EVERY Sunday one of my favorite activities is to lunch meal prep for the week. I know.. I’m a party animal!
But bowls are my number one go-to ways to prep food. Here are some essentials for a healthy, yummy bowl:
Whole grains – brown rice or quinoa are great!
Lean protein – chicken breast, ground turkey, salmon, or tofu!
VEGGIES – as many as you can fit!
Sauce – add salsa or low sodium soy sauce for some taste!
For veggies, I loveee shredded carrots, broccoli slaw, cauliflower rice, or sauteed spinach in less oil. But you can add whatever you want!
If you’re eating out for lunch, bowls are also a great way to eat healthy. I went to a korean restaurant today and got a bowl with lettuce, spicy grilled chicken, shredded carrots, quinoa, seaweed, and scrambled egg. Filling and delicious! (and yes.. my friend and I split fries. Gotta live a little!)
OMG this is officially my favorite airport sculpture!
Never in my life I thought I would go visit Sacramento, it is just not a touristy place you hear about often, but we had the perfect excuse… visiting some dear friends that moved there. This ended up being a really cute place to visit, it is a decent distance from other larger cities and tourist attractions, so you can easily hop on the car and get there; but it also has this super cute area called Old Sacramento (Old Sac for short). This place looks like it was taken out of a western movie and the contrast between this and the modern buildings from Downtown Sacramento is super cool. They have all kinds of cute little shops including a really cool candy shop where you can try all kinds of taffy for free (yes, I ate way too much taffy). They also offer boat tours, restaurants, street performers, and more. Besides this cute little gem, you can also visit one of the many museums they offer, the capitol, Fairytale town, or head over to the Dive Bar for a bite, drink and to check out their large aquarium with a mermaid! talk about uniquely themed bars. Even if this is not your main destination, I definitely recommend visiting if you are in any of the surrounding areas.
Y’all – it is HARD to find good workout leggings that don’t cost an arm and a leg. I used to always just get random leggings from Walgreens.. but talk about see through!
Recently I’ve discovered leggings from Aerie and I just can’t go back! They fit tight on the waist, are thick through the legs, and end at just the right spot.
In these leggings you can squat, lift, and run.. without worrying about them falling off or people seeing your underwear (sorry but, it happens!)
I’ve thought about shopping at Lululemon or Fabletics – but I don’t think you can beat this bargain with this quality. What are your favorite clothes to workout in?!
You’ve all heard this, life is short. We all spend waaaaaay too much time worrying about so many things that we miss the most important ones. Yes it is important to pay our bills, it is important to have a place to call home, cover our family’s needs, etc. but it is also important to LIVE and LIVE WELL. By living well I mean actually being fully present in the now, not looking at your phone every five seconds, invest your time in things tat will allow you to connect with others, connect with nature, and connect with your inner self. No, you don’t need a new phone every year and you definitely don’t need all of the latest gaming consoles as soon as they come out. It is nice once in a while, but things get broken, they lose value and the enjoyment for the object fades away; but the memories you make through experiences will stay with you forever. The end of the year is getting closer, take these last few months of 2019 to reflect on what really matters to you, create a bucket list of things you want to do or experience during the upcoming year, and go in to the new year with the purpose of checking as many of those items as possible. Whatever doesn’t happen next year, write it on the list for the following year, but keep that list somewhere you can see it, and next time you want to make a large purchase, remind yourself of those thing you could be checking off that list instead of buying that particular item.
Tell me about the best experience you’ve had this year so far and a bucket list item for the next year!
Summers coming to an end.. which also means my TAN is coming to an end! I always make sure to self tan year round. EVEN in the summer, I use self tanner to even everything out.
But it can be super hard to get a self tan to go on even and smooth though! Here are my top 3 tips to get a great tan!
Exfoliate first! But don’t shave. If you have to shave, wait one more day to tan since your pores can open up a bit. Then exfoliate right before.. I personally love to dry brush!
Use a mit. This will make sure your hands don’t turn orange and will help you rub the lotion smoothly on your skin.
And this is my NUMBER ONE SECRET TIP! Apply lotion RIGHT after. This way you’ll smell better.. but this is just a second round of making sure your tan is on well!
I personally love Bondi Sands the most, but you definitely don’t need an expensive tanner. With these tips you can make any one work!
As we get closer to cooler weather, you may want to keep this delicious soupy recipe in mind. Lentils are an incredible source of protein, fiber and complex carbohydrates, helping you boost your metabolism, nourish your body, and even lower cholesterol levels. On top of being hearty and satisfying, it is super simple to make.
Ingredients (feeds 4-6 people):
1 Lb. Lentils
4-5 Chopped Tomatoes
2 Large Chopped Jalapeno Peppers (No Seeds)
1 Small-Medium Chopped Onion
A Small Chunk of Onion
A Large Garlic Clove
6 Large Eggs
Salt
Olive Oil
Vegetarian (Optional) Bouillon
Sweet Plantains (Optional)
Boil the lentils with a splash of olive oil, a bit of salt, and the garlic clove. Cover them up and continue to check them until they are soft (continue adding water if needed). You can make this more of a soup by adding more water and have a more runny consistency. While the lentils cook, lightly saute the onion and jalapeno peppers, then add the chopped tomatoes. Once the lentils are soft, set the heat to medium-low, get rid of the chunk of onion and the garlic. Add the sauteed onions, peppers, and tomatoes as well as the bouillon in to the pot with the lentils and mix it all together. Crack and drop in the eggs into the soup, carefully placing them separate from one another and cover the pot with a lid. Gently mix the soup occasionally (covering the eggs to allow for the heat of the soup to cook the eggs). Once the eggs are cooked throughout, add salt to taste and enjoy. For added deliciousness, separately fry sliced plantains with a bit of olive oil or with an air fryer and add to the soup.
Feel free to adjust the amount of any of the ingredients according to your preference. This is a full meal that will help your digestive health and give you all the nutrients you need.
Try it and tell me what you think. I prefer it with the plantains, but sometimes the stores don’t have them ripe enough (therefore not pictured).
I know Summer is pretty much over now.. but I love a good tie up top all year long! A little tie at the bottom can completely change a plain top!
For Fall, get an oversized thin sweater to tie. Or take your summer tie up tees through the seasons by wearing jeans instead of shorts or some fleece leggings!
For this look, I paired one of my fave tops with some light wash denim. I know there’s no white after Labor Day (but we should all break that rule..), but light is always allowed!
Stressed out by the back to school traffic, my family and I decided to take a quick mini-vacation to Galveston Island, TX. Now, I have lived in Texas for about seven years now and I still haven’t explored much of it. I had heard a lot of mixed opinions about Galveston Beaches, so I finally got to go and see for myself. I absolutely loved my time there, stayed very close to the beach, so it was very easy to get around; I also went during a weekday after school started to avoid crowds (best idea ever!). As any other cool beach town, they offer dolphin watching boat tours, kayaking, cool museums and aquariums, boat rentals and more. What really caught my eye is the number of ghost tours they offer! We did some of the other things on the list, but I the ghost tour was definitely one of the highlights of the trip, not only because of the walk tour at night filled with creepy stories, but because it gave us insight about the island, showed us historic landmarks, and allowed me to make sense of other things I wouldn’t have known unless I did additional research.
