Sunday, June 30, 2013

Beauty Memories

Today I went through all my cosmetics and products to see what needed to be pitched.

You know how it goes...you open a caboodle and see all your various cosmetics you just HAD TO HAVE, and now they're in a box taking up space.

Question: do you save lipstick tubes even when they're empty? Like, you might get a small stick and dig out the remaining last bits?

But you never take the time to find a small stick and instead of throwing the useless lipstick in the garbage, you save it.

I tossed 8 tubes of lipstick today.

Don't worry, the MAC ones I kept for the Back to Mac Program...save 6 empties and get a new lipstick for free. :) Love that.

Speaking of lipstick, oh my gosh, so, yesterday I ran into an associate of mine and we hadn't seen each other in a couple of months.

(I had just gotten my Juvederm in my lips the day before, remember)

She hugged me and said "Wow! you look so beautiful!"

I said "Thanks!"

And she scanned my face, looking to pin point what was different.

Then she looked at my hair, and her eyes made their way down to my chest.

"Ah, ah, ah, back up here...in this region," I wanted to say while pointing to my face."

That's when you know you've had good work - You look better but nobody knows why.

Ha ha!

Anyway, I cleaned out my makeup cases and threw away a garbage bag full of broken eye pencils, shimmery shadows, empty lipsticks, glosses that looked pretty but tasted weird and the like...all of which I know I will never miss.

Looking at all my cosmetics reminded me of when I was young and asked my Mom if I could wear makeup.

"No!" She'd say.

"But why not?" I asked.

"Because you're seven," She'd respond.

"But Nancy Jandrowski wears makeup..." I said

Then my Mom goes "Is that what you want, to look cheap, like Nancy Jandrowski?"

I could tell by her tone that the answer was supposed to be "no," but all I could think was, "If wearing a little blue eyeshadow and red lipstick means I'll look cheap, then yes, the answer is yes."

Anyway, I hope you're enjoying your day.

Tomorrow seems perfect to go shopping for some new makeup, don't you think? My cases look so empty now.

:)


More Under Eye Dark Circle DRAMA!

I was in a very popular beauty store today and met a make up artist.

I asked if she had anything for dark under eye circles.

She looked very annoyed and said "Let me see," as she looked at my face.

She grabbed some products and began applying them.

At first she dabbed some cream on a sponge and proceeded to tap it under my eyes, then she kept tapping, getting the product in my eyes.

I didn't say a word.

She's a make up artist.

Surely she knows what he's doing.

And hello, suffering for beauty is the essence of being a Primp Queen. That's what I DO!

Then she goes like this,

"You have to tap it. Tap,tap, tap, tap it!
Tap!
Tap!
Tap!

As she was tapping, she said "Eww, why are you're eyes like, watery and red?

And I said, "I'm not sure, but do you think it could be from you stabbing me with that sponge? You know, directly in my eyeball?"

All the while I was suffering, suffering in silence, like the saints, I thought, maybe I'll look like Gisele Bunschen when she's done with me.

I don't know...I mean,certainly, with all this pain, it has to be worth it, right?

Then she goes "Ok, how do you like it?"

I checked the mirror.

My eyes were swollen and blood shot.

I wiped away the tears and looked right at her and said,

"I think I look really good."

Then, always and forever being the optimist who believes good things can happen from tragedy, a very nice gal came up to me and said,
"I know just what you need."


I was hoping for a Bounty paper towel to blot my face, but instead she showed me the Kat Von D collection.

Who, by the way has a killer lipstick. FYI.

"But that's heavy duty concealer for tatoos," I said.

And she goes "Exactly!"

Bingo.

If it's good enough to cover Kat's tats, it's good enough for my dark circles!

So, that's my new obsession. I love it and I recommend it!

And it's painless. You just put a tiny bit on your ring finger and gently apply.

No tears, no stabbing, no redness or irritation.

And it stays put, even in this heat.

Here you go, Kittens

http://www.sephora.com/kat-von-d

Friday, June 28, 2013

Vegan Cole Slaw

I got home from work yesterday and this was in the fridge.

I didn't think twice and put some on a plate and began to eat it.

(Lil Angel Baby made this)

I go "This is really good!" And proceeded to spit it out.

And Lil Angel Baby goes "No! It's ok, it's vegan!"

He made is special for me with Veganaise instead of mayo.

Sooo sweet of him!!

Look how yummy.

I usually don't ask how he makes things because I feel it will take away from the mystery of how good it is.

But I thought you might like to know, so I asked.

