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CHEERS TO 30 YEARS: THANKSGIVING 2016
THANKSGIVING 2016? How did that even happen? Sooooo much has happened this year.. from reality TV (smh) to broken friendships and relationships & h e a r t b r e a k, BOY HAVE we’ve learned a lot!!
And at this age, you get to a place where you really appreciate the little things in life.. even the tough stuff. So, grab your wine and have a sip if you can relate to any of this. Cheers!
& HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
XOXO
When Everyone’s Married But You!
Ever feel like EVERYONE’S married but you? We do! Especially as we creep closer to our 30s and mid 3os it is EVERYWHERE. So we decided to make a video about it. Hope you enjoy!
Cheers!!
HOT TOPICS with Dom!
In case you missed it, here’s the behind the scenes of Hot Topics from last week! Romeo was dressed as Santa Paws now that it’s November and basically Christmas- amirite!?
So thankful that my girl Dom was able to save the day as my guest. She’s a host, attorney and business consultant. GIRL BOSS!!
Click here to watch the show!
XO
HOT TOPICS Episode 2
Romeo is a hard working dog these days guys. From modeling in the streets of Beverly Hills to co-hosting alongside his mama (me!) every Wednesday on “Hot Topics with Alicia & Romeo”… this dog is GOALS. He is so well-behaved, that not even a plate the size of him filled with hot wings can tempt him into misbehaving on-air. What talent!! Click here to watch the behind the scenes taping of our 2nd episode of Hot Topics with guest Mabelynn Capeluj! You can always watch us LIVE on DISH channel 6 in LA as well as on battlecam.com every Wednesday 5pm PST!
With (puppy) Love,
Alicia
Cheers to 30 Years: DETOX TIME!
Linds just turned 31 this past weekend and wanted to do a 30 days DETOX. So Arbonne was nice enough to sponsor us for this 30 day challenge.
If you’re thinking about getting a little healthier like us in your 30’s or really at ANY age -Congratulations! As you know, making the decision is the first step! Those that have done this program LOVE it! Going down a jean size is awesome and that will definitely happen when you do this program; but mainly the health and confidence that is gained is what makes us want to try this 30 day detox! So who is with us?????
This Arbonne 30 day detox is designed for:
People who want to optimize their health and lose weight in a healthy way.
Athletes who want to increase performance, strength, energy, and muscle definition.
People who want to uncover food sensitivities.
People experiencing fatigue, foggy thinking, poor sleep, poor digestion, excess weight.
What it is:
A 30-day whole foods clean eating program.
A system to equip people with the tools & knowledge to implement life-long health.
A rest for the liver and kidneys to maximize function.
An elimination program to help to uncover food sensitivities.
A weight loss jumpstart.
What it’s not:
A deprivation diet
A fast
A liquid diet
We can’t wait to help you press the “easy button” on a new healthy lifestyle which starts with the 30 Day challenge!
To order your FIT KIT today HERE at 40% off PLUS a free “Greens “Balance” AND FREE shipping this month from our friend Zoe Kinnee…the genius who gave us these amazing products to try out!
Instructions to apply discount:
1. http://www.zoekinnee.arbonne.com
2. Click “Shop Now” at top of page.
3. Enter your information as a Preferred Client ($20.00 to join) and continue to get your discount all year.
4. Shop “Special Offers” tab at the top for the Healthy Living and beyond ASVP Kit.
5. Enter FREE product in the “Shopping Cart” by typing “Greens Balance”
6. Check out & Pay
7. Contact Zoe to be added to her private group with complimentary recipes, shopping guides and accountability. zoekinnee@gmail.com
IF WE CAN DO IT…YOU CAN DO IT!!!! Cheers to your health : )
***Remember to follow us on social media at:
@lindsey_tuer and @aliciamblanco
XOXO
Cheers to 30 Years of DATING
Don’t be on your phone.
Don’t talk about your exes.
Open the car door for her.
Pull out her chair.
Compliment him.
Don’t touch your hair.
Leave him wanting more.
