How To: No Bake Energy Bites

Yes, you read that correctly. These recipes require absolutely NO BAKING. They harden in the fridge and boom ready to eat! As a society we’re always looking for ways to be just a little bit healthier. These protein bites are perfect for an afternoon snack, after the gym, or in the morning. They’re packed with fiber and lots of protein. I am going to show you guys two recipes for these Energy Bites. DISCLAIMER: I am by no means a dietitian I just enjoy finding relatively healthy snacks and sharing my recipes.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites

I absolutely love Reese’s Peanut Butter cups but those are definitely not healthy. As an alternative chocolate craving these are definitely a go to. These don’t break me out like chocolate but satisfy that craving. This one is so easy to make and you only need 5 ingredients!

This recipe makes about 21-23 Bites.img_8918

2/3 cups creamy peanut butter

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup ground flax seeds

2 tablespoons honey

 

Blueberry Almond Bites

This one is my favorite bites for morning/ breakfast time. They have so many good and whole some ingredients and taste amazing. These might make you use the bathroom, because they’re packed with so much fiber. I don’t think of that as a bad thing and usually I’ll double up and drink some lemon water with them as an extra detox. Definitely must-try these easy to make snacks!

img_8921Makes about 25 bites.

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup dried bluberries

1/2 cup ground flax seeds

1/2 cup sliced almonds

4 tablespoons chia seeds

2 tablespoons coconut oil

2/3 cups almond butter

1/2 cup honey

 

 

 

Instructions:

  1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until they are even spread out.
  2. Use an ice cream scoop tool to make ball shape and then continue to roll with your hands.
  3. Lay out on a cookie sheet or any flat pan and place in the fridge.
  4. Enjoy!

NOTE: 

If you want them to stay fresh longer you may put in the freezer and move over to fridge a few hours before eating.

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June Goals

Happy June everyone! So I know we all set goals for the new year, and then they basically get put off and never happen. That’s okay! Personally what works for me is to go month by month and see what I need to change or make better. June is definitely my favorite month of the year. June is my birthday month which of course makes it extra special but I also absolutely LOVE summer time. Emotionally, this is the happiest time of the year for me. Everything feels more easy going, fun, and all around less stressful. This is the month where I try to make the most improvements to my emotional health. Whether it be something stressing me out the last couple of months, or just not feeling like myself. Summer always makes me feel just a little bit better.

This month I want to show you guys my “June Goals” or “June Intentions”. I picked this up about two months ago from a blogger named Lee From America. You guys should really check her out (after you finish this post of course LOL). I feel like this really helps me visualize my month, my goals, and where I am right now. Reflecting on this at least once a month has really calmed my anxiety and given me a more positive outlook. I hope you guys enjoy! (If you try this out for yourself let me know in the comments!)

1. More Matcha, Less Coffee. 

This is definitely important as I am trying to focus more on my health journey lately. I66684a70-6c19-43ce-9ea8-99e317c8ee25 personally feel almost addicted to coffee. Like I NEED it to start my day. Green tea is so much more beneficial and way less calories. I already talked about my favorite matcha recipe so if you wanna check that out just click this link (My Matcha Latte Recipe).

2. Let things go.

The past couple months have been very stressful for me and this month I want to focus on being positive. I want to let go of negative energy and bring happy well minded people around me. I will always be an over thinker. It’s just in my nature, but not every thing is important to stress over.

3. Make more meals at home. 

I’ve literally been trying to do this forever. My boyfriend and I literally eat out EVERY DAY. Honestly, most of the time I just feel lazy and too tired but I want to push myself a little extra this month. I want to make easy, quick, but healthy meals.

4. Wake up earlier.

Recently I have started waking up before my alarm clock and on those days I feel 100x more productive. It puts an amazing start to my day and I need to start doing more of it. I can get work done, laundry, pretty much anything. I’ll even have plenty of time to make my matcha (; .

Latin Music Playlist

It’s no secret that Miami is about 90% Hispanic. Spanish music has always been around and many of us that live in Miami have grown up around it. Honestly, I didn’t use to like it at all. I feel like 2017 & now 2018 there has been such an influx of amazing Spanish artists and newcomers. It’s almost impossible not to listen to it. Many American artists are now collaborating with Spanish artists because they realize the influence it’s having on the music industry. Personally my favorite kind would be called “Spanish Trap”. It involves a lot of hip hop but is also true to the Spanish roots.

I absolutely love Spanish music now & I want to share some of my favorites with you guys. Spanish music has become my go to, in the morning especially. Something about how upbeat and fun it is really wakes me up in the morning.

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE PLAYLIST HERE

Some of my favorite artists include:

J Balvin

Bad Bunny

Maluma

Becky G

Fonseca

& so many more.

 

My top 10 songs on this playlist are;

Te Mando Flores- Fonseca

Sin Pajama- Becky G & Natti Natasha

Suave- El Alfa

Ahora Me Llama- Karol G & Bad Bunny

La Camisa Negra- Juanes

Échame la Culpa- Luis Fonsi & Demi Lovato

Soy Peor- Bad Bunny

Ojalá- El Negrito, El Lokito, & Manu Manu

Que Nochesita- Lenier

Sola- Becky G

 

 

My Matcha Latte Recipe

Matcha has become the latest addition to my day. Typically coffee and I have a great bond, but since I’ve been trying to cut back on it, I’ve started switching over to matcha. At first, I thought it was just a fad or just “another green juice”, then after reading about so many health benefits I wanted to try it out. Who knows, maybe it is just another fad, but it’s definitely one I stand with!

