I have been hearing around town that a new Korean Style spa is coming to Granada Hills. I haven’t heard any more details than that, and nothing specific except that someone heard that someone heard. I’ll keep you posted.

Everyone should incorporate aloe vera into their life, in my humble opinion. Sure, it’s a very dramatic looking organic, you can snap the spears open easily and reap the benefits of a healing gel, and it is virtually impossible to kill for those of you (me included) with a purple thumb…but have you ever considered actually consuming aloe vera? Incorporating 2-4 ounces of aloe into your daily diet can improve:
- Circulation
- Constipation
- Regulate blood sugars
- Detoxify the body; cleanse the colon
- Improve immune system with it’s antibacterial/anti fungal properties.

Still want more? How’s this:

“Aloe vera works to both reduce and stabilize the body mass index by stimulating the metabolic rate in our liver cells so that we burn more energy. The energy used for this comes from fat and carbohydrate stores in the body. Drinking aloe vera juice every day has been likened to doing multiple workouts throughout the week. Aloe has a high content of collagen protein. When you drink aloe vera juice every day, the body has to spend additional energy to assimilate its protein into your system. This extra expenditure of energy also supports weight loss and muscle development. Aloe vera reduces the amount of time food stays in your intestine, which means that less energy is absorbed from the food.” Taken from AmericanChronicle.com

I take it daily in a cranberry/aloe drink mix, usually after my workout. I also have a probiotic supplement that I take every morning that contains significant traces of aloe vera in it’s components, so I’m taking it twice a day. Other ways that you can consume aloe off the top of my head would be to throw some aloe suppliments in a smoothie, as a juice, or even as a daily supplement from your natural food store. If you’d like to know the details on the ArdysLife supplements that I personally take, drop me an email and I will send you the details. Or you can go to your local health food store.

IF you struggle from anxiety, stress or have a hard time dealing with drama that forces itself into your direction without invitation, but don’t have time to deal with the sedative effects of xanax, or resorting to begging the good doctor for some other drug regulated controlled substance for relief – you NEED to try Rescue Remedy. An entirely brand new substance to me – this 100% natural and holistic approach to stress management is amazing!!! Here’s how I was introduced to what I am calling ‘Jesus Juice” aka Rescue Remedy:


I have a very neurotic and rescued pekingese named Cha Cha, who has a notorious barking and separation anxiety issue. After 4 years of a calm and lovely living situation with us, he still had showed some issues of the nuerosis, and my holistic-friendly veterinarian Dr. Winkler recommended Rescue Remedy in the Whole Body section at Whole Foods as a supplement to enhance calmness in the dogs. Method of use is pretty simple – 4 drops into a glass of water, or you can drop them onto your pulsepoints.

For pets, the dosage is the same, 4 drops into their water bowl or food, or you can apply it to the dog’s paws or rub them behind the ears. One word of caution though: if you do the pulse point method (like I did) don’t be surprised if you all end up lounging extra hard on the couch because I think the solution seeps into your skin as well. Needless to say, we all had a very zen evening. I bought mine at Whole Foods for close to $20 with tax – but I just found it at Drugstore.com for $15.99 plus free shipping, so you know where I’m getting my replacement from!

When I brought it home, I decided to give it a try myself, and whoa…WHOA. It was amazingly relaxing, yet without the narcotic/sedative effects of xanax. I don’t think I will be using it again, but as a suppliment to my insane dog’s behavior issue, I am seeing great results. After all, the dogs don’t have a gazillion things to do and make sure the bills are paid at the end of the day. Yoga does come in a bottle!!

Truth time: Who thinks they are too old for Benefit Cosmetic’s Posie Tint? (RAISING MY HAND!!!). I remember when this product first launched and the sales guy (yes, i said guy) at the Macy’s counter was showing me it, I took one look at the name and thought “Oh that is for teeny boppers”. When was that…last spring maybe?

Well, anyway, I finally was in a position of actually trying on Posie Tint when I was against all odds, and guess what?? I absolutely ADORE it! And I’ll tell you why: It’s a sure fire way of getting a tint of color right where you want it. I put two dabs on what I would like to consider the ‘apples’ of my cheeks, but being that I have chipmunk cheeks, when I smile, I have huge power-sized cheeks and its super hard to find a good blush that is light enough, but noticeable enough, and I think that I have found it with Posie Tint!! It has just enough sheer illumination in it that you can build color…but you know what – as I type this I think that I will have to do a video blog just so that I can show you, because it really is that good. Stay tuned!

