ROMANCE DOESNT COST MONEY

Romance Doesn't Cost Money

The Circle of Trust

(souce)

It shall not be violated.

Happy Feet

(Source)

Drown Your Sorrows

Source

I'm sorry, eight glasses of water a day ("8x8") will not do. I mean, maybe that would suffice as a minimum; a launching pad perhaps but not the target - - okay...lemme throttle back. The 8x8 rule IS sufficient but not ideal. It will work...but why be good when you can be GREAT!! Dontcha wanna sparkle? Dontcha wanna shine? Dontcha wanna pee!?!

I am the Water Nazi. I admit to interrogating friends and family about their daily consumption. I praise those with exemplary intake, encourage those with adequate amounts and scorn those who lack. This is important to me. I need my people alive. And well.

Personally, my minimum water intake is a gallon per day. Between daily cups of coffee and/or tea (diuretics), this rebellious skin on my body and the curls on my head (your skin/hair also thirst) and the exercise in which I do not partake, I feel, for me, this is suitable. Not saying that you have to be a watermonger like me, but when determining and setting your water consumption goal, consider your lifestyle.

Lifestyle factors such as diet. Are you eating enough fruits and veggies to aid in replacing lost fluids? Are you drinking sugary, awful, murderous, diabetes-invoking, heart attack-provoking sodas? If so, it would behoove you to wash that sludge out of your system with something pure that will properly rehydrate. And I know you're still thirsty after chugging it. There's no way Pepsi has quenched your thirst. Your tongue is dry. Stop it.

To determine what your daily consumption should be, try the Hydration Calculator. Or simply use this method:  Divide your body weight (in lbs) by two. The resulting number is how many ounces of water you should drink a day. Example: LaShondiquisha weighs 150 lbs. 150 / 2 = 75lbs. Therefore, Qui-Qui should drink 75 ounces a day. Nice and easy.

Few tips:

Start Early. After you brush your teeth, drink a glass.  Have another with breakfast. Pour another when you get to work and keep replenishing it throughout the day. If you start off early, you'll feel inspired to keep it going. In the event that you wain off after work, you've already gotten in a good amount.

Count Your Blessings. Name Them One By One.  Using tally marks or some type of water grid is a great way to track your progress. Or if you're not excited about this, count down backwards to how many ounces or glasses you have left that day.  Either way, seeing your progress will push.

Equip Yourself.  99% of the time, I have a bottle of water in my bag. Bottled water is ever present in my car.  I keep a refillable water purifier in my office. I'm never without. Buy yourself some sort of canteen or reusable water vessel. I've been a slave (Sorry. I know it's Black History Month) to my Nalgene* for years! That sucker holds 32 ounces of water. It's BPA-free, they come in different styles, colors and have various accessories. More importantly, it doesn't crack, break or stain - basically Ivy-proof.  A gallon of water is 4 Nalgene bottles. 4 easy refills. There are many other water bottles like this. Shop around. 

Wake It Up. I happen to love the taste or non-taste of water. However, I do understand that it can be boring. So do something about it. Many prefer lemon in their water. *blech* That's yuck and boring. I've taken to adding slices of cucumber to my glass. I picked that up in Chicago a couple years ago. It's great. Try making your own Spa Water. Another option is sparkling water for those of you who need your bubbles. My sister and I are partial to club soda w/ cherries (I add lime). Be creative. 

THE Most Important Tip Ever. ALWAYS, I mean every time and in every place, always make sure you know the exact location of the restroom! You will pee all the day long. It will be annoying but you'll get used to it.  After all, would you rather spend 7 minutes going to the bathroom or hours in the ER hooked up to an IV because you're dehydrated? Your choice, loved ones.

Warning: Hyponatremia or Hyperhydration a/k/a Water Intoxication is real and you can die. Be careful. Don't be crazy. 

