My most memorable trip this year: Tonga

Hi my loves! 

I know it's been a while butttt, I needed to take some time off from writing, re-focus, and get back into the groove of all things beauty, fitness, and such. Although I took a summer hiatus from my blog, it doesn't mean that I took a hiatus from life. Nope, not at all.  I've been traveling a lot this summer and feel very fortunate that my job has allowed me the opportunity to travel for work and see places that I wouldn't ordinarily visit in the US like Minnetonka, Minnesota ( which I actually really recommend visiting for summers. It's beautiful especially being out on the lake). I'm also very grateful that I've had the opportunity to travel internationally this year from Canada, Fiji, UK, Itay, New Zealand and last but not least, Tonga. 

Quick selfie at Pangaimotu Resort, Tongatapu

Definitely, my most memorable trip this year was my trip back to my parents native land, Tonga. I was extremely fortunate to have my best friends Sergio and Tissa there in Tonga with me. I was at a transitional stage of my life, and had allowed myself to be bogged down by first world problems. Visiting Tonga helped remind me that you don't need all the riches in the world to be "rich". Cliché as it may sound I realized on my trip that there was so much that I took for granted living in the US, including a hot shower. And I say that because, Sergio and I got to experience taking cold morning showers nearly every day we were on the main island of Tonga. The saying that you really don't realize how good you have something till it is taken away from you was very much relevant in all aspects of this trip including our cold shower experience lol. What a humbling experience my trip was and still is. The funny part of all of this is that this was not my first time to Tonga. Nope. I spent part of my childhood in Tonga, on a smaller island, Vava'u with my grandparents and my sisters,and left at the age three only to later return as an adult to Tongatapu to briefly live there in 2010. In 2010, I moved to Tonga with the thought that I was going to make use of my Bachelors in Political Science, which is laughable in restrospect now but I will save that story for another blog post. Lol. Overall, I had such an amazing time on my trip to Tonga and Vavau. For the first time ever, I felt that I finally experienced the beauty and culture of Tonga that so many tourists come and appreciate Tonga for. As my bestie Serg best put it, we completely surrendered ourselves to the "chemicals" of Tonga. 

Enjoying a fresh coconut from Friends Cafe in Tongatapu.

My bestie Serg with me at Pangaimotu.

My grandpa Pafilio, Vava'u

Prior to arriving in Tonga, there were so many things I kept raving to Serg about including the baked fresh bread from the bakery all the way to the ocean waters of Tonga and the healing powers within it. As I mentioned before, I was stressed out from life, so much so that my skin was the unfortunate benefactor of my stress. My face had broken out everywhere and it wasn't pretty. Serg can attest to this because even he had never seen my skin so bad. I kept telling him over and over again that the first thing I wanted to do upon arriving in Tonga was to go for a dip in the ocean water because of it's healing powers. I probably sounded like a lunatic talking about the healing powers of the oceans in Tonga, till we actually arrived in Tonga and went out to Pangaimotu to go for a dip. It was immediate that both Serg and myself could see the difference in our skin. I'm not claiming that the Oceans in Tonga are better than any other in the world, but I do claim it to be magical healing waters, at least for my skin it is lol. Speaking of skin, one of my favorite things that I also always rave about to Serg is the lolo Tonga aka Tongan handmade oil. There are different kinds of lolo Tonga, and all have it's different benefits and scents, but all are so lovely to use and in my opinion is better than any argan oil, moraccan oil that you can ever find on the market. I never cared for lolo Tonga growing up, but now it's my absolute favorite thing to always have on hand for my skin.

Pulling up to Nuku Island, Vava'u.

On the small island Nuku, Vava'u.

Besides visiting Pangaimotu, there were so many other incredibly beautiful places that Serg and I visited, but my favorite place that we visited alongside my other bestie Tissa and her husband Misi was Nuku Island. It was such a special trip to Nuku island, because my grandfather, who just arrived back from sea that day, rested for about two hours and decided to go back to sea to take my friends and I out. It was the first time that I got to be side by side with my grandfather, doing what he does and knows best. He amazes me with his knowledge of the sea, skies, and stars especially considering, I know nothing about the ocean, let alone know how to swim. lol. I promise one day I will learn how to swim in this lifetime. lol! My grandfather...he is a true navigator of the Pacific Ocean. I admire him so much for his hard work, his dedication, and the path that he has set forth for his children, and his grandchildren, and so thankful for all of the sacrifices that he has made for me to be where I am today. His spirit of entrepreneurship drives me daily to make something out of myself that will make him one day proud. I love him so much.

