5 – INGREDIENT EASY SALAD

May 16, 2018February 13, 2019 / Belinda Ogaino / Leave a comment

Summertime seems to be made for salads, and this simple salad makes a frequent appearance on my table mainly because its Nevaeh’s favorite. I find it kinda funny that an easy salad made with only 5 ingredients is something that she cant quite get enough of, but you wont hear me complaining!

This salad is just another reminder that keeping things simple is the best way to go. Does anyone else try these complex meals that take a ton of time and ingredients to put together and end up with a dinner that doesn’t have the wow factor it should for the amount of effort required? And then, to make matters worse, you have a ton of cleaning up to do. It has happened to me more than once, so this summer I am fully embracing the keep it simple keep it cute motto.

And with all the fresh produce that’s available, why waste time in the kitchen when you can capitalize on the great flavors naturally provided. This grassy, crunchy lettuce is the perfect partner with the salty parmesan cheese and smokey caramelized bbq sauce. So much flavor in each bite. Add some chicken strips, and you have a killer meal that took minutes to prepare and is super healthy too.

5 ingredient salad

Ingredients

Romane lettuce
1/2 cup fresh corn
3 oz of chicken
1 tbs cheese
1 tbs bbq sauce

TO MAKE THE SALAD

Place the lettuce in a large bowl. Add corn, chicken, cheese and pour desired amount of bbq sauce over chicken. Serve immediately.

HOW TO THROW A MAGICAL KIDS PARTY

April 6, 2018February 13, 2019 / Belinda Ogaino / Leave a comment

Nothing says unique like being a leap year baby. My daughter was born on Feb 29th and for this year, my family and I celebrated her on the 31st of March (since she had no true birthday).

When I began planning Nevaeh’s sixth birthday, I couldn’t stop reflecting on the importance of birthday parties and why we must have them. They are a great boost to a child’s self-esteem and also as every parent probably knows making them feel special is one of the best gifts you can ever give them.

My thoughts around planning a kid’s birthday party were I could just let them play/entertain themselves which ever way they saw fit, open gifts, don’t forget to feed them and be done. Easy, peasy. After hosting my first kid party, lets just say my opinions have evolved since (haha). I love hosting parties for my daughter, I do it every year, but kid parties are definitely a work to pull off. So here are a few tips on how to make those magical days a little less stressful.

1. Come up with a plan.

First off, this is not the time to wing it. If you don’t make a plan, you will find yourself in a panic. The kids are excited which can make them loud and wild. Make a time table a head of time and try to stick to it . When will you start opening presents? When will you serve the cake and ice cream? What will the kids do? If you make-a-plan, then you will have time for everything and you won’t try to cram it all in before parents start to arrive to pick them up.

2. Don’t forget relevant info on invites.

Other than the basics that usually go on an invitation, there are more nuggets of info that parents might be wondering about. Indicate if kids will be dropped off ( appropriate after ages 5-6) or accompanied by an adult. If parents do leave their kid, don’t forget to get a phone number where they can be reached. Also, alert the parents if food will be served so people know to feed their kids and if possible, let them know what is on the menu to alert those parents who’s kids have allergies.

3. Don’t make the party too long.

Don’t make it too long. I did this once and live to tell the story of regret. I’d say 2 1/2 to 3 hours is plenty time. Have them play for the first 45 minutes to an hour whether its the entertainment you hired, games or just running outside. I suggest you don’t make them sit to eat or open gifts first because you won’t be successful.

After 45 minutes to an hour, corral them in to eat and/or do cake and ice cream. This is the perfect time to open gifts because they are sitting down. After eating and opening gifts, they will want to play again, so be sure to start the eating and gift opening early enough to give them play time after.

4. Have simple snacks on hand.

Often the kids are too excited to eat so don’t plan a big elaborate meal. Make it easy and simple. My go to is usually pizza for a meal, but snacks with cake and ice cream are enough. The kids may take two bites and be so excited to play that they run off to play without finishing their food. This will be frustrating to you if you’ve spent a lot of time preparing food, so keep it simple.

My snack cheat sheet:

Applesauce cups
Pretzels
Cake and ice cream / cupcakes
Cake pops
Popcorn
Candy
Pizza
Lemonade
mini sandwiches
Gogurt

5. Pick out fun favors.

Hand out goody bags at the end, as the children leave, so you greatly reduce the chance of lost items or misunderstandings. There are plenty of options — if you are having a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse party, for example, purchase favors related to that theme — stickers, notepads, pens, and more at all different price points. Make sure whatever you choose is clearly labeled with the child’s name.

When all is said and done, be sure to mail (not e-mail) thank-you notes. This job will most likely fall on you, but your child can certainly practice good manners by drawing a picture or writing her name (if this is something she is capable of doing).

I hope you find my post helpful in planning your child’s next birthday party! Let me know how it goes by dropping me a comment. Be sure to save this post to Pinterest for future reference if you’ve found my tips helpful:)

Thanks and party on!!!

