My juicing journey.... "journey"

Before I start, just let me say... don't tell people you don't know that you're "juicing".  Every stranger assumed I was talking about steroids... uh, what?


Ok, I know it seems silly to call my juicing experience a journey but when you're not CHEWING food for 5 (supposed to be 10) days... it's a journey.

Kyle and I were completely committed to juicing for 10 days but our GE juicer broke on the morning of day 6. I knew we should have gone with the best quality. I called GE and our new juicer is supposed to be here in 7-14 business days. So, take my advice: don't buy a general juicer from your local Walmart. Invest in a good one. If we had done our research we would have purchased the one that Joe Cross uses in his documentary "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead".  This documentary is on Netflix and is what inspired us to start juicing... I mean we literally rushed to Walmart and dropped $150 on a juicer, fruit, and vegetables. Before you juice, PLEASE watch this documentary because it will answer so many of your questions. Plus it's a huge factor of your motivation and completely makes you re-evaluate your lifestyle.

You can buy Fat Sick and Nearly Dead here!

Buy the juicer that Joe Cross uses and recommends here!

My personal experience:

I know that everyone is different. Some people let food have all control over them *raises hand*, and some people can view food as something they eat just to give their body nutrition. Oh, must be nice. I honestly thought that this was going to be the MOST miserable 10 days of my life. I dreaded the challenge but anticipated the weight loss. An odd combination of emotions. I told myself I would be completely 100% honest in this blog. Day 1 was HELL! I had a headache because if I don't have an IV of coffee hooked up to me I can't function. Pathetic, I know. Kyle and I wanted to just quit because day 1 was so awful. I had no energy and just wanted to eat. Every food commercial made me want to go crawl in my bed and hide from the fact that I was about to only consume juice for the next week. However, I told myself that I will NEVER have the body I want if I continue to let food have control over me. That night I realized that food is a TEMPORARY satisfaction, and having a good figure is a PERMANENT satisfaction. Plus, all the health risks you're canceling out when you're not stuffing your face with processed food and gulping down chemicals and sugar. Don't get me wrong...I love junk food. I love soda. I love snacking. But something has got to give- my love for food or my love for being confident in myself. So, on Day 2 I woke up and made my green smoothie. After my 2nd one for lunch I had so much energy. I felt as if I could run a marathon-it was so invigorating! Also, when I had weighed that morning I lost 3.3 pounds. 3.3 pounds overnight? Um, what? Ok, I'll take it! The weight loss is also a motivating factor. After day 1, day 2-5 were a BREEZE. I couldn't believe that what I thought would be the most miserable week of my life was the easiest. Even now I am getting excited thinking about juicing again when my new one comes in the mail.  I made 16 oz for every meal. 3 times a day. I did 2 green smoothies, then a fruit smoothie for dinner. Vegetables burn fat quicker, considering it takes more calories to digest them.

Frequently asked questions:

"So uh... you don't eat?"
No. However, you're actually consuming a platter of fruits and vegetables for every single meal. More than you would be able to eat. This is why juicing is so good for you- the number of nutrients you're getting is amazing.

"What do you put in the juicer?"
Some people thought that this drink was a magic trick to loose weight that required no effort. They could eat whatever they wanted, but if they had this drink the weight would still come off. No. You put fruits and vegetables ONLY in the juicer. You are not chewing food what so ever.

"How long do you do it for?"
This is completely up to you. I would suggest starting out 10 days. If you set an unrealistic goal, more than likely it fails which just leads to discouragement.

"Will this make me sit on the pot 24/7"
Not at all. I got asked this too much not to include it.

"How much weight did you loose?"
The average weight loss is about 2-2.5 lbs per day depending on your starting weight. I lost 11 pounds in 5 days.

"Is it hard?"
Not as hard as I thought. The only hard day was the first.

"I heard this was bad for me? What about protein?"
Ok... seriously, how can you go wrong with fruits and vegetables? These were the foods that were INTENDED for humans to eat.

Tips:

Clean your juicer out immediately after every single use. You don't want mold or fruit flies!

