New Beauty Secret

Hi everyone! Today I wanna share with you my newest beauty secret. Since I was a little girl my mom always told me to wash my face really well at night and to never go to bed with makeup on. So about 5 years ago I decided to buy the Clarisonic Mia, I got it in the US since in Italy it was not sold yet. You can read a post about my Clarisonic here. I really love it and I have used it a lot. Problem is when I entered my 30s I noticed a difference in my skin, it is definitely more sensitive and prone to redness. The brush of the Clarisonic was too harsh, even though I have the blue brush, the most delicate one. About one month ago I read about a new device, Foreo Luna, that promised to be more delicate on sensitive skin, so I decided to give it a try. After using it for about a month I can give you my opinion. I got the pink one for sensitive skin and it really is very delicate, it doesn't irritate my skin, but it cleans it very well. 

Here are the pros:

- in one minute the skin is clean and soft

- it is really light and the brush is very delicate

- it's made of silicone, easier to clean and dries faster

- the massage function is really nice

- one charge lasts ages

- it didn't make me break out

- it's a bit expensive but you will never have to buy replacement brushes

- you can choose the intensity of the vibrations

The cons: the nose area is kinda difficult to clean well because of its shape.

Directions:

Remove all your makeup

Wash your face with warm water and put your favorite cleansing lotion on your face (mine is La Roche Posay Toleriane), wash the Luna and turn it on, clean your face with it spending 15 seconds on each area (forehead, left cheek, right cheek, nose/chin). It will vibrate every 15 seconds so that you know you have to switch to another area.

Then dry your face, put on your favorite moisturizer/lotion (mine is Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair), and turn the Luna on the massage function. Spend 12 seconds on each area (between the brows, each eye side, both sides of the mouth).

Now you can turn it off and wash it with soap and warm water. You can use it twice a day, it will not irritate your skin.

I'm very satisfied with it! Do you have it? What is your opinion? Let me know what kind of cleansing tool you use.

Love, Fede

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Healthy Carrot And Almond Cake

Ciao! How was your weekend? Mine was good, I kept thinking about how I could bake a cake that was both delicious and healthy. Whole wheat flour is the answer! I had never used it before and I had no idea how a whole wheat cake would turn out. But I had no reason to be worried, it turned out yummy and it's also very healthy since there are also carrots and almonds, and no butter, I used oil instead. This way you won't feel guilty every time you eat a piece. It's so easy to make, just put all the ingredients in the mixer and it's done.

Ingredients:

240 gr freshly grated carrots

100 gr peeled almonds, finely chopped

105 gr flour

105 gr whole wheat flour

100 gr white sugar

100 gr brown sugar

3 eggs

160 ml olive oil

A pinch of salt

1 tbs baking powder

1tsp vanilla extract

1tsp cinnamon

Directions:

Pre-heat oven at 180C. Mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Pour in a baking pan lined with parchment paper and put in the oven for 23/30 minutes. Let it cool completely before serving.

Let me know if you try this healthy recipe. You can make a frosting to put on the cake or you can put confectioners sugar as a decoration. Enjoy it!

Love, Fede

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Spring Mani

Hi! It's finally spring! The weather is sunny and hot, and I'm enjoying dressing with pastel colors and colorful accessories. Also my mani is very spring appropriate, I chose a very bright color, it's halfway between a pink and a coral, it's from Essie and the name is "Cute as a button". I paired it with a bracelet from Furla whose color is almost identical. What do you think of it?

What's your favorite color for your spring mani?

Love, Fede

Nail Polish: Essie Cute as a button / Bracelet: Furla

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First Wedding Of The Season

Hi girls! Hope your weekend was fantastic! Mine was busy as usual, but also fun! One of my coworkers got married and I was invited along with the other girls from the office, so it was a fun night indeed. The weather was hot and sunny, a perfect day for a wedding! My look was very romantic, a blush dress, very feminine and girly. I decided not to wear heels 'cause I'm already very tall (I'm 5'10''), and I opted for a pair of cute t-strap studded flats. I added a pop of color with the clutch and the nails. Do you like the look?

How did you guys spend your weekend?

Love, Fede

Dress: Zara / Shoes: Zara / Clutch: Furla / Watch: Cartier Santos / Bracelets: H&M and Henri Bendel / Nails: Essie Cute as a button

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New Shades

Hi everyone, how has your week been going so far? Mine was very busy at the office, and I haven't had much time to write on the blog. But today I wanna show you a new pair of shades that I got, Rayban Erika. I already have Rayban Wayfarer, which I love, but I wanted a new pair that was lighter on my nose, and they are perfect! Do you like them? I think they have a nice shape, and funny thing is they look good on everyone! I asked my mom, my sister and many of my friends to try them on and I was so surprised to see that none of them looked bad, they actually looked very good with them on, this is funny! I haven't tried with my grandma but I'm ready to bet that she'd have looked good too LOL! Have a great day!

