Petite Moment: College Update

As you are reading this post, I have just finished my first week of being in college, going to classes, and leaving home. And let me tell you... I love it! Having all of this freedom and free time is amazing! Keeping track of homework and trying to figure out all of the many websites I need to use (seriously, there are so many websites, it's ridiculous!) is difficult but as time goes on I will get used to it. I love meeting new people and having such interesting classes. It is so easy to be social in college and that is something I was not quite used to before. 

I am  in a "honeymoon" phase with college right now and I am sure this will go away once schools starts getting more difficult and I start to feel homesick. But right now I am trying to take advantage of all of the opportunities I am given and extend the "honeymoon" for a longer period of time!

Hope you have a great weekend!

-Emily 

Petite Moment: Lazy Night In

Saturday night with no plans, this calls for a date night with myself.  I was feeling particularly lazy and decided a movie was perfect.  I picked up The Grand Budapest Hotel from the Red Box, fixed myself a snack, and got comfy.

1. I washed my face with coconut oil and followed with my nighttime face moisturizer and reached for the nearest body lotion to me.
2. Then I put coconut and cranberry granola mix from Trader Joe's into my Oikos greek yogurt.  Healthy, sweet, and filling.
3. I lighted my Villa Bergamot candle from Bath and Body Works, spritzed a lavender scent on myself, also from BBW and moisturized my lips with vaseline lip therapy in rosy lips. 
4. I pressed play and began the movie!

The Grand Budapest Hotel

It was a beautifully made movie.  Each shot was captivating and colorful in its own way.  I giggled a few times and was also on the edge of my seat because it was quite a thrilling movie.  I highly recommend it!

* A night in, no problem! Find ways to enjoy your down time and really relax, this is how I spend my easy going nights.

-Diana

Homemade Hummus (Way Too Easy)

I tried it 4 times throughout my life and hated it each time.  However, one beautiful May morning 2 years ago I decided to try it one more time.  And who would have guessed, the 5th time was the charm.  I became addicted to it.  That "it" is Hummus.  I have loved it ever since and this past summer it has been a favorite in my house and must always be in the fridge.  If we run out, we freak out!  Then I had the idea to try and make hummus instead of buying it all the time.  I figured it would be cheaper to make than to buy.  I quickly began to look for recipes and found that it was not only super simple to make, but that I could save a lot of money from making it at home!

My Favorite recipe came from a blog called Minimalist Baker.  This blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites!  The bloggers promise to give recipes that will only require 10 ingredients or less and will take about 30 minutes to make.  This is the kind of cooking that I like.  So when I stumbled upon their "BEST EVER 5 MINUTE MICROWAVE HUMMUS" I knew this was the recipe for me to try!

I followed the recipe almost exactly as it is written except I used limes instead of lemons. *

Tahini-Jewel Osco
Chick Peas, Sea Salt, Garlic- Trader Joe's
Limes- Local Grocery Store
Olive Oil- Costco

Making it: The recipe is incredibly easy to follow there is little to no room for errors.  Your hummus will most likely always end up tasting great!  You can make this in about 10 minutes and will be able to immediately enjoy it.  (I love not having to wait to try what I make!)

Limes instead of Lemons: I used limes because that is what I had in my house and I thought I would experiment rather than follow each part of the recipe exactly.  The hummus still tasted amazing, however I do suggest to use lemons rather than limes!

Love at First Taste: Because the Chickpeas are called to be microwaved, once the hummus is done it will be nice and warm.  I loved that it was warm!  It was supper creamy and I credit that to the microwave!

Still loving it: The next day and days after it still tasted great!  I will definitely be making it again!

If you are a lover of hummus and have never made it then I think it is time you gave it a try!  You will not regret it I promise, and you might just like it better than the store bought stuff.  You can make the hummus faster than the time that it will take you to go buy it and you will be saving money!

*I plan to try more recipes from Minimalist Baker, I will be sure to let you know about my experience with other recipes from their blog.

-Diana 

Foodspiration: The "Cronot"

The other day I was catching up on TBD (thebeautydepartment.com) when something really jumped out and caught my eyes. Let's just say it involves doughnuts and health food, a pair that usually do not belong together. It was something they called the "cronot" a healthy doughnut made out of apples instead of dough. I thought it was genius and decided to share it you all of you.

