Honey-Oatmeal Face Mask

If you have honey and oatmeal in your pantry, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't make this! You can check out the E-how's recipe here. I have decided to decrease the recipe so that there will be fewer surplus.  

What you will need (My decreased version):

3 tsp. instant oatmeal

3 tbsp. hot purified water

1 tsp. honey

Bowl

Spoon to mix

What to do:

Pour water over instant oatmeal and add honey. Mix well. Cool until warm enough to apply to face. Put on your face and do something you like for 30 minutes or more. Wash off with warm water. 

Verdict:

Quantity: There was still some left-over. I might have to reduce again next time by half. Thankfully my dog eats everything! But this recipe will be perfect for two. I suggest that you just apply it on your face because it's a messy clean-up if you ought to put it in other parts of your body. But if you really feel like giving yourself, go right ahead!

Compared with other masks: I like this mask a lot because it doesn't fall off. Unlike the Honey-Cinnamon Glaze (which I love still!), you don't have to worry about spilling it because it's not runny at all. It stays in place until it dries up so you can pretty much do something else if you don't feel like just hanging back and listening to music. (I indulged in reading Calvin and Hobbes Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons Collection because I am very mature for my age.) And with this you can move your face too unlike when I do the Blackhead Removal Mask, if you move it will crack on you. But different masks, different effects. 

Effect: It's definitely exfoliating and my face feels less oily after this. According to E-how, oatmeal absorbs the oil while honey is anti-bacterial and moisturizing. Perfect combination for me and my oily skin. Next time, I'm adding cinnamon for that wonderful smell! 

According to Green Earth Bazaar, we should use different liquids for this face for different skin types. 

Oily (Purified Water)

Normal (Milk)

Dry (Cream)

I was so tempted to add raisins in this mask (think oatmeal and raisin cookies) but apparently it's better digested than placed on skin. But oatmeal and honey really proves that what's healthy to eat is just as good for your skin. 

Image from:  http://www.oatmeal-soap-shop.com/honey-oatmeal-soap.shtml 

Honey-Cinnamon Glaze For Your Face

I came across 22 Homemade Body Scrubs, Masks and Lotion Recipes by Tip Junkie and like any DIY personal care junkie, I literally flipped out! I can't wait to try all of these things! As I was scrolling through my latest find I saw, The Miracle Mask. It contains only three ingredients that suggestively smells oh-so-good; honey, nutmeg and cinnamon. *Bites lower lip*

I don't have nutmeg because I'm not really a fan. But I did have honey and cinnamon so I decided to take a plunge. 

What you will need:

2 tbsp. Honey

1 tsp. Cinnamon

A bowl and a spoon

What to do:

Mix and apply to face. Lie down and listen to Mindy Gledhill's songs for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

Verdict:

Quantity: This recipe is for three people. I tried it the other day and I had a lot of left over so I shared it with my mom. I tried to convince my dad but he's too macho for honey and cinnamon.  My mom still had enough to put a thin layer on her arms and neck as well. It was kind of messy though. So if you're the only one using it, try to cut the recipe in half so that you don't spoil anything. 

As a mask: It really smells good. I felt like a Krispy Kreme donut basking at this mask's glory. But my mom and I felt a bit of itch using this. We can be allergic to one of the ingredients so please be reminded that before using it on test it on your wrist before applying the whole thing. Thankfully, the itch didn't blotch and we still came out with lovely exfoliated skin. 

Face Massage: Since my face itched a bit, I couldn't sit still and just let it happen. I started massaging my face and boy, was it relaxing. The smell of cinnamon was circulating and it was just heavenly. I didn't matter if I was doing my own face massage because it was so good. 

Remember: When massaging your face, only use your beauty fingers (middle and ring finger) because these two fingers don't have the same pressure as your other fingers, all your fingers all together, or your palm. Our faces are very sensitive that the skin follows the form of the pressure you apply to it. Scary isn't it? So use your beauty fingers and always do an upward-outward circular motion whether you are cleansing, exfoliating, putting toner or moisturizing. It's anti-aging and it's free. 

