Cristina
In 2016, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, cancer that is caused by malignant plasma cells. I battled for two years, with my husband, Tony, and our seven children as my support system, and I’m grateful to now be in remission. Having been sick really helped me focus on the things that were the most important: my faith, family, friends, and most critical of all, life itself, and how precious and fragile it is.
I believe that all diseases start in the body, and they are a result of the foods that we eat, which are regularly sprayed with chemicals, pesticides, GMOs, processed sugar and trans fats. Cancer is on the rise, as is Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, liver disease and so much more. The environment plays a part in this as well.
That’s why my daughters, Arianna and Alex, and I started FLOURISH in the first place. It’s an all-encompassing commitment with a common cause—you. We were inspired to start a line of food products where each and every one of you can still enjoy the foods you love, prepared in the ways that will not jeopardize your health.
I feel with every fiber of my being that food is medicine for your body, and there is a sure way to do what you want without doing damage to it.
Our commitment and passion are to bring awareness of health and wellness through healing foods and products to enhance your life. On FlourishBMS.com, we share amazing recipes that include foods you love to eat, prepared in a way that is gut, heart and brain healthy, with research to back it up. We showcase and recommend eco-friendly products, offer cooking videos, share life’s moments and experiences, tips, great finds, selected books, guest bloggers, chefs, pets and pet care, online shopping and the latest up to date medical research. My daughters, Arianna and Alex (who are millennials), also share their world living in the digital age with insightful observations about dating, dining, friendship, work, life and relationships!
Arianna
DURING MY MOM’S BATTLE WITH CANCER, I would watch her religiously research the power of foods and their health benefits, creating recipes that not only healed the soul, but tasted delicious. This sparked my thirst to learn more for myself. I have personally dealt with a lifetime of chronic and severe stomach and intestinal issues.
My health journey has been a long and difficult one, with endless visits to the ER and countless doctor appointments, where I could never fully get an answer. Medication after medication, nothing seemed to help—that was until I learned the power of food and its healing properties.
I now live with little to NO symptoms at all simply by changing the way I eat and the products I use in my home. Thinking back to when I saw the change, it was instantaneous with when I changed up the way I ate. It is safe to say that my health journey jump-started my passion for sharing with others, and that is why I started TheModernDayGirlfriend.com. MDG is a digital special space I created where people can realize they are not alone; where people can celebrate their worth; and where they can regularly get tips on authentic living.
I share on my site how much better you can feel implementing little to large life changes from switching up your diet to changing the products you use within your home! I’m a firm believer that everybody is different so what may work for me, might not work for you, but FEELING BETTER AND DOING BETTER for the world we leave behind is important to ourselves and the ones we love. This change isn’t as hard as you might think; it all starts with baby steps. Trust me—eating and living with intention isn’t bland or boring, but colorful and bright, so color in the pages of your life!
Alex
I HAVE A PASSION FOR COOKING THAT STARTED IN MY EARLY CHILDHOOD. I have some of the most beautiful memories growing up as our family gathered around the dinner table. My mother is an incredible cook and still to this day her food is some of my favorite in the world. Food was always at the epicenter of our home; it’s how we showed love. I fell in love with food and entertaining at an early age, and it has taken me on an incredible journey so far in my life.
After school, I went on to study at the International Culinary School at the Art Institute and have split my career working professionally as a chef and writer, as well as, an on-air camera host. I most recently hosted Moveable Feast with Fine Cooking Magazine on PBS, which has been nominated for three “TASTE AWARDS.”
I am as equally passionate about the environment, hunger initiatives, sustainability and health. My goal is to have a positive impact and bring joy to those around me. Our company, FLOURISH, BODY-MIND-SPIRIT that my mother, sister and I started is a way we can contribute to all of it!
FLOURISH
WE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST LINE OF FOOD products in February 2019 with our organic granolas at markets in the greater Los Angeles area. The granolas are non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan, with the exception of the chocolate chip cookie. They come in a variety of flavors: Original Granola, Granola with Turmeric (as we all know, turmeric is the new black), Chocolate Chip Cookie, and My Original with CBD oil in it. And the great news is—we are slowly rolling out to include Amazon and other major food markets all over the country.
