Happy Valentine's Day!

Since it is Valentine's Day, I thought I would share this body scrub with you all. It will leave your skin super soft and energized. Try it but don't eat it. Or at least try not to eat it. 


Mocha Coffee Body Scrub:

1/2 Cup Raw Sugar
1/2 Cup Coffee Grounds
3/4 Cup Coconut Oil (Hard)
2 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
You may add a few drops of Vanilla, Hazelnut or Almond extract to give it your favorite coffee scent. 


NOTE: Try to use Pure/All Natural extracts or essential oils that won't agitate skin. Last thing you won't is a skin reaction.


May your hearts be just a little extra full this Valentine's Day. Blessings and Love to all. #Valentinesday2016 #skinscrub #skincare #diyskincare 


As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!




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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my family to YOURS. My this holiday remind you of the importance of love and forgiveness, kindness and selflessness as well as courage and compassion. Live YOUR truth. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful.

Christmas Prep time is here.

Christmas, Christmas Christmas is here!

Super excited this year to wake up in the morning and watch the kids dig into their gifts. They are finally old enough to start to experience the joy of the holidays together.

Since the little ones are still in destruction mode, I decided to skip the traditional tree to avoid precious ornaments being broken. Went with a "Frosty the Snowman" themed tree, thank you Pinterest. First I purchased a pre-lit white Christmas tree at Walmart ($40). Never thought I'd ever have a white tree. Then I spray painted some pouch caps and styrofoam rounds black (Walmart $3) for the "coal" and a cylinder orange for the nose. My little boy got at one of the buttons so there are only two belly buttons now. Couldn't find a large enough button for the nose. Improvised with the look of a carrot. Found the hat and scarf at Target in the discount section and used my own rain boots. Tossed some fluff and white tinsel on floor and "Ta da!" Done.

Our Tree version of Frosty the Snowman

Yes, he doesn't have arms. That's only because it's been raining so much here on and off since the flood that the trees haven't had a chance to dry out. And though I contemplated putting them on, I figured they would just end up on floor and kids would wack one another with it. Which is exactly why I am okay with that decision not to give him arms. 

Super glad I went this route for them. They touch the tree a bit to much for my liking. So all my precious ornaments that I have collected through the years or inherited will remain safe, at least this year.  My daughter is always trying to plug it in, screaming "Poopy tree light." I'll explain that in a minute. Or I will find the tree in the middle of the living room because my little boy has pulled it away from its original placement. Tinsel in another room or someone wearing the boots. It's all in good fun and I am glad to see them enjoying the tree even if it means they may play a small part in destroying it. 

I want to explain why my daughter calls the Christmas tree a "Poopy tree". She recently watched Charlie Brown's Christmas but for some reason she connects the movie only with Snoopy. She doesn't call snoopy, snoopy, she calls him "Poopy". And it's with this thinking that I believe that this is why she calls it not the Charlie Brown Christmas tree but the "Poopy tree". It's adorable but we are still teaching her how to say it right and she gets it right more often now.

This will be a quiet holiday as we spend it just our immediate family at home. Still working on what Christmas dinner will be. Not sure I will host Christmas brunch either this year do to some scheduling issues with my husbands job. Plus my time management is awful this month but I will do my best to make it special for them. Once they have gifts they won't care much about anything else anyway. So no pressure. 

If you would like to pamper yourself to release the stress of the holiday try this mask after cleansing. It is a mild exfoliant and humectant so your skin will fell soft and look bright. 

Ginger and Spice mask

1 Tbsp Organic Plain Greek yogurt

1 Tbsp Organic Pumpkin purée

1/2 Tbsp All natural Pumpkin spice

Apply thin layer to face. (I use a facial brush)  Let dry. Try not to eat it off your face. Wipe with lukewarm water and wash cloth. (Don't rub skin to hard. Gently cleanse away.) Any extra can be saved in fridge for next day. Or I like to use in my hair to brighten and nourish it, just add 1Tbsp Coconut Oil. Smells yum too. 

Hope you all are enjoying the prepping for the holidays. 

Please take a moment to comment, like, share or Google+ my post. Thanks so much.

