In my case, I’ve been pretty good about hitting the gym. But I know I could do a better job of eating cleaner. I work from home so you’d think it would be easy for me to make sure I’m getting three healthy meals a day. The truth is, if I don’t prepare or at least semi-prepare my meals for the week, then I end up grabbing things when I’m hungry. Ultimately sabotaging whatever I did at the gym that day.

Sooooo I reached out to my dear friend Tori Hoehn, co-founder of Kale + Co to learn more about her food delivery service because I needed a reboot! 

A Bit About Kale + Co:

Founded by Tori Hoehn and Stacey Faske (certified holistic health counselors), Kale + Co provides delicious plant- based meals and snacks designed to eliminate the most common allergens and irritants from your body. The right balance of nutrients will impact not only your weight and health but will boost your overall outlook on life. Sounds pretty good so far, right?

Simply select your menu, the number of meals you’d like delivered that week and your delivery date. That’s it.  All of their organic or locally sourced ingredients are plant based, gluten, dairy, soy and refined sugar free….and that my friends sets Kale & Co apart from other meal delivery services. Did I mention that everything these gals serve up is delicious? Hard to beat.

Kale & Co currently delivers to most towns in New Jersey as well as NYC, Westchester and Rockland County. Here’s their # to in case you want to give them a ring. 201-771-0127.

Below is a quick recap of my Kale + Co experience. Overall, I definitely felt like I had more energy during the day, slept better at night and even dropped a few pounds. When you open the fridge and see all of your meals lined up it really feels like you have your own personal (healthy) chef. Am I a satisfied Kale + Co. customer?  You bet!

But before we get started, here’s an announcement:

***WHEN YOU PLACE YOUR ORDER AND USE PROMO CODE CF2017 YOU GET $25 OFF. Since I’m posting this on my Cancer Fashionista blog, if someone you know is being treated for breast cancer a gift card from Kale + Co could be simply awesome. Just saying. ***

I mean…. how cute is Tori?! She delivered the meals right to my kitchen table. Everything comes labeled and packaged beautifully. They also provide heating instructions. Keep scrollllllling all the way down….so many photos of the meals that I loved…..

See how COLORFUL the food is? It just LOOKs so good for you…..

The SWEET POTATO MASH…..yummmmmm

Listen to me closely: ENERGY BITES. You have to get these with your order. They are yummy and are such a great mid-day pick-me-up. Packed with oats, almond butter, raw cocoa , unsweetened coconut and flaxseeds. I have to hide these from the children….for real.

Blueberry quinoa with nut topping for breakfast….tastes so good and is VERY filling

And who would have thought veggies for breakfast could be so delish? This is the veggie scramble…..

The mock tuna salad is SO good you guys……even better than real tuna salad! I’m serious!

And that’s all folks! Don’t forget to enter CF2017 at checkout to get your $25 off! Enjoy!

Well guess what? Meditation actually helped me get through the most difficult chapter of my life. I was pretty consistent with it for a while…until I wasn’t. Sort of like going to the gym. You follow a solid schedule, then once you start to fall off it can be difficult to get back into the groove again. I find that meditation gives me an automatic reboot. It clears my mind and helps me feel more grounded, focused and calm throughout the day.

My favorite (and most convenient time) to meditate is first thing in the morning, as soon as I wake up. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Check out my “meditation station” here. Nothing crazy, just some candles, a Himalayan rock salt lamp, essential oils and a couple of crystals.

This past August Jennifer Graf, LCSW, certified mind-body medicine practitioner and Founder of The Graf Center of Integrative Medicine at Englewood Hospital invited me to participate in a six-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Series. Her invitation came at a perfect time for me because I was starting to slack off in the meditation department. So every Monday night from 6pm-8pm I headed over to The Graf Center along with the others in my group…to basically learn how to meditate.

Jennifer is nothing short of amazing. Her experience coupled with her beautiful, calming presence was something I really looked forward to each week. She taught us several healing therapies to help cope with life changes, stress and illness. A great deal of time was spent on home practice, teaching us how to truly work meditation into our everyday lives…..for good. The program also included guided imagery (trippy but so cool!), biofeedback, mindful eating, soft belly meditation, drawing exercises (with crayons, sooooo relaxing) and breath work.

I now consider Jennifer my meditation coach. She asked me to include my own mindfulness breakthrough in this post. I’d say the most important skill that I learned was how to break away from my desk for a mid-day meditation. Even if just for five or ten minutes, I find this practice to be way more powerful than a 2nd cup of coffee. It chills me out and resets my focus for the rest of the day like magic. I also find that it gets my creative juices flowing, which is super helpful when I’m developing event ideas for my clients, writing blog posts, new business proposals, etc.

