Discovering Torrance – Best Western Plus Avita Suites- Cheers to venturing more in 2020!

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It’s a new decade darlings, can you believe it?! Welcome to 2020… we’re in it and we’re also just coming off of a two week break where we didn’t know what day it was, what time it was, and if we were ever going to change out of footed pj’s. So now that we’re back into the full swing of things I want to share a few of my personal goals with you. I think it’s so wonderful when we can get real with each other and spark creativity in one another. I read a great quote the other day that had so many meanings to me, “one year closes so another can open”. 

So good right? So one of my goals this year is to travel more, to hit reset on my mind and my heart when I need it, and to not feel guilty about it. Even if it’s just jumping in my car and visiting a neighboring city, I’ve got to do it in the name of adventure. I was inspired to take more time to explore my own city when Discover Torrance reached out to me for a staycation. ‘Ummm yes please’, is what I think I responded with. 

The idea of a staycation always encourages me to relax without worrying about taking a flight out or being too far away from family and financial responsibilities. So I packed my bags and headed to the Best Western Plus Avita Suites in Torrance. Sweet Suites, it’s an award-winning-all-suite boutique hotel and was so close to everything I wanted to do during my stay I couldn’t wait to get there. So with my itinerary in hand I checked into my suite and found it very difficult to peel myself from the cozy bed to hit the town on our night one haha. 

My next article will share in detail all of my recommendations for where to go, what to do, things to eat, best desserts to find, and local favorites in Torrance. Today I want to share my experience at this beautiful hotel and share that you can book with them here! 

I wouldn’t usually describe lobbies as inviting and beautiful but let me tell you, this lobby was inviting, comfortable, and beautiful. I actually blurted out at the front desk, “how pretty is this?! I have to take some photos before I check in”. 

It was bright and festive, the staff was so welcoming… and so was this cushy bed! Every room is a suite so they each have a seating area, office area, and kitchenette. Here’s a fun walk through…more like dance through of my room! Imagine Mariah Carey’s voice singing as I dance you about the suite.

Once I settled in and unpacked… P.S. am I the only one who get SO excited about hotels that I have to unpack all of my belongings before doing anything else? AKA I hang my clothes in the closet, utilize the robe, put my keys in the safe, and place all of my toiletries out ha! I’m saving the rest of my excitement to share all of the things we did, the foods we ate, the drinks we drank, the desserts we hunted, ALL the things that we took in during our time in Torrance.

For today you get to hear me dish all about these digs and the hospitality and generosity we were shown while on our staycation at the Best Western Plus Avita Suites in Torrance. Can we just talk about how much joy complimentary breakfasts bring us all? Haha talk about breakfast, this was a full blown buffet with options like home-made waffles, a yogurt and bagel station, fresh fruit, and every cereal and topping you can imagine. 

I indulged and had a little bit of everything Cafe Avita had to offer, here’s a peek above. After all that yummy food I had to get some cardio in and build energy for the day’s events to eat our way through the town! It’s so nice when the place you’re staying at has a gym, it encourages you to stick with your goals, and it completely helps that they have weights and not just a standard treadmill…yayy options! 

It was truly so relaxing to stay at this destination for two nights and made coming back after a fun filled day of adventures and foodie times just all the more spectacular. I do hope you get a chance to visit our home away from home, Torrance which is just a town over from us. The staff, the amenities, the views, the food, all of it … I’m so grateful to have been able to relax for a few days before heading back to reality of the grind and hustle. 

This was just before the holidays and could not have come at a more necessary time. Please scroll back through and enjoy the images, I hope you loved my dancing walk through of our suite, and come back on Monday for my complete guide to Torrance <3

Staycations… you ever been on one? What is a destination close to home that you’ve been dreaming of visiting? I hope Los Angeles is on your list and I hope you check out Torrance and where I stayed while you’re here! 

