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