This is how I dominate March Madness – And how YOU can make a bracket people wanna talk loud about.

And here’s the magic.

How to make a bracket people wanna talk loud about:

1) It’s all about the upsets. Cheering on the underdog is the best part of March Madness… and now you can cheer on ALL the underdogs!! Everyone will congratulate you for picking that little team that could (little do they know you picked the ten other little teams that couldn’t…) But hey, this is your moment to shine. Just live in the glory of your upset. Two of my favorite upsets this year are underlined above: New Mexico State (because let’s be real… what else do you know about New Mexico besides what you’ve learned from Breaking Bad and High School Musical?? They need some March Madness love.) And Montana. (Just because).

2) Take a few middle teams deep into the tourney so the upsets never stop. Who says the upsets have to stop in the first round? Not me, that’s not who! If you pick a few 3/4/5/6 seeds to go far, then you are blessed with upset excitement all the way to the final four. (Note the double dots for my mid-team pics of Cinci, Louisville, Temple, and Baylor.)

3) Never have more than one #1 ranked team in the final four. Because that’s just not fun for anyone. It’s too obvious, and March Madness is all about the risk. When a #1 team gets knocked out early (and remember, one always does), you can proclaim: “oh no big deal, I didn’t have them in my final four anyways.” People will swoon.

4) Always have a 3/4 or less team win it all. Millions of people pick the #1′s, and the rest all pick the #2′s. Give the higher digits some love and bring some real excitement to the party.

5) When in doubt, base all big decisions on Mascot, Team Color, and Random Facts. This could be the most important rule yet. The number one dividing factor between loud talk worthy brackets and brackets that will never get a peep? Passion. The less reason you have for being an obsessed fan the better. This year, I’m all about Marquette. Why you ask? Because they are the Golden Freaking Eagles. That’s why.

My bracket strictly adheres to the above rules and I expect some epic results this year. I’m entered and set to win The Rulli Family Bracket, The PageLife bracket at work, and The Fiance Bracket…

This just got real.

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What rules do you live your March madness by??

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Strawberry Banana… The Perfect Marriage.

Strawberries and Bananas – They’re like that couple who has been married for 70 years and still makes googly eyes at each other. Sure, they’ve had their disagreements… Banana has always been a little jealous of the friendly relationship Strawberry shares with Rhubarb, and Strawberry thinks the way Gorillas treat Banana is just totally inappropriate. But in the end, we all know Strawberry and Banana are just meant to be together.

So when The Fiance came home from work one night hungry, thirsty and craving something sweet – I knew just the treat to make him.

Strawberry Banana Almond Milk Smoothie 

The Smoothie:

- (1 Cup) Frozen Strawberries

- (1) Frozen Banana*

- (1/2 cup – 1 cup) Almond Milk**

- (1-2 Tbsp) Agave Nectar) optional 

- ((2-3 Tbsp) Hemp Seeds) optional 

BLEND ALL ABOVE INGREDIENTS… SIP AND SMILE!!

- ((lots) Cacao Nibs) optional… Sprinkle on top

More Deets: 

- Feel free to use fresh berries/fruit as well, but I have found that frozen berries are 1) typically cheaper and easier to get organic. 2) Last forever in the freezer so they’re easy to always have on hand and 3) Make for a frozen concoction that tastes like ice cream

- *To avoid a frozen banana mess (and we’ve all been there, amiright?!?) make sure you peel your banana BEFORE you freeze it! So… buy a big bunch of bananas, let them ripen until brown, peel, cut in half, and freeze! I always have a HUGE bag of frozen bananas lying around my freezer… just in case!!

- ** Feel free to use store-bought almond milk, just make sure you buy the least processed kind you can find! Avoid anything with added preservatives, words you’ve never seen, or added sweeteners. It should just be almonds and water!! If you’re feeling wild and crazy (and yes, you are) go ahead and make your own! Just follow the nut:water ratio of 1:4 when adding the ingredients to the blender. **Tip: Feel free to play with the ratio to make “skim” and “whole” versions of your almond milk. When making it for a hungry Fiance, I normally use a 2 or 3:4 ratio.

- For a sweeter shake, add in a few squirts of agave to taste. I try to limit the agave in my own shake and rely on the natural sweetness of the fruit But when it come to The Fiance… I typically add a few extra spoonfuls.

