Staying Positive..

Its Time to Train your BRAIN!!!

I was just in Oslo for a seminar regarding skin care... but there were a few inspirational speakers that were really talented. I would love to share some of the key points with you all!! 

Did you know that we have over 65,000 thoughts that run through our head each day? Did you also know that 95% of those thoughts are things we thought about yesterday, the day before and so and on and so on....

Our brain repeats itself over and over again in an area called the Limbic System...which is responsible for our emotions. This area is creating patterns that you repeat, often making a cycle that is hard to break. BUT with excercise it can change completely! Take for example... working out. In the beginning it is hard, you don't really know what your doing, and results seem nowhere in sight. After sticking with it things start to change. Your body changes, things become easier and you start to maybe enjoy it? Your brain can change, and break patterns too! It takes work that might seem silly... but its just as important for a positive mind.

(Some more info on the Limbic System ) http://www.dfwcfids.org/medical/limbcsys.repatterning.htm

The more negative thoughts that you think the more they will be repeated. This makes you believe a lot of things because your brain has processed it so many times without really being aware of it. Ever have an amazing day, people compliment you and take time to notice your hard work. Then one person can say something negative... and all those good things fly right out the window? Why is that? How can 8 compliments and 1 negative remark equal zero?? 8-1=0 ? Doesn't make sense... What we need to do is build ourselves up. Every time we have a negative thought we should counter-act it with a positive. We already repeat all these negative things in our head because that's what we have a stronger emotion from.. so lets do ourselves a favor and top up the positive bank so we have some cushion room. 

The speaker at this seminar said that EVERY night she writes down the positive things that she felt that day. She would focus on ONLY the positive. If your brain wanders and you have a negative thought you MUST counter it with positive. So in the beginning it might take a long time to counter all the negatives that squeeze their way in there... but in the end you will be able to focus and believe all those positives :) 

A place where we usually have negative thoughts about ourselves is when we compare ourselves to others. We all tend to compare ourselves with everyone else.  Everything from  body image, fashion, brains... to what is in their grocery kart. This is normal, and everyone does it. But what we need to see is that just because someone else is say 'beautiful' it doesn't mean that your not. Your thought process shouldn't be

  'wow that girl is so smart, I must be stupid...'

it should be 'wow that girl is smart!' THATS IT! STOP THERE! 

Why are we always so critical of ourselves? Everytime we compare ourselves to someone else we are most likely looking at something they have that we don't. But nobody is perfect, and everyone has qualities that they should appreciate. Its so scary when I hear all my clients, or friends, or co-workers speak so negatively about themselves. They are always pointing out flaws, and giving an example of someone else that doesn't have that flaw. WHY!? THESE THINGS ARE BEING REPEATED IN YOUR BRAINS!!! I'm pretty sure you want to feel good about yourself do you not? The only way to do that is so train your brain to be positive. Do you ever notice a really confident person.... not for their looks, but for their energy and self awareness? Confidence is attractive, regardless of what you look like. To see the positive in yourself is to be able to see it in others and be OK with it. I'm surrounded by beautiful people... and so many of them are ripping themselves apart, being jealous or mean to others because they feel shit about themselves. Its time to love yourselves for who you are, accept the great things you have to offer and BELIEVE it. It can take time... but the more you focus on the positive and counteract the negative the happier you will become.

Don't forget to love yourself, because that's a relationship for life... and happiness starts with seeing the positive:) Keep smiling, and be grateful for who you are ! :)

Smokey Eyes

There are a few ways of doing smokey eyes... but here is my way:) 

Firstly it doesn't really matter what colors you choose... but there should be at least 3. A dark, medium and light shade. 

Here's Mei Lee to help me show you.... 

We start fresh faced... and the first thing i do is tweeze her brows a bit. Taking away what I call the 'tad pole' eyebrow shape with the clump of hair at the start... the line on  the underside of the brow should be straight to the highest point, curve and taper down. I also use some brow powder to shade in the brow a bit to make them fuller. 

