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heartcrypt-blog · 5 years ago

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☕ . ˚ ◝ ( kim jisoo. cisfemale. she/her. ) vanessa yun is a twenty-four year old scorpio. the wedding planner’s go-to order is an almond milk macchiato. they like to listen to rhiannon by fleetwood mac while they wait for their order. the employees of the deja brew think they are disenchanted but swear they’re totally genuine as well. maybe that’s why empty champagne flutes, bitter smiles and pencil skirts remind me of them.

hey there babyluvs! i’m pleased to be here to write with you all ^-^ i’m honestly so terrible at intros but we’re going to get through this together okay?? i’ll start by giving you a little bit of info on my cynical lil wilted flower over here <3 vanessa was born to a single mom and aspiring broadway performer in downtown buffalo, new york. she loved the city even as a child, and would often tag along with her mom wherever she went. the two were the best of friends, which sometimes came at the expense of her mother being the responsible adult. vanessa was sometimes even more detail-oriented than her mother, which led to her being something of a miniature assistant. after watching some of the plays her mother was in, as well as others, vanessa became obsessed with the idea of love. her mother had a collection of recorded productions, many of them deeply romantic tales. vanessa was hooked on the idealistic belief that love was a perfect, momentous occasion that always included fireworks and whimsical songs and people dancing in the streets. her mother enabled these fantasies of the perfect love story, filling vanessa’s head with the idea that relationships were all about a quick, sudden feeling that you needed to act on immediately rather than an obstacle-filled journey that could be just as painful as it could beautiful. her naivete about the subject led to her becoming a bit of a serial dater in high school. she was on the hunt for a perfect love story, after all. she was convinced that she’d know it no sooner than things got started, so none of her relationships lasted very long. it led to some unsavory rumors about her among some of the students, but she was confident that she knew what she was doing. in her sophomore year, she simply knew she had met the one. he had the most exquisite eyes and heartrending smile; he knew all the right things to say, and he’d brushed off the rumors about her from the very beginning. he kissed her like she was the only person he’d ever care about, and vanessa was swept away in the feeling. it was the breathless kind of romance she’d always yearned for. the two were inseparable for the remainder of high school, and even got engaged before heading off to separate colleges. vanessa’s love of romance and eye for detail led her down the wedding planning path at new york university, while her beau was attending his father’s alma mater in wisconsin. even though they’d mostly be apart for four years, she knew they’d stand the test of time and distance. during her time at nyu, vanessa made a fairly good friend who seemed to share her hopeless romantic nature. the two talked often over coffee, and even had crappy rom com marathons together. meanwhile, her fiance seemed to begin distancing himself from her. he began calling much less often, and even ignoring her own calls. and when she actually could get in touch with him, there always seemed to be voices in the background that he was hell bent on her not hearing. deep down, she knew things were headed for disaster, but her dedication to the man of her dreams kept her hopes up. still though, the friend she’d made in college whom she had so much in common with...she couldn’t deny that feelings were starting to form there. they spent far too much time together and liked each other far too much for there not to be feelings. things nearly came to a head several times between them, but she couldn’t stray. after graduation, it finally came time for the wedding vanessa had spent her entire life planning. she knew going into it that she had feelings for someone else, and that her fiance was likely cheating on her, but she still intended to walk down the aisle, head held high. her stomach full of butterflies, she did so, walking towards the man who had a smarmy grin on his face. a man she knew once, or maybe she never had. maybe she had just been blinded by her obsession with love. either way, as their vows began, vanessa couldn’t shake off a feeling of impropriety. that’s when she heard it; the double doors to the front of the church opening. it was him, her friend from college. “i don’t know if you’ve gotten to the objection part, but i object,” he muttered to the priest, out of breath. once again, vanessa’s heart was made new. it was as if a scene from a movie had played out in her very own life. maybe love didn’t deserve the doubts she’d started to cast on it. after all, the man she really loved had just saved her from making a huge mistake, had he not? the two star-crossed lovers fled the church in a hurry, fingers intertwined, dodging pedestrians on the sidewalk as they laughed together. it was perfect; everything she had ever wanted. this type of love could never come with a hefty price tag...could it? the first few months were like a honeymoon at sunset that simply wouldn’t end. champagne on a hotel balcony, making love in the back seat, revealing secrets in shy whispers. it filled vanessa’s head with dreams and sanguine thoughts, even though she’d been burned once before. she found work with an event planning agency, filling her days with wedding details, consultations, cake tastings and dress fittings. even though her own wedding hadn’t exactly gone off without a hitch, she still adored the festivities and loved the thought of giving other people their perfect day. and when she got home at the end of the day, she’d get to spend time with the love of her life. things were going absolutely amazing. he couldn’t have been more supportive of her career, always encouraging her to go out with her coworkers more to improve relations, or work longer hours in order to gain her boss’ respect. she was so appreciative, she was determined to repay him. knocking off early for lunch one day, she prepared him a romantic picnic. certainly something she stole from a movie, but she knew he’d enjoy it nonetheless. they were both corny like that. she arrived home at noon, picnic basket adorned with fresh flowers in hand, ready to surprise him. she was the one who got the big surprise however, as after she covertly unlocked the door, she was met with the sight of an unknown female getting very familiar with the man she’d credited with healing her heart after her fiance’s betrayal. the woman’s fingertips were on the bare chest that vanessa herself had touched lovingly just the night before. she couldn’t speak, she couldn’t cry, she couldn’t even breathe; anger was too busy sweeping its way through her blood. even as he hurled excuse after excuse at her, trying to make himself seem blameless, vanessa’s eyes burned red. she was devastated, she was filled with utter rage, and she simply didn’t know what to do. the raw pain of yet another failed relationship that she’d staked everything on was almost too much to bear. love wasn’t a beautiful miracle; it was an ugly, manipulative trap made for certain people to get what they wanted and for everyone else to be left ravaged by it. a bitterness grew in her like twisting vines, and the longer she stayed in new york, the more she felt suffocated by them. her aimlessness carried her to california, as it was a great breadth away from her problems, and that was exactly where she wanted to be. she still works as a wedding planner, albeit one with a much more matter-of-fact and uninspired take on things. the happiness surrounding them almost makes her sick now, but it pays the bills, and it’s the only trade she really studied for. she looks at love much differently; she almost pities the people who experience it. her jaded outlook has driven her clientele down considerably, but vanessa simply can’t bring herself to feel the hope that she once did. she does’t really want to accept that her own attitude towards love in the first place is what got her into trouble. her trying to idealize every facet of romance made her unable to deal with the slightest disappointment. as afraid of love as she is, she’s even more afraid of confronting herself. wanted connections; best friend - the one person who can be real with vanessa and call her a dumb bitch when she needs to hear it (which is often). they know her an uncomfortable amount and can call her out when need be. still they both luff each other and hang out pretty much all the time. no strings - while vanessa may hate love now, that doesn’t mean she hates instant gratification. this little connection *chef’s kiss* is really gonna test her on the whole ‘how about you don’t fall for someone just bcuz they’re attractive and nice to you for five minutes??’ thing. lots of sarcastic banter, flirting in the form of constantly roasting each other and drunk 3am booty calls. what’s not to love like? therapy friend - at the behest of her best friend connection, vanessa has started tentatively attending therapy sessions. she doesn’t go that frequently, as she’s not all that comfortable with it yet, but she has at least made a friend there. this is basically someone else who has sessions at the same therapist, and they just started conversing in the waiting room, eventually striking up a friendship. maybe they even have coffee at a certain place sometimes?? leftover buddy - this is the person who is always calling dibs on vanessa’s catering leftovers from weddings. she brings them by whenever she can in some cute lil decorative containers, and the two get a chance to catch up when she does! employee of the month - i’d love for vanessa to have a favorite deja brew employee! just that one person who always makes her order just right and always greets her with a smile and a friendly hello in the way she needs, especially in the morning, since she’s such a bitter grouch. this alsdkfjgh isn’t much, but i’d also love to take on some of the plots you guys have available! we can also brainstorm something from scratch of course ^^ feel free to like my shmatus and i’ll come see what’s up in your ims!

