Astrid*Stars

My Week With TV: Fall TV Week 2

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 08:50:00 +0000

I meant to put this up on Sunday, but to be completely honest, I spent most of the weekend sleeping or actually catching up with some Fall TV. I was also trying to get over whatever was causing me to have the cough of death. But at least being sorta sick (just a nasty cough, so annoying) allowed me to lay low, that and paying most of my bills for the month. So without further ado, here are the shows I feasted my eyes on this week.

Let's start off with the shows I mentioned at the end of the last My Week With TV post. These were all shows that premiered last week and remember, there are still shows yet to premiere for the season. But anyway, that's for the next post in the series(?). For new premieres, this is what I saw:

Grandfathered- This is the John Stamos and Josh Peck starred vehicle. Stamos plays a forever bachelor restauranteur, obsessed with not aging, who soon learns that not only is he a father to Peck's character, but also a grandfather. I was actually really excited to watch this mostly because both of these actors were huge in my childhood (hello Full House and Drake and Josh). And I was not disappointed. The show is funny and charming, with the dynamic of Stamos and Peck's character really playing off each other. I would definitely recommend tuning into this for a good laugh. (Tues at 8pm on FOX).

The Grinder- If you miss Chris Traeger from Parks and Recreation, then this might be the show for you because Chad Lowe pretty much plays a Traeger on this show. Except that he is an actor who's show, where he played a lawyer, has just ended. However, his old role has led him to believe that he could be a real lawyer alongside his father and brother, played by Fred Savage (oh the Wonder Years). While Lowe's character exudes confident, his much more serious brother may be a great lawyer but lacks in public speaking skills. I feel this show has the potential to be really funny, but at the same time it seems a little over the top and like it's trying to hard. We shall see. (Tues at 8:30pm on FOX).

Code Black- Of course this would make my list because I have a huge thing for medical dramas/procedurals. The title of the show is a term used in this case to refer to any incident where the number of patients outnumbers the number of resources available. The show stars primarily Marcia Gay Harden as the director of the residency program, but early on you are told that while she is the best at her job, she is having trouble overcoming a personal tragedy. Alongside her we have Luis Guzman who plays the head ER nurse and he definitely brings the comic relief to the show. The rest of the cast centers on 5 new residents who are trying to learn the ropes of the fast paced ER. It reminds of a cross between Grey's Anatomy and ER, which makes it an automatic win in my book. (Weds at 10pm on CBS).

The other two shows I gave a try this week were shows that premiered the week before, but I had thought started this week LOL. But what they really have in common is that they both have a badass female lead. So here they are:

Quantico- Think of this show as Homeland(speaking of which I still to catch up on) mixed with any Shonda Rhime show. It stars the seriously gorgeous Priyanka Chopra (like can I have her skin) as one of 50 new FBI trainees at Quantico. The first task given to all the trainees is learn one another's darkest secret. This gives way to how the show is setup, flashing back between the past and the present, where we discover there might have been a terrorist among the trainees, and Alex is being framed for their actions. I really enjoyed the high stakes of the show, the detective work that goes with it and the sexy allure the show gives off overall. Hopefully, it just gets better (Suns at 10pm on ABC).

Blindspot- Some have said this show is a combo of the Bourne Identity and The Blacklist, but to be honest, the show reminds me of the star's, Jamie Alexander's, previous show, Kyle XY. So what is this show about? Well it's about a woman who is discovered in a duffel bag in Times Square, who has no memory of who she is or how she got there. The only clues as to her identity are the fresh tattoos that cover her body, one of which demands the attention of FBI Agent Kurt Weller. It is up to him and his team to decode the tattoos and figure out who she is, and why Weller seems to be involved in her case. Oh and we soon find out that Jane, as they refer to her (as in Doe), might have had some sort of combat training. Very juicy so far! (Mons at 10pm on NBC).

Have any of you checked out these shows? Did you like them? Let me know in the comments below, or better yet come join me on Periscope this Sunday, October 11th at noon PST to talk some fall TV (I'm under @astridstars). And if you weren't able to join us earlier this week, I did my first Periscope on October Goals. Here is the replay. We have a few more premieres to come so stay tuned for more #MyWeekWithTV.

Love,

Astrid

Hello October Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 01:38:00 +0000

*Contains Affiliate Links*

Wow does time fly by! I cannot believe its already October, but I don't mind at all. It's not just that it's my birthday month (Holla! and yes I celebrate throughout the whole month), but it's also when temperatures start to finally cool down a bit in Los Angeles and it really starts feeling like fall. In fact, we were lucky enough to get some rain today, which just makes me so happy. And to continue in the happy spirit, I hope to set the bar with my October goals just as high as I set them in September. So let's see what I accomplished from my lengthy list of goals.

As a reminder, here are the goals I set for myself in September and which I was able to cross off:

Personal Goals:

Create a budget
Read

The The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke

~~Plan out social events such as book club meetings, dates and workouts.~~ This one is pretty self explanatory. Just didn't follow through on the workouts...oops.
Workout at least 5 days a week
Continue decluttering room
Read 4 books - Only got through Fallout by Ellen Hopkins
~~Catch up on my Emmy's nominees~~ I got through Parks and Recreation and Silicon Valley! Will try to get through more during October
Eat healthier- only have takeout 2x a week
~~Play with my dog at least 20 minutes a day~~ Towards the end of the month, I got better at waking up early enough to take him for a walk and play with him before and after work.
~~Plan my birthday~~- Everything is all set for that weekend! Hotel, hot air balloon ride and horseback + wine tours are booked! James and me will definitely have fun.

Blog Goals:

Design new site- i.e. banner, color code, etc.
~~Create Editorial Calendar- for this I will be using this as one of my guides.~~ I did get this done in my physical planner but still have to digitize it and get better at sticking to it.
Schedule posts in advance- including graphics.
~~Add all the blog chats I attend on Twitter to my planner/calendar.~~ Done! Been enjoying them so much. I follow #nectarchat, #ellechat, #FBLChat and #createlounge
Begin creating a business plan
Launch sponsor program/ads
Create a budget- since I want to invest on my blog
~~Sign up for E-Courses,~~ starting with this one I might have actually gone overboard with this one lol!
~~Continue the 30 Day Blogging Challenge~~ Other than needing to be more consistent with this, I have been following this, even though it isn't daily the way it's intended to be
Engage with my communities online

Other goals:

Work on my Youtube channel- starting with biweekly videos
Look for Freelance writing ops
Look for screenwriting courses
Finish screenplay....

So yes, there were a lot of things I didn't get through, but you know what, that's ok. Instead of discouraging me, it makes me just want to try harder or at least have some stuff on the horizon constantly. On that note, here are my goals for October:

Personal Goals:

Create a budget- again using The The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness and The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke. I've actually sort of budgeted this month a bit already. Just need to get it on paper, not just an app.
Manage my time better- October is a really busy month, not just because it's my birthday, but a lot of friends and family also have birthdays.
Stick to my schedule- I often get into the habit of rearranging my schedule to the benefit of others (i.e a friend wants to hang out, out goes me going to the gym. I need to start putting myself first
Workout 5x a week- Today I started the 28-day program from Tone It Up: 28 Days to Fit, Fierce, and Fabulous by Katrina Scott and Karena Dawn . I am also following their Fit For Fall Challenge as well as Lauren Gleisburg's fall program.
Eat healthier- Just did a one-day juice cleanse from Pressed Juicery yesterday and today started the Tone It Up Wedding Slimdown (it's 10 days, just in time for my bday).
Finish Decluttering my room- Last month it was continue to declutter my room, but I want more intention this month so I'm hoping to finish doing this, particularly the throwing out old magazines part.
Read 4 books- Since it's really starting to feel like fall, the weather is perfect to get some good reading done. I'm especially looking forward to the new fall books, which I mentioned in my previous post.
Stay up to date with TV Shows- I want to continue catching up with the shows I said I'd watch for the Emmy's but also not get too behind the fall shows I'm loving.
Watch some scary movies- Because hello, Halloween is this month. Plus I have a few I haven't seen yet, both classics and new ones.

