Nice to meet you, I’m Iva! A passionate healthy lifestyle girl . Here you can find easy and healthy meal ideas, you can learn how to shake up a great cocktail, how to do a salon like beauty treatments at home , how to be boujee on a budget and just live your best life ! I have a YouTube channel and I make videos every week. But I feel like with a blog I can share more! Thanks for visiting!!!
If you are stuck with your dinner idea and if you are into easy meals that are on the healthy side this one is for you. So simple but doesn’t sacrifice on taste. Great thing is those patties are packed with lean protein and broccoli. Great to make for your child that doesn’t like veggies. The broccoli adds vitamins and nutrients but hard to notice or taste. It just doesn’t look like broccoli at all ( it is obviously green but hard to tell it is broccoli). I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of those patties the first time I made them but ever since they are are a favorite of everyone that I served them to. And the leftovers are as delicious as the fresh batch.
You can add those to salads, make a mini burgers, eat with rice, make pita wraps. Great with hummus, mustard, sriracha or the Bitchin sauces. They are so delicious!
Recipe
WHAT YOU NEED:
1 lb ground chicken
1 head of broccoli ( around 1 lb)
4-5 stalks of green onion
Fresh parsley
2 cloves of garlic
1 egg
4-5 tablespoons of bread crumbs or almond meal (or I use both)
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons oil of your choice ( I used sunflower)
INSTRUCTIONS
Put broccoli, parsley, green onion and garlic in a food processor.
Add the ground chicken in a large bowl, add the chopped veggies, the egg, crumbs and/or almond meal, salt and pepper. Mix it all together. With hands is the easiest and the best way to combine everything, plus you will get your hands dirty anyway when you shape the patties. If it seems too thin you can add a bit more crumbs or almond meal. Shape patties with desired size. I prefer to make them thinner so they cook faster.
I have two ways of cooking.
1. Add oil in a pan and cook on the stove. Cook each side till it gets lightly brown.
or
2. Line baking tray with parchment paper and bake on 390F for about 20-30 min until lightly brown.
Are you ready to get bronzed before your summer vacay? Or just because you want to look and feel better. Whatever the reason I got a list of my favorite self tanners that never disappoint me.
A classic that will always be in my bathroom cabinet. Great for people that want a perfect glow but are not ready to get a very dark dramatic result. I have used it for quite some time and even though I have other favorites I tend to go back to this especially in the winter months when a very bronzed look will be a bit too unnatural. I also use it on my face and never get irritation, breakouts or clogged pores. Amazing color pay off. This is the only body self tanner that I trust for my face. And I also like the fact that it is not very dark. So whichever from the list below I have on my body. St Tropez classic bronzing mousse is on my face!
This is by far my favorite one for deep, bronzed look. In my opinion it gives me the best color. Nothing can beat it. Very luxurious product and easy to apply and smells great.
When it comes to the face I sometimes use body self tanners oops… but if you have sensitive skin I would highly recommend one designed for the face. This serum from St Tropez combines a great color self tanner with some amazing skin benefits.
Bondi Sands has great quality self tanners on a very affordable price (compared to other self tanners in the same category). Great deep bronze color. If you want to look like you spend a week on the Caribbean this is your secret weapon. Smells like a tropical dessert and easy to work with.
Loving Tan is highly rated and there is a reason for it. A natural color pay off that never looks fake or orange. Gives just the right amount of bronziness and mimics the vacation look with a breeze. Very easy to apply. Great self tanner and beginner friendly.
My newest addition that ranked at my top is the St Tropez Classic in Lotion form. Same great color as the mousse but a different form. I love having options and this one has been on rotation lately. Gives me very nice color. Not overly dark but enough to see my inner golden goddess coming through 😉 When it comes to being tanned sometimes it’s more about how you feel. Tan gives me so much confidence!
