july favorites

its the last day in July so i thought i would share a list of my personal favorites for the month. the things i simply couldn't get enough of . what I've been wearing, eating and doing! enjoy! here we come august!

what I'm wearing:

 straw like fedoras. both of these i found at target  www.target.com

cobalt blue! everything! nail color is sally Hansen's in the color #420 pacific blue

 hot pink shirt target purchase last summer and leopard print silk shorts www.amazon.com

round hippie inspired glasses in tortoise shell. (target)

draw string silk pants for casual days running errands is a great alternative to sweats, they are light and if your like me and rarely like to wear shorts or work out pants out this is a great option. i got these at h&m a few years ago but they have similar styles still.

blue nails. this month i couldn't get enough of blue nails of every shade. my top are sally Hansen's shown above. essie: bikini so teeny (pale lavender blue) where's my chauffeur ( the teal pictured above) and borrowed and blue ( pale blue color also pictured above)

what im eating: even though its a million degrees i cant get enough of pho restrains. specifically " the pho shop" on sports arena. this place is fast, clean and open late. i have tried a variety of items here and the pho portion is huge! plus if you check in on yelp you get 10% off your meal. i have been here many times and never disappointed!

what I'm doing:

some of my favorite activities in summer are picnics, whether indoor breakfast picnics or outdoors at the park there is just something about sitting on a blanket and eating fresh fruit or sandwiches is just kinda fun!

what I'm doing: sparklers and fireworks! even when its not forth of July, watching the sea world fireworks from my house has definitely been one of my July favorites! it is a relaxing fun  family summer activity! (oh and free)

i hope everyone had a awesome month of July....look out August!

xoxo
just janelle

Wellness wednesday- get your mind right!

my personal journey to getting my happy back!

I am 31 ( almost 32) and i know one thing for sure....i know practically nothing!  everything i thought i knew and everywhere i thought i would be by this point in my life was basically wrong. i have figured out though that happiness is very different for everyone. to say i have found the meaning of happiness would not only be a lie but it would make me a asshole quite frankly. my definition of happiness is surely not the same as everyone Else's. for example hiking a beautiful mountain, sky diving or laying on a beach may be happiness to some....but not so much for me. this week I'm talking about the concept of mental wellness and finding your personal happy!
Wellness clearly is about balance of mind, body and soul, this is why it is so difficult. However the thought process is that all of these are in tune. if you are in a healthy state of mind you will want to work on your body and your soul will be smiling and vice versa. Most try to work on body first because exercise creates endorphins and endorphins actually make us feel happy. I however have never experienced a endorphin, at least not from working out, i think i have while shopping ( seriously) I hate working out,  this magically blissful feeling while I'm sweating and refaced has never happened to me. But good for you guys out there who enjoy it! Congrats! (i hate you :) ) Working out and eating right are essential however. In the past year and a half I have lost 46lbs and I do feel better physically, I did it mostly because I love clothes and I want to wear what I want ( that's the truth) I want to be a hot mom (sorry I'm vain) and of coarse I want to live a long life and take my son outside and in the pool without being embarrassed. Truth be told I love cooking, baking, sharing and eating. So I find balance and although I'm not where I want to be I am allot closer than I was a year ago.
My next step was mental wellness, this is a toughy especially  if you have had a year like I have but I'm still smiling ( when I'm not crying ) so I must be doing something right. Here are some tips that have helped me.

