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!... :)

So, why Kindness?

When I was an Etiquette Consultant, I had a wide range of topics to talk about. All of them were coated with kindness. Kindness was always present. After leaving the Etiquette Consulting Industry, I didn't entirely let go: I held on as strongly as I could to Kindness. This was in 2010 and my life has continuously been directed by kindness ever since.

I noticed kindness came disguised as so many different values, actions and virtues: goodness, consideration, friendliness, charity, honest concern, positive attitude, joyful disposition, a smile, the right words at the right time, politeness, generosity, a hug, love, a helping hand and so much more.

I also noticed the kinder I was, the better I felt, immediately! NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
In addition, I noticed the more kindness I applied to my life, the more kindness happened to me in return. Again, no doubt about it. This has proven to be as true as it could be.

This is when I came up with the phrase "Be Kind. Feel Good.", that I still use nowadays, especially here as my Blog posts' signature. (More about "BKFG" later)

Simply put, when you act kindly, you WILL feel good. There is no way kindness coming from your part will EVER make you feel bad. It's impossible. If it does, then that act didn't truly come from the heart. Pay attention to this in your daily life.

I love how my daughter's school focuses so much on kindness. One of the classroom's rules states "My heart is kind" and kids are expected to respect that on a daily basis, from early on (we're talking about Pre-K age, 4-5 years old!).

If there's something GREAT in life that can truly enhance my life and the lives of my loved ones, I will do it. Kindness, while always having been used in my family when growing up, only became truly apparent and totally transparent to me as an adult, and this is the time when I can and will fully use it. Research has shown that (and I apologize for not being able to give you a correct citation at this time. I promise to look it up and post it when I find it!) when a person lives a kind life, meaning, consciously applies kindness on a daily basis, the brain's neurotransmitters in charge of activating feelings that make you relaxed and content are released. That's why when you're truly kind, you'll feel good for sure. I've been doing it for years, and so can you.

This Blog has Kindness as its theme. I don't want to just talk about random acts of kindness (which actually I haven't done yet!), but want to show you how Kindness can, indeed, be part of your daily life in pretty much all you do! From preparing meals and caring for your home, to making others feel good, to taking care of yourself, your family, friends and children, to finding meaningful and useful gifts, to checking out how businesses and others are making a difference and how you can help by practicing charity or what great products are out there that have that touch of kindness. Mostly, as a woman and a Mom, I know how hectic and super crazy life can be! Whether you work a lot, have children or pets as your babies, or a business as your baby, a demanding family overall, we CANNOT forget to be kind to ourselves. Be kind to yourself as well, and feel good, which will immediately have an enormously positive impact on your surroundings!

Hugs to all of you!

Save $ and Save Trees!

 Hey, you, living in the South of the U.S. who shops at Publix! This post is for you!

If you haven't been to Publix lately, pay them a visit. Before you go, however, go online to publix.com/coupons to carry your Publix coupons electronically with you, at all times! (They have slips at the cash register that explain the simple procedure)

No more forgetting coupons and no more wasting paper (yay!)! You create an account online with your basic info and cell phone number (a must), choose the coupons that you want to electronically "clip", and these are stored in your account. Then, you go shopping! Upon check out, the cashier enters your cell phone number and your coupons are right there, ready to be redeemed and matched against what you bought!
It took me 1 minute to register and a few extra minutes to "clip" my coupons. So cool!

Talk about GREAT convenience and making the best use of technology and being environmentally conscious in this global information age!
Publix just made shopping even more of a pleasure!

Your skin SO deserves this!

I got good feedback from some of you about my post on cosmetics. Nothing like being KIND to our skin, right?
As I had written before, I would have been a great research subject for any Dermatologist over the years. Read my other post (click here) to understand what I mean!

Ever since I can remember, my Mom has always taken very good care of her skin. She's well over 60 now and always receives compliments on her skin. The benefits of using the right products, the need to protect, exfoliate, treat and put time (an sometimes $) into a good skin regimen SHOW. Alright, some of us have great genes that help tremendously, but, let's face it, it's not always the case. At least not my case!

