After a long week of being in the sun and salt water, or even just working or studying, it is always nice to have a refreshing spa night! We make it a weekly ritual to make a special dinner, do face masks, hair masks, and watch a chick flickkk! It’s like hitting the restart button, setting you up for the week feeling rejuvenated!
First things first, SNACKS! We like to cover all the bases (sweet and salty.)
Vegan ice-cream sandwiches w/ popcorn and chips & guacamoleee
Next we bring in the face-masks! These are our go-to’s!
We loveeee this mask because it’s super affordable and makes your skin feel so clean! It works really well with acne prone skin.
Don’t forget to apply a hair mask! Being in the sun and salt water almost daily takes a severe toll on our hair, so this is a MUST!
We really love this hair mask we found at Target! It’s super affordable and you can get a few uses out of it! It strengthens, restores, and smoothes damaged hair.
Once you’ve got your masks on, go ahead and pick out your favorite chick flick! (could be a horror movie but we get too freaked out after those in our home aloneee..)
I’m always trying to find ways to pack leafy greens into my diet because if I’m being honest I am not the biggest fan of kale and spinach, like do people actually enjoy those greens? crazy. But I have finally come up with the best green smoothie recipe everrr! I swear you can add an entire bag of spinach to this smoothie and you won’t even taste it! Total bonus: kids love this smoothie too! You can’t even taste the greens and it’s soooo yummy.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1/2 cup frozen mango
1/3 frozen banana
1-4 cups leafy greens (totally up to you how much but i love to pack in as much as i can!)
Liquid to blend (coconut water, almond milk, etc.)
optional:
lilikoi
fresh coconut
Blend!!!! and enjoy 🙂
Be sure to try this recipe out when you want a healthy boost, or just feel like a fruity smoothie!
We recently had the chance to try out this amazing eco-friendly and sustainable swimwear company!
We were sent two suits to try out and create content with. The suits came in their own adorable linen drawstring bag
The company was started in Southern California while the suits are made in Bali. The fabric for the bikinis are ethically made out of fishing nets, ocean waste, and regenerated nylon. Our love for bikinis is almost as strong as our love for the ocean and the beach, so we love to support brands that are eco-friendly and help keep our oceans clean!
The quality of their suits does not disappoint, all while keeping their price reasonably affordable as well as maintaining a unique style and an ethical approach!
We were sent a two piece bikini from “The Minimal Range,” which is a collection that they have. They also sent us a super cute retro reversible one piece from “The Floral Reef” collection.
This one is for my natural blondes out there. Although I am grateful to have naturally light hair, some of us have unfortunately been cursed with practically translucent eyebrows. Like seriously invisible, and it seems the tanner my skin gets the lighter my brows get, and I gotta tell ya, this makes for quite the look.
I used to hate the way I looked without makeup because of how light my brows were. Before I found this easy and affordable 5 minute hack, I would fill in my brows almost every day even when I wanted to go makeup free. When I would look in the mirror, my eyebrows were pretty much invisible and I was not a fan. I have had my eyebrows dyed in the past but honestly the $25-$30 dollars I would spend every few weeks just wasn’t worth it!
I’ve been using mens beard dye for about 3 years now and it works wonders! When I told everyone at my mom’s salon what I had done they didn’t believe me! I feel like it is my duty to share this simple, easy, affordable, and almost no brainer beauty hack with ya’ll! Just for the sake of this post I let the dye fade out for almost 2 months, so you’re welcome!
BEFORE
AFTER
What you’re going to need!
“Just for Men” beard dye, mixing plate (I use a jar lid), and an angled eyebrow brush.
I use the medium brown shade but there are lots of other options!
This process is super simple. All you need to do is put one part color base and one part developer, a little goes a long way! Mix the two together as shown above.
Then use your angled brush to trace the natural shape of your brows.
Now let the product sit for 5 minutes. I have to warn you, you might look crazy for a minute, the dye turns almost black in just a few minutes. Don’t freak out, it’s just the color developing.
After your 5 minutes is up go ahead and wash off the dye, and reveal your visible brows!
This $7 beard dye lasts me almost 9 months, seriously the best decision ever!
And there you have it, at home, fast, and affordable brow dye! Hope this post helps somebody out! Just tryin to help y’all save that coinnnn!!!
Have you ever made a meal and just had the feeling that it was missing something? It can be especially hard when using only plant-based ingredients to really find the perfect sauce or “condiment” to add that special something to your food. Through trial and error we have found our favorite go-to sauces that compliment almost every flavor palette.
Marayah hears me constantly complaining about how the thing I miss the most in the Vegan diet is Sour Cream. Now with this cashew cream I don’t catch myself wishing for it’s unhealthy counterpart, Sour Cream. Marayah also has never been a fan of Sour Cream or cheese in general, but she lovesss the cashew cream! Below is the recipe for the Cashew Cream.