Selfie at Mandala Resort, Vava'u

Dessert from Mandala Resort, Vava'u

Post hike @ Mt. Talau, Vava'u with my bestie Tissa.

Although I never wanted to leave Vava'u or my grandpa, I suppose that with all good things, they all come to an end. My friends and I all had such a great time being in Tonga and in Vava'u, and so many life lessons that I came to appreciate and learn that I couldn't have learned anywhere else but in Tonga. My most valuable lesson of all that I learned is that no matter how well planned you may have your life, God can re-direct those plans. I had my life planned out upon my return from Tonga but I'm so grateful though that God re-directed my path when he did.  He put on my path a better answer and direction than I could have ever imagined myself. I truly believe that nothing is possible without him and although I was going through a lot at the time, I honestly believe, that God answered my prayers in the best way possible...with love, with hope, and with faithfulness. Till next time loves!

xo,

Vua

Neiafu, Vava'u

The #WaistGangSociety Trend

It's been a minute since I've been on here to write...but I wanted to finish up a blog post about waist training that I started to write while traveling for work...

En route to DC/VA for work and decided to take a quick Instagram mental break and as I'm scrolling through pictures, I see several selfies of women at the gym with their waist trainers to which I completely cringe at. Ok, I get it, losing weight for a woman is not easy. Duh. From portion control, to watching our calorie intake, and don't forget exercise...that shit is hard! #facetopalms

Now enter the waist trainer. It's not new and it's not revolutionary but it is the latest and greatest diet fad. Women like the Kardashians, Amber Rose, and so many other celebrities who are apart of this "#WaistGangSociety"are promoting this contraption which claims to cinch your waist into the itty bitty tiny waist that society all wants us women to be. Newsflash, not all women were created equal, and not all women were meant to have a tiny waist with accentuated hips.

So you want to be part of the #waistgangsociety you say? Well, let me paint a picture for you (not literally lol)....below is a picture perfect reason of what happens to your body when you waist train. 

Not exactly appealing is it? Didn't think so.

It's been suggested by doctors that waist trainers can be more damaging than beneficial. As the diagram above shows, doctors are worried that waist trainer wearers can compress the lower intestines into the pelvic region. Not only this, corsets worn too tight can cause skin infections or even scarring! Does waist training still sound appealing? Sure, wearing a corset may give you an immediate satisfaction of a svelte like figure but there is no proven long term benefits of wearing a waist trainer. Sorry ladies! I hate to say it but it looks like the best way to get in shape and to have a healthy waist line is through diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Not everyone will have that Kim Kardashian or Nikki Minaj tiny waist line and really that's ok. Women come in different shapes and bodies, the way it should be. The idea of this "#waistgangsociety" is quite frankly another trend made popular to make women feel inadequate or unhappy with the fact that our waists isn't as tiny as some of these celebrities waist lines are. Fact of the matter is, have a waistline that is healthy. That's what we should be promoting. Healthy Lifestyles. I'm just saying. 

If you do decide to wear a waist trainer, do it with caution and please do your research! At the end of the day, a waistline doesn't determine beauty but as Audrey Hepburn best said "True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul."

Green Smoothie Recipe

In the mornings I am always in a rush to get out the door and never have time to make breakfast, so,  I love to make these smoothies the night before and refrigerate so that I can quickly grab and go in the AM. The best thing about making these smoothies is that it's easy peezy and it yields at least 4 servings (that's 4 meals!) I normally make my smoothies with apples and pears because they are always in season but my cousin recently brought me some mangoes and pineapple so I swapped out the pears and apples for these fresh fruits all the way from Hawaii. Try my recipe out and feel free to use fruits and greens that you like/are in season.

