THE PICK ME UP

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ICONICALLY PIRELLI

Each year a photographic vision is released from Pirelli, known as THE CAL which has iconic photographers from Karl Lagerfeld, Annie Leibovitz and more that have created imagery all over the world with notable models and celebrities to transmit their vision. This year, German photographer, Albert Watson had the task to interpret his vision through the just released THE CAL for 2019. We took some time to find out about his approach to working on this project, being on set as well as how this integrates into his body of work!

ATHLEISURE MAG: How did you approach the Pirelli Calendar project?

ALBERT WATSON: The Pirelli Calendar is a unique project for any photographer. When I first took it on, I wanted to do it in a way that would be different from that of other photographers, and I wondered what the best way would be. In the end, I looked for pictures that were of beautiful quality, with depth to them, and that had some kind of narrative. I wanted to create something that was more than just a portrait of somebody – I wanted it to look just like a film still. I wanted people looking at the Calendar to see that my aim was photography in its purest form, exploring the women I was photographing and creating a situation that would convey a positive vision of women today.

AM: How did you formulate the project?

AW: I wanted to ensure there would be a strong narrative, so I thought: “Let’s try and make the shots look like film stills.” Quite a lot of it was shot in widescreen format. And that was quite challenging. Each of the four women has her own individuality, her own particular purpose in life, and her own way of doing things. And they are all focused on their future. So the underlying theme is that of “dreams”, but the basic idea behind the whole project is that of telling a story in four ‘little movies’.

AM: Could you tell us about the stories that bring your Calendar to life?

AW: Each character has a part to play in the 2019 Pirelli Calendar. In some cases, the role was close to what the actress does for a living, but here they were certainly all acting a part. Not themselves. And that’s what I wanted.

The woman played by Gigi Hadid has just split up with her companion. She has a confidant, not a boyfriend, played by the designer Alexander Wang. He is helping her get over this difficult time. I think there’s a degree of angst in these images. With Gigi Hadid’s character, I wanted to convey the sense of a woman thinking about her future, but also showing her in a situation of loneliness. We see her thinking about where she’s going to go in life, what she’ll be doing tomorrow. I wanted her to be much more minimalistic than the other women I photographed, and I wanted her to be reflected in the settings I portrayed her in. The settings of the other protagonists are pretty crowded, and there’s action in almost all of them.”

Julia Garner’s character is a botanical photographer who dreams of putting on successful exhibitions. Julia’s a very, very accomplished actress and she got straight into the character. We were in a beautiful tropical garden in Miami, which turned out to be the perfect place for us to work.

Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III, on the other hand, play the part of two dancers who want to become famous and live in an Art Deco house. She’s dreaming of dancing in Paris. She is looking to the future and has ambitions. Trying to be successful is her driving force. Copeland’s character earns her living by dancing in a club, but at the same time she has also put up a little stage in her garden, where she practices dancing in order to become a star, sometimes with her boyfriend, played by Calvin Royal III.

The artist played by Laetitia Casta lives in a studio apartment, which she shares with her partner, played by Sergei Polunin. They are both dreaming of success: she as an artist, he as a dancer. We decided to shoot outside, to give the scenes some added natural brightness. The tropical atmosphere of Miami is a key component in this picture. What’s interesting is that Laetitia told me that, in her spare time, she really does do a lot of sculpting and creates artwork. This worked out very well and helped her get into character.

AM: What was the role played by light in this project?

AW: When I was young, the first famous person I photographed was Alfred Hitchcock. He said: “My dear boy, once you’ve finished the storyboard, the movie is finished – all I have to do is shoot it.” There’s a certain amount of his message that has stayed with me. The 2019 Calendar is like a cinematic storyboard. I was very lucky because I trained as a graphic designer for four years and then I went to The Royal College of Art Film School for three years and I came out as a director. I never trained as a photographer and, from that point on, I had to learn to be a photographer and know about lighting. As a photographer, the technical things for me were very difficult, it wasn’t natural. Intuitively, a cinematic aesthetic was quite natural for me to follow. A lot of my work is based on graphics and film or sometimes on a combination of the two. It was quite easy for me to drop into this for the Calendar and produce images like film stills. It was a matter of making all these different elements come together and make a strong narrative. The common denominator is that these people are all active: they’re thinking of their future and they’re dreaming of where they might be in five, ten, twenty years...

AM: Did you like working on the set?

AW: I know some people work well with a lot of tension on set, and part of their creativity comes from this, but I’m actually the opposite of that. If I’m having fun with people, if I’m enjoying being with them and playing around, I get a lot more out of them. I sometimes say to young photographers that it’s ‘location, location, location’. But in a case like this, it’s more ‘preparation, preparation, preparation’. The more you prep for the job, the more creative it will be. It’s thinking and planning, planning, planning. That’s what’s really important.

I had a tremendous amount of support when creating the vision for the Calendar. Steve Kimmel was the art director, along with Arnold Barros and Belinda Scott, and they did a brilliant job. Thanks to their dedication, it all went perfectly. James Kaliardos did our make-up. He did a fantastic job, beautiful, invisible, but yet there. The hair, by Kerry Warne, was always natural for each of the women. He’s had a lot of experience in film work, so he was perfect for this project.

Julia Von Boehm did the styling and fashion editing. On top of that, I had my own team of assistants and digital editors, Taro Hashimura and Emi Robinson, as well as Adrian Potter. All these people contributed in a great way, so this was definitely much more like a film project than a photography one.

AM: Have you fulfilled your dreams?

AW: To make a dream come true, you need to work hard. I’ve always taken it step by step, reaching one goal at a time, without wanting to get immediately to the top of the ladder. Even though I sometimes think this ladder could go on forever, with the top rung ever-further away, I think it's always worth giving yourself increasingly ambitious goals and dreams.

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PHOTOGRAPHY Albert Watson | ARTISTIC DIRECTION Baron & Baron | PRODUCTION DESIGNER Steve Kimmel |

| PG 26, 30 + 34 Gigi Hadid + Alexander Wang | PG 28 Latetitia Casta *+ Sergei Polunin | PG 32 Misty Copeland |

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ATHLEISURE STUDIO | S1. E1. #TRIBEGOALS WITH LA LA ANTHONY

La La Anthony has had a phenomenal career that began in radio, continued with her being a host on MTV's TRL, continuing on to a series of successful seasons of her own reality show on VH1, being a bestselling author and of course her role on STARZ Network’s Power as LaKeisha. As she is currently back on set filming another season of this epic show, #TribeGoals took a few minutes to talk with her about who she is inspired by, how she is able to stay organized in the midst of a busy schedule while juggling being a mom and more.

Check out #TRIBEGOALS on Athleisure Studio, Athleisure Mag’s multimedia podcast network.

IN OUR BAG | AFTER THE BALL DROPS

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STYLE FILES | NYE GLAM

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THE EIGHT LIST

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HOW TO DRESS | FOR YOR NYE DAY PREP

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ATHLEISURE MAG | #37 DEC ISSUE

It’s the last issue of the year and we are excited to have Entrepreneur, EDM DJ and Instagram Star - Universal Music Latin America’s, Gianluca Vacchi for this month’s cover! In addition, we have interviews with La La Anthony of STARZ’s Power, Parveen Kaur of NBC’s hit show Manifest, Poppy Jamie of Happy Not Perfect, Sarah Potempa - Celebrity Hairstylist and founder of Beachwaver Co and more. We also have brought back our annual, NEW YEAR N3W YOU as well. Read the full issue here.

ATHLEISURE STUDIO // #TRIBEGOALS EPISODE | INTRODUCING #TRIBEGOALS

We’ve been teasing this for a bit but we are excited to finally announce that Athleisure Studio, our multimedia podcast network for Athleisure Culture is now live! Athleisure Studio’s programming focuses on inspirations, stories and shared moments with athletes, designers, artists, celebrities, and entrepreneur changemakers creating dynamic impact. Today, we just released our first show on the network, #TribeGoals that teases who will be on our upcoming episodes!

We’re all about tribes. We join those that speak to us and align with our vibe. In #TribeGoals, we sit down with key changemakers as they share some of their inspirations, thinking and flow with creating, building and joining their communities.

