As kids we were often told that going to sleep early was important for our mental state and health. We were most likely given a reasonable (to the parents) bedtime, so we would get ample amount of rest for school the next day. We were also probably hiding under the covers reading, trying to watch videos, or secretly staying awake late. This often led us to feel groggy in the morning, but it probably never hindered your wanting to repeat the same process the following night. As adults, we've stopped hiding the fact that we stay up late whenever we want and tend to drown the sleepy's away with coffee (and the worse choice - in my opinion - energy drinks). Well this adult is extremely guilty of going to sleep in the wee hours of the morning. Not always intentional however, but there are times when I've chosen to press "watch next episode" instead of hitting the hay at a decent hour. One night, I was lying in bed next to my padawan, waiting for him to go to sleep. As I was staring into the dark room, I began to drift into a slumber I didn't necessarily want. I had planned to get up once my mini me fell asleep and do chores, watch shows, eat a snack, and other miscellaneous things. This night however, instead of jolting myself up and flipping on my phone to help pass the time, I decided to let it happen. I fell asleep with my son before 9pm. I didn't wake up in the middle of the night frustrated because I had couldn't go back to sleep (thank God), I didn't wake up groggy the next morning, I didn't even need coffee the next day. I was actually up at 7am with my son and we had an entire day with a fully charged mom. It. Was. Weird. I didn't need a minute to shower and wake up fully with a pot of coffee, I didn't get agitated because things weren't going my way, and I didn't avoid the outside world like it was the plague. We were up, had breakfast, made the beds, did the homeschooling, went for a walk, got some groceries, played some toys, watched our morning shows, and when we finally checked the time, it was barely noon. We had the entire day to do whatever our hearts desired. It was like I had an actual day to have peace and get everything I needed to accomplish, done. This may be something all of you have experienced - with or without coffee, no judgement - but to me it was brand new. For years, I hadn't gone to sleep at a reasonable hour or had a decent night's rest. I always woke up with this negative attitude that could only be replaced with coffee and a moment of "wake the heck up". I felt like the days were going so incredibly fast and during dinner time, I'd consistently wonder where the heck the entire day went. I didn't understand how each and every day was speeding by in a blink of an eye. I understand the whole concept of "time flies when you're having fun", but now I have grasped what's been happening. Each and everyday, I was wasting time on having to wake myself up from the ill amount of sleep I'd put my body through and that energy was draining me even more. This led me to delayed anything that I had to handle throughout the day, dragging on each task, leading to the days seeming shorter.
Not only did my entire demeanor change, but my skin had a glow, I was more alert, my appetite was normal (I didn't have random bursts of hunger), and my emotions were stable (WAY less anxiety). Talk about health benefits right?! Hopefully this logic makes sense to you all, because once I realized what getting to bed early truly meant, I was appalled at the amount of days I had wasted being a morning grump. Now I understand why morning people get more accomplished. This isn't to say that night owls can't succeed or accomplish the same amount, they just simply do it at a different hour then the rest. I for one can't accomplish certain tasks during the nighttime, so my only real option is to become a morning person. How do I do that? Go to bed at a reasonable hour. I know that this won't be something I can do every day, because my insomnia likes to kick in or things to need to be finished. I also know that when I'm falling asleep and I don't have necessities to be handled, I'm just going to let my body drift into slumber land. *all pics are royalty free photos from visualhunt.com*
First off, I'd like to make it clear that I'm not saying you should avoid scrubbing brushes altogether, nor am I saying they are bad for you. I'm simply trying to shed some light on a certain scenario that came to my attention recently. Back in September I did a post about creating your very own spa day at home (see that post HERE). One of the things I mentioned in the post was how I was using a body was scrubbing brush to scrub away your back's debris (which can be difficult at times, hence why mine was handled). Well I'm here today to tell you that I may have been wrong. Again I'm not saying that this will happen to everyone, but perhaps those with acne prone or sensitive skin should keep this in mind. If it works for you, that's awesome! Sadly it did not for me. I was aware of the whole "replace every 4 to 6 weeks" to keep bacteria from building up and you putting it back on your body, which I tried to adhere to. Frankly, I skipped a couple of months because I didn't want to keep spending $4 every few weeks, but I repurchased once semi-recently. I do replace my sponges within the same time frame, but they are only $1. You see my reasoning now? Anyways, what I didn't know was that being too abrasive with your skin - especially acne prone and sensitive skin - can actually increase your risk of getting acne or more specifically in this case, "bacne". I've battled with adult since my middle school years - yay hormones - which I've briefly talked about HERE. I always did my best to eat right, exercise, and keep my skin clean, so what I didn't understand was why I was getting breakouts on my back worse than before. Granted it's not all the brush's fault as my hormones have been out of whack - yay aging - but I was still getting acne that didn't seem true to my hormonal acne (yes I know the difference). After a little research and talking to a few dermatologists, I found out that because I've been so abrasive with my back and scrubbing with something a tad bit harsh (for my personal sensitive skin), I was causing microscopic abrasions that were leading to bacteria getting trapped and causing the excess acne. I'll admit I was a bit bummed. I liked having the back scrubber. It truly made me feel like I was getting "extra clean". It was recommended that I don't do harsh body scrubs either and instead of scrubbing with Epsom salt, simply soak in a bath tub filled Epsom salt and create a soak. Essentially the same benefits without the negative results.
