Self help books to keep you motivated..

I don’t know about you, but I love reading self help books. There’s something about getting lost in someone else’s story that is both incredibly grounding and motivating. Of course, not all self help books are created equal. Some of them are a little too…well, preachy for my taste. But recently I discovered a few gems that have really helped me stay motivated and on track with my goals. In case you’re looking for some reading material that will jump start your own journey to self growth, here are three of my favorite self help books!

Do you want to be more productive in the morning? If so, then this book is for you. Robin Sharma has a way of writing that keeps you entertained and motivated. He understands what we go through as entrepreneurs and how difficult it can be to get up early every day and stay focused on our goals. This book will help motivate you to wake up earlier than ever before, take care of yourself first thing in the morning, and start your day off right with a clear mind! You’ll learn about how important it is not just to set goals but also create habits around those goals so they become part of who we are as people.

Do you feel like your inner badass is hiding behind the fears and self-doubt that have been holding you back? If so, This book is for you. In this book Jen Sincero cuts through the din of financial advice out there today to show us how we can align our own core values with our deepest desires for a more joyful existence. She reminds us that being rich isn’t about having lots of money; it’s about feeling fulfilled on every level spiritually, emotionally and creatively. And she offers an easy process for creating wealth by unleashing our natural ability to attract all those things we really want into our lives. Even if you don’t believe in manifesting it’s a great way to get out of your negative thoughts and believe you can achieve everything you desire!

Lastly, we have Atomic Habits by James Clear, which might be my favorite of the 3. This is a book about creating good habits and breaking bad ones. It’s based on the idea that “tiny changes now, lead to massive results later.” James Clear is an expert in building better habits and making them stick. This book will teach you exactly how to do it, step-by-step. You’ll learn why some people succeed with their goals while others fail (and what separates those who get lasting results). You’ll also learn where most people go wrong when trying to make lasting change, so you can avoid these mistakes yourself! And finally, you’ll see real life examples of simple behaviors that have transformed peoples’ lives.

Mahi-Mahi With Creamy Lemon Caper Sauce

Recipe

Growing up I used to HATE eating fish, so I always thought I just wasn’t a seafood person. Then I started my vegetarian journey for a few years, which was great, but then I went on dialysis and needed to find a way to add more protein into my diet. I knew for a fact I didn’t want to eat any pork or beef. I couldn’t just live off beans and nuts anymore because my phosphorus levels were too high so I started adding more seafood into my diet. I found out I LOVE Mahi-Mahi and salmon! So today I’m going to show you my favorite way to cook Mahi-Mahi.

Here is what you’ll need…

  • Mahi-Mahi fillet
  • Mango lime seasoning
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Mayonnaise
  • Capers
  • Lemon & Lime
  • Parsley

Pat dry your fish with a paper towel so that when you cook it you get a nice sear on it, and season with mango lime seasoning, a little bit of salt & lots of pepper. Pan sear it in a hot pan with a tablespoon of olive oil till it’s about 60 percent cooked then flip on the other side to finish cooking. While your fish finishes cooking, start on the sauce!

The sauce is super simple and delicious! In a mixing bowl add about 1/4 cup of mayonnaise, chopped parsley, the juice of a whole lemon and half a lime, lastly you want to add some capers and just mix to incorporate everything together. Once your fish is done cooking you’re done! You can pair the fish with a salad and some rice or potato wedges. Enjoy, and tag me in your recreations!

Greek Quinoa Salad

Recipe

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE a good quinoa salad for lunch or dinner! it’s easy to make, filling, refreshing and healthy! today I’m going to show you how I make my go to quinoa Greek salad! You’re going to love it and it literally takes 20 minutes to make, if that!

What you’ll need…

  • Quinoa
  • Cucumbers
  • Tomatoes
  • Red onion
  • Feta cheese
  • Kalamata olives
  • Fresh parsley
  • Lemon
  • Olive oil
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Oregano
  • Everything but the bagel seasoning (trust me!)

Cook your quinoa, and while it’s cooking start chopping up your veggies & herbs. I personally like to cut mine a little on the thicker side to get a lot of different texture in my salad, but cut as you please. Once you’re done cutting it’s time to start on the dressing! Mix 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar, the juice of 1/2 a lemon, oregano and a few sprinkles of everything but the bagel seasoning in a mixing bowl, all you have to do now is mix and enjoy! You can definitely eat it warm if you’d like, but I prefer to let it chill in the fridge for about an hour, and let the quinoa and veggies marinate in the dressing.

I really hope you all enjoyed this recipe, please let me know if you tried it & tag me in your pictures, I’d love to see your recreations!

7 Tips In Surviving Quarantine

Lifestyle

Hello friends! I hope you’re all staying happy and healthy during this pandemic. It’s been a ride for me, there’s days I feel super happy and productive and others I just want to stay in bed and watch trashy TV to help me forget about real life problems. Regardless, I’m just grateful that my family and I have stayed healthy. Today I’m going to tell you how I’m managing to stay sane through this lockdown and hopefully it helps give you some ideas!

  • STICK TO A SCHEDULE MON-FRI

Even though I don’t usually work a Mon-Fri job, This is the time I’m giving myself that schedule. I have to be somewhat productive those days so I don’t feel bad for staying in bed all day during the weekend. If you’re like me and you’re completely out of a job during this time it’s hard to find ways to stay productive, but there’s definitely ways! here’s what I do…

  • WORKOUT

Release those endorphins!! I try to workout everyday for at least 30 minutes, It doesn’t have to be hard workouts that make you hate life. Some days I just go for long walks and that’s my work out, other days My boyfriend, dog and I will go for a run and then I’ll come home and do some strength training. There are tons of free online workout videos you can follow but my favorite is the FitOn app, if you haven’t heard of it yet you’re about to be hooked! it’s a free app with a ton of different work out videos. They also have different intensities, and all of the trainers do a great job of keeping it fun while still kicking your butt!

