Sexy & Healthy Lips

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!

Stay true – Chantal

Be Fashionable

How to Wear a Crop Top

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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!

Do you wear crop tops?!

XOXO, Kim

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Papaya Ooh La-La

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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?

Stay true – Chantal

Be Worldly

California Beaches

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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!

XOXO, Kim

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Vegetarian Street Tacos

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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.

AMAZING!!!!! Try this and tell me what you think!

Be Healthy

Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar

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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!

XOXO, Kim

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Kick Stress to the Curve

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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.

Breathe for a healthy body!

Stay true – Chantal

Be Beautiful

Natural Ways to Glow!

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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?

Have you ever used any of these?!

XOXO, Kim

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Texas Y’all!

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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!

Stay true – Chantal

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Delicious & Beneficial Ginger Root

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Tonight, I want to share with you the recipe for one of my favorite teas ever. This tea is amazing for the digestive system, help detoxify the body, reduce swelling and water retention, as well as relax you to help you go to sleep.

Take some fresh ginger root and cut a piece that would be equivalent to a teaspoon. Boil it with two to three cups of water and bagged or fresh chamomile. Add one to two tablespoons of honey and the juice of half a lemon. Drink it while it is still warm to help relax the body and release all those toxins!

Not Only a Bedtime Drink

Ginger paste and ginger extract are also used topically to help reduce inflammation, cellulite, stimulate circulation, and tone your skin. Have you used ginger root products to help with any of these? Share your results!

Stay true – Chantal

Be Well

Benefits of Epsom Salts

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Who else LOVES a good bath at the end of the day? Hopefully everyone says yes, because there’s literally nothing more relaxing!

It’s pretty normal to add bubbles or bath bombs in, but especially for us ladies.. too much fragrance or artificial ingredients can cause us some issues (hello, UTI – ain’t nobody got time for that). One easy way to get around this and STILL relax is to use epsom salts!

Epsom salts also come with natural fragrances (be sure it’s natural.. or add in some natural essential oil), or come plain. Either way, you’ll still get these benefits:

Magnesium! This is one of the minerals that are vital for bodily functions. Magnesium is also great for muscle relaxation.
Epsom salts can help with sore muscles. Perfect for a post-gym soak!
Have bloating or swelling? Soak for 20 minutes to help reduce swelling in your body. It can also help decrease inflammation for some cysts with warm water (but of course consult your doctor!)
In addition to a bath, you CAN drink epsom salts… but make sure they’re all natural and able to be consumed, and monitor how much you’re taking. This can help with digestion!

Do you use epsom salts? Let us know in the comments!

XOXO, Kim

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Ooh Honey, Honey!

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I come from a family of ranchers and farmers on my mother’s side. Her grandparents and everyone prior owned a lot of land, lots of animals, and farmed all sorts of things. I got to see a bit of this when I was little and the joy of those memories when I got to go see and pet all the animals, see the baby piglets being born, play with the baby goats, and horseback riding will forever remain. All those things are in the past, the people from back then are gone, but besides all those wonderful memories, I got to learn a few things. I learned how to properly treat animals, respect all living creatures, and that pretty much everything we need we can find in nature. One of my grand uncles (over 80 years old) has always used one secret ingredient to remain healthy and young looking… HONEY! Yep, honey. Most of us have used this as a sweetener or beeswax in various products, but him and his family use it for nearly everything related to self-care and nutrition. He never eats refined sugars, the only sweetness he adds to anything is honey. He also uses honey daily as hair mask, face mask, body scrub and more! Well… he looks like he is in his 50s! A couple of weekends ago, Kim and I went to our local community market and we saw this vendor called Soul Honey, and yeah… I freaked out! Flashback to my grand uncle. The sweet couple selling the products told me all about their love for their bees and the honey. They make anything from moisturizing cream to soaps, and they also sell their delicious honey. Some additional things they make for themselves but that just wouldn’t last packaged or would be too much for them to take to the booth, they write on little cards, so you can try making them yourself at home. Another thing I really liked about them is that they care for the preservation of bees and know the importance they have in our ecosystem, so they offer free beekeeping presentations for kids. I personally love when I find people that are passionate about what they do, especially when they care about our beautiful planet. If you want to check them out visit, www.texassoulhoney.com. Here are some of the products I ended up buying to try, so far I like them all and their honey is delicious! I challenge you to try more local products, they boost the local economy and you can find a lot of cool products like these.

Stay true – Chantal

Be Worldly

Hidden Gems in Your City

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Have you ever explored your city? Like… REALLY explored?! Probably not!

It’s super easy to get comfortable with the places you know and not get outside your comfort zone in your town. There are probably SO MANY hidden gems that you never would have noticed unless someone told you they were there.

And thats why there are blogs… 😉

Chantal and I went exploring Denton, TX after the farmers market and found this Chairy Orchard. It’s literally just a small field with a TON of chairs.. all shapes and sizes, hanging and on the ground, big and small. It’s seriously adorable. You can even find it in your GPS if you’re ever in the area.

You can donate your old chairs, sit in chairs, ride a see-saw, and just enjoy the warm summer air here.

I’ve lived in DFW (almost) all of my life, and have never heard of this before. But a quick google search for “great places for photos in xxxxx” or “hidden places in xxxxxxx” will give you a ton of results in your hometown for places you may be missing out on.

Here are some pictures from our visit to this hidden gem in Denton. And be sure to let us know in the comments what a hidden gem in your town is!

XOXO, Kim

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Stylish Day at the Market

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Nope, you will not catch me dressed like an “I give up in life bum”, not even to go to the local farmer’s market (inside my house a completely different story LOL). My mother always told me to leave the house loving how I feel and look or not go out at all because I never know who I’ll meet or what opportunities may present themselves… even when going to the gas station. Well, I try to listen t my momma 😊 During my latest visit to the local farmer’s market I got dressed for the heat with some flowy floral pants, a nice breathable flax linen blouse, and my fave straw hat! May be a bit extra, but I’m not going to lie, it feels nice to look nice.

What’s your favorite local market style?

Stay true – Chantal

Be Healthy

Natural Ways to Fight Allergies

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Allergies are a PAIN (duh)! I basically am allergic to everything – grass, pollen, dogs, cats, eggs ,soy, wheat – to name a few.

So I can definitely relate to you when you say the struggle is REAL with allergy season. Cottonwood is flying and pollen is everywhere. There are obviously medications to take when you need them.. like bendaryl, but hellooo hangover?! Am I the only one who feels drugged up for at least 24 hours after taking some allergy meds?

Below are a few NATURAL remedies for the allergy struggle. Try them out and let us know what you think!