All in all, I love this mask with the face massage. It made my skin really soft and it really smelled good. And when I washed my face, I didn't mind tasting it a bit (it's really good). If this isn't skin food, I don't know what is!

Care For Your Eyes

Image from: en.wikipedia.org

Two weeks back, I had a bad case of eye spasms - the one when your eyes just go haywire on you out of nowhere. I was using the computer then for just a few minutes when suddenly my eyes were literally zooming in and out uncontrollably. I was dizzy, nauseous and my head ached so much I thought I was going to throw up. I went to the bathroom to check on my eyes. I was normally low-blood so I thought maybe it was the culprit for all these symptoms sprouting but I looked fine. I returned to my chair and when I focused on the computer screen again, the spasms were there again. I begged off of work that day and scheduled an appointment with an ophthalmologist the soonest possible. And there I found out that I have over-dilated pupils. 

So what are over-dilated pupils? Normally when our eyes are exposed to light our pupils constrict or go smaller to protect them from eye strain due to too much light coming in. A normal person's pupil is measured about 2 - 2.5 mm. Mine were 4.5 mm and they weren't constricting. 

My doctor asked me if my head felt heavy every after I use the computer. I use the computer many times a day for leisure but not for straight hours like at work. I did notice that my head feels really heavy after a day of being in front of the computer. I just thought it was normal. 

I was given eye drops that will help my eyes relax and was required to rest. But these eye drops do not cure the fact that I cannot overexpose my eyes to too much light whatever the source since my pupils are naturally over-dilated. I'm almost on my second week and I still wear sun glasses even inside the house because my eyes are not yet well-adapted to normal and natural light conditions. 

You may be asking why I am sharing this with you? I am sharing this with you to make you aware of how valuable your eye sight is. For a week, I was not able to watch TV, use the internet, read, write. I could not even text and go out of my dark bedroom because light made my head hurt. I am improving steadily everyday but a lot of things had to be put on hold because I have, in some way, abused the gift of sight. I take pride that I have near perfect vision but it is pretty much of no use if your eyes cannot take much light. 

Eye Exercise

Taking care of your eyes at work is simple. The ophthalmologist recommends that you give your eyes a rest every 15-20 minutes. Just take your eyes away from the computer screen for about a minute and focus on something else before going back. When we are so busy at work, our eyes fail to blink sometimes and this can cause eye strain and eye spasms. 

Yes, our eyes get tired and I hope nobody takes this fact lightly especially if you have over-dilated ones like mine because it can eventually lead to blindness. If you are having eye problems, I suggest you visit your ophthalmologist as soon as possible and have them checked. If you feel fine, take care of them by doing this simple eye exercise and by wearing sun glasses so as not to over-expose it. 

Our eyes are not just the windows to our soul. It is also the window to the beauty of the world and the people we love. Let us not take it lightly. I am certainly learning this lesson well. Care for them not when it's too late and be grateful for this gift.  

Make Your Own Body Wash

I've been a Dove girl ever since I was little. I have sensitive skin and so nothing else will do! A couple of weeks back, I was researching about how to make your own soap when I came across "Make Your Own Body Wash" from the wonderful blog called One Good Thing by Jillee and yesterday I tried her recipe for making my own Dove Body Wash.   

What you're going to need:

1 Bar of Dove Soap 

Grater

2 c. Mineral Water

Medium Sauce Pan

Spoon to Stir

Glass Bowl to Cool

Pump Bottle

What to do:

1. Grate Dove soap bar.

2. Put in sauce pan, add water and heat until soap is completely dissolved. Stir every now and then. 

3. Put in glass bowl to cool. Takes about 2 hours. 

4. Transfer to Pump Bottle and allow to set for 24 hours to achieve desired consistency. Enjoy!

I love the idea of a body wash because I think it's more economical. When I use Dove bar soap, a lot of it stick to my soap dish. With a homemade body wash, you get to use every bit of soap. Plus, it lessens your carbon foot print since you will be using just one pump bottle unlike when you keep buying body washes. 