Starting with the darkest color I place the brush on the outside corner of her eyelid and work inwards. (Where you start with your brush is important because that's where the product will be most concentrated)

I shadow along the lash line and where her eye crease is. Almost like a sideways V. Depending on your eye shape this will need to be adjusted... but stick with shadow in the crease and just above the crease. Try to blend out the color with a concealer brush so you don't get a harsh line.

When you have done the same to both eyes you can take your medium shade and blend it onto the rest of the lid and into the edge of the dark shade. If this color has a lot of shimmer go really lightly over the the entire lid keeping a bit of space from the lash line though. The lightest color (usually a pearl or even white) goes on the inner corners of the eye and on the brow bone. Reasons being the inner corner of your eye is the deepest part on your face to bring it out and give focus on your eyes this is a MUST. Also along the brow bone where your arch on your brow is give you lift and an eye opening effect. 

Tips :

Start with the darkest color so if you make any mistakes it can be easily removed without wrecking your makeup. 

Use an eyelid primer so your makeup doesn't run or crease, Bare Minerals has a GREAT one that I can't live without:)

Try using colors that make your eyes stand out:) The easiest way to figure that out is to look at this color chart. Find your eye color... then look on the complete opposite side. There are colors that are going to make your eyes stand out. I have blue for example... the opposite would be orange. I could use golds, peaches, warm browns to make my eyes pop.

Digestion Problems? Aloe Vera Juice could free you...

Aloe Vera Juice could be the answer to a lot of problems....

Since moving to Norway my stomach didn't quite agree with the change in diet. No matter what I tried things just weren't functioning as they should. Even that extra strong coffee in the morning wasn't doing it for me if you catch my drift. Then a client of mine told me about Aloe Vera Juice. I decided anything was worth a shot... and since then I haven't had a problem. There are also SO MANY other benefits that I just had to share my joy with you all:)

-Drinking of Aloe vera juice can alleviate several gastro-intestinal problems including ulcer, acid indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. It also helps maintain proper digestion! 

-Aloe vera juice provides your body 200 health promoting compounds including 20 minerals, 18 amino acids and 12 vitamins.

-It forms a protective barrier around achy and sore joints and muscles.

-Aloe vera soothes itching and helps restore skin's natural beauty.

-It nourishes the skin and tissues with body-loving nutrients such as vitamin E and C.

-It relieves inflammation and redness.

-Aloe vera minimizes scarring.

-Aloe vera juice is also used for the treatment of blood circulation, detoxification, and pain relief

- Aloe vera juice stimulates the metabolic rate.

"Apart from stimulating your metabolic rate, the other reason is that Aloe vera contains high amounts of the protein, collagen. The body has to spend extra energy to digest the collage protein in the body. And the expenditure of all that extra energy helps in weight loss; at same time due to collagen protein it also promotes muscle development. Aloe vera reduces the amount of time food stays in your intestine, which means that less energy is absorbed from the food. Because of its supporting in weight loss this plant is also known as “The dietary plant” and “The harmony remedy”.

So since DRINKING aloe vera is the best way to get ALL the benefits I take a minimum of 2 one ounce shots a day. One first thing in the morning and another before dinner. 

There are 3 different flavors... to be honest. I personally feel that it doesn't matter which one you drink, they all taste disgusting. The benefits out-weigh anything else... if you can shoot a shot of tequila then you wont even bat an eyelash at this. Some people like the taste... just not me. 

Seen here are 3 of my favorite products from this Aloe Vera line. This scrub is gentle enough for daily use... skin becomes soft and balanced. The mask is also great for giving moisture to the skin, balancing redness, and deep cleansing pores. ( I recommend this mask to anyone that experiences breakouts!!! GREAT for soothing the skin while detoxifying. ) Lastly the original Aloe Vera Gel... which in other words is the juice. ( Juice made from gel...blah blah blah)

If you have any questions regarding this product, or how to get a hold of some yourself.... just give me a shout! It really has changed my day to day life:)

HEALTH: Meal Idea :)

   It may be hard to get back to your old eating habits after a summer vacation. But there are multiple things you can do to ensure you feel great. Having meals that combine protein and veggies are ultimately the best. It keeps you full longer and veggies give you great nutrients with little calories and no fat.  

