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Sustainability February 18, 2017

Looking natural: tips on how to look great without make-up

I rarely wear make-up and often get comments from other women about how brave I am to show off my natural beauty — a strange sentiment if you ask me. It honestly makes me feel fabulous and free. My skin also looks better as a result. It may feel risky to go make-up-less for a week, much less a day, but it is definitely worth a try and you won’t regret it.

For many women, it’s the worry about blemishes and dark eye circles that prevents them from going oh-naturel. Women’s Post has a list of tips for you to look natural and beautiful. Put your various brushes, and sparkles aside and focus on the beautiful person that is already right in front of you.

Taking good care of your skin is the first step to illuminating your natural magnificence. Find a moisturizer that is replete with eco-ingredients like shea butter and lavender essential oil. Before applying, try making a natural scrub that will help exfoliate your skin. Combine coconut oil, brown sugar, and a dash of vanilla to make a simple brown sugar scrub. Rub it in circular motions on your face and rinse. Make sure you find out what kind of skin type you have, ranging from oily to dry. Once you understand which skin issues you need to tackle, you can address them as needed and end up with a smooth and happy face.

Eating healthy foods will also bring out your natural beauty. Fruits, vegetables and foods replete with omega 3 oils and vitamins will make your skin look healthy and full. It will also help remove dark circles under the eyes and reduce acne. Pair healthy foods with getting enough sleep and your skin and face will glow. Taking extra vitamins will make sure all proper nutrients are being absorbed into your skin. Take a vitamin e, c and collagen are good supplements to enhance natural beauty.

If your eyes are especially puffy, there are ways to decrease puffiness using natural methods. Cooled chamomile tea bags on the eyes bring down puffiness and reduce black spots. Chamomile has antioxidants that help the skin and the coolness is very calming. After you drink a cup of chamomile tea, use the tea bag to cool your eyes and try it out. Another option is cucumber slices, a well-known way to decrease puffy eyes. Simply slice them and use them on your eyes (and eat them afterwards if you want to!).

Natural beauty comes easily to women who believe in themselves. Covering up your skin with colour enhancing products is nice in moderation, but many girls rely on make-up every single day. It takes courage to have a naked face and show of your true colours. Using high-quality and natural skin creams and a healthy lifestyle will bring out your natural magnificence and ultimately shows that every woman is beautiful.

Home & Garden December 3, 2016

DIY gift ideas for the not-naturally crafty

If you are looking to add a personal touch to your Christmas gifts this year, you can join many other Do-It-Yourself (DIY) enthusiasts in creating amazing homemade presents that will wow your family and friends. On the other hand if you are like me and lack artistic sensibilities, don’t expect the hand-painted tea cup craft idea you found on Pinterest to look identical to the one you create (I ended up with a pink blob on a cup).

Instead, if you are not naturally crafty, but (for some reason) want to make your gifts this year then you have come to the right place. Here is the how-to on how-to make homemade gifts that won’t come out looking like you crafted with your eyes closed in the middle of a park on a windy night:

When planning your homemade gift ideas, remember to keep it realistic. Don’t plan to make 20 homemade coffee cup holders unless you have a sewing machine and ample experience. Not that I would try to lead anyone astray from learning a new hobby, but trying out a sewing machine for the first time during the holidays can be a stressful way to learn.

Let’s look at a few easier gift ideas to begin with. Why not try homemade camera straps or chalkboard painted coffee cups. To make the camera strap, you paint and decorate cotton webbing with acrylic paint and use glue to attach two hooks on either end. Make sure the hooks are flexible (or swivel) for easy use. The supplies to make the strap are easy to find and the decorative process is fool-proof; however, if you aren’t a painting-type of person, you can always use wool or other materials to create a braid.

Chalkboard paint is a fun way to decorate a low-priced coffee cups, trays, or even computer cases. Decorate the object and write loving messages on it for your friend or family member.

It is also important to keep your budget in mind. When I design my DIY present plan, I write down everyone that will receiving a gift and then begin jotting down ideas for each person. By making a gift that I can give to many people, it cuts down on costs and time, and my gifts will still well-received by my loved ones. I then budget out how much the materials will cost before purchasing the craft supplies for the gifts. Going out to buy materials without a plan often leads to overspending and planning often helps to avoid superfluous costs. Remember, if it costs more to make your gift then it would to purchase it, you may want to reconsider your DIY plan.

Food gifts are often a good way to save money on DIY presents because you can make multiple batches and save money by buying ingredients in bulk. Purchasing a few flats of jars and make a variety of jams and preservatives. Making holiday cookies and other treats for friends and family is also a good option. Lastly, soup in a jar with all of the dry ingredients layered looks lovely in a glass jar and makes a yummy soup once you add water and boil. Don’t forget to decorate the jars with ribbon for a festive feel.

There are so many benefits to DIY gifts. First of all, they are made with love, something that can’t be said of that Old Navy sweater you may have wanted to pick up. You also get to avoid the consumerist train spectacle in malls across Canada. Just make sure that the gifts you make are useful and catered to the people you are giving them to, and you are sure to get a good reception!

What are your favourite DIY gifts to make for Christmas? Let Women’s Post know in the comments below.

Recipe August 2, 2016

Cooling down this summer with homemade popsicles

A hot summer day with kids is excruciating, especially when everyone is hot and crabby. But there is a solution for moms and dads everywhere — homemade popsicles!

I ventured to the store with my daughter and grabbed a popsicle mould. We made it back home despite the intense heat wave and started making our delicious cool treat. Mix all the ingredients together with a blender by adding an avocado, a can of coconut milk, half a cup of coconut flakes, and 3-6 tbsp sugar depending on your preference for sweetness. Once the ingredients are smooth, pour them into the popsicle mould and freeze until solid. Affordable popsicle moulds can be purchased at the dollar store. These popsicles are full of fibre, protein and iron, and are delicious!

[Other options for homemade popsicles include] AWK TRANSITION. REMEMBER ARTICLES AREN’T LISTS.

If you are looking for something a little less traditional, try this gourmet twist on a strawberry popsicle by adding basil, or oranges for a citrus treat. If you are craving a pina colada on the beach, pineapple chunks blended with coconut milk and flakes makes a delicious popsicle. Most fruits and vegetables will taste delectable if blended with coconut milk and sugar once blended, though it is generally recommended to stay away from peaches because they don’t freeze well.

Acai berry coconut popsicle by Santopop. Photo provided by Nathalie Hernandez.

Nathalie Hernandez, owner of an artisan vegan ice pop company called Santopop, has a few tips. “Use fresh ingredients, the best raw materials means best pops. Also, get local fruits and respect the seasonality, it always tastes better,” Hernandez says. She also supports local farmers, and also handpick the ripest fruits, which helps you to use less sugar when blending the ingredients together.

Mango yangmei berry popsicle by Santopop. Photo provided by Nathalie Hernandez.

I plan on making homemade popsicles weekly throughout the summer will be trying different handpicked fruits and vegetables from the farmers market. This will help my daughter get excited about picking out healthy foods, and she can help me blend all the ingredients together. By having healthy popsicles in the freezer, my daughter can avoid sugary ice pops and get a nutrition kick from a refreshing treat instead.

Give it a try and let Women’s Post know in the comments below know which fruits and vegetables are your favourite for homemade popsicles!