Everything is Better With Bacon!

I love bacon. Did you know that there are numerous benefits to eating bacon? I told a friend of mine to skip the croutons and eat the bacon on her salad. She couldn't believe her ears. White flour is far more damaging than bacon, believe me.

Recently, I have been concentrating on helping my friends find flavorful alternatives to unhealthy foods and shed some pounds for the spring. Today is by far my favorite post because I am talking about the benefits of BACON!!

I want you to to read this book: FAT An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient, and Recipes By Jennifer McLagan. Bacon is only a small part of this genius read but a great lesson on all natural fats. Not only will you learn about how fat works with our bodies, you will also learn how to enhance your menu and make better food by using fat. I am all about maintaining a healthy lifestyle by creating flavor with fresh herbs and natural fats. Sorry Vegans and Vegetarians, this post is for the Carnivores but the book is for all to enjoy. 

Please keep in mind that I am referring to bacon from your local butcher that has been sustainably raised and is not loaded with antibiotics, hormones, preservatives and other chemicals. You can get nitrate free bacon as well. Refer to your local CSA guide for farmers or inquire with your butcher.  You will taste the difference.

Bacon Fun Facts:

• 30 - 40 calories per cooked slice
• It is a lean meat with less fat than other types of pork or red meat
• A little goes a long way: Adds flavor with minimal amounts needed
• Tastes great in chocolate or on a donut from Dynamo Donuts in San Francisco
• Can be used in pastas or fish dishes to create depth
• Is a great source of iron

Properly prepare your bacon by cooking it on a medium to medium low heat on the stove top or in the oven at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Be aware that some bacon contains nitrates that when cooked on a high heat changes the chemical compound of the nitrates becoming nitrosamine which is a carcinogen that is linked to cancer.

Fun Eats
I found a couple of fun bacon yums that you might like. The first one is an absolute treat, the second is a great alternative to a loaded baked potato.

"Pig Out" with some Bacon Bourbon Carmel Corn from Salted Caramel, a Mid-West company near Chicago. Talk about a delicacy! Hand made by Ginna Haravan who mastered this bacon and bourbon infused delight. You can buy it for yourself or send it as a treat. Follow the link above for more information.

Loaded Baked Potato Alternative: Potato, Bacon Chive Salad from Bon Appetit

• 2 pounds small (about 2-inch-diameter) white-skinned potatoes
• 4 bacon slices, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup canned beef broth
• 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh chives
  
  How to Prepare:
  Cook potatoes in large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain. Cool 15 minutes. Peel while still warm, then cut into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Transfer to medium bowl.
  Meanwhile, cook bacon in medium skillet over medium-high heat until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add onion; reduce heat to medium-low. Sauté onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add broth and vinegar; bring to boil.
  Pour hot dressing over potatoes; toss gently. Fold in 1/2 cup chives. Season with salt and pepper. Let stand until broth mixture is absorbed, occasionally tossing gently, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle salad with 1/4 cup chives. Toss gently and serve.

Sources:
Potato, Bacon, Chive Salad recipe and photos from www.epicurious.com. February 2001. Web.
Bacon Bourbon Carmel Corn picture from Bacon Today. http://bacontoday.com/category/bacon-desserts/. February 18, 2010. Web. 

Shed Pounds With These Easy Tips!

Everyone is getting ready for swimsuit season and have asked for some specific tips to help them shed winter weight. Here are some tips that can easily be incorporated into your everyday routine. Adjust these tips to your needs as you see fit. Should you have specific questions or need meal ideas, please email me at sugarlipslifestyletips@gmail.com. Obviously, if you have health concerns always consult your doctor prior to changing your diet.

Do not watch Food Network at night!! This is torture when you are trying to shed pounds. Eating late will dramatically reduce your success and go straight to your thighs!!
 

Commit to 30-40 minutes of activity a day: This can be a 15 minute walk in the morning and evening or all at once. Increasing your activity will shed pounds quickly and tone you up! Choose a time that you can stick to without compromise.


Reduce your alcohol intake: Cut out beer and mix drinks. Substitute one glass of red wine with dinner. It is important that it is red wine not white. White is higher in calories.