#° ｡ * ♡ 𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖔.#hqbrew:intro

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rkwmdksblog · 3 years ago

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good massage

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differentnutpeace · 4 years ago

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Dispatches From Quarantine: How Young People Are Documenting History

It's been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic completely upended our lives. For young people especially, it reprieved them of fully experiencing the world during a crucial time of growth and development. หวย บอล เกมส์ คาสิโนออนไลน์

Parents all over the world are beaming with all sorts of questions to get a grasp on the pandemic's toll, such as: How has the pandemic been affecting our children? Has remote learning slowed their education? Has reduced socializing hurt their development?

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Why Some Young People Fear Social Isolation More Than COVID-19

Historian Alexandra Zapruder wanted to document what the young people of today are going through, so she asked a number of students to send her diary entries. The project, called Dispatches from Quarantine, launched in April 2020, and those questions were explored and answered through all sorts of mediums — like the stringing of words, the strokes of a paintbrush or to the strums of a ukulele.

Credit: Naiobi Benjamin

Naiobi Benjamin's song "Not What I Planned"

"With the proliferation of social media, I started to think about how diaries have basically been supplanted," Zapruder tells NPR's Morning Edition. "And what's a little bit been lost is the kind of quiet reflection, the authentic preservation of experiences that are captured in diaries. And I'm very interested in preserving that."

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Zapruder's interest behind documenting adolescence is simple: it's fleeting.

"It goes so fast and once it's over, it's lost forever, we cannot recapture that point of view as anybody who knows anybody who lives with a teenager knows how foreign in a way that perspective can be," she adds.

Stephanie Zhou: The Final Project

Stephanie Zhou via Alexandra Zapruder

Zapruder was not invested in a generic writing project, but rather was interested in "the idea of showing young people how their writing in the present day could really exist on a continuum of writers who've been writing over more than 100 years." Although participants mainly wrote the obvious, such as their general grief over missing school or prom — there was still appeal in the fact there is so much that is unexpected.

Maia Siegel

I was ill until proven

healthy. My mother

left me small foods

laid on paper plates

on the stairs, running

away as I came out.

A date, some almonds,

a sweet potato stabbed

through with a fork.

I despised her for being so

scared of me, for crying

to the doctor If she comes down

I will feel panicked. I did not come down.

I stayed still for six days,

four of which I did not get out

of bed.

Through quick, blunt stanzas, 18-year-old Maya Siegel notes the initial wave of panic and tension that eased into her household as she was in quarantine.

"And she says, this thing that I absolutely adore, my mother starts to ration the seltzer water," Zapruder notes. "Like this little detail that is so potent."

Claire Hammond

I can hear the birds chirping all the time now. I never used to listen to the birds before; too busy running around from activity to activity. So many things have been taken out of my life and replaced. Yes, by worry and fear, but also by time, my silver lining. For the first time in such a long while, I've been able to just stop and sit. I've been able to focus on myself and heal a bit, in a world that's so broken.

In this note from 16-year-old Claire Hammond, she documents the small moments of mindfulness she's felt amid the chaos of the pandemic. Life has slowed down enough to the point where she can feel a little bit more free from the restraints of everyday life.

