Aura Photography – What Your Colors Say About You

by with One Comment adventureartinspirationlifestylewellness

I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself the most spiritual person. I mean, for the life of me I can’t sit still during yoga, I’ve tried and failed many times at meditation, and I can’t tell when any planet is in retrograde, ever. Also, I know that I’m an Aries but I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, except that I’m spontaneous and apparently talk too much lolz true.

My daughter Corrine however, is so in tune with herself and her energy and all the things I find mysterious that it honestly inspires me to be all in tune too. Even if I don’t know what the hell that looks like or what I’m doing. Lucky for me though she keeps me all cool and informed by sharing with me the things that bring her balance, and they in turn help me to feel more balanced also. After all, don’t we just want to find the balance in life? One glass of wine, one lunge, repeat. Nailed it.

So a few days ago Corrine came over and sat next to me while I was figuring out what stickers I wanted to use in my planner (yes this is her life y’all) and told me that Junior High was holding aura photography sessions and that we should do it together. Okay, first I thought we’d be going to a school in the valley and then I thought, “well what do I wear to have my aura photographed”? Real priorities over here.

Come to find out, Junior High is actually a really awesome space in Hollywood that communally promotes art and education. And really, any place that has any Bob Ross anything, I fully support. Also, it didn’t matter what we wore for the aura photography because it had nothing to do with our clothes and everything to do with what was going on internally.

This is a photograph of Corrine and my combined energies- the colors of our auras. How freaking cool is that?! So Halo Auragraphic are the wonderful folks that came out and set up their rad looking space tent to photograph people for the day. After a long exposure (about 5-8 seconds), no blinking, and a quick minute of developing, we had this gem right here.

So our combined energies look like this: indigo, blue, crystal, lavender, and magenta. They explain to you what this all means but we were also given an auragraphic color wheel, if you will, and the corresponding meanings to those colors were this:

Indigo- wise, intuitive, belief in higher ideals + principles, peaceful, creative, non judgmental, spiritually gifted (that’s the Corriney part), sensitive, enlightened consciousness
Blue- loving, nurturing, compassionate, sensitive, forgiving, loyal, spiritual, emotional depth, teaching, caretakers of people + the planet
Crystal- gifted healer, highly spiritual, quiet, sensitive, one with nature, adaptable, highly intuitive, loves simplicity, meditative, calming
Lavender- enchanting, daydreamer, fragile, sensitive, imaginative, creative, intelligent, gentle, intuitive, loves to change directions
Magenta- non-conformist, creative, intelligent, free spirited, eccentric, original, likes to be the center of attention (M E), strong willed, unique, innovative

Freaking. Cool! After having experienced this and being told what your energy is, I swear I was like yup that’s totally me and that’s absolutely Corrine! It was so fun to see what our energies, our auras looked like in color. It was even more fun to do it with Corrine, my flower child, my center, because she’s my true balance tbh.

Whatever your beliefs and practices are though, I personally think you’d love having your aura photographed. Check Halo Auragraphic out to see where they’ll be poppin up next and go get in on that. I’m interested to see what colors you are!

Have you ever heard of aura photography? Are you a spiritual like Corrine or do you kind of just go with the flow like me? 

 

 

 

 

High-Protein Cakes That Taste Amazing!

by with One Comment bakingfitnessfoodhealthreviewswellness

Cake that’s good for your cakes! Hey, when you were born with a pancake booty you take all the help you can get, and your girl over here is carbing up to build these cakes. Get excited because I’ve FINALLY found a recipe for cake that tastes amazing and doesn’t taste like protein powder! A cake mix that is just like the full sugar, full fat, full gluttonous cake without the extra calories . . . and without tasting like fake sugar. You know what I mean!

Lil Buff Protein Cakes is a cake mix I found *thank you Instagram* and have incorporated into my weekly meal prep. Their mix is gluten free, vegan friendly, microwaveable, and has a whopping 26+ grams of protein y’all! Also, if you’re a cookie lover you’ll be happy to know that their mixes can also be prepared into cookie form! And with flavors like Cocoa-Crave, Fit-fetti (featured here), and Lemon-Berry Squeeze you’re gonna wanna go ahead and buy a few pouches of each, just trust. I purchased some Fit-fetti and limited edition Red Velv-Fit and I can’t get enough. Here’s how I made these high-protein cakes, and did I mention that they taste amazing?!