So my warning is this: - If you buy a scrubber brush and you start to notice intensified acne, try taking a break from the scrubber brush and see if using a less harsh tactic helps heal them. It could take up a few weeks to see if it's working. Regardless what you use - scrubbing brush, loofah, sponge, etc. - make sure to change them within the recommended amount of time. This will, like I said before, keep bacteria from building up and being continuously re-placed on your body. This also avoids mold spores. I do know that people have no bad affects from using scrubbing brushes - lucky - but I thought I'd share this warning for those who may be pondering the same thing I once was about why my "bacne" was becoming more frequent. Like I said it wasn't just the brush and when I started to balance my hormones again the hormonal acne subsided, it was the leftovers that were frustrating the heck out of me. Now that I've ruled out the scrubbing brush, I can happily report that everything is calming down and it looks like I'm that much closer to clear skin once again! It's been roughly a week since I've stopped using my beloved scrubbing brush, but needless to say I'm happy to not wake up with new uninvited guests every day after using it. Hopefully this serves as some form of help if you're struggling with what I've been going through. Perhaps you discovered it sooner than I did, but I hadn't been doing "spa days" every day and with the constant goings of everyday life, I just didn't think too much into the situation. That is until I started balancing my hormones (I thought maybe these "extras" were just weird forms of hormonal acne for a little bit) and they still stuck around.
Happy Monday everyone and remember to be one with the force Jedi's. You're beautiful and deserve to smile!
In the past I've spoken briefly of my love for chia seeds. I've done a post about adding it to yogurt (see HERE) and how to create a glorious smoothie with it as an additive (see that one HERE). All in all I've used chia seeds in quite variety of ways, including adding it to my morning bowl of cereal. Personally I've only combined chia on my own to cocoa pebbles with some fruit, but I've never actually had a cereal with chia infused into the flakes. That is, until recently. As you know I'm rather fond of Trader Joe's and all it's uniquely scrumptious creations. Sometimes when they are joined together cohabiting in a mouthwatering dish and sometimes by themselves as they come. Well today is a review about a product that needs no real explanation as to what's inside - as the "name" blatantly tells you - but it also doesn't need anything added. I present to you all, the Trader Joe's "Organic Coconut Almond Chia Cereal". This mouth full - literally and figuratively - will run you $3.99 at your local Trader Joe's. It's meant to give you a sort of cluster cereal with flakes and a whole lot of healthy benefits. In case you don't know already, chia seeds are amazing and can provide a ton of health benefits. They deliver a massive amount of nutrition with very few calories, chia is loaded with antioxidants, and it's a great protein source. This is only a few of the awesome qualities chia seeds can say about itself - if it was able to that is - making it stupendous. It's also extremely easy to incorporate into your daily meals. Now that you've been given a brief description into why chia seeds are the bomb.com, let's get into the cereal review itself. I am a coconut fan, an almond fan, and a chia fan, so this entire mixture was a product made in heaven for someone like me. I was a bit concerned that it would be too overpowered with one of the tastes, but I can attest to that not being the case at all. Each bowl will have a lovely mixture of oat clusters, almond slivers, and the flakes infused with chia seeds. The oat clusters taste mostly of honey and molasses, in a reformed way, while the flakes themselves remind me of a honey/rice flavor. Also, I'd like to point out that when they said "organic", they meant "organic". In the ingredients section on the box, almost every single ingredient listed has the word "organic" in front of it. I eat mine with cold rice milk - no it's not Horchata and yes it's delicious, it's from Trader Joe's - which seems to bring out the richness of each item. The bran, almonds, coconut, and honey are a little more prominent when they are soaked in milky goodness. Of course I can't say what they'd taste like with regular ol' cow's milk - or any other milk for that matter - but I can say that without a doubt, this is my new favorite cereal. With each flavor working together to give you this healthy, almost "vanillay" taste, it makes me feel like I'm eating an overly priced breakfast bar - the one's that are decadent, but cost more than they should - without the extreme stickiness. The flakes aren't too grainy, the clusters aren't too tough, and the chia is hardly noticeable - which is how they are anyways - but the bowl as a whole is just what I need to start the day. It goes great with a cup of coffee (check out my morning coffee recommendation HERE) or hot tea, depending on your preference. It also makes for a scrumptious snack during the day, giving it a slightly "dryer" flavor, but still easily enjoyable. I would've liked a hint more of coconut to be perfectly honest, but I could see how quickly that could overwhelm the blend. If you want a sweet at night without too much regret, sprinkle a dash of extra organic cane sugar (I get mine from Trader Joe's as well) and you'll instantly ramp up your cereal into a sweet treat. Not too much, but just right. Of course it's no chocolate cake, but it will get you through a decent sweets craving. As a breakfast cereal I would rate it a 4.2 out of 5, only because I personally would've like vanilla chunks added as well (no I didn't mention them above, but now that I think about it, it would've been delicious). Overall it's a definite re-buy for me and a recommendation to you all. If you do decide to try out my newest find, be sure to snap a photo and tag me on social media or use #TWRC to be featured! Happy weekend everyone! Hopefully you guys have been staying warm, dry, and stress free. If not, go build a tent, eat something mouthwatering, watch a movie, or stay in bed until Monday comes. Whatever it takes to make you relax, you deserve it Jedi's!
Living alone can be a daunting task in itself, but when you're a single parent it can become down right terrifying. Like they say, the best way to face your fears is by diving right in and doing it in fear. That could not have been more true in this situation.
