"Fashion is the physical manifestation of who you are"

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Fitness | The Truth about Detoxing


So there's been a lot of talk going around about detoxing, or some juice cleanses. But what's the truth? Does it really work? And what's it like to spend days only imbibing juices? 


Here's the skinny: 
  • Cons:
    • Cleanses are a bit pricey. If you're in a pinch, then now might not be the best time to splurge on buying the components to a cleanse. On average they can cost anywhere from $45 per day to $75 per day. Instead you might want to consider produce from a local farmer's market and try juicing yourself. 
    • Bottled juice cleanses have a ton of sugar in them, according toEveryday Health,. Although fresh fruit juice is natural, it will still send your energy levels soaring. This is why most people on a juice cleanse tend to crash in the late afternoon. Having a protein drink will help regulate your blood sugar, but it is still not healthy to have this much sugar.
    • Working out is difficult. It's difficult to get your cardio fix because of the energy is just not there. It's also difficult to get back into regular workout routine after the cleanse, because of the lack of strength. 
    • Cleansing is not a solution for long-term weight loss. If you are looking to shed a few pounds permanently, then a juice cleanse is not the answer. Drinking juice all day might help you to loose some water weight, according to The Huffington Post, but you might gain those pounds back post-cleanse when your body starts retaining calories from solid food again. 
    • Pros:
      • You will definitely feel hydrated!  Most people when not drinking their cleanse, are guzzling the good stuff -- being water! Make it a goal to finish a 1.5 liter bottle of water each day in order to feel full and flush out any extra toxins. This will help to enhance the  glow your skin will feel on the third day.
      • Cleansing gives your body a rest from digestion, according to Livestrong. Our bodies are used to breaking down and digesting food all day, every day, for years and years. So once in a while, it’s nice to give your body a break by only consuming nutrient-rich fluids. Especially if you are a junk food junkie, a cleanse will help reset your system and flush out tons of toxins. (Just make sure to eat mostly vegan in the days leading up to your cleanse or else you might be in for a pretty harsh change.)
      • Because most bottled, pressed juice cleanses use fruit juice along with vegetable juice, it's common that most individuals wanted nothing to do with sweets when they finished day 3 of the cleanse. The sugar cravings were gone! 
      • One of the biggest benefits found from completing the cleanse was that it motivates you to stay on a healthy path for weeks afterward. Mentally, after feeling so rejuvenated by the 3 days spent cleansing the last thing you want to do is throw it all away. 
    Overall, the juice cleanse is a positive experience for most. I think that cleansing for 3 days is plenty of time—I would not suggest doing a longer cleanse because, according to Women’s Health, your body goes into starvation mode after about 4 days. 


    xoxo

    Thursday, August 7, 2014

    DIY | Gentle Brush Cleaner


    Happy Friday lovelies! 

    This week's DIY craft is a gentle natural brush cleaner, which will definitely come in handy and help to keep your face bacteria free! As tedious as it can be to spend hours cleaning your brushes, it's imperative to do so. Bacteria accumulates on all brushes, and the longer you go without washing your brushes the higher at risk you put your face for unwanted toxins. I've never been one to buy store brand brush cleaners as I always prefer to use gentle baby shampoo, however if you prefer to use a brand name brush cleaner, feel free to do so! 

    I've sourced this particular article from the thebeautydepartment.com 
    I've been a long time fan of The Beauty Department, and their blog for various reasons. They feature various different beauty articles, as well hair and make up tips! Be sure to pass by their blog to check out all they have to offer! 



    GENTLE D.I.Y. Baby Shampoo Brush Cleaner:

      1. Pour a tablespoon of any baby or organic shampoo into a small bowl then add warm water from your faucet so it gets nice and bubbly. One at a time, dip your used brushes into the solution, gently swirling them across the bottom of the bowl to release the product. Keep the brushes in the water as you add each new one.
      2. After washing, let the brushes have a quick soak for 5-10 seconds, no more and no less.
      3. One by one, hold each brush under cold water to rinse any remaining product and seal the hairs.
      4. Re-mold each brush if necessary by pressing the hairs between your fingers until it’s back to its original shape.

    DRYING STATION:

    You don’t want to dry your brushes in an upright position because the water settles into the glue that’s holding the bristles together at the base of each brush head and starts breaking down the glue over time, causing the hairs to come off when you swipe the brush against your face (so annoying). So you can either lay your brushes flat or even better, make this quick little drying station in two steps!


