LivLuna | living la vida luna

unique handmade etsy gift pick for her: kimono laptop sleeve

i admit it, i already bought myself my Xmas gift (isn’t buying yourself gifts wonderful? you get exactly what you need and want…). i was searching far and wide for the perfect laptop sleeve for my 11″ MacBook Air, as i had been using my old laptop bag which was ugly and far too large for my little baby laptop. [read more]

icon-user Author: Maria Olson Goins

i joined the Beautycounter cult: my must have foundation review

if you haven’t heard of Beautycounter yet, let me enlighten you. this upscale natural beauty brand dubbed the ‘Chanel of natural beauty’ has reached cult status quickly, in part due to it’s exclusivity – you can only buy the products online or through a consultant. and in part due to the luxe branding that distinguishes the products from the sea of Whole Foods body brands. [read more]

icon-user Author: Maria Olson Goins

olive oil zucchini bread with lemon glaze

somehow i always end up with some wilting zucchinis in my fridge, so i was on the hunt for fun zucchini recipes. and there’s nothing more fun than baking something yummy, and healthy enough that you’re happy for your toddler to actually have some, instead of having to hide it from them. the piece drowned in the lemon glaze, that’s for mommy. [read more]

icon-user Author: Maria Olson Goins

mommy + me bracelets giveaway

i discovered the cutest etsy shop called little pretties. the owner is a mom who makes a colorful array of gorgeous beaded bracelets right here in the US, and they come in baby, toddler, kids, and adult sizes, with adjustable clasps. did i go nuts and order four pairs – two for me and two for my girl? yes, and we’re in love! [read more]

icon-user Author: Maria Olson Goins

corn griddle cakes with cherry tomato cilantro salsa

this is one of my fave meals, and is requested by the hubs on a fortnightly basis. it’s fantastic in the summer with fresh corn and garlic scapes, but it’s healthy comfort food for the winter as well. i make it all year round as a veggie dinner, easy brunch, or delicious lunch. it’s a Mexican-Russian inspired mashup. [read more]

icon-user Author: Maria Olson Goins

smell the roses: the best natural rose beauty products

spring is in full bloom and it’s time to smell the roses. i adore the natural smell of roses, but i can’t handle synthetic fragrance, so i’ve been on a mission to find the best, and most affordable beauty products that have the strongest smell of roses thanks to essential oils, not chemical perfume. it’s so disappointing when something is labeled as rose and then doesn’t smell like it… [read more]

icon-user Author: Maria Olson Goins

cheesy caramelized onion + spinach quiche with homemade crust

i love a good quiche, and i dare say, i’ve created quite a divine quiche recipe. i used to make quiches in store bought crusts, but making your own turns out to be surprisingly easy and tastes sooo much better. crunchy buttery crust, cheesy yummy filling, this is a perfect brunch dish to serve guests, along with a green or carrot salad. [read more]

icon-user Author: Maria Olson Goins

mommy & me Lineage leggings review + giveaway

i’ve been on a neverending mission to find the perfect comfortable, funky, colorful leggings i can wear to lounge around in, for yoga, power walking, and working out. my sister in law told me about Lineage, a mom-owned small designer legging business based in NYC that claims to make the #bestleggingsever. so i contacted them and got to test drive a pair of Kaleidoscope leggings. [read more]

icon-user Author: Maria Olson Goins

baby’s first birthday: winter wonderland Russian tea party

planning my baby’s first birthday was so fun! her birthday theme was a winter wonderland Russian tea party, because i’m half Russian, and she was born in the winter. so yes, she is a snow princess, but luckily still unaware of Frozen, so i could keep it Disney-free, albeit the color scheme was very much Frozen, with an abundance of cream, teal, and blue, amidst pops of color. [read more]

icon-user Author: Maria Olson Goins