Now that my padawan is a little older and actually sleeps in his own bed, I've grown to thoroughly enjoy the peace and quiet that comes at night. No one but me, myself, and I to run rampant - quietly of course - throughout our home. Sometimes I walk through the hallway, stare at our couch, and peak out the windows to take in the countless blessings. I make sure to maintain humble and incredibly thankful, because I know it could all be gone in a second. When I'm not being so serious however, I tend to be a bit...silly. I'm free after all! I finally get time to myself and oh do I bask in that glory. Parents know all too well how magical it is when you get that mommy or daddy moment. You know, the point when you're "off" for the night - at least for the time being - and you can watch the murder shows, take a shower, eat your secret sweets, or do gosh darn anything you want. That's exactly what I do after my mini me is out for the night. Well, once I'm done with the blog. It's during these times that I get to really understand who I am as a person. Having silence and "me time" allows me to better reflect on issues at hand, release my feelings, or bring out the inner kid in me. The other day I was laughing at how incredibly silly I would look to anyone who saw what I was doing. Even thinking about it now makes me giggle, so much so that I knew I had to share with you all the activities I tend to partake in - adultish and childish - when my spawn has drifted into slumberland. 1. Play inside the tent I built - If I built a tent for my monster man to play in, you better believe it's going to be used when he's asleep. I pull my blankets, iPad, snacks, pillows, and drinks inside to indulge in Netflix in my newly proclaimed mini fort. No shame. 2. Take a bubble bath...with toys - Sometimes I run myself a nice hot bath, pour in the bubbles, put on a candle to have dim light, grab a drink of apple juice - because I don't drink drink - and have rubber ducky wars. My son and I go to the Farmer's Market every once in a while, where there is a stand that sells unique rubber duckies. Personally I have two that I adore and those two are the ones that are constantly battling for the rights to bubbletopia, that land of the free and sudsy. 3. Draw, journal, or color - In the past I've talked about how I destress (see that post HERE). One of the things I do consistently is journal (check out how to get started HERE) and another is adult coloring (see why I color HERE). Expressing my feelings in an artistic way, whether it be writing, doodling, or filling in blank space, gives me a sense of accomplishment. It also free's my mind in way and tends to turn off the non-stop hamster wheel turning in my head. Because I have to focus on what I'm doing, my mind has no time to speed think. This comes in handy especially when I've had a hectic day. 4. Act like I have my own YouTube show - Sometimes I walk around pretending to do tours or storytimes to an audience. I don't think I'd ever get in front of real camera nor would I attempt it (thanks anxiety), but it's really funny to pretend with different accents. I have "guest speakers" - me using a different accent - who come to talk about their hilarious moments in life. You know what they say, people who talk to themselves tend to be geniuses!
5. Eat the forbidden cake - I'm a sweets person. Always have been, most likely always will be. It's an extremely bad habit of mine and I actually want to cut down (I'll even be giving them up for lent this year...yay) but for now my plan isn't working. The moment my little angel rests his weary head on that fluffy overpriced pillow, I speed walk to the fridge and devour the slice of sweet goodness that's been carefully hidden behind the "nasty juice" (blood orange and ginger juice) and coffee cans. I know I shouldn't eat it. I know it's bad for me. I know I have to watch my portions. I know I shouldn't eat after a certain time. I also know I'm going to do it anyways, sometimes in the tent I mentioned earlier. 6. Play detective - This time I don't mean literally as in Murder She Wrote the show, books, or Nancy Drew (simply click each link to view my post about each of them). No what I mean is I'm metiche to the max! That means nosy. I tend to secretly peak out of the window and watch the world go by - I don't want anyone knowing I'm watching. I listen to hear any ruckus, check out the stars, and keep a curious eye open. I know they say curiosity killed the cat, but I can't help it. I want to know what's going on around my neighborhood and who I'm dealing with close by. Don't get me wrong, I don't meddle into anyone's personal business, I'm just the queen of knowing what's happening. Most of the time though, I make up stories about the "passerbyers" and how their lives might be from day to day. It's like a mini show inside my head. I swear I'm not crazy. 7. Laugh at the hilariousness that surely ensued throughout the day - Let's be honest here alright. Our kids drive us bananas, we are overworked, everyday something bad happens (broken toys, spilled drinks, bumped on the pinky toe, etc.), and when it comes bedtime, you can't help but freaking laugh at all the crap that went on. For example, today we built a tent and the chairs got knocked over on my head, because an overly zealous child of mine decided he HAD to test the strength. Was I upset when it happened? Uh yea! It freaking hurt! Did I yell? No, but I gave a stern look and told him I was about to tear down the frustrating monstrosity. Did I laugh about it when he fell asleep? Heck yeah I did. Come on, how is it not funny to be on your hands and knees, securing a sheet over your kitchen chairs, only to be knocked over the head by a timbering chair behind you, that has a Spongebob sheet hanging from it?! Good times, good times. 8. Play video games - I don't play my Nancy Drew computer games without my young padawan, but I do dabble in 007 and Call of Duty on the Playstation. When you've had a stressful day - regardless how big or small - and you just want to let out all the aggression you've been holding in, nothing makes you feel better than shooting a bunch of zombies or going full stealth mode as the king of stealth himself. Perhaps they're a bit old, but you can never get sick of just pressing buttons and whispering profanities at the walking dead coming towards you. I surely do quite a few other things throughout my nightly escapades at home: dancing like a poor sap that's had too many to drink, pretending I'm a black belt, attempting Yoga, trying on all of outfits, playing with hairstyles, watch YouTube videos, catch up on my old shows, read. The thing is though, they aren't all as...unique-ish as the ones I've mentioned. At least in my opinion. Perhaps some are more commonly known and "practiced" by fellow parents - or single dwellers alike - but to me it's quite comical to think of myself as this lone wolf in her living room busting out McJagger moves like nobodies business. It's one of the reasons I'm embracing the single life, because if I had a significant other I feel like I might be put on social media or YouTube for the senseless violence I bestow on a good slice of cake. Heck, even a burrito isn't safe from my clutches after 8pm. While I don't see myself as this comedic human being that could have her own show of hilarious jokes and sound affects (Gabriel Iglesias anyone? Man I love that guy), I do think that my way of just being me is certainly one for the books. I struggle with being a single mom and I struggle living alone, but instead of living in fear, I do it in fear.
