Chia Seeds Smoothie

What a better way than starting your day with a healthy smoothie? For this recipe you will need:

1 banana
1 apple
1 mango
1 tablespoon of chia seeds
1 cup of water

Soak the tablespoon of chia seeds in one cup of water for about 10 minutes. Peel and cut the rest of the ingredients in small portions and add them to a blender. I prefer to use my NutriBullet for this recipe and I blend for about a minute. Once you are done, serve and drink!

Note: If you prefer a cold smoothie, you can freeze the fruits the night before.

Ipsy - September Glam Bag

I have been subscribed to Ipsy for a few months now but I couldn't resist blogging about this September Glam Bag. It has been my favorite in terms of design and content. I think it is very elegant and I would definitely be using these products. I am looking forward to reviewing them in more detail!

Green Healthy Smoothie Recipe

One of my goals this year is to try to eat healthier and cut my "bad" sugar intake at least in half. I have tried creating different options for breakfast and a green smoothie is the easiest thing for me to do, specially because it doesn't require a lot of time. I have to say that I have experimented with different ingredients and some of them just taste not good when mixed together, but the next recipe is one that is acceptable to my taste : ).

You will need:

A handful of fresh spinach
Half a banana
A small red apple
Half a cup of water
A hint of lemon juice (about two tablespoons)

Cut the ingredients into small pieces and blend them all together until you reach a smooth consistency. You will end up with a smoothie that you can have on the go, if you are busy like me, and it only takes about 5 minutes. If you would like yours cold, you can freeze the banana but I prefer mine at room temperature in the winter.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer

I have finally reached the end of the bottle with this product that I have been using since the end of summer. This is a good moisturizer with a creamy texture and a pleasant soft smell. It has SPF 15 so it is great for daily use. I use it every morning and I can see a healthy glow every time I apply it. At first, it feels rich and greasy on the skin but it absorbs very quickly and has a light weight finish. I usually use foundation on top of this product and my skin stays hydrated for most part of the day. I have an oily to combination skin so one of my concerns is to find moisturizers that do not break me out. So far this product doesn't break me out. Would I repurchase it? Yes...

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum Review

Very few products make me want to write about them after being tested, but I definitely had to give you a more in-depth review of the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum. I mentioned this briefly in my previous blog post and it is on my list of products that I need to repurchase. I used the very last drop of it!

This serum claims to give you firmer skin in five days. You can use it in the morning or at night, but I only used it as a night treatment by itself. You only need about two pumps of the serum for entire face so it will last you for a while.  The product itself feels very light and the consistency is not too creamy or too liquid. In my opinion, it has a pearly finish once it comes out of the packaging. One of the advantages of this serum is that it sinks quickly into the skin, which is a big factor for me when it comes to buying skin care creams or serums ( I do not like the sticky or oily feeling that some night skincare products have). In terms of the fragrance, I can't really remember, but I can assure you that it wasn't unpleasant, otherwise I would not repurchase it. Does this product live up to its claims? Yes it does! While using it, I noticed an improvement in my skin. It looked healthier, with a subtle glow and firmer to the touch. I don't know if it is the amino-peptide ingredient what does the job for me or something else. I say this because I remember trying out the Mario Badescu Peptide Renewal Serum and experiencing similar results. The good thing about the Olay Regenerist is that it does a similar job for me when compared to the Mario Badescu Serum and it is a lot more affordable. You can get 1.7 fluid oz of the Olay serum for about $25, while the Mario Badescu one costs about $45 for 1 oz. The links are down below in case you want to check them out for yourself. You just need to click on them and you will be re-directed to some of the websites where you can buy these products.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum
Mario Badescu Peptide Renewal Serum

As always, thanks for reading and I wish you are having a great day ;)

Summer Makeup and Skin Care Favorites

Make up is one of my passions and this summer I have discovered some products that have become my favorites. I have been using them on a daily basis and I have fallen in love with them! Not only are they good, but they are also affordable if you are not ready to spend lots of money on high end products. My favorite, out all the ones in the picture, has to be the Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging Serum. This product claims to give you firmer skin in five days and that is exactly what it did to my skin. After using it, I noticed that my skin looked younger, more glowing and firm. I have already run out of it but I'm repurchasing it as soon as possible. I also like the Maybelline Fit Me concealer. It is such a creamy concealer and it has the right coverage for me! It is also good to cover dark circles under the eyes since it doesn't accentuate any fine lines that might already be present. I could keep going on and on about how much I like these products but I'm just going to say that I highly recommend them if you are looking to try something new and do not want to spend a lot of money. What are your skin care and makeup favorites? I am always on the hunt for new products :D

 

 

How to Make Locrio Dominicano

Locrio is one of the typical dishes found in the Dominican culture. It is easy to make and when done right, it tastes good. Below is the recipe so you can make it. I hope you have fun cooking it. Enjoy!

Ingredients You Will Need:

 

1 Cup of green olives

4 Tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil

1 Red pepper

1 Green pepper

2 Cubes of chicken flavor Maggie

2 Cups of finely chopped coriander/silantro

2 Cups of chopped celery

2 Cups of chopped onion

3 Cloves of mashed or finely chopped garlic

3 Tablespoons of tomato paste

3 Tablespoons of white vinegar

4 Cups of rice (You can add more but keep in mind to double the amount of the other ingredients)

A few pieces of chicken

Salt and black pepper to taste

 

Preparation:

 

Clean your chicken pieces with salt and lemon. Once your chicken is clean, put it on a pot and add the olives, red and green peppers, onion, celery, garlic, vinegar and the tomato paste. Cover the pot and let the chicken absorb the flavors of the ingredients for at least an hour (you can do this the night before, put it in the refrigerator and cook it the next day). Heat up a pan in which you can cook rice and add the 4 tablespoons of oil. Wait until the oil is hot and then add the chicken that has been marinated for at least an hour or overnight. At this point, you need to stir continuously so that the ingredients do not burn or stick to the pan. Continue to stir fry for about 10 minutes or until the chicken has some color to it. You can add more oil and tomato paste, if needed. After that, add some water to cook the chicken. You should keep in mind the amount of rice you will cook when adding the water. Let the chicken boil for about 10 to 15 minutes and meanwhile add the 2 cubes of chicken flavor Maggie or Knorr. Make sure the cubes dissolve. Also add salt and pepper to taste. Rinse the rice and add it to the boiling chicken mixture after the chicken has been boiling for 10 or 15 minutes. Cook it as you would normally cook rice and make sure you taste it to see if you need more salt. Then, add some of the chopped coriander and cover it. Lower the heat so the rice doesn't burn at the bottom, this would ruin the flavor. Cook it for about about 15 minutes. Once you are ready to serve the Locrio, add some of the chopped coriander for a nice aroma and flavor.

 

Tips: It can be served by itself or with a fresh green salad. Keep in mind that you do not want to add too much water to the chicken cause otherwise the rice will be overcooked.