wellness

Stars of David

Written & Photographed by A Wild Dove

 

We’re not the type to jump on the latest juice cleanse.

We like to eat.

But we also like to feel good. Which is why David Kirsch supplements have become the holy grail of our daily diet regimen. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this lifestyle wunderkind, Kirsch is a leading authority on achieving optimal health and well-being at any age or fitness level. His famous Madison Square Club sees the likes of athletes, CEO’s and celebrities who are converts to his signature combination of mind-body conditioning, multi-tasking workouts and smart nutrition. 

 
 

Not to mention, his website, DavidKirschWellness.com, features a wealth of detox programs, supplements in the form of powders and delicious foods as well as his best-selling books. But if it’s all a little overwhelming for a newbie David Kirsch convert, here is a roundup of our favorite products that you’ll soon be chugging daily.

 
 

AM Daily Detox

There’s no healthier way to start your day than with a natural body detox to eliminate free radicals that wreak havoc on your skin and organs (duh). This morning drink is the best defense against work, stress, poor eating habits and lack of exercise - all sources of stress, that we as women, experience on a daily basis. Using the health benefits of red wine grapes, 10 different berries, Lycopene, Resveratrol and Pycnogenol, this drink features an immensely rich source of antioxidants without the added sugar and calories often in a fruit juice cleanse.

Thermo Bubbles

Your new morning coffee. Your new weapon to face the world. Your can’t-get-through-drop-off-without-it drink. This fast-acting, effervescent, natural fat-burner is the quickest way to melt the fat and even better, it stocks you with energy to last all day. Not to mention, Thermo Bubbles is the Hollywood beauty secret that has helped actors, actresses and models get runway and red carpet ready for years. It features two proprietary blends of vitamins, herbs and minerals, a Weight Management Blend and a Thermogenic Blend. Thermo Bubbles works to boost your energy level and metabolism while curbing your appetite and promoting lean muscle mass.

 
 

Calming Bubbles

Lit-er-ally drinkable therapy (and we’re not talking Pinot Noir) for those days when your crazy busy schedule leaves you frenzied, unfocused or ready to inhale a bag of cookies. It is one of the best (legal) stress relievers after a long day. According to Kirsch, anxiety can increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol, triggering cravings that often add extra layers to the tummy and causes one to feel fatigued or blue. Calming Bubbles contains natural calming agents that help you better manage stress and its negative effects.

 
 

Vitamin Mineral Powder

Throw away those all those vitamin jars. This single-source nutritional powerhouse is your new daily multivitamin. And without all those pesky pills, the liquid form is much easier for your body to absorb. Kirsch's vitamin mineral "super juice" is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals - everything you need in a daily multivitamin. Plus, it contains superior natural source antioxidants like spirulina, acerola ́́berry, coral calcium and heart-healthy coenzyme Q10 and an extra boost of vitamin C and D3. Yum!

Obviously we are loyalists to anything this nutritional genius puts on the market. Now, if he would just create a vitamin-infused rosé, we’d really be in business.

 

Loyal to the Oil

Written & by Photographed A Wild Dove

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Oils are definitely having their moment in the beauty world. And why not, they keep our skin looking dewy and our hair shiny.

As winter is now fully upon us, we need that extra boost of hydration to keep ourselves looking as glowy as we do throughout the summer months.

Here are some of our favorites -

 

Sunday Riley Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil

We are literally glowing after using this product. Its botanically active blend of cold-pressed, powerhouse seed oils helps brighten your skin without feeling greasy. It leaves skin soft and even blends well with make up. Mix it in with your everyday moisturiser, to save time and for extra radiance.

 

Kahina Giving Beauty Prickly Pear Seed Oil

We’re fans of everything about this amazing line. But the Prickly Pear oil is a totally magic elixir that really works !  It brightens under the eyes for those prone to dark circles and reduces spider veins throughout the body. Rich in vitamin K and antioxidants. It’s light, non-greasy and leaves your skin glowing, tight and super soft.

 

 

 

 

MIRIAM QUEVEDO GLACIAL WHITE CAVIAR HYDRA PURE PRECIOUS ELIXIR

This exquisite oil is a blend of White Caviar,  Organic Baobab and Camellia Oil combined with precious gemstones.

The result  -  it leaves you hair feeling super silky with zero build up. It’s the perfect amount of hydration and its non-greasy formula doesn’t weigh down hair. Oh, and it also smells amazing...

Dios Mio!

