#Flawless:Evening Skin Care Routine

I've been away for a while, mostly for personal reasons. The main reason being that I just wasn't inspired to write anything that I would be proud to put up on this blog and I always want everything that I post to be of substantial quality and not just something that is put up to tick a box on some schedule. Anyway, now that we have that out of the way I want to share with you some skincare goodies that have been complete game changers in my evening skincare routine!

1. Kiehls Blue Herbal Gel Cleanser:
If there was ever a cleanser equivalent to a season then this one by Kiehls would be the summer's cleanser. It removes all of that icky gunk that gets into your skin during those fun summer days without making the skin feel all tight and uncomfortable. Light but still packs a punch, hands down the best choice for this time of year if you have normal to oily skin like I do.

2. Kate Somerville Nourish Daily Moisturizer:
This has got to be the best moisturizer I've ever tried. Everything from the light and quick absorbing formula to the genius packaging contributed to making this my new holy grail moisturizer. The fact that it smells so refreshing is just a bonus. The only critic I have about this wonderful product is that you can't see when you're about to run out to product so once you're out of it it's kind of a panic moment until you realize that you can just go out and purchase another one at Sephora.

3. Boscia Makeup Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil:
Instead of using a makeup wipe to remove my makeup, I like to use a cleansing oil and this one is currently one of my favorites. The scent and texture are the two features that I love most about this pre-cleanser step. It does most of the heavy lifting so that your cleanser can go in and deeply get into your skin to get the remaining dirt out, leaving your skin deeply cleansed. It's like a dirt magnet and works like a dream.

4. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil:
A total game changer in my skin's appearance! When I first heard all the hype about this retinoid oil I thought that it was just that, hype. Boy was I wrong; after taking the plunge and investing in this little bottle of blueness, I instantly saw results. The next morning some existing acne had gone down to almost being non-existent and my skin overall felt nicer! I cannot sing the praises of this product enough! Definitely a hype-worthy product and well worth the price!

P.S: I'm planning on doing a video to go along with this post sometime in the near future. If you want to, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel " TinaBieri " to see it when it comes out as well as other videos like it!

Xxx
-Tina

Summer Must Haves Collab Video

After a week off, I've come back refreshed and ready to give all of you a special treat! A few days ago, my friend Sara and I did a collab video where we discussed our favorite items that we like to use during the Summer. We had such a good time and many laughs making this video and I hope you enjoy watching it!

Xx
Tina B.

Current Favorite Apps

Personally, I think that apps are one of the greatest things ever to be invented; technology wise that is. I use them everyday and there's one for any job you could possibly need to have done! I thought that I'd share a few of the apps that I have been in LOVE with these past few weeks.

Layout
The month of May is probably the busiest month, besides December, for me. There are so many birthdays and other events ,like Mother's Day, going on. To mark these occasions I like to make little collages of pictures that I've collected with that specific person. This app helps a ton!! All you have to do is pick which ones you want to use and the app does the rest for you! Total game changer when it comes to creating photo collages to share on social media.

Afterlight
I used to love VSCO to edit my Instagram apps, but now I've started going a bit more minimalistic in my editing techniques. Afterlight is amazing at doing the small tweaks that I like to make to my photos, such as changing the brightness and saturation of the colors. It's been my go to editing app for the past couple of months!

The Bouqus
As I stated previously, May has been one of the busier months for me, socially. Being social also come with the task of choosing presents for people. Flowers are always a nice gesture as they can be as small or a big a gift as you want them to be. As I was searching for a company to order nice, original flower arrangements from, I came across TheBouqs.com. You have no idea how I felt once I found this website! It was like I had hit the jackpot big time! They have amazing prices, gorgeous flowers and all of their flowers are ethically and environmentally sourced. This app makes ordering flowers as easy as getting takeout or booking a hair appointment! A total lifesaver this month! P.S If you want your first order free, click on my link: https://www.thebouqs.com/refer-free?sal=553631a1496200&spop=0&bcid=1057. Who doesn't like free flowers!

QuizUp
If you are looking for a way to pass the time while stimulating my mind at the same time, this is the perfect app to use! Fair warning though, you will become addicted! When I first started playing this quiz game app I couldn't put it down! There are hundreds of quiz topics to choose. The topics range from logos to Harry Potter as well as everything else in between. You'll never be bored again with this app.