Blog Goals:

Create/Engage with the community- Social media is a great tool for connecting with all of you guys, so anytime a new platform comes out, its definitely worth exploring. This month I am trying out Periscope! In fact, I will be hosting my first "real" (cuz the other two were me goofing off) scope tonight at 8pm PST to discuss October goals! My handle is @astridstars.
Follow through with my E-courses- Like I mentioned, I've been signing up for E-courses like crazy. Mostly because I now have this fire to make this blog something I'm really proud of and this pushes me to keep the fire blazing. I even just signed up for a bundle yesterday. But now I need to actually do the work and put them to use. Some of the ones I signed up for are: Pinfinite Growth, Your First 1K and Quit + Commit(I got the bundle price).
Work on Design and Branding- I've actually got this one rolling already. The Quit + Commit course was part of a bundle that came with the Breathtaking Brand Package from Lemon and the Sea. Our first session is on Saturday!
Launch Newsletter and Sponsor program- I'm so nervous for these, but I've got to rip the band-aid off sometime.
Create a collaboration program- This is something that I thought off during a blog chat. Seriously the chats are great for brainstorming and getting motivated. Get ready for this!
Create a budget - While I love investing in the blog, I also can't get too crazy.

Other goals:

Work on my Youtube channel- starting with biweekly videos

Again, I know my list may seem a bit impossible, but you gotta aim high right?! Share your goals with me in the comments below, or better yet join me during tonight's Periscope. Again that's tonight at 8pm PST and my handle is @astridstars! Hope to chat with you there!

Love,

Astrid

On My TBR List: Fall Books

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 08:01:00 +0000

*Contains Affiliate Links*

In my previous post I talked how the new TV season always signals the beginning of fall for me. But it's not the only thing that let's me know fall is here. In case you didn't know, fall is also the most important time for new releases in the book world. Actually, if you think about it, Fall seems to be the biggest season for a lot of industries (i.e. TV, Oscar potential films, books, etc). But I digress. Besides settling into the couch (ok my bed) to relax in front of the TV, fall to me means snuggling up with a good book.

Seriously, nothing, not even new TV shows, screams fall to me quite like enjoying a good read with a cup of tea and Charlie sleeping by my side. Lately, I've been trying to set aside more time to read as my TBR list is constantly piling higher and higher, but haven't been very successful in doing so. However, with the fall season starting I have this huge urge to stick to my TBR list.

With so many new books, plus running into this reading challenge, I had to compile a list to help me get to them. And so here are my top picks, which include mostly new fall debuts, with a few "older" ones that seem perfect for the season as well:

Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins- This has been sitting on my book shelf for months so I am glad that I'm not only in the reading mood lately, but that I now have the added pressure to read it thanks to two of my book clubs. The novel is a thriller, which some have compared to Gone Girl due to it's many plot twists, and centers around Rachel, an alcoholic who's husband left her two years ago for his mistress. Every day, Rachel rides the train and observes the lives of one couple, thinking it to be perfect, until one day tragedy strikes, leaving Rachel wondering what is true and what her role in it could be. It's actually the perfect fall book, though it was published earlier this year, due to its dark mystery.

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff- There has been a lot of buzz around this book, so you know it's a must read. The story examines the marriage of Lotto and Mathilde from both their perspectives over the years. It's set up similar to Gone Girl(can you tell I liked it?) in that it is split into two parts, one part being Lotto's experience and perspective with in the marriage and the other being Mathilde's. The marriage begins as one envied by their friends it seems, but not all is what is seems and I hear there's a pretty crazy twist, which is what really intrigues me.

The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz- I may have mentioned that I love Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy on the blog before, so it is no surprise that this made it onto the list. The Trilogy has now become a series and this book marks the fourth in this series. Lisbeth and Blomkvist are back again for another thrilling and dangerous ride. Blomkvist's magazine is struggling until he gets word about a computer scientist who is in trouble with the NSA and the Swedish government. At first Blomkvist is disinterested until he is told he may have been aided by someone Blomkvist is familiar with: Lisbeth. I'm excited to see how Lagercrantz continues the series and if stays true to Larsson's vision and style.

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling- How could not this not make the list?! When I lived in New York I remember finding comfort reading her first book during my subway rides. In this one, we find her same Mindy humor in her essays except this time she discusses her journey of trying to find contentment and excitement in her adult life. In her previous book she focused more on her struggle to try to fit in with Hollywood and trying to make it. Her new book appears to focus more on the after of her success. Really cannot wait to read this especially since it seems most of my other choices are on the darker side.

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy- This is another one that I've heard a lot of buzz around, especially on BookRiot. The book centers around Willowdean Dickson, aka Dumplin, who has always been happy in her own skin as a proudly thick girl. However when she falls for a boy at her new fast-food job and he likes her back, she begins to doubt herself. Her solution to gain her confidence back? Enter the beauty pageant. I love how badass the protagonist sounds and I think in today's body-shaming world, it really is a nice punch back.

Obviously there are a lot of other books that I am interested in, but that would just make for a never-ending post. In the mean time, these will be the ones I'll try to get to first and the ones that piqued my interest the most. Do any of these sound good to you? Any you recommend I add to my list? Share with me and everyone in the comments below.

Love,

Astrid

My Week With TV: Fall TV Week 1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 13:30:00 +0000

*May contain Spoilers*

Fall is officially here, if only someone would give Los Angeles the memo (seriously still so HOT). It is my favorite season for many reasons such as sweater weather (when it finally cools), pumpkin everything and my birthday (Holla!). When I was a student, the beginning of the school year signaled the start of the season for me, but I'm no longer a student. One thing that still signals the beginning of the season for me though is the start of Fall TV!

But before I get to what caught my eye during the first week of premieres, let's talk a little bit about the Emmy's. I know I wrote about the shows I would try to get through before the Emmy's aired, but I'm still making my way through them. So far I finished Parks and Recreation (which I loved) and Silicon Valley (also loved and so funny). Now as for the awards, I am mostly pleased by who won, but overall found them to be a bit dull. The top 3 highlights for me were Viola Davis win, Jon Hamm's butt, and Tracy Morgan's return (I had tears).

Anyway, here are the shows I had looked forward to during the first week of premieres, starting with the brand new shows first:

Scream Queens- This show from the creators of American Horror Story and Glee centers around a sorority house which seems to be the primary target of a serial killer, dressed in a devil suit nonetheless. I mostly saw this because I liked the cast and the shows the creators were previously attached to (though I tired of Glee). This was the first show I tackled for the week and it was pretty funny, plus has a lot of twists which I always enjoy in a show. I'll see how long I stick to this show though because the one thing I didn't fully enjoy was how campy it was. (On Fox Tues. at 9pm).

Limitless- Ok so this fall I noticed a couple of networks have decided to turn feature films into shows and Limitless was the first of this batch to premiere. I saw this last night as I caught up with this week's premieres. Mind you, I never saw the film it is based off of, but knowing the concept, I was intrigued. If you aren't familiar with the film, that's ok though. Both the show and the film center around a pill that basically puts your mind into hyperdrive and gives enhanced mental acuity( i.e. your IQ x4). The show isn't a remake of the film, but more so a continuation of it. The show stars Jake McDorman, but does feature the film's star Bradley Cooper. I loved how much action is in this show, but that its also mixed in with a little science. Will definitely keep watching this. (On CBS Tues. at 10pm).

Blood & Oil- This show centers around a young couple who have just moved to a North Dakota town that seems to be the new big oil boom, however they soon realize they may in way over their heads, especially when it comes to the big oil tycoon who seems to be running it all. I have to be honest, my main reason for watching this one was ~~Nathaniel Archibald~~ I mean Chace Crawford (sorry still having Gossip Girl withdrawals), but I actually really enjoyed it. It is very high drama so I am not surprised ABC put it in their Sunday night line up. I almost feel like its a combination of Revenge and There Will Be Blood. I will say though that it can get a bit Soap Opera-y so be warned.(On ABC Sun. at 9pm).

There are still some brand new shows I need to see, but I was pretty busy this past week and also totally forgot some were premiering (oops). It probably doesn't help that premieres seem to be a bit all over the place this year. The ones I still am curious to catch up with are Quantico, Heroes Reborn (b/c you gotta save the cheerleader), Blindspot, The Player (b/c my friend works on it) and Minority Report.

Now for the shows that came back this season:

Mysteries of Laura- I started watching this last season and found it to be a very cute procedural comedy. What can I say, I am a sucker for cop shows, plus love Debra Messing in this role. *Spoiler Alert* In the season premiere Jake(Laura's ex husband) has been temporarily replaced as chief while he is on medical leave. However, the temp chief is not any of the precinct's cup of tea and everyone is trying to show the new chief how things get done there. Oh and the case for this show centers around the kidnapping of a child, but with twists, obviously.

Then there was #TGIT:

Grey's Anatomy- I was a bit hesitant to watch the season premiere because well *spoiler alert, not really* McDreamy is dead so I wasn't sure if it would still be the Grey's I've loved and cherished. However, I'm glad I did end up watching it. In the premiere, we see Meredith and Amelia try to cohabit in the aftermath of Derek's death. If you expect a really tearing soapy scene however, then sorry but that didn't happen, at least not pertaining to him. It actually felt very much like the old Grey's camaraderie (oh I miss the intern days). And the medical case centered around two teen girls who are struck by a train it was at first seems an accident, but is later revealed was an attempt to stay together (they were in love).