Recipe: 

- 1.5 cups water
- 1/2 cup ice
- 3 cups Dino kale
- 3 cups spinach
- 2 celery stalks, halved
- 1 cup pineapple cubed
- 1 cup 
- 1 banana, peeled
- 1 lemon juice only
- bunch cilantro with stems (optional)
- bunch parsley with stems (optional)

In your blender, blend all of your veggies first. Next, add in your fruits then blend until completely dissolved and voila your smoothie is ready to pour and drink!

 If you have a smoothie recipe that you like, please comment and share. I'm always looking for new smoothie recipe's. Have a Happy Tuesday my love's! 

Pimples? Zits? I've got that good stuff...

image source: GlamGlow.com

The body has the amazing ability to tell you when something just isn't right. Your face is no exception. Most of the time, when you are stressed, or there is a hormonal imbalance, your skin is the first to show off all of those lovely imperfections and my skin is definitely no exception to this.

For me, it has been a stressful couple of weeks lately with everything on my plate both at work and at home, and my skin has been paying the price for it. Pimples, zits, whatever you want to call them, they all decided to gather and throw a party; location: my forehead. Yay me! While they were partying it up on my forehead, I was agonizing on how I was going to get rid of these new and very much unwanted friends. 

I immediately found myself driving to my local Sephora to find a miracle treatment and was introduced to this amazing mud mask by Glam Glow. What was once Hollywood's Best Kept Secret is now available to all of us. This product was developed for celebrities who wanted a miracle in a bottle that could fix their skin instantly and have them camera ready in an instant. You know when I heard this, I had to try it out! I wanted fast results too! You know, to get myself selfie ready ;)

Alright, let me just tell you how amazing this stuff is!!! As soon as I got home, I cleansed my skin, put on the mask and timed it for 15mins. In the first 30 seconds after putting it on, I could feel this stuff working! (If you are trying this out for the first time, don't get nervous, it will tingle for a little bit but will subside after a few minutes.) The crazy part of this was seeing the dirt from my skin being pulled out to the surface. Gross right?  Gross but cool in knowing that all of that gunk was being cleared from my skin. The proprietary blend of clay, charcoal, AHA and BHA acids worked together like a magnet to absorb all of those toxins, bacteria, and excess oil from my skin. The combination of these ingredients also helped to declog and minimize my pores. It's in a cinch, amazing!

So if you like me, have some uninvited friends that are visiting on your forehead or wherever else on your face, try the Glam Glow Super Mud Mask and kick them out! Don't just take my word for it, go on and try it out for yourself. 

P.S. I do advise that if you do use this mask to have a hydrating moisturizer on hand. Your skin will feel tight and dry after rinsing off the mask, so make sure that you've got a heavy duty moisturizer on deck to slather on after your treatment mask.

Burpees are your friend

Happy Post Easter! I hope that everyone had a wonderful time with their families on Easter Sunday. It's a new season, and it's time to get up and get ready for summer! Summer is my favorite season of the year, it might be the islander in me, but I love the warmth of the sun, and being able to go to the beach and lounge. Anyway, I wanted to tell you all about, the not so secret workout to get you beach body ready for summer. 

BURPEES!

We all hate them but learn to love them!

How many of you have heard the phrase " I hate burpees!"? Well, they weren't made to be loved but here's 3short and to the point reasons why you SHOULD learn to love them:

1. No weights required: This very effective exercise requires absolutely no weights at all except your own body weight and it is a straight forward movement that can be modified depending on how fit a person is. 

2. No gym required: Because all you need is yourself to perform this workout, you can do this workout anywhere, and you don't need much space either. This workout is perfect for anyone who is always on the road. So if you don't have a gym, you literally have no excuse. 

2. Perfect for Weight Loss: I know, what you are thinking..."any kind of workout, will promote weight loss." True, however, burpees, are a FULL BODY workout that activates essentially every part of the body, from arms, to abs, legs, and so many other muscle groups. Burpees help rapidly increase your heart rate, resulting in a massive expenditure of calories. In other words, burpees can burn up to 50% of fat, more so, than any other workout! Need I say more? 

Don't know how to do a burpee? Here's how:

• Stand straight, then lower into a squat position with your hands on the floor in front of you.

• Kick your feet back into a push-up position and drop your chest to the floor. (For beginners, you can remain in the push up position, without dropping your chest to the floor.)

•  Return your feet back to the squat position as fast as possible.

• Jump up into the air as high as you can and add a clap as you jump up.