Cabbage, carrots, onion, veganaise, rice vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. 
Easy! 

And very refreshing for the summer time. :) 

Juvederm Lip Injections Today

I went early this morning and had my Juvederm done.

It was at a Dermatologists office, where the Nurse Practitioner did it. She's excellent!

I went and taught a full Product Knowledge class for fifty attendees an hour after I had this done.

A true Primp Queen never misses work just because she had a procedure including 2 numbing agents and 10 needle injections!

 They are very swollen right now but here's a pic so you can see.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

My Favorite Thing Right Now...Hint: It's a PINK SMOOTHIE!

Watermelon Juice!

How to make it:

Chop up some watermelon, plut in a blender. Add ice cold water.

Blend it up.

Poor in a fancy glass and go

"Mmmmmmm" while you're drinking it!

I've been living off these for the last few days.

Ever hear of a fruit high?

Well, let me float on down from my cloud of happiness to tell you!

Seriously, I get a fruit high when I drink lot's of fruit smoothies. I feel joyful, amazing, clear headed and almost giddy.

Folks say to me "I couldn't just drink smoothies all day, I get too hungry."

Well, what I do is drink this all morning and then when I want solid food guess what I do:

I eat!!

Yesterday I had a vegan chickpea burger on toasted bread, with spinach and veganaise.

Then the rest of the day: watermelon juice.

For dinner I had pasta with garlic, mushroom and onion marinara sauce.

Sooooo GOOD!!

I did some research and found this at http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/watermelon.html

Health benefits of watermelon

  • Rich in electrolytes and water content, melons are nature’s gift to beat tropical summer thirst.
  • Watermelons are very low in calories (just 30 calories per 100 g) and fats yet very rich source of numerous health promoting phyto-nutrients and anti-oxidants that are essential for optimum health.
  • Watermelon is an excellent source of Vitamin-A, which is a powerful natural anti-oxidant. 100 g fresh fruit provides 569 mg or 19% of daily-required levels of this vitamin. It is essential for vision and immunity. Vitamin-A is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin-A is known to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
  • It is also rich in anti-oxidant flavonoids like lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin. These antioxidants are found to offer protection against colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Phyto-chemicals present in watermelon like lycopene and carotenoids have the ability to help protect cells and other structures in the body from oxygen-free radicals. 
  • Watermelon is an excellent source of carotenoid pigment, lycopene and indeed, superior to raw red tomato. 100 g of fresh melon provides 4532 µg lycopene, whereas only 2573 µg in tomatoes. Studies suggest that lycopene offer certain protection to skin from harmful UV rays.
  • Watermelon fruit is a good source of potassium; Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure; It thus offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.
  • Furthermore, it contains a good amount of vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), thiamin (vitamin B-1), vitamin-C, and manganese. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
  • Total measured antioxidant strength (ORAC value) of watermelon is 142 µmol TE/100 g.

My Thoughts on Toxic Relationships

I often get asked about my thoughts on detoxing and I think people expect me to tell them about juice fasts or cleanses. (More on that later).

I think a lot of our problems with toxicity in our lives may come from other people.

Do you remember your first day of school?

I do...I actually remember my first day of kindergarten AND my first day of first grade.

I have this philosophy that those first days are critical in our development and kind of "set the stage" for the rest of our lives. At least how we interact with others.

My first day of kindergarten went a little something like this:

I was used to spending my days in the comfort of my home with my mom and new baby brother. Life was good.

Then I get the news that they're shipping me off someplace.

Now, for some reason, I missed the very first day.

So, when I walked in, I saw 20 kids and a teacher and everyone already knew everyone else and they also knew all the rules and "the drill," so to speak.

I sat down and looked around at all the kids talking to each other. I was just taking it in.

Then everyone stood up and began to speak in unison.

Ok, we're standing up now? I thought, and followed suit.

They put their hands on there hearts and started:

"I pledge allegiance, to the Flag, of the United States of America..."

And so on.

I had no idea what they were doing so I just stood there, looking to my left and to my right and also at the Flag.

Red, white and blue, so pretty!

Incidentally, I did have the Pledge of Allegiance nailed shut by Thursday of that week!

More on kindergarten later...

Now, my first day of first grade, I also vividly remember.

I walked in and it was a different set of kids.

They also all knew each other and had obviously gone to kindergarten together, whereas, I was from a different school.

I looked around the room and tried to locate the meanest looking kid.

There were two or three kids crying in the corner.

They won't bother me, I thought.

My idea was this, if I can win over the bully of the group, then surely I will  breeze right on through the first grade unscathed.

