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.

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.

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.

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.

My Favorite Things...

You know when you start feeling all Christmas-y inside and you start hearing all those holiday songs in your head? Well, that is how I'm feeling at the moment and so I thought I would share some of my favorite things for this holiday season and I call it," My Favorite Things: Holiday Edition".

So here it goes: 

1. Holiday scented candles

I have just about burnt through the entire Spiced Hot Toddy and let me tell you; I honestly think I'm in love with this candle! It smells just like what I think Christmas would smell like if it were transformed into a smell. I also love the other two Bath and Body Works candles pictured but Spiced Hot Toddy is definitely my new favorite for Christmas 2014! 

2. Face Oils

I have used the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate for a few months now and my skin has been really liking it! I've noticed that it is a lot more clear, even textured and much more hydrated. It's just a wonder product for my skin especially in these colder months.

3. Pampering Shower Products

The Ro's Argan Body Conditioner and the Turkish Delight Shower Smoothie are two products that I keep coming back to for the winter months, more specifically the holiday season as my skin needs to look extra good for all the holiday parties and just for hydration's sake. These two products compliment each other beautifully and I always know it's Christmas time when my bathroom starts to smell like Lush's Rose Jam scent. 

4.Lush Baths

Lush bath bombs, melts and bubble bars are the things that I associate the holiday season with the most, as I find myself taking more baths this time a year compared to the rest of the year. Showers are just more efficient at cleaning oneself when one is in a hurry; but there is nothing I love more than a bath chocked full of beautifully smelling Lush bath products! 

5. Herbal teas

I love a good cup of tea anytime of the year but there's something about drinking a nice big cup of a Christmas-y flavored herbal tea that just brings me into the holiday spirit faster than anything else can. 

And there you have it; those are some of My Favorite Things: Holiday Edition. There will be a video where I go further in depth on more of my favorite holiday things up on my channel really soon. Follow my Twitter( @tinabieri) and my Instagram( @tinabieri) to keep an out out and find out more! 

Xx

Tina B.