viernes, 21 de noviembre de 2014

4 Weird First Date Moments

Carrie Bradshaw, Move over! After living in Madrid for eight years I've got by far the weirdest dating stories(both good and bad). I'm sure you've all heard tid bits about Spanish men, well I'm here to dish the dirt on them.
Check out some of the weirdest things to ever happen to me on a first date: from missing limbs, to spinning kisses....never a dull moment Aquí en Espain!


The L.O.C. Method| Winterize your Curls

Ever notice your curls get dry and limp with the cold weather? Now you can winterize your curls with the l.o.c method. watch how I get bounce and shine by using my product in a certain order. enjoy!


viernes, 7 de noviembre de 2014

Well-Being Spain: Human Beings are not Monogamous.....and that's Ok!...

Well-Being Spain: Human Beings are not Monogamous.....and that's Ok!...: In the past few years I have noticed a lot of speculation about marriage, monogamy and the forever and ever myth. I personally think that it...

Human Beings are not Monogamous.....and that's Ok!

In the past few years I have noticed a lot of speculation about marriage, monogamy and the forever and ever myth. I personally think that it is a good thing that we question these concepts because divorces have always been at a high ratio and they can often be life changing and even traumatising events.

But often the way in which we speculate about monogamy is not equal or fair to both genders. The conversation tends to be along the lines of: All men cheat, ladies just accept it and women are enamoured with the idea of Forever and ever. That leaves women in the limbo of having to accept being scorned at some point in her life if she is ever to find lasting love and companionship.

Then there was the rising popularity in observing polygamous peeps. Yes, we even thought that if we let men have their way while totally compromising our self-esteems....well then, at least we would get something....right? Polygamy became a fascination, heck we even got sucked into several reality tv shows, such as Sister Wives, The Girls Next Door and Love Times Three in which we watched the whole massy ordeal play itself out for the world to see.

Anyone who has watched these shows could observe the silent disappointment and submission of the women at hand. It was almost as if they had given up on their personal happiness for some type of "greater good."

The only problem with that, is that if the "greater good" that you give yourself up for are the selfish desires of a man, then where the hell is the reward?

So here is my point of view on mankind and Monogomy. There is nothing altruistic about letting men have their way while women lag behind. And yet it's true that human beings are not monogamous, this is a scientific fact which should be observed from a scientific point of view. IF HUMAN BEINGS are not monogamous, then that would have to include women too.

So both men and women are not made to be with One under the myth of "forever and ever". Why? because if your partner died or disappeared, you would find someone else right? ok so, then thats not monogamy. As in, you are not an emperor penguin who will only reproduce with one other penguin and then thats it. That is not how you were biologically created.

So if human beings are not monogamous then what are we? Men and women are still different in the way in which we view our non-monogamy. A man's view of non-monogamy is closer to polygamy. If a man had it his way, he would sleep around with as many as he wanted, until he whittled his mates down to a chosen few, which he would alternate to fulfil all of his needs.

However, polygamy doesn't work for man either, because although it fulfils his needs, men are not interested in keeping his chosen few close by and marrying all of them. Man is interested in having a companionship with one and keeping the others on the side,AWAY from his territory.

And now here is a woman's view on non-monogamy. Theres the good guys and the bad guys. The Alphas and the betas. The ladies man and the shoulder to cry on, or as they call him in spain: the "paga fantas"(hahah jk, google it!). You see we have been brainwashed to believe that we only want one and that we want that one forever and ever and ever. But as Andre said, forever ever is a loong time when you are grown. Hell yes it is!

A Woman wants to have sex with the same person for the rest of her life about as much as she wants to eat the same plate of burgers and fries for all freakin eternity. Yet out of respect for her family,  and the fact that she knows men are more sensitive to cheating than we are......she won't always cheat, but she won't have sex either.

The fact that a women eventually stops having sex with her husband is proof that both men and women are not made for monogamy, the difference is one practices mind over matter while the other one....doesn't.

