Health by Chocolate

Okay, I know this post isn't clearly fashion-related, but think of it this way...a healthy body always makes clothes look better.

Did you know that there is chocolate specifically designed for better health? I know it sounds too good to be true, at least for avid chocolate-lovers like myself, but it is true! Health by Chocolate is the name of this delectable treat, and I am in love. The three types of chocolate bar are: Woman's Wonder Bar (with chaste tree berry, flax, soy, and rose oil to take sweet revenge on the symptoms of PMS and menopause), Instant Bliss Beauty Bar (with antioxidants for beautiful skin), and Beautiful Bones Bar (with calcium and vitamins D and K to support healthy bones.) I have tried the Beautiful Bones Bar, and it was rich, orange-flavored chocolate. Yumm.

Here are a few FAQ's I took from the HBC website:

I always thought chocolate was bad for me. Are you saying that I could actually get health benefits from eating chocolate?Yes! Chocolate contains polyphenols. Polyphenols are bioflavonoids that are some of the most powerful antioxidants in the world. The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is a measurement for antioxidant activity in food. Of all the healthy fruits and vegetables the USDA has tested, the highest ORAC values were found in prunes (not exactly everyone's favorite snack). But chocolate's ORAC value is more than two times higher! (5,770 ORAC per 100gr. for prunes versus a whopping 13,120 ORAC per 100 grams for chocolate.) Dark chocolate has the same amount of flavonoids as red wine and four times the polyphenols of green tea.

What happens if I go on a health by chocolate binge and eat more than one bar?You’ll be in a very good mood. Chocolate contains a chemical called phenylethylamine, which is the same brain chemical released when we experience the euphoric feeling of being in love.

Will eating health by chocolate make me fat?Chocolate doesn’t make you fat. overeating does. Drinking sugar-laden soft drinks and eating animal fat can contribute to obesity. But you might find that health by chocolate helps you maintain a healthy weight. Why? Because it quenches your desire for sweets. Dark chocolate is loaded with minerals and antioxidants and has just enough healthy fat and sugar to make it a delicious snack. Enjoyed in moderation, up to 2oz per day of chocolate can be part of a healthy diet. So, when you satisfy your cravings with health by chocolate, you may actually wind up eating less and thus maintaining a healthier weight.

Isn't chocolate bad for my heart?Contrary to popular myth, chocolate is good for your heart! Cocoa butter is a heart-healthy fat that does not raise cholesterol levels. In addition, it contains oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that actually raises the good HDL levels of fat in the blood. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says that eating cocoa can reduce the blood’s platelet activity. This means eating health by chocolate might actually "thin the blood"like aspirin does. The antioxidants in cocoa can also help improve immune function and reduce the inflammation of blood vessels.

But aren't all fats unhealthy?On the contrary, cocoa butter contains a rich assortment of healthy fats: 35%--Stearic Acid (which does not raise cholesterol levels) 35%--Oleic Acid (which may actually raise the levels of good HDL fats in the blood) 25%--Palmitic Acid 3%--Linoleic Acid. A fat-free diet leaves us hungry and with dry skin. Healthy fat is crucial to the feeling of satiety, to healthy skin and to the proper functioning of all our body's cells.

I have also learned that chocolate (all chocolate, not just HBC) releases sugar slowly. So that's good.

Happy chocolate eating! To order or find more information, go to http://www.healthbychocolate.com/index.htm.

A self reminder

http://www.zu-zu-b.com/index.php is a good Asian fashion shopping site, as is http://www.yesstyle.com.

Lulu's Fashion Lounge

Lulu's Fashion Lounge is an online boutique of sorts that I have known about for a long time. I have to admit that I was never really all that impressed with the merchandise they had to offer. Well, folks, the tides have changed. I visited the site today for the first time in months, and, lo and behold, there was a fantastic selection of shoes and accessories. I wasn't thrilled with the clothing choices, but the shoes and accessories were dead on, especially the shoes. Not only are most of them extremely cute, but they also have a huge under-$50 section. Can you say score?Still, there were two pairs of shoes that stood out, shoes that unfortunately lie outside of my price range. Look how pretty:


Oh. My. God. I am in love with these boots. They are such a rich, unusual (for boots) blue and I really like the unique touch that the little metal studs add. I'm a size 8US, hint, hint...Pretty please with a cherry on top...


