Natural Make up: TINTED LIP GLOSS

We all know how unhealthy makeup is for us & for the poor animals on which it is tested. So why not make it yourself. The bunnies will thank you and your lips will be tantalizingly kissable. What you need: •1 teaspoon beeswax •1 teaspoon shea butter or cocoa butter •1 teaspoon coconut oil (absolutely go crazy for this stuff) •1/8 teaspoon beet powder or natural red food coloring (natural red food coloring is so much easir to find) Directions: Pop the beeswax and shea or cocoa butter in a glass with no lid and place in a pot of simmering water on the stove until everything is melted. Remove from heat and let it cool for a minute. Add beet juice or food coloring until you get the color you want. Now you can scoop your lipstick into an old lipstick or lip balm holder which you have cleaned thoroughly with hot water, or you can put it in a small container and apply it with a brush if you fancy. You can also just rub some fresh raspberries along your lips for a luscious look. Top it off with the lip balm you just made to keep the look for longer. VIOLA!!!!!

MEXICO'S SEA MONSTER!

I was looking up tours and events to write about in today's blog when I came across "Xochimilco". which is an amazing Tour that takes you to a magical place full of fiesta, music and a place full of Mexican tradition and culture. The tour takes you back to a time and place of el tiempo de oro, time of the gold. It takes place on these beautiful boat like transported full of color, life and flowers, you sail away and have dinner and drinks amongst friends and family. I definitely recommend it! However as I was looking up this tour I came across an article talking about a creature. "mexicos sea monster". The axolotl, scientifically known as Abystoma mexicanum, more commonly known as a Mexican salamander. It is said to have originated in the lake Xochimilco by Mexico city. They are usually mistaken to be fish but they are actually amphibians. They have been used a lot for scientific studies because that can reproduce limbs; along with that, the fact that they were part of the common Aztec diet , water contamination,(which I have preached about in previous blogs), pollution and high volumes of populations, they were named to be close to extinction in 2010. This is a grateful creature that has the gift of regeneration and it is nearly close to extinction due to humans not knowing how to treat our environment and you probable had no idea this incredible animal existed. Imagine what other victims we've killed off with out even realizing..... Just something ti think about....

LET'S CONSERVE WATER, SHALL WE?

5 Eco Friendly Plumbing Tips to Help You Save $$Money$$ & Conserve Water: 1. Install low-flow shower heads & toilets. One thing that you can definitely do to cut down the amount of water you use is to install some low-flow showerheads and toilets. For instance, there are studies to support the fact that if you use a traditional showerhead, you will use around 5,250 gallons of water each year. With a low-flow showerhead, you will only use 3,150 gallons. And with a low-flow toilet, you save somewhere around four gallons per flush. So yes, they are definitely worth the investment. 2. Be conservative with your dishwasher. Although there are more and more dishwashers that have a prewash feature, if you want to conserve water, it’s best not to use them , instead why not try soaking your dishes in the sink before hand (you will use less water. Also, make sure to only turn the dishwasher on when it’s full. You could even save energy and wash the dishes by hand letting them soak in hot soapy water then rinsing them off. 3. Get a tankless water heater. Not only do they last about two times longer than traditional heaters, but they also provide more hot water. Plus, in using them, you can cut your water bill down by as much as 30% each year. 4. Be good to your drains. Watch how you treat your drains. In your kitchen, avoid pouring grease down them. In fact, you could even keep a collection of grease in a jar & find a nifty way to reuse it! In your bathroom, make sure to remove the hair after each shower. Also, like once a onto or so you should use an eco friendly type of cleaner. Bio Green Clean is a cost-effective line that you can find on Amazon. 5. Purchase an Energy saver washer & dryer unit. Something else that can help you to save money is to purchase an Energy saver, two in one, washer & dryer. They are built to conserve water. Also wash in cold water as much as possible and activate the high spin cycle; it helps to reduce the amount of moisture that remains in the clothes once the drying process starts. All of these things will help you to use your water wisely.

By the way as much as conserving water is healthy for our environment, drinking plenty of water is healthy for our body so conserve up & drink up !

SAVE THE CORAL REEFS!

Snorkeling is a common activity amongst locals and tourists. It is relaxing, scenic, fun and all around a breathtaking experience. However, due to our not so eco friendly habits we have been damaging the coral reefs. Do not fret here are some helpful tips to save our environment!