This is a salad containing different types of lettuce... the more variety and the deeper the color of the leafs the better it is for you:) It also has snap peas, cherry tomatoes, red pepper, red onion, avocado, chili peppers, cashew nuts, and chicken breast. Use any type of lighter dressing you like... I like to add fresh squeezed lime for a really fresh taste.

Health Facts:

AVOCADO: Is a super-food! It may be high in calories (from the oil, which is GREAT for your skin) but the nutrients you get from this super fruit is amazing! 

1.  Avocados are an excellent source of glutathione, an important antioxidant that researchers say is important in preventing aging, cancer, and heart disease
2. Research has found that certain nutrients are absorbed better when eaten with avocado
3. Avocados are the best fruit source of vitamin E, an essential vitamin that protects against many diseases and helps maintains overall health
4. Avocado also contains vitamin A,K, and C. Great for overall health!! Your hair, skin and eyes will be brighter and have more moisture:)
5. lowers cholesterol !

This is only a glimpse into how much avocado has to offer... 

CHERRY TOMATOES: So tasty!! And full of vitamins and antioxidants:) 

1. Full of Vitamins C, A AND K
2. Lycopene a carotenoid found in tomatoes has been a hot topic lately. It has the ability to protect cells and other structures in the body from oxygen damage!!  Great antioxidant with cancer-preventing properties.... not just lycopene itself but its combination with other health benefits from the tomato. EAT THEM! So sweet its like candy:) 
3. Good source of fiber... lowering cholesterol levels and keeps blood sugar level low.
4. Contains beta-carotene.... most of you have heard of this due to it helping with getting a healthy tan that lasts longer. 

If you find it hard to find healthy options while at work, then plan ahead!! If you can plan your meals you are less likely to snack on high calorie foods that give you nothing in return.

I pack some chicken breast with veggies to snack on throughout the day so I don't feel that hunger pain that usually results in rash decisions of chocolate! :)

How to "Pop a Zit" correctly...

 You know when you get this annoying bump growing under your skin, its painful and sometimes feels like it has its own heartbeat?? DON'T SQUEEZE IT! Here are a few things you need to know about pimples...

First off.... NEVER start picking at your face without have washed your hands and cleansed your face.

The best would be after a warm shower when all your pores are open, and stay AWAY from magnifying mirrors! People become obsessed and reek havoc on their faces! 

There are a few very common mistakes people make. They always try and pick at things that are under to many layers of skin. This causes a lot of damage. I know its annoying to have this mound growing on your face... it hurts and you want to get rid of it ASAP. 

BUT what happens when you squeeze a pimple that not almost bursting out of the surface of your skin already.. its that it gets bigger. YES. What happens is the infection that's in your pore becomes irritated and expands under your skin. This makes a larger pocket of pus build up and mean you have an extra 2 weeks with this beauty. 

 THIS is what i mean. There is no whitehead here... squeezing this WILL only make it worse. It will take double the amount of time to heal AND you are at risk for scarring. 

THIS is what you want a pimple to look like when you get to "pop" it. 

Yes... you might think that's gross. And you don't to wait that long... but listen to the pros! You don't a big scar on your face, or a mountain that last a month either. 

Take a safety pin. Burn the tip with a lighter to make sure there are no bacteria. Place the pin so its lateral to your face, and poke the pimples tip. This creates an escape route for the pus so it doesn't build up pressure under the skin and go the wrong way. Take a couple layers of tissue paper and wrap them around your pointy fingers. Place them on either side of the pimple... first press down, and then inward... wriggling back and forth slightly. This should be a gentle movement!!! 

Once you have gotten rid of all the puss a clear liquid will appear. Now you can stop squeezing and wipe the area. Afterwards your skin will be repairing itself creating a small, most likely clear, scab. Try not to keep scratching this away.. just let your body do the rest:)

Thanks for the questions... keep em coming!!