I found her, the meanest looking kid was a girl named Betsy.

For the life of me I cannot remember her last name.

It really bothers me because I usually do remember....

Koslowski!!

I got it, Betsy Koslowski.

Ok, so I sat down next to her and started chatting.

"I like your pencil box," Betsy says.

I hand it over to her and say "It's yours."

She goes "That's ok, my mom bought me a pencil box, I don't need yours," she said with a warm smile on her cute but mean looking face.

Turns of Betsy Koslowski was one of the sweetest girls ever!

My point is, for some reason, I always used to try to find the "Problem Person" in the room, starting at the tender age of six.

Now, you might be thinking that I have this horrible need for everyone to like me.

Nope. I don't.

I do, however, have a need to not be hassled.

That's my goal.

So I took this with me throughout my life.

Fast forward to my early adulthood when I had issues and problems with associates.

Lil Angel Baby would say to me "You know what your problem is? You find the most undesirable, worst person in the office and try to make them like you."

"NO I DON'T!" I said.

So, I worked in this one office and there was a woman we shall call Miss Kitty Cat.

Miss Kitty Cat hated my guts for some reason, which would have been ok, if she would have kept that information to herself.

She actually would look at me and make motions like she was going to vomit.

I'm not kidding. I nauseated her.

So I said to Lil Angel Baby, "It's Miss Kitty Cat's birthday tomorrow."

And he goes "Do NOT buy her a gift and make her a cake!"

And I hung my head very low and muttered "Too late."

He was right!

I did seek out these toxic relationships, instead of just gravitating toward people who were nice and pleasant, and didn't throw up when they saw me.

Do you do this?

Who's bugging you?

Who are you subjecting yourself to?

You don't need to torture yourself by being around people who bring you down, left-hand compliment you, or insult you.

Think about it.

When you talk on the phone to someone, notice how you feel when you hang up.

Do you feel uplifted and joyful, or kind of dirty and sad?

I'm not saying to cut them out completely, but you can do what I do and "love them from a distance" winking sideways smiley! ;)



Thursday, June 20, 2013

WORMS

I spoke to someone today who had a colonic and worms came out of her. Possibly from eating sushi.

That's all for today, friends.

WORMS!


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Vegan Tip of the Day!

Short and sweet...before dinner I like to have a refreshing fruit smoothie and a salad with lots of vegetables so I just have room for a tiny dinner. I love the fact that my weight stays the same but I'm not on a diet. AND the best part...everything I eat tastes good!
The other best part is I feel happy and calm. While stressful things happen around me I just jam out to a Blondie song in my head.


Sing along with me?

Union, union
Union city blue!



Sunday, June 16, 2013

Didn't Eat It...Just Flirted With It

It was my own fault. I didn't bring nearly enough food with me for the day. I didn't factor in that I'd be working many hours longer than usual.

Having said that, here's my saga! 

It was dinner time and I needed to stop for food. I went to a drive through. I don't want to say the name of the place because I try to be a positive ray of sunshine who's favorite word is yes and see's all the good in the world. :) 

Lil Angel Baby was hungry too, so I called him asking what he'd like.

Steak, chicken and shrimp with rice. Done. Ok.

I ordered steamed vegetables and chow mein for myself.

The girl at the drive through goes "Blah blah blah?"

And I said "I just want vegetables and chow mein, no meat or anything else."

Well, that is extremely difficult, almost impossible for them to do, I came to find out.

It's the most outlandish, craziest thing she ever heard in all her life.

But this gal was also a positive ray of sunshine and not only did she say yes, but she said something about saving me some money and I thought how sweet.

She hands me an enormous bag of food and I was so excited because I was starved due to my poor planning.

I opened it up and it was the world's tiniest container of steamed vegetables and chow mein I'd ever seen.

I placed the tiny box in the palm of my hand and thought to myself, 

"Barbie would find this to be the perfectly sized meal."

Yes Barbie as in the toy doll.

Confession: the other box, which I figured out quickly was the reason it weighed a good 8 pounds, had steak, shrimp and chicken all sauced up and ready to be eaten.

I did not eat the meat, however I flirted with it.

"Well, hello there, what's your name, handsome?" I said to the chicken.

And then looked at the steak and said "You look really good."

The food didn't talk back, but I glanced up and spotted a Trader Joe's just in time. My favorite food store!!

I went in and got Kale Chips.

These were so good! Have you tried them?

They're salty, savory and crunchy....flavored with cashews and delicious spices.

This was the perfect snack.

