Hey guys! Let's talk about one of my favorite subjects - bloating. I'm obsessed with this subject because it's been one of my longest struggles to figure out. Long story short, I went on a wellness journey to try to figure out what caused my bloating discomfort. For the record, bloating is completely normal. Pain from bloating, maybeeee not haha. The first time I spoke to a doctor about it, he said, "Well you're a skinny girl. Your stomach is going to naturally grow as you eat" which now looking back, was the most rude thing to say to a patient who had zero health education. It could've been a serious matter and he didn't even bother to listen. I felt so completely shut down, so I never asked about it again. I did get a new doctor though and my new one is my forced best friend. Anyway, when bloating started interfering with my daily life (what I wore, self consciousness over what I ate, feeling excessively full after very little food)  I knew I had to do something. So I started my research and asking questions! Through it all, I found a lot of what I was feeling perhaps had to do with intestinal issues that I 100% was not paying attention to. Gut health, listening to my body and keeping track of what didn't agree went right over my head and that was the problem. 

Turmeric Latte Recipe

Hey hey! I couldn't possibly jump into yet ANOTHER month without an update on here and boy do I have an UPDATE! Here's my big announcement that I might take back the second I go back to working in an office. My news is I don't think I'm a coffee kind of girl anymore - huh and how is that even possible? Here's why!

My Favorite Place in Orange County with sixthreezero Bike Co.

Hey hey! With Earth Week going strong this week, taking time to participate in eco-friendly activities is definitely something that should be on everyone's to-do list.  From walking to work, to bike riding to turning lights off and using less water, there is so much you can do to contribute to this holiday.  In honor of Mother Nature, I partnered up with my friends at sixthreezero Bike Co. to talk all about my favorite place EVER to take an afternoon ride in.  If you haven't become familiar with sixthreezero, they are a premier beach bicycle brand based out of LA that specialize in comfort, style, customized bikes and my favorite, bikes with an easy assembly process.  Seriously though, these bikes come 80% built and if it wasn't for my adorable dad that loves to build things in seconds, I would've so done this myself.  Living near beach cities always required some kind of bike, especially a beach cruiser.  When I saw their colorful bikes, I nearly dropped to the floor over how ADORABLE they were.  Can you even use adorable and bike in the same sentence?  I'm sure sixthreezero wouldn't mind because their bikes are so gram-worthy!  Anyway, I got to take one of their cruisers down to my favorite place and purposefully wore a dress and sneakers to snap all the fun pictures in!  Can you blame a girl!?  Anyway, let's get into the nitty gritty!

Wedding Diet Breakfast

Shop Maker Oats Products Here

Hello!  With mine and Martin's big day coming up next year, getting fit for the wedding has become no joke.  What is it about wanting to look good for all the festivities and why is this such a thing!?  I've always generally thought about my health and been conscious of what I've ate, but this time it feels like such a challenge.  My current wedding diet isn't anything crazy, it just consists of eating meals at certain times of the day.  Getting used to this schedule is difficult considering my days are really busy and I love to forget to eat breakfast haha.  In the past, I've been successful with overnight oats as my breakfast, so I decided to give this another try.  First of all, oats are very good for you and super easy to whip up - literally just requires a container, milk and oats.  Overnight oats are such an awesome option for me because it's literally on-the-go breakfast and for a busy girl like myself, I need something hearty and available when I need it haha.

Overnight oats brand, Maker Oats, released three super delicious flavors that I got to try out and I'm already hooked.  Not only am I hooked on it's taste, but hooked on how easy it is to replenish and prepare.  I received two jars with two different flavors and a box of five bags to try out and honestly, the fact that this overnight oat brand provides jars is the raddest thing.  So far, I really like the Apple and Coconut mix because it's the perfect combination of guilt-free sweetness!  I hope to start adding fun toppings to my oats every morning, but for now, I'm just trying to get myself used to promptly eating at certain times.  I'm sure as this wedding diet progresses, I'll come up with other on-the-go options, but for now, overnight oats it is!  Chat with you guys super soon.

Xo,

Melissa Victoria

My Current Skincare Routine

Hello again!  Yesterday I posted a quick celebratory update on achieving a skincare regimen that works for me, and as promised, here it is.  First of all, skincare has always been a sore subject because at the age of 20, I experienced my first crazy outbreak.  I think I realized that my skin was finally changing and a quick wash wasn't going to do it anymore.  I tried several products, but nothing really worked for me and either caused outbreaks in new areas or gave me these awesome acne scars we all love.  Everything was simply too harsh for my skin and I grew very afraid of trying and testing new products out.  I knew to get my skin used to a routine meant having to try a product out over and over again, but I simply did not have the patience for that haha.  Along the way, I did find products that I knew FOR SURE made me break out and quickly eliminated those from the puzzle.

