Nicci Morris

Archive for the ‘Lifestyle’ Category

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Want skin that glows? Head to the pantry

In Beauty, Lifestyle, Recipes, Zaftig-Approved on June 29, 2011 at 1:48 am

When it comes to skin care, there is nothing like a good scrub. Over the years, it feels like I’ve tried everything. Some weren’t coarse enough. Others left an oily residue which, in my eyes, defeated the entire purpose of exfoliation.

A good scrub removes layers of dead skin and grime, encourages cell renewal and keeps outbreaks at bay. Skin naturally renews itself every 28 days or so when you are young. But things tend to slow down with age and scrubs help rev up your youthful appearance and can diminish fine lines. Exfoliation is also great for something I’ve been experiencing as of late: post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Sounds pretty scientific, huh? If you’ve ever found yourself unable to resist the urge to pop a pimple, you’re familiar with it. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH, refers to the skin discoloration that follows inflammation or infected skin. In what is a natural response to trauma, PIH appears as a dark area of skin where the eruption was. In my case, I recently had a problem with acne on my forehead and chin. Although I know far better, I popped them when I should have just let them dry out and heal on their own. The result was several dark spots on my face. Not cute, let me tell you. I’ve always been proud to walk out of the house without a stitch of makeup on, but doing so when I had tons of hyperpigmentation would have had people running away from me at the store, for fear that I was contagious or something.

Thankfully, the acne healed and the eruptions stopped. (A huge thank you Shea Moisture acne treatments! That stuff saved my skin. More on them to come in a future post…) But I needed a little extra help to help with the dark spots. I remembered my grandmother telling me about the magic of brown sugar, baking soda and honey. I mixed up a batch a week ago and have already seen dramatic improvement in the look and feel of my skin. It’s magic, I swear. Try it on your face and your body at least 2-3 times each week and let me know how much you love your results!

Brown Sugar Scrub

1 cup dark brown sugar

4 Tablespoons of baking soda

1/2 cup of honey (optional – you could also use extra virgin olive oil)

Stir until combined. Final product will be shiny and thick. Add in more sugar and honey (or olive oil) until it has the texture of peanut butter. Store in a covered plastic container. Be sure to use clean hands or a spoon when you scoop it out. Apply it to damp skin.

Make a big batch, use it as often as you need to and prepare to knock people OUT with your glow…

Love,

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Vogue Curvy… a site for sore eyes

In Fashion/Style, Lifestyle on June 23, 2011 at 3:55 pm

To refer to Vogue Curvy as “Zaftig-Approved” might be the understatment of 2011. This movement, my dears, is what The Zaftig Life is all about.

Page after page is brimming with beautiful and divinely curvalicious women in all of their pleasingly-plump, oh-so-juicy fabulousness. My apologies for the adjective overload, but it can’t be helped… Take a look and see what I’m drooling, er, talking about. It’s a beautiful sight (and site) indeed…

For anyone who may still be wondering… THIS is Zaftig.

Enjoy the curves ahead… Vogue Curvy rules. That is all.

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Love,

Source for photos: Vogue Curvy (of course)

The difference between life and living

In Lifestyle on May 20, 2011 at 3:03 am

“… we make a life by what we give.”

Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Do these words resonate with you? They make so much sense to me, more now than ever before.

Over the course of my life, I have earned anything from $6 per hour to six figures per year. The funny thing is that when I consider it, the happiest I ever am is when I work for nothing. Volunteering at Save The Family and St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix and the North Texas Food Bank in Dallas gives me the greatest sense of contentment, peace and fulfillment. I want to lead a life that leaves a legacy for others. It’s difficult to do that while you’re holed up in an office or if you have your nose so to the grindstone that you can’t take a moment to see the forest for all the trees. In my experience, you can connect with people in life-changing ways when you get into the trenches with them. Roll up your sleeves, get a little (or a lot) dirty. Make mistakes, laugh at yourself, pick yourself (and others) up and keep going. You might not know it at the time but someone is always watching you and your ability to navigate life with grace and fire has the potential to inspire grace and fire in them.

So while I understand the importance of making a living, I am more concerned with whether or not I live and I encourage you to live as well.

Between making a life and making a living, which is the greater priority to you? What do you do in order to make that a priority in your life? What experiences, charities, activities, random acts of kindness, etc… make your life worth living?