SKIN CARE: MY HOLY GRAIL

October 28, 2017February 13, 2019 / Belinda Ogaino / Leave a comment

Happy March, everyone ! I did the skincare math and I discovered 6 solutions! that will instantly take your skin care routine from drab to fab. Every year, my skincare routine is constantly evolving. I’m always testing out and experimenting with newest latest and greatest products. But no matter what I test, I always find my way back to a certain few staples. I call it my holy grail skincare routine! From a nasty breakout, if I’m traveling, or I have an event to attend, I know that these guys will always keep my skin in check no matter what! These are the products I always find myself repurchasing once they’re empty and find my way back to.

CLEANSING

Washing my face at the end of the day is something I really look forward to. A small pleasure, a pampering ritual that makes me feel good + prepares me for bed. There are so many more expensive cleansers out there, but when you have a face full of makeup on, my ponds cold cream does the trick. It’s actually 50% moisturizer! Upon applying it to your skin, it instantly melts away dirt and makeup (including stubborn waterproof eye makeup) leaving skin deeply clean – and hydrated.

TONE

Ummm first things first, holy smokes this smells amazing! I could have picked up any number of products to use but wow, Thayers was the right choice. Every after I cleanse, I squirt a little witch hazel onto a cotton pad and run that all over my face and down my neck. This will get rid of any dirt and stubborn grime from a busy day. Its also know to be calming, help tighten pores, and smooth out skin without drying it out!

EXFOLIATE

Nothing says refreshing quite like the scent of fresh citrus. This scrub is vodka infused(oils extract from lime) to brighten and tone the skin. A mixture of fine & coarse ocean salt activates the ingredients as you scrub away dead skin.

To really see the difference, try doing only half your face! Your skin looks youthful and bright afterwards and feels super soft not forgetting lush!

How to use: Apply to damp skin and rub gently to exfoliate and refresh the skin. Rinse clean and pat dry. Use 1-2 times per week as needed.

MASKS: DETOX & HYDRATING

Should everyone use a face mask? Abso-freakin-lutely! From dry to oily to combination skin. Whatever you are looking to enhance in your skin, a mask is guaranteed to give that boost. They are usually infused with minerals and all sorts of goodness = “most concentrated result driven products.” Vichy Double glow peel mask : This mask goes on like a gel and then starts to form ultra fine grains that buff the skin shedding all the dead skin and revealing supple, smooth, glowing skin. Along with their glow mask, Vichy launched two other mineral face masks; Quenching Mineral Face Mask and the Mineral Pore Purifying Clay Mask.The quenching mineral mask does exactly that, hydrates and soothes skin. While the pore purifying clay mask acts like a magnet that sucks out impurities.

The days I use these, I go more light on the next few steps. (i.e. my oils, serums and moisturizers)

STILL ON MASKS….

I’ve been an avid Shea Moisture user since the birth of my daughter in 2012. Their hair care products seemed to be the only solution for her growing mane! So, when I found out they had expanded into SKIN CARE, I nearly fell to the floor and died of joy <– if thats a thing –>

Mud masks are great for overall skin detoxification, oil absorption and pore-cleaning.I love using the Hydrating Mud Mask whenever my skin feels dry and dehydrated. It leaves my skin feeling both moisturized and soothed. The Clarifying Mud Mask is great for when my skin is clogged thanks to heat, humidity, sweat and sunscreen. When I am looking to revitalize the overall appearance of my skin tone I use the Radiance Mud Mask , this leaves my complexion smoother and . brighter to the tenth power plus its HYDRATING!

SERUMS

This next product shouldn’t come as a surprise. I discovered this in the new Shea moisture skin care line and haven’t been able to set it aside for weeks. This is a great serum for people who struggle with hyperpigmentation. If you have larger pores, it’ll tingle slightly and disappears within in a few minutes. Personally, I like that sensation because I feel like it means the product is really working. Ever since I’ve been using this, I have noticed a significant improvement . Though I use it for even skin tone , I’ve heard a lot of women use it to help with fine lines & glowing skin. This is one of those products that you’ll see results immediately after using it!

MOISTURIZE

I’ve said this before, but if you can’t commit to a 7 step routine, at least once you cleanse & exfoliate- always moisturize! It will give you the hydration that you need, whether it be adding oil alone or mixing with my moisturizer, it really adds that extra boost of hydration! Most of you guys know I’ve been using the Ponds dryskin cream for a very long time and I’m actually always at target restocking. It’s very moisturizing but feels really light in texture. Personally, with combination skin, I have to be careful with thick creams because they can tend to be heavy and clog my pores.

Well, there you have it. My raw beauty skin care routine in as detail as it can get. Do you guys use any of the same products, or have any products, not on this list that you swear by? Let me know in the comments below and have a great day!

belaino

A New England beauty, fashion and lifestlye blog by Belinda Ogaino