Sustainable toilet paper! / Papel higiénico ecológico!

Buying toilet paper is usually a nobrainer for us humans. We go to a store or browse online, find a brand we’ve heard of, pay, use, throw away, repeat. But what if I told you that even with the toilet paper you use at home, you could become a more sustainable and mindful consumer. Yes!! Aria has created toilet paper that is not only better quality and softer than recycled toilet paper, but also better for our environment! It is biodegradable and made from local and sustainably sourced trees that are within 100-mile radius from their mill using practices that are certified by Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®). Are you in love with the sound of this already? Wait, because there’s more! The energy they use is 100% renewable and generated by the bark and wood residues from pulping. This “biomass” helps Aria reduce their use of fossil fuels, and production of CO2 emissions. And the packaging, you may wonder? The packing is made with plantbased materials and is recyclable. Furthermore, they plant 3 trees for each one they use! How about that for a toilet paper with a mission?! You can order Aria on their site or on Amazon with discount code 15PROMOARIA.

Any of you use this planet-loving toilet paper already?

_______________________________________________

(ESPAÑOL)

La compra de papel higiénico es generalmente una decisión sencilla para nosotros. Vamos a una tienda o navegamos online, encontramos una marca de la que hemos oído hablar, pagamos, la usamos, la botamos, repetimos el proceso. Pero qué pasa si les dijera que incluso con el papel higiénico que usamos en casa, podríamos convertirnos en consumidores más sostenibles y conscientes? Sí!! Aria ha creado papel higiénico que no es solamente de mejor calidad y más suave que el papel higiénico reciclado, sino que también es mejor para nuestro medio ambiente. Es biodegradable y está hecho de árboles locales que se encuentran dentro de un radio de 100 millas de la fábrica de Aria, y utilizando prácticas certificadas por Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®). Ya se enamoraron de como suena todo esto? Esperen, porque hay más! La energía que utilizan es 100% renovable y es generada por la corteza y los residuos de madera de la fabricación de la pulpa. Esta “biomasa” ayuda a Aria a reducir el uso de combustibles fósiles y su producción de CO2. Y el empaque, se preguntarán? Está hecho con materiales vegetales y es reciclable. Además, Aria siembra 3 árboles por cada uno que utilizan! Qué tal todo esto para un papel higiénico con una misión? Puede comprar Aria en su página web o en Amazon usando el código de descuento 15PROMOARIA.

Alguno de ustedes ya usa este papel higiénico en casa?

Sponsored by Aria.

Featured as "BEST LIFERS" by VEGA!!

Wow you guys! Speechless once again! I was featured as one of VEGA's "Best Lifers" in June!! No words to describe how thankful I feel right now. VEGA is not only an amazing, delicious and nutritious plant-based protein brand but also the one I use every day! Thus, to be featured on the website of a well-known brand I love, is priceless!! As most of you know, I don't spend a penny on press. Every feature I've been included in has been purely by word of mouth, which makes my journey even more organic and beautiful! So thank you all for that!!

Here's the link to the feature. I hope it makes you smile! Time to live our best lives, guys!!

xoxo

The perfect eco-friendly home....

You know how some people dream about the perfect wedding, the dress and the huge cake? Well, there are a few others like me that dream about the perfect eco-friendly home. One with open spaces, huge windows, solar energy panels, water reuse systems, plants and herbs everywhere, and rescued animals running around the house! That's what I envision almost on a daily basis! Honestly! So much, that I've created visualization boards on my phone and now on Pinterest to share those dreams with you and maybe inspire you to start your own eco practices at home. It doesn't have to be anything huge like solar panels (I mean if you can, please do so by all means) but you can start with the daily essentials like the cleaning products you use or planting herbs at home or switching plastic cups and bottles for glass ones. That's a big powerful start already! Everything makes a difference, guys! Give it a try!

Here are a few basic recommendations:

Cleaning products: In case you didn't know, most cleaning products have toxic ingredients (for you, your pets and our planet) and test on animals. A brand that I'm obsessed with is Mrs. Meyers.  These products are natural, do not test on animals and have aromatherapy oils as ingredients. I mean... It does not get better than this! Mrs Meyers' products will have your house smelling like paradise! My favorite scent is "Lavender".

Shower head filter: Whoever came up with this idea is a GENIUS! A shower head filter that illuminates and changes to different colors based on your water use. It turns green while you are using less than 10 liters of water, purple when you go over 10 liters, orange when you hit the 30 liter mark, and RED when you hit or pass the 50 liter mark. This will not only lower your utility bills but it also has a HUGE positive impact on our environment. Water is a FINITE source and each American household uses approximately 100 gallons of water per day at home. That amounts to a total of 355 Billion gallons of water per day (2010 stats). And that is the US ALONE! Add the rest of the world to that.....

Eco-friendly Paper Products: Just like water, same happens with paper use. We use SO MUCH OF IT! From paper towels, to toilette paper, to paper cups and printing paper. It's insane! Here's a great solution for you guys at home. There are many brands, including Walgreens affordable "Ology", that offer recycled paper products. Seventh Generation is another good eco brand. You can find it everywhere! Literally! Whole Foods, Walgreens and online. 

Now, let's get to work! A healthier, cleaner and better world awaits. <3

Plant-based lifestyle taking over Miami!!!

