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Karla Vega
Normally when I am craving something sweet, I tend to want to grab the most sugary thing I can see like cookies and ice cream, but being on Keto has shown me that I can enjoy those sweet treats without all the carbs and refined sugar. And nothing like a good fruit smoothie to satisfy those cravings. Try this quick and easy recipe that will sure to make your heart happy and your belly full. Try it out and let me know what you think with a comment below!
The ‘Very Dairy Berry’
1 oz. raspberries
1 oz. strawberries
1 oz. blueberries
1 cup milk–you can even substitute for almond, cashew or coconut milk but be careful of the carb intake
1 full juiced lime
dollop of redi whip whip cream—again you can even substitute coconut milk whip cream also made by redi whip—came across this and the intake for carbs & fat is keto friendly
And there you have it! A simple and easy snack that can me made in the matter of minutes and will leave you satisfied for hours. That’s what I’m talking about!
Trip with me and my husband on our adventures together!
A travel guide to help you with tips, places to visit, good global eats and anything else that comes with taking a trip away…. let’s start the trippin’!
In all the years I lived in MA, never have I been to the cute little seacoast city of Newburyport. So over our staycation this past week, we decided to head to this scenic and historic MA destination. I always like relaxing quick day trips while exploring my state at the same time. I’m a big fan of quaint, tiny but historical towns and cities with many choices to eat, shop, relax and enjoy.
If you decide to head to Newburyport, on the way, you must stop at Colby Farms https://www.colbyfarms.com/ in Newbury MA, just the next town over. Not only do they sell fresh fruits & vegetables along with pork & beef products, they also have the most beautiful sunflower fields for you to walk around and take those IG worthy pics in. Considering that this is one of my favorite flowers, I was in heaven walking among the beautiful fields. The sunflowers are in bloom only for two weeks at the farm so make sure you check on their website/FB page for updates to when it is open. The best time to go is during the week because the weekends are crazy busy (I learned this from several reviews). We went on a Friday morning which wasn’t bad as far as how crowded it was. With their produce and meat stand, tractors and other machinery to take pics on and several fields to roam around, there is enough room for everyone. They have their own separate field for parking and it was only $10 a car. Not bad at all. For the gorgeous scenery and atmosphere, it was definitely worth the ‘detour’.
Within a short 12 minute drive from Colby Farms, my hubby and I arrived in downtown Newburyport https://www.newburyport.com/. We found parking quite easily actually in a paid parking lot right on the water’s edge called the Waterfront Trust Parking Lot for $1 an hour. You can’t beat that price! Right in the middle of downtown where shops, restaurants and entertainment are all at your fingertips.
After a couple of hours walking around the square, take advantage of the coastal view on the many benches offered for your leisure, right in front of the parking lot. There was even someone playing the keyboard to add to the relaxing ambience.
We decided to make a reservation at Sea Level Oyster Bar, http://sealevelnewburyport.com/ offering front and back patio dining as well as indoor seating. I would assume in the warmer weather, a reservation would be needed even in Covid times. It was 80 degrees out so we opted to sit indoors next to an open patio server entrance to take in some fresh air. We ordered 2 dz oysters for appetizers. I mean, how could we not? We were at an oyster bar. My husband also had a clam chowder which I also tried and I must say, it was pretty damn good. For our main lunch, we both ordered salads. I know, we’re so boring but we didn’t want to fill up too much on lunch. I had mine with blackened salmon and my husband had his with blackened chicken. Both salads were filling and delicious. Since we did so well with our lunch meal, we decided to splurge (and cheat!) a little on dessert. Cue in the sweet special of the day: Banana Cream Pie with whip cream and a drizzle of caramel. Oh. My. Goodness. That was pretty damn yummy! I would def recommend this place for tasty meals, the sweetest treats, some good libations & a comfy casual atmosphere!
