{DIY}: Gel Nails

www.sallybeauty.com

 If you're like me, you love to glossy look of a gel manicure but could do without the cost and the treck to the nail salon, not to mention the UV rays they use to cure them.  For this at home dupe for gel nails you need to first go out and purchase "Gelous" Advanced Gel Nail Top Coat sold at Sally's Beauty Supply stores.  This is what makes your ordinary polished nails, gel nails.  You can do this on your toes too and it works amazing, no UV light required!

{Step 1}: Apply 1 coat of Gelous onto clean, dry nails.  Wait 2 minutes until that coat is dry and apply another coat, wait 30 seconds.
{Step 2}: Apply 1 coat of your nail color of choice, wait 30 seconds.
{Step 3}: Apply another coat of Gelous, wait 30 seconds.
{Step 4}: Apply a 2nd coat of your nail color
{Step 5}: Finish by either a last coat of Gelous (youll notice that all the coats on your nail will be thicker than normal just like gel nails) so you can finish with just an ordinary clear top coat to seal it in.
Once your nails are completely dry, be sure to moisturize! I like to rub Vaseline on my cuticles.

Expect this to last at least a week and it will maintain its gel shine! Removal is done as you would with regular nail polish (cotton ball and acetone).

I hope you enjoy your DIY gel manicure!  Save your money for something more important in life...like lip gloss!

Sundays {Best} Pretty things that make you feel beautiful!

{Best} Pretty Pink Flowers

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{Best} Natural Clear Nail Polish

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{Best} DIY Lip Stain

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{Best} Photo of Bridal Silhouette

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{Best} Saying

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Product Push: Josie Maran Argan Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil

Lately I have been addicted to lip products.  From your basic chapstick to high end lipsticks that cost a pretty penny.  On my quest to find new and innovative beauty products I came across Josie Maran’s Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil.  I love that her line of products is all natural, eco friendly and contain my favorite ingredient: Argan oil!  This product comes in six shades from a cherry red to a honey nude.  The product goes on smooth and, you guessed it, creamy and might I add, luxurious!  It is not oily at all and lasts quite a while.  The tint gives your lips just enough of a color wash so its perfect for day or night, and the shine makes your lips look nourished and hydrated.  As the name suggests, you can apply this product to your cheeks as well, use a light hand when doing so, and blend out with your finger tips or a stippling brush.  The scent to this product is very faint, but not over powering, the ingredients list the product has tangerine and orange peel oil and you can definately smell a hint of those.  You can purchase this product directly from the Josie Maran Website or from your local Sephora.  At Sephora you also have the option of buying a duo of two colors so that you can try them both, and with this product a little goes a long way, so you get more bang for your buck!  I am in love with the Josie Maran line and can’t wait to keep collecting their products!  I hope you go out and try some too, you'll be in love!

 

One Leg Up

Image: picturescollection.com

 

Ok let’s face it, I am short! I hate those politically correct ways of stating the obvious ex) “vertically challenged”—it’s not a condition people!  I can’t go to a special class to learn how to be un-short!

And on a daily basis I am bombarded with people that are of “average height”, pshh and photos make it worse usually because unless there is a point of reference I tend to forget that that girl, on the cover of the magazine? Ya hi she has the legs of a gazelle and the torso of a giraffe and that smock she’s wearing is going to look like a burlap sack on anyone under 6 feet tall. Come on! 

So alas, embracing my stature I have learned that while I can read article upon article on how to look taller, you can’t fight genetics!  So why not work with what you got?

NO, I am not going to tell you that nude shoes make you look taller because honestly they just look like you’re wearing nude shoes.  And shorter skirts don’t make your legs look longer they just look like you have on a short skirt …shame on you.  Heels will make a tall person taller and a short person taller, its not rocket science people!

What I am going to do is share how I love my little legs and show them off in a way that’s flattering for me. 

1)      Exfoliate like your life depends on it.  Silky soft legs allow you to feel elegant and confident and nobody wants to see your stumps scaly and dry.

2)      Work them out.  Squats, lunges, plies you name it to ensure all your leg muscles are toned, tight and shapely, because nobody wants wiener legs.  BONUS: leg exercises burn more calories than upper body ones

3)      Moisturize please.  My favourite is Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel.  It makes you gams glisten in the light and smells divine.  Moisturize your legs every time you get out of the shower, and then again if you’re going to wear an outfit that bares your legs.