      1. Grab a hand towel, a paper towel or a dinner napkin like used above. Fold it in half three times, to make it smaller and to create a “crease,” then unfold it once. Where your crease was, slide anything cylinder shaped under it to create the base of your see-saw. I used a big powder brush that was dry and not washed this round but a round magic marker works great too.
      2. Balance each brush across the crease so that the brush head is pointing down, but not touching the napkin. It’s much easier to balance than it sounds! Now let them dry completely for a few hours (or overnight) and return them to their home! 


    click here for the full article on The Beauty Department! 


    xplum 

    Tuesday, August 5, 2014

    Fitness | 5 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism


    Boosting your metabolism isn't as daunting as it seems, when you break it down to 5 simple to-do's! All of our bodies metabolize in different ways, but there are a few sure ways you can rely on to get your calories burning and your metabolism pumping! From early morning workouts, to better food choices, you can give your metabolism that extra push without too much effort! 
    Here are a few simple ways: 
    1. Eat Breakfast! The worst thing you can do to kick-start your day (and your metabolism) is skip breakfast. Click here for Lauren Conrad's complete breakfast breakdown.
    2. Get Moving in the Morning.  Not all of us are capable of waking up early to get our bodies moving and burning calories. However, if you do happen to be one of those early morning risers (eek!) then you should definitely try to get a quick run, or maybe workout session completed in this morning. This will help to get those calories burning early, and keep them burning throughout the day. 
    3. Drink Up! If you happen to be even a tad bit thirsty, you run the risk of slowing your metabolism. It's been rumored that cold water actually helps to spark your metabolism because your body is working harder to heat up that h2o. If you happen to like it, green tea is also a great alternative.
    4. Have Whole Grains, Not Multigrain. Complex carbs and fiber-rich foods help to speed up your metabolism. Whole grains are good, multigrains are not. If anything, just remember that!
    5. Eat More, Smaller Meals. According to WebMD, if you divide your meals up into smaller portions so you eat more often throughout the day, your metabolism won’t have a chance to take a break. However, this absolutely does not mean to stuff your face 24/7. Instead, try to eat smaller bites throughout the day instead of three large meals. Click here for Lauren Conrad's favorite fat-burning snacks that are perfect for this tip!

    xoxo 

    Monday, August 4, 2014

    Neon Pop!


    Wearing

    Shift Dress: Lulu's | Sandals: Coach | Belt: The Limited | Earrings: The Limited | Oversized Link Bracelet: J. Crew | Midi Rings: h&m | Purse: Steve Madden





    Happy Monday Friends! 

    First, I would like to apologize for my absence from the scene. Things have been pretty hectic adapting to a new job with a new routine. But overall, I must say this was a good move for me. Being in a new environment was daunting and scary at first -- but I'm quickly becoming the city girl I always knew myself to be. 

    Let's talk fashion: 

    I love the shift dress. This one in particular is from Lulu's and I've loved it from the moment it arrived on my doorstep. This look is perfect for a casual Sunday Brunch with friends or family. As always, I'm obsessed with the blue and brown color combo! But I decided to add that extra little pop with the neon belt. This look can also be adapted for a day to night purpose by throwing on a pair of point toe pumps! 


    xplum 

    Friday, August 1, 2014

    Hues of Blue


    Wearing

    Cotton Tee: J. Crew | Printed Trousers: H&M | Purse: Vince Camuto | Sandals: Forever 21 | Assorted Midi Rings: H&M | Sunnies: Gap Inc. | Floral Cuff: {vintage} Forever 21 






    Happy first of the month everyone! 
    (August also happens to be my birthday month!)

    So, I've been really digging the brown and blue color combo as of lately. I put this number together for a day of errands with my sisters. It's easy, it's comfortable, it's chic. I love the look of the printed trousers with a chic comfortable tee; plus you can never go wrong with sandals! 

    I paired this look for an easy (hot) summer day. However, the look is adaptable and can eve be converted to a night look by incorporating a white crop top and some cute heels! Throw in a clutch and you're ready for a night out! 


    xoxo 



    Currently Listening To: Bruno Mars -- Show Me 


    Monthly Reads | August



    You know how sometimes when you're reading a book, you get all wrapped up in the emotions and that fluttery feeling starts in your chest? That's how I felt reading The Vincent Boys. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Abbi Glines kept me up way past my bedtime!


    Beau, Sawyer, and Ashton were inseparable growing up, and Ashton and Beau were best friends. That is, until the boys started to notice that Ashton was changing in ways they didn't really expect. Pretty soon, it wasn't Ashton, her best friend Beau, and his cousin Sawyer; it was Ashton, her boyfriend Sawyer, and his cousin Beau. And Beau just sat back and watched for years, because Sawyer had moved first. But that didn't mean he liked what he saw. He saw Ashton changing again. She was trading in her fun-loving side for a girl who visited the nursing home on a regular basis, who never smarted off at anyone, and who never really spoke her mind. Then, when Sawyer goes on vacation, Ashton seems to remember what it was like to cut loose and begins to miss that part of her life. So she turns to the one person she knows will remember: Beau.


    The character development in this story is great, and I think it's what makes the story so strong. I love the Southern charm to all of Glines' stories. It makes me wish I could live there and experience it all too. I love that Ashton is able to find her true self with Beau, I love the love-that-will-cross-oceans kind of love described in this story and it takes my breath away.



    xoxo