Defeated, I wrote down where I broke out the most, what I felt was different when I did break out (i.e. stress) and how long pimples would remain on my face.  In one last effort to resolve this myself, before heading to a dermatologist, I took another stroll down the skincare aisle at my local Target, and decided to try three Neutrogena products.  I picked up Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover, Neutrogena Naturals Acne Foaming Scrub and Neutrogena's oil free Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner.  One to leave makeup on the entire day, I began removing my makeup as soon as I got home.  Skin needs to breathe and I didn't realize how much I was clogging my skin with makeup -yikes!  Anyway, my skincare regimen began like this:

1.  I removed my makeup with the Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover. This felt extremely smooth on my skin and I really did see the difference when I washed my face off.
2. Next, I scrubbed my face with the Acne Foaming Scrub, and per the label, it is clinically proven acne medicine that treats and helps prevent breakouts.  I've read this tons of times before, but maybe I just scrubbed extra hard to get all up in there!
3. I poured a decent amount of the Triple-Action Toner over a cotton ball and rubbed it along my face until the cotton ball came back clear.  I think this was the game changer for me.  Even though I thought my face was clean after the cleanser, it still needed extra cleansing.
4. Not pictured is an Aveeno moisturizer that I use and love!  You can shop that here.

So after a few days of repeating this day and night, I really started to see a major difference.  I swear it felt like I had a new pimple somewhere on my face every single week.  I went a whole month without breaking out until I realized that it had to have been these new products.  It was actually kind of funny because one of my best friends made a comment about my skin, and that's when I realized I hadn't even broken out.  Nothing has changed since I began this regimen other than adding water to my cycle.  I know drinking water and staying hydrated is another huge piece to achieving perfect skin, so I started to be way more mindful of my H2O intake.  Anyway, my lesson here is to be patient.  I can't tell you guys how many products I went through to finally feel like I have control of my skin.  I'm not afraid to try new makeup out or add fun oils to my face either because I feel confident in my little skincare weapons.  I know everyone's skin is different, but if you are struggling to find products that could help your skin out, give these a try!  You never know, they might be what you were looking for.  Happy cleansing, loves.

Xo,

Melissa Victoria

Ready to Pour Cocktails

Hey guys!  How on-brand is it for my first post,  since my break and of 2018, to be one about cocktails lol.  I have never met anyone that doesn't enjoy a good cocktail and now isn't the time to introduce them to me either #bye.  Anyway, my first drink coming into the new year was of course one full of tequila, but the best part is I didn't even have to put it together - it was already made.  I tried a Bergamot Orange Margarita by Austin Cocktails and I loved every drop of it.  Their ready to pour cocktails selection is pure gold.  Trust me, I couldn't choose between the five bottles because all of them sounded amazing.  I'm definitely a vodka and tequila kind of girl, so when given the option, I went with what I loved and was not disappointed.  What really intrigued me about this brand wasn't even that it was alcohol related, but that it's a brand focused on drinking better.  Austin Cocktails uses natural herbs and organic agave nectar to make the overall drink naturally low in calories and simply a healthier option.  Something I've really learned to adopt in my last few years of life is the mentality of being able to eat and drink anything I want, so as long as it's prepared with the right ingredients.  The options Austin Cocktails provides just fit in with this lifestyle and I'm so ready to try every bottle!  Plus, ready to pour cocktails are extremely convenient, especially for us party planners that have or attend get togethers more than often.  It just totally cuts out the part where you have to think about mixed drinks and all the ingredients you have to buy, ya know?  Anyway, if you're interested, you can read all about this brand, their cocktail ingredients and where to buy them here.  Until next time, cheers!

Xo,

Melissa Victoria

Almond Milk Overnight Oats

Hey guys!  Can we all agree Monday's are so difficult to begin if breakfast isn't involved?  Maybe it's just me, but I never feel like I'm starting my week off to a positive start if I don't fuel up.  Another issue is I also love my sleep, so waking up super early to cook is not in my books.  It's no joke that I'm a hibernating bear, but that's okay because it just means I have to plan ahead!  By taking my two needs, sleep and breakfast, I solve my problem by putting together my meals an evening ahead of time.  I know overnight oats are a total thing, so I figured I'd share my recipe...you know, for my other fellow hibernating bears.  Here's what you need:

Milk - I use Almond Breeze Almondmilk

Oats - I buy a tub at Whole Foods

1 Banana

3 Strawberries

Granola

Honey - optional

How To

1. Pour 1/2 a cup of oatmeal into your cup

2. Add 3/4 cup of almond milk over your oats

3. Let this sit overnight

4. In the morning, cut up fruit of your choice and sprinkle it over your oats

5. For a little extra sweetness, add some honey and enjoy!

It's that easy!  I know there are several recipe's online I love to recreate, but this one seriously takes zero effort.  It's extremely nutritious and nice to just grab-and-go every morning.  Anyway, enjoy!

Xo,

Melissa Victoria

Vegan Potato Kale Tacos

Hola, amigos (as)! If there's one thing I know about food, it's to eat very well so you can feel well.  I work at Taco Bell headquarters and as you can imagine, I'm always surrounded by food that's not always the best.  Of course I give in to treats, but for the most part, I would definitely say I'm pretty conscious about what I like to put in my body.  In the spirit of wellness, I've decided to eat some kind of vegan meal once a week, starting on a twist to my beloved tacos.  I picked up this recipe from the incredible Dora from Dora's Table who has introduced me to vegan Mexican food and I'm just simply obsessed.  Anyway, let's go over what you'll need and how to make!

