Month: February 2015

Paris Travel Guide

I am so excited to write this post and couldn’t think of a more perfect time of the year to share with you all the most romantic trip I’ve ever taken. Paris is everything you imagine it to be and so much more. It is a city rich with art, culture and history. I had the opportunity to visit this charming city in the month of October. The weather was crisp, warm enough during the day for pants and a light sweater and cool at night for a fancy long coat. My fiancé and I stayed in Paris a total of 4 nights and our goal was to see as much as we possibly could. We took a cab from Charles de Gaulle airport to our hotel. *WARNING* There are Parisians at the airport who try to scam you into taking one of their cars. They will tell you if you don’t have a reservation through your hotel, you cannot take a normal taxi. Do not listen, follow the ‘TAXI’ sign. We almost bought into this, …

Valentine’s Day Lip Look Book on YouTube

Hey everyone, I am venturing out into the world of beauty vlogging! For those of you that don’t know what “vlogging” is, it’s blogging in a video format. I’ve had so much fun learning to edit video and finding creative ways to shoot. Entertaining and performance have always been my passion, so I hope you will subscribe and follow my journey. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought what better way to kick-off the beauty section with my favorite makeup product, lipstick! Hit play on the video below for 14 different colors to rock on the most romantic day of the year. Thanks for tuning in…xoxo

Seductive Eyes with B.T.S. Mascara

One of my favorite beauty products is of course…mascara! Who doesn’t love a mascara that adds length and volume to your natural lashes. I’ve been one to constantly try different mascaras and have a few favorites on the market. But nothing I’ve tried compares to Too Faced ‘Better Than Sex Mascara.’ I’ve tried everything from Dior, Bare Minerals, Benefit, YSL and drugstore brands. This product beats them all. This product is for those who want or like the look of dramatic, long full lashes. If you’re a lady who likes to normally wear “fake eyelashes” when you go out, I highly recommend giving B.T.S. mascara a try. The texture is very smooth and transfers easily from the brush to the lash. It can get a little bit clunky so you’ll want to have a brush to comb it out once you’re done applying. However 2-3 strokes should be enough to get the volume you want. Once it dries, it’s smudge-proof and lasts all day long. Too Faced cosmetics is a vegan friendly brand.  

Healthy Vision, Skin, Hair and Nails Juice Recipe

The best way to consume vitamins is naturally! Carrots is and has always been one of my favorite vegetables to juice because of the amount of liquid it produces. Also you can buy carrots in bulk at a good price. Carrots are high in Vitamin A which is essential for healthy vision and our immune system. Carrot juice also increases hair and nail growth, fights aging, prevents acne and helps to control sun damage. Here is the recipe for my Vitamin A in a cup. Healthy Vision, Skin, Hair and Nails Juice Recipe 8 Carrots 1 bundle of Celery 1/2 Cucumber 1 tbsp Ginger 4 Clementines 1/2 Lemon Here are some fun Pinterest charts that show the health benefits of each of these ingredients. Whoa, so much goodness in one glass. Drink up!

Honey Sriracha Fried Chicken Biscuit at FreeRange LA

One of the best parts of living in LA is the extensive amount of gourmet food trucks! I remember just before moving here (3 years ago) of reading about all the delicious street food. Not too long ago, food trucks were simply known as “roach coaches” and you didn’t really go there unless you were partying the night before and couldn’t remember your bad choices the following morning. Now, food trucks have replaced having to sit in a drive-thru line for mediocre fast food. It is the new gourmet fast food. Food trucks are also a fun interactive experience, almost like a treasure hunt. This weekend after following @FreeRangeLA on Instagram for some time, I finally couldn’t take looking at another delicious breakfast sandwich without going to try it! Every day, they list their location on their social media pages and website and the times they will be serving food. The pictures were so enticing that I sat through 30 minutes of traffic in downtown LA to get it! The results were well worth it. We …

Homemade Baked Chicken Taco Recipe

If you’re looking for a delicious Sunday recipe, try these baked chicken tacos. They’re the perfect dish to serve and make for a party. They are tastier than buying a crunchy taco shell and healthier than frying a taco in grease. Ingredients: 3-4 boneless chicken breasts 1 jar of your favorite salsa soft corn tortillas olive oil spray cheddar cheese tomatoes cilantro Greek yogurt (as a sour cream substitute) Avocado Directions: Chicken Place boneless chicken breasts in a crockpot and cover with your favorite salsa. Turn crockpot on high for 4 hours or low for 6. The chicken is done when it shreds easily. Taco Shell Preheat oven to 375 degrees Take taco shells and spray each side with olive oil Hang taco shells over oven rack for 7-10 minutes until they form a shell Place tacos next to one another in a baking dish and fill with the shredded chicken and shredded cheddar cheese. Place back in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese starts to bubble Remove from the oven, let …

Almond Oil for Dark Circles Under Eyes

I have always struggled with dark circles under my eyes even though I get plenty of sleep! In fact, it’s the one reason I wear make up to begin with, to help even out my skin tone. I’ve tried other beauty products before to help reduce the pigmentation and always gave up. Either because it burned my eyes or I didn’t feel like it was working. Also, the eye creams tend be really expensive for such a small amount. In my quest for new and healthy beauty, lo and behold…almond oil. An all natural approach to reducing dark circles under the eyes. Almond oil also has many other benefits: anti-wrinkle, moisturizing (rich in Vitamin A, B and E all good for skin), make-up remover, can be used for hair and many other things. Most importantly, almond oil is a natural and safe approach to mending my tired eyes. I purchased the ‘Now Solutions’ sweet almond oil in the beauty section of Whole Foods. I emphasize the beauty section because almond oil used for the face …

Crostini’s at Fig and Olive: Melrose Place

Looking for a trendy chic restaurant this weekend or even for a Valentine’s date? If so, now is the perfect time to try Fig & Olive on Melrose Place. The upscale restaurant is absolutely gorgeous with its elegant white decor. It almost feels as if you’re eating in a luxe garden patio at night in some foreign land. The menu features a variety of fresh and healthy Mediterranean inspired dishes. They have a wide selection of appetizers, including a mouthwatering selection of Crositinis. The dishes are in the $20-$30 range, but the portions are a generous size so I don’t think you’ll be left hungry. They also provide bread with three different types of olive oils from around the world for you to try before or during your meal. Your server will explain the origin of each oil at the table. I came here for dinner on a Wednesday night and was surprised at how crowded the restaurant was. You will definitely want to make reservations when coming here. It is the perfect place to meet …

Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes California

As much as I love international travel, I hold something very special in my heart for ‘Staycations.’ I love a good getaway that is relaxing, but still close enough to home where you don’t have to go through check-in, security and aisle seats. Thus, I introduce you to the luxurious Terranea (terra-NAY-a) Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes California. The 102- acre private peninsula is absolutely breathtaking. We visited in the month of February and the weather was surprisingly perfect. Although we’ve been spoiled in California when it comes to winter weather. When we pulled up to the valet, I instantly felt as if we were on actual vacation in some tropical destination. The grounds include: residential bungalows, casitas and villas, an award winning 9-hole par three golf course, an ocean front spa, restaurants, bars, lounges, shopping boutiques and the best part a walking trail along the coast. The resort is also eco-friendly. We had dinner reservations at the hotel’s restaurant Mar’Sel, but came early to grab a drink and enjoy the lounge and walk along the …