  • TRY NEW RECIPES

I don’t know about you but I LOVE cooking new things, I think it’s so therapeutic and you get an instant satisfaction. If you haven’t tried Homechef yet now is the time! They deliver to your door once a week so you don’t even have to go to the grocery store as often and you get everything you need for their recipes, except for salt, oil & pepper. All of their recipes are so delicious and you get to pick and customize your order which is nice since my boyfriend and I don’t eat meat. If you’re not into the whole food delivery services, cooking books are a good way to go I mean yeah, we have Pinterest and Youtube now but there’s something about a good cook book that makes cooking more fun.

  • EAT HEALTHIER

I’m not saying eat a kale salad everyday for lunch and dinner but try to incorporate healthier meals through out the week to keep your body feeling good. When the lockdown first started I was pigging out I felt gross, and even more depressed! So this has definitely helped me feel better and like I’m doing something good for my body. Yes I still eat ice cream and chips, but it’s BALANCE my friends!

  • PICK UP A NEW HOBBY

Try to find a new hobby that doesn’t require any screen time. I’ve discovered that I enjoy puzzling!

  • CATCH UP ON YOUR READING

I LOVE reading, but I felt like I never had time to read because I was always on the go. Now I’ll schedule myself 30-45 minutes a day and I just sit down and read till my alarm goes off and its the most peaceful thing ever!

  • SELF CARE

Lastly schedule some self care time EVERY DAY, 10-30 minutes of doing something to help you feel good! wether it’s stretching, doing a face mask or painting your nails. Figure out what you like. Now is the time to get to know ourselves and really take care of us!

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Gifts

Photo by Secret Garden on Pexels.com

Happy V-day Friends! I hope you all have a day filled with love and happiness! I know there’s this negative stigma regarding V-day for a lot of people, but I’m here to tell you there shouldn’t be. Take advantage of this fake holiday and show the people you care about some love. I don’t know about you but gifts is definitely one of my love languages. I LOVE receiving and giving gifts, it doesn’t have to be an expensive gift but a thoughtful gift! And today I’m going to give you 5 unisex gift ideas to give your mom, dad, brother, sister, bff or significant other to show them you’ve thought of them today!

If you’re on instagram, I’m sure you’ve seen this book! everyone is reading it and there’s a reason why, it’s amazing! I’m not saying you’re going to be this rich billionaire right after you read it, but you will be a happier person. Author Jen Sincero gives you all these tips to see life in a different perspective, from practicing how to be more grateful, to ways to be more giving!

Hydro Flask water bottles are my favorite! It keeps your water cold for HOURS, so every time you go to get a drink it’s nice and refreshing! I also love the fact that they have different lids for your preference. My favorite one is the wide mouth straw lid.

Beats Solo3 are the best headphones! I’ve had mine for years and they still work amazing. they connect via bluetooth and they stay charged for up to 40 hours! and the sound quality is bomb!

“Alexa, play my playlist” “Alexa, What’s the weather like” “Alexa, how many tablespoons are in a quarter cup” I swear you can ask Alexa anything! I also love how chic the new designs are.

You can’t go wrong with a nice bottle of wine! You and your loved one can open the bottle, play some board games, maybe watch a good show and enjoy some wine and each others company. At the end of the day this is what this holiday is all about. Spending quality time with the ones you love!

About Me: My First Blog Post

Why I Started Blogging

Hello friends! Todays blog isn’t fashion/beauty related but a lifestyle blog, MY lifestyle. When I started this blog I wanted to help inspire and empower all women with my fashion & beauty tips. I’ve always loved clothes, and how a good outfit can help you feel so much more confident. Helping women feel better about themselves has always made me feel good, which is why I decided to become a hairstylist! I LOVE giving someone a whole new do and just see how much better they feel about themselves.

The second reason, was to inspire women with similar struggles as I. I was diagnosed with kidney failure at the age of 13, and ever since it’s been a hell of a ride. In and out of hospitals, almost failed my sophomore year of high school, since I missed like half the school year when I got my transplant, (I graduated in time though, shoutout to my class of ’09!) and just when I thought life was “normal”, had my transplant for 12 years had managed to stay out of the hospital for the most part. Got a job at a great salon, got a dog and moved in with my boyfriend, my transplant fails. Yup, gone.

Now, I’m on peritoneal dialysis. Basically I hook up to a machine every night for 12 hours, that machine pumps sugar water through a catheter in my stomach and that liquid removes the toxins and fluids your kidneys usually would. I’m not going to lie, the first week I went back on dialysis, was really hard, emotionally. I couldn’t help but wonder why me? I mean, I knew it was going to happen eventually. Kidney transplants aren’t forever, but how can you honestly be ready to go through it all over again? It’s like God gives you 10 good years, then you feel shitty for 2 and then your 13th year you’re basically dead and need a machine to survive, and then it happens again. I’m hoping that my next transplant lasts longer just to break the 13 year cycle.

This isn’t a pity party post though, as much as it sounds like it. Because during that week I spent unhappy with me, my body and with God for what I was going through AGAIN! I realized I’m freaking alive!! Why am I unhappy? thank you God for creating such smart people that created this machine that not only gave me a second chance, but a third chance at life!! I’ve been given 28 years so far and I’d be lying if I’ve said I haven’t made the most of it. I’ve managed to travel (even on dialysis), I’ve spent my 28 years loving my awesome parents and my gigantic family, met so many great friends and my super supportive boyfriend.