“The foundation of all mind/body techniques within integrative medicine is self care. Self care is primary care.”
– Jennifer Graf

The Graf Center will be offering another Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Series soon. For more information, call 201-608-2377. You can also check out their YouTube video. In the meantime, please keep The Graf Center in mind for all of your self-care needs including yoga, meditation, massage, Reiki, holistic nutritional counseling and acupuncture. These offerings are open to the public and are ideal for patients, caregivers…basically anyone. It’s one of many centers that now provide functional medicine covered by insurance. Did I mention how GORGEOUS the meditation room is, and anyone can use it? Just valet park your car and head up to the Graf Center to take advantage of this beautiful space.

For those of you who aren’t in the area….there are TONS of great meditation apps out there. Click here to see a great lineup. You can also jump on YouTube and search for literally ANY kind of meditation. Whether you need help with sleep, stress, focus, etc. there’s lots to choose from. Just search “meditation for sleep” or “meditation for focus,” etc. Here’s a lovely TEN MINUTE guided morning meditation for you to try. It’s only 10 minutes. So seriously, if you have time for Facebook, you have time to meditate. Just saying.

This extraordinary brand of individually wrapped wipes keeps you clean and germ free from head to toe.

My handbag is already packed and ready to go with the entire collection! Love their motto: “No Water? No Problem!” Oh, and they’re carry-on friendly & TSA compliant so they’re perfect for travel too. 

Read this part, it’s important:  Savvy Travelershas JUST launched their subscription service called “Wipeaholics!!!! GET POSITIVELY ADDICTED!” You get 30 full size beauty wipes for $20 a month delivered right to your door (as shown in photo to the right).

And you know what else? Because I’m BFF’s with the founders of this amazing brand, I’m able to offer all of you a special 25% discount. Simply enter WIPEOUT at checkout. But hurry, this code will only work for 30 days. Then poof….it’s gone. 

Do any of these scenarios below sound vaguely familiar to you? If you’re a busy Mom on the go and you say no…..are you sure? Dig down deep ladies. It’s ok, we’re all in this together. We’ve got the problems and Savvy Travelers has a fabulous wipe for everyone one of them. Read. On.

Hot-N-Sweaty

You hit that spin class hard. That Drake song is blasting and you’re seriously in the zone. Sweat is dripping down your back. You’ve redeemed yourself from that slice of pizza you had last night. You swear that you’ll take a shower as soon as you get home…. I mean after you make that phone call….definitely after sending that email….just one more cup of coffee. Suddenly it’s time to go get the kids from school. And you feel….YUCKY. 

Solution: Savvy Travelers Klean Upz moisturizing hand and body wipes save the day with their super sanitizing and antibacterial properties. And they smell lovely. And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that it’s 3pm and you haven’t taken a shower yet….

Coffee Breath

You guzzled your tall latte with soy milk and you’re making a mad dash to an important meeting. Whoops no gum or mints to be found. What’s a girl to do?

Solution: Savvy Travelers Speak Eazy are ridiculously refreshing mouth cleansing wipes. Removes coffee and red wine residue. Not a bad idea to keep these in your glove compartment too.

Is That Table Clean? Or No?

You’ve tot a solid 45 minutes before pickup. You run into Starbucks, and as you’re about to take your laptop out you see that you’re table is….um….let’s just say it doesn’t look clean.

Solution: If you ask me, Savvy Travelers Klean Offz are sort of the mac-Daddy of all wipes. They knock out 99% of germs, so you can sanitize any surface when you’re out and about. Perfect for travel and wiping down in-room TV remotes, phones, doorknobs…you know where I’m going with this. Pretty much anything that breeds germs. The nice, fresh citrus scent makes me happy.

Wish I had these when I was going through breast cancer treatment, so to all of my beauties in the midst of chemo, take advantage of this wonderful subscription service. And what a great gift to give to that special someone who’s currently undergoing treatment.

In addition to the wipes above, there’s also Take Offz Facial Wipes, No Sweat Antiperspirant wipes and In The Klear lens and screen cleaner wipes. All included in the subscription service. So go ahead and wipe yourself out! Just enter WIPEOUT at checkout to get 25% off of your order.

Let’s face it. There are SO many amazing skin care products out there. But ever since my little dance with breast cancer, I’ve been on the lookout for a natural skin care line that actually works. Enter Sunshine Botanicals, created by Emily Fritchey aka “The Skin Whisperer.” Emily is a clinical aesthetician and natural health practitioner whose cutting-edge approach to dramatic skin transformation without chemicals or drugs has put her on the map as an award-winning formulator and expert on evidence-based botanical skin treatments. What does this all mean? I can have beautiful skin, and still sleep at night knowing that I’m not exposing myself to harmful chemicals. This is plant-based, non-toxic and highly effective. Sign. Me. Up.

