Ruby71

If you haven't tried adding pomegranate seeds to your guacamole, you have a pleasant surprise in store. Try this recipe and impress your friends/relatives with a super fun twist on a Mexican classic. Bonus: the pomegranate seeds help the guac stay fresh longer, and add a zesty little kick to each bite.

INGREDIENTS

4 medium ripe avocados, pitted and diced

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced

1 teaspoon salt

½ medium red onion, chopped

¼ cup fresh cilantro, mostly leaves, chopped

1 to 2 jalapeños (or 1 serrano pepper), seeded and chopped

1 medium pomegranate, deseeded (about 1 cup worth of pomegranate arils)

INSTRUCTIONS

With a spoon, scoop the avocado flesh into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the lime juice, garlic and salt. Mash the ingredients together with a large fork or potato masher until the avocado is nice and creamy.

To ensure that the onion flavor doesn't overpower the guacamole, rinse the chopped onion under running water (a fine mesh colander is a good bet). Pat the onion dry with a paper towel.

Add the onion, chopped cilantro and jalapeño to the bowl and mix well. Gently stir in ½ of the pomegranate arils. For extra presentation points, transfer the guacamole to an appropriately sized serving bowl now. Sprinkle remaining pomegranate arils over guacamole, along with some additional chopped cilantro and totally optional feta, if you'd like. Serve immediately.

Enjoy your zesty pomegranate guacamole!

Just when you thought disco balls couldn’t get any cooler!

This DIY idea will glam up any wall (or door) in your house.

The team over at A Beautiful Mess created this awesome disco ball wreath tutorial, and we’re loving it. Here’s how you can make one, too.

What you’ll need: -wreath form -silver tinsel garland x2 (They recommend the fluffiest one possible) -mini disco ball ornaments (The number you use will depend on the size of your wreath. Use your best judgement, and if you end up with extras, they look cute in a bowl on your coffee table) -hot glue gun and sticks

Instructions:

1. Use hot glue to wrap your wreath form in silver tinsel garland. Make sure it is completely covered with garland.

2. Remove the hook part from the ornaments (they should snap off easily) and glue them all over the wreath randomly.

Note: you can find these supplies at most craft stores. You can also find all this stuff on Amazon (just search “mini disco balls” or “disco ball ornament”). The ones pictured here are about two inches.

Such a fun idea, right? Happy HoliDIYs!

We all have that one person who’s hard to shop for. But, don’t fear—there are lots of cool things out there that are sure to please just about everyone on your list. Here are some gift ideas that are sure to charm even the pickiest people you know.

1. For the tech junkie

Anker Astro 6700 2nd Gen – $20

This affordable USB power bank is small enough to fit in your back pocket, and powerful enough to fully recharge an iPhone 5S three times, a Galaxy S5 one and a half times, and an iPad Mini once, all while doing it in the most efficient manner possible by automatically identifying the device and adjusting the battery output to ensure optimal performance. A must-have for mobile phone users who are constantly on the go.

2. For the fitness fan

FlipBelt - $25

FlipBelt is for the person who loves the functionality of the fanny pack but not necessarily the look itself. Perfect for running, hiking or even climbing, it allows you to take everything you need with you but still go hands-free. Made of machine-washable high tech Spandex-Lycra blend material with an internal pocket system accessible from four openings around the belts exterior, the four pockets lets you easily tuck in your phone, keys, gel packs, credit cards or whatever you may need for your workout. You then flip the belt inside out and everything gets locked in place. Pretty genius.

3. For the health/wellness guru

Bestowed — ~$20/month

Formerly known as Conscious Box, Bestowed is a sample box with a huge variety of all things healthy inside. From dryer sheets to face oil to organic cookies, each month they send 7-10 of the best healthy snacks, beverages, and lifestyle items straight to your door. Every product featured is carefully selected by a team of experts led by nutritionist Heather Bauer.

4. For the sentimentalist

Snapfish Hardcover Photo Album — from $28.99

In this day and age, we take, save and post more photos than ever before. But don't we want to externalize them and have a physical memento every once in a while? For the person in your life who values this kind of thing, they'll love a custom Snapfish photo album. Super budget-friendly, the album is just $28.99 for 20 pages.