Turmeric Tea – I SWEAR by this tea. Whether it be allergies or a cold or a sinus infection, it works wonders. I always feel better within a couple of days of drinking this 2-3 times per day. Just boil 1 cup almond milk, 1 tbsp turmeric, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp honey. Voila!
Vitamin C/Zinc – RIGHT when you start feeling sick, chug some vitamin C or a Zinc supplement! It’ll boost your immune system and help you get better quickly. Zicam is a great OTC “med” that has all natural vitamins!
Local Honey – Local honey can help diminish allergy symptoms! Just add some into your tea (or turmeric tea), or just take a spoonful!

XOXO, Kim

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Crown Chakra – Get in Touch with the Universe

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The crown chakra also known as Sahansrara represents our connection with the universe, divinity, and the connection among all things. This energy center is in the top center of the head, between the ears. The crown chakra is connected to the proper function of the ears, eyes, brain, pineal gland and the skin. Having an unbalanced crown chakra, depending on if it is underactive or overactive, can lead to spiritual obsessiveness or lack of spirituality, selfishness, lack of identity and purpose in life, depression, among other things. On the other hand, if is balanced, we feel in unity with the world, we understand that we are all interconnected, exhibit unselfish behavior, good mental health, feel fulfilled, and are more at peace. The crown chakra is usually represented by the color violet.

How to balance the crown chakra?

Meditating on a regular basis helps balance the chakra and put our mind at peace.
Practice activities where you get to place the needs of others first, where you take care of others, or offer help expecting nothing in return. The more you become aware of what other people go through, the more you value what you have. It is also important to get to know others to find common ground and develop genuine concern and stop acting selfishly. Remember, love is everything.
Sandalwood, rosewood, lavender and jazmine are some great essential oils to help you balance the crown chakra
Some stones you can use are: clear quartz, kyanite, and red muscovite

What makes you feel connected with the universe, what makes you happy and truly at peace?

Stay true – Chantal

Be Beautiful

Bronzer: 3 Ways

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One of my FAVORITE things is being able to use products more than one way. I love a good multitasking situation..

For this post, I’m talking about how to use bronzer 3 ways: On your face, your eyelids, and eyeline. This is perfect for Summer because a good bronzer used all over your face can tie the whole look together. Using the same bronze on your cheeks and your eyes will make you look glowy and suntanned!

On your face – I like to add my bronzer in a “3” shape. Along your hairline, under your cheekbone, and under your chin.. It will contour your face in a natural way (more natural than a normal grey contour), and make you look slim and glowing!
On your eyelids – My favorite way to tie in a makeup look is to add bronzer to the outer edges of my eyelids. I’ll add a neutral, shimmer eyeshadow all over the lid, then put my bronzer in the outer corner and inside the crease. It makes for the perfect no-makeup look!
On your eyeline – During summer, the LAST thing you want is to have black eyeliner dripping down your face! Take a small eyeliner brush and rub bronzer along your lower lash line. It’ll define your eyes in a super natural way!

Do you ever use bronzer in more than one way?! Let us know in the comments!

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Quick Memorial Day Getaway

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Memorial Day is quickly approaching here in the US, and with that an extended weekend holiday for a lot of us. YAY! One of my favorite places to go to for a quick extended weekend is San Antonio, TX. Of course, this is a somewhat short few-hour drive away from me, but it is totally worth visiting if you can no matter where you are. It is small enough that you can get a lot done during your visit without having to stay a week or more, but they have a lot to keep you entertained. There are cathedrals, cave tours, Sea World, Aquatica and more. I would like to focus more on the “and more” things to do because I just loved these so much.

The Alamo

This fortress was founded in the 18^th Century by Roman Catholic Missionaries from Spain but was originally known as the Misión San Antonio Valero. The structure provided shelter, protection and food to many indigenous people back in the day (way more to learn about this) and it is also a reminder of the Battle of the Alamo. The history behind it, the uses it was given after that, and the restoration all make this place really worth touring. Make sure to go with enough time so you can actually read all about the different artifacts they have there as well as the various structures. Visit www.thealamo.org to learn more and plan your visit so you can make the most of it… and don’t forget the souvenirs!

The River Walk

My oh my… I just LOVE this area! It is a man-made river with a mall and restaurants, pubs, bars, and shops all around. It is beautifully built, the food and the view are great, you can take a tour on the boat and learn more about the area, shop for cute little things with the street vendors, etc. If you visit this place I highly recommend staying at a hotel at the River Walk so that you may have a view of it from the room as it is all beautifully lit up at night and sometimes you can even hear mariachis from the balcony! Most hotels on the River Walk also have direct access to the river walk way!

The Mexican Market (El Mercado)

This is also such a fun thing to do! This area is so colorful, there is a lot of folk art, lots of food, sometimes they have live music and other performances, and it is just a fun place to walk around. The art museum is at walking distance as well, so you can do both while you are there.

Mi Tierra Café & Bakery

If you go to the Mexican Market, you must stop at this place. This is my ultimate favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. Everything I’ve had there at any time a day has been fantastic and they have a bakery with delicious Mexican sweet bread… OMG it is heaven! I also love the décor, it is so crazy and folkloric that even if you decide not to eat there, it is work looking at it. They even have an altar for people that have passed, and you can bring a picture of your loved one to place there!… I know. Visit the website www.mitierracafe.com if you want to check it out!

I would love to hear if you make your way out there or if you have gone and your favorite thing about San Antonio.

Stay true – Chantal

Be Fashionable

The French Tuck

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What’s a “French tuck” you might ask?.. Short answer: it’s the trend you need for the rest of spring and summer, and well.. always!

It’s pretty simple, but anytime you have a flowy blouse or tank on, just tuck the front part into your jeans, pants, or skirt. It’s SUCH a versatile style and can easily be applied to a dressy or casual outfit.

Personally, I love wearing a pencil skirt to work and tucking in a blouse in the front. And for a more casual day – I go for something like this look.. a loose tank with jeans and sandals.

The French tuck makes a look more “chic,” and also flattering. It will cinch the waist in a little more, which helps a ton with a loose top that can make people look boxy!

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Beets for Days

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I have always love beets, when I was a child I would eat them, use their juice and stain my lips, to pretend I was a vampire sucking someone’s blood, or pretend I was bleeding out (weird because it looks more pink than red). Now I love beets for other reasons that I think you’ll love as well.

Beets are fabulous as natural tint for lips and cheeks

You may apply the juice directly or mix it with coconut oil with a bit of lemon juice and store it in a container in the fridge for multiple uses or applications throughout the day. Don’t over apply on the cheeks, the stain is pretty strong, so you don’t need a ton.