My Mom has taught me by example. Her diligent routine has allowed me to understand, over the years, the benefits of taking good care of our skin. Mostly, protecting it from environmental damage, like the sun, cold, pollution or dry and recycled air. No matter what phase in my skin situation I was in (puberty, adult acne, dry & flaky skin, allergies, sunburn, you name it), there was always something that could be done.

But all these cremes, lotions, serums, ...all this time and money spent! Yes...it's not always easy. The idea of keeping it simple is so appealing, but that will also depend on your skin type, your budget, the time commitment you want to put into it and your age!

There is ONE product, however, that I now LOVE with all my heart and wished I had started using a while ago. This one thing goes well for every skin type and I say that because it's part of a major step: cleansing. I'm sorry, but don't you dare put on anything on dirty skin. No, no. Go wash it first!

I can't picture my life without the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System. If you don't have one yet, either go get one now or save up (prices range from around US$120 to US$235) because IT IS THE BEST.

Our hands-on way of cleansing our face and neck doesn't get all the dirt and make-up off, and if we wanted to try, we'd be scrubbing for the longest time, irritating our skin and potentially damaging our skin's collagen. Because our gentle hands can't possibly do the real deal work, creams, serums and lotions have a bit more of a challenge penetrating our skin, jeopardizing how many benefits we're truly getting from all these products.

What I find with  the Clarisonic brush is that it's gentle brush massager truly cleanses the skin. I can even feel the water totally refreshing my pores. I'm not joking. I use the Clarisonic brush mornings and evenings, and use a bit of the gel cleanser from that brand (they have a good variety of gel cleansers to use with the brush).You wet your face, apply the gel cleanser, turn on your handheld Clarisonic brush and use light, circular motions over the face to cleanse it. Then, you rinse your face with water. Work wonders. It's quick and efficient.

Do something GOOD for yourself and invest in a Clarisonic Cleansing System. I honestly don't think you'll be disappointed at all. If you want to pass the kindness along, this makes for a grate birthday gift, Mother's day gift, Christmas gift, Valentine's gift, raffle prize, silent auction prize or even graduation prize!

Please note, these are my personal opinions on this product. I don't have any connections or affiliations with Clarisonic International. I'm simply a very happy customer spreading the word and sending out good vibes!
(picture of the product found in Google Images)

Happy cleansing, all!

Love your Home!

 I am no interior designer, but here are two simple ideas to make your house homier, and ...so easy to do! These are pictures from my house taken by me.

The first two pictures show a nice, simple accent to an extra bathroom you may have at home. These flowers are artificial, however, they have a very nice feel to them and look rich and silky! Take good care of them, and you can reuse them over the years in different rooms! They bring color and warmth to any small room! There are so many places where you can buy these inexpensive decorations for your home or office. I suggest looking at Target, Joann's, Pier 1 Imports, Macy's, Kohl's, Williams Sonoma or Bed Bath & Beyond. Many options for many budgets!

Another idea I had a few years ago was to create a decorative wall with pictures instead of paintings. It makes for a very personal touch to any space. It's art work filled with love, really! You can choose similar frames or very different, colorful ones. That is a matter of personal taste. You can hang them up symmetrically like I did, sort of creating a square with rectangular frames. I have another wall with the kids' pictures. This one is of our beloved pets (still a few missing on there!)!

I love art created by others an appreciate it very much. But this idea brings LOVE into your home!

Most pictures tell a story you can forever remember. There is nothing like creating long lasting memories that put a smile on your face! One note: Choose pictures taken from up close, so that you can easily recognize who's on it from far away.

Happy Monday, and have a fantastic week!

Pack on the nutrition!

Make any sandwich your kids and family eat SO MUCH MORE NUTRITIOUS!