Great Storm of 1900
When we first arrived to Galveston beach, I saw the above sculpture and I thought it was a bit depressing (though beautiful) for a beach town. Well, it seems like it is a memorial dedicated to all the lives lost during a hurricane during the year 1900. This is the deadliest natural disaster in US history which left about 10,000 people homeless, billions in damages, and over 6,000 people dead. After this storm, it was decided to raise the entire city several feet over sea level, which is also the reason why in order to get to the beach you need to go down a very steep set of stairs… isn’t this crazy! The entire project of elevating the entire city and encasing the old homes’ first floor is really worth looking into. A creepy thing to hear about is what the city did with the remains of the victims of the storm. There were too many to properly bury and they tried disposing of them in the ocean (but then they washed ashore), then burning them but couldn’t get the temperature hot enough to burn bone, and then ended up burying them in the process of elevating the city… yes this means there are random bones scattered under the city everywhere! I definitely recommend doing one of the ghost tours if you ever visit, I believe it is worth it. Here are some other pictures of creepy houses we visited, each has a creepy story.
More to Explore
I was not a big fan of the water in Galveston, but walking by the beach, visiting Pleasure Pier, souvenir shopping, the museums, and eating by the seaside made up for it. Also, you can easily take the ferry to Crystal Beach and the water there is better, no seaweed, the sand is softer, and it feels more private. The ferry to Crystal Beach is free and runs 24/7! Would I ever go back?? Absolutely! the place is super laid back, very cute, and I feel like I still have more to explore. Have you been to Galveston yet? I would love to hear what you have to say! I would also love to see people’s recommendations for trips so I can add to my bucket list and hopefully make it there sooner rather than later!
I hope you all are NOT laboring today! It’s a long weekend and it feels so good to have some extra time to relax.
I just got back from vacation to LA and Mexico.. and the post vacation blues are REAL! Even if you haven’t been out of town, a long weekend can still make it extra hard to get back to reality. Here are my tips to get back in the swing of things:
Make a list. I love to make my to do lists the night before.. then it’s out of my mind and on paper ready for the next day!
Schedule a workout. Book a class or write it in your calendar. If you schedule it like a meeting, you’ll be more motivated to go.
Meal prep! I love to start the week with breakfast and lunch made for the next few days. Prep some broccoli slaw salads and egg muffins ahead of time!
Self care is KEY. Put on a face mask, some self tanner, leave in conditioner.. and you’ll feel like a new woman!
What are your favorite things to do to beat the post-vacation blues?
Lemons are amazing for many things other than lemonade. You can use lemon as the sole ingredient or an one of the ingredients of a multitude of beauty treatments for face, body and hair. Many of you will be familiar with the struggle of darkened elbows, knees, underarms, and even the darkening of skin due to scars. Due to the high content of vitamin C in lemons, they are fantastic for skin lightening use. You can just grab a half of a lemon and rub it on the areas you desire to lighten, leave on for a good 15-20 minutes (less for sensitive skin) and rinse. Repeat periodically (two to three times a week) until you see the desired change. To add more power to this lightening treatment, mix the juice of a lemon with a half a teaspoon of baking soda and rub the mixture on the desired area (adjust the amount of juice and baking soda depending on the size of the areas you wish to treat).
Not enough? Lightening skin is not all you can do with lemons. They are also great for mixing with honey for a delicious hair mask that will give your hair a beautiful shine and if you mix the lemon juice with honey and sugar you have a tasty body scrub! What else can you ask for? You literally have a key ingredient to any kind of at hoe body treatment sitting in your fridge!
Have a lemon beauty recipe for us to try? post it in the comments!
Coming to you from sunny Mexico.. I’m talking about how to stay healthy while still enjoying a few drinks on vacation!
The first thing people normally talk about on a “diet” is the need to cut out alcohol. In my opinion, I don’t want to do anything on a diet that I’ll start doing again and can’t make part of my lifestyle. Otherwise, you’ll just gain that weight straight back! So I just make start changes to my drinking (in moderation.. of course!).
My top tips are:
Don’t use sugary mixers! Nix pre-made marg mixes or sugary sodas. Opt for sparkling water or water with a few DROPS of juice.
Stick to one liquor. In my experience, once I start mixing a ton of stuff, it affects me more which leads to bad food choices. Even on vacation at an all inclusive, I pick either vodka or silver tequila each day and stick to it!
Avoid sweet wines. Lean towards dryer blends (merlot, cab, chardonnay) or even better yet – brut sparkling wine. A lower sugar intake is better AND sparkling wine has bubbles and a lower alcohol content.
Add ice. I personally hate cold drinks.. but adding ice will keep you hydrated (it melts into water.. duh hahaha), and will help you drink slower.
Photographed.. whiskey on the rocks and champagne with a splash of liquer!
Our days of summer are counted, soon we’ll start seeing the leaves falling of the trees, the grass turning brown, and the weather cooling down. I love seeing the change in seasons, but I love the heat, I like dressing with bright vibrant colors, thin fabrics, and being outside without freezing my butt off! Make sure you embrace what’s left of the summer and bring out all those beautiful summer clothing pieces out, flaunt those colors like a peacock, rock the summer hats, and eat out in the patio or terrace. As you know, I love easy one-piece outfits like dresses, rompers, and jumpsuits during the summer. I think they are super easy to throw on, look super fun, and are very comfortable. What’s your go to clothing item or accessory for the summer that you’ll miss once the cool weather hits?
P.S Check out my fabulous authentic leather purse from Erandi. Shop this and other beautiful leather accessories and jackets at http://www.erandifashion.com.
Sleeping can be hard. Especially trying to adult, it’s so easy to stay up all night thinking about your next to do list or worrying about something that happened that day. And sometimes you just aren’t tired!
You’ve heard of a lot of natural remedies I’m sure.. chamomile tea, melatonin.. but those actually don’t work for me! Melatonin gives me restless legs and the tea gives me crazy nightmares! (At least I think they’re related)
Next time you can’t sleep, try some essential oils! A dab of lavender oil on your wrists at night or a spray of some calming oil like the one in the photo are live savers. The scent is crazy relaxing and will help you fall asleep in no time.
Had never been to San Francisco before and this city definitely didn’t disappoint! The weather was a bit chilly, but nothing a light jacket couldn’t solve. I was a bit disappointed because I couldn’t get tickets for the the Alcatraz tour ***SILENT CRY***, apparently you do have to book that tour way ahead of time as it is such a popular attraction, so I settled from seeing it from far away… for now! Even though I didn’t get to see Alcatraz, there was plenty to do for a full day packed of activities. Here is a recap of our visit for and things for you to do when visiting:
Golden Gate Bridge and City View
There are several stops where you can park to see the bridge, glance at the entire city and even take a look at the Alcatraz Island. Definitely great for pictures although keep in mind that San Francisco does tend to be pretty foggy due to the water in its surroundings, making the heat rise, so it is hard to get the perfectly clear image of the full bridge a lot of times.
Quick Iconic Stops
Other iconic places we visited to check off the list are:
The painted Ladies – some beautifully colored Victorian houses from the 19th Century. The park across the street provides a beautiful view of the houses as well as the city itself.
Lombard Street – This is a short drive or walk at the crookedest street in the world. It is also a very beautiful street as there are tons of beautiful colorful flowers everywhere!
The Palace of Fine Arts – This is an incredible architectural master piece at a park. It s so peaceful, breathtaking, and just perfection. There was nothing going on when I visited, but they do have various community events throughout the year.