You HAVE to prepare each meal (16 oz) right before you drink it. Fruits and vegetables can start to loose nutrition immediately. Not a significant amount, but it's always better to prepare it directly before.

Drink two green drinks a day, and one fruit! Fruit has all the sugar. Vegetables are always better!

Invest in a good juicer! It's completely worth it.

I don't suggest using banana- they hardly produce any juice and you're just wasting your money. Raspberries and blueberries don't produce as much juice as apples or oranges, but they give a sweet flavor.

Cucumbers and apples produce the most juice and taste refreshing and delicious!

Stay busy.

Recipes I used:

-breakfast
16 oz (one meal)
1 bunch of kale
4 stalks of celery
1 cucumber
2 granny smith apples
half lemon
ginger root (if you use ginger root, only use about half an inch)



-lunch
1 cucumber
2 Granny smith Apples
2 Oranges
a handful of spinach leaves

-dinner
6 cups of grapes
1 granny smith apple
1 inch piece of ginger
1/2 cups of blueberries

honestly, I would make a lot of recipes up just with what i had leftover. This blog is where I found the majority of my recipes!

I can't wait to continue my juicing!

GOOD LUCK!
Thank you for reading! If you have any more questions, email me at Leah61291@yahoo.com




I am not a health professional... this is just from personal experience!

Ditch the Differin

Little disclaimer- I am not a professional BY ANY MEANS- this is just what I have learned from experience and what has worked for me :)

I've always had an issue about my skin and everytime I visit a dermatologist they ooohh and ahhh "you have beautiful skin!" UM WHAT? Absolutely not! My dermatologist explained to me that blemishes and pimples are just topical and can be prevented by changing habits and your diet (more water, less dairy). Acne, unforuntely is not topical and root of the problem comes from under the skin. I started using Differin my sophomore year in highschool for the blemishes around my chin. My dermatologist warned me telling me that Differin was used to cure severe acne. After using it for about a week I had red circles around my eyes and they were so dry that I couldn't even wear makeup or mousturizer. It burned and was MISERABLE. Don't get me wrong, Differin works for some people but it is not necessary for minor blemishes here and there.

Now everyone knows I was not about to change my diet... sacrifice cutting my dairy intake? I think not!

Here are a few changes I made in my daily routine that have improved my skin:


DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE! 

I know, it's hard to do. It's almost as if I'm not even realizing that I'm doing it. But now that I'm aware it causes breakouts I don't even like to itch my face!  If you absolutely have to touch your face for some reason (itch, fix your makeup, etc.) wash your hands or apply hand sanitizer first. Your hands contain germs and oil that clog your pores. Bacteria and your face DO NOT get along. This is even important for guys. So many of them complain "I've never work makeup in my life, why am I breaking out?!" I can assure you it's because they more than likely go all day without washing their hands and don't even realize that they touch their face. Bacteria+oil= pimples. It's just an easy fix... keep hand sanitizer in your purse at all times!


WASH YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES AND SPONGES!

This is an important step if you want to improve your skin. Your brushes and sponges contain bacteria and if you don't wash them you are just re applying that bacteria to your face. It's just ASKING for a breakout. Clean your brushes and sponges once a week. If you wear makeup everyday, I would suggest washing them every 3 days. I wouldn't just wash them with soap and water- especially if you have sensitive skin and expensive brushes. Below are a few options of good quality brush cleaners:

Mac Brush Cleaner
Coastal Scents Brush Cleaner
E.L.F. Brush Cleaner



USE FOUNDATION WITH A PUMP!

My favorite foundation Revlon Whipped Color stay is sadly in a jar so I make sure I wash or sanitize my hands before I use it. I am completely in love with this foundation so I refuse to stray from it. But if you have the option, buy a foundation with a pump so absolutely NO germs or bacteria is getting into the bottle. Again, bacteria and germs will just be reapplied to your face daily.

LEAVE IT AT SPOT TREATMENT ONLY!

