Worry-Free Dinners

Photo by Kenneth Chen

Allergies are quite common – to wheat, gluten, nuts, metals, seafood, plants and animals. And the side effects from these allergies can be painful, uncomfortable and sometimes deadly. Thankfully, there is an increased awareness of ingredients in food, cosmetics, cleaning products and medicines.
One of my clients, Sloan Miller, launched a dinner series for people with food allergies, called Worry-Free Dinners™ . It is a membership group for anyone who has manageable food allergies and/or food intolerances and would like to explore restaurants, chefs and foodservice organizations that will offer an exclusive allergy-friendly meal. The Worry-Free Dinners community is based around social and educational dining events that are held at restaurants in and around New York City.

Events combine coaching, networking, and a prix fixe meal that will be worry-free.
Sloane Miller, of Allergic Girl (http://allergicgirl.blogspot.com), has handpicked the restaurants. She has visited them multiple times; she has talked about them on her site. She has done all of the legwork for you in finding understanding, educated, sympathetic chefs, managers, and foodservice personnel.
I am sure MANY people are grateful to the efforts of Sloane and Worry-Free Dinners!

Pink Tomato Lipstick for Kellari Restaurant Group

Stavros Aktipis is the master mind behind the Kellari Taverna and Kellari Parea Restaurant Group. The decor of the restaurants are elegant yet warm with high ceilings, tile floors, wood tables and soft lighting. You feel good being inside and even better after eating the food. It's simple, fresh, delicate and robust with flavor. You want to come back. It is one of my favorite restaurants!

So Stavros asked me to create a product that would be consistent with his philosphy of wellness - select ingredients that not only look good but are good for you. Pink tomato lipstick was created using an organic lipstick base with fusions of soy butter, Vitamin E, Olive Oil and natural essential oils. It's a color that feels and looks good on the skin. And this is important as we all know how many pounds of lipstick women consume in their lifetime!

Pink Tomato Lipstick created by GIELLA custom blend cosmetics.

Inspiration: Ancient Greek women had access to many substances that they used to improve their health and appearance. Honey was used to moisturize their skin. Olive oil was used to protect their skin and give it a shine, Orange, Basil, Rosemary and Lemon aroma were infused to improve their well-being. Lemon oil is uplifting and cleansing. it replaces negative emotions by creating a cheerful atmosphere of freshness and purity. It can help dispel mental fatigue and psychological heaviness. The aroma of lemon can inspire increased concentration and awareness. Orange is clarifying, cheers the heart and brightens the mood. Basil is clarifying, uplifting, energizing and refreshing. Rosemary is know as the herb of remembrance with clarifying and invigorating benefits. So capture the beauty, feel the difference...with Pink Tomato!

FREE at Kellari Restaurant (19 W. 44th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenue) on Mother's Day and available at www.giella.com afterwards.

8 tips to cancer-proof your body

We all know someone who has or has had cancer. It's a battle like no other. Somehow we find the strength especially from the help of family and friends to get through it. Here are some pointers on keeping our bodies healthy.

Source: MSNBC.com by Steve Mazzucchi

"Tips to a cancer-proof body or things that are just plain good for us and bad for cancer cells. Here are eight strategies that just may turn the Big C into the Big See-Ya-Later."

1. Drink Pomegrantate Juice. It contains polyphenols, isoflavones and ellagic acid which researchers believe make up a potent anticancer combo.
2. Eat blueberries. It contains pterostilbene.
3. Relax a little. Stay in the present moment rather than worrying about things that have already happened or that may or may not happen in the future, says Claire Wheeler, M.D., PhD., the author of "10 Simple Solutions to Stress."
4. Pop Selenium. Enough but not too much.
5. Order Sushi. Seaweed can help in shrinking tumors. It also has a good source of Vitamin A and C.
6. Spend more time outside. "Vitamin D is necessary for the best functioning of the immune system - it causes early death of cancer cells", according to Joan Lappe, M.D.
7. Clean your air. Smoking is a carcinogen.
8. Invest a little sweat equity. Even a tiny bit of excercise has big benefits.<