Take it from me, someone who personally hates burpees, that while they literally suck the life out of you, they burn FAT and in a short amount of time!

I love workouts, that are short, sweet, and to the point, and burpees are just that! Learn to love 'em ladies! My challenge to you is to do 4 sets of 15 burpees. You can do them as fast or as slow as you want but keep a steady pace and TRY to do each set consecutively without stopping. Good luck! Let me know how it goes :) 

Ofas,

Marie 

Kindness...it's free.

Review: Ole Henriksen Melting Cleanser

Last month, while traveling to Rome, I brought with me the new Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Melting Cleanser.  With limited space in my suitcase, I was stuck between choosing whether I can fit an extra pair of shoes OR taking my full size makeup remover + full size cleanser. Obviously, the shoes won out...I'm a girl after all and an extra pair of shoes trumps everything (who cares that I didn’t end up wearing those extra pair of shoes? lol #storyofmylife) Anyway, I had heard so much about this new, melting cleanser and wanted to know what all of the hype was. I am typically not a fan of oil based cleansers, because of the messy consistency and because it requires more steps than I normally care for in my skincare regimen, but, I took a leap of faith and tried it out. 

To start, this cleanser is not like any other -- it is gel formulated and is oil based. Applied directly to dry skin, the gel breaks down into an oil like consistency and emulsifies into a milky liquid once water is added. Melting away all makeup and impurities the cleanser leaves the skin hydrated and brightened with key ingredients: rose hip oil (hydrates) , virgin cherry oil (cuts down redness) , and vitamin c (brightens). 

Overall, I was happy that I took this cleanser on my trip and would recommend this product for anyone who wants to kill two birds with one stone.  Remove your makeup and cleanse your skin at the same time, it’s pretty genius! 

Pros: 

• Gel based consistency keeps the cleanser in tact unlike most oil cleansers - duh it’s a gel ;)
• Removes any type of makeup including waterproof makeup
• Leaves the skin feeling hydrated+ radiant.

Cons:

• Not for anyone who likes the squeaky clean, “dry” feeling after cleansing. This cleanser hydrates and will not give you that feel. 
• If you’re not into using a wash cloth - this cleanser is not for you. Although the cleanser melts off all of the makeup and impurities, you MUST use a wash cloth to wipe off all of that melted matter from your face. 

If this is your first time trying out an oil cleanser, buy the travel size. It’s $12 and you get so much product for what you are spending. Try it out and let me know your thoughts! Happy Cleansing :)

Beauty: Peachy Cheeks + Pink Lips

I  like to wear bold lip colors but there are times that I like more of a simple and natural look too. 

I received a sample of Make Up For Ever's Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick, Shade N9 as one of my Beauty Insider perks at Sephora and I actually like it. The lipstick is very hydrating and glides on the lips easily with it's creamy texture and satin finish. I paired this together with my favorite Buxom lipgloss, Sandy. 

 For my cheeks, I am wearing Sephora Collection's Blush in Orange Punch it is a nice matte blush which since I am getting older :( I lean towards wearing more matte blushes. Glitter settles into pores and it is never a good look. Just saying ;) And to be honest, I never was a fan of Sephora Collection but they have reformulated so many of their products that I am slowly converting into becoming a fan of many of their products. Definitely give these blushes a try, you will not be disappointed with the color payoff and you get your bang for your buck.

WOD: Workout of the Day

No gym? No problem.

Here's a quick workout you can do for time anywhere:

20 air squats 

20 push ups

20 box jumps

20 situps

20 burpees

Time yourself and write down your time as a personal record (PR)...you can do this workout again in a few weeks and see if your time has improved.

Ready. Set. Go!

Contouring Made Easy by Sephora

So many people ask me questions about contouring and how to contour their face. Well, Sephora has taken the guess work out of contouring and has put together an awesome contour pocket app that uses your own picture (pull out that selfie), determines your face shape, and teaches you in a few simple steps how to contour. Try it out at for yourself at: http://m.sephora.com/pocketcontour

Let me know your thoughts on the pocket app!

Fitness: It takes two...

