Day Two of Post-State Fair Recovery: Blemish Prevention

Now that our bodies are full of folic acid, fiber, and iron, it's time to tend to the organ that displays the status of our internal health; skin. If you're like me, a little grease does a lot of damage when it manages to find its way to my pores. One corny dog later and the only thing missing from my pre-pubescent appearance is a mouthful of metal. When my skin throws a temper tantrum, I don't even feel like dealing with my frizzy hair, so I look even MORE like the painfully insecure 13-year-old I once was. I'd like to stay graduated from that phase of life, and so, I bring you the most wonderful recent discovery and well-kept secret in skin care; the Emergen-C packet.

If you don't know about this miracle product, it is intended to be a drink when mixed with water. With 1,000mg of vitamin C and 32 mineral complexes, it's safe to say you won't be suffering from the common cold if you harbor a box of these during winter. However, it is what the packets are not intended for that I want to share, because your skin will glow with happiness. Use the Emergen-C packets not as a drink, but as a facial scrub, and give your skin the nutrients it needs to fight the bacteria that causes blemishes. Vitamin C also makes your skin glow and fights free radicals, but instead of having to buy expensive pure vitamin C serums, you can just peruse the pharmacy isle at your local Walgreen's...oh joy!

Directions for use:

1. Stand over your sink, because this can get a tad messy
2. Pour an entire Emergen-C packet into the palm of your hand
3. Make a paste with the powder by dropping a tiny bit of water into your palm and using your fingers to mix
4. Massage all over your face like an exfoliant
5. Leave on for a few minutes...it should tingle!
6. Wash off with warm water and look in the mirror
7. Blow yourself a kiss, you gorgeous thing, you.

"That'll be 11 coupons and your dignity, ma'am."

I went to the Texas State Fair last week and may as well have ingested a vat of grease while rubbing fried butter on my face. If you can imagine how one might look and feel after doing that, you can imagine how I look and feel right now (not pretty). In my defense, I had taken four shots of tequila the night before and felt more entitled than usual to the fried treats all around me. In a desperate attempt to recover lost vitamins, minerals, and a general quality of life, I went to Whole Foods, spent a fortune on organic produce, and parked myself in the kitchen until all my nutrient-packed ingredients were properly prepared into edible dishes. I want to share these recipes with you because I know I'm not the only one who has woken up feeling like not even a stint at the gym could begin to repair the damage done from one weekend's worth of bad decisions. Today, I reclaim my dignity through healthy, nutritious, simple dishes, and I already feel a little better. Enjoy!

I cannot take credit for this recipe, and as much as I hate to admit where I got it from, I'm going to have to tell you...Gwyneth Paltrow's banal and slightly self-righteous blog, This is Goop. This soup was part of a week-long detox plan that her nutritionist suggested, so naturally, I tried it. Worst week of my life. The soup, though, will surprise you with its depth of flavor, I promise!


2 heads of broccoli, cut into florets
1/2 box baby arugula
5 cups water (enough to barely cover broccoli)
6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 yellow onion, quartered
1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
4 twists fresh cracked black pepper
1 lemon, halved
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Heat olive oil in large pot
throw in onions, saute for 5 mins
throw in garlic, saute until fragrant
add salt and pepper, stir up
throw in broccoli, saute till bright green
add water, leaving the top layer of broccoli slightly uncovered, bring to boil
simmer for 20 mins
turn off heat
add arugula
puree with immersion blender until very smooth
squeeze lemon juice from both halves into soup, stir
add salt and pepper to taste

This can be served hot or at room temperature.