Aloe Vera has long been the go-to product for sunburns. It's infamous in this nature and since I was little, I can remember the smell of aloe on my skin after a day of fun in the sun - and from being stubborn and not putting on enough sunblock. What I didn't know until I was a little older, is that Aloe Vera is for much more than just a red payback from the sun. In fact, it's got almost every beauty regimen and health benefit covered! Personally I prefer pure Aloe from the plant, but it isn't always readily available and I've found that the gel itself can supply a lot of the same benefits. For those of you wondering where to get pure Aloe Vera, you can go to a health food store - Sprouts for example - and some will have the actual leaves or the plant itself. They are both relatively cheap in price and it's been said that you can regrow an Aloe Vera plant by simply using the leaf itself, but that's for another post. Today I'm going to bring you into the health world of Aloe Vera and the amazing remedies it can provide. Now these are the ones I've personally tried - because why would I recommend something I can't attest to - but there are other supposed remedies out there. I will make a small list of those I haven't tried, but I won't be going into detail since I don't know the actual outcome. So let's get started. First, let's talk about the things I've used Aloe Vera for, successfully:
1. Acne and Bacne: Even in my adult years I struggle with acne. Most of the times I can keep it under control with a few key ingredients (check out my acne routine HERE), but I still do experience the occasional flareups. I've also struggled with maintaining a good hormonal balance, which can cause acne to flareup in a massive way. Luckily Aloe Vera has been a lifesaver when it comes to dry, red, aching, agitated skin. For the best result, I highly recommend using the gel from the actual plant, but Aloe Vera gel from the stores can work wonders as well. Just make sure you don't get something with crazy additives. Health food stores can come in handy here as well, but I purchased mine from Target in the brand, "Up & Up". 2. Dark Under Eye Circles: In the past I discussed a product I found for extremely cheap, that has the soul purpose of helping the under eyes in a multitude of ways (see that post HERE). One of the ingredients in that product was indeed Aloe Vera. After a little research, I found that if you apply pure gel from the leaves, your under eyes will [supposedly] be brightened and the dark appearance (parenting and insomnia's lovely gift) will gradually go down. I've been using the gel and while I still use my other product (see HERE) for morning puffiness, I do use the gel for nighttime. I've seen an improvement in the overall deepness of purple, but I will admit I still have dark under eyes. Albeit not as bad as before, but I wanted to include a full disclaimer. 3. Moisturizer: This goes with the whole concept of "sunburn remedy". Aloe Vera puts moisture into your skin, giving it that refreshed feeling - hence why we put it on painful burns. The best part is you don't need aching skin to feel rejuvenated. I personally use this every day and even my tattoos look hydrated. The best part is, once everything is dry - yes it can be tacky for a little bit until it's fully soaked in - you won't be left with any crazy scent or greasy feeling. Simply a smooth, polished feel for seemingly dull skin. You can use it on the face as well! 4. After Shave: This is for the females AND males. I know that with my skin it tends to be extremely sensitive after shaving my legs, even with the most expensive shaving creams and razors out there. No matter what I do, I just can't seem to get a nice smooth after effect and it drives me bonkers. Well that is, until I started applying Aloe Vera onto my freshly shaved legs. Not only does it NOT sting, but again it's utterly refreshing. The best part isn't the instant sensation of "ahh", it's the fact that I have ZERO razor burn when I use the Aloe Vera! I was in shock when I didn't have the burning pain or frustrating bumps, even after using a cheap razor and cheap shaving cream. Thank you Aloe!!! These are the remedies I've used so far, but this isn't the extensive list on the possibilities Aloe can provide. I do plan on continuing to try some if not most of these (when I do I'll update the post) but for now I'm going just going to make a quick list of what you can reportedly use Aloe for as well. In case you want to try them for yourselves. P.S. if you do, let me know and I'll include your testimony in this post! - leave-in conditioner (supposedly helps it grow) - hair gel - brow gel - detox - makeup setting spray - primer - eyelash conditioner (supposedly helps them grow) - toner (falls into the category of moisturizer though) - anti-inflammatory (when drank) - stretch mark cure - acid reflux cure (when drank) - moisturizing shampoo (when mixed with Castile soap) Like I've said, I haven't tried these and there are actually quite a few other claims from Aloe Vera benefits (mostly when you drink it), but I do intend to at least sample a few of these down the road. For now though, I'm already pleased with the results my cheap remedy has provided me. What are you favorite ways to use Aloe Vera? Any that aren't mentioned here? Let me know in the comments section, an email, or on social media, and I will include your message here (with credit of course)! Happy Wednesday Jedi's!