- Similar to the nut:water ratio, feel free to play around with the hemp seeds. For a lighter shake, I won’t add any hemp – but for a more filling treat, I’ll add upwards of 3 Tbsp. For a hungry Fiance… I add all 3. **Tip – the hemp will give it a distinct flavor. If you’ve never had hemp before, I suggest adding a little agave along with it.

- I live my life by the following rule: Everything is better with chocolate. So obviously, I sprinkle a heavy dose of cocoa nibs on my smoothie. I strongly urge you to do the same

Let’s take it to The Blogs - 

- McKenna Gordon adds an extra nutritional kick to her strawberry banana shake… with spinach! I am SO sneaking that one in on The Fiance next time.

- Healthy Cosmos kicks it up a notch and adds Spirulina to the mix.

- Kath Eats Real Food tops her smoothie off with granola for an added crunch.

- Kaitlynkirby says their strawberry banana almond smoothie makes the perfect breakfast… and I have to agree.

- Strawberry banana french toast casserole?!?? I just had to add this recipe from Jeanetteshealthyliving.

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What’s your favorite way to have your Strawberry Banana??

You’re about to get Cocomama’ed… Prepare yourself.

I know you’ve been missing Cocomama and I getting our healthy, mostly gluten free, and 100% tasty cook on (yes? YES.) But fret no more my friends… because Cocomama Gets Cookin’ is back.

oh yeah, you SO wanna know what we’re up to with these beans… don’t ya??

Weeks of recipe swaps, plenty of tastings and a full day of chopping and blending in the kitchen later… and we have four, that’s right FOUR, super delish cooking vids lined up for you.

Excited?!?!! Here’s a tease for what’s coming your way over the next few weeks: Cocomama and I battle it out over a favorite dip, redefine a traditional movie theater treat, whip up a hearty and delish meal in just 15 mins, and take a break over our new favorite coffee alternative.

While we wait for the hotly anticipated release of Cocomama Get’s Cookin’ (yes, I’m generating my own buzz here… is it working??), take a stroll down Cocomama memory lane with me.

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Starbucks ain’t got nothing on Cocomama‘s version of Mocha Peppermint… brownie bite style.

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Get your very own case of the latke belly with Cocomama‘s irresistible veggie latkes!

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Want to sip your way back to the Holidays? Cocomama‘s Faux nog can take care of that.

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Need a dose of Halloween? Cocomama cooks up a mini state of happy with our Pumpkin Pielets.

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Let’s take it to the Blogs - 

- GFBostonGirl whips up her own version of moist, dense, bean brownies… this time, with black beans!

- Snack-face gives egg nog a twist by making it healthy… and turning it into French Toast!

- HealthySmoothieHQ makes pumpkin pie in a glass!

- Jules Gluten Free mixes up her Veggie Latkes by adding spaghetti squash… LOVE!

- And of course, Cocomama has all the vids and reads over on her blog!!

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What Cocomama Recipes have you tried and loved??

Tags: cocomama, cooking video, food, recipes

The MaggieTalks/SipsLoud Cappi Checklist Versus – Caffe Bene.

Caffe Bene goes up against The Maggie Talks/Sips Loud Cappi Checklist.

The MaggieTalks/SipsLoud Cappi Checklist:

*I’m interrupting my own list with this important declaration: CAFFE BENE!! Upon walking into the cafe you are greeted not just once, but often two or three times with the ever enthusiastic and energetic call of CAFFE BENE! As a loud talker myself – I loved that for once, someone was actually more excited than me about their coffee.

Interruption ended… let’s continue on.

1) Bold, Strong espresso: Caffe Bene takes their coffee and coffee drinks very seriously. Barristas are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and even wear a hipster uniform (which I always take as a good sign.)

1.A.) Special shout out to a product at Caffe Bene that mandates its very own sub-category: Misu Garu (also seen as – misutgaru). Don’t worry… I had no idea what it was either. Let’s learn together: Misu Garu is a traditional Korean powder made from rice and other whole grains that have been cooked, dried and ground.  The powder can be mixed with milk to make a latte, blended into smoothies, or sprinkled on top of oatmeal. It’s heralded as a healthy and nutty tasting alternative to coffee. Caffe Bene’s Misu Garu is a mixture of black sesame seeds, black beans, black rice, brown rice and barley. The best way to describe its unique taste? Leftover cereal milk.

