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Hi, nice to meet you.
I'm Hallie, a Midwest native, New York City transplant and the mind behind corals + cognacs. If you're looking for an online destination for stylish inspiration and musings on Manhattan living, you've come to the right place.
Here's a bit more about me (and if you'd like to keep in touch, you can find me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook).
I hope you enjoy reading corals + cognacs as much as I enjoy writing it.
FAQ //LOCATION: New York, New York •BY WAY OF: The Midwest (Cleveland/Chicago) •HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? Attainable, trendy and fun. I’m constantly wearing unexpected pairings – like statement pumps and a graphic tee. •FAVORITE ITEM IN YOUR CLOSET? The vintage Gucci clutch I thrifted for $40. •ANY OBSESSIONS? I like my coffee black, my heels high and my martinis dirty. •GUILTY PLEASURES? Complex carbohydrates and shoe shopping -- both in excess. (And SoulCycle, as a result.)
ARE YOU A FULL-TIME BLOGGER? No, I work as a Development Manager and Contributing Editor at Glam.com. •WHY DID YOU START YOUR BLOG? I've spent nearly seven years on the corporate grind, where sartorial humor and an expertly crafted color-block can get lost in the boardroom. As a result, I decided to create a blog -- a space where I’d hoped my writing, styling and excessive shoe collection would be better comprehended. •WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Living stylish and spontaneously in New York City – and beyond. I aim to inspire others to have fun with fashion and to live lightheartedly •HOW’D YOU THINK OF THE NAME? To be honest, the name just came to me. I’m a big color-blocker and a sucker for alliteration in writing. It just fit. •WHAT’S THE CORRECT WAY TO WRITE IT? corals + cognacs.
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT? corals and cone-yaks. •WHAT KIND OF CAMERA DO YOU USE? A Canon T3i with a 50mm f/1.4 lens. •DON’T YOU FEEL WEIRD TAKING PHOTOS OF YOURSELF? Absolutely. Everyone looks at me like I’m insane – especially when it’s cold. Wouldn’t you? •DO YOU WORK WITH ADVERTISERS/SPONSORS? Yep! Shoot me an e-mail and let’s talk. •HOW ELSE CAN WE KEEP IN TOUCH? On Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Coming back from a holiday weekend is hard, isn’t it? (… What day is it?)
If you’re anything like me, this week has been a bit of a struggle. Today it’s easier to feel back on track, but it’s been one of those “I need a vacation from my vacation” situations none-the-less.
Hey, everything in moderation… Including moderation.
It’s no secret that I’m a lover of the nightlife — something you’ve likely witnessed if you follow me on Snapchat (@coralsncognacs).
Day-in and day-out, one of the questions I’m most commonly asked is “How do you do it?”
“It,” I imagine, is teaching the equivalent of 13-15 SoulCycle classes each week, running a blog (and all that entails) full-time, and still finding time to maintain a preeeetty vibrant social life.
So, enter today’s post.
Weekends in the summer are my absolute favorite; but let’s face it — AND we’ve all been there — a weekend of imbibing in barbecues, pool parties, picnics and late nights can make one’s workday even less appealing than usual.
Overdoing it on food and booze can leave you feeling super sluggish and a little bit guilty. Fortunately, though, it seems my research (coupled with a few years of experience — haha) has paid off, as I seem to have a gift for pulling it together in what would be an otherwise very unfortunate state. (Dear God, I hope I didn’t just jinx myself.)
//
Whether it’s a holiday weekend or just another summertime soiree, here’s a handful of my tried-and-true, expert-tested tips to help you feel your best and re-balance your body after a few days of eating and drinking less virtuously:
THE NIGHT OF
Did you known it’s actually easier to prevent a hangover than it is to deal with it the next morning? Take these tips to heart before your next big night out:
Stick to the top-shelf stuff.
Stick with clear liquor — like vodka or gin, which has fewer impurities than their brown-colored counterparts.
Think of it this way: The more times alcohol is distilled (which generally makes it more expensive), the more impurities and toxins that are removed and the less likely you’ll feel like shit the next day.
Pro tip: My drink of choice is usually a vodka (Tito’s, Belvedere or Goose) and water with lots of ice and lemon.
Eat something substantial.
Believe it or not, the severity of a hangover isn’t solely related to how much you throw back, but how well you’re able to metabolize alcohol — which depends a lot on what you eat. I’d suggest eating a good balance of carbs, protein and fat before you hit up happy hour.
THE MORNING AFTER
Flip the switch.
Hey, it happens. How can we not go a little wild in a world where pizza exists?
Post-gluttony, it can be easy to feel badly and beat yourself up, but don’t let the pendulum swing to either extreme. Live your life! Laugh it off, double-check that Snapchat story and then quickly get back on track by tackling the physical symptoms for all these nasty post-party side-effects:
Get in the shower.
… And make it a cold one.
Drink water.
Duh, right? But seriously: the first thing you should do when you wake up is drink a large glass of water. Adding fresh will stimulate your digestive system, too. Aim for at least 64 ounces of H20 each day. Steer clear of alcohol and (too much) coffee, as both will just further dehydrate you.
If you’re type of gal who buys her H20-on-the-go, get in the habit of buying Boxed Water instead of those in plastic containers. (You can find ’em at your local Whole Foods.) Not only is the product’s material 100% recyclable (down to the cap), it’s extremely sustainable in the way that it’s produced, packaged and shipped. Lessen the hangover, up the karma points.
Take vitamins.
A big misconception is that hangovers are entirely about dehydration — that’s partially true, but you’re also dealing with inflammation and oxidative stress (the body’s ability to readily detoxify itself).
