Blog Update!

Hey all,

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but if you follow me on Instagram (new account name is jaqxviathecameraroll ) then you know that our daughter decided to come 3 weeks early and today she turned 3 weeks old! I've been back and forth deciding between using Wordpress or Blogger for my new blog, and still working my blog concept out. I hate to lose subscribers every time I delete a blog and transfer platforms, but Im thinking I actually like Wordpress better. Please stay tuned for blog updates next week and for my new blog URL, I'm revamping the blog once again as Im now a new mommy and will have different elements to my blog. Ive decided to start a blog and instagram account that is more consistent with the ebook that I'm currently writing. Thanks for your support and patience during this transition ;)

Xo, Jaqx

Jaqx Food Crave- Mango Ginger Chutney and Agave Baked Tofu

I have another great food post to share with all of you!

I combined my Trader Joe’s Mango Ginger Chutney, and a little Agave Nectar in a marinade for my sliced extra firm tofu. I let the tofu sit in the marinade for about an hour although if I was more patient, I would have let it sit overnight before baking. Add some fresh ground pepper and then cranked up my oven to 450 degrees and baked it for approx 20 minutes on one side and 8 minutes on the other side (oven temps and cooking time may differ). I like my tofu a little crunchy and very well cooked, I hate mushy tofu! You could also grill or cook the tofu in a saute pan or panini press as well. The end result was delicious! I enjoyed it with one cup of Black Bean Soup ( a sprinkle of low fat cheddar cheese) and ended up getting over 25 grams of protein for lunch. Yummmm. I am also going to try to make a cranberry-orange chutney glazed tofu, and a apricot marmalade tofu blog post later in the week.

Jaqx Lifestyle- Makeup Vanity Surprise

After moving into a bit of a smaller space than we had before, one of my few complaints of the new house was that I didn't have a proper space to get ready in. The bathroom vanity was too small to put my makeup on, and it wasn't conducive to blow drying my hair in there either. After traveling to NYC this past Friday to appear on NBC, I came home to my amazing husband who had surprised me with a beautiful vanity that I had been eyeing! He really is THE BEST! He had bought it and put it together for me, and I couldn't be happier.

Of course I went to work organizing my makeup on it and putting things in the drawers...I still have a few more items to put on there, but I already love it! Here are some pictures of my makeup vanity.

Jaqx Fashion Diary-The Haute Boutique

I love looking at Instagram pictures for fashion and accessory inspiration. I recently stumbled upon this great inexpensive accessories website called The Haute Boutique. I ordered one necklace and earring set ($28) from them a few weeks ago and absolutely love my purchase. Great company, great website, great packaging! I even wore this necklace on NBC's Today Show this past Friday morning and received a lot of compliments on the necklace. Oh and did I mention its reversible!

They have a TON of products for under $20, and some even under $10! Definitely a site worth checking out.

Jaqx Food Crave-Quinoa, Berries, and Mint Salad

I pretty much live on fruits and vegetables and I'm always experimenting with new healthy recipes that have a bit of vegetarian protein in it for my family and a I. I've made quinoa in a hot dish before, but decided to prepare it a different way this past week. Here is a super simple recipe for a cold, fresh, super healthy quinoa salad. It's so pretty when it's dished as well, perfect to bring to a party too. Here is what you will need:

Strawberries- Dice into small bite sizes

Blueberries- keep whole

Chopped Walnuts

Lemon- use half for fresh juice and the keep the peel to zest with

Quinoa

Olive Oil- 1/2 tablespoon if cooking 1 cup of Quinoa- just enough to keep separated

Agave Nectar- 1 tablespoon to lightly sweeten

Fresh Mint- Chopped

- I prefer to roast my chopped walnuts for 5 minutes in the oven whenever I use them in a recipe because I feel the flavor comes out even more. Cook the Quinoa as directed on box- usually it is 1 cup Quinoa with 2 cups water (bring to a boil…then simmer for 10-15 minutes). Let the Quinoa cool off till at least room temp and toss with a tiny bit of Olive Oil. Add strawberries, blueberries, lemon zest, chopped mint, fresh lemon juice, agave, and then fold in the chopped walnuts. After everything is mixed together well and cool off in the fridge. I made enough to snack on for the next 2-3 days. This is super delicious and a super healthy. Hope you like it!

