Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Birthday Celebrations in Full Effect!! | PopSugar Turns 5 Years Old!!

Hey love bugs and happy August! As the summer draws to a close I begin to anticipate my upcoming birthday. It's always the perfect ending to the summer and also the beginning of the holiday season as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas come right around the corner after my special day. 

However, this month is extra special for another reason: POPSUGAR, a brand I believe we all know and love, is celebrating their very own birthday. The brand turns 5 years old this month (congrats to them!) and they have compiled a really special Must Have Box to celebrate. I'm excited to share the contents of the box with you guys because everything is so stinkin' cute and also for the very selfish reason that I can't wait to use some of these goodies on my own birthday!!



To sweeten the deal and make this review even more special, I'm sharing with you a some huge giveaway that PopSugar is hosting in August in celebration of their birthday! The giveaways are open to all current and new subscribers of PopSugar so be sure to subscribe HERE for your chance to win! Also, you can use the coupon code PARTY through August 31st to save $10 off your first Must Have Box! Oh, how I just love sharing giveaway opportunities with you guys!

Okay so here's the good stuff: 
Week #1 Some lucky subscribers will win a gift from Pehr Designs
Week #2 Some lucky subscribers will win a gift from First Aid Beauty
Week #3 Some lucky subscribers will win a gift from Kendra Scott
Week #4 Some lucky subscribers will win a gift from Tarte cosmetics (insert huge smiley face here lol)
Week #5 Some lucky subscribers will win a gift from Cambridge Satchel Co + 1 year of the Must Have Box subscription!!!!!

There are so many awesome prizes and so may chances to win!! I love the weekly breakdown too. It's as if your birthday comes every week for 5 weeks, how great would that actually be! 

I'm excited to also share more details (and pics!) about the August Must Have Box. PopSugar always puts so much dedication and thought into each box that they curate for their subscribers and I've made good use out of so many of the items included in their previous boxes (fun fact: I got my very first PopSugar box when the brand was just under a year old!)



I can't get over the cuteness of everything!!!!!



Let's start off with my absolute favorite items!! I LOVE entertaining and having impromptu and frequent dinner parties and this Pastel Cheers Lacquered tray is the absolute cutest thing, like, ever! It's the perfect size for a sweet treat and you guys know I'm allll about gold touches on anything. I love the saying and the fun polka dots too.



The star of the show, personally, are the candles! These Meri Meri Gold Glitter candles stole the cake for me. Again, gold flecks - LOVE - and the extra long length just makes the occasion feel extra special. I can not wait to use these on my own birthday cake this year!!!



As if that wasn't enough, the box is jam packed with even more goodies, including a beautiful Dogeared Friendship Bracelet and the First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Bouncy Mask (PS I have an obsession with skincare products - which I mention in basically every YouTube video where skincare is even remotely relevant lol). As a special bone PopSugar included a Shoptiques $25 gift card into the box.



Finally, my heart absolutely skipped a beat with these two awesome treats. The Goodie Girl Chocolate Chunk cookies were a rare and delicious indulgence that I decided to let myself have yesterday - it was so worth it! To make the box absolutely perfect, again in my opinion but hey this is my blog post, PopSugar included a Fringe Studio Journal. This journal was sponsored by Jeep and if you check out www.popsugar.com/breakthedawn you can get details on how to win your own 2017 Compass. Any giveaway that includes a Jeep as the prize is a great opportunity in my book. #breakthedawn #sweepstakes Beyond that, I'm a huge write weather it be journal entries, blog posts, to do lists, or any variation of words on paper (or screen). I believe so strongly in the power of writing and getting thought out of our heads and onto another medium that I was thrilled to see this included. The fact that it's Rose Gold! (yay) and says Free Spirit on the cover was just icing on the cake!

Overall, I'm absolutely ecstatic with the PopSugar August Must Have Box. I feel so blessed to get to work together with such amazing brands that I've gotten to know over the years, like PopSugar. Plus, let's be honest, opening this box felt like I was opening up an early birthday gift of my own.





Monday, May 22, 2017

My Magical Palm Springs Adventure | Desert Chic | Vacation OOTW

Hey Beautiful!

I finally sat down and imported all of the pictures from Palm Spring and I fell in love! I'm so excited to share some of the images with you guys today!

I was in Palm Springs, California earlier this month attending ClamourCon. I had an absolutely amazing time and learned SO MUCH! This was by far one of the best YouTube related conferences I have been to so far. Not to mention .... Palm Springs, in general, is just absolutely magical!!!! I felt like a fairy princess fluttering around in a beautiful dream.