They are so freaking cute!

Don't they look pretty and legitimate, it will trick your brain into thinking you're eating a doughnut.

So how do you make these? According to TBD...

First, you core and slice apples:

Next, you pick your toppings:

As their frosting or "glaze" they used: flavored Greek yogurt, chocolate pudding made out of avocado (which sounds amazing, btw), and almond butter (peanut butter would also be a good option). For the toppings or "sprinkles" TBD suggests poppy seeds, almonds, cashews, peanuts, coconut, banana chips, dried apricots, dried cherries and pineapple. You can seriously add anything that your little heart desires! 

I am seriously loving how these look and how healthy they can be! I want to try these out as soon as I can and I will definitely show you what kind of creations I come up with!

Remember, an apple a day keeps the doctor away...

-Emily

Back to the Bare Minimum

While browsing on youtube about a month ago I came across a youtuber called Light by Coco (her blog).  I watched all of her videos and was inspired to change my life.  She seems like a happy person and she also lives simply.  By living simply I mean she does not have an extreme amount of materialistic things.  In her life she includes only things that she really needs or feels bring meaning to her life.  

I immediately searched for other blogs similar to Coco's.  I was curious about living simply and what the benefits were.  I found that having less will give you a more filling life.  I liked the idea of only having what I need and what I felt I loved.  

"What does it mean to live a minimalist life?"

"Most people live their life trying to acquire more and more things. Living a minimalist lifestyle is completely the opposite. It's about trying to live with less and less things. It's about trying to get back to the bare minimum of possessions. In doing that, it frees up your life to pursue the things you most value." 

The quote above is why I decided that I would try to live a minimalist life.  It sounds scary to be a minimalist because the thought of getting rid of all of your things comes to mind.  However this is not what minimalism is.  Minimalism allows for you to keep your large book collection if it is meaningful to you.  If you value your collection and feel that it adds meaning to it, KEEP IT!  Living a minimalist life is not easy, it will take a long time.  And that is okay! Deciding to start the journey is enough for one day, the rest will come as long as you put your mind to it.

Pictures such as this one motivate me to only keep what I love.

-Diana

The Most Essential Accessory

What is the most essential accessory, you ask? Is it earrings, purses, or rings? Nope! It's sunglasses!

Personally, I think that sunglasses are the only accessory you need at times. A statement pair of sunglasses can have the same effect as a statement necklace. Sunglasses have the potential to frame your face perfectly and bring out your best features.

Sunglasses make you look cool and effortless while also protecting you from those bad UV rays. They give you a different look and make people wonder who the person behind the sunglasses is. Although higher-end sunglasses, like Ray-Ban's, may be higher quality than sunglasses from chain clothing stores (ex: Forever 21), I always find myself buying the "cheapies." The best thing about getting cheaper sunglasses is that you have the chance to try a trend without having to spend too much. Since trends come and go, it is not practical to get expensive but trendy sunglasses. Classic styles of sunglasses that have been around for a while (ex: aviators and wayfarers) are worth getting a quality pair of because it is likely it won't go out of style any time soon.

The best example of a style that is classic but has newly been reinvented is the Aviator.

Classic:

Classic Aviators 

Trendy:

New Colorful Spin on the Aviator

The original Aviator works well for everyday life and the new colored lenses are perfect to make a statement without being over the top. Since it is possible that the colored lenses will go out of style it is best to get cheapies and invest in the classic pair of aviators.

If you want to know which sunglass style typically suits your face shape, click here.

Have a great rest of the week!

-Emily 

Petite Moment: Words to Live By

From the gospel according to Pinterest...

All of the pictures are from my Pinterest, feel free to follow! http://www.pinterest.com/emigarcia14/ 

Have a great weekend everyone!

-Emily 

Walking in Mr. Sailor's Shoes

"Oh captain my captain" may I please walk a mile in your shoes!  Some people hate them, but I love them.  Boat shoes are a staple in my closet and I wear them almost everyday.  They match everything-almost  (in my opinion) and they are comfortable.  I love fashion but being fashionable is hard work, and sometimes I would rather spend my time watching Netflix.  Boat shoes allow me to look put together without putting in too much effort.  They are similar to a loafer and thus can be dressed up.  Long day full of walking, great I'll get my boat shoes, hurry up and get out of the house, awesome forget the hassle of laces and the sloppiness of flip-flops, I'll just slip on my boat shoes and I'm ready in 2 minutes!  Boat shoes can be found in many different styles, sparkly and brightly colored to follow trends, and classic colors that won't go out of style.

