Recently I discovered the brand AA, they are a polish makeup and skincare company who is Cruelty Free and had additional vegan products. I started using their products a few months ago and I must say I am absolutely in love with them. For my nightly routine I use the AA Vegan face wash, the Micellar Water and an anti-acne night cream. I additionally use another product for tougher makeup removal, but I'll make a review on that later.

Next I use the AA Vegan Cleansing and sebum regulatory
gel with bamboo extract and almond acid. I especially like this facial cleanser because it is really soft and foamy, so it is sure to remove any remains of chemicals and other impurities you may have in your skin. After washing your face, another great thing about it is that is doesn't leave skin dry and tight, it just leaves a really nice feeling of freshness and lightness.

Hi guys and dolls! Today we will talk about something quite interesting, green smoothies. These smoothies are very popular for the fact that they are full of vitamins, minerals, phyto-nutrients, and they are very quick and easy to make. They usually contain vegetables, fruits and a liquid base. The most obvious benefit of shakes is that they help us consume more fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, but they have many more!

For example, if you are a person who does not have much time to prepare breakfast every morning, you can leave your green smoothie ready the night before and blend it all together it in the morning. It's as easy to make as it is to drink! But that's not everything, they are also portable! You can blend it, put it in a thermos or mason jar and take it on the way to work or school.

Now, if you have never tasted or made a green smoothie, we have the perfect formula so you can do it in the comfort of your home!

First of all, you have to choose a liquid base, it can be mineral water, coconut water, soy milk, if you want to give it a particular flavor, you can even add orange juice! Then, choose a vegetable. The most recommended are leafy greens, for example spinach, lettuce, or kale (among others). Finally, the fruit that you like the most. I personally love to add strawberries, because the flavor is strong and it hides the taste of vegetables a bit.


The formula is the following:

• 2 cups of liquid
• 2 cups of vegetables
• 3 cups of fruit
• Juice of half a lemon

It is very important to wash fruits and vegetables very well, as they can have residues of chemicals, herbicides and pesticides, which are very harmful to our body. To facilitate liquefying, it is good to chop the vegetables a little and put them first in the blender, so that the vegetables are below and the fruits are up, which will guarantee that the vegetables are liquefied well.

And Voila! You have your green smoothie. See how easy it is? There is no excuse for not having a healthy breakfast. Whenever you want, you can modify the recipe, you can put a cup of a fruit, and a cup of another fruit, or put two cups of kale and one of spinach. The magic is in getting the one you like the most!

This recipe makes two servings so it's perfect to share with friends or to save up for a mid-morning snack.

Hi guys! Long time no see! It's definitely been a while since I last posted. This year I read 8 amazing books. Even thought I usually don't find much time to read, I am happy about all of the books I got the chance to enjoy. This year I got the chance to read awesome classics like Frankenstein and The Metamorphosis, as well as more recent books like the first two installments of the Magnus Chase series by Rick Riordan. I also have to give my husband a shout out given that he gave me the last four books in my book list as presents, so, thanks babe!

I always like to keep my book lists mixed with classic novels and modern books, all with very different topics. So, without further ado, here's 2017's book list:

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard - The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan: Being a die-hard fan of Rick Riordan books, this year I had the joy of reading this one. It tells the story of a boy named Magnus whose journey starts with his death. It is an amazing adventure featuring heavy norse mythology. It absolutely delivers a great experience!

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard -  The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan: This book is a continuation of the aforementioned, and it features a wild trip with new gods and mythological creatures. Also, it develops the characters much more and we can learn about what makes them tic. No doubt a 10/10.

Murder On The Orient Express by Agatha Christie: This book is full of suspense, excitement, and mystery. It is an absolute thrill from beginning to end. Hercule Poirot is a detective mastermind that can basically defy the likes of Sherlock Holmes. I've read various Agatha Christie novels but this one is one of my favorites.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: This book is definitely a must read. It is the journey of a Spanish boy who continuously risks everything to find his purpose in life. He risks everything, even the love of his life, to fulfill his destiny. It is an inspiring and overwhelming tale. I recommend it for people who are a bit unmotivated and feel like they don't have a path. This book shows that we all have a path and a purpose, but we have to risk things to find it.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: I looooved this book! I think what I liked the most about it was how some of the narration was made with letters from some of the characters. One of the things that surprised me the most was the fact that the book is so much different than what we usually see in movies and other media. The classic pretty much focuses on Victor Frankenstein instead of his creation. The monster makes small yet very important appearances where he explains his evil motives. It is really a different take on the story than the one we all seem to know.

Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert L. Stevenson: The tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a story about how our darkest habits and desires can turn even the most respectable of us into hideous monsters. It is a book that makes us think about how fine the line between good and bad really is.

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka: This is the only book in this list that literally made me feel chills up my spine. It is frightening in a very subtle way. I do think it is a good read but it really needs a bit of strength to get through. It is rough, especially when you stop and think about how the protagonist's family reacts to his transformation when in the beginning he was the one who helped them get through hard times.

Ongoing:

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien: I acquired this book in Caracas, in English for a very good price. I started reading it but my husband gave me a new book as a present and I moved on to another one. This one is probably gonna be on my 2018 book list.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: This book was a gift by my husband on Christmas day. No one likes angsty romantic novels more than me, so I am very excited to read this book.

So this was my 2017 Book List. Did you guys like it? Have you read any of the books mentioned? If so, please leave a comment. Remember to check out my 2014, 2015 and 2016 Book Lists. Stay awesome!

Hey guys and dolls! So a few months ago, my husband got me a menstrual cup. Basically, menstrual cups are silicone cups that are inserted into the vagina and they collect menstrual fluid during menstruation. These cups are made out of medical grade silicone, so they don’t have any perfumes or chemicals that irritate the vagina. The reason why my husband gave this to me is because I had been struggling for a very long time to find menstrual pads, tampons or any other menstrual hygiene product for my period. This was something that frustrated me very much because unlike urinating, you can't hold in menstrual blood flow, so it's not like you can wait until you get to a restroom. In Venezuela, hygiene products are very expensive and hard to come by, so this is a really great alternative given that it lasts about 10 years and it is reusable.

I had been interested in menstrual cups before but I didn't really pay any attention to it because I just assumed I wouldn't find it here in Venezuela. However, a few months ago I found via an acquaintance that there’s a company that sells them here, so that’s when I decided to give it a shot. I told my husband about my interest, he gave it to me (Thank you honey!) and I decided to make it work.

This is how the menstrual cup looks:

So, there's nothing to be afraid about :) 

Some of the menstrual cup’s main advantages are:

·      It is reusable: After every use you take it out, empty its content in the toilet, wash it and insert it again.

·      It doesn’t need to be changed: 1 cup can last about 10 years. That’s equivalent to about 4500 pads and 3600 tampons!

·      You can use it to sleep: The cup needs to be changed every 12 hours, so you can change it right before going to sleep, it is completely safe.

·      It holds more than a tampon or pad: Most cups can collect up to one ounce of fluid, much more than a tampon or cup, so it is much more convenient.

·      There’s no odor: When blood comes in contact with air, it can have an unpleasant smell. This doesn’t happen with the menstrual cup because it forms an airtight seal.

·      It is safer: It doesn’t allow growth for bacteria and it isn’t associated to TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome).

·      No creepy chemicals: These cups don’t contain latex, BPA, dye, bleached rayon (a material that creates the possibly carcinogenic byproduct dioxin).

Also:

·      It is hypoallergenic

·      It doesn’t interfere with vaginal PH

·      It doesn’t release fibers in the vagina (These fibers can create small cuts that can aid infections)

·      Due to the material it is made out of, it can’t grow fungus or bacteria.

These are just a few of the benefits of menstrual cups. So it is great for the environment, it is awesome for your pocket and it is great for your vaginal health and comfort.

How to use it

This cool little tool is a silicone cup that is wide on top and narrow at the bottom. Most of them have a small stick, ball or ring at the bottom so it is easy to pull out. The insertion is pretty much the most nerve wrecking part of this experience for new users, but it doesn’t have to be. All you have to do is fold the cup, insert it in the vagina and adjust it. I usually run my index finger across the brim to make sure it is 100% open. If it doesn´t pop open right away you might have to pinch it at the bottom as move it slightly from side to side. If you use it right, you won’t even feel it throughout the day!

When you empty the cup, you just have to clean it with water and insert it again. Once your period is over, you can sterilize it by placing it about 5 minutes in boiling water and storing it. When you have your period again, you have to sterilize it once more and you're good to go!

My experience

So, I have always been very in touch with my body, but using a menstrual cup is another level. When I first heard about the menstrual cup I didn’t even allow myself a moment to hesitate. I told myself I just HAD to make it work. I watched a ton of videos, spoke to my gyno, and started my journey with this cute little cup.

