Top Beauty and Body Picks

Today I decided to post something a little different.  Many times we see new products advertise and we are interested in the product, however we are hesitate to try new things.  This is my Top Beauty and Body picks!!  These are products I have tried and are now part of my daily reigmen.  Most of these items can be bought at your local Wal-mart or pharmacy for under $10.  Other products can be purchased at Sephora for under $30.   

Skincare:


1. St. Ives Green Tea Scrub – This product is the perfect combination of strength and gentleness. The scrub helps to exfoliate dead skin while the green tea helps to soothe redness.

2. Mark for Goodness Face Antioxidant Skin Moisturizing Lotion – This product is a great lotion and moisturizer in one. It is oil-free so won’t clog your pores.  It contains SPF 30!

3. Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-dark Circle Eye Roller – This is a star product and I use it every morning. Not only does it help with dark circles but it also conceals them.  It is perfect worn under make-up or alone.

Hair Products:


1. L’Oreal Vive Pro Glossy Volume Body Boosting Shampoo – If you have flat hair with no volume this is the product for you! It will give you that extra body your hair needs.

2. Pantene Beautiful Lengths Conditioner – Everyone is trying to grow their hair out. This is a perfect product for that task. It helps repair breakage allowing you the reach great lengths.

3. TRES emme Volumizing Mousse – This product supports your hair in two ways. First it is part of the Thermal Creations collection. This means that it works with the heat from your hair dryer or straightener and protects your hair from the heat. Secondly, it will give you the volume needed without leaving your hair feeling sticky.

Fragrance:

1. Givenchy Play – I recently received a sample of this and it has quickly become a favorite. It is light but gives you the added scent when going out for special occasions.

2. Victoria Secret Endless Love Refreshing Body Mist – This is a great product to wear everyday.  It is a light mist that gives you a fresh scent without the strong scent of perfume.

Make-up:

1. Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse – This product does just what it states; makes your completion look smooth. 

 

2. Urban Decay Vegan Palette – This is a fairly new cosmetic line and I am already a huge fan.  The fact that the majority of their make-up is vegan is also a plus.  They have many gift sets that include an eye-shadow primer, eye-shadow, and a coordinating eye-liner.  Great buy!

3. Smashbox Eye Beam Double Ended Brightener – This is a great highlighter for the face and eyes.  The product will give you a finished, polished look. 

4. Bare Essentials: Buxom Lips – This is a great product for those who have thin lips.  It will give your lips the extra plump needed for a full pout. 

Remember all skin types are different and these are products that have worked for me.  What are your must-have beauty products??? 

Taking Care of Mother Nature

Last year I watched a conservation documentary about the simple things we use everyday and their impact on Mother Earth.  After that documentary, I started paying close attention to everything I use and where it will go after that use.  For example, think about all the individually wrapped items we use in a single day.  If these items are not recycled they could spend eternity in a landfill.  Think about how many packets or containers are in that one box.  Then think about everyone who uses this product and do not dispose of it properly.  Where will all these items go?

Often times we do not think about trash and where it will go after we dispose of it.  It’s trash!  It doesn’t have the right to be thought about.  But our trash does not just disappear into a black hole.  If not recycled, trash can go from our personal trashcan to a dumpster, then from a dumpster to a dump trunk.  Some of that trash may be blow away by wind or dropped.  The wind could then carry this trash to lakes, rivers and the ocean.  This documentary showed images of trash floating in the ocean and the marine life and birds that use this trash as food.  These disturbing images forced me to change my lifestyle to a greener more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

After some research I have compiled some tips for a greener lifestyle:

1. Cut down on waste by buying items not wrapped in individual packages.
2. Instead of a trashcan, separate trash into recycling bins that contain cardboard, plastic and glass materials.
3. Try to avoid using water bottles.  Instead use eco-friendly travel containers or water filters.  Same thing for coffee; bring your own travel mug.
4. Be creative with left over packages.  With some craft paper, glue and ribbon you could turn a plastic container into a decorative, useful item for your home.
5. Use organic or eco-friendly cleaning supplies.
6. Keep glass jars for your own homemade salsa and give as a gift.  This is both eco and economically friendly.
7. Turn lights and electronics off when you are not using them.  Make sure to unplug chargers when they are not in use.  
8. Start a carpool to work or use public transportation.  

When we take care of the Earth, we also take care of all its residents!

You've Got A Friend In Me

Many times when we think about helping others we look globally or around the community.  We sometimes overlook our loved ones who are in desperate need of our help.  This post is about   reaching out to your friends and family and supporting them through the ups and downs of life.  