I am an avid "seamstress" when it comes to DIY projects. I may not be an expert, nor am I at the level of "I made this entire dress", but I'm slowly gaining new skills. That being said, I'm also short. This means that 9 out of 10 times I'm struggling with the idea of jeans. First off, jeans are an evil in this world and I've come to fully accept that. They are either: - too tight in the thigh region but fit my waist - perfect fitting in my thighs but too big in the waist - a combination of being a perfect thigh fit and big in the waist, while being incredibly long They aren't the most comfortable things in the entire world, they drive me bonkers, I'm constantly having to wear a belt, and they're expensive. And you wonder why I'm a "sweats and leggings" kind of girl. That isn't to say I don't like jeans. They can be form fitting, compliment a nice outfit, and lead you to looking presentable - sweats aren't necessarily "good fashion" at church or a nice dinner. My big rule when it comes to jeans though - besides trying to find a fit that isn't too off - is the price. I refuse to pay full price for any pair of jeans, when Goodwill has hundreds I can feel guilt-free about altering. A while back I wrote a post about some thrift jeans I had scored on (see that post HERE). They were a huge hit for me - normally over $100 brand new - so I immediately scooped them up. For the most part they fit, but I was left with the latter of my dilemma's: too long. I struggled for a while trying to decide weather or not I'd just keep them as "roll up the ends" pants or truly attempt to hem them. I knew immediately I wouldn't be paying ANYONE to hem them, but I wasn't completely confident in doing it myself. Well after a few months of talking myself up and coming to the conclusion that I could always rip out the seams (so long as I didn't cut any fabric) and return them to their natural state without much harm at all. Can you guess what I tackled today? That's right, I hemmed my own gosh darn jeans and guess what?! It turned out fantabulous and I couldn't be any prouder of myself! Seeing how incredibly easy it was to make this transformation, I knew I had to share this quick and easy tip for you guys! So here it is: how to hem your pants quick, easy, and painless. First you'll need: - a sewing machine (you could do this by hand, but it's a tad easier with a machine) - thread - needle - stitch ripper - pins or clips (something to hold the fabric in place) - measuring tape - scissors - iron - jeans Directions:
1. Put your pants on and fold your pants upwards to make a big cuff (don't fold it multiple times, only once) and measure how much you're wanting to "remove". Make sure you add about 1/4 inch more than what you think, to give yourself enough wiggle room. TRUST ME. 2. Clip the cuff - or pin carefully - all the way around, holding the pant leg in place while you remove the culprits.
3. Making sure that the seams are aligned and your machine - or needle and thread - is ready to go, put your jeans underneath your needle - if using a machine - and begin sewing AS CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL SEAM AS POSSIBLE. This will hide the new seam with the original Now, if you look closely at the pictures, you'll see that it looks like I'm pretty much just sewing the cuff in place. That's exactly what I'm doing. Just go with it and you'll see why in a second. 4. Once you got your first "cuff" sewn in place, try on the pants and push the cuff portion inside. Well look at that, you can't even tell now can you?!
5. When you're happy with your new hem - and it's length - repeat steps 1 through 4 for the other side.
6. With both hems complete, go ahead and CAREFULLY cut off the cuff. I repeat, be careful! You want to cut close to the new seam you've just sewn, but be aware that if you cut the actual seam it can all fall apart. 7. With the fabric disposed of, fold your new seam outwards - how it should look normally - and iron them down flat. This will help the seam to fold over, "seamlessly". See what I did there?
Ta-da!!! Congratulations, you've just hemmed your own jeans!!! How awesome do they look and how proud are you of yourself right now? The best part is like I mentioned before, if you mess up (before actually cutting off the fabric), you can use your stitch ripper and remove the stitches to re-do them. It actually took me two tries to complete this, as I went a little too far from the original hem. After sewing practically on the edge of the original seam, I found that it's practically invisible to the naked eye. With my new found beauties and new found skill, I'm way more confident and feel like a whole new world has just opened up for me. I'm now able to extend my jean journey and if they're too long, I know how to whip those bad boys into shape. And now you can too! It's amazing how a little time, patience, and "pinteresting" (I found this trick on Pinterest, but had to try it out for myself) can lead to great success! All I can say now is, get out there and fix those once frustratingly long jeans Jedis! May the force - and needle - be with you all.
Happy Monday fellow Jedi's! I would like to report that I am finally starting to feel like myself again and in honor of such, I will be starting this week off with a book review that I've been anticipating on writing, since the moment I bought this beautiful find! If you're unaware, I am a bit of a mystery fanatic. I rather enjoy the older, "classic" styled mysteries, particularly "Nancy Drew" and "Murder She Wrote". I've been rather fond of these two "storylines" for quite some time, but it's recently come to my attention that "Murder She Wrote" wasn't just for TV lovers. They have books as well! I know they've been out for quite some time now and have a semi-extensive collection of stories, but to my shock I had never heard of them before! It was only during an impromptu trip to our local Barnes and Noble, that I came across the series in the mystery section. You can imagine my heartbreak when I had come to the realization I had gone the entirety of my life (the first book was released in 1989) without so much as one peak into the readings of Jessica Fletcher. Yes I'm aware Jessica Fletcher is a fictional character and the books aren't REALLY written by her (or Angela Lansbury for that matter), but they are inspired by the wondrous character and therefore will more than suffice! They also correlate with the show and stick the characters I've grown to love on the screen as well. I immediately picked up the newest release, "Hook, Line, and Murder" and dove right in.
