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Vegan Goodie Guide for Your Next Shopping Trip!

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Vegan Food for Everyone

Veganism is a part of our everyday lifestyle but you don’t have to be vegan to enjoy vegan food. If you are vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, carnivore or whatever label you might go by, we have something for everyone. Good food is just that, good food! The vegan food game has changed over the years, and there are countless options available to appease even the pickiest of eaters. If your partner or kids say they don’t like vegan food, some of these items just might change their minds. We are sharing some of our current favorite vegan goodies with you, which just might end up becoming some of your new fav’s too!

Our Current Vegan Crush’s and Obsessions

  1. Vegan Pizza: I have tried quite a few vegan pizzas, and this one became my favorite after the first slice. Sweet Earth knows what they are doing! The crust is made from carrots, cornmeal, and chia. It’s surprisingly different in all the right ways. I top it with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle some Follow Your Heart Parmesan, for a little extra touch. It’s a really delightful and satisfying vegan pizza. I pick mine up at Sprouts. Delish.
  2. Vegan Hot Cheetos: Beanitos Chili Fuego N’ Lime is my go-to chip when I’m craving a spicy crunch. They are what I consider as the “Vegan Hot Chetto” and they hit the spot every time. There are a few major differences between the two the though. Beanitos come with 4g of protein and they are completely dairy free. The beans make me feel less guilty about nearly finishing an entire bag in one sitting. Just the right amount of spicy and ever so crunchy. I have seen these at Sprouts, Whole Foods, and local Dallas health food stores. Try em’ and thank me later.
  3. Vegan Breakfast Burrito: Sweet Earth is making this list again because their food is truly delicious. These burritos warm up great in the oven and in the microwave. These make for easy meals at work too. With some of your favorite hot sauce, you will be in for a treat with this tofu “egg” scramble. They are not the cheapest frozen burrito, so I don’t eat one every day, but I do work them in once a week or so. It’s packed with protein, and will fuel your body with the energy you need to kick your to-do list’s ass!
  4. Vegan Treat: When I pass by these at Sprouts, I can’t help but pick up a package. They are so yummy. They are a sweet treat that you won’t feel guilty about indulging in. They are made from bananas and carrots and are soft baked. I’ve had them for breakfast, an afternoon snack and as dessert. They will make your tummy happy any time of the day.
  5. Vegan Nuggets: These are one of my favorite snacks. They are made from ingredients like spinach, potatoes, onions, quinoa, pea protein, and zucchini. They are a healthy snacking alternative to lots of other common products. Highly recommend these! My toddler nieces even enjoy them! Bonus: they reheat just fine too!
  6. Samosas: These wonderful Indian treats are the best flavors of simple ingredients. Potatoes and green peas wrapped up together in a flaky crust and deep fried. Mmmmm! And all you have to do is take out however many you think you’ll eat, plus one more (trust me) and pop them in the oven!
  7. Rice Ramen: Top Ramen use to be one of my favorite goto snacks before being more mindful of what I eat. Now, I love Lotus Foods individually packaged Rice Ramen. It’s the perfect amount, and if I ever wanna switch up the flavor I’ll add teriyaki or soy sauce and sometimes sesame seed oil.
  8. Baked Crunch Chickpeas: When I’m craving something salty but full of flavor too, these Baked Crunch Chickpeas always come in handy. I found these goodies at the Dollar Store and they had all types of flavors. I am quickly satisfied with about a handful and a half and they must know this because they made the bags resealable. These are great to have in your car for those quick cravings on the go.
  9. Spring Rolls: Another one of my favorite vegan finds at the Dollar Store, Spring Rolls! I buy these in threes LOL. I feel like I can never have enough of these in my freezer. They come in a package of 10 (yea, 10 cents a roll!) and the ingredients are natural. I’ve even baked up a big batch for a vegan party and they were a total hit! Try them with your favorite sauce and you will be in for a tasty treat.
  10.  Fruit & Veggies: Good ol’ natural fruit & veggies will ALWAYS be our favorite vegan treat. You can find fruit & veggies everywhere and incorporate them into your meals and snacks easily. Cut up some cucumber slices or a bag of baby carrots for a quick healthy snack or maybe a banana or apple with your morning coffee or tea. As long as you work them into your daily return is all that really matters!