The first night we arrived there was an awesome welcome reception. I wanted to wear something elegant yet comfortable at the same time. I also wanted something with that resort-life vacation type of feel. I opted for the perfect light blue pinstriped 2 piece set from the Tobi website. The color and pattern screamed sophisticated vacationer to me but the cut of the top is still young and fun. The structure in the pants and high waisted cut give a well put together look, while the fabric is soft for a comfortable feel.

I paired it with heels for the photos, and even climbed up the side of the building to get some good shots for you guys. BUT, for the actual reception I switched into sandals as you'll see in the last pic lol.

Jessica Simpson Heels
Aldo Sandals






The entire week was jam packed with events, activities, workshops, seminars, panels, just lots and lots of cool stuff!!! Here's a look at the romper I wore for the workshops one day. I've been really diggin' this denim blue color lately, can't you tell?

Tobi Romper
American Eagle Sandals





At the end of the ClamourCon event my photographer and I rented a convertible to drive from Palm Springs over to Los Angeles for the weekend. However, we Could Not leave Palm Springs without first stopping by Joshua Tree National Park. Here are some shots my outfit. I did wear heels for these pictures but took them off after because cute or not, walking around the desert in heels is not fun. I wanted a very boho chic feel for this look. The bodysuit creates a nice shape and the lace, color and flow of the skirt gives a very romantic feel. I think the floral pattern on the bodysuit also mirrors the romantic look so it was the perfect pairing to me. The hat and block heels felt like the finishing touches for a desert babe feel.

By the way, we rented a convertible specifically for this shot, and totally forgot to drop the top for the pictures! Total fail lol.

Aeropastale Bodysuit
Tobi Shorts
Simmi Shoes Similar
AMIClubWear Hat







 Now, I've always been a city girl, so having the chance to be in such a beautiful far-from-city-like-as-possible environment I definitely wanted to maximize on the photo opps. I did a quick outfit change into something less desert babe and more of a desert wildflower vibe. I paired a plain ribbed bodysuit with an :ahem ahem: light denim blue skirt. I love the waist band of the skirt especially. I added my flow child cat ears headband and was suddenly very disappointed in myself for having missed Coachella this year. On my feet, as is the case 95% of my life, I have my beloved skippies on. These shoes have been with me through many amazing moments so a mini hike through desert just had to be added to the list.

We hiked further in looking for the perfect set of rocks to shoot in front of, and trying to avoid scorpions and such. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Joshua Tree National Park then please walk into one of the hiking trails, even if you don't want to go far in. Walk in a bit, stand still, close your eyes and take a deep breathe. Listen to the Absolute Nothing and Silence that is. A bird may fly by here and there, a fly buzz by too close, and all these beautiful moments of complete quiet in between. It is the most absolute silence I've ever experienced and the most refreshing feeling ever. Seriously life changing. Here is my final look:

Plain Ribbed Bodysuit
Ked's Shoes









I hope you guys have enjoyed this mini travel photo diary post. It's amazing how we can share moments and experiences in so many ways, even through our outfit choices. I had fun styling these looks and being able to share some of the beautiful moments I experienced in Palm Springs with all of you!

I love you guys!






Saturday, April 1, 2017

Cute Affordable Planner Supplies Haul | Spring Themed Spreads

Happy Saturday my Babies!!!

Today I posted a bonus video on my channel, aside from my 3 scheduled uploads! It was a haul of super cute new planner supplies and stickers, all perfect for your spring spread needs!! Pretty stickers just make me so happy!! I'll leave the video here for you guys to check out.



I also wanted to create this post so you guys could have more detailed photos of the stickers, along with the direct links, if you're interested. Tryna make this planner addict life as easy as possible for ya! Lol.

PS The Inspiration Journal I showed in the video is not pictured below but here is the direct link if you're interested: Click Here

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That's all for today guys! I'll see you over on my YouTube channel on Monday fro another Wildcard Monday video. It's going to be a beauty themed video this week!!

See you soon!
xoxo,
Rocio

Friday, March 17, 2017

Metabolism BOOSTING Snacks | Simple No Bake | Healthy & Delicious

Hey Babies!!

Today, for my Fitness Friday segment on my YouTube channel, I shared a video showing you guys 3 super simple, no baking involved snack recipes to help BOOST you METABOLISM! These delicious little treats are packed with amazing ingredients that will help nourish your body and get you metabolism working for you!