Love,

Silence: Golden or deafening? Decide for yourself

In Lifestyle, Spirituality on March 12, 2011 at 12:53 am

Someone I know spends about 50 percent (if not more) of her waking hours on the telephone. When she’s not on the phone, she has the television on, at obscene volume levels. When she’s not not watching television (that’s not a typo, by the way… more often than not she doesn’t watch the show that is on), the radio or a CD is blaring. Based on my perspective and what I know about her, I believe this is a subconscious way for her to avoid uncomfortable issues and personal demons.

Over the years, she has shared with me tales of physical, verbal and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her parents and her siblings. She tells the same stories over and over, and she speaks about them in a way that lets me know the things she experienced continue to define her. An occasional armchair psychologist, I’ve analyzed what she’s told me over the years and it seems that instead of using her experiences — from her childhood and from more recent years — to motivate her, she is mired in them. Rather than sharing her stories to encourage and inspire, she recounts them, usually verbatim, in what seem to be petitions for pity or to upstage others when they go through tough times. Perhaps you also know someone who is always more upset, more hurt, more ill, more in need, etc… than everyone else. They can’t seem to resist the urge to one-up other people.

This person I know has a record playing in her head. She has rehearsed and memorized the negative lyrics. She knows the discordance by heart. Rather than pen a new verse and figure out how to create an internal melody, she fills her days with external noise.

I challenge you to create moments of silence in your life if you don’t already. If you are not familiar with this, you might find it is “too quiet,” or that you are uncomfortable with the lack of buzz around you. Fight your way through the initial discomfort and the racing thoughts. I promise it will pass as you give in to the lack of sound. Even if it just for the 20 minutes you spend getting dressed in the morning or the 40 minutes it takes you to commute to or from work, work to create intentional quiet in your life. Allow your thoughts, emotions and spirit to do what they may in those precious pockets of nothingness. Dismiss the low-energy buzz of chaos and usher in an environment that allows you to discover and connect with your divine and empowered self. Doing so lets your inner rudder, rather than outside influences, keep you on the path to your purpose.

Resist the urge to fill your days with noisy distractions that keep you bogged down by past of present hurts. God, peace, answers, healing, understanding, growth and so much more flourish in silence. See how silence can shift from deafening to defining.

Give quiet a go and be amazed by the powerful things you hear.

Love,

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Gratitude is the path to zen

In Lifestyle, Love/Relationships on March 9, 2011 at 4:19 pm

It is easy to exude positive energy and to seem balanced when times are good and all is well. But how do you deal with stress? Do you withdraw? Do you become angry and lash out at others? How you react to stress indicates what drives you. Consider a piece of fruit. If you juice it, you will only and always get the juice of that fruit. It doesn’t matter if you use a commercial juicer, a handheld juicer or a mortar and pestle. It is imperative that we pay careful attention to what is inside of us. This ensures that no matter what happens in our lives and no matter what comes or goes, we can remain steadfast in our positive energy and receive the blessings and lessons that fill our lives.

How do we achieve this? Two things in particular have been saving graces in my life: Meditation and gratitude. I consider them grounding elements and they have allowed me to be introspective, steadfast and compassionate.

I have been on a path to inner peace and enlightenment for as long as I can remember. I experienced many things in my childhood that muddied my mind, body and spirit and made it difficult for me to find balance in anything. A sensitive person by nature, my true self and spirit were tainted by events early in my life that left wounds that have only begun to heal in the past two years. Abandonment, sexual and physical abuse from relatives, and other painful events had misshapen the girl I was meant to be and that eventually deformed the woman I was. For many years I carried with me more than any child, teen or woman should have to bear. Like millions of other people who endure abuse as a child, I faced each day and formed every relationship with an undercurrent of fear. Fear of abandonment. Fear of being abused again, in one way or another. As a result, I subsisted on surface relationships and instincts that pushed me to lace-up my shoes and run at the first sign of discomfort. Although Nicci the Child had no recourse, no protection and could not fend for herself, Nicci the Adult was mad as hell and she was never going to allow anyone to get close enough to hurt her again. Sometimes I look at pictures of me between the ages of 5 and 30 and I hardly recognize that little girl… that teenager… that shell of a woman. Those are my dead years. Many survivors of abuse can identify such a period in their lives.

What I discovered is there is no life without risk of pain. In 2009, I faced a decision between life and death. I could continue to subsist and move through this world as someone who sees without seeing and breathes without living, or I could dig deep into myself, do the work required and be whole again.

I chose life.

I meditated, prayed and fasted for much of that year. Battling a physical health issue and incredible emotional stress, I took a leave of absence from work and never returned to that office. I ended my marriage to someone I thought I would be with for the rest of my days. I lost the home we bought together. I dropped about 15 pounds. I stopped going out and talked openly only to my sister and a few close friends. It was a physical, emotional and spiritual sloughing off of everything and it was the most painful year of my life. Beyond that, it was necessary, and through it all, I had gratitude for so many things.

