How to pack a beach bag and tote!

Are you going to the beach this summer?

This video should give you basic ideas on WHAT TO BRING,

and HOW TO PACK your bags.

Ideally, you should bring 2 bags, a tote bag (to carry on the beach)

and also a Regular beach bag to leave in the car, with extra things you may need!

Other tips - bring a picnic basket filled with food and a cooler filled with drinks TO SAVE MONEY. Also, that way you can stay away from unhealthy fast food!

Review : Santee Brand Red Lipstick!!!

I purchased this lipstick in December 2012, only a few months ago,

and it is still good and still such a beautiful colour!

I am a really big fan of reds in lipstick, so of course I love this!

It was about $1.99.

It really does last a long time!

Pros- Gorgeous colour. Great Brand. the product lasts. affordable. Kissable lips!

Cons- As will most lipstick, it feels a bit thick, like that feeling where you "know" it's there.

Feels like a lipgloss.

6 healthy weight loss tips & facts

1.) Stop measuring.

"Portion control isn't about measuring; it's about ordering two appetizers instead of an entrée and cutting back on bread if you have pasta."

-Bethany Frankel, author of "Naturally Thin"

Measuring can just make you plain obsessive with your food.

As counting calories can also do.

Quit those habits and focus on portion control and servings/exchanges.

The only time to bother with calories is the amount of calories you burn.

The end. :)

2.) Stop depriving, start strategizing.

Craving chocolate? Instead of driving yourself mad avoiding all things choco, try drinking a chocolate flavoured soymilk. Don't like soymilk? Try almond milk.

Craving ice cream?

Try sorbet, flavoured ice pops, Nondairy Ice cream, or freeze some soy yogurt.

3.) Brown bag it.

Pack a lunch to take with you wherever you go.

Examples to pack - Cashews, grapes, a banana, strawberries, an apple, carrot or celery stick, cucumber slices and hummus, a tofurky, lettuce, and avocado sandwich, a bottle of water, Naked juice, a bottled smoothie, bottled juice.

4.) Eat your dessert!

It's okay to have dessert, just earn it by waiting at least an hour to make sure you're really still hungry. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to know you're full or satiated. If you control the portion of your meals, you can incorporate the dessert as part of your dinner (eat it last, of course). 

Then you'd be less likely to feel guilty or bloated.

Dessert isn't necessarily *bad* for you. 

Say you want a slice of cake -

Cake contains carbs, minimal amounts fat, and maybe some protein.

So it's not bad per se. It's better to eat that one slice, than it is to avoid it, feel deprived and overeat later.

5.) Eat Fat.

Yes, friends; I know how hard we try to avoid fat and label it the "enemy".

But it really isn't.

Fat cushions all of our organs, and feeds and protects our heart and brain.

"Eating fat does not make you fat, as much as eating money would make you rich." - Author Unknown.

With all of that said, focus on HEALTHY fats.

-Avocado

-Nuts

-Seeds

-Olives

-Vegetable/Nut Oils

-Nondairy Cheeses

-Coconut Milk-based drinks or foods

6.) The REAL reason to cut down on sugar.

Just to get this straightened out, sugar is not fat. It is a carb.

The only reason to "cut back" on sugar is because of empty calories.

But you do not need to avoid sugar entirely.

Try naturally sweetening your smoothies with dates (the fruit, silly!)

or your baking pastries with agave or applesauce.

How to lose weight without thinking about it... much

1. Cut down on sugar.
Make it a habit to choose healthy sugar-free drinks, like flavoured or carbonated water or make your own fruit smoothies! Limit use of jelly or sugary condiments.

2. Walk, bike, or take the stairs.
If your destination is within walking distance, take a leisurely stroll there.
Walking relieves stress, helps relax, and gives you more energy in life.
You can also take the bike.
If the floor you are going to is less than 3 floors above you, take stairs instead of the elevator.

3. Drink plenty of water - whether plain, carbonated, or flavoured.
You need to stay hydrated, if you don't you could lose energy, and feel plain sick.

4. Cut down on refined and processed carbs, such as white bread, white rice, white crackers, french fries.

5. Limit sweets and processed snack foods, like potato chips, cookies, cake, pie, etc.

6. Skip loose granola. Opt for healthy granola bars - such as Nature Valley (Try Peanut Butter, Cinnamon, or Maple Brown Sugar).

7. Don't focus on calories as much as you focus on your portion.
Anything is still healthy, in moderation. VARIETY IS GOOD.

8. It's hard to get vegetables in, so try making a fruit smoothie with apples and carrots! Tasty!
Opt for at least 3 servings of vegetables a day!

9. Fruit are usually easier to get in, but even the healthiest of people sometimes forget variety.
Eat up to 6 servings of fruit a day. Try Drinking "Silk- Fruit & Protein".

10. Eat protein, but in moderation.
Beans, Soymilk, Nuts, Seeds, Faux meat, nondairy cheese, other nondairy milks or drinks, such as Silk- Fruit & Protein, or Chocolate almond milk, Vegetarian Chili, peanut butter, tahini, soy yogurt, etc.

11. Try to eat slightly more unprocessed carbs than protein. Too much protein can give you indigestion or bloating.

12. To repeat the obvious, exercise at least 2-3 times a week for 30-60 minutes.

13.  Top your pancakes with fruit instead of syrup.

14. Use avocado on your toast instead of butter or other high-calorie condiments.
Not only is it a good fat source, but it is very HEART HEALTHY.

15. Eat enough healthy fats.
Fats cushion your organs and feed your brain and heart.
Nuts, seeds, peanut butter, avocado, coconut milk products (such as So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt), Nondairy margarine, nondairy cheese.

Review : Plum Lipstick by L.A. Colors!!!

 

I picked up this lipstick about a month ago for $1.99 at Styles For Less.

So far I kind of like it, except I don't really think it's my colour.

Pros - cheap / affordable.

Lips look super kissable!

Cons - I don't like wearing it often because, as with all lipsticks, it does feel a little greasy on my lips, and it feels more like a plum-tinted lip gloss.

Happy 4th of July / Independence Day! ~ Fireworks in Fontana