For Women Only!

You have been breast-feeding? Or may be you are just over a certain age? Then you surely know what I mean when I refer to the “forces of nature”.

Unfortunately, the time when my silhouette is not what it used to be has come. What do I do to make things look better?

Yoga at home and a homemade bust firming cream or more precisely a bust firming oil with daisies!

Bust Firming Cream [Oil] Recipe

To prepare this invigorating oil, just mix:

- 50 ml of oil infusion with daisies (Bellis Perennis), which you can prepare by yourself or buy ready-made; The oil infusion with daisies is known to give firmness to the skin. It promotes blood circulation and is very soothing and revitalizing.

- 5 drops of palmarosa (or lavender) essential oil (rejuvenating and regenerating the skin);

- 5 drops of ylang-ylang essential oil (revitalizing).

Apply the mixture massaging the breasts from outside towards inside trying to be more delicate on the areola and the nipple.

This bust firming oil can be used daily and applied with the same success on the belly, neck and décolleté.  Store it in the fridge.

What is your way to keep in shape? May be you have your own homemade and all-natural recipe that does wonders? Please, please share it!

It is actually quite easy to extend our natural sun tan as long as we increase the hydration of our skin that tends to flake off quickly and lose its pretty hale complexion soon after we are back from holidays.

How to Prolong Your Sun Tan Naturally?

There are a few simple tips and tricks that can make our beautiful sun tan, that we got using a mineral sunscreen, stay as long as possible.

- drink a lot of water. This is beneficial not only for the healthy and youthful look of your skin, but also for the good functioning of the whole body;

-use a natural and organic body wash, which is much more skin friendly than the conventional shower gels and helps in prolonging your sun tan;

- after sun bathing or still when back from vacation, use organic aloe vera gel, to hydrate your skin and alleviate any sun damages;

- do not scrub your body. This is a great thing to do when you prepare your skin for sunbathing, before going on holidays. You need to avoid it if you want to keep the sun tan you have achieved.

And the Secret is?

The real secret of prolonging your beautiful sun tan is in the carrot oil (not carrot essential oil). It is rich in vitamin A and antioxidants, softening and promoting your natural sun tan.

After your skin absorbs the aloe vera gel, you can apply a bit of carrot oil on your body and face. If you wish you can mix it with your organic body lotion.

You Don’t Have a Sun Tan Yet?

Don’t forget to:

- try not to overdo it as sun can severely damage your skin;

- try not to be outside between 11 am and 4 pm when sun radiation is at its peak;

- use umbrella or hat and wear light long-sleeved shirts or such with UV fabric protection, e.g.: an ordinary T-shirt has UPF7 (Ultraviolet Protection Factor provided by fabric);

- wear sunglasses – they protect the eyes from sun radiation, which causes cataracts;

- use a mineral sunscreen.

May be you are among those who like yourself better without a sun tan? Do you think sun tanning is outdated?

Surfing around this blog, it should have become clear by now that I am a big fan of vegetable and carrier oils. I use them as a face moisturizer, as an anti-aging serum, to cleanse my face and as part of almost all homemade beauty recipes and natural remedies.

Some time ago, I also started using vegetable oils (sunflower and sesame) to heal my painful and bleeding gums. This method is taken from Ayurveda and is known as the oil pulling therapy.

How the Oil Pulling Therapy Works? Simple!

1. In the morning, just before eating or drinking anything, take one tablespoon of cold pressed and unrefined sunflower or sesame oil and start moving it around your mouth as if it was a mouthwash. Don’t gargle and never swallow the oil. Just swish it around in a very relaxed way for about 20 min. Yes, I know it may seem long and especially during the first couple of weeks IT IS too long. However, taken into account the benefits of the oil pulling method, it is worth at least trying it.

2. After 20 minutes of swishing, when the oil has turned into a white thick liquid, spit it out and rinse your mouth with warm water. Just after that you can wash your teeth, eat and drink.