Love, Fede

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New York Cheesecake

Hi! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and a very happy Mother's Day! As I wrote in my last post I made a real NY Cheesecake to celebrate my mom! It was surprisingly easy to do (it was my first time!) and it turned out really good! I like my cheesecake less thick When the slice is thick tall I can't even finish it and that's too bad. That's why I chose to make it thinner. But here I give you the recipe for both the short and the tall version. What do you think of it? Let me know if you try this recipe. My mom loved it and I was so happy! She also loved the present my sister and I got her, she didn't expect it at all!

Have a great week!

Love, Fede

Ingredients:

for the crust

240 gr of Mc Vitie's Digestive biscuits

2 tbs brown sugar

110 gr melted butter (I used low fat)

for the filling (if you make the shorter version):

600 gr cream cheese (I used Philadelphia Light)

100 gr white sugar

20 gr cornstarch

2 eggs and 1 egg yolk

100 ml heavy whipping cream

juice of half a lemon

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

for the filling (if you make the taller version):

900 gr cream cheese (I used Philadelphia Light)

150 gr white sugar

30 gr cornstarch

3 eggs and 1 egg yolk

150 ml heavy whipping cream

juice of 3/4 of a lemon

1 and a half teaspoon pure vanilla extract

for the topping:

200 ml sour cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

to decorate:

1 cup fresh berries

Directions:

Preheat oven at 180°C. Line the pan with parchment paper, the edges too. In a medium sized bowl combine the Digestive crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom of the pan. Cover and refrigerate in freezer for 15 minutes or fridge for 30 minutes while you make the filling.

In bowl of your electric mixer place the cream cheese, sugar, and cornstarch. Beat on medium speed until smooth (about 2 minutes). Add the eggs and the yolk, one at a time, beating well (about 30 seconds) after each addition. Add the heavy whipping cream, lemon juice, vanilla extract and beat until incorporated. Remove the crust from the freezer and pour in the filling. Place the cheesecake pan on a larger baking pan (to prevent leaking) and place in the oven.

Bake for 45/60 minutes at 180°C and then lower the oven temperature to 160°C  and continue to bake for about another 40/45 minutes. If the top is getting brown cover it with aluminum foil. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack. If it looks like the center is still too wobbly you may continue to cook for a few more minutes or let it cool inside the oven. Remember, never open the oven door during the first 30/45 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the sour cream and vanilla extract. Spread the topping over the cold cheesecake.

Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate several hours, preferably overnight. Serve with fresh berries.

This is the final result! Delicious!

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Mother's Day Gifts For Every Budget

Ciao! How is your week going? I'm so excited for next Sunday! I love Mother's Day, every year I think about a nice surprise for my mom who is always there for me and my sister and she deserves the best. Last year I can't remember what gift we got for her but I remember that I baked blackberry muffins and she loved them (you can find the recipe on my blog here). This year my sister and I got her a nice pair of sandals because this summer she will go to Greece and she will be so elegant wearing them. And I decided I will bake a cake for her, I will make New York Cheesecake, the recipe will be on the blog next week, hopefully it will turn out good, so stay tuned! Now I wanna show you a few gift ideas for Mother's Day, there are a few ideas for every budget, all available at Nordstrom. Hope you like my picks!

Have a great Mother's Day! Let me know how you spend it!

Love, Fede

Under 70$

Kate Spade Stud Earrings 28,50$

Clinique Perfectly Happy Set 55$

Under 150$

UGG Slippers 99,95$

Longchamp Le Pliage Bag 145$ (I have this bag, it's great for traveling)

Under 300$

Kate Spade Watch 168,75$

Tory Burch York Bag 295$

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Church Look And Party Look

Hi and Happy Monday! As I wrote in my previous post this past weekend was very busy with family "business", as in a Baptism and a First Communion. It's tradition in Italy that after the Church ceremony the family of the kid that was baptized or received the Communion hosts a big lunch at a nice restaurant to celebrate with family and friends. I want to show you the two looks that I wore for the Church and the lunch. Hope you like them. How was your weekend? Have a great week!

Love, Fede

Church Look

Dress: Zara / Bag: Chanel / Shoes: Gucci / Watch: Michael Kors

Party Look

Jacket: Zara / Blouse: Mango / Faux Leather Leggings: Calzedonia / Shoes: Steve Madden / Bag: Chanel / Watch: Cartier

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