Full House House – Now, if you don’t have visiting this place in your bucket list… you are a psycho! lol I do feel for the neighbors though.
Pier 39 – Fun and delicious food right by the ocean, nothing more perfect!
Unique Activity
The Ice Cream Museum recently found a permanent home in San Francisco and it is a really cool place to get some sweet treats, learn about the history of ice cream, have some family fun, take colorful fun pictures, and even swim in a sprinkle pool!
Food With a View
We enjoyed a delicious dinner at The Cheesecake Factory rooftop restaurant in downtown San Francisco while enjoying the view of the city. Rooftop dinner or partying is definitely a must!
I fell in love with this beautiful fun city for sure and can’t wait to go back. What’s your favorite city to visit?
So I’m off to Mexico – which meant crash diet time! And as a disclaimer.. crash diets are NOT GOOD! Do as I say, not as I do.
But I figured.. let’s try out keto. I watched a few documentaries about all of the benefits. If you watch “Fat” on amazon, they talk about how people get off insulin.. stop seizure medication.. etc. So I’m officially on day 8 and have a few thoughts:
Eating out isn’t as hard as I thought! Some photos are below.. but I normally opt for meat (lamb, fish, steak..), sauteed veggies, and avocado. I LOVE a good sushi roll sans rice or sashimi. And sauteed veggies are great… hello, olive oil!
Working out is hard! I went to pilates the other day and WOW I felt like passing out. So be sure to eat a little snack before you workout and have some extra salt.
The keto flu is real.. so have some pickles on hand to take a shot of juice! Trust me, it helps. It sounds gross – but worth it.
I’ve also lost almost 10 lbs in a week! Have you tried keto? Let us know in the comments!
As if chocolate wasn’t fabulous enough as an edible, it is also serves as an amazing and deliciously smelling body scrub! All you need are three ingredients, Cocoa powder, sugar and olive oil. Just mix all the ingredients together, gently apply on the desired areas in small circular motions to exfoliate the skin, leave on for 15 minutes, and rinse. The antioxidants in the cocoa will help restore elasticity to the skin, fight ageing, provide hydration, and its properties will also help reduce skin breakouts. Bonus point, the caffeine in the cocoa powder can even give you an energy boost!
Does anyone else struggle with what COMFORTABLE shoes to wear in the Summer?! I have such a hard time because flat sandals or flats hurt my feet.. so I pretty much always have to wear a small heel for a little arch support.
But sometimes heels just aren’t practical, don’t fit the event, or don’t go with the outfit. In this case.. I was wearing a super casual ensemble, so I decided to try out some sneakers!
Personally, I LOVE a good white (VERY WHITE) sneaker (helloo dad shoe trend). Once they start getting discolored.. it just looks dirty. But you don’t have to spend hundreds for a good pair. I found these for $20 at KROGER. Yes, Kroger!
Let us know in the comments what type of shoes are your fave for a casual Summer day!
Be happy! it sound so easy, so jolly and care free, but why is it so hard to feel happy sometimes? Because being happy takes work. Don’t get me wrong, I am not talking about working to buy the next thing you think will make you happy; it is not about material things. Things will not make you happy long term, they just satisfy an immediate want or need. I am talking about what it takes to feel whole, to feel at peace, to feel relaxed, to make you smile from the soul. Being happy starts from within you, it starts by you taking care of healing your soul, to love the amazing person you are, the capacity of love in your heart, the acceptance of those things you can’t change, and the drive and motivation to change those things you can change. Being happy is giving your loved ones the time they need to feel loved and cared for and do the same for you in return. It means building meaningful relationships, taking care of your body and your mind, exploring and nourishing your curious and adventurous side. Stop thinking about what you can get that will make you happy and start thinking on what you can do to work in your lasting happiness. Change your mindset and your daily actions, you’ll see the difference.
Here are some things you can do on a regular basis to work on your happiness:
Exercise – you’ve heard this one before and it is true. Even if you do a light workout to get those endorphins going, it helps.
Sleep enough – please try to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Your body and your mind will thank you, plus you wake us in a better mood.
Go outside – even if you just go for a quick walk during your lunch, go out, see the natural light, breathe the fresh air and appreciate your surroundings.
Build a strong support system – surround yourself with people who truly care about you and you care about, people that will be there no matter what and that will push you up and encourage you.
Social gatherings- with family or friends. I know you want to go home, get in bed and binge-watch a show, but make sure to spend time with those you love.
Good deeds – volunteer to help others, it will give you a great sense of satisfaction and you’ll be doing something good for someone else.
Meditate – this will help you relax, quiet your mind,be aware of your breathing, and help your body and mind to connect.
Smile and or laugh – of course we are not always in the mood to do this,, but smiling or laughing generate more smiling and/or laughing from yourself and/or others. You can also brighten someone else’s day with this.
Find what you are passionate about and do it as a hobby.
Take time to appreciate what you do have material or not. Be grateful!
These are only some things to get you started, but it is all about acknowledging that everything takes work, accept it, work on it, and have a positive mindset. Everyone has dark days (some more than others), just make sure you see the light at the end of the tunnel and you walk towards it. If you struggle with this, it is okay to ask for help, bring a partner along in your journey to happiness and work together. You are not alone.
There are few things better than enjoying a cool adult beverage by the pool! But calories can add up QUICK with cocktails. So avoid the extra sugar and sodium (and bloat) with these two simple low-cal cocktails.
Vodka Spritzer
1 shot vodka
6 oz sparkling water
Cut up fruit of choice
The fruit makes all the difference in this one! Watermelon is great and extra hydrating.
Cuba Libre
1 shot dark rum
6 oz Diet Coke
Juice of 1/2 lime
This classic drink feels like a heartier cocktail – but still rings in under 100 calories!
I haven’t been a vegetarian all my life, in fact, I’ve only been a vegetarian for a little over a year. It was a very personal decision that I had been considering for the longest time and I am very happy with it. I was already not a great cook and the switch to vegetarian has made it even harder… why? Well, now I have been needing to figure out how to get everything my body needs with this new lifestyle, how to not get bored eating the same things over and over, and how to expand my taste buds by trying other foods that maybe I wasn’t as crazy about or willing to try before. Sadly, I am still not a great cook, but I am making progress and I just absolutely love sharing my small cooking accomplishments with you. The below, is a small twist on a dish my mom used to make (hers involves pork), hope you try it and tell me what you think!
I will not be using measurements for
this recipe as it is all based on personal taste. If you are a big fan of any
of the ingredients, just add more of it.
Ingredients:
Zucchini
Squash
Frozen corn
Jalapeño pepper (I used half of one without seeds
to not make it too spicy)
White or yellow onion
Tomatoes
Mozzarella or Oaxaca cheese
Avocado
Salt
Olive oil
Instructions:
Finely chop
the onion and jalapeño. Once finely chopped, put it on a pan with a little olive
oil at medium-low heat and cook them until the onions are golden.
Chop the
tomatoes in small pieces and add them to the pan.
Cut the zucchini
and squash in small pieces and add them to the pan. Mix occasionally to allow
all of the ingredients to cook and not stick to the pan.
Once the zucchini
and squash are cooked but still firm, add the corn and salt to taste.
Add some
cheese and mix, allowing it to melt on the other ingredients.
Serve with
a side of sliced avocado. You may garnish with a bit of extra cheese on top,
some greens or anything else you like.
Super easy, very quick to make and
tastes delicious!