I wanted to leave the recipes here as well so you guys could have them in an easy to read form, in addition to the actual video. Hope this helps!




Healthy "Nutella" Spread

Ingredients:
1/2 cup hazelnut butter or 1 cup if whole hazelnuts
1 15-ounce can of black beans, drained and rinsed
4 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp butter or coconut oil (plus 1 tbsp if using whole hazelnuts)
4 tbsp raw honey
2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt

Directions:
If using whole hazelnuts, finely chop them in a food processor.

Mix hazelnuts (butter or chopped), black beans, cocoa powder, butter or coconut oil, honey, vanilla extract and salt in a food processor.

That's it! Easy-Peasy! Store in a fridge for up to 3 weeks in an air tight container to avoid drying out.


Oat and Date Protein Bites

Ingredients:
1/2 cup peanut or other nut butter
1/2 cup finely chopped, bitten dates (about 6-8)
1/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
2 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp protein powder (of choice - vanilla or chocolate)
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tbsp coconut oil

Directions:
In a bowl, stir all the ingredients together until well combined. Use a spoon or mini ice cream scoop to scoop out small amounts. Use your hand to roll into circles or (trick) you can use a mini muffin pan for the shape.

Aaaaandd you're done! Enjoy them and refrigerate the leftovers!


No Bake Chocolate Almond Bars

Ingredients:
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup almond butter (I used peanut butter in the video)
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 cup rolled oats

Directions:
In a saucepan, heat the honey, coconut oil, nut butter, sea salt, vanilla extract and cinnamon over low heat until it all melts together.

Combine the chopped almonds, chopped walnuts, dark chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cranberries and rolled oats in a bowl.

Stir the wet (heated) and dry ingredients together until combined. Spread into a greased pan and press into the pan. Refrigerate until hardened. Cut into bar shapes and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Eat up, love bugs!

xoxo,
Rocio

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Eat MORE, LOSE Weight | Lose Belly Fat

Hey Beauties!





Today I uploaded a new video discussing 10 different SUPERfoods!! I wanted to create a written post to go along with it for those of you who would prefer to read the information, my visual "pen-to-paper/words-on-a-screen" kind of people.

Before I jump into the bullet points discussed in the video I want to note, there are more that 10 super foods that are excellent for your body, health, and weight loss goals! I picked 10 of the bunch just for time purposes to keep my video concise. These super foods actually aid you in losing weight and living a more healthy life. If you find this post and video interesting than use this as a spring board. Start here to try to incorporate more of these super foods into your daily habits. Once they've become part of your go-to for snacks or meals than do some research and pick out another 3-5 super foods that you want to try to incorporate into your meals. A little at a time leads to huge leaps and bounds over time!


10. Cherries: Combat against metabolic syndrome & heart disease
                    Lower cholesterol 
                    Reduce body fat
                   Anti-Oxidants & Anti-Aging benefits

9. Celery: Reduces the risk of ovarian cancer in women
                Full of calcium & Vitamin C which aids in weight loss
                Low in calories
                Full of fiber 
                Great for cleansing and detoxing your body of bad toxins


8. Cucumbers: Vitamin B & C, Great for healthy, glowing skin
                        Rich in fiber
                        Made up of 90% water, very refreshing snack
                        Low in calories
                       Great for detoxing the body


7. Tomatos: Low in calories
                   Reduce lipids in the blood, which then helps control belly fat
                   Fight against diseases caused by obesity
                  Vitamin A, C, iron, potassium
                  Fights cancer
                  Reduces wrinkles


6. Beans: Full of fiber which targets belly fat, breaks it down, removes it from your body
                Full of protein to help build muscle
                Helps you feel fuller for longer



5. Pineapple: Vitamin B6, C and fiber
                     Metabolizes proteins which lead to slimmer waist line
                     Anti-inflamatory, helps with bloating


4. Apples: Contain pectin which is a natural compound that once your body breaks it down a gel like
                  substance is formed. This gel helps trap dietary cholesterol and fat.
                  Full of dietary fiber, helps you feel fuller for longer
                 Antioxidants & Vitamin C, great to combat wrinkles


3. Watermelon: About 90% water, helps counter against water retention
                         Great for fighting bloating
                         Low in calories, low in fat
                         Contains Vitamins B1, B6, C, potassium, magnesium
                         Great for reducing body weight without altering muscle mass retention
                         Helps keep you feeling fuller for longer


