Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

It's wedding week! Since I am going to a wedding this weekend, I decided to revolve all my posts this week around wedding topics. I absolutely love weddings and everything that goes into planning them, and I am excited that I get to witness a family member get married! I believe that weddings should be traditional but should include your own creative touch that makes it a special day for you and your new husband. This is short and sweet, but there will be wedding-packed posts all this week to get you in the mood. :)

Monthly Modest Review

Since I just started blogging, this is the first time I get to do my monthly review! So this means that on the last Friday of the month, I review for you a list of things I have bought/used and liked during the month of July (and call it the Monthly Modest). Here is my review for July:

Monthly Modest :)

1. New Target Purse
I just bought this and I am already obsessed. The black with the gold zipper is very fashionable (plus black goes with everything), and it has a bunch of pockets so I don't have to dig through the purse to find what I want. Target has so many cute handbags and purses to buy for cheap prices, and I don't know how many I have bought there for my friends and myself.

 2. DKNY Be Delicious Juiced
I have always wanted the DKNY green apple perfume, so I decided to buy this set and I love the scents just as much. The lotion and two perfumes smell very fruity and light, which is great for summer. I got it from a mall outlet, but I am sure this DKNY perfume is sold in regular stores.


3.  Freeman Facial Masks

I love these masks because they make my skin feel amazing, and they are also very cheap. The masks come in various kinds to work differently on your skin, whether purifying, cleansing, soothing, or restoring. And because of the masks' bright colors, they are fun to use with your friends if let's say you're having a girls night in. I bought mine at CVS, but they are also available at Ulta (you can always search the web for where they sell them near you).

4. Posters with Quotes/Sayings
Since I am going to be living in an apartment next year, I bought these to spruce up my new room. I tend to live by quotes because many of them are very insightful and encouraging to start your day by. And there's no harm in wanting to buy stuff to decorate and make your place look nice. Posters like these are probably sold in many stores (Bed, Bath, and Beyond; Target).


5. Anything Beachy
The beach is amazing and I have loved it since I was little. Now, anything from seashells, starfish, sand, or coral (etc.) is so interesting to me because I adore its beachy feel. Beach decorations can add an ocean side touch to any room in the house, and it makes you feel a little closer to the beach. I got this shell-covered jewelry box from Catalina, but usually I get beachy knick-knacks by randomly finding them in stores.

Yummy Banana Bread

Banana bread is probably on the healthier side of desserts, but I love it because my mom would always make it when I was younger and the smell would spread throughout the house. Here's the recipe for my mom's banana bread:

Banana Bread

Ingredients
1 cup of brown sugar (or honey to make it naturally sweet)
2/3 cup of shortening
4 eggs
1/2 cup of almond milk or buttermilk
3 cups of ripe mashed bananas
3 cups of flour
1/2 cup of wheat germ
1 cup of bran
1/2 teaspoon of salt
3 teaspoons of baking powder

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a mixer, blend the brown sugar and shortening until creamy. Mix in the eggs, and then the almond milk. Stir in the bananas.
3. Combine flour, wheat germ, bran, salt, and baking powder. Add into the batter until fully mixed.
4. Bake in two greased and floured bread pans for 50-60 minutes. It will be done when the knife comes out clean.
5. Gently take the bread out of the pans by tapping the bottom and place them on a wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

There are definitely many versions of banana bread, but you should try this recipe and see if you like it for yourselves just as much as I do. :)

My Favorite Inspirational Quotes

This post will mostly be just a list of my favorite uplifting quotes. I love these quotes because they are very insightful and make you think differently about how to live every day.

"Throughout the years of your life you will face many challenges, remember that you can climb the highest mountain, drive through the roughest storm, soar across the bluest sky, or even sail across the roughest waters. It is only destined by your attitude where you will end up in life. The most important thing is don't let yourself get lost in the crowd. " -Angela Duvall

"People will hate you, rate you, shake you, and break you. How you stand strong is what makes you." -Anonymous

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Suess

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." -Audrey Hepburn

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you can really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." -Eleanor Roosevelt

These are only a few of the quotes that I love, but there is even more meaningful quotes by these authors and others who want to share their life knowledge with the world. :)

How to Go to a Baseball Game

I went to an Angels game tonight, and even though they lost, I still had a lot of fun. I love going to baseball games, and the experience you have will make some good memories. Here is how to enjoy yourself during this american past-time: 


1. Wear your team's colors 

Always support your team and show your spirit by sporting their colors (which for me, is red for the Anaheim Angels). You can even wear the jersey of your favorite player. 