-Diana 

My Nighttime Skincare Routine

Today, I want to share with you my nighttime skincare routine. Personally, I love seeing what kind of products work for other people and wonder if they can work for me. I have dry skin (extremely dry in the winter) so I pretty much have the same routine year round. I don't like to use too many products because I also have sensitive skin, so I try to stick with natural products or products that won't irritate my skin. So let's get into a step-by-step of my night.

Step 1: Remove eye-makeup

Right now I am using this eye makeup remover from Target, it is almost the exact same thing as a Neutrogena makeup remover, but it is way cheaper. Although it is oil-free, it does leave an oily residue but that is something I don't really mind because it really breaks down eye makeup. I use a cotton pad to remove my eye makeup (usually just mascara and concealer) and move on to the next step.

Step 2: Use a facial cleanser/face wash

The cleanser that I am using currently is Ultrabland by Lush. It's not like any other cleanser because it is more like a face balm. The ingredients of this include: honey, beeswax, and oils. It breaks down makeup wonderfully and leaves your skin feeling really soft. When using this, you don't need a lot of product for it to be effective, a small dollop is all you need for your entire face. I first wet my face a little bit so the product can just glide all over my face and I add just a bit more to my eyes to really break down the product. Finally, I rinse it off with warm water and pat dry with a face towel.

Step 3: Apply toner to the face

Toner is a great product to remove any extra gunk that may be hiding on your face. Right now I am using a toner from the brand Boots, which is a store in the UK, but I bought mine at Target. I love this because it is for people with sensitive skin, which means it is gentle but effective. I just put a small amount on a cotton pad and swipe it all over my face. 

Step 4: Moisturize

Moisturizing is the last and most important step in my whole routine. Without it, my face would be a dry mess. Right now I am loving the Ultra Repair Cream by First Aid Beauty (FAB). I have tried many other moisturizers but always find myself coming back to this. It is very light but it really hydrates your skin. And the best part of it all is that you can use it all over your body as well. I occasionally also use a hydrating under-eye cream by Boots Botanics but I only use it when my under-eyes are really dry. 

Bonus Step: Face Mask

Whenever I feel like my skin is dull or it needs some serious cleaning, I use this face mask. It is from the brand Formula 10.0.6, and I picked it up at Ulta. I had personally never heard of this brand but it sounded good so I took a leap of faith and got it. It really gets into your pores and cleans them out. Sometimes my face even tingles after a couple of minutes because it is hard at work. I usually use it at night but sometimes I use it before I take shower for a quick skin pick me up. 

Are there any products you think I should try? Let me know in the comments below!

-Emily

Italian Flag Pita Sandwich

I Love: Basil.  I am thankful to have a beautiful brightly green colored basil plant in my yard.  The basil is always fresh and tasty.  I love the combination of basil with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.

I started the sandwich by toasting the pita bread.  Then I stuffed it with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil.  I lightly drizzled olive oil on the sandwich and added a few dashes of salt and pepper, and then I WAS DONE! 

This pita sandwich is quick to make and it tastes very fresh.  I love eating this for lunch and it is more exciting than a regular old turkey sandwich.  

I also Love the Bright colors of the ingredients. 

-Diana 

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

"Brown paper packages tied up with strings..."

1. Plain Greek Yogurt: I absolutely love the taste of Greek yogurt. I like it so much I can't even eat regular yogurt anymore. My favorite way to eat it is with strawberries, chia seeds, and granola for breakfast. Or I will add to a breakfast smoothie and have used it as a sour cream replacement with food.

2. Netflix: I, like half of the world, am obsessed with Netflix. I love watching movies and Netflix gives you access to many different categories of movies. I haven't really heard of half of the movies on there, so it always makes for an interesting experience picking a random movie. I also enjoy watching series on there, like Mad Men and Parks and Recreation. Whenever I am bored, I just binge watch a series that I have never seen before.