Do you have a cool vegetarian recipe for
me to try? Post it in the comments and I will give it a go.
If any of y’all are in the DFW area or are ever visiting – I have the PERFECT spot for you! Be sure to head on up to Frisco and check out “The Star.”
It’s the new Cowboys practice facility/HQ.. but even more than that, it’s a hot spot for great brunches, happy hours, and photo ops (for all of you basic people like me).
You can take a stop at Tupelo Honey for some BOMB biscuits and honey, or have a late night out at Concrete Cowboy. There’s also a ton of shopping and events that go on there. Parking is super easy, too.. which is a huge plus in the Dallas area!
And don’t forget.. take some pictures on the green!
Have you ever been to The Star? What are your favorite DFW stops?
Chamomile tea is
definitely one of my favorite teas to drink, especially at night time to help
me sleep and when I have a stomach ache or sore throat due to its antibacterial
properties. What many don’t know is that chamomile tea is super useful for many
other things, including skin care. Chamomile tea is a great natural anti-inflammatory,
analgesic and antioxidant that can help treat skin conditions like eczema,
rosacea and acne. It also helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles scars, dark
circles and tightens pores.
Here are a few ways you can use chamomile for
the above benefits:
Boil 1 tablespoon of dried chamomile or 1 bag of chamomile tea
in a cup of water. Let it cool down and using a cotton ball, dip it in the tea
and apply on your face with gentle taps after your face wash. Do not rinse your
face, let your skin absorb the tea. If you have areas with a skin condition,
you can place the soaked cotton balls or squares on them and leave them there
for a good 10 minutes while the tea is still a bit warm.
A nice face mask can be made with ¼ cup of chamomile tea, ¼
cup of rosewater and 2-4 tablespoons of honey (just enough to make the mix a
bit thick). Cover your clean face with the mix and leave it on for 10-15
minutes and rinse off.
To reduce eye puffiness and dark circles, boil 2 chamomile
tea bags in one cup of water. Let them cool down a bit, but while still warm,
squeeze the excess tea out of the tea bags and place them on your eyes (make
sure you cover the dark circles). Leave them on for 10 minutes and let your
skin absorb the tea.
Give chamomile a try and let me know what you
think!
If you’re searching for your new Summer color.. here you go!! Turquoise is where it’s AT!
I absolutely love a good turquoise dress – or even a turquoise pump (any pop of color is my fave, let’s be real). Here I have a casual button up dress that’s perfect for the hot weather. Wearing a breezy dress is key for 100 degree heat, and a color that matches the ocean just feels right!
I personally love to browse the shelves at Tj Maxx or Ross and wait for a color to pop. I stop whenever something stands out! And that’s my number one tip for shopping at bargain places.. to wait until something pops out at you, THEN start looking. It can be overwhelming to browse so many aisles, and then you end up with nothing!
So next time you go shopping, look for some ocean turquoise.. I promise it’ll be your new power color!
While visiting some friends in Cali, we took a road trip to Napa Valley, and let me tell you, if you are a wine lover… this place is a must! We went to this beautiful castle called Castello di Amorosa, we toured the place, enjoyed the scenery, tasted some delicious wine and chocolate, purchased some adorable souvenirs, and admired some very appealing bartenders (can I get some water please? getting thirsty over here, ha!). This place was so magical, I felt like we had a little piece of Italy here in the US with the medieval style castle and the picturesque vineyards. No joke, my ultimate dream would be to retire, move to a nice property in Italy with a small vineyard, and have a cute stone house with a terrace overlooking the entire thing… just chilling and living the life, ahhhhhhhhh 😊
Their wines are very good too and the owner is a 4th generation winemaker. You can definitely see and feel the passion and hard work that go into producing these delicious wines and keeping up with the place. Not only that, but looking at their website, it looks like they are also quite involved in charitable work within their local community, which is really cool to see. I was bummed to learn you can’t purchase their wines (specially the La Fantasia sweet wine, my fave!) at any store, but thankfully you can taste their deliciousness during your visit, join their wine club subscription or purchase them online at www.castellodiamorosa.com. This place also hosts themed events during the year including a Halloween party and a New Year’s Masquerade Ball, how cool is that?! I just can’t wait to go back to this place and hopefully attend one of their events. I encourage you to check this place out next time you are planning a visit to Napa, and if you are not yet planning to visit… it is time for you to start!
If you’ve made your way to the wine
country already, I would love to hear your story! What place did you visit? What
were the highlights of your trip?
The days are longer during the summer.. but ain’t nobody got time for spending the whole day cooking! Healthy meal delivery is the WAY. TO. GO!
There are a lot of different services that make it easy to make healthy meals at home. There’s blue apron, green chef, home chef, and more. For this post, I’m talking about Hello Fresh!
I get the meals for two since it’s just my husband and I, but I always get at least 3 servings out of it. It comes pre-portioned and ready to cut and cook! And life hack.. the recipes are all online. You don’t even have to buy the boxes 😉
The meal pictured below is beef bulgogi – but they also have vegetarian boxes. I’ve also added an example of the recipe card! I also LOVE using kits like these to meal prep for the week. They advertise as taking about 30 minutes a meal, but it’s normally more. I’d plan on an hour of cooking.
So if you ever find yourself not feeling like cooking (story of my life).. try ordering a healthy meal kit service!
Have you ever found yourself comparing your life with the life of others around you? You are not alone! We’ve all seen the bigger house than, the better car than, the skinnier than, the better life than, the easier path than… you get the idea. No matter how well others may think we are doing, we always see what we are yet to accomplish and what we are missing, never fully enjoying our now and preventing us from being happy. Many people think that once they obtain what they don’t currently have, they’ll finally be happy. The reality is, once we reach what we see at that next level to accomplish, we immediately start seeking for the next thing we are missing… it never ends! Here are some things to keep in mind in order to look at our lives in a different way and BE HAPPY NOW.
Tomorrow is not for granted
We are fully aware of this, yet we
treat people like they’ll be around forever. In the span of four years I lost my uncle, my
grandfather, my niece (a 12-year-old beautiful girl), my dad, and my grandmother.
I was left feeling like I didn’t enjoy them enough, didn’t love them enough, and
like I could have done more to have a better relationship with them. Those
loses taught me that I need to enjoy my loved ones now, tell them I love them
today, spend quality time with them on a day to day basis and not on a holiday
basis, to appreciate them every single day and to love fully and intensely
today.
Everyone struggles in different ways
That some struggles are not out for everyone to see, doesn’t mean that they are not happening. For instance, while some people are overwhelmed and financially tight raising a family, some others may be struggling with fertility issues and not being able to start a family. Some people struggle trying
to get a big promotion while others can’t find a job to sustain their family. Everyone goes through challenging times and every struggle is important. Therefore, it is important to not compare our lives with the lives of others; we don’t know what they are going through behind closed doors.
Have realistic goals and acknowledge
your successes
It is great to have goals, want to
improve and grow; however, make sure to set realistic goals. You can’t just say
“I want to be a millionaire and set that as a goal”; that’s to broad and
farfetched depending on where you are in life. It is better to set smaller
short-term goals that keep updating as we achieve milestones and that go in
line with a long-term goal. This way we can celebrate those smaller successes, measure
our improvement and stay on track.
Make time to smell the roses
No matter how crazy life gets, make
some time to have fun, take a breather, have me time, enjoy time with friends
and family, or find a hobby. The point is to do something for pleasure, be
fully present and enjoy it to the maximum.