Check your breath.
Update your profile.
Pick a good profile picture.
Guys, pick up the tab.
So. Many. Rules.
When it comes to dating, who doesn’t have a good story to share? After nearly 30 years in the business of being alive, and at least fifteen of those years involving dating & relationships, Lindsey and I decided to tell you guys all about the worst dates we’ve ever been on…and a glimpse into some of the very best. It was our most requested question to answer. So here you go!
Cheers
Calling All 30 Year Olds!
Cheers to 30 Years!
You guys, I turn 30 in March. THIRTY YEARS OLD! I’m low-key freaking out about it, but mostly excited. I can’t even describe the feeling. So many emotions. Is this real life? Where has the time gone? And where the heck is my husband?!
I KNOW SOME OF YOU WOMEN CAN RELATE TO THIS FEELING.
I get so many questions everyday; everything from questions about my dating life, opinions on all these dating apps, my social life, my career, what skincare products I use, where I shop for my clothes, what my makeup routine is, my work out regimen, my diet, what my dream wedding/ring/man looks like, how important my faith is in dating, you name it, I’m asked these things on the daily…
So it’s time to answer these questions.
So together with Lindsey Tuer (who was on Coupled with me), we will be posting vlogs every single month answering your questions- sort of like we did with our Coupled Refills!
Lindsey is currently 30 years old and so she knows a thing or two about all these feels! We literally cannot believe how the time flies and all that we’ve learned in our three decades of life. She knows exactly what I’m talking about here…. and I KNOW there are so many of you ladies out there in your 30s who can relate to us too!! We see you!
You’re the hard working woman who supports herself.
You are a single lady at a time where everyone around you is married…or at least coupled.
You’re the very proud auntie to your own biological nieces and nephews, but also to the many adorable babies all your friends are having too.
We bond over the feeling of having more bridesmaids dresses in our closets than shoes (well maybe not more than shoes but you get the point.)
We know what it’s like to attend engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, weddings, baby showers, gender reveal parties and birthday parties for our friends and families, nearly every single weekend since we were 26.
We totally get the anxiousness that comes with aging…like not having those aforementioned things quite yet, but yet definitely having wrinkles and other STUFF going on.
We completely miss the days where we could eat whatever we wanted without worrying; where working out wasn’t THIS hard, where we had more GNO* and less FOMO** because we had more fellow single girlfriends to go out with.
(GNO = girls night out. FOMO= fear of missing out.)***
And of course, we fondly miss the days before Tinder, where dating wasn’t so sketchy and complicated. Remember pagers? We sort of do…
Just to be clear, we are fully aware of the AWESOMENESS that comes with being in your 30s; like knowing exactly who you are. By now, you know what you will never settle on in relationships.
You have more confidence in your career and what you see for yourself.
You’re more selective on who you allow in your life; and more importantly- who you let go of.
You no longer tolerate toxic energy.
You’re more confident in your looks than ever before-and all without trying as hard as we did in our 20s!!! #cleanses #detoxes #30daychallenges – we will do all of these and tell you what works for us.
That’s why we will be calling this series: “Cheers to 30 Years.” The ups, the downs, the boyfriends, the no-boyfriends, the things that have worked for us, the things that didn’t work for us, our tips, tricks, secrets, and how we feel about things going on in the world from our perspective… all of it will be right here. The good, the bad and the ugly!
And there will be wine. Because that’s what people our age do! amirite?
Cheers to what is sure to be a hilarious, deep, honest and candid vlog series from the bottom of our hearts… and wine glasses.
XO!
GOODBYE REALITY TV!
At last. We’ve come to the end of this crazy Coupled adventure.
First of all…this was a two-hour long episode which made me wish all the episodes had been this long! It would’ve made such a significant difference for the show. smh
So when Terrence comes and tells us that its our final night together and that he would be taking the guys to a different location for the night so that we could all make our decisions, everyone sort of froze in place. And then to be told that the very next morning, there would be a helicopter down at the beach for each couple to either meet at and fly off together in, or, if you decided you didn’t want to remain coupled, we were instructed not to meet down at the helicopter at all. So dramatic.