The Benefits of Oil Pulling

I do this to get a relief with my painful gums, which start hurting every time I am worried or under stress. Apart from healthier gums and whiter teeth, the oil pulling therapy is also said to have a beneficial effect for people with acne, arthritis, asthma and many other diseases.

How Often?

I do it 2 – 3 times per week, but it can be practiced every morning. The most important is to stick to it for at least 2 – 3 weeks before deciding if it works for you or not.

Have you tried this already? Every feedback on the oil pulling therapy is welcome.

For some time now, I am sort of “obsessed” in finding effective ways to purify the air at home. I have already shared with you some of the natural and homemade air fresheners I have tried, but now I want to go one step further and tell you about probably the best of all natural air purifiers – the Himalayan salt lamps.

The Air at Home – An Electrical Smog

We spend most of our lives at home, in the office or the car and the way we feel in these enclosed spaces depends to a great extent to the quality of the air inside. There is dust, smoke, pollen, odor, mold spores plus the radiation from the computers, TVs and the kitchen appliances. The results for us? From bad mood and fatigue to asthma and depression.

The air is electrically charged and in order to improve it significantly, the positively charged ions (the bad guys) should be in balance with the negatively charged ions (the good guys).

An example of the proportions of ions we have in nature: high in the mountains or near water falls, the fresh air carries around 4000 negative ions per cm2 whereas in big cities, during rush hours and in traffic jams, the negative ions do not usually exceed more than 100 to 120 ions per cm2.

The Himalayan salt lamps add negative ions to the atmosphere and neutralize the electrical smog.

Health Benefits of Salt

I bet you have either heard it or read it that salt is bad for the health. Yes, but this is only valid for the table salt we use!

Himalayan salt has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-allergic action. A well-known fact is that salt was the most widely used preservative in the past. Less known is the fact that salt is used to treat bronchitis, asthma, allergies and other diseases related to respiratory system. In Germany, England, Russia, USA and Canada, there are a number of treatment centers with rooms fully lined with salt (“salt caves”). This treatment is known as halo-therapy.

Halo – therapy is born in the Polish Wieliczka salt mines in the middle of 19th century, when the doctor surveying the health of the miners  noticed that they do not suffer from lung diseases. Thus, in 1834 he published a book, which describes the benefits of salt, and later in the mines was built a sanatorium for the treatment of allergies, asthma and other lung diseases. Such sanatoria were built in Bochnia (Poland) and the Ukrainian salt mines.

How the Himalayan Salt Lamps Work?

Electromagnetic Vibrations

The human brain operates in the frequency range of 1-60 Hz. There are identified five main electromagnetic ranges corresponding to five different mental states. These are: Delta 1-3 Hz (deep sleep), Theta 3-7 Hz (light sleep) Alpha 8-14 Hz (relaxation, meditation), Beta 15-30 Hz (active, concentration) and the Gamma range 30-60 Hz (high concentration, anger).

As a source of electromagnetic waves, we feel better when we are surrounded by objects that have similar to our vibrations or when we are out in nature.

Himalayan salt lamps vibrate in the same frequency range as our brains (between 3-60 Hz.), but its crystal structure is strong enough to neutralize the harmful electromagnetic radiation.

The frequency of vibration of each Himalayan salt lamp varies depending on its size and color, and whether the lamp is switched on or off. When the crystal is illuminated and heated, its vibrations increase as well as its range of action.

Himalayan Salt Lamps Scope of Action

Light Therapy

Another aspect of the beneficial effects of the Himalayan salt lamps is the light emitted by the crystals when lamps are switched on. Light therapy is most often used in skin problems, sleep disorders or mental conditions.

The Himalayan salt crystals emit a warm light resembling sunlight at sunrise and sunset. Colors include white, yellow, orange to red. According to the experts in light therapy these colors have a particular impact on different parts of the human body:
- red warms and stimulates the body as a whole;
- orange activates the genital and urinary systems;
- yellow contributes to the normal functioning of the digestive system;
- white is a neutral color that has an overall harmonizing effect on all systems in the human body.