Face mask for a natural rosy glow

Do you like to go without makeup? This may be a nice one for you. You can easily mix a couple of tablespoons of beet juice with half that amount in honey or sour cream and gently apply it all over your face and neck. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and rinse.

Heal your scalp and grow healthy beautiful hair

Beets have lots of nutrients that help prevent hair loss, nourish the scalp, get rid of dandruff, and aid strengthen your hair. Puree some beets and apply to your scalp and hair, leave on for 30-45 minutes and wash as usual.

Anti-aging & helps fight acne

Apply the strained beet juice to your face and leave on for about 15 minutes and rinse. Remember that beets stain, so make sure to do the treatment at night and no more than twice a week. Your face should feel hydrated, healed, less oily, dark circles improve as well as fine lines and wrinkles as it increases the production of collagen in our skin.

Incredibly healthy for your diet

On top of all of the benefits of using beets in our beauty routine, they are incredibly healthy. They have tons of nutrients and essential vitamins as well as antioxidants. Regularly eating beets has been linked to lower blood pressure, they help reduce inflammation, fight anemia, among other things.

Pink alert!

Please keep in mind that the pigmentation of this root is quite strong (hence it being used as a tint) and you’ll see that pink pigmentation in your urine and stools… so, don’t panic if this happened when you ingest beets. Lastly, if you suffer low blood pressure, you may want to speak to your doctor before eating beets regularly to make sure it is safe for you. Always a good idea to you a bit of research about anything you do or eat if you suffer from any medical condition.

Will share specific beet-based masks soon, do you have a favorite one you would like me to try? How about a favorite beet recipe? Do share!

Stay true – Chantal

Be Well

Weekend Wellness Essentials

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I’m assuming I’m not the only one where life ALWAYS gets in the way of self-care! So since we’re going into the weekend, I thought it’d be a perfect time to touch on some of my top tips to pamper yourself for your own well-being.

After a stressful day, week, or month (or more..); I absolutely LOVE to do a little pamper night and treat myself. This can mean anything you want. Like to go out? Have a date night by yourself at a nice restaurant and go to a movie on your own.. and treat yourself to that popcorn! Like to stay in? Follow my tips below – because I’m with ya on that one.

Take a hot bath – and use epsom salts! They have great anti-inflammatory properties, and you can get some with lavender or eucalyptus, which will just help you relax even more.

Use a face mask. Either buy one and stick it in the fridge before for some anti-inflammatory effects, or make your own! Here are a couple of natural skincare posts – honey scrub and coffee!

Make a nice dinner. If you’re vegetarian (like Chantal!), treat yourself to a nice eggplant parmesan or stuffed peppers. I’m not a vegetarian, and on special occasions I’ll cook up a filet mignon with veggies! Make your favorite food for yourself!

Turn off electronics. If you absolutely HAVE to look on your phone, put it on night time mode so the light isn’t as harsh. Or watch some netflix on your laptop with the brightness alll the way down. But I personally love to read a book with my salt lamp on, or play a podcast while I just relax!

Meditate. I personally love using the “breathe” app on my apple watch, but the Calm app is also great! Just taking 5 minutes or less can help a TON for your mental health.

Hopefully these tips give you some ideas for some self-care this weekend! Let us know in the comments what YOU do for weekend wellness!

Be Fashionable

Maxi Dress for Spring

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Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend! We decided to make a trip to a local farmers market.. it was SO. CUTE. And we’ll definitely be sharing more about that soon.

But today I’m sharing one of my favorite styles for Spring – maxi dresses. Even though you’re a little more covered up with a maxi dress, they’re still (normally) flowy enough to let that breeze in and look boho-chic! For this outfit, I wore one with off-the-shoulder sleeves with some comfy sandals. An easy, breezy look for the warmer weather!

I’ve also worn this dress to the beach, to hot HOT cities (hellooo, Miami!), and even just to run to brunch or to run errands whenever I want to look a little more put together.

Let us know if you love a maxi dress in the comments! Or what your favorite thing to wear in Spring is!

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Bar Shampoo for Eco-Friendly Beauty

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As I have mentioned before, I have been making small changes in different aspects of my life in order to live in a more natural and eco-friendly way. Well, I stumbled across this Auromere shampoo bar with neem. As soon as I saw the packaging, it caught my attention as it is made out of cardboard instead of plastic…. I LOVED this! I know, I know, cardboard still kills trees and it is not totally eco-friendly if we put it that way; but I was really happy that it didn’t come in plastic and wanted to really give it a try to compare it to bottled shampoo. I was already using an organic shampoo, but it was in a plastic bottle, so this is definitely a step in the right direction. I read the back of the box as well as the ingredient section and I was very excited to take it home and write a review for it.

This shampoo bar is free of chemicals, cruelty free, vegan and earth friendly. It also packs a lot of great oils and other natural ingredients that are gentle with the hair and nourish the scalp.

I was a little unsure about how much of the shampoo bar I would have to use to wash my hair since it is long, going all the way down to my waist, but it got foamy very quickly (not as much as with a regular shampoo) covering all of my hair. I conditioned my hair as usual and styled it to see the end result. I was very pleased as my scalp felt fresh, nourished, and my hair was very soft. I did read on the box that the 4.23 oz bar of shampoo is equivalent to 18 oz of liquid shampoo, so one bar should last a couple of months depending on how often you wash your hair and if you keep the bar dry in between washes.

I am definitely enjoying this shampoo bar a lot, but since this is the first one I am trying, I would love to hear from you about any others you have tried that you would recommend. This one can be easily ordered online at auromere.com, swansonvitamins.com, or amazon!

Stay true – Chantal

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Simple Salmon Salad

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If you’re not eating salmon – you are SERIOUSLY missing out! Unless you’re vegetarian, then GO YOU and replace the salmon with tofu or any other protein you want!

I personally love how thick and creamy salmon tastes when cooked perfectly. I also have a serious relationship with broccoli slaw made into an asian salad. So if you have similar tastes to me, you will be obsessed with this salad recipe. It can be eaten warm (my fave) or cold.

Preheat your oven to 425
Season salmon with pepper and a little salt
Cook salmon for 30 minutes (or until fish is JUST flakey.. not dry!
While salmon is cooking, heat 1 tbsp olive oil on a pan
Add 2 cups broccoli slaw to pan
Once wilted, add 2 tbsp coconut aminos and 2 tsp siracha
Put salmon on top of broccoli slaw and top with low sodium soy sauce, siracha, spicy mustard, or any other condiments that you enjoy!

You can also make this ahead of time. Just refrigerate after it cools down, and you have a great salad for the next day. A great meal of healthy fats and veggies! LOVE!