Booze flushes many of the nutrients and vitamins from your body, so taking a multivitamin (as well as loading up on leafy green veggies) will help your body rebound after a long night (or, uh, four) out. I take Vitafusion’s Gorgeous Hair, Skin & Nails multivitamin — it has powerful antioxidants to fight free radicals, plus Biotin to support healthy skin, hair and nails. (In full disclosure, I have an ongoing partnership with the brand, but I do take these multi’s err’day.)
Pro tip: Specifically, Vitamin C and B complex can improve your alcohol tolerance for the rest of the night and the next day, so it’s good to take ’em before you go out.
Fuel up with the right food.
Load up on foods that contain cysteine (such as amino-rich eggs, oats, chicken, cheese and fish), which helps break down a headache-causing toxin that’s produced when your body digests alcohol.
Have a spritzer.
If you feel nauseous or like you have a stomach ache, pour yourself a glass of Sprite and throw in an Alka-seltzer — the antacid will help to put an end to your nausea. If you didn’t know, Sprite increases the activity of ALDH, which is an enzyme that gets rid of those awful hangover symptoms.
Pro tip: Often times I’ll drink one of these before I go to bed after a late night out. It helps!
THE DAYS THAT FOLLOW
Now that you’re in a better state of mind, here’s how to quickly get back on track:
Be prepared.
The key to any good detox is to be prepared, so get your ass to the grocery store and stock up on fresh food, fruit and produce.
Try to eliminate sugar from your diet (which creates that cycle of low blood sugar — or “hanger”) and load up on protein, veggies and healthy fats (nuts, legumes, avocado, etc).
Pick up some Pedialyte, coconut water or G2 Gatorade while you’re at it. The electrolytes will replace the essential fluids and nutrients you lose when you drink — and G2 has the same amount of electrolytes with much less of the added sugar. (Riptide Rush for life!)
Eat a shitload (ahem) of fiber.
Incorporate as much fiber into your meals as possible. Fruit, veggies and complex carbs like quinoa, sweet potato and brown rice will help you — uh, flush your system and get that digestion back on track.
Cut out the extra.
Instead of eating ’til you’re full, eat until you’re just not hungry anymore. Leaving a few bites of food on your plate at each meal will add up over the span of a few days, especially if you’re eating three to five meals per day.
Sleep.
That weekend lifestyle can interfere with your REM cycle — hard — so get your ZzZ’s. If you had a late night, just rest up the next day so you don’t run yourself into the ground. If you’re having trouble, take a melatonin supplement; that’ll help get you back on track.
Get movin’.
I know, I know. This one can seem like a challenge, right? Even though you might not feel like it, working out will help your body get rid of the toxins that you took in the weekend prior. Increased circulation gets blood and oxygen movin’, too (especially to where you need it most — your brain).
So, there you have it. A few days of detox (plus plenty of water) will get back to your healthy, happy self in no time… Take these tips to heart, get back on track and gear up for your next summer night.
In sum, here’s your weekend checklist for partying a little bit smarter:
The night before: Stick to clear, top-shelf liquor (like vodka or gin).
Before bedtime: Water, an electrolyte-enhanced beverage and vitamin supplements (a multivitamin or Vitamins C and B Complex are key).
The next day: Sweat it out, eat the right food and keep taking in those (non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic) dranks.
//
Last but not least, I’ll say it again: Don’t beat yourself up. After all, it’s what you do every day is what affects your long-term health. With a little mindfulness, you can easily turn yourself back into the clean, functional, productive little lady you are… Until next time! Wink.
I love this post and your approach to being mindful / finding balance.
Could you do a post sometime about what you eat in a day or some healthy eating tips? I think you mentioned awhile ago that you had a lost a few pounds and would share what you’ve been doing differently.
Great advice, I’m the worst hungover person! Next time it happens I’ll have to come back to this to get my life back in order! 🙂 lol, hope you have a good Wednesday!
dude, totally agree about the boxed water- aside from reusable bottles, its the way to go for sure. they also have it at target and kroger now as well so they’re easier to find! (not sure if y’all even have kroger.. I’m in South Carolina haha but just in case)
Also, NEVER mix alcohol and acetaminophen/Tylenol/paracetemol. In some cases this can lead to death by taking out your liver — a particularly horrible way to die, BTW.
Where was this when I needed it on Monday morning?! 😉
Girl, I was still taking my own advice… LOL!
So many good tips, lady! Hope you’re having a great Wednesday, lady!
I love this post and your approach to being mindful / finding balance.
Could you do a post sometime about what you eat in a day or some healthy eating tips? I think you mentioned awhile ago that you had a lost a few pounds and would share what you’ve been doing differently.
Yes, will do. A similar post is coming next week RE: my Day in the Life. Thanks for the suggestion!
YES!!
This was an excellent post and I’m not even a drinker.
Great advice, I’m the worst hungover person! Next time it happens I’ll have to come back to this to get my life back in order! 🙂 lol, hope you have a good Wednesday!
xo, Sarah
Great post…thank you. I also feel less sting with Silver Patron sipping tequila with limes and ice. Anti-inflammatory and doesn’t give me a hangover.
LOVE these tips. Funny how little steps like drinking water before sleep (which is easier said than done!) can help so much!
xx -Annie
http://www.successonstilettos.com
Damn girl making hangover posts COOL. LOVE this, I think the vitamins, cold shower and water thing are KEY.
xoxo
Krista
http://www.hundredblog.com
Words from the wisest!! Love this post. Vodka with lemonSSSSSSS 🙂
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dude, totally agree about the boxed water- aside from reusable bottles, its the way to go for sure. they also have it at target and kroger now as well so they’re easier to find! (not sure if y’all even have kroger.. I’m in South Carolina haha but just in case)
Also, NEVER mix alcohol and acetaminophen/Tylenol/paracetemol. In some cases this can lead to death by taking out your liver — a particularly horrible way to die, BTW.