New Year, Healthier Me

Although I believe that New Year’s Resolutions do not EVER work, I do believe that it is a good time for self- reflections and perhaps a new mindset. I am not saying that your resolutions won’t work, I am just saying you would rather use it to contemplate on where you are at your life and find ways to make achievable, positive changes. Nothing too crazy or dramatic, because just because the calendar year changes, that doesn’t mean you have too, too. With that being said, I am going to share with you guys some healthy breakfast and drink ideas which will have you feeling great both inside and out. I have been enjoying eating healthier since the start of this New Year because with my cousin’s Big Fat Indian Wedding this past December, I was tired of eating rich and spicy Indian food.

Breakfast- Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie Bowls are all the rage right now and what’s great about them is that they are an easy to make breakfast for your busy mornings. You can even make the smoothie the night before and top it right before eating. It makes for a refreshing and satisfying breakfast that will give you the energy boost that you need to kickstart your day!

You can literally use any fruits that you want in the smoothie bowl, blend the fruits (ex: strawberries , blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, mango, kiwi) up with about a 1/4 cup of greek yogurt, a splash of orange juice, and a drizzle of agave nectar or honey for some sweetness and you have yourself a delicious smoothie. Make sure you put in more yogurt than juice so that the smoothie is thick and can be eaten with a spoon. I literally eyeball it. No need to be really specific , the possibilities are endless. Each smoothie that I make has its own unique flavor and taste.

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A very berry smoothie

MANGO

A mango, strawberry, & raspberry smoothie

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The mango, strawberry, raspberry one blended.

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Toppings:

  • Pomegranate Seeds
  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries
  • Chia Seeds
  • Sliced Almonds
  • Granola
  • Dates
  • Drizzle of Honey or Agave Nectar
  • Coconut Shavings
  • Kiwi
  • Chocolate Chips

Hydrate- Coconut Water

I absolutely adore coconut water , especially from a fresh coconut. Although, I do enjoy vita coconut water or the Taste Nirvana Real Thai coconut water with pulp that come in green bottles from the store year-round when I can’t find Thai Coconuts. Coconut water has more potassium than a 4 bananas and is packed with electrolytes and tons of other health benefits.

 

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Hydrate-Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

I love to drink pressed orange juice throughout the day. Orange juice is an excellent source of Vitamin C and a great thing to drink as a snack that keeps you refreshed and satisfied. I go through several bottles of these a week. If you own a juicer you can juice your own oranges and make freshly squeezed orange juice at home. You can even make your own fresh oj blends using other citrus such as blood oranges, grapefruit, or tangerines. It will take a few extra minutes but it is definitely worth it and can easily spruce up breakfast on the weekends.

 

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  Eat – Salads

Salads are a great way to stay in shape especially when they are packed with wholesome ingredients and fruits and vegetables that you enjoy to it and are served with light, homeade dressings that are not packed with calories and fat because store bought dressings can LITERALLY KILL your salad. I shared a scrumptious salad recipe on another blog post titled “Summer Salad Recipe” so check it out if you are interested in making a healthy homemade salad packed with flavor .

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My homemade Summer Salad from the blog 

 

These are a few ideas on healthy eating, stay fit and well both on the inside and out. SO sorry this post is a month late (I drafted it but never go to actually completing and posting it) , but i hope the New Years Resolutions you made in January apply to your life today .

XOXO

Shiza

 

 

January Favs!

As January comes to an end, here are a couple of my favorites from this weird and hectic (for me, anyway) month!

Food: 

My first try of Paradise Bowls acai in Manhattan Beach! Really refreshing and pseudo-healthy but quite $$. Will def try the other flavors in the future.

Jams: 

Finals week = chillaxing music to study to, aka John Mayer. I listened to probably all his albums which had me reminiscing, but Room for Squares definitely caught my attention. Specifically,

No Such Thing – John Mayer

Why Georgia – John Mayer

83 – John Mayer

Neon – John Mayer

Style:

Copped these new periwinkle blue Converse in like November but decided to finally try them out for the new semester. A nice dash of spring during these chilly winter months.

Places:

I went by the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles for the Japanese new year. It’s such an informative and interesting; it digs deep into the Japanese internment camps on the West coast and the dark side of American history. It also has some super cool Japanese art!

 A total must if you’re in the area.

Reads:

See How They Run, the sequel of All Fall Down by Ally Carter came out recently! It’s about a teenage girl named Grace who lives in an American embassy in a small coastal European country filled with scandalous secrets, which is also the place where her mother was targeted and killed. I read some of it at the bookstore but forgot my money but I’m definitely going back to buy it! It was so gripping and had incredible imagery; I can’t wait to finish it.