Cashew Cream
makes around 2 cups
Ingredients:
1 cup raw Cashews
1 cup hot water
1/2 lemon (juice)
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar(ACV) *optional- gives more of a Sour Cream flavor
1 TBSP. Nutritional Yeast *optional- adds a Cheddar cheese flavor
Instructions:
Place the Cashews and a 1/2 cup of the hot water in your blender (if you have more time, leave the cashews to soak for around 10 minutes)
Add the juice of 1/2 of a lemon as well as the salt, black pepper, and any of the optional ingredients.
Begin blending, as it comes together add more of the water until it creates a consistency that you like.
Blend until smooth!
Taste! – add more salt or lemon depending on your preference!
Our favorite part, EAT
This Cashew Cream is the perfect sauce to top off your tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chili, avocado toast, baked potatoes, and so much more!
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Avocado Crema (Whole Foods)
For a while last semester, after class Marayah and I would go share a Whole Foods burrito LOADED with our favorite, Avocado Crema. After running real low on money from spending at least $8.00 on a burrito every single day haha.. we decided to try and recreate the crema ourselves! I haven’t bought a burrito since, and instead of buying burritos I’ve bought more bikinis 😉 So here is the recipe so you too can save money for some much needed retail therapy…
makes around 1 cup
Ingredients:
2 ripe Avocados
1 lime or lemon
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 cup water
1 TBSP. Olive Oil
Instructions:
Place the Avocados into the blender (without skin and seed)
Add the juice of lime or lemon into blender
Add salt, pepper, and Olive Oil
Blend
Add water little by little to achieve the consistency you prefer.
Taste! – add lime/lemon juice and salt to your preference
Enjoy!
We consider this crema a staple, we eat it on pasta, in burritos and tacos, with chips, and even sometimes with veggies as a dip. It is literally the. BEST..
Garlic Lemon Hummus
When Marayah told me she had never had/made homemade hummus I was baffled. It is one of the easiest/ most affordable things to make and is in my opinion, much better than store bought hummus. Down below is the recipe!
Ingredients:
2 cans of chickpeas/garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained)
Juice of 1 lemon
1-2 cloves of garlic
1 TBSP nutritional yeast (optional)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. paprika
2 TBSP olive oil
Instructions:
Blend all above ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth.
Top with a sprinkle of paprika and enjoy!!
We hope you guys enjoy these sauces/dips as much as we do!! They’ve become a staple in almost all of our meals!
Sooooo I’m sure you’ve heard, but our planet is kind of dying, and quickly. It’s really devastating to think that we as humans have managed to single handedly destroy the earth. What many of us fail to realize is that every single person’s contribution plays a role.
“It’s just one straw”- said 8 Billion People
Not only is buying locally a great way to reduce waste, it also supports local produce farmers!
I think the main point of the whole “save the earth” movement is to put forth effort. Your small contributions do make a difference. Yes, there are times that you’ll forget your reusable bags or straw but the point is that you are trying your best, and that alone makes an impact!
Being in the ocean or on the beach nearly everyday has caused bikinis to become a staple in our everyday life. We find ourselves wearing bikinis more often than clothes! There are thousands of bikini companies around the world consistently releasing unique designs trying to attract the eye of consumers like Marayah and I…
We’re constantly on the search for the perfect bikini, judging on fit, style, price, and quality.
Mahkia Kinis is a company based in Melbourne, Florida. Their suits are made in Bali, Indonesia. They have found a way to include all our requirements for the perfect bikini into their suits.
Their sizes range from extra small to large and are true to size. The fabric has an amazing stretch, while still maintaining its original shape and size while fitting to your body with ease. They have an array of simple designs as well as adorable prints. With bottoms ranging from full coverage to cheeky, they have a suit for everyone.
Each piece is under $25.00 which is an absolute STEAL!! They are currently having a Buy 1 get 1 free sale, which means you could get an amazing high quality bikini for under $25.00!?!
Our Favorites
Pictured here is our favorite set, the Nicole top and bottom in the color Golden Hour!
This is our favorite print, Tiger Shell. It is worn here in the Kiera top and bottoms.
Here on Maui there is a mango tree on almost every street, and come April the trees are packed with ripe and juicy mangoes. Today we wanted to share three different recipes to incorporate them into your meals! We know that not everyone is lucky enough to be able to walk a block away from their house to a tree full of ripe fruit… but thankfully costcos and trader joes all over the main land have y’all covered!
One of my favorite things to have for breakfast is an easy 4 ingredient chia pudding! This pudding is so thick and creamy, and tastes absolutely amazing!
Vegan Mango Chia Pudding
servings: 4
What you’ll need:
2 large mangoes
1/2 cup chia seeds
1.5 cups milk alternative (I prefer coconut milk)
1-2 TBSP sweetener of your choice (optional (agave, honey, maple syrup, etc.))
In a blender, puree 1 of the mangoes and chop the other into small pieces. Next, Combine and whisk together the puree, chia, milk alternative, and your chosen sweetener in a bowl. Mix in the fresh pieces of mango and place in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
Scoop into a cup and top with fresh mango & coconut flakes! Enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or a snack! So delicious and super filling as well!