I was grateful for the small savings I had that allowed me to buy fruits, vegetables, grains and good olive oil and salt.

I was grateful for the cool nights that summer which allowed me to save money on air conditioning.

I was grateful for the time when my friends came to my house, long after the cable was off, and just sat with me while we listened to music and I prepared a simple dinner.

I was grateful for the mother bird who built that nest right outside my front door that spring. The sound and sight of that process (from start to first flight) reminded me of the size and scale of life.

I was grateful for my amazing father who helped me financially and made sure I was able to pay off and insure my car when I was on the verge of losing that, too. I was grateful that he never once questioned me or made me feel bad about being in need and to this day has never uttered a word about it.

I was grateful for my sister and her husband who made me laugh when I didn’t remember how to smile.

I was grateful for my nephew who came into the world in August of that year. His first cry reminded me of how precious breath is, and with his warm little body in my arms and his head cradled against my neck, he felt like promise and possibility.

In 2009, I had the least I have ever had from a material perspective, but I was rich in all of the ways that mattered. I surrendered to the loss, the pain and the hurt and centered myself and truly focused on what it means to be what I was made to be. Today I no longer want for any material thing and that has nothing to do with my household income and everything to do with my heart and spirit being whole. I don’t necessarily believe you have to go through times of hardship in order to find your purpose and to settle into yourself, but such tests are inevitable and there will be more for me as there will be for you.

My prayer is that you will have a mind of meditation and heart of gratitude and be prepared for whatever comes or goes in your life… That, I believe, is the path to peace. That is the path to zen.

Love,

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My lifetime to-do list…

In Lifestyle, Zaftig-Approved on February 10, 2011 at 5:25 pm

It seems like just the other day I was prepping for Thanksgiving dinner (which I hosted – so much fun). Now it’s 2011. And February, at that…

Where does the time go?

I’ve never been one for resolutions, but I am all about introspection. I do my best to evolve and grow daily, not just every 365 days… When the mood strikes, I write a list of sort-of “to-do” list, sketching out improvements that I want to make for myself. I learned a long time ago that the only person I can control is me, so that is where I put my energy. I was going through an old box when I found one of these lifetime to-do lists. I wrote it in 2000. Interestingly enough, I’ve done most of it, but it still applies, if you understand what I mean. That makes me feel really good because I have no doubt that I know what is authentic for me and I am working toward living that, day in and day out. I had this list on my mirror for a few years and then replaced it with others. But there is something special about finding this piece of paper, soft and tattered around the edges, with faded words falling in the creases from years of shower steam and folding. I still remember when I typed it. I was an editorial clerk (the lowest girl on the totem pole back then) at a daily newspaper. I sat in that newsroom 40 hours a week, working from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., and every single weekend and holiday. I knew there was more in store for me. And somehow, I knew I needed to make it plain and write it down so I could see it for myself. Here is what I typed up one night, all those years ago, and how I’ve been doing with the items on the list.

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During another day of this incredibly blessed life, don’t forget to…

Indulge and bask in self-love. (working on it, every day)

Make time to meditate each and every day. (check)

Take out time to pray each and every night. (check)

Don’t settle for anything less than what I know I deserve. (check)

Fill my temple with wholesome, nourishing fuel. (check)

Go to the gym. (check)

Volunteer with a program geared toward helping young women. (check)

Finish up bachelor degree. (check)

Prepare for entrance into a distinguished graduate school. (Looking at MBA and MBA/JD programs now.)

Prepare to travel to as many different countries and continents as possible.

Take an ethnic cooking class. (I never have, but I so want to.)

Take an African dance class. (Definitely still in the plans.)

Finish “Epiphany.” (That was the first book I wrote, which I promptly put away many years ago. I blame my lack of confidence.)

Go to the park at least twice a month.

Find and attend writers workshops. (I so need to do this.)

Begin to read my poems out. (Gosh… I haven’t written poetry in eons…)

Keep my car organized. (I definitely need to do this!)

Fast once a month. (As a matter of fact, I’m due for one now.)

Clear emotional, physical and spiritual clutter out of my life. (Yes! I can’t wait to have a garage sale in the spring)

Pay all my bills on time. (Yes indeed…)

Visit loved ones as often as possible. (Very necessary. Phone calls might have to do since I no longer live close to family or old friends.)