Miscellaneous:

We got new moon jellies at the aquarium and they look absolutely incredible when the lights are off that I had to share!! Visit your local aquarium if you’re bored one weekend.

Another thing I’ve started in January was a social media cleanse. I deleted my Instagram and Twitter apps from my phone last week. It’s been kind of lonely and you have a crazy amount of time to think, but I think it has helped me focus on me more than what some people did over the weekend. I encourage you all to test it out even for a day.

Hope you enjoyed all my favorites for January and try them out in February!

Always,
Firda

(Water) Falling in Love | Santa Ynez Falls Hike

A super fun and relaxing way to unplug while also exercising is hiking! There are so many great hiking spots here in LA, but I totally fell in love with Santa Ynez Falls in Pacific Palisades. It’s a pretty easy hike; perfect for beginners, although there’s a few  rocks to climb and streams to cross at the end towards the small waterfall, but nothing too hard. We were there at about 9, and we had the whole place to ourselves! It was cute and quaint, if you could describe a hiking trail as that. I had just finished The Scarlet Letter, and Santa Ynez gave me the woods in Boston vibes although it probably wasn’t like it, besides the stream and the sun peeking through the trees ever so often. It was pretty chilly and shady, so it was a good idea that I had brought a light jacket. Anyway, I’ll for sure come here again to take some better pictures and maybe have a lil photoshoot with friends. Free parking and free entrance- just another reason to spend the day at Santa Ynez Falls. Some photos of the reverie below! Let me know what your favorite hiking spots are!

XO,

Firda

 

another world

 

surrounded by the trees

 

as the light hits the fall leaves

 

nature

 

rock ‘n streams

 

action shot!! drought in California what?

 

we made it! cutest lil waterfall! would be a lovely dip in the summertime

 

nice leaves

 

edgy tunnel

 

art!

 

drives on the PCH with Spanish music> anything else ever

Through One Lens & Another: A Series 

So hey- I was scrolling through my photos and found some gems I took at the Hermosa Festival during Labor Day through the lens of my sparkly phone & sunglasses. Just a simple beach day with the fam- sissy featured.  I don’t know what I was trying to accomplish that day; I think I was inspired by Shelby Hamiltons ‘s blog and how she did some cool photos with her sunglasses but I sure am glad I did. Also, I think I was trying to see Hermosa through the lens of someone from a distant time with vintage-y photos. It’s weird thinking about past intentions. I call this work “Through One Lens and Another”. Enjoy and please tell me what you think!

Xo- Firda

 

Sitting, waiting, wishing

 

Sparkly vanilla cones

 

The flowers (?) reminded me of my old house when one time we used them to make a stew and then a cat peed in it. Don’t know the name of this plant to this day..

Labor day beach mob

I want a boat

 

Would never get tired of this view

 

A perfect imperfection

 

All smiles

 

Pier people

 

http://travelaway.me/reykjavik-the-stunning-capital-of-iceland/

Daydreaming- Iceland

Lush green mountains, black sand beaches, and relaxing hot springs- what more could you want from a beautiful island vacation? I was always mesmerized by Iceland’s beauty from photos on Tumblr and Instagram, but Justin Bieber’s music video for his new single I’ll Show You really took the cake. Basically, it’s him frolicking through Iceland’s gorgeous green hills and rock formations, gazing at waterfalls, and dipping into it’s hot springs. Goals. But since not all of us are pop stars and can’t hop on a plane to Iceland right at this moment (although someone told me there was a Groupon for it), let these doodled photos take you into the daydream that is Iceland (which actually means island in Icelandic- the more you know..).


Reykjavik-the pretty capital is filled with museums about Vikings, the rotating Perlan glass dome, and the über cool (or should I say warm;) geothermal Blue Lagoon spa.


The Blue Lagoon spa- shout out to volcanos man!


In Vík í Myrdal, has a long stretch of black basalt beaches, and another shoutout to volcanoes.


Gullfoss Waterfall- This waterfall produces rainbows all the time..ok.


The blue ice caves of Skaftafell- How it would look if you were in a blue bubble, probably.

These are only some of the amazing snapshots of Iceland- waiting for the day I can see these in real life and not daydreams!

Xo- Firda

*Not my photos, just my edits*

Photo Credits:

Reykjavik
Blue Lagoon Spa
Black Sand Beach
Gullfoss Waterfall
Blue Ice Caves

Manhattan , New York

Hey guys , I know its been a while, but we are finally back on! Last month, I went to Manhattan for a short five day trip. It was truly a dream come true moment for me, because it was my first time visiting and I have been obsessed with Manhattan since I started watching Gossip Girl. Manhattan was truly everything I expected it to be and more.

