Nutritional counselor & Regular GirlieGirl Army Blogger, Katherine Pennington (of Be in Balance,) is nuts for nuts, and we don’t blame her.  Super high in protein and calcium, splitting a necklace or a sticker book with Almonds seems like a smart move;

Increasingly, one of my favorite foods (that I eat a lot of as well as recommend to clients) are almonds! Not only are almonds high in vitamin E, which has been proven to prevent cellular damage responsible for stress and reduce the risk of heart disease, but they also are a source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, folic acid and fiber.

Almonds are also high in antioxidants and are low in saturated fats. One ounce of almonds (20-25 almonds) represents 12% of your daily allowance of protein, 35% of your daily allowance of vitamin E and as much calcium as a glass of milk!

If you are under a lot of stress and constantly on the go or want a plant-based high-protein and nutrient-rich snack, almonds are the way to go! Grab a handful of almonds in the afternoon, give them to your kids as an afterschool snack, sprinkle them atop salads, put almond milk instead of cow’s or soy milk on your cereal or in your coffee and reap the benefits!

Here are some of my favorite recipes:

‘Candied’ Almonds (these are amazing atop salads or to just snack on. Bonus- kids love them!)

• 1-2 cups almonds
• Agave nectar
• Sea salt

Place your almonds in a big bowl. As a side note, if you have time and are inclined, soak the nuts up to approximately 4 hours, rinse and drain beforehand. Liberally douse the almonds with agave nectar and then sprinkle ½-1 teaspoon of sea salt on top. Place either in the oven (or dehydrator if you have one) and cook for approximately 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool and enjoy! I usually keep these in the refrigerator, which hardens them a bit and extends their shelf life. My daughter loves these as an afterschool snack and they make a nice addition to salads!!!

Homemade Vanilla Almond Milk

• 1-2 cups of almonds
• Vanilla beans (take beans out of the pod. if do not have beans, you can also substitute a non-alcohol vanilla extract)
• Agave nectar
• Water
• Nut bag or muslin needed (to strain milk from nut pulp)

If you have time and are inclined, soak the nuts up approximately 4 hours, rinse and drain beforehand.
Place almonds in a blender with an equal amount of water. Add the vanilla beans and a healthy squeeze of agave nectar and run approximately 2-5 minutes until well-blended. Any blender will do but I recommend a high-powered one like a Vitamix. Take the nutbag or a colander with muslin on top and strain through squeezing the nut milk through like a ball. Delicious and you will never go back to store bought!  To watch how easy this is to make, go to How To Make Almond Milk.   

Almond Coconut Berry Morning Muffins (use the leftover pulp from making almond milk!!!)

• Almond pulp (from above)
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• Agave nectar
• Dash of sea salt
• Fresh berries
• Optional: shredded carrot or zuchini

Mix ingredients in a bowl. Bake in muffin cups and enjoy for breakfast with some almond butter- yum!!!

Sabrina Rivers, Author of The Tax-Deductible Wedding wants you to know you really don’t have to blow your savings on that one special day.  The Tax-Deductible Wedding is a fantastic resource to help take the mystery and anxiety out of financing for your wedding. This book is your wedding-cost-control survival guide and provides practical advice on how to throw your dream wedding while saving money and having much of the cost be tax deductible!  Hoorah!  Here are her 5 favorite tips, shared especially for the readers of GirlieGirlArmy.com!;

1. Start by creating a Budget

How to Create a Budget: Mention the word budget to most people, and they cringe. Or they get the “deer in the headlights” look as if creating a budget involves some kind of voodoo magic, or that it’s too hard to do. Think of a budget this way: It really is just a tool that you can use to track how your money is spent and to set goals and limits on how much you want to spend. When doing a budget, you need to make sure that you include all of the details related to the costs of goods and services that are part of your wedding. Here are the six steps to creating a wedding budget:

1. Decide on the style of wedding and number of guests
2. Determine all of the goods and services that you will need to buy/rent to host that style of wedding (including tips)
3. Decide on your budget priorities
4. Decide on the total budget amount, and also break it down by expense category (make sure you include as many details as possible when estimating your costs)
5. Decide on what expenses the bride or her parents will pay for and what the groom or his will parents pay for
6. Fill in your budget worksheet

2. Choose a Tax Deductible Location

Location, Location, Location: Brides and grooms spend hours looking at brochures, visiting venues, and fantasizing about where their ceremony and reception will be held. Did you know that your wedding reception site can be tax deductible? Most couples have no idea. There are many options to choose from when picking out a ceremony and/or reception venue, and if you decide to go with something less traditional, you could save some money. The organization must have 501 c status to qualify as a non-profit organization.

