By Liliana Moyano for Shine Latina

My beautiful mamita raised us eating lots of fruits and vegetables;

dessert was often just fresh fruit served with a tiny scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. My all-time favorite was cut-up honeydew melon with homemade ice cream. Sometimes my mom would blend the two together and make a creamy drink. The key was to always blend the fruit first to release its juice, and then add the ice cream to get that perfectly smooth texture.

Today, I continue to make my mom's delicious recipe, but to make it my own, I add a touch of rum. This is what I call "Creamy Honeydew Heaven." It can be served as a cocktail or as a grown-up dessert, perfect for a night at home with friends. But, a word of caution- the sweetness and creaminess of this cocktail is so amazing that if you don't share it, you might end up drinking the whole thing all by yourself!

Mango'rita mixes fruit with tequila for cocktail time

Ingredients

(4 servings) 

10 oz. ripe honey

...Read More »

Avoid these five common myths, and improve your dental health.

While dental care may seem relatively straightforward, Dominican-American d

entist Claudio Miró continues to encounter patients, especially in Latin communities, who are misinformed when it comes to taking care of their mouths and teeth. Shine Latina takes a look at the five most common myths of dental health that are nothing to smile about.

MYTH #1 "Daily brushing is all I need to keep my mouth clean and healthy."

Brushing your teeth is the minimum need for maintaining good, oral health. According to Dr. Miró, daily oral care should always include the following:

1. Brush your teeth and tongue twice a day-once in the morning and once right before going to bed, especially if you like to snack at night.

2. Floss daily to remove plaque from between teeth.

3. Use a mouth rinse, like Listerine, to quickly remove bacteria that lodge in the ridges of the tongue.

MYTH #2 "Brushing my teeth with baking soda

...Read More »

Shine Latina sat down with personal finance advisor Andrés Gutiérrez to find out the way to a college education while avoiding a mountain of loan debt.

In many families, and in Latino ones especially, paying for a college education isn

't usually part of a family's financial plan. There is no tradition of putting birthday money away or opening a higher education fund to celebrate a newborn. So, when the time comes for a high-school student to go to college, the lack of financial preparation may place the family in a difficult dilemma: forego college or pay with student loans.

Going to college should be a natural discussion in the family. "If you finished high school, you should consider yourself college material," says financial expert Andrés Gutiérrez. "Just as children go to middle school after elementary and to high school after middle school, kids and their parents should plan for a natural transition to college from high school."

Making a decision of going to college mu

...Read More »

Stay on trend with these beauty tips tailored for olive skin tones, and learn how to recreate the hottest makeup look seen on the runways this fall.

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina

More mulberry please!
The number one color on the fashion runway this fall was a dark shade of purple called deep mulberry, but for those of us with olive complexions who want a more wearable version, I have a few. For a stained mulberry look with a glossy finish, try Mark's Gloss Gorgeous Stay On Lip Stain in Showy Flamboyant and Vibe Impression. My favorite mulberry-inspired lip color at the moment is Clarins Rouge Prodige Lipstick in Orchid Pink, which is a very wearable purple shade. Another great fall hue is Bite Beauty's Honey Lip Laquer in Gamay, which is a pretty rose shade that leans more to dusty light berry on olive skins. Made with natural ingredients, this high gloss finish will leave your lips moisturized for hours. For those of us who like to wear nude on our lips year round, chec...Read More »

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil.

How did you get started in the industry?
I began with designing evening wear, and this is still what I am known for outside of Brazil. My international career really developed when I started showing in London and then, two seasons later in New York, which is really the most international city in the world. Now, after 10 years, I am selling in more than 25 countries and have a flagship store in New York's Meatpacking District.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to start his or her own line or business?
You must have drive, and you must find and stay true to your identity.

Related: 6 Things That Inspired Designer Emilio Sosa

Describe your customer.
I design for a contemporary woman who represents a link between a global audience and a Brazilian perspective. She is sophisticated and wants to feel beautiful. This woman could be in New York, Paris, Hong-Kong, Sao Paulo or anywhere in the world.

...Read More »