Forever and always up for a learning opportunity, I made an inner vow to really, really, really pay attention to planning ahead and being more diligent so I don't end up in this situation again.

Have a fantastic day! And go get yourself some kale chips. :)

Thursday, June 13, 2013

I'm Addicted to You, Don't You Know That You're Toxic

One of my fave Britney Spears Songs!

It also reminds me of why I went vegan.

You may know what it's like to get an unexpected health issue. It can scare you into making major changes in your life.

Especially when the medical testing went on and on with no resolution for months.

So I got to googling and did some research.

The vegan diet came up again and again so I decided to do it.

Years ago I tried this but was so stringent that I wasn't able to stick with it.

I tried 100% raw vegan, which is supposed to be the healthiest diet ever, according to some people, however, I found it too difficult and quit altogether.

So this time, I am doing about 60-80% raw and 20-40% cooked. All vegan.

I find it to be easy, and I feel so good!

At first when I was waiting for a diagnosis, I was convinced that food was poison so I wasn't interested in eating.

The good news is I temporarily almost got down to my highschool weight - haha!

Right after I found out I might be sick, (which, Thank God I am not!)  Craig and I would go to the grocery store and I'd say to him "Do we need any poison, from the poison aisle?"

And he'd say "No, I don't think so."

Then I'd pick something up and say "How about this toxic poison, do we need this?" And he'd be like "No, I bought that last week."

"What about this horrifyingly poisonous toxicity? Do we need this?"

And so on.

People would look over and stare but we thought it was funny!

So, when my friends ask me why I'm vegan now, truly it's because I feel like it's helping me to be healthy and also, it gives me a sense of control.

Along with a Britney Spears song loop, (You're welcome!), I'd also like to leave you with a quote from the Ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, who said "Let food by they medicine and medicine by thy food."

I hope your day is magical today :)

Arthur - Smiling for the Camera

Say hello to this handsome gentleman!


Forty pounds of awsomeness. He loves fruits and vegetables, especially watermelon, broccoli, sweet potatoes and pineapple.

He has a huge sweet tooth and would live on fruit if we let him.

But, the vet said to make sure he gets protein, so he's not a vegan.

He adores ravioli, well, actually any stuffed pasta is devoured in minutes.

If you give him something he doesn't like, he gets an attitude.

We once gave him tomatoes and he spit it out, then walked in it and turned himself over in a fit of rage!

Arthur is a sensitve soul, and he's very loved.

Craig rescued him...It was a rainy day in SC and Arthur was on the freeway.

Craig got out of his car, stopped traffic both ways, grabbed Arthur and he's been a member of the family going on 10 years!

(We did check to see if he was someone's missing pet, and couldn't find anyone to claim him, by the way)

Arthur is rather spoiled. He has a climate controlled habitat, a house specially suited for him with a special lamp set on an auto-control so as soon as it gets below 71 degrees, the heater goes on.

And he has a misting system to keep him cool in summer. So it's always perfect for him. We take him to the vet for check ups regularly and he gets moisturized with Turtle Wax!

We love him. :)

Vegan Treat of the Day

Do you wish you were Ballerina Hello Kitty right now because she has Trader Joe's Jalapeno Stuffed Olives?

These are so good! Warning, they are pretty hot for those of you who are sensitive. Jenny, you wouldn't like these! (She has a delicate palate).

Confession: I like these because they're hot enough to keep me from devouring the whole jar! (Which I have been known to do with olives.)

Not proud of it, but I can tell you, because we're friends. :)

My Products for Hydrated Skin

I was at a meeting a couple of years ago, and as everyone was watching the guest speaker, I was looking at the woman to my left.

Staring at her, actually.

Studying her.

She looked over like "What are you looking at, Weirdo?"

I had met her before but this time her skin looked so dewey and fresh, it just caught my attention.

"What are you using on your skin? it looks amazing and so hydrated," I asked.

She wouldn't give it up.

I was like "Come on, just tell me."

Aestheticians don't always want to give away their secrets, plus I think I freaked her out with my stalking. Haha!

Finally she goes "Get a pen and paper, and I'll tell you."

Here's her secret, and now I will share it with you, because a True Primp Queen wants to share the wealth of beauty. :)

Murad Hydrating Toner and Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum.



Here's how to use for intense hydration:

1. Cleanse your skin with your favorite cleanser.

2. Apply a serum of choice...it could be Murad Active Radiance, Complete Reform, whatever you like.
(Let the serum penetrate for a several seconds. Go get a refill on your smoothie, or something...give it a minute.)