Liquid Chlorophyll: The Key To Glowing Skin

 A few weeks ago I was reading an article on Byrdie.com on how to get glowing skin without pricey facials. One of the ways that were listed was to drink liquid chlorophyll mixed in with water. It took a couple of days for me to get the courage to do it but eventually I brought myself to Whole Foods and bought a bottle of that supposed green skin saver.

Later that night I tried it in a 22 oz bottle of water. First off let me tell you, it tastes amazing but only if you like the taste of mint leaves. That is exactly what mint leaves infused in water tastes like. After you get past the taste, it takes a couple of days to see the result of drinking this dark green water. The result is clearer, more radiant skin with a healthy glow to it. Totally worth drinking in my opinion, because now I have the skin to confidently go out in public and not have to worry if I forgot to put on makeup or anything like that. Bravo you gorgeous green bottle of goodness!

YSL Baby Doll Kiss & Blush: 9 Rose Epicurien

I'm not really the biggest fan of multipurpose products, but when I saw the gorgeous packaging of this YSL kiss and blushes , it drew me in like a siren call and I had to try them out. The color that I was automatically drawn to was number 9 Rose Epicurien. It is the nicest pinky, nude color that looks gorgeous on the lips! I haven't used it as a blush yet but when I swatched it on my hand it looked amazing, so I have a feeling that it will look beautiful as a blush.

It has a semi matte finish, so it has a very nice texture on both lips and cheeks. This feels very soft, velvety and not at all drying. I use this on most days when I want a natural, "no makeup" makeup look because it's very weightless but still packs a lot of color. All in all, it's a great multi-use product.

Favorite Face Masks

Twice a week I try to treat my skin to a face mask to keep it in tip top condition. Face masks give your skin that extra something that bumps it up from average to wow you're skin is really glowing! Recently I've noticed that I've been reaching for the same ones, so I've gathered that those are the ones that my skin likes the best.

Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
If glowing, lit from within skin is what your after, then this mask is going to be your new best friend. It smells like pumpkin pie and works to remove all that gunk from within your skin leaving behind soft and glowing plump skin. It's a magical experience to say the least.

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Purifying Mask With Red Clay
This one does what it says, plus it's fun to take off. If your skin is a bit on the sensitive side, I would say to pick this one over the the Pumpkin Enzyme Mask. It does the same thing, just a bit more gently. You'll also get to peel off the mask once it's dried on. 

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask To Clear Pores
This is your typical mud mask amped up times 10. The charcoal in this mask draws out all of the yucky gunk that causes pimples to pop up on your skin and keeps your pores nice and clear.

James Read Sleep Mask Tan- Face 
So technically this isn't a purifying mask, but it's still a frequently used mask so that's why I included it in this list. This is a mask that you put on at night and when you wake up in the morning, you wash it off and you're left with the nicest natural looking tan. I use this twice a week and it lets me skip foundation because I really wake up with selfie ready skin.

Coconut Banana Chia Pudding

Chia puddings are one of my favorite things to eat in the mornings or just as a mid-day snack, plus they are super good for you as they have tons of calcium, omega-3, antioxidants as well as other essential nutrients. In theory, chia pudding can be made from any liquid and topped with what ever you have available in your kitchen, so feel free to substitute whatever need to in this recipe.

Coconut Banana Chia Pudding

2 tablespoons of black chia seeds
1/2 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 banana
1/3 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut
optional: dash of cinnamon and stevia

-stick the banana in a blender of your choice and blend until smooth.
-add almond milk to the blender, followed by the shredded coconut, cinnamon and stevia blend it all up.
-then add the chia seeds and give it a good stir until the seeds are well distributed.
-put the mixture in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour. I have found the best results when I've left it in the fridge overnight.

 Once it's set and ready, enjoy the goodness that awaits you!

Nails Inc New Whites Collection

I wanted to take this moment to say that I hate painting my nails. That's right, I hate painting my nails! I jut feel like it's such a chore to do and to keep up once they are painted. First you have to make your nails all nice and smooth, then make sure that the color doesn't get into your cuticles or in the spaces around your nails. Personally I think it's a lot of hard work for something that will only last a week or two at the most.

That was my viewpoint on nail polish until I came across the Nails Inc New Whites Collection. Everything about these are gorgeous! Everything, from the weighted packaging to the incredibly smooth and silky formulation makes this group of nail polishes the best that I've tried recently. The colors that I love the most are called, "White Horse Street" and "Swan Street".