Some fun and interesting alternatives for your wedding venue include:

• Museums
• National Parks
• Botanical Gardens, Public Gardens, and Arboreta
• Historic Sites
• Wildlife Preserves
• Farm/ Animal Sanctuary’s
  

3. Other Tax Deductions that we all forget about

Wedding Leftovers-Do Not Let It Go to Waste!

Now that the big day is over, what to do with all the leftovers? Food, flowers, and unwanted wedding accessories can all be donated.

Food

Leftover appetizers, entrees, bread, condiments, fruit, desserts, etc. from your wedding can be donated to a local shelter or food bank/food pantry, which can be found at FoodPantries.org. For example, America’s Second Harvest has a network of over two hundred food banks that they distribute food to on a daily basis. Before you decide you want to donate leftovers to a food bank, clear it with the caterer, because they will have to prepare the food for pickup, and each group has different requirements about what kinds of food can be donated, in what form, and in what kind of containers. Call the food bank for any rules and restrictions.

Flowers

Rather than just toss the flowers out after your wedding, why not donate them to a hospice or other charitable hospital? Chances are the cost of the flowers, if donated to a charitable organization, will be deductible.

Accessories

You’ll likely want to keep certain items from your special day to remember it by-perhaps your “something blue” or a cherished family heirloom you wore-but there will definitely be other items that you’ll never use again. If they are not particularly sentimental, such as your wedding shoes, the handbag you used for the dollar dance (if you had one), or even that slip that kept shifting around when you walked, you can find a consignment shop that donates proceeds to charities such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Not only will you help out a good cause, but another bride-to-be will be ecstatic to find a bargain or two. Also, if you have any leftover balloons or decor that you used to decorate the reception site with, you may want to consider donating them to a local children’s hospital. You could brighten someone’s day.

Honeymoons

Well, we are not finished yet. You probably thought we were at the end of the tax-deduction possibilities, but I have saved the best for last: Your honeymoon can also yield a tax deduction. What better way to get closer to your main squeeze than by taking off on a honeymoon and the adventure of a lifetime, all for a good cause? Read on.

Going Global for a Tax Deduction

Global Volunteers is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian development organization founded in 1984 with the goal of helping to establish a foundation for peace through mutual international understanding. They offer a short-term service program that places volunteers in twenty countries worldwide.

Build a Home for Someone Else Before You Start Living in Yours

Doing something together that reinforces your shared values helps to deepen your bond, and this can be a great activity to do during your honeymoon. One way to do that is to help someone else realize his or her dream of owning a home. Habitat for Humanity International has helped build homes for thousands of people who, due to financial hardship, might not ever have owned their own home.

Planning and organizing, figuring out how to do a budget, estimating how much your wedding will cost, determining what is tax deductible-I think we have covered all of the parts of the initial phase of planning your wedding. The next important area to cover is how to save for your wedding and how to save on your wedding. Because if you don’t have a plan for this part, you will not be able to get to your final destination-the altar.

4. Finding a Sponsor/ Barter (other options)

Bet you didn’t think that a little shameless self-promotion could save you money or maybe get the entire cost of your wedding covered, did you? It will involve a little legwork on your part, but you could definitely save some serious cash if you manage to get your wedding sponsored or barter for like services. From the reception to the honeymoon, there are businesses related to travel, food, wine, hospitality, entertainment, transportation, fashion, jewelry, music, makeup, nails, hair styling, luggage, shoes, clothing, etc., and each of these businesses needs to get their product or service in front of the buying public. What merchants really want is to be able to market directly to their target audience in a way that is easy, inexpensive, and will leave a lasting impression on their potential customers. Oh, and they want those customers to tell their friends and families about the product or service being marketed. Word of mouth and a positive recommendation trump advertising almost every time. The reality is that all business owners want to raise their profile and name recognition, and they need to do so by using any means possible- and sponsoring a wedding could give them the creative edge they’re looking for. Also, there are plenty of online bartering networks that will link you up with someone who maybe be looking for your services.

5. What’s really important?

Have fun doing it, don’t lose sight of the real reason you are getting married -that wonderful person standing in front of you!!

