I had an aunt that said that the recent heat is causing her high-blood pressure but with air-conditioner all-day long, she knew she was bound to have a heart attack! I mean, good luck with the electricity bill!
Last night I was looking for a way to relieve my leg hair ingrown (not fun at all). I've tried to moisturize it with cream, tweeze them, put cold compress to it and it still didn't work so I resorted to just wearing pajamas. And with a super hot weather, I just know that I cannot be doing this for a long time. No way.
In my search for a way to relieve the irritation, I stumbled upon using loofah. I couldn't believe it at first because I thought it might irritate my skin more. But I gave it a try anyway. Nothing can be more frustrating than being weak against an itch especially when you've gone through worst of times.
I soaped my legs with Dove and gently used loofah. I couldn't believe how much relief I had right after! The next day, my legs were not back as they were before but what a huge improvement! My pores were no longer protruding and red. But what really struck me was my legs felt cool right after I gently scrubbed it. I took a bath again and this time I scrubbed with loofah. And guess what, I felt cooler! I didn't even need to turn on the air-conditioner!
If you have the same ingrown problem, I read that you can do it twice a day. This is to help the hair go out freely of the pore.
As for the heat, exfoliating is needed so the dead skin cells will be removed and not trap the heat exhausting out of our bodies.
I didn't know there were so many benefits that can be derived from using loofah. (It is also said to reduce cellulite at regular use.) Well, I'm glad I have it in my bathroom. Cheap and nice and easy!
It's officially summer! Out with shorts and skirts! But with all these heat (almost 35 degrees Celsius), who wants to put lotion on their legs to keep it moisturized? I use Dove soap with 1/3 cream. But with temperature off the charts and a little more you've got fever, it's just not enough! Hello dryness!
Yesterday, I was really searching for a natural way to lighten my leg scars due to cuts that I got from walking my paranoid dogs. I saw in one post that Aloe Vera can actually help lighten scars. And since my mom has a herbal garden, I asked her for a piece of Aloe Vera. I used it on both legs and left it there overnight. The next day, I tested my skin by scratching it. The part where I placed Aloe Vera in didn't leave a mark. I also wax my legs every now and then and when the hair grows there's a time when it's really itchy. Aloe Vera helped relieve it also.
What you do with the Aloe Vera is wash it first then cut a knife through the sides so that the thorns will be removed. Then strip off the skin of Aloe Vera and then slide it directly to skin and leave overnight and wash the next day. If you do this everyday, a lot of websites say that your scars will be visibly reduced. I also tried it on my face. It's said to be good for the wrinkles under your eyes! My skin did feel smoother after. Thank God for my mom's herbal garden! I'm doing this all summer! Let's beat the heat, wrinkles, scars and itch with Aloe Vera!
Is it just me or just looking at its picture is already relieving the heat? Hmm. Yeah. It's just me.
Last night I was showing my mom the effect of my trial homemade bronzer, which was basically just cocoa powder brushed on my cheeks. I even went under the light so she can see clearly. But instead of noticing my bronzed cheeks, she noticed how clear my skin was.
Days before she told me as I was under the light that I had eruptions and last night she told me otherwise! I do tea baths almost everyday but yesterday I did something completely different. I bathed in lemon with salt. (We're missing the Tequila here!)
I heated some water, added about 9 Kalamansi (Philippine lemon) and added the salt after turning off the heat. Salt will make it hard for the heater to do its job because of its cooling effects.
My hair was shiny but it wasn't as soft or manageable as when I did my Stevia, Java Mint and Chamomile bath. But it was very shiny. My skin look like it lightened too. I wear T-shirts a lot and the sunburn just below my collar bone is a mainstay for me. But after doing this, my skin visibly lightened in this area. It is not suggested to do this bath everyday because it might be harmful. But if you want lighter skin and clearer complexion, lemon and salt are your kitchen-go to.
This baby came from my mom's garden. Pretty thing, isn't it? Smells great too.
Air-drying takes about 3 days. I used about 3 tbsps. worth of dried leaves before putting them in boiling bath water. I left it to boil for another 20 minutes. At around 15th minute, the house was filled with the sweet, refreshing smell of Java mint. My mom noticed it first. I completely forgot about heating the water with tea leaves in it. Ha! This is why I do not cook! But, it was incredible like a whole-house aromatherapy session. But the smell just doesn't stay too long. Too bad.
The bath was incredible. I currently use mentholated shampoo because when it changes weather a lot, I tend to get dandruff. What I notice about Java mint bath is that it's not as mentholated as what we use in commercial shampoos and body washes. It's a lot milder and the smell doesn't stick so long as all good things but the effects are to be in love with. My hair was really shiny and soft and manageable right after and no itch! I had my mom feel my hair and she said it was like a horse's. And I take that as a compliment.
