Change is Good and brings me Back!

Well, hello, there!

Exactly 3 days after my last Blog Post, life as I knew it started to change dramatically, and in a great way. I ventured into something "new". Actually, not exactly "new". I had known about it for a year, I had known and read about the industry in general for at least 7 years and the industry has been around for at least 60 years.

I say "NEW" because I made a DECISION. I made a decision to start changing our lives and that was new. The decision was STRONG and came accompanied by a beautiful action plan I started developing in my heart and mind. The changes I envisioned coming are going to make all the difference. Not even 2 months have passed and I can attest that yes, life has been better already.

Now you may be asking yourself: "Well, I didn't know they were unhappy! I didn't know life was not good for them!" No, not at all. That was not the case! Life was good. In my opinion, though, life is an evolution and (good) continuous change is a big part of it we all shall seek no matter what. New dreams, new ideas, an enhanced personal development...No matter how great life is, why should we ever stop trying to better our lives, right? Why should we close ourselves to "the world"?

This is what I decided for me and my family, and this is why I've been missing in action here on the Blogosphere. I was dedicating much of my time to our new venture, however, now, I feel ready and comfortable in coming back to report more from the "Hip & Kind Mom" here on my Blog!

One thing I've been learning in these past 6 weeks: An open mind is one of our biggest allies in life. Negativity can never win and as I've "preached" for so long: being kind, giving back, supporting and helping great causes and great friends, strangers and yourself transforms your life "magically". And I love this.

(both images found on Google)

Multitasking for your Skin!

Last year I bought my first BB Cream. The funny thing was the moment when the beauty consultant and I were wondering, together, what the BB stood for! ...and you'd would think she had to know that! Well, she was partially right. She told me "I think it means blemish balm!" When the other beauty consultant came back from her break she added the other half: "It also stands for beauty balm!" This was a Clinique inside Nordstrom, last Fall! BB stands for both blemish balm and beauty balm, and there are many brands that carry a BB cream. This type of cream is like a bit of magic for your face!

Time went by and here we are: Spring 2013 with Summer right around the corner. If your skin is like mine, it acts quite differently when it becomes hot and humid outside. I may have more breakouts and definitely need to watch out for the harmful sun rays. My skin gets oily in a matter of seconds, and sticky too. While during the colder days I need a different approach for my skin, the warmer time of the year requires a bit of a shift.

I still don't want to give up the BB Cream in the hot weather! I like it a lot and it's quite beneficial for the skin. It acts like a multitasker, covering up imprefections and evening out skin tone making it possible for you to skip foundation and concealer, moisturizing the skin (even oily skin needs moisture!), protecting from the sun, adding antioxidants to the skin and acting like a primer if you're applying make up after it. Talk about the possibility of saving space on your vanity and your travel beauty bag! This BB cream was first developed in Germany and when it hit Asia, South Koreans were the first ones to go crazy about it!

So, what I decided to do was test out 4 different BB creams: Clinique, Maybelline, L'Oreal and Revlon. These 4 were featured last month in a popular beauty magazine, and I decided to give it a try.

While all of them have a nice tint (you can choose light, medium or dark) I believe the "dark" option is not truly a darker tone like you'd see in a foundation that has so many different color variations. So, the tint color may actually disappoint a few people. I am not too fair but not too tanned either, and I tried the medium tones, which worked best for me. The Clinique BB cream was too light for me and made my skin look a bit ashy. The Revlon one and the Clinique one had a very similar, thicker texture and I can see it working well for Fall and Winter time, if you have "oily issues" like I do. Both have a broad spectrum sun protection (SPF 30) which is wonderful! The L'Oreal BB cream was a nice surprise: It's actually white with grey grains that, when applied in light circular and even motions to your skin turn beige like the skin. Very light texture, but once applied (and when you wash your hands) you feel the moisturizing action in it. The only thing I missed in the L'Oreal BB Cream was sun protection! My favorite of all these 4 was the Maybelline BB cream! It's got great sun protection (SPF 30), the texture is not too light and not too heavy and the coverage is perfect! The price factor is also very appealing (these 3 except for Clinique range between $8 and $10), as you can find it in all drugstores and it's not expensive if you compare it to Clinique and others such as Estee Lauder, Boscia, Too Faced, Stila, Smashbox and other BB creams in the higher end (all $30 and up).

My advice is this: If you're interested in using a BB cream, protecting and beautifying your skin, look at your budget and "invest" in 2 or 3. Don't just do the cream on the hand test at the store. You gotta wear it for a whole day to approve it or not! If you don't like it, find a friend who'd like to try the ones you didn't like and she can do the same, passing on the creams around your friendship circle. That's what I will do!