Scandal- Olivia Pope is back...and with Fitz! In case you forgot, last season ended with Fitz kicking Mellie out of the White House (she did a terrible thing, like for realsies this time) and so now it seems the door is wide open for Liv and Fitz to live out their fantasy, but again that would be too easy. While Fitz's camp is trying to keep up appearances that everything is fine, Olivia and Quinn (only Gladiator left right now) are trying too look into the death of a Princess (think Kate Middleton). But the biggest scandal comes at the end of the episode!

How to Get Away With Murder- Out of all the Shonda Rhimes show premieres, I have to say this one was the one with the most bombshells! It seems that murders don't ever stop on this show, but then again you gotta keep with the title. In the season premiere, Annalise's students are trying to figure out where's Rebecca (they don't know she's dead) and we learn that Frank's not the only one with the willingness to kill. If you're not watching this show, then get on it!

Brooklyn 99- I must admit, I miss working on the lot where some of this show is filmed. But anyway, the gang is back with their shenanigans, except they have a new captain (yay, Bill Hader) and Peralta and Santiago are finally giving it a go. Still so funny!

There were other shows that premiered and many more still to premiere. If I didn't mention a show, it may be because it simply isn't my cup of tea or I still need to binge watch the previous seasons (sorry Empire). As the weeks go by, I may just start doing full reviews each week, let me know if you'd like that in the comments. Also share what shows were your favorite so far. As for this coming week, I am looking forward to Grandfathered, The Grinder, Code Black and Homeland (catching up this week). Let me know if there is anything else I should watch. (And sorry for the long read).

Love,

Astrid

Friday Favorites: Blog Tools

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 03:53:00 +0000

*Contains Affiliate Links*

If you read my goals for the month, you won't be so surprised that my favorites this week are blogging related. My biggest goal for the month and future is to improve my blog so that I reach more people and make it more welcoming. Because of my focus on my goal of growing and improving my blog, I have begun seeking out some useful tools for both novice bloggers and the more experienced. But I'll keep it all short and simple since I took a sleeping pill so that I could wake up super early for a work-related run. Anyway, I digress. Let's see what my favorite blog tools are this week:

1. Planners- I don't use my Day Designer as much as I'd like, but when I do, it really helps to keep me focus. I try to at least write the big dates in the calendar section so I have an idea of what't going on that month. And I just ordered two for next year. Also, I've begun mapping out my editorial calendar on it before I add it to a digital calendar.

2. Twitter Chats- These past few weeks I've become obsessed with Twitter chats, particularly, #FBLChat, #NectarChat, #Createlounge and #Ellechat. The chats are a great tool to learn how other bloggers are tackling their blog issues and also helps build friendships with other bloggers.

3. Facebook Groups- These are like twitter chats, but in a more casual setting. Also, you have more than 140 characters to work with. A few good ones that I like are: Blog + Biz BFFs and Her Campus Blogger Network

4. Social Media Managers- Because of Twitter Chats, I've been using social media managers such as Hootsuite and TweetDeck have begun to be very important in my life. I've used Hootsuite before to schedule social media for blogs, and that alone helps save a lot of money. Recently, I've also heard about Meet Edgar, which allows you 'recycle' campaings/tweets. Many bloggers I know say that it has helped them so much with promoting their work and handling their social media.

5. E-Courses- Ok so these are something I'm excited to talk about. In my opinion, e-courses are one of the best tools bloggers should take advantage of. It's like taking a class just about blogging, cuz well that's what it is. They can be very specific or a little more broad on the topics they broach, but nonetheless excellent tools. This month I've signed up for two.

One of them is Pinfinite Growth and was created by Melyssa Griffith of The Nectar Collective. In it, she teaches bloggers on how to use Pinterest to their best advantage and also use it to grow their blogs. The other course or courses I signed up for was the Soloprenuer Success Bundle from One Woman Shop. This bundle is only $99 for the next 10 minutes and I have an affiliate link for it because I really believe in this bundle. It contains advice and info from a variety of great bloggers. I wish I would have push myself to sign up for E-Courses earlier and not been so lost.

If you are a new blogger or simply want to grow your blog, this list is essential. It will keep you organized for your blog and also give you blogger advice a plenty. Share any other blogger tools you use in the comments below.

Love,

Astrid

Motivation Monday: What Motivates Us

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 16:54:00 +0000

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was definitely busy and productive, which hasn't happened in a while. Saturday alone, I managed to get in like 5 errands within the first two hours of waking up. I was quite proud of myself since it usually takes forever to motivate myself to do anything right away. Which got me thinking of a conversation I recently had with James about the different ways we are motivated. So why not start the week off on a positive note by talking a bit about what motivates us.

More specifically, I want to talk about how we may be motivated based on the way we absorb ideas or learn. For example, James is often motivated to try new things after hearing about them on podcasts. He is very much an auditory learner so it makes sense that he is influenced by these podcasts (think Joe Rogan and How Did This Get Made). One of the most recent ideas he shared with me is wanting to try out floating pools and cryotherapy (I'm in!) after hearing about it on a podcast.

In my case, I am usually more motivated by what I hear and see, but mostly what I see. I am very much a visual learner so my motivation is often drawn by what I read. Growing up I remember never accepting an idea or willing to try something unless I read about it. This really annoyed my mom because she'd try to give me advice, such as how drinking plenty of water is good for your skin, but I wouldn't believe her until I'd read it in a magazine article. Now I am mostly motivated by other bloggers I read such as The Nectar Collective and Kayla Hollatz. Pinterest and Instagram also play a huge factor (hello travel pins and pics).

These are only two things that could possibly motivate us. The thing they have in common is that they come down to the fact that who we expose ourselves to can become our point of motivation. James listens to people he may admire or find credible, while I listen to the words I see written by someone I may admire or come to admire. It really comes down to the way in which we best absorb information or learn.

I'm curious to see what motivates you. Share in the comments below if the above sound familiar or if you draw motivation in any other way. I hope this helps motivate you and helps fight the Monday blues.

Love,

Astrid

Comfy & Confident with U by Kotex®

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 09:18:00 +0000

Earlier today I was on a Google Hangout with Tuyen (miss my bestie) and we got to talking about bikini waxes and panty lines. Yay for girl talk! Anyway, we started talking about how important having the right pair of undies and feeling generally good about our lady bits is to our confidence. I confessed to her my pickiness in choosing the perfect pair of panties and my strong anti-VPL stance. But you know what makes the "perfect" pair even better?! U by Kotex® Lightdays® Liners.

For me a good pair of undies are undies that are not only seamless to avoid my pet peeve that is a visible panty line, but also offer all-day comfort. I mean seriously, what is the point of avoid the panty line in the first place, if you are going to be squirming around in discomfort?!

Recently my sister introduced me to some undies that are both comfortable and VPL-proof. She had gotten a bunch of new undies at Pink by Victoria's Secret, but realized she had gotten them a size too small. Since I am usually a size down for hers, she decided to give me the undies she had not yet worn, knowing that these may be ones I would like. And I not only like them, I love them! And when I add the U by Kotex® Lightdays® Liners, I love them even more!

The U by Kotex® Lightdays® Liners just add to the comfiness of my new undies. They comfortably flex with my body and are soft, silky and breathable, which means I not only stay comfy, but also dry. This is super important to me since I'm getting back into my workout routines and I've been trying new classes (hello, kickboxing). Plus, they are the perfect backup for tampons and light flow days.

U by Kotex® is as serious as I am about feeling comfy and confident. So much so that they are holding a #BringComfyBack contest. To enter the contest, all you need to do is visit bringcomfyback.com and upload your creative pic or gif showcasing your best uncomfy face.

Each month, one lucky winner will receive a $200 Urban Outfitters gift card, a Go Pro Hero 3 white camera, a $100 Sephora gift card and U by Kotex® products. At the end of the contest, the most creative selfie will be chosen and the winner will receive a trip to L.A. with a girlfriend, an exclusive U by Kotex® photo shoot to be their new social star and $2,000 spending cash!

How AWESOME is that??!!! So don't forget to enter the contest and share with me what helps you feel comfy and confident in the comments below. And send me the link to your pics/gifs, I want to see all your best faces :)

Love,

Astrid

Monthly Wishes: September 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 23:19:00 +0000

First of all...OMG it's already September!! I can't believe how fast the year is going by and also how much I've slacked off during it LOL. At the beginning of this year, I had joined The Nectar Collective's Weekly Wishes link up and would occasionally also do a Monthly Wishes version. Sadly, the link up is no longer, but I still love the idea of setting up goals. That being said, I decided that its about time I really start planning out my months, at least, and so here we are with my Monthly Wishes for September.