Mango Bread
I have a serious obsession with banana bread so this mango bread is a dream come true and so so simple. This recipe doesn’t call for anything crazy, so that means no running to the store for an ingredient you will only use once, which will undoubtedly end up sitting in the back of your pantry for the years to come. I wish I could claim that the recipe below is super healthy, but hey, the truth is, its got processed sugar… sometimes ya gotta splurge. We’re doin our best to find a balance, and when it comes to baking ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
3 flax eggs (1 TBSP ground flax with 3 TBSP warm water = 1 egg)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup grated coconut
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
1- 2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup coconut oil
Brown sugar, organic sugar, coconut, vanilla essence, oil, and flax eggs
Flour, Baking soda, Salt and Cinnamon
After blending all ingredients together, your batter should look something like this.
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F.
Grease loaf pan
In a blender, pulse the mango for 30 seconds.
Add brown sugar, organic sugar, coconut, vanilla essence, oil, and flax eggs and pulse for another minute.
Mix in the dry ingredients: Flour, Baking soda, Salt and Cinnamon.
Pour into a loaf pan and bake for 55 minutes. Be sure to check the bread with a toothpick to make sure it is cooked through before removing from the oven! Let cool for 10-20 minutes.
Serve warm & enjoy the taste of heaven in your mouth.
Mango Salsa
This recipe has got to be one of my favorite things we have come up with. We ate the entire 2 cup serving of this salsa in one sitting… It’s just too good.
Ingredients:
1 & 1/2 cups of fresh diced mango
1/2 can of black beans (rinsed and drained)
1/2 of an onion (diced)
2 TBSP lime juice (fresh)
3 TBSP chopped cilantro
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. chili powder
3 TBSP chopped green onion
1 TBSP finely chopped purple cabbage
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl!
Taste! – add salt or lime if needed.
Enjoy!!
^^The mango salsa is pictured above being served with our vegan tacos!! This was literally my favorite meal we have ever made.
The salsa would also be great with chips, as well as on Nachos. It is an extremely versatile food and would pair well with almost anything!
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Be sure to follow our blogs instagram to be updated on when we post next! linked below!!
Hey guys, today we wanted to introduce ourselves a bit more.
I’m Marayah (mu-ray-uh)(my friends call me graeyah), one half of The Broke Blondes. I was born in Southern Oregon and grew up spending lots of time on the island of Maui, enjoying the outdoors, surfing, and living in the salt water. I always said that I would move to Hawaii someday, so that’s exactly what I did. I grew up in a full house with my parents, three brothers, and two dogs. I was truly living an American dream lol. Most of my childhood was very active, fun, and family oriented. When I was in the fifth grade my parents got a divorce which really wrecked my world (I will talk more about their separation in a future post). After their divorce I began seriously struggling with weight and body image, I also plan to go more into detail in the future about the weight gain, and loss. It wasn’t until I was a junior in high school that I was able to take control of my health. I began living on my own when I was 16, started my homeschooling, and working as a full-time nanny. These major changes have pushed me to be extremely independent, and self-motivated. I moved to Maui the summer after my high school graduation and I have to say that had to be the best decision I have ever made. I am obsessed with the lifestyle I have created for myself here and have finally learned to live completely in the moment. I am super stoked to be launching this blog with one of my closest friends! I absolutely love writing so I’m looking forward to using this outlet to share my passions with anyone that is interested. Follow me on insta! @graeyah
I’m Anja (on-yuh), the other half of The Broke Blondes. I was born in Florida and moved to Colorado at a young age. From there my family and I moved around many times on the search for “home.”I was homeschooled throughout middle school and high school. In 2014 my family of five moved to Maui, Hawai’i. The move affected my life in many ways, uprooting my two siblings and me from our current home in Durango, CO and shifting our life to a whole new culture and climate. However tough the transition to Maui might have been, the results have been beyond worth it. Surfing became a huge part of my life, I began surfing competitively from 2015-2018, but now I like to call myself as a free surfer. I love anything that involves using my hands, jewelry, art, pottery, cooking, sewing, and writing! I can’t wait to explore this new platform with my best friend. Check out my instagram!! @anja.liotta
Be on the lookout for our next post coming in the next few days involving our favorite thing, FOOD!!
We are The Broke Blondes, not by choice, but currently that is our situation
Our names are Marayah & Anja, we’re currently living in paradise, on the island of Maui, Hawai’i. We met in our first year of college and instantly connected through our passions including fashion, food (AKA eating wayyy too much), beauty, and traveling.
On this blog we hope to share many stories from our lives (good & bad), plant-based recipes, fashion & beauty reviews, as well as our travels. We plan to be as transparent as possible because everyone knows instagram is simply a highlight reel of the best possible moments in life.
Hopefully we will succeed in being as real as possible while keeping you all entertained. Hope to see you all on the next post!!
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