I made this particular pouch of Fit-fetti into heart shaped cupcakes and baked them with applesauce and a smashed nana. That means these babies are vegan, gluten free, and completely guilt-free. Even if I did devour 3 of them while they were still warm, frosting melting off of ’em and all. Y O L O

The magical thing about this recipe is that it actually tastes like funfetti cake out of the box because they’re fluffy like the one out of the box. Oh boxed cake with your fluff. It’s our eternal desire to chase that fluff, except that the fluff is full of ingredients that you don’t need. And though delicious, it also makes my sensitive belly fluff, because bloat.

 

 

 

 

Bonus points for these rainbow sprinkles that come included along with a recipe for frosting! An alternative frosting that I can down with because it still contains key ingredients like cream cheese and vanilla pudding haha

Perfect for your pre-workout and delicious as your post-workout, if you haven’t given Lil Buff Protein a try, do it! They’re delicious, healthy, packed with protein, and they’ll grow your gains.

Have you tried protein oats, protein pancakes, or protein cake like I’ve mentioned here? What do your taste buds tell you? Be honest, you can tell me.

 

 

My natural and cruelty-free beauty routine!

by with 4 Comments get the lookhealthmommy diariesreviewsskin carewellness

It started off slowly with me switching over to a natural deodorant at first. But now I’ve fully submerged myself – and my entire family – into the world of au natural! I’ve got paraben free, sulfate free, cruelty free products all around my bathroom, and even Joe now (reluctantly) wears all natural deodorant.

I say reluctant because he gave me an eye roll when I threw out the 4 Costco antiperspirants he purchased last month but I mean, health. Also, his mom is a breast cancer survivor, which to me means everyone in our entire merged family should jump on this bandwagon. It’s really hard to find ‘natural’ products that ACTUALLY work so today I’m sharing with you my tried, tested, and approved list of skincare, body care, and hair care products that I currently have on repeat this summer. Here’s my natural and cruelty-free beauty routine and I can’t be held responsible when you too become obsessed.

I dumped out my skincare dufffffel and here goes:

OSEA – a natural, vegan, organic, non-toxic, family owned brand that’s been giving me life since I first discovered their Atmosphere Protection Cream. It protects your skin from pollution, the weather, and sets your face up for success. Yes you read that right, welcome to the new power suit, yo face. Here’s the breakdown babes: cleanse, tone, refresh, protect. Their Ocean Cleanser is super gentle, it’s an organic seaweed gel and it exfoliates and hydrates your skin all at once. When you’re done un-dulling your skin, hit it with a few spritzes of the Sea Vitamin Boost! It’s rich in antioxidants, locks in moisture, and is perfect to tote around for mid-day pick me ups. My absolute favorites especially during this warmer weather!

Mario Badescu – cleansing lotion that smells like cucumbers, I love swabbing this over my face with a cotton round after I’ve washed my face. It removes any residue makeup and isn’t drying at all.

Color Lover – primer 11 is a leave-in treatment that is free of sulfates and parabens, it strengthens and moisturizes your hair. If you’re like me and you color and curl all the time, you’ll love this and it smells great.

PUR – hydrafluid I love for these warmer months because it’s a sheer, lightweight tinted moisturizer that is buildable enough that you don’t have to wear another foundation over it. It’s for my more dry skinned readers out there as it’s a bit oily and leaves your skin looking dewy and fresh.

Nip Fab – hydrate hyaluronic acid shot can be combined with any moisturizer to to give you an extra boost of hydration. I add one drop to my 2 pumps of OSEA atmosphere protection cream each morning and my skin looks low 20’s and not mid 30’s lol

Native – all natural aluminum free deodorant! Back at it again with this product because I won’t stop until you’ve all converted! We’re supposed to sweat, we’re human baby. This one featured is their Grapefruit and Bergamont scented deodorant and I almoooost love it even MORE than the coconut vanilla . . . almost 😉 It’s so good!

And all things Coola – I’m a loyal daily consumer of these 3 products right here. The usual suspects, they’re mineral based, they don’t feel thick, greasy, or heavy, and they hydrate and protect your face and body. Not to mention, they smell like a tropical getaway. Do ittt, ahem GUAVA MANGO, you won’t regret anything from this line. It’s my final line of defense in my daily beauty routine, right before I apply primer and foundation. I’ll never go back to using store bought SPF ever.ever.never.again.


There you have it friends! My updated beauty routine! I’d never suggest a product to you that I myself don’t use and trust, so I hope you give some of these a try and let me know what you think!

Are there any all natural products that you’re currently obsessing over?

 

 

MUST HAVE SUMMER HAIR AND SKINCARE PRODUCTS!

by with No Comment adventurebeautyfestivalsleisurereviewsskin caretravelwellness

With all of the pool side bronzing you’ll be doing, the ocean dips you’ll be taking, and the festivals you’ll be prancing around, today I’m sharing with you my must have summer hair and skincare products!