#TribeGoals will feature guests bi-weekly. We will share stories and memorable moments with Industry and lifestyle leadership from wellness, fitness, and style to sports, entertainment and entrepreneurship. Hear about how our featured guests #TribeGoals and what fuels those tribes, passions and members.

Enjoy these constructive insights across industries so we can better our selves, others and the world with our time, attention, and love together. #SOWTAL

#TribeGoals is produced and mixed by the team at @AthleisureStudio

AthleisureStudio.com/Tribegoals | Instagram: @#Tribe.Goals | @AthleisureStudio

COUNTDOWN TO NEW YEAR’S EVE: HOW TO GET GREAT SKIN BEFORE THE BALL DROPS ON 2018

As luck would have it, most women seem to experience skin care problems just when they want to look their best. Every woman can relate to waking up with a huge zit right at the tip of her nose, or huge dark circles under the eyes, and the list goes on. There are pre-emptive measure one can take with less than two weeks until the New Year to ward off these skin care evils. We turned to Dr. Manish Shah, a Denver board certified plastic surgeon for guidance on what to do without breaking the bank or having invasive surgery.  

Facial Extractions by a licensed aesthetician- Dr. Manish Shah says, “When done correctly extraction facials can clear closed comedones (AKA those tiny, flesh-colored bumps that never come to a head, yet never really go away), remove whiteheads and blackheads, and give your skin a newer, fresher foundation for your skincare products to penetrate. Basically, extractions can be the kiss of life for your lifeless broken out skin.”

Drink Alcohol in Moderation

If you plan on ringing into 2019 with a few glasses of bubbly, Dr. Shah recommends moderating your alcohol consumption leading up to the big day. He explains, “Alcohol can dehydrate the skin and cause it to appear less fresh and vibrant, which can certainly hinder your skin care efforts.”

Cleanse your Face Every Night- You have just arrived home at 2 am from a holiday Party. It may be tempting to flop into bed without washing your face. Don’t do it! Dr. Shah says that, “Sun damage isn’t the only environmental factor you have to worry about. Small micro particles from air pollutants might just hurt your skin, too. Play it safe by remembering to take a minute to cleanse your face to remove debris that could be weakening your skin. In addition, that foundation and pressed powder you have been wearing all night can clog your pores and cause breakouts.”

Start Exfoliating

Want brighter, younger-looking skin? It starts with a great at home exfoliator! Dr. Shah explains that, “As your skin replenishes itself, dead skin cells start to build up on the top layer, leaving you looking dull. Exfoliating regularly removes this layer, revealing fresh, healthy skin. Regular exfoliation also allows your moisturizer and other topical products to penetrate more deeply, making them more effective.”

Clean Your Makeup Brushes

You would not eat food on dirty dishes, would you? Applying makeup with dirty brushes is not so different. Not only will dirty brushes give you a spotty application, but they can harbor bacteria, dirt and oil, leading to acne and breakouts which necessitates piling on even more makeup to cover it up.

Don’t Squeeze Your Pimples!

Here's a secret that many a supermodel or actress use: Steroid shots. Dr. Shah explains that, "when we discuss treating acne with cortisone or "steroid" shots, we are referring to the process of gently placing a very dilute quantity of a "glucocorticoid" steroid into the cyst. Glucocorticoids are a class of steroid molecules that are naturally produced by our bodies and have numerous functions including the regulation of human metabolism, immunity, and inflammation. They have very potent anti-inflammatory effects, so they are often used to treat inflammatory diseases in medicine. They can be formulated as creams to treat skin rashes or as pills to treat systemic disease. They can also be injected directly into local areas of inflammation such as in arthritic joints and inflamed acne cysts. Within one or two days of injection into a cyst, the steroid will shrink the inflammation producing relief of pain and almost immediate cosmetic improvement."

Peels

Look for AHA/BHA/PHA peels that will exfoliate the skin and help release the top layers of dead skin cells allowing for a more radiant underlay to come through.

Microdermabrasion

This professional treatment exfoliates at a deeper level (similar to a peel), with a mechanical handheld device that buffs away the upper layers of the skin.

Add vitamin C to your routine.

Dr. Shah suggests applying several drops of vitamin C serum underneath SPF each morning to target free radical damage, help lighten brown spots, and even out your skin tone.

Moisturizer

It may seem obvious, but when it comes to dewy, glowing skin, moisturizing is essential. "When your skin is dry, it looks dull, so hydrating ingredients can help bring back that glow," says Dr.  Shah. For skin types already prone to shine, adding moisture may seem like the last thing you need, but an oil-free hydrator with ingredients like hyaluronic acid could actually help reduce your sebum production and even out slickness into a sleek glow.

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6 BENEFITS OF SNAIL SLIME FOR YOUR SKIN | EXPERT DERMATOLOGIST EXPLAINS WHY SNAIL MUCIN IS A MUST FOR ANTI-AGING

Snail slime, otherwise known as snail secretion filtrate (SSF) or snail mucin is naturally created by snails to protect, renew and restore themselves. It has become a popular ingredient in skincare offering great results when used on human skin.

Dr. Andrea Godoy is a Brazilian Dermatologist for former Victoria’s Secret bombshells Alessandra Ambrosio and Ana Beatriz Barros, and Lead Advisor for Brazilian Skin. Their skincare products include snail mucin, among other key ingredients. SSF has six main benefits for the skin and is a powerful anti-aging property, especially at clinical levels.  Brazilian Skin extracts the SSF without causing any harm to the mollusk.   

1. It optimizes overall skin health.

Packed with zinc, iron, manganese and copper peptides, plus incredibly high quantities of vitamins A and E, snail mucin helps to restore skin and heal it quickly.

Dr. Godoy explains that, “The beneficial ingredients within SSF are plentiful, they include: Allantoin which stimulates skin and regeneration healing, anti-irritation and smoothing actions, proteins which aid in skin nutrition and improving skin texture and luminosity. Snail mucin seals in moisture and allows active ingredients to penetrate the skin. It prevents dryness and makes the skin look dewy, with fewer allergenic ingredients.”

2. It’s a potent way to hydrate skin.

When we consider that 98% of SSF is comprised of water, it is excellent for dry skin which often has wrinkles and fine lines due to dryness.

3. Research shows it has anti-aging potential.

Beyond sealing in moisture, and helping skin to heal, new research has shown SSF may have anti-aging potential, too.

How do skin care companies like Brazilian Skin get the snail mucin from the snail into their products?  Dr. Godoy states, “When snails are put under mild stress conditions, they excrete a thick fluid as a means to protect themselves.” When concentrated, this snail mucin aids human skin by hydrating, preventing aging and improving wrinkles and scars. 

4. It’s a protection powerhouse.

When looking at ways to protect skin from premature aging, UV rays, pollution, dryness, it’s the copper and antimicrobial peptides along with hyaluronic acid, proteoglycans, and glycoprotein that makes snail mucin such a powerful skin shield.

When you use a serum that includes clinical levels of skin mucin, you’re going to see a difference in the overall appearance of your skin within a few days.

5. It fades scarring and stretch marks.

“There are two key components to snail filtrate that boost tissue repair and promote rapid cell renewal. First are fibrinolytic enzymes which can be thought of as cellular nourishment for the skin. The other is glycolic acid which serves as a natural exfoliant which handles the scars, fine lines, and wrinkles. When you look at these two components plus everything else found in snail filtrate, it’s obvious that it is a powerful ingredient,” Dr. Godoy illustrated.

6. It kills bacteria and blasts acne.

The little snail that could continues to amaze with the ability to kill bacteria that live on the skin’s surface causing acne. “Snail mucin is full of natural antibiotics so when using products with high concentrations of it, skin clears and remains clear with consistent use,” says Dr. Godoy.

With this abundance of naturally occurring benefits for a variety of skincare issues, it’s a no-brainer why snail mucin is more commonly featured as an ingredient in skincare products lately.

What does the research show?

In Brazilian Skin’s research on the benefits, results from a small study with varied ages, both men and women had skin moisturization increase 30-40% after using protelixan and skin elasticity increased by 17%.