1. Conserve water. The less water you use, the less run off & waste water will pullet our oceans. 2. Help reduce pollution. Walk, bike or ride the bus/combi. Fossil fuel emissions from cars and industries raise lead to ocean, warming it, which causes mass-bleaching of corals and can lead to widespread destruction of reefs. 3. Use only ecological or organic fertilizers. These products flow into the water system, pollute the ocean, and can harm coral reefs and marine life. 4. Dispose of your trash properly. Don't leave unwanted fishing lines or nets in the water or on the beach. Any kind of litter pollutes the water and can harm the reef and the fish. 5. Plant a tree. Trees reduce runoff into the oceans. You will also contribute to reversing the warming of our planet and the rising temperatures of our oceans. 6. Practice safe and responsible diving and snorkeling. Do not touch the reef or anchor your boat on the reef. Contact with the coral will damage the delicate coral animals, and anchoring on the reef can kill it, so look for sandy bottom. 7. Spread the word & help out. Volunteer at local reef cleanups.

WEEKEND HEALTHY CHEAT MEAL

It is Friday! Which means for a lot of you it is almost your guilty pleasure cheat meal time. If you want to start early but do not want to break your weekday diet plan here is a healthy, high protein "fake" cheat meal.

PROTEIN PANCAKES Ingredients: -1/4 cup of raw outs -1/4 cup of lean cottage cheese -1 cup protein powder (i like to use chocolate but which ever you choose) -1 table spoon of peanut butter (or almond butter) -1 egg -and add water until it makes the consistency of a batter Mix it together then heat up your pan. I like to use coconut oil instead of butter to grease it up. Spread some batter and flip until cooked. Also substitute syrup for natural honey. You can even add bananas, blueberries, maybe some cinnamon, pecans, do not be scared to play around with this recipe. It is a healthy guiltless pleasure! ENJOY

RECYCLE!!!! 5 TIPS TO MAKE IT AN EASY HABIT!

1.Choose wisely what you purchase. This is not difficult. When you go to the supermarket just make sure that the product you want to buy has the little recycle friendly symbol on it somewhere.

2.Empty all the containers you are done with and compact them into smaller items. Doing this will be a great space saver and will reduce the amounts of garbage bags and it will mean less trash transportation.

3.One container for each product. Every container will be specifically for one ole material. 4.Reuse. A lot of objects that we throw away could be used for other functions. This will help reduce the amount of trash helping us find a purpose for it instead and it could even save you money. 5.Make a compost. An excellent way to reuse trash in an organic way. Throw all your "food" or "raw" trash in there. It does wonders for our planets flora. They even sell trash cans with separators for it that seal shut.

It does seem like much but practicing these 5 ecofriendly habits actually helps our environment in a tremendous way!

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

Delicious & nutritious kale-mango smoothie Ingredients : - 1 large handful curly kale, cleaned and ribs removed - 1 handful of baby spinach - 1 whole mango, cut up, skin and pit removed - 6 ice cubes - handful of almonds - 1/2 cup of oatmeal -1 cup of vanilla almond milk Mix all ingredients in a blender & enjoy!

This is one of my favorite smoothies because it tastes so good and it extremely healthy for you. Kale is high in fiber, iron, Vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C & calcium. It is filled with powerful antioxidants, such as carotenoids and flavonoids that help protect against various cancers. It is a great anti-inflammatory food. One cup of kale is filled with 10% of the RDA of omega-3 fatty acids, which help, fight against arthritis, asthma and autoimmune disorders. Eating more kale can help lower cholesterol levels. Mangos are high in vitamin C & A which helps boost your immune system. they improve digestion, helps with diabetes by normalizing insulin levels & mangos are also great for the skin.