Happy Hydrating =)

*i'm quite fond of the wide mouth design of the Nalgene because it's easy to clean the inside. I use very hot soapy water and a baby bottle brush to scrub.  Once clean, I wrap paper towels around a pair of tongs to dry and to ensure that the residue is removed from the inside a/k/a the white glove test. It sounds Mommy Dearest-ish but I'm not an algae eater. I just want the water.

See You Later, Alligator

Let's go back to that beautiful Friday night last summer. As you arrive at your friend’s house, you hand out hugs and cheek kisses. You and one particular friend are especially glad to see each other so there’s a little rock and a squeal to that hug. Upon him breaking the embrace, your carefully draped Carlton Banks sweater slips off your shoulders. As he helps you adjust, his hand rubs across your arms and he suddenly proclaims "Oh my gosh, you're so smooth" and goes for another caress. You are taken aback by such an unusual compliment yet secretly raising the roof because your skin, which is never complimented and rightly so, has just been adored and now others are copping a feel. The consensus is, yes, your skin is very smooth. 

Another? Sure! Okay...so you're at the movies in the arms of your Shmoopie*. While watching the film, he’s affectionately running his fingers along your shoulder, the length of your arms and the back of your hand. Although you're comforted by his touch, you’re a bit self-conscious of it because the fact of the matter is your skin is rebellious and rude and it seeks to destroy your life. At any rate...he suddenly whispers, "you feel like silk". You swoon, gush, melt, die, kiss the pearly gates and come back to life. Why? Same reason as above; this is something you never expect to hear about your skin. 

For those two simple memories, I would like to thank my Exfoliating Gloves!! We've discussed exfoliation before but I wanted to give you a quicker and less messy alternative to the body scrub .  

These silly little things are the excellent. I’ve walked by them many times in the stores but randomly decided to try them one day. After my first use, I completely abandoned the pouf  and went back to get 2 more pairs and they've been a staple since that day.. 

Go pick up a pair from Target or your local drug store. Simply use the gloves in place of your washcloth/sponge/pouf. Be sure to quickly wash the gloves when you first take them out of the package. Slide them on, pour your bodywash into your palm (if you use bar soap, just rub it on your palm until coated), rub your hands together to create lather and wash your body. You will notice a difference immediately. After you try them comment and let me know what you think. Are you alreaady an exfoliating glove convert? Well, hop in the comments and help me persuade others. 

Enjoy! 

*shout out to the engineer of the adjustable armrests in the “stadium-style seating” at the movies. Yo, good look, son. I'll holla.

"Dillian"

BELOVED, the briefest words are best;
And all the fine euphonious ways
In which the truth has been expressed
Since Adam's early Eden days,
Could never match the simple phrase, --
Sweetheart, I love you!

If I should say the world were blank
Without your face; if I should call
The stars to witness, rank on rank,
That I am true although they fall, -
'T would mean but this, -- and this means all, --
Sweetheart, I love you!

And so, whatever change is wrought,
By time or fate, delight or dole,
One single, happy, helpful thought
Makes strong and calm my steady soul,
And these sweet words contain the whole, --
Sweetheart, I love you!

I will not wrong their truth to-day
By wild, impassioned vows of faith,
Since all that volumes could convey
Is compassed thus in half a breath,
Which holds hallows life and death, --
Sweetheart, I love you!

Elizabeth Akers Allen

Reason To Love Coffee No. 56331

Like most women (and some men. Awroight!), I love my skin to be soft, smooth and most of all, healthy. I've got to live in this skin for a long time! I can't go anywhere without it so I better treat it right so we can get along. Genetically, I have problem skin; incredibly sensitive skin, unpredictable and fickle. At the present moment, my skin is acting really stank and I don't know what her problem is but she needs to get it together soon. We can't be friends if she's gonna keep being so wishy-washy....stankin' heffa...

I often have difficulty finding the right product combinations to keep my skin healthy. Sometimes they work great....for a week or two, then it seems like my skin becomes immune and it doesn't do anything for me. It's hard for me to find a good moisturizer that won't either clog my pores, wear off in 30 minutes or make my face as oily as the back of Al Sharpton's neck after a press n' curl!