What are Your Favorite Vegan Goodies?!

Tell us what you’re obsessed with so we can become obsessed too! Our fridges always have more room for new vegan finds!

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Shedding Your Surroundings

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Grow Like Your Intended To

Don’t be afraid to outgrow people, places, ideas and even the things in your life. You’re not the same person you were last week, last month or last year. It’s okay to change. It’s okay to grow. And it’s definitely okay to outgrow people and things that you thought would be in your life forever.

Change Is Okay Too

Sometimes we hold on to people and possessions because we feel like we have to. You don’t have to hold on to anything that doesn’t make you happy. Friends you had so much in common with becoming distant strangers. The city you grew up in suddenly seems so small and you feel the urge to leave and start a life somewhere else. Clothes you adored get worn and tattered. The way you used to feel about certain topics has shifted. Allow yourself to accept change. Learn to appreciate the things and people you had in your life for the time you did. Your life does not end without these things, it allows you to make room new things to enter. Shedding your surroundings is healthy, important and inevitable.

Live Your Best Life

Living a life that is fulfilling, is what matters. If your current life is filled with toxic people or people that you just don’t have much in common with anymore, maybe it’s time to detach. Take a look at the things that fill your home and space. Is there clutter than you have been accumulating? Are there items that you can do without? Start slow and get rid of a few items. Are there family members that always bring you down? Don’t let them steal your energy. Maybe go through your contacts list and remove someone who no longer fills a positive role in your life. Take some time to go through your friend’s list and clear out your social media feed. If you aren’t enjoying the people and posts you see, it’s probably time to clean that up.

 

No Explanation Needed 

You don’t need to explain yourself to anyone. Shedding your surroundings and cleaning out the clutter in your life is your journey. You don’t need to explain your reasoning for doing things that make you happy. If someone doesn’t understand or respect why you are shedding your surroundings, then that is their problem, not yours. Some people might not understand and think you are being distant. Let them think whatever they want. You’re not being distant, you are just being drawn to the vibes that appeal to you. Follow those vibes without hesitation.Trust yourself.


It’s funny how we outgrow what we once thought we couldn’t live without. There is hidden beauty in saying goodbye and letting go. Unexpectedly finding yourself falling in love with what you didn’t even know you wanted and needed. Finding the things and people that resonate with your spirit on a higher and deeper level. Shedding all of the superficial. Realizing that who you were last year was just a phase in your life. Accepting that who you are today is another phase that will also change with time. Embrace each phase and let go when it’s time. Never hold on to anything or anyone too tight or too long. What and who is meant to go along your journey with you will find a way to keep up with you. Some you will outgrow and others will grow with you. Either way, you are shedding your surroundings and becoming the most beautiful version of yourself. 

Can you relate? Please share your thoughts with us..we love hearing from others <3

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Call Me Maybe

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Change The Way You Keep in Touch

Communication has drastically changed over the years. As with all the things, there are positives and negatives. Being able to contact anyone in seconds is fucking amazing, but have we lost touch with the emotional part of the contact? It’s so easy to just send a text and not actually call someone, but should you be making more of an effort to actually talk (not text) with certain people in your life? Does commenting on someone’s picture on social media really keep you in touch with that person? There is a lot that goes on in someones daily life that isn’t shown online.

A call to see how someone’s doing instead of asking them through text, can strengthen your friendships and relationships. Hearing someone’s voice makes all the difference. The next time you genuinely want to reach out to someone, switch up how you would normally contact them. Is there someone you care about but haven’t talked to in a while? Someone that lives far away that you haven’t seen recently? Someone you have been thinking about calling but never seen to get around to do it? Or maybe even someone you just want to say “thank you” to?