Then on top of everything, we were put “on ice” (meaning we couldn’t talk) or say any last/final words to each other before the guys were separated from us ladies. We didn’t get one last chance to talk things out and make a unanimous/joint decision. Wouldn’t make for good TV if they did it that way, now would it??
Side note: If you notice, Tyler and I were super dressed up for this meeting while everyone else was in their pj’s, trunks, barefoot, no makeup etc.– that’s because we were told we were going to be able to go on another private date night. Obviously, that’s not what happened. So… that was awkward. But what better way to make me look like the ultimate pageant girl, right?
So, as you know, I didn’t stay coupled with Tyler. I went home single. Here’s why:
At that point, Tyler and I had spent approximately 8 days together total. I didn’t think that was enough time to say “yes, I want this person to be my boyfriend.” We had the least amount of time together of all the couples (with the exception of Jeff and Alex who had one day less than us) to truly test our chemistry and compatibility. It seemed so unfair and unreasonable to be forced into making that decision after only a week of knowing each other. It made sense for Lindsey and Alex, Brandon and TT, Ben and Lisa- they all had a legit amount of time together- nearly a full month nonstop! Me and Alex didn’t have that much time with Tyler and Jeffery, so to leave calling them our boyfriends would’ve been a liiiiiittle much.
I also felt like Tyler still had a lot left on his “single guy to-do list”, and getting married and settling down anytime soon wasn’t something he wanted to-do…at least not in the very near future, as I do. In fact, during our time in Anguila, he often told me about how he was so excited for some of his upcoming travels that he had lined up- and it sounded to me that he was moreso ready to party -single. And, if you follow him on social media at all, you’ll see that’s exactly what he has been up to. Absolutely nothing wrong with that either. And then there was the whole geographical distance between us. I live in LA and Tyler lives in Miami, and we discovered that neither of us had intentions of moving across the country. So ultimately, these are the big things that helped me make my decision. But it wasn’t easy. I had truly enjoyed my time there because of Tyler’s unique energy and hilarious personality. I think he’s a really great guy.
What you didn’t see was how I had the chance to explain all of this to Tyler. I hate that it looks like I just simply stood him up without saying goodbye when in fact, I insisted that I get to talk to him and explain why I decided it was best to go our separate ways. He was still upset about it, rightfully so, considering our few days of hanging out was pretty awesome and we got along super well. But as I said, I didn’t think there was longevity there, and I don’t want to get into a relationship that doesn’t have potential to lead into marriage.
I’m ready to settle down. I take relationships very seriously. I told everyone that I hope my next boyfriend is my last boyfriend. (As in, I want a husband!) I also don’t introduce a guy to my family unless he IS my boyfriend and potential husband.
Speaking of family… when my mom showed up in Anguila, I was shocked. It was awkward because, like I said, Tyler and I had only been dating for a week! And now he was about to meet my mom?! So. Not. Normal.
Regardless of what was displayed, Tyler and I have remained cool since the show and text each other pretty often – even right now while he is away traveling. I’m happy to say I gained a few great friends from this experience, Tyler being one of them. Here’s how Tyler is quoted about the whole situation:
“Hey everyone! Alicia and I are still friends today, and we keep in touch with each other across the world. The show was twisted in ways you’ll never see, but know that we grew truly fond of each other and it was real off the cameras too. We’re not a perfect match, but what is that anyway? I want nothing but the absolute best for her and pray we both keep growing and find our someone!” – Tyler
Such a good guy! And no, I didn’t mind being called “winner winner chicken dinner.”
I am so happy for the three couples who went home as a couple: Brandon and TT, Ben and Lisa, and Alex and Lindsey. Whether or not they are still together today is up to them to disclose or not.