Wanting to walk around Market Square District and window shoppe after eating, there were several fun little stores I wanted to go in, like https://www.merakiwelivelikethis.com/. Funky, eclectic, one of a kind pieces of clothing, jewelry and shoes….this store was right up my alley. I bought a pastel tied dye tank and lightweight 3/4 quarter length sweater for around $70. Not too bad for boutique quality. There were some fall jackets I really liked but those were a little too pricey for me. It’s always a hit or miss when it comes to local boutique clothing stores. I most likely look at the sale rack (which my sweater was on) and I lucked out this time. I did come across some clothing from a company I adore called https://spiritualgangster.com/. Tie dye, inspo clothing and all about peace, love and fashion. Either way, I still think it’s a fun place to check out. Another cute shop worth visiting that specializes in handmade bags is Vaalbara, https://vaalbara.com/ on the corner of Water Street and Market Square. An array of products for the home and body from candles to home decor to clothes to accessories, it’s def worth taking a walk around the store.
Before heading to Newburyport, I looked up ‘attractions’ and there was a lot of mention about The Pink House https://www.supportthepinkhouse.com/, in abutting town, Newbury MA. It was literally a pale, pink, abandoned house in the middle of a salt marsh off the Plum Island Turnpike, next to an airport for private small planes.
The story behind this desolate home about a spiteful divorced couple from 1925, and its exterior portraying a sad & spooky, but serene look to it, intrigued me that much more and I knew I had to see it for myself. There have been a lot of back and forth as to what the town’s plans are to do with this house, but for now, as it sits in wallow despair and loneliness, its a local attraction for any newcomer to the area. Worth the drive by to witness its eeriness from the main road since there is so much talk about it. The property belongs to the federal gov’t, so trespassing is forbidden. Just take note of that if you want to quickly snap a shot.
At this point, it was around 5ish and my husband and I wanted to end our lil day trip with a pretty beach sunset. This was the first time going to the beach this summer due to Covid, so we wanted to make it a memorable one. We headed to Plum Island, https://www.newburyport.com/plum-island-beach/ parked in their adjacent lot, which was $15 per car…a little steep if you ask me considering it was end of the summer and not during peak hours. We paid anyway, well because, we wanted to have some relaxation after a busy, but fun day. Literally right across the street from the main parking lot of the beach is Plum Street Provisions, which we stopped in for some snacks and drinks. Always nice to have something at your fingertips especially since the beach’s snack bar was closed due to Covid.
We set up our blankets and chairs while we awaited the sunset for two hours. 
Plum Island is a very clean beach with sand bars during low tide that you can walk on and take in the gorgeous view. The water was a little cold at first but then was warm after a few minutes of being in it. There were porta potties right at the entrance which was not a long walk from the beach. A long wooden boardwalk that led to a picturesque gazebo overlooking the water sets the tone for that extra romantic pic.
My hubby and I enjoyed the sunset and the beautiful views all while laughing, joking and talking about our day’s adventure.
This was the perfect ending to an amazing day and an awesome way to start our staycation.
Thank you for checking this post out! I hope you found it helpful and enjoyable!
Until the next trip with us on Trippin’ It With the Vegas’!!
And the Kolor of the month isssssss……B L U E 💙
Ahhhhh, we have just passed the last days of August and have started to enjoy the first days of September. It seems like the summer just flew by, wouldn’t you agree? And although the summer goes well into the third week of the new month, when someone hears the word September, they think of the Fall season and everything is Autumn & Halloween decor in the stores and Pumpkin Spice is the new coffee flavor of the times. I am not ready to let go of the summer or the sunsets, the beach, and the warm weather just yet. I’m a sun girl, what can I say? Summer is one of my fav seasons, so seeing it come to an end is making me a little sad.
But, I am ready to embrace the new month ahead for everything it is worth. September is the ninth month of the year although its name actually means ‘seven’ because it was the seventh month on the Roman Calendar back in the day.
September is a power month that symbolizes on refocusing our energies. It brings achievement, attainment, satisfaction, personal growth & enlightenment. By recognizing these attributes, we strive for our own personal position of influence in the world and our ‘intellectual power & abilities encourages us to use our inventiveness & creativity and take hold of any situation in order to make a positive difference.’ I’m all for those things and some!
Why blue?