Summer is in full force.. which means a ton of time in the sun and by the pool! But sun damage is REAL and chlorine can be super drying to your skin. Here are a few easy and natural tips to ease summer skin damage and keep yourself glowy all season long.
Aloe vera is amazing for any sunburns, dry patches, and to drink! In addition to being super soothing on your skin, it also has a lot of antioxidant properties. Buy some fresh aloe vera to put on, or some aloe vera juice with pulp to digest!
Coconut oil is great to put in your hair before AND after swimming. The oil before hand will keep your hair from getting too tangled and dried out. It can also act as a hair mask to add some extra moisture after you’re done swimming! You can even leave it in overnight for some extra love.
Add some vaseline to your skin care routine! If your cuticles get dry from swimming, rub some vaseline on it. Put some on rough patches on your feet. You can even add it around your eyes to prevent crows feet from squinting in the sun!
What are your favorite summer skincare hacks? Let us know in the comments!
Living in Texas and suffering from crazy heat waves, I consider thin flowy dresses an essential part f my wardrobe. They are super easy to throw on, the air flows right through and you don’t die of a heat stroke. For my latest day stroll/brunch date/shopping day at Legacy West here in the DFW area (make sure to check it out if in town), I decided to throw on this beautiful, super comfy, and easy to dress up cotton button-up dress with a beautiful blue pattern. I paired it with my fave pale pink MK shoes, which are incredibly comfortable to walk around, and (SHOUTOUT) with my amazingly beautiful, hand chiseled leather tote purse by my very own company Erandi. If you love the purse as much as I do, go to www.erandifashion.com and order your own. Use the code PURSUIT to obtain 15% off + free shipping nationwide. Now tell me, what is your must have clothing item for the summer season?
I think I just saw something delicious in that patio!
If you’re ever in the LA area – the Griffith Observatory is a MUST. SEE!
You can go inside the observatory, but in my opinion, the best views are from the outside. You can hike around the area to see downtown LA, or hop onto the other side for a view of the Hollywood sign.
Be aware that the crowds are crazy! Parking is terrible, so I’d recommend taking an uber up to the top. They’ll take you the entire way there.. so don’t worry about driving your own car!
There are also some great photo ops right at the front near the Hollywood sign, or around the back overlooking the city. This day, the skies were super grey, but the views were still amazing – so I can only imagine how great they’d be on a sunny day!
Have you been to Griffith Observatory? Let us know!
Big outdoor fan? Make sure you add Lake Tahoe to your list of places to visit! I just visited for the first time and had the most amazing time. This place was not only fun, but the breathtaking views while approaching and on the sandy waterside made it that much better. Note the beautiful mountains still with some snow, they are even more beautiful in person! I’m not going to lie, the water is freaking cold and your body will go numb when you first get in, but there are tons of water activities to do (not necessarily swimming), the water is crystal clear, there’s a nice bar to get food and drinks while you sun bathe, and you can even go hike and explore this amazing place.
Travel Guide Tips
Must do water activity: Jet Skiing. The water activities here are on the pricier side since it is a popular attraction, but if you can, make sure to do it. There’s paddle boarding too, but after getting in that freezing water there was no way I would risk falling in.
At the mountain: Try the ski lift for an even better view !
Take a bite and more: Make sure you don’t eat too many snacks while at the lake and head over to the Shops at Heavenly Village for a nice dinner, more fun activities and even live music.
Been anywhere exciting lately? Share your experience with us!
Raise your hand if you’ve used a chemical cleaner in your kitchen! All of us..?
I’ve recently started using an all natural cleaner substitute which works JUST as well and makes your place smell squeaky clean. And it’s two ingredients.
Say hello to your new fave cleaner – lime and salt! You can use lemon too if you prefer. The acidity mixed with a coarse salt will clean your counters SO WELL. Just grate some salt onto a lime or lemon half, and scrub away. This also makes a great sink cleaner!
And when you’re done, put the lime down your garbage disposal! Your kitchen will smell amazing!
Obstacles, frustrations and people getting in our nerves are part
of life… unfortunately. We can’t control everything around us, we can’t control
what other people do, but we can control the way we respond to all those
things. We control if we react in a positive or negative way, if we allow
things to affect us, and decide if we learn from those experiences and come out
stronger. Sometimes it is hard to make decisions in the spur of the moment,
find the right words in a heated argument (words you won’t regret), or think
clearly when things seem to be falling apart; it is okay. It is perfectly fine
for you to take yourself out of that situation, take a break, and contemplate
your options. Here are some tips on what to do when things get difficult:
Go for a walk by yourself.
Don’t immediately think about the problem at
hand. Appreciate your surroundings, look at the sky, the trees, hear the birds.
Breathe deeply, find your natural rhythm to
get your heart rate to normal and calm down.
Do a recap of what’s going on and determine
what factors are under your control and which you can’t do anything about. Be
realistic.
Don’t worry about what you can’t change now…
let it go.
Prioritize what you can change/fix and determine
the root of the issues.
Tackle them one by one, not all at once.
Be open to input from helpful sources.
Taking a few minutes to WALK IT OFF and reassess the situation can
really help you tackle things in a more positive and effective way. Remember
that it doesn’t matter how many times you fall, but how many times you get up
and continue fighting.
Tip: If you are having a heated personal argument, it is okay to
sometimes choose to win the relationship vs winning the argument. It the heat
of the moment is easy to hurt and attack just to win the argument no matter how
silly of a thing it was. Take a step back before you can’t take back your words
and your actions to determine if it’s worth it. Walking away from the issue at
that moment may save the relationship from shattering.
What have you done in the past to properly handle a difficult
situation?
It’s officially past the 4th of July, which really makes it feel like Summer! And my favorite thing to do during Summer is to have a day by the pool or take a beach trip. Unfortunately the closest beach to us is about 5 hours away.. but a pool day is the next best thing! And I’ll be back in Mexico in less than 2 months.. wahoo!
I also recently was in LA and spent a couple days at Manhattan beach, Santa Monica, and Venice. THE. BEST.
The most obvious thing to wear to the beach? A swimsuit, duh.. but what to cover up with is always a struggle for me.
My go to is now either a lace see through dress (show off that swimsuit, girl), or an outfit like this – a loose tee with detail and some shorts. I love the eyelet line in this top. It’s as comfortable as a tee, but still can look cute to hop into happy hour or to lunch after. Some printed shorts also look super cute!
Two of the main ingredients of mayo are oil and eggs, both great
to fight dryness and give your hair the shine it needs. It is also incredibly
rich in vitamin A, C, and antioxidants that help protect the Keratin in the
hair. Mayo is especially good for people with curly hair as it helps with curl
definition and less frizz.
This mask is as simple, just slightly dampen your hair, saturate the
hair and scalp with mayonnaise, cover with a hair cap, and rinse!
Tip: If mayo smell makes you gag, simply add a few drops of
essential oils in the mayo and voila! Some people prefer adding vanilla, but I
don’t think it does a good enough job of masking the smell.
There are many variations of a mayo hair mask, some people make
their own mayo or add ingredients like avocado, additional oils, vinegar and
more. I like to keep it simple when it comes to the mayo hair mask (I get the
one with olive oil and lime), but occasionally heat it up a bit to use it as a
warm oil treatment. What is your preferred hair treatment method? Share it with
me so I can give it a try!