I’m including links for you here because that’s love haha xx 
https://discovertorrance.com/stay/
https://discovertorrance.com/hotels/best-western-avita-suites/

 

 

 

Versatile Pieces You Won’t Need to Replace

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The famous fashion designer and creative director Karl Lagerfeld once said that “trendy is the last stage before tacky.” Fashion trends come and go, with some being more ostentatious than others. While you may be tempted to follow suit–pun intended–there’s something about certain wardrobe staples that will never go out of style. Investing in classic, versatile wardrobe pieces means having timeless items that you will always find yourself going back to, like discussed in an updated post on ‘Redefining Wardrobe Basics With Corrine’.

Here are four versatile pieces you won’t need to replace:

Pumps with a Classic Silhouette

The perfect pair of pumps can add a level of sophistication to an outfit. Chunky heels, platforms, and strappy sandals have made their ascent and descent repeatedly, but classic silhouettes that feature closed toes and skinny heels are often the benchmark for elegance. Steve Madden’s Vala range comes in 23 different colors, from the sleek, stylish black patent to a pastel-colored snakeskin. You can choose a pair (or more) to complement your existing wardrobe.

Denim Jacket

Denim pieces exude the tenets of both form and function. The best part is, denim doesn’t just mean denim blue anymore. Woman Within offers a range of denim jackets that come in different colors and designs, such as lavender, navy with white dots, and pastel blue with a floral pattern. Choosing a fun, colorful denim jacket means being able to wear it as both a statement piece and as something functional.

Black Pants

Snug-fitting pants need not be uncomfortable as there are many options that are both comfortable and flattering for all body types. They can transition seamlessly from the office to a night out. They can also be dressed up or down with layers of necklaces or a vintage graphic tee, respectively. Mango has several options for versatile black pants that will look good on every body type, and help you accentuate the parts you want to highlight–whether that be lengthening your legs or contouring your hips.

White T-Shirt

Similar to black pants, white t-shirts can be dressed up and down as one of the most basic items of clothing. Throwing on a white t-shirt is an effortless look and the more you wear it, the better it looks. The Strategist recently updated their feature on the best white t-shirts for your perusal and consideration. From V-necks, to round necks, to scoop necks––you’re bound to find the fit that works best on you that you will get the most mileage out of.

These versatile pieces can be worn any way you wish and they can even be worn all together, proving just how flexible they are. The next time you’re stumped on what to wear, pull out one of these pieces as they are sure to look good no matter how you choose to style them. Sometimes staying true to classics is one of the best ways to look polished and put-together.

So tell me, which versatile statement pieces will you be adding to your wardrobe this season? 

 

 

 

 

Delivering Smiles This Holiday Season – A Family Tradition

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This post is sponsored by Amazon, however all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Tis the season… the season of holiday celebrations, family time, and sharing traditions. So I want to share with you what this ‘season’ means to me and my family and what some of our traditions are.

This is my favorite time of year because it’s the one time that most of my family is in the same state, under the same roof. It happens only once a year, and it’s such a special time for us all to reconnect and spend time doing things that are traditional to our family. Traditions are so significant, they bridge time and distance and link generations. 

Every member of our family contributes to activating the rest of us to be philanthropic, especially this time of year, and we also all contribute to burning at least one thing for dinner… but of course. This year, it was my dad’s turn. This is my dad, Michael, he’s one of my heroes. He is a veteran, a loving husband, and humble father. This year he asked us to volunteer at the VA so most of us will be volunteering our time in person, but those unable to join us will also be participating in a different way! Amazon makes it easy to give back to organizations we collectively love and support. This way, we’re all in it together.

Our family realizes that a lot of families go without many of the things we take for granted this time of year and aren’t able to give back in this way, so it’s a privilege for us to come together and give back – and it brings us closer as a result. We also realize that we’re connecting to an entire community of families that give back with Amazon this holiday season.

Want in on all the feel good? Well, there are three really easy ways to do it, my personal favorite being through AmazonSmile Charity Lists. You can browse by cause or search for an organization’s needs and the items you purchase are donated and delivered directly to the charity. I love this method because it takes the guessing out of it for us, we simply see what they need and we’re able to purchase those items for them directly.  

