Healthy and Delicious Trader Joe’s Snacks

Not everything healthy has to taste bland. I have discovered a few treats I incorporate into my daily meals that are equally as delicious as they are healthy and filling. I shop at Trader Joe’s regularly but if you don’t have one near by you can find equivalents at other stores but I can’t guarantee the same yumminess.

Mini Wheat Bagels with Spicy Hummus
I literally eat this snack everyday and so far I have not gotten tired of it. It’s one of my favorite small meals ever! All you have to do is toast the bagels and dip them in some spicy hummus and you’re in for a delicious treat! Be sure to blend in the spices in the middle of the hummus to get the full effect. Whole wheat bagels have lots of fiber and as a complex carb will keep you full longer.

Low Fat Greek Yogurt and Berries

With roughly the same amount of calories as regular low fat yogurt, this delicious and nutritious Mediterranean yogurt offers double the protein and almost half the amount of sugar. Plus who doesn’t need more calcium in their diet? Add some strawberries, blue berries and raspberries and you’ve got yourself a healthy and nutritious snack.

   

Raw Almonds

Instead of chomping down on a bag of chips when that 3 o’clock hunger hits, grab a handful of these raw almonds and you’ll be surprised how delicious and filling they are. Almonds are a great source of mono-saturated, also known as healthy fats, and are rich in Vitamins B and E.

 Enjoy and remember to never shop hungry!

If you want to find more Trader Joe's treasures, check out the My Trader Joe's List blog!

Celebrity Looks for Less: Sophisticated & Fun

Staying trendy without breaking the budget is not an easy task. Those celebrity looks you love so much cost an arm and a leg but don’t worry you don’t have to fork out the big bucks if you want to get their looks.

Get Jessica Alba’s look for less!

  

Feather Clutch: Grab a Feryal Black Feather Clutch bag to complete this flirty look.This is a classy piece that can be worn at almost any event such as cocktail parties, night out on the town or even a black tie affair!

Pleated Skirt: Flirty and bouncy yet sophisticated and classy. Forever 21 has these silky pleated skirts in deep purple, blue and orange.

White blouse: A loose and comfortable piece that can be a wardrobe staple in any one's closet. H&M carries this wide cut satin blouses in both white and beige. 

Black tights: You can pick these up anywhere. Victoria’s Secret has some nice opaque tights you can pair with any outfit when it’s a bit cold out. 

Black Satin Pumps: Steve Madden makes some fantastic satin pumps that can be dressed up or down. 

Don’t forget to accessorize for a more glamorous look and have fun!

Photo Credit: Getty Images

How to Diet and Succeed

Starting a diet program is easy but staying on track is not. All those cravings, eating out, gatherings and parties can derail you from the goal you are working hard for. Here's what you can do to stick to your diet when it starts to get tough.

Stick it out for one week
When you start a new diet, whether it’s for health or aesthetic reasons, the toughest phase is the first week. You’ve been eating a certain way for a long time and the thought of not having those delicious things makes you cringe. Just remember that this is all temporary. You are not depriving yourself of your favorite foods forever but just until you reach your goals so don’t give in to your cravings.

Survive the weekends
Depending on your lifestyle, weekends may be the hardest when it comes to sticking to a new diet. What do you do when you go to happy hour or dinner/brunch with friends while dieting? It is not easy and no one said it was going to be but I will tell you what worked for me. Focusing on the goal and knowing a momentary bit of pleasure can derail a whole week of dedication. Going out to brunch? Order a delicious egg white omelet, lunch or dinner? Stick to grilled lean meats and Veggies. Going to happy hour? Stick to Bacardi with diet coke, white wine or light beer and avoid over drinking.

Stop Yo-Yo dieting
Chances are this isn't the first time you are trying to lose weight with a sensible diet program. If you are repeatedly falling off the wagon this may sound familiar; You get stuck in this permanent diet mode where starving yourself leads to binge eating only to starve yourself again only to binge again later. STOP! If your goal is to lose weight then suck it up for a few months and lose the weight. When you're done you don’t have to constantly worry about it for the rest of your life. Start a healthy lifestyle by making healthy choices most of the time and keep the figure you worked so hard for.

Succeed
The tough times will pass if you can stick it out for a few months and you will be happy that you stayed strong. There is nothing more satisfying than reaching a goal and rewarding yourself for your achievement afterwards. You are the only person who can decide whether you succeed or not so what are you waiting for?

Introducing the FERYAL Handbag Collection

Whether you’re attending a formal event, going out for a night on the town or meeting up with friends for Sunday brunch, your handbag is the accessory that you put on last.  It completes your outfit and gives it that extra boost to make you feel marvelous and stylish.  

Our new collection consists of a variety of clutch bags that you can wear during the day and at night. Most of these clutches  are versatile and can be worn from day to night with different outfits.   

To celebrate the launch of our brand, we decided to stick to affordable and chic styles that make you look fabulous and trendy without breaking the budget.  

To celebrate, all customers can enjoy 25% off, free shipping  and a free gift with every item!

Spring 2012 Beauty Trends

Minimalism, bold and bright rainbow colors on the lips, eyes and  hair strand are some of the themes for Spring 2012 beauty trends.  Lots of electric eyeshadow and  liners as well as 3D makeup are seen walking the Spring runway. 

Statement lips
Last year the color fuchsia made a big statement in the Spring.  This year a rainbow of lip colors were seen on the Spring 2012 runway. From Velvety red lips by Jason Wu to blues, purples and oranges by Richard Chai Love, there were lots of crazy lips to choose from. Most of the lip colors were matte and had plenty of pigment.

Wet hair
Victoria Bekham, Bottega Veneta, Alexander Wang  and other designers showcased the “just got back from the beach” wet look on their models. This will work great for those of you who like to shower and be on your way. No need to blow dry! Using a bit of moose or curl cruncher will keep the wet looking hair all day.

Streaks of Color
Designers had a lot of fun with color for the Spring season. There were streaks of orange, pink and  blue colors with grown out roots on the runway. Designers such as Peter Som, Thakoon and Gucci helped to create these looks. Some designers such as Acne showcased hombre hair with really dark roots and light tips.

Bold eyebrows
Extra full brows and bold arches are back! It’s not a look that will flatter every face but if you can pull it off, go ahead and flaunt it. Use a taupe or lighter brown eyeshadow or brow liner. If you use darker colors, it will end up looking too dark and stage-like.  Kenzo, Altuzarra and Derek Lam were among the designers who brought this trend back.

Soft and looped ponytail
A low-slung ponytail is both simple and effortless, yet classic and sophisticated. Designer  Reed Krakoff used a leather strap to finish the look while Carolina Herrera had her models’ ponytails looped and wrapped with their own strands. Keep it straight or go wavy but no Shirley Temples!