And the last but surely not least is a gradual self tanner from , sorry, again, St Tropez. I just love and trust that brand when it comes to faux tan. They certainly know what they are doing. This gradual self tanner lotion is great for beginners or people that want to control the darkness of the final result. Builds a stunning color slowly. You can stop once you achieve the desired look or you can just skip a day and layer afterwards. I have tried it on my face with great results. I love this lotion in the winter. For warmer months I am more impatient and want a quicker results. But this product is a must have for me.
If you guys are uninterested in this topic I have some videos on YouTube reviewing and applying some of those self tanners. Make sure to check them and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE and support me there.
Who doesn’t want to be bronzed and glowy for the Summer? And some of us actually want to look like this whole year round. I don’t know what it is but a good tan is an instant confidence and mood booster for me.
And even though I found a couple of self tanners that I swear by ( St Tropez and Bondi Sands). (I have videos on YouTube and a blog post reviewing those), I can never stop exploring and testing new once.
I was really intrigued by Loving Tan as I have been seeing it on social media a lot. So I decided to give it a try and see if it is really the best self tanner out there as a lot of instagram models, influencers and bloggers claim. I have seen a lot of girls raving about it and rating it pretty high on the chart of faux tanners.
I picked up the Deluxe Bronzing Mousse in Dark, as first time using the product I was nervous to get the Ultra Dark. Anyway I am pretty pale at the moment and what I look for in a self tanner is a natural looking bronzed glow rather than a look of super dark, unnatural and fake color.
I always exfoliate prior to application and use a velvet mitt to apply. The product comes out really dark and warm colored foam, but looks very natural on the skin. Really easy to apply. Can get a tiny bit streaky while you rub it in but it is easy to blend the mistakes out after you go over them. The foam is a true foam texture. Fluffy and airy which I liked because I have used other self tanners with more liquidy foam and they really get messy and hard to apply.
Has nice , beach, vacation smell but highly scented. And after it starts developing a self tanner scent lingers for a while.
The guard color is not super dark so you need to pay attention where you apply. But I like that because some other self tanners that I have used have a really dark guard color and even though it allows you to see where you applied it looks very unnatural. So you have to really plan when you apply and make sure you stay home while it develops. Some other brands add a little bit extra green to their products to counteract the orange, but in my opinion, it doesn’t look that natural.
Loving Tan’s initial color pay off is realistic. Gives the appearance that you really laid down in the sun. Because that first sun kissed look that you get after spending the day at the beach is really warm, reddish , brown color. It makes you look youthful and flushed. This is what you get with the application of Loving Tan. I liked that I could apply it in the middle of the day, go out do my things without being afraid that I look like an alien.
It dries out pretty quick. If you choose to apply it during the day though be carful so you don’t get yourself wet, especially when you wash your hands or the dishes . Water might drip on your skin and it can mess up the look of your tan.
If you choose to wear tight, light clothes before it has fully developed it might transfer on them. But it washes out in the laundry.
I would recommend you to apply it in the evening so you can avoid any of the above mishaps.
The skin that reveals after you rinse out the guard color is natural, lightly bronzed and healthy looking . It is not as dark as I have seen on other people on YouTube or Instagram . But I love it!
Lasts about 6-7 days and it is very hard to tell how long exactly because it fades naturally and slowly, just gradually washes out with each shower. I was really impressed with the way it wears off. Did not have any weird patches around the wrist area or any other folds on the body like a lot other fake tans do when they start fading . After day 7 I like to use exfoliating mitt to remove whatever has left to ensure my skin is clean of any product left on it.
Overall a great self tanner that I will add to my favorites list.
Easy and mess free application
Nicely but highly scented and has a self tanner scent after it starts developing
Doesn’t take long to dry
Can transfer on sheets or lighter, tighter clothes but will easily wash out in the laundry
The tan that develops is healthy, bronzed and glowy looking
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. I know how stressful it can be to find the perfect gift. Even though I am the one giving those ideas to you I, myself always struggle when it comes to finding the perfect gift no matter the occasion . I take it very personal and always want to find the perfect piece that will make the person I am gifting happy. Here I found a few pieces that can fit different budget and needs. Hope you find something for the woman/ women in your life 🙂
Colleen Rothschild Beauty kit with a lot of beauty necessities great for travel or just to sample the high quality products plus the bag looks super stylish
I would 100 times choose a home cooked meal verses a restaurant one. I try to live a healthy lifestyle and this way it allows me to control what goes in my body. One of my favorite meals to order from outside is fried cauliflower rice . I always thought it is a hassle to make at home and it would never taste as good as at a restaurant. I was so wrong!! This easy recipe changed my outlook.