White Horse Street: An off-white lilac

Swan Street: off-white, pale mint green

"White Horse Street" comes out looking off white with a hint of lilac to it, while "Swan Street" is the most gorgeous pale mint green I've ever come across in a nail polish. In other words, they are off white with a hint of color to them that makes them perfect for the summer months ahead. If you haven't tried them and you're looking for a few colors to amp up your summer nail look, I strongly urge you to go and give these a go.

Bioderma vs Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water

Everyone and their dog goes on and on about how great Bioderma is at taking off makeup, so I decided to give in to the hype and tried it sometime last Christmas. My lovely cousin, Anggra, got me the 250 ml size bottle as part of my Christmas present and I absolutely fell in love with it! It takes off makeup so easily, one swipe of a cotton pad and you're set!

I knew that it would be hard to get another bottle of this miracle worker back in the US so I went to a drugstore and bought a big 500 ml bottle to take home with me. Fast forward 4 months and I have a very small amount left of the big bottle. I've tried the Simple cleansing water and liked it but the bottle was just too small for me. 

Enter the Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water. I love the pump on this bottle and I love how great it makes my face feel after a few swipes of the cotton pad. The only thing that I don't like is how badly it stings if you use it to take off eye makeup! It seriously stings like nothing else! For taking off face makeup I would say that it's on the level of Bioderma; maybe a bit lower on the scale but comparable but for eyes, I would stick with a separate makeup remover like the Clarins one or the Simple eye makeup remover. Trust me your peepers will thank you. 

The bottom line is that Bioderma is still the reigning queen of the cleansing waters in my book but the Sephora one is a good alternative and a whole lot easier to get a hold of.

Bioderma Rating: 10/10
Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water Rating: 8.5/10 

What's In My Makeup Bag: Weekend Edition

I always find it interesting to see what people carry around in their bags because I feel like the contents of a person's bag tells you a lot about what that they are like as a person. Anyway, I thought I would do my own version of a 'What's In My Bag' post and turn it into a 'What's In My Makeup Bag' kind of piece. This is probably nothing new but I thought it would be kind of fun to show you what I've been packing to take with me on my weekends in Atlanta!

P.S. If you are interested in any of the products mentioned, just click on the price and it will take you directly to the product's website. 

• Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream 'Buttercream 03' ($29)
• Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer 'Medium Light Neutral' ($28) 
• Marc Jacobs Beauty Remedy Concealer Pen '2 Wake-Up Call' ($39)
• Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector 'Medium-Tan' ($24)
• Becca Beach Tint 'Guava' ($25) 
• Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil 'Dark Brunette' ($32) 
• Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Babydoll 'Black' ($30)
• Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum ($28.50) 
• By Terry Ombre Blackstar '6 Frozen Quartz' ($43.50) 
• Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks '09 Rose Epicurien' ($40)
• Dior Dior Addict Lip Maximizer High Volume Lip Plumper ($33)

What are some of your favorite things to take with you in a weekend makeup bag? Have a great day and I hope you enjoyed a peek into my makeup bag!

Favorite Food Moment: Week 1

 I wanted to try out this new series where I share my favorite food moment that I've had during the past week. This could be a favorite tea, a protein bar/food that I've tried and loved, or a dish that I've had at a restaurant. I think it could be a really interesting to try out for a bit. Let me know what you think about this concept in the comment section.


 Yogi Skin Detox Tea:

I first came across this tea while I was walking through the natural foods section of Kroger and saw that it was on sale. I had been wanting to try a tea that was specifically for skin but has never found one that wasn't intimidating so i thought why not. I am so glad that I tried this one! For one this stuff tastes AMAZING, plus once its reached it's full brewing time it turns the prettiest pink color ever! I have really noticed a difference in my skin since drinking it 3 times a day for the past week. It definitely gets an A+ from me!

 The Complete Cookie:

My friend Sara got me hooked on these things a couple of weeks ago when we were at Whole Foods walking through every aisle trying to find these things! The ones that I got are the chocolate chip kind and let me tell you something, they tastes just like a regular chocolate chip cookie except that they don't have any of that bad stuff in them that makes cookies unhealthy and they are completely vegan. If I know I'm going to be out most of day and won't be able to access a healthy snack, I'll pack one of these in my bag and after a whole cookie I'm full for a while. It's a good on the go snack filled with protein and fiber while being low in sugar and carbs.

