Merry holidays!!

My weekend!

USC game on Saturday (even though we lost, booooooooooooo hooooooooo) with friends and bf then shopping on rodeo drive Sunday with my lovely friend lea! Got some awesome X-mas shopping done and picked up a favorite new lipgloss at Barney's. BRIGHT holiday red. Yes im excited about it. haha Monday tomorrow back to the grind, but super excited for my birthday next weekend in Las Vegas!

My turkey day!

Rose bowl and Book of Mormon kind of weekend

Backwards Waterfall Braid

Backwards WaterFall Braid

So this starts out as a normal french side braid. Take three pieces from the upper portion of the left or right side. Split into three sections. Begin Dutch braiding two or three times. Dutch braiding is the same as french braiding except the strands go under everytime you braid instead of over. Then When you have done a normal dutch braid for about two cycles through all the hair pieces start taking the piece nearest your face and put it in your mouth and take a new piece for your front section. Then instead of incorporating that into your braid put it in your mouth. Collecting all the front pieces until the braid is behind your ear, then pin with a bobby pin and let the front strands fall. Lightly brush them out and your ready to go. For a more polished look (less hippie bohemian) straighten or loosely curl hair first.

This is a great YOUTUBE tutorial on it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JSuiZwJL4g
**Note: She does a regular french braid in this tutorial, remember to dutch braid as it stands out more and has a more intricate look. Much cooler looking.

Easy to do and I love the look! 

Juice Diet Progress and Notes

Day three! Hello!

Well I can surely say I am in a better mood and have lots of energy. Afternoons are the hardest for me not to snack as well as late, late at night. 11 pm-ish. But dinne time has been just fine with my 300 calorie Almond Milk. Really not very  much cravings at all.

I will shamelessly divulge my cheats--> I made dinner for my boyfriend and "tested it" to make sure the flavors were right far too many times. I also made homemade ricotta gnocchi last night and "tested" it to make sure the consistency was right. Other than that I've been pretty good.

I haven't been very hungry at all and my waistline is definitely trim at this point, it is so nice when you see results. Nothing more motivating than that.

Here are my notes for the flavors of Pressed Juicery so far, this is mainly for myself so I know what to order next time but I thought I would share as it may be helpful.

Greens 2: OK tasting
Do NOT like Roots 2
Do NOT love Roots 1
Pineapple pear ginger mint-OK for Desert
Pineapple green apple lemon mint-very sweet
Green Alkalizer-good, spicy, watery
Roots 3: Really really like
Greens 1: Palatable but little flavor. Very good for you. Low calories.
Almond Milk: Delicious. Love it for dinner
Watermelon, Lemon, Cayenne: SO SO GOOD. A favorite
Greens 4: Better than other greens, but not sweet.

Two more days to go!

JUICE CLEANSE DAY 1

My juices just arrived...anyone taking on this challenge with me?

Recipe to Impress! TO DIE FOR RICOTTA PANCAKES

If you want to impress your boyfriend, your friends or even yourself here is an easy and UNBELIEVABLY delicious pancake recipe to try. Don't take my word for it get out your apron and get cooking!!!!!!

5 Tablespoons Butter
1 cup whole milk or half and half
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon fine salt
3 large egg yolks (no whites)
2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup ricotta cheese

First heat on low the milk and butter in a pan to melt together. Pour that in with everything and whisk for ~2 mins. Grease the pan with butter and put apx a large spoonful of batter. Cook till slightly browned. VOILA!!! Taste!!!

I made it this morning because my boyfriend, Taylor, had a big exam for his surgical residency and I got up early and made him this along with the a proscuitto, mozzarella  arugula and onion scramble. (seasoned with a drop of truffle oil, tapatio, salt and a dash of cayenne). Accompanied with fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and coffee. It was a hit! But, the pancakes were definitely the star of the show so I thought I would share.

Let me know if you try this recipe and what you think below xo. 

Sharing!

If you could share my blog on your twitter or facebook and comment in the comment section that would help. thanks guys! 

Health Hair Tricks and Tips

I keep going back and forth on this. I want my hair to be its healthiest but I also don't want to spend a ton of money on shampoo...So I figured out a secret. Buy the kersastase treatment vials (usually 25$-30$) on ebay or on amazon for ~10$ each. It will change your life. You spray it on in the shower let it sit for five minutes and you have literally virgin hair again. It lasts for up to 3 weeks. I then just use drugstore shampoo--I like the pomegranate Dove Shampoo combined with the weightless conditioner from Neutrogena.

After the shower I use KÉRASTASE ELIXIR ULTIME serum.

I then spray some detangle spray and Voila! I do not heat style my hair after a shower unless I have to go somewhere quickly and can't have wet hair...In terms of hair care I also take pre-natal vitamins which keep my hair thick and shiny (and my nails). I get these from Whole Foods. :)