It’s time to change the way you keep in touch!


Our Favorite Ways of Keeping in Touch

  • Call Em‘: Nowadays we are so quick to send a text or Snapchat when we want to get a hold of someone. Try giving that person a call instead. This way they can hear the excitement in your voice when they answer and a simple, “hi” might grow into a much-needed conversation. A simple phone call is a great way to brighten anyone’s day. 
  • Leave a Voicemail: So you called and they didn’t answer. Leave a sweet voicemail saying why you called and let them know that they don’t have to call back or that you’re looking forward to hearing from them. Either way, it lets the person know that they mean enough for you to leave a happy voicemail they can always refer to.  
  • FaceTime: We love getting FaceTimes from each other! We’re not the type that needs to be “FaceTime-ready” and always get super excited when we hear that special FaceTime ring. We can be chilling on the couch, out at a bar or FaceTiming each other so they can say hi to the people we are with. It can just be so nice to see someone’s face sometimes.
  • Old Fashion Snail Mail:  We still love getting a personal letter in the mail without knowing that it’s coming. There is nothing like someone taking their personal time to put pen to pad just to send you a note. And this can be as simple as a single fold card that says “thinking about you”. Getting a letter in the mail can spark joy in someone’s heart! 

Ready..Set…Dial!

Both of us are making a conscious effort to change the way we are staying in touch with the people in our lives. We personally have had 15 years of perfecting the art of staying in touch. Living in different states, but communicating constantly, is what makes us the Besties we are today. So yeah, we guess you can consider us experts in this area! We all live busy lives, but if you care about someone enough then try making the extra effort to actually keep up with them on a more personal level. We encourage you to give this a shot with us and see how many peoples day you can make, just by changing up the way you keep in touch!   

Can you relate to this topic? Is there someone that came to mind that you should reach out to? Tell us your thoughts and your favorite way of keeping in touch!

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Managing Your Mental Health

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Taking Care of YOU

There are many facets to taking care of yourself. One of the most challenging aspects of our health is our mental health. Mental health is not something that is normally taught to children. We are told we need to exercise and eat healthily but how many times were we told how to handle our thoughts and mental health? Not many. We just go through life trying to navigate the countless thoughts and feelings we have, and most of the time we are hesitant to talk about them.  Why do we do this? It’s ok to talk about what you are feeling and your mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. Recognizing, accepting and doing what YOU need to do to be happy and in a positive head space, is part of taking care of your mental health. Taking care of YOU matters.

Social Media & Mental Health

Social media is a huge contributor to the state of one’s mental health. I (Jess) deleted my Facebook 6 months ago and it alleviated so much social anxiety. I developed a love/hate relationship with social media but always felt like I “had” to keep it in order to stay in touch with people, stay up to date and to even stay relevant. It sounds silly in hindsight, but its the truth. It was hard at first but as time passed, I started to live more in the present moment instead of mindlessly scrolling. Ask yourself, ” How many of these people on my timeline TRULY care about me?” Why do we feel such a strong need to comment and like peoples pictures like we haven’t seen or physically spoke with in years or maybe ever? Just because you used to know someone, doesn’t mean you still do. If social media for any reason causes you anxiety, sadness or feelings of inadequacy- take a break from it.  In my personal journey, I learned so much about myself once I disconnected from the toxicity of Facebook. I don’t know if I will ever go back to FB, but I’m happy and that’s all that matters to me right now.

Key Reminders:

  • Unfollow negative people.
  • Allow time to “disconnect” or take a social media detox and be in the present moment.
  • Remember that not everything is as it appears online.
  • You have no obligation to stay in touch with people who don’t stay in touch with you.
  • “Likes” and the number of friends really means nothing at the end of the day. It’s quality over quantity, ALWAYS!
  • If it does not bring you joy then do you really need it?