Caramel Digestive Biscuits: 

 I got these a couple of weeks back when I was in a global food market and have fallen in love with these things. I have no idea why they are called digestives though. If anyone knows, can you let me know in the comment section please because it is really bothering me. Anyway, I typically eat one or two of these with my evening cup of tea after dinner. It's become my favorite part of the day because I have had to restrain myself from eating too many of these at once, so one or two in the evening seemed like a good compromise to me.

 What foods/drinks have you discovered a love for recently?  

YSL Babydoll Mascara

Usually I stay pretty loyal to mascaras, it's typically concealers that I tend to hoard loads of different bottles of.This past weekend while at the Sephora VIB private shopping event, ALOT of #feelingspendy moments happened! Of that, resulted a rather large array of beauty products,the one makeup product that I am especially excited for is the YSL Mascara Faux Cils Babydoll. Besides the gorgeous packaging, gold with red script writing <3. the product itself gives you the most luscious, long separated lashes ever! I think that this could possibly overtake Tarte's Gift Amazonian Clay smart mascara, in being my holy grail mascara! It's that good, seriously go to your local Sephora and give it a try. I promise you won't be disappointed! 

P.S if this is a bit out of your price range, I suggest trying out Maybelline's Lash Sensational. It's just as good but at a fraction of the price. :) 

Top 10: Favorite Lip Products

As I was going through my makeup collection, I noticed that the biggest section of the collection was the lip product drawers. Yes, I said drawers, I know it's a bit excessive. I have come to the conclusion that I have a bit of an obsession with lip products of all kinds. After sorting them into color order, I decided that I would show you a few of my all time favorites. I hope you enjoy seeing some of the lipsticks, lip balms and lip glosses that have earned a spot in my book as all time favorites!

Smells Like Spring

Over the past year and a half or so, I've really gotten into finding perfume scents that work with my body's internal chemistry. I like to have at least 2-3 perfumes that I can switch between depending on my mood and/or the current season. Personally, I believe that perfume scents are an incredibly personal thing and can be as much a part of a person's identity as their favorite bag or article of clothing. Here are 5 of my favorite scents that I enjoy wearing in the Spring/ Summer months.

Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede

 

This is one of my all time favorite scents ever. I love all Jo Malone scents but this one and the Wood Sage and Sea Salt cologne are the ones that feel the most me. It smells quite floral without making you smell like a total bouquet of flowers, which in my opinion is a very hard thing for perfumes to accomplish. The thing that I love the most about this pick is that it lasts all day, so I'm not having to carry it around with me if I'm out and about all day. The same can be said for most of the other Jo Malone fragrances. Best all rounder in my book.

Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt

As I mentioned in the description for the Peony and Blush Suede cologne, the smell of this perfume lasts long after you first put it on with no touch ups. It literally makes you feel like you're at the beach when you spray this on. I enjoy using this when I'm feeling down or if it's a particularly gloomy day out. An instant mood lifter; plus if you layer this fragrance with the Peony any Blush Suede it's what I imagine magic would smell like if it had a scent.

Tocca Simone

Here's another perfume that makes me feel like I'm on a beach holiday! This one by Tocca is a lot more fresh smelling than the Wood Sage and Sea Salt one from Jo Malone, but one of my favorites for the warm weather season! This scent also comes in such a cute bottle as an added bonus.

Commodity: Book

A while ago Estée from the youtube channel Essiebutton did a favorites video where she included a book scented candle that she had picked up from her trip to Denmark. I was so intrigued by this that I decided to look for a perfume that had a similar scent and I found one from the brand Commodity. I had never heard of this brand until I went into Sephora one day to look at perfumes and then found this gorgeous creation! It says that it has very fresh, earthy notes that remind me of the smell of a new book when you open it up. All I can say is that this is a very addicting scent and I can see myself wearing it for many years to come. I just hope that Commodity doesn't discontinue this scent!

Chloé: Roses De Chloé

This scent is a spinoff from the original Chloé perfume that has added notes of roses. I actually like this edition of the iconic fragrance. First off I want to say that this is not just a product with pretty packaging. I love how feminine and floral it smells without making you smell like an old person's floral perfume. If a perfume could affect your outer appearance, this one would make you look like you have that lit from within glow.