Stop drinking soda: According to Coke's website, a can of coke is 140 calories. That adds up fast! This includes diet soda as well. Diet sodas are loaded with chemicals that can cause headaches and make you bloated.


Limit juice: an average 8 oz. cup of juice is approximately 122-125 calories. If you were to have two or three glasses of juice in a day, that is about 370 empty calories and which is equivalent to a full meal.


Eat more veggies: Swap a hearty salad for a heavy bread sandwich, make 2-3 dinners a week without meat as the main course. I will post recipe ideas later this week.

Eliminate white flour and white sugar: Both of these can be a real danger especially with diabetes on the rise. These are in everything so read the labels and substitute. See below for details.

• Eliminate Refined Sugar:  Substitute honey, agave nectar, or 100% pure maple syrup. White sugar depletes your body of B vitamins, disrupts calcium metabolism and has a harmful effect on the nervous system. 

• Limit or eliminate white flour: When buying bread, look for whole grains that are not enriched. The whole grains are naturally high in fiber and nutrients. While flour is being processed, vital nutrients are lost from the whole grain. The nutrients have to be added back into the flour to meet FDA standards thus, enriched. You can look for whole wheat, rye, oat, or bulgar (cracked wheat). When baking, substitute half white wheat flour for white flour. Remember that this will make your recipe a little denser.
  

Toxic Nail Polish: Be Aware!

Spring is here and pedicures are a must! Be aware that what you put on your nails can be harmful to your health. This especially applies to women who are pregnant. I had provided a list of known toxins in beauty products on a previous post. Many of the major nail polish brands have eliminated dibutyl phthalate also known as DBP but there are other toxins to be aware of as well.Look out for formaldehyde, toluene and xylene, these have been linked to various health concerns such as liver and kidney damage, cancer and headaches.1

Where can you find DBP free products? Try OPI, Revlon, Sally Hanson, NARS, Avon and HoneyBee Gardens. Here is a great article to read for more information: The Big 3 (toxic chemicals that is) 

(1) Nail Polish Wear with Caution. My Make-up Mirror. http://www.mymakeupmirror.com/nailpolish.html

March Madness!

Just for the record, I am winning right now...day one and I am up 2 games.

Uggs: Are They Posing A Fashion Danger?

I have a strong opinion on Ugg boots. There is a time and a place to wear them and I don't feel that these are an everyday choice for footwear not even if you are an Eskimo living in an igloo. As a slipper around the house, sure. Today, I found this article on Yahoo regarding Uggs and faux Uggs. It states that they do not have proper support and you are literally breaking your foot due to lack of support. Read it and let me know your thoughts?

Ugg Article 

Photo from Uggaustrailia.com and article from Shine on Yahoo.com 
Douglas, Joanna "Experts Debate Dangers of Wearing Popular Sheepskin Boots." Shine on Yahoo.com (2010): Web. 17 March 2010.

Happy Saint Patty's Day from Sugar Lips Lifestyle Tips!

Hello to all of my readers! I am sorry that I have been away for so long; I took a break from the blog to research and nurture relationships and now I am back. I wish you all a very Happy Saint Patrick's Day and spread the good luck to all. I will share with you the pot of gold that I have discovered regarding weight loss tips and our first live demo will launch later this week. I can't wait to share it with you!

Your lady leprechaun,
Cyn

Get Red Carpet Ready With This Fix For Your Face

At first, I was hesitant. I thought that maybe these products just puffed up your skin making it seem as if your wrinkles were gone and then came back hours later, but they aren't. I have been testing these products for six months and have seen noticeable results. My crow's feet are gone and the fine lines near the corners of my mouth have been dramatically reduced.  I'm hooked! I especially love the eye serum in the morning....no more puffy eyes. Now, as far as ingredients go, I am not sure if I approve yet. I will do more research on that. Other products by this company are not up to my strict ingredient standards but they do deliver results. Choose your battles.


It's called Regeneration Tight, Firm and Fill face creme and eye serum.  It contains HylaSponges™, which according to the BeautiControl Cosmetics website, is "a state-of-the-art delivery system that produces a “second skin” on the epidermal surface for constant release of ingredients that plump and fill". It's a refresher for your face. I felt moisturized and new as if I just had a facial and the price point is fantastic. The eye serum is $42.50 and the face creme is $48.50 - You can't go wrong!
***Information on pricing and photos are from BeautiControl Cosmetics website.