I'm so excited already because the fun won't stop here: Have you heard of the newer CC Creams?

Treat yourself well and be happy! Have a wonderful Sunday!

Dress for the SUN!

Spring is here and Summer is right around the corner!
I grew up in a city where this means it's time to buy a new bikini! I grew up in a city where bikinis are quite small and cover up just the necessary. Contrary to popular belief, going topless at Rio de Janeiro's famous Ipanema or Copacabana beaches is illegal! Actually, this is illegal at most Brazilian beaches - there are, however, designated "hidden" nudist beaches for those who enjoy it!

Anyways, I'd like to keep up the tradition of buying one or two new bikinis every year, but honestly, usually don't spend big bucks on this. I find that variety and quality is much more important than the brand name behind it, most of all, however, I look for something that fits me well.

I say this because I have a "tricky" body: I have a very small, tiny upper body and a more womanly, curvy lower body. I decided NOT to insist on having my Mom send me Brazilian bikinis over to the U.S. anymore. "That was so my early 20s...before I got pregnant!" I love the bikinis I can find over here because they fit me much better!

I got the inspiration to write this post from my quick trip to Target today. Yes, Super Target! I mean, have you seen the variety and prices on those bikinis? Bottom fro $14 and Top for $14! The GREAT, wonderful thing about buying bikinis at Target is that you can choose to buy an XS top with a M bottom. Mix & match without any issues. Or, if you're bustier (well, maybe one day I'll be, right?) you get the L or XL one and pick out the bottom you want, the one that fits you the best. I love it over there also because they have so many different cuts. Wanna cover up your belly? No problem! They got it! Want to go strapless? They got it too!

Same goes for buying bikinis at Victoria's Secret online. You can also mix & match sizes, for most part of it, and the bikinis are SO gorgeous. A bit pricier, yes, but what I do love about Victoria's Secret bikinis is the "enhancement" part: They really got me looking twice when I read "look 2 cups larger in your bikini"! That one can't seem to escape my mind! LOL...I wonder if it's comfortable?!

It's really about feeling comfortable, right? Most of us are a bit (or  lot) body conscious - we're all  on the same boat. We don't like our legs, but love our boobies. We don't like our bootie, but love our belly. We don't like our belly, but love our legs...and so on and so forth. If you don't like bikinis, that's alright, too! Target and Victoria's Secret have beautiful one-piece swimming suits!

Last year I became a pro in using self-tanning lotions to fake a tan. I'll look for some more natural alternatives, if they're out there, and will try them out. I'll report back to you soon!
For now, enjoy your Monday and just know the weekend is only 4 days away! :)

(image from Google Images) 

Give back program!

I love companies that give back! It's a real big deal for me. As everything else in life, there's just so much more of an impact if more people are involved, giving out that same great, powerful energy to make a difference.

Kohl's, which is one of my favorite stores for very good deals in clothes, purses, shoes, other accessories, gifts, kitchen equipment, home decor and kids' clothing (beautiful dresses...the cutest outfits!), and which you can  visit in every single State here in the U.S. has a great Give Back program! Kohl's began offering great deals in 1962 and keeps expanding its locations nationwide. They just opened 9 new stores in March of this year!

I had bought 2 gifts over there as a Thank You for Marija, who had made many delicious goodies for my little one's birthday party back in January. Our daily life "got in the way" for them and us didn't allow us to go visit her until last week. Before going to their house, I wanted to get her granddaughter Mia and my dear friend Jeje a little something as well, so I took my girls to Kohl's with me.

Upon entering the store my little one immediately picked up this stuffed alligator "by" Dr. Seuss. We decided right there baby Mia would get the Dr. Seuss stuffed elephant. Then I (for the first time!) spotted the "Kohl's Cares" sign, and saw a tag on each of the stuffed animals. Intriguing...The cost of the Dr. Seuss "Kohl's Cares" products was very affordable and made for a very nice gift to a child. At home I wanted to learn more about this program and here is what I learned:

Kohl's comes out with different products that make part of their "Kohl's Cares" program. After all expenses are paid, 100% of the net profit from the sales of these items are given to kids' health and education initiatives nationwide, as well as environmental initiatives and the fight against breast cancer. That is a very nice and easy way we can all make a difference, right? Examples of programs include College Scholarships, hospital partnerships, fundraising gift card programs, installation of solar power, buildings with LEED certification, volunteer programs and more.

This is a quote directly taken from their corporate website:

"We envision a future where kids are healthy, resources are plentiful and disease that affects women and their families is eradicated. Because the way we see it, giving back also means looking ahead."

Our $10 spent are just the beginning of MY personal partnership with Kohl's Cares to help make a difference!

What a great way to shop and be kind!