I also use broccoli slaw raw as a salad base on a weekly basis. Just add some edemame, snow peas, protein, and sauces — voila. Make this salad your own!

XOXO, Kim

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Balance the Third Eye Chakra – Trust Your Intuition

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The third eye chakra also known as Ajna is associated with intuition, imagination, openness, and wisdom. This energy center is located on the forehead between the eyebrows and its physical function is to regulate biorhythms and the pituitary gland. Having an unbalanced Ajna chakra makes us feel like we have no clarity in our path, we lack vision and objectiveness, we daydream and feel lost. On the other hand, if the Ajna chakra is balanced, we feel inspired, our creativity shows, we become more perceptive, intuitive, and are more willing to learn life lessons. The throat chakra is usually represented by the color indigo and the element of light.

How to balance the third eye chakra?

Since the pineal gland regulates sleep patterns, getting enough sleep is essential to have a balanced chakra (like I needed another reason to love my favorite activity of the day).
Eating berries full of antioxidants and green vegetables are great to nourish your body and balance this chakra
Meditation (try incorporating the Om sound) and look up some guided meditations if needed
Chamomile, lavender and rosemary are some great essential oils to get you back on track!
Some stones you can use are: iolite, lepidolite, and red tourmaline

Share wit us your favorite healing technique!

Stay true – Chantal

Be Worldly

How to be Comfortable Road Tripping

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Although I absolutely LOVEEE to be in a car for however long – it’s easy to get road-trip-lagged or just feel super uncomfortable. I know a ton of people who just hate road trips in general!

But I wanted to share my top tips for how to be comfortable road tripping. You definitely don’t have to be super fashionable, but being comfortable is KEY. These are also the same tips I’d have for staying comfortable while flying!

Wear comfortable pants! I can’t believe people actually wear jeans while traveling! I’m jealous! I pretty much always go with super baggy jeans or a pair of leggings.
Wear an oversized shirt! Ain’t nobody got time to keep pulling down your top or pulling your pants up. Wear a comfy sweater or oversized tee to look chic but feel good.
Wear flat shoes – with support! You don’t want your feet to be hurting while on a trip. Wear shoes with a bit of support, but not full heels.

With these tips, you’ll feel comfy on your next trip and look pulled together! What do you wear while traveling?

XOXO, Kim

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Who Says Leggings Are Not Pants?

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Excuse moi??? If you buy quality fabric leggings that are nor borderline transparent when you put them on, they absolutely count as pants to me. Tell me if leggings are not the most perfect piece of clothing… they don’t have pockets that bulk up your figure, look very flattering on most people, they are super comfy, and you can literally wear them with anything to make a multitude of outfits. Dress them up with a nice girlie blouse, accessories and nice heels (my look here), wear them with a graphic shirt and some converse to chill on a weekend, with fuzzy boots during winter, or even wear them for your trip to the gym.

Need to pack light?

I love easy travel, so the least I can pack the better. I love packing leggings and jeggings since they don’t take tons of space, you can roll them very easy and shove them in your carry on with tons of space to spare! These are definitely my “can’t live without” clothing items, what are yours?

Stay true – Chantal

Be Beautiful

Double Cleansing with Oil

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First of all.. do you cleanse your skin every night? I sure hope so.

One of the keys to clear, healthy skin is cleansing off all of your makeup, sweat, and grime before you go to bed. Even if it’s been a late night (we’ve all been there..) – DON’T go to sleep with your makeup on!

And a super common way to wash your face is normally makeup wipes. But those can pull at your skin, cause wrinkles, and surprisingly really don’t get everything off your face. Next time you use a wipe, go in with a second one .. I guarantee you’ll have more makeup coming off!

So next time you cleanse, my #1 tip is to use an oil. And my #2 tip is to double cleanse.

I always wash my face with either Vitamin E oil or a facial oil from Trader Joe’s. I tried coconut oil – but I broke out. Try different oils and see what works for you!

It’s key to have your face dry the first time you add the oil to your face. Rub it all over (even your eyes), then rinse off. LIGHTLY dab a clean towel on your face to dry it off a bit, then do it all over again. More oil, another rinse, then dab your face dry again.

The first cleanse is to take any makeup off, then the second is to really clean your skin and remove any gunk from your pores. And it only takes a few extra seconds! And life hack: if you’re traveling, ask room service to bring you a side of olive oil.

Oil is also AMAZING for skin because it hydrates! I used to be anti-oil because my skin was oily and acne prone, but right when I started using oils, my acne cleared up and my skin actually errs on the dry side! If your skin is too dry, it’ll produce excess oils which can contribute to breakouts. So oil it up!

Helloooo, clear skin!

XOXO, Kim

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Sugar, the NOT so Silent Killer

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Now, I am not going to say that I don’t eat any sugar whatsoever, because I do. My goal is to eventually eliminate all added sugar from my daily life (except maybe special occasions very sporadically), but I have to say… it is very hard! Why is it so hard you ask? Well because it is so addictive! There are strong physical and emotional reasons as to why we love eating sugary foods so much, but reducing the amount of sugar we consume on a daily basis is extremely important. Sugar has sooooooo many ugly side effects that we should really consider not eating sugar part of our daily self-care routine.

On top of sugar contributing to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, here are other very visible effects of a sugar-packed diet:

Tooth decay (not very attractive)
Body inflammation
Contributes to lack of collagen on skin (that means more wrinkles!)
Breakouts
Worsens acne and skin allergic reactions

Personal victory, but still ways to go

I quit sodas as well as sugar and creamer in my coffee 10 months ago and I can say that it really has made a difference in my life. I don’t crave sugar-packed drinks, enjoy water more, my skin feels more hydrated since I drink more water now, I get more energy from my cup of coffee since I don’t get the crash from the sugar, and my body doesn’t feel bloated. Eliminating just those things has made my life so much better that I really want to continue and eliminate or minimize sugary and processed foods from my daily life. These changes are not easy to make, but they are possible and totally worth it. Join me and share your progress on the blog!

Any suggestions on how to quit sugar for good?

Stay true – Chantal

Be Well

Oxygen Bar Benefits

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Maybe you’re travelling to a high-altitude destination, maybe you just want more mental clarity, or maybe you want to breathe better for stress relief! The reasons are endless, but oxygen bars are a GREAT solution.

For me personally, I’ve gone to countless oxygen bars when visiting Colorado. Being up in the mountains (especially if you aren’t used to it) can cause altitude sickness symptoms like nausea, headaches, dizziness, etc. I’m super sensitive to this! I even had a lot of altitude sickness when we visited Ojo Caliente!