While there is limited research on the anti-aging properties of snail mucin, Dr. Godoy believes the addition of SSF in Brazilian Skin products contribute to the drastically amazing results their skincare line achieves, specifically in regard to anti-aging. Along with Dr. Godoy, Wilson Chueire, Founder of Brazilian Skin, also believes this and affirms their Bratoxin formula, which features SSF, increases skin moisture by 54% over 24 hrs.

Product information:

Currently, Brazilian Skin’s regimen comes in the form of a Facelift Kit ($229.00) with three serums: the Age Reversing Bratoxin ® which is the daytime serum, the Triple Cell Complex Acai mask which delivers the best results when worn overnight, and Bratoxinsta ® a more direct wrinkle treatment serum that when applied to deeper wrinkles, radically reduces their appearance within 60 seconds.

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INSTAGRAM "HEALTH FOODS" THAT ARE SURPRISINGLY UNHEALTHY OR CALORIC

From Whole Foods to pricey health food stores, cafes, and coffee shops, certain foods and ingredients have become trendy among health and calorie counting foodies.  Who has not heard of matcha, Acai, cold-pressed juice, and gluten-free baked goods? In a perfect world, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could find food and drinks that are delicious, healthy and not calorie laden?  While certain Instagram accounts may have you convinced these “magic foods” exist,  Dr. Niket Sonpal is a NYC gastroenterologist and assistant professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine who cautions health enthusiasts to do a deeper dive into what they are eating and imbibing

Gluten-Free Baked Goods

Despite the fact that less than one percent of Americans are believed to have celiac disease, customers and food brands alike have gotten caught in the gluten-free food obsession. Dr. Sonpal explains that “To mimic the taste and texture of wheat gluten, companies will use corn, oat, and rice flours, which aren’t necessarily better for you.” One study found that participants who consumed rice-flour-based baked goods had higher levels of metals within their system than the control group, which is linked to rice’s natural arsenic and metal content.

Smoothie Bowls

Their vibrant colors and pleasant toppings give smoothie bowls the appearance of a well-balanced breakfast, but don’t be fooled: they are loaded with sugar. Unlike traditional smoothies that come in useful, portion-controlled bottles, smoothie bowls tend to be larger and have more surface area, which makes it easy to add additional toppings. For example, the Chunky Strawberry Bowl from Jamba Juice contains 590 calories and 58 grams of sugar.

Acai

Google “acai berry” and a wealth of purported benefits like weight loss and antiaging results will return. Does this trendy health food hail from Brazil really live up to the hype? Dr. Sonpal says that “While the fiber-rich fruit does tout more antioxidant properties than pomegranates and blueberries, many health claims don’t mention that it logs in 247 calories per 100 grams, 26 grams of which are carbohydrates.”  The takeaway?  Unless you are using acai at home and controlling your portions, an acai bowl could cost you almost 600 calories per serving!

Almond milk

The fact that it’s dairy-free and low in calories has made it the default milk among many people who try to eat healthily. Dr. Sonpal explains that “though unsweetened almond milk, like dairy milk, is a good source of calcium and vitamin D, it’s really low in protein. (Just 1 or 2g protein in a one-cup serving.)

Protein Bars

Protein bars, which are sometimes also energy bars, contain numerous artificial ingredients and have as much nutritional value as a milk chocolate bar. That said, some protein bars can be healthy if they contain healthy, whole, and very few ingredients that make up the bar. Dr. Sonpal cautions, “If you see upwards of 15 ingredients in your protein bar, I would say stay away from it.”

Avocado

If you look at all the salads, grain bowls, and other healthy dishes on Instagram, you'll probably notice that the people posting them seem to be eating a great deal of avocado. "Avocados are very nutritious and packed with healthy monounsaturated fats and fiber,” says Dr. Sonpal. Many Instagrammers go overboard. "An entire medium avocado contains 250 calories and 23g fat," Sonpal says. "Keep your serving size to a quarter of a medium avocado, which would be 60 calories and 6g of fat.

Veggie Chips

The pieces of actual veggies in veggie chips are so thin and processed that most of the nutrition from the vegetable is gone. “Instead, try whole-grain pretzels, baked corn chips, crackers made with seeds and nuts, or popcorn,” Dr. Sonpal suggests. To keep from turning a bag of chips or box of crackers into a meal, divide them up into sensible portions ahead of time.

Cold-pressed juices 
Cold pressed juices have risen in popularity over the past few years, and with the hefty price tag tacked on to them (one serving of juice can be as much as $12!) one would assume guzzling some would provide you with all the nutrients you could possibly need. Unfortunately for your wallets, and your diets, that is not the case. While made of whole, raw fruits and veggies, the fiber from these foods are often stripped during the juicing process. On top of that, fruits like apples can be added to cut the bitter flavor of leafy greens, which can bump the carbohydrate content up to 20-30 grams of carbs per juice! Dr. Sonpal warns that “because there is no fiber or protein in these juices, guzzling one can cause blood sugar levels to spike too, leaving you right back where you started: hungry and craving something nutrient dense. 

Matcha Lattes

Matcha is one food trend that has taken the center stage. Some restaurants offer matcha pancakes. While matcha is packed with antioxidants and provides detox health benefits that cannot be disputed, ordering up a latte may not be the magic elixir you bargained for.  A 12-ounce matcha latte from a popular coffee chain packs 24 grams of sugar and will set you back 190 calories.

Agave Nectar

Agave syrup is derived from the sweet nectar of the Agave tequila plant and is often perceived as a “natural” alternative to processed cane or beet sugar or other zero-calorie sweeteners. The syrup is touted by manufacturers as a safer sweetener for diabetics because it is lower on the glycemic index (a measurement of how certain foods affect blood sugar levels), Dr. Sonpal says that “no reliable human studies exist reinforcing this claim. Agave syrup is just like any other sweetener- no better, no worse”.

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HOW TO NAVIGATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON IF YOU HAVE THESE COMMON ADDICTIONS OR DISORDERS

Holidays are a stressful time for almost everyone.  We battle traffic to see family and friends, stretch our budgets on gifts and tips, deal with difficult family relations, face loneliness, fear of missing out, and in general, take stock of where we are in life. For those who battle addictions or disorders such as alcoholism, eating disorders, gambling, social anxiety or compulsive shopping, the holidays can be more than challenging. We turned to Carrie Carlton LCSW at Beachway Therapy in Boyton Beach, Florida for some tips on how to cope if you suffer various afflictions.

For Those With Eating Disorders

Carrie Carlton suggests, “Talk to your treatment team and help identify what difficulties you may expect and problem-solve some strategies for dealing with them. If you are following a meal plan try to stick to it over the holidays. Try to anticipate some of the situations that will make following it harder, such as time in transit, time changes, and not having access to your usual foods. If you are traveling, plan how or where you will get the food you need.” Have the phone numbers of your treatment team and friends available to you.

Carrie Carlton cautions, “If you need to be at a function with certain people who make you uncomfortable, plan some ways to excuse yourself from their immediate presence. Put your own health above anything else at all times. Try not to count calories and try to avoid the scale. If you feel yourself starting to panic because you are feeling too full or if you allowed yourself to eat foods that you consider to be forbidden, remind yourself it is okay to eat what you did, that food will not make you fat, and it is normal to eat more during the holidays. If you end up binging or purging, do not beat yourself up over it. Just put it behind you and move forward. Try to get back on track at the next meal.

Recovering Alcoholics Attending Parties

Carrie Carlton offers the following tips:

Tell a reliable person about your desire to stop drinking. This may hinder you from sneaking away to have a drink.

Stay busy.

Bring your own non-alcoholic drinks. This is important to remember if you think that only alcoholic drinks will be served.

Choose only to attend parties you will really enjoy. This can limit the stress of not drinking and will reduce the chances that you will.

Avoid attending parties with alcohol.

Take along a friend. An A.A. friend or someone else you trust will help in keeping you from drinking alcohol.

Show up at a later time. If you have been invited to a dinner party, showing up shortly before dinner may limit the amount of pressure to drink beforehand.