Too much paper in my life?

I have a confession to make that won't impress my Planet Loving friends too much: I love PAPER.

I know, I know, we are all trying to live a greener life, eliminating as much paper from our daily life as possible. We have electronic books that can be read on an e-book reader (no need for paper books!), we have a tablet or a smart phone (or both!) where we can keep all of our appointments, take notes, send mail and store pictures (no need for any paper here!). We barely remember our friends' telephone numbers because we all have cell phones and all cell phones store their contact info - forget about the old address book we used to use! Invitations to a party? Yes, we still receive some in the mail, but the majority comes as an e-vite, an electronic invitation sent to us online! You save time, paper and the trip to the post office. So MUCH of our life can be done without any paper. We seem to be adapting pretty well, as smart phones become smarter and information doesn't simply flow anymore - it's instantly passed on. One click and you get it.

So, I'm here to tell you, however, that "some things will never change".

I don't buy e-books, and while I do have a tablet, I dislike reading a book electronically. Call me a book-nerd, but I like to make notes, fold the corners of pages, highlight important passages - the student for life in me can't seem to let that go.
I don't record any of my appointments electronically. I have an awesome, pretty (and pink) Day-Timer "Flavia" daily planner, with pretty paper and tons of space for me to record everything.
My daily to-do list travels with me physically, as I write it down in my calendar.
And I have an adorable Vera Bradley address book that brings me joy to fill! I love adding new addresses to it, and it wouldn't even look half as pretty had I stored everything in my phone or tablet. Not to mention the super nice address labels we can order left and right, right?

(my oh-so-pretty Vera Bradley address book I bought at Barnes & Noble!)

Some things will never change. Or will they? I recognize the utility of technology and understand the importance of cutting our paper consumption. I can't live without my phone. I love technology, but love the real deal as well. If I decide to travel, I see the issue: Carry ALL that with me, while I could pretty much just take my phone and my iPad? I have used e-vites in the past, but simply prefer the paper invitation sent and received in the mail. I love letters and postcards! But, we all can make emotional sacrifices that can have a bigger impact on our resources on Earth.

I'm willing to make an effort to become less of a paper dependent person. I am unsure how successful I will be at first, but it will be interesting to comment on this post 12 months from now and see what "improvements" have been made. Are you as much of a paper lover as I am?

For now, I'm not willing to give up my planner
, address book and books, but will try this:

Read magazines on my tablet instead of buying them all the time!
Send E-vites when necessary!
Record my To-Do list on my phone!
Turn ALL my bills to online bill paying (we have done that for half of our bills)!
Eliminate bank statements sent in the mail and go with online statements!
Skip the Christmas Family Picture Card (oh, wait! Don't know if I'm ready for this one yet!...)

Take it easy, right? One thing at a time!...I admire the all-tech-no-paper-ever-necessary folks!

YOU

 Remember:

It's OK to feel like you need a break.
It's OK to feel exhausted.
It's OK to feel like you can't do it all, after all.
It's OK to call it the day and say "tomorrow will be a better day".
It's OK to find comfort in a hot shower, in the couch, in your pillows.
It's OK to eat that piece of chocolate if you want that piece of chocolate.
It's OK to cry. It's OK to cry a lot.
It's OK to not want to talk to anybody. Right now. The entire day.
It's OK to feel so overwhelmed that all you can think of is how overwhelmed you feel.
It's OK if that this overwhelming feeling makes you numb for a moment.
It's OK if you prefer to be alone the entire day.
It's OK if you want to be in your pajamas the entire day.
It's OK if you want to lay on the couch the entire day.
It's OK if you can't find any motivation to go workout today.
It's OK if you "don't care" today.
It's OK if you're sad today.

However, know this:

It is NOT OK if everyday you feel like this. It is NOT OK if you feel like that most of the time. It is NOT OK if you don't pay attention to what you feel and ignore the signs that something may be wrong.
It is NOT OK if you don't seek professional help.

It is NEVER OK to feel ashamed.
It is NEVER OK to assume "things will get better".
It is NEVER OK to not take care of yourself.
It is NEVER OK to live a sad life.
It is NEVER OK to not want to be happy.

You DESERVE to be the happiest person you can ever be.
You DESERVE love, no matter how you feel.
You DESERVE help, because help can make you stronger, better and happier.
You DESERVE to be listened to.

Ultimately, LISTEN to YOURSELF first and if something doesn't feel right in your heart and/or mind, never ignore it.
Only you can know YOU and allow yourself to HEAL. Allow yourself to HEAL. Start NOW.

With much love from me...

Happy Easter!