Tell those that I love “I love you” whenever I can. (This is definitely something I do.)

Don’t go to bed with a heavy heart. (I have learned to let lots go.)

Write in my journal every day. (I’m terrible at this. You see how I’ve let even my blogging go, but I vow to do better.)

Keep my apartment clean. (Wow… I literally had 400 square feet of living space when I wrote this. I’ve been blessed with lots more space to keep clean now, and it is still a top priority. I firmly believe that the Universe will not give you more until you take care of what you have. I treated those 400 square feet as if it were a palace because it was my blessing in that season…)

Keep track of all bank transactions. (Thanks for making it easy, Chase!)

Don’t waste precious time on negative people. (Wow! I should have put that on here a few times! Such a good lesson. How wise of 22-year-old me?! Ha!)

Start drawing again. (I really should. It would be a great creative outlet.)

Buy some canvas and do a self-portrait. (That would be fun. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy painting.)

Take vitamin supplements regularly. (Perhaps I would be anemic and deficient in vitamin D today if I’d listened to myself back then!)

Surround myself with strong and loving people. (I have definitely been doing that!)

Eat out less and cook much more. (check)

Be more assertive. (And I wrote that before I really knew the difference between aggressive, passive and assertive. This has much more meaning now!)

Ask the Creator for exactly what I want. (Yes!)

Expect the Creator to give me exactly what I need. (Yes! Yes!)

Be thankful for all of my blessings. (Things that I have and things that I don’t have.)

Be more considerate to those around me. (Absolutely. That is huge…)

Return all negative vibes with positive ones. (Whew! That’s easier now, but still tough. Very necessary though!)

Don’t necessarily do unto others as they’ve done to me. (Some people/things simply are not worth getting upset about.)

Hold my head up high.

Never forget Whose child I am.

Remember that happiness is fleeting, but joy is eternal… and that joy is a journey, not a destination. (Yes!)

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We are all works in progress and, from where I stand, that is a beautiful thing. Tell me what’s on your lifetime to-do list. I would love to know what inspires you and what steps you take to become the best version of yourself.

Be well…

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And… we’re back!

In Entertaining, Food, Lifestyle, Recipes on May 22, 2010 at 3:51 pm

First things first: I dropped the blog ball. I know better. While I don’t believe in excuses, there is an explanation… I’ve been busy (with a cross-country move and a great new job, just to name a couple of things), but I still should have made time to tend to The Zaftig Life. But my commitment to building “The Zaftig Life” brand remains. I’ve missed blogging, snapping photos and interacting with all of you. So… let’s get back into it, shall we? This weekend is a great time to do it. Tomorrow I’m hosting a poolside brunch for a bunch of girlfriends. I’m preparing two savory dishes and mango mimosas. My girls are bringing fruit, bagels, crudités, etc… to round out the menu.

Brunch has always been my favorite meal of the day. I love the blend of sweet and savory, and I adore that it lends itself to an easy-going, lazy mood. You don’t have to wake up early for brunch, and there is no end to the options when it comes to dishes you can serve. I’m still deciding on what I’m going to make, but I will post recipes as soon as I test a few more things… I’ll also post pictures of the food and the brunch tomorrow!

Make it a fabulous Saturday…

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2009 Zaftig-Approved Gift Guide (pt. 7)

In Entertaining, Fashion/Style, Food, Holiday, Lifestyle, Zaftig-Approved on December 16, 2009 at 12:39 pm

Custom Energy Bars,$37.57-$41.47

Mother-son founders, Ava Bise and Anthony Flynn, created YouBar in a small commercial kitchen in Los Angeles in 2006. Their goal? To offer their homemade  protein bars to the health-conscious masses. The company creates made-to-order energy bars, catering to customers’ preferences and nutritional needs.

You choose the ingredients and the bar size, viewing the nutrition facts (fat, calories, carbs, sodium, vitamins, etc…). Each bar comes with the nutrition facts based on what you add and you get to choose the name printed on the packaging of each bar.

The company also makes custom protein shakes, trail mix and cookies. How cool is that?

Click here for more information and to order.

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Monogrammed Carafe, $39

I love bedside carafes with matching tumblers. I adore the way they look and the purpose they serve, a delicious blend of pretty and practicality.

Simple, beautiful and thoughtful touches to any nightstand, be it in a master suite or a guest room, a bedside carafe is an ideal gift for someone who has just about everything. This beautiful one from Williams-Sonoma is no exception. The sleek, subtle glass design is hand-blown and features a weighted base. And an extra special touch comes into play when you add an engraved single- or triple-initial monogram.

