Economical French Beauty Products
Yes it is possible to have a French pharmacy at home without breaking the bank
Nothing screams beauty and elegance so much so than Paris. In fact the first thing that comes to mind when visiting the city of romance, is the shopping. One of the go-to items most shopper seek out is stocking up on beauty essentials at the local French pharmacy.
Nevertheless, there’s no reason to wait for that special trip. It is actually possible to acquire French essentials right from the comfort of home. For those who fancy a more traditional shopping trip, it will be quite a shocker to find out that of all place Target is the ultimate go-to source when it comes to all things French.
Skincare is where it all starts
A common misconception most people have when thinking about the latest French beauty trend is that the cosmetics aisle is where it’s at. On the contrary, choosing to purchase up and coming lipsticks, mascaras and foundations is so far from being the key to achieving true beauty.
Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentre ($28.00) https://www.target.com/p/embryolisse-lait-cr-232-me-concentre-2-6-oz/-/A-50269754: One of the most common skincare hurdles so many undergo is finding the best antiaging treatment and that pesky dry skin. After all there’s nothing good that can come of these annoying yet normal biological changes. The weather and time are elements none of us can escape from.
Just a few dabs of this creamy yet light moisturizer will not only sooth dry skin, but combat wrinkles as well. Unlike most products which can be so rich and heavy that they bring nothing but irritation. This product is safe for even the most sensitive of skin.
Bioderma
On the contrary Bioderma is as gentle as water because in reality that’s much of what it is. Bioderma in this form not only delivers results, but it’s convenient as well. Good bye to worrying about bottles leaking and soaking an entire luggage’s contents.
Its compact size make taking beauty essentials anywhere possible.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Face and Body Sunscreen Melt-In Milk Lotion – SPF 60 – 5oz ($35.99) https://www.target.com/p/la-roche-posay-anthelios-face-and-body-sunscreen-melt-in-milk-lotion-spf-60-5oz/-/A-14225601: This next item may be the last thing on anyone’s mind given that the warmer months have finally come to an end. However, truth be told the need for sunscreen doesn’t come to an end when summer does. In fact going out in the sun or even just a few rays of it make applying sun screen as absolute must.
Despite the protection it provides that greasy feeling that used to be ever present in sunscreens is nowhere in sight. Not only will this product provide excellent protection, but it absorbs quickly too.
Don’t let the size and price be a deterrant because just a dab equals a day of protection. Safe to use on even the most sensitive skin this product is anyone’s beauty and health kit must have as well.
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil 50ml/1.6oz ($23.85) https://www.amazon.com/Nuxe-Huile-Prodigieuse-Multi-Purpose-1-6oz/dp/B00PB6THNE/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1538092159&sr=8-2&keywords=Nuxe+Huile+Prodigieuse+Multi-Purpose+Dry&dpID=41EecyXXdIL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch: As it is with most of these products the price seems alright since a tiny bit is all you need. The anti-oxidant components found in Tsubaki oil not only moisturize both hair, skin and nails, but it prevents stretch marks as well.
What could be a better product to have on hand for these coming cold months? Its light fragrance and absence of harsh ingredients, make this a suitable product for just about anyone.
Looks like it isn’t so unattainable after all…
The prices may not be bargains, they aren’t outrageous either. Give these products a try the results will be far from disappointing.
Mary Thompson
What Is This Magic That Happened to My Yogurt ?
OK, so those of you that know me know that one of my favorite late night snacks is tossing some stevia
Then I came across Yogurt Burst. It is available on their web site but not sure it is on the market yet in general stores. I searched Amazon but couldn’t find it – maybe it is there by now: CHECK HERE TO SEARCH AMAZON FOR YOGURT BURST
Yogurt Burst is pink pixie stick looking stuff that turns plain yogurt into Fruit-Yogurt, but has nearly no carbs nor calories nor artificial sweeteners nor stevia nor sugar alcohols or Any of that stuff. Sound dubious? I was skeptical, so decided to try it out.
THE RESULTS:
Good Googamooga! Remember that strawberry Nestle Quic
The Cons: OK, there IS a bit of a catch. And that is I used double the amount they suggested. Still, perhaps some of the best strawberry yogurt I’ve tasted. Including regular sugary yogurt. Again, totally serious. Now, part of the catch is the high fiber content. I know what you’re thinking, fiber is good! For most people that is true, for me – my 1 serving of yogurt suddenly had 10 grams of fiber. Add that to the lentils I had for dinner with the high fiber low carb tortillas. Fiber adds up quickly – I prob had 60 grams of fiber in under an hour. I wouldn’t mind LESS fiber in my diet. But for most, the high fiber content is a good thing. CATCH # 2 – IT IS FILLING! Once again, this might be a positive thing for most people. But, I had several hours left in my day and whole lot of episodes of Sinner
And if you’ve been watching/reading this blog/know me personally, I definitely recommend you GO THE EXTRA MILE AND MAKE YOUR YOGURT – this powder in homemade yogurt? WOW!
LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN YOGURT AT HOME HERE, IT IS WAY EASIER THAN YOU THINK!
HOW DOES THIS YOGURT BURST STUFF WORK?
I am inspecting these ingredients right now as I type. Chicory Root fiber, strawberry powder, vitamin c, orange peel. They say the sweetness comes from the chicory root. There is almost NO sugar in a serving. 2g and 10 calories the way I make it (half that the way they suggest). Honestly, I can’t tell it is not strawberry jam mixed in yogurt. It is a pretty ingenious invention. Totally vegetarian and vegan too, which is nice. No soy which is also nice, because like fiber – I get way too much of that in my diet. I don’t know, it tastes too good for that label to make any sense. But hey, what do I know about Chicory Root sweetener.
So, IS YOGURT BURST WORTH IT?
$12.95 is a pretty hefty price tag, they say it comes to 52 cents a serving. Which is $1.04 per serving how I like it. That is a steep price. However, the difference between having really really good strawberry yogurt vs. my usual stevia concoction is something. I do save money by MAKING MY OWN YOGURT.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO WITH YOGURT BURST?
It is STELLAR when added to plain whey protein powder, and get this! It makes super awesome sugar-free actually healthy Kool Aid! I am going to try making frozen yogurt with it next in the ice-cream maker
7 Yummy and Healthy Swaps (So You Can Always Enjoy Your Favourite Food)
Looking for ways to add flavour to your meals? It might seem difficult, but there are ways of packing tonnes of flavour into your food without piling in the calories, and they don’t have to be that difficult either! Here are 6 easy ways to still enjoy your favourite food sacrificing your health in the process.
Healthy Fried Rice, That Still Tastes like Rice!
Rice can be good in moderation, however, if you find that when you cook it there is enough for the whole village (and you managed it eat it all) it might be time to find an alternative.
This dish is simple, all you need to do is chop your cauliflower roughly, then put it in the food processor. Blend it for around 30 seconds or until it resembles rice. From here you can toast it in the pan or steam it in the microwave. You can use this in any meal where you would have used rice and it will taste pretty much the same! Our family favourite is cauliflower fried rice, my kids didn’t think twice when devouring this!
Make Your Own Chocolate Bars
If you find you a get a hankering for chocolate, try making it yourself. There is a vast difference between cacao and cocoa, if you learn the difference and implement it in your cooking and baking it will help improve your health significantly.
The nutrient and vitamins packed in cacao powder are outstanding! Not to mention it tastes can as yummy as cocoa. The kids love getting in the kitchen and making chocolate truffles. It really only takes a few ingredients, cacao powder, coconut oil & sea salt!
Don’t Step Away from The French Fries
Self-proclaimed health nuts even like to have French fries from time to time. The next time you want fries try baking them instead of deep frying. All you need to do is toss your sweet potato chips in a plastic bag with olive oil and semolina. Shake them around and get a nice even coating. Throw them in an oven for 30 minutes at 360 and you will get a crispy chip every time.
Dried Fruit, Nuts and Seeds
Dried fruit is a fantastic way of adding natural sweetness to your food! If you have cereal or oatmeal for breakfast try throwing in some dates before you cook it. You will fall in love with the caramel flavour dates give.
If you also like a bit of texture try adding some seeds or chopped nuts to your breakfast cereal. Throwing in a few hazelnuts, it gives the slight taste of Nutella!
Nut and dried fruit can also be a yummy addition to savoury meals. Throwing some sultanas into your couscous will give you some Mediterranean flavours or try pine nuts in your roast vegetable salad
No More Boring Dry Chicken!
There might be nothing like a crunchy deep-fried chicken thigh or breast, however, can be guaranteed to feeling greasy afterwards! If you’ve tried the oven baked chicken breasts, thighs or legs you know they can be a little dry!
The best way to ensure your meat is juicy and succulent is by going low and slow and adding your flavour via smoke. Kids love something with a handle as well as to chew on, so smoked turkey legs are perfect! Not only is turkey leaner than chicken the grill leaves the turkey with a delicious outer crust!
Give Condiments the Limelight!