2. Avocado: Help you feel fuller for longer
                    Full of HEALTHY fats that your body needs - polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats
                   Your body NEEDS Good Fats
                   Help manage body weight and curb appetite
                   Anti-aging, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties
1. Almonds: Contain GOOD fats your body needs
                    Help you feel fuller for longer
                   Great for combatting heart disease
                   High in fiber and magnesium
                   Help you build muscle


If you prefer to just sit back, watch and listen, here is the video for you guys to enjoy:

Okay love bugs, I hope this post was helpful! It's back to bed for me. You might have seen me share on social (@RocioLaura914 on IG) that I have been super sick this past week. I'm happy to say I'm doing much better today but still feeling really weak and tired. Time to rest up and finish recuperating my body from these past few days. I wish you all a super amazing weekend!

Talk soon! xoxo,
Rocio Laura

Monday, February 6, 2017

Extreme Weight Loss in ONLY 8 Hours?! The 8 Hour Diet

Hey Love Bugs!

I'm double posting tonight, but I really wanted to get this out to you asap. A few days ago I posted a video on my YouTube channel reviewing the book, "The 8 Hour Diet" by David Zinczenko and it's gotten a super positive response so far.

I've seen a bunch of questions being posted in my comment section and wanted to follow up with this blog post to share some more information with you guys. In a nut shell the 8 hour diet is quite simply: Eat within 8 hours in any given day. That's absolutely it! The book goes on to claim that you can eat whatever you want, and as much as you want - just keep it in that 8 hour time frame. I go into great detail in the video about the exact science behind this concept and Why It Works! The absolute best part of it is that you don't even have to do it every day - you totally CAN, but as stated in the book - as little as 3 days a week will provide extreme and awesome benefits and results!!


Here are some fast facts that can answer some of your questions:

* You CAN definitely drink water during the intermittent fasting period and its actually encouraged. The book suggest drinking at least 2 tall glasses of water within the first two hours of waking up. This will actually help to further boost your metabolism because it will get to work processing what you're ingesting, meanwhile it's just water. You're hydrating your cells and body but not adding in any calories.

* Being hungry and being thirsty feels the same. Sometimes we're really just thirsty but mistaken it for hunger. When you start to feel that, have some water or a hot drink to curb the hunger pangs for a while longer.

* Hot/Warm drinks can actually help to make you feel fuller for longer. Drinking coffee or tea during the fasting periods is also encouraged. The book even says that it's okay to add some milk or sugar if you must for taste. The amount of you add by putting milk/sugar/etc into your drink is not so much where it will deter your efforts.

One commenter also asked me to share the 7 day sample meal plan to give you an idea of what to eat. However, I want to reiterate that you can literally eat whatever you want. Don't get crazy on me now and go down 3 dozen donuts, a big Mac, and some deep fried oreos, BUT don't feel like you have to greatly change your eating habits or restrict yourself. Remember you get out what you put in, with everything in life.

With that said, I'm going to re-type the exact sample meal plan from the book for those interested. This is directly from chapter 6, page 103 in the book. Many of these meal ideas are included in the recipe chapter in full detail.

Sunday:
Breakfast/Brunch - Huevos Rancheros
Snack #1 - cantaloupe and ham
Lunch - The Ultimate Burger
Snack #2 - oatmeal cookie and a glass of 2% milk
Dinner - Loaded Alfredo with Chicken and Vegetables

Monday:
Breakfast/Brunch - Papaya Berry smoothie
Snack #1 - pear and slices of Brie
Lunch - Chicken Salad Sandwich with Curry and Raisins
Snack #2 - cup of tomato soup
Dinner - Shrimp Scampi

Tuesday:
Breakfast/Brunch - Sunrise Sandwich with Turkey, Cheddar & Guacamole
Snack #1 - sliced tomato with fresh mozarella
Lunch - Spinach and Ham Quiche
Snack #2 - square of dark chocolate
Dinner - Seared Sirloin with Red Wine Mushrooms

Wednesday:
Breakfast/Brunch - The Caffeinated Banana Smoothie
Snack #1 - whole wheat toast with peanut butter
Lunch - Pesto-Tuna Melt
Snack #2 - Triscuits with ham and Swiss
Dinner - Chili-Mango Chicken

Thursday:
Breakfast/Brunch - Oatmeal with Peanut Butter and Banana
Snack #1 - Greek yogurt with chopped strawberries
Lunch - Chinese Chicken Salad
Snack #2 - Chips and Salsa
Dinner - Honey-Mustard Salmon with Roasted Asparagus

