Why We Snack Wrong And How Easy It Can Be Fixed

I was getting a bit hungry and was thinking about making dinner,but it was a bit early for it so I figured, the perfect compromise would mean a snack.
This is where it got tricky.
I realized there were no pretzels, chips, sweets or other tiny edible friends around that could help me with the between meal munchies.
I then realized I was acting ridiculous.
There was a basket full of apples, at least a kilo of bananas and some grapefruit in the kitchen.
Why didn't I even consider including them in the "snack" category? In the end, you're not really hungry, it's that need to eat something and fruit could not only satisfy that urge, but also give me a vitamin boost. God knows we all need one.
And now we're incredibly lucky to get all the fresh fruit and vegetable back.

But I found it a sad reality that our mind never goes to fruit when we think about having a snack and always just jumps to the fat, salty or sweet stuff that isn't doing us any favors.
As some of you might remember from Twitter, I asked what you think of when I say "snack". Chips,crisps,biscuits,chocolate.
Fruit was nowhere to be seen in those Tweets.

I think it's important to switch things up a bit. I'm not saying to cut all fatty treats out of your diet, but try to replace some with fruit. We all get cravings and it's sadistic to suppress them at any and all times.It just makes you demotivated to eat healthy if you're going to deny yourself that little bit of fatty goodness forever. But keep it in that legendary 20/80 balance at least. Try to eat well 80% of the time and indulge in the rest of those 20%.

Our whole mindset is in "easy and filling food" mode, without realizing that there's easy food that doesn't need to fill you that much, because in the end, you're not looking for a full stomach, just for satisfaction of said munchies.
We all live a fast life, and it might be the reason why most opt for the more easily available snacks. You don't have to wash or peel chips, but those 30 extra seconds you put into a fast rinse or peel can save you a whole lotta headache later.
Besides,fruit fits very well into fast life. It doesn't need any preparing, just a couple of seconds of attention.


I remember being a kid and surviving on apples and nuts alone during late summer when I'd start playing outside in the morning and get back in the house in the evening.
So if an overly energized kid didn't feel they're fainting living off fruit, I'm sure it can't be that bad,can it?

I'll go eat some grapefruit now.




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Summer Tip : Smoothies

It's summer. It might or might not be very hot and sunny,but we know it's summer.
And what defines summer better than a delicious smoothie from super fresh fruit?
That's why I've gotten quite addicted to them. Today,I'm sharing one of my favorites with you:

The Watermelon Mango Smoothie


What you need:

• A blender,juice maker or a stick blender
• Watermelon and a mango

I use a bit more watermelon than I do mango,as it contains more water and makes the smoothie more liquid.If you like a chunkier texture,then go nuts with the mango!

Put them in the blender,mix them until they get the smoothie shape and enjoy!
It is perfect for breakfast as it boosts your energy and vitamin levels and it serves as a yummy refreshment during any part of the day.
One of my absolute favorites for sure!
Try it out and let me know if you liked it :)

All Natural: Quick Beauty Fixes!

Beauty does not only mean "What products can I put on to mask imperfections?". It means caring for yourself in such a way that you will be healthy and that it can reflect on the outside.
We all know that saying about beauty coming from the inside but the process of getting that inner balance can take a while. It is also 100% worth it,so never back away from it just because it isn't a quick fix!

We also know that today,the "quick fix" is a global favorite,so I decided to show you some great quick fixes that I use. And the best part about it: THEY'RE ALL NATURAL!

Let's start with EYES

I have a tendency of getting tired eyes really fast and really often and I also get dark circles under them. The problem is,when my eyes get tired,a headache is just around the corner.
But worry not! For I have found the quickest and most effective fix for it. And when I say quick I mean INSTANTLY !

Meet The Cucumber.
This young fellow cools,calms,reduces puffiness and dark circles. Perfect you say? Pretty much!
For me,it really is the one thing that is guaranteed to work.