3. Spritz your skin with the Hydrating Toner and get it nice and dewey.

4. Immediately apply a pump of Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum. Let it seep in.

If it's night time, just go to bed like that. The Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum is a serum, but it's also an occlusive so you don't have to put a moisturizer on top if you don't want to.

If it's daytime, put on a moisturizer with SPF.

I like to use the Essential C Moisture SPF 30 from Murad. GORGEOUS product!

When Arlene and I were traveling a few months ago, our skin got so dehyrdated. Between air travel, pollution, high altitude, not eating as much water-rich food as we should, not drinking enough water etc.

I said "Arlene, you're skin is so dry right now I can hardly look at you. It's really bothering me."

She goes "Thanks a lot, sheeeesh! I can't help it."

I said, "A Primp Queen never points out a problem without having a solution in her Louis Vuitton bag, never fear!"

And I introduced Arlene to The Hydration Secret.

She actually reapplied the Hydrating Toner and Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum a few times over the course of several hours.

The next morning her skin was absolutely glowing with hydration.
She goes "Look at my skin!"

And I was like "I KNOW!!"

Beautiful.

Try this out and leave me a comment saying how much you love it. :)



Monday, June 10, 2013

Dark Under Eye Circles

When I was visiting my friend Jenny I glanced in the mirror and said "Wow! My dark circles have dark circles!" and her 6 year old goes "Me too!"

I said "No, you don't have them!"

However, come to find out we have many other things in common:

Both of us choose pink as our favorite color, neither of us likes to be too hot or too cold. And we both faint if we see or hear about anything having to do with blood.

Anyway, I've always had dark circles under my eyes and it really bugs because it's so unsightly and makes me look tired.

I have tried many eye creams and one that helped quite a bit is Murad Renewing Eye Cream. This is an excellent product if you have dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles.

I noticed a substantial improvement but you know the Primp Queen always wants MORE!

Especially because my dark circles are genetic.

So I was in a store the other day and the Benefit Rep told me about this.

I LOVE IT!

This is my "Stranded on a desert island product."
(If I could only take one product with me - this is it! Not including my toothbrush, toothpaste and a razor.)


Erase Paste by Benefit.
It's very creamy and gives coverage and a beautiful brightening glow.

Now that I'm thinking about it, if I truly were stranded on a desert island, I would bring Joseph Teti with me, from that show Dual Survival.

http://josephteti.com/

Have you seen it?

I've been intrigued by survival techniques ever since I was 10 years old and read about a family whose car broke down in the desert, leaving them on death's door from dehydration and exposure.

The mom used her lipstick to protect the whole family's lips from burning and some powder on all their faces to protect from the burning rays of the sun.

What a fantastic usage of beauty products!

To this day I always carry a lighter, rope, gallons of water, extra clothes and other survival items in my car.

Joseph Teti knows how to do all kinds of things to survive.

I would be like "I'm thirsty, Joseph Teti," and he'd be all "No problem, let me fashion a rope out of my shoe laces, and climb an 80 foot coconut tree for you."

And then I'd like to think he'd say "And I made an appointment for you to get your nails done and a pedicure too...with the little diamonds on your toes that you like so much, you know for after I rescue you from this island.

And "I'd be like "Thank you, Joseph Teti."

Sunday, June 9, 2013

How a Primp Queen Runs a 5K

Super excited today!

Ran second race in the 5 race summer series, wearing new outfit from Bebe, Ice Princess lip gloss from Sephora and diamond earrings, darling!

I didn't have any other makeup on because that would just be TOO high maintenance, right? Haha!

So, in addition to SPF 30, I wore my fabulous Arnette sunglasses courtesy of my friend, Dave.

Here I am all sweaty, moments after crossing the finish line, looking forward to my mango, raspberry, banana, spinach, rice milk smoothie. :)

Through the race I was thinking about how grateful I am I can run.

I thank God for the privilege of being able-bodied and free to do what I love.

Enjoy your day!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Vegan Food on a Bright Sunny Day

This was a very refreshing lunch today: Smoothie made with raspberries, blueberries, mango, spinach and rice milk. Really good!
And a simple salad - just lettuce with some peppers, tiny bit of balsamic dressing.


Then I had some of these delightful delights:

Trader Joe's brand Vegetable Pakoras.

See the little "V" on the box?

That means they're vegan. :)

They're made with potatoes, onions, chick pea flour, sweet potato, spinach, garlic and spices. And they come with a sauce.

They taste like Indian food. Yum!

I hope you're day is fantastic and you're enjoying your life.