Written & Photographed by A Wild Dove

We’re not ones to buy into hype, particularly in the form of skin care. Sure, we invest in top quality products, but we refuse to hop on the latest fad or high end cream. Which is why Mio Skincare is SO GOOD. Mio delivers results - whether in the form of pregnancy body care, aging issues or all around tightening and contouring. We could go on and on singing the praises of the phenomenal line, but we picked our faves below- 

 

Shrink to Fit

Fortified with a high concentration of antioxidants, caffeine, rosemary extract, green tea and horsetail plant, this luxe moisturizing cream is designed to help reduce the appearance of uneven, bumpy areas and increase skin’s elasticity. A natural combat for trouble spots like hips, thighs and arms. And who doesn’t need that?

 
 
 
 

Dry Brush

This exfoliating brush features natural boar bristles and massage nodules that removes lazy skin cells and dirt. By polishing and massaging all over to stimulate circulation, you’ll eliminate layers of dead skin and improve its overall appearance. Done and done.

 

Get Waisted

We like the sound of this already. The gold standard of the Mio assortment, this amazing cream is formulated with Rhodofiltrat Delessaria, pharmaceutical grade caffeine and Oat Protein Complex to help replenish moisture to improve the look and feel of skin as well as flatten and contour those pesky little bulges that come with age.

The Activist

Get marching! The “superfood of skincare,” this body oil works to soothe skin while balancing the look of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. It’s intensely hydrating, antioxidant rich formula delivers moisture and nutrients deep down to boost strength and elasticity. It also pumps bounce and radiance back into aging skin! Bonus.

 
 

Double Buff

This non-abrasive scrub is dedicated to revealing brighter, smoother, more even toned skin using an omega-rich exfoliator of pumice, lava and bamboo. Extract of fig and organic shea butter also hydrates and moisturizes while organic sweet almond oil soothe sensitive skin. The results are smooth and supple looking skin with renewed clarity and radiance.

 

 

Workout Wonder

Perfect for pre and post-workout, this gel is like a spa session for your muscles that helps to soothe and cool. Featuring a cocktail of herbs and extracts like horse chestnut, horsetail extracts and a natural blend of essential oils, the formula leaves limbs feeling energized and ache-free.

 

Plant Life

Written & Photographed by A Wild Dove

 

To quote the “Cheers” theme song, Gingersnap’s Organic is indeed a place where everyone knows your name. Except instead of offering pints of beer or shots of whiskey, this homey West Village cafe is serving up delicious juices, salads, wraps and pastas, all within the context of vegan, raw food. The brain behind the brainfood is Jamie Graber, an entrepreneur who opened Gingersnap’s four years ago, which in a short time has drawn significant buzz from both raw foodies and foodies alike. 

 
 

When did you first get involved in the raw movement and was there one memory or moment when you realized this was the lifestyle for you?

I was raw for five years, until I met my husband, who is a chef, which changed things. I was living in LA at the time and doing a yoga teacher training and I had struggled with eating. But after doing teacher training and just being in California, I was eating more plant-based for sure, but I wasn’t attached to anything. All the sudden I went raw and it was amazing. I hadn’t even thought about going into it for work, but one of the of girls in class started talking about Juliano Brotman, the head chef at Juliano’s Raw. I met him next day and he said, ‘You’re hired...I don’t know what for, but you’ll work here.’ That propelled me. From there, I managed a restaurant called Rawvolution. When I moved on a whim to New York, I came home to feel it out. I landed and stayed and ended up opening here.

 

Graber got her start, as most raw proponents do, in Los Angeles, but her hometown soon came calling, where she saw a void in the market for a proper sit-down cafe offering delicious plant-based fare. We sat down with Graber to talk about juices, meat-eating husbands and why french fries aren’t always such a bad thing -

WHAT’S THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND GINGERSNAPS ORGANIC?

It morphs and changes so often. At first I thought it would be a store with all raw foods from around the city. But I started paying attention to signs and flow and I met my husband, and it turned into to more of a cafe. At the time, there was One Lucky Duck but there was no room to sit, it wasn’t quite the thing we were talking about. My husband is very much a meat eater. He studied at the French Culinary Institute and cooked at Del Posto. He said, ‘You need to make a place where even if I didn’t eat this way, I would love it.’ Also I wanted a plant based menu that was light. Lots of vegan food is really heavy with tofus and seitans. It has a nice balance to it. Then we started with juices, which is a huge part of our business. We’re now offering cleanses and that’ how it all evolved.

 

How has the raw food movement evolved or changed since you opened the shop?

I think there is a larger amount of options with all the pop-up places and chains like Juice Press and Juice Generation. They all have some raw options. When I was raw, I was so dogmatic about it. It was a label of who I was. Now, what’s nice is that it’s part of people’s lives but it’s not like, you’re either raw or you’re not. Our customer is more like my husband. Everyone is putting raw into their diets now, it’s not just diehards.

 

What's one thing that would surprise most people about the raw lifestyle?