Sooooo, my new pekingese puppy Obama (Obi for short) has been quite a challenge to train. As a matter of fact, it almost seems as if he is the one training me. I hate to admit it, but it is true. I barely started crate training yesterday, because frankly, I just have had it. I’m channeling my inner Dog Whisperer, and even saying commands in spanish, if that will help me at all.

I just can’t seem to handle his energy. And the bad part is, that he hasn’t gotten his full round of shots yet, because he is only 3 months old and still has another month to go before he can go on walks, which I know will be a complete asset to his training. I suppose I am just venting at this point, however, at the moment I do sit here with Obi tethered to my my belt loop so that he can’t sneek off and pee in the living room.

Anyway, my friend Ivy suggested today a site (here is the banner link) that has better pricing on some of the holistic doggy suppliments and pet meds than at Petco, so I thought I would give them a try.

In the meantime, I did notice that they are offering a puppy daily newsletter…a sign from the universe?? THANK YOU IVY!!! Once Obi gets some sort of home training, we must playdate with Bear!

Here’s a rundown and excerpts from an email that B and I had exchanged earlier this week. Chastity had also sent me a flyer for the Latisse product, and for the record, I heard Jillian on Good Day LA talking about how she bought some Latisse too but ended up giving it away because she didn’t want to deal with the whole application process on a continual basis.

So, here’s what I know thusfar: it’s actually a product derivative as a glaucoma medication because patients who were using it as a treatment for glaucoma were noticing/complaining about their lashes getting super thick. I have 2 different friends – both male – who have glaucoma and use it for relief from their symptoms and they both have the side effect of super duper long thick lashes, but it’s not a cute lash its kind of like George “Snuffy” Snuffalufagus thick where they go straight down with no curl or anything, and they fall off easy and get stuck in the eye.

I’m assuming that the Latisse formula is rather light though so it may not cause the lash to get that crazy. Oh! and also, it has the Cinderella Effect, meaning if you stop using it, it stops working. for 120 bucks and daily application, I would rather pay 80 bucks and get lash extensions with $15 refills for my money and time, plus immediate results rather than maybe/so so results.

Another side effect that it has, which probably won’t affect you but is a pretty serious one,  is that it may change your eye color pigment, like if you have light eyes, it might possibly make them darker, and if you use it for too long, it might give you that egg-yolk thing to your eyeball. my friend has egg-yolk eyes and one eye is way darker than the other. Its crazy, but he needs the meds, so what are you gonna do?

Anyway, I’m not sold on the latisse… But i’d totally be interested in what your take was!

FYI: Drugstore.com has Latisse for $109 with free shipping and scaled discounts if you buy multiple packages if you are going to give it a shot. Please let me know what your results are, I am interested!!!

xoxo!

Diana just referred me to Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto. I’ve got to try it now – not only because the name is fabulous, but also because she says she feels like her lashes are uber-vixen-ized! I’ll let you know my verdict, but so far its 1 for 1. Not bad!

So, since we are all grown here, and summer is around the corner…the Brazilian wax has been the buzzword of the week. For the sake of people’s business, safety and rumor-control, no names will be mentioned here, but I will make a few strings of advice that I suggest you take heed to:

1. Never go for the ‘free brazilian wax‘ deal. I know we are in a recession, and dough is on a limited scale, but seriously ladies…it’s a pretty important part of your body that you really shouldn’t skimp on. Really.

2. If the esthetician asks that you get into ‘happy baby pose’, make an excuse and get out of there. Word up.

3. If there is a nail station and a breakroom in the same room and you are only separated by a curtain, rethink your destination.

4. Remember: a brazilian wax should never take more than 20 minutes.

5. Don’t go in clean shaven. You need something for the wax to grip on to.

6. Keep this in mind: The state of New Jersey is going to the board to consider banning the professional services of brazilian waxing due to a number of infections & hospitalizations in the region. I’m just saying.

Each one, teach one ladies…don’t play with your money maker!!

Hey, people! Yea, I’m talking to you…! I have some new magic beans in my pocket, and it’s called Maca Magic. You can get it in pill form, powder form or liquid form, and trust me, after a few days of ingesting this Incan super-root,  you will totally feel it’s magic properties! Since I’m rather sensitive to pills these days (I know, ME – the pill popping enthusiast) opted for the powder form. I add it to my morning oatmeal, blend it up in smoothies or sprinkle it on cereal, and I am omgsoloving it! It has a sort of nutty-malted flavor so it’s something you will actually enjoy, and doesn’t taste crazy at all.