-Find a good self help book. I was in the book store for two hours. I found one I really enjoyed and even found myself hi lighting pages. I personally need something light hearted and relatable. The book I found Is called you are a badass: how to stop doubting your greatness and start living a awesome life. Author: Jen sincero. I strongly urge anyone who is at a cross roads in their career or life in general to pick this up. Her writing style is easy going and fun and makes you really think about your life. Here are some tips I took from this book as well as some I have learned in therapy over the years.

 www.amazon.com

-gratitude journal. This was a pretty popular concept a few years ago. But for me I try and write down little things I'm thankful for and things that make me happy. Example : vinyl records. Flowers. Iced coffee. Pink. Reading.flowers.photo booths and my son of coarse!
if these small pleasure make you happy, make sure you are incorporating them into your life as often as possible.
next take things that you struggle with or stress you out and find gratitude for them. example:
Grateful for: my sons talkative nature because that means he's learning. My exhaustion because that means I'm working hard and utilizing my talents. My over booked schedule that means I have friends and family who want to spend time with me. Dirty dishes cause that means I made a yummy meal. ( make sense?)
happiness: 

-positive affirmations. personal truths. This one is new to me. Write down or recite in your head things you want the universe to bring your way. For me sometimes it's just saying over and over "I'm ok, b is ok" breath in and out. Here are some examples of positive affirmations. " I'm amazing" "I'm a good cook" "I'm beautiful" "I'm good at golf" I'm unique" "I'm creative" fill in the blanks with your personal truths. I've also heard of people using a vision board or keeping a notebook or note card with their affirmations written on them in their bag.

- outlets. For me I need a project or creative outlet to keep my mind well. So finding a craft, hobby, charity, book club, or home renovation project to keep your mind going! quite simply do things that make you happy! (duh!) bookstores and music are two of the things that make me happy and so i listen to music and browse bookstores.

-give up fear of failure this a huge one. Here is some amazing examples of failure gone right!

Michael Jordan ( even I know who he is) was cut from his high school basketball team for lack of skill. I think he managed to do alright.

Steven Spielberg a high school dropout was rejected from film school three times. Had he given up we would've all missed out on cinema masterpieces such as Jurassic park!

Thomas Edison was dubbed to stupid to learn anything, afters thousands of experiments created the freakin light bulb!
( jen sinceros book)

Our own fear prevents us from doing amazing things. The doubt in our mind prevents us from proving everyone including ourselves wrong.

- Anxiety is probably the polar opposite of mental wellness. I have it and it stems from worrying about things you can't control. It is basically a fear of bring overwhelmed. Here's a few tricks. Go back to that gratitude journal. Write down what's bothering you, then tear It up or burn it. Then write down at least one thing you did well that day, if you can't think of anything write down the last thing that made you smile, even if it was a trip you took a month ago. Don't let yourself have a pity party. Put on some good music, take a shower, watch some YouTube do something to distract yourself, breath and let it go.

whatever it is you do or whom ever it is you hope to become, get there and do it smiling and try and be present in your life just as it is now, because as we are all working towards our best version of ourselves we are still very much here now.im challenging you to find out what makes you truly happy and go get it! 

live. learn. teach. grow. love. laugh. break .try. work . rest . fall . win. never stop. evolve. create. be unstoppable. start now.

                              
  xoxo                                                 just janelle

make-up monday- a brand to get to know.

stila cosmetics: a brand you may want to get to know.

one of the things i would love to do with my blog is familiarize people with brands that they may not know much about. 

stila cosmetics has been around since 1994 and is probably most known for its champagne shimmer eyeshadow by the name of kitten. this shade is a beauty junkie cult classic. As i ravage my drawers and make-up bags every morning there are staple items i cant leave with out, it got me thinking...i read a ton of beauty reviews and follow youtubers and i feel like i never hear about stila brand and all it has to offer. there just isn't a buzz about it in the beauty community so i thought i would give it its due.

my top five stila products are:

5. convertible lip and cheek color. retail for $25

i personally own three shades and have repurchased the peach tone multiple times. these give the perfect flush of color, a Dewey finish you can apply with your fingers. the pay off can be bright but easily blendable since it is a cream. 

4. stay all day liquid lipstick. retail for $22

when they say stay all day they mean it! i have even eaten lunch with this on and it stays put! i personally have only tried the matte shades but they have glossy as well, and the color range is beautiful!