Last week you may have seen that in my "Morning Routine" post, I had disclosed a sneak peak into what book I'd been reading. Well now that I've officially finished, I can give my honest opinion. First off, I will not be including any spoilers that you wouldn't read on the back of the book jacket. Nor will I be giving any "hints", so don't worry about the book being ruined for you as a potential read. Now that that's out of the way, let's get into it. If you are familiar with "Murder She Wrote", it's about this jaunty woman who starts writing about murder on [sort of] a whim. Throughout her research and keen intuition, she soon finds herself helping detectives and authority figures alike, to solve complicated - even the seemingly simple - real life murders. The best part about the TV show, is that everything is laid out for you as the audience, to come to the same realization that Mrs. Fletcher has and "catch" the culprit. It's not too far fetched, nor is it extremely easy either. The perfect mix of a "Who Dun It?!" if you ask me. With the books, I was curious to see if the style reigned just as intriguing as the show itself. I was also a bit concerned that perhaps her books would be similar in style to that of Agatha Christie (see that book review HERE), although I don't necessarily think her books are of poor quality. I am happy to announce that the style is none in comparison to Agatha Christie, but identical to the show. I can't even begin to describe how exhilarating it was for me to realize that my favorite TV show was practically in book form, with new stories (and mysteries) still being written. This particular story is about a fishing derby that takes place in ol' Cabot Cove, Maine. Mrs. Fletcher has decided to take part in this event and had even booked a week in a cabin, so she could continue working on her current novel in peace. That's when Sheriff Metzger's wife, Maureen, sort of gets thrown into the mix - thanks Seth - but this doesn't deter Mrs. Fletcher. It simply sets things a little out of plan. While this normally joyous derby is set to take place, the town is a bit on edge with the news of a convicted killer has escaped from prison and is set to take revenge on those involved in his conviction. The mayor of course tries to set everyone at ease and even the sheriff reassures them that a few of the deputies will be taking part in the derby as well, meaning they will be as safe as ever. The big league authorities have even said that their search is far from Cabot Cove for the infamous murderer, as he's supposedly on the outskirts of Canada, if not IN Canada. With her determination and consistent positive attitude, Mrs. Fletcher - and now Mrs. Metzger - set off for a weekend of fly fishing. The only problem is, their fishing guide turns out to be someone no one expected, the murderers supposed accomplish. At first it's slightly alarming, but with this ex-con's exonerated past, the girls put aside their initial thoughts and go on with the intended plans. That is until a very important person in the "Grocery Killer's" case winds up dead and Mrs. Metzger goes missing! I for one found that this read kept me nose deep in the book the entire time, doing my best to gather my own clues and come to the conclusion on who was filled with deceit and what happened to poor Mrs. Metzger. I didn't feel confused, bewildered, or frustrated at all, which can be a common occurrence with mystery novels. Sometimes you feel flustered that you aren't able to solve the mystery along with the detective - or novelist in this case - and you just don't understand how they could have possibly thought you'd come to the same conclusion, if you weren't given all the facts yourself! Trust me, this has happened a few times in my days, where I think, "And how was I supposed to know that if you didn't tell me?!". Thankfully, that doesn't happen AT ALL. The flow throughout is very easy going, making for a pleasant read. It's one of the key reason's I chose to read this book in the morning during my cup of coffee AND at night after the day is set and done. A light read or a page turner, you can decide. Personally, I had to force myself to put the book down in order to get some shut eye. Which tells you just how indulged I truly became with this book. You may be thinking I'm partially biased towards this series, as I'm a MSW fanatic. On the contrary, I'm very critical. I hold MSW with such high esteem, that anything portraying the show - even the creators themselves - must be highly superb as well. To me, I picked through every single page looking for something that didn't give me the same sensation as when I was entranced by Jessica on the screen and to be quite frank, I was ready to be excruciatingly harsh. The thing was, there was nothing to criticize about. Same characters, same flow, same gravitating effect, same style, same love from me. I highly recommend this book and now that I have a second novel to read in the series (thanks Mom and Stepdad!) I will have another book review to give you all very soon. You never know, perhaps this book is a gem in the midst of dust, but all I can say for sure is that "Hook, Line, and Murder" had me hooked ti'll the last line.
In yesterday's post I had mentioned a new coffee that I have been sipping the past few mornings. While I'm still madly in love with the seasonal coffee I reviewed a while back, I've been doing my best to ration each portion and in doing so I had gone out to seek a new caffeine addition to sip on the casual days. After my weekly visit to Trader Joe's, I browsed through every coffee my beloved preferred grocery store had to offer and came across a coffee that not only had me intrigued, but left me giggling like a little girl gossiping about cute boys. There was this adorable little "catchphrase" of sorts on the back that said, "Great coffee is a matter of a pinon!". Hence the title of this post. With it's red and yellow logo blaring me in the face, I decided to pick up the 16 oz. medium roast blended coffee called, "New Mexico Pinon Coffee". I need to mention before I go any further, that this particular coffee is not a Trader Joe's trademark coffee. In fact, "New Mexico Pinon Coffee" actually is a separate company that supplies this particular coffee in almost all grocery stores in New Mexico, Costco Colorado, and every Trader Joe's nationwide. Prices however, vastly differ between their online store and grocers (at least from what I've personally experienced). This coffee is a pine nut blend involving pinon nuts and arabica beans, slow-roasted. The smell reminds me of a smoother version of Folger's (no offense) with a hint of nuttiness, which is to be expected seeing as how it's a nut coffee. The taste is very creamy in the sense that you don't have a very strong sense of bitterness. It is a medium roast, so that's mildly to be expected, but personally I've found that even medium coffee's can have an bitter after effect on my stomach. That was not the case with this one. With it's low acidic "behavior", I'm able to drink my coffee without feeling too wired, but just enough to push through the morning exhaustion. With my creamer, I feel it has velvety feel from mouth to stomach, making it an excellent pair for a wide variety of breakfast meals. I include this statement, because I often feel that certain coffees just don't play well with hearty breakfast meals - i.e. eggs and bacon. This particular coffee however, was splendidly playful and didn't leave me having to cleanse my pallet after each bite of egg. The best part about this coffee, is the fact that it can be altered to your specific needs. If you wish to have a sweeter coffee, extra creamer or sugar would suffice along with a splash of ice cream or chocolate. If you prefer it to be a tarter blend, no creamer and a hint of sugar will do you justice. I don't HIGHLY recommend this for extreme strong blended coffee lovers, but if you were to doubly up on the grinds during your coffee making process, you may be pleasantly surprised on how well it will help you "cope". I for one can enjoy this coffee all throughout the day - again, without the jitters or extreme downfalls as the day progresses - with a breakfast of champions or even a pastry of my choosing, like I did yesterday. That alone makes this coffee an excellent to (I think) anyone's coffee collection. Perhaps for a mid day pick me up, an afternoon outing with the kiddos, or simply a breakfast beverage for all your flavor cravings. I would rate this coffee a 4.7 out of 5, as it's not the PERFECT cup - although it's certainly up there as you can see - but it's worth repurchasing time and time again! Happy Friday Jedi's! I know this week has been all over the place and I myself have felt jumbled in more than one way - don't worry, I see it too. I'm hoping that after this gathering my composure and realigning my goals for this coming week will help to boost my momentum internally. I don't know why I've exactly felt "off", but I'm working on it. I'm planning on staying indoors - we're in the midst of three winter storms pouring on us, catching up on my reading, and enjoying the company of my padawan. Arts and crafts, video games, good food, and relaxation. Just what I need for a weekend of peace. What do you guys have planned for the weekend? Perhaps picking up this wonderfully decadent coffee blend? If you do - or don't - share your pics with me on social media and tag me! I'd love to see you beautiful people living it up. Have a wonderful weekend and remember to stay safe! Much love to you all.
