Tag: Body

A Day At The Fort Lauderdale Beach

Published on by Lee1 Comment

Hello Beauties, June 29, I had decided last minute to head to the beach and it turned out to be an experience that I cherish close to my heart. That day, my head became a little clearer and my smile became bigger. My smile was real too. Here are couple of reasons why I cherished that moment so much.

  1. I have anxiety which means I have become antisocial over the years. Being around bunch of people, especially people I don’t know can be stressful for me. I’m always in my head and thinking about the worst. But that day, I survived.
  2. I was at peace by MYSELF. I was there from 11:30 am to 4 or 5 -ish pm. 
  3. I enjoyed the scene and everything with little money I had. I was happy, like truly happy and learned a lot about myself while getting a nice workout in the process.

Making time for yourself and learning how to enjoy your own space is so important. Never in a million years did I think that I would go to the beach by myself and stay there for longer than 15 minutes. I’m happy I did though and can’t wait to go back. I might even just travel to Orlando or Miami just because. You might be thinking girl, it’s just the beach but for me, its more than that. I proved a lot to myself and didn’t let my anxiety or anything else get in my way. I want to do bigger trips but for now, traveling around Florida will do. If you want to know how I did it with basically no money, What I did, and Where I went then keep on reading…

Ft Lauderdale Beach Pics 2

How Did You Get There?

I took the bus, simple. I got the whole day bus pass which is $5 and took Bus Route 40. I asked a nice man who was hitting on me but it didn’t bother me because he wasn’t disrespectful. He told me what bus to take and gave me directions to get to that bus stop. 

Now, if you want to get there quicker without having to wait and make several stops along the way then I suggest you take Lyft. It is going to be pricey depending on where you coming from but you can use my code: CRYSTAL40317 to save $$.

What Places Did You Hangout At?

First, I walked along the beach then I stumbled upon CVS. It wasn’t that far, it was located in Beach Place plaza. I purchased a bottle of coke, I was really thirsty. Mouth felt dry and everything. Thinking back at it, I should had got a water bottle instead especially since when the coke wasn’t cold anymore, it tasted weird. It was warm, not like room temperature, just warm.

Then I went to the beach and dip my toes into the nice cool water. The sun was out but it wasn’t too hot. I wished I had my bathed suit or extra clothing because if I did, I would had became a mermaid for sure lol.

Ft Lauderdale Beach Pics 6

After I finished playing in the water some more, I went up to a family who was tryna take pictures and asked if they needed help. They were so nice, they were traveling from Switzerland. I took some bomb pics for them and said goodbye. Next, I walked some more and saw many parties that was happening at different resorts. I was invited by this lesbian who was cool as fuck. I sat by the pool with them and talked. The music was booming and boobies were out. I spent like 1hr with them before I left. Everyone was just happy and living their best life.

I continued to walk and saw many beautiful resorts, restaurants, hotels, homes, and boats. I decided to turn back around because I was getting hungry and I was a little scared that I might be going too far; I didn’t want to get lost. Since, I wasn’t wearing my glasses, me getting stuck wasn’t the plan and I do sometimes forget things. I just didn’t want to take any chances. Plus, I didn’t have cash on me, so if it had reached 11:59 pm, I would had been screwed because that’s when my bus pass would had expired. 

I headed back to Beach Place to rest up. There were many tourists. It wasn’t packed but it was still busy. My back felt better, my body felt better so I got up and continued to see what the prices were looking like for the food. One restaurant had a sale going like buy a burger and get a coke for free and another restaurant Lona had different promotional flyers up. That place was busy, well from what I saw at least. People were eating, drinking and just chilling. Honestly, I wanted a hot dog but the place wasn’t open and there were no other place that was selling hot dogs.

Ft Lauderdale Beach Pics 5

I rode back taking the Bus Route 40 then jumped on Bus Route 22 to get back home. I ended my day with a sweet tea from Dunkin Donuts and 6 pieces of hush browns. They have sweet tea, any size for a $1. I am kinda sad that I missed the Live Music & Entertainment at Fort Lauderdale beach but next time.

Share some of your favorite beach day tips!

Have you traveled to Florida? And if you have, what was your experience like?

When was the last time you explored the town you live in or a neighboring town? That could be a fun journey and an escape from the everyday grind, couldn’t it?

XO Lee

 

 

 

 

 

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MAKEUP EXPIRATION

Published on by Lee2 Comments

e9234-bn_expirydates_tip3  Did you know that makeup and beauty products can go bad? That’s right! Just like     food, our makeup can spoil. Unlike food, cosmetics don’t have a printed expiration date, but what they DO have is a symbol that tells you how long its good for once opened. Inside the symbol is a number, and that number represents the number of   months it is good for after being opened.   