3. in the know palette. retail $39

this palette holds ten all matte shadows. it has a variety form cool tone grays a few warm transition shades and even a basic cream and black. my personal favorite in this palette is a shade called fire, it is a unique burnt orange color. in addition this palette comes with a eyeliner. if you love matte shadows this is a must buy for you.

2. stay all day foundation. retails for $44

i have used this foundation for about a year now, only stopping to try other foundations to only return to this one. the formula is on the thick side but the consistency is almost like a mousse. it is very easy to blend out, i use a flat to kabuki to apply this but any foundation brush would work. it is medium to full coverage and has a matte finish. i have combination skin and this works perfect for me. this product also comes with a concealer and small brush ( neither of which i use )

1. all day waterproof liquid eyeliner. retails for $20

this is the BEST! eyeliner i have ever used and i have tried a ton! it is no joke when i say i cant live without this. it is the felt tip type liner and is great for a precise line and very easy to wing out your liner. the black is very black and it stays on all day. i cant say enough good things about this liner, it is very user friendly for people who are just starting to wear liquid liner as well. they offer a wide variety of shades and never disappoint!

for me the only draw back to this brand is its packaging, ugh. you can find stila cosmetics at Ulta, sephora and nordstrom.

happy shopping!

                                                                  

                                                        www.stilacosmetics.com

                                                            xoxo

         just janelle

you glow girl- summer glow products

since it is still summer and hotter than hades outside i thought i would post a little recommendation for my favorite "summer glow" make-up products. I myself am a sweaty beast (aka oily, aka dewy) so i tend to stay away from hilighting products or anything to shimmery on the face and head in the more matte direction. but in summer beautifully glowing, hilighty skin is a must! here are a few products that i literally have not been able to put down this summer. the great thing about products like this is that they are dual purpose meaning you can also use them as a eyeshadow ( and i have...often).

 firstly the Sharon Osborne for mac duo which is called "refresh" and is apparently a mineralize skin finish is amaze balls!! i have picked this up every single day since i purchased it.it comes in limited edition red packaging and Sharon Osbourne purple signature on top. the matte bronzer in this mac duo makes a perfect blending or transition shade, its easily blendable and a warm but not to warm matte light brown. the highlight in this duo is a pinky pearl tone, not white and not at all chalky or glittery,  have used it in my inner tear duct as well as on my lid and to highlight my cheekbones.

 secondly the mallys cosmetics duo i purchased is the peach shade by the name of effortless peach. the blush is a pretty light buildable peach (its just ok) but the highlight! (whoa momma) b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! if you love gold and i love gold. I LOVE GOLD (insert Austin powers gold member voice) this is perfection. it is silky, creamy, buttery gold highlight. your face literally glows like it was kissed by little angel babies. a little goes a long way with this one so i suggest using this with your finger or a fan brush.
                              happy highlighting ladies!

sharon osborne for mac bronzer-hilght duo

www.maccosmetics.com

mally cosmetics blush-hilight duos www.ulta.com

                                xoxo
                          just janelle

Foodie Friday!

Happy Friday!

 As a working mom or just a busy person in general I'm always looking for fast healthy food options for me and my son. brody loves this! truth be told he would eat gum off a shopping cart if i let him. This Greek inspired cold salad is perfect, it's fresh and easy to pack for lunch out of the house like at a park or for work. it's also extremely versatile!

I have made this a variety of ways, but use the same main flavors and just change out the grain. I have used this recipe with couscous, farfalle pasta and quinoa (whatever i have in my pantry basically)and it's always come out wonderful, my favorite however is the couscous. You will be amazed how fast this is!

disclaimer: i am in no way a trained chef and i am also not greek never the less i hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

1  red bell pepper

1 green bell pepper 

1 cucumber

Small box of cherry or grape tomatoes

1 large lemon

2tsp minced garlic

Feta cheese crumbles

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 box of couscous (or grain of your choice)

What you will need: 

Cutting board

Sharp knife for chopping 

Medium Saucepan with lid

Large bowl or Tupperware

Large mixing spoon

Let's get started! (Sooooo easy)