Here is the thing: I have 2 little ones at home. One is a pretty picky eater (5 years old), while the other one (3 years old) is much more adventurous and will actually eat a greater variety of food.
Breakfast for the kids at home varies between cereal with unsweetened almond milk, fruits, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches or sandwiches with Nutella.

As the kids are growing, I try as much as possible to pack on nutrition wherever possible. I look for whole grain snacks (even if it's Goldfish - they have a whole grain variety!), whole grain breads or breads with nuts and juices that have vegetables in them. I stay away from High Fructose Corn Syrup (toxic for the entire body, especially the brain!) and try to buy as much organic as possible. My kids have been growing well, and I want to believe I'm doing a good thing for them!

So here it goes: See the picture below?
Before I spread on Nutella on each slice of whole grains bread, I sprinkle a good amount of whole ground Flaxseed meal on each slice. I then spread Nutella on the bread and again, sprinkle Flaxseed on each slice.
(Note for my Brazilian friends: Flaxseed is "linhaca"!)

One slice goes on top of the other, the edges are removed (yes, my kids don't like the edge!...no big news!) and I cut the Nutella sandwich in 4. Voila!

Here are some important benefits of Flaxseed:

• Great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, like Alpha-Linolenic Acid
• Very high levels of natural antioxidants called Lignans
• High levels of fiber, great for helping reduce the bad LDL cholesterol
• Protein: 2 tablespoons have 3g. Not a lot really, but a nice boost for non meat-eaters and children!
• Minerals such as Calcium and Iron

Note on Nutella: I am not very worried about the amount of sugar in Nutella, as the kids keep active, are growing and get tons of energy from this breakfast. I like to look at the benefits it contains, such as Calcium and Iron, Hazelnuts, no artificial colors and no artificial preservatives and the delicious taste, of course. Nonetheless, I am sure there is a much healthier, let's say less sugary alternative out there. So I'll make it my mission to look for one! I'll keep you posted! I will have to visit my beloved WholeFoods Supermarket for that! Yay!

For now, have a wonderful Sunday!

From my personal "Collection"!...

Don't we all have things we simply love? Some people are crazy about shoes. Others love journals and fancy pens. I have a friend who's the biggest "PEZ" collector (yes, the candy!...Hi, chica!)! We all have things, stuff, we love! These things make us happy, don't they?
I, for example, LOVE pajamas! If you know me, you didn't see this one coming, huh? I sort of collect pajamas! I use them, I really do! I'm a bit of a fake collector, guess. I USE my collections - I don't just leave them alone.
Another collection that I actively use is SOAPS! I LOVE soaps! The more, the merrier!

There are a few requirements for a soap to make it into may collection, though: It's gotta be "cruelty free" (not tested on animals" and should have the least amount of animal products (such as honey, goat milk etc) as possible. Handcrafted soaps are a big hit in my collection!

Some soaps I truly love come from two companies that are so hip and won't break your wallet: "Shea Moisture" and "Pharmacopia". The soaps from Shea Moisture are made in the U.S.A. and I find them at Walgreens and Target, while Pharmacopia soaps, made in Canada, I buy at The Vitamin Shoppe! You see, nothing that will require you to spend a lot. And the smell SO good!

Let me show you some examples of these great soaps that would also make great GIFTS!
Below you will see pictures of 4 soaps. It's so sad you can't smell them!...

While I love these 4 soaps, I'd like to point out the "African Black Soap" (great for troubled, combination skin - bumps on your back, anyone?). There is such an incredible story behind this soap! In 1912, Sofi Tucker started selling Shea Nuts at their local market in the small village of Bonthe, in Sierra Leone. When she was 19, this Mom of 4 and at that time widow, had a wide array of natural beauty products she was selling; all homemade! Sofi left a legacy, empowering disadvantaged women to follow their dreams of a bigger and brighter future! When you purchase these soaps from Shea Moisture, you're helping a wonderful cause! Isn't this simply amazing? Give the gift of kindness, to yourself and your loved ones!