Why not tell someone you love them today. Even if you think they won't say it back.

I said I love you to my Mom the other day and she forgot to say it to me.

It was a quick good bye on the phone.

So I called her back!! Haha.

Then when I was leaving my brother's house I said "Bye, love ya."

He goes "Bye, drive safe."

So I turned back and said "Do you love me?"

And he goes "Yes, I love you. Ok?"

And I said "Ok!!"

So just be warned, if I say I love you and you don't say it back.
I may call you or show up at your house.

Hahaha!!!!

That's all for now. :)

Friday, June 7, 2013

Green Smoothie of The Day

I was out of greens so had to improvise.

This was so good!

Pear, mango and avocado smoothie.

Papa Smurf took a sip too. :)

Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Perfect Vegan

Today I talked to one of my very best friends who asked me not to use his name.

He looks a lot like Academy Award Nominee Woody Harrelson, if Woody Harrelson was about 10 years younger, and who ironically and incidentally is a vegan! (The actor, not my friend)

So let's call him Woody!

We are such good friends that once we were driving around. My husband was in the front seat, Woody was driving and I was in the back seat.

I said "Honey?" and they both answered.

Then they looked at each other and went back and forth saying "I thought I was Honey, no I am..." And so on and so forth.

Anyway, it was so good to catch up wih my sweet friend.

Woody asked me about my diet and said he wasn't sure if he could become a vegan but he wants to get healthier.

He was like "I'm not sure I could go full throttle vegan."

I told him, "Honey, it's not about being a perfect vegan, it's about being as healthy as you can be."

I've read plenty of vegan blogs through the years and one thing I notice is the need to be perfect and almost virtuous about what they eat.

I've never been a perfectionist. I think my Mom helped me with that.

I had one bad semester in college. My grades were...let's just say lack luster.

So my Mom was like "Well, did you try your very best?"

And I said "Not really, I kinda screwed around."

So then she says "Well, can you try harder next time?"

"I guess so..." I said.

See, no pressure!

Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you must stop eating all meat, or dairy, etc.

I'm doing what I think is right for me. I don't preach to anyone about what they should eat. How boring would I be?

Woody's Dad passed away from colon cancer just a few years ago. It was extremely difficult and sad for him and his family.

So, he was eager to talk to me about implementing some new healthy habits.

This was my advice, given only because he asked. :)

I told him to try a meat and dairy free meal a couple of times a week at first to see how he feels.

Eventually he may want to do more.

Everyone's different, so I say do what's right for you.

My husband eats very similar to me, but still eats eggs and some fish.

No, he's not a vegan, but look what he quit eating: sausage, steaks, lunch meat, chicken, cheese and butter.

Good for Lil' Angel Baby!

You don't need a label like "vegan" or anything else.

It's about being healthy and feeling your very best.

Don't you think?

The best part of my talk with my friend today: he goes "Ok cool! I'm gonna get a salad for lunch today!"

That's what I call success.

That's why I started this blog about vegan food and beauty products.

If I can inspire someone to eat some vegetables once in a while or get a foundation that is closer to their actual skin tone, I feel really good about it. :)

I want to say one more thing...this lifestyle has really improved my mood. I cannot say it enough. I feel happy and light. My head is clear. I wake up before my alarm goes off, for the first time ever. 

And I feel balanced and rested.

If you are feeling down or sad, you may want to try this way of eating.

That's all for now...Have a fabulous day, wonderful friends. :)





Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Why I Don't Get a Birthday Party ;)

For my 6th birthday, my Mom let me invite my entire kindergarten class.

She made all kinds of food and a fabulous cake.

We had party hats, games, and every single thing you could imagine that would make an awsome party.

All the kids came over and it should have been fun.

I was in a really bad mood because my best friend at the time, Ellen Schneider, told all the kids that she had new bikes at her house, which was just down the street.

Bikes, as in more than one.

Ellen Schneider was very annoying and wore pink frilly dresses with matching hair bows and turned her nose up at everything.

She was also very spoiled. I mean, who has more than one bike?

So, they all went to her house and rode her bikes for a while.

Instead of joining in the fun, I pouted and sulked.

My Mom was like "Why don't you go down there and have fun with them?" And then she said "They'll be back, don't worry."

They did come back very shortly, but it was too late.

I think it was in poor taste for Ellen Schneider to steal my moment, don't you?

It got worse from there. I didn't want to talk to anyone or play any of the games.

I was furious!

Mom said "All these kids came here for your birthday, honey, try to have fun." She pleaded with me.

"No!" I said.

