Shoes I've Purchased from JustFab + Reviews

As I was clicking the checkout button for what seems to be my 100th pair from JustFab, I realized that it would be a good idea to make a list of all of the purchases I have made from this site and share my thoughts on each pair with you. The majority of these shoes are probably no longer available on their site but a lot of their shoes are similar in style and quality that I thought it would still be a good idea to let you know what I think of these shoes.

First of all, I LOVE JustFab. However, if I could change one feature on their site it would be the $39.95 charge they apply to the credit card you have on file if you forget to skip that month. I don't know about you, but some of us are too busy to be bothered by something like that. The best way to avoid these charges every month if purchasing a pair of shoes for that month is not in your budget, would be to set up a reminder on you computer or phone or to simply cancel your account.

Each pair of shoes from JustFab is $39.95. First time members get 50% off their first order! Go here to become a member and check out their shoes: JustFab

MONROE 

I just purchased these beauties today and already, I am thinking of outfits I am going to pair them with. Cobalt blue is one of my most favorite colors for the Fall and these will be the perfect pop of color some of my neutral outfits will need. The style of these shoes reminds me of something that Zara would sell which made me want to get these shoes all the more. I will not be able to review these today, due to the obvious fact that I barely ordered them.

LINK

AVEIRO

I am not going to lie, although these shoes are super cute and I have received tons of compliments on them everytime I wear them, they HURT my feet! I think it has to do a lot with the fact that these shoes run about 1/2 a size too small. If you are willing to sacrifice your feet in order to look stunning then go for these otherwise I would stay clear. It's somewhat of a disappointment since these are so versatile and would look great with everything. 

LINK

ARCADIA

These shoes are stunning. In person, the color is slightly darker than what you see on the screen but they are beautiful nonetheless. Surprisingly, they are also very comfortable. I purchased these shoes last December and I found them perfect for my Winter outfits. Oxblood is another one of my favorite colors for the Fall and Winter and these shoes are the perfect subtle pop of color. These are great even if you are someone who generally only wears black shoes because the color of these is rich enough to pass for a neutral. The fabric of these shoes looks like real suede. 

LINK

BRIGITTE

Sigh, these are stunning. They are the perfect rocker chic pump. I love that the shoe is slightly pointy and that it has a ankle strap that actually fits my skinny ankles (hello chicken legs!). I wore these to my aunt's wedding this past weekend which was held at a ranch. I danced for hours in these shoes and they did not tire my feet at all. Which is quite shocking especially since they are about 4.5 inches tall! However, I completely ruined them! One of the ankle straps came off and I ended up scuffing the heel. I am not sure what I was thinking when I decided to wear my brand new shoes to a ranch wedding. I do recommend these. Just don't wear them to a Ranch. 

LINK

HIRAL

These are hot! Unfortunately, I am already pretty tall (5 "5"), so these shoes make me look gigantic. My husband is only 5 "9" therefore I try not to wear shoes that will make me tower over him when I wear them. But I love these nonetheless. They are pretty comfortable for a 5.5 inch pump. These shoes are perfect to wear with an edgy outfit or even with a overly feminine outfit (like lace). There is something I love about mixing punk rock pieces with girly ones. I have not worn these many times but I did rock them in Vegas this past January! The perfect Vegas shoe. 

LINK

AMBROSIA

Out of all of the shoes I have mentioned, these are at the very top of my list. The style of these shoes (once again) reminds me of something that Zara would sell. I don't know about you, but I LOVE Zara shoes. They are a little bit on the pricey side though, especially for something that is not designer. I receive many compliments every time I wear these shoes. I've even worn them out shopping with a friend and they didn't murder my feet (as much). They look great with dresses as well as denim jeans. I just absolutely love these. The only thing I would change about these shoes would be the color. I would much rather prefer that they were all black rather than black and brown. But two toned shoes are very on trend right now. 

LINK

SEVERINE

There is not much I can say about this pair other than the fact that I didn't like them. I ended up returning them after two weeks of contemplating on whether or not I should keep them. My husband thought they were pretty but I didn't they flattered me. 