Ask if any food dishes contain alcohol, especially if it is uncooked alcohol.

Attend an A.A. meeting or party so that you can find support in fellow members.

Schedule other plans. Figure out something else to do on the nights you are invited to parties where alcohol will be served. This will keep you from deciding to go last minute!

Remember that choosing not to drink is not rude. Forcing someone to drink is rude.

If You Are Addicted to Shopping

Carrie Carlton advises, “Avoid going holiday shopping alone. Present shopping during the holidays is inevitable. Avoid shopping alone; bring a friend with you and ask them to keep your spending in check. This is not a sign of weakness, it simply means that you know yourself well enough to know what you need this holiday.”

Here are some tips:

Avoid online shopping, period. Block sites if you need to.

Practice a 24-hour rule: No purchase can be made inside of a 24-hour “thinking” period.

Give your credit cards to a trusted friend, keeping only a debit card for daily necessities.

Find an alternative to a shopping expedition – make a plan to volunteer during the holidays or stay home and bake cookies for your neighbors.

Seek help either from a therapist or a support group like Shopaholics Anonymous, Overspenders Anonymous or Debtors Anonymous.

If You Have a Gambling Addiction

Budgeting – If you are a newly recovering gambling addict, you may have already put someone else in charge of your finances. If you are concerned about urges to gamble during the holidays, make sure you do not have access to a surplus of funds or any significant amounts of cash that could raise temptation.

Family Gathering Decisions – Request that family and friends refrain from gambling when playing games together this holiday season. Card games can be enjoyable without the transfer of money or other material goods. While it may be wise for you to refrain from playing these games at all to keep from being reminded of your past gaming activity and the feelings associated with wins and losses, a request that no gambling occurs will allow others to play without posing any immediate danger to you.

Avoid Dangerous Gifts – Similarly, request that no holiday gifts come in the forms of cash or scratch-off tickets. Carrie Carlton cautions that, “Both could trigger the urge to gamble “just this once,” and that action can spiral into the return of a your more serious addiction.”

Know Yourself – Remember what caused you to gamble before, and make sure your behaviors and habits do not change during the holiday season and trigger gambling impulses. This may mean monitoring your alcohol intake, turning down vacation daytrips to casinos with friends, and making sure no extra vacation time causes you any feelings of boredom or loneliness.

For Those With Social Anxiety

Calm Breathing: This helps you calm down quickly. Carrie Carlton say, “We tend to breathe faster when we are anxious. This can make us feel dizzy and lightheaded, which can make us even more anxious.  Calm breathing involves taking slow, regular breaths through your nose. It is important to realize that the goal of calm breathing is to make it a little easier to “ride out” the feelings in social situations, not eliminate anxiety completely because anxiety is not dangerous and it’s normal to feel anxious at times.”

Muscle Relaxation: Another helpful strategy involves learning to relax your body. This involves tensing various muscles then relaxing them. This strategy can help lower overall tension and stress levels, which can contribute to anxiety problems

3.  Realistic thinking

People with social anxiety tend to have negative thoughts about themselves and about what could happen in social situations.

In closing Carrie Carlton adds the following, “If you believe that social situations are threatening or dangerous, then you are more likely to feel anxious. However, it is important to realize that your thoughts are guesses about what will happen, not actual facts.  People with social anxiety tend to over-estimate the degree of danger in social situations.”

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7 WAYS TO BOOST ENERGY WITHOUT AN ENERGY DRINK

After seeing the news about a research study out of the University of Texas Health Center in Houston, which found the diameter of blood vessels to become “dramatically smaller” 90 minutes after consuming a 24-ounce energy drink, I decided to offer some ways to boost energy without an energy drink.

While the 24-ounces used in the study of 44 healthy, non-smokers in their 20’s, is 3 times the size of a typical 8-ounce energy drink, there is plenty of research out there that shows chugging energy drinks is not the best way to get more energized.

When we look at the levels of sugar and caffeine in these energy drinks and the habitual nature in which they are consumed, we see issues such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, thickening of the blood, gastrointestinal irritation plus anxiety, sleep disruption and restlessness.

Here’s what I suggest consuming for a more sustainable and healthy way to energize.

1. Hydrate with water. The idea is to follow the 8x8 rule. Eight ounces of water 8 times per day which adds up to a half gallon. Most people are not getting anywhere near this water intake opting for coffee, juices, sodas or energy drinks instead. I challenge my patients to try the 8x8 rule and even declare going “H20 Only.” By the third day, they notice they’re feeling more energized.

2. Exercise 30 minutes per day.

Something as simple as going for a fast-paced walk elevates heart rate and healthy blood flow. This improves stamina and gets energy flowing throughout our bodies. A lot of people claim they don’t have time to exercise which calls for creative ways to get exercise in. I had a client add dancing for 30 minutes upon her arrival from work with her 4-year-old daughter. This provided a way for both mom and daughter to get moving in a fun easy way right at home.

3. Sprinkle in chia seeds.

These low carb seeds have an energy packing blend of protein, fats, and fiber. Chia seeds regulate blood sugar, so you won’t have these spikes then drops. They deliver big time nutrients with very low calories. Loaded with antioxidants, chia seeds were a highly valuable energy staple for Mayan and Aztec warriors in ancient Mexico who consumed them knowing they would be sustained, not hungry and energized for hours and hours.

4. Eat foods rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids.

Omega 3’s are big-time energy enhancers. Eating salmon, sea bass, tuna, oysters, shrimp, seaweed salad, walnuts, edamame, and cauliflower are just a few Omega 3 rich staples to add to the shopping list.

5. Get good quality sleep.

Many of my patients who see me for gastrointestinal issues often benefit from getting disciplined with setting a bedtime, wake time and enhancing the quality of their sleep. This could be simple things such as pre-sleep meditation with an app, removing the television from the bedroom, buying curtains that block light, setting the temperature to suit your body best, buying new sheets and even a new mattress.

Making the bedroom a comfortable haven for quality deep sleep is incredibly important. Sleep is our time to recharge and when it is disturbed, we will feel sluggish during the day.

6. Get more magnesium.

Magnesium activates adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which can be thought of like the “magic button” of energy within our cells. According to studies, about half of the people in the USA and Europe aren’t getting the recommended amount of magnesium (300 milligrams for women and 350 for men).

Interestingly, most Americans and Europeans complain of energy drains and sluggishness and typically attribute their lack of energy to busier, more demanding lifestyles. However, the problem, most commonly, is a lack of magnesium which helps us convert food into energy, create proteins from amino acids, and helps regulate our nervous system.

7. Get more B12.

Known as the “energy vitamin” it’s important to note that the only time B12 will give you energy is if you’re deficient in B12. It’s wise to get complete blood work done to see if you are in fact deficient in B12 in addition to other key vitamins and minerals.B12 is found in beef, fish, and dairy and these days more and more people are cutting red meat and dairy out of their diets.

B12 helps to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen, so when there’s a dip in red blood cell production we’re being deprived oxygen which leads to feeling run down, the first tell-tale sign of B12 deficiency. Body weakness, shortness of breath brain fog, forgetfulness and lack of focus are also symptoms. Yogurt, Swizz cheese, fortified cereals, Shiitake mushrooms, and clams are other great sources of B12.

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DOES YOUR SKIN HAVE A HOLIDAY HANGOVER? WHAT TO DO WHEN LIBATIONS TAKE A TOLL ON YOUR SKIN

It’s holiday time again. Although Thanksgiving has passed, the “booziest” holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s are yet to come.

This post-Thanksgiving period between now and the New Year are when even average people tend to binge drink. What many people don’t realize is that drinking alcohol in excess can have a negative impact on your appearance. Alcohol dehydrates your body including the skin- your body’s largest organ. This happens every time you drink. Extra cocktails can be adding years to your face in the form of wrinkles, poor texture and lack of radiance.

Dr. Stanley Poulos a board-certified San Francisco area plastic surgeon explains that, “frequent alcohol consumption is also thought to deprive the skin of vital vitamins and nutrients. Over time, drinking heavily can have other, more permanent, detrimental effects on your skin. Rosacea, a skin disorder that starts with a tendency to blush and flush easily and can eventually lead to facial disfigurement, is linked to alcohol. Since alcohol increases your blood flow, it often causes blood vessels in your face to dilate (sometimes permanently) and often burst, leaving behind broken capillaries and red spots that are difficult to get rid of,” offers Dr. Poulos.

