Aphrodisiacs to Sweeten Your Valentine's Day

Valentine's is around the corner and who doesn't want to get into the mood for Valentine's Day. Aphrodisiacs can help spice things up between friends and lovers. As documented throughout history, some foods have all been said to kindle and sustain desire, passion, energy, and love. So get the heartbeat racing with these top ten aphrodisiacs. They can help make your Valentine's Day hot and steamy—and we're not just talking about in the kitchen.

#1 Chocolate

We've all heard that chocolate is quite powerful. Whatever is in the sweet substance that sends us running back for more, it's definitely crucial to Valentine's Day.

#2 Coffee

The caffeine in coffee is a stimulant that ups the heart rate and makes the blood flow. It is known that is the top source of antioxidants.

#3 Oysters

One of the most popular aphrodisiacs, oysters are high in zinc and have a reputation for being great for love and fertility.

#4 Almonds

Almonds are regarded as fertility symbols, their aroma arouses passion in females- or so thought the poets. French writer Alexander Dumas, dined on almond soup every night before meeting with his mistress. Almonds are low in cholesterol and provide abundant doses of vitamin E, magnesium and fiber to improve your general well-being. So you can keep going, and going, and going...

 #5 Chili Peppers

This exhilirating spice has an exotic reputation and stimulates endorphins. No wonder it is considered a symbol of love. Arriba!

#6 Avocado

It could be the sensual shape or rich flavor of the fruit that gives avocado its aphrodisiac reputation. Whether added to salad, pureed in soups or chopped into the perfect bowl of fresh guacamole, the sea-green treat is perfect on your Valentine's table.

#7 Asparagus

Asparagus goes back hundreds of years, it stirs up lust in man and woman. In the 19th century, bride and grooms were served three courses incorporating asparagus for their prenuptial dinner. Asparagus is a great source of potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, vitamins A and C, and folic acid. It is said to boost histamine production necessary for the ability to reach orgasm in both sexes.

 #8 Figs

Used by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the fig paradoxically symbolizes both sexuality and modesty.

#9 Bananas

For a sweet overindulgence, try a banana milkshake made with ripe bananas, milk and honey. The combination will calm your stomach and re-regulate your blood sugar. It is also rich in potassium and vitamin B.

#10 Honey

Birds and bees ring a bell? Honey is made through insemination and is a symbol of procreation. The word 'honeymoon' got its name from mead, an alcoholic beverage made from honey, which was given to the happy couple.

Hanna's Inspired Leopard Nails

So I started watching Pretty Little Liars new season and I'm hooked once again! On Monday I was watching Season 2 Episode 17 I believe. Something caught my eye about Hanna's awesome manicure. I love the way leopard and red come together and maybe not so much in clothing because sometimes it can look a little trampy but on the nails I thought it would add some twist.

I decided to give this mani inspiration a try. I used my Essie in who's she red and bought some of Sally Hansen-Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Kitty, Kitty. I'm in love wit this look and the best part of it, is that the nail strips last a long time and don't let me get started on all the designs they have to choose from.

My Inspiration- Pretty Little Liars

Wednesday Pick Me Up: Corinthians 13

Sorry for being MIA the last few days, I've been busy going back to school and trying to keep my mind occupied. I wanted to leave you with a bible verse that a friend passed on to me and I thought it was perfect for what's been going on the past few days. Enjoy!


If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Beauty Essentials

I've found certain products that I've been happy with and just can't live without. I have to admit I've always been a huge beauty junkie, constantly searching websites and watching beauty gurus on YouTube to see what people are loving and raving about. As I've grown through the years my beauty product compulsion has decreased because I've found what works for ME. Most of the products down below might not work for you and that's why you should search what works best for you. Enjoy!

Skincare

Makeup

Nails

Hair

Wednesday Pick-Me-Up

Like most people everyone looks forward to the weekend unfortunately my weekend doesn't fall on a usual Saturday or Sunday but on Wednesday's. So, in light of start to MY weekend, I've decided to start a little weekly post called "Wednesday Pick-Me-Up" to kick start my weekend with a smile! Enjoy!

2012 Trend Report

From New York, Milan, Paris and London the verdict is in. Sorbet colors will be in this Spring with low key silhouettes. Don't avoid the floral prints just yet because this season the trend will continue with a lot of color blocking as well. Didn't get to wear your safari prints? No need to worry they will be in trend this season.

Can we say flower power? This Spring flower prints will be in. From Alexander Wang to J Crew to many other designers have incorporated flower designs into their collections.

Get ready to seriously work out those abs this season because designers are all about the bra tops for Spring 2012.

Prada's had amazing crochet looks, while it does show some skin, it's sweet. There's something bohemian about crochet, but somehow designer's like Derek Lam and Diane von Furstenberg found a way to modernize a knit. Kaelen took the look back to its roots in a slouchy dress that will have laid back ladies lining up. No matter how you knit it, crochet is on it's way to full-on Spring trend.

Sheer has often been one of those runway trends that's been difficult to translate into real world style. These look great on the runway, but perhaps not so much at the office. Recently in Milan, designers from Alberta Ferretti to MaxMara and Fendi have taken the crochet pieces and made them into peek-a-boo look, overall, easier to integrate into your wardrobe without playing exhibitionist. This will give you the liberty to show off a little at a time.

Prohibition Era fashion is making a major comeback for Spring 2012. Hats, drop waists and jackets associated with early Coco Chanel and Jean Patou continue, with an emphasis on Gatsby inspirations. In perfect Calvin Klein fashion, Franciso Costa interpreted the trend with attention to easy shapes and light hues. Marc Jacobs wowed with flapper dresses worthy of a modern day Daisy Buchanan, while Ralph Lauren took the most literal approach with drop waist beaded dresses paired with feather cover-ups and pin-striped gangster suits for ladies.

Consider leopard or zebra print a trend this Spring. Safari is making its way down the runway, though, and its graphic print is an easy sell for Spring.

The word for Spring 2012 is, quite literally, the bird. Jill Stuart went pastel and put the avian creature on pajama-inspired wear. As expected, Carolina Herrera took a sophisticated approach on a shirt dress, while the Marc by Marc Jacobs runway showed bright, abstract birds on a frock of the cocktail variety.

Makeup professionals played with old and new trends for Spring 2012. Inspirations boards featured rouge lips and inedible liners done in new ways.

Lipstick’s most iconic color was reinvented this season, proving that there are endless ways to wear a dramatic red. I personally love wearing red rouges. This season Christian Dior, Jason Wu, Yves Saint Laurent and Rick Owens models all wore red lips on the runways.

Winged liner cat eye look is back but this time with and edge and more modern. Dolce & Gabbana lined at Giorgio Armani in the picture above.

It might be the most low-maintenance look of the season. When I saw this look of wet, barely-wrung hair I was hesitant to even consider trying this only because if you apply too much oil to the hair it can look greasy and dirty. Hairstylist Guido championed the trend at numerous shows, saturating strands with argan oil to arrive at a glossy finish all over or just at the roots. This look above was featured at BCBG.