And as always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!
#DIYSkincare #DIYskinmasks 

A Note of Thanks

This Thanksgiving, I would like to give a note of thanks to those close to me. For my friends and family that have kept ties to me despite the move and all the changes in the past 2 years.

We are blessed to have such a great support system here and to those we kept up North (you know who you are), thank you. Thank you for answering the phone or calling back. For listening to me when I needed an ear or talking just when I needed a distraction from my life. For making trips down to visit when budgets and time are tight.

To my family here, mom, dad, M and Ant, I can never express how grateful we are enough. For coming to my aid on more then one occasion. For answering my every homeowner question. To being better grandparents then perhaps parents. (So jealous. Haha!) My husband and I are forever appreciative of all you have done and continue to do. We know you don't do it for us so much but for the kids so we are all the more thankful.

That's me bottom left.

A special note to my dad who celebrates his 75th birthday today.

Dad you came to America with only a small suitcase and $30 in your pocket. As a son of a farmer from Dominican Republic you came with a dream. Later, you found mom, got married and started to have a family. In the midst of that you brought over relative after relative and started your own business. You continued to help your family back home while building a life for yourself in the United States.

When you look back on these past 75 years, I hope your heart is filled with pride. I know you are not a perfect man but you have been the best father you knew to be and I never felt less from you. Thank you for all you have given me. Thank you for all that you have given to so many. Without you, many people would be living very different lives.

I love you dad. This Thanksgiving, I hope you see and feel that from us all.

To my big brother, I simply say, I love you always.

Happy Thanksgiving.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy, Be Beautiful! 

It’s PEEL season!!

When the leaves start to fall off the trees, I am reminded of one thing...It's Peel season!

Many of you would like to go to a spa or doctor to turn back the clock but maybe you don't feel you have the time or more importantly, the money to do so. I hear you! Though I believe that peels should be done by professionals, especially the more powerful levels, more and more companies are offering them to non-skin care professionals.  Why? Mostly because people just don't seem to have the time anymore  or money to get it done and at home treatments seems to be the latest movement for DIYers.  There are many different companies out there that sell at-home chemical peel kits. Some of which I have spoken about but be careful, not all peels are of the same quality. 

Chemical skin peels are made up of different strengths for different skin types or concerns. Some can be used by the majority of skin types for mild exfoliation while others are way more specific. Be sure you know what's going on with your skin before attempting one of these at home. If you have open soars or cuts wait until your skin has healed to do a peel. Start off with a very low percentage then work your way up gradually to layering or a stronger peel. Glycolic and Salicylic Acid peels are most common for beginners at 3-50%. TCA 70% or Blue Peels are some of the strongest and harshest peels but those are only done by professionals. For newbies, I like to try an Apple Cider Vinegar peel weeks before to gage how sensitive their skin is and may become. (Give your skin at least a week to heal from Apple Cider Vinegar peel before you try any chemical peel.)

That being said, there are those of you that will still jump right in without testing the waters. So for you, I recommend to please start off low and slow. Work your way up in timed layers. If you are the type of person that thinks, "if it hurts, it must be working", get a licensed professional to do this for you. You may leave it on to long and cause serious and perhaps permanent damage to your skin. Be smart and honest with yourself. Look at your needs as well as your limitations. If you want great skin, take your time to read the instructions and follow them accurately. No short cuts or thinking excess is better when it comes to at-home Chemical Peels. 

There are a few chemical peel companies out there that I have tried and I am okay with recommending. The percentages offered are less then a dermatologists office could offer but they still can cause harm, so again, PROCEED WITH CAUTION. 

Still want to try it on your own? Though I am a bit careful with people that want to do at-home peels, there are great products out there. The key is not to get carried away applying to much, to quickly, to often. 

Now to the brand I currently like and use. 

Perfect Image. Their chemical peels do the job and their recovery products are just as great. This company is strictly about the chemical peel process and skin recovery. They sell and recommend their product lines based on that commitment. The product lines are paraben free, sulfate free, and phthalate free. As an added bonus for you PETA fans, they are cruelty free as well. They have a great Sampler Pack option for those who want to work their way up to a stronger peel. 