Some people can naturally wake up at the crack of dawn, without any sort of repercussions on those around them through their attitudes. Some people are night owls and prefer to sleep in until lunch time has arrived. Some people have no choice and must wake up at a decently early time - 7 am to be exact - in order to start the day with their padawan's as alarm clocks. I am the latter. Every day, weekend or not, my little mini me has this internal clock that tells him to wake up at 7 am - or close to it - bright eyed and bushy tailed. This is mostly because his bedtime is 8 pm and most nights he sticks to that time frame. I know that waking up at 7 am is partly my "fault", because of the bedtime, but I'd rather he get plenty of sleep and I chug coffee, than to deal with a grumpy 5 year old all day long. I'll pass, thanks. In order to suffice in the mothering department all day long, I've decided to take care of myself and put aside a little time in the mornings, as a little "salutation" to myself. Like they say, whatever good the mother does for herself, is good for the kids. After rising to the sound of "Good Morning Mommy!" 4 millimeters from my face, I greet my padawan with a warm hug and proceed to start the coffee making process (see that post HERE). For the last few weeks I've been loving a new blend of coffee that I found at Trader Joe's. That's not to say that I don't still sip on my "Wintry Blend" coffee I bragged about a while back (see that post HERE), but seeing as how it's a seasonal item, I've been drinking it sparingly. As for my new secret coffee, I won't be going into too much detail, because it's a special review I plan on doing tomorrow (so check back!). I am one of those people who can't just have coffee, I have to eat something with it as well or else I get too jittery, regardless of it's strength. So while my padawan is eating his breakfast of the day - which I've prepared during the coffee making process - I enjoy my pastry or breakfast of choice with my coffee and often a nice book. My son does the same. He's following in my footsteps by grabbing a book he can read and sits down next time eating his breakfast, while reading his book for the day. Currently I'm reading a book from the "Murder She Wrote" series (see a post about MSW HERE) called "Hook, Line, and Murder". I won't be going into too much detail about this book in today's post either, as it's a future review I'll be sharing with you all (again, check back!).
Once we've both had our fill of deliciousness, it's time to start my son's homeschooling - on the weekdays of course. We have a few different ways to go about our lessons for the day, but today's was all about the solar system. This required him watching a short video on a really cool website called "Brain Pop", that teaches him about each planet and key facts that help to distinguish each one. After he watches the video, he was given a worksheet to color in the planets and write down a fact about each one, to then re-create a solar system himself. After the project was completed, he was then given very few worksheets in his Brain Quest (yes that's a 1st grade book, he's already completed the Kindergarten level) and discusses with me what he's learned during his school process. During the times when I don't have to be precisely watching him - for example, while he watches the video or colors his solar system - I tend to myself in order to freshen up and feel human again. With caffeine in me and a little sprucing of my natural beauty, I can truly tackle the entire day. My "morning beauty routine" mainly consists of basics. Brushing my teeth, flossing, mouth wash (not shown, but it's Listerine), putting in my contacts (I'm as blind as bath without them, but I wear my glasses prior to putting them in in the morning), and washing my face with my daily skin refreshing apricot scrub. A quick thing about my face scrub: this particular brand (Up & Up by Target) is not the brand that was in the news semi-recently regarding shells of almonds (I think) being inside the scrub and causing minor cuts on the face. I won't name the actual brand, but I will say that I prefer this brand over any other, as it's never broken me out or caused any sort of skin issues. It's gentle enough (at least for me) to be used daily and it truly does refresh my skin in the morning. I go from dull to lively after rinsing (you can see a whole review about it HERE). Once everything is prepped, I normally go in with a moisturizer of some kind. Some days I use Aloe Vera to calm any redness, then - depending on the weather and my daily activities - I will use Pond's skin cream during the winter months (which you can see HERE) or the Trader Joe's face lotion (you can see that post HERE) during the hotter months. Both give me excellent moisture and both help rejuvenate my face, making me go from "zombie mom" to "back from the dead mom". On the weekends when my son isn't doing schooling, he gets a little time to watch one of his favorite YouTube family, "The Hobby Kids". When all is done with my routine and my padawan has finished his schooling, we normally alternate between what goes on from this point out. Some days we go on adventures, some days I clean up while my little guy helps or plays with his toys, some days we just relax in each other's presence. No matter what happens we are able to fully tackle the days tasks, because we were able to take some time for ourselves. Personally, I've grown to understand that I need to take care of myself along with my padawan. I feel that this is a very important topic that mothers and fathers need to learn. While it's amazing to tend to your children's needs at all hours of the day, you NEED to take care of yourself as well. Your mental well being depends on how you treat yourself and being around the kiddos 24/7 (like I often am) still means you need to do things for you. Being a little selfish - like taking 10 minutes for yourself in the bathroom to wash up - isn't a bad thing, it's encouraged. Everyone deserves to pamper themselves however they see fit. Everyone - including parents - need to have a moment of "I got this". Whether it's putting on a face of makeup, doing your hair, wearing that new jacket you just got, or simply washing your face with your favorite scrub, you deserve it. Hell, you earned it! So remember Jedi's, pamper yourself to defeat the Sith's! Or just get groceries, whichever comes your way.