A really easy way to give your meals a healthy boost is by making your own condiments! Do you love pesto pasta? Why not try making your own pesto. Not only can you use it for pasta, but you can also use it to stuff chicken, spread on a flatbread or simply dip some carrots into it!
Are you a fan of that creamy butter? Avocado is great to spread on toast or a flatbread and it has a similar texture to butter. You can also try making your own salad dressings, salsa or even smoky paprika hummus! It is super simple and healthy way of adding some flavour to less than exciting meals.
When eating well creativity is crucial. You don’t have to deny yourself, you just need to make a few changes here and there. A few new habits will help you and your family lead a healthy lifestyle as well as enjoy it!
It’s Latin Grammy Voting Season Again!
Who are your top pics for this year’s Latin Grammy awards?
The 2018 Latin GRAMMY Awards will be held Nov. 15 and broadcast live on Univision from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Happy 125th Anniversary for Swami Vivekananda and The Introduction of Hinduism to Chicago
September 11th is actually remembered for a different reason than you think, a positive one. It is also the date of the first day of the Parliament of Religions event in Chicago in 1893. At this historic event, Swami Vivekananda introduced Vedanta to the United States and forever changed the course of religion and interfaith relations.
CELEBRATE AND LEARN “BUY” HEARING THE SPEECH ON ITUNES HERE: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/swami-vivekanandas-original-recording-from-the-1800s/280197596
How Will You Measure Happiness in Your Relationships?
Happiness in our relationships is a big deal to all of us! We all want it but only some of us get it. In his book How Will You Measure Your Life Clayton Christensen a professor at Harvard Business School has something to say about this subject. Happiness is a measure of our lives!
Finding Happiness in Your Work Life
Happiness and success aren’t about making heaps of money or having the perfect family. It’s a balance between motivation and being deliberate. Christensen states it’s impossible to have a meaningful conversation about happiness without an understanding of what makes us tick. Most of us don’t understand the true nature of our motivations – and thus, ourselves.
Making heaps of money does not make you happy if you hate how you earn that money or how the company makes money to pay you. Money might make you tolerate your work life or the relationship you are in, but it won’t make you happy.
More importantly what are the things that bring you satisfaction? These are the things that motivate you, fill your tank and make you feel alive! So, part of the process of seeking happiness is to know makes you feel alive, brings you purpose and meaning.
Once you start to get a clear picture of what success and fulfilment looks like for you, you have to ensure that you put your time, money and energy towards them. One of the mistakes that we often make is to dedicate our efforts and resources to the things that yield the most immediate and tangible accomplishments.
As an example, many people prioritise things like a promotion, getting a new car over things that require long-term work to see a return, like raising good children and having a loving relationship.
Finding Happiness in Your Relationships
Christensen says that the relationships we have with family and close friends are the most important sources of happiness in our lives. Putting them on the back burner – no matter how important it seems at the time – is a big mistake. By the time we realise that there are serious problems in a relationship, it’s often too late to repair them. As a relationships coach I concur. I often see people who have waited too long to get help. Help is not impossible but the longer you leave it the more work you need to get it to work.
Here’s a way to ensure that it never gets to the point of no return!
Good relationships need consistent attention and care. There will always be an ebb and flow of how intense that attention can be, but it must always be there, never allowing things to be running on empty. There are two forces that will work against you here.
First, it’s tempting to invest your time, energy and money into things that give you an immediate payoff. Like that promotion at work, or that next big project that needs your full attention for weeks at a time. Second, your family and friends will almost always be supportive of you, but how many times can they sit and wait for you to remember them? You must guard against this and put in the time and effort into the things that will help nourish those relationships on a regular basis.
Jobs To Be Done in Relationships
If you want to find the key to strong and healthy relationships, you need to figure out the jobs that need doing in the lives of those around you. These things will vary from relationship to relationship, and the key is to listen to the other person deeply (long enough) to find out.
In the areas of your life where you can choose your relationships, you’ll want to look for somebody who you want to make happy – somebody you find yourself wanting to sacrifice for. Why? Things are not always rosy and when they are not going well you will dig deep and be there for the other person.
Christensen rightly points out, if falling in love is the ultimate understanding of each other’s jobs to be done, then what cements that commitment is the extent to which you each sacrifice themselves to make it happen and continue to invest to keep the love fire burning.
Not sure how to do this? Seek out a relationships coach to help show you how you can keep the happiness fires burning.
Christensen ends the book with a powerful line: Decide what you stand for. And then stand for it all of the time.
This is your measure – choose what you stand for and do it and that will determine your happiness!