Entre Nous.

#inspo

I used to abhor self help books solely based on a scene from Bridget Jones's Diary. You know the scene, right? The sad singleton on her silly quest for self improvement. I've come to realize, I was the silly one. Now though in regards to those self help books, I'm all about "bring them on" and "the more the merrier". Right now I'm devouring Gabby Bernstein's Judgment Detox.

Aside from books though, I've discovered the abundance of self improvement videos on YouTube. My friend Gretchen actually turned me on this girl in Sweden named Jenny Mustard. A minimalist vegan, she's about as polar opposite from me as you can get. Despite that though, she's become my go to girl for life inspiration. Her videos are concise and directly to the point. You get impactful messages in quick snippets. 

This is definitely the part of the year where I'm craving all the things to help me stay motivated. So if you have any book, podcast, YouTube videos to recommend to keep me on track, I'm all ears.

That Was Then This Is Meow

At the start of a new year I compile an anthem, motto, and a word of intention. Collectively these help me stay focused on the goal of the year, which is to strive to be the best version of myself. For myself.

Anthem: Of course it has to be a song by Dolly, Put a Little Love in Your Heart

The world really would be a better place if we all listened to this at the start of each day.

Quote: So the adventure begins

I'm open to whatever life brings my way this year, knowing that if it's something that makes me feel uncomfortable then it's because it's a lesson I need to learn. This is me being completely out of my comfort zone, but trusting that there's an ultimate plan for my life and I need to go along for the adventure.

Word: Curate

EVERYTHING in my life if it isn't beloved or does not contribute to my life in a productive way is getting cut.

What about you, do you come up with something similar at the start of a new year?

As the World Turns

Time to go hibernate. Mercury is officially in retrograde from January 5th - 25th. Take a cue from Gala Darling on how to make the most of this tumultuous time.

Pure Bliss

  

Several weeks ago I was given the opportunity to try a complimentary facial at Skoah, a spa in Seattle. To say that my face was in dire need of some attention is the understatement of the year. My face has been sorely neglected of late. What with an impending move and a bit of travel, my skin care routine had been reduced to remembering to cleanse my face at night.

Skoah was launched in Vancouver, but has expanded south of the border to include spas in Seattle as well as Boston. They promote their skin care as "personal training for your skin". Which is a novel way to think of skin care, yet makes perfect sense. Skoah is changing the way people think of skin care one facial at a time. According to their core beliefs, facials are "not a guilty pleasure, sporadic indulgence or beauty treatment. Just like your body, your skin needs regular workouts to stay healthy and look it's best." Brilliant.

 

The facial I received was "Fitskin", part of their Kore facial line. Awaiting me in the room was a personalized note and a tube of Skoah's Lip Love in Mint. Such a lovely and thoughtful touch at the start of a pampering treatment. This particular facial included toning, exfoliating, treating and hydrating, along with an arm and hand massage. The lovely esthetician also performed a few extractions.

Skoah products, produced in Vancouver, blend the best of science and nature. They use high-quality, highly-refined lipids and oils such as olive oil, shea butter and coconut oils. As well, they use sulphate-free cleansers in their face, body, and hair products. Most importantly Skoah does not test on animals.

The standout products that made the biggest impression were the Boost Serum, the Gold Serum, and the Dewlux Face Kream 30. The facial ended with the Dewlux moisturizer and it smells just like bubble gum. Which instantly had me coveting a jar. Not only does it contain SPF 30, a must, it also absorbs quickly and doesn't feel weighty on your skin. I'm uber particular about using non heavy products, and this moisturizer is perfection.

If you don't live near a Skoah spa, then try an array of their products via a travel kit. If you do live near a Skoah, go make yourself an appointment for a facial or two, or membership for that matter.

Detox Schmetox

Yesterday was the finale of my 12 day Wild Rose Detox. The Wild Rose Herbal D-Tox was created by a Clinical Herbalist Dr.Terry Willard, Ph.D and is designed to give your body a ‘complete detoxification of the liver, colon, kidneys, and lymphatic system.’

Since mid April I've been living sans sugar, but I was looking for another way to incorporate a cleaner way of eating overall. When I confided this in my friend Phaedra, she suggested the Wild Rose Detox, which she had done in the past with stunning results.

What can you eat? A diet heavy on most vegetables (with the exception of mushrooms), some fruits (apples, berries, stone fruits), lean meats, unsweetened almond milk, tahini, eggs, coffee, beans, whole grains, and almonds. You also consume three varieties of herbal tablets and an herbal-extract tincture that are to be taken twice daily. What can’t you eat? Basically no dairy, sugar, flour products, or alcohol. Oh, but you can have butter, which seemed rather odd. But hallelujah for butter. 

There were certainly some highs and lows throughout the 12 days. There were moments of "I could eat this way indefinitely" followed by "I'd kill for a diet coke". My savior during the moments of challenge was almond butter. I slathered it on rice cakes, put it in my cereal, and even ate it straight out of the jar. What also helps the cravings is when you realize you can eat as much as you want of the approved food, within reason. I did slip and have a Diet Coke or two over the 12 days. I also will admit that I made a list of everything I want to devour once the cleanse was over, namely CAKE.

Now that the detox is over, I do feel healthier and less lethargic. I also lost ten pounds, just in time for my Birthday. It helps to go into this detox with another person, for moral support. My friend Phaedra steered me towards recipes and kept checking in on me throughout the process. Now that it's come to an end, I could definitely see myself incorporating the detox into my life once every season

Tips:

• I read online that if you put the herbal liquid into a shot glass of cold water it’s much easier to take. Of course I read this after the detox was completed.
• Almond butter will become your best friend.
• Drink a LOT of water. I probably didn't drink as much as I should have.
• I’d recommend preparing ahead of time by stocking up with the right food and recipes. Though the detox does come with a list of acceptable foods to consume, it took a bit of online research to find some palatable recipes. 
• I’d also suggest not doing the cleanse when you have any social obligations.
• I LOVED drinking my coffee with almond milk. Though I still prefer cream and sugar, I might save those for weekends only.
• Treat yourself during this time. I made sure I had a house full of flowers and indulged in some leisurely baths.