6 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

image via Elle.com

One of the primary barriers to eating healthy is the added grocery expense. To help fill up your home with good-for-you-foods without blowing your budget, we caught up with Andrea Woroch.  Andrea is a money-saving expert and has been featured in numerous media outlets from Good Morning America, Today, Dr. Oz to The New York Times. Today she shares with us healthy grocery shopping hacks.

1. Review Frozen Options.  Frozen fruits and veggies are an economical way to get your nutrients during any season. Since produce is flash-frozen at its peak ripeness and nutrient content, there's no need to worry about lack of flavor or healthfulness. Opt for store brands over national brands for extra savings.

2. Prep Your Own Food. Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables is important to staying healthy. However, buying these foods pre-sliced, pre-chopped and otherwise prepackaged is unhealthy for your wallet. With a markup of up to 60% for convenience, you can save time and money by purchasing whole foods and setting aside 30 to 45 minutes to do your own chopping.

3. Know Which Organics to Skip. Opting for organic helps you avoid harmful pesticides and fertilizers, but it comes with a price. Fruits and veggies with tough peels -- including bananas, avocados, pineapple and other members of the Clean 15 list -- have built-in protection, so buying them organic is actually a waste of money. Additionally, always look for the USDA Certified Organic label to ensure you get what you're paying for.

4. Stack Savings on Savings. A growing number of healthy brands and health food stores are using coupons to promote their food. Whole Foods shoppers can subscribe to The Whole Deal newsletter or print grocery coupons. Applying these savings on top of grocery store sales can reduce your check-out cost significantly.

5. Get to Know Local Prices. While I don't recommend spending the day driving from store to store to get all your grocery shopping done, knowing where to buy certain items for the cheapest price can help you save more each month. For instance, I found that Sabra hummus is $2 cheaper at Target than my local grocery store and the best price for almond butter is at Trader Joes.

6. Grow Your Own. One of the best ways to save on fresh produce is to grow your own. Start small by planting a few favorite herbs like rosemary, sage or dill, or review this list of the 7 Easiest Vegetables to Grow for Beginners. Apartment dwellers don't have to dismiss this tip, either; vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, summer squash, eggplant and peppers can be grown in containers.

How To Dress Like a French Woman

There's something je ne sais quoi about the French woman. It's that effortlessly cool, slightly undone, but polished look that we absolutely love.  I mean, as much as I try, my high messy bun never looks quite the same as it does on her (in fact, it looks like I just rolled out of bed).

But mastering that tres-chic look, doesn't have to be that hard. All it takes is a few key pieces and you'll be on your way to conquering that French style. Here are a few of my favorites:

Classic Brenton Stripes: From a striped dress to a striped top, French women do love their stripes. Here, I paired this striped dress from Kohl's with a white button-down shirt underneath. The collar that peeks through gives it a nice polished touch.

Flats with Dresses: I love the idea of wearing flats with dresses (and this seems to be another classic French rule). For that effortlessly cool look, pair a dress with oxfords. Also, don't be afraid to mix black with brown.You can also go daring, and try a pair of metallic flats.

Sunglasses: We can't forget about sunglasses. The bigger the size, the better.

It's All About the Attitude: Overall, it's all about the attitude. French women dress for themselves and aim to feel good, and that confidence is what shines through in each outfit.

How to Get Jennifer Lopez' OSCARS 2015 MAKEUP LOOK

Jennifer Lopez' looked flawless, as always, during this year's Academy Awards. The combination warm peaches and diffused bronzes paired with a cool toned pink lip looked gorgeous on her. We love the natural look, not only for nighttime, but it's a look we can easily recreate for the day.

L’Oréal Paris celebrity makeup artist, Mary Phillips created her look and she shares with us a step-by-step on how to get her look, which was inspired by Jennifer's sparkly, ethereal gown.


Step-By-Step: 

1. I prepped the skin with L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Moisture Blur.

2. Next, I applied L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in Classic Tan, followed by Armani Fluid Sheer #13 as a highlighter

3. Then I enhanced her brows using L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Designer in Blonde

4. To create the eye look, I turned to the new L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche La Palette Nude ($19.99, available in April) followed by accents of L’Oréal Paris Infallible Smokissime Powder Eyeliner Pen in Taupe Smoke.

5. Then I curled her lashes and applied multiple coats of L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Miss Manga Black Angel Mascara.