• 1: get the couscous started. 
• I use a box mix that has a spice bag, just bring spice bag, 1 1/4 cups water or broth and tsp olive oil To a boil in medium sauce pan.
• 2: while that is going chop bell peppers, cucumber and tomatoes ( medium -thick chop)
• 3: once water is boiling take off the heat and put a lid on it and let stand for five minutes.  Then take lid off and fluff with a fork. It is crucial you take the lid off so it can start cooling. 
• 4: add minced garlic, salt, pepper to chopped mixture.
• 5: add extra virgin olive oil and toss mixture in it. 
• 6: once the couscous has cooled, add feta crumbles. 
• 7: squeeze lemon, cut it in half and pour lemon juice ( don't forget to take out the seeds) over the whole mixture and toss. 
• 8: viola! Enjoy! 

are you impressed by the complexity of this recipe?! i told you it was easy!

Although you can eat this right away I usually refrigerate this for a few hours before I eat it. Another yummy variation is to add chicken ( plus it adds protein) I just use a rotisserie chicken from grocery store, remove the skin ,shred it up and toss it In. 

Happy lunching!

xoxo 

just janelle

wellness wednesday.

COFFEE or TEA?

as a self proclaimed coffee addicted making the switch from coffee to tea is not a easy task. i truly truly LOVE that magically little coffee bean. i love it cold, hot, black or flavored. i could drink it day or night. i think you get the picture...right?

 needless to say about a year ago i made the switch to half-caf and then to decaf which felt great once the headaches subsided ( about a week).  lately though i have been more interested in trying to drink tea. I've always felt i wasn't grown up enough to drink tea, besides i am a coffee drinker damn it! I love beautiful tea pots and little vintage cups and throw blankets and shopping at anthroplogie...thats what tea drinkers do right? i wanna do that cute stuff! i have tried sleepy tea ( didn't work for me...no zzzzzz) i have also tried a variety of throat soothing tea (iiccckkk ) i gave up, maybe tea just wasn't for me.  A few months ago a co-worker brought in some iced chai tea and it looked just like iced coffee, it looked milky and smelled sweet,she informed me it was some Oprah tea ( yea she even has her own freakin tea)but still it looked like coffee... maybe this was the tea for me! she let me have a taste and let me tell you it tasted like Christmas in a cup!! yes you heard me right Christmas! to me chai tea tastes like Christmas. it has a a blend of spices, but I'm guessing the cinnamon and ginger are what give me that feeling of holiday bliss. i know i may be crazy considering we are in July but i am who i am,and i love Christmas so any drink even tea that reminds me of the happiest time of year has my little taste buds dancing! so the next day at my usual Starbucks run i started getting the iced chai tea, and then something even more amazing happened! well you will never believe it...they have chocolate chai ( dear lord baby Jesus!) . Since my new obsession with this chai was growing on a rapid rate i decided to find out what i was actually consuming on a daily basis. i did a little research. chai tea is a blend of herbs and spices from India that preserves health and increases peace of mind ( insert chanting noises here) i mean who doesn't want to increase peace of mind? more benefits of chai include improving digestion and enhancing the immune system and fighting inflammation.  each spice adding different health benefits,  for example the ginger has antioxidants and reduces inflammation and the cardamom aids digestion as well as helps detoxify the body ( sounds good to me!) if you are like me and live under a rock and haven't tried chai tea i encourage you to do so. i have had many delightful cups at local restaurants and coffee shops as well as Starbucks, so get out there and drink that tea!

Truth be told although i am enjoying something new i am still a coffee drinker,  I will always be a coffee drinker, if you cut me open coffee would probably pour out rather than blood. I grew up being watched by Grammy ( aka best woman ever) and she has a coffee pot on all day everyday, maybe i got my love of coffee from her? I cant say for sure, however what i do know for sure is  some of the best conversations, best mornings and best nights i have ever had,have all involved a warm or cold cup of joe! 