Fiona Dong

I still clearly remember when the coronavirus outbreak happened in China, I checked the data on the number of cases every morning after I woke up. I was worried about my family and friends back in China. The coronavirus became the topic that we discussed on the dinner table. I worried about my family every day, but what I could do was only take care of myself and watch people experiencing all those tragedies. The whole world is having a hard time this year. However, in human history, when there was a world crisis, it always brought us together to unite as a whole and fight against the crisis. I didn't have a chance to prove that before the virus's outbreak, but I strongly feel that now. People from different countries are fighting against our enemy together.

We shouldn't blame or compare each other at this time. If we are facing this together as a group, I believe our enemy will capitulate soon.

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Too Much Alone Time? Tips To Connect And Find Joy While Social Distancing

Zapruder told Morning Edition how glad she was to see the project reach an international scope. In this example, 16-year-old Fiona Dong was going to school in Massachusetts but was called to return to her home in China. Her full submission leads readers on the journey back home — detailing the anxiety behind traveling in turbulent times and a two-week quarantine in a hotel in her hometown, Xi'an.

Sam Kofman

I had two tests yesterday, and the most stressful part of doing quizzes and tests is when you have to upload them. It's so much easier in school, where you just hand in a piece of paper. [...] Every single time I try to upload it, I have to do it at least twice because the Internet always crashes. We have so many people all trying to work on the same Internet. My mom and dad doing their work, and me and my brother and sister doing school. I'm really sick of this. I've been in quarantine for about 9 weeks. The only human interaction I have is with my family.

Sam Kofman writes about sharing the Internet with four other members of his family, and the stress of submitting a paper while the Internet keeps giving out.

"This is something that we're all living through, you know, and we want and need to preserve those little details, because that's the texture of daily life," Zapruder says of the excerpt. "That's the stuff we're going to forget 20 years from now."

Zapruder says the project reaffirms something she's believed so deeply — that young people and what they have to say matters.

The full Dispatches from Quarantine collection can be viewed on Zapruder's site.

Phil Harrell and Reena Advani produced and edited the audio story.

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chocolate-brownies · 6 years ago

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I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis about a year ago. I knew that I’d had hypothyroidism (I was told by my naturopath that since my mom, dad, and my two brothers had it, it made sense that I had it too) since I first got a full thyroid panel at the age of 20. Ever since, I’d inconsistently taken a natural thyroid medication called Naturethroid, never thinking to look up the instructions or really understand anything about it. I had transferred my doctor worship to my naturopath after she helped my cure my amenorrhea, and didn’t do my own research or ask important questions. Learning from experts in a collaborative setting can really help to lay the foundation to ask these kinds of questions; For me, it wasn’t until the Hashimoto’s diagnosis that I really dug into thyroid health.

I began to understand the root causes, the things that make the thyroid function better and worse, the different medications available and pros and cons of each, how reversible Hashimoto’s is, and how it connects to symptoms I had been feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally. I learned that Hashimoto’s is quite complicated and common (especially for women!). It’s difficult for most people to ever completely stop taking some kind of thyroid supplement, be it natural or pharmaceutical, but, having seen that it’s possible, I’ve made it my mission to reverse my Hashimoto’s and one day, ditch my Naturethroid.

Sitting with Experts to Learn the Basics

As it would happen, I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Aviva Romm, a wonderful functional medicine doctor and author of The Adrenal Thyroid Revolution. This past January, I followed her 3–4 week program and then retested my thyroid with a blood test. Despite everything I know about food, meditation, movement, supplements, and herbs, this program taught me so much, and opened my eyes to all of my false beliefs: the things I’d convinced myself, or never thought about, or didn’t fully understand, or blindly assumed. If you’re thinking of doing the Adrenal Thyroid Revolution program, or any kind of reset program or elimination diet, here are my seven takeaways that might help you understand what to expect and what to look for.

Food products are still processed—even if they’re healthy!

Many “health foods” (i.e. foods sold in health food stores or organic sections of mainstream grocery stores) have preservatives, vegetable or canola oil, or additives like stabilizers (things that make things creamier for example). Somehow, I had been conveniently letting these items fall into my grocery cart—or maybe my husband did and I didn’t fight it—despite my awareness that whole foods or one-ingredient foods are always preferable. This includes things like frozen organic or cauliflower-crust pizza, “healthy” chips or crackers, granola and other cereals, certain soups, marinara and other sauces, nut butters, gluten-free and organic frozen chicken nuggets, coconut ice cream bars, dark chocolate bars, kimchi, hummus, salad dressings, nut milks, packaged bars, yogurt (even plant-based), and many more. I had wrongly assumed that because a product had the USDA organic label, or because it used coconut over dairy or cauliflower over gluten, that it was good for me. But I soon learned that many of these “healthy” products contain tons of ingredients that I definitely did not want to be consuming. I had to come to terms with the fact that if a box of organic crackers is sitting on a shelf, then it is highly likely it has preservatives, and that gluten-free organic chicken nuggets are still a fried food.

Almost everything contains added sugar and inflammatory oils and butter.

I didn’t fully understand how common canola and vegetables oils are in food products, so I wasn’t catching them on labels. I also wildly underestimated how many healthy-seeming food products had added sugar! Kimchi was the most shocking. In my mind, because I wouldn’t add sugar to kimchi or a nut butter, I mistakenly assumed an organic brand I trusted wouldn’t either. Not true at all. Sugar is added to things you couldn’t possibly imagine needing sugar, like cauliflower pizza. Why on earth does that need to be sweetened?!