Do you have a Himalayan salt lamp? Do you see the difference in the quality of air and the way you feel? By the way, apart from all the benefits of these lamps, I think they are a great gift idea too.

Regardless of whether I put make up or not, at the end of the day, I use a natural make up remover technique to prevent skin aging and retain its elasticity and shine.

Simple & Natural Make Up Remover Technique

1. Put some sweet almond oil or apricot kernel oil on a sponge or cotton and remove the make up or other impurities  from the eyes, face and lips.

2. Put some rose or lavender water on a cotton and complete the cleansing of the face.

Now the face is ready for a moisturizer or the other creams you may use.

Benefits of the Natural Make Up Remover Technique

- vegetable oil is a very effective make up remover, even of waterproof mascara;

- natural and/ or organic products are applied on the skin instead of synthetic chemicals;

- the face is ready for the other skin care products to be applied.

For a truly ecological and natural make up remover, use organic cottons or, even better, reusable make up remover pads!

Delicious appetizers, these parsley balls are traditional in the Armenian cuisine.

During hot summer days, they go perfectly with cold and lightly salted kefir drink or, if you prefer, beer

I also serve them as a main dish combined with cold yoghurt soup.

Parsley Balls Recipe

Serves: 8 – 10

Prep time: 45 min.

Cook time: 15 min.

Total time: 1 hour

Meal type: Appetizer, Main Dish

Ingredients

• 3 bunches parsley
• 100g white brined or feta cheese
• 2 eggs
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 stalk green onion
• 1 tablespoon flour
• pinch baking soda
• flour (for rolling)
• olive oil

Notes

1. I don’t add salt to this recipe as the feta cheese I am using is quite salty.

Directions

1. Cut the parsley very finely.

2. Smash the cheese and add it to the parsley.

3. Chop the garlic and the green onion, and add them to the parsley mixture.

4. Add the eggs, the flour and the baking soda. Mix everything with a hand.

5. Allow the mixture to rest for 30 min. in the fridge.

6. Take a spoonful of the mixture and shape it as a meatball. Roll it in flour and fry it in a bit of olive oil for only a few seconds on both sides. Do the same with the rest of the mixture.

7. Drain the parsley balls on a paper towel.

Parsley – Not Just a Garnish

Apart from being delicious, parsley is also an excellent source of vitamin K (healthy bones and tissues), vitamin A (healthy vision and immune system), vitamin C (healthy skin, bones and tissues), potassium (normal blood pressure) and iron (to prevent anemia). It has also cancer-fighting and diuretic properties.

I have been using anti-aging serums and creams for more than a decade now and I believed they work fine. The last couple of years (actually, since I gave birth to my son) I became more critical towards what we, in my family, eat, drink, wear or put on our bodies. Being in an analytical mood and having quite a busy lifestyle, which does no good to my skin, I started to question if I am not actually buying fake dreams instead of really working anti-aging creams.

I am usually judging for my skin  in the morning after I wake up. Looking at me I ask: “Mirror, mirror on the wall, tell me ….. do I look well rested?”. And for the last couple of years my mirror has been horribly honest. The skin on my face was looking like a thin leather whose owner hasn’t read very well  its usage instructions. I had to make a change.

When I realized this I already knew that conventional skin care products are full of toxins to which I was certainly owing my unhealthy looking skin. I urgently needed a natural anti-aging serum that is simple to make (which I prefer rather than buy it), and of course, working. Having some experience with vegetable oils already, I headed straight to the Rolls Royce of them all  – the Rose Hip Seed Oil. What a miracle of the natural anti-aging skin care!

If you don’t want to buy  products that include silicons and petrochemical cosmetic ingredients, here is a simple and natural anti-aging serum recipe with vitamins, essential fatty acids and essential oil.