As opposed to past Monthly Wishes (and Weekly) where I just choose a small number of goals, this time I've decided to just kind of run off a list because there is a lot I want to get done this month and I feel I need to give myself a little shove in the ass to get it all done. More importantly, I need to write it all into my handy dandy Day Designer and also follow through with making an editorial calendar.

Personal Goals:

Create a budget
Read

The The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke

Plan out social events such as book club meetings, dates and workouts.
Workout at least 5 days a week
Continue decluttering room
Read 4 books
Catch up on my Emmy's nominees
Eat healthier- only have takeout 2x a week
Play with my dog at least 20 minutes a day
Plan my birthday

Blog Goals:

Design new site- i.e. banner, color code, etc.
Create Editorial Calendar- for this I will be using this as one of my guides.
Schedule posts in advance- including graphics.
Add all the blog chats I attend on Twitter to my planner/calendar.
Begin creating a business plan
Launch sponsor program/ads
Create a budget- since I want to invest on my blog
Sign up for E-Courses, starting with this one
Continue the 30 Day Blogging Challenge
Engage with my communities online

Other goals:

Work on my Youtube channel- starting with biweekly videos
Look for Freelance writing ops
Look for screenwriting courses
Finish screenplay....

Obviously I want to accomplish a lot this month and even though in the past I've tried to avoid overwhelming myself, I'm changing things up a bit. Mostly, I want to be busy and stay busy, but also still enjoy my life. I really want to work on all those things I've been afraid to do like going full force with my blog and my career. Also, I feel that by pushing myself, I am more likely to schedule it and having it all written down...in a public forum helps!

What do your goals for the month look like? Share in the comments below and if you have any advice/links you'd like to share I will be in your favor.

Love,

Astrid

My Week With TV: The Emmy's

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 01:02:00 +0000

Gah, so this 30 day blogging challenge has been well, challenging. I was so excited to get the ball rolling again, but had a combination of writer's block and having so much I want to write about. But finally, after having this nagging and persistent focus on TV and realizing how much of it, good and bad, I have missed, I decided to start a new series. So with that I present to you: My Week With TV.

So first off, why did I choose to start blogging about TV all of a sudden. Well I guess it isn't really as spontaneous as it sounds. If you have been reading my blog for some time, or follow me on Twitter, you may know that I majored in Film and TV and currently work in reality/documentary TV. I also am just plain and simple a TV Junkie and lately I've been having a lot of creative talks with James and friends surrounding TV and Film. Therefore, since my blog is mostly based on what I'm living and loving, it would be odd not to include this passion/love of mine in it.

To start off the series, I want to talk about the big upcoming super important and special event for Television: The Emmy's. Oh yeah, something else I'm super into and in love with are award shows, particularly The Oscar's, the Golden Globes, and you guessed it, The Emmy's.

But I have to admit that while I love watching theses shows, in the past I've been really bad at knowing/watching the nominated shows. Like seriously I'm lost as to the existence of some of the shows. I mean they look great, but then I'm like wait...that has been on this whole time? Where was I when this was showing?

Not this year though. Nope, this year I vow to at least try to watch the series nominated for Comedy, Drama and maybe even Limited Series. Or at least the ones that seem possible to get through before the Emmy's air on Fox, September 20th. I will say that I have a bit of a head start though since there have been a few of the nominees that I've kept on top of.

So far the series I've gotten to are: Game of Thrones, American Crime, AHS: Freak Show, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and yup that's about it. But there are still 15 others I need to get to. But let's face it, I'm a busy gal, what with work, dating, trying to workout and sleep, 15 series will be hard to squeeze in. I already watch a lot of TV but I'm not glued to it...I do have other things that keep me occupied. That's why I'm just going to choose 5 of these to focus on and then I'll see about the next 5, cuz priorities! So here are the one's I'll be giving my time to:

1. Homeland-I was actually really into this, but once I moved to New York, it became hard for me to keep up with it. But thankfully, I just subscribed to Showtime via Hulu and since I'm only a season and a half behind. this will be easy to come up to date with.

2. House of Cards- I really loved the first season of this show, but part of the reason I stopped watching it is because this is the kind of show where I have to put away all distractions and give it my full attention. But I usually get home so tired and just want to watch something light, however, I am willing to put away a day or two to give it my full devotion.

3. Silicon Valley- I remembered watching the pilot to this show and thinking it was so funny, but then we got rid of HBO. Thankfully I just got HBO Now and this show is only 2 seasons long as well as each episode only running a half hour.

4. Parks and Recreation- I know, I know, how have I not watched this. Well for a while I simply didn't watch a lot of NBC comedies, mainly because Grey's Anatomy was on at the same time LOL. But I love Amy Poehler and the rest of the cast, so this is a must! Plus it ended this year :(

5. Wolf Hall- Mostly because I have a thing for series based on historical times...specifically those surrounding kings and queens. And this one is all about Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Plus James and his family have gotten me into a lot of BBC (it airs on PBS, but is produced by BBC).

It was difficult narrowing down my list, but ultimately I am happy with what I have chosen. I am going to give myself an even stricter deadline of two weeks rather than Sept 20th, but only so I will actually make time to watch these. My Week With TV starts now...but feel free to share whats on your DVR/List/Que with me in the comments below.

Love,

Astrid

Summer Ready with U by Kotex®

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 06:19:00 +0000

Summer is a time to celebrate and relax. I often associate summer with fun, time with friends and cute shorts/skirts. You know what isn't cute and fun though? Losing your undies to your period. Seriously its the worst and it can be such a party pooper. Thankfully U by Kotex® has your back to help #SavetheUndies.

As I've mentioned in previous U by Kotex® posts, their pads really do a great job to keep you dry and prevent you from losing your favorite pair of undies to that time of the month. And they stop your period from putting an end to your summer fun. The U by Kotex® Ultra Thin pads with 3D Capture Core* plus Xpress DRI work so well due to their super fast absorption capabilities. For someone like me, who usually prefers tampons to pads due to not loving the I think I might have peed my pants feeling when I'm on my period, this is a huge plus.

Honestly, I wish I could have gotten a hold on these U by Kotex® Security* and CleanWear® Ultra Thin Pads with 3D Capture Core plus Xpress DRI* a week earlier than I did. They would have seriously been so helpful to keep me a lot more relaxed at Dempsey's birthday party, when I had just started a really vengeful period. Thankfully, catastrophe's were adversed, but having the 3D Capture Core plus Xpress DRI technology on my side would have allowed me to enjoy the party a lot more.

Fortunately, they are now in my possession and I am prepared to not let my period get in the way of the rest of my summer fun. If you too would like to enjoy your summer with all your undies intact, visit ubykotex.com and get your free sample. Come on, become an #UnderWarrior and help #SavetheUndies.

Love,

Astrid

A photo posted by Astrid (@astridstars) on Aug 25, 2015 at 3:26pm PDT

Mid-Year Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 07:10:00 +0000

This past month has been a bit crazy and definitely busy, so sorry for the lack of posts. I just started a new (full-time) job and on top of that my computer decided to fall apart on me. Since starting my new job, I've seriously had to restore my computer on an almost daily basis. Plus add in my social life. Throughout all the craziness however, I've really been thinking about how my year has been going so far and about the resolutions I made for it. I also realize that this month is my Blogiversary (since I've done it for reals) and therefore thought it was fitting to do a Mid-Year review post as a celebration/reset.

To review, here was my New Year's Post. So how am I doing so far:

1. Be more present- I'm so glad I've been able to accomplish this. For one, I've been able to put my phone away when hanging out with friends. I usually only take it out if we are looking up a movie fact or checking the time. Another thing I've done is I stopped vlogging. While this was tough to do, I realized it took away from appreciating the moment and also was stressing me out. I still have some work to do, but glad I've been able to live a little more in the moment.

2. DeClutter my Life- Yea I am still working on this. Less magazines, but I still need to kinda organize other aspects of my life.

3. Work on Time Management- Yea I definitely need to work on organizing my life in this regard, but hey at least I'm not late to work anymore. I seriously have done pretty well with showing up on time for the most part. I still need to work on sleep and getting things done that need to get done.

4. Improve on my Blog & Channel- I know I've been slacking on this the past few months, but I'm really itching to get going again. In fact, I've decided to restarted the 30 Day blog challenge I attempted to do back in April. Plus with my new job, I can no afford to hire some design help.

