If, after reading
some of my more recent posts, you think I’ve been acting kind of weird or
different lately, you’re probably right.
I’ve been
going through a transition period lately.
I’ll fill
you in on the details later (more like in mid-to late August when things are
near completion), but at the moment just know that there are a number of changes
happening in my life and I’m just trying to adjust accordingly, while still
making sure to make the time to write like I enjoy doing.
(Sorry if I
sound like one of those people who say ‘I have exciting news’ or ‘I have
something to tell you’, but then says she can’t tell you what it is right now.
I would actually love to fill you in, but I’m
one of those people who don’t like to talk about things until they are
basically a done deal...so at the moment I’m all silence).
Just
wanted to address the fact that I may have seemed a bit weird lately, but
nothing’s wrong….it’s actually all good news!
But because I have
had different priorities lately, it has forced me to take a step back and have
days where I shut everything off (phone, internet, business…everything), and just
focus on trying to relax and embrace the moment; enjoying the changes that I am
going through and the journey that I have gone through to get me to this point.
This brings
me to the post for today. (I know I said in last week’s post that I would be discussing past relationship woes, and how
being ambiguous and vague with my boundaries got me into some trouble in the
past, but that’s coming- I just felt I should write this first).
So the topic for today: Take care of you. When you are at your best, you can offer your best.
If you are tired, worn out, or just feeling completely overwhelmed, you aren’t going
to be very useful to any one else.
What’s
the point of working hard to create the life that you want for yourself, if you
are too burned out and stressed out to enjoy it?
Enjoy life J Take time to take care of you so that you can then
take care of business.
And on that
note, here are a couple of eco beauty tips from a friend to the site-Krystal
– I thought it would be a good idea to
share today since we are on the subject of taking care of ourselves.
Eco Beauty Tips From Krystal:
Krystal Says: I believe in the holistic approach when it comes to my green
lifestyle, meaning that I'm not only earth conscious when it comes to recycling
and things of that nature, but I'm also earth conscious when it comes to what I
put on my skin, the fragrances that I wear, and the home fragrances that I
scent my home with.
When it comes to
makeup, I'm not a hardcore makeup addict or anything, and I only go ultra glam
when I'm going to an event. But I do believe in the "a little bit
goes a long way" philosophy. I like looking polished--well put together
and effortless versus made up. So when I'm looking for that extra sparkle, I
turn to organic beauty products. With all that being said, here are some beauty
and lifestyle tips that I use in my everyday life. Check them out:
1.
Room Temperature/Warm Lemon Water
One of the easiest (and not to
mention cheapest) beauty habits that you can implement into your life is
drinking a glass of warm/room temperature lemon water. Drinking a glass of
lemon water helps to jump start your digestive system. Lemon juice helps to rid
your body of unnecessary gunk--which makes digestion more fluid. It also
flushes the liver and the kidneys while hydrating your entire body. It is also
known to clear skin, and get this--freshen breath.
P.S. The reason why your lemon water should be room temperature to warm is
because it takes less effort for the body to adjust to room temperature
than it would a glass of ice water.
2.
Pangea Organics
So far, I haven't used a Pangea product
that I haven't loved. They make everything from body scrubs to lip balm. I love
the fact that all of Pangea's product packaging is biodegradable. This means
that their packaging will breakdown over time and will serve as fertilizer for
plants (I already started to plant my old packaging in my yard). I use
their Moroccan Argan w/ Willow & Rosemary Facial Cream along with their
Australian Wild Plum & Willow Facial Cleaner. I chose these two because
they're geared towards people with oily skin--which I had. I can honestly say
that since I've been using this pair, the amount of oil that my skin
produces has been reduced to a minimum. These two facial products smell
AMAZING!! And the best part is, they're natural. No artificial colors, fragrances,
or synthetic enhancers. You can buy via PangeaOrganics.com,
or Amazon.com which is a better deal because they're products are priced
lower and they offer free shipping incentives.
3.
Shea Butter
If you haven't used this
natural gem, you are missing out. I've been using shea butter
religiously for a couple of years now, ever since my friend from Ghana
bought some to the States for me to try. Shea butter is good
for both hair and body use. I use it for my body at times,
but my hair is where I really put my shea butter to work. I have a very
simple recipe for a hair moisturizer. I call it my Shea Hair Soufflé. The
recipe is as follows:
*Shea Butter
*Extra Virgin Olive Oil
*Essential Oil of your choice (totally optional)
Take your ingredients and mix them in a blender or food processor
until the mixture is fluffy and silky. That's all there is to it! I like
to buy cute little containers or use recycled glass jars to store my soufflé.
You can buy shea butter at just about any natural, health, or organic store
such as Whole Foods. You can also find a plethora of shea butter
suppliers online, some will even whip it for you.
4.
Rose Balm
Rose balm is another one of nature's
little treasures. Rose oil is just as moisturizing as it is
fragrant. I buy little canisters of rose balm and store them in my purse.
I use it to moisturize my hands whenever I absentmindedly forget
to pack lotion in my purse (tiger paws are so unbecoming on a
lady). I also use it to smooth down my unruly eyebrows, to massage my hands,
smooth down my baby hairs, and to sooth my tired eyes by putting the balm on
the puffy area of my eyes. I use rose balm the most as a lip balm, especially
after using my homemade lip scrub. It makes your lips feel like feathers.
One of the best parts about rose balm is that it won't cost you any more than
$10. You can buy it online, Whole Foods, Bath & Body Works, or just
about any other natural beauty retailer.
5.
Yardley's Lavender as Aromatherapy
I LOVE all things lavender! Maybe it has something to do with the fact
that purple is my favorite color, or maybe it's just simply that
I adore the scent, but I need the scent of lavender in my life. This one
may seem a little strange, but it works for me so... Lavender is calming
and soothing, and it has a certain lulling effect. The scent of lavender
helps me sleep, so whenever I am out of my lavender sachets, I stash
a fresh bar of Yardley's Lavender in my pillow case for aromatherapy
purposes. There's something nostalgic and calming (for me, at least)
about inhaling the light, airy scent of this minty, evergreen shrub. Pure
heaven!!
6.
Olive Oil as Eye Makeup Remover
Of the many things that olive
oil is used for, makeup remover probably isn't the first one that comes to your
mind. As I stated earlier, I don't wear too much makeup, but when I
do, I stick with darker colors such as black and navy blue.
My signature makeup look requires nothing more than some black or
blue eyeliner and mascara. Even though these are the only two staples in my
makeup arsenal, I have a heck of a time removing them from my face at night.
So one night I decided to try olive oil as a remover, and surprisingly, it
worked!! I was able to get rid of every little trace of dark liner and stubborn
mascara with just one cotton swab. It's like a little miracle, and not to
mention much less expensive than buying organic makeup wipes. Oh, and as an
added bonus, the olive oil conditions lashes. Try it!!
7.
Homemade Liquid Potpourri
Sounds difficult to make, but not so
much. Next to pictures, I think that home fragrance is the one thing that sets
your house apart and speaks for your personality. Home fragrance turns your
house into a home. I get many compliments on the fragrances that I use
whenever I have visitors (this has much to do with why I want my life to be a
beautiful fragrance of worship to God. A beautiful fragrance is welcoming, it
makes one want to stay a while and rest, but I digressed). Here's one of
my recipes:
*Orange Peels
*Cinnamon
*Rosemary
*Thyme or Lemongrass Essential Oil (Optional)
Place your ingredients into a pot and add water. Place your pot onto the stove
and allow it to lightly simmer. Don't let it boil or your potpourri
will burn and it won't be pleasant.