The birth month of September is sapphire–the ‘gem of all gems’ in it’s gorgeous BLUE hue, so of course this had to be the Kolor Me Karla Series kolor of the month. Sapphires were thought to be of royalty in its purest form to priestesses and goddesses. They were worn to protect the wearer from evil and wrongdoings. Hence, why it symbolizes purity, wisdom & personal growth. In latent terms, taking in all the positive and warding off all the negative to fully enjoy one’s personal journey through life. A whole lot of symbolism from back in the day history as to the origin of September and its meaning, but one that we can all appreciate to this day in living that ‘good life’. I love me some BLUE!
So with that being said……Here’s to continuous personal growth, to new teachings & learnings and to a slew of new experiences and memories. Here’s to all things BLUE this month and to ‘Sapphire September!’
Motto for this month ahead: ‘POSITIVE VIBES ONLY’…….literally 😍
Trip with me and my husband on our adventures together!
A travel guide to help you with tips, places to visit, good global eats and anything else that comes with taking a trip away…. let’s start the trippin’!
For the love of B-R-O-O-K-L-Y-N❤️
New York, especially Brooklyn, will always have a piece of my heart. Plus, it’s where my hubby is from, so it is extra special to me. I lived in Brooklyn, in Williamsburg to be exact, for about two years and I absolutely loved it. You get city living with that suburban feel….IMO, the best of both worlds. And since moving up to MA ten years ago, any chance we get to go back, we jump on it. Every time I go back to Williamsburg, I fall more and more in love with it. I always tell my hubby that I am not done with NY especially in the 11211 area code. Who knows? Maybe in the near future, we will move back there. We will see. But for now, a quick little 4 hr. getaway is what I will take.
This past July, since our vacation plans were put on the cancellation list due to CV-19, we decided to take a trip to the good ole south side of Brooklyn to enjoy some time with the fam. If you are in the WillyB area, Domino Park is a MUST go-to https://www.dominopark.com/
. Reconstructed and redone from the Domino Sugar Factory, you get breathtaking views of NYC overlooking the East River. In the distance, you can see the Statue of Liberty.
The perfect spot to chill with friends on the makeshift grass or on one of the many lounge chairs they provide; take a stroll around the whole park, or just sit on a variety of benches and enjoy the gorgeous view. They have a food stand within the park called Tacocina, https://www.heytacocina.com/ , if you get hungry. Serving up, you guessed it, tacos, beer and cocktails on the go. That’s always one option for food. Or you can bring your own from any of the surrounding restaurants.
Have a sweet tooth while enjoying the park? Grab an ice cream at the ice cream truck right outside the park’s perimeter. Overpriced, but that’s an option as well.
At Domino Park, you get the view, the laidback atmosphere, the chill ambiance, the relaxation, the serenity, and the fun all at your fingertips. An unforgettable experience. Side note: During this (CV-19) time, they had checkpoints to enter and exit the park with security, checking bags. Not sure how strict they are with what you bring into the park especially in the present times we are living in, but be weary about that.
Need some W & S? What I call walking and shopping. Then literally take a walk down Bedford Avenue from the north/south side (you can legit walk from one side to the other) and I guarantee you, you will find something to fit your fancy. Many options from cute boutiques to fun and quirky shops that will have you wanting to buy something. If you are on the north side, check out Pema on North 7th & Bedford https://pemany.com/. A little bit of everything from clothing to shoes, to accessories.
In the mood to venture off the main road and wanting to find more of a variety of fun clothing for the curvier girl? Check out Plus BKLYN https://plusbklyn.com/ on Metropolitan Ave. Vintagey & thrifty, you can find something to add to your closet. An added plus to this store, is that you can actually sell your clothes to them and get money. A beneficial way to swap and make money with reusable fashion. A win win in my book!
Need a coffee break & maybe a little sumthin’ sweet from all that walking? Then you NEED to go to Martha’s Country Kitchen https://marthascountrybakery.com/location/williamsburg/. OH-MY-GOD, we were staying on the south side and we walked down to North 1st and Bedford every night to get an iced latte and a lil sweet treat. You wanna talk about a dessert lover’s dream…you get anything in here from pies, to cookies, to cakes, to gelato, to actually anything you can think of that is SWEET. The ultimate bakery that will not disappoint. For reals tho. And their portions are just as big as their selection.
