Ahh...Just Put Some Windex On It!

To my utter mortification, I saw my uncle massage his sore calf with WD40, for those of you who don't know, thats grease used for squeaky hinges, mostly on cars!  His reasoning, it contains fish oil, which is an ancient remedy for sore muscles..."Sure thing uncle!"  was all I could say, but that got me thinking of the weird home remedies I do (in the privacy of my own home, when there is NOBODY looking)

First off, I'd like to say that I'm not weird in any sense of the word, as home remedies is what started the beauty industry in the first place. 

Here are my Top 5 home made Beauty Recipes that work!

1) Dry up pimples with Milk of Magnesia or crushed up uncoated aspirin tablets mixed with enough water to form a paste.  Aspirin aka acetysylic acid is similar in composition to the famous acne fighter salycylic acid (notice the similarities in the names, your a pro at organic chemistry now!) so fight acne back!

2) Honey is your new best friend, use as a moisturiser or as a antibacterial agent to fight against inflamed blemishes.  Honey Firming Face Mask: 1tbsp honey, 1 egg white, 1 tbsp glycerine, 1/4 cup flour, mix to form a paste, slather on face and throat, leave for 10 mins...Enjoy!

3) A&D baby cream is my go to product ALWAYS for scars, scabs, dry or chapped skin, its a universal cream, (smells like babies bottom, but works!)

4) Olive oil massaged into the scalp and combed through to the ends acts as a great conditioner for dry, damaged hair.  Once the oil is in the hair, wrap a warm towel (warm it by running it through the dryer, or stick it in the oven for a minute on low-be careful), for 30 mins.  Shampoo your hair, take extra care to wash out all the oil.  Lustrous locks await you, for more info read my blog "Lustrous Locks"

5)  Milk has been used for centuries for its healing and soothing properties.  Cleopatra would soak herself in a milk bath to maintain soft and supple skin.  Milk contains high quantities of Vitamin A, D and E act as anti inflammatory agents, and the lactic acid in milk is a great exfoliant.  I use it in my nail soak-find the recipe for this on my blog "Dare to go Bare"

Ode to My Elastic Waste Pants

“I am going to die in elastic waste pants!”

This is my rant of sorts where I have just realized that every pair of pants that I am wearing right now has an elastic waste.  I don’t now if this is a habit adapted by the culture of the City of Vancouver (long live the yoga pant), or the fact that when I do decide to be daring and put on pants with a zipper or buttons (what most people call “regular pants”) I feel like a stuffed sausage and cant wait to take them off!

I am not complaining nor am I saying I am fat (well 5 lbs over my normal weight thanks to the long winter here in Vancouver and my love affair with gummies, chips and good food).  If you look at me I am a petite girl all of 5 feet tall and about 110 lbs (notice I said about, I like to round down).  But lately it has alarmed me that none of my pants that aren’t elastic waste fit comfortably, ie: I am getting that uncomfy line around my midsection (to me it’s a beacon claiming that I simply must not wear these pants). But rather than this being an obsession with weight or fashion for that matter, this is me being extremely frugal and not wanting to go out and buy a pair of pants that actually fit!

So yes, as a nutrition and healthcare professional I have to admit to you that I have gone over to the “D” side a few times, and this is one of them (not the Dark side as some of you may think, but the Diet side, which is far scarier, but I like to think I am just on the perimeter of a full blow diet).  Because I am a 25 year old woman first, and body image is something that creeps up on all of us once in a while so give me a break!

This is one of the times where I feel that simply “eating right and exercising” is not going to cut it.  And we all know I am NOT going to go on a diet.  So follow me on my journey while I test out a few products that may help my weight loss (or I will call it “My Plan to Fit Into My Pants Plan”).  These will be products or foods that may aid, enhance or better my well being so that I can fit into my pants again.

First product that I am trying is a multivitamin that contains chromium and green tea.  Chromium is a mineral that our body does not produce but is essential in metabolizing fats and carbohydrates (this will give me the boost I need to jump start my weight loss).  Chromium is usually obtained through a normal balanced diet, and we need 25 micrograms a day.  Green tea is a powerful antioxidant, contains caffeine in its natural form (so that’s going to give me energy to work out after work right?).  Green tea contains a polyphenol EGCG, a fancy word for a compound that has anticancer and metabolism boosting properties (fingers crossed). And did I mention it’s a multivitamin? So I’m doing my body good.  Notice that I am not taking anything that I don’t need (ex: whey protein, weird powder milkshake drinks, pump juice, etc.), this is just my regular routing of eating right (cutting out unnecessary calories, sorry potato chips, you are the first to go) but adding a little natural boost.