2. Eat some peanuts and a hot dog (Or what I like, a soft pretzel) 

Even if you don't like them that much, having a hot dog at a baseball game is a must. Vendors are always roaming up and down the aisles with every kind of snack.

3. Don't get hit by a ball 

A girl tonight got hit by a foul ball a few rows in front of me and collapsed. Of course it wasn't her fault, but you've got to be careful and watch where the ball might land. Especially if you are as close to the field as we were, you should always be on the lookout for any fly balls. So either be prepared to catch it...or duck and let someone else have the ball.

4. Root for your home team 

Cheering for the players at bat definitely makes the game more fun and it might help your team score some runs. In many cases, game-goers start the wave and let it continue around the stadium to help get the crowd on their feet.

Of course this advice is obvious, but it will make the game a great time for everyone and complete the whole baseball experience. :)

Healthy Snacks

If you are trying to get out of your junk food habit of munching on chips or cookies, then these five snacks are perfect because they are nutritious and still taste good.

1. Plain Fat-Free Greek Yogurt with Fruit and Honey
I usually have this for breakfast, but it can also replace dessert if you're craving something sweet. The honey is a natural sweetener to the sour yogurt and the fruit (I like to use strawberries) tastes great with it too.

2. Lara Bars
Most of these bars only have fruit and nuts in it without any sugar or high fructose corn syrup. This is a delicious protein bar and it gives you energy if you want to eat it before a workout. My favorite is the lemon, and I also like to freeze them because they are better cold.

3. Nuts
Almonds or sunflower seeds are great as an afternoon snack. Nuts tend to fill you up so you don't feel as hungry throughout the day. Try to eat them raw and without salt because they are more wholesome that way.

4. Popcorn (Organic
If you cook this in a pot (or popcorn-maker) with olive oil and do not put butter on it, then popcorn can definitely be a healthy snack. Even if you add some salt, it is still very low in calories. Of course you can eat it while watching a movie with your family or friends, but it can also be an afternoon snack. Using organic might be a better choice because most organic foods are more beneficial for your health.

5. Turkish (Dried) Apricots
Dried apricots are a great source of vitamin A. They are also very sweet, and I tend to eat them as a late-night snack.





I love eating these snacks and I recommend you to go out and try them because it will help you change towards a healthier lifestyle. :)

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

My aunt used to make this dessert during family reunions when everyone was together for the summer and it made those childhood times just a little better. It's the perfect combo of salty and sweet, making it hard not to eat the whole pan. Here is the recipe for Strawberry Pretzel Salad: 

Strawberry Pretzel Salad 

Ingredients:

2 cups finely crushed pretzels

½ cup sugar, divided

2/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

1½ pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened

2 Tbsp. milk

1 cup cool whip

2 cups boiling water

1 pkg. (8-serving size) strawberry jell-o

1½ cups cold water

4 cups strawberries, sliced 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 

2. Mix pretzel crumbs, 1/4 cup of the sugar, and the butter. Spread onto the bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake 10 min. Cool.

3. Beat cream cheese, the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and the milk until blended. Gently stir in the cool whip. Spread over crust and then refrigerate until ready to use.

4. In a large bowl, pour boiling water into the strawberry jell-o mix for at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water. Refrigerate for 1½ hours or until thickened. Stir in strawberries and then spread over the cream cheese layer.

5. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm. Cut into squares to serve. Store in refrigerator. 

You definitely need to try this recipe because it's my all-time favorite summer dessert and extremely tasty. :)

Favorite Places to Eat

1. Lazy Dog

This restaurant is at the top of my list because it has a variety of delicious food on its menu and has a family-friendly atmosphere. I recommend trying all of the different dishes since they are each appetizing in their own way. You can also bring your dog to the restaurant and eat outside on the patio (they have treats for your dog too).