People think it has to be all or nothing. Again, it’s about understanding the benefits of a plant-based diet without having to go the whole way. I think people are surprised that I will eat french fries. I eat stuff that has no nutritional value but when I live in the space of mostly plant-based food, there is room to have other foods in life. And you wind up feeling OK because you don’t overdo it. It keeps you in balance. Once you decide to be in a healthy lifestyle, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a candy bar. There’s room for all of it.

 

 
 

Where do you see the future of Gingersnaps Organic going?

I love the idea of a community cafe. I love knowing so many people and who know my staff. It's their family. I have no desire to have multiple locations. Certainly not in New York. Where I see myself five years from now is probably having one shop in LA and spending time in both places.

That’s the big dream.

 
 
 
 

Dream Weaver

Written & Photographed by A Wild Dove

 
 

Andre Davis is the go-to for women clamoring after today’s wildly popular, sexy, undone hair. The celebrity hair stylist created the uncontrived, voluminous look that has become his signature since his days working on Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar shoots with “first name only” models (think Naomi). Today he is the stylist of choice for everyone from working women to A-list influncer Olivia Palermo (he famously chopped her lob that sent the fashion industry’s tongue wagging). But Davis is known for so much more than his finely skilled chops. He is also the word-of-mouth-only king of the extensions world. A select few know to hit him up for his expertise, laying down hair that looks ridiculously natural, full and amazing. If that wasn’t enough, Davis took his knowledge and started a wig business, much of which benefits women with cancer and other hair issues. We sat down with Davis to talk wigs, extensions, kids and which celebrity has the perfect weave:

 
 
 

OK so you’re like an extension god. What do you love most about hair extensions?

I love the fact that you can actually transform the hair from an in-between cut or maybe fine textured, and make it sexy. I love sexy hair. It’s my thing. A woman can be sexy at 80 or 20. So I love the transformation, whether I’m making it longer or adding fullness and volume. I’m all about uncontrived looks, nothing so done. When hair is too done, it makes a woman look tightly wound and not sexy.

 

How has the extensions business changed since you first started?

There are so many different techniques in terms of extensions and not all techniques are the greatest. The fusion method rips hair out at the root. I used to do it and found that hair was coming out, but lots of women still want it. I do the sew ins, the tracks, the “weaves.” With standard tracks, you don't need any more than three for a full head of hair depending on how long or short you want it. Also the price of hair has gone up a lot if you want great quality. In the beginning, there weren’t too many places that had good quality. My hair is flown in to New York, there’s no real quality hair in New York. So my clients are very picky and want the best.

 
 

What are your clients seeking now in terms of extensions and trends, and how has that changed over the years?

A lot of clients just want hair. Now they want the best quality hair. If you see any of my clients, you really have to guess if they have extensions. It has to be a seamless look also, like it’s growing out of the scalp. It has to blend and be totally perfect. It also can’t be so much maintenance. You just have to retighten them every two to three months and you can use that same hair for six to eight months or more. It’s really great hair.

WHICH CELEBRITY IN YOUR OPINION REALLY NAILS IT WITH EXTENSIONS? WHICH, NOT SO MUCH?

Kim Kardashian does a great job. Eva Longoria’s hair looks great. Britney Spears had the worst extensions but now they’re looking much better. Also some of those “Housewives of Beverly Hills’ are horrible. The blondes are bad.

 
 

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR WIG BUSINESS AND HOW THAT GOT STARTED?

I’ve always been into in wigs since my mother had cancer and I wanted to do something about it. So I did some stuff with the American Cancer Society and I found that a lot of clients are very sensitive. I had one client who was 27 years old and was going through chemotherapy. Her mother came and said she went around to a lot of wig designers and came upon my name. She needed a person who had the right temperament. I have a good rapport with these clients. I make them feel comfortable and I gain their trust that I can deliver a wig that will be natural and help them feel good about themselves.

What's the most fulfilling aspect of working with ill clients?

Well what stuck out with this particular client was that after having a series of treatments, we were trying to make sure she got her wig in time before her losing hair. I remember when it was ready, she came in, took off her head scarf and I washed hair and knew everything would come out, and it did. She said she didn't want to see herself bald. I put her wig on and she came alive. She said, ‘Wow this looks like my own.’ That’s the rewarding part.

How has having children changed your perspective or inspired your work?

In every way. My kids are precocious and super smart. They inspire me to do better with them in mind. I want to be a good example. I want them to enjoy what they do. I tell them, ‘Love what you do and you’ll be successful.’ They inspire me everyday and are my best critic.

 
 
 

WHAT'S ONE THING WE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT EXTENSIONS?

People look at extensions as a bandaid but I look at the overall hair, even if it’s damaged or after a bad haircut, as a process and journey to healthy hair. Some hair will never be as full but extensions are a way of changing your image very quickly. Some people think it’s a lot of maintenance but it’s not. You have to get used to it, like everything else. Bond with it. Make it your own.