4)      A hint of color goes a long way.  During the summer months my legs will get naturally tanned, but when the fall comes I like to mix a little self tanner into my moisturizer to give a subtle tint and hide any imperfections.  I like Loreal Sublime Tan gel it’s lightweight and not sticky.

5)      Get those toes fixed! Make sure you’re pedicure is on point.  A clean set of toe nails can go a long way.  Mine are always painted but clean fresh nails are always the cherry on top of a nice set of legs.  Nothing worse than looking like you’ve been walking through coals all day, ick. 

So there you have it! It’s so easy to feel comfortable in your little legs, just take care of them and stride right past those chicks with their spidery long legs, like a boss!

My Quest for the Perfect Brows

Image from: http://www.marieclaire.com/hair-beauty/trends/beauty-over-plucking

On the quest for those coveted brows, I have gone through lengths you haven’t imagined and yet the beauty industry far surpasses me.  Did you know that ladies, and men for that matter, are resorting to eyebrow hair plugs to obtain fuller eyebrows a la Brooke Shields circa 1981?  And while I might not go through such lengths to get back to my natural brows, I have done some research into what might be a more sane and less invasive (and less expensive might I add) method to re-growing my brows at a faster rate.

First, when in doubt don’t pluck out! My mantra since I started tweezing at the ripe age of 16.  Although this is a hard one to follow, it works.  Don’t be tempted by what you may think is a stray hair, as usually it can make your brows from looking casually mysterious to utterly surprised. 

Second, I have been reading all around that castor oil is the cure for thinning brows and lashes.  There are stimulating properties in castor oil that stimulate follicles and the cells that may help hair grow.  There are also vitamins and minerals that prevent hair from breaking, but who’s eyebrows break? For a bottle of castor oil it cost me under $4, sold at most health food stores.  I put mine on with my fingers, but you could also use a clean mascara wand. 

Third, maintain the shape you desire.  Although this may sound like it goes against rule number one, maintaining is different than shaping.  Taking out hair that doesn’t need to be there, ie) in the middle of your brows (goodbye unibrow) or underneath your brows where they are totally off from your natural shape ensures that during this process you don’t look like a bush monkey and can conquer the world without gasps and stares from onlookers (yes, in my head, I think everyone is staring at my unkempt brows and whispering blasphemous comments when I pass by *sigh).  Keeping your brows groomed and clean while they grow out will prevent you from over plucking. 

And last but not least, during this process of growing out your brows your method of removal, in my opinion, should be tweezing!  Tweezing allows for more precise removal of unwanted hair, ensuring you don’t go overboard.  Waxing can be tricky when you’re trying to not remove those fine hairs that may help make your brows look fuller (trust I know from experience, I called my self patchy for an entire month).  Threading entails you trusting another person with string in her mouth to groom you…enough said.

I hope you have success in growing out your brows, wish me luck on my journey to conquer my brow plucking addiction!

Top 5 Mood Boosters...Bust This!

“It’s snowing still…and freezing…however…we haven’t had an earthquake lately.” –Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh.

Ever had one of those Eeyore days? Down in the dumps, sooooo tired (yawn) or a smidge cranky?  Well it could be the foods you are not eating and vitamins that may be missing from your diet that are making you miss that pep in your step.  These Eeyore mood busters are rich in vitamins and minerals that help keep you energized, your blood cells functioning normally and provide an overall better quality of life! 

1) Foods High in B12 Vitamins and Folic Acid or Folate (which is another B vitamin):

 

-You need between 2.4-2.8 micrograms of B12 in your diet

-You can get your daily does of this vitamin from your diet by consuming fish like salmon and having your daily amount of dairy products

-many breakfast cereals are fortified with folic acid also.  Another reason to eat breakfast!

-Folic acid can be found in beans and spinach.  Enchilada anyone?

2) Eat your Fruits and Veggies!

 

-not only are they high in fibre which help your gut health, they’re a sweet treat to brighten up your day!

-choose foods that are especially colorful such as berries and dark leafy greens

-pick fruits and veggies that are in season in your area because they are normally higher in their nutrient content than off season ones

3) Whole grain Breads and Cereals

-these foods are high in Selenium, no not Selina like the singer, selenium!  It’s a mineral rich in antioxidants that help prevent cell damage

-you need at least 55 micrograms a day, and you can get 70 micrograms of this mineral by eating 2 slices of whole grain bread and not even thinking twice about it!