I'm a PRACTICAL Dove Girl. And I love it!

How to Stretch in Your Office Chair

Found this in Facebook and thought of sharing this with you. When I started work weeks ago, I always came home with my back aching. Thankfully, my dad is well-trained in reflexology. But not everyone has the luxury of having an in-house masseuse so these exercises are a must.

Do this warm-up exercises before and after work like you would when you're training for a sport. Happy stretching!

Tarragon Tea: Calm in a Cup

I've never been a fan of Tarragon until today. I've recently started working full-time and of course, like anything in life, I was adjusting. But I was adjusting so badly, it came to the point that I thought I was having an Adjustment Disorder (Think every form of escapism and shrink here). Note: Don't rely on the Internet to diagnose yourself. You have been warned.  So this morning, I asked my mother if there is such a thing as over-the-counter CALMING medicine. And it was then when my mom suggested that I take Tarragon tea. (For more of my mom's best herbal and herb advice, visit https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/)

Tarragon tea, according to my mom, calm nerves. I never really enjoyed Tarragon in food but as tea, it was just heavenly. It reminded me of licorice but milder in flavor. It was indeed calming. I had it all day in the office and  I was alert enough. And I got a lot more work done because I was relaxed. And the smell is awesome too! I like how it filled the office with a homey - not so corporate - smell. I researched a bit and found out that it's good for digestion and detox. 

Image from:  http://bluepalletoncanvas.wordpress.com/

But the biggest surprise to me was how it relieved my Dysmennorhea, which explains my hormotional behavior. Don't listen to your emotions all the time especially on those days. Usually on my first day, I feel so much discomfort even when I'm sitting down. But today, I didn't feel so much pain. I was even energetic for a 30-minute stroll.

Get your Tarragon at Php60/seedling. 
Visit https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ for more details. 

I've read that Tarragon essential oil does this pain reliever job. But hey, why bother when you can get it in a cup? 

What you will need:

Tarragon leaves (dried or fresh)

Hot cup of water

What to do:

Steep for 10 minutes and enjoy. You can refill the cup as many times. 

The ideal intake a day is three cups. I think I had 6 today. Dried leaves are said to be more stable. But I like fresh leaves because they smell better and taste much sweeter.

Get your Tarragon at Php60/seedling. 
Visit https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ for more details. 

This is good for insomniacs too. Take a cup of Tarragon tea an hour before bed. Calm days and sweet dreams everyone! 

Beignets for Father's Day!

I had no idea what Beignets (pronounced as Ben-Yay) were until... I watched The Princess and the Frog. And since I am my dad's not-so-little anymore Disney Princess (he bought me a collection of Disney movies when I was a kid), I thought it'd be fitting if I made him Beignets. I don't know if you see the logic here. But it's there somewhere. Ha ha!

I tried making Giada de Laurentiis' Italian Zeppoles before which are like Beignets. They are essentially donuts with no holes or fritters. Zeppoles look more like munchkins and Beignets look like this. I didn't like Giada's recipe though because it was so... egg-y. It smelled of egg even with vanilla. 

Photo from: http://cuzilovefood.tumblr.com/

But I did find an easy and delicious but not as pretty recipe for Beignets! Thank you Food.com for this recipe! Click here for the recipe!

This is how mine turned out. 

Instead of nutmeg, I used a pinch of cinnamon. And I drizzled some honey before putting confectioner's sugar (just like Tiana's ha ha!) It tasted so good! There's a little crunch on the outside and it's soft on the inside. And it's perfect for rainy days especially when you eat them piping hot. We did this last night. One of the best feelings in the world! I just love it! 

I can't wait to make them again! It may not be as pretty as the authentic ones but it's a quick fix. As for taste, they say it comes pretty close! I'm glad I found this recipe. I'm stocking up on the ingredients so every time I need it, I'll just make my own! Try it yourself and let me know how yours turn out! Enjoy!

