Chocolate Rebellion

Despite the fun and innovative title of this blog post (credit to my younger sister), this is a topic that I, myself, am just starting to learn about. While I educate myself on this serious subject, I'd like everyone else to take it in their own hands to learn the origin of those nutty Snickers Bars and Milky Ways that we carelessly indulge in at the Friday night movies or during those midnight craving moments.

My younger sister recently heard about an issue that all chocolate lovers, like myself, should take very personally. Thanks to my sister, I am encouraged to spread the word about this topic.

Food Empowerment. 

And How It Relates To Child Slavery. 

The Food Empowerment Project raises awareness on how your food choices can affect our world. Chocolate is a product of the cacao bean which grows in tropical climates such as West Africa and Latin America. Because many children in West Africa grow up in poverty, they begin work in the cacao farms under the false belief that the pay is good. Other children are sold, oftentimes by their family members to traffickers or farm owners. And in some cases, children are abducted and forced to work on the farms. These children can range anywhere from 7 years old and work on the farm into adulthood. These children work all day and use dangerous machetes. They are robbed the opportunity for an education. They are exposed to dangerous chemical in the farms. And worst of all, these children are beaten for working slowly or trying to escape.

Needless to say, the majority of these children have never even tried the sweet treat that we all take for granted, chocolate. 

While most companies use chocolate from origins such as Africa and Latin America which enforce child slavery, there are ways to indulge in this treat without promoting a dangerous life for these children. The Food Empowerment Project encourages people to go vegan. Now, this isn't an easy transition. We are not asking that you completely change your diet, but instead, take baby steps and start with chocolate. Vegan chocolate. 

What is veganism? For those of you who do not know, going vegan means eliminating anything that comes from animals or insects from your diet. There are many benefits to vegan chocolate. For one, there is no dairy. Great for any lactose-intolerant people. And secondly, vegan chocolate does not promote the use of child labor. 

The Food Empowerment Project provides a full list of "Approved and Not Recommended Chocolate". One of my personal favorites is Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. It is a healthier, yummier, and safer alternative to a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. It is gluten-free, vegan, organic, and kosher, with 0 trans fat and 2 grams of fiber. 

Coming from Orange County, a city that revolves around money and social ranking, I encourage everyone to think about their own children. We would never put our own children through that, so why should these children live under such circumstances? The next time you have a sweet tooth for chocolate, please opt for something that will genuinely help make this world a better place for all of us. Stay healthy and keep these kids happy. 

Please check out the Food Empowerment Project to learn more about this issue and to learn tips on how to take action. 

Shop With Care and Spread The Word, 

xo, Kiana

 

Images: (Left) The Huffington Post, (Right) RoarMag.org

Crazy For Coconut Oil!?

With the dozens of oils in Whole Foods & Trader Joes now, it is amazing what you can substitute in your kitchen and even bathroom to make your diet, skin care, and hair care routine au natural! Amongst those many oils, Coconut Oil has made a recent debut in the beauty world, but many of you may not know that is has many health benefits as well!

1. Cooking

Substitute butter and olive oil for coconut oil when you are cooking or even baking! You can grease your pans with coconut oil or even coconut oil spray. Don't forget to add a spoonful to smoothies for a beachy getaway in your mouth!

2. Moisturizer

You heard me, lather up baby! After showering, rub this into your pores for a long lasting, sweet smelling moisture. Apply this to chapped lips for natural moisture. This will even prevent stretch marks for those of you who are expecting ;) 

3. Tanning Oil

Of course, just like tanning oil, coconut oil will attract the sun. Unlike tanning oil, coconut oil doesn't contain mineral oil that will clog your pores and leave you feeling greasy. Beware, you still need sunscreen to protect your skin from premature aging and sun inflicted skin disorders. 

4. Make-Up Remover

Take a spoonful of coconut oil and rub it between your fingers before applying it straight to your face. Gently rub this over your mascara and eyeshadow and wipe away with a cloth.

5. Shaving
Apply coconut oil on your legs when you are in a hurry to give your legs a slick texture that your razor will glide over, reducing the risk of cuts or razor burn. Once finished, wipe away and apply another layer for added moisture and sexy shine. 