Here’s a look at what alcohol can do to wreak havoc on your appearance.

Brittle hair.

What's worse, drinking too much doesn't only affect the appearance of your skin; it will dehydrate your hair, making it more prone to breaking and split ends. Weak, brittle hair in addition to premature wrinkling, can easily add 10 years to someone’s appearance.

Dark circles, bloodshot eyes and even blindness.

In much the same way that alcohol causes broken capillaries on your face, it irritates and enlarges the tiny blood vessels on the surface of your eye (the sclera) causing a "bloodshot" appearance. If vanity doesn’t get your attention, how about blindness? “Because excessive drinking robs the body of some nutrients required to maintain eye health, it can lead to a condition called alcoholic optic neuritis, which impairs eyesight and, over time, can result in blindness,” cautions Dr. Poulos.

Some tips to avoid a “skin hangover” include…

1. Stay hydrated.

Aside from giving up booze altogether, Dr. Poulos says it is possible to minimize the unwanted effects of alcohol by constantly staying hydrated. “That means drinking a full glass of water for every cocktail you have. Drink even more water before you go to bed to flush the alcohol out of your system, so you wake up less dehydrated, puffy and flushed,” he advises.

2. Take care of your skin before bed.

Taking care of your skin before hitting the sack is also crucial. Dr. Poulos advises fully washing your face and then applying a moisturizer, like a hydrating serum before getting into bed. “Sleeping with dirty skin makes it prone to clogged pores and acne.”

3. Prop pillows and use tea.

One of the best ways to minimize the eye and face puffiness is to sleep on two pillows, slightly propped up. In the morning, rubbing ice cubes all over your face helps, too. “One of the best ways to deflate eye puffiness and reduce the redness is to place cold tea bags over the eyes. The tannins in the tea help constrict blood vessels,” adds Dr. Poulos.

4. Cover up what you can’t cure.

To camouflage the redness in the face, use a green-tinted primer before applying makeup, which should help neutralize any redness. If you must use foundation, look for a lightweight, moisturizing formula.  Avoid powders, as they are often more drying. 

5. Consider lasers.

When at-home remedies aren’t making much of a difference. There are pricier measures you can take to minimize the effects of alcohol. “Certain laser treatments can reduce redness and spider veins on the face. It’s important to see someone who is well trained to administer the laser treatment,” suggests Dr. Poulos.

6. Choose your booze wisely.

If you are going to consume alcohol know that different alcohols have different effects on the skin, but as a general rule, the clearer, the better. Vodka, gin, and tequila leave your system quicker. “If you’re going to drink anything, drink vodka that doesn’t have a grain in it, like potato vodka. It’s a lot clearer and smoother, so it gets in and out of your body quickly,” says Dr. Poulos. Most physicians agree that although everyone metabolizes alcohol differently, if you can remember to drink in moderation and stay hydrated, you can save your skin.

7. Reach for Caffeine

Grab an extra-large coffee, then give your skin a little caffeine boost, too. Caffeine helps constrict blood vessels and is a good option after a night of drinking, since alcohol dilates blood vessels. "This can make the area around your eyes look puffy and bloated," explains Dr. Poulos, who recommends keeping an eye cream with caffeine handy.

8. Go for Yogurt

Dr. Poulos advises slathering it on as a face mask and to make sure it’s plain yogurt.  Because it's anti-inflammatory, it will help soothe redness, another side effect of drinking too much, especially for those who have rosacea, he notes. Leave it on for five to ten minutes before rinsing.

9. Put Your Face on the Rocks.

“Take the ice cubes out of the freezer, put them in a hand towel and rub them over your face,’ says Dr. Poulos.  He suggests doing this to minimize puffiness and swelling. Use cold teaspoons to de-puff around the eye area.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

PROJECT HOLIDAY: TABLESCAPES AND HOSTING

The holiday season is exciting because you have the chance to see a number of your friends, family and colleagues in one place and at various gatherings within a dizzying 6 weeks. You know there are a number of events that you will attend and of course, you will be hosting. In theory, it's exciting until you realize that you will be hosting and throwing a dinner, event or a combination of the two. Before you stress out, we sat down with Camille Styles who knows a thing or two about planning events, cooking meals and being a great hostess. This event planner got her start in the industry planning events and pairing it with food. In addition to sharing her creations and tips on HGTV.com, Cooking Channel, O Magazine, Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living and more, Camille also shares her tips on her namesake site.

We took some time to talk with her about how we can tackle being a great host, the approachable way to creating tablescapes, her favorite places in Austin and her partnership with Bounty.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Can you tell us how you got into the event space as we know you have done a lot with HGTV.com and your website is beautiful.

CAMILLE STYLES: So part of my career is in events as you said. About 12 years ago, in my 20’s, I was an event planner for a catering company so I am really thankful that I was able to start as an event planner with a focus on food. I feel that number 1, food is my favorite part and the focal point to any kind of gathering and it also really taught me the nitty gritty ends and outs on what it takes to really create a great event. I got my feet wet there and fell in love with entertaining, parties, hosting and bringing people together. As a side creative outlet, I started CamilleStyles.com really as a creative project. I mean at that time, it was 10 years ago so blogs were really more of a hobby and something to do for fun on the side. Over the next year or two, it started to really pick up speed and gain an audience and as a Journalism major I have always loved to be able to right and really to use that degree to create content even if it was just for fun.

Over time, I built an audience where I was able to see that this was something that could be a full time gig and so I stopped planning events and put my time into creating content for the website. For the next 9 years, I continued to build and built a team of 7 right here in Austin – which I can’t believe that it’s been that long. I also have a few contributors from around the country as well. The content that we created it’s grown from focusing on entertaining to a number of lifestyle topics from design to interiors. But we really do keep the heart of what we do, which is about entertaining and for me it really is about those gatherings and finding ways to connect with people – especially during this time of year around the holidays. It’s about creating these feelings and spaces with those you love.

I’m truly able to do my dream job to create this kind of content around these verticals.

AM: Focusing on entertaining, what advice do you have for someone who is about to embark upon hosting their first holiday dinner with 10 people? How can we curb the anxiety that comes around hosting and making that person feel that this is an attainable task?

CS: This is a topic that is really near and dear to my heart. Entertaining is not just about bringing people together, but also being able to interact with them! Finding ways to host holiday gatherings without feeling stressed is so key because the host should be able to have fun right beside their guests. I think that for me, it all starts with making a detailed plan, especially when it comes to hosting a meal like, Thanksgiving or Christmas that has a lot of components where you are juggling a lot of different menu items. You want to hone in on exactly who is coming, making a specific plan about when they should show up, when dinner will be and of course – planning the venue. A detailed list of exact recipes, ingredients needed and most importantly, what can be done in advance so you can get as much done that’s not on the holiday so that when the day rolls around – you’re not too overwhelmed on what needs to get done.

AM: What are your go to’s that you like to make in advance?

CS: Make ahead recipe wise, there are a few things I always do, like sauces and sal ad dressings can be made a day or two ahead. I pop them in Mason Jars in the fridge. Pie crusts can be made really far in advance and you can actually freeze them. Things like cranberry sauce can be made 3 days ahead. Roasted vegetables are perfect to make a day ahead and then you can pop them in the oven to warm them up. We actually just posted Make Ahead Recipes which are perfect for holiday meals! I have a lot of my favorites in there that really showcases how important it is to do things in advance. If you are actually trying to make 8 dishes ON Thanksgiving or Christmas, you are going to be running around like a crazy person! This is the best way to maintain your sanity.

AM: In terms of tablescapes, what options do people have whether it’s going to Williams-Sonoma, your favorite department store or just going outside? People want to be able to showcase that they took time to present their meal in a beautiful and fun way.