Hungry for food food? Check out Patrizia’s (35 Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn) https://www.patrizias.com/location/patrizias-williamsburg/. You will not be disappointed! Serving up homemade Italian dishes just the way Grandma Maria used to make them. I have been there several times and I always leave full and happy. That says a lot since I come from an Italian family who owns Italian restaurants and people like that are usually biased. I’ve had their appetizers like the Burrata & Fried Calamari, to their pasta dishes like Fettuccine Carbonara to their Linguine with White Clam Sauce, to their Chicken Pecora and Lamb Chops Special over Broccoli Rabe.
Their portions are just as generous as the staff so you will most likely be taking a doggy bag home. But definitely leave room for their delicious dessert like their homemade Tiramisu and Cannolis. Those cannolis are pretty damn good. They have a praline crunch to them that makes you wanting more than just a single bite. Accompany either of those with a cappuccino or espresso, and you are in heaven.
I have never had any of their brick oven pizzas (yet), but I heard they are just as delicious as their dishes, so def worth a try.
They offer indoor as well as outdoor (weather permitting) dining as well. We have been inside to eat and it reminds me as if I was sitting at my grandma’s table with my whole family for Sunday dinner….loud, busy, and packed, but in a familiar and endearing familial way. It made me feel like I was right at home. And I loved that. Eating outside is just as nice, sipping on a glass of wine, people watching while we ate our food.
They are open from Tuesday-Sunday, CLOSED on MONDAYS, so take note.
If you want a more romantic ambiance with great cocktails and food, check out Aurora on Grand St. https://aurorabk.com/. 
My husband actually took me here for my birthday and I fell in love with the scenery as soon as we got there. An open patio (the only available seating because of Covid times) covered in bright green ivy, made it feel like you were stepping foot into the forbidden secret garden. It was so cute and sexy all at the same time.
The scenery was perfect for my birthday dinner. And even though it was bustling in there, we were sat at a table close to the back of the patio and semi private which made it feel like it was just me and my hubby in the room with little background noise.
We started off with some drinks, (I mean it was my birthday, how could I not have a glass of wine or a Basil Hayden on the rox) and some delectable appetizers like the Prosciutto di Parma plate served with creamy Burrata and Charred Octopus, which was cooked to perfection. I had the Branzino, which was served with artichokes and fennel pureé. My husband had the Skirt Steak served with crispy potatoes and broccoli rabe. We licked our plates clean, needless to say, so definitely a 5 star restaurant in our book. And even though we were stuffed to the gills, we enjoyed the atmosphere while sipping on our frothy cappuccinos and nibbling on our Peaches Amaretto Tart that they stuck a candle in for me. A really nice touch since we were celebrating. The waiter was very friendly and hospitable and made my night at Aurora a pleasurable one. Definitely need to go back to this little hidden gem when we visit BK again.
Feeling adventurous and have some time? Take a walk from Williamsburg to the Lower East Side (Delancey St.) in Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge (enter through Berry Street b/w S 5th and S 6th Sts.) Even though I have lived in NYC for five years, with two years residing in Williamsburg, I’ve never walked the bridge until this past July. And we only walked half of it because it was 90+ degrees out and we were H O T. I would love to try it again, maybe on a cooler day.
Taking a nice stroll over it is really pretty with views of the city and the East River. Plus you get tons of exercise within an hour span. You can’t go wrong with that! Views, exercise, and peace sounds like a win-win situation to me!
Lots of people walking and biking to and from the city this way due to the beauty around them. Walking the Williamsburg Bridge is like ‘An oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city.’ Perfect way to describe it! Exactly, how I felt when I walked it even after half the distance. I would suggest you put on your walking shoes and take the trek to the city this way!
All in all, I love NYC and Brooklyn. What can I say? I’m a city girl at heart and this city will always have a piece of mine.
Thank you for checking this post out! I hope you found it helpful and enjoyable!
Until the next trip with us on Trippin’ It With the Vegas’!!