You can also donate a portion of the purchase price of your eligible products on Amazon to the charity of your choice with AmazonSmile by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com –  and if you have an Alexa-enabled device, you can donate with Alexa to a registered charity simply by saying “Alexa, I want to make a donation.” Choices like this really do make it rewarding to give back when and where you’re able.  

The organization near and dear to us is the Best Friends Animal Society. We chose to purchase items for them, shopping from their list as they are a part of the AmazonSmile Charity List. As a home that has adopted two fur babies, BFAS has a mission that resonates so closely with our family. Their mission statement is, “Best friends – save them all.” They believe that just because cats and dogs don’t have a safe place to call home doesn’t mean they should be euthanized. They work closely with volunteers, shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations to educate communities and encourage them to adopt, donate, spread the word, and volunteer to help reach their goals. 

Philanthropy practiced this way allows all members of our family to be connected, and I hope you join us in this tradition! Encourage your family members to contribute to your communities in person and virtually. Amazon makes it so easy to give back to charities you love. Start a new tradition that’s timeless and that connects your family the way it does ours, and please let me know which organizations you’ll be #DeliveringSmiles to so we can check them out! 

Happy holidays from me and mine to you and yours <3

 

 

 

Summer Recipes – Crowd Pleasers

by with One Comment entertainmentholidayshostingrecipessaturday sipspecial occassionsspiritswine not wednesday

Every city in the world may not be as hot as Los Angeles is right now but man oh man, have we been on a heat wave! Since you’re bound to go through a Summer season of your own I wanted to share with you my favorite summer recipes that are definite crowd pleasers.

So for your next girls day, catch up brunch, bbq, or BYOB- I’ve got you! These will take you no time at all and you probably already have the ingredients to get cookin’. Here’s a Summer ‘salad’ and two of the yummiest and easiest cocktails.

Disclaimer: if you know me than you already know this ‘salad’ is not an actual traditional leafy green ‘salad’. It’s one of my go-to summer salads though and one of my best girlfriends introduced me to it!

Lentil Salad- this is a cold salad 

  1. one package of cooked lentils from Trader Joe’s
  2. one whole bruschetta tub- drained of juices
  3. chopped red onion and cucumbers
  4. chopped kale would be yummy here too with some sprinkles of vinaigrette but we were out
  5. salt & pepper
  • mix all together, top with some fresh basil, enjoy with home made tortilla chips (like we did) or by itself, or even over a real traditional leafy salad 😉


Summer Spritzer – so refreshing! 

  1. your favorite rose´ wine
  2. sparkling water (I used watermelon because yummm)
  3. whatever fresh fruit you like
  • fill your glass 2/3 of the way with the wine and top with bubbly water and fruit


Homemade espresso martini frappe  – slushy and perfect for hot days when all you wanna do is crunch on ice

  1. cold brew, iced coffee concentrate, or espresso shot
  2. whatever milk you like, I used almond coconut for creaminess
  3. 4-5 ice cubes
  4. drizzle of maple syrup
  5. Kahlua – I used a whole shot just because
  • combine coffee, milk, ice, and maple syrup into a blender. Top with Kahlua and stir, garnish with espresso beans. ENJOY!

P.S. did you know today is National Tequila Day?! One of my favorite adult beverages has a whole day! For my fellow wine moms/people out there, this is for you. I’m concocting an entire recipe list for tequila don’t you worry! 

 

 

 

 

 

My Mother’s Day

by with No Comment familyholidaystravel

When Joe and Corrine asked me what I wanted to do for Mother’s Day I told them I wanted to just chill at home and do whatever they wanted to do. I don’t know why I do this thing, but whenever it’s supposed to be a day about me (i.e. birthdays and holidays) I freeze up and want to do whatever everyone else wants to do. I love attention, don’t get me wrong … it’s the decision making part that I don’t love!

