Thursday, December 22, 2011

Quick Holiday Gifts

The holidays are fast approaching and as you look at your budget you are noticing that you have more people to give gifts to than money - I hear that - so here are a few 'homemade' gifts that make people smile and more than likely you have most of the items at home - look around it's there. I am going to show you how I put it together for myself - you can get as creative as you want with it and also the packaging. Most of these items I already have - the oils (mostly olive or olive combo) I get at the dollar store (if I don't digest it - I won't spend the money on it) and I get the essential oils from the health food store (I have received a few from people but again - since I am a novice I just buy the cheaper brands - once I get more into aromatherapy then I will know which company is best but for now why waste good money). I am a slight hoarder  =p so I keep the small jars from old candles that have lids on them, buttons, ribbons, ect.  Don't fret if you don't have items - I have found numerous treasures at the dollar store. 
This one is something I make for myself allllll the time and it couldn't be easier. This after bath oil is super perfect since it doesn't spoil and you can make various scents and give it as a pack. I fill a small bottle with a flip top (which I purchased a pack of 4 at the dollar store) with oil (olive, olive combo, even mineral oil -like baby oil is fine) and add a few drops (depending on the size of the bottle an even 5 drops of each scent if fine or favor one scent over another 3 drops patchouli to 7 drops of lavender - it depends upon you)  of essential oil(s) (I like lavender-patchouli or sandalwood-clove these scents aren't too flowery but if you don't like the more 'musky' scents then you can do lavender-sweet orange or rosemary-lime for a 'clean' scent). Put a cute lable and you are done! 
This perfect body scrub is something else that can be made in a few minutes. For this you will need sugar (brown or white it doesn't matter - the only difference is that brown sugar has mollassas and it gives it abit of color).  Add about a cup of sugar in the jar, mix with about 1/4 cup of oil, add your essential oils and mix. YUP! That's it! **Why use sugar instead of salt? Well (a) it isn't as coarse and it doesn't scratch the skin - you want to gently exfoliate the skin ... not scrape it up and (b) some people have hyper-tension or are on a low sodium diet and the sodium can penetrate the skin and raise their blood pressure.**
Now this next recipe can either be used as a scrub or added to your bath water to help soften dry, itchy skin. Add 1:1 powder milk and quick oats to a jar with a lid. If you only have rolled oats - then put them in a blender until the oats are in pieces but not pulverized into powder.
If you want a lotion to go with your set but don't have the time (or money) to get all the ingredients here is a super quick 'cheaters' recipe. Buy a non or neutral scented lotion (I like St Ives with Oatmeal), put in a flip top container and add your essential oil (roughly the same combination as your oil), shake really well and that's how it's done.
OK ... this little baking trick I do whenever I bake cookies from the pre-made section (where the biscuits are at). I usually buy the large 12 cookies and cut each cookie into 4ths - so that instead of just making 1 very large cookie, I get 48 regular size cookies  =D I make sure that I roll them in my palm (they spread better) and then bake like the instruction say - since they will vary in size everyone will think that you took the time to bake them their favorite turtle carmel swirl cookies and nobody is the wiser ;p
Remember this time of year is about the moments between breaths ~ be there (active and present) with those around you especially loved ones. Special moments can be like dragonflies ~ fleeting ~ cherish every second.



Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Surving The Holidays

The End of Dinner by J. Grun

I have been speaking to a few people and they are already going crazy - they keep mentioning things like I'm never going to lose weight before the Christmas party and relatives are coming and I have to organize the house and the only response I have for them is - Are you crazy - have you really lost your minds? The holidays are not the time to lose weight you will never win and as far a organizing - you can not clutter free a house AND have it fully decorated for Christmas at the same time. BUT what you can do is survive.

Let's start with diet. Yes the holidays does seem to have its plethora of high fats party platters - so going on a diet or tying to lose weight between Thanksgiving and New Years is just rediculous. What you can do is maintain - YES MAINTAIN - even if you do need to lose some extra pounds (that should have already been done by now) A healthy diet of mainly grains, vegetables and fruits will help you not only maintain your weight but also keep you healthy - between stress, the weather and being around other people with cooties, your immune system is going to get weakened. People put ridiculous pressure on themselves to "look" a certain way for their family, friends, collegues .... wait aren't those the same people you see almost every single day? They don't hang around you because of your size - STOP IMPRESSING THEM! THEY LIKE YOU OR THEY WOULDN'T BE YOUR FRIENDS! I am not saying don't loose weight - I am saying that watch what you eat now and pick up the diet after the new year.

