FABULOUS FRIDAY

Time to get FABULOUS!

It is June 1st, 2012 and let me say one thing .......

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY TO MY HUSBAND MR BENTLEY!!

I celebrate half birthdays what can I say... :)

Back to being fabulous...

Music is today's topic!

Music changes ALL moods! 

I get ready to music, rock out to music when I write blog posts, work out to music, and ALWAYS have a song in my head (I wish I could sing...)

As read in on WebMD:

"Not only did our sample of students report more positive emotions after listening to music, but their already positive emotions were intensified by listening to music,"

According to the New York Times:

"Studies have shown that listening to music during exercise can improve results, both in terms of being a motivator (people exercise longer and more vigorously to music) and as a distraction from negatives like fatigue."

You can make ANY mood turn around with a song so get some hot songs poppin and become that hot super star that you are meant to be!

Suggestions:

-Nicki Minaj-"Star Ships"

-Axwell ft. Errol Reid-"Nothing But Love"

-Beyonce-"Who Run the World (Girls)"

-Swedish House Mafia-"24 One (Your Name)"

-Flo Rida-"WildOnes"

-Lil Wayne-"6 Foot, 7 Foot"

-David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj-"Where Them Girls At"

-Chris Brown-"Turn Up the Music"

-Calvin Harris ft. Kelis-"Bounce"

-Snoop Doog-"Sweat"

-Ke$ha-"We R who We R"

-Flo Rida-"Good Feeling"

-Jennifer Lopez ft. PitBull-"On the Floor"

-Drake-"Headlines"

-Kelly Rowland ft. Lil Wayne-"Motivation"

-Aviccii & Sebastian Drums-"My Feelings For You"

Just some songs on my current playlist :)

What are your favorite songs to workout to? Get Ready to? Dance to?

While I have been cooking up a storm my girlfriend Ashley Armstrong had some amazing Super Foods for me :) Read more about her HERE

Delicious super food cookies, raw brownies, raw SUPER BALLS and Baja Superfoods Booster!

All homemade right in Ashley's kitchen! YUMMMYYY

Look at those scrumptious cookies yum NOM NOM!

I enjoyed one cookie, one brownie and one super ball for lunch yesterday with a glass of almond milk :)

FABULOUS FRIDAY

If you watch the news or read news articles, I am sure you have heard the famous DANGEROUS BEAUTY scares that are sweeping the nation that make you never want to wear makeup or wash your hair again because it could cause cancer, lung disease, heart failure, seizures...what have you...

Me being a beauty freakazoid and now conscious wife..I have been weeding out my beauty products one by one and finding new products to replace them!

I thought it would be easy being that I already know a handful of natural beauty remedies. When it comes to certain products like shampoo, deodorant and hair spray I am just so UNSURE! So if you know of anything that is good for dyed blondes and wavy curly hair or stinky armpits let me know ;)

Switched out the old mouth wash for some organic sesame oil! It has been working out wonderfully. My results have been shiny white teeth, clean gums and have yet to be sick :) You can read more about it here.

Clinque Total Makeup Remover has been a staple for years, but I decided to try Vichy because the Clinique product contains Phenoxyethanol (can cause reproductive toxicity and banned in Japan).  I have heard a ton about Vichy and the natural ingredients and how it actually works so I thought I would give it a try! I am LOVING Vichy!!

I used to use those Neturogena wipes everyone and there sisters uses but decided to try out the Yes to..products and what can I say....I have always been a fan and still am after using this nourishing facial towelette. Although it does not totally remove my water proof mascara like the Neutrogena wipes I feel it does a good enough job considering it does not have PEG 4 and PEG 6 (known to cause hives and eczema)in it.

FABULOUS FRIDAY

What in the world am I doing with curlers in my hair?

Today's fabulous friday is a topic I have struggled with for MANY, MANY years! As you can tell from some of my pictures, my hair is short one day and then long the next (thank you clip in extensions)! This is because I have been struggling for as long as I can remember with hair growth! I not only dye my hair blonde, I love to curl it and straighten it because my hair naturally is a kinky mess.

FABULOUS FRIDAY

So what is that nasty pot you were showing all over the world today? (sorry for promoting my blog)

It is Arnica and its the homeopathic remedy that has saved my skin! 

Arnica belongs to the sunflower family and is used to help fight inflammation. I have been taking the pills for awhile and have noticed a HUGE difference in the way I bruise and my lovely bug bites as well.

I take the pills every few hours and the pomade (or in spanish Pomada) I rub in every morning after my shower and night before I go to bed. 

Arnica is special because it also can help heal those varicose veins you have been complaining about! The best part is its all natural which is what I love about it.

According to ivillage.co.uk

Arnica works by stimulating the activity of white blood cells which process congested blood, and by dispersing trapped fluids from joints and muscles and bumped and bruised tissue. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities and it is these that help to reduce pain and swelling as well as improving wound healing.

I was stupid enough to get a black Henna tattoo around Christmas and I wish I had a before picture but considering what it looked like and what it looks like now is a huge difference (although still nasty) I will most likely get it lasered since it was such a bad case! (Thank the Universe I got a heart and not something stupid)

Not me but what it originally looked like

My dog Bugsey always likes to be a model when I am taking pictures :)

My first attempt at Chia Seed Pudding, it was so good I ate that entire bowl and the best part is its so light and fluffy I did not have that nasty full feeling!

My sprouts are going crazy, I think I might need a larger jar! The best part is they are growing leaves which means I will have an abundance of Chlorophyll at its highest efficiency. 

Look at those tails! I can NOT wait to eat these little guys yumm! 

QUESTION: What did you end up growing? Send me pictures I would love to see!

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Time to get FABULOUS! Sorry to keep talking about this but its a BIG deal to me..wedding in 8 days!!

Went out last night and stuck to my NEW cleanse! One glass of Malbec Red Wine and a Vegan Meal! Thank you Bar Esquina for making it possible for me to eat an amazing healthy meal :) I ordered a pear, pistachio, arugula with cherry tomato salad. The dressing was an amazing vinegar reduction that I ordered on the side of course, no dairy was in the dressing so I was able to eat it!

Me with my girl Crissty Santana our for her birthday! The theme was GRAFFITI NEON so we had fun rocking our colors! 

Fabulous Friday is all about ways to be fabulous using natural products! Today I wanted to talk a bit about acne. I have been talking with people a ton about how they have such gorgeous porcelain skin and most of the time, unless you are extremely lucky and I envy you, they say I used to have ACNE like you could NOT believe! I than of course ask...How did you change that? Most of the time they say, I figured out I had an allergy! AN ALLERGY! Something as simple as eliminating a chemical or food and they have gorgeous skin! Allergies can also be an allergic reaction to chemicals in your makeup, sunscreen, facial creams even shampoos, conditioners and hair products. You really got to do some kind of elimination of one thing at a time and see what happens.

The best thing to do is an elimination diet. An elimination diet is eating the same as you always do but cutting out all dairy products (for example) for three months and seeing what happens. I say three months, because it takes some time for your body to get rid of all the past dairy. It can be difficult for those dairy addicts but its worth the gorgeous skin you may receive and cheaper than any laser treatment you could ever come across! Than come back start slowly eating dairy and see what happens. If your skin does not clear up move on to something else like something from the list below.

Dairy is not the only one there are also several others:

-Citrus

-Gluten

-Caffeine

-Shellfish

-Wheat

-Nuts

-Eggs

-Alcohol

-Additives 

-Chemicals like food colorings

-The list goes on...check out http://www.acne.org for more information

I used dairy because I am allergic and get severe acne explosions, if I come across it and I am pretty good at knowing if there is butter on any of my food at restaurants!

Your body is your best friend! I swear to you, it talks to you, you just have to LISTEN!  Your body sends signals when it has a hard time digesting something, it sends you signals if it is allergic to something just take the time to listen and you will be much happier in life! Allergies go beyond into why you may have a hard time losing weight? You could be consuming those amazing eggs that are so healthy but could be severely allergic to them! 

I recommend getting an allergy test every 5-10 years. This is important because your body changes as you get older. Some people get adult acne or adult allergies!

Enjoy your weekends and Shine like Stars :)

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Sesame Oil? Vitamin E Oil? What is with all the oils!?!

Fabulous Friday is all about the oils today!

SESAME OIL

I have been using Sesame Oil in my mouth! 

I have been taking a tablespoon of this nutty tasting oil and swishing it around in my mouth and through my teeth every morning before I brush my teeth.

What it is supposed to do is latch on to all the germs, tartar, bacterias and toxins and removes them when I spit it all out. Because of this technique, your teeth will become whiter, gums pinker, cleaner teeth and protects the immune system!

The best part is, ITS WORKING and way cheaper than Crest White Strips! My teeth are really starting to look better and I really like the taste and the way it feels in my mouth (is this just me?)

*Tip: Spit it out in the toilet as I have been doing it in my sink and its starting to hold onto dirt more because of the oil

The only thing is, you must swish for 20 minutes! It takes forever, but I promise you the benefits are WELL worth it! I started this technique because of an article I read online at http://www.everydayglow.com This technique was practiced in India as part of the Ayurvedic technique. I really enjoy doing this every morning and I am loving my teeth more and more everyday! I head to the dentist on Thursday and I will see what my new dentist says! I also really like this technique because Crest White Strips and other products as such contain SO many chemicals such as aluminum which can't be good for you!

After about 1 month of Oil Pulling

VITAMIN E OIL

My skin has been so dry and I have so many FABULOUS bug bite scars since I guess I scratch at night! I started wearing socks on my hands which has helped tremendously! The other product that has helped my scars is Vitamin E Oil. I got my bottle at Trader Joe's and I really love it because I am starting to see a big difference. You can also purchase Vitamin E in capsule form and from what I have heard its much cheaper! You just need to poke the capsule with some kind of sterile needle.

My goal is to get rid of these "beautiful" scars ASAP since I am getting married in 15 days and who wants to see a bride with red scars all over! I put the Vitamin E oil on with a cotton swab randomly all day. According to ehow.com, it takes about 2 months for the scars to really fade. I have been practicing this technique for about 1.5 months and already see results so hopefully in the next few weeks they are totally gone!

Have you tried either of these oils? Let me know what you think and comment below!

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Aloe Vera rocks! It is the ultimate beauty secret and so easy to grow and find! We all know if helps heal a sunburn but did you know it can help your hair grow, beautify your skin, anti-age you and its just all around an amazing plant. Aloe Vera also can help your digestive system, sustain blood sugars, help your joints out and clean out your ulcers. Of course is best in pure form, grown by yourself but there is also bottled versions at health food stores and even walmart. 

Some quick facts about this beautiful plant:

-An Anti-inflammatory and it has an ability to absorb nutrients in the digestive system.

-Strengthens and improves immune system because of the essential enzymes, vitamins and minerals it    contains

-45% reduction of blood sugar levels for diabetics proven by

-It is also said that aloe vera can help repaid elastin and collagen in the skin and joints.

The thing is there is one problem, you have to grow it yourself to get the FULL benefits. Sure you can take a supplement but what better way to test out your green thumb than growing your own beauty secret! If all else fails you can always just purchase a plant at Home Depot, this is much easier for those of you who don't have a green thumb like myself :)

Just be sure to get one that has matured a bit as the youthful Aloe Vera's may only have first aid properties. You really want one that has a ton of leaves because once you cut the leaf off it will not grow back. 

How to Cut off A leaf:

-Cut Away with a Sharp Knife

-Trim thorny edges and slice across its width

-The inner gooey gel is the good stuff!

-Keep reaching for more gel by scratching the surface with a clean knife to rupture more cells with more juices.

Enjoy your Aloe Vera :)

FABULOUS FRIDAY

 We all have a cabinet full of beauty products but did you ever think that what foods you are consuming promote beauty and can actually do more for you than that expensive face cream. When I entered high school, I always had acne and looking back it was most likely because all I consumed was Del Taco, McDonalds, and greasy pizza. Your skin is your largest organ and will tell you how your insides are doing if you just pay attention. Of course I was breaking out, I am allergic to cheese and the amount of grease and chemicals I was consuming was disgusting. Now I eat a clean, dairy free diet and my skin is clear and clean :)


Here are some foods you should add to your diet to create a healthier skin tone and get rid of that acne!

Avocados- Contain the fats essential for cell rejuvenation which is essential for the building blocks of new skin

Grape Seed Oil-Contains oligomeric procyanidine which improves skins elasticity 

*Add some grape seed oil to your vegetables, the great thing about grape seed oil is it doesn't smoke when cooked on high heat.

Millet-Highly nutritious seed which contains silica which is amazing for hair, skin and nails

*Cook millet and put some olive oil in there into a blender makes a great stuffing for peppers!

Apricots-Rich in phytochemicals and contain folate, calcium, vitamins a & c, iron and potassium which provide the vitamins to promote collagen
*Snack on them or add chopped apricots to give your salad a healthy boost

Brazil Nuts- Helps promote skin moisture and prevents sun damage

*Eat 3 (100 calories)  a day to promote skin moisture, eat as a snack

Cucumbers- Contain tons of Vitamin C and manganese necessary for increasing collagen production

*Add some to your sandwiches, salads, dip in hummus for a snack

Add these items to your grocery list and start seeing results as soon as 4 weeks! So much cheaper than those facial creams and a great way to add stuff to your salads and snacks!

Enjoy your weekend and have a FABULOUS FRIDAY!

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Today is a different kind of fabulous friday! Other than teaching you about natural beauty remedies, I am going to teach you about a tool you already have!

We all own it, we all show it in pictures but what about when you are just walking around, driving, shopping, socializing..? Do you show it than? A smile is literally an expression that can change the mood of EVERYONE around you and can change the mood of even yourself! 

The other day I was driving around and I felt sad and bored. I didn't drive to the nearest gas station to pick up candy or stop at my favorite store to pick something up, I just smiled :) My mood instantly changed and I felt an amazing warm feeling. Never underestimate the power of your smile!

No matter what is going on a smile can change a situation. I smile wherever I go and I swear it has brought much more joy and happiness into my life. Yesterday I was driving around lost with my girlfriend and because we were both so happy and smily a lady asked us if we were lost and helped us get around! Another instance I was walking around lost in a town that I barely know the language let alone where I am. A lady stopped me and asked me what I was looking for and showed me the way to get where I needed. People tend to soften up towards those who are happy. If you walk around mad or at least look mad people will avoid you! Who wants to be avoided!? 

From now on when you feel yourself getting tired, lazy, sad, mad or stressed just take a look in the mirror and smile! Smile as big as you can and I promise you will feel an amazing power go throughout your body and your whole situation and day will change!

So go ahead smile! Say hello to people and help those who are around you! Your life will become a happier and more positive place!

Have a star studded weekend!

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Happy Friday and we all know what Friday means....it is time to get FABULOUS :) Naturally of course! This weeks pick is apple cider vinegar. I am sure a ton of you have heard of this magical potion and know that tons of celebs kick start their days with this stuff or do crazy cleanses of just apple cider vinegar but did you know it also has beauty properties? I am about to give you two easy recipes that you can add to your routines or just when you want an extra oomph to your look :)

Apple My Swell Away

Many of you come home from a long day of work with swollen feet and hands. Or how about those who wear heels ALL THE TIME? (that being myself ;)) Your feet probably hate you by now but I could never take my heels off EVER!

Apple Cider Vinegar has come to the rescue!

Just take your bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar and take a Warm towel and massage the apple cider vinegar into your hands and feet. Now relax :)

Thats it!

This one might surprise you but it works I have done it the day after I had a few glasses of red wine for years.

Whiten Me Cider

Take Apple Cider Vinegar and place on a tooth brush.

Slowly massage apple cider vinegar onto teeth.

Take some water swish around and spit out.

Now you can rock your new white smile stain free :)

Enjoy your weekends!