Lifestyle Archives - THE STYLE SPREAD

Oracle and Tarot Decks

lenormand deck

This past weekend was such a blur; it went by so quick. But it started out well. Me and a friend went to shop for tarot cards. It was her first time shopping for a deck so I tagged along. But I ended up buying two oracle decks and another tarot deck. I’m not sure if there’s an unwritten rule that you can’t have too many decks.

I have had two sets of Raider-Waite tarot cards for almost four years now. I have the Radiant Rider-Waite which is a small size. And then I have the giant Rider-Waite (my first deck). I have always consulted them and they never failed.

Two years ago I decided to try my hand at the Lenormand Oracle deck. They’re great to consult along with the tarot since they give more cut and dry answers. But to each their own. Everyone has their own experiences with decks and changes may also occur throughout the divination journey.

Well long story short, I ended up buying another Lenormand deck. Yeah, I know why so many repeated decks? Well, this one was slightly bigger than the small one I have and had gold foil!

I also decided to invest in the Romance Angels Oracle deck. I was always skeptical about these types of decks but I received two virtual readings where the same card came up. So, I decided to try it myself, and guess what. I drew the same card.

Finally, me and Bonny both decided to buy The Wild Unknown online. Yeah we went on a divination spree. She received hers and I’m still waiting on mines. I feel these are like Pokemon cards for the divine truth seekers.

Ride Waite Rider Waite tarot

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Sketches and Progress

workspace

About two years ago I became intrigued by the watercolor medium. I had taken an art class before but for acrylic paint, not watercolor. And, well, acrylic paint wasn’t my thing.

There’s something about watercolor paint that makes it appear more romantic. Maybe it’s cause you never know what you’re going to get since painting with water makes it spontaneous. In result, this makes the medium a bit harder to master.

I quickly found out that if I wanted to learn how to paint, I had to get comfortable drawing with a pencil. Of course, not all people need to be comfortable with a pencil before diving into watercolor painting, but I felt it was a must for me. After all, practicing with a pencil will improve your hand control. It doesn’t hurt to become comfortable using both pencil and watercolor. As you can tell from the sketches and paintings below, I still have a long way to go as far as hand control goes.

The rough sketches and paintings below are from the past two years. Some of my sketches are from real life observation while others are from images I am inspired by. I really need to get back on the bandwagon. Venice

Paris macarons beauty

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La Favela Cubana

Perfect brunches, for me, consist of sweet plantains, empanadas, and caipirinhas. Why would anyone want anything more? Great food and drinks go hand-in-hand for me. I cannot stand places that offer drinks but can’t satisfy my appetite when the time comes. This leads me to one restaurant that does a hell of a job at providing food, drinks and a great ambiance, Favela Cubana.

I can’t get enough of the Brazilian-Cuban restaurant. The first time I went there was eight years ago for one of my birthdays. I went again this week for my 26th birthday. It made me happy to see that they’re still in business. A lot of things change in eight years but not this place; it’s still open and better than ever.

It’s one of few places that make you feel like you’re not in New York City. Maybe it’s the decor or the food. But whatever it is, it’ll always be one of my favorite spots.

I discovered the resto during my Brasileira craze in my early college years. I added a picture below from when I was younger at Favela Cubana. I was so obsessed with Portuguese and Brasil that I wanted to experience anything and everything Brazilian. I think it’s time to revive some of that craze. Stay tuned.

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A Quick and Easy Guide to Essential Oils

Although a lot of us tend to underestimate the healing power of it, aromas are actually one of the most important aspects of healing. After all, everything we smell and breathe travels straight to our lungs and impacts it. So, if we’re inhaling something toxic, it can be detrimental to our lungs. Or, on the other hand, if we’re inhaling something soothing it can increase our dopamine and make us happy.

Below are a few things to help you get started on your aromatherapy journey.

Aroma Device

Essential Oil Diffuser

Believe it or not, an essential oil diffuser can help you get better when you’re sick or even feel better when you’re feeling down. It’s a must-have when you want to improve your body. Similar to a humidifier, an essential oil diffuser disperses a cold mist in the air which moistens it. It’s up to you to decide what aroma you want and why.

