People Mag and Us Weekly have both recently posted pictures of stars out and about without any makeup on. Although most of them have flawless skin, you would think knowing that the paparazzi is out there would scare them into wearing it any time they leave the house. This is the kind of self-confidence that inspires me! I do typically run basic errands without much makeup on, but I can’t help but want to cover up a pesky zit or those undereye circles before I head out. I always feel self-concious when I don’t have makeup on in public. Do you feel this way? I think it must be a beautiful feeling to go out in public and have conversations with people without thinking, “oh gosh, they’re staring at my zit, they totally are…” I think this means coming to grips with your inner beauty so that no matter how flawed you think you are on the outside, you know that it’s all so petty compared to the greatnes you feel inside. I love Jessica Simpson’s song “In This Skin” because it reiterates that very point. Here are a few shots of celebrities without makeup. They look quite different with makeup, but just as beautiful without, in my opinion…

“I feel beautiful right after I’ve worked out. I feel like I’ve changed the shape of my body into something more flexible and strong.” – Drew Barrymore

“I admire people with beautiful skin, so I really like getting compliments on my skin. I’m always examining it with a large mirror and always looking at the flaws.” - Katharine McPhee

“My mom is white, so I grew up thinking that women should be fair and blonde. Things I was made fun of for – thick lips and a curvy body – got better as I got older.” – Jessica Alba

“I don’t feel the need to impress anymore. I’ve worked for a long time to get where I am, and now I can be comfortable in my own skin,” Simpson says. “I feel more in control of my life. Outward appearance is just secondary to the confidence that I feel inside.” – Jessica Simpson

How do you feel when you go out in public without a drop of makeup?

John just whipped up some eggs and I had a small plate full - probably 3 whole eggs (yes, yolk and all since that’s how he made them) – very filling! I figure this will give me more than enough energy for another run before my doctors appointment this afternoon. We have a law school party to go to tonight since they’re done with finals, so that should be fun! We’re supposed to bring some sort of appetizer – any easy ideas? He told me this last night after dinner, so of course I haven’t had time to hit the grocery store yet.

I was scanning through the news this morning and came across another article on the healthy benefits of the Mediterranean diet. This is a diet plan I’ve been looking into for a long time now, and since it really seems to fit my current eating patterns, I’m thinking why not?! I would need to cut back on my red meat intake a bit and sugars for sure. Although I do try to sweeten things naturally with honey, etc., I know I get plenty of other sugars in my diet. Does anyone currently follow the Mediterranean diet?? How do you like it? Are there any real challenges? You can check out the Mediterranean food pyramid here.

What will you do today to improve your health?

Have a creative and healthy Tuesday!

“In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet.”
- Albert Schweitzer

• Laugh: Whether this means hanging out with an upbeat friend or just watching a funny movie, laughing will lighten your mood and give you a new perspective.
• Soak It Up: A hot bath coupled with a glass of wine can cure just about anything! If you have a Central Market nearby, go in and create your personalized combination of bath salts. I did this recently and LOVED both the process and the results at home!
• Read: Pull out a good book that will help you settle in for the night, light some candles in the room and cuddle up with a blanket. Feeling cozy and at ease with your favorite character will reduce your stress in no time.
• Talk it out: I’ve never visited a therapist (although my dad is one and I feel I owe him big time for all his services ), but talking things through with a friend is a sure fire way to alleviate whatever you’re going through. Talk it out…and if they’ll give you a massage in the process, that’s even better!
• Breathe: If you can, go to one of your favorite yoga classes at the end of the day. I recently started practicing Bikram Yoga and love that it forces me to breathe deeply and focus on my body’s movements in the process. It’s an incredible way to release tension and work up a sweat!

What are your favorite ways to decompress after a hard day?

On another note, I had a great 3-mile run today! I followed it with lunges, squats and a long shower! The weather turned cold and rainy here, so I’m settling in with a romantic movie (still deciding what that will be) and a slew of lit candles. What will you do to enjoy your evening??

“Before you agree to do anything that might add even the smallest amount of stress to your life, ask yourself: What is my truest intention? Give yourself time to let a yes resound within you. When it’s right, I guarantee that your entire body will feel it.” - Oprah Winfrey

I’m leaving you with a few more pictures …

Right before John proposed - notice the oh so attractive Ugg boots

Bedazzled!

I have a long run on my agenda today and some leg exercises to boot. John is home studying for law school finals, so he’ll most likely join me for a workout. I always find it incredibly motivating to have him, or anyone else, on the treadmill next to me. It empowers me to keep going when I want to stop. It really is amazing what your body can do when you get past the mental road blocks.

Now for a little nibble of inspiration: My mom is a marathon runner and such an inspiration to me. She ran in the Chicago marathon last year after spraining her ankle the day before AND enduring the record-setting heat that turned the marathon into a “fun run”. She finished the race without walking once, had a smile on her face, and NO PAIN in her ankle. I don’t like to use the word miracle a lot, but this surely felt close to one. She ran another marathon three weeks ago and said it was the worst one yet – her legs, feet and toes cramped up at mile 13 and it was excruciating getting to the finish line. Despite all this, she made it! I am constantly impressed by her determination and both physical and mental strength. When I’m on that treadmill running my comparatively short 3 miles, I think of her and how we’re built to accomplish so much more than we can imagine.

Here’s my question for you: When you feel like you can’t go another step, jump, rep in the gym, what motivates you to keep going?

Have a fabulous day everyone! I’ll check back in later this evening. I leave you with a few pictures from my honeymoon in San Jose del Cabo!

Dinner at Charlie Trotter's Agua

View from our patio - seeing this picture gives me instant calm!