The first time I tried an oxygen bar was when I visited Denver a few years ago. I like to go quite often now, and ALWAYS make a pit stop at one when I arrive! After climbing up Mount Evans and Seven Falls (pictured below).. it was much needed!

And even if you aren’t in high altitudes or have some other sort of sickness.. oxygen bars can be an AMAZING hangover cure! Too many shots?… oops!

You can also pick your flavors. So even if you’re skeptical about oxygen bar having real health benefits – there are also aromatherapy benefits. Try out some eucalyptus for relaxation, or orange for energy! Can’t hurt to try it out!

Let us know if you’ve ever tried an oxygen bar in the comments below!

XOXO, Kim

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Quick trip to Cancun? Yes please!!!

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Traveling to Cancun is one of my favorite things to do. It is somewhat inexpensive compared to other beachy destinations out there… especially places as beautiful as this with crystal clear water. They also have tons of all-inclusive resorts with great deals year-round. As tempting as it is to stay within the resort, dare to visit some of the other many beaches and attractions nearby. Cancun is not only known for their beautiful ocean-side, they also have many natural swimming holes scattered all over the place, many eco-friendly attraction parks, Mayan ruins, an under-water museum, zip-lines, over the ocean bungee jumping, amazing reefs, and more!

One of my absolute favorite eco-friendly attraction parks is Xcaret, an ecological and archaeological park that allows you to explore small Mayan ruins, underground rivers, fauna, and learn about Mexico with their amazing shows.

Want a bite to eat at a unique location? Try Alux Restaurant, a restaurant inside of a cave! It is absolutely beautiful with high end cuisine, sometimes they have live music or other shows, and then you get to explore the cave. It is definitely a great place to try.

Do you have a favorite spot in Cancun yet? Share it with us, we would love to try it next time!

Stay true – Chantal

Be Fashionable

Plaid Vest

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Even though it’s technically Spring, it’s never too late for a plaid vest! Vests are perfect for when the weather isn’t too cold or too hot – and they make for a great statement piece.

In this outfit, I layered a plaid vest from AMAZON (yes.. amazon!) with a short sleeved sweater dress. Add some booties and you’ve got yourself a lewk!

You could also wear plaid with a white v neck and jeans, a tee and heels, or a chic black bodysuit!

XOXO, Kim

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Whip It!

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I have been slowly switching out certain cosmetics and other beauty products for more natural options as well as waste free items. It has been interesting to try out so many different things to see what works and what doesn’t. Today I want to talk about this one product that I have really liked and about the company who makes it. The product is by a company named Alaffia and it is a deliciously coconut rose scented whipped shea butter to be used for skin and hair! I bought a small container to try it out and I am OBSESSED. At first, I was like, this little 1.5 oz container is not going to last, but it is crazy because you have to rub it on your palms to warm it up before you spread it on your hair or skin and it becomes oily, so you don’t need as much. This fabulous product leaves your skin and hair crazy soft, and you can feel confident that no crazy chemicals will harm you and that the product comes from an ethical company. Alaffia has been For Life certified for fair trade, MADE SAFE certified for products without known or suspected toxins to harm the health of humans, animals, or the ecosystem, and it is Non-GMO verified. I mean, it really can’t get better than that right?! I see all those super sad videos of animals being killed or injured by our waste that I know a change needs to happen, so finding companies like this one is very exciting.

A company with purpose

I invite you to visit the Alaffia website and read about their commitment to the consumers, communities, and the planet because it is great to learn about a company that cares and that is doing something to give back. Since the company was started in 2003, Alaffia has implemented educational projects, opened schools in African communities, and even has a complete line that supports a foundation that rehabilitates women that have been victims of sex trafficking. Even their logo is absolutely cool as it represents protection, security and love.

Check them out at https://www.alaffia.com/pages/alaffia-history

I’ve only tried the whipped shea butter so far, have you tried any of their products? If so, which one is your fave??? I know I am definitely trying some more of their products!

Stay true – Chantal

Be Healthy

Healthy Eating Swaps

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Healthy eating.. the struggle is REAL! I don’t know about you, but there’s no way I’m completely cutting out my chips and salsa or bread – even though I’m definitely on the weight loss track. So I’m sharing some of the best healthy eating swaps I’ve found with you! Hopefully this makes the struggle a little easier!

Swap Rice for Cauliflower Rice – This is one of my faves. I LOVEEE to make a good stir fry with veggies and some cauliflower fried “rice.” I normally get a pre-made stir fry “rice” from TJ’s, but you could easily get some snap peas, egg, peas, carrots, and some shredded cauliflower and make the blend yourself.

Swap Pasta for Zoodles – Zoodles are a game changer! Seriously, add some lite alfredo (not the healthiest.. but we’re trying, right?!) or some olive oil and parm and I swear you can’t tell the difference.

Swap Strawberries for Pastries – I know this sounds cray, but some strawberries with brown sugar on it makes the BEST dessert. You won’t miss your cakes or cookies – promise!

Swap Frying for Air Frying – For real.. an air fryer is worth it! Stick in veggies, potatoes, “fried” chicken, and more with a quick spray of pam or a tiny bit of oil and you’ll have food that feels indulgent with less guilt!

Swap Breading for Fiber – This one is a little different, but y’all need to check out GG crackers. They basically just have a TON of fiber, but with no taste. So I like to crumble them up as “breadcrumbs,” coat chicken with them with some seasonings, then air fry them for some high-fiber chicken tenders!

Swap the Store for Delivery – If you’re at a loss on where to start making healthy meals, try out a meal delivery service! You can check out Hello Fresh or Blue Apron where items are pre-portioned with specific instructions (with photos). You have control over how much salt and seasoning to add, but it’ll give you the freshest ingredients with just enough so you don’t have to struggle with portion control…. NOT SPONSORED! (Below is the red pepper pasta from Blue Apron pictured)

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Speak Up – Balance Your Throat Chakra

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It’s been a while since I address the chakras in the blog, so today I will tell you about the fifth chakra. This is also known as the throat vishuddha chakra and it is associated expression and communication. I am a big communicator, verbal, non-verbal, to people, to animals, plants, myself… well you get the point. This energy center is located in the center of the neck at the level of the throat and it is the chakra that allows the energy of all the other chakras in the body to flow; because of this it can cause issues that would normally be attributed to other chakras. Some other issues it can cause include sore throat, neck tension, jaw problems, thyroid disorder, and severe headaches. The unbalance of this chakra is also linked to not been able to express oneself properly, poor communication skills, timid voice, lies, and secretiveness. On the other hand, if the throat chakra is balanced, we speak the truth, make ourselves heard, we have communication with purpose, and we can fully express what we feel or think. We are also more likely to find our motivation to act on our desires when this chakra is well balanced. The throat chakra is usually represented by the color blue and the element of sound.