CS: I love during this time of year to really take inspiration from nature. Where I live, we can go on a nature walk and collect branches, leaves, acorns or berries and gather them into a bowl. I’ll go to the grocery store and pick up some pomegranates and put them in a big shallow bowl to place them on the table. Anything that you can do to bring in some of those natural elements and really speak to what is happening outdoors, really speaks to the fall and season. Right now, there are a number of stores that are carrying some really beautiful faux greenery and branches – it’s such a great option for someone that doesn’t have those natural elements – to be able to place them on their table.

AM: In terms of cleaning up from such a feast, what are your tips there – should they be cleaning as they go or accept guests requests to pitch in?

CS: I’m all for guests being invited to participate in any realm except for clean up. Clean up is the one area that I think your guests should not be involved unless you have that one guest that absolutely insists. If it helps them to not feel guilty that’s ok but generally – it’s not something I would accept. When guests arrive, I want them to feel relaxed, so the kitchen shouldn’t look like a mess where they feel compelled to jump in and start cooking. For me, that’s where Bounty comes in as I pretty recently ditched my sponges as it was the one thing in my kitchen that got really gross and make my space look so messy. When you’re using the same sponge to wipe off the counters all day and to clean your utensils it just doesn’t look inviting when you see them there. I don’t want my guests to walk in to see gross dirty sponges and dishtowels when they walk in. I have my Bounty papertowels to wipe things down and to use a good cleaning spray. I can keep my pans clean as I go and it’s like using a dishtowel in that it doesn’t tear apart when you are using it and I can simply throw it away when I am done as opposed to having it out visibly. It’s my biggest cleaning hack.

AM: We know that you recently partnered with Bounty?

CS: For me, I really believe in the product and quality and I use it everyday myself. We really, at our company think really carefully about the products and brands we work with and don't have that many that we do partner with. We want to work with the ones that are integral in my life as well as within the studio as we create content. It’s always great when you have the chance to work with a brand that has a natural cohesion with the things that you are already doing. For us around the holiday season, we’re always talking about how to simplify, how to have beautiful surrounding throw really great parties without being stressed and Bounty is one of the ways that we are able to do that.

AM: With Christmas and Hanukkah and other winter holidays – people have a number of gatherings that are not as intensive as hosting a dinner. What are really simple ways that people can host to enjoy their guests while keeping it stress free?

CS: I like events where guests can jump in and have a bit of interactivity and can lighten the load on the host. So, any type of do it yourself menus like Build Your Own Flatbread Bar where you can make flatbreads and bring them out and they can put on their own toppings and they can build them themselves. It’s perfect with those that have dietary restrictions as they can ensure that they are only adding in items that work for their needs. The same with cocktails, think of a specialty cocktail and have a self-serve bar with a few recipe cards and let them mix their own for the season. I love things like that as it’s a great way to get guests mingling and to use their hands to do something. It also makes my job easier as I’m not mixing up cocktails or making individual plates when my guests are hanging out. I can jump in and enjoy my guests and create alongside them.

AM: We know you’re based in Austin, TX. Where can we find you grabbing a bite/cocktail, working out and shopping?

CS: I love this – I’m such a proud Austinite. In terms of getting a bite to eat, there are so many! I would probably say, oh my gosh I have to break it down by season. In the winter, I love to go to June’s it’s a really cozy spot on South Congress. They have an amazing Chicken Matzah Ball Soup – if you go there, you have to get it! Its so heartwarming and cozy and a fun casual environment. That’s probably my go to winter spot. In the summer, I like to sit on the patio of Laundurette and order a glass of rose and they have an amazing burrata dish and everything they do is really creative and interesting with spicy flavors. Shopping, if I had to choose one place – I LOVE, I’d say Sunroom it’s a really cool shop on South Congress that has a cool beachy vibes. They carry designers and brands that you don’t find anywhere else in Austin and their buyer buys the coolest pieces. I just feel I wouldn’t find it anywhere online and I do a lot of online shopping so when I go there, it is always an experience and different. I work out at MOD Fitness, my barre studio and I also do SoulCycle and I also love to walk and run with a good friend around Lady Bird Lake.

PHOTOS COURTESY | Marc Babin

PHOTO CREDIT | UnSplash

Read more from the Nov Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Project Holiday: Tablescapes and Hosting in mag.

TAVERN ON THE GREEN FOR THE HOLIDAYS

When it comes to iconic destinations that you have to check off your bucketlist, Tavern on the Green is one of them. It's not just a culinary destination, but it is steeped in history. Earlier this fall we had the chance to talk with their General Manager, Kelly Harbison during their Fall Apple Event. With the holidays descending upon us, we had to circle back to share the history of Tavern on the Green, it's new incarnation, focus on approachability, being a steward in the community and of course, receive a snapshot on what the holiday season is like for them going into this time of year.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Can you tell us about the iconic history of Tavern on the Green?

KELLY HARBISON: Tavern on the Green is called Tavern on the Green because obviously we are located directly in front of Central Park and our building in the 1800’s was a sheepfold for the sheeps that would graze in Sheep’s Meadow which is right across the street from us. It’s really not even just historical in the 1900’s or even recently, but really all the way back to the building of Central Park where our building is a historic landmark is really influential in that kind of a growth of Central Park as a location which is really exciting for us.

Our ownership of Tavern on the Green has been since 2014. And basically, it was a restaurant for most of the 1900’s and then is was closed down for a little while and then the city really wanted to find a new owner/operator to come in that would bring the park inside. The old Tavern on the Green was really big and people were always in the Crystal Room that had all the chandeliers and such which was great and beautiful, but in the new incarnation of Tavern on the Green, we really looked to bring the park inside. We took down the Crystal Room and having that really beautiful Courtyard that really opens right up to Sheep’s Meadow and having an entrance open on that side so that people can just walk right up from being in the park and have a drink with us at our Courtyard. Our main dining room is the Central Park Room and it has a full glass front so that people can be experiencing the park while they are dining with us. Our two other rooms – our Bar Room and South Wing were really designed with nature in mind. So the original wood in the Bar Room or the leaves in the South Wing really help us to bring Central Park in and make it a bit more of an approachable place!

The Old Tavern, you would wear a suit and tie and go there for a 1,000 person gala and in the new incarnation, both the city and the operators really wanted to make it a place where everybody could come. You could still do a gorgeous wedding here in our Courtyard, but you can also stop here for lunch on a Mon if you are here visiting NYC and really have Tavern be a part of NYC as well as Central Park.

AM: We love that and we think that that is why Tavern on the Green has such a feeling for those visiting the city as well as those that live here! Because you guys have a number of rooms/areas, is the menu the same regardless of where you choose to dine?

KH: We generally for our dining room, have one menu. We have a lunch, brunch and dinner menu depending on the day and time. Additionally, we have our bar menu which is only served in our Bar Room and that has snacks and light bites if you are looking for something to nosh on while you have a nice beverage. In addition to that, we have our nice To Go Window open mainly year around although it closes in Jan. and Feb. – that’s more of a grab and go kind of thing for sandwiches and coffees for those that are walking through the park and don't have time to sit down for a nice meal. You can still have a nice lunch while you are walking by.

AM: As the General Manager, what is your role at Tavern on the Green?

KH: My role is to be the liaison of our ownership. We have over 300 staff members over a number of departments and a lot of things going on! I always joke that Tavern may be one restaurant, but it’s really 5! At any given point, we can have a wedding reception going on in our South Terrace, we can have our To Go Window open, another party in our South Wing, have a la carte in our Bar Room and Central Park Room and then have a full Courtyard with people coming in off of the Park and enjoying lunch or brunch. So it’s one building, but it’s really telling many stories at the same time. So my job is to help our ownership put that all together and what that looks like to ultimately hone in on the guest experience. I make sure that all of our departments whether it’s the front of house or back of house is firing on all cylinders and really just providing that really magical Tavern experience.

I know that you said before that people may have come here years ago – we have guests that come in that say, “oh this is my first time back since my friend’s wedding 10 years ago.” Or they will say, “I have never been here, but my grandparents got married here.” Or that their mom proposed to their dad here. There are a lot of really special family moments that we enjoy having them as Tavern moments as well and being able to speak to that. Simultaneously, being a part of NY.