4) Walnuts

 

-or any food that is high in Omega 3 fatty acids, salmon is well known for this

-Omega 3s are considered essential fatty acids because we cannot produce them in our body and thus need to come from our diet

-do not exceed eating a handful of these delightful nuts as they are high in calories

5) Daily dose of D:

 

 

-Vitamin D has been show to cure a variety of mood disorders such as PMS and seasonal affective disorder.

-The recommended amount of Vitamin D is 600IU, but you can go as high as 1,000-2,000 IU a day.

-Vitamin D is rare to find naturally in foods, so usually a supplement is recommended, but you can get a jump on the D by putting on your favorite sunnies and catching some rays outside and load up on salmon, cheese and fortified beverages and cereals that boast this depression ditching vitamin!

-more on Vitamin D here:  Alyssa Elle: Your Dose of D

**BONUS!

 

 

 

-Dark chocolate can be considered an “upper” in that it has an effect on your brain stress hormones

-some studies have shown that those that eat 1/3 of a dark chocolate bar daily found lowered blood pressure and an overall sense of wellbeing, and why wouldn’t you when you’re eating chocolate! Just make sure it’s a small piece, and make sure its pure dark chocolate the higher percentage cocoa the better (a snickers bar does NOT count….sorry guys)

Hope you give some of these mood busters aside and say goodbye to your inner Eeyore!

Photos from Driscolls, Martha Stewart

You're Juicing It Wrong...

 

Of course we have all seen the green juice fads take over mainstream diets.  But the way you drink up on these juices can have an effect on your diet and weight loss goals (if you have any).  Take note of the following if you want to juice it right!

 

1)      You may be leaving some fruits and veggies out of your diet

 

-While most juices are packed with a variety of fruits and veggies including green leafy vegetables, it is rare that we add vegetables such as eggplant, squash and other gourds, cauliflower and other white veggies like onions and mushrooms, that have nutritional benefits, to our drinks

 

-And when we find a juice blend we like, chances are we stick to it and stop experimenting with adding a wide variety of fruits and veggies, so we are not going to always get the most bang for our blend (get it?) from our juice blends

 

2)      Its not going to fill you up like whole foods do

 

-There is more to consuming fruits and veggies than their nutritional benefits.  Whole fruits and veggies are very high in fibre and help to keep you fuller longer.  For one, if you are straining the fibre out of your juices, you are missing on the fibre.  If you keep the fibre, it is more beneficial but there is also something to be said by the act of chewing your food (chewing alone burns some calories FYI), the time it takes to chew and swallow and how much space a whole product takes up in your stomach than one that is pre blended, that add to your satisfied appetite, keeps you fuller longer and prevents you from over indulging later.

 

3)      You may be consuming more carbs than you think!

 

-Because you are juicing the fruits and veggies, they take up less space in your cup than the whole food

 

-Some store bought blended drinks contain almost a whole pineapple, 2 bananas, spinach, kale, carrots…basically way more than you would eat in one sitting let alone a whole day if you were to eat these foods whole!  That’s way more carbs than you need in a day, and all you’ve had is one blenderized drink!

 

 4)      Replacing your meal with these juices means you’re not getting a balanced diet!

 

-If you opt  for a shake at breakfast, ensure that its going to have protein in the way of some yogurt or protein powder, fibre such as ground flax or the pulp of the fruit included, otherwise you may find yourself craving whole real foods throughout the day

 

-Chances are you are missing out on other vital minerals and vitamins.  For example, you are not going to put any kind of meat or legume in your drink and if you are using your blender drink as a meal replacement, there goes a good chunk of your iron intake for the day.  And while your leafy greens account for some, the iron you get from meats cannot be found in plant sources.

 

So, if you are going to jump on the juice/shake/blend bandwagon, ensure that you are making the right decisions.  If you want to consume all your fruits and veggies for the day in a blended beverage, don’t strain the pulp out and be realistic with how much of these whole foods you would eat in a day.  Don’t cut out entire food groups either and try to have a variety of fruits and veggies in your drink, avoid sticking to the same recipe.

Give juicing a try, with the seasons changing there are always delicious options for you to try!

Photo from: Martha Stewart