Fish Soup (Caldo de pescado) Recipe

Hello friends! Today I made fish soup/broth for lunch and being that cooking is also one of the things that I find so much enjoyment and passion over I wanted to share. I might periodically try to post up some other recipes as time goes on. If you try it, you might be pleasantly surprised and like it or you can tweak it to what ever you like best! See ya!! ;)

Catfish whole (ask your butcher to cut for you)
6 carrots
4 large potatoes
2 celery stalks
4 tomatoes
1 onion
3 garlic cloves
1 chile pasilla
cilantro bunch
lemon (optional)
salt
Knorr chicken bouillon
oil (I used vegetable oil)
pan
stew pot

In pot start to boil water about halfway full with onion and garlic clove and salt.
Cut up your potatoes, carrots, and celery and drop into the pot that you have started with the boiling water.
In a pan heat up some oil, open up your chile pasilla,clean it, and fry/toast in the oil (without burning it). Cut up your onion, tomato, garlic (roughly cut) and cook in the extra oiled pan until tender. In your blender take the chile pasilla with a little bit of the water from the vegetables and blend until smooth. Use a sifter to add your chile pasilla to the broth/soup.Once the tomato and onion mixture has softened in your pot blend it all smooth and pour in your pot as well. To the pot add roughly cut cilantro and chicken bouillon-taste for salt preference. At this point all your vegetables should be soft, and your catfish entirely cleaned out so that it can be added to the soup. Cook the fish until tender and once the soup has attained the desired consistency. Best served hot,optional with a drizzle or lemon.

*keep your flame/fire at a med level because you don't want all your vegetable to break down.
*When you add the fish bring flame/fire to lowest temp for a slow simmer so that your fish does not fall apart.

Enjoy!! Hope you like it...It's not too fishy-not too spicy,just right!! Leave me comments below :) !!!

1 Year Anniversary!!- B3beautybyblanca/ YouTube

Hello Friends!
I'm super excited to share that it has now been one year since I started my channel B3beautybyblanca on YouTube! It's pretty awesome because it was something that I wanted to do, but wasn't sure I'd be good at-because I'm not a pro. I just happened to become pretty much addicted to beauty videos on YouTube; with plenty of time on my hands thought it might be something that I could try to do.

When I started my channel I wasn't expecting to become any YouTube star, which I haven't become- and that's o.k. I asked my friends on Facebook to come over and watch me, which probably sounded pretty annoying. But I'm really grateful to those that did and continue to take the time to watch a video or read my blog. It's really meaningful to get that support and it makes a big difference.

I should explain that I didn't start my channel because I'm egocentric or even think that I'm so beautiful that I can't get over myself....that's far from it! I have always felt normal,regular, I guess?! I do however believe that doing what you like and really enjoy makes you feel good and gives you a particular satisfaction. So, even though I'm not a professional make up artist, I don't have the funds to try the millions of beauty products that I would love to try and be able to tell you how awesome they are-I really enjoy doing this!!

I started the channel in the hopes of having something positive, to keep my mind entertained and distracted from problems/life. Not that I would be escaping reality, but rather bringing some beauty to it-did you catch that ;) ? This seemed like a new adventure when everything seemed to be going wrong. I needed pretty much desperately to feel that I could create, be productive, and learn. I don't know if my make-up techniques are all that great, but I think I've developed them a bit (or I'd like to think so! you can be the judge of that! haha!). When I started doing the videos I had no idea how to edit them,NO CLUE! I won't say that I'm a miracle worker now, but I'm content with the fact that I have learned so much about how to make a video/tutorial. And it's not as easy as it seems when you see it.

When we look at a video/tutorial within the first few seconds have enough time to decipher whether it should be allowed our view or not. Meanwhile, on the other side of the screen preparing, creating, revising the project takes so much time even for a video that will only be a few minutes long.

Well, even at my inexperienced level it has taken a lot of time which I have enjoyed for the most part. I guess the joy doesn't come in knowing that thousands of people will watch the video, rather in the fact that you put the work into it and completed it! I would have loved to have done more with my channel in the past year but because of health reasons I did not feel balanced enough to continuously produce more work (because it is work even if the only thing you earn from it is self satisfaction).

O.k. so this has been stretched a bit long...I have to say THANK YOU again for being supportive!!

-P.S. official date 2/17/13-first video published on YouTube
(I had other issues to attend to this week and had not been able to post this! ahhh!)
-Oh! I saw a beautiful humming bird today in my back yard near the basil plant I like to believe they're good luck and anytime I see one I will make a wish! Hope it works!