I have ALWAYS been a believer of slapping on the serum, moisturizer, toner, and anything else on my face before bedtime. At my last dermatologist visit he told me "nothing at all is better than too much". He explained that so many people pack on the products at night in hopes that they will wake up the next morning with dramatically different skin. Just spot treat your pimples- don't apply the product all over your face. Your skin needs to be able to breathe so keep the night time products at a minimum. Usually I will only apply moisturizer on my t zone and under my eyes. I use toner 3 nights a week.

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DIET! 

The majority of acne is caused by hormones which is found in a LOT of foods that we consume. If you are serious about clearing up your skin without medication try to avoid: ( all dairy products, cow milk, carbs, red meats, sugar, chocolate, caffeine, processed food, anything WHITE, spicy food, and alcohol.) I know, how depressing. How could anyone give up carbs and chocolate? Being a girl is tough, right?


I wish I would have known in high school to make these minor changes throughout my daily skin care routine- would have saved me a lot of money and worrying! I started making these changes about 6 months ago and my topical blemishes have reduced immensely. So, before you turn to the dermatologist and prescriptions, realize that some blemishes are preventable. I hope this helped!

Thanks for reading!
Leah

polka dot mani.

i can't stay away from polka dots! they are ADORABLE on nails. if you're a pinterest addict like i am, then you might have seen some nails similar to these. when i saw them i thought "UM, hello. HAVE TO DO THIS!" however, the color combination just wasn't for me. it was blue, with different shades of brown, cream and white.for some reason all i could think of was  baby nursery colors, ha.  i wanted to re create it with an aqua color, purples, and different shades of darker blues. this is SO easy, it really doesn't require a "tutorial" you just need know a few things to get this look:


-USE a white! after i did all the dots i finished with a few white ones. i felt like this made the colors all come together and pop.
-make sure the dots at the top of the nail towards the cuticle very close together and layered.
-USE a top coat! the top coat smooths the dots and makes it look more neat.


all you will need:

-your base color
-choice of colors for polka dots
- a white nail polish
- a top coat
-a dotting tool (i use a bobby pin)

first, paint your nails whichever base color you choose.

the next few steps is just adding your dots very close together. i found it easier to take the first color and put it on every single nail then the same thing with all the others. don't put all the colors on one nail at a time, it will take too long!

 dark blue

 bright blue

lavender

all i did was continue to add more colors (similar but different shades) and then added white polka dots. add about 2-3 small dots towards the bottom.

for the last step don't forget to ADD A TOPCOAT!

the results:

I LOVE IT! there are so many color combination possibilities with this look!

thanks for reading!

-leah

EASY and inexpensive nail art.

before i begin let me say one thing...

STOP WASTING your money on $8 nail art pens and $6 nail strippers!
you almost never get the desired effect with nail strippers and nail art pens are not only over priced, but the nail polish in them are too thick. using them just seems like a constant disappointment.


under $2 a pen i created these designs:

there are so many designs you can do with these pens!



so what are they and where do i get them?

elmer's paint pens! i get mine at walmart for under $2 each. you can also get them in a pack of 5 for $9. (the neon ones come in the pack of 5) i have done zebra, polka dots, letters, stripes, french tips, hearts, cheetah,  and so many other designs because it is SO simple. since these pens are so inexpensive, you can have one in every color :).


thanks for reading!
-leah

come follow me on twitter!

follow me on twitter: my twitter :)


tweet me a picture of your nails if you created any of the looks so i can put them in a blog post!

"tie dye" nails.

the glory of tie dye is that a mistake can lead to an even better result. tie dye doesn't have to be perfect, which makes these nails so simple.

all you will need :

-red nailpolish

-orange nailpolish

-yellow nailpolish

-green nailpolish

-blue nailpolish

-purple (or violet) nailpolish

if you like this effect but not the colors of the rainbow, you can use whatever colors you prefer. 

-a safety pin 

a thumbtack will work too

-nail polish remover

-a brush for cleanup

i'm using a brush that came with gel eyeliner.

-paper towel or napkin

make sure all your nailpolish caps are loose like the picture above. YOU HAVE TO BE QUICK in order to do this. if you try to run the pin through while they are dry, all the colors will clump together and it won't look good.

first start out with red (obviously) and put a dab of it in the left upper corner of your nail. with each color, continue to create a rainbow shape like so: 

do this with every single color- they will run together but that's okay! that's what makes it look neat.