I am happy to shut this door and remember it as a chapter in my life that has forever impacted me. In some ways good, and in some ways bad. But I accept it all. Would I ever do reality TV again? Not a chance. Do I regret doing it? In the end I obviously chose to do it and hate having regrets so I’ll just say this:
The world is filled with a lot of hate. I always knew that, but this experience really opened my eyes to the great lengths people will go to destroy you… and for no other reason other than boredom, jealousy, inner rage or their own personal shortcomings in life. There are actually people out there in the world who will create fake Instagram account(s) (yes, as in more than one) and have conversations with themselves (I repeat, with themselves…) about people they hate and why they hate them, and all in an effort to make you think multiple people agree with their hateful opinions. You can’t make this stuff up. All you can do is feel really sorry for them and forgive them, which I’m doing now. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy, right?? There are a lot of people out there that the devil is using to TRY to do those very things. Aggressively. Some of those very people are reading these words, right now. Oh hi! I see you. Condolences.
(I just had to address the troll population for one quick second.) Because lemonade.
But for the rest of you amazing and beautiful people out there who came on this journey with us, thank you sooooo very much! Not only do I see you, but I love you. The outpour of love and support has been overwhelming and appreciated beyond what words can ever express. I am forever indebted to the kindness I’ve seen, felt, heard and read and that’s what I’m choosing to focus on.
Back to the real world I go! Bidi bidi bom bom!
Thank you all… for everything. 🙂
All my love,
Alicia Blanco
COUPLED Episode 9
This was a really awesome episode because it finally showed each of the couples spending some quality time together off by themselves. Up until then, everything we did was always with all the other couples so these individual dates came at the perfect time.
We all picked our dates out of a fishbowl and some of us traded dates with other couples. Tyler was really awesome to swap out ATV’ing with fishing. (I know, WHAT?!?!) I had never been ATV’ing or fishing before but I knew I wanted a date where we could spend more time talking and not yelling over each other on some ATV’s. Also, I embarrassingly confused ATV’ing with dirt biking which I definitely didn’t want to do. Pretty funny because in the car on the way to the fishing date location, I saw some ATV’s ride by and said, “that looks like so much fun! What are those?” and Tyler looked at me and said, “babe, those are ATV’S!!!!” It was pretty funny and thankfully he didn’t make me feel too bad about it. Besides, he grew up fishing and it was a big part of his life so I’m glad we got to do something he loved and could talk passionately about. And we had a great time! We were only out in the water for less than 20 minutes so it was pretty perfect that we both happened to catch our fish so quickly.
What they didn’t show was when we got back to the island where we would be eating dinner, we got to fillet the fish ourselves – blood, guts and all. I took that knife and sliced into that fish like a pro and Tyler was shocked. I was shocked too! I had blood all over my hands and it didn’t gross me out surprisingly. It was a very hands-on experience and a chance for Tyler to see the other side of this “pageant girl.”
You all heard him bring up how many kids he wants (3-6) and we laughed about what he wanted to name his six children. We talked about our childhood and upbringing, and more about how important our faith was to us. Lots of important stuff was touched on and I think this was a moment where I felt like despite the 5-year age difference and location (I’m in LA and Tyler lives in Miami), that if we realllllllly wanted to and put in the effort, then we could try to make it work when the show ended. I mean, in total Tyler and I spent about 5 days together, which isn’t long enough to make such a big decision… but the in-depth conversations we had throughout the show (and that are rarely shown) were intriguing. You only get to see the playful side of Tyler and not the mature side that I got to know. But as I said in the show, there were still moments where the age thing was an issue and we were still trying to see if we were truly compatible given the circumstances of the distance between us. And, I often wondered if Tyler was truly ready to settle down and get married anytime soon, which is what I’m looking for at this time in my life. I am 29, soon to be 30. I want marriage and children. But does Tyler, so soon? I thought about this a lot.
All of the other couples seem to figure a lot of deeper stuff out too on their dates and it was interesting to see. Different sides of some personalities were shown and I think that’s very important in the dating process. I can’t wait for you guys to see who stays coupled up and who goes home single.
Can’t believe the last and final episode is next week! Thanks for enjoying this crazy adventure with us.
XO
An Inner Beauty Blog 