This past weekend, I wore my new coat I got during the Black Friday sale (RIP the money I used to have) and received so many compliments on it! I wanted to share it with you guys as I believe it is a staple piece to add to your wardrobe.
Beauty is one of the greatest things we can experience in this life, but it can be quite subjective. I ran into this quote while I was still at esthetician school a few years back and for some reason, I’ll never forget that moment. I’m sure I’ve heard this saying before, but it really resonated with me back then. It kind of opened my eye to see that beauty isn’t what you think of it, it’s so much more, and in some way — that is beautiful.
I believe the vision of beauty is very narrow and it also does not need to have a big emphasis as our culture today puts it. What we see from the Kardashian’s to what we see from other Hollywood stars is harshly skewed.
We should make it a point to show the younger generation that there are things about them that are beautiful apart from their looks — like their kind heart, their giving heart, or how good they are at a particular sport. You know what my perception of beauty is? A big smile on someone’s face. That has to be one of the greatest things that both parties can experience. You can’t be sad looking at someone smiling, and the person smiling is naturally happier because of it.
There is beauty all around us. Whether that is the beauty of nature, beauty of a newborn child or the beauty of flowers — they all have a different meaning for everyone and they all have a unique feature that makes it beautiful for the one that is viewing it. This is why I believe this life is so magical. There is so much good, if you just focus on the good, you will see it as well. Check out my gratitude post, if you need help in this area.
Subjective beauty is kind of like growing up as a kid, and one of the most common questions you would get asked is; what is your favorite color? Well, everyone has a different color they choose and see as “beautiful”, it can also vary mostly between gender. Why? Because the beauty of a color is in the eye of the person that is viewing it.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you, you are not beautiful — it just means you’re not their cup of tea, which is normal and absolutely fine! This is why I put a big emphasis on self-love. If you have so much love for yourself, why does anyone else’s perception of you really matter? At the end of the day, people don’t think of you as much as you think they do. Everyone has their own struggles and problems to deal with. For the people who do obsess over your life, tell them to find a better hobby and perhaps it’s time they took a dab at self-improvement.
Growing up, my sister and I were always recognized for “our beauty”, I guess in some way we were blessed because society’s perception of us were positive. But apart from “our beauty”, we have so much more to offer, which you can’t just see by looking at us from the outside. On the inside, my sister has the kindest heart and is the most hardworking lady I know. She speaks so softly and basically melts your heart each time. If that is not beautiful, I don’t know what is. She also made beautiful little babies that I absolutely think are the most adorable little munchkins, but once again — that is my perception of beauty.
I want you to go on with your day, knowing you are beautiful and don’t listen to the negative committee in your head or what society may think of you. I personally think you are beautiful, even if I don’t know you because I think every human being is magical and beautiful in their own way.
Now, go and find what makes you beautiful and do exactly that and always stay positive.
Until next time,
Ozzy
For full disclosure of this site, please read this.
“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.” – Coco Chanel
Hey guys, if you follow me on any social media, you might’ve seen that I was in San Diego this past weekend!
San Diego is such a beautiful city with so many amazing views. It has such a calming feeling. It’s quite, but fun at the same time and the fact that it is always warm there makes it such a beautiful place to be.
Also, since it is so close to the Mexican Border, in some ways, I felt like I was actually in Mexico and no longer in the US! For this reason, as you might already have guessed or know, San Diego has the best Mexican food I have ever had!
Right after we got off the plane, my boyfriend and I went to a Mexican restaurant because…well, it was necessary and we were so curious. The margarita we got was so huge and so amazing. 
🙂 Not only did the food not disappoint, but the drinks were so great as well. Another bonus: the people are very nice and polite. I’m super excited to make another trip to CA in the future! It’s a beautiful state.
How to Stay Healthy While Travelling:
Traveling is great, but it can really be difficult to stay healthy and choose healthier options. It’s okay to not choose the best options, but it’s important to be mindful of what you eat so that you don’t feel sick during your trip.