Our friends and family confide in us and sometimes we aren’t sure how to respond.  Do we give them advice even though it may hurt their feelings?  Is it best to be brutally honest?  What is the best way to be supportive yet objective?  

Here are some creative fun tips for helping your friends through tough times: 

1. Be an active LISTENER!!!  Sometimes it appears we are listening when in fact we aren’t.  Being an active listener means we are totally in tuned to what the person is saying and we are demonstrating this with phrases like “yes,” “I can see why you are feeling that way,” etc.  
2. Break out the ice cream and wine (maybe not together)!  Sometimes lounging around and discussing each other’s current issues is just the perfect solution.
3. GIRL’S NIGHT!  Plan an outing with a bunch of your girlfriends.  There is nothing that will help cheer up your friend like a night of fun with friends.  This will help remind your friend that she is surrounded by people who love and support her!
4. Send a little love note!  Send an uplifting note, flowers or gift just to remind your friend you are there for them.

      

If your friends or family members continue to experience these feelings, this could be an indicator of a deeper emotional issue.  Though an important role of being a friend is counseling, understand what is out of your bounds. Consider referring your friends to a therapist if the following characteristics are present for an extended period of time: 

1. A drastic change in behavior.  
2. Change in appetite resulting in weight loss or weight gain.
3. Lack of interests in favorite hobbies or activities.
4. Isolation from friends or family.
5. Self-medicating. 
6. Trouble sleeping or fatigue.

HUG a friend today!

Helping Others

The majority of my recent blog posts have focused mainly on improving the “inner self.”  This week I would like to focus outward toward those in need of help.  Throughout the week there will be posts on a variety of topics such as community engagement, helping friends in need, animal rights, and conservation. 

My first post will focus on community engagement.  There is often a stigma attached to “charity” and “community service.”  Many people do not want to part with two major things; their time and money.  Most people believe the only way to help others is by donating money, though it is advised to thoroughly research an organization before donating money.  Think outside of the box when helping others.    

Below are some ideas of community engagement projects:    

1.      Women Crisis Centers!  These facilities provide educational programming, shelter, counseling services, and advocacy for women in crisis.  Many also provide similar services to children.  Most of these facilities are in need of basic necessities such as toilet paper, feminine products, shampoo/conditioner, soap, diapers, toys etc.  Next time you are shopping and you come across a two for one deal, think about donating your second item to these centers. 

2.      Volunteer at a local retirement home or assisted living facility.  Remember how you loved visiting grandma and grandpa on Saturdays or Sundays.  You can do that again for someone in need of some company! 

3.      Use your skills when volunteering.  If you are a great event planner, organize a “Happy Unbirthday Party” for a local children’s home.

4.      Be someone’s Big Sis or Brother.  There are many organizations that are in search for positive role models for children.  Children are the future. 

5.      Remember our Armed Forces!  If you know someone who is oversees or going through training send them a care package of their favorite things!  Make sure to include pictures and candy!

6.      Give to those who are in need.  Currently, the victims of the earthquake and tsunami are in great need.  Make sure to research charities before donating money!       

These are only a few and during the week we will go into greater detail!

You Are As Old As You Feel

In my circle of friends there has been a flood of birthdays in the last two months. This has given us the excuse to get together and enjoy each other’s company. Each celebration was accompanied by a reoccurring item of discussion; OUR AGE! The discussions usually consisted of the following points; how we do not feel our age, the change in our bodies and energy levels, and the feeling of not accomplishing all that we wanted to at this point. These events inspired me to write my next post on age.

In college I majored in psychology and this aspect has assisted me in writing my blog. Today I will dust off my psychology knowledge and include it in this post. So here we go! When examining age there are many theories focused around the subject. I am focusing on three ages for the purpose of this post. The first age is our chronological age. This is the age most commonly referred to. It is how old we are from our birth date to the present time. It is this age that gives us the most anxiety as we put more and more candles on the cake.

The second age is our biological age and is determined by our physical condition biological factors. Biological aging can be the effect of poor diet, lack of exercise, insomnia, stress or injuries. Another important biological factor targeted more so to women, is the dreaded biological clock. There is added pressure on women to establish their career, find someone to settle down with and then have children. All of this has to be done by a certain age and this can cause even more stress on those trying to “find their lives direction.”