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an escapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
~Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In the recent months, it has been upsetting turning on the news especially when we, as a national whole, watched a police officer kill George Floyd in broad daylight by kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes. It not only was devastating, but heartbreaking to us all, seeing this murder being taped for all of us to watch, as the other officers at the scene, did nothing to stop it while George Floyd yelled that he couldn’t breathe. I’ve never watched something so inhumane, brutal and callous in my life. Yet, we still keep seeing this type of racism happen before George Floyd and sadly, even after him. This should never have happened in the past, this should never happen presently, and this should never happen in the future. Enough is enough! We are all one race and that is the H U M A N race and we all should be treated equally and justly. BLACK. LIVES. MATTER.
We should all be kind, be loving, be compassionate and be supportive of one another. And that includes in business as well. I decided to write this fashion post to highlight some amazing companies that I have bought from and have showcased on my IG page over the years. Female owned, black owned & small business owned….boutiques & cute shops that feature different, funky & fun pieces of clothing, from accessories, to shoes & of course bags! Check these out below (hover over the pic to get the description) and click on the pics to be redirected to the businesses’ sites, and most importantly, show some love with a purchase!
#SupportBlackOwnedBusinesses
#SupportSmallBusinesses
#SupportFemaleOwnedBusinesses
#BlackOwnedBusinesses
Some other businesses worth checking out:
You Are……
A total BADASS!! Yes, you! That’s exactly how I feel when I read Jen Sincero’s ‘Badass‘ Series. I first came across her first book I read, ‘You are a Badass‘ (yellow) by a friend who actually sent this to me because they thought I would love it as much as they did. And they were right! I loved it so much, I ended up buying two more of Sincero’s books….’You are a Badass at Making Money‘ and ‘You are a Badass Everyday’. And I equally fell in love with those two just like their original. Something about a renowned author putting your badass qualities to light and having faith in you to succeed in all areas of your journey, reassures you that you can and will achieve anything that YOUR badassery allows. I actually call these books…the FEEL GOOD series, cuz that’s exactly how they make you feel when you pick them up and dive in. I’ve re-read them several times too, have done the exercises and overall feel like I am a total and complete BADASS that has control of my life. Let me know if you’ve read these too and if you enjoyed them as much as I did!
And the Kolor of the month isssssss….O R A N G E.
I love me a good face moisturizer especially ones that help with issues that I have faced being a middle aged woman, such as pesky wrinkles, those oh so fabulous (not really) fine lines, patches of discoloration from too much sun. You all know what I’m talking about. I have to be honest though. I would use Cocoa Butter, Lubriderm or Neutrogena as a face cream but since getting older, I have invested in products that will help me combat my slowly aging skin. So, I went on the hunt for a good face cream and came across ‘Fresh’ beauty products http://www.fresh.com. With amazing reviews, I decided to buy the Lotus Youth Preserve day & night cream combo, because if I could combat my facial problems with two products rather than one to cover a 24 hour period, why the hell not? I was all in. Total score!
The day cream~~Lotus Youth Preserve Moisturizer with Multi-Action Super Lotus~~not only is very lightweight, but smells amazing and helps with those pesky fine lines I mentioned earlier due to the star fruit leaf extract built into it. The night cream~~Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream Super Lotus Night Recovery~~is the same lightweight texture as its counterpart, smells equally nice & fresh and helps with overnight coverage to restore your skin’s natural beauty while you sleep. The Super Lotus in both creams, ‘helps to hydrate, support radiance and deliver antioxidant protection for a youthful look.’ I have been using both creams religiously and can definitely tell a difference. My skin overall feels smoother, fine lines are slowly fading away and wrinkles are not so defined and deep.
Each bottle holds 15mL which is more than enough IMO. Because of the effects of each cream, a little goes a long way. A 1/2 a dime size is plenty to have it work its magic. I have been using these bottles for a couple of months and am just now needing to purchase new ones. For $19 ea. or $38 for both, I think it is a total steal since the results back up its purpose. I love these creams so much, that I decided to get the Soy Cleanser as well! This face cleanser is lightweight, easy to apply and does what it promises! By combining this 3 in 1 face wash along with the creams, my skin has never looked better naturally!
All in all, I would give this a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ across the board! If you decide to go with these moisturizers & or face wash, let me know what you think with a comment below!