Clutter ..... where do I start. If you are like me you have a tree fully decorated, figurines evvveryyywhere, stocking for everybody - including the pets, garland on everything and wreaths on walls and doors ..... why on God's green earth do you want to start unloading items from closets, drawers, sheds and garages?  *o*  Again ... you will go insssaaane if you try!  Just keep couches, tables and counters clutter free and the bathrooms and floors clean and you will be ready for company. Save all the decluttering for the new year - it will be a new year resolution that will actually be kept.

So now go do what you are truely wanting to do this season .... enjoy your time with your loved ones. Be safe ... talk soon.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Paul Mitchell Winner!

The Paul Mitchell Color Care Set
goes to ..................

Corinna of Corinna Bs World

Congrats - you received the gift of fabulous hair for Christmas!



Shabbat Shalom

Give to everyone asking you, and from the one 
 taking your things away do not ask [them] back.

Luke 6:30

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Ancient Chinese Secret


No not that Chinese secret silly.


This chinese secret - Green Tea!

One of the main contents is flavonoids - in a cup of green tea the flavonoids are higher than that in the same volume of other food and drink items that are traditionally considered healthy including fresh fruits, vegetable juices or wine. Flavonoids are a group of phytochemicals in most plant products that are responsible for such health effects as anti-oxidative and anti-carcinogenic functions. So it's like anti-rust for your skin! Although tea contains various types of polyphenols and tannin, tea does not contain tannic acid - meaning that it is suitable [even calming] to sensitive skin. I know that most people drink the brew but I just can not get into it SO ... I use my extra strength brew [3 tea bags for 2 cups of water] and make 'ice cube tonics' and whenever I get puffy from the weather or when my skin shows the signs when my 80-20 diet becomes more like 20-80 - I just pop out a cube and rub it on my clean face - the coolness brings down the swelling, and the caffeine helps tighten the skin. Win-Win!

This time of year between the wind, cold and stress - the skin takes a beating. I have found these great masks at the asian store (for a dollar - that's right ... one buck!!) and it is full of .... well I'm not too sure what because it is written in Korean but I know they are AMAZING. *giggles* Not only are they made of collagen (hopefully not animal based) but also pomegranate, red ginseng and green tea - which are all fantastic healing agents. To maximize the benefits of this wonderful product simply wash your face (2x if you are wearing makeup) perferably with a cleanser with an alpha-hydroxy acid such as glycolic (which most anti-aging products have in it - DDF Glycolic Wash happens to be my favorite you can get it at Ulta and Sephora) on the last cleanse leave the wash on the skin for atleast a minute (if you can - if it stings please rinse it off immediately) before rinsing 3xs (this gives the glycolic time to actually do some work), use a soothing toner perferably something with aloe in it (it is great if your skin is sensitive or weather beating and wonderful if you have acne as it is a healing agent), I really don't like to use scrubs on the face - I find them too abrasive but instead to use an enzyme (MyChelle carries 3 different kinds and you can buy them in a small pot at the health food store) avoid eye are when you are applying - leave on 1 - 2 mins (it will tingle but if it is irritating rinse immediately) RINSE VERY WELL (I can't stress that enough), apply the mask of your choice (save some of the serum for after), now go lay down and relax (or if need be do some chores or whatever you fancy) for about 20 mins (IF the product stings REMOVE IMMEDIATELY and RINSE IT OFF it isn't suppose to burn), slowly peel off the mask from the bottom up and pat alittle bit of the remaining serum and that's it - enjoy your beautifully refreshed skin. If your skin is super dry apply cream BUT if you are going out don't forget sunscreen (yes ... even in the winter).

Hey guys also don't forget to add yourself as a 'follower' in order to enter in the Paul Mitchell Giveaway - Deadline is this Thursday the 8th and announced this Friday the 9th.

Linking to:




Saturday, December 3, 2011

Paul Mitchell Giveaway

That's right! A Paul Mitchell Giveaway!!


Just in time for the holidays. Look after your colour with Paul Mitchell Sugar-Coated Color gift set. This pack from Paul Mitchell includes the following products: Color Protect® Shampoo (300ml) and Color Protect® Conditioner (300ml). These products come beautifully packaged in a stunning designer gift box from the Hollywood jewellery designer, Tarina Tarantino. And like all Paul Mitchell products these are not to be animal tested.


All you have to do is be a follower - that's it - super easy. This contest will run until Thursday December 8, 2011 at midnight and the winner will be posted on Friday December 9th. So let your friends know, as I will about this super cool giveaway! Good Fortune to all  =D