DIY: Chocolate Covered Bonbons

Hello Friends!

Today, I'd like to share a super easy DIY: What's better than bonbons? Well, that's easy chocolate covered bonbons!! I think it can be used for any occasion just by changing up a few things like colored ribbon or any decor you choose.

You will need:
1. Jar with lid/Mason Jar
2.Bonbons
3.Chocolate
4.Large & small pot (to melt the chocolate) details below
 FYI: Both of mine are glass but you can use a regular pot and glass bowl over it
  (whichever you use make sure it's heat resistant)
5.Foil or wax paper
6.Flat board,cookie sheet (to lay the bonbons to harden the chocolate)
7. Curling ribbon, decor

Directions:
1. In a large pot fill with water about 1/4 with water and place the smaller pot inside once the water has warmed up.
2.Place the chocolate inside the smaller pot,at this point you can turn off the fire, as the chocolate will melt with the bath water (don't put the chocolate in the water)
3.Stir until all of your chocolate has melted.
4.Dip your bonbons into the melted chocolate and coat completely using a fork to move them around and to take them out of the chocolate-
5. Hold the bonbon on the fork to let the excess chocolate run and place on your foiled/wax paper sheet (where it will be cooled)
6. Place in the refrigerator 15-20 min (even less) until the chocolate coating has become hard on the oputside
7. Place your chocolate covered bonbons in your jar
8.Decorate your jar (add curling ribbon, adornments, or even write a special message on the jar)

Choose your chocolate: white, dark,milk chocolate (here I have chocolate truffles/dark)

Choose your bonbons: White,colored, small,large (these are large) Keep in mind the smaller they are the longer you will last coating them with the chocolate

Find your jar: basically any jar with a lid, mason jar, heart shaped or other. Keep in mind your choice of decor-if you're adding color/paint on the outside, give it enough time to dry before handling the jar.

Warm up your water and put the chocolate inside the smaller pot (clear of the water). Stir until melted to soft consistency. Keep in mind that you don't want to boil the chocolate,only melt it.

Drop your bonbons 1-2 at a time and coat them completely with your fork. Hold on the fork to drip excess chocolate.

Set your covered chocolate bonbons to cool and harden on flat surface/cookie sheet,cutting board. As an option you can also drizzle the bonbons if you don't want to cover them completely or if you want to do a variation with less chocolate.

Place bonbons in the refrigerator 15-20 (or just until chocolate hardens)

Once  they have been cooled place your bonbons in your jar.

Add your ribbon, decor of your choice before you place your lid on.

And you are done!! I'm sure yours will turn out awesome!! Put your personal touch, whoever receives it will love it!!

This is a very cute idea!! It's delicious and the jar can be used to save other goodies when the bonbons are gone- and that will be fast!!! So, of course you can do this for Valentine's Day! If you don't like dark chocolate, use white chocolate, choose a heart shaped jar, choose a heart and hang it on with the curling ribbon of your choice, or if you're an artist paint your jar-why not? This can be as personal as you want to make it!! Good luck!!

Hypothyroidism...Today...

Hello friends :) ......

If you recently read my previous post about how I found about hypothyroidism and symptoms you'll most likely be somewhat familiar or at least recall them (if not, it's the previous post before this). This post, although it is about the same topic is not directly about me. Rather, this story came to me from my mom, who spoke to my sister, who lives in another state (in the U.S.) Yes, it's one of those...

The story (real life of course) is that a lady with the same health issue (hypothyroidism) , taking her medication, did end up in a comma. Even though, I don't know this person or all of the details of how it happened, I was told that the medicine she was taking was not doing what it was supposed to do. I was a bit shocked at first to hear this because as I had researched this seemed to be possible as an extreme effect of not taking the medication. So, it just seemed quite irregular that inadequate medication will also have an adverse effect and probably one of the worst case scenarios. As a result this person did end up in the hospital and was treated for the comma, which she was brought of it. First, it makes me think...that even if you're doing what you know to be the best for your health it can sometimes still affect you in  negative way without you even knowing it. But, in hindsight I think that if this is the case there must be symptoms that tell you that the medication is causing some negative effects, so that you will be able to talk to your doctor about the possibilities of a new prescription. And, well even if medicine as a field has long been bringing people in and out of commas for different reasons sometimes they too make mistakes; or not exactly, rather, they give you recommendations to follow but only you know what is best and the actual effects that any medication is causing your body. Then, I know that even if doctors can bring you out of this state, that because the body fell ill to an unnatural state it will need time to recover back to being normal (coming out of  comma sometimes may mean re-learning basics). Whether it is good or bad, your body is the best determining factor that will ultimately tell you if it accepts this or any treatment.