Sometimes we have products we forgot and want to use them. On occasion we might get the feeling the new product we just bought is not that fresh. Or we want to be sure that our products are at their peak and will perform as effective as possible. No worries, we can ask ourselves the following easy 3 questions to solve our dilemma.
abebf-imgSo, why is this important? Sure, if we eat a moldy mango we might spend the night over the toilet, but is expired makeup REALLY going to harm us?

The answer is yes. It could. You see, your skin is your largest organ, and what you put on your skin will be absorbed into your body. This is why I highly recommend all beauty and skincare products that are organic, food grade, and paraben free. Yes, I said food grade. Your skin ‘eats’ what you put on it. And, lets not forget that eye makeup and lip makeup are applied very closely to open orifices of our body, which means direct access to your bloodstream.

Some basic guidelines are to toss mascara and liquid/gel eye liner every 3 months. If we don’t, we run the risk of contracting some pretty gnarly eye infections, and no amount of concealer is going to hide your swollen, puss-filled eye. (Sorry for the visual.) What about lipstick? You’ll want to toss your cherry red out after one year! The good news is that every product should have the expiration symbol on the box in which it came, so there’s very little to do on your part.

1- Smell, feel and observe test:

Most of the products will last before opening. If you suspect a product is old or getting old, smell it first. Besides the perfume scent, if it has a funky smell that does not feel right do not use it. The off smell could be due to a microbial growth or one or more ingredients have gone bad. If you see black or green growth on the product, again the product could have gone bad. Please do not use it. With powders and eye shadows if they are stone hard over the surface or crumbling too fast again they could be expired. Time to toss them away.

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2-Expired product?

Pay attention to production and/or expiration dates if it is available on the packaging. The product you use may not have the expiration date on it or it could have been erased. At this point, the PAO (purchase after opening) becomes really important and follow the recommended PAO for the item. Every cosmetic product has a PAO symbol. PAO shows how long you can use a certain product after you open it.

 

Makeup Expiration Dates
PAO symbol

If you cannot see the expiration date and still want to know when it was produced, find the “Lot number” on the packaging. Lot number consists of a bunch of numbers and sometimes letters. You can contact the producer and send the lot number. You can also enter the Lot number into CheckCosmetic website and find out the production date. This website does not provide information for all brands.

What is the ideal PAO for cosmetics?

Each product will have its own PAO determined by the manufacturer. The PAO ‘s will change according to the formulation and ingredients of the products. For instance a cream with 1% botanical ingredients and active skin care ingredients may last longer than 90% natural /organic products due to low concentration of active or botanical materials in it. Make sure to check the expiration date and PAO and do not use it after recommended date.
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But, how are we to keep track of the dates if we opened various products? I have 14 mascaras, 10 eyeliners, 3 blushes, and at least 25+  lipsticks for God’s sake . Worry not, there’s actually a pretty simple remedy for this. Assign a notepad in your phone to document which product you opened and when. Then, in your calendar, set an alert for when it’s time to swap it out! 
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3-Was the product stored correctly?

Skin care and cosmetic products do not like extreme hot, cold temperatures, humidity and light. They will lose their effectiveness and could go bad very easily. We may not know how they were stored before we bought them but we should store/use our products away from light, humidity and at room temperature (25oC). Even for a short time do not leave the products under extreme conditions. For instance, do not leave your cream under direct summer sun even for a short bit. The heat and strong sun light will degrade the cream even might lead to microbial growth in it.

I know what you’re probably thinking. You spend a lot of your hard earned money on high-quality products, and it bums you out to have to throw them away. I get you, sis, but your health matters more, and there are amazing products out there that are animal-friendly, safe for your body, and safe for the environment too. 

So toss the old ones away. Nothing is more precious than you. 🙂

25 Things That Will Instantly Boost Your Mood

Published on by LeeLeave a comment

Today I’ve rounded up 25 of my favorite instant mood boosters in case you’re in need of a little pick-me-up. Sometimes life can be stressful and overwhelming, but I’ve learned that focusing on the little things make a big difference.

1. Take a shower, or hot bath. The warm water relaxes tense muscles and calms your central nervous system. The sound of running water can also be quite calming to people.

2. Go for a walk. Soak up that sunshine and get a boost of Vitamin D.

3. Tick something off your to-do list. It always makes me feel like I’m a little more on top of life.

4. Make your favorite playlist. Fill it with happy, upbeat songs or ones that bring back good memories. This one is currently on repeat.

