A Vanity's Love Affair

Back to blogging

2018-12-21T16:38:00.002-02:00

Hello all,

I’m back with so many stories and travel journeys to share with you! Please check back for upcoming posts.

The seeds You Plant

2013-02-17T17:06:00.001-03:00

Instead of walking around celebrating the harvest you reap,

We need to focus on praising the seed we plant.

Most people reap rewards that are not actually planted by them

I am sure you have heard the quote "Good guys finish last" right?

Well that is because some guys are jumping the gun and reaping rewards others have planted,

maybe they are wittier, faster, sneakier, or at the right place at the right time

Either way, what you reap does not says who you are, it is what you plant that does.

We all have gained from situations that we actually did not put work in,

So let's try to be a little more modest about what we reap

and a little more proud about what we plant

You will be surprise how much respect is gained from one that plants good seeds

rather than one that only reaps it.

The Beauty in Street Art

2013-02-03T13:02:00.000-02:00

Some may call it vandalism,

others may say it is a crime But I think graffiti is indeed a form of art.

I personally enjoy & appreciate the beauty in street art,

like this one I found while driving around the city of NICOSIA, CYPRUS

Photo taken by me:

Walk Humbly

2013-02-03T10:27:00.001-02:00

I am a big fan of the word "humble" because I believe humility is the most beautiful trait in a person. It means they were raised to be humble in all things, never to exalt themselves or any accomplishments, but it can also mean they have experienced life lessons that has taught & made them humble. Part of honoring God, is honoring the principle of humility. There is nothing to gain from being arrogant and having a prideful ego, the bible says "Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor." Now, if only more people humbled themselves.......

Simplicity

2013-02-03T10:20:00.001-02:00

Leonardo da Vinci is talking about how perfect simplicity is,

how beautiful and elegant things can be when they're not bogged down by details.

At some point in our lives we learn that less [IS] more.

If something simple can serve the purpose of something that is complex, then the simple is far more sophisticated.

If something cannot be further simplified, then that is ultimate sophistication.

You don't have to own complex things

or act like you're more than you are

or take more than you need to take to be sophisticated.

There is [Beauty in Simplicity].

Tom's shoes

2013-02-03T10:18:00.000-02:00

I have absolutely NO shoe game [[for now]].

Although, I love a pair of pretty heels, I never really get a chance to wear it.

My entire closet fits in 2 suitcases! [[Blame it on the lifestyle]].

So this pair of #TOMS will have to do [[Sorry my shoe lovers]].

I know some of you won't agree with me, but I like the simple, loafer look of them.

the kicker about these kicks are for every pair of shoes purchased,

TOMS gives a free pair to a child in a need somewhere in the world.

oh yeah.......

Not to mention, they are amazingly comfortable, durable & easy to wear!

Living out of a suitcase

2013-02-03T10:14:00.000-02:00

Money really [[CAN]] buy happiness,

it just depends on how you spend it.

When it comes to consumption, lets all try to abide by the mantra "buy memories, not things."

You will be surprised just how quickly your life can improve!

Land of the Coffee Shops

2013-02-03T10:10:00.000-02:00

In [most] countries a place of gathering with friends are at local pubs, bars and lounges over a cold beer, or a dry martini, but not in Cyprus. Like the British is famed for their love of tea, Cyprus is for their love of coffee, better yet.."Frappé." Trendy cafés and old-school coffee shops line the streets of every city and village on the island, and it’s not just the old folk that like to sip the good stuff and watch the world go by, it's everyone.

So here is to the good coffee and great conversations!

Your Own kind of BEAUTIFUL

2012-06-30T13:14:00.002-03:00

So many girls out there doing the extreme to look a certain way,

Dying for the look that "society thinks is beautiful"

But instead of that, they should really look within themselves,

and realize that they are beautiful in their own kind of way

Everyone has a beauty that is unique, and theirs

There is always ways to enhance that beauty

that doesn't require extreme measures

Be confident, be real, be YOU!

Being beautiful starts with you!

“Raising one’s self-esteem takes changes in behavior. Behavior will change with practice and intention. Self-esteem is an achievement–a process that empowers, energizes and motivates. It is not something that we have, but the experience of things that we do. Self-esteem is the experience of being capable of meeting life’s challenges and being worthy of happiness”

-( La Belle Foundation S.E.L.F.).

VOTE NOW!

2012-06-30T12:02:00.000-03:00

FELLOW BLOGGERS AND READERS

I need YOUR HELP!

Let's all vote for our beautiful FOX SPORTS FLORIDA Girls

JORDANA AND ANNILIE

to go to Kansas City for the big MLB ALL STAR GAME

Jordana is my cousin, and I am such a huge fan of her

I am so proud of the woman she has become,

the inner beauty is just as beautiful as her outer

She deserves this opportunity

So let's all help her by clicking on the link below and voting

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/page/fox-sports-girls-mlb-all-star-game-challenge

THANK YOU!