The struggle is REAL sometimes when trying to eat out but still keep a healthy lifestyle. Especially working in an office.. it’s practically an endless supply of donuts, happy hours, and coworker lunches! Below are some easy tips to keep it healthy while eating any kind of food and for any occasion.
Fill up on sides! Get some steamed veggies, a broth-based soup, or a light salad as your “main course.”
Ask for half the order to go before you start eating. They’ll be happy to box some up for you for the next day!
Many cuisines can be high in oil and salt – use these tips:
Mexican – opt for a pozole soup and salad or fajitas light on oil (YES – you can ask for them to be light on oil!)
Ramen – order without the noodles or just eat mostly the broth/protein/veggies. Get extra veggies added. Shishito peppers or edamame are a great appetizer!
Chinese/Indian – my fave hack is to get the sauce on the side! You’d be shocked how much sauce comes with an entree. Then dip to your hearts desire!
Italian – get a salad with protein or a kids meal portion. You can also get protein, veggies, and a side of your favorite sauce.
American – avoid fried foods or get a sandwich protein style – without any bread.
Sushi – opt for a cucumber wrapped roll sans rice or some lean sashimi! And get the low sodium soy sauce.
French – a lean cut of meat with veggies, escargot, or a charcuterie platter is filling yet healthier than filling up on cheese or bread!
With sweets (hellooo office birthdays and breakfast donuts), go with the chic bite rule. I got this from Ingrid.. one to say hello, one to enjoy, and one to say goodbye!
Go for simple cocktails. Tequila on the rocks with lime, vodka with soda water, a dry red wine.. nix mixers and extra sugar!
With these SIMPLE tips, eating out and dealing with temptation can be easy! We’ll stay on track together 🙂
I had a long layover in Las Vegas, 14 hours to be exact, so took advantage of the opportunity to walk around the strip and booked a room at one of the cool themed hotels in the area. The tricky part? I was there with my 12-year-old daughter, so nightclubs, casinos, and bars were out of the question. Here is a quick bullet point review of my short child friendly experience:
The City that Never Sleeps?
12:30am and the Bellagio fountain as well as the Eiffel Tower viewing deck closed… hmmmm I guess I had the misconception that Vegas would be the one place where places wouldn’t close that early, especially being main attractions for looking at the city lights. I guess these two things will wait for my next trip there…sad, was really looking forward to this ☹
Late Night Munchies
24/7 Taco Bell Cantina! Yaaaaasssssss. I am a Taco Bell lover as it is, now you combine that plus a spiked freeze and I am hooked!! My daughter and I are on the same page here, she even got a hat with the image of a hot sauce packet.
Taking a Stroll
Walking on the strip, looooooved the lights, people watching (very interesting sights), and the city environment. After living in the suburbs for so long, you learn to enjoy the city setting at least once in a while. There weren’t as many people as I thought, but I believe this is because it was a weeknight. Loved taking pictures here, just such a fun looking place.
Fabulous Accommodations
The highlight of my overnight stay and early morning? The Paris Hotel, Las Vegas. This hotel was beautiful, just walking around inside was entertaining enough. We met some cool people and hung out for a while by the casino and even got a room upgrade to the Imperial Suite for an even cozier stay. Breakfast was fantastic as I am a big crepe and coffee fanatic and they had some amazing options… Look at my breakfast and cry of jealousy!
This quick layover in Las Vegas wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, mostly due to timing issues, but would definitely love to go back with that as my primary destination to really enjoy what they have to offer. Many of the hotels offer a variety of shows including Cirque du Soleil, magic shows, comedy shows, and concerts as well as amazing casinos, high-end cuisine, and bars. Another cool thing? The Grand Canyon is not even too far from there, so there are tours departing from Las Vegas to go see it (bonus perk!). I do feel that this place can be enjoyed with the family if one spends more day time there or with adult friends for the fun night-life atmosphere. Care to share your favorite thing to do in Las Vegas? Would love to keep it in mind for my next visit!
It might seem contradictory to use your phone to relax since everyone always says to get off technology… BUT, there are some apps that can be a huuuge help!!
I personally have the worst anxiety (not exaggerating.. it’s the worst), and I’ve found that meditation helps a lot when I’m trying to relax. I love to use a meditation app either in the morning in the sauna after a workout or in bed at night trying to fall asleep.
Some benefits of meditation include an increase in self-awareness, a decrease in anxiety and stress, can help lengthen attention span, can decrease blood pressure, and make you happier! Read about some scientific benefits here.
I personally have found the greatest benefit in just relaxing my mind. It can be hard to focus on one thing for a long time, which is why meditating on my own hasn’t worked out for me very well! So here comes in some apps. And all of these are free! You can buy upgrades on most of them, but I’ve always been happy with what comes with the free versions.
I do a lot of research on how to take care of my skin, especially because I love to share my tips with all of you, but our skin goes through sooooooo many changes, that sometimes it is hard to keep up. What once worked wonders on your face may be causing breakouts now. As we go through hormonal changes, aging, weather changes, and environment changes, our skin suffers the consequences and we are left to figure out what new routine works best while healing whatever damage has already happened. I really do believe that sometimes having people to go to with questions about different products and skin changes is super important. Reading books, reaching out to experts and looking up information online is great, but I love having that personal interaction. I have found my personal skin care heaven with Origins by Esteé Lauder. They have a location at my local mall and I have come to get to know the girls that work there pretty well. They are incredibly helpful when I am struggling with anything in my routine, they give you samples so you can find what works for you, they will help you match colors, give you helpful tips and more! I also love that with their rewards membership you can get discounts and free facials! Also, that they have a lot of natural product options. My point with this is, take the time to find a store where they have a lot of the products you like, where the employees are super helpful and willing to engage in conversations and educate you in skin care. I hate when people push me to buy things, but when someone is willing to take some time to help figure out what is going on with my skin, give me potential solutions, and gives me a facial regardless of my purchase… that is an amazing experience. Having someone to go to is priceless. Try it out, find your skin care heaven and let me know of your experience and what you learned from it 😊
The weather is HEATING UP like crazy here in TX. And happy first day of summer!
One of my favorite things to wear during the summer months is a good shift dress! It’s flowy, breezy, and normally a thin material perfect for the heat.
It’s easy to feel swallowed by a shift dress! So there are a few ways to balance it out to wear a comfy dress but still have your body flattered!
My top thing to do is make sure that your dress is a little shorter. Don’t get too crazy (unless you like too, then do you, girl!).. but showing some extra leg will lengthen your body out.
Next, wear the right shoes! Sneakers can make you look more dragged down. I love a danty sandal or a pump. Again, lengthen those legs!
If your dress is a little too big, add a belt or a long necklace! A necklace can add the illusion of more shape, and a belt will cinch your waist! Accessories are your friend.
We all know that it can be hard to stay motivated, and it becomes
increasingly difficult if we wait to obtain encouragement and acknowledgement
from outside sources in order to feel validated. It is your responsibility to
truly become your biggest fan, start rooting for yourself! This doesn’t mean
that you think you are perfect and have nothing else to learn (you never stop
learning), but it means that you believe in your capacity for success, in your
value as a human being, and that you love the person you are. We all struggle
with self-love and tend to be our worst critics, but we need to start
practicing self-compassion, acknowledging that nobody is perfect (including
yourself) and that all you can do is try your hardest and enjoy the moment.