MAC Warm Neutrals Palette

Recently I have rediscovered my love for eye shadows, particularly MAC shadows. Don't get me wrong I still love the Urban Decay Naked collection as much as the next girl but there's just something about the ones from MAC that put them above the rest for me. Last Friday my friend, Sara and I had a bit of a shopping day, which was well needed after the week that we both had. Great things were bought, but the thing that topped all the rest was the new MAC palette in Warm Neutral.

I think that MAC has a bit of a thing with releasing new palettes lately, first with the incredible palettes curated for the Cinderella collection and now they have done it again with this gorgeous selection of neutral eye shadow palettes that have been recently released. There are 2 sizes available, a 9 shadow and a 15 shadow size. The 9 shadow palettes are available in 4 color collections; Amber Times Nine, Burgundy Times Nine, Purple Times Nine, and Navy Times Nine. The 15 shadow palettes are available in 2 color collections; Warm Neutral and Cool Neutral.

I am in love with the colors in the Warm Neutral palette! All of the colors blend together so beautifully,as to be expected from MAC shadows. My favorite look that I've been doing with this palette is to put 'Unwind' all over my lid below my crease, then take 'Saddle' through my crease and blend them together with my MAC 217 blending brush. If I feel like adding a bit of definition to my lower lash line, I will mix 'Butterfudge' and 'Unwind' together and take my Zoeva 230 luxe pencil brush along my lower lash line. I also wanted to point out that the shade 'Lemon Tart' looks really pretty when it's placed on the brow bone, it just brightens the whole look up so much!

So there you have it! Will you be getting any of the neutral palettes from MAC? What are some of your favorite products from the brand? I hope you all enjoyed this post and I hope you are all well. Until next time!

Accidental New Favorite Cleanser

So last weekend after work, I decided to have a little wander around the nearby Sephora. While I usually have difficulties on not going too overboard in that store, I managed to control my spending this time. I went in intending to look at the "new white" collection from Nails Inc after hearing about it on a video that Alex from the YouTube channel I Covet Thee talk about how gorgeous the off white colors were. Once I found the Nails Inc section on the nail polish stand, I decided I would get the shades Whitehorse Street and Swan Street.

Next I went to have a look in the skin care section and ummed and ahhed at several different products and was about to head to the cashier to pay for the nail polishes. As I was walking, I saw the the First Aid Beauty section and remembered that I had been wanting to try on the Skin Rescue purifying mask with red clay. You know the one that makes your face look all red, scary and dries so you get to peel it off your face, yeah that one.

So as I was in such a hurry, I grabbed the cleanser instead and only noticed when I was having a bath and went to put the mask on my face and then saw it was the skin rescue cleanser and not the mask! I decided to try it out anyway and surprise suprise, I love it! It makes your skin feel super clean but not dried out at all. I was thinking about returning it to Sephora but now I think I'm gonna keep it. I've been using it in the mornings and alternating between this new cleanser and my glam glow supercleanse mud cleanser at night. This just might replace my Kiehls cleanser. Have you tried this cleanser or any other First Aid Beauty products? What are your favorites? Hope you enjoyed it! 

Lazy Girl's Guide: Everday Makeup

A few days ago I came across a video called " Lazy Girl's Guide: Updo hairstyle" on MarissaLace's YouTube channel. She talked about how to create this really pretty updo in literally 5 minutes. After watching her video, I was really inspired to write a post all about how I like to wear my makeup when I'm feeling particularly sleepy or lazy. Anyway, lets get started!

For my face, I usually use a light tinted moisturizer, BB or a CC cream and a concealer for any redness and one for my under eye area. Right now I'm really enjoying the Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream. Its amazing at giving decent coverage while still feeling very light on the skin. I will usually use the Nars creamy concealer under my eyes to brighten up any dark circles and the Urban Decay Naked Skin one for any redness or problem areas around my face. After setting with some translucent powder, I'lll move on to adding a light wash of color to make my eyes look more awake.

 

The Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Rose Gold is a great product to use when you just want a light wash of color but it's also very buildable if you want a more intense look. For this no fuss look I just take one swipe of this shadow stick on my lid and blend it outwards. Next I use the Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme mascara as it lengthens incredibly, opening up the eyes. Lastly, I use the Benefit gimme brow in dark. This product holds my brows in place while also giving them a slight tint making them look fuller and defined.