The Tax-Deductible Wedding: More Wedding and Fun, Less Fret and Debt by Sabrina Rivers, $13.22 @amazon.com

FIVE LUCKY READERS WILL WIN A COPY OF “THE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE WEDDING” BY SIMPLY LEAVING A CREATIVE COMMENT BELOW (YOU MUST BE A GIRLIEGIRLARMY.COM SUBSCRIBER TO QUALIFY TO WIN.  TO SIGN UP, CLICK HERE.) WE WILL CONTACT YOU VIA EMAIL SHOULD YOU BE CHOSEN. Good luck!

We hope you are not hitting the snooze button on your romance richter!  Valentine’s Day is a quickie away, and before you know it s/he will be looking at you wondering if you really just handed him/ her a crappy Teddy Bear from the drugstore.  We recommend that you get your dark chocolate fix and save the world at the same time by ordering from the Rescue Chocolate Company, which began operations in January 2010 with the launch of two flavors.

Peanut Butter Pit Bull and Pick Me! Pepper are the first two flavors that this Park Slope, Brooklyn company has launched. As the names suggest, this is a company on a mission. A sizable chunk of the profits on the sale of its products is donated to animal rescue organizations around the country.

In addition to the usual data found on chocolate wrappers, such as the special ingredients and flavor, Rescue Chocolate bars also deliver a pithy pitch to do good on behalf of the animals. For example, Peanut Butter Pit Bull advocates against breed-specific legislation; its wrapper sports the company’s mascot, a pit bull who looks decidedly un-ferocious and downright cuddly. Choose Me! Chipotle lobbies for pet adoptions from shelters rather than pet shops or breeders.

Sarah and a BFF

Additional flavors are planned for roll-out later this year. Fosterrific Peppermint will drum up support for foster parents for homeless dogs and cats. And The Fix will urge pet-owners to… do just that to prevent unwanted litters.

But do the words “spay and neuter” really have a place on a chocolate bar wrapper? Rescue Chocolate founder Sarah Gross says, “Absolutely!”

According to Gross, “People want their shopping dollars to do double duty. It’s not enough to just go out and buy a really great chocolate bar. They like it when their money is paid forward and given to a socially responsible cause. No cause is dearer to me than the issue of homeless pets in our shelters.”

Gross is banking on that message resonating with the animal activists, shelter volunteers, neighborhood cat ladies, and ordinary pet owners out there who, in addition to living with animals, also like to eat chocolate. She intends to take her bars to pet adoption events, humane society fundraisers, and pet store check-out aisles, as well as the usual retail outlets like grocery stores and candy shops. She also wants to see the bars in veterinary offices, noting that a happy (chocolate-eating) pet owner makes for a more relaxed pet.

And heads up to the health-conscious. Thanks to chocolate’s high flavonoid content, the food is touted as an anti-cancer, anti-aging, pro-memory, pro-concentration wunderkind. And if all that doesn’t hit the mark, Rescue Chocolate is also completely kosher and VEGAN to boot.

The company makes a virtue of its small size, emphasizing that its products come from real people with vision rather than anonymous focus groups. There is also a spotlight on the young and edgy, the way we like it. Founder Gross is 24, although she has already had experience developing a best-selling chocolate bar for another artisan chocolate company, Gnosis Chocolate, based in Queens. She came to the chocolate business via a roundabout route involving work as a professional ballet dancer, Pilates instructor, and animal shelter volunteer. A native of Texas, she has resided in New York City for the past 3 years.

Rescue Chocolate, "the sweetest way to save a life!" $4.95 each at RescueChocolate.com

Her plans for the future of the company (and the world!) are big. She wants to take her chocolate bars to all 50 states in the next 12 months, and go international within 5 years. And she looks forward to the day, in the words of her rescue partner group, the Mayor’s Alliance for Animals, “when no dog or cat of reasonable health and temperament is killed merely because he or she does not have a home.”

Salivating yet? Rescue Chocolate is available for purchase online now at RescueChocolate.com.

GGA readers can enter code “GGA10″ to get their 10th bar free when ordering nine!

It’s pretty simple to get healthy, just grab yourself by your glittering bootstraps and make the choice to add at least two healthy new ingredients to your diet per day.  If you can’t give yourself the gift of commitment, how on earth do expect anyone else to? Before you know it, you’ll be on the feeling-fabulous-and-looking-even-better-bandwagon.

1.      Ingredient:      Sweet Potato

Why Eat It? Rich in Calcium, Vitamin C, and Beta Carotene, fewer calories than White Potatoes, and contain over a day’s worth of Vitamin A!

2.      Ingredient:      Quinoa

Why Eat It? A balanced set of protein, iron, and fiber in a deliciously tasty little grain.