Don’t get caught up clinging to the past or looking to the future. It is
important to have short-term and long-term goals, but it is also necessary to
take the time to enjoy the everyday. When was the last time you took the time
to breath and look at the sky, to read a book for pleasure, or to look at
yourself in the mirror and look at all of your positive traits instead of
criticizing what’s wrong? Here are a few tips you can use to empower yourself
and love who you are:
Build your self-esteem
Give yourself a compliment every day.
We are so used to addressing everything that we think is negative about
ourselves that we forget there is more to us. You can learn to love all the
things that make you special.
Scattered notes
Periodically leave random notes of
encouragement or lessons to be learned throughout your home. You will find them
when you need them. You could also ask your guests to do this and hide them for
you to find at a later time.
Personal timeline
Create a visual timeline where you
show where you were in life 5 to 10 years ago, how your personality was back
then, and the struggles you had to overcome. Do the same for the present, and in
the future (5-10 years from now). Note how you’ve grown, what you’ve learned, and
how you want to improve. This will serve as a reminder of how far you’ve come
from who you were, the amazing person you are today, and a goal to work for.
Negativity be gone
Do yourself a favor and ditch your
negative friends. I have had friends that all they do is complain about their
miserable life and how life just sucks, etc. People have bad moments, but when
you refuse to change what’s making your life that way, it becomes your own
fault. Surrounding yourself with people like that will only harm you.
Love how you look
I know that sometimes you just don’t like how you look and want to throw in the towel (everyone goes through this), but that’s when you need to go the extra mile and push through. Even if you want to wear sweats and that over-sized shirt…DON’T! Do a self-care routine instead, turn on some music, pick a better outfit you know you usually like, do your hair, etc. When you do a self-care routine (face mask, hair mask, teeth whitening, body scrub, etc) your mood changes, you are going against the initial “I hate how I look today” to “I will love myself and make myself feel good”. While you do this, look at your positive traits, and tell yourself what they are. You will feel much better afterwards.
Reward yourself
When you accomplish anything, don’t
wait for other people to praise or reward you… reward yourself! Take yourself
out to buy something special, maybe a walk at the park, a nice coffee time or
dinner, or anything that makes you happy… You deserve it!
Stimulate your brain
Find something that interests you and
go for it. Finding something new you can learn or do makes you feel stronger,
smarter, more interesting, and builds your confidence.
These are only a few things to get you started, but there is so
much more you can do, the key is to appreciate the wonderful human being you
are, build up your confidence and become your best friend.
There’s NOTHING better to me than having a staycation. My birthday was on June 1st, and my husband knows me well enough by now to know what I really want… a night at a hotel!
I’ve been staying at hotels since I was a little kid. Mostly local to where we lived, and there’s nothing better. It’s like a little home away from home with a treat-yo-self kind of feel. Especially if there’s a plush robe and room service!
In case you’ve never had a staycation – here are my top things to look for:
Food options – Take a look at what’s in the area or if there’s a restaurant/bar at the hotel! Nobody wants to get hangry on “vacation”!
Amenities – Personally, I love an outdoor pool (plus if it’s heated). I also look for a bathtub (always wash it first), free parking, room service breakfast, a robe, and pet friendly since our pup loves hotels as much as I do.
Style – If you’re looking to splurge on a staycation, find a place that matches your style! I love a fresh, modern feel in a hotel.
My most recent staycation was at the Sandman Hotel in Plano, TX. It was great! We got upgraded to a suite since we had a dog with us and had to stay on the first floor.. I’m not complaining! The room service was top notch and the room was super nice.
It is crazy how many people ignore their poor lips when it comes to a beauty routine. No matter how beautiful the rest of your face looks, chapped crusty lips will ruin the entire thing. It is super simple to care for them and get them looking and feeling soft, looking plumped, rosy, and delicious. Here are some tips from my daily routine to help:
Moisturize
No, not lotion… you can use coconut oil, Vaseline, olive oil, or a natural chapstick. Super important to do it at night before you go to sleep.
Hydrate
Drink enough water! if you get dehydrated, your lips will look very dry, colorless, and will start feeling a bit rough.
Lip Brushing
Once a day, after I brush my teeth, I use my soft toothbrush to gently brush my lips in tiny little circles to get the dead skin off, make them more rosy and soft. I also do this when I need to get my lips to look fuller and more plumped right before I put on lipstick and all. Don’t do this too many times a day as that can hurt your lips.
Lip Scubbing
I would recommend doing this once a week. If you are doing everything else I mentioned, there’s no need to do it more often than that. You can buy a premade scrub (please always buy quality products without harsh chemicals) or make your own. Making your own lip scrip is super easy, you just need to combine brown sugar and honey, it is super effective, great for a face scrub too, and delicious if it happens to fall in your mouth 🙂 You can also add olive or coconut oil; however, I don’t do that since I use that to moisturize and I prefer the sugar and honey combination.
You can truly see and feel the difference after a couple of days of following the tips above. You may have to adjust the frequency of the scrubbing and moisturizing during the summer and winter due to the harsher weather conditions. Do you have any other tips you would like to recommend? I would love to hear them!
I literally don’t think I’ve ever worn a crop top in my LIFE – until a couple weeks ago! I was traveling to socal and decided, why not?!
It’s so easy to feel so insecure that you don’t feel comfortable wearing whatever you want.. but in my opinion, work it! It felt amazing to completely ignore my insecurities and wear a crop top with leggings. YES, leggings!
Normally I have a strict cover-up-the-hoo-ha rule with leggings, but I was feeling risky for a few days there. And I don’t regret it at all. Here are my top tips for werking that crop top.
First of all, wear bottoms that are COMFORTABLE. A good denim skirt, pair of high-waisted jeans, pair of high-waisted shorts, or leggings that don’t scrunch up (you know what I mean, ladies) are ideal. You wan’t to be comfy with bottoms that fit you perfectly or even loosely.
Secondly, pick a top that’s the right length for you. In this case, I loved how it covered my belly button most of the time. If you hate your belly button, you can cover it up! if you want a ton of skin showing, then go for that! There’s no right or wrong here.
And finally… balance it out! I wore a long sleeved crop top to balance out the extra skin that was showing. I also opted for longer pants since my torso was out. Of course, wear whatever you’re comfortable with! But I love to have a balance that creates the appearance of a super proportional body!
This delicious tropical fruit is not only satisfying and
refreshing, but also incredibly healthy. The fruit can be enjoyed on its own,
with lime and salt (my fave), in smoothies, with your favorite toppings, or in
many other recipes. This fruit is rich the papain enzyme, vitamins A & C,
as well as antioxidants; preventing heart disease, reducing inflammation,
improving gut health, reduce aging effects, and more. As if the multitude of
benefits of eating this delicious fruit weren’t enough, the seeds are also edible
and packed with tons of micronutrients, monounsaturated fatty acids, and lots
of fiber. Stomach issues? Take a tbsp of papaya seeds to clear it right up! 😉 It is
also a fruit commonly used in diets to promote weight loss. It is important to
keep in mind that even fruit is not healthy in excess and if you have certain
allergies, you may need to consult your doctor before making anything part of
your diet. Lastly, Papaya is not good for you if it is not ripe (it also tastes
disgusting), you must wait until the skin is orange before eating it.
Do you love papaya as much as I do? What’s your favorite recipe?