I also underestimated how many little bits of sugar I had been consuming throughout the day. From fruit in my breakfast smoothie to a coconut date roll in the afternoon to some dark chocolate or a coconut ice cream bar a few evenings a week, my sugar intake really added up. A coconut date roll isn’t bad for you, per-se, but in conjunction with sugar from those other sources, I was consuming way too much. I encourage you to really think about all the sugar you consume in a day (including hidden sugar in things like kimchi or peanut butter and natural sugars in fruit), and you might be surprised by your total intake.

Nightshade vegetables are everywhere.

For the three-week formal program, I eliminated nightshades (a family of plants that includes tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, potatoes), and couldn’t believe how many recipes or dishes at restaurants include at least one of these foods! Tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes are ubiquitous in the standard American diet, even in healthier recipes. Reading about how inflammatory these vegetables can be for some people, and how anyone following a Western diet eats nightshades at least once or twice a day, I realized that it might be an easy thing to eliminate for anyone trying to get to the root of a chronic health issue. Nightshades were one of the many things that made it difficult to eat out.

Eating out was nearly impossible.

In the nearly four weeks I was doing the program, I ate out maybe three or four meals. The first thing I realized was that, as a New Yorker, I eat out more than I thought I did. The second thing I realized was that it is incredibly hard to eat in a healing way at restaurants or when ordering takeout.

Simple dishes I assumed wouldn’t have butter or sugar in them often did, and could not be replaced with something healthier. Many restaurants only had canola oil, even those I specifically chose because I thought they would use cleaner oils like almond, avocado, or olive. Also, many restaurants couldn’t tell me much about the quality of their meat or whether certain vegetables were organic—and nightshades were pretty much everywhere, even when they weren’t listed on the menu (potatoes or tomatoes on the side, peppers in the sauce, or chili flakes sprinkled on top). Finding gluten-free grains like quinoa, brown rice, or oats was also very difficult, and often the serving of vegetables provided isn’t enough to fill you up without some other side of grains. Many sauces included dairy and often things were pre-marinated, which made it difficult to make them without dairy. Butter, I found, was used more often than canola oil for cooking, though I couldn’t eat either!

The most difficult part by far was that eating out for me is a shared, fun experience with people I love, whether it’s my husband or friends or family. While getting dressed to go out to dinner with my husband one night during the program, I realized that I was dreading how annoying I would sound asking a dozen questions about each part of my meal, and feeling like I didn’t have anything to look forward to because I couldn’t have a glass of wine or any sort of “treat” or “reward” food. Which leads me to my next point…

Alcohol plays way too big a part in my culture, society, and habits.

I gave up alcohol for 25 days during the program and realized how much of my social life, as well as habits to cope with long or stressful days, revolved around alcohol. It was incredibly eye-opening to realize that I equated fun and making something special with alcohol. I realized how routine ordering a cocktail was when I sat down at a table, or how many sunsets created a longing for a glass of wine. I also felt bad for people socializing with me when I wasn’t drinking, as I know that the shared vulnerability and “letting loose” of drinking alcohol creates a bond, and not engaging in drinking felt like I was putting a wall up. Our culture celebrates drinking to the point where I believed fun and special occasions required it.

After a few days without it, I couldn’t believe how much better I felt when waking up in the morning. Even one drink impacts your sleep (or two if you’re a man or a larger person) and waking up feeling rested and without any cobwebs (even little ones) was amazing. I forced myself to use other things to unwind, like playing music, stretching, or reading a novel. I also lost three pounds over the three weeks without doing much else besides changing my diet and not drinking. That was a bonus!

Giving up the taste and ritual of coffee—not caffeine—left a void.

I had already given up caffeine in the fall of 2018, but when I was also forced to give up decaf coffee during the program, it made me sad! I realized that the ritual of walking to get my one cup of rich, warm, creamy, flavorful decaf coffee with cashew or oat milk each morning was what I loved, not the caffeine fix. I began drinking much more herbal team on the program and still did my morning walks with tea, but it just wasn’t quite the same.

I loved that the program helped me I incorporate many more wonderful organic herbs in the form of teas into my day, but once the program was over, I couldn’t have been more excited to re-introduce decaf organic coffee into my life. Yes, decaf still has a small amount of caffeine, but the amount in one cup is less than two squares of dark chocolate, and most importantly, I don’t feel that hyper, jittery, anxious feeling that comes after drinking caffeine when I drink it.

It’s hard to truly give yourself permission to pause.

One of Aviva Romm’s signature phrases in this program is “permission to pause.” She emphasizes this because a lot of Hashimoto’s patients like me have fatigued their adrenals through too much stress and constantly being “on,” which impacts your thyroid health. Besides diet, supplements, and herbs, giving yourself permission to pause and do some self-care and things that bring you joy is an important part of the program.

One thing I incorporated that I really enjoyed was turning on music when the work day was done and it was time to cook and eat dinner with my husband. It lifted my mood instantly, got me singing along and away from thoughts about my to-do list. It felt like a weekend even when it wasn’t, and that’s what bringing joy back into your life is all about.

Unfortunately, besides my nightly dance party while cooking, and a few minutes of breathing exercises in the morning, I didn’t do as much self-care as the program stipulated. It turns out, giving yourself permission to pause when you’re an entrepreneur and in today’s 24/7 world is more difficult than anything else, and arguably the most important thing we can do.

My Results from the Adrenal Thyroid Revolution Program

After the program, my thyroid panel blood test showed my TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) had come down from 14 to 7.5 (though I still want to get it below 2) and my thyroid antibodies (the sign of Hashimoto’s) from 48 to 38 (though I’d like to get them to zero!). Despite seeing these results, I found the strictness of program made me revert back to a few of my old eating and lifestyle habits for the past few months (certainly being less strict when eating out!), though many of the dietary changes have stuck at home. I feel hopeful that one day I’ll be able to kick my Hashimoto’s to the curb for good, and this program was a great way to see fast results in that endeavor!