Jaqx Beauty- Homemade Facial Cleanser (Cucumber, Coconut Milk and Honey)

As most of you know who have followed my other blogs, I hate wasting things that can be reused into something else. I also try and find ways to use one item in a variety of different ways. If I purchase jam/jelly, spaghetti sauce or any other fridge item that comes in a glass bottle, I almost always save the bottle to repurpose it somehow. I love organic beauty lines but hate paying premium for things I could make myself for a fraction of the price. I love making my own facial cleansers and masks. One of my favorite homemade cleanser recipes uses items that many of you health nuts will already have in your kitchen. Gather the following items:

1. 1 cup Coconut Milk (you can use regular milk as well)
2. 1 cup Cucumber Juice or 2-4 whole Cucumbers (whole cucumbers will need to be peeled and quartered when placing in your food processor. After pulsing for 10 seconds, Strain the mixture using a fine mesh strainer until you get enough juice for the recipe)
3. 1 tablespoon Organic Honey

This is a great alternative for people with sensitive skin. Its soothing and gentle. It cleans deep down inside the pores while nourishing the skin. Take a wire whisk and combine the ingredients together until you get a smooth milky liquid. Pour enough product into a glass bottle or jar and place in refrigerator with a cute label until you are ready to use it for cleansing your skin and face. What you put in the fridge will stay good for 1 week, place the leftovers in an I've cube tray and freeze. Then just dethaw a few cubes each week. It will stay fresh in the freezer for about 8-12 months. This recipe will probably yield you about 6 weeks worth of product though. Rinse your face with warm water to open up the pores, pour some of the cleanser onto a wash cloth, and wash your face. Then rinse, your face will be extra clean and glowing.

The cucumber juice helps purify the skin while the coconut milk soothes and hydrates the skin. The honey works as a natural astringent and contains natural antibacterial properties which makes it excellent for killing the bacteria that causes acne or blemishes. You can find these ingredients at your local health food store or herbal store.

Jaqx Beauty- DIY Full Highlights

Ever since finding out that I was pregnant, I've been growing my hair out darker and not dying my hair at all. I've had 2 highlights professionally done at a high end salon in the past 10 months and I haven't been happy with any of the outcomes, the color was always too brassy. There's nothing worse than paying premium dollar for a quality service and leaving unhappy with the final outcome. I really wanted my highlights to lighten up my hair and got up a little courage to attempt doing it myself at home for a fraction of the cost....literally 10% of what Id pay going to a high end salon. I purchased the Loreal highlight kit for a little less than $14.00 at my local drugstore. The directions were really easy to follow and it took less than an hour to do (with application and process time). Ideally, you'd actually have someone else pull your hair through the cap, but I managed to do it by myself and just pulled the front section of my hair through the cap. I wanted a heavy highlight so I pulled hair through all of the holes in the front of the cap (you can choose whatever pattern you want depending on how heavy or how light you want your highlights). Applied the color, let it process, and jumped in the shower (with the cap still on! This is important, don't try and pull that cap off before you get your hair wet, you will rip your hair out!). I rinsed the color out and the cap just slid right off in the shower. The package comes with a shampoo to use, then I used my own deep conditioner. There is a leave in toner you comb through your toweled dry hair and then voila...style as you want. Here are some before and after pics. I really love the blonde, it's not brassy at all and frames my face well. I'm so happy that this product not only worked but that it was easy to apply and saved me so much money! If you're considering highlights, I definitely recommend this one from Loreal.