Hey Honey!

Honey is one of those good things that have been around for ever. I usually mix it with my morning yougurt to get that sweetness going early in the day.

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Its believed that honey has been part of our diet for over 8,000 years and has been used for cooking, beauty treatments and even preservation of artifacts.

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Honey moisturizing and the perfect ingredient of exfoliants. It is believed that Cleopatra would take honey baths to keep her skin moisturized and beautiful. Use it in face masks together or alone, for your hair with coconut or olive oil, and on burns by itself to relieve the burning sensation.

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No doubt honey is great on your food. Its distinctive taste and high content of sugar make it idea for baking, beverages and even salty foods. You can use it as a substitute for maple syrup on your pancakes, as a glaze for your salmon mixed with a little mustard, and mix it with a fruit juice over low heat to make a delicious sauce for your ice cream.

Have a sweet day!

Sake for Skin

Maybe some of you might have heard that sake makes your skin look younger and more radiant. This theory started as scientists visited a sake brewery found that the elderly working on making sake had young looking hands but wrinkled faces.

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This discovery lead people to find out that there are enzymes produced in the making of sake that have moisturizing properties. Beyond that, there are different natural chemical produced during the fermentation process that are beneficial to both skin and health.

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A sake bath can help cure dry skin and add moisture to it. Nest time you take one, add 3 to 4 cups of sake to the hot water and soak in it for about 30 minutes, You will notice the difference in your skin to be softer and more radiant.

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During the sake making kojic acid is produced which is a great ally in getting rid of age spots and freckles. Many face creams have added this element on their formulas but it can also be effective to rub it into your skin with a cotton ball followed by a moisturizing cream.

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Other health benefits related to sake are glowing skin, improved cardiovascular health, and anti aging. Remember that everyone is different and before trying any of these tips, you should check either with a physician if you are drinking it or on a small section of your skin to make sure there are no side effects. If any of them works out for you... I'd love to hear about it!

Have a great and healthy day!

Calming Down

It's been hectic in my house these week, as we have been inundated with cold and flu viruses from all fronts. Thankfully, the worst is over and we can all start to relax.

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If your week has been like mine or have one like it try some relaxation techniques. They don't require of any equipment or money expense... all you need is to make time for yourself. When you relax your heart rate slows down and your blood pressure lowers, without mentioning any pain that you might be experiencing just goes away.

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Find a quite place where you can escape for at least 10 or 20 minutes twice a day. Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Think of a relaxing image that relaxes you, it could be a landscape or a moment in time that just makes you feel relaxed and happy. 

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Take deep slow breaths and concentrate on that. Feel how every time you exhale a little of that stress goes away. If your mind starts wondering away from the process steer it back into that mind set and detach from everything that is troubling you.

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Complement this relaxation time with reading a book that entertains you, especially anything fiction, and takes yous mind away from the everyday ordinary. Do this while you sip a cup of a calming tea and let the warmth and scent of it put you at ease.

Have a great day and take care of yourself!

Skin Care

When you live in a place where it's very humid and it rains a lot {like Costa Rica and Miami} you become very neurotic about the care of anything leather, be it shoes, bags, jackets or furniture.

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If your leather piece gets wet carefully dry it and don't rub it because you can change the whole structure of the skin. Instead rub it dry applying light pressure to absorb all the water and moisture.

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The same concept applies to your shoes. In order to prevent water {or snow} damage buy a protective spray that and apply it to your shoes, especially if you are dealing with suede which is highly absorbent. This will also protect them from any moisture absorbed by being in your closet.

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Leather tends to get dry even in humid weather {be extra careful in dry places like LA}, so rub something moist on it like a leather dressing or cream. Make sure to look for something that matches the color of your piece, if not go for a neutral cream or preferably something recommended by the manufacturer. Avoid liquid shoes polish as it tends to dry out the leather.

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Avoid stretching the leather because it loses its shapes but never regains it. If you cary too much stuff in your bag throw out stuff out of there, if you have a leather piece hanging on your closet lay it flat or use a hanger that doesn't change it's shape, and if you abuse of your shoes they will certainly give in.