Essential Oils

Eucalytpus

This is such an essential essential oil. Saw what I did there? I have to stress it because eucalyptus aids in a lot of things. It’s antiviral, anti fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. Sick and want to make sure bacteria isn’t in your space? Choose eucalyptus. Have a cough that doesn’t improve? Use eucalyptus as a decongestant. It’s one of the most popular oils for treating lung problems such as bronchitis, asthma, and the common cold.

Lavender

Maybe you’ve heard about lavender, or maybe you haven’t. It’s known for improving moods and reducing anxiety and stress. If you’re also having headaches, lavender can alleviate them. Want to fall asleep quicker? Use some lavender oil at night to relax along with chamomile tea.

Peppermint

Known for increasing energy levels, peppermint has been used for years. Sprinkle a few drops into your diffuser, and wait for that boost of energy. Along with this benefit, peppermint also helps improve memory. And if you’re feeling a little woozy, this oil can help relieve nausea.

Lemon

Suffering from allergies is no fun. Thankfully there’s lemon oil. Inhaling lemon aroma can drain your lymphatic system, reducing your allergy symptoms. Lemon oil can also be used as a disinfectant. Instead of sprinkling drops into your diffuser, make your own cleaning agent by mixing the oil with water. Voila!

Monday Morning Motivation

Going to start this weekly entry for Mondays. I’m going to call it Monday morning motivation. Not sure if that’s the right title but I’m going to try to get up in advance to write a full article about my weekly motivations and goals. So far, I failed this week since I am writing this article in the evening and publishing it on a Tuesday.

Anywho, this week I am focused on four things: coffee, picnics, homes, and books. One of these things does not belong and that would be coffee. I’m not a coffee fanatic but I do like the aroma and lately I have been needing it to keep up with life’s demands.

Another necessity to keep up with life’s demands are picnics. Spending time outdoors is the remedy for working indoors. Work a 9 to 5? Go outdoors. I try to spend my extra time outside. Whether it’s at a park or just taking a stroll around.

Homes is next on my list. I really want a place that I can make my own. If I could ask for one thing to make me happy, it would be a home with big windows facing the sun. Living in New York doesn’t make this an easy get. After all, you need a high salary or to settle sharing with someone. I think I’ll go for the higher salary.

Last on this short list: books. The one thing I have always been into and the one thing that clutters my living space. No matter how technologically advanced we are, I will always resort to this traditional creation.

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Eating Suhur in A Non-Muslim Household

Ramadan Mubarak! As you may or may not know, we are in the month of Ramadan. And being Muslim in a non-Muslim household can be a tricky thing… especially during Suhur*, the meal before sunrise. Suhur requires some planning and advanced preparation. Below are some tips to follow so you can make Suhur as easy, delightful, and peaceful for yourself as well as for others.

01. Prepare your Suhur the night before

Not the whole meal, but try to make it less nosy. If you’re planning to make eggs, separate the eggs in the fridge. Planning to eat strawberries? Take them out of that noisy plastic and put them in a bowl. This minimizes the ruckus you’ll be causing in the kitchen. Take as much as you can out of any noisy packaging. And if you are planning to make a smoothie or any other mixture, blend or whisk it the night before and store it in the fridge afterwards.

02. Opt for a meal that doesn’t smell up the home

Smelling a delicious breakfast tends to wake people up. It just does. The smell of coffee travels throughout the home just as easy as eggs with cheese does. Aside from making noise, this is the worse way to wake someone up. Not only are you waking them up at wee hours of the morning but you probably made them very hungry. Hungry, cranky and upset? Not a good thing. Go for a breakfast that doesn’t wake up the household or make people very hungry. Fruits, breads, porridge are all good options.