Whether you’re going through chemo or not, this brand is a true gem. There are so many great products to choose from, but for now I’ll focus on the one that I simply can’t live without: Rapid Repair Fluid. Think of it as a virtual arsenal of skin repairing ingredients specifically formulated to treat the needs of compromised and environmentally damaged skin conditions including bruises, abrasions, as well as the effects of radiation, chemotherapy treatments and sun damage. Cool, fresh and oil free, it may also be used as a daily hydrating fluid. Which is what I do, I splash a bit of this on right after washing my face and it smells and feels SO fresh. A must-have for all skin types.

Did I mention that it’s great for clearing up adult acne as well as pimples of moody teenagers?  Have a friend or loved one who is undergoing chemo or radiation, and just not quite sure what to do for them? Get them a bottle of Rapid Repair Fluid, they will LOVE you for it.

Lashing Out. My First Official Makeover

I’ve always loved makeup. My very first “beauty” memory was watching my Mom apply her “Charlie” eyeshadow from a glorious palette of blues and purples. “Charlie,” as in the 1970’s fragrance which is apparently still available today. I may just have to send a bottle to Mom for nostalgia…

Of course when she wasn’t looking, I’d mess around with the eyeshadows myself. I’d apply various colors to my own lids as well as to my Barbie head. Gosh I loved that thing…

In my early teens it was all about Wet & Wild, specifically a purple iridescent eyeliner that I’d apply in the school bathroom and remove before I got home because Mom thought it was a bit too “mature” for me. When I was in college I fell in love with MAC and went through a chapter of my life when I didn’t leave my dorm room without wearing my Chanel red lipstick (I was a fashion design major, and since I couldn’t afford designer clothing I would splurge on the designer cosmetics). As a young professional, I enjoyed a smorgasbord of products. I loved mixing high end department store cosmetics with the latest new Maybelline mascara that I’d grab at Duane Reade during my lunch break.

As a young Mom, I put my makeup routine on the backburner. Blush on the cheekbones and eyelids, a bit of gloss and mascara….and that was on a good day. I’d spice things up for work events or in the evenings, but nothing crazy or super-dramatic. And then came the breast cancer chapter. You’d think when you’re faced with an illness that requires rounds of surgery and chemotherapy that makeup would be the last thing on your list. In my particular case, I probably had a better makeup look during treatment than I ever did! When you lose your lashes and brows, and your skin tone is completely off, makeup becomes your best friend. Seriously. And also a great distraction from all of the cancer stuff.

Well, now I’m almost three years cancer free and was feeling like I was ready to sharpen my makeup application skills and switch things up a bit. We’ve all watched countless makeovers on TV shows and online, now I kind of felt like it was my turn. But here’s the thing. I felt like this new routine had to be realistic. My kids can’t be late to school in the morning because I was trying to follow a YouTube video about contouring. I also wanted something that I could easily transition into a night-time look. I put my fate in the hands of Muah Makeup & Lash Bar located in Westwood, NJ. This fabulous salon focuses soley on makeup, and they even offer instruction as well as makeup instruction parties. Yes–it’s true—friends + wine + lashes. Need I say more?!

Follow them on Instagram for inspiration and ideas. And they have a lash bar! OMG! You can get a full face of makeup, or they can even just do your eyes. And for a pick-me-up that blows Starbucks out of the water, make an appointment for a lash application. I witnessed a client before and after her lashes were put on. Her mood instantly shifted. This is a form of therapy, ladies! You can get a really natural look, or you can go super-dramatic. The choice is yours.

When I contacted Muah, I explained that I would love to learn a new, more updated way to do my makeup for both day and night. I’ll let you guys be the judge, but I was really happy with the results. Plus the staff there is so sweet, patient and talented. I used to book hair and makeup artists in my first life, and let me tell you this is the real deal. Note the images below. There are “before” photos of how I USED to do my makeup for day and night…..then check out my new look for each. I didn’t realize that I was in such a makeup rut. I actually look forward to putting on my makeup in the morning now!

DAY/BEFORE: 

Below is how I used to do my makeup for daytime…

DAY/ AFTER: 

Below is how Muah gave me a fresh, new look!

NIGHT/BEFORE: 

Below is how I used to do my makeup for night…

NIGHT/ AFTER: 

Below is my new night time look, thanks to Muah!