LINK

MANDALIT

These were the first two pairs I ordered from Justfab. I loved the style of these so much I ordered them in the two colors they had. I have worn both of these babies to death. They are really comfortable and I love the cap toe. Cap toe heels were really popular during the time I purchased these (I believe it was last September). 

LINK

Have you made and JustFab purchases recently?

How I Naturally "Cured" my Thyroid Condition

Before I begin, let me address a disclaimer that I am not a Doctor by no way shape or form. Have I had many years of health science courses in college? Yes. But I am not a Doctor so please do not take me so literally. However do take what I am about to share with you with a grain of salt. You might benefit from this.

Let me start off by giving you some background information. I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism back in the Summer of 2011 and was immediately put on Levothyroxine which is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone. What exactly is hypothyroidism? Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. It is also known as an under active thyroid. Hypothyroidism runs in my family. My dad was diagnosed with this condition many years ago and continues to take a high dose of Levothyroxine on a daily basis. Being the paranoid person that I am, I decided to get my thyroid checked after listening in on class lecture my Microbiology professor was giving on Thyroid pathologies.

I made a checklist of all of the known symptoms and crossed out the ones I did not associate with:

Fatigue
Increased sensitivity to cold
Constipation
Dry skin
Unexplained weight gain
Puffy face
Hoarseness
Muscle weakness
Elevated blood cholesterol level ??? Need to get this checked.
Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
Thinning hair
Slowed heart rate
Depression
Impaired memory


13/16 ? Yeah that's definitely hypothyroidism. I immediately made an appointment with my Doctor.

Low and behold, my assumptions were correct. My TSH levels came back 5.47 which is .47 above the standard range. That may not seem like a lot but 5.47 is not a healthy level. I was advised to start taking medication in order to regulate my thyroid. I was also informed that this would be a medication that I would have to take for the rest of my life. FML!


At first, the level of medication they gave me was much too high and it caused my TSH levels to drop below the standard norm. I was then advised to take the medication every other day rather than daily. The only problem with this method is that I am a very forgetful person. Therefore, if I am not taking the medication everyday I knew I would forget the days I did take it if I had to take it every other day. So I decided to cut the pills in half and take 1/2 a piece daily. That seemed to do the trick and I deemed myself a genius.


Months later I went back to get my TSH levels check and they were around 2.14. Fantastic....the pills were definitely working. But to be honest, they were making me sick. I noticed I was breaking out more than usual, and my skin was very dry. Nothing else in my diet or lifestyle had changed so I was sure it was the pills. I immediately stopped taking them and vowed to find a more natural homeopathic cure for my condition.


I am a googler.....I google just about anything and everything. So of course I did a little bit of research on homeopathic hypothyroidism remedies. I found a few but they all seemed to complicated and time consuming. Then I came across a magazine while standing in the check out line at grocery store with "Cure your thyroid naturally" in bold red letters on the front page. I quickly grabbed it, purchased it and read it as soon as I got home. The article went on and on about how to cure your thyroid with a bunch of vitamins. So I thought, what the heck? Vitamins are inexpensive so there was really nothing I could lose. I purchased all the vitamins listed, Selium, Vitamin D, etc etc.


I took the vitamins on a daily basis for a few weeks before I stopped. I literally felt like gagging everything I took these vitamins...they were just too much. Sure, I could of skipped all of this and took a Multi-Vitamin instead but the milligrams it requested would not be covered by one mere multi-vitamin pill. Hence the reason I took each vitamin individually. It wasn't long before I realized this was not going to work out (as much as I would have loved it too). I went back to taking my adult gummy vitamins (yes I know these are not the best for you but it's better than nothing and they do not make my tummy hurt).


I stopped taking levothyroxine sometime last year. I went to the Doctors last week and guess what???? My TSH levels are at 2.0. That's amazing! I was beyond ecstatic.