—

Adrienne Nolan-Smith is a board certified patient advocate, speaker and the founder of WellBe, a media company and lifestyle brand focused on bridging the large gap between the healthcare system and the wellness movement to help people prevent and reverse chronic health issues naturally. She received her BA from Johns Hopkins University and her MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University. She lives with her husband in New York City. You can follow her for daily inspiration and information @getwellbe

The post Health in Your Hands: How One Woman Handled Thyroid Dysfunction appeared first on Wanderlust.

#sleep sounds #sleep music #white noise app #nature sounds #relaxing sounds #rain sounds for sleeping

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thegloober · 6 years ago

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You Will Love What This DIY Cleansing Balm Does For Your Skin

Learn how to make a DIY cleansing balm to use as a moisturizing face wash and makeup remover. Made from a handful of natural ingredients and similar to Beautycounter or other popular cleansing balms.

As a teenager, I would have been repulsed by it. As a busy, not-so-young-anymore mom, I am in love with it.

What am I talking about? No, not an old Robert Redford movie or a silent yoga retreat. I’m talking about cleansing balm.

Yes, we’re here to talk about face washing today – but in a way that might surprise you!

What is a Cleansing Balm?

It’s possible you’ve never even heard of cleansing balm but it’s been quite trendy lately, so maybe it’s been on your radar.

A cleansing balm is an oil based skin care product that comes in a solid state (as opposed to liquid) and is used for cleansing and makeup removal.

What? Wash my face with oil? Sounds like a bad idea!

That was my reaction too but once I learned that “oil attracts oil” it all made sense.

The oil in a cleansing balm works to remove dirty oil from your skin and replace it with fresh, nourishing oils.

Believe it or not, cleansing balm is actually beneficial for people with an oily complexion because it keeps skin from over-producing oil. Traditional foaming cleansers can strip skin of oil, causing your skin to react by producing too much oil.

Cleansing balm also removes makeup like nobody’s business!

FYI – You many recall stories of cold cream as a popular beauty regimen used by everyone from famous actresses to your very own grandma. While the basic idea of a cold cream cleanser is similar to a cleansing balm, traditional cold creams (like Ponds) are made from mineral oil and artificial fragrances so I would steer clear!

RELATED: Simple Homemade Makeup Remover

Benefits of Washing with a Cleansing Balm

The beauty of a cleansing balm is that it works for any skin type – dry, oily, acne-prone, young or older!

The benefits of washing your face with a cleansing balm include:

Deep cleansing without stripping skin of oil

Clears congested pores (reduced acne and blackheads)

Helps balance skin’s natural oils

Keeps skin from over-producing oil

Adds moisture to skin where needed

Massaging the balm into skin encourages blood flow and helps drain toxins

Removes makeup thoroughly

How to Wash Your Face with a Cleansing Balm

I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article. Full Disclosure

Washing your face with a cleansing balm is easy, but there is a method to the madness! It is similar to the oil cleansing method, but this involves a solid balm instead of a liquid oil.

Scoop out an almond sized amount of cleansing balm

Rub it between your fingers to melt the balm

Massage the balm into DRY skin, using circular motions

Carefully massage over the eye area as well

Wet muslin washcloth with warm to hot water

Place cloth over face and take a few breaths while the steam opens your pores

Use the cloth to gently wipe away oil from face, being extra careful around the eye area

Repeat until most of the oil is removed – but skin still feels moisturized

Afterwards, your skin should feel clean but also wonderfully soft and nourished.

Depending on your skin type you may or may not need to use additional skin care products, such as facial serums or moisturizers after cleansing. Since my skin is dry, I usually finish with a few drops of a nourishing facial oil serum and a bit of eye cream right before bed.

Cleansing balms are most often used at night – but nothing’s stopping you from using it as part of your morning routine as well (I’ve certainly done it!)

Note: it may take time for your skin to adjust to this new cleansing routine, so don’t write it off at the first sign of zit! Just like switching to natural deodorant, there can be an adjustment period where your skin goes through a bit of a detox. Stick with it if you can!

RELATED: Creamy Facial Cleansers and Cleansing Milks

Other Uses for Cleansing Balm

On top of being a fantastic moisturizing cleanser and a non-toxic makeup remover, this DIY cleansing balm as a few other superpowers!

Overnight face mask

Moisturizing face cream

Hand and cuticle cream

Relief for dry elbows or heels

All purpose balm

The solid state of a cleansing balm makes it perfect for travel! Just remember it still must meet the airline rules for liquids and gels (3.4-oz (100 ml) and they must be presented in a quart-sized ziplock bag.)

DIY Cleaning Balm Ingredients

The product that got me hooked on the cleansing balm method of face cleaning was Beautycounter Cleansing Balm. It is such a lovely product, but it’s expensive – $80 for a 2.75-oz jar. So once my Beautycounter product ran out, I began testing out a homemade version.

While I wasn’t expecting to copy it completely (I don’t have access to all the ingredients that a company like Beautycounter does!), I did want my cleansing balm to have a similar consistency. I wanted it to be solid to the touch, yet melt in my hands. And obviously I wanted to use all natural, non-toxic and preferably organic ingredients.

I’ll be honest, my attempts to make cleansing balm had a bit of a Goldilocks problem – the first one was too thin, the second one was too thick, the third one was almost there and the fourth one was just right!

Here are the ingredients that made the final cut:

Shea butter – An excellent moisturizer that comes from the nut of the shea tree in Africa. (I buy unrefined shea butter in bulk from my local co-op but you can buy shea butter online.)