Don’t feel bad about it, but also don’t opt for the most unhealthy options because of your excuse of “I’m on vacation”. Your beautiful body deserves to be nourished in the best possible way, always, whether you are on vacation or not!
I wanted to give you some ideas of things you can do for your next trip so that it might be a little easier for you to stay healthy while traveling.
This could be helpful for someone who has a job that forces them to travel often or as the summer is approaching we will all be going on more vacations soon!
8 Helpful Tips:
- Call in advance to see if a fruit plate or salad is available on the plane, if not make your own overnight oatmeal or salad! I love bringing my own Qia oatmeal with peanut butter – easy and delicious!
- Choose salad options while out and ask for lemon wedges, olive oil and balsamic instead of dressing. By doing this you can indulge on those margs and pina cooladas with half the guilt. 🙂
- Bring raw nuts and seeds while traveling for a quick, healthy snack.
- Check before hand for places that have healthier options before you head to your destination so that you have an idea of places you can go.
- Stray away from heavy meals – it’s going to take away from actually enjoying your time there by feeling too full and lethargic.
- Instead of regular donuts, try to find ones that are with less sugar and gluten free — this will help with any sugar crashes that may happen with regular donuts. But you know if you must have a donut (which you definitely should!), then maybe share it with a friend. 🙂
- Pack peppermint and ginger tea with you since you will most likely eat things you are not used to and this will allow your stomach to settle.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself, and just enjoy each moment!
Hope these tips are helpful. Remember, you don’t have to implement each tip perfectly, just be mindful of what you’re eating and don’t be reckless. 🙂 Your beautiful body deserves your love and attention and wants you to live out your best life! Yes, you can have those tacos, but maybe for your next meal have a salad and balance it out!
Also, I’ve found to follow a 80/20 rule, is the best way to stay sane. 🙂
Thank you for reading!
xx, Ozzy
For full disclosure of this site, please read this.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
Over the years, I always wanted the moment to come where things weren’t as hard and I didn’t have as many problems. I wanted to reach my full “happiness” like everybody else does. Now I have realized, I was looking at life the wrong way. I changed my perspective and now I understand that happiness isn’t just one moment in the future and life doesn’t get easier, you just get stronger.
I also realized I have greatness in me as does every other individual on this planet. It is how you choose to use your greatness that will yield the best results.
To create a new life for yourself requires patience, persistence and being resilient. It’s never going to be easier. Achievements and failures go hand in hand. But it’s not all bad, because I truly believe the life that is waiting for us is exciting as well as the moment we have now. Being fearless is actually exhilarating. Believing in yourself is part of self-compassion and knowing you are worth so much more is exciting. You cannot help others until you help yourself and you cannot love others until you love yourself. Keep doing things everyday, small or big, to achieve in becoming a better version of yourself. You are an amazing person now, and can become even more astonishing each day you keep trying and you keep hustling your way into your dreams and goals. Don’t forget, we are all waiting on you!
As a finance major graduate, my mind tends to see my process as an investment process. Such as, when you initially invest in a company and have to make improvements on it in order to yield higher returns, you can get caught up wanting for the end results to happen. It is easy to start being impatient, but you have to wait it out. In the process you can’t get discouraged when things don’t go the right way. The end results are waiting for you as long as you do something each day to get one step closer. Michael Phelps didn’t have an overnight win. It was with the help of small wins everyday that got him where he is today. He pushed through his comfort zone, had the mind over matter attitude and celebrated his small wins. It is crucial that each time you have a small win that you celebrate that win. This trains your brain into thinking it is doing something good, and that it wants you to do it again. And small accomplishments over time yield bigger results.
If you cannot grow each day, you cannot become your best self that is possible for you. If you cannot be your best self, then you are belittling yourself of what is possible for you. You still have time. Never give up on yourself and your future. Don’t ever settle for a basic life. I truly believe we were born into this life with a purpose and we were born to succeed. Take inventory of yourself every day, write it down — what can you do differently? Find time to better yourself every day. I want you to leave this earth with a positive impact. I want you to know that because you were born, we are all blessed with your gifts.