And the Kolor(s) of the Month issssssss……RED,WHITE & BLUE.
It is officially July and that means officially summer, where going to the beach is a weekend must and relaxing by the pool is favored. Sipping on some nice cocktails while soaking up the sand & water, how can you not like this type of relaxation? July also means July 4th where fireworks brighten the sky and people watch in awe. The birth of America. It is also the birth month of ME!!! So, of course July is my favorite month! Holla to Kollllahhhh!!🙆🏻♀️ So, let’s enjoy this month, let’s enjoy the sun & the beach, those cocktails & BBQ’s, those fireworks & get togethers, & let’s enjoy each other! Here’s to the (predictable…..I know I know, how could I not showcase this kolor kombo tho!?!) Red,White & Blue……..and to ME & YOU!
And here’s to my B I R T H D A Y month e’rebody!🥂
~~Remember to be kind to one another, take care of one another, learn from one another, listen & value one another, respect one another and love one another~~
It’s My Party & I’ll KETO it My Way…..continued from last post
~This is in continuation to my last post in the diaries ‘That Keto Glow’~
Ok, so I gave you the recipe on how to make Keto sugar free homemade sprinkles for ice cream, cakes, cupcakes or desserts. Now, I will tell you how I made Keto cupcakes as well as a Keto buttercream frosting for my hubby’s birthday that we celebrated last month…so easy & yummy!
For the cupcakes:
4 eggs
1/2 cup of Erythritol–Monk Fruit or erythritol or xylitol
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 tablespoon Coconut Oil melted or you can use avocado or flaxseed or almond oil too
2 cups Almond Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
Instructions:
I made cupcakes for this recipe but you can also do it as a cake. For cupcakes, I used several cupcake pans and made about 18 cupcakes in total. If you use one cupcake pan that golds 6 then you will obviously have extra batter left over for another day. I was using this for a birthday get together and needed to use all the batter. These instructions are for one time use.
- Preheat oven to (160C) 325F. Grease several cupcake pans with either butter or oil or you can use cupcake holders like I did since I was giving them out to people. Set the cupcake pans aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs with sugar free sweetener, oil and vanilla. I used Monk Fruit sweetener and avocado oil. It should not take more than 30 seconds to a minute to whisk those together.
- Whisk in almond flour and baking powder and whisk until evenly combined.
- Pour & distribute evenly, the vanilla batter, into the prepared cupcake pans.
- Bake the cupcakes for about 20-25 minutes or until the center of the cupcake, upon checking with a toothpick or fork, comes out clean with no crumbs on it.
- Let the cupcakes cool for about an hour or two.
- Set aside and start on the frosting!
Side note: these are gluten free cupcakes and will not rise much so be aware when baking.
The buttercream frosting: 
1 cup Butter soft, out of the fridge for 4 hours (5.3 oz)
3 cups Sugar-free powdered sweetener-Monk fruit or erythritol or xylitol—make sure it is POWDERED
1 teaspoon Vanilla essence…..I used Vanilla extract because I couldn’t find any essence at my local supermarket…Make note: Vanilla essence is less concentrated that Vanilla Extract…..1 teaspoon of extract = 1.5 teaspoons of essence
2-3 tablespoon Coconut Cream or heavy cream…I couldn’t find any coconut cream either so I used heavy cream
Instructions:
- Add the soft butter and vanilla in a stand mixer. I actually used a hand mixer and it worked just as well. Mix on high speed until it forms a smooth, fluffy butter.
- Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the sugar free powdered sweetener, half a cup at a time. When all the sugar free sweetener has been added, mix on medium speed for 2 minutes until it forms a fluffy cream.
- Add cream…I used heavy cream… and keep whisking for 1 minute to incorporate all ingredients mixing together.
- Spread the frosting onto each cupcake accordingly (after cooling for about an hour or two is finished).
- After you evenly distributed frosting onto each cupcake, replace cupcakes from pan to plate and set the plate aside in the fridge for at least two hours so the frosting sets.
Since this is a buttercream frosting, let cupcakes sit at room temperature for at least 20-25 minutes before serving. Enjoy this sweet treat for any party or occasion!