After a week in Palm Springs for my friend Miya’s annual birthday tradition at the Avalon Hotel and Bungalows, I really know what it feels like to crave hydration and replenishment. It was 110 degrees on our first pool side bronzing day ONE HUNDRED AND TEN DEGREES lol. One of the most relaxing and beautiful places to visit, here’s what I toted along with me so that I would remain dewy and moisturized.

  • suncare protection – Coola is hands down one of my all time favorite sunscreens, for both my face and my body. It’s a mineral sun protectant and smells like damn heaven
  • sweat and odor protection – I don’t know about you but even poolside I still swipe some odor protection under my arms because, 110 degree weather and bronzing . . . and sweating. I’ve raved about Native before but if you haven’t jumped on the natural deoderant band wagon, their Coconut Vanilla scent will make you take the leap, trust
  • lip moisture – lets not forget about our pouts while we’re out there surfing the waves and sipping down those pina coladas. This Hanalei lip treatment is so rich and I love the light vanilla smell it has. It also doubles as a lip gloss because it’s so moisturizing that your lips will shine baby
  • body butter – this Island Elixir by Farm House Fresh Organics is a shea body butter that smells like an island and feels like a vat of pure luxury
  • hair leave in and smell goods – this Sea Salt spray by my girls over at Tone It Up is making a come back with this post becuase it’s THAT versitile. Create to foster body and movement in your hair, I also use it as a leave in for the pool/beach because it’s also hydrating to my hair. And if you haven’t guessed already, yup it smells just like a coconut
  • hair leave in and wash outs – after a long day under the sun I condition my hair with this coconut oil deep conditioning protein pack. About once a week I’ll leave this treatment in my hair while I shave my legs in the shower and then rinse it out for the softest hair you’ve ever seen. Keepin’ that coconut theme going, this too smells like the ripest coconut in the middle of an island

I can’t get enough of these summer time hair and skincare products so I hope you try them out and let me know what you think. Also, I hope you like COCONUT! haha You can take the girl off the island but you can’t take the island out of the girl.

What are your favorite summer time hair and skincare products?! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOP 3 BEST NATURAL DEODORANTS

by with One Comment beautyget the lookhealthreviewsskin carewellness

A few weeks ago I walked into Corrine’s room to find her rubbing some weird cream underneath her armpits to which I gave her a questionable look. “Don’t look at me like that mom, you’re the one putting aluminum into your body”. There it is everybody, my 19 year old daughter telling ME how I’m the one who should be offended by what I’m putting into my body. Well well, here we are present time and here I am with my top 3 ALL NATURAL DEODORANTS! Whodathunkit?!

It’s a popular movement that I’ve just thrown myself into, this idea of all natural skincare, body care, and hair care products. Not gonna lie, for the first week or so I was highly skeptical because as humans we have odor, and if you think you don’t I’m here to tell you that you do.

Coming in at the #1 spot is Native’s all natural deodorant in Coconut Vanilla. They had me at coconut, but also the bar applicator makes for an easier transition for this past ‘aluminum wearing antiperspirant doting’ consumer. It kept me dry, non funky, smells delicious, and wasn’t gritty. I took this to bootcamp with me, the ultimate test, and left feeling fresh and confident.

Primally Pure’s lavender tube is also chemical free, smells like lavender fields, and keeps odor at bay. It took the number 2 spot because the baking soda in the stick was a bit hit or miss when it came to irritating my sensitive under arm area. Other than that I loved the smell and it kept me just as dry as Native’s.

And last but definitely not least on this list is Schmidt’s Lavender Sage pot. I only ranked this as my third choice because I had to pick up the crumbles and maneuver them around my pits until the granules had melted and then got absorbed by my skin. Not the cutest thing to do every morning, but just as effective as the other two. It smelled divine, kept any odors away, I remained dry, and there was no chafing or irritation.

If you haven’t tried an all natural deodorant I HIGHLY recommend these brands (and these scents!), so so so good! I mean, we’re human, we’re SUPPOSED to sweat, but that doesn’t mean we have to stink 😉 I’m all about putting better ingredients into my food, and natural products onto my body these days and I couldn’t be happier to make the switch.

Have you ever tried a natural deodorant before? Which brand/ scent was your favorite? 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW TO BEAT THE SUMMER BREAK BOREDOM!

by with No Comment adventureartback to schoolfamilywellness

Have you ever felt pressure to have plans made for your time off, that ‘breaks’ during the year feel more like time on and less like time off? First it was Spring break, now we have Summer break approaching, and if you have little ones at home I almost feel like it’s easier for you to occupy your time. With my little one in college she isn’t little any more, so now Summer breaks just feel like really long weekends! ha

So today I’ve compiled my favorite things to do to beat the summer break boredom! Lets face it, you’ve probably already hiked that hike 893 times and visited that secret getaway spot enough times to know that it isn’t secret any more.