How to balance the throat chakra?

Because this chakra is related to self-expression and communication, singing and talking are very god for balancing the chakra
Clean eating and drinking water is the best you can do, not only for the chakra, but for your entire body
Meditation is key, you can also do yoga
Aromatherapy! Jasmine and sandalwood are a couple of great scents that help the throat chakra
Some stones you can use are: turquoise, aquamarine, and lapis lazuli

Check out this great meditation music by Meditative Mind, I have listened to it before when I’m ready to go to bed and it is super relaxing while it helps you balance your chakra. Let me know what you think!

Stay true – Chantal

Be Worldly

Spring in Central Park

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Happy First Day of Spring!! I can’t believe it’s finally here!

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for warm, sunny weather and spring showers – and where’s the best place to enjoy Spring? Central Park!

I normally go to NYC a couple times a year and it’s one of my favorite cities in the US. Once the weather gets nice, I have a couple of go-to spots: the high line, some rooftop bars, DUMBO.. and of course, Central Park.

At first glance, Central Park can seem a little sketch if we’re being honest.. but it’s a HUGE park with so many amazing areas to visit. The most visited region is near 5th Ave, and that is a great area where the ice skating rink normally is (but of course not this time of year). My personal favorite area is around 74th. You’ll find Strawberry Fields, and it’s super quaint and a lot quieter up there.

So if you’re in NYC and looking for a place to feel the fresh Spring air – hit up the park! Take a stroll and enjoy the scenery and super entertaining people watching!

XOXO, Kim

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Dress to Impress… Yourself

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I am not going to lie, I don’t always dress up to go to work. After five years of working at a pretty laid-back company, one becomes more and more comfortable dressing down instead of dressing up to play the part. I do have my moments though, meetings, lunches, after work events, etc. I do believe that an outfit can completely change your mood, the way you handle yourself with others and can even make you feel empowered. For a business environment, you don’t have to play it safe with plain/dull colors, have some fun, wear bold shades, don’t be afraid to wear skirts, cool tights (not pantyhose :/), play with patterns, accessories, and blazers. It is comfortable to stick to darker colors, but a bit of a brightness makes a huge difference, giving a boring outfit the WOW factor. Start by wearing brighter/bolder colors here and there, maybe in accessories or scarves until you feel more comfortable and rock it sister! Feel awesome and love what you see in the mirror… BTW who doesn’t love a pair of bright-colored shoes? I know I do.

Happy Monday everyone!

Stay true – Chantal

Be Beautiful

Vitamin Packed Hair Mask

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If your hair is needing some extra TLC.. we’ve got you covered! Chantal gave me her tips for this amazing hair mask – and now I’m passing it on to you. I normally try to take good care of my hair. I wash it every 3-4 days, use heat MAYBE once a week, and give myself a little trim every few weeks, but sometimes I need something extra. And this mask is vitamin packed and will transform your hair!

My favorite ingredient in this is the vitamin E oil. I got mine at Trader Joe’s for about $5, and I use it for a ton of stuff. I use it as a makeup remover, a moisturizer, and for this hair mask! For hair, Vitamin E can moisturize, repair hair follicles, and promote healthy hair growth. The olive oil helps to moisturize even more, the eggs promote shine, and lemon juice will make your hair vibrant!

Below are some basic guidelines regarding the ingredients, but feel free to decrease or increase the amounts depending on how much hair you have.

1 TBSP Vitamin E Oil
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
2 Eggs
1 TBSP Olive Oil

Whisk it all together, apply to your hair for about 20 minutes, then rinse very, very well! Be sure you give your hair a wash afterwards as well to get any excess gunk out.

And voila! Beautiful hair!.. Have a great weekend!

XOXO, Kim

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Meatless Spaghetti Squash Bolognese

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Miracles do happen! I have been cooking a bit more lately, trying to improve my kitchen skills and oh my… I have to say that I’ve had many fails. A few months ago I tried making this same dish and it went completely south ☹ but today I totally redeemed myself!! Some of you will make fun of me, but I honestly didn’t know there was such thing as a “spaghetti squash”! I thought the dish was called “spaghetti squash” because the squash was made into little spaghetti like strings with a fork, but I was completely mistaken! I bought something called butternut squash and the end result was a mashed potato looking paste. The consistency was kind of gross and nobody ate it… it ended up being a take-out kind of day.

Proof of the atrocity committed during the first try… Such a sad day!

My bestie’s husband was kind enough to make fun of my mistake and point out that I used the wrong type of squash … thank you Gus, I got the right one this time!

Ingredients (serves 4-5 people):

2 spaghetti squash
6 tomatoes
2 cups of diced mushrooms
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 clove of garlic
1 cup diced onion
1 small piece of onion
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cube of vegan chicken flavor bouillon (if desired)
Plant based ground meat (optional)
Olive oil
Olive oil cooking spray

Instructions:

Cut the spaghetti squash in half, scoop out the seeds and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Spray all halves with the cooking spray and bake them at 350° for 30 minutes or until soft. Once this is done, grab a fork and scrape the strands.

For the sauce: blend the tomatoes, the clove of garlic, the small piece of onion, a cube of bouillon, and a bit of salt.

Sautee the diced onions with olive oil and the ground meat, then add the carrots, mushrooms and celery. Add the sauce and cook for a good five minutes with medium heat while constantly stirring; add salt and pepper to taste. Cover it up and let simmer until the tomato sauce has a bit of a deeper red color and has thickened a bit.

Serve the spaghetti squash and top it off with the sauce mix. Enjoy!

I am no chef, but I truly loved this dish and hope you do as well. I avoided using canned tomato paste or sauce, but I did end up using the plant-based meat to trick my daughter into eating it since she eats meat lol and the bouillon for a bit of extra flavor. I don’t believe those are necessary, so if you want something 100% natural skip those and voila!

Do you have any other recipes with spaghetti squash for me to try? Would love to see them!

Stay true – Chantal

Be Beautiful

The Secret for Bloat-Less Skin

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I don’t know about you.. but the struggle is REAL for me with facial bloating! And I have one secret that will cure all your problems!

Luckily, there’s a natural solution to bloating and there are two steps. First of all, you need to start by massaging your face! Professionals call it lymphatic drainage – and you basically rub your face upwards (ain’t nobody got time for wrinkles) and then rub down your throat. Rubbing down is key! Otherwise, the liquid you’re draining will just stay in other places in your face.