For those of you who live locally and have hair loss issues due to chemo or alopecia (or knows of a friend of family member who does), give Muah a call! I wish I had known about Muah when I was going through treatment. They know how to carefully apply feaux lashes to the lid, even when there are no natural lashes. “Every once in a while a client comes in with small lashes or suffers from hair loss. Although false lashes need lashes to hold on to, when done the right way a full strip lash can still be applied the lid,” explained owner Ashlee K. 

All of the makeup they used on me is available for purchase on their website. In fact, from now through 1/31, use promo code CancerFashionista in their online store to receive 20% off storewide. If you mention CancerFashionista when booking “The Package” (a full makeup application), you get a free Synthetic Lash Application (also through 1/31). 

See below some really great tips from Muah Owner Ashlee K.. The game changer for me? Re-learning how to apply blush and the introduction to (simple) contouring. “Contouring with a mineral powder just two shades darker than your natural skin tone will give you a beautiful and wearable contour. Apply just under your cheek bones – swipe from the center of the ear forward towards the apple of your cheek. Apply blush only on the apple of the cheeks since that is where we naturally flush,” explained Ashlee K.

Day Time Makeup

1. Showcase your eyes by blending a warm brown shadow 1-2 shades darker than your skin across your lid and lower lash line. Top off with loads of mascara.

2. Use a lightweight bb cream and concealer to even out skin tone and complexion

3. Apply a lipstick or gloss that is 2 shades darker than the natural pink in your lips.

To achieve the look above, we used Muah Makeup products including: Muah “Chocolate” eyeshadow, Muah BB Cream in “Light”, Luxury Black Mascara, Muah Mineral Photo Touch Concealer in “Light Peach”, and Muah Luxury Lipstick in “Pink Truffle”.

Take it to Night Time Makeup

1. Rim your upper and lower lash line with a deep colored liner. Don’t always reach for black. Dark purple, green, or blue works too!

2. Apply false lashes for volume and length. Choose a lash that’s just a little longer and fuller than your natural lashes.

3. Apply a little more blush to the apple of your cheeks for a pop of color.

4. Dab on a deeper lip color to jazz up your lips. I love to lean towards berry.

To achieve the look above, we used Muah Makeup products including: Muah Super wear Liner Pencil in “Majesty”, “Box of Lashes” full strip lash, Muah Mineral Matte Blush in “adobe”, & Lipshine Lipstick in “Naked Grape”.

Thank you, Ashlee! I love my new look! I can’t wait to stop by again soon! Muah!

XO,

Melissa

​

When the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation contacted me and asked, “Would you consider being interviewed by Rebecca Taylor at her store to create a video to help raise breast cancer awareness? You and Rebecca will do a little style session together and you can talk about your journey.” In true Fashionista form I was like, um yes please! All kidding aside, this turned out to be a truly unforgettable day for me.

I learned through this unique experience what a special person Rebecca Taylor is. I could see right away that her breast cancer awareness blouse wasn’t just a “to-do” on her marketing calendar. She takes so much pride in encouraging the young women who work for her to take care of themselves, first and foremost. One of the reasons that she chose to partner with the TNBCF  is to encourage women (especially younger ones) to go out there and get their mammograms.

Behold this year’s creation, a plush pink off-the-shoulder top. It’s gorgeous AND 50% (wow!) of the proceeds will benefit TNBCF. Having been a fashion publicisit for….let’s just say a long time….it was strange yet soooo much fun (in the girliest way possible) for me to be on the other side of the camera. I’m usually the one making sure that everyone knows their talking points, double and triple checking the date that the story is going to run. Making sure the logo is correct….check, check, check. But this time I was in front of the camera.

I was surrounded by Rebecca Taylor’s wonderful staff and my incredible friends from TNBCF. There was someone on set to make sure my hair and makeup was just right, a camera crew, the works! It was very surreal and exciting, all of those good things. At the same time I felt a huge responsibilty to deliver a message as a breast cancer survivor. So there I was, not only on the other side of the camera, but also on the other side of breast cancer. I really had to take a step back to take it all in. When I received the final video file, I took a deep breath before I hit “play.” The obvious thoughts ran through my head. I hope I look ok. I hope I sound ok. I hope TNBCF is happy with it. I hope Rebecca Taylor and her staff like it. Once I watched it, those silly thoughts disappeared when I realized how important it is for me to share my message. Whether it’s a video on a designer’s website or a friend of a friend who’s just been diagnosed, I am committed to sharing what I know. Not preaching, not judging, just sharing what I’ve learned from this side where I now so humbly and gratefully sit…..survivorship. Be sure to check out the video on the Rebecca Taylor Facebook page or on YouTube. Hero Content, you swung this out of the park! Thank you to all involved, and thank you for reading this and sharing it.