Author: HomemadeInLA

Clean Beauty, Skincare

SHEA MOISTURE CANNABIS SATIVA: Skincare Review

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SHEA MOISTURE CANNABIS SATIVA: Skincare Review

When my Ursa Major products were in their final stretch last summer, I was in a bind to quickly secure a new face wash, toner, and moisturizer before heading on the road to hunker down in Montana for a bit. As I’m sure you know, online orders were taking weeks to arrive so I needed to find a clean skincare option that was available via Target Pickup (my go to quarantine solution for all things non-grocery). After researching the available inventory of my local Targets, I settled on three items from Shea Moisture. I had purchased Shea Moisture’s Coconut Oil Body Lotion a year prior and liked it, so I figured their newer line of Cannabis Sativa products featuring hemp seed oil, witch hazel, and Vitamin E would work just fine. Keep on reading for my honest review.

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Adventures In Cooking, Food

“Board” In The House

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“Board” In The House

I have not attended a good ol’ fashioned, (non-virtual) Happy Hour in almost a year now. And if you’re anything like me, a world without discount drinks & half-off eats is a lot less happy. I have, however, brightened up my days of quarantine by whipping up one of my favorite Happy Hour staples – a platter of cured meat, quality cheese, and other handheld bites. So whether you want to call them charcuterie boards, cheese boards, or snack boards – these tasty plates have not only provided sustenance but have kept me from being bored in the house 😉

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Good Reads, Our Spiritual & Emotional Health, Personal Stories, Wellness

RADICAL FORGIVENESS: A Brief Book Review

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RADICAL FORGIVENESS: A Brief Book Review

Although I had a variety of religious influence as a child primarily through Baptist, Catholic, and Islamic teachings – I’ve always considered myself to be more of a spiritual person. I have always been curious about the “meaning of life” and what comes next. I believe in a higher power but have stopped putting a face, name, gender, and even form on said power. The only thing that I am truly certain of in this life, is that I know nothing of what lies beyond this world. I do believe, however, that our time here on Earth in our physical body is just a mere moment in our soul’s existence. In short, I bought Radical Forgiveness at the start of 2019 with the hopes of discovering some tools to help me better understand, cope, and make sense of this crazy adventure we call life. I didn’t get around to reading it until the start of 2020 but overall, was very pleased with my purchase.

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Clean Beauty, Skincare

URSA MAJOR – Skincare Review – Part 1

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URSA MAJOR – Skincare Review – Part 1

Last Updated: Spring 2026

Ever since I became a Detox Market customer in 2018, I have been eyeing Ursa Major’s products. I finally took the plunge at the end of 2019 and purchased their facial cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and night cream. Keep on reading for my honest review of this natural skincare line.

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Destination Guides, Travel

Puerto Rico – A Vacation Must!

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Puerto Rico – A Vacation Must!

Exactly one year ago today, I flew back home after an amazing week in Puerto Rico. I obviously did not know the future of 2020 at that point, but looking back, I’m so grateful that I was able to have an adventure filled trip before the days of quarantine showed up at our door. If you’re champing at the bit to travel, I hope this post provides a glint of joy or even maybe some inspiration for coordinating your next great escape once the hospitality & travel industries are up and running at full speed again.

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Clean Beauty, Makeup

My 5-Minute Makeup Routine

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My 5-Minute Makeup Routine

I may earn a commission for purchases made through the affiliate links in this post.

If you haven’t read my “Hello, Clean Beauty” post, I recommend doing that first so you can get a better idea of my personal makeup journey from my teens through my thirties. You’ll also learn why I love clean beauty products so much. If you’ve already read it OR if my life stories are simply of zero interest to you 😉 keep on reading for a fun look into my super quick makeup routine!

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Adventures In Cooking, Food

A Sourdough Saga

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A Sourdough Saga

I know what you must be thinking, “Oh great. It’s just another person who took on baking to fight off boredom during the quarantine. Do I really want to hear about her personal relationship with a jar of wild yeast….blah, blah, blah?” If you have better things to do or are simply over the whole sourdough trend, feel free to skip this entry. I won’t be offended; I promise. However, if you love fermentation, enjoy baking, and can’t get enough carbs in your life this post may very well pique your interest.

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Food, Quick & Easy Recipes

One Pan Chicken Dinner

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One Pan Chicken Dinner

On Friday night I dove into one of my favorite holiday tasks – wrapping Christmas presents! Since my mind was focused on pretty paper and sparkly ribbon instead of preparing dinner, I needed to make a quick, simple meal with minimal mess. So this is what I did: I turned on the oven, took a peek into the the fridge, threw a bunch of stuff in a pan, slid that pan into the oven, and enjoyed a delicious dinner that was ready in less than 45 minutes. The cherry on top was of course having very few dirty dishes to wash afterward! Keep reading to find out exactly what I whipped up.

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Adventures In Cooking, Food, Quick & Easy Recipes

Thanksgiving-Inspired Recipes With A Twist

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I made each of these meals back in 2020 the week following Thanksgiving while bored in the house during lockdown. Years later, each of these dishes are all still winners in my humble opinion and absolutely worth making if you enjoy fall flavors and fun twists on classic recipes.

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The Holidays

Shining A Light On Small Business!

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Shining A Light On Small Business!

During this season of gratitude & giving, I wanted to take a moment to shine a light on a special group of entrepreneurs who have worked hard at becoming their own boss. Each of the California-based, small businesses listed below is owned and operated by someone that I am proud to call a friend. I promise that you won’t be disappointed in the truly amazing products and services my talented pals have to offer.

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Food, Quick & Easy Recipes

Bundle Up With A Bowl Of Chili

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Bundle Up With A Bowl Of Chili

Not to toot my own horn, but I always get rave reviews whenever I whip up a pot of chili. I used to add a can of black beans to my beef chili, but that all changed about five or so years ago. Here’s what happened: I was watching a food program and someone said something along the lines of “real chili doesn’t have beans.” For some reason I took that sentence to heart, and my beef chili has been beanless ever since. To bulk up my pot of tasty goodness though, I did start adding red bell pepper which I do believe has made my recipe even better. My signature beef chili is not only delicious but a breeze to make and the perfect cold weather meal.

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Travel

Holiday Travel Tips During A Pandemic

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Holiday Travel Tips During A Pandemic

With Diwali, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, & the New Year just around the corner, families across the nation and all over the world are trying to figure out how to safely celebrate the upcoming holidays. I hope the following suggestions will help you get the ball rolling when it comes to planning out the tricky details of both traveling and gathering during this global pandemic.

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Clean Beauty, Hair & Body

How I Found The Perfect Natural Deodorant – Part 2

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How I Found The Perfect Natural Deodorant – Part 2

Photo courtesy of Primally Pure

If you have yet to read Part 1 of this post, I definitely suggest that you start there, BUT if you already took a peek at the first portion of my deodorant saga, the time has finally come – the moment you [people who care about their underarms] have all been waiting for – the moment I’ve been waiting for — the big reveal!

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Food, Quick & Easy Recipes

Easy Peasy Hummus

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Easy Peasy Hummus

Why spend your hard earned money on hummus when you can make it at home in no time at all? Middle Eastern cuisine was a huge part of my childhood because my Indian mother attended the American University of Beirut in Lebanon before moving to the US. Since hummus has become incredibly popular over the last decade and because I grew up eating this delightful chickpea staple, I figured a simple and reliable recipe would be the perfect post to officially kick off the food category of my Homemade In LA blog.

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