3. Fall: I am a totally different person when fall comes around. I am the best version of myself whenever I can wear sweaters and boots. Living in Chicago, I feel like I have perfected how to dress in the fall and winter time because they are the 2 seasons that last the most. Summer is great because of the freedom from school, but fall will aways have my heart. Also, when is the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) coming back? 

4. Pillows: Ahhh, so soft! I enjoy having a lot of pillows on my bed and couch because they add an extra layer of comfort. I also use them for decor, but even when I do, they have to be functional and comfortable. Nothing is better to me than laying on my bed surrounded by a bunch of pillows. 

5. Fruit: My favorite type of food is most definitely fruit. I can eat fruit all day long and never get tired of it. I like eating fruit as a snack and as dessert. I love that fruit is naturally sweet so it feels like your indulging but really you're being healthy. 

6. Lazy Days: I love those days when you don't have any responsibilities you need to attend to and you can just lounge around your home. Usually, I like to have these kinds of days when it is raining or snowing outside because you can't really feel guilty for not wanting to go out. I like stay in my PJ's, go downstairs to my living room with a blanket, and catch up on my DVR or watch movies. 

7. Roller coasters: I love the adrenaline rush you get after going on a roller coaster. You feel like you can run a marathon and automatically want to go on the ride again. I love going to Six Flags in the summer with all my friends and just riding all of the rides that we possibly can. 

8. Coffee: Lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, and etc. the possibilities are endless with coffee. I love it in all of its forms but my favorite is just your standard cup of coffee with a dash of cream and one sugar. Coffee makes my insides warm and gives me a jolt of energy. Whenever I drink it (almost everyday) I feel like the best possible version of myself. 

9. Receiving Packages: The quote in the beginning of this post from The Sound of Music is actually very accurate. I love the suspense and the wait time you go through while waiting for a package from an online order. It feels like Christmas when you look outside your door and see a package waiting for you. 

10. Sweaters: This favorite kind of ties into the whole love for fall thing, but I felt it deserved its on own place as well. I love warm, over-sized sweaters that I can wear with black pants and boots. Whenever I wear one of my favorite sweaters, it instantly lifts my mood and I feel like I can conquer the world. 

-Emily 

You'll Never Regret Working Hard

This past summer I have been cleaning out my closet and bedroom so that I can become more organized, redecorate, and so that I can get on the path to minimalism.  I can now say that I am extremely proud of myself for getting rid of the things that I do not need in my life.  I used to have A TON OF PAPER WORK!  I kept old notes from classes such as: Chemistry, Algebra, World History,  and American History.  With the notes I also kept all of my Algebra and Geometry tests.  I don't mean to brag with what I am about to say, but I kept my old math tests because I got perfect scores plus extra credit on almost all of my tests.  I was proud of these test grades because my whole life I have been terrible at math and have not been proud of many other test scores.  I still am not great at math, however, I did well in math in high school because I worked my but of in all of my math classes.  I had to work twice as hard as the students next to me because math was "not my subject."  I kept all of these tests and notes thinking that one day when I was stuck in college I could refer to old notes and tests for self-help.  I also mostly held on to all of these papers because I could not bring myself to through away all of my hard work.  I spent so much time neatly writing and organizing notes and making study guides.  I would stay up late studying for math tests and reviewing, and reviewing, and reviewing.  I felt that if I through away all of the paperwork I would also through away my hard work.

I decided that a decluttered room was more important to me than storing away old notes (which I oddly considered art.)  I threw them out because I realized that as much as it pained me to rid myself of notes and tests it did not mean that I was throwing out all of my handwork.  I decided to be proud of the work that I have done and focus on working hard in the future.  Instead of keeping old tests as souvenirs, I decided to keep the lessons that I have gained from all of my hard-work.

Lessons learned:

• Hard-work will give you something to be proud of.
• It will make you a more accomplished person.
• The results that come with hard-work are more satisfying than things.
• A habit of working hard now will become a part of your personality and you will begin to work hard in other parts of your life.
• You will be more positive with life because you know that working hard is a common solution to many problems.
• Working hard gives you control of your life.  The work you do = The type of result you will get
• If it doesn't work out in the end, at least you tried!
• You will always regret doing nothing, or the bear minimum.
• Hard-work will make you more confident. Is there anything bad to say about a hard worker? I think not, hard workers inspire me!
• Hard-work will help you to always keep improving yourself.  Hard-work never ends.
• You will go to bed tired and get a restful sleep :)

By no means I am not perfect and my laziness still gets the best of me and working hard.  However I will use my past results of working hard to motivate me and I will keep trying to become a better hard worker.  