  

                        

Finally back on my fitness grind and got a chance today to check out the new soul cycle in SOMA SF....love!  For a couple of weeks now, my mind and heart have not been seeing eye to eye and I am paying the price... I'm not where I want to be with my ideal body fat goal. To be very honest, I was gung ho about my fitness in the beginning of the year like everyone normally is every new year...shocking! Sustaining that motivation was a different story. I fell off the train and found nearly every excuse in the book on why I couldn't workout. Don't get me wrong, I've been working out, doing my two times a week workouts with my trainer but it's obviously not enough to get me to my goal. My motivation lifeline flatlined...and it sucked! We all go through these times whether it's our job, fitness, or whatever else it may be in our life and to be frank it's NORMAL. We all plateau but it is so  important to recognize those plateau moments and quickly bounce back. The key is to re-ignite that fire and to get that booty back to work! 

 So you hear the saying all the time, "the mind is a powerful thing." True statement, but, I beg to differ.  Everything in life is dependent on two things in my book: our mindset + our heart. The two together on the same path, are unstoppable! Neither one can co-exist without the other but it's all about finding the right balance between the two. I found that for me personally, that while the mind is a "powerful" tool, it's nothing without your heart. Your heart has to be right on board with your mind. Your mind can light the fire, but your heart will be the fuel to keep that fire burning. Once you've got that "fi-yah" burning, you will find ALL of the right excuses to find time and a way to workout. We are only as successful as we allow ourselves to be, so don't hold yourself from the greatness that you are destined for! Get your mind right and your heart onboard and let that fi-yah burn strong! ✊

Review: Tarte Contour Stick

If you are like me, you probably enjoy every minute of sleep and don't have a lot of time to dedicate to doing your makeup in the morning. My latest addiction is the Tarte, The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizer. This was introduced to me by my bestie Sergio because he knows that I don't have a lot of time in the morning for makeup, and because I like anything that is quick and easy to apply. If you are a novice to contouring, I highly suggest this stick. It glides easily onto the skin and is easy to blend with your fingers OR with a makeup brush. The formulation of the stick is non sticky and is completely weightless on the skin. This stick is great for defining those cheekbones and helps to slim the jawline and nose if needed. Word of caution: This contouring stick will not make you look like Kim Kardashian but you may be inclined to take a few selfies like KK after using this stick with those defined cheekbones and slimmed down nose ;) 

I love Cayenne Pepper!

Made this today for breakfast...and it was too good to not take a bite into first. I sprinkled some cayenne pepper on this bad boy...I love eating cayenne pepper with pretty much everything!

According to a study conducted by Purdue University, the findings of their study, published in the journal Physiology & Behavior, suggest that "consuming just half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper along with a meal can help suppress appetite and burn calories."

Cayenne pepper has several great health benefits but I love it because it is a great digestive aid and helps to detox the body of toxins.  Cayenne stimulates the digestive tract, increasing the flow of enzyme production and gastric juices, helping to metabolize food. So in a nutshell, it helps what you put in your body, come out. For a great detox/cleanse try combining lemon juice, honey, cayenne pepper in hot water in the morning and be prepared to sweat. 

1.  "The effects of hedonically acceptable red pepper doses on thermogenesis and appetite" - Physiology & Behavior - Volume 102, Issues 3–4, 1 March 2011, Pages 251–258 - Accessed October 9th 2013.

Beauty: An Intro to Peels

With the stress of work and lack of hydration from traveling, my skin definitely was showing signs of congestion, dullness, and dehydration. I was lucky enough that while visiting my best friend Sergio in LA, he gave me the best facial using a Glycolic Peel on my skin. Admittedly, I used to be scared that a peel meant that it was going to burn and peel my skin off. This is a myth and needs to be debunked. Think of peels as another form of an exfoliator that is chemical based and is not physical much like St. Ive's Apricot Scrub (you know you have all used this at some point...don't be ashamed). 

So what exactly does a peel do? It safely exfoliates your skin, removing any dull and dead skin, helping cells to turnover so that new and younger cells can be revealed -- and isn't that what all women crave? Younger looking skin? At least I do! Peels are also great because they help to treat breakouts and it smooth out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

If you are new to the peel game and have not used peels before, I recommend easing your skin into it by using peels that are safe enough to use on a daily basis and for you new booties...here is what I recommend:

Dr. Gross Alpha Beta Peel Original Formula :
Price:  $16-$88
This is one of my longstanding favorite peels that I like to keep in my wardrobe of skincare products. It's a little pricey, but well worth it and if you are trying it out for the first time, they have a trial size of 5 treatments for $16 so give it a try!