The third age is our psychological age and is simply defined by the age we feel we are. You can imagine the chaos when these three ages do not fit together. For example, there may be someone whose chronological age is 26 years old but they perceive them self as a care free 21 years old. This is the “crisis” occurring within myself and with my friends. I feel too old to be 21 but not accomplished enough to be my age. My birthday has become this big reminder of all the things I have not accomplished and adds even more pressure to the next year.

I have finally realized that this panic and anxiety over my age is unnecessary and counter-productive. I can only focus on doing my best now to get to where I want to be. I cannot compare my progress to others. I am my own person and my experiences are shaping me for my future. To those of you struggling with this issue, here are a few tips.

1. Instead of using your birthday as a measurement for your lack of achievement, use it to celebrate all your many achievements.

2. Appreciate your battle scars. Reflect on all the negative experiences you have been through and how you came out on top!

3. Celebrate your birthday with confidence, great friends and a martini.

Leap of Faith

This post is more of a personal therapeutic tool for myself that will hopefully reach others.  Doesn’t it always seem that you and your friends are going through the same situations at the same time? Though this has its advantages, it can also have some big disadvantages.  On one hand, you can be there for each other and understand what the other person is feeling.  On the other hand, you have no one to offer you advice on the subject.  All you can do is continue to be compressed in the same situation and cycle over and over. 

Most of my friends and I are embarking on new adventures.  We are standing at the crossroads of our future. There are plenty of directions we can go in.  We can either stay where we are and not continue on.  We take a right but the street may be blocked or under construction.  We take a left but know it leads to the not so good part of town but may get us to our destination faster.  Or we have the option of moving forward. 

We are taking the next step in our life and we are all terrified.  We constantly discuss the issue, bouncing back and forth between decisions.  My sister has been a great sport but I know she can’t take anymore “pros and cons for this decision” discussions with me.  As she is going through the same thing herself.  Therefore I am here to break out of this cycle and try my best to offer advice to myself, my friends and peers. 

This post will be dedicated to those who are in the process of taking their next big step. This could be a new job, a big move to another place, attending graduate school or within a relationship. This is the most stressful situation to be in.  It has often been described as a “limbo” by many of my friends.  Some of my friends are waiting for others to make their decision for them and feel powerless in the situation.  Others are just not sure which opportunity to take.     

The next big step could be positive or negative however no matter the outcome our lives will forever be changed.  We know we can’t stay where we are but the thought of moving on paralyzes us.  We are paralyzed by fear.  There is a fear of rejection, fear of unhappiness, fear of financial instability, fear of loneliness, fear of not being good enough, and fear of being uncomfortable.  These intense feelings of fear force us to cling to the comfort of our current situation and not take any chances.

We are SO afraid of change that we have forgotten our positive past experience in which change made things better.  Did you not once take a chance going to college, a job, a move or a relationship? We are so afraid of the unknown that we hang on to the familiar no matter how unhappy it makes us.  I have put together a few thoughts that have helped me through this situation.      

Important Things to Keep in Mind:

You owe it to yourself to try.  Yes, you could fail but you could also succeed.

You aren’t happy where you are.  What is your current spot giving you and you giving it?

You deserve the very best.  Allow wonderful things to happen in your life.  So many times we refuse to believe that we deserve great things to happen in our lives.   

These ideas don’t just randomly pop into our heads.  They are something we feel the need to do and feel deep down is the right step for us.

Be open for great things to come into your life.  By fearing change we close ourselves off to these things.

Sometimes we have to stop obsessing over the subject, making pro and con lists, and just do it.  They don’t call it a leap of faith for nothing.

Part Three: The Chosen One

This is the final post of my three part series on a recent interaction with a local artist.  During the interview obviously the artist was asked about her work.  She responded in typical artistic fashion that her work isn’t work.  It is simply her life.  This was an idea I had recently been tossing around in my head.  My parents have always said parental phrases such as “you have to crawl before you walk” and “we all have to do things we don’t want to do.”  My upbringing caused an internal struggle within me.  Am I wrong to want a job that I don’t dread doing?  Is it wrong to long for a career that doesn’t leave me feeling unappreciated and useless?  Let me state here that I know that there is no career path or job that is perfect.  I fully understand that there will be aspects I do and do not enjoy about a job.  I also understand that I will work with people that I sometimes do not get along with.  All of these things cannot be controlled.  However I still feel that if I enjoy what I do, the minor things will not affect me.