 

The Tarte cheek stain is a great product to use when you want a natural looking flush on the cheeks. I find it's easiest to use a stippling brush and push the color onto apples of the cheek and blend towards the hairline. I love using it with my fingers to dab onto the lips for slight bit of color.

All finished and now you're ready to take on whatever lies in the day ahead of you! Hope you enjoyed it and be sure to come back every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for new posts on all things beauty and fashion! Have a great day!

Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion Spray Review

Bumble and Bumble products pretty much make up the majority of the hair care section in my bathroom. Their Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Shampoo and Conditioner are basically the only things that keep my hair manageable and healthy. I get my hair colored every two and a half months or so to keep my beachy/ natural looking blond color looking its best. I think it's safe to say that my hair goes through alot and it's literally a miracle that it still looks this healthy. I give credit to the amazing products from Bumble and Bumble for how good my hair looks now despite all of the damage it goes through.

I can't say enough good things about this brand! After discovering the original Surf Spray from the brand a few years ago, I fell in love with the way that it gave my hair that amazing look that your hair gets when you've just come out of the water during a beach holiday. There was one thing about it that I didn't quite like about it though and that was the dry feeling that I felt whenever I would touch my hair. That one flaw didn't stop me from using an otherwise AMAZING product. I used it interchangeably with the Toni and Guy salt spray whenever I wanted to add extra wave and texture to my mildly wavy hair. 

This continued until I got an email from Sephora informing me that VIB Rouge members had the opportunity to get the new Surf Infusion Spray before it went on sale to non VIB members. I was really intriguing to me, so naturally my impulse shopping tendencies kicked in and before I knew it, there was a Sephora package waiting for me on my doorstep a couple of days later. Long story short,I frickin' love this stuff! It's like the original Surf Spray but the oil in the surf spray keeps it from making your hair feel all dry and crispy. In other words this is sexy beach hair in a bottle and receives a 12 out of 10 from me! What are some of your favorite products to get effortless hair?

Monday Catch Up

Happy Monday all! I hope that everyone has had an amazing weekend and if you've just come back from Spring Break; I hope you've had an amazing break! I have just returned from spring break myself, that is my explanation for not putting up a post on Friday. I just need a couple of days of pure me-time and now I am back and refreshed to take on this month in full force!

Today's post is sort of a cross between a mini haul and a favorite places, I hope you enjoy it and share it with your friends, cats, dogs, and anyone who is around you!

Part One: A mini haul from my shopping trip with my mom from last Friday ( March 13, 2015) as well as my new favorite quote found on Rebecca Minkoff's Instagram page.

1. Madewell ( Button-down shirtdress):
https://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/DRESSES/shiftdresses/PRDOVR~C0499/C0499.jsp                                       
 

 2. Madewell ( Denim boyshorts: rip and repair edition)
https://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/DENIMBAR/shorts/PRDOVR~C1734/C1734.jsp                                            
 

 3. Topshop Black Ripped Jamie Jeans
http://us.topshop.com/en/tsus/product/clothing-70483/petite-70510/petite-jeans-70650/petite-moto-black-ripped-jamiejeans-3984246refinements=category~[209946208681]&bi=1&ps=20                                                              

4. Topshop Petite Lace Cap Sleeve Playsuit
http://us.topshop.com/en/tsus/product/clothing-70483/rompers-jumpsuits-4107634/petite-lace-cap sleeve-playsuit4142432bi=1&ps=20                                                                                                                                   

5.Topshop Lace Trim Runner Shorts
http://us.topshop.com/en/tsus/product/clothing-70483/shorts-70503/lace-trim-runner-4111187?bi=1&ps=20
 

6. Night Circus By Erin Morgenstern ( Availible at Barnes and Noble or Amazon) 

Part 2: Favorite Places:

True Food Kitchen in Lenox Square Mall Buckhead, GA: 

After a day of shopping on Friday March 13, my mother and I decided to try out True Food Kitchen's Atlanta location. This is probably my new favorite restaurant in that area, the food is healthy and oh my gosh, it tastes even better! It is a "health" restaurant so expect lots of fresh ingredients and and food that will make you feel full but not too sickly full so that you feel like you have a food baby. You come out nice and satisfied with that "ahh" feeling. If you're looking for a good restaurant in the Atlanta area, then this is definitely one to try out.

