Tag: healing season
Spring Cleaning Your Skin!
The struggle is REAL.
You look in the mirror and think, oh dear, it’s my MOM (or Grandma *gasp*)
Then you think, beauty is fleeting INDEED, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised, right?
Right!
But that doesn’t mean you don’t want to show your best face, right?
Right!
Your skin is the body’s largest organ and it deserves care!
I remember standing in the skin care isle at the drug store, looking at Deep Crease Serum.
The woman next to me was about 75-80 and had GREAT skin!
I asked her what her secret was and she said, “I never God married or have kids, so I don’t have worry lines.” I think she was being serious.
Well, THAT is not an approach to skin care that is gonna work for this mamma, and incidentally, neither did the cream I chose. Recently though, I’ve been on a skincare “full court press” and I’ve found a few things that seem to be working.
We all want something that works, right?
Right!
So….here’s the scoop!
My daughter turned me onto the skin care routine that she witnessed as an exchange student in Japan.
Here in the U.S. A. it’s gathered the common name The Korean 10-Step- Facial.
Now, note this. There is something profoundly different about the ways Korean makers are crafting their skin care and it just….works. So, when I’m at a discount store with good skin-care, I always check and see it there is anything with a basically “clean” label that was made in Korea. My rule is, if it’s clean and under $5, GRAB IT. I don’t have an entire line of Korean products for my routine. In fact, several of my 10 steps are being done with homemade products, but friends. I swear it’s working. I don’t know if it’s the products themselves, the way they are layered or maybe I skin is just glowing because I’m finally practicing the kind of self-care it’s been wanting my whole life! Either way…the change is dramatic enough that my husband, friends and co-workers can see the difference and ask, WHAT are you DOING?
So, win!
The product brands I’ve tried so far are called Tony Moly, The Crème Shop (they have a mask with snail slime in it!) and I’m Real! They are not fancy or special as much as they were…on SUPER SALE!
The Ten Step Facial takes about ten minutes twice a day and the system is basically as follows:
1-Oil Cleans. I made an oil cleaners with olive oil, castor oil and geranium
2-Foam or Gel cleans (I’m using a $4 Korean brand I got at Marshalls)
3-Exfolliate (Use whatever you have. I am using homemade product made of coconut oil with oats and honey)
4-Toner (again…whatever you have. I’m using witch hazel)
5-Treat problem areas (for example deep wrinkle cream or acne-tea tree oil is great for this)
6-Essence (this is a very light moisturizer. Mine was $3 on the Body Shop sale rack)
7- Serum! (I’m using Roc right now. It was $10 at Kroger)
8-Mask (I think this may be the secret sauce of the 10-step facial) A couple times a week, choose a nice and nourishing sheet mask. If you can find one that has a good clean label of ingredients, grab it. The one’s I’m using are from Tony Moly and The Crème Shop (both Korean makers) and were about $1 each at Marshalls. But look and see what they have. Choose a few that fit your needs.
9-Moisturize. (Just use what you have. Day cream by day and night cream by night)
10-Sunscreen (by day) and either a “Sleeping Mask” by night (I am waiting to find a cheap one of these) but for now: a nice layer of Castor Oil!
YES! It’s extensive.
No! It’s not vanity.
It’s creation care.
You are His marvelous creation.
I hope you find time to care for your sweet self today!
If you try this, let me know how it works for you.
Faith the size of a CHIA SEED?
Friday was National Chia Day!
Aside from being the foundation of gag-gift giving of the Chia-Pet for a generation, it turns out those little chia seeds are just plain great for your health!
They are protein packed boasting 5g of protein and 10g of fiber in each 1 oz serving. Plus it is full of brain healthy omega 3’s!
Incorporating chia into your life can be as simple as sprinkling them onto a salad for a nice crunch.
But if you’re looking for a sweet treat, look no further than a chia pudding!
Basic Chia Pudding is the healthy answer to tapioca pudding. It’s quick, easy and packed with nutrition!
Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- 2 cups coconut (or almond)
- 1 tbs pure maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1 cup mixed berries, favorite fruit or dab of jam (optional)
Instructions
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In a large bowl, whisk together milk, sweetener, and vanilla extract. Slowly whisk in the chia seeds to avoid clumps.
-
Stir every few minutes for the first ten minutes, then refrigerate the mixture. Let it thicken for at least 3 hours, or as long as a few days.
-
When ready to serve, divide pudding into 3 bowls or jars, and top with your choice of topping.
(Excerpted) Shannyn Caldwell is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Student of Natruropathic Medicine
Shannyn’s Healthy Homemade Yogurt
excerpted :
Last month, we Caldwell’s welcomed an InstantPot into our kitchen.
Honestly, pressure cookers have always scared me a bit, with stories circulating through our family history of explosions and spaghetti sauce on the ceiling. But when all of American exploded at Christmas with blog upon blog and photo after photo of happy/healthy mama’s smiling next to their shinny little cooker-bots…I BIT!
Mostly, I wanted to be able to push a button that says “Yogurt” and then watch a tiny little miracle happen. And THAT’S exactly what I feel has happened.
My Syrian grandma, Mary used to make her own yogurt. It was delish. Making is…GROSS, Grandma! But this? It’s “set it and forget it” goodness.
My husband says it’s the best he’s ever had. My son has requested I make it each week!
And…EASY! So…if you are feeling adventurous or just want to up that pro-biotic count and thus improve your digestion and absorption of nutrients, this is for you.
I don’t know about YOU but for me, if it’s going into something called the “Instant Pot” it better be really, really easy. Dare I say Instant? There are many yogurt recipes out there, so I started with the most simple and decided I’m move up the “complicated tree” if the simple one did not turn out. Count yourself bless, Insta-friend! The easiest one worked out just GREAT!
This is definitely easy. No boiling. No thermometer! (since this is non-dairy yogurt)
To create this Greek Yogurt textured pot of yummy, simply mix all the ingredients above (except the gelatin) together. Split the creamy goodness between your two clean ball jars and put them uncovered in your Instant Pot for 11 hours. When your little pot sings it’s happy “I’m done” song it will read “Yogurt” on the display! That’s when you just pull out the jars, stir in the gelatin (or better yet, blend in the gelatin) and pop them in your refrigerator until they are cool.
And they are SO cool! I hope you enjoy this and thanks to the blogger at My Big Fat Grain Free Life for getting this idea started. (she doesn’t add the syrup so hers is a pure plain yogurt, while this is a tiny bit sweet)
Top with your favorites: Berries….MORE syrup? Have fun, sweet ones! Be well.
Shannyn Caldwell is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and student of Naturopathic Medicine