What You'll Need

Kale

Cubed potatoes 

Corn tortillas

Garlic salt

Olive Oil

**the above measurements will depend on how much you're making.

Cilantro Sauce Ingredients

3/4 cup washed and chopped cilantro

1/4 cup diced onion

1/2 cup raw cashews soaked in water for 3 hours

1/2 serrano chile

1 squeezed lime

1/3 cup water

1/2 tbsp salt

How To

1. In a pan, pour a friendly amount of olive oil and turn up your heat to medium-high.

2. Pour your chopped up potatoes and stir around making sure your potatoes don't stick to the pan.

3. Let the potatoes cook until they're soft and turned golden, then pour in your washed and chopped kale.

4. Let the kale simmer in for a few seconds and then stir and blend the ingredients until the kale is cooked.

5. While cooking, season your ingredients with garlic salt, or whatever seasoning you'd like and stir again.

6. When finished, place the taco mix into a bowl.

7. Heat up your tortilla's and serve a decent amount of the potato/kale mix over the tortilla.

How To Make the Cilantro Sauce

1. In a bowl, place your raw cashews in water and let them sit for three hours.  I know this sounds like a long time, but they need to get soft -- trust me, it's worth the wait. 

2. After your cashews have sat in water, toss them into a blender with the rest of the ingredients mentioned above.

3. Simply blend the mix and pour the sauce into a container.

Enjoy!

Xo,

Melissa Victoria

Not Soap Radio Fragrance Review

Shop every fragrance here // Shop Not Soap Radio products here

Hey hey!  With a busy lifestyle, running around has just become part of my world.  One day I'm at work, the next hour I'm meeting up with friends, the next I'm heading to a blog shoot, then before I know it, I'm jumping on the freeway to see my boy.  In a not so gross way, and I'm keeping this 100% real lol, taking body showers on a regular basis and leaving my hair unwashed for like three days is where I'm currently at right now. I go through dry shampoo a lot more often these days and I mean you know what they say, better busy than bored!  Anyway, I recently became acquainted with a fabulous sister duo that created Not Soap Radio -- a seriously holistic brand that offers some of the coolest beauty products with not to mention THE wittiest packaging.  I was super fortunate enough to try out their fun fragrances and I was pleasantly surprised to know these are basically an everyday on everything kind of spray.  By that I mean I can spray this fragrance on linen, my hair, body, in my car, the clothes in my closet, etc.  The very first thing I sprayed this on was my pillow and now I literally cannot go a morning without spraying it around - the evening scent is just SO lovely.  

I tried out a lemon + sugar scent (this one) and also a beach + blue sky water scent (this one) and can't even decide which one I like best because they both have a nice scent.  Aside from just smelling good and the funny phrases on each product, Not Soap Radio is just doing it right for us.  All of their products are botanically-based, paraben free, SLS, phthalate AND cruelty free and their packaging is, yup you guessed it, totally recyclable.  Aside from just being awesome at making do-good products, NSR also has a partnership with Red Rover, an organization that's focused on rescuing animals out of crisis and into care.  Every contribution donated to this cause is matched by Not Soap Radio and donors are rewarded with a free deluxe sample.  Does that not tug your heart strings, you guys??  Seriously though, Not Soap Radio, you all have my heart and a fan for life right over here!  To become a fan like me, lol, go ahead and check out all their products by clicking on the links above.  I'll talk to you guys again soon!

Xo,

Melissa Victoria

Summer Hair Care

Hey there!  I have a confession.  I don't regularly cut my hair - AHHH! I have this thing where I really love to have long hair and then wake up one day and decide I want to chop it off.  I'm kind of itching for short hair again, but I just keep going back and fourth so we'll see what I eventually decide.  In the meantime, I maintain my hair with none other than Argan Oil.  If you haven't heard, or maybe just not in the know, Argan Oil has some super awesome skin and hair benefits.  This oil can work as a moisturizer, hair conditioner, aid in hair shine, acne and so much more.  Lately, I've felt as if the heat has been drying out my hair, so I started to incorporate this oil into my hair washing routine and the results have been satisfying.  I've tried several fun products that have totally worked to maintain the basics of my hair, but Argan Oil is just so easy to use, it smells great and love the way it makes my hair look and feel.  I don't do anything crazy when I use it - it only takes a few drops around my wet hair and ends, followed by a quick brush through my hair to spread the product around.  For best results, I usually just air dry my hair and then proceed to straight or curl.  The oil I use is actually one from Leven Rose, a Colorado all-natural based brand, that sells some of the most exhilarating skin and hair products.  Now that I know about them, I just can't seem to not browse their website and social feeds for wellness tips and ideas - I'm obsessed.  Anyway, I highly recommend Argan Oil for your hair care needs this summer.  If your hair is anything like mine, you'll need that extra boost for hair shine!  To directly shop the oil I use, click here and click here to shop all other products Leven Rose offers.  I'll talk to you guys soon!

xo,

Melissa Victoria