Here are pictures that I took from my trip…. Enjoy!

Times Square at Night

Times Square at Night

Times Square in the day time

Times Square in the day time

5th Avenue

5th Avenue (I was definitely having an Audrey Hepburn moment!)

Flatiron Building in the Flatiron District , one of my favorite buildings straight across Madison Square Park

Flatiron Building in the Flatiron District , one of my favorite buildings straight across Madison Square Park

Empire State Building when  I was having an Affair to Remember Moment here!!

Empire State Building when I was having an Affair to Remember Moment here!!

View from the deck at night at the Empire State Building

View from the deck at night at the Empire State Building

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Manhattan Skyline

Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island

Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island

New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street

New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street

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Being an APUSH nerd, I was very excited to see Federall Hall, where President George Washington was inaugurated

Being an APUSH nerd, I was very excited to see Federal Hall, where President George Washington was inaugurated

I had a Gossip Girl moment at Grand Central : Spotted Serena van der Woodsen getting off the train at Grand Central, look whose back... XOXO Gossip Girl

I had a Gossip Girl moment at Grand Central :
Spotted Serena van der Woodsen getting off the train at Grand Central, look whose back… XOXO Gossip Girl

Chuck Bass's Hotel, the Empire, in the Upper West Side ( Gossip Girl lovers would know)

Chuck Bass’s Hotel, the Empire, in the Upper West Side ( Gossip Girl lovers would know)

Manhattan from a helicopter's view

Manhattan from a helicopter’s view

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The lovely Central Park

The lovely Central Park

Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Upper East Side

Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Upper East Side

The cutest building EVER in Little Italy

The cutest building EVER in Little Italy

Winter ice skating at the Rockefeller Center

Winter ice skating at the Rockefeller Center

The aesthetic of Manhattan is so fun, energizing, and upbeat. It’s almost as if the city never sleep, you will se people walking around at midnight. Its really truly beautiful. I can’t wait to go back. Xx

Shiza

Summer Diaries Part 2 : Mumbai, India

While in India, I went on a four day trip to the charming city of Bollywood and the Arabian Sea. Here are pictures of my adventures!

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Aerial view of Mumbai from the flight.

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Versova Beach is a local , hidden beach that is beautiful! I rode a horse on the waterside here! It was so fun and relaxing.

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Gateway of India constructed to welcome the arrival of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay (now Mumbai) .

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The famous Taj Hotel of Mumbai.

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Mumbai’s Speacialty breakfast : Vada Pau, consists of spicy fried potato patties filled with green chillies and served with fresh buns and a pudina (mint) chilli chutney and a sweet imli (tamarind) chutney. This is my favorite breakfast in Mumbai, I had it for three days straight because I loved it that much.

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This is from Naturals , a Juhu Beach based natural fruit ice cream shop’s watermelon ice cream! The shop offers fruity flavors but this one was my all time fav. The texture of the ice cream is very light yet creamy and the ice cream had little bits of fresh watermelon to it.

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Gorgeous Sea Link Bridge

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Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST)
is a historical train station built in 1887 to honor Queen Victoria’s 50th anniversery of being Queen.

Xoxo,
Shiza

Photo Diary : Au Natural in Vancouver + Victoria , British Columbia

This is a memoir on my trip to Canada a few summers ago. The charming natural beauty of Vancouver and Victoria left me breathless and in love.  Hope you enjoy. Xx

The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park of Vancouver has by far the most breathtaking nature hike I have ever been on. Yes, it is better than those sunset hikes in Zuma Beach. The park is basically enormous canopies of tall, evergreen trees interconnected through beautiful suspension bridges and cliff walks. All of which overlook a gushing waterfall and river giving off a sweet mist. Adventuring through the park, I literally felt like a frog 100 feet up into the trees.

We took a mini cruise over from Vancouver to Victoria. Here are pictures of the Butchart Gardens, they are truly one of my favorite gardens. There is a vast array of mini gardens throughout this massive garden and a cute tea house where we did a traditional British Tea with delicious scones and clotted cream. This is definitely a must go place.

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Xoxo,

Shiza

Summer Retreat: Mammoth Lakes, CA

Hey y’all! So between summer camp counseling, my online history class, and hanging out with friends, a nice, spontaneous camping trip was much needed! Location: the absolutely gorgeous and popular skiing spot Mammoth Lakes, California or what most people call it, Mammoth. I’ve heard a lot about the place from friends and family, but it going there for real was spectacular. Unfortunately, I was a little sick but it was still great! With the fresh air, mounting trees, cutest chipmunks, stunning lakes, and a beautiful waterfall, it was definitely the best summer trip yet!