Secondly, pull out those ice cubes and rub away! Hold the ice cubes underneath your eyes, on your cheeks, and don’t forget your jaw line.. then, goodbye inflammation!

There you go – voila!

XOXO, Kim

Be Worldly

Icelandic Springs

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I’m sure that by now you’ve seen a ton of pictures on Instagram of everyone going to Iceland.. and it’s for a good reason! If you visit this beautiful country you’ll find gorgeous scenery, adventurous activities like snorkeling and hiking, a bustling nightlife, and some amazing hot springs!

The best known Icelandic spring is at the Blue Lagoon – but there are a ton of other hot springs that are less touristy, cheaper, and more relaxing! When I was in Iceland the Blue Lagoon ended up being closed, so I asked some locals for recommendations.

At Laugarvatn, there were about 5 springs at different temperatures, a cool plunge in the lake, 2 saunas, and a couple steam rooms. It’s all heated by sulfur and is incredibly relaxing and detoxifying!

Here are some of my top recs for other Icelandic springs to go to on your next vacation. 10/10 recommend!

Laugarvatn
Myvatn
Seljavallalaug
Nauthólsvík
Viti lake

XOXO, Kim

Ps – check out our insta for a video of my lake plunge!

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Winter Romper Style

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I am absolutely crazy about rompers and love wearing them as much as I can during summer. What do I do during the cold weather you ask? Well, if it is not freezing cold and I just feel like rocking a romper, I just pair it with some nice tights, boots, a nice jacket and a scarf. You can make the look as casual or as fancy as you like, it is all in the details. For this outfit, I decided to dress it up by wearing a nice leather jacket and a fancy scarf with gold as the accent color… I know, I know, I look fabulous! 😉

Solid color rompers are an easy go-to because you can easily play with color combinations in accessories, coverups, belts, etc. Try to be bold and wear a bright colored jacket, a nice cardigan or blazer, a belt around your waist, or some nice jewelry. It is all about letting your personality shine!

Advantages of wearing a romper

If you get the right style for your body shape, it helps create the illusion of a leaner, taller body.
Wear some high heels and make your legs look a mile long!
One romper is all you need to create several looks.
Super comfortable, you can do pretty much any activity wearing a romper… except going to the bathroom that is lol

Choose the right romper for your body type

Apple-shaped (heavier around mid-section): Select a romper that cinches in the waist to create the illusion of a smaller waist.
Hourglass (balanced curves): This is the easiest body type because pretty much every romper style looks great. Show off your figure and opt for a fitted style, v-neck or a romper with a cinched waistline.
Boy shape (almost no curves all over): It is all about creating the illusion of curves by wearing rompers with bows, ruffles, or flared bottoms.
Pear-shaped (curvy on the bottom and smaller on the top): Same concept of ruffles, bows, etc, except that only focus that on the top half of the romper. You want to balance your body shape by adding volume on the top and showing off your natural shape on the bottom.
Top heavy (curvy on the top and smaller bottom): a v-neck or off the shoulder rompers with are best options to take away all the focus from the top half of the body and create a more even silhouette.

Show me your favorite romper look!

Stay True – Chantal

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Hellooooooooo Sexy Pores!

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Gross but yeah, pores are crazy important. You need to make sure to clean your pores of impurities constantly in order to have healthy looking skin, minimize black heads and pimples. If you let your pores get all clogged up, your skin is going to look less than appealing, oily and dirty. The charcoal peel off mask is one of my favorite face masks because on top of being crazy satisfying to take it off, it is great at pulling dirt, blackheads, bacteria, dead cells, and all sorts of impurities from the skin. Now, do BEWARE because although the mask is great at removing impurities, it takes all of the oils from the skin when you peel it off and that is not recommended, it can also irritate your skin, so you have to be gentle when applying and taking it off. On top of that, once you have peeled off the mask, you need to make sure to wash your face to remove all mask residues, use a toner to seal off your pores and moisturize. I also wouldn’t recommend using this type of mask too frequently as it can make your face look dry and irritated if you overuse it. Twice a month or just as needed should be good.

What’s your favorite peel-off mask?

Stay True – Chantal

Be Healthy · Uncategorized

Plantain Dream Dinner Pie

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OMG! I had to share this with you because this dish turned out to be super good. Now, If you know me, you know that I am a total disgrace when it comes to cooking. My daughter hates my cooking, my mother is ashamed because I didn’t inherit her Mexican culinary skills, and because I almost need to make you sign a waiver before you have a taste of my food.

There are very few dishes that I can actually make and they tend to be very basic, but lately I have been trying to practice more, determined to get to a decent cooking level. Well, one of my dear (cooking challenged) friends shared a simple recipe with me and I added a little twist to make it my own. This thing was so good that both my daughter and mother decided to try it, and not only that, they even had seconds and asked for me to pack them some for lunch! Now that I feel like a chef goddess, I want to share my simple recipe with you.

Ingredients:

Plantains (they can be green for a more savory taste or brown for a sweeter dish) – I used 6 for a 9.5’’ pie plate
Salt to taste
1 cup of yellow corn
2 cups of mozzarella cheese (or as much as you want)
Olive oil cooking spray

Instructions:

If you are using green plantains, boil them until soft; brown plantains are already very soft, so no boiling is needed. Spray the baking dish with cooking oil. Mash the plantains to create a soft paste and create a “crust” layer covering the baking dish. Once you have a thick layer of plantain paste, top it with lots of cheese and corn. Cover the filling ingredients with a layer of plantain, sprinkle a bit of salt, and spray some cooking oil on top.

Bake the pie at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until the top of the plantain pie is spongy but solid and somewhat brown. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Yum!!!!!! So easy even I can do it!

Stay true – Chantal

Be Well · Uncategorized

All You Need Is Love – Heart Chakra

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The fourth chakra, also known as the heart or anahata chakra is associated love, compassion beauty, and joy. This energy center is located in the center of the chest and it is believed that it’s directly associated with the proper functioning of the heart and lungs. An unbalanced heart chakra is said to cause blood pressure issues, bad circulation or certain heart and lung problems. The emotional repercussions of an unbalanced heart chakra are jealousy, codependency, isolation, and difficulty developing and maintaining positive relationships with others. On the other hand, if the heart chakra is balanced, we feel connected with others, have empathy, accept and forgive. We also appreciate the beauty around us, are open to developing meaningful relationships as well as love ourselves and others. This chakra is usually represented by the color green and the element of air.

How to balance the heart chakra?

