Author: Anastacia

ZOLA – The MODERN Wedding Registry

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Hello my fellow brides-to-be! My friend recently sent me to this wedding registry website called ZOLA. It’s the “modern” wedding registry website and iPhone app so you can avoid going to multiple stores to pick out your future presents. It is very easy to navigate and reminds me SO much of Pintrest. When you first sign up, the site prompts you through each curated household category and makes it easy and convenient for you to select your choice by providing you with three clear options. The three options are priced: reasonable, moderate, and splurge. If you already have the item, you can easily skip forward. If it’s an item that you need multiples of (ie. dishware) you can adjust the quantity size. If you have something else in mind, the scanner on your iPhone app or the bookmarklet option allows you to add items to your account from anywhere on the internet. Your personal page and registry allow you to create a custom URL and a personalized greeting for your guests. If you’re a couple …

Glam Face with Elate Cosmetics

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*Photo courtesy of @OrganicBunny (Check out her Instagram and Blog for frequent non-toxic beauty reviews). If you’ve been following my blog and Facebook page, you will know that I have recently been making efforts to switch out my beauty products to ones that are more natural and safe for my skin. I started cleaning out my base beauty products (face wash, lotions, toners, etc.) and am now starting to explore more makeup brands as I slowly toss my old toxic ones. I recently tried Elate Clean Cosmetics after seeing a post from @OrganicBunny. Their products are safe and healthy for your skin because they are vegan, organic, cruelty and chemical free, sustainable and affordable. I tried the Fixed Press Powder in “Tawny”, Universal Creme in “Love”, Vibrant Lipstick in “Tantric”, Moisturizing Lipgloss in “Fierce” and Essential Mascara in “black”. What I love the most about each product is how pigmented they are. My one fear in going the natural route with makeup was that I would not find the colors to replace my vibrant MAC and Chanel …

Eating Cliffside at Sierra Mar (Big Sur)

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*Photo from Post Ranch Inn website. If you’ve read my post on California’s most beautiful coastal city, Big Sur, and are so inclined to visit…you’ll definitely want to consider making reservations at Sierra Mar. The fine-dining restaurant rests cliffside at the Post Ranch Inn Hotel. It would be my dream to stay the night here one day, but for $1,000 per night, it’s currently a little out of my budget! My fiancé and I headed here for their lunch menu which features a three-course pre-fixed menu OR a five-course tasting menu. The staff was extremely friendly and explained the menu selections to us very thoroughly. I would describe the cuisine as fresh California fusion. There’s everything from fancier meals like lamb to a good hardy kobe beef burger and of course seafood. You also have the option to order à la carte from the prefix menu selections. The portion sizes were very good for such a nice dining experience. We both were more than full and had food leftover to take home. Although lunchtime wasn’t busy, …

Big Sur Travel Guide

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If there was ever a debate on whether or not California is the most beautiful state in the continental US, you must visit Big Sur. Three and a half hours northwest of Los Angeles, Big Sur is home to one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Yes, the world. It’s been featured in many car commercials for obvious reason. Located off of Highway 1, you can expect to see dramatic cliff edges, beautiful mountain ranges and of course, the vast beautiful blue Pacific Ocean. We happened to drive down on the perfect day. There was no marine layer and weather was warm enough to let the windows down and enjoy the ocean breeze. There are many designated cliffside parking stops along the way to get out and enjoy the view and take plenty of pictures. Big Sur is also the perfect staycation and weekend getaway for California natives. There are many hiking trails and restaurants nestled in the forest. Perhaps the best part is that the environment encourages you to just unplug. There are …

Healthy Radiant Face ft. Suntegrity Skincare

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Sunscreen is and has always been my #1 beauty product. I wear it every single day (even during the winter months) whether or not I wear makeup. Protecting your skin is important for a number of reasons. It prevents sun spots, discoloration and slows down the aging process but most importantly, it helps prevent skin cancer also known as Melanoma. I was shocked and disgusted when I found out the product I had been using to protect me was actually hurting me in the long run. When I scanned my beloved Eucerin sunscreen, it scored a solid 10 on the Think Dirty App, which means that it is filled with carcinogens. Carcinogens = cancer causing Of course, I dumped it immediatly. I used the App to help me find a healthier brand…alas ‘Suntegrity’ Skincare. Suntegrity is a natural, healthy, holistic mineral sun care line. “Suntegrity Face and Body SPF 30 products use only the best known physical block ingredient (non-nano size zinc oxide) to provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and super anti-oxidants and amino acids to …