1.B.) Since apparently this post is all about the random tangents, I’m adding one here about Caffe Bene’s waffles. They smell SO delectable, come in a crazy variety of flavors, and melt in your mouth. Oh, and they have gelato. Double win.

2) Extra foamy delight: Soy foamy goodness abounds here… complete with cappi art on every coffee!

3) Real mug: You have to ask for it… but if you ask, they will provide.

4) Surprise toppings: A whole toppings bar for your palate to explore!! Warning – The cafe toppings bar is shared between coffee drinkers and waffle eaters alike. So be prepared to find a cinnamon shaker nestled up next to the garlic salt. Please, for the love of Cappis… do not get confused.

5) The Cozy Factor: This is where Caffe Bene gets really interesting. Precariously perched on a bustling corner of Times Square, Caffe Bene should by all standards be the antithesis of cozy. Yet somehow, Caffe Bene brings a chill, hipster vibe to the culturally vacant, java deprived stretch of NYC that is Times Square. With wooden tables, a nook that bakes fresh waffles and a back room lined with book shelves (books in Times Square?? Outrageous!) – it’s clear Caffe Bene is working hard to eliminate the TSQ vibe. But try as they might… it’s hard to take the tourists out of Midtown. Even though Caffe Bene is super cute on the inside, it’s still difficult to navigate an inside jammed pack with people desperately trying to sit down. But I trust that Caffe Bene knows what they are doing and will soon fix the overcrowding issue… after all, Caffe Bene’s popularity in Korea well surpasses Starbucks so they must be on to something!

 And yes… I ordered two Cappis.

Caffe Bene

1611 Broadway (corner of 49th Street), NYC

Let’s take it to the Blogs - 

- Let’s get financial for a moment with Private Equity Korea… Caffe Bene’s TSQ location may be it’s first in the U.S., but PE Korea thinks this is just Caffe Bene’s first stop in becoming the next Starbucks.

- Ramen and Friends says the arrival of Caffe Bene in TSQ could mean the end of their trips to Starbucks.

- Zen Kitchen teaches us a thing or two about the “original smoothie”-  Misutgaru.

- Coffee in the City give Caffe Bene super high marks for ambiance… but low marks for actual coffee.

- Inside New York takes a peek inside Caffe Bene.

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Will you be braving TSQ to test out Caffe Bene and their Misu Garu??

Tags: caffe bene, Cappuccino, coffee, New York City, NYC, times square, TSQ

Soul Cycle – A Fitness Event.

Sweat. Passion. Obsession. Fun. Brook Shields…

THIS IS SOUL CYCLE. 

1) SWEAT – and ohhhhh boy will you sweat. Soul Cycle combines the intense cardio of a traditional spin class with muscle-building, upper-body exercises to create a class that slashes calories while building muscle… or more accurately, a class that makes you gasp for breath as your muscles scream for mercy. I love it. Some people call is ‘extreme spinning’… I just call it sweatastic.

This pic if off the Soul Cycle website, and no… you are not going to see a pic of me drenched in sweat.

2) PASSION - These people LOVE their spinning. Soul Cycle instructors are selectively chosen from highly competitive auditions and then rigorously trained according to Soul Cycle principles. Soul Cycle employes love what they do and make you love it to from the second you walk in the door. It’s hard to walk around Soul Cycle and not immediately want to become a hardcore cyclist! Let’s just say I left in padded bike shorts, Soul Cycle socks and had already placed an order for specialty brand cycle shoes…

3) OBSESSION – A new rivalry has erupted on the streets of NYC:  Soul Cycle versus Fly Wheel. Devotees of both franchises defend their chosen studios with fervent passion. Inside my Soul Cycle class, instructors and attendees alike revolved around the Soul Cycle orbit. Wanna show off your Soul obsession?? Don’t worry, there is an entire Soul Cycle fashion line for that. And yes… I want a tank (hint hint).