 

 

TO FIND OUT MORE CONTACT

ANDRE DAVIS | Julien Farel Salon | 540 Park Avenue,NYC | ANDREdavishair@gmail.com

Cooking with Intuition

Written & Photographed by A Wild Dove

 

A few years ago, I started an Instagram account spontaneously called Breakfastdujour.  It was born at a time when my older daughter left for college and I was resting a running injury. The images were from photos I captured on my iPhone after creating a breakfast I prepared.

My normal morning routine consisted of waking up my girls, giving them a quick breakfast and getting out the door eager to get my run in through Central Park. But when I got injured and my older daughter left, I had time to reevaluate. I reflected on my purpose, which was always prioritized with my dedication to being a stay-at-home mom. I reflected on the feeling of imbalance of not using my creativity and putting so much emphasis on my physical body. With this pause, I felt more at peace with not rushing out in the morning and the feeling of wanting to nurture both my husband and younger daughter who were still at home for a few more years.

 
 

Most of my breakfasts consist of an egg variation. Both my husband and daughter were under the guidance of a nutritionist enforcing a “clean eating” diet higher in protein than carbs. I like keeping my kitchen stocked with ingredients readily available for me, so once a week, I shop for produce. I love going to Farmer’s Markets for the most organic produce right from the farms surrounding New York. I love that there is a service called Rustic Roots that delivers right to your door, hand picked from farms on Long Island.

 
 

I also like to support the local, smaller mom and pop health food stores, and then there is Whole foods with the largest of selection. I have specialty shops in my neighborhood, like Dean and Deluca and Eli’s that offer irresistible delicacies and condiments. I love having an array of fresh herbs that give the most unique and individual flavoring to whatever I’m creating. Using herb infused oils is essential with cooking and drizzling for added flavor. There are some ingredients I prepare in advance to have ready available, like pesto sauce, marinated artichokes and sundried tomatoes.

 
 

My process started with getting into the kitchen very early morning anywhere from 5-6:30 am. I enjoyed this peaceful time when everyone else was asleep. I put on music and selected the ingredients according to what I was feeling that morning. I also love food styling, so color complementing and herbs for garnishing was part of the process. I collect recipe books for inspiration but never follow measurements. I always modify and change ingredients to satisfy my creativity.

When I was done with the preparation of the dish and plated it, I took a few  pics with my iPhone and posted on Instagram. I normally selected one ingredient that I used in that dish and offered nutritional value and health benefits to that ingredient.

Here is a recipe for my Shakshuka:

Shakshuka is a Tunisian recipe in it’s original origin but has become very popular in Israel and is almost a standard breakfast there. It can be served as a hearty breakfast served with piles of pita or challah or as a lunch entree. There are so many variations of cooking Skakshuka but its primarily made with baked tomatoes and eggs.

 
 

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 large onion halved and thinly sliced

  • 2 large red bell peppers seeded and thinly sliced

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 can of whole plum tomatoes coarsely chopped OR 5 large very ripe tomatoes chopped

  • 3/4 teaspoon quality salt (sea salt or himalayan)

  • 1/4 plack pepper

  • whichever herbs you choose from below:

    • fresh oregano

    • fresh thyme

    • fresh basil chopped

  • Bread of choice: country/pita/Ezequiel

 
 

Preparation:

  1. Heat oven to 375 degrees

  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium/low heat

  3. Add onion and peppers

  4. Cook gently until very soft

  5. Add garlic and cook until tender 1-2 minutes

  6. Stir in spices and herbs

  7. Pour tomatoes in and season with salt and pepper simmer tomatoes down about 10 minutes until a soft but still chunky consistency

  8. Gently crack the tomatoes into skillet over tomatoes

  9. Season with salt pepper and herbs

  10. Optional for spice lovers ..hot sauce and red pepper flakes

  11. Serve with toasted country bread or pita or Ezequiel bread

 

 

As modern mamas living in the over information age, (where everyone is an expert and parenting opinions are shared as freely and easily as an Instagram post) it can be tough to filter through the white noise to find the facts. Naturally, we’d love to consider ourselves wise in all sorts of ways, but the truth is sometimes we’re scrawling SOS in the sand. Good thing we’ve got the guidance and expertise of our own personal rockstars: the people who inspire us on the daily. Our rockstars (our flock) are enthusiasts, professionals and influencers in the fields of wellness, travel, education, style—the list goes on. Each one brings a profoundly different perspective to the table, one informed by their own experiences and outlooks. And that perspective is priceless.

They say it takes a village…we say it takes a flock.

 

A WILD DOVE

 
 
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