Natural Anti-Aging Serum Recipe

Ingredients:

- 4 tsp rose hip seed oil (for young and radiant skin)

- 2 tsp hemp seed oil (anti-aging and moisturizing)

- 6 drops rosewood essential oil (regenerating and rejuvenating)

Directions:

1. Apply a few drops of the homemade anti-aging serum on your face in the evening right after bath. Massage it for a couple of seconds.

2. If you use the serum during the day, it is necessary to apply a sunscreen on top. I personally use it only in the evening, while my morning beauty routine includes a homemade moisturizer with aloe vera and a vegetable oil.

3. Store it in the fridge.

4. Be patient. Results will come.

I don’t promise that a miracle will happen overnight using this natural anti-aging serum. We have been “abusing” our skin with bad cosmetics and unhealthy lifestyle for years.  So, give it at least a month before you start seeing any results. And I am impatient to hear your success stories!

Being eco-friendly doesn’t necessarily mean to look colorless or impersonal, and the following reusable bags prove it “eloquently”.

Due to the noble idea they have been made for and the vibrant colors they have, these reusable bags create such positive vibrations and mood that made me fall in love with them at first sight.

When I wear them, they provoke smiles, compliments and conversations about why we need to go for reusable bags and usually make my eco-consciousness very “contagious”.

The Reusable Bags I Love

Envirosax

This company offers a great variety of stylish reusable grocery bags that are strong (can hold the equivalent of two supermarket plastic bags), washable and eco-friendly. They are usually made of organic, natural, recycled or reused materials.

This Butterfly Bag (on the image above) is made of polyester, but I still call it eco-friendly at least because it is reusable and will surely replace thousands of plastic bags over its life.

There are a few more things I like about this brand:

- the beauty of Envirosax bags makes them “multifunctional”. I use mine for groceries, books, gym clothes, kid’s toys, and even for going to the beach;

- their reusable bags make a very practical and fashionable gift;

- they have a fun series of reusable bags for kidsthat can be a good chance to teach and motivate them to re-use.

BUILT Gourmet Getaway Lunch Bag

BUILT reusable bags are made with neoprene rubber fabric (vinyl and lead free). They are washable, stain-resistant, protective, insulating (up to 4 hours) and foldable. You can find them in as many patterns as you can possibly imagine.

Looking so smart and fashionable, my BUILT bag has an equal success when used for the office, beach and while I travel.

Deluxe Organic Cotton Reusable Bags by Simple Ecology

Though these organic cotton (GOTS certified) totes do not have the colorful patterns of the above reusable bags, they worth being mentioned here due to their interior dividers (including bottle sleeves), sturdiness, durability, and very simple (no-advertisements) look. I use them for groceries, bottles, my laptop and as a gift.

Why Choose Reusable Bags?

- nearly 380 billion plastic bags are used in the US every year. This is more than 1,200 bags per person, per year;

- Americans use more than 10 billion paper bags per year. To produce them, approximately 14 million trees are cut down every year;

Do you want more facts?

- plastic bags are often mistakenly ingested by animals, which results in death;

- paper bags carry high water, energy and pollution costs.

And we are not over yet…..

1. A Refreshing Peppermint Spray

The spray with peppermint will freshen the air in your home and improve your mood. Mix 10 drops peppermint oil, 5 drops lemon oil, 5 drops orange oil and 2 tbsp of orange flower water. Fill a spray bottle and use wherever in your home. Before using this homemade air freshener shake well.

2. Herbal Sachets

For centuries, lavender is used against moths and is a perfect natural fragrance for the home. Fill several cloth bags with aromatic herbs and place them in the closet or between the covers in the living room. Mix 1/2 cup dried lavender, 1 tsp dried marjoram, 1 tsp dried thyme, 4 dried and crushed bay leaves, 1 orange peel (dried and chopped), 1 tsp nutmeg, 20 drops of lavender oil. Mix well and fill a few cloth bags. Tie them and hang them in the closet.