The oldest Christian holiday is here: Easter! Calling it "Jesus' Ressurection Day" would be far more appropriate for expressing what it truly means, but it seems our kid & chocolate loving self is heavily drawn to the commercialized Easter as "the world" usually celebrates it: Welcoming Spring with a hint of Paganism (even though unknown to many) and yummy, colorful candy and chocolates - maybe adding the Easter Sunday Church visit, and most definitely dressing up to look very pretty on all those family pictures, right? Let's see the beauty in all of this, enjoy it and blame all the genius Marketing gurus who help make all those Easter eggs so irresistible to us all, little ones and big ones!

Here, a few pictures of our Easter morning before the kids got up!
Happy Easter!

How are YOU spending Easter Sunday this year?

These bunnies are so adorable...

These are Brazilian Easter Eggs! Tons of chocolate, for sure!

 Decorating the house with a few colorful pieces catches our attention and brightens up any room! The kids love it!

...give plants a little accent!

And last but not least, our Easter Tree entirely decorated by the kids!

Have a wonderful Sunday! Most of all, remember to share LOVE!

Easter-Eve chocolates!

Once every 4-6 weeks, I visit our local "Brazilian Supermarket and Bakery" here in Orlando (on International Drive). It's always a treat for me to go there, as I hear many sounds of my childhood, delicious smells of sweet & fried goodies and see tons of things available for purchase that I grew up loving to eat! It's very special to us to have these Brazilian stores over here. It makes our World somewhat smaller and that's a good thing.

Yesterday, to my surprise when I went to buy Brazilian Easter Eggs for the kids and family, I found the authentic German Milka chocolate for sale near the cash register.
I know we can easily find Milka chocolates here in the U.S. (Publix!- It's a KRAFT product!).

These, however, were the ones directly imported from Germany. The REAL deal! The wrapper has everything written in German, front and back, and for a minute, these yummy chocolate bars transported me to my teenage years when my sister and I often travelled to Germany to visit friends and family living there.

I love how the authentic Milka bars have "garantiert 100% Alpenmilch" written on them. This means, the bars are made with 100% milk from the Alps - from cows living on the Alps, that is. If you've ever tried a wide assortment of brands from different parts of the world, you will slowly notice how (usually) European chocolate is so silky- smooth without a fatty aftertaste, rich yet not heavy and sweet yet not too sweet. It doesn't crumble and has a beautiful, soft smell, ...not rich or "cheesy". I can imagine many can't relate to these descriptions, but I had some pretty awesome chocolate, and some pretty crumbly, stinky chocolate too that simply tasted like plain sugar.

Did you know Milka chocolates and its purple cow are quite an "institution" in Germany? So much so that many Pre-K children believe cows are actually purple! (I heard about a fun study conducted on this, but have no certain facts about it) Totally believable, though, I find this to be adorable! It's heart warming for me to show my children the purple Milka cow and see them smiling and enjoying Milka chocolate; something that has always been a special treat when I was growing up!

Easter Time, no matter how religious we are, brings my family together and we enjoy a LOT of chocolate, good food, laughter and hugs. My Easter post will come tomorrow, but I thought my awesome sweet-memory-invoking-yay-delicious Milka bars were the most appropriate introduction to our Easter Sunday in my Blog world!

To sweeten or not to sweeten?

In my teens!
That's when I started consuming artificial sweeteners! Diet Coke became my favorite drink, and I had a passion for finding drinks and foods carrying the "diet" label on it. This was my effort to get in shape. I was mostly exposed to Aspartame (Equal) and Saccharin (Sweet'n Low). Sucralose (Splenda) came a few years later.

Well, forward quite a few years later, here I am today: I still enjoy my Diet Coke, although I may prefer Diet Pepsi. Not so hooked on artificial sweeteners at all, though. Nowadays I think a lot more about my health and the health of my family.

So I switched to Stevia!
Can't find Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi made with Stevia, but that's quite alright with me. I've been using Stevia to sweeten my coffee, occasionally to sweeten my hot tea, oatmeal, shakes, smoothies and sometimes fruit salads.

Do you know what Stevia is?
Have a look at the picture below:

Stevia is a plant grown in South America, which has been used by South Americans as a sweetener for hundreds of years! Before the FDA allowed it to be widely sold as we know it nowadays in supermarkets all around, it was sold and used mostly as a dietary supplement. Only in 2008 was Stevia granted the status of "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) by the FDA: mainly, one of the naturally occurring chemicals in Stevia, rebaudioside A, which plays a big part in "sweetening", was considered generally safe for consumption.

This sweetener is a non-caloric natural sweetener. It has a slightly bitter taste, but honestly, I don't mind it one bit. My quest is, however, to make sure I buy the purest form of Stevia available. And that's when marketing tricks us. Just because it's Stevia, it's not always all natural and pure. READ THE LABEL.