Seeing as how yesterday I wasn't clear minded to be able to share with you all my intended blog post idea for the day, I am moving forward with that idea today. The post idea I'm talking about is hair. Hair is something many of us are blessed to have on our heads and while each individual person may have a unique type of hair, but in the general midst of things certain products can help a wide array of hair types. Unfortunately I'm not blessed with gorgeous African American hair, so I'm not able to for sure say if these products would work on their natural beauty, but if they do (perhaps you've tried before) please let me know. I would love to add that memo into this post. In prior posts I've discussed hair in a few different areas (Beauty and Hair Picks, Dying My Hair, Hair Renewal, Blow Dryer Review) but I've never gone into detail about how I personally care for my hair or how I deal with greasy hair or what I use to protect against heat. Well that all changes today, because I'm going to share my go-to products for my every day hair styles.
First let's talk about heat protection. One of thee most important parts of styling your hair is making sure that you don't damage it during the process. While there are many different heat resistant products you could choose from, I've found that the TRESemme heat protection spray is the one that keeps my hair from having too much build up or excess frizz from being fried. You can find this at a wide variety of stores - Ralphs, Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. - for approximately $4. It's a very light spray that gives excellent coverage and easily applies to your hair. Simply spritz all over lightly on damp - or even dry - hair to give you a sort of "barrier" between your hair and any heat it may come in contact with. One thing I'd like to add, is that you should apply this BEFORE blow drying your hair. I've seen numerous people spray this on after blow drying, but before straightening or curling. While it's great they protected their hair from the straightener or curler, the blow dryer can still damage your hair. I recommend flipping your hair upside down and trying to get it all over your precious locks.
Now let's talk about styling and leave-in conditioners. Hair can get dry and damaged after bleaching - like I've done - and through everyday wear and tear (for example, if you blow dry it everyday). That's why it's important to not only apply a heat protection spray, but to give it a little extra loving on ALL days. Regardless if you're using styling tools or not, you should look into using a leave-in conditioner. Leave-in Conditioners are a personal choice, as it really depends on what you're looking for. Personally I choose to go with an Argan Oil Strength and Shine Leave-In conditioner, as it gives my hair the shiny look. The key to using this product (or any kind of leave in conditioner) is to try and not apply too much (or any) to the roots. It can lead to too much build up with your natural oils, giving you a greasy look. Speaking of greasy looks, my hair likes to build up on grease if I don't wash it every single day. I do know however, that washing my hair every day isn't necessarily a good thing. Your hair needs a break and to revel in it's own oily glory. Of course we may not like the "slick" look, but that's why they made dry shampoo! I've recently-ish discovered this awesome glory, but after trial and error, I've come to realize that not all dry shampoos are the same. Some leave me looking like I've aged tremendously, smell horribly, stiffen my hair, or don't combat the oils at all. I'm happy to say however, that I've found one particular dry shampoo that works wonders and doesn't really have any downfalls that I've discovered...and I've been using it for a little while now. It's called "Clean Freak" by the brand Not Your Mother's. The smell is subtle, the powder is soft, and the oil is fought. Mission accomplished. All you need to do is shake the bottle, spray (not too closely), perhaps brush through (if you've sprayed too much or too close), and watch your hair be revamped. A big thing for me is that my scalp tens to itch like crazy if I allow the oils to overwhelm my scalp, but with this particular dry shampoo I don't scratch until I bleed anymore. Yes that's actually happened. Some day's I don't want straight hair and want my naturally wavy hair to shine. That's when I whip out my curl defining mousse. Now, I won't be giving a huge review on this one, because it's not my favorite. If I put just a tad too much, I'm left with a crunchy mess that I don't exactly favor. I don't HATE it, but I don't love it. If you have any recommendations, please let me know! As for hairspray, I'm not a fan of stiff hair - hence my comment above - which is why my number one choice for hairspray is Aussie's Mega Hairspray is level 1. It holds whatever look I have going, without making me look like I have a fried poodle on my head. The smells is subtle, yet nice. It doesn't wreak and the quantity is astounding for the price in my eyes (around $3).
Lastly, let's talk about the end.
If you want smooth, sleek, silky locks in the end, you can apply a VERY small amount of oil to the ends of your hair. My go-to is the Chi brand Silk Infusion. While a little goes a LONG way, I don't feel it's a touchy product that could easily overpower a look. Obviously don't go crazy and pour it all over your head, but applying a little can give you a glistening style sure to turn heads. Added bonus: The Chi Silk Infusion can also be used as a pre-styling product and helps protect your hair from heat as well. There you have it guys. My top go-to products. Some may stick around during the test of time, while others may change, but as of now these are the products I've chosen to keep my hair strong and healthy. If you find other options that you think I should try or could be better suited, please let me know! I'd love to try them out and either add to this post or create an updated one in the future. Happy Wednesday Jedi's and may the force be with you all.
As kids we were often told that going to sleep early was important for our mental state and health. We were most likely given a reasonable (to the parents) bedtime, so we would get ample amount of rest for school the next day. We were also probably hiding under the covers reading, trying to watch videos, or secretly staying awake late. This often led us to feel groggy in the morning, but it probably never hindered your wanting to repeat the same process the following night. 