Click here for more information.

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Vegetable Storage System, $8.95-$11.95

I know lots of people who simply don’t know how or where to put vegetables when they bring them home from the market. Orka by Mastrad, the innovative company behind some of my favorite kitchen gadgets, has created a system that simplifies the storage and preservation of food.

The Orka Vegetables Keep Sack gives you a place to store onions, garlic, and potatoes, protecting them from light and delaying sprouting and rotting. The double-drawstring design lets you add new vegetables from the top and remove older ones from the bottom, making it easier to use your stash before it goes bad.

I love the way the Keep Sacks look in this picture. Hanging them keeps air circulating around your produce to reduce spoilage, and it’s a great way to make the most of the coveted space in your pantry.

Click here for more information and to order.

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2009 Zaftig-Approved Gift Guide (pt. 6)

In Fashion/Style, Food, Lifestyle, Travel, Zaftig-Approved on December 8, 2009 at 6:27 pm

While many people agree breakfast is the most important meal of the day, no Zaftig woman should go without lunch. Without healthful mid-afternoon fuel, blood sugar can dip resulting in headaches, mood swings, fuzzy thinking and raging cravings.

But midday is often a difficult time to choose healthy options, especially if you are eating at your desk, chasing after little ones at home, or in the car and on-the-g0. Planning ahead is an essential step toward healthful lunch.

Go green and get creative with these boxes and bags that make for cool gifts and help people on your list make better lunch choices.

Stainless-Steel Tiffin with Insulated Bag, $52.99-$59.99

Function meets fashion when food-grade stainless steel and a beautiful insulated cover are juxtaposed in this reusable lunch box from Happy Tiffin. The “tiffin” is an age-old system of metal pans and latches that keeps food at the right temperature and separated, allowing food to be enjoyed as it was meant to be even hours after it is cooked and packed up.

This particular system features three separate levels and an integrated plate. Side latch handles keep the container secured, ensuring sauces stay where they should and not in your work bag, on your clothes or the upholstery in your car. This item is very sturdy and manufactured from food grade stainless-steel. Century-old design can’t be wrong. Ingenious…

Click here for more information.

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Neoprene Lunch Totes, $21.95

There is a chance these bags might look better than the lunch inside tastes. Bold colors and interesting designs from Built NY are sure to make you stand out from rest of the lunch bunch.

Made of neoprene, the bags keep food insulated for several hours, making them perfect for busy execs, teachers, or moms who are on the run.

Cute and practical…

Click here for more information.

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Zaftig-approved Goodies Bag, $9.95-$25.95

While we’re talking about going green, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the eco-friendly bags in The Zaftig Life collection. Keep it near your keys and come morning, all you have to do is toss in a few pieces of fresh fruit, your homemade salad or sandwich, and your thermos as you head out the door. Choose from a variety of styles.

Click here and order a Zaftig-Approved Goodies bag today!

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2009 Zaftig-Approved Gift Guide (pt. 5)

In Entertaining, Fashion/Style, Holiday, Lifestyle, Zaftig-Approved on December 7, 2009 at 5:26 pm

Personalized Cutting Boards, $41-$53

Well-known for beautiful baby goods, Clairebella also has an enchanting home collection. The collection includes items such as serving trays, coasters, mouse pads and plates.

But my favorite items are the personalized tempered-glass cutting boards.

They come in two sizes and a variety of patterns with your choice of lettering and fonts. The eye-catching patterns and colors make for a unique blend of fun and function. And personalization adds pop that lets the recipient know just how much thought you put into this gift. The monogram is such a classic touch…

Click here for more information.

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Blooming Tea and Teapots, $8.99-$59.99

Tea is a wonderful tool when you want to create Zaftig Zen-ful moments. The warmth, the aromatics and the soothing ritual of tea helps set the mood for moments of introspection and reflection.

Well-aware of this, the people at Teaposy take the art of fine teas to the next level with their blooming teas and delicate glass pots. So charming…

Click here for more information. (Teaposy is also available on www.Target.com)

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Custom Bags and Shoes, $39.99-$175

If you have someone on your list who loves unique gifts, a bag or a pair of shoes by Dani Becca might be just the thing.

The hand-painted fashion line features bright colors, unique designs and incredible detail. The result? Shoes and bags that are sure to make you stand out in a crowd. They are perfect for the fashion-forward Zaftig girls who want to break free from the pack.

Order between now and February 15, 2010 and each item is 49.99 and under. Take advantage of the deal…

Click here for more information.

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