On the road: Passed by grape vines, cornfields, ranches, and many cows. Also, first time at the Mojave Desert! It had some eerie ghost towns and some cute old towns that brought us back about 50 years.

 Almost there!! You don’t see this many trees in LA + peep the lake. So gorgeous.


After the usual setting up/eating part, we decided to take some pictures around the campsite.

Hammock view;)


“Summer” nights: Absolutely freezing- I wore an ultra chic ensemble of 2 sweaters, pants and fluffy pj pants, and my dad’s leather jacket. Also a story for the books: me, my sister, parents, and their friends were casually sitting by the fire, eating and enjoying the stars when my sister calmly whispers, “There’s a bear..” And there it was. A huge one even on it’s paw, casually opening our bear free storage locker that we hadn’t closed and locked yet. Rookie mistake. We watched quietly as the beat devoured my Hawaiian bread. Of course, no one listened to me that we were supposed to make loud noises, but I suppose I was too scared to do so. Also, it was kind of funny. Some guy was taking a video. Then we snuck to a tent where I started laughing and sister proceeded to tell me to be quiet. I texted my friend who would appreciate this kind of situation. Eventually, after trying to scare it away using the car alarm, it walked off toward the lake, which, coincidentally was where my tent site was. #fantastico


Although, waking up to this wasn’t all that bad. I had a major cold so after a breakfast of half frozen Nutella on a tortilla, I grabbed my cup of tangerine flavored Emergen-C, and observed the serene and freaking perfect Twin Lakes. Then an impromptu kayak ride was a must. Definitely felt like a ~part~ of nature.


Soo serene. I might even like lakes more than the ocean…maybe.

Free trolley rides to the top of the mountain are so worthwhile. Probably heaven on earth…

  

Morning hike to the bottom & halfway up a waterfall!!

  

Takin the road less traveled. After that, it was time to pack (or more like reading Mango Shaped Space and soaking in the last of the beauty and fresh air). Overall, it was a trip to remember! I definitely recommend going here- even if you’re super sick. On our way home, we went through Yosemite- another great excursion for another post.

Hope you all enjoyed, xo

Firda

Summer Diaries : Kolkata , India

This summer I visited the majestic city of Kolkata ( prev// Calcutta) . It wasnt my first time , I have visited this once british-raj capital city since I was young . However , I had more fun this summer than visits before because I got to experience the culture through the food. 

 I had an unforgettable experience sampling Calcutta’s multicultural cusine which melds Mughlai , Chinese , Bengali , and British-Raj cuisines forming a diverse food background.

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Chai (indian tea with milk) is a must to start a Calcuttans day. This is a breakfast/afternoon staple for indians. This particular chai is served in an earthen clay pot , which adds depth to its flavor. It is also garnished with fresh kesar (saffron) which adds a floral aroma to a simply delicious chai!

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Lunch// Rumali Roti ( thin indian flatbreads cooked on the stove ) served with the rich curry of Chicken Kassa, a Bengali speacialy. This is from the casual and famous restaurant , Shiraz.

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Peter Cat Restaurant’s famous Chelo Kebab dish features two types of kebabs : one succulent chicken skewer with vegetables and two mutton seekh kebabs seasoned with Persian spices , the dish also comes with a side of rice and a poached egg on top. It is a classic Calcutta dish that survives the test of time! I love the blend of Persian and Indian cuisines in this dish. It is definitely a must try!

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A classic british breakfast of beans on toast at the legendary Flurys in Park Street , Kolkata. This restaurant was founded in 1927 during the British Raj and it still retains its old world charm and offers one of the best European confections and breakfasts in the city.
P.S: I have a blogpost on the recipe for Beans on Toast…..

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Street side Sutha ( Thread) Kebabs are flavorful and moist kebabs with an extraordinary texture caused by it being wrapped in a thread while cooking. After cooking , the thread is opened and the kebab opens up into small pieces of meat packed with spice and garnished with lime wedges and chopped onions.

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Thai Chicken Curry served with burnt garlic rice is a must try at the whimsical 111 year old Bengali Bungalow turned into a restaurant , The Corner Courtyard. This curry is rich in thai spices and the coconut milk in the curry adds a depth and body to it . The Corner Courtyard has become one of my favorite restaurants for global cuisine and the menu offers a wide range of Asian and Western offerings.

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Image of The Corner Courtyard

Xoxo,
Shiza