Exclusive Interview with Luxe Boutique Owner Deja Smith

Sugar Lips Lifestyle Tips got an exclusive interview with one of L.A.'s hottest new entrepreneurs, Deja Smith, of Luxe Boutique. She is featured in Lucky Magazine, The Examiner as well as Daily Candy and her talent is sought by Hollywood's finest. Her lines are flirty and whimsical yet sexy and powerful. She features affordable styles that are perfect for this season like the "Hype Black Croc Patterned Bag" or the "Chain Front Top" below. She is a success story and an inspiration to all especially my aspiring entrepreneurs out there. Check out my exclusive interview with Mrs. Deja Smith of Luxe Boutique!

Cyn: What is your biggest inspiration when choosing your lines?

DS: Wow, funny that you ask. I literally start with a vision that is developed around the season that I'm shopping for. Once that vision is in place, the inspiration becomes the career women and making sure she is chic, polished, yet functional from day to night.


Cyn: Who are your favorite designers?

DS: There are so many designers that I love to wear personally and buy for the store. A few lines that I will be carrying in seasons to come are Miss Me Couture, Voom by Joy Han, Blacque Label and Nanette Lepore. With that said, I am partial to designers that are feminine, sophisticated, and functional.

Cyn: How long have you been in the fashion industry and how long have you been in business for yourself?

DS: I have been working in the fashion industry for over ten years, starting off as a volunteer at a boutique while earning my undergraduate degree. That boutique experience became my catalyst to open my own store one day. That one day for me came three and 1/2 years ago when I started Luxe Boutique.


Cyn: What made you decide to open your boutique and what challenges do you face as a business owner?

DS: True story, I would always be asked by family an friends for as long as I can remember to help coordinate looks and go shopping with them. Co-workers were no different. In fact, my first personal shopping client was a co-worker in Los Angeles. Often while shopping, patrons would ask for my opinion on a shoe, dress, or top, and I would give them suggestions. In reflecting on all these experiences, I finally decided to give in to my calling and I'm very pleased that I did.


The biggest challenge I face as a business owner is creating awareness of the Storefront location. To combat this I often partner with other businesses with similar values and customer bases. Challenges aside I wouldn't change anything about owning my own business, it's absolutely FabuLUXE!!

****To find out more about Luxe Boutique go to http://shopluxeonline.com/ Deja generously offered my readers a sweet promotion: Shoppers can save $15 off purchases o $60 or more when entering promo code LUXE during checkout! You can also become a fan on Facebook search: LuxeBoutique W. Los Angeles or on Twitter: LuxeBoutique  Happy shopping! -Cyn

Add Volume To Your Hair: Simple Tricks from Christina

I sat in Christina's chair this last Friday for a cut and color...loves... and got some great insight on volume. Here's what she had to say.

To add volume to wet hair by first using Bumble and Bumble's Prep Spray to help distribute the product you will be putting on evenly onto the hair (it's a great foundation that also provides healthy vitamins for the hair). Then apply Bumble and Bumble's Styling Creme on the roots in the crown region and lastly spray some of Bumble and Bumble's Thickening Spray in the same region. Dry the top of the crown with a medium to large sized round brush by pulling the hair up at the root. After it's dry on the brush, use the cool shot button on your hairdryer to set it. Dry the rest using your fingers till it's almost dry and finish the very ends of your hair with the round brush.  

***Recommendation:If you don't mind adding a step to your nightly regimen before bed, I would recommend using Bumble and Bumble's Thickening Serum to build thickness in your hair. After a few weeks, your hair should feel thicker...seriously! That should help add volume without working super hard at it in the future. 

Building volume in dry hair can be a pain when you're about to head out the door with almost no time to get ready. The best thing to do would be to use Bumble and Bumble's colored Spray Powder. Lift the hair and hold the bottle about 6 inches away from root and spray using light sweeping motions side to side. This helps blend it much better than holding it too close and creating a hole of color...not attractive. They carry the following colors: white, black, red, brownish and blondish. For platinum blonds, I'd recommend the white color. The blondish one may be too dark unless you want that darker root look. The spray powders are also great for updo's.
photos from Bumble & Bumble