I love cooking simple and healthy meals that are ready preferably in under 30 min. This cauliflower fried rice is so easy to make, full of flavor and low in carbs. Loaded with veggies for extra nutrition. Shrimp is optional, you can use chicken instead or fully skip it and make this meal vegan friendly. Check my version of the Asian classic dish.
WHAT YOU NEED:
2 tablespoons oil
3 stalks green onion
Fresh ginger
1 cup of frozen green peas
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1-2 cloves of garlic
1 carrot, chopped
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 bags of frozen cauli rice
2 organic eggs
1 pinch of black pepper
Splash of gluten free soy sauce
Optional
Shrimp, deveined
1 bunch of organic baby bok choy
1 cup of snap peas
Fresh cilantro for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
In a pan or a wok add the sesame oil
Add the shrimp seasoned with salt and pepper.
Cook on each side for 3-4 min. Set aside.
In the same pan heat up the oil of your choice
Add the green onion and garlic
cook for 1 minute. Try not to burn the garlic
Add the cauliflower rice
Cook for 4-5 min
Add carrots and green peas, red bell pepper and grated ginger and cook for another 2-3 min
Crack two eggs in the cauliflower rice and mix in until eggs are cooked
Do not overcook because it can get mushy
Add splash of soy sauce and snap peas and bok choy, I like to add those at the end so they stay crunchy .
Serve it in a bow add the shrimp and garnish with cilantro , enjoy!!!
Here are a few affordable items that I am adding to my cart so I can be ready for summer!
All the items go really well together but can also be combined with so many other pieces and take you from the beach to dinner.
These bikinis from Amazon are such a high quality, so soft and stretchy and the cut is super sexy. If you are going to purchase them be aware that top and bottom are sold separately and they sell out quickly. They have great neutral colors that will look so good with tan. I am tempted to order more.
I know wool hat is not really for summer but this one just screams french classy to me and I don’t care I will be rocking it!
High quality white linen button down is essential for everyone, this doesn’t need much explanation.
Hair claws will replace my scrunchies this summer for sure.
I love those square toe flat sandals. I have been obsessed with the style for a while now but the ones I picked up last summer were high heels and I am glad I found those and can let my feet rest and still be trendy.
High quality canvas tote will go a long way! Great for the beach, overnight trips or as take it as a carry-on on the plane
Trendy pair of sunglasses that doesn’t break the bank gets me super excited. I can’t tell you how much I love this pair from Amazon.
Does your hair feel dry, brittle and lacking luster? Maybe it’s time to add a little extra moisture to your mane. Especially if you are reaching out to hot tools and chemical treatments more than you should.
I feel like with the seasons changing and entering into warmer months my hair suffers a lot and gets extremely dry ! I was really tired of my unruly, porous hair and decided to use fresh aloe vera gel to moisturize and smooth things out. I have done that in the past but this time in order to add extra moisture I left it overnight. The result was mind-blowing. My usually dull and frizzy hair was left silky smooth , super shiny and really hydrated from roots to tips. My scalp looked and felt refreshed and super clean. This not only moisturized my hair but acted detoxifying and removed product and mineral buildup from my hair and scalp.
Aloe vera mask is a super easy remedy for damaged hair. The great thing is that compared to other natural ingredients’ hair concoctions it is easy to wash out of the hair and doesn’t require you to shampoo multiple times to remove it.
AFTER Running fingers through silky smooth hair feels so divine
WHAT YOU NEED:
All you need for this miracle treatment is a fresh aloe vera leaf. If you do not have a plant you can purchase leaves from your local grocery store. They are usually at the produce section where they keep tropical fruit as plantains, coconuts, dragon fruit etc.