^ this is what it looks like before you run your pin through it. 

next, you will get your pin and start at the red. then, run it from the top to the tip of your nail. 

WIPE OFF your pin each time on the paper towel.

next, just use your brush (or a q-tip) to clean up the nail polish around your nail and cuticle.

applying a top coat is important because it blends all the colors together. like the pin, start at the red and apply the top coat all the way to the tip of your nail. 

results:

i LOVE anything that reminds me of my childhood! especially tie dye because it allows you to be messy :)

thanks for reading!

-leah

make your old mascara like brand new.

My absolute FAVORITE mascara has been discontinued. Of course, like everything I love- never fails! I searched EVERYWHERE! Nope, nothing! So... I took matters into my own hands :)

I've been using this technique since middle school. It's so convenient if you don't want to spend money on a new mascara or your favorite one has been discontinued.

All you need:

-Contact solution (brand doesn't matter, any will work)
-Your old mascara


Some people might think this is unsanitary and that you should replace your mascara often. That could be true, but I've been doing this for around 7 years and it's never caused pink eye, an infection, or a stye. 


All you do is take the cap off your mascara. Put about 5 drops of contact solution in the tube.

After this, shake the mascara and mix it around with the wand until it looks brand new again.

It's that easy!

Before:

It's dry, dull, and doesn't apply well.

After:

It looks like brand new again and applies perfectly! I love this technique especially if you spend a lot of money on mascara and don't feel like dishing out $30 on a new one every few weeks!

I hope this helped! Thanks for reading.
-Leah

easy and quick polka dot nails.

i feel like i have bought every "neon" nail polish from every brand that claims theirs is the most vibrant. puh-lease. i am dissapointed every time. well, my friends, the search is over. i FINALLY found nail polishes that give the effect as if they are glowing. the camera does not do justice for this yellow nailpolish at all. the nail polish is from the orly summer 2012 collection called "feel the vibe" in the color glowstick. i must have been at ulta the day they came out because i went the next day to get the other colors and they were all sold out!
i searched amazon and found the blue one from the collection: purchase here
i have been to what seems like every ulta in a 25 mile radius from me and they are no where to be found- if you find an ulta that still has them in stock let me know!
i wanted to do something bright and fun, so i created polkda dots on my nails. i don't like the look that a toothpick gives- the dots are too small. i didn't want to go through the trouble of finding a dotting tool online then waiting for it to arrive, so i looked for an alternative. i have tried various things and have discovered that the rubber tip of a bobby pin gives me the best polka dots! it really is SO simple and requires absolutely no skill.

if you prefer a dotting tool, you can purchase one here.

what you will need:
-nail polishes of choice
-topcoat
-bobby pin

first, pain your base color. if you're using a highlighter yellow color like i am, it might take a few coats to become opaque. you could also apply a white nail polish first to make it even more vibrant.

next, take the tip of your bobby pin and press it againts the brush. another option is you could put nailpolish on a plastic plate and dip the bobby pin into that.

after you have the nail polish on the rubber tip of your bobby pin, gently press it onto your nails creating a pattern of dots. REMEMBER: you need to reapply more nailpolish after every 4 dots.

this look is so simple and only took me about 10 minutes. you could create more dots with different colors or even leave it like this:

i applied more dots with two other colors, then applied a top coat: 

 i hope you like this look! thanks for reading!

