Travel Toolkit: No more nausea!

 

My anti-motion sickness must-haves. Ginger tea, gingermints, Psi Bands. Perfect for travel, be it by land, sea, or air. 

Wicked Witchy Halloween!

It's my favorite time of year and I have been slow with planning my costume. No party this year, just answering the door, handing out candy to the kids. Typically I'm either a witch, ala 1960s Bewitched, or a cat, like the last two years. I've decided to go back to the classic witch costume, but this time I'm going to style myself after Elphaba Tropp, from "Wicked." I've never seen the musical and really know nothing about the music other than what I've heard on "Glee." But I've seen the poster and pics on the 'net, so I figured I'd give it a go.

The supplies, a mix of professional and drugstore cosmetics.

Back in high school, I pretty much lived in the drama club makeup department, but that was 30 years ago, so my skills are pretty rusty.  First, I collected my supplies. I checked out Easley's Fun Shop for makeup. I picked up some Ben Nye cake makeup in green, white, and black and a foundation brush. I grabbed two shades of M.A.C. Viva Glam lipstick from my makeup bag, some eyeliner in black and white, mascara and eyelash curler, eyeshadow (black, silver, grey, and white) and makeup primer.

I started with a semi-clean face and applied the primer.

Primed and ready.

Then I applied the first layer of green, using the foundation brush and some water. The layer is pretty thin; I look more queasy than witchy.

Layer #1.

I let the first layer dry and applied another layer. I think I was a bit too eager and applied the green before the primer had fully soaked in. That's why there's a dress rehearsal, folks!

Layer #2. Kind of blotchy.

And layer #3. I look full on Hulk here. I also started applying black as contour to my forehead, nose and the hollows of my cheekbones and mixed white and green for highlights.

Layer #3, feeling green!

Next, I drew in my eyebrows and highlighted around my eyes using eye shadow and the white cake makeup.

Eyebrows on, working on highlighting the eyes & cheeks.

Now the eyeliner. Just a simple cat eye swoosh.

Mascara on top and bottom lashes and a quick eyelash curl.

I'm using Physician's Formula Natural Origin Mascara. Love.

Finally lipstick and I start to let my hair down.

M.A.C. Viva Glam! The face is due to a tangled hair tie. Ow.

Witchy hotness, but I need wardrobe and better lighting.

Something is missing here...

Perfect! A sparkly cape and I'm ready for the Trick or Treaters!

What are your plans for Halloween?

Healing yourself is connected with healing others.

Drink your greens!

Drinking your greens is an easy way to fit in some of those seven to eight daily servings of fruits and vegetables. I will admit that finding the perfect blend of fruits and veggies takes trial and error. Too much green and your bevvie takes on the taste of a freshly mown lawn! Adding fruit such as pineapple, berries, mangoes, tart apples, and citrus helps balance the flavor. Even herbs like mint and parsley add to the green without the grassiness.

My favorite greens drink of the moment is a dairy-free, blend of spinach, kale, mangoes, and green apple in a coconut water base, with or without ice. So refreshing, it's the perfect morning or post-lunch pick-me-up! 

More:

Dr. Oz's Green Drink This is the first greens smoothie I ever tried (sans orange). It's ingredient rich, but the combination of fruits and veg co-mingle to make a fresh and fortifying drink!

Green Ginger-Peach Smoothie I haven't tried this recipe yet, but tend not to add sweeteners to my smoothies. My suggestion is to make the smoothie without the honey, taste, then slowly add honey if you feel it needs it.

Blueberry Spinach Smoothie A greens drink that isn't green! A friend of mine uses berries to sneak greens into her son who doesn't care for veggies. This isn't her recipe (which is pretty much blueberries and spinach), but it sure sounds yum!

Greens drinks for grown ups Details Magazine featured restaurant/bars that make green bevvies with a kick.

What is your favorite green smoothie recipe?

Your body hears everything your mind says.

Laptop Ergonomics

Watch this fun animation on simple steps you can take to avoid back and neck pain when using a laptop.

Have a happy, safe, and healthy Independence Day.