Once you slice the leaf in half you will see a yellow substance coming out. This liquid is called latex and it is known to be toxic. Especially if consumed!! Let it drain in the sink for 15-20 min.
Afterwards wash the pieces thoroughly with water. Carefully cut the sides that have prickly thorns. Cut into smaller pieces and then remove the skin by cutting each piece in the middle and scoop the gel out with a spoon.
Place the gel in a blender and blend for 2-3 minutes. Strain with a cheese cloth. This step is crucial if you are going to use the aloe vera in your hair as if you do not strain it the pulp will be hard to wash out of your hair and leave nasty pieces. Once you strain it , it becomes super liquid-y and you can even pour it in a spray bottle for the easiest application.
HOW TO APPLY:
Either do it over the sink or put a towel under because it can get a bit messy. But don’t worry it feels like water, not sticky or greasy so it is easy to clean afterwards.
To make the application easier you can wet your hands and run them through your hair, this way the gel won’t just slide off your hair, it will be easier to absorb. Spray all over your hair, from the roots to the ends. Gently massage.
If you are not using a spray bottle you can use a large bowl and your hands to apply. Once you wet your scalp you can just dunk your ends in the bowl and make sure your hair is fully covered.
I then like to gently put my hair in a bun, cover with shower cap and leave overnight.
In the morning just wash your hair as you usually do.
Aloe vera is really hydrating and conditioning. Filled with vitamins and minerals it is really beneficial for strengthening the hair , soothing the scalp and… as some people claim hopefully stimulating hair growth.
I don’t know about the massive hair growth but it did leave my straw like hair extremely shiny, silky smooth and moisturized.
With Spring around the corner I feel a desire to change my space a little bit and bring some freshness all around. In my last post I showed you items that I am adding to my closet for the warmer season but I also wanted to add something new to my house as well. I decided to play it safe and get items that have a clean and luxurious feel. All the items I picked are from H&M Home and are super affordable. I cannot express how much I am impressed with their quality and stylish look. Everything in their home collection looks way more expensive than it actually is, and the store is becoming one of my favorite places to shop for small decor items.
Recently I have been trying to resist the urge to buy everything that I see. Especially when it comes to fashion I have been more selective and buying thing that I can use and wear multiple times. With the new season approaching I have been wanting to update and refresh my look but still not overspend . Here are some cute and affordable items that I added to my cart to update my look for Spring . I feel like most of these items are very versatile and can be use throughout the other seasons as well but still add a little freshness for Spring.
HERE ARE MY PICKS
A soft and warm pair of joggers is so trendy but yet super cozy and comfy. Great for travel or lounging around. The leggings I picked are so affordable but can compare to high end ones. They fit so well, lift your butt and tuck your tummy in. I like the unique color that is super fresh for spring but also kind of muted and neutral. The mini dress is great because it can be dressed up or down. Worn with high heels and denim jacket or with sneakers. I love sneakers and couldn’t resist adding a new pair to my collection. I picked a classic white Nike AF1 with a twist. So cute and trendy these sneakers will pair great with any of the other items plus pretty much anything else that I own.
Accessories are so important to add finishing touches to any outfit. And even if I don’t buy any new clothes adding trendy accessories can make such a drastic difference in an outfit and make it seem like a whole new one. I feel like bucket hats will be in for the months to come. Practical and super cute. This one from H&M is made of a high quality nylon that is easy to clean and comes in different sizes. New pair of sunglasses sounded really good to me since we are coming into sunny months. I picked this retro squared aviators, very unique and super affordable. They look really expensive and are of exceptional quality. And a pair of gold hoops to finish everything off and keep it classy and trendy. I spend a little more on them but I love jewelry and it is something that I like to splurge on because I feel like a good pair of gold hoops will go a long way. Plus in my opinion sometimes the cheap ones can have a weird gold color and look a bit trashy and we don’t want that 🙂
Ivelina Angel 