5. Travel More- Ok so this one is kind of a bummer. Initially I really wanted to travel a lot this year, but sadly I started the year off being unemployed for the first three months. Then when I did get a job, it was only part time in which some weeks I would only get one four hour shift. Thankfully my new job pays a lot better and is full time, but I need to focus on paying down debt before focusing on traveling. However, it doesn't mean I can't do a few local travels :)

How do you guys think I've done? I think I've done alright, but ultimately, I'm just glad with how 2015 is turning out. I just feel more laid back while feeling like my life is coming together at the same time.

Hope your year is going well. Any luck accomplishing resolutions? Have you completely forgotten about them or have they changed? Let me know in the comments below :)

Love,

Astrid

Spooky Eyes Review: Funky White Contacts

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 07:02:00 +0000

*This post is sponsored by Spooky Eyes, but all opinions are my own*

Do you guys notice anything different? Well maybe it's because I'm wearing Spooky Eyes' Funky White Contacts. If you haven't heard of Spooky Eyes, they are a UK based company that specializes in natural and crazy–– perfect for Halloween––contact lenses. They gave me an array of choices and sent me my first choice, which were their Funky White Contacts.

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect as the only contacts I'd ever used had been the plain old prescribed kind. When I got them in the mail, the packaging and all actually didn't look much different from the one's I'd gotten from doctor's visits whenever I'd decide I wanted to give up my glasses.

The contacts came in this "Dream Eyes" (not sure why it's not Spooky Eyes) box that let me know the expiration date and dimensions. Inside the box, each contact (one for each eye, duh) came in the typical airtight "blister-pack" packaging. The only visible difference from the contacts that I tried before was instead of being clear lenses, there was a white circle on them, 'cause duh, I got the Funky White ones. Otherwise, they were like any other soft contacts I'd used before.

Ta-Da...got them in

Even though I'd worn contacts before though, it still took me a while to put the Spooky Eyes' Funky White contacts in. Part of that is because, I'd been a bit out of practice from wearing contacts. But it was more in part because I decided to apply falsies beforehand, thinking it'd be easier/safer than to try to apply the lashes after the contacts were in. Once they were in though, it was like magic. I had never used color contacts of any kind before, so it was so shocking to look in the mirror and not see my brown eyes looking back at me.

I instantly became obsessed! Seriously it took me a moment to take in my "new look." I think the shock also came from the fact that while they were surely intense, they also looked a little more natural than I expected. If you can see from the pictures, the contacts made my eyes look a little more on the blue side, especially depending on how the light hit me. Honestly, I had initially expected the contacts to just make most of my eyes look white, kind of like Storm (from X-Men).

Trying a "shocked" look

That's not to say I wasn't happy with them though. I actually loved the whole piercing blue eyes thing. My favorite part of it all is just the intensity the blue hue gives to my overall appearance. Of course, when I was taking the pictures for the blog I also sent some to James, who thought they were cool and, like me, loved the intensity of them. I also love how shocked my mom and sister were when I texted them a picture of me wearing them...Dirtsa said I looked possessed and my mom was just like "OMG!"

My "Evil"/Temptress "look" (or at least my attempt for that look)

What's even funnier to me was that when I shared it on social media, there were friends who commented that I had really changed since high school. I also had random people commenting on my pretty eyes. I really enjoyed the comments, but also thought it was funny that people believed my eyes had just naturally gone from brown to blue. But no, this apparently dramatic change was all thanks to Spooky Eyes.

More importantly however, it got me brainstorming for Halloween since I was having so much fun with them! The first idea that popped into my head was Vampire, even though it has been overdone to death thanks to the obsession with them over the years. I am also thinking of like Temptress or Witch. What do you guys think? Any other ideas come to mind? If so, share them with me in the comments below. And here are some more pictures to help you get more of a feel for them (and 'cause let's be real...this called for having fun with the camera):

Trying to go for a evil/mad look

Slightly more cunning

Slightly more innocent

My attempt at the Sexy look

Sexy Look Attempt #2

So much fun

Hope those helped brew some ideas. If you guys are itching to plan your Halloween costumes already or just want to have fun with some crazy contacts, make sure to check out Spooky Eyes and their awesome collection.

Love,

Astrid (and her temporary Blue Eyes)

Smirk ;p

Blogger Fun at Mixx Yoga

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Picture by Golden Hope Studios
*Not a Sponsored Post...just a review of a wonderful memory :)*

Before I begin telling you about the awesome Blogger Event I got to attend at the amazing Mixx Yoga in Newport Beach, I want to say SORRY for not blogging in forever. Honestly, I never planned to take any time away from blogging, especially not 2+ months, but you guys know life happens and boy did life happen. In all that though, my time at Mixx Yoga was not forgotten. Also, warning...this post is very photo heavy (but you guys don't mind right?!).

Picture by Golden Hope Studios

Last I blogged, I mentioned how I was doing the Bikini Series from Tone it Up that started up in April. Well, this Blogger event was a bit of a warm-up to that (yes I am very late on posting this...again apologies). Fellow blogger Kriselle of Livin and Lovin invited some of us SoCal bloggers to get our hearts pumping and our bodies sweatin' while we got our yoga on. And it all took place at Mixx Yoga in Newport Beach, a unique yoga studio that combines yoga with cardio and plyometrics.

Picture of founder Mitra by Golden Hope Studios

The studio was founded by Mitra Hooshmand, a neuroscientist who fell in love with yoga while trying to find a cure for her knee pain. Since she was also an athlete she decided to see what would happen if she combined cardio and yoga and that's sort of how Mixx was founded. Pretty cool right?! I definitely think so especially because I tend to love it when I can get some cardio in with my yoga. Not only does Mixx have a seriously cool founder, but Kalila our instructor was great too (as are the others).

Picture of Instructor Kalila by Golden Hope Studios

Aside from being able to experience such an amazing yoga class, what made it all that much better was the fact that I got to do it with some fellow SoCal Bloggers (HCBN girls included), who I finally got meet face to face, and my friend Julia who I brought along for the ride (she used to be a fitness instructor so its apropos). And on top of the awesomeness of the class and the social aspect, we all went home with some Fabletics goodie bags (free pants included WOOT WOOT). Kriselle seriously thought of everything (she even hired us a photographer ~Kristen thank you~, cuz hello...Blogger Event). Seriously...enjoy the pics :)

Picture of Julia and Me by Golden Hope Studios

Picture by Golden Hope Studios

Picture of HCBN SoCal Girls by Golden Hope Studios

Picture of the Messy Aftermath...by me

Just us girls socializing...Picture by me

Behind the counter...Picture by me

The Merch.....Picture by me

Where the magic happened...Picture by Me

Can you tell we had a blast?! If you live in or are visiting Newport Beach soon, I highly recommend you try a class at Mixx Yoga. Mitra and her fellow instructors are wonderful. I truly wish I lived closer, but I will be returning as soon as I'm in the area...for now I'll have to be comforted by my local studio, cuz yea now I've fallen in love with yoga.

That's a wrap....Picture by me

~~Love~~ Namaste,

Astrid

Picture of me in corpse by Golden Hope Studios

Weekly Wishes #22

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 +0000

So I forgot to do Weekly Wishes last week, which is not how I wanted to start the month, but hey, I'm human and life happens and the world didn't end. So far, I've been pretty good about being on time for work. I was late one day last week but that's because some how my brain kept 2:30 instead of 2:00 as my start time. Anyway, I digress... based on how last week went in general and my first week of the Bikini Series, I have very clear goals this week.

This week's weekly wishes are:
1. Don't slack the healthy lifestyle on the weekends!- So I did very well for my first week of the Bikini Series. I did my workouts and ate healthy (following the 8 week plan Katrina and Karena sent those with a Nutrition Plan), but once Saturday hit I just got lazy. I didn't get any workouts in Saturday or Sunday and I ate a lot of bad take out (damn you Chicken McNuggets).

2. Drink more water- This is the only area that I wasn't so great at. I really need to up the water intake.

3. BREATHE- I stressed myself out so much last week that I ended up getting nothing done on my days off. I do have a lot of things I need to get off my list, so in a way this wish is a conglomerate of many to-dos. Basically I kept stressing over putting up blog posts and finishing some freelance research work, but also just take it one minute/hour/day at a time. Or else I won't be able to focus and it becomes this vicious cycle.