We will soon be coming out with bone broth for dogs with CBD oil in it that is also fit for human consumption. We have plans to roll out our organic soups, sauces, marinades, salad dressing, desserts, smoothies, grab and go, and more.
My motto is “EAT AND LIVE WELL!” I personally create every recipe and test them to make sure they are perfect before I send them down to the commercial kitchen. I’m always present when we make the first run on cereal to ensure it is perfect.
I come from a big, loud, wonderful Italian family. Every Sunday we had huge family meals with music in the background. I remember the happiness I felt knowing people we really cared about were coming over to enjoy incredible food and good company. We didn’t have a lot of money, but that didn’t matter because there was so much love in the house. That experience and those memories were imprinted in me very young, and I knew I wanted to do that as well when I had a family because it made me feel so good.
To me, food and feeding people is like serving a big bowl of love. When I have food and bring it out and put it in front of everybody, it’s another way of showing my love and appreciation of my family.
I’ve now been married to my best friend for 34 years. We have always been able to talk to one another about what we could do as a couple to communicate and preserve what we have and what is valuable in our marriage. I tell my husband how I feel, and he does the same with me. Sometimes that’s hard, but the key is open and honest communication, commitment, perseverance, and the deep love and respect we have for one another.
My latest book, Food For Thought, was released in the fall of 2018 and became THE BEST-SELLING COOKBOOK ON ‘BRAIN HEALTH.’ Alex and Arianna were indispensable with its making as Alex prepped and cooked all the recipes, while Ariana kept us on track with her amazing organizational skills!
I have made it a priority to live life to the fullest, to speak up, give thanks on a daily basis and to appreciate the many blessings in life. I take the good with the bad, and I’m thankful for the lessons I’ve learned. I am so proud of my girls. They have turned out to be my inspiration! I admire, love and respect them so much. It’s been a pleasure and an honor to be their mom.
Cristina
In 2016, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, cancer that is caused by malignant plasma cells. I battled for two years, with my husband, Tony, and our seven children as my support system, and I’m grateful to now be in remission. Having been sick really helped me focus on the things that were the most important: my faith, family, friends, and most critical of all, life itself, and how precious and fragile it is.
I believe that all diseases start in the body, and they are a result of the foods that we eat, which are regularly sprayed with chemicals, pesticides, GMOs, processed sugar and trans fats. Cancer is on the rise, as is Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, liver disease and so much more. The environment plays a part in this as well.
That’s why my daughters, Arianna and Alex, and I started FLOURISH in the first place. It’s an all-encompassing commitment with a common cause—you. We were inspired to start a line of food products where each and every one of you can still enjoy the foods you love, prepared in the ways that will not jeopardize your health.
I feel with every fiber of my being that food is medicine for your body, and there is a sure way to do what you want without doing damage to it.
Our commitment and passion are to bring awareness of health and wellness through healing foods and products to enhance your life. On FlourishBMS.com, we share amazing recipes that include foods you love to eat, prepared in a way that is gut, heart and brain healthy, with research to back it up. We showcase and recommend eco-friendly products, offer cooking videos, share life’s moments and experiences, tips, great finds, selected books, guest bloggers, chefs, pets and pet care, online shopping and the latest up to date medical research. My daughters, Arianna and Alex (who are millennials), also share their world living in the digital age with insightful observations about dating, dining, friendship, work, life and relationships!
Arianna
DURING MY MOM’S BATTLE WITH CANCER, I would watch her religiously research the power of foods and their health benefits, creating recipes that not only healed the soul, but tasted delicious. This sparked my thirst to learn more for myself. I have personally dealt with a lifetime of chronic and severe stomach and intestinal issues.
My health journey has been a long and difficult one, with endless visits to the ER and countless doctor appointments, where I could never fully get an answer. Medication after medication, nothing seemed to help—that was until I learned the power of food and its healing properties.
