So, I’m sure I’m not the only Facebook addict!? I know it’s supposed to be for “networking” with old friends, new friends, acquaintances, and all of the above. But, over the years, it has changed our culture… And ultimately, simple, every day functions. I tend to gather inspiration and devotional reads from Facebook. Crazy, I know. Today, I ran across this beauty; and it made me think. What are we so stressed about in life? Is it worth it? Am I living my dream, giving my all, and so on. From this day forward, I will be looking at things from 2 perspectives: Is it stress or is it passion? Here’s my list! Please share yours!
*GOD (Southbrook Church! My faith, service as a Christian, devotion to being a better person… Which I have NOT put enough time into lately)
*FAMILY (my husband, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and last but not least, my in laws! <3 u all to the moon and back)
*CAREER (everything makeup, becoming better, networking, building clientele, keeping the loyal clientele happy, fashion, making money, but not letting it make me)
*FRIENDS (few and far between. But nevertheless, very special to me. They all bring something different to my life, and I love them all differently… and the same. :))
What are your passions?
Who’s ready for spring/summer?!? I think we all are! 🙂 This winter has done a beating on my skin; and to hurry along warmer weather (at least in my mind, lol), I’m bringing the SPA to you! 🙂 Fontainebleau is one of Miami Beach’s top resorts, and these are recipes from the world famous Fontainebleau’s Lapis Spa! Each recipe simulates a service on their extensive spa menu, and each one is effortlessly attainable with ingredients you probably have in your kitchen right now! Transform your pad into a Miami Beach spa, and let me know how you like it! I AM ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH THEM ALL! Read on for step-by-step instructions, and have a killer and RELAXING weekend!
Pre-Summer Body Exfoliation (simulates Spalicious Body Scrub)
Skin softening natural all body exfoliating treatment
• Ingredients: ½ cup olive oil, ¾ cup fine sea salt and drops of your favorite aromatherapy oil. Keep in mind the oil selected should be specific to treatment goal – citrus is energizing – lavender relaxing – peppermint stimulating.
• Place all items in a bowl and blend together.
• Next, step into the shower and moisten the body – apply the blend by hand in circular motion or for increased exfoliation apply with loofah mitt or body brush.
• Rinse off thoroughly. Skin will feel smooth and soft and supple. For further hydration, apply body lotion directly to moist skin.
Pre-Summer Facial for Extra Dry Skin
Skin softening avocado mask for combination or dry skin
• Ingredients: ½ avocado, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. The avocado and coconut oils work as an instant skin softener as the baking soda works as a mild exfoliator.
• Place all items in bowl and blend well together.
• Apply the mixture to your face and leave on for 10-15 minutes.
• Rinse off with warm water.
Foot Scrub for Dry Feet and Heels (simulates Foot Rehab Pedicure)
• Begin by soaking feet in ¼ cup baking soda to reduce inflammation and cleanse feet thoroughly for 10 minutes.
• Using a wet pumice stone rub heels thoroughly yet gently to remove dry callous.
• Next, apply coconut oil to feet.
• Finally, wrap feet in plastic and cover with soft socks for 30 minutes. The plastic and warmth will help the oil to soften the skin.
****Also, here are 7 more DIY scrubs that I snagged from www.chickrx.com! Enjoy!
Coffee Body Scrub
Coffee is good for more than just your morning wakeup. This scrub performs double duty by exfoliating while the caffeine in the coffee grounds may even help reduce the appearance of cellulite by plumping up your skin. If you check the labels, caffeine is actually in many of those crazy expensive cellulite creams. This, however, is a much cheaper way to discover if caffeine works as a treatment for you. No promises, but try it out.
Equal parts ground coffee and raw sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp sea salt
Mix the ground coffee with raw sugar and sea salt. Add the olive oil and coconut oil. And voila, coffee body scrub.
(Recipe chickrx.com and deliciouslyorganized.blogspot.com/2012/07/diy-mornin-coffee-scrub.html)
Rosemary Lavender Salt Scrub
For a relaxing end to your day, draw yourself a nice warm bath and unwind with this soothing scrub. It’ll get you to your happy place in no time.
2 cups salt, kosher
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tbsp lavender, culinary grade
3 tbsp rosemary leaves, finely chopped
Mix all ingredients together and enjoy. This scrub can also be applied to the more delicate neck and facial area (other scrubs, in general, though, are too harsh to use on your face or neck).
(Adapted recipe chickrx.com and bettycrocker.com/recipes/diy-rosemary-lavender-salt-scrub/ab242ee3-c896-44a2-9a93-2ee4654f8959)
Daniela Ferri’s Go-To Body Scrub
Licensed Esthetician and acne specialist Daniela Ferri recommends using her easily customizable recipe to reveal your naturally lovely skin.
3/4 cup sugar in the raw
1/4 cup honey
1/8 cup vegetable glycerin (check the vitamin section for this)
1/8 cup olive oil
1/4 liquid castile soap (or 1/4 cup shampoo)
25 drops of your favorite essential oil (or 1/4 tsp pumpkin spice)
In a bowl, mix ingredients together well. After showering with your usual body wash, apply generously to your body especially concentrating on rough areas like knees and elbows. Rinse off and apply your favorite moisturizing body lotion post-shower.
Sunless Tanner Correcting Scrub
Have you applied sunless tanner without exfoliating first? Holy oompa loompa! To correct those dreaded dark orange patches, try this sunless-tanner fixer. Two go-to remedies for removing those pesky tangerine streaks are lemon and a great scrub. Lemons contain citric acid, a natural exfoliator, and also contain elements that cause bleaching (sunless tanner included). This recipe combines both sugar scrub and lemons.
5 cups white granulated sugar
2 cups olive oil
2 lemons
3 tbsp honey
Using a wooden spoon, mix the sugar with the olive oil. Slice lemons in half and squeeze the juice into the sugar olive oil mix. Add honey and mix just until combined. After a long soak in a warm bath, apply the scrub to trouble spots. Be careful not to scrub too hard and damage your skin, though! Rinse off. Follow up with a nice moisturizing body lotion.
(Recipe source: neverlandnook.com/honey-lemon-sugar-scrub)
Peppermint Sugar Scrub
Peppermint is not just for the holidays. Scrubbing down with this recipe will make you feel refreshed and invigorated–not to mention it’s delightfully pink.
2 cups white granulated sugar
1/4 cup almond oil or coconut oil
Peppermint essential oil
Raspberry/pomegranate juice or red food coloring
Slowly mix almond or coconut oil into the granulated sugar. If you feel like there doesn’t seem to be enough oil, you can add more, but don’t overdo it and let the mixture get too oily. Add a few drops of peppermint oil until it reaches your desired scent. To get the pink color, add a few drops of red food coloring, or for a natural take, you can add drops of raspberry or pomegranate juice. Mix together until color is uniform throughout (don’t worry, it won’t be enough to dye your skin!).
(Recipe source chickrx.com and theidearoom.net/2012/11/peppermint-candy-cane-sugar-scrub)
Vanilla Sugar Scrub
If you’re sensitive to strongly scented products, this natural, simple sugar scrub is the way to go. The delicate scent of the vanilla extract and almond oil will hardly trigger any sensitive noses or smell-induced migraines.
2 1/2 cups sugar in the raw
3/4 cup white granulated sugar
4-5 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup almond oil
In a bowl, mix together the sugar in the raw and the white granulated sugar. Add in the vanilla extract and almond oil and mix well.
(Recipe source: chickrx.com and heygorg.com/2012/04/diy-body-scrub-favor.html)
Create Your Body Scrub
Don’t be afraid to play around with the recipes and create your own signature scrub. Stick to two core ingredients (granulated sugar and olive oil), and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and Voilà!
I am soooooo excited to share that I will be collaborating with Crystal Black Photography, as their make up artist for boudoir sessions! I am such a fan of Crystal’s work, and I’m sure you all will see why! This is such a fun, fresh company; and I can’t wait to see where it goes! The sky’s the limit! Here’s photos of our new location in Bellbrook! Book your appointment today! I have a few discount cards!
I’ve learned-
that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.
I’ve learned-
that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I’ve learned-
that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.
I’ve learned-
that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.
I’ve learned-
that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.
I’ve learned-
that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.
I’ve learned-
that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I’ve learned-
that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I’ve learned-
that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I’ve learned-
that you can keep going long after you can’t.
I’ve learned-
that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I’ve learned-
that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I’ve learned-
that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.
I’ve learned-
that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I’ve learned-
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I’ve learned-
that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
I’ve learned-
that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.
I’ve learned-
that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
I’ve learned-
that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I’ve learned-
that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.
I’ve learned-
that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
I’ve learned-
that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.
I’ve learned-
that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren’t biological.
I’ve learned-
that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I’ve learned-
that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I’ve learned-
that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.
I’ve learned-
that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.
I’ve learned-
that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I’ve learned-
that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
I’ve learned-
that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.
I’ve learned-
that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I’ve learned-
that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I’ve learned-
that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
I’ve learned-
that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings, and standing up for what you believe.
I’ve learned-
that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
By: Omer B. Washington
I am so honored to be featured in one of Ohio’s top lifestyle magazines! Cincy Chic decided to feature my company, Shear Hotness, in the beauty section;
and I couldn’t be more proud! 2014 is going to be a rockin’ year! Check it out!
I’m This Week’s Beauty Feature!