So instead of staying home and working for the day like I’d suggested *eye roll, umm haalllooo we do this every day*, they whisked me away on a lil road trip to Ventura where we hit the beach, had some yummy brunch, walked around town, and made new memories together <3

Corrine will forever be my baby. We hold hands, she sits on my lap, and she lets me snuggle her in public. Joe loves our bond and gives us our space and then joins in on the love fest for family hugs <3

I hope all mamas feel loved and celebrated. Those like me who get to hold their babies, those with angel babies, those who have strained relationships, those who long to be mamas, those who’ve lost their mama, pet mamas … you’re all so special.

How did you spend your day yesterday? Happy Mother’s Day from me to you

 

 

 

 

Coconut donuts!

Valentine’s Day Ideas When You Have NO Idea!

by with No Comment bakingDIYholidayslifestylespecial occassionsValentine's Day

I hope today, right now in this moment, is not the first time you’re remembering that it’s Valentine’s day. I have mixed emotions about this holiday honestly – I’m a romantic at heart, but I also think every day should be special right?! I’ll save my love rant for another day, for now, if right now you’re scrambling to find a gas station teddy bear and some chocolates that will pass for the “I totally had this planned out” impression well here’s your guide to ‘fakin’ it ’til ya make it’….to the mall!

Valentine’s day gift ideas for when you have NO idea!

So it’s crunch time…. you forgot the thoughtful gift – you’ve been busy! You skipped out on making breakfast in bed to rush out to get a gift that’s you think will be more personal in gesture than making that breakfast in bed idea. Well there are a few things you can do to make it seem as though you totally had today in the bag! Also, this is for men and women, all of the ideas listed below will work whether it be for your boyfriend, girlfriend, fiance, husband, wife, child, pet goat…..all of them:

  1. Breakfast in bed – before you rush out the door to frantically find a teddy bear that’s larger than life, why don’t you just cook their favorite breakfast meal and serve it to them in bed? This will work every time, it’s so thoughtful! AND it’s budget friendly, just use what you have already in your fridge
  2. Hand picked flowers – great for men and for women, hand picked flowers are the cutest gesture, it’s sweet and Earth friendly and you can find them anywhere in your front yard… or a neighbor’s…PLUS they’re FREE! Unless your neighbor comes after you with the garden hose
  3. Love notes – love notes are great because they’re building blocks! Leave them around the house, in the bathroom (extra points for notes left in heart shapes and smiley faces), on your loved one’s car, all with personalized messages to show them that you care, that you listen, and best part…it buys you time. To either make a reservation or go out and get their favorite icecream
  4. Dinner cooked by a real life chef – yep that real life chef is YOU bud! Nothin’ says ‘”I love you”, more than a home cooked meal made with love. And bacon. Besides, all the restaurants will be over crowded and over priced. Save yourself the cold sweats of having to call around to make a last minute reservation and set the dining table for two
  5. A love basket – this is my all time favorite go-to gift! You get a basket, or a bucket, or a shoe box, whatever – you fill it with their favorite items, trinkets, snacks, and a couple of tickets to the movies and BAM, YOU are the most thoughtful gift giver evaarrrrr!

Now I’m not saying these gifts will blow them out of the water with surprise and romance, but it will make your gift more interesting, and personal to your relationship, AND it’s not super expensive or super over the top ‘buy a star and name it after them’ status. Those are for movies like “The Notebook”.

If all else fails, make them some ‘love donuts’. Picture below along with the recipe. It’s gluten free because… love. And remember, “if you’re a bird I’m a bird”.

coconut donuts
xoxo- Jess

Gluten free donut recipe for my love, Corrine.

What you’ll need: (yields 12 donuts)
For the Donuts:
1/2 cup GF flour or coconut flour
6 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2/3 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

– Mix wet ingredients together and then stir in sifted dry ingredients, bake in a donut mold for 15 minutes at 350 degrees

For the Chocolate Glaze:
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons hot water

– Mix ingredients all together in a bowl and then glaze over the donuts once they’re cooled, top with sprinkles and kisses and you’re all done! Enjoy!
Coconut Donuts!