03. Use an electric stove

Okay, so if any noise or smell coming from the the kitchen will disturb others, then maybe it’s best to use an electric stove in the room. I’m just sayin’. This definitely puts a stop to waking people up. I won’t lie, I’ve done it and it’s worked out pretty good. Turning on stoves can be a noisy thing to do. And getting rid of a smell? That can’t be done unless you’re having oatmeal or you’re secluded in a room. I’m not saying you have to go out and invest in an electric stove but maybe you have one lying around. And if all else fails, this is definitely a viable option.

*Sorry to break it to some of you, no we don’t starve all day. Let’s break the idea that Muslims don’t eat at all for the whole month. Totally not true. We’re allowed to eat before sunrise (Suhur) and after sunset (Iftar). These meals should be healthy and filled with nutrition. No sugary or fried foods for Suhoor as this will make you thirstier during the day.

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Be the person you always wanted to be

One of the reasons I love home decor is because it tells a lot of the person you are or aspire to be. Whether it’s your candle holder, your tea cups or even the books on your shelves. They all tell a part of your story. It’s really interesting once you think about it.

The pictures here are a reminder of who I was, who I forgot, and who I wish to find again. With the hustle and bustle of life, I forgot of the things that made me truly happy. When I was in college, I loved learning new languages, daydreaming of traveling, and even belly dancing. I stopped all of that once I packed up my stuff in a box and faced, what they call, the “real world.”

This is considered normal since it happens to everyone when they’re forced to grow up. Call it normal all you want but it should never be considered okay. You should always do what motivates you, no matter how crazy or juvenile it may seem. You may forget about it once but the second time make sure to not let it go.

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Keys to Good Cooking

It’s been a while since I posted a book review. It’s not because I haven’t come across great reads. On the contrary, I’ve come across more than enough good books to post on here. Most of my time has been spent in the kitchen baking and trying out new recipes.

Yesterday we tried making pizza. Let me tell you, it was a long process and this was without making the sauce from scratch. It wasn’t the best tasting pizza but not the worst either which is why I won’t post any recipe for it. But this is what learning is all about, right? We also made pigs in a blanket and binged on Loacker wafers. It’s fair to say that it was an indulgent night.

The night ended with me continuing a new culinary book I’ve been reading. It’s called Keys to Good Cooking by Harold McGee, a New York Times Bestseller author. It’s not a cookbook but I would call it a kitchen essential. McGee breaks down the processes in making food. For example, McGee will explain why your meat is too dry or how you can keep it juicy. He also delves into several ingredients and what they can be used for. A bonus is for his quick explanations on processes such as making jams and spreads.

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Café de la Régence

What a cold night this was. The great thing about Paris is that you don’t have to sacrifice being outside for staying warm. With the heaters above the tables, you can sit outside even during the winter.

We decided to stop by Café de la Régence. Many say it’s good place to stop by after visiting the Louvre. We didn’t visit the Louvre but we just needed somewhere to warm up and drink hot chocolate.

The hot chocolate here was so cute as it was in the shape of a flower as seen below. If I remember correctly, the hot chocolate had a cute name as well. Oh how I miss Paris.

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Lagom at home

The perfect way to spend a snow day indoors? Setting up a bed and breakfast with a good book. After New York City was warned of the bomb cyclone snow storm, I knew indoors was the place to be. I set up the perfect breakfast along with a great cultural book.

I recently purchased Lagom by Linnea Dunne, a book about living the Swedish balanced life. I’m a regular follower of Swedish bloggers and I always think there is something different yet appealing about their lives. Whether it’s their meet-ups or their interior decor, the Swedes always make their life look good. So when I saw there was an actual book to describe their lifestyle, I just had to buy it.

Dunne, a Swede herself, goes over the Swedish lifestyle concept of Lagom. Lagom is a Swedish term that translates to “just enough”. It can also mean being in balance. Throughout various aspects of their lives, the Swedish try to maintain a balance. They definitely have a perfect balance of work and fun which allows them to be happier and more creative. Oh and don’t forget the maternity and paternity leaves.

The book also explains the Fika culture in Sweden. Fika is the regular coffee time Swedes have with pastries on the side. The pastries are often called fikabröd translated to fika bread. Coffee and some warm cinnamon buns? I think I’ll move to Sweden now please.