  1. Explore more – instead of googling the best places to visit, just pull up Groupon or Living Social and explore their many travel and ‘things to do’ tabs! You’ll be surprised by how spontaneous you are to go indoor sky diving on a Tuesday 😉
  2. Blaze new trails– try playing “hike roulette”, or ‘blind picnic picking’ which require only an app on your phone and a packed lunch! The way we do it is we pull up Yelp on our phones, we pick an area we want to explore and a number! Whatever number of whatever hiking trail or park corresponds with one another, we go for it! Love or hate it, you’ll be outside and enjoying new views! *Pro-tip: Geocache while you’re at it, just don’t forget to bring an item you can leave behind
  3. Take some you time – it’s totally okay to do nothing with your time off and reinvest in your own health, especially your mental health, after all it IS your time off. Take some time to be still in the morning, light some incense, do some yoga, and before you know it your routing will not only refill your personal well, but it’ll prepare you for that long awaited yoga retreat!
  4. Vacation, staycation, shmaycation – oldie but goodie, getaways are the quickest ways to put a long lasting smile on your face. You’ll reflect on what the sand felt like and what the air smelled like wherever you went to just get away. You’ll remember what your favorite meal of the trip was and how it brought you and your family closer, and you closer to feeling more positive and less weighed down by the every day mook. Shmaycation … I’m all for it
  5. Feed your inner kid – literally and figuratively! If that means pizza and movie night, paint night at home or at your favorite art shop, popcorn making and Jenga, rolling down a hill and then jumping into a strangers pool (don’t get arrested I can’t bail you out), or building a fort in your living room equipped with flashlights and finger foods, DO IT! Do all of it! It’s incredible how freeing and FREE it is to just be silly, and laugh, and be you

Summer break is only a few weeks away, what do you have planned to beat the summer boredom blues?!

 

 

 

 

5 WAYS TO SPRING CLEAN YOUR LIFE!

by with No Comment healthhome decorinspirationlifestylepersonalwellness

Spring has S P R U N G! Have you heard?! Everyone I talk to is all buzzing about Spring time, the change in season, the change in weather, and the change they’re feeling internally. What is it about a new season that makes us feel the need to turn a new leaf? Pun intended.

So June 20th will mark mid Spring- like we’ll officially be in the middle of the season! I said June… can you believe we’re talking about JUNE?! So I thought instead of freaking out over how FAST this year is flying by, I’d chill out and share with you the top 5 ways to spring clean your life. Hey, if I have to deal with the crazy so do you 😉


FRESH FLOWERS – this is a good one. Not even gonna lie, spending the $3 at Trader Joe’s for some fresh flowers is totally worth having fresh flowers every week. Can’t put a price on attitude amirite? There’s something about the presence of flowers (like real ones) that makes a difference in your space. The color, the movement, the smell. Yes, stop and smell your flowers. Did I mention they’re only $3!

CANDLES – this is a real one. All the candles, light them. Every time you light a candle a Fragile Rock finds its way home … or something like that but it works. Use it for meditation. And to rid your space of that bad bad ju ju.

MEDITATION – this is a big one. Which moves me into the next tip which is to actually meditate. I personally don’t know how to be still and appreciate it so I’m still working on it. But even if it means you close your eyes for 10 mins and be still, practice yoga, read a book, or take some time in the car to just breathe, it all helps. Everything helps when everything hurts. Okay now I’m just being dramatic. Taking some time to regroup will allow your mind the ability to focus on the purge to come. *being super extra now

ACTUALLY SPING CLEAN – this is a literal one. Yes clean, clean your closet out, clean out your fridge, get rid of the 347 mugs you’ll never use but that you’re waiting to Insta-Story because they say things like, “Go the extra mile, it’s never crowded”. Get. it. together. Oh, no pressure I know! I hear people talk about Spring cleaning and my eyes glaze over. The last thing I want to do on a chill Saturday morning is go through all of my things and organize. But we gotta do it! We’re adulting. It’s also okay if now’s the time you purge toxic people from your life. Just blame it on cleaning out your closet.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR GOALS – this is my favorite one. It may be time to revisit your vision board, does anything need to be added or removed? Is it in a place you can see every day and not shoved behind the dresser? Does it reflect your current goals? It’s normal to look at your vision board and go “pffftttt!” LOL because where you were 6 months ago may  not be where you’re at today and that’s okay. Jot down your current feels, be realistic, and remember to think big – like still aim for those stars baby!