What are your wishes for the week? Share in the comments. As always, you can join in on the fun and do your own Weekly Wishes posts by joining the link up hosted by The Nectar Collective:

Love,

Astrid

Target Giveaway- Ends May 12th

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 08:30:00 +0000

Target Giveaway...say WHAT?! Seriously I don't know anyone who doesn't love Target or who can go to Target and not leave without a bajillion things they didn't need (and not what they went for LOL). I live like 5 minutes away from me which is dangerously (yet conveniently) close. And since I love you guys just a little more than I love Target (that's saying a lot!), I decided to team up with Oh My Gosh Beck! to giveaway a $300 Target gift card to one lucky reader. Details on how to enter below:

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Prize: $300 Target Gift Card

Giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck!

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter daily. Check the Rafflecopter for the link to our other Target gift card to double your chances of winning! Giveaway ends 5/12 and is open worldwide. Winner will be notified via email.

Are you a blogger who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your blog? Click here to find out how you can join a totally awesome group of bloggers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love,

Astrid

April Wishes || Weekly Wishes #21

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 07:49:00 +0000

I cannot believe it's April already. Honestly I feel it was just yesterday when I was writing my wishes for March and thinking how February was so short. I cannot complain about March, it was definitely a good month for me what with getting a new job and getting the blogging (and YouTubing) on a smoother roll. I do apologize for April not starting quite so smoothly, this week was seriously busy in terms of work. Anyway, before I set my goals for the month, let's see how last week went with accomplishing my wishes.

Last week's wishes:

1. RE: Content Calendars- Still didn't happen.

2. 30-Day Blog Challenge- Started off fine, but then work came into play and I'm now playing catch up. But, we will get there :)

3. Stay on top of my Facebook Groups- This was probably the only wish I managed to accomplish. Right now I am caught up with the majority of my groups, although I do need to finish up one thread.

4. Set up a Sponsors Page- Maybe in April, LOL.

Also, as far as my goals for March, I did do 2 out of 3, which isn't bad. I did start doing more fashion posts, such as this one and this one. I also have been doing better with my main channel on YouTube.

With that, here are the goals for this month:

1. Be Punctual- If you know me well, then you know that I'm most often always running late. Seriously the struggle has been real. As much as I try, I am usually at least 5 minutes behind. But now that I've started a new job, I'm really trying to break the habit. So far, this is seeming possible.

2. Rock the 5th Bikini Series- Some of you may know that I'm a Tone It Up girl...basically I am a happy follower of Katrina and Karena and their workouts. And the 5th Bikini Series is around the corner. I am so excited and so ready to get back in shape (seriously, I've been terrible). I'm so serious about getting healthier in fact, that I did a one day juice cleanse (look for a review on here soon).

3. Drink my Water- Lately my skin has been acting up and been super dry, so hydration is a must. I need to really start making sure I'm getting my water intake.

4. Balance Work/Life- I'm so happy to be employed again, even if it's only part time (second job search is ongoing). That being said, I need to find a way to balance my alternating work schedule and this blog and my social life and anything else that's going on. April is already stressing me out a bit since I realize there's already so much going on. I gotta remember to balance and BREATHE.

5. Budget- So I have a job now and I have a somewhat steady income, which means I can restart my debt repayment plan ASAP. The struggle is real though 'cause there's so many things I want to buy now, but Priorties, am I right?!

How is April looking for you? What are your wishes for the month? I'm curious to see what y'all say in the comments. Either way, here's to rocking April, and hope California gets some showers. As always, you can join in on the fun and do your own Weekly Wishes posts by joining the link up hosted by The Nectar Collective:

Love,

Astrid

Friday Favorites: Trader Joes, Target and Books

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 11:15:00 +0000

Anyone else feel this week flew by? For whatever reason I woke up today going, "Whoa, it's time for Friday Favorites already?" I feel like it should barely be Wednesday, but I guess that's what happens when you have an early week, or maybe it's the fact that it's been such a hot spring week. I actually worked a couple of days this week (woohoo!) both babysitting and orientation at my new official job. Those days left me pretty tired so I'd go to sleep or just veg out in front of the TV. These were my favorites that helped me get through the week.

Favorite Podcast:

Don't judge me, but I just started listening to Serial! I know it created a lot of buzz last year and that pretty much everyone (except me lol) already listened to it. I'd actually downloaded it a month ago, but finally had the opportunity to listen to it this week on my way to work, since the traffic heading there was atrocious enough that I could get through at least one full episode during my transit. I'm loving it and really it's no surprise 'cause I LOVE crime investigative journalism. Its also got me looking into crime shows/books.

Favorite Treat:

OMG these cookies are EVERYTHING! Ok so last Saturday I discovered these little delicious gems when I was babysitting. I was craving something sweet and well these hit the spot. They were so good, I ended up heading to Trader Joe's (seriously, they have the best stuff) and buying 2 boxes (yes 2). I ate the first box almost entirely by myself, but shared the second box with James (I left it at his house because of what happened to box #1 LOL). Basically is butter cookies with speculoos in between which is just devilish addictive genius! Don't say I didn't warn you.

Favorite Read:

Lately, I've really been great at making time for reading. I started reading An Abundance of Katherines by John Green while babysitting, but on Monday I finished the book by relaxing at Starbucks (how awesome is that barista's handwriting). For whatever reason, I was very wiped out at Monday, so instead of working on my blog, I sat down and read. Mind you, I had already been working on blog stuff earlier, so this was some nice "me time."

Favorite Target Finds:

Target is the other place that always has the best things! I needed to go buy some organization items, but like most people, I always happen to come across the stuff I don't need, but end up wanting badly, at Target. So for some reason I found myself in the stationary and found the cute breakfast food thank you (?) cards and the cute silver polaroid camera piggy bank! Both are totally me and the piggy bank made me want to re-do/decorate my room.

Favorite Quote:

Every time you open the GoodReads app, a quote will appear as it loads your feed. I really loved this one since it basically says that no one can steal your thunder or what makes you unique. People can try to tear you down, but no matter what you can shine. It just seems perfect on those days when you're having a hard time believing in yourself.

So what are your Friday Favorites this week? Please share them with me and let me know how your week was. I hope you enjoyed my favorites and also, I will be posting my March Favorites on my beauty channel soon, so look out for it :)

Love,

Astrid

Beauty Review: Hyaluronic Acid Serum

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 09:54:00 +0000

*This Post is sponsored by Brandbacker and InstaNatural, but all opinions are 100% my own*

By now we have established that I love trying new skin care and beauty products. I love being able to do these beauty reviews so that I can share my thoughts with you about new(to me) products. Sometimes I fall in love with them, other times not so much or there's those special occasions where I like the product, but I don't think it fulfilled all the promised benefits. InstaNatural's Hyaluronic Acid Serum falls into that last category.

Before elaborating on my experience and giving you my review, let's take a look at the Hyaluronic Acid Serum itself. It contains a nice blend of Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Green Tea, all antioxidants, all great for the skin. In addition to the antioxidants, the serum's main ingredient is Hyaluronic Acid, which is a natural hydrator for the skin, helping it retain moisture. Another great ingredient is Jojoba Oil, which also helps in hydrating the skin.

It's great to know that the serum contains all these great ingredients (and that it's 100% cruelty free), but what does it promise? Well for one, it promises improve the skin's texture and brightness due the moisture it offers. It also promises to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and help achieve an overall healthy complexion. All sound great right, but did it deliver? Well sorta.

Before Picture

The picture above is my before picture and was taken early in the morning about a month ago. I have no make up on at all. Prior to adding InstaNatural's Hyaluronic Acid Serum to my skin care routine, my skin had been in really bad shape. It was dry and bumpy and just plain gross, which is why I wanted to try the serum in the first place. I know the picture is a bit blurry (only one where I don't look angry lol), but you might be able to tell that I had broken out a bit and that my skin looks a bit tight (read: dry).

Right after this picture, I applied the serum to my face. From there I would make sure to use it every morning after washing my face and applying toner, but before any makeup or even sunscreen. I also began applying it every night after washing my makeup off and again applying the toner. It became a synchronous routine. It was actually a very easy addition since I had been using another serum in my routine already (but I had finished it a few weeks prior).

After Picture

So the results? About a week into using the serum I began noticing that my skin felt a lot more hydrated than it had been in a while. This in turn meant that my skin's texture was also improving. I was very happy about this. As I used it more and more (I wanted to make sure it was working), I really started noticing how much more moisturized my skin was and how improved my skin looked. You might be able to tell in the After photo above, although I also think the lighting helps (sunnier morning).

