Fun Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is approaching meaning it’s time to pick out gifts and think of some fun Mother’s Day adventures. When we think of Mother’s Day plans, we tend to think of breakfast in bed or brunch with endless mimosas. Don’t get me wrong, those ideas all sound amazing and are sure-fire ways to show your mother that you love her, but why not try to plan something a little different this year? It’s time that we get those creative juices flowing and decide on something that will absolutely wow your mom. These are just some of my own ideas for creative Mother’s Day outings that don’t include brunch.

Plan An Adventure- Yes, an actual adventure. Maybe you could book a sunset catamaran ride. If your mom is up to swimming and doing outdoor actives, you could find a great hiking trail, or plan a snorkeling trip.
Do Something To Show Her You Care- Take her on a picnic and pack all her favorite goodies. Do some of her favorite activities. If she likes art, take her to a museum. If she likes shopping, plan a surprise trip to her favorite stores. Make sure the day is about her and what she likes to do.
Think Outside The Box- Surprise her by planning an activity she won’t be expecting. What’s something that she’s been dying to do but hasn’t had the chance? Maybe it’s tango or salsa lessons? Or maybe your mom is a little more adventurous and wouldn’t mind taking a shot at skydiving? If not, then definitely book the tango lessons. We don’t want to terrify her for more Mother’s Day celebrations to come.
Have A Party-Why is it that when we think ‘Mother’s Day,’ the thought of teatime and lame floral patterns comes to mind? Mother’s Day is a celebration! So what if you planned a party and invited all your mom’s friends along with their kids? Crank up the party music, pour some wine and be sure to tell your mother you love her.

Keep doing
Angelika
(credit: L.R.)

Spring Lip Colors

It’s pretty exciting to start breaking all your spring looks out of the closet, but what about changing up your makeup look to match this new, warmer weather? If you’re ready to get out of your winter habits, shake things up and brighten up your spring look, the best place to start: lip color. Ready for some new and fun ideas? Keep reading for a roundup of the must-have spring lip colors of 2015.

1. A dusty mauve is the perfect soft, yet deeply pigmented color for spring, especially when it’s got the sheen of a gloss, but the long-lasting power of a lip stain. Can’t imagine where you’d find that?

2. There’s really nothing prettier for spring than a warm pink, soft as a flower petal, right? Check out Marc Jacobs Beauty New Nudes Sheer Lip Gel ...

3. How about going bold with Plum? If you’re thinking this seems a bit dark for spring, think again! This gorgeous deep shade is reminiscent of blooming buds deep in the forest. Try MAC Lipstick ..

4. How about high shine with a plum gloss? Try Mabelline Color Elixir ...

5. Spring calls for a pop of color with a sheen and glossy twist. Go for something lighter, yet still in the purple family with Motives Mineral Lip Shine ....

6. No matter what time of year, there’s always a need for the perfect red lipstick – and it’s also a great time to rock a matte look. Get bold for spring with Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick ...

What’s on your spring wish list for new lip colors? xo

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Angelika
(credit: L.R.)

Summer Outfits for the next Greece Stay

“Why Greece?” You may be asking yourself. Why write about Greece? Sure, the country may be in the middle of an economic crisis but it still doesn’t take away the fact that it’s one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I find Greece to be incredibly inspiring, which is why I wanted to write this piece today. With it’s blue waters and incredibly rich history, it’s almost no surprised that I would want to write a post about Greece and outfits that are reminiscent of its charm. So without further ado, here are some outfits inspired by the beautiful country of Greece.

Santorini- Santorini is an island southeast of Greece’s mainland. This island has probably captured your imagination before with it’s famous white and blue color scape and endlessly blue beaches. To capture the beauty of Santorini in an outfit, I would suggest going for the bright blue and white color scheme with a Grecian inspired pattern like the dress below. Add some gold accessories, and you’ve got an outfit made for Santorini.

Athens- When you think of Athens, you think of classic history. Athens is the home of such sites as the Acropolis, which holds the Parthenon. To take on Athens, go for a Grecian goddess ensemble. Think of Athena herself and pair your outfit with a braided up do and some gladiator sandals.

Paphos- Paphos is cited as the mythical birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. It was the most famous place to worship Aphrodite and I think that alone makes it a must-see destination. These days it’s known for its seaside hotels and beautiful beaches. I say, take on a beachy Aphrodite look like, my girl, Jennifer Lopez has done below. Think greek goddess turned diva, and send out as much love as you can.

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Angelika
www.styleupbyangel.com
( credit: L.R.)