                                                        The inside of True Food Kitchen [Photo credit: https://firefighterfitnessllc.wordpress.com/2014/09/07/dining-out-on-a-diet-our-guide-to-atlantas-healthiest-hot-spots/]

 

[Photo credit: http://a3.urbancdn.com/w/s/HO/4gNNF7UUxTrflh-640m.jpg]

Hope you guys have a fantastic week and I'll see you again on Wednesday!

Quick & Easy Recipes+Kickboxing?

Happy Friday! So seeing as how yesterday was the official first day of spring, I thought that I would pay tribute to the fact that bikini season is just around the corner with this healthy recipes post! I am also going to talk about my workout that I've been doing for that last couple of months, so this should be a fun and inspiring post to get all of us into the mood for the upcoming warmer months! Hope you enjoy!

Let's start with the first meal of the day and my personal favorite! BREAKFAST!! I used to hate eating breakfast, like literally hate eating it so much to the point where my mom used to have to sit with me and watch me eat something in the morning before school to make sure that I had something in me before I left for school. Fast forward a few years later and its my favorite meal of the day! There are so many different things you can do with foods in the morning and since it's your first meal of the day you can eat as much as you want to get some fuel in your tank (aka your belly)! Here are some of my favorite things to make in the morning.

Photo via: http://www.number-2-pencil.com/2013/03/08/green-smoothie/

Banana Berry Green Smoothie:

1 scoop of a wheat grass powder or matcha
green tea powder

1 banana ( frozen optional)

1/2 pint of water or 1/2 pint of milk of your choice

place in a blender and mix till smooth

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Photo via: http://www.vansfoods.com/user_files.vansfoods.com/file_939.jpg

Ancient Grains waffle with berries and Nutella

( the ultimate lazy breakfast )

1 gluten free ancient grains frozen waffle 

handful of berries frozen or fresh

tablespoon of Nutella spread

Toast waffle then spread on Nutella and place berries on top. Enjoy!
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Next I have two ridiculously easy lunch recipes that require almost no prep on your part.

http://www.judiorlick.com/data/photos/72_1gottlieb_chixspinachsalad_.jpg

Grilled Chicken Spinach Salad

3 or 4 grilled chicken slices ( I get mine precooked from Kroger but any store should have them)
1 1/2 cups of spinach
any other toppings that you prefer. I used chopped up tomatoes and a 1/4 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.

mix all of these together and you have a easy, healthy lunch that travels well too!
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Photo via: www.jerseygirlcooks.com

 Hummus and Sliced Veggie Wrap

1 tortilla wrap of your choice
Cut up vegetables ( I like using bell peppers, zucchini, and cucumbers)

Hummus:
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 can of chickpeas drained
1 clove of garlic chopped
l tablespoon of lemon juice
1/4 cup of tahini

Blend all of the hummus ingredients in a blender or food processor. Once blended smoothly, spread the hummus on the wrap, place vegetables on the hummus, wrap it up and enjoy!
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When dinner time rolls around I usually eat some kind of protein and a side of vegetables or a major carb like mashed potatoes or sweet potato fries ( my fave!! )

Photo via: http://www.poorgirleatswell.com/2013/08/pgew-turns-5-the-top-ten-recipes-from-year-two.html

Seared Ahi Tuna steak

For this all you need is:
1 (4 oz) tuna steak seasoned with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper
An oven preheated to 425 degrees Fahrenheit ( 218 degrees Celsius )

Cook the tuna for 6 minutes and then it's ready to go!
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Well, there you have three meals that are all so easy to make in no time at all! To continue with this theme of all things healthy, I want to share my workout that's been my obsession over the last couple of months.

Kickboxing, you might have heard some of the Victoria's Secret Angels gushing over this full body workout backstage at last year's VS fashion show. I started in January in an effort to increase my self confidence and to be more healthy in general. I used to hate going to the gym in the past but ever since I've started working with the trainers at my kickboxing studio, I have become obsessed with it and have been going 5 days a week! If you knew me before discovering kickboxing, then you'd know that I hated working out with a passion! I did spin classes to get some cardio in my life but that was the extent of me working out! I know, I was a lazy bum.

If you want me to do a separate post on what gave that extra push to try out this new lifestyle change then I''ll do one next week maybe. We'll see how it all goes. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this more health and fitness focused post and I will see you on Monday! Remember to share this if you enjoyed my posts so far and want to spread that happiness to all of your friends.