5. For the Instagram addict

The Unforgettable Photograph - $14

For the person in your life who loves to take photos and use social media, this book is an awesome gift. The Unforgettable Photograph: 228 Ideas, Tips and Secrets for Taking the Best Pictures of Your Life will supply anyone with a huge bevy of new ideas. If you sense they're a little tired of all of the same tried-and-true Instagram shots, this will spark some inspiration.

6. For the beauty-obsessed

Choix - $20/month; less per month for 3- and 6-month subscriptions

Subscription boxes have obviously become a mainstay in the market, and for good reason. There's nothing more fun than getting home and opening up a surprise box full of goodies. But sometimes it can feel a little bit anticlimactic. How many lackluster shampoo & conditioner samples do you really need? That's where Choix comes in—they bring the beauty counter to you, letting you choose exactly which (high end) samples you're coveting. A must for any beauty maven.

The old adage that “It’s what’s inside that counts” has more meaning than you think. When it comes to healthy, glowing skin, no amount of antioxidant serum is really quite a match for the antioxidants that come straight from the plants you can eat. Here are four food categories to work in to your diet for plumper, healthier skin.

1. Water-Rich Fruits & Vegetables

Not only will water-rich fruits and veggies help you feel fuller longer, they offer a ton of benefits from a hydration standpoint (not to mention nutritional). You can drink all the water you want, but since skin is your largest organ and needs moisture to stay healthy, it certainly doesn’t hurt to give it fruits and veggies that will hydrate it even more.

Best bets: Dark leafy greens, strawberries, pineapple, cucumbers, watermelon

2. Healthy fats

By now we’ve all heard the difference between healthy and “unhealthy” fats. Healthy fats are those that contain omega 3 and 6 fatty acids—which the body cannot produce on its own. Omegas help active cells maintain their moisture barrier, protecting against inevitable environmental harm. So by taking in more omegas in your diet, you are doing your skin a huge favor in building up its resilience and overall health. 

Best bets: Salmon, freshly crushed flax seed (tastes delicious on pretty much everything), a tablespoon of oil (olive, hempseed, grapeseed and flaxseed oils are good options), a handful of chia seeds or walnuts, avocados 

3. Foods with Antioxidants

Skin cells that are strengthened with antioxidants will be much more resilient when faced with the sun (no pun intended). And because sun damage is the #1 cause of premature skin aging, it’s a good idea to pack some quality antioxidants into your diet. Foods and spices rich in antioxidants contain carotenoids (the yellow and red pigments naturally synthesized by plants), and are only obtainable through diet or supplements.

Best bets: Oranges, limes, lemons, grapefruits (Vitamin C for the win), blackberries, raspberries, paprika

4. Collagen-boosting foods

Iron is the keyword here. Foods rich an iron—think eggs, soybeans, poultry and foods super high in Vitamin C, too—help boost collagen production. Being that collagen is the main structural protein found in our body’s connective tissue and it thins and weakens with age, it’s helpful to eat foods that help boost its production for firmer, more youthful skin. 

Best bets: Poultry, eggs (specifically egg whites), cod, crab, lobster, oysters, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, almonds, raisins, aduki beans, kidney beans, soybeans, chickpeas, seaweed

Each week we take a look at something we’ve been really loving, whether it’s a new skin ritual or a beauty product. This week it’s...

Tightline® Full Lash Length Black Mascara Primer!

Now, first things first—the name is a bit misleading. It’s not really a primer in the “traditional” sense of mascara primers. In other words, it won’t coat your lashes in a white primer-like liquid in order to bulk up your mascara when it goes on. Here’s what it will do.

What: A hybrid mascara + eyeliner + primer, this is the best little tool to cover that oft-missed area just below your eyelashes where the lid meets the eye. According to the site, the Tightline Mascara Primer is “your mascara, mascara primer and eyeliner in one. If you have sparse or missing lashes, the Tightline brush lays down black pigment along your entire lash line, filling in spare spots, giving you a full beautiful lash line and the look of an eyeliner.”