Women don't like the idea of having sex with several, because it is unhygienic and messes with her inner emotional/hormonal shpiel. Remember women want to reproduce and her reproductive organs are internal, she doesn't want to dirty that up with just anybody who has been anywhere. Also women release hormones whenever they sleep with someone more than three times making her want to hold onto and settle down with that person, or Reproduce with them. So if she sleeps around with several for a long period of time, her hormones will become out of whack and she will go a little cuckoo.

therefore it is more appealing to a woman with a family to go as far as stop having sex altogether, rather than sleep with the mailman.(not in all cases of course)

Thus creating the cycle of the frigid wife who no longer puts out and the cheating husband. It is said, that women can go longer without sex and it is kind of true. Once a women has her home and family tied down and a person to sleep next to every night, she kind of forgets about sex and gets caught up in other things.

Ok so those are both sides of the story according to me. But all of this still begs the question, if human beings are not monogamous and polygamy doesn't really work either, then what are we???

Human Beings are Tribesmen and Companions

I think that the human relationship between a man and a women is based on being tribesmen and companions. We come from a tribe, the family, and we go out and try to make it in an even bigger tribe;society. There is a certain period of time in which "making it" in the tribe called society is everything. Every human being, whether man or woman, needs to prove to themselves that they can make their place in the tribe in order to achieve self-actualisation.

However for both genders, when it comes to sex and reproduction, making it in the tribe is a very different thing. For men, it usually entails, asserting masculinity by sleeping with a lot of hot girls,or just a lot of girls if you're not that lucky(hehe). For women it entails showing all your friends that you were able to find a "good catch" and hold him down.

Because of our instincts, to a women, no matter what her dad, her common sense or her therapist tells her, a good catch is always, ALWAYS, the Alpha dog. And the Alpha dog's goal is to sleep with as many hot girls as possible, remember?

hmmmmm, do you see where the problem is?

This is why it's time for women to understand their non-monogamous sides in order to make sense of and re-gain their power in this entire situation.

Here is my EXTREMELY controversial view. Ladies, you are not destined for one, you are destined for TWO. If it takes you a long time to realise this, you may end up gowing through three or four, and if you never do realise this you may end up with none.

You will find one through your Tribal years and another through your Companion years.

Your tribal years are your young and ambitious years. The world is your oyster, you are competing for everything: job, looks and social position. So naturally, your man is just as much of a trophy as women are to men. So yes, you want that alpha dog. You want him because he's hot, socially apt and he makes your toes curl.

But do you really like his views on family? Do you even care for his politics? Or his cold atheism? Do you really like waking up next to him and always wondering if he wants to wake up next to you; or how he never considers you, remembers your special dates or surprises you? Can you really have a great conversation with that Ogre?(I kid, I Kid!!!!)

NO YOU DON'T and YOU CAN'T!

Because all you really, truly want, is to reproduce with him.

And unfortunately, our retarded society has not allowed you to understand that you are bound to reproduce with one and then spend the rest of your life with another.

So what do we get, a bunch of single moms, men running around all confused and kids growing up in broken families.

And lets talk about the men in all of this. What about the good guy? What about the guy who isn't a total douche? Is he really meant to finish last and get nothing? That's not really fair is it? Some guys really do want to be around a women forever, and don't really care to run around town. Some men would rather secure down some sex than risk having to hunt for every urge. Some guys, believe it or not, don't actually care that much about sex.

So here is my suggestion.

Stay single in your twenties. Do not get married. Understand that you are not bound for one, but bound for two, so unless you like divorce, hold off on the marriage.

Get that urge for alphas out of your system, but understand that the Alpha is never a Companion, he is a Tribesmen that you want to reproduce with and show off to all of your friends.

If you feel that you can handle it and you truly think that the right thing to do is to follow your instincts, reproduce with him;knowing that he is not a companion, he is only a part time father and he won't be around forever and ever.

And then, once all of that has settled down: go find a man you can actually hold a conversation with. find a man you like as a human being; one you can respect. Find a guy who is exactly the type of man that you want your daughters to engrain as the ideal man and your sons to idolise.