Have a great day and take care of your other skin!

Salt to Beauty

Salt not only enhances the flavor of your food but it is also used in various ways to enhance your beauty. It can be used as an exfoliator, a cleanser and even as a mouthwash.

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For a bright smile combine one part of salt to two parts of baking soda {make sure you pulverize the salt} and brush your teeth with the mixture which helps whiten teeth and it doesn't irritate your gums.

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There is nothing more invigorating than a good scrub and salt is the perfect thin to do just that. You can use it as is after you shower while your skin is still moist or you can use a scrub made with salt and essential oils {see recipe}. It is best to scrub first things in the morning that way you stimulate circulation and helps you wake up.

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Salt can be dissolved in warm water to make a soaking bath to alleviate tired feet, reduce eye puffiness {1tsp per pint of hot water, apply with cotton pads}, relieve bee stings, relieve itchy skin {add 1 cup to bath water}, and as a facial/toner when combined with equal parts of olive oil and messaged gently on your skin.

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One of the coolest uses of salt is to mix is with water and essential oils to achieve that sough after "Beach Hair". I have never tried it with salt but I have used the sprays they sell {very fancy I know!!!} but have always wondered what it would look like to try one of those recipes {Recipe 1, Recipe 2, Recipe 3}.

Have a great day and remember that there's more than one way to do things!

Fashion at the Museum

One of the hottest exhibits going on right now is "Azzedine Alaïa in the 21st Century" at the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands. From the moment I discovered fashion magazines I remember top models like Linda Evangelista and Claudia Schiffer wearing his creations.

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The exhibit is organized by the materials the designer is famous for and displays some of his best designs as he is credited to be the creator of the bodysuit, the stretch dress and the casual Lycra shorts many of which are style in fashion today.

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His name is associated with elegance, sex appeal, style, self confidence, glamour and style. The exhibit includes the designer's work of the 21st century and it's sort of a follow up of the 1998 exhibit that presented his work of the previous decades.

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The Tunisian born designer is considered one of the last "couturiers" still active today and has even been named "the Sculptor of Women's Bodies". The pieces of the exhibit all belong to the his personal collection and he adjusted the dresses to fit the mannequins.

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Finally, here is a video of the opening of the exhibit...

Azzedine Alaïa in the 21st Century from Groninger Museum on Vimeo.

Have a great and glamorous day!

Rosemary

For the past year I've been the owner of a Rosemary plant. We've had our ups and downs especially because it is difficult to grow anything in my balcony due to the hot Miami sun.

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I guess I saw myself taking the little leaves or branches out of the plant in order to make some delicious roasted potatoes or adding it to a pasta sauce... but somehow it's not happening. Also, I love the beautiful color of its flowers so I could decorate napkins when I have dinner parties or putting in the sink for the smell.

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Ancient cultures believe that rosemary had to be used by brides and groom alike on the day of their wedding as a symbol of fidelity and abundance - a tradition that has remained until today.

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When taken in small doses this fragrant herb has medicinal properties as anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant. I've seen it used in infusions to add shine to dark colored hair  by boiling 2 or 3 sprigs in 1 gallon of water use it more concentrated in inhalations when you have are congested due to a cold. Please be careful because some people have shown to have allergic reactions to this remedies!

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Finally, here are a few recipes using this versatile herb:

Pan-Roasted Rosemary Potatoes

Rosemary Pecans

Lime Rosemary Water
Rosemary Bread {Gluten Free}
Rosemary Limoncello

Have a great day!!!

Would You Like Some Tea?

Over the past few years we've heard many people talking about the health benefits of green tea and since I drink it everyday about twice a day I decided to get the facts of this drink that has been enjoyed in China and Japan for centuries {all images from Martha Stewart online}.

The difference between green and black is the time when the leaves are picked and dried because both of them come from the same plant called Camellia sinesis. The process used to dry green tea allows for it to contain a high concentration of antioxidants which in turn help scavenge free radical and not allowing damaging compounds to alter our cells and cause them to die {seriously!}.