Ok so today is April 13, 2012, day one, took my first pill (since it has caffeine one should take it first thing in the morning, you don’t want an unnecessary buzz at 9 at night on a school night right?).  Stay tuned, this may be a Beauty Recipe from the “D” Side!

This Food, That Look

Look 2: Pink Kiss

Pink lips are often thought to be quite retro.  But while you may not wear the pastel pinks inspired by Snooki from the Jersey Shore, or the frosted lipsticks from your mother’s 1970’s yearbook, pink lips can be a fun shade to try out, especially with the warmer seasons coming up!

I love pink it’s my favorite color, so naturally with my favorite color comes my favorite food, Cake!  Coconut Cake that is.  I love making this cake for all occasions.  Sometimes I will make it into cupcakes (you just need to adjust the baking time).  And the cream cheese frosting is to die for!

Get the Food:

Cake:

• 3/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coconut extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pans
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup milk
• 4 oz sweetened shredded coconut

For the frosting:

• 1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 6 ounces sweetened shredded coconut

Then:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans, line with parchment paper. Grease them again and dust lightly with flour.

In the bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light yellow and fluffy. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl once during mixing. Add vanilla and coconut extracts, mix well. The mixture might look curdled; don't worry!
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the batter in 3 parts, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Fold in the 4 ounces of coconut with a rubber spatula.
Pour the batter evenly into the 2 pans and smooth the top with a knife. Bake in the center of the oven for 45 to 55 minutes, until the tops are browned and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a baking rack for 30 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto a baking rack to finish cooling.
For the frosting, with an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla on low speed. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth (don't whip!).

To assemble, place 1 layer on a flat serving plate, top side down, and spread with frosting. Place the second layer on top, top side up, and frost the top and sides. To decorate: sprinkle the top with coconut and lightly press more coconut onto the sides. Serve at room temperature.

Get the Look:

I go for more coral pinks, or a berry type stain, this just matches my complexion.  If you are not sure which pink is for you, here is a super cool quiz to find just the right shade and product recommendations!  Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in “Fuchsia Poplin” is a splurge, L’oreal Le Gloss in “Nude Touch” is a steal!

http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/quizzes/q_pink_lips

I personally think that pink lips are the most flattering when they have sheen to them.  So I suggest opting for a cream or gloss finish, rather than a frosted or matte finish. 

Product Push: Your Gym Look

Don’t judge me when I say, I am the girl that wears makeup to the gym; although, I wouldn’t necessarily call it makeup, but rather “product”.  And OK, yes, most people don’t.  But trust me I have seen false lashes, hot pink lipstick and hair extensions at my gym, so I am modest in comparison.

My sister and I both feel that looking good when you go to the gym makes you feel great when you work out (that includes a cute outfit and a colored headband.  Not the 80’s style is swear!).  I am not talking heavy makeup here ladies, but mere products that work double duty and give you that fresh clean face.  Usually I’m also going other places before or after the gym (that’s my defense for wearing makeup when I workout and I’m sticking to it!)

Product 1: Tinted Moisturizer

                        -Its great because it evens out your skin tone, and if you are doing outdoor activities, it works double duty, since most tinted moisturizers have SPF in them.  My favorite is Laura Mercier in “Neutral”, its light and really does match most skin tones.

Product 2: Mascara

                        -Contrary to what you might think, I do not like wearing waterproof mascara to the gym because, well, as soon as I get home I jump in the shower and I like the makeup removal to be even easier than its application.  Unless you are gearing up for some intense cardio kickbox class and are planning on sweating buckets, stick to a light non waterproof mascara formula.  I like Revlon “Grow Luscious Mascara” (its supposed to improve you lash growth) or Bare Escentuals makes a good one too

Product 3: Tinted Lip Balm

                        -If you have read my previous Product Push: Perfect Your Pucker blog, you know that I love Nivea Lip balm and their “Fruity Shine” in strawberry is my favorite!

Product 4: A touch of Blush

                        -A little cheek color is not essential, since you will probably produce this on your own when you work out, but a little hint of color is always nice.  I like Nars Illuminator in “Orgasm” or just your regular blusher, just go really light on the application!

A finishing touch for me and a gym essential is a great headband. I don't like fussing with my hair, it'll be in a bun at the top of my head with a Goody "Stay Put" Headband (does that sound hot or what?)  

So, see, I told you that its not excessive, but I still think that if you look good, you feel good and that makes me want to work out, and that’s my Beauty Recipe for the gym!

