count on to give me delicious, dairy-free ice cream made with organic, real, healthy ingredients. KIPPY’S!
If you follow me on social media, you know that Kippy’s has been one of my go-to dessert shops for a loooong time. It’s located on Main Street in Venice, and they even have parking in the back! (A rarity in L.A.) I was so excited when I first discovered it, but honestly, I felt like it was too good to be true. I’m too accustomed to being wary of ingredients. I had found other gluten-free, vegan ice cream shops in the area, but nothing was totally clean. Kippy’s actually is, though. *JUMPING FOR JOY!* Let’s get down to the facts.
The ingredients are the most important part, and the ingredients are amazing. The ice cream at Kippy’s is made from completely organic ingredients – five ingredients or less. FIVE. Simple is always better. No soy, no nuts, no dairy, and no gluten. It’s a coconut-based ice cream, which means it’s thick, creamy, and flavorful even without the dairy. There are no secrets when it comes to Kippy’s ingredients. They literally post them on their wall! For example, the Vanilla Date flavor is made with organic dates, fair trade vanilla bean, coconut cream, and coconut water. Their Lemon Vanilla flavor is made with organic lemons, fair trade vanilla beans, coconut cream, coconut water, and honey.
All of the flavors are paleo, but not all are vegan. There are vegan options, though! Every ice cream is made with the coconut cream and coconut water base, and each is sweetened with either dates or organic honey. Fresh ice cream is made daily, and you can taste that freshness. I adore the owners for all of the time and care they put into making their ice cream as healthy as possible. Most store owners don’t want to go to the trouble of making fresh ice cream every day, so they don’t use clean ingredients. Not Kippy’s, though. They crack and shred over 1,000 coconuts every week! That’s dedication.
There are so many flavors, and one of the things I love most about Kippy’s is that they have new flavors almost every time I go. It’s always a surprise! (Even though I call to check basically every day…) Some flavors are staples (chocolate, double dark chocolate, vanilla, chocolate chip, coconut honey), and others rotate in and out (cinnamon, strawberry cream, coffee, matcha). They always have a seasonal flavor, which usually ends up being my favorite. During fall they had Persimmon Pumpkin Pie, and it seriously tasted like the best pumpkin ice cream you could ever imagine.
That’s the other thing – the flavors are unique. They have the basics like chocolate and vanilla, but they also have flavors you can’t get anywhere else. Matcha, cinnamon, mocha, golden milk, banana cream, orange creamsicle, hot chocolate, vanilla cappuccino, Snickers, and more. Are you drooling yet?! While I love all of Kippy’s flavors, my favorites are the cinnamon, matcha, vanilla cappuccino, and double dark chocolate.
I need to make a special note about the coffee flavors. I’m intolerant to coffee, but I love the taste of it. My body also has a strong, negative reaction to caffeine. Instead of coffee, Kippy’s uses ramon dust to flavor their coffee-inspired flavors, like vanilla cappuccino and mocha. Ramon is a South American fruit that’s ground and roasted, and it tastes exactly like coffee but doesn’t have the acidity or caffeine. Thanks to Kippy’s, I can get my coffee-fill!
Another flavor that stands out to me is the matcha. This isn’t your typical matcha. They get specialty, real, high-quality matcha that’s actually from Japan, and you can taste the difference.
When it comes to ice cream, I’m a toppings kinda girl. I need some crunch, and I also just love the idea of being able to customize my dessert. You can make it different every time, even if you want the same ice cream flavor. In my opinion, Kippy’s has the best toppings bar I’ve ever seen. Usually when I want toppings at an ice cream shop, I can only get one or two things, like walnuts and cacao nibs. I’m usually allergic to most toppings, or they’re just really unhealthy. As much as I love “vegan whipped cream,” it’s usually made with processed oils, thickeners, or soy. I do not want that. Kippy’s however, has a totally clean toppings bar. I can eat everything!
Just like their ice creams, the toppings rotate in and out. Some of the toppings are goji berries, mulberries, cacao nibs, (spiced) pecans, walnuts, dehydrated bananas, hemp seeds, lavender fudge bombs, peppermint fudge bombs, and bee pollen. Sometimes they even have raw brownies to add as a topping (I obviously get that when they have it.) My absolute favorite toppings are the dehydrated bananas and fudge bombs. So good.
Another amazing thing is that the nuts are soaked in order to break down the phytic acid content, make the nutrients more available to the body, and make the nuts generally easier to digest. I literally don’t know any other restaurant or dessert shop that soaks its nuts. That just shows how much the owners value their customers’ health and well-being.
My other two favorite toppings are the coco shell and the caramel sauce! The coco magick shell is made just with coconut oil, cacao, and honey, and the salted caramel sauce is made with coconut oil, honey, and pink salt. THOSE INGREDIENTS, THOUGH. So delicious, so simple, and so healthy! The chocolate hard shell brings me straight back to my childhood.
If you’re indecisive like me, then Kippy’s has you covered. You can get 2 flavors in one scoop, which is a lifesaver. You’ll have a hard time picking between flavors, trust me. So if you get more than one scoop, you’re lookin’ at a lot of different flavors to satisfy all of your pretty heart’s desires!
Another trick of the trade is to bring your own bowl! If you bring your own bowl, you get a free topping! I would also definitely join their rewards system so you can get points to eventually get freebies. (I’m very serious about this, if you can’t already tell.)
Kippy’s also sells other healthy grab-and-go goodies in addition to ice cream. They have bee pollen, raw desserts, a ton of honey, quick meals (sometimes), paleo tonics, and more!
Another new addition that I’m completely in love with is their coconut milk! There are a ton of different flavors, and they’re all absolutely delicious. They’re made with minimal ingredients, which I love. I hardly ever buy nut milk because 99% of nut milks at the store contain some kind of ingredient that I don’t want to put in my body. A lot have carrageenan, which has been linked to serious GI problems, chronic inflammation, and increased risk of cancer. Kippy’s is carrageenan-free, of course, and totally fresh.
They have plain, unsweetened coconut milk, matcha coconut milk, chocolate coconut milk, ginger coconut milk, and golden milk! I’ve tried them all, and I think my absolute favorite is the chocolate. It’s thick, creamy, and delicious. The coconut milks are made from coconut cream and water, and if they’re sweetened, it’s with honey.
Speaking of chocolate coconut milk, in the winter they carry paleo hot chocolate made with coconut milk, and it’s honestly to die for. You can get your ice cream as a hot chocolate affogato, which I highly recommend. Pour that thick, creamy, delicious, healthy hot cocoa over your paleo ice cream, and you’ve got a dream come true.
The owners, Kippy and Max, opened Kippy’s in the hopes of showing people that real, organic food is both delicious and life-changing. Max has had a passion for making raw food dishes for a long time, and years ago he showed Kippy how unprocessed food could transform her life and her health, ending her frustrating migraines. After that, they decided they needed to open up the shop to spread the love, and I’m so glad they did.
Kippy’s is a community. Everyone who works there is happy, smiling, and welcoming. Bring a friend, sample the flavors, go crazy with the toppings, and have a good time. Kippy’s is truly a guilt-free dessert, especially considering it’s healthier than most people’s “regular” meals. Even though it might seem too good to be true, IT’S REAL. It exists. Totally clean ice cream that everyone can enjoy, without any negative side effects later. Next time you’re looking for some healthy L.A. ice cream, HEAD TO KIPPY’S. Chances are high that you’ll see me there, too. It’s my favorite place to drag my friends to at 10:30 P.M.!
If you haven’t tried Kippy’s, head on over! And if you have, tell me your favorite ice cream combo! I always love to try new things!