3.      Ingredient:      Kale

Why Eat It? Packed with powerful antioxidants and essential vitamins, Kale is the ultimate green.

4.      Ingredient:      Veggie Protein (aka TVP)

Why Eat It? The benefits of protein without the cholesterol, animal fat, and trans fats.

5.      Ingredient:      Tempeh

Why Eat It? High in protein and iron and it promotes good digestion.  The least processed of all meat substitutes.

6.      Ingredient:      Red Cabbage

Why Eat It? Low in calories, high in calcium and essential vitamins such as K, C, and B6.

7.      Ingredient:      Portobello Mushroom

Why Eat It? Large amounts of potassium and antioxidants, plus super low calorie count and meaty taste!

8.      Ingredient:      Walnuts

Why Eat It? A versatile source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and incredibly heart-healthy.

9.      Ingredient:      Agave Nectar

Why Eat It? Lower on the glycemic index than refined sugar, and suitable for diabetics & low-carb diets.

10.  Ingredient:      Dark Chocolate

Why Eat It? Packed with antioxidants & heart-healthy flavonoids.

Thanks to one of our favorite, affordable California chains, The Veggie Grill, for this Guest Blog (where you can order a number of items off the menu which feature all the ingredients above!) By using a balanced combination of nourishing ingredients with bold marinades and sauces, The Veggie Grill’s innovative menu turns simple every day “veggies” into guilt-free indulgences. The Veggie Grill’s array of satisfying, flavorful soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, sides, and desserts are all 100% plant-based and under $10 each.  Locations: 8000 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90046, University Center 4213 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA 92612, Plaza El Segundo 720 Allied Way, El Segundo, CA 90245, and Irvine Spectrum Center 81 Fortune Drive, Irvine, CA 92618. For more information visit, www.veggiegrill.com, become a fan on Facebook and follow the restaurant on Twitter.

All us compassionate Glamazons know, You don’t have to be cruel to be kind.

And now, you don’t have to spend a fortune, be covered in chemicals, and reek like a strip club to smell like full-blown heaven. Recently launched out of NYC - Tallulah Jane is a 100% natural and 100% cruelty free perfumery creating natural scents made from botanical essences and absolutes that we are just mad for!

In the tradition of old world luxury but with a modern sensibility, the ingredients in these fragrances are organic or wildcrafted, without compromising the quality of the perfume. Even their alcohols and carrier oils are certified organic.  Wonder what’s lurking in your current perfume, and worse, what it can do to you? Check out this article (remember, a diva is ALWAYS fully informed.)

More reasons we are totally in love with this new line? Each of Tallulah Jane’s gorgeous vintage scents are mixed in small casks to maintain purity and left to macerate before pouring. Many of their ingredients are rare and grown seasonally so mass production is difficult, making each vintage that much more unique.  You won’t smell these perfumes on every other girl at the club.

Go for their classic perfumes or their complimenting body oil scents.  Each 128mL bottle is crafted from a blend of organic jojoba oil, pomegranate seed oil, camelina oil, meadowfoam seed oil and vitamin E oil which is then scented with one of the perfumes. They can be worn alone (yum!) or along with their partnering perfurme for a stronger, more long-lasting linger.

Your delicious options;

TALLULAH: Creamy jasmine notes flirt with heady tuberose for a scent that is timeless yet nouveau.

GOTHAM: Equal parts Bloomsbury and Bay of Bengal, this scent is a blend of exotic spices and rose, rounded off with the earthy depth of patchouli.

333: An exquisite triple threat: three different types of chamomile and lavender are combined with three essences of citrus tree; neroli, petitgrain and bitter orange. The result? An elegantly patrician fragrance with more than a hint of attitude.

And you know how cool we are.. we don’t just TELL you about our favorite new products.  We hook you up with the mad discounts AND chances to win freebies!  Visit www.tallulahjanenyc.com and enter the code GGA2020 when checking out, for a 20% discount that will automatically be applied to the entirety of your order.   PERFECTLY in time for Valentine’s Day. What could be a better gift for the lovely in your life?

Wanna win your choice of one perfume and its complimenting body oil? Make sure you’re subscribed to Girlie Girl Army then leave a comment BELOW telling us why you don’t have to be cruel to be kind! We’ll choose the most inspiring response and send the winner a bottle of their choice of perfume and body oil. Two runners up will receive a sample box of our three perfumes.

Tallulah Jane can also be found at Spirit Beauty Lounge and at Georgia, located at 89A Houston St in NYC.

Sniff that.