Because this chakra is related to the beauty around us, doing anything creative and artistic is a good way to balance it and bring joy to our lives.
Self-care is a fantastic way to nurture this chakra as you are loving and appreciating yourself. Love starts within you.
Meditate, meditate, meditate.
Breathe… DEEPLY.
Daily affirmations are everything!
Want some extra help? Here are some crystals: rose quartz, rhodochrosite, green jade and green tourmaline.
Essential oils that rule for the heart chakra: lavender, rose, sandalwood, and jasmine.

Compassion and love are a beautiful thing, practice them every day, start with yourself and then they will naturally flow outward.

Stay true – Chantal

Be Worldly

Enjoy the Outdoors

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When traveling, it can be suuuper easy to start being a little too lazy and get stuck inside! I love picking locations with ways for me to enjoy the great outdoors and get some active sightseeing in.. then to hit up all the restaurants later. And if you’re looking for somewhere to get active and appreciate some AMAZING scenery, here ya go!

Add Colorado to your list! It’s one of my top places in the US to visit when I want an active vacay with a ton of options. There’s hiking, walking, stair stepping (hellooo seven falls!) and more. Here are some top spots in the Denver area with fun places to get moving and see the sights.

Seven Falls – Hike up the 224 steps here and enjoy the view from the top

Garden of the Gods – Walk around all of the amazing rock formations or enjoy the hiking trails

Red Rock – When there aren’t concerts, walk up and down the steps

Mount Evans – If you’re feeling extra adventurous, bike up one of the tallest mountains. Or drive to the top and walk the extra hike

Downtown – Take a leisurely stroll around downtown denver

Estes Park – Rent some RV’s around the Rocky’s or some paddle boats for a different kind of workout

What are your favorite destinations? Let us know in the comments!

Be Fashionable · Uncategorized

Rocking the Poncho!

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Ponchos and I don’t have the best relationship. Almost every time I try one on, no matter how beautiful I think it looks on a hanger, I just feel super bulky, shapeless, and not attractive at all. It is super important to understand your body shape to realize what looks good and what doesn’t, but most of all, you have to love yourself in whatever you are wearing so you can reflect that self-love and confidence. This poncho is one of the few that I have been able to feel confident in by pairing it with a fitted top to contrast the looseness of the oversized poncho and adding a wide belt. One super important rule to remember… since the poncho is big and loose, you need to pair it with slim fitted bottoms. DO NOT make the mistake to pair it with a wide skirt or bulky pants, that will make you look larger and curveless…Don’t look like a piñata, nobody wants that! For this look, I played it safe with neutral colors (I know, I do this a lot), but you can be as bold as you want, add a nice fedora hat, colorful belt, or oversized accessories. I finished this look with my high heel ankle booties for a casual and comfortable style.

Do you have a favorite poncho look? Please do share!

Stay True – Chantal

Be Healthy

What to Expect at your First Spin Class

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I hope you’re ready – because I’m about to share what to expect at your BRAND NEW WORKOUT OBSESSION.. Spin! If you haven’t tried it before, it’s basically your normal workout x10 (unless you’re already a beast!), and it’s super fun and inspirational. There are spin classes at most gyms, but it’s always fun to try out classes at some boutique spin-specific studios. But it can be super intimidating, so here’s what you can expect!

First of all, don’t be afraid to ask for help from the workers. When you first go in, they’ll give you some spin shoes to rent and show you to your assigned bike. They’ll help clip you in.. which can be kind of intimidating honestly! At first, I felt STUCK! But it’s for your safety so you don’t spin your way onto the ground! But be sure to get there at least 10-15 minutes early to get situated.

Then, chances are they’re going to close the doors and turn off the lights. Again, try not to feel intimidated! It’s truly a fully immersive experience and the studio will basically turn into a club. Cue loud club music, glow-sticks, and strobe lights. You’ll forget you’re even working out!

At some point, a lot of spin classes will also incorporate some sort of strength training.. either push ups on the bike, or using your towel as resistance. And afterwards, you’ll do a cool down – then you’re done! And I swear, you will feel like a MILLION bucks when you finish your first class. It’s addicting!

So if you’re looking for a new workout, try out a local spin studio. A lot of them offer the first class free or drop in for about $10. And try out groupon or a service like ClassPass to save some extra moola!

XOXO, Kim

Be Healthy · Uncategorized

Smoothie Time!

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Anyone who doesn’t like smoothies is just not to be trusted… they are insane! The creativity of flavor combinations, the colors, the smells, the taste, what’s not to love?! Well… if you are one of those people that buy them out on the street, maybe the price. It can get pretty costly to enjoy store bought smoothie on a regular basis, and don’t get me wrong… I will drink the crap out of a Smoothie King or Jamba Juice delicious blend, but between my smoothie obsession and my coffee obsession, I am at a loss 😦 A great alternative if you are trying to eat healthy, get your veggies and fruits in is to do your own juices and smoothies at home. You can even save yourself some work and do meal prep over the weekend by putting together all of your combinations in separate containers to have them all ready to blend. I will share with you a couple of my fave combinations hoping you will give them a try. Feel free to send me your favorite recipe so I can try that too!

The top pic has a basic strawberry, oats, honey, cinnamon, and almond milk smoothie… absolutely delicious and filling. Feel free to replace the almond milk for soy, nonfat milk or any other milk variation.

This next smoothie is made with an incredible delicious orange fruit called Mamey. I can never find the fresh fruit in a local market but some places carry the frozen pulp and it is AMAZING!!!! just blend some of the fruit pulp with oats, cinnamon, honey, milk and… Voila! It is heaven in your mouth!!

If you are more of a juice person or prefer water based smoothies, just grab your favorite vegetables and fruits and go crazy! Here are a couple of my basic blends:

Both of the above blends include spinach and carrots but one has pineapple and oranges that will be blended with water while the other has strawberries and will be blended with orange juice… SO DELICIOUS!!!!!!! Sometimes I add some ginger, beets, mixed berries, or guavas, but the options are endless! I just got hungry writing about this.

It is so hard have a balanced and healthy diet, especially when you are always on the go, so smoothies really do become your best friend when you get into the habit of pre-packing your blends. I actually keep a personal blender at work to be able to make my smoothies there as well… hey, whatever works right?

Stay True – Chantal

Be Beautiful · Be Well

Honey Face Scrub

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Looking for a face scrub that’s moisturizing, brightening, AND that you can eat?!.. Look no further. We’ve got you covered!

You’ll want to follow the recipe below for an all natural, at home scrub that will leave your face looking AH-MAZING. It’s super nourishing. And yes, you can actually eat it. Try out using it on your lips and lick off any residue! A snack and facial all in one, ha!

Mix together:

1 TBSP Honey

1 TBSP Sugar

Juice of 1/2 Lemon

Scrub on your face for a minute or so, rinse off, and voila!

XOXO, Kim