Why: If you love to tightline your eyes but find that your eyeliner either a) rubs off, b) runs down your whole face by end of day or c) both (yay!), then this is for you. In fact, it’s the only “eyeliner” I’ve used on my bottom eyelash area that has truly stayed in place all day without transferring.

How: Wiggle the skinny brush through your upper and lower lashes just like you would your mascara, pressing it into the root of your lash line. Due to how small it is, it’s able to put some tightly-lined color where your mascara can’t reach, and where you probably wouldn’t want to put your regular eyeliner due to irritation concerns. 

When: Before you put your mascara on. But note you can also put it on during or after as well—I actually prefer to put it on after, in order to fill in any little patches on the lash line that my mascara didn’t completely cover. 

This is a great tool for getting your eyes to look fully lined and dramatic without any gaps. Also, it can be worn on its own if you’re going for a very natural look. Bonus: the formula contains lash-enhancing ingredients peptides, collagen, biotin, nettle extract, green tea, jojoba, and vitamins and is paraben-free, fragrance-free, phthalate-free and sulfate-free. Oh, and it comes in a waterproof formula as well. 

Cyber Monday is here, and the deals this year are off the charts. If you didn’t come across too many beauty deals on Black Friday, then today is definitely your day to score some amazing steals! 

Alterna Haircare: Score the perfect stocking stuffer for $10: the Caviar Moisture Trio, featuring a Caviar Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner and Caviar CC Cream. Available at sephora.com from Friday 11/27 to Friday 12/4.

Anastasia Beverly Hills: 25% off site wide, so you can grab the cult favorite Brow Wiz for nearly 6 bucks off the original price. 

Birchbox: Spend $35 on gift subscriptions and/or a full-size product and get 25% off with code PARTYON (non-Ace) or 30% off for Ace members with code ACEDIT.

Bliss: Score 30% off all products at blissworld.com with code Dazzle30. Receive a free deluxe scrubbing and hydrating gift set valued at $176 with purchases over $150. And get a free holiday beauty gift bag with any purchase of $75 or more with code brilliant15. All from Friday 11/27 to Monday 11/30.

Blowpro: Buy one Faux Dry Dry Shampoo get one free at nordstrom.com, or snatch up a Blowpro dryer or flatiron for $89 at ulta.com.

Bobbi Brown: Get 20% off any order.

The Body Shop: 50% off your purchase + free shipping. Plus, a bunch of holiday gift sets are marked down to 30% off. 

Chantecaille: 20% off your order, no exclusions. 

Dr. Brandt: 40% off site wide.

Deborah Lippmann: 30% off every order plus free shipping with discount code: cyber30

Fekkai: Spend $60 and receive a free Apple Cider Shampoo and Essential Shea Masque with offer code CYBERCHIC.

Fresh: Free Hesperides Grapefruit Oval Soap and free standard shipping for any purchase of $40 or more.

ghd: 25% off all electric hair tools excluding the Arctic Gold Holiday collection. Friday 11/27 through Monday 11/30.

IT Cosmetics: Get a sturdy tote filled with the brand’s favorite products—worth over $120—for just $49. Plus, free shipping on all U.S. orders.

LORAC Cosmetics: Swipe up the limited-edition 20th Anniversary Alter Ego Lip Collection for $75 ($330 value), which features 20 corresponding lipstick and lip gloss shades (seven matching shades are brand-new). Or buy a PRO Palette or PRO Palette 2 at kohls.com and get 40% off a second palette.

Make Up For Ever: Get the Artist Shadow Collector's Palette for $10 ($27 value), the Black Out Palette for $19 ($32 value), or the Artist Shadow Collector's Palette for $280 (regularly $714).

MISSHA: Arguably the brand that made BB creams go viral (with this masterful product), Korean beauty brand Missha has slashed a ton of prices and is offering free shipping all day today. 

Pixi Beauty: 30% off sitewide, excluding the cult favorite Glow Tonic. 65% off of last chance items!

Urban Decay: 20% off site-wide, plus the previously sold-out Naked Vault 2 is back for Cyber Monday! The set includes every palette in the Naked franchise for $165.

Zoya: Build your own six-piece dream box of nail polish for $30 ($54 value) or 12-piece dream box for $50 ($108 value).