6:30 PM: Just arrived home with my brand new Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips. Calm down excited doggies and sit down to check email.

6:35: Put a pot of water on stovetop and crank the heat to high. Wait for water to boil, add a tea bag, remove pot and set on dining table. Turn on “Sunrise” by Norah Jones. Sit down, place small towel over back of head and hover my face over steaming tea-water.  At first, I struggle with the heat but I quickly learn to move my face around and after a few minutes, learn to relax and enjoy the facial.

6:39: Norah finishes up her beautiful song. I race to the bathroom with one of my strips and quickly stick it on my nose. I return to the kitchen and pour the tea into a cute rooster mug. Then, I turn on Sara Bereilles’ “Gonna Get Over You.”

6:45: Sara finishes up her sassy music video. I peel off the strip…and voila!

I’ve also used these pore strips after showers and they work phenomenally but this tea facial thing is just so relaxing…you gotta try it!

Benefits of Steaming Your Face

Also, there are benefits from “facial steaming” or how I like to say it: “Steamin’ Yo Face!”

1. The warm steam causes your face to sweat which is a good thing because sweat contains wastes and toxins.
2. The steam also increases your circulation which causes you to glow (like a pregnant woman, not like ET.)
3. The moisture softens the surface layer of dead skin cells which allows 2 things to happen:

• It helps your face to rid itself of dead cells and trapped dirt and bacteria that cause breakouts.
• It opens up your pores which makes them more welcoming to products you put on your face after the steam-facial such as a tea tree facial moisturizer.

Warning: If you have extreme acne or a skin condition that is aggravated by sweating or increased circulation such as rosacea or fungal infection, facial steaming might actually make your skin condition worse. Check with your doctor to be sure before doing anything. Otherwise, steam on!

Cheers,

kt.B

Valentine’s Day. Some people claim it is a hallmark holiday that was just created to sell more candy, flowers, and cutesie-poo teddy bears. This is a little negative and it might be true but who cares …Valentine’s day isn’t going anywhere so we might as well make the most of it, eh?

When I think of Valentine’s Day, I picture this spectrum with madly-in-love-couples on one end and sad-angry singles on the other. Ugh! How awful. The problem with this idea is that there is a good side and a bad side and if you aren’t on the good side of the spectrum, then you are upset. Let’s first understand where Valentine’s Day came from before we decide the right way to celebrate this lovey-dovey holiday.

The History of Valentine’s Day

Saint Valentine’s Day celebrates the lives of one or three early Christian martyrs (martyrs are people who were killed for their religious beliefs). Say What? Where’s the love, the flowers, the chocolates? I looked into this and got deeper and deeper into a Wikipedia-spiral and it turns out that there isn’t really a lot of romantic connections to these dudes. Saint Valentine (Valentine means worthy or strong) did die on February 14^th, so, at least the date is accurate

International Valentine’s Day Traditions

It turns out that Valentine’s Day, or something similar, occurs in almost every culture around the world. Here were some of my favorite international traditions:

Finland: The Finnish people have “Friend’s day” and it is for remembering friends, not just loved ones.

Slovenia: According to a proverb, St Valentine brings the keys of roots, so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow. Valentine’s Day, for Slovenians, is the first day of work in the vineyards and in the fields. It is also said that birds propose to each other or marry on that day. How cute is that?

Latin America: The Day of Love and Friendship is celebrated with acts of appreciation for their friends.

Guatemala: Guatemalans celebrate “Affection Day”. Hello…

Iran: Esfandegan is an age-old traditional celebration of love, friendship and Earth where Iranians give affection and gifts to loved ones.

The Meaning of Valentine’s Day To Me

I have always enjoyed this holiday, probably because my birthday is on the 13^th so it’s like a double whammy holiday for me, but besides that, I remember in school giving and receiving Valentine’s to my classmates. Then, as I got older, it became more about boys, hoping to get a surprise admirer, going on dates with boyfriends and stuff like that. I also had single V-days where I hung out with my friends and we would talk smack about our exes and envy happy couples while indulging in sweets and having a ladies night.