How did I finally cure my condition? How did I manage to regulate my TSH levels without the help of medication? I stopped obsessing over it and let nature take it's course. It sounds stupid and too easy but that is literally what I did. There is no rhyme or reason on how I did this, I just did. But I think it has to do a lot with the following:


1. I stopped stressing over everything! - One of my resolutions this year was to stop stressing so much. With school, my health and life in general. Most importantly, I kept my mind busy. I had been suffering depression for the past 3-4 years but I promised myself that this year would be different. Even thought this year has had as many downs as it has had ups, I have tried to remain strong and positive.


2. I stopped eating so much junk - This was hard for my husband but I stopped buying junk food. Sure I grab some Joe Joe's for the hubby from Trader Joe's from time to time but those are way better for you than regular Oreos. Trader Joe's became my go to grocery store. Most of their food is free of junk and are made with ingredients one can pronounce. That is very important to see when you are reading the labels. You want to make sure you are not purchasing products that contains ingredients that do nothing but harm to your body and endocrine system. Instead of snacking on chips and cookies, I snack on fruits and nuts.And I avoid diary as much as I can (except for cheese of course, I will never be able to give this up). We also starting buying more natural and organic products (although our wallets were not too happy). And if it is gluten free even better!


3. Natural or better for you Skin and bath products - Oh my goodness the visible difference this has made. My skin has gotten so much better ever since I took the natural skin care route. I break out less often (except for during that time of the month) and my skin is not as dry as it once was. It's not always easy finding natural products that work well for you but they have became so popular and readily available that it easier to try out a few different things to see what works best for you. This is where Trader Joe's saves the the day again. I am absolutely head over heels in love with their facial moisturizer and face wash. My husband loves them as well. They both contain a lot of ingredients that are very good for you such as antioxidants and vitamin e. I use the face wash with my Clarosonic and they work really well together. As far as other body products, I try to use products that are free of parabens and that are gluten free.


4. Relax more - This goes with #1. Not only did I stop stressing, I started relaxing. I give myself a "mini spa day" once a week while watching a few re runs of my favorite shows. I also practice breathing exercises and going for walks with my husband when I am feeling sad or overwhelmed.


5. Reduced sodium intake - First of all I only use Sea Salt which is wayyyy better for you than table salt. However, I try to use less of it. I cook most of my meals at home but if I am running late and have to opt for frozen food, I make sure that it does not contain a lot of sodium. This has made a huge difference in my life in more ways than one. It has even helped lower my blood pressure which once used to be a whopping 146/93. Yikes.


So as you may notice, my list of things I did differentiates from the lists medical websites post on their site to help others with Thyroid conditions. But this is what I did differently and unconscionably. You are what you eat..... and many conditions are onset by the way we live our lifestyles. Most conditions have some sort of cure that does not involve medications. I do understand that those who have extreme hypothyroidism may not benefit from the approach I took but for those who have TSH levels that are just slightly elevated above the norm, there is definitely hope. Do your research, change your diet, stop stressing over everything. The proof is in the pudding.

Breaded Chicken Breast Stuffed with Spinach & Feta

If you are a fan of stuffed chicken then this dish is no brainer. It's extremely tasty and satisfying you will think you are cheating on your diet. Needless to say, a serving of this dish is about 200 calories give or take.

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1/2 lb of chicken breast (thinly sliced into cutlets)
1/2 cup Frozen Spinach (Thawed and water squeezed out of it)
2 Tbsp of Scallions
1/4 of an onion (diced)
1/4 cup fat free feta cheese
1/6 cup fat free (or partly skim) ricotta
McCormick Montreal Chicken Seasoning (or any of your choice...this one is my favorite)
2 Tbsp of parsley (chopped)
Salt 
Pepper
1 egg
1 clove garlic (minced)
1/4 cup of Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
Oil Spray 
1 tsp olive oil
Toothpicks
Cookie Sheet