Slap on two slices and you're ready to go. I like to cut them progressively thinner,from edge to middle,so that the side you put exactly under your eyelid is thinner and stays on more comfortably. Like so:

We move on to the FACE

Whenever I have some time,I cut a slice of fruit and rub it all over my face. It's a fast face mask and it is 100% natural,organic and vegan. Can't get any better,can it?
Just leave it on for 10-20 minutes (even more if you have the time) , then rinse with water and gently dry your face.

My fruit of choice is The Mango.
It is absolutely packed with vitamins ( The antioxidant Vitamin A and C, plus Vitamins B1,B2,B5,B6,B9 ) And it's suitable for any skin type. My skin is fairly dry and sensitive and I can tell you for a fact that it loves the mango. My face and Mango are potential bff's.

Cut a slice and rub it all over your face. Your skin will look healthier and in case you were pale,you will get a nice color correction from it too,leaving you looking less white and more sun kissed.Quick fix or what?!

Now to show some love to the HAIR


You might not know this,but there is one thing out there that can work as doping for your hair,giving it vitamins and nutrients and leaving it strengthened and shiny.
I bet you have no idea you probably even had it for breakfast!

Wanna know what it is? Coffee!

Yes,you heard me! Coffee and your hair will get along very, very well.

Here's what you have to do:

- Make about one cup of coffee and let it cool before using it. It doesn't need to be cold,just not as hot as to burn your skin

- Take it with you to the shower :)

- Do your regular hair washing routine (shampoo,conditioner, etc) and rinse

- When you are done and have finished your shower, pour the cup of coffee over your hair

- DO NOT RINSE OFF!  You have to leave it in your hair. It is the crowing moment of your hair routine.

- Dry your hair off. If you are doing it with a towel,make sure you use one of a darker color, as the coffee in your hair is likely to leave some stains on white towels.

- Enjoy your new brilliantly strengthened hair!

I'll also do another post soon about how coffee can make your skin look amazing,so stay tuned!

Last but not least, THE ALL-ROUNDERS

I think we've all heard about this one and we've all used it on one way or another: 

Olive Oil

Nature's little all-round miracle.

I use it on my face as a moisturizer (sometimes combined with other oils also), on my nails for strengthening (they need love too), on my hair, also for moisturizing (but use small amounts,or your hair will be greasy even after you wash it off) and of course on my salad.

Just make sure it is cold pressed and bio olive oil. This really is one thing you should pay more for, as it guarantees quality,and that is something you need if you're gonna use it all over your body

One more thing you might not know about it it has a natural SPF(Sun Protection Factor).

Of course,it is not a high SPF.Olive oil has one of the lowest (raspberry  and carrot seed oil having one of the highest,raspberry between 28 and 50 and the carrot seed oil between 38 and 40), so don't go to the Mediterranean and sit in the sun with only olive oil rubbed on you.

But it can help you get a nice tan in the spring sun and it also keeps your skin from drying out. I also occasionally use it as a body lotion,but only when I have enough time to let it sink into my skin.

Another all-round product I very much enjoy is Majoram

 

This yummy spice is full of Vitamin C,D and B3 and tastes insanely good in cooked foods and salads!

What you can also do is make an infusion (aka tea:put dried leafs in hot but not boiling water and leave them for 5 minutes). You can either drink it and get some inner benefits like better circulation,or you can use it as a face wash. It's really effective in calming your skin down if it's itchy or just feels uncomfortable.

Hope you've enjoyed this first natural post and learned some new things. I have some more natural tips for you that I can share in a future post.

Stay healthy!

The New Kids On The Block!

I've been doing some purchasing lately and figured I'd share some with you.
They'll all get their spotlight but here's the big bunch.

First up,the polishes,which are mostly pastel and awesome for summer:

We have Manhattan,Rival de Loop,Catrice and my new discovery: Mi-Ny.
They'll all have their turn on the blog,and I have already started with the ambiguous Grey/Blue from Mi-Ny HERE


Then we've got the face masks.I'm  a bit nuts for them...clearly

And last but not least, goodies for the bath.I'm gonna tell you more about the soaps,especially about the Adzuki Bean one soon,because it is simply amazing! Of course,I'll be swooning about the gorgeous smells of the rest of  the products too.They can't be ignored!

 

That's it for now. Stay tuned for the detailed reports! :)