Finally, I figured out the true meaning of Valentine’s Day for me. I like to take this holiday to appreciate my friends, family, and even acquaintances and nice people in the community. I still buy the cheesy valentine cards and give them to all the people I love (and like) just to remind them that they matter to me. I have a younger sister and because I remember what it is like to be her age, I like to surprise her with flowers and be her “secret admirer” every year.

What to do on Valentine’s Day if you are Single

Okay, listen up. Here’s a tip you NEED to get through Valentine’s Day if you are single. You need to love yourself. If you are happy with yourself and with who you are, then you shouldn’t be resentful for failed relationships in the past and you should be faithful that your life and your relationships in the future will turn out just fine because you are a good person.

One thing you can do that will automatically boost your mood is to do something nice for someone else. Maybe think of someone you know who might be a bit lonely on Valentine’s Day and do something nice for them. You will make their day and I promise that you will be thinking about it the rest of your day too.

Cute Things to do on Valentines Day

So, enough with my Valentine’s day philosophy. Here are some other fun ideas of things to do on the big day.

• Cake Pops! This is a cake in the form of a lollipop…brilliant. Here’s a great blog on how to make them.
• Hang out with your friends and scrapbook…but no ex-boyfriend bashing.
• Volunteer at your favorite charity. Animal shelters, coffee shops, charity walks…there is a volunteer opportunity for everyone. Here is a site that will help you find an event in your area.
• Make an awesome meal for yourself and some others. Fondue, perhaps?
• Game night! Battle of the sexes, twister, apples to apples…all great ways to have a good time.
• Not feeling social? Treat yourself to a pedicure/manicure night with candles, bath, and your favorite music.

I hope this blog gave you a better impression of Valentine’s day and that you are now looking forward to it. 7 more days.

Love,

KTB

Hey Party People! I’m just hanging out in my apartment with the dogs, Max and Buckley, tonight, thinking about how to wash my face properly (haha, I only wish I was kidding). Here are 4 quick and easy steps to washing your face throughout the week.

Wash Your Face:

The point of cleansing is to remove makeup, dirt, and excess oils off your face. You should wash your face in the morning, at night, and after workouts. First, wash your hands, then grab your natural facial cleanser (either liquid or a bar of soap). Use luke-warm water to wash your face. Water that is too hot will shock your skin and potentially burst your capillaries while water that is too cold won’t open up your pores and then they won’t get cleaned! Use circular motions and massage your skin for about 30 seconds to one minute. Don’t forget to wash your hairline, your neck, and all the little crevasses around your face. Finish by rinsing off with cool water, not freezing, but cool. This will close up your pores.

Exfoliate Your Skin:

Believe it or not, I have a friend who is also a young, natural-cosmetic entrepreneur named Lani Lazzari. Her focus is with facial and body scrubs and her company is called Simple Sugars (small world, eh?). According to Lani, “You can’t effectively moisturize your skin unless you remove all of those dead skin cells regularly.” I’ve been using her Green Tea Facial Scrub for a few months now and really like the way it feels. You have to make sure to clean your face first before exfoliating, otherwise you will end up rubbing dirt and bacteria into your pores (not really the point). I personally like to exfoliate my face once or twice a week. Do not, I repeat, do not scrub too hard. Pain is not your friend. Treat your skin nicely.

Homemade Facial Masks:

Masks are fun and I have been experimenting with them recently. Here’s a blog I wrote that lists a bunch of natural ingredients that you can find in your home to make a mask. There are all different types of masks: moisturizing, anti-aging, acne-fighting etc. Use a mask once a week and one of the added benefits of “masking” is that it makes you sit still (something I don’t do enough). Paint your toenails, read a book, but don’t move your face around a ton. The point is to let the mask dry so it can remove stuff from your pores.