                                                          
XOXO
Just janelle


Are you a coffee or tea drinker?
little added info : venti chai tea latte with 2% is around 310 calories
venti skinny iced carmel macchiato around 240

make-up trend monday

the "new" old lip trend.

its Monday! but don't fret its make-up trend Monday!

if you follow my instagram account you may have noticed my slight obsession with kylie Jenner's throw back 90's style, specifically her suddenly pouty lip look (hmmm). this "new" old lip trend is in fact just a throw back to the 90's deep mauve or nude matte lips, and overdrawn darker lip liner. having lived thru this trend already i find it very depressing when i here it is a "new "look, cause that means basically I'm getting old enough that styles are repeating. this look reminds me of Cindy Crawford in her peek, think house of style days. below i have listed a few combinations to get this look.

urban decay naked 2 lip liner and lipstick 

or spice lip liner by mac with urban decay liar lipstick 

lip look below is mac whirl lip liner and faux lipstick.

www.urbandecay.com

www.maccosmetics.com

will you guys be rocking this throw back trend this fall?

xoxo 

just janelle 

girls guide to summer

a girl for all seasons
janelles summer resolutions

who says we have to wait until january and a new year for resolutions? how about a mid year list of to-dos. i say we constantly resolve to make our lives happier and healthier. last summer i started my summer resolution list. i compiled a list of ten things i enjoy doing and wanted to do again or new things i wanted to try.

As a SanDiego native you would automatically think that i love the summer...you my friend would be mistaken. Don't get me wrong, me and my friends used to lather our bodies in  baby oil on and put our mixed CDs compiled of music we most likely illegally downloaded off napster ( yes cd's not ipods) on in the back yard and fry our bodies for hours, but the beach ...not really my thing, camping or hiking or outdoorsing just not my thing, and don't even get me started on my families volley ball tournaments every summer holiday, i will watch from the side lines thank you very much. last summer though i decided that i was gonna start appreciating what this beautiful season called summer had to offer and so i made a list of must do's, and you will never believe what happened, i actually enjoyed my summer.
this year i decided to make a whole new list. maybe my list will inspire you.

1. re-start my book club. 
when i was pregnant with my son and on bed rest i decided to start a book club. i composed a group of family and friends,and each month one of the members would pick a book , some chose their old favorites and others a book they had been wanting to read, we would meet once a month at someones home and discuss the book for about five to ten minutes and then (lets keep it real) we would eat good food and drink wine and laugh and vent and decide on the book for the next month. it was a great time and a great excuse to get together for girl time and to read some really amazing books. after about a year it just fell off and so this summer i decided to re-start the bookclub, our first book is called the accidental book club ( i know a bookclub reading a book about a book club..cheesy!) but it looked like a fun, touching girl power type read and a great way to reboot the previously dead club. i can honestly say i would have never picked up some of these books myself so im excited to restart and discover some new favorites.

2. revamp my patio.
i often imagine myself dinning alfresco or sipping margaritas or iced coffee while reading on my patio at my home. have i ever done any of these ...maybe coffee...maybe once. this dream comes to me every spring-summmer and i find myself longing to be in my little patio, the sun on my face and a cool breeze relaxing. yet when i go out there it is toys everywhere and not so comfortable patio furniture and its not exactly the tranquil scene i imagined. so this year my plan is to revamp my patio and make it somewhere i can get a some relaxation and maybe some tan lines.

3. night swimming.
As simple as this may sound, how often do we do this? last year at a friends birthday after a few margaritas i found myself jumping into a freezing pool in the dark of the night. it was refreshing and silly and i felt like a teenager. i didn't care that i got my hair wet or what my makeup looked like it was just a really fun summer moment with friends who jumped in a cold pool and had a really good time.

4. drive in movie
i have do this at least once a year for the past few years and it is so fun and sooo cheap! the first time i went to a drive in i had a very young baby and needed to get out of the house, obviously i couldn't take him to the theatre, but with him snug as a bug in his car seat i got to enjoy a great movie and bring what ever snacks i wanted and snuggle up in the privacy of my own car.

