This post is sponsored by Native

Food and language are ritualistic aspects of culture, I was once told, and separating your interests from either one will results in your distancing from that primitive feeling of acceptance. That feeling we'll all experience during our lifespan, from cooking your favorite food with someone you love or having dinner together every day, to speaking your native language at home. These are cultural aspects that connect us to a place where we feel comfortable. The more I experienced integration and felt comfortable in my grounds, the more I started to question things. Why do we want to feel accepted? Who determines acceptance? What are other socio-cultural aspects that mean so much to me? What are their stereotypes? ... And with so many revolving questions came one answer: Hair care!

Without diving too deep - or maybe I've already drowned - as an Afro-Latino man who grew up in the Dominican Republic, my hair type is categorized as "malo" (bad). Ugly and unmanageable are also descriptive words used for my hair. I was taught that my hair was so uninterested and unpleasant to look at that my entire life, I've kept it very short. Now that I look back at my limited hairstyle choices, it was all because I wanted to be culturally accepted. A few years ago, I decided to grow my hair for the first time; I didn't know what texture or volume my hair had, so I was extremely excited to embark on this journey. A few months later - BOOM - my beautiful thick curly hair took a life of its own. Entering a new and exciting phase of learning to take care of it and understand its needs - yes, its needs!

I'm not proud to write this, but it took mistreatment and a significant count of chemically based products for me to learn a few pointers about proper hair care. As a result, my hair became dry and severely dull. Thankfully, I was recently given the opportunity to try Native's new hair care products; through my hair educating journey (as I like to call it), I was blown away. Because of my hair's current condition, I decided to use their Coconut & Vanilla Moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. It's been several weeks, and my hair has been literally thanking me for the nutrients and power it's finally receiving. I had no idea simple changes and ingredients were so impactful. Native's Hair Care products are made with 10 ingredients or less, which I didn't see possible considering everything I previously used on my hair. Also, sulfate-free, paragon-free, silicone-free, and even dye-free - SAY WHAT!?

Now, I can proudly say I've developed a healthy hair care routine. I've even included Native's Almond & Shea Strengthening Hair Mask as my hero product. When in the world did I ever thought I'll be using Coconut Shampoo and a Hair Mask? This feels so good! I'm so relieved I don't have to put my hair through any more experimenting phases. Thanks to Native's transparent ingredient directions, I know what to look for and what to stay away from. Ingredients I understand, honestly, simpler than what I thought. You should also develop a clean and healthy hair care routine alongside Native, visit Target (exclusively sold here!), and start nurturing your hair the way it deserves. This might sound silly or even stupid, but I finally feel my hair and I deserve each other 🙂

Cheers,

I would like to take these first sentences to commemorate and thank all essential workers currently risking their lives against this terrible pandemic. It goes without saying, that such heroic and selfless acts are not going unnoticed. Your passion and dedication is deeply appreciate by all of us staying home. I, personally, am very grateful for everything that you do. I hope everyone reading this post is staying healthy and safe. Remember to practice social distance and follow your local authority's guidelines.

We've all been having difficult times during this new normal, whether you're staying home or  fighting the pandemic at the front line. I'm sure a significant number of us feel that having a drink, while watching your favorite Netflix series, is the ultimate indulgement. If like myself, you enjoy simple, sweet, fruity, and strong - you're in luck. I've simplified, down to three ingredients, all my favorite cocktails. Due to the limitations on going out, I've been playing around with ingredients around the house and crashing dope cocktails.

Combining classic cocktails, like the mojito and margarita, into one simple boom of enjoyment that I now call the Margajito. To even upgrading the boring gin & tonic into something refreshing. I guarantee, that at least one of the cocktails in this list will bring out a big smile 🙂 Remember to enjoy, drink responsibly (be over 21 years old), and let me know which is your favorite cocktail. I would be thrilled to experiment and try your very own three ingredient creations - Cheers!

PINK GIN & TONIC

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 oz Aromatic Tonic Water
• 4 oz  of your favorite Gin
• 2 tbsp organic strawberry puree or freshly cut strawberries (not frozen)

DIRECTIONS:

• Pour aromatic tonic water into a tall glass
• Add the strawberry puree or strawberry pieces
• Gently mix using a tall spoon. Don't mix it too fast or too long, we don't want to flatten the tonic water, a few spins will be just fine.
• In a cocktail mixer/shaker, combine the Gin with a generous amount of ice. Shake for about a minute or until the gin feels considerably cold. We want to take the gin to a more refreshing state for when it meets the tonic water.
• Drain the gin into the tall glass. Pour gently and slowly, and you'll get the two-color effect in your glass, like the pictures show.
• Using a tall spoon, give it a few spins, garnish with some fresh strawberries, and enjoy!

PIÑA CULATA

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 oz of your favorite piña colada juice blend, I recommend Naked's. If you can't find a pre-made virgin piña colada juice, you can blend your own combination of fruits, based on what you have around the house. Oranges, bananas, passion fruits, pineapples, and even guava, can result in a tasty blend. That's why I'm calling it Piña Culata, it goes beyond the two basic fruits of the original cocktail, so be creative and stay topical!
• 4 oz of your favorite white rum
• 3 oz  or 2 scoops of lemon or coconut  ice cream. Sorbet works great too!