MEATLESS MONDAYS

Happy Monday! Heres a good, healthy dinner time meal that it vegetarian-friendly for "meatless mondays" SWEET POTATO CARAMELIZED ONION STEW Servings per Recipe:8 Calories:290 Carbohydrates:67.7g Dietary Fiber:10.3g Protein:6.6g Sugars:11.2g Ingredients: 3 organic sweet potatoes (chopped) 5 organic red potatoes (chopped) 32 ounces low sodium vegetable stock 2 teaspoons curry powder 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 organic red onion(chopped) 1 organic yellow onion (chopped) 3 cloves garlic (minced) 1 tablespoon fresh thyme 1 tablespoon canola oil (for the onions) Step by step: 1.Fill a saucepan with 1 inch of water and place it over medium heat. Add the potatoes, cover and steam for about 25 minutes. 2.Season the potatoes and pumpkin with the vegetable stock, salt, curry and chili powder. move to a pot and cook over medium heat while you prepare the onions. 3.Place the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the caramelized onions to the stew on the stove. Season everything with the garlic and fresh thyme, taking care to stir to ensure the ingredients are evenly distributed. 4.Add the onions to the simmering potato mixture. Stir, turn heat down to medium low and let simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the flavors have melded. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. 5.Eat & enjoy!

SWEET POTATOES!!!!! Not only are sweet potatoes inexpensive & delicious but they are healthy for you as well. They are high in vitamin B6 which helps reduce the chemical homocysteine in our bides reducing degenerative diseases like heart attacks for example. They also have a high amount of vitamin C, which helps build up our immune system. They contain iron. They are full of protein. They are a source of potassium. Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet-tasting but their natural sugars are slowly released into the bloodstream, helping to ensure a balanced and regular source of energy, without the blood sugar spikes linked to fatigue and weight gain. They are versatile. Try them roasted, puréed, steamed, baked, or grilled. You can add them to soups and stews like the recipe above.

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY

"Practice kindness: It is very difficult to achieve peace & harmony through competition & hatred, so the practice of kindness is very, very important & very, very valuable in human society." - World Peace Here are 10 little things to practice that can really go a long way... 1.Smiles are irresistible. Don't hesitate to smile warmly at friends, family, colleagues and even...strangers 2.If you use public transportation; if it's busy and there are no free seats then be the first to stand-up 3.Pay it forward; When you are in a starbucks for example maybe you could buy a coffee or cookie in advance for the next customer that comes in (maybe you will start a trend) 4.That thing you're going to sell, why not give it away for free? 5.Hold doors open (even for people who are a little further away from the door than usual) 6.Pay compliments 7.When a person is talking to you REALLY listen to them 8.Tell your loved ones that you love them, REGULARLY 9.If you know that someone is particularly busy, offer to take their dog for a walk :) 10.Teach a child something you wish you knew at that age

OH! and never forget "Please" and "Thank You" lol

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY: 3 natural face masks you can make from home

1. BANANA Who needs Botox when you have Bananas? Yes, that is correct! Bananas are excellent for the skin since they are rich in vitamin A, B & E. They will leave your skin feeling soft and glowing. Vitamin A increases cell turn over (which is a natural anti aging remedy) while Vitamin E moisturizes. Honey is a natural anti-bacterial, so it will help with acne while it is also a natal moisturizer it will hydrate your skin and restore current marks and acne false ups. Ingredients: - one ripe banana - one tablespoon of honey Directions: Mash up the banana until you form a paste, mix in the honey then apply all over your face and neck. Let it dry (aprox. 20 mins or so) then rinse off with cold water.

2. OATMEAL This is one of my new obsessions, not only is it delicious and healthy for you to consume but it is also a great exfoliant. Oatmeal absorbs oils and removes impurities while gently exfoliating your skin. It also has an abundant amount of anti oxidants so it helps renew and restore skin. Ingredients: - 1/2 cup of natural oats - 1 lemon wedge - 2 tablespoons of milk Directions: Grind the oats to create a powder, stir in the milk until it forms a paste and squeeze in the lemon juice. Apply the mask all over your face and neck, let dry and then rinse of with warm water making sure you're moving your hands in a circular motion to scrub.

3.GREEK YOGURT Yogurt is not only a great on the go snack but it also is an amazing moisturizer and "quick fix". It contains zinc which contains anti inflammatory properties helping with redness, acne bumps or rashes. It contains vitamins B5, B2 & B12 which is great for restoring and regenerating cells, leaving you "glowing". The lactic acid (used in various skin care products) moisturizes skin preventing wrinkles and reducing already formed ones. Ingredients: - 1/2 cup of greek (non sweetened yogurt) - 1/4 of orange with pulp (the vitamin C in the orange will awaken the skin) Directions: Mix ingredients together, slather on and let it sit for around 15-20 mins then rinse off with cold water.

These are my eco friendly, no botox, no chemicals, au natural remedies to give your skin a quick pick me up! Hope you enjoy!!!!!