-leah

no wand, no worries.

i purchased a styling wand from hot tools about a year ago. i was watching an episode of teen mom (sue me, sue me...i know) and fell absolutely in LOVE with chelsea houska's hair. her curls weren't the type you see in the pantene commercials,

( <---- i mean really, who does this?)
 and her hair wasn't "scrunched". i couldn't figure out exactly how she did it. after doing my "research", i found out she used a styling wand. i was getting ready when i could NOT find my styling wand. i looked everywhere and had called all my friends to make sure i didn't leave it at their house. it was no where to be found. then, i realized, "my styling wand, my holy grail...was left at the hotel." there was nothing i could do about it, seeing as the hotel was 15 hours away. i needed to do something-i was completely over the look that a curling iron gave. i. needed. my. wand. so, i improvised. i used my curling iron. i was hesitant because i worried that it would leave a crease in my hair, but it didn't. that's why i'm here to prove to you...

no wand? no worries!


all you'll need:

-1 inch curling iron
(your curling iron barrel needs to be 1 inch. if it's larger than that, there will be too much wand and not enough hair. therefore you're not going to get the look you want unless you have really long hair.)
-hairspray of choice
(they all work the same to me)
-dry shampoo
(hair curls easier when it's dirty and it also holds longer. so, go a day without washing your hair then spray this in your roots. it also adds texture if you want to create a side braid, etc.)
-a teasing comb
(this is optional, but i highly suggest it.)
-brush

click here to purchase the curling iron i used. it's 6 dollars cheaper online.

first, you'll want to section your hair off. if your hair is thin with hardly any layers, you could just section it into two halves. if your hair is thick or you have multiple layers i would divide it into 3 sections.

the next part is tricky if it's your first time. be careful not to burn your fingers- you can purchase special gloves for this that way it's easier to wrap your hair around the barrel of the curling iron.

 click here to order a heat resistant curling iron glove.

wrap your hair around the barrel. you want to get every inch of your hair around it. if you don't, all the ends will be straight.

in the picture above, i don't have the end of the hair wrapped around the barrel just yet. since there is more hair at the top of the barrel, i leave it for about 15 seconds, then wrap the end of the hair slowly and carefully around the barrel and hold it for about 10 seconds.

after 25 seconds, DO NOT pull the curling iron away from the hair. release the hair by just letting go of the end. the results look immensely better if you let the hair fall from the curling iron in a downwards spiral direction.

it's that easy. the results:
(my beautiful friend torri liening)

some people may already do this, or have figured out that you don't need to waste your money on a styling wand when you can use your current curling iron. if not, i hope this helped! another option is to remove the clamp from the curling iron- i don't like to do this because i enjoy having 2 products in 1 :)

thanks for reading!
-leah

to create this look, you will need: 
-micro beads
-nail polish of choice
-two bowls (one to mix the beads in and one to catch the remaining ones)
-a flat makeup brush for setting the beads

i purchased 2 larger containers of beads (one white and one black) and a set of smaller ones consisting of  light blue, dark blue, green, pink, red, and purple beads.


where: michaels
brand: recollections (martha stewart makes these as well but for 3 times the price)
price: $1.99 for the the black and white micro beads each and $4 for the 6 pack of multi colored micro beads. michaels is having a 50% off sale on this brand, so don't waste any time.

Click here to get a 20 count set of micro beads! :)

before painting your nails, prepare a mixture of what beads you want. you can do this or just use one color:

after you prepare your color choice of beads, paint your nails one coat of nail polish.  i'm using "beach cruiser" by orly from their new summer collection.

where: ulta
brand: beach cruiser by orly in their 2012 summer collection called "feel-the-vibe"
price: $8.50 each

it's VERY vibrant in person, it appears dull on camera.

this color may be sold out since the collection is new: 

Click here to buy this nail polish for $2 cheaper :)


the next part is the most important- paint your second coat of nail polish more thick than you usually would. this holds the beads in place:

since the nail needs to be wet when you sprinkle on the beads, you have to do one nail at a time.

slowly sprinkle the beads onto the wet nail- they cling flawlessly:

after the beads cling to your nail, take a flat makeup brush and gently (let me stress that...
G-E-N-T-L-Y) pat the beads. this will set them into the polish:

the brush i'm using:

where: target
brand: elf
price: $1

to store the excess beads, i used an old lotion bottle from a hotel.

believe it or not, after that you are FINISHED! dry time is quick, and a top coat is optional. not only is this look cheap, but it is far more simple than it looks. it only took me a total of about ten minutes even though it looks as if it requires time and skill.

completed look:

If you sprinkle your nails, tweet me a picture here! :)

thanks for reading!
-leah