DIRECTIONS:

• In a blender, make your fruit blend or add the piña colada juice
• Add light ice
• Add white rum, and blend for about 20 seconds. Very quick blend.
• Add ice cream or sorbet, and blend for another 20 seconds. We don't want the ice cream to fully disintegrate into the mix
• Serve and garnish with either 1 extra scoop of ice cream or with fresh fruits. Salud!

MARGAJITO

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 oz lemonade
• 3 oz favorite tequila or mezcal
• Crushed mint leaves to taste
• Optional: 1.5 oz simple syrup or agave syrup, salt to taste

DIRECTIONS:

• Gently, rub or submerge the rim of a tall glass or mason jar with/into tequila
• With salt generously dispersed on a small plate, now submerge the rim of the glass into the salt. This step is optional, if choosing to do it, I recommend using Himalayan Pink Salt.
• Drop a hand full of mint leaves and crush using a muddler
• In a cocktail shaker, add a generous amount of ice.
• This cocktail can also be prepared blended, instead of adding ingredients into a cocktail shaker, add them to a blender. Blend on "Frappe" setting if available.
• Combine lemonade, tequila/mezcal, and the optional syrup
• Shake for about a minute or until drink is considerably cold
• Pour into tall glass. Don't drain, transfer everything in the shaker.
• Mix using a tall spoon until mint leaves are separated and dispersed
• Optional to garnish with extra mint leaves or lemon wedges - Now, cheers!

RASP BUBBLYBERRY

INGREDIENTS:

• About 10-15 Raspberries
• 4 oz of your favorite champagne
• 1 oz of your favorite vodka

DIRECTIONS:

• Crush a generous amount of raspberries, until made puree
• In a champagne glass, combine freshly squeezed raspberries and champagne
• Add vodka and gently mix using a tall spoon
• For best results, vodka and champagne should both be chilled
• Enjoy and drink responsibly 🙂

This post was sponsored by @AiriaSmartScent

Finding the right place to live and be emotionally comfortable can be very challenging, and at some point in our adulthood, we've all experienced this frustration. For me, the real challenge is in being comfortable enough as to call a space "home." Is about gathering and including all the little aspects of a living space that makes your heart happy. Ensuring that everything around you radiates joy, positiveness, and tranquility.

Unintentionally, I began the year hunting for a new sense of home. I was emotionally forced to transcend from one physical space to another, I was forced to explore new boundaries and face new challenges. I work and study from home, which makes it crucial for me to have a sanctuary-like space. I want to feel fully open, creative, and wanting to spend all my time at home. My partner and I went out, searched, and finally found the right apartment.

The next step was to find the appropriate elements to transform the space and, in all aspects, make it look and feel like we've always wanted. With that, came the responsibility of finding our new home's signature scent. While experiencing the transformation process, I was blessed to be introduced to a Smart Home Fragrance Device named AIRIA. A sophisticated, fragrance device that helps it travel throughout your home.

Currently, we have AIRIA set up in our bedroom, adding a flare of sophistication to the decor, while the rest of our home is also being scented. Having the ability to control the device from anywhere, using the AIRIA app, has been such a smart and convenient characteristic for us. Setting up timers, so that whenever we get home, it smells like home. Having AIRIA in our home is the kind of personalized experience I would like you to have. Play with the different scents, their intensities, the light colors; and create your sense of home. Use my code LOUIS20 for $20 off your device and share your home's signature scent using #AiriaSmartScent. Always make sure it's not just a roof over your head, be thankful for everything you have, enjoy it, and make yourself comfortable.

Cheers,

As a latin man, taking care of my skin and learning different grooming techniques wasn't automatically incorporated into my growing experience. I come from a community where men naturally care about their appearance and looking good - or at least presentable - but not so much on how they achieve the results. I remember observing the grown men in my community, and as long as they had a razor and some sort of soap, they were considered to be taking care of their skin.

Now, so that you have some cultural perspective, I'm referring to a group of men, which I grew up around, in the Dominican Republic more than fifteen years ago. A neighborhood where people certainly didn't have much, but we all knew and considered each other family.   I know, this can be an extremely foreign scenario to those that grew up in achievement-driven cultures. The point is, the way we perceive self-care and appearance has definitely evolve with time.

Today, the men of my community - and myself -have a broader understanding of taking care of your skin from a healthy stand point rather than simply appearance. Understanding that regardless of your gender, your skin is the outer and best representation of  YOU, requires a lot of barrier breaking and educating - specially when coming from an atmosphere of pure machismo. Going back home, and seeing the barbershops and salons offering skin exfoliation and facial cleansers as part of their services, tells me that a lot of work has been done in terms of changing a cultural mindset that skincare is simply that, and doesn't reflect on anyone personally.

After discovering Anthony, offering a great deal of products also catering to men, my skincare horizon have certainly expanded. They are now offering year round skin care essentials, delivered to you via seasonal subscription boxes. Offering everything you need to ensure a great and fresh experience from their very own shaving cream, after-shave oil, and even hand lotion. I encourage you to follow me on Instagram to get a first sight of their Spring Box and its content! Always remember to be open to try new things and devote yourself to find your favorites!

Cheers,