Korean BBQ at Road to Seoul

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If you’re looking for a unique dining experience with friends, you must try Korean BBQ! However, a trip to the “cook your own meat” style restaurant is not for the faint of heart. You can expect to see a number of meats you’ve never thought were edible. But for $23.99 you can have all of the tender prepared, flavorful meat you want! I headed to Road to Seoul in Koreatown on a Sunday night. The restaurant was full and had lively music. Imagine “Gangham Style” playing in the background. There was a group of 7 of us, which is more fun because you’re all committed to the experience together. We kicked off the night with Soju (Pineapple and Yogurt flavor). Soju is Korean vodka and very similar to sake. Not as strong as your typical vodka, but very delicious and easy to drink. Next we ordered OPTION B on the menu. There are three options (A, B, C) and every person at the table must order from the same section.  Each option gives you a variety …

Avocado Banana Berry Smoothie

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I love eating avocados since they are delicious and a healthy fat. I changed up my morning smoothie routine this week by trying an avocado smoothie. Here was my recipe: Ingredients: 1 small avocado 1 cup frozen berry mixture (or fresh) 1/2 cucumber 1 small-medium banana 12 oz of almond milk The banana and frozen berries helped to sweeten up the drink. If you don’t use frozen berries, you might want to add ice. Enjoy!

Cauliflower Crust Pizza (GUEST BLOGGER)

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Materials: Food processor, juicer or high-powered blender Cheesecloth Ingredients: 1/4 cup chia seeds 1 large head of cauliflower 1 egg 3/4 cup ground almonds or almond powder (I used flax seed) 1 & 1/2 tablespoons of oregano 1-2 teaspoons of mixed garlic salt and pepper to taste Directions: *Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Take 1/4 cup chia seeds, put into a bowl of 3/4 cups of water and let sit in fridge for 20 mins until it kind of gets goop-like. While your seeds are soaking, take 1 large head of cauliflower (you’ll need 3 cups of it once it’s blended), chop it up and then place it in a food processor and blend until it’s fine (kind of looks like the pulp that comes out of the back of your juicer. One recipe even suggested “juicing” the cauliflower then using the pulp.) Once the cauliflower is grounded finely, use a cheesecloth to get as much moisture out of the cauliflower as possible. (*You can also use a clean dish towel if you don’t have …

Almond Milk Latte at Stumptown Coffee Roasters (Downtown LA)

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Even though I have my own coffee maker at home, I always love trying new coffee shops around the city. Coffee shops tend to have their own uniqueness and character. I discovered Stumptown Coffee Roasters while visiting the FreeRange LA food truck. The brand, which is based out of Portland, Oregon focuses on delivering quality coffee through it’s delicate roasting technique which is displayed in the coffee shop for customers to see. *Photo via LA Weekly I ordered a plain latte with almond milk and it was delicious! Since there was no flavoring, you could really taste the strong coffee flavor and when mixed in with almond milk, it was just like dessert, a mild sweet nutty taste. Also, the coffee shop has several unique pastries. If you’ve ever been to Hawaii, are Hawaiian or are familiar with the Hawaiian culture, you will appreciate the Spam Musibi Croissant. Even after ordering from the food truck, my Hawaiian heritage would not allow me to pass it up!      

Chirashi Bowls at Murakami on Melrose

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My new favorite sushi trend, Chirashi bowls! Chirashi means “scattered” and that’s exactly what these bowls are, an eclectic mix of fresh fish on top of rice. I tried a Chirashi bowl for the first time at Murakami on Melrose Ave. They are known for their bowls and have a variety of combinations to choose from or you can build your own. Each bowl starts around $14 at 3-4 items and up. I am huge fan of Spicy Tuna, so I tried the “Spicy Trio” which included: spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail and spicy salmon. I love these bowls as an alternative to traditional sushi rolls because I feel like you get a lot more fish for your buck! Murakami also has other traditional Japanese dishes on their menu, but I highly recommend giving the bowl a try! If you’re going carb-free, you can request your bowl on mixed greens. Enjoy! MURAKAMI 7160 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90046 (323) 692-1450 Hours *Lunch | Mon ~ Fri: 12:00 pm ~ 2:30 pm | Sat & Sun: 12:00 pm ~ 3:00 pm …