Recognizing How You Feel

We all live such busy and fast-paced lives that sometimes we forgot to slow down and just breathe. Taking the time to evaluate how you feel and gauge the status of your mental health is so important. This is called being mindful. We feel different every day and accepting that you will have bad days allows you to be proactive and manage them better. Notice when you are feeling emotions that interrupt your day in a negative aspect. Take the time to evaluate why you feel the way you do and what triggered it. Having these mindful pauses will help you evaluate your body. You are allowed to feel whatever it is that you feel. Nothing is wrong with you because your mental health is not 100% 24/7. No one is perfect and no one has the right to make you feel ashamed for feeling the way you do. Take notice of people who drain you of your energy. Pay attention to who is and isn’t there for you in a time of need. Recognize how you feel and what promotes a positive headspace. You are in control of your happiness and if you need to make a drastic change for the sake of your mental health and well being.. then do it and don’t worry about who might have something to say about it.

Key Reminders:

  • Take time for yourself to do the things that make you happy.
  • Remove toxic people and end toxic relationships.
  • Remind yourself of all the things/people/experiences you are thankful for.
  • Confide in someone that you trust and that won’t judge you. Find a positive outlet.
  • Learn to be okay with being alone sometimes.
  • Love yourself and let go of expectations and the need for acceptance from others.

Mindfulness

I (Ray) am required to be trained and teach Dynamic Mindfulness in the classroom to my students. We use these skills in order to teach them how to manage their stress, self-awareness, and self-regulation. The techniques are there for you to focus on your breathing as well as connecting your breath to movement and being in the moment. Dynamic Mindfulness has been proven to improve school and classroom climate as well as the well being and health of the students. All of these techniques and skills can be adapted to fit your everyday life and that is what we teach our students. We encourage them to use these skills whenever needed and hope they carry them into adulthood.

Take A Moment

Taking time for yourself and your mental health is not selfish. You are important! Taking time to be aware of the now, will help you realize what may be good for you and the things that are harmful to your mental health. Be mindful about your mental health and reach out to a professional for help. You never have to go through anything alone. Help is out there and we will happily lead you in the right place to better your mental health. We both have family members who suffer from depression, schizophrenia, bipolar and anxiety. We understand the havoc depression and anxiety can have on your life. You’re not alone – even if at times it might feel like it.

You are allowed to have bad days but you don’t have to go through them alone!

Please share how you deal with episodes of depression or what you have done/changed to better your mental health!

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10 Easy Ways to Relieve Stress

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Easy but Effective Tips to Kick Your Stress

Stress is a part of life. Some of us are better equipped at handling stressful situations while others struggle with figuring out how to relieve stress. Some stress is worse than others, but knowing how to deal with it and figuring out what works for you, is super important to finding balance. Having a go-to activity that promotes happiness, positivity and a sense of calm can help you relax, focus, and deal with stress more effectively. We put together a list of 10 easy ways to relieve stress. Some of these you might already do but maybe you will find a new one that sounds appealing! Let’s get to it!