You can ask directly on this blog and be discreet... you don't have to go through facebook:)

Happiness :)

 Why is it that when you have a near fatal experience, or almost lose someone very close to you that you gain a completely different perspective on life? 

When i was 18 I was in a car accident. It was the most surreal experience... the whole slow motion, sirens, complete shock, dream state experience. When you realize how close you are to death everything you complained about a few minutes before seems irrelevant. You appreciate everything you have. Grateful for a rainy day, not caring if you missed the bus or forgot the garbage. Life goes on. You look at life with hope... and happiness for what you have.

After time... the feeling fades. The light that made everything seem so bright is gone and life goes back to normal. 

Everyday I have clients that come to me and share their thoughts. Some have an energy that is so contagious i feel like they lift me up. Others have sad stories that make me want to hug them til its all better. Some are just 'whatever' about most things. Its allowed to have different reactions and emotions in life!! But what I'm getting at is its really our way of dealing with the cards that have been dealt. You cant go to Vegas to play poker and say 'hey... these cards suck, I want new ones'.  Life doesn't work that way.

People seem to never live in the moment.  Why is it always tomorrow or the next day? Or back when....

How about you look at RIGHT NOW and see what has made you happy today?

I'm only 26 years old... but I feel like it takes people a lifetime to finally figure out what makes them happy. It really shouldn't be that hard. A new pair of shoes might make you happy in the moment... but if you lost someone you loved would that pair of shoes have any relevance in your life? NO.... most likely the people that love you, and are there for you would be the only thing that helps you grieve, not your jimmy choo's.

Not to get all dark and emotional about death... but it seems like that's when most people realize whats important. Why does it have to get that extreme for us to realize? 

As you might already know... I live in Norway. This country has just been rocked by a crime of hate and terror so inconceivable. Many lives were lost and a whole country was in mourning. I hope that out of this people will open their hearts and focus on the good. Take time to make someone smile. Help someone who has dropped their groceries. Coming from a land like Canada it might seem like these things are a given.... but    not everywhere is as open. We can all do our part to change how things are.

I have a tattoo on my arm that reads 'Freedom is the ability to choose'. A lot of people ask me what I mean by that.... And what I mean is this. So many people complain about life. Everything from weather, appearance, weight gain, relationships, income, jobs in general... etc etc. But the thing is... you are the only person that can change your situation. If your unhappy with something then change it! You are free to decide that somethings not working for you. Either you change your outlook on life and stop focusing and the stuff that doesn't matter... or if your really not happy then figure out something else. If you cant do it on your own then get someone to help you:) It might seem easier to just continue with what you have going on... but is that really fair? We don't have anyone to blame but ourselves.

Take time for yourself. Reflect on what it is you enjoy. Focus on things that make you smile. Happiness is a mindset not a material thing you hold onto. You have a lot to be grateful for so act like it! 

Lastly... to all my clients that think they are not good enough. Who look in a magnifying mirror and tell me that they have large pores (ANYONE who looks in a magnifying mirror can see their pores FYI) or that they hate their hair, or they feel ugly.... SERIOUSLY! I have never seen so many gorgeous people in one country so stop being so hard on yourselves!! Get some confidence because you have no need to be the one to rain on your own parade. Happiness is contagious... its also attractive. A smile is more attractive then anything else. Be Happy:) Life can be a WONDERFUL thing if you let it. 

HEALTH: Meal Idea :)

 As most of you know... diet is a HUGE factor when it comes to health. Not only does eating healthy make you feel good but it gives your body the nutrients it needs to run efficiently. Eating lots of fruits and veggies means your giving yourself vitamins and minerals in the purest form. Its better to eat them then take a tablet!!

 I will be going more in depth about diet and vitamins and their effect on skin later in my blog..

                       But here's a quick meal idea that's high in protein and low in fat :)

   

Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumber, Red Onion, Cottage Cheese, Balsamic Vinaigrette 

It's a delicious variation of a Greek Salad:) Feel free to add olives and peppers:)

ENJOY!