Your Ideal Weight According to Your Body Frame

http://practicallyathome.blogspot.com/

I went on a medical check-up just recently and to my surprise, the doctor told me I was - wait for it - UNDERWEIGHT. The last time I checked I was 120 lbs and when I weighed in last week I was 3 lbs heavier. It was my mother's birthday the day before, sue me. And the last time I checked, I was 5'7 until I was proven wrong AGAIN and found out I'm just 5'5. Clinics should start having standard height checkers because my height's different every time.

So I was shorter and heavier and worried so it came as a BIG SHOCK to me when the doctor told me that I was UNDERWEIGHT. Yes, UNDERWEIGHT. And you probably are too unless you know your body frame. 

I have a medium frame. And according to the table in Health Check Systems, for my height and frame I should be 127-141 lbs. 

You can check yours in this website too. But the bigger question is, how do you actually tell what your frame is? My doctor gave me the easy way. 

What you will need:

Tape Measure

Your Ankle

Put the tape measure around your ankle. If your measurement is 6-9 inches, you have a medium frame. Less than this, you have a small frame. More than this, you have a large frame. I measured 7 inches so I have a medium frame. 

By writing this, I do not mean to disregard BMI completely. But relying on it solely might be misleading, so it is best to take your body frame in consideration too. Keep healthy! 

Comfort Food: Fried Cauliflower to the rescue!

I've been kind of down lately. And usually when people are down, we don't have the appetite BUT we find comfort in stuffing ourselves in the hopes of filling the gap - whatever that is. I've read somewhere that the best solution to a food craving is to actually give in because if you don't, you'll stuff yourself with things that are somewhat like it (but not it) and end up eating more because you look for the satisfaction that is just not there! And once you're satisfied, you can stop obsessing over it. Done deal. But what if you are craving for a BINGE? Well here's a recipe for you! Fried Cauliflower to the rescue!

What you will need:

Cauliflower

Breading Mix (Enough to coat florets)

1 Egg

What to do:

1. Remove the patch surrounding the cauliflower. 

2. Cut into florets.

3. Beat egg and coat florets.

4. Coat with any store-bought breading mix for chicken.

5. Fry until the stems are soft enough to pick-up using a fork and serve. 

My verdict:


A friend told me about this when she was reminiscing about the college days in her dorm. Her friends used to do this. And what can I say? It's really goooooooooooood!!! A bit salty though because I didn't use a really good breading mix so choose what you will use.

A cup of fried cauliflower is said to have 172 calories and 4 grams of protein according to Spark People. I don't eat a lot of junk food but I know that they probably amount to the same calories as a cup of fried cauliflower. The defining difference is actually in the protein content. When I eat junk food, I end up still hungry after devouring the entire pack. This cauliflower snack is very filling. No empty calories for me! I even ate it with organic red rice. It makes a wonderful viand too.

So the next time, you are craving for comfort in the form of a binge, you might want to think of your health and a beautiful vegetable flower called Cauliflower. 

Ubran Green Chic Vintage Rag Curls

I have never encountered rag curls in my entire life until I came across Making Do with the not so New and the Frugal Things I Do's Rag Curlers entry. And from there, I tried to do it myself. 

What you will need:

Wet Hair

Comb

Rag strips

Shower Cap or a kerchief

I found several great tutorials worth checking out for wonderful rag curls:

Vixen Vintage

A Beautiful Mess Blog

They have awesome pictures!

But if you're like me who is in dire need of a video tutorial, below is Michelle Phan's rag curl tutorial.

As for my neophyte rag curls:

Ha! Not bad! You see my hair is bipolar, the roots to about half of my hair is curly and the other half is wavy but definitely much straighter. I'd love my hair more if it went another way around. But these big curls are something to be in love with. I used to not want my crazy hair but this... I might as well worship it!

I had a hard time at first because my hair is a layered cut so when I curl my hair some bunch of strands fall off.  But these things can definitely be learned! They say you can do this before bed and when you wake up in the morning, all you have to do if release the curls. I wonder if this will work for people who can't stay put while sleeping? I hope it does. I pray it does! Because it's definitely something worth trying (or doing everyday) for healthy and high hair-esteem, lower electric bill, and being urban green chic!