Remember!

-Diana

Going Away for College

In exactly 6 days, I will be fleeing the nest and leaving for college (eek!). Although, my school is only 2 hours away from Chicago, I am still anxious/excited to be leaving. Deciding to leave for college can be a difficult decision for most people. When I was looking for schools, I knew automatically that I wanted to stay in the state of Illinois. Not only is it convenient to stay in state, for traveling purposes, but it is way cheaper. So basically my options were either staying in Chicago, where I was born and raised, or going to the school that I will be attending in a smaller city of Illinois.

http://www.azeeza.us/shop/tops/chi-statement-tee/ 

Personally, I love the feel of a complete college town. I find it comforting to know that most of the people walking around are either students or work for the school. I also really wanted to experience dorm life because I think it adds to the whole "college experience." I am not going to have a random roommate because I feel that it was not for me. I like to share my living space with people I am comfortable with, so I will be rooming with a friend from high school. I think this will help me if I ever feel homesick.

An Unrealistically Beautiful Dorm

Another factor that helped me decided where to go to school is independence. My entire life I have been very dependent on my family and I am grateful for it, but I felt like I needed to leave to figure out life for myself. If I stayed at home, I would become completely dependent on my family in times of stress and never really become independent. College is a completely personal experience, meaning you decided what comes of it. You decide whether you go to class or skip it and you decide what you do outside of class.

Ultimately, my decision came down to the academics my university provides and how comfortable I felt at my school. Choosing a school is a big decision, so take all of the important factors into consideration but also trust your gut, it's usually the best thing for you.

-Emily

Staying at Home for College

When searching for a college I new one thing: I wanted my campus to be in a city.  My first choice was New York, NY, it is my favorite place and I thought I would love it.  However I had to be realistic.  New York is a very expensive city and I could not justify spending so much money for my undergraduate years.  Being that I am from Chicago, IL (also a decent sized and fun city) I decided that it would not be such a bad idea to check out some Universities here.  I live about 15 minutes away from downtown Chicago so I quickly decided that I would not dorm so that I could save some money (more like thousands.)  Chicago has an awesome selection of Universities, so it was not long before I fell in love with one and found some others that I also would not mind attending.  

Sweet Home Chicago.

Before I made my final decision of staying in Chicago and living at home I had a lot to consider: I would miss out on the “dorming experience,” I would be under my parents roof during some exciting years of my life (don’t get me wrong I love them to pieces and am thankful to have them), and I would not have the convenience of waking up 10 minutes before class.  After thinking it over I looked at the pros of why being a commuter was a good choice for me.

·      I can redecorate my room.

·      I will not have the distraction of a roommate when studying in my room.

·      I will have my own room and bathroom.

·      I can light candles, blast music, and have the liberty and privacy to do just about anything I want.

·      I don’t have to eat College food.

·      I will save money.

·      I will not have to buy a bunch of new things for my dorm.

·      I won’t risk being stuck with roommate that I may not get along with. 

·      I can live and attend University in an exciting city.

·      I will still be independent because my parents have told me that they will give me my space.

Yes, some of these reasons are childish and I know that had I decided to dorm I would get used to it and would live happily in a dorm.  However, Commuting was the right choice for ME.  It is NOT the best choice for everyone.  I think dorming is exciting and am happy for those that choose to dorm (all of my friends will be dorming at their universities.)

One of the forms of transportation I will use. The Chicago El.

Now that you know that I will be a commuter in College, I will often write blog posts about my experience and tips for commuters.  If you have any questions about commuting leave them in the comments below whenever you want and I will be happy to answer!

-Diana

I Swear by Coconut Oil for Everything

After reading all of the benefits and uses of Coconut oil I had to buy it!  I will not go through all the uses because you can search them online and many results will pop up immediately.  I just want to let you know that it works for everything, just like the internet says it will!  I love using coconut oil because it is a natural product and I prefer this to all the chemicals in other products.  I have extremely dry skin so using oil is great for my skin because it moisturizes it.