I now live with little to NO symptoms at all simply by changing the way I eat and the products I use in my home. Thinking back to when I saw the change, it was instantaneous with when I changed up the way I ate. It is safe to say that my health journey jump-started my passion for sharing with others, and that is why I started TheModernDayGirlfriend.com. MDG is a digital special space I created where people can realize they are not alone; where people can celebrate their worth; and where they can regularly get tips on authentic living.
I share on my site how much better you can feel implementing little to large life changes from switching up your diet to changing the products you use within your home! I’m a firm believer that everybody is different so what may work for me, might not work for you, but FEELING BETTER AND DOING BETTER for the world we leave behind is important to ourselves and the ones we love. This change isn’t as hard as you might think; it all starts with baby steps. Trust me—eating and living with intention isn’t bland or boring, but colorful and bright, so color in the pages of your life!
Alex
I HAVE A PASSION FOR COOKING THAT STARTED IN MY EARLY CHILDHOOD. I have some of the most beautiful memories growing up as our family gathered around the dinner table. My mother is an incredible cook and still to this day her food is some of my favorite in the world. Food was always at the epicenter of our home; it’s how we showed love. I fell in love with food and entertaining at an early age, and it has taken me on an incredible journey so far in my life.
After school, I went on to study at the International Culinary School at the Art Institute and have split my career working professionally as a chef and writer, as well as, an on-air camera host. I most recently hosted Moveable Feast with Fine Cooking Magazine on PBS, which has been nominated for three “TASTE AWARDS.”
I am as equally passionate about the environment, hunger initiatives, sustainability and health. My goal is to have a positive impact and bring joy to those around me. Our company, FLOURISH, BODY-MIND-SPIRIT that my mother, sister and I started is a way we can contribute to all of it!
FLOURISH
WE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST LINE OF FOOD products in February 2019 with our organic granolas at markets in the greater Los Angeles area. The granolas are non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan, with the exception of the chocolate chip cookie. They come in a variety of flavors: Original Granola, Granola with Turmeric (as we all know, turmeric is the new black), Chocolate Chip Cookie, and My Original with CBD oil in it. And the great news is—we are slowly rolling out to include Amazon and other major food markets all over the country.
We will soon be coming out with bone broth for dogs with CBD oil in it that is also fit for human consumption. We have plans to roll out our organic soups, sauces, marinades, salad dressing, desserts, smoothies, grab and go, and more.
My motto is “EAT AND LIVE WELL!” I personally create every recipe and test them to make sure they are perfect before I send them down to the commercial kitchen. I’m always present when we make the first run on cereal to ensure it is perfect.
I come from a big, loud, wonderful Italian family. Every Sunday we had huge family meals with music in the background. I remember the happiness I felt knowing people we really cared about were coming over to enjoy incredible food and good company. We didn’t have a lot of money, but that didn’t matter because there was so much love in the house. That experience and those memories were imprinted in me very young, and I knew I wanted to do that as well when I had a family because it made me feel so good.
To me, food and feeding people is like serving a big bowl of love. When I have food and bring it out and put it in front of everybody, it’s another way of showing my love and appreciation of my family.
I’ve now been married to my best friend for 34 years. We have always been able to talk to one another about what we could do as a couple to communicate and preserve what we have and what is valuable in our marriage. I tell my husband how I feel, and he does the same with me. Sometimes that’s hard, but the key is open and honest communication, commitment, perseverance, and the deep love and respect we have for one another.
My latest book, Food For Thought, was released in the fall of 2018 and became THE BEST-SELLING COOKBOOK ON ‘BRAIN HEALTH.’ Alex and Arianna were indispensable with its making as Alex prepped and cooked all the recipes, while Ariana kept us on track with her amazing organizational skills!
I have made it a priority to live life to the fullest, to speak up, give thanks on a daily basis and to appreciate the many blessings in life. I take the good with the bad, and I’m thankful for the lessons I’ve learned. I am so proud of my girls. They have turned out to be my inspiration! I admire, love and respect them so much. It’s been a pleasure and an honor to be their mom.