What's worse, is nobody wanted to join me in my pity party. I was sad all by myself.

And the worst part of all...my Mom has a spectacular singing voice.

Seriously, when she used to read us bed time stories it was an event.

My brothers and I would climb up on one of the beds and get ready for "THE SHOW."

She would play all the characters, doing all of their voices in the stories and she'd sing and dance. It was like having Liza Minella for a mom. :)

We loved her theatrics, except she had this one habit.

If she saw you sulking or having a bad attitude she would sing, almost mocking you.

"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to. Cry if I want to, Cryyyyy if I want to!"

She would belt it out loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Stop singing!!" I said.

Then, the clincher.

I looked at my Mother and said, "What kind of cake did you make for me?"

And she said "Chocolate."

I screamed as loud as I could "I HATE CHOCOLATE CAKE!"

That was it.

My Mom got all serious and goes, "Get over here and sit down."

(oh no)

She goes "Take a good look around you, Cookie, because this is the LAST party you will ever have as long as you live!"

And then she goes "EVER!"

:)


Hee hee sorry Mom!!






Best Birthday Ever!

Well, I have completely outdone myself sandwhich-wise....check it.



Tomato, cucumber, onion, olives, pepper rings, avocado, pepper, mustard and my fave VEGENAISE!

The key is to toast the bread. And those are veggie straws on the side :)




Dessert!

Afterall it is my birthday today...which, to me, birthdays are not something to be dreaded but a fantastic celebration of life!!

These are sooooo good, oh my goodness...

I ate 2 of them. They're very sweet, no need to eat the whole bag. :)
Got them at Whole Foods.


Went to Bebe and got a new hat...oh and a running outfit for my upcoming 5K on Sunday.

Love that store, but the gals who work there seemed a little grumpy, ever notice? But keep in mind they are required to click around all day in a minimum of 4 inch pumps on those hard floors. :( Poor things.
I hope you're having an awsome day today!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Vegan Lunch: KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetie!)

I'm so excited today that I have a Culture Club song loop rockin'!

:)

Ok, so I get lot's of questions about what I eat now, because folks think the vegan lifestyle is limited.

Valid question...so here goes.

Being a simple gal, I like to eat basic things. I'm not a fan of the fake meats out there that resembel burgers, hot dogs, bacon, they even make hot wings out of tofu. Not my thing.

I also see a lot of fake cheese in the health food stores, made from almonds, rice, soy and goodness knows what. Some of them even have cow's milk in them and I'm like "Uhhhhh, why?"

The funny thing is, I don't miss meat or cheese at all, so I don't feel the need to eat meat and dairy substitutes.

Even more interesting, when I'm in a store and smell meat or cheese, I suddenly feel like "What went terribly wrong on this side of the store?"

Here's lunch today: a simple salad with tomato, cucumber, olives, a little balsamic salad dressing and pepper. Super good!



And for dessert....Ants on a Log!

I didn't make that cute name up, although I wish I did. :)

Celery with peanut butter and raisins. No really, it is good.

It looks more like ants on a log when the raisins are black, sorry. 
I only had golden ones. 



Doesn't this look like a good lunch?

Eating this way puts me in the best mood. :)

Join me in my song loop, won't you?

"I'll be your baby
I'll be your score
I'll run the gun for you
And so much more
I'LL TUMBLE 4 YA
I'LL TUMBLE 4 YA
I'LL TUMBLE 4 YA
I'LL TUMBLE 4 YOU"

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Pretty Like Mommy

I guess I was about 5 years old.

I was in trouble for being particularly bratty one day.

I wanted to get back in my Mom's good graces, so I stood in the bathroom doorway watching her preparing for her nightly beauty routine.

My Mom was the perfect female role model for an aspiring Primp Queen like me.

With her perfect skin, high cheekbones, chocolate-colored pixie hairstyle and red lipstick, I wanted to be just like her.

I stood there watching, hoping she would talk to me. She looked over and said "Do you want to learn how to wash your face?"

I shook my head yes.

"Ok, come here," She said and motioned for me to stand on the step stool.

"First, we must pull our hair back," She said and handed me a head band.

Then came...wait for it....Ready?

Noxema!

Yes, the good old blue jar of Noxema, remember it?!

We both walked around with our fantastic menthol scented facial treatments and I felt so amazing!

It tingled and was doing something. Really doing something! I could feel it working, making me beautiful like my Mom.

It was a true bonding moment and I dare say my very first primping memory.

Ok, confession: sometimes I go to Walgreens and buy Noxema just so I can smell it and remember those magical moments of beauty bliss with my Mom.