In certain cultures green tea has been used through the years as a diuretic, stimulant, astringent and to improve heart health as well as regulating body temperature and blood sugar. Some people {like me} whose stomachs are more susceptible to the acid from coffee drink green tea for alertness because it contains about 50 milligrams of caffeine per cup compared to 175 milligrams in coffee.

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The antioxidant found in green tea is called ECGC which has anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties that help prevent the growth of tumors and inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. Studies have found that women who consume green tea have decreased chances of getting bladder, breast, ovarian and lung cancer amongst others {check THIS article for more info}.

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To make it even better, green tea has shown signs of helping boost metabolism which in turn help people lose weight and burn more fat... thank the catechins for that!

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To brew the tea avoid using boiling water because it can burn the good "stuff" included in it. If you are buying loose tea make sure to separate the leaves and then add the water, let steep for about 3-5 minutes and then remove the leaves of bag because they might make it bitter.

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Have a great day and enjoy the benefits of your tea!

Your Nail Polish

A while ago I read a book called "You Being Beautiful" by Dr. Oz and when he talked about nails I got a bit spooked. In this book he explains how harmful nail polish can be and that it is the most toxic cosmetic on the market {all of this while I looked at my pinkish nail polish}.

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The problem with nail polish is the chemicals it is made with, like chemical solvents {toluene}, formaldehyde, phtalates {a plasticizer}, and acetone {helps to keep it liquid}. Also, the color can come from iron oxides that can get absorbed by the nail and skin. All these ingredients are toxic to the nervous and endocrine systems, fill the air with toxins that can affect your respiratory system, and are known to be carcinogens.

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So, what a does one do? The best thing is that when you get your nails done look for a place that is well ventilated, try to change your nail polish the least amount of times possible, schedule a time when you can let them be unpolished so the skin under the nail and cuticle can breath, if possible touch up instead of going for a new pedicure, and finally... moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

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As for those nail polishes that say they are non-toxic or natural... well, not all of them are because they might contain formaldehyde or something like it with another name {check this ARTICLE or this ARTICLE for more chemical info}. So, if you buy those pretty expensive bottles make sure you are really getting your money's worth.

Have a great Thursday and stay healthy my dears!

Fashionable Night

Finally here are the images from my adventure at Fashion's Night Out 2011. We had a lot of fun at the event as we had champagne and macarons at Chanel and YSL, we enjoyed of great food at Neiman Marcus and checked out amazing shoes at Saks.

The event was full of people some of them and some not that much but at the end of the night the most fun was just people watching. Somehow the fashion industry {especially high end!} attracts a lot of the crazies who spend thousands of dollars trying in clothes as if style could be bought?

Do you think style can be taught or is it something you are born with? I somehow think you can learn how to make the best of it but just like people who are math and chemistry geniuses there are others who just have that innate sixth sense.

Have a great day and start getting ready for the weekend!

The Right Pair

The other day I was talking to a friend about someone we knew that wear jean that very unflattering despite the fact that they are from a very well known brand. We could not help but making it the topic of conversation.

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I'm one of those that have no real brand loyalty but I always look for the right color {nice dark wash!} and the right fit no matter the price or brand. The "muffin top" is my biggest pet peeve when it comes to the fit because there is nothing more uncomfortable than feeling that your favorite pair is not allowing circulation to the lower part of your body.... right???

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So, like they say "when in doubt... just ask"... and since I have this space I wanted to share with all of you a few links on how to chose the jeans that look best on you no matter what the fashion trends say {not all of us are made to wear super-duper-ultra skinny jeans!}

For the ladies:

1.  Perfect Jeans - 5 Tips on How to Find Them
2. The Definitive Denim Style Guide
3. The Jean Genie 

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For the guys {my friend was a guy!}:

1. Find the Right Fit
2. Buying the Perfect Pair of Men's Jeans

Have a great day and have some fun!