5. clean out my garage.
not such a fun one i know, but the holidays are six months away and how great would it be too actually know where all those decoration boxes are and to actually find that santa suit instead of the easter bunny costume. so my plan is get some ice cold drinks crank some good tunes pull the car out and get to cleaning that garage!

6. quality B time.
like last summer i have promised myself i would take my son out of the house on my day off. i know you may think big deal lady..but when the laundry is sky high and dishes are in the sink and errands need to be done it is hard to remember that kids are only small once. i have vowed to enjoy summer with my son. if you have a tight budget ( i do ) and a very energetic child here is some free or affordable options.

-birch aquarium : $17 for a adult, $14 for teens $13 for kids and free for kids under three years old. there are also coupons you can print on line. you can find more info and the hours on their website and they have a interactive area outside for kids. 

-liberty station park: free. this has a huge play area both for toddlers and a separate play area with bigger slides and rock wall for older kids. it has close restrooms and this park is extremely clean.

-the local library: no matter your age if you love to read you should go to the library. the library is one of my personal happy places. i could stay there for hours! its is free clean, quiet and if it is a hot summer day it is a great way to stay cool!

7. make a family cookbook.
i have been trying this one for a while, but actually managed to make some progress this year. if you are like me your family gatherings and parties are full of noise and love and food! coming from a big portuguese family we all have our go to dishes and in time we have signature dish. i myself usually bring a baking contribution. lemon squares, snickerdoodles and grinch cookies are often requested by my family or friends. my grandmother makes a out of this world portuguese soup called soupa de cueves ( kale soup with fresh veggies and linguica -portuguese sausage) that can cure anything, i mean anything from a cold to a broken heart. after emails and group texts i got  some of these coveted recipes and finally managed to write them down and organize them. if your grandmother is anything like mine she will have no clue what she puts in her recipes, A few weeks ago i even had the pleasure to stand side by side with my grandmother and make her soup with her so i could watch exactly how she does it. needless to say the results were amazing, i finished off multiple bowls, every last drop!

8. become a morning person.
the sun is out the birds are chirping a new day is here and i hate it! in the morning, every morning i am the old garfield cartoon, pulling the blanket over my head, my eyelids feeling like they weigh a million pounds, my hair sticking up like a shitzu and a pillow full of drool ( pretty picture right)i sluggishly drag my but out of my bed into my sons room where he has been screaming for at least 15 mins " i'm awake, hello! mommy, talk to me" literally he says this. as beautiful and adorable as he is every morning i say to myself cant he sleep in. of coarse the coffee helps and i get a move on eventually and i'm sure most of my problem is based on my insomnia however i would love to wake up and great those little singing birdies at my window and stretch in the morning and enjoy my coffee slowly instead of chugging it on my to work and spilling half of it on myself. so project morning person is in affect. wish me luck!

9. farmers markets.
being that i work on saturdays i don't usually get to go to farmers markets but recently i discovered one right here in my little town of point loma. i like most women love farmers markets, whats not to love? open air, fresh produce, new inventive foods, sometimes jewelry booths and always what ever flowers are in season. maybe it is my love of shopping but i thoroughly enjoy farmers markets and i cant wait to check out this local farmers market and artisan fair on the next sunday i'm off. the particular one i found is on 2880 canon street and open every sunday from 9am-230pm.

10.concerts at the park.
every year i think of how fun this will be and every year i am a epic failure and never get there! another great free summer activity. concerts at the park have outdoor music a great open family setting and often food stands or better yet you can bring a picnic. 
 here are some of the the ones i found:
 - balboa park tuesday- thursdays 6:15-7:15 more info on their website
-coronado on orange avenue between 6th and 7th street at 6pm on sundays.
-point loma park fridays 6-8pm
search online for concerts closest to you, the have tons online.

what are your summer resolutions?