10 Easy Ways to Relieve Stress

  1. Cleaning: There is something soooo therapeutic about cleaning, especially when you are stressed. Cleaning up your space and home can help relieve stress by focusing on other things and getting out of your head. Having a nice clean and decluttered home can promote relaxation. Light some candles and incense and put on some music and scrub & sweep you stress away!
  2. Workout: Sweating is a great way to relieve stress. A workout can be as hardcore or as gentle as you need. Sometimes you might need an intense long–distance run, other days you just might need some yoga and deep breathing. Listen to what your body needs and work out that stress with some physical activity!
  3. Sex: This can also count as a workout! Sex is a great way to relieve stress. Grab your partner and roll around in the sack for a bit to fight off some of that stress you are dealing with. If you don’t have someone to jump into bed with, there are other options which can be done solo..but we will leave that for another article 🙂 !
  4. Take a nice warm bath or shower: Jump in the tub for a relaxation soak! Light some candles, pour in some Epsom salt and essential oils to make it a truly therapeutic experience. Read a book, listen to some calming music, or even watch a movie on your phone. A nice hot bath like this before bed, should definitely help you to fall asleep much easier!
  5. Tackle that To-Do list: Sometimes things that we have yet to get done can lead to stress because we know it’s still lingering. Try taking care of small of the things on your to-do list and see if you feel any better after. Even checking off the smallest of tasks can promote a sense of accomplishment and give you one less thing to worry about.
  6. Call someone you makes you happy: Sometimes all we need is to talk to someone who can brighten our day and make our mood better. Call someone who you can just be yourself with and maybe even vent about the things that are stressing you out. They might have suggestions on how to combat that stress or just hearing their voice and having a casual conversation can be a huge stress reliever.
  7. Cooking: Cooking is one of our favorite ways to relax. Being in the kitchen and whipping up some delicious food is a good distraction from things that are stressing you out. See what you have on hand in your pantry or maybe hit up the grocery store to get the ingredients for your favorite meal! Food has a way to make you smile, even on the shittiest of days!
  8. Write it out: Write down what is stressing you out. Maybe even write down solutions or a game plan to tackle that stress. Sometimes writing things down can be a great release and it also lets you see your stress/problems in plain view. Acknowledging what is stressing you out and figuring out how to resolve it can be a great tactic!
  9. Read a book: Reading is a great escape. Reading allows you to escape your current reality and dive into a completely new one. Sometimes the brain just needs something else to focus on and a book can give you just that! Getting out of your head and into a book for a little bit might be just what you need to kick your stress to the curb!
  10. Watch your favorite movie/show: Binge watching your favorite show might help you forget about some of that stress for a bit. Grab a cup of tea or a glass of wine and just chill the fuck out for a bit. Put away your phone and just focus on whatever it is you’re watching. After an hour you might find yourself thinking differently about what was stressing you out.

Did any of these tips speak to you?!

Can you vouche for any of these tips? Do any of them currently work for you? Please share your favorite way to relieve stress! The better we understand ourselves and find ways to stay calm, even during the rockiest of days, will make us better equipped at handling issues as they come at us. Life is a constant flow of high’s and low’s, but learning how to not let the low’s pull us under is all we can ask for. 

Thank YOU for reading!!     

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20 Amazon Products You Need in Your Life!

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Products for Every Aspect of Your Life

Amazon Beauty Products

1. We have tried many different serums from Amazon and we each have our favorites. Raynita loves Elizavecca Witch Piggy Hell Pore Control Hyaluronic Acid. This serum is awesome for it’s $17 price and 1.7-ounce bottle. It’s not sticky and absorbs really fast and doesn’t leave any type of residue. Jessica’s favorite serum is TruSkin Vitamin C Plus. It goes on great before makeup and leaves my skin feeling smooth, fresh, and it helps with pimples! We make these products part of our daily routine.

Jess’s current fav

 

2. An eye mask should be a part of your facial routine when possible. Ace Beauty makes Gold Eye-Mask that help prevents wrinkles, improve dark circles, and are anti-aging. AND you get 16 pair for $9!

These are the gold eye patches. Super comfy and kinda cute too.

3. A Jade Roller is not only our go to when we look puffy but it’s great for also relaxing and relieving tension in the face. We use it daily after we moisturize to massage it into our skin while also improving the circulation of blood vessels. Basically, it helps you look more awake, younger, and helps you feel energized. 

4. We all get a blemish here and there. These cool little Acne Patches are lifesavers when those little fuckers appear. Just place one of 72 patches on your pimple, leave on for up to 6 hours, and then all that nasty gunk is pulled to the surface. For $12, it is definitely worth a try. 

5. This leave-in conditioner will bring your locks back to life! I recently went from platinum blonde back to brunette and this product helped my hair grow, shine and get all around healthier. I highly recommend this if you are needing something new for your hair. Plus, it smells amazing and my husband always compliments how good my hair smells! All around its a bomb ass product!