Directions: 
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

1. In a small pan, heat the olive oil and add diced onions, garlic, and scallions and saute for about 1 to 2 minutes. 
2. Add salt and pepper (to your liking), as well as the spinach and parsley. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. 
3. Once everything is done cooking, remove pan from heat and add the feta and ricotta cheese. 
4. Pound your thinly sliced chicken cutlets to make them slightly thinner then season them with the chicken seasoning, salt and pepper. 
5. Place about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the spinach mixture to the center of your cutlets and roll them while securing the edges with toothpicks.
6. In the separate bowls, have the egg wash and breadcrumbs ready for dipping. 
7. Dip the chicken in the egg wash first then roll them in the breadcrumbs until fully covered. Place aside. Do this for all your chicken rolls. 
8. Spray a cookie sheet with oil spray ( I love Trader Joe's canola oil spray).
9. Place chicken rolls on cookie sheet and spray them with oil. 
10. Cook for about 25-30 minutes. 
11. Remove toothpicks before serving. 

Enjoy! I served mine with Trader Joe's Cauliflower Romanesco Basilic for a complete meal. 

The Best Avocado Face Mask !

My skin has been really dry and flaky lately which is why I decided to take matters into my own hands. I've always heard that Avocados are rich in Vitamin A and amino acids which both do wonders for your skin. Every year our ex landlord gives us a buckload of avocados. Therefore, I decided I would make use of them and rub them all over my face.Okay so maybe that's not exactly what I did but it was pretty darn close. This face mask is so easy to make that you will wonder why you ever spent all that money on high end face masks that contain so many nasty chemicals.

I am a huge advocate on natural products which is why this mask is perfect for me. Great for skin, easy on the wallet and 100% natural (no parabens, no chemicals, nada). This mask also contains honey is great for acne due to it's antimicrobial properties and lemon juice which is great for acne scars (I suffer from both so I am really planning on using this mask at least once a week).

What you will need: 
Avocado - 1 Tbsp (mashed)
Honey - 1 tsp
Lemon Juice - 1 tsp

Combine all the ingredients together until the consistency is thick and creamy. Spread mask all over your clean face and neck. Leave mask on for approximately 20-30 minutes. Remove with lukewarm water and pat dry.

I am sure you will love this mask as much as I do.

Mexican Chicken Soup with Chipotle Peppers & Corn

Mexican Pozole is one of my most cherished meals but one that I cannot eat much too often due to the fact it is very high in calories and fat content. Sure, you can substitute chicken in place of beef, but the truth is preparing this Mexican favorite does require some time and planning (not to mention a bunch of ingredients). So when you are in a time crunch, or are looking for a healthy version of this dish, coming up with a mock version is ideal. Therefore, I decided to come up with a healthier (and yummier according to my husband) version of this delicious and savory soup.


My husband and I really enjoy spicy food and something we always have in our pantry is a small can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. If you have never tried cooking with chipotle peppers, you will be amazed by how much flavor it adds to a dish. When I first started cooking with chipotle I would only use it to make Tinga tostadas (another favorite of mine) but since then have experimented with these peppers and have created several dishes with it. Yes you guess it, the star of my chicken soup (or caldo as us Hispanics call it) is the chipotle peppers. Get ready to give your taste buds something to write home about.


What you will need:

1 large chicken breast
1/2 onion
4 garlic cloves
1/2 onion diced
1/2 cup of corn (frozen, fresh or canned)
1/2 can of Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (about 3.5 oz)
1 cup shredded green cabbage
1/4 cup of cilantro
2 green onions diced
Sea Salt
Black Ground Pepper
Water for cooking


Directions:

1. In a large pan bring about 3 cups of water to boil. Add 1/2 onion, salt, garlic cloves and chicken breast. Cover pot and cook for about 25 minutes.
2. Once chicken is done cooking remove from pot, let it cool then shred. Set aside. Save the chicken broth (you will need this).
3. In a blender, blend the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with 1/4 cup of chicken broth. Once blended, add mixture to shredded chicken and mix well. Add a little bit salt and pepper.
4. Remove onion and garlic from the chicken broth and add the chicken mixture.
5. Add diced onions and corn and cook for about 10 minutes.
6. Serve in deep bowls and top with shredded cabbage, green onions and cilantro. Eat on it's own or with a tostada (our favorite way to eat this).