I challenge all of you to keep fighting to find your purpose on this planet. Something that is challenging, stimulating, fulfilling and inspiring. I also challenge you to figure out your why. This will help you figure out your purpose. Your why should have your passion embedded in it. Your why should make you want it so bad that you HAVE to have it. It should make you emotional because if you don’t have or do this one thing, then you will forever feel incomplete.
This life truly is so beautiful and one of the best advice’s I have ever gotten is that we owe it to the other 95% who are less unfortunate than us living in the U.S. to become massively successful in order to be in power to help.
Now go take that walk like the champion I know you are. All things are possible and you are so loved.
As always, tweet or reach out on Instagram if you have taken your small step in finding out your why or purpose.
Thanks for reading and see you next time!
XoXo
For full disclosure, please read this.
“One day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted. Do it now.” – Paul Coelho
One of the best ways to start your day, or to start off your week in a good note is to listen to some of the best motivational speeches from the most inspiring, successful speakers.
I have incorporated these into my daily routine for many years now and I truly believe it has trained my brain into always pushing myself out of my comfort zone, to always go after what I believe in/ want, to never make excuses for my own actions and to never blame my circumstances for my misfortunes.
I think we all need daily reminders to take chances, that it is okay to make mistakes and to always get back up when things have not gone the way you want them to be. It is discouraging to not be where you want to be, but never stay at that state of mind, always keep moving forward and most importantly ENJOY the process. Nobody can guarantee your success or your path, only you have the power.
Success can have so many different meanings for so many different people. I think that’s the beauty of it – we all have different things to offer to this world. Don’t worry about the competition or what others are doing – you and the person next to you didn’t come on this earth to accomplish the same things. You have a different gift than the person next to you.
You are truly a miracle and have so much to offer. If that doesn’t encourage you, then think of it scientifically; your DNA is the most unique out of billions out there! You are extraordinary and are meant to be here. You have something to give back to this world, and if you don’t take action today, then who knows what we all miss out on and could have gotten from your gifts. Your potential is so much greater than you think. What’s the prize? I think human beings are naturally driven and meant for success. We are not meant to lay around and do nothing, we are meant to take action and create opportunities.
Your future self is counting on you and I am rooting for you!
Some of my favorite speakers are Jim Rohn, Les Brown, Zig Ziglar, Wayne Dyer and Tony Robbins.
If you haven’t watched Tony Robbins’ movie “I am Not Your Guru” on Netflix, I would highly suggest that you consider it. It is amazing and puts into perspective of how so many people struggle with so many different things and that you should always be grateful. Warning: keep tissues handy.
Thank you for reading! Here’s another video, if you are feeling up to it
xx, Ozzy
For full disclosure of Memoallure, please read this.
“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you are right.” – Henry Ford
Self-Care Series #1
Hey everyone, I got some exciting things coming your way in the coming weeks starting today! For the next 5 weeks, every Sunday I am going to post a self-care routine you can do to unwind and recharge to kick butt for the upcoming week!
Self-care is an important part of your routine as it helps clear your mind, reduce stress and helps you refocus. It’s important to eat well and exercise even if you are busy. No matter how busy or unmotivated you are, you just have to get up and do it. Trust me, it gets much easier when it’s incorporated into your daily routine as a habit. You need time to yourself in order to help others. We’re not robots and our brains cannot function like one. I challenge you to do this with me because you are so worth it! Let’s take action together 🙂
I challenge you to do this with me and share your progress! If you take a picture or are committing to this challenge let me know with the hashtag #MemoallureSelfCareChallenge either on Twitter or Instagram!
For week 1, I want you to join me in doing a face mask today or anytime this week! I have made it easy for you by providing some DIY options below. They are super easy to make and I am hoping it is something that you might already have in hand. Also, making your own facial masks are great way to avoid any harmful chemicals that may be in bottled and processed packages. Oatmeal is super calming and is suitable for all skin types. It soothes any irritations and helps clean and clear skin.