I used to buy "Truvia" (see picture), but switched over to Stevia in the Raw (also in picture), because Truvia contains an additional sugar alcohol that could have different (negative) effects on some people. It contains erythritol.
So, I immediately turned to the next available Stevia in my supermarket: "Stevia in the Raw".
Well, it contains Dextrose, a form of glucose, or, simply, a form of sugar. I thought this was at least better than a sugar alcohol like the one in TRuvia. Still not so satisfied with the lack of purity available, I researched online, and came across this option: "KAL Pure Stevia" (picture below).

I read many reviews and decided I will give this one a try. I will buy it at my local Vitamin Shoppe and will report back to you soon. Apparently, this is truly pure Stevia, sweetening more for less. Let's see! Bottom line is: Read the labels! My goal is to find good choices for my family! Not always is it possible to avoid Splenda, Aspartame or Saccharin, but we can try as much as possible. For now, I've been carrying little "Stevia in the Raw" packets in my purse, and use this in my coffees I get around town. At least it IS more natural than the other sugar substitutes, and that matters to me!

Creating our Family Movie Library

When my sister and I were little, growing up in Rio de Janeiro we had one favorite movie we kept watching over and over again: "The Sound of Music". It was a Family Favorite. We had a copy on VHS in English - I must have been around 6 years old, and I wouldn't start learning English for another 5 years from then. Somehow, though, we "understood" the whole thing, loved the music and the characters. We played my sister was Gretl and I was Liesl!

Now it's my turn to create Family Favorites with our kids! They are still very young (3 and 5), however, it's a marvelous thing to be able to sit together and watch a movie; a movie we love....over and over! And right now we sort of have to watch it over and over because the movie is often interrupted by the girls who all of a sudden decide it's time to play with dolls, it's time for a snack or it's not time to stay seated quietly and watch a movie at all! It's the age thing...

Here is our list, so far, of Family favorites which are becoming a staple in our home:

• The Sound of Music
• Mamma Mia!
• Mr. Popper's Penguins
• High School Musical 1,2 and 3
• Enchanted
• Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
• Annie
• All of the Beethoven movies (the dog!)
• All Shrek movies
• Tangled (Rapunzel)
• Camp Rock 1 and 2
• Princess Diaries 1 and 2
• Tinkerbell (all 3 movies)
• The Smurfs

Do you watch movies at home? Does your family have a few favorites?

I wonder which of these will really stay with us, especially with the children, and which of these will be talked about when they grow older. It's so interesting to see how many "new" things we start learning from a movie as we grow. Of course I did not understand everything in The Sound of Music when I was a child as I do today. A child's innocence is truly precious and nowadays I treasure how a movie "grew" with me. Oh, and let's not forget about books! I will leave that for another post!

Creating wonderful memories is certainly part of a great life!

Sweet Surprise!

I took one of our dogs, Bo, to the Vet last week. While waiting in the reception area for our turn, I was browsing through a People magazine. I think it was one of the February 2013 editions. By coincidence, I opened the magazine on a "great ideas" recipe page, a sweet surprise. There it was: These pretty, pink hearts made of pie crust! I immediately fell in love, looked over the recipe quickly and decided I wanted it! I took a picture of it with my cell phone and made it into a weekend project to make with the kids! The recipe is from Catherine McCord, cookbook author and food blogger.

The small, crusty and flaky tarts have a sweet & tart taste and just melt in your mouth! Great for when guests come over for coffee & tea, or to give as a gift (great hostess gift)! Or, just as we did here today, eat them up while playing! The girls loved it, and let me tell you, my 5 year old is a very picky eater!...

Well, we didn't have a large heart-shaped cookie cutter, just small ones, so I used a wine glass to cut out rounds. It worked just as well. There are no artificial colors in this recipe, which I love! The bright pink color is truly achieved with delicious raspberries! Here is a photo and the recipe follows:

RECIPE FOR RASPBERRY TARTS:

Equipment you will need:

• large, heart-shaped or round cookie cutter
• A cookie sheet
• parchment paper
• strainer / sieve
• spoons and whisk
• measuring cups & spoons
• fork, toothpick
• 2 small bowls
• a bit of flower 

Ingredients you will need:

• 1/2 cup plus 10-12 fresh or defrosted frozen raspberries
• 1/4 cup whipped cream cheese
• 1 tbsp. Agave Nectar (I used light, not amber) - recipe says you can also use honey
• 1 pkg. (14oz.) refrigerated pie crust
• 1 tbsp. water
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a bowl mash together, 1/2 cup raspberries, cream cheese and agave/honey until mixed well.
3. Unroll pie crust (2 rounds) on a very lightly flowered surface and cut out 20 shapes with your large cookie cutter.
4. Top 10 shapes with 2 tsps. of the raspberry mixture, leaving a 1/4 inch border.
5. Lightly brush border with some water.
6. Cover these 10 shapes with remaining 10 shapes.
7. Using a fork, gently press down on edges to seal.
8. With a toohpick, poke about 3 holes in each tart.
9. Place tarts on parchment-lined baking sheet.
10. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool completely. 
11. Meanwhile, place the 10 remaining raspberries in a strainer set over a bowl. Press down on raspberries to release the juice. Whisk in water and powdered sugar until icing is very smooth.
12. Spread on completely cooled tarts.
13. Icing will set and be glossy on tarts. 

We loved these over here!! They were super easy to do, and are truly yummy! I hope you and your family can enjoy them too!

So what's wrong in thinking "I want to be a princess"?

Many little girls, including my girls LOVE anything and everything that has to do with being a "princess".

To be a princess, in their little and young world, means pretty much having a happy life, filled with love, laughter, living in a big pink, purple, glittery castle with a handsome Prince, singing and dancing all day long and going to castle parties at night, having lots of loving pets that may even speak to you and beautiful dresses. It's a fantasy world, and one that completely fascinates them.

While this maybe unrealistic view of what it's like to be a princess is spread all over movies, cartoons, toys,  books, theme parks (all of which I love, by the way), it often serves them as a starting point to many games and activities. I truly don't believe this is bad at all.

January 2011

This creative, imaginary, fantasy play is not always supported by everybody, and just listen around, as many parents, caregivers and educators say things like "Don't be silly! This is just make-believe!" or "Sorry, honey, but there's no such thing as prince charming. One day you'll understand.." or even "Let's get back to reality and do something useful!". I am not a child educator, nor am I a child psychology expert. But, I'm a parent, and have 2 little girls at home. I don't need to feed them any negativity, really.

What makes me believe there is something wonderful about this princess fantasy is that it brings them a "certainty" there is GOOD in life, that if you believe in your dreams, yes, they can come true. It makes them believe that good always wins over bad. Don't you see? It's a very early way of teaching them that what you believe will make your life, and that you have the absolute right to believe you deserve nothing but the best. It's a very early way of demonstrating that doing good things in life pays off. The noise we adults create just shatters their innocent minds, little by little destroying their expectations and creating a much more negative view of life they end up carrying with them through their teens and adulthood.

In my opinion, let the little girls believe in their dreams, let them play princess dress-up and talk to their pets. There is nothing but goodness in their hearts and they nurture their little happy world like that. Granted, some little girls don't like to play with dolls,  watch princess movies and so on. That's perfectly fine, too. I just say, if they love it, nurture it. Nurture the thought that dreams can come true when you believe in them and when you act upon them. Help them understand that it is our duty to create a happy and fun life and that we do create our life. Playing princess and nurturing the good in life is fantastic and can bring to your little girl nothing but happiness. Let them feel these feelings as often as possible!

And when my little Nati tells me that "Rapunzel" bought her new shoes at Target, I go along with it, answering "Wow, Nati! This is very special! Now, did you go with Rapunzel? What else did you buy at Target? I bet you had a lot of fun!..." She giggles and there's nothing but happiness around.

Pack on the building blocks!

An Instagram picture I posted on a Qunioa Salad and a talk I had yesterday with my husband gave me the idea for today's post: Protein!I'd like to talk about protein, its importance as building blocks for our bodies and the deliciousness it can be!

First of all, let me briefly tell you I grew up a total meat-eater. Hamburgers were my favorite food, and my Mom's Ham & Cheese Lasagna was also always a hit at home! I loved a succulent filet and loved dining at Brazilian Steakhouses. That all changed in my 20's. I'm not here to preach anybody on Vegetarianism, mostly because it is a personal choice (my children aren't even Vegetarians) but, after long admitting my passion for animals and silently "suffering" with them, I started cutting back on eating meat. It hasn't happened too long ago and not all at once! In fact, in 2009, when I was pregnant with Nati, I craved and ate hamburgers from "Five Guys" every single week. Last year I decided I was ready to become a full Vegetarian. After 5 months on it, I decided to change and become a Pescatorian, or Pescetarian - I went back to eating fish (Salmon, Tuna, Sea Bass). That's it for meat. No other meat. Needless to say, my protein intake in that half year dropped immensely. Although working out a bit, I still didn't have the muscles I had in 2010 and 2011.