Moisturize It Up:

I love the feeling I get when I hop out of the shower and put on facial moisturizer and lip balm. Just me? I doubt it. After all this cleansing, exfoliating, and masking, it’s important to moisturize so that you have soft, smooth skin…not chapped, dry skin.  Moisturizers actually attract moisture and protect the skin on your face by forming a barrier that holds in the water that’s already there. Use a natural, non-comedogenic (AKA non-clogging) facial moisturizer such as the Sweets tea tree facial moisturizer best known as Yo Face!

I hope all this information helps you out. Happy Washing!

Cheers,

KTB

I started researching natural ingredients for face masks one week ago and I’m still finding different fruits/vegetables/spices and such that can be used for face masks. In fact, there were sooo many that I decided to make a little ingredient dictionary. So, voila! There you go!

• Apples/Applesauce: Apples possess elastin and collagen which are both great for making skin look youthful.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar rids skin of bacteria and oils and balances the skin’s pH level.
• Avocado: Avocados contains vitamins A, C, E and K, which helps a great deal to improve overall skin health and give a soft look and instant glow.
• Banana: Bananas are anti-bacterial, contain antioxidants and vitamins which restore collagen. They are also a rich source of vitamin A and potassium.
• Blueberry: Blueberries are high in anti-oxidants and best known for healing and soothing skin.
• Clay: Clay removes excess oil, deep cleans your pores and prevents and clears up blackheads.
• Cloves: Cloves are antibacterial and antifungal.
• Cucumber: Cucumbers are a source of silica, a trace mineral that holds your connective tissue together. Their other active ingredients are glycerin, hyaluronic acidand collagen. They are great for balancing the oil production in your skin.
• Egg Yolk: Egg yolks contain vitamin A which has retinoids which help skin shedding, regulate the amount of skin produced, and prevent pores from getting clogged. Also, they have 13 cis retinol which helps reduce oil production and bacteria.
• Egg White: Egg whites are known for cleansing pores and tightening up skin.
• Honey: Honey is known for its ability to absorb and retain moisture. It is also an antiseptic meaning it prevents the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.
• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is rich in alpha hydroxy acids that help exfoliate the skin and get rid of dead skin cells. The acid in citrus kills infection and dries out pimples. It also lightens acne scars.
• Milk: Milk is a natural exfoliant and skin softener.
• Nutmeg: Nutmeg is used for treating acne scars and blemished marks, It has anti-inflammatory properties and was used since ancient times for a variety of skin diseases including ringworms and eczema.
• Oatmeal: Oatmeal contains 18 different amino acids which rebuild tissue and promote healing. It is also hypoallergenic and a humectant (meaning it helps hold moisture), so when combined with moisturizing ingredients such as banana or avocado, it increases the moisturizing benefits of the mask.
• Olive Oil: Olive oil is rich in vitamin E and vitamin A. Vitamin E gives you a youthful appearance by slowing aging. Vitamin A is what gives skin a healthy, natural glow. Olive oil is also filled with antioxidants that fight free radicals that cause skin to age.
• Papaya: Papayas contain the enzyme, papain, which acts as an exfoliant, removing dead cells and lifting away dry skin. Papayas also have antioxidants that control premature aging of the skin.
• Pumpkin: Pumpkins are rich in vitamin A and C meaning they soothe and soften your skin while acting as a remedy for damage produced by free radicals. Pumpkins also feature Vitamins E and T, also known as torulitine. Torulitine helps in fighting inflammation, reducing pore size, controlling excess oil and helping with post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (red spots that are present after breakouts).
• Strawberry Puree: Strawberries naturally contain salicylic acid which is used in most acne treatments. Salicylic acid stops dead skin cells from clogging pores and is in lots of acne medication creams.
• Sugar: Sugar exfoliates your skin. Simple. Don’t scrub your face too hard, though. Even though it might seem beneficial, it’s not. All you want to do is gently scrub your face and the rounder or more spherical the exfoliator, the better.
• Tomato: Tomatoes have cooling elements to soothe raw skin, astringents to remove excess oil, and tons of vitamin C and A to brighten dull skin and restore its health.
• Yogurt: Yogurt is good for all skin types and it moisturizes and soothes skin.