Silver Details

When you hear or see the word silver, one of the very first things that come to mind is jewelry and that’s because that is the most common way that most of us incorporate the color into our everyday looks. If you’re looking for fab street style ways to wear silver, check out the tips and ideas we have below.
SILVER JEWELRY – as mentioned above, this is the most common way to wear silver and incorporate it in your everyday look. You can choose to wear dainty silver jewelry for a more refined look or bigger, bolder and chunkier ones (in layers, if you please) for an edgier look that’s perfect for street style snaps.

MIXED WITH GOLD – if gold is more of your element but you want to have a bit of silver added to your look, why not mix and match? Gold and silver make a really pretty and unique combo and is perfect for those of you stylish ladies out there who love to layer and mix and match.

METALLIC BOTTOMS – want something a little more futuristic? How about rocking a pair of silver bottoms? Metallic is the best way to go if you’re taking this route. A pair of metallic silver pants can make you stand out effortlessly while a metallic silver skirt allows you to do the same but with just a hint of girly-ness.

POP OF SILVER – and, finally, if you want to wear a bit of silver in your look but don’t want anything too loud or noticeable, the best way to go is to add pops of silver all throughout your outfit. You can do this by wearing a silver belt, carrying a silver purse or maybe even wearing a silver hair accessory like a headband or a beret.

Keep styling

Angelika

(credit: L.R. + Pinterest)

Spring Cleaning

As the saying goes, “April Showers Bring May Flowers,” so the timing is just right for being indoors getting your life and house organized for those sunny days ahead, right? With warmer weather just on the horizon, you can imagine how good it would feel to get your de-cluttering out of the way.  Heading into the summer season feeling lighter and more organized will help give you loads of time for the important stuff – like some fun in the sun! Not exactly sure where to start or what to focus on? No worries! Here are a few tips for getting organized this spring – from your closet to your computer.

De-clutter your digital life. This one sounds pretty overwhelming to many of us. The work inbox is full and your mobile phone is overflowing with photos and videos. It’s time to nip the one right now. Throw on some tunes, grab a glass of wine and go to town with your computer. Delete old emails that you no longer need and organize anything you must save into folders. Regardless – get it all out of your inbox so that you can focus again. Still got some energy? Move on to your phone – it’s time to move all those photos and videos over to the cloud and free up some memory for your phone. When you finish these two tasks, you’ll feel ah-mazing.
Head to your closet. It’s just time to pull it all out – do a major dump of clothes and shoes right onto your bed or the floor.  Make a few piles: donate, sell, dump and keep. Now go to town. On the fence about something? Ask yourself if you’ve worn the piece in the last year – if you haven’t, say goodbye. This can be a tough one – but you’ll feel incredible the next time you open that closet door.
De-clutter your desk. Is your desk at work overwhelming you just like your closet? It’s time to give it a major de-clutter. Just like your email, being overwhelmed by your desk can easily weigh on your performance at work, leaving you struggling to find things or simply frozen by the overwhelming amount of stuff. Take it drawer by drawer and shelf by shelf, saving only what you absolutely need.
Makeover your makeup. How long has it been since you’ve given your makeup bag or vanity a good overhaul? Feeling overwhelmed by all the old cosmetics you’re clinging onto? It’s time to take a good hard look at what’s still good, what you actually use and what needs to be tossed and replaced. This is the perfect excuse to freshen up your look for spring!
Kitchen cleanup. What about the kitchen cabinets, pantry, fridge and junk drawers? When is the last time they got a good de-cluttering and cleaning? Tis the season for giving everything a good overhaul – and the kitchen is the perfect candidate too. Take a good hard look at expiration dates, freezer burn and all the little goodies taking up space in the junk drawer.
Ready to tackle all of these areas to leave yourself ready for summer with no clutter? How do you declutter?

Keep cleaning
Angelika
(credit: L.R.)

Anti-Inflammatory Cocktail Recipes

Ready to get a flatter tummy and start eating healthier? Me too!


After a brutally cold winter for much of the country, it’s time to embrace the changing season and cleanse and rejuvenate our bodies with lighter foods, juices and smoothies, says nutritionist and juicing pioneer Cherie Calbom, MS. (“The Juice Lady”).
What’s considered healthy and unhealthy seems to change on a regular basis, which is why it’s helpful to recognize further studies that confirm previous findings. Most recently, a study by Georgia State University microbiologist Benoit Chassaing has further confirmed the destructive properties of an inflammatory diet.
Researchers found that common additives in processed foods including ice cream, margarine, packaged bread and many more may promote the inflammatory bowel diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease as well as a group of obesity-related conditions.
“It’s not only intestinal problems; low-grade inflammation caused by food additives has been shown to contribute to weight gain and blood sugar control problems, as well as a host of other chronic disease,” says Calbom, author of “The Juice Lady’s Anti-Inflammation Diet”, which offers healthy meal options, smoothies and robust juice recipes to help readers live an anti-inflammation lifestyle.
“No matter the kind of diet you may lean toward – vegetarian, vegan, low-carb, no-carb, Mediterranean, Neanderthal or any other kind of diet – any and all anti-inflammation efforts are well worth it!”
Healthy juices and shakes are a convenient way to reduce inflammation, revitalize your cells and lose some of those winter pounds.
“Yes, you can lose weight on the anti-inflammation diet and rejuvenate your body,” says Calbom, who offers just a few of her recipes and discusses their health benefits.