Step One Pad Ingredients:

• Glycolic Acid: Helps to reduce signs of aging and acts as an exfoliant -- safely removing from the outer layers of dead skin. 
• Willow Bark Extract: Helps to clear pores and acts as an astringent and helps to soothe the skin - also great for acne prone skin. 

Step Two Pad Ingredients:

• Retinol: Helps to reverse signs of aging and also helps to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

For those of you that are peel professionals and love that burning sensation of a good AHA or BHA because for some reason you feel like it's working, here are my favorite:

Ole Henriksen Power Peel: 
Price: $16-45

I like this peel from Ole Henriksen because all of the ingredients are natural. 

This is a three step system that consists of the following:

Step One - Almond Polish:

• Retextures the skin and preps the skin for the lemon Strip Peel. 
• Active Ingredients: Almond Extract, Oat Kernel Flour, Bamboo Stem Powder, Honey, and Orange Peel.

Step Two - Lemon Strip:

• Further helps to exfoliate the skin and also helps to refine any fine lines or signs of aging. 
• Active Ingredeints: Lactic, Glycolic and Fruit Acids, and Licorice and Algae Extract.

Step Three - Chamomile Comfort:

• Helps to soothe and Calm the skin. 
• Active IngredientsChamomile, Evening Primrose Oil, and Jojoba Seed Oil.

Last but not least, with any peel, make sure that right after you use a good night time moisturizer and that the next day you wear a sunscreen even if you plan to stay indoors. Your skin will be a little more sensitive than usual to sunlight so ensure that you have a good SPF to wear during the day. 

Do not be afraid to be Vulnerable

During my drive this week to Tahoe, I was listening to the Entrepreneur On Fire podcast, featuring, Sara Davidson, Founder and CEO of Hello Fearless. During her interview, she said something that resonated with me: "Vulnerability is Sexy." In today's modern world, women are taught to be strong, fierce, and independent to which I agree with all, one hundred percent! We are however also taught that to be vulnerable is to be weak. This is a BIG misconception and like Brene Brown says "profoundly dangerous". Vulnerability shows humility and that though our lives may seem perfect, it may not be and it doesn't have to be either. We do not have to know all of the answers to everything. Having the humility to ask for help whether at home, at work, in your relationships, or even with a goal that you are trying to achieve is okay! The real truth is that to be vulnerable is to be strong! If you have failed in something, this doesn't make you weak, you may be vulnerable--yes, but it is what you do with that vulnerability that will make you a stronger for it "...is the most accurate measure of courage." (Brown, "The Power of Vulnerability")

Whatever goals you have in your life, take a leap of faith and go for it; do not be afraid to be vulnerable!

1 Corinthians 16:13

Fitness: Throwback Thursday #TBT

My transformation...

   

#tbt yep that's me right there on the left when I was at my heaviest about 3 years ago weighing in at 225 lbs! I almost do not recognize myself looking at that picture.  I was extremely overweight, couldn't walk long distances without easily getting exhausted and be completely out of breath. I had lost my self confidence and absolutely hated taking pictures especially full length photos that highlighted my thunder thighs...see point of reference above ;) I've learned to appreciate my body much more now and vow to take better care of it because of how hard I've worked to be where I am at now. Although the process of losing the weight was not easy, it was well worth it because it reminds me that anything with determination and consistency is possible! I get a lot of questions on how I lost the weight and there is no secret to it. I did it the good old fashion way of eating healthier and working out routinely. Not saying this is the only way to lose weight because everyone has different bodies and health concerns but I can assure you that each and every person who has lost and kept off the weight will say that they had to become more active and change their eating habits. You've got to make it a lifestyle folks! It's not easy but it can be done! 

Best part about losing the weight? Gaining my self confidence back...oh, and being able to fit my polynesian calves into tall boots. If you have big calves like I used to, you know the struggle is real. 

Have a blessed night loves! 

Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Spaghetti Squash: 

I love  food and spaghetti is one of my favorite comfort foods. Eating pasta though is not the healthiest when trying to stay in shape. A great healthy alternative to this recipe is to substitute pasta for spaghetti squash. 

Ingredients:

1 whole spaghetti squash

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Gray salt and freshly ground black pepper

Half a jar of marinara sauce

1lb lean ground beef or turkey

4 oz. diced canned tomatoes

1 half green bell pepper - diced

1 half red bell pepper - diced

1 half yellow bell pepper - diced

3/4 cup diced onions

Prepping and cooking Squash :

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Split the squashes in half and scrape out seeds. Tip: Microwave the squash for 1-2 minutes to soften the squash and makes it easier to cut in half.

Line an oven tray with aluminum foil. 

Season the spaghetti squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper. 

Place flesh side down and roast for 30 to 40 minutes until fully cooked. 

Remove from the oven and let rest until cool enough to handle.

When squash is cool enough to handle, using a large kitchen spoon scrape the strands of squash from the inside of the skin. 

Prepping and cooking meat and sauce:

Cook the meat in a large saute pan.

Once the meat is near cooked, remove any excess oil and add in the diced tomatoes (drained), onions, and peppers.

Add the marinara sauce to the mixture and let it cook for another 10 mins.

And that's it!

Serve and enjoy...you won't notice the difference between the real thing and this healthy alternative. Happy eating!

Fitness Crush Friday #FCF: Lita Lewis

Ok, I'm not going to lie, I have not been the most motivated person as of lately to workout, especially after the holidays, it is hard to get back in the groove of things.  I figured that I am probably not the only person in the world that feels this way so I am sharing with you all my fitness crush...Miss Lita Lewis! She is Ahhhhmazzzing!!! Founder of the #thickfit movement,  she is Samoan and Black and is absolutely gorgeous!  Enjoy the pics and follow her on IG and Twitter @followthelita +Lita Lewis for more. Hope this inspires you all to get out and work it out! Happy Friday!

To all Women in the World: Dreams>Vision>Purpose

I truly believe this....a woman with vision is a woman with purpose. Here's to all the visionary women out there who walk with purpose. #proudtobeawoman 

Skincare: Protect your Money Maker

Good Morning Sunshines!

One of the things that I am grateful for is my mom's good genes ;) and that she instilled within me at such a young age the importance of skincare! When I was a little girl, I was obsessed with makeup and always fancied the makeup that my aunts would put on their faces. Growing up though I was not allowed to wear makeup till college ( strict polynesian parents...go figure.) but my mom always instilled in my sisters and I to take care of our skin by cleansing, moisturizing, and using a good sunscreen daily! Fast forward years later, I was working for Sephora and learned again the importance of taking care of your skin. I love makeup and getting dolled up, but taking care of my skin is much more important. A good skincare regimen will keep your skin young...don't rely on makeup to do that. So my advice...if you love to wear makeup, make sure you are taking care of your skin first! Taking care of your skin will make makeup application easier and a lot smoother to apply.  I'll be sure to write more on what I love to use on my skin.

                                                                    Stay tuned...

                                                                     Ofas,

                                                                     Marie 

Healthy, Wealthy, Wise

Happy new year's my loves! 

I know it has been a while since I've been on here but the month of December last year has been hectic as it usually is every holiday season. This holiday season I was fortunate enough to be able to travel and spend the holiday with my loved ones in Hawaii, the Bay Area, and in LA :)  I definitely feel revived and rejuvenated and hope that you are all too! I hope that you all had plenty to eat, plenty to drink, and of course, plenty of rest!

Like everyone else, I am excited for the new year as it brings about a time for new beginnings, new hope, and last but not least, new goals. For me though, my goals remain the same as it does every year with a slight tweak each time. Years ago, I used to be in a multi level marketing company which taught three essential goals: Healthy, Wealthy, Wise and since then, this has been the foundation to each of my goals each new year. This year, my goals are:

Healthy: To continue with my journey of staying healthy and to shred my body fat down by 11lbs. 

Wealthy: To be consistent in writing in my blog and to work on my entrepreneurial project.

Wise: To read, learn, and become more spiritually fit in my faith. 

I hope that my goals help to inspire those of you reading this and I would love to hear what you all have as goals for 2015! Please share :)

Ofas,

Marie