If you’re in the US – you might be thinking about your next summer vacay and which beaches to go to. I’m in TX and the beaches here are sub-par (giving too much credit..). I’ve been to almost every coast and I know my absolute favorite.. California beaches!
I personally love seeing cliffs and mountains, waves and surfers, and the people watching is PREMIUM.
So if you’re planning to go to the west coast soon, here are my fave LA area beaches:
Venice Beach – This is THE BEST people watching spot. You’ll have street performers, bodybuilding competitions, skaters, bikers, shops.. walk up and down the beach for sure.
Manhattan Beach – If you want to relax, here ya go! There are surfers to watch, a gorgeous CALM boardwalk, and a super clean beach. The sand is soft and there are amazing, nice restaurants that are walkable.
Santa Monica – The beach will be more packed here, but you’ll also be near the pier with the ferris wheel, roller coaster, and a ton more. You’ll pay more for anything in this area but it’s a must-see for sure!
Malibu – This is my personal favorite! Go to Paradise Cove for HUGE food portions at a reasonable price, then take your dranks out onto the gorgeous beach to sit in the sun for a while. It’s quaint with beautiful scenery. (PS – the pics below are all Malibu!)
What are your favorite beaches? Let us know in the comments. And have a great weekend!
YUM YUM YUM! This recipe for vegetarian street tacos with a side
of poblano spaghetti squash is going to give your Taco Tuesday a great twist!
This recipe serves about 4 people.
Spaghetti Squash:
Cut the spaghetti squash in half, place it on a cookie sheet and sprinkle
it with salt, pepper and olive oil. Bake it at 350° until cooked through. Don’t
overcook, it still needs to have a slightly crunchy consistency. Once ready,
use a fork to scrape the spaghetti squash and make the noodles.
Sauce for the spaghetti squash:
While the spaghetti squash is baking, boil 3 to 4 poblano peppers,
a small piece of onion, and a clove of garlic. Once they are soft, remove the
seeds from the peppers and blend them together with half of a vegetarian
bouillon cube, salt to taste, and a bit of sour cream. Mix the sauce with the spaghetti
squash noodles in a pan and add frozen corn. Cook all together until the corn
is defrosted and serve.
Street Tacos:
Slice 5 to 6 large portobello mushrooms and season them with creole
seasoning, salt, pepper, and lime juice. Sautee them on the stove with a bit of
olive oil and serve them in tacos with corn tortillas. Top the mushrooms with
chopped onions, jalapeno peppers, and cilantro.
Unless you’ve been living UNDER A ROCK, I’m sure you’ve heard people rave about apple cider vinegar! Honestly for a long time I felt like it was just some huge fad, but after doing a ton of research and using it myself.. the benefits are legit.
I’m about to share some ways to use apple cider vinegar, but before that – my tips on buying it. Be sure you buy with the mother. Otherwise, it’s filtered and you won’t get as many digestive benefits out of it!
And without further adieu… here are some ways to benefit from this miracle ingredient:
For Digestion: Add a tbsp of apple cider vinegar to some warm water with lemon, honey, and cayenne for a boost to your digestive system! This concoction has been shown to improve blood sugar levels, reduce blood pressure, and help keep things moving.
For Your Skin: Make your own toner by putting 1 tbsp of the vinegar into 1 cup of distilled water. Shake it up, put some on a cotton pad, and rub it on your face! It can help with blemishes and to even skin tone.
For Your Hair: Mix up 1 tbsp ACV with 1/3 cup honey and put it on your hair for 10-15 minutes. And voila – you’ll have CLEAN and bright hair!
For Cleaning: Vinegar has disinfectant qualities – so dilute it with a bit of water and you have an all natural cleaner! You can even put distilled ACV in a bowl to clean fruits and veggies with.
Do you ever use apple cider vinegar? Let us know how!
I have recommended meditation a ton in
the past, but did you know that something as simple as proper breathing can
help you relieve stress, anxiety, improve digestion, detoxify your body, and
more? Make sure to take some time to practice proper breathing techniques on a
daily basis and see the difference!
Breathing Technique
Sit or lay down in a comfortable position and
close your eyes to become more aware of your breathing and relax.
Place one hand on your upper chest and the
other on your belly; when you breathe deeply, the air coming in through your
nose fills your lungs, and the belly rises (not the chest).
Breathe in
and out through your nose and focus on the activity of breathing.
Inhale and
exhale slowly, calmly and quietly. Inhale, pause, exhale and pause. The time
for an inhale and exhale depends on each person, so make sure you listen to your
body to know when you’ve gotten enough air in and release it out trying to keep
the time of the inhale and exhale the same. The key here is to listen to your
body.
Sometimes you just don’t have a highlighter on hand to complete your makeup look! Lucky for all of us.. there are some natural options that you probably have in your makeup bag or pantry!
My first alternative is always some eyeshadow. I personally use Tarte pallettes, and I absolutely lovee using the lightest shimmery powder. I just brush it on my cheekbones, the tip of my nose, and on top of my cupids bow. And I love multitasking makeup products! (Note: all eyeshadows aren’t “natural”.. but it can be! 🙂 )
Maybe you don’t have eyeshadow – but do you have some petroleum jelly? I’d also like to insert in here that petroleum jelly has SO MANY USES! I use it on my lips, as moisturizer, to soothe irritated skin, to make myself smile (taking it back to cheerleading days), and now.. as highlighter! Put a tiny amount on your face to get a glow.
And last but not least, oil is the MOST IMPORTANT item to have on hand for beauty, in my opinion! I use it to cleanse, moisturize, and to highlight. Take a SMALL dab of coconut or vitamin E oil on your finger and dab it on your face to get a super dewy highlight. Voila!
So those are my top items to use since I basically never have highlighter on me in my tiny makeup bag: trying to be minimalistic, ya know?
Now, if y’all didn’t make it to Austin during Memorial Day, you must certainly plan a visit sometime soon. This place truly has something for everyone, plenty of natural beauty, history, nightlife, and delicious food. Here are my top 3 things to do there:
Visit the Capitol
A visit to the capital of Texas is not complete until you visit this place, learn its history, see the Medal of Honor Exhibit, historic photographs, and all kinds all cool artwork and artifacts. I personally don’t do the guided tour because I like to do things at my own pace, but if you don’t do the tour, please do take the time to read to better learn and appreciate the place.
Hamilton Pool
I LOVE nature and spending time outside, so when I find cool outdoor places, I must see them. This place is a natural swimming hole and a cool place to go to during a hot summer day. Capacity is limited and therefore reservations are required. The demand to go to his place is high, so you must make your reservation way in advance to be able to go. Once you arrive, you must hike a short distance to get there, so it is not accessible for people on wheelchairs or with strollers. I also recommend floating devices if your swimming skills are not great since some parts of the swimming hole are quite deep and no life guards on site.
The Oasis
The Oasis on Lake Travis is a restaurant in a shopping center that sits on a cliff overlooking Lake Travis. The food is good and the view even better. I love eating outside on the terrace and take the view in while having my meal. The sunset here is definitely breathtaking. Another place you can try at dusk is the Congress Avenue Bridge, where all the bats come out from under the overpass! Lots of people gather there as it is quite a sight.
If these options don’t appeal to you, there’s a lot more to do,
Barton Springs is another natural body of water in the area, Sixth Street to go
party it up, many more museums, and Rainey Street with historic houses turned
into bars. There’s definitely a lot to choose from.
Have you been to Austin? Let me know what your favorite spots are!