Holy smoke! That’s a lot of ingredients. For help on deciding which ones to mix together and rub on your face, check out my homemade face mask blog, soon to come. You will be savouring your new mask in a bath tub in no time.

Cheers,

KTB

I love this time of year. The overall feeling of the holidays is really nice…there is so much more to Christmas than just the presents and I wanted to share with you a few traditions that have become a part of my Christmas season.

To give you a little background about my Christmas history:

• My dad owned several Christmas stores around Colorado for a few years and I occasionally worked in them
• I even worked at a Christmas Ornament Cart in the Foothills Fashion Mall where I personalized people’s ornaments before they hung them up on the tree. If you have any ornaments at home from years 2005-2007 with impeccable handwriting, I’ll take credit for that
• I sold Christmas in July one year at the Great Colorado Marketplace

Ok. Enough with the bullet list! You get it now. I used to embody Christmas and I think I can officially categorize my ethnicity as part elf. So, let’s talk Christmas traditions:

Barstow Christmas Traditions

1. We like to climb a mountain every year and cut down a tree that’s usually bare and much too tall for our living room. My favorite part is attaching the tree to the top of our car. My mom and dad were arguing this year whether the string or duct tape hold it down (you’d think we would be pros after 14 years of this tradition). Then, my dad whispers to me, the secret is the duct tape. Sure dad.
2. Our second tradition is to get breakfast at the IHOP. Yes, they are one of the few establishments open on Christmas…the employees are surprisingly happy to see you and the pancakes are delicious as always.

Christmas Ornaments

I like to buy ornaments from thrift stores for friends and family every year. I always personalize them with their name and the year. If you want to do this, it is super easy; simply use a fine-point sharpie and try to pick a clever spot to put the writing.

Christmas Songs

I love Christmas songs! Ok, I said it. I know some people despise them but that’s silly. We only listen to this music for a little while so let’s all enjoy it while we can. I got the Michael Buble Christmas album as an early Christmas gift this year and it’s great. Also, I am not really sure how to say this but Justin Bieber also came out with an album…no big deal. He collaborated with people like Mariah Carey and Busta Rhymes to remake christmas songs in a modern, hip-pop way. Check it out.

Christmas Movies

Elf. Love, Actually. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Christmas movies are great and a wonderful way to spend time with your family that doesn’t include talking to them…just kidding. I don’t know what it is with these 3 movies but I never get sick of watching them.

Christmas Drinks

I just started volunteering at Everyday Joes once a week where I get to make delicious espresso drinks for happy customers. Everyday Joes is very similar to Sweets in lots of ways. They use mason jars…so do we! They also use clever ways try to find natural ingredients and avoid artificial ones…thank goodness. For example, we use crushed up peppermints that we steam in the milk and then pour into peppermint mochas. It is amazing. Come stop by on a Saturday morning or a Wednesday around noon and I will personally make you the best drink of your life. 

Christmas Bouquets

This is a new tradition I have started with myself and I am so excited about it! I live a few blocks away from a florist shop. I go there about every other week to build a bouquet. It is a completely cost efficient way to make myself completely happy. Who says that you have to wait for other people to buy you flowers? Rediculous. So, a couple days ago, I headed over to the Paul Wood Florist and hopped into their giant fridge of flowers with a Christmas theme in mind. I picked out some cranberries, some reddish-white carnations, a beautiful white gerber daisy, and then some pretty white filler flowers. Then, when I checked out, the nice woman at the register asked if I wanted some evergreen. Duh!

I hope you are all enjoying your holidays as much as I am and I would love to hear some of your Christmas traditions below.

Merry Christmas!

KTB