In 2010 I did a wonderful 12-week program called "Body for Life". It was by far the best exercise and nutrition program I had ever done in my life. Not only did I drop 10% of my body fat in only 12 weeks, but I also gained so much lean muscle mass. I kept it up a bit in 2011, but didn't maintain it properly, and now I am back to it again. I started the program 2 weeks ago, and so far, it's been awesome. Weight lifting and high intensity cardio are part of the program. Nothing impossible to do. And you get a day off! BUT, the biggest secret is the nutrition factor. And I saw it happening; I saw the magic happening in 2010. Muscles growing and strong Denise appearing!

The program and my personal Trainer (Brad Minns) taught me the importance of eating enough protein. Basically, to put on muscle, really, you gotta eat 1g of protein per pound (not Kilo!) of body weight. Right now I weigh 125 pounds, so, I should consume 125g of protein every day to increase my lean muscle mass, decrease my body fat and become lean. I have long been the "fake skinny", having low body weight but no muscles - which was the case when I first met Brad in 2010, weighing in at only 117 pounds. But my body fat % then was 28%!!! Wow! Super high body fat % with no muscles. Something was wrong. I changed that around and at the end of 12 weeks, I weighed 121 pounds with 18% fat - for my height, the borderline from normal to lean. I looked and felt so much stronger.

Without the higher intake of protein, I would have NEVER achieved those results. Eating clean along with it was a must, of course, so, cutting sugars and white flour, pasta, too much bread,...all that was minimal. Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated was a daily task, while eating every 3-4 hours became the norm. I was never hungry!

My point on protein is this, and this is what I've been reading all long: To maintain your muscles while casually working out, at least 0.8g per pound (not Kilo!) of body weight. To increase muscle mass, you must up this. You must fuel your muscles! You must give them the building blocks to GROW. I've done it, and I know it works. 1 to 1.5g of protein per pound of body weight!

Now, doing it again, I'm taking it up a notch, including supplements for exercising and adding protein shakes, which, oh my goodness, have SO much protein (30g!) and taste so great! Protein keeps you full and satisfied for a long time. Variety is key! Be creative!

Here a picture of a few great protein sources I use on a daily basis, low in fat, low in sugar, low in calories overall (I didn't take a picture of eggs, egg whites, cottage cheese, smoked  salmon, quinoa, tofu, soy, brown rice, beans, but all of these I consume as well!):

This Muscle Milk protein shake is DELICIOUS. 

Both "Oh Yeah" and "Power Crunch" bars are packed with protein and SO yummy.

Almond Butter is a great substitute for those with peanut allergies! 

I hope you enjoyed this post and hope you share the passion for a healthy lifestyle! One more secret: Don't be paranoid! The occasional "treat" is totally OK! Pizza, chocolate, ice cream, fries...we all have those faves!

WHY?

A questionnaire of honesty between your mind, your heart and your soul. Give it a try.

Why buy a pair of shoes that hurt you as soon as you put them on?
Why eat something that you don't really like?
Why dress to make a fashion statement when it's not actually your style?
Why date someone who doesn't make you laugh?
Why take a job because "at least it's a job"?
Why not *ask* if the worst that can happen is to receive a "no"?
Why drink or smoke just because others are doing it?
Why not try something new?
Why accept things the way they are because "that's the way they are"?
Why not fight for what you truly believe in?
Why give up and think "there's nothing I can do.."?
Why undermine your own power and abilities?
Why not believe you are indeed very talented?
Why attend a gathering you're not interested in?
Why buy something to make the sales person happy?
Why not ask for help when all you really want is help?
Why insist no advice given to you can ever be good?
Why believe you simply can't?
Why befriend someone who doesn't add value to your life?
Why not forgive?
Why choose negativity over positive thoughts?
Why do something you don't want to?
Why live in uncertainty?
Why not believe your dreams can come true?
Why not make decisions just because others have made them already?

Why settle for less when you can change all of this around? Why?   

We are fully responsible for our lives. 
At any point, we can say "No more". At any point we can start doing what is right for us and for our loved ones. At any point, we can ask for help. Don't accept it just the way it is. If you even think you should go against it, why are you not?

What is holding you back to BE the best human being you can ever be?

(Image found on Google Images)

Pure, Essential, Therapeutic and Kind!

Our sense of smell does wonderful things to us...From creating a cozy-yummy atmosphere in your home when the smell of a delicious home-cooked meal emerges from the kitchen, to your favorite perfume that inspires you to feel powerful at work or sensual at night...From the warm smell our little babies have to clean sheets or the fresh flowers in the park...You get the idea! What would we do if we weren't able to use our sense of smell to create a better life?

I have long been a fan of this amazing Aromatherapy company called "Aura Cacia". Aura Cacia was founded in 1981 and uses nothing but pure essential oils of high quality combined with a strong belief for ethical environmental sustainability, giving back, no animal testing and minimal animal by-products (just beeswax).