Let’s start with the basics. What is matcha & why should you drink it? Matcha is a powder that comes from a whole green tea leaf. Usually, when you make green tea, you only use part of it. The whole leaf doubles the nutrients, caffeine, and overall health benefits. It gives the caffeine benefit without the “crash” hours later. It keeps you balanced and energized longer without letting you feel gross or tired. It also has high levels of L-theanine which help you avoid the crash, and gives the calm feeling of peace throughout your body.

I am fairly new to the fad but I really want to start making other drinks and treats out of matcha. If you have any recommendations please leave them in the comments below. Here’s my recipe;

Ingredients:

1 tsp Matcha Powderimg_8737

1 tbs Water

3/4 Cup of Coconut/ Almond Milk

1 tsp Honey (to taste)

You start by putting the matcha powder into any cup or mug you would like. Add 1 tsp of hot water and begin to whisk in a “W” or “M” motion. Personally I bought the kit which included the bamboo whisk and the spoon. This kinda of whisk makes the matcha more frothy, which is typically what you would want in a latte. Keep whisking until it becomes a green paste with no lumps.

Of course, if you’re just beginning to drink matcha you do not need to go out and buy the kit. Any whisk & teaspoon will do. Please remember if not using bamboo whisk, it will be less frothy.

Next, I warm up 3/4 cup of Coconut milk on the stove. It doesn’t need to boil, just make sure it’s hot. Pour the milk into your cup of matcha & mix.

Finally, you can add any sweetener you choose. I like to add a little bit of honey and mix that in. Enjoy!

Sunday Routine

Some times Sundays are boring and anxiety ridden as you prepare for the week ahead of you. I want to share with all of you my “Sunday routine”. Sundays are my self-care days, along with getting my shit together honestly.  This post is basically what my Sunday consists of when I am not going to a mimosa filled brunch or having a beach day. I think we can all agree that Sundays are one of the best days of the week; even when that Monday anxiety starts creeping up on us. These are the days I give my skin and hair extra pampering.  Occasionally I like to take it easy on Sundays, watch Netflix and hangout. I feel this is the day of the weekend where I plan to get the most done and I do pretty much nothing. Yet, I feel the happiest on these days. This post contains affiliate links. 

My Sunday mornings usually start by rolling out of bed, making coffee, and then jumping back in and cuddling with my boyfriend. Lately I have been trying to do the Herbalife thing, so I just switch out coffee for my tea. Usually we lounge around for a while, unless we have something planned.

100% I will always use a mask on Sundays. My top 3 that I currently recommend are:

1. Black Charcoal Mask

img_6092I always have some kid of charcoal mask on hand and this one is currently my favorite (Berry Moon Black Charcoal Mask). Korean skincare seems to be a new and upcoming favorite for a lot of people and I am definitely into it! They have a lot of amazing ingredients, and most of all usually do not dry out my skin. This particular mask I have been using for about a year and I am still in love with it. When my skin is feeling overworked, tired, and dehydrated I use this mask to suck out all of the impurities in my face. WARNING: This product does make underlying pimples come out, but I love that because completely cleans and removes anything lying under my skin. (Photo; feat. My Boyfriend)

2. Hydrating Sheet Mask

These are my favorite kinds of masks, especially in the morning. When I use these, I know I will be having a great skin day. My recent favorite has been the Neutrogena Hydrogel Facemask. It is not like typical masks that get dry in about 10 minutes, this mask takes about 20 minutes. When I remove the mask my skin feels amazing and hydrated. As if my skin drank a whole glass of water.

3. Bubble Masks

Believe me, I didn’t believe that these would actually work. I was always skeptical about what the bubbles would do, and if it would actually bubble. I can honestly say this is the best one I have found to actually work KBeauty Naturals Bubble Clay Mask. This is another Korean product and its amazing!

As for hair care, I have a few trusted products. My hair is blonde currently & has a lot of damage due to years of bleaching. Usually I do the “normal” steps, but I stopped conditioner and started replacing that with a hair mask every time I wash my hair. I feel like hydration is so important for me and when I do this my hair just feels healthier.

1. Shampoo

My current favorites all include coconut. That is because coconut is ESSENTIAL in img_5953hydration. The one I am using right now is OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo. Also, for my blonde hair, I have been using the Marc Daniels Purple Shampoo. Purple shampoo cancels out all of the brassiness that can happen in blonde hair. I absolutely LOVE it. The picture on the right shows you exactly what color my hair is right now.

2. Conditioner

I have a few favorite hair masks, which I use in place of conditioner, but the two that stand out the most are L’Oreal Paris Restoring Hair Balm and Schwarzkopf Professional Blondme Keratin Hair Mask. Both of these make my hair go from dry and brittle to soft and smooth. Usually I try not to use too much heat, and I found that when my hair dries natural after I use one of these it makes a significant difference. My hair looks like I blow dried it straight.

Ah binge watching, that is most definitely one of our Sunday hobbies. Currently I am re-watching one of my all time favorites “Grey’s Anatomy”. I am sure you have heard at least one person talk about this show. It is heart-wrenching, emotional, and beautiful all in one. Trust me, if you haven’t seen it please go get a Netflix account and watch ALL of it. Right now. Go. Seriously though, I convinced my boyfriend to start watching and now he’s obsessed. Not to mention, Sundays are the only days we have off together, so we pretty much cuddle and watch grey’s all day.

Another one of our favorites is “Bones”. Luckily, it’s already over so it makes a perfect show to binge watch ALL the seasons. This show is packed with action, murder mysteries, and romance. Definitely in my top ten.

Finally, I try to work on emails and such at least a little bit, just to be ready for Monday. Trust me, I don’t spend more than 15 minutes on this. Some times we all need those self-care kind of days. It is important to focus on yourself some times.