- Oatmeal and Cinnamon
Cinnamon has antimicrobial properties which is great for acne prone skin. It eliminates acne causing infections. You can leave this overnight and wash in the morning or leave it on for as long as you can. Plus it smells good!
- Oatmeal and honey
Honey is a natural anti-bacterial – which is great for acne prone skin, it has full anti-oxidants – which is great for aging and it is fully moisturizing.
– Cook oatmeal and add 2 tbsp to a bowl and add 1 tbsp honey
– Leave on for 15-20 min and rinse with normal temperature water
*May be repeated 2 times a week for best results
- Oatmeal baking soda, water
Blend 2-3 tbsp of oatmeal until it becomes a powder form and add 2-4 tbsp of water to form paste and add in 1 tbsp of baking soda. This is great for acne prone skin as well as someone with acne scarring.
*Do this mask 2-3 times a week
- Oatmeal flakes, Avocado and honey
– Ripe avocado and smash into puree consistency
– Add 2 tbsp honey and 2 tbsp uncooked oatmeal flakes
– Leave on for 10-15 min and rinse with cold water
Skin will feel refreshed and moisturized.
*Repeat 2 times a week
- Lemon and Oatmeal Mask
Lemon is good for oily skin and can leave your skin looking younger. Lemon can help get rid of dark spots and evens out the tone of your skin. This is good for oily skin and can leave your skin looking younger. This mask also gets rid of dark spots due to the lemon and evens out the tone of your skin. The oatmeal brings down your acne and other problems related to oily skin.
Prepare a mixture of ½ cup of uncooked rolled oats and 4 tablespoons of lemon juice and apply this onto your skin. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes.
I hope you join me for the next 5 weeks for the #MemoallureSelfCareChallange!
Have a wonderful Sunday and come back next Sunday for series #2!
Thank you for reading.
xoxo, Ozzy
For full disclosure of Memoallure, please read this.
Living the “American Dream” usually means you live a busy, on the go lifestyle.
You tend to eat your breakfast on the go or out, and work more hours than most European countries. You are always running around doing things and trying to stay productive.
It is important to realize that as a self-care routine, we must break this habit and recharge from time to time. Your iPhone or Laptop won’t work unless you recharge it and you certainly are no different.
Most of us are living a 9-5 (or more) type of job and rarely take any breaks in between. While it is crucial to take action of your life and keep going after what you want, it is also important to take regular breaks and unwind. You need balance in all parts of your life to live out your best self. It takes time to figure out the right balance for your own individual need, but if you keep taking small steps each day you will get there.
Taking regular breaks and getting present of the moment can help us:
- Think more clearly
- Clear our minds
- Feel happier and more at peace
- Be more productive and have more energy
- Keep your blood flowing by taking a walk
It has been proven that human bodies were not meant to sit for eight hours straight and breaking your day by taking multiple breaks can increase your productivity. This doesn’t only apply to desk jobs, you could implement this with whatever type of work you need to accomplish.
So how do you take breaks?
17 Minute break:
There’s a study that suggests we take a 17 minute break after working 52 minutes. Seems like a lot of time off, but in reality this helps you crunch and use your time working more diligently. The break helps you refocus and recharge. You could take a walk outside, do little exercises at work, talk to coworkers on non-work related stuff, or if you do have to look at the computer perhaps you could look at funny pictures of animals – which has been proven with research that it increases your productivity.
Exercise:
One of the most effective ways to take a break is to take an exercise class or go to the gym during your lunch break. This, not only breaks up your day, but it allows you to be somewhat active for those of us working a 9-5 style type of job. It allows you to think clearly as you’ve taken some time off to yourself and to feel refreshed.
As much as you want to accomplish your goals and hustle, a human body cannot function working 100% every hour of the day. Think of concentration as a muscle and how you would treat each muscle going to the gym. You cannot work the same muscle for an extended amount of time and need to take breaks in between training each day. If 17 minutes is not feasible with your work, consider taking 5-10 min breaks to see the effects.
