• MY BETTER SELF

    • Winter Skincare Routine with MERIT Beauty

      I, for one, cannot believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away! I feel like it was just yesterday I was writing about the start of the Christmas season, and here we are counting down the days. Something that always boggled my mind is that most of the Christmas season is actually during the… [Continue Reading]

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      Winter Skincare Routine with MERIT Beauty

    • A Day at the National Gallery of Art

      A few weeks after vacation, I love taking time to really reflect on my time away. We were in Washington, D.C. almost two weeks ago and I really miss the city already! We are planning on a few more trips down in the coming months, but I still can’t help but to reflect on our… [Continue Reading]

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      A Day at the National Gallery of Art

    • Tips for Keeping a Journal

      One of my favorite ways to practice self care is to keep a journal. (If you’ve been on my blog before, you know I am a huge advocate for self care. Check out this post, and this one for more!) However, keeping a journal was always sort of difficult task for me because I would… [Continue Reading]

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      Tips for Keeping a Journal

    • Braised Short Ribs

      There is nothing better than delicious comfort food on a chilly or cold day. Braised short ribs are one of my favorite meals, and I wanted to share my recipe. Enjoy! Ingredients 5 lbs short ribs 1 lbs button mushrooms, cleaned and halved 5 stalks of celery, sliced 1 lbs carrots, sliced 14 oz frozen… [Continue Reading]

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      Braised Short Ribs

    • Winter Beef Barley Soup

      Ingredients 2 lbs Chuck roast, cubed 2 tbs olive oil 3 large carrots, sliced 1 onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 2 tbs Gravy Master 6 oz tomato paste 2 tbs flour 16 c. beef broth 12 oz frozen cut green beans 12 oz frozen peas 12 oz frozen corn 2 potatoes, diced 1 c.… [Continue Reading]

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      Winter Beef Barley Soup

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    Antoinette Cea-Lopes

    Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I am so glad you stopped by. My name is Antoinette Cea-Lopes.

    I created My Better Self a few years ago after reflecting on the immortal words of Henry David Thoreau, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you have imagined.”

    This blog is a way of holding myself accountable in that goal, and I am so excited to share this all with you. I love the idea of romanticizing one’s life and I truly believe that life should be lived to it’s fullest.

    I write often about cooking, my hobbies, our travel experiences, parenting, etc. You can learn more about me and my little family… HERE. I cannot wait to connect!

    Entertaining & Recipes

    NEW JERSEY
    5 MINUTE READ

    Clams and Linguine

    If you read my last post, you know that it's Lent for us Catholics and that means meatless Fridays are on the horizon for the next few weeks. Our last READ MORE

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    Entertaining & Recipes

    NEW JERSEY
    5 MINUTE READ

    Penne alla Vodka

    Yesterday (February 22) was Ash Wednesday. If you're Catholic like my family, you know that Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. With Lent comes READ MORE

    MY CURRENT FAVORITES

    Travel

    NEW YORK CITY
    3 MINUTE READ

    The Phantom of the Opera

    For Christmas this year, my husband bought me tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera before it leaves Broadway this coming April. The Phantom of READ MORE

    House & Home

    NEW JERSEY
    5 MINUTE READ

    Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

    I cannot believe that the "holiday season" is officially over. I put "holiday season" in quotes because I am referring to the time between Halloween READ MORE

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    Entertaining & Recipes, Health & Beauty

    NEW JERSEY
    FIVE MINUTE READ

    Fire Cider Review

    Well, here we are! Two weeks ago I decided to make a batch of fire cider. I've heard amazing things about this herbal concoction for a while now and READ MORE

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    est. 2019

    MY BETTER SELF