3 Anti-Inflammatory Cocktail Recipes

•  Anti-Inflammatory Cocktail
  1 green apple
  ½ large fennel with fronds
  1-inch-piece ginger root
  1 large broccoli stem
  3 leaves kale
  ½ cucumber, peeled if not organic

Cut produce to fit your juicer. Start by juicing the apple and finish with the cucumber. Drink as soon as possible.
Benefits
Fennel: anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine, analgesic, and antioxidant
Apple: inhibits the development of allergies; rich in histamine-lowering quercetin
Cucumber: analgesic (pain killer); antioxidant that prevents the synthesis of the inflammatory compound prostaglandin
Broccoli: anti-carcinogenic, prevents gastric mucosal damage (suggesting potential histamine-lowering action)
Ginger: as effective as an H2 receptor antagonist prescription drug

•  Morning Energy
  1 – 2 carrots, scrubbed well, tops removed, ends trimmed
  ½ small beet, with leaves
  1 cucumber, peeled if not organic
  1 handful spinach or several chard leaves
  ½ lemon, peeled
  1-inch-piece ginger root, scrubbed, peeled if old

Cut produce to fit your juicer’s feed tube. Juice all ingredients and stir. Pour into a glass and drink as soon as possible.
Benefits
Beets contain unique phytonutrients called betalains, which have been shown to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and detoxification

•  Antioxidant Power Smoothie
  1 cup unsweetened plant milk such as hemp, coconut, or almond milk
  ½ cup blueberries
  1 pear
  ½ cup baby spinach
  1 tsp. Indian gooseberry extract (optional)*
  1 Tbsp. flaxseed
  Ice cubes (optional, depending on how cold you like your smoothie)

Add all ingredients to a blender and process until smooth.
Benefits
Berries help prevent damaging effects of free radicals and inflammation by turning off the inflammation signals triggered by cytokines and COX-2s, making them an ideal part of your diet. Yummyyyyy xo

Keep doing
Angelika
(credit : L.R. + Cherie Chalbom)

Date Night Ideas

If you have ever found yourself in the situation where you are trying to reignite the spark and passion in your marriage, you definitely aren’t alone. For many married couples who have been together a long time, the trials and tribulations of life eventually take a toll on the passion and romance. What often takes precedence is the day-to-day of dealing with children, aging family members, work, school, illness – you name it. Recognizing when it’s time to make your romance a priority is the first step in bringing it back; and a fun way to start is by setting aside time together without all of the other distractions. Strengthening your marital bond is centered in the love you have for one another, that’s where it started after all – so why not spend some time going back to the core of your relationship? Not sure how to kick this off? Keep reading for a look at some fresh date night ideas for long-married couples. These are sure to make you laugh, love and remind you why you enjoyed each other in the first place.

1. Go camping. Remember when you were younger and camping was such a romantic getaway for just the two of you? Try it again. It’s an inexpensive way to spend some serious one-on-one time together.
2. While you’re at it, go for a hike. Spending some time out enjoying nature on a beautiful day is one the healthiest and most lovely ways to be together.
3. Head to the theater. Checking out a local play or musical can be so much fun – and, it’s totally different than the typical date night. Add some dinner and drinks after the show and you have one great night.
4. Get tickets to a concert – maybe something that’s a blast from your past?
5. Have a picnic. Head to the beach or your local park to lay in the warm sun and enjoy a simple, yet lovely picnic together.
6. Go for a drive. Remember when you were young and you would drive and drive just so you wouldn’t have to end your time together. Try that again – a drive through the country is incredibly relaxing.
7. Take a ballroom dancing or salsa class. While you might really have to twist your hubby’s arm on this one, not only is dancing romantic, but you’ll really have to work as a team to get this stuff down. It’s challenging! Signing up for a round of classes will give you a reason to head out on that weekly date night.
8. Volunteer at a soup kitchen together. You’ll feel so good about doing something for others and will be such an excellent reminder of what a great team you make.
9. Head to a museum. For a quiet stroll and some time to merely be together.
And above all, something JR and I like to keep in mind is that the most important thing is carving out time for each other, even if it’s just a half hour for a cup of coffee to catch up with each other as husband and wife, no matter what else is demanding your time. Do you make time for date nights? How do you keep the spark and connection going?

Keep doing
Angelika
(credit: L.R.)