Stop looking at your phone:
Another interesting thing to note is that most of us check our phones first thing in the morning, then listen to music on our phones/ look at our phones on our commute to work, then we get to work and stare at a screen for 8+ hours, then head come with our phones on our hand then look at our laptop or watch Netflix and do it all over again the next day. To break this vicious cycle, I think it is important to be more mindful and take short breaks everyday. Look around you and your surroundings, talk to strangers, look at the clouds more often, journal, meditate, and most importantly take care of yourself more often.
This weekend take a moment to take care of you.
Thanks for reading. 🙂
xoxo, Ozzy
For full disclosure, please read this.
Sources:
Gifford, Julia. “The Rule of 52 and 17: It’s Random, But It Ups Your Productivity.” Free Career Advice. The Muse, 31 July 2014. Web. 19 May 2017.
As I’m getting older, I am more into taking shots that are good for my health vs vice versa!
I like to get my day started with a shot of lemon, turmeric and ginger. It gives me a burst of natural energy and helps tremendously with the health of my skin.
In a blender, I mix about an inch of ginger, turmeric and one whole lemon. Yes, I know sounds intense and a little unappetizing, but the benefits are worth it. Right before I take the shot, I also sprinkle in a little pepper because science says turmerics benefits are not fully absorbed by our bodies unless taken with pepper. I like to leave the skin on the turmeric and ginger, but feel free to peel it off.
Turmeric:
Golden colored, strong flavored spice and an ancient food. Yes, this is the spice that gives curry its yellow color. Turmeric is known to be a strong antioxidant and has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Turmeric contains medicinal properties which include curcumin – although, it is not greatly absorbed into the bloodstream. This is where black pepper comes into place. Black pepper contains piperine, which is a natural enhancer of curcumin by 2000%. Research also has shown that turmeric can help cancer and possibly even help prevent cancerous cells. Some other benefits include: helping prevent Alzheimer’s, prevent brain diseases, lower risk of heart disease, prevention against depression and age-related chronic diseases.
You might ask why care about anti-inflammation? Well, inflammation is super important in that it helps our bodies kill harmful bacteria and helps repair any damage. One of the main reasons antioxidants are important for our bodies is that it can prevent free radicals. I suggest you get the actual root of Turmeric instead of the ground form as the latter does not have all the benefits due to processing.
Ginger:
Ginger is one of the healthiest spices. I can always count on ginger tea when I feel bloated and it has so many other amazing benefits. This spice is originally from Asia and has been used for medicinal reasons for over 2,000 years! It’s been known to benefit your brain and body.
This miracle spice helps fight off cancer according to research. The component that is found in raw ginger, 6-gingerol, has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor benefits. Research also has shown that ginger can help with Alzheimer’s disease by decreasing the amount of loss of brain cells. Other benefits of ginger are it is good for digestion, relives heartburn and gas, aids weight loss, helps manage blood sugar levels. boosts nutrient absorption, clears sinuses… The list can go on forever!
Lemon:
I’m sure many of us know how great lemons are. If you’re not into intense shots like this one, you could also drink warm water with lemon in the morning to detoxify, help digestion and improve your skin.
Lemons are high in vitamin C, fiber and plant compounds. One lemon provides about 31 mg of vitamin C which is 51% of your dietary needs! The fiber and plant compounds in lemons could also lower your risk for heart disease. The plant chemicals found in lemons, hesperidin and diosmin, have been shown to lower cholesterol. Other benefits include: prevent kidney stones, protect against anemia and reduce cancer risk.
So in conclusion, that’s my explanation to my madness. I highly recommend you give it a try! You can usually find Ginger at any grocery store, but turmeric might be a little harder to locate. The only place I have found it is at Whole Foods so far. Or you can always just make it easy on yourself and buy it on Amazon!
Let me know if you give this immunity shot a try either on Twitter or Instagram! Would love to know your reaction!