We have a number of guests that live across the street on the UWS and they love having us here as their local establishment. It’s about holding those two things together and making sure that we are serving all those guests with absolute perfection - which is essentially my job and helping the management team from the front and back of house to do that!

AM: To be sure that is a huge job!

KH: Haha yes!

AM: On Nov 29th, this will be the 3rd Annual Tree Lighting for Tavern on the Green. Why did you guys start this tradition and what events will take place on this night? We know this is one of many events that will flow throughout this holiday period.

KH: The holidays here are about a month and a half of events at Tavern on the Green. We start with Thanksgiving Week. We do over 1500 people for Thanksgiving that Thursday and obviously, we know that that whole weekend is really a fun food and beverage weekend for everybody. That Saturday, we start our Holiday Brunch so our Executive Chef, Bill Peet puts together a $70 prix fixe menu that really focuses on the holiday and celebration and we run that menu every Saturday and Sunday through New Years. So coming off of that week, we head into the celebration of Christmas and all the holidays. So one thing that we do is participate in Winter’s Eve which takes place on Nov 26th at Lincoln Center which kind of brings together all of the restaurants out onto the street. We set up little kiosks and it allows us to be a part of the neighborhood and welcoming in the winter celebrations. This flows right into the Tree Lighting which takes place on Nov 29th and I’m so excited about it!

One of the things that I really love about it is, that yes we are in this iconic city, at an iconic restaurant, but we also try to be a good local steward of our community as well. Our charity partner for both the Winter’s Eve event and this Tree Lighting event is the West Side Campaign Against Hunger - a hyper local charity that really does amazing work around issues of hunger and scarcity right in our backyard. They run a food pantry which is set up like a grocery store and it allows people that need that food support to be a customer and get the kinds of things that they need for their families versus just giving boxes of food to them. It’s a really classy and respectful way for you to help someone out while making them feel valued at the same time. We love partnering with this organization for these reasons. So all of the money we raised for the donations from the delicious apple cinnamon donuts and delicious hot chocolate dipping sauce that was made for the Winter’s Eve event will be given to the West Side Campaign Against Hunger and similarly on the evening of the Tree Lighting Ceremony, we will host students from their Chef's Training Program who will be giving out soup and and raising money as well. Once again, we’re tying in this celebratory Tree Lighting into something that is a little greater than that and a bit more about the reason for the season – I think they say!

From the decorative side, we have a decorator that comes in who starts on Thanksgiving night at 1am to put up all the decorations.

AM: Oh wow!

KH: Oh yes, he’s right up in there! We will have over 12 Christmas Trees all over the building in addition to the beautiful one that is in the Courtyard that is 20 feet tall and has over 20,000 ornaments. There’s also 10,000 lights that we put up all over the eaves and the outside of the building and then really fun kinds of nooks all over the building. We have this white fireplace and we’re really playing up this cute Christmas Village in that area. We have Toy Soldiers when you come into the front and Chef Peet is putting together a full-scale Tavern on the Green as a gingerbread house. We have some lifesized elves in the Courtyard that are really fun to take a picture with. Finding these nooks so that people can take pictures of those great moments is really important to us.

Finally, for the Tree Lighting event, we will give out Chef Peet’s famous hot chocolate, spiced cider, warm cider, Christmas Cookies, gingerbread and apple cinnamon donuts. These will be complimentary to our guests for this event as we want our guests to enjoy the evening with us from 5-7pm. Our entertainment for the evening is the LaGuardia High School which is right around the corner from us. So we’re happy to have these talented young people to come celebrate with us!

AM: This sounds amazing! Will you continue to partner with West Side Campaign Against Hunger throughout the holiday season?

KH: We do events with them all of the time! I actually meant to mention an event we did the Tues after Thanksgiving …

AM: Yes Giving Tuesday

KH: Yes – on Giving Tuesday we donated 5% of our gross profits to West Side Campaign Against Hunger as well. We’re really happy to be engaging with them and the work that their Executive Director is phenomenal and the work that they do is amazing. It’s really important with the work that they are doing and it is being done in an amazing way. It’s about raising people up and doing charity in a way that helps people move themselves forward too.

I mentioned the Chef's Students that will be participating in the Tree Lighting, that’s a jobs program right? We come to them, they learn a skill and that helps them with their families to continue to succeed as they go forward. It’s an amazing way to serve the community. We work with this organization all the time so at the Apple Garden event you were at earlier this fall, one of the apple items had a $1 from every Waldorf Salad went back to them and we really look to find ways to donate to them as well as to incorporate them into what we do at Tavern. A couple of those Chefs Students who will be working at the Tree Lighting will actually be here all day with us by working with Chef Peet to see how a kitchen runs, helping with some prep work and really taking their classroom experiences in this charities kitchen to this big open kitchen on Tavern on the Green to give them that experience.

AM: That is truly amazing and the students must be excited for that experience!

What would you consider to be a classic holiday dish that people enjoy at Tavern on the Green as well as a cocktail to enjoy during this time of year?

KH: Oooo we have so many! In terms of a classic dish, we have a Tomahawk Steak that is served with Truffle Macaroni and Cheese which is as decadent and I mean that in the best way! It’s perfect for a cold Dec. night. Our beverage program is great as we do seasonal cocktails throughout the year and for the holidays we have some really beautiful Mulled Spice Cider which is delicious and served hot. We have a spiced Eggnog which is amazing and we can do those versions styled for the kids as well. We really searched far and wide for this Eggnog recipe and our Beverage Director joked last year that he really perfected it. This is the Tavern version and that Eggnog is really the way to celebrate this holiday.

AM: We feel that the holidays wrap up with New Year’s Eve essentially. What are you guys doing this year?

KH: We do. We’re really happy to do New Year’s because it is a really beautiful space to do it in. You can see all the fireworks that they do over Central Park. Once again it’s bringing in that Park and NYC experience right into Tavern. This year, we are doing it a little differently with an a la carte experience that will start at 4:45pm until 6:45pm. We want to be really approachable for everybody so maybe it’s a family with 2 really young kids and they want to celebrate but their kids need to be in bed by 8pm. We want to provide something for them.

So in the beginning we will have a normal lunch service and our evening will be a really fun celebratory affair with open seating so that people can have fun but then enjoy seeing the ball drop at home on TV. They can have an early celebration with us.

Starting at 9pm, we have our full 4 course meal with seating so you purchase your ticket by buying by table and it is yours for the evening. There will be live entertainment at the Bar Room and our Atrium so there will be several different party areas. The idea is that you will have a beautiful meal, then we will have passed desserts so once you finish the first part of the meal, your table is your home base, but then you can enjoy exploring the restaurant to bring in the New Year celebration!

IG @TavernOnTheGreen

Read more from the Nov Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Tavern on the Green for the Holidays in mag.

SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW | RICHARD BLAIS

Richard Blais trained under phenomenal chefs from Thomas Keller at The French Laundry, Daniel Boloud and Ferran Adria and then took the runner up spot on Top Chef's fourth season. Seasons later, he won Top Chef: All Stars. Richard continues to be a judge on Top Chef as well as a number of guest appearances on Food Network. In addition, his successful restaurants include: Juniper & Ivy and The Crack Shack.

With the holidays starting this month, we wanted to talk with Richard about what we should have on hand in our cabinets, how can we make great leftovers, and what he is up to that we should keep an eye out for.

ATHLEISURE MAG: With the holidays coming up, what are ingredients that are always good to have on hand regardless of whether we’re making our appetizers, mains, sides and desserts?

RICHARD BLAIS: Salt is a given! My personal favorite is Morton Fine Sea Salt as it gives any dish – appetizer, main, side or dessert – that additional flavor boost needed to upgrade your Thanksgiving meal.

AM: What is the key to proper planning when making our holiday meals?

RB: Getting ahead! Don’t be afraid to start the work a week ahead if possible! Stock, sauce, gravy, cutting vegetables, and getting as much done in advance of the day of eating!!!

AM: What are common ingredients that can be used for sweet and savory dishes that we may be surprised to know?

RB: Salt of course really wakes up any dessert! I love cinnamon in savory dishes as well!

AM: After an epic holiday meal, how can we breathe life back into our turkey in a new way for leftovers?

RB: I’m a big fan of upcycling your Thanksgiving leftovers. The go-to at my house is to take dinner’s leftover sweet potatoes and turn them into breakfast waffles. My kids are big fans of this too!

Leftover Sweet Potato Waffles

Serves 4-5

Ingredients

2 ¼ cups all purpose flour

1 tbsp baking powder

3 tbsp sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp Morton® Fine Sea Salt

1 cup cooked mashed sweet potato (recipe below)

1/2 cup melted butter

2 cups milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs, separated

1 cup Pomegranate seeds

1 cup toasted, Pumpkin seeds

1 cup your favorite granola (or recipe below)

1.5 cups crème fraiche, whipped (or whipped cream)

2 tsp apple pie spice

1 tsp Morton® Coarse Ground Sea Salt

Directions

· Preheat your waffle iron and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

· In a large bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, Morton® Fine Sea Salt, sugar and cinnamon.

· Beat the egg whites in a mixer or with a whisk, until stiff peaks form. Set aside.

· In a medium bowl whisk together the milk, vanilla, melted butter and egg yolks.

· Add wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir until fully incorporated.

· Fold in sweet potato and egg whites.

· Spray all sides of waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray, pour batter into waffle iron so that it fills the shell completely.

· Close waffle iron lid and wait for notification that it is finished (likely, a beep)

· Open iron and remove hot waffle.

· Serve with a handful of pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, granola, and a dollop of crème fraiche, as desired.

· Finish with a dusting of apple pie spice and Morton® Coarse Sea Salt.

Mashed Potato Recipe

Ingredients

1 ea large sweet potato

1 tsp Morton Kosher Salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp olive oil

Directions

· Preheat oven to 350 F.

· Rub sweet potato with Morton Kosher Salt, black pepper and olive oil and wrap tightly in aluminum foil.

· Bake in a baking dish in the oven for 35-40 minutes, or until fork tender.

· Remove from oven, peel once cool enough to touch, and mash with a fork.

Granola Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup slivered almonds

¼ cup honey

¾ tsp Morton® Coarse Sea Salt

1 tbsp browned butter

Directions

· Preheat oven to 250F.

· Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and pour into a baking dish.

· Cook for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to toast evenly.

· Remove from oven and let cool.

· Use handful of granola to top the waffle, as desired.

AM: What does a Richard Blais Thanksgiving meal look like?

RB: A few variations of turkey! A traditional roasted one and then something experimental for that year. This year I’m in Italy, so maybe porchetta for thanksgiving! And lots of sides! Mac and cheese, braised greens, homemade bread, but always CANNED cranberry jelly! Don’t judge!

AM: What tips do you have in making a moist turkey that guests will enjoy?

RB: The key to a moist, flavorful turkey – it’s all about the brine! Brining really helps to lock in the birds’ natural juices. My tips on bringing – ask Alexa. With the Alexa skill, Morton Brine Time, you simply call out for help and you get step-by-step answers to all your brining questions.

AM: We know that you enjoy truffle hunting – any tips that you can give us when we have the opportunity to do so?

RB: You need time, a good guide, and an amazing dog. I’m no expert, but I forage regularly in California for all sorts of wild foods, and I recommend it as a fun family hiking activity. Just know what you are grabbing and consult a field book, or expert always!

AM: We know that you are a busy guy with a number of restaurants, appearing on shows etc., but when you’re home, where would we find you grabbing a bite/cocktail, working out and doing a little shopping?

RB: I travel so much I feel like it’s hard to pin down a routine, but I call North County San Diego home. You can find me running a trail or foraging when I’m not in the restaurants.

PHOTOS COURTESY | RICHARD BLAIS

Read more from the Nov Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Something You Should Know with Richard Blais in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

THE LAST KINGDOM

Netflix Originals

Season 3

If you have yet to watch The Last Kingdom, we highly suggest that you start at the beginning and start bingeing now over the Thanksgiving holiday!

We know that the main character, Uhtred saw that his father was killed and that the Saxon army was defeated by troops that invaded. He was captured by Danish warlord Earl Ragnar and raised in a Danish camp alongside a fellow captive, Brida - a sharp tongued girl.

Years later, Uhtred is a respected warrior that has another tragedy that takes place when his home is purposely set on fire and kills his surrogate family, including Ragnar. He is now alone with Brida by his side to avenge the death of this man as well as to reclaim his homeland.

The conflict resides in whether he will choose between his country of birth or the people who raised him. He will have to learn how to navigate both as he is set on building a nation. For those that are caught up on season 1 and 2, there are great things ahead with the current season and plenty of speculation on what the 4th season could be.

IMAGINED LIFE

Wondery

In a culture where celebrities are constantly shared in our social feeds on what they are up to, this podcast by Wondery takes a different approach. What if your favorite celeb or mover and shaker had a life that you didn't know and you had to guess to figure it out?

Imagined Life presents the backstory of celebs and is presented in a way where you are the celeb and you are provided clues; how ever, you are not told who you are until the very end. The episodes are engaging as you learn their backstory and ultimately, to gain a new perspective on who these notables are.

LINE OF DUTY

Acorn TV

Season 4

Line of Duty is a British BBC police procedural show whose 4th season (which has Thandie Newton in the cast) has now come to Acorn TV. This show focuses on a fictional police anticorruption squad unit AC-12. This cat-and-mouse thriller that focuses on modern policing and corruption has a stellar cast within this show which has already begun filming season 5 and has been greenlit for a 6th season as well.

Each episode puts a different member of the squad as the lead in an episode as they are assigned cases where police corruption could be taking place on a case that is being worked on. Fans enjoy the well written show that is filled with plot twists and unexpected thrills without focusing on gore and scenes of gratuitous sex.

With characters weaved into each show, it may be tempting to catch your favorite star, but it is worth the wait to watch it without distraction and to see how their stories evolve within and across the seasons.

Read more from the Nov Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

BINGELY BOOKS

BADASS BODY GOALS

Jennifer Cohen

Habit Nest

Consider this your personal trainer in book format. When you're focused on obtaining your fitness goals for the booty of your dreams as well as trimming your waist. This book has workout tips that is created by Celebrity Fitness trainer, Jennifer Cohen. You'll find instructions on targeted workouts for 10 weeks and you have the ability to track your process.

This fitness journal allows you to be accountable and to take authority of your goals.

MY SQUIRREL DAYS

Ellie Kemper

Simon and Schuster

If you wanted to know more about Ellie Kemper who starred as Kimmy Schmidt in the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as well as The Office's, Erin Hanon, this book gives insight into this comedic wife, mother and New Yorker and the funny stories of how she got into the industry, like landing her role in Bridesmaids when she actually was a Bridesmaid!

Ellie talks about her childhood in St Louis from directing/starring in her family holiday pageants, attempting (and failing) at becoming friends with the backyard squirrel, washing her dad's car with a Brillo pad and becoming a “sports monster” who ends up warming the bench of her Division 1 field hockey team in college.

It is worth learning how she navigated the industry and how she stayed true to herself is a lesson in staying positive in an industry that is tough to get into as reflecting on the way one should also approach their own lives no matter what industry they work in.

DEAR MRS. BIRD

AJ Pearce

Simon and Schuster

Set in London during World War II, we learn about Emmeline Lake who dreams about being a war correspondent and actually becomes a secret advice columnist in the process! Emmy and her best friend, Bunty continue to do their part for the war effort and maintain cheerful dispositions despite the fact that they hear the nightly raids made by German planes.

Emmy answers an ad in the newspaper thinking that her dream of being a Lady Emmy answers an ad in the newspaper thinking that her dream of being a Lady War Correspondent is about to become true and finds that in an epic misunderstanding that she is typing letters for Henrietta Bird, the paper's known advice columnist of Woman's Friend magazine.

Mrs. Bird tells her that letters that are not appropriate must go into the trash.

But when Emmy reads the pleas of women who have engaged too far with the wrong man, (those who don’t want to let their children be evacuated that) she begins to write to them secretly even though she knows she shouldn't.

Read more from the Nov Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Books in mag.