I remember coveting these flats (or maybe very similar ones) at Urban Outfitters. So unique and fun! I love them maybe a little too much.

Anyways, those are the lust-worthy, out-of-budget items of the day. So sadly, I didn't buy them. I did unpocket the cash for a pair of plain red flats (just those junky Mary Janes you can buy in any Chinatown, but I'm a sucker for any shoes with a $6.00 price tag), a cute strawberry printed headband with a bow, and the bag that is shown below. Sweet, isn't it? I think I will be very happy with my purchases, even if those blue boots and white flats aren't among them.

Two Very Different Dresses

Below are two very different dresses that I'm digging right now.


The first thing I thought when I saw this Forever 21 dress was Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. I can totally see her out on the town in this dress and some killer heels. This spring I'm all about feeling fabulous and funky and colorful, and nothing says that more than taking wardrobe inspiration from Carrie Bradshaw.


I know what you're thinking...I just went on about how I was loving color right now, and now I'm coveting an American Apparel dress that can only be described as dark and simple. But you leave out one key thing...accessories. I think that this dress would be so fun (and comfy as hell) with bright shoes and big plastic jewelry.

Happy dress shopping!

Prom Done Right

Well, it's finally that time of year again. You know, that time where drunken high school kids parade around in stilettos and poofy dresses and attempt to dance. That's right...it's prom time. I, sadly, will not be able to attend my own prom. It's not so much the dancing and fancy dinner that I'll miss, but the act of shopping for the perfect prom outfit and getting all dolled up. To curb my desire to go on a massive prom shopping trip for no reason, I decided to do some 'fake' online shopping...that is, I put together prom looks without actually buying the stuff. Genius, I know. I'm not a fan of 'typical' prom wear, with the Cinderellas fluffiness and all, so my idea of the perfect prom look is designed to turn heads. I aim for bold, playful, cheap, and unique. Is it possible, you ask? Why yes, yes indeed.


This is exactly what I would wear to prom if I was going. I find it perfect.
Dress: Ebay (I refuse to mention the shop because I have a strong desire to buy it and hope that I find something to wear it to eventually)
Leggings: American Apparel (I know a lot of people hate these, but I think they can look smashing when worn correctly)
Shoes: Gojane.com
Bag: Asiajam.com


This one's definately more of a head-turner. I love the clashing patterns. If you're really into standing out, I would reccomend adding a black pillbox hat with a veil to the ensemble. Tres chic!
Dress: Asiajam.com
Leggings: Target
Boots: Gojane.com
Clutch: Macy's

Oh, le sigh...

Yet Another Online Magazine

When I first heard of the newly-launched Clutch magazine, I knew I needed to check it out. I was surprised to find a few very distinct differences between Clutch and online magazines that I was already familliar with, such as Neet. First of all, the format is completely different. Clutch is less like a magazine and more like a blog separated into several categories, like Fashion, Beauty, etc. Also, Clutch definitely contains simillar content to magazines such asLucky and Cosmo...it doesn't seem to have the penchant for small independent businesses and cheap stuff that Neet has. This isn't necessarily bad, just different. The only truly unique thing about Clutch (that I have noticed so far) is a monthly listing of featured blogs. This is great, because I'm always on the lookout for new blogs to read. I wasn't very impressed with the Fashion section of Clutch, because it contained 'trend-alerts' that other bloggers have been posting about for months - metallics, neon colors, etc. Still, the beauty section was fairly good, and I would definitely reccomend checking in once a month to see if there are any articles that interest you in the newest issue. Hey, it's free, what've you got to lose?

Dress up, Leave a false name, Be legendary

I cannot even begin to express my love for iCiNG. It is truly wonderful, and my only regret is that I didn't find it sooner. The blog, which covers everything from how to adjust to a new city to finding the right haircut to throwing a kick-ass tea party, is written by Her Funkiness Gala Darling and had quickly worked its way up to the first blog I check when I go onto the computer. It has the same effect (at least for little young me) as having a chat/getting advice from your friend's infinitely cooler older sister, except that you can read it any time you want. Hooray!