After talking about a lot of tea baths here, you might think that all tea baths are made the same. Well, no. I'm just lucky that so far because I've tried good teas that have great effect on hair and body. My mom has tried Lagundi tea bath, although it has warmed her entire body on cold days, it didn't make her hair look as nice. So not all tea baths are made the same but I am starting to believe that all are awesome for skin. I haven't used lotion for weeks (apart from the fact that it's summer) and I can tell you it's far from being dry.
So another of the tea bags that I have totally forgotten and just expired are the free samples given to me by an organic Stevia gentleman farmer I met.
And it would be a waste to throw away like the Expired Organic Chamomile tea bags I had. So I did a little research. According to Wisdom of the Ancients, Stevia can heal cuts and sores. It is said also to smoothen wrinkles and make skin soft when they dry from this tea rinse. A woman also claims that it removes aches and pains when put in the bath and is just as relaxing. It's also a good hair conditioner that helps retain hair color and makes the hair stronger. Just leave the rinse at the bath for 5 minutes.
With my expired Stevia tea bag, it's time to try this ancient secret to sweetness and beauty.
What you need:
Hot bath water
Stevia tea bags (enough to color water)
Steep tea bags for 15 minutes. Remove the tea bags and enjoy. Tea bags may be reused 5 times.
Review:
It's indeed relaxing but it didn't have the extremely calming effect as the Chamomile bath I had last night. I almost fell asleep through dinner. And it did get my aches and pains I have or maybe it's the hot water. As for the effect on hair, it didn't turn out as soft as the chamomile bath but the shine of my hair was fantastic and it managed to calm my curls. Definitely a must do! Can't wait to do a chamomile-stevia fusion bath!
This is what it looks like when it's fresh by the way.
I was supposed to try out making yogurt but since I forgot to buy yogurt at the grocery store for my starter set and we have Yakult, I decided to make Yakult milk instead.
I wanted a really CREAMY yogurt so I bought my favorite powdered milk, Bear Brand. But creamy Yakult milk, is another thing worth trying.
Since I baked fabulous Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip cookies and making Yakult milk needed oven assistance, I decided to make it after the baking.
1. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Celsius. (Better if you bake first so it's more economical.)
2. Mix the three ingredients together in oven-proof bowl. Put in oven at 250 degrees then turn off the oven.
3. Leave mixture undisturbed for 12-14 hours. This is what it looks like after 12 hours.
And when you mix it, you will see some formed lumps.
4. Chill for 2 hours and enjoy! Add sugar if you want to taste.
Review:
The consistency reminds me of cottage cheese that's more runny.
It has the tangy taste of yogurt and the aftertaste of Yakult without the sugar. Definitely, an acquired taste. Sugar makes it easier to down just make sure you dissolve the sugar well. But the health benefits make it totally worth it. For more information on Yakult, visit http://www.yakultusa.com/. Cheers to healthy intestines!
A new twist to an already tested recipe! I've posted before about DIY Ice Cream. I've always wanted to try mint ice cream and since my parents have java mint (also used on my DIY Fresh Mint Choco Chip cookies), I thought I might as well make ice cream.
What you will need:
2 all-purpose cream
20 fresh Java mint leaves
1 can condensed milk
1 c. chopped chocolate
So same recipe as DIY ice cream only difference is that we'll be heating the cream in a sauce pan in low fire with 20 leaves of Java mint. Do not boil. Keep stirring the cream until there are bubbles at the side of the pan. Remove from heat and cover pan for 30 minutes. This is what you call steeping. The same thing is done when you make tea.
After 30 minutes, sift the tea leaves and press it down so all the flavor will go to the cream. Refrigerate cream for about 2 hours or until it looks thick and not runny. Whip it until soft peak. Add chocolate chips to your condensed milk and fold into whipped mint cream. Refrigerate for 6 hours or until it has solidified.
I got this idea from Simply Recipesand merged it with the easy recipe I got. Turned out well except that again, I dread bittersweet chocolate. (Just a little more and the bittersweet chocolate will all be gone from the pantry. *Evil laugh*)
Our next door neighbor gave us a box of organic chamomile tea bags from London about a year ago. But being busy people that we are, we forget things. And two days ago I found out that it already expired.
Honestly, I found it a waste to just throw it away so I found a different use for it that's just as effective as the oral intake. I used it in my bath.
I placed in hot bath water 3 bags of this baby. I shampooed and scrubbed with loofa and rinsed out with chamomile tea.
I knew of the calming properties of chamomile as a drink and as an essence but as a tea bath, who knew? I was so relaxed right after, you'd think I came from the spa.
I was well-aware that chamomile can be used for highlighting hair for blondes but not of the other benefits of bathing hair with chamomile tea. My hair was so soft and shiny after. Conditioner got nothing on chamomile tea! And it is said to lighten eye bags too. I have yet to try this!
Which reminds me, I have expired stevia tea bags too - but that's another story. Expired tea bags rock!!!
A friend of mine has been requesting mint chocolate chip cookies from me for the longest time and it is only now that I found the time to finally try making them. Sure there are available mint food essence available in the market but fresh is always better! And since my parents have an herb garden, I might as well take advantage!
