Drink this if you want to ramp up the calorie burning effects of your workouts.

I love hacks! Any little tweak that can improve my results, I'm all for it!  Today I've learned something that I have to share with you.  Recently, I've started working out again and I want to see the fruits of my labor as soon as possible.  I wondered if there was a way to maximize each workout for enhanced results, and I think I've stumbled on the answer.

What I discovered today could change everything.  It doesn't require extra time in the gym. In fact, adding one simple beverage to your daily routine could help you lose more weight than working out alone.

"Witch hazel is the truth!" Megan Milan shares her holy grail skin product & the ab workout that "gets your stomach together."

How was your weekend?  The highlight of my Saturday night was doing some light housework while jumping on random Instagram lives.  When the notification came in that Megan Milan was live, I decided to join.

It was pretty casual with no real agenda. She did the IG live to give a quick update to her fans and answer questions in the comments.  I sat patiently and waited for the person to ask the question that has been on my mind since I first seen a pic of her.  Megan's skin is amazing.  I couldn't believe that no one asked her to divulge her secrets.

I waited long enough, I finally jumped in her comments and asked her to reveal her favorite skin products. As soon as she read my question, her whole demeanor changed. Suddenly, her voice was full of excitement and energy like she was waiting for someone to ask.

Let's Talk About Journaling to Maximize Manifestation.

Happy Monday.  I hope your weekend was amazing.  I spent most of Sunday organizing and decluttering.  Whenever I spend a little time organizing, I'm always rewarded. Sometimes it's in the form of a few dollars found in the pocket of a pair of jeans.  Other times, I'm reunited with a long lost item I thought I'd never see again.

Yesterday was no exception.  But instead of finding cold hard cash, I stumbled on a brand new journal that I purchased years earlier.  Apparently, I planned on taking journaling seriously again but somehow fell short.  Since then, I've sat through various seminars where people shared amazing stories about how journaling has changed their life.  They've used the journaling process to manifest wonderful results.  That's the journey that I would like to embark on.  And here's how I'm going to do it.

[Style Edit ] My Vintage Store Shopping List

One of my favorite past times is driving to the other part of town and check out the rare finds at my favorite thrift store.  Thrifting became a tradition for me back in middle school when my mom first introduced me a huge thrift store that was always packed on the weekends. 

For her, it was a way of saving a few extra dollars on purchases that would normally cost much more. But I fell in love with thrifting because of the unique items that I wouldn't come across in your typical retail store.  I had an eclectic taste in clothing so the thrift store became my favorite place. A couple years ago, I purchased several amazing outerwear pieces from the thrift shop that I absolutely love. 

I'm way overdue for another trip, but this time, I've got a laundry list of exactly what I want.  Let's discuss.

Blac Chyna Takes "Going To Bed Greasy" to a Whole New Level

Blac Chyna is known for her bold makeup looks and extensive wig collection.  Her entire brand is all about being ultra glam from head to toe.  Underneath it all, Chyna has impeccably beautiful skin.
Even without a stitch of makeup, her skin is blemish free, even toned and has the most healthy glow. I'm sure some of it is genetics.  But after studying the regimen's of women with pretty skin, I learned that most of them have at least one beauty secret responsible for their perfect skin.

 Chyna is no different.

If you do this for 20 days, you could increase your collagen production by 14%

In 2016, I invested the bulk of my money into various facial gadgets. Some of my purchases include an LED face mask, the ultrasonic face scrubber, and various types of microcurrent devices ranging in various frequencies. 

I still use my handheld microcurrent tool practically every day while sitting in front of the computer. But the ones that emit a more powerful frequency are in my closet collecting dust.  I've been too lazy to give myself a proper microcurrent facial.  But, after reading some promising results from a study on the benefits of microcurrent, I'm ready to finally become consistent.  

Hanna Bronfman, lover of Microcurrent Treatments

This Is How To Succeed with Your Side Hustle.

This weekend I received a direct message on Instagram.  The young lady was full of excitement in her message as she encouraged me to join her team to earn a side income.  I told her that I loved her mission to help others earn extra income then wished her well on her journey.