Here are some fun planet-loving events and news worth sharing today!

1) Matthew Kenney's restaurant "Plant Food & Wine" is opening its doors in Miami Monday, February 29th! Yes, babes!! Remember the vegan cuisine school I attended last November in LA? Well, that's my friend Matthew's! Not only did his school teach me how to prepare the most delicious raw vegan dishes in the world (not joking!) but it also taught me that food and art have a direct connection. Literally! His creations will blow you away! They are all about the taste, colors, edible flowers and surprise elements.

Plant Food & Wine is having a special dinner for the SOBE Food and Wine Festival this Saturday, February 27, from 7-10 pm at their location: 105 NE 25th Street, Miami, FL. Click here to get your tickets. 

Click here to learn about my experience at MK Culinary. 

2) Artichoke Vegan Catering is changing the way busy professionals eat. Seriously!! Yesterday I received a box with 1-day full of meals. From chicken-less curry to meatless potato pie to mushroom soup and squash-carrot soup. Everything packed in mason jars and biodegradable boxes. The presentation was on point and the food was delicious. Better than anything I tasted while I was in banking working the 9-5 (more like 8-9) and ordering from the nearest restaurant with vegan options. Not to mention that Artichoke is 100% organic and free of pesticides, additives, and hormones. AND....their prices are not bad either! A no brainer, guys! This is your opportunity to get healthy, organic, vegan food without stressing about food options while you are at work. Click here to contact them. 

3) The WTS Cooking & Yoga workshop is taking place this weekend!!! I'm excited beyond words! There's still time to sign up for Saturday and Sunday classes (Miami & Online). Can't wait to give you guys a super strong hug (in person or via the camera). xx 

Escape. Sometimes we just need it!

Flowing, breathing, playing with light and shadows, and just letting life...in and out. Trusting that everything happens for a reason and that change does in fact make us stronger and better.

The past two days have taken a complete toll on my life. It’s one of the many reasons why I didn't stop to say hello to you guys on IG or post anything on the blog. To be honest, I didn't know what to say. I still don't! I have so many thoughts and words going on in my mind right now that I thought it would be best to digest everything on my own and later share it with you in case someone out there might be going through the same situation. It's shocking how life, destiny, God or energy (whatever each of us likes to call it) unfolds either by sending you nothing at all or everything at once. And by that, I'm not referring to success like we see on all those social media quotes but to change itself. As most of you know, I quit my 9-5 about a month ago. Since then, I’ve been enjoying every second doing the things I love and working on what I feel most passionate about but that does not mean it has been easy. My days have no routine or fixed plans. Every day is totally different… every day is completely unknown. Giving up my private banking job meant giving up a piece of stability in my life. Most people don’t realize this, and neither did the person I was sharing my life with until recently. You see, I did not only give up a fixed salary but also a routine I was used to and a job I was good at and felt safe doing. Besides losing this financial and professional stability, I also found myself in the process of moving to a new house with the person I was madly, deeply and childishly in love with. So of course, the only stability I had during the past month was this relationship. This relationship was my rock throughout the year and half we were together, my shoulder to cry on during the tough moments, the arms that hugged me every night, and the lips that smiled with me whenever I was happy. But, as I mentioned a few sentences earlier, when change takes place it takes place all at freaking once! Out of the blue, life manages to throw a bucket of cold water on you by delaying your car at the valet for 20 minutes, placing you at the right moment at the right time and having reality hit you in the face. No, this is not one of those caught-in-action cheating episodes but the hard realization that we are two different people traveling two different paths. It is not about which path is good or bad, or which one of us is is right or wrong, but simply about not being the right match for each other. The person you are supposed to be with will only bring out the best in you. She or he will smile when you smile or cry when you cry or think twice before doing something that will hurt you. So, yeah… Here I am! Unemployed chasing my dreams, looking for new apartments by myself, and fresh out of a broken relationship with a heart shredded to pieces. Why do I choose to share this with you? Well, because I’ve learned something that might be useful. LIFE IS CHANGE! Constantly! But only for those who wish to get out of their comfort zones, follow their dreams, love and have their heart broken and dare to love again, and simply live fearlessly! I’ve learned that people will come in to your life to make it better and stay forever or leave and teach you a great lesson. Pain is a part of that too. It makes us stronger and it’s because of the existence of it that we are able to distinguish what love and happiness feel like. And of course, in moments like these we act as the humans we are and look to escape reality at least for a little bit. Take a trip somewhere nice. Somewhere far and new where you can sip a delicious cup of coffee while looking at new faces and writing down the story of your life. Sometimes we just need to escape to recharge, forget, and come back fresh and reconnected. It is for that reason that I’ve decided to take a little trip to Europe. :) I haven’t been there in over 10 years! What’s the plan you might ask? There’s no plan! I’m just flowing. Letting life take its course. The only thing I did was buy myself a ticket with miles to Barcelona, and another one from Barcelona to Milan and I’m even currently considering making a pitstop in Paris. I’m leaving tomorrow so next time you’ll hear from me will be from Spain, babes. I need this and I’m sure great things will come out of it for the blog and the new business I’m starting with a dear friend of mine. <3

Love you all and I truly hope you can find any words of wisdom out of my experience. Even the tiniest one!

xoxo