Cocoa butter – A moisturizing oil that comes from the cocoa bean. Cocoa butter is very hard at room temperature so it helps with the consistency of the cleansing balm. (I get disks of organic cocoa butter in bulk but you can find them online.)

Coconut oil – This popular kitchen staple not only tastes good but is revered as a skin care treatment and makeup remover. (Use whatever you already have in your kitchen cupboard – there is no difference between coconut oil for eating or for skin care.)

Calendula oil – Calendula flowers are known for their soothing and healing properties, making calendula-infused oil a perfect ingredient for cleansing balm. (Here’s the brand of calendula oil I have or you can make your own by infusing calendula flowers in a carrier oil like sunflower, olive or grapeseed oil.)

Frankincense essential oil – A popular oil for skin care due to its ability to rejuvenate dry or mature skin. (Find certified organic frankincense oil online.)

Geranium essential oil – Geranium (also Rose Geranium, which is similar) supports clear, calm skin by regulating oil production and helping unclog pores. One of my favorite essential oils because of its woodsy, rosy scent. (Find organic geranium essential oil here)

Bergamot essential oil – A calming essential oil with a cheery, uplifting scent. (Find organic bergamot essential oil here)

All these ingredients are available in certified organic versions so your cleansing balm can be 100% organic if you prefer it that way!

DIY Cleansing Balm Recipe

My DIY Cleansing Balm is extremely simple to make. This recipe makes enough for 1 jar (about 1/3 cup) but it can easily be doubled or tripled.

In fact, while you are making one for yourself, you should really make one for a friend or two as well. I mean, who wouldn’t want this lovely multi-purpose cleansing balm scented with natural essential oils?

Start by measuring out the shea butter, coconut oil and cocoa butter discs into a glass bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments (stirring in between) until the ingredients are completely melted. This usually takes three 30-second increments – but it will depend on the strength of your microwave.

Wait for the oil mixture to cool a bit (it can be a bit warm, but not hot), then add the calendula oil and the essential oils.

Pour into a glass, metal or plastic container and let cool. You can refrigerate it to speed up the cooling process if you would like.

Some of you may notice that I reused the container from my Beautycounter cleansing balm. I’m always up for reusing jars and bottles whenever possible! Here are some nice glass containers if you need something new.

Once the balm is in a solid state, it is ready to use. Follow the instructions I mentioned above for how to wash your face with a cleansing balm!

DIY Cleansing Balm

Easy homemade cleansing balm that is just a effective as high priced brands and made with only a few natural, non-toxic ingredients.

Keyword: beauty, cleansing balm, facial care, skin care

Author: Micaela

Ingredients

2 tablespoons shea butter

1 tablespoon coconut oil

4 cocoa butter disks

1 teaspoon calendula oil

5 drops geranium essential oil

5 drops frankincense essential oil

5 drops bergamot essential oil

Instructions

Place shea butter, coconut oil and cocoa butter disks in a glass bowl.

Microwave for 30 seconds.

Stir and microwave for 30 more seconds.

Repeat until all ingredients are melted.

Let cool slightly until mixture is slightly warm but not hot.

Add calendula oil and essential oils and mix well.

Pour mixture into glass, metal or plastic jars.

Wait for cleansing balm to cool completely and solidify before using. Refrigerate if desired to speed up the process.

Makes about 1/3 cup – enough for one jar of cleaning balm.

I don’t have the calculations for exactly how much this DIY cleansing balm cost me, but I guarantee you it is less than what you would pay for most natural brands like Beautycounter or others.

A nice reminder that luxury beauty products do not have to be expensive!

Have you used a cleansing balm? Share your experience in the comments!

Source: https://bloghyped.com/you-will-love-what-this-diy-cleansing-balm-does-for-your-skin/

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lenaglittleus · 8 years ago

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Quinoa Taco Salad

Get your Mexican fix with this healthy and easy Quinoa Taco Salad. This meal with inspire you to incorporate more plant-based meals into your life that are full of flavor and good-for-you ingredients.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a cookbook collector. Granted, I’m pretty sure all the cookbooks I “owned” belonged to my mom until I moved away for college, but if we count those, my collection has always been pretty epic.

I have such strong memories of my Mom flipping through her cookbooks on the weekends planning for her next dinner party (she likes to have the menu set a few weeks before…why did I not inherit this planfulness?!). Cookbooks have always induced positive associations for me.

That’s why every time a cookbook appears in my mailbox, I’m like a giddy schoolgirl who just stocked up on a new round of highlighters. And lately, my mailbox has been overflowing with amazing cookbook inspo.

I’ve decided that 2017 is the year of cookbooks, because my collection has nearly doubled in the last two months. What I’m also realizing is that almost all of them are plant-based! As you guys know, I’m not 100% plant-based but over the last few years I’ve drastically reduced my animal consumption (1-2 days a week) and have incorporated far more plant-based meals. Of course, I’m always flexible and changing so I don’t hold myself to any kind of label but I just love me some vegetables and their superpower-inducing qualities.

Some of you may remember Jessica Murnane who was on episode 3 of the podcast. Jess was one of my dream guests and I’m grateful to our mutual friend Katie who made the introduction. Jess’ episode is unbelievably refreshing and inspiring as she tells her story about transitioning her diet to help heal her Stage 4 Endometriosis.

That diet change is what inspired her to start a movement called “One Part Plant”, which has since morphed into a website, a podcast and now a cookbook! Her mission is simple: Encourage people to start eating one plant-based meal a day. And her cookbook is finally here to help make this mission even easier for me and you.

A couple things.