In a nutshell, Aromatherapy is the healing through the use of essential oils extracted from plants. Essential oils exist in leaves, blossoms, roots and seeds of plants. Usually, these oils are massaged on the skin or scalp or inhaled. Different oils are used for different purposes, and a combination of oils can be even more effective. Some can promote relaxation, while others help reduce inflammation or energize you and make you happier. Some make a small place become more welcoming and others help purify the air. From my understanding the key is to realize that essential oils are not the same as synthetic fragrances, which will not have the same effect. High quality essential oils will usually cost you more, however, they last for a long time. If you'd like to learn more about Aromatherapy, follow this link here.

These small spray bottles in the 2 photos I took are some of the Aura Cacia essential oils I have and use at home. I love them all, and it's impossible to choose a favorite one, as each serves a different purpose. If you read the labels, you'll understand what I mean.

I find they have worked well on my pets, as well. I spray (with "Chill Pill") the area they sleep in a bit before we all go to bed, and not only does it smell very pleasant, but it seems to calm them down. I do the same in our room and it works well for us and the kids.

At the office, I find myself using "Pep Talk" a lot, as it motivates and inspires me to focus on positive thinking.  You see, our sense of smell can be healing! And here a great travel tip: "First Response" purifies the surrounding air/area. It can be used in hotel rooms, meeting rooms, cars, rental cars and can even be used to purify your hands, and anything you touch, like a telephone, door knobs, remote controls! Isn't this great? I use it in my car all the time. Once a week, my 4 dogs "bombard" my car, and I often have a little mess from the kids in the back seat. This essential oil mist comes in very handy all the time!

Do something good for yourself and others and positively impact your surroundings. This is just an example... I have long believed and used Aromatherapy. It's wonderfully healing. Everything always smells so great!

Last but not least, there is something I love even more about Aura Cacia! It has a "Giving back" program, where they give 1% of their sales back to organic farmers around the world in order to help them build their small communities. You can find out more about the company and its giving back program by clicking here.

Oh, by the way...Aura Cacia products can be bought online through their web site, and at other retail stores. I bought mine at my local "Vitamin Shoppe"! It makes for great gifts!...

Make it special...

This weekend, make sure you make it special!

Make coffee time special and play with your senses. Have coffee outside in your garden, on the porch or by the lake. If it's cold, have coffee by the fire and play soft music. Sit on the floor with your pets or look at old family pictures. If the kids are around, have coffee while you color or while you watch a great family movie.

Make it special.
Start noticing more and more how each minute counts. Don't rush.

This is here at the house. My Brazilian Melitta "extra forte" coffee truly smells delicious! Did you notice the detail on the coffee mug? 

And if you don't like coffee, no problem...enjoy a great cup of tea! This reminds me...oh, how I'd love to enjoy a delicious Afternoon Tea one of these days again!

Happy Saturday morning and a beautiful weekend to all!

Little girls' nails deserve the BEST!

Little, tiny fingers deserve what's best out there!

My girls love getting their nails painted and we usually do this on the weekends! My biggest worry is not a matter of an early onset of excessive vanity (honestly, I came to the conclusion that little girls are born with a nice healthy dose of vanity!), but the toxic chemicals present in nail polish.

Let's be realistic here: Kids put their hands in their mouths all the time. I truly don't want them to be ingesting all of the bad stuff.

So, I came across 2 companies that make beautiful nail polish with less toxic chemicals than other well known brands.

I often use them on my nails as well, after all, hey, we deserve good stuff too, and you can see them in the picture below: Zoya and Butter LONDON

Zoya's natural nail polish doesn't contain toluene, formaldehyde, camphor or DBP (phthalates). This is GREAT! They have over 300 colors to choose from, and I wish Ulta, the store I purchase them at here in Florida, had a larger selection. Please note, Ulta's web site is not showing they distribte Zoya. I don't know if they will discontinue carrying the line, so I suggest you either look at their web site or try different local nail salons.

Butter LONDON follows a "3 free philosophy" and the nail polish they sell is also free of toluene, formaldehyde and DBP. The great thing about Butter LONDON is that they also have beautiful lip glosses.  You can find them all at Ulta as well!

Again, as I had mentioned in previous posts: I have no affiliation with either Zoya or Butter LONDON. I simply love the brands and enjoy showing them off here! Good things deserve to be mentioned more often!

My point is: If I'll be spending money on my girls, I'll do so wisely. That doesn't mean "expensive". It means being conscious of what I'm paying for. In this case, I'm looking for less harmful health impact combined with fun and the possibility to create wonderful memories together!

I know what we'll be doing tomorrow morning after breakfast!... :)