6. Hair Treatment

Run your bottle of coconut oil under hot water until it has turned to oil. Apply the oil to hair, focusing on the ends. Let sit for at least 20 minutes then rinse. For a deep treatment, leave in over night and protect with a shower cap. I suggest washing hair twice to ensure all oil residue is gone. 

7. Oil Pulling

Stay tuned for my next blog post to discover the art of "Oil Pulling". It is the newest technique in the holistic health care world. Find out next time how and why you should try it out!

I hope that you guys learned something in this blog post and put some of these tips to use! Let me know in the comments how you guys use Coconut Oil! 

See you soon!

xo, Kiana

Bora Bora Bliss

Hello Everyone ~

On December 25, 2013, my parents surprised my sister and I with a scavenger hunt. At the end of the puzzle, we screamed with excitement. The pot of gold at the end of the maze was a trip to Bora Bora. We would leave on February, 14, 2014 (yes, Valentines Day). With so much excitement for what was ahead, none of us could have predicted the intimate memories that would accompany us long after we landed back in California.

For those of you who have already watched our YouTube video, you know that we stayed at both the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa and the St. Regis Bora Bora. They are both owned by the same person and both gave us an incredible experience that we will never forget. I know that many of you will be traveling and are looking for an explanation of which one we enjoyed better, so here we go...

The Hilton Bora Bora was magical. Nothing wrong about it. An amazingly friendly staff and plenty of activities. Later in our trip we decided to take a visit to the St. Regis for lunch. Upon our arrival, we were shocked by the ambiance of this resort. It was vibrant yet relaxed. The amenities at this resort go above and beyond. That night, we made the decision to move to the St. Regis the following morning. The Lagoonarium at the St. Regis is like swimming in a packed aquarium - perfect for those who are looking to go snorkeling. However, the rooms at the Hilton Bora Bora provide great snorkeling beneath your own bungalow, whereas the St. Regis waters are deeper and more suitable for jumping and diving. The food at the St. Regis is absolutely mouth-watering. I wish I could say the same about the Hilton. All in all, if I had to choose one, it would have to be the St. Regis.

Along the way, at both hotels, we met some of the most welcoming and sweetest people. The Hilton Bora Bora had such a friendly staff who would great us every morning, afternoon, and night. By the end of our stay, we were pretty much friends with everyone there. With much more people at the St. Regis we made a few friends that we know we will keep forever. In town, we ate at restaurants with fun waiters and even made friends with our go-to taxi driver - Teddy! We went to Bora Bora with the intention of relaxing and enjoying the serenity and vibrancy of French Polynesia. When we left, we realized that Bora Bora is more than what you see on magazine covers or Instagram. Bora Bora is immersed with culture and heritage. The people are proud of where they live and everyone is happy because, as they say, they live "simple lives". It is electrifying being around people who are always joyful.

Now as for my tips of advice to those who plan on traveling to Bora Bora...

1. 1) Bring sunblock - the sun in Bora Bora is very strong and even on cloudy days, you will get burned. 
2. 2) Bring bugspray - we neglected this one night as we had cocktails next to a creek (a mosquitos hervana) and  woke up the next morning with 25 bites that looked like welts. 
3. 3) Take the time to talk to locals and see what is like to live in Tahiti. 
4. 4) Learn a few words of French and Tahitian before your trip. We learned phrases while we were on vacation which not only allowed us to communicate with people much better, but it made them feel more comfortable as well. You will noticed that you will commonly be greeted with these words. For example: 

In French: Bonjour, Merci, Bon Nuit, etc.
In Tahitian: Ia Orana (yorana), Na na, and Maeva

For our favorite restaurants and activities...

• Bora Bora Yacht Club
• Te Pahu Restaurant at St. Regis Bora Bora
• Food Trucks in Vaitape
• Matira Jet Tours
• The Lagoonarium at St. Regis Bora Bora
• Hobie Catting with Tini at Hilton Bora Bora
• Tour around the main island with Teddy the taxi driver

For our photo compilation from our trip, click here: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7vjW5GdELA

If you have any other questions please leave them down below and I will get back to them immediately. For those of you who have travel plans in the near future, have a safe flight and get ready for the time of your life! 

All the best, 

Kiana