As you are looking to shed that summer dry skin, remove sun spots, minimize wrinkles or prep your skin for winter, peels are great for that. You can start anew and have glowing skin all winter long if you follow the instructions, keep a good skin care regimen, exercise regularly, rest well and hydrate both from the inside and out. Also remember that the skin adjusts seasonally,  take that into consideration when looking into peels and the after peel care. I can't say this enough, always apply sunscreen, year round. Especially after doing a chemical peel. 

Before you start any skin care regimen, ask your doctor if there is any reason you shouldn't and learn what would work best for you. Hope you found this informative. Should you have any questions about this or any other skin care related questions, please comment below and I will answer them. 

Please take a moment to comment, Like, Share or Google+ my posts. Thanks so much.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

Working hard...

Where have I been? It's like I fell into a hole or something, right? Well I have been kept busy and working hard trying to raise a happy family, strong marriage and keep my sanity. Emphasis on sanity.

I would like to tell you that I have had time this summer to watch my flowers grow. That I sat back and relaxed. That would be a lie. I literally have to take pictures of my flowers so I can remind myself that I have a garden. Which is beautiful by the way.

My goodness I have been busy with these kids so much lately. Especially now that they have more going on during the school year. Tending to a million things and needs all at once. Sometimes I even surprise myself by the amount of work I can accomplish with them. However, I often forget myself and my needs in the process. I'm sure if you are a devoted mom (parent) you know exactly what I mean. You become a master juggler for sure. Daily tasks, doing your best not to drop a ball or in my case, a child.

That's where I am at theses days but I have taken some time to continue to tinker with a skin care idea I have. So that is in development and testing stage. I have a few people using it and at the end of 30 days, they will let me know what they think and if tweaking needs to be made. Then I have to pick a name, price out cost for production (at home) starting way small and then a push to build demand. I love it but I have to get all of you to love it too. 

Also in the works, is a children's book that I have written about twins. A great friend of mine will be illustrating for me. If all goes well, we might be able to put it up for sale by Christmas 2016. Fingers crossed!! 

In any case, that is what I have been up to. Would love to hear from some of you? How do you manage to take care of your family and meet your own personal needs or goals? Curious.

Please take a moment to comment, Like, Share and subscribe to my posts. Thanks so much for coming by.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

My Cali Style Burger

Light Cali Style Burger

So I love grilling outdoors but I don't always enjoy the heaviness of a burger and hot dogs just don't sit well for me anymore. Yet sometimes, I want the burger feel. You know what I mean? The wrapping your hands around freshly warmed buns and that first bite of what feels like summer. However, sometimes that delicious burger you just bit into leaves you feeling like you swallowed a brick and can't digest it without a gallon of seltzer.

My goal was to come up with something that could freeze as easy as a beef or turkey burger and grill as equally fast. My solution, a light Salmon burger garnished with Guacamole, tomato and Kale sprouts. It's oh so good tasting and oh so good for you.

Here's the thing you could bake some salmon and then make the burgers (more power to you) but I also wanted to save time in the process. So although I usually try to avoid most canned foods, this was a corner I was willing to cut to save time and money.

Recipe to my Cali Style Burger
Makes about 10 patties

2 Cans     Wild Alaskan Salmon (1lb Fresh Sockeye Salmon)
1/4 Cup   Italian Style Bread crumbs
1/4 Cup   Olive Oil Mayonnaise
1 tbsp      Minced Garlic
1 tbsp      Lemon Juice
1/4 tsp     Fresh Rosemary Chopped
1/4 tsp     Salt (optional)
1/4 tsp     Black pepper

Mix with hands and let rest in refrigerator for at least an hour before making into patties. Cook however you like. I usually precook them on stove to ensure they stay together and then freeze for another day. To warm up, I defrost night before and put on the grill or microwave.

To garnish, I like them best with Avocado, Kale Sprouts and Tomato for that extra kick of healthy. It's delicious! Trust me you will love them. Let me know if you have tried it would love to hear from you. And if you put your own twist on it. Always happy to hear new ways of making things.

Please take a moment to comment, Like, Share or Google+ my posts. Thanks so much for coming by.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!