It excites me to know how easy it is to earn a side income.  The barrier to entry for some of these business opportunities is very low.  That's a good thing but, on the flip side, the journey for growing your side income could lead to a dead end if you don't take the right approach.

Here's my best advice for taking on the challenge of earning additional income while having a full-time job.

[Try This] The ACV + Pink Salt "Super" Scalp Scrub

A few weeks back I ranted about the need to focus on scalp health now that winter is approaching. Promptly after writing that article, I picked up a bottle of Hawaiian Silky's Vinegar Scalp Rinse.  I love the stuff.  To make it even better, I add a little peppermint and tea tree oil for the cooling sensation and to stimulate hair growth.

I thought I had my scalp regimen down packed but, last night I stumbled on a product that I absolutely have to incorporate on wash day.

How to Clear Brain Fog so You Can Accomplish Anything You Want.

If you're someone who enjoys my motivation articles, chances are it's because you wish to fill your life with inspiration/motivation.  Perhaps you're developing some clear goals you'd like to reach.  The big challenge we aspiring goal achievers face is maintaining enough motivation to move from desire into action.

One big obstacle to goal achievement that folks rarely talk about is brain fog.  In my opinion, brain fog is a huge contributor to that feeling of helplessness that keeps you stuck in the same place.  I've suffered from immense brain fog, in the past and also times of mental clarity.   There is a world of difference between the two.  When my mind is clear, I easily take action on things that I've been putting off for months.  This past weekend, I came to the conclusion that I must be an active participant in creating clarity of mind at all times. Because this is so important, I put together a list of the best ways to clear the mind so I never fall into the brain fog trap again.

The Real Reason Why an Apple Cider Vinegar Shot Helps You Lose Weight

Last year,  I revealed the three ingredient beverage that helped my friend to easily lose 10 lbs.  She consumed a tonic before each meal which consisted of lemon, apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice (preferably unsweetened).   Before she knew it, clothes started fitting better and she was well on her way to her old weight again.

When I tried to determine the root cause of the weight loss, I came up with several possible reasons. After going back to and reading my post, I realized that I kinda skimmed over the real reason why this healthy weight recipe is so effective. Lately, I've been listening to quite a few talks presented by medical doctors on the mechanics of healthy weight loss. Now, I feel confident in understanding the power of apple cider vinegar when it comes to maintaining a healthy body weight.

The 3 Ingredient Hair Mask that Everyone is Obsessed with

We're entering into a new season.  Whenever fall rolls around, I always think about the status of my hair journey.  First of all, we're only left with 3 months before the year ends. So now is the time to get laser focused so we finish the year off strong. Secondly, hair growth rate slows so we need to do whatever necessary to promote length retention. 

The first action I've taken to combat winter hair woes is to restock on my favorite hydrating conditioner of all time.  Now that I have a brand new tub of Kanechom Shea Butter in my possession, I'm thinking about ways to balance its ultra moisturizing properties by pairing it with strengtheners. 

 I sent the mental energy into the atmosphere and the solution was soon revealed.

Here's Why Not Drinking Water Is Making You Fat

I stumbled on a random piece of information the other day that lead to hours of research on the internal effects of hydration/dehydration.  I've talked a ton about drinking water on this site. But it was mainly geared towards the external beauty benefits.

We all know that if we don't get enough water that our skin could be affected.  But many of us aren't aware of the impact it could have on our weight.  I mean, sure, some individuals experience positive weight benefits when they switch from drinking soda to water, but I'm not talking about that.

There's another type of impact that water intake can have on your weight and eating habits that you should know about.

This Simple Technique is Guaranteed to Make Your Habits Stick

For most of my adult life, I've been on this journey to build effective habits.  For the most part, it's been a real struggle. I try hard. I even do the habit for consecutive days to try to imprint them in my subconscious.   None of that really worked.  So I had to deal with the disappointment and failing to develop yet another habit.  No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get some of the habits to become permanent.

