BEAUTY IS A LIFESTYLE THING

Updated blog notice.PLEASE NOTICE TO THE LEFT OF MY PICTURE THE PUBLIC GROUPS AND LIFESTYLE ENDORSEMENTS ARE MOVED THERE. Don't forget to check out all of my Lifestyle Endorsements and join in on the public groups page. Email me at: beautyisabeast13@gmail.com if you need an exercise or buddy booster. I'll help motivate you and keep you ready to reach your goals. You can leave a comment below any article on this blog if you want to join in on the conversation. THANK YOU.

I found a new gadget that I am truly enamored with, it's called the Flexicado by Chef'n. I bought it at a boutique type kitchen and housewares shop.  It is made out of a soft to the hand BPA free plastic that is flexible. You tighten your grip and it can be used with any size avocado! The plastic "blades" scrape evenly, and you get even slices of avocado in one single swoop! It cleans straight down to the peel and there is little to no waste or avocado left behind in the peel. After halving the avocado, remove the pit Came out great on the first attempt My avocado victims above were slightly ripe, so their consistency was slightly mushy, but you can get the idea. The avocados that I used were also a mini size, and you can see I had no difficulty squeezing the handle to insert the Flexicado. I thought this was an awesome little gadget and for us Keto people who eat an avocado a lot, we also waste them a lot (scooping with a spoon I often rip...

My Ketogenic Journey For the past three months, I have journeyed into the “keto” diet. I was looking for a diet that I could make what I wanted and lose weight. I have struggled with other diets, feeling deprived and not being able to stay on them. At first, I delved into the list and thought “Oh wow, this is going to be tough”, it’s so restrictive! But for some reason, at this point, it has been easy. I feel better, i.e. way less bloated and I did lose weight immediately! This helps to keep you in the game. So….. I’m pasta-less, potato-less, bread-less and I love it.  Mostly, keto is everything I was eating already, just remove all the carbs and sugar and voila! Pounds gone, I highly recommend. At this writing, I have successfully lost 21 pounds. Here’s my take on lunch the other day: My own keto take on salmon salad (faux salmon nicoise) ½ C= about 4 oz.  (Mixed greens: spinach, kale, chard, arugula) 7g of carb, 3 g fiber, 4 net carbs 40 calories 1 ½ C =...

How do you Hygge with tea? Hygge is a Danish lifestyle that is currently on trend this year. This lifestyle emphasizes coziness and all things that make you feel good and comfortable.  The custom revolves around the Danish nationality and its ideas of finding comfort where one resides or works. It is said that the Hygge lifestyle came to be because they experience cold, dark and long wintery climate days. They created and celebrate Hygge to boost their spirits and those around them. Hygge is a practice of finding simple yet beloved domestic choices or daily living rituals into something special and comforting. This idea lowers the stress levels and they claim it changes their dispositions. Hygge, it can be said is a connection to simple moments and a slower -paced lifestyle. Hygge asks one to find these everyday moments and attach more meaning to them or make each moment a very special one. It asks each person to take the goodness in their lives and revel in them. It asks to...

Aerosol tea in a can? Yes, it’s true! It is aptly named No More Tea Bags. It is the brain-child of Guy Woodall and owner of the business No More Tea Bags. He is always continually looking for a better cuppa. Manufactured by YumCha Drinks, they say their product is “properly brewed better tasting tea”. Even this writer is having a hard time wrapping her brain around it. The company YumCha is based in the UK and calls the new tea in the can “liquid Instant tea” and they feel they are causing a “tea-volution”. Mr. Woodall has been working on the idea of getting not only great tasting tea, but also tea free of chemicals to the tea cup very quickly.  Recently in an interview with Eater.com, Mr. Woodall said he began fiddling around with the development idea, but it was in glass containers. And if he had to use glass containers, he would have to use chemical preservatives, and he did not want to do that because he feels that adding chemicals violates the integrity of the tea. As...

As a tea editor and beauty and lifestyle editor, adding in healthy foods is like taking a miracle medication!  Being proactive with your health should be easy, so let's start today by adding in some Matcha Tea! Here's an easy recipe for a Matcha Tea Smoothie: Ingredients: 1cup Hot Water 1tsp. Matcha Approx. 1/2 Cup of Vanilla Creamer or Almond Milk Directions: Put the matcha into blender or bowl if whisking (This recipe can be whisked or blended in a blender to mix) Add to it the hot water, then blend. When combined then add to it the creamer. Drink and enjoy the benefits of the Matcha. The start of a new year includes good foods. Matcha tea can be purchased in the powder form, but do be careful, as in some places it can be rather expensive. Matcha tea can be also acquired by opening matcha tea bags and measuring into the smoothie. *Please see www.bellaonline.com/about/tea  for questions regarding tea by Tea Editor Mary Caliendo

Winter is here and snow is on the ground, bring in some floral design into your home to brighten up your day. Designing tablescapes or centerpieces in a "bowl" or "dish garden" are fun and easy to make with even things that are on-hand at home. Photo credit: Chikako C.

Calling for Random Acts of Kindness. If you know have experienced or have witnessed an Act of Kindness, Social Moms wants to hear about it. Social Moms has started what they call "social good initiative" at Megan Media, it's a program called #SocialMomsLetters The Social Moms group will have a different theme each month to inspire action and raise awareness. The theme of #randomactsofkindness #socialmomsletters  Please write a letter to the person/persons that helped you, what happened and how their act of kindness has affected you.  Please make a submittal less than 300 words, please use the hashtag #socialmomsletters by September 14, 2016. Social Moms will make a $10. donation to a charity, up to 10 letters each month. Please go to www.socialmoms.com That's fabulous!

Here's a current list of things in the world that may need your thoughtfulness. See the above definition and act and react as you can. If one can do more than pray, please do. Acts of God/natural disasters, need prayers and acts of helpful, concerned and charitable individuals to help rebuild, console, feed, comfort and listen to those in need. Be one of those if you can. Current as of 8/25/16 writing: Italian Earthquake: 247 killed   many still unaccounted for, full entire towns leveled many thousands displaced. Myanmar Earthquake: 4 killed  many minor injuries  some 2,200 temples & pagodas dating from the 10th to 14th centuries in disrepair, some totaled. Tornado Indiana USA 20 minor injuries (thank god) over 200 family's displaced, many commercial buildings in many counties in disrepair. Southern California USA aggressive Forest Fires so much acreage has burnt, so many without homes. East Idaho USA Wildfires Threaten Grand Teton National Park/Forest ...

Women always have mixed opinions on what types of clothing maximizes the bust line and minimizes the bust line at the same time. If you're an endowed woman, have no fear, here's what I've gathered: Too much fabric in front (i.e. gathers, ruffles, ties) is simply bad on the eye. A lot of fabric there will only make the bust line appear bigger and that is actually bad visually. V-necks, depending on the size of the opening itself can go either way, a smaller v-neck will most likely look bad and bust may appear larger, and a low v-neck may enhance and show the girls in great light, but it won't be for the family event or in church for example. So what can one do to enhance and not inflate the situation?  Here's the scoop:  a scoop neckline provides a middle ground for the girls to relax in~ This type of neckline will accentuate the positive and have just enough coverage to ensure modesty at public events. So now that you have the scoop, enjoy picking out some...