4) FUN – How could a class that makes you cry out in pain also be some of the most fun 45 minutes of your week?? Only at Soul Cycle. Lights out, music pounding, instructor yelling… sometimes you’ll wonder if you’re at an exercise class or out at a club. But then a large sweat drop will drip down your face and then you’ll remember… you’ll remember real fast.

5) BROOKE SHIELDS - Did I mention that I spun next to Brooke Shields?? Okay… not next to, but she was in my class. Okay… I didn’t see her until after the class was over, but she was there! A great workout annnnd celeb sightings?!?? Sold.

Four Parting Tips:

1) Reserve your class! You must hop online at precisely noon on Mondays – the exact time the schedule is released for that week. Bonus Tip – buy the classes ahead of time and then decided what date/time you want… if you spend too long signing up you will miss your window of Soul Cycle opportunity!

2) Heads up – each class is $32 dollars… EACH. I know I know… just don’t think about it and you’ll be fine.

3) Another heads up – tack on an extra $3 for cycling shoes. You MUST wear cycling shoes (regular exercise shoes won’t work) and clip into every soul class. But here’s a bonus – You get free shoes for your first class! So go take that extra 3 bucks and go buy yourself something special.

4) Remember socks! Sounds easy, right?? but alas… I was that girl who remembered her entire cute outfit to chance into post workout, but not the socks. So what was a gal to do? I had to buy Soul Cycle socks… and at 15 bucks a pop I wasn’t super happy about it. I almost road barefoot in protest… until I realized that my new socks weren’t even 50% of the total class cost at $35 dollars. Perspective hurts sometimes.

SOUL CYCLE: Locations -

Locations: Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Union Square, Tribeca, Scarsdale, East Hampton, Bridgehampton – and now LA!

Let’s take it to the Blogs -

- Beauty Blogging Junkie checks out the latest fad in fitness and breaks down 6 things you need to know before you go to your first Soul Cycle class.

- Fashion Dilettante sums up the Soul obsession perfectly: “If Soul Cycle is a cult, then I’ve drank the Kool-Aid.”

- Spinning in NYC gives high marks to Soul Cycle as the first premiere spinning studio in NYC.

- Fat Bottom Slim says 1)  you must try Soul Cycle and 2) You must have soul with  Danny Kopel.

- Ali on the Run says Soul Cycle was a kick ass start to her day!

- The Soul Cycle blog releases sweat inducing cycle playlists, introduces you to the over the top awesome instructors, and inspires you to spin!!

 

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I paid multiple hours of my paycheck to sweat like crazy… and I’ll do it again. Are you a Soul Addict yet?!??

Tags: fitness, New York City, NYC, soul cycle, spin

The MaggieTalks/Sips Loud Cappi Checklist Versus – Laughing Man

Laughing Man goes up against The MaggieTalks/Sips Loud Cappi Checklist -

All three of these Cappis were juuuuuust right.

The MaggieTalks/SipsLoud Cappi Checklist:

1) Bold, Strong espresso: Super- Duper high marks here. The laughing man brews up some seriously serious java.   These beans are so tasty and special… we’re creating some sub categories up in here.

1. A.) What takes Laughing Man’s coffee into a league of its own isn’t even the spectacular taste (although it is stellar), but rather where that taste comes from. Laughing Man is the dream child of actor Hugh Jackman and is run by his friends Barry and David Steingard. While on a trip to Ethiopia, Jackman became friends with a local coffee grower named Dukale.

Dukale’s smile makes us “All Be Happy” every time we open up a bag of Laughing Man Coffee!

Jackman, together with the Steingards, created a direct partnership with Dukale in Ethiopia… and then decided to take their coffee shop ethics a step further – by giving 100% of its profits to charity.

Let’s hear it straight from Laughing Man: “By using our resources to find, incubate and support companies and products that believe in the ALL BE HAPPY vision, we can do our part to create jobs, support the entrepreneurial spirit and encourage the ingenuity that is essential to community health. Second, through the successful incubation of companies and products Laughing Man Worldwide gives 100% of the profits it receives from those ventures to charity.”

Tasty and ethical??! Yes please!

1.B.) Wholesale!! All of Laughing Man’s coffee (and hot cocoa… did I mention they have AMAZE hot cocoa?!??) is available for order on their website. Boom.

Coffee, Tea and hot cocoa… oh my!!