6. To complete the look, I used L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Color in Timeless Rose on the lips

8 Tips for a Good Night's Sleep

Creating a soothing bedroom atmosphere for a more peaceful night’s rest is SO important. Not to mention that not getting enough sleep has been linked with a laundry list of health problems. Ever since my husband was diagnosed with cancer, we take our sleep pretty seriously. As a new mom, it’s not always easy to get 8 hours of straight sleep (who am I kidding) but I try to make sure that as soon as I hit the bed, I fall asleep pretty quickly. As part of my collaboration with P&G’s Try it & Love it Sleep Soundly program, I’ve been trying out the Febreze Sleep Serenity Bedroom Mist collection to help me achieve a good night’s sleep. On a night I had difficulty falling asleep, I’ve also had the chance to take ZzzQuil to help me fall asleep easily and sleep soundly.

Here are 8 tips that might help you get a better night’s rest too!

1. Stay off tech. As tempting as it may be, try to stay off your smartphone and stop using your computer at least 30 minutes before bedtime. This will help your body know it’s time for bed. I also recently removed the TV from our bedroom (which we’ve always had for the past 7 years!) This helps us to not be tempted to watch TV and stay up even later. I can’t tell you how many times I’ll start watching shows like Top Chef and then I don’t want to go to sleep until I find out what happens haha.

2. Read a Book: Reading a book is also another great non-stimulant that can help you relax and ready for bed. Just don’t read in bed. It’s important to separate activities to signal to your body that bed is meant for sleeping.

3. Exercise: Try to squeeze in at least 20 minutes of exercise each day, but make sure to do it several hours before bedtime. If you don’t have time to head to a gym, don’t worry, I love finding a Yoga workout video on Youtube and exercise from my living room.

4. Add some Zen: Incorporate elements that inspire a tranquil environment like fragrance. I like to mist a soothing scent such as Moonlit Lavender or Warm Milk & Honey from the Febreze Sleep Serenity Bedroom Mist collection. It helps eliminate odors while creating a relaxing atmosphere. I feel like I’m at a spa!



5. Make a To-Do List: Many times I find it hard to fall asleep because I’m thinking about all the things I have to do the next day. To avoid this, I like to make a to-do list right before bed. This helps release my mind of upcoming tasks so I’m not dwelling trying to remember them all.

6. If You Still Can’t Fall Asleep: For those night when you’ve tried everything and still have difficulty falling asleep, try a non-habit-forming sleep aid such as ZzzQuil. It’s available in liquid and LiquiCaps, to help you fall asleep easily and wake refreshed.  I recently tried it and it worked like a charm.


7. Get Cozy: There’s nothing that puts me in the mood for sleep like a nice cozy bed. Make sure to turn down your thermostat to between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, make sure you room is nice and dark. You can try finding some blackout shades or consider buying a sleep mask.


8. Avoid Caffeine: Try to avoid caffeine beginning in the late afternoon. This also includes tea, if it has caffeine. Instead, try to go for a decaf version or have it early in the morning.



For more information and expert advice from the National Sleep Foundation be sure to visit ZzzQuil.com and Febreze.com


 What keeps you from getting a good night sleep on Sunday? 



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Steal her Look: Emma Stone

Emma Stone was spotted (no pun intended) mixing prints with this striped sweater paired with a polka-dot flare skirt during the Academy Awards nominees luncheon this week.  We found this flared midi-skirt with slightly larger polka-dots for just $85 bucks at Shopbop and this striped sweater on sale for $10!

We love the idea of mixing skirts with sweaters for the perfect mix of casual and formal. Here's where you can steal her look for less:


Where to Buy: 
Stripe Sweater, H&M, $10 (on sale)  (Also check out this sequined version from Ann Taylor)
JOA Skirt, Shopbop, $85
Black Pointed Heels, Badgley Mischka, $80

VF's Link Roundup: DIY Dip-Dye Pillow, Keeping Your Shoes in Tip-Top Shape + More.....

image via SMP Living 

By Contributing Writer: Liz de la Nuez 

Happy Wednesday! Here are a few fun links from around the web we thought you would enjoy.

1. We're in love with this DIY Dip-Dye Pillow from Style Me Pretty Living. 

2. Tom Ford casts himself in his own ad and the result is perfection.

3. This interview with Mindy Kaling made me love her even more!

4. If you aren’t following Humans of NY on Instagram yet, then you need to start.

5. These photographs about a toddler and his view brought a smile to my face.

6. Watch the sweetest baby announcement ever.

7. This article describing motherhood made me cry.

8. Great tips on how to keep your shoes in tip-top shape from Cupcakes and Cashmere.