Every vote is deeply appreciated

Perfect Eyebrows

2012-06-30T11:38:00.000-03:00

As everyone know I am super into eyebrows, I think it is essential to have a nice, perfectly shaped eyebrow. So I am always shopping around for new things to enhance mine. I love all of Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyebrow kits and products, they are really worth every penny.

So one lovely day at the mall, with extra time to kill, I decided to go in Sephora, one of my favorite stores, and test out a few products that I would never really buy....This one product that always caught my attention was a highlighting pencil from Anastasia's line...This particular item I always really thought it was "worthless" to buy, I mean... C'mon it was a simple little highlighting eyebrow pencil?! But the moment I picked it up and tested, it did exactly what I have been wanting and searching for this whole time. I couldn't believe it, I looked passed this product and unrated it no less than 10 times, I undervalued it this whole time, SHAME ON ME! It is now by far one of my favorite tools in my make-up bag.

Here it is...........my beloved and magical MATTE HIGHLIGHTER PENCIL

$21.00 SEPHORA

It comes in 4 great colors: CAMILLE, BUFF, PASTEL and HALO. I personally liked all of them, but chose to take the CAMILLE home, it just worked better for my skin tone. This eyebrow tool is not only to shadow and highlight your eyebrows but it can also be used for yours lips as well, apply it as a base coat to prevent your lipstick from bleeding or feathering. You cannot go wrong with this pencil, everyone I have tried it on has LOVED IT!

Love is Real

2012-05-28T16:07:00.002-03:00

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!

Beauty Tip

2012-05-28T16:03:00.002-03:00

Without doubt, good skins starts with proper daily cleansing

to remove the skin from oil, grime, dirt and makeup

I just have to share this beauty tip with you readers! Because after trying countless name products, I think I finally found one that I am in love with and super excited about. The results are not only noticeably with the eye, but I can feel that it works but just touching my face.

The key facts to this product are:

Contains AHAs to loosen and invisibly remove dead skin cells.
Removes make-up (including eye make-up) and washes away impurities in one action.
Oil-free non pore-clogging formulation.
Eliminates the need for toner.
Leaves skin feeling fresh and clean.
& Fragrance Free.

Making it the ultimate face cleanser in the market right now that is gentle enough for you to use twice a day. (I could honestly be their spokesperson people this is how much I believe this product is heaven sent, can't you tell?)

Now that I found this product I will never spend another dime on anything else. I have read reviews online about it, and everyone seems to agree with me, and be just as in love with this item as I am.

49.00 USD

For LOVE & BASKETBALL

2012-05-28T15:43:00.000-03:00

Finally...

I had the chance to update my blog!

Sorry to all my readers,

I am back from our basketball season in Europe,

I'm staying in Florida for about a month or so,

then going to Brasil to enjoy time with my family

I also have some great news, I signed up for summer classes at Florida State University

so I can freshen up on my studies, and dedicate some time for my learning.

Living in Europe for an entire 10 months out of there year definitely has it's ups and downs.

It is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life, only a few people in the world can reap the amazing rewards of dating or being married to a man in sports.

But I know this must sound crazy for some people, but I miss having a job, doing something productive, for me, or for a company. So I figured this off season, after I was done visiting family I would take some business courses at my favorite University, just to keep my mind going, and keep me on my grind, for what comes after basketball.

My life is anything but simple, but it is a great one I can't complain,

I don't even know what it is like to live in one place for more than 6 months anymore.

But I wouldn't change it for the world, especially when you are living life in the moment

in the name of

LOVE & BASKETBALL.

Keep Trying!

2012-04-23T07:42:00.002-03:00

I Will Always Be Yours

2012-03-28T10:59:00.000-03:00

“I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I've ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours. ”

― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Never Say Never, The Movie

2012-03-28T10:43:00.000-03:00

For the first time yesterday, I watched Justin Bieber's movie

"NEVER SAY NEVER"

starring Justin Bieber, of course!

I must admit, what a great documentary of his life that was.

I did not know much about Bieber prior to the movie,

besides the obvious fact that he is a millionaire

and millions of little girls are infatuated by him and his music

But Bieber has a story, an amazing one.

In the movie he shared with viewers his upbringing in the small city in Canada,

being raised by his single mother, with the help of his grandparents,

Bieber always had music in his soul,

and without any professional assistance,

he would sing, play the drums, guitar and perform.

The talent came naturally, and he needed an outlet

an audience....

So his mom decided to tape it and put it on youtube for family members to watch

and the rest is history.

Social Network assisted Bieber in becoming the fastest artist to rise to the top,

Not to mention his raw talent, skills and dedication.

He is a young kid with soul,

Admired by many,

respected by all,

He is humble, modest and most of all he has a heart of gold

He deserves all the fame in the world.

Never say never is a great movie, highly recommend watching it!

It brings a new understanding to this Bieber Fever

March Madness 2012

2012-03-19T11:13:00.001-03:00

Wow! What a crazy and wild year this has been

NCAA March madness is pure mayhem

first Mizzou, then Duke...

now Georgetown and FSU...