But, looking back, I realize that a few habits have really stuck and I've executed them on a daily basis for years.  If I could just figure out why some habits were lifelong and why others fizzled away, I could change the course of my future.  After a bit of reflection, I think I figured out the key to making habits a permanent fixture in your life.

Why You Should Probably Be Slathering This Smoothie Ingredient On Your Skin

Yesterday, I decided to start enjoying morning smoothies again.  A few years back, morning smoothies were my favorite activity of the day.  It was the easiest way to pack a multitude of nutritional products in one, easy to consume, beverage.

via @supanovaslam

I peeked in the cupboard where I keep all of my smoothie approved ingredients.  Sitting near the back was a large bottle of powdered chlorella. After reaching for the bottle, I noticed that it was nearly full.  A feeling of dread came over me once I realized that it was well past its expiration date.

Soon, my fears were confirmed.  Engraved under the bottle was a "use by date" of 2016.   I was screwed.  There was no way I was going to risk consuming this potentially expired powder.  But, perhaps there was another, much better, use for my super chlorella powder.

Monday Motivation // What to do when you've lost your momentum.

Every one of us working on our personal development has one thing in common.  We seem to go through these cycles of either being super-motivated or not.  It's a struggle.  We get pumped up and move quickly in the right direction, then it seems that we start losing steam.  If we allow that lull to continue, we can lose valuable momentum. Worse yet, we could forfeit some of the progress made during our high-motivation phase.

If we can master the art of maintaining momentum, we can accomplish pretty much anything.  Let's talk about ways to keep our motivation fire burning.

Model Tip // The Easiest Way To Glowing Skin is This...

Because it's Fashion Week in New York, a bunch of models are coming out of the wood work with tips on how they get ready for the biggest fashion event of the year.  I checked out a recent article where the interviewer asked a slew of models to share one skin tip.

I casually read through the various pieces of advice but it wasn't until I stumbled on one model in particular that I stopped and took notice.

The woman's skin was absolutely glowing.  Of all the models interviewed, she appeared to have the healthiest skin of all. What was her secret?

[Try This] Laura's Single Ingredient Mask that'll Save Your Skin this Winter

Actress Laura Harrier is an up and coming actress who made her box office debut in this summer's Spider Man movie.   Her next project is an HBO original (Fahrenheit 451) where she'll star opposite of Michael B. Jordan.  Not only is Laura a bona fide movie star, she's also a model who's graced the pages of Elle, Cosmo, and Vogue.   Laura is truly living her best life.

You all know that whenever someone pops on the scene, I'm always curious to learn about their beauty rituals.  Luckily for us, Laura gave an interview where she reveals the cleansing mask that keeps her skin hydrated and acne free.

Body Shop Created the Ultimate Sunscreen for Fall.May Your Skin Glow All Year Long.

Earlier this year I received a package of selected products from The Body Shop.  After inspecting the various items, I immediately reached for the charcoal mask.  As you know, I was quite smitten with this perfect dupe for GlamGlow.

The mud mask wasn't the only item I loved.  There was a small tube of vitamin C sunscreen that peaked my interest.  After my first application, I closely inspected my skin and concluded that this was the ultimate winter sunscreen.

What's In Her Fridge// Hannah Reveals Her Impressive Super Foods Collection

The closer we get to fall, the more I start thinking about ways to improve my consumption of nutritious foods.  Sometimes I don't eat as healthy as I should so I make up for it by incorporating with various food based supplements.  I classify food based supplements as items that aren't pills but still provide ample amounts of nutrition.

I thought I was the queen of enjoying food based supplements, but it seems like I may have met my match.

Rihanna's FENTY Beauty is coming, girlies. Are you ready?

Celebrity makeup launches aren't that exciting anymore.  MAC pioneered the celebrity inspired makeup craze and the rest was history.  How many Snap stories have you seen where some pseudo-celebrity is swiping self-branded lip colors on their inner forearm?

It's kinda the norm now.  But, this month, a new line is set to enter the market and it's one of the most highly anticipated makeup launches for women of color (WOC).