Thank you for reading.
xx, Ozzy
Disclaimer: No content in this website is intended, or should be constructed, as medical advice. Consumers should consult with their physicians for individual medication needs. This website talks about Dietary Supplements, which are not drugs. They are not intended to treat, cure, diagnose any diseases. For full disclosure, please read this.
Sources:
“6 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Lemons.” Authority Nutrition. N.p., 14 Jan. 2017. Web. 17 May 2017.
“10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin.” Authority Nutrition. N.p., 18 Aug. 2016. Web. 17 May 2017.
“22 Health Benefits of Ginger Root & Ginger Tea.” Bembu. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2017.
Quotes have the power to change your perspective, visualize a goal and to lead your life to live it the best possible way.
They have gotten me through a lot of good days and bad days and I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes that could potentially help guide and shape your life.
The older I get, the more I understand the most cliché’ d quotes and the people who have spoken those words were really just trying to shed some light into our lives. I enjoy reading quotes because in some sense it can help change your outlook of the moment, open your eyes, and help you take action.
- “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” – Ralph Marston
Most of us live for tomorrow or waiting for that one specific moment to start something. It’s so important to make the jump today – the most important day in your life. Today is the most crucial time to start to live and do what matters most to you. I think we all forget the powerful effects of small wins, which we can incorporate into our daily lives.
- “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” – Earl Nightingale
You can either spend your time accomplishing the things you have always dreamed of, or you can let the time pass not doing anything and feeling stuck. The choice is always yours. A life spent as a passenger rather than a contributor to help the world, is a life not fully lived.
- “Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy.” – Ralph Marston
This is a good reminder to stop waiting for that one specifying moment to feel “happy”. You’ll never get there if you keep waiting for that moment because it’s not coming. Rather, happiness is how you choose to perceive things, how compassionate you are, and it’s always living each moment as they come.
- “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
In this day and age, we see so many people doing great things and some are becoming millionaires or billionaires at such a young age, but it’s important to realize that is not how you can measure your worth. You are worth so much more than your success. Your beautiful heart and mind are amazing and you never know how much someone needs and appreciates you.
- “The moment you’re ready to quit is usually the moment right before a miracle happens. Don’t give up!”
This one is a tough one. We all have been there when quitting is so much easier than going through with what’s difficult. But if you repeatedly do what is easy, I think your life will become hard.
- “If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” – Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs was a lucky man living out his dream job on this earth. He left this earth with an impact because he followed his passion. If that’s not inspiring to go out and figure out what you are meant to do on this earth then I don’t know what is.
- “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Theodor Seuss Geisel
It’s important to remind yourself of this daily to appreciate the people around you. Those people won’t always be around and someday you won’t either. This quote is over-said, but I think not over-done. Many of us forget to appreciate each moment as they are and to be in the moment every day. Technology makes it harder for our generation, but it’s not impossible. It is quite simple to be there for someone, be mindful of their feelings and cherish every moment of it.
- “There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.”
It’s good to have a self-care routine, because let’s be honest, we can’t go back to our parents past a certain age to take care of us. Not even our partners, or loved ones can help us, you need to improve yourself on your own. It’s crucial to do so because you can’t help others before you help yourself. And if you can’t give back, then we are all living poorly because we are missing out on what you could have given back to this world.
- “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” – Dr. Seuss
A lot of times, we tend to overthink things and over-analyze questions rather than think through the answers one small step at a time. You don’t need to worry and over-analyze a situation, just take it as what it is and look at the big picture. It doesn’t need to be solved today and is crucial to be resolved over time. So, stop worrying and start looking for the simple answers.
- “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Going back to the first quote, yes sometimes the most important day is today, but sometimes, some days suck. Some days are awful and you don’t know how to deal. It’s important to know they don’t last forever and tomorrow is always a brand-new day. Sometimes, you have done all you can do for that one day and just need to shut your eyes, sleep and wait for your second most important day – tomorrow.
If you are feeling to get more inspired, here’s a clip of Steve Jobs’ speech at Standford commencement.
As always, thank you for reading!
xx, Ozzy
For full disclosure of Memoallure, please read this.