We just talked this morning, laughing about this. :)

My poor Mom endured my obsession with beauty products that started at a very young age.

Once, I was with my Dad in a grocery store and a woman walked up and said "Well, aren't you a cute little boy?"

Boy?

Cute little BOY?

I was so horrified and humiliated that I when we got home I told my Mom and begged her to let me get my ears peirced.

I made a solemn inner vow that this mistake will NEVER happen again.

I was all girl.

Girl. Girl. Girl. Girl. Girl.

Being mistaken for a boy? Seriously?

Back in the day, you went to a doctor and they used a needle to peirce ears.
It hurt so bad, not only when they first stab you, but for weeks following.

I had to sleep in the earrings, and every morning my Mom would help me clean the encrusted blood. They needed to be cleaned with rubbing alcohol and put back into my ears.

Ohhh, the stinging and the burning. They throbbed.

But I didn't care. I was in the first grade when I learned to suffer for beauty!

My Mom would say "I'm sorry it hurts, honey, but we have to make sure to clean them."

I didn't care. She could have stabbed me in the eyeball with them.

Those tiny gold balls were my insurance policy that nobody would ever call me a boy again.

And from there, my primping only got amped up.

More to follow at another time.

I have to go now, Army Wives is on.

:)

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Rotating Greens



Look at this gorgeous beauty!

I remember those lazy summer days as a kid, waking up to the wonderful scent of freshly cut grass...

And that's how this smoothie tasted..haha!

You should see the looks I get when I drink this in public.

It's a little bit like when I asked an employee in Whole Foods where the dairy free cheese is....he was like "Ohhhh, you're one of THOSE."

I said, "I'm really not high maintenance, I swear."

And Arlene was with me and was like

"YES SHE IS.

SHE IS HIGH MAINTENANCE.

I HAVE TO WORK WITH HER!"

And then she added "You don't get any more high maintenance than this." Pointing at me.

Anyway, my lovely friends, I wanted to share something with you that I've been reading up on.

Rotating greens.

Heard of it?

Well, it turns out, green smoothies are super popular now and people are lining up after Pilates classes in their spandex outfits at juice bars all over town to get them.

So much so, that there have been some green smoothie overdoses.

Can you believe this? Too much of a good thing, I guess.

So, here's the scoop, and I know you want the scoop, especially if you are a green smoothie freak like me.

First of all, it's good to eat a variety of foods so you get nutritional diversity.

Did you hear about that gal who ate nothing but ramen Noodles for like, 18 years and she has the health of an 80 year old?

They showed her picture and her skin was the exact color of ramen noodles! I swear.

We have to mix it up to make sure we get all of our vitamins and minerals and all that good stuff.

Anyway, another reason to rotate your greens is because all leaves contain small amounts of toxins as a defense mechanism to protect a plant from predation.

This is only a problem, I hear, if you eat a ton of greens. A few handfuls a day should not be a problem.

Here's more info with detail on the Nutribullet blog if you'd like to learn more.

http://nutribulletblog.com/top-3-reasons-to-rotate-your-greens/

I want a Nutribullet so badly!!

Have you seen the infomercial? Oh my goodness, I want it.

But I have a rule.

I won't watch an infomercial and have my phone and wallet in the room at the same time.

I can't be trusted.

Seriously, every infomercial makes me go "Wow! I need that, how did I live without that?!"

Slap chop? Need it!

Brazilian Butt Lift? Want it!

Hair Club for Men? I gotta join!

And then they're like "Think it's too good to be true?"

I always answer out loud, "Yes, this is too good to be true! It's TOO GOOD."

And don't even get me started on QVC...Watch Lisa Robertson for 5 minutes you will suddenly want a velvet vest with little sparkling beads and duckling patches on it and think it's the best thing ever.

Haha!

So, anyway, back to the green rotation...I switched over from spinach to dandelion greens in my smoothie and will continue this for a week or two. Then move onto kale, etc.

On a relatively related topic, someone asked me how eating a vegan diet makes me feel.

What a great question!

I feel amazing and energized.

But the coolest part is there's almost an emotional shift and I have feelings of joy and happiness almost all of the time.

Almost annoyingly so.

I had a client yell at me recently for being too perky and smiling too much. 

She told me to stop acting all excited and happy.

I told her "I'm not acting, this is really how I am."

She was like "Take it down a notch, Zippy."

Can you imagine? Haha!

I should've given her my green smoothie recipe.

Or maybe she could use a refreshing visit to Jack, for a colonic :)