It isn't until now looking at the pictures that I see a slight improvement in the dark circles, although again, that can be due to the lighting and more sleep. I'm not so sure about brightening (again lighting could be the culprit) or the fine wrinkles, but I am happy that my skin at least looks less zombie-like and tired, so therefore healthier. What I didn't like about the serum is that it feels very sticky as it dries. Also, it dries way to quickly, like you have to apply it as quickly as possible. Other than that, I think the product did it's job. It's not something I'd necessarily rush out to buy again, but I'm still satisfied with the improvements to my skin.

That being said, InstaNatural's Hyaluronic Acid Serum is still a great product and may work even better for you. If you want to try it out, you can purchase it here. I hope you found my beauty review helpful and please let me know anything else you'd like me to review.

Love,

Astrid

Fashion Moment: Espadrilles

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 06:51:00 +0000

Fashion Moment: Espadrilles by astridstars featuring closed toe flats

Last week when I went shopping for new work flats, I noticed that Espadrilles were really having a Fashion Moment this spring. Espadrilles have been around for a while, but for some reason they seem to be back in style more than ever this year. I've especially been drawn to espadrille flats, they just seem so comfy and versatile as they come in a variety of materials and patterns and styles, but what exactly is an espadrille?

An Espadrille is defined as canvas shoe with a sole made of twisted (jute) rope. It is usually a casual shoe, although they can also be found as wedges and high-heels, but either way, they will have the defining characteristic of the twisted rope sole. This style of shoe originated in the 14th century in Spain and France, so yea these aren't anything new, but they are a perfect staple to add to your Spring wardrobe this year.

Among my favorites are the classic two toned espadrilles (like the ones shown above) as well as some of the more "modern" ones with fade bold stripes and the ones that have a perforated upper. I also love some of the more fun ones with sparkles and appliqués added and the sneaker ones seem like a good idea too. The number one on my wish list though is this (shown below) embroidered pair from Forever 21. They are just the perfect espadrille for Spring, aren't they?

{Source: Forever 21}

Do you support this Fashion Moment? Share your thoughts with me in the comments and link your favorites for the season. I can't wait to see which ones you guys are keeping your eye on.

Love,

Astrid

Weekly Wishes #20

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 21:07:00 +0000

Happy Monday every one! I am honestly so excited to start this week. I don't know what it is but Spring just is making me feel more alive and reborn almost(I talked a little about it here). Perhaps its the fact that the flowers are starting to bloom and I'm loving the pastels showing up at the stores. It can also be that I just started a 30-Day Blog Challenge (that I need to catch up on, oops lol) and that I finally start orientation for my new job this week. Either way, my weekly wishes this week will focus a lot on working on this blog because I feel like my mind just hit a huge refresh button.

Last week's wishes:

1. Fill Content Calendar- Still working on that.

2. Research Gardening- Ok so I was running around town more than I planned last week. However, my mom and me started brainstorming about the backyard again and we do know we want to start with planting some grass (not a euphemism, ahem). We know that the bulk for grass seeds is about $80 so that's a start. Also there's a nursery nearby that offers free gardening classes on Saturdays. Still need to see what else we want to plan though.

3. Create Content Calendars for YouTube Channel- Didn't happen, but it will.

This week's wishes:

1. RE: Content Calendars- Definitely need to work on this!

2. 30-Day Blog Challenge- I need to stay on top of this, along with other posts I have planned/want to do. I fell off the wagon a bit over the weekend just because I had a lot of errands to run. But hey at least this means the blog will be getting more love this week and the weeks that follow :)

3. Stay on top of my Facebook Groups- I am a part of a lot of groups on Facebook, particularly blogger groups. I often will post a link to my blog and then forget to return the love until a week later. I also will forget to check up on the groups at times and I feel bad. So this week I want to begin setting aside a designated time to deal with this along with blog comments :)

4. Set up a Sponsors Page- I've been wanting to do this for some time now and my lack of knowledge sometimes keeps me from going through with it. One of the reasons I want to do this is because I'd like to help out other bloggers by sharing their blogs. I also want to do this because it makes the blog look more professional and helps me sustain the blog which in turn means better content for y'all.

Like I said, I really want to put more work into the blog this week. I just feel on fire right now and want to keep that alive. How about you? What do you wish to get done this week? Feel free to share in the comments and remember you can also join in on the fun and do your own Weekly Wishes posts by joining the link up hosted by The Nectar Collective:

Love,

Astrid

P.S. Don't forget about the Totally Awesome Amazon Giveaway I have going on with other bloggers. It ends next week :)

Friday Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 08:23:00 +0000

I hope everyone had a great week. Mine was pretty good if not busy. For one, I drove my mom to a couple of interviews since she's gotten the OK to go back to work after a year on disability. Yes she could have driven herself, but if you live in L.A. then you know parking can get crazy so by me driving her, it was one less thing to worry about. Plus, I didn't really have anything to do and I was able to get some work done while I waited. It was definitely a productive week. That being said, let's get to this week's Friday Favorites.

Favorite Song:

So happy that Mumford & Sons have released a new song! I'm a huge fan of theirs and while "Believe" does have a slightly different sound then their previous work, I can't stop singing it!

Favorite Quote:

{Source: Lululemon Blog}

Talking about believing, I love this quote that I found on Pinterest, but that was originally posted on the Lululemon Blog. The best way to love ourselves is to believe in ourselves. It is both freeing and reassuring. Plus if we don't believe in ourselves, who will?

Favorite Read:

This week I finally opened the March pick for the Girly Book Club I'm a part of (that is the official name of the club). This month we are reading We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (loved her books in HS) and I'm loving it. Its basically about 4 cousins/friends who spend each summer on their family's private Island. However, although they form part of a perfect family, they soon discover just how many lies are among them. I've had this on my list for a while and for the first time in a while, I've found myself staying up late reading. Loving this book and maybe will even do a review on it :)

Favorite Scent:

Yes I still have holiday candles! I stocked up on them because they are my favorite and this week I've been burning Hot Buttered Rum! It smells so good and makes me feel all cozy. Plus it has hints of vanilla and caramel. I am thinking of stocking up on some current seasonal candles though, so let me know your favorites in the comments.

Favorite Product:

This "natural eye" Aqua Shadow Duo from MakeUp Forever is perfection! it comes with this little instruction card and I love the results. What I love about it is that it's simple, gives a natural look that I can wear anywhere (even work) and you can easily toss it into your bag! I actually received this from Dirtsa like a year ago, but just started using it this week and the look is so pretty, I'm obsessed!

Favorite Picture:

{Source: Muffy Takes Manhattan Tumblr}

My final favorite for the week is this picture I found on Tumblr. I love roses and well this picture is a nice reminder that SPRING IS HERE! Which reminds me, I wrote a post to start of Spring with a fresh mind. You can read it here.

I hope everyone enjoyed their week and that you loved my favorites. Also, I was finally able to upload my February Favorites on YouTube. I wish you all a great weekend and don't forget to share your favorites from the week.

Love,

Astrid

A Little Guide to ... Spring Cleaning Your Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 07:06:00 +0000

Today, March 20th, 2015, marks the first day of Spring and also the first day of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge I'm embarking on (cuz I love Challenges). Winter is over (bet East Coasters are happy 'bout that), which means flowers blooming, lighter clothing and spring cleaning. While the New Year and its resolutions were only a couple of months away, Spring feels like a rebirth, a revival, a refresh button of sorts, perhaps to re-evaluate those previous resolutions. That being said, while Spring Cleaning usually brings to mind deep cleaning/decluttering your home, has anyone ever thought about Spring Cleaning your mind?

Lately I've been doing a lot of reflecting, in part thanks to me recommitting to getting through May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein. I'm only on Day 14 and so far, I feel as though my mind is slowly being cleansed of negativity. I don't mean to sound all holistic BS-y or spiritual or what have you, but through the affirmations and exercises, I've gotten the chance to start purging myself of my fears and therefore negative thoughts and talk. Here is my little guide to spring cleaning your mind:

1. Journaling- Lately, this has helped me vent and clear my mind of worries and negative thoughts. Its also helped with positive thoughts and ideas that pop into my head. It's a way to not only express myself, but also give myself some love. It spring cleans my mind by helping me clear my thoughts and almost act like a therapy since this helps me better reflect on them.

2. Unplugging from my Phone- If you've read my Weekly Wishes from this week or last week, you might have seen that I'm trying to avoid scrolling through my phone first thing in the morning. This has really helped me start my day much clearer and happier since I don't get caught up in click-bait articles as soon as I start my day. The articles may seem harmless, but really what purpose do they serve me? Now I use that time to enjoy getting ready for the day, snuggling with Charlie and taking a look at what I have going on that day by writing in my Day Designer.

