5 tips to stay fit during the Holidays

Yes you read that correctly.

I (and half of the world) tend to flush down the toilet our healthy eating habits when it’s Christmas time and in the last five years I have learned that is way more enjoyable to start the year with 1-2 extra lb. than 10. Not to mention the famous New Year’s resolution of «I am going to lose ___ pounds».

By no means I am a specialist on nutrition or I am telling you that this is the way to go but these five tips have helped me to keep on track during the stressful and (yummy) Holidays.

1. Give yourself two cheat meals a week. Don’t ruin your healthy eating by focusing on «oh Christmas is just once a year». Yes it is only once a year but you don’t have to spend 31 days over-eating. Negotiate two meals a week where you can have a green light with your favorite foods.
2. Don’t skip the gym. Since you are going to be in the festive mood please by all means don’t skip the gym. It is good for you and it will boost those happy happy happy endorphins. If you are not a gym person then keep active.
3. If you get invited to lunch, dinner or coffee with friends or family have a smaller portion of everything this way you taste all the good food but half the calories.
4. Keep track of your alcohol intake. I personally don’t drink that much, but when I do I tend to go for the fruity, sugary drinks. (Yes, I know…) So try to keep track of the empty calories here and there.
5. Keep your body hydrated. Water is your number one friend these Holidays (and the rest of your life too).

Hope this helps 🙂

That time of the year…

This year went by so fast the last thing I remember was sitting here writing the 2016 New Year resolutions post. I mean… as I grow older my years go by faster and that is something to keep in mind next time I am worrying about something stupid. Last year I wasn’t feeling the whole Christmas vibe around me and started to decorate a bit late but this year topped last year and for some reason I am not feeling Christmas at all. I remember my first holiday here in Madrid; I was utterly excited and I just want to feel that excitement again.

I don’t know if it is because this will be another holiday without my parents or the fact that European holidays are way much different of what I am used to, but I am trying by best to get in the warm Christmas vibe.

The best way to cut out negativity? Being grateful.

So instead of my usual Monday list post I want to take a second and feel grateful. There is always something to be grateful about.

 

Merry Christmas to you all

May this day bring  joy and happiness to you and your loved ones

Always remember that the best gift you can give to yourself is to love you for who you truly are

Merry Christmas from The Golden Limoncello

 

How I prepare for Christmas

I normally get in the Holiday spirit around the end of November but this year it took me a while to feel the vibe. I started decorating my home on December 5th and after that I added one or two accents every week. In our last home I couldn’t decorate much because it was so small that I really didn’t want to saturate the place.

I used our mini tree from last year but this time I added a small stool so it now looks bigger. I also bought some pillows and added a little fun to our fridge door.

Today I’m still working (from home) and I am feeling Christmas more than before. It is a lovely cozy feeling…

 

Buon Natale!

This is my first Christmas in Madrid and I am feeling really excited and nostalgic at the same time. I miss my little sister and spending quality time with my parents. The warmth of Nina resting on my lap while I sit petting her.

I want to wish you all a fabulous Christmas.

May you all spend this day with your loved ones and have fun.

Smile, laugh and eat all the things you like.

Buon Natale from The Golden Limoncello! 

December: 6 lovely things just before the year ends

How did December arrive so fast?

It seems like yesterday that I was a caged little bird living in Caracas and now here I am spending Christmas in Madrid. Time flew so fast. I am trying to embrace every little detail and breathing everything in. My life has changed so much that I quite can’t figure out how did I adapt so smoothly to this new chapter of my life.

This month has been a lot of work and I am happy that I am keeping busy. Jimmy and I have been producing and directing other artist’s music videos and I have to say I am enjoying myself a little too much. I have been running in the cold lately and I have found out that this way I run faster. Now I am also an official «Fannibal» after having a «Hannibal» TV series marathon (you got to love Lecter don’t you?).

So here six other things before the year ends:

Our little tree cheering up my cold mornings

My glorious Britney-moment when I got to meet the cast of Nito’s music video

Finally gifting myself some exotic eyeshadow and the amazing Beauty Blender (where has this been all my life?) 

Surprise on my coffee: no, that is not how you write my name, but who gives a damn when you have a lovely little flower next to it?

I am not supposed to eat chocolate due to migraines…but this happened. 

Changing our bedroom colors. My mom sent me these and they still smell like her.

Advent calendar: 24 days of kindness

My parents always told be to be kind: they showed me how with little details everyday. Nowadays, I rarely see acts of kindness but when I do, I smile because I believe that there are still some good people out there.

It takes so little effort to be kind and yet we decide not to be. I understand why, I know pretty well that specific feeling that we experience when we do something nice for someone and it goes by unnoticed. But it’s ok, we can still sing our song even if no one can hear it. Kindness is not about having an audience, it is about having you own private little happiness show. 

So the other day I was strolling down the aisles of the supermarket and I saw they were selling advent calendars. I suddenly remember how much I always wanted to make one and I had a fantastic idea (yes, I tend to have them sometimes), I should make one.

So between this lovely advent calendar I found on Pinterest and some list making, I made the «Kindness Advent Calendar». If you need some inspiration you can find ideas here and here.

Since this is going to be my first Christmas in Madrid, I wanted to make it different and special. I will let you know after I finish the calendar’s list how it went.

Do you guys use advent calendars?