A GIRL’S GUIDE TO GALENTINE’S DAY!

by with No Comment bakingDIYfoodholidayshostingparty planningValentine's Day

Love it or leave it Valentine’s Day is this Sunday and there’s been a flood of holiday themed treats and DIY posts. Who am I to stop the momentum? We’re celebrating Galentine’s Day today so grab your favorite gal pals, a bubbly drink, and lets start baking!

Today’s menu includes frosted cinna-hearts, pita heart-wiches, and a dessert skewer … not in the shape of a heart. See, we’re themed! Hearts everywhere!

For your frosted hearts you’ll need one package of cinnamon rolls and some sprinkles!


Unravel the cinnamon bun and split it into two halves and then shape the two into a heart!


Bake per the directions on the packaging and then drizzle the frosting over top and sprinkle with ALL the sprinkles!


These pita heart-wiches are super easy and super yummy! Just take 2 pitas and layer them up with turkey, cheese, cucumber, or whatever your favorite fillings are. Then cut them up and enjoy! They’re especially enjoyable when you use a heart shaped cookie cutter!


I sliced a few of these in half which made them look like broken hearts, which still tasted delicious AND fit the theme of my next post ‘the achy-breaky Valentine’.


The macaroons  were from Trader Joe’s and after you thaw them out it’s as if you picked them up fresh from the bakery! Salted caramel is my favorite!

For the dessert skewers just take a paper straw (I got these from the dollar store) and stack your favorite pastries, alternating between them. I chose snickerdoodles and blueberry muffins! Almond milk and another straw for sipping and we were set!

That red glowing drink you see in the background is cherry-cranberry juice spiked with our favorite vodka!


I hope this inspires you to enjoy a holiday with your friends, Valentine’s day ins’t just for lovers! It’s a day to celebrate all the loves! If you really don’t feel like celebrating and you just hate the holiday all together, then I have a post for you on Sunday (yes ON Valentine’s Day, see what I did there) with menu items like Bleeding Heart Brownies and Sour Cherry Puckers, so stay tuned for that!

Here is my most recent video, our first installment of Pinterest DIY-Not! I made Melt My Marshmallow treats and Cherry Whiskey Smashes! They were just as delicious and they sound!

Do you have any plans for Valentine’s Day? A Galentine’s day celebration perhaps? Share with me your plans so we can all live vicariously through one another and P.S. if you aren’t Subscribed to me on YouTube please do, I post videos twice a week! See, so much sharing! xx

Everything Nice With Banhez

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I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you sip your drink as you walk away… that’s the saying right? Awww this is the final episode in our holiday cocktail series with Banhez Mezcal and I saved the best for last. AKA I love a spicy sip and this is so adequately named Everything Nice… with sugar and SPICE! A lil kick of heat at the tip of your tongue as you enjoy this drink, it’s my favorite.

The Everything Nice!

1.5 oz charred poblano-infused Banhez Ensemble*

1 oz fresh pineapple juice (fresh juice is preferred)

1/4 oz lime juice

1/4 oz agave

Pinch of salt

*Charred Poblano-infused Banhez:

Use 1 poblano per every 1.5 cups of Banhez.

Warm a pan or cast iron skillet to medium-low heat and place the poblano pepper in, turning every few minutes until the skin of the pepper is charred and cracked in places. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Finely chop the poblano- remove the seeds and ribs if you don’t want it too spicy, leave them in if you like the heat like I do. Make sure to wash your hands after handling the peppers, or opt for gloves… and don’t touch your eyes. I learned the hard way.  

Place the diced pepper + 1.5 cup of Banhez in a mason jar, seal, and shake the ingredients to incorporate. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, checking periodically to make sure the level of spice is to your liking. Strain out the solids through a sieve. This will hold indefinitely and can be stored in your pantry in a sealed jar.

Banhez pro tip: if poblanos aren’t an option in their market, any pepper works! Jalapeños are great, as are green bell peppers. 

Lastly, to build the drink: Combine all ingredients together in a shaker tin, shake with ice for around 20 seconds, or until the outside of the tins are very cold. Double strain liquid out of tin into a rocks glass with ice in it. Garnish and enjoy. Here’s a video of me making the drink live with you!