1) I’m so inspired by Jess’ not-at-all preachy approach towards health. Her entire life changed because of this one decision she made with her diet, but she doesn’t rub it in your face. She knows I’m not plant-based (I prefer plant-foward I guess?!) and has never tried to convert me or anyone else to her approach. She wants people to just TRY eating one plant-based meal a day. And sometimes that can be as simple as swapping out your milk for almond milk or snacking on nuts instead of a scone. I immediately like anyone who doesn’t believe in forcing an all-or-nothing approach on other people.

2) Her new cookbook, One Part Plant is incredible. The recipes are simple, approachable and for me and any other cookbook collectors out there, it’s insanely beautiful too. Before launching One Part Plant she was a designer so as you can imagine, the aesthetic is on point.

I wish I could share every recipe from the book, but Jess was kind enough to let me share a recipe so you can get a sense of what I mean by approachable, plant-based cooking. This Quinoa Taco Salad came together so quickly and it’s one of those salads that just gets better each day as it sits and melds together. And once the quinoa was cooked, it literally took 10 mins to make.

So here’s my PSA to you. If you’re looking for easy recipes, buy this book. If you’re looking to eat more plant-based meals that taste delish, buy this book. Or if you’re a cookbook fiend and want a beautiful book to add to your collection, buy this book.

You won’t regret it! P.S. Jess also captured the entire experience of landing, creating and selling a cookbook in her new podcast called The Cookbook Deal. It’s incredible and so so entertaining! Check er’ out.

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Quinoa Taco Salad

Cook time: 40 mins

Total time: 40 mins

Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 cups of cooked quinoa, room temp

1/2 small red onion, minced

1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed if canned

sea salt, to taste

1 avocado, diced

Optional toppings: tortilla chips

Instructions

In a small bowl, mix the cumin, chili powder, and lime juice and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the quinoa, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and black beans.

Gently stir in the spiced lime juice and toss to coat.

Add a pinch of salt and more lime juice if desired.

Before serving top the salad with avocado and hot sauce and then a handful of tortilla chips in the bowl or crushed on top.

Keep for up to 5 days in the fridge and add an extra squeeze of lime juice before serving.

3.5.3226

Have you checked out One Part Plant, yet? Do you enjoy plant-based cooking?

The post Quinoa Taco Salad appeared first on The Healthy Maven.

from News About Health http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHealthyMaven/~3/y442Kr-t9SI/quinoa-taco-salad.html

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tuckmaster · 8 years ago

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From Kicking and Screaming to Loving Life

It's Friday, everyone! And that means another Primal Blueprint Real Life Story from a Mark's Daily Apple reader. If you have your own success story and would like to share it with me and the Mark's Daily Apple community please contact me here. In fact, I have a contest going right now. So if you have a story to share, no matter how big or how small, you'll be in the running to win a big prize. Read more here.

My husband was happy. Happier than I've ever seen. He was also getting healthier. Already healthier and at a better weight than at any time in our relationship. I saw what he was doing. He was following the Primal Blueprint. But during the first 6 months of his journey, I was still skeptical.

Then one month of his journey became two, two became three and so on. At 7 months I realized that he had never complained. Not only did he never complain, but he mentioned how great the food was (which I knew firsthand as he was cooking most of our meals) and his particular emphasis: he was never hungry. At least one time a day he'd tell me “I want you to experience this, I want you to feel what it is like to never be hungry.”

I myself had a particular habit of eating right before bed no matter how much I'd eaten that evening. Looking back, it was my body's inability to process carbs and my blood glucose swings. I know now I was probably well on my way to being type 2 diabetic. But while I'd enjoy his meals at home, I would still eat as before at work and out with my friends. I hadn't committed. I was still afraid of 'missing out.'

The sustainability question never quite went away for me those first seven months. My husband had tried to get healthier before by exercising more and cutting out 'junk.' But it was never sustainable. (Our extra room looked like an exercise machine junk yard.) Why change everything, even if in stages, only to go back?

But right around New Year 2014, his 7 month mark I realized this was different, very different. He truly was loving his food (and especially how he felt) and as time went on he kept discovering new life upgrades. It was dawning on me not only was this sustainable, it was actually getting easier for him as time went on, not harder. He kept discovering more foods and more recipes he could enjoy. He was also happier and had more energy to devote to my daughter and me.

So I made the decision to extend this way of eating to my work and social life. I took small steps to start. Cutting out bread and pasta was the first step. Then instead of takeout for lunch or any of those bland frozen meals, I took leftovers from dinner. I saved time and money. When I went out with friends, same thing, no bread or pasta.

The first couple of weeks were the hardest. I knew from my husband's experience and reading that I would feel a little wonky, flu-like symptoms to be exact. I powered through the tough part and am so glad I did. I started to feel better right around the 2-week mark.

Allow me to paint a 'before picture' of myself at the beginning of my journey. I was around 200 lbs. I had battled anxiety and depression since my early thirties. My skin was red and blotchy. (I wouldn't leave the house without powder). I was starting to feel the aches and pains that I thought were associated with my approaching middle age. I would wake up in the morning with my joints aching, (especially my hips) fingertips and limbs numb and tingly. I could rarely get a full night's sleep because I was tossing and turning to get comfortable. Sleep apnea compounded the situation. The cumbersome mask was a nightly annoyance that I had to endure.

4-6 weeks after my initial changes I started noticing that I was waking up less achy. Also, pound by pound the weight started to come off. I had the energy to start walking on the treadmill when I got home. Nothing strenuous, 20-30 minutes a few times a week. A few months into my journey I had lost about 15 pounds and was feeling better than I had in years. It was at that time I found out I needed surgery.