3. Exercise- Honestly, I've noticed a difference between the days I workout and the days I don't. When I workout, I'm focusing on ONE thing, Me. I'm not trying to multi-task or think about how I'm going to pay the bills or whatever. I'm focusing on my breathing, on getting through the workout and on not passing out (I kid, sorta). Through exercise, I'm able to release stress and relish in the endorphins it releases and in doing that, I cleanse my mind. After I workout, I feel much better prepared to take on a task or think about an idea. The exercise can be anything––yoga, spin class, kickbox cardio or even a stretch routine.

Before you start thinking about spring cleaning your house, closet, (insert any other spring cleaning item), try to spring clean your mind. Doing so may actually help you in tackling the above mentioned tasks. I really hope my little guide can help you in spring cleaning your mind. And please feel free to suggest any other ways you can think of to achieve this.

Love,

Astrid

In The Trenches

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 05:51:00 +0000

In The Trenches by astridstars featuring a trench coat

First off I want to say Happy St. Paddy's Day (recently learned Patty's is incorrect LOL). Anyway, I am excited to share this post with you because I haven't done a fashion post in so long. A few weeks ago, I went out shopping with my sister and noticed that as stores were bringing in their new Spring clothing, a lot of trench coats were popping up.

I don't know about you, but I do love me a good trench coat. They are super versatile and just look good with anything (IMO). They are lightweight and perfect for the warm LA nights out yet hold up in the rain as well (my bestie from Seattle can attest to this).

This year though, trench coats seem to have gotten a bit of a makeover. Usually when you think of a trench coat you thing of the usual beige long trench coat that belts at the waist. At the stores however, I saw trench coats in all different colors, particularly pastels. There were also navy blue and gray ones and some even came in this really nice faux suede fabric.

They are also coming in different lengths and styles. Some come in a slouchier style, sometimes with no buttons or with only a few. I honestly can't wait to get my hands on one. My favorites so far come in the shorter, slouchier variety and in dusty grays and blues. A trench coat is definitely a staple I think ever woman should have in her closet, and its nice that with these "twists" to the classic trench coat can adapt to each woman's individual style.

What do you think about these new trench coats? Which ones do you have your eye on?

Love,

Astrid

Weekly Wishes #19 (& Weekend Recap)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 07:39:00 +0000

How was everyone's week? I don't know about you, but I had a productive week and am still very much loving March. I've also just noticed how "happening" (I feel like I sound like a dad saying that, but oh well) the month is or at least how every weekend seems to have a holiday going on. I mean the weekend before it was DST starting and this past weekend it was Pi Day (more of that in a bit) and then St. Patty's day and more to come. So let's do this....

Last week's wishes were:

1. Set a bedtime alarm- Ok, I'll be honest, I just started doing this last night....sooo I guess I better set tonight's alarm. Also I failed this 'cause 1 day/1week is not enough to say if this worked.

2. No phone upon waking up- I will admit this is hard sometimes, but I've managed to do better than expected. I was very successful with it for most of the week, but I caved this weekend. Also, it's hard to gage when it's "OK" to check my phone already when I don't have anything to get to right away. So I'm gonna try not using it within the first hour of waking up.

3. Plan my weekends- So this was a semi-success. I planned Friday night and Sunday accordingly, but Saturday was a bit of a hit or miss. First off, I need to plan at least 3 days ahead since my friends are busy or just need a heads up. Friday I went bowling with a Meetup group and it went OK. It was for newcomers (like me), but it felt rushed and the place was too loud to really get to know one another. I'm glad I went out, but it also felt like a waste of my time and money.

Republic of Pie, people in line for Pie

Pie List at Republic of Pie

Pumpkin Pie and Nutella Latte at Republic of Pie

Saturday was Pi Day (3.14, get it) and I got very excited, but also had a moment of sadness. See, I didn't realize the date until the night before and then when I asked who wanted to join me, everyone seemed busy or said they "might" be interested. Alas, I decided to just go ahead and go by myself to Republic of Pie, one of my favorite Pie places and work on the blog there. And then things got better.

The Power of the Pi(e). James texted me while I was finishing up creating a content calendar for the blog (FINALLY did this LOL. Kudos to me right?). His phone service can be spotty sometimes so he had just seen my text from earlier that day. Basically, he would have joined me had he seen it earlier. This cheered me up and since I had finished setting up the calendar, I offered to deliver pie to him and his mom. In the end we ended up hanging out and having a good time talking and watching Brain Games (such a cool show).

My Farmer's Market flowers :)

On Sunday, James and I decided to try "Sushi Sunday," and idea I got from Ingrid Nilsen (aka Miss Glamorazzi). Basically, we (well really I) have decided to designate Sundays for going out for Sushi. But before we even met up for Sushi, I decided to start my Sunday off right by heading to the Farmer's Market in Studio City (since I actually woke up early) and get my self some flowers, even in the 90+ degree heat. Anyway, Sushi Sunday was a success. We enjoyed our Sushi/Bento dinners and also some dessert at FatBurger (we are gluttons) and basked in our food comas. There was also awesome conversation as always, which is my favorite part of hanging out with him.

4. Block out an hour a day for Design "stuff"- Yea, this didn't happen.

This week's wishes:

1. Fill Content Calendar- So the calendar has been created as in its been set up. Now to put it to use and start filling it with content I'd like to plan for the blog.

2. Research Gardening- For my March Wishes, I mentioned wanted to learn to garden. Well I've decided to finally get the ball rolling this week. I need to research what I want to plant. I need to look into the kind of grass I'd like and also set a plan as to how I want to go about the whole shebang.

3. Create Content Calendars for YouTube Channel- Pretty self-explantory. I don't really need to do this for my Vlog Channel (although I do need an editing schedule and decide if I want to switch to weekly vlogs). I do need this for my Main/Beauty Channel however, it makes it so it's easier for me to grow the channel.

I will leave it at that since this post is probably my longest one ever. And I wanna go to bed LOL. Now it's your turn to share your wishes for the week. And remember you can also join in on the fun and do your own Weekly Wishes posts by joining the link up hosted by The Nectar Collective:

Love,

Astrid

Friday Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 09:45:00 +0000

Apologies for not posting a Friday Favorites last week. To make it up though, I'm combining last week's favorites with this week's. These past two weeks I've been all about positivity and good vibes. I've also started my spring cleaning and have been spending time with loved ones. Anyway, on to the favorites!

Favorite Dessert:

{Source: Me}

This bread pudding from Aroma Cafe (in Studio City) is the bomb dot com! I got this when I finally took my sister to her Birthday lunch. I only ate half because it is pretty rich, but OMG is it delicious!

Favorite Podcast:

{Source: Me}

I really enjoy listening to podcasts and I'm so happy to add this one to my usual favorites. The Happier Podcast is hosted by Gretchen Rubin of the Happiness Project and her sister Elizabeth Craft. I love that they are short so its perfect for the ride to and from the gym or even a short stair master workout. Plus its full of great tips to living a happier life.

Favorite Quote:

{Source: Luis La Torre Behance}

I actually heard this quote on the Happier Podcast and immediately fell in love. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and sometimes this takes away from the memory or lesson being taught at the time. This quote reminds me to just try my best and be happy with that rather than be miserable because things aren't my idea of perfect.

Favorite Makeup Product:

{Source: Me}

I am loving the They're Real Push-Up Liner from Benefit. It's been on my wishlist for the longest time and I finally got my hands on it a couple of weeks ago during a shopping trip, but finally began using it this past week or so. I love that its a gel liner which allows for more precision as well as making it easier to fix if I mess up. I've never had better wings!

Favorite YouTube Channel:

{Source: Me}

So lately I've been taking advantage of the fact that I can play YouTube videos on my TV and have incorporated them into my morning routine. Mostly because there's not much going on in the mornings that I want to watch, especially since cutting down on cable. Anyway, point is this has led me to obsessively watch MarissaLace's Vlogs on her channel Marissa Kathryn (she recently changed the name). I seriously love watching her videos and find her so entertaining. Go check her out if you haven't seen her videos. Warning: will cause laughter!

Favorite New Show:

{Source: Official Kimmy Schmidt Twitter}

If you haven't heard, Tina Fey has a new show on Netflix and its AWESOME! She doesn't star in it, but the adorably funny Ellie Kemper does! The show is called The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and premiered last week on Netflix. It's about Kimmy Schmidt (Kemper) who is one of four women who had been kept hostage for 15 years in an underground bunker. The show then follows Kimmy as she tries to create a new "normal" life and adjust to the present. I decided to binge watch this as I was spring cleaning my room and finished it in two days. And still have the theme song stuck in my head LOL. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend that you clear your weekend ASAP, put your pj's on and find it on Netflix!

What were your favorites for this Friday?

Love,

Astrid