*What I like to get: Fettuccine alfredo with chicken, Carne asada, Hawaiian pizza, Chicken parmesan

2. Chipotle 

One reason why Chipotle is on my list because their food is just so addicting and it's my go to fast food. When they first came into my area, I would get their tasty burritos, but now I am hooked on their rice bowls and lime-flavored chips.

3. Red Robin 

This diner is also very family-friendly with great burgers and a fun environment of  amusing decor. They are known for their gourmet burgers, but they have a lot of other great things on the menu to order too.

*What I like to get: Chicken bruschetta sandwich, Cesar's chicken wrap, Whisker river bbq burger 

4. Ruby's 

I have always loved Ruby's partly because of its old diner atmosphere and their amazing fries (they don't even need ketchup!). I used to go here all the time when I was younger and sip down on their delicious shakes and look forward to getting a gum ball after my meal. Again, another family-friendly place which is another thing I love about it because I know I will take my kids here one day. 

*What I like to get: Hickory burger, Portobello-provolone premium burger     

If you haven't tried their food yet, you should check out these places because I bet they will have something for everyone's taste buds. :)

How to Have Healthy Looking Skin

If you weren't born with perfect skin, then there are some healthy ways for your face to look better naturally. 

1. Vitamin E: This is probably the vitamin most essential for healthy skin. You can apply it by oil or cream or take it in supplement form. It helps restore the glow to your skin by working as an antioxidant.

Food sources: Leafy greens, eggs, nuts

Vitamin A: Applying this to your face heals any damage caused to the skin by treating acne and improving moisture.

Food sources: Leafy greens, carrots, dried apricots

*Other vitamins good for the skin: Vitamin C, Omega-3, B-complex 

2. Apple cider vinegar: You can apply this directly to your face (as a toner for acne scars) or drink it with water and honey (for detoxification). When used, it improves your complexion and removes the toxins from your skin. 

3. Green tea: Drinking green tea is great for your skin because it's high in antioxidants, and it also reduces any redness and increases the skin's elasticity (as well as reducing stress which can cause acne).

4. Eat greens: Vegetables are filled with nutrients, improving skin tone and creating a natural glow to your skin. 

5. Drink lots of water: Water is extremely cleansing and staying hydrated throughout the day can eliminate toxins for fresher and replenished skin. 

Just remember that it takes time to improve the appearance of your skin, but making these changes will prove to be beneficial as you will soon see how healthy your skin looks.

The Juicing Diet

Before the juicing craze started, I watched a documentary called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead that made me think about how healthy juicing could really be. It was about an overweight and sick man who decided that he needed to turn his life around. He began a 60-day straight juicing diet in hopes to recover his health and change his lifestyle. 

After viewing this film, I made the decision to buy a juicer and try juicing for myself. I didn't do it for 60 days, but I tried a 3-day cleanse. If anyone wants to start juicing, I have to warn you that even though you are consuming a lot of fruits and vegetables, you will feel tired and have a headache for the first few days. This is only because your body is adjusting to the lack of food and is in the process of being cleansed of bad toxins. Now, I just juice to get some vegetables in my diet and be healthier. So, you don't have to go on the full juice diet to detox your body, just make sure to eat natural foods everyday that are not processed or full of high fructose corn syrup. 

Here is one of my favorite juice recipes:

• 2 large green apples (in slices without the core)
• 1 large gala apple
• 3 big carrots
• 4 celery sticks
• A few leaves of lacinato kale

*Put each ingredient in a juicer and enjoy! 

If your interested, try juicing for a day or two to see if you like it and then continue for longer if you want. It can't hurt and it is definitely healthy for you with all of the fruits and vegetables. If just want to juice as your drink for the day along with food, that is probably the better and easier choice for a good cleanse. :)

Also, I recommend that you check out the documentary, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, because it is both interesting and informing. For more about the film and juice recipes, here is the website: http://fatsickandnearlydead.com/