2) Extra foamy delight: Triple marks for two foamy soy cappuccinos and one foamalicious skim latte.

3) Real mug: ahhh I hate to give Laughing Man any negatives… but I really missed my real mug!! Laughing Man is currently limited to a tiny, take away only outpost in Tribeca. But I am desperately hoping the take-away only portion is only temporary and I can update this post soon!! (hint hint at you Laughing Man…)

4) Surprise toppings: Peep that gorgeous Latte art. Amiright?!??

5) The Cozy Factor: Again a few negatives here… The space is currently only temporary and incredibly small. But extra points for the super nice barrista’s who let us relax on the window sill!!

Where to get your Laughing Man:

184 Duane St
(at Greenwich St)
Manhattan, NY 10013

Let’s take it to the Blogs -

- Milkshake on The Huffington Post describes the relationship between Jackman and Dukale best: An international Bromance.

- Cocomama Foods shines their “Fair Trade Spotlight” onto Laughing Man by breaking down what’s so cool about their espresso and cocoa (hint… it’s taste and ethics.)

- Shop with Meaning gives Laughing Man props for their social responsible coffee and products.

- Tribeca Citizen gives us an inside peek into the launch of Laughing Man.

- Blog My Lunch highlights Laughing Man’s venture into Organic and kosher chocolates.

 

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Taste and social responsibility… are you sold?!??

 

Tags: Cappuccino, coffee, hot cocoa, hugh jackman, laughing man, New York City, NYC, tribeca

The Great Shoe Hunt – Case #725: the elusive fabulous yet functional black flat.

I live by the belief that shoes must be fabulous and functional – and I will simply will not settle for anything less.

So when I found out that I needed to stand and walk in black dress shoes all day long at work, I knew I had a shoe hunt on my hands.

I started the hunt with a quick crowd-source of every working professional I know who stands, and the resounding answer was: Dansko. I happily googled what I believed would be my newfound comfy shoe obsession… only to be assaulted by this image -

I know I said comfort was a priority – but that shoe paired with my tailored Brooks Brother’s suit?!?? Even I thought about breaking my zero tolerance rule with this one… so the hunt continued.

Yet my first efforts made me believed I was destined to a grandma shoe…

Sass Shoes: Somehow, I think my boss would frown upon me wearing a lace up sneak with my business skirt… But come on,  it’s slip resistant!

When I started checking out the Shoes for Crews website and not totally hating, it I knew I was in trouble…

Clearly, it was time I called in the big guns – the lead general on my shoe army: Mama Rullz. Here’s her response to my emails with the above mentioned shoes… And I quote: “I don’t know Mags. None of these are exactly that cute. ” Reading that loud and clear Captain. So armed with her (not too many) years of shoe hunting experience, Mama Rullz came to NYC to help me forage.

Here’s to Mama Rullz doin’ her shoe thang…

MamaRullz’s list of Fabulous and Functional Black Flats:

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1) Cole Haan (with Nike Air Technology):

Air Tali Lace Wedge - $158

Air Bacara Ballet - $148

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2) Born:

* Bonus – Their website plays great, trippy music while you shop!

Stowaway II – $100.00

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3) Clarks:

Plush Dot – $99.99

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4) Stuart Weitzman:

Caring – $365.00

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Alright I’ll admit it… the MamaRullz’s list looks a little better than my own.

After a full day trekking from store to store armed with my pair of try on socks, a purse full of snacks for fuel, and MamaRullz’s list clutched in hand – I fell in love.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE…………..

Cole Haan with Nike Air Technology. 

3 weeks and multiple miles of walking and hours of standing later I can now testify: These babies are comfy. Fact. Fabulous and Functional?? CHECK.

Let’s take it to the Blogs -

- York Avenue finds a classic flat look a like for less.

- Don’t want to restrict yourself to just black flats? Fashion Style Advice adds a pop of silver and comfort to your wardrobe!

- Capitol Hill Style gives us plenty of reasons to “give up the height” and go with the flats.

- The luxury spot claims to have found the most comfortable ballet flats EVER.

- The Hollywood Housewife takes us on her comfy shoe hunt with us.

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Do you have a fabulous yet functional pair of black flats you’re obsessing over??

Tags: comfortable shoes, Fashion, flats, New York City, NYC, shoes, shopping