Hailing back to the days of the Inca, maca has been in use for over 2000 years. Here’s another infamous quicklist of the properties in maca:

- enhances sexual function/fertility
- adrenal balance
- energy without caffeine
- no additives, totally 100% whole food
- 20 amino acids, 18 of them fatty acids (for skin and hair)

Sustained hormonal balance, pms relief and aided concentration with absorbable calcium, maca was given as a tribute to Incan generals, and then Spanish lords. Enjoy!!

If you are a facebook persona, like me and everyone else I know, be sure to join Diana’s massage group Vilchi’s Touch for massage wellness. It’s free and fabulous!

Yay! After almost a month of waiting for my online order for my bumpits to come, they finally did! And I’ve got to say that I’m super digging them! It was nice to see that the packaging was really nice, and the volume combs are indeed super easy to put in, they work and they stay in place!

I got 2 baby bang bumpit combs, 2 medium size bumpits, and the extra large ‘special event’ bumpit (which I haven’t worn yet). The thing I love about them, is that they are sooooo easy to put in, and I haven’t had to tease my hair since! I even wear them to the gym after a long day at work, with no slippage or anything. With shipping and tax and what not, the package came out to around $37 bucks, but I’ve had SO many good hair days without incident, that I’m thinking it’s been worth it time and time again. Yay two thumbs up!!

While it’s not too great these days to sizzle in the sun for prolonged lengths of time without the adequate protection, a daily dose of sunshine and fresh air is good for the body & mind.  Check out this bit of info that I got from my VitaCost.com daily newsletter:

“Vitamin D is necessary for the maintenance of healthy phosphorous levels in the body and works with a number of other vitamins, minerals and hormones to promote bone mineralization. Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, is a form of vitamin D manufactured by the body when the skin is exposed to the UV rays of the sun. It may be necessary to add a vitamin D supplement to the diet due to inclement weather, aging, excessive use of alcohol, strict vegetarian (vegan) diets and overactive parathyroid glands.”

Wooot!! We are going on a field trip this saturday for a Bodyworks hike early in the morning! I haven’t been hiking since I was a kid, and I’m really looking forward to it. Do I just wear some sneakers?? I’m not even knowing. I will be sure to post photos & blog about it afterward. What a fun way to get the girls together and do something fun, different and healthy!!

If you don’t know about Moroccan Hair Oil, PLEASE let me be the one to tell you! IT IS THE BOMB!!! Holy Grail Bomb!

Seriously – if you do alot of styling stress to your hair, you are going to want to incorporate this miracle serum into your locks. It totally takes away that dry “old lady hair” look…do you know that crispy-coarse hair texture that women start to get around 35? Yea…well this will get rid of it. Booyah!

You can thank me later. xoxo

Moroccanoil Oil Treatment for All Hair Types

Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream for All Hair Types

Say it isn’t so…I have become enchanted by this enchanting bottle of Urban Decay’s Primer Potion. At first, I was kind of hesitant to even buy it, it just seemed to be too much of a campy product, and I felt like I was way too old for the packaging. You’ve got to admit that it looks like something Disney would sell at a Hannah Montana concert attached to lanyard.

Anyway, my mom had some in her makeup cabinet, so I tried it…a few times. As far as makeup primer goes – I’m not usually too picky. I can do with whatever moisturizing lotion that I’ve got, plus some eye cream. And I have the MAC primer (which I don’t really care for too much because it is a pain in the butt to apply)…and I have the Loreal DeCrease (which was under 10 bucks at CVS plus I used the rewards card).

The end result, you ask? I ended up buying another bottle, just for me. I’m not proud about it, and I shove it in my makeup drawer, because even when I am applying it, the whole Princess Barbie meets Tinkerbell packaging just kind of makes me feel like a loser. Like maybe I’m wearing a miniskirt or something that What Not To Wear is going to tsk tsk me on some secret footage later on in my life. But it works, and it works well.

Dab some on with the “magic wand” right onto your eyelid, and let it dry. When you apply your shadow, you will find that it goes on smoother, stays on longer, and stays more true to the pigment shade than if you don’t use it. Blending is also much more effective when you have the Urban Decay Primer Potion on…and when you walk out the door, you will look fabulous!

Fortunately, I ordered mine from Beauty.com so that I didn’t have to feel like a complete teeny-bopper-wanna-be at Sephora.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Eyeshadow Base