I know that this was quite recent to my previous health post (and no not all of my posts will be about this) but it's like when there is something introduced to you-whether a product or idea-every time you see it,it's like there is now so much of it/them (if products) that seemed never to be there before. When in fact everything has always been there, we just don't pay particular attention to them because it may not be in our interests. I hope I'm not too confusing, but for example: you see a beautiful car that you would love to have or just think looks gorgeous (dream car status), now every time you see a car like it you stop to look at the details, different colors, whether there's a new model, sometimes even who was driving it, if in fact you like it the way it is or you would change any details if it where your car. This is the same concept with anything really... yes, even makeup!!   

Finally, I will end this chit-chat by saying that....I wish I where not a natural worrier always, but I am forced to be a realist as I see things like this changing my life as days go by. I'm not saying that this will happen to me, but it simply makes me aware and informed of other factors. Always be proactive in your medication regimen-this means yes following what your doctor has recommended for you but his advice has to be completed as best you see fit for you as you are the sole responsible person for your health as an outcome of any treatment. You know, I love learning and I hope that you may find some of it interesting, if not appealing. Have yourself a lovely week!! <3

Finding out about Hypothyroidism...

  Hello friends, today I will be including a more personal blog post about being diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I feel that even though it's something that can be very common, it's said to be mostly found in elderly women (60 and above as shown by case studies). Why do I want to share this with you? Because I feel that it's important to know that sometimes we may have all the symptoms that our body is trying to let us know that things are not right and we refuse or cannot comprehend. Even if you personally may not suffer from this, there might be a relative or friend that does and this way you can just let them know you understand. Even though, I initially debated whether I really wanted to put this out there because I"m a very introverted person and don't like to discuss my problems with other people, I decided to do it in the hopes that it may help someone.

 I had seen/researched a bit about the possibility of having thyroid problems way before I was diagnosed, but never took it seriously enough to ask my doctor to test me for it. I have been having weight issues, fatigue, irregular cycles and other things for a long time but did not know they could be related. I initially went to the doctor for my anxiety about seven months ago(which I may discuss fully in another post/video because I'm still dealing with that). I told him, I wasn't sure what was affecting me for certain but I wanted to be tested. How do you test for it? I simply took a blood exam (this was a few months after that first visit-I really dislike blood tests) ;Surely enough it came back positive as I suspected. I came home and jokingly told my sister, "See, I have a reason to be fat". Which honestly is not even funny but what else could I do. It's not something that I provoked by not eating incorrectly or any such case. So what is it? There are two types of diagnosis, you can have an over active thyroid(known as hyperthyroidism) or in my case under active thyroid (known as hypothyroidism). It's a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. What are the symptoms? The symptoms can be easily confused with other health issues, or attributed to getting older. As I myself have been caught saying many times," I can't lose weight as easily because with age your metabolism slows down". Although, this may be true, the fact is that having hypothyroidism does not make anything easier. Common symptoms are described as fatigue,lower energy levels, depression, weight gain, excessive sleepiness, sluggish feeling, constipation, aches/pains, high cholesterol, muscle cramps, swelling of the legs, cold intolerance, dry skin/hair, muscle cramps, and decreased concentration. If the disease should escalate it can lead to puffiness around the eyes, slower heart rate, drop in body temperature, and heart failure. In the most severe cases, it  can lead to a life-threatening coma(rare) (myxerdema coma), as the onset result of serious illness, surgery, stress, or traumatic injury (in this case the person must be hospitalized and treated with hormones by injection);or cancer of thyroid gland. How can it be treated? Hypothyroidism is treated with thyroid hormone replacement, but if it's not treated it can lead to an enlarged heart (cardiomyopathy), heart failure, and an accumulation of fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion). 

So, although, I knew a bit about thyroid issues I was not educated nor did I receive a crash course by my doctor. I was told, that the blood test showed that my levels were high and he'd give me a prescription that would regulate my metabolism. Also, he asked me to eat healthy since my cholesterol came back a little high (I wasn't told exact numbers); eat lots of greens, salads, avoid late dinners, and exercise to reduce weight (although it was not a priority at this point because he told me not to lose weight too quickly). I came home did some online research, was initially scared by what I found, did some of the healthiest eating ever, cut out a lot of the bad stuff and began taking my prescription. I was prescribed Synthyroid-Levothyroxine in a low dosage(1 pill 30 min-1 hour before breakfast). At first I noticed I had lost weight, then after a few visits had gained a few pounds. Even if this seems a bit discouraging, I am glad that I know that I'm doing the best that I can to help my body try to maintain at its potential health. This is hard, because I love to cook and of course I love food, but I find myself having to say "No", even if I really mean"yes" (of course I cheat all the time).