Friday:
Breakfast/Brunch - Yogurt Parfait
Snack #1 - pita with hummus
Lunch - Turkey, Bacon, Guacamole Sandwich
Snack #2 - almonds and grapes
Dinner - Super Supreme Pizza

Saturday:
Breakfast/Brunch - Blueberry Pancakes
Snack #1 - bowl of Cheerios with sliced banana
Lunch - Chicken White-Bean Chili
Snack #2 - chips and guacamole
Dinner - Grilled Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

Remember this is just a SAMPLE. This is an easy peasy diet that can work for you and your lifestyle. There are some general guidelines to follow, as I discussed in the video (8 Powerfoods concept) but you can essentially mold this seamlessly into the life you already live. For example, I follow a mostly plant-based diet. I can still implement the 8 hour eating window with my current dietary customs. Start with the 8 hours and then slowly make further, healthier changes. As you see results and progress you gain more motivation and are driven to make more positive changes. Don't stress yourself out thinking you have to have, be and do all at once. It's like a snowball effect, let your momentum grow on it's own and it will be so easy to just flow toward a healthier life!

I hope this follow up blog post was helpful to you guys and provided some supplemental information! Don't forget to check out the video for much more. If you are interested in the book here is a link to it on amazing: The 8 Hour Diet book

So much love to all of you and bets of luck on your own fitness journeys!

xoxo,
Rocio Laura


P.S. I talked about the idea of an 8 minute workout in the video as well. I see that so many of you have been interested in a follow up video sharing the 8 minute workout routines so I will be creating that for you guys later this month! xoxo

Who Doesn't Love FREE Stuff?!

Hey My Babiessssss!!!

Happy Monday! Today has been an uber productive day on my end. I've been knocking things off my to-do list left and right. Such! An! Amazing! Feeling!

I definitely wanted to optimize on this natural high and dedicate some time to my blog today. I've been wanting to get this post up for about a week now and share some new goodies with you guys.

I shared a video with you guys some time ago about a company called Pinch Me that offers the opportunity to get a box full of absolutely FREE stuff! Yes, FREE, no strings attached, no hidden anything. I'll leave the video below if you missed it, but essentially you sign up and become a "pincher". From there you can fill out a couple of quizzes to complete your profile and get matched up with free items from a large array of different brands that you already know and love. This is a great opportunity to try out new products from some amazing brands.

I especially like the box because it's not your classic 'beauty box'. As I - slowly - try to move towards a more minimalistic lifestyle I find that I don't necessarily need 57 shades of nude lipstick and such. Pinch Me offers things that fit into whatever lifestyle you live. It matches you with items you will definitely get use out of. Today I want to share some unboxing pics of what was included in the latest "Sample Tuesday" box.

Sign up for your FREE PINCHme sample box here: http://pmgi.go2cloud.org/SHNc




I don't know about you but I always have a first aid kit in my car and one in the house. I found the cutest first aid cases at Target a while back and got like 3 of them. I have them filled with all the essentials for me and my family. My kits definitely include benadryl since I'm super allergic to bug bites and other things that my family tends to need so I keep on hand. I was super excited to see this in the box and immediately added it to my car first aid kit. Having a little one, it's always important to plan ahead. Children can dehydrate quickly, especially when they're sick or have a fever. This is the perfect quick solution until you can get yourself to a store and buy them some pedialyte or such. As an adult, and an avid raver, this is also a great thing to have handy for hot summer days spent dancing under the sun.

Just because I don't necessarily NEED more beauty items, that doesn't mean I don't love them. #girlproblems I like that the beauty items go beyond just makeup to include skin and body care as well. I also love the sample sizes because they are great for travel!

Here's where I got super excited!! Home cleaning items!!! Hoorah!!! Me mom and I were literally fighting over these two goodies when the box first arrived, We've been using the dish cloth everyday and loving how durable it is and how easily it scrapes off any residue. Since we don't own a dishwasher I can especially appreciate items that help make washing dishes easier, without having to pour 80% of my strength into vigorous scrubbing.

See those bumps ... Those bumps are awesome! :)


Here's my previous video in case you guys missed it:

Alright love bugs, I hope you've enjoyed this quick little post. I'm off to keep pouring through my to-do list. On that list for tonight is to map out my future blog post ideas for February, so stay tuned for that!

xoxo,
Rocio Laura





 
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