Prime Clothing & Accessories 

6. These yoga pants are super comfy! Super affordable and great quality! They come with side pockets for your phone/ID/Chapstick etc and they are not see through at all. These are comparable to more expensive workout clothes you would see at Nike or Victoria Secret. Highly recommend!

7. Sports bras can see tricky to buy online but these worked out great and glad I purchase them! They have removable padding and fit really well. A pack of 3 for $22 is a pretty good deal when it comes to high-quality sports bras! Definitely worth adding to your cart!

8. Everyone needs a good bodysuit that makes them feel sexy. This is our go-to! This bodysuit is made of such a soft material that doesn’t irritate you at all. My favorite part is that it shows just enough side boob to make you feel sexy and you can pair it with just about any bottom.

9. A dress with POCKETS! That’s right, we found a dress that is universal, comes in over 20 colors and patterns and is under $25!  It’s comfortable and pairs well with a jean jacket or some cute sandals. 

10. Ray is not a fan of wearing a bra and luckily can get away with it. These pasties allow you to feel completely comfortable without showing your rock hard nipples. For $7, you get two reusable pair that stay sticky beyond a few uses. 

Household Products

11. If you are OCD about keeping things clean, then you will love this handheld vacuum! Great suction power for a cordless vacuum and the battery lasts for a good amount of time. It comes with different types of suction attachments and really has great power to help you pick up messes quickly and efficiently!

12. Want to make your whole home smell like a bakery?! Then you NEED these baking brownie incense! They smell amazing and you get 100 of them for under $15. These smell so freaking amazing. If you buy these you won’t regret it! Enjoy!

13. Needing some organization done in that overflowing closet of yours?! This hanging closet organizer is a great way to easily spruce up your space. It’s compact with still offering generous space to stock and pile your clothes, belts, hats, etc! And for only $14, you really can’t complain!

14. We all need batteries and Amazon has the best price for the amount and they arrive at your front door. They have every size you can think of and they last pretty long. So next time you hear your smoke detector chirping or your remote needs new batteries, order them here.

15. The next time you’re looking to redo bedding, check out these sheet sets. With over 40 colors to choose from, we are sure they will have just what you are looking for without compromising your comfort. 

Unique Finds

16. We both love salt rock lamps! They add ambiance, are pretty and are great for all types of rooms. Grab one to add to your space and vibe out! This one, in particular, Jess has had for a few years and absolutely loves it!

17. Do you love books? Maybe needing some new reading material? I have recommended this book, Where the Crawdad’s Sing, to quite a few people and every single one of them, has loved it! I could do a whole list solely on books to buy but we will start with this one! Get it, you will get swept away and just love this book!

18. Whether you’re looking for something for yourself or if you need a gift for someone, this dainty necklace is perfect! They have many different styles to choose from and they’re all under $10! Great for layering or wearing simply alone.

19. This travel bag is ahhmazzingg! We wrote a full-on article about this specific bag which you can read here. This bag fits a shit ton of stuff while still counting as a personal bag on airlines including Spirit and Frontier. whenever we fly Spirit we use these bags and NEVER pay for bags. I have packed up to 5 days worth of clothing in this bag and still had extra room to bring goodies back.

The front pouch has a zipper that you can take the entire bag and fold it into itself. When empty and folded up..this is the outcome! Pretty cool right?!
Duffle packed with the three pillows! Still extra room in there!

20. This Protein Powder has everything we are looking for. It’s over two pounds of plant-based protein that has 21 grams of protein per serving, no added sugar and pretty tasty. You can drink it with just water or add to a shake or juice.   

BestieTalks Amazon Page

Now that you see our top 20 Amazon products, take a look at our Amazon page and feel free purchase them there, while also supporting BestieTalks https://www.amazon.com/shop/bestietalks . Please, share with us some of your favorite Amazon purchases and we would love to add them to our page. Happy shopping!

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