I have used it as:

• Body Moisturizer
• Facial Cleanser (my favorite way) I spread it all over my face when I am in the shower and then I rinse it off in the shower.  I saw immediate results from this, my face had less blemishes.
• Mouthwash/Oil Pulling (read number 16 in this article http://www.jenneitzel.com/2013/11/coconut-oil-the-hygiene-rockstar/ )
• Makeup remover

I plan on trying some of the other uses for coconut oil soon.  Have you ever tried coconut oil as a beauty product?  Let me know in the comments below!

This is the kind that I Use

Petite Moment: Dark Chocolate with Quinoa?!

Recently, I was at Mariano's (my favorite grocery store ever) and was strolling through the candy aisle because I was looking for a treat (treat. yo. self) and I spotted an unusual chocolate. It was a dark chocolate bar with quinoa crisps inside it! I love quinoa and I found this to be very intriguing, so I happily added it to my cart. Quinoa is a seed that when cooked can be a great replacement for rice, which is how I usually eat it. If you want to learn more about quinoa click here. Anyway, the chocolate that I found is from the brand, Alter Eco.

It is certified organic and fair tried certified, it is only a 60% cocoa so it is not a very strong dark chocolate. According to the packaging, this chocolate is also vegan, soy free, gluten free, and non GMO. The quinoa is mixed with rice to give it a light airy feel and it is absolutely delicious. It is a great alternative to a "Crunch" bar because not only is it a million times healthier, it is also better for the planet. It is guilt-free but still makes you feel like you are indulging yourself. I love this and I will definitely be re-purchasing this!

-Emily

Petite Moment: Transformation Tuesday

I decided that this summer I would redecorate my room.  I wanted something more mature and neutral.  I didn't want a trendy color or theme that I would quickly get sick of or that wouldn't match my personality.  Now that I have finished redecorating my room I can say that I love it and am satisfied with my "new" room.

Before:  My room was very girly.  I painted it pink and gray freshman year of high school.  My favorite color was pink, I loved dresses and skirts, and all things french.  So the theme of my bedroom was girly-girl meets France.  I loved my room and was hesitent to repaint it.  But, I felt that I needed something that better suited my personality now that I am going to start University.

Right before I was about to paint it!

After:  I painted my room a neutral color so that it would match many things.

I chose Fall Mood by Behr.

Painting the last spot!

Finally Done: Look out for a room tour which will be up on the blog soon!

-Diana

Gray is My Favorite Color

"Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?"

Colors are so important. Certain colors can enhance your mood and make you feel comfortable. Growing up, I thought my favorite color was pink and I tried to make everything I owned pink. But the only reason this was my favorite color was because I always saw that girls should like pink and boys should like blue. As I grew up, I kind of grew out of color and now I kind of don’t even have a favorite color. I have an appreciation for every color now (except maybe orange, we never get along) and have several favorites that I like for specific reasons.

Gray

I love gray and all of its 50 shades. ;) But honestly, gray is a color that I always gravitate towards. Whenever I am shopping, gray clothing always attracts my eyes. I love gray clothes, shoes, purses, coats, and accessories. I also love when gray is used in interior design, like gray walls and furniture. The other day, I went back-to-school shopping at H&M and literally only got gray clothing because it is so versatile. 

Burgundy / Maroon / Berry / Whatever you want to call it 

This has been a favorite of mine for the past couple of years. I love wearing this color because it adds a pop of color to any outfit without being over-bearing. I love to wear burgundy in sweaters, scarves, and on my lips as a lipstick! It is mostly a fall color (I LOVE fall) but I love wearing it in all seasons. Recently, I ventured my obsession into the shoe department and got some great Dolce Vita loafers at a local Buffalo Exchange for $25! 

Seafoam Green 

This color I love exclusively for home decor and nail polish. I love when this color is used as an accent color where everything else is neutral. It is so fresh and and it really lightens my mood. My room is currently painted a light seafoam green and I paired it with white furniture to bring out the colors freshness. I chose this color because I thought if I ever owned a cottage, this is what I would want it to look like. I am going to show you only a glimpse of my room because the rest of it is a disaster because my mom is renovating her room and decided to put all of her stuff in my room. 

So what is your favorite color? 

-Emily