I personally want to be career oriented, thus why it has taken me so long to find something I want to do.  I see it as making a long-term commitment and I want to make sure I am picking the right one.  I want a job that is more of a lifestyle rather than something I must do.  Listening to this artist talk about her work reaffirmed my thoughts on the matter.  She talked about how her art was her life and that art had chosen her.  Even when she tried to put it down she couldn’t.  She could not separate herself from it because it was in fact her life.  Her words described everything I was currently feeling.  I had spent so much time and energy trying to escape what I really wanted to do for fear of not being smart or good enough.  I felt I needed to be practical and only stick with what I had experience with.  In the past few years, I have pondered, thought, and tried many different career paths.  The answer was clearly staring me in the face.  I did not take the time to listen to my inner voice. 

I am so thankful that morning shed light on major questions I was asking myself.  I also had many friends and family members asking the same questions about their futures.  Therefore I knew I needed to share this experience.  I hoped that what has chosen me (helping others through writing) will assist someone else on their quest.  In conclusion remember the following things; take time to listen to yourself, be happy with yourself and allow something to choose you.     

Part Two: Somewhere I Belong

This is Part Two of my previous post.  Part two reaffirms everything stated in part one.  The interview continued with conversations about the places they had lived.  These places had differed in weather, accommodations, size, and distance from family and friends; the many aspects that we look for when making a move to a new place.  Through this array of circumstances she stated that they had never lived somewhere they weren’t happy.  These words hit a nerve deep inside of me and all I could think about is the unhappiness I have felt in places I have lived.  I know my facial expression expose me and I felt as though my feelings were laid out on the table we were sitting at. 

After she said this my mind began to wander.  All I could think about is how I almost never feel content where I am?  It’s not like every place I have been brought me misery.  I have truly loved several places in my life and felt content.  I started pondering whether a place can make a person happy.  It is very possible for someone to be in the middle of paradise and wish to be somewhere else. 

I feel that part of this depends on how happy you are with yourself, your support group and your career path.  When you are truly happy with yourself, you are more resilient to outside influences.  You may not mind that tiny apartment or that you live across the world from your closest friends.  You are better able to look at a situation in a positive way.  A support group of friends and family can contribute to a person’s happiness as well.  Just knowing that you have positive and supportive people in your life can give you a sense of security.  However it is all about balance because relying on these people too much can cause you to not think or feel for yourself.  I feel that one’s career path can assist with happiness and will be discussed in part three of this post.       

Part One: Me, Myself and I

This will be a three part post. I will be writing on an experience I had this weekend that really gave me reassurance and hope that I am on the right track. I hope this will be helpful to others. This experience came in the form of a favor I did for two students. Their assignment was to write a profile paper on someone and they had picked a local married couple whom were artists. This experience proved to be one that surprised me. I was hesitant at first to take them seeing that this would be my only day to sleep in. I decided to stop being lazy and took them.

There studio was separate from their house and stood two stories in the air with beautiful big windows. Inside the walls were covered with art and unique nick knacks.  It was almost like we were in a rural modern museum of art. After conversing over the odd and end things the students settled in for the interview.

The couple was a very unique and interesting couple. They had been and lived everywhere which I especially admired. They were free spirits who had lived their life as they wanted.  Both of them had wonderful and interesting things to say however the interview with the wife was most interesting to me. She said many things that I had recently been wondering myself. I felt as though her soul was reaching out to my confused, lost soul guiding it and reassuring all that I believed in.  During the interview, the artist touched on three main concepts that stuck with me; thus why I am dividing this post into three parts.

Lesson One: Enjoy Your Own Company

The interview starting by the couple reflecting on the time they spent in Iceland. Her husband was stationed there for the Navy and took many trips for extended periods of time. They didn’t live on base so she did not have the company of others. She spent a great deal of time alone and with only a radio and knitting supplies as entertainment.  She always kept busy and never felt alone. She accredited this to the fact that she enjoyed her own company.

Throughout the interview she referenced this point over and over as if it was a reoccurring theme. This caused me to ponder this concept; enjoying your own company.  Do I enjoy my own company?  Am I happy enough with myself to be alone?  If you are like me, you feel a need to be around people, noise, and energy.  I am always going, always surrounded and never give myself solitude. I even watch television until I fall asleep. My mind has no time alone throughout the day.
I feel solitude is an important key for us as humans. It gives us time to think and listen to ourselves. For the past few years, I have bounced around ideas for potential career paths and where I want to live.  I have not sat in silence and allowed myself to think about what I want out of life.  I am not sure I know myself as well as I should which may contribute to my lack of ability to make decisions.  I am not entirely sure what will make me happy.  I took this as a lesson that to be happy you have to be happy with yourself. If you are happy with yourself you can be happy anywhere while doing anything.