I had suffered from endometriosis for years, and it had got to the point I needed to do something about it. After my first procedure and sketchy test results, my doctor recommended a hysterectomy. Which meant I was laid up and recuperating for several months. I wasn't able to exercise anymore. Part of me felt defeated. What if my weight loss stalled? What if I started to gain it back? Although frustrated, I stuck with my new way of eating and concentrated on healing. An amazing thing happened. I didn't gain any weight back. In fact, I continued to lose weight. By the time autumn rolled around, 8 months into this new way of life, I had lost 35 pounds.

What had happened? I had done almost no exercise and the weight was falling off. As I had said before, my first step was cutting out bread and pasta. While I enjoyed those things, I quickly realized the tradeoff was worth it. My next step was not as easy. I titled my story From Kicking and Screaming to Loving Life for a reason. Here is where the kicking and screaming come in. The hardest part of my first seven months was… Tortilla chips.

My husband had continued to read research, listen to podcasts and discuss key points of LCHF and Paleo with his new found community. He read all of Mark Sisson's views on grains. His lifelong love of learning saved our lives. He felt so great, and I was beginning to, we both wanted it to continue. But at this point I wasn't so happy about what he had learned. I still remember where I was when he said “I think we have to give up corn.” My exact reaction “you've got to be kidding me!!” A little more background on me. I was born and raised in the Southwestern United States. Corn tortillas, corn chips, cornbread… They are not just foods, they are sacred morsels to be shared with loved ones at the holidays, enticing appetizers to be enjoyed with friends at parties. They are vehicles for delicious things like salsa, queso, and every combination of meat dish you can think of. I could not imagine a life without corn. Let's suffice it to say, it took me a bit to give this up.

We weren't eating it at home anymore, but I still had it when I went out with friends. If there was a corn chip in the staff lounge, I ate it. Little by little though, the time in between eating corn grew. I started to notice that when I did eat it, I felt sluggish and my achy joints returned. While I still loved these items, it became very apparent that my body did not. I also found I could still enjoy all the things I used to pile on the corn chips. I just enjoyed them with raw veggies or “gasp” by themselves! What I now know is that my body got inflamed when I ate corn. That is why I ached. I also know now that most chronic diseases are caused by inflammation. I wanted to share this part of my story to illustrate one key fact. Yes, I had to give up things that I liked, even loved. But I then created new habits and through these habits I found new foods I liked and loved that allowed me to be the best wife, mom, and teacher I could be.

Fast forward 2 and a half years. I have lost a total of 70 pounds. My anxiety has never been better. My skin has improved to the point that I don't fear leaving the house without makeup. For myself, my husband and my daughter, the Low Carb, High Fat/Primal lifestyle has changed our lives. I used to fear growing older. My fear was that my daughter would be saddled with taking care of aging parents in her early twenties. I no longer have that fear. With LCHF, I can be strong and healthy for many years to come.

As for my daughter, she was 3-years-old when we started to make this change. She had always eaten what we ate. I never made separate meals for her as she began to eat solid foods. We included her in our new way of eating, and I am forever grateful we did.

At her 3-year old checkup, she was in the 3rd percentile for height. After a year of being gluten free, she was in the 25th percentile for height. She is now at around the 35th percentile. She continues to thrive and grow with our lifestyle. I will admit that the way we eat can cause her to feel excluded. We take our own cupcakes and snacks to birthday parties. She sees other kids eating things we have told her are unhealthy. She wonders why they get to and not her. We explain other families make the decisions that are right for their family, we make the decisions that are right for our family. And, importantly, that people react differently to the same food. Her 23andMe results do show a greater likelihood of celiac disease for instance.

She longs to order cafeteria lunch at school. Unfortunately, because of the dietary guidelines public schools must follow it is not food we are willing to let her eat. For instance no full-fat dairy is allowed, but fruit juice and chocolate milk are. I should add that we are not as strict with her food as ours. She does have some rice here and there and definitely more fruit and higher carbs than we do. As she has grown older, we try and bring her into the food decisions as much as possible. We try and give her as much choice as possible. Primal Kitchen products have been invaluable. She can devour an entire cucumber in one sitting with Primal Ranch. And at times, we have let her have some of those items she wants, orange techno colored snacks, a piece of Halloween candy here and there. When we do, she feels sick, and she goes bonkers. She has started to realize that food affects her. Just this weekend she had a stomach bug. I had made a Paleo friendly cake with almond flour and honey. She said, “I would like some, but I don't want the sweetness to make my tummy hurt more.” She is beginning to connect food choices with how she feels and her energy levels.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the Primal lifestyle first saved our lives, but then also gave us new lives: as the healthy fat-burning beasts we were meant to be. Our biggest adventure has now become experiencing who we always had the potential to be-not hampered and encumbered by the constant physical, mental, and energy tolls of fake food and fake fats in particular. My husband often says the reality of Primal Living exceeded all his wildest expectations. I've now lived and experienced that. Even at just six years of age, we feel our daughter would be living an entirely different life, be almost an entirely different version of herself had we not adopted Primal Living.

We try and help family, friends, and community (both local and online) as much as we can. My husband has gotten particularly involved with social media and the wonderful Paleo(fx) Austin-based crew. He also completed the Primal Health Coach course and loved it. We were even pleasantly surprised to be one of the success stories in the new edition of the Primal Blueprint.

My post-college career has been entirely in elementary school teaching. Going into teaching was a way to help children grow to their full potential. Primal Living, what we've learned, the skills we've developed, the nutritional knowledge, effective exercising with the whole family, Primal Kid tips and tricks, the cooking and shopping techniques, are all ways I can give back to others, of all ages. Primal Living made us whole and healed, all three of us. It gives us great joy when we can pass the Primal gift on to others.

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The post From Kicking and Screaming to Loving Life appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.

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