5. Eat some chocolate. It’s said to make us happy.

6. Bake something. My Pinterest board is literally overflowing with drool-worthy recipes if you’re ever in need.

7. Sweat it out. Release your frustrations and endorphins.

8. Open a window. Let in some light and fresh air. Wallowing in bed is just letting yourself engage in the bad feelings.

9. Organize and clean out your space. This could be your room, desk or both. Even if you’re life isn’t organized, at least your closet will be.

10. Get lost in a really great book. 

11. Make a cup of tea. You could even try making it from scratch if you’re feeling extra adventurous.

12. Learn something new. Learning can help us build confidence and a sense of self-efficacy, and fuel our creativity. You have a world of knowledge at your fingertips, don’t waste it in one corner.

13. Try a DIY. It’ll keep your distracted and focus your energy on creativity.

14. Make yourself a smoothie or fruit bowl. Did you know fruit has sugars that can lift your mood? Also the fact you might get an insta-worthy photo out of it wont hurt.

15. Write down things that make you happy. Like a list or make a picture chart. Visuals make me happy.

16. Burn your favorite candle. Citrus can improve your mood and candle light it’s said to reduce stress levels.

17. Detox your phone and social medias. Go through and delete anyone who sucks.

18. Buy some fresh flowers. Surround yourself with them. It seriously works.

19. Have a pamper day. Manicures, chocolate, cosy oversized sweaters & a feel good movie. Yes please.

20. Make plans. Whether it be travel or dinner plans, having something to look forward to can raise spirits.

21. Practice breathing and meditation. Used for centuries as a relaxation technique, meditation has been shown to ward off depressive thoughts and anxiety.

22. Do something nice for somebody else. Showing kindness can help us feel better. Small actions— holding the door for the person behind you, sending a
quick love text to a partner or friend, or donating to charity all count.

23. Pet an animal. After all, studies have shown petting dogs and cats can lower your heart rate & whilst we’re on the subject, here’s a Instagram full of cats.

24. Smile. Even if you don’t feel like it, sometimes moving the muscles in
our face activates chemicals in our brains to lift our moods.

25. Be grateful. Your happiness is only as good as your mindset.

 

 

10 Benefits of Warm Water and Lemon in the Morning

Published on by Lee2 Comments


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Warm lemon water works all kinds of miracles. I initially started drinking it to aid with weight loss, but have since found numerous benefits that I thought I would share with you all too. There’s really no reason not to be taking advantage of this morning health ritual and everyday detox drink.

INSTRUCTIONS

Squeeze 1/2 lemon (organic if possible) into a cup of lukewarm filtered water, first thing in the morning. Avoid using boiling or ice cold water as it takes longer for your body to digest and uses more energy in the process.

BONUS: try adding freshly grated ginger or a little cayenne for a boost.

THE BENEFITS

1. Aids digestion. It flushes out unwanted materials & toxins from the body. It also helps to relieve symptoms of indigestion, such as heartburn and bloating.

2. Boosts your immune system. Lemons are filled with vitamin C, which helps fight colds. They’re high in potassium which stimulates brain and nerve function.

3. Detoxes your system. It acts as a natural diuretic, releasing toxins at a faster rate as the citric acid maximises enzyme function which stimulates the liver.

4. Balances pH levels. Due to the alkalising properties of lemons, they help remove uric acid in your joints, which is one of the main causes of inflammation.

5. Clears skin. The antioxidants and vitamin C in lemons help decrease wrinkles and blemishes. The alkaline nature also kills some types of bacteria known to cause acne.

6. Aid in weight loss. Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings.

7. Energizes & enhances your mood. Lemons contain negative charged ions which provides your body with energy when it enters the digestive tract. The smell and scent of lemon can brighten your mood and help clear your mind. Lemon can also help reduce anxiety and depression.

8. Promotes Healing. Ascorbic acid found in abundance in lemons, promotes wound healing, and is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of healthy bones, connective tissue, and cartilage.

9. Freshens breath. It’s also been known to help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis. However, be aware that citric acid can erode tooth enamel. It is best to brush your teeth first.

10. Hydrates Your Lymph System. Warm water and lemon juice supports the immune system by hydrating and replacing fluids lost by your body. When your body is deprived of water, you can definitely feel the side effects, which include: feeling tired, sluggish, decreased immune function, constipation, lack of energy, low/high blood pressure, lack of sleep, lack of mental clarity and feeling stressed, just to name a few.

 

Related image  Do you drink warm lemon water in the morning?

How do you take your lemons?