Don't expect sex from this bond, expect companionship. If you are at the age where you no longer care, hell, you both can even completely remove sex from the contract. Make sex a side thing that neither of you have with one another. What you are here for is companionship, building a family with as little drama as possible.

I know that what I'm saying sounds "crazy, controversial and against the grain", but doesn't it somehow make sense? Doesn't it kind of take that big weight of expectations off of your shoulders?
If it does, then make it your perrogative.

After all, sex, relationships and the family structure are changing, whether you like it or not. You might as well open your eyes to the truth and take control of the situation.

It's your life, live it however you want to!



                                                                        -your Lioness


jueves, 20 de febrero de 2014

Best Bits of Spain

Yeah yeah, so we all know Madrid, Barca and Seville. But after 7 years of loving every corner of this country and being an avid adventurer, I pride myself on my collection of eclectic Spanish locations.

Heres my "off the beaten path" list of Lovely Spanish Locations

1. La Playa de los Catedrales....literally: the Beach of the Cathedrals, for its incredible Rocks seen at Low tide.
 You´ve never heard of this place and neither had I, until last summer. There are some Spanish locations which you will only learn about through the most local of locals...which is why I date a lot!
This northern beach blew me away so much, that when I went to Bally a week later I was like "meh...Spain is Better!"
Its located right between Galicia and Asturias....so yeah, google it!
How these Bizarre Rock formations got there, I have no Idea, but by low tide, this is by far one of the most impressive coasts that I have ever seen.

2. Cuenca- Anyone who knows me is probably like: SHUT UP ABOUT CUENCA! I know I know, but then I bring people there and they´re like: "Oh my gaaawd Cuencaaaa."

 Yep, I was right(hehehe). Cuenca is proof that Spain is not just about beaches, but also about crazy houses hanging off cliffs, in mountain towns! Its only about 2 hours from Madrid, its gorgeous, its got hiking trails, incredible monuments and Hanging Houses. What more could you want....oh yeah and the people are super friendly.
I recommend the Alizaque Lodge for accommodation. These are apartment hotels located at the top of the old town. You get a great deal, beautiful views, very friendly staff and an awesome ikea style apartment. You gotta Love Cuenca!
3. ALL of Galicia. I Love Galicia! I love the food, the people, the lush greenery and the beautiful beaches. I love the mountains, the sea and the fact that they meet so abruptly. I can´t go into every detail of galicia, because I myself have not even seen it all(which is awesome), but here´s my short list of places to visit that really caught my eye.

a. A Coruña

b. O´cebreiro(little hobbit land)

c. San Andres de Teixido: This is a very hidden gem close to Coruña, with some of the most beautiful,misty, cliffs that I have seen in Galicia.

d. Las islas de Ons or Las Islas Cies. They are both gorgeous, Ons are closer to Coruña and Cies are in Vigo(closer to Portugal). Cies can be kind of uptight because of environmental laws and is heavier in tourism, so I recommend ons. The food was so gooood and the people were so sweet, it was like being with family!

4. Finally, going south, here are my two favourite beaches in Andalucia.
 a. Tarifa- its windy as hell(which is great if you like kite surfing) but everyone is so hot(!) and hippyish. Theres also great nightlife and food. I love a restaurant called la pescaderia, in the center of town(you can't miss it). It has some of the best tuna that I've ever tried.
Also on the beach in Tarifa they have these great chill outs, with cool music, drinks and plenty of eye candy. Gotta Love it!


b. Zahara de los Atunes- this place is more for families. Once you get sick of the hot bodies, loud music and wind you can come down to Zahara. The beach is Placid and beautiful and its never really crowded. But perhaps what I love the most about Zahara is the one Chiringuito(beach restaurant) on the beach. It's the only one there so you can't miss it. You´ll enjoy fresh gazpacho, baby squid and tuna under a beautiful canopy of woven vines. I love it!

Well, there you have it! from North to South, these are my favorite spots in Spain. Now get exploring!














viernes, 7 de febrero de 2014

Two Of my All-Time Favorite Skin Kits: La Mer and Khiel's

As the years go by you start noticing how important skincare really is. It doesn't matter how much makeup you cake on, if your dry and ashy, have got bags or wrinkles, it just doesn't look good. I hate thinking that my skin will inevitably wither to sandpaper, but I'm glad I now know that's not true.