It definitely takes some guts to insert something inside you, especially something that looks so big. However, once you get a hang of it it is extremely easy and practical. The first time I tried the menstrual cup I remember I was in French lessons, I would stand up every 5 minutes to go to the bathroom and see if I had a leak or something. Thank God, I never had a leak or anything. It was pretty amazing because it literally felt like I didn’t have my period at all.

Since then, I have used it as a regular method of menstrual hygiene and it is amazing!

Want more information?

If you want to learn more about menstrual cups, I suggest taking a look at these videos:

How to insert and remove a menstrual cup

9 folds for the lunette menstrual cup

9 great menstrual cup fold techniques

And if you're in Venezuela and want to invest in this amazing product, you can buy it here:

http://www.tucopamenstrual.com.ve/

     Hi guys and dolls! I hope you've all been doing super great! It has been a terribly long time since I posted a bucket list article, feel free to check out my previous posts Bucket List #1, Bucket List #2, Bucket List #3, Bucket List #4, Bucket List #5. So, without further ado, here goes!

     Since I came back to Venezuela from the United States, I've wanted to learn another language. Having learnt English at a very young age, I've always felt that I never got the complete learning-a-new-language experience because I actually can't remember the struggle. Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly thankful that I got to learn English so quickly, but I guess that now I want to work hard for it and see my effort pay off.

     My favored languages have always been French and German, especially because these are two languages that I consider “Similar” to Spanish and English. Last year, around November, just when I was wrapping up one of my postgraduate courses I decided that since I had a free slot on my agenda (This is a rare phenomenon) and I had a car (Yaaaassss), I could push myself a little further and spread myself a little thinner (I don’t know why I do these things, I can’t have free time!). 


     So I slept on the possibility of studying French or German, thought about it real hard and made my decision. I called up the French Alliance here in Caracas, and set myself up for the most awesome learning experience I’ve had (For now). There were a ton of things that worried me. I have always been very confident Language-wise, but I must admit I was afraid I wouldn't be able to learn as fast as I expected, that I wasn't  going to be able to understand the pronounciation or that I wasn't gonna like the language as much as I thought. 

     On January 2017, I started my first French lessons ever (Yay!). Here are my first impressions:

·        The teacher was the most French looking person I’d seen in my life (Dressed in black, white and a red and white striped handkerchief tied around her neck.)

·        Listening to the language straight from someone’s mouth was 10000000000% more beautiful than I’d expected.

·        The amount of bilingual people learning French is higher than I thought (So I guess I’m not that special haha)

·        The whole French Alliance campus is definitely like a little piece of France in Caracas. I’ve never been to France (Yet!) but the atmosphere is definitely different, and very very pleasant.

     Since I absolutely enjoy studying and I adore the language, I have been doing admittedly well. I gave myself two years to get an A1 level. My goal was to get an A2 level in a year, but I have so many things on my plate right now that I’ve decided to set a reasonable goal or myself that will keep me motivated and won’t make me feel bad if I don’t reach it (As opposed to saying I want to earn a C2 level in a year. I feel I could, but my schedule won’t allow it in this precise moment).

     Given that my schedule is ridiculously complicated, I like to listen to a lot of TED Talks in French, French music and French TV shows via youtube. Also, I like to practice simple things like greetings on my InstaStories (because why not?). These things keep me thinking about French 24/7 and I find that it makes it easier for me to understand the pronunciation of certain words.

       I guess one of the things I'd like to do the most right now is practice French in France, and to really experience what it is like to speak to native-French speakers, just like I've had the pleasure of speaking to native-English speakers. 

I hope I can give you guys an update when I get my A1 level certificate!

            Hi guys and dolls! I hope you’ve all been doing great! Today’s post is something very important to me, and something I’ve had to create to stay sane the past few years. I am a very, very anxious person. At work, at college, at home, all day, every day. For some reason, I am very prone to stress, I am a manic overthinker and for a while I didn’t really know how to manage it. I know I’m not the only person who suffers because of this, so I’m going to be sharing with you my little tips and tricks to unwind and relax.

            These are my top 6 ways to unwind:

          So, I hope these little tips can help you unwind a moment during a hectic day. Remember that not everything works for everyone, so just do what works best for you and keep in mind that everything passes with time, so try not to pay too much attention to things.

I hope you liked this post. If you did, please leave a comment. Thank you for reading! Stay awesome!

Beverages: