Exercise Snacking // The Habit the Curbs Cravings, Builds Strength,and rivals the benefits Gym Sessions.

Lately, I've found it a bit difficult to make it to the gym.  I would love to work out 4 times a week but time just doesn't seem to be on my side.  Because exercise has so many benefits (and summer is fast approaching), I've been on the lookout for a hack that can give me similar results with less time investment.

Thankfully, I stumbled on the perfect solution.  It's called exercise snacking.  I don't want to be dramatic, but exercise snacking will probably change your entire life.

Break The Habit of Living In Auto Pilot.

Welcome to another Monday.  I used to think that Mondays were the worst! But now I've come to appreciate Mondays as an important tool when it comes to goal achievement.  Every single Monday marks the beginning of a new (work) week.  It's the perfect opportunity to set the direction for our week ahead.  If we aren't careful, this week will come and go in the blink of an eye and nothing will change.  

But that's not what we want.  We want to be able to affect the outcome of our week.  We want to have active participation in creating the life we desire.  Let's discuss exactly how to do that. 

Instagram Beauty Secret // Your New Holy Grail for Soft, Beautiful Hands (& Feet).

One of my favorite things in life is to jump on an Instagram live only to stumble on a beauty secret reveal.  I've come across some great nuggets while stalking IG lives.  One of my favorite instances was learning the power of using witch hazel in the war against acne.

Yesterday I stumbled on yet another amazing find that I can't wait to share with you all.

Try This // Sir John's Simple Tip for Dewy, Natural Foundation

I absolutely love learning new skin tips that I can apply right away and see results without having to run out and buy new products.  Last week I learned of a simple technique that instantly made my skin look healthier and more radiant.  This tip is so good that I've pretty much applied it every day since. 

Before I reveal this dewy skin tip, I want to preface by saying that I learned of this method from an article featuring Sir John.  If that name doesn't ring a bell, let me remind you that Sir John is Beyonce's makeup artist.  We've featured some of Sir John's tips here in the past.  I love his practical approach to makeup.  He's all about creating wearable, timeless looks.  Whenever Sir John shares a tip for a flawless face, I'm all ears.

Manifestation Tip // Turn Your Home Screen Into Your 2019 Vision Board.

A few weeks ago, a friend shared short videos of a Vision Board party she attended.  Every year, around this time, success-minded women gather together with a stack of magazines in hopes of piecing together various clipped images that represent their ideal life.

Vision boards became wildly popular after the release of the movie The Secret.  This movie came out over a decade ago. Back then, there wasn't any inspiration based social media or websites like Pinterest.  So, of course, magazine clippings were the most viable option.  In my opinion, using magazine images and gluing them to construction paper is an antiquated way to create a visual representation of your desires. 

Let's try a more effective option.

Have You Included Intense Moisture in Your Acne Fighting Strategy?

Typically, when one thinks about what to do to attack and eliminate acne, the first thought that comes to mind is how to dry out pimples.  Drying out pimples isn't necessarily a wrong strategy but is it the absolute best way to create healthy skin?

Perhaps there's a completely different approach that can both eliminate acne while promoting glowing skin at the same time.

Treat Yo' Self! The Systematic Process for Reaching All of Your Goals.

2019 is moving fast.  So how are you progressing on your goals?  Typically, the first month of the year provides us a glimpse of what's to come.  If you haven't made as much progress as you'd like, but you're really serious about achieving your goals, I'd like to introduce you to a system that just might make that possible.

Style Inspo// Transform Your Button Down Skirt From Simple to Sexy

I've been a fan of button-down skirts for ages.  I currently have at least 4 of them in my wardrobe.  The buttons act as a simple accessory that adds a little something unique to a plain skirt.    Recently, I've stumbled on to some major inspiration on how to completely transform your boring button downs in a modern and feminine way.

Halle Berry loves this Facial in a Box. Find Out What Makes it So Special.

It's kinda rare nowadays to find a beauty secret reveal from a celebrity that isn't an #ad or #sponsored.  So any time a super-celebrity gives us a glimpse of products they adore, we have to close pay attention.  Although Halle Berry had somewhat of a late start on social media, she's constantly inspired us with her commitment to maintaining a fit-focused lifestyle.  Halle's even let us in on the fact that she enjoys ample amounts of bone broth to help further slow down her aging.

Recently, Halle generously revealed her latest skincare obsession to the world and we have to talk about it.

Style Obsession // MonoChrome.

One style trend that I could never get into was matching sets.  For some reason, I hated the idea of wearing a printed top and matching bottom.  I thought that matching from head to toe was tacky, gaudy, and hard to execute.

But, recently opinion has shifted. Because I've fallen in love with the newer, more modern version of matching sets.  It turns out that I didn't hate the idea of wearing separates that coordinate as long as it's done in with style.

How the 60-Second Cleansing Rule is a Game Changer for All of Us.

Shortly after I wrote the article on transitioning to using acid-based cleansers, I received a comment that would change my entire mindset when it came to cleansing.   This is what the commenter shared:

My cleanser wasn't giving me glowing skin at first until I started using the 60second rule. You have to give yourself time to let your cleanser seep into your skin. Massage your cleanser into your face for 60 seconds then wash. 

This person had my fullest attention. Why had I never heard of this 60-second rule and what difference could this simple change make to my skin?

Be Inspired // The Visualization Process That Can Help You Manifest Your Life Long Dream.

One major factor that helped achieved goals in the past was visualization.  I was introduced to the concept of visualization after watching The Secret.  There's a brief moment in the movie where they ask you to see yourself driving your dream car....imagine your hands around the steering wheel, etc.

As I attempted to complete the exercise, I found myself struggling to create a clear image which left me frustrated.

That was a problem.

Because I couldn't fully immerse myself into the experience, I had a hard time engaging the power of visualization to help me manifest. Although visualizing didn't come naturally to me, I kept trying.  Eventually, I was decent enough to utilize mental images to help me realize intentions.  But, because visualizing still doesn't come naturally to me, I tend to utilize other LOA tactics instead.  Recently, I stumbled on a video that inspired me to become an avid visualizer once again.  The video features a woman who manifested her lifelong goal through the power of visualization. 

Let's dissect her visualization process so we can apply it for ourselves.

If My Cleanser Doesn't Give Me Glowing Skin.....I Don't Want It.

For the longest time, I gave absolutely no though or attention to the type of cleanser I used on my face.  After experiencing dermatitis related skin peeling, I finally started looking for gentle cleansers that didn't irritate my skin.  This was a suitable solution.  But after a while, I noticed the need to rev up my exfoliation routine because the extra gentle cleanser wasn't doing a complete job of removing dirt and oil.  If I neglect my exfoliating routine, my skin kinda goes haywire with congestion and breakouts.

Nowadays, I use the help of apple cider vinegar toner to help keep my dermatitis at bay.  So an extra gentle cleanser is no longer an absolute must.  So now I have the opportunity to experiment a little to find an ideal cleanser that'll help me reach my overall skin goals.

Try This // The Hair Oil Recipe that Jumpstarts Major Growth.

Last year, I didn't focus much on my hair journey.  With the exception of chopping off a few inches of length late in the year, my journey was pretty uneventful.  So now that the new year is here, I'm thinking about what I can do to make up for lost time.

My strategy, this year, is to focus on scalp health.  If the scalp is thriving, our hair will thrive.  Just as I was putting my thoughts together around what I can do differently to promote healthy hair growth, an idea appeared on my timeline that I couldn't ignore.

Is Collagen Loading The Key To Experiencing More Beauty Benefits in Less Time?

It's that time of year where everyone is posting their newly formed health-based habits on social media.  Pretty much everyone is back in the gym preparing heavily to reveal their summer bodies.   Obviously, starting a workout routine right now is an excellent idea. But I'd also like to encourage you to also consider building your nutritional beauty routine before summer arrives.

This article is inspired by all the studies I've read over the years.  Most often, these studies are conducted within a 12-week timeframe.  Three months is typically the amount of time where people start experiencing measurable changes from their consistent efforts.

One thing we all want to experience for summer is healthy hair and glowing skin. My goal is to have my healthiest, most vibrant skin ever by the time summer rolls around. How will I do this? One of the many strategies I'll execute is "collagen loading."

So what is collagen loading exactly and what type of results can one experience by trying out a collagen loading protocol?

Let's Talk About What Drinking Green Tea Does For Our Skin.

I jumped on the green tea train a little late in life.  If you aren't a tea connoisseur, the taste of green tea can get some getting used to.  Last winter, I decided to get serious about my green tea consumption after studying some of its wonderful benefits.

At the time, I only focused on one beneficial aspect of enjoying green tea but now that I've learned of yet another positive attribute, I'm ready to become a regular green tea drinker for life.

Facial Rollers are Cool, But Have You Tried the Gua Sha Scraper?

Some years ago, I was introduced to jade facial rollers.  It was a neat little tool that designed to help with lymphatic drainage on the face.  When I first received my roller, I loved it! But, eventually, my jade roller took a back seat as I searched for more intense methods of lymphatic detox.

I veered back to manual facial massages because I found them to be a bit more intense and effective. But, in the back of my mind, I wish there was a better version of the facial roller out there.  It didn't take long before I was finally introduced to a new tool that revolutionized lymphatic facial toning.

2019 Intentions// Doing More of What You Love.

Since it's the last day of the year, you're probably doing some reflecting and focusing on the year ahead.  Typically, we tend to look back at everything that didn't go as planned and make promises to make different choices for the upcoming year.  This is a solid strategy that most of us are familiar with.  But since we're close to entering into a new decade (a new era in our lives), may I offer up another alternative?

The Single Ingredient Green Juice that Everyone is Obsessed With!

Not long ago, I wrote about focusing on "healthy drinking" when our diet isn't up to par.  Literally days after publishing the post, I was introduced to my newest healthy beverage.

While casually scrolling through Instagram stories, I happen to land on an image that featured a glowing review for a single ingredient green beverage.

Found! The Mystery Teal Mask that Everyone is Wearing.

In my opinion, very few experiences compare to the feeling of looking in the mirror immediately after masking.   Because masks have such a profound ability to impact the skin in such a short period of time, I've always had a love for them.

I've tried to stay abreast of the up and coming masks that appear on the scene.  'Cause you never know when you'll stumble upon something remarkable.  An interesting looking mask has been popping up on my Pinterest feed lately. What first stood out was its unique color.  Eventually, curiosity got the best of me and I just had to know more about this mysterious mask.

A couple of weeks past, and wouldn't you know it, someone shared an IG story showcasing their face covered in the elusive teal mask.

Finally, the mystery has been revealed.