A lil spice and a lot nice, this cocktail is a crowd pleaser for sure! Make it for your holiday gathering this weekend and if you’d prefer more heat, allow the peppers to brew longer before straining it into a mason jar!

Try all three of these cocktails and let me know how you love them and which one is your favorite! Don’t forget to enter my giveaway, I can’t wait for one of you to receive this awesomeness. You’ll get a 1L of Banhez Mezcal and this entire cocktail creating kit as seen here!

Giveaway Entry Rules:

– must be 21+ years old to enter
– winner will be selected at random
– enter as many times as you like, the more you enter, the more chances you have to win!
– an ‘entry’ is a comment on all 3 Banhez Mezcal cocktail articles here on the blog, here’s part 1 and part 2! Be sure to enter on ALL 3 blog articles!
– stumped on what comment to leave? Tell me a fun fact about yourself or what your plans are for the holidays! I love learning more about you guys!
– and drink responsibly as always please and thank you <3
, love Mama Lizama

Be sure to follow Banhez for exciting things happening in 2019 here’s their links: BANHEZ IG , BANHEZ FB, and you can purchase a bottle of Banhez Mezcal for yourself and as a gift HERE! <3 

I want to give Banhez a big huge thank you for sponsoring this giveaway and to you for your support always <3 I hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday and I’ll see you in the new year! Happy holidays from my family to yours, 2019 here we come!

 

 

 

Santa’s Helper Pt2 With Banhez Mezcal Epi 2 GIVEAWAY

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Happy Friday!!! Today I’m back with another installment of our holiday cocktail series featuring my favorite smokey beverage, Banhez Mezcal! This is Santa’s Helper Pt 2, the follow up to Episode 1 and in this recipe we sweeten with agave instead of our homemade cranberry syrup and I love the addition of cranberry bitters! So if you’re pressed for time and need to whip together something fancy and fast, this is for you!

Don’t forget I’m hosting an exciting GIVEAWAY with Banhez which includes the entire cocktail creating kit you see in this video! PLUS a 1L bottle of Banhez Mezcal so now you can make these cocktails at home! All you have to do to enter is comment on this post and the other two episodes by Monday and I’ll pick the winner next week! To purchase a bottle of Banhez for yourself and a friend (ahem this makes the perfect gift) I’ll link you HERE!

Santa’s Helper #2

2 oz Banhez Ensemble

1/4 oz agave

2 dashes Fee Brother’s Old Fashioned Bitters

2-4 dashes Fee Brother’s Cranberry Bitters (modify for how much of that cranberry flavor you want)

Stir in Japanese stirring glass (or pint glass) with a long spoon until you can easily move the spoon through the ice. Strain into a rocks glass with ice, garnish with orange zest and a rosemary sprig.

Banhez Pro Tip: this recipe is easy to batch but given how spirit-forward it is, it can lose flavor the longer it sits in ice, so keep that in mind 😉 

Tada! It’s sweet and tangy, light yet flavorful, and the smokiness of the Banhez Mezcal won’t go unnoticed! This is one of my favorites because of how quickly you can stir together the ingredients given most of them are already in your pantry!

Give this a try and let me know what you think, I know you’re gonna want to batch this! P.S. did you hear that I’m hosting a giveaway featuring this beautiful set below?! Enter in the comments, good luck <3

Giveaway Entry Rules:
– must be 21+ years old to enter
– winner will be selected at random
– enter as many times as you like, the more you enter, the more chances you have to win!
– an ‘entry’ is a comment on all 3 of my Banhez Mezcal cocktail recipes that’s here on my blog. Here’s Epi 1 and Epi 3 for you, be sure to comment on all 3 articles and good luck!
– stumped on what comment to leave? Tell me a fun fact about yourself or what your plans are for the holidays!
– and drink responsibly always please and thank you <3
, love Mama Lizama

Interested in learning more about Banhez? I’ve linked you here: BANHEZ IG: @banhezmezcalartesanal, BANHEZ FB: https://www.facebook.com/banhezmezcalartesanal