And that’s it! Those FIVE super simple steps to Spring cleaning your life. Mostly this is for me too because I’m stuck somewhere between learning to be still and actually cleaning 😀

 

When you Spring clean what’s the first thing you go through? Your car? Your home? Your mind space? Have you glazed over yet? 

 

 

 

 

 

STAYCATION – TRAVEL MORE!

by with No Comment adventurefamilyinspirationleisuretravelwellness

When most people think of vacations they conjure up far away islands, flights to new places, and luggage for a week long adventure. I’ll be the first to tell you that vacations are incredible and necessary these days to unplug, reset, and reconnect with the people you love. But it doesn’t always mean that you have to hop on a flight to be able to enjoy a lil R&R, staycations are the new vacation y’all!

A little getaway that’s far enough away from home to feel like a vacation yet close enough to home that you don’t have to fuss over big plans. For us, our staycation took us close to the beach one day and pool side the next. With Joe working away from home, my head stuck in a planner navigating the five weddings we have this summer (our own included), and Corrine busy with school, work, and an internship . . . we were ready to get outta dodge.

I don’t think you should ever feel guilty for wanting to escape your life for a moment. The reality is that we’re all cranking away at work, at life, and working at life! So take some time to get away and refill your well, even if that means you simply drive to another town to try out that new lunch spot, or hike an unfamiliar trail to picnic at the top. Whatever relaxation looks like to you, trust me it looks a lot like paradise! Routine is never fun, switch it up buttercup!

We happily enjoyed our little paradise away from home for the weekend, soaked up the sun poolside and then sticking our toes in the sand beachside. So of course I have to share some of my absolute must have for any daycation getaway-vacation: my sandals, my bikini cover up, my TIU sea salt spray, and of course SPF for my face, lips, and body <3

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter than you know we also packed some champs, champagne gummies, and a ton of snacks for this staycation of ours! See the running theme here? #champs The delicious and colorful cocktails with cranberry and fig goodness was courtesy one of our favorites, Figenza! We added in some lemon wedges, a splash of bubbly, sparkling water and called it a day(cation) … see what I did there 😉 best.time.ever.

Do you go on staycation adventures? Where would you love to vacation next and when is a staycation far enough from home that you consider it a vacation? 

 

 

 

 

5 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR RESOLUTIONS!

by with No Comment healthholidayinspirationlifestylemotivationpersonalwedding planningwellness

Happy 2017!!! Can you believe it, already January 2nd! Ummm chill out there new year I need more time! More time to make time, make plans, and to make time to stick to the plan!

Every year I write out 3 goals and create a vision board to inspire me, I’m big on tangible things that I can look at daily. I need daily reminders of what the big picture is because I get stuck in my head sometimes on the temporary. Today I’ll share with you my 5 ways to keep your resolutions and what mine are for the year.

nye1

1. Write it down – on a piece of paper. I probably have a thousand notes on my phone and a gazillion text edits on my computer all labeled in various ways TO DO. There’s something about physically writing your thoughts down on paper and being able to cross things off your list that is way more satisfying then deleting a note on your phone.
2. Get organized – planners are a great way to take the list of your goals and your daily to do’s and manage them day by day to get you to those big goals. I really like writing little notes to myself in my planner that keeps me on track like, “today is wine night, drink up buttercup!” LOL
3. Keep it simple – and keep it realistic. Yes go for those big goals and dream bigger, just adjust your daily list to things you can accomplish without overwhelming yourself or setting yourself back.
4. Stay focused – set backs are normal, just stay focused on the plan which are your daily to do’s. That’s why having a schedule is so important. When you feel like you’re getting overwhelmed or you have days where you aren’t motivated, you can look at your day and those bite sized tasks will equal up to the big picture.
5. Slow and steady wins the race – day by day baby! Daily accomplishments set into motion your goal so take your year one day at a time. Be present in everything you do and remember that slow and steady wins the race <3



My goals for this year are to focus on being consistent in both blogging and my channel, get wedding ready, and to find more time to unwind from they day.

As a blogger and YouTube creator, I’ve constantly struggled with being consistent and sticking to a schedule. Creating on two different platforms is taxing on my creativity because I’m crafting for two different audiences. I hit walls all the time and for me, sticking to a schedule and writing out my daily plan really helps. It helps me not to work on my brand from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep, not being able to clock out ever is dangerous IMO.

That’s why having a routine of rest is just as important as having a routing of work. I’ll be balancing work, working-out, and time-outs for myself every day this year. Wish me luck!


Just keep swimming 😉

What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2017? Do you have any tips on sticking to the plan?