At my last doctor's visit I was told that it's under control with the medication (I've been on it for about 4 months).He said normal levels are 0-5, and I was at 4 (4 point something). So definitely my advice, if you see any symptoms that you may recognize ask for the test, best thing that can happen is to be told that you don't have it. But in case that you do, it's better to be able to treat it early on before it should worsen.

Another thing that I cannot forget to mention is that we really need to be sensitive to others. What I mean is that people can say hurtful things without even taking the time to understand that someone might have a health issue that causes a weight problem. I mention this specifically because there are at least three very specific instances that I felt very hurt by people's comments regarding my weight even though they were not people that were near me(also at this time I did not know about any thyroid issues,I just felt over weight),those comments are still etched in my memories. Please take the time to understand others, understand their situation (not only specific to this or to me). 
A kind word uplifts and hurtful words tear down..use your words wisely.

I'm at least glad that this was found in a very treatable stage, even if from what I understand I will have to continue with this medication indefinitely. But on the other hand I'm pretty certain that this will not be any "crippling disease"-in the sense that everything seems "pretty normal". I will try to keep you posted if there are any significant changes. Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I know it's not beauty related directly; but it is- 
Our health is optimum to be able to feel at our best.

Hope to hear about any thoughts or comments you may have down below, or if you have any questions I will try to answer them as best as I can...

Influenster Jolly Voxbox

Hello friends! I'm excited to share what I received in my Influenster Jolly Voxbox....quickly if you're not familiar with Influenster, it's an awesome site that lets you review things according to how you score on the surveys taken on their website. If you are chosen to receive a themed box, it's free;however you are expected to share on social media (participate) and answer a survey at the end. So, it really is a nice thought to know that you will have something coming in the mail that you are essentially gifted, in exchange for your opinions. That being said, let me show you the Jolly Voxbox (Christmas theme)...In a red box I received 5 items, all full size. Below I will show you pics and a little description of each <3 <3 <3 Thank you Influenster!!http://www.influenster.com/

This little red box arrived to my house jammed packed with goodies inside...the card on top says "Influenster #JollyVoxBox Can you hear the children's laughter? Do you see the candy-colored lights lining the street? It's the most wonderful time of the year: Filled with treasure to keep you smiling from ear to ear,the Jolly VoxBox is finally here!". On the reverse side it has the items listed on the box with individual prices for each (which I will list below next to pics).

VIEW VIDEO REVIEW NOW!!

As you can see this little red box was filled right up to the brim!! 

Puffs  Ultra Soft & Strong To Go Tissue Pack: $0.49/single pack

Yes, we all need some tissues...because even though it's that happy-jolly time of year, it's also that

 time that everyone gets sick :(.But even if you don't get sick you can use them for makeup removal!

NYC New York Color HD Color Trio Eye shadow: $2.99

This trio comes with some wearable neutral shades..

Rimmel London NEW Show off Lip Lacquer: $5.49-$5.99

The lip lacquer applies like a lip gloss but it's opaque

 enough to resemble a lipstick, that means less time putting on your makeup.

Skinny Cow Candy: $3.99/Box, $1.09/Single bar or pouch

These chocolate treats are delicious and you can enjoy guilt-free because each pack (3 pieces)

 is only 130 calories. They're so good and the caramel center is definitely a plus :)

 (full box comes with six individual packs)

#Iamachocolatelover

Ducklings Mini Rolls: $2-$3

Since, you'll be busy wrapping up your presents all cute and fancy, some cute tape is always handy.

Disclaimer:  I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

 However, I was not paid in any way or form to speak/write about these products.

High-Top Bun Hair Tutorial (Hair Donut)

Hi friends! Today I wanted to get this super-quick,easy hair tutorial up for you...just in case you say not another bun tutorial-HEY! You haven't seen mine! So please go watch it. It's perfect for something that looks put together without doing a lot of work. It's gonna make you look fabulous <3 P.S. this eye look will be going up soon!!

Watch the video now!! :))

Please remember to subscribe to my Youtube channel and this blog to stay updated on new videos ;*

http://www.youtube.com/user/B3beautybyblanca

http://b3beautybyblanca.blogspot.com/

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