What a year of upsets.

I know a lot of people were pretty mad at the performance of their favorite teams,

I mean, no one expected this much upset in one season

Everyone's brackets pretty much got destroyed from

the defeat of big name teams.

I had high hopes and expectations for both my teams

The Georgetown Hoyas and The Florida State Seminoles

They both put on a great fight, and I am so proud of our seniors!

I was just hoping we would have advance and gotten a little closer to that Final Four

but unfortunately this is the year for the underdogs to shine.

March Madness is definitely the most exciting time of year

for College basketball....

let the games continue.

As Long As You Live

2012-03-19T11:01:00.001-03:00

Do what you love,

Love what you do.

those two things are essential to one's true happiness

Where Magic Happens

2012-03-16T10:27:00.000-03:00

No captions really needed here

Magic alway happens OUTSIDE of your comfort zone

Organize!

2012-03-16T10:20:00.000-03:00

This image shows there is a solution to everything!!!

"O Toquinho"

2012-03-16T10:15:00.000-03:00

Deus abre a porta mas voce e quem tem que atravessá-la.

"Toquinho" e um dos maiores lutador de todos os tempos.

Um exemplo de vida,

um verdadeiro guerreiro,

um Brasileiro vitorioso

A Result of What We Thought

2012-03-15T11:40:00.002-03:00

Lueven; Belgium

2012-03-15T07:51:00.000-03:00

A few entries back I was excited to announce that one of my closest friends was coming to Belgium to visit me during her Spring Break from Law School. I was super happy to have my dear friend Danielle for 5 days in my home, and I wanted her to get as much out of this trip as we could in such a small amount of time.

I planned out a few "day trips" to the nearby cities, the first city we visited was Lueven, it was my first time in Lueven so I got to enjoy it just as much as she did.

Lueven is located in the Flemish region of Belgium, meaning their primary language is Dutch/Flemish, not French. Lueven is mostly known for a college town or like the local people like to call it "student city." It is home to Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the oldest Catholic university still in existence in the world and the biggest University in Belgium.

There was no doubt in our minds that Lueven was indeed a "student city" once we arrived. There was hundreds if not thousands of students roaming around the city. Since this time of year there isn't many tourists visiting, the students really stood out to us, giving us a young, vibrant vibe to the city.

While in Lueven, Danielle and I got to see the famous and beautiful Town Hall, St. Peter's Church, the statue Fonske..... and all the stunning buildings with beautiful architecture around it.

The rest of the cities I took her to were all cities I previously visited and blogged about in previous entries.
Such as Gent, Amsterdam, and of course she got to see my current city Antwerp in between it all :)

It is wonderful having friends and family visit, I really make it a priority to make sure everyone that comes to visit me has a wonderful time and leaves with a smile on their face, and living in Belgium makes it easy, it is a beautiful country, has everything to offer, we are surrounded by great cities to visit all in a close range.

CrossFit

2012-03-14T12:12:00.001-03:00

I started a new adventure into CrossFit Training. Everyone that reads my blog knows I love fitness. I might not be the most fit person in the world, but I love the feeling a good workout brings, so I am always up for a challenging workout and with over 3,000 affiliate CrossFit gyms worldwide, I am happy to say I recentely discovered one in my current town. CrossFit Antwerpen; has brought to me a different meaning to working out.

About CrossFit:

CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program defined as “constantly varied, functional movement, performed at high intensity."The goal of CrossFit is to improve fitness, which it defines as "work capacity across broad time and modal domains."

CrossFit claims that increases in work capacity will result in the greater general physical preparedness of CrossFit practitioners.

CrossFit combines weightlifting, sprinting, gymnastics, powerlifting, and rowing.

CrossFit contends that a person is as fit as they are proficient in each of ten general physical skills: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, and accuracy.

Workouts are typically short--20 minutes or less--and intense, demanding all-out physical exertion. Performance, such as the time required to complete a sequence of movements, is measured and recorded, both to facilitate competition between participants and to track individual progress.

So far I have attended a total of 8 CrossFit classes and in that small amount of time I have developed a love/hate relationship with CrossFit. The type of training it involves is EXACTLY what I love to do, and what I been looking for, BUT it is hard, very hard, it pushes you beyond your limit, it becomes simply the longest and hardest 20 minutes of your life, but it is all in the name of fitness.

CrossFit Antwerpen has thought me strength, discipline, and motivation. The members of CrossFit is beyond encouraging, everyone is all about team work and dedication, just when I think about quitting a workout, there is someone, either a staff or a member, next to me telling me to "push push push" through the pain, or someone runs an extra lap just to keep me company, and that is motivation enough to keep going and make your team proud.

The running, the heavy lifting, the chin ups, oh god the BURPEES, all kills me, but in a good way, a way that I my body needs it. Last night I did a total of 280 squats, you can only imagine how my legs feels this morning. But tomorrow there is more! I hate how much pain I feel during a workout, but I always go back for more, and every night I leave Crossfit more proud of myself, and in love with what this gym is all about.