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By Vannia Enriquez August 17, 2012 in All, Fashion, Food

HOW TO STYLE CURLY HAIR

If your hair is anything like mine, I’m more than certain that you’ve had your share of bad hair days. Maybe you brushed your curls out because you didn’t know any better; or you lathered it with more than a handful of good ol’ (and by good I mean gross) LA Looks gel. Didn’t we all? All the cool kids were doing it back in the 90’s…

Or perhaps you thought your curly girl problems were solved the day you discovered a blow dryer and/or a hair iron. Think again! After years and years of fighting my curls, I’ve not only learned to work with them, now I embrace them and even love them.

Still not sure how to tame that mane? Here’s a quick guide on how to style curly hair…

  1. I hydrate my curls by using only sulfate and silicone free products. My current favorite is DevaCurl. I’ve tried quite a few, but I’ve stuck with this one the longest. I cleanse my hair with their No-Poo Shampoo. I moisturize with the One Conditioner, and style with the Angel Gel and Set It Free.
  2. I never use a brush or a comb, and when I say never I mean it! I only untangle my hair by running my fingers through it with conditioner and in the shower.
  3. I only use alcohol-free gels. All other gels will dry out your curls causing them to friz even more.
  4. I wash my hair with shampoo only twice a week, every other time I only use conditioner. Your curls need all of their natural oils to maintain and enhance the curl in each strand. This habit may be the hardest to change, but I encourage you to give it a try! Click here to buy a DevaCurl Try Me/Travel Kit.
  5. Last but not least, before styling and in order to prevent friz I dry my hair using a microfiber towel. The most important thing is to not use a terrycloth towel, it absorbs all the moisture that your curls need. Instead of wrapping my hair I flip my head forward and I scrunch with an upward motion.
  6. Once the hair is towel dried I begin styling with the products in the same manner.
  7. After I’ve styled my curls I let them air dry and voila!

Interested in learning more? Read Curly Girl: The Handbook.

Find your curl type and discover a whole new head of curls!

By Vannia Enriquez July 30, 2012 in All, Food

A CUP OF JOE WITH PASSION

Has your productivity at work slowed down today? Need a little caffeine pick-me-up?

Sounds to me like you need un poquito de pasion! It’s called Pasion del Cielo (translated from Spanish to English it means Passion of Heaven).

This quaint coffee shop currently has two locations one in Coral Gables and another one at Downtown Dadeland (a Midtown location is soon to come.) At Pasion del Cielo, you not only get a good cup of joe, you also get to entice your taste buds with options. As you place your order, you’ll have the option to select your bean and decide where it comes from.

Pasion del Cielo offers choices from some of the best coffee industries in the world: Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Honduras, Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Hawaii. And its all organic.

So what’s the biggest difference between this and other coffee chains? Let’s see what they have to say… “The majority of competitors offer a commercial blend that is suitable for the average taste, but at Pasion del Cielo, we want nothing short of the best.”

Well, it looks like they’ve succeeded! The New Times even called it “Miami’s Best Coffee House.”

Freshly ground coffee, great music, and a relaxing ambiance – sounds like a perfect spot to blog!

By Vannia Enriquez July 16, 2012 in All, Food

DITCH THE BIG MAC, AND EAT AT SHAKE SHACK!

Perhaps, you’re the type that jumps for joy at the thought of a new burger joint; if so, I’ve got a new spot for you… Check out Shake Shack!

Shake Shack’s new Miami location is now open in Coral Gables. No need to drive all the way to Lincoln Road anymore, which was their first Miami location outside of New York that opened in June 2010. Located just minutes from the University of Miami at 1450 South Dixie Highway, this will sure be the new spot!

Since 2004, Shake Shack has been known for their scrumptious burgers, flat-top hot dogs, and frozen custards. They began their journey as a simple hot dog stand in Madison Square Park in New York, but have now gone international. And if that doesn’t make you want to try their food, maybe their ingredients will. According to sources, they are “100% all-natural Angus beef, vegetarian fed, humanely raised and source verified. No hormones or antibiotics –  They pride themselves on sourcing incredible ingredients from like-minded artisan producers.”

Their hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – midnight. Be sure to try it out and let me know what you think. Bon Appétit!

 

Pulpit rock

Photography by: Robyn Lee

By Vannia Enriquez June 15, 2012 in All, Food

FAVORITE FOOD

If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose? My answer without a doubt is sushi!

I love sushi, and I’d like to think of myself as a Miami sushi connoisseur. ;) Since I’ve lived in Miami most of my life, I’ve tried quite a variety of local sushi restaurants. I normally stay away from all buffets, not usually a big fan. I find that quantity doesn’t always equate to quality. But today, I’ll share the ONE buffet I do trust…


POC American Fusion Buffet & Sushi

POC (short for Ports of Call) is located at 2121 Ponce de Leon in the heart of Coral Gables. POC isn’t just any kind of buffet, it’s a quality buffet dining experience near Miracle Mile. They offer a wide variety of options…

From your average Chinese buffet options…Lo mein, fried rice, honey chicken, etc… To a delicious meat carving station offering cuts of prime rib and churrasco. As well as grilled vegetables and sausages… And of course, my very favorite, tons and tons of sushi.

Over 20 selections of rolls to choose from… Including a raw bar with fresh oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp and even crab legs. Yum!

And what’s a buffet without a little sugar fix? Plenty of options to choose from.

Let’s not forget the salad bar, soup station and an ice cream area. Mmmmm, now I’m hungry, and I hope you are too.

POC offers a daily $12.69 lunch special Monday – Friday from 11am-3pm. A Saturday – Sunday brunch for $15.69. And a dinner buffet with extra goodies for $21.69. (Monday – Thursday 5pm-10pm & Friday – Sunday 5pm-11pm.)

PS: Stay tuned for more upcoming restaurant reviews. I’ve had quite a few complains from close friends, apparently I’m “not sharing my restaurant secrets.” I’ll do my best to write about my favorites, but I’d love your feedback. Don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know what you think once you visit these places.

 

By Vannia Enriquez May 17, 2012 in All, Food

NO-BAKE ENERGY BITES

Under the food category of this blog, you can expect to find healthy recipes, local restaurant reviews, and maybe even happy hour specials. I may be petite, but don’t be fooled… I loooove food! Luckily, I don’t really have a sweet tooth, so I’d rather stuff my face with food and skip dessert.

But for all you sweet lovers, here’s a healthy snack alternative… Try this simple recipe below made with all natural ingredients.

Yields:  20-25 No-bake Energy Bites

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of oats
  • 1/2 cup of peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup of honey
  • 1/2 cup of ground flax seed
  • 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
    (optional extras: 1/2 cup of ground coconut, pecans, or raisins)

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. (I accidentally purchased whole flax seeds, so I had to put them through the food processor first.)
  2. Grab a handful of the mixture and begin shaping them into balls. (Spraying cooking spray into your palms may help during the ball-making process.)
  3. Refrigerate or freeze for about an hour and you’re done!
  4. Enjoy!

 

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