Take care of your skin now and you will thank yourself later.

Ahh but what brands to choose? Which promises will actually come true? The "collagen enhancers" from Chanel, the "all around does everything" by Lancome, or perhaps the "does the same as high-end for cheaper" by Olay?

The correct answer is non of the above. I've tried all of those brands and more, as well as taken advice from my sister(who is a certified esthetician). The best you can do for your skin is buy mild soaps, serums and creams from Natural brands, that also apply medical research behind their products.

Here are the two skin kits which have actually Kept their Promises and Changed by Skin.

La Mer's Luminous Skin Essentials Kit: 250 euros(!!!)

After hearing how Demi Moore and J.LO adore this brand, I had to see what all the hype was about. Now you know, if you've read my previous posts, that I have a tendency not to buy into hypes and debunk whatever bullshit needs debunking. And after spending a hefty 250 on this kit I was not ready for it to fail me.

I have to say that I was absolutely blown away. I mean it is sad to have to pay this much to get a skin kit that actually does what it promises, but hey, with la Mer, what you see is what you get. No fancy packages, no millions of promises, no new lab made chemicals. Just natural, seaweed based skin products that work.


This kit comes with a cleanser,toner, serum, under eye cream and moisturizer.
I noticed results within about 3 days of consecutive use
The cleanser and toner highly reduced breakouts
the Serum illuminated my skin
the Under Eye cream puffed up my bags until they disappeared
And the moisturizer hydrated and firmed my skin WITHOUT making it look shiny.

This is my all time FAVORITE skin kit, and I think it'll take a lot to trump this one...the only thing is...its expensive!






My Second Favorite skin kit is one that was put together  by someone at Khiel's. If you are not ready to spend a huge amount on a kit like La Mer's and you really want to see your  skin improve then I absolutely recommend this brand. I really love just about everything that they make, but their skin products are very true to promise. I recommend that you have someone at your khiel's stand take a look at your skin, they are well trained and tend to recommend exactly what you need.
Here's my Kit Broken down:

1. Ultra Facial Oil-free Cleanser: Using harsh detergent based cleansers can actually make you break out more and cause your skin to dry up and wrinkle. I love this cleanser because it has a silky texture which not only cleans my skin, but also leaves it plump and hydrated before I even moisturize.

2. Calendula herbal-extract Toner(alcohol free). This toner is great, it has a soft but also herbal/medical smell. It's very comforting, however I don't find it as effective as the La Mer one.
3.  Creamy Eye Treatment(with avocado):  This is a fantastic under eye cream for before you put your makeup on. I love it because it's water based so it doesn't make your makeup look oily and it creates a nice smooth under eye look. It's not that effective as an over night treatment. I still notice bags the next day as well as fine lines. Still a good product though.
4. Ultra Facial Oil-free Lotion: I love this as a daytime moisturizer. It wears superbly under makeup. It's completely water based, so it doesn't make you shiney. It's soothing and hydrating, plumps up fine lines and makes you look super fresh! This is probably my favorite product in the whole kit.


Hope this helps ladies!






sábado, 4 de enero de 2014

Lorac Pro Palette:Super Easy Sexy Smokey Brown and Every Day Neutral look


I am going to try and do a smokey plus everyday(neutral) look for all four of the palettes that I ranked in my previous post.

Here are my two looks for the Lorac Pro Palette:


 Smokey Brown:

1. Sable on the lid

2. Taupe on the Crease
3. Espresso +Black to make a "V" on the outer corner of the lid



4. Pewter on the center of the lid 



5. Lt Bronze on the inner corner










The second look is an everyday pinkey-neutral look, which I absolutely love, because it always turns out good and is pink and girly without looking too flashy.

 Daily Neutral

1. Lt Pink on the Lid

2. Cream from lid to Brow 

3. White underneath the brow bone

4. Mauve in the crease(LOVE this color)
5.Champagne on the center of the lid
6. Nude in the inner corner