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of baking soda
Group B:
1/2 cup or 113 g. unsalted butter, at room temperature
165 g. coconut sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Group C:
1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chopped
1/4 cup of chopped fresh mint leaves (or food processed)
1. Sift Group A together.
2. Cream butter and sugar for 10 minutes (KitchenAid speed 4). Add egg and vanilla then mix for 30 sec. (KitchenAid speed 6).
3. Add Group A to creamed mixture in 3 additions. Mix only until no traces of flour can be seen. Scrape sides as needed.
4. Add Group C and fold manually until well incorporated.
5. Refrigerate for 3 1/2 hours. But you can chill for 30 mins if you cannot wait. (I couldn't wait.)
6. Scoop dough (approx. 1 tbsp./ pc.) in greased cookie sheet. Put flour in scoop as needed so that dough doesn't stick. Place cookie dough one inch apart each other in cookie sheet.
7. Bake at preheated oven temperature 180 degrees Celsius for 7 minutes. Leave in cookie sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.
Makes 20.
Recipe Review:
I think I've mentioned in my post for DIY ice cream that I'm not a big fan of chocolate cake or ice cream. It's the same with cookies but it's always nice to bake for your mom who worships chocolates, yes?
What I don't like about my first attempt is the fact that I used bittersweet chocolate. It was the only thing available in the pantry. I'm weak against bitter stuff because I'm sweet. Ha ha! My mom loved it though. She's a sucker for all things bitter. Eew.
I like how the cookie is firm on the sides and chewy and wonderfully moist on the inside. The green patches are not as visible when you see the cookies in person. I used flash for this photo.
I guess the only down side to using fresh mint leaves in your cookies is that it tends to get stuck between your teeth. But if minty fresh breath after a sweet treat is what you are after, this cookie will not disappoint. Will definitely make them again but this time with semi-sweet chocolate.
After posting about two wonderful cakes and thinking about making mint chocolate ice cream and caramel frosting, I think it's about time I thought of posting something about fitness. And what better way to offset these wonderful craving than working on our booties.
I've obsessed about my thighs and have done self-cellulite massage and have discovered in my first blood donationthat it can be thigh-slimming. I wish I was kidding too but my pants were really loose on the thigh area after my blood donation. But mind you, it's not the be and all of slimming down your already wonderful pair of thighs.
I've began exercising regularly starting January 3 and I have since focused on my thigh size reduction. I measured myself before beginning with my exercise and by the first week of March (blood donation not included), I've already lost 1 inch not only on my thighs but also my arms and waist. And I'm going to share some of the things, I've done after days of searching the internet for the best way to lose all the unwanted gravity on my body.
Since I have very low attention span, I only do these for 30 minutes.
1. Walking
2. Brisk walking and jogging
3. Biking
4. Home Exercises - include warm-up exercises and other movements that target the thighs.
Home Exercises
Apart from 100 counts of skipping rope, squatting to going all the way down, jumping jacks, stair step exercise, butt squeezes, weights, sit-ups and elbow-knee reach crossovers, what I really want to share here is an exercise I discovered upon my search. It's deadly but it's very effective! It gets easy to do once you get used to it. I showed this to my best friend and she told me she had results in just two weeks along with the cellulite massage. I can really say the same. My thighs were definitely firmer after two weeks!
I like the sumo squat jumps better, which is like the reverse of a jumping jack. The curtsy lunge and side lunge done alternately is a little too deadly for me. What I like to do is do curtsy lunges and side lunges separately with 15 counts for each side and 3 repetitions.
I guess the most effective way to get your sexy thighs is to be consistent and to exercise regularly. Mix and match exercises so that you don't overdo anything and you give your muscles time to rest.
To keep me really motivated to exercise and to create the exercising habit, I have put up an exercise calendar.
Every time, I miss a day, I pay the next day. Meaning if I don't get to exercise for 30 minutes on one day, I exercise for one whole hour the next day. I've also placed below my calendar, the handwritten word DISCIPLINE to remind me to be disciplined about it. And it's a good reminder because I pass by it almost all the time.
I still allot a day's rest from exercise. But now, when I don't do to my regular exercise patterns my body starts looking for it. Remember, YOU are the boss of your body! Don't let it tell you what it wants to do especially when it's lazy.
I used to want to be really slim like those Korean pop stars and weigh 50 kgs.even if its underweight for my height but a few months of exercise made me appreciate my own body. I realized that it's not the weight but the health to do the things I like doing, the glow of my skin, the shine of my hair, the clarity of my thoughts and the ability to donate blood that is more important to me. Now I'm happy with myself but it doesn't mean I'll stop taking care of it. In fact, it motivates me to look better by taking care of myself. Yes, exercise does that.
As Laura Pirott says in her Elf-help book, Take Charge of Your Eating...
Look at your body and appreciate your physical uniqueness. Relax and be as you are, without trying to hide or wish away parts of yourself. God has lovingly made you. Marvel at the creation that you are.