3. Homemade Lemon Verbena Potpourri

Placed in a bowl next to the front door, a homemade lemon verbena potpourri will welcome you and your guests with a pleasant citrus scent. Mix in a bowl 1 cup dried lemon verbena, 1 cup dried lavender, 1 cup dried rosebuds, 1 tbsp dried marjoram, dried zest of 2 lemons (chopped), 3 tsp powdered orris root, 15 drops lemon oil, 5 drops lavender oil. Mix all the ingredients and shape them in balls or put them in a bowl.

This natural homemade air fresheners’ idea is taken from Reader’s Digest.

4. Spray with Scent of Roses for Clothes

Mix in a spray bottle 10 drops rose oil, 4 tbsp rose water and add plain water enough to fill 125 ml of liquid. Spray with it when ironing your clothes and don’t forget to shake well before usage.

5. Hops and Lavender Pillow

Hops and lavender are used to fight insomnia, which makes them very good ingredients for pillows. You can use plain pillowcase of cotton fabric and put sachet(s) with the following mixture: 1 cup dried hops flowers,  1/2 cup dried lavender flowers, 3 bay leaves (crushed), 10 drops lavender oil. Mix the ingredients well and place them in the sachet(s) and then in the pillow.

6. Essential oils diffusers

Mix 2 drops bergamot oil, 2 drops geranium oil, 1 drop tangerine oil, 1 drop black pepper oil. Place the mixture in a candle diffuser with water. Use a tea candle to evaporate the mixture and fill the air with scents.

7. Beeswax candles

Paraffin candles are made from the by-products of crude oil production. Beeswax candles, on the other hand, are made from a natural wax produced by bees with no added chemicals. Beeswax has a high melting point, which means it doesn’t smoke. Great air purifiers, the beeswax candles burn slowly and don’t drip.

Light some of these natural candles and you will fill your house with the warm and sweet scent of honey.

It is delicious and healthful. It is not a medicine and in some countries (mainly Eastern Europe, Greece and Turkey) is consumed on an everyday basis as part of the meal. Below is an easy way on how to make kefir milk at home for a fraction of the price you can buy it at the store. For a better taste (though I like it as it is) drink it with a bit of salt (preferably Himalayan) or as a smoothy with strawberries, bananas or other fruits. Yummy!

kefir grains

Preparations to Make Kefir Milk at Home

1. Buy kefir grainsor get them from a friend.

2. If you buy the kefir grains, they are dehydrated. So, it will take you about 5 – 7 days to rehydrate them.

3. To rehydrate the kefir grains, put them in a cup of fresh milk. Cover it with a coffee filter or a towel and leave it for 24 hours at room temperature.

4. Strain the kefir grains every day and put them in fresh milk again. Repeat this for 5 – 7 days till the milk begins to coagulate within 24 hours.

5. Be aware that sometimes it may take longer (2 – 4 weeks) before the kefir grains start to make kefir. Be patient!

NB: Do not expose the kefir grains to metals such as copper, iron or aluminum. Do not use a spoon, a sieve or containers made from these metals. Use plastic or stainless steel utensils and glass containers.

How to Make Kefir Milk

1. Place 1/2 tsp kefir grains in 1 cup (250 ml) raw milk (cow or goat) and leave to ferment for 12-48 hours at 66-86 F. If you don’t forget, you can stir it a few times a day. Fermentation requires a longer period with less kefir grains or lower temperatures.

2. Usually, within 24 hours, the milk thickens looking more like a buttermilk. If you wait longer, it will begin to separate the curd and the whey. You can eat it, at whatever point you like it.

3. Remove the kefir grains using a plastic sieve

4. Store the kefir milk in the fridge.

5. Now, if you wish, you can put the grains in new milk to kefir. It is not necessary to wash the kefir grains between each charge – this may even hurt them. However, it is a good practice to give the kefir grains a “rest” by putting them in filtered water every few months for about 12-24 hours.

Have you tried kefir milk? What is your favorite way/recipe to consume it?