This Food That Look 1

Sometimes I just cannot stop thinking about food.  I also am a bit of a beauty whore, where anything from magazine covers, makeup commercials or even beauty testers at the department store get me excited.  (My boyfriend hates going shopping with me because I make him hang out at the perfume counter while I test lip glosses!)

So for me, pairing food with your beauty look seems like a natural progression, just like pairing wine with your food (more on that in the next blog).

So I thought, why not have my favorite looks, and pair it with what I feel like eating when I wear that look? 

Stay with me, I'm all about the visual effect here, so you will totally get it!

Look 1:  Red Lip

Why not pair a bold red lip with chocolate covered strawberries? or juicy fresh raspberries with white chocolate drizzle.  I asked around, when men see a woman with bold red lips they think of pretty sensual images.  One that comes to mind is eating juice red fruit, because well, why not draw attention to that perfectly painted pucker??

How to get the Food:

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

3 tbsp. heavy cream

12 long stem strawberries (pick the best ones of the batch!)

A partner or lover to watch you eat them perhaps? (this ingredient cannot be found in the baking isle of your supermarket, sorry)

Melt the chocolate and heavy cream together in a bowl set over simmering water until just melted.  Remove from heat.  Dip each strawberry in chocolate, set on parchment paper on a flat surface to dry.  Speed up drying time by putting them in the fridge.  Can do this with cherries or any other fresh fruit that may be in season!

(recipe courtesy of Ina Garten-my idol)

How to get the Look:

Pick a shade of red that goes with your skin tone.  Yes there are an array of reds, so test them out before you purchase.  A universal red is Revlon's "Fire Engine Red", but if you have a darker skin tone, this may not look right on you.  I use Sephora Rouge "The Red", I love its creamy feel! Pat your lips with foundation powder to avoid bleeding and to make the red last longer. You can line your lips if you choose to as well.  Clean up errors with concealer, this will make the color pop even more!

So, You Wanna Try Pole Dancing??

"Its a Bird, Its a Plane, no that's just one hot pole dancer!"

If you have ever seen a dancer displaying acrobatic moves on a pole, your first reaction was most likely some variation of "WOAH!", and if you're at all like me, you may have secretly thought "I wanna try that too!!!"

Well, the secrets out, because there are a lot of women out there that have turned to pole dancing as a method of exercise.  My first experience with pole dancing was after I saw a pole dancer at an exotic club.  Coming from a dance background (ballet for 12 years) I automatically saw the art and skill in it (yes I realize she was barely clothed, but you don't notice after a while I swear!).  So I went home and did some research on pole dancing, and found an amazing pole dancing studio in Vancouver called Tantra Fitness.

Tantra Fitness' mission statement is what spoke to me "...to create an open space for women to be playful and courageous while discovering their inner beauty through fitness and dance." How could I resist trying it out?  So after reading testimonials and most importantly what you are supposed to wear (regular exercise gear is recommended) I made my way to Tantra Fitness.  After entering the studio, a great space in downtown Vancouver, with its soft lighting, pink walls and friendly receptionist, I felt more at ease.  Tantra Fitness is an all women studio, and let me tell you, all the women there are the friendliest ones you'll meet! (Im not lying! Maybe its because we are all there for the same reasons: A lot of us were so tired of going to the gym with its monotonous workouts, weightlifting, running on the hamster wheel, but we all really wanted to do something active but fun at the same time.  They're all so supportive, especially the instructors, its like going to dance class with girlfriends!). 

Because I was a little nervous at first to go into a foreign studio and register for a pole dancing class, I started out with a lower key class called "Sexy Flexy" which focuses on strength and flexibility.  But after that first class I was hooked.  I dragged my sister along for Pole 101 (the first level) and we loved it, if not a little dizzy at first. Tammy, owner of Tantra and an amazingly talented instructor, led us through spins and basic pole moves that made me want to return the next week and the next to try out all the classes Tantra had to offer. 

With its mixture of high impact cardio classes such as Cardio Striptease or any of the Pole Dance classes (each level gets more intense), it gave me a great variety to choose from, depending on what I wanted to work on.  In no time I noticed a difference in the way my muscles were developing.  I can now go upside down on a pole and do some pretty acrobatic things I never imagined (and it feels pretty darn good!)

It was four years ago that I found this gem of a studio, and it has been amazing.  It mixes up my regular work outs and bonus, it incorporates my favorites, dancing and fitness.  Throw in some poles, high heels (optional) and hot pink (almost everything at Tantra is hot pink, love that!), it is an ideal haven for me to stay in shape, have fun and feel beautiful, how can you ask for more!?  That's my kind of Beauty Recipe!