As I stated, right now my skin being particularly resistant to my current regimen. During these times, I like to exfoliate at least once a week. I remembered reading something a while back about the health benefits of coffee and caffeine on your skin. I couldn't find the article but I found other documentation that informed me of the following:

Caffeine has been proven to increase blood flow, which can be extremely beneficial in the topical treatment of cellulite. By improving circulation to the areas where cellulite occurs, you can facilitate the breakdown and removal of this unsightly cottage cheese condition. Women in South America who use this ingredient in skin creams have found that caffeine can also temporarily give a plumping and smoothing effect to skin. Caffeine can also act as a vasorestrictor – meaning that it can tighten and shrink blood vessels. - CareFair.com

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition performed a study that found a serving of coffee held more antioxidants than a serving of several fruits, including oranges and blueberries. In fact, coffee (and the caffeine it contains) may be the most widespread source of antioxidant intake for the average American. Both orally and topically, caffeine appears to provide antioxidant protection from free radicals. - Sue Chung, Healthcarecentral.com

One particularly promising study suggested that topical caffeine may also repair UV damage - and that it may prove to be a stronger antioxidant than certain green tea polyphenols, currently among the strongest and best-researched antioxidants around. (On a related note, coffeeberry, which comes from the fruit of the coffee plant, is also getting a lot of attention lately as the next big antioxidant.) - Leslie Baumann, M.D., Yahoo Health

Varicose veins: Many people accept varicose veins as a necessary evil--either as a sign of getting older or a predisposition inherited from Mom or Dad. Now with a coffee body scrub, you may be able to prevent varicose veins or even make them vanish! The caffeine in a coffee scrub acts as a vascular restrictor--shrinking blood vessels, thus helping to reduce varicose veins.- Casey Nicholas, HowToDoThings.com

So a few weeks ago I made a Coffee & Brown Sugar body scrub. When I find something great, I have to share it with others who have also difficult skin. This is a great scrub to use even if you don't have problems with your skin. Exfoliating your skin is important to make removes the outer surface of dead skin cells and rejuvenates your skin. It also gives my skin a little glow. Here's my recipe for Brown Sugar - Coffee Body scrub. The smell of this mixture is delicious! If you search the Internet, there are many different recipes using different essential oils. I like this combo:

Brown Sugar
Cup coffee grounds
Almond oil
Vitamin E oil (Lots!)
Honey (added moisture)
EVOO (I don't measure the Olive Oil. Just keep add it until you have the consistency you desire)

Once I've mixed all the ingredients in a bowl, I put them in a small glass jar with a lid and keep it in the shower. You can find the jars anywhere, Ikea, Target, Walmart, Peir 1.

Abrasive scrubs are not recommended use for your face because skin is very vulnerable and thin in some areas. If you want a face scrub, I'd say use finely ground coffee, or just brown sugar with more oil. I do use the coffee/brown sugar on my face but I make sure to rub carefully and gently. If you're like my sister, the olive oil may not fare well on your face. It all depends on your skin type. Remember to rub lightly when exfoliated any part of your body. If you rub too hard, your skin will appear dull and will feel raw. I always exfoliate my entire body standing in the shower and I work from my legs up. Also, I usually take this time to deep condition my hair. Moisten your skin first with warm water and after you've exfoliated your body, rinse with cold water (or as cool as you can stand it. It's not pleasant) to seal in the moisture.

GREAT TIP: After you've rinsed all the grounds and sugar from your skin, and before you wash the oils off with soap, take that time to shave. The oil is a superior alternative to shaving cream. It also lubricates the blades for a closer shave. Make sure you get all the grounds and sugar off your skin before you shave.

OH! CAUTION: Be careful in the tub. It gets slippery while your standing there. To remove the oil, use your regular house cleanser and a scrub pad or brush to get the tub clean. Also, I've heard the that coffee may have dyeing effects to the surfaces in your shower and your hair. I haven't experienced either of these things.

I hope you try this and enjoy it. Let me know how you liked it.