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.

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!

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 

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.

My Spring Must Haves

Hey guys! With spring quickly arriving, I thought that today's post would be just the thing to help us get into the mood for some spring weather. As if we needed another excuse to get out of this miserable weather. Anyway, here are some things I look for in my spring wardrobe!

My Spring Must Haves:

1.     A good neutral colored light/medium weight jacket( i.e. trench coat.) This will keep you warm if the weather turns from sunny and 65 degrees Fahrenheit to rainy and 38 degrees F. Wearing a light outer layer like this will add an extra something to your outfit and can pull together almost any look whether your wearing a casual day dress or jeans and a t- shirt.

2.     Colorful Jumper/ Romper/Playsuit: I don’t know about you but after wearing what feels like every dark neutral color under the sun, I start to crave little pops of bright colors in my wardrobe. That is where a brightly colored jumper comes in to play. These two-in-ones are literally my favorite things to wear in the spring. They come in most spring type colors and are an instant outfit that makes it look like you actually tried to look put together. My favorite ones are floral printed ones and jumpers with different colored top and bottoms, so it looks like you’re wearing a separate top and bottoms when really it’s all one piece! GENIUS IDEA!

3.     A small but roomy crossbody bag: A couple of years ago I was a big bag kind of girl. The bigger the bag the better it was, that was my way of thinking back then. Around September of last year I bought my first Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC in the taupe color with the silver chain and that was what made me a small crossbody girl. They come in so many different colors, they are available at all different price points and they offer you so much freedom. You can put all of your things (makeup, phone, keys, wallet etc.) in your bag and not have to worry about dropping anything out of your bag. Another plus is that you can be wearing a “meh” outfit but wearing this kind of bag will instantly make it look un-intentionally cool girl chic.

4.     Statement Sunglasses: Last spring I was looking for the perfect pair of sunglasses that were classic and understated. I found them in the black Ray-Ban Wayfarers, unfortunately I forgot them in the restroom at Target a few months after I bought them. Fast forward to January of this year and I decided to embrace the concept of wearing sunglasses that stand out.  That’s when I bought my Wildfox “ Club Fox Deluxe” 54 mm sunglasses. If you are a fan of wearing sunglasses that make a statement, Wildfox make great ones! Plus spring and summer is the time to really make a statement with your accessories.

5.     Lipgloss/Lipstick Hybrid: If you’ve been keeping up with all the new launches that different brands have been putting out lately, you’ll know that lip products that have the moisturizing benefits of a gloss but the pigmentation of a lipstick are one of the more popular releases from late last year through this year’s spring makeup collections. My favorite is the Chanel Rouge Allure color and shine lip gloss in the colors pirate and sensible. The first is a true red color and the second is a peachy pink color that is good for everyday use.

6.     Slip on shoes: White, black , leopard print, it does not matter. Pick whichever color you like. These are the shoes that replace my black chelsea boots which I wear nearly every day in the fall/winter seasons. Comfortable, versatile and stylish. What more could you ask for from a pair of shoes?

7.     Lightweight Foundation with SPF: I usually stick with a bit of concealer on any redness or blemishes but if I feel like putting on foundation, I usually stick with one like Chanel’s Vitalumiére aqua. Hands down my favorite one for the warmer months.

8.     Cotton tank tops: These are great for layering under all kinds of jackets, blazers, and cardigans. You can wear them with jeans and sneakers or with cute lacey shorts and heels to dress them up. Definitely a must have as the weather warms up.

What are some of your must haves for spring? Comment down below and share this link if you enjoyed it!