Tip: For a more authentic feel, try adding hominy instead of corn.

Warning: This soup is pretty spicy. Therefore if you would like it to be more mild, use less chipotle peppers or vice-versa.

Stuffed Bell Peppers with Beans, Brown Rice and Diced Potatoes

This is a repost from my old blog. Recently, my husband and I decided to go gluten free for a while. Yes, you guess it, that means no more bread, flour tortillas cookies, couscous (this one is hard) or even.....pizza (unless they are GF). Of course we can find alternatives for these foods such as brown rice tortillas (yuck) or even GF pizza dough, but it's going to take some getting used to. Many people who give up grains that contain gluten do not do it by choice but my husband and I are always experimenting with different lifestyles (when it comes to diet) so we decided to see if the gluten free diet works for us. Hey, if it helps us with tummy aches and headaches while at the same time helping me lose some weight (notice how I said me...my hubby is naturally thin) then why not?

Giving up grains is harder than I thought, the Pizza Hut commercials keep torturing me (I guess I should of had pizza before starting this diet...but I haven't had some in over a month), I keep wanting to bake some cookies or cupcakes, and I miss eating my black bean couscous. But I really want to give this a shot for a few months to see if I notice any difference. 

Normally I liked adding breadcrumbs to my stuffed peppers but being that these are GF, breadcrumbs are not allowed. 

What you will need  (meal for 2):

2 bell peppers (color of choice, I prefer green though)

1/4 cup Black beans (cooked, drained and seasoned with sea salt)

1/4 cup Brown rice (fully cooked. I will post my brown rice recipe soon)

1 medium sized golden potato 

1/4 cup Shredded mozzarella

Cilantro

1/2 Roma Tomato diced

1/4 diced onion

1/2 Serrano Pepper (diced) 

Salsa of choice (I used a homemade tomatillo salsa)

Water

Sea Salt

Garlic Salt

2 Tbsp Cilantro (chopped)

Directions: 

1. Cut the top of the peppers off and remove all the seeds. Set aside. 

2. layer in the following, beans, rice then potatoes. 

3. After the last layer top with 1/2 mozzarella (this will create a nice crust)

4. Place stuffed peppers in a baking dish with foil and a little bit of water on the bottom.

5. Place in oven at 350° for about 40 minutes

6.then top with the rest of the mozzarella and let it melt for about five  more minutes. 

7. Remove from oven 

8. While the peppers are cooling mix the diced tomato with the diced onions and pepper. Add a little bit of salt and garlic salt to taste. 

9. Top stuffed peppers with tomato mixture, salsa and cilantro. 

Tip: If you do not need for this recipe to be GF go ahead and add some panko bread crumbs as well =) 

Enjoy! 

Delicious & Moist Zucchini Muffins

This is a repost from my old blog. Every Summer I get to enjoy lots of Zucchinis courtesy of my parent's garden. I love eating them steamed along with other veggies, baked into a pasta, or even fried then topped with parmesan, but my favorite way to enjoy them are as delicious muffins.

Sure, muffins may not be "calorie friendly", but these are so good you won't even feel guilty for eating them.  These muffins are really easy to make and taste like you have been baking for hours. They even taste better the next day so these are a great for preparing a day ahead. Great for picnics and barbecues! They also freeze really well. 

Ingredients: 
4 cups shredded zucchini
1 tbsp vanilla
1 cup brown sugar
6 eggs
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
6 cups of flour
3 1/2 cups white sugar
2 1/4 cups vegetable oil

Powdered sugar (optional)

Directions: 

1. Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. 

2. Mix in brown and white sugar. 

3. Add vanilla, cinnamon and eggs....mix well

4. Slowly add in shredded zucchini and mix well

5. Add mixture to cupcake liners

6. Bake for around 30 minutes in 350 degrees.

7. Sprinkle them with powdered sugar.

Enjoy!!!